#wimtern

[chellisabongar]

Task 3/Week 3

We decided to check out the newly opened food park located in 34-36 P. Tuazon Blvd. Brgy. Kaunlaran, Cubao, Quezon City.

Open Kitchen

Their interior was very chic, modern and artsy. A great place to just chill and eat or just hangout with friends.

For now, they have 41 food stalls you can choose from. Every stall has different international cuisine, there was Japanese, Indian, Mexican and even FIlipino food.

Craving for some Ramen?

They also have bars, so if you just want to drink and chill with your friends

OMG they also have steak!

Don’t forget about the dessert

boyfie eating the dessert we bought!

Like I mentioned earlier the place is very artsy, every corner is ig worthy haha

So go and check them out!

[loveelectronicpaper-blog]

Line of Fire: Survival Mode

State Universities. There are some who does its job and has great way of serving its students. There are some who seem to ignore the cries of its students whether it is about the fees or the facilities, some state the reasons that they don’t have enough funds to repair or upgrade.

But we all know that it is not the only problem, right? Most of the times teachers are actually great. They add some requirements that makes some students laugh because of the demands or even cry.

Studying in a State University is often times a hassle. Not only because of the teachers. It’s college, right? We have to learn. But the thing that bothers us is the requirements or the school, too many of them, and of course, as what we say “the line of fire”.

Most of us have been there, right? These long lines where you really have to wait for another two hours and sometimes, not just two. Let’s say maybe the whole day. It’s often times because of the requirements that the school wants you to get, and the clear demand for that is the clearance.

Here in the Imus Campus of Cavite State University, you have to be like a tribute from a district in the hunger games in order to be first in the line.  Yes, it’s almost like a survival game. 10 lines that has to be signed in order for you to get your grades. It’s not really that hard to obtain these requirements. Not unless you’re in a rush, and most of the students are in a rush too. That’s like going into war with every single one of them. Let the games begin.

Ah, you know Filipinos, right? Most of us like the thrill of the ‘last minute’. In addition to this rush, that is not the only problem we students face. It’s the heat.

We’re quite lucky that some of us didn’t experience the line like what the main campus had, not until the recent semester came. That was really one of the most stressing things that happened in our campus. Line is cut off at 6 in the morning? Who likes that? This is one of the things that we have to consider that this is really a ‘Line of fire’.

So the question is, how do we survive this long lines and exceeding requirements? It’s really simple, the students must rely on the science of our body and some, the opinions of those who already experienced this line.

One of the things you have to do is to eliminate boredom. Well, in this case students or even everyone who stands or waiting in a long line tends to get bored. Who doesn’t get bored, anyway? Add the heat because our campus does not have a centralized air conditioning, and the annoying feeling that our sweat gives us. This is one of the factors that we have to eliminate. Listen to music, talk to your friend, don’t focus on the line. It’s just a simple task. Because if you don’t eliminate boredom, you’ll end up complaining on yourself about the long line and the heat that annoys you. In addition to this, you have to be patient too. Don’t always be in a hurry. We all know that the circumstances don’t allow it but, relax. Just think that you’ll be done with this and you’ll be home in no time.  

[legendarybanina]

A Pancake To Remember

A delightful breakfast for me would always comprise of garlic fried rice, a sunny side-up egg with runny yolk and crispy egg white edges, and beef tapa made from the leftover bistek tagalog from the night before. But, an even more special breakfast that would mean that something special is planned for the day comprise of a jiggly and puffy Maya pancakes, cheap maple syrup and hot Milo.

In our family, pancakes served for breakfast is a not-so-common occasion and that’s why it’s always looked forward to. Even though we could easily purchase the instant pancake mix from the nearby sari-sari store, for some strange reason, we never opted to buy it unless it is for something special. Pancakes have always been meaningful for me because of our weird tradition. My love for pancakes grew because of every sweet moment I remember of with my family. And, today, I had a taste of a mind-blowing pancake – one of the best, if not the best pancake there is.

Tokyo Milk Cheese Factory is known for its cheese cookies, heavenly cheesecakes, and milk ice cream. It has more than 10 branches all over the Metro. The dessert shop opened its first ever restaurant in the world (woah!) in Ayala Malls Manila Bay in Paranaque – Honestly, I was shocked when I learned this because I assumed that if it would open its first restaurant, then it must be in Japan. But hey, what is there to complain about, right? We just have to be thankful because now we get to be the first country to enjoy their delightful products in a cozy and cute restaurant.

