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HCG Diet, Juju Cleanse, Cohen Diet, CrossFit at HSBC’s Coffee Talk

Posted on by jane

HSBC recently invited me to one of their Coffee Talk series with Starbucks. I’ve always enjoyed dialogues over coffee. I’m a coffee drinker and intellectual discussions are stimulating as well. The topic this time? Weight loss programs.

At the Shangri-la Plaza Hotel function room where the coffee talk was hosted, a Starbucks barista gave me a diluted cup of Starbucks brewed coffee since I get palpitations with too much brewed coffee. Later, during the lunch break, I found it amusing to find two different buffet tables laid out outside the function room labeled “Healthy” and “Happy”. Hmmm. Can’t healthy be happy too? Or vice versa? Hahaha. But I am so thankful to HSBC for thinking of providing lunch for someone like me who was dreading being faced with all-meat dishes options.
Well, I started with the “Healthy” table, picked up some salads and delicious salmon over there then headed for the “Happy” table to add some rice pilaf and fish. Dessert for me consisted of a fruit platter only.

The guest panelists were known people in the weight loss industry (either as clients or founders) who gave their testimonies as to how a certain diet or fitness program made them lose weight. 
CrossFit Program
A bootcamp-style workout used by the Armed Forces of the Philippines and lasts a hellish, intense, explosive 6-15 minutes only, I hear CrossFit is guaranteed to squeeze every last ounce of effort from you. But look at its effects! 
Art Mendoza – BEFORE (at 360 lbs)
Art Mendoza – AFTER
Art Mendoza whose face everyone recognizes from The Biggest Loser does CrossFit as part of his maintenance. Art says that maintaining your figure once you’ve lost the weight is more difficult because it has to become a lifestyle. He does not avoid the foods he loves but the secret is taking them in very much reduced portions. He said that sedentary people should avoid carbs but take them only in forms like sweet potato (kamote). Protein should be the size of your palm. Vegetables are the size of 2 fists.

Lala Agregado – BEFORE

Lala Agregado – AFTER
Lala Agregado is a stunner up close. I was sitting very close to her and kept looking at her, not believing that she was the one in the BEFORE picture. No way! But there it was. Her Mom had been egging her to go on a diet because at 55, her Mom still had abs. Well, Lala tried all diets – Bangkok pills, Xenical etc. According to her, you name it, she’s tried it. But it was CrossFit that brought this figure back. Wow!
Rescina Bagwani – BEFORE

Rescina Bagwani – AFTER

I first read about the Cohen Diet when I got an email some time back certain food being good or not good depending on your blood type. I read that email but was pretty skeptical about it. Now, hearing how Rescina is going through the Cohen Diet, I may have to give this a second look. The Cohen Diet is quite expensive at P55,000 but Rescina said that compared to continuous diagnostic tests as well as the effects of being obese, paying 55k was worth it for her after she lost 67 pounds. She happily told us her husband was in love with her all over again and has been buying tickets for them to travel all over. I guess that’s worth a lot more than 55k, right?

JL Martinez – BEFORE

JL Martinex – AFTER
JL Martinez took a route which is quite different. He went with the Human Chorionic Gonadotropin (HCG) diet and lost 120 pounds. This involves injecting of a hormone or use of hormone drops to suppress hunger combined with a daily diet totaling 500 calories only. I can’t imagine what kind of meals add up to only 500 calories but JL said that it’s only for 40 days. He also did not stop eating what he wanted. He’d take at most, 2 mouthfuls of any food because as he explained, the first mouthful signals to the brain that what you’re eating is good, the second mouthful is to validate it and satisfy the craving for it. And succeeding mouthfuls are just piled calories. One tip he gave to help keep weight down is never to eat what you want till you work off the expected calories. So if you want that piece of cake? Work out first. Never eat first and promise to work it off later.

Kat Azanza, co-owner of Juju Cleanse also described the process. I had been hearing of Juju Cleanse from friends in social media but did not really know what it entailed. She uses pure juices consumed over several days to help the body detox and get rid of the toxins.

Kat Azanza of Juju Cleanse

A special guest at the coffee talk was none other than Jessica Zafra. She added spice and humor throughout the coffee talk and I was just happy to have had the chance to see her in person and have a pic with her. 

With iconic Jessica Zafra
Personally, I am lucky to have no need to do any serious dieting. With the yoga practice that I have come to love, my personal belief is that slimming down should be as natural as possible. While some of the programs I heard of in this coffee talk were done without requiring exercise, I still believe that some form of exercise is important since toxins also come out through our sweat. But obviously, different people seem to have found THE one thing that has caused them to lose weight and I hope they continue to keep them off.

