Maginahawa Chronicles: Cat Cafe Manila

Research shows that cats can help us deal with our stress. Just by watching your cats do antic tricks already help relieve stress, said David Frei who is the spokesperson for the Delta Society. which is a nonprofit organization interested in relationships between people and animals. 

I was trying to find a way to calm myself and temporarily escape the pressure of school with loads of papers and other requirements, and so I called my childhood friend Brine and invited him to go to Cat Cafe Manila in Maginhawa, Quezon City. I have seen a documentary on Pop Talk that Cat Cafe Manila is a must-try since you can not just have your usual coffee and cupcake, but you can also throw away that stress by mingling with different cats at the cafe.

We had once a cat named Muning and other two stray cats which we named Orange (because of her fur color) and Blue (because of his bright blue eyes). We lost them when we moved away from La Mesa Dam to Bulacan four years ago, and most of the time I missed them because there's nothing like hugging and stroking a cat which calms me down and takes away whatever stressed feelings I have. I remembered how smart Muning was, who would often sneak into our bedroom windows and climb onto our beds to wake us up in early in the morning.

As we entered the Cat Cafe, I was suddenly filled with nostalgia when I saw the beautiful cats, which had name tags and were sleeping during that time. There were house rules before entering the cafe: you should first wash your hands and take off your shoes or sandals. The place was a little small but very comfortable and bright-lit. The ambiance was also nice: once you enter, you would first see the counter and the variety of cupcakes and brownies that you could order, and also a wide array of cat-inspired merchandise. 

Rainbow Cat Cupcake

Moica Cupcake

You would automatically have a one-hour session with the cats, which is P100 and another P100 worth of food and drinks. 

Because there were still quite a lot of people who were playing with the cats during that time, my friend and I decided that we ordered first and chat for a little while. We ordered coffee and Moica and Rainbow Cat Cupcakes (P60 each). The cupcakes were moist on the inside with the right amount of sweetness. The coffee was not too strong. You could also add creamer, milk and sugar in your coffee.

A guy who always has interesting stories to tell, Brine told me about his life so far studying in UP Los Banos. He also talked about our favorite series "Big Bang Theory" and shared scientific ideas. I on the other hand, simply listened and we also exchanged stories.

After a while, we decided to play with the cats but unfortunately, most of them were still sleeping. Part of the house rules was to not stress the cats by carrying them especially when they sleep, and so we just sat with them and took pictures of them. Some of the cats were roaming around and even one of them climbed on top of one of the high stools.

Cat Cafe Manila is located at the 2nd Floor of 189 Maginhawa Street in Sikatuna Village. You can visit their Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/catcafemanila?fref=ts.

Figaro opens at Ayala Fairview Terraces

Coffee plus cakes plus movies equals: sublime happiness. 

Now you can grab your favorite hot latte or brewed coffee to the movies with Figaro's newest opening in Ayala Fairview Terraces last August 4. Have a nice coffee date with your loved ones and friends with Figaro's hot espresso or chocolate cookie frost and cheese, blueberry or chocolate muffins (P70 each).

You can also try their crisp and sumptuous asado or tuna pies (P60 each). Sugar cake rush? Try their traditional and bestseller red velvet cake (P119 a slice), carrot cake, triple chocolate cake or sansrival cake slices before you grab your pop corns to watch your favorite movies. Figaro is strategically located beside the movie houses in Ayala Fairview Terraces in the fourth floor for customers to enjoy and indulge in coffee and movies at the same time. Figaro's latte will definitely soothe your soul while you cry or laugh at the lines in the blockbuster movies you want to watch any time.

Chocolate cookie frost (P140)

Figaro Buttermilk Cookies (P55/piece)

"From coffee to cup." This has been the signature line of Figaro, which was first born in 1993 in Glorietta, Makati. It took the company and the group of coffee enthusiasts to establish their passion for cafe in the Philippines for two years, which aims to promote natural brewed coffee served directly in the cup. The coffee crescendo continued to inspire coffee enthusiasts as the company expanded to a whopping 82 branches all over the world--from the Philippines, China, Saudi Arabia, Papua New Guinea and Malaysia.

