Gel Jose

New HBO original period drama series GRISSE premieres on November 4

HBO Asia’s brand new original period drama, GRISSE, is an eight-part hour-long series that is set in the mid 1800’s within the colonial period of the Dutch East Indies. The English language series chronicles the story of a group of unlikely individuals who lead a rebellion against a brutal governor and suddenly find themselves in control of a Dutch garrison town called Grisse. The story revolves around a number of unique characters, each from diverse backgrounds and creeds who unite for the chance to break the yoke of tyranny and write their own destiny.

Catch the series every Sunday at 9pm starting November 4 on HBO (SKYcable ch 54 SD | 168 HD). It will also be available for online viewing on HBO GO, HBO’s video streaming service that enables users to watch HBO’s channels live and HBO original productions and more on demand. In the Philippines, it is exclusively available to SKY subscribers.

Developed and produced by HBO Asia and together with Singapore-based Infinite Studios, GRISSE will feature an ensemble cast of actors who are based in Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Singapore, Europe, Australia and the U.S.. They include Adinia Wirasti (HBO Asia’s “Halfworlds Season 1”), Marthino Lio (“Sayang You Can Dance”), Michael Wahr (“City Homocide”), Edward Akbar (“Air Terjun Pengantin”), Jamie Aditya (“Sync or Swim”), Toshiji Takeshima (HBO’s “True Blood”), Joanne Kam (“Kopitiam”), Zack Lee (“The Raid 2”), Tom Dejong (“Medisch Centrum West”), Ully Triani (“Stay With Me”), Rick Paul Van Mulligen (“A’dam E.V.A.”), Alexandra Gottardo (“Tanah Air”), Hossan Leong (“The Forbidden City”) and Jimmy T (“Robocop 3”). Creator and Showrunner for GRISSE is Mike Wiluan (“Buffalo Boys”) who directed alongside Tony Tilse (HBO Asia’s “Serangoon Road”, “Miss Fisher’s Murder Mysteries”) and Ler Jiyuan (“Gone Case”, “The Love Machine”).

HBO has also recently announced that select HBO Asia Original productions will be available to audiences in HBO Europe’s territories. These HBO Asia Original titles include the period drama series GRISSE; horror anthology series FOLKLORE; Japanese drama series MISS SHERLOCK; and the first two instalments of the Chinese language martial arts anthology movie series, MASTER OF THE DRUNKEN FIST: BEGGAR SO and MASTER OF THE SHADOWLESS KICK: WONG KEI-YING. These titles will be available in territories including Spain (on HBO España), Sweden, Norway, Finland and Denmark (on HBO Nordic), and in Central European territories including Hungary, Czech Republic, Poland, Romania and Croatia (on HBO Europe). GRISSE will also be available to HBO’s U.S. subscribers across the channel’s platforms, including HBO GO®, HBO NOW®, HBO On Demand®, and participating television and streaming partner platforms.

“With an array of diverse cultures and rich histories, Asia has proven to be a melting pot of storylines that we are excited to bring to life and captivate our audiences in the region and beyond,” said Jonathan Spink, CEO of HBO Asia. He further adds, “With five more HBO Asia Original productions being available in HBO U.S.’ and HBO Europe’s territories, we are proud and delighted to be able to share some of what Asia has to offer with the rest of the world through our global network.”

HBO Asia started producing its Original productions in 2012 and has since expanded their range of Asian Original productions to include series, movies and documentaries. GRISSE marks the network’s thirteenth Asian Original to date, with more slated to premiere in the coming years and further strengthening its commitment to producing more compelling and relevant local content for the Asian and global audience.

Show details and image provided by HBO in a recent press release.

Disclosure: I work for SKY and part of my job is promoting its products and services, especially the content it provides to its subscribers. I consider being able to share my love for TV shows and movies and the experience of watching and talking about them with like-minded people some of the biggest perks of my job.

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Celeb pre-loved items available in Caritas Manila’s Celebrity Bazaar on October 18

Caritas Manila will hold its second Celebrity Bazaar on October 18, Thursday from 1-10pm on the 2nd level of the Mega Atrium of SM Megamall. Entrance fee is P500 per person.

