Tech

OPPO Launches A9 2020 in Ph – Specs and Price Revealed

The new OPPO A Series smartphones officially launches in the Philippines. From L-R: OPPO Philippines Marketing Director Mr. Raymond Xia, OPPO Philippines CEO Mr. Damon Huang, OPPO A Series Endorser Alex Gonzaga, and OPPO Philippines Brand Manager Chiqui Tapawan proudly showcases the new OPPO A9

One of the best-selling mobile phone brands in the Philippines just released a new midranger and everyone has their eyes on it. OPPO has been quietly cooking its newest A-series flagship in the form of A9 2020 which it officially introduced on Thursday, September 19.

Just in time for the holiday season, people can easily afford the all-new OPPO A9 2020 as it comes in a decent price tag of P15,990. And at this price, you get a pretty exterior with colors of the nature, grand total of 5 cameras, and a very solid chipset.

When you look at the A9 2020, you will see familiar design elements as it looks very similar as the OPPO R17. Although it also incorporated some new thing like its unique gradient finish which you can see on the back of the phone. Unfortunately, the case is still made out of plastic when other phones in this range are already on scratch-resistant glass bodies.

At the bottom part of the OPPO A9 2020, you will see the 3.5mm jack for your headset. At the rear is the quad-camera setup with three of the cameras arranged vertically in-line and the fourth placed just slightly below the LED flash.

As always, OPPO has camera features that can compete with Samsung and Apple with its rear cams having 48-megapixel with high-resolution sensor and f/1.8 aperture lens; 8-megapixel wide-angle lens; 2-megapixel “portrait” lens; and a 2-megapixel mono lens.

It’s not clear how the camera app will automatically switch into these cams and at what settings but the mono lens may just be used for dedicated monochrome sensor for additional information.

Apart from that, this new OPPO phone uses the new Ultra Night Mode 2.0 technology of the brand that’s supposedly vastly improved over the previous iteration. And the 5th camera is located at the front which boasts 16-megapixel resolution embedded in a water-drop notch.

When it comes to the screen, you’ll get a 6.5-inch, HD+ IPS display with bezels that are relatively slim for a mid-range phone.

Going to the inner specs, A9 2020 uses Qualcomm’s new Snapdragon 665 chipset which is already used by most phones in the mid-range bracket. More interestingly, OPPO A9 runs on 8GB of RAM and 128GB of storage that you can expand further with an added microSD. This for me is the most impressive as not all mid-range phones have 8GB of RAM. This is fast and could support full entertainment activities, most especially gaming.

And you don’t have to worry that you’ll die out soon when you use it for gaming or video streaming and video conferencing. The OPPO A9 2020 has a massive 5000mAh battery which can last for 8-10 hours of continuous use. And finally, this phone uses the USB Type-C charging as well as reverse charging.

The new OPPO A9 2020, especially made for pure entertainment, has officially launched in the Philippines

To top it off, OPPO A9 2020 is powered by the latest Android OS which is the 9 Pie along with ColorOS 6.

For a quick summary of the specs of the OPPO A9 2020:

  • Qualcomm Snapdragon 665 processor
  • 8GB of RAM
  • 6.5-inch HD+ display with waterdrop notch, Corning Gorilla Glass 3 protection
  • 128GB of expandable storage
  • 48-megapixel main camera, 8-megapixel Ultra Wide Angle Lens (119°), 2-megapixel portrait lens, 2-megapixel mono lens
  • 16-megapixel front camera
  • 3G, LTE/4G
  • Dual SIM
  • WiFi, Bluetooth 5.0, GPS, A-GPS, physical fingerprint scanner, USB Type-C connector
  • 5000mAh battery, reverse charging
  • Android 9.0, ColorOS 6

 

OPPO Philippines Brand Manager Chiqui Tapawan unveiled the price of the new OPPO A9 2020, priced at Php 15,990 SRP.

OPPO A9 2020 is priced at P15,990 which you can pre-order from September 20-27 with nationwide availability on September 28. The package will include a free Xsound Bluetooth headset which is normally price at P2k+ when you buy it separately.

The new OPPO A9 2020 is expected go heads on against XiaomiMi 9T Pro, Samsung Galaxy A50s, Huawei Nova 5T, Vivo S1, Huawei P30 Lite, and Samsung Galaxy A30s.

OPPO officially introduces Alex Gonzaga, who is #AlwaysGwithOPPOA9, as the first ever endorser of the OPPO A Series in the Philippines.

On the other hand, OPPO also announced during the launch about its A5 2020 which will arrive in the Philippines in October. A new endorser was also chosen to represent the OPPO A-Series 2020. Actress and vlogger Alex Gonzaga was announced to be the new face of the A-series as her witty and playful spirit are the perfect representations of what the collection is all about.

Mr. Raymond Xia, OPPO Philippines Marketing Director, shares about the rapid growth of the brand attributed to the global support revolving around the OPPO A Series.

