Review of the new Jollibee TV Commercial this Christmas

Jollibee recently launched its thematic campaign and new commercial for Christmas featuring the heart and soul of OFWs.

In case you haven't seen it yet, watch the heartwarming moment of a family reunited for Christmas:


Clearly, Christmas joy here in the Philippines with the whole family never fades, and this commercial reminds us of that unassailable fact. Jollibee has done a superb job of building hype around its Christmas ads in recent years, making a series of TV commercials that are deeply sentimental yet heart-warming.

This commercial tells a story of OFWs missing their loved ones this holiday season. A story set on Christmas Eve, with the love for family at its center and an unlikely love and warmth as its driving force. The ad depicts a heart-warming scene of young man who works in Qatar; arrives and meets an old cab driver who is also missing his son. The young man's joy of being reunited with the family and sharing that happiness with the cab driver is genuinely touching and is sure to hit home with a lot of people this holiday season.

With a touching, family-friendly plot, the TV commercial might make you tear up a bit and it'll give you a glimpse at the less commercial Pinoy Christmases of days gone by. It's also a sweet look at how love, sacrifice and change can expand one's world and life, even with random strangers.

The commercial is only 43 seconds in length, but it contains a lot of touching, tear-jerking, and excitement over the happiness of spending Christmas with the whole family here in the Philippines. The point is quickly made and well-taken:  "mas masaya  talaga ang pasko sa Pilipinas, lalo na pag kasama ang buong pamilya”.

With over 94,000 views on YouTube as well as a high proportion of positive comments, it reveals that this year’s Jollibee TV Commercial for Christmas has been much better received so far. The in-depth and brilliant take on thoughtful spending of Christmas with the family, appeals all of us in terms of tugging at the heartstrings. So much of this holiday season revolves around commercialism and capitalism, but this Christmas-themed commercial from Jollibee is a simple, sentimental and sweet homage to the joy of the season.

Indeed, Christmas is the best time of the year to spend time with your family.  And it's amazing how Jollibee brings Christmas joy to Filipino families the whole year round.

Happy Holidays!


 

Healthier Food Choices this Christmas with Clara Ole

Christmas is fast approaching and while it may be the season of overindulgence, everyone wants to look their best and no one, I repeat, no one wants to feel deprived. The choice we make is what really defines our diets. Even if you canned a healthy cereal, you may still be grabbing  fat-laden, sugary chocolate bar, muffin or a venti-sized, caffeine-infused latte for your sweet morning fix. And that, my friend, is an endless battle against an all out belly blowout!

It has always been a challenge for moms like me when it comes to preparing healthy meals for everyone—breakfast, lunch, merienda up until dinner. Whipping up something good to chow on for the loved one is no easy task and for those always pressed for time, a little help does so many wonders.

Luckily, I found a fast, simple and flavorful solution when creating dishes. Clara Olé is a pasta sauce brand known for its wide range of versatile pasta sauces. Not only that, the brand is also credited for having a diversified yet innovative product concepts and other ready-to-use products to help aid homemakers whip up that delectably perfect, healthy and savory dish for the whole family.

So this Christmas, ensure you're looking and feeling your best through the holiday season with these tips and healthier food choices with Clara Olé:

1. Don't skip breakfast. A green 'n savory, lightly sweet breakfast to serve up.

Breakfast is the most important meal of the day, people! This will give you a slow release of energy, keeping your spirits up during opening of gifts and Christmas dinner preps. So don't skip it! Whip up that batter for some scrumptious pancakes and team it up with Clara Olé Pancake Syrups. Take your pick: Original, Maple, Cinnamon or Truly Fruity for those who want to tickle their taste buds; for those watching blood glucose levels, worry not with the sugar-free version of the Clara Olé Maple Syrup. Chocoholics are also treated with two chocolate syrups they can enjoy to the hilt—the classic Choco and Choco-Nut Syrup.

For my daily breakfast meal, I always start off with a light and refreshing salad comprising of some fresh romaine lettuce, cucumbers, mango bits drizzled with Clara Ole Asian dressing and topped with croutons and cheese, then I warm up my belly with a glass of warm water with lemon.

