THE PHILIPPINES AND BEYOND

A SLICE of life from Pia Cayetano

noreply@blogger.com (Bong) — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 21:50:00 +0000

SLICE: A Slice of Life in Every Bite is the newest baby, a product of the "creative and entrepreneurial mind and spirit," of Senator Pia Cayetano. The restaurant cafe, which will open around first week of March, will serve breakfast all day, and desserts at the top of the menu. It's basically a cafe which serves healthy offering at the same time something worth indulging in, to make life more fun and worth it.

Right now, it has a stall or cart cafe right outside their space which serves Paninis, Muffins, Cookies, Granola and Coffee. I saw the senator's Tweets about Slice the day before yesterday, and asked her about it. Since it triggered the foodista in me, I decided to have dinner and try it out with Ly, my friend from college, and now my colleague at the Department.

We ordered Panini for dinner. Ly got the Quatro Formaggio with Pesto (Php 150), while I got the Turkey and Cheddar (Php 120). The Quatro Formaggio and Turkey and Cheddar are definitely a must try for cheese lovers. Both of them are tasty and filling, definitely a nice treat to end the day.

We also got the Deep Dish Cookies at Php 50 each. We tried both the Chunky Peanut Butter and the Chunky Chocolate Chip. Both are equally lovely, and perfect paired with coffee. I personally like the Chunky Chocolate Chip, but it really depends if you like chocolate better than peanut butter. I can vouch that both cookies won't fail your expectations.

We also tried the Muffins (Php 60 each - see MUFFIN MENU here), courtesy of Sen. Pia (thank you!). We had the Sprinkle Me Cinnamon, which is actually her favorite, and the Choco Monkey PB. I am really picky on my muffins because those that I have tried before tend to be dry and "lifeless" or dull, but this is different. The two muffins really stand out because of their flavor, consistency and overall finish. Oh, I heard that they will be offering Red Velvet this February!

The Sprinkle Me Cinnamon is another banana overload muffin, with the "irresistible aroma and taste of cinnamon spice," which when "taken with high carb food lessens impact on blood sugar level. It's high manganese content is good for the bones. Recommended for those watching their blood sugar."

The Choco Monkey PB on the other hand is a "delightful blend of everything nice from chocolate chips, peanut butter to banana." Not only is it high in fiber, but it is also loaded with antioxidants. "Both chocolate and peanut butter are anti-oxidants, which peanut butter is also a good source of protein."

Right now, they also serve Granola (Php 70 for 80g), which has oats, grains, nuts, and dried fruits. Granola is a good source of fiber and vitamins. This sure is a good breakfast treat. I am actually eating this now as I type :)

Slice offers original and borrowed recipes which Pia herself likes and wants to share with others. With the help of a chef consultant, because of obvious reasons (busy schedule with her work as a public servant), she manages the cafe personally.

Asked to describe what's the inspiration behind SLICE, Pia says it "is the product of my imagination, dreams, travels, food cravings and a desire to share my ideas on healthy eating with occasional indulgences."

Ever since, she has been a fan of social entrepreneurship, healthy living, and teaching her already grown-up daughter and kids these values which she had grown-up with, and which made her what and who she is today.

If I'm not doing what I am doing right now, I would probably be a chef. Beyond the love of trying new food, and tasting new things, I have a desire to cook and recreate yummy and wonderfully created dishes. I try. :)) I someday dream of having my own cafe or restaurant, some place to chill, have friends over, eat good food, and celebrate life.

SLICE will be open until around 11pm on weekdays, and 12 to 1am on weekends. It is located at the new extension wing of the Bonifacio High Street (BHS), The Fort, in Taguig (right beside Jamba Juice). Grab a healthy muffin paired with their cappuccino or brewed coffee, a perfect pairing for a perfect hard earned day's end, or start, in your slice.

STATUS x Perou in Perouvian Wasteland

noreply@blogger.com (Bong) — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 12:29:00 +0000

"Presenting Perou, prolific photographer of the peculiar and perverse. Peek playful portraits of prominent persons, panoramas of puzzling pedestrian patterns, piles of apparel placed precariously upon professional poseurs, plus provocative passions ("-philias") openly spied through peepholes. Proffered privately to privilege our precious pals, Perouvian Wasteland promotes a picture's power to pique participation and pool people to pursue the perseverance of art."

Mr. Perou was in Manila for STATUS Magazine's Perouvian Wasteland which happened at the Ayala Museum last Saturday. It was a one-night-only exhibit of the famed British music and fashion photographer, who had the privilege to take shots of Katy Perry, Vivienne Westwood, Dita Von Teese, Jay-Z, among others. But before anything else, he had a meet and greet / workshop that morning in the same venue for would-be photographers and fashion enthusiasts.

Meet Mr. Perou (above left) and the leadership behind STATUS Magazine in the Philippines, Ms. Rosario Herrera (above right). *handsdown* I also saw Sarah Meier-Albano and her daughter Kaya (below), and Eric Manuel (I forgot to take your photo!) :)

Perou was the one who shot STATUS Magazine's December - January 2012 issue. So without further ado... The PEROUVIAN WASTELAND :)

Taipei's #1: Share Tea in San Juan

noreply@blogger.com (Bong) — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 08:22:00 +0000

Share Tea is a Taiwanese tea-beverage store which specializes in milk tea and tea. It started in 1992 and has since expanded to over 180 stores worldwide, including Singapore, Malaysia, China, Hong Kong, Macau, United States, Dubai UAE, Brunei, the Philippines, and is still expanding rapidly.

Share Tea is most loved for its classic pearl milk tea drinks as well as for their other specialty drinks like rock-salt cheese drinks, natural fruit teas, and handmade taro with fresh milk, which are all exclusive at Share Tea.

My second cousin, Christy, invited me to try out Share Tea. One Sunday, before going to Victory Greenhills, we passed by the tea shop to try out what they have to offer. Since Share Tea is new to me, I let them decide what they wanted me to try out.

Menu of Share Tea
I tried the (a) Rock Salt Cheese with Cocoa - a mix of sweet cocoa drink with salty cheese cream; (b) Taiwan Classic Pearl Milk Tea - an all-time favorite, they say that no other milk tea comes close; and (c) Handmade Taro with Fresh Milk - A must try, handmade yam drink.

The three drinks I have tried are really good and refreshing. I personally like the Cocoa with rock salt and cheese. It's comparable to Happy Lemon, or actually even (arguably) better.

The pearl milk tea is another staple. I think you can judge if the shop is good from this most basic drink they offer. After the first sip, I can safely say that Share Tea is one of the milk tea places worth going to :)

The hand-made taro drink, on the other hand, was interesting. It's refreshing and unique, but it's not for everyone I would think. For me, it lacked sweetness and texture.

