Celebrate the most wonderful time of the year on TikTok, with an amazing lineup of events, creators, and giveaways.
In the face of all the adversities and challenges that have come our way in 2020, the holiday season remains to be a bright, shining star that Filipinos can look forward to at the end of the year. As the biggest festival celebrated in the country, this Christmas serves as a bittersweet reminder to cherish every moment that we spend with our loved ones, whether face-to-face or online.
Through a pandemic, back-to-back typhoons, and months spent physically far apart from our loved ones, we should remember that life goes on, no matter how hard things have become. In making every moment count, we must learn to continue on in life with love.
This Christmas, love lives on TikTok. Here, we are able to preserve our precious memories of wonderful times that have passed, and we are given hope that the best still lies ahead. We realize that, no matter how tough the world out there might be, happiness and optimism will always be with us at home, where we are surrounded by the people that we care about.
The inspiration behind this video is family. Through TikTok, we are reminded that every moment we get to share with our cherished ones truly matters.
This Christmas, the entire TikTok community comes together to celebrate family, hope, and love. Post your #LoveLivesOnTikTok videos using this hashtag, both to inspire others, and also to memorialize your beloved holiday moments on the app. You may even win a special prize from TikTok this Christmas when you share your videos.
On December 19, 2020, an All-Star Livestream will be taking place on the app, featuring host and content creator, Show Suzuki, with celebrity guest, Alex Gonzaga. Be entertained by their unforgettable antics at the talk show style event, as they reminisce about the year gone by. Watch Alex perform your favorite TikTok challenges, and get the chance to win amazing prizes to be given away by Show “Santa” Suzuki during the event.
Mark your calendars, and be sure to take part in the love-filled Christmas celebration on TikTok this December. Download the app on your iOS and Android devices to see for yourself, how #LoveLivesOnTikTok.
About TikTok
TikTok is the leading destination for short-form mobile video. Our mission is to inspire creativity and bring joy. TikTok has global offices including Los Angeles, Mountain View, New York, London, Paris, Berlin, Dubai, Mumbai, Singapore, Jakarta, Seoul, and Tokyo. http://www.tiktok.com.
As we near the end of the tumultuous year of 2020, we should celebrate whatever joy and success we were able to wrest for ourselves, right?
After all, while there may have been many upheavals this year, we still made it through.
So let’s celebrate in grand style, shall we? Here are four reasons why we should do so at New World Makati Hotel’s Cafe 1228.
1) You can dine-in luxuriously.
The restaurant’s sprawling, airy and well-appointed premises are sure to get you in the mood to linger awhile, spending time with family and friends over good food.
2) You can dine-in safely.
With the restaurant’s recent reopening, it already adopted safety procedures and protocols for the New Normal under New World Makati Hotel Commitment to Care Care Health and Safety Program. The hotel, including all of its restaurants and facilities, are in compliance with the standards of its international owning company, Rosewood Hotel Group. Further intensified sanitation and safety protocols are set in place guided by the World Health Organization and the Center for Disease Control and Prevention. More details on this program here.
Foremost among these standards involves Cafe 1228 revamping its dining-in concept from an all-you-can-eat buffet to one that’s more in line with the New Normal: an order-all-you-can ala carte service.
Instead of filling your plate as you go from station to station, you instead select your choices from a well-curated list of Western and regional fare. You can order anything that’s on the menu as often as you can during dining hours.
3) You can dine-in deliciously.
Cafe 1228 brings the ultimate feast to discriminating diners. Your orders from the menu are all prepared ala minute and served to you at your table in solo portions, fresh and hot from the restaurant’s five cooking stations.
These include:
Hot off-the-grill. Let out your inner carnivore with freshly grilled dishes such as Lamb Brochette, Rosemary Chicken, Mahi-mahi in Kaffir Lime and Olive Oil, Herb and Garlic Marinated Beef Striploin, Pork Spareribs in garlic, calamansi, fish sauce, and Hungarian Sausage.
