We arrived at Best Western Plus The Ivywall Hotel Puerto Princesa, past midnight—exhausted but excited for our family's first trip to Palawan. The vacation also doubled as a surprise birthday celebration for our toddler, Kid A. He arrived straight from school in his uniform, which made for a pretty funny start to the trip! It was also my birthday—but unlike his, mine, obviously, wasn't a surprise.

BEST WESTERN PLU THE IVYWALL HOTEL PUERTO PRINCESA’S MODERNIST FACADE

Having previously stayed at Best Western Plus The Ivywall Resort–Panglao, we were curious to see if the Puerto Princesa property could live up to the excellent experience we had in Bohol. Would The Ivywall's first Best Western Plus franchise in the Philippines deliver the same level of comfort, service, and value? Here's our detailed and honest review after spending four days at the hotel.

Dreaming of affordable living with tropical vibes? The Philippines offers an incredible opportunity for expats seeking budget-friendly adventures. Philippines living expenses are significantly lower compared to Western countries, making it an attractive destination for digital nomads, retirees, and remote workers.

Planning an expat budget in the Philippines starts with understanding local economic conditions and everyday expenses. The cost of living in the Philippines offers a rare balance between affordability and a comfortable quality of life. From dynamic urban centers like Manila to laid-back coastal towns, living costs can suit a wide range of lifestyles and budgets.

This comprehensive guide breaks down everything you need to know about daily expenses. Readers will discover practical insights into housing costs, food prices, transportation options, and lifestyle expenditures. Whether you're planning a temporary stay or considering permanent relocation, navigating Philippine living expenses becomes straightforward with the right information.

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One of the biggest drawbacks with using a projector for watching movies is that you can only decently use it in a dark room; during the evenings, when you can turn off all the lights, or in the mornings if you have heavy drapes that can cover your windows. Well, not anymore. LUMOS has recently released a projector designed for use even during the daytime, and they aptly call it the LUMOS Daystar.

In this review, let’s see if the LUMOS Daystar projector is indeed bright enough that it can decently project content even during the daytime.

The Philippines is a tropical paradise, which means winter in the northern hemisphere (December to February) is actually one of the best times to explore the islands. The weather is cooler, rainfall is lower, and the seas are calmer for island adventures.

TOP TIPS FOR TRAVELING IN THE PHILIPPINES DURING WINTER

● Book accommodations in advance for popular destinations. Platforms like OHotel.ph can help you find comfortable stays.

● Carry light clothing for daytime and a jacket for cooler evenings.

● Respect local customs and environmental rules when visiting nature sites.

● Plan itineraries with some flexibility for weather changes or unexpected opportunities.

As the travel season approaches, buyers are increasingly turning to online distributors to easily and efficiently secure essential items. Shopping online provides a streamlined way to explore a wide variety of products, compare options, and make selections without the hassle of visiting multiple stores. Distributors offer detailed listings, clear pricing, and an organized navigation system, making it easier for travelers to plan trips while saving time and effort. By choosing trusted online sources, shoppers gain access to reliable availability, well-structured product information, and a convenient ordering experience that aligns with the demands of busy schedules. This approach allows travelers to focus on planning their journeys while ensuring their essential needs are met seamlessly and efficiently.

For Star Navigator’s shore excursions, Naha is the one I’m most excited about. The first reason is that it has white, sandy, tropical beaches—a place I don’t usually associate with Japan. And second, being part of Okinawa Prefecture, it’s so remotely located it’s actually closer to Taiwan than mainland Japan—a place that most tourists are not easily able to access. Naha is so far; it actually took us more than a day and a half to reach it from Kumamoto.

Kuma-where? I had never heard of Kumamoto prior to our Star Cruises Japan trip. We were now on the fourth day of our cruise, visiting Nagasaki the day before. It turns out, the Kumamoto Prefecture is just a sleep away via a cruise ship. I woke up with our ship docking at Kumamoto’s cruise port, a red lighthouse punctuating a very still and calm Japanese morning.

It took almost two full days to cruise from Keelung City in Taiwan to Japan’s Nagasaki. It was gonna be our first stop for our 6D5N StarDream cruise aboard the Star Navigator. En route, we spent our time exploring the nooks and crannies of the ship, enjoyed the onboard entertainment, and pigged out on its food offerings—both at the free inclusive restaurants and those worth splurging on.

Nagasaki calmly slid across my room’s balcony as I awoke on the third day of our voyage. A peaceful welcome to our first destination in Japan.

Hues of blues and warm oranges paint the skies as our ship parted the still waters of Kumamoto. A jagged range of mountains silhouetted the horizon, their edges aglow with the setting sun. On our right, a small solitary lighthouse stood on an islet—painted in immaculate whites, its lights winking a silent sayonara to us. We were midway through our five-night StarDream cruise to Japan—suspended between hellos and goodbyes aboard the Star Navigator—on a journey filled with luxurious entertainment, a flood of delectable food, and quick adventures.

