It’s a weekday afternoon, you’ve just had your lunch and you’re contemplating on what will power you up for more hours of doing remote work.
For me, its quite simple: cookies and coffee!
Both give me a boost of energy and wakefulness that’s sure to get me over that midday slump.
Fortunately, I got some sweets and TOV coffee packets from Bake Boss that really hit the spot.
Bake Boss is managed by local entrepreneur Earl Reyes, who launched this online bakery in May last year to pursue her passion for baking and make some money during the lockdown due to the pandemic. (Check out my post about Bake Boss’ Chocolate Banana Muffins and Oatmeal Raisin Cookies here.)
True to her entrepreneurial spirit, Earl expanded her offerings to include new desserts under her Bake Boss label and even drip coffee which she branded TOV Coffee after the Hebrew word for “good”..
My Bake Boss cookie treats included:
Oatmeal Dark Chocolate Chip Cookies (Php240/box of 8). The chewy, cinnamon-spiced oatmeal cookies got a chocolatey upgrade with the addition of decadent dark chocolate chips.
Brookie (Php240/box of 8). The lusciously moist and chocolatey brownie now in cookie form.
For you brownie purists out there, Bake Boss also offers Dark Fudge Brownies (Php240/box of 12) so you can indulge yourself with bite-sized pieces of rich dark fudge chocolate.
Paired with my sweets are cups of coffee made with TOV Drip Coffee (Php45/packet), an easy way to enjoy freshly brewed coffee anytime you want. Solo servings of ground coffee beans are conveniently packaged in bags which can be torn open and hooked onto the sides of coffee mugs. Hot water is passed through the bags and the resulting brew gathers at the bottom of the mug, ready to drink and enjoy.
TOV Drip Coffee is made with coffee beans from Sagada and is available in variants that are sure to appeal to coffee connoisseurs:
Home-grown brews such as Kalinga, Benguet and Barako which showcase our local coffee artistry
Blends enriched with infusions such as Double Chocolate, Hazelnut, Macadamia, Cookies & Cream and Bailey’s Irish Cream which brings us new notes to enjoy with our cuppa without the sugar
Drip Coffee also has the flexibility to be made into other coffee creations such as:
Iced Americano: just let the coffee drip over ice cubes
Ca phe sua da: place two to three tablespoons of condensed milk into the cup and let the coffee drip over it
So with just my cookies and my drip coffee after lunch, the rest of the day will surely perk up!
Send your orders to Bake Boss via Facebook or Instagram two days prior to delivery. Cashless payments via GCash are accepted.
All of Bake Boss’ goodies are freshly baked everyday and can be delivered from Paranaque to anywhere in Metro Manila via Grab, Lalamove, Happy Move, MoveIt, Angkas, Mr Speedy and others (delivery fee charged to buyer).
Disclosure: Product samples were provided to facilitate this feature article.
Check out my blog posts on other small enterprises and startups in the food business:
As the clock struck down to this New Year, I’m sure many of us resolved to live healthier lives, yes?
Central to healthy living is healthy eating. What we choose to nourish ourselves determine quite a lot of how our wellness efforts shape out.
However, we might find ourselves inundated by a barrage of information about eating right, some of which may not be so helpful in achieving our health goals.
Here’s a sampling:
Myth #1: Say goodbye to meatand dairy.
Going all plant-based may have incredible health benefits such as lowering rates of diabetes and heart disease. However, we can’t discount that animal products are excellent sources of protein, B vitamins, iron and zinc. Cutting meat and dairy out of your diet means that you are limiting your options for getting these nutrients.
Myth #2: Ditch the processed food.
In today’s fast-paced life, not all of us have the time and energy to prepare our food from scratch. Sometimes, we would need to resort to processed food. The trick is in choosing which kinds of processed food to incorporate into our meals. For example, frozen and canned vegetables and fruits provide an easy way for us to get the nutrients we need from these food items even when they’re off season.
Myth #3: Toss off all the fat.
For decades, fat has been vilified as the big bad of food. It has been blamed for everything from widening girths to heart disease. The thing is: we need fat. It provides the feeling of satiation when we eat and it helps out bodies absorb other nutrients such as vitamins A, D and E.
Myth #4: Do away with desserts.
Being a sweet tooth, I shy away from diets that compel me to give up desserts. I would reason that by doing so, I would live longer, but would I want to? (Yes, dessert is my reason for being.)
The trick is in choosing which food items go into the sweets we eat: if we opt for healthier versions of the usual decadent ingredients like substituting milk with soy or almond milk or choosing a lower calorie cream are already significant steps you can take to eat healthy.
Myth #5: Skip meals.
It seems so simple, doesn’t it? To lose weight, you need to eat less. To eat less, simply skip a meal. However, doing so may also mean depriving yourself of key nutrients and energy you need to power through your day. (I know I can get cranky when I skip a meal.)
While you won’t have to divest yourself of tasty and mouthwatering food, doing the nitty-gritty of ingredient selection, food preparation and calorie counting can be both time-consuming and difficult.
Luckily, with food delivery services like Fit Food Manila, you won’t have to hassle yourself with these.
Fit Food Manila is whole team dedicated to helping you with your health goals. Its culinary group is manned by a head chef and several cooks who ensure that the food delivered to you is delicious so you won’t feel deprived. Its in-house dietician and nutritionist, on the other hand, calculate the amount of calories you get from different food groups to help your body get the nourishment it needs.
If you think that it’s impossible to achieve nutritious yet mouth-watering meals everyday, then check out this five-day meal plan that Fit Food Manila prepared for me which totals to just 1,500 calories per day.
