I'm definitely not a sports person, but one sport that never ceases to amaze me is skateboarding. It's just amazing to witness someone gliding and moving around swiftly almost like air all while being on top of a board. Every time I see someone skateboarding, the sight makes me feel free. I know, that sounds very poetic but that's just how I feel about it. 

      I used to watch my brother skateboarding with his friends all while being under the scorching heat of the sun. It's the same brother who taught me how to ride a bicycle, by the way, him being the biggest sports fan in our family. Although I never had the chance to go skateboarding myself, looking at how my brother found joy with it makes me wonder so much about skateboarding and all of the things that has something to do with such as how one gets to choose the best skateboard for him or herself. 

        I asked around the skateboarders in our area and searched the internet for a basic guide and that's what I'll be sharing with you in this blog. Who knows you and I would get to try skateboarding, right?

        The first thing that I learned about choosing the most suitable skateboard is going to the right shop. There are so many shops that sell skateboards these days, even online, there is a plethora of them, but the question is, is it the right store for you? Why does this even matter and how could a shop possibly help you? The answer is lies to what's in the shop itself. The right shop will get your hands to the quality skateboards that suits your style and your needs. With that in mind, most of those are surely run by professionals who are capable of catering to your needs and could give you advice on how to board in general. Not only that, but they could also show you how a good skateboard looks like and could answer your queries that could help you with your future skateboard shopping sessions.

          Among other things, you also have to consider the size of the skateboard. Now, what are the things that you should look into with that matter? First and foremost is the size of the deck itself which depends largely on your size. For instance, if you are over 5'3" in height, the best deck size for you must have at least 7.5''.  If your height is between 4'5" to 5'2", choose the deck with the width of 7'3". If you're much shorter than the heights mentioned, choose decks with widths, not more than 7". According to a friend who skateboards a lot, this is another one of the main reasons why skateboarders must shop personally. That way, they could have the best grasp on the size of the skateboard decks that suits them best. Aside from the deck, the wheels of a skateboard matter a lot as well. The wheels contribute a lot on how your boards flip and glide. One thing that you should remember about it is that the larger the wheels are, the more grabs it could create.

       Talking about skateboard decks, one thing that should not be neglected is how it was constructed. That includes the material used in making it. maple wood being the most popular choice in making skateboard decks remains to be the best type of wood material in making it. That is because of the wood's durability and flexibility which are very essential when the board is being shaped.

        Another thing that I've learned is the importance of knowing the different styles of boards. There are four main types of boards and each of them varies depending on how you would like to skate. For example, on one hand,  shortboards are great when you want to perform tricks in skating parks. On the other hand, if tricks are not part of your interest, go for longboards or cruisers. 

        Once you have covered all the basics in choosing a skateboard, at least in terms of its parts, it's time for you to work on the style of your skateboard. Some might say that it doesn't really matter, but I think that if it's really a sport that you love, you are free to make it an extension of yourself. So yes, go ahead and decorate your board the way you'd feel like decorating it. It's your board after all. Plus, the more creative it looks, I'm sure that it could spark you some inspiration to keep on boarding especially if you're a newbie. 

         This may not be part of how you choose a skateboard, but make sure that you get your hands on safety gears that you're supposed to wear while skateboarding. Any sports is always much better when done safely.

          I hope this simple article helps you in choosing the skateboard of your dreams.

      It doesn’t hurt to try new, unique, and exciting things to fill up one’s time especially when it comes to food. It also wouldn’t be bad if it is something that you can share with your family or friends. At Island Mall Mactan, a new player in the F&B industry is cooking something that goes beyond what is often tried at any mundane Japanese restaurant. Named Ochee! Kushi Katsu, the Japanese co-owned restaurant has been offering something truly Japanese to everyone’s palate since its soft opening last February of this year. Along with the usual Japanese favorites such as sushi and gyoza, Ochee! Takes pride in serving their very-own Kushi Katsu that is sure to make some noise in the locals and tourists’ taste buds. 

