NANYANG now open in Glorietta 2

Are you looking for authentic yet affordable Southeast Asian delights? Nanyang is the place to be!

Nanyang Philippines recently opens its 13th branch in Glorietta 2, Ayala Center. Nanyang proudly offers all-day Asian favorites to satisfy our Asian food cravings.

It was my first time to go and eat at Nanyang because I thought the meals were expensive, but I was wrong. I was surprised that their delicious and filling meals start for as low as P248! I had a taste of their bestseller Laksa, a spicy noodle soup consisting of rice noodles with prawn, served in rich and spicy curry coconut milk base; and a Singaporean's national dish of Hainanese Chicken.

Hainanese Fried Chicken Rice, P268
One of Singapore's must-try dishes - moist and tender golden crispy chicken chop, served with fragrant rice cooked in rich chicken broth and paired with special chili-lime and fresh ginger dipping sauces. 

Homemade Nasi Lemak, P 248
Singapore's favorite- coconut rice served with boiled egg, anchovies, peanuts, sambal sauce, and golden crispy chicken chop.

Curry Chicken Rice, P248
Treat yourself to a Singaporean favorite, traditional Curry Chicken with rice. Rich in flavor and irresistibly tasty.

Laksa (Prawn), P268
Slurp up a steaming bowl of Signature Asian Delight - Laksa, a favorite amongst Singaporeans! Served in rich coconut graflavoredred with a variety of spices, it is simply irresistible! 

Hainanese Chicken Rice, P 268

Prawn Noodle Soup, P268

Nanyang Menu

Invite the whole family and friends and be flabbergasted with their Hainanese Chicken Rice, Curry Chicken with rice, and Laksa for an appetizing Asian treat.

📍 2nd Level ,Glorietta 2 , Ayala Center, San Lorenzo Makati City

(02) 70026193

09209896104

Welcome the Year of the Water Rabbit with Conti’s Delights for Good Luck

Another Lunar New Year celebration is upon us, and what celebration is complete without good food? Aside from a delicious dining experience, food is an important part of the Lunar New Year celebration as it is often associated with luck and fortune that you wish to have in the coming year.

If you’re looking to up your luck, welcome the Year of the Water Rabbit at Conti’s Bakeshop and Restaurant. The popular and well-loved homegrown brand founded more than 25 years ago by the Conti sisters of Batangas has an excellent menu of winsome meals and desserts that delight Pinoy tastes and at the same time are considered as magnets for a brighter, better future. 

No Lunar New Year celebration spread is complete without round food items. Instead of looking for 12 round fruits, why not add a cake to your table? You can’t go wrong with a Strawberry Shortcake from Conti’s. This strawberry and cream dream is the perfect attraction to your table. Not only is it round, it has the lucky color red, too! That’s two items ticked on your lucky food list.

In addition, this year Conti’s is offering special Do-It-Yourself Edible Bunny Cake Toppers for free on all orders of regular-sized Strawberry Shortcake to further level up the delight. DIY Edible Bunny Cake Toppers will be available on Lunar New Year weekend, January 20 - January 22, 2023.

Wishing for a prosperous year ahead? Fish dishes are known to symbolize prosperity and Conti’s has the mouth-watering Baked Salmon. If you’re one of many who wish for wealth in the new year, the Conti’s Shanghai Rolls should be on your menu, a staple during the Lunar New Year celebration because they symbolize wealth in Chinese culture.

If you want something festive on your table, the Conti’s Holiday Specials are still available. Ham Roll, Porchetta, or Chicken Relleno are the perfect dishes to round up your celebration spread. 

Have a fruitful start to your Lunar New Year at Conti’s. To fully enjoy your celebrations, bring the entire family and your most cherished friends and colleagues to any of the branches nationwide.

The delightful Conti’s menu is also available for delivery via Grab and Foodpanda. To know more, send a message to Conti’s Messenger, call 8580-8888, visit the website at www.contis.ph or check out the Conti’s Facebook (@contisph), Instagram (@contis_ph), and TikTok (@contisph) pages. Other pages bearing the name and images are fake. They do not in any way represent the brand. 

Beat the Sweltering Heat with the Midea 3-in-1 Stand Fan

The summer heat isn’t just felt during summer. It now extends all year long, with the “ber” months seemingly as hot as the summer months of March to May. 

This is why it is wise to invest in cooling appliances—the king of all being the air-conditioner.  Unfortunately, air-conditioning units are quite pricey, and having one at home generally means getting a costly electricity bill month after month after month.

