It’s time again for my “every two months” recap so here’s everything that happened since my previous one. Let’s get to it.
#BoysWhoKain (Food)
Let’s start with my current favorite hobby, eating.
Discovering Daily Habit
I visited a cozy “third space” one weekend called the Daily Habit Cafe. It’s a short walk from the LRT Anonas Station and was recommended by my friend, Cookie. I tried their signature Honeycomb Latte and their Cheeseburger. Both were great accompaniments on my solo adventure, but Cookie recommended their Truffle Burger which I will try on my next visit.
Aside from the food, the place is very comfortable. There are some sockets available and in my time there, I saw a lot of people working or spending time on their laptops/tablets. It’s a great location for people needing a quiet workspace.
These Baked Rolls are breaking my budget!
These months, Shane and I were obsessed with SNR‘s baked rolls. Not only are they delicious and cheesy, they’re also affordable and handy to bring around. Just half a roll is enough to give me some energy and keep me full. I recommend either the Chicken Baked Roll (1,157 kcal) or the Three Cheese and Spinach Baked Roll (713 kcal). You can’t go wrong with any of these.
Tea Time
After about two years of just passing by, we finally tried ChaYi at SM Fame mall, where our Anytime Fitness home branch was. We were happy to find out that their tea offerings are good. Shane likes their matcha a lot. It’s her favorite matcha drink now. We don’t get a lot of opportunities to visit as we mostly go there to work out, but now we know the caliber that the place operates.
Sold on Stuff’d
I thought Stuff’d was mid & overpriced, but it turns out I was just ordering the wrong thing. I went on a work trip to SM Mall of Asia and nonchalantly ordered their Beef Quesadilla. I was absolutely blown away. I had good luck with the combination of sauces I chose as well. The Mayo Cucumber added a refreshing aftertaste while the Garlic Mayonnaise (a new addition to their lineup) gave it that kick that I love. Because I am a garlic fiend. The melted cheese provided a nice stretch in every bite and completed the trifecta of flavor, texture, and aftertaste.
This is peak quesadilla. I was very satisfied and I will not order anything else on their menu. Since then, I’ve taken every opportunity to eat at Stuff’d and have this exact recipe. I will not tire of it anytime soon.
Carbonara, but not the pasta
We’ve long been frequent patrons of The French Baker, but I recently tried their Baker’s Carbonara, a savory pastry so soft and cheesy that I can probably eat an entire tray by myself. Don’t confuse it with their pasta dish, this is available in their bread counters and is addictive for cheese lovers like us. Unfortunately, other people are aware of its existence so it’s almost always sold out. But I don’t stop looking for it in every branch and quickly buying one when it’s available.
Unlimited Soup, Salad and Breadsticks
I was able to try Olive Garden‘s famous unlimited bread sticks. In addition to this, they also had unlimited soups and salad. The salad was delicious, though it resembled a coleslaw more, IMO. These perks are definitely the highlight of an Olive Garden visit. The main dishes are pricey(because they already factor in these unlimited side dishes), but the Baked Zitti I had was overshadowed by the variety of soups and the crunchy salad.
Ate some Snails
I already wrote about it in my Japan blog post, but I finally tried escargot from our visit to Saizeriya. The snails were chopped, grilled, and served in a sauce of butter, garlic, and herbs. The initial taste was fine and the texture was akin to schewy piece of meat. What hit me was the afteraste. I can’t accurately describe it, but it was like mud. Curiosity satisfied, I’ll never eat this dish again. What I will do is visit more Saizeriya because everything else we ordered was so good and so cheap!
#BoysWhoCheckUp (Health)
Had our company’s Annual Physical Check-up and the results from my blood extraction came in. I have higher than normal uric acid and creatinine. Sad. Thankfully my blood sugar and cholesterol levels are nothing to worry about (despite me eating 6 eggs a day and having lots of sweets after every meal). I’ll have to tweak my diet a bit to get the problem spots back to normal range.
Also, I was finally cleared from my hypertension woes. After lots of tests, including a 24-hour blood pressure monitoring, the cardiologist found all results normal. I was perfectly healthy and the conclusion was that the spikes of increased blood pressure were just from stress.
