Kadayawan Art Exhibit at Marco Polo Davao

It's Kadayawan season once again, one of the busiest time of the year in Davao City. Most of the establishments in the city have their own promotions or activities to make the city more festive. Marco Polo Hotel, one of the leading hotels in the heart of Davao has recently launched its Art Exhibit showcasing the best of Davao - from captivating photos, colorful and unique dresses, and arts and crafts which will make you more proud of Davao.

Ribbon Cutting. From L-R Marco Polo Davao's General Manager Dottie Wurgler-Cronin, EmiEnglis of PWC, Anthony Serafin of CCD, Carmela Alcantara of Crystal Seas, and Vernie Bacalso of Green Style Landscape

Josef Ledesma, the hotel's Marketing and Communications Manager said, "We would like to thank the Camera Club of Davao (CCD) for providing us with the photos that best represents Davao City's rich culture and heritage, abundant natural resources, and dishes that are distinctively Davao. Colours Digital Foto, a Cebu based company that has been offering a wide range of photo & video cameras for over 25 years, also supported us with the printing of the photos. Colours opened their first branch in Davao City last year at the 3rd level of Abreeza Mall. Crystal Seas, a manufacturer of handwoven and hand crafted products, has also contributed by providing their fashionable items for display. Without them, this exhibit won't be made possible."

Some of the Exhibits from Crystal Seas

The exhibit was co-organized with the Camera Club of Davao, Colours Digital Foto and Crystal Seas. It was attended by people from the traditional and new media, representatives from its co-organizers and co sponsors.

Members of the Camera Club of Davao

So, what are you waiting for? Visit Marco Polo Hotel, the heart of Davao and be amazed and proud of its colorful exhibit at the lobby area. 

Philippine Eagle Pamana Shot Dead

In a phone interview on ANC, Dennis Salvador, Philippine Eagle Center's Director confirmed that Pamana was found dead on August 16, 2015.

Pamana which means heritage, arrived in Philippine Eagle Center in April 2012 with a gunshot wound. It was taken cared of by the center's staff for over 3 years until its release in 2015.

Pamana was found just about a kilometer away from the release site in Sitio Tomalite, Barangay La Union, San Isidro, Davao Oriental.

PLDT HOME fortifies leadership in fixed broadband

Leading home digital services provider PLDT HOME has strengthened its leadership in fixed broadband with a commanding market share of over 70% in the first half of the year as it boosted its broadband service with an array of digital services.

 

PLDT EVP and Head of Consumer Business Group Ariel P. Fermin

Total PLDT HOME fixed broadband customers grew by 15% as of end-June, adding two times more subscribers than competition in the second quarter of the year. Revenue is seen to further grow with the aggressive push of high-end Fibr plans.

“PLDT HOME’s fixed broadband has continuously maintained its industry leadership with its significant array of new digital services and compelling content, providing entertainment to customers  everywhere, whether they are at home or away from home,” said PLDT EVP and Head of Consumer Business Group Ariel P. Fermin.

PLDT is the first telco to offer Quadplay in the country. It is the innovative bundling offer where mobile services are packaged with voice, data, and cable television, providing connectivity everywhere. Fitch industry research unit, BMI Research, said in a recent report that the quadplay service will potentially boost PLDT revenues.

“With Quadplay, we are once more leveraging our integrated approach to connectivity as our data, voice, and Cignal over fiber services are packaged with a mobile bundle. This further solidifies our leadership in the broadband market,” Fermin pointed out.

“The quadplay service will reinforce the trusted benefits of PLDT HOME brands. With this offer, we will be able to offer our customers a one-stop shop for all their communications and multimedia needs, enabling them to experience a richer digital lifestyle,” he added.

PLDT HOME has also beefed up its content by partnering with global providers. One of the content partnerships launched in the second quarter of 2015 was with iflix, Southeast Asia’s leading Internet TV service with more than 11,000 hours of top shows and movies from the best content providers around the world, including top Hollywood, European, Asian, and even local studios. Another recently-launched partnership was with Fox International Channels, a global entertainment company and Asia Pacific’s leading broadcaster. This content partnership provides PLDT HOME and Smart subscribers with subscription video-on-demand (SVOD), as well as live shows and catch-up television on the various Fox channels.

“With this exclusive partnership with iflix, PLDT HOME and Smart subscribers can now enjoy unlimited entertainment wherever they are across the broadest range of devices – from smartphones, tablets, laptops, desktop computers, to TV screens – at a very low price, starting at P99 per month,” Fermin said. “We are also delighted to deliver a wide range of educational, sports, lifestyle, and movie content from Fox that will suit the entertainment wants and needs of our customers whenever and wherever they are.”

