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Think and speak of Tagaytay, and a bunch of memories will spark a conversation between friends and strangers alike. The holiday town down south of Metro Manila has been a getaway from the hustle-bustle of the city.
Tagaytay speaks of wonders — the classic Bulalô, overlooking sceneries, karaoke nights, and the sight of the majestic Taal Volcano. A heartwarming reminder that there’s always a place for you in this getaway town, regardless of your emotions.
A trip down south
In the midst of the government’s poor response to the pandemic, many industries were forced to adapt to continue their business operations. When I got a call from a friend to help with their social enterprise’s initiatives in Tagaytay, I said yes without hesitation.
After several signed permits, we took a trip down south. We took the Santa Rosa exit in Laguna and we were greeted by a gloomy sky warning us of an upcoming rainstorm.
Before the skies sent a downpour, I took a selfie on my latest daily driver — the ASUS Zenfone 8. After all, cloudy skies make for the perfect diffuser. Without the sun’s harsh lighting, your selfies will look balanced.
Moments later, a rainstorm occurred and it was my cue to take a nap.
I fell asleep the whole time we were in transit. When I woke up, we were already in Hollywood Subdivision where we’ll leave our bags.
It was a quiet neighborhood, although there are a few hotels and establishments around the area in case you need to grab a quick bite.
An overlooking, late lunch
After getting our bags settled in our place, we went to Green ATS restaurant along Tagaytay-Nasugbu Highway. Because when in Tagaytay, you must get a Bulalô.
Due to pandemic restrictions, a space that was formerly good for five is now limited to two people. We ordered Bulalô or Beef Marrow Stew — a beef dish with clear broth, leafy vegetables, and corn on the cob.
Apologies but there are no photos included. I’m not that millennial anymore: the one that takes a lot of time to snap a photo of food or even style it to look glamorous for his followers to see, even if he’s really hungry.
But I did take a selfie while waiting for the food. Hashtag priorities.
The spot we have has an overlooking view, although still at a distance. I used the maximum 8x digital zoom capability of the ASUS Zenfone 8 to try to capture the barren, exhausted state of Taal Volcano after its sudden phreatomagmatic eruption back in January 2020.
After we were done eating, we went to the balcony to bask in awe of a majestic scene. I used the wide-angle mode to capture its glory.
I also captured the scenery using the wide-angle mode in Panorama, as if I was an old uncle who suddenly learned how to use smartphones. Afterward, we proceeded to our friend’s program — wherein we weren’t allowed to take photos.
Another drive for dinner
It was already dusk when we got back to our place. I charged my phone since I was using the Zenfone 8 since the morning — mobile data, messaging, maps, and all.
It was around 7:30 in the evening when we went out for a drive to look for an open café so I can write and do a bit of my work. Since most establishments are closed, especially all Starbucks branches, my friend insisted to visit Breakfast at Antonio’s.
I was averse to the idea of having my dinner here. But I was convinced when we realized I can bring out my laptop and type peacefully here.
The pastries are to die for, at least for my friend who was an avid fan of this restaurant.
They serve appetizing ice cream as well, which is a trip to the bathroom in my case. Lactose intolerant kids don’t get to enjoy the fine things in life unless we have our pills.
Three things about Breakfast at Antonio’s: First, the service is really slow. We had to call the waiters three times before they get our orders. Second, the food is bland and average except for the cup of hot chocolate. I think that was really remarkable.
Last but not the least, the pricing is insane. The waffle and pancake cost nearly US$ 10 (almost PhP 500) each, and it didn’t make me feel full. Not even a bit. Although my rich friend — who always calls himself comfortable as if he was Nick Young from Crazy Rich Asians — was delighted with the servings. To each his own, I guess.
We capped the night drinking with our friends from the army, who are about to be dispatched to different outposts in the Philippines. It was kind of a despedida since they will be stuck in their posts for two years or more.
Quiet mornings
The next morning, I found myself puffy and bloated after possessing the spirits of Jose Cuervo and Alfonso. I haven’t got myself drunk in a long time, so I took a much-needed hangover meal and shower that helped me come back to my senses.
Mornings are peaceful here. You can give your soul a break whether it’s through drinking a cup of coffee in silence while you read a new novel, or staring into space.
