Four new trailers from upcoming series – House Of The Dragon, And Just Like That…, Peacemaker and Succession Season 3, were released by HBO today. All these series will be available exclusively on HBO GO when they premiere.
House Of The Dragon
Based on George R.R. Martin’s “Fire & Blood,” the series, which is set 200 years before the events of “Game of Thrones,” tells the story of House Targaryen. The teaser featured the first official footage from the highly anticipated series, which contained several previously announced cast members in addition to the following newly revealed cast:
Wil Johnson as Ser Vaemond Velaryon – Younger brother to Coryls Velaryon and commander in the Velaryon navy
John Macmillan as Ser Laenor Velaryon – Son of Corlys Velaryon and Rhaenys Targaryen
Savannah Steyn as Lady Laena Velayron – Daughter of Corlys Velaryon and Rhaenys Targaryen.
Theo Nate as Ser Laenor Velaryon – Son of Corlys Velaryon and Rhaenys Targaryen
Catch up on all eight seasons of Game Of Thrones and watch the behind the scenes documentary Game Of Thrones: The Last Watch which chronicles the series on HBO GO before House Of The Dragon premieres.
And Just Like That…
Premiering this December on HBO GO, And Just Like That…, the new chapter of the groundbreaking HBO series “Sex and the City” from executive producer Michael Patrick King, follows “Carrie” (Sarah Jessica Parker), “Miranda” (Cynthia Nixon) and “Charlotte” (Kristin Davis) as they navigate the journey from the complicated reality of life and friendship in their 30s to the even more complicated reality of life and friendship in their 50s. The series is currently filming in New York and includes previously announced cast members Sara Ramírez, Sarita Choudhury, Nicole Ari Parker, Karen Pittman, Chris Noth, Mario Cantone, David Eigenberg, Willie Garson, and Evan Handler. Binge watch the entire six seasons of Sex And The City series as well as Sex And The City: The Movie on HBO GObefore And Just Like That… premieres.
Peacemaker
Peacemaker will explore the origins of the character that John Cena first portrayed in James Gunn’s 2021 film, The Suicide Squad – a compellingly vainglorious man who believes in peace at any cost, no matter how many people he has to kill to get it. Watch John Cena as Peacemaker in The Suicide Squad on HBO GO.
Succession Season 3
The Emmy® award-wining HBO about wealth, power and family in the ruthless world of the uber-rich returns for a third season same time as the U.S on Monday, October 18 at 9am exclusively on HBO GO and HBO, with a same day encore at 10pm on HBO. New episodes will premiere every Monday at the same time. Stream or download the first two seasons on HBO GO.
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
UNICEF Philippines partners with RUNRIO Events to bring Filipinos together for a virtual move-a-thon for a cause: “Heroes for Children.”
Amidst a raging pandemic, many Filipinos feel trapped and anxious. This is especially true for children who, because of the nationwide lockdowns, face even greater difficulties in continuing their education and declining access to life-saving immunization and proper health and nutrition services.
Hope is needed now more than ever—and it begins with people who are willing to get up and move to make a difference in this year’s Heroes for Children campaign.
Delivering hope starts with one step
First launched in 2015 by UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador Anne Curtis, “Heroes for Children” is a fundraising initiative that supports and gives hope to vulnerable Filipino children.
This beloved fundraiser returns this year as a virtual move-a-thon where anyone can bike, run, walk, dance, or exercise at their own pace—and help children in need get a better chance at life.
Everyone is invited to be a hero
“Heroes for Children” is open to all individuals, friends, families, PWDs, and even fur babies here and abroad. It’s a chance for everyone of every fitness level to practice self-care and do good for Filipino children—in the safety of their own homes and communities.
Participants can choose a category and activity, and complete their distance goals within the whole duration of the virtual move-a-thon from October 1 to 31, 2021.
Hope comes in many forms, be part of UNICEF’s 75th anniversary
This year, UNICEF is commemorating its 75th anniversary by inviting everyone to help build a better world for children.
The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the many issues facing children today that put their rights at risk. This crisis is a pivotal moment to not only respond to most crucial needs of children now, but also to continue building a better world for them.
