What to See, Eat, and Drink Around Hong Kong’s Old Town Central

 

For Filipino travellers who have already ticked off Hong Kong’s most familiar sights, the next trip could be less about checking landmarks off a list and more about discovering the neighborhoods that give the city its character.

One place to start is the Old Town Central neighbourhood that brings together historic streets, old-school shops, and award-winning restaurants that sit just along the world’s longest outdoor covered escalator, the iconic Central Mid-levels Escalator. Here’s how to spend a day discovering a more local side of Central:

Old Town Signatures

• These are local institutions that showcase Central Hong Kong’s traditions, flavors, and everyday experiences that have built the neighborhood for years. From the cuisines that are served at the dai pai dongs (open-air street food stalls) of Upper Lascar Row to traditional wet markets and historic temples, Old Town Signatures offer experiences that are unmistakably Hong Kong.

Old Town Legacy

Walk through Central’s layered history and influences that have kept the district standing for generations. Explore through the distinctive granite steps of Pottinger Street, the revitalised former police station and prison complex at Tai Kwun, the historic Dr Sun Yat-sen Museum, and traditional tong lau architecture.

Neighbourhood Taste

Michelin-starred restaurants, acclaimed bars and beloved local institutions together side by side. Immerse yourself in Hong Kong’s famous flavors such as traditional teas, dim sum, neighborhood bakeries, and cocktail bars even after dark.

Art & Soul

Roam around the artistic side of Central, where contemporary art and design exist alongside traditional craftsmanship and historic streetscapes in every corner. From galleries and colorful murals along Hollywood road, cutting-edge creativity and design at PMQ, antiques along Upper Lascar Row, and the character-filled streets in Wing Lee Street and Tai Ping Shan Street, this creative side of Hong Kong is worth the visit.

To get even closer to the heartbeat of the community, allow this new interactive AR web app to guide you throughout your journey along Central which not only offers dynamic, motion-activated content at key locations along each themed experience but also allows visitors to listen to immersive audio experiences, where local business owners or staff at local institutions share personal stories about Central’s evolving character. Featured local voices include:

• Bonny Yuen (Founder of Yuen’s Tailor): a family-run tailoring shop boasting over 55 years of history and craftsmanship.
• Gavin Yeung (Co-founder of Kinsman): a Central cocktail bar known for its innovative drinks inspired by Cantonese and Chinese spirits.
• Ben Tsui (Fourth-generation owner of Kung Lee Herbal Tea Shop): a time-honoured herbal tea shop famous for its fresh sugar cane juice and traditional herbal jelly.
• Cecilia Chan (Co-founder of Glocal Mahjong): one of the few places in Hong Kong where visitors can pick up a unique mahjong-themed souvenir.

Take Central Memories Home with Limited-Time Keepsakes and Cocktails

The Opposites

Get a chance to redeem one of five limited-edition Street Sign Pins at Central Market, Tai Kwun, PMQ or other participating merchants when you spend HKD200 or more in a single same-day transaction at participating merchants.

Bar Deluxe

To add to the celebration, 14 neighbourhood bars will serve Old Town Exclusive Cocktails inspired by the Central’s character for a limited period. This includes 50 Best-listed bars such as COA, Montana, The Opposites, The Savory Project and Tell Camellia.

Visit Hong Kong Tourism Board’s page to start planning your Old Town Central journey!

Araneta City serves up weekday dining deals with Lunch Festival

 

Lunch breaks get more exciting at the City of Firsts with the launch of the Araneta City Lunch Festival, a city-wide dining treat that brings more than 60 restaurants to offer specially curated lunch set menus starting at just Php399.

Starting September 1, the Lunch Festival is available Mondays to Fridays, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., giving office workers, students, residents, shoppers, and commuters more reasons to enjoy a satisfying midday meal at Araneta City.

For as low as Php399, diners can enjoy a complete lunch set that includes an appetizer and a main course from top restaurants across Araneta City's malls. Participating establishments include a diverse mix of well-known food brands, along with Le Bistro at ibis Styles Manila Araneta City and food concepts at World Kitchens, all offering a wide range of flavors and dining experiences in one destination. This offer is exclusive to dine-in guests.

See here the list of participating restaurants and their lunch menu: https://qrco.de/CityofFirsts

Strengthening its position as one of Quezon City' s fastest-growing food destinations, Araneta City continues to expand its dining landscape with more than 365 food brands and establishments that suit every taste, mood, and budget. Through the Lunch Festival, guests can enjoy a different flavor every day while taking advantage of affordable and convenient weekday lunch deals.

