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TRAVEL | HONG KONG 2018

Off the beaten path: Wandered and explored the not so common spots in one of the most visited countries in Asia . 

As a birthday gift to myself last January, I decided to join my friend and his group on a trip to Hong Kong. I feel contented when I’m going places; It gives me utmost happiness and immeasurable experience because I get to personally enjoy how it feels like to be in a different country. As they say, "When it comes to learning about life, there is nothing more enriching than traveling.

As a first-time tourist in Hong Kong, I definitely came prepared! I familiarized myself by reading a LOT of blogs, tips, and reviews (especially where to find those Instagram worthy spots) lol! Though not all, I’m ecstatic that we still managed to cover most on my list.

Warning: This is a bit of a photo-heavy post. I’ll be sharing with you guys the picture worthy places we’ve been, so you’ll also have an idea where to go to in case you've decided to visit. It ain’t much, but I hope this post will do justice to the beauty of what Hong Kong has to offer.

INNOVATION TOWER -  Located on Chatham Road South in Hung Hom district, the Innovation tower is designed by Pritzker-prize-winning architect Zaha Hadid.  Definitely one of the modern buildings to nab yourself an awesome Instagram shot.

JORDAN ROAD, KOWLOON - One of the most crowded streets in the “old” district of Hong Kong. Different shops and hostels can be found in the area. 

MONGKOK - Neon lights, neon bright. A whole street filled with different shops and restaurants. A true haven for both shoppers and food enthusiasts. The perfect place to buy affordable “pasalubongs”.

YICK CHEONG BUILDING - Behold, the Monster building! One of Hong Kong’s most Instragrammable sites for its conglomeration of five incredibly dense and stacked residential complexes. Became insanely famous because of the movie Transformers.

GRAHAM STREET -  Probably the most photographed fresco in the whole central district.

SHEK O BEACH -  Braved the strong winds and big waves just to have these shots. All for the love of blogging and Instagram. Situated in the southeastern side of Hong Kong, this place is famous for wind surfers. 

PO LIN MONASTERY -  The great oriental architecture. These stunning structures dominated East Asia over many centuries. Most of them remained largely unchanged up until today. 🏯

PO TOI ISLAND - If you’re looking for a good spot where you can enjoy a picturesque view of the blue sky and sea, then this island is for you! Located in the southern most part, Po Toi island is definitely a destination worth visiting.

Explored interesting places, met new friends, took a million shot of photos and gathered unforgettable memories. That sums up the different parts we’ve been during my 5 days of vacation. Will definitely go back to check out the others on my list. See you again soon Hong Kong! 

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MIND TO MIND

Rainy season is here. The perfect time to bring out those well kept sweaters and pullovers. 

It was almost 3 in the afternoon when we had these photos. The rain just stopped and the wind blew cold. A one of a kind weekend that was.

Model and styling: Chris | Photographed by: Alejandro Taag

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Figaro Coffee’s New Drinks

Last October 8, 2016, Figaro Coffee invited us to attend the media launch of their new drinks. 

This Coffee chain never fails to bring out new ideas when it comes to their coffees and pastries. This time, they are introducing not two, not four, but six group of drinks!

Being one of the few to have a first sip, I must say that Figaro did really well in making different variations to their offered beverages. Mind you, this is something that not just coffee lovers will be going gaga about because out of the 6 sets, 2 are non coffee based!

Another thing that I like about Figaro Coffee is that they take pride in promoting their slogan. “All Natural. Handcrafted. Affordable”. It’s always good to know that what you’re eating and drinking are made of natural ingredients, made with passion, and most importantly, AFFORDABLE lol!

Out of all the 20 beverages, my personal picks would be the Flat White, Butterscotch Vanilla Frappe with Coffee Jelly, and the Banana Caramel Blast. 

Today (October 15, 2016) and moving forward, all these drinks will be available nationwide!  Make sure to try these out if ever you will visit the nearest Figaro in your area.

To further entice your palate, check out these photos:

For more information,You can go and check their Facebook page HERE

You can also follow @figarocoffee on Instagram and @figarocoffeehq on Twitter

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KYLE x ALEJANDRO

First time to collaborate with this bud. Everything went well. Chill shoot as usual

Lorenz Kyle is the owner and founder of the Street Debonair blog. It is a personal style domain that is greatly inspired by street fashion. He illustrates his blog as a wardrobe of his ideas and thoughts about his style and personal life.

