Chef Anton Amoncio in "Let It Snow": An Early Christmas in Canada

It was an early Christmas gift for celebrity chef Anton Amoncio who is still in high spirits after participating in “Let it Snow,” a chef exchange program by the Canadian Beef Centre of Excellence held in Calgary, Canada. This is the first time that a Filipino chef was featured in the exchange. His trip was made possible through the Culinary Exchange program of the Canada Beef Centre of Excellence and in partnership with Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise.


Chef Anton, together with other world-renown chefs, whipped up appetizing recipes using Canada beef.

Chef Anton Amoncio with from left: Katrina Dumlao and Cyrinne Ellet Dela Cruz

The week-long event is in celebration of Canada 150, which is the 150th founding anniversary of Canada. Three events happened at different Canadian luxury resorts, highlighting the seasons of Canada: at the Fairmont Banff Springs in early summer, Fairmont Royal York Toronto in harvest season, and Chateau Lake Louise for winter.  Chef Anton’s visit to the famous Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise is the finale of Canada Beef’s Canada 150 celebrations this year.

Chef Anton Amoncio with Executive Chef Jean-Francois Fortin of the Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise at the Bow Valley Ranche Restaurant, Fish Creek National Park in Calgary, Canada   


Chateau Lake Louise is a luxury outdoor travel experience located in one of the most beautiful sceneries that Canada has to offer.



Chef Anton rubbed elbows with some of the culinary experts including Chef Marty Carpenter, president of the Canadian Beef Grading Agency, and Abe Van Melle, the Technical Manager for the Canadian Beef Centre of Excellence. Interesting topics about Canada were discussed over dinner at the Chop Steakhouse and Bar.

Lunch at the Bow Valley Ranche Restaurant with Michael McLean (in the cowboy hat) and Executive Chef Jean-Francois Fortin.




According to Chef Marty, Canada beef is classified by its flavor, which comes from the predominant use of barley in their cattle feed. Combined with the almost vineyard-like culture of their cattle industry, this puts Canada beef in a league of the world’s premier beef products.



Chef Anton also joined in the briefing activities scheduled for “Let it Snow” and toured the kitchen at the head office of the Canada Beef Centre of Excellence.

Chef Marty brought the entourage for lunch to the Bow Valley Ranche Restaurant at Fish Creek Park where Chef Anton had the opportunity to meet Jean-Francois Fortin, the Executive Chef of the famous Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise and Michael McLean, who works with the Bar U Ranch National Historic Site.

Chef Anton Amoncio with Carlos Munda and culinary experts at Bow Valley Ranche Restaurant at Fish Creek Park.


Chef Anton had his share of the limelight when he presented his own recipes using the best quality Canada beef: Beef Morcon Sliders, Bistek on Green Onion Blinis, and Beef Shortribs Sinigang in Green Mango. He proved once more that Filipino chefs are at par when it comes to culinary artistry. The warm acceptance that Chef Anton experienced in his trip to Canada was enough to melt even the biting cold of winter. 



Chef Anton Amoncio is a talent of Asian Artists Agency. For inquiries, please call (02) 855-4765 or (02) 405-4423, email info@asianartistsagency.com, and visit fb.com/asianartistsagency

Star Wars: The Last Jedi grossed a staggering P145.2-M in five days

The Philippines is one with The Force as Lucasfilm’s Star Wars: The Last Jedi grossed a staggering P145.2-M in its first five days of release, opening at No.1 for the Dec. 13-17 frame.


Receiving some of the most glowing reviews in years, the Rian Johnson-directed tentpole was lauded by local critics and fans alike, with some even saying its the best Star Wars movie yet.

The biggest box-office grosses were reported by SM Megamall (P7.1-M), SM Mall of Asia (P6.5-M) and SM North EDSA (P5.6-M).


Trinoma leads the rest of the Top 10 with P4.9-M, followed by Greenbelt 3 (P4.5-M), Glorietta 4 (P4.3-M), Power Plant (P4.1-M), Bonifacio High Street (P3.59-M), Greenhills Promenade (P3.55-M) and SM Aura (P3.3-M).

