by Penny Angeles-Tan | Mar 30, 2023 | Book Reviews
I’ve read quite a few books written by Nicole Casey and Five Country Singers’ Betrothed is not my favorite. First of all, the title gives away the ending. Second, the five men in the story are actually the five members of a country music band called Amos and the Collectibles and the one who is actually a (famous) country singer is the female lead character, Delilah. In the band, Amos is the lead vocalist and the others occasionally do backup so we can’t really call the band “country singers”.
A good story always has a conflict of some sort and in this story, the conflict is with one of the members of the band, Ryder, who is Delilah’s first love who broke her heart. In the present timeline, Ryder has a girlfriend and their love is unrequited. In the meantime, Delilah finds herself attracted to the other gorgeous men in the band … Amos (lead vocals), Carson (rhythm guitar), Jesse (bassist), and Wyatt (drummer). Thankfully for her, her feelings are returned.
We can more or less know how the story will develop at this point as Nicole Casey’s books are always HEA. You know what they say, though … the journey is more important than the destination. Delilah’s love journey could be more exciting.
As far as the love scenes are concerned, it didn’t seem to matter which man she was with they all had the same pattern that it does not seem like she is with 5 different at all. I would have assumed each one would have even a slightly different approach depending on personal preference. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not expecting acrobatics, but probably a little more creativity in how she could conceivably be with 3, 4, or 5 men at the same time.
The redeeming factor of this book is how it spent a lot of time showing us the creative process of collaborating on a song … music, lyrics, and laying down the tracks. I thought that was a good insight into how the recording industry works that does not focus on the glamour of the job.
Five Country Singers’ Betrothed by Nicole Casey is the 4th book of the Love by Numbers 2 series which you can find on Amazon for $2.99 or free with Kindle Unlimited.
by Penny Angeles-Tan | Mar 25, 2023 | Book Reviews
I remember adding 101 Tips for Traveling with a Vampire by Joleene Naylor and Jonathan Harvey to my books on Kindle in February 2013 for two reasons: 1) it was free at the time and 2) the title intrigued me.
When I open to the first page I wasn’t sure at first what I was reading … it felt like a teenage diary. Nevertheless, I just shrugged and continued on and laughed. It is exactly what the title says! Lol! If you had to travel with a vampire, these are the things you should keep in mind. Many of the things mentioned certainly make a lot of sense, whether or not your companion is a vampire. I’d say they’re common sense. Advice aside, though, if you look at the way it is written, you will get a giggle out of it.
If you are looking for something light and none stressful to read, you should pick up this book. You can still find 101 Tips for Traveling with a Vampire by Joleene Naylor and Jonathan Harvey on Amazon but it is no longer free. However, at $1.99 it is still affordable so if this intrigues you, go ahead and get your copy now.
by Penny Angeles-Tan | Mar 23, 2023 | Food & Beverage
MANILA, Philippines. March 23, 2023. – Panda Express® is finally bringing its signature dish The Original Orange Chicken® outside Metro Manila. The world’s largest American Chinese dining concept has made its way to the Land of the Brave and is opening its first store in Tanza, Cavite on March 24 —marking its first location in South Luzon.
Panda Express invites all hungry Caviteños and Caviteñas to visit its maiden branch in the province located at SM City Tanza, which will be open from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily, to experience the mouth-watering bold flavors of its wok-cooked dishes with Chinese and Sichuan influences.
“We are thrilled to open our first restaurant in Cavite and in South Luzon as we continue to expand in the Philippines to make it more convenient for our guests to enjoy Panda Express’ world-famous American Chinese dishes,” said Doug Stalgren, Vice President of Panda Express International Business Development. “We can’t wait to welcome our fans on the opening day.”
From entrees to appetizers to sides, Panda Express offers a variety of scrumptious menu choices cooked with fresh, quality ingredients every day that leave its guests wanting more. Among them is Panda’s top seller, The Original Orange Chicken, which is prepared with crispy boneless chicken bites wok-tossed in its signature sweet and spicy Orange Sauce.
