The Best of USTe: Third Culture Places in University Belt Area
read more: https://awesome.blog/ust
The UST and University Belt food scene is thriving, with small and medium food businesses offering budget-friendly meals and satisfying food cravings, appealing to both students and the surrounding mass community.
Thanks to Kenneth, Jenny, and the DOT-NCR team for giving us a food tour of their alma mater.
We finally had the chance to try Mang Tootz’s Banana Rhuma, Angkong’s dim sum, Cow Wow’s sausages, and Lovelite’s famous shakes, giving us a deeper appreciation of USTe’s vibrant food culture.
I love the vibrant Manila vibe, strolling through the streets of University Belt, and visiting my very own Antonio Street.
Love the resilience stories of the food entrepreneurs behind Mang Tootz and La Cocina Mama.
Love the charming tales of casual dates at Lovelite, enjoying silog dishes and shakes together.
We ended the night at the famed James & Che BBQ House, with lively karaoke sessions.
The Best of USTe: Third Culture Places in University Belt Area
read more: https://awesome.blog/ust
Share your thoughts on our Third Culture Series in the comments, and let us know if there’s a Third Culture Place in your area that you’d like us to feature!
ABOUT THIRD CULTURE PLACES SERIES:
We’re excited to launch a new series on Our Awesome Planet featuring Third Culture Places in Metro Manila! This project began in partnership with Asec. Sharlene Batin of DOT-NCR, who collaborated with us to curate the city’s top food strips for a free Food Strip Map aimed at promoting small and medium food businesses. Through our visits, we discovered that the most memorable spots go beyond great food—they serve as community hubs, bringing people together and creating a distinct sense of place.
In The Great Good Place (1989), Ray Oldenburg defines first places as homes, where personal life happens, and second places as workplaces or, for students, schools where learning takes place. He introduces third places as informal social hubs, such as cafés, pubs, and community centers, where people gather to build relationships and foster a sense of belonging. Unlike public spaces that serve practical functions, third places prioritize social interaction, offering a welcoming and relaxed atmosphere that strengthens community connections and its own food culture.
Live an Awesome Life with Christ,
Founder & Digital Creator, Our Awesome Planet
Disclosure: This article was written entirely by 100% human, with my own biases, opinions, and insights. This series is in partnership with Department of Tourism – National Capital Region.
P.S. Let me know if you have more cool spots to recommend around the UST and UBelt area.