Thursday, May 9, 2019




Margarita Fores and Christine Jacob-Sandejas




This Mother’s Day, Toshiba appliances pay homage to two extraordinary moms, both an inspiration to many, who graced the launch of Toshiba’s latest line of state-of-the-art home appliances: Margarita Fores and Christine Jacob Sandejas. Fores, mother to son Amado, was named Asia’s Best Female Chef in 2016 and is the moving force behind Cibo, a modern Italian caffĂ© concept, and Cibo di Marghi Signature Caterer, her highly-successful catering arm. Meanwhile, Jacob, mother to five kids, is a former athlete and is co-anchor of the popular show New Day on CNN Philippines.

These outstanding moms prove that even with kids to raise, it is possible to wear many hats while giving their all in everything that they do. And with home appliances like Toshiba, each one imbued with the distinctive “takumi” spirit, life is made easier for busy moms with the ease and convenience they bring. Toshiba’s line of home appliances include the signature Washers and Dryers, Refrigerators, and top-loading water dispensers.

Wednesday, May 8, 2019


As one of the closest coffee-growing countries closest to the Philippines, Thailand is a must-visit destination for traveling caffeine junkies.



For those who can’t live without their caffeine fix, the search is always on for a good cup of joe. Next-level coffee junkies, however, take their caffeine obsession to a different level. They visit coffee plantations, pick cherries, learn how to roast, and join coffee cupping activities. In fact, the taste of coffee in the places they visit are some of the most defining moments of their experiences.

If you are a traveler seeking this kind of experience overseas, Thailand is one of the closest coffee-growing countries you can visit. Though Thailand is not often linked to world-famous coffee, it is home to many plantations where your coffee dreams can come true. Aside from giving you a taste of Thailand’s unique coffee origins, this country’s farm tours have fascinating stories to tell.

From bean to cup: a glimpse and taste of history

Thailand’s burgeoning coffee industry scene had a unique role to play in the Southeast Kingdom’s history and development. For many years, the highlands where Arabica coffee was grown used to be bleak and barren.

This is because the tribal communities who lived there survived from slash-and-burn agriculture, which resulted in massive deforestation and the depletion of food sources. Poverty drove them to opium cultivation, drug trafficking, and heroin production. It took interventions from Thailand’s royal family to turn the tribespeople from opium to coffee, which now provides a source of livelihood for these communities.

One such coffee plantation is Suan Lahu located north of Chiang Mai, where you can have a short four-hour visit, a day tour, or even an overnight stay with a host from the Lahu tribe, giving you the opportunity to immerse in the tribe’s way of life. Here you can go on a guided hike with the locals, pick coffee cherries, observe coffee processing, and even roast your own Arabica. From January to December, you can even enjoy traditional campfires.

Doi Tung in Chiang Rai Province is another of these opium farms turned coffee plantations. This community located at 1,389 meters above sea level is home to more than 3.5 million trees, a source of livelihood for almost 900 families. Doi Tung’s farm to cup experience immerses you in different aspects of coffee production, from cherry picking to roasting and tasting. Aside from its coffee farms and facilities, Doi Tung is also home to the Mae Fah Luang Arboretum where you can find thousands of unique temperate plants.

Doi Chang is one of Chiang Rai’s must-visit destinations for coffee junkies.

Another possible destination in Chiang Rai is the village of Doi Chang, which is situated in an altitude of up to 1,700 meters above sea level. At the village’s coffee shop, you can take a sip of the organic, single origin coffee while enjoying the fresh mountain breeze. The nearby museum called Academy of Coffee lets you learn more about the region’s produce. Outside the museum, you can look at the coffee trees filling hills and plots owned by local families. Finally, there’s the coffee processing plant, which you can see at work during the main coffee season.

Some of the world’s finest


Many of Thailand’s coffee farm tours immerse you in a journey from bean to cup.

Thailand’s coffee farms don’t only give you a glimpse of the coffee’s journey from bean to cup. They also produce some of the world’s best coffee.

