Starbucks introduces Cold Brew Vanilla Sweet Cream and Nitro Cold Brew

Cold Brew is growing in popularity and more and more Filipinos are falling for its smoother and naturally sweet flavor. Using a custom Cold Brew blend, Starbucks has introduced to many coffee lovers the complex and compelling flavors of Cold Brew.

From the name itself, we can glean that Cold Brew undergoes a different process than ordinary brewed coffee. Cold Brew is made using cold water all throughout the 20-hour preparation process. It uses coarsely ground coffee, and is steeped slowly in cold water. This procedure which relies on time instead of heat gives Cold Brew its naturally sweet flavor and smooth texture.

Today, the flavor of the Cold Brew we know and love is elevated with the Vanilla Sweet Cream Cold Brew. Complementing the soft and chocolaty flavors of Starbucks Cold Brew is a delicate float of house-made vanilla sweet cream that cascades throughout the cup.

“We’re introducing two new innovative and coffee-forward beverages that will surely excite our customers especially those who are Cold Brew drinkers, giving a new way to experience cold coffee,” Keith Cole, head of marketing for Starbucks Philippines said.

Aside from the Vanilla Sweet Cream Cold Brew which will be available in all Starbucks stores starting July 25, coffee enthusiasts can also try the new Starbucks Nitro Cold Brew at Starbucks Reserve 14 Jupiter store in Makati.

Starbucks Nitro Cold Brew is perfect for coffee lovers who are in a constant search for new ways to enjoy coffee.  The infusion of nitrogen to Cold Brew gives it a naturally sweet flavor and a rich and velvety crema that can be tasted and seen. It is deliciously cold and served unsweetened, without ice, to highlight the flavor the cold-brewing process brings out in the coffee. It is dispensed through a tap and it also gets a dense and creamy head akin to the look and texture of stout beer fresh from the tap.

To learn more about Vanilla Sweet Cream Cold Brew and Nitro Cold Brew, visit www.starbucks.ph.

Ms.Bianca Gonzales and her social media feed

I had the privilege of meeting and interviewing Ms. Bianca Gonzales on August 1 at Limbaga 77 Restaurant, QC. I love that among the actresses we have today. She is one influencer that I looked up with. I followed her Instagram and Twitter account. Her ig handle is iamsuperbianca with 1.8m followers. Its her account tackling everything from her baby Lucia, husband JC and what she loves best.

Ms. Bianca is not only pretty in person, she has the wit to talk about anything under the sun. Not to mention she is also a hands-on mom, she prefers to spend her time with her daughter when she is not taping or hosting a TV show.

When asked about how she maintains her flawless pretty face. Her beauty routine is very simple. In the morning, after washing her face. She puts on toner and moisturizer. Her favorite product is Olay.  She swears to its anti aging properties which keep her face smooth and blemish free. At night, before going to bed, she never forget to wash her face to get rid of make up and puts on night moisturizer.  She never goes out without her favorite blush on and a face powder foundation.  She swears by MAC cosmetics.

Bianca is adept at using social media and is one of the most followed and watched in the online world in the Philippines. She has also put the power of social media to good use.

On social media, she bills herself as a storyteller. Bianca currently has 6.3 million followers on Twitter, 1.8 million followers on Instagram, and 2.7 million followers on her Facebook page. Her feed shows a mix of her family life with husband JC and their 21-month old daughter Lucia, her thoughts for the day, her home and travel tips, her observations on topics big and small. She is also known to post about issues that affect all of us: traffic, climate change, education, government, even food, beauty and or parenting.

 Sometimes she gets into a testy twitter exchange with netizens like when a twitter user tweeted: "So what if there is martial law"? An irked Bianca shared a video of martial law survivors who recounted their experiences on the regime. She admonished netizens not to joke about it, but also educated them on the difference of martial law then, and martial law now, under the 1987 Constitution. This, among many other topics she gets into, and sometimes gets into trouble with, all to share what she believes in.

