It is no secret that Japanese anime has a lot of rich stories to offer, from exciting thrillers to epic adventures to just feel-good stories with humorous antics. But aside from these, some anime have also been notorious for their heartwrenching moments that had viewers wiping tears off of their cheeks!
If you’re interested in watching some tearjerker anime that would really give you the feels, look no further, as we’ve listed down 25 titles that you should watch right now if you really need a good cry!
1. Grave of the Fireflies (Film)
Perhaps Studio Ghibli’s most harrowing film, Grave of the Fireflies tells the story of siblings Seita and Setsuko as they try to fend for themselves during the onslaught of World War II. As the American’s firebombs continue to drop on the streets, the siblings’ survival gets slimmer by the minute.
2. Your Lie in April (Series)
Your Lie in April exhibits both the beauty and pain music can evoke. After his mother’s death left him traumatized, piano prodigy Kōse becomes unable to hear the sound of his piano and only sees the world in monochrome. Years later, he meets the lively violinist Kaori who slowly brings back the color to his life. Stream Your Lie in April soon on Netflix.
3. 5 Centimeters Per Second (Film)
A story about growing apart, Makoto Shinkai’s short film 5 Centimeters Per Second follows the encounters of childhood friends Takaki and Akari. When Takaki’s family moves to the other side of the country, the distance slowly chips away at their relationship. Stream 5 Centimeters Per Second on Netflix.
4. Anohana: The Flower We Saw That Day (Series)
A tale of friendship and death, Anohana centers on Jinta and his childhood friends who all drifted apart after Menma, the littlest and most innocent of the group, died in an accident. Now a young adult, Jinta is soon acquainted with the ghost of a grown-up Menma, who asks him to grant her mysterious wish.
5. A Silent Voice (Film)
A Silent Voice follows a young man’s search for redemption he may not be worthy of. It tells the story of Shouya, a cruel elementary student who bullies his deaf classmate Shouko until she decides to change schools. Years later, Shouya is still haunted by his wrongdoings as a young boy and decides to find Shouko to make amends.
6. Your Name (Film)
Your Name takes the body swap cliché and turns it into a heartwarming, romantic tale. It follows Mitsuha and Taki– two teens living from different parts of Japan whose bodies suddenly started swapping. The more time they spend with the other person’s body, the deeper the connection between them becomes. A connection that soon turns into romance.
7. I Want to Eat Your Pancreas (Film)
This film follows an aloof boy who seems to avoid social interactions, thus having no friends for most of his life. This changes when he accidentally reads a book in a hospital waiting room, which happens to be the diary of his popular classmate. The two then began to develop a connection after she reveals to him that she’s secretly suffering from a fatal pancreatic illness.
8. Clannad (Series)
In Clannad, the school delinquent Tomoya thinks that life is dull and wastes his time skipping classes. But his life takes a turn when he becomes friends with Nagisa, a girl who was held back a year due to a severe illness. When he learns that her dream is to revive the drama club, Tomoya joins her in her mission, meeting four more girls and helping them overcome their respective life hurdles.
9. Angel Beats! (Series)
Angel Beats! plays on the concept of a high school-like limbo, where the students must overcome the hardships they experienced in life before passing on. After finding himself in this limbo, Yuzuru is recruited into the Afterlife Battlefront, a rebel group fighting against an unseen god as payback for the members’ unfair circumstances in life. As Yuzuru navigates this new world, he regains more of his memories, and ultimately, discovers the afterlife’s true purpose.
Photo: Netflix
10. Violet Evergarden (Series)
Filled with heartbreaking moments, this anime follows the young ex-soldier Violet Evergarden, who is now navigating the post-Great War world. Assigned to a writers’ agency, Violet writes letters to connect people, while suffering from the pains of her own past. Stream Violet Evergarden on Netflix.
11. Orange (Series)
What if you can prevent the things that you will be regretting later in life? This is the premise of Orange, which follows the sophomore student Naho. One day, she receives a letter from herself ten years into the future, telling her of the mistakes and regrets she will be having in the future, including losing a person that she has yet to meet.
12. Elfen Lied (Series)
This sci-fi fantasy series touches on dark and serious themes such as discrimination, abuse, revenge, and jealousy just to name a few. It centers on the mutated species of Diclonius, who have a humanlike appearance but are dangerous killers. It follows the Diclonii Lucy who escapes from an experiment facility and wreaks havoc on the area. After getting injured, Lucy develops a second, childish personality called Nyu.
Photo: Amazon Prime Video
13. Steins; Gate (Series)
Steins; Gate explores the consequences of time travel. It tells the story of Rintaro Okabe who develops a time travel machine using a microwave oven. When the research organization SERN learns about this, they send men to retrieve the technology, killing Rintaro’s friend, Mayuri, in the process. Rintaro then tries to undo everything through his time machine, but saving her would also entail grave consequences. Stream Steins; Gate on Netflix.
Photo: Amazon Prime Video
14. Tokyo Magnitude 8.0 (Series)
This anime bares the horrors of a natural disaster, specifically an earthquake that leaves cities in ruins in its wake. Tokyo Magnitude 8.0 follows the two young siblings, Mirai and Yuki, who were visiting a robot exhibition in Odaiba when a massive earthquake happens in Tokyo. Alongside the motorcycle courier Mari who is trying to get home to her own daughter, the two kids journey to the partly-ruined city to be reunited with their parents.
15. Wolf Children (Film)
Wolf Children tells the story of Hana who falls in love with an enigmatic man that could turn into a wolf. After bearing his two wolf-human children, tragedy struck leaving Hana widowed. The movie then follows Hana’s hardships as she raises the two children on her own, children who want to experience many things in the world but are hindered by their feral callings.
Grand Hyatt Manilacordially invites guests to enjoy the grandest afternoon tea in the metro through their Merienda Cena at The Lounge, launching this June 17, 2022.
Enjoy intimate gatherings and revel in the posh spaces of The Lounge, with its gleaming chandeliers, grandiose columns, and emerald-like staircases, and indulge in Merienda Cena’s exquisite spread of free-flowing fine gastronomic creations, perfect to pair with a premium cuppa tea, coffee, or a glass of rosé.
Photo: Grand Hyatt Manila
Taking the English tradition closer to home, Grand Hyatt Manila’s creative culinary team headed by executive chef Mark Hagan, French pastry chef Nicolas Vergnole, together with local sous chef Cid Lapena, curated Merienda Cena’s extensive menu that puts a modern twist on native delicacies with locally sourced ingredients.
The Grand Hyatt Manila lobby
A luxurious merienda
At Merienda Cena, familiar Filipino favorites turn into tempting, lavish treats. They offer sumptuous open-faced sandwiches such as the Lechon Sisig with confit egg yolk and liver pate; the savory Beef Salpicao with garlic puree and crisp potato strings; the tangy Pickled Milkfish with beetroot, sour cream horseradish, and atchara; and the refreshing Prawn Cocktail with calamansi mayonnaise.
Photo: Grand Hyatt Manila
They also have seafood cocktails served in wine and martini glasses such as the Shrimp Cocktail with marie rose sauce, lemon, iceberg lettuce, and tabasco; and the Tuna Ceviche, or Kinilaw na Tuna, made with spiced vinegar, chili, red onion, and crushed pork crackling.