In time for Lent, the new branch also offers meat-free options for Christians and Catholics choosing to abstain from eating meat during this period. Some of their meatless options include:
- Honey Walnut Shrimp: One of its award-winning entrées, this dish is made with large tempura-battered shrimp wok-tossed in a honey sauce and topped with glazed walnuts.
- Savory Shrimp: Another beloved shrimp recipe, this dish is inspired by the flavors of Hunan cuisine. It features premium, juicy shrimp, stir-fried with onions, green beans, and bell peppers in a savory sauce that adds a beautiful burst of color, textures, and flavors.
- Kung Pao Fish: This Sichuan-inspired dish is a close cousin of another classic American Chinese staple, Kung Pao Chicken. It’s a divine combination of lightly breaded, crispy boneless fish, a variety of freshly-cut vegetables, and peanuts, all tossed in a savory sauce.
- Eggplant Tofu: A good source of protein, this entrée is made with lightly browned tofu, eggplant, and red bell peppers tossed in a sweet and spicy sauce.
Deals and treats await Panda Express guests with the first 30 customers in line during the opening day able to receive free Panda Bears. Exciting freebies also await those who will visit the Cavite branch via dine-in or take-out from March 24 to 26.
Panda Express SM City Tanza is also available for long-distance delivery via GrabFood, Foodpanda, and order.pandaexpress.com.ph.
Panda Express is also going full speed ahead with its expansion this year with a new drive-thru branch in the pipeline, which is expected to open in Pacita, San Pedro, Laguna next month. This will become the first Panda Express store to have a drive-thru lane in South Luzon.
For more information about Panda Express®, visit www.facebook.com/PandaExpressPH/ (Facebook) and @PandaExpressPH (Instagram).
by Penny Angeles-Tan | Mar 23, 2023 | Book Reviews
I opened Me, My Mate, and His Human Girlfriend by Annietroup1 on Goodnovel despite heavy reservations just to give the author a chance. From the title, I was assuming this is either a rejection story or a menage. Early heads up, it is (apparently) neither.
I like giving new stories and authors I encounter a chance. I actually recall adding this book to my library a while back but never got around to properly reading it because the first chapter did not engage me. To be honest, usually if the first chapter bombs, there is very little hope for me to like the succeeding chapters any better. To give the author the benefit of the doubt I decided to revisit it and read on.
First, the premise … Amanda (Mandy) is 19 and this is her 3rd year looking for her mate so she was not optimistic. At the party, she discovers that her mate is Alpha Mason and she immediately “nods her head no” (this tells me the author is Asian because in other cultures a nod means yes). It is common knowledge that Mason has a human girlfriend of long-standing (10 years) and has openly stated that he would not be leaving her for his mate.
Despite that, he still insists on taking her back to his pack. She rejects him but he does not reject her back saying that doing so will make him weak. In addition, he hides her away in the east wing of his house, isolated from everyone, and goes on with his life as if she was not there. The only change being he visits her every night to talk to her since his wolf insists.
In the meantime, he still maintains a physical relationship with his girlfriend every night which causes Mandy excruciating pain, needing the intervention of the pack doctor every night. Mandy is angry, infuriated even. After a bout of violence (against any object in her sight) she slowly degenerates. it takes her FIVE YEARS OF SUFFERING to finally decide to just end her life.
FIVE FUCKING YEARS!!! She allowed Mason to hurt her intentionally every day and it took her FIVE YEARS to realize that killing herself was the best thing to do since she can’t get help from anyone else. And when she does and is spotted by the doctor who then rushes to the hospital bleeding that is the only time that Mason realizes what a dickhead he is … after he intentionally (and I mean, told her to her face that was exactly what he was going to do) hurt her by having sex with his human girlfriend that entire time.
It takes Mandy almost dying for him to decide to dump his girlfriend of 15 years now to be with his mate. WHERE IS HIS BACKBONE?!? If he truly loved his girlfriend that much he should have rejected Mandy from the start and marked the human, not made Mandy suffer for FIVE FUCKING YEARS! If he believed that the Moon Goddess knew best then he should have done that mind wipe thing to the human and be with Mandy from day 1 of finding her.
So far, I have read all the free chapters and bought a few (I am now on chapter 9) and I am most definitely NOT liking this story. Both male and female lead characters are idiots and their story should not be told. Also, I am unhappy with the author’s grammar. Girl, hire a copy editor, PLEASE! Stat!
