What to get your MAN these holidays

I'm currently confined in my room and braving the cold and just thought about this at quite an ungodly hour. I'm sure there are ladies out there that are probably still thinking of what to actually get their man this Christmas. Let me help you find a good gift.

Now I've been browsing the Shopee app for a few days now just so I could get a good deal off what I call my "planned purchases" because I've been wanting a few things for my room. I'm a content creator and honestly, I haven't had a gift for myself for a few months now as I was actually planning to buy big ticket items for myself. Here are some of the things I got this month, please don't judge LOL

 

 A Bar Table

I wanted to be comfortable while I'm writing so initially I planned to buy a BAR TABLE. It's those high tables and high chairs that you commonly see in cafes. It costs around 3.5K on a very good day but it can go up to around 12K if you want it a little fancy and made of hard wood. I was gonna be okay with the palochina at 3.5K (as I've seen quite nice builds) but I was always put off by the huge transport fees I was going to pay for because pieces like that only would commonly come from Cavite or Antipolo. QC was too far. I could also opt for the Bar Tables in SM but it was also too pricey, plus the transportation was pretty much gonna end up the same. So I threw in the towel and settled for something a little similar. I got a table off Shopee. It's like a bar table but can fit about 2 monitors and my laptop computer. The measurement was 120x40x75, and it did fit the space I had at home. It's also pretty sturdy, and the color is black so it fits my monochrome theme.

 

This only costs around 1K which was a deal in my books. So I had to look for a chair that could go with it and was initially planning to splurge around 3K for a pro Gaming Chair. But it was either you spend for it around 4K or go with the mediocre ones that cost around 2.7K. I was a little afraid to spend that much so I settled for something like this. It's a mesh chair and it did cost me a little around 1.2K on the same app.

 

 So in a nutshell I kinda saved a lot than going for the pricey gaming chair. All in all, it cost me around 2K for the supposed table and chair I planned to buy. I'm enjoying the table now as we speak but have yet to see the chair in a few days. I just bought it yesterday. Hopefully it doesn't have any damages because I've seen a few rated them (on their shop) low because of that. So basically I just DIY'd what I wanted to splurge on, and hopefully the chair is as good as this table I got because this was worth it.

 

Air Purifier UV Lamp Steriliser Box 

Now I don't know if this really had an effect but I think if it's just for the air why not right? I would advise you to also not use this when you are inside the room, I'd like to think that UV rays of any form is kinda harmful for the eyes and if a little does leak from this thing it would be a little harmful. But I'm no doctor lol. It only has 3 settings, low high and off. I'm still skeptic though, but this would be a nice thing to have to clean the air at home. I think I felt the difference because it wasn't too "air thick" inside my room.

A Nintendo Switch

Now don't be mad at me when you see this, but really, I think my Nintendo Switch has been the best investment so far. I not only use it for games but also for YouTube. It's fast, it displays so clear on my smart TV and I can carry it around if I want to. If I need to go to Tagaytay or remote places with no entertainment, this would be a good thing to have. Plus, if you are the wife or girlfriend, you get first dibs on player 2. The games are pretty expensive but you don't really need much variety, just make sure you choose your best games to play before deciding to purchase it. Or sell it to other players because it can even go a lot like the original price, the high resale value doesn't come in other consoles. Don't worry about the steep price because there are a lot of them on Nintendo Switch Facebook groups that sell them for a lot cheaper. They also have games there and sometimes, they even bundle it up with the consoles they are selling. Your man won't mind if it is second hand.

Old Spice Deodorant/Body Spray Gift Boxes

Your man doesn't need to smell like old country rags while at home. You need to make sure he's all armed and dangerous when you come whisking him away for a day. Now you can hug him, sing to him, hold him tight. Get him these nice looking GIFT SETS from Old Spice which is available on Shopee.

It's a little musky, but has fruity notes like watermelon, citrus, summery of mingh so you feel fresh while you are out working all day. I prefer the sprays but of course they also have it in stick form. Best thing is, you also get first dibs with your man and smell how crisp, clean he is when he gets home from work or play. Best thing is, they also got the gift boxes on sale so you get to save a few bucks while getting him smelling oh so nice! Check out the offers here.

Aside from these nice things, there's still no other way to make your man happy but by being there for him. Be with him in the good times and the bad times. A simple hug, kiss, small things that would make him feel important and it doesn't even have to be big. The simple things in life can mean the world to him, so don't stress over what to get him, he loves you and that's what is important.

Chef Tatung Sarthou Does New Cook Book: SIMPOL: 101 Dishes with Video Links

It's a nice afternoon to talk about food and yes, this includes a nice chat with famed Chef Tatung Sarthou. The heavily awarded Chef has been in the industry for years and he's launching a cookbook drawn from his SIMPOL series, food done and made simple with Filipino cuisine in mind.

