Ysabel Abad

SPOT.PH • 1st May 2021

10 Must-Try Pasig Restaurants...Beyond Kapitolyo

(SPOT.ph) Kapitolyo in Pasig has already established itself as a foodie hub, famous for giving a leg up to popular franchises like Silantro and being home to dining destinations such as Mama Rosa, RUB, and Little Bear Diner. But it's a big city and there are more eats to it outside this delicious destination. And the best part—not to discount Kapitolyo in any way—is that these places make parking easier, too!

From Filipino to Japanese, Mexican to Caribbean, the rest of Pasig can satisfy your ev

SPOT.PH • 1st May 2021

These sights in Rizal are worth putting on your bucket list

(SPOT.ph) There’s more to Rizal than its reputed dedication to art. With the Sierra Madre Mountain Ranges and Quezon to the east, Laguna de Bay to the southwest, and Bulacan to the north, Rizal has diverse cultural treasures and natural wonders that are waiting to be explored. The one-hour ride from Metro Manila to this place is well worth it as you unwind from the crowded Metro.

No need to go way up north to Bangui, Ilocos Norte to marvel over famous windmills. In Pililla, Rizal, 27 wind turbi

SPOT.PH • 1st May 2021

10 Matcha Dishes We Love

(SPOT.ph) Matcha do about nothing? When you're talking about matcha, it is everything. We're graduating from matcha lattes (for now) because there are so many other green tea treats to try—and we don't just mean Kit-Kats. From soup to Eggs Benedict, churros to tiramisu, this list can satisfy any of your green tea cravings.

The Hanger Steak and Soft Shell Crab Tako-Maki may be Ooma's primary draws, but there's no better way to end a meal here than with the Matcha Green Tea-ramisu. It's creamy bu

RAPPLER • 20th December 2021

A'TIN International: Meet the foreign fans of P-pop sensation SB19

'As long as what they want is world domination, I want to see them get it,' says American A'TIN Sam

MANILA, Philippines – Whether you’re a hardcore fan or just a casual listener, there’s no denying that SB19 has solidified themselves into true P-pop pioneers. In 2021 alone, we saw them release their second EP, headline three concerts, collaborate with other Filipino artists, venture into solo careers, and get nominated for international music awards.

It’s easy to associate most of SB19’s succe

RAPPLER • 9th December 2021

From Hallyu to Halalan: How Filipino K-pop fans are taking action for the 2022 PH elections

MANILA, Philippines – There’s no denying the way K-pop has dominated pop culture in recent years – and besides the talent and hard work of the artists themselves, we owe part of its worldwide success to its fans.

Recognized as the backbone of the industry, K-pop fans, or “stans,” are known for their passion for and dedication to the groups they support. These stans are used to making hashtags quickly trend globally – whether to celebrate their idol’s birthday or promote a group’s album release.

RAPPLER • 30th November 2021

Our loved ones are not tourists: Binational couples ask for safe reunion in PH

As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to separate them, Filipinos with foreign partners hope that they'll be given the chance to reunite with their loved ones soon

This was the sentiment among most members of Unite Us In Philippines, a group of Filipino citizens lobbying for safe and responsible reunification with their foreign partners, from whom they continue to be separated for nearly two years and counting.

When Metro Manila first closed its international borders in March 2020 in a bid to hal

Rappler • 27th October 2021

'Papels' as investments? An introductory guide to K-pop photocards

But even if a Girls’ Generation fan buys nine Oh albums, there’s still no assurance that they’ll pull out all of the respective photocards of the group's then-nine members. Chances are, a fan will pull one member twice or thrice out of the nine albums. If luck isn’t on their side, all nine photocards could even just be of one member. This makes the whole photocard collecting culture more lucrative.

Rappler • 27th October 2021

Fans helping fans: How A'TIN, SB19’s supporters, make a positive impact in their community

“Looking back, what really impressed me the most is the passion of the boys, kasi makikita mo talaga (because you’ll really see) how much they worked hard for it, and how genuine they are when it comes to their passion and love for music. Doon nahook ako (I got hooked because of that), and what hooks me more is really the fandom, the A’TIN,” Amylene Medina, member of the PRESS A’TIN and A’TTYN Legal fan bases, told Rappler.