She previously worked with different organizations for her advocacies, such as UNICEF for her work with children and early childhood education, and the Climate Change Commission to help spread awareness on environmental issues.

Bianca is media savvy. Beyond social media, she also writes a column for the Lifestyle section of the Philippine Star, and is the best-selling author of the book Paano Ba ‘To?! How To Survive Growing Up, which was released in 2014, but is still being posted about and sold in select stores today.

It is in this sphere of influence that Bianca is a favorite, a respected figure among advertisers who seek her endorsement for their products.

Visa, for one. Bianca is the first Philippine endorser of Visa. Recently the multinational company partnered with Bianca to tell stories of how cashless transactions benefit a consumer.  She was also recently launched as the first ever brand endorser of Sanicare, a mega brand that has been around for over two decades. She is also the face of Globe Telecom, Samsung Digital Appliances and Samsung TV (with husband JC Intal and Lucia), EQ Diaper and Johnson & Johnson (both with Lucia), and Glade. As one of the country's most seasoned hosts, she currently is at the helm of the entertainment news program Cinema News on Cinema One, which has been running for 9 years now, and the lifestyle show Modern Living on ANC, which is starting its 8th season this September.

A few weeks ago, she was a speaker at the #ThinkPH forum organized by Rappler where Bianca shared some thoughts on the use of social media: "You have to ask yourself: what is the effect on you of the people you follow? When it feels overwhelming, take a step back and log off for a bit." She also underscored the need for accountability and etiquette of social media users.

A lot of beautiful things are happening in Bianca's life—from family life to career—and she is just extremely thankful.

Bianca Gonzalez  is managed by Asian Artists Agency.
For inquiries email info@asianartistsagency.com or call tel: (02) 405 4423 or (02) 855 4765

Why are LED TVs for sale when OLEDs are here?

At this year's CES, Samsung once again ushered in a new era of TV as it unveiled their new QLED TVs.

They even made a grand launch here in the Philippines a couple of months ago and dubbed it as the "Next Frontier."

QLED stands for  Quantum Dot technology, and the Samsung QLED TV turns light into perfect color, making a powerful combination that revolutionizes picture quality. 

The new television line is said to  offer HDR 1500 brightness and 100% color volume expression, enabling viewers to watch scenes just as how the creator intended them to be. It can also reproduce almost any color known to man, making HDR content more vibrant and natural-looking.

If you go to any appliance store Samsung's QLED TVs will immediately get your attention because of its stunning picture quality and will make you want to enter the store.

Now I'm not much of a TV expert but the one thing I noticed was that Samsung had a lot of models on display some of which are the older LED models. Which made me think why they are still selling these older models when they are already pushing for a new standard in TV.

Are Filipinos being sent old, unsold TVs by Samsung does that mean we still prefer the older HD and LED TVs than the newer ones?

Watch the newly released “Toy Gun” Clip from “Annabelle: Creation” below

Regarded as one of the most creative filmmakers working today, James Wan expands “The Conjuring” Universe with the second chapter in the Annabelle series – New Line Cinema's “Annabelle: Creation” (in Philippine theaters August 23, 2017).





YouTube : https://youtu.be/hYKS64ID79k

Produced by Wan and directed by David F. Sandberg (“Lights Out”), “Annabelle: Creation” is the follow up to 2014’s hugely successful “Annabelle.” In the new film, several years after the tragic death of their little girl, a doll maker and his wife welcome a nun and six girls from a shuttered orphanage into their home. They soon become the target of the doll maker’s possessed creation, Annabelle.

“When I was directing the first ‘Conjuring’ and we were designing the Warrens’ haunted artifact room, I remember between myself, the studio and the producers, we all kind of looked at each other and said, ‘You know, it would be incredible if we could tell the stories of each of these objects,’” Wan recalls, referring to the collection the couple had confiscated over their years of paranormal investigation.

