Gel Jose

How leading LPG company Solane makes sure all LPG tanks are worth your money and safe for the community

When it comes to everyday household essentials, it’s almost always tempting to go for cheaper alternatives to save money. It may seem easy to dismiss an item as “Pwede na” and “Nakasanayan na kasi” without giving much thought on its safety and quality.

This may especially hold true for your LPG tank, but did you know that something as volatile as this product goes through so much to make sure that you and your loved ones are safe?

Every step of the way, Isla LPG, the company behind Solane, constantly checks that each tank is safe from leaks that may cause massive fires and explosions, while ensuring that valued customers get their money’s worth. With proliferating fake and substandard LPG tanks in the market, knowing that authentic and trusted LPG brands like Solane go through tedious security and quality checks means you have one less thing in the house to worry about.

Here’s how Solane tanks come from the plant and reach your homes, ensuring you get the LPG safety and quality you paid for:

Plant Operations

Safety starts at the source. Solane makes sure that its liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) products are compliant with quality standards. LPG storage facilities and pipe systems within the plant are also inspected to ensure that they are at par with local and global safety standards, ensuring that there will be no contamination and leak in the workplace.

Refill and Distribution

Before any distribution takes place, Solane ensures that all trucks that carry Solane products are checked and inspected to make sure that they are compliant with safety standards.

Now what happens to the empty tanks and how do the replacement Solane tanks look smooth, clean, and rust-free? When empty LPG tanks are unloaded from packed trucks that come from distributors, Solane LPG tanks are cushioned from impact to prevent damage that may cause leakage.

Empty tanks are thoroughly checked for their authenticity, condition, and suitability for refill. Authentic Solane LPG tanks have a requalification date on the side, which indicates the date the tank is due for maintenance. Tanks that are found to be one month before their requalification date are removed from the refilling process and are re-inspected to ensure cylinder integrity.

Once clean, cylinders are refilled. Cylinders will then be double-checked for leaks and fitted with a biodegradable seal that has a unique serial number. Filled cylinders will be then tested based on their weight and safety. The cylinder weight must be exactly the sum of the tare weight, which is the weight of the tank when empty, and the LPG content.

Delivery

Solane’s safety and quality check does not end with the distribution of LPG tanks to authorized showrooms and outlets. Each delivery Solane makes to your home comes with a 7-Point Safety Check, an exclusive and free-of-charge service made for your safety.

Solane’s well-trained riders conduct the 7-Point Safety Check to ensure proper ventilation, correct type and secure connection of regulator, o-ring and hose, as well as the flame quality.

Solane riders can also conduct the ‘Timbang Challenge,’ where the tank will be weighed in your presence before installation. If you purchase Solane LPG tanks at authorized distributors, these stations are equipped with accurate weighing scales to verify the content weight you purchased.

Solane urges consumers to exercise vigilance in protecting their kitchen and home by trusting only safe and trusted kitchen fuel like Solane LPG. Fake and substandard LPG tanks do not undergo stringent safety and quality measures, making them prone to leaks which may cause explosions and fires.

From the moment LPG tanks are filled at the source to the time they are welcomed to your homes, Solane makes sure that each tank will fully serve its purpose down to the last flame and not end up as a threat to you, your hard-earned property and your loved ones.

To order Verified Solane LPG, you may send a message to 0918-887-5555 or the Solane Facebook page, or place your order through the Solane app.

Reserving your Lumina home this week? Enjoy a 50% discount at Shopee!

Gone are the days when people believe August as a ghost month. And for Lumina Homes, August means celebrating its anniversary with its growing number of homeowners. You can say that it also marks the start of its long Christmas giveaways, beginning with this awesome 50% reservation discount during Shopee 8.8!

Here’s the step-by-step guide to claim your discounted e-voucher:

Proceed to Lumina Homes Shopee Mall store at www.shopee.ph/luminahomesofficial;
Browse through the available or featured home reservation e-vouchers;
Read the e-voucher description and chat with the seller to inquire about Lumina Homes projects location where you can use the e-voucher;
Choose your preferred e-voucher and click “Buy Now” or “Add to Cart” and pay for the e-voucher through Shopee Pay, GCash, or credit card.
The Lumina Homes Expert will receive a notification of the sale, then he/she will contact you to schedule an online appointment for marketing briefing and completion of documents.

