Celebrate Everyday Greatness with Great Taste

Everyday we have the choice to do great and be great. Greatness comes out in any forms, in any situation at no particular place or time. It can be through a random act of kindness like smiling to anyone you meet on your way to office. Greatness is within every Filipinos. 

As for me, I choose to be Great by being myself all the time. I don't pretend to be someone I'm not and most especially I put love in everything I do. 

Believing in this remarkable traits of Filipinos, Great Taste celebrates everyday greatness with us by constantly innovating new and better ways to enjoy our cup of coffee helping us bring out everyday greatness from each and everyone of us. 

In line with this Great Taste Coffee held a Choose to Be Great media event last May 11, 2016 at the Crowne Plaza in Ortigas. Great Taste Coffee introduced its newest endorser who will be joining their journey of serving even greater experience to their loyal consumers. None other than the ever talented and a great actor himself John Lloyd Cruz,

“We are very pleased to have John Lloyd Cruz as the latest addition to the Great Taste family. As our endorser, we believe he will reinforce our values and philosophy with the same kind of passion and greatness that he has exemplified in his life,” said Universal Robina Corporation President and Chief Executive Officer Lance Gokongwei.

I personally love the Great Taste White Smooth and Creamy, I drink 1 cup every breakfast and my husband would make coffee shake out of it.

The Choose to Be Great media event was coffee shop-themed, there's a Great Taste White Coffee Pop-up Lounge where media guests were treated with different kinds of Great Taste White goodness 

During the event we were also treated to various activities that showcased Great Taste’s celebration of the Filipino’s everyday greatness. We also had an exclusive preview of Great Taste Coffee’s newest campaign featuring John Lloyd Cruz. The new campaign captures the respect and admiration that he and the brand have for Pinoy’s greatness.

Like Great Taste Coffee and John Lloyd Cruz, Filipinos can achieve greatness—from small triumphs, to great milestones. Choose to be great with Great Taste Coffee, available at all leading supermarkets, convenience stores, and sari-sari stores nationwide.

Herbalife’s Nutrition At Work Survey: Majority of Philippines’ Workforce Lead Largely Sedentary Lifestyles

Fifth Herbalife Asia-Pacific Wellness Tour seeks to address health issues associated with sedentary lifestyles, and deepen practical understanding on the benefits of a healthy, active life

Findings of the new Nutrition At Work Survey, has been released by Herbalife, a global nutrition company. The survey revealed that the majority of Philippines’ workforce leads largely sedentary lifestyles, putting them at risk of obesity. The Survey, which was designed to understand the lifestyle habits and attitudes of Asia Pacific’s modern workforce, was conducted in March with 5,500 full-time workers in 11 Asia-Pacific markets, including 500 workers from the Philippines.

According to the survey findings, almost nine out of 10 (85%) workers in the Philippines spend at least six hours a day sitting at their desk, with 52% of its workforce eating lunch at their work desk two to five times per week. The survey also revealed that majority of Philippines’ workforce (86%) exercise less than three times per week, with five out of 10 getting less than 30 minutes of physical activity a day at their workplace. This suggests a significantly worrying trend locally, on the back of rising obesity rates recorded in recent years.

Nevertheless, the risk of obesity could be averted if workers in the Philippines decide to take control over their own nutritional intake and exercise regimen. Close to eight out of 10 workers(75%) affirmed that they strive to live a healthy, active life, however, the majority of them noted that they find it difficult to stay active during workdays.

“With a majority of Philippines’ workforce leading largely sedentary lifestyles, our mission as a global nutrition company is to help people in the Philippines take practical steps towards leading healthy, active lives. By inculcating positive nutrition and active lifestyle habits to people in the Philippines, we hope that this will, over time,help reduce obesity risks and lead to positive improvements to the well-being of our people,”said Mr. Rosalio Valenzuela, General Manager of Herbalife Philippines.

Herbalife launched its fifth Asia Pacific Wellness Tour 2016, held in the months of April and May. Aimed at addressing health issues associated with sedentary lifestyles, and deepening practical understanding on the benefits of healthy, active lifestyles, The latest edition of the Wellness Tour builds upon the successes of the past four tours that welcomed more than 80,000 participants across the region, and features a host of medical symposiums, talks and workshops led by seven experts from Herbalife’s Nutrition Advisory Board (NAB), covering 26 cities across Australia, Cambodia, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Japan, Korea, Macau, New Zealand, Philippines, Singapore, Taiwan, Thailand and Vietnam.