Doi Chang, for example, is home to free-range, stress-free civets that eat only the ripest, sweetest cherries. These undigested beans are infused with the flavors of the civet’s diet and the enzymes in the its stomach. When roasted, these beans have the flavor profile of citrus-toned acidity, cedary dark chocolate, and raisiny fruit.

The social enterprise Akha Ama Coffee in Chiang Mai, which also hosts a three-day Coffee Journey with the local Akha tribe, has also produced award-winning coffee. Known for its distinct citrus notes and acidity, Akha Ama’s coffee was selected for the World Cup Tasters Championship in 2010 and 2011.

While visiting these coffee farms let you enjoy delicious coffee, it also lets you support local communities who are making a living and preserving their heritage. This makes your #THAImazing story both memorable and meaningful.

To know more about Thailand’s coffee farm tours, visit www.tourismthailand.org, or follow us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/TATPhilippines.


Showcasing the 1970’s fashion, senior citizen participants enthusiastically waving at the audience for final look.









Truly that fashion shows are not only for slim, long-legged, and young girls, as this was recently proven by the elderly group in San Jose del Monte City through a fashion show organized by SM in an effort to continuously recognize the talent and skills of the senior citizens.




Dubbed as “Senior Fashionistas”, 45 chic grandmas from different barangay senior citizens affairs offices fearlessly walk the runway at the mall atrium to showcase their renewed confidence highlighting the different fashion trends from 1960’s to 1990’s.



Participants are laughing after they are asked to turn right mimicking the traditional right and left turn in a pageant, during the second Senior’s Day at SM City San Jose del Monte.




More than 500 other senior citizens flocked the venue to support their fellow senior citizens as well as the family and friends of the participants.




The Seniors Day at the Mall in SM City San Jose del Monte is a quarterly event to show love and appreciation to the senior members of the community and also to encourage them to stay active despite the age.



Young at heart grandmom walks the runway in her polka with lacy white dress and a pink ribbon on her hair.






Earlier this year, senior citizens celebrated their first gathering through a dance competition to highlight their talent in dancing and to prove that they still have the energy and groove, and also to promote healthy lifestyle. Same goes for the next senior’s day on the third quarter this year, which is pegged to highlight the food preparation and cooking skills of our beloved elderlies. Date is yet to be announce.




For more exciting and fun happenings, you may check SM City San Jose del Monte’s official Facebook page at www.facebook.com/SMCitySanJoseDelMonte/.














Tuesday, May 7, 2019






One of the much-awaited events this summer, Pinoy Otaku Festival is back this 2019! Bringing the audience more interactive games and guests plus a bigger venue.  Red Cloud Interactive, Naruto Cosplayers PH and Robinsons Novaliches bring you Pinoy Otaku Festival (POF) 2019: Asobu on May 17-19, 2019 at the Trade Hall of Robinsons Novaliches in Quezon City.

Bigger venue, more interactive games – Pinoy Otaku Festival has been known for its event which focuses on the true Pinoy Otaku identity and Filipino’s dedication as manifested by the current trend in popular culture.   It is a celebration of Japanese pop culture and how Filipinos enrich it, by experience our own culture as well through the latest popular culture as the event combine cosplay, music and the Filipino's heart of gold for helping people.

The title theme of the event “ASOBU” means “Let’s Play” and will focus more on interactive experience for all attendee. It will also include the traditional cosplay competition, karaoke, and Battle of the Bands.

Pinoy Otaku Festival 2019 Highlights

This event focuses on giving highlights on the much-awaited on-stage games and the much-awaited Otaku Choice Awards to be held on May 17. During that day, nominees will gather and will be given awards for their dedication from the different categories as voted by people thru the online nomination and voting. Tom’s Workstation by Tomas Jefferson Hernandez is the official trophy provider for OCA 2019.

Other event highlight includes POF 2019: Art Attack, Karaoke Battle Royale, Fantasm: Inter-school, POF 2019: Battle of the Bands, Your Cosplay Sounds Familiar, Cosplay Championship League, Otaku Bazaar and booths, Panel discussions, and more.

