It was such a coincidence that I was at Back to the 90's yesterday and it was apparently--Hashtag:…read moreThrowback Thursday. My friends from Concerned Artists of the Philippines in UP held a back to back gig of two independent bands there last night (Plagpul and KALIS), so I passed by and gave my support. It was my first time in this bar but I already knew about it for quite some time; it's Back to the Future signage along Tomas Morato, corner E. Rodriguez is simply hard to miss. I was curious at first to see what it's like inside Back to the 90's, only to find out that it's actually no different from most bars ideal for gatherings of independent bands and the underground music scene. The only difference with Back to the 90's is practically, its 90's theme. You will definitely see a lot of Throwback posts on their walls because of the framed movie and music posters from the 90's era. Haha! What a virtual way to describe it, but I would rather stick to such description than say nostalgic because I simply did not get the feel. I was born 1991, so I really wasn't able to get a glimpse of how bars then were like. Although, when I asked some of my older friends there, they said that 'yes, this is actually a recreation of a 90's bar.' What I like about it, is it's cozy but rock and roll ambiance that went well with its small, vertical space; comfortable couches are leaned against graffiti walls showcased by dimmed pin lights. They also have a very cute menu placed in an old school CD case where they offer alcoholic beverages and bar dishes like Nacho's, Fries, Buffalo Wings, etc. Although, I wasn't able to have a taste of any because I was a little broke last night (P200.00 per order), and their selections were not really that inviting, the waiter said that their best seller is the Tapsilog. Overall, it was an OK bar for me. I would go here if good bands will be playing but probably not for a usual late night chill or beer nights.

It has been a long time since I started going to Chivz - from the time when they occupied one space…read morealong G Strip and only had DJs playing on Fridays and Saturdays, until today when they occupy two spaces and have acoustic acts and bands playing live music nightly. It's such a delight that they feature bands as no other bar or restaurant features bands along G Strip or in the vicinity of Greenhills Shopping Center. This could very well be one of the reasons why they have a steady stream of regular guests. It also helps that their servers recall returning guests and makes them feel comfortable and at home. Aside from the entertainment and the atmosphere, what I enjoy most at Chivz is the food. My favorites would be their lengua salpicao, the gambas, and their tapsilog. I know. It's a bit odd, but their slightly sweet and salty saucy tapa is just perfect for those who will be hanging out or drinking til, well, breakfast time.

The place is pretty much the same as other lounge bars where you can spend a few hours with…read morefriends. There's a live band and towards the end of the night, they'll invite people from the crowd to sing a song or two. The menu is pretty standard: you get the usual alcoholic drinks, non-alcoholic options like iced tea, juices and sodas. As for the food, nothing to write home about really, but passably good and not too expensive. The biggest sell of the place is really the setting. The darkened interior is cozy and the band is there to fill in awkward silences. The tables are not so crowded so if you are making clumsy first-date talk, no one will be the wiser. The one time I was there, the girl at the next table just started crying and even though I really tried my best, I couldn't overhear what it was all about For non-smokers like me, you'll be glad to know that smokers are required to stay at the outdoor tables.

The home of my favorite Wolfgang and Razorback concerts! I'm glad to see this OPM mecca still up…read moreand running. The display of memorabilia from various local legends through the years makes the walk to the main concert area even more exciting. It is also nice how the Music Museum is at a central location being in Greenhills. There's no reason for your south friends (who usually make anything beyond Makati or Taguig seem like a province) not to be part of the concert barkada. Afterall, concert viewing is more fun in groups. An added bonus is that there are many choices to have your concert "pregame" at. It really doesn't matter whether you just want a quick meal or get boozed up before rocking out at the show you're going to since Greenhills Shopping Center gives you many options.

Music Museum holds a special place in my heart because I saw my very first concert here (Wolfgang's…read moreAcoustica, if you wanted to know). So much history in terms of the local music scene has gone down within the four walls of Music Museum, because many Filipino artists across all genres, from rock, hip-hop, classical and more, have performed here. Even foreign acts have also graced its walls. It is one of those venues that is built in a way that the music is meant to sound good, whether you've got a front row seat or are sitting in the back on the upper floor. It's also been said that Music Museum houses the country's best sound system, according to certain local musicians. Located in Greenhills across the Promenade mall, Music Museum has been around since 1988, founded by Kuh Ledesma. You can even see memorabilia from famous musicians inside, including Apo Hiking Society's first contract, Liza Macuja's first ballet shoes, and Randy Santiago's jacket. I was able to catch acts like Wolfgang and Razorback perform here, and each time was a fantastic show. I am especially fond of this venue for live music and I know that every time there's a gig at Music Museum, I know that it's a big deal.

