SYKES ends a great year with a POPTASTIC Celebration with ELY BUENDIA

SYKES ends a great year with a POPTASTIC Celebration with ELY BUENDIA 

Ely Buendia and his band Pupil rocked 9,000 Sykes employees in Metro Manila at the recently concluded Poptastic Celebration held at the ground floor of SMX halls 1, 2, 3 &4.

It was a great year for Sykes so it ended the year with a joyous celebration for all of its employees both in Metro Manila and in Cebu.

I couldn't believe my eyes when I set foot at SMX because there's literally thousands of people there. And they all work for Sykes- who incidentally pioneered the business process outsourcing (BPO) in the Philippines.  

Imagine how huge the company is. It has about 9,000 employees in Metro Manila alone plus 3,000 more employees in Cebu and other various locations in the Philippines.  The highlight of the event is the vibrant performances of the Sykes employees sporting pop-inspired outfits, raffle with big prizes, the song and dance performance of its country head plus, of course, Ely Buendia and his band who got a standing ovation from start to finish.

Jolly Jolly Joy Joy Christmas Special With Sarah Geronimo

Jolly Jolly Joy Joy Christmas Special With Sarah Geronimo

Jollibee presented Sarah Geronimo in a grand musical entitled Jolly Jolly Joy Joy Christmas Special at Trinoma Activity Center last Sunday, December 14, 2014.

My fellow bloggers and I got to enjoy not only the grand presentation but also Jollibee treats compose of its pasarap ng pasarap nang pasarap nang pasarap family size spaghetti, a bucket of chicken joy plus drinks.  

I can say that my co-bloggers and I really enjoyed that wonderful day with I was one of the Jollibee fanatics that was bowled over by Sarah's wonderful performance. 

  

FRATINI'S RESTAURANT: Do-It-Yourself Italian Pizza

FRATINI'S RESTAURANT: Do-It-Yourself Italian Pizza 

In this time and age of instant coffee and instant noodles comes Fratini’s- an authentic Italian restaurant that has Halal-Certification. Fratini’s restaurant started in Brunei and is owned by a Muslim Filipino. It was founded in the year 1996. 

I am very lucky to be invited and to experience first hand Fratini's Restaurant "Make your own pizza" party at its very first branch in the Philippines located at the ground floor of SM Jazz mall in Nicanor Garcia St. (Reposo St.) cor. Metropolitan Ave., Bel-Air, Makati City.

The author putting some cheese toppings with groupmate Pepe. Photo by Nicole Paler of Pichjelly Photograph

Learning the art of making a perfect Italian pizza no longer involves a plane ticket, expensive authentic Italian pizza class and a hotel room in Italy. Yes, dearest! Not anymore! Because for only Php225.00 per head you can now learn how to make that perfect pizza you've been dreaming of. 

You can now host a Do-It-Yourself pizza party for your family and friends in the comforts of our beloved country--the Philippines. A very good bonding exercise for both adults and kids alike especially this Christmas.

Fratini's chef took us on a step-by-step journey of pizza making from the dough, to the sauce, to the toppings, and a lot of other tasty tidbits and facts along the way as we master making the perfect pizza.

THE SECRET IS IN THE DOUGH

We learned from the chef that pizza perfection starts with the crust and Fratini's cooking staff thought us the most comprehensive dough guide.  From mixing, to stretching, and all the way through to cutting and nibbling the leftovers, you'll know your dough like the back of your hand,  backwards and forwards by the time all is said and done.

Fratini's opened up its recipe files for us and at the same time gave us the liberty to do our own favorite pizza styles. 

My groupmates Ace, Kisty and Misha Photo by Nicole Paler of Pichjelly Photography

In Fratini's DIY Pizza party, its staff will guide you to a simple step-by-step pizza -making from the classic Hawaian to the marvelous Margherita, a legit Del Macellaio, a killer Calzone, and stupendous Suprema. And what you'll bake in its oven will be as good and maybe even better than that in your local pizzeria!

Suprema Pizza

It’s not dinner, it’s a party. That’s what you should keep in mind at this casual get-together, where guests get to work–and love it.

Fratini's Italian Pizza is amazing. Fresh garlic mmmmmmm. I added a lot of pepperoni to it because I love pepperoni. It is very colorful and why not, you are not watching calories if you are eating this pizza.