Fortunately, there is an alternative to air-con: the inverter fan by Midea.

Midea, pronounced as “Mai – dia,” is among the world’s most renowned makers of electrical appliances—with a presence in over 60 countries worldwide, including here in the Philippines. And the inverter fan is one of several easy-to-use home solutions it offers. 

Yes, inverter technology isn’t just for air-conditioners, refrigerators, and freezers anymore. It is now being used even in electric fans as well. In other words, there is an inverter fan.

Like all other appliances that use inverter technology, the inverter fan also uses an inverter. The inverter is an innovative device that automatically controls the incoming electric current that powers the appliance, in turn reducing the appliance’s need to use its motor or compressor. As a result, the inverter effectively reduces the electricity consumption of the appliance—and makes it more durable at the same time as the motor or compressor isn’t worn out that easily.  

Those are the same benefits you stand to get with the Midea 3-in-1 Convertible Electric Fan. It is a desk fan, floor fan, and stand fan all in one, with five 16-inch blades for maximum cooling, a timer for greater user control, and 12-speed levels for a range of situations. 

The Midea 3-in-1 Convertible is packed with a variety of other features, including power-off memory, an oscillation function, built-in motor heat protection, and silent operation. This feature-rich electric fan also comes with a multi-function remote control, which means less standing and walking just to change speed levels. It even has a digital LED display so you can see exactly what settings the fan is at any time. 

The best part is that the Midea 3-in-1 Convertible Electric Fan uses the aforementioned inverter technology. And that elevates this Midea offering from standard to special—the kind that is perfect for the country’s hot, humid weather.

This unrelenting heat, incidentally, figures to persist in the years to come, partly due to global warming and partly because the Philippines is a tropical country. This simply means you need to prepare for hotter, more sweltering days ahead because they are coming.

The good news is you can beat the heat with the Midea 3-in-1 Convertible Electric Fan with inverter technology. It is the fan of the future—cool but quiet, sleek and stylish, and an energy and money saver.

Get yours now only at the official Midea website, https://www.midea.com/ph.   

The Smart and Easy Way of Cooking Your Noche Buena This Christmas

The holidays are always such a big eating season for everyone. It’s that one time of the year when we feel extra carefree about what we eat because seriously, have you really enjoyed Christmas without jumping from one banquet to another? 

But what if we tell you that you do not need to sacrifice healthy eating to enjoy the season? Even more, what if you find out that you can whip up your flavorful recipe in minutes in your own kitchen? 

Breville’s Smart Oven Air Fryer should be on every Christmas wishlist of all home cooks out there. Versatile, easy to use, and very durable, this oven from the premium home brand can give you the best of both worlds in terms of flavor and ease of cooking as you cruise through the holidays. 

One of the beauties of the Smart Oven Air Fryer is its ten cooking functions that can let you make to-die-for crispy treats and scrumptious slow-cooked meals. Toast, bake, roast, grill, and of course air fry without any fuss while shortening your cooking time. Equipped with Dual Speed Convection, this kitchen partner speeds up the cooking process by raising hotter air while sinking colder one. The result: 30 percent reduced cooking time as compared to regular ovens and air fryers! 

Richie Zamora, the vlogger behind The Pickiest Eater in the World makes a perfect case for this when he prepared a full spread of TV chow snacks for his family to enjoy in minutes. He shares, “All these amazing snacks were cooked in the air fryer with absolutely no oil. Everything was cooked to a beautiful crisp, but you don’t even realize that they aren’t deep fried.” 

Let’s Eat Pare also showed how fast and easy it is to make restaurant-level fried crispy wings with Breville Smart Oven Air Fryer. In just 20 minutes, they were able to make a big batch of chicken wings in sour cream flavor! You can check out their recipe here if you want to try their version.

Of course, preparing healthier versions of dishes is another thing that makes this kitchen must-have from Breville essential. Air frying significantly reduces—if not totally removes—the use of oil in cooking, which means that you consume fewer calories and prevent weight gain and obesity when you air-fried food. Fortunately, for the Smart Oven Air Fryer, you don’t need to worry about sacrificing flavors just to go the healthier route. Chef Beng proves this when she made a Pinoy-style whole fried chicken using it. 

“Normally, I will have this deep fried, but using an air fryer is apparently so much better as the chicken is amazingly crispy, juicy, and full of flavor. Not to mention, this is a way healthier process than deep frying.”

She also shares that she loves the precision with time and temperature that this Air Fryer provides. “Just press a function and it automatically shows how long and high the cooking process will be.” This is made possible by Breville’s patented Element IQ System which is a smart algorithm that decides the ideal cooking environment for a range of different cooking techniques. 