Finally, I had my problematic tooth pulled out! Thanks to Dr. Roma of The Dental Lodge – Santolan, the offending tooth was removed in less than 30 minutes. The entire operation was quick and painless, plus the healing process went smoothly. Now, I’m just waiting for my gum to completely heal over the jawbone so I can be fitted with dentures. I’m so glad this frustrating saga is over.
Now, for my last remaining wisdom tooth…
#BoysWhoKpop
Celebrated Women with Mamamoo
I attended Mamamoo‘s concert and the one thing I have to say is “their microphones are on.” I became a fan during the 3rd generation of Kpop and Mamamoo is the only girl group left that I follow (Gfriend: Disbanded, Blackpink: Unofficially Disbanded, Twice: Eww Philippine Arena, Red Velvet: I don’t like their new songs).
We’re not getting younger, so l thought it was a good time to see them as it could be their last time performing in Manila. It was a great time. They’re a well-rounded group of performers and even the newer songs I haven’t heard of where nice to listen to (something this group always had a knack for).
Hwasa’s sultry charisma, Wheein’s cuteness, Moonbyul’s cool swagger, and Solar’s charm were on full display and the night was filled with their distinct comedic moments. Every time Solar said “salamat“, the crowd went wild and Araneta Coliseum was shaking because of the fans stomping their feet. I think it was memorable for both the audience and the artists.
Hearing “Decalcomanie” live was a long time want of mine and that’s another bucket list crossed off. Now I want to see other groups I’m a fan of as well. As long as they don’t perform at the terribly inconvenient Philippine Arena complex, I’m in!
Saw ISA IRL with STayC
I also attended the fan concert of StayC. I’ve been a fan of this group since their debut, and since then, they’ve put out a lot of bangers. They’re the only 4th gen group left that I follow (Weeekly: Disbanded, Wooah!: Inactive, CSR: Inactive) so I immediately booked a ticket as they may never come to the Philippines again.
Fan concerts are more focused on interactions over the performances, but we still had a good time. The venue was intimate—meaning small—so I had a good view despite buying a balcony seat. Seeing their charm live was great and best of all, being in the same room as ISA was something I could hardly believe. Saranghae, Chaeyoung-ah!
#BoysWhoGala (Outings)
Rained on in Baguio
After my Baguio trip with the family, Shane and I went to have our own Baguio trip as she missed the place as well. This time, the goal was mostly to eat a lot and get a quick workout on the mountain roads. Unfortunately, it was raining almost the entire time we were there. But, nevertheless, we were able to do what we set out to do.
• Went for a morning walk from Baguio City proper to Camp John Hay. We were supposed to try the trails, but it was slick and muddy when we arrived, so we decided to stay on the concrete paths.
• Had breakfast at the famous Chocolate de Batirol restaurant inside the camp.
• Walked back to the city and had lunch at Oh My Gulay. Great ambiance and delicious, vegan food!
• Dinner at our favorite Chimichanga by Jaime’s.
• Evening cool down at Foam Coffee.
• The next day, had some grilled cheese and pasta at Leandro’s Bistro inside the Ili-Likha Artist’s Watering Hole.
• Last cup of coffee at Guest Haven Coffee before taking the bus back to Manila.
The rain lessened our plans to get some mileage, but we were glad to be filled with delicious food.
Rained on in Japan
Early September was a rush because we went to Japan and climbed Mt. Fuji. You can read the finer details on their own posts. What an adventure that was. Unfortunate timing of our visit because it was the longest streak of daily rainfall since the 1800s.
But still, being rained on in Japan is already a privilege, so I’m always grateful.
Chiikawa The Movie Fan Screening
Attended the fan-screening of Chiikawa The Movie: The Secret of the Mermaid Island. SM North is a maze, and based on the posts I saw, the other SM malls had a better crowd. There were a lot of fellow fans dressed up in their Chiikawa merch. Lastly, I got to wear my Usagi pajama that I bought from Don Quijote.