If you are into interactive games then try joining and win cash and freebies during Otaku Deal or No Deal, Anime Quiz, Otaku Singtunado, Otaku Singing Bee, Name That Tune, and more.

This year POF 2019 is bringing more interactive panel discussions across the 3-day event.  Topics are selected by the community from a voting process.  Topics this year include: (1) Sexual Harassment in Cosplay; (2) Status of Esports in the Philippines; (3) How to win competitions; (4) Piracy and Anime Fandom; (5) How to become a successful game streamer; and (6) What does it take to be an Idol?

Tons of Special Guests 



Featuring special guests from both Japan and Philippines: YohgenGekitoraHiro SaekiKazukiGloco GamingYu-En Cosplay plus Filipino bands which are also into both Philippine and Japanese pop cultures: FREETIXKanjiruNeko Hunter Band, and Kulaspiro.

Ariel Villasanta, the other half of the comedy duo Ariel and Maverick with Maverick Relova. They pioneer the comedy reality-show in Philippine TV and now has an upcoming movie entitled, "The Untold Story of the Kings of Reality Shows".  He stars in Totoo TV, Mommy Elvie's Problematic Show (TV Series), and Pinoy Meets World (TV Series).

The event will also highlight the world of idols as it rises here in the Philippines: Aidoru SozaiAOS49CH4UIVY! MusumeJAPHDOLLS PHPepper KeibuPoly VSophia the Artist, Tanchikon, and Ureshii-san Tomodachi.

POF 2019 hosts include Kiel from Choji PHTessa CarbonellJustin VillaseranGeneva Cabading and Fatima Jongco.

Event Tickets and Charity

Ticket price is set at Php 100 per day.  If you will be attending for 3 days, then get the 3-DAY PASS at Php 300 (3 Days access to the convention and includes participation in the raffles). 
For those who want to have more perks at the event, you can avail the 3-DAY VIP ACCESS for Php 500 (3 days access to the convention only, participation in Animazing Race, Premium Raffles, and many more).

You can get tickets online via Ticket2Me.

Pinoy Otaku Festival is partnering with House of Light and Hands of God Charity Works, by giving part of the proceeds (ticket sales) to help support them in their various activities.  House of Light is a support group and help them create more awareness regarding HIV/AIDS, and Hands of God Charity Works provides care for less privileged children.

POF 2019 Event Partners


POF 2019 is being made possible in cooperation with CIIT College of Arts and TechnologyMC Hotel Fairview, and Hotel Fox with the help of VR CafĂ©, and Jerry's Life Size Statues and Collectibles.

The event is also brought to you with the help of various Otaku organizations as follow: Team Oke GakuenEl Chorizo Cosplay GroupThe Otaku PhilippinesZ WarriorsToushin – AteneoUP AMEPNU NAMIJDoramaEiga PH, and FurryPinas PH.

Media Partners include Astig.phTechKuyaWazzup PilipinasKeepsakes.The Cosplay and Anime CafĂ©OtakuPlay PHGame SeerReverie WonderlandAyaldevSetsu AniSutil Si IscoZing - Edge ManilaMauvish CrimsonAniRadio PH,PopLife TV and Jherzoned

You can buy tickets online thru the event’s ticket partner, Ticket2Me. Visit https://www.ticket2me.net/e/1607 to purchase your tickets.

For more information visit Pinoy Otaku Festival 2019: Asobu official website at http://pof.narutocosplayers.com/. Use the official hashtag #POF2019 and #POFAsobu and check the event’s official social media channels for more updates.






Manila, Philippines – Homegrown snack giant Rebisco beefs up its growing snack portfolio with a new roster of products perfect for snack-loving Filipinos of all ages.


The well-loved Rebisco and Hansel Premium line now includes the Japanese flavor-inspired Hansel Premium with White Cheese Filling and the light and crunchy Rebisco Premium Crackers with Black Sesame Seeds, deliciously roasted to create that delightful umami flavor that always hits the spot.