The Breville Smart Oven Air Fryer is definitely the kitchen partner to have this holiday season if you want to enjoy healthy, delicious meals minus the fuss. As Richie, Chef Beng, and Let’s Eat Pare say, respectively: 

“The Breville Smart Oven Air Fryer proves that cooking doesn’t need to be greasy to be delicious, and preparing food with less guilt doesn’t mean less flavors either.” 

“It has 10 cooking functions which makes it a value-for-money purchase. I totally love it and I highly recommend this smart kitchen appliance.”

“It’s the ultimate kitchen tool you need to put on your Christmas shopping list, pare!” 

What are you waiting for? Add the Breville Smart Oven Air Fryer to your holiday wishlist now. To know more about the product, visit the Breville website and follow their Facebook and Instagram pages.

Cataract no more: 14-year old patient sees clearly again after EyeSite surgery

According to Dr. Lingao, the machines in the new EyeSite Mandaluyong operating room are more advanced. In particular, the one for removing cataract is more sensitive because of the parameters it requires medical professionals to follow.

“Wow! Nakakakita na uli nang malinaw ang anak ko!” 

Pilar Armina Bartolome was ecstatic after her son, Lucas, completed a surgery that removed cataracts in both his eyes.   

The 14-year old was the first patient to undergo an eye surgery in the newly opened operating facility of EyeSite, a full-service eye care medical clinic in Greenfield District, Mandaluyong City. 

A cataract is a cloudy area in the lens of the eye that causes the eye lens to turn to white or change color and the vision to blur. The condition usually affects people over the age of 60 but can also develop in children. Childhood cataracts could either be congenital or related to other medical conditions. During a cataract operation, the cataract is removed and the lens is replaced with an artificial one. 

Lucas’s cataracts were diagnosed when he was 10. During that time the simplest activity became a challenge for him. He had to be guided when taking the stairs or walking in public places. There was even a time when he almost broke a mall's glass door because he walked straight to it, thinking it was a hole. In school, Lucas had to pull objects and books close to his face just so he could see them. 

Although Lucas’s parents consulted a few eye doctors in other prominent hospitals in Manila, they chose EyeSite Mandaluyong because its sole specialty put their main worries to rest. 

"Minor ang anak namin, tapos critical pa ang mata kaya takot kami,” Mrs. Bartolome explains. “Gusto ng husband ko manigurado. Gusto niya sa eye specialists na talaga. So when pandemic lockdowns eased, pumunta kami sa EyeSite for our son's cataract removal.”

Dr. Michelle Lingao, the ophthalmology surgeon who performed the cataract procedure on Lucas in EyeSite, is a pediatric ophthalmologist who also specializes in adult strabismus, comprehensive ophthalmology, and ocular genetics. She said when the nurse guided Lucas to the recovery room after the second of two operations, he kept pointing at things he was possibly seeing more clearly for the first time. 

“He kept on asking, ‘Uy, what’s this?’” Dr. Lingao recounts. “He was very jolly and inquisitive, asking a lot of questions about his eyes. Even minutes before surgery, he kept talking about a lot of things like his favorite TV shows and anime. He was very brave and cooperative during the procedure.”

Lucas completed a 2-visit procedure in a span of two months. His left eye was the first to be operated on in August 2022. The second procedure, for the right eye, was done in October to allow enough time for the left eye to regain full function.

Mrs. Bartolome almost immediately began to see the great improvement in Lucas’ eyesight after completion of the surgery. 

"Ang color daw ng leaves is green, at ang color daw ng car namin is totally black,” she notes. “Na-appreciate niya na lahat ng nakikita niya.” 

EyeSite continues to provide post-surgery care to Lucas, which is projected to last a year. 

Dr. Michelle Lingao is one of EyeSite’s pediatric ophthalmologists. Her subspecialties are Adult Strabismus, Comprehensive Ophthalmology and Ocular Genetics.

According to Dr. Lingao, the machines in the new EyeSite Mandaluyong operating rooms are more advanced. In particular, the one for removing cataract is more sensitive because of the parameters it requires medical professionals to follow. In addition, the OR maintains a strict level of cleanliness to make young or adult patients feel more safe when undergoing a procedure. 

"It's more sensitive that it can detect the inside part of the eye to make sure everything is in balance while you're doing the surgery,” she notes. “The artificial lenses it uses for patients also have higher quality compared to several years back, making people see better.”

