10 Moments that made season four ‘The Crown’s’ best so far

Warning: This article contains spoilers from season 4 of the Netflix series ‘The Crown.’ If you have not caught up with it yet, I suggest you to skip this review.

When The Crown first revealed its trailer for season four, fans of the show were rightfully excited to see the new additions of the ‘Iron Lady’ Margaret Thatcher and Princess Diana. And since its release last November 15, it has garnered rave reviews from viewers and critics alike–even earning it a 97% certified fresh rating on Rotten Tomatoes. 

Photo Credit: Facebook.com/TheCrownNetflix

Rightfully so, this season featured a number of amazing sequences, storylines, and even dialogue that hooked a fan like me deeper into the show. And to further prove this point, I’ve listed down 10 scenes that I believe made this season the Netflix show’s best so far. 

Diana’s first encounter with Charles  

From the first few minutes of this season, viewers were treated to a scene Diana fans have all been waiting for–the moment Charles first meets the ‘People’s Princess’. 

In a mysterious yet very endearing fashion, Diana crosses paths with the Prince of Wales while in costume at her home. And it is in this scene, we saw the initial chemistry the two shared–setting up the stage for what would lead to a whirlwind romance between the two. 

The death of Louis Mountbatten 

The death of Louis Mountbatten, or “Uncle Dickie” as Charles and Philip would refer to him,  was pivotal to the show as it not only pushed Charles to finally find a “suitable wife” but it also showed the growing tensions brewing between the monarchy and the The Provisional Irish Republican Army (PIRA).

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This later set the precedent for the series to further show the growing tensions between the British royal establishment and its Commonwealth nations during this period. 

Diana meets Camilla Parker-Bowles after her announced engagement to Charles 

After the “Balmoral test” that Diana had to face in episode 2 of the series, she was welcomed and accepted by the royal family as a suitable bride for the future king. So, episode 3 showed her engagement to the Prince of Wales and how she went from an excited fiancé to a woman questioning her relationship with the monarch. 

It further didn’t help that when the Prince had to leave for a royal engagement, she was left alone at the palace with no one to talk to or confide in about her worries. And when she takes up the offer to meet Charles’s ex Camilla Parker-Bowles, Diana realizes that she not only knows very little about her fiance, but she also discovers that another woman holds her husband’s heart and attention.  

Photo Credit: Facebook.com/TheCrownNetflix

This scene was essential to the series because it cemented doubt in Diana’s mind about her upcoming nuptials. 

Michael Fagan’s conversation with the Queen during his break-in of Kensington Palace

The Michael Fagan story was something I applaud the show creators for doing. Because although Thatcher did win the war for the Falkland islands, the whole ordeal did bring problems to the British economy. And the story of Michael Fagan is proof that there are casualties to endeavours like these. 

The episode followed Michael Fagan as he struggled to find work and get custody of his children, amidst the rising poverty in Britain. Desperate and seemingly hopeless, Fagan addresses his frustrations over Thatcher’s actions by breaking into the palace and speaking to the Queen of England in her own room.  

This particular scene was important because it was the first time the Queen questioned Margaret Thatcher’s decisions as the head of parliament–an event which would hint at the growing rift between the two female leaders. 

Moreover, the whole dialogue between the Queen and Fagan was brilliant in highlighting the disparity between the two individuals and it made the monarch herself question the status of the country during this very trying time. 

Diana and Charles talk about Camilla whilst on tour in Australia 

This scene was vital as it was the first time we’ve ever heard Charles tell Diana that he loved her. The sequence of events that followed showed the Prince of Wales initially enamoured by his wife, but only later to get jealous of her growing popularity among the people. 

Photo Credit: Facebook.com/TheCrownNetflix

At this point, viewers got the sense that it was just the beginning of the end for this royal couple. 

Princess Margaret finds out the truth about her Bowes-Lyon cousins 

Everyone has skeletons in their closet and members of the Royal Family are no different. And in the episode called ‘The Hereditary Principle’, we see that the palace went to great lengths to hide their cousins with special needs. 

Photo Credit: Facebook.com/TheCrownNetflix

It showed how far the royal family will go to maintain their “untainted” and “perfect”  image. 

The Queen awards Margaret Thatcher with The Order of Merit 

After the Fagan episode, it was clear that the Queen and Margaret Thatcher disagreed on a number of things during female Prime Minister’s 11-year run in office.

Photo Credit: Facebook.com/TheCrownNetflix

But despite their different stances on certain issues, the Queen still respected the Iron Lady’s work in government and even awarded her The Order of Merit in the final episode of the series. 

Princess Diana hugs a child diagnosed with AIDS in New York 

During her first tour alone in New York City, Diana made waves in the American community as the beautiful and charismatic princess. And her popularity grew even more when she was pictured hugging a child diagnosed with AIDS–an act that was so crucial at the time since AIDS was thought to be contagious. 

This particular event cemented her title as the ‘People’s Princess’ in the eyes of world.

Charles blows up after Diana returns from her tour of New York  

Following her successful trip to the United States, Camilla realizes that even when Charles separates from Diana, she will always be secondary to the Princess of Wales. Seeing his beloved hurt by this, Charles confronts Diana in an explosive scene, wherein he tells Diana that he thinks only of Camilla “morning, noon, and night.” 

What made this moment so captivating was Josh O’ Connor and Emma Corrin’s acting in this confrontation. You could sense the tension between the characters and can even feel the emotions they are going through as the scene played out. 

Photo Credit: Facebook.com/TheCrownNetflix

Truth be told, these two young actors made this season definitely worth the watch, especially O’ Connor, whose portrayal of Charles made me sympathize for a prince who will not only never live up to his mother and father’s expectations but who also felt locked in a marriage he can never get out of. 

