Grab these festive cakes from any Goldilocks store this Holiday Season

The noche buena is never complete without a Goldilocks greeting cake in every Filipino table. 


Christmas has always been a cheerful and jovial celebration. To a child, it is the excitement of receiving a gift from Santa. To a hardworking parent, it is the joy of seeing their families being reunited once again, and to a teenager, it is the anticipation of the feast of Noche Buena. Filipinos love celebrations especially when they can all enjoy them together.

Goldilocks, the country’s number one bakeshop, has always been a part of this joyous occasion.  Their products are a symbol of thoughtfulness, sweetness and joy especially when shared with friends and family.  To make this season even more special, Goldilocks launched a variety of cakes and desserts especially made for the Christmas season!

Bring the true spirit of Christmas in your home with the Goldilocks Christmas Wreath Cake! A decadent chocolate masterpiece coated with vanilla frosting and topped off with a decorative green wreath-inspired design.

The new Vanilla Christmas Roll is also a great gift for friends and family! While other Goldilocks staples such as Christmas Greeting Cakes and Christmas Lollipops will also be available for anyone looking for something to bring some holiday cheer. 

Grab these festive cakes from any Goldilocks store nationwide. 

For more information, you may follow @GoldilocksPH on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram, or visit the official Goldilocks website at www.goldilocks.com.ph.

Jollibee opens new Level Up Joy Store in SLEX with first ever dual lane drive thru in the country

Jollibee is levelling up the way its customers experience joy while on the road as it is set to open its newest branch along the South Luzon Expressway on Wednesday, December 18. 

Located at the Petron gas station along the southbound side of SLEX, it is Jollibee’s 1200th store in the Philippines and the latest Level Up Joy store that features a modern design and exciting innovations for an even better store experience. 

Its most interesting feature is the country’s first ever dual lane drive thru. This allows the store crew to serve more motorists faster, ideal for those on the road for a family holiday trip or a quick barkada getaway. The dual lane drive thru spells convenience from end to end as it has its own ordering, payment and pick-up counters for each lane. This is complemented by two key store innovations which aid in making the drive thru experience easier and faster. 

The Food Conveyor system is an automated conveyor that brings your favorite meals from the kitchen to the pick-up counters, while the Drive Thru Lane Sensor System provides real time drive thru performance data such as waiting bay times and average service speed to help the store crew better manage orders and serve customers faster. 

To date, over 200 Jollibee stores nationwide are equipped with the Drive Thru Lane Sensor System.



Inside the Level Up Joy Store are self-order kiosks that make ordering more convenient and fun. A few taps on the screen is all it takes to choose your favorite Jollibee meals such as Chickenjoy, Jolly Spaghetti and Yumburgers and complete your order. The self-order kiosks also come with multiple payment options – either through credit card, Pay Maya, Happy Plus Card or cash – letting customers enjoy more flexibility. 

Need a power boost for your mobile device? The Level Up Joy Store has also got that covered as some of the tables in its dining area will have built in wireless charging pads. Simply place your phone on the pad and power up as you enjoy your Jollibee favorites.

“We’re excited to open on December 18 the first ever Dual Lane Drive Thru store in the country here in our milestone 1200th Jollibee store,” said Jollibee Regional Business Unit Head for South Luzon Ana Aluyen. “With all the motorists and customers passing through the SLEX southbound highway every day, we have this unique opportunity to show them what the experience of our leveled-up Jollibee store is like.”

“This new Level Up Joy store promises to take customer convenience to the next level with the introduction of the first-ever dual lane drive thru in the country. It’s ideal for families and friends who are in transit and want to grab great tasting food they can enjoy or take home with them along the way. While for dine-in customers,  they can order and enjoy their Jollibee favorites with greater ease and convenience thanks to the self-order kiosks we have in store plus built in wireless charging pads for their use and of course, our  Alagang Jollibee service courtesy of our store team,” said Francis Flores, Jollibee Global Brand CMO and JFC Philippines Country Business Group and concurrent Jollibee Philippines Marketing Head.

