CRISTY IN THE CITY

Thursday, January 28, 2021

Iloilo River Esplanade vis -a- vis Hangang Park in Yeouido, Seoul

Dreaming of having corn dog with Han Ji-Pyeong? Traveling to the land of K-drama and kimchi is next to impossible as of the moment but one can have a taste of k-drama playfulness in the city.

1. The Iloilo River is the city's counterpart to the chilly Han River in Seoul. Walk, jog or bike along the 8.1 kilometer brickstone paved Iloilo River Esplanade which is composed of 6 segments traversing the Iloilo River area. From sunrise to sunset, the clean waterways, lush vegetation and rapidly changing skyline are a romantic sight. A beautiful pastel sky can be seen on most days. This place is perfect if you need to de-stress or clear your mind. You may whisper (or scream) your frustrations, heartaches or confessions of unrequited love to the calm, tranquil river.

2. Stop for a brew or bite at The Traveling Cafe (just like the coffee truck you see in k-dramas) at the Diversion Road area. The Hangang Park in Yeouido, Seoul has cheerful ahjummas who operate cute coffee carts offering canned iced coffee to park-goers. While you may never find ambulant vendors in the Esplanade itself, you may find them at the entrance offering quick drinks or refreshments. Ube pandesal anyone?

3. Grab a bowl of fresh ramyun and bibimbap at Assi Fresh Plaza while watching the busy, corporate life at Iloilo Business Park go by. Located at BPO Building A beside a 7-11 combi store, the Korean grocery and cafe sells home supplies, snacks, K-pop merch and yes, it even has a Seoul Cafe that serves good Korean dishes and drinks. Cheers!

4. Be a K-beauty in the city. No need to shop online for Koreans cosmetics as you can find shops like Nature Republic, The Face Shop and pop-up shop Aigoo Cosmetics in the popular malls in the metropolis. Remember, a beauty skin mask keeps the blahs away!

5. Stay home and watch K-drama. How about K-food on demand! How cool is that? Just tap or swipe away on Grab Food or Foodpanda mobile app for a dizzying array of Korean restaurants to choose from! Care for Tteokboki and peach soju?

Saturday, January 23, 2021

Hola Plantita!

There are no street dancing and merrymaking activities this Dinagyang weekend due to the pandemic. It's eerily quiet and the mood is somber just like the downcast skies that have prevailed all week. Save for a few moments of sunshine, you would need a cup of your favorite brew or a slice of cake to brighten up the day. For me, a potful of flowers or a new glossy leafed plant would do the trick. Aside from its being Caturday, it's also a plantita kind of day. Yay!

After breakfast, my sister-law and teenage niece headed off to Plaza Jaro to check out the plant fair. Right after December, as tradition would have it, the plaza would usually be a noisy carnival of sorts filled with ukay-ukay merchandize, plant sales and exhibits, marble and ceramic markets and of course, the streetfood fare. This year, it's just all about plants, plants and more plants. I don't call myself a real plantita since my practical interest in plants is usually limited to culinary herbs and flowering plants. I'm not into collecting expensive or rare plants either since I don't have the time or the budget for it. Every January, I just buy a few plants from the Jaro Plaza market that I can add to my herb or flower garden.

The Jaro Plaza plant fair has a plant for every kind of gardener, plant enthusiast or die-hard plantita/plantito. You might just find the plant that will love you back. Check the market out as soon as you can. Bring lots of cash as the temptation will be great. Resistance will be futile.

The Jaro Plaza Plant Fair runs from January to February 6, 2021.

Update: Extended until February 15, 2021.

There is a plant for every kind of plantito or plantita

Stroll slowly and buy fast

Foliage is the new flower

Orchids for the intermediate and advanced plantita

Monday, January 18, 2021

Reimagined: Iloilo at night

As if Iloilo City is not dreamy already, we reimagine it as a magical place called Wakanda of the Philippines where the past fuses with the present. A land of kind and noble people with a charming heritage.

