Now I'm fucked up and carrying on, I do not know the words to it yet, oh.

And it hits me, I don't want anybody else touching you like I do, Like I do, like me.

I'm the luckiest man on Earth.

I've met the man of my dreams, and I can't wait to marry him and start our little forever.

There’s a sophisticated element evident from the moment you enter their premises. Opposites work in tandem here: think dark and brooding in backdrop, which only allows the other more vibrant elements—admiral-blue armchairs, turquoise lights, potted greenery—to shine further. Trumpet-shaped lamps hang from the ceiling, shimmering against the purplish glow emanating from the bar area. On the walls you’ll also find works of art selected by Chef Montañez himself, some with faces or skulls and flower motifs in generally warm colors.

Crossing over between cultures isn’t always easy, but Filipino and Latin American cuisines have a natural compatibility that Alegria Manila happily draws out.

More than the eating and listening to the servers explain our tasting menu, I was actually more interested in watching the preparation of the food. The preparation was so intricate, that every drop and every piece is carefully placed to convey the story exactly how the chef imagined it. I wish I had the courage to talk to him about his inspirations and life stories, but the food he makes unquestionably does all the talking.

The name itself means “happiness” in Spanish, and the interiors earnestly set the mood for an evening of fun and revelry. Our dinner was a good night cap. Today, I am the happiest.

Helm is an intimate, 24-seat restaurant is an expression of Chef Josh Boutwood’s life experiences and culinary training. Designed with a minimalist eye in palettes of black, copper, and grey. Helm’s dining experience centers Josh’s multi-course tasting menu and the one-on- one interaction between the kitchen and the guest.

At Helm, dining becomes theater, an interactive form of culinary performance art.

Our 10-course meal took inspiration from Magellan's voyage to the Philippines. It was a journey that took 1080 days compressed by Boutwood in just two delicious hours over ten mouthwatering bites. In a nutshell, it was an international menu, with each dish composed of flavours and ingredients from a country Magellan visited sewn altogether by the ingenuity of the talented chef.

Ember Manila is a charcoal grill specialty restaurant by Chef Josh Boutwood. Contrary to chef's other concept restaurants where the interior is somewhat masculine, Ember has done the opposite without deviating from its core element: no-frills, uncomplicated, and warm.

This restaurant in Makati has a modern space-like yet chic style, enough to make you feel at home and welcome. The cozy seats along the curved bar allow diners to witness the magic happening in the open kitchen. It also has a curated one-page menu categorized into small plates like tapas, large plates like family sharing dishes, side plates, and sweets to complete the ensemble. Chef Josh loves biodynamic and natural wines which you can order to pair with your meal.

We did not miss the chance to try chef's signature dish, the charcoal-grilled steak, and we loved it for the smoky char flavor and the locked in juiciness of the meat. 

Last but not the least, our 3rd Chef Josh Bautwood's restaurant here in Metro Manila, is Test Kitchen in Rockwell. Here, we celebrated my boyfriend's birthday with his mom (read: naks part of the family lol) and had an intimate dinner for three. We've only fancied trying fine dining tasting menus recently, and we learned that these kind of food require diner to slow down and savor the details; they took the time and only ask the same of you (key takeaway from Mark Mylod's The Menu, if you ask me haha)

Downstairs is where all the action is—get your minds out of the gutter—and where you can really see the kitchen’s cogs turning. But upstairs is where true magic takes place, especially if you’re a real nerd about food. The second floor is where they age the meats, ferment the ingredients and store the spices. This is where you can geek out on the fermented fruits and ingredients, house-made garum (fish sauce) and special spices.

We heard that Chef is opening a new restaurant named "The Dandy Lion" in Ayala Triangle Garden, and we are more than excited to try it once it opens its doors to the public.

Imagine waking up to a sea of clouds and a colorful sunrise – that’s the breathtaking view you’ll get to experience at Viewscape Nature’s Park. Surrounded by a view of the Sierra Madre Mountains, Viewscape is one of Tanay’s largest open camping ground destinations. It’s also the home of diverse terrain, flora and fauna, a dragon fruit plantation, and wild animals including civet cats and wild birds. If you’re a fan of KathNiel, you’d recognize the grounds as one of the filming locations of their 2015 teleserye, Pangako Sa ‘Yo.

