50 Shades Musical: A Parody

I have to admit, I read the book. Yes, I read all 3 books of 50 Shades. To be even more honest, I actually liked it because I read all three books and I understood what happened to Mr. Grey. When you actually know the reason, you understand why he is the way he is. Still, I have to say that the insanely descriptive details were really a challenge to go through and so this parody would definitely be a welcome break.

With sold out audiences in New Yorkand a hit run in Las Vegas, the original parody 50 SHADES! THE MUSICAL opens in Manila on February 12 at Carlos P. Romulo Auditorium in RCBC Plaza, Makati City.

Fifty Shades of Grey has topped best-seller lists around the world with over 125 million copies sold worldwide and a 2015 blockbuster movie. A sexy, hilarious romp, 50 SHADES! The Musical Parody is a laugh out loud night of fun that audiences won’t want to miss!

The musical opens with a ladies book club deciding to read Fifty Shades of Grey. Through their interpretation of the novel, the audience is led on a hilarious roller coaster ride of this unlikely bestseller. The show is full of dance numbers, 11 original songs and a live band backing the performance. Original songs include “How Much Can I Take?”, “I Don’t Make Love”, and “There’s a Hole Inside of Me”.

Like the book series, 50 SHADES! The Musical Parodyis surely not for those under the age of 18, but does not cross boundaries that would make general audiences squirm. The show has audiences rolling on the floor, dancing in the aisles and begging for more. Now it’s Manila’s turn to experience this smash hit show that has toured all over US and Canada and has been produced in several other countries including UK, Australia and China. To date, the show has sold over 1 million tickets worldwide with more than 3000 live performances andhas inspired countless laughs.
Promoted in the Philippines by Vivre Fort Entertainment and 9 Works Theatrical, 50 SHADES! The Musical Parody will rock your world—and it’s even more fun in a group! Take your friends, take your co-workers and, as Time Out Los Angeles says, “TAKE YOUR INNER GODDESS TO THIS SMASH HIT!”

Tickets are now available at SM Tickets, Ticketworld and Ticketnet outlets. Only limited tickets are available so secure your tickets now. For more information about the show, visit www.50shadesmanila.com or call (02) 470 6956.

Brother PH Celebrates 15 Years

Brother PH recently celebrated its 15 years in the Philippines with an intimate get together with some of their media friends and celebrities such as The Kramers, The Teng brothers, and Elmo Magalona, who believed in their products. Brother started as a small group with only a dozen staff led by Japanese expatriate and former Brother Philippines President Takatoshi Kawakami and now it has become one of the country's leading provider of home and business peripherals.

The company has breached the Php1B plus sales level and it continues to strive hard to provide great service by having the right products, committed partners, dedicated associates, and adherence to global standards have fueled the company's success in this market.

Moving forward, the company will further intensify customer engagement through their "Customer Plus Program" so we can definitely expect better service and better products in the future.

PS. Thanks for the Hello Kitty Labeler that I won during the raffle. My Mom loved it!

Nido's Laking Amazing Tips

My son grew up drinking Nido. Now that he's 10, he still drinks milk once or twice a day but I make sure that he does drink daily as much as possible. My Mom tells me that kids and teenagers still need to drink milk and so she makes sure that I always buy milk for my son.

You see, my Mom was overprotective of me when I was a kid because I was very sickly. I didn't really grow up running around, playing with insects, and splashing in the mud. In fact, I was kept in a small bubble to ensure that I wouldn't get sick. When I had my son, I realized that I needed to let him have the childhood that I did not get. I had to let him run around, play with insects, and splash in the (oh my gosh I can't believe I will even write this) mud.

This decision is not easy because I worry about him getting sick and I worry that if I let him go about, he will contract something and I'd blame myself. This is what NIDO hoped to address when they invited us to talk about Nido 3+ Laking Amazing. As everyone who has read my blog for a time would know, I don't just write about Mommy things here. I make sure that when I recommend something to my co-Moms, it is something that B and I both love and support. Luckily, NIDO is definitely something that has been a part of our life.

