MacX DVD Ripper Pro Thanksgiving Giveaway

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”

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

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

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.

Kenny Rogers Introduces its Honey Roast Chicken + 4 New Side Dishes

By November 15, 2011, Kenny Rogers Roasters patrons will be treated to a whole new offering to add to their choices for the Christmas holidays. I was part of a blogger group that got first dibs at trying out these dishes so I am excited to tell you about my gastronomic experience.

First up is a new flavor for Kenny’s chicken offerings – the Honey Roast Chicken.
I usually order the Fiesta chicken flavor when in Kenny Rogers but after trying the Honey Roast Chicken, I am changing my preference! 
Kenny Rogers perfected the preparation of this chicken by marinating the chicken in a mixture of honey and maple. The serving I had was very tasty and juicy. For me, eating it plain with rice was enough. 
You can order the Honey Roast Chicken WHOLE for only PhP 399 when you bring your family or group of friends. Or choose to have it with Kenny’s Solo Plates, Healthy Plates, Combo Meals and Group Meals.
The servings do come with Kenny’s own honey-garlic sauce for those who prefer to enhance the taste of the chicken. The sauce can be overpowering for some since the garlic-ky taste covers most of the initial honey-maple marinade of the chicken so when you order this, you may want to try the chicken as is first. Then dip slices of the chicken into the sauce next to see whether you want to slobber the sauce all over the chicken or eat the entire thing as it is.
Next are the new side dishes – all 4 of them!
Clockwise: Sour Cream and Chives Potatoes, Turnip Salad,
Aglio Olio and Garlic Parmesan Green Beans
Two of these are hot side dishes while the other two are cold side dishes.

Let’s start with the hot side dishes.
The Sour Cream and Chives Potatoes are baked marble potatoes coated in sour cream and chives butter mix. This is a winner if you love sour cream and chives because its tangy flavor really comes out. One tip: Don’t even bother biting into the potatoes. They’re small enough for you to pop into your mouth. That way you really get the flavors of the entire potato.
Aglio Olio is their healthy pasta side dish. I did note that this is prepared with olive oil sauce and sprinkled generously with garlic bits and chopped olives.
Now on to the cold side dishes.
The Garlic Parmesan Green Beans was a delightful surprise. I must confess, when I first saw it on the press release, I was thinking to myself – why, of all side dishes, string beans? After all, not many would really choose string beans as their side dish of choice when there are others to choose from. But before you think that way, you have to try this one because it is prepared with generous diced garlic bits and loaded with parmesan cheese. When I bit into my first bean, the crunchiness combined with the strong garlic and parmesan cheese combo really blended well.
Last but definitely not the least is the Turnip Salad. This is a fairly light salad made with crunchy turnip strips, carrots, cucumber and red cabbage tossed in a sweet and tart mango dressing. 
Want to know my favorite side dish? Actually, it’s a toss-up between the Sour Cream and Chives Potatoes and the Garlic Parmesan Green Beans.
Visit any branch of Kenny Rogers Roasters beginning November 15 and try the Honey Roast Chicken as well as the new side dishes. 
Then let me know which side dish/es were your favorites.

Jewelmer’s Concept Boutique opens in Resorts World Manila

The name Jewelmer easily conjures up images of the best, most lustrous Palawan South Sea pearls ever found in the world. Founded by French perliculture specialist Jacques Branellec and Filipino entrepreneur Manuel Cojuangco in 1979, Jewelmer is now synonymous with exquisite, rare, valuable Palawan South Sea pearls known worldwide.

And just the other night, some of us had the chance to mix in with the Jewelmer crowd to witness the grand opening of Jewelmer Joaillerie (joaillerie is French for ‘jewelry’ or ‘jeweller’s shop’) at the Newport Mall of Resorts World Manila.

Glimpse of the Jewelmer concept boutique
(photo taken from Jewelmer’s Facebook page)

The first time I heard of Jewelmer was in the 80s. I was a fairly new auditor working for one of the largest accounting firms and in one of those years with the Firm, The Peninsula Manila became my client. Every time I would pass the Jewelmer shop in the hotel, I would stop to admire the black South Sea pearls being displayed. Even then, Jewelmer’s South Sea pearls were already held up as the premier choice in jewelry by the wealthiest families and individuals not just in the Philippines but globally.