Jollibee and Friends welcome customers to the opening of Jollibee Petron SLEX, the fastfood chains latest Level Up Joy Store and 1,200th in the Philippines.

Customers found ordering quick and easy via Jollibee’s self-order kiosks.

The first customers of the latest Level-Up Joy Store at Jollibee Petron SLEX.

For more details and updates on Jollibee, like Jollibee Philippines on Facebook, and follow @Jollibee on Twitter and Instagram.

Enjoy a Cafe Americano from Cafe Bonjour for just PHP 50!

Calling all coffee lovers!

Keep your days warm during the holiday season and enjoy a Cafe Americano from Cafe Bonjour for just PHP 50! Just order any of your favorite Cafe Bonjour cakes and pastries (both sweet and savory variants) and enjoy a PHP 25 discount on an 8 oz. Cafe Americano. 

This offer is available at Café Bonjour branches at the following Total service stations: Alabang, SLT, NLT, West Service Road, Newport, Cabuyao, Commonwealth, Severina, Visayas Avenue, Greenhills, Puyo (Cabuyao), Alaminos (Laguna), and at its standalone store in BGC. Promo runs until January 21, 2020.

Total’s Café Bonjour has been committed to providing a wide range of quality and fresh food offerings since 1998.

A Bientot Chez TOTAL!

Greenwich Unveils "Barkada Campus"

Greenwich, the number one pizza and pasta brand in the Philippines, recently inaugurated its state-of-the-art training facility located in the heart of Kapitolyo in Pasig.

Inspired by the youthful dynamism of the brand’s market and its team members, the Barkada Campus is a testament of Greenwich’s commitment in accelerating the capability of its employees to cater to its customers through its over 300 stores nationwide.

According to Mike V. Castro, General Manager, “The facility, appropriately named Greenwich Barkada Campus, is designed to foster continuous employee learning, engagement, collaboration, and ideation – ultimately helping us deliver our promise to provide the best-tasting pizzas and pasta over a truly enjoyable barkada experience.”

The 1120-sqm Barkada Campus, composed of multiple classrooms, a computer laboratory, meeting rooms, a store kitchen and a dining set-up, will house learning programs for Operations team and Head Office staff as well as leadership development courses to its Managers.

UNIQLO Special Holiday Offers from December 13 to December 19

UNIQLO treats its shoppers with weekly limited offers this holiday season. For the month of December, customers can enjoy special promotions on their favorite LifeWear pieces.

Make the Christmas season merrier by giving the gift of UNIQLO’s LifeWear. The collection offers a wide range of items—from essentials to collaborations with pop culture phenomena and classic labels to express one’s individuality. Shoppers can find the best present for themselves or their loved ones, to fit anyone's personality.

SPECIAL HOLIDAY OFFERS (from December 13 to December 19)
Shoppers can enjoy deals from different items each week including:

MEN’S ITEMS: 

Men’s Regular Fit Jeans
Revived for a modern look, the Regular Fit Jeans is made with 100% cotton denim from world-famous denim maker Kaihara Inc and old-fashioned honeycomb fading that combines an authentic style and superb fit. It also features a wide ¼ inch side seams with special dense stitching.

Men’s Easy Shorts
The Easy Shorts features a design that provides a cool and light feel and an elastic easy-waist construction for comfort and easy movement. Made with DRY technology, this is great for both active and leisure wear.
*Part of the limited offers from December 13 to 15

Men’s HEATTECH Extra Warm V Neck T
The HEATTECH Extra Warm V Neck T is great for harsh winters or cold climates. It is made with thick fabric with a brushed surface that gives an excellent insulation and features self-deodorizing threads woven into the material.

http://www.uniqlo.com/ph/product/men/featured/limitedoffer

WOMEN’S ITEMS:

W’s EZY Satin Ankle Pants
This elegant satin ankle-length pants features an elastic waist for comfort and is made with sophisticated satin material. It also has cotton-rayon blend yarn that is soft on the skin with a crisp feel.

Women’s Drape Pants
Made with 100% rayon fabric, the Drape Pants features a fluid and straight cut that is suited for daily casual wear. It is available in a wide range of bright and fun patterns perfect for every mood.

