TRENDS 2007

2007 was unexpectedly full of action and new discoveries. Time has never travelled so fast this year. I feel like I got stuck when April came. Now, it's December. Here are the best finds of the year, from resorts, to restaurants, to products and experiences. 1. Cebu Pacific Lowest Go Fares From On Time 95% of the Time TO It's Time Everyone Flies, Cebu Pacific offered fabulous rates that set the country on jets. I myself travelled so much this year, and I think Cebu Pacific really made the airline business more competitive, and we, the consuming public, benefited a lot. From their P1 domestic to the P999 international fares, travelling for leisure became a weekend thing. Who hasn't taken a P1 fare and planned a vacation 3 to 6 months in advance to some other part of the country or somewhere in Asia? My friends and I went on a trip to Thailand and spent less than P20,000 per person for 8 days, everything included, food, accommodations and even a trip to a gorgeous island. Though this is the year when I rediscovered Philippine Airlines, I owe it to Cebu Pacific for making things the way it is now. I just hope they fix their delayed schedules, or else, next year, Philippine Airlines will conquer the skies again. 2. Bonifacio High Street It is no doubt a delight to take a stroll in the afternoon, have coffee in one of the cafes and just window shop along the walks of Bonifacio High Street. From Fully Booked, to MOS Design, to the super Nike store, Bonifacio High Street gave new meaning to leisure shopping. You could spend a whole afternoon and not get bored. It's best done with friends, and it's one of those places that it doesn't feel awkward to window shop, probably because the place is on an open space. The art sculptures are reason enough to visit the place. And now, with their singing and dancing Christmas decor, the lights brighten up the experience that is High Street. 3. Sanuk Sandals I think everyone has been raving about Sanuk, especially after seeing the potential dangers of the Crocs (escalator traps). The Sanuk Surf Sandals are so comfortable and easy to pair with any attire. They're like white sneakers for me. I think they're sold at Rustan's here. So if you do get to see one, try them on. You'll surely leave the store with these babies. 4. MINDANAO All caps and one whole island. This is the year I came to love Mindanao. With all my shoot and event trips in Mindanao, I was given a chance to explore this wonderful place. After touring Visayas last year, Mindanao was a fitting finally to exploring the country. Though I already travelled to Cagayan de Oro, Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat, Gen San, Davao and Camiguin before, going back to these places again gave me a second chance to see the life in these cities. I was also able to visit Zamboanga, Agusan, Surigao, Saranggani and Samal. I could have visited Basilan, but the ferry was cut off early because of the ongoing offensive by the military. The beautiful unspoiled coastlines and islands of Surigao del Sur was my best experience. There was also a trip that made me explore Samal beyond Paradise Island Resort. Zamboanga was charming and clean, though I was disappointed not to see vintas on the shore as shown in pictures (they only come out during the Hermosa Festival). Camiguin was once again a delight, while Cagayan de Oro became my food heaven. Finally, Davao made me realize that I can make it my home. Mindanao is such a wonderful place. So go South and don't mind the dangers they warn you about. They're not entirely true. 5. Northern Luzon I took a trip from Tuguegarao in Cagayan to Laoag in Ilocos twice, and both trips were surprisingly different. I went on my first on a sunny day, nice weather. We passed through the beaches of Pagudpud that were very inviting. The Bangui Windmills are a perfect photo opp, like the rest of the landscape during the 4 hour drive. On the second trip, it was dark, and cold, and the fog blanketed the mountainous outskirts of Cordillera, making the scenery eerie and mysterious. The sea was rough but still enchanting. If you do plan to go up north, take a drive. I haven't gone on a road trip though from Manila to Ilocos, which they say is fabulous. A genuine roadtrip. I will next year, and explore more of the Northern regions. 6. Hotel Buffets I think I have eaten so much this year, hence the increase in weight. And with hotel buffets being so attractive, I can't resist eating in one every other week. Spiral (Sofitel) wins the Best in Selection with its long long long list of choices. Paseo Uno (Mandarin) still has the Best in Taste. Circles (Shangri-la Makati) and The Park Cafe (Century Park Hotel Malate) have the Best Breakfast Buffets, while Seven Corners (Crowne Plaza) has the Best Value. The Market Cafe (Hyatt) has the Most Cool Setting and Unique Line-up, though small comparable to others. Rodizio (Holiday Inn Clark) is unique for having a Brazilian style buffet, while Marco Polo Cebu has one of the best dessert buffets. Tides (Shangri-la Mactan) gets the award for Most Satisfying. The Best Discovery may be the Marriot during their Manic Monday Lunch Buffets, which are priced at P395 or 495 I think. Great great value. Bad reviews for The Jeepney Cafe (Intercontinental) for having a lousy selection, Holiday Inn Galleria for having inconsistent taste and selections, and Sulo Hotel for serving reheated food on their buffet. So go ahead and save up. A hotel buffet is worth it if you think of it. You get a full course and even coffee for a lunch or dinner. Yummy! 