September 2021 – Page 2 – Jellybeans in the City

CITEM kicks off first digital food expo

A year before the pandemic hit in 2019, the Philippine agri-food sector turned in a strong showing, accounting for an estimated P6.1T to the country’s gross domestic product (GDP). The same year also saw the sector employ 42.7% of the national workforce.

In the new normal that changed our lives and livelihoods forever, The Center for International Trade Expositions and Missions (CITEM) tries to recapture the same momentum for one of our country’s most lucrative export sectors.

This is made possible through the first-ever digital iteration of its banner sourcing event for Philippine food, the IFEX Digital Expo 2021, from September 23-25.

“One of the many things that the pandemic brought forth is the need to connect—now more than ever. COVID changed the way we at CITEM worked, especially with heightened activity online. With borderless communication at our disposal, we present through this expo how we can conduct the business of food in the new normal,” CITEM Executive Director Pauline Suaco-Juan shares.

Leveraging its access to advanced digital tools, CITEM stages the IFEX Digital Expo 2021 to provide an avenue for Philippine food brands and businesses to showcase homegrown food products and ingredients to a wider audience.

Themed “Salu-salo,” IFEX Digital Expo brings together business owners, restaurateurs, hoteliers, farmers, food manufacturers and distributors, retailers, culinary professionals and foodies. The event serves as a medium for strengthening the food community through storytelling, knowledge sharing, and creating dialogue. This year’s show features over 200 exhibitors from all over the country. There are also invited industry experts from global organizations and local government agencies who will share their knowledge and insights on trends, opportunities, and techniques related to food. Networking and business-to-business matching sessions will also be part of the online event’s features.

A Three-Day Digital Celebration of Philippine Food

One of the highlights of the IFEX Digital Expo is the launch of two online platforms foodphilippines.com and www.ifexconnect.com, developed by CITEM. FOODPhilippines.com will be the website of the banner brand for all of CITEM’s events and initiatives for the Philippine food sector. Meanwhile, IFEXConnect.com will serve as the agency’s new promotion and lead generation platform for the country’s food export industry.

Expo delegates can look forward to a wide array of Philippine food product categories, including fine food and specialties, biscuits and confectionery, organic and natural food items and ingredients, and snacks and crispy savory food products.

In addition to the informative discussions, the expo is set to excite the palate through happy hour sessions such as coffee brewing. Take in the rich aromas and flavors of Philippine coffee on Day 1. Savor mouthwatering dishes as Chef Angelo Guison explores the flavorful gifts of coconut, from tree to plate, in Coco Pop on Day 2. Distinguish craft from draft with the Craft Beer Association of the Philippines and Philippine craft kings beer connoisseur Jazel Paraiso, as you sample a beer set and learn about beer-food pairing on Day 3.

Source From a Wide Array of Products at the Expo Section

The IFEX Digital Expo 2021 brings you an all-new digital sourcing experience through its Expo section on Hopin. Browse through a catalog of flavors harnessed from the Philippines’ distinct terroir and by Philippine food companies from all over the archipelago. In the three-day expo, you can also initiate business with food brands, export enablers, and business support organizations.

The IFEX Digital Expo 2021 is organized with the help of RAPID Growth, Department of Science and Technology (DOST), Export Marketing Bureau-Halal (EMB-Halal), Philippine Coconut Authority, and DTI Regional Offices.

To join IFEX Digital Expo, register for free at https://bit.ly/IFEXDigitalExpo.

The rest of the three-day expo are as follows:

About CITEM

The Center for International Trade Expositions and Missions (CITEM) is the Department of Trade and Industry’s (DTI) export promotions arm committed to nurturing the global competitiveness of Philippine micro, small, and medium scale enterprises (MSMEs), exporters, designers, and manufacturers. The agency aspires toward the highest standards of creativity and innovation, and spanning industries including home, fashion, lifestyle, and food sectors.

