June 6th, 2011 — Affairs, Promos / Events, Top Commenters of the Month
It’s a little late but hey, we’re still fulfilling the promise. Here are the top commenters for the months of January, February and March 2011
Congratulations to January top commenter Mona of “eyesonmanila.blogspot.comâ€, February winner Lariza Garcia (link not provided), and Jared’s Mum of “jaredslittlecorneroftheworld.blogspot.com” for March (top commenters can only win once each quarter so we picked the 2nd placer for March).
May 27th, 2011 — Affairs, Mandaluyong, Promos / Events, SM Megamall
SM Supermarket Invitation
SM Supermarket Megamall A Opened May 26
Although public access was slated at 4pm, some suppliers, partners, media, and guests were able to take a first look at the store as early as 11am preceded by a 10am mass.
The program started with the traditional ribbon cutting and coin-toss by SM and SM Supermarket executives.
Upon entry, all the guests immediately spread around like new homeowners eagerly surveying a household. I did the same checking out the different products and brands on shelf.
Isabel Daza with SM Executives
SM executives, and celebrity guests including Gloria Diaz’s daughter – Isabel Daza – went straight to the Fresh Seafood section.
Cashiers & Crews Getting Ready
Believe it or not, there was a few years not too long ago, when I took care of our household monthly grocery and SM Megamall and SM North Edsa were my two favorite grocery spots for its wide variety of products and options available. Here are some shots of our well-loved products and brands I found in my quick tour:
Cheeses and Fresh Fruits
SM Value Packs with FREE SM Bonus item and Procter & Gamble’s Pampers
Oishi Snacks and Tang Powdered Juice
Magnolia Ice Cream in SM Supermarket (they gave away Pinipig Crunch sweet corn flavor)
Fresh Meats
Cold Cuts and the new Century Tuna Hotdog
Bounty Fresh (right) and canned goods such as Hunt’s (left)
Unilab medicines conveniently located inside the grocery
And there’s also Watsons (left photo) !
Home of Your Favorite Brands
Here are photos of some SM executives, guests, partners, and suppliers in the celebration :
Ms. Annie Garcia (2nd from right) – SM Supermalls President; Ms. Mitch So (in red dress)
(Left photo) Chef Tristan who did a cooking demo. (Right photo) From left: Ms. Ana May Jamet; Ms. Christy Schneck, SM Advantage-Marketing Convergence, Inc.; Mr. Hendrik Sy; Ms. Isabel Daza.
Center: Ms. Millie Dizon (VP for Marketing-SM Retail); Left: Ms. Leah Lee – AVP Fresh Merchandising – SM Supermarket; Ms. Louie Roque, VP Marketing – SM Supermarket.
SM Officers and Partners with Mr. Herbert T. Sy, president of SM Food Group (third from right).
I had the same question which the brand manager readily answered: “Ortigas is a good market and we saw the opportunity to serve more people in the area.”
SM Supermarket Team ( + Ms. Leia Lee – not in photo)
Being a regular customer in Megamall B, I would estimate the place to be almost of the same size. Almost all that can be found from Megamall B can also be found here. I observed however that SM Supermarket Megamall A has a prominent positioning for fresh products which are located at the central isle including fruits, salads, and vegetables.
SM Supermarket Megamall A presents a new gourmet concept offering a wide selection of fresh gourmet products and deli such as cheese, sausages. mushrooms, greens, and wine. This is in addition to the usual fruits, vegetables , and steaks we regularly find in groceries and supermarkets. So I guess its a ‘fresh‘ haven for the health buffs, deli lovers, and chefs / cooks who are always on a sprawl for hard- to-find recipe ingredients.
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Some interesting sections of SM Megamall A grocery include:
SM Supermarket International Products
Giant Shopping Cart with Unilever’s Clear Shampoo (I think this was in preparation for Piolo Pascual’s arrival 4pm that day)
Giant Fish Catch (Tanigue Steak P440/kg)
A New Cleaner Look for SM Supermarket Food Stalls
Maki and Sushi Section (Mariano Cua on left, owner of Cold Storage Seafood)
Appliance Section in SM Supermarket (Hypermarket, is that you?) 🙂
There’s also a Lotto outlet beside the Package Counter. 🙂 I also chanced upon for the first time on a mist supply system set up for the vegetables.
