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Donny Pangilinan shares love lessons from parents Maricel Laxa, Anthony Pangilinan
Actress Maricel Laxa and entrepreneur-motivational speaker Anthony Pangilinan recently marked their 30th wedding anniversary......»»
Behind the ropes: Bautista, Suzuki reflect on TCC experience
More than seizing the opportunity, some of the country’s junior golfers relished the rare experience of observing seasoned players in action and picking up valuable lessons from them......»»
Loonie shares lessons learned from Francis Magalona
Rapper Loonie explained the influence "Master Rapper" Francis Magalona has had on his career. .....»»
DTI shares Christmas shopping tips to consumers: Engage in ‘comparison shopping’
CEBU CITY, Philippines – As the holiday season draws near, the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) finally released its much-anticipated Noche Buena Price Guide for 2023. But before scrolling through the prices, the DTI shared essential consumer tips for everyone to enhance the holiday shopping experience. READ: DTI urged to impose price ceilings to.....»»
Broken family: Young adult shares painful journey, lessons learned along the way
CEBU CITY, Philippines – Parents play a crucial role in molding a child’s growth within the family. Through their eyes, we learn to see even the intricacies and the vastness of the world. Yet, what happens when the familiar environment crumbles? When the lenses through which we’ve seen life blur? When the image of a.....»»
Meta quarterly profit jumps but it sees volatility in ad market
Meta on Wednesday reported that its quarterly profit more than doubled from last year's figure as it looks ahead at a volatile ad market and lawsuits accusing it of profiting from "children's pain." "Meta earnings looked pretty good," said independent tech analyst Rob Enderle. "They have clearly cut back on the bleeding surrounding their metaverse efforts and the company appears to be on a more even keel right now." The tech giant said it made a profit of $11.6 billion as ad revenue climbed 23 percent to $34 billion when compared to the same period a year earlier. "We had a good quarter for our community and business," said Meta chief executive Mark Zuckerberg. The number of people using Facebook monthly rose slightly to 3.05 billion in a year-over-year comparison while monthly active users of Meta's "family" of apps was 3.96 billion a 7 percent increase from the same quarter in 2022, the company reported. Meta said it had trimmed costs, with layoffs and other belt-tightening measures started last year providing "greater efficiency." Meta had suffered a rough 2022 amid a souring economic climate and Apple's data privacy changes, which allowed users to block ad targeting, the pillar of Meta's business. Meta's vow of austerity on spending brought an unprecedented round of cost-cutting that saw the company lay off tens of thousands of workers since last November. Meta shares, which closed the formal trading day down, fell more than three percent further in after-hours trades to $289.50. Chief financial officer Susan Li said during an earnings call that Meta is seeing "volatility" in an ad market that started to soften when the conflict between Israel and Hamas began. "It's hard for us to attribute demand softness directly to any specific geopolitical event," Li said. "We have seen broader demand softness follow other regional conflicts in the past, such as in the Ukraine war, so this is something that we're continuing to monitor." Lawsuit peril Analyst Enderle maintained that Meta is at risk from lawsuits poised to damage its image and its wallet. Dozens of US states this week accused Meta of profiting "from children's pain," damaging their mental health and misleading people about the safety of its platforms. "In seeking to maximize its financial gains, Meta has repeatedly misled the public about the substantial dangers of its Social Media Platforms," argued a joint lawsuit filed in federal court in California. The states accused Meta of exploiting young users by creating a business model designed to maximize time they spend on the platform despite harm to their health. In total more than 40 states are suing Meta, though some opted to file in local courts rather than join in the federal case. Meta said the states were singling it out unfairly instead of working with social media companies to develop universal standards for the whole industry. "This landmark lawsuit could herald a seismic shift in how social media platforms approach product features and user engagement," said Insider Intelligence principal analyst Jeremy Goldman. "That said, even as tech stocks face uncertainty, Meta's consistent performance cements its leadership in the digital realm." Meanwhile, the European Union is seeking details on measures Meta has taken to stop the spread of "illegal content and disinformation" in light of the conflict between Israel and Hamas. The AI race The tech giant is putting artificial intelligence into digital assistants and smart glasses as it seeks to gain lost ground in the AI race. "I'm proud of the work our teams have done to advance AI and mixed reality with the launch of Quest 3, Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses, and our AI studio," Zuckerberg said in the earnings release. The second-generation Meta Ray-Ban smart glasses made in a partnership with EssilorLuxottica have a starting price of $299. "Smart glasses are the ideal form factor for you to let AI assistants see what you're seeing and hear what you're hearing," Zuckerberg said. Meta has taken a more cautious approach than its rivals Microsoft, OpenAI, and Google to push out AI products, prioritizing small steps and making its in-house models available to developers and researchers. "The majority of the world's population will have their first experience of generative artificial intelligence with us," Meta chief technology officer Andrew "Boz" Bosworth told AFP in a recent interview. Meta recently unveiled AI-infused chatbots with personalities, along with tools for creating images or written content using spoken prompts. The post Meta quarterly profit jumps but it sees volatility in ad market appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Who wants a ‘tindesal?’