Tuna CevicheShrimp CocktailPhotos: Grand Hyatt Manila
To tame your palates in between these flavorful bites, they also have the Baked Brie Pithivier with red onion and cranberry, and some Traditional Homemade Scones served with fruit preserves and clotted cream.
Baked Brie PithivierTraditional Homemade Scones
Ready to dig into their sweet selections? Their dessert station includes signature cakes such as the Almond Florentine Cake, Strawberry Cheesecake, Berry Shortcake Roulade, Mocha Hazelnut Cake, and the Mango Tart with lime cream.
Their live station also serves the Mango Sans Rival Espuma and the Bananas Foster– a sweet treat akin to the local banana cue which is flambeed in front of you using Don Papa rum, and served with French toast and homemade creme chantilly.
Completing your afternoon tea is their lineup of drinks. You can take your pick from their selection of premium coffee, loose leaf and herbal tea, and rosé.
Merienda Cena’s live stationBananas FosterYou can also avail free-flowing rosé for your afternoon tea.Photo: Grand Hyatt Manila
Merienda Cena will be available to the public starting this June 17, every Friday to Sunday from 2:30 PM to 6 PM. It is priced at P1,500 net per person and P1,950 for guests who’d like to add free-flowing rosé to their afternoon tea. See the full menu here.
For inquiries and reservations, call (63 2) 8838 1234 or email manila.grand@hyatt.com. For updates on their latest promotions, follow Grand Hyatt Manila on Instagram and Facebook.
Whether it’s for our personal comfort and cravings, or as a pasalubong everyone can enjoy, donuts are truly the perfect go-to snack for the sweet-toothed crowd. Available in different shapes and flavors, these decadent treats are often topped, filled, or dunked in flavored cream, dusted with sugar, and/or crowned with tempting toppings that we just cannot say no to!
If you’re currently seeking to sink your teeth into delicious donuts around the metro, we’ve got you covered. Here are some donut shops and brands in Metro Manila to get your donut fix from!
Baker on East
This home-based brand originating from Quezon City offers a rich selection of cream-filled donuts. They offer combined classic and unique flavors including Pink Polvoron, Burnt Honey, Peanut Butter, Raspberry Rose, Toasted Milk Jam, Milk Chocolate with Sea Salt, and more.
Order here Location for pick-up: Teacher’s Village, Quezon City
From hearty meals to savory sandwiches to delectable desserts, Bungalow Cafe has so much to offer. For their donuts lineup, they have the classic donut-with-a-hole in Glazed, Pumpkin Spiced, Sugar Coated, Auro Glazed, and Homer variants. Their filled donuts also have delectable flavors such as Chocolate Sundae, Dulce de Leche, Turon with Langka, and more.
Order here Location: Molito Lifestyle Center, Alabang, Muntinlupa City
Cello’s Doughnuts also gives us a delightful roster of treats that are generously topped and filled. Aside from their wide selection of flavors, they also have letter-shaped donuts, perfect for giving greetings and gifting sweets in one go!
Order here Locations: Katipunan | Shangri-La Plaza
Dunkin’ is perhaps the most accessible source for our much-needed donut fix. With over 2,600 stores in more than 30 countries, some of Dunkin’s most popular offerings here in the country are the Choco Butternut, Choco Honeydipped, and Boston Kreme donuts.
Green Bar brings vegans the guilt-free indulgence of our beloved comfort foods. For their donuts, they offer a long list of flavors including Churro, Chocolate Biscoff, Coconut Caramel, Very Berry, Samoa, and Chocolate Dream Filled Donut, just to name a few.
Originating from Indonesia, J.CO is another accessible brand for premium donuts whenever and wherever one’s cravings hit. They have over thirty flavors of donuts, including Alcapone, Oreology, Forest Glam, Avocado Dicaprio, Green Tease, JCOccino, and more!
This American donut brand has also become a staple to the donut-loving crowd of the city. Aside from the familiar flavors you could never go wrong with, Krispy Kreme is also best known for their Original Glazed donuts that are soft and doughy with a satisfying sugar glaze.
Home to Pinoy favorites such as the pichi-pichi, one of Lola Nena’s most popular offerings are their old-fashioned donuts, available in classic and triple cheese. Their donuts are more familiar to Filipino palates, being a sizeable snack with a soft dough coated in sugar, like a premium version of the breads we often purchase from our local neighborhood bakery.
Numnut brings together the goodness of donuts and sourdough bread. Their sourdough donuts available in pre-orders come in tempting flavors such as Maple Bacon, Darth Choco, S’mores, Cereal Milk, and more!
Poison Coffee & Donuts is the shop to keep your eye on if you always like to try new flavors. They continue to bring unique and exciting flavors to their roster, perfect for adventurous palates. Some of their latest offerings include nostalgia-inducing flavors such as the Hawhaw Doughnut and Chocnut Doughnut.
Order here Location: The Alley at Karrivin, Karrivin Plaza, Makati City
PUFFT Doughnuts offers the beloved treat with soft and fluffy dough plus a generous filling you can really dig into. Aside from their filled and frosted donuts that go the extra mile in their eye-catching toppings, they also have loaded donuts that are basically sweet sandwiches filled to the brim with fruits and other delectable flavors.
Order here Locations: Power Plant Mall & Uptown Bonifacio (Thursdays to Sundays)
Tim Horton’s has been serving donuts in Canada since the 1960s, and the brand finally reached our shores back in 2017, bringing with them their premium donuts that are just addicting to the sweet-toothed crowd. Some of their offerings include the Chocolate Dip, Maple Dip, Old-fashion Glazed, their bite-sized Timbits, and more.
Tucked within the bustling streets and towering buildings of Legazpi, Makati, BAD Cafe is a cool and quiet space serving comfort food and coffee for the Makati crowd’s collective cravings. Now, the cafe has expanded its menu adding a cool lineup of cocktails and offering a chill spot for anyone who wants a calm kick of alcohol as they relax and unwind after a busy week!
After entering BAD Cafe’s doors, one can easily loosen up as they’re greeted by the cafe’s easy-on-the-eyes interior with Japanese wood accents and minimalist decor. The cafe’s atmosphere feels intimate yet is quite spacious at the same time, having a seating capacity of up to 40 customers.
But what gives BAD Cafe a BAD name (literally) despite having such a good, cozy vibe, you ask? BAD actually stands for the names of its owners, Brian and Dianne, whose love story inspired the lovely cafe. The place, as well as their offerings, are an ode to the couple’s first meeting in a Tokyo cafe and the adventures they’ve spent together in Japan’s capital city.
“BAD Cafe has always been about what we – Dianne and I – love, which are coffee, food, and now cocktails. We hope our regulars, and even first-timers fall in love with our new drinks and enjoy the experiences we want to share – in a glass, or maybe two,” shared Brian.
A Good Time at BAD Cafe
Like their food and coffee, BAD Cafe makes sure that their newly-added cocktails are concocted with quality ingredients. Not only that, the man behind their cocktails is Kenneth Bandivas of Spirits Library and Kampai, who is a winner of Diageo Worldclass’ Around the World Challenge Global Finals and was also recognized as Bartender of the Year.
For every drink they serve, BAD Cafe aims to transport customers to the famed bars of Shinjuku Golden Gai. Here’s a roundup of their new drinks you can now enjoy any time of the day.