Why Pet Parents Deserve More than an Ingredients List

 

What if pet parents could feel as confident about their pets’ food as they do about the food they choose for themselves?

With shelves crowded with products promising everything from “natural” ingredients to better

digestion and healthier coats, making an informed choice can feel overwhelming. According to the 2025 ADM Pet Insights Report, pet parents are looking beyond the growing front-of-pack claims and becoming more discerning about the information behind the products they choose, making ingredient visibility an increasingly important part of premium pet nutrition.

“True transparency goes beyond simply listing ingredients. Pet parents are increasingly interested in understanding where those ingredients come from, how they are sourced, and the standards behind the food they give their pets,” said Romy Sia, Managing Director of Bow & Wow Philippines. “The more information pet parents have, the better they can make choices

that are right for their pets and aligned with their values.”

What Real Transparency Looks Like

For Open Farm founders Jacqueline Prehogan and Isaac Langleben, the journey began after rescuing their first pugs, Maddie and Bella, and struggling to find pet food that met their standards for nutrition, animal welfare, sustainability, and transparency. This led them to build Open Farm around three core commitments: premium nutrition, animal welfare, and sustainability.

Today, Open Farm brings these commitments to life through every aspect of its products, from the ingredients it selects to the standards behind their sourcing and production. 

Available at all Bow & Wow Stores and the Bow &Wow Online Store, Open Farm’s recipes feature ethically sourced meats as the first ingredient, alongside non-GMO fruits and vegetables, naturally occurring prebiotic fiber, and natural superfoods. Its animal proteins are

also sourced according to specific welfare and sustainability standards, including pasture-raised lamb from New Zealand, crate-free pork, pasture-raised beef, and sustainably sourced, wild- caught fish.

Open Farm takes these commitments a step further through traceability, empowering pet parents to understand exactly where their ingredients come from and hold the brand accountable for delivering on its promises.

Through Open Farm’s own transparency platform, pet parents can enter the lot code found on

the back of each bag to access information about where the ingredients in that specific batch

came from. With this greater visibility into the supply chain, pet parents can see how the brand's standards are carried through every step of the process, from sourcing and raising ingredients to their final production.

“Pet nutrition is becoming a more holistic conversation,” Sia added. “Pet parents are looking not only at whether it meets their pets’ nutritional needs, but also at the practices behind it. Understanding sourcing, animal welfare, and sustainability gives them a fuller picture of what

they are choosing for their companions.”

Making Transparency Easier for Pet Parents

For Bow & Wow, this emphasis on transparency reflects a broader commitment to helping pet

parents make more informed choices. As the pet care market continues to expand, the company puts standards first when curating its portfolio, considering ingredient quality, sourcing, nutritional standards, and transparency. By bringing in brands like Open Farm that align with these values, Bow & Wow aims to give pet parents access to better options and greater visibility into what they feed their pets.

Transparency is also the heart of Bow & Wow's approach to pet care advice. Rather than simply recommending the most expensive options, its trained Pet Care Advisors work closely with pet parents to understand each pet’s individual needs and tailor recommendations based on formulation, ingredients, sourcing, and production practices, helping pet parents make informed decisions with confidence.

“Every pet is different, so choosing food should go beyond simply picking the product with the

most appealing claims,” Sia concluded. “Our role is to help pet parents understand their options, ask the right questions, and find a food that fits their pet’s individual needs.”

For those who want to experience the products before committing, Bow & Wow also offers free in-store samples of Open Farm’s Wild-Caught Salmon and Homestead Turkey & Chicken Grain-Free Kibble recipes. Pet parents can also browse Bow & Wow's full Open Farm Collection online to explore recipes tailored to their pets' needs to explore recipes tailored to their pet's needs.

Ultimately, the evolution of pet nutrition is reshaping what “premium” means. Today, pet parents increasingly want to understand the story behind the bowl—from the ingredients and how they are sourced to the standards and practices behind them.

For Open Farm, that means traceable ingredients, responsible sourcing, and animal welfare standards. For Bow & Wow, it means making better options and the information behind them more accessible. For pet parents, it means greater visibility and confidence in every choice they make for the companions they love.

Saving someone’s life involves seeing the signs and triggers according to MakatiMed

The challenge for anyone who knows of a friend or loved one thinking of taking their life is to be aware of their triggers and stressors, and observant of out-of-the-ordinary behavior.