There really is no stopping chef Myke “Tatung” Sarthou. After opening four restaurants of different concepts with business partners — Chef Tatung’s Private Dining, Lore, Azadore, and New York Cubao — he is finally launching his very own on 26 October. It is called Tindeli, and you can find it at Gateway 2 mall, Araneta City, Cubao, Quezon City. Glazed barbecue. Not exactly a restaurant, Tindeli is more of a deli shop and café with a Pinoy touch. It actually got its name from “neighborhood tindahan” and “upscale specialty deli.” It combines a dining area that can accommodate a maximum of 80 people and serves quick meals, salads, sandwiches, noodles, coffee, freshly baked breads and pastries, and a deli that sells homemade sausages, particularly his smoked hamon, wood smoked bacon, tapa, tocino, paté, local cheeses, chicken galantina, longganisa and other charcuterie. It also sells bottled products, such as salad dressings, sauces and drinks. The Galantina they sell in whole chicken form at P1,600. They also slice it and use it for a sandwich or rice meal. Chef Tatung shares that “the food we serve and sell at Tindeli is custom-made for the store, thus giving it a very personal touch. We bake our own breads and pastries, we make our own sausages, longganisa and other charcuterie.” Chori Quezo with salad. All these delicious goodies are, yes, familiar and homey, yet expertly cooked and prepared for the best dining experience ever. One of the highlights of the Tindeli menu is the Tindesal sandwich, which are oversized pandesals with different fillings that remind you of your childhood baon, the kind moms used to make, such as Chicken Salad Sandwich and our longganisa in bread. “Tindesal is our way of celebrating the pandesal as a great bread for delicious sandwiches. Our Chicken Salad Tindesal, for one, is made into an open-faced sandwich topped with a generous dollop of chunky chicken, béchamel sauce and melty cheese to create a delicious blend of flavors and textures that bring back memories and at the same time create new ones,” says Chef Tatung. Galantina. Tindeli, says Chef Tatung, is “not meant to be a fancy place but a cozy spot where one can relax and chill with good homemade food and good coffee or tea — alone or with friends and family.” Chef Tatung personally handpicked the colors and the design of Tindeli. He had modern Filipino interiors done, using traditional elements of Filipino design, such as an oversized solihiya, or thin rattan woven into sunburst patterns, to give the place a homey vibe. So, with the use of terra cotta tegula roofing as wall treatment. The lively hues and elements of modern art, on the other hand, gives the Filipino deli and café a contemporary and relaxed ambiance. Lechon Baka Tindesal. From this first store at Gateway 2 mall, Chef Tatung is looking to open more Tindeli outlets in key cities around the metro and provincial areas in the next two to three years. The post Who wants a ‘tindesal?’ appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
High expectations from winners (4)
Vice President and DepEd Secretary Sara Duterte-Carpio took very seriously the job given to her by President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. to prepare a curriculum relevant to producing competent, job-ready, active, and responsible citizens. In her report on basic education in the Philippines, she revealed in detail the problems confronting it, the teachers, and learners; and crafted means to overcome them, guided by the Constitution and the convention on the rights of the child, reaffirming our country’s commitment to improving the quality of basic education in the Philippines. “The four learners at home — one in kindergarten, one in Grade 4, one in Grade 7, and one in Grade 9 — enable me to see different kinds of problems being experienced by learners every day.” “In my work as Secretary of Education, I am in the company of 28 million Filipino learners throughout the country. I can see numerous problems faced by them every day.” “Four learners at home, plus 28 million more throughout the land, these, my countrymen, make my interest in the future of Philippine education a very personal matter.” “Filipino learners are not academically proficient. In time, Filipino learners experience emotional abuse and exhaustion. Some of them suffer from psychological fatigue. And being academically insecure, many of them may fail to meet the standards of a demanding and competitive world. These are caused and triggered by conditions present at home, in our communities, and even in our schools as a result of problems ingrained in our system. This is the truth. This is our future. But this is a future that we can change. That is why we are here.” “We have to take good care of our teachers. They are the lifeblood of the Department of Education. Without our teachers, our mission to carve a better future for our children will fail.” “And to empower our learners with the relevant skills and knowledge, we shall focus on upscaling their knowledge and capacities as public servants. The assessment of the K-12 curriculum revealed the weak teaching methods of our teachers in addressing 21st-century skills. Studies done by the Research Center of Teacher Quality, the World Bank, and UNICEF showed that our teachers need further support, particularly in explicitly and strategically teaching critical thinking and problem-solving skills.” “While critical thinking was the most evident in the curriculum, it was also the least taught to students by the teachers. Instead, lessons leaned towards conceptual or content-based teaching. And lessons lacked in-depth processing to cultivate critical thinking and problem-solving. Finally, there appears to be insufficient knowledge on developing 21st-century skills, including higher-order thinking skills among learners. This is not the fault of our teachers—whose dedication, integrity, and commitment to serving Filipino children and the country strengthen our collective effort to achieve our shared dreams for our learners. The sad reality is that the system has failed them.” “This is the system that burdens them with backbreaking and time-consuming administrative tasks, a system that provides no adequate support and robs them of the opportunity to professionally grow and professionally teach, assist and guide our learners.” “Our teachers must return to our classrooms and they must teach.” Studies and tests were conducted to measure the literacy of the learners. It was discovered that the issue of literacy is alarming in our basic education. We must address it appropriately and effectively. The 2018 study results showed that 81 percent of Filipino learners could not deal with basic math problems, 81 percent had trouble understanding texts of moderate length, and 78 percent could not recognize correct explanations for scientific phenomena or draw valid conclusions from given data. “We can do better than this,” Sara said. “We are better than this. Studies like these are opportunities for us to thoroughly examine our system and defects that hurt our children’s abilities.” (To be continued) The post High expectations from winners (4) appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Mano po, Tatang
Johans Juruena was only nine years old when he had a chance encounter with SM founder Henry Sy Sr. That brief encounter profoundly impacted his life. It was 1978, and Juruena was looking forward to his yearly summer visit to Manila. Summers, for many youngsters, were spent hanging around at what was then Shoemart along Carriedo Street in Quiapo, Manila, Jaruena’s mother, Erlinda, worked as a sales clerk for the growing store. He still vividly remembered what the shoe store looked like. “It sold shoes for men, ladies, and children. There was a glass display in the middle where several shoes were showcased.” During that same summer, Juruena bumped into store owner Henry Sy, whom SM employees fondly called “Tatang.” [caption id="attachment_201003" align="aligncenter" width="2560"] ‘Tatang’ Henry Sy has one unbeatable formula in his business: ‘Know customers’ needs.’