By opening its new operating facility to kids and adults needing sight-saving procedures like cataract surgery and glaucoma surgery, EyeSite Mandaluyong has firmly positioned itself as a one-stop shop for all eye care needs.

EyeSite Mandaluyong is a one-stop shop for all eye care needs, offering a 15% off promo on selected eye surgeries and procedures until January 17, 2023.

EyeSite Mandaluyong is a joint venture between the Asian Eye Institute and RelianceUnited, a company under United Laboratories (Unilab) that aligns with Unilab's mission to provide “Trusted Quality Healthcare.” The clinic directly addresses the changing health care needs of  Filipinos in the new normal and its services include general ophthalmology, pediatric ophthalmology, and optical retail.

For consultations and other services, the clinic can be contacted via mobile number (0966) 9501-464 or visited at Level C, Williams Center, Williams St., corner Mayflower St., Greenfield District, Mandaluyong City. 

EyeSite Mandaluyong is offering a 15% off promo on selected eye surgeries and procedures until January 17, 2023. 

For more information about EyeSite’s #SerbisyongSulitAlagangMaaasahan, please visit eyesitemandaluyong.com. 

Buy 1, Get 1 blender, food steamer & more as low as ₱20 in S&R Treats 99% Off

No S&R membership card required in exclusive MetroMart sale

Naughty or nice, with membership card or none, everyone is welcome to awesome discount deals in the S&R Treats 99% Off, exclusively via MetroMart this December 16-19, 2022.

The S&R Treats 99% Off, exclusively via MetroMart, will have various items available at a big discount within a limited time slot per day. These items include Spam Luncheon Meat, Member’s Selection Fruit Cocktail, Planters Cheez Curls, Hershey’s Syrup, Pasta Toscana products, and many more.

There is also a special flash sale of kitchen appliances available at noontime for each day of the S&R Treats 99% Off, and sold in Buy 1, Take 1 bundles, too. The featured items are from top brands like Kuchenluxe, Blakk, and Baumann, and are also at 99% off discount.

Please see the S&R Treats 99% Off itineraries below:

*Sale items are subject to availability in Shopwise and Landmark branches.

Customers can also double down on the discounts with Payday Specials, running this Dec 15-18, 2022. By using codes DECPAYDAY 300, DECPAYDAY200, and DECPAYDAY100, shoppers may also avail of ₱300, ₱200 and ₱100, respectively. This promo is valid for ALL Users, for a one-time redemption within the promo period, and applicable across all stores, terms and conditions apply.

The S&R Treats 99% Off, exclusively via MetroMart, are applicable to New and Existing Users of MetroMart. An S&R membership is not required for online orders via MetroMart. A minimum spend of only ₱2,000 is required in order to avail the discounted items. Only completed checkout of orders within the scheduled day and time can avail the sale items.

The S&R Treats 99% Off is available in participating branches of S&R, and can be availed with or without a membership card. The Payday Specials promos are available across all stores via the MetroMart app and website. MetroMart’s online delivery service is available all over Metro Manila and key locations throughout the Philippines, including Baguio, Pangasinan, Batangas, Davao, Cavite, Cebu, Iloilo, and more.

“The countdown to Christmas is at its closest ever, and the MetroMart family are very pleased to provide such great deals to all Filipino families for the holidays. We can celebrate the spirit of giving and togetherness, and welcome the new year, too. We’ll definitely have so many more great discounts and promo events like this slated for 2023, so be on the lookout and ready to seize those deals!” MetroMart CEO and co-founder Steffano Fazzini said.

MetroMart is the #1 online grocery delivery service in the Philippines. Our grocery partners include S&R (with or no membership card required),  Robinsons Supermarket, Landmark, The Marketplace, Shopwise, All Day Supermarket, Merrymart, Super8 Grocery Warehouse, Ever Supermarket, UltraMega Supermarket, and over 500+ specialty store retailers like Pet Express, No Brand, Baby Company, Toy Kingdom, Toys”R”Us, National Book Store, Office Warehouse, Southstar Drug and AllDay Rx. Customers can order from their favorite stores on the MetroMart app and have it delivered to their door in 2 hours! For more updates on MetroMart, like and follow us on Facebook, Instagram and TikTok at @metromartph. Order groceries online or download the app via https://bit.ly/DownloadNowMM .

