It’s been years already and you might soon be done paying for your car but your license plate is still the temporary one given to you when you first drove out of the dealership. Now, there is a way to check online if your license plate is already available via the LTO website.

On the website, you need to input the 15-digit MV number, which can be found on your certificate of registration.

If your license plate is already available, the website will provide you with the information as to when and what office you can get it.

Here’s a screenshot of the website.

Anything to add to this story? Share your thoughts with us.

Photos by Ian Esteves

Finally, a bakeshop for me!

As someone who hoards unicorn-related things whenever I can, I knew this was the bakeshop of my dreams the very moment my eyes saw the pointed unicorn horns on these adorable macarons. Complete with pearl dust and a sweet blush, these unicorn macarons are everything I’ll ever need in my life.

Each little unicorn is PHP 55

Blushing and bedazzled, they are as pleasing on the eye as they are tasty. With a perfectly airy wafer and delicious filling, they’re a dream in every sense of the word. They’re pillowy but still crisp without being too hard or brittle and the filling is just the right amount of sweetness for a pick-me-up.

I have to admit–they’re just as magical as they look!

“Try to eat the macarons when they’re not so cold,” advised Tata Lantin, the owner of Macarose (and its sister restaurant Rosemarie’s) said with a smile. “It’ll be a nice bite, good and chewy. And the ganache will be nice and soft. That’s the perfect bite.”

Mrs. Lantin received us very warmly in her colorful bakeshop cafe one afternoon. After listening to us gush about how cute the unicorns were, she let us taste them and they were like biting into little pillows of fairytale magic. When we asked her about how she came up with the designs, she grinned and launched into a story.

“One day I said, ‘I’m bored, I need to wake things up,'” she admitted to us, the light behind her casting a halo around her hair. “That’s when we started the rabbits and the unicorns–and sales jumped!”

Every single macaron in their shop is handmade. They don’t mass-produce them. But Mrs. Lantin and her team all have mastered the art of macaron-making. The piping, the decorating, every single step is something very intimately and personally carried out by each team member.

“My team mastered it all even if they didn’t have any culinary background,” she said, beaming proudly. “Sometimes I just join them and hand-decorate all the unicorns. They’ll tell me, ‘ate, pwede na makeupan ang unicorn (we can put makeup on the unicorns now).” Her laugh is infectious as she shows off the beautiful food-pen-drawn lashes of each unicorn and their colorful pearls.

Much like how the Europeans appreciate the crooked macaron because each piece is handmade, the Macarose team sees each macaron as the labor of their love. Mrs. Lantin even showed us all the macarons they were making for a wedding order–rows upon rows of pastels and pearls all just waiting to be eaten!

Mrs. Lantin mentions that she is driven primarily by passion. Anything handmade and colorful attracts her eye and her hands are drawn to creating things that will make people smile. Aside from macarons, Macarose (and Rosemarie’s) also sells brownies, crinkles, cakes, cupcakes, and so many other pastries. Our personal favorite–aside from these beautiful unicorns–is the rainbow cake.

Everything in this shop is as sweet and full of personality as the people who run it. We’re convinced that they’re real life unicorns–that’s why they’re so good at making the macarons! No wonder it’s all magical!

The humble bakeshop cafe is run by Mrs. Lantin and her team in such a personal, warm way that it feels like coming home With the cozy setting, the colorful lanterns, and the sweet smells from the kitchen, I felt like I was in a place that didn’t have to try hard to feel like home. It was my first time in their cafe but it felt like I’d been welcomed back to a familiar place–a place that was so inviting, that beckoned me over saying: “Come, stay here for a while.”

Macarose and Rosemarie’s

9 Katipunan Road, Loyola Heights, Quezon City
782-6172 / 0917-671-5832 (Best to order in advance!)
Facebook: facebook.com/macarose.phl
IG: iammacarose

Get dressed. Get a drink. Go dance. Rinse. Repeat. For someone who parties for work (one of the perks of being an editor here at When in Manila) and for fun (because who doesn’t?), parties start to bleed into each other—and not just because of the Grey Goose. All your supersaturated groupfies from last week look exactly like your supersatured groupfies from last month. Some guy calls your number, saying you met last night, and you’re not sure if he’s the half-Iranian football player or the drummer from the band playing at the gig.

So, imagine my surprise when I was invited to attend a party at the Cove Manila that promised to be “a collaboration of artists with unique passions” and will “involve people making decisions to shape the party.” Because I’m not known for jumping out of my comfort zone, I called my friends and asked them to join me that Saturday night.

DECIDIUM: A Collaboration of the Country’s Best Creatives

I first heard of this event when we did a feature on the artists involved with the project. Kookoo Ramos, an urban street artist, and Treb Monteras III who made a film called Respeto, were talking about a party they were throwing together with a couple of their friends from WSK, urban shaman Kalel Demetrio, and celebrated chef Miko Aspiras.

