Snowbinge-ing at Snowbing

I always thought our "halo halo--" with all those different ingredients were the best thing to happen to iced desserts--besides ice cream of course. Then comes
"bingsu," a Korean shaved ice dessert with sweet toppings that could include chopped fruit, milk, fruit syrup, cereal flakes and ice cream. Okay its still like "halo-halo" just a bit more refined--especially once you take that first spoonful of shaved ice.

And once you try it, I swear you'd be calling out "Cheat Day" a lot more often.

The first time I heard about bingsu was last year. When I saw these  teenagers coming in and out of one bingsu store in Makati. I was curious with what they're eating so I decided to try one-- which I must have finished in record time.  It was the best smooth shave desserts that I had.  It was heaven and for during 15 minutes or so, I didnt care about anything else.

Choco Brownie php188

Last week, I got invited (August 14) to try Snowbing in SM North EDSA . I said yes right away because not only was it near our house, but also because I've been hearing a lot of good things about Snowbing.

Tropical Fruit Bingsu php168

I came from another event and was quite famished when I arrived at their very well lit store.  It as a good thing they also served pasta and pizza!

As for my bingsu I decided to order the Tropical Fruit for my bingsu (thinking the fruits would at least make me less guilty).  I was surprised that their bingsu was way more affordable starting at php168 an order.

So I decided to order two!

Korean Pasta php198

Pepperoni Pizza php99

But before that, let me tell you about their pasta. They have three types, Kimchi, Korean and Salted Egg Pasta. For those who like their pasta spicy, I suggest you go for the Kimchi pasta. It was spicy, tasty and the pasta al dente. Just like the way I want it. If you are feeling a bit less adventurous you can try their Korean pasta or the more creamy Salted Egg pasta.  Each order is good enough for one person so I suggest you also order a slice of pizza.

What I love about Snowbing is that everything in the menu is budget-friendly and does not compromise taste and quality. What you see is what you get. That's why I ordered a cheezy mango bingsu next after tropical fruit. Okay, I know i must have "snowbinged" a little bit.

My favorite however turned out to be the Choco Brownie. Of all the other flavors I tried, it was the best, not too sweet and the brownie chunks add a bit of texture to the shaved ice and ice cream.

Salted Caramel

Cheezy Mango

Korean Pasta 

Salted Egg Pasta php198

*Photo Images from Ed Uy of WhereIsEdUy.com

Visit Snowbing now at the UGF City Center of SM City North EDSA! 

Proud Pinoy Success

At the start of July 2017 The British School Manila student, Liezl Bitas, proudly received her International Baccalaureate Diploma score of 45 points, the top mark that can be received by a Diploma student and the culmination of two years’ hard work and study. Of the 159,400 students who completed the International Baccalaureate Diploma programme across the world in 2017, Liezl was one of only 218 to receive a perfect score of 45 points, a fantastic achievement.


Liezl, a proud Filipino, joined the British School Manila in August 2015, with her intellect, passion and energy, along with high levels of humility and self-reflection she was perfectly balanced and certainly ready for the rigors of the IB Diploma. As she embarked on the two year IB programme, she immediately earned the respect of teachers and students, with her passion for learning and her ability across all subjects, particularly shining when finding opportunities to merge her academic abilities with her love of film.

Liezl is a storyteller, a student with a unique gift of words and the ability to create spellbinding narratives and engaging film work. It was no surprise that Liezl chose to apply to study Film at University; her work and ideas deserve to be seen by a wider audience and she is determined to both learn her craft and develop her own voice and we look forward to watching her evolve over the coming years. ‘Best Director’ sometime in the future?

Despite receiving an impressive array of offers from US Universities, Liezl has chosen to continue her studies at the College of Saint Benilde in the Philippines. She has a passion for giving her own country and culture a voice, although she one day dreams of being able to study overseas where she can gain a greater perspective of her own place within the wider world, an experience she believes will enhance her ability as a Pinoy storyteller.

Liezl Bitas is a name to be watched, a Philippine talent to be nurtured and developed.

Warner Bros. releases poster for the new epic thriller Geostorm

Check the one-sheet art below and watch Geostorm in Philippine cinemas October 18, 2017.

In the film, after an unprecedented series of natural disasters threatened the planet, the world’s leaders came together to create an intricate network of satellites to control the global climate and keep everyone safe. But now, something has gone wrong—the system built to protect the Earth is attacking it, and it’s a race against the clock to uncover the real threat before a worldwide geostorm wipes out everything...and everyone along with it.

