by Penny Angeles-Tan | Nov 27, 2019 | Awards and Competitions
Last week our blogger group challenged us to make a video that is two minutes long about Novuhair and its partnership with Mercury Drug. It took me up to the last day (November 26th) to do this because, well, life, hahaha.
As those of you who know me can attest, I am not fond of being in front of the camera so taking a video of myself was not something I was looking forward to doing. So I thought long and hard and I actually considered just making a video either using Premiere or Animate. But when I thought about how much work I would have to put into it I was daunted. I just really have a lot on my plate now, I didn’t have the time it would take to spare to make a really awesome video.
So I went with awesome with free tools instead. Yes, I used Powtoons. 🙂 Our students can attest to how engaging and fun Powtoons is to use. And this is what I came up with.
What do you think? Was I able to pull it off? Joining this contest I have nothing to lose. 🙂 And even though it took me all day to make it, I still had fun. 🙂 Please like the video on my Facebook Page. Thank you!
by Penny Angeles-Tan | Nov 24, 2019 | Events
Today my daughter (Erika), granddaughter (Star), and I went out and did something different … we went to Burnham Green across from Luneta to make and fly a kite in an event sponsored by Promil.
First of all, Star LOVES pink so arriving at the venue and seeing all the pink banners, booths, blankets, she was ecstatic. 🙂 Upon our arrival they gave Star a pink hat, attached a band on our wrist, and we took a short quiz to find out what Star’s gift is … it is spatial intelligence. She takes after me, lol!
Our day started with a hearty lunch courtesy of Promil. Star was particularly excited about the food container and spoon and fork set they were giving the kids. She immediately asked me if she could keep them or if we had to return them. Her eyes lit up when I told her they were hers to keep.
Right now she is at that stage where she is a picky eater so feeding her is often a challenge. Of the food we were served she only ate the fish fillet and the pastry.
Design and make the kite
Star loves to write and draw and the kite kit we were provided came with the kite material itself, 2 sticks, 2 crepe paper tails, a pen, oil pastels, and stickers. From the time we arrived she kept asking if we could start on the kite already because she really wanted to draw on the kite. It was a windy day so working on the kite was challenging. The material was very fragile and a slight wind would blow it up and away so my daughter and I did our best to hold it down while helping Star with her artwork.
Time to fly the kite!
Once we had put the kite together she couldn’t wait for fly the kite! This was her first time so I was curious how well she would take to the experience.
At first she was tentative, Star does not like to fail. But with encouragement and motivation, and help, she finally got the kite up in the air, woohoo! My daughter has never flown a kite herself so this was a new experience for her as well.
Thank you, Promil, for sponsoring this fun event! Despite the momentary rain and the subsequent mud my gifted grandchild had a lot of fun.
by Penny Angeles-Tan | Nov 23, 2019 | Events
Mastercard today solidified its commitment to ‘Win As One’ at the upcoming 2019 Southeast Asian Games through an event at the Glorietta Activity Center that unveiled the various ways it makes the Games a priceless experience for Filipinos.
Mastercard is committed to creating a priceless SEA Games experience for all Filipinos. Mastercard is powering the official 2019 SEA Games mobile app, which has a payment functionality embedded and has also released a limited-edition commemorative 2019 SEA Games Mastercard prepaid card through its partner Philippine National Bank.
Another initiative to make the games a priceless experience is the Mastercard augmented reality filter on Facebook which allows Filipinos to show support by posting selfies embellished with fun backgrounds, stickers, and music.
As the official payment partner of the SEA Games, Mastercard cardholders will also enjoy an exclusive 10% discount on ticket purchase with a minimum spend of Php 1,000 at any SM Tickets outlet or online via smtickets.com, and through the 2019 SEA Games mobile app.
The Mastercard Jeepney
To get more Filipinos to participate, Mastercard Philippines Country Manager Rowell Del Fierro, together with distinguished guests, proudly unveiled the Mastercard Jeepney, designed by local artist Lou Pineda-Arada.
