Enjoy a cup at Taza Mia

Dating does not end when you get married, in fact it gets better. Most couples would try that Asian place, that barbecue/grill or that home grown restaurant in town. It's exciting when you get invited to the opening of 1 of these new establishments. You get to try their best sellers. Such is the case with Taza Mia Coffee in SM City Lipa. Their slogan - "Where family, friends and partners meet " as they cater to a variety of customers from young hipsters to wise elders and from respectable bankers to venerable priest. "Taza mia" is Italian for "my cup" but don't be deceived because it is owned and operated by a Lipeño, Rodel Lacorte -a Certified Public Accountant but entrepreneur by heart. Mr. Lacorte became a businessman in his early twenties and 4 years ago, he started a concept that led to the birth of Taza Mia. The 1st branch opened in San Pablo and currently has 7 branches scattered within the provinces of Laguna, Quezon and Batangas with future plans of opening branches in Batangas City, Nuvali and Tagaytay.

Taza Mia President and CEO Rodel Lacorte

Competition is stiff among cafes and if your a coffee drinker like me, your looking for that special something. Taza mia differs from other cafe chains by serving not only soulful coffee blends but also all day breakfast, lunch and dinner. They also have beer and wine depending on what the market dictates. It has a global theme but with local concepts, what the owner playfully calls glocal, and is aiming to partner with other Asian companies to bring their coffee overseas. Who knows, you might see a Taza Mia while walking along beaches of Thailand or the bustling metro of Hong Kong.

Take your pick from Taza Mia's wide range of coffee blends.

If your looking for a creamy aromatic coffee, try their Coffee Italiano and enjoy it while it's hot. For those who enjoy fraps but only want the right touch of sweetness, then their Java Chip is a must try. Taza Mia is a kind of place where we husbands take our partners, chill, and enjoy a cup.

Episode 1: The Boyfriend Stage

Every good story starts with a memorable beginning. In fairy tales you'll always have "Once upon a time..." followed with "in a galaxy far far away" for those nerds like me. Stars shimmer around her and it felt like we were the only ones in the room while a song plays in the background the first time I saw her. For me, the song was Out of my league by Stephen Speaks. And I am thankful she didn't play hard to get. The boyfriend stage is where you bring out your guns, dodge bullets, conquer obstacles and defeat opponents. Bringing out your guns means you show her the best of what you have.

• Hygiene
• Etiquette
• Wisdom
• Skills

I suggest the gentleman's approach. We all know the basics; hold her hand or guide her when crossing the road, open the car door for her, walk on the risky side when taking a stroll, let her sit on the chair with the least amount of human traffic in a restaurant, remember and celebrate important dates and so on. I've been around the block but the more you play around the harder it is to dodge bullets when you decide to settle down. You'll end up with lots of doubts, questions and finding ways to answer them for yourself and for others so that you don't sound like the bad guy. You must know who you are before you start a relationship. No excess baggage because you would eventually say "I'm getting older, what's next in this journey we call life".

The obstacles of the boyfriend stage are basic except if it's complicated by uncontrollable scenarios like other responsibilities (i.e.: early parenthood). These are external factors or influences like her family, relatives, friends and work. Be the best version of yourself but if you can't then fight. I personally encountered objections from people very close to her but I fought and she was right there by my side. Harness your power from love. The people who objected to me as a boyfriend then look at me differently now.

Finally, and you may have already guessed, your greatest opponent is yourself. The attraction of girls to bad boys are often real, they feel that they can change them but it would only work if the challenge is accepted. Like a prince being sent by a princess to a quest to slay a monster. This time the beast is inside you but rather than decapitating it, imprison it so you have something to show and study. My example was my tactlessness. I didn't realize it, not until she pointed it out. Of course my family and friends may have found it amusing like Kris Aquino or Vice Ganda but it isn't healthy in building intimacy. It was hard to get rid of at first but I gradually adjusted and I am proud to have defeated this bad habit. 

Be yourself but be prepared for change and you will learn new things. Until next episode.

Introduction

I have always wanted to write about my thoughts or opinions but I feel that certain topics are better left to the experts, so I decided to write based on experience kinda like an autobiography. These are events that happened and lessons learned since I started an important phase of my life - a husband. 

I chose The Pinoy House Husband because I'm unaware of the situations of husbands in other countries, at least as a Filipino myself and husband since 2008 I would have an idea on the matter. I will call my blogs episodes because they truly are stages of my life. Please read my episodes and thanks in advance.