Philips Lighting Innovation Concepts gives us a glimpse of the future, now!

Posted on by jane

Who says lighting is boring?????  Philips Philippines’ Lighting Division recently showed me just how exciting their lighting products have become.

By shifting to LEDs, Philips has already moved consumers away from inefficient and more costly lighting into more energy-efficient lighting in offices and homes. And at a recent fun, fun blogger event where they introduced six innovation concepts in lighting, I realized that Philips has crossed from functional, hardware store basics into interior and exterior design that incorporates Flexibility, Controllability, Alternative Energy, Connectivity, Dynamism and Materials Integration elements.
Landmarks here and abroad that are lighted up by Philips LEDs
The whole presentation, featuring the entertaining and funny Gabe Mercado, was seamlessly integrated into a moving diorama that drew us into the mini stories while holding us spellbound as each concept was presented experientially.
Alternative Energy

Wouldn’t you love the idea of lights on streets, parks, stadiums brightening up as cars and people move closer to them and dim as you move away? By detecting motion, these kind of lights only go to maximum brightness when they are needed and dim when idle.

Solar-powered LED lighting is what Philips is experimenting with now. Solar panels convert solar energy to electrical energy and store it in the battery. At night, the battery is discharged and electrical energy is released. Philips solar-powered LED lights are easy to install and maintain. In fact their local application which is close to our hearts is in Yolanda-hit areas. With electricity posts down, Philips was able to provide light for Yolanda survivors by harnessing the power of the sun.

Sample of the solar light that Philips used in Yolanda-hit areas

Connectivity

Imagine controlling your lights at home remotely. With Philips Hue, it is already possible to do that using one’s smartphone and Android devices. Not only that. You can choose the mood color you want and when you want it turned on.

I can already think of some uses for Philips Hue:
* Mood lighting – red for a party or romantic ambiance, blue to relax and calm you down after a long day, green to rest the eyes, and white for general purposes
* Keep intruders away – turn lights in different rooms on and off even if you are at the office or on a trip so it looks like there are people at home.

Controllability

Who has not fumbled in the dark for a light switch? I have. Not just at home but in the restrooms of restaurants and other public places. Now, how would you like a light switch with presence, light and temperature sensors that detect the body’s magnetic field and automatically open with a striking wall-wash lighting effect. Perfect for commercial establishments and high-end residential units, the Antumbra comes in three types of panels — Antumbra Button, Antumbra Touch, and Antumbra Display — that allows the user to perform different functions.

Watch this video.





Dynamism

Baguio City Hall. People Power Monument. Transformation Sculpture (BGC). Starbucks on 32nd Ave. (BGC). NLEX. What do they have in common? They are all lighted up by Philips Color Kinetics.

Historical and modern landmarks all over the world are now enhanced with lights that can  be changed depending on the occasion. Check out below how the Empire State Building can change.


And right after Super Typhoon Haiyan (Yolanda, locally) hit the Philippines, the Empire State Building lit up with our flag colors in support of all those affected. Here is a screenshot from its Twitter account.

More and more landmarks are starting to use Philips’ powerful LED lights and advanced digital control technology to create breathtaking imagery. Used for interiors and exteriors, Color Kinetics transform spaces and trigger the imagination. 
Materials Integration

Can you imagine cloth panels that move and come alive with lights? That is now possible with Philips Materials Integration using Kvadrat Soft Cells. In Philips’ website, these luminous panels are described as follows:

Luminous textile is a revolutionary new way to enhance interiors with light, texture and dynamic visual content. A totally unique ambient lighting system, it integrates multi-coloured LEDs seamlessly within beautiful white or coloured textile panels. The result is a “mood wall” that can integrate lighting into a building’s architecture and emphasise the concept of any room. And because of the range of fabrics and the sheer flexibility of the content, its creative potential is phenomenal.

Can’t imagine it yet? Watch this video and be amazed.

These acoustic textile panels have superior sound absorption, reducing unwanted sounds and limiting sound propagation that causes disturbances from unnecessary noise.

Can you imagine a house of the future where you did not need to paint your walls anymore because the panels can just change color depending on your mood? I sure can!

Flexibility

Organic LEDs (OLEDs) are used by Philips to create an interactive display of lights.

Its Living Shapes mirror, for example, contains OLEDs that sense when someone moves closer to it. When it detects the outline of the person, it shuts off the OLEDs that are in the person’s field of vision. It then becomes a mirror with warm lights all around the person’s reflection.