Times are changing, and the ease of reserving your new home only gets more and more appealing, at least when you’re dealing with Lumina Homes.

Choose your preferred location, whether you’re in Luzon, Visayas or Mindanao. The projects are available in over 50 key cities and municipalities in the Philippines, such as Rizal, Bulacan, Bataan, Zambales, Nueva Ecija, Tarlac, Pangasinan, La Union, Cagayan, Cavite, Batangas, Laguna, Quezon, Albay, Sorsogon, Iloilo, Cebu, Negros Occidental, Agusan del Norte, Zamboanga del Sur, Bukidnon, Misamis Occidental, and Davao del Norte.

Is stepping into your home your 2022 Christmas wish? This Lumina Homes x Shopee 8.8 could be your sign to fulfill that goal and more! With Lumina Homes’ beautiful houses and modern community centers, right away you’ll definitely feel that you belong.

DTI Fair Trade Permit No. FTEB-147555 Series of 2022

Here’s how to get Php500 off when reserve your own Lumina home online:

Visit Lumina Homes’ website.
Click “E-Services” and “Reserve Online” then fill out your details.
Fill out the project name, phase, block and lot of your preferred Lumina project.
Proceed to payment and use my code JLBLMN500. Payments via GCash or debit/credit cards are accepted.

For more information and announcements, follow @luminahomesofficial on Facebook or visit Lumina Homes’ official website at www.lumina.com.ph.

How small businesses can tap the power of micro-influencers

So now you’ve launched your own business, congratulations!

I’m sure you’re all excited to bring your particular brand of products and services to customers who need it.

The challenge is how to let them know that it exists, right?

As a small business owner, you might already find your hands full handling the day-to-day operations of your enterprise as well as coming up with long-term strategies to grow your business.

Promoting your business consistently and effectively may be quite beyond your bandwidth at the moment.

Also, while the proliferation of various social media platforms may provide a myriad of possibilities in increasing your business’ visibility, mastering how to use these digital outlets will entail a lot of time and effort that might be better used for your core business.

Why not secure the help of people who are already adept at using these platforms?

Tapping top-tier social media influencers to promote your brand may not be within your budget, but take heart: you can opt to partner with a category of social media mavens who can bring the most bang for your bucks.

I’m referring to, of course, micro-influencers.

A 2021 Forbes article by Kelly Ehlers posits that brands who want to work with any level of influencers should consider several factors which include the following:

Cost. Influencers with high follower counts command hefty fees which may limit the actual output that can be negotiated with them but the number of followers who actually make purchase decisions based on their recommendations may not be as high as expected. This would bring your brand’s return on investment (ROI) into question when working with macro-influencers. In contrast, micro-influencers with a smaller follower base may be more affordable for brands to tap and may tend to bring more into the collaboration in terms of additional posts or other services as a way of building a long-term partnership.
Authenticity. Social media users follow influencers because the lifestyle and views depicted in the influencers’ content resonate with them. A seemingly off-brand collaboration may prove to be off-putting, not just to the influencers’ followers, but also to the brands’ existing customers. Micro-influencers, on the other hand, often reach out to brands that they actually love and want to support, or brands that they feel can resonate with their audience.
Reach. While an individual micro-influencer’s follower count may limit the reach of a single sponsored post, working with various micro-influencers of varying ages, geographic locations and other demographics can allow you to expand your brand’s reach across different market segments. Furthermore, micro-influencers also have the potential to engage with niche audiences, especially if they specialize in a particular topic or interest.

So are you now ready to work with micro-influencers to grow your business?

The next challenge is how to go about finding and engaging them.

Intellifluence is an influencer marketing service that helps brands and influencers collaborate to achieve their respective goals.

Its roster of influencers include celebrities, niche authorities as well as peer-level micro-influencers which can be tapped for campaigns aimed at increasing social sales, pre-launch product testing, branding, amplification of communications and search engine optimization (SEO). Its covered platforms run the gamut of popular social media sites such as Facebook, Instagram, Youtube, Tiktok, Twitter and LinkedIn, as well as custom marketplaces, Amazon, and blogs.

