Have a Merry Christmas with your family by preparing a delicious Noche Buena feast using El Real

Kids and adults look forward to celebrating the holidays with gifts and good food. While Christmas might be different this year, you can still make it special by dining with your loved ones on some home-cooked family favorites. 

If you’re looking for ideas for your Noche Buena feast, here are some easy-to-cook and delicious recipes that you can try. Level it up even further by using El Real. 

1.    Pineapple Bacon Macaroni

If the smell of home-cooked ham or bacon coupled with that sweet aroma of glazed pineapple is a combination of scents that can easily get you and your family into the Christmas spirit, try out this Pineapple Bacon Macaroni recipe: 

 

What you’ll need:

·       400g El Real Elbow Macaroni

·       1 cup bacon

·       150g pineapple Juice

·       1 can pineapple slices

·       2 tbsp brown sugar

·       ½ cup sour cream

·       Salt and pepper to taste

Procedure:

1.    Cook El Real Elbow Macaroni in lightly salted boiled water for 8 minutes. Set aside.

2.    Fry the bacon until crispy. Set aside.

3.    Drain pineapple slices from can then coat with brown sugar. Fry brown sugar-coated pineapple slices until browned. Set aside.

4.    In a mixing bowl, combine sour cream and pineapple juice.

5.    Mix in cooked El Real Elbow Macaroni to sour cream-pineapple juice mixture and toss in crispy bacon and brown sugar-coated pineapple slices.

6.    Serve and enjoy!

 

2.    Pineapple Party Pasta

For a creamier version, try this pineapple party recipe:

 

What you’ll need:

·       400g El Real Party Pasta

·       1 cup mayonnaise

·       1 cup all-purpose cream

·       250g bacon, chopped

·       2 cans pineapple tidbits

·       2 tbsp oil

·       Salt and pepper to taste

 

Procedure:

1.    Cook El Real Party Pasta in lightly salted boiling water for 8 minutes. Drain and let cool.

2.    Heat oil in a frying pan. 

3.    Fry bacon until crispy. Cut into smaller pieces and set aside.

4.    Once pasta is cold, mix in all-purpose cream and mayonnaise.

5.    Top with crispy bacon bits.

6.    Serve and enjoy!

Made with durum wheat, this pasta can absorb and blend well with your sauces. It’s also a good source of iron, fiber and protein so you can be sure that you’re serving something nutritious for the family.  

This season, have a Merry Christmas with your family by preparing a delicious Noche Buena feast using El Real. Grab this Sarap, Sustansya and Sulit El Real Pasta in groceries and supermarkets nationwide.

For more recipes, follow El Real on Facebook. El Real is a pasta brand from Universal Robina Corporation, makers of well-loved goodies such as C2, Chippy, Cloud 9, Magic Crackers and Maxx.

Your grocery run for Noche Buena just got more rewarding!

Whether you are planning to shop for your groceries at your go-to supermarket or from the safety of your home, PayMaya is making your Noche Buena shopping experience even more rewarding with the best sulit deals at the biggest supermarkets in the Philippines whenever you pay with the #BetterQR this holiday season.

 

Whenever you shop for your groceries and pay using PayMaya QR at Mercury Drugstore, WalterMart, Robinsons Supermarket, The Marketplace, AllDay Supermarkets, Super8 Grocery Warehouse, Shopwise, Amesco Drug, LCC Supermarket, Metro Retail Supermarket, Gaisano Brothers Supermarket, Gaisano Grand, Gaisano Capital, and other partner supermarkets, you can easily get up to P250 cashback for your purchases the entire month of December. 

 

All you have to do is #ScanToPay a minimum purchase of P1,000 via PayMaya QR to get an instant P50 cashback. You can enjoy this offer up to five times this month to get a total of P250 as savings!

 

But that’s not all—by paying via PayMaya QR you can also enjoy 1%, 10%, or 100% cashback of up to P500 plus a chance to win up to P1,000,000 at the PayMayaguinaldo promo. With these stacked promos, PayMaya QR is truly the #BetterQR for shopping for your holiday feast. 

 

If you are planning to do your grocery shopping from the safety of your home, you can also enjoy exclusive deals when you pay with PayMaya. PayMaya has partnered with WalterMart to offer you free delivery on your groceries-- just spend a minimum of P3,000 on WalterMart’s delivery app and website (http://waltermartdelivery.com.ph), pay with your physical or virtual PayMaya card, and use the code WMPAYMAYA on checkout until December 31!