Over on the chips and curls section, Rebisco adds Tostas—thin and crispy dual-flavored corn chips. It comes in two flavors—smoky BBQ and savory cheese—in one pack, for that one-of-a-kind corn chip experience. Also now available are Goofers and Cornkalog. Goofers are crunchy corn puffs with a distinctly sweet and creamy peanut butter flavor that bursts in the mouth with every bite. Cornkalog is another corn snack variety, this time with a rich and sweet corn flavor and creamy filling.

For the kids and kids-at-heart, the all-time favorite cupcakes now come in two new mouth-watering flavors—Topps Sarap Yema and Topps Sarap Choco Peanut. Topps Sarap Yema has yema frosting, peanut candy bits and yema filling while Topps Sarap Choco Peanut features choco-peanut frosting, peanut butter filling and nutty chips topping.

For a fruity burst of flavor, Rebisco offers GumBitz—crunchy candy-coated bubble gum bits in strawberry and green apple. And for those who like the irresistible combination of sweet and spicy tamarind flavor, Dolce Fruity Bon Tamarind Balls is now available for a quick perk-me-up snack.


As the summer season rolls in, health- and weight-conscious snackers can now enjoy the delightful goodness of Jeanne & Jamie’s Recipes--three varieties of delicious crackers that can be enjoyed as part of a healthy and balanced diet. The tasty and crunchy Water Crackers with flaxseeds and sesame seeds support heart health. It has Omega-3, low sodium and zero trans fat.

Whole Thins, whole wheat crackers with rolled oats, supports weight management goals. It is high in fiber with L-Carnitine and zero trans fat. Completing the Jeanne & Jamie’s Recipes™ line are Digestives—semi-sweet honey biscuits with a hint of nutty oat flavor. It aids in digestive health because it is fortified with fiber, prebiotic inulin and has zero trans fat. Inulin is a soluble fiber that helps improve digestion, among other health benefits.

Chocolate lovers can now indulge guilt-free with the 100-calorie Fudgee Barr and Choco Mucho variants, ideal for satisfying those cravings while staying on track of fitness goals.
Rebisco also expands its product offerings with the addition of Bueno Pasta—firm but soft-to-the-bite premium pasta made with Semolina wheat. It is available in spaghetti and elbow macaroni varieties. Bueno Pasta is the perfect base to any pasta dish, and like all Rebisco snacks, is best shared and enjoyed with loved ones.

We are excited to share these new products with our consumers,” Rebisco President Jonathan C. Ng said. “Rebisco has always been an integral part of Filipinos’ snacking culture, and we are committed to developing new products that will create more opportunities for sharing and bonding.”

Visit your nearest sari-sari store and supermarket to enjoy these delightful new products from Rebisco.













Thursday, May 2, 2019



Shopee 5.5 Double Double Sale features up to 90% off from leading brands including Maybelline, Globe, Enfagrow, and Infinix


Shopee, the leading e-commerce platform in Southeast Asia and Taiwan, launches a new in-app game called the Shopee 1 Game to give users more chances to save on premium items including the Nintendo Switch, 50” HD TV, iPhone X, and more. Until May 5, users can score these amazing items at the affordable price of just 1.

Ruoshan Tao, Head of Marketing at Shopee Philippines said, “The Shopee 1 Game is another exciting way for us to engage our users by giving them a wider assortment of brands and products at great prices. Through this, we honor our commitment in continuing to offer users the best deals on their favorite items through the Shopee 5.5 Double Double Sale.”

Score the hottest items for only 1




In the days leading up to the big sale day on May 5, Shopee will be raffling amazing products for the Shopee 1 Game including the Nintendo Switch, HP Laptop, KitchenAid Mixer, and a Mass 50” HD TV. On May 5, users stand to win a chance to buy an iPhone X for only 1. In order to participate, users can pay 1 upon check out within the day. One lucky winner will be chosen to take home the featured item of the day for only 1. The announcement of the winner will happen on the next day at 12NN.

