Michi Photostory

I live in the province for more than a decade so there are things that I’m missing out because it is not available in our area. But if there is one thing that I’m happy about is, Alabang is not that far from where I live and hindi naman nagpapahuli ang Alabang. Festival Mall is expanding so there are so many new stores and new restaurants to visit.

Last weekend, we were in Festival Mall, I meet my friend because I bought insurance for my husband. Though my husband has insurance from his company, we decided to get additional insurance because we can’t predict the future. After that, we had a late lunch.


We normally eat at Landmark Food Court kung maggrocery kami but for a change, we ate a Cafe Via Mare. Though it is located at the Food Court pero at least hindi na kami pipila para mag-order. Hehehe! The price in Via Mare is a little bit pricey but the serving is big so my son and I shared on my order. We ordered Crispy Binagoongan P330, Ensaladang Bagnet P200, Rice P35 per cup and Bibingka with Laguna Cheese and Salted Duck Egg P135 + Service Charge.



Ensaladang Bagnet has crispy roasted pork with mustard leaves, tomatoes, and shallots in calamansi and bagoong dressing. Crispy Binagoongan Meal has rice, crispy pork bellies, pinakbet and sauteed bagoong so good for sharing kung hindi naman malakas kumain.


Two years ago was the last time that we ate at Cafe Via Mare and I remember that I was not able to taste their Bibingka because nagcheck-out na kami sa St. Lukes BGC. So last week, I really ordered Bibingka kahit 15 minutes pa ang waiting time. Hehehe!

If you like bibingka, go to Cafe Via Mare because you can eat yummy bibingka all year round, di mo na kelangan maghintay ng Pasko. Food and service are good so for sure may next time ulit. Care to share your favorite at Via Mare.

Update September 2018

We were in Landmark last weekend and we had lunch at Cafe Via Mare again. While checking the menu, I asked my son what he wants and said “yung dati ko order”. Oh well, naging favorite na niya yung liempo, so we ordered Kare-Kare P480, Crispy Binagoongan P330 and Shooters P145 + Service Charge.



We’re supposed to order extra rice but the waitstaff informed us na may kasama ng rice yung Kare-Kare. After several minutes, they served order order. The funny thing is they served it all, pati shooters so mabilisan ng kain at matutunaw na yung dessert namin. Shooters is refreshing combination of Halo-Halo, Guinomis and Mais Con Hielo.


This is perfect for our family of three. According to their menu, Halo-Halo has sweetened fruits, yams, pulses, egg custard, milk, and crushed ice. Pero more on gulaman ang nakain ko sa halo-halo. My son loves corn so he enjoyed his Mais Con Hielo. My husband ate Guinomis, it has sago, pinipig, gulaman and gata. The taste is creamier compared to my halo-halo because it has coconut milk.

Update: June 2019

We were in Landmark last weekend and when we went to the Food Court, ang dami ng tao so I told my husband, mag Cafe Via Mare tayo for sure may upuan tayo. So we ate at Via Mare, napamahal tuloy lunch namin ng dahil sa upuan. hehehe! We ordered Kare-Kare P495, Inasal na Manok P230 and Extra Rice P55 + Service Charge. Both viands include 1 cup of rice kaya one extra rice na lang order namin. I noticed na nagtaas na price nila, I've read my post above P480 lang yung Kare-Kare last year. The taste of the Inasal na Manok is just okay.



Cafe Via Mare offers Salu Salo Set Menu that is perfect for big groups. It is served with five cups of rice and a beverage of your choice. Valid for Dine or Take-Out. Since we are just a family of three, we did not order the set menu but here are the choices.