If you lean towards the classics, you can order their Whiskey Sour (P350), Negroni (P350), Moscow Mule (P350), or Sazerac (P480). You can also opt for a refreshing glass of Gin Basil Smash (P350) or the cocktail combined with coffee goodness, Espresso Martini (P350).
But if you really want to have the BAD Cafe experience, be sure to order their signature cocktails. The Open Book (P450) is a gin-based drink with the fresh and fruity flavor of elderflower; the Oto Kichi(P420) mixes vodka with the umami of matcha; the Not Suspicious (P450) is a bittersweet drink, mixing blended malt whiskey with apricot liqueur and chocolate bitters; while the Albatros Golden Gai (P330) is a spiced rum-based drink concocted with horchata and cinnamon.
Last but definitely not the least, the Deathmatch in Hell (P420) combines the kick of spiced rum, the caffeine kick of coffee, the bittersweet flavor of Campari, and the taste of sweet vermouth.
Comfortable and easy to wear, T-shirts are always reliable, especially in this tropical country where the sun is up most often than not (even when the rainy season has begun). But while the shirt has a simplistic, functional design, it can still be stylish and represent our personality, thanks to the many cool prints out there. If you’re searching for such tees to wear, this list might help you out. Here are brands that offer some awesome graphic T-shirts you’d want to add-to-cart right now!
Linya-Linya
Linya-Linya was founded by long-time college friends turned workmates Ali Sangalang and Panch Alvarez. With Ali’s witty lines and Panch’s caricatures, the two have decided to mash it up together, and the result is today’s popular brand known for their hand-drawn punny designs that are really relatable to us Pinoys.
Artwork offers a cool lineup of tees, pouches, totes, and hats. Aside from their very Pinoy statements, most of their designs also feature bold illustrations and striking collages paired with vibrant colors that cater to different types of people who like to express themselves through what they wear.
Spoofs, as its name suggests, pokes fun at iconic brands, movies, and logos through its designs. Some of the prints you can find from their lineup are the Squid Game spoof “Squid Balls”, the Pringles mascot turned into Heneral Luna, The Good Doctor spoof “The Good Drinker”, and more!
This brand’s name is in itself already a statement, reflecting its positive vision for the future of kids everywhere. Thus, DBTK’s bold and vibrant prints that often feature iconic characters from our childhood really appeal to the youth.
Matikas Artwear makes cool prints that touch on our nostalgia. From that epic spaceship we conjured up using clothespins to the high-octane races we’ve had sitting under the sewing machine, Matikas Artwear’s prints really remind us of our simple yet awesome childhood.
This T-shirt brand has a wide selection of eye-catching designs that emulate the grungy look of classic pop art prints. Their many designs could really speak to different lifestyles and reflect one’s love for food, exercise, bicycling, and Pinoy roots.
Team Manila’s lineup of graphic tees really captures the identity and culture of Manila, as well as the Filipino experience. They also have the Daily Grind label offering motivational prints for Pinoys out there who are committed to their hustle.
Here’s another brand to check out if you’re channeling your Filipino identity into your garb. Indio Filipino has some bold designs depicting the baybayin and other elements that represent our culture such as the tamaraw, sarimanok, and more.
Our shopping guides and recommendations are independently selected and curated by the editorial team. We may earn a small commission from the product links if you decide to shop from them, at no cost to you. ClickTheCity does not accept money for editorial features.
Are you ready for the biggest and darkest season yet of Stranger Things?
The third season of the hit Netflix series left us dreadful yet hopeful for our favorite characters. After the Battle of Starcourt which resulted in the deaths of Billy and Hopper, we get to see the gang going on their separate ways as the Byers family and Eleven move out of Hawkins for a fresh start.
But as the trailers for the fourth season rolled out, we learned that Hopper is actually still alive and held captive. Soon, the gang will also have to face a new threat brewing between Hawkins and the Upside Down– a sinister being called Vecna.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yQEondeGvKo&t
Before the return of the hit Netflix horror sci-fi series this May 27, we got to virtually sit with the cast of the show where they shared more details about the growth of their characters this season, their new nemesis Vecna, and more. The show’s creators, the Duffer Brothers, also gave some details about the making of the latest season.
A bigger, darker season that dives deep into the Upside Down mythos.
Through a social media post, the Duffer Brothers confirmed that season 4 will be the penultimate season for the entire series and that it is “bigger than ever.” In fact, with its large scope, season 4 has been divided into two volumes, with the first half getting released this May 27, to be followed by the remaining episodes on July 1.
“We call this our Game of Thrones season,” states Matt Duffer in the press notes provided by Netflix. “Because we have so many different locations. The fact that we’re as spread out as we are this year defines the season more than anything. I think that’s what makes it a very unique and special season of Stranger Things. We have Hawkins, of course, as always, but then on top of that, we have California and Russia. We have storylines in those three major locations, and each has a very distinct feel and look. And all these storylines, disparate as they are, do end up, eventually and inevitably, coming together. It’s a very unique season.”
Photo courtesy of Netflix
Ross Duffer also shares how dark this season will be: “We had a lot of fun with the fact that season 3 was set in summer, and it was really technicolor and bright and very poppy. We saw it as our summer blockbuster, but it had one of the darker endings with Hopper being gone and our group splitting up. We continue with that darkness this season. It’s about dread, and it’s also about revelations. We have so many ideas that we accumulate over the years, and this season it feels like we’re finally bringing almost all of them to life. We learn more this season than we ever have about our mythology. We learn a lot about the Upside Down and what this evil force that’s been threatening Hawkins all these years really wants. It’s exciting for us because a lot of the story is uncovered this season. Overall, I would say that the tone is certainly darker than it’s been. The goal was to make this the scariest season yet.”
Photo courtesy of Netflix
Whatever happened to Eleven and the gang?
This season, we find Eleven and Will trying to fit in at their new high school in California. According to Ross Duffer, their new suburban home “has a very different vibe. The goal for California was to have an E.T. the Extra-terrestrial, Valley feel to it.”
But this is also the first time that Eleven is away from Hawkins as a new evil emerges to threaten her friends back home. Not only that but she also lost her powers last season.
“She’s helpless even when she learns about what has happened in Hawkins,” explains Matt Duffer. “She’s unable to help them in the same way that she has before. This season, she has to revisit her entire past, which is very traumatic. She has to go back and re-experience a lot of the things she wished she had forgotten. And that is the drive of this season.”
Photo courtesy of Netflix
Back at Hawkins, the remaining kids are also navigating the complexities of high school. “We see Lucas as he’s pulled over to the side of the jocks because he’s athletic, and he thinks he has a shot at being popular for once. Dustin and Mike, who are less athletically gifted, drift more naturally to the Hellfire Club, with the nerds and the outsiders. That creates a little bit of a rift between our core characters. Max is completely adrift at the start of the season,” Matt shared.
Meanwhile, the older members of the group are mostly facing some romantic struggles. Nancy and Jonathan are trying to work out their long-distance relationship; Robin is trying to gather some courage to confess to her crush; while Steve Harrington is just lost on how to find a girl he could click with. As for the adults, Joyce and Murray set off on a quest to find and rescue Hopper.
Photo courtesy of Netflix
Introducing the Hellfire Club, Eddie Munson, & Argyle.
This season, fans will be introduced to the Hellfire Club, Hawkins High’s Dungeons & Dragons club, which is run by a major new character named Eddie Munson, played by Joseph Quinn.