They had nutritionists in the house whom we could talk to about our health concerns for our children so I took advantage of it and asked about B's health and weight. The first thing they showed me were the 4 Common Nutrition Problems. I am happy to say that B did not fall in any of the 4 categories. Right now, he is neither underweight or overweight. He is also not a picky eater (this will never be tolerated in my home) and neither does he want the same thing over and over again.

However, B does need to have more physical activities and ingest more Lactobacillus in his body and I loved that they had visuals to help explain it to me. As you can see here, there are soldiers who fight off bacteria but if there are only a few, they could actually lose.

Now if they Lactobacillus Protectus, then the soldiers would multiply.

If we add more lactobacillus, fruits, vegetables, and vitamins, then we will the war against bacteria.

This is what can give me extra assurance that I can let B out and play and he will be able to fight back against diseases.

I'm glad the nutritionist that I got was very patient in answering my questions and explaining things to me. I never felt her judge me and she listened to my stories about my son and his eating habits.

Since my kid is 10 years old already, he needs NIDO 5+ enriched with Calci-N to help build healthy bones because it provides better calcium absorption.

Cafe Creole makes you go OLE!

This is exactly the kind of place that I would spend Sunday brunch at. The colors are all very comforting and they serve the kind of meal that spells comfort, long talks, and just plain relazation. After all, most people would prefer just being relaxed while eating and this is what Cafe Creole is all about.

Cafe Creole will remind you of New Orleans. It was the first vibe that I got and I loved it. Then again, I loved the setting of The Originals and it's set in New Orleans. I gotta give props to the decorator because the overall vibe was spot on.

Their coffee menu is pretty awesome if I may say so. I didn't have a hard time finding out which ones they serve. LOL. After all, it is all there on the wall for everyone to see.

This is where they cook their pizza which gives it a different and distinct kind of flavor.

I found this nook that was perfect for an OOTD so I took advantage of it. As you can see, I got to show off my outfit but still show off the place.

Now off to the good part, THE FOOD and THE DRINKS. I had the Cafe Mocha and I couldn't believe how pretty it looked. I don't know about you but the way the coffee is presented matters to me just as much as the taste does and the Cafe Mocha (Php120) from Cafe Creole is looking good. Upon having a sip, I realized that it did not just look good, it also tasted very rich. The mocha was felt in this one. It made its presence very visible and felt, with a big kick. I LOVED IT!

They also serve milk shakes and I tell you, these milk shakes (Php180 - 190)  are so worth it. They had Nutella, Smores, Banana Toffee, and Fudge Brownie. This is what a dessert liquefied looks like. I could literally feel my hips expanding with every sip.

Now its time for the pizza. Yes, the one baked in the oven brick wall. This wood fire pizza (Php360 - 430) deserves its own spot. I think it really is the oven brick wall that just gives it that very distinct burnt but not really burnt flavor that makes it tastier. There, it feels like you actually get a slice of Italy though I wouldn't really know what Italy tastes like since I've never been there but you get what I mean.

The New Orleans Seafood Gumbo (Php260) was a real kicker. The rice, the creamy sauce, the spiciness, and the overall cajun broth taste is out of this world. I'm not exaggerating this. The Creole Shrimp made the perfect finale to this. If I'm gonna be honest, this broth alone makes for a complete meal.

The Creole Fritata (Php420) was also another winner. I guess it had to be because the cafe is called Cafe Creole. Skillet baked eggs, blackened chicken, fire pit sausage, creole shrimp, and mozzarella cheese. This is definitely one dish you need to order.

Finally, the real star of the night. The Bourbon Street Jambalya (Php595) is the real deal. It even has that burnt rice parts which makes it taste more authentic. This is now my favorite Jambalaya.

And this shrimp and bacon thing .... I'm not even a fan of bacon. Everyone who has read this blog knows that I am not a fan but I actually liked this dish. The combination of the shrimp and bacon was actually pretty good.