 

“With Christmas just around the corner, we are offering our customers the best value for their money when they shop for their Noche Buena staples this December. We hope these sulit deals help make their shopping experience more enjoyable, and their family celebrations more meaningful,” said Mark Dee, Head of Growth and Marketing for PayMaya Philippines.

 

Getting PayMaya and paying for your purchases using the app is very easy. Just download the PayMaya app at https://official.paymaya.com/CAK1/425eb133  and register an account, to find out what it’s like to go cashless with the fastest, safest, and most rewarding way to pay for anything online and in stores!

 

PayMaya is the only end-to-end digital payments ecosystem enabler in the Philippines with platforms and services that cut across consumers, merchants, communities, and government. Through its enterprise business, it is the largest digital payments processor for key industries in the country including "everyday" merchants such as the largest retail, food, gas, and eCommerce merchants as well as government agencies and units.

 

Through its app and wallet, PayMaya provides over 27 million Filipinos with access to financial services. Customers can conveniently pay, add money, cash out or remit through its over 150,000 digital touchpoints nationwide.

 

Its Smart Padala by PayMaya network of over 33,000 partner agent touchpoints nationwide serves as last mile digital financial hubs in communities, providing the unbanked and underserved with access to digital services. To know more about PayMaya's products and services, visit www.PayMaya.com or follow @PayMayaOfficial on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. 

Cebuana Lhuillier Micro Savings steps into the future by enabling QR Technology within the eCebuana app

This is good news to all iponaryos, like me. You can now have a full-service savings account via your Cebuana Lhuillier Micro Savings. You can download the ecebuana app for more accessible banking. 

As a champion for financial inclusion, Cebuana Lhuillier recently launched additional features to their existing Micro Savings Account, a product of Cebuana Lhuillier Rural Bank, to help more Filipinos become financially mobile, especially during the onset of the new normal. When the Micro Savings was introduced last year, in 2019, to be exact, it provided unbanked and underbanked Filipinos with easy access to basic savings, regardless of who and where they are. It further empowered the vast majority to jumpstart their savings and directly steer their lives towards a better future. But when the pandemic hit, the progress of the program, along with everything else, was literally brought to a standstill. 

 

Cebuana Lhuillier Rural Bank (CLRB) saw this as an opportunity to make sure that account holders or “Iponaryos” as they’re called, continue to still have full access to their hard-earned money, at their convenience. CLRB president Dennis Valdes said that, “The many challenges and limitations in access, presented by the pandemic to our clients and countless Filipinos, made us look even harder for more opportunities in bringing Cebuana Lhuillier Micro Savings to the next level; pushing our myriad of services farther ahead to immediately answer the needs of our clients.”

 

And the challenge has been met successfully. The Micro Savings Account now has four (4) new features: Partnerships with two giant financial institutions; BancNet and UnionPay, a link to the eCebuana App, as well as, the addition of QR Technology, for added security.

 

‘Iponaryos’ now have access to the latest functions transforming their Micro Savings account from just a basic cash deposit account to an even more powerful and reliable, full-service savings account.  By partnering with BancNet, they now have unrivalled easy access to their finances beyond CLRB's cash agent, Cebuana Lhuillier’s more than 2,500 branches nationwide, using BancNet's roster of 21,000 ATMs, and 114 member banks. 

A tie-up with UnionPay further allows account holders to make debit payments through over 350,000 POS terminals, as well as partner merchants nationwide. ‘Iponaryos’ can now get the benefit of an enhanced payment security with UnionPay chip cards’ quick payment process with just a tap, using UnionPay Contactless technology, plus the convenience of not having to carry cash and coins.

 

Full online access is likewise afforded to Ka-Cebuanas with the more efficient and more powerful eCebuana app allowing money transfers via Instapay, bills and utility payments, eLoad feature, insurance purchase, and coming soon are pawning ticket renewal and jewelry purchases. All these are made even more convenient since the adoption of online sign ups, now being allowed in the eCebuana app.

 

Lastly, Cebuana Lhuillier Micro Savings steps into the future by enabling QR Technology within the eCebuana app. This feature will be able to make money transfers and retail payments seamless and secure. Money transfers and retail payments via QR code will be available by March 2021.

 

Jean Henri Lhuillier, Cebuana Lhuillier president and CEO announced, “We are now shifting into a tech-brick company, where our network of branches will take advantage of our proprietary technology to step into new grounds by adapting to the new normal using our enhanced digital business transformation.  This will provide unprecedented financial access to millions more of Filipinos wherever they may be, anytime.”   

