Why Marry Me at Marriott continues to be the Country’s Top Bridal Show

 At Marriott Hotel Manila, a wedding is not just a business. It’s a commitment. And like a gentleman who knows how to make a lady’s heart swoon, the recently held Marry Me at Marriott showed its guests why it continues to be the country’s top bridal show. Guests were dressed to the nines and left the event gushing over the fashion, the food, and all the important details fit for a magnificent wedding!  

 A grand venue for a grand happily ever after 

Its sheer size is not the only reason why it is grand. From its facade to its impressive interiors, the Marriott Grand Ballroom is arguably the modern castle for couples who prefer a grand happily ever after. 

When guests ascended to the third floor, the hallway was lined with multi-tiered cakes, each one designed and carefully crafted by the hotel’s award-winning pastry chefs. Impressed by the well thought out design and craftsmanship, the visitors took photos then discussed why their chosen cake will not only be a centerpiece but also a conversation piece at the wedding reception.   

Tasteful menu and table set up

Cocktails were served and everyone enjoyed the refreshing beverages from Emperador Distillers and Happy Living Wines. When they followed Executive Chef Miek Brammer’s invitation to enter the country’s biggest ballroom, everyone walked into a room that seemed like a grand setting from a story book!   The floral arrangement of Michael Ruiz inspired guests of how the couple’s love bloomed. The white trees dazzled and on the long, immaculate white table are treats and savories that made guests happily eating and sharing to their heart’s content. These include salmon tartar in squid ink crispy crepe, chicken liver in port wine jelly and apple compote, chicken dinakdakan in pandan wrap, and mini baked potato with crispy pancetta in sweet and sour cream. Orange vodka spears, quail eggs benedict, and prawn cocktail in wanton chips were also served. From the Live Station, plates were filled with: gambas with parsley rice (along with lemon butter sauce, bourbon sauce, pesto, and herb butter), mashed potato with organic vegetable, emmental cheese with german bread, and gelato. Delightful desserts were also offered such as matchamisu in white passion cone, white calamansi brownie, chocolate moeulleux tart, mango caramelito,  homemade marshmallows, chocolate pretzels, chocolate clusters, wedding cupcakes, macaron tower, fresh strawberries, pralines, and truffles. 

Convenience of technology

When the lights dimmed, the pillow lights on the ceiling played an astounding display of colors. It was complemented by a romantic background music. With Marriott Grand Ballroom’s Skyfold technology, the 300-feet runway was unveiled and guests happily sat on the modern bleachers which were set up for their comfortable vantage point.  

The welcome remarks were given by Michelle Garcia, Marriott Manila’s Director of Marketing Communications. ““To the gentlemen, don’t just say “Marry Me”. Complete it by saying “Marry Me at Marriott”. And to the ladies, you will not regret the day you said yes, because it’s the start of your grand happily ever after,”” she says. 

After the applause, General Manager Bruce Winton followed suit and revealed the exciting amenities of the soon-to-open West Wing. The short AVP made guests nod, assuring them of numerous ways of dining, staying, and celebrating at Marriott Manila.   

Fourth bridal fashion, four world-class Filipino designers, and four gift certificates

On its fourth year of Marry Me at Marriott, the wedding collection of world-class Filipino designers Mark Bumarger, Francis Libiran, Ryan Madamba, and Cary Santiago were presented to the guests. More than 50 bridal gowns and suits of the models made guests busy with their digital cameras and smartphones. Each wedding collection did not disappoint and the guests couldn’t help but discuss their favorites

To add to the already fun-filled evening, four people won an overnight stay. The way Marriott Manila thought of putting the pralines in cute parachutes with a note that they won is creative yet still classy.

Love is an experience that is meant to be celebrated. So if you want your dream come true of a grand happily ever after, call (02) 988-9999 or visit manilamarriott.com.

To join ongoing conversations, like Facebook.com/Marriotthotelmanila, follow @marriottmanila on Twitter, and @manilamarriott on Instagram.