The jeepney is a well-loved Philippine cultural icon and Mastercard is leveraging it as a symbol of unity – a figurative ride towards the country’s victory. The Mastercard Jeepney also features a volleyball and basketball motion-sensing game, which the University of the Philippines Fighting Maroon’s star player Kobe Paras got to play in front of the crowd.
Rowell del Fierro, Mastercard Country Manager
“In the spirit of supporting the government and ensuring the Philippines is a successful host of the 2019 SEA Games, Mastercard has created multiple interactive initiatives encouraging Filipinos to actively participate in the event,” said Rowell Del Fierro, Country Manager of Mastercard Philippines.
With a little over a week left until the opening ceremony, Mastercard and Philippines Southeast Asian Games Organizing Committee (PHISGOC) are asking Filipinos to Start Something Priceless at the 2019 SEA Games.
The Mastercard Jeepney will be stationed at the Glorietta Activity Center until November 29.
About Mastercard
Mastercard (NYSE: MA), www.mastercard.com, is a technology company in the global payments industry. Our global payments processing network connects consumers, financial institutions, merchants, governments and businesses in more than 210 countries and territories.
Mastercard products and solutions make everyday commerce activities – such as shopping, traveling, running a business and managing finances – easier, more secure and more efficient for everyone.
Follow us on Twitter @MastercardAP, join the discussion on the Beyond the Transaction Blog and subscribe for the latest news on the Engagement Bureau.
by Penny Angeles-Tan | Nov 23, 2019 | Health and Wellness
Taking a leap towards a more gender-inclusive community, SM Supermalls will begin to install all-gender restrooms in its malls starting with its premier malls across Metro Manila, including SM Mall of Asia, SM City North EDSA, SM Megamall, SM Aura Premier, The Podium, and at SM Seaside City Cebu beginning this November.
“With inclusivity and innovation at the core of everything we do, we endeavor to create spaces where all shoppers are welcome,” said SM Supermalls COO Steven Tan.
As the third home of Filipinos after work and school, SM Supermalls will continue to provide a safe community space that advocates inclusivity, equality, and respect for all regardless of gender expression, identity, or sexual orientation.
For more information, visit www.supermalls.com or check out SM’s social media accounts on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram (@SMSupermalls).
by Penny Angeles-Tan | Nov 22, 2019 | Food & Beverage, Yummy Reviews
There are many types of bread in the market but none so special as Hearty Bread which is healthy, yummy, and easy on the budget. This post contains materials provided by Hearty Bread plus my (and my family’s) review of their products.
A special type of diet usually arises from a health condition or a call for a healthier lifestyle. Having to adapt to a new diet is hard enough especially if this is accompanied by medicines in the case of those who have diabetes, cancer, renal failure, and other diseases that call for a Low-Carbohydrate/ Sugar-Free diet.
Why go gluten-free?
Diabetic Cases
diabetes calling image credit to https://www.ormc.org/
The Philippines is considered one of diabetes “hot spots” in the Western Pacific region. It is estimated that 1 out of 5 Filipinos are diabetic. This statistic is very alarming and calls for the attention of the general public. Several cause-oriented groups have already started campaigns to spread awareness in the hope to help hinder the growth.
It was noted that the unhealthy lifestyle habits of Filipinos are the main cause of diabetes. This was also tackled by World Health Organization and they also included sedentary lifestyles as major lifestyle risk factors, stating that 1 in 3 is overweight and 1 in 10 is obese.
Obesity
Obesity cases are another red flag in the country. Those who consume an excess of sugar and carbohydrates lead to accumulating that excess weight over time.
Per record, the Philippines has an estimated a staggering 18 million citizens who are either obese or overweight.
Cancer Cells feed on Sugar
To clarify, consuming sugar does not cause cancer. Studies have been conducted which prove that sugar essentially feeds tumors and encourages cancer growth. Hence, starving these cells from sugar may help cancer patients.