 

Lhuillier further talks about how they plan to take Filipinos to the next step of their ipon journeys. “Our dream is to digitally and financially include Filipinos by implementing world-class and innovative digital financial solutions for them. This, we believe, is what the future of financial inclusion should be – a future where there is financial mobility for every Filipino, a future where we provide them the capability to manage their finances whenever and wherever they may be, at any time.”

 

Try Jollibee’s Beefy-Saucy Burger Steak, now in a Family Pan!

The holidays are drawing near and that means one thing: everyone’s going to have more and more feasts at home! Even with the challenges and difficulties of our current situation, Filipinos are always looking for and finding ways to enjoy good food with their loved ones.

For those looking for large family-sized platters to share this Christmas, here’s one thing to try—Jollibee’s Beefy-Saucy Burger Steak, now in a Family Pan! The new Burger Steak Family Pan comes in six or eight pieces, perfect for friends and family. 

Everyone in your group of friends or family can now enjoy that 100% pure beef patty and that flavorful mushroom gravy, together!

“We know Filipinos absolutely love our Burger Steak, which is why we’re happy to help them share their favorite with their friends and family, with our new Burger Steak Family Pan,” said Mari Aldecoa, Jollibee Marketing Director for Core and Complementary category.“The Burger Steak Family Pan is sure to be a wonderful addition to the dinner table this Christmas.”

You can now get the Jollibee Burger Steak Family Pan for only PHP280 for the 6-pc. Pan or PHP360 for the 8-pc. Pan via safe delivery through the Jollibee Delivery App, JollibeeDelivery.com, #87000, as well as drive-thru and take-out. You may also order through your favorite delivery provider GrabFood, foodpanda, and LalaFood. For Luzon customers, enjoy a free Coke 1.5L bottle for every order of a 6-pc or 8-pc Jollibee Burger Steak Family Pan starting December 18 until December 25, 2020.

For more info and updates on Jollibee products, like Jollibee Philippines on Facebook, subscribe to Jollibee Studios on YouTube, and follow @jollibee on Twitter and Instagram.

PLDT Home Super Speed Deal: Its now time to upgrade

It’s a fact that no one was truly prepared for the changes that the pandemic has brought. What was supposed to be a promising and exciting start of a new decade turned out to be a year where families spent more time at home, than they ever have before. 

 

Like anyone who was suddenly forced to stay safe at home, life for Binibining Pilipinas Grand International 2016 Nicole Cordoves also slowed down. As a busy working woman and go-getter, she admits that she was not used to being at home all the time. However, similar to how everyone found something new about themselves as they adjusted to the lockdown, Nicole also discovered new passions, new learnings, and likewise realized that there is so much still, to be grateful for.

For the past nine months since the quarantine started, Nicole shared that despite being cooped up at home, the pandemic actually also forced her to upskill herself. In fact, she shared that there were a lot of things that she never thought she could do well, including cooking and gardening, and because of the power of the internet, she was able to do just that. 

 

“All that I’ve been doing since March is to learn as much as I can from a lot of rich sources online, particularly on YouTube. I never thought I would learn so much in such a short amount of time. I used to just stay on my phone or binge on Netflix when I’m not doing anything, but one thing good that came out of this pandemic is I learned to utilize the power of the internet more and increase my knowledge on things that interest me. I’ll say I’ve become more dependent on the internet, and I am just so glad that I was able to upgrade my home internet plan easily with the PLDT Home Super Speed Deal. It’s fast, reliable, and very affordable,” shared Nicole.     

 

New life in lockdown 

When the community quarantine was announced, Nicole confessed that she wasn’t as surprised because it was necessary to keep everyone safe and protected. She said, “There were already warning signs prior to the lockdown and I had a number of events getting cancelled due to health protocols. I was actually more surprised by how the lockdown dragged on, I didn’t think we’d lose an entire year because of it.”   

So to keep herself busy indoors, Nicole has been putting her cooking skills to the test and trying new recipes. She also shares that she’s thankful to have a reliable partner in PLDT Home Fibr so she can watch more of her favorite YouTube content and remain productive at home - from learning how to better clean and organize her home to editing her own videos for her channel.

Upgrading technology and upskilling oneself is important and necessary

When it comes to her realizations during the lockdown, Nicole shares that “Though the pandemic is something that really brought so much suffering and heartache to millions around the world, it did however make all of us become closer together at home. And with everyone being forced to stay at home for their own protection, having the right internet connection speed is a necessary tool. I was able to keep up with balancing work from home and doing interviews online in the past nine months because of my reliable connection.” 

Nicole admits that upgrading your internet connection at home is a must, especially for households with multiple-device requirements. She explains that her increased internet bandwidth usage at home especially for video calls for online classes, live hosting or off-site taping at work, or streaming her favorite Netflix shows, she knew that she needed an internet connectivity with reliable and higher speeds that would cater to her daily digital needs. 