PLDT’s robust fixed and wireless networks enable the delivery of new services that meet the digital lifestyle needs of its subscribers. This is supported by the country’s most expansive fiber optic network, spanning more than 100,000 kilometers. 

Press Release: Team Japan Wins Cebu Pacific’s #CEBjuanderers Challenge 2015!

Manila, 12 August 2015 –Cebu Pacific Air (PSE:CEB), the Philippines’ largest airline,concluded its first #CEBjuanderers Challenge, with bloggers from Japan emerging as the winners.

The CEBjuanderers in Boracay (from left to right):Sun Yang, Liao Xirong, Jean Carmela, Stefanie AcworthHidekazu Tanaka, Ikuma Nakagawa, Irene and Pen-nel.

Ikuma Nakagawa and Hidekazu Tanaka from Team Japan competed against teams of two bloggers each from Korea, China and Australia, and ranked the highest in special fun challenges held in the Philippines’ top tourist destinations.

Organised in partnership with the Philippine Tourism Promotions Board, the #CEBJuanderers competed in a series of surprise challenges from 1 to 7 August 2015. They flew on trapezes in Manila and cooked up a feast in Palawan.They participated in energetic dance-offs in Cebu and adrenaline-pumping ziplines and sky cycles in Davao. The challenge ended on the white sandy beaches of Boracay where the #CEBJuanderers had a ball of a time playing football. They also took part in a Fan’s Choice bartendingchallenge, as voted by Cebu Pacific’s Facebook fans.

Apart from the challenges, they also toured the Puerto Princesa Underground River, one of the New7Wonders of Nature, and went island hopping in Boracay.

“I can’t believe we did so much in just seven days, you don’t feel tired when you’re having so much fun and making wonderful memories! I’ll never forget the wonderful hospitality of the Philippine people and my time as a CEB Juanderer. The challenges were so much fun, and I can’t wait to come back to Philippines again as Team Japan won! The Philippines is a great undiscovered travel destination that all Japanese should explore!” said Ikuma Nakagawa.

“Over the past week I have found the Philippines to be wonderful place, which is now very close to my heart. The country is full of beautiful natural sights as well as warm and welcoming people. It was wonderful to meet all my fellow CEB Juanderers and I would like to thank everyone who helped us along the way” said Hidekazu Tanaka.

“It was fantastic to see all the fun and excitement of the Philippines captured through the eyes of the Juanderers. We hope that as more people see what an incredible time they had, they would be also be inspired to create their own adventures and ‘Juander’ across the Philippines with Cebu Pacific’s excellent domestic and international network,” said CEB VP for Marketing and Distribution Candice Iyog.

Each member of the winning team received an all-expense paid holiday to any destination in the Philippines for two people, inclusive of flights, two nights hotel accommodation and USD300 travel allowance.All Juanderers will also be holding “The #CEBjuanderers Fans’ Photo Contest” on their social media platforms, where their fans back home will stand a chance to win a pair of return tickets to a direct destination in the Philippines.

(From left to right): Blessie Cruz. Director for Advertising and Promotions at Cebu Air Pacific Air, Ikuma Nakagawa and Hidekazu Tanakawinners of the #CEBjuanderer Challenge 2015, and Ramon de Veyra Jr. Officer-in-Charge, North Asia Division, International Promotions Department, Tourism Promotions Board Philippines.

Check out more photos and videos of the challenge by following the hashtag #CEBjuanderers on various social media platforms including their personal blogs, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Weibo accounts.

DCLA Opens New Store in Davao City

Have you ever wondered what DCLA means? Mr. Frank Yu, a friend of DCLA's owner and CEO Mr. Michael Yang has shared the beginnings of DCLA during a press interview at the opening of the new DCLA Bangoy. Yu said that DCLA started in 2003 as a small company. Later on, Mr. Yang has partnered with businessmen in Manila and formed a corporation. DCLA stands for Davao City Los Amigos.

Since its formation, DCLA has continued to expand with branches in Toril, Digos City, Kidapawan City and as far as Cagayan de Oro City. Yu also shared the acquisition of Lachmi which will be operated by DCLA within this year.

According to Mr. Troy Viray, DCLA's HR Supervisor, the new DCLA Bangoy expects a revenue of around P200,000 per month this year. The store has around 80 stalls in total. The second floor is fully owned by DCLA while half of the stalls in the ground are sub-leased.

