Who else missing going to Maginhawa for food trips?!
It was 4 years ago when Maginhawa became hype. Every night especially on weekends, people are looking into different restaurants and cafes to visit, and we are guilty here!
And it’s been so long since we last went to Maginhawa and we’re having mixed emotions when we saw that some of the restaurants were closed, but happy at the same time since we saw new restaurants to check out after this pandemic.
One of the newest cafe we have visited was Black Onyx Cafe.
It is located at 45B Maginhawa and just beside a laundry shop. It would be a perfect place to chill while waiting for your laundry.
It is a cafe that offers milk teas and snacks, such as takoyaki and nachos.
What we loved about this cafe is the ambiance of their place. So cozy since it was a co-working space before it became a cafe. We can’t wait to visit and dine-in, and chill while enjoying their drinks and snacks.
We enjoyed the drinks and snacks. We definitely love their cheese bomb takoyaki, literally melts in your mouth!
This is their second floor. But since dine-in is still not allowed, they only accommodate takeout, pickup, and delivery.
Hope once the quarantine lifts, pay a visit to Black Onyx Cafe and try their snacks and drinks with your friends.
Since we are now on season 3 of ECQ here in the Philippines, that means we can’t still go out and dine-in in our favorite restaurants like before.
Glad to know that Taste of Joy exists and delivers affordable set meals perfect for parties at the comfort of our own home.
WATCH OUR MUKBANG VIDEO HERE:
Taste of Joy has been in the food industry since 1993! We’re not that familiar with them because the branches they have are located mostly in South areas.
But now, they are covering all parts here in Metro Manila for deliveries so they are now starting to make noise here in the North area.
BTS MEAL
One of the promo bundles in Taste of Joy is their BTS meal. BTS stands for “Big Team Special” and is good for 4 to 6 persons already. The price for this promo bundle is 675 PHP. BTS meal includes the following:
1 extra small bilao of spaghetti
10 pcs of lumpiang shanghai
5 pcs of pork BBQ
10 pcs of pichi pichi with cheese
1.5 L of softdrinks
BFF MEAL
The BFF meal is one of their newest promo bundle in Taste of Joy. BFF stands for “Big Family Foodtrip” and is good for 4 persons. The price for this promo bundle is 859 PHP. BFF meal includes the following:
1 extra small bilao of chapchae
4 pcs of pork BBQ
4 pcs of fried chicken
4 pcs of rice
8 pcs of pichi pichi with cheese
1.5 L of softdrinks
Our personal favorite is their Chapchae! Imagine eating a “bilao” of Chapchae! So good and it has a lot of toppings. We also want to commend their Pork BBQ because the meat was still tender after few hours of taking pictures.
Overall, all the food we tasted were delicious. We recommend you guys to try these promo bundles from Taste of Joy. Good food, affordable promo bundles, and much safer because they deliver straight to your homes.
Say “Yes” to new adventures and firm up your travel plans in the second half of the year as domestic tourism reopens and more locals are getting vaccinated against COVID-19. Visit two of the most beautiful islands in the world, Boracay and Cebu, and other Philippine destinations as many times with 2GO Travel’s “Unli-Trip, Unli-Ligaya” for only 299 PHP.
“We understand the public’s yearning to travel post-pandemic, especially from younger generations who are willing to travel sooner rather than later. With Unli-Trip, we are not only offering the cheapest fare for domestic travel, but we are also giving our passengers flexibility options,” 2GO Assistant Vice President Blessie Cruz said of the latest product launch of 2GO Travel, the country’s largest premier sea travel provider.
Passengers can avail Unli-Trip tickets for sailing from September 1 to December 31, 2021. The all-in rate of 1,059 PHP with a base fare of 299 PHP is applicable to Super Value Class and Tatami accommodations, inclusive of 50 kg baggage allowance, surcharge, insurance, and exclusive of meals. Passengers can book their travel tickets in all 2GO retail outlets nationwide. Meanwhile, a service fee is charged on top of the rate when tickets are bought from authorized agents.