Photo credits: Header and in-article photos by freepik on Freepik

Exciting Thai Flavors at Flower Boy, The Grid Food Market

Craving for some excitement? A taste of adventure? A journey to the new and unfamiliar?

Why not try a cuisine that’s off your beaten path?

One of the eateries managed by Lowbrow Casual Restaurants, Flower Boy, operates a stall in The Grid Food Market and offers diners a peek into the bright and rich flavors of Thai cuisine.

Fried Squid Platter (Php440). Large rings of succulent squid, dipped in Sprite flavored batter then deep-fried to golden brown crispiness. Served with crunchy prawn crackers and Jaew sauce.

Bagoong Fried Rice (Php290). Steamed rice topped with scrambled egg and Flower Boy’s own recipe for bagoong made with shrimp paste, rendered pork fat, crispy ham, and tamarind.

Chicken Pad Thai (Php350). Flower Boy’s version of one of Thailand’s national dishes is made to appeal to the Pinoy palate but still keep to its Thai roots. This stir-fried noodle dish is savory, mildly sweet with lots of umami, thanks to its sauce which is cooked for three hours. It looks gorgeous and smells wonderful, too, wouldn’t you agree?

Mango Sticky Rice (Php250). A classic Thai dessert made with succulent mango slices served with sticky rice topped with toasted coconut flakes and coconut cream.

Thai Iced Tea (Php140). Thailand’s popular refreshment made with brewed black tea flavored with spices and sweetened with condensed milk..

Flower Boy is open for pickup and delivery at thegridfoodmarket.com. It is also available for dine-in at Stall 3 at The Grid Food Market, Powerplant Mall, Rockwell Drive, Rockwell Center, Makati. It also delivers via GrabFood, FoodPanda and Pick-A-Roo.

For more details on its menu items and offers, follow Flower Boy on Facebook and Instagram.

The Grid Food Market is the resident food hall of Powerplant Mall which offers a wide range of flavors to cater to various cravings.

Check out my previous posts on other cuisines available at The Grid Food Market:

MetroMart gives tips on how to make the most out of your online grocery shopping

One great thing that came about with the new normal is the convenience of shopping for our groceries online. Here are some tips so you can really maximize your budget and time on your next digital shopping journey with MetroMart – the #1 online grocery delivery service in the Philippines.

Make a list

Just like a physical trip to the store, go into the shopping platform with a plan, and stick to it. Try writing down all your meals for the coming week so you know all the ingredients you’ll need. If you come across something you like but can’t buy yet, don’t worry, just click the heart or like button and you can add it to your wishlist for later!

Save through sales

Try to schedule your checkout time when there’s a sale. These are usually during payday periods like the 15th and end of every month. Check out featured items on sale in MetroMart’s “Payday Specials” to score a big bargain. In this way, you not just save with your online shopping by foregoing the gasoline and transportation expenses, but you also get more savings on your groceries and essentials.

Buy in bulk

Take advantage of the wholesale and retail prices of supermarkets such as UltraMega, that’s now also available on MetroMart! Re-stocking for your home pantry or for your sari-sari store is now 1, 2, easy, and just a few taps on your phone. Especially with the wide selection of items with budget- and retailer- friendly prices from UltraMega Supermarket. You can also avail FREE Delivery for orders with a minimum spend of ₱1,000 until August 2.

Pay and get more discounts

All customers of MetroMart have a wide selection for modes of payment on their online shopping. These include Cash on Delivery, via e-wallet through GCash, or via Debit/Credit cards with leading banks nationwide. Even more promos and discounts will be available through the different modes of payment availed by the customer.

Buy for your special someone

Did you know that you can order your groceries with MetroMart and then get it delivered to another address, even when you’re out of town or abroad? This would be especially helpful if you want to get fresh vegetables and food for your family, but they’re in a different location. What’s really cool too is that MetroMart has expanded to new locations throughout the Philippines like in Davao, Bicol, Cabanatuan, Cagayan de Oro, Iloilo, Palawan, and Pangasinan. The big convenience of online grocery shopping is definitely for every Pinoy!