OPPO Philippines Marketing Director, Raymond Xia shared:

“We are truly excited to introduce Alex Gonzaga as the newest endorser of the upgraded OPPO A series. Her outgoing and engaging personality, along with the fact that she is one of the favorite entertainers in the industry today, make her a perfect fit for the all-new OPPO A9 2020 that’s packed with amazing entertainment features that will surely keep you entertained.”

Guests from the OPPO A Series launch event enjoys the activity booths that amplify the specs of the newly launched OPPO A9 2020.

September 21, 2019 by
Lifestyle

4th World Trade Expo 2019 Pre-Event Announced Sponsors

The holidays are just around the corner and many people are once again gearing up to accomplish one or two of their travel goals. Like me, many are already starting to scout for seat sales and end of the rainy season promos to score affordable transportation and accommodation. And the timing of the World Travel Expo 2019 is just perfect as many are looking to book for the cheapest air fares and accommodations.

The 4th World Travel Expo will take place on October 25 to 27, 2019 at the SMX Convention Center, Mall of Asia, Pasay City. The event will see 300 exhibitors and is preparing to accommodate 30,000 visitors. The process for getting passes is still ongoing so you should submit your names now to get the chance to get a glimpse of the most wanted tourist spots from across the globe.

In the pre-event that went down earlier this week, the WTE 2019 presented all their sponsors including Pampanga’s most popular attraction – the Aqua Planet, the largest travel agency in Japan and one of the largest travel agencies in the world – JTB, 2Go Travel, Eye Mo, Cocogen Insurance, Fly Supply Travel and Tours, HIS Philippines Travel Corp., Prime Hotel, and Embassy of Sri Lanka.

The World Travel Expo is an annual event participated in by local and international tourism industries running in the Philippines. This year’s event is expected to be bigger than last year to bring more hospitality players together like hotels, airlines, cruise and other means of travel around the world to treat guests to expo-exclusive deals and discounts.

Expect a lot of local and international tour packages to Palawan, Bohol, Singapore, Korea, Italy, France, and more from WTE’s sponsors and exhibitors. WTE 2019 will also knit together destinations, tourist attractions to help you design your upcoming holiday getaway without any hassle.

The sponsors of World Trade Expo 2029 (from left): Perseus John Mendoza of JTB, Kevin Edward Culla of Cocogen Insurance, Choby Pelayo of Fly Supply Travel & Tours, Erlbyn Jayona of IMS Asia “Eye Mo”, Rowena Alcantara of 2GO Travel, Moe Kawasaki of HIS Philippines Travel Corp., Dante Paraymo of Prime Hotel, Shobini Gunasekera from Embassy of Sri Lanka and Ashley Singh of Aqua Planet.

The World Travel Expo 2019 commits to provide an effective platform which can help the Philippines in the global tourism and its development thru a one-stop solution of promoting sales and brand awareness of each participating companies.

During the expo days, there will also be other exciting activities to liven it up, with some of the highlights including:

  • Raffle draws
  • Showcasing products and services, best deals promos and competitive packages for the travel industry
  • Travel Photography Competition
  • Video Montage Competition

For bloggers like me, this is the chance for us to create new partners and networks too!

The World Travel Expo will be open for 3 days from 10a.m. to 7p.m. Entrance tickets only costs P80 and you can start getting them now by registering on worldtravelexpo.com.ph/wte-registration.

For more information, you may contact the World Travel Expo via their Facebook page at www.facebook.com/worldtravelexpoph or call them at 02-579-7185 and 0977-811-1688.

 

September 21, 2019 by
Food, Lifestyle

New Best Barista Named During the 13th PGBC Championship

The grand winner of the 13th PGBC, JC Landicho of Magnum Opus with the judges, friends and the president of Allegro Beverage Corp., Mr. Leo De Leon.

The best of Filipino baristas gathered once again for the annual Philippine Grand Barista Cup and Grand Latte Art Throw down by Allegro Beverage Corporation where finalists had to prove their espresso and latté-making skills. Held last September 12-13 at the World Trade Center in Pasay City, the 13th PGBC has been a success.

This is my first time to witness a barista contest and it was certainly unlike any other as they’ve been entertaining audiences too with some fun games like my all-time fave “Bring Me.” Before this grand finals event, I was also invited last September 5 in their Milk Lab Challenge where the 6 finalists had a pre-face off, creating 3 drinks for the judges. There was also a showdown on latte art creation.

This year’s event placed champion baristas from different cafes in different places of the Philippines. The finalists had to strive to balance acidity, bitterness, sweetness, and aromatics of coffee. During the presentation, participants were also asked to explain why they chose their particular coffee creation as well as the basic roast profile, major taste elements, espresso blend structure, other ingredients, and the philosophy behind the drinks served.

Entries were judged according to taste, presentation, and the baristas’ technical skills.