I went to the rooftop to get some sun. The overlooking view is the perfect sight to capture using a wide-angle mode, and I was glad I have that handy feature. It was breathtaking; as if there were endless possibilities unraveling before me.
The cat enjoyed getting some sun, too. I didn’t want to cause disturbance by getting close, so I used 2x zoom to capture it from a distance.
To a patch of greenery
We’re headed on a new adventure and a 30-minute drive to Mendez to visit an organic farm called L&J Country Estate. As part of my friend’s assignment, we’re helping her explore and learn about the place to see if the tour can be part of her next segment.
Upon entering L&J Country Estate, the first hallmark you’ll encounter is its fabulous fountain.
The place hosted an event the weekend before, so the café, swimming pool, and other amenities were off-limits for the timebeing.
Noela Amparo, a rising pop-rock sensation, didn’t pass an opportunity to have her photos taken while we’re on the tour.
The first part we explored is their farm designed to look like gardens.
There was a bird sanctuary as well, for those who love birds.
The place doesn’t welcome smokers with their unapologetic signage. I pretend I didn’t see that and moved on. (I am guilty as charged.)
The open space where kids are welcome is also a space for witchcraft. Just kidding. There was a bonfire for late-night roasting sessions, or when you just want to chill and hang around.
For adventurous kids and kids-at-heart, there are several obstacle courses to enjoy as well.
And there were a lot of swings for those who want to live in the moment and sit in peace.
Flowers bloom almost everywhere, making it the perfect foreground for your Instagram photos.
Garden trellises produce dappled sunlight, so take advantage of them to create a hopeful yet dramatic appeal in your shots.
Halfway, we got tired of walking around that we decided to lounge on a bench and catch up with life. Sometimes, we need to fill our time with laughter and conversations.
Remember: taking care of your relationships and spending time with people you love are also a form of self-care. Find ways to sit down and be present. We shouldn’t be consumed by the worries of the future all the time.
And don’t forget to take selfies with the people you love.
Right after our tour, we passed by this youthful Volkswagen Beetle on our way out.
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Masks were removed only during photo-ops. Everyone in the photo tested negative and got official documents to conduct business.
Of course, we didn’t forget to take a group selfie to commemorate the tour and to appreciate everyone who made the tour happen.
Twin Lakes
Before heading back to Manila, we took a quick drive to Twin Lakes to grab our lunch.
The place is eerily quiet with only a handful of people roaming around.
Before leaving, I stood at the balcony and took another look, and marveled at a breathtaking and refreshing view, before going back to the gloomy and busy Metro. The trip was quite short, but it was eventful.
All photos were taken using the ASUS Zenfone 8.
24 Hours is a series on GadgetMatch.com where we showcase our travels through a smartphone camera’s perspective. It’s also a documented guide on things to see and do in a city in case you happen to plan a trip there.
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It’s spring 2023 and vivo is back with the V series. The vivo V27 comes with a new feature called Aura Light Portrait System, which takes its main camera to another level. Like its predecessor it’s got a color-changing back, making it a fashionable choice for different users.
Stylish color-changing design
We have the V27 in Emerald Green, which starts off with a lighter tint that looks like jade. When exposed to UV light, it changes into a darker shade of green. This is achieved thanks to the Emerald Glass processing technique. The phone also comes in Magic Blue, Flowing Gold, and Noble Black.
Chay is wearing light colors so the Emerald Green model matches her outfit better. It makes a nice, subtle pop of color, and goes with her pastel-y mint green purse and boots.
It’s also worth pointing out the 3D curved screen and this curved back on the V27 make it feel extremely thin and light.
Studio lights in your pocket
As mentioned earlier, the vivo V27 features the Aura Light Portrait System for great portraits even in low light. It’s a combination of the IMX677V sensor, which Sony designed with vivo specifically for this phone, algorithm optimizations, and the Aura Light. Its outer ring is matte and sandblasted, softening the light coming out of it.
The Aura Light, combined with the large sensor, and algorithm optimizations work together to take great portraits even in low light.
Lunch and coffee
The day before was a very long day so we figured we should get food and coffee. We found this dimly lit restaurant in Soho called Cafe Select. I think it’s a German restaurant because we had some schnitzel and there’s German decor everywhere.