Given these health conditions, a group of young entrepreneurs has decided to develop bread alternatives for those whose dietary requirements need special attention. Evan Dykimching and Vicson Ngo are the people behind Hearty Bread, Gluten-Free, Sugar-Free.
How did Hearty Bread begin?
The company started out as a supplier for some of the major hospitals in the Metro. They cater to doctors and in-house patients with cancer or diabetes.
Evan Dykimching
Evan recounts “When one of our family members got confined in the hospital, we were surprised that the price of our bread was quite high due to several administrative fees”.
With the company’s desire to promote affordable and quality health, they created the brand “Hearty Bread” to make healthy bread readily available and affordable to the general public.
To give you an idea, if you are not familiar with the price of the Gluten-Free/Sugar-Free market, other producers are selling at P500 to P600 per loaf. For most people, this price tag is very expensive.
Hearty Bread Almond Loaf Line
Hearty Bread invested in research & development for two years in order to come up with bread that is double the size and sells at half the price. Hearty Bread’s Almond Loaf line retails at only P180 for the plain Almond Loaf while their Cheesy variants – Cheesy Charcoal and Cheesy Coffee are pegged at P250 per loaf.
Hearty Bread Sourdough/Probiotic Line
They also have other products such as their Sourdough/Probiotic line which includes Malunggay Sourdough Pandesal which sells at P40 for 6 pieces, while their other Sourdough loaf sells at P115. Hearty Bread’s Fruit loaves are also in demand, Banana Sourdough Loaf retails at P200, Banoffee Walnut Sourdough Loaf and Pumpkin Carrot Sourdough Loaf sells at P280 per loaf. These are all Gluten-Free/Sugar-free!
A lot of other products are in the pipeline and are being developed which gives those who are into these types of diets something to look forward to.
Pricelist
Here is the price list to guide you. A quick glance will already show you how much more affordable Hearty Bread is than other gluten-free/sugar-free brands. Also, so many choices! This just makes the journey to good health more fun!
The Review
I cook and I bake so I can appreciate the research that went into making these breads. FYI, sourdough is a much healthier alternative to white bread and is better for digestion, too!
Banana Sourdough Loaf
If you like banana bread then this banana sourdough loaf will be something you would enjoy. Instead of lacatan they used saba which has a smoother consistency and comes out sweeter when ripened (aged) correctly. I would have preferred this loaf with walnuts and probably not as sweet. I am assuming that they used artificial sweeteners like Splenda. I prefer the taste of honey.
Banoffee Walnut Sourdough Loaf
The banoffee walnut sourdough loaf is very similar in taste to the banana sourdough loaf except with the addition of two very important ingredients … coffee and walnuts.
I personally preferred this one but having said that I still found it too sweet. My mom, sisters, and the kids really enjoyed it, though.
Cheesy Charcoal Almond Loaf
I confess, for us, this bread was a turn-off but we gave it a shot … several times in fact! We figured, if Hearty Bread would go to the effort of making this bread there has to be something good about it, right?
Well, like my sister, Ginny said … it is like eating Diatabs if Diatabs were baked into bread. My nephews, niece, and daughter said they couldn’t get passed that grainy charcoal taste. My mom saw it and didn’t even try.
I tried it myself and I really, really gave it a chance but, sadly, even with the addition of cheese and almonds, this loaf of bread did not wow me, not even a little bit. But I understand why they did this. Activated charcoal is known as a good ingredient for improving elimination (aka bowel movement) and addressing flatulence. What I would recommend, perhaps, is not to make it so pure. Probably, half charcoal then half premium sourdough then mix it so it bakes into a marbled loaf. It would still have the activated charcoal but not overwhelmingly so.
Ezekiel Almond Loaf
This was easy to eat but we couldn’t find the almond taste … or the almonds. It tastes just like regular bread so the kids could not even taste the difference. Eating it as a sandwich certainly makes it look “normal”.