The Force is also strong with the Top 20 cinemas, led by Alabang Town Center (P3.2-M), Shang Cineplex (P3.1-M), U.P. Town Center (P3-M), SM Cebu (P2.6-M), Uptown Place (P2.5-M), SM Southmall (P2.3-M), Ayala Mall Cebu (P2.26-M), The 30th Mall (P2.24-M), Robinsons Magnolia (P2.1-M) and Robinsons Galleria (P2-M).


In the US, Star Wars: The Last Jedi opened with a stellar $220 million weekend — the second-highest opening weekend of all time.


With international grosses hitting $230 million, Star Wars: The Last Jedi totaled $450 million worldwide.


In Lucasfilm’s Star Wars: The Last Jedi, the Skywalker saga continues as the heroes of The Force Awakens join the galactic legends in an epic adventure that unlocks age-old mysteries of the Force and shocking revelations of the past.

The film stars Mark Hamill, Carrie Fisher, Adam Driver, Daisy Ridley, John Boyega, Oscar Isaac, Lupita Nyong’o, Andy Serkis, Domhnall Gleeson, Anthony Daniels, Gwendoline Christie, Kelly Marie Tran, Laura Dern and Benicio Del Toro.

Star Wars: The Last Jedi is written and directed by Rian Johnson and produced by Kathleen Kennedy and Ram Bergman. J.J. Abrams, Tom Karnowski and Jason McGatlin are the executive producers.

Now playing in Philippine cinemas, Star Wars: The Last Jedi is distributed by the Walt Disney Company (Philippines).

Give the gift of Health with Maxicare's EReady and MyMaxicare LITE prepaid cards

Gift ideas this Christmas under 1000 and 2500

It’s the season of gift giving, and one of the most grueling parts of the holidays has finally come upon us – choosing just what to buy for our loved ones! While the amount we spend on someone shouldn’t reflect how we feel about them, it’s still important to be able to budget our spending on gifts.

Along these lines, we’ve prepared some great gift ideas for your loved ones that we’ve laid out into two popular budget ranges. Check them out and get ready for Christmas!

Under Php2500

Good earphones
The gift of high-quality music is precious. So do a little research and find a pair of great earphones that’s within budget for your music-loving friends.

Fountain pen
Once you’ve tried a fountain pen, you’ll never want to go back. Fountain pens are characterized by an incredible smoothness in the way they write, and will last forever if you take care of them. You can get a really great fountain pen for Php1000-1500 – throw in a bottle of ink for about Php300-500 and you’re still under the budget!

Prepaid healthcare – Php2199/1599

They say that gifts are a way of showing someone that you care about them. You can translate that thoughtfulness into literal care with the MyMaxicare LITE prepaid healthcard! For a one-time payment of Php2199, the recipient of this gift can get up to Php25,000 coverage for any of 8 common diseases – dengue, chikungunya, malaria, typhoid and paratyphoid, cholera, gastroenteritis, leptospirosis, and pneumonia – valid for 1 year, and for patients between ages 2 and 60 years old. Cardholders are covered for room and board, lab tests, professional fees and more, and even get additional discounts at select health services. You can also opt for a Php1599 card that has all of these benefits, though excluding access to major hospitals.

Under Php1000

Power bank
A good power bank with a thin and light profile but a big capacity like 5000 or 10000mAh will help your loved ones stay in touch with you – or at least allow them to play a few more rounds of Candy Crush.

Dashcam
These little dashboard-mounted cameras are soon going to be an essential part of driving around the slow and furious streets of the Philippines. They’re an amazing gift for anyone who drives regularly.

Prepaid healthcare – Php549/749
Even at this lower price range, you can find great prepaid healthcare options. Maxicare’s EReady prepaid health card provides up to Php15,000 coverage on emergency medical conditions, inclusive of ER fees, dressings, casts, and sutures, IV fluids and blood products, and more. It’s valid for up to 1 year from the activation date, and cardholders are eligible if they are between the ages of 15 days old and 65 years old. EReady can be purchased for a one-time payment of Php749 for access to major hospitals, and Php549 without this access.

