BonChon Chicken in Greenhills is OPEN FOR BUSINESS

The best chicken in America (New York Times, GQ and Esquire) is now in Manila... and they just opened a branch in Greenhills Promenade!

BonChon Chicken is a South-Korean based chicken franchise restaurant. It started in South Korea and expanded to the US, and now it arrived here in the Philippines.

Their fried chicken wings, drumsticks and chops are deep-fried twice in 100% soybean oil which first dissolves any fat in the meat thus reducing the greasiness of the chicken, and leaves the skin in this crunchy, paper-like texture. Customers also have a choice between the regular Soy Garlic sauce or the Hot Soy Garlic sauce for more adventurous patrons.

2-pieces of Chicken Drumsticks in the signature Soy Garlic Sauce

The skin is so crispy and good. :)

My sister got the Chops in Soy Garlic sauce... and she just got too excited

They also serve Fish Tacos, Fish Fillets, Beef Bulgogi, Bulgogi Wraps and side dishes like Kimchi Coleslaw and Pickled Raddish. They have salads too! You also have a choice to order Riceboxes (which is like a value meal in other fast food chains) or get a bucket of chicken.

Here are more random photos of last night's BonChon goodness :)

Php500 Gift Certificate Courtesy of @BeckyNights

Kimchi Coleslaw

You can connect with BonChon Chicken through Facebook, Twitter, or follow their website

I'm back!

It's been months since I last wrote on this blog (mainly because I have been too focused on Tumblr and I've been "busy"with a lot of stuff) but i am back!

Now, I'm not promising to post entries everyday or regularly but I will try to update this as much as I can. I'll just throw in stuff about fashion, maybe some DIY projects, food and culture, beauty and just some everyday adventures. :)

So if you guys are still up, you can check this blog every once in a while and you can follow me on Tumblr too! :)

Thanks
<3 <3 M

Born This Way

So Lady Gaga released her new song a few days ago and there was so much hype about it. Of course there will be other people who would criticize the song for being "a Madonna rip-off" or "a mash-up of this and that" or maybe "sounds like this". Here is what we should keep in mind:

We only have 7 notes (or maybe 8 if you count the higher C), and how many octaves. We can only have as many possible combinations that are pleasing to the senses and can be used to create a song. Music has been around for centuries, and with the "limit" in composing a song, it is not impossible for one song to sound like another song.

Born This Way is indeed a super gay song, and many people love it. Lady Gaga said that she wrote it in a span of 10 minutes and I applaud her for the creativity and confidence. I believe Vogue Magazine is right. BTW will become the anthem of Pride Parades for the next 100 years. It just sings out love and support to every race or gender. It is something you can dance to or something to make you feel better.

For those people who say that it shows that it's been produced in 10 minutes or that it sounds like a mixture of this and that, then if you know that much, how come it wasn't you who thought of writing that song in the first place? You're making it sound like writing music is as easy as brushing your hair.

And if a certain song makes you want to jump, dance, shake that "thing", laugh, cry, scream, or provokes any kind of emotion, then it is effective. It's the purpose of music, it is the true soul of music. After all, that's where music originated; from emotion.

Now Playing This Week

    Lady Gaga - Born This Way

I Feel Like I've Been Cheated On.

The title says it all. Before I go on writing this entry, let me give you a glimpse of my background. I've always wanted to be a fashion designer, with high dreams of going to fashion school and graduating and eventually starting my own label. I am currently out of nursing school because of migration, yes NURSING SCHOOL. I know this is far from what I dreamed of but this is the story of what happened and why I'm feeling this way.

When I was in Junior year High School, I've decided that I would go to fashion school and take up Fashion Design (what else!). On my Senior year, my mom went to the US to accompany my brother so I was left home with my sister and my dad. My father, being a supportive man didn't really force me what to pursue, he just let me choose what I want and take entrance tests to universities that I want to attend. I took tests for Industrial Design, Clothing Technology, European Languages, and Hotel and Restaurant Management or HRM (basically all the courses that interest me). I passed Industrial Design and HRM and barely made it to the other two courses. I planned on taking the entrance test to DLSU-CSB for the Fashion Design course but it was too far and I don't know how to get there.

I did my thing and this is when things started to change. I have been "influenced" to take up nursing by some relatives. I know that they have good intentions. Others said that I can take this course as a "fall-back" just in case my dreams would fail. I have no negative feelings towards the Nursing schools, Nurses or anything related to the matter. It's a noble profession but it's just it's not really for me. Others said that this is the only path to go, no side streets. I was "convinced" or was I?

I'm supposed to be in my Junior year in college right now if I didn't have to move to a different country. I am now torn between staying and continuing my education here or going back to the Philippines and go to school there. I chose the latter, and now part of me regrets that decision, all of my decisions. I only want to go back to see my sister and my friends but the idea of being far away and school scares me. I regret having to take up nursing and putting my dreams on hold for a vision that is not truly mine. If not for financial reasons, I would've chosen to stay here and go to school here.