Dean Devlin (writer/producer, Independence Day) makes his feature film directorial debut with suspense thriller Geostorm, starring Gerard Butler (Olympus Has Fallen, 300), Jim Sturgess (21), Abbie Cornish (Limitless), Alexandra Maria Lara (Rush), Daniel Wu (The Man with the Iron Fists, Warcraft: The Beginning), Eugenio Derbez (How to Be a Latin Lover), with Oscar nominees Ed Harris (The Hours, Apollo 13) and Andy Garcia (The Godfather: Part III).

Geostorm is distributed by Warner Bros. Pictures, a Warner Bros. Entertainment company.

Its "Time to Renew" with Watsons

One of the PH actresses who still manages to look gorgeous and youthful after all these years is Ms. Alice Dixson. I have always admire her determination to look fit, healthy and glowing. So when I saw her at Watsons event last Aug 22 at Watsons Podium . I wonder what she has been up to lately. She is my fitspiration. I know were in the same age. How I wish I have her discipline and time to go to the gym. But for now,  I wanted to know what she's doing and her tips on how she looks fit and toned.

Ms.Alice Dixson

Ms.Iza Calzado

Watsons Group Marketing Manager Karen Fabros and Watsons Marketing Director Vicky Encarnacion

Watsons launches the “Time to Renew” campaign to lead people back to restoring their beauty and recharging their health.The event was attended by Ms. Iza Calzado,  Ruffa Gutierrez and Ms. Alice Dixson and Watsons top executives.  These celebrities talked about how Watsons products helped them revitalize their youthful beauty and recharge their health. It was a fun afternoon as we participated in all the game booths provided for the media.

The campaign focused on three categories that most of people tend to set aside to accommodate their tight schedules— Restore your Beauty for proper skin care, Revitalize your hair to bring life back to dull tresses, and Recharge your Health for a more energized and healthier body.

Because of busy schedules, we tend to develop poor sleeping habits that not only affect our mood but also contribute to the dullness of our skin, which makes it prone to blemishes, dry skin, acne and oily skin. At Watsons, restoring your skin’s beauty is now made easy with products like Pond’s, Olay, L’oreal, Belo, Celeteque, Neutrogena, Snow, St. Ive’s, Suave, Bellic, Glutamax, Shulammite soap, Cosmo Skin and Nivea Men crème.

But more than our skin, it’s most often that we forget about protecting our hair. Not being able to cover it up with any sort of sun shield because we’re in a rush or just don’t have the time can result to hair problems— it gets greasier, we become more prone to hair fall, and greying hair. Taking care of our hair doesn’t end with simply shampooing and conditioning. Our hair also needs intensive protection from the sun and heat styling products, especially for those who love playing with their locks. Make it a point to revitalize your hair with hair loving products like Tresemme, L’Oreal, Dove and Moringa.

It’s important to recharge your health to achieve the 100% you. But when the going gets really tough, there comes a point where even our eating and exercise habits are put aside in the shelf. Little do we know that skipping exercise and meals lead to lack of energy and lack of nutrition. With Watsons’ healthy solutions such as Cosmo Cee, Poten-Cee, Met Tathione, IVI Collagen, Myra E, Stresstabs, Belo Glutathione, Snow Caps and Kilo-off, you can have a healthier life and get in tip-top shape in no time.

Restore your beauty and recharge your health with Watsons! Enjoy big discounts and great deals for your health and beauty products exclusive at all Watsons stores and SM Store Beauty Section. Plus, get a chance to win revitalizing packages with your SM Advantage Card, BDO Rewards or PriMo Card. Every P500 single-receipt purchase of any participating product entitles a member to one (1) raffle entry.

There will be thirty-five (35) winners of Spa Pampering Packages at The Spa; Ten (10) winners of Full-Year Gym memberships at Fitness First; and Ten (10) winners of Overnight Weekend Wellness Packages at The Farm at San Benito resort.

And if you’re not yet a SMAC member, now’s a great time to join. The new “MEMBERS GET MORE” program makes shopping more rewarding than ever before. Time to get MORE POINTS, MORE SAVINGS, and MORE VALUE!
Head on over to a Watsons near you because it’s Time to Renew!

Sarah Wright Olsen pairs up with Tom Cruise in "American Made"

A natural talent with undeniable beauty and poise, Sarah Wright Olsen is one of Hollywood’s most dynamic actresses in film and television.

After starring in the hit comedies The House Bunny, opposite Anna Faris and Emma Stone; and Walk of Shame opposite Elizabeth Banks, Wright Olsen now pairs up with Tom Cruise in Universal Pictures’ American Made (in Philippine cinemas September 13).