Guests are free to bring their own tents, but those who don’t have theirs can rent a tent good for four. If you want a more comfortable stay, Ubod Rooms are available for rent. They’re A-shaped rooms perfect for glamping and come with a complete setup for a comfortable sleep.

Astrophotography is another popular activity in Viewscape. What we lack in gears for the astrophography, we make up with marshmallows over campfires, conversations about his law school, and holding hands walking on the grounds below the blanket of stars. It was dream-like.

We may have missed the sea of clouds and the good sunrise because we had steaming hot sex the night before slept late, but the sunrise is just as good and otherworldly. This weekend is just exactly what we needed.

Happy birthday, B. I love you more than you know.

Quick getaway!

Outside, the place looks like it was built in an old warehouse. The whole place is called the SOUQ Restaurant Compound. The first thing that you’ll notice is the vines and flowers slightly covering the massive wooden door. Made up of mostly old wood and metal, its rustic ambiance and antique-inspired interior design create a cozy atmosphere for diners. The high ceiling dining area in the middle also offers a delectable fusion of Filipino and Southeast Asian cuisine. 

The must-try dishes include the Crispy Pork Kare-Kare, Aligue Pasta (soooo good), Laksa, Bagnet Kare-Kare, and Rosemary Chicken. For drinks, Souq Pampanga serves classic cocktails like mojitos and a variety of soft drinks. The restaurant also offers a selection of wines to pair with their dishes.

We had a memorable stay here in Tropical Stay by SUOQ, truthfully an oasis in the middle of the town proper. Our room (Villa 2) is bigger than we thought it would be. Bathroom is commodious (it has two showers) and spotless. We also have your own mini pool, where we had our breakfast served fresh on a floating tray, and where we celebrated our monthsary over glasses of wine. Their staff are so accommodating that they helped my boyfriend set up his surprise for me.

Happy monthsary, B! Can't wait to spend the rest of my life with you.

First travel in 2023!

As someone who has talked a lot about the importance of living life on your terms, achieving your goals, and following your own path, I firmly believe that knowing yourself is one of the hardest thing to do.

For the past few months, I've been travelling with my boyfriend all over the Philippines. These sanity breaks certainly stretched our sense of deeper purpose. We sleep in one bed, we share the same food, we laugh at our inside jokes, and we tickle each other's minds with our differences in beliefs, principles, and personalities. Our intimacy grows every day, and still amuses me how we continue to discover new ways of understanding each other.

Something about El Nido keeps me coming back for more. Although Palawan lacks many modern-day attractions, it makes up for that with unsurpassed natural beauty. It’s an outdoor enthusiast’s dream, with lush forests, cascading waterfalls, and pristine beaches. Not to mention, it’s one of the best diving destinations in the world (read: yup we did scuba diving, and it was HELLA scary haha)

Home to hundreds of islands and flourishing flora and fauna, Palawan is considered the ultimate tropical destination for many travelers. Philippines is truly the home of the best natural destinations, and I can't wait to see the rest of the world with my soon-to-be husband. #manifesting

Photoshoot time!

For someone who recently came out, I really feel that I am having the time of my life, and it is immensely gratifying to have the opportunity to preserve these memories I share with my partner. I am always captivated by the sparkles in his eyes whenever we try something new, his small giggles when we make fun of each other, and his face on my face whenever we wake up in the morning cuddling before our good morning coffee.

While there are other places in the world that offers cerulean waters and awe-inducing limestone formations, I am certain that only El Nido will always have that chill, charm and warmth that is distinctly Filipino. 

This place will always have a special place in my heart.

Most travel slogans tempt you to travel to "escape". But of course, one never escapes from oneself. As you may have read in my previous blogs, I also consider myself as an escapist. I travel to find peace of mind, reflect on my previous actions, and learn how to deal with the real world with the eagerness to do better, and thirst to challenge myself to do things I am most afraid of.

Perhaps going out of our comfort zones provides us with a point of access, that most are unfamiliar pursuing. Travel is simply another door to experiencing oneself. Before, I travel to see the world. Now, I travel to let the world see me. The always trying version of me. The Jasfher that is loving and caring, and is unafraid of other people's opinion.

Dave has shown me that there's more to life, and that being in the present is so much simpler when surrounded by people who truly matter. I wholeheartedly take pleasure on the thought that I never have to be someone else for him to accept me.