The 13thPhilippine Grand Barista Cup required baristas to prepare 3 kinds of concoctions under the following categories: Espresso, Cappuccino and their own six beverages. After the competition, the following winners were declared:

2nd Runner up– Karl ZourielLat, an independent competitor from Makati

1st Runner up– John Richard Co of Chapter Coffee Roastery and Café

Grand Winner – JC Landicho of Magnum Opus

The grand champion took home prices including a PGBC trophy, P100,000-worth Franke fully automated espresso/cappuccino machine, Expobar Barista kit worth P15,000, and a coffee class at the UGC Coffee Academy and Local Coffee Appreciation and Farm tour in Atok, Benguet by Beviamo Coffee and Beverages. He also got several Milk Lab products and buffet vouchers from Marriott Manila.

The event is organized by Allegro Beverage Corporation, the exclusive Philippine distributor of Expobar espresso machines, DaVinci Gourmet Syrups and Sauces, and CaffeMoak.

The event’s goals are to promote the profession and to help develop world-class Pinoy talents.It is also meant to standardize the preparation and processing of espresso-based drinks like cafe latte, cafe mocha, cappuccino, and espresso.

This year’s panel of judges consists of masters and experts from other countries including Mr. Marco Poidamani, Mr. Fabian Fredriksson, Mr. Tristan Destura and Mr. Fernando Menendez. Local Experts such as Mr. Sherwin Halasan, and Mr. Ernie Mesina.

Allegro Beverage Corporation partnered with several sponsors to make the 13th Philippine Grand Barista Cup possible. These sponsors include Exposer Espresso Machine, Mahlkonig Grinder, Franke Coffee System, Moan Italian Coffee, Allegro Gourmet Syrup, Milk Lab, UCC Philippines, UCC Coffee Academy, BDO, Lotus Bischoff and Far Eastern University.

September 21, 2019 by
Fashion, Lifestyle

Rainy Season’s Almost Out But These Fashion Items Are Still In

The seasons in the Philippines seemingly saw changes. For the past few years, we’ve been experiencing typhoons even in December and what makes it worse is that we can’t be on the getup we want to look stylish during the holidays. But fret not because the top apparel brands made their waterproof footwear looking more fashionable than ever so they can be useful through all kinds of weather.

First up is Keds which is one of my fave sneaker brands. But instead of its vintage white canvass sneaker, I’m putting another of its variants into spotlight today. The All-season boots and sneakers of Kedsis perfect not just for the rainy season but also for the upcoming holiday when it’s a bit colder.

Crafted with silhouette features, these waterproof shoes are also stain repellant to make them always looking new even after they get soaked and dried up and soaked again.

Keds Scout Trek Splash Canvas in white (PHP 3,295.00); Scout Boot II Matte Canvas in Black (P4295); Boot II Matte Twill in Burgundy (P4295);

And to those who just can’t let go of the white canvass trademark of Keds but have to go on treks, you can still be fashionable in the Keds Scout Trek Splash Canvas pair. But for a rougher path, you can opt for the Scout Boot II Matte Canvas or Boot II Matte Twill.

Captain’s CVO Washable in grey for men P4295, Captain’s CVO Washable Sneaker in Rose for women P4295

Next is Sperry who released a washable shoe that makes shoe cleaning a bit less hassling. The brand’s Sperry Washable Collection now comes with a colorfast and washable nubuckplus it was intentionally designed to be lightweight through its breathable canvas material.

Sperry Striper II Storm Water Proof Chukka (P 4995), Sperry Striper II Storm Cvo Duck Canvas (P 3590), Bahama II Storm Duck Canvas (P 3995)

Another collection to check from Sperry is its Weather Ready Collection. The classic Striper II is made of water-resistant heavy canvas with gusseted tongue while the Bahama II has a heavy-duty duck canvas. The Sperry Striper II Storm CVO Duck, on the other hand, is made with waterproof suede, leather, and wool uppers in a seam-sealed waterproof construction to make sure your feet are warm and dry during the cold and under the rain.

Up next is the king of outdoor apparels – Merrell.

Merrell MOAB Adventure Lace (P P5495) Merrell Siren Edge Q2 WATERPROOF (P4895)

Everyone who loves to hike is well acquainted with the Merrell shoes and why not? These shoes are heavy duty, sticky, and made to survive through all kinds of weather.

Its Wet Weather Adventure Shoe collection boasts the Merrell MOAB Adventure Lace for men which is equipped with FIT.ECO blended EVA contoured footbed for comfort. The shoe also has the brand’s Vibram® outsole for traction in all weather and temperature conditions.

Ladies also get their own treat through the Merrell Siren Edge Q2 WATERPROOF for women. This pair is designed for the way women move, offering support, alignment, and stability. Aside from the weatherized material, it is outfitted with  the Q FORM™ 2 insole and midsole technology for comfort.

Want a more breathable but fashionable footwear that you can use under the rain or across waters? Then the Merrell Easy-to-style Sandals are what you should shop!

Merrell Choprock Strap For Men (P4495), Merell Siren Strap Q2 (P3895)

The Merrell Choprock Strap sandals for menis packed with materials that dryout fast, have strong grip on slick  terrain (Vibram® Megagrip™ outsole), and protect your feet from debris. It’s certainly the perfect sandals for a long holiday hike.