Model and Styling: Lorenz Kyle

Photographed by: Alejandro Taag

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Vintage Grey

Another set of collaboration between me and The filo Dapper; AJ Dee

Model and Styling: AJ DEE

Photoghraphed by: ALEJANDRO TAAG

Visit his website at THEFILODAPPER.COM

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The Filo Dapper

AJ DEE x ALEJANDRO TAAG

“A Filipino actor who likes to be creative through art and fashion. The idea of creating a fashion blog came to me during my travels. I like to tell a story through my style. This is my story.” - AJ DEE 

Photographed by: ALEJANDRO TAAG

Check more of his style and Dapper looks at THEFILODAPPER.COM

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BROOKLYN CALLING

Quick and fun shoot with my Photographer buddy from Italy. It’s always good to work with someone who shares the same interest and passion as you have. 

Model and styling: Ben Joseph Guevara

Photographed by: Alejandro Taag

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VERNIECE

The Beautiful and Gorgeous Verniece Enciso

BTS Shoot for GTW by SM

Photographed by: Alejandro Taag

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FIGARO YULETIDE TREATS 2014

Only a couple of days ahead and December is about to start. Well, it's beginning to feel and look a lot like Christmas. From the songs being played in the mall up to the decors that we see in every house, we can really say that the Yuletide season is finally here.

Having said that, there's another thing that I really look forward too during this time (and I'm pretty sure I'm not the only one lol!). All the mouthwatering foods and sweets are also present!! A perfect occasion to eat a lot.

Good thing my favorite coffee and pastry outlet formulated an interesting set of Holiday menu.Together with other bloggers, I was able to taste Figaro's scrumptious list of glorious treats, all available this Holiday season.

To start with, let's focus first with the drinks:

According to Mr. Laurence Tandico, Commissary Manager of Figaro, Their main inspiration for both drinks is the spirit of Christmas itself; Giving Gifts and Love. He further stated: "I chose both flavors for our Yuletide Drinks because I want to be the First Coffee Shop to cater these exciting beverages. The unique "Biscuitty" flavor of Speculoos and the extravagance of praline greatly complements the Filipino Coffee."

Basically, Figaro came up with two concoctions. But since each comes with a hot and cold version, customers can choose from four options on the menu. 

Each mug or cup comes with this cute little Christmas themed ginger cookie.

Speculoos Frost (145 Php) 16 oz  (165 Php) 20 oz

Speculoos Latte (119 Php) 8 oz

Made from Figaro's very own espresso blend, speculoos syrup, whipped cream and topped with vanilla ginger cookie. Figaro Coffee mingled with Speculoos, creating a creamy and Buttery sensation of sheer indulgence in every sip.

Praline Frost (145 Php) 16 oz  (165 Php) 20 oz

Praline Latte (119 Php) 8 oz

Figaro espresso blend, praline syrup, whipped cream and topped with vanilla ginger cookie. Figaro Coffee combined with Praline, bringing a unique spice of pure treat in every sip.

Between the two, my personal pick would be the Speculoos Frost. I'm a huge fan of peanut butter,so imagine my delight when I found out they have it on their line up.

Now off we go to the cakes and pastries! :)

Hummingbird Cake (115 Php per slice)

Figaro's take on the famous southern style cake. It is popular because of the combined taste of banana, cinnamon, coconut and pineapple. They complement each other very well. Definitely one of the most scrumptious cakes I've tasted. A must try!

Red Velvet Cake (119 Php per slice)

The classic Red Velvet Cake that everyone loves! It comes with a design of holiday Christmas wreath on top. By just plainly looking at it, you can already feel the spirit of Yuletide season, so what more if you taste it, right? I  know you want to! :)

Season Prune Cake (70 Php)

Loaf style cake w/ mashed prune & prune juice. Glazed with fruit to moist and to add a festive flavour as well. Unlike the usual fruit cake, this one is more of a child friendly pastry since it contains no alcohol. 