LUMOS, a Singapore-based brand, has released a new version of their best-selling LUMOS home cinema projector, the LUMOS FLOAT. It comes three years after the original affordable home projector hit the market. And this new iteration is sexier—lighter, slimmer, more versatile, and even comes in three colors. Let’s see if it still retains the quality of the original in its new package.

We slept with the drapes drawn wide open, offering a full view of the city’s main avenue—lamplight and car headlights reflecting off its rain-slicked streets. The Capitol building, seen from our window, quietly resting beneath a drizzling Iloilo sky. By the time I awoke, fully rested and ahead of my wife and kid, the scene had changed. Soft morning light filtered gently through Days Hotel’s translucent curtains; the rain had passed, and the city was beginning to wake. I dressed quickly, excited for a morning walk along the nearby River Esplanade—ready to be embraced once more by the City of Love.

DAYS HOTEL ILOILO

I stayed at Days Hotel Iloilo several years back during an Iloilo–Antique media tour that extended all the way to Guimaras and Boracay—days spent with a budding romance, a crazy whirlwind that now feels like a lifetime ago. Today, I return with the same person—now my wife—and our young son in tow. No longer traveling with a heavy backpack, we now carry two suitcases. Say hello to our new chapter of travelling.

➤ SEE: BORACAY TRAVEL GUIDE

Still wet from an afternoon of frolicking on a white sandy beach, we hurriedly packed our stuff, walked through the forest, and made our way back to our room. The sun was about to set and we didn’t want to miss it. From our balcony, perched high up—overlooking the Strait of Iloilo—we quickly prepared cups of coffee, brought out some chips for snacks, and savored the colors of the day’s end. It’s the perfect way to wrap up our day at Nature’s Eye Beach Resort.

Most tourists and travelers dream of joining a cruise someday but its prohibitive price makes it a just that, a dream. But fear not, this time, Star Dream Cruises is having a promo for their Star Voyager and Star Navigator cruises. Their 2025 cruise deals cover exciting destinations in Japan, South Korea, and Taiwan. Besides discounts, what’s nice about these cruises is that most of the destinations covered are visa-free (except for Busan, South Korea).

I have been to numerous cruises before, and I have to say, they’re some of the most memorable and hassle-free trips I’ve had. The charm lies in not only visiting exciting travel destinations, but on the cruise itself. Imagine feasting on multiple buffet restaurants daily, enjoying the ship’s amenities like top deck swimming pools, spas, and arcades while cruising on the high seas, and watching world-class shows every night.

For as low as $139.00 or around ₱7,700.00++, you can enjoy two-night cruises from Star Dream Cruises. A very affordable cruise deal, considering it includes your accommodation, buffet meals for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, on-board entertainment, and of course, a chance to visit Japan, South Korea, and Taiwan aboard a cruise ship.

Star Dream Cruises 2025 promos run from June 12 to July 30, 2025. Book now and make that dream cruise trip a reality.

➤ BOOK YOUR STAR DREAM CRUISES HERE
➤ 5% DISCOUNT PROMO CODE: lakadpilipinas (case sensitive)

I’m really not a tablet guy. The only tablet I owned was an Apple iPad a decade or so ago. And even that didn’t last, I quickly sold it off, finding no need for it in my life—my smartphone was more than enough for me.

That, however, was back then. Now in my forties, my eyesight hasn’t been the same as it was during my younger days. Glasses now sit above my nose—the texts on my phone swimmingly blurs and hurts my eyes on long reads. Rediscovering my love for reading books—now on its electronic form—I hanker for something better than my smartphone for my nightly book-reading sessions before heading off to dreamland.

I was actually debating on getting a dedicated eBook reader or a tablet. I was leaning on the latter, since it’s more versatile—I can watch movies, browse the Net, do social media, and all that, on a colored screen too—however, the ease of reading on the paper-like E Ink screens was also a big factor. That decision, however, was decided for me by LUMOS when they sent their latest tablet for review.

Goodbye, Kindle. Goodbye, Kobo. Hello, LUMOS Tablet.

The latest airline seat sale has taken a new form with Cebu Pacific Air’s CEB Super Pass. It used to be that you’d need to know exactly when and where you’ll fly before burning the midnight oil to wait for a seat sale. Now, you just book with no extra thoughts on where or when you’d go.

What do you eat when you’re in Malabon? Well, pancit Malabon, of course.

The birthplace of pancit Malabon, there are numerous panciterias offering this noodle delicacy in the city. But where can you actually get the best pancit Malabon in Malabon? And what if you don’t live there, are there panciterias offering pancit Malabon that are at par with those in Malabon City? As a kid who actually grew up in Malabon and has tasted innumerable bilaos of pancit Malabon for every occasion—and still wants more—let me share the best pancit Malabon I’ve tried, not only in Malabon itself, but in the whole of Metro Manila as well.

A TYPICAL BILAO OF PANCIT MALABON

To be sure, there are still pancit Malabon restaurants that I’ve yet to try. So, I will definitely update this article from time to time as I try new pancit places in the city. If you also have suggestions for the best pancit Malabon, just drop a comment and I will try my best to visit it too.

Note that this list is not in any order. My advice is to try each one out, as they almost always have something unique to offer.