by Penny Angeles-Tan | May 19, 2020 | Health and Wellness
Life in lockdown has given us plenty of opportunities to master new skills. If you’re eager to learn but don’t know where to start, why not take a page from Ever Bilena, the country’s leading cosmetics brand, and follow their makeup tips and techniques so you can come out looking young and fresh, post lockdown.
Natural flush

While you can’t get that bronzed skin from an excursion to the beach this summer, you can still achieve a natural flush with the EB Blush Rush or the EB Matte Color Sticks. The EB Blush Rush has a watery-gel consistency with roll-on applicator while the EB Matte Color Stick is creamy matte in its consistency, making both products easy to blend on your cheeks, eyes, and lips.
For a sun-kissed glow, strategically apply on points of the face where the sun hits most, such as the cheeks, nose, and a little above the brows. Blend with your ring finger (remember to thoroughly wash your hands regularly/before applying makeup) to sink the product naturally into the skin.
Upgrade the look by adding faux freckles using brown eyeliner. Before doing so, set your tint with powder then dot your nose and cheeks with the eyeliner. With your ring finger, tap over the top to blend and make it look more natural.
Daytime to nighttime makeup with three basic shades
Eye makeup can be intimidating or overwhelming, especially for beginners. But the great thing about makeup is it allows you to have fun and experiment with different looks. A great product to start with is the basic shades of Ever Bilena’s Chocolate Palette. Apply medium shade brown all over the lid and lower lash line. With your pinkie, press into the lightest color in the palette and apply on to the inner corners to open up the eyes. Take your look from daytime to nighttime by patting on the darkest shade of brown on the outer crease of the eyes and then blend.
Ace these simple makeup techniques to make your everyday look flawless, even while at home, using these products available on Ever Bilena’s official page on Lazada (www.lazada.com.ph). Blush Rush and Color Matte Sticks are sold in bundles in all available shades. To know more makeup tips, visit Ever Bilena’s official Facebook page (@everbilenacosmetics) and Instagram (@everbilenaofficial).
by Penny Angeles-Tan | May 19, 2020 | Health and Wellness
NOVUHAIR®, the leading natural hair loss treatment in the Philippines, partnered with The Fit Filipino (FITFIL) Movement lead by Jim & Toni Saret, the brand’s VIP Fitness Coaches, to a FREE 20-day Facebook Live workout aimed at improving your wellness quotient goals through a “Bulletproof Immune System Activity Booster”.
This workout program is designed to help beginners and complement the workout of those with active exercise routines.
You can still join the program from May 18 until May 29, 2020. Happening every day from Monday to Friday at 4 pm live on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/fitfilmovement
Learn more at https://www.novuhair.com/novuhair-boosts-optimism-via-free-workout/
Optimism Adds Resilience
Optimism is a crucial factor in how we choose to navigate our journey to success. Businesses, institutions, and various groups have a significant role to play in fostering this especially in times of crisis.
From the start of this pandemic, profuse optimism, coupled with genuine concern among key stakeholders in weathering the storm, is evident in the support and proactive measures of Pascual Total Health Incorporated, the holding company of Bionutra Innovations Inc., the company subsidiary marketing the leading natural hair loss treatment in the Philippines, NOVUHAIR® – nature’s answer to hair loss.

Discover more at https://bit.ly/3bCtLzS
#NovuhairCares #NothingToLoseNovuhair #ChooseNatural #BelieveInYourselfNovuhair #TeamFitFil
by Penny Angeles-Tan | May 18, 2020 | Lifestyle
The saying “so much to do, so little time” was once a cliché we could all relate to. But these days, such seems to be inapplicable, for most of us are at home due to the enhanced community quarantine (ECQ). With more time on our hands now, we ask, what more can we do to stay productive?
If there’s anything we are learning from our current reality during this time, it is that we can now do what we’ve always wanted to accomplish in the comforts of our home — be it baking, cooking, gardening, and other hobbies we had no time to learn before.
Interested? Here are some activities you may want to try to make the most out of the ECQ period.
Cooking