 

The loss of the will to live, withdrawing from family and friends, a lack of interest even in activities and things that once sparked joy, and sleeping too much or too little are the classic symptoms of a person who may be courting suicidal thoughts. And yet, as beloved celebrities like chef Anthony Bourdain, comedian Robin Williams, and others who have taken their own lives have shown us, a happy and successful exterior can mask struggles with hopelessness and despair.

While suicide rates in the Philippines are lower than global statistics (an estimate 3.2 to 3.5 deaths per 100,000 Filipinos are by suicide, according to the Department of Health), they remain a serious cause for concern. Thirty percent of suicide cases are by individuals between the ages of 15 and 24, men are four times more likely to commit suicide than women, and whether they push through with it or not, 1 in 5 youths have seriously thought of ending their lives.

What would drive someone to resort to such an irreversible and permanent act? “Mental illness or personality disorder affect a person’s ability to make sound judgement,” says Carmina Charmaine G. Bernardo, MD, FPPA, FPCPsych, a psychiatrist and Head of the Mood and Anxiety Resource and Referral Center (MARRC), Institute of Neuroscience, from top hospital in the Philippines, Makati Medical Center (MakatiMed).

“But so can a traumatic life event like a bad breakup, death in the family, physical or emotional abuse, financial loss, or a ruined career. A person dealing with a painful illness or terminal disease may decide to end their suffering prematurely. Intense feelings of worthlessness, loneliness, and being a burden to others have also pushed people to take their own lives.”

“In other words, certain triggers or stressors compel people to take action and free themselves from what they perceive to be unbearable and unending physical or emotional pain.”

The challenge for anyone who knows of a friend or loved one thinking of taking their life is to be aware of their triggers and stressors, and observant of out-of-the-ordinary behavior.

“Of course, this is not always easy, as a person thinking of committing suicide can pretend that all is well so as not to arouse suspicion,” explains Dr. Bernardo. “Some even appear suddenly calm and happy after experiencing severe depression. This could mean that they are resolved with their decision to end their life.”

Looking out for a friend or family member with suicidal thoughts is a huge responsibility. Still, if you can prevent them from pushing through with it, you could actually save a life—and that is no mean feat.

Dr. Bernardo cites common triggers and warning signs:

Specific dates and occasions.

Everybody gets a case of the birthday blues: Maybe the special day reminds us that we are getting older or have no one significant to celebrate it with. “Birthdays, anniversaries, and special holidays can be sensitive times for suicidals,” reveals Dr. Bernardo. “In fact, an international team of researchers discovered that Monday has the highest risk of suicide mortality, as does New Year’s Day. Call a friend or loved one to check on how they’re doing or make

Reckless behavior.

Does your friend or family member drink too much, drive too fast, not watch where they are going, miss doctor appointments, or skip prescription medication? “A lack of regard for their safety, health, and well-being can mean they no longer value their life,” shares Dr. Bernardo. “Offer to accompany them to their appointments or drive them home when they are under the influence.”

Seeing people.

While suicidals tend to withdraw from the world, others will go out of their way to seek out certain friends or relatives. Perhaps they will forgive someone—or ask someone for their forgiveness. “It is likely a form of closure before they end things,” says Dr. Bernardo. Giving away prized possessions is another sign of “saying goodbye” by offering something to remember them by. “Simply accept the token and assure the person that it will be in your safekeeping for now. It’s a subtle way of saying you will give it back when things get better.”

Talking about suicide is never easy, both for the person contemplating it and the one who speculates a loved one is strongly considering taking their life.

“But it has to be done,” says Dr. Bernardo. “Ask them pointblank gently and coming from a place of concern and sincerity. And be prepared to listen—not judge, scold, or dismiss their feelings. Let them talk and express themselves as much as they want. Sometimes, venting provides them with much-needed relief from negative thoughts.”

For the emotionally vulnerable, knowing that someone genuinely cares for them and wants to help them get out of their black hole can be enough reason to live. “Offer hope and the prospect of better things ahead if they just give themselves and others a chance,” says Dr. Bernardo.

Most importantly, evaluate if a suicidal friend or family member is in immediate danger. Those at the highest risk already have a specific suicide plan, the means to carry out the plan, the time set, and an intention.