“Even then, we felt that giving Annabelle that prologue opening was cool, but we sensed she had a lot more stories to tell,” Wan continues. “Every time that doll appeared on screen for just those few minutes, people shifted in their seats. Audiences react to her.”

Wan was thrilled with the manner in which Sandberg embraced and enhanced the horror-verse he began. “David has given this film a very classic period look that takes it outside of the traditional horror films we’re familiar with in contemporary cinema,” Wan says, “and I think that’s been the key to keeping this universe feeling fresh and unique. Each of these standalone movies has a very different flavor, yet they’re all connected.”

Producer Peter Safran agrees. “What James has built and David has continued with ‘Annabelle: Creation’ are films that tap into the fears we hold in our very makeup, our DNA. We’re all drawn to the idea of this doll, this inanimate object that can somehow wreak such devastation.”

“These films are a great example of why we love to go to the movies,” Sandberg concludes. “It’s a safe, shared environment where we can experience such a great range of emotions, from fear to excitement and more. And in this case, we get to find out how another piece of this ‘Conjuring’ and ‘Annabelle’ world is tied together…and maybe even get a hint at what’s to come.”

James Wan is currently in production directing “Aquaman,” starring Jason Momoa, Amber Heard, Oscar nominee Willem Dafoe, and Patrick Wilson. The DC Super Hero film is scheduled to be released December 21, 2018.

Wan’s production company, Atomic Monster, launched its slate with the highly successful “Annabelle,” released on October 3, 2015. The film was produced by Wan and Peter Safran and grossed over $252 million worldwide. The second release for Atomic Monster was “Lights Out,” directed by David F. Sandberg and produced by Wan (along with Lawrence Grey and Eric Heisserer). The film was released by in July 2016 and earned over $148 million. Next up for Atomic Monster is the latest title in “The Conjuring” universe, “The Nun.” Currently in production, the film is being directed by Corin Hardy and produced by Wan and Safran, and is set for release on July 13, 2018.

“Annabelle: Creation” is distributed by Warner Bros. Pictures, a Warner Bros. Entertainment Company.

LIAM GALLAGHER OF OASIS PERFORMS AT THE MOA ARENA

Ovation Productions presents Liam Gallagher of Oasis live in Manila on August 14, 2017 at the Mall Of Asia Arena.

Liam was voted the greatest frontman of all time in a 2010 reader poll by Q magazine. Many bands and artists have cited Oasis as an influence or inspiration, including the Killers, Arctic Monkeys, Maroon 5, and Coldplay, among others. Oasis is a five-piece band from Manchester, England led by Liam and Noel Gallagher, two brothers from public housing, who became the defining musical act for a generation.

Noel’s proudly British lyrics; choruses that could make your throat clench and your heart threaten to burst; Liam’s sneering vocals and pissed-off posture; the cocktail of ego, camaraderie, and one-upmanship that made Oasis as entertaining and volatile offstage as on.  The band’s third album, “Be Here Now” in 1997 set a new record as the fastest selling album in UK Chart history. “What's the Story Morning Glory” was even more successful, becoming the third-best selling album in British history. Liam Gallagher was praised for his vocal contributions to Oasis, and his presence made the band a popular live act. However, his attitude also won him much attention from the British press who often ran stories concerning his alleged behaviour.

Liam’s erratic behaviour, distinctive singing style, and abrasive attitude have been the subject of commentary in the press; he remains one of the most recognisable figures in modern British music. Liam Gallagher’s voice has been compared to John Lennon’s.



He would sarcastically claim to be Lennon re-incarnated, despite being born eight years prior to Lennon's death. He has stated he has no clear influence other than John Lennon and "music" itself, and has been known to incorporate many different forms, such as punk, indie and new wave, and recently has explored elements of jazz with Beady Eye, his band after Oasis broke up. Songs such as "Live Forever", "Lyla", "Don't Go Away", "Slide Away" and "Champagne Supernova are cited as examples of Liam’s best work. He would sing with the microphone coming in the closest contact with him between his upper lip and nose, rather than directly in front of the mouth as is the case with most singers. Gallagher once revealed that the reason he sings with his arms behind his back is because it allows him to project more power through his voice.

