Author: iAn L.

Chef Roland Laudico carefully scooped the remaining yoke and separated it from the embryo. He then made a paste out of these two ingredients. The egg white, on the other hand, was cut into thin strips and were tossed around the savory paste. On a shot glass rimmed with salt, Chef Lau collected the balut juice, and then mixed it with local vinaigrette. This novel creation is called Balut Napoleon Shot. Balut Napoleon Shot—along with sinigang bites, palabok bites, sisig basket, ngohiong cones, green salad with local dressing, etc—is among the featured starters at the Filipino Food Fest of Waterfront ... Read more

How do you take photos? With the general availability of handy cameras, most of us point our lenses to something, and then, with a click, we capture that something so easily. We then post the photo on our preferred social media timelines and allow reactions to accrue. For enthusiasts, photography is a way more than that. Though it is still a mix of three primary elements—idea, recording device, and light—the output defers on other aspects. While some of us worry only for our subjects and their poses, enthusiasts do a deep dive. They think for a story to tell and ... Read more

Getting to Guimaras is an awfully long journey from Cebu. The two lengthy bus rides and the three rough see crossings discouraged my friends from joining. It was a rushed and spontaneous travel spree, so plane tickets were unjustly expensive. Eventually, only two of the more than five interested pushed through with the tour. We headed to Cebu’s North Bus Terminal a few minutes past midnight to make sure that we can secure a seat on the earliest bus bound for Bacolod. To our dismay, the bus ran out of available seats really fast. We were an hour early of ... Read more

Palawan, dubbed as Philippines’ last frontier, is probably the country’s most ecologically-diverse, and its most stunning group of islands. One of the reasons that make the province truly a wonder is El Nido, a municipality situated at the main island’s northern tip. It is a host to a conglomeration of imposing islands. White strips adorn the edges of its verdant mounds that are surrounded with perfectly clear, aquamarine waters. The karst massifs, on the other hand, are towering, emanating pride and greatness of mother nature. This, together with the marine marvels below its seas and gorgeous white stretches continuously draw local and international ... Read more

As I always share, I find peace in three things. Those are: listening to a favorite country music while seated next to a window during long bus rides; gazing at a sunset or a starry night as the cold, gentle breeze gives me a comforting chill; and staring through the horizon with a white beach on the foreground and green massifs with a blue sky on the backdrop. Bulobadiangan Island Sandbar: Undeniably a stunner With my unending search for peace, I found Concepcion, a small town in Iloilo that hides a beautiful gem. The Bulobadiangan, Agho, and Pan de Azucar Islands are ... Read more

Cebu is one the Philippines’ hot spot for gastronomic adventure. A wide variety of cuisine and dining options dot around the city. From time to time, new food stalls and restaurants spring up like mushrooms, adding more entries to the long list of dining destinations. And soon, a Michelin-starred food chain will be among its additions. Tim Ho Wan’s best-selling pork buns Hong Kong’s famous Michelin-starred dim sum restaurant, Tim Ho Wan, is opening its 7th branch at the Upper Ground Floor, Mountain Wing of SM Seaside City on Saturday, March 25, 2017. The Seaside branch is the first and only ... Read more

I got awake due to an alarm. It was lazy dawn, and getting up was a bit of a challenge. The cold breeze blowing from the windows, the refreshing scent of my pillows, and the deafening silence were all conducive to good sleep. I reached my noisy phone from the bedside, and then checked the alarm. A note stating, “Trip to Sumilon” was flashing with the vibration rhythm. That text, for some reason, fully woke me up. I could feel my body pumping some adrenaline. Sumilon Island sandbar I was ready and all packed up in a matter of 30 ... Read more

The Philippines is a host to some of the world’s gorgeous beaches. These beaches are scattered to various islands within the archipelago. Boracay, El Nido, Coron, Malapascua, Bantayan, Concepcion, and Siquijor are among the thousand others that host the Philippines priced and famed, white beach fronts. The pink strip of the Great Santa Cruz Island, Zamboanga City The Pink Beach of the Great Santa Cruz Island Most of the beaches that rise to popularity are white. But, one fine strip in Mindanao had able to make to National Geographics’ list of 21 Best Beaches in The World—the Pink Beach of ... Read more

The shop seats seemingly ordinary at first glance. Unassuming. The glass that separates the house of sweets from the outside refracts the day light, creating a glossy tint, which eventually reduces the transparency. You could not get an apparent view of what is actually inside. Behind the fragile walls is The Chocolate Chamber. The Chocolate Chamber banner outside its boutique at Sarrosa International Hotel Initially, you may wonder if it either sells your favorite Belgian chocolates, or houses a candy collection sourced from foreign makers. Your curiosity engender, more likely. You’ll probably make a stop and take a close look ... Read more