Set A for P2450

Crispy Pata
Sinigang sa Miso
Ensaladang Suha
Bam - I - Guisado
Tortang Alimasag
Bibingka with Salted Duck Egg
Option of Coffee, Salabat or Iced Tea

Set B for P2500

Laswa
Crispy Pata
Rellenong Talong
Pinalutong na Tilapia
Bam-I-Guisado
Puto Bumbong with Cheddar Cheese
Bibingka with Salted Duck Egg
Option of Coffee, Salabat or Iced Tea

Set C for P3450

Crispy Pata
Inasal na Manok
Rellenong Bangus
Sinigang na Hipon
Bam-I-Guisado
Fresh Lumpia
Laswa
Bibingka with Salted Egg Duck Egg
Puto BUmbong with Cheddar Cheese
Option of Coffee, Salabat or Iced Tea

Set D for P1900

Bulalo
Pinalutong na Tilapia
Bam-I-Guisado
Fresh Lumpia
Bibingka with Salted Duck Egg
Option of Coffee, Salabat or Iced Tea

Set E for P2100

Rellenong Bangus
Inasal na Manok
Sinigang na Karne
Ensaladang Suha
Puto Bumbong with Cheddar Cheese
Bibingka with Salted Duck Egg
Option of Coffee, Salabat or Iced Tea

March 2020 

We were in Festival Mall last weekend to get my laboratory test and because of the SLEX heavy traffic, lunch time na kami dumating so we ended up at Via Mare para may pwesto lang kami. Via Mare has so many dishes but whenever we eat here, halos pare-pareho lang order namin so we easily noticed the price difference. We ordered Kare Kare PHP520, Inihaw na Liempo PHP340, Extra Rice PHP55 and Puto Maya PHP240 + Service Charge.


We always order Crispy Binagoongan so for a change, we ordered the Inihaw na Liempo. The meal includes a vegetable dish and vinegar dip. All dishes include one cup of rice so we just order one extra rice. My son enjoyed his Inihaw na Liempo, I tried it and the meat is tender so hindi siya mahirap kainin.


You know that I love mango sticky rice so I ordered Puto Maya, it is glutinous rice steamed in coconut cream. Serve with ripe mango and coconut jam. The taste is just okay, I don’t know parang may after taste siya, hindi ko alam kung ginger or star anise so I guess I won’t order this again. Good thing that the mango taste sweet so nasulit na rin ang dessert.

Whether you are planning a dinner party and want to invite guests to come over, or you just want to liven and spruce up your home, adding a tablecloth to your house is a good idea.

While buying a tablecloth for your home might seem like a simple task, there are actually a lot of considerations you need to make to ensure that you are getting the perfect one. Here are the considerations you need to think about when looking for the perfect tablecloth for your home.


1. It should be the right size 

The first thing you need to consider is that it should be the right size for your table. Don't just consider the shape of your table. You might be tempted to find the first rectangular tablecloth you see because your table has that shape or grab the biggest round tablecloth thinking it will fit. You can choose a tablecloth that is just short if the occasion is just a simple get together or for everyday use, but if you want to use it during a more formal occasion, choose a longer drop.

2. It should fit with the design of your dining area 

If your dining area just has a minimal design like white walls or muted colors, it will not be hard to choose a tablecloth because any design or color will blend well with the surroundings. But, for example, your dining area has a more ornate design, whether a classic elegant look and you've added some art pieces, you must be careful to choose a design that would not clash with your overall aesthetic.

3. It should also complement your tableware

It's not just the room design that you need to consider but even your tableware! Again, it's not a problem if you will just be using white colored plates and bowls but if you are following a theme for your meal, or you want to bring out the fancy china, you could go for just a plain white tablecloth and the plates and China will be the colorful ones instead.

4. Consider the material it is made of

Whenever you are going to spend money, you want to make sure that it is worth the investment. Even if it is just something as simple as a tablecloth, you want it to last for years. If you are planning to use it for everyday meals, get a material that will last a long time and can withstand the wear and tear of everyday use.