garlic butter shrimp
Why don’t you try whipping up something in the kitchen using ingredients you never thought would work before — like the famous, easy 7-up chicken marinade or challenge yourself to cook a perfectly seared steak or experimenting on preparing the Dalgona in various versions — from coffee to fruity flavors — that are making the rounds on the internet?
Now is the best time to sharpen your culinary skills; then by the time the quarantine is over, you may gather your friends for a dinner at home and serve them your best recipe discoveries yet.
Baking
While you’re at it, why don’t you try baking sweet treats to brighten someone’s day, too?
You can start with the basic ones — from baking cookies, then banana bread, to probably advancing to cakes; that is when you’re confident enough with your weighing and measuring skills. Yes, bake it ’til you make it.
Arts & Crafts
While garbage collection may be a problem these days, recycling and upcycling wastes at home are highly recommended. Turn them into something useful such as the tissue roll carton as a cable wire organizer, PET bottles as a case for your pencil or art tools, cans as flower vases, etc.
You can make pencil cases for your kids, new jars for your room, and even toys for your kids, among other creative ways to reuse them. There are even free online classes that you may join to unleash your artistic side, as well as free music lessons, to boot.
Reading

Want an escape but can’t go out because of the virus? Let must-read fiction and non-fiction — be it hard copies or eBooks — take you to places and settings you’ve never seen before. Books help your brain withdraw from anxiety-inducing news on your social media feeds.
You can do some light reading with food books or to feel some love while on quarantine, there are romance novels. Do read up on travel and create that itinerary of your biggest adventure yet once this quarantine is over.
Work it out
In these uncertain times, it is best to sweat the stress out, not only to stay healthy but to also keep the happy hormones going. No gym equipment? No problem. There are still a lot of exercises you may do using ordinary items or fixtures at home.
Need weights? Use PET bottles as DIY dumbbell; need elevation for your cardio exercise, use the stairs; or if you need to run but has no space, do high-knee, stationary run or jog. For Zumba or Yoga classes, there’s always YouTube.
Gardening

We’ve also seen more people trying to grow their own urban garden at home in their effort to be more sustainable these days. You might have come across Facebook and Instagram posts by your friends showing off the progress of their mini farm and hydroponic techniques using recyclable bottles.
A lot of beverage companies are receiving requests from non-government organizations for donations of PET and other plastic bottles, too, as they will use them as pots for their plants to create sustainable farms for the communities they are serving.

Frederick Ong, President & CEO of Pepsi-Cola Products Philippines, Inc.
“We have received several requests for plastic bottle donations from various groups for urban farming projects. And as a company that champions sustainable practices, we are more than willing to help them create a greener world,” said Frederick Ong, President & CEO of Pepsi-Cola Products Philippines, Inc.
“Other than our frontliners, our environmental advocates are to be considered heroes also, because what they are doing is for the long-term. And we are here to support their causes,” he added.