If despite my thumbs-down review you are still curious and want to get tortured for yourself (hyuk!) you can find Me, My Mate, and His Human Girlfriend by Annietroup1 on Wattpad and Goodnovel. Fyi, I rarely give an outright thumbs down so this should tell you how much this book angered me.
by Penny Angeles-Tan | Mar 21, 2023 | Advocacy
Fujifilm Philippines, one of the most trusted leaders in imaging solutions, continues its commitment to enhancing healthcare in the Philippines by conducting health outreach programs in various parts of the country.
Masahiro Uehara, Fujifilm Philippines President, said the Japanese company will partner with local government units to provide free medical consultations and diagnostic tests to communities using their innovative medical equipment. These include the FDR nano and FDR GO Plus for tuberculosis screening and X-ray.
“As part of our corporate social responsibility and commitment to adapting to the changing times, Fujifilm Philippines is taking action by implementing social initiatives to aid Filipinos and local government units. Through these outreach programs, we want to show our dedication toward the betterment of communities,” he said.
Uehara noted that Fujifilm Philippines will first go to Majayjay, Laguna to kick off the outreach program and provide medical assistance to around 300 individuals.
“Majayjay is committed to providing quality healthcare to its citizens and its commitment makes it an ideal site to launch our health outreach program,” he explained.
During the event, Fujifilm Philippines will also turn over medical kits, including sphygmomanometers and thermometers, to the local government of Majayjay to augment the local health centers’ medical instruments.
“We are committed to providing medical assistance to communities in need. At the same time, we look forward to launching more programs that will benefit more Filipinos,” Uehara added.
Pivoting to healthcare
Fujifilm Philippines started its Medical Systems business in 2012 offering five of its pillar products including the Digital X-ray Systems, Computed Radiography Systems, Medical Informatics, Dry Imaging Printers, and X-ray Imaging Films. The introduction of these products paved the way to establish Fujifilm Brand.
In 2013, the business expanded to include Ultrasound Systems, Dry Chemistry, Digital Flat Panel Detectors, Endoscopy Systems, and Digital Mammography Systems. Fujifilm then became one of the most competitive brands in the market as it continuously increases its installation around the Philippines.
Moreover, with FUJIFILM Corporation’s latest acquisition of the Diagnostic Imaging-related Business of Hitachi, Ltd in 2021, Fujifilm Philippines now offers a comprehensive product lineup covering CT, MRI, X-ray, ultrasound systems, endoscopy, in-vitro diagnostic systems Pictures Archiving and Communications System (PACS).
At the height of the pandemic, Fujifilm Philippines helped healthcare workers identify and monitor COVID-19 patients through a mobile X-ray system called the FDR Go PLUS.
Another innovative medical instrument is the FDR nano, a mobile device for high-quality X-ray imaging. Unlike the traditional mobile X-ray, which is around 500 kilograms, the FDR nano only weighs 90 kilograms. Its compact design makes it easy to use and ideal for confined spaces.
Uehara said Fujifilm Philippines is dedicated to developing new technologies to produce exceptional products and facilitate the treatment of patients.
‘Never stop’ campaign
Besides health outreach programs, Fujifilm Philippines will also conduct basic photography training for young adults highlighting Fujifilm’s mirrorless cameras and Instax. The training will be facilitated by Ms. Jam Ramos, an instructor at the Federation of Philippine Photographers Foundation (FPPF) and a part-time multimedia teacher.
In 2020, Fujifilm Philippines launched the Fujifilm Online Academy, where professionals provide free photography, videography, and vlogging training. Fujifilm will also put on display its various camera products including mirrorless cameras and Instax to provide a hands-on experience for the participants.
As part of its “Never Stop” global brand campaign, Fujifilm offers a diverse selection of products and services, such as Healthcare (medical equipment and pharmaceuticals), Materials (data storage media, electronic materials, sensor films for touch panels, film for LCD monitors, inkjets, and graphic systems), Business Innovation (office printers, digital production printers, and business solutions) and Imaging (instant photography/Instax and advanced digital cameras).