My husband and I discovered the Music Hall when were looking for a place to chill somewhere in…read moreMetrowalk. With two floors and a mezzanine, this place is surprisingly spacious. Since we had dinner already at home we only ordered a plate of nachos and two bottles of beer (total bill was only Php350. They don't charge an entrance fee). We were disappointed with the nachos because it was served late and cold. We should have ordered the sizzling tofu instead. Anyway, it's a good thing the band playing that evening, Jek Manuel and The Stronghold, was good. We really enjoyed the group's performance. I like the place because it's separated from the crowded and smokey part of the Metrowalk. I don't like their chairs though, very uncomfortable. We will definitely go back there because food (mostly hotplate or grilled) is not expensive, band performances great, place cool, and location is fantastic.

With a very up-to-date sound system, scenic location, and the guest performances of many of the…read morecountry's well-known Original Pinoy Music (OPM) artists, The Music Hall has a simple name but a well-known concept in that is takes a bar with live music and an ambiance of cocktails, buckets of beer, and delicious samples of "pulutan" and other light meals served with alcohol to make it a bar-bistro. Seeing its walls lined with pictures of famous artists who performed there, one would instantly realize how many stars have graced the stage of The Music Hall. During my visit, I witnessed a concert where Philippine music legends Boy Mondragon and Richard Merk performed songs that made them famous. (Yes, not my generation, but it was a fun, entertaining, impressive show nonetheless.) All that while enjoying a smooth Daiquiri with Calamares, Drunken Shrimp, and Sizzling Tofu. With the cool air-conditioning and the live bands and groups like the FBC "Rebirth" and the L & S Femme stoking up the crowd's enthusiasm and letting them sing along to the hits of yesterday and today, I thoroughly enjoyed my time there. I'm sure you will too. Just check their schedule which is packed with events featuring artists from then and now.

I found out about this rare gem through Reese Lansangan's instagram post about a place in Cubao…read morethat sells Pinoy-made ukuleles. I checked out their page instantly (or should I say, insta-stalk?) to check out if they could apply a decal of the phases of moon on my ukulele. What really piqued my interest was that they conduct a free ukulele tutorial every Thursday at 6 PM. It so happened that it was also a Thursday when I found out about it so phoned my friend and we got there in the nick of time. We both have been trying to learn how to play the ukulele for months all by ourselves and we really never got the time to learn it side by side. We also wanted to learn under the wings of someone who has been playing it for years so that we can ask questions which is obviously quite impossible if your mentor is someone from a Youtube video. Not only did we learn how to play 'Til There Was You by The Beatles but we also met fellow ukulele players and most of them were just as newbies like us who wanted to learn how to play an instrument even at a late age. They also have an open jam every Friday nights to gather ukulele players all around the metro and form a camaraderie with everyone who loves to play the uke. You can also order tea or coffee while you're there and just like the ukulele they sell, they're also made by Filipinos. Hooray for supporting local!

I can say that ukuleles are getting more and more popular these days. I base it on the fact that…read moremusic instrument shops are running out of stocks now more than ever. I got my first ukulele from a huge chain, and when I went back two months later to get one for my brother, they were all gone. Going back a week later didn't help, and neither did trying out some other stores. Of course they do restock, it's just that more people are buying them. I guess more and more musicians are using ukes for their live performances and fans are following. Just think about Meghan Trainor and Vance Joy. Now, I stumbled upon Four Strings Cafe's online page when I was on a roll googling ukulele shops and liking their pages. The cafe is located in Cubao Expo. There you can find ukuleles of literally different shapes and sizes, strings, accessories like tuner and some ukulele bags too. You can also, for some reason, buy Manic Panic hair dyes there. That's where I'm gonna go to once I decide to do a YOLO hairdo, although I doubt they have resident hairstylists there. I'm totally kidding. Their string babies are locally-made and are priced competitively in my opinion. I attended one of their free ukulele workshops where you they teach you chords and songs with some other enthusiasts. All of you squeezed inside the tiny cafe, but for me it was totally worth it.