Fresh seafood cooked in five ways. Shrimps, clams, and blue crabs cooked with a choice of garlic butter, salt and pepper, Singaporean style, in white wine sauce or baked with garlic and cheese.
Pizzas and pastas, all cooked to order. Get a taste of Italy with pizzas such as Frutti de Mare, Parma Ham with Feta Cheese, Mushroom and Four Cheese, Margherita, and Mediterranean Vegetable. Have al dente spaghetti or penne noodles served with your choice from pesto cream, puttanesca, marinara and carbonara sauces.
Regional and local faves from Japanese, Chinese and Pinoy cuisines. Have a food trip around the country and Asia with assorted sashimi and sushi rolls, Wok-Fried Chicken with Cashew Nuts, Pork Buns and Lechon Belly Rice.
Appetizers and salads to pair with mains. Start your meal with Jamon Serrano with Manchego on Toast or with Toast topped with Parma Ham, Burnt Peach and Goat Cheese Foam.
Sugary treats for dessert lovers. End your meal on a sweet note with a wide variety of confections that include Chocolate Truffle Cake, Spiced Chocolate Pecan Pie, Strawberry Cheesecake, Mixed Berry Trifle, Bread and Butter Pudding and Puto Bumbong.
Refreshing beverages of your choice. Take your pick from among fresh fruit and vegetable juices, healthy drinks, smoothies, icy teas and beers.
This ultimate feast is available for lunch from Thursdays to Sundays and dinner from Thursdays to Saturdays. The dining outlet will also be open all week from 21-27 December 2020 due to popular demand.
4) You can dine-in on an irresistible deal.
The all-you-can-eat feast at Cafe 1228 is offered for lunch at PHP2,400 on Thursdays and Fridays and PHP2,988 on Saturdays and Sundays. For dinner, it is priced at PHP2,600 on Thursdays and PHP2,988 on Fridays and Saturdays (excluding Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, New Year’s Eve, and New Year’s Day).
From December 21 to 23, the same rate for Thursdays applies: PHP2,400 for lunch and PHP2,600 for dinner.
50% off applies for Club Epicure & BDO credit cardholders at Cafe 1228. Club Epicure membership is FREE and comes with an array of exclusive discounts and privileges for dining offers, and will include room stays once staycations are accepted at the hotel.
For table reservations, guests can call +63 2 88116888 ext. 3679, send a message on Viber at +63 917 8884194 or e-mail fbreservations.manila@newworldhotels.com.
This Christmas, indulge yourself and your loved ones a bit with a welcome change of scenery and a sumptuous feast at New World Hotel Makati’s Cafe 1228.
New World Makati Hotel is a world-class deluxe hotel located in the heart of Makati. With a thoroughly modern vibe and hints of Oriental influence, the hotel features 580 guestrooms and suites with Residence Club executive floor accommodation, a business center, sophisticated dining options, a well-equipped fitness center with sauna and spa, an outdoor swimming pool, and 1,800 square meters of dynamic function space for meetings and conferences. The hotel is located directly across Greenbelt, the country’s premier lifestyle shopping center. It is also nine kilometers from Ninoy Aquino International Airport and within steps of many embassies, as well as Manila’s top business addresses and upscale shopping venues.
Disclosure: Together with fellow food bloggers, I was invited to sample Cafe 1228’s ultimate feast. All the food items mentioned here were served to allow us to taste the fare to facilitate our honest reviews and were not paid for by the attendees, including myself.
Maximize your eat-all-you-can experience. Check out my survival guide.
Going through the daily grind while stuck at work? Missing the foodie adventures you’ve had in far-off places? Or just seeking a break from your normal lutong-bahay or food delivery fare?
Well, not to worry. Here’s another trip lined up for you: a food trip, that is.
If you feel like letting your wanderlust loose, then the Hungry Nomad Kitchen should be right up your alley.