Day 1:
Breakfast: Philly Cheesesteak (420KCal)
Lunch: Grilled Chicken with Peking Duck Sauce on Red Rice (362 KCal)
Dinner: Paella Negra topped with Seafood (429 KCal)
Snacks: Baked Potato Wedges with Grated Cheese (141 KCal) and Caramel Banana (140 KCal)
Day 2:
Breakfast: Chicken Longganisa with Garlic Brown Rice and Sunny Side Up Egg (443 KCal)
Lunch: Hickory BBQ Fish Fillet on Brown Rice (390 KCal)
Dinner: Malaysian Beef Rendang on Brown Rice (484 KCal)
Snacks: Pad Thai (131 KCal) and Popcorn (90 KCal)
Day 3:
Breakfast: Ube Granola and Chia Seed Oats (392 Kcal)
Lunch: Spicy Chili Beef Strips with Red Rice (393 KCal)
Dinner: Boneless Chicken BBQ with Atchara and Peanut Sauce on Red Rice (443 KCal)
Snacks: Pizza Bread (192 KCal) and Grape Jello (80 KCal)
Day 4:
Breakfast: Mexican Chili con Carne Omelet (402 KCal)
Lunch: Pan-Grilled Chicken with Grilled Pineapple Salsa on Brown Rice (367 KCal)
Dinner: Chicken Strips in Oyster Sauce on Brown Rice (401 KCal)
Snacks: Banana Graham (109 KCal) and Carrot Cake (216 KCal)
Day 5:
Breakfast: BBQ Pulled Pork Sandwich (392 KCal)
Lunch: Tokyo Spicy Salmon Salad (384 KCal)
Dinner: Grilled Chicken Steak with Mushroom Gravy and Red Rice (419 KCal)
Snacks: Apple and Cheese Quesadillas (140 KCal) and Cookie Squares (182 KCal)
Fit Food Manila meal plans include three meals and two snacks. These are delivered to you the night before so refrigerate within one hour of delivery to ensure the freshness of the ingredients and heat right before consumption to give the best taste and quality.
Available meal plans include:
Fit Food Original (Php420/day). The original meal plan based on calorie counting that helps in losing weight.
Php2,100 for 5 days at 1200 calories per day
Php2,500 for 5 days at 1500 calories per day
Php2,900 for 5 days at 1800 calories per day
Fit Food Plus (Php550/day). The meal plan that’s low in carbs but high in fiber but not as high in fat. This is recommended for individuals who want to maximize weight loss while controlling other issues like blood sugar.
Php2,750 for 5 days at 1200 calories per day
Php3,050 for 5 days at 1500 calories per day
Php3,350 for 5 days at 1800 calories per day
Fit Food Keto (Php595/day). The Ketogenic meal plan that limits carbs to around 5-10% of the daily source of energy, limits protein to around 15-20% and gets the rest from healthy fats such as olive oil, avocado, eggs, butter, animal fat, and coconut oil, designed to turn the body into a fat-burning machine.
Php2,975 for 5 days at 1200 calories per day
Php3,225 for 5 days at 1500 calories per day
Php3,725 for 5 days at 1800 calories per day
Fit Heart (Php600/day). The low sodium and low fat meal plan which will help not just in lowering body weight but also in lowering blood markers like LDL Cholesterol. This meal plan also replaces high fat meat with low fat alternatives.
Php3,000 for 5 days at 1200 calories per day
Php3,300 for 5 days at 1500 calories per day
Php3,600 for 5 days at 1800 calories per day
Fit Food Veg (Php470/day). The veg meal plan with no meat, poultry, fish, egg and dairy.
It’s around that time of the month when the stocked food in my fridge are beginning to run low and all I’ve got to work with for the fam’s lunch are a couple of frozen chicken breasts, some strips of bacon and pantry staples such as pasta and parmesan cheese.
Plus, I’m coming in from a late morning Zoom meeting (the bane of work-from-home moms, am I right?) and I’ve barely got enough time to prepare a meal, eat with the family and make it to my afternoon meetings.
Hmmm… what can I possibly whip up quickly and easily during my lunch hour?
Luckily, this recipe for Tuscan Chicken Pasta came to my rescue.
What I love about this is that it made use of the remaining frozen food as well as incorporated wholesome and fresh produce that made for a hearty and tasty meal for the family. Also, I didn’t have to use a lot of utensils to cook the dish; it’s basically a one-skillet recipe. (However, I made use of Hubby’s trusty wok as it gave me a sizable surface area to cook in and it distributed the heat quite well. I hope the wok purists won’t come after me!)
Check it out!
Ingredients:
1/2 kilo spaghetti noodles, cooked per package instructions (reserve 1 cup of the water these were boiled in)
1 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
2 boneless and skinless chicken breasts, thawed and filleted into 4 flat pieces
salt to taste (I used Himalayan sea salt from Goodness MNL but you can use ordinary table salt)
freshly ground black pepper to taste
10 slices of bacon cut into short strips
2 cloves garlic, minced
4 to 6 fresh tomatoes, diced
1/4 kilo Baguio spinach
1/2 c heavy cream
1/4 c grated parmesan
6 basil leaves for garnish
Procedure:
Heat olive oil in a large skillet over high heat. After seasoning the chicken breast fillets with salt and pepper, fry them for 7 to 8 minutes on each side until golden brown. Remove them from heat and allow them to rest for 10 minutes before slicing them into thin strips.
Using the same skillet, fry the bacon pieces over medium heat for 8 minutes or until they reach your desired crispiness. (I prefer my bacon to be fried just enough to curl up but not be too crispy). Drop them on a plate lined with a paper towel to drain them of excess oil. Set aside.
Again, using the same skillet, pour out half the fat from cooking the chicken and the bacon before sautéing the garlic and tomatoes over medium heat.
Add the spinach and cook for two minutes until the leaves are slightly wilted.
Season with salt and pepper prior to adding the heavy cream, parmesan and half of the reserved pasta water. Allow to simmer for 5 minutes then remove from heat. (If the sauce becomes to thick, stir in some more of the pasta water).
