To celebrate Filipino American History Month, Filipino Food Crawl created an EATymology series to explore the stories behind the name of some of our favorite snacks — polvoron, brazo de mercedez, carioca, puto, cathedral window, leche flan, bibingka, and taisan. It’s amazing how one could learn so much about Filipino history and culture just by unpacking the stories behind food names.

Filipino Food Crawl hosted a food tournament called Silog Showdown to determine which silog has captured people’s hearts the most. The showdown started off with eight silogs — tapsilog, longsilog, cornsilog, tosilog, dasilog, hotsilog, baconsilog, and spamsilog — and culminated in a neck and neck race for the championship.

Banana ketchup is a staple in any Filipino pantry. The experience of eating lumpia, tortang talong or even fried chicken won’t be complete without this sweet, red sauce. While Filipinos are used to having bottled banana ketchup from household names such as UFC and Jufran, this condiment can also be made from scratch.

For a supposedly rice-eating people, Filipinos also love our breads. To celebrate Filipino American History Month, Filipino Food Crawl created an EATymology series to explore the stories behind the name of some of our favorite breads — the pandesal, ensaymada, mamon, hopia and biscocho.

Back in the day, commercials were a big part of the experience of watching TV because one had no choice but to sit through the ads (though sometimes it felt like the commercials were longer than the show). This gave rise to memorable Filipino food commercials that will bring you down memory lane. Watch them here!

To celebrate Buwan ng Wika or National Language Month, I took a deep dive on the interesting stories behind some of the most popular Filipino dishes. Check out this eight-part series to discover where these names came from.

Here’s a short guide on visiting the Philippines. This is by no means comprehensive but it’s a great jumping board as you research on your Philippine trip. I’m always happy to help you plan your trip so if you need a hand, feel free to contact me via email, Facebook, or Instagram. I hope you find this useful!

Mt. Pinatubo's crater lake is, arguably, one of the most breathtaking sights in the Philippines. What used to be solid rock is now the perfect escape from the monotony of city life. Located at the intersection of the borders of Zambales, Tarlac and Pampanga, Mt. Pinatubo which erupted in June 1991 now sleeps like a baby.

Home to the chocolate hills and the tarsier, Bohol will mesmerize you with its natural beauty — from geological formation to tiny primates only as large as your fist.

Never thought there would be a surf spot just two-hours away from Metro Manila. A day trip with friends to San Antonio, Zambales provided a much-needed and well-deserved escape from work.

Amidst the suffocating smog and the constant honking of motorcycles in its narrow streets, Shanghai stands proud and tall as China's largest city with over 20 million people and as the commercial and financial center of the Middle Kingdom.

My friends and I took a forty-hour ferry ride from Osaka to Shanghai. Since we had time to spare, we took the cheapest option available which was to cross the Sea of Japan by boat. Little did we know that this ferry ride would be so unforgettable.

In the Philippines, we have lots of stray dogs. In India, they have stray cows.

Let me take you to two monuments in New Delhi. One is a towering minaret and the other is a majestic memorial in the heart of Delhi.

Check out our lunch at Verma's Kitchen, the closest and most affordable food joint from India Habitat Center. The usual cast is Shraman, Anubhab, Shekhar, Shatish, and myself.

Scenes from Slumdog Millionaire kept playing in my head. That movie subconsciously became my "guide" to India. The only other movie I've seen about India was Gandhi which was set in the first half of the 20th century.

A short tribute to my favorite restaurant in New Delhi. Karim's Hotel is located in downtown Delhi close to Jama Masjid, the largest mosque in India. Taste mouthwatering kababs at this historic restaurant.

Walking down Chawri Bazaar, a bustling market, I saw two young boys holding hands while walking. I was surprised and out of my amusement, I took photos of them.

My friend Anubhab invited me to visit Kolkata, the capital of West Bengal and former capital of India. I have never seen a city as crowded as Kolkata. Where did all those people come from?

"Like a solitary tear suspended on the cheek of time.” -Rabindranath Tagore on the Taj Mahal

If you're in the mood for a relaxed shopping experience, head to Dilli Haat, a shopping center with merchandise from different states in India. My friend, Preeti, and I went there after work for shopping and dinner.

My friend, Shekhar, invited me to a family wedding in his hometown which was 2.5 hours away from New Delhi. It was a night of dancing and celebration. Our sleeping quarters for the night was absolutely unforgettable.

To celebrate Filipino American History Month, Filipino Food Crawl created an EATymology series to explore the stories behind the name of some of our favorite snacks — polvoron, brazo de mercedez, carioca, puto, cathedral window, leche flan, bibingka, and taisan. It’s amazing how one could learn so much about Filipino history and culture just by unpacking the stories behind food names.

Filipino Food Crawl hosted a food tournament called Silog Showdown to determine which silog has captured people’s hearts the most. The showdown started off with eight silogs — tapsilog, longsilog, cornsilog, tosilog, dasilog, hotsilog, baconsilog, and spamsilog — and culminated in a neck and neck race for the championship.

Banana ketchup is a staple in any Filipino pantry. The experience of eating lumpia, tortang talong or even fried chicken won’t be complete without this sweet, red sauce. While Filipinos are used to having bottled banana ketchup from household names such as UFC and Jufran, this condiment can also be made from scratch.

