All posts filed under: Lifestyle

Lifestyle — the things and tools in between. Phones and gadgets, home appliances, cars, and the everyday objects that don’t quite belong to a person’s story or a place’s story but shape both anyway. Same standard as the rest of the site: real experience, real opinion, no spec-sheet filler.

Boram Um, 2023 World Barista Champion

Manila’s Coffee Boom Has Three Tiers. The Farmer Isn’t Winning in Any of Them.

A P280 cup of pour-over and a P7 sachet of instant both come from the same Philippine soil. Only one of them is treated like it means something. That contradiction is what I kept circling back to in Quezon City, standing in a room full of people who sell milk tea and frappe for a living, watching a world barista champion launch a Filipino ingredient brand aimed at exactly none of them — and all of them, depending on how you count it. The Collision The champion is Boram Um: Korean family, born in Brazil, took the 2023 World Barista title in Greece. The social media version of his bio stops at “barista.” The more accurate one is economic proof of concept — he took a local agricultural product, vertically integrated the supply chain around it, and forced a global market to pay a premium for the labor of the farm as much as the skill of the extraction. That’s the thesis his championship was built on: not just pulling a great shot, but making …

Portraits at the Malaya Exhibit in Makati.

Malaya: The Portraits That Refused to Apologize

It rained the whole time. Manila’s weather had been erratic all week, and July 25 was no exception. People came anyway, filing into Midnight Dream Studio in Makati, shaking off umbrellas, for a portrait exhibition that asked something harder of its subjects than good lighting: to be looked at fully, without flinching first. That was the premise of Malaya: Bodies Without Apology, staged by Hara Clinic in collaboration with Midnight Dream Studio and The Red Whistle. Malaya means free. Dr. Deano Reyes, the clinic’s medical director, put the concept plainly when I spoke with him that evening: the project asks its participants “to be able to present themselves as their most authentic selves, to be unapologetic about who they are, to be free, to express their truest selves. That’s the concept behind Malaya.” Two Anniversaries, Two Different Parties Malaya wasn’t a standalone event — it was how Hara Clinic chose to mark its second year in operation. The first anniversary, Dr. Reyes told us, was a thanksgiving party. This one was deliberately something else. “This …

Where to Dance in Taguig: Imperial Dance Studio Opens at Venice Grand Canal Mall

If you’re looking for unique things to do in Taguig, there’s a new creative spot right above the iconic gondolas of Venice Grand Canal Mall. Located on the second level of the San Marco Wing, Imperial Dance Studio is the newest addition to McKinley Hill’s growing creative community. This 100-square-meter dance hall first opened on October 15 and officially held its grand opening on November 22, complete with a ribbon-cutting ceremony. ⸻ Who’s Behind Imperial Dance Studio? The studio is led by Milai Imperials, a former member of the UP Filipiniana Dance Group in Diliman, and of Douglas Nierras Powerdance, one of the country’s most respected contemporary dance companies. She later performed professionally at Hong Kong Disneyland. Her husband, Franz Gerald Imperial, is a theater actor and international performer who also performed at Disneyland Singapore. Together, they bring decades of performance experience into McKinley Hill’s newest creative space. ⸻ What Classes Do They Offer? Imperial Dance Studio offers one of the most multi-disciplinary programs in Taguig. Their lineup includes: • Jazz • K-pop • Ballet …

When Coffee Meets Ice Cream it’s Kismet: Starbucks Reserve® brings the perfect coffee and ice cream pairing

OKAY, THIS SOUNDS very cheesy but you’d agree with us when we say opposites make perfect combinations, and this holds true for the unique pairing of ice cream and coffee. Both are well-loved: coffee has always been seen as a comforting, warm drink, while ice cream is known as an indulgent, cool dessert — when put together, it’s like fate, and the results are bound to be something wonderful. Delightful fusions are now making their way to select Starbucks Reserve® stores, as the global coffee brand now offers its first ice cream and coffee pairings. The new, exciting, and delectable coffee with ice cream lineup is part of Starbucks’ continuous efforts to further elevate the coffee experience for their customers, thoughtfully crafting beverages that amaze with every sip. The roster of coffee-based ice cream beverages includes the Classic Affogato, the House Affogato, the Cold Brew Float, the Nitro Cold Brew Float, and the Cold Brew Malt. Starbucks provides a premium coffee experience, transporting its customers to the cafes of Italy with a staple dessert — …

Starbucks Celestial Siren collection 2018

Get a Hand at Starbucks Celestial Siren-Themed Anniversary Collection

Ever since Starbucks opened its doors in 1971, the Siren has been the brand’s enduring logo that invites customers inside its stores across the world. Today, even as the smiling Starbucks barista hands over your handcrafted beverage, you see the iconic image at the center of the cup, a symbol that promises not just great coffee but also great moments of connection.