“I need to be online all the time, so I upgraded my PLDT Home Fibr internet with their Super Speed Promo,” she quipped. PLDT Home’s Super Speed Deal promo gives subscribers a convenient and same-day upgrade of up to 2x their internet speeds for as low as Php 99 additional on their monthly plan. 

A newfound love for plants  

Since the pandemic, she also became a certified plantita. Or in her case, she likes to call herself as a halamom. She shares that she now has a corner in her room that’s filled with indoor plants that also serves as her go-to background for her Zoom calls and meetings. 

 

“It all started with indoor plants that progressed to actually growing my own food on my balcony. Today, I harvest my own sili, sitaw, and kamatis,” said Nicole. In fact, she even made a series on her IGTV dedicated to her halamom journey to update her fans and fellow plant enthusiasts. 

 

The return to Bb. Pilipinas as a mentor 

Nicole also kept herself busy and productive at home by mentoring the Bb. Pilipinas 2020 hopefuls with Miss Universe 2018 Catriona Gray. But due to the pandemic, adjustments to their training also had to be done where workshops were held online via Zoom calls instead. 

“It was challenging since online workshops can leave out a lot of things that are essential to public speaking like non-verbal communication, gesture, body language. So, we dedicated our modules to focus on content instead, and the girls blew us away,” she recounts. “In true Binibining Pilipinas fashion, they came and they conquered.”  

A life-changing experience 
As she talks about coaching this year’s Bb. Pilipinas candidates, she recounts her own experience and how being part of the competition changed her life. Nicole says, “I wasn’t expecting Bb. Pilipinas to change my life in such a big way, especially since I didn’t really get the top crown. But I do owe where I am now to the organization for giving me the opportunity to host the pageant that gave birth to my career.” 

Nicole further shared that it is such an honor for her to be mentoring this year’s forty candidates by sharing and imparting on them everything that she has learned from her own Binibining Pilipinas journey.

“Since my time in Binibining Pilipinas and even before that, I made it a point in my life to continue to further my knowledge by continuously improving myself.  Being a mentor now to these ladies, all of them beautiful and deserving queens in their own right, feels so validating and empowering. I only hope that imparting my experience and knowledge to them helps equip them with what they need to achieve their dreams and live their best lives,” continued Nicole.         

High hopes and well-wishes for the new Miss Universe hopeful
Nicole admits that she sees a queen in Rabiya Mateo, this year’s Miss Universe 2020. “When I saw her preliminary interview, she immediately became my bet! She spoke so naturally while courageously sharing her own opinion. She’s already an amazing queen who can really connect with people on a real level,” she shares. 

And knowing that the journey to get the crown is heavy and burdensome, Nicole aptly gives Rabiya a piece of advice, from one queen to another: “When it gets dark, I hope she remembers that she is the light. Your destiny is in your hands, make it a beautiful and memorable one.”

Know more about how you too can upgrade your digital lifestyle at home just like Nicole. With the Super Speed Deals promo, PLDT Home gives subscribers the added convenience of upgrading their internet speeds by simply dialing 170 for PLDT, Smart and Sun or (02) 80000170 for other network (toll charges apply). Visit www.pldthome.com/superspeed and find the best internet speed for your home.

Bayad Center, Inc., welcomes the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) as part of its growing biller network

CIS Bayad Center, Inc., the country’s biggest and widest multi-channel payment platform, welcomes the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) as part of its growing biller network, fast-tracking the application and renewal of license-to-operate permits, as well as product registration for small and medium enterprises (SMEs). 

With the new partnership, SME owners can now pay their application fee and accomplish their license-to-operate application and product registration in over 40,000 Bayad Center touchpoints nationwide. With SMEs comprising 99% of all registered businesses in the country, this payment solution from Bayad Center and FDA provides greater accessibility, convenience, and security for thousands of Filipino entrepreneurs. The collaborative effort is likewise a response as the country grapples with the coronavirus quarantine restrictions, actively discouraging people to travel far and minimize human contact.

The recently held virtual signing ceremony was led by Bayad Center President and CEO Lawrence Y. Ferrer, COO and Senior Vice President Francispito P. Quevedo, together with several officials from the FDA headed by Dr. Rolando Enrique D. Domingo, the agency’s Director General, and Atty. Ronaldo R. De Veyra, MBA CESO II, Deputy Director General for Internal Management. 