Traditionally there are tours A, B, C and D. Each tour offering a set of 5+ beaches, islands, lagoons and snorkeling spots. Originally, we booked tours A, B and C. But after giving it some thought, we removed Tour B fro our itinerary, to give time and try scuba diving in the morning, and food crawl from afternoon till night. Probably oune of our best decision during this trip.

Of all the islands that we've been to, my favorite islands would include Shimizu island and Helicopter Island.

In Shimizu, the tall, black limestone mountains are guarded by beautiful palm trees and a stretch of white sand. The water is crystal clear and perfect for swimming and snorkeling. As a matter of fact, snorkeling at Shimizu Island is very popular. The island is considered to be one of the best snorkeling areas in El Nido and many tourists come here to explore the diverse marine life.

Helicopter Island, officially named Dilumacad Island, got its name because of the shape it takes when you see it from a distance. Once you get closer, its soft cream-colored sand and cerulean waters will lure you in and keep you entranced. It is a good place to relax, unwind, and enjoy the beautiful beachscape.

Going to Palawan with my boyfriend publicly holding hands is, to tell you the truth, invigorating (read: ganito pala feeling ng artista haha). It's like were sucked in our own little fantasy world where it's just the two of us, enjoying this little piece of heaven.

Saying hello to my third life.

El Nido is one of the premier scuba diving destinations in the world. It offers sites accessible to all kind of divers. There are walls, riffs, deep dive sites, tunnels, as well as easy sites you can also do while simply snorkeling. From the great beginner to the highly experimented diver, everyone can find great places to explore and have fun while diving in El Nido. When going scuba diving, you can expect to see all sorts of beautiful underwater creatures, such as parrotfish, sea turtles, moray eels, stingrays, giant clams, and lots of different colorful corals.

You see, diving was something my boyfriend really wanted to do. He has done this a couple of years back, and he said that he wanted to do it with me. Who am I to say no to my husband? Lol. I wouldn’t call myself a daredevil, but I do love outdoor activities like hiking, camping, island hopping, and the like. While I wasn’t sure about diving because I'm a bad swimmer, we only live once. What's stopping me from trying this? Haha.

Our diving lasted for four hours and I really enjoyed seeing the thriving marine life underneath the clear and magical waters of El Nido. Quick story: when we were about 40 feet below sea level, I skyrocketed upwards due to panic while continously pressing the wrong buttons. It was scary (read: I was drowning haha), but the thing is, I'm still alive. I thank God for this third life (Second near death experience was when I was in Hong Kong. Link above. Jk)

Did I enjoy scuba diving? A resounding yes.

Would I do it again? Let me think about that. Haha.

El Nido's golden hour is as surreal as it sounds.

During the first hour of light just after the sun rises and during the last hour of light before the sun sets, the light takes on a magic quality with soft, diffused hues. This is known as the "golden hour". With an extensive range of colors and limited harsh shadows, it's easy to flatter your subject, bathing it in a golden warm glow.

Albeit short, the golden hour for me is frankly the best minutes to capture landscapes and portraits. The light takes on an almost ethereal quality as the sun moves lower in the sky, adding texture and depth to images. The resulting diffuse light increases the dynamic range by softening shadows and retaining highlights, while the overall scene is imbued with an appealingly reddish hue that enhances colors.

Being a touristic town with visitor levels on the increase, El Nido is a clash of local Filipino foods with a mix of western cuisine. Apart from its captivating seascape, El Nido has earned its spot as a must-visit foodie destination in the Philippines. Not only do these restaurants serve mouthwatering dishes, but they also make your dining experience more special because of breathtaking sunset views. The gastronomic feast truly traverses all the senses.

For breakfast, we ordered some delicious smoothie bowls from Oz Art and Tattoo (we almost got another tattoo lol) and souffle pancakes and biscoff coffee from Dayo. As they say, you can't have a bad day when you start your morning with great coffee.

Set amid a house garden by the beach, Happiness Beach Bar is a fun and hip restaurant along the tourist-crowded Serena street in front of El Nido Beach. It enjoys a warm intimate atmosphere, lit up with fairy lights and sleek bamboo furnishings. It has a very Asian-rustic vibe. It also offers a wide range of oriental, Mediterranean and healthy specialties which ranges from skillets, salads, sandwiches, desserts, and breakfast meals.