I’m sure this won’t be the last time we will hear of different weight loss programs so I will continue to keep an open mind about them.

The HSBC Starbucks Rewards Program

One last thing. HSBC allows its cardholders to continue enjoying Starbucks coffee through its HSBC Starbucks Rewards Program. Between March 22 and May 31, 2012, HSBC credit cardholders can just present a charge slip (within the promo period) with a minimum purchase of PhP 2,500 at any Starbucks outlet nationwide and exchange it for a tall handcrafted beverage of your choice or a 3-pack Starbucks VIA. Redemption period is from April 1 to July 31, 2012.

Thanks to HSBC and Starbucks for a very entertaining and informative afternoon with the “losers”. They’re all winners in their own right.

NSO certificates, passport appointments, OEC made convenient with Pilipinas Teleserv

Posted on by jane

Getting birth, marriage, and death certificates has become that much easier these days with service companies that allow you to order these online. One service which I have been using for years when getting these types of certificates has been Pilipinas Teleserv. I’ve used them to order up birth certificates for everyone in my family several times. With 4 kids, we’ve had to present birth certificates when enrolling them in schools, for travel abroad, and for passport application.

The best experience I had with Pilipinas Teleserv was some years back when my passport and that of my 2 boys had to be renewed. Teleserv processed our information, picked up our passports, and assisted us at the DFA so efficiently that we were in and out in just 15 minutes tops!

Pilipinas Teleserv recently hosted a brunch for some bloggers with someone from the National Statistics Office (NSO) as resource person. We got to learn more about the OTHER services of Teleserv as well as ask questions of the NSO person.

Current services of Pilipinas Teleserv

NSO Certificates

NSO issues various certificates on security paper: birth certificate, death certificate, marriage certificate, and Certificate of No Marriage (CENOMAR). Their hotline is open 24/7, even on holidays. And their coverage is nationwide.

Birth certificate on NSO security paper

Process for getting an NSO certificate

There are more payment modes now, including BancNet ATMs, online banking facilities and credit cards via an online payment channel. Teleserv says the online payment facility is compliant with the PCI-DSS’ strict certifications to ensure it is safe and secure.

DFA Express Passport Delivery
Teleserv told me that because of the new ID process at the DFA, waiting time is longer than it used to be the last time I processed our passports. Nevertheless, they make the appointment process and delivery as convenient as possible for their clients. Here’s how:

POEA Overseas Exit Clearance (OEC)

Vacationing OFWs need an OEC to be able to return to their place of work. There’s no need now to travel all the way to POEA for this as it’s just a mouse click away. It’s processed and delivered to your doorstep. Just log on to www.oecdelivery.com.ph or call (02) 737-7777.

A few more things I learned from Pilipinas Teleserv

During the open forum, I learned a few more things from NSO and Teleserv:

* The official receipt that comes with the NSO certificate needs to be kept attached to the certificate. – Waah, I never knew that and always separated them from the certificates! This OR is proof that the certificate is authentic and is sometimes required for presentation by some foreign embassies.

* Their security paper changes color from time to time. NSO orders these in bulk in a certain color and pattern. When they change color/pattern, embassies are advised. So it’s possible that while my current NSO-certified certificates serve the purpose for schools and other requirements, I may need to order up for new ones in case the family travels and the embassy/ies require a more recent security paper.

You can find Pilipinas Teleserv on the following sites:

Websites:
www.teleserv.ph
www.citizenservices.com.ph

Telephone:
(02) 737-1111 (NSO inquiries)
(02) 737-1000 (DFA inquiries)
(02) 737-7777 (POEA inquiries)

Facebook:
www.facebook.com/citizenservices

Twitter:
www.twitter.com/teleserv_ph

Tattoo@Home’s 2012 Product Line-up

Posted on by jane

At a recent blogger event, we were introduced to the 2012 line-up of Globe Tattoo@Home.

At the launch was Ford Supermodel of the World 2010 Danica Flores Magpantay who is Tattoo@Home’s newest brand ambassador. Danica’s mom, Lala Flores, was herself the 1990 Supermodel of the World-Philippines winner who is now making a name for herself as a celebrated makeup artist.

The main feature of Tattoo@Home plans is its customization. Depending on how you use the internet, whether you are just a light user or an ultra heavy user who demands faster speed and more bandwidth, there is a plan you can choose from.