“If an attempt is imminent, make sure they don’t have access to lethal objects that they can use to harm themselves like drugs, guns, or knives. And never ever leave a suicidal person alone,” stresses Dr. Bernardo. “The best that you can do is to call emergency services or bring the person to the nearest hospital where they can get the necessary professional help.

For more information, please contact MakatiMed On-Call at +632.88888 999, email mmc@makatimed.net.ph, or visit www.makatimed.net.ph. Follow @IamMakatiMed on Facebook and Twitter.

4 Pro Tips for You to Avoid Most Travelers' Mistake

 

Even the most seasoned travelers can forget a thing or two when they travel abroad. On a trip that’s supposed to be fun and full of adventure, the last thing anybody wants to deal with is problems that could have been avoided with better preparation and planning. So, here are four things travelers tend to forget, along with pro tips from some travel experts to help avoid these common travel blunders.

Forgetting about the home

Travel plans begin at home, literally. It’s easy to focus on packing and planning an itinerary and forget to make sure everything is taken care of at home before leaving. The last thing any person wants is to come back from a relaxing trip to a major cleanup job, or worse, discover that their home wasn’t properly secured while they were away.

Many homeowners keep an eye on things through CCTV, while others ask a close relative to drop by every now and then. It’s also important to unplug all electronics and appliances that don’t need to be running. It may seem obvious, but taking care of these things before leaving can give travelers one less thing to worry about while they're on vacation.

Overlooking important travel documents

There’s nothing worse than getting to the airport and realizing an important document was either left unfinished or not brought at all. To avoid these moments, it’s important to have a checklist of everything that needs to be completed – such as the eTravel pass – ahead of time. These are easy to put off at the last minute, but doing so often leaves travelers scrambling once at the airport.

Another pro tip is to keep photocopies of a valid ID, your passport, the destination’s visa (if needed), and hotel bookings stored in both your hand carries and check-in luggage. If you lose your luggage, have it swapped, or your passport goes missing, you’ll have proof they’re yours.

Not getting travel insurance

Travel insurance is one of those things that’s easy to put off because travelers are hoping they won’t actually need it. But when something unexpected happens on a trip, having coverage can make a big difference.

Maki Santos - Bangkok

For content creator Maki Santos, travel insurance is among her non-negotiables before heading out on her travels. “Sadly, getting travel insurance is still not top of mind for Filipinos, when in fact, it is a need especially during trips where you do so many different activities that are out of the ordinary,” she shares.

Maki - BKK

According to her, travelers tend to assume that getting insurance means dealing with a complicated process or having to spend a lot of money on an already expensive trip. But what they don’t realize is that there are many accessible options that make it easier to get covered these days.

GCash offers GInsure Travel starting at only PHP 299, with protection covering medical emergencies, flight delays, trip cancellations, lost baggage, personal accidents, based on their chosen coverage plan. Policies can cover up to PHP 2.5 million, and travelers can avail of coverage for themselves or family members in as fast as 5 minutes, even at the airport, up to 2 hours before their flight.

Not mixing it up with payment options

The way people pay in different countries can be very different. Some destinations are almost completely cashless, while others still rely heavily on cash especially for transportation and night markets. It’s this extra step of research that travel creator Marvin Samaco makes sure to never miss.

Marvin Samaco - HongKong

According to him, “Some destinations especially in Southeast Asia are still very cash- heavy, so I make sure to carry enough cash when I visit there. Others are mostly cashless, so when I’m there, I use my cards. Then there are places like China, where digital wallets are essential. That's why I always research the payment culture of a destination before I travel. I usually end up using a mix of cash, cards, and digital wallets depending on where I am.”

Marvin - HK

GCash allows travelers to manage different payments through a single e-wallet, get access to 0% forex rates, and have real-time spend tracking on the app to make sure they stay within their budgets.

For everyday expenses like dining at restaurants or at the convenience store, users can Scan to Pay via Alipay+ for safe and seamless transactions. For instant, on-the-go payments, especially in high-volume areas or pasalubong shops, users can also Tap to Pay with their NFC-enabled Android phone, so they don’t need to pull out their wallets in the crowd.

Scan to Pay

Meanwhile, the GCash Card offers 0% Forex fees that one can enjoy on shopping purchases abroad. It can also be used to withdraw cash 24/7 from ATMs worldwide.

Tap to Pay

The ultimate travel pro tip: Be ready for the unexpected

The goal isn’t to plan for everything that could go wrong, but to be ready when the unexpected happens. With GCash as a travel partner, travelers can stay ready for any payment moment, wherever their travels take them.