Good Desserts at Meet Fresh Podium

If you're in the Ortigas-Mandaluyong area and looking for unique desserts, you might wanna try this joint called Meet Fresh. It's at the 5th Floor of the Podium mall at the back of Megamall. Honestly, I was expecting it much to be like Ice Kacang which the Tsino-Malaysians enjoy but this is more of a Taiwanese treat which they brought in for Filipinos to enjoy.

The place can seat around 30, all separate chairs in front with an Express counter on the side. They had tons of guests, but serving time was ample on regular days. I visited it again a few days ago and quality didn't go down after opening the joint a few months ago.

I ordered the Cold Tofu Pudding, Milk Tea with Pudding, Mung Bean Cakes and Peanut Mochi Combo. Everything was so good especially the Peanut Mochi which I had to order more of. The Cold Tofu Pudding comes a close second because it reminds me of cold soy milk/ chilled Taho which I often drink or consume since I was a kid. The mixture of beans and mochi on some of the items on their menu felt ingenious! You're bound to say "Why didn't I think of that?!" a couple of times. Even though we don't have a similar version of these in the Philippines, our halo-halo seems a bit close sans the fruits. 

They've got milk teas and other flavored drinks but for me, it's better to stick with the best sellers because it's a little pricey, but definitely good for sharing. Ask them if you need extra bowls because they can do that on a whim.

MEET FRESH is at the 5th Floor of the PODIUM Mall in Ortigas Center. They are open mall hours, and is self service.

Every Brilliant Thing and Lungs for Sandbox Fest 2020

Two shows will delight you this March as Sandbox Fest 2020 happens this March 7-29 at the MayBank Performing Arts Theater as they feature Every Brilliant Thing and Lungs of which are shows written by Written by Duncan Macmillan and Jonny Donahoe. EBT had around 23 sold out shows last year and several nods from award giving bodies. Teresa Herrera and Kakki Teodoro star on this show. It is also Directed by Jenny Jamora. Lungs on the other hand talks about the ins and outs of relationships. The show is Directed by Andrei Pamintuan and stars actor Jake Cuenca and Sab Jose.

Toff De Venecia says “There are so many shows happening on Arts Month, thank you also for braving the traffic. We’re here for two of our shows and Sandbox Fest 2020.”

Ms. Anna Santamaria adds “10525, 25 productions this year and this is our celebration for this season. We are proud to bring Duncan Mc Millan’s Lungs and Every Brilliant Thing. The topics are very relevant today as it is about climate change and mental health. We have discount passes, this will be at March 28 at the Maybank Performing Arts Theater and will only be available until February 21. See you at the theater!”

Jake says “Lungs was a whole experience, it took me a lot of time to get into his head. It’s acting in its purest form. I have been in relationships, it’s milestones, reading this is different now that I have someone with me. I was afraid about the script, you strive with perfection and I am so excited to go back.”

Sab Jose says “Relationships are hard and non of the struggles will happen if you fight for it. Don’t be afraid to love. After marriage I experienced how it is to live with someone, to quarrel, to love and how it takes hard work. This rerun will have more depth, it is a struggle. You choose the person every single day and I had a wider understanding about this.”

Teresa shares “After 23 sold out shows, I look forward to doing it after a year of hiatus. It’s such a beautiful material and you’re going to come in with a new perspective because globally we’ve been all through so much and we want to show it to much people. After a year, I got a kid. It is like living the material, I feel like it’s in our bones. It was personal, a topic to be discussed and it is normal to not be brilliant, but the dynamics of the show is interactive. When you do it, they’re not actors, that’s where the magic happens. You see the humanity, you see how to be kind. 

You’ll be seeing something new as it is going to be in Maybank Theater and the Zobel de Ayala Hall in BGC. They are sharing the stage, smaller as you will be going to the journey with them. Discount rates available for the two shows happening on the sane day.

You can purchase tickets at Ticketworld. Head on to ticketworld.com.ph or call 88919999.

Prima Donnas To Show More Twists on GMA Afternoon Prime

Top Rating Prima Donnas has extended their watching hours til Saturdays and with the recent success of the show, these ladies are excited to share what will happen with the story. Yes, there will be more twists and turns that are bound to affect you during afternoons, because there will be more!

Elijah Alejo plays Brianna, the villainess in the show. She says “We are doing this to inspire people. Our faith with God and the good things we have done with Direk Gina. There might be more characters in the coming weeks and who knows, we might have new love interests. Brianna will be more greedy, there will be more hospital scenes and fights you will see on screen.”

Althea Ablan adds “We have veterans from the competing show, but we did good despite that. James Blanco just came in the picture and it will be something people will look forward to. We do talk about boys, and if ever I got to choose, I would like to work with Miguel Tanfelix.”

Sofia Pablo says “When we learned that it will only be two weeks before they leave, it didn’t matter to us but we definitely made it as a challenge. I remember the scenes I did with Brianna, slapped her hard. Who knows, those memes about Encantadia might happen, if given a chance it would be fun to do that or any role for that matter.”

Jillian Ward “We have a solid story, it is important to learn and inspire, Mondays to Saturdays is such a long time to entertain people and we have to be more creative, which we are very confident about. Work is work, even if we do hurt each other in scenes we know before and after the scene we have to check. Every time we slap each other the ratings go high. That fruit salad scene is unforgettable, it stuck on my hair for a while.”

Thanks Mara Wrigley for the chocolates! Rinoa Essential Oil and Vitamilk for the stuff. You will catch Prima Donnas Monday to Saturday at 2:30pm.

Love Rules with Closeup!

Oh my it’s the dreaded Valentines day! Haha nah, just joking! Whatever challenges you may be going through, February 14 is a day dedicated to letting love rule. How do you show love at this day and age? For me, it’s about reminding your special someone of the small things that make your relationship a place where love and happiness rule in your lives.  

Closeup, our fave toothpaste brand is advocating #FreeToLove. No matter where you are or who you are with, we should really have that in mind. Closeup is giving three lucky pairs a chance to win a special Valentine’s date treat. What’s in it for you?! Well, you and your date can get an intimate romantic evening made just for you. They’ll take you to a private fine dining dinner, a garden picnic, or inside a vintage plane parked in a garden. What do you have to do to make it happen? Just post a couple selfie on Instagram or Facebook and tag @closeupph, put the location where love rules for you and share your story of how you let love rule in your relationship. Make sure to use the hashtags #LoveRules and #FreetoLove. Send your entries in from February 5 to 9, 2020, and who knows, you might just win it for you and your love!  

They are also partnering with Google Maps which you can see at freetolove.com.ph/loverules. All your entries will be collated and plugged into a map that shows where people all around the country. Closeup hopes to start a movement of creating more places where people can truly make love rule, isn’t that neat?  

Don’t let anyone stop you from celebrating this Valentine’s Day, because yes, #LoveRules.  

If you wanna see the mechanics and details of Closeup’s Valentine’s Day contest, visit freetolove.closeup.ph/loverules. Because it’s all there!