Liam Gallagher performs at the MOA Arena on August 14 produced by Ovation Productions. Tickets on sale starting February 18, 2017 through www.smtickets.com and regular SM Tickets outlets at P8700, 7700, 5700, 4700, 3700, 1700.

GEN KOREAN BBQ HOUSE now open at SM by the Bay.

If you are into Korean dining with the All-You-Can-Eat pork and beef meat and seafood BBQ! Then you should try GEN Korean BBQ House at SM by the Bay. The famous GEN Korean BBQ House from California launches on Aug 3 and attended by GEN Korean owners headed by celebrity restaurateur Marvin Agustin, celebrities, and bloggers.


The new All-You-Can-Eat Korean BBQ restaurant that has been taking social media by storm is now open and ready for all hungry foodies. GEN Korean BBQ House hails from sunny California, and is famous for their top-of-the-line and premium all-you-can-eat meats and seafood.

The famous KBBQ house has made its way from across the pacific and landed on Manila shores, literally. GEN set up shop, seaside, at SM by the Bay. For months, photos of mouthwatering meats, seafood, and delicious side dishes have been popping up on people’s feeds and timelines, giving people a delicious idea of what’s to come. Now, you can experience all that and more at GEN Korean BBQ House in Manila!

Gen Korean BBQ house explores the art of Korean barbeque, using the finest quality meats, and pairing it with dishes filled with unique savory tastes. Together with the modern ambiance of the black-lit restaurant, it’s truly a unique experience worth your while!

The restaurant itself is a mirror image of the US locations, from the side dishes to the wall designs and floors. That means, walking into the Manila branch will feel exactly the same as if you were on the West Coast. It will definitely be a KBBQ experience that you won’t soon forget. So what are you waiting for? Head on over to SM by the Bay and get a taste of what GEN has to offer.

For more updates, like us on Facebook @GenKBBQPH or follow us on Instagram @Genkbbq_ph.

Share your screentime moments and get a chance to win a trip for two (2) to Universal Studios Japan

-- Still can’t get over the recent blockbuster superhero flicks or already missing your favorite series on VOD? Call up your friends and loved ones because this calls for binge watching! Fluff your pillows, turn on the AC and prepare blankets and tissues. Bring out the stacks of awesome movies and TV series that will have everyone laughing, crying, or leaving them in shock and get your phones ready to snap, post and share every fun moment.

But wait a minute, you must never forget the highlight of your screentime - the SNACKS! Not satisfied with a simple batch of buttered popcorn? Open up a bag of fun with M&M’S®, the perfect screentime graze-snack companion!

M&M’S® is once again bringing you spontaneous fun through the M&M’S Screenbite Awards!

Share your screentime moments, fun time with M&M’S and get a chance to win a trip for two (2) to Universal Studios Japan, a lot of M&M’S® chocolates, movie tickets or exclusive M&M’S® merchandise!


All you need to do is to visit the Screenbite Awards website www.screenbiteawards.com. Take a photo or video of you and your friends’ reactions while watching a TV series, movie, or any video on any screen (e.g. TV, Mobile, Laptop) and snacking on M&M’S®.

There are three categories you can choose from. M&M’S® Red, the leader of the gang, strong-willed, fierce and daring represents all the ACTION. One of Red’s mottos is, “Never underestimate the power of chocolate and M&M’S®!”

M&M’S Yellow, the friendliest and funniest of them all, loves Comedy and enjoys seeing his friends laughing like crazy. Yellow says, “Life is better when you’re laughing…and eating M&M’S®!”  And finally, it’s no surprise that the beautiful and passionate M&M’S® Green, represents ROMANCE. This confident gal also has an emotional side that can get teary-eyed while watching a good love story. Ms. Green affirms, “All you need is love. But a little M&M’S® now and then won’t hurt!” 