“As the vanguards of health mandated by the government to ensure the safety of food products, pharmaceutical, cosmetics, household urban hazardous substances (HUHS), household urban pesticides (HUP), toys and child care articles (TCCA), and medical devices in the market, we are very happy to partner with Bayad Center and offer a new venue for our clients to complete their application and post their payments,” Domingo shared. “We are certain that this effort will streamline the current process and will translate to better services to the public and better availability of FDA-approved health products,” he added. 

Currently, there are approximately half a billion items registered and 80,000 establishments with licenses to operate in the FDA.  The agency said the numbers of new registrations and renewals are likely to continue increasing with payment transactions made easier and even during the pandemic. 

“Bayad Center believes that this partnership underscores our longstanding commitment to bring efficient and reliable payment financial solutions, not only for household and personal bills, but now for business applications and licenses that will help empower Filipino entrepreneurs operate more efficiently especially in this new environment we are adapting to. By providing additional payment channels for FDA, individuals who aim to start or grow their businesses can save time and energy since payments are now more accessible and convenient through our Bayad Centers and Authorized Partners.” said Ferrer. 

As the most trusted payment authority in the country,  Bayad Center continues to grow its portfolio of services, which now goes beyond payments, including domestic and international remittance, insurance sales, medical reimbursement, airline ticketing, ATM cash withdrawal, loan disbursement, airtime loading, and more.

 

For partnership inquiries, kindly email us at billeronboarding@bayadcenter.com. 

 

Smile Train to raise awareness for children born with a cleft through the launch of Visual artist Riz Cabrera online art auction

Smile Train, the world’s leading cleft charity, invites everyone to share the gift of smiles this holiday season. Visual artist, Riz Cabrera, has partnered with Smile Train to raise awareness for children born with a cleft through the launch of her online art auction which she hopes can contribute to sustaining Smile Train’s goal to provide children the urgent support and care needed.

Every day, 540 babies are born around the world with this serious health condition – preventing them not only from smiling, but also posing difficulties in eating, breathing, and speaking. Through the auction, Riz hopes to help fund the surgeries and therapies that could transform the lives of Filipino cleft patients.

Visual artist, Riz Cabrera

 

“When I came across the Smile Train website, I was deeply moved by their advocacy. While I initially wanted to just be a channel of blessings for the patients, my goal was to raise awareness for this generation, specifically to those dealing with mental health issues just like myself,” shared Cabrera. “Although we all have our own personal problems and trials, if we would just look beyond ourselves, we can still be a message of hope to somebody. I believe that focusing on helping other people is therapy itself and partnering with Smile Train rekindles hope within me,” she shared.

 

For Riz, her passion for painting was ignited by hardships and these hardships have taught her to focus on helping others. This is why she is using her craft to help charities such as Smile Train. “ART ignites HEART. Nowadays, especially with the ongoing pandemic, we spend most of our time browsing or surfing the internet. I believe that the eyes are the windows of the soul. As an Artist, I have this obligation to penetrate souls with Love, Faith, and Hope through my art. Helping charities like Smile Train through arts can definitely move people to reach out.”

 

“Smile Train continues to advocate for individuals born with cleft and to providing free surgery and comprehensive cleft care to them and we look forward to partnering with various individuals who believe in our shared goal,” said Smile Train South East Asia Director Kimmy Flaviano. “We are grateful for the work Riz has done and continues to do for the benefit of Smile Train and we look forward to this generation to join our cause and act on behalf   of children born with a cleft lip and/palate.” 

 

This Christmas, you can bring a smile to the lives of people by supporting the auction. Check outhttps://www.32auctions.com/smile2020 to view the artworks. The auction runs until 24 December. Donations are also accepted in the site.  You may also follow Riz through her Facebook and Instagram accounts @carizzze. For more information about Smile Train Philippines’ local efforts and to refer a patient in need, visit smiletrain.ph/get-help, follow Smile Train Philippines on Twitter and Instagram @SmileTrainPh, and like them on Facebook at @SmileTrainPhilippines.

 

Tips to Make your holiday shopping safe and stress-free

Despite how crazy the year has been, the arrival of the holidays is something that has been keeping Filipinos hopeful and excited. After all, ‘tis the season to be joyful and grateful for being able to stay safe with loved ones and overcoming the challenges brought by 2020. While Christmas celebrations are going to be different this year, many are still looking forward to doing their gift shopping for friends and family. 

 

Here are some useful tips and reminders to help make holiday shopping safe and stress-free: 

 

Plan and create a Christmas list 

Just like how Santa has his own registry of names, shoppers can also make their own list of who to give presents to and what kinds of gifts they would like. Make it organized by grouping them into categories such as immediate family members, loved ones, friends, and even inaanak (godchildren). This makes it easier and saves time when browsing for gifts, and helps make sure that no one is left behind without any presents.