(click to see larger image)

The barebones, cheapest plan is only P999/month (internet only) with speeds up to 1MBPS. Plans P1,099 to P6,299 are internet and landline bundles with speeds ranging from 1-15MBPS and from 3-5 users. Calls to Globelines and Globe DUO subscribers are FREE for these plans. Plans starting with P1,299 also come with a free wifi router.

Now, if you and your kids download large files, play games like WOW or other image-rich games, or want a smooth streaming experience for music and videos, check out the Tattoo Torque Plans that all come with free landline and wifi router.
(click to see larger image)

And for those who want to surf using 4G connection, there’s still the Tattoo Wimax plans:
(click to see larger image)
Watch out for Globe Telecom’s aggressive expansion over the next 5 years which will see it building an entirely new network infrastructure to address the growing data usage of mobile subscribers. 

Globe Spike: the launch of its future-proof, LTE and IPv6-ready network

Posted on by jane

In a grand launch headed by none other than Globe’s President, Ernest Cu, media and the tech community were introduced to Globe Telecom’s most aggressive telecommunication network modernization and expansion project.

Globe President Ernest Cu

Cu told us that when their network infrastructure was put up, it was primarily meant for SMS and calls. But these past years, they had seen a significant drop in SMS and calls. In fact last Christmas, they found that more people were communicating through Facebook and greeting each other there than calling or texting.

Globe will be investing US$ 90 M over the next 5 years (US$70 M of that to be spent in 2012/13) in order to put up a structure that will be able to handle the exponential data traffic that smartphones are now handling. Roughly 90% of its BSS and BI platforms covering billing, campaign management, front-end systems and enterprise data warehouse will be replaced by the new network infrastructure. Cu says that Globe subscribers should expect faster response to customer requests, convergent billing, better credit control, quicker time-to-market for new products, and better analytic models to support campaigns.

This does sound like good news but as a subscriber to both of the major mobile carriers as well as one who has tried various internet service providers, I take all expansion announcements with a grain of salt. In the end, the test of the pudding is in the eating. Will currently dissatisfied subscribers who complain of dropped calls, slow internet connection, billing woes and the like really get the service they deserve and pay for?

I really hope this time we do. The next 5 years will be a test of whether Globe’s planned expansion will become a promise come true.

Tell me what you’re thankful for and win 1 of 30 license codes (updated)

Posted on by jane

It’s Thanksgiving Week! And before anything else, I want to thank Digiarty Software for providing me with 30 license codes to give away:

1) 10 license codes for WinX DVD Ripper Platinum Thanksgiving Edition

2) 10 license codes for MacX DVD Ripper Pro

3) 10 license codes for MacX DVD Ripper Pro for Windows

This is a good time to be thankful for blessings that come our way, whether they be the people around us, a good job, a happy event and more.

So to get a chance to win a license code, here are the mechanics and it will be easy:

1. Post on the comments section of this article what or who you are thankful for, tell me which of the 3 software you prefer to win, and give an email address.
(For ex: I am thankful for my parents who sacrificed so much to send me to school. I want to win software #2. My email address is myname@gmail.com).

2. Promo ends on Friday, Nov. 25, 10pm Manila time. I will email license codes to winners by Nov. 26, Saturday and names of winners will be added as an update on this post.

Entries will be grouped according to software category and winners will be chosen via Randomizer. To give more people a chance to win, I will only consider one entry per email address for this giveaway. If there are multiple entries from same email address choosing different software, I will only include the first entry posted.

Note: these license codes allow you to run all features of the applications but they don’t entitle the users to upgrades or tech support. The license codes also have to be activated not later than November 30, 2011.

I also invite you to join me on my Facebook page and Google+ page. 


Features of WinX DVD Ripper Platinum Thanksgiving Edition


No.1 fast DVD ripper software capable of ripping both homemade and commercial DVDs to popular videos, such as rip DVD to AVI, MP4, H.264, MPEG, WMV, MOV, FLV, 3GP, etc. It can also help users faultlessly rip and backup DVD to iPhone/4S, iPad, iPod, Apple TV, Android, HTC, Samsung, XOOM, Galaxy Tab, Kindle, ThinkPad, DELL Streak, PSP, etc. One of the few DVD rippers that support the latest encrypted DVDs such as Thor, Transformers 3.

For features of MacX DVD Ripper Pro, click HERE

For features of MacX DVD Ripper Pro for Windows, click HERE

So tell me, WHAT/WHO ARE YOU THANKFUL FOR?

