It’s that time of the year again and everyone is waiting to see what features will come with the new 2018 Starbucks planner! You need not wait any longer. I’m giving you the sneak peek tour so you can already decide which one you’ll go for.

The mechanics for the planner are the same as last year’s. There are eighteen (18) stickers to collect (9 from any handcrafted core beverage and 9 from featured holiday beverages). The collection period for the stickers is from November 2, 2017 to January 8, 2018. Promo cards will be given out for free. Stickers from two (2) promo cards can be combined as long as they fulfill the 9 featured plus 9 core beverages. More mechanics can be found at the end of this post.

I can think of 7 different reasons why you would want the 2018 Starbucks planner.

# 1: It’s got a REAL leather sleeve!!!

No kidding. The planners now come with classy REAL leather sleeves that you can use long after you’ve filled up the planner. The Starbucks siren logo is even beautifully stamped on the outside and is seen inside as well. Even after the year is over, the leather sleeve can be reused to cover other planners or books.

#2: Two designs, two sizes

Last year’s blue siren and coffee stain designs introduced bursting colors to the planners. This year, both planners focus on the elements of brush strokes. One planner is in dotted and swirling bursts of blue and green hues that remind you of the season’s calm; the other planner has long brush strokes in blues and greens as well but with a bold orange stroke that gives it a festive look. Both designs come in regular and mini sizes.

#3: A first – an exclusive-to-the-planner, special edition Kape Vinta Starbucks card

For the first time in the history of Starbucks planners released in the Philippines, the 2018 planner comes with a special edition Starbucks Kape Vinta card (not activated) inside. This card is exclusive to the planner and not available any other way so Starbucks card collectors, you have been given a heads-up! What’s more, there is a promo that will launch involving the Kape Vinta card. Scroll all the way to the bottom of this post to read about the promo because you would not want to miss this.

#4: A calendar that folds up into a Starbucks cup

Starbucks has cleverly designed a year-round calendar that neatly folds into the shape of a Starbucks cup. It’s a nice touch on your desk!

#5: It comes with a stencil for the creative in you

Another first for the planner — a plastic stencil that doubles as a ruler! Sounds like fun to unleash one’s creativity on the planner.

#6: Another year of Starbucks coupons!

Starbucks’ coupons add value and spread cheer. If you enjoyed the monthly coupons from last year’s planner, you’ll continue to enjoy them in the 2018 planner.

#7: The Starbucks for a Month and Starbucks for a Year promos!!! 

You read that right! Starbucks will choose 20 winners to get Starbucks for a year and another 20 winners to get Starbucks for a month.  You need to load the Kape Vinta card inside the planner within the month of January 2018 to qualify for the draws. I’m joining and crossing my fingers! I can treat my entire family and more!

I am reproducing below the mechanics given by Starbucks.

I said 7 reasons but there is actually an 8th reason and this is quite important. Two NGOs are beneficiaries of donations from each planner claimed – Teach for the Philippines (an NGO committed to transforming the nation through education), and the Philippine Educational Theater Association or PETA (an NGO committed to using theater that is distinctly Filipino as a tool for social change).

Start collecting those stickers beginning November 2!

The post 7 reasons why you’d want the 2018 Starbucks planner appeared first on The Philippine Beat.

The right jewelry, worn even with the simplest outfit, can do so much to add flair and elegance to its owner’s entire look. This has always been the mindset of Polaris Treasure Trove owner Isha Ivonne Ricana who first began her jewelry journey in 2010 with Indian Treasures then moved on to set up her own jewelry brand.

Isha recounted how she decided to rebrand her jewelry shop, previously called Polaris Antique and Jewellery, to Polaris Treasure Trove in 2016 in honor of her  daughter Sujin who passed away in 2012 at the very young age of six. Polaris, the North Star that remains unmoved while the entire northern sky moves around it, is symbolic of how jewelry can easily be the focal point of anything one decides to wear and oftentimes makes the world of difference!

As part of the relaunch, Polaris Treasure Trove exhibited its stunning collection of South Sea pearls, sourced from Palawan and combined with the exquisite craftsmanship of our Filipino plateros who set them in gold. Just check out some of these photos.

Besides South Sea pearls, Polaris Treasure Trove also offers diamond jewelry, antique jewelry, and gemstones and crystals from India, Indonesia, Nepal, and Cambodia. Clients can customize the designs of their jewelry.

An international partner was also introduced at the Polaris Treasure Trove launch – ID-Diamonds, the first diamond investment bar in the world. Originating in Belgium, with headquarters in London, ID-Diamonds offers a way for diamond collectors and investors to preserve certified natural polished diamonds in an ultra-secure, transparent, and classy safe using a patented ID-Knox technology.

Diamonds can be traded just like gold but it needs to be done in a consistent, profitable, and efficient way. And to ensure that  they stay safe while being traded or sold, ID-Diamonds offers their storage, security and documentation system – ID Knox.

ID Knox has a three-layered design made of highly transparent , light-fast, and scratch-proof special plastic connected with security rivets. It also has contact/security threads around the circumference. Each ID Knox has a special integrated chip with tamper-resistant depositing of all documents (certificates for each diamond).A micro-clip allows it to connect to a computer. When connected, an automatic security and integrity check of the ID-Knox is carried out.

All ID-Diamonds are certified, natural, and conflict-free diamonds of the best quality.

You can find Polaris Treasure Trove inside a pop-up store, Styled Pop-Up (owned by Christine Bersola-Babao) which is located on the second floor of Shangri-la Plaza Mall’s East Wing.

For more information on Polaris Treasure Trove and ID-Diamonds, follow @polaristreasure on Instagram or visit facebook.com/polaris.com.ph. You may also contact Kai Magsanoc at kmagsanoc@polaris.com.ph or Jason Alcoriza at jalcoriza@polaris.com.ph.

The post Polaris Treasure Trove relaunches and brings in UK’s ID-Diamonds Investment Bar to Manila appeared first on The Philippine Beat.

TWENTY YEARS!!! On December 4, 2017, Starbucks will celebrate 20 years of its presence in the Philippines!

December 4, 1997 saw the opening of a little coffeehouse with a green logo in a Makati building and to this day, it still stands there – in 6750 Building, Ayala Center. Starbucks Philippines was the third market to open outside of North America.

In celebration of these two decades, Starbucks is coming out with a very special anniversary collection of mugs and tumblers.

At the top is its (very) limited edition Starbucks 20th Anniversary collection of mugs released beginning December 1, 2017.  All the anniversary mugs’ designs are a tribute to the Philippines’ woven art. Each 12-oz ceramic mug features traditional textile patterns and is accented by 200 white and emerald (the traditional 20th anniversary stone) Swarovski crystals. It also comes with a special-edition numbered certificate and a ready-to-gift box stamped with the Starbucks wordmark.

The most precious of the three mug designs is the full white gold 20th Anniversary mug. Starbucks created this rare premium item as a nod to Philippine heritage. Only 500 pieces of these limited anniversary mugs have been produced. This mug retails at PhP 6,295.

The other two Starbucks 20th Anniversary mugs are the 12-oz, double-wall ceramic versions that come in white and silver. Only 1,500 pieces of each color were made and each mug retails at PhP 4,295.

The perfect Christmas gift for the coffee lover is the understated version of the 20th Anniversary collection — a 16 fl. oz white acrylic tumbler  which also features the 20th anniversary weave pattern in silver foil. Each tumbler comes with a package and a hangtag for gifting. It is available for PhP 895.

On December 4, the actual date of Starbucks’ 20th anniversary, they will also release the Starbucks 6750 Ayala Mug in recognition of its first store in the Philippines. Matte black ceramic mugs, designed with the gold Siren decal, mark this one-of-a-kind collectible. The artwork first seen on the wall of the store is rendered in this 12-oz tribute item that features special hand-painted finishes. The 6750 Ayala Mug will come in an elaborate gift package and is priced at PhP 1,295. This will be available EXCLUSIVELY at the 6750 branch.

To round off the anniversary collection is a unique blend, the Hacienda Alsacia whole bean packaged coffee, grown in a coffee farm in Costa Rica. This unique blend will be served only in the Starbucks Seattle Roastery and Tasting Room and will be available only for a limited time beginning December 4.

Congratulations, Starbucks, on your 20th anniversary in the country!!!

The post Starbucks celebrates its 20th year in the Philippines with a bejeweled collection appeared first on The Philippine Beat.

If you are planning to buy a laptop or desktop for yourself or a special someone this Christmas season, hold off any plans until you read this post. Acer Philippines (the leading PC brand in the Philippines) has just tied up with The SM Store (everyone’s shopping destination) to give its customers a #MalayangPasko (free Christmas). Every purchase of a qualifying laptop or desktop from Acer comes with FREE SM vouchers to add to your Christmas shopping. It’s added value from two power brands in time for the Christmas season.