BDO Bags Asia’s Top Sustainability Advocate and the Industry Champion of the year for the 2nd Time

BDO Unibank Inc. (BDO) was named Industry Champion of the Year and Top Sustainability Advocate in Asia, both for the second time at the 2022 Asia Corporate Excellence & Sustainability (ACES) Awards in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

The Industry Champion award is presented to companies that have a distinct competitive advantage, set industry trends, and have commendable best practices in place. Winners in this category have shown the ability to evolve the focus of their enterprises along with the dynamic changes of the industries they serve to sustain as market leaders.

BDO is the country’s largest bank in terms of total assets, loans, deposits and trust funds under management. The Bank has the country’s largest distribution network, with over 1,600 consolidated operating branches and more than 4,500 ATMs nationwide. It also has 16 international offices in Asia, Europe, North America and the Middle East. The Bank also offers extensive digital banking solutions to make banking easier, faster, and more secure for its clients.

“This recognition embodies BDO’s commitment to sustainability for the benefit of all its stakeholders, its customers and the hard work of its employees who are at the core of our business. We believe that our success as an institution is dependent on the growth and resiliency of the ecosystem we operate in.” said Nestor V. Tan, President and CEO of BDO Unibank. 

BDO also won the Top Sustainability Advocate in Asia award for the second straight year. The Bank recognizes the critical role of financial institutions to manage its environmental and social risks and finance the country’s transition to a low-carbon economy. In 2021, BDO financed a mix of 54 renewable energy projects for wind, solar, geothermal, hydro, and biomass energy sources accounting for 2,230 megawatts of total installed capacity nationwide. BDO continues to expand its Sustainable Finance initiatives, in place since 2010, towards funding new and existing renewable energy projects to increase their capacity, and support the country’s avoidance of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. The Bank also finances energy efficiency projects and green buildings.

The Asia Corporate Excellence & Sustainability Awards (ACES) recognizes successful companies and individuals in Asia across two main domains; leadership and corporate social responsibility. The awards value and recognize services and achievements of businesses, both large and small, national and international, for their esteemed contributions to their communities and the world.

The ACES Awards is organized annually by MORS Group, an organization committed to assisting companies, corporate leaders, and eminent industrialists share a platform to exhibit leadership and sustainability excellence.

 

BDO is regulated by the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas with contact number (+632) 8708-7087 and with email address consumeraffairs@bsp.gov.ph, and webchat at www.bsp.gov.ph. Deposits are insured by PDIC up to P500,000 per depositor.

For concerns, please visit any BDO branch nearest you, or contact us thru our 24x7 hotline (+632) 8631-8000 or email us via callcenter@bdo.com.ph.

BDO starts mentorship of out-of-school youth in cloud services

BDO Unibank welcomed the first batch of on-the-job trainees on cloud-related work as part of its support to the collaboration of YouthWorks PH and Philippine Business Education (PBEd) with Amazon Web Services (AWS), which aims to give free cloud computing skills training for 600 unemployed and out-of-school youths across the Philippines via AWS re/Start. 

The Bank has committed the expertise of its experienced IT professionals to train 100 youths on cloud services, infrastructure and network monitoring, system administration, low-risk security operation activities, SIT/UAT testing, and automation scripting.

This December, the first batch will undergo a three-month mentorship and afterward, be eligible for employment opportunities in BDO. But before starting their onsite training with the Bank, the trainees completed remote mentoring, and employability skills and technical-vocational training with AWS re/Start in Quezon City last month.

“BDO is committed to delivering products and services that exceed customer expectations. As we take our financial services to the next level with the use of cloud technologies, it is vital that we have the right people for the job. Cloud talents trained by AWS re/Start through YouthWorks PH will play a critical role toward this big step towards the future,” said BDO Unibank President and CEO Nestor Tan during the contract-signing event.

BDO is the only bank to be part of this collaborative initiative with AWS and YouthWorks PH, a private-sector driven youth employability program of United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and PBEd. Other partners include technology startups PROUDCLOUD and Launchgarage.

NEXT GENERATION. BDO Unibank proudly supports the collaboration between Philippine Business Education (PBEd) and Amazon Web Services (AWS) by providing on-the-job training on cloud-related services to participating unemployed and out-of-school youth across the country through YouthWorks Ph and AWS re/Start.

In the photo are (from left): BDO President and CEO Nestor V. Tan, US Embassy in the Philippines Chargé d'affaires Heather Variava, PBEd Executive Director Love Basillote, AWS Philippines Country Head Stephen Thomas Misa, USAID/Philippines Mission Director Ryan Washburn, and LaunchGarage COO Jojo Flores.