Share Tea (They Deliver!)
Wilson, Greenhills: +632-7278888
Pioneer, Pasig: +632-6545555
Facebook: Share Tea Philippines

Filipino Innovation: Glasses Free 3D Screens

noreply@blogger.com (Bong) — Sun, 22 Jan 2012 06:57:00 +0000

Who would have thought today's the era when glasses free 3D screens will exist? I bet 10 years ago, no one thought of this technology. During that time, probably there wasn't any 3D screens. It makes you wonder what people will be able to come up 10 years down the road.

Meet 3D Vizion, a Filipino owned company, which makes the glasses free 3D technology available to Filipinos and to the world. It is a budding Filipino company whose goal is to "revolutionize the country's advertising landscape and put us at par with other nations using the glasses free 3D screens as its main platform," says its President and CEO, Ms. Karina Bantug.

Photos courtesy of 3D Vizion and GeiserMaclang PR
Something that is predicted to "redefine the viewing experience," the glasses free 3D screens is 10 times more effective to leave a photographic memory, or a lasting imprint, compared to the 2D counterpart. It has a track record of "heightened engagement, yielding 92% in memory retention," with "68% of the said statistics displaying a higher probability of following the experience with a purchase."

Katrina shares that "a US study discovered that when used in a mall, the sales of the brand featured in the glasses-free 3D screen went up at least 12% in addition to the store reporting a 34% increase in consumer traffic."

The first idea that struck me and lingered in my mind that night when the glasses free 3D screens were shown to us, was the great potential of the technology to be used in the tourism promotions of the Department of Tourism, and its latest campaign, "It's more fun in the Philippines."

Imagine this: A 30 seconder that will capture your eyes, your senses...the beauty of one of the Philippines' 7,107 island destinations. The majestic Bohol. It will show you the tarsiers with their big eyes, the whales and dolphins swimming, going up to see the chocolate hills, river cruising along Loboc, entering really old and wonderfully made churches, and the local cuisine. Definitely, it will show you why "It's more fun in the Philippines". :)

Imagine this, the Islands Insider (by The Extra Mile Productions) of Gabby and Ginggay in 3D? WOW! FUN!! (Catch The Islands Insider on National Geographic Channel, coming really soon!) :)

Photos courtesy of 3D Vizion and GeiserMaclang PR
Not only cars, buffaloes or bullet trains can be projected on the screen, but also almost anything under the sun. Think of the possibilities in a few years time, who would know. As people watch less and less TV, and divert their attention to what's online, the 3D Screens without the glasses is a innovation that would definitely catch someone's attention. Soon, gone will be the days of the print, stills, and 2D, which could be really boring. People will find more and more ways to interact, to experience, to grasp reality.

P.S. Thank you to 3D Vizion, GeiserMaclang and Jewels Sision for the photos. Thank you to Gabby Malvar and Ginggay Hontiveros for sharing their "Islands Insider" trailer on the beauty of the Philippines. Last but not the least, visit Amorita Resort (official sponsor) when you're in Bohol, Philippines!!! :)

Aria Cucina Italiana's Free Trip to Boracay

noreply@blogger.com (Bong) — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 02:00:00 +0000

You have probably heard about and tried Aria Cucina Italiana in Boracay. Unfortunately, I haven't been to the place, but I saw it packed with people. I have only been to Boracay once, and it was because of a sponsored trip from FOX and Selecta. We were following a schedule, so I did not get the chance to eat at the famous Italian restaurant in Boracay. Fortunately for me and everyone who's in Manila, Aria Cucina Italiana will be opening their first branch in Manila! :)

"Aria is a modern and contemporary Italian restaurant that has a menu inspired by the coastal regions of the Mediterranean. First opened in Boracay, one of the world's top beach destinations, in 2003, Aria elevated the standards of restaurant designs in the beautiful island with its stylishly modern, tropical interiors and cozy ambiance and turned itself into one of the top destinations in the island."

"Fast forward to today, Boracay's most celebrated Italian restaurant will finally open its doors in Manila, at the Fort Bonifacio, Global City. Making their delicious seafood and meat dishes, mouthwatering homemade pastas, fresh green salads, excellent wine and their famous woodfire oven-baked pizzas."

Aria Cucina Italiana is sponsoring an all-expense paid trip for (2) two and Aria GCs to Boracay, Philippines on their Aria Cucina Italiana Facebook page. All you need to do is "LIKE" their Facebook page and answer their promo question: "Tell us why you need to know the secret to Aria's famous pizza" there.

Quite honestly, I am excited to try this restaurant out once it opens this January 28, 2012, and see for myself what the other foodies are raving about. I will surely update you with a blog post once I have already tried Aria.

Will Starbucks Philippines go Blonde?

noreply@blogger.com (Bong) — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 06:47:00 +0000

Starbucks in the US recently introduced a "lighter-bodied and mellow" coffee called the Starbucks® Blonde Roast, which gently awakens the senses. It has said to be "subtle and soft with mellow acidity, and delivers an approachable and flavorful cup with slight hints of roast."

"The new coffees included in this category are Starbucks Veranda Blend™ (Delicate nuances of soft cocoa and lightly toasted nuts await you), Starbucks Willow Blend™ (Sparkling flavors in a breezy, delicious cup), which is also available in Decaf, and the Veranda ViaReady Brew.

As foodie Lori Baltazar asked on Twitter, "I wonder if Starbucks' new Blonde Roast will be offered in the Philippines?" I ask, will Starbucks Philippines go Blonde? That will be something worth the wait, and the guessing. She adds that, "a 'weaker' brew might encourage more Pinoys to drink it black." Let's see this first quarter, shall we?

Katy Perry The California Dreams Tour in Manila Philippines

noreply@blogger.com (Bong) — Sat, 14 Jan 2012 16:30:00 +0000

American pop singer Katy Perry will be in FUNila in the FUNilippines this 22nd of January 2012 to cap-off her "The California Dreams Tour" at the SM Mall of Asia Concert Grounds in Manila, a fitting end to her hit world concert series which ran for almost a year. Filipino fans will surely have fun and enjoy the concert as she promises that it will be spectacular and "a visual feast."

Katy's California Dreams tour is in promotion of her "Teenage Dream" album, which earned her a Special Achievement Award in the recent AMAs for her five number 1 singles from the same album. "Katy is the second recording artist after Michael Jackson and the first female recording artist to have five number one singles from a single album."

Katy will be performing her chart-topping singles from the “Teenage Dream” album such as “California Girls,” “Teenage Dream,” “Firework,” “E.T.,” and “Last Friday Night (T.G.I.F.)."

Ticket Prices:
Php 10,488 – Diamond (Reserved Seats)
Php 6,844 – Titanium (1st Come 1st Served Seats)
Php 3,710 – Gold (1st Come 1st Served Seats)
Php 1,620 – Silver (Standing)
Php 889 – Bronze (Standing)

Prices are inclusive of 4.48% service charge.

Limited VIP seats also available. Call or text +63917-8334223 and look for Charlamagne for ticket inquiries, reservations and sale.