Here’s the deal. Until December 31, 2017, each purchase from Acer of a qualifying Windows-based laptop, desktop, or all-in-ones come with corresponding The SM Store Exclusive Promotional Shopping Vouchers in denominations of PhP500.  It’s so easy!

PhP 5,000 worth of SM vouchers – for every purchase of Intel Core i7-powered laptops and desktops

PhP 3,000 worth of SM vouchers – for every purchase of Intel Core i5-powered laptops and desktops

PhP 1,000 worth of SM vouchers – for every purchase of Intel Core i3-powered laptops and desktops, and projectors

There’s more! Customers who hold SM Advantage Card, SM Prestige Cards, or BDO Rewards Cards can enjoy 10x more SM Advantage Card points when they redeem their vouchers in The SM Store.

Enjoy your #MalayangPasko shopping with Acer Philippines and The SM Store!

For more information about the promo, visit the Acer Philippines Facebook page at www.facebook.com/AcerPH and the Acer Philippines website at www.acer.com.ph. You can also follow them on Twitter @acerphils

The post Acer Philippines ties up with The SM Store to give you a #MalayangPasko appeared first on The Philippine Beat.

It’s not everyday that I get to learn how to prepare holiday meals from a chef himself so it was an exciting afternoon when Electrolux invited me, along with other bloggers, to experience  A Taste of Christmas with Chef Jonathan Paul Em.

Right in the heart of Alabang Town Center, Electrolux had a kitchen setup with several of their latest kitchen appliances. My blogger friends were excited! Stay with me because I’m putting Chef Jon’s recipes right here for you to try during the holidays!

The 4 dishes that Chef Jon had readied for us were:

1. Smoked Salmon Cucumber Rolls
2. Spiced Fruit Salad Cups
3. Cassava Tarts
4. Christmas Paella

To make sure that all our ingredients remained crisp and fresh for our cooking event, Chef Jon used the Electrolux Nutrifresh Inverter Refrigerator which has a FreshShield Crisper with a unique tight seal to keep temperatures stable, minimize water loss, and provide a higher humidity so that fruits and vegetables stay fresh for up to a week.

SMOKED SALMON CUCUMBER ROLLS
Prep time: 20 minutes | Serves: 15-20

Here’s an appetizer that is so easy to whip up and serve.

INGREDIENTS
100 grams smoked salmon, chopped
¼ cup cream cheese
1 teaspoon fresh dill
Salt and pepper to taste
½ teaspoon paprika
¼ teaspoon cayenne
1 teaspoon honey
Red bell peppers, cut into medium cubes
1 cucumber, sliced into thin strips
Cocktail skewers

PROCEDURE
1. In a medium bowl, cream together cream cheese, salt and pepper, paprika, cayenne and dill.
2. Mix in the smoked salmon and honey.
3. Spread over cucumber strips and roll. Secure with a skewer and a bell pepper.
4. Chill in your Electrolux Nutrifresh Inverter refrigerator.

SPICED FRUIT SALAD CUPS
Prep time: 40 mins | Cook Time: 30 mins | Serves: 12-15

The next dish we learned used both the Electrolux Built-in Induction Hob and the Electrolux Tabletop Microwave Oven with Grill & Convection. The built-in induction hob is such a practical addition to the modern kitchen because it lies flat on the counter and looks like it is part of the preparation counter. For small kitchens, having a flat surface where you can both cook and place stuff while cooking makes for space saving. The tabletop 2-in-1 appliance combines the convenience of a microwave with an oven, grill, and even a steamer. I am beginning to love induction cookers because they are much safer around small kids (and even adults) because they only heat up the cookware but the cooking area stays cool to the touch. No accidental burns!

I have always been used to the traditional fruit salad so this is a spicy twist to that tradition that you can try for a change.

INGREDIENTS
½ cup white sugar
½ cup water
2-3 pcs star anise
2 sticks cinnamon
1 tablespoon sliced ginger
½ teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon orange zest
1 can fruit salad mix, drained
1 cup lychee chopped
1 ½ tablespoons gelatin
¼ cup water
¼ cup condensed milk
1 cup whipped cream

PROCEDURE
1. In a small pot, make a syrup using the sugar, water, anise, cinnamon, ginger, salt and orange
zest. Cook using your Electrolux induction hob set at low heat. Stop when the sugar is
completely dissolved. Set aside to cool.
2. Pour the syrup into a bowl with the fruit cocktail mix and lychees. Allow to marinate for 20 mins,
then drain.
3. Dissolve gelatin in cold water. After mixture sets, place in the Electrolux microwave, set for 30
seconds. Mix with condensed milk.
4. Whip cream and fold into the condensed milk, then fold in the marinated fruits.
5. Portion into smaller cups or a pan mold and chill inside Electrolux Nutrifresh Inverter
refrigerator for 1 hour or until ready to serve.

CASSAVA TARTS
Prep time: 10 mins | Cook Time: 10 mins | Serves: 14

I’m glad this recipe was part of the cooking event because I just love cassava. And seeing how fast preparation and cooking time is, this is going to be another one I plan to try at home. Chef Jon used the Electrolux Built-in Oven for this one so that we could go on to the next dish while the tarts were baking. This built-in oven has a 68-liter capacity — plenty of room to cook multiple dishes in just one go.

INGREDIENTS
250g grated cassava
¼ cup sweetened condensed milk
¼ cup evaporated milk
¼ cup coconut milk
¼ cup coconut cream
1 egg
2 tablespoons chopped coconut meat
14 tart shells

Topping:
2 egg yokes
¼ cup reserved sweetened condensed milk
¼ cup reserved coconut milk
¼ cup reserved coconut cream

PROCEDURE
1. Preheat your Electrolux built-in oven to 350° f.
2. Set aside tart shells. In large mixing bowl, combine all other cake ingredients.
3. Mix well. Pour equally into 12 mini tart shells.
4. Bake in the Electrolux built-in oven until top is no longer liquid (approximately 20-30 minutes).
5. Mix topping ingredients well and spread evenly on top of tarts.
6. Bake an additional 7 to 10 minutes. Cool completely.

CHRISTMAS PAELLA
Prep time: 30 mins | Cook Time: 45 mins | Serves: 10

My first thought – but paella is so hard to make? I know when we order paella from our favorite Spanish restaurant, we have to give at least an hour’s notice! I knew it’s that complicated!!! But turns out I was in for a surprise because Chef Jon was able to teach us how to make a simplified version of paella using shrimps only in place of the more complicated version with prawns and oysters.

INGREDIENTS
4 tablespoons olive oil
1 pound chorizo sausages
1 tablespoon turmeric powder
2 teaspoons dried oregano
Salt and pepper to taste
2 pounds skinless, boneless chicken breasts, cut into 2 inch pieces
3 cloves garlic
1 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
2 cups uncooked white rice
1 bay leaf
½ bunch Italian flat leaf parsley, chopped
4 cups chicken stock
2 lemons, zested
1 white onion
1 red bell pepper, coarsely chopped
1 pound shrimps, peeled and deveined

PROCEDURE
1. Heat 2 tablespoons olive oil in a large skillet or paella pan over your Electrolux Induction hob set at
low heat. Add the chorizo and cook until most fat is rendered and chorizo browns. Set aside.
2. Using the same pan, keep the oil and stir in garlic, onion, red pepper flakes, and rice. Cook, stirring, to
coat rice with oil, for about 3 minutes. Stir in bay leaf, parsley, chicken stock, and lemon zest. Bring to a
boil, cover, and reduce heat to medium low. Simmer for a few minutes then transfer in the Electrolux
built-in oven for 15-20 minutes or until rice is cooked.
3. Meanwhile, heat 2 tablespoons olive oil in a separate skillet over medium heat. Stir in chicken; cook 5
minutes. Stir in bell pepper and sausage; cook 5 minutes. Stir in shrimps; cook, turning the shrimp, until
both sides are pink. Arrange on top of rice and serve.

There you are! Four easy-peasy recipes that you can make this Christmas season when there are so many potluck parties and we often run out of meal ideas. By the way, these dishes are good year-round as well. And when you do decide to try your hand at it, you may also want to check out not just the Electrolux appliances I mentioned here but also the Electrolux Chimney Hood. It sucks out all that grease and cooking fumes from your kitchen while recirculating indoor air. A removable filter makes cleaning it a cinch. Your kitchen stays free of all that gunk and odor that would usually linger in a kitchen without a chimney hood.

Thanks, Chef Jon, for giving us A Taste of Christmas. Thanks likewise to Electrolux for hosting our lunch and the cooking event.

The post Easy, delicious holiday meals I learned at the Electrolux A Taste of Christmas cooking event appeared first on The Philippine Beat.

