Made It Through Mum

There are two traditional feasts that Filipino families often look forward to during Christmastime: the Christmas Eve Noche Buena and the one that follows on the 25th itself, which is often held as part of a festive family reunion. Either way, expect those in charge of preparing the dishes to pull out all the stops to serve the most delectable food on the table for everyone to enjoy.  And if that happens to be you, chances are high that you already have some recipes in mind to make each of these feasts a gastronomic delight to remember. They might even be all-time family favorites, or even hand-me-downs from your great-great grandparents. Having said that, it certainly wouldn’t hurt to learn a few more recipes just to keep things fresh and put something different on the table for Christmas. Two that are guaranteed to make you look like Master Chef are Meatballs in Black Truffle Sauce and Three-Cheese Truffle Macaroni and Cheese. The recipes are as follows: Meatballs in Black Truffl...

A lot of the popular social media apps can be found on my phone. You name it, even the controversial app that is LYKA.  What is LYKA? I first heard of LYKA from the groups I'm a part of. I became interested in it because of the many co ol and amazing things they could do with it so I downloaded the app. It kinda looks like Instagram. As I was browsing through the app, I thought to myself that I might not be able to focus much on LYKA because I have lots of social media apps. I did not think much of it but then I saw a post from an ex-colleague and friend showing the grocery items that she was able to buy for free using LYKA gems (Giftcard Electronic Mode). She even paid her Meralco bill using LYKA gems. So I asked her how and she explained to me that every post she does, a comment she makes, and post she shares has equivalent points or gems that you can use as currency to buy goods, or pay at LYKAMALL, yes they have their mall that accepts gems! How cool is that! They have eve...

  Indie-pop band Joe & The Anchor release new piano ballad ‘Leaving You Now’ - an emotional break-up song about experiencing first love, to grow apart and realizing there is nothing left in the relationship worth fighting for. The singer Joakim's powerful yet emotional voice goes straight to the heart. “Leaving You Now has been with us for a long time. We’ve all been in that situation, when the first real love of your life turns into your first heartbreak. We tried to really capture that feeling when we wrote this song” - JATA about the song. The single is the second one from their upcoming album ‘Coming of Age’ which explores the feelings of growing up, the fragility of life, love, and taking things for granted. Following a difficult few month when the band members had to experience the harsh reality of loss, Joe & The Anchor decided to process the events through music. During a hectic and focused period of time, the band wrote and recorded what would later develop into...

Last February, Vibal Foundation (VFI) released the latest addition to its growing Fifty Shades of Philippine Art series: The Art of Window, Display, and Design, written by Chito Vijandre and Ricky Toledo. The book was launched at VFI’s virtual tertulia, which honors its matriarch, Esther A. Vibal. Among the highlights of the online event were performances from an array of Filipino talent. Richly complemented with over 500 beautiful images of window displays, objets d’art, travel sights, and artistic landmarks from around the world, The Art of Window, Display, and Design showcases the creative display of merchandise that can also quickly segue into its own art form transcending the banality of everyday objects to achieve an artistic visual narrative that is more transcendent and durable for all time. This newest addition to VFI’s Fifty Shades of Philippine Art catalogues not only the famous windows of the authors’ lifestyle and home furnishings stores, but also their interiors and fashi...

The Ajinomoto Philippines Corporation (APC) Group and the Municipality of Cainta held a hybrid ceremonial contract signing event last December 3, 2021 to mark their commitment to  strengthen  the Mag-Pinggang Pinoy® Tayo! (MPPT) program in a bid to address malnutrition in the country. The event was held in Banquet Hall East, Filinvest East, Cainta and broadcasted in a virtual meeting.  MPPT, a program launched by APC Group in 2018, aims to promote the practice of Pinggang Pinoy®, an easy-to-understand healthy food plate guide for Filipinos developed by the Department of Science and Technology – Food and Nutrition Research Institute.  “This program embodies our Nutrition Commitment towards extending the healthy life expectancy of Filipinos. We also recognize the importance of our collaboration with the local government unit of Cainta. Together, we will create an ecosystem that would make the MPPT program effective and sustainable,” said APC Group President Tsutomu Nar...