Suntok sa Buwan

noreply@blogger.com (Bong) — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 13:05:00 +0000

Esquire describes the film this way:

"Suntok sa Buwan is the directorial debut of Bianca Catbagan, together with Jose Antonio de Rivera. Starring Joem Bascon and Daniel Fernando, the story revolves around two boxers: one, young and talented, the other, aged yet passionate. The two are headed for a collision as they prepare against each other in the bout that will define their lives. When a boy with everything to lose faces a man with nothing to lose, who will win the fight?"

Suntok sa Buwan premieres on January 22 and will run in SM Cinemas in Metro Manila and Cebu (Mall of Asia, Megamall, North EDSA, Manila, and Cebu) from January 25-31. There will be a special screening in the University of the Philippines (UP) on February 7.

It's really good that SM is sponsoring something like this for the first time. I hope they continue to do so to provide a breather and an avenue for filmmakers to have their pieces shown to the public. Oh, and I'm definitely so proud of my friend, Bia. Way to go! Support! Congratulations! :)

Speak up, Philippines!

noreply@blogger.com (Bong) — Fri, 30 Dec 2011 02:04:00 +0000

"There is nothing more powerful than an idea whose time has come," said Victor Hugo. I could not agree more with him. The best conversations I had with people, especially this 2011, have been about exchanges of ideas. Those conversations, I often remember the most. Those conversations, often bring about something life-changing, if not the feeling of happiness and peace of heart. Those conversations, inspire me to strive and aspire for more.

2011 has been a good year. I have met a lot of new people, people who have a lot of ideas to share, and stories to tell. They are the ones who have kept me going, and have kept me believing (still) that this ~~city~~ country will be great, greater than it could be. And we are moving, and doing, the best we could, to make that happen. Who wouldn't want to be part of all of these?

There are 3 things I hold dear, and those 3 things I have acted upon and spoken up for this year, and will continue to do so in 2012. These areas of interests, I hope, will continue to improve and strengthen this year. 1.) Philippine Tourism 2.) Protection of the Philippine Seas and 3.) Good Governance.

Manila Minds and #PhilippineFridays

There is nothing more potent than the "meeting of the minds", people coming together, threshing out issues and topics that matter, and throwing ideas to solve them. That was just what happened when Sarah Meier, a friend and someone who I consider a life mentor, together with her husband Banj Billions, and Ruby Veridiano, invited 40 of us young people, influencers in our own fields and rights, to one venue to discuss about art, culture, media, tourism, politics, and the like. There was so much energy, passion and care for the society that day. Since then, Manila Minds has been changing the Philippines, one step at a time, one mind to the next.

From the first Manila Minds, or meeting of the minds, one of the things we came up to help Philippine Tourism was #PhilippineFridays. Simply put, it's a hashtag, which we put in our Twitter posts every Friday, discussing about the Philippines, and everything good and positive about it. It evolved to writing Facebook statuses, blog posts, videos, and anything viral to help promote the Philippines both online and in the physical world.

Save Philippine Seas

Save Philippine Seas has been a successful new media campaign informing the public of the situation (rape and destruction) of the Philippine Seas, which challenged more people to care and chip in the protection of our marine ecosystem. But even before that, we have been informing the public about the horrible destruction of the habitat and harvest of sharks, and rays in the country. Now, Anna Oposa and some other people, with the help of Congresswoman Aliah Dimaporo of Lanao del Norte, have been lobbying to pass the bill to protect not just our seas, but more importantly, the species that live in our seas, especially sharks and rays.

Photo from Lost Tsinelas
Earlier this year, I was in Puerto Princesa Palawan, and I was shocked at the sight of sharks being sold in the public markets. I wrote to Mayor Edward Hagedorn about this sale of sharks in Puerto Princesa market, which he acted upon right away. He closed down the stalls which sold sharks and rays, gave a complete inventory of the raid, and revoked the licenses of the vendors. I thank him for his swift action and all the help in the campaign to protect the sharks. I hope more and more local governments, with the help of the locals and tourists, will be vigilant and help us in this.

Good Governance

Working for the government has interested me ever since I was in college. Oftentimes when asked what my course is, and they find out that I was taking up Public Administration, they would give me a look of disbelief or question what the hell I am doing. Nevertheless, I am proud to have taken up public administration; and even after college, I am prouder to be working in government.

I have the belief that no amount of complaining or ridicule will ever help change the system, unless you do it yourself, or with your friends. Fellow changemaker, and worker in government, Arriane Serafico is one of the people whom I admire because of her courage to speak up and resist the mediocrity of the status quo. Where else can you better fulfill the desire to improve the system and all its processes than within, right?

Photo from Arriane Serafico
I have always admired young people who know that they want to enter into government service. Most of them know that they want to do something, something bold, unique, groundbreaking and foolish (perhaps). They are the ones who often speak up, act, and be the idea of change, from within. In all honesty, what we Filipinos need is a lot of changing of mindsets in order for us to move forward.

Just like Rizal

Just like our National Hero, Dr. Jose P. Rizal, who spoke up and wrote to resist the system, on behalf of us Filipinos, who dared not, who did not. Even when he was alone, he had courage to fight a rotten system. In his death, which we remember today, he awakened the consciousness of our countrymen, and he still does today.

Just like Rizal, we, the youth, should be constantly be up on our toes to do better, to trigger change in our own homes, school, community, country, etc, not for anyone else, but for ourselves, our Philippines, and for the generations after us.

Photo from Team Manila
2011 is now ending, and 2012 gives us a lot of chances to do more and to do better. It is a time to put our feet forward and finally be part of the exciting and relevant things that will be happening, of changing, learning, and improving.

So, in 2012, I believe that we all have revolutions to lead, just like Rizal. It’s a matter of finding what it is that interests us, what it is we are passionate about, and ask ourselves, what will I resist or speak up for this coming year?

Yabu House of Katsu revisited

noreply@blogger.com (Bong) — Wed, 28 Dec 2011 06:10:00 +0000

Yabu Philippines has been receiving a lot of raves from fellow foodies, food writers, and people who have tummies and appetite for good Japanese Katsu. I would not be surprised at the accolade Yabu Katsu is receiving because of their really mouthwatering and delicious pork and food line-up.

It was me and my cousin Lujean's second time to eat at Yabu: The House of Katsu (click to read our first experience). This time around, we brought with us our artista cousin, Gretchen Ho (who recently became a trending topic over at Twitter), who despite of her busy schedule set time to be with her cousins for dinner. :P

Since Lujean and I have tried their Kurobuta Pork Set and their Rosu Tonkatsu Set (the best choices in their menu if you were to ask the both of us) the first time around, we opted to try their Katsudon Set (Php 265) and Rosu Katsu Curry Set (Php 285) respectively.

