Epic Night Outs: Six Steps to Prepare for a Night Out

“You might call it girls night, I call it therapy.”-Author Unknown 

Ever wondered what might happen during your nocturnal exploits with your friends? Wonder if you had prepared enough and dressed accordingly? Well, considering that Metro Manila is aptly named as the city that never sleeps, you would not be hard-pressed in finding a club, bar or hangout that sits perfectly well with your preferences. After all, with almost every nook and cranny having a unique hangout of its own, it would be rather east to find a place to rendezvous with colleague and friends in order to settle down for the night. But, just how prepared are you? Well, if you have been planning a night out with your friends, nightlife in Manila presents you with a myriad of opportunities and here is how you can adequately prepare for them:

1.)    Dress the part 

Depending on which club or hangout you go, patrons are generally free to dress as casually or formally as they wish. However, do take note that some clubs impose a strict dress code—particularly for the men who would be required to wear closed shoes and collared shirts. In this regard, it would be important to dress the part and don clothes that would not only make you feel confident but the sexiest as well. Remember, your outfit is the first thing people would see, so make sure what they see is worth their while.

2.)    Wear your favorite underwear 

Although these items are generally not exposed, but wearing your favorite lingerie can give you an extra boost of confidence. After all, whatever makes you feel sexy would also make you exude sex appeal as a result. Furthermore, you will be granted the peace of mind that you are wearing at least something sexy should you ever get lucky on that particular night.

3.)    Leave your issues at home for the night 

More often than not when we are afflicted with problems either at work or in school, we tend to see night outs as an avenue for releasing some stress. In some cases, we may drown our problems with alcohol, but if you had intended the night to be a fun one, leave your issues at home and enjoy. Do not rain on everyone’s parade by acting all surly or rehashing your problems to anyone who would care to listen. Let the night liberate you from your problems, insecurities and any difficult challenges you might be facing.

4.)    Be positive 

Do not stress out and worry too much of what might happen and just let the good times flow. Put on your megawatt smile, and just have a positive attitude and you would notice how people would naturally gravitate towards you and your kind nature.

5.)    Relax 

Again, do not stress too much and just let loose. If you think that the worst thing is going to happen, then chances are you are going to look like hell as well. You might be wary of having your advances rebuffed or rejected, but this is not the end of the world. Should you fail at your attempts in trying to talk to someone, chalk it up to experience and start all over again. You are bound to find someone who is receptive to talking eventually.

6.)    Believe in yourself 

It might sound like a cheesy greeting from a Hallmark card, but it bears stressing that you need to believe in yourself. Know that you are a great person inside and out. If your plans on talking to a girl or guy do not go according to plan, do not let that bring you down. After all, you cannot please everyone all the time. Just be yourself, and you will effectively be the sexiest version of yourself that you can be. Disregard what anyone else is thinking about you and just go and have fun.

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Dining Decorum 101: Five Proper Manners for Eating at All-You-Can-Eat Buffets

“The food you eat can either be the safest and most powerful form of medicine or the slowest form of poison.”-Ann Wigmore

Locals in the Philippines love to eat; there is no doubt about that. For this reason, restaurants that offer all-you-can-eat banquets would always have marketability for avid Filipino patrons. Back then, this dining option used to be reserved for special occasions such as birthdays, reunions and get-togethers. However today, with a wide array of all-you-can-eat restaurants offering competitive prices to diners, eating buffet style has never been easier or more affordable. But just because these restaurants offer an avenue for eating more for less, it does not mean that basic conduct and decorum should not be afforded as well.

These buffets may be known to be cathedrals of overindulgence and excess, but a semblance of propriety is required of its diners and patrons—regardless of whether you are eating at an affordable eat-all-you-can joint or at the best buffet in Manila. After all, eating at a buffet might be considered a free-for-all but your manners should be intact in that regard. Here are some of the basic manners one can reasonably expect from others and themselves when dining at all-you-can-eat banquets:

   Do not cut in line

You might be thinking that since the queue in getting your share for that roasted pork is about a mile long, you would never be able to have your share. Well, first things first, relax and remember patience is a virtue. Take note, you are eating at an eat-all-you-can buffet so there is a likely chance that anything that is consumed would be soon refilled. Furthermore, you would not want to encounter a scuffle in the queue—just because you could not wait your turn.

