Hong Kong Family Vacation

February 2017 was when our family had our first international trip. I promised myself back then that I would do my best to immerse myself in the moment. Though I took a lot of photos, I wasn't too immersed on social media and posted only a few things.

I realized now that I actually have not blogged about it so here you go. This is more of a snippet since I want to do separate posts for the highlight of the trip so Disneyland and Ocean Park would be on another post.

THE GOOD.

Hong Kong food is just really amazing. AMAZING. Filling, cheap, no-nonsense. They won't even bother with plating and you really wouldn't care coz it's sooooo good.

They also have really interesting egg tarts and if you're not careful like me, you could end up spending 100HKD on egg tarts alone. No regrets though. It was worth it.

Their milk tea is also a different breed. Trust me when I say this for I have reviewed over 50 milk tea places in Manila since 2012 and the milk tea in Hong Kong is just different.

WAY BETTER.

THE GREAT.

Tsim Sa Tsui aka TST is a shopping heaven. So many choices, so little money.

Going to another country is one boat ride away.

Moments with family at Macao and Wynn Palace.

Instagrammable lobby leading to the bathroom.

This was also when we had the most expensive dinner of our lives. I felt so happy being able to treat them to Cafe Fontana at Wynn Palace. It may have been crazy expensive but the smiles on their faces and the happiness was more than worth every single peso.

Shoe Shopping! When you can purchase sneakers for 1/4 of the price, it's definitely a steal. I used to not wear sneakers but since I discovered the cheap prices in Hong Kong and Singapore, I am now turning into a sneakerhead.

THE EHHHH???

I remember we had to wake up early to get in here without lines but even at 6am, there was a small line already. I remember being excited because it seems that people really line up for this place only to feel eehhhhh when I saw the food.

I am not hating on macaroni and ham as well as bread and eggs but I didn't understand what the fuss was. I tasted it and it was delicious but nothing I'd line up for.

I was still happy though because I was with my family. If you notice, our Mom is not with us because we let her sleep an hour more.

THE BEST.

Our Mom was very happy and so we were very happy.

Overall, this was definitely an epic first trip and now, we're going to plan our Taiwan family trip. Tips anyone?

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Izakaya Sensu

If the thought of sushi rolls and Agedashi Tofu makes your heart skip a beat the way mine does, Izakaya Sensu is a must visit. Located in the heart of BGC, Izakaya Sensu is very easy to spot since it's right where Netpark is.

Cozy ambiance fit for families, friends, and even couples on a date, Izakaya Sensu gives you a little bit of Tokyo without trying so hard. I loved that because it makes you feel like you're in another country but it's not overbearing.

Since we were a hungry bunch, we ordered quite a few things.

I started with the Agadashi Tofu and thought that I would be able to eat this dish by myself because M, K, and B weren't tofu fans. However, they wanted a taste and actually liked it. I ended up eating half of one piece. This is what happens when you order tasty dishes.

The Salmon and Cream Cheese Roll were ABSOLUTELY AMAZING. This plate was lacking. I think if we ordered 3 it would still be lacking because we just loved it.

The Sensu Roll was also another favorite of ours. The ones with Mango on Top and shrimp inside was just divine. The other roll was a little spicy but it balanced the sweetness of the mango so make sure to eat one right after the other.

The California Roll was as good as it gets. Filling and with a lot of bonito flakes on top, it just makes you want to eat the entire thing. I don't know if it's just me but when there are bonito flakes on top of a dish, I end up eating more and more.

We also ordered two Yakimeshi coz we love our rice and we ordered the pork belly, chicken teriyaki, and beef.

We loved everything though the beef was a bit raw for our taste. Then again, we're more of medium well people so anything with blood on it makes us cringe.

Definitely had fun eating at Izakaya Sensu. I'm glad that we now have a go-to Japanese spot in BGC. I can honestly say that it is money well spent.

IG: @izakayasensuph

Twitter: @raintreesensu

FB: @raintreesensu

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Premier Real Estate Expo at SMX MOA

On July 19 and 20, 2019, Housal.com, the most innovative Proptech solution for buyers, sellers, brokers and developers, invites all stakeholders in Realty and Construction to ‘Envision 2019: The Premier Real Estate Expo in The Philippines’ to be held at SMX Mall of Asia.