Prepaid healthcare services

With Maxicare’s EReady and MyMaxicare LITE prepaid cards, the HMO opens up new, more flexible opportunities for Filipinos who can’t afford the monthly dues for a more traditional healthcare plan. These innovative programs ensure that a greater number of people are able to access healthcare, leaving no one behind when it comes to what matters most.

To buy Maxicare prepaid healthcards, just log on to 

www.maxicareprepaidhealthcare.com.ph.
EReady and MyMaxicare Lite are also available in all Robinsons Department Stores (Business Center) nationwide and via IRemit.

Amaia Land opens Amaia Scapes Cabuyao—its newest project in Laguna

Steadfastly committed to provide affordable but high-quality homes to Filipino families, top-of-mind real estate provider Amaia Land Corp., the economic housing arm of Ayala Land, opens Amaia Scapes Cabuyao—its third and newest project in the province of Laguna.

Located on the provincial road at Barrio Marinig in Sala, Amaia Scapes Cabuyao is a fully developed community in a sprawling 6.6-hectare land in the first-class municipality of Cabuyao, a key location in the province where lush vegetation promotes a green and peaceful lifestyle.

Amaia Scapes Cabuyao offers a variety of house designs that suit the preferences and needs of individual families, such as bungalow pods that range in size from 34 to 75 square meters with a total of 123 saleable units and twin pods that range in size from 28 to 65 square meters with a total of 128 saleable units.

All units are compact but space-efficient and highly functional, and are fully compliant with the building code. The homes feature an energy-efficient architectural design that allows cross ventilation and lets natural light in.

Amaia Scapes Cabuyao is a flourishing community that comes complete with amenities like a village pavilion, swimming pool, basketball court, and playground. Homeowners may soon also look forward to having its own retail area.

Conveniently located, Amaia Scapes Cabuyao may easily be accessed from Cabuyao proper, Sta. Rosa, and Calamba City—and is just 25 minutes away from the South Luzon Expressway.

The community is also near key neighboring establishments like the Cabuyao Public Market, Cabuyao Hospital, Sta. Rosa Commercial Complex, Sta. Rosa Waltermart, Enchanted Kingdom, Malayan College, Dominican College, and Pamantasan ng Cabuyao.

“Investing in Amaia Scapes Cabuyao makes sure that your hard-earned money and savings are put to good use, as it assures your family of a sturdy abode in a safe and secure community,” said Valerie Valecina of Amaia Land.

“The area offers a clean and serene environment that goes with our promise of quality and affordable living in a fully developed community which is Amaia Scapes Cabuyao,” Valecina added. 

Future homeowners can choose from Amaia Land’s easy and flexible payment terms such as cash, deferred payment, and bank financing. All Amaia Land properties are managed by Ayala Property Management Corporation.

For inquiries about Amaia Scapes Cabuyao, visit www.amaialand.com or like www.facebook.com/AmaiaLand.

Primehomes unveils Larossa Phase 2 , Capitol Hills

Larossa, touted as the next big community in Quezon City, reached another milestone when it recently topped off its third building, the Magnolia. This comes on the heels of the most recent top-off of its second structure, the Sampaguita and coincides with the near to one hundred percent occupancy rate of its first building, the Camia.

Larossa, located at the highest peak of Metro Manila’s largest city, is the premiere project of Primehomes, a relatively new name in the field of residential development but prides itself of having seasoned partners: Visionarch, one of the country’s top architectural firms in the country, has worked to build homes for Ayala Land and SM; and, Design Coordinates Incorporated (DCI), the leading domestic company in Construction Project Management, which has been contracted by top developers like SM, Filinvest and Vistaland . Through Larossa, Primehomes hopes to attain its thrust of building a green environment and bigger living spaces for Filipino families.

According to Primehomes’ Vice President for Sales & Marketing Greg Ignacio: “We, at Larossa are proud to bring to you a project that prides itself of bearing an unbeatable address at the highest peak in Q.C. We are simply elated to offer living spaces that offer a quiet respite amid the hustle and bustle of city life. Indeed, the top off of the second structure and the simultaneous launch of the second phase starts us off towards our promise of making Larossa the next big community in Quezon City.”

