Wednesday, October 30, 2019

Why GCash is planting trees at the Ipo Watershed



Earlier this year, Manila was gripped by a water crisis. At its peak, large parts of Metro Manila had zero water supply, prompting water rationing from local governments and concessionaires. There were viral videos of condominium dwellers fetching water from their pools and barangay residents fighting around water trucks. 

It was traced to the late onset of the rainy season, coupled with demand that has outgrown available infrastructure. Much was heard about the then declining water supply at the Angat Dam, Metro Manila’s main water source, and the La Mesa Dam, the emergency reservoir.

But there wasn’t much talk about the Ipo Watershed, the deforestation of which is believed to be one of the root causes of depleted water supply in the reservoirs. 

The Ipo watershed was declared a protected area by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) but forest cover in the watershed is now only at 40%, a drastic drop from 85% several years ago, according to WWF-Philippines. 

Metro Manila relies on the Angat-Umiray-Ipo watershed system for nearly all of its water supply (98 percent, to be exact). This makes it imperative to prevent the watershed’s further degradation, which has been blamed on human activities such as illegal logging and charcoal-making by illegal settlers in the area. 

The Philippines’ leading mobile wallet GCash has partnered with WWF-Philippines for the reforestation of the Ipo watershed, aiming to plant 365,000 trees in a year. The partnership launched GCash Forest in June, a feature in the GCash app that allows users to plant trees at the Ipo watershed using green energy points. 

Green energy points are earned through frequent use of the app in transactions such as scan to pay and bank transfers, among others. Green energy may also be earned through shifting to more environment-friendly everyday practices, including switching to reusable food containers and utensils in place of single-use plastics. 

On Oct. 12, GCash brought its first batch of tree-planters to the Ipo watershed to plant yakal trees within the 300 hectares that GCash has adopted for GCash Forest in Norzagaray, Bulacan. These were GCash users who had earned over 20,000 green energy points. 

WWF-Philippines will monitor the growth of trees planted by GCash and identify other native tree species suitable for planting in the watershed. 

Through GCash Forest, GCash users are able to do good by Mother Earth while at the same time helping ensure water supply for themselves and future generations.

Thursday, October 24, 2019

J's Diamond Grand Launch at Ayala Malls Manila Bay



J's Diamond Grand Launch
at Ayala Malls, Manila Bay 


Grand Launch of J's Diamond Ayala Malls, Manila Bay Flagship branch (from left to right (Marion Uno, Noah, Samuel, J's Diamond Executives, Enzo, P.rinz, Sage Nathan and Andrej Euan.

Last October 17, 2019, J's Diamond a renowned jewelry brand that originated in Hong Kong and has established itself in the Philippines since 2012  held a grand opening of its fourth boutique, in one of the luxurious malls in the country, Ayala Malls Manila Bay.

The flagship store presented a sensational showcase of their latest captivating designs. Their new boutique possesses the unintimidating yet modish atmosphere, emanating the millennial vibe. It is designed to mirror the magnificence of their modern jewelry collection and to shine a light on their flawless creations that are well-crafted by professional artisans. 

J's Diamond Grand Launch at Ayala Malls, Manila Bay Ribbon Cutting by J's Diamond Executives.

J’s Diamond initially started with an exquisite collection of timeless pieces of rings tailored for engagement and wedding occasions. It has been patronized by customers for its specialty in bridal accessories and for the refined and sophisticated craftsmanship of its jewelry pieces.

J's Diamond Grand Launch
at Ayala Malls, Manila Bay 

The stylish and classy jewelry pieces are always fashioned to celebrate the gift of love. Each piece is purposely created to symbolize the different values – a love that lasts for a lifetime, a joy that is profound, an undying devotion, and steadfast loyalty and fidelity. 

Find a treasure trove of bedazzling pieces of jewelry that you will forever adore only in J’s Diamond.  

Visit Js Diamond branches at Lucky Chinatown, SM  Dasmarinas, LSM Southmall and  Ayala Malls, Manila Bay.