Starbucks star-BARKS! As the New Year breezes in and the Year of the Dog is just around the corner, Starbucks once again has a lineup of goodies that are both eye candy and mouth-watering.

The Lunar New Year Starbucks card

So cute!!! Beginning January 9, this lovable Lunar New Year Starbucks card to welcome the Year of the Dog (which starts Feb. 16, 2018) can be yours just for a load of PhP 300.

Two new beverages beginning January 9, 2018

Kick off the new year with two new Starbucks beverages: the Okinawa Brown Sugar Latte and a returning favorite, the Salted Caramel Mocha Crumble.

The Okinawa Brown Sugar Latte base is the Starbucks espresso with a hint of mellow sweetness from Okinawa brown sugar –- specialty produce from the Japanese island and famous for its complex flavors and versatilities. The latte is finished off with a swirl of brown sugar drizzle on milk foam. This is available in iced format.

You cannot go wrong with salted caramel so I am happy they are bringing back a favorite — the Salted Caramel Mocha Crumble — a combination of chocolate and espresso flavors with toffee nut syrup, layered with a delicious combination of whipped cream and caramel sauce. The beverage is topped with a blend of turbinado sugar and sea salt for a perfect sweet and savory taste. This is available in both iced format and blended beverage format.

Both beverages cost PhP 155 (Short). PhP 165 (Tall), PhP 180 (Grande), and PhP 195 (Venti).

Lots of WOOF, WOOF merchandise to celebrate the Year of the Dog

My family loves dogs. At one point, I think we had 5 or 6 at the same time. Now, we have just two as they can also be high maintenance. One of my kids was also born in the Year of the Dog. So this year is special, especially since Starbucks is featuring several cute doggie-designed merchandise for those who were born in the Year of the Dog or who simply want to own something that reminds them of man’s best friend.

MORE: Another Starbucks card and a new whole bean coffee blend

Watch out also on January 9 for another Starbucks card — the Coffee Card with a Greeting Card. You can get this card by activating PhP 500.

A new whole coffee bean blend is also being introduced — the Starbucks Guatemala Huehuetenango. Grown in the highest and driest growing region in Guatemala, the Huehuetenango single-origin roast’s flavor is cocoa notes with a dried-fruit finish.

Activate that Starbucks Kape Vinta card this January!

If you have the Starbucks planner, remember…now’s the time to take that out, bring it to any Starbucks store, activate it (preferably before January 22) by loading at least PhP 300, and register it to your Starbucks account. You just might win Starbucks for a month or Starbucks for a whole YEAR! I wrote about this awesome promo HERE.

The post Starbucks introduces its offerings for New Year 2018 and the Year of the Dog appeared first on The Philippine Beat.

Save the date – March 24, 2018. On this day, Filipinos nationwide will be observing Earth Hour for the 11th straight year.  Its theme, #Connect2Earth, is a campaign to strengthen awareness about biodiversity and climate action.

Earth Hour Flashback

Earth Hour began originally in Sydney on March 31, 2007. The year after, in 2008, Manila joined in. My family and I participated by turning off our house lights. I’ve been trying to participate in some way since then. Initially Earth Hour just involved turning off lights everywhere. Malls and public places began organizing events around this lights-off highlight. But in 2011, Earth Hour launched its theme “Going Beyond the Hour” to encourage all participant cities to do more than just turn lights off for an hour. Today, Earth Hour participants span over 7,000 cities and 180 countries and territories with many sustainable and energy-saving activities year-long. In the Philippines, for example, these Beyond the Hour activities involve:

• The deployment of portable solar lamps to replace dangerous and dirty kerosene lamps in Palawan and Mindoro.
• The sharing of best practices for communities via the One Planet City Challenge.
• The dissemination of climate change solutions via environmental education sessions, training modules, heavy media engagements, and talks.

What is #Connect2Earth all about?

At the launch of Earth Hour Philippines recently, the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF-Philippines) and its brand ambassadors came together to encourage everyone to take collective action to protect our biodiversity. Here are some things I learned that makes the theme, #Connect2Earth, even more relevant.

1. The Philippines is home to over 100 species of creatures that are endemic to the country.
2. Studies show that globally, man is consuming resources as though we had 1.6 Earths. That means we are consuming resources faster than the planet can replenish these.
3. A huge problem of the planet is plastic waste. We have sea creatures dying from inadvertently swallowing plastics that find their way into our oceans.
4. Some species are at risk already of becoming extinct because their natural habitat is being overrun by man’s intrusion and development.

Watch this video.

In its website, WWF-Philippines, the organization spearheading Earth Hour in the Philippines, talks about the importance of biodiversity:

Biodiversity is essential to the food we eat, to the water we drink and the air we breathe. All of these ‘services’ we take for granted depend on a complex web of soil, water and carbon processes, powered by the millions of species we share our planet with.

Take the example of the Amazon rainforest. Often called the ‘lungs of our planet’, did you know that every species in this biodiversity hotspot – plant or animal – is helping provide the air we breathe thousands of miles away? The leaf-cutter ant for instance helps trim forest vegetation, stimulating new plant growth while breaking down plant materials and adding essential nutrients to the soil. This helps trees to grow and replenish – and continue to produce around 20 per cent of the Earth’s oxygen. Incredible, isn’t it? And to think that is just one species in one forest on one continent on Earth!

At any given minute, biodiversity is helping provide the services below to you and me, together with the varied wildlife we share our home with. But now, things are changing. Our planet is getting warmer, our forest cover thinner and our oceans more acidic and it is because of us – and climate change. 

WWF ambassadors came in full force during the launch to lend their voices to Earth Hour. There were the long-time  WWF-Philippines National Ambassadors like host/model Marc Nelson and his buddy and host of “Ang Pinaka”, Rovilson Fernandez, as well as a new face, actress Iza Calzado. We were missing Mikee Cojuangco who could not come due to family matters.

There are many ways we can #Connect2Earth. We can start conversations on some of the most pressing environmental issues. Earth Hour 2018 in Manila will be going back to the iconic Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP) in Pasay City, which was the venue of the country’s first Earth Hour switch-off event in 2008. There will be activity booths, exhibits, and cultural performances by local artists with messages that help honor our planet.

You can spread the word about Earth Hour through your social media accounts. Click HERE to find out how.

And on March 24, go to the CCP grounds and join in the celebration of Earth Hour with others. Switch-off will happen between 8:30-9:30 PM although celebrations will start as early as 7 PM.

The post Earth Hour 2018 is happening on March 24 with its theme #Connect2Earth appeared first on The Philippine Beat.

There are products that become generational brands as they continue to be used from generation to generation. One of those household staples that I remember around the house, growing up with my Dad and Mom, was Perla.

Perla was our kitchen soap. I remember my Mom always had a bar of Perla on a soap dish beside our kitchen sink. Come to think of it, in many houses, including my relatives’ houses, Perla was often the kitchen soap. I always presumed my Mom was using it because Perla was less expensive than dishwashing liquid but apparently, it was THE dishwashing soap during my generation.

When my four kids were born, they all had very sensitive skin. My kids’ dermatologist recommended unscented soap. The problem was…most of the baby soaps available locally, at that time, had fragrance and some would cause skin irritation. Hypoallergenic products then were also quite expensive and often, not readily available.

My yaya would always ask me to buy Perla for my kids’ clothes because she said it was the only laundry soap that their skin could tolerate without breaking out in rashes.

In my head, I always had this notion that other laundry products offered by other brands were superior. I was wrong and I found out the hard way. One day, I ran out of liquid detergent for my delicates. I hand-washed them with another brand’s powdered detergent (the one with blue specks in it), and not even a minute later, my hands stung like crazy! Ang hapdi talaga (it really stung!)! I immediately understood why my yaya and labandera (laundrywoman) preferred to hand wash clothes with Perla.

I discovered one very important ingredient in Perla over lunch with the Perla team. Hint: It’s there on the packaging label. COCONUT OIL! Yes, Perla is 50% coconut oil!!! Go check the ingredients of the other laundry soap brands out there. Most are petroleum-based.

Much has been said about coconut oil. I know that in this day and age when natural and organic products are gaining ground, young mothers prefer to use products on their babies that have no synthetic components or toxic ingredients. At the very top of these desired natural ingredients is coconut oil. Books have been written about the wonders of coconut oil which is so versatile that it is found in products from household cleaners to personal and skin care, makeup, and now, laundry soap. We are so lucky here in the Philippines to have a large coconut industry!

There was a second “reveal” at our lunch. Some showbiz celebrities (as well as friends of mine who reacted to my Facebook post about the Perla lunch) apparently have been using Perla ON THEIR FACES! Seriously, I never imagined that a laundry soap could double up as a facial soap. But come to think of it, with 50% coconut oil as its active ingredient, why not? It’s a hypoallergenic laundry soap that also doubles as a facial soap.