Because it’s my aunt’s birthday, we went to Tokyo Milk Cheese Factory in Ayala Malls Manila Bay to try their souffle pancakes, a special menu that you can only buy from their restaurant and not from their stalls. We tried their Crème Brulee Pancake and good heavens, I don’t mean to exaggerate, but I don’t think I would ever forget this because it was just too delicious. The waitress notified us at first that it would take 20 to 30 minutes before it is served. We didn’t mind waiting because we just knew how meticulous it is to create the perfect Japanese pancakes based from all the artful recipe videos that went viral in social media. When it was placed on our table, we immediately noticed its big serving. One serving has two pancakes on top of each other, sitting on a generous amount of milky sweet cream you can dip your pancakes in. It also has a toasted sugar flake on top of the pancakes, hence its name. It is also garnished with a peppermint leaf on top. I think that what sets this apart from other pancakes is its impeccable softness. It felt like slicing through a flan! Devouring this was a really sweet experience for me because I just knew that I was served with good food. There was actually a moment where we just pondered how lucky the Japanese must be because they have impeccable food.

We also tried their milkshake. Both my aunt and I ordered the Maple Milkshake and it was just as good. The milkshake is sweet, but it is balanced with a bit of salty taste which makes it complementary for the sweetness of the pancakes. The milkshake has maple syrup and is topped with a thick cream – veeery rich and creamy and you definitely get a taste of the shop’s signature cow’s milk freshness. I also liked that it didn’t have lots of ice. I must advise though that you really should blend the cream with the milkshake because when I was finishing it up, I thought that there was still lots of milkshake left but it was only cream. I had to use a spoon because it can’t get through the paper straw as it was thick.

Overall, dining at Tokyo Milk Cheese Factory is a wonderful treat because not only you get served with great food that is worth your every penny, but you also get to enjoy it in a cozy, serene, and cute restaurant that is instagrammable from every angle.

[legendarybanina]

Active Now: Skin Care Heroes

As a young and broke college student with unforgiving skin, it is very frustrating to try out different products you see in beauty and wellness shops hoping that it would be the answer to my blemishes, only to find out that it doesn’t work on my skin or worse, it only worsened my skin. Setting an appointment with dermatologists is kind of out of the option because it costs a lot and it will definitely dent a week’s worth of allowance. And so I just repeat the cycle of buying another product and hope that it will be it. But when I think about it, if I sum up all the wasted products I bought, I think that would be worth a couple of appointments with a derma already. And so all I’m left with are my blemishes and a 12% value added regret.

Fortunately, I came across two sent-from-above accounts on twitter.

Dr. Erin Tababa and Dr. Winlove Mojica are both dermatologists who both share their expertise on social media. They go by usernames @thenerdyderma and @theskinsensei respectively. They answer questions from the netizens who are eager to score an expert’s opinion on different skin concerns and products as well, and they also debunk common “miskinceptions” about caring for the skin that have been passed in a number of generations. Both of their accounts have continuously reached more audiences and gained followers which only proves that people tend to be more concerned now on their health and that they use social media not only for keeping up with their friends but also to seek professional advice for their health and wellness.

One of my favorite advices I learned from @thenerdyderma is how facial scrubs cannot remove blackheads. I was shocked at this revelation because I’ve seen lots of facial scrubs, both high-end and drugstore, that promise the removal of the omnipresent blackheads. I still remember how this fairly popular brand of apricot scrub have always been believed to be effective blackheads remover, only to be debunked many years later by @thenerdyderma, a diplomate of the Philippine Dermatological Society. She said that the beads in the scrub are too big to reach the roots of the blackheads therefore cannot possibly remove it. It could only go as far as reaching the surface level of the skin, which has nothing much to do in removing those little black insecurities.

On the other hand, my favorite advice from @theskinsensei is to never use calamansi on your face. The calamansi theory goes back from several ancestors ago. My lola still uses calamansi on her face but no matter how I convince her not to do this anymore, she just wouldn’t give in because she feels that it really benefits her skin. She also used to tell me to do the same when I was younger, when I first had pimples. I never did, though, because I was scared that it would be mahapdi. This centuries-old belief of our grandmothers was debunked officially by a credible dermatologist. This topic had gone viral because many people’s grandmas and mothers have mutually believed this. It was life-shattering, even perhaps a my-whole-life-was-a-lie moment. Now, I am even more thankful that I didn’t put calamansi on my face. As for my lola, well, I just think that I’ll let her be. For now. Or maybe I should start stealing all the calamnsis in our house, hmm?