Gary Small, M.D. has recently visited the country and shared his expert views on digital dementia and brain aging at the “A Smart Way to Healthy Aging: A Talk by Gary Small, M.D.” event. Dr. Small, a specialist in brain health and aging, has authored over 500 scientific works and received numerous awards and honors, including the "Senior Investigator Award" from the American Association for Geriatric Psychiatry.

During the talk Dr. Small addressed health and nutrition related issues associated with sedentary lifestyles and share practical tips on how today’s workforce can live healthier lives by making simple changes to their daily lifestyles. Health and medical professionals, academics, as well as the general public have also engaged in lively dialogues with Dr. Small at the event, and had the chance to network with like-minded professionals through the Herbalife Asia-Pacific Wellness Tour platform.

Rounding up the team of Herbalife NAB experts who have participated in the Asia-Pacific Wellness Tour are:

• · Dr. David Heber, chairman of the Herbalife Nutrition Institute and Nutrition Advisory Board. A leading expert in the field of nutrition, named as one of “The World’s Most Influential Scientific Minds” by Thomson Reuters in 2014 and repeatedly included in “The Best Doctors in America”.

• · Dr. Chin-Kun Wang, an expert in metabolism and nutrition, with a focus on the clinical evaluation of nutritional supplements, nutraceuticals, functional foods and herbs.He was awarded the National Award of Biomedicine in Taiwan in 2008 for his contribution to medical education.

• · Dr. Julian Alvarez Garcia, a specialist in sports medicine and sports physiology who has advised professional teams, national teams and individual athletes on a range of disciplines including weightlifting, triathlons, mountain biking, football and basketball.

• · Dr. Darren Burgess, an expert in sports science and nutrition who has authored papers in multiple peer review journals. He is also the current Head of High Performance at Port Adelaide Football (AFL) Club, and the former Head of Fitness and Conditioning at Liverpool Football Club.

• · Dr. Nataniel Viuniski, an expert in pediatrics and nutrition who has authored “Childhood Obesity – A Practical Guide”. He is also currently an advisor to Brazil's Health and Education Ministry for Childhood Obesity.

• · Dr. Francis Gregory Samonte, one of the Philippines’ premier experts in pediatric neurology, and the first Filipino appointed to the NAB. He was a recipient of the Chairman’s Achievement Award from the University of Louisville, Kentucky’s Department of Pediatrics. 

The NAB experts were also joined by Dr. Luigi Gratton, Herbalife’s vice president of nutrition education and development, who has written numerous articles on nutrition and obesity, and has appeared on television speaking on nutrition, anti-aging medicine, sports nutrition and other medical topics.

“With each new edition of the Wellness Tour, we are seeing an increasing number of people gain practical knowledge to lead better lives. We hope that that this year’s Tour will further empower people to take charge of their nutritional intake and exercise regimen, so that they can enjoy the full benefits of a healthy, active life,” Mr. Valenzuela concluded.

Delectable Noodle Soups at Siam Noodle House

This is the continuation of my post about Siam Noodle House. 

Yes I enjoyed the food prepared for us but what made my Siam Noodle House experience more memorable is their Noodles! I love anything with soup especially noodles they are my comfort food and their interesting flavors of noodle soup didn't disappoint. 

Siam Noodle House Menu

We were served with 5 different dishes of noodle soup and 1 noodle salad and they all tasted good!

Yum Won Sen Php 150.00

As part of the appetizers, we were served with this Yum Won Sen or also called the Glass Noodle Salad. It looks like the ordinary Filipino Pancit Sotanghon but don't be deceived because it doesn't taste like it. This good looking combination of Clear glass noddles, colorful veggies, chopped chilies and mushrooms and crushed peanuts swept me off my feet. It's spicy but I just can't stop eating coz it tastes sooo good! Definitely a must try!

Kuaitiao Gai Php 160

Kuaitiao Gai or Chicken Noodle Soup. Who doesn't love chicken noodle soup? It's a staple in most homes but this one of course is different compared to the instant noodles. This one has rich chicken broth that's very soothing to the taste. It also has chicken chunks and herbs that adds more edge in it. This is something that can be served when you're sick or anytime you want to.

Kuaitiao Neua Php 160.00

Kuaitiao Neua or the Signature Beef is truly irresistible. It's bursting with rich beefy flavor, the beef chunks are tender and you can hear the crispy bean sprout crackling with every bite which is kind of addicting. You can never go wrong with this!

Kuaitiao Moo Php 160.00

Kuaitiao Moo or Crispy Pork Noodle Soup is amazing, something you just can't get enough of! I love the pork flavor of the broth, there's squid balls and the crispy pork which surprisingly did not lose its crispiness even soaked in the soup, but not for long of course so you gotta eat it up before it gets cold.