At that time, the pearls were black in color. But in 1999, the first batch of deep gold pearls were harvested and today, the golden pearls of Jewelmer are probably the most expensive kind of pearls on the planet. My friend Noemi tells me that pearls can only get their golden luster from the cleanest sea waters and that is in Palawan. That’s one big reason to truly protect our seas!

Diamonds may be a girl’s best friend but pearls show off a woman’s passion. Just wearing stud pearl earrings set against a bold or black simple dress is enough to exude beauty and elegance from its wearer. My mom always told me that pearls needed to be worn, not locked away in some safety deposit box. The more pearls are worn, the more their true luster comes out.

Here’s Angel Aquino looking so stunning in her deep red dress with only strands of pearls as her accessory.

I took time inside the concept boutique looking at pieces and admiring the quality of craftmanship. It’s really amazing to find out the craftsmen who can create these are found in our own country. Here are some of the pieces:
Even a pearl with an odd shape can be transformed into a creature of beauty. 
This diamond-encrusted, golden eagle costs US$ 38,000!!!
Margherita collection (one gold South Sea pearl set with 18 karat diamonds and 23.82 karat yellow gold)

Giverny collection

(inspired by artist Claude Money’s secret garden, this collection consists of

a beautiful necklace that has 14 golden pearls and a bracelet with 10 golden pearls
with over 3-carat diamonds in each of these pieces and 18k gold)




Collection of earrings set off against a long pearl necklace

Tutti Frutti (one South sea pearl set with topaz blue stones
and 18k white gold)
Come and visit Jewelmer’s concept boutique at the Ground Floor of Newport Mall at Resorts World. Admire the beauty that our seas produce, enhanced by the skilled craftsmanship of our own people. And while you’re at it, think of the possibility of investing in pearls. Unlike many things we buy that depreciate in value over time, precious pearls such as these continue to increase in value as time wears on.

Samsung MV800 – a multiview, self photo camera

You know how hard it is to get a self-photo, right? In most of my blogger events, we always end up asking other people to take our photo with our camera or someone from our group has to be the one behind the lens.

The few times I have tried to take a self-photo with my digicam, my photos would get half my face, come out crooked and look so awkward.

About two years ago, we marvelled at the new Samsung digicam with 2D view technology which had a second frontal display screen. What a novelty it was back then as friends who had it showed us how easy it was to compose self-photos exactly the way we wanted the shot. The camera could also detect a smile, taking a picture just as you grin.

Last November 4, Samsung introduced the Samsung MV800 – a multiview camera – at a media launch. The MV800 can be rotated all the way to 180 degrees to catch important events from any angle.

Here are some features of the MV800:

A 3.0″ touchscreen display features different apps you can launch
with the touch of a finger. No knob twisting anymore.
See that sign on the side? A whopping 16.1 megapixels!
And what is that – a 45 degree angle?

Top view

At 90-degree angle
At 180-degree angle
Side view at 180-degree angle

Schneizer-KREUZNACH 26-130mm lens,
5x optical zoom, 5x digital zoom

My self-photo

And here’s more.

  • Magic Frame – 12 fun, background templates as well as ability to customize one’s own
  • Picture-in-picture – insert one image with another
  • Smart Filter – 14 artistic efects like Water Paint and Cartoons
  • Funny Face – bend, stretch and manipulate pictures by dragging to distort faces in funny ways
  • Storyboard Maker – arrange photos, choose layout, and see your story unfold
  • HD recording
For more detailed specs, visit www.samsung.com/multiview

The Samsung MV800 retails at PhP 14,990 and is available at leading camera shops nationwide.

Otterbox is now in the Philippines!

The first time I heard of Otterbox was from my friend, Carlo Ople. And I did not hear of it — I saw it in action. In a dramatic way. Because to prove how sturdy it was and how much faith he had in it, Carlo made a video where he dropped his Otterbox-encased iPad from a sofa onto the floor. Yes, Carlo is crazy.

But, what do you know, next thing I know, Carlo invites me to an Otterbox event. It’s now available in town through Tenkie Box!

As they say, if you’re going to spend precious money to buy an expensive gadget, why scrimp on its protective casing, right?