Established in 2012 as a sales subsidiary of Fujifilm’s regional headquarters in the Asia Pacific, Fujifilm Philippines is committed to promoting sustainability and addressing social issues through developing innovative products, services, and technologies.
For more information about Fujifilm Philippines, visit www.fujifilm.com/ph.
by Penny Angeles-Tan | Mar 21, 2023 | Book Reviews
I encountered Accidental Surrogate for Alpha by Caroline Above Story on iReader when I was looking for something new to read (as if I don’t have any books I am in the middle of already, lol!) as a palate cleanser. I paused on this mostly because I was curious about how the FLC could be a surrogate for a werewolf, assuming she is human. Did she know he was a werewolf? In this story are werewolves and humans even genetically compatible?
Betrayed by her boyfriend physically and emotionally, Ella goes to the fertility clinic where her sister works to help her get pregnant. A mess-up at the clinic ended up with Ella being inseminated with Alpha Dominic Sinclair’s sperm instead of the handsome surgeon she chose from the file. And the story only gets better from there.
After reading all the free chapters, iReader charges 180 coins per chapter and I wasn’t willing to spend that so I tried to see if this story is on Goodnovel, and to my delight, it is! I spend over 352 coins to read 10 chapters and I look at how much more I will need to spend to catch up on all the chapters and its equivalent would be something like $24.99! Whoa! So I took a leap and checked Amazon. Lo and behold, the story is there but in two parts (so far) at $5.99 apiece. Doing the math, buying the e-book on Amazon still made more economic sense so I took the leap and bought the 2 books.
In hindsight, I should have just started on Amazon after the free chapters. I have no regrets. This is a wonderful story and worth the money I spent on it on Amazon. I’m only on Chapter 41 but I have a funny feeling that Ella is actually a werewolf but her wolf is suppressed. I can’t wait to know if I guessed right!
Caroline Above Story apologizes in her author’s description for her faulty English since she is Asian but, to be honest, her English is better than what I’ve seen from many authors who are native English speakers. Either her English really is better or she has a good copy editor.
If human-werewolf love stories are your thing, you can find Accidental Surrogate for Alpha by Caroline Above Story on iReader, Goodnovel, and Amazon. Sadly (for me) it isn’t on KU but if the story is good, it is worth spending the coin on.
by Penny Angeles-Tan | Mar 20, 2023 | Business
Water remains the world’s top resource, as industry and community benefit from having access to clean, sustainable supply. Among the environmental commitments of Pepsi-Cola Products Philippines, Inc. (PCPPI), the exclusive manufacturer of PepsiCo beverages in the country, is practicing sound, responsible methods that help manage its use of water in collaboration with its various stakeholders.
The 22nd of March marks the commemoration of World Water Day, and aside from implementing industry best practices and policies, PCPPI encourages process improvement to further optimize how water is utilized across all areas of operations.
“Upholding our commitment to responsible water stewardship goes beyond having the systems and protocols in place that allow our teams to carry out their responsibilities effectively. Our employees are encouraged to embrace innovation as part of our advocacy,” said PCPPI president and chief executive officer Frederick D. Ong.
Strategic Plans Supported by Strong Partnerships
The water resource management policies of PCCPI are embodied in the Luntiang Yaman program, which covers the organization’s sustainability efforts. These include the 3Rs approach to managing water consumption: reduce, reuse, and recycle. Other than reducing water use, PCPPI also has protocols in place to optimize electricity use, optimize fuel yield, manage solid waste output, and community engagement.
PCCPI also works with government authorities in the communities where it operates. For example, the organization actively works with the Laguna Lake Development Authority (LLDA) to periodically assess the health of the waterways in the communities they operate alongside multi-sectoral groups.
Sto. Tomas: Shifting the Traditional Mindset
PCPPI’s commitment to responsible water management is demonstrated in its manufacturing facilities, particularly in Sto. Tomas, Batangas. The plant has twice received PCPPI’s Galing at Sikap Plant Excellence Award in Sustainability in 2021 and 2022. This recognition is given to the business units with the highest performance ratings on key focus areas of operations, including environmental resource management. “The Sto. Tomas facility was lauded for its efforts in consuming water and energy most economically, thereby minimizing environmental impact,” Ong added.
