If it’s good eats you’re looking for, The New Food Choices has got you covered

Its been months since my last brewed tea fix at Glorietta's Food Choices. This place hold a special place in my heart. This is where I used to hang out and wait for my partner , to pig out on everything. Yes!! The place where I used to enjoy the free wifi with our favorite milk teas on the side. I am happy now that it is open to the public with new interiors and dining options to choose from.

I was just as excited as everyone else's when we were invited for the Food Choices re-opening. Everything is new and most probably the coolest place to hang out by this time.

The Food Choices section of Glorietta has long been the top-of-mind destination for foodies who want to try a variety of cuisines at accessible prices within a relaxing ambience. 

As the “first taste” of the Glorietta’s ongoing redevelopment to serve its mall goers better, Food Choices has reopened with a fresh new look, with more than 30 amped-up options available to suit any type of craving—from snacks, to sumptuous meals, drinks, and delectable desserts. 

Located at the 3rd level of Glorietta, Food Choices boasts of an exciting dining experience in a cozy setting with warm wood details, chic chairs and tables mixed-and-matched with a range of textures and finishes, all following a subtle monochromatic palette brightened up by neon-lit signages. 

The versatility of the space invites one to linger longer over a delicious meal, or maybe coffee and dessert. It is the ideal hangout spot that levels up from the usual food court ambience with quality choices at accessible price points for the Makati foodies.  

The food shops that are found along the Food Choices aisles are a curated mix of familiar favorites, fusion cuisine, and delightfully wicked sweets. 

For those who want a taste of Filipino home cooking, there’s Reyes BBQ for that inihaw and java rice meal fix and Mabini’s Kainan Kapihan is set to serve a revolutionary menu. 

Mesa Steak Sizzlers is there for hearty, meaty meals.  

Those who want to enjoy Asian flavors can take their pick from Kraken Takoyaki, Sushi Nori’s sushi rolls and poke bowls, Maisen’s Katsu sets, Banh Mi Vietnamese sandwiches, Taiwanese-style meals from Mr. Chops, and the sizzling sets from Pepper Lunch Express. 

El Presidente of Binondo is there to offer familiar Chinese favorites while Thai food from BKK Express, Singaporean-Chinese offerings from Wangfu Express and Kosoo’s Korean specialties will soon add to the Asian mix of food merchants.  

Chicken cravings will be sated at Birdhouse, Rotisserie, and World Chicken, and Shawa Wama is set to serve up its popular pita wraps soon. 

For carbo-loading on great pasta, there’s Farina’s, and for more health-conscious diners, there are good food options from the Farmery’s salads and smoothies, Juicy Fresh Juice Bar, and Peppy Olive’s heart-healthy Mediterranean delights. 

A new way to enjoy a caffeine fix is also in the works with choices of cold brew coffee from Nitro 7 Coffee & Tea Bar, while Pure Nectar’s juice cleanse sets are also available for those who want to drink up on healthy stuff. 

If something stronger is needed, diners can unwind with a glass or two of good vino from Totide Wine Bar in the coming days. 

Dessert is always a good idea and Glorietta’s Food Choices has a great array of sweet temptations, ranging from Taho Manila’s take on a street food fave, to Cassalu’s Filipino cheesecakes, Dulcinea’s bestselling churros con chocolate and Lord Stow’s egg tarts. 

Those who want to cool off from shopping can head for Jungle Joy’s Banana con Hielo, and Wooyoo Premium Milk Frost’s lineup of Korean bingsu choices. Of course, if you want to bring some sweet stuff home, there’s always Mary Grace and Sans Rival. 

Mo's Cookies will soon delight cookie lovers with their mouth-watering treats that are offered in bite-sized (called crumbs!), which is good for sharing, and their palm-sized cookies. 

If it’s good eats you’re looking for, Food Choices has got you covered, all located within a fun place to relax during a shopping break, a quick meal before catching a movie, or simply a place to hang out and dine with friends and family.      

Food Choices is located at the 3rd floor of Glorietta 4, Ayala Center, Makati.