[/caption] Father to all Juruena shared that his mother told him to pay his respects to Sy through pagmamano, the traditional gesture of respect toward the elderly by touching one’s forehead to the back of an elder’s hand as an act of “blessing.” “When Tatang visited the store along Carriedo Street to check the display and its merchandise, it just so happened that I was there. I was lucky enough to approach him and pay my respects,” he recalled. “He was smiling. He even held out his hand for me to ‘bless.’” While observing the store owner, Juruena overheard how Tatang constantly quizzed his employees about what the customers needed. “What are customers looking for that we don’t have?” Tatang would ask. “What do our customers need that we don’t have?” During that brief encounter, the youngster became an admirer of Tatang — for his attention to what customers needed most, which also strengthened his determination to be an employee of the company just like his mother. Working for SM It was 1990, when Juruena, fresh out of college, became part of SM. He first worked as a sales utility clerk, facing customers, day in and day out, that honed his skills as a salesman. “North EDSA is the first Supermall of SM. During our time, customers would line up as soon as the mall opened before 10 a.m. The foot traffic at North EDSA was something else,” he recalled. His next encounter with Tatang happened while handling the Men’s Shoes section at the SM Store North EDSA. “I saw him visit. I was already a Men’s Shoes Department supervisor, that was then 1996 or 1997. My manager wasn’t around that day; he had the day off. Usually, Tatang would drop by the Men’s Shoes section first. We were all ready.” Tatang reminded Juruena and the other employees to keep “the sandals and other footwear clean. That way, he said, “the customers could appreciate their products better. It was a simple but important lesson that Juruego would carry with him throughout his life.” Salute to a continuing legacy Fast forward to 2023. Many things have changed, but some things have remained constant. SM is celebrating its 65th year in the industry. Juruena’s experience working at SM is a testament to the company’s decades-long commitment to top-notch customer service and Tatang’s enduring legacy. He is now a manager at SM Store Quiapo and now shares to the new employees what Tatang imparted to him. The post Mano po, Tatang appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
A multifaceted life
Seventy-five is a number of great significance, which is why people who have reached this stage always have a celebratory mode. Only a few are given the rare experience to be 75. In morbidity statistics, people of lesser tenacity do not even reach the golden era of life, much more the diamond age. For us, 75 connotes more than a ripe age. It constitutes a wealth of experience and a plethora of wisdom. At 75, one has already achieved more than he could ever dream of. For some, it’s an age where learning has not stopped, where wisdom comes of age and where sound decisions have been made. Seventy-five is about tenacity. Whoever reaches this age must have weathered all storms, sailed through the waves of life and bended on windy seasons. If lessons were to be learned, they would have to be how to be strong in the midst of trials, how to rule with ease and how to be calm in turbulent times. At 75, one’s excursion to life is viewed with generous perspective, panning on what today gives and with hope eyed for the future. A 75-year-old person tends to look at life with a peaceful countenance. He is no longer racing against time. He has stopped competing, just enjoying what all the days would give. At 75, you become focused more on healthy activities and improving your physical wellness. So, outdoor activities appeal to you more than ever. You jog, you walk, you swim, you trek, you see more time with friends and family. Seventy-five also means spending more time with your family, enjoying quality time with your children and grandchildren. Happy occasions like birthdays always fill up good memories. Even simple bantering matters to you. At 75, you become active in social activities as you busy yourself attending them. Being a member of a club communities makes you feel wanted and needed and resuscitates your passion to be in the inner wheel of things you enjoy doing. At 75, you become more emotional, unwittingly or wittingly wishing more attention, more love, more care. At this age, you also enjoy a trip down memory lane. In your free time, you browse through a lot of photo albums which immortalized great moments of your past life. You want to relive those memories which linger in your mind, making wishful thinking in the process. It is at this age where you also feel grateful, successful and peaceful. Lastly, at 75, priorities change. Since you’re no longer a spring chicken, you avoid strenuous activities. You enjoy life at peace and you don’t like any noise. You have a better appreciation of things. Your perspective of things around you changes. You eat in moderation as you value your health more than anything. You learn from every little thing that life has to offer. You become more humble and you appreciate things more. Life at 75 shines with the facets honed by years. The post A multifaceted life appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
LIFE’S PASSING GRADE
As the sun slowly descends in the western sky, a man on the balcony of a Malate condominium is gazing at the undulating waters of Manila Bay as it mirrors the disappearing sun. While enjoying this scenic view, the man casts his eyes on the tinted window glass next to him and sees his “youthful” visage. Blessed with baby-faced features, round face and big doe eyes, he looks younger than 50. However, his silvery hair and crow’s feet tell a different story. The man suddenly wonders, “What does it feel like to be 75?” The awareness dawns that, at the age of 75, he will find himself at the twilight of his life, contemplating on the rich tapestry of experiences that have shaped his journey. As the question lingers in his mind, he finds solace in the belief that life, like the enduring waves of Manila Bay, will keep going, revealing its beauty in every rise and fall. [caption id="attachment_194598" align="aligncenter" width="2560"] The grade of 75 may not be a perfect score, yet it symbolizes the lessons learned along the way. | PHOTOGRAPH COURTESY OF unsplash/ nguyen-dang-hoang-nhu[/caption] Make the grade Like everyone else, the man had his fair share of ups and downs, successes and failures. As he pondered through the chapters of his life, he couldn’t help but compare life to an exam, with 75 as the passing grade. Life threw questions at him — some easy, others hard and challenging. Some were like multiple-choice quizzes, offering options that seemed equally plausible. Others resembled open-ended questions, requiring thoughtful reflection. Yet, there were times when the questions could be answered with a simple “yes” or “no.” It was very rare for him to encounter a question without a clear right or wrong answer. Regardless of the nature of the exam, the man faced each one head-on. While he stumbled along the way, as any person might, he always got up, learning from each test. Wisdom and experience played a significant role in overcoming obstacles. The grade of 75 may not be a perfect score, yet it symbolizes the lessons learned along the way. In his moments of introspection, he sees 75 not merely a passing grade but a mark of resilience, reflecting the valuable insights he gained from life’s diverse questions. Each failure, each wrong answer, had been a lesson woven into the fabric of his being, contributing to the mosaic of experience that defined him. With three-quarters of a century’s worth of experience, the man, upon reaching the age of 75, plans to continue relishing life every day until the sun goes down on him. Shoot a 75 A typical 18-hole golf course usually has a total par of around 72. If a course has a par of 72 and a golfer takes 75 strokes to complete the course, the reported score is “three-over-par,” indicating that the golfer took three shots more than par to finish. Think of life like playing a round of golf. Reaching the age of 75 can be likened to completing an 18-hole golf course. In this analogy, the par 72 represents the average life expectancy. According to global data analyst, database.earth, the current average life expectancy for the Philippines in 2023 is 72.2951 years. If, at age 75, an individual encounters certain challenges or deviates from the conventional path, it can be compared to a golfer taking 75 strokes to finish a par 72 course. The reported score of “three-over-par” serves as a metaphor for the additional efforts or adjustments one might need to make in life at that age. The main difference, however, between life and golf lies in the fact that being “under par” is favorable in the sports, while being “over par” has a positive meaning in getting older. Near the twilight Sipping his coffee, the man now observes the sky shifting its colors from fiery orange to deep purple. While his outlook upon reaching 75 may appear positive, he wonders if he can still play golf or any of his favorite sports at that age. At 75, an individual is often considered to be in a phase of life where he encounters unique health challenges. This prompts contemplation about the quality of life, medical care and societal perspectives on aging. The post LIFE’S PASSING GRADE appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Jungolfers savor JPGT experience
They all had fun and soaked up the experience but what these band of youngsters relished more while playing on the ICTSI Junior PGT were the valuable lessons learned during the course of their campaign in the pioneering series......»»
