Judydoll Lipstick

Judydoll is the first Chinese cosmetic brand I've ever purchased, and I'm really happy with it. I like that it's affordable compared to many other foreign brands. I've wanted to try some of the more popular makeup brands, but they're simply too expensive for me.

As a mother and a career woman, I have to be wise and practical when choosing cosmetics. I want products that are good, affordable, and won't put a strain on my family's budget.

I recently tried Judydoll's new 12-Hour Moisturizing Shine Lipstick, and I really like it! The packaging is beautiful, and the formula is very moisturizing, just as advertised. The shade I chose, 104 Calm Nude, looks very natural on me. It comes in seven lovely shades, so there's something for everyone.

There are many high-quality Chinese-made products out there—you just have to know how to choose wisely.

Zhang Yingfei (Linda Walker) Meet and Greet at SM North Edsa Annex

 

Yesterday, June 10, I had the opportunity to attend the fan meet-and-greet of Chinese actress . She is best known for her role in the popular Chinese short drama, "The Heiress Won With Brains" . She is currently in the Philippines to promote the importance of education and inspire students to pursue academic excellence. I left early from work just to attend this event.

I arrived at the venue at the SM North EDSA Annex Building at around 2:15 p.m., and there was already a large crowd. Most of the seats were occupied, and the line was quite long. Fortunately, I was able to find a seat at the back. I also brought a chicken burger sandwich with me in case I became hungry while waiting.

I had the opportunity to take a photo with Ms. Candice Tan, the host and interpreter for Zhang Yingfei. I also received a small souvenir fan card featuring the actress.

Security at the event was very strict, so I was unable to get close to Zhang Yingfei. In addition, due to the large number of attendees, I preferred to remain seated and observe the event from a comfortable distance. 

The event was made possible through the efforts of the FFCCCI and China Embassy Manila, whose support helped bring this meaningful educational program to Filipino students and fans.

Meeting Prominent Chinese-Filipino (part 2)

 I have long been an admirer and supporter of Bahay Tsinoy. This Chinese-Filipino museum is very close to my heart because it tells the story of the ties and shared history between China and the Philippines.

It was there that I first met its former president, . He is an award-winning Chinoy writer, former Secretary-General of the Federation of Filipino-Chinese Chambers of Commerce and Industry, former President of Kaisa Para sa Kaunlaran, and a recipient of an award from the in 2025.

I have read his translation of Lagalag sa Nanyang, and he once gave me a Chinese phrasebook containing 300 useful phrases. When my husband and I moved to Bulacan, we donated most of my collection of Chinese and Filipino-Chinese books to our barangay library, as my husband wanted to declutter our home.

Fortunately, I still have a few books that I purchased from Bahay Tsinoy. I was also able to meet Mr. Sy again at the inauguration of the Confucius Institute about a decade ago.

He is one of the most prominent Chinese-Filipinos I have encountered throughout my journey of learning about Chinese culture and Philippine-Chinese relations. I remain grateful for the role he played in my learning journey and for his contributions to the Chinese-Filipino community.

Meeting Prominent Chinese-Filipinos

 

I am truly happy to have met these Chinese-Filipino personalities who excel in their respective fields and crafts.

One of the reasons why I am deeply fascinated by Chinese culture and everything related to it is because of the remarkable excellence and contributions of the Chinese people in so many fields that I cannot even enumerate them all here. I admire their resilience, discipline and strong family values. 

Many of the most successful businesses in the Philippines were founded or are managed by Chinese-Filipinos. There is also a common belief that Chinese people are naturally good in Mathematics, perhaps because they're known for being good in running businesses. Don't forget the abacus came from them. ✍️
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1. Wilson Lee Flores is a respected Filipino-Chinese entrepreneur, writer, and cultural advocate. Through his businesses, writings, and cultural activities, he actively promotes appreciation for Filipino-Chinese history, identity, and traditions.

2. Jose Mari Chan is one of the most beloved Filipino musicians and composers whose music has become part of Filipino culture and family traditions. Beyond music, he is also admired as a successful businessman and proud Chinese-Filipino who represents excellence and humility.