She added, “We help other people na walang-wala, walang malalapitan, wa

RAPPLER • 28th November 2021

Kinalas: Naga City's unsung delicacy, and where to find the best versions

For Nagueños, it's always a good time to have kinalas!

If Batangas has lomi and Iloilo has batchoy, then Bicol’s Naga City has kinalas.

Compared to other Filipino noodle dishes, kinalas might be something unheard of to most. But for Nagueños, kinalas has been a staple and a favorite.

What is it?

Visually, kinalas looks somewhat similar to beef mami – a noodle dish that most Filipinos are familiar with. The noticeable difference, however, is the addition of a thick and dark brown sauce on top

RAPPLER • 3rd March 2022

Beyond girl boss: These K-drama characters redefine the 'strong woman' stereotype

MANILA, Philippines – For years, K-dramas have followed the foolproof formula of two men pining over a woman who has to choose between the two. More often than not, women are portrayed as a damsel in distress that needs saving or someone who is used for the character development of the male lead. Just think about all the classic K-dramas: Boys Over Flowers, Secret Garden, and Princess Hours.

Fortunately, this almost dreaded cliché has evolved in recent years as writers create more dynamic women

RAPPLER • 14th February 2022

‘Leni sunbaenim ending all fan wars’: Filipino K-pop stans unite to support Robredo

MANILA, Philippines – Carrying a handful of banners, photocards, and lightsticks, it would seem that these K-pop fans were going to a concert. But in reality, they were bringing their beloved K-pop merchandise to the campaign rallies of presidential candidate Vice President Leni Robredo.

Since campaign season officially started February 8, a group of Filipino K-pop fans, called KPOP STANS 4 LENI, have been trending online for their ardent support of Robredo’s presidential run.

From the proclam

RAPPLER • 2nd March 2022

Make it or break it: Lessons you'll learn from 'living in' with your romantic partner

From talking about finances to having 'me' time, these lived-in couples share how they make their set-ups work

MANILA, Philippines – Moving in with your partner is definitely one of the biggest changes that could happen in your relationship.

Despite the Philippines being a predominantly Catholic country, gone are the days when conservatives would vehemently condemn couples who live together before marriage. A Veritas Truth Survey, which was conducted from January 1 to 31, 2022, showed that 45%

RAPPLER • 27th February 2022

Tugatog Filipino Music Festival 2022 puts the spotlight on P-pop

MNL48, ALAMAT, BINI, and BGYO are among the performers for the Tugatog Music Festival happening in June

MANILA, Philippines – P-pop groups MNL48, ALAMAT, BINI, BGYO, and more acts are coming together for the Tugatog Filipino Music Festival 2022, which is set for June 18.

Dubbed as the “stage for top Filipino talents to celebrate the best of OPM year after year,” the Tugatog Filipino Music Festival aims to highlight the music, culture, and identity of Filipinos, showcasing the artists that defi

RAPPLER • 24th February 2022

The good, the bad, the ugly: How to set boundaries after moving back to your parents'

Moving back home takes some getting used to. These young adults share how they manage to peacefully cohabit with their family.

MANILA, Philippines – In 2013, when then 16-year-old Joanne left to study in a university in Metro Manila, she decided to only return to her childhood home in Bicol for the holidays and school breaks.

Her plan? Stay in her dorm throughout her four-year college stay, take summer classes if possible, graduate on time, pass her licensure exams, and find a job as a psychom

RAPPLER • 13th February 2022

Harana x Saranghae: Pinoy pop and K-pop love songs for your fragile moments

MANILA, Philippines – Single? Friendzoned? In a relationship? It’s complicated? Heartbroken? Whatever relationship status you are in, there’s no better way to process your feelings than by listening to music!

After all, music has this uncanny ability to capture our emotions even before we can fully put them into words.

So even if you haven’t received a curated playlist yet, don’t worry, because we prepared one for you! From danceable bops that will make you feel all warm and fuzzy inside, to t

RAPPLER • 16th February 2022

‘It’s not about proximity’: Can you be a couple without ever meeting in person?

