Q: Would you kindly describe yourself to your readers?
Hi! The name’s Monch (or Monching) and welcome to The Monching’s Guide. I’ve been running this blog since 2013 and writing about gastronomy, practical advice, and general lifestyle – but a majority of posts here are about food, glorious food!
My interests include the British mod culture, 60s music, men’s workwear, Singapore (which I have taken a liking to), history, cooking, long walks, random trivia, a bit of 80s and jazz, reggae and ska, and (albeit rarely) Japanese and Korean music.
Q: Where did you get the blog name?
The blog name was from an early essay I wrote, titled “The Monching’s Guide to Maximizing P200 at Starbucks” which I eventually published under a different title. I took the title from that since I wanted this blog to serve as a sort of a helpful guide for people, not to mention that it was catchy enough to use.
Q: What made you start this blog?
Originally, I set up this blog to sharpen my skills in writing long-form content. Today, I continue this passion project for these three reasons:
- To share my knowledge about things, experiences in food and gastronomy, and opinions about pertinent matters.
- To inform readers about practical tips in living that I personally practice and products that give the best value for money.
- To enlighten anyone lost, frustrated, and tired of this life for that one last push that might change their lives for the better.
Q: How did you get into writing?
I’ve been writing ever since I was an elementary student, only taking it seriously in high school when I started dabbling into poetry. College became a turning point for me as I shifted to writing non-fiction due to practical reasons – until I graduated. Now, eight years in the workforce and writing long-form content has been one of my strengths.
Q: Any rules here at The Monching’s Guide?
It all boils down to basic civility. I am stringent with foreigners (especially the weirdo-level ones) and generic content sites heading over this blog, but ASEAN-based (Southeast Asia) visitors get more leeway. I post reviews of products here because I was satisfied with the product and not because of a promised compensation package.
Q: Do you have any social media pages?
Why yes! Do stop by my Instagram profile (which is on private), the only social media presence I have. If you’re interested to do business or collaborate, drop me an email here. Thank you and enjoy looking around!
The Monching's Guide 
Thank you for liking my latest post. Cheers.
You’re welcome, and thanks for liking my two recent posts too XD
hey, monching. Thanks for following my blog. Look forward to your many posts – especially food guide. 🙂
Salamat din. 🙂
Hello! Thanks for following and ayan nagfollow back ako. Hullluuu baka ma nose bleed ako at Atenista ka hehe anyway friends tayo ha peace! At kung saka sakaling madalaw ka sa mga english kong post wag mo babasahin baka maduwal ka hahaha
Ano ka ba, kebs lang! XD
Salamat din sa pag-follow, and you’re welcome 😉
Hahaha, ayus may friend na kong Atenista tahaha, ambabaw.
Kala ko di kayo nagtatagalog eh hahaha
Hi, thanks for the follow. Seeing your post with a Ma Mon Luk pic made me hungry. Siopaooooo!
You’re most welcome 😀
Now, if I could only get out of the office for lunch – I’d definitely try out their signature mami!
Hi dear , thanks for following my blog ^^. Finally pinoy! haha matagal tagal na ako di nagkakaroon ng friend na pinoy sa wordpress. I followed you too, because I saw food in it haha! besides poetry kasi Food is the next best thing (Then movies, then astronomy and so on)
Umm sorry madaldal^_^ Hope we can be friends
-J
Im the writer of Savethedreamer.wp.com 😀 :))
Nah, it’s fine 😉 Walang anuman 😀 Mas active kasi ang mga Pilipino dito sa WordPress, talagang makikipag-interact sa iyo.
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Love how you express yourself! And why do I feel like you have so much character just by reading this page? I think it is because you have a strong one. I admire how you don’t care about what other people might think of you. Looking forward to your posts!
-fromtheotherside.hihi 🙂
Thank you so much, I appreciate that compliment 😀
“Ano ka ba, kebs lang!” –> winner! Hahaha! I can imagine you, when you;ve become a priest, giving a homily with those words.
ALE: Father, napakarami ko na pong nagawang kasalanan. Nahihiya na akong humarap sa Diyos.
YOU: Ano ka ba, kebs lang kapatid! Love ka pa rin ni Lord. 😉
Iyan na lang sana ang sinabi noong pari sa Cebu kaysa nilait yung nanay na nagpabinyag =))
Ay oo nga. Grabe yun. Naawa ako dun sa nanay. Nobody deserves that kind of humiliation.
“(I find it hard to write fiction and poets were said to be perennially starving).”
You brought a smile to my face when I read that line because I worked as a fiction content writer a year before (my previous boss knew my niche is literary and fiction writing). I remembered being broke for almost two months because I wasn’t able to finish the 60,000-word chapter I’m supposed to turn in (I got addicted to League of Legends). Now I work as a non-fiction content writer and although I miss writing novels for a living, at least I can pay my bills on time.