 Ochee! Kushi Katsu's 3 original sauces

 Ochee! Kushi Katsu's 5 Course Kushi Katsu 350php 

     Kushi Katsu is a Japanese dish consists of deep-fried skewered meat and vegetables. The meat and the vegetables are then fried after being coated with egg, flour, and panko. Kushi directly translates to skewers while katsu refers to a cutlet of meat usually pork. The dish may have several variations, but it’s surely best shared. At Ochee! I had the chance to try their 5 course kushi katsu which has white onion, lotus root, pork meat, chikuwa, and shrimp. It was served with Ochee’s 3 original sauces which compliment the kushi katsu so well making the dish more savory. 

 Potato Salad with Potato Chips 150php good for 2-3 persons

      We were served with Potato Salad with Potato Chips as appetizers. Two potato dishes is not a bad idea. The crunchiness of the chips dances so well with the creaminess of the potato salad which contains fresh vegetables and boiled eggs. The salad is served with a wooden mixer making one’s meal more interactive and memorable.

    Ochee! Kushi Katsu's Mochiko Chicken (240php) with its piquant flavor makes it a crowd favorite. The chicken meat has the right crunch on the outside and tender juicy meat which you'll get to enjoy once you start diving into these bite-sized glories. It was served to us with a tangy sauce, but I like it better without the sauce. Either way tastes great. 

     Ochee's Shrimp Ahijo (160php) reminds me of Spanish gambas. I'm not sure if it has butter in it, but it sure does have that buttery taste. Its sauce has that melt-in-your-mouth creaminess which highlights the natural flavor of the fat shrimps. 

      Another notable dish that I’ve tried at Ochee! is the DoteYaki (150php good for 2 persons). Ochee’s DoteYaki is so flavorful and the beef itself is very tender. It's probably the softest beef that I've ever tried. This one’s a real must-have not just for beef lovers.

      Before diving into desserts, we had a bowl of Meat Soup Udon (380php good for 2-3 persons) made from the freshest ingredients available. The warm and hearty bowl made of tender meat and chewy udon noodles is a perfect treat for this rainy June season in the Philippines. This is also a perfect meal for one or maybe two hungry stomachs. Make sure you have someone to share this with because this is a very filling dish that's meant to be shared! 

 Ochee! Kushi Katsu's Green Tea Creme Brulee 200php good for 2-3 persons

        We capped off our dining experience at Ochee! with its heavenly Matcha Crème Brulee which should not be missed. For only 200php (4USD) you’ll get to experience a piece of heaven as the sweetness of the caramelized sugar combined with the slightly bitter matcha blends and melts together in your mouth.

    You can't dine at Ochee! without trying their drinks as well. Which is why I chose to try their 

Blueberry Smoothie (200php) which was topped with blueberries and mint. It's fruity and refreshing taste is perfect when the sun smiles a little bit brighter than usual. It's just one of their finest drinks available so make sure you get to try their other beverages.

      It is a known fact that Japanese restaurants sprout all over Cebu along with the constant rise of Japanese tourists in the whole island. What makes Kushi Katsu different is its real Japanese authentic dishes that comes in friendly prices. It is also located in a very accessible location so if you're craving for some Japanese flavors, go ahead and visit Ochee! Kushi Katsu.

I hope you'll have a wholesome gastronomical experience at Ochee Kushi Katsu as I did once you visit the place. 💖

Ochee! Kushi Katsu is located at 2nd flr. Alfresco Area of Island Central Mall, MEPZ Ecozone, Brgy. Ibo, Lapu-Lapu City. It's open for lunch at 10:00Am-2:00PM and 5:00PM-10:00PM for dinner. For inquiries you may call them at +63 32 410-3614 or +63 917 723 3280.

“nemo dat quod non habet”

I wonder upon an evening star when
an inquiry grew inside my head
 and asked
'What's the best poetry?'

Is it the shooting star 

 on the velvet sky

right when you wish for love?

Is it the alien joys

inside our astronauts

the moment they reach newborn stars?

Is it in you or me?

Or is it something that binds us

in one galaxy?

My heart says 

it’s a voice.

One that shouts:

“I love myself.”

The moon is its mouth and

it’s full when it believes.

art & words: Cristine Despares