Virtual dating can be risky, but these couples prove it's still possible to form genuine relationships with people you meet online

MANILA, Philippines – Binge-watching episodes of Catfish and The Tinder Swindler has made us wary of having a virtual relationship. We’ve seen it happen several times: victims finding out that their supposed partners used the identity of another person, or worse, that their partner doesn’t really exist in real life and was just born from someone’s imagination.

Thes

RAPPLER • 10th February 2022

Kim Tae-ri, Nam Joo-hyuk chase both love and their dreams in ‘Twenty Five Twenty One’

MANILA, Philippines – Twenty Five Twenty One, a new coming-of-age South Korean drama starring Kim Tae-ri and Nam Joo-hyuk is set to premiere on Netflix on Saturday, February 12.

Set against the East Asian Financial Crisis in 1988, it follows a group of five strangers who become friends as they continue to chase their dreams despite the trying times. Eventually, some friendships blossom into a romantic relationship.

“This show depicts the time period that is set in a serious way possible. The s

RAPPLER • 9th February 2022

#Goals or #GoAway: These fictional couples give off major 'green' and 'red' flags

What should you look for and avoid in a relationship? These fictional couples might help you!

MANILA, Philippines – Let’s admit it: we love the idea of love. From novels to series and movies, romance always sells.

Through these, we start listing down the qualities we want to see in our future possible partner, so our ideal relationship takes shape. Of course, we should be wary and take these portrayals with a grain of salt, because as much as we long for the happy-ever-afters like the ones in

RAPPLER • 6th February 2022

It’s not always fun in K-pop buy-and-sell communities. Here’s why.

MANILA, Philippines – Although it might get overwhelming at times, being a K-pop stan collector is fun. Non-collectors might not understand the joy a photocard brings, or the excitement of securing certain merchandise. But stan collectors, despite their different reasons for collecting, can agree that they’ve found happiness in this hobby.

With the power of social media, the culture of collecting has pretty much evolved in recent years. For one, the need for real-life meet-ups has lessened, and

RAPPLER • 28th February 2022

'This is truly huge': 'Squid Game' actors Lee Jung-jae, Jung Ho-yeon win at SAG Awards 2022

This marks the first time for a non-English series and a South Korean television show to receive an award at the SAG Awards

MANILA, Philippines – Hit South Korean series Squid Game made history at the 2022 Screen Actors Guild (SAG) Awards, bagging three plums on Monday, February 28 (late Sunday, February 27 in the US).

Both Lee Jung-jae and Jung Ho-yeon scored their first SAG win after being awarded Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor and Female Actor, respectively, in a Drama Series.

Lee

RAPPLER • 27th February 2022

Seo Ye-ji issues formal apology over controversy with ex-boyfriend Kim Jung-hyun

'All of this stemmed from my immaturity,' says the South Korean actress

MANILA, Philippines – Almost a year after being embroiled in a scandal involving her ex-boyfriend Kim Jung-hyun, South Korean actress Seo Ye-ji has broken her silence and issued a formal apology on Sunday, February 27.

The actress first drew flak in April 2021 when outlet Dispatch published a report alleging that way back in 2018, Ye-ji had ordered her then-boyfriend Jung-hyun to get the script of his drama Time to be modi

RAPPLER • 24th February 2022

‘New era’: ABS-CBN teases return of Star Magic Ball and All-Star Games

Who do you want to see in this year's Star Magic Ball?

MANILA, Philippines – ABS-CBN has confirmed that the highly-anticipated Star Magic Ball and All-Star Games are coming back this 2022.

The announcement was made during the “Kapamilya Strong 2022” event on Wednesday, February 23. Aside from the contract renewal of 11 celebrities, including Regine Velasquez-Alcasid, Gerald Anderson, and Erich Gonzales, it also kickstarted the 30th anniversary celebration of Star Magic, ABS-CBN’s talent manage

RAPPLER • 23rd February 2022

‘Fake news’: Maymay Entrata slams netizen who calls her boyfriend a scammer

MANILA, Philippines – Maymay Entrata has had enough of netizens spreading rumors about her non-showbiz boyfriend.