7. Subic Bay Subic is probably the place I visited the most this year. I can't even count the times. During mid year, I went every weekend if I had the time and went back home the same day. It takes me 2 hours to get there, sometimes even less. The best thing that ever happened to Philippine infrastructure is the North Luzon Express Way which made the North very accessible. It's so much easier to travel North than go South. There were a lot of discoveries and old cheers, like the Subic Park Hotel and the Lighthouse Marina, two hotels found along the fabricated Marina Bay. The public beaches of Subic are even a delight, esepcially during weekdays when no one is around. Zoobic Safari was cool with the tigers, and Ocean Adventure was well, bitin. It was just a dolphin show on open sea, not anything like Ocean Park. Extremely Espresso is still the best hangout cafe, while the Filipino restaurant who's name I always keep forgetting near the Olongapo gate is great to fill yourself up. All in all, Subic Bay is a great place to spend a Saturday or a weekend, have breakfast, lunch and dinner while having the pleasures of the beach and parks. Goodbye Tagaytay! Hello Subic! 8. Wii Japan and Nintendo finally hit the right notes in delivering a new invention that appealed greatly to the masses of the world. The Wii is gaming console of the year, bringing entertainment to the next level and to more markets. It's as inventive as the iPhone I think, and the fun factor is definitely on high level. There are even Wii parties, with barkadas playing Mario or Golf while having a round of drinks. The Wii brings people together, and that is what makes it so notable. I don't have a Wii yet and I hope someone can give me one this Xmas. 9. The addiction that is Apple Mac here, Mac there. I wanted an iPhone badly, but fortunately, I got past the craving, and opted to wait for the next generation. iTouch, iLife '08 and the Leopard. I am happy to see that there are more Macs going around; just go to any Starbucks and count them. The Mac has finally touched Philippine mass appeal, and I hope the day comes when the real "Apple Store" will arrive our shores soon (and hope to buy goodies from iTunes too). 10. Blogs I must admit when I first heard what a blog was, I was disinterested. Ok, a person writing down his life and all, sharing it in the web. Well perhaps, the reason why I had no interest was because I first reviewed blogs that are bad. Now, I am a blogger, if you would consider my Multiply site a blog. I share stuff that I feel like sharing, just because. Blogs are very good advertising channels, because it is word of mouth. A review of a restaurant in a blog is so easy to view and people who have good track records for making quality reviews become instant endorsers. I myself check my favorite blogs everyday, like Awesome Planet, Desserts Come First, and Ivan About Town among others. I do want to have my own, but I don't have enough time to maintain it. I want to write a blog about rankings of about anything just like this entry. I got the idea from a store in Japan, Rankings RankQueens that sold the top 10 of a lot of things, like perfume, noodles and CDs. If one got out of the top 10, then they won't sell it anymore. Cool idea for a blog as well, having less time to make an entry everyday. Blogs will be a part of the future and one day, they will be powerful channels of information on the ever evolving world wide web. So there, the TOP 10 OF 2007 IN MY WORLD. I don't know what to expect next year, since 2007 came as a surprise with all the buzz and activity. All I know is that things will definitely change and trends will continue to make that happen.

It's All About the Experience

For years, I have been moved by experiences that keep me in wonder. I have always loved dining out, trying new dishes, exploring unique appetizers, savoring desserts. I have always loved window shopping, especially for newly released gadgets and techno stuff. I have always loved going to the supermarket, looking at new products, what it says and what it looks like in a shelf full of the same stuff. I have always loved travelling, flying, driving, riding, boating, sailing, and anything that keeps me going. In essence, I have always tried to love the things I do, and probably, this is why I am so passionate about the things I enjoy. Besides, I only have one life to fulfill, and a moment to relish.

It's all about the experience, not the end. Welcome to LIVING MOMENTS, where you just simply have to enjoy.

The Pinoy Trendhunter

Trends shape the future. Trends also make life interesting. Trends are not as significant as they are in other countries, and this site hopes to deliver local trends worth recognizing and sharing. This is your portal to a list of notable happenings and discoveries in food, travel, shopping, sports, adventure, gadgets, design, events and shows around the Philippines and in the rest of this inspiring world.