Do not hog food items

 Do remember that people are waiting for their turn to take food as well. So, unless the food item is literally the last piece on the serving tray, be courteous and leave some for those behind you in line. Do not monopolize the food and take a reasonable amount of serving. Although the buffet is likely to refill the tray once it is consumed, you would look not only rude but greedy if you took every last piece on the tray.

 Do not stack everything on one plate

 Buffet restaurants have an arsenal of different plates for a good reason: So that you do not play food Jenga. You do not need to see how high you can stack food on your plate when there is a collection of various plates at your disposal. Furthermore, a food tower does not make the possessor look any good—fact is you would look like a glutton. While it can be easily overwhelming to be surrounded with so much food, remember that this is not a race and you can always go back for more.

 Do not use your hands when serving yourself a dish

 Specifically provided utensils are there for a reason: So that you would use them in serving yourself a dish. In no case should you ever use your hands—even if the dish you are putting into your plate is known as a finger food. Using specific utensils prevents food items from mixing together and prevents you from contaminating the food with your hands. Be considerate of others and use the serving utensils.

      Do not eat in line

 The food may look delectable sitting on your plate and you might get hungry, but this is no excuse for you to just eat while you are waiting in line. Eating while you are waiting in line is not only unseemly to look at, but is rather uncouth and it is in bad taste. In fact, there is no reasonable purpose for you to eat while you are in line, so avoid it at all costs. Even in a buffet, it is never considered as acceptable behavior—wait until you are seated to eat your food lest you want to appear like an unrefined individual.

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Buffet Hacks 101: Four Foods You Should Never Eat at a Buffet

“It is easier to stay out of restaurants that offer all-you-can-eat-buffets than to get out of one.”-Felicity Luckey 

Without a doubt, Filipinos love their food--and what do Filipinos love more than food? Well, more food and various kinds of it for one. The Filipino’s love affair is very much evident and apparent from the array of diverse all-you-can-eat offers restaurants that have cropped up in almost every nook and cranny in the Philippines’ metropolis, Metro Manila. Indeed, Filipinos have a unique flair and penchant for piling liberal amounts of food onto their plates in many of these cathedrals of excess.

However, while indulging, your appetite may seem like a luxurious and feasible way to enjoy your weekend, there might be some food staples offered in the buffet that you want to steer clear of.  True enough, buffets were made with guilty pleasures in mind, but this does not necessarily mean you should mindlessly gorge on food—particularly if the food in question is listed as one of the worst foods you can ever eat at a buffet. Regardless of whether you are eating in the best buffet in Manila or not, here are some foods you would much rather skip than eat:

1.)    Fettuccine Alfredo 

Let us be real, when you are standing in line waiting for your turn to pile food on your plate at a buffet, healthy food would be the last thing on your mind. After all, it seems to be counterintuitive to be thinking about your health while you are in an all-you-can-eat buffet. However, you should not neglect to eat healthy entirely and at least choose food that is not bad for your well-being and waistline as well. Fettuccine Alfredo is largely cream-based considering it is made with a combination of ingredients such as butter, sour cream, mayonnaise and cream cheese—all of which are incredibly fatty. If you wish to eat pasta, choose the red sauce instead.

2.)    Fried rice 

It is no question that anything fried would be incredibly unhealthy—especially when they are eaten in large quantities. In this regard, it would be wise for you to avoid piling anything that is fried on your plate. However, this may not be so realistic as you would almost always find a fried staple that is almost too tempting to resist. To compromise, at least steer clear from the food that is already loaded with carbs and happens to be fried as well such as fried rice and noodles.

3.)    Salad dressing 

You might think that just because you are choosing salad over pasta, you are already making a healthy food choice. While that may be true, your deliberate effort in making a healthy food decision will all be for naught if you lather your salad with copious amounts of dressing and sauces. Salad dressing may look innocent enough, but unfortunately, that is not the case. Dressing and sauces are high in fat content and pouring a generous amount of that onto your salad can actually sneak up on you. Instead, take it easy on the dressing and ensure that the ratio of your salad and sauces remains balanced.

