LOOKBOOK | Surviving summer with a batik motif shirt

Rooted in Southeast Asian tradition, most prominently Indonesian, the beauty and diversity of batik patterns are worth celebrating. I'm happy Uniqlo adapted it into easy-to-wear lightweight shirts as part of their 2018 Spring/Summer Batik Motif Collection.

LOOKBOOK | Suited down in plaid

I love plaid, which is obvious since I own plaid shirts, plaid pants, and plaid blazers. I think it's because the pattern alone already speaks volumes, more so if it's a full-on suit or some other matching clothing set. This affords you ease in putting an outfit together because you only need to find something in a plain and solid color that matches or complements your plaid piece.

DINING | The Coffee Library in San Juan, La Union

The 2nd floor of Surf Town's The Coffee Library.

Everyone seems to be flocking to La Union these days, San Juan in particular. Now where do you get your coffee fix there? El Union probably? But there's another coffee shop in the area, located right along the highway--The Coffee Library.

LOOKBOOK | Not a bathrobe, it's a jinbei

I recently wrote about a traditional Japanese summer clothing called jinbei after wearing the top half of it with jeans. This time I wore the whole set--blousy top with matching shorts while on a short weekend trip down south.

FRAGRANCE | masculin Pluriel by Maison Francis Kurkdjian

masculin Pluriel.

Having been the "nose" (fragrance-speak for perfumer) behind a long list of fragrances for brands like Acqua di Parma, Burberry, Elizabeth Arden, Jean Paul Gaultier, Guerlain, and many more, Francis Kurkdjian is an established name in the fragrance industry. But he never had his own line until Maison Francis Kurkdjian opened in 2009.

masculin Pluriel is my first MFK purchase (there's also a feminin Pluriel for the ladies, by the way), and here's my little review.

LOOKBOOK | A very casual date night

You're on a quick out-of-town getaway with your love and you're going out for dinner. What do you wear?

While the restaurant isn't your fancy fine-dining spot and is in fact very informal, it would still be a shame wearing shorts and a t-shirt next to your lady who's in a casual but lovely dress, now wouldn't it? I still kept it very casual with shorts, though, but I picked a white shirt with patches to dress it up just a wee bit. Because of the patches's positioning, I guess the shirt's meant to be kept untucked.

LOOKBOOK | Poolside

It's a shame I still haven't been to the beach this summer. But no matter, no matter, at least I've been to one of our happy places recently, Sitio de Amor in San Pablo, Laguna. They have a manmade lagoon and a pool, so I guess we're good.

Besides I brought with me some beach spirit--my surfboard print swim shorts from Guppy, a local brand I first discovered through Instagram.

[See also: 5 local swim shorts finds on Instagram]

LOOKBOOK | Buck the trend and go small with micro florals

Cliché as they are, floral prints are all the rage once again because it's summer. And people never seem to get tired of them--me included.

[Check out: 9 Instagram accounts for your buttoned shirts this summer]

Still, florals are not for everybody. If you find such prints too loud for your comfort, or you simply want to go against the tide, try micro floral prints instead. They're still florals, of course, but much more subtle.

DINING | Dessert time at Kiss the Tiramisu

Kiss the Tiramisu's "Midas Touch."

Trying to cope with the punishing heat of summer? That's what led me to finally try Kiss the Tiramisu. I've passed by it several times already and found the name quite weird, absolutely clueless that it's a popular dessert cafe chain from South Korea.

Now here's a rundown of my solo experience.

DINING | Olas Banditos: Decent Mexican fare in San Juan, La Union

The writings on the wall.

After some disappointing dining experiences at San Juan, La Union, it was such a relief to stumble upon something relatively good. Here's a rundown of our experience at Mexican restaurant Olas Banditos.