Philips also demonstrated its Living Sculpture concept which will be perfect in homes, offices, buildings, clubs, restaurants and just about anywhere where it serves as ever moving brightly lit chandeliers. The design, arrangement, setup and operation of Living Sculpture is totally up to the consumer who can control light in so many different ways. To create the unevenness of each light diode, rods of different lengths are attached to the baseplates with a Lumiblade OLED on top.


With lights moving, changing colors, and transforming shapes, Philips has made lighting not just functional but interactive, mood-changing and fashionable. Designers can arrange three-dimensional arrays of OLEDs in open spaces like ceilings and walls, add movement to any surface, or make panels throb rhythmically or illuminate interactive displays.

The world of infrastructure will totally change in coming years as colorful, moving lights are integrated into art, design and lifestyle.

I’m excited to see the many ways how…

The Midea appliance line – enhanced productivity and money-saving solutions

Posted on by jane

Concepcion Industrial Corporation, known for its Carrier product line, has tied up this time with global brand Midea’s Consumer Appliances line and has formed Concepcion-Midea Inc. Philippines under the mother brand.

At a recent blogger event, we were introduced to some of the appliances in their product line. If you are one of many busybodies who have to multitask household tasks and juggle work with housework, you’ll want to check out these Midea appliances that promise ease, convenience and even savings.

MIDEA REFRIGERATORS

I gravitated immediately towards the Midea refrigerators, ahead of the rest. The innovations in refs of all brands continue to fascinate me and Midea did not disappoint. Both models run on a Turbo Inverter Compressor which lead to cost savings as temperatures are maintained at even levels instead of costly warm-up times.

French Door (Party Ref)

If I had to choose between the two refs on exhibit, this would be my ref of choice. The 20.1 cu. ft. ref is aptly called a party ref because it can store enough food for a party. The two ref doors open outward (just like French doors) to reveal space that is wide enough for a lechon (roasted pig) to fit.

The freezer section is found in 2 lower pull-out drawers. On the left side when you pull out the first freezer drawer, you will find the ice maker. The water that is used to fill the tray is found in the French doors section, a separate container you fill with water. It empties into the ice tray below and forms ice in just a few hours. Without taking the ice tray out, a knob is simply rotated to release the ice cubes into the tray below.

The ice maker is the round object on upper right and it dispenses directly into the tray below.

A very spacious second freezer level

The water container (found in the middle of the ref) that feeds into the ice maker

This model also has what Midea calls a “Keep Fresh” technology to keep fruits and vegetables fresh much longer. It irradiates natural light that keeps fresh items in their natural state longer; a UV light breaks down pesticides normally found in fruits and vegetables.

See those bright lights in the middle? They blink and mimic natural light to keep items fresh longer.

How much can you put into this ref? 20 grocery baskets full.

This French door ref retails for PhP 99,995.

Side by Side Ref (with water dispenser and beverage bar)

This is a 19.2 cu.ft ref that comes with a water dispenser on the left side and a touch-to-open beverage bar on the right side.

The right side of ref, when opened up, has high shelving to allow even a 3-tiered cake to fit inside. Space saving idea? Wine racks conveniently located so they need not take up space in the ref door.

Wine bottles can be put in a rack above the cake instead of in ref door

The beverage bar revealed

This Side by Side ref retails at PhP 72,995 (down from PhP 77,995 effective June 10, 2014).

MIDEA WASHING MACHINES

Midea offers fully automatic models featuring a One Touch feature where all cycles are done with just one touch, leaving you to do other work while the washing machine does everything from wash to rinse to dry cycles. More than that, Midea washing machines have smart sensors which detect the weight of the laundry you put in and automatically fills in just the right amount of water.

Its Quick Wash function also lets you clean a drumful of clothes in as fast as 19 minutes. Midea computed the cost of this feature and they say it translates to just ONE PESO PER LOAD – that is a real cost savings!

Midea also carries semi-automatic washing machines.

SRP Prices:

Fully Automatic:
   7kg – PhP 10,995
   8kg – PhP 14,995
  10kg – PhP 17,995
  12kg – PhP 21,995

Semi Automatic:
   8kg – PhP 7,995
  10kg – PhP 10,195

MIDEA MICROWAVE OVENS

Midea carries both manual and digital microwave ovens.

