People go abroad for a variety of reasons: to migrate, to study, or to find greener pastures. Whatever your reason, one of the things you have to take when going to an English-speaking country is to take the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) test, a language assessment test to prove you can speak the language.

Over 10,000 organizations around the world trust and accept IELTS as a reliable indicator of English proficiency, so it’s important for those who are planning to pursue migration or higher education in 140 countries abroad. Just last year, three million people took the test!

Read More

Just two months after the Manila opening of Kam’s Roast, a Michelin-starred restaurant from Hong Kong, we have another storied restaurant opening its doors in Manila: Singapore’s Hawker Chan, known as the cheapest Michelin-starred restaurant in the world.

The restaurant is known for its Soya Chicken, which according to the Michelin Guide draws lines even before opening time. I got to try it a day before its official launch and fell in love with the food!

Read More

I love visiting museums so the first time I heard that the National Museum of the Philippines is constructing a building dedicated to natural history, I was excited. I lapped up every bit of news and fell in love when I saw photos of the interiors. When it finally opened on May 18, I wanted to go but I heard the place was crowded. While I’m happy that people are taking an interest in the arts, I also want breathing space when I visit.

Fast forward to a few months later and I finally got to visit!

Read More

We Filipinos love anime so it comes as no surprise that Netflix is turning their eye to this genre, with new shows and renewed seasons. Some of the titles coming our way are the new Ultraman, Godzilla: City on the Edge of Battle, and Cannon Busters, as well as new seasons of Aggretsuko and Castlevania.

Read More

One of my favorite watches growing up was my G-Shock, which lit up with the push of a button and had a tiny stick figure dancing to an 8-bit tune. Whenever I think about it, I am transported to my childhood where I’ll just light it up and watch the figure dance what I thought were the coolest moves. However, like everything in my childhood, I grew up and forgot all about it.

Read More

One of my favorite Netflix shows is The Crown, which illustrates the rise of Queen Elizabeth II, the current Queen of the United Kingdom and the longest currently-reigning monarch, having served as the Queen since 1952. The show is an extravagantly-told tale with extravagance, elegance, pomp, and grandeur.

The thing about The Crown is that every two seasons, the cast will change to reflect the Queen’s age. Each season is set in a decade so it’s going to look kind of weird if she hasn’t aged 20 years for the third season. Claire Foy, who brilliantly portrayed the royal’s vulnerability and strength, will soon be replaced by Olivia Colman and Netflix just released her first look.

Read More

Whenever I would visit Hong Kong, I’d see hundreds of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) working hard to provide for their families back home. Sometimes I’d make small talk with them, asking them how long they’ve been there or how often they see their loved ones. The stories are always touching and sometimes heartbreaking, but it’s the only choice many of them have. Skilled workers are needed abroad and the pay helps those they’ve left behind.

The problem with working abroad is remitting the money back home. The fees can be expensive and can take a huge chunk that could be used in the Philippines. But that has changed because AlipayHK and GCash have partnered to create the first blockchain-based cross-border digital wallet remittance service globally, so that users can transfer money between Hong Kong and the Philippines.

Read More

One of my fondest memories of the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP) is seeing the musical Mamma Mia! with my family. I’m a big fan of musicals, ABBA, and anything dripping in eleganza so I had a great time seeing the story unfold with my loved ones. Soon I’ll relive the memory because Mamma Mia! is returning to Manila and they just announced the cast!

Read More