Biyernes, Hulyo 31, 2015

Singaporean favorite, Cereal Prawns

Who doesn't love prawns? I myself is crazy for seafoods and that fruit of the sea we call shrimps. And I'm very fortunate I don't have what other people suffer from - shellfish allergy. 
The last time we went to Singapore, we did what Singaporeans do and we ate what Singaporeans eat. We went to Makan Sutra to experience SG's food scene and we ordered several dishes and the famous Cereal Prawns. Prawns fried with cereals. 
I yapped, hey! I'll eat the cereals with my rice? At first I thought it was an unusual pairing. But shiok! the affinity rocks. . .
The crunchiness of the cereal goes well with the juicy meat of the prawn. And there are even several ways and twist how to cook the local favorite cereal prawns dish. 
Hope to be back here again! Makan Sutra is the place where you experience eating in a bustling city picnic style, best together with friends and family. 

Linggo, Hulyo 26, 2015

High heeled warriors, NBCUniversal's unique study of women across South East Asia

NBCUniversal has conducted a study to uncover how to reach and communicate with Asian women. To determine which communicate methods and content theme work best for each market and for the five segments of women mentioned in the article. A presentation of the research was held last April 15, 2015 at NBC Tent The Fort.


 FILIPINAS DON'T JUST WATCH TV-THEY SEARCH IT.
Supplementing their favourite pastime, new research reveals that 61% of Filipinas simultaneously watch TV and look for more information about the shows they are watching.

Once considered a passive activity, Filipinas are making their TV viewing experience a more active engagement. For starters, Filipino women multitask whilst watching TV-with 65% using their smartphones and 64% on their laptops; most wanting more information on the TV show subject or the products that are advertised. 

This was one of the many fascinating insights revealed at the NBCUniversal International Television's High Heeled Warriors research presentation on women's content consumption habits.


Me and my cousin at the presentation


Whether they 'like' a brand; tweet about a tv show; follow a celebrity, post comments on a fan page or simply chat to a friend-Filipinas look to expand their TV experience via social media with 61% wanting more information on the show and 31% looking for information on the products that are advertised within the show.

"With this research , we now know how the Filipina High Heeled Warrior engages with content, her preferred formats and the various themes taht resonate," says Christine Fellowes, Managing Director, Universal Networks International, Asia-Pacific. "this information means clients can connect more deeply with the female consumers and drive even more measurable business outcomes through strategic advertising and sponsorship."
High Heeled Warriors is NBCUniversal's ground-breaking research initiative to better understand the modern Asian woman. In the latest study, the leading media and entertainment company uncovers how brands can communicate to women with content taht engages and connects with them.

65% of women in the Philippines enjoy telling friends and relatives about products taht have helped improve their lives. Not only do they trust their friends' endorsements, 63% of Filipinas' purchase decisions are strongly affected by celebrity testimonials.

Celebrities and stars-whether loal or from Hollywood-are highly popular with Filipina audiences. Some of the personalities that have been frequently mentioned in the survey responses include Angelina Jolie, Jennifer Lopez, Beyonce, kim Kardashian, Lea Salonga, Sarah Geronimo and Ruffa
Gutierrez.
 


Filipinas' obsession with celebrities is highly highlighted by their TV content consumption, with 51% tuning into celebrity news. Other genres and themes htaht are popular include cooking (67%); reality shows (54%) and fashion makeovers (50%).

Filipinas are also South East Asia's biggest fans of US programming, with 85% watching US shows. They like TV characters taht embody success, career-mindedness, ambition and independence, while having a strong sense of community at the same time. Fictional females such as JJ Jareau on Universal Channel's Criminal Minds, Jessica Pearson and Rachel Zane of DIVA's Suits, Detective Olivia Benson from DIVA's Law & Order: SVU and Alicia Florrick from DIVA's The Good Wife resonate women in the Philippines. #



Why are High Heeled Warriors important to the advertiser?

1. Women dominate spending in many consumer product categories.
2. Women represent a massive oppurtunity for classically "male" industries to reach a new target audience and reinvigorate flat businesses.
3. Women control USD 20 trillion in annual consumer spending and will rise to $28 Trillion in the next 5 years. Sorce: "what Women Want," Boston Consulting Group.
4. 1 billion women participate in the workforce globally and will grow to 1.2 billion in the next 5 years. Source: "The Female Economy," Harvard Business Review
5. Women are making or influencing 80% of all purchase decisions, including 60% of traditional male products (e.g. automobiles, banking and financial products and consumer electronics)
6. ASEAN has a greater percentage of women in senior management roles at 32% versus the global average of 21%. Grant Thornton 2014 Report.



ABOUT HIGH HEELED WARRIORS

High Heeled Warriors 2015, conducted in partnership with research firm Ipsos, is designed to better understand what makes female Pay-TV audiences tick. The study explores media consumption, and  otivations that influence the choices they make. The latest research was conducted through online quantitative surveys and qualitative focus groups with more than 3,000 female Pay-TV subscribers aged 20 to 44 across Malayia, Singapore, The Philippines, Indonesia and Hong Kong.

High Heeled Warriors was first launched in 2011, when NBCUniversal made the strategic decision to identify its female audience. This analysis was the first step to understanding the complexity of the modern Asia women who is keeping up with the expectations as a wife, a mother or a daughter, whilst having opportunities in education and her career but not sacrificing her sense of style... or the latest handbag.