 

Add to online cart 

People are still encouraged to stay safe indoors, especially that the threat of the pandemic is still looming around. While there may be items that can only be purchased in-store, it is wise to check online shopping sites to see if they carry what you are looking for.  It’s also convenient because there is the option of having the gift delivered straight to the receiver - just make sure that it’s not cash on delivery so they won’t be surprised! In Robinsons Rewards App, you can browse and shop for gift options and earn points from ecommerce sites like GoRobinsons, Shopwise, Toys”R”Us, Marketplace, and Robinsons Appliances.

 

Be on the lookout for sales and get online coupons 

Another benefit of shopping online is that shoppers can save money by availing deals and discounts! Many brands are doing Christmas sales. If you’re looking for new devices such as phones, laptops, or tablets, you can check out the Aerophone discount promo for Robinsons Rewards members. 

Redeem points from your rewards programs

And who says you should only give gifts to others? For an extra rewarding shopping experience, you can also treat yourself to a present that you deserve with Robinsons Rewards. Members who have earned enough points can use it to pay for any product that they want at Robinsons stores - whether it’s a new bag, another set of trendy shoes, or the latest fashionable clothing items. 

 

Meanwhile, those who have yet to join the rewards program can start earning points through their purchases by downloading the Robinsons Rewards mobile app and signing up for free. They can also go to their nearest Robinsons store and buy a Robinsons Rewards Card at the Customer Service/Cashier for only Php 100. 

 

To redeem or transact with points, just simply present your phone and scan the merchant QR code using the Robinsons Rewards app or scan barcode on the Robinsons Rewards Classic Card.

 

So what are you waiting for? It’s the perfect time to shop, earn, and use those hard-earned Robinsons Rewards points to treat yourself for a job well done this year. The Robinson Rewards app is available for free download via iOS App Store, Google Play Store, and Huawei App Gallery.

Level up your meals with Truffle oil and sauce this Holiday Season

The approaching holiday season gives us the opportunity to celebrate all the things we are thankful with our families, despite a long and challenging year. Of course, meals are a special part of a Filipino family celebration and this year, why not find ways to make them extra special?

 

One way to level up your holiday meals is with truffle oil and sauce, a highly versatile ingredient that can significantly enhance the flavor and aroma of a wide variety of dishes. This has been used by restaurants to give ordinary recipes an extra boost in flavor and a unique twist. 

 

Umbria Terra Di Tartufi, an Italian brand distributed by Dygen Food Ventures, Inc., has a roster of artisan productsincluding truffle oils and sauces are made with pure ingredients from the luxuriant area of Valnerina, the green heart of Italy, and do not contain any artificial colors, additives, or preservatives. Their products were created with years of research on the unique and authentic flavor of the truffle.

 

Umbria Terra Di Tartufi has three variants of truffle oils and sauces – White Truffle Oil, Original Black Truffle Sauce, and Black Truffle Sauce 5%.

 

White Truffle Oil vs Black Truffle Sauce

Umbria Terra Di Tartufi’s white truffle oil is a condiment based on olive oil, dehydrated Bianchetto truffle and white truffle aroma. It has a more delicate flavor with a slight garlicky taste and a hint of pepper. It is used almost exclusively as a finishing oil, meaning it is added to a dish near or at the end of preparation, as its potency is heat-sensitive and not suitable as a cooking oil.

 

Meanwhile, black truffle has a more intense and robust flavor, which some may describe as more earthy and nutty with some chocolate notes. Umbria Terra Di Tartufi’s black truffle sauce is made with fresh Champignon mushrooms, extra virgin olive oil, black olives, and the natural flavor of black summer truffle. Truffle sauces are heated up and mixed with other ingredients.

Best pairings with white truffle oil

A few drops of Umbria Terra Di Tartufi’s white truffle oil can already go a long way towards enhancing the flavor of dishes. It works best mixed in fresh with pasta recipes and risotto, so if you will be serving spaghetti or carbonara this Christmas, try drizzling some white truffle oil. It also goes great with fish and chicken recipes such as chicken wings, fish fillet, or salmon and scallops and even simple toasted bread.

 

You can also simply pour some white truffle oil over movie snacks such as popcorn, French fries, or pizza, and you can even mix it with ketchup, mayonnaise, or hummus to make your holiday movie marathons even more extra. It can also be used to dress salads and soups to give them extra flavor. 