SRP Prices for Midea microwave ovens:

Digital:
   20L – PhP 3,695
   25L – PhP 5,495
   30L – PhP 5,995

Manual, 20L – PhP 2,995

MIDEA AIRCONDITIONERS

Inverter technology is also used for all Midea airconditioners. I’ll update my post once I get the prices for the aircons.

My girl who has lived for some time in China confirms that Midea is a popular and well-respected brand in China. That’s good enough for me!

Starbucks Reserve Coffee – my unique coffee experience

Posted on by jane
It’s not every day that I get to be treated to coffee tasting of a premier kind. I was very lucky to have been invited to this special coffee-tasting experience at one of the existing two Starbucks Reserve branches in the Metro.
At a blogger gathering at the Tomas Morato Starbucks Reserve store, we listened to the Starbucks team, headed by Keith Cole, tell us about these rare coffee beans.

In the Philippines, there are only 4 Starbucks Reserve blends and the coffee beans are extremely rare, limited, and hand-picked for the Reserve brand specifically for their distinctive flavors as well as unusual locales around the world.
Lucky us….we got to try each one of these four rare coffee blends together with special food items that can be found only at the Starbucks Reserve stores and go very well with each cup of Reserve coffee.

The Coffee Masters



Walk into a Starbucks Reserve store, order a cup of Reserve coffee and you’ll notice that the barista who will prepare it wears a black apron, unlike the other baristas who don green aprons. They are Starbucks’ Coffee Masters. Not all baristas of Starbucks are Coffee Masters. In order to carry the Coffee Master title and wear the black apron, I learned that they had to undergo special training and had to master knowledge of ALL things coffee — their history, types of beans, locations, varieties, taste, preparation, etc. Whew!

In order to get the most sensory experience from the Reserve blends, the Coffee Masters prepare each cup carefully only upon order. I watched them first place a #2 coffee filter on top of a ceramic brewer and mug set. The beans are ground only when about to be used so that they are fresh all the time. Even before pouring in the ground beans, the Coffee Master preps the filter by pouring hot water over it. I suppose it’s a good way to bring out the initial aroma of the coffee beans as these touch the hot, wet filter. Once the filter is wet, coffee beans good enough to make one cup of coffee are poured into the filter and once again, hot water is poured on the ground beans, allowing the liquid coffee to run down a tiny hole in the brewer and into the ceramic mug.

Here’s a quick tour of the 4 different Reserve blends and food items so you’d have some idea.

First, the Reserve Coffees

Globally, there are different Starbucks Reserve coffee blends but four of these were specifically chosen for the Philippine coffee lovers.

Starbucks Reserve Sumatra Blue Batak

My first sample came from Sumatra’s prized coffee-growing region on the southern shores of Lake Toba. This region is about 3,900-5200 feet high. The variety that the Batak tribe grow there is smooth and earthy with sweet herbal notes, a full body and low acidity. Tasting this one gives you a hint of cacao or dark chocolate.

Starbucks Reserve Zambia Peaberry Terranova Estate

The beans were grown on the rich soil of the Terranova Estate 4,000 feet above the sea. This medium‐bodied coffee with notes of apple and vanilla consists of smaller, handpicked peaberry beans, which are roasted to provide a medium body and acidity that pairs well with citrus, apples, and chocolate. For me, the Zambia Reserve coffee blend was the mildest of all the four blends so if you are looking for great coffee that is not too strong, this is it.

And…better try the Zambia blend soon. I also found out that it will be available for a very limited time only since the beans are now in limited supply. No worries though because another Reserve blend will be taking its place when that happens.

Starbucks Reserve Finca Nuevo Mexico

High in Mexico’s Sierra Madre de Chiapas mountain range sits the El Triunfo Biosphere and Finca Nuevo Mexico family‐owned farm. While much of the lush area is a refuge for rare wildlife, the remaining area produces a bright, complex, uniquely flavored coffee bean.

Of the four blends, I found this blend to be the most acidic. There is a citric taste to it with a hint of the sweetness of brown sugar.

Starbucks Reserve Sun-Dried Ethiopia Yirgacheffe

The district of Yirgacheffe is located 6,000 feet above sea level, a perfect mix of sun, air and soil. We were told that coffee beans here were placed in between berries. No wonder when we tasted the coffee, there was indeed a hint of berries in it. This is my favorite of the four!!!

The Starbucks Reserve coffee blends are not only available within the Reserve stores. They are sold in packs so you can continue to enjoy the coffee experience of these rare coffee beans in the comfort of your own home if you have a coffee press.