The biggest treat is for the lucky grand winner who will win a trip for two (2) to Universal Studios Japan. “No guts no glory! Let’s get this show on the road!”, says Red.

Be sure to capture your or your group’s reaction while watching videos and consuming M&M’S® – after all, sharing the screentime experience makes it even more fun. Multiple entries are allowed so keep on posting to get more chances of winning! Promo will run for 7 weeks starting on August 1, 2017 at 12:00AM until September 21, 2017 at 11:59 AM. For full contest details, visit www.facebook.com/MMsPhilippines.

So what are you waiting for? Sit down, watch, enjoy M&M’S® and join the M&M’S® Screenbite Awards 2017 because screentime is now more fun with M&M’S®!

#SharetheLove with McDonald’s meal

Who knew that August is Romance Awareness Month? Yet another reason for us to express and share love more often! True to its love ko ‘to catchphrase, McDonald’s takes Romance Awareness Month up a notch with its latest online video.


Real-life couples from different ages and walks of life share their real stories of love that happened at McDo or over their favorite McDo products. These stories include the teenage couple who had the Internet buzzing over their DIY Chicken McNuggets bouquet early this year, as well as the guy who proposed to his long-time girlfriend by placing her would-be engagement ring inside a Big Mac box!

Amid the current culture of hugot and cynicism online, the video gives glimmers of hope and enough reasons to smile and believe in love again. You’d be surprised at how happy endings are lovelier with every bite of your favorite McDonald’s meal or every visit to the store!

Tell your loved ones about your inspiring story of love —whether it’s your own, your parents’, or your friend’s. Don't forget to use #ShareTheLove and tag us!

Converse collabs with Tyler, the Creator for One Star x Golf le Fleur collection

Tyler, the Creator and Converse will release the One Star x Golf le Fleur collection with four colorways of the iconic One Star sneaker.

Ambassadors of daring confidence, youthful spirit and creative street style, Converse and Tyler, The Creator’s long-term partnership celebrates freedom of expression through collaborative design. Tyler’s imagination is illuminated through his unique design and spin across the entire collection.

Tyler’s details are evident in the classic suede One Star x Golf le Fleur silhouette, from the flower contrast stitching surrounding the iconic star, embroidered bee logo on heel stay, debossed tonal Golf le Fleur logo on the shoe’s tongue, to the Golf le Fleur art illustrated on the sock liner and printed outsole graphics. The One Star is available in four bold colorways, including Airway Blue, Peach Pearl, Sulphur, and Fuschia Glow, with an interchangeable set of tonal laces. Inscribed on the shoe’s inner and outer sole are special messages from Tyler reading, “Don’t let ‘em kill your flowers, water your garden and stunt.”

The new One Star x Golf le Fleur sneaker collection is exclusively available in Commonwealth at SM Aura for only Php 5,350.00.

For more One Star sneaker, follow Converse on facebook: www.facebook.com/Converse.PH and on instagram: @converse.ph

How Drew Arellano maintains his physique

When you say Travel Host/Triathlete/Actor, the first name that comes to mind is Drew Arellano. If there is an actor/tv host that I have looked upon, its him, I love that he maintains his physique and healthy bod through discipline and exercise all throughout these years. We had a privilege of getting to know Drew Arellano on August 1 at Limbaga 77 Restaurant, QC.

The ever makulet and toned Drew talks about his family, Iya and his kid Primo with fondness. He told us that he spends his day at the gym for 2 hours together with his wife Iya. That he is hands on with his baby Primo. Even if he semi retires from triathlon. He never stop taking good care of his body by riding his bike, running and going to the gym. He opened a gym called Tri Temple together with his friends.

Drew Arellano is having the time of his life visiting the countryside. For Drew, to travel is to learn: learn from people, learn of their history and culture.