Upon purchase of the Unli-Trip ticket, a passenger is issued itinerary receipts (ITR) for the first two voyages. The third and succeeding bookings may be requested, wherein the first ITR should be presented to be used as basis of the following issuances.
NOTE: A maximum of two bookings is allowed at a time.
“Travel restrictions may pose a challenge when firming up plans, but with the Unli-Trip, you can book with confidence, whether it’s a one-way or roundtrip voyage with any port combination. The flexibility offers unlimited opportunities to travel so you can finally push through with your long-awaited vacations with your family and barkada around the country this year,” Cruz added.
The promo covers all 2GO Travel destinations from Batangas to Caticlan and Roxas, including Manila to Bacolod, Cagayan de Oro, Cebu, Coron, Dumaguete, Iloilo, Puerto Princesa, Butuan, Iligan, Ozamiz, Zamboanga, and vice versa.
Enjoy fun and safe travels with 2GO’s new ships, upgraded onboard accommodations, and amenities as well as strict health and safety protocols from terminal check-in all the way to boarding the vessel and disembarkation.
WHERE TO BOOK?
You may call their hotline (02) 8 528 7000 or visit 2GO Travel’s Facebook and Instagram. You may also email them at travel@2GO.com.ph or visit any 2GO outlet and SM Business Centers near you!
2GO Group Inc., the Philippines’ largest integrated transportation and logistics provider, upholds Filipino aspirational values by naming its newest state-of-the-art passenger vessel as MV 2GO Maligaya.
2GO recognizes the Filipinos’ ability to be joyful and uplifting toward others even in the face of hardships and challenges. MV 2GO Maligaya aspires to make sea travel fun, safe, and reliable through its new vessel.
“Maligaya is one of the defining qualities with which the Filipino is known for around the world. Masaya is a happy feeling, but Maligaya has a sense of deep joy and youthfulness. As a travel brand, we believe this is reflective of the kind of journey and service that you get from 2GO,” stated Blessie Cruz, 2GO Assistant Vice President for Marketing.
The acquisition of the MV 2GO Maligaya is part of the company’s fleet modernization efforts to provide high speed and reliability in the movement of essential goods nationwide, while at the same time upgrading sea travel onboard experience. According to 2GO Chief Operating Officer Waldo Basilla, “This is a manifestation of 2GO’s commitment in providing superior products and services to our customers. The new addition complements the broader service offerings of the other business units under the 2GO Group. As a major player in the industry, it is imperative for us to take the lead in product innovation and unparalleled service to keep in step with world-class standards”.
The MV 2GO Maligaya is the most technologically advanced roll-on, roll-off passenger (ROPAX) ship that has set sail in the Philippine waters. It features a fun and colorful livery that can energize and enhance the Pinoy travel experience.
MV 2GO Maligaya is a larger ship that can carry 40% more twenty-foot equivalent units (TEU) of cargo capacity compared to 2GO’s current fleet of vessels. It will link Manila, Visayas, and Mindanao via its Manila-Cebu-Cagayan de Oro route. With a top speed of 23.5 knots, it reduces steaming time from Manila to Cebu to only 17 hours making it the fastest cargo vessel in the Philippines today. With this vessel’s addition, 2GO aims to further improve sailing schedule reliability to 95% on time.
Made by Japanese shipbuilders and a German main engine, the MV 2GO Maligaya embodies the latest international shipping standards and technologies, including an integrated navigation and control system, advanced fire alarm systems, and multiple collision bulkheads as a collision mitigating support, among others.
MV 2GO Maligaya is a welcome addition to its current fleet of up to 10 ships, servicing 20 major ports of call in the Philippines. The ship is set to sail its maiden voyage this month of May, and the company has prepared special activities for the passengers of MV 2GO Maligaya for being a part of the first journey.
You guys should definitely try ordering from GrabKitchen because you can order from multiple food merchants in one, and the best part is you pay for one-time delivery fee only.
Here in GrabKitchen, you can mix and match your orders, which we cannot do on GrabFood app itself only.
And now, the long wait is over! GrabKitchen newest branches in Malate and Parañaque are now open to serve you.
