Chienna "Chie" Filomeno and Richard Juan had a blast in visa-free Taiwan. Klook/Released
MANILA, Philippines — Millennial stars Chienna "Chie" Filomeno of Star Magic and former “Pinoy Big Brother” housemate Richard Juan spent a recent weekend together in Taipei, Taiwan.
Richard, also known as Richard Hwan, is a Filipino TV personality, actor and model who gained prominence through the "Eat Bulaga!" game show "You're My Foreignoy," where he won the Darbarkads' Choice Award. He was also picked as one of the regular housemates of the ABS-CBN reality TV program, "Pinoy Big Brother: 737."
Since he became a part of ABS-CBN Sports + Action's UAAP coverage show dubbed "Upfront at the UAAP," he has become one of the new male hosts of the UAAP Season 78.
Chie, on the other hand, is a model-actress with more than 700,000 Instagram followers. She was a “cosplayer” or costume player who loves dogs and is now studying to becoming a disc jockey.
Prior to Star Magic Ball, Chienna and Richard headed to Taipei to check out what Taiwan's buzzing capital has to offer to Filipinos, especially now that just last September 29, Taiwan has declared that it is granting a visa-free entry to Filipinos and other citizens of Southeast Asia and India by October or November.
For those planning a trip to this city that is only around two hours by plane from Manila, check out Chienna and Richard's Taiwan itinerary.
Day 1
Via Double Decker Bus Tour, one can discover major landmarks in Taipei as the tour provides 23 bus stops across two routes. Among the top attractions are Taipei 101, National Palace Museum, Chiang Kai Shek Memorial Hall and Ximending. It allows tourists to hop on and off at their preferred attractions along the bus route for maximum flexibility.
After checking in at a hotel in Taipei, Richard and Chienna had lunch in a nearby restaurant owned by a famed Taiwanese film director. The diner offers traditional cuisine in a laidback, rustic environment filled with film reels and props from the director’s movies.
Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall
After lunch, Richard and Chienna went to the memorial complex built in memory of Chiang Kai-shek, President of the Republic of China. The memorial is a national monument and landmark at the Zhongzheng District of Taipei.
Inside the complex, Chienna and Richard enjoyed taking pictures at the parks and watching the ceremonial changing of guards. The complex also has art galleries and a grand theater and concert hall. In February this year, Taiwan's Ministry of Culture announced its plans to transform the hall into a center for history and human rights.
Taipei 101, temples and night markets
After a photo shoot at the CKS Memorial, Chienna and Richard had unlimited Xiao Long Bao, a traditional Chinese steamed bun, at Din Tai Fung, a Taiwanese restaurant chain that has also become popular in the Philippines.
At the restaurant, Chienna and Richard sampled all Xiao Long Bao flavors - from savory seafood to sweet black sesame - and learned how each Xiao Long Bao has been handmade before being steamed in "xiaolong" or small baskets, where the delicacy got its name.
Din Tai Fung in Taipei 101 has been named one of the world's most in-demand tables and one of the world's best restaurants by The New York Times because waiting time for a table to be vacant could last to up to more than an hour, so advanced booking is a must.
After dinner, Richard and Chienna checked out Taipei's aerial view atop the Taipei 101, one of the world's tallest buildings. To get to the observatory, they rode one of the world's fastest elevators. They also learned how a mega-ton metal ball balances the gigantic edifice.
Before calling it a night, the pair visited some of the city's most popular nighttime sights, including Lungshan Temple and a night market, where one can sample some of the city's world-famous street food.
Day 2: Yehliu and Jiufen
The following day, Richard and Chienna checked out the natural rock formations at the Yehliu Geopark.
The pair then spent shopping and sampling street food at the upland Jiufen. They hired costumes from a local costume shop to experience Jiufen and its century-old tea houses like locals.
They capped off the night with sake and a sumptuous seafood platter at the famous night life joint, Addiction Aquatic Development.
Day 3: Pingxi
Before returning to Manila, Richard and Chienna wrote their wishes on a giant lantern at the rural district of Pingxi in New Taipei, Taiwan.
While in Pingxi, they enjoyed sights such as waterfalls, hanging bridges, and an old train track reminiscent of the town's history as a coal mine in the early 20th century.
Richard and Chienna's trip was care of Klook, touted as one of Asia’s largest in-destination services booking platforms dedicated to giving travelers a simple, fast and convenient access to popular attractions, experiences and services so they can discover the sounds, colors, and even tastes of places around the world. Through the award-winning app, travelers can customize their itineraries to satisfy their wanderlust and last-minute plans.
Editor's note: The tour to Taiwan was hosted by Klook to promote tourism in the area. At no stage does the host organization have a say on the stories generated from the coverage, interviews conducted, publication date and story treatment. Content is produced solely by Philstar.com following editorial guidelines.