by Penny Angeles-Tan | Oct 24, 2019 | Travel
The Tourism Promotions Board (TPB) Philippines, the marketing and promotions arm of the Department of Tourism (DOT), is set to boost tourism in the Philippines as it simultaneously mounts the Philippine Travel Exchange (PHITEX) and MICE Buyers Invitational (MICECONnect) 2019 on October 20 to 27 to promote the Philippines as a prime tourist destination for both leisure and MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conventions, and Exhibits/Events).
Phitex
Now in its 18th year, PHITEX is considered to be the biggest travel trade event in the country, with close to 200 sellers and 200 buyers participating. The main highlight of the event is the one and a half day business-to-business (B2B) session between foreign buyers and local sellers to encourage tourism-related discourse among the participants, and open doors for business opportunities.
Marie Venus Tan, TPB COO
“PHITEX is mounted annually as a support for stakeholders in the travel trade industry,” says TPB COO Marie Venus Tan.
“Instead of working as individual operators and sellers, we provide a platform for them to connect to hundreds of buyers from all over the world in one venue, which saves them precious time and money. The event also gives buyers a more comprehensive view of the different destinations and packages that they can sell to consumers, either as an individual or bundled tours.”
Participants also took part in the PHITEX educational seminar where industry leaders discussed new trends in tourism marketing as well as marketing strategies in mature and emerging markets while keeping the theme of “Philippine Tourism: Trailblazing Responsible Travel and Inclusive Growth,” in mind.
Giving their insights were Thomas Graham, Co-Founder of Make A Difference (MAD) Travel, Carlos Mori Rodriguez, the Chief Innovation Officer of EON The Stakeholder Relations Group, and Nelly Nuezca Dillera, CESO III, the Deputy Executive Director of the Philippine Trade Training Center – Global MSME Academy, who ended the seminar on how DTI is building capabilities for halal development and certification.”
MICECONnect 2019
Meanwhile, MICECONnect 2019, aims to accelerate the Philippine MICE industry by gathering MICE suppliers to showcase the country as a premium destination for international events and conferences.
Happening simultaneously with PHITEX, MICECONnect 2019 is the continuation of a two-year program as a comprehensive educational seminar for local MICE stakeholders to learn new and effective global trends, approaches, and methods. This year’s focus is conducting business networking opportunities to further develop the country’s MICE industry.
MICECONnect 2019 likewise features B2B sessions for Philippine and foreign MICE buyers, and include a hotel and MICE venue inspection. Moreover, MICECONnect delegates will be treated to post-event tours to highlight some of the country’s premier MICE destinations including Iloilo City, Bacolod, Davao, Boracay, Cebu, Bohol, Palawan, Tagaytay, Manila, and Batangas.
More importantly, both PHITEX and MICECONnect 2019 enable TPB to support and raise awareness on sustainable community-based tourism. Apart from promoting what the Philippines can offer, TPB also advocates for the protection of natural assets and expanding the benefits of tourism to communities that are directly and indirectly affected by the industry, consequently helping DOT towards achieving its goals for the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
To know more about PHITEX and MICECONnect 2019, visit the following websites:
by Penny Angeles-Tan | Sep 14, 2019 | Discounts, Sales, and Giveaways
Get a chance to take home a complete Solane LPG set for every purchase of the Midea Gas Range at any participating appliance stores nationwide.
Joining is easy! Every purchase of a Midea Gas Range at participating appliance stores nationwide entitles customers to receive a Solane Oh My Gas gift certificate. Customers must write down the following details at the back of the gift certificate:
- dealer’s name or branch where Midea Gas Range was purchased,
- its sales invoice or collection receipt number, and
- date of purchase.
To redeem the Solane gift certificate, simply present said Solane voucher together with one (1) valid ID, and a photo copy of the Midea Gas Range sales invoice at any Solane exclusive showroom nationwide. They may also call the Solane Hatid-Bahay Hotline at +632 887-5555, for Metro Manila or text +63918-887-5555, outside of Metro Manila.
The Solane gift certificate includes a complete set of an 11kg Solane cylinder with content, A/S regulator, hose, and clamps.