“Eddie’s not your typical nerd; he’s really into fantasy, but he’s also into heavy metal music,” explains Matt Duffer. “He has a band. He’s an outsider — he’s the ultimate outsider in a lot of ways. He doesn’t fit in at Hawkins High, except among the members of his exclusive club. Eddie is looked down upon and feared in a lot of ways by other Hawkins students. But he offers a place where Dustin and Mike can feel at home.”
Photo courtesy of Netflix
The Duffer Brothers also cited how during that time in the ‘80s, there was a concern that D&D’s popularity was leading to a rise in Satanism. Ross Duffer adds: “We were really inspired by that sort of Satanic panic that was happening in and around this time. The documentary series Paradise Lost was an inspiration for both Eddie and the Hellfire Club. We’re really excited about diving into that stuff.”
Another new character that will be introduced this season is Argyle, played by Eduardo Franco. As Ross Duffer put it, Argyle is the “quintessential ‘80s stoner.” A pizza delivery guy, Argyle becomes friends with Jonathan after the Byers moved to California.
Asked about the new characters’ chemistry with the established cast, Joseph Quinn says this about the show’s writing: “They brilliantly take these new energies and throw them into this already very dense broth– character broth– which is working and alive, and there’s something new in there.”
Max and Lucas’ struggles this season.
This season, fans will find Max in a dark place after her stepbrother’s demise during the Battle of Starcourt. Aside from Eleven’s traumas, Max’s struggle to overcome this tragedy will also be highlighted this season. And her being distant will also have an effect on her childhood sweetheart, Lucas, who is also lost in a way this season.
Photo from the Stranger Things Season 4 trailer
“I think we find Max and Lucas just in very different places in their lives,” shares Sadie Sink. “Max is in a lot of pain and in typical Max fashion she doesn’t want anyone to know it. So I think having someone like Lucas who’s extremely caring and was able to see her in a way that a lot of people can’t, I think that’s really scary for her. But Lucas, he just cares too much.”
Caleb McLaughlin adds: “I feel like the distance [between Lucas and Max] has put Lucas in a very vulnerable place […] Max is his happiness, his friend. And when that’s not there, and he sees the things that she’s going through, he’s kind of lost as well. He feels her pain. There’s a lot of stuff going on there. You know in season 3, I forgot how many times Max broke up with him. But at that moment, he gets her back every time. But at this moment, I think he feels like ‘Wait, maybe I won’t be able to, maybe there’s something more than just this relationship.’ It’s bigger than just them, so he’s just trying to figure out what’s happening.”
Vecna and the psychological horror of season 4.
After the Demogorgon, Demodogs, and the Mind Flayer, this season’s big bad comes in the form of Vecna– a terrifying human-like monster that could torture our heroes through their heads.
“The main villain this season is our version of Pinhead or Freddy Krueger. Since season 1, we’ve wanted to include a villain that could actually speak to our characters; that could vocalize their motives and their thoughts, and could also get into our characters’ heads. It’s much more of a psychological horror this year as opposed to just a monster movie,” says Ross Duffer.
The first time we saw the group in season 1, they are just little kids trying to find their friend Will while running away from Eleven’s pursuers. Three seasons later, we are still thrilled to see the next chapter in the lives of our beloved characters, especially now that we’re on its penultimate season.
“A lot of people talk about the nostalgia effect, and how that usually draws people in, especially those who grew up in the 1980s or who were teenagers in the ‘80s,” says Gaten Matarazzo when asked why the show is so popular. “So a lot of people gravitate towards that, but I think young people watch it because it’s pretty cool to see a young cast lead a show like this. And there are a lot of reasons why people show up and stay, because they genuinely start to feel for the show and the characters involved. It’s really wonderful to see how diverse our fanbase is. How many demographics– like older people like it, younger people like it. That’s really cool because that’s not common for shows.”
Photo courtesy of Netflix
Are you excited to see Eleven and the gang reunite to fight another evil from the Upside Down? Be sure to catch Stranger Things Season 4, Volume 1 when it drops on Netflix this May 27!
Audrey Niffenegger’s novel The Time Traveler’s Wife is heading to our screens with Game of Thrones star Rose Leslie and Theo James of The Divergent trilogy playing the lead roles.
The six-part HBO Original series created by Sherlock and Doctor Who‘s Steven Moffat and directed by David Nutter tells the love story of Henry de Tamble and Clare Abshire– a romantic relationship made complicated by the fact that Henry could time travel, but the strange phenomenon is out of his control. Thus, while Clare had already met Henry in her youth, when they meet again in their 20s, Henry doesn’t know her for they have yet to meet in Henry’s time-traveling timeline. Back in 2009, a film adaptation of the book has also been released starring Rachel McAdams and Eric Bana.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aoYXtKF_g1Y
Before the release of the brand new series this May 16, we got to virtually interview Leslie and James alongside their co-stars Desmin Borges and Natasha Lopez, as well as Moffat, Nutter, and producers Sue Virtue and Brian Minchin where they shared some behind-the-scenes details on how they recreated this beloved story from the pages to our screens. Check out the highlights of the interview below.
Can you describe your characters in this series?
Rose Leslie: I’m playing Clare Abshire, who is in fact the Time Traveler’s Wife. And so this is a story about Clare and Henry and how determined they are, their resolve to be together. The love story is essentially from her perspective. And we learn through Clare, what it is exactly, to live with somebody and to be in love with somebody who has this condition of time traveling, and then the implications that it has on the friendships that she has, on the relationships with her family, and ideally, how difficult it is to weather the storm that is [their relationship].
Theo James: I play Henry de Tamble in Time Traveler’s Wife. He suffers from an affliction, a disability, which is he gets thrown around in time and he can’t control it, he doesn’t know when it’s gonna happen. And he meets the love of his life Clare Abshire. But you know, he’s constantly drawn away from her by his inability to stay in one time and one place. And it’s kind of a story full of hope and love, but it’s also quite tragic, in many ways.
Photo: HBO
Natasha Lopez: My character’s name is Charisse, she is Clare’s best friend and roommate. She is a little neurotic, and she’s that friend you want to have that has no filter, and you want to have that person around. So yeah, that’s gonna be a brief introduction to my character, and there’s gonna be a lot of things happening.
Desmin Borges: I’m playing Gomez, and I am part of the best friend trio, with the lovely ladies. Gomez is a bit of a man-boy still out there in the world. He’s in the world of law but not in a great place in the world of law. He’s secretly in love with Clare while in a relationship with [Natasha], and hates Henry at the start. And then, his sort of loyal, truculent sort of nature takes over and as time goes by, he realizes that Henry and time travel is probably the coolest damn thing he ever experienced in his life and Henry becomes [his best friend] and the show basically becomes a bromance between the two of them.
Photo: HBO
For Rose Leslie, which age of your character did you enjoy playing the most?
Rose Leslie: I would say that my favorite version of Clare to play. Obviously, it was a lot of fun to portray a character in different stages of her life and to see the development that she then goes through. But for me, it was her 16-year-old self. I was putting on additional hair, does that make sense? I put on a wig that gave me longer hair. And it’s very realistic for me, it kind of sat well, which meant that suddenly I had hair all the way down to my hips and I would plait it and braid it, and playing with it reminded me of myself when I was younger. And suddenly with kind of insecurities that I had, I’d kind of hide behind the hair. And I play with it to distract, you know, the thoughts going on in my head. So it was quite surreal to go back in time and try and remember how it was, how I was like, when I was 16 years old, but because of the script and Steven kind of peppering it with comedy throughout certain scenes, it was really enjoyable to lean into that.
