by Penny Angeles-Tan | Jul 23, 2023 | Business
Pepsi-Cola Products Philippines, Inc. (PCPPI) continues to embody how excellence is best demonstrated through commitment and consistency. PCPPI recently announced that all its manufacturing facilities across the country received recommendations for the coveted Food Safety System Certification (FSSC), with its Naga Plant being the most recent site to be certified.
Frederick D. Ong, the president and chief operating officer of PCPPI, said completing the FSSC status fulfills the organization’s unswerving commitment to developing a strong food safety and quality culture.
Frederick Ong, President and CEO of Pepsi-Cola Products Philippines, Inc.
“At PCPPI, our mission has always been to produce safe, high-quality, and reliable products that deliver the best customer experience. It is imperative for us to adhere to global industry standards by continuously raising our performance. We do this by adapting to regulatory requirements and consumer demand, and embracing industry innovation,” said Ong.
Obtaining FSSC recognition provides PCPPI an advantage, as the certification recognizes its capacity to produce safe food and food packaging products, reduce hazards and incident risks, roll out resource optimization initiatives, reinforce its supply chain relationships, and maintain food safety protocols and programs.
The FSSC status was recommended by SGS, one of the top global audit and certification companies, following a period of undergoing a rigorous review process that a dedicated Plant Audit Team led. This team comprises representatives across the facility’s functions: food safety and logistics to human resources and environmental health, safety, and security.
SGS tested the plants’ processes and policies in accordance with FSSC standards, which are aligned with ISO 22000 upon onsite inspection. FSSC evaluation is done annually, with scheduled and unannounced audit visits done.
“As we successfully complete our FSSC status, we are optimistic that this will enable more market opportunities for PCPPI and further grow the confidence of both internal and external stakeholders in our organization,” Ong added.
PCPPI operates 12 manufacturing facilities across the country. The FSSC-recommended facilities are Muntinlupa, San Fernando, Santo Tomas, Rosario, Davao, Bacolod, Naga, Zamboanga, Cagayan de Oro, Iloilo, Tanauan, and Cebu City.
PCPPI is the exclusive manufacturer of PepsiCo beverages in the country. Other than Pepsi, it distributes well-loved brands such as Mountain Dew, 7-Up, Mirinda, Mug, Gatorade, Sting, Tropicana, Lipton Iced Tea, Milkis, Chum Churum Soonhari, and Premier Purified Water. For more information about PCPPI and its products, please visit www.pepsiphilippines.com.
by Penny Angeles-Tan | Jul 23, 2023 | Business
Metro Manila’s middle-class Gen Zs and Millennials have expressed growing concern over the impact of inflation during the second quarter of 2023, according to a survey conducted by the Nomura Research Institute (NRI) Singapore-Manila Branch. The survey, which was conducted from May to June, revealed that a staggering 94% of respondents felt the effects of inflation during this period.
The rising costs of essential goods and services, such as food, transportation, fuel, and utilities, have forced these young adults to make cuts in their non-essential spending, including leisure and entertainment expenses.
Among the respondents, 60% reported that the continuous price increases had the greatest impact on their food and beverage expenses, followed by transportation and fuel costs at 15%, and utilities, such as electricity, water, and internet bills, at 14%. Additionally, an overwhelming 83% of participants stated that they had reduced their spending on non-essential goods, while 79% found it necessary to cut back on leisure and entertainment expenses.
SM Megamall Fashion Hall
The survey also highlighted the financial challenges faced by this demographic. Approximately one-third of respondents (32%) reported being unable to save over the past 6 to 12 months. For those who managed to save, 44% saved a lower percentage of their income. The persistent inflationary pressures have led 38% of respondents to adjust their savings goals by either reducing the target amount or delaying their timelines. Similarly, 47% of participants had to adjust their savings plans.
To cope with the financial strain, many respondents have turned to loans. Of the surveyed individuals, 71% reported having outstanding loans. To augment their incomes, 43% of respondents resorted to taking out additional loans in the past year. Among those who already had loans, 58% had to cut back on other expenses to meet their loan obligations, while 19% were forced to delay payments.
The survey also revealed that 41% of respondents possessed credit cards. Personal loans were the most prevalent type of loan, accounting for 30% of respondents, followed by alternative installment loans and salary loans, each representing 19%, respectively.
Regarding investments, 52% of respondents had existing investment portfolios. Among these, mutual funds and stocks were the top investment products, chosen by 18% of participants each. However, due to the inflationary pressures, 12% of respondents had to partially liquidate their holdings for increased liquidity, and a minimal 1% sold off their entire investment portfolio.
Given the challenges posed by inflation, respondents have adopted diverse coping strategies. A notable 94% expressed concerns that continuous price increases would persist over the next 6 to 12 months. Consequently, 91% of participants felt the need to explore additional income streams. To adjust to the current economic situation, 86% of respondents planned to continue cutting back on expenses, while 73% intended to reduce their spending on entertainment and leisure activities.