Kuaitiao Krok Kapi Php 160.00

Kuaitiao Krok Kapi or Shrimp Paste Surprise is truly an Authentic Thai dish. My father is an Ilocano, I grew up in Ilocos Region and shrimp paste is used in several Ilocano dishes but this is the first time that I heard about this kind of soup. It comes with a slice of egg and real shrimp. It's delicious and very tasty so I suggest you eat it with plain rice.

Spicy Pork Php160.00

Spicy pork is almost the same as the Crispy pork noodle except that the pork meat here is not crispy but soft and tender. The taste is also identical. 

Seafood Khao Soi Php 160.00

Seafood Khao Soi or Seafood Green Curry Noodle Soup is something new to me but it's in harmony with my taste buds. It has this soothing curry flavor, not too strong and it has the right amount of heat, though I personally like it more spicy. 

All their noodles has the same type of noodle, thick and flat. Each serving is good for sharing but with my appetite I know I can finish one bowl all by myself. Haha! Right now as I'm writing this I am already craving for some Crispy Pork Noodle soup and I want it spicy! I'm planning to take Jaear with me one of these days, I'm sure he'd also enjoy it! 

Come and taste Siam Noodle House's unique noodle soup dishes, it's definitely worth checking out!

Siam Noodle House is located along Presidents Avenue and Aguirre, inside BF Parañaque  just across Tropical Hut and Starbucks.

For more information visit them on

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SIAM-Noodle-House-1712770332338907/?fref=ts

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/siamnoodlehouse/

Experience Thai Cuisine at Siam Noodle House in BF Parañaque

It was just recently when I got to try Thai food for the first time and if you were able to read my post about it here you'll see how much I loved it. That's why when I got another invite to try out a new Thai resto which is the Siam Noodle House, a sister company of Just Thai, I did not think twice. The thought of trying out different Thai dishes for the third time around gave butterflies in my tummy. 

Siam Noodle House is located along Presidents Avenue and Aguirre, inside BF Parañaque and has been operating for more than a month already. On our way to Siam Noodle House last May 2, Monday night I was surprised to find out that there are actually a lot of commercial establishments along BF Parañaque. I have been staying in Las Piñas for more than 3 years already but I never really get to explore its surrounding places. It's good to know that I need not to go far whenever I want to pig out or try different kind of dishes as there are really a lot there. As we are threading the streets of BF Parañaque, we didn't had a hard time locating Siam Noodle House as it's just across Tropical Hut and Starbucks on the above mentioned streets.

Just a long the streets you can already see Siam Noodle House's signage and as you walk a long, there's this beautiful path that leads to the resto. It's really beautiful and inviting, I initially felt I'm being led to a spa, the vibe is that relaxing.

Finally we've reached the glassed facade of the resto where we had a sneak peek of what's waiting inside for us, very exciting!

Upon entering, I once again felt I'm in a different country, the same feels when I first entered Just Thai. The interior is so classy with its Thai ornaments and decorations. The place is just so cozy, it's perfect for romantic or intimate gatherings. Comparing it to Just Thai in terms of space, I believe Siam Noodle House is a bit bigger but both offers one of a kind authentic Thai experience.

I won't keep you waiting any longer, I know you are all excited with the food we had so let's begin. By the way, Siam Noodle House can also modify the level of spiciness of their food according to your preference and this time again, we had the food adjusted to mild spicy. 

For starters, we were served with three pleasant appetizers which definitely set the tone of our Thai food experience. 

Poh Pia Tod Php 165.00

Poh Pia Tod or Crispy Thai Spring Rolls is not your ordinary spring rolls. Served in small sizes but the taste makes up for it. It's crispy outside and bursting with yummy combination of meat and veggies inside, the sweet chili dip adds extra spice.

Pla Muk Tod Php 220.00

Pla Muk Tod or Squid Rings is exactly the same as the one we had in Just Thai. The breading is crispy but the squid meat is definitely soft and tender, you won't have a hard time chewing it. It comes with 2 dips and I personally prefer the black one as it's more spicy.

After the appetizers, we were served with Glass Noodle Salad and different varieties of noodle soup. I created a separate post for it here.

So now let's move along to the main dish. 

Gai Ob Bai Toey P250.00

Gai Ob Bai Toey or Pandan wrapped chicken. I've already tasted this at Just Thai and I'm going to say the same thing about it because amazingly it tastes exactly the same, so consistent! It's a boneless chicken boasting with lots of goodness!