What is Reserve Coffee without matching Reserve Food?

To pair off Starbucks Reserve coffee blends with equally great food, Starbucks created six (6) Reserve Exclusive Food to go with the four Reserve Coffee blends.

1. Carrot Muffin – Muffin loaded with carrots, walnuts, and crushed pineapples and topped with cream cheese.

2. Double Chocolate Muffin – Muffin with creamy chocolate truffle and topped with chocolate chunks

3. Granola Cheese Muffin – a muffin packed with crunchy granola and cream cheese filling

4. Blueberry Scone – a light, buttery and moist scone loaded with blueberries

5. Apple Cinnamon Scone – a delicious, moist and buttery scone packed with cinnamon apples

6. Black Pepper and Cheese Scone – a sweet and savory moist scone flavored with cheese and pepper to give it a spice touch.

Just my two cents: The scones are very dense and filling. Order them if you want something that will make you feel very full. Otherwise, if you want something light only, go for the muffins.

There are currently two Starbucks Reserve stores:
* Starbucks Reserve Tomas Morato
* Starbucks Reserve 8 Forbes Town

And more Starbucks Reserve stores are coming soon:
* Starbucks Reserve Keyland Centre
* Starbucks Reserve Central Square
* Starbucks Reserve Signa

Enjoy Delightful-E Yummy and Easy Culinary Dishes with Electrolux Kitchen Appliances

Posted on by jane

At a recent cooking show at Electrolux’s headquarters at Bonifacio Global City, I was treated not just to an introduction to their newest line of kitchen appliances but also to special and surprisingly easy culinary dishes from the kitchens of Electrolux’s brand endorsers.

Mom and daughter duo, Cheska and Kendra Kramer; celebrity chefs Rosebud Benitez and Bruce Lim; and mompreneur and co-SoMom Janice Villanueva shared their favorite family dishes using the different appliances that Electrolux has for the kitchen.

The conference rooms of Electrolux HQ were magically transformed into a home setting, complete with a living room area, a dining table with plate settings and a fully furnished kitchen! Kudos to whoever transformed this corporate space into home, sweet home!

Chef Bruce Lim and Janice Villanueva were on hand to demonstrate their selected family famorite dishes.

Janice whipped up her Quick Bangus Belly which turned out to be a really quick and easy dish to prepare. After preparing the bangus belly, Janice just popped it quickly into the Electrolux range’s oven area and shortly after, it was already done. This dish can likewise be used on the Electrolux toaster oven. Much as I wanted to try it though, I was afraid to do so only because it had anchovies (I’m allergic to it!). But all the bloggers who taste-tested it said it was yummy.

We next got to see the dish that Chef Bruce Lim whipped up – Creamy Adobo Penne Pasta. I could not believe that adobo could become a pasta ingredient! Really, it never crossed my mind. But listening to Chef Bruce show us how easy it was to convert leftover adobo into a delicious pasta dish was so informative.

This was DELISH! A new dish to try!

While watching Chef Bruce, I could not help but ogle the induction cooking range he was using. I’ve always wanted one and was already thinking of getting even just a single burner one in an appliance store once. The benefits of cooking without using gas (I’m terrified of fire) plus no risk of getting burned by flames were attractive enough for me. This Electrolux induction cooking range has four induction zones for quick and flameless cooking. It also features a 61L electric oven and grill.

The other one that caught my eye was the Electrolux NutriFresh refrigerator. This was interesting for me — light affects the freshness of vegetables and fruits in the chiller! And when fruits and veggies lose their freshness, we know that we also lose most of the vitamins and nutrients that come with them. Electrolux designed its refs using a patented NutriLight feature that keeps fruits and vegetables fresher and crisper longer than ordinary refs.

Emcee Delmar explains the features of the Electrolux ref

This ref’s middle section opens up when pushed slightly to reveal a recessed place where cold drinks can be placed for kids’ easy reach. They need not open the entire ref and bring hot air in each time the door is opened. That also saves on electricity costs because the cooling system need not work overtime to keep the ref at its ideal temperature. And one more thing. See that scribbling on the upper left of the ref? The ref’s surface is writable! Just use a water-based pen and you can leave notes around for the hubby, wife or kids without having to put a paper note and magnet on the door.

Electrolux also has a Powermix Silent Blender that functions powerfully with a very low noise level. More than just a blender for smoothies and juices, it also comes with a grinder for dry food such as coffee beans and nuts that health buffs can add to a daily, healthy drink.

