Seoul Searching | Highlights of my Spring/Summer 2018 Trip.

I've finally unpacked everything from my luggage, sorted out my K-beauty haul, and transferred more than a thousand photos from my phone to my hard drive. It's been two weeks since we returned to the Philippines and now I can finally say that we've settled back in!

That being said, it's back to the daily grind for me, and I'm just about ready to blog about all of the places that we've been to and all the food that we had in this year's Seoul Searching trip. But first, let me share with you some snippets of our Korean adventure:

Meeting Edward Avila... and sitting next to him on the plane!
K-beauty vlogger Edward Avila was in Manila last May for a Meet and Greet organized by Club Clio Philippines. The event was scheduled the day before our flight to Korea, making it impossible for me to attend much as I wanted to. As I watched live videos of the event on Clio's Instagram, I was thinking that maybe, just maybe, I could chance upon Edward at the airport if he happens to be flying back to Korea on the same day that we were.

I got more than I wished for because lo and behold, as I was fastening Yue's seatbelt, a guy with silver purple ombre hair peeking out of his black baseball cap took the seat beside mine on the plane. I knew right then and there who he was.

Flying all the way to Incheon with THE Edward Avila.
AirAsia Premium Flex seats are the best seats in the house!

"Edward?" I asked, stifling the urge to scream.
"Yes?" he replied.
And I was like, "Ohmigod ohmigod ohmigod, it's really you!"
And then I started gushing about how sad I was that I couldn't make it to his event and how lucky I am to actually be flying all the way to Incheon with one of my favorite vloggers! Edward was very friendly and congenial, and we chatted for the most part of the flight - well, at least during the times when we were both awake. We even took photos together, even if I look like I haven't slept for a week, haha!

Catching-up with friends.
My childhood friend Ela and her partner Maan were in Korea for a few days, and I made it a point to meet up with them - because reunions are more fun in Korea, lol.

Samgyeopsal with Ela and Maan.

I went to Hongdae where the girls were staying, and we had a hearty meal of samgyeopsal at one of the local restaurants in the area, capped off with the best churros in the world for dessert.

Customary photo with Brown, this time in Hongdae!

We also did a bit of shopping - well, more like pimple patch hunting since Ela wanted to try those popular pimple patches. As such, we went searching for the ALand branch in Hongdae, because I know for a fact that COSRx products are sold in ALand stores. Ela loved the COSRx Pimple Patch so much that she regrets not buying more even when I told her to, lol.

Bonding with family.
Despite their busy schedule, Kuya JR (my husband's cousin) and his wife Youngsook unni took the time to spend the day with us, one fine Sunday in June. We had barbecue and soju at our favorite buffet restaurant, Meat-ing, as a celebration of sorts - post-anniversary celebration for us, and advance birthday celebration for Youngsook unni.

The boys. :)

Chill Sunday with Kuya JR and Youngsook unni.

Then we enjoyed the Seoul sunshine by exploring Kondae Rodeo, shopping for sneakers, and having coffee at Holly's.

Celebrating our tenth wedding anniversary.

Would you believe that for the past nine years, the husband and I have never celebrated our anniversary together? This is the main reason why I wanted to be in Korea in June - so that we can finally celebrate our anniversary together, in one country, under one roof. It's our tenth year of marriage, after all, and our fifteenth year as a couple. 

Mocha Cream Cake from Paris Baguette.

Our anniversary fell on a weekday so we only had a simple celebration at home with some pasta (which I cooked), a bit of wine, and a lovely cream cake that the husband bought at the nearby Paris Baguette. But on the Sunday a few days ahead of our anniversary, we did celebrate the occasion by hearing mass at Hyehwa Catholic Church and having lunch at Yoogane - because no trip to Korea would be complete without enjoying my all-time favorite dak galbi.

Celebrating Father's Day.

Similarly, this was our first time to celebrate Father's Day together. I wanted this day to be extra special for the husband so I went the extra mile to get him the Curry 5 sneakers in the colorway that he wanted. 

Shopping for sneakers at the Under Armour flagship store in Itaewon.

My boys who love 'sole searching'. :)

Many thanks to the staff of Under Armour Garosugil and Under Armour Itaewon for the excellent customer service! You guys are daebak! (You can read the full story on this Instagram post.)