“We, at PRIMEHOMES, are committed to create communities that matter. One community at a time. Being here, in front of new friends, is something we have planned and looked forward to for a very long time. We are happy to welcome you to our home-Larossa, the pride of Prime Homes. Many of you may not know who we are, how we started, and how we came to be. Some of you may probably ask, how were we able to acquire and develop this prime location? Which by the way, is at the highest peak of Quezon City.

With the help of architects, engineers, designers-plus thinkers and doers who have invested their minds and passion to this project–we hope you will appreciate the beauty of Larossa and know the kinds of developments Prime Homes has to offer,” Ignacio adds.

Engr. Miguel P. Mendoza, VP for Operations  
“As we celebrate Magnolia’s top off today, we also announce the completion of the structures of our first phase and announce the beginning of Larossa’s second phase. These are very exciting times for us because a lot of new things are in store with the second wave of development,” said Engr. Miguel P. Mendoza, Vice President of Operations.

With all these, we at Primehomes, hope to offer consumers the home they deserve… that which gives them the space and quiet  they need, in the middle of a well-preserved natural habitat which, at the same time, gives them easy access to the top schools, commercial hubs and other offerings that complement city living, ” Engr. Mendoza added.

The Magnolia Building follows the Camia and Sampaguita Buildings. The first building Camia, is already 90 percent sold and with about 35 residents to date. The Magnolia Building comprises 10 residential floors, 1 basement parking and has 239 units which possess the same sophistication and class as that of Camia and Sampaguita.  Slated for completion in the latter part of 2018, the Magnolia building will have the same features as Camia and Sampaguita such as (individual drying cages, personal mail boxes, elevator landscape, 24/7 cctv and the likes).


With the top off, Primehomes is also proud to announce the launch of the second phase of Larossa’s development. What makes the kick-off of the second phase very momentous is that a retail strip will be built and opened in the area which will readily serve both Larossa residents and neighboring areas. And, true to its promise of being a botanical community, the complex will house shops and restaurants that are aligned to green living. The second wave of development will also see the opening of Larossa’s main access gate and the clubhouse for residential use.

More than that, prospective buyers will have more variety in terms of unit types to choose from the two and three bedrooms and the penthouse.

The second of a total of five phases, which marks the completion of 25 percent of the total Larossa project, will be fully accomplished in 2019.

Kapuso Star Ms.LJ Reyes celebrates birthday with a yoga session

The holidays can be extra tough especially for all the moms out there who have to add more time for shopping to buy gifts for the entire family. So a couple of months ago, I started going to the gym hoping to lose a few pounds and gain a bit of strength to ease my recurring leg pain.


My doctor had advised me to move around and do some strengthening exercises to mobilise my right leg. I gained around 10 pounds during the past four years which I think is one of the reasons for my leg pain as I am not used to being this heavy.



I’ve been trying to squeeze some gym time 3x a week but with our schedules becoming more hectic, so I try to exercise every opportunity I get.

 And last week I got an invite to celebrate Kapuso Star LJ Reyes 30th birthday at Snap Fitness Gym in Tomas Morato, in front of GMA Network.

Yes a birthday party at the Gym. This is certainly not the usual invitation I get.



Ms LJ Reyes showed up in her work out shirt,  leggings and a Melissa slides. She looked really fit and toned and she doesn’t seem to age even though she’s already in her 30s and has a kid.

She has this healthy disposition which explains her rosy glow.  She is simply pretty and charming in person.

It was perfect time to meet her personally and to know what she has been doing lately.


The event was hosted by GMA Artist Joshua Jacobe. 

She told our group of bloggers that she has been working out toning her abs, arms, butts and hips with a trainer.  Her fitness routine includes cardio and yoga. Since she came from the family who loves to eat out. She has been watching her diet and religiously goes to the gym. Though she doesn’t follow any particular diet, she makes sure to eat in moderation avoiding salty and sugary food.