And now, THE DESSERTS. Sugar rush. Sweetness overload. Crazy calorie in every bite. Happiness in a plate. Too much goodness in one photo. My favorite here though is the leche flan. It was creamy and just how I liked it. The Smores were also divine. If I had not eaten so much already, I would have eaten more of these delicacies.

Cafe Creole is located on the 2L of Resorts World Manila. They are also on Instagram and Facebook as @cafecreoleph.

#TastetheFeeling with Coca Cola

I grew up drinking Coke. I wasn't addicted to it or anything because my Mom made sure that I wouldn't drink too much of it but it was definitely a part of every special meal that we had and every party that we hosted. Coke was a given. It was like a member of the family that one expects to be present. The idea of a party without it was not something that could happen. It just didn't. Coke was automatically part of the things that we would buy.

Yesterday, Coke launched a new campaign and from the start, I knew that it was already going to be a success because the story behind each campaign they launched has been endearing and a success.

There are many changes that are being made to how Coca Cola is presenting itself. Letting go of its iconic five-note signature, Coca-Cola is also unveiling a new audio signature that makes use of the sounds that have long been attributed to drinking Coke: the opening of the fridge, the unmistakable fizzing on ice, the cheers and clinking of glasses, the quenching sip, and the irresistible ahhh at the end.

Following a partnership that started in 2014, Coca-Cola also tapped Avicii to produce a remixed version of the “Taste the Feeling™” campaign anthem featuring Conrad Sewell, and he will produce versions of the song for the UEFA EURO 2016TM and the Rio 2016 Olympic Games™ campaigns.

The shareable and customizable interactive digital experience is made up of different GIF scenes that reflect feelings associated with drinking Coca-Cola set to the “Taste the Feeling™” anthem. The experience allows users to pull a GIF scene directly from the microsite, personalize the scene with real-time feelings, and share it on social platforms with #TasteTheFeeling.

The new campaign also features images shot by noted fashion photographers Guy Aroch and Nacho Ricci capturing people from around the world enjoying ice-cold Coca-Cola in a variety of everyday moments. The new campaign imagery will be used in print advertising, out of home billboards, in-store as well as digital media.

In the Philippines, Coca-Cola unveils their newest ambassadors, headlined by the country’s hottest love teams such as Alden Richards and Maine Mendoza, James Reid and NadineLustre, and Enrique Gil and Liza Soberano. Completing the 10 ambassadors are Enchong Dee, Janella Salvador, Bailey May and Ylona Garcia.

Coca-Cola will also go around some of the biggest colleges, universities, and tambayans in the country to turn more ordinary moments extra special. One of the biggest activations that teens should look forward to is the roll out of the Coca-Cola Emoticons – a cool and fun way of tasting and sharing the feeling of drinking Coca-Cola with buddies and friends.

Exciting activities are also lined-up for the rest of the year that will uplift ordinary days and bring refreshing moments throughout the country. We are also giving out millions of free Coca-Cola so we can make millions of moments special.
The campaign also marks the consolidation of all Coca-Cola trademark products like Coca-Cola, Coca-Cola Light, Diet Coca-Cola, and Coca-Cola Zero under a ‘One Brand’ campaign approach. “Taste the Feeling™” replaces “Open Happiness™” which has been used by Coca-Cola for the past seven years. Since 1886, there have been 45 taglines before “Taste the Feeling™”.

For more information about the new campaign of Coca-Cola, visit www.TastetheFeeling.Coca-Cola.com or the Facebook page of Coca-Cola Philippines.

Knorr National Tapa Day

Tapa is one of those things that I love but I don't always order because most of the restaurants do not know how to cook it right. It is almost always hard to chew and not tasty enough. Thankfully, my Mom cooks a mean tapa and there are a few choice restaurants where you can enjoy tapa and these restaurants have all combined forces along with Unilever Food Solutions to try and break the record for serving the most number of dishes of tapa in one day.

Tapa, when marinated thoroughly with soy  sauce and other seasonings prior to drying gives it more taste. It is a favorite and signature dish, one that is served a lot to guests and foreigners to show off the mad skills of a Filipino.