“You should come,” Kookoo said. “Help us set it up.” Considering the last party I tried to throw with my friends almost got half of us crying, I told Kookoo I’ll just show up and help Kalel serve drinks.

Apparently, Decidium—what they’re calling the concept—doesn’t work like that. Everything in the party is a form of collaboration between the guests and the artists, and every step of the way, your decisions make things happen.

“You have to experience it to get it,” Treb added. “You should see the new stuff I made up. It’ll star YOU.”

How Passions Taste, Sound, Look

Upon arriving at the venue, we had to pass through an installation by the sound wizards of WSK Collective. No ordinary pathway, every beam of the series of arks played a musical note. The effect foreshadows everything going to happen that night: one of constant delight and decisions.

This entire party is the manifestation of how passions taste, sound, and look. From the fish-flavored floss to the sonic playground that makes you “see music” that you create yourself, everything is about you making these decisions to pursue your passions.

“Come on, I want to hear Ransom Collective,” I said, tugging at my friend’s sleeve. She had been skipping on the steps of Soundwalk since we arrived. Another friend I have lost in Treb’s video cube, an installation where you dance your heart out and create a music video using visions made by Treb. For sure, no one missed the gigantic wall of Kookoo Ramos. A gravitating art piece spread in a canvas made of more than 2000 tees. I went home with my own exclusive piece of that wall.

We couldn’t move a few feet without bumping into someone making something. I saw an ex-boss busy coloring in a sketch by Kookoo on a large touch screen. A group was pounding on a multi-surfaced drum called the Soundbeats, whipping their hair to the rhythm blasting through the headphones linked to the installation.

I caught up with Kalel Demetrio, one of the passion collaborators, in the Flavorium—the zone dedicated to different tastes and flavours co-created with Miko Aspiras. Before indulging in the scrumptious feasts, a series of decisions you made will create an insignia—each one uniquely personalized to your decisions. Your insignia, symbolizing all your decisions, will determine the passion-crafted dessert you will get at the end of the gustatory adventure.

“Nowadays, people just eat and eat,” Chef Miko said. I was keeping up with him, but I kept getting distracted by the bowls of nuts, fruits, berries, cheeses, and other flavours on the buffet. “What I want to do is create an experience where your bowl, your plate, is something you created yourself. You decide what goes into your bowl,” he added.

“You are what you eat,” I agreed, in between mouthfuls of grilled lamb and drinks concocted from foraged ingredients.

I would have stayed longer with Kalel, he was after all, the guy in charge of the alcohol. But Miko’s King Prawn tempura and salted egg fondue was calling my name. Apparently, Miko thought, hey, why don’t we take these giant prawn tempura and dip them in silky smooth salted egg sauce? Just saying those things together bring memories of perhaps the only true culinary innovation of the new millennium: tempura, salted egg, together, on a stick. Game over, man.

Your Decisions Today Will Shape Tomorrow

The passion creators gave us an experience of what it’s like to live a life powered by our passions, enabled by the decisions we make. Your decision to pick up a can of spray paint, or to skewer a pound of beef, or to film a lover under the moonlight, will determine your life. Your decisions will help you unlock rewards you will enjoy in your life. Deciding to pick up a guitar will lead you to the centerstage. Deciding to open up to new challenges will lead to new memories.

Just like deciding on what to wear this evening will lead you to an exclusive hang-out with rapper Jeremih, the surprise guest for the night.

You may have missed on the first event this June, but stay tuned as we announce their upcoming events. You may even join the passionate artists like Kookoo, Treb, Miko, Kalel, and the WSK collective in their future projects. To know more and score invites to next collaboration events, check out decidium.ph.

How far can your love go? Most of us are willing to traverse great distances for our loved ones. Others are willing to sacrifice time. Each love language is different, and we discovered what this man does for his loving family.

SJ Duque, a student from the University of the East – Caloocan, frequently encounters Kuya Percy, a watch guard of the institute. Quite notorious, as Duque would describe, Kuya Percy is quite the disciplinarian to students who don’t follow school regulations, particularly with the dress code.

It was only to Duque’s discovery that despite his stern and disciplinarian ways, there’s a soft heart deep inside.

Duque shares on her Facebook page her short encounter with Kuya Percy, and it will touch you. Bring out those tissues.

The post’s rough translation:

7’o clock in the evening.

At this time, most families are having their dinner. Some, on the other hand, are lounging on the couch watching the latest news. But for the case of Kuya Percival, 56 years old, he has no kitchen or living room to go home to, filled with neither laughter nor stories to share.

All there is – is a small apartment, a mango in a plastic, and hope at the end of a long week of work that he’d be able to reunite with his family again.

7’o clock in the evening.