J's Diamond Grand Launch at Ayala Malls, Manila Bay 



Tuesday, October 22, 2019

WHITE CHAMPORADO




Ingredients:

½ cup glutinous rice, rinsed well.
5 cups water
1 pc pandan leaf, tied (optional)
1 pc125ml NESTLÉ® All Purpose Cream
½ small can condensed milk (108g)
¼ cupsugar
4 tbspMILO® powder

Preparation:

1. Simmer glutinous rice in water with pandan (optional) while covered for 45 minutes. Stir occasionally.

2. Stir in NESTLÉ® All Purpose Cream, condensed milk, and sugar.

3. Pour into serving bowls and top with MILO® powder. Serve warm.

Sunday, October 20, 2019

Celebrate With The Whole Fam At Kidzania Manila’s “Halloween Funfair”



On its greatest Halloweek yet, KidZania Manila transforms into a ‘carnival’ for a grand “Halloween FunFair,” giving families a lively bonding experience from October 29 to November 3. 

BGC’s premier play city holds thrilling games for this year’s All Hallow’s Eve celebration, incorporating carnival games like buzz wire, target shooting, tic tac toe, and ring toss for non-spooky, wholesome activities for everyone.     

There will be a Treat Jamboree exclusive for BKidZanian CitiZens where kids, with the help of their parents, can get as many treats as they can within a specified amount of time. Expect goodies from event partners McDonald’s, Milo, Milo Nuggets, Jack ‘n Jill Chiz Curls, Quake Overload, Presto, Cream-O, Magic Creams, X.O., Dynamite, Lush, Goldilocks, and Oishi Lava Chips. 

Adventure-seekers, meanwhile, will be thrilled to become astounding performers, splendid artists, magnificent tightrope walkers, and more as the jobs are tweaked for the circus at many KidZania establishments.

Come in colorful costumes or dress up as your favorite non-scary characters for the Halloween costume contest happening on Oct. 31 (Thursday). The Best Boy in Costume and Best Girl in Costume will receive cool prizes from Toy Kingdom and Jack n’ Jill, while the Best Family in Costume will win an overnight stay for two adults and two kids in Seda BGC. 

The Halloweek celebration is one of the well-loved festivities at KidZania Manila, one of the world’s most inventive, most awarded, and fastest-growing kids’ educational entertainment concepts. It operates under ABS-CBN Themed Experiences Inc., a subsidiary of the country’s leading media and entertainment company that seeks to bring unique Kapamilya experiences in engaging and interactive themed attractions.

Want to take full advantage of the weeklong fun? Get the Halloween FunFair Pass (P3,740), an unlimited pass for one adult and one kid valid for six days from Oct. 29 to Nov. 3. For more details, visit manila.kidzania.com or follow the Play City’s social media accounts (Facebook & Instagram) @kidzaniamanila.

Sunday, October 13, 2019

Banana Kitkat Ref Cake


Running out of ideas for merienda? Yesterday, I whipped up a delicious and creamy snack for the family - Banana Kitkat Ref Cake.

Simple yet special because it is made with love and made even more special with the New Nestle All Purpose Cream 125ml pack. Yes. The brand we use in fiestas, holidays and special gatherings Nestle All Purpose Cream is available in a smaller pack for simple feasts to cap off daily wins of the family.

There are a lot of creamy creations at www.createwithcream.ph Check it out now! It's so easy, I'm gonna do some of it now!



BANANA KITKAT REF CAKE
Servings: 6
Preparation Time: 30 minutes
Chilling Time: Overnight
Recipe Difficulty: Intermediate

Ingredients:
12 pcs graham crackers, crushed
3 tbspbutter, melted
1 tbspsugar
1 pack250ml NESTLÉ® All Purpose Cream
2/3 cupcondensed milk
2 pcs ripe banana, sliced
2 packs 4-finger KITKAT®, crushed

Preparation:
1. Mix graham crackers, butter, and sugar. Divide into 2 portions. Lightly press 1 portion at the bottom of a serving container. Line with sliced banana. (10 minutes)
2. Whip NESTLÉ® All Purpose Cream until light. Mix ¾ of the KITKAT® and condensed milk. Fold in whipped cream. Pour half of the mixture in the container. (10 minutes)
3. Repeat layers of graham mixture and KITKAT® cream mixture. (5 minutes)
4. Top with ¼ of the crushed KITKAT® and refrigerate overnight. Serve well chilled. (overnight)

Wednesday, October 2, 2019

Make Saturdays twice as fun with Rebisco Topps Sarap Toppstar TV Season 2 only at GMA Network



Mark your calendars!



