CandyMag.com

Hello dear readers. It’s Roxy and I’m back from more milk tea expeditions. On today’s menu is the Taiwanese import, Gong Cha.

I’ve been hearing a lot of buzz from Gong Cha, although the intimate number of branches in Manila make this milk tea brand a mere legend than a commercial staple, and I think that’s what makes it special. There are only three branches of this special sort of “hole-in-the-wall” shop, one in Glorietta 4, one in SM Mall of Asia and one in SM North EDSA Sky Garden. I’m fortunate enough to live in Quezon City so SM North EDSA is as good as my own backyard.

The quaint little shop clad in dark red has laid out a couple of tables and chairs with umbrellas outside the establishment. There’s really no place to sit inside so sitting outside would be your best bet.

Their menu is pretty extensive. Everything just seems so foreign yet you just want to sample each and everyone. I highly recommend asking the servers which of the drinks are their best sellers. Like many other milk tea establishments, you can customize your drink to your liking. Sugar level choice is part of the customization process.

Sugar levels vary, but I always go for 100%.

Since I’m on a milk tea quest, going after which ‘original’ milk tea I like the most, I decided to go for Milk Tea with Pearl Jelly.

Milk Tea with Pearls Jelly (around P80)

In all honestly, this was really one of the best milk teas I’ve ever had. It was just the right about of strength of tea and despite its 100% sugar formulation, the sweetness was just right. And the pearls! I swear to you, these were the best pearls I’ve had. They were the right amount of firm. It didn’t feel like it was disintegrating in your mouth.

If you want to try an alternative to the original milk tea, but refuse to deviate too much from the original formula, go with Earl Grey Tea. The taste is just so good.

My sister’’s order. Earl Grey Tea (around P80)

Head on over to Gong Cha, tea lovers, this is a tea place you just have to experience, and for the non-tea lovers out there, there is definitely something for everyone here. Don’t let the location discourage you. Gong Cha is absolutely worth it.

Gong Cha
SM North EDSA
2^nd Floor Skygarden (right across Starbucks)
Quezon City, Philippines

Until Next Time!

Swagger, Style and Stellar Lights,
Roxy

Posted in What's In | No Comments »

Here’s another dose of the cutest things that I’ve uncovered on the Internet!

Last time was a feature on Purin, the super cute and super smart Beagle from Japan. This week is a little more interactive, a 3D board game sponsored by Got Milk? USA. This interactive game was actually part of their 2007 campaign, which was a little more than four years ago. Luckily, the game still exists online today.

The introduction screen right after GetTheGlass.com’s opening sequence.

The story is about the Adachis, a family deprived of Calcium. Walter, the father, is suffering from stiff muscles and he needs some milk to keep his body in check. Lynn Adachi, the mother has a case of PMS (Premenstrual Syndrome) and milk will alleviate her pain. The two children, Melissa and Tad need milk to take care of their hair and teeth problems, respectively. Milk can easily be acquired, but in the Adachi world, milk has been taken hostage in the high security fortress called Fort Fridge. So, the family is on their way to cure their Calcium needs.

Melissa Adachi is in need of milk for shiny and healthy hair!

Not everything comes easy for the family, though. While the Adachis are on their way to get milk, The Fort Fridge Security is quick on their trail! Roll the dice and escape the clutches of the police to avoid being thrown in Milkatraz!

Some of the features of this game include cards of Fortune, Misfortune, Mastermind and Hot Pursuit Mode. Landing on Fortune will show a green card with wise advice from Grandpa Adachi and a random number of spaces that will send the Adachi’s forward and away from the clutches of the police. Misfortune cards work backwards. The Mastermind card is a mini-game, usually in the form of answering milk trivia through a word search, true or false or multiple choices.

Hot Pursuit is a big part of the game. This mode means that the police have spotted you and you have to successfully pass their test in 30 seconds or else face the confines of Milkatraz.

Don’t worry if you go to Milkatraz! You can sacrifice a life and go back to where you ended or you could test your luck and spin the wheel of chance. Options on the wheel include safe passage from Milkatraz, others include a 50/50 chance of successful escape. I, myself, have always picked the wheel. It’s more fun in that way!

My victory milk shot. Can you reach the end?

Not only is this game visually appealing and a great past time, you’ll also learn about the real facts of milk and its healthy benefits.

Your adventure starts now!

