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Carmina says Bebang’s halo-halo is summer in a spoon — but is it the real deal or just pretty colors in a cup?

Since last year, Mom Violy and Carmina had been wanting to try the much-talked-about  Bebang's Halo-Halo , but even when we passed by, the timing was never right. Mom Violy kept saying she’d wait until a branch opened closer to us. Then Becky told Carmina there was one along her commute route to work. The best part was that the Tomas Morato branch in Quezon City had just opened. When we arrived at CTTM Square , we found plenty of restaurants on the second floor. While checking the menu, we let the customers behind us order first. Mom Violy asked them for recommendations, and they suggested the Presidential for first timers. Unlike other places, Bebang’s Halo-Halo doesn’t have size options—everything comes in a standard size, making ordering easier. Seniors and PWDs get a discount per order, and you’re given something that lights up when your halo-halo is ready for pickup. Service was quick, so the wait wasn’t long at all. Each order comes in its own green plastic bag with a table...
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Craving authentic Hokkaido ice cream? Taste it without the long flight—right here at your local scoop shop.

  Those who have visited Japan know how much they can miss Hokkaido ice cream . But you don’t need to fly to Japan to enjoy it—there’s a spot in Greenhill's , in the new GH area extension , where you can get it. Just find Yabu House of Katsu , and outside there’s a walk-up counter where you can line up and order your ice cream. The prices are reasonable for the chocolate crumble sundae is 150.00 pesos ($2.54). Carmina had ordered the Kuromitsu Boba Sundae for 170.00 pesos ($2.88). Everyone enjoyed their ice cream, with no long wait since it’s prepared right away. The Hokkaido ice cream isn’t too sweet, making you want more every time you shop at Greenhill’s Shopping Center. NOT SPONSORED. Check out my channel @ Carmina Lifestyle YouTube  and click on the subscribe button for more videos. Thank you for the support.
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Craving the best biscotto from Iloilo? Discover Mom Violy’s top pick and where to order it online in the Philippines now.

After coming back from our Iloilo vacation Mom Violy was telling Carmina she had liked the biscotto and would like to know where to purchase it online. Carmina found  Iloilo's Best  Online Shopee Philippines that sells in variety of sets to choose from individual, two sets or three sets for a different price. Carmina had informed Mom Violy might as well get the set rather paying individual since she wanted three pieces paying the price of 429.00 pesos ($7.27) not including shipping and handling. NOT SPONSORED. Check out my channel @ Carmina Lifestyle YouTube  and click on the subscribe button for more videos. Thank you for the support.
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From private practice to public premiere: Carmina’s first YouTube debut changes everything.

Every day, I would join Lyn’s livestream after being active and chatting with others who were also watching. Lyn once advised us to premiere long videos since they count toward public watch hours, just like livestreams. She suggested they be over ten minutes, but to me, that felt too short premieres felt more like livestreams where you entertain viewers for one, two, or even three hours straight. Recently, while on vacation, I decided to try my first premiere since my video was an hour and thirty-six minutes long. At first, I was nervous as a newbie, unsure if it was the right move, but sometimes you have to step out of your comfort zone to see what might help with YouTube watch hours . Carmina joined her friend's livestream to announce an upcoming premiere on Tuesday, January 13, Philippine time , since many viewers are in different time zones. It’s common during livestreams for the host to make such announcements and pin them so other viewers can turn on notifications and subscr...
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See Iloilo’s best landmarks up close this January — history, culture, and photo-perfect moments.

Mom Violy, Tita Edna and Carmina have never been to Iloilo . Tita Edna suggested using her Philippine Airlines mileage to deduct 9,000 miles for a round trip to Iloilo and pay taxes of about 3,000 pesos ($50.85). Mom Violy and Carmina decided to do the same. Two weeks later, we learned Bacolod was recently hit by a typhoon, leaving fewer places to visit, so we changed our plans to stay in Iloilo, paying an additional 2,057 pesos ($34.86) for January 6–9, with Tita Edna leaving one day earlier on January 8, 2026.  Tita Edna told us that she has a friend Beth who can pick us up from the airport. Uniparentally plans had changed since her friend Beth and son could no longer tour us around, we decided to find ways to get around hire someone else. Jerson had picked us from One Madison Place where we had stayed during our vacation with the hours Mom Violy had requested. The first day we went to drive one hour and thirty minutes to reach  Miagao Church . We drove to our next destin...
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We stayed at One Madison Place so you don’t have to — here’s the honest review of what went wrong.