According to Plant Manager Chrysler Salcedo, one of the best practices at work at the Sto. Tomas plant includes setting definitive operating hours for the optimum target volume of water required, both for the products to be manufactured and for its manpower’s daily water consumption. This encourages all employees to become more mindful of their water use in daily operations. Regular training sessions on resource conservation are also scheduled and serve as checkpoint meetings where employees can proactively address potential areas of concern.
“Open communication and collaboration make even the most complex policies work. In Sto. Tomas, it remains important for our team to engage in discussions about how we can best manage the resources we look after water, electricity, and oil, among others,” said Salcedo. “To become more effective in our industry, we recognize the value of implementing more creative, cost-efficient policies so that we can better serve our communities,” he added.
Strategic and planned updates in the Sto. Tomas plant has also been implemented to further manage how the facility consumes water, one of which involves decreasing the frequency of production line Clean-in-Place (CIP) procedures. These pertain to the overall cleaning of equipment used after continuous production. “We shifted to a 72-hour cycle, which will allow us to save 780 liters of water a week. Combined with our stringent sanitation protocols, we are confident that our operations will continue to meet internal and industry standards while maximizing financial and resource savings,” Salcedo explained.
PCPPI is the exclusive manufacturer of PepsiCo beverages in the country. It distributes well-loved brands such as Pepsi-Cola, Mountain Dew, 7-Up, Mirinda, Mug, Gatorade, Sting, Tropicana, Lipton Iced Tea, Milkis, Chum Churum Soonhari, and Premier. For more information about PCPPI and its products, please visit www.pepsiphilippines.com.
by Penny Angeles-Tan | Mar 20, 2023 | Book Reviews
Try searching for Ever Langlais online and you will be surprised at how many books she has already written about so many different types of creatures. My comfort zone, though, is with Lycans and werewolves. Defying Pack Law by Eve Langlais is the book that introduced me to her world and will forever hold a special place in my heart.
Imagine a society where the males outnumber the females and polyamory is the norm rather than a “deviant relationship”. Whether the female likes it or not, she is forced to mate with more than one male. Our girl, Dana, was in love with Nathan who from the beginning knew how she felt about polyamory. Initially, he agreed to be her only mate but when push comes to shove, he felt bound to follow the dictates of the elders and would end up betraying her.
In her horror and outrage, Dana leaves and goes into hiding for many years. Nathan, now the Alpha, finds her and truly regrets what he did. Now he is more than ready to be her only mate. Unfortunately, news flash, Dana now says she wants many mates and points at his friends, John and Kody, to be her other two mates.
It’s messed up! Does she really want them as her mates or is her goal just to hurt Nathan?
What I like about this story is that we, the readers, are given an up close and personal peep into how Nathan, John, and Kody feel, too. We know how all three are quite attracted to Dana. We know that Nathan does not want to share. And we know his guilt over the years. At the same time, we see how Dana’s feelings change from resentment and rebellion to actually wanting to be with all of them.
Seriously, though, I think what I like about this book is that Dana is in control of where the relationship would go. In most stories, women do not always have that control.
And this book is just the beginning! There are four books in the series. Thankfully, Defying Pack Law by Eve Langlais is a standalone story so we won’t be left hanging at the end. If this book interests you, you can find it on Goodnovel and at Amazon. My personal preference is Amazon where you can get the book in several formats.
by Penny Angeles-Tan | Mar 19, 2023 | Business
Excellence thrives where it is practiced consistently. Pepsi-Cola Products Philippines, Inc. (PCPPI)—the exclusive manufacturer of PepsiCo beverages in the country—recently honored three outstanding employees with this year’s Gold Crown Awards. This recognition is awarded to employees for demonstrating professional dedication per PCPPI’s ICARE Values, which stands for Integrity and Innovation, Care and Respect, Empowerment, and Excellence.
The three awardees for this year are (in the photo, from left to right) Faith Marie M. Zacal from PCPPI’s Cagayan De Oro plant, Lucky J. Mallari from the Central Luzon Operations (CLO) and Jona Marie S. Rollan from the Davao manufacturing facility.
