The Isla Mom

Lifestyle. Food. Travel. Adventures with Sofy.

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🎬 Meet, Greet & Bye (2025) Movie Review — A Heartfelt Family Story That Hits Close to Home

Now available on Netflix If there’s one Filipino movie in 2025 that truly understands the emotional chaos of family, it’s Meet, Greet & Bye. Directed by blockbuster hitmaker Cathy Garcia-Sampana, this film blends humor, heartbreak, sibling tension, and unconditional love into a story that feels deeply personal — especially if you grew up in a loud, messy, but loving Filipino household. And…

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Alcatraz: The Closest Place Still on My List

Name an attraction or town close to home that you still haven’t got around to visiting. Alcatraz Island – San Francisco, CA There’s something almost embarrassing about admitting this: I live close to San Francisco, and I still haven’t been to Alcatraz. Not because I don’t want to—because I really do. I’ve just never quite gotten the chance, even though it’s right there, sitting in the bay like…

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Leading People, Not Just Managing Employees

What makes a good leader? Leadership isn’t about the title on your door, the authority in your voice, or how loudly you can give orders. Real leadership shows up in the quiet, everyday moments. In how you treat people when no one’s watching. In how you handle pressure, mistakes, and growth, both yours and theirs. A good leader leads by example. Not by barking orders from a distance, but by…

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Welcome to 2026: Choosing Hope, Healing, and a Softer Kind of Strength

A new year doesn’t need fireworks to be powerful. Sometimes, it arrives quietly—wrapped in warm coffee, deep exhales, and a decision made in your chest instead of your head. 2026 is here, and I’m stepping into it with courage, comfort, and a bold commitment to myself. Not to be perfect. Not to hustle harder. But to live better. Why 2026 Feels Different (In the Best Way) If there’s one thing…

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Shadow & Bone Review: Magic, Power, and the Grishaverse World

Shadow & Bone by Leigh Bardugo — the book behind the Netflix series There are books you read for comfort… and then there are books that pull you into a completely different world and don’t let go. Shadow & Bone was the latter for me. Leigh Bardugo’s debut novel opens the door to the Grishaverse—a dark, magical world divided by fear, power, and the unknown. From the very first chapter, I felt…

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Born Into History: 1986, The Year the World Shifted

Share what you know about the year you were born. I was born in 1986—a year that didn’t simply pass by quietly in the background of history. It arrived with courage, change, heartbreak, hope, and moments that reshaped the world in ways we still feel today. Looking back, it almost feels symbolic—like being born into a year that demanded resilience and transformation. Let’s start where my story…

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Unseen, Still Standing

Unseen, Still Standing I give until my hands forget what it feels like to be held. In a world that praises loud love, I practice the quiet kind— the kind that cleans up messes no one admits they made, the kind that stays even when staying hurts. Being a wife today feels like becoming fluent in silence. You learn how to swallow disappointment without choking, how to smile through…

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The Weight of Being Unappreciated

There’s a quiet kind of pain that comes from being the one who always gives, yet feels unseen. In today’s society, being a wife often means wearing a thousand invisible hats—caretaker, emotional anchor, peacekeeper, provider of love, patience, and understanding. We pour ourselves into our homes, our marriages, our families, believing that love will eventually echo back to us in the same depth.…

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What’s the First Impression You Want to Give People?

What’s the first impression you want to give people? First impressions are powerful. They happen in an instant—before you say a word, before you even realize someone is quietly observing the way you move, speak, smile, or simply exist in a room. And whether we like it or not, those first few seconds shape how people feel about us long before they truly know our story. But here’s the real…

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📝 The Stories That Shaped Me: My Favorite Subjects in School

What was your favorite subject in school? If there’s one thing high school taught me, it’s that learning isn’t just about textbooks or grades — it’s about stories. That’s probably why my favorite subjects were Journalism and History. They might seem totally different at first glance, but to me, they’ve always been two sides of the same coin: both tell the stories of people, moments, and…

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Golden Bites & Gaucho Nights: A Napa Steakhouse Experience

Brazilian Steakhouse in Napa, CA (Wine Country) ⭐️ Rating: 4/5 If you’re a meat lover looking for a dining experience that’s as indulgent as it is entertaining, Galpão Gaucho in Napa definitely delivers. From the moment you’re seated, you’re greeted with a warm Brazilian welcome and a promise of endless meats carved right at your table — and yes, it’s as exciting as it sounds. 🍽️ The…

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Pinoy Street Food Nights: Eat. Sing. Repeat.

Pinoy Street Food & Karaoke every Fridays 7pm-12am Friday nights here are seriously the perfect mix of foodie heaven and nightlife fun. The sizzling Pinoy street food BBQ sets the vibe right from the start—the skewers are grilled to perfection, smoky, flavorful, and paired perfectly with a cold drink. What makes it even better? Karaoke runs all night, and the energy is infectious. 🎤✨ Whether…

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The Best of Both Worlds: Vallejo and the Bay Area Lifestyle

What do you love about where you live? When people think of the San Francisco Bay Area, their minds often jump straight to the Golden Gate Bridge, cable cars, and the buzz of San Francisco itself. But for those of us who call Vallejo, CA home, we know that the charm of the Bay doesn’t just lie in the big city lights—it’s woven into the everyday rhythms of our community, the hidden gems, and the…

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Be Ready, Stay Safe: Your Island-Inspired Emergency Preparedness Plan

Create an emergency preparedness plan. Living with aloha means embracing life’s beauty while being mindful of its surprises. Whether you’re on a tropical island or the mainland, natural disasters, power outages, or unexpected emergencies can happen anytime. Preparing now means you can keep your family, home, and peace of mind safe when the unexpected strikes. Here’s your easy, no-stress guide…

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🎬 Scarecrow (2025) – A Masterpiece of Filipino Horror and Heritage 🌾

Tagalog Title: EspantahoNow Streaming on Netflix If you’re looking for a Filipino horror film that’s deeply emotional, hauntingly atmospheric, and unapologetically rooted in tradition—Scarecrow deserves your full attention. I went in expecting the usual chills, but what I got was an experience layered with grief, guilt, family secrets, and spiritual reckoning. This isn’t just a horror film—it’s…

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🎬 Untold (2025) on Netflix – A Haunting Dive into Truth, Guilt & Ghosts

Genre: Horror / Psychological ThrillerStarring: Jodi Sta. Maria, Joem Bascon, Juan Karlos Labajo, Gloria DiazLanguage: Filipino (with English subtitles) 🕯️ The Premise Vivian Vera (Jodi Sta. Maria) is a no-holds-barred investigative journalist who’ll do anything for a story—even if it means twisting the truth. When her sensational coverage of the “Cement Massacre” goes viral, she’s thrust into…

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What Modern Society Forgot — And How We Can Bring It Back

What would you change about modern society? Let’s just say it: modern society is a beautiful mess. We’re hyperconnected but feel lonelier than ever. We have endless resources at our fingertips, yet burn ourselves out trying to “keep up.” We romanticize slow living on Instagram, then glorify hustle culture in the same breath. It’s giving whiplash, and I have thoughts. So if I could wave a magic…