Prince Philip speaks to Diana 

What I liked about this scene was the fact that they showed the special relationship between Diana and Prince Philip. In real life, the Princess of Wales shared a special bond with her father-in-law even while her marriage to Prince Charles was slowly coming to an end. 

Furthermore, this conversation hinted at the difficulties Diana will face in the later seasons as she starts to break ties with the royal family and ventures out on her own. 

Overall, this season was exciting from start to finish and had me hooked throughout its run.

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And with regards to the anti-Charles bias the show is accused of–I want to say that I do agree with streaming platform’s statement that although the story was based on real-life people, it is a historical fiction. And much like other shows of this genre–like Medici or Reign–a lot of the real-life events have been altered to make for an interesting storyline. 

Given this, I do advise people who also love watching the show to not take everything there as fact. 

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Viewers can watch the fourth season of The Crown on Netflix. 

*NOTE: This review is not sponsored by Netflix or any other streaming platform or program. This was written purely from the perspective of the writer as a fan of the show.

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My family and I just can’t get enough of this shop’s sushi bake trays

NOTE: This is a personal review of the product and not a paid, branded post. This means the author does not receive any money from the publication and clicks made on this article. 

Sometime around June of this year, I started noticing the sushi bake craze making its rounds online. At first, I didn’t necessarily understand what the dish was–I wondered, does it taste just like a maki roll? What’s in it? And is it really worth the hype?

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It wasn’t until October, when me and my siblings decided to try the dish out for ourselves. And upon the recommendation of my friend Mark D., we decided to order the Gyudon sushi bake tray from La Mesa Cravings.

Photo of the Gyudon sushi bake dish sent to me via Facebook by La Mesa Cravings

Initially, my whole family and I didn’t know what to expect when it arrived. But after taking the first few bites, we knew that this was a dish we would happily order again from the shop.

Here are a few reasons why I said this:

They have good customer service and the dish is complete and securely packaged

When it comes to service-oriented businesses, good customer service is key in maintaining loyalty with your target market. And La Mesa Cravings accomplishes this by not only being very responsive to inquiries on their page, but also in keeping their customers up-to-date on their orders.

Because once you have ordered and paid for the dish, the team schedules delivery based on your preference. And before the item is even sent out, they send you photos to confirm your order. So, from the get-go, you are aware of its appearance and the items that come with the dish.

Photo of the Gyudon sushi bake dish sent to me via Facebook by La Mesa Cravings

Moreover, the team places it in an aluminum foil tray and secures it with plastic cover to make sure it doesn’t move around while it’s in transit.

The sushi bake is full of flavor and very savory

The Gyudon sushi bake tray we ordered was packed with beef and sushi rice and topped off with layer of creamy cheddar cheese. The combination of these ingredients made the dish flavourful and absolutely filling. And when it’s eaten with seaweed–which comes with the order–the dish becomes almost heavenly!

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Even Filipino actor Paolo Ballesteros can’t seem to get enough of their sushi bake trays, sharing a review of it on his personal social media accounts.

Now, I do admit their menu items can be a bit pricey ranging from 300 to 1,500 PHP (depending on the size and variant and excluding shipping fee), but it’s well worth the price for its savoury taste and overall delicious flavour.

There are more flavors to choose from, not just Gyudon

After devouring the Gyudon sushi bake tray, my family and I are definitely eager to try out the shop’s other flavors. This includes the following variants: Green, Yellow, Red, Pink, Dragon, and Spam.

And fortunately for us (and other sushi bake fans), shop owners Joezel and Ivy Malang-Cruz are now offering the La Colección gift box. This is a set order that allows you to choose four out of their seven sushi bake variants to try and feast on this holiday season.

  Here’s a sample photo of their La Colección gift box. Photo Credit: Facebook.com/lamesacravingsyt

If you’re interested in knowing more about this San Juan City-based shop, you can visit their Facebook page or subscribe to their YouTube channel for more details. 

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‘Subtle Asian Baking’–the online haven for bakers obsessed with Asian-inspired treats

As many of us already know, Asia is home to many amazing baked creations. From Vietnam’s Bánh Chuối Nướng (baked banana bread) to Japan’s Daifuku (mochi) treats, we have seen and may have even tasted some of these delectable desserts during our trips there. 

However, with the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, traveling is highly discouraged as it could lead to the further spread of the virus. 

Given this, a lot of people have taken to baking their own versions of these desserts at home. Some have even mastered its baking techniques, while others still have a long way to go before mastering their craft. And whether you’re the former or the latter, there’s one place online that you can connect with and converse with other bakers about your love for Asian-inspired treats–and that’s through Subtle Asian Baking. 

Photo Credit: Facebook.com/subtleasianbaking

Subtle Asian Baking is an online community on Facebook that allows bakers from all over the world to share, discuss, and even recommend their favorite Asian-inspired creations and recipes.  

And in this article, I got the chance to talk to the founder Kat Lieu and the rest of the Subtle Asian Baking team on what makes the Facebook group special, the inspiration behind its creation, and what message can they share to aspiring bakers about their online community. 

Here’s what I learned from the interview: 

It’s a community of like-minded bakers who support and encourage each other  

In the Subtle Asian Baking Facebook group, members are encouraged to share their latest Asian-inspired creations without fear or judgment.

“What makes the group special is when people can show off their amazing desserts and bakes, and feel appreciated. [And] when people ask a question, they receive a flood of helpful answers [from other members],” Subtle Asian Baking founder Kat Lieu explained. 

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It is an avenue where bakers can freely express themselves and even help inspire a sense of creativity in other members who see the posts.

Lieu herself admits to exploring other baking ideas after seeing other people’s creations in the group–“[In terms of] creativity, I find myself becoming more and more creative and innovative with my own baking.” 

More than just a platform for sharing one’s creations, it is also a community that engages with its members through virtual bake-offs and online contests. In fact, just last month, they held a charity mukbang for the benefit of the Alzheimer Society of Canada. And as of December 2, 2020, they were able to raise 4,002.50 CAD (approximately 150,611.93 PHP) for the non-profit organization. They were also able to surprise members of the group and participants with a number of special guest appearances.  

