by Penny Angeles-Tan | Nov 12, 2018 | Yummy Reviews
Korean BBQ places have become popular for several years now here in the Philippines. Quite close to where I live I can already count at least 5 places, all just on one street!
Korean BBQ
Why do Filipinos love Korean BBQ?
There are many reasons to fall in love with Korean BBQ:
- the quantity – most Korean BBQ places offer unlimited servings of the main and side dishes
- the variety – choose from several types of raw meat to cook and many side dishes to eat!
- the speed of service – dishes are brought out quickly so hungry diners do not need to wait long for their food
- the experience – you cook your meat yourself at your table! While this is not a new concept, per se, it gives people who normally do not cook the opportunity to do so in a safe, judgment-free environment.
- the taste – if it tastes good, we’re interested!
- the price – if it won’t break the bank then we’re interested! 😀
Before I go further I feel the need to make a statement: I’m a home cook, I don’t pretend to be an expert in the kitchen. I am not a chef, I have not taken any course in culinary or baking. But I do know how I like food to look and taste and for my faves I look for a particular taste and, usually, I know how to prepare it as well. What this boils down to is I tend to really be critical when it comes to food – how they look, how they taste, and how they are served.
Just saying. 🙂
And now, without further ado …
What is samgyupsal?
According to Wikipedia, samgyupsal (or samgyeopsal as it is actually supposed to be spelled) is a Korean word referring to grilled pork belly. Despite that description, though, most Korean BBQ establishments serve more than just pork. Case in point is Samgyupsal King.
What is Samgyupsal King?
Samgyupsal King Unli Korean BBQ menu
Samgyupsal King is one of many restaurants that have jumped into the Samgyupsal trend.
Just like their contemporaries in the business, they, too serve unlimited Korean BBQ. But what makes them different?
They serve pork, beef, and chicken
Not all Korean BBQ places do this. Some serve just pork and beef.
Unli meals are less expensive than some
Unli meals at Samgyupsal King range from P350 (for pork and chicken) to P399 (for pork, chicken, and beef). This makes sense as beef is quite expensive.
Other Korean BBQ places charge the same or even more. One place I went to charged P500, and that was just for pork and chicken. They made up for it, though, with the sides.
They have set meals at affordable prices
In general, Unli Korean BBQ places keep it simple … just unli meals. Samgyupsal King has four ala carte offerings to choose from: beef bulgogi, pork, bulgogi, chicken bulgogi, and grilled salmon – all accompanied by side dishes.
How’s the meat?
Raymond Que, Chef and co-owner of Samgyupsal King
The meat is well prepared. Chef Raymond Que told us that they used prime meat and they are meticulous in their preparation.
The pork and beef are sliced thinly (sukiyaki cut) which makes them cook faster. Flavor-wise I thought they were flavored well. Of the pork cuts the one I enjoyed was the one that looked like bacon (I mean, who doesn’t love bacon, right? hehe)
If I had to complain it would probably be that there was a limited selection of meats as we were only presented with 6 options (that is for all pork, beef, and chicken combined) where other establishments offer as many as twelve or thirteen varieties combined.
Also, I like my spice so I was hoping that at least one of the beef cuts would be spicy. Maybe it was, but just wasn’t up to my spice level. 😀
As for the chicken, I am not a fan of white meat as it tends to become dry, especially when overcooked. My personal preference would have been chicken thigh fillet, and also cut thinly.
Are there many side dishes?
Samgyupsal King side dishes – missing from the photo are the egg roll and
There were six side dishes … that’s it. Six. There were some staples I find in other Korean BBQ places I go to that they did not serve such as the steamed egg, fish cake, and candied peanuts. The radish I felt was not cooked enough in the vinegar before it was served but was adequately crispy.
The marble potatoes and (I heard) the kimchi were good. The kimchi, in particular, is their own recipe. The egg roll is essentially the Japanese tamago without the sugar.
And that is all of it.
Do they serve beverages?
No, they don’t. But I think, perhaps, this was a decision of the concessionaires at the food park so that patrons would get their beverages only from the bevarage concessionaires such as Fruitas.
Is there adequate seating?
Le Village Food Park is located at the corner of Cordillera and E. Rodriguez Sts. in Quezon City
This is, perhaps, where Samgyupsal King has a distinct advantage over other Korean BBQ places. Since they are located in Le Village Food Park they have more than enough seating which is shared with the other food establishments in the food park. The only real question, I suppose, would be if they have enough gas burners to service everyone.