Second up is the Merrell Siren Strap Q2 which isdesigned for wet adventures. This comfortable strap-insandals is engineered with the active woman in mind, offering support, alignment, and gender-specific stability. It also has a waterproof nubuck and webbing upper, plus Merrell In-Board Compression molded EVA footframeto provide extra cushioning that will make you safer during your all-day walk.

Skechers Merlin-Rosney (P2095); SkechersNextwave Ultra (P2295)

And last but won’t allow to be the least in this list – Skechers!

Skechers has always made its footwear collections very funky but despite the fashionable looks, they all have quality that other brands can’t compete with.

The Skechers Merlin-Rosney for men is a cool sporty sandals but it surprisingly gives warmth to the feet because of its cushioned footbed. The upper is made with leather-textured synthetic, making it perfect for casual getaways.

And for women, there’s the SkechersNextwave Ultra.  This surf-ready flip flop is designed with soft flexible jelly material with ombre color design, silhoutteGoga Mat® footbed, and ULTRA GO™ cushioned sole.

And here’s a final treat to keep you warmer through the coming months, Rain gears from No Fear!

No Fear Saul Biker Jacket (P2199.75) No Fear Preston Hoodie Jacket (P1599.75), No Fear Stephan – Bomber Jacket (P1669.75)

The No Fear Saul Biker Jacket,No Fear Preston Hoodie Jacket, and No Fear Stephan – Bomber Jacket are all ready to give you extra warmth while adding to your stylish look this colder seasons. No Fear’s signature badass jackets feature windbreaker type material and water resistant finish. The Saul Biker jacket is a great addition to any casual outfit while the Preston Hoodie or Stephan Bomber jacket is the perfect getup for those who wish to keep themselves warm.

KEDS:

Visit keds.com.ph and Keds stores located at Glorietta 3, U.P. Town Center, SM North Edsa – The Block, SM Megamall, Robinsons Magnolia, Robinsons Manila, Festival Alabang, SM City Baguio, Robinsons Ilocos, Ayala Center Cebu, SM City Bacolod, SM City Iloilo, Gaisano Mall Davao, and Centrio Cagayan De Oro.  Also available in Complex Lifestyle Stores at Shangri-La Plaza Mall, TriNoma Mall, Eastwood Mall, Fairview Terraces, Uptown BGC, Glorietta 5, Alabang Town Center, Festival Supermall, Solenad-3 Nuvali, Marquee Mall, and Robinsons Galleria Cebu.

SPERRY:

Sperry is available in Sperry stores located at Bonifacio High Street, SM Aura, Glorietta 3, SM Mall of Asia, Robinsons Place Manila, Estancia Mall, UP Town Center, Trinoma, Estancia Mall, Festival Mall, SM North Edsa The Block, Sperry SM Fairview, SM Southmall, SM Lipa, SM Baguio, Robinsons Place Ilocos, Ayala Center Cebu, SM Seaside Cebu, SM City Cebu, SM Iloilo, SM Bacolod, SM Lanang, Centrio Mall, and online at www.sperry.com.ph

MERRELL:

Shop online at merrell.com.ph. Merrell is also available at Glorietta 3, TriNoma, SM North Annex, Market! Market!,  Robinson’s Place Manila, SM Southmall, Festival Mall Alabang, SM City Dasmariñas, Marquee Mall Pampanga, Harbor Point Subic, SM City Cebu, Ayala Center Cebu, SM Iloilo, SM City Davao, SM Lanang, Abreeza Mall Davao, Gaisano Mall Davao, Limketkai Mall, Centrio Mall, and selected specialty stores and department stores nationwide.

Visit Merrell on Facebook at www.facebook.com/MerrellPhilippines and follow us on Twitter and Instagram: @Merrell_PH.

SKECHERS:

For more Skechers sandals, visit skechers.com.ph, like Facebook.com/SkechersPhilippines and on Instagram @SkechersPH.

Visit Skechers concept stores located at Glorietta 2, Trinoma, SM North Edsa – The Annex, Ayala Malls Cloverleaf, Gateway Mall, Ayala Malls The 30th, SM East Ortigas, Ayala Malls Feliz, Market Market, SM Mall of Asia, Robinsons Place Manila, Lucky Chinatown, Alabang Town Center, Festival Mall, SM Southmall, SM Bacoor, SM Dasmarinas, Robinsons Gen Trias , SM Lipa, Fairview Terraces, SM Fairview, SM Marilao, SM Pampanga, Marquee Mall, SM Clark, Vista Mall Bataan, SM Cabanatuan, Robinsons Place Ilocos, Ayala Malls Legazpi, SM Legazpi, Ayala Center Cebu, SM City Cebu, SM Seaside Cebu, SM Bacolod, Ayala Malls Capitol Central, SM Iloilo, SM Davao, Limketkai Mall, Centrio Mall.

NO FEAR:

No Fear is available in leading department stores in the country.

 

 

September 19, 2019 by
Food, Health and Wellness

Hearty Bread – Your Cravings and Diet Satisfied in One

Is bread evil? It really depends. You probably don’t want to eat half your body weight in carb-high breads too often if you’re watching your weight. I mean, you might WANT to, but you shouldn’t.