I got some exclusive freebies as well as enjoyed watching Usagi on the big screen. It was a very adorable movie that offered more than just the cuteness on the cover. And thanks to the movie, I think I got Shane hooked on the franchise as well.
Butlak: 40th Negros Trade Fair
Went to the 40th Negros Trade Fair in SMX Aura. We visited Aeson and April’s booth. Humán is their clothing brand that produces quality products locally at every step, from the materials to the manpower.
But our main goal was to eat everything that caught our eyes in the expo. I immediately lined up for Vaca Japonesa‘s Wagyu Cansi. This twist on a classic Negrense dish adds a premium element to the humble soup. True to its name, the beef was incredibly tender and the sour broth mixed with the beef fat was guiltily amazing. They also had Wagyu Tapa which was perfect on a bowl of rice.
We also ate 21‘s Batchoy. Though not as flavorful as Iloilo’s bowls, it elicited nostalgic memories from my childhood. Shane also ordered a plate of various siomai from MOKS Recipes. These were stuffed full of flavor. They had a handcrafted feel that tastes different from other, mass-produced siomai.
We’ll always be coming to this annual trade fair because it’s the fastest way to secure some hometown favorites like El Ideal‘s Chicken empanadas and fresh lumpia. I was also able to get a pack of Sans Rival‘s Silvanas. Yum!
#BoysWhoLaro (Video Games)
For gaming, I’ve been juggling a lot through the year and in these two months, I’ve finished a few. Currently I’m searching for the next big game to go on sale so I can obsess about another fictional world. I’ll be doing a rundown of all the games I played at the end of the year as well.
- Metaphor Re:Fantazio ⭐⭐⭐⭐
- This one deserves all the accolades and praises it received. Another home run from the makers of the Persona games. At its most basic, just a re-skin of the aforementioned games, but at its best, a grander adventure in a fantastical setting. I wish it took more of a stance with its focus on politics as the main driving force of the story, because the result is a game that tries to aim for a mature topic but ends up with more bark than bite.
- Robocop: Rogue City ⭐⭐⭐⭐
- One wonders why this game wasn’t made earlier in our timeline. A shoot’em up featuring the most iconic policeman of the 90’s? That’s a recipe for success. This game was incredibly fun to play and the power fantasy playing as Robocop is addictive. The full-on gore, bad words, conspiracies, and corny lines that endeared the movies to fans are all present. While I could have enjoyed more enemy variety and more immersive side stories, what’s packaged in the base game is enjoyable enough to keep me trigger happy.
- I have fond memories of watching the movies with Papa and the game does well to make sure the fans of those movies are kept happy. This game was made by people who understood the source material or are even big fans of it.
- The Red Lantern ⭐⭐
- This is more of a proof of concept or a demo, instead of a game. The story is simple: you’re off to escape the big city with your pet dog and you need to build a team of sled dogs to pull you towards your new home. The catch: it’s a rogue-lite. Yup. You manage you and your dogs’ hunger, health, and energy in every run and do your best to reach the finish line. The presentation is great. I love the graphics and ambiance of the Alaskan wilderness. The runs are randomized but on the 4th or 5th run, some events were already getting repetitive.
- The main game is short. After a few runs, you’ll get the technique, and with a bit of good RNG, you’ll reach the finish line in 2-3 hours. There’s some post-game content, but it’s a bit barebones and is just the game telling you to do more runs. This game has potential for greatness. I’m willing to believe that the developers’ next game could be something special.
- Trash Goblin ⭐⭐⭐
- A cozy game with a nice setting, enjoyable characters, and decent story. It’s perfect as a 2nd monitor game, meaning you can play it with one hand while watching a movie. Most of my sessions playing this game was to de-stress after a day of hard work. I started Power Wash Simulator earlier than this one, but I finished Trash Goblin first just because of how easy and convenient the game is to play.