Here are a few more things about Perla and coconut oil that you would want to know:

• The formulation of Perla has not changed. It’s the same Perla goodness known for generations.
• One of Perla’s ingredients is glycerin, a natural moisturizer. You can actually feel the glycerin when working up a lather because you can feel the slippery, soft texture.
• Perla is very mildly scented, with just a hint of lavender — one of the essential oils used.
• Coconut oil contains lauric, a natural cleaning agent. Lauric traps oil and dirt and makes it easy to wash away.
• Coconut oil, based on recent studies, has antibacterial properties and antifungal capabilities
• The higher PH of Perla causes mercerization — a natural phenomenon that fluffs up the fiber of clothes. It is believed that this mercerization actually makes the fibers in clothes stronger than detergents that do not cause mercerization.
• Perla supports the Philippine Coconut Oil industry. Every bar of Perla supports the livelihood of our local coconut farmers.
• Dermatologists actually recommend Perla!
• Perla is available only in the Philippines (at least for now)
• Perla currently comes in 3 variants: Original White (available in both long bars and cut bars) which is the most popular variant and is known for gentle whitening; Original Blue (currently available in long bars) and which is the whitening specialist and prevents yellowing of clothes due to hardness of water; and Papaya (available in cut bars) which has papaya extract making it great for your clothes AND skin!

Perla is in my household and it will be here to stay. I have no grandkids yet but when I do, I will definitely recommend Perla for their clothes. I want nothing but the best for my family and I am now going more and more into products which do the least harm for them (that’s another long story). Knowing that Perla is a hypoallergenic laundry soap, because half of it is coconut oil, comforts me a lot and I know that it will continue to be gentle on our skin and still be very effective in removing dirt and whitening our clothes. I’ve got the best of all worlds in Perla.

Have you used Perla before? I would love to hear your own stories. Leave me a comment below.

The post Can you guess why this laundry soap is hypoallergenic? appeared first on The Philippine Beat.

Let me start out with a personal story

It took a serious illness in the family for us to switch from bottled water (our water for decades) to tap water in 2013. The thought was horrifying at first. I always had visions of Metro Manila’s water being ‘dirty’ and ‘unsafe for drinking’. But our holistic doctor insisted that tap water was best. He told us that distilled water removed all the minerals, something our bodies need. Bottled mineral water, even if thought safe to drink, came with the risks of bacteria from insufficiently cleaned water containers, long exposure to air especially for 5-gallon containers (a breeding ground for bacteria), and oftentimes, the mineral content was incomplete. Tap water, on the other hand, contained all the minerals needed by the body, like calcium and magnesium, and the chlorine effectively killed bacteria until the water is exposed to air.

I did do my own verification to confirm what our holistic doctor was telling us. I tweeted Dr. Eric Tayag of the Department of Health to ask about an article I read where it said Metro Manila’s water was potable. Here is my tweet as well as his response.

We’ve been drinking tap water since 2013 and we have had no incidence of amoebiasis. Still, we take some precautions. For one, the chlorine in the water (used to kill bacteria) has to be evaporated before we consume the water since chlorine is not good for the body. So, we would fill a couple of water pitchers with water and leave the cover open for about half an hour to let the chlorine evaporate. It’s not always convenient when you want to drink water NOW.

The IVO Water Purifier

Now, I have something that will let me safely drink tap water directly from the faucet without having to evaporate the chlorine. Available now in the Philippines is the IVO water purifier from the makers of Torayvino, the number one brand in Japan for faucet-mounted water purifiers. Two things immediately got my nod. One, it’s faucet-mounted (meaning, it won’t occupy too much space!). Two, it retains all the minerals in the water.

Here are some of my unboxing photos as well as information on the IVO water purifier.

The IVO water purifier, with complete attachments and accessories, comes in a small, light box. This is so different from many types of water purifiers in the market that are bulky and occupy so much counter space. A couple of years back, a relative gave us a water purifying system. It had 4 large cylindrical chambers and needed to be positioned near our sink (which isn’t spacious at all). We tried using that system but eventually gave up. The settings were too complicated and it just took up so much space.

The IVO and its different faucet attachments fit any faucet type. If I want to, it is actually so easy to install several units in the house besides the kitchen. Installing one in the bathroom upstairs would actually mean that we can drink straight from the tap in the comfort of our bedroom without having to bring up water pitchers like I do now.

The filter cartridge has a 4-stage filtration process that is meant to remove all unnecessary constituents so all we get is pure mineral water. One, a pre-screen removes rust, sediments, and other particles. Two, a second screen further removes smaller particles. Three, a granular activated carbon absorbs residual chlorine and unpleasant odors. Four, a hollow fiber membrane with 0.1 micron filtration, similar to dialyzers that purify blood, removes particles and microorganisms while retaining the minerals. All in all, the 4 stages eliminate 99.99% of harmful bacteria such as E. coli, Salmonella, and amoeba that could cause water-borne diseases. Areas with hard water will probably require a change of filter sooner than areas with soft water, simply because there are so much more minerals in hard water.

The IVO has a lever with 3 settings: filtered water for drinking, unfiltered spray for 30% less water consumption, and unfiltered straight.  I need the unfiltered spray feature because our water pressure at home is quite strong and when we open the faucet, I feel like we tend to use up more water washing dishes with a straight flow than if we used a spray that covers a wider area.

I’m still deciding where to install my IVO water purifier. The kitchen is a definite one but now, my girl tells me she would like it installed in their bathroom upstairs so she can get her drinking water straight from the faucet there. Decisions, decisions, decisions!

The IVO water purifier can be bought through O Shopping for PhP 1,980. The replacement filter cartridge is PhP 1,380 and is available from True Value and All Home.

Watch the video below for an actual demo of how the IVO water purifier filters out even black water.

The post IVO gives families more pure and clean drinking water appeared first on The Philippine Beat.

Globe myBusiness, the micro, small-and medium-scale enterprise arm of Globe Telecom, launched recently its online learning site, Globe myBusiness Academy Online, in order to broaden access by entrepreneurs to its lessons and insights culled from industry experts – any time, anywhere.

In 2017, Globe myBusiness Academy ran 53 sessions in Metro Manila and key cities. It is a program designed specially for new and existing business owners so that they could learn important tips as well as get key business advice for free from experts in various industries. By adding an online platform, Globe myBusiness Academy Online, access to the same business tips and advice are made available any time, anywhere.

The website provides articles, livestreamed or pre-recorded workshops and webisodes (web episodes) from leaders in Food, Tourism, Education, Finance, Retail, and Manufacturing sectors, among others. These webisodes give entrepreneurs or budding entrepreneurs some guidance on how to make their business succeed.

One needs to register and create an account to be able to access the website’s content but once you have logged in, it is a breeze to navigate the site and check different articles on several business-related topics.

To sign up for an account, visit http://mybusinessacademy.ph.

The post Globe myBusiness Academy Online gives more MSMEs access to its learning site appeared first on The Philippine Beat.

As a Mom, I know how much of our energy can be spent washing clothes. I’m lucky. I have a washing machine and someone who helps with the laundry. But so many other mothers of less fortunate circumstances don’t. They need to work hard for other people in order to earn money and still have to wash (often by hand) their family’s clothes when they come home. These mothers often have to set aside quality time that they could have spent with their family because there are chores to do — cooking, cleaning, teaching their kids.

It was right and just in time for Mother’s Day then that many of these mothers were given a respite. Partnering with supply chain outfit CEVA Philippines, Electrolux Philippines donated 200 washing machines to chosen mothers, communities, and organizations.

Called “Love You Loads”, the donation program involved GMA Kapuso Foundation and Gawad Kalinga’s beneficiaries and programs. At a simple turnover ceremony at the Electrolux office, Electrolux Philippines Country Marketing Manager Andrea Soto-Pionilla said that May is “the time where we recognize and share our appreciation for mothers and all the hard work that they do.”

CEVA Philippines, as Electrolux Philippines’ logistics partner for several years now, will take care of transporting the washing machines to wherever it needs to go.

With us at the event was one mother chosen to receive a washing machine. She told us a little about how she took care of her family (6 children plus her husband and her). Here’s her story:

I loved the personal touch at the “Love You Loads” event. We were all given blank cards so we could write a personal dedication that would go with each washing machine for a mother. I am sure those mothers would appreciate not just getting their own washing machine, or be able to wash clothes using a washing machine at a center or organization, but that they also heard from some mothers like us who wish them well as the nurturers of their homes.

The post Electrolux donates washing machines to lighten mothers’ loads…literally! appeared first on The Philippine Beat.