Women’s Mercerized Cotton Half Sleeve Dress
The Mercerized Cotton Half Sleeve Dress is UNIQLO’s simple yet elegant cotton dress made with mercerized 100% cotton. It is machine-washable for easy care and features a stylish boat neck and gathered fabric at the sleeves.


http://www.uniqlo.com/ph/product/women/featured/limitedoffer 

For more updates, customers may download the UNIQLO mobile app, 

visit UNIQLO Philippines’ website at www.uniqlo.com/ph and follow social media account, Facebook (facebook.com/uniqlo.ph), Twitter (twitter.com/uniqloph) and Instagram (Instagram.com/uniqlophofficial).

New York’s Iconic Fine Casual Restaurant Brings Burgers, Hot Dogs, and Frozen Custard to East Manila

To those living up North, rejoice!! for your favorite fine casual New York Burger stand Shake Shack is now in SM Megamall Fashion Hall. 

There's no need for you to drive to BGC just to have the taste of that juicy, delicious Shackburger , cheeseburger with lettuce, tomato and Shack sauce served on a non-GMO potato bun. With a side order of our favorite  cheese fries !!. 

You should also try these exclusive frozen custard with mix-ins!

First, the Mega Mangga! is an ode to the national fruit and features vanilla custard blended with fresh mango and graham, topped with freeze-dried mango. 

For a sweet and salty flavor, Shack fans can try the Coconut Pie Oh My which is vanilla custard blended with Wildflour’s coconut pie and toasted coconut, and five percent of sales from this concrete benefit Children’s Hour, an organization that supports projects on welfare and development for Filipino children in need.

After debuting Shake Shack’s flagship Manila restaurant at Bonifacio High Street in May, the fine casual New York burger stand has opened its second restaurant in the country at the Mega Fashion Hall at SM Megamall last December 6. 

Opening Events
The first customer, Victor Velasco, lined up at 1:00 a.m. and the queue went on until the action-packed entertainment for the early birds. The first 100 guests received free Shack shades and Shack20 water to keep cool. Local UP Streetdance Club hyped up the crowd with performances in addition to a comedy set by improv theater group SPIT before the doors opened. 

SM Megamall Exclusives
Shake Shack again collaborated with local Manila purveyors, producers, and artists to make SM Megamall a distinct community gathering place.

Local artist Kris Abrigo, who joined the opening festivities, reimagined the textures and colors of the Ortigas skyline for a mural on the back of the Shack facing Edsa. His design has also been adapted into exclusive swag including socks and tees available at the Shack.

SM Megamall Design
Shake Shack began as a philanthropic hot dog cart supporting the Madison Square Park Conservancy’s first art installation in 2001. Danny Meyer, the famed Union Square Hospitality Group restaurateur, put the same careful consideration and “enlightened hospitality” toward the premium ingredients and thoughtful service at the simple hot dog cart as he did to his celebrated fine dining restaurants, pioneering a new “fine casual” category.

The fine casual approach made the cart a success for three years until it became the now iconic permanent Shack in 2004. Originally designed as a freestanding kiosk that fuses the natural surrounds of the park with the iconic Flatiron building and cast-iron architecture, Meyer first sketched the ideas and menu for the kiosk in the park on the back of a napkin, and focused on modern day “roadside” burger classics that are the core items today: burgers, hot dogs, frozen custard, shakes and crinkle-cut fries.

Fifteen years later, Meyer’s vision of a communal venture is recreated as Shake Shack opened its first indoor replica of the MSP Shack in SM Megamall. Showing off elements reminiscent of the original Shack such as the exposed roof rafters, green roof, the sleek white ATAS and the suspended string lights, it lends a warm and open vibe to the mall where shoppers and diners alike are invited to gather.

Specialty Food Retailers, Inc. (SFRI) is the exclusive franchise holder of Shake Shack in the Philippines. SFRI is a member of the SSI Group.  To be updated on the latest news about Shake Shack, follow @shakeshackph and @ssilifeph on Instagram and Facebook.