Authentic Indian Cuisine at Curry Express Davao

Are you looking for something new to your palate? I Love Davao recommends Curry Express, a hole-in-the-wall restaurant located at Circumferential Road, Davao City. Have a taste of their savory, hot and spicy authentic Indian dishes at very affordable prices.

Curry Express is relatively a small restaurant. There is nothing fancy about the place but if you like Indian dishes, you will not be disappointed. It serves not just curry but a whole lot of Indian dishes like masala, biryani, samosa, chapatti to name a few.

Davao Bloggers were lucky enough to be invited by the owner to try their best-sellers. Some of my favorites were their chicken curry, chili chicken and chicken 65. They’re just perfect for my taste buds. If you love spicy food, I’m sure you’ll love it too.

Here’s a glimpse of the food that we tried to give you an idea what Curry Express has in their menu.

Express Chicken Curry. Chicken Curry is ne of the most popular Indian dishes that Filipinos love. Their version is more on the hot & spicy side prepared with authentic Indian spices. Definitely a must-try when you eat at Curry Express. I love to pair it with their Chapati. It's a perfect match!

Chili Chicken. Another favorite dish at the restaurant is their Chili Chicken. It's basically India's version of sweet and spicy chicken with a little twist as there are other spices in it.

Chicken 65. If you love spicy food like myself, this one is for you. Otherwise, stay away from this dish. It's extra hot and spicy deep fried chicken. The dish originated from the south Indian city of Chennai. The name was derived from the year it was introduced which was in 1965. 

Shrimp Biryani. Made from a long grain Basmati rice, Curry Express' biryani is also a must-try if you want to taste a food which represents India. It's usually mixed with chicken but can also be mixed with seafood and other meat.

Shrimp Masala / Potato Masala . Masala is the Indian term for spice blend. The Shrimp Masala has the right amount of Indian spices which make it tastes good.The Potato Masala on the other hand was also cooked perfectly with the right tenderness and spiciness. 

Aloo Bonda. Aloo Bonda is a traditional Indian deep fried potato balls made with spicy potato mix. It's crispy on the outside and soft inside.

Chapati. Also known as roti, Chapati is an Indian flatbread. It's a common staple in South Asian countries of  India, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Bangladesh and Pakistan. Again, pair this with chicken curry for a satisfying gastronomic experience.

Curry Express Indian Restaurant

Dona Vicenta Village, Circumferential Road, Davao City

(beside Sea Green Cafe and Lifestyle Shop)

Phone (082) 324-6946

Open daily from 8 AM to 10:30 PM

Cafe Asia Dimsum House Launches New Menu Items

One of Davao's Asian Restaurants, Cafe Asia has recently introduced new items on their menu. Known for its delectable Asian cuisine, the restaurant has came up with new dishes that will surely entice the palate of Asian food lovers in Davao City.

During the food tasting with members of the Davao Bloggers Society, Cafe Asia has prepared most of their new dishes for us to sample. It was definitely a night of good food. One of my favorites aside from their dumplings is their Tom Yam Goong or Spicy Prawn Soup. For me, it tastes perfect with the right sourness and sweetness from the fresh tamarind used in making the soup.

Tom Yam Goong | Photo by Ria Jose of www.kusinamaria.com

Aside from Tom Yam Goong, other items from their Thai Kitchen are Appetizer Platter (Por Pia / Tod Mun Goong / Gai Hor Bai Toy / Nua Thod Jim Jaew), Pomelo Thai Salad (Yam Som-o), Thai Fried Rice (Khao Phad See-iew Goon Chiang), Thai Spareribs with Sesame Seeds (See Krong Moo Jim Jaew), and Crispy Minced Fish with Mango Salad (Yam Pla Foo).

From their dimsum menu, a lot of dishes from appetizer to dessert were also added. Some of my my favorites are Pork and Shrimp Dumpling, Shaomai, Chicken Feet in Tausi, Fried Wanton, Ravioli, Steamed Seafood Rolls and their Crispy Chinese Tikoy for dessert.

It was indeed a feast!

Cafe Asia Dimsum House Menu

Cafe Asia Dimsum House

Address: Metrolifestyle Complex, F. Torres St., 8000 Davao City

Tel: (082)300-5245

Facebook Page: Cafe Asia

Win Exciting Prizes with Great Taste White's Choose Great, Win Great Promo

Great Taste White is bringing another promo which will give a total of P27 million worth of prizes. Choose Great Win Great is the company’s biggest promo to date.

The promo will have four regional draws in five specified areas: Greater Manila Area (GMA), North Luzon, South Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao. For every regional draw, there will be one lucky winner of P200,000 and one winner of P100,000 in each area. Another two winners will have their own Macbook Air, four winners will take home a white iPhone 6, and 6 winners will receive a white iPad Mini.