At its core, what do you think is the message of this show?
Rose Leslie: Well for me, I find that Clare is wholly committed to the love that she has for Henry. And that is admirable and remarkable that she is willing to wait with so much patience and understanding. And through the perseverance of both of them, deciding and choosing to make this relationship work, I’d feel that that is the message. That it is extraordinary and beautiful that they are both on this journey together unwavering in their faith to commit to it and to make it work as best as they can. And that perseverance for their love is something that I’ve suddenly taken away from reading the book.
Theo James: It’s hard to sum up in a way because there are so many things, you know. It’s memory. It’s also an analogy for how we deal with traumatic events in our lives, whether it’s, you know, abuse, that Claire suffers [from] or Henry and the death of his mother, and how that shaped his life. But the core of it really is, I think, can love transcend time? Is there an immortality to love beyond the specter of the human body and can love rise above all of that. And that sounds cheesy, but in a way it is. It’s about love conquering all, even though it’s a kind of doomed love story in the end.
Natasha Lopez: I think the show is so many things, cause I can’t really personally put it in one genre. There are so many things that happen, like in episode four, I feel like it’s very comedic. There’s a lot of tragedy. But I think for me, the overall theme is to live in the present moment and to really enjoy the people that you love […] I feel like other things get in the way, like work and life and we forget to be present and in the moment. And so I feel like, even though it is a sci-fi show, for me, it’s so relatable, because it’s pretty much the same thing. When you’re there, just be there. And it really is all about love, not just the main love story which is incredible, but you know, there are the friendships and the relationships. I think that love is really the resounding theme for me.
Photo: HBO
Desmin Borges: Yeah, love is definitely one of the main themes of it. I would have to say that the more I’m away from the project now and kind of looking back on it, I feel like it’s about missed connections, and finding the gray space in between that. We have so many times where we have Henry and Claire not jiving at the same point. You know, he’s in a different headspace. She already kind of knows what’s happening. He fills her in. She fills her in. And then you have the thing that’s happening with Gomez and Charisse and everybody on the outside. We don’t really know what’s happening, but we’re finding those moments in between when we’re really missing each other. And that’s the stuff that makes them human and enjoyable. And it keeps us as actors on the edge of our seats, and hopefully the audience as well.
How similar are you to your characters in this show?
Theo James: I would have loved to have young Henry’s floppy hair. It’s funny, I tried to grow out my hair before we did the show. And I was thinking, ‘Oh, I’m gonna be like this guy,’ and I got to sit with David, and the director took one look at me like and ‘Yeah, we’re gonna shave that head because you look ridiculous. You wear a wig.’ But joking aside, I think there are definitely similarities and you bring your own similarities to a character, you bring pieces of yourself to any character, I think most actors do. That’s your way in, you know, you try and empathize with them. But for me, I sit snugly between the ages of the guys that I’m playing. I’m 37 and I play a 28-year-old and a 42-year-old. And that puts me in a great place to be able to do both in a way I remember. I still am that young, kind of impulsive version of myself, but then I’m a bit longer in the tooth, and hopefully a little bit wiser. So I can imagine myself as a 42-year-old man and having a little bit more composure.
Rose Leslie: I totally agree with Theo about bringing elements of yourself to a character so that you hopefully try and exude some empathy for that person, as it were. But I certainly don’t have the patience that Clare has. And that was something that I wish I do have that type of patience, which I don’t. But yes, if only I was more like that, but I’m not.
Photo: HBO
Natasha Lopez: I feel like there are a lot of similarities except the fact that Natasha is not confrontational. I only don’t have a filter with my close friends. I feel like Charisse will lay down the law for anybody because she’s in the building and she needs to know. Whereas for me, I am I’m shy around people, I’m not that person. But with my close group of friends, they’ll tell you that I’m very blunt, very no filter. So in a way, I kind of wish I had that Charisse moment where she’s like “just go, just do it.” But I think I’m a little bit more shy when I don’t know people versus her.
Desmin Borges: I think Gomez actually kind of encapsulates me at different parts of my life. We’re both kids of the 80s. We both know that Back to the Future is the blueprint for anything time travel related. We’re both extremely loyal to the people we love. And we’ll go full hog and become aggressive if we feel that we or they are in any sort of danger. Although I don’t like to get physically aggressive. I’m from Chicago. So we get very talky sort of aggressive. And, you know, at the end of the day, I feel like, the space where we miss, where Gomez and Desmond don’t really coincide, I don’t really approve of him being in a relationship with one person and being in love with their best friend at the same time, I feel like Desmond would have attacked that at a different angle and made sure that their things weren’t so messy and sort of convoluted, but hey, you know, love is a messy thing right? So who’s to say, although I’ve never been in that situation, but that is Gomez in a nutshell. So I would say we’re, unfortunately very similar throughout different parts of my life, for Gomez, not for me, I’m very happy to be very much like him.
To producers Sue Virtue and Brian Minchin, what do you think makes The Time Traveler’s Wife a timeless love story that’s worth telling even to this day?
Brian Minchin: It’s a story about two people who are destined for each other and about what it’s like after how you sustain a marriage with the big problem of time travel. So it touches on the heart of a lot of people’s stories, which is, you know, there’s one big relationship which kind of defines your life, no matter what’s thrown at you, and kind of how you respond and get through that. And I also think it’s tremendously funny and sexy and scary and adventurous and exciting as a TV show. And I think it’s a great material because the time travel adds such elements to it.
Sue Virtue: And Rose and Theo, I think the chemistry between them is so good. It’s a joy to watch the two of them together, I think.
To Steven Moffat and director David Nutter, what was your approach to telling the story given that it’s a well-loved novel and there’s also a movie adaptation from 2009?
Steven Moffat: Well I suppose you always have to perceive from the assumption that it isn’t, if you see what I mean. You always have to tell the story again. You can’t make any assumptions that everybody knows it, and you certainly can’t make the assumption that everybody remembers it, so I was thinking, you just gotta behave like it’s brand new. Because actually, even if I’m watching yet another version of Sherlock Holmes or something, I’m thrilled to see it all done again. I don’t think the fact that it’s been done before is a problem at all, so you always address the new audience, because the easiest to seduce are the ones who already like it. So you’re always going for “If you know nothing about this, what do you think?” So you present it that way.
David Nutter: For my own self, sometimes it’s about, as a director, not needing the source material. Because to me, the screenplay is the source material. That’s my bible to some respect. So my opinion is to not read too many things that are off-topic or off-center, but I use the screenplay as my bible, as my source material […] and examine that more than anything.
Photo: HBO
What attracted you to the story and inspired you to turn it into a TV series?