(UPDATE: Well, looks like I have enough license codes to give away to all those who entered so congratulations to all who posted their thanksgiving messages before my cut-off message. You will all get a license code for the software you chose. Please wait for my email.)

MacX DVD Ripper Pro Thanksgiving Giveaway

Posted on by jane

Not many people celebrate Thanksgiving here in the Philippines but that’s what’s nice about an online community. Wherever in the world you are, you can avail of Thanksgiving promos and giveaways.

Digiarty Software is at it again this Thanksgiving and guess what they are giving away until Nov. 29, 2011 or till supply lasts:

10,000 whopping FREE copies of MacX DVD Ripper Pro

Last year, I was able to download my own free copy of MacX DVD Ripper Pro so for Mac users out there, this is your chance to get your own.

You must hurry. Promo stops when they’ve given away the 10,000th free copy! I just checked and they’ve given away already over 9.600 copies! Less than 400 copies are left!

One note. Since this is a free copy, it does not come with a free upgrade or tech support service.

To download your MacX DVD Ripper Pro, click HERE.


For description of MacX DVD Ripper Pro features, click HERE. (Note: This page is NOT where you download for free.)

If you are a Windows user and want a similar free download, you need to LIKE Digiarty’s Facebook page and download MacX HD Video Converter Pro for Windows from there.

Book Launch: “Home-made for the Holidays”

Posted on by jane
Wondering what to give for Christmas to someone who loves to bake? Or are you yourself wondering what new treats you can bake and give away as presents to friends or serve up at your family reunion?
Authors and chefs Aileen Anastacio and Angelo Comsti combined their efforts to produce a book they lovingly call “Home-made for the Holidays”. Published by Marshall-Cavendish, the book features over 60 treats. Each dish’s recipe comes with vivid photographs and a complete list of ingredients.
Aileen Anastacio and Angelo Comsti
I enjoyed looking around a table filled with some of the treats featured in the book. Just take a look at all these goodies. 
Smoked Salmon Spread
Rosemary Breadsticks

Chocolate Mint Cupcakes

Cheese Torta

White Toblerone Cheesecake
Caviar Pie
Whisky Brownies

Olive Tapenade

Holiday Sugar Cookies and Gingerbread Cookies

Holiday Snowballs
Mini Cups

Cake Popper

Home-made for the Holidays is available exclusively at National Book Store and Powerbooks for PhP 895.

Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf’s Brunch Series features Randell Tiongson

Posted on by jane

Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf recently launched a new concept “Out with the old and in with the new” through a new brunch series – Small Talks for Big Changes. And its very first expert guest speaker was none other than my friend, Randell Tiongson, Director of Registered Financial Planners of the Philippines.

About two months ago, I spent a whole day in a financial planning workshop, “Steps to Financial Peace” where Randell and some of his friends spoke. My post on that can be found HERE.
At this first-of-three brunch series attended by people from all walks of life, Randell once again pursued his advocacy to improve people’s lives by changing their financial habits. His easy-to-grasp, personal style that included personal stories, aimed to empower people through a more conscious approach to their finances.
It never ceases to amaze me when Randell presents startling statistics about savings in the Asian region. Countries like China, Singapore, Malaysia and Thailand average about 30% savings while the Philippines does not even reach 20%. And even if we do save, it is often not enough to provide for us when we retire. Randell is hoping that through his talks and workshops, more people will learn to get a grip on their lives and map out an effective financial plan that will adequately provide for them and their families.
This series is part of CBTL’s Great Exchange program, an ongoing trade event that highlights its Single Serve Beverage System which coffee aficionados have dubbed as the future of coffee and tea.
While listening to Randell from the back, I actually got to see how the Single Serve Beverage System works. The barista had me pick out my kind of coffee (or tea) from over 70 varieties and he was able to brew me my very own single serve coffee in no time at all. Nice. I think I want one for Christmas! I can have my very own cappuccino any time of the day.

Catch the last of the series on November 19 at Shangri-la Mall where Preview Magazine’s Associate Editor, Eunice Lucero, leads a fashion talk and make-over session.

Goldilocks Launches a Bakebook

Posted on by jane

Goldilocks was the name I grew up with when it came to cakes and pastries. The popular fluffy mamon and ensaymada were staples during my growing-up years.

When I started my own family, it was a regular trip for me to cross from Unimart to Goldilocks (where Gloria Maris restaurant is now) and buy mamon, ensaymada, and polvoron (both classic and pinipig) for the kids’ baon (school snacks) the following week. And during my kids’ birthdays, I remember poring over Goldilocks’ various albums filled with different themed cakes trying to decide what kind of cake I’d order for them.