American Made is based on the outrageous (and real) exploits of Barry Seal (Cruise), a hustler and pilot unexpectedly recruited by the CIA to run one of the biggest covert operations in U.S. History. Much to the surprise of his wife, Lucy (Wright Olsen), the charming entrepreneur has gone from a well-respected TWA pilot to a key figure in one of the greatest scandals in modern times. Little could they grasp that what started out as transporting contraband would lead to Barry’s help in building an army and funding a war.

Director Dough Liman is known for his strong female characters, offering: “In my films, they tend to be stronger than the male ones.” Wanting to challenge himself, he begins the story with a character who initially could be easily dismissed as a stock one. Over the course of the trials and tribulations of the Seal marriage, you see just what Lucy is made of, and how far she’ll go to protect her family.

When he met Wright Olsen, he was instantly impressed by her spirit, background and talent. “I thought, ‘This is just the Southern attitude I want in the movie and for this character,’” recalls Liman. “Sarah was playing against the biggest movie star in the world, and even from the place where I wanted her character to start, she brought the kind of strength I needed and holds the screen; it’s just incredible.”

The Seals’ marriage is passionate, but practical. When the family’s income skyrockets, the practical Lucy is immediately suspicious of what Barry’s been up to, and tells him it needs to stop.

Wright Olsen shares a bit about her approach to roles that truly speak to her: “When I am passionate about a script, I get so excited to share the love and joy that I feel for the character. It was fascinating to hear Doug and Tom’s take on what they saw for Lucy, and where the story was going. Barry is deeply in love with Lucy, and she is the heartbeat of their relationship.” She pauses. “She kept the family together through good times and bad.”

This leads Wright Olsen into one of her favorite scenes, just after the Seals suddenly move in the middle of the night from Louisiana to Arkansas. “Lucy is standing in this empty house, confused and frustrated. She lays into Barry about the simple things she wants: a stove, a refrigerator, beds for the children. In that moment you see she’s not asking for diamonds, gold or a luxurious life. She wants the things she needs to provide for her kids; it’s a very important moment for their relationship.”

American Made is distributed by United International Pictures through Columbia Pictures.

Get a chance to take home an awesome rrrrrride with 7-Eleven

Want to zoom past the busy metro traffic? Don't worry! Because with the latest 7-Eleven promo, you can say goodbye to the hassles of your everyday commute!

Win a brand-new motorcycle or even some serious cash just by buying a drink from the 7-Eleven fridge! With the newest 7-Eleven promo, Awesome Rrrrrride!, you now have a chance to be one of 56 winners of a Yamaha Mio i125s or one of the 5 lucky people to win 100,000 pesos worth of cash.

Earn an e-raffle entry when you scan your CLiQQ card/app every time you buy a P50 single receipt worth of any drink in the 7-Eleven fridge! Wines, liquors, and City Blends (12oz.) are also included in the promo. Make sure to register your CLiQQ card/app to be eligible to join!

Buying Booster items will also earn you one (1) e-raffle entry. For the list of booster items, visit: goo.gl/7qEhJb.

The raffle draws will be held every two weeks starting August 2 until September 20. For every raffle draw, 14 winners of Yamaha Mio i125s and 1 winner of P100,000 cash will be named. Winners will be announced and posted in the 7-Eleven Philippines Website and Facebook page.

Register and use your CLiQQ Card/App to join, and get a chance to take home an awesome rrrrrride.

Reach for your dreams via Anne Curtis' Dream Machine

Anne Curtis recently launched her dream project the "Dream Machine" on August 21 at Vanilla Cupcake Cafe, QC.   With the aim to empower the dreamers to live out their dreams. The launch was hosted by her celebrity sister Jasmine Curtis Smith and attended by RUNRIO founder and noted runner Rio de la Cruz for her Dream machine's first project Color Run.

There are three categories of dreams that Dream Machine will be supporting:

Youth, Education and Empowerment.

“I have always been a dreamer. In my 20 years in showbiz, I have worked hard to reach for my dreams. I am blessed to have already achieved most of my dreams and it’s now my turn to be a blessing to others through the Dream Machine platform,” Anne said.

Anne, who has been doing charity works quietly for many years, decided to put up the Dream Machine after hearing stories of dream shaming.

“It is sad when people set dreams in their hearts only to be dream-shamed by people either because of their color, their status in life, their current skills. It gets worse when it is their own family or their loved ones who shoot down their dreams. The Dream Machine platform hopes to encourage dreamers to continue chasing their dreams and we will do our best to help them,” she adds.

