Author: gelielabuga

#OOTD: Ukay-ukay Edition

In our modern society, the general population often buy clothes on shopping malls and stores because of its durability, brand, and most importantly, the style. However, regardless of those things, branded clothes can be very expensive, not to mention buying one item from a well-known brand can cost half of your salary or monthly allowance. But if you’re short on budget and you want to dress nicely and fashionably, who said that nice clothes can only be bought from shopping malls, boutiques and clothing stores? ukay-ukay or thrift store is always an option.

In ukay-ukay shopping, you don’t have to worry about your budget because the prices are cheaper than the branded ones, and it’s not only therapeutical but it also pushes your creativity and sense of fashion beyond the limit. Trust me, we take pride in knowing that we can whip and slay an #OOTD without a hefty price tag.

Ukay-ukay, also known as “thrift store”, is a Philippine store wherein second-hand apparels such as: bags, shoes and other accessories, are being sold at a very cheap and bargained price. Ukay-ukay is a hub of designer brands. Yup, you name it, they have it from shirts, shoes to pants and bags.

Summer

Having fun in the sun? well we can’t do that without the proper attire, won’t we? Summer dresses or summer attires are the most appropriate clothes to wear during these days, especially when the sun is at peak. These clothes are not only appropriate for summer season but also, they’re comfortable and easy to wear.

“one must maintain a little bit of summer, even in the middle of winter”.

Henry David Thoreau

Basic

It is linked to casual . You can find basic items from ukay-ukay: shirts, pants, shorts and skirts, you name it! It is an interchangeable item and you can wear it in different ways. Whenever you have an unexpected get together with your friends and you do not know what to wear, you can just “select and wear”. You can definitely save your money and time from having basic pair of clothes.

Formal

Grace and elegance, we need these two to complete the outfit. Formal attire or full dress, as we call it, is suitable for special occasions such as: weddings, conference, funerals, business meetings and the like. Moreover, formal attires are traditionally divided into formal day and evening attire; these outfits are only worn at a specific time at a special occasion.

Casual

“Stylish but comfortable”, I think this is appropriate for this type of style. Casual wear or as we call it “everyday wear”, is really associated with emphasizing one’s personal comfortability. These outfits — like the ones below — are preferably suited for everyday use because it lets the person wearing it move freely without discomfort.

Well, at some point, we cannot argue that other people would think that it is not advisable to shop clothes in places such as ukay-ukay, considering the fact that some clothes are damaged, dirty, unhygienic and the like but actually, in general, it really doesn’t matter if your clothes are branded or not, if it’s second-hand or not. What matters is how you improvise or alter your clothes in a fashionable sense, wearing it with elegance and style and most importantly, how you carry it with grace and simplicity.

Let’s wear clothes as we deem fashion as an art.
#OOTD #UkayUkay #FashionSensesOnSpot

ANNYEONG HASEYO: Korean Cuisines in Davao City

Ever since Korean dramas became widely known in the Philippines, some of us, Filipinos, have embraced their culture, specifically their food and fashion trends. Korean cuisines are more on meat, vegetables, rice and it’s usually in spicy flavor. For the meat, beef is the most expensive in Korea while chicken and pork are just the common ones. One way of how Koreans cook beef is that they’ll marinate it first and cook it on a tabletop grill which is commonly known as Korean barbeque or Gogigui.

  • Tabletop Grill at Itaewon Korean Restaurant
  • Tabletop Grill at Angela and Angelie Labuga’s House

As for the vegetables, cabbage is very essential in Korean cuisine, especially in making their famous side-dish called Kimchi which is obviously made up of cabbage and chili powder. They also like potatoes, cucumbers, lettuces, and other green vegetables. Sea food is also essential in Korean cuisine, and it could be eaten raw, grilled, broiled, dried, or in soup. Another thing that marks their food is the spicy flavor, particularly in their very popular noodle called Ramen or Ramyeon. Ramen or Ramyeon comes in different flavor which the Filipinos seem to like. Here in Davao City, Ramens can be bought in 7 eleven stores, S&R, Arirang, and in the imported section at the supermarkets.

Picture taken at Angelie Labuga and Angela Labuga’s house

Koreans really love eating spicy food like it’s already part of their culture which explains why Koreans have the prettiest skin compared to Americans. Chili peppers contain powerful anti-oxidant which inhibits oxidation and provides vitamin E which is good for the skin. It also contains carotenoids that can help prevent wrinkles and increase blood circulation, which makes the person to look more youthful. Moreover, Chili peppers provide only 31 calories and no fat and cholesterol. Furthermore, consuming Chili peppers can also activate thermogenesis and increase metabolic rate which explains the slimness of the Koreans. What they eat defines who they are and that’s what make their food interesting.

One of the most common Korean restaurants here in Davao City that has a Korean Barbeque set-up wherein the customers cook the food themselves are Tong-yang, YakiMIX, Itaewon, Samgyupsal, Gangnam, Gui Gui Grill and Seoul Ga Restaurant. Ordinary Korean restaurants can be seen anywhere like Noonsaram, Bonchon and Bulgogi Brothers. My friends and I tried Korean cuisine in Tong-Yang at the Ground floor in SM-Annex. They serve buffet of Korean food in different varieties worth 499 pesos on weekdays and 599 pesos on weekends. Almost everything is raw and you will be the one to cook your own food, though you can ask assistance from the waiters. Yes, it’s quite expensive but I can assure you that you will really get the amount of satisfaction you paid for.

  • Picture taken at Tong-Yang, SM Ecoland, Davao City
  • Picture taken at Tong-Yang, SM Ecoland, Davao City
  • Picture taken at Tong-Yang, SM Ecoland, Davao City

Another restaurant we visited was Itaewon located at Matina, in front of Malayan Colleges Mindanao. You can choose from unlimited Korean barbecue or just from their menu and we had unlimited Korean barbecue that costs 299 pesos per person. The meat was unlimited and assorted: chicken, pork and beef. The side-dishes and drinks were also unlimited. All I can say is that it’s also very worth it. You will surely leave the restaurant looking pregnant, just like what happened to me and my friends.

  • Picture taken at Itaewon Korean Restaurant, Davao City

  • Picture taken at Itaewon Korean Restaurant, Davao City

  • Picture taken at Itaewon Korean Restaurant, Davao City

Korean Cuisine is great and all, but we must not forget to support and endorse our own. With all these newly adopted cultures from different countries, we must remind ourselves to appreciate and practice first our own culture.