The crust is perfect - somewhere between traditional and pan without retaining a lot of grease. The ingredients are high quality and delicious. Think real Italian sausage, not that fake crap you get from popular pizza chains.

While thick crust pies are their specialty, you can also choose a thinner, crispier crust.

Fratini's restaurant offers a wide selection of teas and coffees for your morning breakfast, and savory Italian fare at night. Their tasty menu can be shared by two to four person and is very reasonably priced.

Fratini's manager is frequently in the dining area making the rounds and is available to answer your culinary questions.

Do-It-Yourself pizza is a quick, tasty and fun dinner solution. In the time that it takes to have pizza delivered, you can actually make your own! The nice thing about DIY pizza is that you can have fun personalizing it. You can incorporate your favorite flavors and textures.

It's not easy finding a place that makes everyone happy. Try to sign up for Fratini's pizza making class together with your kids.  I am sure they'll loved it. Fratini's has an open kitchen and friendly staff.

Making your own pizza, choosing your own toppings is a real fun experience for everyone plus the pizza was awesome! 

Dine in entrees:

Of course, if you hate cooking and just love eating like my Kuya. Then, voila you can order any of these:

For starters, you can have the delicious creamy Ravioli Prawn in Parsley sauce. Don't miss this!

We also had Sicilian salad and pasta, all of which were amazing. If you go, try to have a little bit of everything. Yum!  

 Fratini's restaurant uses only the freshest ingredients and everything is made from scratch. 

Awesome Ambiance

Fratini's two-floors dining area is spectacularly elegant and modern. 

Service

We had a wonderful dinner with very knowledgeable, helpful staff. Great job, boys and girls! Thank you for being such gracious hosts.

Verdict: 

A wonderful hands-on pizza making and eating experience. Yes, you can make your own restaurant quality pizza in no time. You’ll start by mixing up the most workable dough you’ve ever made (or never made— beginners are welcome) and then proceed to the step-by-step process of how to stretch, top and bake your pizzas to perfection. Come with your appetite and be prepared to eat some spectacular pizza of your own creation! In addition to all the pizza you'll enjoy as it emerges fresh from the oven you can choose to take home the pizza that YOU made to show off to your family and friends! Highly recommend

PROMO:

Photo by Nicole Paler

Fratini's have a promo where you get 30% off for deliveries on pizza and pasta, and 50% off for its signature cocktails for dine in customers who are paying in cash. Cool eh?

What are you waiting for? Go and visit:

Fratini’s Restaurant
SM Jazz Mall, Nicanor Garcia Corner Jupiter Street, Bel-Air, Makati City
Open Monday to Sunday, 10AM to 11 PM
Phone: (02)891 5555
Facebook Page: Fratini’s Restaurant Makati

Enjoy and buon appetito!
#fratinisph

MY BIG BOSSING: Ryzza Mae Dizon Up Close

MY BIG BOSSING: Ryzza Mae Dizon Up Close 

Ryzza Mae Dizon will star once again alongside actor/producer Vic Sotto in the comedy adventure film "My Big Bossing". The film is one of the official entries in the 40th Metro Manila Film Festival due to open on Christmas Day.

Did you know that the one who concocted the concept of the mermaid character is the very cute and lucky child Ryzza Mae?

Vic Sotto revealed that fact at the recently concluded blogger conference in Quezon City. “Dun sa episode ng Sirena, kung tutuusin siya sumulat nung script na yun eh. Dun sa isang show namin tinanong niya si Bibeth Orteza, 'Direk puwede ba ako maging sirena?' Gusto kasi niya maging sirena, isa sa mga pantasya niya yun. Eh mukha namang butanding paano mangyayari?(laughs). So tinanong siya ano ng gagawin pag naging sirena siya? Sabi niya, 'Dun lang ako sa kuwarto, itatago ako ni tito Vic dun. Kung dito lang ako sa kuwarto madali ang shooting.'Gagawin na sana ni direk Bibeth pero sabi ko huwag na, i-save na lang natin for a bigger one. I-develop na lang natin para full-blown pelikula na. So pati yung mga eksena dun, yung mga sitwasyon, karamihan galing sa kanya. Titingnan tingnan mo lang malakas din ang tama eh(laughs). She's very creative,” he said.

My Big Bossing is a trilogy movie with episodes entitled Sirena, Taktak, and Prinsesa.