For more pictures on this event pls click this link ,https://www.facebook.com/348405828589111/photos/?tab=album&album_id=1035860833176937

Sprite levels up diskarte with new LeBron’s Mix

 Last July 26, 2016,  at Green Sun Hotel Makati City, Coca-Cola brings to the Philippines Sprite LeBron’s Mix, the first-ever, limited edition King James drink so you can have the NBA superstar’s diskarte in you.

Sprite now offers the new LeBron’s Mix – a combination of the crisp, refreshing lemon-lime taste of Sprite with the delicious twist of natural cherry and orange flavors. It comes in an eye-catching bold red packaging with LeBron’s initials and his iconic crown, which symbolizes his legendary nickname ‘King James.’

The relationship of Sprite with LeBron began in 2003 before the NBA player started his first professional game. A strong innovator of street culture all over the world, Sprite followed the NBA Finals MVP’s 13-year journey, collaborating with the player for new innovations to offer to the fans.

“Sprite is deeply rooted in its intense refreshment. Drinking an ice-cold Sprite clears your mind and helps you make your diskarte. In addition, the brand has always been grounded in the country’s street culture – and there is no better way to bring street culture to life here in the Philippines that with the sport that everyone loves, basketball,” says Stephan Czypionka, Vice President for Marketing of Coca-Cola Philippines.

 

During the launch, media guests, Coca-Cola partners and some sports personalities such as basketball players Jeron Teng, LA Revilla and Karl Kramer were the firsts to experience this whole new level of diskarte as they got to tag along in playing basketball inspired games like the Doble Diskarte and Spot your Diskarte Shot where they were able to win prizes. 

Others got to take home Sprite premium and limited edition items, as well. Familiar faces from the sports field added more energy as PBA courtside reporter Mara Aquino and UAAP sports commentator Boom Gonzalez hosted the event.

As Sprite continues to be a highly popular favorite among basketball players and fans, its legacy takes another step higher as NBA star player James LeBron extends his partnership with the brand.

Feel like a king or queen and diskarte like one with the new Sprite LeBron’s Mix.

About The Coca-Cola Company
The Coca-Cola Company (NYSE: KO) is the world's largest beverage company, refreshing consumers with more than 500 sparkling and still brands and more than 3,800 beverage choices. Led by Coca-Cola, one of the world's most valuable and recognizable brands, our company’s portfolio features 20 billion-dollar brands, 18 of which are available in reduced-, low- or no-calorie options. Our billion-dollar brands include Diet Coke, Coca-Cola Zero, Fanta, Sprite, Dasani, vitaminwater, Powerade, Minute Maid, Simply, Del Valle, Georgia and Gold Peak. Through the world's largest beverage distribution system, we are the No. 1 provider of both sparkling and still beverages.  More than 1.9 billion servings of our beverages are enjoyed by consumers in more than 200 countries each day. With an enduring commitment to building sustainable communities, our company is focused on initiatives that reduce our environmental footprint, create a safe, inclusive work environment for our associates, and enhance the economic development of the communities where we operate. Together with our bottling partners, we rank among the world's top 10 private employers with more than 700,000 system associates. For more information, visit Coca-Cola Journey at www.coca-colacompany.com, follow us on Twitter at twitter.com/CocaColaCo, visit our blog, Coca-Cola Unbottled, at www.coca-colablog.com or find us on LinkedIn at www.linkedin.com/company/the-coca-cola-company.

Saving Money by creating and sticking to a Budget

If you are living alone or a single parent you need to be mindful of your budget, you also need to know how good spending and saving habits work. Its like living beneath your means and saving enough funds for emergency purposes. Recently I have an experience, it was a unexpected expense that made me realize the importance of saving and good money management.