Here are the merchants that are available in both GrabKitchen branches:
We know that this coffee shop is definitely one of the instagrammable coffee shops here in the Philippines. Aside from its aesthetic design, the food and drinks are exceptional too.
This branch is located in BGC and you can read our full experience below.
One of the hotspot destinations in Manila last year. This was established last year and the vibe here is so extra!!! Super loved the ambiance outside and romantic at night.
What we loved aside from the ambiance is that they are supporting locals by using local coffee grounds. Can’t wait to visit again and see the improvements in this coffee shop.
One of the minimalist coffee shops we’ve been to! This is usually a takeout coffee shop before. Now, they have more seats available since we are allowed to do alfresco dining.
Super loved the coffee here, especially the Mood Shifter. Plus, we commend the minimalist cup here!
One of the recent minimalist coffee shops we visited before the second lockdown. Super love this small, takeout coffee shop in Fairview! They were just taking orders online before, but many of their customers requested that they should open a branch. And tada, the rest is history!
Aside from the outside look of their coffee shop, we loved the packaging of the coffee. And yes, they are still open for delivery and still offer promo bundles. Oh, before we forgot, all drinks are below 99 PHP!
We know coffee is all we need, but how about if there’s a choice for wine, too? Wine not!? Here at Kalinaw Coffee Co, you can have the best of both worlds (coffee and wine). At first, they were just an online store offering coffee drip bags until resellers came in, and the rest is history! They now have a physical store.
We also commend them for supporting other SMEs inside their store! Good job, Kalinaw Coffee!
A newly opened minimalist coffee shop near our place!!! So happy. The interior of the cafe is so aesthetic. Very instagrammable and picturesque. Can’t wait for this ECQ to be lifted so we can visit again and dine in.
The baristas will ask you if you like your coffee to be strong or milky. So that’s a plus for us.
Found this newly opened beach-inspired cafe in QC. This is an alfresco cafe that serves a wide variety of coffee and tea, ramen, and pastries. This is their second branch already; their first branch is located in Marikina but only goods for takeout.
Found this newly opened cafe in Valenzuela! The interior is minimalist and Korean-inspired. The ambiance of this cafe is so cozy and chill. They serve a wide variety of drinks. Also, did we mention that their bottle drinks are unique?! They also offer appetizers up to desserts here.
Looking for some coffee and the trending “egg drop sandwich”? Here in Corner Cafe, you can have them both! Aside from these, the ambiance here is giving you a chill and cozy vibe. This cafe is located near Sto. Domingo. Aside from coffee and sandwiches, they also have rice meals and pasta here.
This hidden aesthetic cafe in Makati will make your feed more instagrammable. This boho-inspired cafe offers rice meals, coffees, wines, pastries, etc. They also have a branch in Pampanga! Reservation is a must so make sure to check them out before visiting.
This Korean-inspired and newly opened cafe in Kamuning is so extra! Aside from the instagrammable cafe, what we liked about this cafe was all the staff are PWD. Way to go, Hisbeans! We hope this is the start! We tried their coffee and pastries and it’s not that bad. Plus, it’s affordable!
This overlooking cafe in Antipolo will level up your IG feed. Just a heads up though, the cafe is jam-packed on weekends. So make sure to visit during off-peak hours if you want to enjoy the cafe. They serve rice meals, pasta, and a wide variety of drinks.
This newly opened cafe in SM North is a must visit! They also serve bibingka and cakes here. As per checking their menu, they also have pasta and rice meals.
Have you heard about this cafe? It’s owned by the famous “Muji” store. We tried their Ichigo Cafe Mocha and it was our favorite drink from them. Can’t wait to try their other coffee and pastries as well.
Since we’re all still in quarantine, now is the perfect time to order food online! Craving for some fresh salmon?! Order some at Salmon HQ.
Found them on Facebook and the pictures got us hungry and since my family is a sucker for fresh Salmon, we ordered immediately.
SALMON HQ offers fresh salmon sashimi and delivered it right to your doorsteps.