Ghaeng Phet Php 290.00

Ghaeng Phet or beef in red curry sauce. Okay did I mention I love curry? So this one is a hit! It's curry flavor isn't that strong, beef is tender and it is so delicious! For a spicy food lover like me, I prefer this to be extra hot and extra rice please!

Khao Pad Phed Neua Php 250.00

Khao Pad Phed Neua or the Spicy Beef Fried rice but it's not spicy because you know why, haha! Flavors just right, the beef is tender and tasty complimented by the herbs and veggies. The good thing is it's not oily, and you can eat it on its own even without viand. 

Thai Milk Tea Php 60

This Thai Milk Tea is definitely a must try! The sweetness of the milk plus the aroma of the tea blends well together. It's definitely very soothing. I love it!

Siam Noodle House pretty much offer the same dessert as Just Thai, but they have different amount of servings.

Khao Niao Ma Muang Php 140.00

Khao Niao Ma Muang or Sticky Rice with Mango's serving is smaller compared to Just Thai and the presentation is just simple but the taste is the same. a perfect combination,sticky rice and the mangoes taste good together already and is even delicious with the coconut cream.

Tah Koh  Php 90.00

Tah Koh or Pandan Pudding tastes good as that in Just Thai, there's nothing more I can say but I want more of this! Yum!

Banana Fritter with Langka Php75.00

Banana fritters with Langka and sprinkled with sesame seeds, it's the same as the Filipino turon perfect for dessert and snack!

Overall my Thai cuisine experience with Siam Noodle House is pleasant. I loved all the food prepared for us, it's delicious and it' budget-friendly. I love the place, very cozy perfect place to dine and relax. I'd definitely come back for more and you should too!

To get updates from them you can check them out on:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SIAM-Noodle-House-1712770332338907/?fref=ts

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/siamnoodlehouse/

A Mother’s Day Tribute Film for Working Moms

When you see a mom care for her family, it’s like seeing the very definition of unconditional love come to life. It’s no secret that mothers are amazing. They dedicate their whole lives taking care of their family. However, it’s the work that goes on behind the scenes, what we don’t see moms do, that makes them so incredible. 

More and more moms in countries like Vietnam and the Philippines have become empowered to join the workforce. Some of them are inspired with career growth opportunities, while some recognize the need for paid work so they can provide the best for their family. But while they are starting to pursue careers outside the home, their responsibilities to their family stay the same. No matter how many hours they dedicate to their jobs, and no matter how tired they are, they’ll always go home and make time to care for their children.

Whether it’s waking up early to prepare the breakfast, staying up late to clean the house or taking the time to tuck their little ones in with a good night story, moms always put in that extra effort whether they stay at home or not. They’ll do everything it takes to make sure their kids never feel forgotten or neglected. The small things matter as much as the big ones. Even simple gestures like shining your shoes, a simple note on the fridge wishing you luck for the game or washing your favorite clothes can mean a lot more when acted out of a mother’s love.

I just feel privileged being a work at home mom, it only means that I still get to spend my time with my kids while I'm earning a living. But, I admit that it's not that easy especially when my kids would seek my attention yet I'm busy or have to accomplish tasks from my work. My kids got used to me taking care of them that's why whenever they need or want something I'm the first one to know. My kids are the reason why I work hard, but I can't get rid of the guilt feeling that I am no longer giving them the full attention they once experienced when I wasn't working yet. 

Amidst of all the stress and the endless mommy duties, here's a salute and a thank you to the women who juggle their jobs and the toughest yet the best profession of all - being a mom. #Ariel #AhonPinay

This Mother’s Day, Ariel salutes these tireless working moms by celebrating them in a simple film that serves as a touching tribute. Working moms need to know how much we appreciate them for the time and effort they put into caring for their family, while working on their careers at the same time. In the constant pursuit of empowering women, Ariel wants to tell moms this mother’s day that they should never feel guilty for wanting to work. While traditionally, the role of women in society focused on the role of motherhood and being a homemaker, we believe empowered working women can also be great, loving mothers. Just because some mothers work, it does not mean they love their family any less.

In fact, Ariel knows that it’s their love for the family that fuels these women to work all day and still have the strength to be a caring mom when they return home at night. It’s why they wake up early in the morning to pack a lunch box with your favorite food, and brave the traffic at night so that they can be home in time to give you a good night kiss. It’s why they never give up when times get tough. It’s this immense love of family that makes every mom so amazing.

Thanks Ariel for such a wonderful video. It sure made me cry but this time not because of guilt, It's a reminder that a mother’s love never goes unnoticed and not because we started working doesn’t mean we stop being a great mom.

Happy Mother's Day to all Mommies out there!