The Philippine Beat: 2009

Tuesday, December 15, 2009

Metrobank Cardholders Get Free Red Ribbon Treats (updated)

Do you have a Metrobank credit card? Do you love Red Ribbon?

If you do, then this Christmas promo is for you.

It's gift-giving time once again and if you are in the midst of Christmas shopping, you not only get to use your Metrobank credit card for convenient gift-buying, it allows you to also get free Red Ribbon pastries. The more you shop, the more treats you get. You could treat yourself to the Red Ribbon delights after a whole day of shopping on your feet. Or, you could add these to the goodies you are serving for Noche Buena or Media Noche. Or give them away to your loved ones.

Here are the promo mechanics:

This promotion is open to Metrobank Visa/Mastercard Credit Card, Go! MasterCard, Femme Visa, or PSBank MasterCard cardholders.
Cardholders can surrender their charge slips to get FREE Red Ribbon Products.
- For a single charge slip with a minimum valid spend of at least P1,000, get ONE of the following:
  - Free 1-pc. Red Ribbon Ensaimada, Red Ribbon Cinnamon Roll, OR Red Ribbon Mamon
  - Free 1-pc. Red Ribbon Palabok Petite
- For a single charge slip with a minimum valid spend of at least P2,500, get ONE of the following:
  - Free 1-pc. any choice of Red Ribbon Cake Slice
  - Free 1-pc. Red Ribbon Palabok Regular
  - Free 3-pc. Red Ribbon Pastry Bundle (any combination of Ensaimada, Mamon or Cinnamon Roll)
- For a single charge slip with a minimum valid spend of at least P4,000, get Salisbury Meal with Regular Softdrink or Bangus A La Pobre with Regular Softdrink (new)
For accumulated charge slips worth a total valid spend of P10,000, get any choice of one whole Red Ribbon Junior Cake
Valid spend includes all retail transactions; examples of retail transactions are purchases at groceries, department stores, gasoline stations, restaurants, etc.
To redeem the free Red Ribbon products, cardholders must surrender their original valid charge slips, and present their Metrobank Visa/MasterCard Credit Card, Go! MasterCard, Femme Visa, or PSBank MasterCard at any Red Ribbon branch.
For the charge slips to be valid for redemption:
- Name and card number on the charge slip must be the same as the name and card number on the Metrobank Visa/MasterCard Credit Card, Go! MasterCard, Femme Visa, or PSBank MasterCard credit card presented.
- Transaction date of the charge slip must be within the promo period.
Promo Period is October 15, 2009, to January 31, 2010 (promo extended); redemption period is from October 15, 2009, to March 15, 2010.
Cardholders can avail a maximum of three items in a day for item 2a and 2b. Cardholders can avail a maximum of one item in a day for item 2c.
Redemption will not be allowed on the following dates: December 23, 24, 30, and 31, 2009.

For more on this promo, visit www.metrobankcard.com
Per DTI-NCR Permit No. 5288, Series of 2009.

Friday, December 11, 2009

Delifrance's Joyeux Noël

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I really and truly love fruitcake (yes, my kids and some friends still roll their eyes as to why I still crave this). I love Christmas because this is the time when I can receive fruitcakes from friends. But in recent years, this practice has dwindled due to the changing trends. Last year, wine dominated the gift trend. I wonder what it will be this year?

Several years ago, I bought a fruitcake from a good friend in January, kept it for months in my ref, lovingly taking it out every few weeks to baste the top and sides in brandy. And at Christmas time, we opened it up and it smelled and tasted so good! One day I will do that again.

But if you are a busy mother or a working person with no time on your hands to look around for the perfect fruitcake or pastry to give as a gift on Christmas, take a look at the gourmet offerings of Delifrance, aptly called Joyeux Noël.

Premium English Fruitcake

Always one of their bestsellers, the Premium English Fruitcake is soaked in brandy and fruit juices months in advance. They use only imported ingredients and have one of the most generous toppings of crunchy pecans, flavorful walnuts, tangy glazed fruits, and cherries and dates.

For those who want variety, Delifrance has also come up with a twist to the classic fruitcake -- the Strawberry Walnut Fruitcake, topped with sweet strawberries and walnuts.

