by Penny Angeles-Tan | Nov 2, 2022 | Book Reviews
Taming the Playboy Alpha by Stardust Wendy is a story I started reading on Goodnovel a few months ago when I was in the mood for something in the young adult/teenager category. I’ve never read any other story by Stardust Wendy so I was curious to see how well she writes.
The main character is Freya, born an Omega with dreams of attending a school just for Alphas. To achieve her goal she made a deal with a wizard who could temporarily make her seem like an Alpha without granting her the strength and characteristics of one. In return, she will do him a favor which he will reveal at a later time.
Meet the playboy Alpha, Silas Bloodmoon. He is the Alpha prince and the Alpha heir of her pack. He is hands down the most popular boy in school along with his friends Lucas and Adam. Everyone in school knows that Silas and Elena of the Crescent Moon pack are a couple.
Freya’s goal for entering the school was just one thing … to learn. She was not there to make friends or enemies and she definitely was not on the lookout for a boyfriend. Things don’t work out the way she planned when Silas starts to show interest in her and actively pursues her. For Silas, it started off as a game, a bet, but later he couldn’t help but be fascinated by her.
As a storyteller, I think that Stardust Wendy is good because she got me engaged and anxious for the next chapter to be released. As a writer, though, she needs help as her grammar and spelling are less than desirable – incorrect word usage, misphrased idiomatic expressions, and tenses (!), to name but a few.
For those of you who read my reviews, you would notice that I probably say that a lot! This is because many of the authors who write on reading apps 1) are most likely not native English speakers, 2) do not have editors who go over their chapters before publishing, 3) never took a course on the correct way to write a narrative story and are not familiar with Freytag’s pyramid.
But while I noted all the things that could be improved, I could still read on and enjoy the story. The only part of the story that I found dragging was Freya’s torture which ran for several chapters. I thought that was overkill.
I’m glad that I was patient with Taming the Playboy Alpha by Stardust Wendy because it is a wonderful story! I hope that she decides to get an editor (me!) and will publish this as a paperback or ebook and release it on Amazon and Applebooks soon.
In the meantime, you can read this book on Goodnovel.
by Penny Angeles-Tan | Nov 1, 2022 | Food & Beverage
For many of us, November is the time when we are all preparing for the merriest and busiest season of the year. Christmas is nearest this month, and what better way to immerse ourselves at the moment than experiencing awesome treats from Las Casas Filipinas de Acuzar, located along Roosevelt Avenue, Quezon City.
Aside from bringing you to an era where some of you miss or might want to feel and discover bits and pieces of yesteryears, Las Casas Filipinas de Acuzar also has monthly offerings for everyone to enjoy.
Starting October 31, 2022, Las Casas introduces its Happy Hour every day from 5:00 to 8:00 pm. If you just had your dinner at the Kusina ni Nanay or its Italian restaurant, the La Bella Teodora, and can’t get enough of the place, why not stay awhile and enjoy their Buy 2 Get 1 special cocktail of their (Bucket of Beer) Buy 5 + 1 on Beers and Lagers? And perfectly pair them with your favorite mouth-watering dishes specially curated by their able chefs.
Take pleasure in all of these and prepare to be entertained at the Plaza with their in-house violinist, Mr. Marcel Escundo, as he serenades you with his R&B music and some new Pop Songs of today.
Dance your way to hot Salsa Nights all Wednesday of November (starting November 3) from 7:00 to 11:00 pm at the Garden Area with dance instructors (D.I) at hand, or you may bring your own to fully enjoy the dancefloor together with the rhythm of the music of the DJ.
There is a P500 door charge per person for the Salsa Night that comes with one choice of cocktails. There will also be a mobile bar to provide you with your special mix requests in case you want it done your way!
You also have to fill your tummies with delectable Spanish dishes after all those dancing and grooving on the floor.
Can’t get enough of dancing? Here’s more!
Every Friday, Las Casas will give you the 80s and 90s vibe with its Disco Fever Nights at the Garden Area from 7:00 to 11:00 pm for P500 per person. Think of ‘Never Gonna Give You Up by Rick Astley, Michael Jackson’s Billie Jean, Girls Just Wanna Have Fun by Cyndy Lauper, or Baby One More Time by Britney Spears! Songs we can’t get enough of on the dancefloor simply keep us reeling and grooving.
DJs will also be present, and a live DJ will provide the best musical choices of the era. You can also do ballroom dancing during those nights. Good food, as usual, will also be ready for you to partake in.
We all love to hear Christmas songs to make us truly feel the holiday spirit is upon us. And for us Filipinos, Christmas comes early. It begins at the stroke of midnight on September 1! With that being said, Las Casas is on the lookout for an angelic rendition of our Christmas tracks through their Christmas Carol Contest, which will have auditions officially starting on December 1, 2022, and ending on December 18. Audition days are every Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday from 6:00 pm onwards. The Grand Finals will be on December 23.
