Beat the Summer Heat with Mr. Hat Gulaman!

Things have been on record high temperatures and the Philippines is experiencing El Nino right front and center. Our dreams of just spending summer in the beach may have to take the back seat, or just proceed with caution... perhaps do something else and make it sweet and refreshing!

Your summer should still be colorful, whether it be in a glass full of your favorite Halo-Halo, or a bright Sago't Gulaman, you can only think of one thing in the grocer, and that's Mr. Hat Gulaman!

I've been using this for years now and even got my sibling in Europe some of it so he could remember home. It's a sweet reminder of time with family, with friends, and is a versatile ingredient in various desserts that we often do as sweet tooth's. It comes in different flavors like lychee, orange, strawberry, and I've done so many recipes with this over the years.

It's Local!

For those who don't know, Mr. Hat Gulaman is actually a local product. This is made by Seanluc Inc. known for making quality food and beverages for the Philippine market. It's also au naturelle, as it's from seaweed extract combined with sugar, flavorings and different colors. They also have unflavored Mr. Hat Gulaman so if you plan to make other desserts that require that, there's always options! This comes in 7 flavored and 6 unflavored versions, so if one doesn't fit your recipe, go with a different one. Imagine the things you can do with a pack of Mr. Hat Gulaman!

You can do Mango Tapioca, or Buko Pandan, or do Coffee Jelly on a hot day. If it's a recipe that has been passed on through generations or a new one (because you're a genius!).

Here's a recipe that's been tested great, one that you could try!

Coconut Gulaman Coolers by Mr. Hat Gulaman

The ingredients are a pack of Mr. Hat Gulaman (get the Buko Pandan Flavor). 2 cups of water, a quarter cup sugar, 250ml of Coconut Water, a quarter cup Condensed Milk, a quarter cup of All Purpose Cream and crushed ice.

Dissolve the gulaman pack and sugar in the 2 cups of water you prepared. Turn the stove on low and simmer, then put it on a tray to cool and set. Cut it up to small squares to make it pretty. On a separate bowl, mix the All Purpose Cream, Condensed Milk and Coconut Water. Put the Mr. Hat Gulaman, then crushed ice on a tall wide glass, put in a few of the milk mixture. Use a pandan leaf on the side and serve to your guests, they'll surely love it!

If you want a softer gulaman, just add a bit more water. If you prefer a firmer one, adjust the gulaman powder you put in on boiling water. Mix it thoroughly so you don't get lumps. You can follow @mrhatgulaman on social channels to have more experts help you with your recipes. They also post a lot of content there to beat the summer heat. I've been a solid user of Mr. Hat Gulaman, and have seen my family, my friends enjoy it!

Now it's your turn!

Prime Video Takes Space in the Philippines

Choices, we've got more of that now that Prime Video is starting a lineup of local content and an even better user experience for the country.

For starters, they've announced the first Amazon Original content called Comedy Island: Philippines which they worked on with Base Entertainment (a production studio involved in creative talent in the region) so they could bring them out to the world. This will be launched next year (2023) and this will be exciting times for the viewing public.

This is part of Prime Videos increase in investment to make sure we won't be running out of entertaining content with hits like Demon Slayer, Jujutsu Kaisen, Korean dramas like Nothing Serious, Toy Soldiers, and US shows The Good Doctor, Amazon Originals The Boys and The Terminal List plus a whole lot more in their library.

Efforts include local Prime Video marketing to work with our very own Filipino producers and celebrity host and personality Anne Curtis. This is also the same with other Southeast Asian neighbors Thailand and Indonesia so they too get a dose of Prime Video love in their own language.

They're also offering it at Php 149 a month (introductory price) which would be charged after you consume the free 7 days on Prime Video. With it, you can download and watch it anytime, anywhere you wish and watch on compatible handsets, on Smart TV's so you can watch at the comforts of your home or out on the road to Albuquerque or Kamuning whichever comes first. This would be really interesting to see how a new player comes as Filipinos consume more content online.

Rising by Lifting Others: Pareto Consulting

Just met the wonderful women behind digital marketing and growth firm called Pareto Consulting. Countless businesses in the US and elsewhere in the world are in need of talented individuals like them who provide unique ideas, of something different on the table, with gusto to reach one's company goals. The league of extraordinary women is headed by Bianca Laxamana Ulan, a young lass who's life continue to inspire others.

The business started when a client of hers availed market research and digital marketing services. She did remarkable work and got recommended to other startups and corporations that continuously grew her clientele over the years. She wanted a breed of individuals that have the same culture, and knack for little details. So she sought her team now as tasks come in from different multinational companies and startups. Albeit an accidental business, she believes her years of experience in the industry and Mom's guidance prepared her for what made Pareto Consulting is today.

Bianca says "I think I've been hyped today. They (her peers) are my pillars, they are very important for me. Pareto is an accidental business. I built this with Kaye in the beginning and grew it from scratch. It's been built over time and I just got referred to a lot of people. We cater to companies who need market research, ads, we do that the whole week. We also empower people in our organization. Resiliency and mental fortitude should be something that any successful business person should have. Things can break you especially during these times. You also have to influence your team, without them, you won't be able to do things and inspire them. We do market research and digital marketing, you have to make sure you are picking the right team member as you grow your business." 

She adds "You do usual HR stuff, but what I always look for is their enthusiasm to learn, we have the same values in servicing our clients. As much as possible I have to spot that, and also talent that I can compensate fairly, give them work life balance, and a no OT rule in our company. We are an all female team, the reason is because we are for women empowerment. I know there's a lot of stigma with women as employees, but I prioritize and see they are organized, the type that would be inspired too by women entrepreneur. We offer end to end solutions, if you're a startup and just starting, we offer marketing, branding and execution. It's also low cost, both locally and abroad. I was inspired by my Mom, at work, she's really good at it. She has a strong character, she was able to lead people and I'm very proud of her. Kay and I were college org mates, we made things happen and even then we were very active in organizations and I've been part of a startup and experienced a flat organization. We correct each other and learned modern management early on. I want to be an educator, and I've been doing that in CIIT today. I started when I was 22, I was only a freelancer and did really good work with clients and I got referrals here and there. That's how I started. The only hurdles I encounter now is taxation, and I had to study about it especially in BIR briefings. That's second to hiring talent. The silver lining is coming to realize that I could do it. I had to really work hard, some people would often say I'm too young to grow businesses. When we have the results to show, it's a new perspective and approach. My team is young too and only comprise of Gen Z's and Millenials."

Maxene Malvar the Project Manager of Pareto Consulting says "I do quality assurance, copywriting, proof reading and market research. I also coordinate graphic design, nice to meet you today. I was still a student and applied for the position on whim, when I came to the company and started right away, there were a lot of doubts at first. Bianca was the first to believe in my capability, it was humbling to hear that from her."

Kay Ocampo Senior Partner in Creative Marketing "I design, spearhead ad campaigns, make sure everything we do is aligned to our clients marketing goals. Especially here in Pareto, we're not over worked so I do a lot of things on our free time. We call each other friends, it's why she convinced me to build Pareto Consulting. I resigned from my corporate job to do this, I came here to do this with her. All our efforts have been well worth it."

With their affordable rates, collaborative culture in the work place, plus expertise in providing marketing and digital services, they can help new businesses flourish during these tough times. Their mantra to lift others in order to rise with you is ingenious and admirable. If you would like to seek their help, get in touch through their social channels @ParetoPH on FB and IG, their LinkedIN account at https://ph.linkedin.com/company/pareto-consulting-ph or their official website https://paretoconsulting.xyz/. 

 

They're ready to help you start, launch and grow your business with you.