Whenever you’re craving for delicious meals, Jollibee Delivery Website is just a click away

Jollibee makes ordering one’s favorite food faster and more convenient with the relaunch of the Jollibee Delivery Website! Starting now, customers from all over the country can simply use their smartphones, laptops or tablets to order Jollibee meals online by visiting JollibeeDelivery.com.

The new Jollibee Delivery Website boasts of an enhanced design interface, easy-to-use platform, order tracking and scheduling, as well as updated security features for secure transactions. 

It features all-time favorite Jollibee meals such as Chickenjoy, Yumburger, and Spaghetti, which can be delivered anytime and anywhere for a minimum order of just P200. Customers also have the option to pay via cash-on delivery or online using their credit and debit cards.

So, whenever you’re craving for delicious meals, just go to www.jollibeedelivery.com and your orders are a few clicks away.

For more information, like and visit Jollibee’s official Facebook page at www.facebook.com/JollibeePhilippines/.

YEO JIN GOO ‘MEMORY LINE’ FIRST FAN MEETING IN MANILA

Korean actor Yeo Jin Goo will be coming to Manila for the first time and will be staging his first fan meeting tour, Memory Line. The multi-awarded actor is excited to meet his local fans and create memories with them on Saturday, February 1, 2020 at the New Frontier Theater.

Fresh from the huge success of his latest television series, Hotel del Luna – currently airing on Abs-Cbn and is one of the highest rated Korean drama in cable television history, Yeo Jin Goo wants to thank his supporters and share valuable memories with them who have been with him through the years.

Yeo started as a child actor and his very first television drama appearances was in 2006 with I Want To Love. In 2008, the child actor appeared in the dramas Iljimae and Tazza, which he portrayed the younger versions of the lead characters. He won Best Child Actor for both series in the SBS Drama Awards.

He gained popularity through the period drama Moon Embracing the Sun, where he played the role of the young prince. Yeo also played the titular role in the 2013 movie Hwaji: The Monster Boy and his first leading role in a TV drama via Orange Marmalade that aired in 2015. In 2017, he starred in dramas Circle and Reunited Worlds and in the film Warriors of the Dawn.

2019 is surely an excellent year for the actor as he starred in three dramas of different genres, showcasing his versatility. He portrayed dual roles in The Crowned Clown, the romantic sci-fi drama My Absolute Boyfriend, and the fantasy drama Hotel del Luna.

Tickets to Yeo Jin Goo’s Memory Line – First Fan Meeting in Manila 2020 go on-sale on Sunday, December 22 at 11AM via TicketNet.com.ph, TicketNet outlets or call 8911-5555 for more information. Presented by Wilbros Live

#YeoJinGooManila2020
Follow @WilbrosLive on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram

Stephen King's The Outsider premiers January 13 exclusively on HBO GO and HBO

Based On Stephen King’s Bestselling Novel Of The Same Name, Cast Includes Jason Bateman, Ben Mendelsohn And Cynthia Erivo


Based on Stephen King’s bestselling novel of the same name, THE OUTSIDER is a new drama series that explores the investigation into the gruesome murder of a local boy and the mysterious force surrounding the case.


Debuting same time as the U.S. on Monday, 13 January at 10am with two episodes back-to-back on HBO GO and HBO with an encore telecast on the same day at 10pm on HBO, new episodes of this ten-episode series will premiere every Monday at the same time. 

The series follows police detective Ralph Anderson (Ben Mendelsohn), as he sets out to investigate the mutilated body of 11-year-old Frankie Peterson found in the Georgia woods. The mysterious circumstances surrounding this horrifying crime leads Ralph, still grieving the recent death of his own son, to bring in unorthodox private investigator Holly Gibney (Cynthia Erivo), whose uncanny abilities he hopes will help explain the unexplainable.

