by Penny Angeles-Tan | Aug 27, 2017 | Product and Service Review
Growing up, I often heard the brand names Colgate and Palmolive mentioned at the grocery store and the sari-sari store whenever people purchased toiletries like soap, shampoo, or toothpaste. These brands have become such shopping staples that their names have evolved into common references for these products.
The word “Colgate” originally referred to the proper noun of the toothpaste brand Colgate. Over time, people began using “Colgate” as a generic term to refer to any brand of toothpaste. Eventually, it evolved into a verb. For instance, mothers and caregivers would ask children, “Nag-Colgate ka na ba?” to find out if they had already brushed their teeth.
Colgate has evolved from offering just one type of toothpaste to a wide variety, and the latest addition is Colgate Active Salt.
When I first learned about this new product, I immediately thought of the medicinal qualities of salt and wondered why Colgate had chosen to introduce this innovation. It also made me reflect on Colgate’s commitment to the Filipino community to “deliver superior oral care.”
According to Mr. Danai Sirisuvun, Senior Product Manager of Colgate-Palmolive Philippines, “Filipinos have a strong affinity for the traditional benefits of salt in oral care. Colgate Active Salt combines this natural ingredient with Colgate’s trusted formula. It is a unique and effective toothpaste that is perfect for the whole family, promoting healthy gums and strong teeth with regular brushing.”
Before this variant became available, I was using the toothpaste with activated charcoal. Now, I’m excited to try the Active Salt version and see how well it performs.
by Penny Angeles-Tan | Aug 25, 2017 | Lifestyle
Global technology innovator LG Electronics introduces its latest state-of-the-art InstaView Door-in-DoorTM Refrigerator to the Philippine market.
The newest addition to the company’s line of user-centric, innovative, and eco-friendly home appliances, the LG InstaView Door-in-DoorTM is sure to transform the way users interact with refrigerators.
While conventional refrigerators often sport ordinary doors with ice dispensers, LG’s InstaView Door-in-DoorTM (DID) stands out for its 33-inch sleek black glass panel and its revolutionary knock-on feature which illuminates the panel when knocked on twice.
This allows users to see inside the easy-access compartment without having to open the door and waste cold air. This distinct feature of the InstaView DID reduces cold air loss by up to 41 percent and hence keeps food and drinks fresher for longer.
Apart from the knock-on feature, the InstaView DID features a spacious compartment that allows users to easily store and access frequently consumed snacks and beverages.
The InstaView DID can be easily installed anywhere in the home with LG’s high-grade non-plumbing water and metallic ice dispensing system. The streamlined large capacity water tank is located in the refrigerator’s main compartment, making it easy for users to place water directly in the tank.
The unit also employs the door-mounted SpaceplusTM Ice System that produce ready-to-use ice, a Full Wine Rack, and a Utility Box which keeps small food items such as cheese, deli, and other products fresh.
Inside, the InstaView Door-in-DoorTM is equipped with Hygiene Fresh+TM that eliminates potentially contaminated air, unpleasant odors and 99.999 percent of bacteria.
In the fresh food compartment, the Moist Balance CrisperTM maintains peak moisture levels while the innovative FRESH BalancerTM optimizes humidity by sealing the vegetable box. Users are guaranteed with clean and fresh fruits and vegetables with the simple click of a switch.
The unit is fully compatible with LG’s SmartThinQTM that lets you set the refrigerator temperature, control Express Freeze and Hygiene Fresh+TM operations, and diagnose your unit – all through the use of your smart phone – even when you’re far from home.
The InstaView Door-in-DoorTM is powered by the unique Inverter Linear Compressor, an efficient engineering mechanism that provides up to 32 percent lower energy consumption and 25 percent less noise, all while providing greater reliability and durability. It can operate without complications for up to 20 years as reviewed by the German institute, VDE, making the InstaView Door-in-DoorTM a truly future-proof product.