Steven Moffat: I read the book nearly when it first came out, I think I read it in 2005. I absolutely loved it, wonderful story, and at the time I was in the very early stages of writing Doctor Who and I suggested to [Russell T Davies] we should do an episode like this. And I did an episode called The Girl in the Fireplace, which has some resemblance to The Time Traveler’s Wife. In Audrey’s next book, she has a character watching The Girl in the Fireplace on television. So I realized, at that point, she was onto me. I ripped her off and she ripped me off back again, so we got in touch and we were friendly and liked each other. She came to a screening of one of the River Song episodes of Doctor Who and so on […]
On the very last day, Brian Minchin and I were working on Doctor Who, he said ‘Look, I’ve been looking into the rights of The Time Traveler’s Wife, maybe we could do a TV version.’ And here, in television terms, in a very very short space of time, here we are. We went and pitched for the rates, got room, pitched to HBO, got permission, then frankly, if not for the pandemic, this would have been quicker. It was a speedy process. It comes from one of the best possible place– it comes from the love of the book.
Photo: HBO
David Nutter: Well, for my own self. I’ve had a lot of success with Warner Brothers and television and so forth. So Peter Roth has been my godfather when it comes to projects that I worked on and so forth. And then one thing he knew from me, and I told him this, at the get-go is that, if I don’t feel something, I can’t portray that. If I’m not moved by the script, I’m not touched by it, I can’t create that.
And when I read this script, it was just by hands down, the most personal, the most revealing, the most ambitious as far as the telling of an emotional story I’ve ever been involved in. And the elements in this show [are the things] that I tried to put in everything that I do. And in this show, every moment was just something special. And it was just something that I couldn’t turn down.
What is it about time travel as a theme that appeals to you?
Steven Moffat: Time travel, well, it’s a different way to look at your life. And that’s what the book does brilliantly. By putting your life in the jumbled up order that time travel allows, it gets you to see that love and loss are inextricably linked, that one entails the other, which I think is a vast thing. It means that happiness means sadness, it means togetherness means being apart. Light means shadow, all those things. And by dicing up the time travel, you are allowed not to forget.
The appeal of the overarching genre of time travel is if you can travel in time, you can go to a shore that cannot be reached by any other means. You and I cannot go to yesterday or last week, and we can’t go into the next 100 years unless we live for an unconscionable amount of time. So you know, places we can never go are particularly exotic to us. And time travel is a means of going to places that you can never reach, I suppose that’s what it is. Wouldn’t it be great to go see yesterday again, wouldn’t it be great to go and listen at the next table to your first date with the love of your life? And find out what you actually said and maybe even see what she might have liked about you because it’s always been a mystery to you. You know all that, all that.
David Nutter: I find audiences and people who really love science fiction, stories and so forth, they get so emotionally attached. They are so moved by this stuff, that some of these shows are part of their lives. Through the various conventions, meetings, and various people that I have met, these shows mean the world to them. And they’re so touched by it, and so moved by them. And their emotional lives are so tied up in these stories. And so when I read this, I said, ‘Oh, my God, I got something to hang on to here because this [will touch] somebody emotionally, it’s going to be a resounding success, it’s never been seen before.
What can you say about the perception that the story feels like Clare is just waiting for Henry to get back from his adventures?
Steven Moffat: That’s a wrong summary. The adventure is the love story. The time travel is the interruption. He just gets back there. He’s not like Doctor Who, he doesn’t run around saving people or solving crimes the way I obviously would. He just wants to get back home to Clare. The adventure, the story is what’s happening between the two of them. And, you know, it is a tricky thing with the character of Clare, that if you’re not inside her head as you are in the book, she can seem passive– the person to whom things happen. But that’s anything but what we do in the show. She’s quite angry sometimes. She’s been shown the markers to her future. And she’s got a strange dichotomy about that, but she quite likes that future. She likes it, ‘Because I liked this guy, and I’m in love with this guy. At the same time, I don’t like being told that’s my damn future. I’ll decide for myself what my future is. And you will not tell me.’
No, the reason I think [that] the millions that responded to that book is that’s kind of what falling in love is like. There’s a line at the beginning of chapter four when Henry says people always talk about agency, everybody’s got to have agency. Well, let me tell you something about falling in love. No one has any agency. That’s why they call it falling.
The Time Traveler’s Wife premieres the same time as the U.S. on May 16 at 9 AM on HBO and HBO GO, with a same-day 10 PM encore on HBO. A new episode will follow every Monday.
Netflix has a new K-drama up its sleeve this May! The Sound of Magic is a fantasy musical drama that follows a young lady struggling in life, as she crosses paths with a mysterious magician. Check out the trailer of The Sound of Magic below:
Before the series’ release on Netflix this May 6, 2022, we got to attend a virtual press conference and roundtable interview with the director and cast of The Sound of Magic, where they shared more details about the upcoming musical drama! Below are the things you need to know about this new K-drama on Netflix!
Synopsis
This 6-episode series directed by Kim Sung-Youn (Itaewon Class) is based on the webtoon Annarasumanara by Ha Ilkwon. It tells the story of Yoon Ah-yi, a teenager who needed to fend for herself and her younger sibling after their dad left. Amid her struggles, Ah-yi’s life takes a different turn when she meets Rieul, a mysterious magician who lives inside an abandoned theme park. Meanwhile at school, Ah-yi also finds a friend in Na Il-deung, the ace student who sits beside her.
The Cast & Characters
The series mainly revolves around the three characters Yoon Ah-yi, Na Il-deung, and the magician Rieul. The young lady Ah-yi is played by Choi Sung-eun of Start-Up and Beyond Evil; Il-deung is played by Hwang In-youp of True Beauty and 18 Again; and Rieul is played by Ji Chang-wook, who has starred in Lovestruck in the City, Healer, and Empress Ki.
Photo: Netflix
“Ah-yi is a high school student who is in a very difficult financial situation. She struggles to get by, and she wants to grow up fast so that she can get rid of this poverty,” Sung-eun explains about her character. “So she forgets about her dreams, but when she meets this mysterious magician Ri-eul, maybe she wants to have some hope and try to dream again.
“Rieul lives in an abandoned amusement park, he is a very mysterious magician. He is a grown-up but he loves magic. And while he is all grown up, he wants to forever stay a child. He is a very dubious, mysterious magician.” Shared Chang-wook.
In-youp also talks about his character: “Il-deung means ‘number one’ in Korean, so he always wants to live up to his name and his parents force upon him a dream. So he kind of loses track of what he really wants and what he really likes. He never really knows about himself well, and one day, he also encounters this mysterious magician Ri-eul, and he gets to ponder on what he really wants and what he really likes.”
Attaining the webtoon’s rights & turning it into a drama
Director Kim Sung-Youn shared that after over a decade since the series dropped, while its rights had been sold, it hadn’t really reached the screen. Being a fan of the source material, Sung-youn was happy to take on the challenge.
“I now know and I can say why it was so difficult to bring to a live-action series, but I’m very happy to have kept the promise,” shared the director. “So after attaining the rights, I looked into it in detail, and it touched me in a different way than it had before.”
Photo: Netflix
The director also shared how he wanted to address Ah-yi’s struggles in today’s context, having lost her dream due to poverty.
“For the character Il-deung, he has a scene where he asks, ‘do you really need to dream? Is a dream necessary to have?’ And you know how in the past, we often emphasized needing to have a dream, to children. I feel like that’s what we lived through. But I remember watching a variety show where a superstar in Korea, Lee Hyori, came out and she mentioned to a child there, ‘you don’t have to try to be anything when you grow up, just be whatever you want.’ And that came a very pleasant shock, and that got me to think, ‘what would really happen when we don’t want to be something? What if children grew up without having a specific dream? Is that so bad?’ So those were some of the questions and messages that I tried to hone into.” Explained the director.