The bazaar will feature pre-loved luxury items up for sale from generous celebrity donors Heart Evangelista, Alden Richards, Ruffa Gutierrez, Dr. Vicki Bello, Scarlet Snow Belo, Cristalle Bello, Bang Pineda, Teacher Georcelle, Toni Gonzaga, Zsa Zsa Padilla, Vice Ganda, Iza Calzado, Divine Lee, Jinkee Pacquiao, Manny Pacquiao and premier designers Michael Cinco and Cary Santiago. Heart Evangelista is this year’s Event Ambassador.

Proceeds from this year’s bazaar will benefit the Youth Servant Leadership and Education Program (YSLEP) of Caritas Manila. The program sends and supports less fortunate but deserving students nationwide to their college or university of choice.

The first Caritas Manila Celebrity Bazaar was held 2 years ago with former Miss Universe Pia Wurtzbach as Event Ambassador. The bazaar earned enough funds to support 5,000 YSLEP Scholars. At any given time, there are between 3,000 to 5,000 YSLEP scholars nationwide. Figures show that providing a youth a college or vocational degree gives him a 98 per cent chance of helping his family overcome poverty.

“We at Caritas Manila are so grateful for the generosity and enthusiasm of these celebrities to help YSLEP scholars,” comments Fr. Anton CT Pascual, Caritas Manila Executive Director. Their assistance will go a long way in proving education and support can help realize the potentials of our future leaders coming from the ranks of the poor.”

“To date, more than 10,000 YSLEP scholars have graduated from college and vocational schools nationwide especially from the poorest provinces.”

Caritas Manila is one of the biggest non-profit organizations in the country led by its chairman, Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle.

For more information, visit Caritas Manila at 2002 Jesus Street, Pandacan, Manila or call 562-0020 to 25, email caritas_manila@yahoo.com, or log on to www.caritasmanila.org.ph.

New York Style Pizza and Pasta at Brooklyn’s New York Pizza, Tomas Morato

New York-style pizza is one that is made using large hand-tossed thin crust. It is usually sold for takeout in big slices; its crust crispy at the edge but soft and pliable enough with all its toppings (which usually include mozzarella cheese and tomato sauce) to be folded in half when eaten.

Together with three of my co-workers, I went to the Brooklyn’s New York Pizza branch along Tomas Morato. Some of us have eaten here several times, enjoying its laid-back atmosphere and modern vibe.

Thanks to a Metrodeal offer, we were able to enjoy a hearty lunch of New York-style pizza and pasta. We have two vouchers that entitles us to a total of Php1000 worth of food for only Php698 (each voucher costs Php349). With these, we ordered:

A 14-inch White Pizza (Php495). A New York-style pizza topped with a combination of mozzarella, ricotta and parmesan.

Spicy Shrimp Pasta for sharing (Php380). One of the resto’s best-sellers plump and fresh shrimp accompanied by a spicy tomato sauce.

An Iced Tea Tower (Php150)

With the discount, our group of four only paid less than Php200 each for this hearty lunch.

This Brooklyn’s New York Pizza branch is located along Tomas Morato, Bgy. Laging Handa, Quezon City, open Sundays to Thursdays from 10am to 11pm, and Fridays to Saturdays from 10am to 1am. For reservations and queries, call +63 2 3767676.

Other Brooklyn’s New York Pizza branches are located at:

1176 Chino Roces Avenue, San Antonio, Makati City
Fourth Floor, Midtown Wing, Robinsons Place Manila, Ermita, Manila
15 President’s Avenue, BF Homes, Parañaque City
Second Floor, Madison Galeries, Don Jesus Boulevard, Alabang Hills, Cupang, Muntinlupa City
Second Floor, Robinsons Place Las Piñas, Alabang-Zapote Road, Talon, Las Piñas City
Ground Floor, Alabang Town Center, Alabang, Muntinlupa City

Third season of HBO series True Detective to premiere on January 14

TRUE DETECTIVE will return for its eight-episode third season same time as the U.S. on Monday, January 14 at 10am, with a same day encore at 10pm, exclusively on HBO GO and HBO. New episodes will premiere subsequent Mondays at the same time.