A curation of beloved cuisines from around the world, the Hungry Nomad Kitchen is where foodies with a taste for adventure can explore various culinary possibilities when they want and wherever they are.
Designed as a virtual food hall, Hungry Nomad Kitchen offers the metro’s denizens to sate their cravings for various types of food from all over the world at one go.
For my first flight with HNK, I went West for a taste of good ol’ Americana and then across the pond all the way to Gran Britannia.
Baby Back Ribs (Php475). 🎶 I want my baby back, baby back ribs. 🎶 And why wouldn’t I? With its smokey flavored, falling-off-the-bone, juicy meat, it’s a hearty viand fit for a hungry carnivore and went so well with my side orders of Grilled Corn on the Cob (Php60) and Coleslaw (Php120).
Fish & Chips (Php350). A lighter choice on the tummy but no means lacking in flavor is this staple from London. Large slices of fish battered and deep fried to a crispy golden brown and served with deep-fried potato wedges. It’s best when eaten hot so I reheated it in the oven when I had it for dinner.
Well, now I’d love to go exploring other virtual foodie destinations here soon!
Other cuisines currently available include Filipino and Italian, as well as frozen desserts by Aqua S.
All you have to do get started on your new food journey is browse and select your choices from the cuisines available at the Hungry Nomad Kitchen website. Then, indicate whether these will be for delivery (areas covered are currently limited to Makati and BGC) or for pick up (shouldered by customer). After checkout, an order confirmation will be emailed to you. Then you can choose your mode of payment (options for bank transfers and e-wallets are available). You can even track the status of your order using a unique code!
Plus, pretty soon, the HNK app will be made available on the App Store and Google Play so you can embark on a new culinary experience with just a few phone taps!
So, if you feel like expanding your culinary horizons without leaving home or traveling far, do check out the Hungry Nomad Kitchen!
Disclosure: Product samples were provided to facilitate an honest review.
“What if every time one dies, they go back to their first date with one of them carrying memories from their previous run?”
Kathryn Bernardo and Daniel Padilla stars as a romantic couple stuck in a time loop in the new music video for Ben&Ben’s “Sa Susunod na Habang Buhay.” Helmed by the band’s resident director Jorel Lising and written by Gaya Sa Pelikula creator Juan Miguel Severo, the song’s visual narrative explores the complicated relationship dynamics of two lovers who have lost and found each other in a fated cycle of events.
Complicated love in a time loop
Severo reveals that “Sa Susunod na Habang Buhay,” a song that deals with the “possibility of another life to succeed in love,” complements the KathNiel starrer that he has in mind. Having written Hintayan ng Langit, an evocative piece that examines eternal romance in the afterlife, Severo decided to do away with another reincarnation story for his interpretation of the material.
“Then it hit me, what about a couple stuck in a time loop?”, the prolific writer points out. “What if every time one dies, they go back to their first date with one of them carrying memories from their previous run? It took the band, Direk, and I a couple of zoom calls, brainstorming ideas to compound on that concept and get everything laid out before I presented it to KathNiel.”
Severo’s writing lends to a beautifully understated film that allows KathNiel to tackle their role with nuanced sensitivity and depth. To make it more impactful on screen, music video director Jorel Lising makes use of non-liner, fragmented storytelling as a way to capture the couple’s memories in its undiluted form. Lising adds, “It all comes from the content of the song – it’s a strong piece that speaks about love lost and an intense sense of longing, so the process of developing the treatment and Severo’s script came from that. The challenge for us was to maximize the emotion based on that kind of narrative.”
Working with KathNiel
According to the band’s co-vocalist and acoustic guitarist Miguel Benjamin, the journey behind the music video was both a dream and a serendipitous sequence of events. “About two months ago, an interesting exchange came up while our keyboardist Patricia Lasaten was working on the music of Juan Miguel Severo’s Gaya Sa Pelikula,” says Miguel. “As a way of showing appreciation when we offered our song ‘Ride Home’ to the series, Juan Miguel graciously offered us in return to write a script for the ‘Sa Susunod Na Habang Buhay’ MV, and pitch it to KathNiel, as they are good friends. We pushed through, and to our surprise, they loved both the idea of working with all of us and the script. This was a big thing for us because we never expected that these great artists would be open to doing a music video with us, given their stature and busy schedules.”
