A rainy evening of street food in the Philippines, from chicken inasal and octopus tempura to daily pandesal, isaw, and one Betamax still left to try.

Rain and tortang talong bring me back to a carinderia in Air Force City, where an unfamiliar meal became the quiet beginning of my life in the Philippines.

Christmas starts in September at SM Clark. Crispy sisig, pickled papaya, and a shared love of gulaman win me over.

From motorcycles and tricycles to jeepneys and improvised turns, traffic in Angeles looks chaotic. Then its unwritten rules begin to emerge.

In the heart of Angeles, traffic gives way to charcoal smoke, purple rice cakes, and the crackle of crispy pata. A day best remembered one delicious bite at a time.

A rainy afternoon led us to Baboy, a crowded Korean grill in Angeles, for samgyeopsal, steamed egg, and an unexpected glimpse of what our family might look like next year.

A breakfast in BGC, a tense stoplight, and the changing landscape on the road north to Pampanga.

An extravagant surprise at SM Aura, and why the watch means more than how it looks.

A familiar dumpling ritual at Din Tai Fung, and why the last bite is never enough.

A holiday in BGC, a careful haircut, and the small gestures that gave the day its shape.

Jet lag leads to an early morning in BGC, where fresh bread, a quiet café, and small acts of hospitality reveal how the neighbourhood wakes up.

Introducing Mabuhay, my 30-day pop-up newsletter from the Philippines, with daily stories about food, places, people, photos, and fresh memories.