So when I was invited to the launch of Goldilocks’ bakebook, I made sure I’d drop by even if my day was packed with events. I was curious as to why Goldilocks would, after all these decades, share its successful recipes with the world. And I was hoping that I’d meet the people who made Goldilocks a household name.

The ladies behind Goldilocks are sisters Mrs. Milagros Leelin-Yee and Mrs. Clarita Leelin-Go and their sister-in-law Doris who first opened Goldilocks along Pasong Tamo, Makati in May 1966. The two sisters eventually carefully developed each Goldilocks recipe to make it what is now.

To celebrate 45 years of Goldilocks, both sisters are now sharing the very recipes that built Goldilocks into what it is now with us through a bakebook. I asked one of Goldilocks’ executives if they did not think it risky to share these recipes. I was told that the recipe ingredients were tweaked so that it is a lot easier to prepare at home. Their original recipes are meant for commercial preparation. So I guess you shouldn’t expect the results to be exactly the same as what you can get from Goldilocks. But close enough…
A selection of goodies whose recipes are in the bakebook
The Goldilocks Bakebook contains 108 recipes in 211 pages that includes beautiful photos as well as an overview of the company’s beginnings. The last part of the bakebook contains actual stories from Goldilocks customers including my friend Noemi’s story about how Goldilocks played a part in her son’s birthday party.
This bakebook is not meant to be a coffeetable book or simply a collection for one’s library. This bakebook is meant to be kept in the kitchen, its pages used and re-used, with pages that probably show stains from dough, butter and other things that a baking mom usually uses.
Here’s what Goldilocks calls its Winning Recipe:

The Goldilocks Bakebook retails at PhP 799 and is available in all National Bookstore branches and select Goldilocks outlets.

Starbucks Christmas Offerings 2011 are spelled M-O-R-E

Posted on by jane

Watch out on November 3, 2011. Starbucks will be bringing to you their Christmas food, beverages and Christmas blends and I can say that it’s MORE and MORE this year.

This year, Starbucks is coming up with — guess how many?

15 CHRISTMAS FOOD ITEMS
3 CHRISTMAS BEVERAGES
3 CHRISTMAS BLENDS

That many.

I asked Celine Clemente, Starbucks’ person in charge of whipping up all the delicious food offerings – why 15? Celine said that they really wanted to give a wider array of food items spanning breads, wraps, cookies and dessert. Okay, I’m not complaining about that, hahaha…

So are you ready now for a mouth-watering trip? Here goes…

CHRISTMAS FOOD OFFERINGS (new)

Pecan Butterscotch Twirl (Php 85)

Pecan Butterscotch Twirl is a light and flaky spiral roll stuffed with stuffed with cinnamon and creamy vanilla pastry cream filling. On top are sprinkles of roasted pecans drizzled with butterscotch sauce and white chocolate.

Hazelnut Stollen Bread (PhP 65/slice, PhP 595 whole)

Hazelnut Stollen Bread, as you can guess from the name, originates from Germany. It’s a German festival bread popular during Christmas but not only in Germany but throughout Europe. It is a sweet yeast bread with toasted hazelnut paste balanced with raisins on the insides.

S’mores (PhP 70)

S’mores are made of a buttery graham crust. When you bite into it, taste the gooey melted marshmallow cream and dark chocolate topped with chocolate ganache.

Triple Decker Cheesecake with Snickers
(PhP 130/slice, PhP 1250/whole)

The word “triple decker” to describe a cheesecake is enough to make me say “I want!”. The Triple Decker Cheesecake with Snickers is loaded with chunks of my favorite Snickers bar in a chocolate cookie crust topped with a chocolate fudge icing and roasted chopped peanuts.

Warm Chocolate Chip Cookie Cake
(PhP 110/slice, PhP 950 whole)

The Warm Chocolate Chip Cookie Cake is served warm from the oven. It’s your chocolate chip cookie baked into a cake then topped with thick chocolate mousse illed with mini chocolate chip cookies. When you take this in a Starbucks branch, they can put a dollop of whipped cream on top and drizzle it with their very own Starbucks caramel drizzle.

Sun-dried Tomato and Basil Roll (PhP 50)

The Sun-dried Tomato and Basil Roll is a crispy, crunchy outer crust with a slightly chewy and soft center. Sun-dried tomatoes and basil were added to this French roll as a flavorful twist. While Starbucks serves this with butter and jam, I prefer just putting butter on it because the jam overwhelms the bread’s taste too much. But again, that’s just me. Others prefer adding the sweet jam to it.