But even before the Christmas Carol Contest begins, Las Casas will have its own Christmas Tree Lighting on November 26, 2022, at 6:00 pm, with special guests and live performers, plus cocktails and a buffet for guests.
Visit us at Las Casas Quezon City, located at 134 Roosevelt Avenue, San Francisco del Monte, Quezon City. For more details and inquiries, email us at co*****@********qc.com or call 09171366796 or 09338224522.
by Penny Angeles-Tan | Oct 29, 2022 | Lifestyle Tips
During the rainy season, almost everyone has experienced having at least one batch of laundry that takes ages to dry. With the weather becoming increasingly unpredictable these days, how do you keep your clothes and fabric fresh, clean, and kulob-free?
Midea (pronounced mai-dee-yah), the leader in intelligent, and surprisingly friendly home solutions, shares this simple guide to help you keep your newly washed clothes and fabrics clean, fresh, and vibrant even when the monsoon hits.
Choose the right washing cycle and mode.
With so many different options available to us, it’s important to choose the correct spin cycle for the clothes we’re washing. For a more hassle-free washing experience, there’s the Midea 8.5Kg Fully Automatic Top Load Washing Machine that automatically calculates and determines the spin duration, water program, water level, and the number of rinses that your clothes need.
This washer also has 8 different wash programs to assist you in washing your clothes properly and easily such as Standard, Quick, Bulky, Delicates, Intensive, Mini Wash, Jeans, and Dump Dry options. All these come with an energy-efficient washing experience, thanks to the inverter function, making your washing experience more efficient and less time-consuming.
Hot water gets the job done.
When it comes to washing your workout pants, socks, and undergarments hot water can be the best option for thoroughly cleaning dirt and odors. To help you better take care of your clothes and leave them smelling clean and fresh the next day, you can start off with the Midea’s 12/8Kg Fully Automatic Front Load Combo Washing Machine which has a built-in water heater that allows you to adjust the water temperature from 30°C to 75°C to efficiently remove dirt, bacteria, and odor from fabrics, and give you clothes are free from amoy-kulob, even during the rainy season.
Say goodbye to clutter and an unorganized laundry stack as this washer also comes with 16 pre-set functions such as Cotton, Delicate, ECO Wash, Rapid, Stain Wash, Jeans, Normal, Duvet, Dry Only, Auto Clean, Shoes, Towel, Antiallergic, Silent, Spin Only, and My Cycle. This 2-in-1 washer also has a 1-hour wash-spin-dry cycle function so you can experience the best of both worlds and enjoy more cozy moments with your family!
Keep your washing machine dirt and clog-free.
A dirty washing machine is a perfect environment for mold and bacterial growth, as well as grime buildup so if you continue to wash your clothes in a not-so-clean washing machine, your clothes can get stained and come out with a not-so-pleasant smell. This is where the Midea 13KG Twin Tub can help.
This twin tub has a superb built feature which means it’s made from a highly durable plastic body that cannot be easily nipped away by dirt and clog and is also rustproof. Plus, it comes with a Magic Lint Filter that helps trap loose threads, leftover trash, sequins, and buttons so it won’t interfere with the cleaning process.
Go for the efficient inverter washer.
When you have loads of dirty clothes to wash, especially in this damp weather, time and electricity consumption are important considerations. The faster you can do your laundry, the more power and time you save. This is where Midea 7.5kg Front Load Washer Inverter can become your best laundry buddy. This washer comes with an inverter function that gives an energy-efficient washing experience – that means it uses the least amount of power without sacrificing its cleaning performance.
The Auto-Clean function of this front load also has a high-speed water flow that clears dirt residues off the inner and outer drum to prevent secondary pollution of the clothes. Plus, with its 15-quick wash feature, you can wrap up your laundry time in just 15 minutes – more time to spend relaxing or bonding with your family! Not only that, but Midea washers are also strategically installed with Piso-Wash features. This means that when you use Midea’s home-friendly solutions, the electricity cost per wash load is equivalent to only PHP1.00!
By making just a few tweaks to your routine and choosing the right washing appliance, you will know how to keep your laundry fresh during the rainy season and not let the rain dampen your plans. Another useful tip is to use a dehumidifier like the Midea Cube Dehumidifier to keep away the dampness and kulob-smell on your clothes while making sure you’re home environment is safe from moisture. You can conveniently keep dampness away wherever you are in your home by controlling this humidifier through the Midea Air app.