And if there’s something we are realizing during the quarantine period, it is that the earth seems to be healing, because of less human activities outside our homes. Most of us are realizing the grim effects of not taking care of the environment. And this pandemic is teaching us to nourish Mother Nature more for us to enjoy healthier years.
More than ever, it is high time to learn how to remain productive, while taking care of the environment. It is clear that we are breathing cleaner air and seeing clearer skies these days. And let’s all do our job to keep it this way to save more lives and for the benefit of generations to come.
But if you opt to do nothing during this quarantine period, there’s no problem with that, too. Remember: The most productive people also make time doing nothing for self-care and balanced life.
by Penny Angeles-Tan | May 17, 2020 | Business
The times have changed and the new normal calls for more than your average clean as experts say it will take longer before the world completely heals from the effect of COVID19. As the country prepares to ease up after the almost three months of Enhance Community Quarantine, Hotel Sogo steps up for its version of the hotel industry’s ‘new normal’.
Hotel Sogo is doing various ways to ensure the safety and security of its guests and employees against the spread of Covid19 virus, once they go back to regular operations. Top on its list will be the use of ultraviolet (UV) lights in disinfecting around its facilities and intensified the process from checking-in to ordering food to make sure their facilities as So Clean. The ultraviolet (UV) lights are highly effective at disinfection, as its rays are capable of killing bacteria, germs, and viruses.
To prepare its employees in servicing its guests, Hotel Sogo makes sure to protect its employees from the virus by giving them vitamins to boost their immunity and provided personalized PPEs. Hotel Sogo employees have their medical check-ups and Covid19 testing to make sure that their personnel is free from the virus to make sure that the employees and not just the facilities are So Good and ready for their regular operations.
Guests need not worry during their stay Hotel Sogo ensures that operations and preparations are So Safe, as mandatory temperature checks, passage through disinfecting tent, and use of disinfecting foot tray are in place. The availability of hand sanitizers in common areas is strictly observed, as well as social distancing from the receiving process to elevator use going to their rooms. Facilities are also redesigned and modified to protect the guests and employees, like placing the glass panel divider on top of the front desk.
All of this information can be found in Hotel Sogo’s ‘new normal’ video playbook. The video is shared with relevant government agencies like the Department of Health (DOH), Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA), and the Department of Tourism (DOT), in the hope that the video could serve as a benchmark of other similar establishments prior to their reopening.
Watch Hotel Sogo’s ‘new normal’ playbook video below to know more.
by Penny Angeles-Tan | May 14, 2020 | Bon Appetit
Garlic Butter Shrimp is so easy to cook. The main reason we don’t prepare this more often is that shrimp is quite expensive. Today my mom got half a kilo for Bubu which she graciously shared with us. 
Here is my recipe for Garlic Butter Shrimp.
Garlic Butter Shrimp
Garlic butter shrimp is so delicious and so easy to prepare.
Course: Main Course
Keyword: butter, garlic, seafood, shrimp
Author: Penny Angeles-Tan
- 500 grams shrimp
- Sprite
- 8 tbsps Anchor butter 1 stick
- half a head of garlic, minced
Wash and clean the shrimp by cutting the whiskers short and place in a clean bowl.
Pour in enough Sprite to cover and let sit for 10 minutes.
Heat a saucepan and melt the butter. Add the minced garlic and mix. You want the taste of the garlic and butter to really incorporate.
Using tongs, arrange the shrimp in the saucepan so that all the pieces are flat and swimming in the butter. Lower the flame and cover.
After 1 minute remove the cover and flip the pieces of shrimp. to properly cook the other side, too. Cook uncovered for 1 minute then turn off the stove.
Your dish is now ready to serve.
Plating the shrimp
Plating is important. It makes the dish look even yummier than it already is.
- Get your serving dish (preferably one with a lip as this dish has a sauce) and carefully lay out the shrimp. I suggest using tongs for this.
- Get a spoon and scoop out the garlic from the pan and place it down the center of the dish.
- Pour (or spoon) the butter sauce over the shrimp to make it look shiny and moist.
Enjoy!
If you like this recipe and will replicate it, take a pic and share it on Facebook or Instagram and don’t forget to tag me and use the hashtag #slvrdlphnrecipes
by Penny Angeles-Tan | May 13, 2020 | Bon Appetit
Beef gyudon is one of my favorite Japanese dishes and for a long time, I have wanted to make this but never really got around to it until now.
I searched online for a beef gyudon recipe that I thought I would like to try and found this recipe by justonecookbook.com.
All recipes I have seen have all indicated the need for mirin and sake. Let’s face it, in ordinary times these ingredients are already difficult to find … more so now, with the quarantine going on. Therefore, I have found the need to substitute with what I already have at home.
- Instead of mirin, I used 1 part sugar with 2 parts rice wine vinegar.
- Instead of sake, I used white cooking wine.
In addition, it is now possible to buy beef that is sliced thin enough. Just ask the butcher for “sukiyaki” or bacon cut.
Below is the modified recipe. I doubled the quantity of the recipe I used as a reference as there are more people to feed at my house. 
My family enjoyed it, I hope you do, too. 
Beef Gyudon
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: Japanese
Keyword: donburi, Japanese, rice bowl
Servings: 6
Author: Penny Angeles-Tan
- 2 tbsps cooking oil
- 2 onions sliced into strip
- 700 grams beef sukiyaki/bacon cut
- 4 tsps sugar
For the sauce
- 2 tbsps light soy sauce
- 4 tbsps white cooking wine
- 8 tsps rice wine vinegar
- 4 tsps sugar
Mix the sauce ingredients in a bowl until the sugar is melted. Set aside.
Use a medium-sized pan or wok and heat it up to medium-high heat.
Place the oil on the pan and saute the onion until it is soft and translucent.
Add the beef and sugar. Mix and cook until the beef is no longer pink. Be careful not to overcook!
Add the sauce, mix, and simmer for 2 to 3 minutes.
Putting the rice bowl together
Your beef gyudon rice bowl is now ready to serve.
Some people like it with an egg, if that is the case there are two things you can do:
- right before preparing the rice bowls, pour the 6 beaten eggs into the beef and mix it.
- serve a raw egg with the rice bowl and have each person crack the egg over their own bowl and mix it themselves.
For the second option, this only works well if the rice and beef are freshly cooked/still hot.
Enjoy! We did. 🙂
If you like this recipe and will replicate it, take a pic and share it on Facebook or Instagram and don’t forget to tag me and use the hashtag #slvrdlphnrecipes
by Penny Angeles-Tan | May 11, 2020 | Events
Segundo, the 20th auction for Lhuillier-managed Casa de Memoria presents close to 300 lots of fine European objets d’art and collectibles. The online auction completes two days of offerings from the weekend of May 30 to 31 using Invaluable as its platform. Proceeds from the online event will support the construction of the emergency quarantine facility (EQF) at Sta. Ana Hospital, Manila.
The auction house joins other local art and culture venues as it presents a veritable selection that entices the connoisseurs who remain home with the Enhanced Community Quarantine. The curatorial team has put on display items—from portraiture to furnishings and silver—thus, enhancing a well-lived home style. The Casa De Memoria salutes the frontliners in this two-day virtual auction.
Spotlighted are artworks by three well-respected painters: Tabuena, Alcuaz, and Westendorp de Brias.
Still Life

