Culture Reads

While pour-over setups and espresso machines have become home necessities for the serious brewers, most of us still keep a jar or box of instant coffee nearby. They are convenient, and sometimes, you just don’t have time to heat water, grind the beans, weigh the dose, bloom, swirl, and wait. Life calls.

Origin of Bayong

Bayong is a traditional hand-woven bag in the Philippines made of buri palm leaves (also known as Genus Corypha, gebang palm, or talipot palm) in Visayas and of pandan (also known as Genus Pandanus, screw palm, or screw pine) in Luzon.

Sari-sari stores, or Philippine street convenience stores, have long been part of the country’s culture. Being fairly low-maintenance, easy to maintain, and the fact that you can run them while at home, they are one of the most common businesses among Filipinos.

A well-chosen scented candle can turn your space into a place of relaxation, inspiration, or even luxury. They are perfect the home decor as mood enhancers that may help improve focus while studying or simply create a cozy atmosphere. The right scent makes all the difference!

Being new to cooking also means getting confused with all the condiments and cooking oil variants available at the supermarket. It might often make you think, “Can’t I just use whatever? How are they different anyway?”

Finding a new and relaxing hobby to fixate on feels like discovering a new world of fun. Crocheting, even though a long-known handicraft, is one of those popular hobbies that make you want to keep creating more and set it up for something much more.

Coming up with new gift ideas to give to a friend, acquaintance, or loved one can become more and more challenging as time passes by. Aside from running out of ideas, it also becomes imperative to think of something unique and thoughtful that will make the receiver feel loved and pleased.

As growing adults, we are constantly discovering ways to upgrade our lifestyles in affordable and eco-friendly ways. The search for a home that reflects both our personality and values often leads us to explore new ways to make our environment more pleasing and unique. It follows from many different notions such that the usual gets mundane but changing things could be expensive, or that sudden desire to take sustainable living seriously and start embracing handicrafts in your home.

Vinegar, often found lurking in the back of our kitchen cabinets, is an irreplaceable staple in our cooking adventures. This is one of your primary condiments in the classic adobo and can put an additional kick to your favorite salad! Vinegar is not only necessary in our kitchen countertops but also offers versatility with its rich history, numerous benefits, and countless uses.

As interesting as basket weaving sounds, it can seem obscure and intimidating to some who need to learn about this handicraft. However, beneath the seemingly intricate patterns and methods lies a rich history and a rewarding practice that has been integral to human cultures for thousands of years. Basket weaving is an art form that reflects tradition, utility, and creativity all at the same time.