  For almost two years, Filipino students have had to stay at home and learn through the screens of their laptops or mobile phones. They had to say goodbye to their teachers, classmates, and friends in school. Their world abruptly changed and they had to adapt to a new learning environment that they have not experienced before. But through it all, our students persevered and showed how much they value education.  And so, selecting 10 exemplary public school students from across the country became even more special for Nestlé Philippines this 2021, which also happens to be the company’s 110th year in the country. The Batang Matibay Awards, led by BEAR BRAND Fortified in partnership with the Department of Education, recognizes students who showed astounding strength or ‘tibay’ to overcome life’s challenges – whether physical, emotional, or social – excelling not only in academics but also in making a difference in their communities.  Their stories of resilience and determin...

I love to cook, but I rarely bake. When MITD gifted me with a 24L air fryer, I decided to put it to use and tried my best to learn some baking recipes. It was a rewarding experience seeing my family happy with the food I prepared for them! Then I came upon Chef Miko Aspiras' U.S. Potato Fudge Brownie recipe. One of its ingredients piqued my curiosity - the potato granules. That made me decide to try it out, and besides, it looks divine and my family loves chocolates and potatoes. I always thought that potatoes are all bought fresh from the market or frozen like fries. Little did I know we can buy them dehydrated. So what are U.S. dehydrated potatoes? U.S dehydrated potatoes come in slices, dices, shreds, flakes, granules, and flour. They are made of real potatoes, with just the water removed. They have been processed using state-of-the-art equipment that helps keep their nutrients intact. They're simple and quick to prepare. They have a longer shelf life and are easy to ...

The Sweet Talk Your Way Out of Diabetes and What’s Cookin’, Good Lookin’ online events were a sweet end to the month-long World Diabetes Day Celebration of Sanofi Philippines. In the words of Sanofi’s Country Lead Dr. Amal Makhloufi, “we put the spotlight on what is being done to create awareness and provide solutions for those affected by this lifestyle disease.” For the organization, the events were created to amplify their Panata in cultivating a healthier Philippines for all. It was a friendly and casual approach on how they can bring important topics such as diabetes care into the spotlight without instilling fear among the audience. “Our goal is to make it easier for every Filipino to seek access to quality innovative care. It is our mission to just go beyond medicines, but to look and explore holistic care and management especially for our patients with chronic conditions like diabetes,” Dr. Makhloufi shared. The two events were hosted on Step Up for Diabetes, Philippine Diabete...

  The world around us is surrounded by the thrilling wonders of science. Growing up, be it we are swinging on a monkey bar, mixing colours for an art project, or even talking to our best friends using paper cup phones attached to a string, it is science that explains how these ‘magical’ moments are possible.    Since children do not know what they don’t know, it is up to us parents, guardians, and educators, to intentionally explain the science behind each of these little joys and fill their minds with knowledge. This also helps to preserve their sense of wonder as they pursue big questions about the world, even if they are stuck at home due to the pandemic. Today, we are seeing more young people value science and STEM subjects. Findings from this year’s 3M State of Science Index (SOSI), an annual, third-party study commissioned by global science company 3M, echoed this sentiment. In the Asia Pacific region, 73% agree that young people are more engaged in science and ...

Menopause is a natural part of the aging process that women will have to go through eventually. It is a transitional stage in a woman’s reproductive life, a stage where your once-regular period will suddenly be irregular before reaching a full stop, thus marking the end of a woman’s childbearing years. More than that, this stage may also be marked by a lot of discomforts; from hot flushes or a sudden feeling of warmth that spreads from the chest, neck, and face - to vaginal dryness that may cause itching, soreness, and burning sensations.  Menopausal women may also experience psychological symptoms, conditions that can take a toll in personal relationships due to mood swings and irritability. Various vasomotor symptoms especially at night may also disturb your sleep cycle, making it challenging to achieve a good night’s sleep.   The changing estrogen level of the menopausal woman also makes her prone to different health conditions like Urinary Tract Infections, it also...

Is it Christmas 2021 already? I can’t believe it’s been a year since we’ve celebrated the holidays under lockdown. Luckily, with the country slowly opening up, we might be able to spend more time outside and finally meet up with more relatives and pals.   During the “holiday rush” last year, I remember how everyone resorted to buying everything online. Food, gifts, clothes, plants, decors, school supplies, gadgets, you name it. Essential or non-essential – you can find it on the internet!   The pandemic has also resulted in unfavorable eating practices. Hands up if you’re guilty of this. I sure am. But I’m now acting, and I’m re-adopting healthier lifestyle habits.   This brings me to one of my most favorite activities during quarantine – cooking! A healthful lifestyle involves eating wholesome, nutrient-dense foods. There should also be variety in the food we consume. I try to find balance whenever I cook for my family: veggies, fruits, meats, beans, dairy,...