When you sign up and move through “Heroes for Children,” you contribute to improve vulnerable children’s access to quality education, routine immunization, and health and nutrition services. Every step you make in the virtual move-a-thon is a step towards making this better world a reality for every child.
The Basket of Hope and Heroes for Children virtual move-a-thon are among the many initiatives and projects that enable individuals to help and join UNICEF in its mission to protect children’s rights and ensure a better future for them. With your participation and support, we can make it possible for every child to grow up in a world where they can enjoy all of their rights.
About UNICEF
UNICEF works in some of the world’s toughest places, to reach the world’s most disadvantaged children. To save their lives. To defend their rights. To help them fulfil their potential.
Across 190 countries and territories, we work for every child, everywhere, every day, to build a better world for everyone.
For more information about UNICEF and its work for children visit www.unicef.org
The quarantine has hampered our ability to go out for our sweet fix. Thanks to the internet, however, we can easily find dessert sellers, ready to supply us with goodies so we won’t have to leave home to sate our sweet cravings.
If you’ve been missing your favorite dessert stops during your life before the pandemic, it may be high time to get tapping on your phone and have your sweet cravings delivered to your doorstep.
Being a sweet tooth myself (and egged on by my equally sweet fanatic kids), I decided to give some of these sweets a try over the past few months. Others have been sent by friends and relatives to celebrate special occasions. Whatever the reason, being treated to new desserts is always a good idea.
Check out my picks and see if they can become your favorites too!
Triple Cheese Donuts from Lola Nena’s
The social media star for many months into the quarantine is Lola Nena’s Triple Cheese Donuts. It’s the offshoot of the old-fashioned donuts inspired by the sugary bicho-bicho but now overloaded with cheese.
These are best served when heated so that the cheese gets all melty and yummy!
Remember that sticky and milky-sweet candy we loved as kids? Well, the yema has long been turned into a cakes.
Check out Remilly’s Yema Cake single- serve creations the Yema Cake – vanilla chiffon cake covered with yema frosting topped with grated cheese – and Yema Caramel – vanilla chiffon cake covered with caramel frosting and topped with dark chocolate shavings.
Ensaymadas are another childhood favorite of mine. I prefer these pastries to be fluffy and topped with lots of sugar and cheese for that sweet-and-salty dynamic.
Bread for EveryJuan, however, ups the ante on my favorite kind of ensaymada with the addition of Ube and Caramel flavors.
Get a box of 5 mixed special ensaymadas for just Php250.
Biting into a cream puff is such a decadent experience: just imagine the flaky pastry studded with caramelized sugar gives in to a creamy custard filling, producing different textures and kinds of sweetness in your mouth.
Now, imagine discovering another dimension to this French-inspired dessert through the addition of flavors such as Chocolate, Ube, Cheesecake, Milo and Matcha, thanks to The Puff Dough.
Well, you won’t have to imagine for long if you order through TPD’s jot form, especially since you can get a box of twelve assorted cream puffs for just Php500.
Snickers Bomb from Pufft Doughnuts
Want your favorite chocolate bar in doughnut form?
Check out Pufft Doughnuts’ Snickers Bomb, a dessert inspired by the Snickers bar, from crunchy and chewy Snickers bits and peanut butter chips drizzled with caramel sauce on top to the rich and creamy peanut butter filling inside the soft and fluffy doughnut.
At Php140 per piece, it’s an explosive piece of pastry for any dessert lover.
For a showstopping finish to a meal, check out I Khan Bake’s Mango Torte.
From its crunchy and meringue base to its cream topping studded with mango balls, every piece is a masterpiece. It’s best to keep it refrigerated, though.
Signature Moist Chocolate from Amante’sDecadent Moist Cakes
The gold standard for any chocolate cake is the moistness (read: non-dryness) of its chocolate cake base. (Speaking as a home baker myself, it’s actually hard to achieve!)
That’s why it’s best to let the pros handle it, like Amante’s Decadent Moist Cakes. It’s Signature Moist Cake has that moist cake base, and a decadent chocolate frosting topped with chocolate chips. It is not too sweet, so you can savor more of its richchocolate goodness.
A nine-inch cake sells for Php570, while its tin-can version is available for Php520.