The cast includes Emmy and Golden Globe nominee Ben Mendelsohn (“Bloodline,” “Ready Player One”) as Ralph Anderson; Tony Award winner and Golden Globe nominee Cynthia Erivo (“The Color Purple,” “Harriet”) as Holly Gibney; Bill Camp (Emmy®-nominee for “The Night Of”) as Howie Salomon; Mare Winningham (Oscar® nominee for “Georgia”) as Ralph’s wife Jeannie Anderson; Paddy Considine (HBO’s upcoming “The Third Day”) as Claude Bolton, manager of a local strip club; Julianne Nicholson (HBO’s upcoming “Mare of Easttown”) as Glory Maitland; Yul Vázquez (“Divorce”) as Georgia Bureau of Investigation detective Yunis Sablo; Jeremy Bobb (CINEMAX’s “The Knick”) as Alec Pelley, a private investigator hired by Howie; and Marc Menchaca (“The Sinner”) as detective Jack Hoskins; with Emmy® and Golden Globe winner Jason Bateman (“Ozark,” “Arrested Development”) as Terry Maitland.



Upcoming episodes:



Episode 1: "Fish in a Barrel"

Debut date: Monday, 13 January at 10am on HBO GO and HBO

When the body of an 11-year-old boy is found in the Georgia woods, detective Ralph Anderson (Ben Mendelsohn) launches an investigation into the gruesome murder. With eyewitnesses and physical evidence pointing to local teacher and baseball coach Terry Maitland (Jason Bateman), Ralph makes a very public arrest but is perplexed by Terry's seeming indifference to hiding his crime. After Terry's wife Glory (Julianne Nicholson) calls their attorney Howie Salomon (Bill Camp) for assistance, a bewildered Terry produces an ironclad alibi during interrogation. Meanwhile, Howie calls in his PI Alec Pelley (Jeremy Bobb) to look into Terry's side of the story. Written by Richard Price; directed by Jason Bateman.



Episode 2: "Roanoke"

Debut date: Monday, 13 January at 11am on HBO GO and HBO

During a surreptitious late-night visit with Terry (Jason Bateman), Ralph (Ben Mendelsohn) admits to being baffled by conflicting physical evidence. The next day, an unexpected tragedy throws the investigation into a tailspin, and ornery detective Jack Hoskins (Marc Menchaca) is forced to cut his hunting trip short to return to work and pick up the slack. Meanwhile, Glory (Julianne Nicholson) tries to soothe her daughter Jessa (Scarlett Juniper Blum), who says she's been visited by a strange man in her room at night. Written by Richard Price; directed by Jason Bateman.



Episode 3: "Dark Uncle"

Debut date: Monday, 19 January at 10am on HBO GO and HBO

Despite being on mandatory leave, Ralph (Ben Mendelsohn) continues to scrutinize the confounding circumstances surrounding the night of the murder. Frustrated by their lack of progress, Ralph and GBI detective Yunis Sablo (Yul Vázquez) meet with Alec (Jeremy Bobb) and Howie (Bill Camp), who suggest bringing in unorthodox PI Holly Gibney (Cynthia Erivo). Jack (Marc Menchaca) has a hair-raising experience at a remote barn where key evidence and a mysterious substance have been found. Glory (Julianne Nicholson) deals with fallout at her daughters' school and with Jessa's (Scarlett Juniper Blum) increasingly concerning nightmares. Written by Richard Price; directed by Andrew Bernstein.



Episode 4: "Que Viene El Coco"

Debut date: Monday, 26 January at 10am on HBO GO and HBO

While retracing the Maitlands' recent family vacation in Dayton, Ohio, Holly (Cynthia Erivo) pursues a possible connection to an eerily similar case and gains valuable insight from local former detective Andy Katcavage (Derek Cecil). Meanwhile, Glory (Julianne Nicholson) faces increased scrutiny in her daily life, and Jack's (Marc Menchaca) behavior grows progressively more erratic. Written by Richard Price; directed by Andrew Bernstein.



Episode 5: " Tear-Drinker"

Debut date: Monday, 3 February at 10am on HBO GO and HBO

After returning from an eye-opening trip to New York, Holly (Cynthia Erivo) searches for clues at several locations connected to the Dayton case. Jeannie (Mare Winningham) finds herself shaken by an unnerving incident at work and delivers an ominous warning to Ralph (Ben Mendelsohn). Jack (Marc Menchaca) is put on the defensive at Tamika’s (Hettienne Park) baby shower. Written by Richard Price; directed by Igor Martinovic.