Feeling the football fever.
It sure felt different to watch the World Cup in a country that's actually playing in the World Cup, and I was so glad to still be in Korea during their first two group stage matches. The entire country was in a very festive mood during that time, especially in the evenings when cheering parties were held in open spaces such as Gwanghwamun Square, City Hall, and the COEX Convention Center.

Street cheering/viewing party at Gwanghwamun Plaza. Photo credit: Korea Times.

K-Stadium at Lotte World Mall.

BTS x Coca Cola World Cup pop-up at COEX Mall.

Although it was sad that Korea's World Cup dreams ended in the group stage, they did bag the honor of being the only Asian country to beat Germany, champions of the 2014 World Cup.

As for me, Korea bags the honor of being the country that I have traveled to the most (five times in total), and I will never grow tired of visiting this country again and again. If only we could live here permanently, I would pack my bags and go even at a moment's notice!

Spotlight | The Eternity Rose.

Valentine's has long been over, and by now, the flowers that were given as gifts to celebrate the occasion have either wilted or have been thrown away. After all, fresh cut flowers look good for just three to four days - a week, at the most.

But not my rose.

The Eternity Rose.

Mine neither dries, fades, or wilts, and will last and look the same for many more Valentine's (and even wedding anniversaries) to come. It's called The Eternity Rose, a one-of-a-kind gift that's guaranteed to live up to its name. Created by a group of Australia-based artisans, The Eternity Rose has been in the market - Europe, in particular - for over nine years.

A rose for all eternity.

What makes this product extraordinary is that it's made with a real rose, grown to perfection by a team of trained horticulturalists who vigilantly watch over the blossoms and harvest them at their ideal stage of bloom. The roses then undergo a complex, 60-step process of preservation which includes 'freezing' the flower in its natural form, coating it with several layers of lacquer, dipping it in platinum, silver, and gold, or glazing and trimming the edges with pure, 24-karat gold. The entire process takes about 90 days, making this product a finely crafted work of art.

Even the leather case is a work of art. 

My very own Eternity Rose is an exquisite, light blue rose, glazed and trimmed in 24-karat gold. Sure, a gold or platinum-dipped rose would look even more majestic, but I personally chose blue since this color represents the 10th wedding anniversary. Husband and I are celebrating our tenth year of marriage this June, and the Blue Eternity Rose makes a perfect, lasting keepsake for this happy occasion.

Makes a lovely conversation piece, too. 

The glazed roses are also available in other colors, including red - the ultimate symbol of beauty and love. Each rose is presented in a stylish display case made from leather, and comes with a Certificate of Authenticity.

Certificate of Authenticity.

Aside from Valentine's Day and wedding anniversaries, The Eternity Rose makes an exceptional gift for just about any occasion - birthdays, Mother's Day, and even graduations. They can be purchased directly from The Eternity Rose website, and can be bought with or without a display case, or as a set with a brass vase also dipped in precious metals.

A closer look at my Light Blue Eternity Rose.

If you prefer something wearable, you'd be glad to know that The Eternity Rose also has rose pendants and earrings available. You can buy them as a set to match your Eternity Rose, or purchase them separately. They offer free shipping for all orders, and can deliver to over 50 countries around the globe, including the Philippines.

Believe me, this rose is even lovelier in person. :)

Visit The Eternity Rose website to know more about their products and view the complete collection and/or follow their official Facebook page for promos and product updates.

Spotlight | oNecklace Infinity Jewelry Collection.

Today, the husband and I are celebrating our 9th wedding anniversary and our 14th anniversary as a couple. That's quite a long time of togetherness, I know. :)

And what better way to commemorate this occasion than with new jewelry from one of my favorite jewelry brands, oNecklace? If you're a regular reader of this blog, then you're probably aware that I have worked with oNecklace in two previous campaigns - the first one was on Valentine's Day two years ago, while the second time was last October when they launched their Pink Ribbon Collection.

Working with oNecklace has always been a joyous experience, and I am thrilled to be part of their new campaign. It's like the universe is conspiring to make our anniversary extra special and worth remembering. Haha!