TRUE DETECTIVE is anthology series in which police investigations unearth the personal and professional secrets of those involved, both within and outside the law. The cast of the critically acclaimed first and second seasons include Matthew McConaughy, Colin Farrell, Woody Harrelson, Rachel McAdams, Michelle Monaghan, Taylor Kitsch and Vince Vaughn.

The new season tells the story of a macabre crime in the heart of the Ozarks, and a mystery that deepens over decades and plays out in three separate time periods. Academy Award® winner Mahershala Ali stars as Wayne Hays, a state police detective from Northwest Arkansas. Carmen Ejogo and Stephen Dorff also star. Created by Nic Pizzolatto.

Catch the series every Monday at 10am starting January 14 on HBO (SKYcable ch 54 SD | 168 HD). It will also be available for online viewing on HBO GO, HBO’s video streaming service that enables users to watch HBO’s channels live and HBO original productions and more on demand. In the Philippines, it is exclusively available to SKY subscribers.

Show details and image provided by HBO in a recent press release.

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HBO GO not available in your area? Watch the series on HBO on Amazon Prime. Sign up today for a 7-day free trial.

Check out my posts on other HBO shows:

Tried the new Caramel Cinnamon Cookie Frap at Starbucks, Tomas Morato

On a night when I needed to let off some steam, I hied over to the Starbucks outlet at the Imperial Place Suite building along the Tomas Morato Extension, some walking distance from my workplace.

Armed with the 12 Beverage stars on my mobile phone’s Starbucks App which entitles me to a free handcrafted beverage, I set about looking for my drink for the night.

I decided on one of Stabucks’ new flavors – the Caramel Cinnamon Cookie Frappuccino. It is a rich conconction of espresso enhanced by a decadent caramel sauce and spicy hints of cinnamon, topped with frothy whipped cream and sprinkled with lightly spiced cookie crumbs.

And since I couldn’t resist, I asked the barista to add some coffee jelly into the drink.

The drink is a like a taste of the much-anticipated holiday season in my mouth – a cold beverage combined with a sweet dessert treat that warms my tummy and my heart, helping me set aside my frustrations of the day.

Starbucks’ Caramel Cinnamon Cookie flavor is also available in hot and iced formats.

This Starbucks outlet is located at the Ground Floor, Imperial Place Suite, Tomas Morato Extension, Quezon City. Other branches nearby can be found at:

ELJCC Building, Mother Ignacia Avenue
At the corner of Mother Ignacia Avenue and Eugenio Lopez Drive
Sunnymede IT Center, Quezon Avenue
Along Timog Avenue
Victoria Towers, Timog Avenue
Eton Centris Walk, Quezon Avenue
Hemady Square, at the corner of Dona Hemady Street and E. Rodriguez Avenue
West Avenue corner Examiner Street
Fisher Mall, Quezon Avenue
Ayala Malls Vertis North

Decadent Chocolate Dream Cake from Sweet Kiss, Tomas Morato

Chocolate Dream Cakes have grown in popularity these last few months.

And no wonder: these cakes are what true-blue chocolate lovers’ dreams are made of. It’s basically layer upon layer of chocolate goodness – from its moist chocolate cake base, to its decadently rich and smooth chocolate fudge topped by a thin shard of chocolate sprinkled with cocoa powder. Plus, it comes in a nifty tin canister which adds to the novelty of experience.

Last week, I chanced upon a Metrodeal offer that offers a 6.5-inch round Chocolate Dream Cake for only Php399 (50% off from its regular price of Php800) from Sweet Kiss. I lost no time in buying a voucher, already envisioning myself sharing this sweet treat with my kiddies who are also chocolate fanatics. (I guess we know where they got that trait from.

Sweet Kiss is a gourmet bakery which is blessedly a short distance from my office. It specializes cakes, pastries and anything sweet, with the goal of making these top-notch baked goods and sweets more accessible and more affordable, despite using the best and freshest ingredients possible. Its offerings are mainly available for pick up from its store but can also be delivered via courier.

I picked up my Chocolate Dream Cake on my way home from work. Fortunately, I called the store two days to reserve my cake and it was ready, chilled and waiting for me when I got to the store.

I was glad to discover that the cake held up well during the hour-long drive home.