Toss the cooked pasta in sauce until well coated, then toss the chicken and bacon strips until evenly distributed.
Garnish with freshly torn basil leaves before serving.
Try this recipe and let me know how it goes!
Looking for other easy-to-cook dishes to try out? Check out my other kitchen adventures:
Chinese cuisine is so ingrained in the local food scene that I simply can’t imagine going without it.
As one of the chief culinary influences to the Pinoy cuisine, Chinese food has been a frequent feature of many a Pinoy table from simple family dinners to lavish feasts.
In pre-COVID times, my officemates and I would sometimes go to the Wangfu Chinese Cafe branch near our office for lunch. There, we would feast on tasty yet affordable Chinese dishes that would sate our midday hunger and power us for our tasks for the rest of the workday.
With the community quarantine in effect since last year, going out for Chinese food is not as easy as it once was.
Thankfully, Wangfu has made its dishes available for long distance delivery via GrabFood so I can have my Chinese food cravings satisfied with little effort.
Giving in to my daughter #ExhibitA’s request for Chinese food for lunch at home one day, I ordered some of my old faves from Wangfu, which included:
Hakaw (Php206.84). Both my daughter and I go crazy over this shrimp dumpling. When dipped in toyomansi with a little bit of chili paste, it’s irresistible!
Half Hainanese Chicken (Php614.25). Half of a chicken poached in sub-boiling temperatures along with ginger, garlic and pandan leaves, then sliced upon serving. It’s best eaten with the oily chicken rice accompanied by three dipping sauces – soy sauce, chili sauce and ginger sauce.
Chicken Rice (Php84.48). The stock produced in poaching the chicken is used to boil rice, producing a flavorful oily rice (Yes, it’s oily and I don’t care! It’s yummy!) that goes so well with the chicken.
Salted Egg Squid (Php457.55). Breaded and deep-fried squid rings flavored with mashed salted egg yolks.
All of these flavors mesh well together. Once you’ve gotten a taste of this winning combination, I’m sure you’ll be hooked too!
Thanks to Wangfu, my daughter and I were able to satisfy our cravings for good Chinese food!
This Wangfu Chinese Cafe branch is located at Lower Ground Floor, LeGrand Tower 1, Eastwood City, Libis, Quezon City, open daily from 11am to 12 midnight. For inquiries and reservations, call +63 2 73734308 or +63 917 6295466. It also delivers via GrabFood.
Other branches may be found at:
Ground Floor, SM City Marikina, Marcos Highway, Calumpang, Marikina City
Ground Floor, Serendra, Bonifacio Global City, Taguig City
Ground Floor, Phase 1, UP Town Center, Katipunan Avenue, Diliman, Quezon City
Ground Floor, Il Terrazzo, Tomas Morato Avenue Corner Scout Madrinan Street, South Triangle, Quezon City
Level 1, Ayala Malls Vertis North, Bagong Pag-Asa, Quezon City
Ground Level, Ayala Malls Cloverleaf, A. Bonifacio Avenue, Balintawak, Quezon City
Lower Ground Floor, The Parkway, SM City Fairview, Novaliches, Quezon City
Your go-to Italian-American restaurant has cooked up something special for you to enjoy on its silver anniversary.
Italianni’s prides itself on giving you good food, conviviality and good service through the years from the opening of its first branch in Greenbelt 1 in 1996 to the present. Despite the restrictions brought about by the pandemic, it still strives to bring its signature blend of tasty Italian-American dishes in servings big enough for sharing, welcoming atmosphere that encourages conversation and bonding, as well as the cheery attention of its crew to its new and loyal clientele.
Even after twenty-five years, discriminating foodies still can’t get enough of its signature dishes such as Spaghetti and Meatballs, Spinach Artichoke Formaggio, Seafood Cioppino, Sicilian Salad, Quattro Staggioni Pizza, Margherita Pizza, Tartuffo Cake and NY Cheesecake.
Italianni’s lives by one of its credos: GRAND to imply “Guest Requests are Never Denied”. The staff go the extra mile to please guests with simple gestures such as providing an extra salad dressing or parmesan cheese, cooking items off the menu, to indulging kids to assemble their own pizza. It is a passion founded on Bistro’s genuine and authentic customer service.
This is why Italianni’s is giving back to everyone who has patronized it for the last quarter century. On February 23, 2021, all pizzas are available at 50% off for dine-in and take-out orders. That means, you can enjoy their Classico, Margherita, Quattro Carne, Truffle Mushroom, Quattro Staggioni, Pepperoni, Tropicale, Shrimp and Mushroom Anchovy, Garlic and Cheese, and Quattro Formaggi pizzas…all at half the price!
This is the restaurant’s way of saying “Grazie!” for sharing twenty five years of wonderful and fulfilling journey and Italianni’s expects many more years of bringing people together. The future is promising and Italianni’s is in this for the long haul.
So celebrate Italianni’s silver anniversary with your loved ones by dropping by one of its branches and sharing a pizza or two, along with your favorite Italian-American food!
Italianni’s branches are located at:
4th Floor, Trinoma Mall, Bagong Pag-Asa, Quezon City
Second Floor, Eastwood Mall, Libis, Quezon City
Level 6, East Wing, Shangri-La Plaza, Ortigas, Mandaluyong City
Third Floor, Uptown Place Mall, 36th Street Corner 9th Avenue, Bonifacio Global City, Taguig City
B5, Bonifacio High Street, 9th Avenue, Bonifacio Global City, Taguig City
Ground Floor, Phase 2, UP Town Center, Katipunan Avenue, Diliman, Quezon City
Ground Floor, Venice Grand Canal Mall, McKinley Hill, Taguig City
Second Floor, Glorietta 4, Ayala Center, Glorietta Complex, Makati City
Level 1, Greenbelt 2, Ayala Center, Greenbelt, Makati City
Ayala North Exchange, Ayala Avenue Corner Amorsolo Street, Legaspi Village, Makati City
Second Floor, Newport Mall, Resorts World Manila, Newport City, Pasay City
Ground Floor, Midtown Wing, Robinsons Place Manila, Ermita, Manila
Level 1, S Maison, Conrad Manila, Seaside Boulevard Corner Coral Way, Mall of Asia Complex (MOA), Pasay City
Corte de Las Palmas, Alabang Town Center, Alabang, Muntinlupa City
Ground Floor, Evia Lifestyle Center, Daang Hari Road, Almanza, Las Piñas City
Pink is the color love, comfort and compassion. It is the hue that evokes feelings of friendship, warmth and playfulness.