Anne revealed that she also was a victim of dream shaming when people called her out for holding the Annebisyosa concert, saying she did not have the right chops to sing, much less do a concert.

“To sing before a huge audience was my dream. And I worked hard to make it happen. It was not something that I did just for myself, but the Annebisyosa concert was also my way of encouraging people to always fight for their dreams in the face of those that say you can’t do it,” Anne recalled.

Through Dream Machine, Anne hopes to connect with dreamers and learn more about their dreams through the Dream Machine website.

“Before the school year started, we were approached by the General Roxas Elementary School in Quezon City for support in their school renovation. Dream Machine was very happy to help and we are hoping that the renovation will inspire the students to study better,” Anne shared.

To officially kickstart the platform, Dream Machine is hosting the Color Run to empower the dreams of disabled children under the auspices of UNICEF. Anne has been a UNICEF ambassador for 2 years already.

“Proceeds of the Dream Machine Color Run will all go to the children with disabilities being taken care of by UNICEF. These children are dreamers, too, and you’ll be surprised that some of their dreams are not really for themselves but for their families,” Anne said.

Dream Machine will also roll out the red carpet for the dream weddings of three couples on the first quarter of next year. Couples are invited to share their love stories with Anne through the Dream Machine website.  Three couples will be chosen and will be provided their own dream weddings by the Dream Machine.

“The Dream Machine wants to put a stop to dream shaming and instead would like to inspire and encourage more people to dream big.  The Dream Machine wants to connect with the dreamers, the dream chasers. The platform serves as the dream-weaver, and will try to find ways to finally turn dream chasers into dream catchers,” Anne explained.

Anne said she’ll be happy to welcome other people who would want to be part of the Dream Machine as dream-givers as much as she would love to hear the stories of the dreamers.

“At the end of the day, what Dream Machine hopes to achieve is to be able to inspire the dreamers, help them achieve their dreams and hopefully be able to start a dream revolution where there’ll be a lot of dream-givers to help the dreamers. The world will be a much happier place when that happens,” Anne said.

Dreamers may start sending in their dreams via the Dream Machine website http://www.dreammachine.ph/.

Jack ‘n Jill Calbee will invade the three-day Asia Pop Comicon 2017 together with Alodia Gosiengfiao

The biggest international pop culture convention in Asia, Asia Pop Comicon 2017, will kick off on August 25 at SMX Convention Center in Pasay City. And to make things more exciting, Jack ‘n Jill Calbee will invade the three-day convention with its line-up of activities.

At the registration area, Comicon visitors will be given stamp cards which they must complete to get a pack of its best-selling chips, Jack ‘n Jill Calbee Honey Butter.

Visitors can also check out the Jack ‘n Jill Calbee booth where they can get a chance to meet and greet its ambassador, cosplayer Alodia Gosiengfiao. They can also catch the brand’s cuddly potato mascot, Jaga.

The booth also offers fun and innovative games such as the Honey Pot of Potato Gold and Bee Hive Game.

On the second day of the convention, participants will get to feel like real wrestlers as Jack ‘n Jill Calbee hosts “Battle of the Honey Bees,” the BEE-ggest event at the Asia Pop Comicon 2017. Sumo Hour will pit contestants as they try to knock over or push each other out of the ring in three tries. Winners from each fight will get Jack ‘n Jill Calbee gift packs and shirts.

With Jack ‘n Jill Calbee, guests can surely expect a fun-filled and exciting three-day Comicon convention.

Catch more exciting surprises from the #PotatoPros by following @JacknJillCalbee in Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter! See you at the #APCC2017!

“NIGHT OF NOSTALGIA AND GREAT MUSIC, GUARANTEED IN RUSELL THOMPKINS, JR.AND THE NEW STYLISTICS ONE NIGHT ONLY CONCERT!”

Audiences are definitely in for a musical treat like no other as Grand Leisure Corporation  bring Russel Thompkins Jr. and the New Stylistics, in a one-night only concert this 7th of September, 8pm at the world class Theatre at Solaire.

Thompkins, together with Raymond Johnson and Jonathan Buckson, the singing trio is committed and dedicated to the mission of providing quality representation of the group’s original recordings.

Expect endearing and fresh takes to the iconic hit songs and the unmatched showmanship and stage wonder that the trio brings.

Be ready to be enthralled, and yes, even a little teary eyed even as their vocal harmonies and emotional commitment enliven their most popular hits, such as “Betcha By Golly Wow,” “You’ll Never Get To Heaven If You Break My Heart,” “Stop, Look, Listen, ‘We Can Make It Happen,” “Miracle” and others.