Some types of bread are definitely questionable, depending on how they’re made, what gets added to them, and what you eat them with. But that doesn’t mean all bread has to be totally off-limits — especially if you have health concerns such as high blood pressure. There are even healthy alternatives for people who can’t or don’t want to consume gluten.

Keto or low carb diet has been the latest fad in staying fit and healthy. It involves cutting out carbs and sugar from meals which are the main culprit for diabetes, heart problems, obesity, and other health concerns.

The Hearty Bread is basically the bread you can eat when you are in this kind diet. The taste may be plain but adding some dairy products like cheddar cheese will make it more delightful to the taste.

I’ve been trying some of the Hearty Bread products and I noticed that my metabolism has become faster. I sleep longer too and my moods are better. Two of my favorite varieties are the Ezekiel Almond Loaf and Banana (saba) Sourdough Loaf. They make a perfect partner to my favorite brewed coffee.

And here’s a little background about one of my favorite breads and why you should try it out today to replace your regular bread.

Sourdough is made through a fermentation process that relies on naturally occurring yeast and bacteria to make the bread rise.Fermentation helps reduce the number of phytates, also known as phytic acid, that bind to certain minerals and impair their absorption.

One study found that sourdough fermentation helped decrease phytate content by over 50% compared to using conventional yeast. Sourdough may also be easier to digest than other breads, possibly due to its prebiotics, as well as the probiotics (which you already know is good for digestion) created during the fermentation process.

One slice (47 grams) of whole-wheat sourdough gives:

  • Calories: 120
  • Protein: 4 grams
  • Fat: 0 grams
  • Carbs: 20 grams
  • Fiber: 3 grams

20 grams is the suggested carb intake per day to avoid diabetes.

In the Philippines, we have the highest cases of different types of diabetes in the whole Western Pacific region. At least 1 out of 5 Filipinos are diabetic and some of them die due to complications. Some of them include:

  • Cardiovascular disease
  • Nerve damage (neuropathy)
  • Kidney damage (nephropathy)
  • Eye damage (retinopathy)
  • Foot damage
  • Skin conditions
  • Hearing impairment
  • Alzheimer’s disease

Meanwhile, other effects of taking in too much carbs and sugar is obesity. Just last year, experts said the cases for obesity in the Philippines increased at an epidemic level.

The complications of being Overweight and obesity leads us back to diabetes – diabetes type 2. Other problems include increased risk of heart disease, high blood pressure, certain cancers, and other chronic conditions.

We hate these conditions but we are bread lovers too. So what should we do?

Let’s no longer feel guilty for eating bread – thanks to Hearty Bread. The men behind this concept are Evan Dykimching and Vicson Ngo.

Evan said about other gluten-free products which are normally sold at 500-600 php per loaf:

“When one of our family member got confined in the hospital, we were surprised that the price of our bread were quite high due to several administrative fees.”

Hence, Hearty Bread invested in research and development for 2 years so they could product an alternative that most Pinoys can afford.

Among the many varieties, you may love Hearty Bread’s Almond Loaf line which retails at only 180Php for the plain Almond Loaf while their Cheesy variants – Cheesy Charcoal and Cheesy Coffee are pegged at 250php/loaf.

Their Sourdough/Probiotic product line which includes Malunggay Sourdough Pandesal sells at only 40php/6pcs. Meanwhile, my favorite Banana Sourdough Loaf retails at only 200php.

Other varieties that you should try include Banofee Walnut Sourdough Loaf and Pumpkin Carrot Sourdough Loaf which both sells at 280php/ Loaf.

All of these products are Gluten-Free/Sugar-free!

Evan continued to share:

We can really lower the cost of our products since we produce them commercially in volume quantities. We also own the lot where our facilities operate so we don’t pay rent.

We make our bread affordable not to kill the market price but to make these healthy bread affordable and help those who are burdened to begin with.”

Follow  and like the Heart Bread FB page: https://www.facebook.com/heartybreadph/

September 16, 2019 by
Lifestyle

Perfume Dessert Could Be The Best Affordable Frangrance in Town

It provides an instant confidence boost with one simple spritz. But finding your signature perfume can prove somewhat challenging with the abundance of musky, floral, citrus or even woodsy notes to choose from.

This is my first time to own a Perfume Dessert London and I am going to share with you my take on the fragrances that I got from them. They generously gifted me with 5 perfumes of different scents which you will see below:

Ok, before I start, let me clarify that I am no perfume expert but I have a special taste on perfume. I love perfumes and I have a decent collection (18 bottles of different scents) of popular brands of women fragrances like Dior, Prada, and Gucci which are all with strong scents. For that, I always prefer eau de parfum (EDP) over eau de toilette (EDT) so I was really excited when I saw that the Perfume Dessert bottles I got are all eau de parfum.

For those who don’t know yet, EDPs have more essential perfume oils and concentration of up to 15-20 percent plus less alcohol. Meanwhile EDTs are made up of only five to 15 per cent oils.