It was time for Kuya Percy to clock out for his 2pm duty. A loose neck tie, carrying a plastic with food inside, a wide smile – it’s far from how he is being identified as a notorious watch guard at the University of the East – Caloocan. Even for me, who often doesn’t follow the uniform code of the school, he also has his own tales calling out students who fail to comply such.

“I still need to wash my uniform, Ate,” Kuya Percy told me when I asked him if I could interview him.

Kuya Percy only goes home weekly. Unlike others, who work only half a day, he does not have a spouse to rely on to prepare food for him when he gets home. He doesn’t have a son or daughter that could affectionately greet him when he arrives and request to massage his tired legs after a long day of work. A Bulacaño native (San Rafael), he only goes home every Saturday evening to his family – it’s a small sacrifice, according to him, “you just have to get used to it”.

The eldest child of Kuya Percy already moved out. His second child is a seaman, and his youngest is a grade 12 student. Needless to say, his wife and youngest child are the only ones he has when he goes home.

Bulacan really isn’t as far from Caloocan, nor does it take hours to reach to his home. There are 168 hours in one week – if 132 hours is spent working plus the time he’s not in Bulacan, to sum it all up, he lacks around 30 hours to spend with his wife and youngest child.

When did ‘lacking’ become ‘enough’? For Kuya Percy, one day is already enough for them. To cook, clean the house, bond as a family, go to church – this is the price Kuya Percy has after a week of work. Definitely lacking, yes. But to him, what makes it worth it is a family filled with love at the center.

“I really miss it… I really miss it.”

Sometimes, Kuya Percy sees his children in the students of UE. Sometimes disobedient, but deep inside there’s a touch of affection. You just have to go with the flow, he said. Sometimes, it’s just a matter of proper discipline.

Perhaps, Kuya Percy looks at the students that he reprimands as his own children. For every “wear your ID”, “fix your ribbon, ate” and “where’s your uniform, kuya?” there is a father deep inside that also wishes that he were to discipline his own child. Come to think of it, he spends more time with these strangers than his own family.

It’s already 7 in the evening.

Kuya Percy has no family to go home to.

However, he is all smiles – jokingly mentions that there is laundry waiting for him – as if 132 hours of sadness and tiredness is nothing.

He’ll see his family on Saturday, anyway.

And for Kuya Percy, that’s already enough.

What do you think of this story? Let us know in the comments below!

Disclaimer: WheninManila.com does not own the image. Credits go to SJ Duque. 

It may not seem much, but progress is still progress, right?

Many malls and establishments in the country are slowly implying the elevator etiquette where one walks on the left and stands on the right. It’s frustrating when simple rules cannot be compiled but much to the delight of Jeun Eun Jung, he was able to capture a moment where people followed!

This was captured at a mall outside, located in Quezon City.

RELATED: Filipino citizen captures the Japanese observing ‘stand left, walk right’ escalator rule

Jeun Eun Jung discloses that the stairs on the left side of the photo is “one way”.

Do you think we can keep this up, Philippines? Let us know in the comments below!

Disclaimer: WheninManila.com does not own the image. Credits go to Jeun Eun Jung. 

Lately, photos of ates or kuyas leaving baon (more often money than actual packed food!) for their younger siblings have been going around online; but the case has been different for the older sister of Princess Johara Narawi.

The older Narawi recently surprised Princess by leaving an accomplished resume of the latter, plus a Php 20 bill for fare.

The note roughly translates:

Cess, because you were jealous of the sibling that went viral on Facebook, here, I made you a resume. Apply for a job so that you can buy whatever you want. Plus, fare. (Referring to the 20 peso bill).

“My sister showed me some viral posts of Kuyas & Ates giving money & credit cards to their younger siblings,” the older Narawi shares to WHEN IN MANILA. “She did that to tease me. I am not really that kind of sibling. If she needs money from me, she has to borrow.”

Narawi narrates that when they were younger, her sister had to write a promissory note to borrow Php 20 – complete with a signature of their younger brother as a witness! “It was just silly, and we were all laughing while doing it.”

“Just to clarify, my sister has a job. She’s an online English tutor. Nevertheless, I’ve been encouraging her to pursue her dreams of becoming a flight attendant. The resume I did was targeted to that.

The last time she applied, they told her she’s too young. She felt really bad after that. As an Ate, it also pains us to see our bunso doing their best but not getting what they want. The resume was just a reminder that she can always try and try again, and that her Ate always has her back.”

What do you think of this story? Let us know in the comments below!
Disclaimer: WheninManila.com does not own the photo. Credits go to Princess Johara Narawi.

Have you ever experienced a time when you just spent a long and tiring day, and you just want to crash in bed – not doing your usual chores or responsibilities at home? Because of a touching gesture of love, medical doctor Claude Homer Fong was able to skip his post-work routine at home for a day because of a surprise waiting for him.