I've been an avid goer of gigs since 2007 and even started my own production company in 2009, but…read morebelieve it or not, I only started frequenting Route 196 in 2014. Of course, I would watch gigs there from time to time, but because I live in Makati and parking can get difficult, I used to get too lazy to go all the way to Katipunan. Since my first gig in April 2014, I'm probably there almost once or twice a week. It even came to a point that I was there four times in one week! Yes, parking can be difficult, but with Mak around, he's sure to find a decent and safe parking spot for you. Once you park, you pay an entrance fee to Ryan, who at times often tease me already. (See? I go there waaaaay too much.) There are times though that entrance is free. Usually for Rockeoke nights, which I've honestly never been to, but come on. Karaoke with a live band backing you up and everyone drunk enough not to judge your horrible singing? Come on. That's got to sound inviting. From time to time, I buy a bottle of scotch that is served to me by my favorite waiter, Mark. If you're a fan of How I Met Your Mother, just imagine Mark as Linus. He never leaves my glass empty! My friends and I have actually gotten close to the waiters,(and by close I mean, Facebook friends and commenting on each others' posts), that we would often tease each other with little inside jokes. On Tuesdays they have drink all you can for P300 on certain cocktails and every night they have buy one take one on pizza until 8 or 9 pm. If you're feeling cheap, go for those two options, but if you're really hungry, try the deviled chicken or deviled tofu with a serving of rice, which by the way, is not even expensive at all! If you're not a fan of spicy food though, try their other pizzas or their rice bowls. Basically, Route 196 has everything I need when I go out: good food, great staff and brilliant music. And of course, an unlimited amount of cheap drinks!

Joining the ranks of bars like Saguijo, Big Sky Mind, and Club Dredd, Route 196 has become a hot…read moreand sought-after venue for today's young artists. Most big names of the independent art scene frequent Route 196, if not for their own events, for the crowd. Route attracts writers, independent thinkers, music aficionados, filmmakers, and patrons of the underground community. Events I've attended here include Stereodeal's album launch, GeekFight! Trivia Night, Deus Sex Machina, a gig with indie bigwigs Bullet Dumas, Ebe Dancel, and Johnoy Danao, and a fundraiser for a dance film. Route may be a bit difficult to get to, with no direct commutes, but it doesn't stop the crowds from going out of their way to get there. The lure of the culture of Route 196 is just too strong.

I pride myself on having an excellent sense of direction, especially in Metro Manila. However, when…read morea friend of mine told me we were going to Tago, my inner GPS completely conked out. Tago's name is apt, then, because the bar is completely tago (hidden) somewhere in Cubao! The place itself hosts no gaudy signage. In fact, you'll be hard-pressed to find it if you've never been. Giving directions to tago is a BITCH! But it's absolutely worth it. The bar itself is small, and the outdoor area is narrow. Frequented mostly by jazz musicians and fans, Tago is an intimate little hideaway in Quezon City that's mostly for friends and fans. No annoying young millennials to be seen here, folks! It's all a bunch of old, funny farts who play really excellent music, and the retired hipster in me likes it this way. There's something comfortable about a place that doesn't require you to dress to the nines because you're not there to impress anyone. You're there to watch a fantastic show, and you are always guaranteed a good time. This is because the patrons are passionate about what they do, and when they go on stage, it is immediate the moment the first chord is strummed, or the first drumbeat is banged.

They weren't kidding when they decided to call it Tago Jazz Cafe. First of all, it was pretty…read moredifficult to find. Okay, granted that my friend who brought me there was just guessing directions, it would have taken some guessing regardless. Don't expect outdoor signage or anything fancy to let you know that you have arrived; Tago, after all, exists for the art, not for the attention. It is real music for real music lovers. My visit was an outlier to the more regular patrons who frequent Tago. They are serious jazz enthusiasts, all from a tight-knit community of savants and seasons musicians. All that talent convened in just one tiny place is both intimidating and humbling. I would compare the experience to seeing Julliard-trained talent performing on the street corners of New York City: overflowing talent, yet so understatedly served. On the one hand, I wish there were more places like Tago, or that people knew how to appreciate jazz and jazz bars more. On the other hand, all that attention might mean losing the charm and intimacy that tiny Tago provides its best patrons.