As eau de toilettes contain less perfume oils, you’ll find that their price is usually a lot lower than that of an eau de parfum. Just keep in mind – since EDPs are more potent, you can get away with applying less; whereas an EDT may take a couple of spritzes to get your desired intensity.

…Which again is another impressive factor for Perfume Dessert London as their 30 ml perfumes only cost 280Php each! It is waaaay more affordable than my usual perfumes which cost around 3,000-4,000 pesos for every 100 ml bottle. Now that’s 900-1200 pesos if they are on 30 ml bottles.

But is it worth your 280Php?
After using the perfumes for 5 days, here are some things I found are Perfume Dessert’s best qualities:
• Original and High in Quality – Based on Perfume Dessert’s FB page, their perfumes are 100% UK-made and their ingredients are all legit. Of course, I wouldn’t know if that’s true but they do have a manufacturing facility in London as I checked. The barcode in the packaging will also tell you about its origin and authenticity. Plus, the perfume’s smell itself will tell you whether it is made of real scent or just an alcohol.
In this case, I graded it LEGIT.
• Feminine Packaging – The canister-type of packaging with floral designs is lovely and could be a great gift to your girl friend, colleagues, and relatives. It also instantly gave me an idea on the smell of the perfume being sweet. And indeed, when I opened the perfumes, they smelled very closely to the Victoria’s Secret scents.
• Long Lasting Smell – It’s definitely eau de parfum! I only sprayed a few puffs on my shirt and wrist and it, indeed, lasted for over 6 hours so there’s no complaining in that part.
• Affordable! – Like I already mentioned, 280Php is very affordable for eau de parfum. And to think that the packaging in nice and smell lasts longer than you expected, this is definitely worth the penny!

And for the smell you say?
I got 5 different smells namely Peach Bourbon Popsicle, Black Raspberry, Raspberry Smoothie, Cotton Candy Unicorn, and Piña Colada.
The PEACH BOURBON POPSICLE was 100% with a sweet peach smell and I think it is a good perfume for the teens who aren’t so much into active lifestyle. As you know, sweat and sweet isn’t really a pleasant combination.

The BLACK RASPBERRY is with a bit stronger smell compared to others, making it among my faves. The smell is still sweet like vanilla ice cream berries and might be perfect for teens and young adults.

RESPBERRY SMOOTHIE has a little bit playful smell with and addition of a caramel scent on top of the juicy berry fragrance.

The COTTON CANDY UNICORN perfume is milder with a very feminine scent. I’m not actually a fan of this fragrance but I can compare it with the popular fab con brand that we have here in the country.

And lastly, PIÑA COLADA has a bit fruity smell. It’s also on the milder category and it’s perfect for the younger ladies.

Overall, the best scents for me are the PEACH BOURBON POPSICLE, BLACK RASPBERRY, and RESPBERRY SMOOTHIE.
If you want to smell differently every day, this is your perfect chance!
Check them out on:
FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/Perfume-Dessert-London-720410571416583/
INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/perfumedessertlondon/

 

September 15, 2019 by
Tech

OPPO A9 2020, the Newest A series Opens Blind Pre-Order Starting September 14, 2019

Good news to OPPO fans for the opening of the blind pre-order for the OPPO A9 2020 that comes with a FREE XSound Wireless Bluetooth Headset worth PHP2,099 as freebie starting September 14 until September 19, 2019 only. The fans will surely in for a treat with this newest addition of OPPO. To keep the excitement for the new A series going, the price will remain unannounced until then. But with all-new upgrade on its features, the price for the OPPO A9 2020 will surely remain as competitive as ever.

Customers may also visit any OPPO concept store nationwide to reserve. A non-refundable down payment of P1,000 is required to proceed with the full reservation of the said handset. Turnover of pre-ordered units will start on September 28, 2019. Claiming of the unit and the freebie will only be available where reservation was made. OPPO will issue a blind pre-order card upon successful reservation which should be presented as an official proof of claim.

The new A series smartphone sports powerful features such as the 48MP quad camera that is capable of shooting clearer, crisper photos even in low-light condition; adding up the 8GB of RAM with up to 128GB internal storage that perfectly runs on Qualcomm Snapdragon 665 for a guaranteed smoother performance, not to mention its 5,000 mAh Ultra Battery capacity for longer use. An all-in impressive capabilities for an all-new A series smartphone packed with a very competitive price that is yet to be unveiled on its launch on September 19.

*Per DTI-FTEB Permit No. Series of 2019.

 

 

September 14, 2019 by
Food, Health and Wellness

HONEY THE SWEET TRUTH BE TOLD AND THE BENEFITS OF THIS NATURAL SWEETER

Looking for a perfect alternative to sugar? Honey is a good alternative to satisfy one’s sweet tooth cravings sans the guilt. This ancient golden medicine, which has withstood the test of time but has also evolved its role in every household because of its natural health benefits. If there is one thing that sets honey apart when it comes to the sweetener category – it is the product’s versatility. Honey is widely known for its medicinal properties; and its various uses not just as a sweetener for drinks and desserts, but also for cooking. In fact, September is celebrated as a National Honey Month in the US.