“Our mukbang fundraiser was very special. Three CEOs from the Alzheimer Society of Canada, the Alzheimer Society of Toronto, and the Alzheimer Society of Ontario joined us in [the] eating [contest]. We [also] had a special guest eating with us, Fred Chang, a contestant from MasterChef US Season 10. A rising mukbang duo made a special appearance during the Zoom livestream [as well],” Lieu shared.  

These online events were created to both give back to the community and entertain its members.  

“We want to be different. We also want to give back to the community. [Since] many people are stuck at home now, the Internet has become our world. [There,] we can build a community with virtual bake-offs and we can give back through fun fundraising activities.”  

At the moment, the team has prepared two bake-offs for December. The first of which is in partnership with Suncore Foods and is a competition for junior bakers between the ages of 4 to 15 years old. While the second one is a holiday bake-off that features guest judges Catherine Zhang, the Zumbo’s Just Desserts season 2 champion, and Fred Chang, season 10 finalist of the hit show MasterChef US.

Members can stay tuned for more announcements on this through their Facebook page and group, or through their Instagram account.

A recent trip to Japan inspired Kat Lieu to create the group 

The group was created back in May of this year by Kat Lieu. She was inspired to form Subtle Asian Baking after reminiscing about the baked creations she got to try during her recent trip to Japan. 

“COVID-19 was spreading fast and things were closing down. I was thinking about my trip to Japan back in February 2020, and I couldn’t find a group I liked dedicated to Asian sweets, particularly subtle Asian sweets. So, I created the group in [the] hopes [that] I can bring together a large baking community and curate recipes and beautiful pictures of Asian-inspired desserts,”  Lieu expounded.  

“Many of us can’t travel [now], but we can reflect fondly about desserts we love, desserts from our culture, and the baked goodies we had while traveling across Asia and so forth.”

To her surprise though, the group quickly grew since its creation, now amassing over 66,000 members from all over the world. 

Screengrab from Facebook.com/groups/subtleasianbaking

Today, the group is handled by Lieu and the Subtle Asian Baking team, which comprises the following: Owen Li, an IT professional and the team’s very own “air-frying ninja”; Will Leung, a bakery owner in New Zealand; George Lee, a Le Cordon Bleu-trained cook and rising star in the vegan culinary world; and Nichole Tan, a Singapore-based sweets expert.

A message to aspiring bakers: ‘Just start baking!’  

Starting a new hobby can be hard but the Subtle Asian Baking team believes that practice makes perfect. And they continue to encourage aspiring bakers to express themselves and try new things, with a little help and inspiration from their Facebook group.  

“Just start baking! It doesn’t matter if you use cake mix or bake from scratch, just make it and bake it! And please join our group! We are inclusive and [we] welcome all bakers, dessert makers, or dessert enthusiasts of all skill levels. We also welcome savory baking recipes and pictures!” the team said.

To join Subtle Asian Baking, click their Facebook group here and request to be a member. Once approved, you can start posting your creations, joining their online contests, and start conversing with like-minded bakers.

You can also follow them on their Facebook page or on Instagram to stay up-to-date with their latest posts and announcements. 

Happy baking, everyone! 

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Holiday royal romance movies are cheesy and predictable–but that’s what makes them so fun to watch

Almost all of my family and friends know that I am a sucker for this subgenre of romance movies. For years, I have watched a lot of these kinds of films from Hallmark and most recently, Netflix. 

So, when my good friend Niña came across this video of YouTuber Jack Douglass discussing the “terrifying world of ‘Princess Christmas’ movies,” she knew I had some thoughts on this matter. 

First off, I actually agree with everything Douglass had to say about these movies, especially on the following points: 

– These kinds of movies revolve around three plots, namely the “ordinary woman becomes a princess,” “a princess pretends to be an ordinary woman,” and “a princess and an ordinary woman swap places.” 

–  The names of these movies sound similar (if not the same).

– All of the royal romances take place in imaginary countries that all sound the same–citing examples like “Belgravia,” “Aldovia,” and “Maldovia.”

– The Prince always seems to have a “pronounced english accent.”

– How these kinds of movies use the same actors and actresses in other films that feature the same plot. 

He even makes a valid point in saying how strange it is to know that even though these movies follow the same formula, they manage to become franchises–citing the Christmas Prince films as an example. 

With all of this in mind, you, as a viewer of his video, would even start to wonder, why would anyone want to watch these films after knowing this? 

Now, I can’t speak for everyone… but as someone who has seen many of these holiday royal romance movies (and would probably continue to watch them in the future), what entices me is its predictability, overall feel-good vibe, and Christmas spirit. 

From the get go, I can already tell many of the things that are going to happen in these kinds of movies. For instance, I know there will almost always be some grand ball wherein the prince will be left in awe over the girl’s appearance or that the prince will always choose the “normal girl” over his betrothed. 

But it’s this cliched storyline that keeps me interested because there is a certainty that it will always end in a “happily ever after.” And in this world where anything can go wrong, it’s nice to watch something that promises a happy ending.

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Moreover, these are the kind of feel-good movies that won’t leave you stressed or worried about the characters. Since it’s predictable, you won’t have to agonize about the girl not getting the guy or of someone dying during the course of the film. It’s almost like the ideal kind of thing to watch when you are tired from work or household errands and you just want to relax.

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Lastly, it features a picture-perfect version of the holidays, where everyone is happy and together. And I am guessing this is almost everyone’s ideal scenario when it comes to Christmas.

Via Pixabay

So, before you write off holiday royal romance films, I recommend you try watching a few of them first. You never know, you might even end up actually enjoying them!

I bought a Harry Potter–themed box online – was it worth it?