3. Teresita Ang See is a prominent Chinese-Filipino civic leader, educator, and author who dedicated much of her life to promoting Filipino-Chinese heritage, cultural understanding, and anti-discrimination advocacy. Through organizations such as KAISA and the Bahay Tsinoy Museum, she helped preserve and educate future generations about the rich history and contributions of the Chinese in the Philippines. (source: Google)

Seefulun (Sifulun-Sephora) Bags

          I've heard of luxury Chinese brands like Songmont, but I can't justify spending that much. As a working mom with a young child, I try to spend my money wisely.

About two or three months ago, I bought a bag from Bagsmart, a brand designed in the U.S. and manufactured in China. Nowadays, there are many well-made and affordable Chinese brands available, such as Bostanten. This time, I decided to try another brand that isn't as well known but has an official store on Lazada.

My husband keeps asking why I bought another bag, but this one is genuinely well made. It is crafted from first-layer cowhide leather and is very practical for everyday use. I purchased both a handbag and an RFID wallet, which helps protect IDs and cards from unauthorized scanning.

The brown bag is surprisingly spacious. It can fit a bottle of body spray, several wallets, IDs, and other daily essentials. It also has multiple zippered compartments inside for better organization. The wallet is equally roomy, featuring a zippered section for coins or bills, along with numerous card and ID slots.

Who says you can't find a good-quality bag at an affordable price? You might want to check out Seefulun (which Google Translate amusingly renders as "Sephora"). So far, I'm quite happy with my purchase.

Back at Confucius Institute

I really was not planning to enroll again and study at the Confucius Institute. I only sent an email to the director of the Confucius Institute, Dr. Shi, to tell her about my long-time love for Chinese culture almost half of my life already. I was not aware that she was the former director of the Confucius Institute at U.P. Diliman. So she suggested that I get in touch with Dr. Zhi, who is the new director.

When I was still single, I was able to take face-to-face Chinese classes at the Confucius Institute in Ateneo. But now that I am married and have a child, I am glad that U.P. Diliman offers online classes. I am now enrolled in the beginner online class, HSK 1, under Mr. Wu. I have known about the Confucius Institute in U.P. before because I was invited to their inauguration. 

 My husband is somewhat disappointed again because he is not in favor of me returning to my so-called “hobby” or interest, which is Chinese culture and language. Because of his encouragement before, I gave away my collection of Chinese books to our barangay because he told me my books were just clutter. Anyway, I was able to meet the kind director, Dr. Zhi, and she gave me a brochure from Xiamen University, where she works. We also chatted about my long-time interest in China. She said she would be glad to help me and support my learning. I even opened up to her about a deep wound from my past regarding my interest in Chinese culture and language. She told me to believe in myself and not care too much about what others say. So I say 加油！

The Heir (Chinese Drama)

           This month, I discovered an intriguing Chinese drama titled The Heir. It is about the Li family and other families whose businesses revolve around ink making, competing for the prestigious title of producing the finest ink and for the honor of presenting an ink tribute to the emperor.

Ink is very important in Chinese culture because it is used in Chinese calligraphy. Chinese characters are beautiful to look at, yet difficult to comprehend for a non-native Chinese learner like me.

What I like about this drama is how it highlights family ties, strong relationships, and filial piety. This is definitely another C-drama worth watching.

Reset (Chinese Movie)

 I was not able to post about this Chinese movie, Reset (2022) starring, Zhao Jinmai and Bai JingTing. It tells the story of a college student trapped in a time loop where she keeps waking up inside a bus as time repeatedly resets. I will not go into details so I will not spoil the movie. 

The storyline is very good, and I did not find the movie boring from the start. Kudos to the director, scriptwriter, and everyone involved in making this movie. This deserves to be known worldwide. If you have not seen it yet, I highly recommend it, especially if you like the suspense, mystery, and thriller genre.

Xiaomi S4 (41mm) Smartwatch

 After a long hiatus, here I am again. Its the year 2026 and I'm back again for another post. Its been 2 years since I last bought a smartwatch and that one is priced at Php 4,000+. Its Xiaomi 4 smartwatch. Now I bought another Xiaomi watch and its really very nice. Premium watch. Its priced at $115 around Php 6,668 its on sale at that time but now its regular price is around Php 7,000 plus.