Also, I try my best to cut down on my rice intake as much as I can and replace it with something healthy like salad or cauli-rice(steamed cauliflower smashed into bits).  And believe it or not, I just lost 14 lbs. in just 3 weeks! :) If you're a rice (or extra-rice) person, try to slash your rice consumption by half.

Clara Olé Dips n’ Dressings such as Thousand Island, Caesar, Honey Mustard, Ranch and Asian are perfect for those fresh and crunchy greens as part of your daily healthy food fare. My fave salad dressings are Clara Olé  Caesar and Asian. Caesar has a classic tangy treat. Asian dressing, on the other hand, gives a sweet bite and finishes off with a pop of sesame explosion in your mouth! Amp up your salads even further with their Vinaigrettes like Orange, Sesame, Pesto, Parmesan and Mango. So healthy so you can enjoy them to your heart’s content.

If you're not a salad person, you can have a jam on toast for brekky! Spice up your breads’ flavor with the appetizing range of quality Jams and Jellies from Clara Olé that are perfect for any and all bread recipes.

2. Prepare and cook your own food.

Cooking could either be simple or complex. Simple like 1.2.3 or complex, much like algebra and the debate about whether soccer is better than football.  But hey, Clara Ole makes everything so simple and so delicious. I love how Clara Olé mouth-watering marinades dramatically improve the flavor of bland veggies and meat.

3. Limit the salt and use marinades to flavour food.

If it’s lunch, dinner or any-time-of-the-day-meals at home or the office, enjoy the best cuts of chicken, pork or beef by marinating them using . For a classic taste of grilled meat, check out Clara Olé Original Barbeque Marinade to satisfy that craving. Same goes for Honey Mustard, Hickory and Spicy flavors that will surely play with your senses as soon as it hits your palate. Korean food lovers can also rejoice with Clara Olé Korean Barbeque Marinade, or bring back your glorious childhood memories with the Clara Olé line of flavorful Tapa and Tocino marinades, while Inasal is perfect for that chicken char-grilled goodness.

4. Know when enough is enough. Choose to be full, not stuffed.

I love eating pasta and sometimes, I overeat so keeping things in moderation is the key. You can use a smaller plate or drink a glass of water before a meal to fill you up.

For my pasta dish, I always use Clara Olé classic pasta sauces. You can either go with Italian Style, Sweet Style, Three-Cheese, or Filipino Style to liven up any meal but my fave is the triple Cheese. Or, for a more sophisticated taste around the table, Clara Olé Chunky Tomato with Three-Cheese, Chunky Tomato with Basil, Cheesy Pesto, Kung Pao and Mushroom can make every pasta dish even more sensational.

Triple Treat! Triple meat pasta with Clara Ole Triple Cheese sauce

5. Indulge once in a while. Cheat day, that is. :)

I finish off the meal with something sweet and satisfying like low fat yogurt or mango crepe drizzled with Clara Ole Choco-Nut Syrup on top. Yum!

Last but not the least, make healthier food choices! Try Clara Ole because everything goes perfectly with these products.

Visit www.claraole.com for more deets and like Clara Olé on Facebook here or follow them on Instagram @claraoleph


 

Tupperware Brands’ Women of Confidence

Indeed, confident women can change the world. Don't you agree?

Now on its second year, the Search for Women of Confidence recognizes strong and confident Filipinas who have achieved great things and inspired others to be the best they can be. Tupperware Brands Philippines also supports women who have proven that confidence brings about power to change lives.

Tupperware Brands Philippines’ Women of Confidence honors five exemplary Filipinas who helped bring about change, one family and one community at a time. As part of its commitment to enlighten, educate and empower women, Tupperware recognizes women who have achieved great things and inspired others to realize their potential and be the best that they can be.

“Filipinas are strong and independent, passionate and compassionate – a perfect mix of the traits of a woman of confidence. Through the Search for Women of Confidence, we honor these outstanding Filipinas who initiated positive change in their family lives, fields of work, and community through their exemplary attitude and self-assurance,” explained Perry Mogar, Tupperware Brands Philippines managing director.