I am very grateful that these two kind dermatologists have chosen to impart their knowledge through social media even if they don’t directly make profit from it. It is also timely that these professionals engage in wide-reached platforms especially now that skin care has become a bigger concern among the social media generations. It is a generous act for both of them to do what they do, and I just hope that they won’t get tired of answering questions because they don’t know how many people are being saved from harming their skins more because of their tweets and posts.

To end this blog, I just want to share this advice from @theskinsensei which I believe all people, especially myself, should be reminded about:

[legendarybanina]

Welcome to my Kitchen! 🍳🍵🥩🍆🍗🥒🥬🍌🍽

Are you hungry? Are you in the mood for a hearty meal of rice and sinigang? Yes? Okay, coming right up!

Kumusta? I’m Nina Angela Cruz and thank you for viewing this Sinigang recipe. Enjoy!

The first thing we need is LPG. I believe that I’m an LPG not because I’m short and chubby but because I believe that I can ignite beautiful things to happen. I may doubt myself at times, but I know that I have a potential to realize my ideas.

Next on the list is a pot. I see myself as a pot because just like how it can contain tasty dishes, my heart can hold lovely things as well like my love for my family, my doggos, and my love for Hyun Bin, Lee Dong-wook, and T.O.P.

For the vegetables, first, we’ve got to have kangkong. Kangkong is such a versatile vegetable because it can go from an affordable adobong kangkong that costs less than a hundred pesos to crispy fried kangkong chips in high-end restaurants. And I believe that I have this range as well. Being active on social media exposes me to what’s happening around the world, to what’s trending, to new emerging cultures, to celebrities and influencers being cancelled, to new memes, and serious sociopolitical issues as well. I just love all the chikas and honestly, I can’t wait to hang out at Mary Grace to make chika with other titas when I get older. I mean, that’s the goal, right?

Our next ingredient is some long green chilis. This one gives the sinigang a thrill, doesn’t it? A bit of a spiciness makes you go in for your second to fourth cup of rice. Just like this chili, I also like to embark on thrilling activities just like when I signed up for ROTC knowing that I wasn’t physically fit, when I started to learn how to bake for a school project in first year of college, when I started to learn to play the piano last year, and this application I’m very nervous about.

Next up is okra. It’s cute how the okras look like they’re wearing little hats, right? Well, just like them, I also like to wear different hats in my lifetime. (Is that a bit far-fetched? Okay, sorry. :P) I’m a sophomore journalism student but apart from being a broadcaster, I also dream of becoming a movie director, actress, and… you know…. If all else fails, I could settle as a non-showbiz girlfriend…Or is this my Plan A?

I have lots of aspirations and I’m in the point in my life where I feel more pressured to be successful because I only have two years left for college and yet I don’t think I will be ready for the real hustle when I graduate. In two years, I shall be employed, feed myself, and support my family. In two years, I won’t have any allowance anymore. But, although the journey is going to be hard, I’ve got to have talooong patience in the process. (Yep, excuse me for the pun.) I must be tough and face real life with my game face on. Other people did it, why can’t I?

Lastly, the most important ingredient, the pork. I use pork because it is my favorite and seriously, pork sinigang is the best. I also strive to give my best shot in everything I do yet I know that other people will always prefer fish, shrimp, or beef, or other people over me but it shouldn’t matter as long as I believe in myself. I may not be accepted for this internship but instead of sulking, I’ll use that as a motivation to work and pray harder next time. (I’m kidding. Of course I’ll take my time to be sad… but, it would be really great if I get accepted. uwu)

I’m a fun and creative person so I believe I will be a good addition to the When in Manila family. I will use my humor and quirks in my contributions to connect more to the audience. To be accepted in this internship will be a great training and experience for me as a future journalist.

[blissfulmaiden]

Advocacy: 5 Practical Ways to Express Your Filipino Patriotism (Task 3, for WIMternship, Batch 9)

The Philippines is one of the Asian countries with a colorful history and people. If it became a person, it would be like anyone else - has both positive and negative attributes. Our teachers from elementary taught us we, Filipinos are hospitable, respect the elders, have close family ties, God-fearing and helpful to one another (Bayanihan). We also possess procrastination, superficiality (ningas kugon mentality), crab mentality, colonial mentality and complacency (pwede na ‘yan).