Pink is also the color that accents the Fet Boys’ newest dessert creation: Prettier than Pink Cookies!
Expertly crafted by Fet Boys’ Chef Kirk Ngo, Prettier Than Pink Cookies are made with ruby chocolate – a new chocolate variety introduced in 2017 by Belgian-Swiss company Barry Callebaut. The fourth chocolate variant next to dark, milk and white, ruby chocolate is made with ruby cocoa beans, it is marked by its characteristic pink color and a unique mix of sweetness, acidity and berry-like fruitiness.
The Prettier than Pink Cookie is the third cookie flavor introduced by Chef Kirk, having introduced his Too Much Chocolate Chip Cookies and Coffee Butterscotch the year before.
What makes this trio of cookie creations from Fet Boys even more distinctive is that, unlike other cookies that are tastier when heated prior to serving, these are best enjoyed chilled, straight from the ref!
Excited to get your Fet Boys Cookies? Get regular-sized ones in a box of 12 for Php480, a box of 18 for Php780 or a box of 24 for Php1,080. You can also go big by ordering giant cookies in a box of 6 for Php800, a box of 8 for Php1,000 or a box of 12 for Php1,500.
If you’re looking for girl power on TV, HBO’s got exactly what you need!
Its newest six-episode series, “The Nevers,” premieres this April on HBO and HBO GO. Renowned creator of ground-breaking TV series such as “Buffy the Vampire Slayer,” “Angel” and “Firefly” Joss Whedon served as its writer, director, executive producer and showrunner.
In the last years of Victoria’s reign, London is beset by the “Touched”: people – mostly women – who suddenly manifest abnormal abilities – some charming, some very disturbing. Among them are Amalia True (Laura Donnelly), a mysterious, quick-fisted widow, and Penance Adair (Ann Skelly), a brilliant young inventor. They are the champions of this new underclass, making a home for the Touched, while fighting the forces of… well, pretty much all the forces – to make room for those whom history as we know it has no place.
At Comic-Con 2018, Whedon explained the show’s title:
They, themselves are not called that [The Nevers] in the show. It’s a phrase that’s meant to evoke a sort of reaction to their oddity, to what is considered unnatural. The idea that you should never be like this, you should never have existed. Something is not the way it should be, and you don’t have the right to have whatever weird power or ability that you have. And that idea, that some people are not of the natural order, is fascinating to me. I don’t agree with it. But to me, it’s one of those things where you take something negative, and you wear it as a badge of honor, basically. Certain things could never happen – they’re happening. And the people they’re happening to are taking their place in the world.
The ensemble cast also includes Olivia Williams, James Norton, Tom Riley, Rochelle Neil, Eleanor Tomlinson, Amy Manson, Pip Torrens, Denis O’Hare, Zackary Momoh, Elizabeth Berrington, Kiran Sawar, Anna Devlin, Viola Prettejohn, Ella Smith, Nick Frost and Ben Chaplin.
Curious yet? Check out the episode synopses for what you can expect from this series.
Episode 1: “Pilot”
Monday, 12 April at 9am
Series premiere. London, 1899. Three years after an inexplicable event suddenly equips them with extraordinary abilities, Amalia True (Laura Donnelly) and Penance Adair (Ann Skelly) work to protect their kind from widespread, deepening antipathy. Meanwhile, police inspector Frank Mundi (Ben Chaplin) investigates a string of murders at the hands of a reportedly Touched and highly dangerous serial killer named Maladie (Amy Manson).
Episode 2: “Exposure”
Monday, 19 April at 9am
With the city reeling from Maladie’s (Amy Manson) opera debut, Mundi (Ben Chaplin) takes a personal stake in tracking her down, while Amalia (Laura Donnelly) launches an investigation of her own. Meanwhile, the charitable Lavinia Bidlow (Olivia Williams) seeks to destigmatize the Touched at a society event, Hugo Swann (James Norton) enlists Lavinia’s younger brother Augie (Tom Riley) to help monetize his illicit enterprise, and a deranged doctor (Denis O’Hare) conducts a series of experiments.
Episode 3: “Ignition”
Monday, 26 April at 9am
Penance (Ann Skelly) creates an amplifier to spread Mary’s (Eleanor Tomlinson) hope-inspiring song across the city – but first, Mary (Tomlinson) must find her elusive voice. As danger mounts against her group, Amalia (Laura Donnelly) propositions an unlikely ally and sets out to expand the Orphanage’s reach. Swann (James Norton) further entangles Augie (Tom Riley) and Mundi (Ben Chaplin) in his business affairs.
Episode 4: “Undertaking”
Monday, 3 May at 9am
While Mundi (Ben Chaplin) seeks justice, Amalia (Laura Donnelly) and her most trusted advisors make a list of potential enemies. Harriet (Kiran Sonia Sawar), Primrose (Anna Devlin), and the other Orphans attempt to decipher a message. Later, Amalia (Donnelly) exposes an unexpected threat.