Behind LG Electronics’ drive for innovation is its persistent and continued commitment to sustainability as a core value. With its Inverter Linear Compressor, Door-in-Door feature, Moist Balance CrisperTM and Fresh BalancerTM, the InstaView Door-in-DoorTM is undeniably an admirable addition to LG Electronics’ line of home appliances that save energy, reduce ecological footprints, and consequently deliver a positive environmental impact.
About LG Electronics, Inc.
LG Electronics, Inc. (KSE: 066570.KS) is a global leader and technology innovator in consumer electronics, mobile communications and home appliances, employing 82,000 people working in 119 locations around the world.
With 2013 global sales of USD 53.10 billion (KRW 58.14 trillion), LG comprises four business units ― Home Entertainment, Mobile Communications, Home Appliance & Air Solution and Vehicle Components ― and is one of the world’s leading producers of flat panel TVs, mobile devices, air conditioners, washing machines and refrigerators. LG Electronics is a 2014 ENERGY STAR Partner of the Year.
For more news and information on LG Electronics, please visit: www.LGnewsroom.com.
by Penny Angeles-Tan | Aug 24, 2017 | Health and Wellness, Lifestyle
They say every great meal takes you on a journey to a new destination. In many ways, this is true for the patrons of Epilogue, the newly opened Fine Bistro at S Maison. It takes every diner on a culinary experience that highlights the best of global travel cuisine.
Epilogue is a concept rooted in kodawari, the Japanese dedication to craft and mastery. The brand collaborated with several experienced chefs who all practice kodawari and have trained extensively in different parts of the world to become masters in their chosen culinary specialty.
The brand, which takes its name after the conclusive chapter of a book, stays true to the meaning of an epilogue. It is the platform where every one of the Japanese chefs showcases the culmination of his culinary journey.
Each chef is a master of his own craft, and they all work together to complete Epilogue’s thoughtfully curated menu.
Chef Tomohide Ono
Chef Tomohide Ono
Head baker Tomohide Ono, who has been a pastry chef for 20 years, is the brain behind the new bread and pastry recipes. He has worked in famous bakeries in Japan, Indonesia, and Hong Kong.
With his new bread creations, Ono takes on the challenge of pleasing the Filipino palate.
Chef Hayato Mitsuhashi
Chef Hayato Mitsuhashi
Chef Hayato Mitsuhashi, on the other hand, specializes in Italian cuisine. He has trained extensively in various Italian restaurants in Japan, Indonesia, and Italy for over 14 years.
His training in Umbria, Italy is what inspired him to create new gnocchi, risotto, and pasta dishes for Epilogue, using only the best and freshest ingredients.
Epilogue also has two outstanding Chef Directors, Chef Kenji Ishihara and Chef Minoru Sorimachi.
Chef Kenji Ishihara
Chef Kenji Ishihara
Chef Ishihara is an award-winning pastry chef who has 30 years of experience in France, Japan, and Indonesia.
The beautiful cakes offered in the restaurant are the product of his creativity and constant experimentation.
Chef Minoru Sorimachi
Chef Minoru Sorimachi
Dubbed as the Steak Master at Epilogue, Chef Sorimachi has over 20 years of experience working in well-known teppanyaki steakhouses in Japan, and now runs his own steakhouse in Jakarta, Indonesia.
At Epilogue, customers can now have a taste of his excellent steaks and sides created to suit the Filipino palate.
Completing the impressive line up is Chef Hiroyuki Meno, whose expertise lies in French cuisine. He has honed and perfected his craft working in various Michelin-starred restaurants such as the Domaine Les Haut Roches in Loire, France, Le Pont de Ciel in Osaka, Japan, and L’Auberge De L’ill in Tokyo, Japan. He was also the executive chef of Brasserie Paul Bocuse and one-star Maison Paul Bocuse in Tokyo.
Every step of the way, these chefs have immersed themselves in the techniques and flavors of every new country they explore. Each culinary master seamlessly combines Western flair with Eastern care, taking diners on an exceptional gastronomic adventure—to be experienced where their stories intersect—at Epilogue.
