Hey! It's you!

Finally had Wintermelon Mousse-Tache from JoeMonkey! YUMMM! :D And the girl from the counter recognized me. She was like, are you the one from Twitter? I just smiled. Hihi :>

GOIN' BANANAS FOR JOE

I came across this relatively new milk tea shop along I. Delos Reyes St. one December afternoon when I decided to take a different route on my way to UST. They weren't open yet then. When I saw the place, I was like, "Meh, just another milk tea shop" and just continued on walking. And then I passed by that place again, this time they were already open. From the outside, the little tea shop looked really inviting and warm-- too bad I was running late that time. 

When I got back from the holidays, the new milk tea place I was itching to try escaped my mind. Then a friend texted me if I tried JoeMonkey already, my immediate reaction was like "Oh right, that new MT place!" So I went down, hurriedly, and made my way to Delos Reyes.

The first thing anyone would recognize is this:

The grass is greener on this side of UST

Their crazy awesome grass floor carpet! It was uniquely JoeMonkey, I thought. Their white and pink themed shop is very humble, clean and minimalist in design. They have this long pink couch where you could lie down or do the Indian for all they care. And it's couple-friendlier, if you know what I mean ;)

When I am new to a milk tea shop, I always order Wintermelon or roasted milk tea or just the plain milk tea first. It's like my scale on how good their drinks taste. Like when my friends eat at a Korean restaurant, they always get the Bibimbap first, that's their "batayan" on how good the food is there. Anyhoo, my first drink with JoeMonkey was Wintermelon MT with pudding. It was good. And their pudding was the best I've had so far. It was flavorful and not too soft that it would go through your teeth.


Their menu had a lot to choose from. When I went back there, I was dying to get their Wintermelon Mousse-tache which I've heard so much about. But when I got there, they already ran out of stock. So I got this intead: Green Apple Yakult Green Tea.

When I ordered this, I asked to add some pudding (cuz I loved it so much) with it but the one who took my order said it might not go well with the drink and suggested to add nata jelly instead. I was impressed, to be honest, they know what they sell and not just get what the customers want. And it was a good call, the nata went well with the drink. 


Their drinks are really good, the staff are friendly and the place is not too big that it becomes crowded. Just right. And they've got free WiFi! ((: Here are some pictures of the place. Go check it out! 

Joe Ilaog manning the counter (:

JoeMonkey Manila is located along I. Delos Reyes Street, cor P. Campa, Sampaloc Manila. They're open Mondays to Saturdays until 9pm. I'm not sure tho. When I was there they closed at 9PM. (:
Follow them on Twitter! @JoeMonkeyManila 

When a Tigress falls

Its our preliminary exams week already, but instead of studying, I decided to support my school in the 74th season of the UAAP Women's Volleyball tournament. UST was going up against AdMU in this Sunday Doubleheader.

When I got inside The Arena in San Juan, UP was still battling UE. So I got to my seat and looked around. I saw loads of those elongated yellow balloons, UST's trademark, but couldn't seem to spot the Yellow Jackets. I said to myself, maybe they're not yet here cuz it's still the second set between UP and UE. And so I just laid back and tried to enjoy the game in front of me. After UE disposed of UP in straight sets, to my surprise, the UST-YJ were still nowhere to be found.

At exactly 4:00PM, the match started. UST was kind of slow to their feet as they scrambled in the first frame losing the set to 14-25. The Tigresses didn't show any weakness but rather showed eagerness and put up a better fight in the second set. The set was very tight that neither team was leading by more than two points. Then at 17-17, the worst possible thing that could happen, happened. A Tigress went down, literally.

Rhea Dimaculangan, the Tigresses' team captain and main setter, was injured. She sprained her left ankle.

Trying to score a point, DMac rolled her left ankle after she stepped on teammate Maika Ortiz' foot after a joust on the net. The crowd was dumbfounded with what happened. It was so silent that you could hear a pin drop and as if angels went down from heaven. Even I was close to tears when I saw my idol down on the court and couldn't stand on her own. Rhea was trying to nurse the injury by stomping her foot but I guess it was a little too serious that she had to forge out of the match. Carried by her teammates, the dominant UST crowd at the Arena applauded and cheered for her as she steps out of the court. No loud drums to lift her, and everyone else's, spirit up, just the hundreds of people present. It was such a tear-jerking moment, if you ask me. 

Loren Lantin, reserve setter, went in for DMac. She was as shocked as everyone else was. But nonetheless, even if she was cold and unprepared, she had to do the setting duties for the Tigresses.

Being only in her second playing year, Loren is still a bit awkward when setting the ball. But hey, years back, Rhea was just as awkward with that position, but look at her now. Lantin doesn't have what the fans call Rhea's "bumabalikong katawan" when she sets. But what she has helped UST snatch the second set: Focus and pure determination. 

What was amazing during the rest of the match was not only the support of the Tiger pack, but also how every Tigress stepped up their game. Not just a notch higher, but veteran level. Let's face it: Loren's sets were not as good as DMac's. But the entire team adjusted to how she wanted plays to go and the spikers responded to it and scored point after point after point. That's the perfect definition of team work. Each and every one of them contributed; Even Pam Lastimosa, a rookie, scored back to back to back aces from the service box that helped in their cause and got the third set.

With every point the Tigresses made, the crowd went wild. The crowd was the Yellow Jackets. We were the Yellow Jackets who roared loud and proud. And it was obvious that the team was dedicating the match to their leader. And we wanted to be part of it. It was really such a sight to see. Ateneo had their Blue Babble Battalion with them, but the voices of the dominant UST crowd was even louder than their drums. 

The UST Tigresses were up 2 sets to 1. And Ateneo was looking to neutralize it and extend it to a 5th and deciding set. During the fourth set, Rhea DMac was seen in the bench and the crowd went ballistic again thinking that she would come back in for Loren. The ever persistent setter was begging to Coach Odjie to put her back in the game, even though she was still limping. Don't you just love the fighting spirit of this Tigress?

The game ended with the assigned captain Maru Banaticla having 15 markers and 12 each for Maika Ortiz, Judy Caballejo and Pam Lastimosa. Ten out of the eleven players Coach Odjie sent in delivered for UST and because of that, we won.

The entire Arena roared as the Tigresses defeated AdMU in this game. Everyone was dancing, jumping and cheering with their yellow balloons as the team ran to the court and celebrated the victory. Rhea was nearby to see her team celebrate as if they've won the championship already, smiling in glee with her picture-perfect smile that melts me every single time. Haha! Everyone was hugging everyone and giving pats on the back. They all deserved it. And Rhea got a free piggyback ride from Maika all the way to the locker room! And guess who lead the UST Hymn? The entire crowd! That's how the Tiger Pack rolls, baby. We're not there just to watch you play, but to support you all the way!

Rhea's injury was sure a blessing in disguise. Hats off to Loren Lantin for delivering a stellar job doing the setting work for the team. I'm sure Rhea is very proud of you. You've been patiently waiting for your time and your patience has paid off. To Rhea, if you're reading this, I hope you're feeling better now! You've been a great leader and motivator to your team, all this is for you. To the entire UST-WVT, kudos for the great performance and team work! Only a genuine champion team with full of heart could pull that off. Go Tigresses! One for UST! Go USTe! 

When a Tigress falls, everyone helps her get back up.

The Tigresses with Rhea Dimaculangan at the back celebrating
their win against the AdMU Lady Eagles.
Photo (c) UAAP S74.