There are many ways on how to produce good coffee and Figaro definitely is a master of natural brewed cafe served in a cup. Pure coffee beans are brewed and roasted to perfection to capture the natural and aromatic essence of coffee that customers will definitely enjoy.

with musician, OIC Marketing Department Ms. Joan Cortez
and Business Development Officer Carmela Tecson

The new branch of Figaro in Ayala Fairview Terraces had a nice ambiance with a pianist playing both classical and contemporary songs like Titanium and Rolling in the Deep. Having a cup of coffee while waiting for your favorite movie definitely defines the beauty and perfect combination of coffee and movie.

Grilled Chicken Sandwich (P189)

Pesto Pasta (P179)

Make your next cup of coffee even better with Figaro.

Thank you very much to Ms. Annesy del Mundo!

Figaro's New Christmas Treats perfect for the Holidays!

Christmas is truly a season of family celebration and bonding with gift-giving, unlimited candies and Christmas tree-decorating. A million thanks to my dear mentor Ms. Josephine Bonsol for an early Yuletide treat with Figaro's new Christmas Delights, I was able to take a break from last minute papers and to forget the butterflies in my stomach waiting for my final grades as I bonded with my nanay and kuya Mark Fortaleza at Figaro Tomas Morato last week.

It's chocolate overload with Figaro's Triple Chocolate Toffee Bar (Php95), a heavenly slice of layered chocolate that is every kid's dream come true: chocolate fudge, nutty toffee filled nuts and chocolate ganache with chocolate balls on top. It was our favorite as I remembered getting amused at the chocolate balls wrapped in different Christmas-colored foils our titas would always give us during Yuletide season.

photo from www.jobonsol.net

You will surely fall in love with Figaro's Red Velvet Cake (Php110), a slice of delightful red soft and moist cake with layers of sweet frosting to compliment the chocolatey red taste of the cake. It's perfect not just for the Christmas season but also for birthdays as I remembered my friend giving a two-thumbs-up to the delectable moist cake perfect for dessert after a satisfying lunch of Figaro's Spoon Meals.

Fruit cakes always complete the Christmas celebration made even more special with Figaro's Taisan Fruit Cake (Php70), soft foam cake filled with a burst of Christmas flavors of fruit glaze and nuts. 

photo from www.jobonsol.net

Add Figaro's Christmas Cupcake (Php80) and your sweet Christmas is complete: a chocolate moist cupcake topped with butter frosting and colorful Christmas candy sprinkles that reminded me of the vibrant decorations on our Christmas tree.

photo from www.jobonsol.net

Figaro's Cheese Bacon Scone (Php85) was new to me, but I enjoyed the cheese and bacon-flavored quick bread best dipped with Figaro latte as I listened to nanay Josephine's amusing stories I'll always cherish.

Enjoy your hot Figaro latte and cold drinks with Figaro's new Chistmas Merchandise--artisan mug, frosted tumbler or premium mug.

Christmas is in the air best celebrated with Figaro's new Christmas treats now available at all Figaro branches nationwide. You may visit www.figarocoffee.com and like their Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/figarocoffeecompany.

Thank you very much to nanay Josephine Bonsol and Ms. Annesy Del Mundo!

Satisfy your cravings and feel the magic at Figaro!

Spending time with friends is always made even more special at Figaro.

It was my friend Cedric's birthday last December and together with my twin sister Jillian, we celebrated and sang our belated Happy Birthday at Figaro EDSA Shangri-la Mall complete with Figaro's mouth-watering Red Velvet Cake (P129), a heavenly red moist cake with rich chocolate and creamy frosting that would satisfy your sweet tooth beyond expectations.

Chicken a la King

We also ordered their Spoonful Meals: Chicken a la King(P215), an irresistible dish of diced chicken in rich creamy sauce you would never forget, and Chicken Thyme (P215), a plateful of deep fried chicken fillet with creamy cheese sauce and buttered corn and carrots on the side. We also ordered Tuna Macaroni Salad (P139) and I was really surprised with the big helping of creamy macaroni and tuna with boiled egg on top.