Episode 6: " The One About the Yiddish Vampire"

Debut date: Monday, 10 February at 10am on HBO GO and HBO

Holly (Cynthia Erivo) presents her unusual theory about the connection between two other mysterious child murders and the Frankie Peterson case. While Ralph (Ben Mendelsohn) remains skeptical, a more receptive Yunis (Yul Vázquez) suggests they start looking into Claude (Paddy Considine), the last person to have contact with Terry (Jason Bateman). Jeannie’s (Mare Winningham) attempt to include Glory (Julianne Nicholson) in their group of concerned citizens backfires. Written by Jessie Nickson-Lopez; directed by Karyn Kusama.


THE OUTSIDER is produced by Mendelsohn and executive producer Bateman, who also directs the first two episodes. The series is written for television by Richard Price (“The Wire,” “The Night Of”), who also serves as executive producer. Executive producers include Andrew Bernstein, Marty Bowen for Temple Hill Entertainment, Jack Bender, Michael Costigan for Aggregate Films, and Dennis Lehane. The series is produced by Bateman’s Aggregrate Films, Temple Hill Entertainment and Civic Center Media in association with MRC Television.

TikTok’s partnership with the Department of Tourism marks the launch of the #TikTokTravel initiative

TikTok Head Public Policy for the Philippines, Indonesia and Malaysia Donny Eryastha shakes hands with Tourism Asec. Howard Lance Uyking after signing the Memorandum of Understanding. 


TikTok, world’s leading destination for short-form mobile videos, forges partnership with the Department of Tourism (DOT) to promote and showcase the beauty of the Philippines to the platform’s global audience. DOT is the first government agency to partner with TikTok and names the platform as its co-branding partner for its signature campaign: It’s More Fun in the Philippines.

The partnership was sealed with the Signing of the Memorandum of Agreement between Donny Eryastha, TikTok Head of Public Policy for the Philippines, Malaysia and Indonesia,  and Howard Lance Uyking, DOT Assistant Secretary for Branding and Marketing Communications at the Manila Hotel on December 12, 2019. 

The partnership serves as the pilot programme in the Philippines for #TikTokTravel, a global campaign launched by TikTok across 90 countries worldwide. #TikTokTravel is an initiative that aims to inspire users to creatively capture and share their favourite travel moments. 

With a global presence across 154 countries, TikTok hopes the campaign will serve as a springboard to introduce various travel moments to  social media fans, from breath-taking scenery to inspirational cultural heritage, from seeing to experiencing, and from recording to sharing - all on mobile. 

As part of the partnership, DOT will launch its official account and a hashtag challenge early next year. TikTok will support the account verification and boost the official video of the challenge and will be endorsed by its popular creators.

In line with this, TikTok creators were also introduced during the event to advocate local tourism as part of the global campaign #TikTokTravel.

Creators who attended the partnership launch were: Mikoy Uy, Sai Datinguinoo, Jiro Morato, Lennie Enverga, Chierald Tan, Simon Javier, Cassie Barrameda, Alyssa Profeta, Shane Buhat, and TikTok All-Stars Champion for Talent, Yanyan de Jesus. Other popular creators are expected to join and promote these initiatives.

“After the successful global launch of TikTok Travel back in June 2019, TikTok comes full circle in localization in the Philippines as it officially partners with the Department of Tourism and promote its long-time on-going tourism slogan: It’s More Fun in the Philippines. By showcasing the beauty and wonders of the Philippines through the lens of users and influential creators, TikTok embraces cultural and geographical diversity as it transcends boundaries. With a raw, unfiltered glimpse of the people, culture and places, TikTok brings to life the deeper meaning behind each destination,” said Eryastha.