What are you guys waiting for? Head on over to www.GetTheGlass.com and start you milk adventure today!

Until next time!

Swagger, Style and Stellar Lights,
Roxy

Posted in Uncategorized | No Comments »

Hey, guys! After a staggeringly long hiatus (sorry about that), my quest in trying out the different tea places in the metro is back. This time around, I want to introduce to you guys a small tea place that has been taking the Katipunan population by storm, Tea.ology.

This quaint tea place is located in Xanland, a building/dorm facing the Ateneo. I see it as a café, where people can study and lounge. But instead of coffee, it’s all about the tea. The store is pretty small, housing just a couple of tables enough for probably 15 people, but my favorite seating area is a cushioned long bench pressed against the glass walls. It’s the perfect place to sip your tea, relax, and watch the traffic go by.

I’ve said before that the way I gauge tea places is based on their original milk teas, so at Tea.ology, I ordered their Royal Milk Tea, which is an Earl Grey Tea blend mixed with milk and vanilla. I’ve been to a couple of tea places but I was never presented with the option of choosing which sugar level I preferred. I asked the hostess which served as their popular sugar level and she suggested I go for 75%. I added and extra 10 pesos for pearls since the drink didn’t have pearls with them.

Royal Milk Tea with Pearls (P80)

Personally, I think I preferred having my tea sugar level at 100%. The taste at a lower sugar level had a stronger tea kick to it. It wasn’t a bad taste, more of something that’s new to me. I really think people who are into really customizing their drinks would get a kick out of this option, most especially those few individuals who would want to cut the fat in their drink.

The think that excites me most about Tea.ology is their amazing range of drinks. I will most definitely return for their Dark Chocolate Milk Tea. I just can’t get enough of Dark Chocolate.

Tea.ology is the perfect place for students to take a breather from the harshness of the academe, while sipping on their favorite drink and slowly letting the stress fly by.

Tea.Ology
Xanland Condominium, Katipunan Avenue
Quezon City

Until Next Time!

Swagger, Style and Stellar Lights,
Roxy

Posted in What's In | No Comments »

Last Oct. 23, I was asked by my old boss from my OJT to assist him backstage for the Kashieca show at Philippine Fashion Week. I was a bit hesitant at first because I’ve never had experience with live fashion. Photo shoots are a lot of waiting and fixing, but there’s less pressure because you’re not chasing after anything but the light. When people in TV say that fashion shows are crazy backstage, they put it too lightly. It can get seriously chaotic! It can sometimes even be borderline anarchy if you don’t get a hold of your organizational skills.

There’s this part in preparation for the show wherein the models go to the dressing room and fit their clothes hours before the show so the stylist can get a feel and change things last minute to fit the motif. There were, I think, 37 looks, 1 quick change, minus Bea Alonzo, so we had to screen 35 models and fix them up with accessories etc. LA even ended up using one of my P 50 belts as an accessory!

One of the looks from the Kashieca show. Belt from me!  {photo via stylebible.ph }

My fellow interns, Ria and Meg, and me were literally running around trying to get everything together.  The key to being in control of the situation was to stay focused, alert and attentive.

Since Kashieca was in the middle of the line-up, some models who walked in the previous show had to change really really fast to be able to make it in Kashieca. My boss, LA, tasked me in making sure all the models from the dressing room would be able to make it to their line-up back stage. So I was literally flagging the models down, hands in the hair, jumping up and down. And bless the models, running in their platform heels!

Eventually, it all came together. I’m really so happy with how things panned out. The interns and I were all very tired but were satisfied. I really want to congratulate my boss LA Consing Lopez for an amazing show and a heartfelt gratitude for giving me an opportunity to work backstage for Philippine Fashion Week.

Thanks, LA!

Posted in Etcetera | 5 Comments »

I seriously am a sucker for doing a few number of blog series! This new segment will cover all the cute and adorable things I find on the internet, something which I hope will brighten your day and give your sad mood a complete 180!

(For all those following my Milk Tea Odyssey, worry not, there’s one coming up real soon!)

The first Daily Cute is a YouTube video of my favorite beagle named Purin. Purin lives in Japan and his owner videotapes this adorable and, no doubt, smart pup. Purin’s channel showcases his many talents, but today, I’ll show you my favorite one, number 31.

Enjoy!

Posted in Etcetera | No Comments »