Each of the nominees were judged based on their story of confidence, which should show how her act of confidence brought about positive change in her family, her community, or in society.

Follow me on Instagram : @r0ckstarm0mma 

To know more about the 2013 Tupperware Brands Philippines Search for Women of Confidence, visit I Am Confidence in Facebook, www.facebook.com/tupperwarebrandsph/iamconfidence and the I Am Confidence microsite, www.confidence.ph. You may also visit the Tupperware Brands Philippines website at www.tupperwarebrands.ph.


 

P15 Pesos Donuts at Go Nuts Donuts in Celebration of 10th Anniversary

Are P15 donuts celebratory enough? Or should I get more cronuts?

Beacause you've asked for it, you've got it. It's back for November 29 to December 1, 2013, donuts at Php15.00 each. Only at Gonuts Donuts!

In celebration of 10 years of treats, Gonuts Donuts is offering doughnuts for only P15 each. No coupon required. Just go there, buy, eat and enjoy the treat! Offer available while supplies last at selected Gonuts Donuts stores.

Go Nuts Donuts celebrated its 10th year anniversary through a donut-filled event last November 11, 2013 at Fully Booked’s Top Shelf in Bonifacio High Street. Featuring their latest products such as the 10 new Anniversary Donuts, CroNuts, GND Spreads, and Twists & Brittle.

Just when you thought the cronut craze was over, there are CroNuts in 6 delicious flavors  for fans to salivate over; such as Sugar Coated, Chocolate Almond, Peaches and Cream, Strawberry Jam, Apple Cinnamon and Blueberry Cream Cheese. I think these are what Jesus eats on a Sunday morning. Heavenly.

The world is going cro-NUTS! 

But wait, there's more..

There are daily raffle prizes to be given away. Social media fans of Go Nuts Donuts will get a chance to win awesome prizes from Calayan Secrets, Bioessence, Dermcare, Enchanted Kingdom, Manila Ocean Park, Bangs by Tony and Jackey, Nail Spa, Posh Nails, Simmian Manila and David's Salon!

Check out these hashtags:  #TwitterTuesday, #WackyWednesdays, #ThrowbackThursdays, and #FacebookFridays promos!

For more details on #celebrating10yearsofdeliciouscreations, like Go Nuts Donuts on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram


 

Bigger and Better Career Opportunities Await at jobsDB's Unlad Kabuhayan Job Fair

Overall, the numbers in employment are very positive and still highly competitive out there, but I do have two pieces of good news for job seekers.

A double dose of good news for those who are struggling to find work. :)

Good news #1: jobsDB signed MOA with Unlad International

The country’s fastest job search engine, jobsDB and the Unlad International Inc. signed on November 21 an agreement for staging a job fair and career convention dubbed “Unlad Kabuhayan” for January 24 to 26, 2014 at the SMX Convention in Pasay City.

  (L-R) Unlad International Officer Gerry Lara, Unlad Kabuhayan Project Director Gigi Anne Lapira, jobsDB Country Manager Sheryl Tiburcio, and jobsDB Marketing Manager Melanie Guerrero, signed a Memorandum of Agreement that will help more than 80,000 Filipino jobseekers through Unlad Kabuhayan Job Fair. 

The job fair aims to provide quality career opportunities for some 80,000 Filipinos. The memorandum of agreement (MoA) was signed at Discovery Suites in Ortigas. The Unlad Kabuhayan Jobs Fair will have over 200 exhibitors representing companies belonging to different sectors. Expected to attended are over 80,000 job seekers and exhibitors. The convention will invite notable speakers and career-guide experts who will be announced later on.

Both organizations share a passion for empowering jobseekers and helping people advance their careers. Unlad International, a non-government organization with a long-term sustainable livelihood programs, aims to equip every Filipino with tools to ultimately fight poverty and sustain his growth thereafter. It has set up two Unlad garment factories in Dasmariñas, Cavite, and Palayan, Nueva Ecija, which continuously employs 2,000 people.