Ms. LJ started her showbiz career when she joined Starstruck reality show 12 years ago in 2005. She was just 16 years old then. She won her first Gawad Urian award as Best Actress for "Anino sa Likod ng Buwan" on 2016. She has a son named Aki with celebrity actor Paulo Avelino, who is now 7 years old.

Take us back to riding trains, walking around and wandering carelessly of time! But this time, so much to celebrate!❤️ (photo taken last May) now... thinking of a good hashtag for this year’s Christmas trip...🤔 suggestions??

A post shared by LJ Reyes (@lj_reyes) on Dec 4, 2017 at 5:10am PST

Besides being a good actress LJ is now also an app developer and has helped develop an App for moms out there. Its called MApp ( The Smart Mommy app) is designed for moms (and dads too) who have little kids. The app works when you are looking for some establishments and activities to do and for some emergencies.  The app is available on Android and iOS.

Dr Kong: Shoes That Takes Care of your Feet

How do you choose your shoes? Do you pick one based on style or are your looking for more comfort?

Ask those who know me and they’ll tell you that  I never compromise comfort over style. Style might always be the one to get my attention but once I put it on, I make sure that it wouldn’t punish my feet.


That’s why I seldom wear heels or platforms. I reserve those for important occasions like a wedding or my kid’s graduation. I can only walk in them for just an hour, but longer than that,  there’ll be blisters slowly appearing on my weary feet.

Those that are painful and hard to walk in are definitely a “no-no” for my shoe rack. I am comfortable with sneakers, wedges and slides. That's why when Im buying my shoes, I make sure that the inside soles are soft and my feet are comfortably settled in, toes and everything.

Did you know that prolonged walking in uncomfortable footwear and exposure to harsh environments can trigger calluses, corns, bunions and heel spurs>


That is why those pairs that I can walk in for 7 hours without hurting my feet are my favorites. Especially when they are stylish and can accessorize the whole outfit. But with so many brands and choices these days, choosing which shoe to get can be quite challenging. But if comfort is really what you are looking for, you could always go to Dr. Kong to make that decision a lot easier.

Dr. Kong recently celebrated their 6th anniversary at their store in Bonifacio Global City. Though it wasn’t my first time inside their store, I was surprised that they have this device called "Check & Fit" which could check the condition of your feet. Of course I had to try it out! I learned that my feet needs a bit of correction because my soles are not properly settled inside the shoes, that's why Im mejo bow legged. There was even a doctor there who suggested which kind of Dr Kong shoes I should choose to help fix my condition.

As much as hate to admit it, I only realized how important Dr. Kong’s valued service after having tried it out for myself.



Just like a lot of moms out there who balance career and running the household  we oftentimes fail to pay attention to their own needs most especially when it comes to caring for our feet.

Even having a pedicure or a foot spa takes a back seat to taking care of our family, so we really often don’t get enough time to choose the right footwear ourselves and fail to anticipate the harsh conditions our feet can encounter throughout the day.

If not properly taken cared off our feet may develop problems like calluses, corns, bunions, and heel spurs. Calluses thicken and build up whenever feet become constrained by spaces during walking. Because of pressure and friction, the skin hardens and becomes flaky and dry.

Corns and bunions, on the other hand, develop alongside calluses and worsen the pain on the feet.  Heel spurs along with cracks develop from more intense activities like running or jogging, especially when these are done on hard surfaces like gym floors.

Then there’s the plantar fascia--the flat tissue or ligament that links the heel bones to the toes. Its role is to support the foot but once it gets strained, it becomes weaker and irritated. When this occurs this heel strain is called plantar fasciitis, usually caused by the ligaments exceeding its limit for support. When the ligaments are repeatedly strained, tiny tears may be caused and the damage can lead to pain and swelling in the affected area.

All these common problems can be treated or cut after they’ve developed, but as they say prevention is always better than cure and wearing specially-designed foot wear is arguably the best prevention out there.

Dr Kong Healthy Shoes Shop was established in 1999 and they were the first to promote the innovative “Check & Fit” foot examination and insole fitting service and provide free profession foot examination to people of all ages.


Depending on the customer’s feet condition, they then recommend the most suitable and economical foot care products.