5. Think of the maintenance 

For busy people, one pet peeve they might have is having to spend a significant amount of time cleaning the stain out of tablecloths. This can't be helped if you are using cotton or linen tablecloths, especially for everyday use. To avoid this, keep the linen for special occasions and go with the amazing pvc tablecloth selection found at this website. You'll have something that will last for a long time and cleanup will be a breeze.

Planning an itinerary is not an easy task. It entails a lot of time and energy in reading and researching for information. When I was starting to travel I didn’t have the time to make an itinerary because I was working and didn’t want to spend my rest days on planning. I will just book a flight or hotel, look for a travel agency where we can book our tour and that’s it.

Things changed when I became a stay-at-home mom. Reading was my pastime activity and then I decided to create my own blog to document our trip. Now, I’m a believer of DIY trips because I’ve learned that most of the time DIY trips are cheaper than booking in a travel agency. But of course, there are times that I also book a package or tour for convenience.

If you are a Korean Beauty Enthusiast, I’m pretty sure that you are familiar with the Korean 10 Steps Skincare Routine. So if you are wondering why Korean have nice skin, this is their secret. They really make time for their skincare regimen. But we all know that not all people have the patience to do all the 10 steps and I’m one of them.


Good news to everyone, Get It Beauty partnered with Althea Korea to create a new beauty ritual that will help those busy people to take care of their skin in less than a minute. AltheaKoreaXGetItBeauty Yes, you can have a healthy beauty life by using few skincare products. Introducing the Althea Korea Real Fresh Skin Detoxer, your 10-seconds wash-off mask. Yes, you’ve read it right 10 seconds only not 10 minutes. You can choose from Rose or Green Tea variant or better to use both so you can have a morning routine and evening routine.

Real Fresh Skin Detoxer Rose: Refining 



The Rose variant will help you in protecting and balancing the pH levels of your skin. It gently smooths the roughness and gives your skin a radiant glow so it is perfect for your morning routine. It contains premium May Rose that can be harvest once a year in Grasse, France. It is five times more effective in purifying your skin compared to a normal rose.

Real Fresh Skin Detoxer Green Tea: Purifying 



The Green Tea variant will help you to boost your skin’s natural regeneration process. It calms down and purifies your sensitive skin so it is perfect for your evening routine. It contains young green tea leaves from Jeju Island. The baby leaves have five times more vitamin C than the lemon so it is excellent in cleansing, soothing, and protecting the sensitive skin from UV damage.

How to Use Althea Korea Real Fresh Skin Detoxer 

1. Squeeze out a generous amount and apply onto dry skin.
2. Leave the product for 10 seconds then add a little bit of water and massage in circular motions with petal bubbles.
3. Rinse.

Verdict: I only need a coin-sized amount and it is enough to cover my face. I’m not fond of flower scent but I’m glad because the scent of the rose variant is very mild. You can really see small pieces of rose and green tea leaves on skin detoxer. The product is easy to use, it really cleans your face without feeling dry after washing. Though there is a slight stinging sensation when I apply the skin detoxer on my face, I'm not sure if my skin is just sensitive but there is no redness after using this.

Update: After using this for three weeks, my husband and friends noticed my skin. My skin looks younger daw. I'm happy with this skin detoxer because it lessens my pores and smoothens my skin. I only use this once a day, I just alternate the skin detoxer every day.

Tip: Do not forget to record the opening date and use the product before it expires. Store in a cool and dry place, away from heat and direct sunlight.

Read: My Shopping Experience at Althea Korea

Yangon Myanmar is known as a melting pot of East meets West. The city is famous for their Shwedagon Pagoda. My husband was lucky to visit the pagoda during his first visit to Myanmar. He took some pictures and since then, I required him to take photos so I can have a glimpse of his business trip. Hehehe!

Read: Glimpse of Yangon Myanmar

There is still no direct flight from Manila to Yangon so there is still a short layover in Bangkok. During his first visit, he flew via Thai Airways and Bangkok Airways but last week, he flew via Philippine Airlines and Bangkok Airways. We had a bad experience at Bangkok Airways before, if you remember my post “How to Deal with Damaged Luggage”. This time, nawalan naman ng padlock yung luggage ni hubby so I was hoping na magkadirect flight na to Yangon.