4.)    Tuna 

Tuna might be considered healthy and nutritious even making it a good choice in the buffet. Unfortunately, for all it is worth, tuna is also the top buffet contaminant—most especially if it is served raw. Fish should always be kept in cold temperatures the moment it comes out of the water to the moment it hits the pan. Of all the kinds of fish out there, tuna is the most susceptible to scombrotoxin, a component that can potentially cause cramps and headaches. Apart from that, tuna is that one likely food to spoil in buffet table if it is not stored and kept at appropriate temperatures.

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Party Planning 101: Choosing a Caterer

If there’s something Filipinos are particulate when it comes to events, it’s the food. We can adjust to the venue and get along with the program, but we can never sacrifice the quality and quantity of the food.

Of course, it difficult to prepare the dishes yourself if you're already handling the guest list, the program, and the logistics. Hence, you need to subscribe to a catering service. Now, what do you need to know to get the best service from your caterer?

Caterers take away a chunk of your responsibilities which makes you confident of their competency. But they're still a business, and their goal is to earn a profit. There’s a high chance they’re cutting corners and taking shortcuts. What you want is to get the most out of your money within the hours of employing their service.

Taken from the pages of experience, here’s what to keep in mind when choosing a caterer.

Which type of venue will it be

Photo by Robert Mathews on Unsplash

Some venues have on-site caterers while others consign brands and food establishments to provide the meals during the event. Secure a place depending on your priority, so you have a clear view of what you want to happen on the day of the event.

There are party or reception halls that have strict guidelines when it comes to outsourcing a caterer. If the place does have a caterer and does not allow contracting independent food services, look for other options to compare prices and rates. Remember to account for the need of your contractor such as electricity sources. Conduct ocular visits to find which venue suits your taste.

Consider how much you’re willing to spend

Photo by Fabian Blank on Unsplash

Hiring a food connoisseur will cost four digits the least. Prices vary depending on the chosen menu and additional items you would request from them. You can haggle with caterers during negotiation, but it’s more helpful if you already have a price ceiling set for the event. That way, you won’t be swayed by tempting offers during the talk.

When you have a budget, caterers can help you work around it and offer alternatives and great deals within the price.

It’s the experience that matters

Photo by Nik MacMillan on Unsplash

The only way to get to know if the caterer is right for your event is if you had an experience with them. Brochures, pamphlets, and websites are just advertisements. It doesn’t show if the food is well-prepared or if their service is superb.

The initial encounter with the company or contact person from the caterers will dictate if it’s a go or a no. It’s important to have a good feeling and being comfortable during the meeting. If they gave an extra effort (offering snacks and drinks), it speaks a lot of how they treat their clients. Always set face-to-face meet ups with caterers and business partners because a phone call isn’t enough to express how both parties can work, especially when conflict arises.

Have tastings during the season

You are allowed to ask for a tasting session yet it costs more when they aren’t booked. There are caterers who conduct formal tasting upon request. Tasting is what makes or breaks you’re the caterer you’ve chosen, so take all the time you need to decide if they have the menu you want.

If you’re planning to book a tasting, set a date close to the season of the event. It will give you an idea which ingredients are available at those times. Through this, you get to pick out which dishes are likely to be served and easily prepared.

If you’ve already had a tasting and the caterer didn’t meet your expectations, do not despair and settle for what’s available. There are other options available, you just have to be diligent in looking for another. Soon enough, you will find the caterer best suited for you in this haystack.

These Four Questions Will Help You Plan A Flawless Coming-of-Age Party

Turning eighteen is a milestone to be celebrated. I didn’t plan anything for my 18th birthday, and I absolutely regret it. The transformation of being a carefree minor to a knowledgeable lady of society is an exciting venture that only comes once. Why not celebrate with a bang?

During planning, you might think the most fun part is thinking of a theme. But that’s only the beginning. Preparing days before the party and execution on the day itself all have its fun parts, ups, and downs too. If you already decided on a theme, great!

If not there’s still time to think of something that reflects your personality. Meanwhile, answer these four questions to make sure your debut party becomes the talk of the town (or peers) for days.

Who are priority guests?

Our teenage years is the year we have flourishing social lives. We’ve suddenly turned to social butterflies and gained hundreds of friends. It is also the year of changes - new school, new neighbors, new classmates, clubs, volunteering, etc. - so we meet a lot of people all the time. It’s tempting to invite all of them, but like everything on Earth, there are limitations.