My kids were excited to see it and we indulged ourselves with this decadent dessert after our dinner.

The Metrodeal offer is still available. I get the feeling I will be buying another voucher soon.

Sweet Kiss is located at 60-A Scout Limbaga Street, Bgy. Laging Handa, Quezon City.

For inquiries and to reserve your Chocolate Dream Cake, call +63 2 5136600, +63 916 3479958 or +63 928 1431999.

Enchong Dee goes to extremes in Hong Kong in KIX’s new show Extreme Ends

This October, a fresh and unusual side of tourist destination Hong Kong unfolds with KIX original production Extreme Ends.

In this new four-episode reality series, Asian celebrities and their pals experience the diverse aspects of Hong Kong.

Representing the Philippines, actor and sports enthusiast Enchong Dee explores the extreme highs and lows of Asia’s World City. His adventures include playing his first virtual reality game and zip lining. He even compares notes with his friend actress Ria Atayde who explores the opposite ends of Hong Kong’s attractions.

Extreme Ends premieres on KIX (SKYcable ch 63 SD | 242 HD) on October 17 at 9.30pm. It may also be streamed online as it airs on SKY On Demand.

KIX is the ultimate destination for action entertainment in Asia. KIX offers action fans a high-octane blend of programs including sports, blockbuster action movies, hit action series and cutting-edge reality shows.

SKY On Demand is the video streaming service available to SKYcable subscribers that lets them watch their favorite channels live or on demand, anytime, anywhere and on any device.

To use SKY On Demand, register at skyondemand.com.ph and watch this show and more using your computer’s browser or by downloading the SKY On Demand app from the Google Playstore or the Apple App Store.

Organic lunch treat at Kandle Cafe, Tomas Morato

I decided to treat a dear friend from the office to lunch at Kandle Cafe for her birthday.

Why?

Because a) it’s been years since I last ate there; b) I remember the place to be very Instagrammable and my friend and I are both IGers; and c) it’s reasonably near our office which means we can get back from our lunch break on time.

Kandle Cafe initially made a name for itself with its coffee brews and blends, given that the owners, siblings Khryss, Don King, Leslie and Eli Ong (from a play on whose names came the resto’s moniker – KANDLE), were all passionate about coffee culture.

The place is also marked by a design aesthetic that combines warm and homey interiors with nature’s beauty outside.

Along the pathway leading to the dining area, for example, abound plants and water feature installations. The steady sound of trickling water and the sight of verdant growths did have a calming effect on my work-frazzled nerves. Wood and metal furniture add a modern touch to the al fresco setting.

Inside, the sprawling space is lit with warm lighting, showcasing the fun and quirky collection of bric-a-bracs and whimsical accents.

This place is designed to be memorable, and to be a setting for great memories.

For our memorable birthday lunch, we ordered:

Chilean Mussel Pasta (Php380). Chilean mussels sauteed in a garlic and white wine sauce served on top of al dente tagliatelle and topped with grated parmesan.

Pork Tonkatsu (Php350). Tender pork loin stuffed with cheese, breaded and deep-fried to a golden brown, served with house-made teriyaki sauce, sesame cabbage salad and blue rice (yep, the color comes from the edible flower they serve it with).

For dessert, we indulged in a moist and heavenly Carrot Bar (Php100), a Lava Cookie (Php55) and a Maple Cookie with Bacon (Php80).

While the food items were definitely a sight to behold, there were hits and misses upon eating them. I think that the pork tonkatsu may be better accompanied by the sweet and peppery tonkatsu sauce rather than a teriyaki sauce which does not bring out as much of the pork’s flavor as I would like. The lava cookie, on the other hand, was lacking the rich chocolatey taste and gooey texture that I’ve come to expect.

That said, we loved the interplay of textures and flavors in the Chilean Mussel Pasta and the moist and richly sweet Carrot Bar.

The servers were also attentive and knowledgeable about their offerings, citing features or ingredients that make their dishes unique as they are serving them.

I definitely wouldn’t mind returning here for a nice and relaxed coffee break so I could try out the resto’s celebrated brews and more of its pastries.