The sheer amount of time we’ve spent watching K-dramas have surely developed our craving for Korean flavors. Admittedly, the sight of our favorite idols feasting on Korean food got us craving for it too.
Korean cuisine is known for the layering of tastes and textures such that there’s an explosion of flavors in every mouthful.
One of K-cuisine’s hallmark dishes is kimchi. This traditional side dish is made with salted and fermented vegetables and flavored with a variety of seasonings and aromatics such as chili powder, spring onions, garlic and salted seafood, resulting in complex blend of sour, spicy and umami.
Kimchi is ever-present in Korean food culture that you would be hard-pressed to find a Korean meal without it.
Kimchi
That certainly held true for Koreans Steve Song and David Seo, two buddies living abroad who embraced local cuisines but found something missing in their foodie adventures. Deciding to add a taste of home to their meals, they developed a kimchi-style condiment that’s uniquely blended to complement and add that crave-worthy kimchi flavor to practically any dish.
They named their creation Bibimbud, the Original Kimchi Sauce.
Made by people who absolutely love kimchi, Bibimbud is packed full with the flavor and goodness of kimchi with no preservatives. The product underwent a natural fermentation process just like real kimchi which allows it to get better with age and keep for a longer period.
It also comes with the health benefits brought by real kimchi such as boosting and metabolism and improving blood circulation and gut health.
With these in mind, why not incorporate Bibimbud to any meal?
Check out this fusion of Korean and Japanese flavors in my version of Kimchi Spam Musubi, made possible by Bibimbud.
Spam Musubi is said to have originated in Hawaii during and post-World War II, when the Japanese-American locals incorporated the canned meat into their own cuisines.
The addition of Bibimbud to Spam Musubi gives a new dimension of flavor to this popular snack.
Ingredients:
3 cups steamed rice, kept warm
1 can Spam cut into eight slices
Teriyaki sauce made with 1 tbsp sugar dissolved in 2 tbsp light soy sauce
3 eggs, whisked until homogenous
2 tbsp rice vinegar
1 tbsp roasted sesame seeds
2 nori sheets, each sheet cut into 4 strips of equal width
2 tbsp Bibimbud, The Original Kimchi Sauce
Procedure:
Mix one tablespoon of the teriyaki sauce to the eggs.
Place a lightly oiled frying pan over medium to low heat. Add the eggs, cover and let cook for five minutes. When the top is set, slide the eggs onto a cutting board, the two sides into the middle making three layers then cut into eight strips of equal width.
Fry the Spam in a non-stick pan over high heat for five to seven minutes until crispy on both sides. When cooked, place the Spam pieces on a paper towel to drain off excess oil. Using the same pan, cook the remaining teriyaki sauce over medium heat. When it begins to thicken, add back the Spam to coat both sides of pieces with sauce.
Mix the Bibimbud, sesame seeds and rice vinegar into the rice and divide the mixture into eight equal portions. Press one portion into your musubi mold. (You can use the empty Spam can as a musubi mold by lining the bottom and inner sides with plastic wrap.)
Layer an egg strip on top of the rice then top with a piece of Spam. Press the layers against the mold until firm.
Wrap the molded musubi in a strip of nori. Seal the end of the nori strip with a bit of water.
Serve and enjoy!
Bibimbud may also be used in flavoring Kimchi Fried Rice, Kimchi Pasta, Bibimbap, Korean-style Fried Chicken and more. For more details about Bibimbud and to check out recipes, visit bibimbud.com.
Given that Bibimbud is in a sauce form, it is easy to adjust the kimchi taste in the food, whether mild to suit newbies, or more intense to suit connoisseurs of Korean cuisine.
So the next time we go on a K-drama binge, we know we can easily have a taste of the flavors our K-idols are enjoying, thanks to Bibimbud!
Bibimbud is available at Lazada in 250-gram packs for Php175/pack.
It sometimes seems that this time of being separated from our loved ones will never end.
While we look back on the days when we can venture out of our homes to spend time with our friends and family and look forward to the days when we can do so again, the fact remains that, for the time being, our best expression of love is to protect them by keeping to a safe distance.
That doesn’t mean, however, that we can’t bridge the distance to our loved ones with some sweet thoughts and sweet gestures.
For instance, how about sending a box of Ben’s Cookies?