Try new things, love local

Sometimes, you just never know what kind of food you may want to try or what you’ll suddenly need for your home. Never fear, just go straight into your MetroMart app and order right away! Apart from the leading supermarkets, MetroMart has other specialty stores in different categories like hardware, toys, novelty items, pet care, food products, furniture and medicine. It’s a great way to check out and support new brands by awesome Pinoy entrepreneurs, all in the comfort of your home and on your smartphone.

Stay tuned for lots of upcoming promos, discounts and sales events at MetroMart this 2022. Carpe diem and carpe discounts, happy shopping!

MetroMart is the #1 online grocery delivery service in the Philippines. Our grocery partners include Robinsons Supermarket, S&R (with or no membership card required), Landmark, The Marketplace, Shopwise, All Day Supermarket, Merrymart and over 500+ specialty store retailers like Pet Express, Baby Company, Toy Kingdom, Toys R Us, National Book Store, Office Warehouse, Southstar Drug and AllDay Rx. Customers can order from their favorite stores on the MetroMart app and have it delivered to their door in less than 2 hours! For more updates on MetroMart, like and follow us on Facebook at https://facebook.com/MetroMartPH. Order groceries online or download the app via https://bit.ly/DownloadNowMM.

Attention, A.R.M.Y.: You can relax like BTS as IN THE SOOP Estate is now on Airbnb

K-Pop fans rejoice! The expansive property where 21st-century pop icons BTS stayed during the filming of HYBE’s original content, IN THE SOOP BTS ver. Season 2, is now on Airbnb for an overnight stay for the first time ever. Guests will get the chance to find a moment of peace in the lush countryside of South Korea’s Gangwon region – just as the seven members did while enjoying everyday life and rest on the original content produced by HYBE.

22 - Airbnb BTS IN THE SOOP - Landscape - Credit Time of Blue

21 - Airbnb BTS IN THE SOOP - Mountain Views - Credit Time of Blue

During the second season of IN THE SOOP BTS, the band members experienced leisurely moments and reconnected with nature amidst their busy schedules. Guests will stay at the property, which is a part of a larger estate, and relive their favorite IN THE SOOP BTS moments, such as:

Reading books in the study like RM or relaxing, Jin-style, on the unicorn-shaped float in the home’s pool
Finding creative inspiration and strumming guitars like SUGA, snapping selfies with a Polaroid like j-hope or painting on a canvas as V does
For more high-energy entertainment, weight training like Jimin, flying high on a trampoline like Jung Kook or bouncing a ball in the basketball court like Bam, Jung Kook’s dog

20 - Airbnb BTS IN THE SOOP - Gym Equipment - Credit Time of Blue

14 - Airbnb BTS IN THE SOOP - Music Room - Credit Time of Blue

About the stay

The one-night stay* on August 29 for only $7** — a nod to the band’s seven members — will immerse two lucky guests in the various elements the K-pop group personally enjoyed during their time on property only a few months ago, including:

Some of the same furniture and amenities that appeared on the show so guests can truly channel the lifestyle of BTS
A karaoke machine, sound system and all of BTS hit tracks and albums, including “Permission to Dance”, “Butter” and their just-released album, Proof
Specially catered dishes like charcoal grilled Korean beef (which the band referred to as “the best taste in the universe” in the show), and tteokbokki, or simmered rice cakes. Plus egg tarts produced by Bang & Bakers, currently served at HYBE INSIGHT, HYBE’s music museum.

17 - Airbnb BTS IN THE SOOP - Kitchen - Credit Time of Blue

12 - Airbnb BTS IN THE SOOP - Living Room 2 - Credit Time of Blue

How to book

Guests can request to book this stay on Tuesday, August 2 from 11 AM KST (10 AM PHT) at airbnb.com/inthesoopbts. Guests are responsible for their own travel to and from Seoul, South Korea. Round trip car transportation will be provided for the 20-minute journey from KTX PyeongChang station to the IN THE SOOP BTS property.

While only one overnight stay will be offered, “geok jeong ma” — there will be an opportunity to check out the IN THE SOOP BTS property while staying at other listings near the property soon.

09 - Airbnb BTS IN THE SOOP - Dining Room - Credit Time of Blue

05 - Airbnb BTS IN THE SOOP - Bedroom 2 - Credit Time of Blue

For those looking to discover similar stays surrounded by nature, Airbnb recently introduced a new way to search and discover homes through Airbnb Categories. With 200,000 countryside homes available around the globe, there are plenty of “in the soop” inspired getaways.