Episode 5: “Hanged”
Monday, 10 May at 9am
As the city buzzes with anticipation over a pending execution, Penance (Ann Skelly) grapples with a moral calling at odds with Amalia’s (Laura Donnelly) plan. With the two women at a crossroads, the Orphans must decide whom to follow.
Episode 6: “True” (Part One Finale)
Monday, 17 May at 9am
After Amalia’s (Laura Donnelly) origin story is revealed, a long-awaited reunion crystallizes the Orphans’ mission.
While the series was created by Whedon, he announced that he was stepping down from the project in November 2020. In his statement after his departure, he wrote:
This year of unprecedented challenges has impacted my life and perspective in ways I could never have imagined, and while developing and producing The Nevers has been a joyful experience, I realize that the level of commitment required moving forward, combined with the physical challenges of making such a huge show during a global pandemic, is more than I can handle without the work beginning to suffer. I am genuinely exhausted, and am stepping back to martial my energy towards my own life, which is also at the brink of exciting change. I am deeply proud of the work we have done; I’m grateful to all my extraordinary cast and collaborators, and to HBO for the opportunity to shape yet another strange world. The Nevers is a true labor of love, but after two-plus years of labor, love is about all I have to offer. It will never fade.
On January 28, 2021, it was announced that British screenwriter Philippa Goslett, who wrote the Salvador Dali biopic “Little Ashes” will be the series’ new showrunner.
HBO Original Series as well as live channels are also available for streaming to SKYcable subscribers on HBO GO for as low as Php99/month.
SKYcable subscribers can activate HBO GO via Lazada
Disclosure: I work for SKY and part of my job is promoting its products and services, especially the content it provides to its subscribers. I consider being able to share my love for TV shows and movies and the experience of watching and talking about them with like-minded people some of the biggest perks of my job.
For many of us, the past year has made our home take center stage in our lives.
Instead of being just the place for rest and respite from our various occupations, it became the central venue for work and learning.
The large screen TV that used to take pride of place in our living rooms as our main source of entertainment may have been relegated to being just another screen by which we consume content.
If you look back with longing to the time when you can sit down in front of your TV to escape the stress and drudgery of daily life, SKY may just have what you need.
With the launch of its latest innovation, SKY Evo, it promises a host of enriching and larger than life viewing experiences that will make you rethink just what your TV is for.
SKY Evo is the newest Digibox, an equipment attached to your TV which decodes SKYcable’s digital signal, allowing you to access the channels in your cable TV plan. With this device, you also have the option to subscribe to additional channels and pay-per-view programs (take your pick from over 190 channels available), enabling you to personalize your cable TV service according to your family’s needs and preferences.
However, SKY Evo is so much more than that.
1. Built-in streaming apps expand your entertainment choices.
Watch the latest trending series on Amazon Prime Video or HBO Go. Learn from a new tutorial video on Youtube or listen to cool tunes on Spotify. You may also watch top local shows, iWantTFC Originals, Filipino blockbusters and classic movies on iWantTFC. Really, you get a wealth of entertainment options every time you turn on your TV.
2. Gaming apps extend the fun capabilities of your TV.
You can share the fun with the fam with over 5,000 apps and games available for download on Google Play.
3. A multitude of Google functionalities at your fingertips.
On top of the jam-packed entertainment offerings of SKY Evo, the device is also equipped with Google Assistant, a virtual assistant that can follow commands and answer questions with just a press of a button and speak through the remote control.
With Chromecast also built-in to SKY Evo, you can wirelessly cast your mobile device’s display onto your big screen TV.
With SKY Evo, getting glued to your TV is becoming a very attractive proposition, wouldn’t you think?
SKY Evo is best experienced with SKY Fiber Unli Broadband + HD Cable TV plans so you can enjoy fast and reliable connection with SKY Fiber and a plethora of content with SKYcable channels.
The SKY Evo with SKY Fiber Unli Broadband + HD Cable TV plans is available for a one-time installation fee of Php2,000. It is also available on SKYcable plans for a one-time installation fee of Php2,500.
Know more about SKY Evo and its bundle offerings here.
Not yet on SKY?
Subscribe to SKY Fiber with HD Cable. Get your priority pass here.
Disclosure: I work for SKY and part of my job is promoting its products and services, especially the content it provides to its subscribers. I consider being able to share my love for TV shows and movies and the experience of watching and talking about them with like-minded people some of the biggest perks of my job.
Ankor Wat, located north of Siem Reap in Cambodia, is one of the country’s most visited tourist spots as well as its most iconic symbols. In fact, being a source of pride for the country, it has appeared on Cambodian national flags since the 1860s, and is the reason for more than fifty percent of international tourist visits to Cambodia each year.
If you’re planning a trip to Cambodia, a visit to Angkor Wat is sure to be part of your itinerary.
It is located five kilometers from Siem Reap, which affords tourists with various options for accommodations and transportation to and from the site.
Why don’t you wow your traveling friends when you tour the area armed with these interesting tidbits about this famous tourist attraction?
1. It is the world’s largest religious monument.
Sprawling across 1.6 square kilometers (162 hectares or 402 acres), it is considered to be the largest religious monument in the world by land area covered.
Its construction consumed five million tons of sandstone quarried from the holy mountain of Phnom Kulen located over fifty kilometers away from the site.
2. It is a holy place to two major Asian religions.
Although originally built in the twelfth century by the Khmer King Suyavarman II as a Hindu temple dedicated to the god Vishnu, Angkor Wat was converted to a Buddhist temple twenty-seven after his death by a devout Buddhist king Jayavarman VII.
3. It was originally called by another name.
The temple was originally named Vrah Visnuloka or Parama Visnuloka, which means the “sacred dwelling of Vishnu” in Sanskrit.
Its current name, on the other hand, translates to “city of temples” in Khmer, from Angkor which means “city” and Wat which means “temple grounds.”