Now, there are more conditions. Apparently, I will buy us a house when I get a job. I will be the provider. I have no issues with helping my family but what about my dreams? What about the things I want to pursue? I want to go back to fashion school and take up the course that will fulfill my needs and passions as an artist. I want to start working on my dream as early as possible. It may sound selfish but it feels like the only thing I can do is give up on it and throw my dream away. I feel defeated. I feel fooled.

It's funny how other people appreciate my skill and see my potential but some of my family members just take it for granted. If only I had the chance to pursue what I wanted, I would've graduated and started trekking on the path I chose with my heart.

This entry might spark a lot of conversations and reactions. This is how I feel and this is how I think. If this doesn't please you, I cannot apologize for my feelings.

I just hope, wish and pray that I will have the opportunity in the very very near future to become successful in ways that I see with my own perspective and not with others.

And to the person who I talked to tonight, thank you so much. I miss you and I love you. I'll see you soon. You know who you are. :)

Gaga for Mugler Fall 2011 Menswear

Gaga for Thierry Mugler's Menswear Fall 2011

So Nicola Formichetti is Mugler's newly appointed CD, and as Lady Gaga's stylist, our dear Mother Monster decided to do a little something something for the fashion house. Check the video above to witness one of the greatest fashion editorials in film.

I always love the drama the "flying fabric on face" segment adds (like in one of her Monster Ball 2010 Tour video)

COMPLETE LOVE!

Givenchy Pre-Fall 2011 Collection

Oh Monsieur Tisci! Givenchy's  Pre-Fall collection is filled with lightness that I didn't really expect from Creative Director Riccardo Tisci. I know he gave us a breath of fresh, light air in his Fall 2010 Couture collection, but to continue that approach to this collection is just genius.

A collection of mostly basics is done for Givenchy. "People want another show", Tisci said in an interview with STYLE.COM and it was what he brought. Urban appeal meets French sophistication.

Some pieces you can see from the collection are long flowy skirts, pleated skirts, draped tops, patch-worked parka, armadillo print skirts and tops, rich purple pantsuits and layering (it's pre-fall anyways)

Passionate love to the pants!

I'm loving the silhouette of this skirt and the way it falls

Very neutral but still very chic

To die for!

I'm loving the shape!

SEVERE!

Another to-die-for look!

Armadillo print never looked so good!

Menswear is definitely here again!

As you may have noticed, there is minimal to no traces of black in this collection. Riccardo Tisci said that "Brown is the new black" which explains the tans, browns and taupes, which looked extra phenomenal with the lavender and purple and beige.

You've captured my fashion heart once again Mr. Tisci.

Photos by STYLE.COM

Alexander McQueen Fall 2011 Collection

I have always adored McQueen and honestly, this is my first glimpse at his line's Menswear collection. This collection reinterprets the military trend and presented with fresh faces that "complemented the collection", as Tim Blanks had said.

Some pieces are very supple and some very structured. Square and peaked shoulders, a poncho, vests and oversized lapels are just some of the things present in this collection. The red long coat with what looked like black shearling in the collar and the grey trim was one of the pops in the show.

The layering of the jacket with the coat just enhances the exaggeration of the lapels. Red against the black and white just gives it a clean appeal.

The print is a digitalized version of something like a gold breastplate.

Absolutely love the styling of this one.

The poncho adds this effortlessness to the collection.

The jacket with the gray/silver print is just divine!

That black vest/cardigan with the red stripe is just something that I would really die for. Very diplomatic.

Sarah Burton really had the same attention to precision and detail as Lee. She just added a little bight of lightness to the brand. 

Way to go Sarah! Now I'm more excited to see the next collection for women.

Photos from STYLE.COM

I Hear Glass Breaking

This is a heart, made of glass and filled with glowing neon gas.

It's made not to be broken but to be adored, same as a real heart.

The past week has been filled with news about breakups and failed relationships.

It just crossed my mind how come people who don't necessarily love each other stay together and the ones who deserve the love and passion end up being alone?

Tell me why because I am slowly losing faith in love.

And to those people who were victims of love's blind judgement, please hold on because if you don't the person who's truly for you will end up alone and we'll end up with two broken hearts.

Gucci Pre-Fall 2011 Collection

For the Pre-Fall Collection of Gucci, Frida Giannini channeled the early 70's with silhouettes that elongate the body. It was in rust, cherry, aqua and gray from which the collection found life along with the box pleats, volume, fur and fringe.

British influence meets Wild Child

The looks and styling is very London in the early 70's.

Menswear ingenuity

Fur sleeves to bleed for!

There's drama in the right places and pops of color that stimulate the eyes. I must say that it is definitely a great collection.

Photos by STYLE.COM