Starting October 5, your ordinary Saturdays will be filled with fun as GMA Network and Rebisco Topps Sarap bring back the musical-variety program, Toppstar TV featuring the cute and talented Toppstar Kids for Kapuso viewers.


The second season of the program promises twice the excitement, laughter and performances as the Toppstar batch 1 kids welcome a new breed of kiddie stars on the show.


The kids, who were chosen from Rebisco’s on-ground talent search all over the Philippines, will come together to showcase their skills in singing, dancing and hosting to bring out the “topps” in every kid.




As part of the brand’s commitment to bring out the best in every child, every segment of the show is created to ensure that we deliver this: the Toppstar Performance showcases the kids’ talent in singing and dancing; the Toppstar Games allows the kids to play while learning new skills; the Toppstar Laughs lets kids have fun showing their comedic talents while learning wholesome jokes, and the on-cam conversations in-between that hone the kids’ talents in hosting and interview.

To complement the Saturday morning episodes, Topps Sarap will mount school tours across Metro Manila.  Video snippets of these visits will be featured on the show.


Make Saturdays twice as fun with Topps Sarap Toppstar TV Season 2.


Starts October 5, from 9:15 to 9:45 AM on GMA, and with replays every Sunday at 5:00 to 5:30 PM on GMA News TV.




Tuesday, October 1, 2019

Plan a Hassle-free Celebration with McDo Party, just like what Marian Rivera-Dantes does for her daughter Zia!



Kids always look forward to birthday party celebrations, but there’s no denying that the planning process can be intimidating for parents. For those who want to give the best birthday bash for their children but don’t know where to start, look no further as McDonald’s offers a hassle-free way to plan a party!

Marian Rivera-Dantes and daughter Zia choose McDo Party 

Take it from Marian Rivera-Dantes herself, who is seen in this  video by McDonald’s, having a breeze as she and Zia takes us through their party planning process! 


As one of the top birthday party destinations for kids, McDonald’s aims to make party planning as stress-free as possible. Parents can rely on McDonald’s hands-on party planners, known as Guest Experience Leaders, to stay on top of the party details from start to finish, so parents can take a back seat from the stress of planning and just enjoy milestone moments as much as they should be enjoyed.

McDo Party: Planning in 4 easy steps



Step 1: Choose a McDonald’s branch, date, and time 
What’s great about McDonald’s is that there are 450+ branches you can choose from, depending on your party requirements! May it be a small group of 30 or a bigger guest list of 100; a party in the morning, afternoon, or night; you’ll surely find a McDonald’s branch that will fit your needs!


Step 2: Choose your party theme
Kids love parties with a theme. At McDonald’s there are five options to choose from: Ronald and the Gang, Happy, Barbie, Hot Wheels, and Thomas & Friends! This means your party will have a themed backdrop, invitations, party hats, activity sheets, game prizes and giveaways. And no matter what party theme you choose, an appearance of a McDonald’s character is already included in the package!



Step 3: Choose your favorite McDonald’s food
Get ready to serve a mouth-watering feast for your guests by selecting your McDonald’s favorites! Meal packages start at Php125 per person, proving great value for money.

Step 4: Lock in the payment
Once you’ve picked out your venue, date & time, theme, and food, all you’ll have to do is to settle a minimal reservation fee. Pay it via cash or credit card and you’re all good to go! 

To learn more on how you can host your next party without the stress, visit mcdoparty.com.ph or visit any McDonald’s store near you!