Even though Grandparents’ day isn’t celebrated until next month, Fong took it his Twitter account how much he loves and appreciates his Lola Elen.

My grandma said she visited my condo but I wasn't there. When I got home, guess what I find. A new refrigerator, new table, new curtain, clothes folded, wardrobe tidy, bed made, and a clean room.

I don't know about you but grandparents are the best and I'm very grateful for her!

— Claude Homer Fong (@ClaudeCity) August 7, 2018

Fong shares to WHEN IN MANILA that he and his Lola Elen have a tight-knit relationship.

I grew up very close to my grandmother since our houses are just beside each other. Ever since, she has been loving and caring. We got separated when I moved to the United States when I was 12. From time to time, I’d call back home and talk to her. Finally, when I started medical school, I moved back to the Philippines. My grandmother was the one who took care of me, since my parents are overseas. Sometimes, she would even go as far as running some of my errands (e.g. going to the bank, buying groceries).

Despite the devastating news of his father’s death a few months ago, this setback turned out to be a blessing in disguise – this was when Fong and Lola Elen’s relationship strengthened.

She never let go of me. She even held tighter. She took care of me and even helped me financially pay for my medical school. Too bad she wasn’t strong enough to attend my graduation, but I could feel the love! My grandmother is my secret weapon and my favorite travel companion. I could not imagine a life without her. What I also love about her, is that every time I visit her, there would always be food and she’d know what my favorite dishes are!

What do you think of this story? Let us know in the comments below!

Disclaimer: WheninManila.com does not own the photos. Images are provided by Claude Homer Fong. 

While we rely on our elders for wisdom, we also look up to them for wit!

Josh Cowper Esguerra found his grandmothers adorable when they tried to comply with the ‘passport size’ photo requirement. They took it quite literally, and Esguerra could not help but share his amusement.

Me on the phone*

J: lola, need po ng passport size na picture.

L: on it..

pic.twitter.com/2TyxyVf1Pn

— Josh Cowper Esguerra (@RanielJosh) August 6, 2018

Shared in another tweet, another ‘passport size’ photo is placed right beside the Philippine passport, this time, along with his lola’s sister!

pic.twitter.com/fiMr8KQK1x

— Josh Cowper Esguerra (@RanielJosh) August 7, 2018

“Just to be clear, they also gave me the right size passport pic and the 2×2,” Esguerra tells WHEN IN MANILA. “They just provided the ‘passport size’ pic, I guess.”

Still no luck in getting yourself a Jollibee Funko Pop? If you plan on shopping your heart out at History Con 2018 this weekend and are still hoping to cop a Jollibee Funko Pop, then make sure you drop by WaycoolPH’s booth.

Wayne Hsu shares that there is actually much more to this Jollibee Funko Pop offer than meets the eye. For starters, he says he thought that displaying the Jollibee Funko Pop at History Con would be a cool idea, seeing as Jollibee is a historical pop culture icon of the Philippines.

If you really want to get one, though, here’s how you can get a Jollibee Funko Pop at SRP Php650 from WaycoolPH:

Option 1: Buy Php9,000 worth of items at the WaycoolPH booth.

They’ve got a ton of awesome stuff for you to choose from!

Option 2: Buy Funko Mystery Minis worth Php7,500.

Option 3: Buy any of the lots posted at the Comments Section of this post.

Option 4: Buy any trading cards worth Php8,000.

Option 5: Buy football/soccer trading cards worth Php7,000.

Option 6: Buy NBA basketball trading cards worth Php7,500.

Option 7: Heroclix purchase worth Php7,000.

Option 8: Disney Infinity purchase worth Php6,500.

“Honestly, I’m not really pushing to sell it too much and I only have a handful in stock,” Wayne admits. “It’s really more of a promotion to my buyers similar to what I did last event at AsiaPOP Comicon.”

You gotta admit that this is definitely a much better deal than buying the Jollibee Funko Pop at Php9,000 from resellers, don’t you think?

Last week, the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) announced that they were planning to ban single-passenger vehicles on EDSA during rush hours with hopes of reducing the amount of cars found on the said strip and hopefully say goodbye to traffic there. According to the MMDA, 70% of the vehicles found along EDSA during rush hours only have one person in them and if more people share the same vehicles, fewer vehicles will then be found on the street.

(READ: 10 of the Worst Road Stretches in Metro Manila Traffic)

Not everybody seem to be on board with this plan, though. A lot of people have questions that they need answered, such as: what if they book a Grab and the driver has to traverse EDSA on his own in order to pick up his passenger? What time would the rush hours be according to the MMDA? What if you simply don’t have anyone to travel with? Despite these questions, though, a dry run of the scheme is set to run this Wednesday, August 15. Do you think it will be effective in reducing traffic on EDSA?