Mr.Yogesh Mathur, CEO of Housal and creator of Envision 2019 say: “2018 marked the year of the launch of our innovative digital Real Estate platform, 2019 marks the next step towards bringing all stakeholders together”.

Envision 2019 finally brings together all the prime stakeholders in Realty in one event. From developers to banks, from contractors to insurers and from brokers to buyers, all dots in Real Estate will be connected. The expo provides ample ways of connecting to potential clients and business partners.

Yogesh Mathur: “Real Estate and Construction in the Philippines are main contributors to the 77 quarters of uninterrupted growth in GDP. Although the economic outlook remains positive, more can be done to accelerate industry growth. To keep up with the demand of an ever growing population and all the challenges that come with it in terms of infrastructure and sustainability, more collaboration and better cooperation amongst stakeholders is key in moving forward, hence us organizing Envision 2019.”  

The two-day event offers two different settings. First there is the expo, which covers 140+ booths and is open to the general public, accommodating thousands of visitors. Free registration is already possible via the event website. The second setting focuses on business matching. In a VIP area, dedicated to business leaders, the Envision team organizes several curated sessions linking participating companies with one another based on their business goals. Complimenting the business matching and expo, Envision 2019 will have a line up of top-notch speakers from the industry and continuous live entertainment to ensure that all visitors will have both a productive as well as a delightful experience.

In collaboration with event organizer PMCM Events Management, Envision 2019 invites all Real Estate Stakeholders from the Philippines and beyond to attend, exhibit and sponsor. For more information, please visit envision.ph.  

Singapore Tourism Board kicks off Passion made Possible Campaign

Have you ever felt passionate about anything that you wish you could just do that one thing for the rest of your life? Have you ever felt so passionate about food that a delicious meal can bring you to tears? 

Singapore Tourism Board (STB) reinforces its passion-driven campaign as it rolls out the SINGapore Karaoke booth — tapping into Filipinos’ innate love for singing; particularly karaoke. The KTV booth, which allows participants to score a trip to Singapore simply by singing their hearts out, runs from October 19 to 21 at the Cortes De Las Palmas in Alabang Town Center.

Tapping on the Filipinos’ well-known passion for music, the SINGapore Karaoke booth is rolled out in the Philippines first, before popping up in other markets around the world. Over the next few days, Pinoy music-lovers will come together to enjoy a weekend full of entertainment, prizes, and surprises.

The SINGapore Karaoke is the first of many upcoming consumer activities targeting the Philippine market, as STB unveils the second wave of its “Passion Made Possible” brand campaign in the country. The campaign was first launched in Singapore in August 2017, positioning Singapore as a bustling haven where its visitors can discover new possibilities and pursue their passions. Four passion tribes were introduced, namely: Foodie, Explorer, Collector and Progressor. Please see Annex for more information on these tribes.

For its second wave, the campaign is shining the spotlight on the Socialiser, Action Seeker, and Culture Shaper passion tribes. And the specially-designed SINGapore Karaoke Booth is its springboard for the launch of the Socialiser tribe, focusing on those who enjoy the energy of the nightlife and entertainment scene and build meaningful connections through music and entertainment.

At the SINGapore Karaoke booth, visitors sing their hearts out to songs from both local and international artists who have performed or will be performing in Singapore, to earn raffle entries for the grand prize – a free trip for two to the Lion City. A surprise bonus prize is also up for grabs: a pair of concert tickets to the 2019 Formula One Singapore Grand Prix, which has become the place to catch the world’s top music performers over the years. Past entertainment acts at the world’s first night race include Coldplay, Bon Jovi, Dua Lipa, The Chainsmokers, and Pharrell Williams, to name a few.

Local multi-talented performers like Up Dharma Down, Donny and Hannah Pangilinan, Dane Hipolito and Kali Vidanes, will also visit the three-day SINGapore Karaoke booth. Each of them will have a go at the Karaoke booth and serenade fans with their own songs.