Ryzza Mae Dizon plays three different characters, including that of a mermaid, a princess and someone who could talk with dead people.

Nung una nga parang gusto ko gawin yung Sirena lang pero nagbabago pa isip ko. Gusto namin gawin yung pagka-horror na pangbata. Walang gumagawa ng horror na pangbata eh. Tapos meron naman nag-suggest na gawin namin fantasy, yung may prinsesa para mala-Frozen. So naisip na mabuti pang gawing tatlo. Ganun nagsimula yun. Akala ko madali (laughs). Pero aaminin ko mahirap. It was very challenging especially for this kid kasi mas iba iba yung role niya dun eh. May sirena, she had to undergo scuba diving lessons, mga swimming techniques. Karamihan ng eksena sa tubig siya. Makikita mo naman sa bilbil eh, pag walang bilbil hindi siya yun (laughs).Tapos yung sa horror may pagka-Himala yung peg niya dun eh, to wear a wig na mahaba buhok, mala-ate Guy ang dating tapos naka-harness siya dun and all that stuff. It was very challenging for her and I am proud to say she was able to deliver. And hindi lang basta basta deliver kundi todo delivery. Magaling,” he further quips.

My Big Bossing has a whole lot of heart. “Ang kaibahan nito, kung last year little lang yun ito big na eh. So alam mo na (laughs). Eh talagang big, big in production, big in budget, big in casting kasi bawat episode may sarilisiyang cast. At hindi mo matatawaran yung cast naman. Aside from the big budget, it's also big in story. It's not just an ordinary patawa film, madaming patawa kasi importante naman yun. Kailangan tumawa tayo lalo na pag pasko. What I am so proud about with this trilogy is the heartwarming factor of the stories. Habang tumatagal, yung sirena talagang pakuwela, may konting kurot. Pagdating nung gitna, sa episode na Taktak, medyo umaatake na yung human interest ng tatay sa anak. Pagdating nung Prinsesa, ayun na naka-todo na yung heartwarming qualities niya. Kasi siya lumaki siya sa babuyan eh. Paniwala niya sa sarili niya baboy siya eh.Although hindi naman siya mukhang baboy. But she turns out to be a princess after all.Maganda yung story. So ang kaibahan from last year malaking malaki, pati yung mga Enteng Kabisote series ko malaki pagkakaiba dito,” he shares.

In terms of budget, My Big Bossing is also a product Vic said they have really invested in for the MMFF. It also boasts of three of the country’s biggest directors Tony Y. Reyes, Marlon N. Rivera and Bb. Joyce Bernal and is the the collaboration of three of the country’s biggest film production outfits: Octoarts Films, M-Zet TV Production and APT Entertainment. “Ang budgetnito times three. Para kaming gumawa ng tatlong pelikula eh. The running time maybe 30 to 40 minutes per episode pero yung budget niya wala sa running time eh. Makikita mo sa production design. For example yung bahay ni Ryzza na makikita niyo dun sa Taktak, walang bahay dun. Pinagawa lang ni direk Marlon Rivera yun sa ibabaw ng bundok. Nag-construct kami ng bahay tapos yung mga mala-palasyo, makikita mo sa production design. Sa Sirena episode naman mga underwater scenes, yung mga costume namin ni Ryzza. Mga budget namin dati is ganito eh times three ito yun kasi times three din yung set ng directors, staff and cast. Pero after seeing the finished product, sulit na sulit ito. Hindi ako mapapahiya. Hindi kami mapapahiya lalo na sa mga magbabayad para manuod ng sine."

My Big Bossing Opens on December 25, 2014 in theaters nationwide.

KATHRYN BERNARDO: Stayed Juicyfied!

KATHRYN BERNARDO: Stayed Juicyfied!

I was wearing my favorite Icylicious Juicy cologne scent when I attended Kathryn Bernardo's blogger conference held recently at Stacy's. 

Cosmetique Asia renewed the contract of the teen superstar as endorser of Juicy Cologne.  It goes to show that the cute half of #Kathniel's loveteam is a very effective endorser.

Kathryn shared during the question and answer portion that she loves all of the eight Juicy cologne scents and that she was actually wearing Icylicious during the event and we can come near her and smell it. O ha! Coincidence? Kathryn and I were wearing the same scent.

Like Kathryn Bernardo, you too can get Juicyfied with Juicy Cologne!