In a tweet on Tuesday, February 22, the Filipina celebrity called out a YouTube channel who called her boyfriend a “scammer” and even threatened to take legal action if the clip was not taken down.

“Fake news! Kapag ‘di niyo po buburahin at patuloy niyo pong pag s-spread ng false information para manira ng buhay ng ibang tao, ‘wag nyo na po sanang hintayin na aabot tayo sa husgado.

RAPPLER • 21st February 2022

Breaking barriers: These celebrities with Down syndrome fight for inclusion

'Believe in yourself.... Don’t listen to people who say you can’t do,' says Hollywood actor Zack Gottsagen

MANILA, Philippines – On Thursday, February 18, Sofia Jirau made history as the first Victoria’s Secret model with Down syndrome, posing for the Love Cloud collection of the famous lingerie brand.

The 24-year-old Puerto Rican said that it was a “dream come true,” and thanked Victoria’s Secret for seeing her as a model “without limits.” Netizens have praised the brand, which had a history

RAPPLER • 16th February 2022

‘Peaky Blinders’ season 6 sets February premiere date

Are you ready for the final season of 'Peaky Blinders?'

MANILA, Philippines – The Shelbys are coming back soon!

BBC announced on Tuesday, February 15, that hit series Peaky Blinders is set to air its sixth season on February 27.

“The Shelbys are back in business,” they captioned the post of a mural of Cillian Murphy’s face, who plays Tommy Shelby in the series. The mural was painted on the side of a wall in Birmingham by street artist Akse.

The sixth season will see Shelby continue his war a

RAPPLER • 10th February 2022

The Japanese Film Festival 2022 allows you to watch 20 Japanese films for free. Here’s how.

The event, which will run from February 14 to 27, will include thrillers, animation, documentaries, and more

MANILA, Philippines – The Japanese Film Festival returns online for its 2022 edition to “serve as a window to Japanese culture one cinematic experience at a time.”

Running from February 14 to 27, the JFF Online 2022 offers 20 impressive titles that include coming-of-age stories thrillers, comedies, sci-fi, animation, classical and periodical films, and documentaries.

“The Japanese Film

RAPPLER • 8th February 2022

‘All of Us Are Dead’ director: If there’s season 2, it will focus on ‘survival of zombies’

MANILA, Philippines – While there’s still no official news about a second season, All of Us Are Dead director Lee Jae-kyoo revealed that he intentionally made room in the series for a possible expansion.

“Many directions, settings, and scenes were intentionally produced to expand the story into an additional season, including the introduction of the new races of zombies – immune and immortal,” Lee told The Korea Herald in an exclusive interview.

In the series finale, the student survivors get

RAPPLER • 3rd February 2022

LOOK: Studio Ghibli’s website teases first look for its theme park

DONDOKO FOREST. The highly-anticipated Ghibli Park will open its doors to the public starting November 2022.

Three attraction sites, which drew inspiration from 'Spirited Away' and 'My Neighbor Totoro,' will be open to the public starting November 2022

MANILA, Philippines – All aboard the Cat Bus! Famous Japanese animation house Studio Ghibli is set to open their first theme park in November 2022, and they just shared photos of how it will look like!

Studio Ghibli recently launched a website

RAPPLER • 26th January 2022

SB19’s ‘Bazinga’ sets record for longest-staying track in Billboard’s Hot Trending Songs Chart

MANILA, Philippines – SB19 has achieved another international milestone as their track “Bazinga” spends its seventh week at the No. 1 spot on Billboard’s Hot Trending Songs Chart.

According to Billboard, “Bazinga” has recorded 9.3 million Twitter mentions during the January 15-22 tracking week. It is followed by BTS’ “Butter,” DIMASH’s “Fly Away,” Mew Suppasit & Sam Kim’s “Before 4:30 (She Said…),” and BE:FIRST’s “Gifted.”

SB19 took to social media to celebrate the news. “‘Bazinga’ is on a rec