Regarding savings, 34% of participants expressed plans to increase their savings allocations to better prepare for the future, while 33% aimed to maintain their current savings pattern. However, 16% of respondents planned to reduce their monthly savings allocation due to inflationary pressures.
The survey also shed light on borrowing habits, with 46% of respondents indicating that they were less likely to take out loans, while 28% stated they were more likely to acquire additional loans.
Regarding investments, 12% expressed a desire to explore risky investments to achieve high returns over the next 6 to 12 months. Meanwhile, 40% considered more conservative options. Notably, 30% said they would avoid investing altogether, while 18% aimed to maintain liquidity.
The online survey conducted by the NRI Singapore-Manila Branch included 295 adults from Metro Manila, consisting of 92 Gen Zs and 203 Millennials from the middle class. The participants had monthly individual income ranges of PHP 13,000 to PHP 41,000 and PHP 41,001 to PHP 163,000.
As inflation continues to impact the daily lives and financial well-being of Metro Manila’s middle-class Gen Zs and Millennials, it is clear that they are actively seeking ways to navigate these challenges and secure their financial futures.
by Penny Angeles-Tan | Jul 23, 2023 | Bon Appetit
Do you recall me mentioning how we usually have chicken by default here at home? It is a no-brainer, to be honest. When we can’t think of what to cook or what to order in we just go CHICKEN!
For those of you who have gotten into the habit of ordering using apps like Grab or Foodpanda, you know how expensive it can get to order food. You start off just intending to buy for yourself but then there is a minimum needed to get free delivery or discounts using vouchers. In the end, you end up spending more than you intended.
I happen to be one of those people that love to cook and often prefer to do things from scratch. I love Magnolia for coming up with the bridge between cooking from scratch and instant food. Hooray for Magnolia Chicken Timplados Fried Chicken Drumsticks!
Contents of one (1) Magnolia Chicken Timplados RTC Friend Chicken Drumsticks
The packet comes with 3 drumsticks, breading, and BBQ flavoring. This is either good enough for sharing with 1 or 2 people or, just enough for me if I eat it alone without rice.
It isn’t an instant meal like a TV dinner that you can just pop in the microwave and eat. This ready-to-cook packet is, as it says … ready to cook, so it does require some rudimentary cooking skills to come out well. I posted some directions on how to cook the Magnolia Chicken Timplados Ready-To-Cook Fried Chicken Drumsticks on Hearthandhomebuddies.com and CleanSpoonChronicle.com in case you need to know how it is done.
This package I got was not for BBQ chicken. It isn’t a saucy dish. No, it is fried chicken with BBQ powder coating it.
I love the marinade! It is flavorful but not overpowering. The breading gives that crispiness we look for in fried chicken, and the BBQ powder flavoring gives this simple dish that extra zing! I can’t finish a pack on my own but I know that my nephew and niece certainly can. It pairs perfectly with pasta!
I had my BBQ-flavored fried chicken with creamy tomato pesto with Italian sausage and mushroom. I liked it so much that I did it again the following day, lol!
If you live alone or with just one other Magnolia Chicken Timplados is something you may want to consider having in your freezer. It is ready to cook any time you are. Magnolia Chicken Timplados is available in all leading supermarkets.
by Penny Angeles-Tan | Jul 22, 2023 | Technology
If you’re an ardent gamer searching for the ultimate gaming experience, look no further than the Victus 15 by HP. As one of the best gaming laptops in 2023, the Victus 15 combines cutting-edge technology and exceptional features to take your gaming to new heights. With its powerful performance and immersive capabilities, this gaming laptop will elevate your gameplay, ensuring you have the edge over your opponents and experience gaming at its absolute best.
At the heart of the Victus 15 lies the 12th Gen Intel® Core™ i5 processor, a true gaming powerhouse that brings unrivaled processing power to your fingertips. 12th Gen Intel® Core™ processors use a performance hybrid architecture design to transform your gaming and computing experience by integrating two all-new core microarchitectures (Performance core and Efficiency core) into a single die to increase compute efficiency and deliver intelligent workload optimization.
The Intel Thread Director does the behind-the-scenes magic that seamlessly coordinates the performance cores (P-cores) and efficient cores (E-cores) to work together harmoniously. This intelligent coordination ensures you experience the perfect balance of clock speed, cores, and threads, delivering immersive experiences and low latency during competitive gameplay.
The Victus 15, however, is more than just a gaming machine; it offers users the freedom to multitask without compromising performance. Whether you’re chatting with friends, browsing the internet, streaming content, editing videos, or recording gameplay, this laptop effortlessly handles it all. With its powerful capabilities, you can seamlessly switch between tasks without missing a beat, allowing you to focus on what matters most—your gaming experience.
Graphics are a crucial component of any gaming laptop, and the Victus 15 excels in this department. Powered by the Nvidia GeForce RTX 3050Ti Laptop GPU, it delivers stunning visuals and smooth gameplay. The 15.6-inch Full HD IPS display, with a 144Hz refresh rate, ensures that every detail comes to life with breathtaking clarity. You’ll be fully immersed in the virtual world, with fluid motion and reduced motion blur, making your gaming experience truly captivating.