Bdo Insure Offers Protection From Dengue Virus

More Filipinos this year caught the dengue virus than the same time last year. Based on the Department of Health’s (DOH) report, there have been 128,346 dengue cases in the Philippines from January 1 to August 20, 2022, 152% higher than the 50,982 cases recorded during the same period the previous year. More dengue fatalities were also registered this year with 422 from 179 in 2021.

BDO Insure recently started to offer an affordable dengue insurance plan for their and their family’s financial protection. For a premium amounting to P300 per year, Plan A provides cash assistance worth P20,000 when diagnosed with dengue. Meanwhile, Plan B provides cash assistance worth P40,000 for an annual premium of P500.

“As an insurance brokerage, we understand the medical insurance needs of our Filipino clients. Through the dengue insurance plans we offer in partnership with trustworthy insurance providers, we aim to protect our clients from potential financial losses due to dengue and be with them every step of the way, from purchasing the product to claiming its benefits,” said Ma. Theresa L. Tan, General Manager of BDO Insure.

Dengue insurance can easily be purchased via BDO Insure’s online channel which can be accessed using any mobile device, laptop, or desktop computer: https://www.bdo.com.ph/bdoinsure/dengue .

Earlier this year, BDO Insure started offering financial and emergency medical protection to travelers through its comprehensive travel insurance plans with COVID-19 coverage. The travel insurance plans include coverage for emergency medical treatment for COVID-19, travel inconveniences benefits, and access to a 24/7 emergency travel assistance hotline. Coverage varies and may be availed for domestic and international travel.

BDO Insure is a registered trademark of BDO Insurance Brokers, Inc., an insurance broker licensed and supervised by the Insurance Commission of the Philippines.

Clients can email at bdo-insure@bdo.com.ph or call at +63 (2) 8838-2364 or 1800-10-8382364 (Domestic Toll-free; available Mondays to Fridays, except holidays from 8AM-6PM). They can visit BDO branches where representatives are based.

Try this Healthy Recipe for Noche Buena from The Goodwill Market

The holidays mean indulging in good food to celebrate traditions with family and friends. However, having too many rich foods may take a toll on your health. Serving healthy alternatives at your get-togethers can ensure that you are providing nutritious and delicious options that everyone can enjoy without missing out on the festivities.

The Goodwill Market shares this paella recipe by Chef Joel Tan Navarro that uses Duru Bulgur instead of rice. It packs more than twice the fiber and four times as much folate from bulgur, plus the umami goodness of mushrooms and the heart-healthy properties of olive oil.

Mushroom Truffle Paella (Duru Bulgur’s Vegetarian Paella)

Ingredients:

✓2 tbsp. Umbria Original Truffle Sauce

✓1 cup Duru Bulgur coarse

✓A drizzle of Umbria Tartufi White Truffle flavored oil

✓1/2 cup shitake mushrooms fresh

✓1/2 cup shitake mushrooms dried

✓1/2cup white button mushrooms

✓1/2 cup portobello mushrooms

✓1/2 cup arugula

✓1/2 cup olive oil

✓1/2 cup onions

✓2 cups vegetable stock

✓Salt

✓Pepper

Preparation:

1. Soak dried shitake mushrooms in hot water and let them bloom. Set aside.

2. Prepare, wash and cut other mushrooms and set aside.

3. Cut onions and set aside.

4. Wash the arugula and trim it into small pieces.

Cooking Time:

1. Heat olive oil in a paella pan

2. Brown fresh shitake mushrooms and set aside. It will be used as a garnish.

3. Add a little bit of olive oil then sauté onions.

4. Add the rest of the mushrooms until brown.

5. Add the truffle salsa.

6. Add Duru Bulgur coarse and sauté for about 1 to 2 minutes.

7. Then add vegetable stock and let it simmer and reduce.

8. When reduced, place the fresh shitake mushrooms as garnish.

9. Cover with foil to continue cooking and adjust the heat to medium-low.

10. When the bulgur is cooked, crank up the heat to achieve the socoratt (crispy bottom layer of

bulgur).

11. When done, take it off the heat and garnish it with arugula. Serve.

Switch things up this Noche Buena with this filling and festive paella, made with Duru Bulgur that is conveniently available at The Goodwill Market online store. Shop smart and have your healthy goodies delivered directly to your doorstep through www.goodwill.market.

BDO Wins Top Investment House and Arranger

In Photo (From Right to Left): Sonny Marpuri, First Vice President of BDO Singapore branch accepts BDO Unibank’s award as Philippines’ Top Investment House and BDO Capital’s plaque as Top Arranger for Corporate Bonds at The Asset Benchmark Research Awards 2022 in Singapore. He is joined by Gail Pineda and Angelique Aquino from BDO Unibank’s Trust and Investments Group who have received the Most Astute Investor Awards.