As a Potterhead, I have always wanted to buy some of the Harry Potter-themed subscription boxes featured by YouTubers like The Potter Collector. Unfortunately, because many of these boxes cannot be shipped to my country, I have never been able to purchase one. 

So, you can understand my excitement upon finding out that local artist Ella Mercado was selling her own Wizarding World-themed boxes online. Immediately, I purchased her limited edition Potterhead box 2.  

Now, before I share with you my review of it, I would like to note that this article is not sponsored and that I have purchased the box on my own volition. Therefore, all thoughts and opinions expressed in this article are that of my own and are not influenced by external factors. With that said, let me continue with my thoughts on the item… 

On packaging 

When the box was delivered to my house, I was disappointed to see that a portion of the plastic had either been chewed off by a rat or partially burned as seen in the photos below. 

However, this is not the fault of the seller but perhaps, the courier for not taking better care of the item. Luckily, none of the items inside were damaged, but the box was frayed in the corner. 

The box itself is plain brown, with a few Harry Potter-themed stickers on it. When opened, you can see that the items are carefully wrapped in yellow japanese paper–which I love since I am a proud Hufflepuff–and joined with a rolled-up map of the Wizarding World on top. 

Inside the folded-up yellow paper are the following items (which I will go into further detail later): 

– Four (4) glittered postcards that feature scenes from the movie 
– Nineteen (19) glittered sticker pieces
– Three (3) pins
– One (1) Deathly Hallows necklace
– Three (3) Daily Prophet posters
– One (1) Quibbler poster
– One (1) Hogwarts acceptance letter signed by Professor McGonagal 
– One (1) copy of the Hogwarts rules and regulations

On the Wizarding World Map 

The Wizarding World Map was printed on a thick, yellowish-brown paper and its illustrations are printed with black ink (the teaser video I made for this changed the color of the details on the map–making it purple instead of black).  

I consider this item as one of the highlights of this Harry Potter bundle. Not only was it rolled up well but it was very detailed and showed almost all the locations of the Wizarding World–From Hogsmeade to Hagrid’s Hut in the Hogwarts campus. 

It’s definitely a worthy piece of merchandise in this bundle. 

On the glittered postcards  

Personally, I like almost anything that’s been bedazzled or glitter-fied. And these postcards are no exception. 

I like how they were printed clearly on quality glittered paper. And that the scenes chosen were memorable moments from the Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone movie. 

On the glittered sticker pieces 

These stickers are my absolute favorite from this box! They are not only made from what looks like waterproof, glittered paper, but they are also masterfully designed by the artist. 

I especially love her designs on Hedwig, Dobby, and the Sorting Hat.

On the pins

There are three pins in this lot: a Butterbeer shrink pin, a cat-themed button pin, and a Harry Potter enamel pin. 

All three pins are very cute and well-designed. Although from the three, I absolutely love the Harry Potter enamel pin as it is very detailed and it features the infamous Quidditch scene in the first film.  

These, again, are a win for me. 

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On the Deathly Hallows necklace  

After seeing the quality of the stickers, postcards, and pins, I was excited to see the next item. To my surprise, I ended up greatly disappointed with the Deathly Hallows necklace. 

The reason I said is because the lock on the necklace won’t even open and the chain is not long enough to fit over the head. This makes it unwearable and honestly, quite useless as an accessory.  

On the Quibbler and Daily Prophet posters

What I love about these posters is that they are about the A5 size so they are quite small and are perfect for displaying. 

The text and illustrations of the posters are also very clear and readable, making it a good addition to the box. 

On the Hogwarts acceptance letter and the rules and regulations 

Like the posters, these were also printed quite well and the text is clear. The only thing I really have to comment here is that I kind of hoped that the letter would be more personalized because at the moment, it does say “Dear (Your name)” in the acceptance letter.

So, through it all, one question remains: was it worth the buy?  

Generally speaking, I am happy about this purchase but if I could, I would have preferred if the item was maybe 100 Pesos cheaper, especially since the lock on my necklace wasn’t functioning. 

Other than that, I still do consider this as a worthy buy since I was able to receive a cool set of well-made Harry Potter stickers, pins, postcards, and posters. And I was also able to help a local artist continue to share her work with the world. 

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So, if any of you are interested in checking this item out or looking through her other Harry Potter-themed boxes (yes, she has more), you can check out the artist’s Shopee account here.

When it comes to Disney sidekicks, Charlotte deserves more recognition

Through the years, Disney has created some endearing sidekicks to our favorite animated princesses. From Snow White’s seven dwarves to Elsa and Anna’s silly snowman Olaf, we, viewers, have enjoyed their antics and overall lovable personalities. 

But in this lineup of side characters, there is one that doesn’t get enough recognition as the rest–and that’s Charlotte La Bouff from the Princess and the Frog.

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Unlike other members of the Disney sidekick group, Charlotte doesn’t get talked about as much. And despite her hilarious personality and selfless nature, she doesn’t even get a spinoff short film like that of Olaf (and she rightfully deserves one!). 

So, in honor of one of the most lovable characters in the Disney cinematic universe, I am listing down three reasons why Charlotte deserves the title of “everyone’s favorite sidekick”. 

She is one of the funniest characters in the film

Just from the start of the movie, you could already tell that she was a quirky character. And her overdramatic demeanor and crazy responses to events gave the film its much-needed comic relief. 

One of her funniest moments was her reaction to seeing Prince Naveen for the first time. In the scene, she immediately stopped crying, touched up her makeup, and went down the staircase like the queen she truly is. 

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And sure, Louis was entertaining but Charlotte was the one that gave viewers all the laughs in the film.

She treated Tiana like her equal

Charlotte and Tiana obviously came from two different social classes. Charlotte was the daughter of a sugar baron and could buy almost anything she wanted, while Tiana’s family worked hard just to make ends meet. And yet despite their differences, Charlotte always treated Tiana as her friend and her equal.  