Follow us on social media to find out more about Food Choices.
FB- fb.com/iloveglorietta
IG- @iloveglorietta 
#FoodChoices #ILoveGlorietta 

Vivo V17 Pro pre-order comes with these cool freebies

Smartphone enthusiasts who are rarin’ to shoot beyond limits with the new Vivo V17 Pro, can get more when they pre-order the latest flagship handset, online and in stores nationwide.

From October 10 to 18, customers who order the Vivo V17 Pro smartphone online for P21,999, will not only get their hands on the handset that boasts 6 cameras, they will also get a set of Harman JBL T110 Bluetooth earphones and 6 months extended phone warranty. The freebie bundle package is exclusively available on Shopee.

Meanwhile, those who place an advance order on the V17 Pro at participating Vivo concept stores nationwide will score wireless Bluetooth earphones with a charger box set and a limited-edition Vivo V17 Pro t-shirt. 

The V17 Pro boasts of six cameras, a Super AMOLED display, and a long-life battery with dual-engine fast charging. Its six optics—including the dual front elevating selfie cameras and AI quad rear cameras—capture fuller and clearer selfies and super macro and super-wide clear images, even in low-light conditions, to enable users to shoot beyond limits.

Available in Knight Black and Crystal White colorways, the V17 Pro will be available starting October 19, 2019.

To pre-order the Vivo V17 Pro today, visit https://shopee.ph/product/70046721/3103075826/.  

Metrobank makes banking meaningful for the next generation

The late Metrobank Group Chairman, Dr. George S.K. Ty, founded Metrobank when he was in his early 20s as no banks would lend him money easily for his family’s flour mill business.  Coming from this first-hand experience, he decided to build a bank. He established it with the goal of helping businesses grow, starting by lending to family businesses in Binondo. This is the very foundation of Metrobank and the beginning of Meaningful Banking. 

From left: Metrobank Commercial Banking Group – Countryside Head Leopoldo Ubaldo; Dr. Jacinto Gavino Jr.; Metrobank Institutional Banking Sector Head Mary Mylene Caparas; Metrobank Commercial Banking Center – Visayas Head Jay Ajos; and Metrobank Commercial Banking Division – Makati III OIC Head Ruigi Dumlao




The Generation Now Leadership Series is anchored on this vision. The bank understands the pressure that goes with running a business, especially a family-owned one. More so today, the challenges are both the same and different for the next generation of young entrepreneurs. 

Significantly, the Leadership Series was conceptualized by young relationship managers of Metrobank, who recognized the need to address the concerns of these new breed of clients. Its aim is to help the new set of leaders steer their family-owned companies into the next generation of stewardship. This event is the first in the industry. 

The bank just held another successful edition of the Leadership Series in Cebu City. Now on its third run, the recent talk was led by Dr. Jacinto Gavino Jr., an expert on managing family corporations and executive coaching. He discussed the structure of family corporations, its different business roles, and the challenges in running one, such as succession, professionalization, and governance. 

“This Leadership Series is firmly rooted on the bank’s goal to be with our customers every step of the way until they fulfill their biggest dreams. As we help you manage your business, we are ultimately empowering future leaders who will soon help drive the Philippine economy,” says Institutional Banking Sector Head, Mary Mylene Caparas.

Italianni's best kept secret recipes at Conrad S Maison

Have you ever craved for something that you wanted it right away? I do, especially for food. Ill drive myself as far as the South just to have a taste of it. Or maybe have it delivered in our house. 

This time, ITALIANNIS brings back their Best Kept Secret Recipes for all you foodies out there. 

Wherever we may wander, we always come home to the people and the things we love. Just as in ITALIANNIS, where we taste new dishes but our cravings still come home to the classic favorites we’ve loved for all the right reasons.

They are Italiannis’ Best Kept Secret Recipes that occupy a special place in Our hearts, not only because of their flavorful goodies but also because of the warm memories they evoke.

Start with the calamari, shrimps, zucchini and fish fillet combo called the Frito Misto and the Liver Pate on buttered bread to jumpstart a good meal.

Combine lively banter with Romano Chicken Caesar Salad a mix of romaine, mushroom, artichokes, red pepper, and breaded chicken drizzled in caesar’s dressing.

Recount precious experiences while you get a load of Country Rigatoni Pasta, al dente pasta with Italian sausage, chicken, pancetta, cannellini beans, vegetables, and parmesan butter.