There are so many more Electrolux kitchen appliances to choose from – microwave ovens, dishwashers, rice cookers and more. Of course, we know that they also go beyond the kitchen and carry convenience appliances for just about any part of the home.

Don’t forget to check the Electrolux weekly contest over at Instagram and Twitter. Joining is easy:
1. follow @ElectroluxPH on Instagram and Twitter
2. Take a photo of a delightfully delicious food that reminds you of home
3. Add a catchy caption that explains why the dish reminds you of a hearty home
4. Use the hashtag #DelightfulE and tag @ElectroluxPH

An Electrolux appliance will be awarded to one lucky winner weekly.

Electrolux Phils.
Website: www.electrolux.com.ph
Facebook Page: www.facebook.com/thelittlewhitebook
Twitter: @electroluxph
Instagram: @electroluxph

Teens can now face up to acne better with Safeguard’s Derma Sense

Posted on by jane

Many times we think of teen-aged angst over pimples and acne as superficial — that teens are just going through a phase where they are simply overly concerned about fashion and how they look. I come from a family with good skin genes. And my kids don’t seem to have that much of a problem as yet. But there is always that ‘wrong’ moment when you need to go somewhere and a zit (pimple) appears. For teen-agers, when that moment comes, it can be very distressing. The damaging effects of acne and pimples go beyond the skin.

As the Mom of 4 kids, I have had my share of “MOM!!!!! I HAVE A PIMPLE!” moments. No amount of reassurance would do when that ugly zit reared its head, many times at the wrong time – just before a school affair or a party. They stare at it forever, fuss over how ugly they are and have the most difficult time avoiding touching it every so often or worse, pricking it.
Worse than simple pimples is the condition acne vulgaris, simply known as acne. In a white paper released by the Skin Health Alliance, acne in adolescents aged 15-25 years old were documented to be as high as 91%. Skin Health Alliance is an independent not-for-profit organization working with international dermatologists, researchers, scientists and industry with the common interest of promoting healthy skin.

Acne vulgaris
(photo taken from a white paper by David Khoo of Skin Health Alliance,
“Acne Vulgaris: Causes, Consequences and Potential Treatment”


But as a mother who has had to pass through my kids’ teen-age phase four times, I can say that the greater concern for me is not just the external look of acne and pimples but its more damaging and permanent effect INSIDE — the self-esteem of teens.

To be permanently or temporarily scarred on the face is probably one of the worse things that could happen in a teen-ager’s life. I’ve seen teen-agers with really bad acne and I think of so many scenarios that can affect them. Bullies, for example, have been known to pick on looks as an excuse to bully. Height, weight or facial features — they could pick their victim based on any of these reasons. And in our society where great importance is put on looks, a teen or young adult whose face is scarred with acne can suffer from serious loss of confidence whether he is in an organization or in a job. Dr. Susan Estanislao, a Counseling Psychologist from the De La Salle University Manila says, “There is probably no single disease which causes more psychic trauma, more maladjustment between parents and children, more general insecurity and feeling of inferiority and greater sums of psychic suffering than does acne vulgaris.”

I agree with Dr. Estanislao. This is why I have always tried to remind my children of the importance of a daily skin regimen such as washing the face thoroughly and removing all makeup before sleeping. From my own experience, I also know that sleep deprivation and excessive stress cause pimples so the better the quality of sleep and the less stress, the better the skin. Of course, a diet full of fruits and vegetables give the skin a healthy glow as well.

Now that we’re on the topic of skin care regimen, I also want to share a recent discovery at a media event. Safeguard, the body soap that I’ve used since I was single up to this day, has just recently released a product called Derma Sense – an anti-microbial facial soap that helps reduce levels of skin bacteria and acts as a preventive measurement against pimples and uncontrolled acne. Finally!!!

Derma Sense comes in two forms: liquid Face and Body Wash and solid Face and Body Bar. For both forms, they have two variants as well – one for sensitive skin and another for acne-prone skin. It contains 20% less soap and no additives or dyes, making it very tolerable and suitable for the face.

The different Derma Sense variants

I was actually surprised by the prices because they were quite reasonable. The smallest bar goes for only PhP 55. The bigger bar retails at PhP 75. The 200 ml body wash is PhP 99. And a 2-pack version of the small bar costs PhP 100 (saving you PhP 10). I’m happy about this because skin care should not be a privilege only for those who can afford more expensive treatments or dermatological consultations. If acne and pimples can be prevented early on, at an affordable price, more teens are likely to have much better skin and therefore, a more confident life.