The Victus 15 boasts immersive audio tuned by B&O and dual speakers to enhance your gaming immersion further. From thunderous explosions to subtle ambient sounds, every audio detail is amplified, creating a rich and realistic soundscape that truly draws you into the game. With the Victus 15, you’ll experience gaming audio like never before.
Extended gaming sessions can strain a laptop’s cooling system, but the Victus 15’s upgraded cooling system ensures optimal performance even during intense gaming marathons. Say goodbye to overheating and performance throttling and enjoy uninterrupted gaming sessions with peace of mind. This laptop is designed to keep up with your gaming demands and maintain peak performance throughout.
Connectivity is made effortless with the Victus 15, which supports multiple 4K displays and features Thunderbolt™ technology. Whether connecting to external displays or organizing your peripheral suite, the Victus 15 provides the flexibility and convenience to create your dream gaming setup. Stay prepared and ready to dive into the gaming action at any moment.
Customization and optimization are key to achieving your gaming goals, and the Victus 15 offers just that through the Omen Gaming Hub. This centralized control center allows you to fine-tune your settings, monitor system performance, and connect with other gamers. It’s your one-stop shop for enhancing your gaming experience and staying ahead of the competition.
The Victus 15 by HP is a gaming beast that will take your gaming experience to the next level. With its sleek design, powerful performance, immersive display, enhanced audio, and upgraded cooling system, it stands out among the best gaming laptops available in 2023. Whether you’re a casual gamer or a serious esports enthusiast, the Victus 15 is the ultimate gaming companion that will take your gaming journey to the next level.
Unleash the full potential of your gaming experience with the Victus 15 by HP. Gaming happens with Intel®, and with the 12th Gen Intel® Core™ i5 processor, this laptop is built for the next generation of gaming. Don’t miss out on this exceptional gaming companion. Visit the official HP stores on Shopee and Lazada to discover the Victus 15 and elevate your gaming experience to new heights. Get ready to conquer the virtual world like never before.
by Penny Angeles-Tan | Jul 21, 2023 | Book Reviews
I am in love with the Screaming Eagles! There must be something in the beer these guys are drinking because all the guys (so far) just seem so fantastic! In threes or fours, it doesn’t matter, bagging a Screaming Eagle sounds like heaven, and Crash, Preacher, and Devil are no exception. I realize this isn’t the norm for MCs but … oh my!
Good Girl for the Bikers by Stephanie Brother tells the story of Summer, a sheltered girl, the daughter of a pastor, and the Fallen Angels crew of the Screaming Eagles MC, namely Crash, Preacher, and Devil.
Summer and Crash are step-siblings but have not seen each other Since Crash (formerly Jacob) left the mansion they were living in when he was 16 to escape the beatings he received from his stepfather. Summer got left behind and was molded into being the timid, submissive girl, the epitome of good.
Many years later (to the present) Summer found Crash’s number and calls him to let him know that his mother has passed away. Like a boulder rolling off a cliff, this led to a series of events that prompted Summer to reach out to Crash once again and ask to be rescued … except it was Devil who picked up the call, not Crash.
Good Girl for the Bikers by Stephanie Brother does have a hurdle for Summer and Crash to overcome but this story doesn’t have too much external angst and that it gave us a chance to savor their growing relationship. Even knowing that she would eventually end up with all three of them, I was still excited to go through the journey.
A marvelous story, as always, Stephanie! As always, I look forward to your books. Will the rest of the Screaming Eagles, like Wraith, get into reverse harems, too? I can’t wait to find out!
If anyone out there wants to check out Good Girl for the Bikers by Stephanie Brother you can find it on Amazon for 2.99 and free with a Kindle Unlimited account. Don’t forget to check out the bonus chapter after you are done reading the book … exclusively on stephaniebrotherbooks.com.
PCPPI operates 12 manufacturing facilities across the country. The FSSC-recommended facilities are Muntinlupa, San Fernando, Santo Tomas, Rosario, Davao, Bacolod, Naga, Zamboanga, Cagayan de Oro, Iloilo, Tanauan, and Cebu City.
Metro Manila’s middle-class Gen Zs and Millennials have expressed growing concern over the impact of inflation during the second quarter of 2023, according to a survey conducted by the 
To cope with the financial strain, many respondents have turned to loans. Of the surveyed individuals, 71% reported having outstanding loans. To augment their incomes, 43% of respondents resorted to taking out additional loans in the past year. Among those who already had loans, 58% had to cut back on other expenses to meet their loan obligations, while 19% were forced to delay payments.
Regarding savings, 34% of participants expressed plans to increase their savings allocations to better prepare for the future, while 33% aimed to maintain their current savings pattern. However, 16% of respondents planned to reduce their monthly savings allocation due to inflationary pressures.
Good Girl for the Bikers by Stephanie Brother tells the story of Summer, a sheltered girl, the daughter of a pastor, and the Fallen Angels crew of the Screaming Eagles MC, namely Crash, Preacher, and Devil.
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