About FOODPhilippines.com

FOODPhilippines.com is an interactive community platform with stories celebrating and promoting Philippine food. The platform is replete with narratives on food heritage, culinary personalities, and well-loved recipes as well as innovative takes on Pinoy food.

www.foodphilippines.com

About IFEXConnect.com

IFEXConnect.com is a promotions and lead generation platform with business functionalities catered toward the needs of food exhibitors and buyers alike.The business-intensive portal is envisioned to be a sourcing platform that features digital storefronts of Philippine food exporters. Ready to serve the global market, IFEXConnect also has a business-matching facility to ensure access to and discoverability of well-loved Pinoy food products.

www.ifexconnect.com

About IFEX Digital Expo

CITEM organized the International Food Exhibition (IFEX) Philippines, a homegrown platform for the country’s food sector and the country’s biggest and most respected business-to-business (B2B) event for Asian food and ingredients. The export promotions agency is also in the thick of preparations for the digital iteration of IFEX Philippines, the IFEX Digital Expo. From expos, workshops, business-matching, and networking sessions, the IFEX Digital Expo will have food-intensive activities suited to the taste of anyone who’s in the business and culture of food.

https://bit.ly/IFEXDigitalExpo

Details and images provided by CITEM in a recent press release.

Yaki Yaki now in my neighborhood!

What’s your newly discovered snacking fave?

Mine is takoyaki, those chopped octopus-filled balls made from batter cooked in a special molded pan, then drenched with takoyaki sauce and Japanese mayo before topping with bonito flakes.

First introduced in Osaka, Japan by street vendor Tomekichi Endo in the 1930s, the takoyaki (from “tako” or octopus, and “yaki” or grilled) has reached well beyond its origins, even reaching our shores where it is sold in establishments ranging from specialty restaurants to food stalls.

While I’ve been encountering takoyaki for decades now, I’ve only recently learned to appreciate it: the chewy balls given texture by the bits of octopus, the mixture of flavors from the sauces and the umami from the bonito flakes.

When I sometimes get tired of the usual contents of my pantry, I now experience a hankering for these tasty snackable balls.

And lucky me, a takoyaki joint just opened right in my neighborhood!

Despite being a business born from the pandemic, Yaki Yaki (from YAKIsoba and TakoYAKI) has grown and is now open to franchisees to bring its delicious Japanese streetfood treats to more communities.

Its newest store opened just a stone’s throw away from my home.

Its menu, of course, includes takoyaki in wondrous variety.

As can be gleaned from its name, Yaki Yaki also offers yakisoba, a dish made of noodles stir-fried with meat and vegetables in a sweetish sauce, which can be enjoyed on its own or partnered with the store’s signature takoyaki in one delicious serving.

Aside from its filling takoyaki and yakisoba combinations, Yaki Yaki also serves handcrafted milk beverages.

These snack and beverage offerings are not only tasty and filling, they’re quite affordable too!

It sure looks like I have a new go-to snacking destination that’s right in my neighborhood! And if I’m in no mood to venture out of my home, I can always order through FoodPanda, yey!

Live nearby? Do check it out!

Yaki Yaki is located at Unit 2, Landex Apartment, 3rd Street corner Countryside Avenue, Countryside Village, Bgy. Sta. Lucia, Pasig City, open from 11am to 8pm.

Interested in this business? Call +63 998 2431707 to inquire about becoming a franchisee.

Lola Remedios Food Supplement helps you chase the malaise away

With all the erratic changes in from hot and humid to chilly and wet weather lately, it would hardly be surprising that we get beset by that feeling of heaviness and malaise, or what we sometimes call “feeling under the weather.”

I have noted some days when I feel like I’m close to getting sick and I can’t drag myself out of bed.

However, we normally don’t have the luxury to wallow in this uncomfortable feeling, especially with our many roles and responsibilities.

Our lolas called this feeling “lamig sa katawan” and even treated us to to a rejuvenating rest in our warm beds as well other comforting home remedies to make us feel that “ginhawa ng pakiramdam.”

Fortunately, we can still get comforted by our lola’s loving care with Lola Remedios Food Supplement Syrup.

Authentic Lola Remedios (Food Supplement Syrup – for Soothing relief of “Lamig”) Ready to Drink 15ml x 1 sachet. Available at Lazada.

Buy it

Inspired by our lola’s traditional home remedies, Lola Remedios is made of all-natural ingredients imbued with qualities that give comfort and relief when we are ailing:

Ginger. Treats muscular aches and pains, as well as sore throat and cramps. It also helps to ease various stomach ailments.
Honey. Used as a treatment for cough and cold symptoms, as well as helps in countering sleep difficulty caused by upper respiratory tract infection. It also increases immunity and has anti-microbial and antioxidant effects.
Mint. Contains menthol which has a cooling effect that relieves sore throat, nasal congestion and muscle pains. It may also be prescribed for nausea, diarrhea, indigestion, headache and cold.
Clove. Contains essential oil and eugenol that has antimicrobial, antioxidant, antifungal, antiviral, anti-inflammatory and anesthetic properties.
Fennel. Provides relief for stomach discomforts due to gas and indigestion.