Here in the Philippines, there are many honey products that are now available in the market. The viscous liquid – which is a byproduct of bees using the nectar from flowers – has high levels of mono saccharides, fructose, and glucose that give it its sweetness and richness in terms of flavor. It also has vitamins, enzymes, and minerals that could help in addressing some health issues. In fact, the World Health Organization (WHO) recommends honey as a natural cough remedy.Using honey as a staple ingredient in the kitchen, whether for food or drinks, has been a common practice nowadays. In its pure and untreated state, it packs in a lot of nutrients good for the throat and the stomach; it can also help lower cholesterol levels; and is said to facilitate better memory and better sleep.

Emie San Beda, Senior Product Manager of Fly Ace Corporation – the Distributor of German product, Langnese Honey, in the Philippines – says that “the booming honey industry in the Philippines and globally has made people realize the importance of honey for one’s health and wellness. Honey can also enhance one’s mood.That is why choosing a good quality of honey is important if one wants to maximize its benefits. An important thing that consumers have to look for when choosing honey is to know the process of how it was made –i.e., a good honey should be 100% pure, raw, unfiltered, and unheated, among others. Langnese is one of the few brands in the market that is all-natural, which meets the highest quality standards, especially as it follows strict regulations of the European Union,” San Beda concluded.

Additionally, some people have discovered the healing and antibacterial properties of honey that have also been found to help achieve a healthier and clearer skin, especially among women. Whether used alone or mixed with other ingredients, honey is now a star ingredient to use for DIY face masks that can be used to combat acne and deeply moisturize the skin.

Whether it before culinary use and as an alternative sweetener/natural medicine or as a beauty product, honey is absolutely the sweetest thing that has happened to mankind.

Fly Ace Corporation’s portfolio of food and beverage products includes house brands and exclusively distributed brands. Learn more at www.flyacecorp.com

 

 

September 11, 2019 by
Lifestyle

YOUR DREAM HOLIDAY GETAWAY IS JUST A REDDOORZ AWAY

It’s the ‘Ber months and it’s time to plan that holiday getaway with friends or family. What’s holding back most people from going all out to make their dreams get real is budget concerns. Now, RedDoorz with its all-out traveller perks and budget-friendly rates will make this the most memorable holiday vacay ever.

This Holiday Season, why not target these new places where RedDoorz has opened up and making a big difference in the travel scene?

Davao

If your dream vacay is a nature trip, with some history, exotic scenery, shop-till-you-drop shopping and glorious, inexpensive food, mark Davao for your next adventure.

The Crocodile Park, the Philippine Eagle sanctuary, the Davao Butterfly House, Eden Nature Park and Resort, zipline adventures and more, are what make Davao a heaven on earth for thrill-seekers and adrenaline-junkies. Climb the summit of the “King of the Philippine Peaks,” Mt. Apo and get a 360-degree view from the country’s highest peak. Or go island-hopping and take a dip in the waters of world-class beaches.

Vacations are never complete without feasts. Enjoy native Dabawenyo dishes like sinugbang tuna (grilled tuna), inato (grilled chicken), pasayan (deep-fried shrimp), kinhason (baked scallops), and imbaw (clam soup). Sample their pomelo and durian products ranging from fresh fruit to candies to ice cream and shake. There are 22 RedDoorz hotels in the heart of this big city that will be your launch pad for your holiday adventure.

Palawan

For indelible memories, Palawan is Ground Zero for you. The natural beauty of its beaches, rivers and caves plus the tropical vibe that this island brings will mesmerize you.

Here’s where you’ll find its most popular attraction – the Puerto Princesa Underground River, the world’s longest navigable underground river – that has made it one of the New 7 Wonders of the World.

The Ihawig River is a perfect place to commune with nature and just feel good to be alive. A visit to this historic river will not be complete unless you experience its most famous tourist attraction, firefly watching.

And to complete your magical experience in Palawan, experience the sands of the popular Honda Bay. You can use the site as a jump-off place for a lot of other islands to travel to. Choose from any of 13 RedDoorz hotels in Palawan to be nearest the island attraction you want best.

Tagaytay  

Sometimes you don’t need to go far to escape the stress of the city. Only a few hours away from the noise of Manila, you can find solitude and a much-needed break whenever you want.

Enjoy the City’s varied attractions, from the mind challenging and jaw-dropping Puzzle Mansion where you can find the most extensive collection of Jigsaw Puzzles in the world. The lady who completed all the 2D, 3D and 4D puzzles here – some as big as murals – is in the Guinness Book of World Records for the unmatchable number and kinds of puzzles she completed.

Enjoy Tagaytay’s cool breeze and chilly evenings with a romantic dinner or even just a hot sip of healthy Tagaytay Bulalo.