Catch unbeatable promotions across 8 days




The Shopee 5.5 Double Double Sale promises 8 days of unbeatable promotions across different categories. Users can watch out for 24-hour promotions on days including:
  • 5.5 Flash Day happening on May 1 with flash sales happening 10 times and free shipping for all flash deals with a minimum spend of only ₱99.
  • 5.5 Vouchers Day happening on May 4 with tons of shop vouchers and free shipping vouchers up for grabs.

The biggest online baby sale is coming



On May 2, Shopee will be holding the 5.5 Kids and Baby Day, where users can get up to 45% off on Huggies products and 90% off on other leading children’s brands. Users can also watch out for discount vouchers, Flash Deals, and a special Shopee Facebook live at 1 PM featuring Regine Angeles.

Happening until May 5, Shopee 5.5 Double Double Sale offers daily 1 Games and daily 100% Cashback Vouchers. Users can catch deals up to 90% off from leading local and international brands such as Maybelline, Globe, Enfagrow, and Infinix as they bring Shopee users exclusive promotions.

For more information about Shopee 5.5 Double Double Sale, visit http://shopee.ph/5-5 starting April 28.

Download the Shopee app for free via the App Store or Google Play.


Tuesday, April 30, 2019








Photos and videos of matinee idol John Lloyd Cruz have been surfacing after being on hiatus from the showbusiness since 2017.




Cruz, one of the most bankable actors of the Philippine cinema and very effective endorser once again proved that his fans are still waiting for his return. In a teaser video, which lasted only for a few seconds and only shows the back shot of Cruz’s, and posted in the Facebook page of the number one selling shawarma Turks a few weeks ago had been viewed 3.2M times, shared almost 800 times and gained a huge number of comments.




Without any clue in that teaser video, his fans already assumed that it was him in the video. Actress Bea Alonzo on her Instagram also posted a screenshot of that teaser video, which garnered almost a million likes.




This Monday morning Turks finally revealed in the 1-minute and 17 seconds video of Cruz showing the actor walking through different destinations, which somehow depicts Cruz’s sojourn. The video is very simple, yet there’s drama the way it was created, and in a very subtle shot, he stopped and took a bite of a Turks pita donner.




The rugged look of Cruz in the Turks video titled Ang Pagbabalik is way too far from his guy-next-door image and a lot of people in the industry are asking if this signals his return to the limelight. His fans are still wondering about the life he’s been living since his hiatus.




According to Turks president Gem L. Zenarosa that during the course of his talks with Cruz, they never talked anything about his showbiz career or plans. He added that he got Mr. Cruz as the latest ambassador of Turks because of his great confidence working with Cruz.



“I am really grateful that John Lloyd trusts our company, he is a brilliant and very creative young man. Aside from acting we have discovered some of his remarkable talents,” Zenarosa stressed.




The Ang Pagbabalik according to Zenarosa is actually about Turks Small Pita Doner, which will be available again in all its branches.



“John Lloyd is the best endorser for this because like him, despite his absence in the showbusiness for a couple of years, the warmth and love of his fans for him never dwindles. With our Small Pita Doner we believe that our customers will be happy to know that it is back in our menu,” Zenarosa explained.




Just like Cruz who is seen to have a different image since he last appeared in the big screen, a clear indication that the actor is recreating himslef and exploring different grounds, Turks is also doing the same thing to keep its customers excited whenever they visit a branch.




In time for the release of Cruz's endorsement video, Turks also released to the market its newest offering --- Turks Rice Bowl, which is a complete meal. You can choose beef or chicken for your rice topping, and it is priced at P50. The Small Pita Donner on the other hand, is priced at P35.



"To keep up with the demands of our customers, Turks continues to improve our menu and offerings to satisfy the discriminating taste of our loyal patrons," Zenarosa stressed.





John Lloyd Cruz now joins the roster of endorsers of Turks such as Piolo and Inigo Pascual.





To watch the full video of Ang Pagbabalik visit https://youtu.be/Uh0WwLnIEDQ. You can also watch the video on Turk FB page: official.turks.

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