Since we all know that salmon is good for the heart and is great in helping to boost the immune system, we got their Premium Salmon Cake! Aside from its beautiful presentation, you can tell from the pictures that it’s really fresh!
It is good for 3-5 persons already and we’re really happy that we found their page online! This Premium Salmon Cake is 1,200 PHP only!
And their Baked Sushi are definitely a must-try! It’s definitely not your ordinary baked sushi because they offer unique flavors and have a generous amount of ingredients.
The ingredients are so flavorful and really fresh! All of the sushi bakes have a thick layer of toppings, too! No joke, there’s no “lansa” in every bite! These are really great comfort food if you’re looking for one for the weekend! Our favorites were Aburi Salmon and Crunchy California Baked Sushi.
If you’re a pasta lover, then you should try their Seafood Wafu Pasta. This one really smells good. Aside from the generous chunks of salmon, shrimp, and scallops, the pasta is buttery, making it more appetizing.
OVERALL RATING
We definitely recommend this to everyone especially if you’re a fan of salmon or anything seafood! The ingredients are fresh and have generous servings. Also, the price are really affordable yet good!
Just a day before ECQ was announced in NCR+, we went to Car Doctor and The Food Hive, which is located on Visayas Avenue.
This is the former The Food Hive, which is a food park in Visayas Avenue. What we loved about the new version of their place was because you can now avail their car services offered here.
In this post, we will share with you what we have experience at Car Doctor and The Food Hive.
CAR DOCTOR
First, let’s talk about their added service, which is the Car Doctor.
We must say, it is literally your one-stop-shop for your car needs! Here, they have a unique and modern way to literally diagnose your car. Why did we say so? They leveled up the services they offer.
Here are some of the unique equipment and service offered in Car Doctor:
Wheel Alignment
No Baklas Dashboard Aircon Cleaning
EGR Cleaning
ATF Dialysis
Fully Synthetic Oil Change
Plus, while waiting for your car to be repaired, you can check out their partnered restaurants inside. By the way, here in Car Doctor, they have some promo offered when you avail their services.
And since we have shared their promos with some of their partnered restaurants, why not share with you our dining experiences in some of the restaurants inside Car Doctor.
WATCH OUR VIDEO HERE:
LIMAPULO
One thing we loved about traveling abroad was to experience the food in such a country. And since we miss traveling abroad, why not visit Limapulo in Car Doctor!? You can now experience and taste a pinch of Malaysia by trying their famous laksa!
In case you didn’t know, Limapulo is popular in Malaysia for having the best laksa, and Baba Nyonya is definitely a must-try here! Here in Limapulo, their mission is to satisfy those cravings for a Peranakan escape with a feast of intriguing flavors.
Nyonya
Ichiban
They also have Nasi Lemak Meals in Limapulo. Our top pick was the Beef Rendang! The beef was so tender and flavorful.
Beef Rendang
Chicken Curry
Baba Chicken
But if you’re still hesitant to dine in, don’t worry since they can deliver the food right at your doorsteps. You can avail the Godzilla Nyonya Party Laksa, which is perfect for groups.
WATCH OUR VIDEO HERE:
TEA 101
And after the main dish, we’re all craving desserts! Why not have some milk tea before you leave Car Doctor, right?! We highly recommend Tea 101!
They have many variants to choose from. You can choose from the following:
Brown Sugar Blow Torch
Cream Cheese Series
Graham Series
Yakult Series
We super enjoyed all the drinks we got. Definitely not the ordinary milk tea you have tasted. Also, they have a promo, which is Buy 3 Get 1. Visit their Facebook page for more info!
And lastly, what made Tea 101 unique is that they have a Partea Gallon Milktea! We got the Wintermelon with Cream Cheese and it was so good! Note that it doesn’t have pearls but you can add some depending on your liking, with an additional fee of course.
By the way, they have a promo regarding their Partea Gallon Milktea. You can avail this for only 599 PHP until May 31, 2021. The original price is 800 PHP and it is good for 8 persons already, which is perfect this summer. You can have it also deliver right at your doorsteps.
