2025 took us to a myriad of great places—some in the actual sense; others without even taking off. It’s many thanks to new drops that matter: a destination where the clock seems to move more slowly, a bar that makes it so hard to leave, an app that adds magic to the mundane, an outfit or product that makes us feel our best.

As PhilSTAR L!fe marks its fifth year of giving you everything you want, love, and need, we present to you another mix of things that make life better through The 100 List. From putting together our top recommendations in the worlds of food, tech, beauty, fashion, and travel in its 2024 edition, we are now giving you new reasons to love life.

Throughout the year, we researched, tested different products, travelled to new places, and ate a lot to create this ultimate guide not only to what’s hot right now, but also to what’s worth the buzz, your money, your energy, your time. We narrowed the standouts down to a hundred, which you might think is too much until you realize how many new finds pop up almost every day in the always pulsating, constantly evolving local scene.

The 100 List is unlike any random selection. Each item here brings something new to the table, be it freshness, convenience, delight, value, or all of them, and then some. These are things we tried in 2025 that continue to linger on our minds until now and probably will in the coming year—and perhaps on yours, too, once you get a hold of them.

As a bonus, we divided them into different moods with the corresponding core feeling or aspiration each one exudes: Main Character Energy for confidence and glam, The Ultimate Unwind for peace and restoration, Wanderlust & Wonder for discovery and adventure, Rich Auntie Vibes for effortless luxury and taste, Digital Nomad Kit for freedom and mobility, The Daily Ritual for mindfulness and consistency, Joy Bomb for delight and playfulness, Inner Glow for authenticity and well-being, and Budget Hero for value and smart spending.

And to make it more personal, we’re letting you curate your own list from our selection that you can always come back to as you plan your 2026 adventures. This is our way of celebrating five years with you and appreciating you for sticking around as we provide you with the content you’re looking for.