The first phase of High Heeled Warriors revealed the Filipino woman is confident, optimistic, adventurous to the point of being a risk-taker, and has a strong sense of self-identity, yet accepts societal norms. The second phase in 2013 took pay-TV viewers from the Philippines, (as well as Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia and Hongkong) and classified them into five distinct segments-ambitious Trailblazers, organized Peacekeepers, spontaneous Passionistas, loyal Heartwarmers and optimistic Social-siders- according to consumer preferences and key advertising categories. The research data identified the benefits of targeting a distinct audience based on factors that are more sophisticated than demographics. 


Note: This is a Press Release and the article and the contents are not mine 

Tips and cups | it's never too late for a Latte

I wish I could get a stellar career and get paid by just eating out and finding the best resto and cafe in town. A work that includes a lot of travel and eating, where can I find such? Anyways, here's another cool cafe discovery we had.
Downtown about three (3) blocks away from my house is Tips and Cups, a spa salon cum cafe. We hadn't much time to spend for pampering so we just opted to eat. We were the only visitors that time of the day, which was just perfect. I don't like too much crowd, especially in cafes.
The walls of the cafe are decorated with funny quotes relating to the love for coffee
The place is small but homey and the staff were happy to serve
I couldn't decide what to order so I asked the cashier if what's their bestseller. She recommended with gullibility we try their 'spicy tinapa pasta'. This made me cringe, for I hate 'tinapa' aka smoked fish. The smell of it makes me nauseous and I just couldn't eat it.

DEPRESSO: That feeling you get when you've run out of coffee!
I still gave it a try. And my decision didn't fail me. I love how the pasta was cooked with olive oil and flakes of tinapa made less smelly with the spices. It was just like eating pasta with sardines and olive oil. Thumbs up for this dish, imma try this at home.

Sabado, Hulyo 25, 2015

Holidaying at The Manor hotel

It's always a good time whenever the season dictates a halting from general business activity. There are actually times in the life of a working person where too much work builds up pressure that could lead to anxiety. Bizarre instances happen like catching yourself completely zoned out staring into space as if you're on a bad LSD trip. And the PH government wouldn't even increase the number of employee leave in the country. If I become the president, I would impose a mandatory vacation leave with allowance and paid two-way ticket for every Filipinos :P . Such reverie! I'm jealous of the government employees paid to travel for seminars and whatever.
So even if I was able to plunge and pamper away from work, it annoys me how I have to spend money just to get the vacation I want. 

Anyways, every penny spent at The Manor was worth it. The place was terrific, the weather was fine and inviting with the smell of pine trees around reminding you of your escape from the crowded manila, and our room was fresh and perfectly themed for Christmas vacation.
It was even exhilarating opening your windows in the morning with such great sight of greens and earth browns greeting you.
And I could just stare out the window at night appreciating the yellow pinkish sky slowly turning to blueish grey.
My weakness, i can't iron my clothes :( I just don't know the proper way how to

That fireplace adds magic to the night.
Chocos and nuts as complimentary welcome
the manor
Peanut brittle and chocos
Snack bar
Shower Room
Coffee and Tea set
Fresh towels and clean toilet
the manor
Snacks from Le Chef
This the Season to be jolly

Please excuse my blotches. I've been from a deep stress 

This isn't Dusit Thani.
Toiletries that look so neat
baguio
I like my bathroom door
The earth color of the room was just too awesome
At the dining area of The Manor
camp john hay
Strolling around Camp John Hay
camp john hay
Coffee in bed in the morning!
Once you're back at work, it's going to be hard recovering from holidays. It would be another spending of time in your head reliving your past vacations.

Racks' spring chicken

My best friend just arrived from abroad. And we did what we used to do everytime we're together, we eat dinner and have yogurt after.
We ended up eating at racks and tried their spring chicken on promo for php 599 only. It comes with two (2) side dishes and I chose fries while she opted for mac n cheese.
Racks' spring chicken cooked to tenderness by fire. The flavor and the smell are savory we couldn't help but order for a plate of rice.
                       We ate well 
After dinner we went to fullybooked to buy her favorite yogurt at White Hat


Chili con carne @ Wendy's

So everytime I visit The sandwich Guy, the chili con carne potato is always out of stock. Good thing Wendy's has chili con carne potato which tastes sooo good I can eat this for dinner like every day.

Kung Papaano ako Naging Leading Lady 'The Musical'

My cousin invited me to watch a musical which I first declined. I am not really into drama plays and musical, wayback in college though I admire my school mates who act and sing live on drama stage like professional Miss Saigon casts.

Before the start of the show, there was a little pica-pica serviced by Antel's Granvia Cafe
I like their cream puff with tuna filling

My free seat was at the top far away from the stage but the performers maximize the whole place and I was able to watch them clearly and avidly from afar.
Me and my cousin
I was wowed at how powerful the voices of the casts were. There is humor and sense with the storyline that never bored the viewers.

The stage at Greenbelt is big enough. Although the lights are limited, the music added emphasis to the emotions and portrayal of the performers.
The talented performers gathered for question and answer forum and interview after their remarkable show


MARK YOUR CALENDARS!  Here are their show dates and times for the re-run of "Kung Paano Ako Naging Leading Lady The Musical". Pumili na ng date and book your tickets! Just call TicketWorld at 891-9999 or visit https://www.ticketworld.com.ph/online/kpanllonstage