I therefore conclude …
Overall I would say that Samgyupsal King is probably not yet the king of Samgyupsal in Metro Manila but what they serve is well thought of and well-seasoned. I especially admire their openness to suggestions of improvement which means that their meals can only get better and better!
Bloggers with Mr. Willy Que as he tells us all about Samgyupsal King
One day soon I will surely bring my friends over to sample Samgyupsal King at Le Village Food Park. Someday, who knows, they may become the King they aspire to be.
by Penny Angeles-Tan | Nov 10, 2018 | Business
Rahul Hora, President and CEO of AXA Philippines
AXA Philippines president and CEO Rahul Hora (rightmost) with other members of the executive leadership team, senior managers, and digital specialists during the Reverse Mentoring Program launch.
The executive leadership team of AXA Philippines, one of the country’s leading insurance company, have teamed up with the organization’s digital specialists for a revolutionary Reverse Mentoring Program.
The program aims to create an exciting opportunity for members of the leadership team and the digital specialists to learn from one another and grow together in building AXA’s digital capabilities to help empower Filipinos to live better lives.
“At AXA, we believe learning never stops,” says AXA Philippines CEO Rahul Hora. “The Reverse Mentoring Program is a testament to our commitment to providing a better customer experience by keeping in step with the latest technologies available. The program also helps foster a collaborative working environment that AXA takes pride in.”
After the initial six-month program, the mentor-mentee pairs are expected to come up with digital strategies, campaigns, or prototypes that will help AXA customers live the life they choose. This is only the first phase of the program and will soon be rolled out to other AXA employees.
The Reverse Mentoring Program also aims to reinforce digital savviness and help foster closer ties among employees while strengthening the organization’s culture of innovation and collaboration.
For more information on AXA Philippines, visit www.axa.com.ph.
by Penny Angeles-Tan | Nov 9, 2018 | Stories
November 11 is a special sale day for popular online stores in many countries all over the world. Dubbed 1111 this is the day when many items found on those stores here in the Philippines, drop their prices, some as low as 11 pesos! One such store that does this is Lazada.
Starting October 26 and all the way up to November 11, flash sales are held several times a day with premium items already selling at rock bottom prices! Simply click on flash sale link on the home page to see what is selling like pancakes at specified times of the day.
And there are also so many 1111 vouchers to collect! Just click on the link found at the top of the page.
Buy consumables like shampoo, conditioner, makeup, deodorant, laundry detergent, milk, facial cleanser, etc.
Or maybe you are looking for gadgets, appliances, jewelry, clothes, accessories, etc.
All set to buy but you want to wait until November 11? No problem. Just pick the items you want and put them in the cart. Then … check out on the 11th. Happy shopping!
by Penny Angeles-Tan | Nov 8, 2018 | Business
Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) governor Nestor A. Espenilla, Jr. and Citi Philippines CEO Aftab Ahmed jointly announced the launch of the 16th Citi Microentrepreneurship Awards (CMA) during the recently held annual conference of the Microfinance Council of the Philippines, Inc. (MCPI).
Since its inception in 2002, the CMA awards program, a partnership among BSP, Citi Philippines and MCPI, with funding support from Citi Foundation, has been steadfast in its commitment towards recognizing entrepreneurs who have beat the odds, lifting themselves and others out of poverty. The awards also recognize the strong support from microfinance institutions as key partners, underscoring the role these organizations play in financial inclusion and enterprise development.
Nestor Espenilla, Jr., BSP Governor
In his keynote speech, governor Espenilla took note of how digital technology has made an impact in the development of microfinance in the country. “The digital revolution is fundamentally reshaping the financial inclusion landscape and traditional financial value chains,” he said. “Rapid digital innovations in financial technologies have led to the emergence of more dynamic business models.”
“Amidst all the talk of technology and disruption, it is only appropriate that we continue to showcase inspiring stories through the Citi Microentrepreneurship Awards, which has served as a vehicle for inspiring microentrepreneurs nationwide to achieve greater heights,” says Espenilla.
The event saw the introduction of the commemorative book “From Modest Dreams to Microentrepreneurial Triumphs,” which shares success stories of past CMA winners, inspiring tales of winning against adversity through hard work and perseverance.
Aftad Ahmed, Citi Philippines CEO
In his remarks, Citi’s Ahmed said: “The Citi Microentrepreneurship Awards are about the passion, energy, and commitment of microentrepreneurs who want to do better for themselves and their families. At Citi, we are proud to help people pursue their dreams because we are committed to making a difference in the communities where we live and work.”
