PI_026 : Happy Holiday 2016

PI_027 : Christmas Tree 2016

PI_025 : Snowman 2016

IT_024 : Starbucks Stencil

Before leaving US, my cousin Jorgina and I went out to spent huling hirit na chikahan at Starbucks in San Bruno Towne Center (San Francisco, California) on October 24, 2016.  This card was courtesy of her.

US003 : California Redwoods

Courtesy of my Tia Pampin, this was collected at Starbucks kiosk in The Great Mall, Milpitas, California on October 21, 2016.

US002 : San Francisco Golden

This was personally collected from Starbucks at BART - Powell Station in San Francisco downtown, California on October 20, 2016.

US001 : LAX Theme Building

This was personally collected from Starbucks at Hollywood Blvd., Los Angeles, California on October 16, 2016.

SB: the US adventure

One of the things I looked forward to coming to the US was adding items to my various Starbucks collection. So, I was so excited when I was given the opportunity to do fieldwork in Los Angeles, California last October 2016 - the fieldwork which I extended to pleasure trip to visit my relatives in San Francisco, California.

Global Icon Series Collection (Tumblerista/Mugger)

It was a big disappoint that in US, it was not only that they don't sell much tumbler but more so, they don't offer any Global Icon Series collection - tumbler nor mug.  What are just available - I was here mug collection. 

Did I get one for myself? NO.  For one reason, mugs are much heavier and more delicate to transport than tumbler.  Another reason, it will just urge me to look more of this kind from other countries.  

Card Collection

Dito ako bumawi! Not just two (because of two locations I visited), but I got four different cards as souvenirs from US. And all these four are just released in the US.

Kakaibang Beverages

Aside from the collectibles, another thing I liked in Starbucks - US is the kakaibang beverages experience.  

Hot Chili Mocha.  I really got intrigued with how it will taste - chili on hot beverage? Syempre, tinikman ko sya.  And the chili taste wasn't that strong - it was just the seasoning.  Mocha pa rin sya!

Pumpkin Spice Latte.  I usually associate pumpkin with squash.  Kaya akala me lasang kalabasa.  But surprisingly, there was no taste of squash and it was more creamy nga yong dating and sweet.

Pumpkin Spice Frappuccino (in bottle).  Compared with the hand-crafted one (the one offered at Starbucks stores), it was more creamy. Gusto ko sya. :)

Birthday Treat

At exactly a month after my birthday, on May 18, 2016, I got to celebrate it at Starbucks 6750 Ayala Ave., Makati City with my dear friends at work, Ann, Ms. Lea (of CEM-Davao Branch) and Belle.

Ang nakakatuwa - I've got to claim my birthday cake treat from Starbucks plus they also had share a drink promo.

My birthday cake - Starberry Cream Cake.  Strawberry to the max! The sweet strawberry flavor contradicts the sour taste of cream cheese. Then for our drinks, we had Strawberry Panna Cotta. The two went well..

It was a strawberry-filled kind of night!

Reusable Tumbler

This reusable tumbler was given by one of my dearest officemate, ('Teh) Joy (Macalintal), as pasalubong from her family trip in the United States of America, last July 2016.

SG002 : Merlion

PI_023 : Vivienne Tam

Another 'asado'

June 9, 2016 - collecting newly released card at that time was the main reason for that tambay time.  But since, it was new, we also tried their featured food - cheesy chicken bun.

How it tasted? It was another face of 'asado'.  Para syang cheese bun with (siopao) 'asado' fillings. :-)

PI_022 : Scales

Collected last June 9, 2016 at Starbucks 6750 Ayala Avenue, Makati City, this card is inspired by siren's tail and thus named as Scales.

Mugger's delight

"Good coffee is a pleasure, good friends are treasures" - with collectible cards.

I was really delighted when my highschool friend, Leo, offered to give me this Global Icon Series mug from his work place, Doha, Qatar.  He gave it as padala through my officemate, Eric, who went to Doha in the 3rd week of July (2016) for an official trip.

With this mug, I started sharing my Global Icon Series Collection with friends. It also marks my first mug from Middle East and my first country icon mug.

The front design features Arabian Oryx, the smallest among oryxes species and found in Arabian Peninsula while Doha cityscape is found at the back.

Mother's day treat

Taking advantage of Starbucks' promo for Mother's Day (2016), Banny and I tried the new featured food, Mango Coconut Loaf, for 10% discount from May 2 to 8, 2016.  I love how it tastes, parang yong pagkagusto ko sa banana loaf nila. Must try!

How Starbucks describe it?

A dense and moist creamy loaf cake with chopped mangoes and dried coconuts.

This was taken at Starbucks - Victoria Park Mall, Antipolo City, Rizal a day before Mother's Day (May 7, 2016).

April Special

Starbucks planners come with promotional stubs valid for specific months.  This April, purchase a Starbucks tumbler and receive a complimentary tall drinks from Starbucks.

Last April 30, 2016, before April ends, I used this stub to buy Manila Global Icon Series tumbler and got a tall Iced Cappuccino Latte.

Thank you Starbucks!

Summer Fun

Celebrating summer on one Friday night (April 22, 2016) with these featured food and beverage and the great company of Ann at Starbucks 6750 (Ayala Center, Makati City)!

Chicken Fajita on Multi-grain Bread - Mexicali kind of taste! I really like the tomato, cheese, onion and bell pepper combination.

How Starbucks describe it? Grilled chicken breast fillet, bell peppers, onions and avocado spread layered on soft and sweet multi-grain bread. (May avocado pala yon!)

Roasted Marshmallow S'mores Frappuccino - love the taste of melted marshmallows with chocolate fudge!