WATCH OUR VIDEO HERE:
So what are you waiting for? Inquire and visit Car Doctor and The Food Hive now!
Last weekend, we just had an amazing trip to Tanay, Rizal. It is a 2-hour drive from Manila. Days before the granular lockdown happened, we encountered one checkpoint along Rizal. They were checking if there were kids in the car and they were looking for a driver’s license.
After that checkpoint, it was a smooth ride until you get to Daraitan. Your trip to Tinipak Lodge and Restaurant will be going to be rough but we promise you that it will be worth it.
Tinipak Lodge and Restaurant
You will know if you’re near the area when you see a river and a bridge. Yes, you have to cross that bridge. Each car needs to pay 50 PHP upon crossing the river.
In this blog, we will share with you the reasons why you should visit this place when you’re planning to have a getaway after this pandemic.
FOOD ARE SUPERB.
Restaurant in Tinipak Lodge and Restuarant
After trying some of their food, we wish we’re near to them so we can visit their restaurant and try their food every day. Swear, you must try the food here! They have a restaurant along the highway (Kamalig Restaurant), if you’re around the area, please do visit and try their food.
Breakfast Day 1
Lunch Day 1
Dinner Day 1
Brunch Day 2
Here are some of our top picks from their restaurant. But all of the food we had were good, anyway! Note that you can dine-in at their restaurant even if you’re not a guest.
Sisig na Bayuko
Sweet and Sour Fish Fillet
Calamares and Veggies
The restaurant is open from 8:00 AM-10:00 PM from Monday to Thursday, 6:00 AM-10:00 PM on Friday, and 6:00 AM-12:00 MN on weekends.
Halo-halo for desserts
GREAT PLACE TO UNWIND.
We didn’t imagine that we can found a relaxing place here in Tanay, Rizal. Since we all know that Tanay is one of the go-to places if you’re looking for an adventure. But if you’re not that kind of person, then just stay at their lodge. You’ll be relaxed, for sure.
Feel the cold breeze at night while enjoying the bonfire with your smores and sausages. We want to go back and experience the place at night since we have to sleep early.
What made our stay more memorable was because the owners are so accommodating. Thank you for accommodating us, Reyes family!
CLEAN AND COZY ROOM.
We’re surprised when we saw our room since we’re not expecting too much since it’s a lodge. But look, it’s clean and cozy.
We stayed in their Dumagat Room which is good for 4 pax. It has 2 king-sized beds. It has an aircon but we didn’t use it since we just want to enjoy the fresh air. It has TV and cable but we didn’t use it also since we just want to enjoy nature.
Our room has its own rattan swing and a veranda where we mostly spent our time with. It has a private bathroom also which has body soap, shampoo, tissue, and complimentary towels.
We also noticed that they are still under construction and currently adding more rooms to accommodate more people at their place.
NOTE: When you checked-in, you are entitled to have a complimentary breakfast.
THEY ARE ON AIRBNB.
You can use our code to get 1,600 PHP discount when you sign up using our link here. This is valid for first time users only.
After you sign up, you can now choose your room below.
Since we’re already in Tanay, Rizal, we maximized our weekend by doing some adventures such as trekking. Yes, they can arrange your tours if you want to go somewhere in Tanay. Just inform them beforehand or on the day of your visit.
Watch our vlog here:
We went to Tinipak River and Tinipak Rock Formations on our 1st day and went to Mt. Daraitan Summit on our 2nd day. They have a legit and super nice tour guide here at Tinipak Lodge and Restaurant.
DO THEY HAVE TRAVEL REQUIREMENTS?
Yes, they are requesting their guests to submit a medical certificate a day before your check-in date. They accept medical certificates that came from your RHU, just like we did.
ARE KIDS ALLOWED?
Yes, kids are allowed but they need to have a guardian especially now that we still have a pandemic.
WHAT IS THEIR CHECK-IN/CHECK-OUT TIME?
Check-in time is 1:00 PM and check-out time is 11:00 AM.
DO THEY HAVE A PARKING SPACE?
Yes, they have their own parking space and it’s for FREE!