Those hoping to stay in the IN THE SOOP BTS ver. ‘Pyeongchang’ Filming Location should note that this stay’s rules require following applicable local rules and guidelines as well as Airbnb’s COVID-19 Safety Practices, which will include wearing a mask and practicing social distancing when required by local laws or guidelines. Staff will also comply with local rules and guidelines while on-site, and will abide by our five-step enhanced cleaning process.

19 - Airbnb BTS IN THE SOOP - Staircase - Credit Time of Blue

06 - Airbnb BTS IN THE SOOP - Bedroom Nook - Credit Time of Blue

*This one-night stay is available for one participant and their fellow guest and is not a contest.

**Plus taxes and fees

Airbnb is closely monitoring Korea COVID-19 infection rates and government policies and will offer booking guests a US $1,000 Airbnb travel credit if Airbnb determines it is necessary to cancel the stay

About Airbnb

Airbnb was born in 2007 when two Hosts welcomed three guests to their San Francisco home, and has since grown to 4 million Hosts who have welcomed more than 900 million guest arrivals in almost every country across the globe. Every day, Hosts offer one-of-a-kind stays and unique Experiences that make it possible for guests to experience the world in a more authentic, connected way.

About HYBE

HYBE, rebranded from Big Hit Entertainment in March 2021, is a global entertainment lifestyle platform company that seeks boundless expansion in order to innovate the music industry. Ever since, HYBE has been expanding its multi label system including BIGHIT MUSIC, BELIFT LAB, SOURCE MUSIC, PLEDIS Entertainment, KOZ ENTERTAINMENT, ADOR, HYBE LABELS JAPAN, while HYBE AMERICA also manages its affiliate labels including Big Machine Label Group. In addition to the label business, HYBE established an integrated structure with its solution business that creates concert, video content, game, original story and retail, as well as a platform business through Weverse, a global fandom platform. Composed of its three headquarters based in Korea, Japan and the US, the company works towards bringing innovative change throughout the global music industry.

About BTS

BTS, an acronym of Bangtan Sonyeondan or “Beyond the Scene,” are a GRAMMY-nominated South Korean boy band that has been capturing the hearts of millions of fans globally since their debut in June 2013. The members of BTS are RM, Jin, SUGA, j-hope, Jimin, V, and Jung Kook. Gaining recognition for their authentic and self-produced music, top-notch performances, and the way they interact with their fans, the band has established themselves as 21st century pop icons breaking countless world records. While imparting a positive influence through activities such as the LOVE MYSELF campaign and the UN ‘Speak Yourself’ speech, the band has mobilized millions of fans across the world (named ARMY), collected six No.1 Billboard Hot 100 singles in a span of a year and just over a month, and performed multiple sold-out stadium shows across the world. They were also named TIME’s Entertainer of the Year 2020. BTS were nominated two years in a row for Best Pop Duo/Group Performance at the 63rd and 64th GRAMMY Awards and have been recognized with numerous prestigious awards like the Billboard Music Awards, American Music Awards (Artist of the Year 2021) and MTV Video Music Awards.

01 - Airbnb BTS IN THE SOOP - Exterior with BTS IN THE SOOP - Credit Time of Blue

About IN THE SOOP

IN THE SOOP, an original content produced by HYBE, features artists embarking on a break in the woods as they step away from their regular work routines. Starring artists reconnecting with nature, HYBE released a series of shows from “In the SOOP BTS Ver.”, “In the SOOP BTS ver. Season 2”, “IN THE SOOP SEVENTEEN ver.”, to its spin-off “IN THE SOOP : Friend-cation”. Based on the concept of restful and healing break from the series, HYBE introduces off-line pop up stores with lifestyle products in multiple cities around the world including Seoul, Singapore, Malaysia and the Philippines. Fans will also be able to experience a unique accommodation and F&B experience at IN THE SOOP BTS ver. ‘Pyeongchang’ Filming Location starting August 2022. Through IN THE SOOP, HYBE continues to provide immersive entertainment lifestyle experiences through original content featuring artists, merchandise and offline stores.

House images and details provided by Airbnb in a recent press release.