Epilogue is a homegrown brand under the Food Revolution Group. To know more about Epilogue, go to www.epilogue.ph or visit Epilogue at G/F S Maison, Conrad Manila, Ocean Drive, Mall of Asia, Pasay City.
by Penny Angeles-Tan | Aug 20, 2017 | Banking and Finance
Whatever dreams you want to pursue, it’s easier to make it happen by having a solid game plan. This is especially true for long-term goals like planning for retirement. After all, the hard work you put in over so many years should yield to a prize in the future.
Travel the World
The prize of living what you love when you retire is possible, whether it’s setting up your own business, ticking off places on your bucket list, or just spending more time with your family.
Using its expertise and experience in investments, AXA employs modern portfolio management techniques to maximize the growth of your investment while you’re young, while minimizing volatility as you grow closer to your target retirement date.
Have the flexibility to choose your investment fund – Retire Smart 2030, 2035, 2040, and 2045 – depending on which one is closest to your target retirement year.
Retire Smart also comes with a life insurance coverage equivalent to at least 5 to up to 25 times your annual basic premium, to ensure that your family is taken care of in the event of any unforeseen circumstances.
Rahul Hora, President and CEO of AXA Philippines
“AXA Philippines knows the value of having a solid game plan. To be able to pursue what you are passionate about when you retire, you need the right plan to achieve financial independence. With Retire Smart, we offer a flexible investment package that allows you to truly enjoy your life when you retire,” said Rahul Hora, President and CEO of AXA Philippines.
Travelling around the world, opening your own business, and spending time with your family and friends may seem like distant dreams, but with your investment in Retire Smart today, you can start preparing to pursue those dreams and live the life you love when you retire.
AXA Philippines, a joint venture between the AXA Group and the Metrobank Group, is one of the country’s largest and fastest growing life insurance companies in the country, offering financial security to more than 800,000 individuals through our group and individual life insurance products.
About the AXA Group
The AXA Group is a worldwide leader in insurance and asset management, with 166,000 employees serving 107 million clients in 64 countries. In 2016, IFRS revenues amounted to Euro 100.2 billion and IFRS underlying earnings to Euro 5.7 billion. AXA had Euro 1,429 billion in assets under management as of December 31, 2016.
The AXA ordinary share is listed on compartment A of Euronext Paris under the ticker symbol CS (ISN FR 0000120628 – Bloomberg: CS FP – Reuters: AXAF.PA). AXA’s American Depository Share is also quoted on the OTC QX platform under the ticker symbol AXAHY.
The AXA Group is included in the main international SRI indexes, such as Dow Jones Sustainability Index (DJSI) and FTSE4GOOD.
It is a founding member of the UN Environment Programme’s Finance Initiative (UNEP FI) Principles for Sustainable Insurance and a signatory of the UN Principles for Responsible Investment.
About AXA Philippines
AXA Philippines is a joint venture between the AXA Group and the Metrobank Group, one of the country’s largest financial conglomerates. AXA Philippines is 2nd leading life insurance company in the country, with P21.6 billion in gross premium income reported in 2016, and over 811,000 customers protected under various individual and group life insurance products.
Most recently, AXA Philippines announced its entry into the non-life insurance business with the acquisition of Charter Ping-An, the 5th largest non-life insurance company in the Philippines.
by Penny Angeles-Tan | Aug 18, 2017 | Ponderings
On August 15, 2017 Uber released this statement on social media. It announces the one month suspension of Uber from operating in the Philippines.
According to the news the service was suspended because Uber supposedly kept on accepting applications despite being told not to make any new activations. In response Uber said that while it is true that they did not stop accepting applications, they have not made any activations in the interim.
Shortly after they filed a motion for reconsideration with the LTFRB in response to the demand from drivers and riders. Upon filing the MR Uber cars were back on the streets, to the delight of Uber drivers and riders everywhere. But this joy was short-lived as this action angered LTFRB and they immediately told Uber to cease. Naughty Uber! Thinking you could just go back to business as usual with the MR.
Long and short, the one month suspension stays.
