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News in the Philippines

Stay in the loop with your go-to source of blogs in the Philippines! Know the latest happenings and trending news in Manila and across the country.

Sept 25 Declared a Regular Holiday as Muslims Observe Eid’l Adha
September 16, 2015

Sept 25 Declared a Regular Holiday as Muslims Observe Eid’l Adha

Another long weekend is coming up soon as Muslims around the world observe their annual Feast of Sacrifice on September 25, 2015, Friday. President Benigno Aquino III declared the day as a regular holiday through Proclamation 1128. The National Commission on Muslim Filipinos had earlier recommended that the holiday be on September 24 but the Office of the President decided to move it a day later to effect a three-day weekend. Eid’l Adha, as the law describes, is a significant occasion in Islam faith because it is the tenth day in the month of Hajj or Islamic Pilgrimage to Mecca, a mandatory religious duty for Muslims that must be carried […]
The Philippines Ranked as One of the Best Countries for Expat Families
September 15, 2015

The Philippines Ranked as One of the Best Countries for Expat Families

Raising a family in a foreign land can be daunting, but for expats living in the Philippines, it looks like they are just in the right place – a country that in fact fosters it. A recent survey done by an international organization ranks the Philippines, a country with a culture known to be nurturing and family-centred as one of the best countries to raise a family for expatriates. Photo grabbed from marketingmag.ca Conducted by Internations.org, a global network of expats that aims to provide a solid community for those living abroad, the Family Life Index 2015 shows the Philippines at the 14th spot among 41 countries. Countries are ranked […]
Kitsho New Menu & Eat-All-You-Can Weekend Promo
December 29, 2015

Kitsho New Menu & Eat-All-You-Can Weekend Promo

Drown yourself in the rich and elegant flavors of Japanese cuisine with Kitsho’s fourth anniversary all-you-can-eat treat for only PHP888 per person located inside Hotel Jen Manila, Pasay. Enjoy this blowout promo by Kitsho in all weekends of September. Guests will surely enjoy the buffet experience with 26 selections to choose from, and to top it off, Kitsho has also introduced 7 new items in their menu spearheaded by Chef Masahiro, the executive chef of Hotel Jen Manila. Let’s go over with some of the new dishes. First is the Japanese Eggplant with Ground Chicken Sauce which looked like a tofu at hindsight. The eggplant was drowned with chicken sauce […]
Apple Unveils its Newest – the iPhone 6S and 6S Plus
September 10, 2015

Apple Unveils its Newest – the iPhone 6S and 6S Plus

iPhone fans all over the world who have been anticipating the newest from the tech giant are now all agog to get to know and get their hands on the latest release from Apple, the iPhone 6S and 6S Plus. This S generation of iPhone promises to bring the iPhone experience to an entirely new level with its newest features in hardware and software. The only thing that’s changed is everything. With that tagline, Apple boldly claims how this new offering alters the ways, the feel, the form, and function of iPhone in more ways than one while retaining everything we love about the brand – its greatness. It introduces […]
Lancôme Celebrates 50 Years of Absolue
December 28, 2015

Lancôme Celebrates 50 Years of Absolue

The luxury beauty house, Lancôme, celebrates 50 golden years of its Absolue line which includes a complete set of skincare products – Absolue Precious Oil, Absolue Sublime Oleo Serum, Absolue Eye Serum, Absolue Premium BX, Absolue Precious Pure Creamy Foam among others at a by-invitation-only event at the Devarana Spa at Dusit Thani Hotel in Makati on August 28, 2015. It was an evening of luxurious facial pampering and make-up sessions where professional therapists and make-up artists treated the guests with exclusive beauty indulgence using Lancôme products. The event’s gold theme highlighted the luxury product line’s 50th anniversary with elegance and refinement made more engaging by the courteous attendants, the […]
L’Apertivo Italiano: Experience Italy After Work (A Review)
September 01, 2015

L’Apertivo Italiano: Experience Italy After Work (A Review)

The Italian Chamber of Commerce’s almost-midweek party was a resounding success. As the hurly-burly of Makati continued on your should-be-typical Wednesday night, Legaspi Village’s Makati Diamond Residences hosted the most chic weekday social that stopped the world of one excited crowd for at least three hours. GUESTS start socializing the moment they arrive. (Photo from Travel Magazine) Cocktail tables and cocktail tables were filled with a very fashionable group of men and women, sipping premium Italian wine and munching on cheese and breadsticks, croquetas, mini-Margherita pizzas and vegetable tortilla. The soft music, the lively chatter and the happy laughter echoing across the room set the perfect atmosphere for the event. […]
Shiseido Launches Latest Product ‘Ultimune Eye’
December 28, 2015

Shiseido Launches Latest Product ‘Ultimune Eye’