PCPPI president and chief executive officer Frederick D. Ong said of the awardees, “Our people remain at the core of what makes us proud to be part of PCPPI. The Gold Crown Awards allow us as one team to acknowledge the exceptional contributions of our employees.”
He adds, “Jona, Lucky, and Faith are among the many brilliant team members who exemplify how true PCPPI Bravehearts are. We look forward to nurturing more inspiring professionals in the future.”
For more information about PCPPI and the organization’s ICARE values, please visit pepsiphilippines.com.
by Penny Angeles-Tan | Mar 18, 2023 | Book Reviews
Compared to other books I’ve read from these authors, Pacey and his Unicorn Professor by Colbie Dunbar and Lorelei M. Hart is more chill. The most hair-raising/stressful thing happened in the first chapter and only Pacey was in it. Their first meeting was admittedly high adrenalin but after that everything was more or less smooth sailing.
The title misled me at first because I had the impression that Pacey was a student and Sable was his professor. It turns out that Sable is a professor in a community college, yes, and is Pacey’s “his anything” by virtue of being his mate. A better title would probably have been Pacey and THE Unicorn Professor. I confess to being a little disappointed only because I thought there would be a little taboo thrown in there to spice things up.
I also felt a little incomplete by some characters being mentioned, like Stallone, for example, and nothing more is said about him except “family friend”. Up to the end Sable never introduced him to Pacey. We also never met Sable’s brother or found out his name. Bowell is a shifter midwife but aside from the initial checkup, he had no part in the birthing, so what was he “midwifing”?
According to https://www.pregnancybirthbaby.org.au: A midwife is a health professional trained to support and care for women during pregnancy, labor, and birth. They help you to stay healthy during pregnancy and, if no complications arise, to give birth with little intervention. Midwives also care for you and your baby in the first few weeks following the birth.
Therefore, should Bowell be even called a midwife? Why not just call him a healer? This also brings to mind Stedman, the bear shifter who, besides helping Pacey clean his house in anticipation of his return, is also a healer, or I guess an apothecary. So confusing.
That aside, it’s a HEA story so if light reading is what you are after then Pacey and his Unicorn Professor by Colbie Dunbar and Lorelei M. Hart is a good book to get into. It’s on Amazon for $3.99 or free with Kindle Unlimited. If you are into paperbacks, that is available, too!
I remember adding 101 Tips for Traveling with a Vampire by Joleene Naylor and Jonathan Harvey to my books on Kindle in February 2013 for two reasons: 1) it was free at the time and 2) the title intrigued me.
In time for Lent, the new branch also offers meat-free options for Christians and Catholics choosing to abstain from eating meat during this period. Some of their meatless options include:
I opened Me, My Mate, and His Human Girlfriend by Annietroup1 on Goodnovel despite heavy reservations just to give the author a chance. From the title, I was assuming this is either a rejection story or a menage. Early heads up, it is (apparently) neither.
Fujifilm Philippines started its Medical Systems business in 2012 offering five of its pillar products including the Digital X-ray Systems, Computed Radiography Systems, Medical Informatics, Dry Imaging Printers, and X-ray Imaging Films. The introduction of these products paved the way to establish Fujifilm Brand.
I encountered Accidental Surrogate for Alpha by Caroline Above Story on iReader when I was looking for something new to read (as if I don’t have any books I am in the middle of already, lol!) as a palate cleanser. I paused on this mostly because I was curious about how the FLC could be a surrogate for a werewolf, assuming she is human. Did she know he was a werewolf? In this story are werewolves and humans even genetically compatible?
Try searching for Ever Langlais online and you will be surprised at how many books she has already written about so many different types of creatures. My comfort zone, though, is with Lycans and werewolves. Defying Pack Law by Eve Langlais is the book that introduced me to her world and will forever hold a special place in my heart.
Compared to other books I’ve read from these authors, Pacey and his Unicorn Professor by Colbie Dunbar and Lorelei M. Hart is more chill. The most hair-raising/stressful thing happened in the first chapter and only Pacey was in it. Their first meeting was admittedly high adrenalin but after that everything was more or less smooth sailing.
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