Winners may opt to have their Solane LPG sets delivered, which comes with the company’s signature 7-Point Safety Check to guarantee you and your family are safe. Solane Hatid-Bahay riders also perform a Weight Check in front of customers using calibrated portable weighing scales to ensure that they get their money’s worth.
Promo period will run until December 31, 2019. To know more about the promo, follow Solane’s Facebook account.
by Penny Angeles-Tan | Aug 25, 2019 | Yummy Reviews
Last August 14, 2019, I had the opportunity to try out Premier The Samgyupsal in Greenhills. I have tried Korean barbecue places in the past and I was looking forward to finding out how this one is different from others.
The Unli Menu
Unli Samgyupsal
Premier the Samgyupsal unlimited menu
PRICE = P500 to P580
Just as with other samgyupsal places, Premier The Samgyupsal offers unlimited samgyupsal. This is what I got to try at my last visit. The options are:
- P500 for unli pork (4 kinds) and chicken
- P580 for unli mix (supposedly 8 kinds) which, based on the menu includes 3 kinds of beef, 2 kinds of pork, and chicken
Both come with 15 different side dishes plus unlimited rice.
As with most samgyupsal restaurants they require a minimum of 2 people to order from the unli menu.
They also offer a promo rate if you dine between 10am to 4pm.
- P450 for unli pork and chicken
- P500 for unli mix
If you want to add ramen to your meal just add P100 to your bill per order.
Unli Shabu Shabu
While we didn’t get to try this shabu shabu is not a new concept for me either. Their version lets you choose from pork or beef. Each shabu shabu comes with unli meat, vegetables, and rice.
Side dishes
This is probably the feature Premier The Samgyupsal that made me very, very happy. So many side dishes!!! We were told that they serve a total of 15 side dishes and that they change every day depending on what is available.
In addition, they also serve steamed egg and seafood soup. They aren’t officially categorized as side dishes but are also served with every unli order. Fyi, I like the chili powder they sprinkle on the egg. 😀
The Ala Carte Menu
PRICE = P350 to P1,200
The ala carte menu available for those prefer to eat just one or two things, or probably went there for a specific dish.
- Pro: there are more options offered on the ala carte menu in pork, beef, and special menu.
- Con: it comes out more expensive especially if you want more than 1 kind of meat
It also offers set meals that range in price from P200 to P480
Drinks
PRICE = P70 to P250
This is probably one aspect where they have bested other samgyupsal restaurants. Premier The Samgyupsal offers its patrons a bigger selection of drinks to choose from.
Non-alcoholic beverages
Other places offer the standard sodas.
- If Coca-Cola products they would have Coke, Coke Zero, Royal, and Sprite.
- If they carry Pepsi products they would have Pepsi, 7-Up, Mountain Dew, and Mug Root Beer.
Here they offer Cherry Coke, Coke Light, Coke Zero, Coke Classic, Royal, Sprite, Canada Dry Ginger Ale, Dr. Pepper, A&W Rootbeer, and Classic Pepsi Cola. Whichever soda you choose to order, the price remains the same at P50.
Other places may offer canned juices, too. At Premier the Samgyupsal they offer more options, all of which are Del Monte juices … mango, pineapple, four seasons, and pineapple orange.
All canned juices cost P70.
Alcoholic beverages
Unlike other samgyupsal places, Premier has the most extensive alcoholic beverage offerings. They have local San Miguel beers, foreign beers, AND several flavors of Soju. For patrons who want to imbibe in alcohol while they eat and want more options, then Premier is definitely the samgyupsal restaurant you. Whether local or foreign, beer is priced at P80 while Soju is priced at P250.00.
Dessert
A Korean meal just isn’t complete if you do not cap it off with Melona or Samanco. Unlike other places, they serve many variants! This tipped the scale in their favor in my book.
The Venue
Dining
While the place is not large it does have two floors which means the seating capacity is good. For our event, we held it on the second floor.
Airconditioning
Arctic! This was different from the getgo. I am usually resigned to the heat when eating at samgyupsal places so finding out that they keep their aircon set at freezing was different.