Sugar Iced Cookies (85 Php)

Classic ginger cookies shaped in 3 of the most prominent Christmas characters: Gingerman, Santa Claus, and Snowman. Perfect for the Holidays! 

Too adorable to eat! :)

Cranberry White Dream Bar (70 Php)

Blondies/ Butterscotch taste with a joyful taste of white chocolate and dried cranberries. Tastes even better when matched with a Speculoos Frost or Latte. 

There you have it! The complete line up of Figaro's Yuletide treats.

You can also have this gigantic Gingerbread house for 4,500 Php. Just approach any of Figaro's employees and inquire about it :)

So what are you waiting for? Head on to the nearest Figaro in your area and indulge yourself with these delish goodies.

With fellow food enthusiasts, bloggers, and the people behind Figaro Coffee Company. Thank you so much for having us. Till the next one! :)

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Hideaway by Style Division

MIKYLE QUIZON x ALEJANDRO TAAG

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Going around De Lasalle Health Sciences Institute

Last month, me and other social media influencers visited the De Lasalle Health Sciences Institute in Dasmarinas, Cavite. We went there to educate ourselves about their institution and also  be aware of the services they are offering.

Being a Doctor has always been my dream profession way back elementary days (Well, Who isn't right? lol), So visiting DLSHSI relieved those memories and somehow made my dream come true even just for a day.

To give you guys an overview, De Lasalle Health Sciences Institute is an institution that takes pride in studying health care education and research. It is a part of the De La Salle Philippines and an affiliate as well with the worldwide network of Lasallian Schools. Currently, DLSHSI is being managed by Bro. Gus Boquer, FSC, EdD.

To date, It continuous to receive numerous recognition and assistance for it's contribution in the medical industry. One of which is a grant that was awarded to them by the Department of Science and Technology for its anti Dengue project. It aims to study how local medicinal plants can also be used as an alternative cure for Dengue. Aside from that, they are also developing other herbal based topical remedies. It only shows how passionate and dedicated they are in discovering other possibilities when it comes to medication and treatment.

I was so busy observing the facilities and campus that I forgot to take a lot of photos, so please bear with me. But even so, I managed to take some snapshots in between, so here they are: Enjoy!

  If you are aiming to be in the Medical field, DLSHSI is definitely one of the Schools that you should consider. Yes, the name De Lasalle might hold the idea of being expensive, but students need not to worry. One highlight of this university is how they give utmost importance for less fortunate students. Currently, they hold the biggest scholarship program for medicine in the Philippines. They have a mission of making 1 scholar for every 5 regular students. How cool right? :)

Basing from what I saw and experienced, the whole campus is very conducive for learning. It projects a light and fresh environment that is very different from the universities within the metro. Aside from that,they have almost everything that a student needs to be competent in the medical industry. 

To know more about De La Salle Health and Sciences Institute, You can visit their official website at http://www.dlshsi.edu.ph/

They are also active on social media! So be sure to like their page in Facebook HERE, and follow them on Twitter HERE.

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Basics by Style Division

Mikyle Quizon X Alejandro Taag

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B L A C K

BOOTS, SWAG, INSTAX AND DAVID

MODEL: David Guison PHOTOGRAPHER: Alejandro Taag Photos for Fujifilm Instax mini 9

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Figaro Rice meals and Breakfast sliders

Another addition to their long list of mouth watering menu! 

Being a coffee company, Figaro takes a step up by further enriching their food choices. Not just focusing mainly on Beverage and pastry, they also offer other options for the customers to enjoy.   

RICE MEALS

For all the rice lovers out there, let's celebrate! Figaro is bringing our favorite rice meals all day, any day. 

We can choose from the classic Asado, pork tenderloin in Asian pesto sauce, Breaded fish with Plum Sauce and the traditional Adobo for Php 199!

Pork Tenderloin in Asian Pesto Sauce (Php 199)

This is my personal favorite! I like how the taste of all the ingredients compliment each other. A combination of sweet and salty, with a pinch of nutty pesto sauce to fill one's appetite. 

Classic Asado (Php 199)

Slices of Chinese-Filipino braised pork Asado with rice. A sure hit for everyone because of the juicy meat and sauce. 