If you’re going to buy anything nowadays, we’d urge you to only buy things that you really need and, as much as possible, to buy local. Of course, there are major plus points if you get to buy something that helps a worthy cause at the same time.

If you happen to need a book stand, Katrina Ongoco knows where to get a quality one at an affordable price: Kuya Ogie. His sign reads: “Cheaper bookstands made by PWDs – selling for a cause to raise funds. We pray you pass your exams. Thank you for patronizing and supporting. God bless! – Handicapped friends”

According to Katrina, every purchase will help Kuya Ogie and his fellow PWDs. The best part is that the book stands are very affordable at Php240 for a small one and Php260 for a standard one.

You can see the full post by Katrina Ongoco here with samples pictures of the small book stand that she bought:

According to Katrina, Kuya Ogie will be at San Sebastian College today and in UST on August 15 (UST Medicine). You may also get in touch with him through the following number: 09395022659

The rain in Manila can get pretty bad – and the pollution even more so. Put both together and you can expect utter hell! Sadly, that is exactly what Tim de Asis experienced earlier today when he passed by Roxas Boulevard.

According to his post on Facebook, the video was taken on the Southbound lane of Roxas Boulevard and the ‘sea of trash’ was actually already knee-deep and the waves were tossing from strong winds despite the fact that it wasn’t even raining when the video was taken. Apparently, the other side was even deeper and dirtier. Watch the depressing video and get a reality check right here:

Tim also took the time to appreciate the two trucks filled with DWPH workers that he wasn’t able to catch in his video, but who were at the scene ready to serve and work in a knee-deep sea of trash. “We see you and we thank you,” he says.

(RELATED: This Artist is Picking Up Trash Everyday, So Please, Let’s Do Our Part)

Tim remains positive despite the experience, though, and urges everyone to start doing everything out of love. “If you put love in all your actions, discipline will come naturally and the right response will come naturally. We’ll end up in another scenario far from this.” Let’s hope so. And let’s please all treat our country better.

If you don’t get the reference in this picture then you’re too young to be on the internet. Loljk.

Honestly, though, this photo brings back a lot of childhood feels.

As the cliche goes, “only 90s kids will know…”

For the young ones, Camille Prats is known for playing Sarah Crewe in the movie Sarah… Ang Munting Prinsesa, which was released in the Philippines in 1995. This is the Pinoy adaptation of the Nippon Animation anime Princess Sarah, which was based from the British children’s book A Little Princess by Frances Hodgson Burnett.

The story is about a girl who went from riches to rags and back to riches after her father died in the war while she was in a boarding school in England.

The 1995 movie adaptation also starred Angelica Panganiban as Becky and Jean Garcia as the bad-tempered Miss Minchin.

Camille was on a trip to England with her husband VJ Yambao.

Anything to add to this story? Share your thoughts with us.

The King has officially arrived in LA donning his royal garments of purple and gold. Would it be a mere coincidence that those two colours are associated with royalty?

Lebron James, having recently moved to the Los Angeles Lakers from the Cleveland Cavaliers, was spotted wearing the jersey of California-based NBA team. He uploaded these on his Instagram story.

SUITED.

(via @KingJames) pic.twitter.com/wPt1WQA2FK

— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) August 9, 2018

The photos are taken from Lebron James’ Instagram stories.

The official Twitter account of the Los Angeles Lakers shared some behind the scenes of their practice with James donning Lakers gear.

All business #LakeShow pic.twitter.com/4pekObvN1R

— Los Angeles Lakers (@Lakers) August 9, 2018

Looks like James is more than ready for some action next season, with the Lakers’ first game starting on October 18, against the Portland Trail Blazers. Game schedules could be found on the official NBA website.

How does Lebron James look in a Lakers jersey? Let us know in the comments below!

Disclaimer: WheninManila.com does not own the header image. Credits go to Lebron James’ Instagram account as well as the Twitter account of the Los Angeles Lakers. 

A few months ago, we shared that the Disney show Kim Possible announced that they will be doing a live-action film adaption. Now, they shared the first look at the upcoming movie with the actress playing Kim.

Meet Sadie Stanley, a 16- year old actress who got the role in her first ever audition. This is her first leading role (her last role was as Giggling Girl #1 in this year’s Game Shakers) so it means she was so good that she convinced Disney right away.

Kim Possible follows the titular character, voiced by Christy Carlson Romano, as she balances high school life with fighting crime, usually committed by Dr. Drakken and his sidekick Shego. Possible is aided by her clumsy but well-meaning best friend Ron Stoppable, his naked mole rat Rufus, and the 10 year old computer genius Wade.

The show is the second animated Disney Channel Original Series and the first series produced by Walt Disney Television Animation. It ran from 2002 to 2007, releasing 87 episodes and two TV films. It was a critical hit and was even nominated for eight Emmy Awards, winning one for Outstanding Achievement in Sound Mixing – Live Action and Animation in 2005.