The Toilet
The toilet is gender-neutral and is clean. My complaint, if any, is that they didn’t keep it dry (as a matter of fact there was a puddle near the toilet bowl itself). A lot of accidents happen in the bathroom/toilet. Safety first, right?
Overall, I enjoyed the experience and will surely return again soon. Premier The Samgyupsal Greenhills is located at Wilson Street. See the map below to help you find it.
by Penny Angeles-Tan | Aug 4, 2019 | Awards and Competitions
Filinvest Alabang Inc. (FAI) was once again hailed as one of the top 10 developers in the Philippines by the prestigious BCI Asia Awards. A coveted award in the construction industry, BCI Awards is the pioneer and most reputable award-giving body in Southeast Asia, giving out awards annually to remarkable companies in construction and property development in Hong Kong SAR, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.
This is FAI’s second win following a similar recognition in 2016. The awards will continue to inspire FAI to raise the bar in the property development industry by Integrating the highest global standards in modern, ecological urban master planning and design.
FAI is a subsidiary of Filinvest Development Corporation that focuses on residential and mixed-use urban developments in Metro Manila. One of its award-winning projects is the 244-hectare mega central business district, Filinvest City in Alabang.
Receiving the award were Senior Project Development Manager Sherilynne Santos (left) and Assistant Project Development Manager Bonna Crisostomo. To know more, visit https://filinvestcity.com.
by Penny Angeles-Tan | Jul 25, 2019 | Events
If you are currently enrolled in Architecture or Interior Design and in your 3rd year or higher you are probably looking for a good internship right about now. Expand your options and join The Nippon Paint Asia Young Designer Award Philippines 2019 (AYDAPH2019).
Nippon Paint AYDAPH2019 is a national design competition where Architecture and Interior Design students are challenged to design living spaces, buildings, recreation areas, etc. based on the theme for the current year. This year’s theme is FORWARD: A SUSTAINABLE FUTURE.
AYDAPH2019 Theme
With the theme Forward: A Sustainable Future, participants are expected to come up with a design that embraces the concept of sustainability in an ever-changing world that would have a positive impact on an individual and in society. To guide all participants on what they are supposed to do the entry kit and color chips are provided on the official website, http://www.youngdesigneraward.ph. You may also click on the images below to download them.
Last year’s theme also centered on sustainability and innovation and the winners all received amazing prizes. This year promises more of the same with trophies, cash prizes, and internship opportunities up for grabs with some of their industry partners.
The Media Launch
The media launch of Nippon Paint AYDAPH2019 was held on July 24, 2019 at the Hotel Jen by Shangri-La on Roxas Boulevard with Cara Eriguel as host.
Cara Eriguel – actress, TV and events host, radio DJ
Cara warmly welcomed all attendees to this event, Nippon Paint AYDAPH2019, which officially kickstarted the competition. Attendees were composed of college/university deans and program chairs, representatives of partner organizations and companies, and members of the press (bloggers and traditional media).
Some of the judges for this national competition were present at the event and were invited onstage and introduced. They also took some time to answer questions from the audience.
From left to right: Ar. Rene Richie Corcuera (Executive Director, UAP), IDr. Wilfrid Nicholo Magcase (Principal Designer, WM Magcase Design), Ar. Ana Mangalino-Ling (JSLA Architects Partner and Associate), and Michael Francisco (Nippon Paint General Manager)
From left to right: IDr. Ivy Almario (Founder, Atelier Almario), Cynthia Almario (Founder, Atelier Almario), IDr. Wilfrid Nicholo Magcase (Principal Designer, WM Magcase Design), and IDr. Cara Marcelo (Founder, CMM Interior Design and Consultancy)
My personal thoughts
I am neither a student nor a graduate of Architecture or Interior Design but I find myself quite excited about this event. Since this competition is primarily sponsored by Nippon Paint I am definitely expecting designs that are colorful, yet tasteful.
With the problems of climate change and overpopulation and the depletion of natural resources I couldn’t help but turn to our bright, young minds to see if maybe they can come up with a feasible, innovative solution that is sustainable, aesthetically pleasing, and an acceptable change that people will not have any issues adapting the design into their own living spaces, places of work, etc.