The joy of eating
There is almost always a restaurant opening in the metropolis — either to excite the taste buds or simply elevate the Filipino dining experience. Yes, from Filipino dishes to American-Italian fare and specialty steakhouse, there will always be something for everyone to discover, relish and enjoy. LOCAVORE AT ESTANCIA MALL A cozy, contemporary space ensconced inside the Estancia Mall in Pasig City, Locavore is given true Filipino touches with its warm woods, rattan chairs, rustic pendant lights and an expansive glass window that provides an exceptional view of the surrounding environs. [caption id="attachment_192645" align="aligncenter" width="771"] OLIVE Garden’s Herb Roasted Chicken.[/caption] Opened last May, Locavore at Estancia Mall is the seventh branch of the restaurant, which catapulted to prominence in the culinary arena in 2014 after it opened its first branch at Brixton Barrio Kapitolyo, also in Pasig City. It then opened at Forbestown in Taguig City, Valero Street in Makati City, S’Maison in Pasay City, Eastwood Mall in Quezon City and SM City Bacoor. With the talented chef Mikel Zaguirre and his team at the helm, Locavore takes the homey heartwarming flavors of Filipino cooking gives a more sophisticated interpretation. And with the newly opened branch comes an expanded menu and new dishes exclusively in the Estancia outlet. For starters, have the crisp BBM or Bagnet, Buro and Mustasa — a platter filled with thinly sliced, crispy pork bagnet chips that you wrap in mustasa leaves (Samgyup style) seasoned with burong (pickled) hipon and burong mangga with gochugaru (Korean chili flakes). Follow it up with Bistek Pintxos, toasted bread decked with bistek-style beef tenderloin, grilled quesong puti, truffle aioli and red onions. [caption id="attachment_192646" align="aligncenter" width="525"] OLIVE Garden’s Purple White Cocktail.[/caption] “The new dishes are presented on slate plates because they are mostly bar chows,” says Alejandro Pahan Jr., operations manager. “That’s our new concept. We were thinking of madaling kainin (easy to eat) and something fun. Because samgyup is trending, we came up with pintxos.” The resto also has Bulalo Pintxos, roasted bone marrow with pickled labanos and pares jam; Yakitori Platter, grilled skewered chicken wings, chicken thigh meat, gizzard and liver served with annatto aioli, tocino butter, miso butter and spiced suka; Bagnet Chips, housemade bagnet chips served with spiced vinegar; and Inasalitos, inasal chicken with salsa, labuyo aioli served in lumpia taco shell. All these dishes are paired with seven new signature cocktail drinks, crafted by its in-house mixologist. Pahan says the new refreshing drinks heavily relies on the food being served at the restaurant. They complement the taste of the meals. Locavore serves alcohol and spirits. The drinks include Hardin, a hybrid between gin tonic and Tom Collins, with tonic water and botanicals and floral notes like blue pea and elderflower (which has a similar taste notes of lychee), garnished with rosemary and black pepper; Kinilig, a combo of Disaronno amaretto, honey, lemon juice and rum, with rice paper art design on top; Diwata, a blend of Bombay Sapphire gin with Giffard Lychee liqueur, sugar syrup and lemon juice, dressed with basil sprig and forget me not flower; and Antibayotiko, a whiskey-based mix of bourbon, ginger liqueur, honey and lemon juice. Locavore at Estancia Mall has a seating capacity of 120 people and targets bar goers in the area. It’s open until 1 a.m. from Wednesday to Saturday. The rest of the week, it follows the mall hours. OLIVE GARDEN AT THE VERVE A visit to the newly opened third branch of Olive Garden at The Verve in BGC, Taguig City, is a journey of discovery into a world of delicious and affordable pasta, bread, salad, chicken and pizza sensibilities. The menu is broad and touches base with all the departments of classic Italian-American fare. Upon arrival, diners are swiftly delivered a basket of freshly baked breadsticks, which are widely popular in all 900 Olive Garden stores all over the world, including the Philippines. They are buttery, a bit garlicky, moist and chewy. The unlimited breadsticks, including the never-ending soups and salads, come free with every order of an entrée. What a treat! [caption id="attachment_192647" align="aligncenter" width="525"] LOCAVORE’S BBM (Bagnet, Buro, Mustasa).[/caption] The refreshing salad is a merry mix of healthy greens, tomatoes and olives with a light house dressing, while the soup selection includes Pasta E Fagioli, Zuppa Toscana, Minestrone and Chicken & Gnocchi. Olive Garden first opened at the Mall of Asia on 12 September 2022 and at Glorietta 3 in Makati City on 9 January 2023. “It is, more or less, the same menu that we have for our first branch in MOA and also the same menu all over the United States,” Rechele Tiongson, chief operating officer of The Bistro Group, the company responsible for bringing in Olive Garden which was founded in 1982 in Orlando, Florida. “We never changed anything aside from modifying some of the portions that would fit the Filipino market, but the taste and flavor are the same. We use the finest ingredients like imported cheeses.” She