Christmas Revelry Hamper

This is only one of 3 different hampers that you can choose from.

Delifrance's Christmas Warmth Hamper is a coffee gift set that spreads the warmth of holiday cheer with a prime selection of handpicked Arabica beans, packaged with an assortment of Christmas Bars and a batch of Choco Chip Almond Biscotti. Another option would be to indulge in holiday merriment with the Christmas Cheer Hamper, which features an irresistible mix of Christmas Bars, Premium English Fruitcake, specially selected Coffee Beans and an authentic bottle of French red wine. Finally, the Christmas Revelry Hamper mixes the rich flavors of French Wine and specialty coffee with the decadence of holiday favorites such as the Premium English Fruitcake, Chocolate Bars and Chocolate Chip Almond Biscotti.

All these premium items come in a limited edition picnic hamper.

Assorted Bars

The assorted bars feature a delectable assortment of chocolate-based pastries: Dark Choco Chip Butterscotch, Choco Chip Cookie Dough Brownie, Butter Pecan, or the Turtle Brownie.

There are different-sized boxes containing these assorted bars so it fits whatever budget you have.

For inquiries, please call the Delifrance main office at 643-8401 or visit www.delifrance.com.ph

Artistry Total Mascara - Your Lashes' Best Friend

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If you need to step out of the house in a hurry, there are three facial features you cannot neglect: eyebrows, lashes and lips. Otherwise, you will look like you just got out of bed.

Eyebrows need to be emphasized with a little eyebrow liner or some eyebrow powder so you do not look like you had no eyebrows. For the lips, I run a base for my chapped lips before applying a touch of lipstick. I tend to put only a very light coat of lipstick for daytime wear that matches what I wear and make it more dark and red at night so as not to look pale Lastly, to emphasize my eyes, I brush mascara across my lashes.

Recently, I was introduced to a new line of mascara: the ARTISTRY Total Mascara. Right now, I have different brands of mascara (some more expensive than others). But really, if it does the trick, there is no need to pay an arm and a leg for a high-end mascara, right?

Artistry Total Mascara comes in water resistant and waterproof creamy formulas that resist smudging, flaking (I hate that because it enters my eye), and clumping (lashes sticking together in clumps). It comes in two shades: black and brown. One mascara brush alone will lengthen, define, lift and magnify lashes. Artistry Total Mascara is infused with Vitamins A and E to nourish and condition your lashes while defining your eyes to enhance it.

I have both the black and brown Artistry mascara to test so I am really looking forward to trying it out in forthcoming blogger events.

Artistry is not just mascara. They have other beauty products as well like concealers, eye creams, age-defying skin creams, and lipstick.

Artistry Total Mascara is sold exclusively by Amway Philippines. For more information, please call 814-8181 or visit their website. SRP: PhP 955.

Wednesday, December 9, 2009

Join "Tulak ng Kariton" with Efren Penaflorida (Dec. 11, 2009)

1 comment:

I received this invitation in the email from a friend. If you're in the vicinity or even if you're not but you believe in Efren's cause, come join.
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Please watch this INVITATION FROM EFREN PENAFLORIDA

All Filipinos of all colors are invited to gather in a tribute for CNN
Hero Efren Penaflorida on Dec 11, 2009. 3:30PM. Assembly at the Ninoy
Aquino Statue at the corner of Ayala and Paseo De Roxas. Efren,
followed by the people, will push his Kariton on Ayala Ave and will
lead us to the concert venue on Makati Ave between Landmark and
Greenbelt 4. This event will also be the venue for our outrage over
the Maguindanao Massacre, GMA's candidacy, and Martial Law in Maguindao.

4-5PM Tulak ng Kariton
5-8PM Konsyerto ng Pagbabago

We will start the march at the Ninoy Aquino Statue at Ayala corner
Paseo at 4PM on Friday, Dec 11 and we'll have the concert at Makati
Avenue between Landmark and Greeenbelt 4 fro 5PM to 8PM.

Thanks and best regards,

Tuesday, December 8, 2009

The Christmas Cakes of Red Ribbon

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Get ready for a very sweet Christmas!

Red Ribbon is offering two eye-candy, mouth-watering, scrumptiously delicious cakes for the holiday season.