8 variants of Juicy Cologne are:

• Angel's Bliss
• Dreamsicle
• Icylicious 
• Orange Twist
• Sprightly Sprinkle
• Sugar Frosting
• Sweet Delights 
• Up Up And Away

Kat is cute, perky and intelligent. 

I super love Juicy cologne's newest scent called Sugar Frosting. Everywhere I go, people always thought that I was wearing a perfume.ha ha ha! Its sweet and relaxing smell makes everyone said I smells so good.

Juicy Cologne scents are dermatologist-tested and hypo-allergenic. My favorite is Sugar Frosting and Icylicious.

#KathrynBernardo #danielpadilla #kbquotes @bernardokath #KathrynForJuicyCologne #Instafamous #Kathniel.

Solaire’s Luxurious Sky Tower

Solaire’s Luxurious Sky Tower

O ha! Perfect ang aking backdrop! (My backdrop is perfect!) Colorful na colorful! (It's very colorful!) Kabog!  (Loud thump!)

Are you looking for a perfect getaway from the hustle & bustle of the Metro but can't afford to be gone for a long time? Urban dwellers, rejoice!  Solaire's luxurious Sky Tower is now open for your enjoyment! 

Yes, darlings!  I am so grateful to the one who invited me.  I can't thank you enough, my angel.  Huggy hugz!  I was one of the media/ bloggers who got invited to an exclusive peek of its newest luxurious wing aptly called the Sky Tower before it was opened to VIP's and general patrons of Solaire Resort. 

As you all know, Solaire Resort is located in the Entertainment City on Aseana Avenue, Parañaque.  Ever since it opened its first phase March of last year, it has already been synonymous to luxury.  And to add to its already-existing glitz and glamor, it introduced more reasons for all of us to visit with the opening of its all new spacious and splended leisure complex, the all-suites Sky Tower.

Welcome to Waterside Restobar at the Solaire's Luxurious Sky Tower

Before the start of our tour at the new Sky Tower, we had a sumptuous lunch at the Waterside Restobar, one of the new restaurants in that wing.  It is surrounded by fountains and has a majestic view of the wonderful sunset of Manila bay. 

It provides a relaxing dining experience of Latin American and Mediterranean dishes.  It serves a wide range of tapas (appetizers or snacks, in Spanish cuisine) alongside classic cocktails and spirits.  It has an extensive selection of wines from the restaurant’s own wine cellar.

After lunch, our walk-through began. Our first stop was the Oasis Garden Café. It is set in a garden setting where diners can enjoy their breakfast or snack amid live blooms and exotic plants and lively piano music. The cafe is also suited for short business meetings over snacks or cocktails. The green ambiance is completed by an indoor waterfall installation nearby. The gentle sound of splashing water adds to the soothing vibe of this establishment.

Oasis Garden Cafe looks so inviting with its garden setting and refreshing man-made waterfall background.

And just across Oasis Garden Cafe is this beautiful flower wall.

Almost every wall and corner at Solaire's Sky Tower is perfect for a photo opp! Take for example this beautiful wall of polyurethane flowers imported from Hong Kong, these flowers feel like real flowers to the touch. 

Wonderfully made real- istic bed of roses, errr flowers. Ha, ha, ha, ha! I think real touch flowers or shall we say natural touch flowers are the very best in artificial flowers because they are waterproof, fade-resistant, and crushproof. They are made from polyurethane material. These flowers will maintain their color, texture, and beauty forever.

The flowers in the hallway are so gorgeous, too.  I love seeing the flowers and greenery showing their pretty faces!

I always love paintings. I love to create pieces of art and add a little beauty to our world when I was a child, so whenever I see art pieces, I could not just ignore it. Like for example, this eye-catching replica painting of Mona Lisa.

The Mona Lisa is a half-length portrait of a woman by the Italian artist Leonardo da Vinci, which has been acclaimed as "the best known, the most visited, the most written about, the most sung about, the most parodied work of art in the world".

This hallway at the Sky Tower temporarily showcases paintings of different versions of the Mona Lisa. All of these pieces are personal collection of artist and gallerist Soler Santos. You can view "The Mona Lisa Project" by West Gallery until January 15, 2015.

By early next year, this aisle will be called The Shoppes. Top designer brands and international specialty stores are slated to open and provide the ultimate shopping experience to Sky Tower guests at this very spot.  As early as now, I'm very excited to find out the brands that will be giving Sky Tower guests the ultimate shopping experience. My friends L, B, R and A will be so happy because they're shopaholics and they are always at Solaire.