I put a screen protector and also the whole face watch protector. Its a gold one but I ordered one that is not gold to match the silver. Its really nice and lightweight. I also like the rubber strap. I have the black color. There are lots of custom watch faces, with cute animals. This one has also a fall detection. Plus, all the health feature of this watch like heart rate, oxygen etc. are reliable compared to my Huawei smartband. So that is why I chose Xiaomi brand.

The Best Thing (Chinese Drama)

           The Best Thing Chinese drama is my favorite drama this year (2025). It is about the severely insomniac hotel manager Shen Shi Fan and the good-looking neighborhood Traditional Chinese Medicine doctor He Su Ye.

From the setting alone, the scenery, I became hooked with this drama. You should watch it if you are interested in Chinese Traditional medicine. The actor Zhang Ling He who plays the TCM doctor is right for the role. 

The female lead looks like a younger version of Shu Qi. This drama is lighthearted and no serious problematic plot. Real life is stressful and by watching this series it was a beautiful escape for me from the real world for awhile.

I really like the OST of this drama, I like the song of Silence Wang, You Are In the World I Like and Thoughts of Loving You by Yan Ren Zhong. 

I have two items, memorabilia from this drama photocards and the Chinese novel by Sheng Li, which is so cute because it has a hand written note and a beautiful quote that says, "The happiest thing in the world is that the person you love just happens to love you deeply too." 

Osmanthus Bean Cake

 I finally found the cake I’ve always admired in the Chinese dramas I watch—the soft, fragrant osmanthus mung bean cake. This is exactly the kind I’ve been longing to try, not like the powdery biscuit version I once posted about. What makes it even more special is that these cakes are made by 知味观 (Zhī Wèi Guān), one of Hangzhou’s most popular and historic food brands founded in 1913, celebrated for their authentic flavors and cultural presentation.

I also love the covers of the boxes—they tell the stories of beautiful West Lake scenes, and here are some interesting facts I discovered about them:

Left box: Osmanthus Mung Bean Cake (桂花绿豆糕 Guìhuā lǜ dòu gāo). The cover illustrates 花港观鱼 (Huā gǎng guān yú), “Viewing Fish at Flower Harbor,” one of West Lake’s Ten Scenes. This place is famous for its red carp gliding gracefully beneath pavilions, surrounded by flowers in bloom—a lively yet poetic reflection of the osmanthus flavor within.

Right box: Original Mung Bean Cake (原味绿豆糕 Yuánwèi lǜ dòu gāo). This box shows 曲院风荷 (Qūyuàn fēng hé),  “Lotus in the Breeze at the Crooked Courtyard.” In summertime, lotus blossoms fill the lake, swaying in the warm breeze. The pure, original flavor of this cake mirrors that same calm beauty.

Bottom of the Green Box (both cakes). Printed here are the phrases 晓食时令 (Xiǎo shí shí lìng)  “Seasonal Delicacies at Dawn” and 湖山十景 (Húshān shí jǐng), “Ten Scenic Views of Lake and Mountain,” tying these sweets to the cultural legacy of Hangzhou. The motto—知景 (Zhī jǐng) / 知味 (Zhī wèi) / 知西湖 (Zhī Xīhú), “Know the Scenery, Know the Taste, Know West Lake”—reminds us that enjoying these cakes is also savoring a piece of history and culture.

The numbers printed on the boxes 20250813 and 20250814 are the production dates. In China, it’s common to print the date of manufacture, while in the Philippines we are more familiar with seeing the expiration date on food packaging. ✍️

Osmanthus Pastry Biscuits

The Yunnan-style osmanthus bean pastry (桂花糕, Guìhuā gāo – Osmanthus Cake) is a traditional Chinese pastry made with sweet bean paste and fragrant osmanthus flowers, giving it a delicate floral aroma. The pastry is typically soft, slightly flaky, or chewy, and lightly sweetened to complement the filling, making it a smooth and aromatic treat often enjoyed with tea. 