To avoid coming across the dilemma of asking the wrong people to come, list the important people whom you want to share your coming-of-age. The number of people you will invite will determine the venue that will fit your theme and entourage as well as the menu for the day. If you’re on a budget, you can always opt to limit the celebration. Have it indicated on your invitations early on to avoid plus one surprises.

Where is the perfect place to celebrate?

Once you’ve narrowed down your guest list, the next step is to look for a party venue in Manila to celebrate. Now, what makes a perfect venue?

The venue should be able to accommodate all the guests, the activities in the program along with the logistics and the catering tables. There should be enough seats for all the guests. Always ensure there are extra tables and chairs available for surprise guests. Some venues look spacious but become crowded once everything is in order. It becomes a problem once the program starts. It will be awkward and inefficient to ask guests to adjust their places to have your dance.

Some venues already have facilities you may need for your party and is packaged in a set with the venue. Before setting your eye on the place, inquire on the flexibility of the site. Do you really need a fog machine, a karaoke set, and a cotton candy maker? I don’t think so.

What do I want to happen on the day?

This is pancit. The big day.

The day you will look your best. The day the whole world will know you’re legal and can vote, drive and be independent. Besides looking beautiful, what exactly do you want to happen at your party?

Remember, there are guests to consider. They may be your friends, but they came to have a good time. It’s a party after all.

This is where the program plays a part. If you’re a traditional gal like Blair Waldorf, you will need an escort. Other than that, you will have 18 dances where your escort and male partners will hand over a rose [or another flower you’d prefer]. Of course, these 18 males are part of your court, which is also composed of 18 females who are usually close friends and relatives. The court will have a traditional dance, the Cotillion de Honor where the debutant will also participate. If dancing isn’t your forte, don’t forget to hire a dance instructor or someone experienced on these things. He/she will teach you the social graces you should observe. Think Mia Thermopolis in Princess Diaries.

Other breathtaking moments like the grand entrance and birthday wishes are universal. To add spice to your party, why not include games? Activities and surprise performances are also welcome. It’s best to entrust the program planning to someone who knows you well.

What do we eat?

Nowadays, the menu depends on the theme, but a three-course meal is necessary regardless of the time of the day. Some parties serve snacks and finger food before the program starts. Be sure the caterer sets up hours before the guests arrive. Food can be served food buffet or family style, so the time to prepare depends on the food service.

When it comes to the menu, it’s safe to pick recipes that are familiar to everyone - pasta, beef, chicken, and veggies. Consider your guests when choosing the menu. Will there be picky eaters? Always include an alternative for them so they won’t starve the entire time.

Use these four questions to guide you in your party planning. Your eighteenth birthday only comes once, make it unforgettable for everyone. Most of all, show them how you can throw a flawless debut party.

The Four Unspoken Rules for Working From a Coffee Shop

“Coffee is the common man's gold, and like gold, it brings to every person the feeling of luxury and nobility.” - Author Unknown 


You are pressed for a deadline, and you need to work—even while you are on the road. No problem, you might think, and park yourself at the nearest coffee shop, order a single latte and go to work for hours at a time. No harm and no foul, right? After all, you are a paying customer, so you might as well stay as long as you please. Well, you are not exactly right. Although coffee shops exist in part to provide an alternative work space for employees on the road, students in need of a place of study and free lancers, this does not mean you can fully exploit that to its fullest extent. While true, coffee shops have you as their target customers in mind, they would not want to lose potential profit just because you have a report to finish. You might have gotten a cup of coffee, but in the duration of your stay, the coffee shop could have sold at least a dozen more of those had your space been unoccupied.

One good rule of thumb to remember when it comes to coffee shops is that although coffee is their primary product, the space they offer you also comes at a premium. It would be the height of discourtesy to buy a single product from the menu and park yourself at the largest table for about six hours. You are not only denying the coffee shop profit, but you might be inadvertently causing them to lose their patrons to competitors instead. So, be a little considerate. In any case, here are some unspoken rules to keep in mind when you are working in a coffee shop—whether that may be a cafe in a hotel, or a regular famous coffee shop joint:

1.) Visit during off peak hours

If you intend to spend the majority of the day working on something from the coffee shop, you might want to be a little flexible with your schedule. This means you need to consider going during the off peak hours which could be anywhere in the early morning, after lunch hours or late in the evening. Avoid the rush as much as possible and see to it that the barista is not serving a queue and the shop is relatively vacant.