I’m looking forward to reading the rest of your blog. Thanks for following mine, Monching.
Cheers,
V
You’re most welcome, and thanks for stopping by (and following) my humble blog. 🙂
Thanks for hitting the FOLLOW Button. 🙂
Too bad, you’re on leave. 😦
You’re most welcome 😉 I’m not actually on leave per se, it’s just that I’m on hiatus when it comes to posting new entries here on the blog 😀
hey, thanks for dropping by. Let’s enjoy the outdoors! Cheers
You’re most welcome, and thanks for following the blog likewise 😉
Thanks for visiting my blog and for the follow! You’re way too awesome! Ain’t a loser! 😉
You’re most welcome, and thank you for the kind words 😀
I mean what I say. ^_^ and I’ve noticed that we have the same theme 🙂
Hello, Monch,
Just dropping by.. So, you’re 20 something huh? heheh..
Just enjoy life.
Thank you for following my blog, and for the kind words 😉 Hehe, mahaba-haba pa ang lalakarin ko XD
You’re welcome. Thank you din sa pag follow.
Cge lng ng cge and Go lang ng Go! heheh..
Puntahan lang ang kung saan mo gusto.
Great blog! We love your pictures. Looking forward to more of your adventures! 🙂
Woah, cool! Thank you very much, and thanks for following the blog! 😀
Welcome! Thanks as well. 😀
Hey,Monching!
Thanks for following my blog. I’ve been traveling lately and haven’t been able to post an update in ages. I’ll try to read yours na lang din muna. 🙂
Cheers!
brianitus
You’re most welcome, and thanks for following my blog likewise 😉
Hi Monching. Thank you for following my blog. Will do the same for your blog. 🙂
You’re most welcome, and thanks for following likewise 😉
Well done. 🙂
Hehe, thank you 😀
Thanks for following the blog, BTW 😀
Same to you. 🙂
Hi there, Monching! Thanks for following my blog. 🙂
You’re most welcome, and thanks for following mine too 😉
Thanks for following mine! You’re such a foodie and you posts make me wanna go hungry. 😀 So nice to meet you here in the blogosphere and to find out you’re also a follower of aysabaw.wordpress.com!
You’re most welcome, and nice meeting you likewise. Looking forward to reading more of your posts in the future. 🙂
(Hehe, isa siya sa mga pinaka-unang follower ko dito sa WordPress) XD
yeah! Siya naman pinaka una kong commentator! Virtual conversationalist ika nga! 😀
Ang cool, cosplayer ka dati. Good to see your blog. Will follow you to see more from your blog. 🙂
Thank you. 🙂
Hello! Thanks for following my blog. Happy holidays!
You’re welcome, and thank you likewise for following! Happy holidays din! 😉
I’m very interested to see your cosplaying pictures haha! 😀
Hehe, feel free to do so! 😀 Totoy pa itsura ko doon sa mga pics compared to now XD
Hi Monch! (feeling close agad agad. haha). nice blog, napaka ayos. 🙂
Thank you 😀 Haha, di naman – no worries XD
Thanks for following 2soulsfootprints as well. Happy Blogging 🙂
You’re most welcome, and wishing you likewise. 😀
Hi Monch! Thanks for dropping by and for the follow. 😀 And glad to meet another Pinoy here. 🙂
You’re most welcome! Looking forward to reading your posts. 😀
hi, monch! thanks for the follow! monching is the name of my elder bro, kaya malapit sakin ang name na yan. looking forward to your posts, monch! 🙂
Thank you likewise for the follow, sir! 🙂 Enjoyed your post/s about the Wit’s Sweets and Savories Granola – of which I am a fan now 😀
Yey! Thanks much, Mon, will tell the wife. That’s a great booster right there! Tell me if you need to order. Can have it delivered.
You’re most welcome. 🙂 Actually tried it out – thanks to Bianca and Jean (who I usually bump into whenever there’s a bazaar in UP Town Center). Never failed to buy a pack every time. 😀
Bianx is my daughter. She’s the driving force behind the product. Nice to know you’ve met B&J. Ciao, Mon! 🤗😋😊 and keep reading!
Looking forward for more of your food guides. Thanks for following my blog back.
You’re welcome, and my thoughts likewise. 🙂
Another guy in the blogosphere! Bihira ako makameet ng lalaki sa blogs. Haha Cheers bro! Keep blogging!
Thank you. Gender imbalance, as they say.
Hi Monch! First of all, thanks for stopping by my blog and for following along–really appreciate it! Second of all…it’s always really great to meet fellow bloggers who just so happen to be Filipino (like me)! Kababayan! 😀 Anyways, I look forward to reading more of your posts!