Art installations.

Amazing sculptures and splendid pieces that stand out from my view point.

Walk-through of the Grand Suite rooms at the Sky Tower

Grand Suites at the Sky Tower. The Sky Tower of Solaire Resort is consists of a 312 all-suite hotel, additional VIP gaming areas, an exclusive Chinese restaurant and whiskey bar for VIP gamers, state-of-the-art meeting rooms, and a lyric theater.

According to Thomas Arasi, BRC president and chief operating officer, “The Sky Tower elevates Solaire to another step higher into the very top tier of world-class integrated resorts, and is a tremendous game-changer in providing best-in-class guest experience.”

I was in awe when our guide told us that the newly opened wing has gold-plated accents on the ceiling, piano-finished doors, rooms with a majestic view of Manila Bay, artworks by prominent Filipino artists, VIP areas, swimming pool and other luxurious features.

The luxurious features of Solaire’s newly opened all-suites five-star hotel includes multi-million peso chandeliers

Solaire Resort was designed by world-renowned architect and designer Paul Steelman of Steelman Partners based in Las Vegas, Nevada. The five-star hotel is a 258,721 square meter expansion of the 8.3 hectare resort development that targets the gaming, corporate, as well as family markets.

The Grand Suite features a state-of-the-art technology and a majestic view of the Manila bay and the swimming pool. It has a floor-to-ceiling windows with a luxurious feel and very spacious. This air-conditioned suite can accommodate up to 2 guests. A 55-inch flat-screen TV, an iPod dock and tea/coffee making facilities are available. It has a separate living and dining room, a functional kitchen, Heating, Minibar, Refrigerator, Coffee machine, Electric kettle.The suite has a gold leaf ceiling finish and lavish yet timeless interior and décor. It has a carpeted floors, telephone, desk, Flat-screen TV, Cable Channels and Wake-up service. And boy was it huge! Grand Suite has a floor area of 158-square meters with a whopping P35,000 per night price tag. The luxurious king-sized bed has a 350-thread-count bedsheets.

It has a spacious walk-in closet with slippers, high quality bathrobe, hairdryer, safety deposit box and iPod dock . It also has a separate powder room, and a stunning bathroom that has a luxurious Salvatore Ferragamo bath accessories plus a separate walk-in shower, a bath tub and twin vanity marble sinks.

During the tour, muntik na nila akong iwanan habang yakap yakap ko ang pinto (During the tour, they almost left me behind while I was hugging the door). As in, I was so amazed with its piano-finished door. 

The Door

It also boosts of its connecting/adjoining rooms for big family. In the top left picture, you can see two separate rooms and doors, with the occupants having an option to close the main door for utmost privacy. 

The top right picture showcases the walls in the corridor.  Mind you, according to the guide, the walls in the corridor have gold linings. Naku, tutuklapin ko nga sana ng tinidor eh! (Oh, I was planning to pry them with a fork eh!). Ha ha ha! Joke!  Note: Children, don't do that!  I'm only joking plus note that its corridors have several HD CCTVs.

Popular among VIP gaming guests are the House of Zhou, which offers contemporary Chinese cuisine, and the Macallan Whisky Bar. Both exclusive food establishments are located on the third floor.

Guests with business purposes can also hold events in its spacious and state-of-the art rooms.  Sky Tower features The Forum—a 2,000 square facility has eight meeting rooms, two boardrooms, and a column-free grand ballroom with a flexible pre-function area. All rooms are equipped with presentation equipment and are provided with full banquet and catering facilities.

The Sky Tower also boasts of a 1,760-seat lyric theater, which is equipped with superior audio-visual technology suited for theater plays, musicals, dance performances, and concerts. 

Did you know that for the convenience of guests, The Theatre is connected to a new multi-level parking garage that can accommodate and secure over 3,000 vehicles?
I would love to personally experience how it is to watch inside the The Theatre and to check in on one of its grand suites. That would be so cool!  I am excited to recommend it to my balikbayan friends.

Congratulations Solaire Resort for the opening of your new wing -Sky Tower! 

I definitely can't wait to be back.

Solaire Resort
1 Asean Avenue, Entertainment City, Tambo
Parañaque City, Metro Manila, Philippines
(02) 888-8888

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