I love that the boxes now come in my favorite color! :)

oNecklace recently introduced new items to their Infinity Jewelry Collection, and now I am a proud owner of these two lovely pieces - the Personalized Infinity Bracelet and the Classic Infinity Ring.

New pieces from the Infinity Jewelry Collection.

Nothing says forever better than this Personalized Infinity Bracelet, adorned with tiny heart charms engraved with your and your loved one's initials.  

B + C to infinity and beyond. :)

The infinity symbol is suspended from a dainty yet durable rolo style chain, made with sterling silver, rose gold plated, or 24k gold plated similar to mine.

Personalized Infinity Bracelet when worn.

Complementing this piece is the Classic Infinity Ring, a timeless, trendsetting ring that can be paired with any look.

Classic Infinity Ring.

Like the bracelet, this ring is another meaningful way to represent eternal love, as it bears the iconic infinity symbol. Similarly, this ring can be crafted with the material of your choice - sterling silver, 24k gold plated, or rose gold plated similar to mine.

Classic Infinity Ring when worn.

All oNecklace pieces come with a Certificate of Authenticity, a guarantee that the materials used are hallmarked and confirm with legal standards.

Certificate of Authenticity.

I know there are a lot of June brides out there like me, so if you're celebrating your anniversary soon and would like to commemorate the occasion with a meaningful gift, I suggest you visit oNecklace and purchase a piece or two from their website. They ship orders within 24 hours, and offer free shipping to anywhere in the world!

Thank you, oNecklace for these lovely gifts!

And happy anniversary, my love! Cheers to a lifetime of togetherness! I love you! :)

Foodie Goodie | Hap Chan Restaurant.

It's our anniversary today! Can't believe my husband and I have been together for 11 long years already. And to celebrate the occasion (despite the husband's physical absence since he's still working overseas), we decided (and by we I mean my son and I) to have lunch at Hap Chan Restaurant. Oh yes, we actually have Hap Chan in San Pablo City. The branch is located at Ultimart, the very first mall here in my hometown.

Hap Chan San Pablo.

The little man and I arrived at the restaurant around 2 pm. A crowd of ten people had just finished eating and was about to leave the restaurant as we stepped in. And within minutes, Yue and I had the place all to ourselves.

Inside Hap Chan.

You get an Asian vibe from the lighting and fixtures - after all, this is a Chinese restaurant.

Bamboo mural and red lanterns.

And like most Chinese restaurants, they served us a complimentary pot of their house tea before our meal.

Jasmine tea.

The little man asking for his cup to be filled with tea, too. :)

Hap Chan has extensive food choices on their menu - dimsum, congee, soup, noodles, vegetables, and classic Chinese dishes. They also have a variety of drinks and desserts, set menus, and rice toppings. I ordered two bowls of rice toppings - one for the little man, one for me - instead of ordering rice and viand platters separately.

Buttered Chicken, Php 130.

The little man had Buttered Chicken - chicken pieces fried in butter, served with vegetables on the side. Yue likes anything chicken, so this dish passed his taste. 

Fish Fillet with Corn Sauce, Php 130.

I, on the other hand, had Fish Fillet with Corn Sauce. While I do appreciate the melt-in-your-mouth tenderness of the fish fillet, I can't seem to fathom the taste of the corn sauce. I was expecting it to taste like creamed corn, but this seemed like it was simply drizzled with Knorr's Crab and Corn soup. 

Hong Kong Lemon Iced Tea.

Good thing I made the right choice of ordering a separate plate of Soyed Tofu. Soft tofu soaked in light soy sauce, this simple yet flavorful dish made up for the somewhat bland taste of my fish fillet. 

Soyed Tofu, Php 80.

By the way, rice toppings come with a free glass of Lemon Iced Tea and a small bowl of Ho To Tay soup. Not bad for Php 130 per order, eh?

Ho To Tay soup.

 The little man loved the soup a lot. He even asked for a refill, much to my surprise. Haha!

Enjoying every slurp. :)

For dessert, the little man ordered Chilled Taho with Sago. He loves 'taho' (silken tofu) just as much as I love regular tofu. Well you know what they say, the apple doesn't fall from the tree. :)

Chilled Taho with Sago, Php 45.