In this event, UFS along with 10 chefs across the metro were tasked to create ten dishes each involving tapa. The different tapa dishes featured different tastes, textures,and even inspirations that went beyond the imagination such as the Tapa Cheesecake and Tapa Chicharon as well as Tapa Flakes. My favorite though was the Tapa Unaji Roll. It was heaven in every bite. I ate 10pcs of this. It was just so good.

The 10 chefs who made this a success are:

1. Chef Abigail Martinez-Aluning
2. Chef Christian Carpio 
3. Chef Christopher Alarilla Bautista 
4. Chef Demerlito Tulaylay 
5. Chef Jospeh Ventura 
6. Chef Monicca Nocido-Dechavez 
7. Chef Sabrina Chu Gan 
8. Chef Sonny Mariano 
9. Chef Timothy Neil Abejuela 
10. Chef Mikel Francis Zaguirre 

Knorr National Tapa Day which will be held on January 29, 2016 is partnered with P&N Countryside Steakhouse, Countryside Sizzling House, Taps, Floyd's, Tapa King, Rufo's and Merzci Bakeshop and Restaurant. 

Crizal Eyezen lets you stay connected 24/7

I am one of those people who have worn glasses since I was a child. I loved reading, writing, scrapbooking, and cross stitching. All of these things are strenuous to the eyes. 3 years ago, I finally got an Android phone and the rest is history.

I am now part of the digital community and my phone is the first thing that I look at when I wake up in the morning. However, being glued to my phone 24/7 can definitely result into headaches and severe eye strain especially when I forget to wear my glasses.

Thankfully, Crizal Eyezen understands this problem and has come up with a solution.

With the abundance of digital devices, people are now engaging in a digital behavior called “multi-screening”. It is a behavior where an individual uses multiple digital screens simultaneously, on average four (4) different devices are used—either for work, education, socializing or leisure.

A typical multi-screen user spends 7 hours and 24 minutes of screen media per day. Of that time, 34% is spent on smartphones; 33% on TV; 23% on laptops; and 10% on tablets. This longer time in front of bright digital screens and versatility between devices are challenges for the human eye, and many people are describing specific symptoms linked to their new behavior.

With this in mind, Essilor, the global leader in ophthalmic lenses, introduces Crizal Eyezen, a new range of lenses designed to keep your eyes protected while staying connected to the digital world. 

Crizal Eyezen™ lenses are designed to replace ordinary prescription lenses or to assist occasionally the ones who usually do not need glasses, when viewing their digital devices. They exist in three (3) different optimizations according to the type of screen most used and the age of the patient. It features three revolutionary technologies—Eyezen Focus, Light Scan™ and W.A.V.E Technology that work in sync to relax the eyes from all digital stress and protect against harmful blue light. 

Eyezen Focus Technology helps relieve the eye’s focus when using digital devices and reduces eye strain in ultra-near distances or for reading small characters by giving an extra power in the lower portion of the ophthalmic lens.

Light Scan™ Technology is a unique light filtering technology which protects eyes from the harmful blue-violet light emitted by digital screens. W.A.V.E Technology, on the other hand, eliminates lens distortion for sharper, clearer vision at every distance and better vision even in low light. 

“Crizal Eyezen enhances the digitally connected lifestyle of the millennial generation” says Essilor Philippines general manager Dr. Emelita Roleda. “While ordinary glasses help you see the world, Eyezen enhance the way you live in it. With clearer, sharper vision, you can connect to the digital world better, while getting protection for your eyes at the same time.”

Crizal Eyezen is just one of the many technological innovations of Essilor.  As technology continues to advance, people’s visual needs will change at the same time. Essilor makes sure that people’s visual needs are always complemented through its constant technological innovations, innovations that aim for people to see the world better. 

Crizal Eyezen lenses are available in clear and Crizal Transitions at leading optical shops nationwide. For more information, visit the Crizal Eyezen Facebook page, www.facebook.com/crizaleyezenph 

Repertory Philippines opens 2016 with The Games Afoot

When I first heard of this play, I had absolutely no idea what it was about. All I knew was that it was a funny murder mystery. It intrigued me because seriously, how can you make a murder mystery funny at the same time? I knew this was going to be a challenge but I also knew that if any company can do it, it would be Repertory Philippines.