The Singapore Karaoke is designed to offer Filipinos a glimpse of Singapore’s exciting world-class music and live entertainment scene and will give a lucky winner the chance to experience these first-hand in the Lion City.

“From the coolest indie gigs and the biggest international concerts to eclectic music festivals, raves and jazz nights, Singapore has a diverse and vibrant music and entertainment scene that caters to every music lover. Fundamentally, music connects people, and I think Filipinos, being amongst the most social people, know this well. We, therefore, would like to invite our Filipino visitors to come to make new friends or re-connect with old ones through the myriad of nightlife and entertainment offerings in Singapore,” said Lynette Pang, Assistant Chief Executive of Marketing Group at the Singapore Tourism Board.

While concert-goers, festival folks and ravers are sure to have the time of their lives with the range of different events to choose from, musicians themselves can also deepen their passions and be inspired by the local artistes and fellow Filipino talents who have also stepped on Singapore stages.

The Lion City will end a stellar year full of amazing music acts and awesome upcoming events, with the Neon Lights Festival in November and concerts from the world’s biggest names like Charlie Puth, Khalid, Mariah Carey and The Weeknd from November to December.

 

DEVANT LAUNCHES ITS QUANTUM UHD TV at the Dessert Museum

One of the most important things you need to check if you're purchasing a TV is the colors on the screen. It would be so irritating if you are watching and the monitor does not show the true colors of what you are watching. No one wants that. NO ONE AT ALL. 

Filipino Home-grown brand Devant introduces its latest line of TV offering – the Quantum Ultra HD TV, in the sweetest way. Invited guests from the media found their way to the Dessert Museum at S Maison of Conrad Manila for this launch held on October 18, 2018.  

Guests were treated to a tour of eight (8) colorful themed rooms inspired by different confections and were given time to enjoy taking creative photos in each room. Talk about sugar rush! But what’s more exciting is what this newest product has to offer.

The Quantum Ultra HD TV is the most capable and fully featured ultra-high definition TV Devant has ever released that is designed to meet the expectations of today’s TV enthusiasts.  Under this flagship series are the 75-inch QUHV01 and the QUHV02 available in 65-inch and 55-inch.  Devant’s Quantum Ultra HD TV line has a 4K Ultra HD resolution and its High Dynamic Range (HDR) is capable of displaying accurate color and contrast.  Powered by the quantum dot technology, images are seen on the Quantum Ultra HD TV screen are more vibrant, crisp and detailed as ever.

Quantum dots (QD) are tiny bits of semiconductor that are able to tightly confine electric charge and emit light. They are tiny crystals that are about 10,000 times narrower than a human hair and up to five times smaller than the width of a DNA strand. As tiny as they can be, they have the ability to produce vibrant colors when hit by light.  Incorporating these quantum dots in large screens such as televisions would give you impressive picture quality because quantum dot displays are four times brighter than a standard display. Despite the big leap in display quality, there is no need to worry about the increase in energy consumption because televisions with quantum dot displays are very energy efficient.  Furthermore, there is no risk of the display’s colors fading over time because quantum dots are inorganic materials that are very durable in nature. They are the next big thing in TVs, bringing superior image quality at more affordable price points. 

For a better TV entertainment experience, one other key feature of the Devant Quantum Ultra HD TV is the UHD Upscaler that automatically upscale video contents to a higher and clearer quality. Scenes from your favorite movies and shows are more defined and realistic making you feel more immersed in what you’re watching on screen. Together with its Ultra Smooth Motion and impeccable Cinema Sound, you will surely experience entertainment like no other.

In this era of tech-savvy consumers, the Devant Quantum Ultra HD series seamlessly integrates technology with today’s vast content ecosystem that are readily accessible online. Powered by the Vidaa U2 Operating System, all Devant Quantum Ultra HD models are equipped with a TV browser, Netflix and YouTube apps that are pre-installed in the TV to satisfy your daily fix of online video streaming.  Need more apps? Just go to the VEWD App Store to see a variety of apps and games to choose from.