Despite the time constraints, Lising didn’t experience difficulty working with one of the biggest love teams in recent memory. The nine-piece collective’s frequent collaborator recounts that he only has few adjustments for every take, thanks to KathNiel’s astounding professionalism and craft. “We didn’t have a whole lot of time with them, but they definitely possess star power quality on camera. Every frame we took of them has a strong presence that comes with lots of experience, especially since they’ve been acting for so long now.”
Image and details provided by Sony Music Philippines in a recent press release.
And just like that: the year is almost over and we have already struggled through nine months under quarantine.
While the pandemic certainly is life-changing, there’s no denying that life certainly must and will go on. And with life comes all the milestones we use to mark the passage of time, such as birthdays.
Being a December baby, my son, #ExhibitB, also known as Gabe, is the last in the family to have a birthday this year. During the pre-pandemic period, the whole extended family – including grandparents, uncles, aunts and cousins on both sides – would usually gather at a restaurant of his choosing to enjoy good food together. These celebrations would invariably involve pizza, my son’s favorite food.
This kind of get-togethers are not possible for the meantime, so the challenge for us was: how can we have a shared pizza experience with our loved ones during #ExhibitB’s special day?
The answer: frozen pizzas from Pizza X.
This new online food business was developed by entrepreneur Cheryl Camungao during the quarantine as a way to drag her kids away from their gadgets and teach them about business and how to earn money.
Being pizza lovers themselves, her kiddos – thirteen-year-old Chase and ten-year-old Herc – set about crafting and promoting pizzas that their fellow kids would go crazy for and came up with six flavors for Pizza X which I was able to sample with the fam.
These include:
Xtra Cheesy. Made with four kinds of cheese – mozarella, cheddar, parmesan and cream cheese, this is – bar none – #ExhibitB’s favorite of the bunch!
Pepperoni Xstasy. Hubby always goes for pepperoni pizza so this suited him quite well.
Pesto Xcellency. My daughter, #ExhibitA, was quite taken with this Italian-Pinoy fusion pizza made with basil and malunggay pesto and white sauce, topped with cream cheese and parmesan.
Tropical Xplosion. You know what: I never joined the clamor against pineapple on pizza. For me, the combination of sweet and tangy crushed pineapples with double smoked bacon, onions and bell peppers works just fine.
Angus Xtreme. Meat lovers will have much to love with this creation made with savory Angus beef, mushrooms, bell peppers and onions.
Mexican Fix. A meaty and cheesy taste of Mexico made with chili con carne, onions and bell peppers.
All of Pizza X’s thin-crust pizzas are six inches of pizza goodness, frozen when sent to you to retain their freshness. They can be easily heated using a regular oven or an oven toaster. (Don’t worry; they come with instructions that even kids can follow!)
These pizzas can keep in the refrigerator for up to fifteen days or six months if kept in the freezer. (But if you’ve got a Pizza Monster like I do, I bet that they won’t last that long!)
You can get a taste of all these pizza flavors by getting a Xampler for Php499.
Want to make your quarantine birthday pizza party extra special? Get customized pizzas spelling out the celebrant’s name like I did! I distributed sets of frozen pizzas spelling my boy’s name to our extended family along with cheesecakes for dessert so they can all share in his favorite food.
Well, I do believe this quarantine pizza party is a hit!
To get your own Pizza X frozen pizzas, fill out this order form. An order confirmation will be sent to you via Viber or SMS along with payment instructions. Pizza X accepts payments via GCash, PayMaya, Cash on Pickup, or bank transfers via Metrobank and BDO. Pickup via delivery services will be shouldered by the buyer.