 

Best pairings with black truffle sauce

Umbria Terra Di Tartufi’s original black truffle sauce comes ready to use, and you can enhance its taste even more by sauteing some garlic and oil, letting it cool and then pouring the product contained in the jar.  

 

Try experimenting with black truffle if you want to change up your noche buena or media noche line up a little. To use original black truffle sauce, simply heat it up and mix with your choice of pasta, meat, fish, potatoes, roasted vegetables, or salad, and you get an effortlessly luxurious meal. It is perfect for garnishing appetizers and canapés or for enhancing dishes with a delicate and fine flavor like pasta, meat or fish. If you want, you can even add some drops of fresh cooking cream.

 

The black truffle sauce from Umbria Terra Di Tartufi also comes in a 5% variant, which is a special dressing sauce with intense flavor, naturally darker color and a high-quality selection of mushrooms and a special blend of spices. This variant is a perfect match both for Western and Eastern cuisines. A little goes a long way with this product and do not to heat it too much lest you lessen its aroma, so it’s best to add it towards the end of preparation. Try it when cooking shrimps or Risotto for a delicious flavor.

 

Truffle is a great and easy way to add a unique flavor and aroma to a lot of dishes to make your holiday celebrations extra special, so don’t be afraid to get creative in the kitchen!

 

Umbria Terra Di Tartufi is distributed by Dygen Food Ventures, Inc. and is available for purchase at goodwill.market, an e-commerce site under Dyna Drug Corporation that offers healthy and authentic products that are globally loved and curated. They hope to help people make the wisest investments, smartest decisions, and best choices to transform and lead a healthier lifestyle.

 

The Umbria Terra Di Tartufi White Truffle Oil is available in 100 mL and 250 mL bottles for Php 719 and Php 1,399 respectively. Their Original Truffle Sauce is available in 80g and 180g bottles for Php 519 and Php 759 respectively, while their Black Truffle Sauce 5% (intense) is available in a 180g bottle for Php 999.

 

Ajinomoto puts sustainability at the core of its environment-friendly business practices

Businesses play many roles in the communities they operate in. They provide livelihoods, boost the local economy, and contribute to the people’s identity. Another benefit that is often overlooked is the long-term impact of a company’s sustainable practices to the locality’s well-being.

 

The Ajinomoto Group envisions to contribute greater wellness for people worldwide. It utilizes its core businesses to improve people’s lives and increase the sustainability of the earth. By 2030, the company aims to reduce its environmental impact by 50% by contributing to the development of a sustainable society, mitigating climate change, helping develop a recycling-oriented society and realizing sustainability in procurement. 

 

“Goodwill initiatives are no longer an option but an imperative to businesses around the world. One of our top priorities in Ajinomoto is global sustainability, referring to our business practices to reduce our impact on the environment,” says Tsutomu Nara, Ajinomoto Philippines Corporation (APC) Group President. “Taking care of the environment is one of the ways that we show our commitment to shaping the way people live, interact, and thrive within communities.”

Challenging zero plastic waste by 2030

 

The Ajinomoto Group, which operates in 30 countries worldwide, developed a program to reduce its environmental impact. The Group also actively finds solutions as it collectively aims to achieve zero plastic waste by 2030.

 

In the Philippines, the Ajinomoto Philippines Corporation Group (APC Group) approaches this pressing concern on Global Sustainability by constantly engaging in Reduce, Reuse and Recycle (3Rs). 

 

One of APC Group’s key campaigns is to reduce the amount of plastic materials used, given that the Philippines is the third major source of land-based plastic pollution leaking into the ocean.

 

APC Group conducted packaging size and thickness reductions and increased machine efficiencies that are expected to yield an annual plastic reduction of 70-100 tons. APC is currently working on increasing the recyclability of its packaging materials while ensuring high product quality.

 

Sustainable Factory Operations

 

The factory operations of APC Group are responsible for making its manufacturing and production systems environmentally sustainable. Aside from waste water treatment, it also partnered with companies that help in converting waste materials into fuel to replace coal in cement manufacturing. This practice is more practical, cost-efficient, and environment-friendly than landfilling and segregation.  

 

SustainAbilidad Environmental Sustainability Education 

 

APC likewise launched its environment educational campaign to help consumers incorporate sustainable practices in their daily lives. Dubbed as #SustainAbilidad, the campaign uses its Cookmunity by Ajinomoto Philippines social media pages to feature the adventures of Super Suzy and her kid. The mom and child characters represent Filipinos who champion sustainability by teaching and inspiring others to bring out their “SustainAbilidad,” contributing to environmental stewardship in their own little ways. 