Anyview Cast is another smart feature in Devant’s Quantum Ultra HD TV series, which allows the user to view what’s on his mobile devices’ screen on a larger TV screen with just a simple swipe. This screen mirroring feature lets you access and enjoy your favorite apps, games and shows on a bigger and better screen than your mobile devices by just opening the casting function on your Android mobile phone and connecting it to the Devant TV’s Anyview Cast feature. With the impressive image quality and 4K Ultra HD resolution of Devant’s Quantum Ultra HD TV, you are assured to experience better entertainment at the comfort of your home.

For more information about Devant’s Quantum Ultra HD TV, visit www.devanttv.com and their official Facebook page www.fecebook.com/devant.tv.

Family Mart Glorietta 3 Reopens

Sometimes, you get so used to having a neighborhood convenience store that is available to you 24/7 you actually feel crippled when it closes. This is what a lot of people felt when Family Mart closed for renovations it's store located in Glorietta 3. It's been open since 2013 so when they closed to renovate, it felt like you lost a friend that you can rely on.

Good news though because they have finally reopened and they have a new and upgraded look!

The new Family Mart in Glorietta is bigger, better, and fresher. They now offer more options when it comes to their sandwiches, brownies, and drinks.

They also have the Sansrival and Kesong Puti Sundae which is a must try!

From their menu, packaging, store design, to the look and service of the Family Mart crew, you can discover and enjoy an all-new and improved customer service experience from Family Mart as it takes comfort and convenience to another level in their Glorietta Store.

Some of the food that I look forward to the most when I drop by Family Mart is their Fami Chicky, a fried chicken fillet that is thick and crispy, best paired with rice. I also plan on trying their Hotdawgs really soon which comes in 6 different flavors.

It felt nice to be with the Family Mart Clark Pampanga group. Congratulations Family Mart in your reopening. We're sure the Glorietta neighborhood missed you.

3 Reasons why Potatoes Rock

One of the frustrations I experienced now that it is school season is finding a healthy snack for my son. I need something that would give him the energy that would last the whole day but at the same time, taste delicious so I am guaranteed he will actually eat it.

Thankfully, he almost always eats whatever I prepare without too much fuss, but as a Mom, I want to prepare something that he will also enjoy. This is where potatoes come in handy. It’s tasty yet nutritious!

POTATOES ARE NUTRITIOUS

Potatoes contain antioxidants including vitamin C, carotenoids, and anthocyanins. Potatoes are a good source of vitamin B6, which is a nutrient that plays an important role in carbohydrate and protein metabolism.  It helps to turn the energy from food into energy your body can use. Potatoes are an excellent source of vitamin C (45% of the DV), in fact, they have more vitamin C than one medium tomato (40% DV) or sweet potato (30% DV). Vitamin C plays a key role in the synthesis of collagen (important for healthy skin and gums) and may help support the body’s immune system.

POTATOES CAN BE COOKED IN SO MANY FORMS

Whether they’re baked, mashed, scalloped or roasted, in a bowl, salad or on a pizza -- potatoes make for happy kids and clean plates! Not only are they delicious, but potatoes provide the energy, carbohydrate and potassium kids need to power performance throughout the school day.

There are potato-based soups, salads, main dishes, and even sweet and savory desserts that use potatoes. A fave of ours is broccoli cheddar muffin.

Potatoes USA, an organization that has thankfully brought US frozen, US tablestock (fresh) and US dehydrated potatoes to our shores, offers a lot of options for potato meals.

The organization recently visited the culinary club of Diliman Preparatory School in Quezon City to demonstrate the potato’s versatility. After a session on the potato’s benefits, and a preparation and cooking demo, the students were challenged to try their own potato dishes at home.

The kids prepared Broccoli Cheddar Potato Puffs and Chocolate Mashed Potato Truffles.

For a wide array of mouthwatering potato recipes, visit the Potato Goodness website.

POTATOES ARE AVAILABLE EVERYWHERE

High quality US potatoes can be purchased from major supermarkets and groceries nationwide. For more information on US potatoes, visit the Potatoes USA website or like and follow Potatoes USA-Philippines on Facebook.