 Finances are one of the biggest challenges concerns that a single father faces. That is why it is very important to me to take steps to budget my money. Sometimes when your in that stage of what we call the critical  age although I'm not that old to stop working but it so happened that I'm an early marriage failed relationship victim and  that I have a company or business that is no longer giving me enough income nowadays . I wonder what will my plans would be. As for me, all my three children are settled with their own life, already finished with their school and has a good job with their chosen profession and what else would be next thing do to is for me to create a long term plan for myself, think about  what's next to me, planning more as i get old and sticking to that certain budget. Good thing that I have a profitable rental property that I purchased long beforehand and a small house and lot inherited from my parents. It is one of the resources which I earned in a monthly basis just  to pay my bills and buy what i need in everyday living. Just to survive and see my expenses, I have my routine to take down notes of what are my needs and what is my wants. Two are different but I realize that no matter how stressful you are with everything,
 

I'm always reminded not to forget to think twice or many times before you spend what is not important I should not. Just like what Brighter life Coach Aya, Spend with a Plan...but never deprive yourself. I agree with what coach Aya said, that every long term goal starts with short term goals. Invest to enjoy life.


During the Money4Life Challenge with Brighter life coach Aya, he shares some of the retirement concerns like housing, daily expenses, emergencies in health related issues that an individual experience and funeral expenses that in reality should also be prioritized. Its important that we should be prepared and open our minds to these. I also remember him saying that it is important to track down or take note of every expense i make so i can determine which expense is not will be prioritize the next time and what is more important.

Coach Aya also share an App called WALLY. it is an app downloaded for smart phones or Iphone helps us list all our expenses, I personally tried this app and so far i has been a big help to me.

Create a different feast every day with the newest Hut Feasts from Pizza Hut

Award-winning pizza chain presents new Hut Feast combinations that offer food lovers satisfaction, value-for-money and freedom to create their very own feast every day

Last July 1, 2016 ,Pizza Hut launches their new Hut Feast combinations that gives their customers an unlimited choices of pairs and combinations with a great value of discounts where you cannot seized to be amazed and crave more for such a variety of flavors and products.

As the popular saying goes, variety is the spice of  life, that's why Pizza Hut the countries well-loved pizza chain, once again proves this adage true as it makes every day more exciting with the newest Hut Feast selections. Featuring the widest variety of food options and meal combinations, customers now have the freedom to create their very own Hut Feast everyday!

 The new Hut Feast offerings are all about freedom to choose with a total of 12 meal combinations for groups of 2,4,6,8 and 10 diners. For each meal combo, Pizza Hut has expanded the options for pizza flavors, main and side dishes and even drinks!. With each combination, diners can enjoy a savory, satisfying meals that comes with huge savings of up to P 1,132 depending on the meal they choose.
 

According to Pizza Hut Philippines Marketing Officer-in-Charge Raymund Nobleza, the new Hut Feast offerings are all about giving diners more freedom, variety and savings. "Our Hut Feasts have been very popular with our customers" he says " Our new offerings give them more reasons to enjoy Hut Feasts, they can have fun creating their own meal everyday and it can be a different combination each time." These are the best Hut Feast yet from Pizza Hut".
 

Getting to choose  your delicious and satisfying Pizza Hut favorites at a very affordable prize is finally possible. Say "Yes to Freedom" in creating your own Pizza Hut Feasts and visit a Pizza Hut outlet starting July 7 , Like www.facebook.com/pizzahutphilippines or log on to www.pizzahut.com.ph on Twitter and Instagram  or simply call 911-11-11 Metro Manila today!!!

VXI opens flagship facility in Pasay, eyes one or two more by yearend

Pasay City, Philippines, 15 June 2016—Contact center solutions provider VXI Global Solutions recently opened its flagship facility in Pasay—its seventh in the Philippines—and is looking at opening one or two more by end of this year.

Speaking to the local media during the facility’s grand opening at the Five E-Com Center located at the Mall of Asia Complex in this city, Jared Morrison, Senior Vice President and Country Manager for the Philippines of VXI Global Holdings B.V. Philippines, Inc., said they are already in the market scouting for two more additional locations.
 