Fellow Filipinos had long been unpatriotic because of the rampant corruption in the government and hopelessness in personal economic status. They patronize foreign culture and products instead. Little they know that there are now many local companies produce a great quality of what they offer and compete to their foreign rivals. So who are you going to choose?

But what if you dislike leaving your country unsupported anymore? What if you do not have any money to always buy local products? How are you going to show your love for your country?

Below are 5 simple tips on showing your love for our country - the Philippines:

Follow all the Philippine laws. You do not know any law? Here’s an example - no jaywalking. Use ped xing or pedestrian lanes when crossing the street. Cross the street when the green human-shaped pedestrian traffic light is on or when the red light on the car traffic light. In following such, you help maintain order on the street and avoid danger for yourself if you didn’t cross it properly.

Show respect to Philippine symbols. Whenever you hear the national anthem, do you take time to stop, stand up and put your right hand on your chest? By doing so, you are saying, “I respect my country & this song so I’m going to do this.”

Keeping old Filipino traditions alive. My parents remind us up to this day that we should say po and opo to our elders. Using those words is a sign of respect for them. Another way of showing respect is by doing “mano po” that translates to [your] hand please as the greeting starts the gesture of touching the back of the hand of an elder lightly on one’s forehead as per Wikipedia. My favorite is the Filipino way of courtship. I will not suggest the harana or the man will sing a song for the lady he courts in front of her house. But if you still like to do that and show your great singing voice, then go. What I will suggest, based on our culture, is that a man should go personally to the woman’s house and ask her and her parents if she could court her. Aakyat ng ligaw. In that way, you hit three birds with one stone. Parents highly regard this act because it shows respect and seriousness to them in wooing their daughter.

Patronizing all forms of Filipino art. As Michael Buble observed, half of our population has a great voice. Our Original Pinoy Music or O.P.M is beautiful and unique. It is now again booming thanks to new artists like Moira dela Torre, Ben and Ben, and IV of Spades. By singing and listening to their songs, you could influence your friends as well to love O.P.M. Don’t forget the Pinoy food, movies and TV shows which you could have for free by asking your parents or friends.

Speak in Filipino. The Komisyon ng Wikang Filipino advised that it’s not Tagalog anymore but Filipino. Based on a KWF Resolution 2013, Filipino is a “native language used all over the Philippines as the language of communication, orally as well as written, by native groups all over the islands.” Speaking this wherever and whenever allows us to communicate to all Filipinos no matter what class they belong to. It also recognizes us as a proud Filipino by using our own native language and passing it on to the next generation.

Even if we change the color of our hair, eyes, or skin, it is important to identify ourselves with whom we really are and flaunting it to the world. Stop complaining about the faults of other Filipinos, especially the government. Instead, rise and show your positive side and contribution to your motherland. In this time, one can unite a country just like what People’s Champ and Senator Manny Pacquiao is doing when he has a boxing fight.

[blissfulmaiden]

7 Creative and Fun Ways in Acing Your Studies (Task 2, for WIMternship Batch 9)

“Ang kabataan ang pag-asa ng bayan”, is a famous quote by our national hero Dr. Rizal. But how can they be ready for anything that life will bring them if they are uninterested to even listen to a lecture? Yes, sometimes the topic, subject or even the teacher are boring. Did you know that you must fight boredom with a bit of imagination?

Difficulties are part of a student’s life. You may be the underdog today but just continue.  Cheating in any way is not an option, though. It will not help you learn anything. 

Here are creative and fun ways in dealing with your studies may it be the longest boredom of them all, a final exam or any school-related challenges.

Have a powerful mindset. Benjamin Franklin once said, “You can do anything you set your mind to.” Our mind is so mighty it can conquer any hardships and pain just to reach your goal. Pick a goal you dream to grasp. Your purpose will be your strong drive to stick to your goal no matter what. Make a vision board and place it in a conspicuous area or make it a lock screen wallpaper. 

Use a creative planner or download a student app planner. Nowadays planners are attractively made and let’s you jot more plans than before. Student app planners are very detailed depending on your assignment, task, or schedule which you can view all at once. Whatever you choose, it will help you manage your priorities & manage your time efficiently.

Stick to your supportive loved ones. Each of our loved ones is different so choose whom to hang out with that genuinely support your goals in your studies. If your best friend, for example, likes to ditch your classes and hang out in the mall, you better think twice spending time with him/her. You can still be best friends, but you must schedule your malling. Listen to your loved ones when they give you unsolicited pieces advice if you fail. But also be glad if they commend you for your achievement.