Ably supported by their piano man and musical director, Kenny Thompson, 2017 marks the 14th year of the talented threesome. They will and shall continue with their tradition of delivering quality performances to their dedicated and supportive fans.

Russel Thompkins and the New Stylistics hold dear in their hearts in Manila that is why they are bringing in a night of nostalgia and great music.

Partnering with Grand Leisure Corporation n this concert are Steve O Neal Productions and Solaire Resort and Casino.

For tickets, please call TicketWorld at (02) 891 9999.

Beko PH encourages Filipinos to become wise energy users

The call to conserve water and energy has never been more imperative than today. With the effects of global warming and climate change now more pronounced than ever before, there is a need to be mindful of the way we spend our resources. This not only extends to the way we use our water resources but also the way we consume electricity.


As part of Beko’s green initiatives, Beko Philippines encourages Filipinos to become wise energy users by contemplating on their laundry routine. Beko understands that doing the laundry also requires a significant amount of electricity.According to the Department of Energy (DOE), the household sector is the second major user of electricity. In fact, laundry accounts 29 percent of other household electricity usage based on the latest available Household Energy Consumption Survey (HECS) by the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA).

“Beko believes that we must take into account how much energy is consumed even on our laundry. As we envision a greener laundry routine, the company has been initiating outstanding contributions toward the protection of the environment through energy efficiency and innovating eco-friendly washing machines,” said Dyeun Zapanta, Beko Philippines Sales and Marketing Head.

Beko suggests that households follow regular laundry days and avoid running the washing machine for only a few pieces of items.

Beko Philippines underlines that by taking steps to reduce energy consumption, one could contribute to a cleaner and greener world. For instance, investing on energy-efficient washers and dryers significantly cuts your electric bills.

Recently, the Manila Electric Company (Meralco) tested the energy efficiency of certain Beko washing machines in line with its Orange Tags campaign. The Meralco Orange Tags are easy-to-understand labels that indicate estimated energy consumption in kilowatt-hours (kWh) and estimated cost per hour to inform consumers on how much electricity a household product consumes.

Meralco tested some Beko’s washing machines in three trials. Items tested ranged from front loaders, top loaders and dryers in different sizes and capacities. The said survey revealed that the washing machines are all energy efficient. The results of the test are as follows:

Beko Top Load Fully Automatic Washing Machine

Meralco estimated that the average cost per wash of Beko’s three top-loads amounts to only a peso per hour of washing cycle.

Specifically, for a 7-kg capacity washing machine, every wash amounts to only PhP0.96 per hour of washing with 0.09 energy consumption and 94 watts for power usage.

Meanwhile, for 9-kg capacity top load, Meralco calculated that the cost per wash cycle amounts to PhP1.14 for almost an hour of washing with 0.11 energy consumption and 97 watts. On the other hand, for 12kg top load, they assessed that the cost per wash amounts to PhP1.37 again for almost an hour with 0.13 energy consumption and 109 watts.

Beko Frontload Fully Automatic Washing Machine

For a 7-kg and 9-kg capacity, the estimated cost per wash both costs 9 pesos per almost four hours of washing with 0.88 and 0.84 energy consumption, respectively.

On the other hand, for 10.5-kg frontload, they measured that every wash costs 15 pesos for a full load, full cycle with duration of nearly four hours with 1.47 energy consumption and 380 watts for power usage.

Beko Dryers 

For Beko’s 7-kg dryer, the estimated cost per drying cycle amounts to six pesos per half an hour with 0.63 energy consumption and 1,217 watts.

“Our products are meant to not only improve how people live but also improve how we impact our environment. “Choosing an energy efficient washing machine can do more for the environment and at the same time, reduce the cost of their water and electricity bills. That is why we are bringing the efficiency of our washing machines as the Official Partner of the Everyday to help Filipino consumer save energy,” added Zapanta.

Beko Ph on its second year

Beko Philippines continues to innovate products that can make a difference in the lives of Filipinos. With their strong emphasis and commitment toward raising awareness on energy consumption and innovating energy-efficient washing machines, they encourage Filipinos to take part towards preserving their environment by taking into consideration their energy consumption.

Strengthening its local presence as it approaches its third year in the Philippines, leading European home appliance brand Beko further penetrates the Filipino market. Since 2015, Beko Philippines already doubled its distribution in the country. The company has also tripled its sales through its enhanced and domineering product line that continuously meets the need of the Filipino market.

To know more about Beko and Beko Philippines, like the Beko Philippines fan page (@BekoPH) or visit their website at www.beko.ph