In fact, when Tiana’s dress got ruined at the party, Charlotte generously lent Tiana one of her dresses. She even completed the look by placing a tiara on Tiana’s head–prompting Prince Naveen to think Tiana was a princess.

Photo Credit: Facebook.com/PrincessandtheFrog

Now, I know some people have wondered why didn’t she just give Tiana the money to start her restaurant. To explain this, I found a video from YouTuber Story Diver that explains how Charlotte and her father may have possibly offered Tiana the money. However, given Tiana’s can-do attitude and belief that to get what she wants, she must work hard for it, Tiana must have denied the offer and chose to save up for her dream restaurant. 

I believe this theory is highly probable considering Charlotte’s final act of kindness in the film (which I will talk about in the next section). 

She selflessly gave up her dream of marrying a prince to help a friend

When Charlotte finds out about Tiana’s true feelings for Naveen, she immediately gives up her dream of marrying the prince and without hesitation, kisses Naveen in an effort to break the curse. This is evidenced in the movie when she tells Tiana, “I’ll kiss him for you, honey. No marriage required.” 

Photo Credit: Facebook.com/PrincessandtheFrog

This selfless act of friendship on her part shows that she is more than just the “spoiled, rich girl” that everyone makes her out to be. She has a heart of gold and she is one that deeply cares for her loved ones. 

All of these reasons put together is what makes Charlotte such a great character. And I hope you will include her in your list of favorite sidekicks!

Inside the art of making hand-painted cookies

Back in May of this year, I got the opportunity to feature the pop culture-themed treats of Korean-American baker Judy Kim in a POP! article. Since that time, Kim has continued to hone her skill in baking, making more jaw-droppingly beautiful works of art in the form of cookies.

Just take a look at her recent baked goods featuring US President-elect Joe Biden and US Vice President-elect Kamala Harris.

She even made one in honor of the late Ruth Bader-Ginsburg.

View this post on Instagram

If you are a woman, regardless of your political views, you have gained something from RBG’s legacy. As a working mom of two girls, I am even more grateful that she paved the way. Case by case, she forever changed the legal landscape for women, attaining equal protection by the law and did so with intellect and grace. She allowed women to sign a mortgage without a man and to have a credit card and bank account without a male co-signer. She fought gender pay gaps and pregnancy discrimination in the workplace and made it okay to be a working mom (and stay-at-home dad). She upheld the notion that women hold God-given moral agency by advocating to keep the government out of a woman’s body and allow her to make her own personal health and reproductive decisions. Finally, she showed us by example how to remain kind and civil despite fierce disagreement (shown by her close friendship with Justice Scalia) — something that is rare today. Her fight is ours to continue. Thank you @thecookiestache for hosting the #BeRuthlessBakes collab to honor RBG and her incredible legacy. Check out the hashtag for some amazing bakes. ❤️and VOTE.

A post shared by Judy (@judyscookies) on

Because of this, I caught up with Kim regarding her process for making the cookies, the inspiration behind some of her designs, and her advice for aspiring bakers worldwide. Here’s what she had to say about it. 

Making custom-designed cookies can be tedious but it’s an activity she enjoys

Just by looking at the detail put into each cookie, you would know that Kim devotes a lot of time and effort into making each one look perfect. And working full-time in the medical field, it can definitely be very time-consuming and tiring–but it’s one activity she seems to enjoy. 

“The hardest part about creating cookies is probably all the time-involved. Custom cookies are very labor-intensive! Personally, I am a full-time practicing physician, so I make cookies on the side, and I can definitely lose some sleep over them!” she explained. 

She also shared how many of her hand-painted cookies can take two or more hours to make, depending on the level of detail. And among her most tedious creations would have to be her Mandalorian-inspired cookies. 

“The Mandalorian was probably 4 hours or more in total: [this includes] baking, creating multiple layers, piping royal icing, and hand-painting.”

View this post on Instagram

Resurrecting my Mandalorian cookie as I think about what is happening to us. We are covered by our armor and masks, hiding behind our screens and social media accounts. This makes us appear indifferent and less human. When Mando’s helmet was removed for the first time, we realize this was just some regular guy who wanted to do the right thing, but his affiliations and duties sometimes conflicted with that. We see his conscience awakens. He is complex. He is human. He is growing. We are all him. Let’s give each other that space. Let’s take off our masks. Let’s SEE each other again. “We must not be enemies. Though passion may have strained, it must not break the bonds of affection. The mystic chords of memory will swell when again touched, as sure they will be, by the better angels of our nature.” – Abraham Lincoln (Royal icing, painted with @americolor food gels and @thesugarart elite dusts)

A post shared by Judy (@judyscookies) on

But through it all, she seems to find fulfillment in baking and continues to put out great designs, as evidenced by her Instagram posts. 

She was very inspired when she made her Parasite-themed cookies

Kim admits that many of her pop culture-themed cookies were made upon the requests of family members and friends. But the Parasite cookies were something special for her as it was made to celebrate the film’s momentous win in the 2020 Academy Awards (also known as The Oscars). 

Moreover, she was very happy to know that her friends also appreciated her movie-themed baked goods. 

“I definitely found the Parasite cookies really resonated with my Korean friends, and it’s great to celebrate special moments like this!” she exclaimed.

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Woooooo @parasitemovie !!!

A post shared by Judy (@judyscookies) on

Indeed, her Parasite-inspired cookies seem to be the perfect treat to celebrate the special occasion. And I’m pretty sure even Director Bong Joon Ho would be proud of this specially-designed creation.

Her advice to aspiring bakers: “Be as creative as possible!” 

Kim surprised many of her loved ones when she started making these custom-designed cookies. 

“I think many of them were surprised because I started making cookies only about a year ago as a hobby and most of them do not [even] know that I have an artistic background,” she recalled.  