adds: “Just to be clear, we did not reduce the portions but we introduce the smaller ones like solo version for those will smaller appetites. The big portions remain the same.” Browsing the menu uncovers more inviting dishes, such as the signature item, Tour of Italy (a huge platter of everything good — Chicken Parmigiana, Lasagna Classico and Fettucino Alfredo pasta), Amazing Alfredos (made from scratch using imported cheeses, not just heavy cream) and an Italian classic, Shrimp Scampi. Just recently, four new dishes were introduced — Mediterranean Chicken, Chicken Tuscany, Roasted Herb Chicken and Italian Braised Short Ribs, all served with a choice of mashed potato or steamed rice. “We are happy with the response of the public to Olive Garden,” shares Tiongson. “It was extremely unexpected when we first opened in MOA. We were busy for the next six months of the restaurant. The queue was really long. People had to wait for 30 to 45 minutes, which we felt bad for our customers, but that was how they responded to the first opening of Olive Garden in the Philippines.” Olive Garden’s vibe is casual, light and bright yet it is warm and comforting with olive green accents. The design of the interiors is an allusion to the Italian countryside through earth tones and natural textures. It can accommodate 150 people. Olive Garden at The Verve in BGC is open from Monday to Thursday, 11 a.m. to 10 p.m., and Friday to Sunday, 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. [caption id="attachment_192648" align="aligncenter" width="525"] LOCAVORE’S Sizzling Sinigang.[/caption] ASTON’S SPECIALITIES AT ARCOVIA Tron Ng, Astons business development executive based in Singapore, flew to Manila last, 22 September, in time for the opening of the third branch of Astons Specialities, a Singapore-based restaurant chain renowned for serving affordable steaks and Western cuisine, at Arcovia City in Pasig City. Astons is a casual steakhouse which first opened in the Philippines last year on the 4/F of Mega Atrium in SM Megamall. The second branch was at Trinoma Mall in Quezon City early this year. Silver Lush Food Corporation brought in the Singapore brand to satisfy the cravings of steak lovers and those who enjoy more seafood, chicken, sausages, burgers and pasta dishes. “This is our third outlet in the Philippines in a span of 16 months,” says Ng. “We have been around since 2005 when it was founded by Aston Soon. We started as a very small coffeeshop in Singapore. Eventually, we managed to draw a lot of attention because we offer quality food at affordable prices.” He adds: “Within a year, we opened our own restaurant and we continue to grow and expand. We have introduced many different brands under Astons and we have over 40 restaurants only in Singapore alone.” [caption id="attachment_192649" align="aligncenter" width="525"] OLIVE Garden Pasta Twirl. (From left) Zachary Reams of Darden Int’l Learning and Development partner; Marc Buencamino, Fort Bonifacio Development Corporation operations director; RC Tiongson, The Bistro Group chief operating officer; Lourdes Reyes, FBDC chief financial officer; and Lisa Ronquillo-Along, The Bistro Group chief marketing officer.[/caption] Aside from the Philippines, Aston Specialities can also be found in Myanmar and Malaysia. It was also recognized by the AsiaOne’s People Choice Awards and Asian Enterprise Brand Awards for its service and offerings. “I believe Astons will do well in the Philippines because the locals lean more on western food,” Ng says. Of course, the piece de resistance of Astons revolves around its steaks and meat, as it should be. The different cuts of meat from prime sirloin and New York strip to prime ribeye steak do not disappoint. Each has wonderful marbling with the juiciness of the meat, coating your tongue with every bite. The perfect grill marks immediately excite one’s appetite and invite you to dig in with your own side dishes — potatoes (baked, mashed, wedges or fries), Mexican nachos (chicken or beef) or Mac & Cheese. Other items on the menu are also a treat, such as Surf & Turf and Chargrilled Salmon Fillet, Grilled Porkchops and Honey Bourbon Ribs. Cocktail drinks are also aplenty — Piña Colada, Tequila Sunrise, Daiquiri, Orange Margarita and Sangria, to name some. With its industrial chandelier, brick accents and dark wood touches, the place takes on the air of an upscale roadhouse, but softened by the muted walls and expansive glass windows. Astons Specialities at Arcovia City is open daily, from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. All told, a trip to any of these newly opened restaurants guarantees a truly gratifying dining experience. The post The joy of eating appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Sara, 7 others relish experience, lessons in JPGT journey
They all had fun and soaked up the experience, but what these band of youngsters relished more while playing on the ICTSI Junior PGT were the valuable lessons learned during the course of their campaign in the pioneering series......»»
Rapper Omar Baliw shares life lessons from Gloc-9
Rapper Omar Baliw shared how Original Pilipino Music (OPM) rap icon Gloc-9 influenced his music and life in general. .....»»