2.) Order enough stuff

What you order should be directly proportional to how long you intend to stay. Ordering a cup of coffee should give you about a couple of hours max sitting in the coffee shop, but if you plan to stay longer, then you should consider buying more stuff. Furthermore, it is inappropriate to bring your own drink—as you are using the coffee shop's premises, you are expected to buy something from them. If they serve regular hot meals, you might want to eat there as well. Remember, your coffee shop is running a business as well, so help them by buying enough stuff if you are going to be staying longer than most patrons.

3.) Do not take up a table bigger than you need

You might want to spread out and have a little leg room, but in a coffee shop where space is limited, you should refrain from doing so. Park yourself in a table that is big enough only for you and not big enough to accommodate you and your belongings. Try to occupy as little space as possible. Remember that although you can select the table you want (first come, first served basis after all), you might want to limit your impact if you are going to be working there for hours. During peak hours, that table could serve a lot of customers which you deny the coffee shop by parking yourself there.

4.) Clean up after yourself

Your coffee shop is not a restaurant in a sense that you have busboys who would clean up after you. Although baristas would routinely go from table to table to clean up after a customer leaves, they will hardly find the time to do this above ringing customers and making drinks. So, do your part and clean up after yourself, your barista will thank you.

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Four Ways to Create The Perfect Coffee Shop Experience

“A cup of coffee shared with a friend is happiness tasted and time well spent.” Unknown Author 


Over the years, the Philippines has seen a recent boom in the coffee shop industry—particularly in the main areas in the metropolis. With its primary market ranging from young professionals to postgraduate students, even a humble coffee shop can see an influx of patrons on an ordinary day. Despite the prominence and proliferation of coffee joint juggernauts such as Starbucks and The Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf, a localized and homegrown cafe can still be a lucrative business. However, the Philippines' booming market for coffee shops is no guarantee that yours will be a success. A flourishing endeavor in this industry takes a lot more than just brewing the right cup of coffee and a cozy place to stay. After all, with a myriad of coffee shops to compete with you, how do you entice customers to patronize yours over much more established ones? The trick is to start with the basics and get it right. Complement this with an excellent customer service, a certain wow factor, and an extraordinary experience, and you can expect people to not only come pouring in but come back for more as well.

Whether you are planning to open a cafe in a hotel or elsewhere, here are some tips and techniques to make sure that yours will stand out from the crowd:

1.) Your coffee shop ambiance and environment matter

More often than not, a good coffee shop constitutes more than just great tasting coffee. Like many coffee shops, entrepreneurs will tell you, drinking coffee is as much occasion as it is about the drink itself. This means you have to create an appropriate environment where your customers can sit down to relax, chat, study or even do their business proposals. The ambiance of your coffee shop should not only cater to a particular type of guests but diverse groups as well—ranging from business executives to students.

2.) Select the right coffee partner

Regardless of whether you are going into the coffee business venture solo, you are inevitably going to need partners who would help you make your cafe a success. Be meticulous about who you partner with and choose the ones who can offer you comprehensive service support. This means providing barista training, offering marketing and branding materials to offer. Look for a partner that can meet all your needs. Furthermore, be selective in choosing coffee beans. Know what quality-grade they are and how they are roasted. Do not go for the cheapest alternative as this would likely be poor in quality.

3.) Be different

Coffee shops are rife in almost every nook and cranny of the city that customers would not have a hard time looking for one. Considering how stiff the competition is in the coffee business, you need to make sure that yours stands out and attracts not only potential customers but regular patrons as well. Create a unique coffee experience that would set your shop apart from the rest. Be creative and think out of the box, create that unique environment that will make your guests come back for more than just your excellent cup of coffee.

4.) Make staff training a priority

An excellent coffee experience entails three components: great coffee, cozy ambiance, and excellent service. While the first two are the things that would market your coffee shop to customers, it is the excellent service that would keep them coming back for more. No matter how great your environment is and how delicious your coffee tastes, if the service rendered is subpar, you can expect customers to never walk back in again. Even worse, they could leave you with bad reviews and consequently tarnish the good name of your cafe. With this in mind, make sure you make staff training a priority and routinely check up on them to ensure that your standards of service are consistently met.

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