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 • 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 • 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 • 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 • 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 • 13th January 2022

Biases, comebacks, fan chants: A beginner's guide to the K-pop vocabulary

What's a maknae? How do you get street-cast? Who is your ult? Learn these K-pop terms and more!

MANILA, Philippines – Getting into K-pop is like entering a whole new world. Aside from the cultural and language differences, there are also others nuances to K-pop that newbies might not be familiar with.

How do I choose my bias (and, uh, what’s a bias to begin with)? Where do I sign up for fandom membership (and how would that make me different from fans who did not sign up for one)? When should

RAPPLER • 29th December 2021

'Tell them who cheated first': The biggest showbiz kalat of 2021

Who's dating who? Here's a roundup of the budding romances and fallouts in the local showbiz industry this 2021

MANILA, Philippines – While a lot of things have changed in the Philippine showbiz industry two years into the pandemic, one thing remains the same: artista drama and celebrity kalat continue to thrive.

2021 might have seen an abundance of celebrity weddings and babies, but a surprising amount of long-term celebrity couples have also ended their respective relationships.

This year’s

RAPPLER • 16th January 2022

Showbiz newcomers, veterans: PH stars to watch out for this 2022

Which of these stars are you keeping an eye on this 2022?

MANILA, Philippines – Two years into the pandemic and the entertainment industry is still relatively subdued – no red carpets, balls, premieres, or conferences. But despite these changes, fan support hasn’t wavered as new stars continue to shine.

In 2021, we’ve seen showbiz newcomers make their mark in breakout projects, and in 2022, we’re looking forward to seeing more fresh faces continue to thrive in the industry:

Rans entered showb

RAPPLER • 28th November 2021

SB19 pour their hearts out in Day 1 of their 'Our Zone' concert

'I hope na nandiyan pa rin kayo at susubaybayan niyo pa rin kami sa journey namin because it’s just the beginning,' says Ken

Not even the COVID-19 pandemic could stop SB19 from giving a powerful live concert experience.

The five-piece P-pop group was supposed to end “Get In The Zone,” their first nationwide concert tour, at the Araneta Coliseum in 2020, but this got canceled due to the global pandemic. This year, they got to make up for it – and how.

On Saturday, November 27, SB19’s dreams of

RAPPLER • 21st December 2021

‘Emily in Paris’ stars say season 2 ‘rich with new characters and dynamics’

MANILA, Philippines – Following the cliffhanger ending in the first season, the Emily in Paris cast are excited to show the viewers what’s in store for the second season.

“This season is so rich with new characters and new dynamics. It’s just a season of unraveling the truth and the characters’ navigating their lives to the best of their abilities,” Lucas Bravo, who played chef Gabriel, told Rappler in an exclusive media conference.

In the finale of the first season, it was revealed that Lucas

RAPPLER • 6th December 2021

K-pop 101: What are Kihno albums?

More over, vinyls, cassette tapes, and CDs! K-pop has the Kihno kit!

MANILA, Philippines – If there’s one thing the K-pop industry is best known for – it’s their creativity.

From the artistic themes of their music videos, to their visually-pleasing merchandise (case in point: lightsticks), they constantly find innovative means to make the whole fandom experience better.

And with the boom in technology in recent years, it’s no surprise that the K-pop industry has also found a way to adapt to t