We add a bit of celestial fantasy to Iloilo River's majestic backdrop made possible by Photoshop Camera's AI powered lenses. Take a virtual stroll through these beautifully surreal landscapes with a loved one (or in my case my favorite imaginary k-drama actor).

Sunday, January 17, 2021

Vintage treasure hunting at Japanese thrift shops

Color coded stoneware and ceramic plates to upgrade your tablescape

Nowadays, finding vintage collectible thrift items is as easy as visiting a local Japanese surplus shop. Iloilo City is home to two popular Japanese thrift shops- Domo-Domo Japanese Surplus and Akiko Japan-Iloilo. I equally love both shops as each carry their own unique assortment.

Akiko Japan-Iloilo is the place to go if you are looking for Japanese bicycles or mamacharis, Noritake and luxury branded tea sets, lacquered bento boxes, Japanese culture home decor, furniture as well as quirky curios. Meanwhile, Domo-Domo Japanese Surplus specializes in toys, plushies, anime and kawaii collectibles as well as vintage kitchenware, stoneware and Japanese style furniture. I bought a few circa 1960-something items from the store and they still look good as new. Akiko Japan-Iloilo has weekly live selling sessions where you might just find the perfect item waiting for you. I've bought a few items from the live selling sessions. The trick on how to get your hand on the item you like is to have fast fingers since the first to type "Mine + item code+ price" in the comment box will get the item.

Thrifting is serendipity in action since you don't find your vintage item, sometimes it finds you. Like true love, what is meant to be yours is yours! To get the best of the vintage lot, follow the Facebook pages of these shops and come early when they open. Take advantage of the seasonal sales when they happen.

Happy vintage shopping!

Vintage pots and pans to complete a zakkastyle kitchen aesthetic

Stoneware and ceramic tea and sake cups

Cute knick knacks and pretty little things

Vintage toys, plushies and board games

Friday, January 8, 2021

Where to catch Iloilo Dinagyang Digital 2021 events and activities

The street parties and revelries will surely be missed this year! However, the famous Dinagyang festival will find a broader, more global audience with the Dinagyang Digital 2021 online platform. Visit the Iloilo Festivals webpage to watch the virtual opening salvo as well as various events and activities. Viva Senor Santo Nino!

Score amazing lifestyle finds at these Dinagyang fairs and bazaars

The Dinagyang festival in this city which happens every 4th Sunday of January is going digital this year. With the coronavirus pandemic still hovering around, Dinagyang Digital 2021 will be celebrated in a more restrained style with events and festivities limited to virtual performance and cultural showcases, art events, photo contests as well as bazaars and lifestyle/food fairs.

In compliance with COVID-19 health and safety protocols, these events will showcase the best of what Iloilo City has to offer. Rolling kiosks and pop-up shops teeming with assorted kitsch and souvenir merchandise were a normal spectacle in the downtown area during the pre-COVID days. This year, merry makers can still have their fill of festival-inspired retail therapy with this line-up of weekend markets and week-long bazaars hosted by popular hotels and malls in the city. If you happen to swing by the Megaworld area, you can do a bit of bazaar hopping. Look out for Ilonggo designed fashion and accessories, gourmet treats, unique home decor and even trend potted plants to spruce up your home. I will certainly be looking out for hand painted pots and baskets to showcase my small collection of indoor plants.

Visit the social pages of these events for details and schedule confirmation.

Bakal-Lokal FB page

Courtyard by Marriott FB page

Richmonde Hotel Iloilo

Megaworld Festive Walk Iloilo FB Page

Sunday, July 21, 2019

Boracay Island in Monsoon Season

Located two kilometers off the tip of Panay Island in the Philippines, Boracay Island is famous for its emerald waters, powder fine sand and gorgeous stretches of sparkly white shores. It is a tropical destination during the summer time. However, in monsoon season from June to early September, the resorts are shuttered down by windbreakers due to gusty winds and unpredictable rainfall. From being a party epicenter, the island shifts to a laidback island mode reminiscent of Haiwaiian beaches.