Disclosure: Samples of the six-inch pizzas were provided.
Check out my blog posts on other small enterprises and startups in the food business:
Shopee, the leading e-commerce platform in Southeast Asia and Taiwan, kicked off its fifth 12.12 Birthday Sale on a high note with strong enthusiasm from shoppers across the region. Shopping activity surged at midnight on December 12, with four times more items sold in the first hour compared to 2019
Key trends in the first 8 hours of 12.12 Big Christmas Sale
Home & Living, Men’s Apparel, and Health & Personal Care are the most popular product categories among Filipino consumers.
People are prepping for fitness-related New Year’s resolutions by stocking up on activewear. In the first 8 hours of December 12, around 30,000 units of men’s jogger pants were sold. Filipinos are also keen on doing some home organizing over the holidays, with around 22,000 shoe box organizers sold.
Filipinos are eagerly snapping up the best deals in celebration of Shopee’s fifth birthday, with one shopper making almost 100 orders in the morning of December 12
Shopping activity is also highest in Metro Manila, South Luzon, and North Luzon
New Glory deluxe edition available now at digital service providers featuring “Matches,” “Swimming in the Stars” & “Mood Ring (by demand).”
Britney Spears and Backstreet Boys surprised music fans all over the world with the release of their collaborative track “Matches”—out today via RCA Records. The Ian Kirkpatrick and Michael Wise-produced track is featured on the new edition of Britney’s 2016 album, Glory, along with recently released songs “Swimming In The Stars” and “Mood Ring (By Demand).”
Backed with infectious, clubby beats and intricate production details, “Matches” sounds prime for top 40 radio and streaming dominance. The song is featured in various New Music Friday playlists across the globe, including the Philippines—one of its formidable markets. The song is currently at No. 2 on iTunes Philippines, while the deluxe edition of the album that it’s part of, has peaked at No. 1 a few hours after the track’s release.
Just last week, “Swimming In The Stars” was released along with the new limited edition deluxe vinyl of Glory.
ABOUT BRITNEY SPEARS
Multi-platinum, Grammy Award-winning pop icon Britney Spears is one of the most successful and celebrated entertainers in pop history with nearly 150 million records worldwide. In the U.S. alone, she has sold more than 70 million albums, singles and songs, according to Nielsen Music. Born in Mississippi and raised in Louisiana, Spears became a household name as a teenager when she released her first single “…Baby One More Time,” a Billboard Hot 100 No. 1 smash and international hit that broke sales records with more than 20 million copies sold worldwide and is currently 14x Platinum in the U.S.
Her musical career boasts countless awards and accolades, including seven Billboard Music Awards and Billboard’s Millennium Award, which recognizes outstanding career achievements and influence in the music industry as well as an American Music Award and the 2011 MTV Video Vanguard Award. So far, Spears has earned a total of six No.1-debuting albums on the Billboard 200 chart and 34 top 40 hit singles on the Billboard Hot 100 — four of which went to No. 1. Spears has been nominated for seven Grammy Awards and won for Best Dance Recording in 2005.
Not only has Britney’s music touched the lives of millions, but she has also used her global platform and voice to support the LGBTQ community, from the Dream Act to anti-transgender bills in Texas. As a longtime ally of the community, she most recently received GLAAD’s 2018 Vanguard Award, which is presented to media professionals who have made a significant difference in promoting equality and acceptance of LGBTQ people.
After her cutting-edge pop concert Las Vegas residency, “Britney: Piece of Me,” at Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino ended in December 2017, Spears took her show on the road with a “Piece of Me” global tour in summer 2018. Britney has been creating fragrances for over ten years, and her scents are available in over 85 countries around the world.
ABOUT BACKSTREET BOYS
For 26 years the Backstreet Boys have delivered the finest pop music one has to offer, making them one of pop’s most influential performers. With countless #1s, record-setting tours, numerous awards and worldwide sales in excess of 130 million, BSB has been recognized as the best-selling boy band in history.