 

“By working hand-in-hand with the communities we operate in, we will fulfill our commitment of creating a circular economy, one where we minimize waste and reuse our resources. This way, we can sustainably help people to eat well and live well into the future,” says Tsutomu Nara, Ajinomoto Philippines Corporation (APC) Group President.

 

To know more about Ajinomoto’s sustainability initiatives, visit the Ajinomoto website at ajinomoto.com.ph and the Cookmunity by Ajinomoto Philippines at facebook.com/CookmunitybyAjinomotoPH.

 

The 

Patrons of Rockwell Malls can now shop more conveniently and safely with the Rockwellist Mobile app powered by PayMaya

Just in time for the holidays, patrons of Rockwell Malls can now shop more conveniently and safely with the Rockwellist Mobile app powered by PayMaya.

 

With the PayMaya cashless experience integrated in the Rockwellist Mobile App, customers of Rockwell Malls can enjoy exclusive promos and rewards whenever they pay for their purchases via PayMaya QR at participating establishments. Mall goers and store personnel can also have safer and faster transactions by utilizing PayMaya's contactless technologies. All customers have to do is log in to their PayMaya account via the Rockwellist Mobile App and Scan to Pay. PayMaya is the first eWallet in the Philippines to be integrated in a shopping mall mobile app.

 

“Our aim is to provide a more seamless experience for our customers through the Rockwellist Mobile App. What makes it even better is that it addressed a very timely need for contactless payments as we have integrated the PayMaya experience in our app, ensuring a safer, more convenient, and more rewarding holiday shopping season and beyond for all,” said Tracey Castillo, AVP of Marketing for Rockwell.

“We’re happy to work with Rockwell in providing innovative cashless solutions to enhance the shopping experience of their patrons. Mall goers can definitely feel safer with PayMaya’s contactless payment options, now available in the Rockwellist Mobile App and inside the stores. Whether they are dining out with family or buying gifts for themselves and their loved ones, customers of Rockwell Malls can also get more rewards and perks every time they pay via PayMaya QR,” said Shailesh Baidwan, President of PayMaya.

 

Aside from providing a safe and seamless mobile wallet for mall-goers, the Rockwellist Mobile App can also be used to easily check store schedules, book visits to restaurants, and get exclusive tickets to the fast pass lane for parking, to keep their transactions safe and convenient.

 

A million reasons to celebrate

 

For a more exciting season, PayMaya has teamed up with Rockwell to offer customers a chance to win a total of over P1 million worth of prizes when they #ScanToPay using their Rockwellist app at the Power Plant Mall.

 

All they have to do is spend at least P2,000 using the Pay via QR code feature of the Rockwellist app at any of PayMaya’s partner merchants at the Power Plant Mall, from December 1, 2020 to January 17, 2021. Every P2,000 purchase gets a customer one entry for the weekly raffle where 10 lucky winners will take home P10,000 until January 17, 2021, while two lucky winners will bag P250,000 on December 29, 2020.

 

On top of the chance to win up to P250,000, customers can also enjoy a cashback of 1%, 10%, or 100% of up to P500 when they #ScanToPay using their Rockwellist app at any of PayMaya's partner merchants. Each QR transaction earns them an entry to join PayMaya's PayMayaguinaldo promo, giving them a chance to win up to 1 million pesos!

 

Providing a #BetterQR experience

 

With all these exciting rewards on top of the safety and convenience you get when you #ScanToPay, PayMaya truly offers customers the #BetterQR experience this holiday season. So the next time you visit Rockwell Malls, don’t pay cash. PayMaya!

 

Getting PayMaya and paying for your purchases using the app is very easy. Just download the PayMaya app at https://official.paymaya.com/CAK1/425eb133  and register an account, to find out what it’s like to go cashless with the fastest, safest, and most rewarding way to pay for anything online and in stores!

 

PayMaya is the only end-to-end digital payments ecosystem enabler in the Philippines with platforms and services that cut across consumers, merchants, communities, and government. Through its enterprise business, it is the largest digital payments processor for key industries in the country including "everyday" merchants such as the largest retail, food, gas, and eCommerce merchants as well as government agencies and units.

 

Through its app and wallet, PayMaya provides over 27 million Filipinos with access to financial services. Customers can conveniently pay, add money, cash out or remit through its over 150,000 digital touchpoints nationwide. Its Smart Padala by PayMaya network of over 33,000 partner agent touchpoints nationwide serves as last mile digital financial hubs in communities, providing the unbanked and underserved with access to digital services. To know more about PayMaya's products and services, visit www.PayMaya.com or follow @PayMayaOfficial on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.