Tapping on the charm, beauty, and resiliency of the country’s National Flower, the Sampaguita, Megaworld Hotels and Resorts (MHR) aims to create a Filipino brand of service with distinct elements evoking the five senses and honoring the values of every individual by providing them excellent, experiential experiences. Yes! The homegrown hotel brand will banner hospitality traits in each of the senses—sight, smell, taste, hearing, and touch starting end of July 2023 using the jasmine variety, as its symbol of hospitality. The Sampaguita flower, contributed photo For MHR, the Sampaguita embodies that promise to fulfill a meaningful stay and to create powerful memories that will present a real opportunity for Megaworld Hotels to develop customer loyalty. The hotel group grew from one property with Richmonde Hotel Ortigas under the Prestige Hotels Group in 1999 to become the biggest homegrown hospitality brand in the Philippines with each property showcasing the best of th...

For champion breeder Hermie Esguerra (3rd from left) there's more to farming than breeding horses. Imagine champion racehorses, goats, sheep, local and Peking ducks, chickens, tilapia and hito (catfish), Berkshire pigs, the Bahay Kubo vegetables, dragon fruits, star apple, mangoes, mangosteen, banana, calamansi, melon, and avocado living all together under one farm. This is Esguerra Farms, officially Esguerra Farms & Stud. Inc., nestled in the heart of Lipa, Batangas. It started out as a four-hectare horse-breeding farm in 2000 by champion breeder and an icon in the local horse racing scene Herminio “Hermie” Esguerra. Over the years, the “birthplace of some of the country’s premier race horses,” expanded to 55 hectares, diversified its services, and made a name for Kurobuta pork products.   This writer (2nd from left) with fellow media reps/bloggers on a day tour at Esguerra Farm The Manila team of online media traveled to Esguerra Farms on a weekend to learn more about...

Bataan is rich in natural wonders such as stunning beaches, majestic mountains, and grandiose waterfalls. The local tourism and government offices' effort to preserve the natural ecosystem of Bataan has made it into a rising eco-tourism destination. SM Investments Corporation through its property arm, SM Prime Holdings opened its first mall in the province of Bataan on May 19, 2023, to provide a unique “malling” experience for the residents of Balanga. Balanga experiences annual flooding based on its history of recurring disasters and so, SM has equipped the mall with two rainwater catchment tanks that can hold up to 900 cubic meters combined or equal to 3.6 million 250mL glasses of water. The catchment tanks aim to reduce soil erosion and flow of stormwater that causes urban flooding. Yes, SM continues to champion sustainability with its 83rd mall in Balanga, Bataan. SM City Bataan also utilizes clerestory windows, series of large windows, for better light ventilation...

PHOTOS BY TEDDY PELAEZ Held at the iconic The Manila Hotel, the glitz and sophisticated night of the 38th Star Awards for Movies signals glamour and exciting days ahead for the Philippine entertainment industry. The country's Filipiniana also proves to be fashionable, fun, and creative. Award hosts Claudine Barretto, Sunshine Cruz, Christian Bautista, and QC Councilor Alfred Vargas came in their snappy best. In her black sophisticated Marc Bumgarner terno, Cruz won The Face of the Night while, Barretto, in her shimmering white princess modern terno was named Female Star of the Night. Christian Bautista in his modern barong ensemble was chosen Male Star of the Night while Coun. Vargas was hailed Darling of the Press. With the participants garbed in modern Filipiniana, the much-awaited 38th edition is one Philippine Movie Press Club, Inc (PMPC) event worth remembering. Thanks to MJ Gutierez of Gutierez Celebrities and Media Productions for mounting such a memorable experience at ...

Taking effect on June 19, 2023, is the Department of Health (DOH) Administrative Order (AO) 2021-0039 which aims to abolish industrially-produced trans fatty acids (iTFA) in the country. Enacted two years ago, AO 2021-0039 mandated food manufacturers to eliminate iTFA from their pre-packaged and processsed products. The scariest type of fat, Trans Fats are produced by adding hydrogen to vegetable oils in order to extend the shelflife of products. The terms “hydrogenated oils” and “partially hydrogenated oils” seen in the ingredients of some products indicate the presence of TF. "TF is liquid oil converted into solid oil. Hydrogen is added, becoming partially hydrogenated oil (PHO), kailanagan iwasan yan. Pag-nakita niyo sa label, it’s not good. Kapag meron unsaturated fat (monounsaturated or polyunsaturated), it increases good cholesterol. So, poly or mono unsaturated ang maganda na nakukuha sa salmon, avocado, and fish belly," said Dr. Lourdes Ella “Louella” Santos ...

Many home builders, architects, and construction industry stakeholders believe that efficiency, sustainability, wellness, and connection with nature define the construction industry in 2023 and beyond. And with the best technology in this generation, it’s high time to rethink the current design approach to houses and start a new era in construction. One of the key trends in the world today is a shift towards building homes that are eco-friendly and focus on a reduction in the consumption of energy and carbon emissions. In fact, some of the measures introduced to make each new home as environmentally friendly as possible include photovoltaic roof panels, increased wall, floor, and roof insulation, energy-efficient heating, and lighting systems, A+ rated appliances, and even compost bins to reduce the amount of household waste sent to landfill. Low-Maintenance Materials For busy young families, homeowners prefer homes that can be built with materials that don’t need to be constan...

Project Saysay Inc. celebrated its 10th founding anniversary at the National Historical Commission of the Philippines (NCHP) Presidential Car Museum at the Quezon Memorial Circle in Quezon City on June 11, 2023. Held in solidarity with the 125th Anniversary of Philippine Independence and Nationhood 2023-2026, the commemorative event also recognized the partners and benefactors of Project Saysay in the past 10 years which include the Mama Sita Foundation. With this, the Foundation received humble recognition for being a consistent partner of Project Saysay. Likewise, Mama Sita Foundation was the event’s main sponsor by sponsoring cocktails and tokens for the honorees, select individuals, and institutions for the recognition. Thus, spreading Filipino heritage and flavors during the 10th Anniversary of Project Saysay at Pasasalamat is a showcase of Mama Sita's artisanal products offering a taste of tradition and culinary excellence. Also set up at the venue was the all-natural Mama ...