Starbucks Doubleshot Espresso and Bottled Frappuccino

Now available in your nearest Starbucks Philippines store, is the Starbucks Doubleshot Espresso Drink. Starbucks introduced the delicious intensity of rich espresso mellowed by a touch of cream. "Starbucks Doubleshot® is a convenient, bold, authentic Starbucks coffee experience. Take it with you. Enjoy its concentrated flavor; plus the high quality and premium espresso experience you expect from Starbucks whenever and wherever you want it." It comes in a 6.5 ounce can, which is best served chilled. "No mess, no fuss." It tastes really good. It's not that strong, but gives you that kick to start a busy day and get you going.

Other two new addition to the display are the Mocha and Vanilla Starbucks Bottled Frappuccino. It is made of sweet, creamy, and low-fat blend of Starbucks coffee and milk in every bottle. It is for me a perfect buddy when you are on the go! Of course, it is best served chilled.

Thank you to Starbucks Philippines for the samples and the photo.

"Bite Into The Better Network" campaign of SMART Communications

Derek Ramsay, Anne Curtis and apl.de.ap have one thing in common. They are connected with the better network - SMART. Together with Ramon Bautista, Luis Manzano and Cristalle Belo, they invite you to live more and bite into the better network. Watch out for this!!! :)

New Nescafe Dolce Gusto Machines: Genio and Melody 3

No mess, no fuss, and a perfect cup every time. This is the promise of the two new machines that NESCAFÉ Dolce Gusto brings to the market this November. The all-new automatic machines brew the right cup for you all in just one click – so pop, lock, and drop away without the wait.

Introducing the new additions, the Genio and the Melody 3, which come in compact, modern, and smart designs. What makes the two stand out, apart from the obvious stylish touch, are their automated preparation of drinks through the Flowstop Technology, which lets you get the perfect cup each and every time. They come with a selection wheel and a built-in LED that recommend the dosage to make the perfect drink.

The Genio looks like a hybrid of the classic Piccolo machine, only smarter and equipped with Flowstop Technology. The only tasks you have to take control of are turning it on, filling up the water tank, deciding the flavor you like to brew, inputting the recommended dosage, and you can leave the rest of the work to this genius.

Similar to a coffeehouse machines, the Genio has a 15-bar pressure system equipped to provide you with a foamy froth, rich créma, and a delectable flavor. Believe it or not, this machine just knows how to please any coffee drinker.

The first and the original Melody machine comes even more alive with its 3rd generation. The Melody 3 has evolved from its classical look into a more sophisticated machine. It is definitely eye-candy on the kitchen worktop, or on any office station with its sleek curves. Similar to the Genio, it has 15 bars of pressure, which is ideal to brew your steaming cup of espresso.

These NESCAFÉ Dolce Gusto machines can handle both hot and cold drinks, but for those who like it hot, these machines come with the exclusive Thermoblock Technology, which heats water fresh every time, in less than a minute. They also let you save energy with its automatic switch-off feature.

Don’t feel a little less powerful though, because you can still maneuver the machine. It allows you to take control as you scroll the selection wheel to customize the coffee strength and mixture. This works best for multi-capsule drinkers who like switching from coffee, tea, to chocolate drinks. So go on and experiment with the strength, just like a boss.

Now giving you a wider selection to meet your high-quality coffee needs, NESCAFÉ Dolce Gusto gives you four machine variations that meet the requirement of providing the closest thing to a barista-brewed drinks. The brand has been innovative with its selection of 9 capsule flavors, and now offering the market with new machine options.

El Nido Palawan's Newest Eco-Luxury Resort, Pangulasian Island, now opens

Last October 15, the Philippines’ newest premier eco-luxury resort, Pangulasian Island in El Nido, Palawan officially welcomed its first guests to its shores, a Taiwanese couple, who were given a grand El Nido Resorts reception by the resort staff, headed by Pangulasian Island’s resident manager Lei Policarpio.



Pangulasian features 42 deluxe villas, which shares a pristine beach almost a kilometer long. It has a swimming pool, gym, spa, resort center with restaurant, library, boutique and a conference room, among other facilities and activities.

Take a dip at Pangulasian's Swimming Pool

The resort mixes contemporary Filipino and cutting edge “green” design with luxurious amenities and impeccable and personalized service, which makes it the ultimate eco-luxury destination in the Philippines.

The Taiwanese couple who were on their honeymoon stayed in Pangulasian for two nights, while the rest of their 8 days stay was split on Lagen Island and Miniloc Island in El Nido, two of the four island resort properties of El Nido Resorts; the last being Apulit Island in Taytay.

Lei Policarpio leading the couple to the resorts center

The Taiwanese couple meets their personal butler :)

El Nido Resorts now maintains and operates four island resorts in El Nido and Taytay, Palawan, with sustainability and eco-tourism as its thrust, putting a premium on integrating the protection and preservation of the environment, and the beauty of Palawan, with modern facilities, technology, and luxury.

Pangulasian Island resort staff with a grand El Nido Resorts welcome.

For inquiries about Pangulasian Island and El Nido Resorts, give them a call at +63 (2) 813 0000 or email them at holiday@elnidoresorts.com. You may also visit their website at http://www.elnidoresorts.com/ or their Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/elnidoresorts

Sharks are friends, not food: An Anti-Shark's Fin Soap

This Monday, October 15, LUSH Handmade Cosmetics will launch the limited edition Anti-Shark Fin Soap for the benefit of Save Philippine Seas (SPS), an independent movement that aims to establish a shark sanctuary in the Visayan Seas, among other Philippine marine conservation efforts.

The Anti-Shark Fin Soap is made of seaweed and sea salt. It is marked with a paper fin on top to highlight the animal’s most distinct feature.

Approximately 70-100 million sharks are killed each year for their meat, oil, cartilage, and fins. Shark fishing is a lucrative industry, fueled by the high demand for shark’s fin soup in many countries. Populations of many shark species have fallen by over 90%. It is unknown to many that sharks, as the apex of the marine ecosystem, have among the highest levels of toxic mercury found in fish. This can cause male sterility and extensive damage to the nervous system and fetuses.

In addition to its potential health hazards, the high consumption of shark’s fin soup and shark meat has alarming implications to the environment. As the top predators of the sea, sharks play an important role in regulating all the species in the marine ecosystem. The loss of sharks can cause the entire marine ecosystem and biodiversity to collapse.

Shark fishing is being done in coastal areas in the Philippines. The only shark species protected by national law is the whale shark, or butanding.

SPS and LUSH are gathering an ideal set of champions to make a stand for marine conservation and against the shark finning and fishing industry. SPS invites public participation in this campaign by holding a photo shoot on the day of the launch, October 15, 2012 from 10AM-7PM at the Shangri-La branch of LUSH.

The pictorial will be conducted by SPS. All photos will be digitally edited to have a unifying design. The tagline for this campaign is, “Sharks are friends, not food.”

Supporters are also encouraged to write letters to leaders using the “Sharks are friends, not food” postcards.