In early 2019, BSB released their GRAMMY nominated 10th studio album “DNA” on RCA Records. The album debuted at #1 and features the Top 10 hit “Don’t Go Breaking My Heart.” The critically acclaimed and chart topping single was nominated for the “Pop Duo / Group Performance” 2019 GRAMMY, and was BSB’s first hit on the Billboard Hot 100 in 10 years. Upon its release, the single went straight to #1 on iTunes Top Songs and Global charts and charted in over 22 countries.
In May 2019 the Backstreet Boys kicked off “The DNA World Tour” – the group’s biggest arena tour in 18 years thanks to the global success of their #1 new album. The DNA World Tour has seen the group sell out arenas all over North America, Europe, Asia and South America.
Over the years, the Backstreet Boys have continually captivated millions of people with their impressive catalogue of hit songs and creative partnerships. Most recently, we saw the group’s highly successful Las Vegas Residency “Larger Than Life” become the fastest selling residency in Las Vegas history; along with hilarious collaborations with Jimmy Fallon and James Corden; a #1 Country radio single with Florida Georgia Line; and viral remixes of their hit song “I Want It That Way” by Chance The Rapper and Lil Uzi.
Image and details provided by RCA Records in a recent press release.
Furthering its commitment to support the success of its merchant-partners, Grab Philippines launched its 2020 Grab merchant conference GRAB UNLOCKED: Opening Doors to Uplifting Your Business this New Normal. With insightful talks from Grab and industry experts, merchant-partner attendees learned about digital trends and tools to help grow their business resiliently and sustainably through digitalization.
Virtually held last November 19 and attended by Grab merchant-partners, GRAB UNLOCKED featured updates and insights from Grab’s Head of Deliveries EJ Dela Vega, Head of GrabFood and Grab Financial Group Marketing Daniel Anore, Head of GrabFood Greg Camacho, Head of GrabAds Martin Luchangco, and Grab Philippines Country Head Grace Vera Cruz. To give attendees an informative and inspiring learning session, aside from Grab Philippines representatives, GRAB UNLOCKED also featured industry experts and successful entrepreneurs to share their stories and provide meaningful insights that Grab Merchant partners can be inspired on to grow their businesses, namely Chef Margarita Forés, CloudEats co-founder and CEO Kimberly Yao, 24 Chicken co-founders Mark Ong and Jeff Sy, DITO-CME COO and Udenna Corporation CIO Donald Lim, and Unilever Sr. Omniretail Customer Manager Joselle Dela Rosa.
Embracing change to effectively adapt
Donald Lim, the Chief Operating Officer of DITO CME and the Chief Innovation Officer of the Udenna Corporation also joined the virtual conference to share how businesses can prepare for a post-pandemic world. With insights on how businesses can adapt their strategic response and the secret behind mastering a business pivot, Lim ended his talk remarking “We do not know when COVID will really be gone, but the more that we accept the reality this year, the more we can make adjustments to our business, and [sic] prepare our business, and future-proof our business for other challenges to come,” he said.
To prepare for the challenges to come, Head of GrabFood Greg Camacho unveiled the many upcoming features and upgrades to help businesses effectively adapt to the new normal. “We know that running a business is never a smooth process, and we want to be there with you every step of the way,” he shared.
Taking merchant-partners’ feedback into consideration, Camacho announced a range of features and upgrades to be launched in the coming months:
In the GrabMerchant App, merchant-partners can look forward to upgrades that will give a more seamless operations process through several new features:
The improved GrabMerchant Owner Profile gives access to the full suite of tools, allows easy management of employee roles, and provides a seamless shift for store profiles through multi-owner access
With communication upgrades integrated in the app, merchant-partners will also be able to quickly make order changes and have access to an in-app live chat for real time feedback from Grab’s support team
Outside the GrabMerchant App, merchant-partners will be able to get ample support through new platforms:
To give an even more efficient work process, Grab will be launching the GrabMerchant Portal, a web-based interface where merchant-partners can view and download analytics and reports on sales, operations, and campaigns. Businesses will be able to operate smarter and faster once the GrabMerchant portal starts rolling out in phases by December 2020.