Lola Remedios is also conveniently packaged in ready-to-drink in 15ml sachets. To get soothing relief for Lola Remedios, just shake the sachet, tear off a corner and sip straight from the sachet.

Personally, I prefer to mix it to warm water for a soothing hot drink while relaxing.

So if you ever feel like you’re under the weather, know that #LolaCares and Lola Remedios can make you feel better in no time!

Check out my picks for self-care essentials at Lazada.

Click Here

Authentic Pad Thai from The Pad by Samyan, now available for delivery

Given how deeply ingrained Pad Thai is to Thai cuisine, you would think that it dates back centuries.

On the contrary, this stir-fried noodle dish was introduced quite recently. Aa the story goes, during World War II, Thailand experienced a rice shortage due to the war and floods. To reduce rice consumption in the country, the Thai government encouraged the consumption of noodles instead. It didn’t take long before the Pad Thai came into being and went on to become Thailand’s national dish.

The good news for adventurous foodies in the metro is that this exotic dish is quite readily available, thanks to The Pad by Samyan.

The online offshoot of restaurant Samyan Thai Street Food, The Pad is helmed by Michelin Star Chef Thitid “Ton” Tassanakajohn, who cooks up different versions of Pad Thai for Thai food fans.

The Pad Thai Pu, also known as Crab Pad Thai, for instance, is a delectable mixture of flavors and textures: slippery noodles, sweet-savory sauce, the crunch from the sprinkling of peanuts, the tang from a slice of lime, some heat from the red pepper powder, and of course, the sweet-briny taste of the fried soft shell crab and tender lump crab.

It is a filling dish, not just for the tummy, but also for the taste buds.

Pad Thai lovers can enjoy a set meal consisting of this dish plus a 300ml bottle of The Grid’s Thai Iced Tea for just Php600.

Other Pad Thai variants available at The Pad by Samyan include Pad Thai Gung (Shrimp Pad Thai), Pad Thai Gai (Chicken Pad Thai), Pad Thai Moo (Pork Pad Thai) and Pad Thai Talay (Seafood Pad Thai).

Clearly, there’s more than enough at The Pad by Samyan to sate your Pad Thai cravings.

So check out the Pad Thai possibilities offered by The Pad by Samyan. Drop by its stalls in The Grid Food Market in The Powerplant Mall or at the Poison Karrivin Plaza along Chino Roces Avenue in Makati.

To order for pickup or delivery, visit its PickUp.ph store.

Disclosure: Product sample was provided to facilitate this feature.

Spiked cold brew coffee from Kohi

Want a drink that can wake up your senses but is still good for chillin’?

Then grab a flask (or more!) of the Kohi Spiked Collection!

These adventuresome coffee creations are all cold-brewed: instead of using hot water to bring out the flavor and caffeine from the coffee beans, they are instead steeped in cold water for long periods (from 12 to 24 hours), relying on time to gently draw out the coffee qualities we so love. This process results into a coffee concentrate that can be mixed with cold water and other ingredients to come up with great-tasting coffee drinks for us to enjoy.

Cold-brewed coffee also has several advantages over its hot-brewed cousin:

It is less acidic so it less likely to cause heartburn or plague those suffering from acid reflux.
It can also be served hot simply by adding hot water.

It is sweeter and smoother, with less bitterness that we associate with brewed coffee so less cream or sugar is needed to make the perfect cup.

Kohi takes coffee for an exciting spin by adding some alcohol to its signature cold brew to craft the inventive drinks that make up the Kohi Spiked Collection.

They come in cute and handy 260ml hip flasks, a throwback to the times when we had to sneak our liquor in to where we’re going. (Hopefully, we won’t need to do that anymore, hehehe!)

These include:

Spiked Kohi (Php179). Kohi’s signature premium cold brew with a bit of coffee liqueur. It has a rich coffee flavor with some sweet notes. Shake well and serve with ice.

White Russian (Php209). Kohi’s signature premium cold brew combined with milk with a bit of vodka mixed in. It has milky taste and creamy mouthfeel that should appeal to latte lovers. Shake well and serve with ice.