ABOUT BDO UNIBANK, INC.

BDO is a full-service universal bank which provides a wide range of corporate and retail services such as traditional loan and deposit products, treasury, trust banking, investment banking, private banking, rural banking, cash management, leasing and finance, remittance, insurance, cash cards, credit cards, and online and non-online brokerage services. 

BDO has the country’s largest distribution network, with over 1,500 consolidated operating branches and more than 4,500 ATMs nationwide. It also has 16 international offices (including full-service branches in Hong Kong and Singapore) in Asia, Europe, North America and the Middle East.

The Bank also offers digital banking solutions to make banking easier, faster, and more secure for its clients.

BDO ranked as the largest bank in terms of total assets, loans, deposits and trust funds under management based on published statements of condition as of March 31, 2022. For more information, please visit www.bdo.com.ph 

BDO Towers Valero, 8741 Paseo de Roxas, Salcedo Village, Makati City 1226, Philippines

Tel (+632) 8840-7000 • bdo.com.ph

BDO is regulated by the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas with contact number (+632) 8708-7087 and with email address consumeraffairs@bsp.gov.ph, and webchat at www.bsp.gov.ph. Deposits are insured by PDIC up to P500,000 per depositor.

For concerns, please visit any BDO branch nearest you, or contact us thru our 24x7 hotline (+632) 8631-8000 or email us via callcenter@bdo.com.ph.

PCPPI champions quality excellence culture

Quality assurance and food safety are at the core of Pepsi-Cola Products Philippines, Inc.’s (PCPPI) operations. The organization recently reinforced their commitment to uphold excellence in line with PCPPI and PepsiCo’s observance of World Quality Month this November.

“Customer satisfaction drives our commitment to excellence at PCPPI. We encourage employees to perform beyond expectations in line with our vision to be the country’s leading beverage company,” said PCCPI president and CEO Frederick D. Ong.

Compliance to stringent safety regulations ensures quality at PCPPI. All facilities received the Safety Seal Certification from the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), certifying all plants and offices practice public health standards and occupational safety and health standards set by the government. PCPPI was also recognized for its compliance and enforcement efforts of COVID-19 health standards.

Accreditation and Certification

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is among the various organizations conducting regular audits on PCPPI’s facilities. Aside from ensuring compliance to food safety regulations, the FDA reviews PCPPI’s implementation of Current Good Manufacturing Practices (cGMPs) and compliance to the provisions of the facilities’ Licenses to Operate.

Currently, six of PCPPI plants have retained their Food Safety System Certification (FSSC) V5.1 through a comprehensive audit by reputable testing, inspection and certification authority SGS in early 2022.  PCPPI’s plant in San Fernando, Pampanga also completed the first McDonald’s Social Welfare Accountability (SWA) and Supplier Quality Management System Audit (SQMS).

Quality and Food Safety Training

At PCPPI, development programs are in place to support ongoing learning for employees and business partners. Since 2015, over 1,800 employees and partners have enrolled in Level 1 Capability Building Program courses to broaden their understanding about quality assurance and food safety. Courses include Food Fraud Mitigation, Vulnerability Risk Assessment, and Statistical Process Control.

PCPPI’s pool of PepsiCo-certified site expert trainers have also conducted nearly 5,000 training hours. Certified training leaders have also completed courses focused on improving product quality and productivity.

Fostering Values through Engagement

Among PCPPI’s initiatives to further enhance the company-wide commitment to excellence are regular communication on policy updates, as well as best practice sharing across teams. Employees also undergo refresher courses on managing customer feedback in compliance with national regulations.

The organization’s focus on ensuring product and service quality goes beyond mere process. PCPPI upholds excellence as one of its core values. “Excellence is a shared responsibility. By holding ourselves accountable to our standards, we aim to continuously inspire our employees to remain steadfast in our commitment to delivering the best value to all our stakeholders,” added Ong.

PCPPI is the exclusive manufacturer of PepsiCo beverages in the country. It sells well-known brands such as Pepsi-Cola, Mountain Dew, 7-Up, Mirinda, Mug, Gatorade, Tropicana, Lipton, Milkis, Aquafina, and Premier.

Unli ang Saya this Christmas with J&T Express PH’s Huge Shipping Discount!

Leading e-commerce global delivery service J&T Express is giving away big discounts as an early Christmas gift to their customers nationwide. Get huge savings on shipping fees when you send your parcels via J&T Express this holiday season using its Unlisaya promo with a voucher discount, available on their mobile application.