This cookie brand itself was borne out of a mother’s love. Cookbook writer Helge Rubinstein set up a business baking and selling cookies in a stall at UK’s Covered Court in 1983 and named it after her son. Today, it has branched out beyond the UK and even reached our shores when it opened its first store at the Podium Mall in 2019.
Each palm-sized cookie creation is moist and chewy, made with chunks – not chips – of premium chocolate, unsalted butter, wheat flour, fresh eggs, cane sugar and nuts, all freshly baked everyday.
Ben’s Cookies come in crave-worthy variants such as:
Milk Chocolate Chunk. The classic chocolate chip cookie leveled up.
Dark Chocolate Chunk. Well-loved among lovers of sophisticated dark chocolate.
Double Chocolate and Nut. With twice the chocolate goodness with some crunchy walnuts.
Praline & Milk Chocolate Chunk. Textured confection of sugared nuts and milk chocolate.
Orange & Milk Chocolate Chunk. Indulgent milk chocolate given the zesty tang of orange.
White Chocolate Chunk & Macadamia. Delicate white chocolate complemented by macadamia nuts.
Other variants include: Fruit & Nut, Peanut & Milk Chocolate, Oatmeal & Raisin, Cranberry & White Chocolate Chunk, Lemon, Triple Chocolate Chunk and Speculoos.
At Php90 per cookie, Ben’s Cookies are sure to deliver sweet joy to whoever will receive them.
Gift them to your special someone in prettily packaged in lovely tin cans (Php545 for 4 pieces | Php945 for 8 pieces).
You may also get an even sweeter deal by getting a Small Ben’s Box (Php495 for 5 pieces + 2 free) or Large Ben’s Box (Php990 for 10 pieces + 5 free).
With the holiday season coming, now is the perfect time to send your love with Ben’s Cookies.
Order now for your loved ones at Ben’s Cookies website. You may also drop by any of these branches:
Ground Floor, Main Mall, SM Mall of Asia, Mall of Asia Complex (MOA), Pasay City
Ground Floor, The Podium, ADB Avenue, Ortigas, Mandaluyong City
Second Floor, Mega Fashion Hall, SM Megamall, Ortigas, Mandaluyong City
If you’re tired of the constant traffic, heat and pollution of the metro, but still want to have the option to venture into its cities every once in a while, then investing in your own house and lot in Rizal may be your best option.
Removed from the chaos of the metro but still highly accessible
Being located just outside Metro Manila, the province of Rizal offers you an alternative way of life compared to the busier conditions of living in the metro.
However, with new developing infrastructure such as the Metro Manila Expressway, as well as established public transport systems between Metro Manila and Rizal, you’re only a short ride away from where you want to go.
The site for sights, culture and leisure
With its location at the foot of Sierra Madre, with Laguna de Bay to the south, the province of Rizal also affords easy access to incredible sights. These include the awesome views from atop limestone formations at the Masungi Georeserve, waterfalls surrounded by lush forests such as Daranak Falls and Batlag Falls, and the dramatic sight of giant windmills against the azure sky at the Pililla Wind Farm.
Pililla Wind Farm, Pililla
Pililla Wind Farm, Pililla
Known as “The Cradle of Philippine Art,” Rizal houses notable museums such as Pinto Art Museum, which showcases contemporary artworks, and Casa Santa, which houses what is considered to be the most extensive private collection of Santa Claus items in the world.
Pinto Art Museum, Antipolo
Pinto Art Museum, Antipolo
Casa Santa, Antipolo
Casa Santa, Antipolo
Many leisure resorts capitalize on Rizal’s relaxing atmosphere. Aside from scenic vistas and refreshing swimming pools, resorts like Bahay Bakasyunan also provide adventure-themed activities that make the most of its natural surroundings such as ziplining, wall-climbing, ATV rides and more.
Bahay Bakasyunan, Tanay
Bahay Bakasyunan, Tanay
Gastronomic pleasures in beautiful surroundings
Taking advantage of the province’s rich culinary heritage, abundance of fresh ingredients and naturally stunning environments, restaurateurs are setting up their destination eateries in Rizal.