Despite their initial response to her baking, Kim continued to hone her skills and now, she has made a countless number of beautifully-designed cookies. 

Through her experience in making these hand-painted baked goods, she shares this piece of advice for aspiring bakers worldwide: 

“My advice for people who would like to make custom cookies is to start with the basics (such as finding a good sugar cookie and royal icing recipe) and feel free to be as creative as possible! The cookie-making community on social media is incredibly gracious and that is how I learned myself, by asking questions and practicing.” 


You can see Judy Kim’s full set of creations on her Instagram. 

Here’s what I learned about making miniatures

I first started making these miniature rooms when my friend Cath showed me the living room diorama she made as a gift to my mother. At that moment, I was so amazed by how detailed her miniature creation was–from its carefully-constructed furniture to its highly-detailed pieces. And I knew that I would like to try this project on myself. 

Fast forward to today, I have made a total of three miniature rooms and houses. 

My first project was a living room set, complete with a sofa, a cofee table, and some cupcakes.
The second one I made was a windmill house with a small shop on the side. You can watch a close-up video of this here.
My third and latest project was a pink bedroom designed with a floral dresser, a tea set, and a double deck bed. You can watch a close-up video of this here.

Now, I do admit I am still far from being a “miniature expert”. But I would like to share the things I learned from creating these projects, in case any of you would like to try this as a hobby. 

So, here are a few tips you might want to know about before working on your first DIY miniature kit:

Purchase DIY miniature kits from established online shops or websites 

This is quite possibly the most important tip I can give you and let me tell you why… So, when I decided that I wanted to make these miniature set-ups, I purchased a few kits from random sellers on Lazada and Shopee. Since it was cheaper there, I thought I was getting a good deal and saving money. But let me tell you, the kits I bought had a lot of missing parts–to the point that I had to improvise on some of the details. 

In hindsight, I realize that it might have been better to spend a little more money on DIY miniature kits that have complete materials rather than save a few bucks on kits with missing parts. 

And if I were to recommend some online sellers, I highly suggest you check out and purchase from either Lil Haven PH or Miniature MNL. They provide a complete set of materials and are even very eager to assist if you have questions about their items. 

Always have extra glue on hand 

Another experience I had from purchasing random DIY kits online was that the glue provided was dried up and not usable. Fortunately, I had extra glue on hand so that situation was easily remedied. 

However, this instance reminded me that it helps to have another tube of glue on hand, especially when the one provided to you by the seller is defective. 

Plus, the extra amount of glue may also be useful in further securing the wooden pieces of your project. 

Tweezers and electrical tape are also essential items for miniature-making

Most (if not all) of these DIY miniature kits contain electrical wires with small bulbs that you can attach to the walls and lamps of your projects. Given this, you will need some electrical tape on hand to connect the wires together and light up your room.

I created a GIF to show how the wires can light up your miniature house or room once it’s connected to the battery pack.

Another tool you may also need to have prepared is a pair of tweezers. This will allow you to easily grab those very small pieces and glue them together. And if your first DIY miniature project is as tiny and as intricate as the windmill house I made, then you are definitely going to need your tweezers beside you as you continue on crafting.

This is how small and intricate the pieces were. So, I definitely made use of tweezers to pick up, hold, and glue the items together.

Remember that it may not turn out perfect… and that’s okay 

If you were blessed by the arts and crafts gods with masterclass miniature-making abilities, then you might want to just skip this point. But if you’re like me, a regular crafter, then you might agree that there may be times when your projects don’t turn out as you expected.

Perhaps, there may be times when you still see visible remnants of glue on your diorama?  Or you may even find some pieces of fabric fraying from your furniture pieces? 

If you see these imperfections, don’t fret. Mistakes are always a part of the process. All you can do really is learn from them and adopt these lessons on your next project. Who knows, maybe with time, you will end up being an expert miniature craftsman!  

Don’t be pressured to finish it, just have fun crafting

One of my friends who also bought a DIY miniature kit shared with me that she felt a bit pressured seeing the overwhelming number of pieces she had to assemble. Understandably so, it can be a bit distressing having to think about all the things you have to cut and glue together to form the furniture. So if there’s one thing I can advise, it’s this–start with the easiest piece and work from there.   

Sure, the process can be tedious and time-consuming but that’s ultimately where the fun of crafting is! And I promise you, after finishing one of these projects, you’ll feel slightly more accomplished than you had before.

Via Giphy

Additionally, if you’re a beginner in making miniatures, I suggest trying the smaller rooms first. The first one I ever made was a 17 x 15 x 5.5cm living room that allowed me to get the feel of what it was like to make miniatures. 

This is how the 7 x 15 x 5.5cm living room looks like and it’s perfect for beginners!

Consider altering the design to fit your interests 

Now, this tip is something you might like to consider if you want it a bit more personalized. Instead of using the pictures provided in the kit, you can change it up by printing out your own and placing them in the diorama. Or maybe, you can even choose to change up the color of the walls by painting on them with acrylic paint. The possibilities you can make are endless when it comes down to it! 

Via Giphy

Hopefully these tips will help you in your next project. And remember, have fun crafting!

A look back on my past celebrity interviews and encounters

NOTE: All of the article and video links here are from the POP! website and Facebook page. This post, therefore, serves only as a summary of my projects in the company as its former Content Creator.

During my time working at INQUIRER.net‘s pop culture channel POP! (also known as INQPOP!), I’ve been given the incredible opportunity to be able to interact with some of today’s established and up-and-coming artists. (Something that I will forever be grateful for during my employment there)

To reminisce on those fun times, I’ve rounded up all of the interviews and encounters I’ve had during my stint there. Most of them are interviews with celebrities and fan meeting reels (I was the AV writer for these clips), though I have one on-camera interview that I hope you all would enjoy.