Still Life by Romeo Tabuena

Still Life with Vase and Glass Center by Federico Aguilar Alcuaz
Romeo Tabuena’s (1921-2015) Still Life (Lot 002) is a tribute to the international artist’s affair with cubism, painted in 1995.
Still Life with Vase and Glass Center (Lot 026) by National Artist Federico Aguilar Alcuaz (1932-2011), is an oil on canvas still life by the painter, acknowledged as Philippine National Artist for Visual Arts, Painting, Sculpture and Mixed Media.
Summer Nights in Madrid by Betsy Westendorp de Brias

“Summer Nights in Madrid” by prolific painter Betsy Westendorp de Brias
Prolific painter Betsy Westendorp de Brias’ (b. 1927) “Summer Nights in Madrid” (Lot 024) finds its way to the Casa De Memoria auction book. The oil on canvas is reminiscent of her style. In an interview with Provenance Gallery owner Joanna Preysler for Metro Style, she notes “Betsy’s works are a soothing, healing balm—a much-needed treat for the soul and for the eyes especially in this time of chaos and disorder. She’s very constant and dedicated to her art. … She was born to be a painter. And she knew it. And she worked on it and she got where she wanted to get.”
Westendorp is a Lazo de Dama de la Orden de Isabel la Catolica awardee, bestowed by King Juan Carlos, and a Presidential Medal of Merit for Art and Culture grantee, given by former President Gloria M. Arroyo.
Lithograph by Pablo Picasso

