Cristy in the City

I'm a relentless cat person. I don't mind being called a crazy cat lady at all. It's a badge of honor to be loved by felines. Of all God's creatures, cats are purrfection and there's no single problem in life that can't be soothed by the gentle purring of a cat resting on one's lap or belly.

Ever since becoming a cat lady, I've been a hopeless collector of all things kitty-themed. Give me anything with a cat on it and I'll definitely buy it. I cannot resist, rawr!

This page is also on Instagram and on my spare time I love to endlessly scroll down looking for cute and funny cat videos. The IG algorithm probably knows I love cats too much that my feed is full of sites selling cat merch or celebrity cats taking the Internet by storm. Talking of cat art, I was lucky to score the framed cat artworks pictured above--Karma is a Cat, inspired by the ultimate cat lady of them all, Taylor Swift. Of course there's the cheeky artprint of Fat Cat Art featuring the dearly departed Zarathustra (bless his soul in Kitty Heaven). He is apparently doing his best imitation of The Scream by Edvard Munch. The chonky ginger kitty is screaming for tuna or maybe he is yawning. If you are into repro art check out Rustic Cottage PH on Instagram for collectible art. Tell them I sent you!

This vase in the shape of a cat doing the downward kitty was sourced from SHEIN! All the while I thought SHEIN was all about cheap, fast fashion. They are also a treasure trove of fun novelty treasures and decor. They are relatively cheaper than Shopee and LAZADA so SHEIN it is!

The best enemies turned besties. These cats are actually sisters. Luna, the cat on the left is a temporary guest to keep Biscuit company after Macky passed away. Here they are in their Maneki Cat neckwear.

If you're a Daiso regular like me you have probably seen merchandise featuring the Guiness world record holder for being the most watched cat on YouTube- Motimaru (or Mochimaru). Check out his YouTube channel here.

If you're not a cat lover, you'll probably turn into one after you're done reading this article. After all, cats are the cure-all!

What a fun Dinagyang weekend! As a local, I realized weekends in the City of Love can be doubly fun if you pretend you are a tourist or a tourist guide. I spent the weekend with my sister from Manila who was in town to attend an important family affair. It was great timing as the Dinagyang festival was in full frenzy and there were lots of sights and sounds to enjoy. Amid the throbbing of sound systems blaring everywhere and the beat of warrior drums, exploring your own city through the eyes of a tourist can make you appreciate your own fishbowl.

From happy holidays to Dinagyang daze! The Iloilo Provincial Capitol threw a big visual bash with its Dinagyang themed light display. What a wonderful way to soak up the Dinagyang spirit with a stroll along the capitol grounds amidst the cool, Amihan weather. Please leave the lights on until Valentines, pretty please? We'd love a Valentine's themed light display.

Dinagyang colors in full bloom showcasing the inherent creativity of Ilonggos.

The Food Festival at Megaworld Iloilo was the kind of al fresco set-up we wanted. The food choices were great! We discovered Mong's Kitchen and their delectable, tongue curling dishes like Tikka Masala. The British/Indian dish of super tender grilled chicken in spicy, aromatic tikka masala gravy served on basmati rice was absolute perfection.

For hearty breakfast fare, we headed to Cafe Augusto for their big boy servings of Full English Breakfast and Classic Pinoy Breakfast plates. The rosemary scented homemade sausages were amazing. As Ilonggos would say, halamdumon nga sabor.

K-Town in Festive Walk Parade is a must-see. So many snacks, food and drinks to try. It's a mini Korean town with amazing restaurants and coffee stands.

We are not big fans of sinugba or inihaw dishes so we headed to Balay Remedios to try other dishes we haven't tried before like the Chicken Binakol, Lumpiang Hubad and Ceviche with a tasty twist.

When in Iloilo, you gotta have a bowl of heartwarming Pancit Molo from Kap Ising's. Truly Iloilo's best, Kap Ising's pancit molo (and other dishes like Dinuguan with puto) feels like a warm welcome hug if you've missed Iloilo City long enough.

What better way to burn off the calories after 2 days of non-stop eating and feasting than a brisk walk at Iloilo River Esplanade. The cool January breeze complemented the serene river scenery.

Dinagyang is the perfect time for a relaxing staycation in an accommodation that's right smack where the festive attractions are. SEDA just beside Atria Ayala Mall is a great choice!

Lastly, there's the super fun Uno Cat Cafe that's perfect for cat themed coffee and cuisine. We had to try the hamburgers that were whimsically presented. I can absolutely say the juicy burgers were complete with all the works-pickles, caramelized onions , tomatoes in a soft bun. Hamburger cravings satisfied! I hope they have a plan-based version though.