Parkroyal Yangon Hotel

My husband stayed at Parkroyal Yangon Hotel, he likes this hotel compared to Taw Win Garden Hotel because the room is much bigger, comfortable bed, bathroom has a bathtub and stable wifi. It is located near the Yangon city center which is an ideal location because some popular attractions are near like Shwedagon Pagoda, Sule Pagoda, Yangon Central Railway Station, Bogyoke Aung San Market and China Town.


This is the room and bathroom.





Spice Brasserie

The room package includes buffet breakfast at Spice Brasserie where you can eat local and international cuisines. They also offer “Special of the Day” meal prepared by their chefs. The restaurant is open from 6AM to 11:30PM. Their signature dishes are Chicken Curry with Potatoes and Assorted Vegetables and Prawn Curry with Assorted Vegetables. For breakfast, you can try Myanmar Morning Noodle (Mote Hinn Gar), a national dish of Myanmar and most popular breakfast dish. The main ingredients are catfish, lemongrass, fish sauce, onion, garlic, rice vermicelli and coriander.





Shiki-Tei

Aside from the Spice Brasserie, you can also eat or drink at Si Chuan Don Hua Restaurant, Shiki-Tei, The Lobby Bar, and Club 5. My husband loves Japanese food so he took advantage of the Shiki-Tei, a Japanese restaurant at Parkroyal. It offers buffet and a la carte meals but my husband availed the buffet dinner at $45 but because of the promo, he paid around $33.






Lunch 11:30AM to 2:30PM
Dinner 5:30Pm to 9:30PM



Parkroyal has a gym and swimming pool, but the pool is not that clean because you can see moss on the tiles of the pool. I hope they clean and maintain their pool well. Service is good.

Parkroyal Yangon Hotel
33 ALan Pya Phaya Road,
Dagon Township,
Yangon Myanmar

Yey, I am an angel now, an angel without wings and not God’s messenger but I will be one of the angels that will inform you about the latest Korean Beauty products. I am happy to announce that I am now part of Althea’s Angel Beauty Ambassador Community. (insert happy dance). I discovered Althea Korea last year and I became hooked with Korean Beauty products. I’ve never been to South Korea so I am glad that I can order K-Beauty products in the comfort of our home. So far all my boxes were delivered on time and in good condition.


If you remember my post last week, I was browsing Althea Korea site because they are having an anniversary promo and I wanted to join their contest “Althea Turns 3”. I just placed my order then my Welcome Gift arrived, my Althea Angels box is here. Thank you Althea Korea.


The box includes Althea’s Real Fresh Skin Detoxers in Green Tea and Rose. These products will be available on July 30, 2018 so don’t forget to visit Althea Korea site. I will share my review on a separate post but to give you an idea, it is a daily 10 seconds wash-off mask, so if you’re busy, this will be your friend because you only need 10 seconds for your morning routine and evening routine.


Real Fresh Skin Detoxer Rose: Refining

It gently smooths away roughness and gives your skin a radiant glow. Perfect for your morning routine.

Real Fresh Skin Detoxer Green Tea: Purifying 

It calms down and purifies your sensitive skin. Perfect for your evening routine.

Read: Althea Korea Real Fresh Skin Detoxer Review
My Shopping Experience at Althea Korea
My Korean Drama List

Jakarta, Indonesia is not on my bucket list but whenever my husband goes to Indonesia, a part of me wants to go with him because I like his accommodation. You know that my son and I love hotel staycation and parang ang sarap magstaycation sa Jakarta. Last Thursday, my husband told me that he needs to go to Indonesia and he said he will stay at The Westin Jakarta and I just said okay.