Have a great weekend 🙂
-Beatrice
Likewise, thank you for following back! 🙂
You got it! 🙂
Parang nakita ko na ‘yong blog mo before. Somewhere? Sa Panaginip? Tumblr? IDK. But nice to meet you~
Same here. 🙂
Wow, I’m surprised (in a good way) that you’ve seen my blog before. All the while I was thinking that my seldom-visited blog would be akin to a small bar in the middle of nowhere, complete with tumbleweeds, and I’m a barkeeper with a shotgun always ready under the counter. =))
So, I’m either a zombie or a nomad? hihi
More of a nomad hehe, maraming napapadpad ditong mga naliligaw. =))
Thankiee for following my blog! Followed yours too! Have a blast! 😀
Likewise, thank you for following back.
Hi Monch, thanks for following me on my blog ! Looking forward to reading some awesome posts 🙂
Cheers,
Eris
And thank you likewise for following back! 😀
Thanks for the followback! 🙂
Thank you for following, likewise. 🙂
Thank you for liking my posts. 🙂
And for the follow na din.
Sure, no problem and you’re most welcome! 😉
Hello Monch, nice to know you…
May I ask your nationality?
Hi! Filipino here. 🙂 Thank you for following, and nice meeting you likewise!
Hi Monch!
When I was assigned here in Davao in 2016, I set aside my blog. Busy with the new Senior HS, creating and designing programs. Building a new school, not just the physical structure. But I have recently resurrected it, thanks for my scripts in ABSCBN’s Kape’t Pandasal. Meron naman akong pwedeng i-post.
But I love food as you do. And occasionally an OOTD (gosh! hahahaha!) so I love your posts. I plan to be like you in food! My clothing sponsors on TV dictates lovingly what I should wear. Kaya food na lang coz marami sa Davao. At baka masibak ako kung may fashion commentary ako. hahah! No Met Gala here. hahahaha!
Hence, if you find yourself in Davao, please message me. Come!!!! Ateneo de Davao lang ako. Harap ng Marco Polo at Aldevinco. All Jesuit schools are home to all alumni. Home to you too!
Wow, thank you for the comment (and stopping by!) Your posts really are inspiring and it’s good to see you around after some time, Fr. Jboy! ☺️
I don’t really have the popularity that most of my college peers achieved, but I’m glad that I inspired you in one way or another. 😉 Usually, it’s the other way around – the Jesuits inspire us whether it’s Fr. Aidy (Dacanay), Fr. Balch, Fr. Ben, Fr. Javs, or Fr. Jett.
Me and CJ do not have any immediate plans to travel yet, but I’ll take note of that. 😀 God bless and all the best!
Hello Sir Monching! Thank you for following me. Reading some of your posts right now and I like it. 🙂
You’re welcome, and thank you for the follow too. 😉
Hi! My following list has been stagnant for around 4 years so I thought I’d look around for other blogs to follow. Food is the bestest thing ever! ^^
Hello there fellow Atenean, and welcome back to blogging! 🙂 Likewise, thank you for following The Monching’s Guide!
Pleasure to meet you! 😀
I am really enjoying your blog! I look forward to more. You definitely have a distinctive voice.
Thank you! Feel free to look around.
Returning the favor and following you back!
Your blog is incredible. I’m delving in a little deeper and I love your FAQ page here. I always like getting to know my blogging friends!
Thank you! Very much appreciate the compliment!
Dear Monching,
Thanks for the likes you have given my blog, I do appreciate it.
I found you on Instagram and have sent you a request.
I also noticed that your link on this page to your Instagram profile is currently not working.
Best Wishes
Kevin
No problem at all, Chef! Thank you likewise for stopping by! Thirdly, thank you for the heads-up on that one; I’ll go check it on the backend.
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Thank you Monch for the follower. You definitely seem to be in the gifted category.
Welcome! Returned the favor. I first thought the USF on your name was a reference to the military (US forces), but then realized it stands for the University of South Florida.
Incidentally, one of my aunts is also based there at the Sunshine State, having moved from Michigan. I guess the warm weather at the Panhandle appeals to Filipinos haha!
Yes it’s “Go Bulls” for me. Nice weather counts but look beyond!
Just stumbled across this particular page, and it’s good to know that SEA users like me get leeway! Time to get my weird on, lol.
I rarely comment on pages (versus posts), so this is actually a treat for me. Great to know you better!
It’s been that way since 2017 haha, alongside ASEAN@50! There’s always been a lot of commonalities among the bloc’s member nations 😆
Beyond, food, what other issues will you be writing about in the near future?
I’m sticking to my guns — writing about food, general lifestyle, and the goings-on in my life here in the Philippines.