It is considered as one of Disney Channel’s most successful shows and was the longest-running until it was surpassed by Phineas and Ferb in 2012.

Stanley will be joined by Sean Giambrone (Ron Stoppable), Alyson Hannigan (Dr. Ann Possible), Connie Ray (Nana Possible), Todd Stashwick (Drakken), Taylor Ortega (Shego), Ciara Wilson (Athena), Erika Tham (Bonnie), Issac Ryan Brown (Wade), Patton Oswalt (Professor Dementor), and Christy Carlson Romano in an undisclosed role.

Kim Possible is set to return sometime next year.

Are you excited for this? Share your thoughts below!

Follow When in Manila Koji for more stories like this!

Words by Danielle Castillo

BTS just released a new comeback trailer Epiphany and everyone and their grandmothers are celebrating. If you’re unfamiliar with this showstopping group, they’re known throughout the industry for their jaw-dropping aesthetics and highly symbolic videos.

Reach-wise, their fans, ARMYs, are one of the most enthusiastic out there right now. From mad streaming skills to insane voting on polls, these loving fans never disappoint. However, if there’s one thing these guys are real experts at, it’s analyzing the clues in the group’s music videos and deciphering their underlying messages.

Thus, to showcase their incredible ~brain~ power (and also to help those that are just as clueless as I am), we’ve gathered some of the most mind-blowing theories that ARMYs all over the world have come up with so far.

6. Jin is doing exactly what his dad tried to do–time travel.

Do u remember the notes?
Sj’s dad experienced same things as sj and he also tried to save his friends by doing time leap.
But as u can see in the mv he failed and collapsed n disappointed. pic.twitter.com/p33iutnMKl

— SUGAfull슈쁠 (fr slow rn) (@sugafull27) August 9, 2018

5. Jin erases himself because he causes disasters wherever he goes.

[THEORY] Jin might've traveled back in time to erase himself from their memory in order to bring them happiness. Which explains why he disappears from photos. Why did he erase himself? A lot of disasters were caused by Jin.#Epiphany [@BTS_twt] pic.twitter.com/vThCcHMJw9

— Rosan (@xCeleste___) August 9, 2018

4. Jin is stuck in an infinite time loop.

Everytime seokjin travels in time, he always end up at the same room. From previous notes, he was unable to remember anything resulting in often-time travels. Time travels creates loops. What he created was endless. pic.twitter.com/rfMd9TCO2d

— 윌러우 (@ilsansqueen) August 9, 2018

3. It’s about healing.

2. Loving yourself despite failures

1. ARMY tears

All the rain? Tears.

If you can’t follow the theories, that’s okay! We can all just dwell on the fact that this is an exceptionally made video and that Jin has angelic vocals. Let’s just all huddle in a corner and cry because of the beauty.

The comeback trailer managed to surpass 10 million views within 24 hours. If you haven’t watched Epiphany yet, support BTS’ comeback by streaming the trailer here!

Do you have any fan theories that you’d like to share with us?

By Camille Geguera

Nicki Minaj has recently released her fourth studio album, Queen, which got us thinking–is Nicki still the queen of rap of this generation? With the album art inspired by Cleopatra, it sure seems that she is ready to reclaim her throne (against her rival Cardi B, that is!). It seems like she was determined to make her album a rap/hiphop classic. Not only that, the time invested to curate the whole album is definitely no joke–she admitted that she spent many sleepless nights trying to perfect her art. Here are 5 things you should know about Nicki’s new album.

5. Star-studded collabs

Queen does not only feature Nicki’s sick raps, it also includes some of the most well-known artists in the industry. From pop artists like Ariana Grande and The Weeknd to well-established rappers like Eminem and Lil Wayne, there is no doubt that this album is worth the anticipation.

4. Her secret for making her fourth album successful? Being single.

Nicki said in her interview with Elle magazine that the secret to achieving the ideal outcome for this album was being single. Like any strong, independent woman, she is free to do whatever she wants according to her own rules. Without the pressure of being in a relationship, she gets to decide things freely on her own, which is reflected in her album.  Her album art is actually inspired by the concept of abstinence.

3. Nicki dropped the album a week before the scheduled release date.

Truth be told, the release date kept changing. It was supposedly scheduled last June and then changed again. The reason? Nicki kept revising some songs to ensure none of her fans would be disappointed. We definitely stan a queen who delivers. The wait was definitely worth the wait.

Just listened to #GanjaBurns after a long day & realized that I hate how low I made the hook. Gotta get it swapped out. That’s like my fave song & I can’t let it go out like that. Plus I was so sleep deprived I wrote burns instead of burn when they were stressing me 4 tracklist

— QUEEN (@NICKIMINAJ) August 11, 2018

2. 3 out of 5 rappers who influenced her throughout her rapping career are on the album.

