Hey BL series, I am a fan too!

In the post-celebration of Pride Month, I am writing this special feature of the Boy's Love series that I watched. 

I started seeing them last year, 2021, while the lockdown was still in full effect. I write down a list that you might be able to catch or somehow will pique your curiosity about this becoming a very popular type of series. 

First BL series: Together the Series

Photo from https://www.reactionchronicles.com/

-I think most Filipinos would agree that Metawin and Brights' famous high school series rocked the world with BL. Thanks to these two, the genre became more popular and accepted by viewers. 

First Taiwanese/Chinese series: HIStory 3: Trapped

Photo from https://www.viki.com/tv/36410c-history-3-trapped

-This series had fascinating characters. A mafia boss was being investigated by a cutie detective who has more than nine lives. I love Tang Yi so much! Chris Wu, who portrayed it, was very convincing! And, of course, Shao Fei. You would also love the second lead love team, Jasper and Shorty! 

First European (Swedish) series: Young Royals

Photo from https://www.popbuzz.com/tv-film/features/

-This was the most realistic actor in terms of age. The one who played Simon and Wilhelm was really appropriate for the storyline. Edvin gave exceptional acting as Prince Wilhelm, who needs to decide between following his duty or his heart. 

First Filipino series: Gaya sa Pelikula

Photo from https://www.lionheartv.net/

-Wow. Wow. Wow. Filipino BL series production and creative team did not disappoint! The story plot between an architecture student, Karl, and a film major, Vlad, might be simple, but the way they presented it was touching and very relatable. Plus, the soundtracks of every episode were the best ones that I've heard in a BL series! They just hit home. 

My Favorite BL series (so far): Manner of Death 

Photo from https://filmdaily.co/news/bl-dramas-binge-watch/

The first series that I've seen focusing on medical investigation series really hooked me up! Tul's character as the brave Dr. Bun is very remarkable, while Max's mysterious but charming Tan made them a suitable couple. The marriage proposal was definitely the best I have ever seen in a Boy's Love series! I became an instant #MaxTul fan! 

The most realistic confession of a relationship to the family: Lovely Writer 

Photo from https://www.kpoplat.com/

Props to the author of this series for creating an incredible way of confessing that Gene (Up) and Nubsib (Nine) are in a relationship with their families. The difficulty of the situation, especially since their parents are close friends, and the two had been childhood best friends. The pain between the two and the acceptance of their love was done well! 

The most supportive family of in relationship couple: TharnType Series 

Photo from https://www.tvmaze.com/

I love how Tharn's (Mew) parents and his wonderful siblings were supportive of him since he knew that he was not a straight guy. They truly encourage him and are very supportive of his relationship with Type  (Gulf)! I adored it! 

Next To Be Watched: HeartStopper

Current favorite series (I don't usually like watching ongoing series though, but this is an exception): KinnPorsche the Series

Photo from https://unlimited-tech.com/

I am looking forward to seeing my friends' recommendations. I would be very happy too if you could add some to my To Be Watched list. 

I truly believe that the Boy's Love genre should be accepted and embraced to encourage more of our LGBTQ friends to come out because their relationships deserve to be recognized and proud of. 

Have fun watching the series and appreciating the boys' love stories!

OH MY GULAY: Camille Prats’ kids love eating veggies?! Here’s how to make your kids love them too!

“I really used to struggle kasi hate na hate talaga ng kids ko dati ang veggies – ayaw nila yung taste. Taste is so important for kids, so I ensure na dapat na-eenjoy nila mga sineserve ko.”

Have you sat with your kids way past mealtime to make sure they eat their veggies on the plate? How about resorting to bargaining more gadget time for just one more bite of that carrots? Well, you’re definitely not the only momma doing that. Even celebrities like Camille Prats have to do a bit of negotiating to get her kids to eat their veggies.

Luckily, she shares some handy hacks with Spot.ph to do the trick without the crying, the bargaining, and the unnecessary drama that fills mealtime. 

Here are 3 easy peasy ways to get your kids to eat their veggies according to Camille:

1. Oh My Gulay! May Gulay! – Instead of only serving your kids veggies, partner your kids’ meals with Tang Fruit & Veg. It comes in two flavors: Orange Carrot, which has the Vitamin C from oranges and Vitamin A from carrots, and Dalandan Malunggay, which has the Vitamin C from dalandan and the Iron of malunggay. Tang Fruit & Veg has the delicious taste of fruits AND the nutrition from veggies in a drink that kids love! Camille can vouch for this – her kids love its taste so much, that they actually ask her for it themselves! Yummy na, masustansya pa! 