This particular version that I bought is not from a major national brand like Huangshan, Zhiweiguan, or Daoxiangcun. Instead, the packaging and design suggest it comes from a smaller local or regional producer, likely in an area known for traditional snacks. The artwork on the packaging shows a traditional rural scene of people making cakes with a steamer, highlighting the brand’s “authentic handmade” style.

Each bag weighs 130g, a souvenir-sized pack, and the cakes are individually wrapped, which is common for regional specialty snacks intended for gifting or sharing. While this brand is not widely famous, the cake represents an authentic traditional snack, popular especially in southern China (Jiangsu, Zhejiang, Hunan) where osmanthus flowers have cultural significance. The texture is slightly crumbly, floral, and sweet, and the product likely originates from the Jiangnan region or another area with a strong osmanthus tradition. Its texture reminds me of our own Philippine pastry dessert which is called polvoron.

In short, this 桂花糕 is a regional specialty pastry that combines traditional flavors, handmade appeal, and cultural significance, offering a sweet, fragrant, and authentic taste of Chinese dessert culture.

Purple Clay Pot or Yixing Tea Pot Set

           The other day the cousin of my husband went to our house to give us a few things from the aunt of my husband. I received a beautiful tea pot set and not porcelain but a clay pot set.

Let me tell you about this clay tea pot set or as my online Chinese friend told me, it is called a purple clay. I researched about it and it is also called Yixing tea pot. I love teapots since I am also fond of tea. I'd rather drink tea any day than coffee! I also own an expensive teapot from Cath Kidston that I bought wayback. 

The origin of Yixing clay is usually from Jiangsu, China. They usually harvest this kind of clay. Clay extraction from this place dates back from the Song dynasty (10th century) and the popularity of this teapots started in the Ming dynasty (15 to 16th century). 

I am not sure if this is an original Yixing clay teapot set. As we all know, there are a lot of fake tea sets around. For me, I value it for its aesthetic beauty and the rich tradition behind it. 

My Chinese friend online who is from Xiamen told me that on the tea cups are auspicious words happiness and sustenance. The cover of the box there is a statement to frequen tea drinking makes the body strong and healthy. You can see there is a carving of a woman standing on a dragon. According to my research is it the Chinese goddess Guan Yin. 

My New Smartwatch: Huawei Band 10

           I recently bought a new smartwatch, Huawei Band 10. I was eyeing the Smart gt 5 watch but it is too expensive and I cannot eait to have my own smartwatch with a panda character. 

My first smartwatch was North Edge watch NL60 women's watch and F60. They were just okay for me, not bad for a smartwatch. The next smartwatch that I bought was the Xiaomi Mi Band 3. The most expensive smartwatch that I bought was the Xiaomi Redmi Watch 4. 

I love that the Huawei band is affordable and that it is the most cheap compared with all the Huawei watch that has an emotional assistance feature. Compared to the gt 5, the actions of the panda here is limited. There are 3 panda pose to remind and tell you of your mood. The watch also features, heart rate and oxygen. 

I am attacked by anxiety sometimes and the Huawei feature of emotional assistance is really helpful for me. Just seeing the cute panda makes me feel happy. 

My Favorite Chinese Series

            I am so glad that I have discovered these Chinese platform apps in android. Like what I have mentioned before, I usually watch Chinese dramas in IQiyi but now I discovered another Chinese app, WeTV IFlix. I have seen a lot of Chinese series wayback. Scarlet Heart starring Cecilia Liu is one unforgettable drama. 

I recently saw Money is Coming and I actually enjoyed this drama, the female lead or FL is not your typical lead, witty and  has a strong character. The male lead aside from being good looking, I like the vibe that he gives out, mysterious yet there's a romantic part in him.The synopsis is a female college student finds herself entering a book. I will not spoil the story, you better watch it. This drama is from Iflix.

Two of the dramas from IQiyi has a "moon", in its title. The first one is Moon Love, It is about a girl who sees ghosts or immortals as they call it. She was saved by the god of the moon. Their paths have crossed before and now they will embark in a fantastical journey. 

The other drama is Song of the Moon, the lead actor here is popular as I have seen him in other Cdramas. The synopsis is a young girleets a mysterious man with whom she exchanges her future for 3 full days of happiness. She will be involved in the battle between immortals and demons.Find out who is the mysterious man by watching this series. I also love the cinematography of this drama.