For a supposedly rice-eating people, Filipinos also love our breads. To celebrate Filipino American History Month, Filipino Food Crawl created an EATymology series to explore the stories behind the name of some of our favorite breads — the pandesal, ensaymada, mamon, hopia and biscocho.

Back in the day, commercials were a big part of the experience of watching TV because one had no choice but to sit through the ads (though sometimes it felt like the commercials were longer than the show). This gave rise to memorable Filipino food commercials that will bring you down memory lane. Watch them here!

To celebrate Buwan ng Wika or National Language Month, I took a deep dive on the interesting stories behind some of the most popular Filipino dishes. Check out this eight-part series to discover where these names came from.

Unlike other countries in Southeast Asia, the Philippines never had a monarchy so Filipinos did not have a royal menu as a guide on what to serve during special occasions. As a Spanish colony, Filipinos looked to Spain as “king” and adapted Spanish cuisine into the menu for celebrations and important events. Here’s a taste of the mouthwatering dishes in Barcelona.

Let me take you on a Hawaiian food experience ! We’ll eat through fresh and delicious servings of loco moco, poke, musubis, and shave ice in Honolulu. I focused on affordable eats that show the interesting history behind Hawaiian cuisine and culture. I also inlcuded couple of uniquely Hawaiian experiences — a ukulele factory experience and a tour in Hawaii’s WW2 red light district — in this guide as well. Click “Read More” to see the video.

Here’s a short write up on my Thai friend’s wedding written back in 2011. I previously wrote this in my other travel blog. It’s so interesting to learn about the different rituals and customs in a traditional Thai wedding. Towards the end of the celebrations, I had the pleasure of meeting Thailand’s former finance minister who had an unforgettable experience when he visited the Philippines.

Here’s a short guide on visiting the Philippines. This is by no means comprehensive but it’s a great jumping board as you research on your Philippine trip. I’m always happy to help you plan your trip so if you need a hand, feel free to contact me via email, Facebook, or Instagram. I hope you find this useful!

While there have been volumes of eerie documentaries on the North and South Korea Demilitarized Zone (DMZ), nothing compares to seeing the 38th Parallel face-to-face.

Mt. Pinatubo's crater lake is, arguably, one of the most breathtaking sights in the Philippines. What used to be solid rock is now the perfect escape from the monotony of city life. Located at the intersection of the borders of Zambales, Tarlac and Pampanga, Mt. Pinatubo which erupted in June 1991 now sleeps like a baby.

Home to the chocolate hills and the tarsier, Bohol will mesmerize you with its natural beauty — from geological formation to tiny primates only as large as your fist.

Never thought there would be a surf spot just two-hours away from Metro Manila. A day trip with friends to San Antonio, Zambales provided a much-needed and well-deserved escape from work.

Amidst the suffocating smog and the constant honking of motorcycles in its narrow streets, Shanghai stands proud and tall as China's largest city with over 20 million people and as the commercial and financial center of the Middle Kingdom.

My friends and I took a forty-hour ferry ride from Osaka to Shanghai. Since we had time to spare, we took the cheapest option available which was to cross the Sea of Japan by boat. Little did we know that this ferry ride would be so unforgettable.

I've been wondering why there are so many different Buddhas in Asia. I've seen plump Buddhas in China, skinny Buddhas in Thailand, and meditating (in the lotus position) Buddhas in India. What do they all mean?

My friend Mon took me fishing with his family during my visit. His father is a fishing aficionado and so was the rest of the family. We rode their fishing yacht from Ao Chalong (Ao means "bay" in Thai) and spent the whole morning trying to catch our dinner. No fish, no dinner!

Promthep Cape is a small, rocky hill in the southern tip of Phuket Island. The locals say this is the best sunset viewpoint in Phuket. My good friend, Mon, always brings his guests here to enjoy the breathtaking view.

Bangkok has always amazed me for its similarity in appearance with Manila -- the deluge of Japanese cars, huge shopping malls, a flyovers like noodles, rice-based meals, even the trees look similar. Despite looking alike, Krung Thep carries such a strong and unique Asian charm that it has become the most popular jump-off point in the Southeast Asian backpacker circuit.

“Trust me, it's paradise. This is where the hungry come to feed.” -Richard, The Beach (2000)

If Cambodia has Angkor Wat, Malaysia has the Petronas Towers and Thailand has the Grand Palace, then Indonesia has Borobudur and Prambanan. Check out what these two have to offer.

Simple yet sophisticate, busy and full-of-heart, Yogyakarta is a small, artsy town popularly known for Borobudur, an ancient Buddhist temple and UNESCO World Heritage Site.

After a hard night in Kuta Beach, we set off for Sanur Beach, a few kilometers to the east of Kuta. Sanur Beach is a sleepy beach town, the exact opposite of the riot of a night we just had. There time wax slow.

Kurt and I arrived in Kuta Beach, Bali after a 12-hour bus ride from Probolinggo. We spent a good part of the night searching for a reasonably priced hostel; it wasn't peak season but the whole beach was packed.

This is the beginning of the Indonesia travel series. My trip to Indonesia was divided into three legs — Mount Bromo, Bali, then Jogjakarta.

In the Philippines, we have lots of stray dogs. In India, they have stray cows.

Let me take you to two monuments in New Delhi. One is a towering minaret and the other is a majestic memorial in the heart of Delhi.

Check out our lunch at Verma's Kitchen, the closest and most affordable food joint from India Habitat Center. The usual cast is Shraman, Anubhab, Shekhar, Shatish, and myself.