Do old-school tested ways. Pray to God to guide you, give you strength & wisdom. Sleep on time and get up early. Eat nutritious & delicious food before heading to an hour long review. Take a break for a few minutes between study sessions. Talk to your parents, teachers or any adult you trust & seek advice and tips. Join an organization  that piqued your interest & be friends with other members. Make it a habit to do what’s right and you’ll never be astray.

If problems persist, do something creative. Solve problems unconventionally. Be ingenious when you are still waking up late, for example. You can have a rooster outside your house. If you still flunk at math, seek support to a tutor and ask examples that are related to everyday life. Listen to upbeat instrumental music when reviewing for a major exam. It’s up to your intuition to unleash your creativity in solving problems.

Enjoy studying by loving it. I become loyal to studying because it lets me discover ideas, events or anything that are interesting. It’s as if every new idea says, “Did you know that…?”

Reflect each night. Think about any accomplishments or mistakes you made during the day. Write it down. This will aid you what to do or not to do next time. Also, it will make you careful on any decisions you will make. 

Remember, you only get to study once so do your best. Think of it as an investment for the future. If you think it does not relate to your academic , find what it teaches you instead. It may be a virtue of perseverance or faith or any virtue. 

A quote to live by, “Never stop learning because life never stops teaching”.

[blissfulmaiden]

The Next Euphoric Stories (Task 1, for WIMternship, Batch 9)

Stories are always interesting whether it’s fiction or nonfiction. Did you know that this is my basic way of traveling? Just like Princess Jasmine of Aladdin, I read a lot which enables me to travel whenever and wherever. It’s also pricey to travel physically. But when a nearby event occurred, I went like a cinema festival and fiesta.

I was born in a time when Mother Mary’s name in Spanish is prevalent to use as a baby’s name. My mom and dad creatively combined their names to come up with my second name. As their eldest daughter, they always taught me to be obedient and study hard.

When I was still schooling, there were many times that I really enjoyed studying. Reading notes when reviewing refreshes me with our lessons, and I was also learning new things about it. Also, there were group stage play practices where my classmates gave their best acting skills. That entertains me.

Outside school, I was actively being a Youth For Christ member before. Now with my age and marital status, I’m in Singles For Christ. Not just did I learn and deepen my relationship with the Lord but also grow as an extraordinary person. I learned how to handle groups of my age and kids. Event organizing, hosting, game mastering, tutoring, dancing, acting and sharing (life lessons) are the skills I also gained together with fellow members. It’s a cool Catholic community.

After working for several years in the corporate world and realizing the first dream I need to fulfill God led me to express my ideas and feelings in the art of written words. A white bond paper is like a canvas, which I slowly begin scribbling letters. Letters that became words. Words that became stories. I make art.

Fast forward fiction writing is not yet for me, so I tried creative nonfiction writing. Mr. Google answered me with a website that, if my memory is right, had published articles about free dating ideas and free dating places in Metro Manila. I applied what I learned about pitching in a workshop I attended and pitched on that site.

And do you know what that very cool and fun website was? The website’s name was WhenInManila.com. I really find it surprising until now that the very first company I pitched in GAVE ME A CHANCE. It’s like I’m half accepted. After completing certain articles and other tasks, thank God because I got in as a contributor writer.

I don’t know my niche at first. Not until I told my first contributions to an editor friend, she said I continue to write features.

I did a feature of a Konmari workshop, a product review of cute & fab Ma-Artsy clips, a Cinemalaya movie review of Xian Lim’s Tabon and advocacy about volunteering on teaching English to elementary students. All these articles were my first in each kind. Later, I’m privilege to write restaurant reviews, cover concerts, traveling and receiving special treatments, which made my heart and soul feel richly alive. Not to mention these were all free!

Still, I need to learn and practice more about the art of writing. It usually takes hours for me to finish an article, so I like to learn how to write faster and that’s why I’m interested to join the internship.

Other things I could qualify with as a WIMtern are being friendly, obedient, patient, honest, imaginative and observant.

Filipinos should experience heightened happiness whenever they read. Positive articles with true stories of peoples and events will not only add warmth in their souls but also make them more intelligent and wiser. That’s what I like to taste in my fruits.

I’m Maria Thenesse Cornelio, a WIM Contributor, and will be glad to join your very interesting WIMternship program.