Morrison said among those locations are one at the National Capital Region (NCR) and another provincial site. He mentioned that they’ve already looked at the Next Wave Cities list of the Department of Science and Technology-Information and Communications Technology Office (DOST-ICTO) and the Information Technology and Business Process Association of the Philippines (IBPAP) for possible locations.

“We’ve seen the list and we’ve already sat down with our real estate consultants. Right now, we’re developing strategies on where to locate next,” explains Morrison.
He added that VXI will make the announcement on the new expansion location, whether in the NCR or in the province, by the end of this year and the next one by early next year.
Davao City was mentioned as a possible provincial site again since VXI already has an existing facility there. “Of course Davao is also still possible but we don’t want to compete with ourselves. However, if there’s room for one more there, then we’d love to go to Davao,” he said.
The Pasay site, costing around an estimated Php 185 million to build and will house more than 1,000 employees, is already filled to about 80% of its total capacity and Morrison said they expect to be fully loaded by the end of this year as well.

But what’s even more exciting is the fact that the new facility will provide additional jobs for those interested to work in the Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) industry. Last year, Morrison said VXI paid a total of close to Php 3 billion in salaries and this facility will definitely add up to that total.
“VXI has an excellent service track record with our clients and they are demanding more of our services so we have to develop an excellent talent pool, which we compensate with above-industry standard pay, including other exceptional benefits. People work for us and stay long with us because they see opportunities for career advancement and growth, the chance to lead people. That’s the value that VXI offers in terms of jobs for those who want a career in the BPO industry,” Morrison added.
VXI has more than 21,000 people working around the world with office in the US, China and of course the Philippines. More than 40% of its global employee footprint is based in the Philippines. The company started with only 590 employees in 2003 and grew at an average of 30% per annum, and now has more than 10,000 employees as of June this year working in its facilities in Makati, Ortigas and Quezon City . Last year, VXI grew its headcount in the Philippines by 16% from 2014.
VXI provides call center and ITO services in more than 25 languages for leading global Fortune 500 companies. Its partners rely on a complete range of contact center and technology solutions to retain and grow their customer base while maintaining the highest level of quality and operational excellence.

 

For more about VXI, visit www.vxi.com.

Datu Puti Adobo Movement taken to the next level Adobo’s best awarded at Mercato Centrale

How much do you love your Adobo? 

Last Saturday  June 11, 2016 Adobo Challenge through Nutri Asia was held in Mercatto BGC, though it was raining outside people can't resist not to go and taste their favorite viand which is Adobo,  Almost 14 of the known Brands and Chefs joined and show their unique recipes that was truly amazing and has its own kind of touch.

In celebration of the cultural gastronomic heritage that is the Adobo, NutriAsia’s Datu Puti

put Pinoys to task in finding and feting the best adobo recipes at the recent Datu Puti Adobo Challenge held last Saturday, June 11, at the Mercato Centrale food market in Bonifacio Global City, Taguig.

Co-presented with Mercato Central and Our Awesome Planet, The Datu Puti Adobo Challenge was part of the thrust to take the Datu Puti Adobo Movement a step further this 2016. Launched in 2015, the Datu Puti Adobo Movement was created to push for Adobo to be our pambansang ulam. It is a movement that hits close to home because Adobo is a dish that is as personal, as it is national. Each household has its own signature Adobo, and the shared flavor defines families, identifies us as Filipinos, and boosts us as a nation.  This event is also supported by partners Philippine Culinary Heritage Movement (PCHM) and the National Historical Commission of the Philippines (NHCP).

The push for Adobo has reached much acclaim and has even been echoed by efforts in Congress. In fact, Bohol First District Representative Rene Relampagos filed House Bill 3926 in 2014, which sought to formally declare it as the national dish. The Datu Puti Adobo Movement has drawn support for the bill through a petition since the launching of the advocacy in June 2015.