Or if you remember a sentimental moment, share it all over again as you sink your teeth into the Salmon Pesto Linguini that’s loaded with salmon, tomatoes, parmesan, and pesto cream.

Then there’s the scrumptious Poached Salmon sitting on a bed of carrots, broccoli, asparagus, and herb potato and resting in seafood stock-it’s perfect for the mood of the moment.

Don’t forget to pair these classic dishes with your favorite wine and say “Cheers to making new memories!”

Fall in love again and more than ever with Italiannis Best Kept Secret Recipes because it is just the kind of homecoming that we all long for.

To know more about Italianni’s, check out h ://www.italiannis.com. . h/; like it on FE and follow it on IG @ItaliannisPH

OYO Hotels & Homes seek to raise $1.5 billion in the latest round of financing

Earlier this month, OYO announced that RA Hospitality Holdings’ has received CCI approval for $2 billion primary and secondary management investment round in the Company.


OYO Hotels & Homes, the world’s fastest-growing chain of hotels, homes & living spaces, announced last Monday that it is raising $1.5 billion, as part of its Series F funding round. As a part of this round, RA Hospitality Holdings’ will infuse approximately $700 million as primary capital in the company, with the balance $800 million being supplemented by other existing investors. A significant part of the funds will be diverted towards continued growth in OYO’s fastest-growing market the United States, and in strengthening the company’s position in the vacation rentals business in Europe.

Earlier this year, RA Hospitality Holdings received CCI approval to invest $2 billion in OYO. In order to facilitate this transaction, Lightspeed Venture Partners and Sequoia, are selling part of their shareholding in OYO to help the Founder increase his stake while remaining invested and committed to the company’s long-term mission. 

Prior to this, OYO had raised over $1 billion in its last financing round, announced on September 2018, led by SoftBank through SoftBank Vision Fund, with participation from existing investors Lightspeed Venture Partners, Sequoia and Greenoaks Capital and supported by new strategic partners like Airbnb. 

OYO Hotels & Homes has emerged as the world’s second-largest hotel, and fastest-growing chain of hotels, homes, living and workspaces, leaving behind several traditional and long-standing hospitality brands. In a short span of 6 years, OYO has expanded its presence to 80+ countries around the world. 

This fast-paced growth is fueled by the company’s success in China with presence in 338 cities and over 590,000 rooms, followed by fast-paced growth in Indonesia with presence in 100+ cities and over 27,000 rooms, the UK with presence in 30 destinations and over 3,500 rooms, and more recently in the U.S., with presence in 60 cities, 21 states and over 7500 rooms. This year, the company has seen a 3.8x YoY growth in revenue in Aug 2019 (vs. Aug 2018), with 1.2 million rooms under management across hotels and homes. 

The company already has a strong balance sheet of ~ $2 bn across group companies, a significant part of which will be further invested in the business, given the company’s focus on maintaining its growth momentum. The company already employs over 20,000 OYOpreneurs and has created economic opportunities for over 300,000 local hospitality enthusiasts around the world. 

Commenting on this development, Ritesh Agarwal, Founder & CEO (Global), OYO Hotels & Homes, said, “The continued support of our investors like Softbank Vision Fund, Lightspeed, Sequoia Capital is a testament to the love, trust and relentless support of our asset owners and customers, hard work of all OYOpreneurs, and our commitment to making #LivingTheGoodLife a reality for over 3.2 billion middle-income people around the world. With the CCI approval now in place, the company will get a capital infusion of approximately $1.5 billion to support this mission, supported by me and other shareholders.”

“I am also happy to share that on a Y-O-Y basis, we have seen that not only are we operating profitably at the building level but at the same time our EBITDA has also improved by 50% (on a Y-o-Y basis). The losses as a percentage of NRV have also been on a steady and significant declining curve. The growth across verticals in India and globally has been phenomenal and we truly believe that we will be able to build a truly global brand out of India, while ensuring that the business is run efficiently and with a clear path to profitability. Our immediate goal however is to make forward looking investments so we can achieve our mission, while delivering on our fiduciary responsibility to our investors by building a sustainable business,” added Ritesh.