Derma Sense is available at Watson’s and leading supermarkets.

Magnum Manila’s Premium Pop-Up Store Opens at SM Aura

Posted on by jane

It’s here! And only for a while – to be specific, ONE YEAR!

Just as they’ve done in premium locations around the world, Magnum, that velvety smooth ice cream with Belgian chocolate in one decadent bar, has put up a pop-up store right in the heart of cosmopolitan Metro Manila — SM Aura.

It opened to the public last April 8 and is expected to be around only till April 2015. Some of us were treated to their soft launch where we got a gastronomic glimpse of what’s in store for the public when you pay them a visit. And mind you, they don’t just call it a pop-up store. They refer to it as a “Pleasure Store”. Read on and find out why.

As soon as you walk in you are greeted by a luxurious restaurant. Yes, this is not your kind of ice cream bar but a full-blown restaurant complete with full meals!

Magnum logo — Can you guess what it’s made of?

You guessed it — their pop sticks!!!

The Make-Your-Own-Magnum bar greets you right at the entrance

Architect Ed Calma is responsible for Magnum Manila’s sleek, modern architecture

At the Make-Your-Own-Magnum-Bar, they’ve got 18 toppings to choose from:

Classic: chopped salted almonds, pistachio, dried mangoes, chocolate chip cookies, oreos, pretzels and mini marshmallows

Special: Honeycomb, gold nuggets, yogurt nibs, premium chocolate crunch balls, Speculoos bits, freeze-dried raspberries

Experimental: Parmesan popcorn, salted potato chips, shaved queso de bola, chili flakes, sea salt flakes

I couldn’t imagine what chili flakes would taste like on my Magnum bar so I skipped that (but some daring bloggers went for it!).

Making my own Magnum bar was really cool.

Step One: Choose your toppings (I chose pistachio, gold nuggets and freeze-dried raspberries)

Step Two: Open up a plain Magnum bar and choose your coating (vanilla, caramel or chocolate).

Tear open plain Magnum bar…

…and dip in your coating of choice. Mine was chocolate!

Step Three: Pour selected toppings over the coated Magnum bar.

Step Four: For the final touch, add a round chocolate button with the Magnum logo

Voila! I had my very own custom-made Magnum bar!

But wait till you try their menu for a sit-down lunch or dinner as well as their dessert concoctions. Chef Him Uy de Baron, owner of Nomama and executive chef of Chef Cuisine, created Magnum Manila’s main dishes while Chef Miko Aspiras, an award-winning pastry chef in global competitions, created all the wonderfully delectable Magnum dessert items. Here are some samples.

Rainbow Dream, PhP 250
White chocolate covered vanilla Magnum bar covered in rainbow cake crumble
on a slice of cream cheese rainbow cake
Cookie Dough Skillet, PhP 250
Warm chocolate chip cookie dough
topped with 2 vanilla Magnum bars, dark chocolate and chopped pecans

Go try Magnum Manila and hurry because they are only here for a limited time. I want to go back and bring the kids so we can all sample the dessert items that I could only ogle after a full meal c/o Chef Him Uy.

Magnum Manila is located at the 5th level of SM Aura’s SkyPark Dining area.

Follow Magnum Manila:
Websites: www.magnum.com.ph and www.makemymagnum.com
Twitter: @magnum_ph
Instagram: @magnum_ph

When Skin meets Maidenform

Posted on by jane

I always thought that I did not need to splurge on ladies’ undergarments because it stayed tucked away and hidden anyway. So I always went for functionality, durability and price.

But after I received a sample of the Maidenform’s Comfort Devotion collection (a bra and panty set), my skin got so much pampering that it dawned on me that if you had to wear something around all day (and night), extreme comfort goes a long way to extending your day. I know. I’ve worn shoes that looked fashionable but were so tortuous to the feet that halfway through the day, I was wiped out.

As soon as I held the Comfort Devotion undergarments in my hand — oh my, heaven!!! Ang lambot! Grabeng lambot! This collection is meant to be luxurious – with carefully chosen plush fabrics and delicate trims to make its wearer feel sexy as it molds one’s curves comfortably.

The Maidenform Comfort Devotion Demi Bra with matching panty.
Yes, you have to touch it to believe how soft it feels.