The Rosu Katsu Curry, protected by trimmings of fat, is juicier than the Hire version. "Savor the porkloin drenched in the Japanese curry that’s thicker, sweeter and milder than usual curries. Yabu’s homemade curry is made with 45 ingredients and slow-cooked to perfection." One can opt for the level of spiciness he wants. I got the spiciest one. Winner!

On the other hand, Gretch tried their Hire Tonkatsu Set (Php 285), pork tenderloin cut, without the trimming of fat the Rosu Tonkatsu has (In my opinion though, tha trimming of fat the Rosu has makes it even more yummy and succulent!). This dish is served with Japanese rice, miso soup, Japanese pickles, unlimited cabbage, and a bowl of fruit (which came this time!)

Besides that we got the potato croquette, which costs Php 100 for 2 pieces. It was alright, nothing special, but tastes good nonetheless.

Also check out: Yabu The House of Katsu Food Review

Crumpler's Carrot, Limpet, and Noose

noreply@blogger.com (Bong) — Tue, 27 Dec 2011 08:44:00 +0000

Crumpler is a well known bag brand which features a long line of durable and stylish travel bags, messenger bags, laptop bags and camera bags. These three Crumpler accessories are no exception. Meet the Carrot, Limpet and the Noose, three must have Crumpler accessories this season!

THE CARROT is a small bag good for containing pens, pencils, and your everyday writing, highlighting and office materials. It's basically a pencil case, but you may use it to house your small gadgets like USBs, cellphone, memory cards, etc. It has a brass reinforced eyelet. You may attach it to a key ring or even let it hang loose connected to another Crumpler. Its outer shell and interior lining are both made from water resistant materials, typical of a Crumpler bag, which is good, to give more protection if you are putting in your cellphone. Lastly, it is constructed with a single piece of ultra durable material and reinforced stitching on all stress points, which guarantees its use for a lifetime.

THE LIMPET is a colorful and harwearing luggage tag, which is bright in color and personality. This will certainly make your luggage stand out on the carousel, better to easily spot your things. It's made of super strength webbing, which keeps a vice like grip on your luggage. With an exterior fabric of 150D ripstop polyester, polyutherane backing and polypropylene insert, the Limpet is ready for whatever the luggage handlers can throw at it.

THE NOOSE is a compact, very useful strap for your camera, which is attached to your wrist. It offers unsurpassed security, without cutting off circulation. It's constructed from ultra-strong polypropylene webbing and neoprene for soft molded comfort which fits and adjusts to your wrist. It also has a built in, dome secured memory card pocket, which let you keep a spare memory card at hand for easy access during extended shoots.

As a traveler, these three Crumpler accessories, in my opinion, are very useful to me and my travel needs, that's why I am sharing it with you :)

Crumpler’s Carrot, Limpet, and Noose are available only at Crumpler Bonifacio Highstreet, Crumpler SM Megamall & Crumpler Trinoma.

The Philippines and Beyond, and beyond 2011!

noreply@blogger.com (Bong) — Mon, 26 Dec 2011 02:28:00 +0000

The Philippines and Beyond has been online for more than four years now. First of all I would like to thank everyone who has been with me in this journey from 2008 -- all my family, friends, acquaintances, new found friends, bloggers, writers, journalists, PR contacts, advertisers, sponsors, brands, and most of all, YOU, my readers.

Ever since, this blog has been my avenue to write, mostly about FOOD. Then it evolved, and I wrote about events, lifestyle, technology, fashion, and travel -- or a hodgepodge of a lot of things that interest me.

Design by Aaron Quinto

A lot has happened to this blog, and to me because of this blog. I tell you, I have been blessed beyond belief. Really, life is amazing! Actually, this is why I decided to bless back my readers with the blog giveaways that I did, and will do this December (the season of loving, giving, and appreciating).

Expect that this blog will have some changes. Starting with my very own .com -- THEPHILIPPINESANDBEYOND.COM. I will be more focused in bringing you to "the Philippines' best island destination food, travel and lifestyle spots and events," and sharing with you my travels "beyond the Philippines" and around the world in search for culture, design, history, and good finds. I will search for new adventures to share and tell to you! ;)

Design by Renz Bulseco. Thank you!

Also (but wait, there's more!), I am back with my brainchild, the Manila Foodistas (MF). My bestbud Tiffy Chua has been so kind to include me in the roster of the new Foodistas, who will be bringing to you awesome and yummy food finds here and around. I will be contributing there at least once a week. Yay!

Design by Danne Lim

Change is good I think, especially if it is for the better. We must constantly be challenged to do more, to fight mediocrity, to excel, to learn more, and to help, in our own little ways, for the betterment of our society.

Live Life. Carpe Diem! Merry Christmas!

P.S. I can't find the two other headers I have used on my blog in the past. Boo!

J.CO Donuts and Coffee will soon invade the Philippines!

noreply@blogger.com (Bong) — Thu, 22 Dec 2011 07:46:00 +0000

J.CO Donuts and Coffee, the "fastest growing donut and coffee chain in South East Asia," is coming to the Philippines, and will open its first branch at The Strip in SM Megamall, Ortigas, Mandaluyong City this coming February 16, 2012!

This international premium brand, which comes from Indonesia, will open its doors to Filipinos with a refreshing new twist in the lifestyle cafe scene, and will surely send Pinoys lining up for their freshly made, delicious, melt-in-your-mouth donuts and Italian brewed coffee.

Using only the best ingredients found around the world, such as Belgian chocolates, Californian almonds, American honey, New Zealand cheese, and Japanese Matcha green tea, J.CO's donuts are created perfectly delectable.

Yesterday, three boxes of these delicious J.CO donuts found their way to my office, thanks to Alvene Ngo, and the Philippine franchisee of J.CO Donuts & Coffee, the "popular food chain that is fast sweeping across the Orient."

Assorted donuts, which include Heaven Berry (Strawberry heaven, made with strawberries and cream), Choco Caviar, Cheese Me Up (sweet-savory delight), Why Nut (American peanut butter filling and premium white chocolate topping), Miss Green T (Matcha green tea imported from Japan), Choco Loco and a lot more.

One box of Alcapone, J.CO's signature product, where white Belgian Chocolate meets crunchy Californian almonds! Truly the BESTSELLER! :)

J.CO's popularity boomed overnight, opening its first store back in 2005 in Jakarta. Since then, J.CO quickly followed with 100 more outlets spread throughout Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, and more recently, Shanghai, China. Now, J.CO is here in the Philippines!

You definitely should not miss out on J.CO, the latest craze to hit Manila, and its opening next year! There is a special treat for the first 200 customers to visit the store starting 9am. Tag your friends along for a chance to get something extra special from J.CO Philippines.

EDIT:
P.S. Can I just say that (without any B.S.) this will definitely be a hit in the Philippines because of its delicious and really soft, yummy, tasty donuts (WINNER sa sarap!). Oh, and it's not too sweet, but the flavors play and blend really well.