They say that the eyes are the mirror of one’s soul, therefore we should take extra care of it and make sure that they are healthy. The global brand Shiseido understands this, and after years of research, they have answered our eye care prayers. Three floors of opulence greeted special guests as they walked into Shiseido’s posh Beauty Penthouse. With floors such as the Omotenashi and Hanatsubaki, they were guaranteed a day of rest and relaxation along with a beauty degustation with a menu prepared by celebrity chef Rob Pengson. All these were in line with the Japanese brand’s launching of their latest product, the Shiseido Ultimune Eye. The said […]
Plan Your 2016 Holidays as Early as Now
August 28, 2015

Plan Your 2016 Holidays as Early as Now

Dreaming of a perfect holiday activity in the near or far future should not be a wishful somewhere-over-the-rainbow kind of pursuit. It has to be intentional and proactive. No procrastinating with the “it’s still a long way off anyway” kind of thinking. Enough with  imagining the future and do something now to make that future happen, and that includes your vacations of course! – – And to be able to be ahead of the pack and thereby get the best early bird deals, the prime accommodations, the best place to go to, best time to go there, and the chance to avoid the peak season rush and escalation of prices, […]
5 Top Family Activities in the Philippines During the Rainy Season
December 29, 2015

5 Top Family Activities in the Philippines During the Rainy Season

Bitten by the travel bug during typhoon season? Fret not. With these five rainy day destinations, you and your family won’t have to settle another day for the indoors. – – 1. Dip into the hot spring pools in Laguna. Dubbed as the “resort capital” of the Philippines, Laguna houses a flurry of natural hot spring resorts fit for the cold, rainy season. Resorts in the town of Calamba – a two-hour drive south of Manila – are popular for their soothing hot spring pools, which come straight from the natural springs of Mt. Makiling. – 2. Surf in Baler. A scenic six-hour drive from Manila through winding roads and […]
CoCo Ichibanya Opens Second Branch in Rockwell
December 29, 2015

CoCo Ichibanya Opens Second Branch in Rockwell

First in Kapitolyo, now in Makati! The largest Japanese chain of curry restaurant, CoCo ICHIBANYA, has recently opened its second branch at One Rockwell West Tower, Rockwell Drive, Makati City last August 21. – – Currently, CoCo ICHIBANYA, or “CoCo Ichi” to its patrons, has more than 1,400 branches in Japan alone, and is continuing to expand its business into the global market, across countries like Indonesia, Hongkong, Singapore, the United States and the Philippines. Everything you’ll find in CoCo ICHIBANYA Philippines — from the food items to the restaurant look — has been pre-approved by the international management to make sure that the quality is the same as all CoCo […]
AFC’s Jonathan Phang Goes on a Gourmet Getaway
December 28, 2015

AFC’s Jonathan Phang Goes on a Gourmet Getaway

– One of the things popular British chef Jonathan Phang is famed for is his gastronomic journeys aboard some of the world’s poshest trains. These trains provide their customers with the old-world glamour of times gone by coupled with five-star dining. This time, Jonathan along with two lucky Cignal and SkyCable subscribers, embarked on a three-day train ride aboard the opulent Eastern and Oriental Express. The journey took them through countries Singapore, Malaysia, and the city of Bangkok. The highlights of the trip would be their market tour in the royal city of Kuala Kangsar and the exclusive dinner that featured dishes prepared by Jonathan himself and the train’s executive […]
Le Jardin Promo: 10% OFF Brunch Menu Until Sept 30
December 28, 2015

Le Jardin Promo: 10% OFF Brunch Menu Until Sept 30

In celebration of their first anniversary, Le Jardin Manila is giving 10% discount on their new All-Day Brunch Menu to Philippine Primer readers! To be entitled of the promo, start a discussion on the comment section of the All Day Brunch at Le Jardin blog post and/or our Facebook post, and do not forget to include your full name. Upon payment, show a screenshot of your comment and present a valid ID. – – Terms and Conditions: • 10% off on your total bill. Dine-in only • Promo only applies to Le Jardin’s brunch menu served from 7:30AM to 3:00PM on Sundays, from 7:30AM until 5:00PM on Tuesdays to Saturdays, and […]
Japanese Hit Series Amachan Arrives On TV5
December 28, 2015

Japanese Hit Series Amachan Arrives On TV5

After a successful stint in Myanmar and Indonesia, the hit Japanese series Amachan is about to make waves in Philippine television after the successful contract signing between Japan International Broadcasting (NHK) and TV5 on August 17, 2015 at the Manila Palace Pool Club. – JIBT CEO and President Yoshihiko Shimizu (front left) and TV5 CEO Noel Lorenza (front right) signs and seals the partnership that will air Amachan in TV5 held on August 17, 2015 at the Manila Pool Palace Club, Taguig. – Set in the Tohuku region of Japan, which suffered from the devastating tsunami disaster in 2011, Amachan is a slice of life type of drama with a […]
Five Japanese Desserts and their Filipino Counterparts
February 19, 2019