We also specifically asked for the corner booth to test out the V27’s low light capabilities. Despite the lack of light sources, it’s impressive that the V27 managed to produce an accurate cutout of me even when I kept moving with the Bokeh Portrait video mode on.
There’s no natural light in this restaurant so it’s also the perfect place to take portraits and test out the Aura Light Portrait System. It’s like a portable ring light that you can use to take clearer portraits. Take a look at some examples.
On video mode, you can also use LUTs. We had fun using the Nostalgia filter to film a short video in the restaurant, which perfectly matches the vintage vibe of its interiors.
High definition selfies
The vivo V27 would not be a V-series smartphone if it didn’t have an amazing selfie camera. On the V27, we got a 50MP HD selfie camera with autofocus.
It’s worth noting that the phone feels so light in the hand. It’s so easy to take one-handed selfies. I also love how subtle the color change is on the Emerald Green model.
The V27 offers three levels of selfie filters that help hide blemishes and enhance your features — None, Natural, and Classic.
The 50MP front camera means clear selfie details. Most other smartphones have inferior selfie cameras compared to its rear counterparts, but not the V27. As you can see in the example below, zooming in on my eyes show that you can clearly see the strands of my eyebrows.
Walking the High Line & shopping
To test its video stabilization and macro camera, we continued to walk the High Line. Both features produced very impressive results.
Another feature we tried is MicroMovie. It’s perfect for creators like me. It comes with a whole bunch of templates that you can use for TikTok or Instagram Reels. I filmed a daily vlog with it and had so much fun.
While we were shopping, I noticed too that the V27 changed colors after being indoors for a bit. It turned into a beautiful white marble-like finish that fades into mint green at the bottom.
After the sun has set, it’s time to take more low-light portraits and OOTD. Our friends Alex and Leslie even joined us for a quick photo shoot. New York City comes to life at night, and with a 1/1.56-inch sensor and Super Night Mode, the vivo V27 can easily capture the hustle and bustle of the city streets.
More than just a camera smartphone
The vivo V27 is powered by the MediaTek Dimensity 7200 and comes with either an 8GB or 12GB of RAM.
With Extended RAM the phone borrows memory from your internal storage and gives you an additional 8GB RAM. This way you get either 16GB or 20GB available RAM.
Vivo says this will help when you’re playing memory intensive games or if you like keeping plenty of apps open in the background.
The phone is packed with a 4600mAh battery and supports up to 66W FlashCharge. It comes bundled with an 80W charger.
In our GadgetMatch Charge Test we got to 50% in 19 minutes. A full charge took 57 minutes.
I’ve always been a fan of vivo’s V Series. We’ve done plenty of videos on it in the past and this one is another excellent phone.
It offers users a top notch smartphone experience for less. I enjoyed using all its camera features and I think creators on a budget will too.
I also love this cool color changing Emerald Green model. This phone is definitely the prettiest vivo phone I’ve reviewed lately.
Watch our 24 Hours video with the vivo V27: https://youtu.be/nJ18OMK43yE
24 Hours Series
Google Pixel 7 Pro Unboxing and First 24 Hours
Plus a photowalk using its great set of cameras
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The new Google Pixel 7 Pro has just been released to the public!
Aside from our previous first look video, Michael Josh also did a quick unboxing and hands-on.
Plus, he took it to the streets to test out its battery prowess as well as the power of its three cameras — including the new Super-Res Zoom feature.
Can’t wait to see what the Pixel 7 Pro has to offer?
Here’s our quick unboxing, hands-on, and first 24 hours with the Pixel 7 Pro.
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September 11 marks a historical day not just for New Yorkers, but for (almost) everyone in this world.
With a memory that lives forever in our heads, Michael Josh has tried commemorating it.
He went to the pier along Brooklyn Bridge to recreate a shot he wanted to do for so long.
But instead of the best-in-class iPhone, he instead used the 6.1-inch iPhone 14.
Can’t wait to see how the shot turned out? Or just curious how the iPhone 14’s gonna last throughout the day?
Head over now to our iPhone 14 First 24 Hours video to feed your curiosities.
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