4. It may have been intended as a funerary temple.
Deviating from the norm among Khmer temples, Angkor Wat is oriented to the west rather than the east. A western orientation normally relates to death in Hinduism leading archeologists and scholars to conclude that Suyavarman intended it to serve as his funerary temple.
Adding strength to this inference is the counter-clockwise direction of the bas–reliefs as rituals occur in reverse order in Brahmanic funerary services.
5. Here, nature and human architecture make for picturesque views.
In the centuries after it was built, Angkor Wat suffered neglect. During this time, the surrounding forest has swallowed many parts of the complex until the site was rediscovered by French naturalist and explore Henri Mouhot in 1860.
For many years, silk cotton, thitpok and strangler fig trees have grown over, under, around and even through the sandstone structures. This sets various breathtaking sceneries in the complex wherein nature is seen to have overtaken the man-made structures.
6. Various countries are working to preserve it.
Given its historical and cultural significance, it was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1992, which encouraged international efforts to save it. Countries such as China, France, Germany and Japan are involved in various conservation projects to repair and preserve various parts of the complex.
Excited to tour Angkor Wat yet? Book your tours and accommodation via Klook. Use my code JELLYBEANS to enjoy discounts (5% for new users, 3% for existing users).
Disclosure: Photos featured here were taken during a 2012 trip to Angkor Wat sponsored by A&E Networks.
Audiophiles, want to know what’s up in the world of music this month? Check out my rundown below!
Dark pop songstress Naomi G upholds feminist virtues on new song “Prey”
Singapore-based artist Naomi G has released her contemplative pop single “Prey” in an attempt to reclaim greater tenure as a woman knowing her worth in a relationship. The track, invocative of Banks’ chilling despair on some notes and The Weeknd’s midnight sentiments on others, resolves itself by criticizing structural behaviors that oppress women and upholding virtues that are necessary to curb patriarchal pressures.
As Naomi G puts it, “I wanted to empower young people who are faced with unwanted or unhealthy sexual attention that causes them to psycho-socially feel like ‘Prey’. This song is an anthem of power to those who have been gaslighted, dominated, manipulated, harassed and controlled based on their gender and looks. This song is a movement about saying no quickly and firmly, whilst understanding all the microaggressions that be before getting into any kind of deception.”
“Prey” is a brooding synth-pop jam that begins with motif-roving synths whose presence comes in forcibly and dips out in an exhale after the purposeful exercise of each line. A minimal percussion drives it, morphing into a choppy, playful, and hard-hitting stomper that’s enough to catch listener’s attention.
The resulting musical concoction builds up into a riveting climax where dark pop, trap and hip-hop accents come together seamlessly, complementing pop feminism in its own terms.
“Prey” is the second single for Naomi G’s debut EP which is scheduled for release over 2021.
SZA makes a splash on PH charts with hit single “Good Days
The numbers are in: SZA’s “Good Days” is officially her biggest hit to date in the Philippines and elsewhere in the world. In the country alone, the soulful single remains unstoppable with its No. 2 peak at Spotify Philippines Viral 50 and a top 15 placement at Spotify Philippines Top 50.
Over at mainstream radio, the critically acclaimed R&B songstress is performing well on several top 40 stations. This week, “Good Days” ranks No. 5 on 99.5 Play FM, a major pop station; No. 7 on Wave 89.1 FM, a rhythmic and urban-leaning station; and has gained prominent spots on Magic 89.9 (No. 23), and more.
“Good Days,” the second track following 2020’s “Hit Different,” is one of her two new headline releases since 2017’s groundbreaking multi-platinum debut, CTRL—an album that garnered significant critical attention for “laying bare the kind of vulnerability most often whispered in private” and for its “believable insights into one woman’s quest for erotic self-determination.”
Written and produced by SZA, Jacob Collier, Carlos Muñoz, Carter Lang, and Christopher Ruelas and mixed by Shawn Everett, the laid-back tune was released as a surprise drop on Christmas eve last year. More than a week after its debut, the buzzy empowerment anthem skyrocketed at No. 1 on US Spotify Streaming Chart, and has since peaked within the top 10 of other major music markets including the US, UK, Australia, Ireland, Belgium, and New Zealand.
To date, the track has racked up more than 75 million streams on Spotify and more than 20 million cumulative hits on YouTube in just a month.
Aside from its commercial triumph, “Good Days” also made an indelible impression among music critics. Hip-hop magazine, The Source praised the new song for “mastering bliss and serenity all at once.” The publication adds, “In particular, the rawness of her vocals creates an ethereal energy that dives deeper into SZA`s unmatched creativity as a songwriter.” British music bible, NME called her comeback single “worth the wait,” citing how her voice has grown more sophisticated and carefree through the years.
Elha Nympha reasserts confidence with new soulful single, “Do It”
Elha Nympha arrives with both finesse and maturity on “Do It,” her comeback single under MCA Music Inc.
Now exploring a more sophisticated take on R&B, pop, and neo-soul, the former champion of The Voice Kids Season 2 reasserts confidence and sass in delivering a romantic confession that appeals beyond her particular demographic.
When she sings, “Come on over a little closer / Take me where I’ve never been,” she takes full control of the quiet storm brewing: her voice fluttering effortlessly over dreamy arrangements and soft keyboard tones, taking the spotlight with ease.
“Do It” is a suave R&B jam that tackles the beauty of taking bolder steps when it comes to love. Upon hearing the song for the first time, Elha got excited to record the material as it barely sounds like anything she’s recorded in the past. “I’m happy with where the direction of my music is going,” the 16-year-old star said in a statement. “Do It unravels a more vulnerable side of my artistry, and this is exactly the kind of music that I want to keep making—something that is young and current, but very much me.”