Unlad International also just recently launched an eco-farming in Nueva Era, Agusan Del Norte, and held the May K sa Pag-unlad seminar series that gave free education to 5,000 graduates with the help from 250 mentor- volunteers. Other projects like the Ultimate Kitchen Challenge 2013, Tatak Unlad Family Hobbies Summit, Tatak Unlad Fashionista and Tatak Unlad Kiddopreneur Summit drove further empowerment for Filipinos.

Searcher engine, jobsDB has been providing the latest technology and has established an excellent reputation for being the largest online-recruitment platform in the Asia Pacific with more than 14.6 million jobseeker-members, growing by at least 20 percent yearly. It has over 220,000 corporate clients offering 60,000 jobs everyday.

Good News #2:  jobsDB launched a mobile app so you can search and apply for jobs anytime, anywhere! 

With its new sleek and user-friendly interface, job seekers will have a better and smoother job search experience anytime, anywhere! The new and improved jobsDB mobile app will definitely help you to explore better opportunities on the go! The mobile app is available for both iPhone and Android users to further make job seeking convenient for everyone especially for industries that have demand for workers including in Information Technology, Hospitality, F&B, Sales, Customer Service Representatives, and Building and Construction.

Combining their expertise and goals, the partnership between jobsDB and Unlad International will definitely pave the way for creating quality career opportunities and sustainable livelihood for more Filipinos in the coming years starting with Unlad Kabuhayan 2014.

 

Families Bonding Moments at Jollibee’s Biggest Birthday Bash

Jollibee Kids Club (JKC) members, along with their families and friends, trooped to the Philippine International Convention Center Forum in Manila and 35 selected Jollibee branches nationwide, to join Jollibee’s surprise birthday bash. Planned by the Jollitown gang of Hetty, Popo, Twirlie and Yum, this year’s one-of-a-kind celebration drew thousands of guests from all across the country, truly making it this year’s biggest birthday event and Jollibee’s grandest yet. Extending its reach was the live streaming of the event that allowed JKC members all over the nation¾from provinces in Luzon all the way to Mindanao to join in the fun.

 Christine Jacob-Sandejas, pictured with daughter Gabby, son Jaime and Jollibee Assistant Brand Manager Dianne Yorro, had a blast at Jollibee’s grand birthday bash. 

Celebrity mom Christine Jacob-Sandejas brought two of her kids, 11-year-old Gabby and 4-year-old Jaime. “One thing that I really enjoyed was seeing all the kids have a wonderful time,” she says. “That for me is what Jollibee is all about¾bringing smiles to children, and really bringing the family together for some quality bonding time.” Tin-Tin Bersola-Babao’s eight-year-old daughter Anya and three-year-old son Nio also participated in the much-anticipated event. “My kids' favorite part was when everyone surprised Jollibee onstage and his genuine reaction when he found out that his friends were there all along,” she says.

Sonny del Monte, dad to two-year-old Ashley Eunice, says, “My daughter especially enjoyed seeing kids being competitive and taking part in the games.” For Grace Anne Co, mom to three-year-old Nathan Brent, it was the song and dance numbers that really revved up her son’s excitement.  “He loves performing himself, so he lit up seeing today’s various stage acts.” Maylene Balacano, mom to five-year-old Franz, shares, “Being surrounded by so many kids helped my shy daughter learn to socialize.”

Another highlight was getting to experience a live staging of Jollitown, much to the delight of the kids and their parents as it promotes kids’ multiple intelligences. “Seeing Jollitown come alive at the birthday bash served to enhance Nio’s reading experience of the Jollitown books and watching past Jollitown seasons since all the characters came alive in front of his own eyes,” relates Tin-Tin.

Tin-Tin Bersola-Babao’s kids Nio and Anya painted the town red at the surprise birthday party for Jollibee.

“Recognizing multiple intelligences among children is important, especially during their formative years. I’m glad that different kinds of intelligences were showcased at the event,” she adds. Christine agrees, encouraging an individual approach to parenting for each child. “I have five kids and for me, all of them are different. As a parent, it’s important to get to know each child, spend time with them and know their strengths and weaknesses,” she says.