Lithograph by Pablo Picasso
A unique offering that raises the Casa De Memoria diverse auction curation is a lithograph (Lot 009) by Spanish painter Pablo Picasso (1881-1973) of a historical poster of the exhibition “Sala Gaspar, Drawings by Picasso, April 1961,” with hand-made drawings by the artist. Signed in plate and dated 1961. In a limited edition of 500 copies. It will be remembered that on Auction 17, another Picasso was made available and sold at PHP 280,000.00.
Casa de Memoria’s Segundo Auction will be held on May 31, 2020, at Palacio de Memoria, 95 Roxas Boulevard, Brgy. Tambo, Paranaque City. Online bidding powered by Invaluable. Proceeds will go to funding the construction of an emergency quarantine facility (EQF) in Sta. Ana Hospital, Manila. For more information, email he***@***********ia.com or message +63 949 196 1813.
by Penny Angeles-Tan | May 11, 2020 | Awards and Competitions
Dreaming of becoming the next big pop star? Well, even in quarantine, you might just get the big break that will change your life forever.
Singer-actor Matteo Guidicelli will be setting up an online talent reality competition titled “The Pop Stage” to discover the next idol in the entertainment industry. The show will be presented by Popeyes in partnership with Viva Artists Agency.
“There are so many talented Filipinos, a lot of viral videos, a lot of crazy performances going around, but we want to make it legit. We want everyone in the world to see your skills and what you can do,” Guidicelli said during the online launch of Central Delivery, a new delivery service that also offers food items from Popeyes Philippines.
To join “The Pop Stage,” just visit www.thepopstage.ph and send a video of your audition piece. You may sing, dance, play instruments, do magic, or perform whatever talent worth showing off.
Of course, this once in a lifetime opportunity also comes with the most amazing prizes. The winner of “The Pop Stage” will receive a cash prize worth Php 1 million and a one-year contract with Viva Artists Agency.
Guidicelli explained that the entries will be deliberated by a panel of judges. Those who will be chosen will be featured on a weekly show that will be streamed both on The Pop Stage’s Facebook Page at @thepopstage and Matteo Guidicelli’s Facebook page at @matteog. No need for selected contestants to leave their homes for the weekly show – arrangements will be made so they can stream from their current locations.
All individuals or groups (maximum of 4 members) who are ages 13 to 25 years old are encouraged to send their audition tapes from May 9 to May 27, 2020.
For more details, you can check out www.thepopstage.ph and follow The Pop Stage’s Facebook and Instagram at @thepopstage and the hashtag #thepopstage.
by Penny Angeles-Tan | May 9, 2020 | Events
Happy Mother’s Day!
As the old adage goes, “Behind every great man there’s a great woman.” Mayor Francisco Domagoso or simply YORME, shares his heartwarming Mother’s Day message to a great woman behind his great success and to all the Filipino MOMS – the Real VIPs!
As the elected City Mayor of Manila, endearingly called by most Filipinos as Yorme, he never wavered amidst adversities hurled at him for taking several steps in making a better version of the city he fondly calls his home and crowning glory.
On this special occasion, Yorme encourages all Filipino moms to be stronger for their families while consciously maintaining a healthy work-life balance and to continue their selfless dedication amidst the uncertainties of this pandemic war – “Believe in yourself! You’ve got nothing to lose.”
How about making your mom feel that she’s the real VIP today? Discover a natural female hair loss treatment at https://bit.ly/2SjZ9wc
Formulated with 19 of nature’s finest ingredients, NOVUHAIR® offers a natural hair loss solution that helps address the early warning signs especially for those in search of a natural alopecia treatment – nothing doubtful compared to home remedies for hair loss, nothing worrisome versus chemical-based treatments and nothing disadvantageous, unlike most instant fiber hair loss solutions that provide temporary baldness cures. Find out more at www.novuhair.com
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by Penny Angeles-Tan | May 9, 2020 | Events
The U.S. space agency National Aeronautics Space Administration (NASA), European Space Agency (ESA), and Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) are inviting coders, entrepreneurs, scientists, designers, storytellers, makers, builders, artists, and technologists to participate in a virtual hackathon on May 30-31 dedicated to putting open data to work in developing solutions to issues related to the COVID-19 pandemic.