Get rid of those kulob-smelling clothes effortlessly during the rainy season with Midea. Midea’s products are available at the following Midea Philippines online flagship stores:
You can also check out more Midea intelligent home solutions at leading appliance stores nationwide or visit any of these sites – Facebook: MideaPhilippines; Instagram: mideaph; Youtube: Midea Philippines Official and on TikTok: mideaphilippines
- There are many translations for the word “kulob” in this context it refers to that muggy smell between washed and unwashed.
by Penny Angeles-Tan | Oct 28, 2022 | Book Reviews
Ever since Stephanie Brother announced that she was writing Four Always, the eighth book of the Four series, I confess I have been on tenterhooks. When I look back at my Kindle history, it turns out that the Four series are the books that really got me to follow Stephanie Brother. For now, allow me to focus on this book.
Jade is a curvy woman who works in a bakery owned by Maddy, the main character in the first book of the series. She is tasked to deliver some novelty cookies to Club Red, a male strip club that recently opened in Four Points. This is where Jade meets the gorgeous Stanton brothers: Chase, Dodge, Diesel, and Maddox, who happen to be dancers and the owners of Club Red.
From the moment they met sparks flew. Despite the heated looks and flirtatious repartee the men were throwing her way, Jade doubted that they were truly attracted to her but was secretly thrilled by it.
Fast forward a few days and the Stantons visit the bakery, not to buy baked goods, but to pursue her. I’m not going to lie, this made me kick up my heels and giggle thinking, “OMG, they’re into ME!”
Yes, I tend to put myself as the main character in the book, especially when she has extra bumps she wishes she didn’t have. I eagerly turned the pages of the book to read more. I wanted to know how long Jade would resist and I was curious to see how these men will be able to win her over. Jade also volunteers at an animal shelter and the Stantons “stalked” her there as well. Suffice it to say they were persistent and Jade eventually succumbed to their charms.
Four Always by Stephanie Brother is a wonderful story and made me wish I had Stanton brothers of my own who adore me. You can grab a copy of Four Always on Amazon starting November 1, 2022, for 2.99 but with Kindle Unlimited it’s free! Happy reading and let me know what you think!
After reading this book you can read the bonus content here.
by Penny Angeles-Tan | Oct 27, 2022 | Entertainment
DUP rises again after weathering two years of the CoVid-19 pandemic. To forge the path forward, the event, entitled “Pagtutuloy/Pagtutulay” starts with honoring its founding artistic director – National Artist for Theatre Antonio O. Mabesa. These ushers in the reopening of DUP’s doors to the public as it presents two new exciting and thought-provoking works in its 45th Theatre Season.
Pagtutuloy/Pagtutulay
Parangal kay Antonio O. Mabesa, Pambansang Alagad ng Sining para sa Teatro at Paglulunsad ng 45th Theatre Season ng Dulaang UP
Pagtutuloy/Pagtutulay expresses a tone of gratitude in its heartfelt remembering of a captain and founder, a celebration of his fruitful past, his innovations in theatre-making, and a rekindling of the commitment to serve Sir Tony’s vision of excellence in the practice of Theatre.
It offers a personal and intimate commemoration of “Sir Tony” through the eyes of his students, colleagues, friends, and family. It shares how his mentorship and legacy live on in the lives and practices of the people he has inspired.
And to preserve the wealth of knowledge carried on by the Dulaang UP community, DUP now launches its 45th Theatre Season “BALIKWAS: Tanaw. Tugon. Tindig”, amidst the pandemic, as an agile response to the current conditions of theatre practice and the Filipino society in this “next” normal.
You can watch Pagtutuloy/Pagtutulay in the video below that was recorded on Facebook Live at the event itself or click on the link here to watch the video on Dulaang UP’s official page.
Dulaang UP (DUP) and Sir Tony’s Legacy
National Artist for Theater Tony Mabesa established Dulaang Unibersidad ng Pilipinas (DUP) in 1976. Through his leadership and inspiration, DUP established a reputation for innovation and excellence in theatre while offering a training ground for young talent via the mentorship of the veterans. DUP has also served as a venue for staging published and new works making it an evident source of new talent for local and international theatre, cinema, television, advertising, and other creative industries.
In Pagtutuloy/Pagtutulay, DUP traces the legacy of NA Tony Mabesa from the personal accounts of his colleagues, students, and friends in the local theatre community. Among them are renowned names in the field of theater, film, and television: Edna Mae Landicho, Monino Duque, Josefina Estrella, Anton Juan, Jr., Shamaine Buencamino, Dennis Marasigan, Karen Gaerlan, Amihan Bonifacio-Ramolete, Frances Makil-Ignacio, Eric Pineda, Banaue Miclat-Janssen, Ross Pesigan, and Adriana Agcaoili to name a few.
Part of remembering Sir Tony Mabesa is an interpretation of his biographical essay, Life in the Theater, which adds an intimate layer of commemorating his presence and contribution to professional theater and the Theater Arts Program of the University of the Philippines Diliman.