Chef Tatung says "It's such an honor to have you here today and I'm excited about this book called SIMPOL. We've done a really different one and just to give you an idea, growing up, I've been in the kitchen doing a lot of things, making it my own playground. I wanted to do a lot of things but I wasn't able to do them all. My recipes just evolved into doing simple recipes as Filipinos at home started following them. I'm glad they were able to do that, I wanted to do things that are simple, to do it for family, or make home cooking available for commercial purposes. It's fast, even better than existing ones. As long as it makes you happy, that's already good. This cookbook was something that we have been working for over a year. Although we got hacked a little over a year ago and started over a new channel. This is a new SIMPOL, we're trying our luck in social media and it wasn't always easy, we are just persistent and we have grown a lot in the last few months. It has evolved than just a recipe channel. This book is under ABSCBN and they have supported me with this book, and releasing this at this time is just amazing. The recipes will be uploaded over the weekend, if you scan the QR codes you will see the videos too and just follow it so you can link generations with 101 of my favorite recipes so you can cook it at home. We want to make it as SIMPOL as ABC. Even if you haven't cooked at all, you will able to follow these recipes because it was designed for you. We will also be releasing a Baking Simpol cookbook by next year which will be geared for younger audiences. I am so happy that aside from doing this, we will have more travel content, to hopefully have another book in the works. Thank you so much for being here. This will be available on Shopee, Lazada, on bookstores nationwide where ABSCBN publishing is available."

Philippine Cookery: From Heart To Platter won “Best TV Chef Book Outside Europe” by the Gourmand World Cookbook Awards which was held in Yantai, China. The recipes in the new book will have improved versions of the old ones he came out with. 80% of it will be new ones and will be easy to follow. The pandemic meant he had more time to finish the recipes of this book and he's glad to see how people have approached him and said that they have gained business by following his recipes. This year, he will be representing the country again for the same competition. 

Be UNAPOLOGETIC

"I did a dinner and served Filipino food. The access to local ingredients was the challenge really, it differs because we substitute things. Now it becomes authentic as food is becoming more avaialble now. In essence, our food is good, but I realized when I come home I still look for comfort food, we don't have to be apologetic about it. We can do it the way it is done in the Philippines. We need to do it properly and don't care about what others say, more people in the Philippines have to taste our dishes and it's what we need right now, affordable, good food. I want to provide real solutions for Filipinos. I got to make it simple because I am simple, I see the cost of food and there are some recipes I do using local ingredients, it still tastes the same as with what people cook in other countries. My dream wasn't really becoming a Chef, I wanted to become an author growing up. It just fell on my lap and it became a platform to see my calling. Ultimately, I really want to be a teacher. I want to do something significant in my life, for me to be able to do something to change the lives of people I am with. Maybe this is where I'm happy."

He broke down while speaking to us...

He said "One of the greatest people who helped me was Gina Lopez. She was really the one who helped me when I was starting out, she was the one who saw my talent in doing this. I've always been involved with the farming community. In Botolan, we were doing something not related to this, we were just there and someone offered us to stay there. I offered to teach their staff to cook, the next time the Lopez family is over we'll call you and we didn't take that seriously. They called me one day and I went there to cook lunch, and Gina says "Can you cook for me at home and I hope you can do it for the presidents of several universities in Manila." I was in my rags and she asked me if I had a Chef's uniform. I did that dinner for her and it was a success. I started a relationship with their family, that's where I met them. It started the ball rolling, they got me to start and in just two to three months, my book was out for Madrid Fusion. It won the world gourman awards even if it was against 57 countries. This is why I am a solid Kapamilya."

Recipe for Beginners

"Simpol Crispy Pork Belly would be good for beginners. You just fry it til it is golden. You can acheive lechon kawali, it will impress anyone. You can also use it for Kare Kare and assemble it with vegetables. You can also do hardinera. You just mix it and you can have a fancy one on a plate. There are so many dishes that we have in the Philippines and it's a good way of thinking what is essential. It doesn't need to be complicated, you just do it right."

Inspiration

"I think it was my grandmother who is my inspiration. I didn't feel poor when she made things, it was just sauteeing stuff, with water, it looked very fancy but it was just the manner how food is presented. It didn't feel it lacked anything. I think it stemmed because they were born during the war."

"Filipino cooking should never go without Vinegar, Soy Sauce and Fish Sauce. It starts a lot of Filipino dishes, just add on stuff until it becomes a good dish. Garlic Mushroom Chicken, Fried Chicken, Chicken Casserole, Holiday Chicken Hamonado, things that you can serve even on holidays. I'm very proud of that."

"For me, I would like to see the industry to have more Filipino chefs to develop more of our recipes. We need to feed our countrymen, than be blinded by the glitz and glamour of other countries. We need to see what the simple person cooks, and hope looking to that as an opportunity.


"The book is so beautiful, it costs only 350 pesos so it would be accessible to a lot of people. I hope you support us, the advocacy, to see what drives us in what we do and get the message across. Thank you to companies that see what we are trying to acheive. Nutriasia supports us to do that. Also, thank you to our media friends who are also supporting us through the years. Thank you to everyone and good afternoon!"

Again, his book is available now on Shopee and Lazada plus all the bookstores where ABSCBN Publishing is available.