Here’s the rundown of my past celebrity interviews and encounters:

Jess Connelly

Back in 2017, I had the chance to interview Filipino-Irish singer Jess Connelly on her role as the first-ever MTV Buddy in MTVph. It was there that she shared details on her new title and discussed her show called “MTV Fuel”.

You can read my full interview with her here: bit.ly/3emkAq3

Kento Yamazaki

Two years ago, I had the incredible opportunity to speak with Japanese actor Kento Yamazaki for his role in the television series “Kiss That Kills”. It was there that I was able to learn more about his preparation for the show as well as how his character related to his personality.

Moreover, I was able to attend his fan meeting in Hong Kong, wherein I got to see him interact and play games with his fans.

You can read my interview with Kento Yamazaki here: bit.ly/35ZerfG
You can also read my event coverage article for the Kento Yamazaki fan meeting here: bit.ly/324eQwu

Zach Herron from the American band ‘Why Don’t We’

Zach Herron was the first American artist I got the chance to interview and by far, he was the most memorable one. He was so down-to-earth and very enthusiastic that I honestly couldn’t help but think our chat seemed more like two people catching up rather than an artist-to-journalist type of interview.

You can read my interview with Zach Herron here: bit.ly/34PelrI
You can also read my 2019 event coverage article of Why Don’t We’s ‘8 Letters’ Philippine concert here: bit.ly/382CsFx

Christopher

Also, back in 2018, I got to interview the Danish singer Christoper on his new song then called “Bad”. He also discussed with me his music career and his past experience visiting the Philippines.

I especially enjoyed how candid he got when sharing with me why he chose the name “Christopher” as his screen name in the music industry.

You can read my interview with Christopher here: bit.ly/2GpCo7m

Ji Soo

For this interview, I was with the video team in recording the responses of Korean actor Ji Soo. In this Valentine’s Day special, he shared the traits he looks for in a soulmate and what Filipino words he remembers during the filming of his movie “Seoul Mates”.

You can read my interview with Ji Soo here: goo.gl/hiB2zJ
Or you can watch the video interview I did with the POP! team here: bit.ly/3kNS6bm

Anne Curtis

During the opening of BLK Cosmetics in Alabang Town Center, I was able to speak to Anne Curtis about her special message to fans, in relation to the store’s opening in the South.

You can read my interview with Anne Curtis here: bit.ly/2Jz4uy7

Kat Graham

Before Kat Graham graced our television screens with Christmas movies like the “Holiday Calendar” and “Operation Christmas” (which is set to release this month), she was the voice of April O’ Neil in the Nickelodeon show “The Rise of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles”.

And in this interview, she discussed what it’s like to be a character that can inspire a generation of young girls.

You can read my interview with Kat Graham here: bit.ly/35SEANe

Scott Foley and Lauren Cohan

In this interview, Scott Foley and Lauren Cohan talked about “Whiskey Cavalier”, a show that’s about two opposing government agents who are forced to work together in a mission to save the world.

You can read my interview with Scott Foley and Lauren Cohan here: bit.ly/320Kuur

Penn Badgley and Shay Mitchell

When Netflix first announced that the “Gossip Girl” alum Penn Badgley was coming to Manila with “Pretty Little Liars” actress Shay Mitchell, I was absolutely excited! And thankfully, I was assigned to attend their press conference in Manila for their Netflix show “You”.

You can read my event coverage of the ‘You’ press conference here: bit.ly/34LJ8ps

Ryan O’ Connell

Ryan O’ Connell was quite possibly the most insightful celebrity that I got the chance to interview. His responses to my questions were so profound that I really learned a lot from my brief conversation with him.

And my absolute favorite quote from my interview with him is this: “Being like everyone else doesn’t get you a Netflix show.”

You can read my interview with Ryan O’ Connell here: bit.ly/35TT3IN

Two Door Cinema Club

During this interview, Irish band Two Door Cinema Club discussed what it was like making their fourth studio album, “False Alarm”.

You can read my interview with Two Door Cinema Club here: bit.ly/3ehq2dS

Jesse McCartney

First things first, I was (and still am) a huge Jesse McCartney fan! So to be able to be given the chance to get to interview him twice and watch his concert was definitely a surreal moment for me.

But out of the two conversations I had with Jesse McCartney, the second one was definitely the most memorable for me since that was the first time I ever had to do an interview on-camera.

You can watch my video interview with Jesse McCartney here: bit.ly/3oPIYVN
You can also read my 2018 interview with Jesse McCartney on his ‘Wasted’ tour here: bit.ly/2TKOuLg
Or you can read my 2019 event coverage of his concert in Manila here: bit.ly/3kKB5yC

Jannine Weigel

Before Thai-German singer Jannine Weigel performed at the first-ever Nickelodeon SlimeFest in Asia, she spoke to POP! about her career in music and how she was excited to meet her Filipino fans.

You can read my interview with Jannine Weigel here: bit.ly/3jR20aC

Dallas Roberts, Debby Ryan, and Gloria Diaz

I had the very special opportunity to be able to interview “Insatiable” stars Debby Ryan and Dallas Roberts, as well as Miss Universe 1969 winner Gloria Diaz, to promote the second season of their Netflix show.

You can read my interviews with them here: bit.ly/2HMULnu
Or you can watch the video highlights made by the POP! team and I on the 2019 ‘Insatiable’ fan meeting in Manila: bit.ly/3eoXXRV
You can also check out my teaser article about season 2 of ‘Insatiable’ here: bit.ly/3oIH1e1

Henry Cavill

The last international celebrity encounter I had in 2019 was in The Witcher fan meeting with Henry Cavill.

As a fan of Mr. Cavill himself, I was over-the-moon to be able to see him up close in person. And honestly, I’m still not over this encounter!

I even framed the poster Henry Cavill and ‘The Witcher’ showrunner Lauren Schmidt Hissrich signed during The Witcher fan meeting in Manila.