Fusing music into the series
From the panels to the screen, The Sound of Magic is further enlivened with music numbers from the cast. As to how the webtoon’s adaptation became a musical, director Sung-youn explains, “In the original webtoon series, there’s a lot of monologues from the character Ah-yi, [and] I really spent a lot of time thinking about how we can turn that into something that fits today’s context. How do I let the audience know what I was feeling, without giving her too many monologues? So those were some points I tried to think long and hard on, and that’s what brought us to the music element.”
“Actually, a fantasy music drama was not what I was reaching for,” the director also pointed out. “But it turned out to be a great fantasy music drama and I worked together with the choreographer too, so I didn’t want it to be like a fancy fantastical choreography but I wanted something that with a glitch of a finger, it could show emotions of Ah-yi. So I wanted to make sure that the choreography just portrays the emotions of the character. And same with magic. I didn’t want just techniques or tricks, but through this medium of magic, I wanted to show the mysteriousness of Ri-eul or to express Ah-yi’s emotions more effectively. I think those were the key parts to the drama.”
Meanwhile, the director also revealed that all the musical numbers were left for music director Park Sung-il to fill. “In the script, all the music scenes were left as blank. There were no lyrics, no directions in terms of how the scene was going to look like. It was just completely up to the music director. So from the music director’s perspective, you have to have a particular scene that inspires you to create that music. But this is a completely different kind of challenge. So the music director, the choreography director, they’re all good friends, they’re actually the same age, and they were just given this huge question mark. Where do you even begin? And they expressed all of those difficulties and curiosities. In some scenes, the music director went ahead and created the music first. For example, as for the merry-go-round, it actually wasn’t written in the script. But when we heard the music, you felt like this is definitely a scene where we need to have a merry-go-round. So that’s how organically we worked together, that’s how the script was created.”
The main cast describes starring on this musical drama
The cast also shared their experience working in this fresh drama with a musical twist. For Ji Chang-wook, it was a new experience he didn’t want to miss being a part of.
“Of course, there were very challenging parts, but I also would think to myself, this is the chance of a lifetime, when would I have this kind of opportunity where I have to act, sing, dance, and on top of that, do magic?” Shared Chang-wook. “There was a lot of preparation involved, but I felt like it was such a rewarding experience and because it was so challenging and difficult, there was so much time spent together as a team, with everyone’s heads put together to create something. And now that it’s actually going to be out there, showcased to the world, I feel very strange.”
Photo: Netflix
Sung-eun agrees, stating that every work is a challenge, but this drama took a lot out of her. “There was a lot that I had to prepare for, and because of the music element, I got a lot of help from many wonderful people. And I’ve only been trained to act with lines, but now there’s lyrics, and the lyrics were so well-written, and at some scenes and points, the lyrics actually taught me what the character Ah-yi must have been feeling in that particular scene and I was very grateful for that, and I loved that process. I felt like this could be truly a unique appeal and charm of a music drama and I felt very grateful to the lyricist, Kim Eana.”
As for In-youp, he shared that he was really thankful to have been a part of The Sound of Magic. “I’m sure you can tell through short clips that the music is so great. And it’s not just the music that’s amazing, the space, the set was so fantastic as well. And the fact that I was given the opportunity to perform with such great music in such an amazing set, I told the director, this is a first for me, and the director replied, it’s a first for me too. So I felt like we all felt this was something new, something we were able to create together for the first time. We were left with such great memories.”
The cast members’ favorite numbers
Asked what their favorite music numbers in the show, Chang-wook says “I really love the opening song… and I like the duet song with Ah-yi in the amusement park. I really love every single number in the show. I love the number that I sang together with In-youp, too.”
As for Sung-eun, she answers, “I keep coming back to the numbers, I like the number in the merry-go-round scene. It makes me feel joyful. So even after I was done filming, I listened to this song. And personally, the one that I really liked when I was shooting was when Ah-yi is at the amusement park by herself and she sings a song and the lyrics really touched my heart. So I still really like that song.”
In-youp also shares that his favorite number is when he plays the guitar and sings a song to Ah-yi. “I love that song and I think it is an adorable song and an adorable number. So when people listen to that number, maybe they can listen to it when they drive, and anytime, it will really cheer them up.”
Photo: Netflix
On what the viewers can pick up and feel when watching the series
Ending the event are the stars and director of the show, sharing what they want viewers to pick up on this fantasy musical. “Finally, The Sound of Magic is going to be released,” Chang-wook began. “Sometimes, we lose track of our childhood innocence, our childhood wonders. And there are dreams that we had as a child. I think the show will let you think about those past dreams that you had as a child, and the wonders you had as a child. It’s like a fairytale for people, it’s a heartwarming story, so I hope everyone can really enjoy The Sound of Magic.”
“Maybe some people think, ‘am I able to dream again?’” Sung-eun said. “I think this show can give you that courage and this show roots for all of you to give it another try. So I think you can sit back and relax and really enjoy the show. I hope you can all stay tuned for the show.”
Photo: Netflix
“Chang-wook and Sung-eun said great things about the show, and just to chime in, I think the show is going to provide you with some warm consolation, so I hope you can all watch the show and enjoy it.” added In-youp.
Finally, director Sungyoun says: “I have certain stories that I really like, which are usually stories of personal growth. This show also shows the personal growth of Ri-eul and Ah-yi and Il-deung. I think the line, ‘do you believe in magic?’ means actually, ‘do you believe in miracles?’ People are all grown up, they don’t believe in Santa Claus anymore, but they can watch the show together with their kids and their children and have a chance to believe in miracles and believe in magic, and talk amongst themselves. I hope you could have fun watching the show, thank you so much.”
Watch ‘The Sound of Magic‘ when it starts streaming on Netflix this May 6.
About ‘The Sound of Magic’ Directed by: Kim Sungyoun Written by: Kim Minjeong Starring: Ji Chang-wook, Choi Sung-eun, and Hwang In-youp Produced by: JTBC Studios, content zium Distributed by: Netflix Release Date: May 6, 2022
Pia Wurtzbach first claimed international fame after winning the revered Miss Universe Crown in 2015. But aside from being a beauty queen, Wurtzbach has also taken multiple paths throughout her career, including acting, writing, and now, food entrepreneurship. After all, the Miss Universe finished Culinary Arts at the Center for Asian Culinary Studies, so her background in food is rooted deeper than just being a foodie!
For Wurtzbach’s business venture, she had collaborated with the cloud restaurant group CloudEats to bring to life Pia’s Kitchen. This cloud kitchen combines Wurtzbach’s love for food and travel, with the brand wittingly incorporating flight and travel emblems in their packaging. But what really makes Pia’s Kitchen stand out is its traveling menu, which changes cuisines every few months. For instance, Pia’s Kitchen currently has a curated Japanese lineup, soon to be switched for a Southeast Asian cuisine roster.
If you’re curious about Pia Wurtzbach’s love for food and her experience in conceptualizing and running her own food business, check out our foodie Q&A below:
You’ve been to different parts of the world and now you have your own brand serving different cuisines. Personally, what are your top 3 favorite cuisines?
Pia Wurtzbach: I really love Asian cuisine, so, in no particular order , I love Thai, I also love Japanese, and nothing beats home, soI also love Filipino food.
How did you get the idea of having a travelling menu, each offering a different cuisine, for Pia’s Kitchen?