2. SmartMom Recipes - No need to work hard, just work smart! Incorporate veggies in delectable recipes that you know your kids will surely love. Your kids won’t notice that veggies are actually the main ingredient because of their delicious taste! 

3. Appearance is key – Kids are very visual so it’s really all about making their plate look fun! Focus on making veggies look appetizing by using creative shapes and brightly colored bowls to increase their appetite. You can even add in their favorite animal or cartoon character for that extra wow factor! You can go as simple as making trees out of broccoli or more complex as making pirates from cucumbers-- the idea stays the same: make it fun!

Oh My Gulay! Shop the NEW Tang Fruit & Veg now to get the yummy taste of fruits with the nutrition benefits of veggies!: http://bit.ly/TangFruitNVeg

Join the #OhMyGulay challenge now on IG, Mommies! Check out Tang Philippines post on how to be part of this amazing campaign!

Asian Fusion and Probinsiya Feels with Brown-Mandarin Streetfood

Have you ever been to a place that gives you very "probinsiya" feels even though you are at the heart of the metro? 

 

That's what Brown-Mandarin Asian Streetfood made me feel as soon as I stepped into their Kubo restaurant. 

Front view

Top view

The place is surrounded by big establishments and is in front of a street, but once I was inside, I was instantly transported to our province. 

Street view

 

If you are familiar with Robinsons Townville, it is just a block away. The location is accessible and easily seen for its Kubo style.  

Look inside!

I was amazed at the tables, which were made from old wooden doors with top designs of floor tiles and stones.

Wow!!!

I loved that they used recycled materials and turned them into something fantastic! 

There is also a cabana where one can relax while enjoying their Pinoy Bingsu, and this area is for people who want to chillax as well as smokers. 

Those tables made from recycled ice cream top freezers are cool too.

 

The dishes that were served to me were Kare-Kare, Steamboat, Pad Thai, and Buko Monggo Pinoy Bingsu. Let me tackle each one and give you my thoughts. 

*Kare-Kare (220 PHP)is definitely one of their best-sellers! 

The peanut sauce that they created and the fresh vegetables made this dish delectable! This all-time favorite Pinoy meal is commendable even without bagoong. I didn't even put one in! 

 

*Steamboat (200 PHP), this was my first time hearing about and trying it. 

The Chinese version of Shabu-shabu is popular with oldies and for people who are not feeling well, because it is meatless and really good to sip while it's hot! Don't miss this one when you order at Brown-Mandarin. 

 

*Pad Thai (200 PHP), this is my favorite that I finished in one sitting! Yes! 

What makes their Pad Thai different from the others that I've eaten was the small shrimp that they added, the fried eggs that I don't usually see, and the taste was not boring (nakakasawa)! Another best-selling dish from them! 

 

*Pinoy Bingsu Buko Monggo, as soon as this was placed on the table, I remembered my childhood days being happy with an ice cream bar flavored Buko with Monggo on top! 

Oh lala!!!

I was thrilled that they decided to have our own version of Bingsu and a new one on their menu! The Buko Monggo Pinoy Bingsu is composed of homemade ice cream, flavored shave ice, macapuno, and monggo. There is no sugar added because it does not require it!

 

Aside from the flavorsome foods that were offered to me, I was privileged and grateful to sit down and chat with the generous and kind owners, Miss Lit and Chef Stella.

Thank you for this photo op, Miss Lit!

 

I was overwhelmed to learn about how Brown-Mandarin Asian Streetfood started (2019) and how they came up with the concept of food (Asian fusion with a twist) and the interior (recycled materials) of the restaurant. 

And these unforgettable statements from Chef Stella will stay with me as I cook and serve dishes to my loved ones and family:

 

Cooking is sensual. When you cook, you use your five senses, and even before you finish cooking, you should already know how it tastes. 

 

Thank you for the wonderful dining experience at Brown-Mandarin Asian Streetfood! 

 

Groufie with the fantastic crew!

They are open from 11 am to 8 pm, Mondays to Sundays, at 527 Melting Pot Bldg. Omega Avenue, Greater Fairview, Quezon City.

Visit them today and make your heart and tummy happy! 

My Writer's Life Lately

I have been busy since February started. I was a bit of a slacker last month because of the week that I stayed at home. At that time, I wasn't able to write anything.