Dizzy Kohi (Php189). A fizzy drink made with Kohi’s signature cold brew, coffee liqueur and soda. It has a more astringent and fruity taste that goes well with the fizz. Do not shake.

So want to have your coffee and chill with it too? Order your choice from the Kohi Spiked Collection, available every Friday and Saturday from 5pm to 8pm, and enjoy that lovely buzz along with your caffeine fix.

Orders may be coursed via Facebook or Instagram.

Disclosure: Product samples were provided to facilitate this feature article.

Secrets to making the perfect steak dinner from Saab Magalona-Bacarro and La Germania

There’s nothing like enjoying a delicious steak dinner to mark special occasions. While it may not be advisable to dine out and have this juicy classic in your favorite restaurant just yet, the good news is that you can cook this dish right in the comfort and safety of your home!

Actress and musician Saab Magalona-Bacarro, alongside her husband, businessman and Cheats frontman Jim Bacarro, make it a point to still hold romantic date nights with some good ol’ steak and mashed potatoes. “We enjoy preparing steak and potatoes because it’s delicious, hearty, and fancier than our usual meals, but also really easy to prepare,” Saab shared. Aside from having steak on date nights, they even repurpose them into steak fried rice for their kids.

In the first episode of La Germania’s recent Masterclass Series, the famous couple shared their secrets to making this dish at home. While you can watch the full episode on La Germania’s Facebook page to see how they prepare this classic dish, here’s the recipe you can try at home:

Ingredients:

Steak
● 500g rib eye steak
● Salt
● Pepper
● Butter
● Garlic
● Thyme

Mashed Potatoes
● Potatoes (5 large potatoes)
● 250ml Cream
● Beef cube
● Butter
● Parmesan Cheese
● Parsley
● Olive oil
● Stevia
● Cayenne pepper
● Paprika

Procedure:

Make sure your steak is at room temperature for at least 10 minutes.
Season the tray or cutting board first. 30% of the seasoning disappears when you cook beef, so make sure you season liberally. Then, rub both sides of the beef on the tray.
Season the beef again until it looks encrusted in seasoning.
Put the stove at a low temperature before putting the meat. The meat must be cooked in piping hot heat, so you have to be ready.
Meanwhile, you cut the potatoes, and boil them for about 12 minutes. Use a fork to check how soft the potatoes are. Then, you mash the potatoes.
Deglaze the pan with some red wine if you want some sauce alongside your steak.
Put butter gradually on your potatoes. Taste test the potatoes so you can gauge how much seasoning you need to after.
Once you season the potatoes to your preference, you can add some garlic.
Fry some garlic with half a tablespoon of olive oil on low heat. Then add the cream, beef cube, and herbs of your choice.
Put the sauce on the potatoes using a strainer. Add the garlic chunks if you would like. Then, put it back on the stove. Mix it around, and taste test if it’s seasoned according to your liking.
If you like your steak medium, you should cook your steak for 4 minutes on each side. Leave it to cool down for about ten minutes, and enjoy immediately.

For Saab and Jim, it’s not just about the way you cook your steak and potatoes. The secret is to use the best ingredients and invest in good quality kitchen equipment like La Germania. “With our La Germania stove, we can speed up the process of cooking our favorite dishes because it has multiple burners. It’s easy to control, and child-friendly too since it’s an induction stove,” Saab mused. “If you’re raising a small family like us, having a reliable kitchen partner like La Germania makes everything easier to manage. From everyday dishes to more elaborate recipes, we can have fun and experiment in the kitchen.”

Built according to the highest European standards in terms of construction and design, La Germania appliances allow you to prepare restaurant-worthy dishes in an efficient and easy way. With guaranteed durability and superior quality, they’re a good investment for you to channel your inner chef, and unleash your kitchen genius.

La Germania Steak Dinner — Saab and Jim Bacarro preparing their steak dinner.

Check out my La Germania Wish List on Lazada!

La Germania products are available online through La Germania’s official e-commerce website http://www.lagermaniaph.com and e-commerce platforms on Shopee and Lazada. For more information on La Germania and its products, you may follow the official Facebook and Instagram accounts of the trusted kitchen and appliance brand.