A new way to get some #IndulgingComfort: Cinnabon’s Toffee Minichocobon!

Oooh, my sweet-tooth senses are tingling!

It might have something to do with this mysterious box of goodies from Cinnabon!

Since 1985, Cinnabon has been making dreamy cinnamon buns: the soft and fluffy kind with sweetly spiced cinnamon tucked in between layers and topped creamy and gooey frosting.

From its hometown in Seattle, WA where father-and-son entrepreneurs Rich and Greg Komen partnered with expert baker Jerilyn Brusseau to craft the ultimate cinnamon bun, Cinnabon has been producing batch after delectable batch of this irresistible stuff.

Having made its way to the Philippines back in 1999, the brand has since established its presence in the country to include twenty Cinnabon bakeries which beckon shoppers and passersby with the irresistible fragrance of hot cinnamon buns, fresh from the oven.

Its global empire really began with the creation of the Classic Cinnabon Roll, which then made way for new and delicious variants such as the Caramel Pecanbon (the classic roll with the addition of caramel sauce and chopped pecans) and the Chocobon (the classic roll with lots of chocolatey goodness). This triumvirate of Cinnabon flavors, along with an occassional new flavor such as the recent Cranberry Biscoff Minibon, has been providing dessert lovers some #indulgingcomfort that only perfectly baked Cinnabon rolls can give.

Now, there’s something new and exciting baking at Cinnabon: the Toffee Minichocobon!

The all-time favorite chocolate-flavored cinnamon roll gets an infusion of toffee flavors, thanks to the toffee crunch bits tucked into it and sprinkled on top, plus the drizzle of yummy toffee sauce, truly a new #recipeforwonderful.

Enjoy a piece of this #indulgingcomfort for Php100 at your nearest Cinnabon outlet, or grab a box of four for Php300 or a box of nine for Php600 to enjoy with your fellow dessert lovers at home.

And don’t worry about finishing the entire box all at once. Store your buns at room temperature for up to two days and then re-heat in the microwave oven for 15-20 seconds (add 5 seconds per additional bun).

Cinnabon stores are located at:

SM Aura Premiere, SM Baguio, SM Megamall, SM Mall of Asia, SM North EDSA and SM North EDSA North Towers, SM City Clark, SM Cagayan de Oro, SM Seaside Cebu, SM Fairview, SM Mindpro
Estancia Mall
Trinoma Mall
Festival Mall
Ayala Malls Manila Bay
Robinsons Magnolia, Robinsons Galleria
Alabang Town Center
SLEX Shell Travel Plaza – Main, SLEX Shell Travel Plaza – Deli2Go, SLEX Shell Mamplasan
Petron Travel Plaza
Caltex San Pedro Travel Plaza
NLEX Shell Travel Plaza – Deli2Go, NLEX Drive & Dine
NAIA Terminal 3, NAIA Terminal

Can’t go to a Cinnabon bakery? Order your Cinnabons for delivery right to your doorstep via GrabFood, FoodPanda and G-Life.

For the latest news on its products and offers, follow Cinnabon on Facebook and Instagram.

Check out my other posts about Cinnabon:

Cinnabon Estancia — Quick and sweet escape at Cinnabon, Estancia Mall

Cinnabon Cranberry Biscoff — Enjoy some #IndulgingComfort with Cinnabon’s Cranberry Biscoff Minibon

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

Cool down with fun icy treats at Dripp, The Grid Food Market

The long, hot summer may be giving way to the rainy season but we’re not there yet, folks!

So whenever the heat and humidity of the metro threaten to befoul your mood, know that you can always counter them with something delightfully delicious: cereal soft-serve and swirls from Dripp!

Located inside The Grid Food Market in Powerplant Mall, Dripp is all set to be your go-to stall for yummy post-meal desserts or your icy snack to help you stay cool on a hot day.

What goes into your Dripp? A whole lotta goodness, that’s what!