Tourism Asec. Howard Lance Uyking

“With this partnership with TikTok, the DOT is poised to reach this important and increasingly discriminating audience, as we tell the story of our wonderful destinations, rich culture, and amazing people--in a music-enhanced, filter-filled, and most ambitious way. The TikTok platform has popularized numerous lip-sync memes and dance challenges—which are, of course, among the things we Filipinos just love to do. I have no doubt our nation’s creative minds can make our 7,641 islands “go viral” on the world wide web. And with that, I’d like to challenge everyone to travel the country, whip out your phones, and capture in 15 seconds why “It’s more fun in the Philippines,” said Uyking.

Embracing the spirit of TikTok, the #TikTokTravel campaign transcends boundaries and celebrates diversity. By empowering people to quickly and easily capture and share moments that matter in their lives from their smartphones, TikTok has become increasingly popular for showcasing authentic travel moments, with almost 400,000 videos under the #TikTokTravel hashtag and a total of 5.6 billion views and counting. These videos range from creators interacting with nature in various ways, to immersing themselves in different cultures such as tasting street food, to trying their hand at uniquely local experiences.

TikTok’s  partnership with DOT is just the beginning of more initiatives to extend the platform to advocacies that gives meaning to everything that everyone is passionate about.

This campaign is proudly supported by GetGo.

Must-visit churches in Manila for Simbang Gabi

For that Simbang Gabi moment,  these are the must-visit churches in Manila with your loved ones. I love love these churches because there is a food stall with the traditional eats puto bumbong and bibingka available right after the mass. 


It's such a treat to sleep in these days with the cool breeze of December mornings coming through the walls of our rooms. But many Filipinos would surely brave the cold temperature to attend a mass at four in the morning once the Simbang Gabi season begins.  

Simbang Gabi is one of the favorite Filipino Christmas traditions which starts on the 16th of December and ends on the 24th of December--the eve of Christmas day. Many locals believe that if you complete the nine dawn masses, your prayers and wishes will be granted. But others troop to churches to bond with their families and friends and enjoy freshly cooked bibingka or puto bumbong  after hearing the mass. 

If you're in Manila, you're in luck because of the abundance of churches, accessible by the LRT-1 line, you can visit for Simbang Gabi. 

Check out the top five picks of ikotMNL:

1. Baclaran Church


(Photo from Baclaranchurch.org)

The National Shrine of Our Mother of Perpetual Help, more famously known as the Baclaran Church, is one of the oldest, historical, and go-to church for Simbang Gabi in southern Manila. The vast and towering cathedral is perfect for Christmas feels and vibes, and is easily accessed through the LRT-1 Baclaran station.

2. Malate Church


Malate Church (Photo from Malatechurch.org)

The beautiful stone-wrought Malate Church, also known as the Our Lady of Remedies Parish, is hard to miss—it’s still one of the most beautiful structures Malate. Just take the LRT-1 Quirino station for a quick ride to the church.

3. San Sebastian Church


(Photo by Judgefloro on Wikimedia Commons)

Ever wanted to feel like you were going to Christmas mass somewhere in Europe? Look no further than the Basilica Menor de San Sebastian, also known as the San Sebastian Church. The historic and only all-steel church in the Philippines isn’t far from the LRT-1 United Nations station. It is also one of the most beautiful shrines you can visit in Manila, even after the Simbang Gabi season.

4. San Agustin Church


 (Photo by bigberto on Wikimedia Commons)

Manila is not short on glorious churches, and two of them can be found inside our famous Walled City. Head to Intramuros via the LRT-1 Central Terminal and go to the San Agustin Church, one of the oldest and most popular parishes inside the historic city. 

5. Binondo Church

 (Photo by Patrick Roque on Wikimedia Commons)

Manila’s busiest shopping district is also home to another glorious minor basilica, the Binondo Church. For religious history buffs, it’s an important place for Filipino Christianity because its serves as the home parish of Filipino saint Lorenzo Ruiz. Get down at the LRT-1 Carriedo  station and ride a tricycle going to Binondo to reach this Manila landmark.

Easily get around Manila when you download the ikotMNL app to help you check the LRT-1 train schedule, crowd situation, advisories, and more! Download it on App Store or Google Play and follow @ikotMNL on Instagram!