Known worldwide for its innovative chic offerings that have impacted hospitality experiences positively, OYO Hotels has attracted some of the world’s leading investors, including Airbnb, SoftBank Vision Fund, Lightspeed Venture Partners, Greenoaks Capital, Sequoia India, and Hero Enterprise. With the support of the investors, asset owners around the world and customers, OYO is today a leading player in the hospitality industry in every country where it has a presence. 

Get as much as P3,000 in cashback when you shop online and in stores with PayMaya this 10/10

Ready your mobile wallets, folks! Shopping season is once again on full-throttle mode and you can not only get the best discounts on deals when you shop online and in store, you can also get so much more when you shop with your PayMaya card or use PayMaya QR. 



Take advantage of the sweet 10.10 sales and zero-in on online and in-store deals you have been wishing for when you use your PayMaya card or pay using QR for your online and in-store shopping this October–and get as much as P3,000 in cashback for all your purchases. 

Go crazy shopping online at some of the most popular e-Commerce sites and snag the latest fashion finds, gadget trends, and home items because you can get up to 100% cashback (maximum P1,000 for October) for all your transactions. And when you go crazy and rack up a total of P5,000 spend, you also get a P500 cashback on top of everything else!

But when you feel like going to the malls to get your shopping fill this 10.10, PayMaya's also got your back because you can also get up to 100% cashback (maximum P1,000 for October) for each spend and a P500 reward for an accumulated P5,000 purchase this October when you scan to pay with your phone using PayMaya QR. To know the nearest merchant that accepts PayMaya QR near you, visit pymy.co/QRmerchants. 



So forget Cash-On-Delivery (COD) and use your PayMaya account when you shop this weekend to enjoy the full convenience, security, and rewards that it has to offer–exclusive perks that are even better than your credit card! 



If you don’t have a PayMaya account yet, now is the best time to get one so you can take advantage of all the cashback rewards while 10/10 sales are still happening! Download the PayMaya app now for iOS or Android and sign up today to feel the joy of paying for anything you want in the fastest, most secure, rewarding, and hassle-free way! Remember, don’t pay cash, PayMaya! 



To know how you can maximize your PayMaya account, visit www.paymaya.com/deals or follow @PayMayaOfficial on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.  



PayMaya, the digital financial services arm of Voyager Innovations, is the only financial technology company in the Philippines offering integrated consumer and merchant payment solutions with the widest on-ground branch network. It is the first to give millions of Filipinos an e-wallet that allows them to pay cashless transactions at any time of the day, anywhere in the world, and from any device. It is the financial technology arm of Voyager Innovations, the leading technology company in the country backed by PLDT, KKR, Tencent, World Bank’s IFC and the IFC Emerging Asia Fund. [END] 



Terms and conditions apply for all offers. Full Promo Mechanics:

Online Shopping

QR payments

Per DTI Fair Trade Permit Nos. FTEB 19185, 19179, 18893, 19183 and 19228, Series of 2019.

Celebrate moments with Goldilocks' Mango Chantilly Cake

Like an unspoken signal, the start of “Brrr” months signify the beginning of celebrations, from birthdays, Early Christmas parties or simply a random get together with friends. A festive spirit begins to fill the hearts and minds of us Filipinos. 

As a constant companion during these activities, Goldilocks, the country’s number one bakeshop has been at the forefront as the celebration cake of choice which caters to every occasion. With their large selection of greeting cakes, the world-famous bakery is still the go-to for hassle free gifts ready at a moment’s notice.

This notion of variety and convenience is further highlighted with Goldilocks’ Mango Chantilly Cake! A masterpiece made of layers of decadent mango and vanilla chiffon, filled in with rich Italian icing and fruity mango jam which is then decorated with intricate mango marshmallows, giving us the perfect match of fruity goodness and sweet satisfaction and with over 730 branches nationwide, there will always be a Goldilocks store for you to turn to for any type of celebration.


Grab this and many other greeting cake greats at any Goldilocks Bakeshop nationwide! For more information, you may also follow Goldilocks on Twitter or Instagram at @GoldilocksPH, on the Goldilocks Facebook page, or at the official Goldilocks website at www.goldilocks.com.ph