Chicken Alfredo Turnover (PhP 90)

A light, buttery and flaky crust is what you see with the Chicken Alfredo Turnover. It’s filled inside with moist and juicy chicken breast cubes marinated in Italian seasoning then sauteed in Alfredo sauce. This is best served warm.

Texas Chicken BBQ Wrap (PhP 140)

Strips of fried chicken breast fillet, tossed in barbecue sauce with Texas-style salsa, grated cheese and sour cream wrapped in soft, chewy tortilla is what Texas Chicken BBQ Wrap is all about. This is best served warm.

Glazed Ham with Apricot Spread on Multi-Grain Bread (PhP 140)

This was my favorite of the non-dessert offerings – Glazed Ham with Apricot Spread on Multi-Grain Bread. Slices of glazed ham and creamy mozzarella cheese with tangy and sweet apricot dressing is inside a crisp, crunchy and soft center multi-grain bread. Serve it up warm too.

Turkey & Chicken with Apple Stuffing on Whole Wheat Walnut Bread (PhP 140)

The whole name describes already what Turkey & Chicken with Apple Stuffing on Whole Wheat Walnut Bread is all about. Turkey and chicken breast make for a healthy stuffing and apple stuffing with cranberry spread add to its flavors. I loved this one too.

RETURNING FOOD OFFERINGS
Chocolate Toffee Nut Loaf (PhP 55/slice, PhP 495 whole)

Chocolate Toffee Nut Loaf is a rich, moist and dense chocolate loaf frosted with chocolate icing and topped with crunchy toffee.

White Chocolate Cranberry Cookie (PhP 55)

The White Chocolate Cranberry Cookie is big, chunky, chewy and crunchy all rolled into one. It’s got chunky, white chocolate, fresh roasted walnuts and chopped dried cranberries.

Peppermint Brownie (PhP 75)

Fudgy, chewy, chocolate brownie and creamy smooth peppermint cream cheese filling topped with chocolate ganache – that’s Peppermint Brownie. To give it a Christmas-y look, it was finished with white, red and green chocolate drizzle.

 Gingerbread Cookie (PhP 55)

The children will love the snowman Gingerbread Cookie! This is great as a gift. Ginger, allspice and cinnamon combo makes this cookie smell good even before you bite into it.

Chocolate Molten Cake (PhP 120)

Moist, chocolate sponge cake filled with dark chocolate and caramel truffle – that’s the Chocolate Molten Cake. It’s served warm, topped with whipped cream and drizzled with Starbucks caramel sauce.

CHRISTMAS BEVERAGES
Cranberry White Chocolate Mocha

This is the new beverage offering this Christmas – Cranberry White Chocolate Mocha. Starbucks’ signature espresso is combined with freshly steamed milk and white chocolate then topped with whipped cream, a tart cranberry drizzle and crystallized cranberry sugar.

Peppermint Mocha

My favorite Peppermint Mocha is back! Warm espresso, steamed milk, bittersweet chocolate and peppermint make a yummy combination. Topped with whipped cream and red sugar sprinkles.

Toffee Nut Latte

Toffee Nut Latte seems to be a favorite among most of my friends. It has the rich, buttery taste of sweet toffee combined with toasted nuts, blended with smooth espresso and steamed milk. It’s likewise topped with whipped cream and toffee-flavored sprinkles.

CHRISTMAS COFFEE BLENDS
Christmas Blend (PhP 500)

The Christmas Blend is a full-bodied coffee combining Latin American coffees with the mellow smoothness of Asia-Pacific coffees. Aged Sumatra beans give it its spicy notes.

Christmas Blend Espresso Roast (PhP 500)

This Christmas Blend Espresso Roast is made from Sumatra and aged Sumatra coffees combined with beans from the Bella Vista F. W. Estate in Tres Rios, Costa Rica. It’s roasted in Starbucks’ signature Espresso Roast to give it an intense flavor and spicy finish.

VIA Ready-Brew Christmas Blend (PhP 495)

Instant coffee in the Starbucks tradition is the VIA Ready-Brew Christmas Blend. No need to grind beans. This one comes straight out of the pack and into your coffee mug, ready to be mixed with hot water. 

On November 3, head out to your favorite Starbucks branch. I already know which ones I’d like to try first.

Which ones are you trying out first?