As for the grand prize, one lucky winner will get P3 million pesos in cash and eight others will get to own a white Toyota Vios 1.3 E M/T. All prizes are tax free, so you’ll get to bring home the full amount of your winning prize.

The Great Taste White : Choose Great, Win Great Promo is open to all Filipino residents 18 years old and above. It’s easy to join the promo. You just have to collect fiveempty sachets of any Great Taste White variant (Smooth & Creamy, Smooth & Creamy Sugarfree, Smooth Caramelly, and Smooth Chocolatey) or one empty BigSAVE Pack. The empty sachets must be put in a white envelope with a piece of paper containing your complete name, birth date, current mailing address, mobile or landline number, store outlet where the product is purchased, and email address.  Entries can be dropped at drop boxes located in participating stores, supermarkets and outlets nationwide.

Promo period is from August 2 to September 18, 2015.

Davao Bloggers at the Media Launch of Choose Great, Win Great Promo at the Marco Polo Hotel

What are you waiting for? Collect those empty sachets and join Great Taste White’s Choose Great, Win Great Promo!

Affordable BBQ Dishes at Bulgogi Brothers

Good news to all bulgogi lovers! Bulgogi Brothers, The Bistro Group's fun Korean restaurant, popular for its authentic and delectable Korean cuisine brings you something to please both your palate and pocket with its new selection of reasonably-priced prime-quality meats with serving just about right for two people.

Bulgogi Brothers' new prices make dining at the restaurant more enticing, featuring a full menu of Smokin' Korean BBQ entrees that have been re-portioned to make it more available to a much wider market of Korean food-loving diners. The good news is, these dishes actually use the same top quality meats the restaurant is known for. So, you will really get good value of your money.

To give you an example of the new pricing, its Premium Rib Eye and Boneless Short Ribs platter is now priced at only P995. If customers want only rib eye or short ribs, they can order one of each at only P595 per portion.

Premium Rib Eye and Boneless Short Ribs

Bulgogi Brothers' special deal also extends to the restaurants signature dishes such as the Unyang Style Bulgogi, a famous and tasty dish traditionally served in Korean royal court which is now priced at only P495; Bulgogi Brothers' Special, an assortment of seasoned and perfectly marbled bulgogi for only P695; and Seoul Style Bulgogi, sliced beef noodles and vegetables simmered in a flavorful broth for only P425.

Bulgogi Brothers' Special

Seoul Style Bulgogi

Unyang Style Bulgogi

You may also try other equally sumptuous Korean dishes such as Beef Brisket (P445), Beef Belly BBQ (P425), Beef and Mushroom Bulgogi (P495), Pork Bulgogi (P395), Pork Belly (P425) and Korean Pork Ribs (P425). As a Koren tradition, all Korean barbecue dishes are served with a variety of kimchi, dipping sauces, and fresh lettuce to make delicious wraps.

Beef and Mushroom Bulgogi

Beef Belly BBQ

Beef Brisket 

Pork Belly

Bulgogi Brothers Davao is located at 2/L Fountain Court, SM Lanang Premier. To know more about them and their latest promos, you may follow them on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter at @BulgogiBrosPH or check their website at www.bulgogibros.com.ph.

Pad Thai At Asian Side WOK

When it comes to Pad Thai, I always have high standards because I know how the authentic pad thai tastes like and I know how to make one. When I saw on facebook that there is a new Asian Restaurant in the city that serves pad that, I really got excited. So today, I tried their pad thai and I can say it was relatively good although my version is pretty much way better.

The Food

The serving is generous enough for 1 person for the price of P149.00. The presentation is rather simple. Instead of using the usual lime, they use kalamansi so you can feel the difference in the taste. The rice noodles are a little bit thinner than the regular rice noodles I normally have for my pad thai. The taste as I mentioned earlier is relatively good and it's worth a try.

The Location

Asian Side WOK is located in Circumferential Road in between Mercury Drugstore and Rumah Kari. This area is becoming an interesting food strip in the city. It is a small self-service restaurant with only about 5 tables which can comfortably accommodate about a dozen people eating at the same time. The kitchen sits in front of the dining area so be prepared for the smell to stick in your clothes after you dine. They are open from 11AM to 10PM Monday through Saturday. 

Verdict

This is definitely something worth a try. I think there are other a lot of interesting dishes in their menu. I would love to try their laksa, tom yum and rendang in my next visit. Here's a copy of their menu in case you are interested to know what type of food they offer and the price.