Meditate to clear the mind, feel sense of ease
In John Aguilar’s third and latest book, Methods to Greatness, the author wrote about the importance of nurturing and nourishing the soul based on his interview with Nameeta Dargani, the founding member and president of Art of Living Foundation Philippines. Dargani, in turn, led a meditation session at the book’s recent launch held in an upscale shopping mall. The term meditation, according to United States National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health, “refers to a variety of practices that focus on mind and body integration.” These meditative practices are used to “calm the mind and enhance overall well-being.” Some of them involve “maintaining mental focus on a particular sensation,” such as breathing, a sound, a visual image or a mantra, which is a repeated word or phrase. Dargani, who’s been practicing meditation for 18 years now, shares how she got into it and why she stayed. “Someone told me it would help with my back pain,” she tells DAILY TRIBUNE in an email interview. “It did so much more than that!” These days, she meditates at least once a day in the mornings after doing her yoga practice and breathing techniques that she learned in the Art of Living course she attended in 2005. She also likes to meditate in the evenings for 15 to 20 minutes before her day ends. “The benefits were instant and cumulative shortly after I took the Art of Living course,” she recalls. Art of Living Foundation is touted as one of the largest non-profit organizations in the world. It operates more than 10,000 centers in over 150 countries, offering various educational and self-development programs in meditation, yoga and other tools that help eliminate stress, as well as create a deep sense of inner peace, happiness and well-being. “My mind got clearer,” she adds. “I was getting things done more efficiently with better focus and attention. I felt an overall sense of ease and joy. A lot of my fears and insecurities faded away. After tasting these benefits, I decided it made a lot of sense to incorporate breathing techniques and a meditation practice into my daily routine.” Dargani understands why many people can’t focus, get too distracted or tend to fall asleep when attempting to meditate. “This is why breathwork is so helpful,” she points out. “In particular, the Sudarshan Kriya (SKY Breath) technique taught in the Art of Living course. Working with the breath gives the mind something to do and focus on. It very naturally leads you to a state of meditation.” She then shares a “great tip” she learned in the Art of Living Meditation program: “When you sit for meditation, you mentally say to yourself: ‘I am nothing, I want nothing, I do nothing.’ Only for the duration of the meditation, and then all the labels and desires can come back after that!” “For me, this strategy really works and helps me to let go and drop everything that’s going on in my life so that I can just sit and be present with the experience,” she says. “Apart from this, the usual guidelines are to sit with your spine erect, your back can be rested if needed on a chair. It’s really important to be comfortable so that you can transcend the body level.” In the Philippines, Dargani explains, the foundation has “touched the lives of thousands of people from all backgrounds and walks of life,” including corporates, youth, prison inmates, military, PNP, victims of trauma and the general public.” It regularly offers both online and offline programs. Visit www.artofliving to learn more and contact Lorna Nasayao at 0917-8484898 for inquiries. The post Meditate to clear the mind, feel sense of ease appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Menchu Katigbak: The splendid life of a society swan
Hers is a story anyone would love to tell and retell, or hear and hear again. Chances are, as in the book of Menchu, so many things are left unsaid because if these were all said, a single book would not be enough. Carmencita “Menchu” Katigbak’s story is one of love, passion, hurts and disappointments, social triumphs and power in its subtle workings, but mostly the good life and the people who live it and make it happen. She is a woman of the world in the sense of one who has lived in, explored and enjoyed New York, Bangkok, Lausanne, Paris and, her current love, Singapore. Of course, her turf is in Manila with a Capital S and Capital P (as in Power), and Lipa the hometown of her roots. [caption id="attachment_180060" align="aligncenter" width="958"] MENCHU with best friend Susie and her daughter Marivic.[/caption] At a time when the term “socialite” can come cheap, trite or even undeserved, Menchu gives the appellation dignity, respect and the awe it once inspired. Her social credentials are, of course, impeccable. For starters, she attended the Chateau Mont-Choisi, a Swiss finishing school for debutantes and pre-debs belonging to royalty and the world’s upper crust. A socialite today, in loose modern parlance, is perceived as being frivolous, one who attends parties because these men and women are party animals, or party people, as one columnist has named her weekly jottings about the social events of the day. The enjoyment of life is what defines this breed and set, and yet, while Menchu, too, knows how to enjoy, and enjoy life with gusto, there is more to her and that differentiates her from the herd. No, she does not top her charmed life with an icing of well-publicized good deeds and philanthropic beneficence, even if she actually shares her bounty with those in need. Menchu is of a different mold. She is a society swan in the manner of Truman Capote’s chums — Babe Paley, Gloria Guinness, Lee Radziwill. In our part of the world, think Chona, think Minnie, think Chito. She may well be cast in the same crème de la creme mold, glamorous denizens of the inner circles of society, at the same time, ladies who have transcended the vagaries of time. Just recently, Menchu was referred to by a diplomat friend as a global influencer, a 21st-century appellation that only a few are accorded. This one is applied to one who was once a señorita, colegiala and, yes, society girl, again in the tradition of Chona, Baby, Nelly, Chito and Ising. ‘The Katigbaks talk only to the Kalaws’ They don’t need family names, each as important as the other and of the same significance in society. Still, it’s one thing to say that she is Baby Fores, and another if she is Baby Arenas. There were two Vickys, one of national import and memory being the lovely teenager who stood as her father’s First Lady in the early 1950s, and there was the Madrigal matron, Vicky nee Abad Santos, who was low-key and the daughter of the World War II patriot, Jose Abad Santos, who refused to pledge allegiance to the flag of the enemies. Menchu shares first name distinction with Menchu delas Alas Concepcion, also of Batangueña parentage, being the daughter of banker and finance guy and public servant Don Antonio de las Alas. Both aristocrats from Batangas, the two Menchus share many distinctions beauty for one, pedigree, for the other—but that’s as far as I would say, the aforementioned traits being obvious. But to drive his point, Joe Guevarra, the humorous and well-placed columnist known for his tongue-in-cheek pronouncements, once said of the olden times, when the genealogical boundaries were well-defined, “In Lipa, the Katigbaks talk only to the Kalaws, and the Kalaws talk only to the Katigbaks.” [caption id="attachment_180057" align="aligncenter" width="998"] DINNER in Pili with Fernando and Zobel, Tessie Sy-Coson, Guilly Luchangco, Federico ‘Piki’ Lopez | photograph courtesy of MENCHU