The promo is offered to all J&T Express customers—especially the micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs). Customers may pay as low as 39 pesos when they ship via J&T Express using Unlisaya promo with a J&T Express voucher. To avail of the promo, customers, whether walk-in or pick-up, must choose the Unlisaya promo and claim the daily voucher on the J&T Express mobile app.

“It is undeniable that most of us will purchase our Christmas gifts online. With the holiday craze coming, we are offering our lowest shipping fee yet as we hope to help lessen the shipping cost for consumers and to attract more businesses for the MSMEs. This is our early Christmas gift for everyone, whether our regular customers, business owners, or even those who ship via J&T Express for the first time. Now, they may enjoy shopping online for Christmas without worrying about the shipping fee,” says Zoe Chi, Vice President of J&T Express Philippines.

The promo aims to ease the hassle of paying high-shipping costs as Unlisaya offers a pouch-based rate fee, regardless of the weight of the item/s. Together with the Unlisaya promo and the J&T Express voucher discount, customers will save more budget for their Christmas shopping because of the affordable shipping rate.

J&T Express Philippines’ Unlisaya Promo is ongoing throughout the Christmas season, avail yours today!

Visit the nearest J&T Express or book a free pick-up via the mobile application or website to use the promo. To learn more about the services offered by J&T Express, log on to www.jtexpress.ph or visit www.facebook.com/jntexpressphilippines. 

PCPPI wins Corporate Excellence Award at Asia Pacific Enterprise Awards

President and CEO Frederick D. Ong honored with Master Entrepreneur Award

Pepsi-Cola Products Philippines, Inc. (PCPPI) wins at APEA 2022. The photo shows PCPPI president and chief executive officer Frederick D. Ong proudly showing the company’s Corporate Excellence Award and his Master Entrepreneur Award from the Asia Pacific Enterprise Awards 2022. The annual recognition program honors the region’s best in business performance towards sustainable growth.

Pepsi-Cola Products Philippines, Inc. (PCPPI), the exclusive manufacturer of PepsiCo beverages in the country, was presented the Corporate Excellence Award at the Asia Pacific Enterprise Awards (APEA) 2022 for achieving operational and entrepreneurial excellence. Held last October 20, 2022 in Penang, Malaysia, the APEA ceremony also honored PCPPI President and Chief Executive Officer Frederick D. Ong with the Master Entrepreneur Award. This honor highlights industry trailblazers whose strong entrepreneurial characters inspire up-and-coming leaders.

Since joining PCPPI in 2020, Ong has led the organization in embracing digitization and organizational transformation. He was instrumental in driving the renewal of PCPPI’s go-to-market strategy and the strengthening of its distribution network and expansion of PCPPI’s product portfolio.

PCPPI has also demonstrated its resilience and agility in the face of adversity. Even at the height of the global pandemic, PCPPI remained true to its sustainability commitment with clear focus on developing talent, ensuring profitability, and being responsible stewards of the environment. The organization continued to drive operational efficiencies while ensuring employee well-being. PCPPI also supports health and safety initiatives in the local communities where it operates.

Ong attributed PCPPI’s success to the organization’s initiatives to uphold the ICARE (Integrity and Innovation, Care and Respect, and Excellence and Empowerment) values in how it conducts business and the manner in which employees interact and collaborate.

“Despite recent challenges, PCPPI‘s commitment to our values and our vision remains strong,” said Ong. “We extend our appreciation to the Asia Pacific Enterprise Awards for recognizing our contributions to the country’s sustainable growth. These awards motivate us at PCPPI to continue driving business growth without compromise to our commitments to our stakeholders,” he added.

APEA is a regional recognition program spearheaded by non-government organization Enterprise Asia. The annual awards honor organizations and leaders that demonstrate remarkable performance and leadership while remaining true to their social responsibilities.

Aside from the most recent accolades from APEA, Ong was recently named among the Top 50 Rising Tigers in the Asia Pacific by the Asia Leaders Awards. PCPPI has also received the 2022 Golden Globe Tigers Awards for Best Change Management Initiative (for Project SWIFT) and Excellence in the Production of Learning Content

(for the GREAT Playbook, PCPPI’s guide to the new normal).

PCPPI is the exclusive manufacturer of well-known beverage brands in the Philippines: Pepsi-Cola, Mountain Dew, 7-Up, Mirinda, Mug, Gatorade, Tropicana, Lipton, Sting, Premier, Milkis, and Aquafina.