Sammy’s in Cainta serves Indonesian-inspired food in a cozy and intimate setting, while the Burrow Cafe in Taytay features a seasonal menu made with locally sourced ingredients in a underground cafe surrounded by a verdant forest. Tahanan Bistro in Antipolo, on the other hand, showcases Filipino food served against a breathtaking view of Metro Manila cityscape.
Sammy’s Cainta
Sammy’s, Cainta
The Burrow Cafe, Taytay
The Burrow Cafe, Taytay
Tahanan Bistro, Antipolo
Tahanan Bistro, Antipolo
A progressive province
Being so near Metro Manila, Rizal is among the most progressive provinces in the country.
In an April 2013 study, the National Statistics Coordination Board (NCSB) reported that Rizal is the third least poor province in poverty incidence after Cavite and Laguna, indicating its thriving economy that makes it a desirable place to live.
Affordable housing within easy reach
The province also offers affordable house options, particularly in Lumina Baras.
Located in Brgy. Concepcion in Baras, Rizal this newest housing development is just three minutes away from the National Road. Its location affords its residents with easy access to these establishments:
Marketplaces and Malls: Baras New Market, Savemore Tanay, Puregold Tanay
School, Colleges & Universities: Baras Elementary School, URS Morong, STI College
Hospitals and Clinic: Rizal Provincial Hospital System Tanay Annex, Ospital ng Baras, Tanay General Hospital
Places of Worship: St. Joseph Parish Church, Inglesia Ni Cristo Baras, St. Jerome Parish Church
Lumina Baras has an array of house models to suit the different needs of homeowners.
Anna Rowhouse. A single-storey dwelling with a 24 square meter floor area and a 36 square meter lot area. Its features include a living area, dining and kitchen with provisions for one bedroom, a service area and toilet and bath, quite suitable as a starter home. Price starts at Php583,000.
Angelique Duplex. A two-storey duplex home with a 35 square meter floor area and a 54 square meter lot area. Its features include a living area, dining and kitchen with provisions for two bedrooms, a service area, toilet and bath, and a carport. It’s quite well-suited for a small family. Price starts at Php1,450,000.
Angeli Single Firewall. A two-storey single firewall home with a 42 square meter floor area and a 54 square meter lot area. Its features include a living area, dining and kitchen with provisions for three bedrooms, a service area, toilet and bath, and a carport, perfect for a growing household. Price starts at Php1,704,000.
Armina Single Firewall. A two-storey home with a 42 square meter floor area and a 54 square meter lot area. Its features include a living area, dining and kitchen with provisions for three bedrooms, a service area, toilet and bath, and a carport. It also comes with additional features such as a free ceiling and tiles on the ground floor. Price starts at Php1,900,000.
Athena Single Firewall. A two-storey single firewall home with a 53 square meter floor area and a 63 square meter lot area. It comes complete with one living area, one dining and kitchen, one toilet and bath, three bedrooms, one family area, a service area and a parking space. It will appeal to families who already want a complete home upon move-in. Price starts at Php2,000,000.
These Lumina homes are well-built, made from high-quality materials and designed with modern conveniences in mind.
Within these walls, you and your family can rest and recharge, spend time with each other and pursue your various passions from from art, to cooking and more, even setting-up a home gym!
A lot of fun and adventure also await when you venture outside your home into your master-planned Lumina Baras community. You will find a basketball court and a play area where young and old alike can enjoy physical activity, as well as a multi-purpose hall and a gazebo where neighbors can gather for events and celebrations.
Investing in your own Lumina house and lot is made even easier, thanks to various financing options, such as:
Pag-Ibig Financing: offers the lowest possible interest rate with a 14-month downpayment term and a 30-year maximum loan term
Bank Financing: has faster loan processing with a 16-month downpayment term and a 20-year maximum loan term
Deferred Financing: involves straight payment of total contract price over 24 month at 0% interest
Spot Cash: involves full payment of total contract price applying a 6% discount if made within 30 days from payment of reservation fee, 8% if made within the reservation month, and 10% if made within 10 days of reservation date
So explore the possibilities of living so close to Metro Manila but removed from much of its hustle and bustle by residing in Baras, Rizal. Contact Lumina Baras by calling +63 956 6252026 or +63 916 5641903.
Jellybeans in the City 