KATIGBAK[/caption] This self-confessed social climber, as his 8-to-5-and-beyond job would require him to be, admits to not having met (okay, having been introduced to…) the ebullient society hostess, traveler, culinary maven and friend-to-the-powerful Menchu Katigbak. Everything that I am writing here, I learned from the lady’s biography, Menchu, authored by lifestyle journalism icon Thelma Sioson San Juan, the two being decades-old friends. Menchu, one finds out toward the end of the book, is the inspiration for her granddaughter Isabelle’s first tome, Abu, the Sad Princess. I look back on the pages I have read, the memories of Menchu’s lifetime so far, in all its seven glorious and electrifying decades, and I dare say, the description is most apt and is true as well in real life as Menchu today is “living happily ever after” having come to terms with the many issues that confronted her at various times, but more importantly, she is today a fulfilled mother and grandmother and a believer in Jesus Christ. But that is getting ahead of the story. ‘White Matter’ by Lao Lianben Jaime Ponce de Leon, dear Jaime, the man of the hour of Philippine arts for as long as Juan Luna’s missing masterpiece, remains ensconced at the Ayala Museum – gaining for the discoverer more than a foothold in our cultural history – asked me if I was interested in writing about the socially formidable Menchu Katigbak, and I readily said yes, having seen her photographs in the select and more discriminating society pages and columns. I thought to myself it would be an opportunity to meet the lady face to face and add her to my glossary of so-called newfound friends, but that was not meant to be. I was, oh, I was treated to the next best thing – a copy of Menchu which, to someone who aspires to be a bibliophile, is all that matters in the world, except that I am first a social climber. And since I have not been allowed an audience, I take solace in the book and, as my honeyed revenge, will tell you what I feel about the lady who, I understand, could be frank and outspoken. Abrasive is too strong a word, and unfair for I am not sure if I will ever meet her in my lifetime, but I am told the lady will never mince words, that’s probably why she has legions of true friends who probably can give as much as take, or so I am imagining. [caption id="attachment_180055" align="aligncenter" width="1475"] Lunch in the kitchen in Pili with Patty Araneta (left) and Monet Recio-Schem.[/caption] A painting that Menchu has kept all these years, “White Matter” by Lao Lianben, signed and dated 1997, has been featured as one of the rare pieces to be auctioned in Leon Gallery’s forthcoming magnificent September auction, with the starting bid of P2,600,000. So, there, if you’re wondering what Jaime, who moves around the best circles, has got to do with this enigmatic swan. ‘We are not rich’ But let’s stick to what the book says. While she intersperses in her narrative personal encounters with her subject, TSJ, for the most part, devotes the pages of this book to Menchu alone, and with our cosmopolitan lady, the many friends in the upper echelons whose lives she has touched and who have touched hers in turn. Menchu, once she was ready to be told, heard it straight from her mother, “Tandaan mo, baka akala mo mayaman tayo. Hindi tayo mayaman. Kung napadala ka namin sa Switzerland at si Tita at si Tony napadala naming sa America, kasi nagpawis ako ng dugo (Remember, you may think we are rich, we are not rich. If we sent you to Switzerland and Tita and Tony to America, it was because I sweated blood). If you think you’re going to inherit something from us, banish the thought. So if you don’t study well, bahala ka sa sarili mo (you’re on your own).” The perfect words for the Asuncionista (Assumptionista) who much preferred to bake food for the gods, brownies and upside-down cakes and do naughty things like hiding the bell used to signal the start and end of class periods. Her mother, the former Charing Roxas Dimayuga, who attended Assumption Convent, dealt in buying, developing and selling homes in the gated Makati villages. She also developed horizontal and vertical commercial spaces as well as imported retazos from abroad. [caption id="attachment_180056" align="aligncenter" width="696"] Wearing the Van Cleef earrings purchased before their public launch.[/caption] Her father, Enrique Luz Katigbak, on the other hand, was a top certified public accountant, an alumnus of the Northwestern University and a director on the boards of Monte de Piedad and Philtrust banks. Of his connections, none is more eminent than his friendship with His Eminence, Rufino Cardinal Santos, archbishop of Manila and the first Filipino Cardinal of the Catholic Church. It was not a happenstance that Menchu received the sacrament of confirmation from the Cardinal himself right in the Katigbak home, the first ever that was held in a private home if any other followed at all. Like most children, Menchu recalls in the book how she detested being “slapped” by the pious prelate. If she was any pleased about her family’s closeness to the holy man, it was that the Assumption sisters did not expel her for her not-too-infrequent infractions because they went to her father if they needed something from the Cardinal. Dona Aurora Recto for a ‘guardian’ Hers was a lonely childhood since her older siblings were away. They were the triple seven, which alluded to their being born seven years apart, with Menchu as the youngest. On certain days, her parents, both busy, would deposit her in the home of the statesman Claro M. Recto where she would play with his favorite granddaughter, Techie, who had all these toys, Menchu could not help realizing her parents did not buy her a toy. She played with her jackstones while Techie had a closetful of toys, including a toy “cash register.” Techie was so generous she was giving this fancy plaything to her, but Menchu refused knowing her mother would not approve. What she remembers best of that time was the sight of Dona Aurora, the first beautiful woman she beheld in her young mind and eyes, and from her, she learned her first lessons in etiquette, because the family ate with a full complement of silverware and flatware. (To be continued) The post Menchu Katigbak: The splendid life of a society swan appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Painting life with data for a better tomorrow
We live in the age of data where life is very much influenced by information. Our society is powered and inspired by data sets that propel economies, explore possibilities and change lives. And all of this happens both onscreen and off-screen. Data is king, and it brings new and contemporary delights and advancements with it. Most significant of its gifts is helping bridge the knowledge of ages ago to enrich our modern lives. Literally painting life powered by data with the brushstrokes of masters past. [caption id="attachment_179677" align="aligncenter" width="2560"] ‘The Wisdom of Da Vinci: An Immersive AI Experience’ exhibit at One Bonifacio High Street. | photographs courtesy of eastwest[/caption] Art by the numbers “The Wisdom of Da Vinci: An Immersive AI Experience” is one such gift brought to life by information. The immersive art experience merges the power of data processing and the masterworks of Leonardo Da Vinci and other iconic artists into an audio-visual display. The result is an enthralling and singular experience, where the attendees become canvasses themselves as they step into the projections of data-painted art. The exhibit can be visited at One Bonifacio High Street until October. This convergence of hard data and art is what