The Importance of Family in Managing Diabetes | #PanataNgPamilya

I got news that I have diabetes a couple months ago. It was around the holidays last year and I kinda knew something was wrong with me (those sudden headaches were a dead giveaway). My folks are no different, that comes with lineage that has a similar story. I didn't feel though that it was the end of the world. Living with people under this condition made me a little confident about managing it because I've personally seen it happen, it can be done. It is quite dangerous not to manage both diabetes and hypertension, I'd go say it is lethal. Thing is, it involves so much more than just taking a pill really. Taking care of yourself and your family would take a whole village to happen. The right diet, exercise and the help of medical professionals who studied and specialize in chronic conditions can help a lot, but access to it at this time proves very difficult, that's another story.

My Mom didn't really just sit around and do nothing when she noticed I had symptoms. Her caring nature spans generations of Filipino moms who always want to nurture, to take good care of family. With her, I've seen how it was of extreme importance to communicate effectively with family, friends, and health professionals. Now I'm more understanding in evaluating new treatments, making good decisions about my health, and knack for the appropriate use of medications (because I ask the right questions with my Doctor). These days, it's a bit difficult to actually do consultations, more so if my family doctor is hospital based and there are still COVID cases around that I'd be afraid to even step out of my home. It's not just for me, but the people at home that could be in danger if I'd go out and catch it.

 

 

Global healthcare leader Sanofi has always been a staunch advocate of disease awareness and spent years focusing and sharing information, educating people about diabetes, hypertension and chronic kidney disease. Consequently, it's also World Diabetes Day on November 14. Just like our family, they affirm their commitment in promoting wellness, setting the role of Sanofi in our fight against diabetes and chronic disease. This is their "#PanataNgPamilya" showcasing the family's role in managing it, to set an example that it can be done by normalizing proper nutrition, promoting physical activity and living a healthy lifestyle. Sanofi continues to improve their programs such as Healthier PH Sessions, FamHealthy and Empower Patient Support Program, a 360 degree patient program, because they believe that healthcare should be as individual as you are. They believe in Your Type. With this, we all get a better understanding, to empower us patients and our families about how we all could better manage our well-being.

 

Knowing is the first step, but it is essential in making sure we’re on the right track in fighting this condition. If we live healthier lives, we get to be with our families longer, and that is priceless. We all could attain that full health potential and they have been helping us get access to better health services which accounts for a lot.

Like family, I believe we can achieve a #HealthierPhilippines. Family IS important and I'm glad to see how they've reached a lot of people with this in mind. #PanataNgPamilya #PanatangSanofi.

Beko Announces Fun Holiday Promo

The pandemic has brought upon us a lot of hardships, being away from family and friends, difficulty to do work, and an economy that is struggling. Although we're experiencing a lot these days, we still have that hope that the Christmas season in the Philippines will still prosper. It's a grand time to reconnect, no matter how we do it, as it is a good holiday to find reason to come together and show love just like we used to. May it be online, from a distance, thinking about our very own safety while still remembering the reason for the season and our own family.

Beko Pilipinas feels a little bit generous this season and what good way to show their support to Filipinos but by giving them a chance to send gifts to their loved ones, sounds nice eh? They call it “Beko Sends Love This Christmas” wherein Beko stands to give away several of their appliances to lucky patrons every Friday from November 6 up until January 4, 2021. This includes a Grand Prize of Php 120,000 worth of appliances that would be a dream for those who would win it. This includes a refrigerator, a washing machine, a cooker, a dryer and a range hood for your home.

 

This is Beko's way of celebrating with the Filipino family. If you choose to join, you would to purchase appliances worth Php 10,000 and up in a single receipt from October 31st to December 31. This can be only done on select partner stores like SM Appliances, All Home, Ansons, Robinsons, Great World, Asian Home, Manila Imperial, Savers, shopping app Lazada and Household Appliances Trading to name a few. If you get Php 10,000 to Php 19,000 worth of appliances, you get one raffle ticket. If you purchase more from Php 20,000 - Php 39,999, you get two raffle tickets. If you purchase Php 40,000-Php 59,999, then you get three. If you purchase Php 60,000 and above, you get 4 raffle tickets for it. You simply must register your purchases via www.bekopromos.ph, then nominate your loved one so they could be one of the 37 lucky winners weekly and have a chance to win the grand prize which will be known in January. Minor prizes include Beko Vacuum cleaners while the grand prize can be chosen from the Beko 50cm freestanding cooker, Beko 8KG automatic topload washing machine or a 7.1 cu.ft. Beko Refrigerator. It will be drawn on January 4, 2021 and will involve the grand prize of an appliance showcase containing a Beko 15.5cu.ft Refrigerator, a Beko 7kg Inverter Frontload Washing Machine, a Beko 7KG dryer, a Beko 60cm hood and a Beko 60cm freestanding cooker.

To know more about the actual promo, make sure you visit the Beko Philippines’ official Facebook page seen at facebook.com/bekoph because it's all there!