Coffee lovers in Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao — heads up! Just in time for the Philippines’ 120th anniversary celebration of Independence Day on June 12, 2018, Starbucks will be releasing its Island Series collection. Each major island (Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao) is represented in the Island Series with a Starbucks 16-oz mug as well as a matching Starbucks card.

The Luzon  ceramig mug in matte vibrant blue features a glossy decal with gold foil highlighting the night scenes of the business districts of Luzon. the Starbucks wordmark logo is laser engraved on the side of the mug and comes in a collector box packaging.

The Visayas mug features a debossed artwork of Sampaguita flowers and coconut palm tree leaves in gold foil representing the beaches in the Visayas which the island is known for. The mug comes in matte yellow ochre with a laser-engraved Starbucks wordmark logo on the mug. It comes in a collector box packaging.

The Mindanao mug, in red Bordeaux, features a glossy decal of the iconic Vinta boat with a sail in various colors that represent the colorful culture and history of Mindanao. It also comes in a collector box packaging.

You can get the Island series mugs for PhP 995 each. The matching Starbucks cards are available for an initial activation amount of PhP 500 per card.

The Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao mugs and cards are available in their respective Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao Starbucks Stores, as well as select Airport Stores. The Island Series collection of mugs and cards will be available starting June 12, 2018.

The post Starbucks introduces its Island Series collection for the Philippines’ 120th Independence Day appeared first on The Philippine Beat.

Filipinos who dream of studying, living, or working abroad have several requirements to hurdle. One of them is a language achievement test to prove they can speak the language of the country they are applying to. For English-speaking countries, one of these tests is the International English Language Testing System (IELTS).

Like other language proficiency tests, the IELTS requires preparation for takers to meet the desired scores. This is where the British Council is hoping to help. Being one of the co-owners of the IELTS (the others are IDP: IELTS Australia and Cambridge Assessment English), the British Council provides support and guidance through learning centers where test candidates can avail of resources that will help prepare them to take the test.

Last May 2018, the newest center was opened by the British Council – the Language Hub. Located at the British Council’s new office on the 7th floor of The Curve at Bonifacio Global City, Taguig City. It is a new center for learning English and preparing for English tests, particularly IELTS, where individuals can avail of reliable resources and high-quality services that can help them better prepare for their test and achieve their best possible IELTS score.

Nick Thomas, Director for British Council, says of the Learning Hub — “The British Council Learning Hub is a testament to the British Council’s commitment to provide the assistance the test takers need to get their best possible score in IELTS. By delivering that, we help them realize their dreams and achieve their goals of studying at a university overseas, working for a multinational company or starting a new life abroad.”

The Learning Hub offers several programs:

• IELTS Orientation – a free 2-hour talk for those planning to take the test. Attendees are provided  an overview of the IELTS test, the different sections, and tips and techniques to achieve their desired scores.
• IELTS One-Day Preparation Workshops – familiarizes test takers with the test format, test taking tips and techniques. The workshop takes a practical approach to learning and covers the IELTS’ test sections: Listening, Reading, Writing, and Speaking. Both registered and non-registered test takers can sign up for these workshops for a fee of PhP 2,200.
• IELTS Exceed Writing Workshops – assist test takers in preparing for the writing portion of the test. Workshop content is derived from  an evidence-based research using the writing content of past test takers in the Philippines. A group of British Council IELTS experts developed this program to address common mistakes committed in the Writing section. Registered British Council IELTS-registered test takers can take this for free.
• IELTS Pretests – organized in partnership with Cambridge Assessment English, this provides test takers with a simulation of the actual IELTS test. Test takers will be subjected to actual test conditions and will answer sample test questions which will be scored by IELTS examiners and markers. Through the raw scores, test takers  will have an idea about the test sections they need to work more on and help them prepare more for the actual test.
• IELTS Information Sessions – these sessions aims to provide potential IELTS test takers information about the different destinations where IELTS is recognized. Such information would include steps on how to secure a visa for work, study or immigration as well as how IELTS can help test takers get to their dream destinations.
• IELTS Library – this is a resource area that holds IELTS books, practice test materials, audio CDs, and other resources made available for British Council test takers.

In addition to the programs, there are online resources available as follows:

• Road to IELTS – an online preparation course which British Council-registered IELTS test takers can access for free up to 30 hours. It includes ebooks that help test takers practice different skills like listening, reading, writing and speaking. It also has teacher tutorials and timed practice tests.
• IELTS Preparation app – this is a FREE mobile app that gives a comprehensive overview of the listening and speaking tests. Practice tests for both skills and grammar and vocabulary exercises can be found in the app.
• Massive Open Online Course (MOOC) – this is a free limited time online IELTS course accessible to all those learning English, especially those reviewing for the IELTS test. The course includes videos from IELTS experts on tips and techniques in answering IELTS test questions and provides exercises  to check your reading, listening, writing and speaking skills.
• Ieltsasia.org/ph (website) – this site contains a lot of online resources including practice test downloads, preparation videos, tips and techniques through Doctor IELTS

To learn more about the Learning Hub, the IELTS test, and the British Council, visit their website.  You can also connect to them on Facebook.

The post The British Council launches the Learning Hub, an English language training center appeared first on The Philippine Beat.

Are there clothes you would not entrust to your laundrywoman or to the care of your washing machine? I do! I have had woolen stuff come back to me deformed and misshapen or expensive blouses that get ripped at the seams or missing buttons. I have a lot of scarves, silk and cotton, and because I cannot always trust  how my washing machine will handle it, I end up hand washing these.

Electrolux Philippines, in partnership with Mommy Mundo, one of the leading mom communities in the country, conducted a research among moms on their laundry woes. The research showed the following top laundry concerns:

• When asked what fabrics they were afraid to machine wash, 67% of the mom respondents said they were afraid to machine wash their silk clothing. 52% answered delicate wear, 40% said cashmere clothing, and 39% said wool clothes.
• When asked what made them hesitate to put clothes in washing machines, 58% or more than half said they thought it might ruin their clothes. 17% thought it would cause fabric shrinkage and 4% said they were afraid that colors would fade.
• Other concerns the research brought out were himulmol (the fibrous fluff in fabrics that tend to stick out with frequent washing), stubborn stains, and misshapen clothes.

All these concerns were taken into consideration when Electrolux created its UltimateCare line of washing machines and dryers which were designed to handle the washing of different kinds of clothes that women normally would hesitate to put through the washer/dryer.

READ: Electrolux celebrates 15 years in the Philippines with the launch of its FashionCare campaign

When in doubt, there is nothing like a live demo (no mistakes allowed) to really put a washing machine ‘s features to the test. And that’s exactly what happened!

At the recent FashionCare Season 2 Launch Party, Electrolux Philippines FashionCare ambassador Rajo Laurel and FashionCare Council members Amina Aranaz-Alunan and Janice Villanueva of Mommy Mundo put the Electrolux Ultimate Care washing machine to the test. Rajo brought one of his designer pieces. Amina, who said silk scarves were a concern for her, was asked to help wash a silk scarf. Janice, on the other hand, always worried that her woolen stuff would lose their shape when not washed properly so she was asked to wash a woolen top.

Using 3 Electrolux UltimateCare washers/dryers stationed at the venue, Rajo, Amina, and Janice placed their assigned clothing inside each washing machine. The custom settings were selected, detergent added, and the washing machines went to work.

True enough, at the end of the event, when the wash and dry cycles were over, the three pieces of clothing emerged clean and without damage. As Rajo looked over his designer piece, he even commented that he was worried his dress would come out wrinkled but the tumble-dry process actually made it looked pressed.

What is it about Electrolux UltimateCare washing machines/dryers that can care for delicate fabrics?

1. The UltraMix technology – Detergent and water are pre-mixed in a special chamber before the beginning of the cycle to maximize cleaning power at a lower temperature. It cleans deeper and has 31% better color care
2. Vapour Action – this is designed to extend the life of clothes and soften fabric while reducing allergens by up to 99.9%.
3. Woolmark certified cycle – this cycle is approved by the Woolmark Company, the global authority on wool. Using this cycle helps clean while protecting woolen clothing.
4. Eco Inverter technology – high energy efficiency that reduces energy consumption by 75% and saves time by as much as 44%.
5. Add clothes feature – Forgot to put in some clothes? No worries. This washing machine allows you to add clothes during the washing cycle.

A promo is running till September 30, 2018 to make it easier for families to get their very own Electrolux UltimateCare washing machine or other washer/dryer models. Electrolux is offering up to 25% off on selected front load washing machines and dryers. Women can also avail of selected Electrolux Front Load Washing Machines and get 25% off on an Electrolux Front Load Dryer. Also included is a free stacking kit and installation valued at PhP 3,049.

To learn more about Electrolux FashionCare, visit Electrolux Fashion Care and follow Electrolux Philippines on Facebook and Instagram or @ElectroluxPH on Twitter.

