For me, one of the best ways to enjoy the summer is with a Starbucks Frappuccino in hand. Summer isn’t my favorite season so I’m always looking for ways and excuses to stay indoors where there’s airconditioning. But because I’m an active guy who moves around a lot, I need an ice-cold and delicious drink. This makes me a regular in Starbucks stores around Metro Manila.

This summer, my drink staples would be Starbucks’s newest offering: the Tea-ramisu and the Midnight Mocha Frappuccinos! I got to try the drinks before its April 11 launch and fell in love.

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My work is largely home-based but I go out so much that it feels like having an office job. And like any office job, there are times when I come home late, tired, and hungry. Everyone has eaten dinner so I have to wonder where I’m going to get food.

I’m sure there are plenty of people who can relate to my predicament. And I bet there are plenty more who live alone who have to cook after a long day at work and the commute. Eating out every day? What a concept.

I discovered a new delivery service that prepares hot, ready, and delicious meals prepared by chefs and delivered on the day itself. It’s called City Chef and they believe in delivering home-cooked favorites straight to their customers’ doorsteps, right in time for dinner.

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Local showbiz has produced iconic tandems: Jolina and Marvin, Claudine and Rico, John Lloyd and Bea, Alden and Maine. But in the Philippine entertainment scene, no one can beat the tandem of Sharon Cuneta and Gabby Concepcion. After spending 25 years apart on the big and small screen, the two are back in a commercial and can I just say…. they still have their chemistry!

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When it comes to xiao long bao in the Philippines, it’s hard to top the Singaporean import Paradise Dynasty. The restaurant is known for its eight-flavored xiao long bao, where you can feast on dumplings with flavors like ginseng, garlic, black truffle, cheese, crab roe, foie gras, and Szechuan. And if you think that it’s the star of the restaurant, think again. There’s a lot of dishes to choose from and they’re all winners!

I recently had lunch there and got to taste 21 different dishes. It was overwhelming but there were dishes that stood out. Here’s what I thought of the food at Paradise Dynasty:

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There’s nothing as good as a classic and this applies to doughnuts, too. Bakeries and brands can come up with as many flavor combinations as they want but nothing can compare to Krispy Kreme’s pillowy-soft and warm Original Glazed. And if you think it can’t get any better, they released the Original Glazed doughnut in chocolate!

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I recently signed up for the gym and on my first day, my coach asked me what my diet is like. His eyes grew wide as I described my love for sweets, and he promptly asked me to control my intake so I can meet my fitness goals. I promised him I would, but I flat out told him that there’s one thing I can’t give up: Starbucks. The store has become my third place, where I can work, read, or hang out while having a Frappuccino or a cup of Teavana. There’s always a new drink so I can’t be expected to say no when it comes out!

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As a kid, one of my favorite treats was chocolates filled with strawberry jam. My mom used to buy these in Japan and I would happily pop them in my mouth in rapid succession. As I grew up and my mom’s trips to Japan dwindled, my sweet tooth would find other indulgences. Just recently, I discovered a new favorite dessert that tastes just like it and it’s Jollibee’s Strawberry Choco Sundae!

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This 2018, one of my resolutions is to try more new things. Manila is so dynamic that there’s always something new to eat, experience, drink, and visit. Another is to make more time for friends and family, who I did not spend much time with last year because of work. And when you’re talking about quality time with people, it’s bound to involve alcohol.

If you’re like me who has the same two resolutions, here’s something worth trying to hit two birds with one glass, er, stone: Jameson Irish Whiskey’s Black Barrel, which was recently made available in the Philippines.

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