Recently, Tito Boni visited Iloilo and suggested Cloud's Staycation Iloilo , which had a promo rate of 1,800 pesos ($30.51) per night for two people, plus 500 pesos ($8.47) for each extra guest. Carmina booked and paid a 50% deposit through the given payment method.  On the day we leave for Manila, we’ll have the location of where we’re staying along with directions. When we arrived at One Madison Place , we discovered it was actually a condo with a rented-out unit. In unit 4U, there was only one bed, and the so-called “second bed” was just an attached extension, not the two proper beds you’d expect. The bathroom was a letdown—the toilet wouldn’t flush, and the seat was detached and wobbly, which was worrying since we had two seniors with us. There were no basic amenities like extra sheets, towels, or toilet paper. After complaining, someone came to fix the toilet, but the seat stayed unstable. The shower head was rusty, making it unpleasant to use, and the balcony door wouldn’t ...
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When Mom Violy wanted seafood, one name kept popping up: Breakthrough Restaurant. Would it live up to the hype?

After a road trip and exploring the area, Mom Violy requested some seafood and was given a recommendation to dine at  Breakthrough Restaurant . When we entered the restaurant, we saw it was bustling with customers, and Mom Violy asked for a table by the window to enjoy the beach view . The server informed us that we needed to place our order at the counter and choose the seafood to be weighed, similar to the process at Dampa . Tita Edna was busy snapping photos, while Carmina was filming as Mom Violy placed her order. Breakthrough isn’t air-conditioned, but they provide electric fans at your table for comfort. Mom Violy wanted sinigang and was deciding which kind of fish to have with her soup. Mom Violy requested the crab and shrimp to be cooked in butter and garlic. Mom Violy also ordered adobong pusit (squid). Tita Edna placed her own order, which was kilawin na dilis . Carmina wanted fresh lumpia , but since it wasn’t available, she opted for pinakbet instead. Everything seeme...
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Want an authentic taste of Filipino comfort food? Take Tita Edna’s recommendation: Goto King serves belly-warming goodness you can’t miss.

Hunger hits while waiting to board our plane at NAIA , the Ninoy Aquino International Airport . Tita Edna mentioned she wanted to eat at Goto King , but by eleven-thirty in the morning, the line was already very long, except for seniors who had no wait. While I stayed at the gate watching over Mom Violy’s and Tita Edna’s hand-carry items, they lined up for food. Mom Violy bought my meal, and since it was our first time trying their dishes, we were pleasantly surprised at how delicious it was—it quickly became one of our new favorites. There is hardboiled egg underneath the topping one order can fill you up. NOT SPONSORED. Check out my channel @ Carmina Lifestyle YouTube Channel  and click on the subscribe button. Thank you for the support.
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A mother’s craving, a friend’s recommendation, and a steaming bowl at Netong’s La Paz Batchoy—discover what makes this Iloilo classic irresistible.

Mom Violy was craving the famous La Paz Batchoy from Iloilo, and Estela suggested trying it at Netong's La Paz Batchoy . After giving us a quick tour, she dropped us off nearby.  Upon entering the restaurant, Mom Violy chose a table away from the air conditioner to avoid getting cold. The server handed us the menu , and when Mom Violy asked about the differences, he explained them to us. Carmina asked for her batchoy without liver and added an order of puto after seeing someone next to us enjoying it. I didn’t see what the big deal was about eating batchoy; it just seemed like ordinary mami soup, except for the different toppings. Being very hungry, I managed to finish my food, and they even offer extra broth if you ask for it, free of charge. NOT SPONSORED. Check out my videos @ Carmina Lifestyle YouTube Channel  and click on the subscribe button for more videos. Thank you for the support.
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