Stumble upon this in an Asian store. Because...guava!

Pink guava smoothie ng Ristorante della Mitre. Because guava!

Masarap pala ang pork binagoongan ng Ristorante della Mitre. First forays ko were so-so. Akala ko medyo austere but I forget bishops can be, well, lavish. Ma-explore nga further.

Late dinner of fresh rolls and bun cha! From Em Ha Noi, which just found out was selected for the Michelin Guide. It's okay but they sorely lack basil and other herbs.

The community reception to close the exhibit "Haggiyo, Huwah! A Living Heritage of the Tuwali Ifugao of Hungduan, An Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity" at the NCCA Gallery. Graced by community members and Huwah practitioners from Hungduan, Ifugao.

Another development in my journey on tamales, the Filipino version of the Mexican tamale. First time tasting tamales from Balayan, Batangas, from Ate Lidia's Special Tamales, which has a booth at the 2025 NACF. Lidia Balbino Javier started selling her tamales in 1960

Another development in my journey on tamales, the Filipino version of the Mexican tamale. First time tasting tamales from Balayan, Batangas, from Ate Lidia's Special Tamales, which has booth at the 2025 NACF. Lidia Balbino Javier started selling her tamales in 1960 and it has become a favorite.

Catching up with the John Iremil. Managed to snatch some time despite the hectic schedule to celebrate his new book, "Mga Bulawan nga Bulak/Golden Showers: A Collection of Poems About Thailand," and to get updated on each other's lives and dreams. Padayon, John.

An exuberance of patterns and designs of Tausug handwoven textiles at the booth of a Sulu-based enterprise at the NACF.

The t'nalak is the hand-woven, ikat-dyed abaca textile of the Tboli people of South Cotabato. This one is woven by Manlilikha ng Bayan Barbara Ofong from Lake Sebu, and then made into a ye kumu, literally meaning "mother blanket,"

Jama Mapun mat weaver and community leader Janeth Hanapi weaves a mat inside their booth at the 2025 National Arts and Crafts Fair.

An article on the 2025 National Arts and Crafts Fair.

Read at tribune.net.ph/2025/10/26/n...

A participant showing a piece textile with bulda manis or decorative embroidery made by the Sama people of Simunul Island in Tawi-Tawi. The bulda manis is also used in bedsheets pillowcases, dress, etc. The Bulda Manis Producers Cooperative has a booth at the ongoing National Arts and Crafts Fair.

Having atsarang ampalaya (pickled bityer gourd), which I stumbled upon after a long while. This one made in Pilar, Bataan. Clean sweet-sour and vegetal taste with hint of bitterness. But got to customize this with spices.

The Gawad sa Manlilikha ng Bayan is the Philippines' highest honor for traditional and indigenous artisans, artists and practitioners. An exhibit on the honorees is a highlight at the 2025 National Arts and Crafts Fair as well as booths offering their and their communities' works and products.

Maraming salamay kay pareng EA!

🖼 tribune.net.ph/2025/10/20/l...

Drop by NCCA Gallery in Intramuros for the exhibit, "Haggi̱yo, Huwah! A Living Heritage of the Tuwali Ifugao of Hungduan, An Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity," which features my photographs and short documentary I wrote and directed.

Happy Museums and Galleries Month!

Read how the NCCA celebrates it at tribune.net.ph/2025/10/05/m...

Four varieties of onigiri for midnight snack.

Embroidered textiles in different stages of completion by embroiderers of Lemery, just beside and just like Taal, where the traditional practice of hand embroidery continues in some barangays.

A stretch of piña-seda is fastened into the bastidor, becoming a tambol. its penciled designs waiting to be brought to life with needle and thread. In Lemery, just beside and just like Taal, the tradition of hand embroidery continues in some barangays.

Hand embroidery in Taal, Lemery and Calaca starts with tracing designs on the textile with a pencil. The designs ordinarily depict flowers, leaves and different shapes, passed around among the embroiderers. Clients also bring their own designs.

On the third day of the Manila International Book Fair, the Philippines' longest running and largest book fair.

Young embroiderers Jheelie M. Maulion and May C. Marcellana from the barangay of Cawit in Taal demonstrate their skill in hand embroidery.

Four of Taal's embroderers.

Hand embroidery is one of the heritage crafts of Taal. In Batangas, the practice is concentrated in the towns of Taal, Lemery and Calaca. Taal is known for the openwork embroidery locally called calado.

Hand embroidery is one of the heritage crafts of Taal. In Batangas, the practice is concentrated in the towns of Taal, Lemery and Calaca. Taal is known for the openwork embroidery lically called calado.

Finally got to taste the Taal version of the tamales, the Filipino version of the Mexican tamale, using rice instead of maize. Had a difficult time buying them. They are sold in the market but they are sold out by midmorning. This time, the barangay of Cawit served it as meryenda. To my delight.

A dinner of Taal specialties: the adobong manok sa dilaw or chicken adobo in turmeric. Other adobo varieties here are adobo sa asin or adobo using salt and adobo sa puti, which uses only vinegar.

A dinner of Taal specialties: the famed tapang Taal, which is pork and beef in sweet and sour marinade and are usually fried. Originally, tapa is any meat and fish smoked and dried. Thus, the smoked fish we call "tinapa" or made/prepared into tapa.

A dinner of Taal specialties: the famed maliputo cooked sinigang style. It is actually a trevally or a kind of talakitok but this is distinguished for thriving in freshwater and only in Taal Lake, together with the tawilis or freahwater sardine and some species of sea snake.