The taste was also quite mild so this was not difficult for my mom to try. To her, it was just bread, which is a good thing.
Moringa Premium Sourdough Pandesal
For a few years now there has been a campaign to promote malunggay pandesal as an alternative to regular pandesal and, at the beginning people have looked at it with suspicion. Some have tried, and some have continued with what they are used to.
We ourselves have shifted to malunggay pandesal so we had a basis of comparison.
- Hearty Bread’s moringa premium sourdough pandesal is BIG, it is just a little bit smaller than my hand.
- Hearty Bread’s moringa premium sourdough pandesal has just the right level of sweetness.
- Hearty Bread’s moringa premium sourdough pandesal does not have that grainy texture we have come to expect from healthy bread
Multigrain Sourdough Loaf
This was my personal favorite, but then again, I have been known to buy multigrain bread on occasion. At home, I am the only one who really eats multigrain. My parents found it too nutty but I love it!
I would like to request more pumpkin and sunflower seeds, please. 😀
Premium Sourdough Loaf
Of all the bread my family and I got to try this was probably the easiest to try as they couldn’t tell the difference between this and the bread they like to buy in the grocery.
So for someone who is transitioning into a gluten-free/sugar-free diet then this bread is a good way to start.
Hearty Bread outlets
Hearty Bread can be purchased at the following outlets. Find the one closest to you and enjoy!
For more information, you can check out their Facebook and Instagram accounts or visit their website.
Evan also shares the secret to making their bread available at a very low price – “We can really lower the cost of our products since we produce them commercially in volume quantities. We also own the lot where our facilities operate so we don’t pay rent.” He further explains “We make our bread affordable not to kill the market price but to make these healthy bread affordable and help those who are burdened, to begin with.”
To get more Filipinos to participate, Mastercard Philippines Country Manager Rowell Del Fierro, together with distinguished guests, proudly unveiled the Mastercard Jeepney, designed by local artist Lou Pineda-Arada.
Mastercard (NYSE: MA), 
Taking a leap towards a more gender-inclusive community, SM Supermalls will begin to install all-gender restrooms in its malls starting with its premier malls across Metro Manila, including SM Mall of Asia, SM City North EDSA, SM Megamall, SM Aura Premier, The Podium, and at SM Seaside City Cebu beginning this November.
“With inclusivity and innovation at the core of everything we do, we endeavor to create spaces where all shoppers are welcome,” said SM Supermalls COO Steven Tan.
Obesity cases are another red flag in the country. Those who consume an excess of sugar and carbohydrates lead to accumulating that excess weight over time.
If you like banana bread then this banana sourdough loaf will be something you would enjoy. Instead of lacatan they used saba which has a smoother consistency and comes out sweeter when ripened (aged) correctly. I would have preferred this loaf with walnuts and probably not as sweet. I am assuming that they used artificial sweeteners like Splenda. I prefer the taste of honey.
The banoffee walnut sourdough loaf is very similar in taste to the banana sourdough loaf except with the addition of two very important ingredients … coffee and walnuts.
I confess, for us, this bread was a turn-off but we gave it a shot … several times in fact! We figured, if Hearty Bread would go to the effort of making this bread there has to be something good about it, right?
This was easy to eat but we couldn’t find the almond taste … or the almonds. It tastes just like regular bread so the kids could not even taste the difference. Eating it as a sandwich certainly makes it look “normal”.
For a few years now there has been a campaign to promote malunggay pandesal as an alternative to regular pandesal and, at the beginning people have looked at it with suspicion. Some have tried, and some have continued with what they are used to.
This was my personal favorite, but then again, I have been known to buy multigrain bread on occasion. At home, I am the only one who really eats multigrain. My parents found it too nutty but I love it!
Of all the bread my family and I got to try this was probably the easiest to try as they couldn’t tell the difference between this and the bread they like to buy in the grocery.
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