Pinkberry arrives in the Philippines

noreply@blogger.com (Bong) — Wed, 21 Dec 2011 03:43:00 +0000

The first ever Pinkberry store opened in the Philippines last December 07, 2011 at Greenbelt 5, Makati City. Pinkberry introduces to us Filipinos the fresh flavors and sophisticated style for which the brand is known.

Pinkberry is premium frozen yogurt made with real nonfat yogurt and fresh nonfat milk. It is made only of the highest quality ingredients and is the perfect balance of tangy and sweet, resulting in a light, refreshing, and craveable taste.

Ron Graves, Pinkberry CEO, says, "We're excited to introduce Pinkberry's one-of-a-kind experience to the Philippines we are particularly thrilled to be opening our first store in the Philippines and Asia."

And so, Pinkberry is finally here in the Philippines, with six distinct flavors to choose from: the signature original flavor (a sweet and tart yogurt with refreshing finish), pomegranate (a bold and tangy flavor made with 100 percent pure pomegranate juice), green tea (slightly sweet with earthy flavor note), chocolate (rich and indulgent), mango (fruity and light flavor made with mango puree for a soothing finish), and watermelon (crisp and refreshing flavor perfect for summer).

Customers can personalize every Pinkberry yogurt experience with any combination of delicious toppings like the daily fresh cut fruits, premium dry toppings (organic gummy bears, toasted crunchy almonds, etc), luxe toppings (peanut butter crunch, swirly whip, etc), and liquid toppings (pom puree, italian caramel, etc). Each topping is selected with the highest quality standards.

Besides their premium yogurts, Pinkberry carries fresh fruit bowl, fresh fruit parfait, and smoothies (green tea and banana, or you can customize your own smoothie just how you like it to be).

Last night some of us bloggers were invited to try out Pinkberry. One of our activities was "Create Your Own Signature Pinkberry Mix." At first I was really confused to what I will concoct, because honestly, I really wanted to put all the things I want in the cup, but that will surely be messy despite being really yummy.

I opted to do this instead (see photo below). I call it the Pinkberry Fiesta, Pinkberry signature original flavor with strawberries, banana, pineapple, watermelon, mangoes, mixed nuts and coconut. "As we welcome Pinkberry to the Philippines, it is just apt that we create an original Pinoy flavor, rich with the island paradise goodness and freshness the Philippines has to offer to the world - fresh fruits, and a smile," I explained. Guess what, I won, together with Gel's "Angel's Choice." Hehe :) Thank you Pinkberry!

After that we were taught by the staff of Pinkberry how to swirl, or prepare Pinkberry yogurt in a cone. It seems easy, but trust me it's quite hard for first-timers. It was hard to perfect the "pouty peak" or alfalfa, as I would call it. Look at my creation. I was not able to make the yogurt stand. I tried... I pouted. ;)

Blog Giveaway #7 - Boxfresh Shoes

noreply@blogger.com (Bong) — Sun, 18 Dec 2011 15:59:00 +0000

I have size 13 feet. Buying shoes for me in the Philippines is like looking for a needle in a haystack, or as I have previously blogged, is like a Cinderella story. Believe me, I have grown frustrated asking almost everywhere if they have sizes for my big feet. Most often than not, if not all the time, the answer is no. I hate it when after answering that they do not have my size, they will instantly look at my feet, as if I have a disease of some sorts. #TRUESTORY.

Anyway, this year, I was very happy when I finally found BOXFRESH, an early New York / Hip-hop inspired East London brand, which meant a pair of trainers being literally "fresh out of the box". It hails itself as "The Original British Streetwear brand".

The "Boxfresh" definition is "someone or something that is new and cool or innovative in a fashion sense." The authentic British Streetwear is multi-cultured, intelligent, witty, sleek and expressive, independent and always fresh.

Boxfresh apparel and footwear caters to the sophisticated urban street culture, mixing grungy overtones with sleek cuts and polished lines. Heralding the heroes of the street from musicians, performers, artists and creatives, we believe that "The sidewalk is the new catwalk".

For the latter part of the year, until December 31, Boxfresh has a promotion for people with big feet. You know as they say, BIG FEET MEANS BIG.....SHOES, of course! And Boxfresh is one of my trusted brands to provide shoes for people who have big feet like myself.

BOXFRESH PROMOTION: Print this photo-coupon and get 50% off on Selected Boxfresh shoes in participating RES|TOE|RUN and Bratpack outlets nationwide! (Limited time offer only). This coupon is valid for Size 11-13 US only. Not applicable in the following shoe styles - Zelos, Aidos, Ember 2, Khyke Tartan, Dalston. Valid only until December 31, 2011. One coupon per transaction only.

Also, in the spirit of the season, The Philippines and Beyond will be giving away a pair of Boxfresh shoes to one lucky reader for him or her to enjoy. Read the mechanics below on how to join in the Blog Christmas Giveaway. Merry Christmas! :)

HOW TO WIN A PAIR OF BOXFRESH SHOES:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Boxfresh 2011 Footwear Collection:
Boxfresh 2011 Footwear Collection

Unscripted Book Launch with Sarah and Vicky

noreply@blogger.com (Bong) — Sat, 17 Dec 2011 06:09:00 +0000

Put really driven, intelligent and inspiring young people + a book launch = a recipe for GREATNESS. Sarah Meier and Vicky Herrera, launched their first ever book, UNSCRIPTED, at the Fullybooked Bonifacio High Street two days ago to the press, family and friends.

Unscripted is a book of their favorite interviews from The Dollhouse, their radio show before at U92. See my previous post for more information on Unscripted. Oh, and you can catch Sarah and Vicky today at 6pm as they launch their book at the Ayala Cebu Activity Center. :)

I was a little early, so I caught some behind the scenes as Sarah and Vicky prepare for the book launch. At the Fullybooked ground floor activity area, you can see a huge S&V made of thousands of leaves, which was painstakingly but really wonderfully pinned to the canvass. It worked really well. Kudos to Holland Blooms!

Vicky and Sarah in the "dressing room" cum "press room" before the press launch :)

Did you know that Imelda Marcos, who owns thousands of pairs of shoes, didn't own one pair of sneakers? TRUTH. Buy the book to read more! ;)

Sarah and Vicky at the press launch, explaining to the press the process of making the Unscripted book. Unscripted wouldn't be made possible without their publisher, Fullybooked's Jaime Daez, their layout artist Christian San Jose, and their producer, Louie Barretto (not in the picture).

With Co.Lab's Margaux Cortez, Arriane Serafico, Full Suite's Ariel Lim and myself.

Nix Pernia a.k.a. DJ NIXDAMNP provided for the awesome music that night, together with Eric Manuel on Sax. We also got a mixtape by Nixdamnp, who included some feel good music which The Dolls played before on air, and some snippets from their interviews. It's really a good treat!

Vicky Herrera and Sarah Meier. Vicky and Ruby Veridiano. :)

Future Supermodel Kaya Albano and Ford Supermodel Samantha Gomez.