ABOUT LA GERMANIA
Italian-heritage brand La Germania has been the preferred kitchen companion of Filipino homemakers for 53 years and counting. Its wide array of ovens, cooktops, and stoves is made of high-grade materials and designed to stand the test of time and extensive use. La Germania’s current line of products continues to serve the cooking needs and lifestyle of this generation and the next. To know more about La Germania and its products, visit http://www.lagermaniaph.com. The trusted kitchen partner of Filipinos also has its official stores on Shopee and Lazada.

Recipe and details provided in a recent press release.

Garden Dining while at home

With this seemingly endless loop of heightened and then loosened quarantine restrictions, many among the restaurant and hospitality have had to rethink the way they do business.

One of these is Manila Ocean Park’s White Moon Bar.

In operations for the past ten years, White Moon Bar has provided its clientele with an outstanding menu of gourmet dishes and spirits to be enjoyed while watching the Manila Bay sunset or under the starlit night sky.

In May of this year, it pivoted its operations to cater to patrons who have been looking forward to dining out since the quarantines started by opening its outdoor restaurant, Garden Dining. It took advantage of Manila Ocean Park’s sprawling grounds where diners can enjoy the delicious creations of Chef Ranuka Hettiarachchi in comfort while observing safety and physical distancing protocols.

Once again, Garden Dining by White Moon Bar has adapted to the current re-tightening of quarantine restrictions in the metro by offering a diverse menu of delicious and nourishing, yet very affordable, dishes curated by its renowned chef and making these available online. These delectable dishes are available for delivery, pickup and takeout so that diners may enjoy them in the safety and comfort of their own home.

With this, Garden Dining by White Moon Bar has expanded its market to include not just diners who miss going to restaurants, but also busy working professionals and families with little time to cook.

These include tasty and comforting dishes such as:

Bulalo Steak (Php450). Batangas beef shank braised in roasted garlic sauce along with sweet corn, Baguio beans, cabbage and pechay, served with Java Rice.

Spicy Korean-Style Pork Belly (Php290). Tender slices of pork belly glazed with a spicy Korean chili sauce served with fried potato wedges, mixed salad and spicy mayo dip.

Chicken Inasal (Php220). Chicken thigh fillet marinated in lemongrass then grilled and served with fried potato wedges, mixed salad and toyo calamansi dip.

Hot & Spicy Chicken Wings (Php200). Crispy and deep-fried chicken wings glazed in sriracha and chili oil and served with pechay and Java Rice.

Kimchi Fried Rice (Php230). Kimchi and steamed rice stir-fried in a wok along with sliced pork, spring onions, fried egg, toasted sesame and fried seaweed.

Leche Flan (Php180). The Pinoy version of the classic baked egg custard with caramel.

If the thought of these dishes are making your mouth water, you might want to order a Mukbang Set that includes all of these at only Php1,099!

Check out more Mukbang sets and ala carte dishes that you can savor at home with your family!

Garden Dining by White Moon Bar is open daily from 11am to 9pm. You may course your orders online or call +63 917 8753292 for delivery in areas within Manila and Pasay with payments via credit card accepted. Orders may also be coursed through the Manila Ocean Park takeout counter, with payments via cash and credit card accepted.

Disclosure: Food samples were provided to facilitate the dining experience for this feature article.

What you need to know about TB (Tuberculosis) in the Philippines

It is important to know the different types of TB prevalent today, early symptoms and their effects, and how to properly treat it.

As we continue the fight against COVID-19, one of the biggest killers in the country remains overlooked — Tuberculosis (TB). According to the World Health Organization (WHO), the Philippines has the highest incidence rate of active TB among all Asian countries.

Today, many TB-affected individuals in the country dismiss getting checked due to the fear of contracting COVID-19, lack of education towards treatment, and many Filipinos perceiving it as a low-risk disease. To better understand the current state of TB in the Philippines, it is important to know the different types of TB prevalent today, early symptoms and their effects, and how to properly treat it.

Early symptoms of TB and causes

TB is an airborne disease, and is not transmissible when sharing utensils with a person with TB. It is caused by a bacteria called Mycobacterium tuberculosis, which affects the lungs and spreads through the air when a TB-infected individual coughs, sneezes, or spits. It generally affects all age groups, especially children and adults with underlying conditions such as HIV, malnutrition, or diabetes. Adults who smoke tobacco also have a higher risk of contracting the disease.