“Do It” has earned comparisons with the likes of SZA, Jhené Aiko, and H.E.R., embracing the fundamental agency of womanhood and young love in all its messiness and glory. While Elha is elated with the feedback that she’s been getting from her mentors and music listeners, she wants to forge a path of her own and make music that is distinctly a product of her own sense of style and adventurousness. The promising pop sensation admits, “As a fan, I can definitely see myself doing the same kind of music. But there’s more to my sound than being pigeonholed into a category. For now, I’m ready for where this journey would take me, musically. I’m definitely looking forward to creating something that is original and unique.”
SB19’s Justin De Dios stars as Alex Bruce’s love interest in “Yakap” music video
SB19 fans (or A’TIN) are in for a treat as their very own Justin De Dios makes a surprise cameo in the music video of Alex Bruce’s endearing bop “Yakap”—released on February 5 (Friday) on video-sharing platform, YouTube. Justin De Dios portrays Alex Bruce’s love interest in this visual spectacle filled with incredibly surreal and romantic scenes. “It’s a fun and creative concept,” De Dios said. “I really like the fact that the MV showcases both the ‘maangas’ and cute sides of Alex.”
Appearing like a P-pop charmer that Alex Bruce has been pining for in her dreams, De Dios was seen exchanging smiles with the young hip-hop sensation, sharing cute moments together as they engage in pillow fights, fake tattooing, and other onscreen activities.
According to the R&B/hip-hop star, working with Justin De Dios was totally fun, especially given how friendly and warm he is with everyone on the set. Alex Bruce fondly shares in a statement, “I’m really into Korean dramas, and Justin somehow looked the part: innocently good-looking and very much charismatic. As a leading man, he really shone effortlessly in terms of acting, and gave us the kilig that we truly deserve.”
De Dios returns the favor by praising Alex Bruce’s artistry and talent. “I am really impressed with her skills. I wanted to introduce her to A’TIN as she could be a source of inspiration for a lot of young dreamers too.” He recounts how Alex was very shy during their first meet, but as the shoot went on, they eventually got along very well. “She’s an interesting kid, and we had a lot of fun talking to each other about random things. One thing I also noticed while working with her is how close she is to her parents. It’s very adorable!”
Alex Bruce is grateful to the production for allowing her to showcase some of her personal artworks and Beanie Boos collection. “I love owls, so there’s plenty of them in my shelf—as seen in the music video. I had a great time drawing and showcasing my artworks for the very first time. I hope it won’t be the last.”
“Yakap” was penned by Bruce as a tribute to young love, and was conceived as a three-way collaboration featuring the fourteen-year-old teen star, her Australia-based dad, and music producer Cursebox. The song garnered significant attention in late October 2020 for its infectious pop sensibilities and to quote Rappler, for its “first brushes at puppy love.”
Foo Fighters release tenth studio album: Medicine at Midnight
Foo Fighters have finally released their highly anticipated 10th studio album, Medicine at Midnight under Roswell Records/RCA Records.
Following delays due to the unprecedented challenges of releasing an album during the pandemic, Medicine at Midnight finally landed late last week with nine tracks of power-driven, anthemic rock tunes that drummer Taylor Hawkins described as more “pop-oriented” than previous releases.
On its first day, the American rock band’s latest record peaked at No. 1 on several iTunes album charts worldwide, and is raring for one of rock music’s biggest debuts on major music markets this year, including the United States, UK, Australia, and more. It also garnered significant traction from several music publications worldwide, with Wall Street Journal calling it “one of Foo Fighters’ best albums of this century,” and British music publication, NME declaring the new release as “the soundtrack to the summer we all crave.”
Medicine at Midnight’s release wraps up Foo Fighters’ week-long partnership with Spotify, which featured surprise ‘Midnight Drops’ of exclusive video, audio, and playlist content— an occasion marked by the band’s larger than life appearance on Spotify’s Times Square billboard.
To celebrate the release of their new album, the Foo Fighters will host a special six-part radio series: Medicine at Midnight Radio on Apple Music Hits. Each band member will host an hour-long episode where they’ll explore their personal inspirations and reflect on the creative process behind the album. Fans can tune in every day next week, beginning Monday, February 8th at 4:00p PST on Apple Music Hits at apple.co/FFRadio and simultaneously on the band’s new limited-run SiriusXM channel, Foo Fighters Radio (channel 105). Dave also joined Zane Lowe on his daily Apple Music 1 show earlier this week to chat about the album.
Medicine at Midnight is produced by Greg Kurstin and Foo Fighters, engineered by Darrell Thorp and mixed by Mark “Spike” Stent.
Foo Fighters are Dave Grohl, Taylor Hawkins, Nate Mendel, Chris Shiflett, Pat Smear, and Rami Jaffee.
YouTube sensations Agassi Ching and Jai Asuncion star in Sponge Cola’s “Siguro Nga” music video
Content creators Agassi Ching and Jai Asuncion are featured in the latest music video of Sponge Cola’s “Siguro Nga.”
The onscreen and offscreen love team amassed a fandom in social media with pranks, viral videos, and challenges. In “Siguro Nga,” JaiGa—as they are popularly known for—portray a fictional romantic couple in disarray.
According to the band’s vocalist and guitarist Yael Yuzon, Agassi is a dear friend whom he plays basketball with every Tuesday. “I also produced the song he wrote for Jai during the stricter quarantine period through file sharing,” he said. “I also watch their daily vlogs. On some level, I felt like I was always involved in their love story. It just made sense to cast them.”
The video shows Agassi Ching singing “Siguro Nga” in a neon-lit karaoke bar, while Jai Asuncion is in the very same room with friends, silently crying and hurting inside. Separated by their own version of realities, both characters try to move forward with the changes in their respective lives, albeit having a difficulty wiping out their memories together—especially with the song forever binding them in spirit.
“A person’s go-to videoke song says so much about who they are and what they are about,” Yuzon reveals. “I’ll just leave it at that.”