The Winning Adobo, Atbp.
Hosted by a familiar foodie himself, Tonipet Gaba, the feast was made even more festive with musical performances by homegrown talents UpDharma Down and Ebe Dancel. It was truly a treat to see both culinary and entertainment talents back up the Adobo initiative. As guests were treated to aromatic flavors and local OPM, Pinoy pride was truly in the air.

Among the participants, the Top 3 among the entries wowed the crowd with their inspired versions of the dish. Based on criteria that took into account taste, presentation, story, and heart, three Mercato vendors were named as the winners of the Datu Puti Adobo Challenge. And based on on-the-spot voting by the Mercato foodies, one was hailed as the People’s Choice.

The big winners of the night are:

First place: The Oinkery

DISH NAME: Pugon-smoked Pork Adobo

DESCRIPTION: Pork shoulder pugon-smoked for 8 hours, glazed with a rich Cebu-style adobo sauce and garnished with fresh manggang hilaw

Inspired by Cebu’s method of cooking lechon, The Oinkery roasts their pork meat inside a traditional pugon giving it that distinct smoky taste.  Matthew combines the finished product with his sister’s Cebu-style adobo sauce and garnishes it with fresh green mangoes on the side. Having been slow-cooked for a total of eight hours, the meat is guaranteed to be soft and juicy with every bite.

Second place: Dayrit's

DISH NAME: Pork Adobong Laing Pinangat

DESCRIPTION: Two Filipino favorites, Adobo and Laing, in one unique and flavorful dish.

Pork Adobong Laing Pinangat – that’s two of the famous Filipino favorites, adobo and laing, combined in one extraordinary dish. Dayrit’s 40 years of experience in creating sumptuous heritage home-cooked meals is very evident with their entry for The Adobo Challenge 2016.   According to Chef Miguel Dayrit, their version of the classic adobo recipe is different from the rest because it combines the strong flavors of two Pinoy viands to create an outstanding dish. This Bicolandia inspired concoction is a fusion of the creamy, hot and spicy and the sour and salty trademarks of laing and adobo respectively. 

Third place: Bakmi Nyonya

DISH NAME: Babi Kekap Adobo Nyonya

DESCRIPTION: Classic Filipino adobo infused with Indonesian spices. Served with Sambal.

Lucy of Bakmi Nyonya, one of the well-known food vendors in Mercato Centrale, reinvents the Pinoy classic adobo and incorporates her Indonesian-style of cooking to come up with a unique entry to the Adobo Challenge 2016.  This delicate pork adobo treat is mixed with secret Indonesian spices, cooked in soy sauce and vinegar and served with the classic sambal.

People’s Choice Award: Lariza's

DISH NAME: Seafood Adobo

DESCRIPTION: A mix of crab, shrimp and mussels cooked adobo style and topped with cheese.

Lariza’s, another well-known food vendor in Mercato Centrale shares their expertise in creating a unique dish for the Adobo Challenge 2016.  Their very own “Seafood Adobo” is a mixture of mussels, prawns and crabs stirred in a mixture of vinegar and soy sauce, garlic, onion, pepper and finished off with cheese on top to add a creamy, tangy taste. Tess Gonzales, the proud owner of Lariza’s knew that her opponents would stick to the usual pork or chicken adobo, so she decided to come up with something edgy. With her “Seafood Adobo”, she hopes to motivate Filipinos to be more daring and “adobofy” fresh catch from the sea as an alternative to the usual adobo recipes.

All Adobo winners were awarded start-up funds in cash, so they could include their winning dishes in the regular Mercato menu. The People’s Choice awardee also received P3,000 worth of Datu Puti goods.

With these latest initiatives and the warm response of urban foodies, the Datu Puti Adobo Movement has definitely made strides in rallying more people behind the nation’s ulam of choice.

Interested parties may still support the Datu Puti Adobo Movement by signing the petition at www.adobomovement.com.