The post No more laundry woes! The Electrolux UltimateCare Washing Machine takes care of your precious clothes appeared first on The Philippine Beat.

Watch out, Starbucks collectors, coffee lovers, and anyone who loves sea themes. On September 11, 2018, Starbucks will be releasing its limited edition Starbucks Anniversary Collection of tumblers, water bottles, mugs, and Starbucks card. Going by the theme “Celestial Beauty of the Undersea”, the artwork of the Starbucks merchandise has ethereal qualities featuring a siren swimming in a sea of stars.

Taken from a Norse woodcut from an old maritime book, the two-tailed siren pays homage to the seafaring history of Seattle (location of the first Starbucks store) as a port city and to the journey of coffee itself.

An Anniversary Blend is also being released in whole bean and VIA variants. This blend features a full-bodied coffee with distinctive spice notes from Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, with the addition of the iconic Sumatra. The Anniversary Blend’s flavor is caramelized sugar and bittersweet chocolate.

That’s not all. The Starbucks Anniversary Collection comes with a slew of siren-themed merchandise to celebrate the heritage and mystery of the Starbucks Siren and showcases the enchantment and mystique of the Siren’s celestial beauty.  Elements that you would see on the merchandise include corals, waves, and sea shells. Here is a sneak peek. Click on each thumbnail to expand the image or just press the arrow below one image to play the slideshow.

The post Starbucks releases its celestial siren themed anniversary collection appeared first on The Philippine Beat.

A 2015 report on plastic pollution done by Ocean Conservancy and McKinsey Center for Business and Environment is said to have ranked the Philippines as the third top plastic polluter in the world. A pilot whale was found dead in Thailand with almost 20 pounds of plastic in its stomach. Just the other day, news broke out that microplastics have been found in human feces. It is no longer surprising. If animals ingest plastics by accident and meat is part of our diet, these microplastics will eventually find its way into our gut.

It also does not help that plastics proliferate, especially here in the Philippines, due to the ‘tingi’ (sachet) concept where products are repackaged into one-time use plastic sachets for convenience, sanitation, and affordability by the less fortunate.

Recently, the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) Philippines, together with Ayala Malls and other partner corporations, officially launched #AyokoNgPlastik — a movement that hopes to address these alarming facts by bringing together companies, individuals, and other sectors to minimize and eventually eradicate single-use plastics such as straws, bags, bottles, and caps by refusing to use them.

Ayala Malls, one of the biggest shopping mall developers in the country, has made a commitment to fully support the #AyokoNgPlastik campaign. Its Deputy Head, Mariana Zobel De Ayala, announced that they would have drop-off points in its malls for plastics, which in turn will be turned into ecobricks. In previous years, Ayala Malls already began focusing on sustainable living and last year, implemented the “no plastic shopping bags” across all Ayala Malls.

Cibo, one of the partner corporations supporting #AyokoNgPlastik movement, presented.  WWF-Philippines with a check for PhP 221,841.07  representing the amount it hasdsaved for stopping its use of plastic straws (whew, I didn’t realize so much money could be saved just by that one small act!).

Aside from those I already mentioned, the other official partners of the #AyokoNgPlastik movement include National Geographic, Bellevue Hotels and Resorts, Bo’s Coffee, Corkcicle, Coffee Project, Daluyon Beach and Mountain Resort, Puerto Pensiion Inn, FoodPanda, HSBC, Impact Hub Manila, IVO, The Lind Boracay, The Moment Group, Toby’s Estate, CIBO, and CNN Philippines.

In an effort to do my part at home, I have been ecobricking our plastic waste. It takes time and effort to cut these up, stuff them densely into plastic liter bottles (ecobricked bottles can be incorporated in construction work as they are even sturdier than hollow blocks). But ecobricking is not enough, as I realized. The amount of plastic waste we get accumulates faster than I can ecobrick them.

The near-term solution is really to REFUSE to bring these plastics home. It helps that many fastfood outlets have stopped using plastic straws now. I always have metal straws and stainless steel utensils in my bag so I need not use plastics when outside.

For now, it is baby steps towards a plastic-less world but we need to start doing something. Whatever we can do in our own homes, schools, offices, and other spaces to stop using plastics, especially single-use plastics, will already help. Wherever you are, always say #AyokoNgPlastik!!!

The post Let’s do our share to reduce plastic waste in the Philippines! Say #AyokoNgPlastik! appeared first on The Philippine Beat.

You saw it right. Starbucks has leveled up and for 2019, it is giving all Starbucks lovers two different items that can be obtained by collecting stickers.

Aside from the well-loved 2019 Starbucks Planners, Starbucks is introducing, for the first time, two variants of the Starbucks Travel Organizers. That’s four different items you can get from stickers you collect! Be sure to read all the way to the end to see how to collect these stickers and join the promo, Starbucks for a Year.

The 2019 Starbucks Planner comes in only one size this year – the regular size (in some years, they also offered a smaller notebook size). It comes in two colors: Espresso and Milk (I am partial to the Milk variant!). Each planner cover features a canvas finish with metallic gold and copper stamping as well as matching canvas pouch. The 2019 Starbucks Travel Organizers feature a leather-finish, zipped case with slots in the inside left side for cards, a mobile phone or powerbank, wires and a pen. A small notebook in matching color comes with pages that are a third grid, dot grid, and plain. Each planner/travel organizer comes with its own exclusive, limited edition Starbucks Card inspired by the mystery of the Siren and the magic of well-roasted beans.

Just like last year, these 4 special edition cards need to be activated with a specified minimum load in order to qualify as a raffle entry in the Starbucks for a Year promo (see details below).

Here are more photos showing the insides of the planners.

And here are some photos of the travel organizers.

Watch the Starbucks video here to get more glimpses of the planners and travel organizers.

How to get the 2019 Starbucks Planners and Travel Organizers

Here are the mechanics for collecting stickers and redeeming the 2019 Starbucks planners and travel organizers:

1. Promotion starts on November 2, 2018. Stickers may be collected starting November 2, 2018 to January 7, 2019 (“Promo Period”).
2. A customer can avail of the paper promo card with no purchase requirement from any Starbucks store in the Philippines within the Promo Period.
3. One (1) sticker is awarded for any Tall, Grande or Venti Starbucks handcrafted beverage purchase. A customer must accumulate a total of eighteen (18) stickers to redeem one (1) Limited Edition Starbucks Philippines 2019 Planner or Starbucks Philippines Travel Organizer (“Reward”).
4. Every purchase of at least a Tall, Grande or Venti Starbucks handcrafted beverage using a Starbucks Card entitles a customer to one (1) sticker and one (1) Beverage Star. Starbucks Card terms and conditions are available on www.starbucks.ph/card.
5. Stickers will be awarded wit the receipt at the date and point of purchase only. A no promo card, no sticker, no extension policy will be strictly implemented across all stores. No stickers will be released to the customer once the transaction has ended.
6. A combination of up to two (2) paper promo cards will be allowed. Excess paper stickers for combined paper promo cards will be forfeited.
7. Once eighteen (18) stickers are collected, the customer must submit the Paper Promo Card/s to redeem a Reward.
8. Redemption of Reward will be from November 2, 2018 to March 8, 2019 at any Starbucks store in the Philippines.
9. Customer may choose from the available planner designs or travel organizer designs at the store at the time of redemption.
10. A single receipt purchase of food and other retail items (combination of coffee kit, coffee traveller, merchandise, whole bean, Starbucks VIA or Teavana) worth at least PhP 7,000 will entitle a customer to one (1) Limited Edition Starbucks Philippines 2019 Planner or Starbucks Travel Organizer. Combination of receipts is not allowed.
11. Purchase of gift certificates and Starbucks Card load/reload will not entitle the customer to a sticker or Reward.
12. The following transactions and discounts are qualified for this promotion: Senior Citizen discount, PWD discount, VAT Exempt, Personal Cup/Tumbler P5 discount
13. The following coupons and discounts are disqualified for this promotion: Service Recovery Coupon, Free Tall Beverage Coupon, Customer Voice Redemption, Rustan Coffee Partner discount, Rustan Group of Companies discount, Starbucks Card Registration Treat, Starbucks Card Beverage Treat Redemption
14. Tampering with and/or transferring of paper stickers to obtain the required number of stickers will render all paper promo cards null and void.

Per DTI-FTEB SPD Permit No. 15661, Series of 2018.

Look! E-stickers via the Starbucks Mobile App!