Guitarist Armo Armovit shares that the visual treatment focuses on honoring people who are no longer present by living lives with meaning and memory. “We want them to feel nostalgia for a person in their past who was a meaningful presence in their lives; sadness for the loss, but also, hope for the future.”
The music video also comes with a meta-karaoke version of the track that allows fans to sing their hearts out and engage with the narrative.
Inspired by the hit K-drama, StartUp, Sponge Cola’s “Siguro Nga” was written by Yael Yuzon as a tribute to one of its beloved characters, Han Ji-Pyeong. Its lyric video features various footage from Seoul, South Korea that includes locations from the series.
Zack Tabudlo maps his music journey with new single “Iyong-Iyo”
The beginning of Zack Tabudlo’s Island Records journey saw the young singer-songwriter going full speed ahead. His song ‘Sigurado’ hit the Top Viral PH charts and stayed there for four weeks, following its feature in the online series Your Home. There’s also ‘Cruel,’ whose music video was released a few months ago and has racked up more than 70,000 views on YouTube and more than 240,000 streams on Spotify.
Zack’s biggest single to date, the first one under Island Records Philippines, is the sultry ‘Nangangamba,’ whose play count on Spotify clocks in at over a million streams.
And Zack shows no signs of slowing down, as evidenced by his latest single ‘Iyong Iyo.’ Written by Tiny Corpuz and performed by Zack Tabudlo, ‘Iyong Iyo’ sees Zack putting it all on the line and giving everything—literal possession. “Kahit pa ba sa kabilang buhay, ‘di maglalaho,” he croons in the glimmering chorus, showcasing his lyrical penchant for themes like romance and longing. Gentle harmonies and mellow instrumentation make you feel like you’re floating, and allow Zack to flex the upper register of his vocal range, his high notes triumphant and sincere.
“I was really in touch with making the album art of the song as well, having a Halloween-like ghost costume in it which shows a person under a white cloth with holes in it, but has this heart glowing from his chest,” says Zack. “He wants to be like the ghost to really feel the same connection, with his heart glowing, symbolizing how much love he feels for the ghost.”
According to Zack, the song was inspired by the original Thai song for the “Let’s Fight Ghost” series, which is set to air on March 2021. The acclaimed singer-songwriter and producer shares, “I wanted to take it to a different world with different styles and vibe compared to the original. It has a very slow blues-pop feel to it production wise. I wanted to go for something mellow having the foundation from the original one but has a “slow dance” feel to it instead of going full ballad.”
Ben&Ben surprise listeners with Valentine’s-themed track “Inevitable”
Filipino folk-pop outfit Ben&Ben have officially dropped a soaring new single called “Inevitable” this Valentine’s Day via Sony Music.
Inspired by recent events surrounding the band’s lives, their latest song encourages listeners and music fans to live in the moment freely and truthfully without the need to succumb to expectations.
Ushering into a reinvigorating sense of calm, the empowering track ascends to a place where love can be inevitably beautiful even in its simple, unassuming terms. It was written by Paolo Benjamin (lead vocals and acoustic guitars) during a random afternoon run by the beach near the place where Ben&Ben live—coming into fruition after a solitary moment spent with nature and the spiritual force above him. Paolo reflects, “Inevitable is a song that tries to describe the nature of fate, and how all our actions somehow lead us to some better place that is destined for us. It’s also a song about being real with someone, and that no matter how scary that may seem at times, there is freedom in bearing your truest nature with someone dear to you, even if that someone is yourself.”
Production-wise, Ben&Ben retain the sonic hallmarks of their prior releases, while employing ultimately rewarding experiments in texture and tone. Its ‘world music-meets-acid jazz’ sound displays the band’s newfound musical direction, melding sporadic bursts of colors with their otherworldly approach. Thanks to the song’s eclectic blend of sitar-sounding riffs, propellent rhythms, jazzy chords, and ethereal arrangements, the nine-piece band ventures beyond the confines of their radio-ready sound without alienating the distinct pop sensibilities that made their songs a streaming and crossover hit in the Philippines, and elsewhere in Asia.
“The songwriting in itself presents a concept of the state that is both a surreal mystery and a peaceful certainty, so we wanted to create an aural representation of what these lyrics felt like,” Miguel Benjamin (lead vocals and acoustic guitars) reveals in a statement. “Our process started with a mix of acoustic guitars, which I tweaked with sitar effects as the main intro riff; kind of like a representation of the two contrasting feelings working together. We then built everything around this contrasting union with Jam’s drums and Agnes’ bass carrying the steady base of the song, and then Pat’s piano, Poch’s electric guitar and pads, Keifer’s violin, Andrew and Toni’s percussions; Andrew, Miguel, Poch, and Toni’s backing vocals, and some ambient sounds.”
Unlike their usual process where the members of the band jam their song a few times before recording the material, “Inevitable” was born out of a shift in production perspective. “With this song however, we decided to record a demo individually then went to record our parts a few days after without knowing how the song would sound like in the end,” Poch Barretto (lead guitar, backing vocals) said. “During the time we were creating the song, one of our bandmates, Toni, was also recovering from a major surgery and had to record her parts from home. Thankfully she was able to send her parts on time with the help of our producer.”
Despite the several challenges during its recording phase, “Inevitable” ended up reaping significant attention before its actual release. The song eventually made it as the official theme of Smart Communications’ newest commercial ad featuring Hyun Bin and Son Ye Jin—stars of the highly acclaimed and popular Korean drama, Crash Landing on You. Patricia Lasaten shares, “Many of us are mega fans of the CLOY couple, so this is definitely a dream collaboration with Smart. We can’t help but be kilig and at the same time wish that our co-fans who would hear the song would also connect it with the evolving story of Hyun Bin and Son Ye Jin. It’s also our gift to the fans, and to the couple as well. We’d like to thank Smart for this amazing opportunity.”
Jellybeans in the City 