How Starbucks describe it? S’mores are a classic treat of the American summer, evoking happy memories of campfires and the outdoors. The distinct taste of roasted marshmallows sandwiched with chocolate between graham crackers is the inspiration for the Roasted Marshmallow S’mores Frappuccino^® Blended Beverage.

PI_054 : Wave (Mini Card)

It's undeniable - Summer is already around! Having this summer card,  "Wave" from Starbucks- Waltermart, Makati City last April 22, 2016. Let us celebrate summer!

PI_021 : Summer Beach

It was a very warm morning when I decided to drop by at Starbucks not knowing that something delightful awaits me.  New starbucks cards were released!

S'yempre, I got for my collection. This "Summer Beach" card was collected from Starbucks - Waltermart, Makati City on April 21, 2016.

Jalapeno Cheese Puff: the comeback

This morning I was so delighted when I dropped by at Starbucks - Waltermart and found this food item - Jalapeno Cheese Puff.  I was once hooked with this and got disappointed when they took it out of their food menu.  Good thing, they bring it back!

I really like how the Jalapeno flavor blends with cheese fillings!

IN002 : Surabaya

This is another SB card given by IG acquaintance, Hendro Tan, from Indonesia in March 2016.  It is named Surabaya, a province in Indonesia (I am just guessing).  I really don't know much about Surabaya but based on the card design, I am guessing (again) that it is known for sharks and crocodiles.

It was indeed a great pleasure trading cards with Hendro. I am truly grateful for the "only in Indonesia" SB cards he had given me.

IN001 : Indonesia Batik

Before March 2016 ends (on the 31st to be exact), I received a surprise mail from Hendro Tan, an IG acquaintance, containing SB cards exclusively released in his country, Indonesia.  Well, it was not really a surprise because I knew he would be sending those cards soon  --- but they came sooner than expected.

This is one of the cards he sent me.  This card named Indonesia Batik was released exclusively in Indonesia.  And as the name suggested, it features famous Indonesian fabric design called Batik.

I am truly grateful to him for fulfilling some in my SB cards bucket list - my only Indonesia SB cards.

IT_022 : Rose of Sharon

This card design named Rose of Sharon is one of those which  Marie, my officemate, got for me from  her vacation in South Korea.  It's sooooooooo kikay!!!!

IT_021 : Reserve

This February-March 2016, my officemate Marie had 3-week vacation in South Korea and she generously collected some Starbucks cards for me.  She got me four cards with 2 designs.  The first one is this card named Reserve.

Sakura Tumbler

I have always been dreaming of seeing the cherry blossom season in Japan.  Although, this is somewhat far from reality as of the moment, I would love to celebrate it myself... So, when I learned from FB that as early as this March, it is already cherry blossom season in Japan and Starbucks is releasing it's Sakura collection here in the Philippines, I got one tumbler for myself - my 12 oz. Charm Night Sakura tumbler!

By the way, Sakura is the Japanese term for cherry blossoms.

IT_020 : Christmas Tree Lights

Surprise!!!  Along with 4 other cards that I purchase from @sbux_jojo, I received this card from my second transaction.  It was given as freebie! I am truly grateful for this one!! 

This card design named as Christmas Tree Lights is one of the 48 Collection cards released in USA in 2014.

IT_017 : Fall 2015

I have been eyeing this since it was released some time in October 2015.  It was a dismay that this card design was released in other Southeast Asian countries like Malaysia and Indonesia but not here in the Philippines.

Fortunately, it is available at @sbux_jojo 's Instagram account. So, together with 3 other cards, I placed an order for it and got it for US$3 only.

The card came with beautiful card sleeve designed in Malaysia.

IT_019 : Hanukkah

This card design reminds me so much of my trip to Israel where I learned about the menorah, an ancient Hebrew nine-branched lampstand, and Hanukkah, a Jewish holiday.  This design is included in the 48 Collection released in USA in 2014.

This is one of the 4 cards that I purchased from @sbux_jojo on Instagram.  I got for US$5.

IT_018 : Mermaid

My initial reaction when I first saw this card design online --- it is soooo Starbucks! And I must have it in my collection. So when I saw it on sale for US$8 on @sbux_jojo 's Instagram account, I immediate placed an order for 2 cards.

This card design is included in the 48 Collection released in USA in 2014.

@sbux_jojo: the second time around...

Today, I receive the mail which I have been expecting from @sbux_jojo, an online seller of Starbucks cards.  It is my second transaction with him/her (I'm not really sure of @sbux_jojo's gender) and doing transactions with him/her had always been hassle free.

These are the cards I got from this transaction: the Mermaid cards, the Hanukkah card, the Fall 2015 card and the unexpected freebie - the Christmas Tree Lights (isn't he/she so sweet?? ^_^).

PI_020 : Mermaid in Motion

Two days ago, on the very date of release, I found out that Starbucks released 4 different colors of egg-cut cards in celebration to the upcoming Easter.  So, I encouraged Ann to accompany me to drop by Starbucks yesterday - to collect my egg-cut cards and to make tambay at the same time.  To my dismay, the cards were already sold out! Isang araw lang ha!

Buti na lang, they also released fifth card design - the Mermaid in Motion, which I really like since I saw one online.  I thought it is only available in USA and Canada.  So this was the one I collected yesterday. Happy na rin ako!

Because it's non-working holiday

In lieu of today's non-working holiday, Ann and I spent some time last night at Starbucks 6750 (Ayala Avenue, Makati City) - it was tambay time and eating time!  We tried the new drinks, (iced) Chocolate Hazelnut Macchiato and Spinach Lasagna.  The food was good but not so indulging - ok lang.