Good news! Those with the Starbucks mobile app can now collect e-stickers instead of using the paper promo card! If that is how you choose to collect stickers, here are additional mechanics:

1. A registered My Starbucks Rewards customer can also participate by opting in the promo and agreeing to the complete promo mechanics through the Starbucks Philippines Mobile app. Only one (1) My Starbucks Rewards can be used per transaction.
2. Once the customer is opted in the promo, an e-promo card will be issued and can be viewed through the Mobile App homepage. The customer will only be eligible for an e-sticker for each purchase of any Tall, Grande or Venti Starbucks handcrafted beverage using the Mobile App. The e-sticker will be awarded automatically once the Mobile App purchase is final.
3. The awarded e-sticker cannot be converted to a paper sticker throughout the Promo Period. Similarly, an awarded paper sticker cannot be converted to an e-sticker.
4. Every eighteen (18) e-stickers collected will automatically earn one (1) Reward voucher on the Mobile App e-promo card. A Reward voucher is equivalent to one (1) Limited Edition Starbucks Coffee 2019 Planner or Starbucks Coffee Travel Organizer.
5. A customer can collect multiple Reward vouchers within the Promo Period. The e-promo card will contain all accumulated e-stickers and Rewards vouchers.
6. The customer can redeeme a Reward by informing the Barista and scanning the Mobile App barcode. Screenshot or printout of the Mobile App barcode to redeem a Reward will not be accepted.
7. Stores that are offline will not be able to award e-stickers and process redemption of a Reward. Eligible offline Mobile App transactions will automatically be awarded e-stickers within seven (7) working days.
8. Starbucks reserves the right to make necessary adjustments to and/or suspend the registered My Starbucks Rewards account of the customer without prior notice if Starbucks reasonably discovers transaction/s found to be unauthorized, fraudulent or otherwise unlawful.

Per DTI-FTEB SPD Permit No. 12556, Series of 2018.

And there is more!!! Join the Starbucks for a Year promo!

This extends Christmas way, way into the New Year because those exclusive Starbucks Cards that come with your planners and travel organizers just might be your ticket to even more Starbucks goodness! You could win Starbucks for a week, a month, or even a year!!! There will be 21 winners for each category. Here are the full mechanics.

1. The Starbucks for a Year (referred to as “Promo”) will run from November 2, 2018 to January 7, 2019.

2. The Promo is open to all Starbucks Philippines customers who own any of the Starbucks Christmas Traditions Starbucks Card included in the 2019 Starbucks Philippines Planner or Starbucks Travel Organizer.

3. Starbucks Philippines customers earn a raffle by: a) Activating the Starbucks Christmas Traditions Starbucks Card with at least PhP 500 at any Starbucks store in the Philippines; AND b) Registering the activated Starbucks Christmas Traditions Starbucks Card to a new or existing My Starbucks Rewards account within the promo period.

4. There will be three (3) Draw Dates with a total of twenty-one (21) winners per draw that will be chosen through raffle. Prizes for each draw will be as follows and announcement of winners will be through Starbucks Philippines’ Facebook Page.

The following number of Beverage Stars will be credited to the winner’s My Starbucks Rewards account:

Starbucks for a Week – 84 Beverage Stars equivalent to 7 complimentary Grande handcrafted beverage with up to 2 add-ons

Starbucks for a Month – 360 Beverage Stars equivalent to 30 complimentary Grande handcrafted beverage with up to 2 add-ons

Starbucks for a Year – 4,380 Beverage Stars equivalent to 365 complimentary Grande handcrafted beverage with up to 2 add-ons

* 1 complimentary Grande handcrafted beverage with up to 2 add-ons is equal to 12 Beverage Stars based on the Starbucks Philippines’ My Starbucks Rewards Program.

5. A DTI representative shall be present during all the draws, which will be held at 4/F Rustan Coffee Building, 14 Jupiter St. cor. Asteroid St., Bel Air 1, Makati City.

6. Prizes cannot be transferred or converted to cash.

7. A Starbucks Philippines customer can win only once during a draw. Non-winning and winning raffle entries will automatically be included in the next draw.

8. Winners will be notified through their registered e-mail address based on the customer’s contact details in Starbucks Philippines’ records.

9. For their prizes to be credited, the winners must send a copy of the front and back image of the Starbucks Christmas Traditions Starbucks Card that matches the card information of the winning entry, and a valid ID with picture by replying to the email notification.

10. Once a winner has provided the required documents, the Beverage Stars will be credited to the winning My Starbucks Rewards account following the schedules:

Starbucks for a Week – all 84 Beverage Stars will be credited one time within 48 hours

Starbucks for a Month – all 360 Beverage Stars will be credited one time within 48 hours

Starbucks for a Year – 365 Beverage Stars will be credited within 48 hours then every first day of the month for the succeeding 11 months

11. Winners authorize Starbucks Philippines to disclose and publish their names, photos and other particulars determined by Starbucks Philippines to any person/s and in any mode or manner as Starbucks Philippines may deem appropriate.

12. The Starbucks for a Year mechanics are subject to the terms and conditions of Starbucks Philippines’ My Starbucks Rewards Program. Full terms and conditions at www.starbucks.ph/card.

13. All employees of Rustan Coffee Corporation (Starbucks Philippines) and GHL Systems Philippines, Inc. including their relatives up to second degree of consanguinity or affinity are disqualified from joining the promotion.

Per DTI-FTEB SPD Permit No. 12408, Series of 2018.

The post Meet the 2019 Starbucks planners and travel organizers appeared first on The Philippine Beat.

February 5, 2019 will be Chinese New Year — the Year of the (Earth) Pig. To usher it in with abundance and prosperity, Starbucks Philippines has come up with Year of the Pig merchandise and an accompanying Year of the Pig Starbucks card.

I love the look of The Year of the Pig mug. It helps that the dominant background color is a vibrant red. A cute pig face with a prominent snout is embossed on the front. The handle is a stylized version of a pig tail and you realize, as you turn the mug, that the handle gives you a back view of the pig.

The Year of the Pig Starbucks card is just as cute! The flowers that surrounded the red mug serve as the background on the card. The 2019 Year of the Pig logo in gold is etched on the lower left and to make the card even more elegant, raised gold dots are scattered throughout the design. Do those dots represent the abundance that the pig symbolizes? I hope so!

 

As the pig is the 12th and last animal in the Chinese Zodiac before the cycle starts all over, Starbucks is also launching a limited edition Chinese Zodiac Demi Set, complete with all the zodiac signs, perfect for collecting or gifting. The set includes Lunar New Year mugs from 2008 to 2019 in demitasse size. The mugs are housed inside a red and gold box. You can get this entire set starting February 1 in select stores for PhP 5,495.

If you still cannot get enough of Year of the Pig merchandise, here are more:

Piggy Bank

Water Tumbler

Water Bottle

New Teavana Beverages

Beginning January 8, 2019 and available for a limited time only are four new Teavana beverages: Oat and Green Tea Latte, Oat and Green Tea Frappuccino, Peach Black Tea Latte, and Chestnut Black Tea Latte.

Matcha lovers will go for the two Oat and Green Tea variants. The Oat and Green Tea Latte variant comes infused with Oat Matcha powder and sprinkled with crunchy granola and fruit topping. The more indulgent Oat and Green Tea Frappuccino variant is topped with coffee whipped cream, crunchy granola, and dried fruits.

Tea lovers who prefer a bolder and more intense tea experience would love the black tea variants. The Peach Black Tea variant is made with steamed milk, black tea, and hints of peach flavors while the Chestnut Black Tea Latte combines decadent roasted chestnut sauce, smooth black tea, and steamed milk topped with chestnut praline and freeze-dried strawberry toppings.

The post Welcome the New Year with these Starbucks Year of the Pig goodies and new Teavana beverages appeared first on The Philippine Beat.

If you are a bookworm, you have probably heard that Big Bad Wolf Books is back in Manila for a second time and it is bigger and better! Admission is FREE so anyone, any age can go. Discounts are even deeper now, from 50% to 90% across different genres.

Here are some new things in this year’s Manila Big Bad Wolf Book sale:

•  Big Bad Wolf Books brought in a selection of books for the Philippine sale based on a curation of what local customers are looking for. Book shoppers will find the books of authors such as JK Rowling, Paulo Coelho, Rick Riordan among the many others available.
• For those bringing kids, the Little Hippo Augmented Reality (AR) books for children is something new. You download the Little Hippo app. Just point it at the words in the book and their favorite characters literally jump out of the pages. The Little Hippo AR books can only be found at Big Bad Wolf Book sales. These AR books feature a variety of children’s stories such as Little Red Riding Hood, The Three Little Pigs, and many more. Its interactive learning feature makes learning fun and entertaining by using cutting-edge technology to revolutionize reading for young ones.
• There are on-ground contests where 20 lucky winners will be selected daily. There is also one exclusive grand prize to be won — a bookshelf worth of books. The winner for the grand prize will be announced on March 3, 2019.