Otterbox is available in 4 variants and for a wide variety of devices – Apple, Blackberry, Motorola, Samsung, Sony Ericsson, Dell, and HTC.


1. Defender – this series is a multi-layered case completely enclosing your device and is rugged enough to withstand any environment.

2. Reflex – this series features an innovative drop, scratch and bump protection inspired by the crumple zone of a car. Unlike the other variants that feature double cases that enclose the device, the Reflex cases have an upper and lower part that fit when combined.

3. Commuter – this series is stylish but features a sleek and tough case that prevents potential damage. The device is first enclosed in a silicone skin followed by a durable plastic case, front and back.

4. Impact – this series is the low-end Otterbox model but is still durable with a compression-molded silicone skin that absorbs impact and deflects bumps and dings.

I thought only Carlo would have the guts to throw his Otterbox-encased iPad around but at the event, guess what! They threw and juggled their personal iPhones around. See for yourself how confident they are about it.

So, which Otterbox variant is for you? It really depends on how active your lifestyle is.

Those into extreme sports, are athletic, or just want the ultimate protection should consider the Defender. If you think it is too bulky (my first impression when I saw Carlo’s encased iPad), then you can choose from any of its other lines. True, the Otterbox Defender, the thickest but most rugged-handling of the 4 variants, may appeal more to the guys but I heard that some ladies actually prefer it because it gives them the most protection for their valuable gadgets.

In my case, I chose the Commuter case for the iPhone to give to my husband as he just keeps his phones in his pocket and runs the risk of dropping it on the pavement. Because it is the plastic case which is outside, this is the best variant for him as it easily slides in and out of his pants pocket.

To find out where Tenkie Box can be found, visit their website HERE. When you order online, they deliver free of charge within Metro Manila.

Winners of WinX Blu-Ray Decrypter are…

My Facebook page made a debut last week and as a welcome for new followers, I decided to do a quick and easy giveaway promo – 10 license codes of the WinX Blu-Ray Decrypter, courtesy of Digiarty Software. That post can be read HERE.

Anyway, I have just used Randomizer to pick and choose the winners. Since only 15 out of my 80+ followers signified that they wanted to join, the odds were pretty strong for winning.

I could not count some of you who may have wanted to join but did not specifically follow the contest mechanics. You had to specifically tell me that you wanted to win the WinX Blu-ray Decrypter so I could distinguish which contest you were joining (I had people interested in the Globe Tattoo giveaway but not in this one).

The 15 people who had indicated they were joining this particular contest were assigned numbers in the order that they posted on my wall:
And Randomizer says that the winners are:
Alwin Aquirre (2)
Jun Anteola (3)
Hazel Nacario (4)
Diony Tapac (5)
Mauie Flores (6)
Katherine Sicat (8)
Ding Iyog Mendoza (9)
Ellen Chang (11)
Annaliza Demition (13)
Julie Custodio-Fuertes (15)
Congratulations, winners!
If your Facebook privacy settings allow me to message you, I will give you your license code via private Facebook message. If I will not be allowed by your settings to leave you a message, I will have to ask for your email address so I can send it there.
For those who did not win this round, don’t worry. The BPI-Globe Tattoo contest is ongoing and I have another software giveaway brewing. This time, 20 license codes will be up for grabs so you can still win.

BPI’s Limited Edition 160th Commemorative Tattoo (winner posted) Stick + a Giveaway

 (UPDATE: I asked a BPI branch manager and her staff to select the winner. So firstly, thank you to Ms. Helena Tiu of BPI-Wilson branch!!! And *drumroll*, the winner who gets the BPI 160th commemorative Tattoo stick is — Joyce Rivera Mauricio! Congratulations, Joyce. I will be contacting you directly.)

Last Thursday, an intimate gathering of bloggers at Cafe Mary Grace in Greenbelt 2 met up with BPI and Globe people for the launching of the BPI 160th Commemorative Tattoo Stick to mark 160 years of the Bank of the Philippine Islands’ existence as a financial institution.

bpi-160th-tattoo-stick
(photo courtesy of Globe Tattoo website)

Continue reading “BPI’s Limited Edition 160th Commemorative Tattoo (winner posted) Stick + a Giveaway”