My husband stayed at Westin Grande Sukhumvit Hotel in Bangkok so in my mind, same lang sila but the following day, I searched for this hotel and at that moment, I wanted to book a flight. Hehehe! But no more flights at Cebu Pacific Air and PAL has Premium Economy and Business Class flight only. Too expensive for two nights trip.

My husband booked online and he received the confirmation after a few minutes. The payment was already charged because of the no cancellation policy. I’m not sure if that is always the case or is it because my husband booked a day before his trip. Good thing that despite the heavy rains there was no flight cancellation last Sunday.


The Westin Jakarta is a 5-star hotel and one of the newest hotels in Jakarta. It is located on the top 20 floors of Gama Tower, the tallest building in Indonesia. It is in the heart of the city so you have stunning city view whether day or night. It is near shopping malls too so if you like shopping, this hotel is for you.

The Westin Room




One thing I noticed in Indonesia, their hotel rooms are always big compared to other countries. The smallest room is 46-48sq meter. The design of the room is similar to Four Points by Sheraton Bangkok, it is just bigger. This was the first time my husband stayed on this hotel but because he is SPG Member, the hotel gave him complimentary dessert and drink coupon. Additional 5% discount on their hotel rate too.


Tip: If you are a frequent traveler, business traveler or you love hotel staycation. Don’t forget to sign-up for hotel membership card. It is FREE. You get additional discounts every time you book. And sometimes they give freebies like complimentary desserts or drinks.




They say that they have a heavenly bed but my husband still prefers the bed in Hotel Mulia Senayan, yun pa rin ang favorite hotel beds niya. It has a separate rain shower and bathtub so plus points for us because we love bathtubs. The toiletries are similar to other Westin hotel except for the ‘Sleep Well Lavender Balm” so I told my husband to bring it home. Matry nga kung makakatulog ako ng mahimbing.


Seasonal Tastes

The room package includes buffet breakfast at Seasonal Tastes, it is an all-day dining restaurant that offers city view. My husband said it is similar to Spiral where there are so many choices, sa dami you don’t know where to start. They serve international dishes like Western, Asian, Indian and Mediterranean. It has seven live cooking stations so you can order and they will cook it for you.'

Read: Jakarta Eats: Seasonal Tastes Restaurant




My husband stayed for two nights or should I say one night only because of the delayed flight, madaling araw na siya nakarating. Hehehe! So he was not able to explore other facilities of the hotel, but The Westin has 24 hours Fitness Studio, Spa, and Indoor Heated Swimming Pool.


Update November 2018

My husband went back to Jakarta and stayed again at The Westin Jakarta. He was a returning guest so he was a little disappointed because there were no complimentary fruits and desserts in his room. So there is no consistency on the way they treat loyal SPG member or returning guest. This is one reason why he likes Hotel Mulia Senayan, they really know how to spoil their returning guest.


No more king-sized bed so he stayed at Westin Twin Rooms, but looking at the photo, ang laki pa rin ng bed for a single bed.


He was able to explore the hotel so he checked the gym, he swam in the indoor pool (lukewarm water) and ate breakfast and dinner at Seasonal Taste. If ever you want to use the gym and you forgot your workout attire, don’t worry because you can order workout gear.

“Pack Light Stay Fit - Westin Gear Lending helps you keep moving with New Balance workout gear delivered right to your room for just $5. Call Service Express to Order workout gear in your size. ” 




Pros: There is a bank in the building so in case you need money, you won't have any problem. My husband exchanges Philippines Peso to Indonesia Rupiah.

Update: March 2020

My husband went back to Jakarta, Indonesia, and stayed here again and he was surprised when he saw a plate of dessert on his table because, for the last few trips, they no longer give complimentary fruits or desserts. I hope the freebies are consistent for their returning guests. Happy 5th Stay to my husband.


The Westin Jakarta 
JI H.R. Rasuna Said Kav. C-22 A.
Jakarta, 12940 Indonesia