Their pita bread is baked fresh daily, and their menu is suitable for vegetarians, vegans, and gluten-free diners. They specialize in different types of hummus, so make sure you start the day with one of those. They also have a variety of salads, pita wraps, maza platters, and desserts.

Happiness bar is, without a doubt, our best meal in El Nido.

Scape Skydeck is a great place to eat for a special occasion or on your last night in El Nido. It overlooks the Bacuit Bay sunset views and limestone formations in town. Located on the rooftop of the Cuna Hotel, it offers a menu of seafood, steaks, pastas, pizzas and local rice dishes. Although at a higher cost than nearby El Nido restaurants, it’s a classier environment to enjoy conversations over good food and some cocktails. I recommend arriving half an hour before sunset and grabbing a table by the balcony edge (that's what we did lol). You’ll see the orange glare of the sun set on the rooftops whilst enjoying the happy hour!

I wish I could immortalize the moment where we laid down on the soft, bamboo chairs under the whispers of the glowing stars and the mystery of the dark skies talking about our life dreams, frustrations, aspirations, and fantasy of having a life together.

I will never forget this day.

Most El Nido restaurants offer vegan options with a twist. Among them is Taste El Nido - The Vegan Cafe PH, one of the best vegan-friendly restaurants located within the town proper. Taste El Nido is widely known for serving plant-based dishes and nutritious fruit shakes.

They have a well-curated menu of breakfast options, including a wide selection of eye-catching and flavorful smoothie bowls. Their vegan smoothies also come in authentic fruit flavors. It is also highly recommended to try their specialty coffee, tea, chia-infused juice, and other vegan snacks like banana nut bread. For their main entrees, they have eggplant lasagna, Mexican chipotle rice bowl, mac and cheese, and pesto tomato cream cheese bagel.

Home to the famed fire-wood brick oven pizza in El Nido, Trattoria Altrove is an exclusive Italian restaurant that hints a Filipino-inspired interior design and promises authenticity that roots back to pizza’s birthplace—Naples, Italy. Trattoria’s signature hand-tossed dough that makes the famous Neapolitan pizza uses fresh ingredients cooked in a brick oven with intense heat that locks down natural flavors of all the ingredients.

Kitchen & Bar HUB is the in-house restaurant partner of Frendz Hostel in El Nido. They offer food & drinks from around the world as well as Filipino specialties. It's also a great spot to mingle and meet new people because a lot of tourists also stay here.

Big Bad Thai, on the other hand, is a rustic-themed restaurant that serves the most authentic Thai dishes in town. From the famed Pad Thai to Pad Krapow, Big Bad Thai perfectly curates their dishes based on the original Thai recipes. What sets this El Nido Thai restaurant apart from the rest is its homemade sauces with varying levels of spiciness. They also serve vegan options such as Som Tum (spicy green papaya salad) and Thai Morning Glory (fried spinach with garlic and oyster sauce).

After this filling food adventure, we started the El Nido night escapade with a good whole-body massage before hitting the bars for some night cap.

Apart from the available seats inside where one will be able to truly feel the tribal vibe SAVA is aiming for through their colorful wall paintings, the bar also features cushioned seats on amphitheater-style cemented seating at the garden beachfront.

This Beach Bar, apart from their cocktails and food, takes great pride in their place’s ambiance. This is in great connection to the thematic music nights born from the different DJs turning SAVA into a place incomparable to what it was the previous nights. Their Happy Hour promo is from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. and experience their selection of classic cocktails with a twist!

We had a few more drinks in Pangolin, and the rest was history.

One of the best tourist spots in Puerto Princesa is the world-renowned Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park, which holds a place in the New 7 Wonders of Nature, and has been included in the UNESCO World Heritage Sites list since 1999.

The 8.2-kilometer-long underground river boasts jaw-dropping cave formations, stunning limestone cliffs, and pristine waters. The cave system stretches to a total of 24km underneath the mountains, and the river itself winds its way through 8.2km of its entirety. However, only a portion of the river, around 4.3km, is allowed for tourist explorations. 

The variety of species in the caves is endemic to the river system, including fish, crabs, giant spiders, bats, swallows, and snakes.

The whole trip was around 30 minutes long, and I would admit the voice narration for the boat ride is so soothing and relaxing. No wonder my boyfriend was asleep almost half the tour. Haha.