Last but not the least is Mr. Bad. The FL here is the lead of the popular drama, A Love So Beautiful. A young girl who loves to write accidentally summons the villain from the novel she wrote when she made a wish. This is a lighthearted and sweet drama. If you want a cute and feel good drama, I recommend this. 

My escape from this chaotic world is by watching Chinese dramas. When I am so stressed out by my monotonous life, these series has helped me. I really wish that someday I can see and visit China. As I am writing this wearing my Tang Hanfu dress and shoes, I long for that place that I can only see in my dreams. Wishing it would be real.

Moonlight Mystique (C-Drama Series)

          This is a Xianxia series adopted from the novel 白烁上神 (Bai.Shuo Shang Shen) , starring Bai Lu and Ao Rui Peng. This is about the youngest daughter of the governor who tries her best to become an immortal, to repay another divine being who helped her when she was young. In her journey she came across the Demon Lord of the Bright Moon Palace. 

          I have seen a few xianxia series. My favorite is Eternal Love. I even bought the English  version of that novel of that from Fully Booked, "To the Sky." by Tang Qi. This is the first time that I got hook in a Chinese action fantasy series. I am now nearing the finale episode. I usually watch Chinese series either from Netflix or IQiyi. 

Watching this rekindled my Chinese culture interest again. Its just sad that I disposed my collection of Chinese related books when we moved here in Bulacan. My husband does not want clutter and we don't have that much space.

Moving on, this Chinese series is really very good. Up to 40 episodes but I didn't get bored or I didn't even fast forwarded the episodes. There are many things you will learn in this series. You will learn about the demon Lord Zhen Yu of the Cold Spring Palace and Fan Yue of the Bright Moon Palace. There are many sects also 72 was mentioned and Lanling was the top sect. There is also the 3 extinct divine race Jing Yuan (Demon Lord),  Xing Yue (Lunar Lord) and Mo Li (Hidden Lord). Plus, the other races like the Fox clan and stone clan. 

I love this series so much that I ordered  few merchandise online and I even paid an extra aside from my subscription in IQiyi just to watch the finale in advance. I bought a nice desk calendar, Xing Yue's bracelet with photobook. The female lead and the male lead is perfect for the role. I recommend this series to all xianxia lovers. 

Xiaomi Redmi Watch 4 (Global Version)

            I've had a lot of smartwatch. Mostly I buy from North Edge in Lazada. Last month, I was able to buy a Redmi smartwatch. I was actually eyeing Redmi smartwatch 3 but then I told myself I should just buy the latest. This is around $78. I like its design, it uses aluminum alloy frame and a stainless steel rotating crown.

What I like about this watch is that it has a lot of cool features. Like the health tracker (sleep, blood oxygen, heart rate and even it has stress level monitoring). It has also has 200 face watches to choose from. Like other smartwatches it has steps tracker. It is also dustproof and 5atm waterproof. You can also answer phone calls from this phone and it has a gps. It boasts of 20 day battery life. This smartwatch comes in 2 colors obsidian black and silver gray. This is already a global version. You should download the Mi Fitness app for you to be able to use this smartwatch properly and utilize it at its fullest! I bought a screen protector for this watch. Over-all, I can say this is the most expensive smart watch that I have ever owned. I am truly a Xiaomi girl! Watch for more Xiaomi reviews!

Careline x SpongeBob

           Last month, I found out that Careline collaborated with Spongebob and they came up with Spongebob make-up collection. Who doesn't love this square thing with googly eyes and lives in a pineapple house located at the Bikini bottom. I am already an adult but I still love to watch the show. Spongebob runs on Netflix today. When I saw that they have a pr kit of their product which is the liquid blush, I told myself that I will buy my own soon! I admit that the pr kit is quite expensive. So I waited for their sale. Finally, I have it! 

The Careline x Spongebob pr kit comes in a really nice box that has Spongebob's image and of course it is yellow. The collections comes with 4 blushes, a highlighter and a contour. Each items is packaged beautifully. The regular price of the kit is 2,549 Philippine Pesos. Currently it is on sale on Shopee and Lazada. Careline is under the Ever Bilena family. 