Front view (from Maidenform website)
Back view (from Maidenform website)
Shows smoothing wing with soft liner & leotard back for stay-put straps

Accentuated by a dainty ribbon and cloud foam-lined cups with super soft wire casing

Bra straps with dainty dotted lines sewn in
Non-corrosive hook-and-eye clasps and stitches that you cannot feel at all

The panty is elastic-free; the fabric molds to the body, eliminating panty lines

The inner lining of the panty. Nothing abrasive,  just totally comfy and snug.

This shade of the Maidenform Comfort Devotion is called Latte Lift (looks like a milky coffee, right?) but it also comes in black sets. Although I got the Demi bra, this collection also comes in Strapless, Embellished Full Coverage, Embellished Push Up, Seamless Unlined and Sealess Foam Wirefree styles.

The panty styles meanwhile come in Hipster, Bikini and Thong.

If you’re after comfort and don’t mind paying a bit more for an all-day heavenly feel against your skin, the Maidenform Comfort Devotion is definitely in my recommendation list. My skin just fell in love with it.

Maidenform is available in leading department stores nationwide and is exclusively distributed by Rustan Marketing Corporation.

Chef’s Noodle’s newest endorser is Sam Concepcion

Posted on by jane

I first met him when he was still a teen-ager who, at that age, was already a bright, promising (and cute) boy among the summer cast of Trumpets. My daughter had taken the workshop with the group and usually at the end, they have a show to present what they learned. In one rehearsal, I got to meet him and have photos taken – with Sam Concepcion.

At the recent event of Chef’s Noodle in Robinsons Magnolia, I once again saw Sam Concepcion – this time as Chef’s Noodle’s latest endorser. All grown-up now, with a girlfriend. And still very much…CUTE! 🙂


Sam now joins the roster of celebrity names endorsing Chef’s Noodle, including TV host Grace Lee and celebrity couple Lloyd and Shamcey Supsup-Lee. Being the youngest of the endorsers, Sam’s presence gives out that fresh and youthful vibe that characterizes what Chef’s Noodle is all about.

Chef’s Noodle is the Korean brand’s first international master franchise outside of South Korea. Its menu was created by award-winning Korean celebrity chef Choi In Sun.

My all-time favorite Korean dish is bibimpap and each time I try a new Korean resto, this for me is the dish that will make or break it in terms of my decision to go back for more. So I am happy to see that bibimpap is on Chef’s Noodle’s menu. Unfortunately, at the event, it was not served so I’d have to go back another time to have a go at it.
My bibimpap fave dish — not bad at all for PhP 125 only!
Chef’s Noodle recommends some of their “must-try” dishes when you go to eat at their restaurant: Chef’s Noodles, Starking Fire Sushi, Bibimpap, Japchae, Haemul Seafood Pajun (Korean pancake with shrimp and squid , spring onions and bell pepper), Leek Shrimp Twigim, Chicken Kas (breaded chicken fillet with white creamy sauce), Spicy Dukbokki, and their desserts such as ice cream and gelato.
Prices were surprisingly reasonable considering that a celebrity chef is behind the dishes. Just check out these pages from their menu.

Chef’s Noodle
Branches: University Mall (tel 405-0129), Atlanta Center (tel 576-5054), Robinsons Magnolia (tel 656-7033), SM North Edsa The Block (tel 376-5367), Robinsons Place Malolos (tel 0917-5486187) and coming soon in SM Megamall
Website: www.chefsnoodlephils.com
Facebook Page: www.facebook.com/chefsnoodlephils
Instagram: @chefsnoodlephils

Fire Safety at Home with Solane

Posted on by jane

It’s no joke to experience a fire at home.

When I was in Grade 1, I came home with my yaya to find that our home had burned down. The fire started from a neighbor’s home and crossed over to ours. It was December and we lost almost everything except the clothes on our back and a few things. That was the saddest Christmas our family ever had, with my siblings and I going around in oversized slippers lent by relatives and donated clothes. Since then, I’ve been really wary of fire-causing things and my gasul at home always has a safety device on it.

Solane (known previously as Shellane) has gone a step further in ensuring that its consumers are doubly protected against LPG-related home fires. They introduced an innovative safety cap and seal, the first of its kind in the LPG industry.

Here’s a picture of an unused safety cap, together with a slide showing the different parts of the cap and seal and its features that make up a genuine Solane safety cap.

