Been There Christmas – Philippines

Starbucks Been There Christmas Philippines mug is the Holiday Edition of the regular mug that I’ve reviewed two years ago. If you compare these two mugs side by side (see the picture below), it becomes obvious that they’re quite different. Looking back at the holiday releases from previous years, I expected small elements added or replaced to introduce that Christmas spirit: trees are replaced with Christmas trees, gifts, snowmen, candy canes, etc. With the Been There Christmas Philippines mug, Starbucks decided to go that extra mile to make it unique.… Read more

Been There Ornament – Cebu

And last, but not least out of four Philippines ornaments is Starbucks Been There Ornament Cebu. Cebu province consists of the main island and 167 surrounding islands and islets. Its capital, Cebu City, a.k.a. “the Queen City of the South”, is the oldest city and first capital of the Philippines.
Very much like its full-sized brother, the ornament is featuring a giant Whale Shark on the front. Cebu seems to be a perfect spot to have a swimming/diving tour with these majestic giant animals.… Read more

Been There Ornament – Manila

Starbucks Been There Ornament Manila looks similar to the full-size mug and comes with the red string. Manila is the capital of the Philippines and the most densely populated city proper in the world.
The design of the ornament is dedicated to a great mix of the city’s architecture that shows a wide range of styles from different historical and cultural periods. While browsing the city, you can notice American, Spanish, Chinese, and Malay influences everywhere.
I would like to mention the Rizal Monument (Motto Stella, “guiding star”).… Read more

Been There Ornament – Boracay

Starbucks Been There Ornament Boracay is the second out of four Philippines ornaments released back in 2020. Boracay is a popular touristic destination and I made a review of the bigger mug two years ago.
The design of the ornament is all about the wide range of activities the island of Boracay can offer.
Willy’s Rock is probably the island’s most popular landmark. It is located in shallow waters near the beach and represents a tidal island with a statue of the Virgin Mary on top of steps that are carved into the volcanic rock.… Read more

Been There Ornament – Philippines

Two years ago, I’ve mentioned that as many as seventeen mugs and four ornaments were released for the Pearl of the Orient Sea. And while I reviewed all regular-size mugs back then, the ornaments had to wait for their turn. I am finally able to add all four mini mugs to my collection.
This is Starbucks Been There Ornament Philippines. You can see my review of the bigger the bigger mug here. From what I can see, these two have many common elements, which is not always true for Been There mugs.… Read more

Been There – Manila

Here is the mug for the capital of the Philippines, Starbucks Been There – Manila. With around 120k people per square mile, Manila is the most densely populated city proper in the world. The initial settlement existed even before Spanish conquistador Miguel López de Legazpi founded the Spanish city of Manila on June 24, 1571, hence it is home to many historic sites.
– The Manila City Hall is the official seat of the government of the City of Manila.… Read more

Been There – Cebu

Starbucks Been There – Cebu is a mug for the province of the Philippines located in the Central Visayas. It consists of the main island and 167 surrounding islands and islets. Its capital, Cebu City, a.k.a. “the Queen City of the South”, is the oldest city and first capital of the Philippines. The origin of the province name is probably coming from old Cebuano language, where “sibu” or “sibo” means “trade”. Metro Cebu is the second-largest metropolitan area in the Philippines (after Metro Manila) with Cebu City being one of the busiest seaports in the Philippines and the second largest air hub.… Read more

Been There – Cavite

Starbucks Been There – Cavite is a mug for a province on the southern shores of Manila Bay, Philippines. It is considered “Historical Capital of the Philippines” and one of the most industrialized and fastest-growing provinces in the country.
These are some points of interest to visit:
– Fort San Felipe is a military fortress built by Spanish military in 1609 for the protection of the city. Less than half of the original historic structure survived through years
– Naval Station Sangley Point was a communication and hospital facility of the United States Navy
– The Emilio F.… Read more

Been There – Cagayan de Oro

Starbucks Cagayan de Oro – is a city mug from Philippines. The name of the city can literally be translated as “River of Gold”. The addition of “Oro” might be related to the gold mining in the 1500s that were present in the barrios around the settlement of Cagayan.
From the mug:
– White water rafting or kayaking activities are popular along Cagayan de Oro River and are being promoted as major adventures of the region.
– The MacArthur Memorial Marker is a landmark at Macabalan Wharf (the peaked cap on the front of the mug).… Read more

Been There – Bulacan

Starbucks Been There – Bulacan is a province mug from the Luzon island in the Philippines.
The hanging bridge and the mount covered with trees is a reference to Biak-na-Bato National Park that was declared as such in 1937. More than a hundred caves of varying sizes and crystalline mineral formations are spread across the park. Among the most explored caves are the Aguinaldo Cave and the Bahay Paniki or Bat Cave, said to be home of at least six species of winged mammals: kabag-kabag, ngusong kabayo, bungisngis, sibsib, bayakan and pakibu.… Read more

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