 

February 13. A day before Valentine's Day, our book anthology If I Wake Up Here Again had a virtual launch party. 

The authors were able to meet for the first time and answered amazing questions about themselves and their stories. I also had a chance to do a live reading for my story, Ileaia's First Day High. Yay! 

 

February 15. I had a deadline with TBC Publications. Not my manuscript but another's work. I was officially assigned as an English editor. 

And though I have been training for months and am still training now, I don't have confidence in the position because I'd rather write than edit. I consider it a new responsibility. I know, additional work for me, so I hope you understand while I have been really busy lately.

 

February 23. Finally, after delaying for a month, I have already claimed my certificate with the National Book Development Board. I am officially registered as an author/writer. 

I am grateful to NBDB for recognizing artists with their crafts. Free registration is open until June 30, 2022. You can check out their FB page to see how.

March is just around the corner, and I already have one important task. Yes, it is related again to writing, so if I won't be able to post or update, my apologies. Thank you for sticking around and understanding. For now, that's my life update as an author. 😊

Seven Days of Isolation and Realization

Nobody wants to get sick, especially on these uncertain days.

 

As the surge of CoVid is getting higher and stricter rules are implemented by the government, most people want to be vaccinated and be boosted. Still, the virus won't perish even in the most careful and healthy-looking individuals.

 

 

It was Wednesday, January 12 when I felt what I thought to be symptoms of the virus. I woke up feeling tired with a headache and muscle pain. It was unusual, especially since I was fine last night. I quickly contacted my sister and she asked several questions. She said I might have the virus. What she advised me to do was to stay at home and to avoid contact with people. I had my food delivered via Grab, and I would request the Kuya drivers to hang it on our gate. 

 

On the second day, just to be sure that I didn't contract the virus and might share it with others, I didn't go to work.

 

On my 3rd day, I had a sore throat and a clogged nose. Still, I am thankful that I have had no fever so far.

My colleagues wanted me to go to work, especially if I didn't have any more symptoms. My family advised me to stay at home and finish the isolation period, which is seven days.

 

 

Sunday arrived and I had to take the anti-gen test kit home. It was the fourth day since the onset of the symptoms. I was scared while I was waiting for the result.

 

 

Hallelujah! Praise the Lord, the Almighty! I was negative!

 

It was a relief that I didn't actually have the virus.

 

 

It was also great to hear from my boss when she told me that technically I'm negative because if I hadn't, I might have infected someone since the last day that I went to work. I was truly grateful that no one of my colleagues experienced anything like what I had.

 

 

For the remaining three days of the quarantine, I continued to drink tea, ginger (salabat), eat fruits and gargle salt.

 

 

8th day. I was out of the house. It was like seeing the world differently. This is how a person feels without interacting with people and has been staying for a week inside a house. Wow! It was weird.

 

 

From my seven days of isolation, I learned a lot.

 

 

*I realized that family is family. The first one that I contacted was my second sibling, and without hesitation, she helped me financially, checking me out and asking me if I was alright every now and then. Thanks to her, I had a week of free food delivery and I experienced buying medicine and groceries online for the first time. 

 

 

*Better to be safe than sorry. I thought of my absences at work. I didn't have enough salary to survive the next few days. Yet, on top of that, my conscience would be forever guilty if one of my colleagues got sick because of me. 

Recommended food delivery: Goodah

 

*Don't ignore the symptoms. We already know about the symptoms. For almost two years, we've been socially distant quite some time, and we've had no social gatherings. So why, in the first place, would you deny that you have one? The best thing to do is recognize and accept that you may or may not have the virus, isolate yourself quickly. 

 

 

*Protect me and my loved ones. These days, being healthy is not only advisable for oneself but also for continuing to have strong immunity and mind for your family. 

 

Recommended food delivery: Teaspoon Cafe

The pandemic might stay for a while. We won't know how long the virus will stay. But one thing is for sure, try your best not to get sick and if you experience even one of the common symptoms, observe yourself and don't hesitate to isolate yourself. 

ARC review: Dating the Influencer by Mark Fermill

Reading takes time, and once given an opportunity to read a free book, grab it quickly!

I am grateful that the author, Mark Fermill, gave me a chance to have an advanced reader copy of his soon-to-be-published novel, Dating the Influencer.

I was fortunate to be one of the bloggers to receive a free copy of this book. Thank you, Sir Mark!

Blurb: 

Anica Fernandez relies on her strict schedule in order to survive. Matagal na niyang binura ang bersyon niyang baliw na baliw sa lalaki at tiwala siyang kahit sino man ang dumating sa buhay niya ay kaya na niyang baliwalain.