Common symptoms include chronic coughing that lasts more than two weeks, weight loss, fever, and night sweats. If you ever experience these symptoms, it is best to visit the nearest health center or TB clinic right away to get checked up. If you are unsure of their location, you can use the online self-assessment tool — https://assessment.tbfree.ph/ — to find the nearest health center or TB clinic in your area.

The different types of Tuberculosis

TB can be classified into two types of infections, active TB and latent TB. In the case of active TB, the individual who is carrying the organism has active symptoms and can transmit the infection to other people. On the other hand, those who have latent TB do not exhibit any of the symptoms since their immunity is able to fight off the infection. However, at some point in their life, the bacteria can reactivate and become an active TB case.

TB can directly affect different parts of your body. For instance, the most common form of TB is Pulmonary Tuberculosis (PTB) which primarily affects a patient’s lungs. Another is Extra Pulmonary Tuberculosis (EPTB), a form of TB that affects other parts of your organs and body including lymphatic, pleural, and bone or joint disease which are the most common, while pericardial, meningeal and disseminated (miliary) forms are more likely to result in a fatal outcome.

In some other cases, the TB bacteria can also be resistant to the drugs used to treat TB which classifies as Drug-resistant TB (DRTB). Though, if a person is classified under Multidrug-resistant TB (MDR-TB), then the TB bacteria is resistant to at least isoniazid and rifampin, the two most potent TB drugs. Patients who fall under MDR-TB undergo a different type of treatment. Drug susceptible TB (DSTB) is the exact opposite. A person who is infected with TB bacteria that are fully susceptible, TB drugs will be effective as long as it is taken properly.

TB detection and treatment

Despite being infectious and potentially fatal, TB can be cured with proper treatment and early detection. The first thing people with presumptive TB need to do is schedule a chest x-ray test. If it is detected as possible TB, ask your doctor for a TB sputum diagnostic test to confirm if it is really TB. It is best advised to take the sample in the morning right before eating. Patients must then gargle water and take their sputum samples outdoors or in an open and airy place away from other people. If results come back positive, the patient must return to their doctor to begin treatment.

TB medicine is free at the nearest health center or TB clinic in your area. However, Anti-TB medicine is not like other antibiotics that are only taken for a week or two since it must be taken for at least six (6) months. Patients who are undergoing treatment may also experience mild headaches as one of the side effects but there may also be other causes. If you experience this, it is best to return to your doctor immediately for a consultation. Additionally, the National TB Control Program (NTP) does not recommend vitamins or any supplements, but it is not prohibited. Remember, it’s even more important to finish treatment to be #TBFree.

Do your part for a #TBFreePH

Despite the ongoing pandemic, the Department of Health (DOH) is gathering more government support through the amendment of the National TB Law to increase funding and efforts for the National TB Control Program in 2022. In line with these initiatives, mobile chest x-ray vans that can provide TB detection results as fast as ten minutes will begin city-wide sweeps. With this, TB detection processing will be made quicker and should help solve mobility restrictions posed by the pandemic. TB is curable and can be attained if every individual does their part to support, educate, and encourage fellow Filipinos to to complete their TB treatment and take anti-TB drugs regularly, so they can end the spread of the disease and live a healthier TB-free life. For more information about TB, visit www.tbfree.ph or check out the #TBFreePH Facebook page.

About #TBFreePH

The Department of Health (DOH) has declared TB a priority, in its hope to make the Philippines TB-free by 2035. Their strategy towards a #TBFREEPH revolves around varying global views, encouraging unity among all potential allies. This diversity of ideas is a main pathway in implementing the government mandate Kalusugan Pangkalahatan (KP). The big tent communication approach they are implementing makes the process of information gathering inclusive and relevant for everyone involved.

The DOH Disease Prevention and Control Bureau (DPCB) and Health Promotion Bureau (HPB) worked with the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), World Health Organization (WHO) and various other development partners in designing this strategy through a series of consultation workshops and meetings.

GrabPay brings the most sulit deals this 9.9 sale

Get discounts of up to 20% OFF or even 9X more GrabRewards points when you use GrabPay!

The much-awaited BER months have finally dawned upon us, and you know what that means – it’s the start of the holiday season! To kickstart the excitement and get everyone in on the holiday mood and festivities, GrabPay, the most rewarding e-wallet in the Philippines, is givingyou the chance to check out your favorite items with the most sulit deals this coming 9.9 sale!