Blog Giveaway #6 - The Moonleaf 2012 Planner

noreply@blogger.com (Bong) — Thu, 15 Dec 2011 05:29:00 +0000

Moonleaf Tea Shop, a fully Filipino-owned brand of tea and milk tea, with its main branch located at Maginhawa St. Quezon City, is one of the popular and trusted tea places at present in Manila.

Their tea and milk tea drinks selection include basic teas (black tea, jasmine greentea, wintermelon tea, oolong tea, pearl black tea, and pearl jasmine tea), fruit teas (lychee jasmine tea, passionfruit yakult, yakult jasmine, etc), and milk tea (jasmine milk tea, pudding milk tea, oolong milk tea, caramel milk tea, hakka milk tea, among others), which are guaranteed to taste fresh and refreshing. (P.S. I love their Jasmine Milk Tea or Jasmine Tea with pearls)

Moonleaf Tea Ship opened its doors on October 03, 2010, more than a year ago, and now, branches and franchise of the brand are starting to pop-up all over the Metro, and in the provinces, with Pampanga and Naga branches opening soon.

It's the brainchild of Adrian Adriano, in collaboration with other UP students, like my friends Serg Domasian and Thysz Estrada, to name a few. Now, Moonleaf has something new to offer their patrons, as they launched "The Moonleaf 2012 Planner," which costs Php 300 each. No stickers needed to get/purchase a planner.

Here are some of the features of the planner (photos of the inside of The Moonleaf 2012 Planner):

It has a bare plain white cover, with a circular window which exposes "2012," the year of the planner. The outside cover can be customizable or doodled on depending on the taste and creativity of the owner. Some like it simple, some like it wild.

It provides for a spread which shows the owner the whole 2012 and 2013 calendars, also it has a page for birthdays which you want to remember. Before each month starts, it has a few pages for "Notes." The week is perfectly laid out per spread, with a "To Do" checklist every after week.

Generally, the dates in the planner show the phases of the moon, which is actually a cool trivia. At the latter part of the planner, you can see a page where the discount coupons and the freebies are located, together with all the drinks you can order and customize at Moonleaf Tea Shop.

Now, Moonleaf has been kind enough to give The Philippines and Beyond a Moonleaf 2012 Planner to give away to the readers. Here's how you can get The Moonleaf 2012 Planner for free:

HOW TO WIN THE MOONLEAF 2012 PLANNER:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Blog Giveaway #5 - BrandX TShirts

noreply@blogger.com (Bong) — Wed, 14 Dec 2011 10:18:00 +0000

Campus culture items are a big hit nowadays, not only to the students, but also to the alumni, and even the faculty and staff, of a school. Case in point, enter University of the Philippines (UP), Ateneo (ADMU), La Salle (DLSU) and University of Sto. Tomas (UST). You would agree with me that students, alumni, faculty and staff of these schools really show their love and pride for their Alma Matter in various ways.

Enter BrandX. :) No it's not a unnamed brand juxtaposed to Tide or Safeguard, or some detergent. It is actually a collaboration between Xavier alumni, namely Nate Dy-Liacco (XS'01) and Migs Siojo (XS'00) who both work with Publicis Manila and Mark Gosingtian (XS'05), with Kirk Damasco and Ken Sy of Get Blued, Ateneo's biggest campus culture brand.

BrandX is the first Xaverian campus culture and lifestyle brand, that intends to unite Xaverians and celebrate the unique Luceat Lux spirit. Initially, they have launched shirts, but true to their vision of a campus culture and lifestyle brand, they will expand their offerings in the near future.

We can all expect quality, creativity and sophistication, combined with freshness of designs, to appeal to the sensibilities of the younger generation (and of course, to the young at heart).

They don't look like the typical Xavier Physical Ed shirts (which is good), but something that you would wear out to the mall, when you're with your friends, or in any relaxed and casual occasion.

As they are new to the scene and need to built presence and awareness, they've enlisted some of the biggest Xaverian names in media and sports, such as Christ Tiu, Drew Arellano, Charles Tiu, Jeron Teng. Leigh Wong, Lorenzo Sy and Enrico Sy completes the list of their initial brand models, who gladly agreed to endorse the brand.

BrandX. Wear the pride, wear the glory.

HOW TO WIN A BRANDX TSHIRT (YOUR DESIRED DESIGN):

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Blog Giveaway #4: UP Baller USB

noreply@blogger.com (Bong) — Mon, 12 Dec 2011 03:55:00 +0000

It's not just because I graduated from the University of the Philippines (UP) that I was willing and eager to write about this, but also because a batchmate of mine from highschool asked me too, and I was happy to help them with this. But hey, don't you agree that this is one cool gift suggestion this Christmas?

Ware Merchandise brings to you the school baller USB, starting with the University of the Philippines (UP) design with 4 gigabytes storage. It is a perfect functional gift for both students and professionals, who would want to "wear their color," or school, with them. It's stylish at the same time very useful. School pride for the win!

Watch out for the Ateneo, La Salle and UST Baller USBs coming this 2012!

I am giving away 3 pieces of this UP Baller USB here in my blog. Find out the details on how to join below. But, you can purchase this UP Baller USB at Php 450 per piece by placing orders at +639175198818. :)

HOW TO WIN THE UP BALLER USB (4 gigabytes):

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Sophie's Mom Bakery and Confectionary

noreply@blogger.com (Bong) — Sun, 11 Dec 2011 06:18:00 +0000

I was able to discover Sophie's Mom Bakery and Confectionary from Saab Magalona's birthday giveaway blog post, where I was one of the lucky few who got to claim some Sophie's Mom goodies.

We have tried the place, and I think that there are 3 things you should not miss when trying out Sophie's Mom Bakery and Confectionary. These 3 things, are to die for, and are really divine desserts everyone will definitely enjoy, perfect especially this season.

Sophie's Mom Bakery and Confectionary TOP 3: Mochi Ice Cream (Php 40) - Homemade all natural ice cream wrapped in mochi. Ice cream flavors available are: Strawberries and Cream, Lemon Meringue, Cookie Dough, Valrhona Chocolate, Frozen Brazo, Banoffee, Leche Flan and Vanilla, Rocky Road, Mangoes and Cream, and Red Velvet.

We seriously wanted to try Cookie Dough and Leche Flan, but it was sold out already. Chocolate and Strawberry were awesome and yummy as well.

Sophie's Mom Bakery and Confectionary TOP 2: Truffle Mochi (Php 30) - Nutella (their "runaway bestseller") and Chocolate Caramel.

Nobody walks away from a Nutella truffle mochi without falling in love with it. I agree. 'Nuf said. You definitely have to try this.

Sophie's Mom Bakery and Confectionary TOP 1: Red Velvet Cupcakes (Php 50) - Probably one of the best red velvet cupcakes I have ever tasted. This is Sophie's Mom's best-seller!