Sabang Village is pleasantly situated in Bry. Cabayugan in Puerto Princesa, and is best known as the jumping-off point of the Puerto Princesa Underground River in St.Paul's Bay. While most tourists often leave Sabang immediately after the underground river tour, there's more to this quiet village. Adding up to its raw appeal is the bountiful Sabang Mangrove Forest hidden nearby.

Sabang Mangrove Forest is one of the eco-tourism destinations in Puerto Princesa. Like any other mangrove forests in the world, it plays an important role in our biodiversity; serving as nutrient-rich habitats and breeding grounds for a variety of birds, snakes, monkeys, reptiles, fish, crabs, and other marine organisms. Another importance of mangrove forest is its climate resilience, as the mangrove roots above the ground slow down water flows and encourage sediments deposits thereby helping prevent erosion. Their roots also filter pollutants in the coastal waters, and they protect coastal communities during typhoons by absorbing storm surges and flooding.

In order to further protect the Mangrove Forest, the Sabang Mangove Forest Paddle Boat Tour was founded to empower local communities, provide additional income to residents, foster environmental awareness, and provide sustainable tourism activity that minimizes negative impact to the environment.

After our Sabang Mangrove Tour, our boatman excitedly showed us how to get the famous Puerto Princesa delicacy called tamilok (woodworm). It's actually a species of salt water clam called Teredoi navalis, nicknamed naval shipworm because it makes its way to the wood. Tamilok in the Philippines thrive on mangroves, mostly found on dead submerged mangrove trees. Our boatmen split the rotten wood open, and carefully examined the creases of the wood to look for tamilok. Then, they cleaned it with saltwater before finally cleaning it with tap water. Tamilok is typically served like kinilaw (ceviche). It is cured in vinegar, salt, lime juice, and chili, then, you can swallow it whole.

Seeing the tamilok prepared raw from the opening of the deadwood to the cleaning and curing is truly a unique experience. They look weird, but trust me, they are delicious!

Hello Puerto Prinsesa!

Adventurers and beach bums flock to the towering karst cliffs of El Nido, and divers and nature lovers are drawn to the lakes of Coron. But long before they made a mark on Palawan’s tourism map, Puerto Prinsesa was already giving tourists of all types a little taste of what the province has to offer.

The last time I went to Palawan was in 2016, I was a first year law student travelling alone because I needed some time and space to get away from the expectations, the conversations, the noise, the media, and the pressure. My law school experience isn't exactly how I imagined it, and I wasn't really your perfect stellar student, but I somehow managed. Today marks my first year as a lawyer, and looking back, honestly I wouldn't change a thing.

When in Puerto Prinsesa, I would totally recommend visiting Badjao Seafood Restaurant. This restaurant foremost concretizes the warmth unique to Filipino dining through its interior centered on wooden materials and a food selection that highlights local seafood dishes. Best believe that you can sail through the sea even while statically perched on your seat when you dine here. A must try!

First stop — Kinabuch!

This place was recommended by some of our friends, and a few of the locals upon our arrival in our airbnb. Talk about the power of word of mouth. This laidback place is an open-air restaurant with a large parking space centrally located in downtown Puerto Princesa. Few huts are scattered outside, and the whole area is surprisingly well-lit. The food is good and definitely filling, and our cocktails are freshly made.

I have a firm feeling that this trip is going to be epic!

Hello, long weekend! 

2022 is almost over (reality check: still processing 2020 jk haha) and it is definitely not a stroll in the park. 

Few life updates: 

Happy birthday, Julie! 

My partner invited me to go to La Union for the birthday celebration of one of his college barkada, Julie. I see so much of myself in her because she is such a jet-setter law student. She takes every chance to travel even if the readings for school are continuously piling up. No wonder we clicked instantly.

We stayed in Charlie’s Hangar in San Juan. It is an aviation-themed beach front hostel where each room is airconditioned, and has clean & cozy beds with personal lockers, charging ports and curtains for privacy. The dorm is very modernized, and is also close to restaurants, bars, and coffee shops. 

We gave her art materials (her wish list is an enumeration of stress reducing activities, and we think painting can improve her overall psychological well-being) and a penis shaped cake for her birthday celebration. She was a bit caught off guard, but we know she had a blast *iykwimjk