Chicken Thyme

Tuna Macaroni Salad

My friend really loved the Spoonful Meal and the Red Velvet Cake, and said eating at Figaro is truly an experience he would never forget. Make birthdays and foodtrip with friends more memorable at Figaro!

Feel the Magic at Figaro with its Figaro Magic Mug!

I've always loved coffee and nothing can make it more special than drinking it using Figaro's Magic Mug (P209). The magic begins whenever you pour in hot water and its black thermal covering will slowly reveal a unique Figaro design promoting the benefits of coffee and how it can help Filipino coffee farmers whenever you indulge in a hot brew from Figaro.

They also have Smoke Design Mugs (P199) available in three exquisite colors: yellow, maroon and green, and Ceramic Tumbler (P330) available in two colors: red and brown.

You know what's more magical? Premium roasted arabica coffee beans in your Magic Mug! Figaro's Coffee Blend Cafe Maharlika (P270) gives you pure and rich coffee beans roasted to perfection to bring out that unique coffee flavor and aroma. They also have Monte Alto (P260), Barako Gold (P280) and Cafe Vigoroso (P260) Coffee Blends.

The best about Figaro coffee beans is that once roasted with Figaro's very own roasters, they are delivered to the shops right away without traveling great distances. And these only assure you of one thing: fresh roasted coffee beans in your cup.


Make your coffee more magical at Figaro! You can visit their website at www.figarocoffee.com or like their Facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/figarocoffeecompany

A Gift to Nature: Figaro Tree Planting and Eco Tour

3 cups of coffee= 9 coffee trees. That hit me hard and had proven me guilty as I remembered the times when I drank more than three cups of coffee a day and I didn't even know it cost more than a dozen trees. And I'm truly glad and honored that I could repay nature after I participated in Figaro's Tree Planting and Eco Tour, organized by Figaro Coffee Company in collaboration with the Figaro Foundation Corporation, last November 5 at Brgy. Esperanza, Alfonso, Cavite with famous bloggers, Figaro Club members, franchisees and business partners.

I truly learned a lot about coffee as Mr. Emil Cuaresma of the Figaro Foundation gave trivias and a lecture about the origin of coffee in the Philippines and its four main varieties, namely Arabica, Liberica, Excelsa and Robusta.

It felt like an educational field trip as we first visited the Gourmet Farms, one of Figaro's partners proudly unveiling their rich diversity of herbs and coffee and their bigger plantations which use organic fertilizers and the traditional carabao for tilling the land. I was overwhelmed to see firsthand and even smell the fresh rosemary herbs that Jamie Oliver of TLC always uses in his mouth-watering dishes. We also spotted Sharon Cuneta's Herb Collection of peppermint, rosemary and lemongrass.

I equally enjoyed their refreshing Banaba drink after the long but rejuvenating walk around the farm.

"From crop to cup." The aromatic scent of coffee and herbs wafting through the air and greeting us the moment we stepped foot on the entrance of the farm simply proved how fresh and organic coffee are produced at Gourmet Farms. We also toured the factory where they manufacture coffee and I learned that roasting coffee beans to catch that desired flavor sure isn't an easy job, as their taste instantly changes in a matter of seconds if the time limit for roasting was not followed.

After a hearty lunch prepared by the host family of the coffee farm that felt very provincial to me for the very first time, Mr. Crismel Verano, CEO of Figaro acknowledged the family and imparted the concept of giving back to nature and the project's significant contributions to help the coffee farmers and of course, the economy of the Philippines. The project also attempts to make the country one of the top exporters of coffee in the world, as it once had been.

The tree planting experience was something I would never forget and I'm proud of as I was able to repay nature even though I'm still a student. These kinds of activities I'd proudly say as the "real" projects that truly contribute something productive for the community and the country even in its little ways. Most of all, it made me discover the true meaning of responsibility as shared by Mr. Verano.

It was truly an unforgettable experience, especially that I could not  fully enjoy what nature could offer anymore as I was born in the city, and not to mention with famous bloggers and with my mentor and food blogger Ms. Josephine Bonsol. Thank you very much to Ms. Annesy Del Mundo for letting me experience this wonderful trip with a great cause and gave me the opportunity to give back to and mingle with nature.