I ordered Butchi, but here's what they served me instead - Bichu ala Mode. Their Butchi is one of the reasons why I wanted to eat at Hap Chan today (I've been craving for Butchi since last week), but alas, our waiter wasn't paying attention and mistook butchi for bichu. 

Bichu ala Mode, Php 75.

I could have refused this bichu and demanded for my butchi, but since the waiter was very apologetic, I let it pass. I shared the ice cream with Yue, and had the bichu wrapped for take-away.  

Selca after our tummy-fill. :)

Despite the order mix-up and my issue with the corn sauce, I can't say the dining experience was bad. Mostly because the little man enjoyed his food at Hap Chan. Halfway through our meal, he was telling me that he'd like to eat at this restaurant again and try the other chicken dishes. Haha! Here's hoping there won't be an order mix-up next time we visit!

Hap Chan San Pablo

Ultimart Plaza, M. Paulino St.,

San Pablo City

(049) 572 3300

Wordless Wednesday #43 | Off to Antipolo!

 

Every year, my parents-in-law would hie off to Antipolo City to visit and hear mass at the National Shrine of Our Lady of Good Peace and Voyage, more commonly known as the Antipolo Cathedral. They do this in commemoration of their wedding anniversary, and this year they just celebrated their 35th. :)

Unconditional Love | My Ingat na Damang Dama Story.

Today, the husband and I are celebrating two milestones - our tenth anniversary as a couple, and our fifth anniversary as husband and wife. And if there's one person in the world who loves me unconditionally and takes care of me so preciously, it's got to be him.

He may not be the kind of guy who shows his affection by means of flowers and chocolates. Rather, he is the kind of man who would surprise you with your favorite sleeping pack or BB Cream, or go to great lengths just to satisfy his pregnant wife's craving for chicken cordon bleu, french fries with mayonnaise, and fried siomai in the middle of the night.

He is the kind of husband who would take good care of you when you are sick - bring you to the doctor for check-ups (in the worst case stay by your side at the hospital, 24/7), get you the medicine you need (say, Salbutamol for my asthma, or Biogesic for my headache), and make sure you take them on time.

06.06.08

Have someone in your life who takes care of you or has taken care of you the same way? Then share your Ingat na Damang Dama story with Biogesic for a chance to win some amazing prizes!

Contest Mechanics.

There are four ways to send in your entries:

1) Via Twitter. 

Tweet your story and use hashtag #ingatnadamangdama

2) Via Facebook. 

Submit your story via the Facebook Fan Page App. 

3) Via video.

Upload a Video of your story using the Facebook Fanpage App.

4) Via email.

Send in your story via email to biogesicph@gmail.com.

Ten stories will be chosen and each entry will be given a cash prize of Php 5000. So what are you waiting for? Head over to Biogesic's social media pages and start sharing your Ingat na Damang Dama stories!

Need inspiration? Watch John Lloyd's video below!

To Have and to Hold | Top Wedding Photography Trends of 2013.

'Twas one of those days when I miss the husband immensely and as I flipped through our wedding album, it made me realize how different wedding pictures looked like five years ago. (Yes, we're celebrating our fifth anniversary this June.) Not surprising since wedding trends move really fast; and portraits missisauga are no exception.

With June fast approaching, I'm pretty sure the photography business will again be at its busiest. If you're one of those June brides (or grooms, for that matter), here are some wedding photography trends that you can expect:

Turning five. :)

Color - lots and lots of color
Bright, natural colors are one of the hottest wedding photography missisauga trends these days. Super saturated photos are ideal for pre-nuptial and engagement photos as they make colors pop, and add a whimsical feel to the images.

Vintage glam
Washed out photos reminiscent of the Casablanca era are all the rage right now. If nostalgia is right up your alley and suits your style, then vintage edits are the way to go.

Bokeh love
Bokeh is one of my personal favorites. In Nihonggo, the word means “blurred” or “hazy” and in terms of photography, it means part of the image is aesthetically blurred such that objects in focus stand out beautifully.

Now remember, whatever trend you follow or whatever style you choose, your wedding photos should focus primarily on you, your spouse, and the emotions of this momentous occasion. Take your time and  have fun with putting your own personal touch on  these trends to make your wedding photos truly unique.