It all starts with Dripp’s creamy 100% fresh milk soft-serve base, then comes added flavors and textures from:

Cereals such as Coco Pops, Froot Loops, Frosties, Koko Krunch, Milo Cereal, Trix, Gold Corn Flakes, Honey Stars and Honey Gold Corn. For an additional Php25, you can add premium cereals such as Dunkin Caramel Macchiato, Dunkin Mocha Latte, Fruity Pebbles, Lucky Charms, Oreo O’s, Reese’s Puffs, Chips Ahoy Cereal, Cinnamon Toast Cruch, Chocolate Churros and Wendy’s Frosty
Mixins such as Polvoron, Milo Powder, Crushed Oreos, Matcha Powder, Barquillos Crisps, Dark Chocolate Sticks, Almonds, Black Sesame, Candy Sprinkles, Cashew Nuts, Rice Crispies, Choc Nut, Mini Kitkats, Crushed Grahams and more
Drizzles such as Caramel, Chocolate, Honey and Strawberry

For Php180, you can Make Your Own Soft Serve Flavors by picking one each from the Cereals, Mixins and Drizzles selections to add to your premium milk-based soft-serve or choose from the top combinations recommended by Dripp’s very own Chef Patrick Go which include:

The Grrrid Blend: Gold Corn Flakes, Graham, Caramel
Choco Crunch: Koko Krunch, Rice Crispies, Chocolate
Pop That Matcha: Coco Pops, Matcha Powder, Chocolate
Funfetti: Froot Loops, Candy Sprinkle, Strawberry
Milo Loco: Milo Cereal, Crushed Oreos, Caramel
Fruity Stars: Trix, Honey Star, Strawberry

But the fun doesn’t end there: Dripp recently made a move towards creating more out-of-this-world ice cream concoctions with its new secret menu which includes:

Hot Cheetos: inspired by the fan-favorite snack, this sundae is covered in crushed Hot Cheetos for a sweet-salty dessert with a kick
Dripp Scramble: Dripp’s own version of the classic Pinoy dessert overloaded with sprinkles, marshmallows, chocolate drizzle, and more
my personal pick, Horlicks Crunch: this has that distinctive, malty flavor that reminds you of ‘50’s American-diner milkshakes, to which I added more crunch in the form of almond slices

So, really, whether the summer season is on the rise or ebbing away, there’s always a reason and an opportunity to treat yourself to a cool and creamy delicious delight at Dripp!

Dripp is located Stall 19, The Grid Food Market, R2 Power Plant Mall, Rockwell Drive, Rockwell Center, Makati City.

For more details on its promos and offers, follow Dripp on Facebook or Instagram.

The Grid Food Market is the resident food hall of Powerplant Mall which offers a wide range of flavors to cater to various cravings.

Check out my previous posts on other cuisines available at The Grid Food Market:

Disclosure: I attended a food tasting held at this establishment. Food items mentioned here were served at no cost to the attendees.

Australian brand Coles now available exclusively at SM Markets

When you think of Australia (the continent and the country!), what comes to mind?

Is it the unusual fauna such as koalas, kangaroos and wallabies that make Austrialia their home? Is it Australia’s iconic landmarks such as the Sydney Opera House and Sydney Harbor Bridge? Is it the natural wonders that abound in the continent such as the Great Barrier Reef and the Great Outback?

Being the sixth largest country in the world, Australia is filled with awe-inspiring wildlife and sceneries, which also makes it one of the top tourist destinations of the world.

And while visiting Australia is not something you can do everyday, you can definitely enjoy some of the flavors that make The Land Down Under a delicious place to be.

SM Markets exclusively brings home hundreds of Coles products and makes them available in select SM Supermarket, SM Hypermarket and Savemore branches.

Coles is one of Australia’s largest supermarket chains with over 800 outlets. It made its way tot he Philippines for the very first time through its sole distributor, SM Markets, giving Pinoys the chance to experience Aussie flavors at home. With high-quality, yet practical and budget-friendly products ranging from cookies, chocolate bars, milk, Australian honey, coffee, tea and cereals to baking needs, condiments, hearty soups, tasty liquid stocks and more, Coles is all set to expand Pinoys’ gastronomic horizons.

“We’re very proud to exclusively carry great selections of Coles products as part of our already wide range of offerings,” shares Jojo Tagbo, SM Supermarket president. “Coles is a very practical brand that offers value for money and we definitely recommend it for everyday use, especially because of its affordability. It has always been SM Markets’ endeavor to bring the world’s best products to the grocery carts and, ultimately, the tables of our customers. We feel very privileged to be the only store where people can find and satisfy their Coles cravings.