During the global Space Apps COVID-19 Challenge, participants from around the world will create virtual teams that – during a 48-hour period – will use Earth observation data to propose solutions to COVID-19-related challenges ranging from studying the coronavirus that causes COVID-19 and its spread to the impact the disease is having on the Earth system. Registration for this challenge opens in mid-May.
“There’s a tremendous need for our collective ingenuity right now,” said Thomas Zurbuchen, Associate Administrator for NASA’s Science Mission Directorate. “I can’t imagine a more worthy focus than COVID-19 on which to direct the energy and enthusiasm from around the world with the Space Apps Challenge that always generates such amazing solutions.”
The unique capabilities of NASA and its partner space agencies in the areas of science and technology enable them to lend a hand during this global crisis. Since the start of the global outbreak, Earth science specialists from each agency have been exploring ways to use unique Earth observation data to aid understanding of the interplay of the Earth system – on global to local scales – with aspects of the COVID-19 outbreak, including, potentially, our ability to combat it. The hackathon will also examine the human and economic response to the virus.
ESA will contribute data from the Sentinel missions (Sentinel-1, Sentinel-2, and Sentinel-5P) in the context of the European Copernicus program, led by the European Commission, along with data from Third Party contributing Missions, with a focus on assessing the impact on climate change and greenhouse gases, as well as impacts on the economic sector. ESA also is contributing Earth observation experts for the selection of the competition winners and the artificial-intelligence-powered EuroDataCube.
“EuroDatacube will enable the best ideas to be scaled up to a global level,” said Josef Aschbacher, Director of Earth Observation Programmes at ESA. “The pandemic crisis has a worldwide impact, therefore international cooperation and sharing of data and expertise with partners like NASA and JAXA seem the most suitable approach.”
JAXA is making Earth-observing data available from its satellite missions, including ALOS-2, GOSAT, GOSAT-2, GCOM-C, GCOM-W, and GPM/DPR.
“JAXA welcomes the opportunity to be part of the hackathon,” said JAXA Vice President Terada Koji. “I believe the trilateral cooperation among ESA, NASA, and JAXA is important to demonstrate how Earth observation can support global efforts in combating this unprecedented challenge.”
Space Apps is an international hackathon that takes place in cities around the world. Since 2012, teams have engaged with NASA’s free and open data to address real-world problems on Earth and in space. The COVID-19 Challenge will be the program’s first global virtual hackathon. Space Apps 2019 included more than 29,000 participants at 225 events in 71 countries, developing more than 2,000 hackathon solutions over the course of one weekend.
Pinoy developers used NASA’s free and open data to solve real-world problems on Earth and space.

Many Filipinos participated in this annual hackathon since 2016. Recently, a dengue mapping forecasting system was developed by data scientists from CirroLytix using satellite and climate data with the goal of addressing the sustainable development goals of the United Nations.
This web application, called Project AEDES won globally for the best use of data. “Earth observation data has the potential to be used in fighting epidemics and outbreaks threatening humanity nowadays, as well as to analyze its socio-economic impact,” according to software developer Michael Lance M. Domagas, who led the Philippine hackathon in collaboration with De La Salle University, PLDT, Department of Science and Technology, United Nations Development Programme, and the U.S. embassy. The very first Philippine winner used citizen science and environmental data to develop a smartphone application informing fishermen the right time to catch fish. ISDApp is currently being incubated at Animo Labs.
Space Apps is a NASA-led initiative organized globally in collaboration with Booz Allen Hamilton, Mindgrub, and SecondMuse. The next annual Space Apps Challenge is scheduled for October 2-4.
Registration opens on May 12. https://covid19.spaceappschallenge.org/
#SpaceApps #SpaceAppsPH
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