Breaded fish with Plum sauce (Php 199)

Weight watchers and healthy buffs, hear ye!

A plate of breaded cream dory fish crisp-fried to perfection, drizzled with plum sauce served with Cucumber tomato Salsa and Rice. 

Traditional Adobo (Php 199)

Of course, the all time favorite Adobo! 

Perfectly-stewed pork in Soy sauce, Vinegar and Garlic served with tomato and Cucumber salsa and Rice with Egg.

Perfect anytime of the day, Figaro's Rice Meals are served with your favorite 8 oz brewed coffee.

BREAKFAST SLIDERS

For people on-the-go, Time is really important. Having said that, Figaro though of something to perk up your mornings by introducing the Breakfast Sliders.

You can choose two from the following options: Bacon and Egg Slider, Egg Slider, Zucchini Slider and Tapa Slider. Enjoy these plus a cup of Brewed Coffee and chips for only Php 139.

Tapa Slider

I've always been a fan of "Tapsilog", So when they told me that they have Tapa as part of their Breakfast Sliders, my heart skipped a bit lol! But seriously, it's the perfect answer if you have cravings for tapa. Meat is tender and juicy as well.

Egg Slider

Scrambled eggs with a slice of cheese, mushrooms, tomatoes and lettuce. 

Bacon and Egg Slider

Savor the Bacon crisp-fried to perfection with scrambled eggs, tomatoes and lettuce. It's a big yes for Bacon lovers out there!

Zucchini Slider

Vegan and health conscious people need not worry because they can also enjoy the Zucchini Slider: All veggies like peppers, Zucchini, grilled eggplant slices, tomatoes and lettuce with a slice of cheese, all in one meal. This i can eat all day without having the guilt feeling haha! :)

Make sure to try these out if ever you will visit the nearest Figaro in your area, and tell me your verdict by posting a comment below :)

Once again, my tummy has been one of the happiest that day, thank you Figaro for the Lavish treat! Till the next one.

For more information,You can go and check their Facebook page HERE

You can also follow @figarocoffee on Instagram and @figarocoffeehq on Twitter

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Massimo Bonini

Massimo Bonini formally opens its first Philippine store at Shangri-La Plaza

The premiere Italian showroom for the most exclusive Italian and international brands, has recently unveiled it's Spring/Summer 2014 collection with no less than Massimo and Sabrina Scarpelini Bonini in attendance.

Creativity, imagination, research, care, sensitivity and passion - These are the guidelines of Massimo and Sabrina Bonini who were pioneers in believeing in the power of accessories when they envisioned MASSIMO BONINI. The couple believed that the choice of footwear and accesories determines the personality of the wearer.

Sabrina Bonini said: "Recognizing the growing demand for luxury goods in the Philippines, the new concept store in the country introduces a roster of twenty seven brands which include: Bruno bordese, Etro, Giambattista Valli, Gianvito Rossi, Henderson, Kalliste, McQ, Missoni, MSGM, Roberto Cavalli, Thomas Blakk, and Versace with most of them exclusive to Massimo Bonini. "

"We are very much confident that the comprehensive range from updated classic styles to fashion forward designs will be a delight to customers who possess strong fashion sense", Bonini further said. 

Of course, I need to have a photo with THEM! Massimo and Sabrina Bonini together with  Italian Ambassador Massimo Roscigno.

Massimo Bonini is recognized as a worldwide leader for accessories, extremely focused on both style and customer care, by making its experience available in order to offer  more creative and excellent brands.

Visit them at the 2/3 Mid-level Shangri-La plaza East Wing.

You can also follow Massimo Bonini on Instagram @massimoboniniph

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Zomato redefines restaurant discovery

Zomato, the restaurant search and discovery service, has rolled out a completely revamped version of its web and mobile product. Building on its already rich and exhaustive restaurant database, ratings and reviews from its millions of monthly users, Zomato has now added a new, social layer to restaurant discovery - personalized recommendations from people whose opinions you choose to value.

“Even before the advent of the internet, people relied on social opinions for restaurant discovery. In our endless discussions with our users, we realized this behavior is still widely prevalent, but not catered to effectively by existing local discovery tools or review websites. With our new product, we want to cater to that intrinsic behavior in an amplified, social setting”, said Deepinder Goyal, Founder & CEO of Zomato.