Ever wonder how it feels when you meet the people that you look up to? Now add the fact that you’ll actually be able to work with them in creating your art! Wondering which people? listen to the album to find out!

Out of the TOP5 rappers who’ve single handedly influenced my flow & approach in relation to my delivery, subject matter, overall rap style, etc; 3 of them are on #Queen. So grateful. The rest of the artists are all brilliant as well. I couldn’t be more thankful for this line up.

— QUEEN (@NICKIMINAJ) August 13, 2018

1. The album is her best one yet (according to Nicki).

As compared to her previous albums, Nicki did feel like a real queen–and a powerful one for that matter. One decade into her career, Nicki Minaj proved that she is the rightful heir of the female-rapper-of-this-generation title. With positive feedback, her vision about her album might not even be far from impossible.

What did you think of the album? Let us know!

We all want to maximize that cinematic experience, don’t we? Come to think of it, the Philippines now has creative ways to watch movies other than your typical, enclosed theatre. We got the chance to try watching a film while getting pampered and lounging in a 153-172 comfy seat-filled theatre.   There’s also an outdoor cinema in Laguna, too!

North peeps can rejoice since an outdoor cinema’s about to open in Pampanga, soon! Although this time, the screen and moviegoers will be floating in a lake!

Coming soon. A floating cinema on the lake to enjoy films under the moonlit sky. Now, what films should we show?

A post shared by Lakeshore Philippines (@lakeshoreph) on Aug 14, 2018 at 9:09am PDT

Not a lot of details are revealed yet, but it seems that having such a movie experience will also allow the viewer to become one with nature, don’t you think?

Would you like to try this one out when it opens? Let us know in the comments below!

Disclaimer: WheninManila.com does not own the image above. Credits go to LakeshorePH’s Instagram page. 

We’ve been told countless times to support local films. The reasons may vary: we need to support what our countrymen proudly made, the stories break away from what we usually see, or a certain actor has shed his teenybopper image and took on a more serious role.

These are all true. Philippine cinema has definitely stepped up from what it produced before, but the best reason to support local films is this: it educates us on what’s happening in the country.

When we think of local films, we think of the Metro Manila Film Festival, which many have accused of relying on a formula to earn ticket sales. We saw how tired people were of the status quo when, in 2016, the committee prioritized “artistic excellence“ over “commercial viability.” And for the rest of the year, we are presented with films anchored by leading names.

Which is not to say that those films are bad. One of cinema’s goals is to entertain and there are plenty of light films that are good, like Meet Me in St. Gallen, Vince & Kath & James, That Thing Called Tadhana, and Kita Kita. But there are just as many films talking about the Philippine condition, and we should talk more about it.

Recently, it was BuyBust that captivated Filipino audiences everywhere. Sure, Anne Curtis in an action film was one of the film’s big draws but Erik Matti’s film had so much more. It was a scathing commentary on the drug war, where Curtis plays an agent from the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) set to do a drug bust in the slums. Later on, she realizes how the police are involved in circulating the drugs.

This isn’t even the first time Philippine cinema tackled this. Brillante Mendoza shone a spotlight on the drug trade in his film Ma’Rosa, which was nominated for the Palme d’Or, the highest prize at the at the Cannes Film Festival, one of the most important film festivals in the world. Jaclyn Jose went on to win Best Actress, becoming the first Southeast Asian woman to do so. In the ongoing Pista ng Pelikulang Pilipino, Adolfo Alix shares his perspective in his film Madilim ang Gabi.

In the recently-held Cinemalaya Philippine Independent Film Festival, moviegoers got to see socially-relevant films like ML, which discussed the horrors of Martial Law; Musmos na Sumibol sa Gubat ng Digma, which tells of an age-old culture of inter-familial dispute in Marawi, and School Service, which exposes a modus where people kidnap children in provinces to force them to beg alms in Manila.

This trend of shining a light on what’s happening in the country isn’t new. Take for example Give Up Tomorrow, a documentary that came out in 2012 but is receiving attention now because of the release of the film Jacqueline Comes Home. The documentary explores the murder of the Chiong sisters in Cebu, and questions if the justice system persecuted the wrong man. Another documentary, Sunday Beauty Queen, delves into the lives of Filipino domestic workers in Hong Kong who organize an annual beauty pageant. Matti also helmed On the Job, which examines prisoners who double as contract killers; and Honor Thy Father, which looks at the depths people will go to for a debt, no matter their religious background.

The world today does not make sense and many times, it feels like we’re stuck in an episode of Black Mirror. Films like these help us understand what’s happening in the country. This applies especially to those leading comfortable lives, so they can see things from a different perspective. And at the end of the day, isn’t that one of cinema’s goals? To force us to see things in a new light?