This is Ortigas Center's secret neighborhood bar! Ambience is homey, crowd is great and the food is…read moreamazing! Must try: Taco Sticks, Crispy Pata and my favorite, Salpicao! They have acoustic bands play on weekdays and a DJ that busts out house music on Saturdays. This bar has become my Cheers, every body here knows my name!

people often go here for drinks but not a lot know that they serve good food too…read more try their chicken wings there's option for boneless chicken tenders. i think they use the same seasoning. the other menu items are also good im just too drunk to remember.

Great views from the rooftop bar of the Marco Polo hotel. The bar has most of the imported beers…read more and local ones. Has live music with adjacent dance floor to shake it. Attentive service and good atmosphere for entertaining

Wow. I'm giving this review 5 stars so it stays at the top and as many of you as possible won't…read morehave to experience what my girlfriend and I have. I don't know how I can say any of this more politely, but I am a firm believer that in an organization of such high status ladies and gentlemen should be the ones serving ladies and gentlemen. 1 - Our transaction left me feeling like my money had been deceitfully stolen by our waiter Mike. I verbatim asked if SC is gratuity/tip. Mike's answer was a confident no - so I asked for some change from a larger bill which resulted in two more bills way bigger than what customary tip should be. This left me and my girlfriend who's stomach upset by the meal in an awkward situation of really not wanting to ask for change again because of how long menial tasks took. Essentially I felt strong-armed into an what for me was an uncomfortable position. Sure I could have said something but I was brought to an uneasy place where I thought I was purchasing an upscale experience. (I only googled what SC was once I got home) 2- The pizza had a 4cm puddle of oil in the center - yuck. 3- I ordered a cocktail which was improperly made multiple times, so poorly I had to speak up. On the re-delivery it looked sloppy and tasted like what was done was the addition of water and a heavy citrus squeeze. It was a simple and classic drink that is standard for every bartender to know. I didn't ask for a mocktail or whatever made up drink that was. 4 - What upset me most was Mike sitting at our table without a reason or invitation, very close to my girlfriend. This was extremely inappropriate and left us feeling like boundaries were crossed and uncomfortable. I enjoy connecting with local staff of places while traveling, but in the proper time and place. This transaction was done very wrong. 5- Was the DJ faking it? He left for like a half hour and the playlist continued. I was half a room away and I have to say it was loud and aggressive music for the vibe of the crowd which were mostly a lively elderly bunch this particular evening. This is the first time I even wanted to leave a 1-Star review. Since I only leave 5-star reviews I will continue to do so here but with this as a warning. Rooftops are cool but there are others with better views and better service than what Mike delivers. Can someone tell him that his behavior seems to be misaligned with how the organization he represents presents their hospitality services? Dang. I didn't want to post a review while feeling upset so I slept on it. Unfortunately it was disrupted multiple times from unusual (for both my girlfriend and I) digestive issues at both ends of the tract if you know what I mean. As the great Robert Kiyosaki said 'if it's not an asset it's a liability'. This expense and experience has definitely been a liability .

If you want to see something that'll change your life, catch a show by the Quezon City Performing…read moreArts. You have dance performances and music as well, but here's the clincher - these kids are street children. QCPA gets them off the street and grants them a scholarship that puts them in the theater or in the dance studio. Funded by the Quezon City government in hopes they'll pursue careers in the arts, most of these kids come from families that can't afford to send them to school, buy a house, or even feed them regularly. They could have been drug dealers, slaves to physical or sexual abuse, or worse, but this foundation transforms their lives and instead teaches them to play the guitar, to sing, and to pirouette. Through the QCPA Development Foundation, the scholars have led better lives. They have had the chance to travel, study, and earn money to support themselves and their families. Dancing, singing, making music, and creating art becomes their way out of all their hardships. To see them perform onstage and smiling, knowing the past they have, is beautiful. It really shows what a difference art can make to save this country.