Five Japanese Desserts and their Filipino Counterparts

They say that the fastest way to a man’s heart is through his stomach. The statement could not be any truer to any Filipino you meet whose fondness for food knows no bound. The Japanese have their own sweet tooth to compensate for the love for sugar, a similarity between the two cultures. The Dango and the Carioca – Dango (Photo from takai-foods.co.jp) and Carioca (Photo from angsarap.net) – These multi-colored dumplings have become an iconic festival treat made from rice flour, and is related to mochi. There is usually three to four dango skewered in a stick. One of the selected sweet street foods, the carioca, resembles the local […]
Maynilad: Water Service Interruption in Manila, Cavite this August
August 08, 2015

Maynilad: Water Service Interruption in Manila, Cavite this August

Subscribers of Maynilad Water Services Inc. in some areas in Manila and Cavite will experience a rotating water supply interruption due to the realignment of the company’s seven-foot-tall water pipeline along Juan Luna corner Hermoso Sts. in Tondo, Manila. This is to give way to the flood control project of Department of Public Ways and Highways to fix the drainage system along Blumentritt Street. The water interruption will start this August 10 (Monday) at 1:00 pm until August 13 (Thursday) at 10:00 pm and August 17 (Monday) at 1:00 pm until August 18 at 3:00 pm. To see the full list of affected villages and the interruption schedule from Maynilad, […]
All-Day Brunch at Le Jardin
December 28, 2015

All-Day Brunch at Le Jardin

The garden-themed restaurant—Le Jardin, located at a penthouse in Bonifacio Global City inscribes a new category in their menu—an All-Day Brunch served as early as 7:30 am. Imagine starting your day sitting down in Le Jardin at 8 in the morning while those eyes are still half asleep, then suddenly—an aromatic scent invades your senses by surprise, your eyes starts to widen, and a smile emerges from those sleepy cheeks as the brunch is placed on your table—it’s literally a good morning! The brunch experience at Le Jardin is new and refreshing. I urge you to join me as I describe you my Le Jardin brunch experience which might inspire […]
Vikings Luxury Buffet Offers World Street Food This August
December 28, 2015

Vikings Luxury Buffet Offers World Street Food This August

When we say “street food,” the first thing that comes to our minds is the ready-to-eat food sold along the streets. Although these kinds of food may not be the “cleanest” of them all, some people still dig them because they are cheap and delectable. Some countries are even proud of their street foods because not only are they delicious, but also one-of-a-kind. – – So if you like eating and trying out street foods, then you’re going to enjoy what Vikings Luxury Buffet is offering now. For the whole month of August, the country’s biggest and most enticing eat-all-you can restaurant is featuring the “World Street Food” which showcases all-time […]
Polecats Manila Presents: Stellar on Reel
August 01, 2015

Polecats Manila Presents: Stellar on Reel

– Polecats Manila, the premiere aerial arts school in the Philippines, showcased their students’ talents in a recital entitled “Stellar on Reel” at the AFP Theater, Camp Aguinaldo last July 25, Saturday. – Defying gravity with aerial silk! – On its fifth year, Stellar, the main title of the annual showcase of student athletes enrolled in Polecats Manila, adapted a movie theme this year where films like Big Hero 6, The Hunger Games, Mission: Impossible, and Charlie’s Angels were interpreted onstage. Students performed several numbers using their aerial expertise on pole, aerial silk, striptease and aerial hoop. – A testament on how flexible students of Polecats Manila are. – Showcasing […]
Rosanjin Unveils New Menu
December 28, 2015

Rosanjin Unveils New Menu

ROSANJIN goes back to their roots and reinvents their menu as they give homage to the old and beautiful art of traditional Japanese cooking. One of their newest specialty is TOBANYAKI, a traditional method of Japanese cooking that uses ceramic plate. The use of ceramic plate allows heat to be transmitted easily, and continues to emit heat even after the heat source has been removed. ROSANJIN innovates the old traditional method with a modern touch through their several selections, such as Australian Rib Steak (P380), Buri Teiyaki (P450), and Chicken Cheeseyaki (P280). – Australian Rib Steak (P380). This meat literally gets cooked in minutes and comes out as tender and […]
MRT Bus Route Hits the Road
July 30, 2015

MRT Bus Route Hits the Road

The early commute using the MRT-3 can be daunting forcing the commuters to seek alternative means of transportation. Government officials of LTFRB took action with their MRT Bus Route scheme, which operates during the morning rush from 6 am to 9 am. The trial run started a few days ago where participating buses were parked and lined up at pick-up sites North Avenue and Quezon Avenue. Passengers can ride in one of the participating buses whose fare rates are the same with MRT-3. A good news for passengers is that buses will only fill up to its respective seating capacity, no more standing up. The buses will then travel nonstop […]