Starting early next year, Grab will be launching the Ad Manager, where merchant-partners will be able to build and launch GrabFood ads from the GrabMerchant app in just a few minutes
This December, Grab will also be launching the GrabAcademy, a one-stop learning center where merchant-partners can easily access Grab merchant tutorials and courses. As Grab continues to innovate and provide new solutions for more efficient processes, the new GrabAcademy for merchants is sure to make learning much easier for its employees.
Putting safety at the core of your business
As businesses learn to adapt to the so-called “new normal,” addressing the demand for deliveries and prioritizing safety become key factors every business owner must take into consideration.
Unilever, a key partner of GrabFood in its commitment to providing safer meals, shared tips and tricks on how food businesses can ensure protection and good health of its employees and customers. With the goal of raising the bar for safety and hygiene in the food and delivery industry, Unilever Philippines’ Manager Joselle Dela Rosa talked about talked about all the cleaning and hygiene must-haves to maintain a safe kitchen— from surface sanitizer sprays like CIF to hand sanitizers like its new product Lifebuoy.
After a whole afternoon of insightful talks, Grab made sure merchant-partner attendees not only got learnings to help them with their businesses, but also a chance to win from hundreds of exciting raffle prizes. With the support of GRAB UNLOCKED’s co-presenter Unilever and sponsor Coca-Cola, some of the prizes given out were 500,000 GrabReward Points, Samsung S10 phones, Cebu Pacific round trip flight tickets to a local destination, Coca-Cola branded LED watches and cooler bags, Knorr Seasoning, and so much more!
Despite living in these unprecedented times, Grab Philippines’ Country Head Grace Vera Cruz assured its merchants that Grab will continue to be their partner in leveraging technology that can be utilized to further grow their businesses. “While we have a long road to recovery ahead of us, I am confident that by working together, we can build a stronger and more resilient economy; and it starts with every one of us fully embracing digitalization and unlocking its many opportunities,” she said.
Although today’s circumstances remain unprecedented, Grab is committed to working together with its merchant-partners to find the most effective solutions to better reach and serve their consumers. Through technology and digitalization, Grab will continue to provide its merchant-partners with various platforms that will help grow their business, such as the 2020 Grab merchant conference GRAB UNLOCKED.
How about gifting your nears-and-dears with a box of Ben’s Cookies?
From its beginnings in 1983 as a stall in UK’s Oxford Covered Market, Ben’s Cookies have extended its reach to the Philippines when it opened its first store in The Podium Mall in July 2019, followed by branches in SM Mall of Asia and SM Megamall. It brought with its those signature palm-sized pieces of moist and chewy delights 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 is the brainchild of cookbook writer and chocoholic Helge Rubinstein who named the business after her son.
With such a history, we can say that each cookie is made with love. Check out some of its cookie creations:
Milk Chocolate Chunk. The chocolate chip cookie may be the grandaddy of all modern cookies but this one may be considered The Godfather because of its heft.
Dark Chocolate Chunk. The Milk Chocolate Chunk’s darker and more sophisticated cousin, perfect for dark chocolate lovers.
White Chocolate Chunk. A more delicate version of the Milk Chocolate Chunk, this is a cookie you reach for if you want a break from the usual.
Double Chocolate and Nut. This baby’s got twice the chocolate goodness, further enhanced by the addition of crunchy walnuts.
Speculoos Cookie. To end all speculation, this cookie brings the spiced and nutty sweetness you crave for.
Other cookie variants include: Double Chocolate Chunk, Triple Chocolate Chunk, White Chocolate Chunk and Macadamia, Orange & Milk Chocolate Chunk, Praline & Milk Chocolate Chunk, Lemon, Cranberry & White Chocolate Chunk, Oatmeal & Raisin, Peanut and Milk Chocolate, and Fruit & Nut.