Have a fun family bonding day at Jollibee, guys! :)


 

Uratex Premium Mattress Unveils New Kensington® Line, Donates to Victims of Super Typhoon Yolanda

In lieu with the Kensington Mattress Launch last Thursday held at Our Home in SM Megamall, the Uratex also announced the assistance of giving 4,000 sets of mattresses, P2M worth of shirts and blankets, and P2M cash donation to help rebuild classrooms in Tacloban.

I was deeply saddened when I watched the news. When CNN anchor Anderson Cooper asked a typhoon victim where will she sleep for the night, she answered,"On the streets, anywhere.. I don't know." While we are blessed with shelter, food and comfortable beds, our fellow Filipinos are incredibly desperate, in pain, thirsty, famished and have nowhere decent to sleep but on the cold streets next to the bodies of their dead loved ones. That being said, I'm glad and grateful how Uratex reaches out to the victims of super typhoon Yolanda by helping those gravely affected by this disaster.

The event was hosted by Ms. Maricel Laxa-Pangilinan and husband Anthony Pangilinan, launching 3 different models, the Kensington® Classic, Kensington® Luxe and Kensington® Opulent, Uratex Premium Mattress. The new majestic collection allows anyone to sleep on its royal and majestic elegance and magnificent comfort that will suit everyone’s varied needs and tastes in comfortable style.

Also, the winner of the Student Vignette Contest was announced. The theme "Alice All grown Up" won with its effeminate yet bold hues of blue that belies royalty and sophistication that will surely make anyone feels majestic.

Oh, and expect the Kensington® Collection by Uratex Premium Mattress to capture the attention of Filipino modern mattress lovers. This time, Uratex partners with leading lifestyle furniture store chain Our|Home in order to provide better sleep solutions to Filipinos and further set the standard in wellness, elegance, comfort, durability and functionality in today’s modern beds.

 Made from a combination of classic bonnel spring, an hour-glass shape and knotted end rings at the top and the bottom with a round helical wire that connects the spring together, and further made relaxing and restful with Uratex Nuovoluxe foam, Kensington® Classic provides a comfortable balance of softness on the surface and firmness deep down. With knitted fabric to cover the mattress, everyone is assured of a good night’s sleep every time.

Kensington® Luxe, on the other hand, is made from high quality visco-elastic foam on top of a pocket spring material that will cradle the body to ease up pressure and provide utmost comfort to the whole body. With its soft comfort feel, anyone who sleeps on a Kensington Luxe mattress is assured of an all-over feeling of relaxation and comfortable sleep with less of the discomforting tossing and turning.

And finally, Kensington® Opulent is specially designed with the combination of five-zone pocketed springs, visco-elastic foam and natural latex foam topper to ensure optimum support with its firm built and superior comfort to provide everyone a good night’s sleep.

A stylish bedroom set-up by Idr. Jie Pambid

To complete the royal sleeping experience everyone needs night in and night out, the Kensington collection also includes the Kensington® Pillow.  It's a super soft pillow that will definitely lull anyone to sleep by providing excellent back support, perfect relaxation and an exceptional level of coziness and contentment.

I am now blessed to curl up and sleep comfortably with these super soft pillows that really gives the ultimate comfort in a luxurious way. I instantly feel that utmost feeling of slumbering in comfort and elegance.

A majestic sleeping experience is just one sleep away...

Indeed, anyone with a Kensington® Collection by Uratex Premium Mattress will definitely enjoy its royal beauty and comfort for a very long time since Uratex Premium Mattress and Our|Home guarantees superb quality and durability as each of the mattresses from the Kensington® Collection has a warranty— Kensington® Classic with 7 years and Kensington® Luxe and Opulent with 15 years—that protects the mattresses from inherent manufacturing defects and damage, or wear and tear under normal usage.

Aside from the warranties and other snug features, all items under the Kensington® Collection is treated with Sanitized®, which prevents and controls the growth of allergens to provide long-lasting, safe and effective protection against bacteria, fungi, dust mites, mold, mildew and unpleasant odors.

Get to know more about the Kensington® Collection by Uratex Premium Mattress, and find out how you can have a majestic sleep experience any time, every time. Exclusively available in Our|Home stores nationwide. Visit www.uratex.com.ph for more details.

Share your most majestic sleeping experience in the comment below.