Zomato’s revamped product is built on two simple pillars of thought – that individual preferences vary, and that building a more trusted ecosystem of recommendations will result in quicker and easier decision-making. From personalized search results to quickly adding restaurants to your Wishlist from anywhere on the site or app, Zomato has made restaurant discovery very swift and highly personalized. Among the new features is a FoodFeed that lets users see updates and activities from their network on Zomato, as well as restaurants visited, rated and reviewed - encouraging a more social, real-time discovery of restaurants. With this enhanced social layer, users will be able to filter search results to display recommendations from their network, i.e. the people they choose to trust and follow. To enable this personalized experience, Zomato will now be a login-only service.

The latest update also comes with a lot of changes to the design and user experience that make the product easier to use than ever before. For example, the search flow has been revamped completely to help users discover restaurants with fewer clicks, thereby offering a superior product experience.  Restaurant ratings have been normalized to prevent too many restaurants being clustered within a certain range, and the search algorithm has been tweaked to show more relevant results when users are searching for restaurants. Enhanced spam-control measures have been implemented to keep out junk reviews. Users can now also easily find and invite friends to Zomato from other social networks.

About Zomato

  Zomato is an online and mobile restaurant discovery service providing in-depth information for over 221,000 restaurants across 12 countries. Zomato's core content features include menus, photos and geocoded coordinates for restaurants; allowing users to rate and review restaurants, as well as create their own network of foodies.

  Zomato currently sees over 16 million monthly visits globally, across its web and mobile platforms, from people searching for places to go out for a meal, get home delivery, catch up at a cafe, or enjoy the local nightlife. The highly targeted platform makes it convenient for restaurateurs to interact with customers who are looking for dining options.

Zomato was started in Delhi in 2008 by Deepinder Goyal and Pankaj Chaddah. The company has since expanded its services to 41 cities across India, UK, UAE, South Africa, New Zealand, the Philippines, Portugal, Brazil, Turkey, Indonesia, Sri Lanka, and Qatar.

  For more information, please visit: http://www.zomato.com/or write to us at [email protected]

  Contact

  Alok Jain (Chief Marketing Officer, Zomato)

[email protected]

  UpasanaNath (Regional Director, Zomato South East Asia)

[email protected]

  Katrina Alexis L Clasara (AVP Operations, Zomato Philippines)

[email protected]// [phone]

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Sam Concepcion for Chef's Noodle

Chef's Noodle, the new favorite go-to restaurant for hearty Korean dishes, introduced its new endorser - actor, singer and dancer Sam Concepcion.

Sam is the newest addition to the roster of celebrity endorsers of Chef's Noodle, including TV host Grace Lee and gorgeous couple Lloyd and Shamcey Supsup-Lee.

"Sam's cool and casual personality as well as his vibrant energy perfectly capture the brand. As a fairly new player in the food industry here in the Philippines, Chef's Noodle is indeed a rising star - just like our new endorser Sam", says Nancy Go, Chef's Noodle operations manager.

"I am truly honored to be part of the Chef's Noodle team. The restaurant has been known for its delectable dishes and high culinary quality. Who would not want to be associated with that?", says Sam. 

Sam furthers, "My Friends and I love to hang out and try different kinds of food. I especially love Chef's Noodle because you get to enjoy a delicious meal at an affordable price. I can't wait to invite my friends to try Chef's Noodle and love it the same way I did". 

The first international master franchise brand from South Korea, Chef's Noodle is fast becoming a diner's haven for those who want a taste of the land of K-pop, Kimchi and more. Offering a wide array of mouth watering food choices, Chef's Noodle boasts of dishes especially crafted by no less than the award-winning Korean celebrity, Chef Choi In Sun.

Carving for Korean cuisine? Visit the nearest branch in your area:

University Mall - 4050129 Atlanta Center - 5765054 Robinsons Magnolia - 6567033 SM North EDSA The Block - 3765367 Robinsons Place Malolos - 09175486187 Soon to open in SM Megamall

You can also check Chef's Noodle website at www.chefsnoodlephils.com or like their facebook page HERE 

They are open for franchising :)