Don’t miss its most famous attraction – the People’s Park in the Sky. It stands at the highest point of Tagaytay and lets you have a 360-degree view of the surrounding landscape, the best vantage point to see Taal Lake and Volcano. If you want rides and kiddie adventures, visit the Sky Ranch for rides and panoramic views. You can find the best branded items at outlet stores in Sta.Rosa where you’ll find quality, outlet-priced gifts to give for the holiday season.

RedDoorz at the Ridge, Mahogany and Sta. Rosa are all just minutes away from all the best Tagaytay landmarks.

But whatever location you choose, booking your RedDoorz hotel will be easy as pie because the RedDoorz App is your go-to companion for your discovery adventure. This user-friendly, 100% safe app allows you to compare hundreds of hotels, get real time prices, read traveller reviews so you can plan your trip in detail. Once you’re there, RedDoorz will pamper you with free Wifi, clean beds, clean sheets, free toiletries, unlimited water and a pleasant experience – all for very affordable rates. Even paying is easy! You can use credit cards, Dragonpay or pay-at-hotel without need for credit card guarantee.

Just one RedDoorz away should also mean that entire discovery, booking experience is just “one-app” away and few clicks

So for the holidays, don’t be afraid to pursue your adventure. There are RedDoorz Hotels – RedDoorz, RedDoorz Plus or RedDoorz Premium – that fits your budget. You’ll be glad to know that a RedDoorz Hotel is just “one app and a few clicks away” in whatever city you choose.

 

 

 

 

 

September 8, 2019 by
Food, Lifestyle

Allegro Beverage Corp Held 13th Philippine Grand Barista Cup 2019

Allegro Beverage President, Mr. Leo De Leon

Undeniably, the aromatic smell of coffee is a form of ‘low cost’ therapy. If you are looking for ways to drive away the Monday blues or to kick start your day with a bang, it’s almost a no-brainer to go for a cuppa. The aroma of coffee seems to carry a ‘feel’ good factor and it creates a positive psychological effect of calmness. Also, we are all aware that caffeine has the effect of perking you up.

It’s simply irresistible and having been able to be at a barista event was a glorious experience. I even got the chance to try joining a latte art contest!

Once again, Allegro Beverage Corporation staged a grand competition joined in by professional baristas from different regions in the country. It has already been their annual event to challenge pros in the Philippine Grand Barista Cup (PGBC), while the Latte Art Throwdown can be joined in by amateurs. This was where I was able to participate. Unfortunately I lost to others, but being able to stand up there creating a mug of my daily staple is an experience really worth sharing.

The event this year saw international panelists like Marco Poidemani (2019 Italian Barista Competition), Fabian Fredriksson (Marketing Manager of Crem, APAC), Tristan Destura (1883 Maison ROUTIN Brand Ambassador), and Fernando Menendez (Franke  Coffee Systems Asia Sales Director). Local connoisseurs were also, of course, tapped to join the panel, including Ernie Mesina, Joe Marie Lichangco, Kevin Israel, Errol Martin, Robert Ian Paguiligan, Vanessa Caceres, Rezeneil Bernardo and Paul Vincent Asuncion and Sherwin Halasan.

Participants of this year’s PGBC competition included baristas from different cafes like Karl Zouriel Lat, John Richard Go, JC Landicho, Kenneth Prado, Essamuel Casablanca Jr. and Clark Daniel Bernales.

Winning participant will be taking home tons of prices including a PGBC trophy, a P100,000-worth Franke fully automatic espresso/cappuccino machine, Expobar Barista kit worth P15,000, plus a coffee class at the UCC Coffee Academy and Local Coffee Appreciation and Farm tour in Atok Benguet by Beviamo Coffee and Beverages. Grand champion will also take home Milklab products, buffet vouchers from Marriott Manila and other exciting prizes from other sponsors.

Allegro Beverage aims to have the barista profession be recognized in the country. The country has honed some expert baristas who already made it to the top places at the Word Barista Championship, but none of them has taken the beans home yet. The preferred coffee solutions company also looks forward to having specialty coffee, especially the Philippine Arabica beans, be appreciated.

ABC partnered with renowned brands this year like Expobar Onyx Espresso Machines, Franke Coffee System, Mahlkonig Coffee Grinder, Caffe Moak, and 1883 Syrups. The event was sponsored by popular brands, too, like Milklab by Grand Nourriture, UCC Philippines, UCC Coffee Academy, Blizzard Refrigeration, BDO, Lotus Biscoff, and Far Eastern University.

The grand championship on the 6th Grand Latte Art Throwdown will go down on September 12-13, while the 13th Philippine Grand Barista Cup championship will happen on September 13. Both competitions will be held at the World Trade Center in Pasay City.

Apart from these contests, Allegro is also geared up to launch the Allegro Gourmet Syrups featuring 10 delicious syrup flavors for your coffee. Five of which are described to compliment any hot or cold coffee including Vanilla, Caramel, Hazelnut, Almond, and Chocolate. The other 5 syrup flavors are said to go with any tea, cocktail, or mocktail including Strawberry, Peach, Lychee, Mint, and Green Apple.

For more information visit their website: www.allegrobeverage.com

September 6, 2019 by