I had gone last year to their first book sale, also at the World Trade Center (WTC). However, I was not that prepared. I had bought several titles, including two heavy books for my son, and my arms ached carrying plastic bags filled with my haul. This time, I knew better.

Here are the top 10 things that all bookworms heading for the Big Bad Wolf Book Sale should keep in mind.

#1: Time your going so there are the least number of people

The Big Bad Wolf Books sale is going to be open 24 hours from February 22 to March 4. It is sure to be packed during the daytime and weekends so if you want to shop leisurely in a less crowded place, go at unholy hours like 2AM. Parking will be easier too.

#2: Wear loose clothes, preferably pants or shorts for the ladies, and comfortable footwear.

It may seem obvious but seriously, dress for long hours of walking and standing. We were there from 11:30 AM to 7 PM and I am thankful I was in flats and comfortable clothes. There are no seats inside the book area. I saw many shoppers sitting on the floor around the sides of the area sorting through their finds.

#3: Bring a piece of luggage or shopping cart

There are shopping carts and wheeled carts with handles at WTC. After paying at the cashier, there are also guys with wheeled carts who help you bring your bags to the driveway of WTC or the parking lot. But with the expected packed crowd, these may run out easily. Bring your own small luggage or shopping cart. I brought my own and am so glad I did.

#4: Bring a credit or debit card aside from any cash you have.

You may have a budget and plan to pay for your purchases  with cash but once you see the selections at Big Bad Wolf Books, you may just change your mind. Bring a credit or debit card. They accept Visa and MasterCard. There is also an option to pay using your PayMaya load (I’ve got the details down below.)

#5: Have an initial list of titles with you. Organize your list by category.

Several family members who could not come with me sent me titles of books they wanted. The night before going to the sale, I took screenshots from Amazon of the book covers and put the photos on Google Docs. You cannot imagine how much easier it is to search for books visually than by reading the titles of each book on display.

The books are sectioned by category so organize your titles by category too for a more systematic search. So far, here is a list of categories I’ve compiled from the book sale (may not be complete)

•  Fiction
• Nonfiction
• Bestsellers
• Architecture and design
• Graphic design
• Arts & photography
• Sports
• Music & movie
• Travel
• Puzzles & games
• Pets & nature
• Children
• Readers
• Young Adult
• Science & technogy
• Transportation
• Home & garden
• Cookery
• Self help
• Business & economics
• Language
• Biographies & memoirs
• Religion
• History
• Humor
• Family & relationship
• Literature
• Graphic novel
• Crime thriller
• Science & fiction

#6: Avoid bringing babies and toddlers. If you have small children with you, always keep them in your sight or bring a companion to watch them.

It cannot be avoided in a large place. Small children can get lost. Yesterday, as I was browsing, a call came over the PA system calling for the companion of a lost child. It is okay to bring children. There is a large area devoted to children’s books alone. Your children would love it there. Just make sure their safety is paramount.

#7: Always be aware of your handbags and valuables. A backpack keeps your stuff safe and your hands free.

I do not always use a backpack but it served me well at the Big Bad Wolf Books sale. I saw women putting their handbags in front of them on the shopping cart. But one can easily get distracted by the books. A backpack is the best! You have your valuables on your back all the time. Plus, both hands are free to handle the books.

#8: Arrive full.

Food and drinks are NOT allowed inside the book area but there are stalls outside that serve siomai, lechon, takoyaki, pasta, lemon juice, chips, burgers, hotdogs, meals with rice. But if you want to get down immediately on your book search, eat before coming over.

#9: Consider supporting Big Bad Wolf Books’ Red Readerhood Programme for Gawad Kalinga.

I was not paying much attention to signs or announcements so I missed this. Red Readerhood is Big Bad Wolf Books’ way of giving back. They work with local communities to give books to those who need them. This time, they have partnered with Gawad Kalinga (GK). Donated books will go to underprivileged community libraries and schools nationwide.

All you need to do is buy children’s books for donation, pay for them at the cashier, and leave them at the Red Readerhood area. I think it’s a great idea. Do consider this while doing your own shopping. The Big Bad Wolf Book Sale has already donated 1,000 books to Gawad Kalinga. Your donation will be added to theirs.

#10: Sign up to be a Wolfie!

Sign up to be a member of Big Bad Wolf Books. This is FREE. Once a member, you get an additional 5% off on books with yellow tags. You will also receive email updates on Big Bad Wolf Books.

Yes, I said 10 tips but there is one more you cannot miss so I am adding an eleventh one.

#11: Pay using the Scan QR feature of PayMaya and save even more!

If you are a PayMaya user, YOU MUST NOT MISS THIS. PayMaya is giving a 1%, 10% and 100% cashback (up to PhP 1,000 max) on your book purchases at the Big Bad Wolf Books sale till March 4 (last day of the sale). Which percentage you get is determined randomly.

Just go to the cashier area designated specifically for PayMaya. Use the Scan QR feature to pay. And in a few minutes, you get a text letting you know what percentage of cashback you got. In my case, I got a 10% cashback which reflected immediately on my PayMaya account. It was equivalent to one free book!!! YAY!

There is a PayMaya booth at the lobby of WTC. You can either top up or load up your PayMaya account there. Just look for PayMaya kiosks near their booth at the lobby or near the cashier area.

That’s it, pancit! Good luck with your book searches. Just enjoy your time at Big Bad Wolf Books sale and be among the hundreds of thousands of bookworms.

The post 10 things you should know before going to the Big Bad Wolf Book sale appeared first on The Philippine Beat.

It’s springtime!

I know….we are in tropical Philippines. There is no spring. But in many other countries with four seasons, the ground is suddenly coming out of its wintry sleep as plants and trees start to come alive. What a great time it would be in Japan as spring brings with it the sight of cherry trees all abloom with cherry blossoms.

Starbucks embraces the changing of the seasons with Sakura merchandise, beverages, a special card, and a special spring coffee blend.

The Azuki Blossom Cream Frappuccino has a velvety milk and sweet red bean base, topped with whipped cream, petals of white and pink rice blossom petals, and tart dried cranberry bits.

A green tea variation is the Matcha Azuki Blossom Cream Frappuccino, a blend of Matcha and sweet red bean. This cherry blossom treat is also sprinkled with pink and white rice petals and cranberry bits on top of whipped cream and red beans.

Both beverages are available  beginning on March 12, 2019 (and till supplies last) for PhP 175 (Tall), PhP 190 (Grande), and PhP 205 (Venti).

Join in on the Cherry Blossom craze and visit Starbucks to witness spring in full bloom! Starting March 12, customers who purchase any of the two featured beverages can experience Cherry Blossom at Starbucks. Customers simply need to scan the QR code that can be found in each cup when they purchase either a Matcha Azuki Blossom Cream Frappuccino or an Azuki Blossom Cream Frappuccino. After scanning the QR code, they will need to locate the banner with the Cherry Blossom to trigger the AR experience. Upon scanning, customers can take their selfies under Cherry Trees of falling cherry blossoms. Visit the Starbucks Philippines Facebook Page for more details!

Sakura Merchandise

Aside from the cherry blossom beverages, Sakura-themed merchandise can be found in all Starbucks stores. With a dainty palette of pink, purple, and gold, the collection depicts two kinds of cherry blossoms, inspired by traditional hand drawings and oil paintings that captures its beauty. Some items from the collection include double-walled mugs with rubber lids in Blossom Pink and in Blossom Gray with Sakura motifs, tumblers like the clear Cold Cup designed with a sprinkling confetti blossom and complemented with a lid and straw.

And look, they even have adorable Sakura Bearista Keychains in his and hers! Each bearista is PhP 225.

Sakura Starbucks Card

The Sakura Starbucks Card is a challenge to find because to be honest, no one can resist getting it, whether you are a card collector or not. The Sakura card (available for an activation of at least PhP 300) shows the delicateness of the Cherry Blossom’s pale pink petals. It was released last February 19 and was bought up by card collectors in only a few days. I know, because I had been to at least four big stores and they no longer had the card. I think you may still be able to find the card in stores that do not have too much foot traffic because tonight, my daughter found a small Starbucks stall near a cinema and the card was still available there. Talk about good luck!

Sakura Spring Season Coffee Blend

Finally, a Sakura Spring Season coffee blend combines four distinct coffees from around the world, incorporating the qualities from each coffee growing region for which it is famous. The blend delivers a big syrupy body with striking flavors of dark cherry and cedary spice notes. It is also available as a VIA variant.

The Sakura Spring Season coffee blend is available  from February 19 to April 18, 2019.

Every year, people always look forward to the Starbucks Sakura collection but this year’s line is truly something to try and own. Go visit your favorite Starbucks store now and check them out.

The post Experience Sakura spring time at Starbucks! appeared first on The Philippine Beat.