I love the packaging! The blush, highlighter and contour has a character image on the packaging box. Spongebob's shade is called Girly girl, Patrick's is Pink Patricia, Gary's shade is called Shell Pink and Mr. Crab's shade is called Red Ahoy. The contour box has a character of Sandy and for the highlighter, Pearl it is! The blushes are very pigmented, as they say a little goes a long way.These products are also infused with Vitamin E which we all know is an antioxidant and also Hyaluronic acid which reduces wrinkles and lines. Hyaluronic acid also helps wound to heal faster and reduces scarring. Not only you get to enhance your beauty with these products but you also benefit from the added skincare ingredients. You're hitting two birds with one stone!

From all the reviews that I have seen online, everyone really loves this collection. Aside from the products that I mentioned, they also have Spongebob blush, eyeliner, eyeshadow, and eyebrow soap and setting spray.  If you are a fan of Spongebob you got to have this collection! Buy, try and unlock your imagination! 

Ever Bilena and Ever Bilena's Serum Tinted Lip Balm

           I admit it, when it comes to Philippine brand cosmetics there are a few names that I trust. I am familiar with Ever Bilena brand because it has been a household name in the 80's and during that time I think it is the only local make-up that exists. I am also familiar with Avon cosmetics which is also popular but this is not a Filipino brand. I admit that whenever I hear the brand Ever Bilena before I am not that enthusiastic since it is locally made. We are more impressed by foreign cosmetics and we tend to look down on local made ones. But nowadays local cosmetics is close and at par with foreign brands. The brand name according to "Filipinknow", "bile" the Chinese term for beautiful and "na", the world for lady. so Ever Bilena means, ever beautiful lady.

Ever Bilena was founded by Mr. Dioceldo Sy. Watching his interview on Chinoy tv made me admire the man more. He is dubbed as the "father of Philippine make-up". His grandfather started selling pomade during the Japanese occupation. Anyway, fast-forward to now, Ever Bilena has 1,203 retails stores nationwide. We have a stigma on local make-up brand that maybe it is of poor quality. But here I am, I have tested and used local brand cosmetics and I can say some of them are good! 

Ever Bilena has also a few sister brands (ranging from cosmetics, detergents, cosmetics and skin-care) namely Ara Colours, Blackwater, Blustar, Careline, Ever Organics, Hello Glow, Hyaloo and Spotlight. 

This time I have tried Ever Bilena's Serum Tinted Lip Balm with EXO's Chanyeol as their ambassador. Personally, this is the first ever tintep lip balm. I bought two out of their 4 shades. I chose Naked which is more natural looking for everyday wear and Toast of New York, a little darker shade that Naked. I like this shade out of the two. I have also tried other cosmetic products from their sister brands like Careline and Spotlight. I love their Eyeliner Duo Stamp from Careline and Spotlight Marble Blush in Premiere Shade. 

If you have not tried any of their make-up, I say you should! They produce good and affordable cosmetics without hurting your pockets. Give it a try and you won't be disappointed! 

The Blooms at RUYI Pavilion

         I have seen a lot of Chinese dramas lately most I didn't finish, just halfway through. Most of the time the reason why I did not finish the drama its because I got tired of the story or the story is dragging and its not exciting anymore.

This time I tried watching a series starring Ju Jingyi. I heard she's a popular singer from a Chinese idol group called SNH48. She has a lot of dramas available in iQIYI (Chinese series and movies platform plus other Asian series is available here. But I subscribed mainly because of the Chinese series.) 

This drama has 40 episodes in total with 3 bonus scenes. This story is about Fu Rong the second daughter of the Fu family, unexpectedly she becomes clairvoyant after a serious illness. She predicts she will marry Prince Su but that she will also suffer a tragic fate. There is also a great lesson to learn in this series about married life, family, ambition and morals.

The story is okay. The actors and actress are all good looking. Beautiful scenes. The supporting cast and their story is good. I will not elaborate more on this. I will not spoil the story or spill the story here. The next series that I am currently watching has a similar story to this one but this the lead female shows her ability to predict or foretell the future through her dreams and her special ability is already shown at the beginning of the story.