Not until Derrick Manalo takes notice of her. This famous fitness influencer comes into her life like a whirlwind, and Anica, who once promised herself to never fall in love again, is tested to eat her own words.

What could Derrick Manalo possibly want from her? Is it money? A simple favor? Or could it possibly be... love?

What I like about the story:

Meeting an Influencer.  Who thought that you'd meet a social media influencer in the most unexpected way? That's what happened to Anica when she met Derrick inside a bookstore. Well, that was not the meet and greet that Anica wanted, especially from an old crush.

Social media toxicity. In this age, Facebook, Instagram, and Youtube are the biggest platforms to meet your idols, and these avenues are also places where people will judge you regardless of who you are. Anica is happy with her Youtube page and even her followers, but when Derrick suddenly called her up on his channel, her views and following were boosted. However, when an issue came out, netizens used these channels to destroy Anica's life and image.

Depression and Suicide.  This book not only focuses on Anica and Derrick's romance, but I commend it for touching on one of the most sensitive topics in society today. It was difficult for Anica to be in a relationship and trust another guy because of the guilt that she has been carrying since her best friend, Jonathan, killed himself. She didn't know that by opening and telling her experience through her vlog, she inspired a lot of people, particularly another boy who also tried to self-destruct himself.

How It Ends:

Anica is vlogging again, but like a confession type, and Derrick is ever so attentive!

Verdict:

I started reading this book last November, but at that time, I was not fond of Sir Mark's writing style, so I stopped reading it. Sorry! Yet, I gave it a new eye when I re-read it again, and I actually appreciated the first few pages. I continued it, and then I finished it! I was happy that I was able to meet Anica and Derrick and get a glimpse of their lives. It was like I was back to being a teenager again, that feeling of meeting your idol and stalking him on his social media accounts. It was fun! But more than that, this novel is an eye-opener about the toxicity of social media, who the influencers really are in real life, and how one mistake can change one's life, which can be prevented.

 

Congratulations, Mark Fermill, on your newest gem, "Dating the Influencers." This book will be out by next month! Perfect for a heart's day reading pleasure!

What's Your Plan in 2022?

Can you feel that double digits are lucky numbers? I am looking forward to 2022, especially since it is just a few weeks away.

 

So, do you have plans or goals for the upcoming year? I have! That's why I was very excited about buying planners. 

 

Last year, the usage of planners was wasted because of a pandemic. Yet, everything seems to be getting back to normal nearing the end of 2021.

 

I bought two planners (I might add one for handy purposes) to get me pumped for next year. Let's peruse their pages and see what's in store for us.

 

📒Belle De Jour Classic Planner (699 php) 

First time to have it personalized!

I have been a BDJ user since 2013. For this, I didn't buy one yet, but a good friend of mine shared her prized BDJ Travel planner. 

 

When I saw the 2022 cover of BDJ, I was thrilled. I loved the Bella who represented the Universe, and my intuition told me that perhaps it would attract the goodness of the coming year. 

 

And so, without hesitation, I was one of the first 100 who pre-ordered the BDJ kit using Billease loan. (I posted a blog about it. You can read it here: https://perksbewithyou.blogspot.com/2021/11/billease-my-loan-partner.html )

Here are some of the contents of the BDJ 2022 planner:

~Dream Board

~Key Projects Overview

~Goal Setting

 

If you are planning to buy or have already purchased the BDJ 2022 planner, check out the back page because my name is included as a token of gratitude for being one of the first 100 pre-ordered customers. Sweet! Thank you, BDJ! 

 

Wait... 

There's another one that I want to feature too. Because I didn't plan to have one planner, but two for 2022! 

 

📔365 Days Limelight Planner (299 php) 

A vlogger friend of mine posted about the 365 Days Limelight Planner from the National Bookstore. At that time, I was truly curious, but I already had other planners, so I didn't buy one. 

 

Lo and behold, I really waited for this year's edition and I actually liked the designs! I picked the Earth-style because I haven't had one like this! 

 

Here are some of the contents of the 365 Days Limelight planner:

+Bucketlist

+Highlights

+Birthday Tracker

 

Whether you decide to also have a planner or not, be sure to plan something for the coming year. 

Love these stickers!

Long or short-term goals, it doesn't matter. As long as it makes you look forward to 2022, so be it. 

I cannot wait to use these planners on the first day of the year!