Moist and fluffy red velvet cupcake with cream cheese frosting. :)

They also have different flavors for the cupcakes: Dulce de Leche, Cookie Dough, Banana Walnut, Tres Leches with fresh Mangoes and Lemon Meringue. Sophie's Mom Bakery and Confectionary also has breads, cookies, and other pastries. They open at 6AM, so you can get their bestsellers and their breads for breakfast.

Sophie's Mom: Bakery and Confectionary
8760 Santol St. cor Aranga St.
San Antionio Village, Makati City
Tel.No.: +632-8564849
Cel.No.: +632920-9129952
Website: http://www.sophiesmom.com/
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/sophiesmomonline
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/SophiesMomPH

Blog Giveaway #3 - The Travel Factor Adventure

noreply@blogger.com (Bong) — Fri, 09 Dec 2011 09:00:00 +0000

If you LOVE to travel, like me, but oftentimes you fail to organize trips because your friends are just too busy, or your schedules simply do not match, and you end up stressed or depressed because the trip which you were all excited about doesn't push through...well then this next blog Christmas giveaway is for you! :)

"Tourism is the people's business," said Tourism Secretary Ramon R. Jimenez, Jr. Doing their contribution to promote the Philippines, through group travels and travel deals, I introduce to you TRAVEL FACTOR.

Travel Factor was founded in 2006, "when a group of young urban professionals realized the need for an organization dedicated to promoting and providing affordable trips for fellow city slickers and urbanites. From a humble beginning of small surf trips to San Juan, La Union, the same group has explored and is continuously combing the Philippines for alternative destinations." Today, Travel Factor (TF) has grown to be one of the biggest adventure tour providers in the country.

Travel Factor takes pride in its current lineup of trips promoted in 7 categories: SURFVIVOR, PHOTOHOLIC, CONQUER, DIVE, BACKPACKING, FOODTRIP and the Ultimate Beach Bumming Experience (UBBE). Whether you love to surf, travel and just want to take snapshots of the places you go to, conquering new destinations, go backpacking and climbing mountains, taste the most scrumptious regional cuisines the Philippines has to offer, see the beauty of the underwater world, or just simply have the best beach bumming experience, there's one trip bound to fit your adventure.

Whether you are alone or you are with a group, Travel Factor will suit you because of their arranged trips and adventures which will make you fall in love more with the Philippines (and the beauty of traveling), and let you meet new friends along the way. You can check out their site for the December 2011 Travel Factor trips and the 2012 Travel Factor group tours which you can join! :)

Travel Factor is managed and owned by travelers and entrepreneurs Michelle Tan, Reg Mamaril, Cedric Valera, Leia Nagal, Lallie Udquin and Leyna Torralba. Completing Team TF are Aica Lenon, Jessie Morqueda and Ian Jayco.

I'm giving away two (2) Php 500 Travel Factor gift certificates to one lucky reader, thanks to Cedric Valera of TF. Check out how you can join in the post. It is more or less the steps of the previous giveaways. All steps are optional, but with corresponding entries, just do what you want to do. But more optional steps you do, the more chances that you will win. Simple. :)

HOW TO WIN Php 1,000 TRAVEL FACTOR GIFT CERTIFICATE:

I'm trying out this new raffling widget, Rafflecopter (thanks to Arriane), for this blog giveaway:

All photos are from Travel Factor's Facebook account.

Blog Christmas Giveaway #2 - Starbucks Philippines ♥

noreply@blogger.com (Bong) — Thu, 08 Dec 2011 02:41:00 +0000

Thank you to all those who have joined, and those who have yet to join my Blog Christmas Giveaway # 1 - FILED 2012 Planners. Now, The Philippines and Beyond has a lot more in store for you. Watch out for more Christmas giving and sharing in the days and weeks to come.

Everyone knows by now that I am a coffee addict. And when it comes to coffee, the brand I trust the most with my fix is no other than, STARBUCKS. I love their coffee, their ever changing variety of pastries & food, and of course, their awesome blog and promotional events. Truly, Starbucks has grown a place not only in my tummy, but also in my heart. This is why, I would like to share some Starbucks ♥ to you, my dear readers, or at least to 10 of you, who will be lucky to be randomly picked to receive a Starbucks Christmas Gift Card each. :)

To: YOU :) The Philippines and Beyond Reader,

It is the season of sharing and loving! Everyone should be happy :) With these reasons, I share with you, dear readers, these Starbucks Christmas Gift Cards as a token of my love and gratitude to YOU for being with me and my blog for almost more than four (4) years now. In the spirit of the season, I hope you become a blessing to others as well. Thank you...

Fr: Brian Ong http://brianong.blogspot.com/

Don't worry. There will be more giveaways ahead. If you want to give a Starbucks Christmas Gift Card to your loved ones and coffee addict friends this season, the Starbucks Christmas Gift Card can be purchased from any Starbucks Philippines store nationwide, until supply lasts, at Php 160 each.

HOW TO WIN THE STARBUCKS CHRISTMAS GIFT CARDS:

(1) Like The Philippines and Beyond official Facebook page.

(2) Like the STARBUCKS PHILIPPINES official Facebook page.

(3) Share this blog post via Facebook: "@The Philippines and Beyond is giving away 10 Starbucks Christmas Gift Cards (post URL) @(tag 3 friends)" or via Twitter: "@briankingong is giving away 10 Starbucks Christmas Gift Cards (post URL) @(tag 3 friends)"

Example: Facebook - "The Philippines and Beyond is giving away 10 Starbucks Christmas Gift Cards http://brianong.blogspot.com/2011/12/blog-christmas-giveaway-2-starbucks.html @Friend1 @Friend2 @Friend3" or Twitter - "@briankingong is giving away 10 Starbucks Christmas Gift Cards http://brianong.blogspot.com/2011/12/blog-christmas-giveaway-2-starbucks.html @Friend1 @Friend2 @Friend3"

(4) Leave a reply at my comment box below with the answer to this question; complete the reply with your NAME and E-MAIL ADDRESS. Failure to do so automatically disqualifies the entry. QUESTION: How do you like the 2013 planner (next planner after the 2012 Starbucks Planner) to look like? Share some of your insights ;)

(5) This contest is open to all readers in the Philippines. One entry per person only. Winners will be chosen via electronic raffle. This contest will run from December 08, 2011 to December 10, 2011, 11:59PM. There will be ten (10) winners, getting one Starbucks Christmas Gift Card each. I will be notifying the winner via email and will also announce it here in my blog. The Starbucks Christmas Gift Cards will be delivered to the winners.

Blog Giveaway #1: Win free FILED 2012 Planners

noreply@blogger.com (Bong) — Mon, 05 Dec 2011 16:09:00 +0000

Meet FILED...A company founded in 2007 by a group of business majors "hell bent on stopping the biggest problem all students and yuppies face: disorganization." It "fuses ORGANIZATION in STYLE in products that provide solutions to the dynamic needs of today's stylish young generation."