You can read about my encounter with Henry Cavill here: bit.ly/2PUHDOp
Or you can watch the video highlights the POP! team and I made for his 2019 fan meeting here: bit.ly/2GjzQYe
You can also check out the article I made about The Witcher season one: bit.ly/2siWSHA

Eloisa

In my very last interview for POP!, I got to join the video team to document my friend–the “Queen of Busking in the Philippines” – Eloisa Jayloni for an episode of POP! Bio. During this POP! exclusive segment, I got to ask her questions about her experience busking in Russia, as well as, her advice for people who would like to try busking as an avenue to express themselves.

You can watch the POP! Bio episode with Eloisa here: bit.ly/3oVhIFJ

Five true crime and horror podcasts to listen to this Halloween

As many of us already know, Halloween is the annual occasion where you can express your creativity by dressing up in your most outrageous, provocative, or absurd costume.

Via Giphy

It’s the only event wherein you can justify eating boatloads of candies since you (or your kid) have worked hard trick-or-treating for them. And it’s quite possibly one of the only times you can enjoy a series of horror movies and television specials released in honor of this spooky celebration.

All of these things put together is what makes Halloween such a special event for kids and kids-at-heart. Unfortunately, because of the COVID-19 pandemic, a lot of the things we look forward to on this holiday have been put on hold. 

For instance, the large costume gatherings we might’ve been planning to attend have likely been cancelled. Because of this, many of us would have to settle for video chat rooms to commemorate the “day of horror”–something that doesn’t feel quite like an actual party.  

Trick-or-treating has also been banned in certain areas of the metro–leaving many children candy-less on Halloween.

Via Giphy

Although these restrictions can put a damper on your plans, it doesn’t mean the end of the Halloween festivities. In fact, there are still a few things you can do in the comforts of your home to celebrate the scary occasion. And one of those things is listening to true crime and horror podcasts that will leave you either frightened or entertained by the stories told there. 

To help you get started on what could be an epic podcast listening party (at home), I’ve rounded up some of my favourite true crime and horror podcasts that you might want to check out. 

Crime Junkie Podcast 

If there’s one thing that can frighten a person, it’s the idea that someone can kidnap, kill, or murder another fellow human being. In the Crime Junkie podcast, hosts Ashley Flowers and Brit Prawat discuss at length the details of these true crime incidents. It is through their discussion that listeners can gain insight to the crime, understand the possible motives of the suspects, and elicit discussion amongst themselves about the reality of the situation. 

What is especially great about Crime Junkie is that it also discusses cases that have not had the same media attention as others. They even add links to their website and social media accounts so that listeners–who may have a lead on the case or could add something more to the investigation–can reach out to the proper authorities. 

Moreover, they share “Crime Junkie life rules” that help ordinary people, like us, spot danger when it approaches. Their “Be weird. Be rude. Stay safe” mantra has definitely reminded me to be more wary of my surroundings. 

You can listen to them on their website, Apple Podcast, or Spotify. 

Serial Killers Podcast by the Parcast Network 

Much like Crime Junkie, this podcast also discusses true crime cases. But the difference between the two is that this one focuses solely on the stories of serial killers, whereas Crime Junkie includes topics like missing persons, unsolved mysteries, and even conspiracies. 

The Serial Killers podcast typically devotes two episodes per killer. The first episode often looks back at the individual’s childhood–examining his or her past and how it inspired their modus operandi (MO) for killing in the future. The second episode then discusses the killers’ crimes and how they later got caught by authorities. 

Now, what makes Serial Killers so interesting is that it delves into the minds of these notorious people by offering psychological studies to explain their actions. It is through these well-researched explanations that listeners gain a better understanding of these killers’ minds. 

You can listen to them on Stitcher or on Spotify. 

Let’s Not Meet–A True Horror Podcast 

Let’s Not Meet gathers real-life stories from fans and retells them in a such a way that you feel like you’re witnessing the situation firsthand. And that’s thanks to host Andrew Tate’s charismatic reading of these stories.

Listeners will literally feel chills go down their spine as they hear stories of psycho exes, strange stalkers, and even crazy house burglaries. Honestly, this podcast may even turn out to be the perfect scare you need for the Halloween season! 

Additionally, Tate sometimes changes up his normal podcast scheme and invites guests to read some of the stories. This gives fans a somewhat different feel as the other hosts offer a new kind of listening experience.

You can listen to Let’s Not Meet on their website, Apple Podcast or Spotify. 

Radio Rental Podcast

Similar to Let’s Not Meet, Radio Rental also gets their scary stories from the real-life experiences of people. However, what makes this podcast unique is that it has a fictional character as its host. 

The podcast is hosted by video store owner Terry Carnation (voiced by The Office actor Rainn Wilson), who welcomes you into his store called Radio Rental. In each episode, you will be offered to listen to tapes from his exclusive collection, which features the actual audio recordings of people who have been through horrifying, real-life situations. Some of these stories include near-death experiences, possible paranormal sightings, and even an an actual encounter with a serial killer. These stories will leave you on the edge of your seats, anxiously waiting for what would happen next! 

You can listen to them on their website or on Spotify. 

Full Body Chills 

Now, unlike the previous two horror podcasts mentioned, Full Body Chills features only fictional paranormal stories. 

Narrated by Crime Junkie host Ashley Flowers, the stories in this podcast are creepy to say the least. And couple that with Flowers’s emotional reading and the sound effects, you’ve got a scary audio to listen to in the company of your family or friends. 

Lastly, since it’s going to be Halloween, the Audio Chuck team–which is the group behind this podcast–recently released more episodes for your listening pleasure this season. 

You can listen to Full Body Chills on Stitcher or Spotify. 

*NOTE: This article is not sponsored by Spotify, Apple Podcast, Stitcher, or by any of the podcasts or audio platforms mentioned here. This was written purely from the perspective of the writer as a fan of these podcasts.