The safety cap up close

The most important part of this safety device is the round gas plug. This completely plugs the LPG tank to prevent leaks before installing the tank with a hose. With this cap on, the LPG tank is also protected from becoming a possible source of ignition. The entire cap and seal is not just ordinary plastic. It is made from high-grade plastic and can be reused by plugging and locking it in the LPG valve most specially when storing your LPG tank.

To ensure that customers can readily spot a genuine Solane safety cap and seal, it has other markings. One, each cap has a unique serial number. When you buy an LPG tank, you can actually check its authenticity by going to Solane’s FB page, click on Apps, and use the Solane Authenticity Checker. Enter the serial number and you will be told if the tank came from a licensed Solane dealer. This guards you against any fake Solane gas tanks from unauthorized dealers.

Two other features mark a genuine Solane safety cap and seal — an embossed “Solane” label as well as an embossed Flame Girl, the original symbol of Shellane carried over to Solane.

Another Facebook app, Solane Finder, helps you find the nearest Solane distributor in your area.

There are various other ways to order Solane:
1. Online: Go to www.solane.com.ph
2. Telephone: Call 887-555 for home delivery within Metro Manila
3. SMS: Text its nationwide textline 0918-887-5555

Solane is also doing its civic contribution towards safety by partnering with the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP). Under this partnership, Solane will hold a series of training programs together with BFP personnel, LGUs and selected communities and barangays nationwide. These talks will focus on managing LPG-related explosions, fire and emergency response in case of such incidents.

Formal signing of the partnership between Solane and the Bureau of Fire Protection

Goodbye, Pangingilo! (Tooth Sensitivity)

Posted on by jane
I’m NGILO-phobic. (‘Ngilo’ is Filipino for tooth sensitivity)

Anyone who has drank cold water, eaten ice cream or chomped down on frozen desserts knows fully well what ngilo feels like. A sharp pain hits you as the nerves around your teeth react to the cold. I used to be one of those poor souls. And for someone who loves ice cream, this was just awful. Often, I’d wait for the ice cream to melt a bit so that I could spoon the liquid into my mouth with less chances of ngilo. And did you know that 9 out of 10 Filipinos (that’s a whopping 88M Pinoys) suffer to some degree from tooth sensitivity? That’s the majority of the populace!

Luis Manzano, Sensodyne‘s brand ambassador, shares my horrible experience because he, too suffers from tooth sensitivity. According to him, times like meetings and enjoyable social events are cut short because of pangingilo. “I just endure the pain so it doesn’t ruin my day or my night out”, he said during the event.

GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) has had Sensodyne for a long time now and it has grown to be the No. 1 sensitivity brand in the market recommended by dentists against pangingilo. But it was always viewed as a higher-end toothpaste brand that not many can afford on a regular basis but only upon dental prescription. GSK is now committed to stop the suffering of Filipinos by making Sensodyne affordable. Their message? “Say No to Ngilo!“

The GSK Sensodyne team with Luis Manzano and Angel Jacob

So how does a top-rated brand like Sensodyne become available to the Filipino public without breaking their budget? Think sari-sari store concept. Yes, the Philippines is the first country in the world where Sensodyne is being introduced in sachet format. And each sachet only costs PhP 10. Everyone can now afford Sensodyne because it is now available in tingi-tingi (Filipino slang for sachet) form.

The sari-sari store concept was what inspired Sensodyne’s sachet format

There are several variants of Sensodyne now aside from its flagship variant.

The original Sensodyne contains potassium nitrate to depolarize the nerve and protect it from firing. Using it twice a day in brushing ensures the nerve response will be gradually blocked and pain is relieved.

The Sensodyne Rapid Relief variant contains strontium acetate, an element similar to calcium. It replaces some of the calcium lost from dentine and blocks the exposed tubules within dentinal tissue. This in turn prevents the flow of the fluid within the tubules that otherwise cause tooth pain.

The Sensodyne Repair & Protect contains advanced NovaMin technology, scientifically proven to help repair sensitive teeth by forming a tooth-like layer over exposed dentine to help continually repair and protect sensitive areas.

A Few More FAQs on Sensodyne

* Sensodyne is recommended for kids aged 12 and above. Younger kids do not really suffer from tooth sensitivity because it hits older kids and adults.

* Brushing with Sensodyne is recommended twice a day to ensure the anti-ngilo ingredients work best

Most Filipinos now have a chance to get rid of their pangingilo woes once and for all with the affordable sachet format. Ngilo will now be a thing of the past for Pinoys.