By this action LTFRB is punishing not only the UBER drivers but the riders as well. It means loss of income, especially for those drivers who quit their regular jobs and invested to purchase their own vehicle.
This is also frustrating for the Uber riders. All of a sudden Grab has a monopoly of the ridesharing industry and with the demand so high they jacked up their price (particularly on August 15th). In a news report a Grab representative mentioned that their price increase was capped at 1.4x … Dude, that is still 40% higher!
I admit that I use both Grab and Uber. Oftentimes I switch from one to the other and back depending on the rate and availability of cars when I need to book. With this recent suspension of Uber getting a ride has been very difficult. Not only have Grab rates jumped up the drivers are also very picky with the passengers they will pick up which means that for riders such as myself who travel quite a distance getting a ride in the afternoon or evening is not easy.
Earlier today I was booking a Grab home and my screen showed three cars in the vicinity. For almost 30 minutes I tried to get a ride repeatedly and each time I saw the same three names appear on my screen in rotation and none of them would accept my fare. How frustrating!
I was tired and just wanted to get home and my only options were:
- keep trying to get a Grab
- hail a cab
- walk to Taft and ride an FX
I was not going to hail a cab and just get rejected for wanting to be dropped off in Quezon City. I was not up to walking all the way to Taft because it was drizzling. And for that same reason I was not going to use Angkas which I often take for short trips. As for the train, I hate crowds so that was not even an option as far as I was concerned.
With no other choice I opted to keep tapping my finger on the app until I could get a ride with Grab. My only consolation being that since I was at a hotel then at least I was waiting in comfort.
My persistence was eventually rewarded a few minutes before 5:30pm. Mr. Josemmanuel (last name truncated), who still had to drop off a passenger, accepted my trip. Yey! Now why can’t the other 3 drivers be like him?
Sidenote: I’ve rarely been rejected or ignored by Uber drivers and my travel to and from work is always a distance of at least 12 kms.
My experience with Mr. Josemmanuel … he was a safe driver, the ride was comfortable, when we spoke he was well-spoken and wonderful to converse with. 5 stars!
A part of me understands why many drivers pick and choose their passengers. Perhaps they are already tired themselves and are not up to driving so far but are still willing to make short trips. But at the same time I can’t help but asked ISN’T THAT THEIR JOB?
I would understand if my destination was out of town and would need to pass through a toll booth, but it wasn’t (though there are those who would argue that Manila to Quezon City is technically out of town since they are around 12 kms apart. 😀 but still … no toll booth! :D)
If a chef in a restaurant sees a customer come in he does not like, can he opt to NOT cook for that person?
I truly hope the suspension levied by LTFRB will be lifted soon. Listen to the clamor. The need is real. Don’t be the most hated government agency in the country today.
Inside, the InstaView Door-in-DoorTM is equipped with Hygiene Fresh+TM that eliminates potentially contaminated air, unpleasant odors and 99.999 percent of bacteria.
LG Electronics, Inc. (KSE: 066570.KS) is a global leader and technology innovator in consumer electronics, mobile communications and home appliances, employing 82,000 people working in 119 locations around the world.
Epilogue is a concept rooted in kodawari, the Japanese dedication to craft and mastery. The brand collaborated with several experienced chefs who all practice kodawari and have trained extensively in different parts of the world to become masters in their chosen culinary specialty.
The AXA Group is a worldwide leader in insurance and asset management, with 166,000 employees serving 107 million clients in 64 countries. In 2016, IFRS revenues amounted to Euro 100.2 billion and IFRS underlying earnings to Euro 5.7 billion. AXA had Euro 1,429 billion in assets under management as of December 31, 2016.
Earlier today I was booking a Grab home and my screen showed three cars in the vicinity. For almost 30 minutes I tried to get a ride repeatedly and each time I saw the same three names appear on my screen in rotation and none of them would accept my fare. How frustrating!
With no other choice I opted to keep tapping my finger on the app until I could get a ride with Grab. My only consolation being that since I was at a hotel then at least I was waiting in comfort.
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