The first one is the Santa's Wish Cake.

This is how Red Ribbon describes the cake: "...made with moist and dense rhumbutter cake with a layer of creamy caramel filling and covered in soft and smooth icing." Salivating already? I was, even before they served the bloggers up with a slice of the cake. Take a look at how it looks from the inside...

The Santa's Wish Cake will be available off-the-shelf in all Red Ribbon stores from December 22-24 at only P550.

Now for the second cake -- my personal favorite -- the Chocolate Walnut Fudge cake. I confess. The Red Ribbon person was just putting the cake on the pedestal and I forgot I had just eaten lunch plus one slice of cake already. Yes, my tummy suddenly found out that it still had room for this one! And why not, check these pictures out.

(see those walnuts at the bottom? Yummy!!!)

Red Ribbon describes this one as "made of a layer of creamy chocolate mousse on a bed of moist fudgy brownie, both loaded with chopped walnuts and finished with dark chocolate ganache, sprinkles and long chocolate curls all made with Hershey's Dark Chocolate to make it even more irresistible."

You're right. That there is the REAL McCoy -- Hershey's chocolate, and no other!

I cannot describe it to you. You have to go out and get this cake yourself and taste it. I was savoring each and every bite of this one.

One tip: We were told this cake is best kept in the FREEZER. And serve it straight out of the freezer and eat with a piping hot mug of coffee.

The Chocolate Walnut Fudge cake is only available till January 9, 2010 and sells for only P680.

This is a not-to-be-missed cake, take it from me.

Thursday, November 26, 2009

HBC's Tatak Exclusibo Sale (Nov. 30-Dec. 8, 2009)

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Last night, bloggers were treated to a preview of HBC's yearender sale from Nov. 30-Dec. 8, 2009 during which time, clients can purchase their products at significant discounts.

My girls have been buying HBC products in the past but frankly, I knew very little about it since I have been sticking to well-known foreign brands for my skin care considering I have sensitive skin and probably also hesitate to try new products.

But since the event was very close to my home, I decided to be adventurous and go to find out more about HBC. My girl C2 was with me and when we got to the HBC shop, we immediately began checking out the goods. I was not disappointed. Based on the short video that was shown to us and from going around the HBC shop for a first-hand look at what they were offering, I was delighted to discover the following:

- they carried hypoallergenic products
- their Allue line was just for tweens and teens, packaged in really cute girly designs (it made me wish my girls were little again)
- their body care line contains local ingredients known to be good for the skin like gugo, calamansi, henna and coconut oil
- their San San line is an anti-aging makeup line which also had SPF protection and vitamins!
- their price was very affordable (in fact, significantly less than the foreign brands I buy)

I still have to try the products I came home with last night but if they work for me, there is no reason I won't continue using these in the future. After all, being expensive does not always make a product that much better. And when we buy HBC, we are actually buying PINOY.

HBC is the leading innovative world-class retailer of health, beauty, personal and home care products and services with the best value. HBC has 200 branches nationwide. Call customer service at Tel. Nos.: 984-5555 loc. 228 or visit the website www.hbc.com.ph for more information

Saturday, November 21, 2009

Taste Korean Food Festival (Nov. 19-23, 2009)

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In the 80s I had the chance to live in South Korea for 5 months due to work. An assistant and I did computer audit work for an oil company and a multinational bank. I fell in love with Bibimpap, a complete meal in itself consisting of ground beef and various vegetables, together with a fried egg as rice toppings together with a special Korean hot sauce. Coming back to Manila, one of the first things I did was to try to find a Korean restaurant. I could not find any at all.

Fast forward to today in 2009. Look everywhere and you see Korean culture around us. There are so many Koreans in different parts of the country studying English, engaging in business, and many other activities. Korean restaurants, Korean hair stylists, Korean groceries abound everywhere. It seems that the Koreans have been able to integrate in some way with the Filipinos.

Last Friday, I came across a Korean food festival at the Atrium of Shang Plaza. The Korean culture through its food is available for everyone to see and taste test till Monday, Nov. 23.

I was able to interview Mr. Park Hyun Mo, the Co-Chairman of the 60th Anniversary of Korea-Philippines Diplomatic Relationship who gave this background of the festival.