PW: We just wanted to do something different because there are a few brands under Cloudeats already. So I was thinking of how I can set myself apart and how I can offer something new and different. I know for a fact that Filipinos love to try new things all the time. We love mixing it up and jumping from one flavor to another, and I am the same. So I was thinking, why don’t we change the menu every 3 months? Because I did not want to stick to just one particular cuisine where we do Japanese forever. I would eventually want to try Thai, Filipino, South American, Mediterranean, and I don’t think this has been done before so that is why I wanted to do that.
For you, what is the best part of being the owner of Pia’s Kitchen?
PW: The best part is that I get to do all these food tastings and real talk with the dishes, these are really my go-to dishes when I want to reward myself. My family and friends know that I love a bowl of chicken katsu curry after a day of shooting. It makes me happy. These are dishes that I handpicked myself. And I also have culinary training so it’s been a while since I tapped into that side of me. So it’s nice to bring the foodie back.
Among all your recent travels, what are the meals that have stood out?
PW: Oh, there are so many! I love rice. So anything with rice. I cant wait until we eventually do Middle Eastern cuisine because I have been spending a lot of time there. We’re actually kind of based there now, even if I still fly to Manila a lot. I’m looking forward to having Middle Eastern as part of the menu.
What is your favorite Filipino food?
PW: Tinola, sinigang, bola bola na may misua. I love rice drowning in soup! That’s the best!
PW: Carbs, for sure. Let’s be honest, that’s the food that makes everyone happy. Rice, pasta, I also really enjoy. I don’t really restrict myself when it comes to flavor, I love tasting everything.
What’s your favorite drink?
PW: Yes, I do love milk tea. I think milk tea is a dessert in itself, depending how sweet you want it. If not milk tea, I’m really going to admit I love drinking soda. How can you eat rice without a soda beside you? Mag-partner yan!
Do you also have any unusual food combinations that you actually enjoy eating?
PW: I enjoy mixing salty and sweet food. I think most Filipinos love sauces. Not even just one sauce, sometimes two sauces. Sometimes they even have calamansi. So I love having a variety of sauces with my meals. That’s why when we were doing this menu, I was particular about the sauces because that’s what makes the dish. An unusual food combination I’ve tried is apples in soy sauce before. It was just a craving where I wanted something sweet and fresh while having something savory. It was weird but it really hit the spot!
If you can host a dinner with meals from Pia’s Kitchen, who do you want to feed and what would you serve them?
PW: I would choose my family, because they haven’t been to Manila since the start of the pandemic because although they know about the brand, they can’t order it in the UK. So I would like to have them over and try what we’ve been working on these months. Let’s keep it in the family! I would serve them everything! Personally, whenever I order Pia’s kitchen at home, I would order everything on the menu so that I can test and try everything. So, when my family is here, I would want to make them try everything.
Order now at Pia’s Kitchen in just a few taps! Their dishes are available 24/7 via GrabFood with prices ranging from P150 to P300. For more information, visit the social media pages of Pia’s Kitchen on Facebook and Instagram. You can also visit the CloudEats website.
Sports anime may be a niche genre, but titles from this part of the genre spectrum could really stir one’s emotions and motivation. After all, sports are surrounded by stories of perseverance, teamwork, and confidence in one’s own skills– attributes that we long for not only in sports, but in many aspects of our lives.
If you’re on the lookout for anime series that will inspire you through its characters that never give up, we’ve got the list for you! Below are some sports anime series that are packed with tales of friendship, competitive rivalries, and players who push themselves to the limit!
Haikyu!!
Despite his small stature, Shoyo Hinata is determined to become a volleyball player and joins the volleyball team of Karasuno High. Here, he gets teamed up with the prodigy setter Tobio Kageyama, who he considers a rival. Despite their differences, Shoyo and Kageyama would soon become a promising duo that could help Karasuno redeem its reputation as a powerhouse school for aspiring volleyball players.
Taiga Kagami is a promising new player for the Seirin High basketball team who aims to take his school to the top. But to do so, Kagami must take on the most talented players that were once part of a single team dubbed as the Generation of Miracles. Little did Taiga know, Kuroko– his team member who appears to have no talent in basketball, is actually a former member of the Generation of Miracles, and his sheer lack of presence in court becomes a total gamechanger for Seirin.
Photo: Kuroko’s Basketball on Netflix
Yuri!!! on Ice
Yuri!! on Ice is an anime about figure skating that also doubles as a romantic BL series. It tells the story of figure skater Yuri Katsuki who strays away from his career after losing at the Grand Prix Final. While doing the advanced skating routine of his idol, the Russian figure skating champion Victor Nikiforov, Yuri is recorded on video and the clip is uploaded on the internet. This catches Victor’s attention who travels to Yuri’s hometown to help him get back on track. By doing so, romance also buds between the two skaters.
Hajime no Ippo is a Japanese boxing anime that follows the many ups and downs of the boxing career of Makunouchi Ippo. A constant victim of bullying, Ippo gets saved by the boxer Takamura Mamoru after his classmates brutally beat him up. As Ippo recovers at Mamoru’s gym, he is amazed by its atmosphere, and soon asks Mamoru to train him to become a boxer– a journey that will test his limits and take him places.
Photo: Crunchyroll website
Slam Dunk
Slam Dunk is a basketball anime that has become a classic and is soon to have a new movie after two decades since its last episode aired. It follows the high school delinquent Hanamichi Sakuragi who joins his school’s basketball team hoping to get the attention of his crush, Haruko, who loves the sport. As part of the Shohoku High School team, Sakuragi also forms a rivalry with the rookie superstar Kaeda Rukawa.
Photo: Netflix
Free!
Free! follows the four friends Haruka, Rin, Nagisa, and Makoto, who won a swimming relay race shortly before their graduation from elementary school. Years later, they reunite as high school students, but Rin is only intent on proving that he’s a better swimmer than Haruka. The three friends then decide to form the Iwatobi High School Swim Club, recruiting a former track team member named Rei.
This anime follows the powerful friendship and partnership of the two boys Makoto and Yutaka, nicknamed Smile and Peco. While Peco is filled with confidence and aspirations to become the best table tennis player in the world, Smile shows little ambition. But their mutual love for ping pong drives them to continue persevering while having each other’s back.
The Prince of Tennis
This anime that aired in the early 2000s tells the story of the 12-year-old tennis prodigy Ryoma Echizen. After joining the Seishun Boys’ Tennis Team, Ryoma and his newfound teammates will have to face a plethora of strong schools as they aim to be champions at the National Tournament.
Photo: Crunchyroll website
Big Windup
In this anime series that features baseball, a young pitcher rises from the ashes of defeats and shame. Ren Mihashi has been blamed by his baseball middle school team after suffering from a series of losses, causing Ren to have low self-esteem and transfer to another school. In his new school, a baseball team is being formed, and despite the fear, Ren pushes himself to join as their Ace Pitcher.
Yowamushi Pedal
Yowamushi Pedal follows a cheerful otaku who is about to join his new school’s anime club. But upon learning that the club has been disbanded, Onoda makes it his mission to revive it by finding new members. During this quest, he meets the determined cyclist Shunsuke Imaizumi who challenges him to a bicycle race. If Onoda wins, Imaizumi will join the anime club, but the challenge will kick off Onoda’s dive into the world of bicycle racing.