The brand’s flagship product – FILED Folders – went on to captivate the hearts of hundreds, and with the release of the FILED Beach Bags in the summer of 2009, the family just keeps getting bigger and better. 2010 paved the way for the highly demanded FILED Planner, followed by LinkNotes this 2011.

And now, they bring back the FILED Planners for 2012...Doodle, It’s 2012! This coming year's FILED planners let you plan and design your year, month, and day, in YOUR own creative way. May it be through doodling, coloring, or any artistic output...this planner is for you - it's for the OC, the creative, the artsy-fartsy, the brave, the bold, the stylish, etc. :))

It also has a monthly expense trackers that "help you save up for that special something (or someone!)," as well as pages for your plans to conquer the year—all in that convenient pocket-sized jotter!

One more thing--they've also thrown in a FREE pen bandolier! What’s that you say? It’s their simple yet innovative way of making sure you always have your writing materials in one place. No need to worry about losing all those fancy pens, because you can just strap them in with your planner and you’re ready to go!

Who says organizing and planning can’t be fun, personalized and stylish?

*Pens not included
Dimensions: 7 in x 5 in x 0.75 in
Price: Php 545.00

FILED 2012 Planners are available at FILED ONLINE SHOP (http://www.filed.com.ph/), Fully Booked branches (Metro Manila), and Powerbooks branches (Metro Manila).

HOW TO WIN THE FILED 2012 PLANNERS:

(1) Like The Philippines and Beyond official Facebook page.

(2) Like the FILED official Facebook page.

(3) Share this blog post via Facebook: "I want to win the @FILED 2012 Planner from @The Philippines and Beyond! @(tag 3 friends)" or via Twitter: "I want to win the FILED 2012 Planners from @briankingong! @(tag 3 friends)"

Example: Facebook - "I want to win the @FILED! 2012 Planners from @The Philippines and Beyond! @Friend1 @Friend2 @Friend3" or Twitter - "I want to win the FILED 2012 Planners from @briankingong! @Friend1 @Friend2 @Friend3"

(4) Leave a message at my comment box below with the URL LINK of your Facebook or Twitter message/post complete with your NAME and E-MAIL ADDRESS. Failure to do so automatically disqualifies the entry.

(5) This contest is open to all readers in the Philippines. One entry per person only. Winners will be chosen via electronic raffle. This contest will run from December 06, 2011 to December 09, 2011, 11:59PM. There will be two (2) winners, getting one FILED 2012 Planner each. I will be notifying the winner via email and will also announce it here in my blog. The 2012 Filed Planners will be delivered to the winners.

Travelon: Travel Safe with Anti-Theft Bags

noreply@blogger.com (Bong) — Mon, 05 Dec 2011 13:47:00 +0000

Together with Go Travel, another brand under The Primer Group of Companies which I was recently acquainted with is Travelon, a travel brand which caters to the necessity of protecting one's belongings while on the go, or while traveling. One can never be too careful with your personal belongings.

Through Travelon's anti-theft line, it aims to provide products that not only functions well but more importantly, assures security. Each creation is designed to withstand the risky conditions of traveling. Travelon, formerly Travel Caddy, was established in 1978 and was the first US manufacturer of luggage trolleys. The new name is braced with products that are up-to-date in technology.

The Anti-theft line features bags that are slash-proof and with lockable zippers. Chain link panels cover the most parts of the bag, which unable stealing of valuables through lacerations. The straps are also inserted with chains making it defensive to cutting. All these lessen the risk of losing valuables in a crowded public place. Another technology featured in the line is the Radio-frequency identification or RFID. RFID is a technology that enables identification and tracking though an electronic tag attached to objects such as credit cards, automated teller machine cards, driver’s license cards and passports. Majority of the products effectively blocks RFID readers, preventing unauthorized access to personal information.

The Anti-theft products include waist packs that each has an organizer and external cellular phone pocket; cards and passport cases, document organizers and wallets that block RFID; ID and passport holders that are convenient during airport check-in; bags fitting for tourists; and messenger bags that have removable LED light.

For travelers who want the best experience out of their trips, Travelon also offers their Travel Comfort Line. It comprises of spill and leak proof bottles, self-inflating neck and back pillow, gel seat cushion that relieves the body from fatigue, inflatable cushion for lumbar and neck, luggage scales, and steamers that are safe for all kinds of fabrics.

With all these, a secured and comfortable travel is possible. Travelon is available in selected The Travel Club Stores nationwide. The Primer Group of Companies is the exclusive distributor of Travelon in the Philippines.

Travelon Facebook: www.facebook.com/Travelonaccessories

Go Travel: Functional Travel Products

noreply@blogger.com (Bong) — Sun, 04 Dec 2011 23:52:00 +0000

I was recently introduced to Go Travel, one of The Primer Group of Companies' brands in the Philippines. It's a brand of "intelligent products design for the comfort and convenience of the active and young workforce," who loves to travel, explore, and get going. Often on the road to the office, to an out of town business trip or getaway, or simply seeking for the next best thing for their gadgets; the young professional’s needs include the most trivial things – "Go Travel aims to answer those needs. With over 340 different creations to make everyday living easier, the brand is a reliable source of comfort and convenience."

A family owned business, Go Travel was established in 1978 with nothing more than ten products to sell. After years of experience and research, the brand has progressed to producing 340 various inventions. Its products are sold in 18,000 locations in United Kingdom and 35 countries all over the world. Each year, eight million units are sold – a corroboration of the products’ significance on many people.

Go Travel intends to provide only the most functional and up to date products as it envisions itself as the top brand of accessory in the Philippines. Formerly known as Design Go, the new Go Travel name is a mark of growth and development on their products.

Its products range from full-pocketed toiletries organizer to a gadget that relieves irritation from insect bites. Some of the products are: camera cases, laptop cases, lightweight bags, eye masks paired with ear plugs, portable shavers, fans and steam irons, luggage TSA locks, tags, straps and weight scales, cabin bottles and even compact binoculars. Specially designed body and waist bags and wallets that are intended to keep valuables are also amongst the brand’s line-up of inventions. Other products worth to note are: passport covers, adaptors that allow two earphones to be used on one music player, compact hair care devices, chargers that can take care of two gadgets simultaneously and clothes organizers. Another remarkable creation is the Acustraps, it is a drug-free motion sickness control band that is placed around the wrist–ideal for long trips. With all these, every trip, day at the office or afternoon at the beach would surely be comfy.

Go Travel’s extensive line is not limited to the young and active professionals. The brand also aims to cater to the needs of the veteran travelers and the style buffs with products that are unique in function and design.

Go Travel is available in selected The Travel Club stores and R.O.X. stores nationwide. The Primer Group of Companies, Asia’s next retail giant, is the exclusive distributor of Go Travel in the Philippines.

Go Travel Facebook: www.facebook.com/GOTRAVELACCESSORIESPH