That is what makes Dr Kong different from all other shoe brands out there as it is a corporation with a sense of mission. Their “EPS mission” comprises of 3 areas - Education, Product and Sales.

In the area of education, Dr Kong is dedicated in educating the public about the importance of foot and spine health. Though various channels, Dr Kong helps spread the information on foot and spine health. In the aspect of product, Dr Kong is dedicated in developing functional foot and spine health products. For example, the “BB walker 123” concept provides bare foot concept, easily bendable concept and 3-D foot care concept to meet the foot care needs of children at different stages of their step learning.

In addition, there is “Children Walker ABC” which was developed for children’s golden period of their foot development.

 First, a foot examination is made  to measure their index of rear foot inclination. Then according to their foot condition, it is matched with either A, B or C shoe insoles which have different foot arch support and rear angle.

Together with healthy shoes’ firm counter to stabilize heel bone, Dr. Kong helps to make the best preparation for their feet’s healthy development.

Recently, they have developed “multi- circumference” healthy shoes from 2E to 4E(narrow last to wide last).

Since the shoe heads have different circumferences, they are suitable for fat and thin feet. Therefore, more customers can find healthy shoes suitable for their foot shapes. In the area of sales, Dr Kong provides caring service through professional foot examination service and detail product functionality explanation. Dr Kong provides healthy shoes and foot care products for babies, children, adult and the elderly so that everyone can wear comfortably and healthily.


Dr. Kong shoes are available at the following branches for Metro Manila: SM City Fairview. SM City North Edsa at The Block. Sakai Center Greenhills Greenhills Promenade,  Robinsons Galleria,  Robinsons Place Manila,  Uptown Mall BGC, SM Aura Premier,  Robinsons Magnolia,  Glorietta 5,  Greenbelt 5, Lucky Chinatown Mall,  and Ayala Malls The 30th. For those from the South, its available at SM City Bacoor, Ayala Malls Serin, Nuvali Solenad 3, SM Mall of Asia, Festival Mall, and SM Southmall. SM City Cebu, and Abreeza Mall in Davao.


Follow Dr Kong Philippines
Facebook:  @DrKongPH
Instagram:  @drkongshoesp

SM Cinema mounts life-size spaceship as tribute to the highly-anticipated sequel, ”Star Wars: The Last Jedi.”

If youre a true blue fan of Star Wars, now is the best time to watch "Star Wars: The Last Jedi" at SM Moa, and witness the life-size spaceship,  strategically on display at the SM MOA Activity Center. Plus you can take a selfie or a groufie with Kylo Ren and the Storm Troopers Rebel Pilots. How cool is that?!

SM Cinema recently held a special block screening of Star Wars: The Last Jedi at SM Imax on Dec 13.

As SM Cinema brings the 8th instalment of Star Wars from the big screen to real life, fans can experience these full-scale installations first-hand at their favorite SM mall:

The X-Wing: Be a part of the Resistance and get a chance to explore the X-Wing, the Rebel Alliance's Starfighter designed for long missions and intense battles, in a life-size installation that opened its doors at SM Seaside City Cebu last December 1, 2017 and will be open for visits until January 21, 2018.

The TIE Silencer: Get to experience what it’s like to be in Kylo Ren’s shoes and snap a photo at the replica of the dark warrior’s famous angular fighter. Get drawn to the dark side as the exhibit makes its way to SM Mall of Asia on December 13 until January 8.

Enhancing the Star Wars experience,  the latest episode of the film is digitally re-mastered in IMAX. Bring the far away galaxy closer to you with IMAX’s vivid 30 colors and effects and hear the striking lightsabers with the theatre's pitch-perfect sound.

You can now book anytime, anywhere with the new free in the android google play beginning December 15. Visit SM, you must! Catch Star Wars: The Last Jedi in the theatres that deliver the best reel-to-real experience, IMAx and SM cinema

Buy  your tickets in advance! Log on to www.smcinema.com or follow @SM Cinema on instagram and /SMCinema on Facebook for more information and use the hashtag #TheLastJediinImax. May the force be with you!