Governor Espenilla and Aftab Ahmed serve as co-chairpersons of the CMA National Selection Committee. Other members include industry and community leaders such as:
- Ayala Corporation president Fernando Zobel de Ayala;
- RFM Corporation president and CEO Jose Ma. Concepcion III;
- GMA Network, Inc. chairman and CEO Atty. Felipe Gozon;
- former Philippine Daily Inquirer chairperson Marixi Rufino-Prieto;
- DTI secretary Ramon Lopez; SPARK! Philippines trustee Imelda Nicolas;
- SM Investments Corporation vice chair Teresita Sy-Coson;
- Voyager Innovations, Inc. president Orlando Vea;
- National MSME Development Council-Mindanao Private Sector representative Mary Ann Montemayor; and
- University of the Philippines Diliman chancellor Dr. Michael Tan.
The awards are open to microenterprises with business assets up to PhP3 million. The award categories are Microentrepreneur of the Year Award, regional awardees from the three major island groups (Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao), Youth Microentrepreneur of the Year, and special awards for agri micro-business, community leadership, and green/sustainable business.
The national winner of the Citi Microentrepreneurship Awards will receive PhP200,000 while the three regional awardees, the youth awardee, and special awardees will each get PhP100,000. The loan officers and MFI branches of each awardee are also given a cash incentive of PhP10,000. Semi-finalists will receive a cash incentive of PhP10,000.
In addition to cash prizes, long-term sustainability of the winning microenterprises is of vital importance, thus, entrepreneurship training and mentoring is also provided at the Citi Microenterprise Development Center.
About Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas
The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) is the central bank of the Republic of the Philippines. It was established on July 3, 1993 pursuant to the provisions of the 1987 Philippine Constitution and the New Central Bank Act of 1993.
The BSP took over from the Central Bank of Philippines, which was established on January 3, 1949, as the country’s central monetary authority.
The BSP is committed to promote and maintain price stability, a stable financial system, and efficient payment and settlement system, conducive to a balanced and sustainable growth of the economy.
Since 2000, the BSP has played a key role in increasing access to financial services to the entrepreneurial poor by mainstreaming microfinance in the banking sector. In 2007, the BSP embraced the goal of financial inclusion as a way of bringing the financial system closer to all Filipinos, especially to the financially underserved and unserved.
The overall vision is to build an inclusive financial system where there is effective access to a wide range of appropriate financial products and services for all filipinos. The Philippines is known for having one of the best regulatory frameworks for microfinance, and as a global leader in terms of having a conducive environment for financial inclusion.
About Citi Foundation
The Citi Foundation works to promote economic progress and improve the lives of people in low-income communities around the world. We invest in efforts that increase financial inclusion, catalyze job opportunities for youth, and reimagine approaches to building economically vibrant cities. The Citi Foundation’s “More than Philanthropy” approach leverages the enormous expertise of Citi and its people to fulfill our mission and drive thought leadership and innovation.
About Citi
Citi, the leading global bank, has approximately 200 million customer accounts and does business in more than 160 countries and jurisdictions.
Citi provides consumers, corporations, governments and institutions with a broad range of financial products and services, including consumer banking and credit, corporate and investment banking, securities brokerage, transaction services, and wealth management.
Additional information may be found at:
About Microfinance Council of the Philippines, Inc.
The Microfinance Council of the Philippines, Inc. (MCPI) is the national network of microfinance institutions (MFIs) and support organizations in the Philippines advocating sustainable, innovative, and client-responsive solutions to poverty in the country.
MCPI is currently comprised of 61 members (48 MFIs, 2 regional networks, and 11 support organisations) which account for 80 percent of the microfinance sector in the Philippines. Its key programs include advocacy, capacity building for MFIs, social performance management and client protection in microfinance, knowledge management, and network development.
The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) is the central bank of the Republic of the Philippines. It was established on July 3, 1993 pursuant to the provisions of the 1987 Philippine Constitution and the New Central Bank Act of 1993.
Citi, the leading global bank, has approximately 200 million customer accounts and does business in more than 160 countries and jurisdictions.
The Microfinance Council of the Philippines, Inc. (MCPI) is the national network of microfinance institutions (MFIs) and support organizations in the Philippines advocating sustainable, innovative, and client-responsive solutions to poverty in the country.
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