OVERALL RATING
Room – ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Rates – ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Service – ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Amenities – ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Location – ⭐⭐⭐
CONTACT NUMBER:
Mobile: 09178971119
ADDRESS:
210 M. Pranada St., Barangay Daraitan, Tanay, Rizal
We were supposed to visit this diving resort last year but since community quarantine happened, we decided to postpone our trip to Summer Cruise.
But now that they ease the travel guidelines in Batangas, we decided to push this last weekend.
Summer Cruise Diving Resort is located in San Luis, Batangas. It is a 3-hour drive from Manila. From the name itself, it is a diving spot and a resort that was established last 2019.
TRAVEL REQUIREMENTS
Credits to Rich Batangas
When we went there, we didn’t present any health certificate as indicated in the picture above. But just in case, much better if you bring a health certificate to be sure. Don’t forget to wear your face mask and face shield and practice social distancing as much as you can.
View from our balcony
RATES
They have a day trip here in Summer Cruise. The fee for a day trip is 350 PHP per head. For an overnight stay, you have three options for accommodation. It’s either you get a room, do camping, or sleep on a hammock. If you will bring your own hammock, the fee is 450 PHP.
ROOM RATES:
WEEKDAYS – 700 PHP/head
WEEKENDS – 850 PHP/head
The room is clean and you have a balcony. One advantage if you booked their rooms is that you have your own private bathroom. Note that they have no aircon here but it really gets cold at night. We didn’t even use the electric fan inside the room.
TENT:
RENT – 550 PHP
PITCH A TENT – 450 PHP
We noticed that most of the guests here at Summer Cruise choose to stay in the tent. They also have 2 common bathrooms for campers here. When we went there, the resort is fully-booked and most of them are campers and freedivers.
ARE KIDS AND PETS ALLOWED?
When we went here, we saw pets and even kids inside the resort. Just take full responsibility if you will bring a pet or kids to Summer Cruise.
ACTIVITIES
There’s a lot of activities you can do here at Summer Cruise.
SNORKELING
Rate is 250 PHP for snorkel rentals such as mask & snorkel, life vest, boots, and fins. For individual rentals, mask & snorkel (150 PHP), life vest (50 PHP), boots (50 PHP), and fins (100 PHP).
FREE DIVING
Rate is 1,500 PHP with instructor and complete gears.
SCUBA DIVING
Rate is 1,800 PHP with instructor and complete gears. You can watch our vlog below to watch our scuba diving experience!
They even offer PADI courses here at Summer Cruise.
Open Water (2 days) – 14,800 PHP
Advanced (2 days) – 14,800 PHP
Rescue Diver (3 days) – 18,500 PHP
Dive Master (on request)
WHAT TO EAT?
Here in Summer Cruise, they offer several food choices from breakfast to dinner meals. But if you opted to bring food to cook, they charge 350 PHP for kitchen use and refrigerator storage.
Also, you can have unlimited coffee and overflowing water here at Summer Cruise.
Kitchen area
Here’s what we got for dinner. They serve Japanese food here. The ramen has a big serving and flavorful!
For breakfast, we got some Pinoy food such as Tapsilog, Tocilog, and Bangus.
OVERALL RATING
Room – ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Rates – ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Service – ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Amenities – ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Location – ⭐⭐⭐⭐
After our 1st ever scuba diving, we are thinking to do it all over again. It was a memorable experience! Big thanks to Summer Cruise Diving Resort for taking good care of us during the dive. Kudos!!!
CONTACT NUMBER:
Mobile: 09478127671
ADDRESS:
Brgy. Balite, San Luis, Batangas
HOW TO GO HERE?
This is the pickup location from Summer Cruise Parking
From PITX, ride a bus bound for Lemery, Batangas. Fare is 220 PHP per head. Alight at Xentro Mall or bus terminal. From there, ride a tricycle and tell to drop-off at Summer Cruise Parking. Fare is 100 PHP per head. From parking, you have two options to get to Summer Cruise: by walk (around 15 mins, rough road) or by boat (50 PHP per head)