Memorializing Sir Tony would not be complete without a poignant testimony from one of his closest friends and colleagues in the industry, award-winning film & TV director Joel Lamangan. Lastly, a rendition of a song from Joi Barrios’ Gabriela: Isang Oratorio, directed by Sir Tony himself in 2006 complements a longing yet hopeful tone of honoring Dulaang UP’s beloved father.
Dulaang UP’s Lineage
Dulaang UP Artistic Director, Issa Lopez
Dulaang UP Managing Director Nicodemus Varona
Since its founding year, Dulaang UP has been a vehicle for articulating perspectives and assertions through the vision of its artistic directors.
For more than four decades, DUP thrived under the artistic directorship of catalysts of change and innovation in the theatre and performance scene such as Tony Mabesa, Behn Cervantes, Anton Juan Jr., Jose Estrella, Alexander Cortez, Amiel Leonardia, Ogie Juliano, Edna Mae Landicho, Amihan Bonifacio-Ramolete, Dexter M. Santos, and Banaue Miclat-Janssen.
As Dulaang UP decides to open its doors after two years of hiatus, it also extends its pathway beyond the stage and onto the challenges of hybrid and new forms of performances, while making sure to stand for its core values through its new artistic director, Issa Manalo Lopez.
Under the new artistic directorship, DUP strives to hold onto its reputation and address issues worth taking.
New Productions
Two stellar productions are lined up in this year’s 45th theatre season; The Reconciliation Dinner, a new one-act play by Floy Quintos, directed by Dexter Santos, showing this November 18-20, 2022; and Kung Paano Nanalo sa Karera si Rosang Taba, original story by Dean Alfar, a stage adaptation by Maynard Manansala and Rody Vera, directed by José Estrella, to be staged by March 2023. For tickets, show buying, and sponsorships, you may contact Dulaang UP at du***********@****du.ph.
Starting October 31, 2022, Las Casas introduces its Happy Hour every day from 5:00 to 8:00 pm. If you just had your dinner at the Kusina ni Nanay or its Italian restaurant, the La Bella Teodora, and can’t get enough of the place, why not stay awhile and enjoy their Buy 2 Get 1 special cocktail of their (Bucket of Beer) Buy 5 + 1 on Beers and Lagers? And perfectly pair them with your favorite mouth-watering dishes specially curated by their able chefs.
Dance your way to hot Salsa Nights all Wednesday of November (starting November 3) from 7:00 to 11:00 pm at the Garden Area with dance instructors (D.I) at hand, or you may bring your own to fully enjoy the dancefloor together with the rhythm of the music of the DJ.
Every Friday, Las Casas will give you the 80s and 90s vibe with its Disco Fever Nights at the Garden Area from 7:00 to 11:00 pm for P500 per person. Think of ‘Never Gonna Give You Up by Rick Astley, Michael Jackson’s Billie Jean, Girls Just Wanna Have Fun by Cyndy Lauper, or Baby One More Time by Britney Spears! Songs we can’t get enough of on the dancefloor simply keep us reeling and grooving.
A dirty washing machine is a perfect environment for mold and bacterial growth, as well as grime buildup so if you continue to wash your clothes in a not-so-clean washing machine, your clothes can get stained and come out with a not-so-pleasant smell. This is where the Midea 13KG Twin Tub can help.
When you have loads of dirty clothes to wash, especially in this damp weather, time and electricity consumption are important considerations. The faster you can do your laundry, the more power and time you save. This is where Midea 7.5kg Front Load Washer Inverter can become your best laundry buddy. This washer comes with an inverter function that gives an energy-efficient washing experience – that means it uses the least amount of power without sacrificing its cleaning performance.
Ever since Stephanie Brother announced that she was writing Four Always, the eighth book of the Four series, I confess I have been on tenterhooks. When I look back at my Kindle history, it turns out that the Four series are the books that really got me to follow Stephanie Brother. For now, allow me to focus on this book.
Pagtutuloy/Pagtutulay expresses a tone of gratitude in its heartfelt remembering of a captain and founder, a celebration of his fruitful past, his innovations in theatre-making, and a rekindling of the commitment to serve Sir Tony’s vision of excellence in the practice of Theatre.
Two stellar productions are lined up in this year’s 45th theatre season; The Reconciliation Dinner, a new one-act play by Floy Quintos, directed by Dexter Santos, showing this November 18-20, 2022; and Kung Paano Nanalo sa Karera si Rosang Taba, original story by Dean Alfar, a stage adaptation by Maynard Manansala and Rody Vera, directed by José Estrella, to be staged by March 2023. For tickets, show buying, and sponsorships, you may contact Dulaang UP at 
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