Kandle Cafe is located at 113 Mother Ignacia Avenue, Bgy South Triangle, Quezon City, Sundays to Thursdays, 11am to 11pm and Fridays to Saturdays from 11am to 12mn. For reservations and inquiries, call +63 2 3724504. Or you can book your table via Zomato like I did. 🙂

Coco Dolce supports organic farming with its coconut-rich chocolate bars

Coconut and its various derivatives have long been touted for their contributions to the flavors and health benefits of food prepared with them.

My foray into Kultura Filipino’s “Crafts for a Cause” exhibit where I chanced upon the Coco Dolce stall, however, was the first time I heard about using coconut products in chocolate production.

This unusual feature is in line with the tenets that Coco Dolce producer, The Freefood Co., operate by. Its guiding principles include: better health, helping rural areas develop into sustainable communities, and respect for the planet and its resouces.

Its chocolate bars, therefore, are made from a rich blend of fine cacao beans, low-glycemic coconut sap sugar, virgin coconut oil and vanilla. These ingredients were sourced from Mindanao’s organic coconut farming communities and from local growers of indigenous cacao and nuts across the country. The resulting chocolate products are free from GMOs, harmful processing agents and preservatives and other chemicals that may adversely affect one’s health.

Organic coconut sap sugar, in particular, has a low glycemic index level of 35, making Coco Dolce bars suitable for people who need to manage their sugar intake.

The bars are manufactured by chocolate artisans using the traditional conching method. This involves the heating and mixing of the chocolate’s ingredients over long periods of time. The process helps in developing the chocolate’s flavor through frictional heat, release of volatiles and acids, and oxydation.

I bought two of Coco Dolce’s 45g chocolate bar variants: the Milk Chocolate (whole milk powder added to the other ingredients) and the 65% Dark Chocolate.

The bars hold well without refrigeration yet has a smooth texture upon biting. The chocolate flavor is rich, helped by the non-cloying and milder sweetness of the coco sugar.

Over the holidays, I plan to gift some bars to my titos and titas who are trying to control their sugar intake. Because the holiday season is a time to enjoy good food, right?

Aside from SM’s Kultura Filipino outlets, Coco Dolce chocolates may also be purchased online in The Good Store.

Check out my review of another artisanal chocolate –Malagos single origin premium chocolate.

Ways for working moms to keep calm and carry on

There’s much to stress about with today’s busy urban lifestyle.

For working moms like us, juggling our multiple roles and responsibilities at home, at work, and in the community can be harrowing. Meeting expectations from superiors and colleagues at work, seeing to the needs of family members, and serving the communities we are part of do sometimes take their toll.

A chronically stressful lifestyle will have serious effects on both physical and mental health. Manifestations of stressful living range from headaches, stomach upsets and chest pains to lack of motivation, difficulty sleeping and anger or irritability.

Given all the demands on our time and attention, working moms can’t afford to be sidelined by symptoms of stress.

Some well-meaning folk would just give the advice to “keep calm and carry on.” However, that is easier said than done.

Among the ways to effectively handle stress, as advised by a Psychology Today article, are to:

Accept that stress is a part of life.
Keep problems in perspective.
Take care of physical health.
Look for a silver lining.

I discovered one such silver lining when my sister-in-law gifted me with a bottle Prosource Calming Oil.

In this handy 10ml bottle is a mixture of natural ingredients that include virgin coconut oil, ginger, lavender, eucalyptus and menthol. The bottle’s roll-on mechanism also helps in quickly applying the oil to alleviate discomforts and various effects of stress, such as:

Headaches
Neck, back and joint pains
Muscle pains
Gas pains
Dizziness and motion sickness
Colds and coughs

This calming oil is a boon to me whenever I experience driving anxiety. When I feel the headache and nausea coming when I’m behind the wheel, I rub some calming oil on my temples. The cool, soothing sensation on my skin and the fresh scent help to manage my discomfort, allowing me to successfully reach my destination.

This was also helpful when my little boy got sick; massaging it onto his back and chest helped in quieting his bouts of coughing enough for him to get a good night’s sleep.

Stress may be a part of life, but it need not be life-limiting.

Prosource Extra Virgin Coconut Oil is available in most Watsons and Mercury Drug outlets nationwide. It retails at Php120/tube.