On a recent episode of Biyahe Ni Drew, Drew was brought to a little known town called Capul in Northern Samar. As viewers travel with him, they get to know that Capul is a shortened word for Acapulco, a trading post in Mexico, because that particular town in Northern Samar served as guidepost for the Acapulco-Manila Galleon trade. There still stands the lighthouse that served as guide to ships plying that route. Audiences also learned that though Samar speaks  the Waray dialect, Capul has a distinct language only known to them called Inabaknon with influences from Austronesian language, a language spoken among coastal places in Southeast Asia.

In that trip to Northern Samar, Drew dove into the deep sea in search of lato, (a kind of seaweed), tasted fresh "lapas" (abalone) and eaten "baay" a root crop in the family of cassava but only found in Capul.

There are interesting bits and pieces Drew and his audiences discover each time he travels. Biyahe ni Drew has made him eat "tamilok" a shipworm that grows in mangroves. He has climbed high mountains, crawled through bat caves, jumped from waterfalls, cooked piyaya, drove through sand dunes, and other adventures.

Drew engages himself in extreme activities. He is a triathlete. He bikes. He swims. He runs.

On occasions that taping for Biyahe ni Drew are done in Metro Manila and nearby towns, Drew uses his motorbike. He has the big and expensive ones. And he races.

Drew relishes his work as a travel host. He also loves extreme sports. But more than the pleasure he gets when traveling and racing his super bike, Drew enjoys his role as father to his son, Primo. Drew is married to Iya Villania.

Drew endorses Del Monte Pineapple, Babyflo Babywash, Cerelac  Nutripuffs, and Uniqlo Jackets. He also hosts AHA on GMA 7.

Drew has an online store called Vamos which sells sports attire and paraphernalia from socks to tees. Vamos products can also be found in select sports shops. As a triathlete, Drew together with some friends, opened a gym, Tri Temple to cater to triathletes needs.

Drew Arellano is managed by Asian Artists Agency.

For inquiries email info@asianartistsagency.com or call tel: (02) 405 4423 or (02) 855 4765

TECHNOLUX HOLDS CONVOTHERM BUSINESS SERIES ON AUGUST 8 AND 9

Business owners and aspiring entrepreneurs are invited to attend Technolux’s upcoming Business Series on Blanco Cook System (August 8) and Magnesol oil filtration medium (August 9).  Both events will be held at Mall of Kitchens in Makati City from 2 pm to 4 pm.

Acknowledged as the country’s largest importer and supplier of a complete line of foodservice, small wares and laundry equipment for over 40 years, Technolux is holding regular Business Series for free to help people grow their businesses through the introduction of quality products that will help them gain more profit and serve their customers better.  The company’s sales and technical team will conduct product demos as to the proper use of featured equipment.

Blanco Cook System is a must in every professional/commercial kitchen because of their innovative technology, reliable performance and its state-of-the-art  features.  Made in Germany,  it provide chefs with easy mobility during live cooking and catering activities. Its revolutionary design allows cooking elements to be interchangeable, which means that the operator can expand or change the menu spontaneously without downtime. For maximum efficiency.  cooking elements like fryer, induction hobs, induction woks, griddle, pasta cookers and bain maries are readily available without having to worry about the mechanical ventilation and power.

Also to be featured is USA-made Magnesol which is is used for  filtration of edible oil  that maximizes  flavor in fried food, dramatically improves product quality, extends frying oil life and reduces odor, smoke and gummy residue .

Technolux is known in the country for its strong partnership with its clients, founded on excellent customer service, reliability, professionalism and mutual trust and respect.

To know more about Blanco and Magnesol, please  call Technolux at 8964941and 8994531 or visit its corporate office at 2176 Primo Rivera Street, Barangay La Paz Makati City.  Check out  www.technolux.net.

Mall of Kitchens  is located at 9703 Kamagong St.,Corner Lawaan St., San Antonio Village, Makati City (tel nos. 890-6758 / 552-3587).  Ample parking is available.