Want to know about what GrabPay has in store for everyone from September 9 to 11? Whether you’re on the lookout for new makeup products, wanting to upgrade your skincare routine, or even starting to get into gaming, here are some of the deals you need to watch out for to get the most out of your 9.9 shopping spree!

Start filling your carts as GrabPay brings you the most sulit deals from your favorite online stores! Make sure that your GrabPay Card is activated and get up to 20% off on your Lazada purchases and even P200 cashback when you check-out from Shopee this 9.9 sale!

Fashion hunters in for a sulit treat as Zalora and Shein shoppers have a sure chance of scoring massive discounts as big as P2300 OFF on their shopping sprees this weekend!

Beauty and skincare enthusiast? Don’t fret, you are also in for the same rewarding treats! Check out with GrabPay as you shop for the most raved-about skincare and make-up products from BeautyMNL, Watsons, and ShopSM and get up to P200 cashback – you can even earn up to 9x GrabReward points to get the most rewarding bang for your buck from your shopping experience!

Gamers out there won’t have to miss out on the fun this 9.9, either. Snag your much-needed upgrades by using GrabPay to get Razer Gold credits and enjoy cashbacks and GrabReward points – which, in turn, you can use to purchase even more credits just by redeeming your points on the Grab app!

If you’re still deciding whether or not to jump in on the 9.9 excitement, this is your sign to start adding to cart now and get to enjoy the most rewarding and sulit shopping experience yet all brought to you by GrabPay! For more information on GrabPay, click here.
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Virtual resto-hopping at GrabKitchen in Pasig

Do you sometimes miss those times when you can just hang out at a mall and go restaurant-hopping?

Being able to try various cuisines is heaven for a foodie like me.

However, with lockdowns and restrictions brought about by the pandemic, restaurant hopping is nigh impossible.

Even if you try to order food from different establishments for delivery, the delivery fees would also multiply.

Unless, of course, you get your food orders from GrabKitchen.

GrabKitchens are designed to greatly expand the food choices available in a particular locale by serving a varied curation of food selections from restaurants with no physical presence in the area all served from one central kitchen. It also offers customers the ability to mix-and-match – ordering from different restaurants hosted by the GrabKitchen for a single checkout and delivery fee.

That’s a load of convenience and savings, right?

GrabKitchens have already set up branches in Glorietta, Malate and Paranaque, and now, finally, right in my neck of the woods: Pasig City!

Through this GrabKitchen, I was able to able to treat the fam to a wide array of dishes and cuisines from different restaurants for our weekend lunch. These include:

Dimsum and noodles from King Chef such as Hakaw (Php190/4pcs), Pork & Shrimp Siomai (Php130/4pcs) and Beef Brisket Noodles (Php280).

Korean-style boneless fried chicken from 24 Chicken such as a Half Half order of Original and Yangnyeon (Php545/7pcs each) and a Half order of Snow Cheese (Php299).

Solo (100ml) cups of artisanal ice cream from Merry Moo such as Honey Comb (Php135), Milo (Php135) and Strawberry Shortcake (Php135).

Refreshing drinks from CoCo Fresh Tea & Juice such as CoCo Milk Tea (Php85/regular), Pearl Milk Tea (Php90/regular), Strawberry Au Lait (Php150/regular with pudding) and Chocolate with Pudding & Pearl (Php100/regular).

Thanks to GrabKitchen, the fam and I had a virtual resto-hopping experience right at home!

But that’s not all!

A few months ago, driven by our K-drama triggered cravings, we also ordered our Korean meal from Happilee Korean Kitchen which included Pork Mandu (Php99/4pcs), Mini Kimbap (Php150/5pcs), Kimchi (Php30) and Soy Glazed Chicken Tray (Php600/10pcs).

Other restaurants hosted by GrabKitchen Pasig include Omakase, Conti’s, Las Titas MNL and Merienda by Pan de Manila.

With the mix-and-matching options available, ordering from GrabKitchen Pasig is well-suited for families whose members have varied food preferences.

So, fellow Pasiguenos, when you feel like having some variety in your meals or want to explore new food options, download the Grab app and order from GrabKitchen Pasig!

GrabKitchen Pasig is located at 172 C. Raymundo Avenue, Maybunga, Pasig City, open daily for delivery orders from 9am to 10pm.

Disclosure: A gift voucher was provided to facilitate the order experience.