The set design was very impressive. Seriously. It made the audience ooh and aahh. The blocking was fluid and I loved how they utilized every aspect of it. They were able to draw in the crowd and make you believe that you were inside a huge mansion with all of the characters.

The play started out with an opening that makes a huge impact and makes you ask yourself, "Is this part of the play or did I just miss something?" With that question, you are hooked.

The cast were all divine. The costumes were splendid and I loved that all the actors were at ease in what they were wearing. I have encountered plays where the actors were obviously ill at ease in what they had on and its so painful to watch. This cast however was just what theater was all about.



The Game’s Afoot will be staged from January 15 to February 7, 2016 at Onstage Theater in Greenbelt 1, Makati City. Ticket prices ranges from P418 to P836. For more details regarding The Game’s Afoot, call Repertory Philippines at 843-3570. Book tickets through TicketWorld at 891-9999 or visit their website at www.ticketworld.com.ph.

Biscoff Cookie Minibon

When I was growing up, Cinnabon was one of those treats that I would always look forward to. There was just something about its sticky, gooey sweetness that made it so desirable. It was also not that available everywhere which made it even more of a treat.

When I got this box of Cinnabon for the holiday break, I was really, really happy. My sister and I were both craving for sweets and this was perfect.

This was so good paired with coffee. It was absolutely the perfect partner for the Nescafe Creamy White that I had. The sweetness of the cinnamon that was sprinkled on top, the gooeyness of the caramel like bits was complemented by the creaminess of the coffee.

For anyone craving sticky sugary treats, Cinnabon is the perfect pair for you. Trust me when I say that you need to definitely forget counting calories when you have this as every single bite is oh so worth it. Cinnabon can be found at your nearest malls.

why Folic Acid is a must ...

When I found out that I was pregnant 10 years ago, the first thing that I read about it was the importance of Folic Acid. It seems that before you even get pregnant, you should already be stocking up on this in your system for 6 months. SIX MONTHS.

"Folic acid supplementation prior to and during pregnancy helps in the production of red blood cells and also prevents the risk of major complications like spina bifida (exposure of spinal cord) and anencephaly (underdevelopment of brain). Folic acid also prevents cleft lip and palate, premature birth, poor growth and low birth weight in babies and miscarriage in mother." 

One of the things that constantly worries a Mom is that the baby will have something not natural about it. We all want our babies to be perfect and if we need to ingest as much folic acid as we can to help make it happen, then every Mom would just about do that. 

To know more about it, go here. 

Au Ventre

We just wanted to eat. It really was our only goal after having worked out really hard. The first place we went to had too many people and it didn't look so appealing. We decided to walk a bit more inside our village and that's when we chanced upon this place.

I loved the green and white colors of the place. It seemed calming and soothing. Or I could just be biased since I went to De La Salle and green and white is our school color. Whatever my reason was, I decided that we would eat here.

I loved the look of the place. It was very kitchy and it was homey. I took a photo of the chair not to show it off but because I want to buy one of these when we have our own house. It just looks so comfortable and it was.

The lights also look like something from candyland.

My sister ordered the beef rice topping and I went for the tuna sandwich. I can honestly say that for the beef rice topping alone,  It was really good. When the staff said that it was their best seller, I didn't believe it. When I took a bite of it, I believed her. Writing about it now, I just want to go out and have a cup.

It was the smell and then the taste. It leaves a memory. I don't know why but it does. It's the kind of dish that makes you remember its taste and scent which leaves a really good memory. I think that this is what food should be all about. It is not just the taste but the memory that it creates.

They also serve pretty good coffee and I liked that they serve it with biscotti. For a small hole in the wall resto-cafe, they were pretty impressive. The service was also really good. I'd say that we ended the year with a really nice discovery. I'm glad we went here.

Au Ventre is located along Vatican Road inside BFRV, Las Pinas.