- Shadow Tactics: Blades of the Shogun ❌DNF
- It’s my second time putting this game down because I bought it back in 2020 and gave up on the first mission. I have mixed emotions about this game because one on side, it’s very fun and I love playing stealth games. But on the other side, each level takes hours for me to complete, and it gets very tedious and difficult. I get that it takes a certain kind of gamer to love this kind of game, and on some moments, I get in the right headspace to enjoy it, but most of the time, I’m just frustrated and wish I was playing a different game. It’s a beautiful and well crafted game, but it’s not something I’m always in the mood for.
- Bad Bitch Blasters ❌DNF
- This game was cheap and was reportedly made with RPG Maker. I bought it for some research since I’m also making a game using the same engine. The game is too wild and wacky for me (the name of the game is a dead giveaway), but I definitely got some pointers here.
#BoysWhoBasa (Books)
I finished 9 books in these two months.
- Pachinko by Min Jin lee ⭐⭐⭐⭐
- An epic story of multiple generations of Korean immigrants in their struggle to survive and find a home for themselves in the midst of the war with Japan. A harsh story that’s very realistic and could as well just have happened in real life. Gripping, especially the passing of time and the jumps from character to character.
- Star Wars Jedi Academy: Return of the Padawan by Jeffrey Brown ⭐⭐⭐
- I bought this comic book novel at the Book Sale in SM Baguio for cheap. It served as a physical way to pass the time during the bus trip back to Manila. Quick and lighthearted, I picked up some lessons on drawing comics as well.
- Arsenic and Adobo by Mia P. Manansala ⭐⭐
- A book definitely for the “Filipinx” crowd. This murder mystery has its merits, but I found the characters to be insufferable. It feels more like the power fantasy of the author who wanted to write a love story and a book about Filipino food, but realized that it needed a mystery to hook readers.
- The Easy Life in Kamusari by Shion Miura ⭐⭐⭐⭐
- Ah the desire to escape the system and live in the forest to do woodworking. Miura writes so well in the main character’s voice that I wish I could emulate this kind of writing when telling stories. This is a very cozy read and I learned a lot about the Japanese cedars as well as the forestry industry in Japan. Apparently they made a movie based on the book.
- Kamusari Tales Told at Night by Shion Miura ⭐⭐⭐⭐
- A continuation of the previous book. Same terrific writing, more shenanigans with the lovable characters. I wish Miura never stopped writing this story. Spectacular give me 14 of them right now.
- Hokkaido Highway Blues by Will Ferguson ⭐⭐⭐⭐
- The author hitchhikes from the southernmost part of Japan all the way to the top. Crazy. Something I would absolutely love to do if I was a rich, white person. The stories and experiences he gathers are memorable, hilarious, thought-provoking, and everything in between. I’d love to grab a coffee with the author and just hear him tell his stories.
- A Tale for the Time Being by Ruth Ozeki ⭐⭐⭐
- This book should have been a four-star on the level of “Pachinko” if not for the absolutely out-of-nowhere magical sequence in the last part. The story was great, dealing with mature topics like bullying, family neglect, the horrors of war, grief, and the power of meditation. Then the author bottles it by trying to wrap up the story with ✨magic✨. A memorable book, but it hurts because I also remember the terrible ending.
- The Vanishing Cherry Blossom Bookshop by Takuya Asakura ⭐⭐
- Another entry from the Japanese “healing fiction” genre. I think I’ve reached the point of fatigue with these kinds of stories. A magical building solves the long-time problems of the different protagonists in a single chapter. This time, it’s a “bookshop” which is actually a cafe that doesn’t sell anything. If only life was that easy. This might sound a bit harsh, but I’ve read other books that do this genre better.
- The Great Passage by Shion Miura ⭐⭐⭐
- Had high expectations from Miura after reading her Kamusari books. While this is not as good as those, it’s still worth reading. The title had me hyped up, only to find out the entire story is about making a dictionary. This time, we get into the intricacies of book publishing. I love how Miura dives into random professions and weaves masterful stories from them. I can’t wait to see what her next book is about.
That’s it for the updates!
The BER months are here. I can’t believe that 2026 is almost ending. It’s time to make my yearly recap post soon. Thanks for reading up to here! Talk to me in the comments.
Be safe and keep flossing!
-jgzn