Coles products are available in thirty branches all over the country:

SM Supermarket: Baguio, Aura Premier, Davao, Megamall B, Mandurriao, San Lazaro, Bacolod, Fairview, Makati, Naga, Lucena, Cebu Reclamation, Southmall, Dasmarinas, Roxas, and soon in Lanang Davao, Olongapo Central, North EDSA, Puerto Princesa, Seaside Cebu, Sta. Rosa, Marikina, Bacoor, Cagayan de Oro and Pampanga
SM Hypermarket: Mall of Asia, Clark, Pasig, Fairview, Marilao, North EDSA, Taytay, Bicutan, Sucat, Cherry Congressional, Las Pinas, Jazz, Molino, and soon in Baliwag, Rosales, FTI, Marketmall Dasma, Jmall, and Dagupan
Savemore Market: Acacia, La Trinidad, and soon in Light Residences, Parkmall, Dumaguete, Tacloban, Bangkal, Angono and Boracay

Product samples were provided to facilitate this feature. Details provided in a recent press release.

High Vaccine Coverage, Vaccine Suitability, crucial to combating Pneumonia in PH, says Vaccine Expert

A VACCINE EXPERT reinforced high vaccine coverage and the suitability of a pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV) as crucial strategies to reducing overall pneumococcal disease burden in the Philippines.

Pneumonia is the leading cause of death of children below five years old in the Philippines. Globally, around 672,000 children die from pneumonia every year. This is equivalent to a child dying every 47 seconds.

Dr. Olakunle Oladehin, a vaccine expert and current Regional Vaccines Medical Lead for GSK, stressed the importance of high vaccine coverage to ensure success of a vaccination program especially in the current context of the pandemic.

“Even if we have the best vaccines, we will not be able to see its full impact if vaccination coverage is low. It is critical that every country strives to revive its vaccination uptake against diseases like pneumonia,” said Dr. Oladehin in a scientific lecture with local healthcare experts last July 7.

According to the Department of Health (DOH), childhood immunization fell to 48.5% in 2021 due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and the necessary focus on COVID-19 vaccination as a response. The DOH has continuously ramped up its routine immunization activities including implementing the Chikiting Bakunation Days from April to June.

“I commend the determination of the Philippine government to bring back its immunization rates coming from the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Dr Oladehin.

Meanwhile, Dr. Oladehin also reiterated the importance of ensuring that a given PCV should protect against relevant strains of Streptococcus pneumoniae in the Philippines, a type of bacteria that causes pneumonia and other invasive diseases.

“To achieve overall protection, the choice of PCV should address the most prevalent strains in the local landscape,” said the vaccine expert.

In 2020, the Health Technology Assessment Council (HTAC) of DOH reviewed the use of PCVs in the country, coming from a position statement issued by the World Health Organization (WHO) in 2019. The mandate of HTAC is to undertake technology appraisals by determining their clinical and economic values in the Philippine healthcare system.

In its report, HTAC recommended the use of PCVs protecting against 11 important strains which accounted for 48% of Invasive Pneumococcal Disease (IPD) cases found in the Philippines namely 1, 4, 5, 6B, 7F, 9V, 14, 18C, 19A, 19F and 23F. The recommendation was based on local surveillance data from the Research Institute of Tropical Medicine (RITM) from 2012-2019.

Majority of these strains are highly invasive, and it is imperative that a given PCV should have evidence of being able to protect against them, Dr Oladehin said.

“Invasive pneumococcal strains like 18C and 4 can destroy living tissues or spread to many organs of the body through the blood, increasing likelihood of death,” Dr Oladehin zeroed in during his presentation.

Currently, there are three PCVs pre-qualified by the WHO—PCV13 and 2 kinds of PCV10: PHID-CV and SIIL- PCV. The two PCVs that were reviewed by HTAC—PHID-CV and PCV13—are suitable to address the 11 strains in the country.

Backed by real-world evidence and experience of being used in National Immunization Programs (NIP) across the world, both PHID-CV and PCV13 are included in the Philippine National Formulary (PNF) and can be procured for use under the Philippine’s own NIP.

Details and photo of Dr. Oladehin provided in a recent press release.

Header photo by CDC on Unsplash