Project Noah, winning design of Ma. Rebecca Plaza, AYDAPH2017 gold award winner
As I dug through archives on the internet I came upon this article on The Philippine Star about Ma. Rebecca Plaza, AYDAPH2017 gold award winner in the Architecture category and I was in awe. Change for the better is possible, change is here. Her idea to use engineered bamboo for the exterior of the building is just innovative! According to her, bamboo has the tensile strength of steel and the compressive strength of concrete. With that in mind I can’t help but wonder why aren’t all modern local structures not made of this material?
And that is just ONE example of the ideas these kids come up with. Every year, 10 finalists per category are chosen out of the thousands who join. This means that every year, the judges are able to identify 20 incredibly talented students with the potential to change the world one establishment at a time. Amazing!
What can the winners and finalists expect?
Getting a good education nowadays is anything but cheap. From tuition to books and materials, to uniforms, etc. the list just goes on. As the enrollment for the new term approaches, students and parents alike often stress about whether they would have enough money.
Michael Francisco, Nippon Paint General Manager
Winning this competition or even just making it into the finals is one possible way of providing a solution to that ongoing worry. According to Mr. Michael Francisco, General Manager of Nippon Paint (Coatings) Philippines, winners and finalists can expect to receive the following:
- Gold award (1st place) winners will receive P50,000 cash plus an internship opportunity and will compete in the International Competition of the Asia Young Designer Award in 2020.
- Silver award (2nd place) winners will receive P30,000 cash plus an internship opportunity
- 3rd to 10th place winners will each receive P10,000 cash
Special awards are also given to the finalists in addition to the above:
- P5,000 cash for Best Green Innovation
- P5,000 cash for Best Color Choice
- P10,000 cash for People’s Choice Award
The mentor and the college/university of the winner will also receive an award. In my opinion, this serves as an incentive for them to be more involved in the progress of their students that decided to enter the competition.
- P10,000 cash will go to the mentor of the gold award recipient
- P10,000 cash plus P10,000 in paint vouchers will go to the Best College/University
- P10,000 cash plus P10,000 in paint vouchers will go to the Best Supporting College/University
Design pointers for the competition
According to the official Facebook page of Nippon Paint AYDAPH2019, the designs submitted are expected to do the following:
- Bring positive impact on environmental issues
- Infuse new values into the social and cultural context
- Enhance better community living and lifestyle
- Encourage progressive growth and development in a city
How they will do that is something that, I guess we will discover in the coming months and I, for one, am excited to see what they can come up with.
Will it be something for the home? Maybe a community center of some sort? Or will it be something for our pets and rescue animals? As someone who has grown up with dogs, cats, rabbits, birds, fish, and turtles I can tell you right now that I would be very interested in something designed for pets, such as a community play area, for example. 🙂
Here is an overview of Nippon Paint AYDAPH2019 in an AVP that was shown at the media launch.
And with that the Nippon Paint Asia Young Designer Award Philippines 2019 commences! For more information about this AYDAPH2019 please visit the official website at http://www.youngdesigneraward.ph and follow these social media accounts:
Social media followers that join the bi-monthly trivia contest will get a chance to receive a special gift prize from Nippon Paint so do follow those accounts and join the trivia contest, too!
Don’t forget, when posting or reposting anything about this competition/event please use the official hashtags #nipponpaintph and #aydaph2019
The Tourism Promotions Board (TPB) Philippines, the marketing and promotions arm of the Department of Tourism (DOT), is set to boost tourism in the Philippines as it simultaneously mounts the Philippine Travel Exchange (PHITEX) and MICE Buyers Invitational (MICECONnect) 2019 on October 20 to 27 to promote the Philippines as a prime tourist destination for both leisure and MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conventions, and Exhibits/Events).
Get a chance to take home a complete Solane LPG set for every purchase of the Midea Gas Range at any participating appliance stores nationwide.
If you are currently enrolled in Architecture or Interior Design and in your 3rd year or higher you are probably looking for a good internship right about now. Expand your options and join The 
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