An ice queen and a beauty queen? How awesome could Ms. Filipina International 2018 get?

Patricia Camille Buensuceso, a former competitive figure skater, proves that her prowess and competitiveness takes off not just on ice, but also in the world of pageantry. After being crowned Ms. Filipina International 2018 last August 1 in Redondo Beach, California; a new journey begins for the 22-year-old Filipina, who’s based in Dallas, Texas; but traces her roots from Iloilo.

Other than the grand title, the multi-awarded Buensuceso also garnered the Miss Social Media, Miss Photogenic and Miss Best in Evening Gown titles.

34 young Filipinas from the United States, France, Germany, Canada and Japan competed for one of the most coveted crowns in the beauty world – and Buensuceso proved she was the brightest diamond of all.

The pageant also served as ‘global showcase for tourism“, according to the Miss Filipina International website. Reigning Queen Camille Buensuceso brought home roundtrip airline tickets to the Philippines, a participation at a two-week tourism promotion trip highlighting the Philippines’ tourism destinations, among other amazing freebies.

WHEN IN MANILA was able to catch up with the ice queen and beauty queen herself, Camille.

Photo provided by Camille Buensuceso

WheninManila.com: Tell us about yourself!
Camille Buensuceso: I was born in Manila but moved to the United States when I was 5 years old. For my first few years of college, I enrolled at De La Salle University – Manila and transferred to the University of Texas at Dallas in 2016 where I’ll be graduating with a B.S. in Marketing in December 2018. I currently work in the Marketing & Communications Department at Ericsson and recently co-founded my own company with my business partner, Oren Pajela – Rocket Launch Creative, a creative agency. We create websites, logos, etc. and am currently working on my t-shirt company – Tadhana, which I will be launching in the fall. Proceeds received from Tadhana will be used to help Philippine entrepreneurs and promote entrepreneurship throughout the Philippines.

WIM: Was it difficult growing up in the States as a Fil-Am?
CB: Personally, I didn’t think it was difficult growing up as a Filipino-American in the sense that I was never bullied because I was different. However, especially living in Texas, I grew up with a lot of Americans and my school was about 3% Asian, so there were times when I questioned whether me being different was bad. Regardless, I was already different because of figure skating – so either way I was always different from everyone and it’s something I’ve learned to live with.

Photo provided by Camille Buensuceso

WIM: Considering that you were a former competitive figure skater, did you think you’d try out the beauty/pageant industry when you were still skating?
CB: When I was skating, my whole life was dedicated to the sport. I even had to sacrifice a lot of school and normal childhood activities. I don’t think I would have tried out pageantry while I was a figure skater mainly because I wouldn’t have time to fully dedicate myself to both activities. Additionally, both figure skating and pageantry cost a lot and I don’t think my parents could afford me doing both.

Photo provided by Camille Buensuceso

Photo provided by Camille Buensuceso

WIM: How has your life as an athlete/figure skater helped you in the world of pageants?
CB: There are quite a few similarities between figure skating and pageantry. Both are very competitive, I am naturally a competitive person, thanks to skating! (laughs). Because of that, I knew how to handle myself when it was time to compete. Similar to training for a skating competition,  I had to train for this pageant, waking up early, working out, watching what I eat, etc. was something I was experienced in. One thing that figure skating helped me that transferred over to pageantry that I was surprised about was the strength of feet, ankles, and the strain I put on them. Wearing skates for hours on end felt similar to wearing heels for an extended time. However, I think the most important thing figure skating taught me that transferred over into this pageant was my mental game. My coaches always taught me that competition is 90% mental toughness. There are a lot of mind games being played in a pageant because it is more publicized than figure skating but thanks to my experience as a figure skater, I knew how to block it all out, maintain my mental toughness, and stay true to myself.

WIM: How did you prepare for the pageant?
CB: This was my first pageant so I really had no expectations for it mainly because I wasn’t really sure what to expect. I wasn’t sure what the people in pageantry were like but I’m so happy I met my pageant sisters and everyone at IEG. As my journey continued, I found my true purpose for joining and that was my passion to be the voice for the Filipino-International community and encourage them to go back to the Philippines and implement something from what they’ve learned overseas so that we can rise up the Philippines as a country. I worked out a little extra for this pageant and also was more cautious with my food. However, there was something I did and I find it silly – I wore heels everywhere I went. I always wore heels so I could train myself to get used to them and also everywhere I went I walked. I did pageant training with my evening gown designer, Kenneth Barlis, and everything he taught me about walking I would do any chance I had to walk. I would purposefully park far from my office so I could practice my walk. I watched Miss Universe videos on YouTube over and over again, I even watched last years Miss Filipina International pageant when it was still Binibining Pilipinas USA many times. I practiced Q&A in the morning and evening with my parents, aunt, and even my boyfriend.