drew the attention of EastWest Ageas. The exhibit’s imagery was sourced from paintings, books, traditional CSV files and even statistics to create art that evokes the deepest of emotions and imagination. Heart and data “We decided to sponsor this exhibition because our business is about data and emotions,” shares Sjoerd Smeets, president and chief executive officer of EastWest Ageas. The business of ensuring the people’s future and assets has a bedrock built on data and information. This makes sure that all the decisions regarding the customers are founded on fact and rational thinking. “But in the end, we are here to serve our customers at difficult moments,” Sjoerd says. “Our business has a clear purpose: protect families during their most vulnerable moments and bring them comfort and security.” And this requires emotional intelligence, a feat that no data set can muster. EastWest Ageas believes that it is the union of the human capacity to empathize and the clear sightedness of data that can elevate the industry into the next level of service. Joub Miradora, EastWest Ageas’ chief customer officer succinctly summarizes this: “For true service, we want to provide a customer-centric service that gives clear solutions fueled by data and delivered with a human heart.” Data-powered and people-focused Much like how the curators behind the “Wisdom of Da Vinci” selected the AI art pieces for the exhibit, EastWest Ageas believes in the power of data to become more people focused. By leveraging data, EastWest Ageas aims to paint the lives of their customers and more Filipinos with a suite of solutions tailored for their unique needs. At the forefront of this is their customer experience strategy. “As we know that only around three percent of the Filipino population has life insurance,” Sjoerd shares. “There is still a long way to go.” With its data-powered customer experience strategy, EastWest Ageas hopes to change that number and help more Filipinos paint their tomorrows better for them and their loved ones. The post Painting life with data for a better tomorrow appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
SCCP starts T+2 settlement shift
The Securities Clearing Corporation of the Philippines, or SCCP, a unit of the Philippine Stock Exchange Inc. which processes the sale of shares, successfully migrated to a shortened settlement cycle of T+2. This migration is a significant advancement in the domestic capital market and will align the Philippines with major international markets such as the United States, most European Union member states and the major markets in the Asia-Pacific region. Preparations for the T+2 migration commenced immediately after the 27 March 2023 implementation of SCCP’s new clearing and settlement system, which can accommodate any settlement cycle. Market participants, including stockbrokers, custodian banks, the Philippine Depository and Trust Corp, stock transfer agents, PSE’s Issuer Regulation Division and the Capital Markets Integrity Corporation took part in working group discussions, readiness activities and testing sessions over five months to ensure that the market was ready for the new scheme. SEC gives okay On 10 August, SCCP received the approval of the Securities and Exchange Commission, or SEC, for its request to migrate to the T+2 settlement cycle. “We are pleased with the smooth transition to the shortened settlement cycle. We are grateful to all market participants for supporting this initiative,” PSE president and CEO Ramon Monzon, who concurrently serves as president and CEO of SCCP, said. The launch of the shortened T+2 settlement cycle will reduce various risks of unsettled trades under a T+3 regime and will promote more market efficiencies. “Aside from aligning the settlement cycle with major international markets, we expect that market participants will soon experience the benefits of operating in a T+2 environment,” Monzon added. The post SCCP starts T+2 settlement shift appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Adding value to memorial properties
Like all investments, memorial properties must continue to add value to succeed and thrive by enhancing their services and setting themselves apart from the competition. As customer preference shifts toward cremation and lower burials, funeral homes compete with e-commerce. In the face of this competition, Golden Haven Memorial Parks successfully implemented various aesthetic upgrades to deliver an exceptional customer experience for Filipino families and investors seeking to purchase memorial properties. Golden Haven’s upgrades began at its flagship property, Golden Haven Las Piñas, where a pet play area is now under construction. This unique pet-friendly feature sets Golden Haven apart in the memorial property sector, allowing families to enjoy their park visits. At the same time, their beloved pets, some of which may have belonged to their departed loved ones, can romp and play freely. Meanwhile, Golden Haven Norzagaray’s Aero Columbarium has undergone a vibrant transformation. Collaborating with a talented artist, Golden Haven has infused the dome with striking colors and intricate designs inspired by the park’s ‘jardin tropicale’ theme. This masterpiece seamlessly blends artistry and nature’s beauty, offering a visually stunning tribute to those who have passed on. Golden Haven Manaoag, renowned for its serene ambiance, has unveiled their latest masterpiece, the Romanesque-style Puerta Real. This architectural marvel, which takes inspiration from the classic landmarks of Ancient Rome, is envisioned to enhance visitors’ and memorial property owners’ overall experience. Meanwhile, Golden Haven Amadeo now displays a vibrant hand-painted mural at its entrance. Called “Entresuelo de Baracco,” the captivating artwork embodies the park’s loving spirit and warmly welcomes all visitors. Visitors may also indulge in strolls on the park’s newly completed pathwalk that meanders through verdant landscapes. Additionally, Golden Haven Amadeo’s investors and property buyers will enjoy ease of transactions during park visits when construction of its site office is finally completed. Still on a roll, Golden Haven Padre Garcia and Golden Haven Liliw now boast artistic and cultural enhancements, completing their gates inspired by Japanese Minimalism and a “Pamana” theme, respectively. The memorial park developer also shares that the construction of two new bridges at Island Lagoon in Golden Haven Cebu has been completed, adding to the park’s beauty and enhancing visitors’ overall experience. On the functional side, security and convenience are ensured at Golden Haven San Jose, where construction of a gate and guardhouse is underway. Golden Haven is likewise completing construction work on the gates and guard houses of Golden Haven Koronadal and Golden Haven Bukidnon. Finally, preparations are underway to commence construction in Golden Haven Puerto and Iligan. Despite being recently launched, these parks rapidly expand their regional presence, fulfilling Golden Haven’s vision of thematic beauty and tranquility. Even as Golden Haven’s park upgrades are set to exceed expectations, it has more positive revelations: Golden Haven has transitioned over half of all its properties nationwide to solar energy. This eco-friendly initiative highlights the company’s assurance of a sustainable future while providing investors with a valuable asset. Today, park visitors can indulge in the tranquil beauty of Golden Haven properties, knowing that the park operates entirely on clean energy. The post Adding value to memorial properties appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»