These cookies are available by the piece at Php90 each, or by the box (Buy 5 and get 2 free at Php450 or Buy 10 and get 5 free at Php900) or by the tin (4 pieces at Php495 or 8 pieces at Php835).
Go ahead and spread some sweetness and good cheer by giving out these yummies to fam and friends.
To get your Ben’s Cookies, drop by any of its stores:
Ground Floor, The Podium, ADB Avenue, Ortigas, Mandaluyong City
Second Floor, Mega Fashion Hall, SM Megamall, Ortigas, Mandaluyong City
Ground Floor, Main Mall, SM Mall of Asia, Mall of Asia Complex (MOA), Pasay City
You can also call +63 917 5267711 or order online.
Philippine record labels and musicians of all stripes are standing up for solidarity with the biggest concert event of 2020.
With the utmost goal of bringing together the Filipino people through music and inspiring them to help cope better in the face of adversity, BYE2020 is a powerful statement that not only recognizes the small but impactful triumphs of the music community despite a very challenging year, but also honors the collective efforts of everyone in holding each other up during the pandemic.
28 artists are set to join the movement with virtual performances designed to make the experience as immersive and enjoyable as possible.
The lineup includes some of the biggest acts here and abroad, including Ben&Ben, Darren Espanto, Moira, SB19, Matthaios, The Itchyworms, Leanne & Naara, Maximillian (DK), Peach Tree Rascals (US), Tate Mcrae (CA), Glaiza de Castro, Kean Cipriano, Lala Vizon, Zack Tabudlo, Keiko Necessario, Fern., Elha Nympha, Autotelic, Sud, Miguel Odron, VVS Collective, Ace Banzuelo, Paolo Sandejas, Earl Generao, FANA, TALA, J-Nine and Dia Mate.
In a statement by the team behind the virtual show, BYE2020 is committed to mounting the first-of-its-kind year-ender party to usher in a brighter, better new year and turn this unprecedented moment in history into a collective call to seek a way out of darkness through unity, hope, and music.
“What BYE2020 delivers is a way for every Filipino to look back at all of the challenges we have faced, and enter 2021 a bit more hopeful,” the organizers explained. “Fortunately for us technology has allowed us to re-imagine what we can do for music entertainment and live events. And we are bringing to bear every learning, every talent, and every skill we have gained this 2020 and applying it to our event BYE2020.”
Aside from top-notch entertainment and much-awaited surprises, BYE2020 is set to recognize some of the most notable feats in the online space in order to shine a light on the more positive side of 2020. Through the Best of the Year Awards, digital platforms such as Facebook, Spotify and TikTok, and other notable partners will be part of a special segment dedicated to awarding the finest local creators for their record-breaking achievements in digital content and entertainment.
The six-hour continuous virtual event will be streamed live on multiple platforms such as Facebook, YouTube, TikTok, and more on December 31, 2020, from 7pm onwards. It will also air on Sky Cable (Ch 955 HD and 155 SD).
For exclusive concert privileges such as access to zoom pits, backstage content with the artists, and limited-edition merch, visit ticket2me.net to get tickets.
BYE2020 is brought to you by Pepsi, Tinder, and Its More Fun in the Philippines, and is presented by MCA Music, Sony Music Philippines, Warner Music Philippines, O/C Records, Star Music, Universal Records, and Midas Records.
The virtual showcase is also co-presented by Official Beer Partner, Heineken; Official Streaming Partners, Facebook, YouTube and TikTok; Official Music Partner, Spotify; Official Cable Partner, Sky Cable; in partnership with Viber; and Media Partners, CNN Philippines, InqPop, Manila Concert Scene, We The Pvblic, UDoU PH, Wonder, Rank Magazine, Adobo Magazine, Starmometer, and Rakista.
Jellybeans in the City 