Mist for Vegetables (Do you see the blurry lights? It’s not smoke, it’s mist being sprayed from atop)
As mentioned above, the new supermarket space was extended further. It now spans up to the old spot of Toy Kingdom in front of Gonuts Donuts. This is also its main entrance which serves the customers coming from the Ortigas-Pasig business district side. Having worked along ADB Avenue in the early 2000s, I know that this is a great convenience. One does not have to cross Julia Vargas Rd and walk all the way to SM Supermarket at the other end of Megamall B.
Main Entrance (Old Toy Kingdom Entrance fronting Gonuts Donuts)
The second entrance is from the old Powerbooks store beside Yoshinoya. This serves in-mall customer access into the supermarket.
Mall Entrance (Yoshinoya-Powerbooks)
The third entrance would be from outside of the mall – Edsa. This is another convenience, this time for those coming from the MRT train system.
From MRT Side Entrance
Looking around further, I just hoped there would be more CR (comfort rooms/toilet) in their future developments as I only found one unisex comfort room (at the opposite end, far from the Powerbooks-Yoshinoya entrance). Alternative CRs would be the one on the second floor right above Yoshinoya or at the lower ground floor inside the bowling station,
SM Mini Cupcakes 🙂
In my personal view, the Megamall A corner has a good business vantage point for SM Supermarket specially for the after-office working class who’s on their way home from the Ortigas business center going to the MRT. Moreover, a transport terminal connecting various Metro Manila cities is located right behind Building A as well.
May 22nd, 2011 — Affairs, Promos / Events
OpenRice Philippines
OpenRice Philippines is an online dining guide which provides reviews and ratings from registered Openricers. Openrice was first founded in Hong Kong in 1999 and late last year, the Philippines launched Openrice.com.ph.
OpenRice Philippines provides a convenient platform to search for restaurant options complete with the restaurant profile, reviews from registered Openricers, photos, etc. It is also a venue for foodies like us to share our views and opinions on restaurants that we’ve visited.
All reviews submitted at the Openrice Philippines website are moderated and approved by the staff. This is to ensure that no spammy or malicious reviews will be posted. On a restaurateurs’ point of view, Openrice provides demographics of their customers and thus they can further improve their services. Also, it is an opportunity for them to promote their businesses and to interact with their customers.
Last May 18, 2011, OpenRice Philippines held its first mini eyeball with their top OpenRicers. We were treated to a burpilicious lunch at Chelsea restaurant at The Poduim. It was an intimate but fun luncheon meet up where the staff finally touch based with their star viewers and raters.
They also hold contests and promos from time to time to keep Openricers interested and inspired to submit restaurant reviews.
Chelsea Restaurant at The Podium
Some of the OpenRicers present were awarded with gadgets such as Blackberry, Flip, etc. for being the top raters and for winning OpenRice contests.
I invite everyone to register at www.openrice.com.ph and win awesome prizes when you SHOOT, EAT & WRITE at OpenRice!
This is your resident NomNomClub writer, Renz Alcantara saying, FOOD is an important part of a balanced diet so EAT MORE and BE MERRY.
May 18th, 2011 — Affairs, Promos / Events
Yummy Eats
With a P150 admission fee, Yummy Eats will showcase different foodie activities including cooking demos, culinary school cook-offs, and an eating fair for the visitors. Sample tasty goodies from hand-picked food concessionaires at the event! Foodie brands will also be participating such as Hunt’s, McCormick, Saranggani Bangus, and Petron Gasul.
May 14th, 2011 — Affairs, Food Technology
Hohenstein
The ceramic enamel cavity found in a Samsung microwave does not come off. It does not turn rusty or crack either, thus preventing it from becoming dirty.
Moreover, the ceramic enamel cavity prevents bacteria from proliferation and does not discolorate in high temperatures.
Hohenstein QLabel Antibacterial on Samsung
The Hohenstein Institute is an internationally recognized research and service center for hygiene and biotechnology in Germany. They tested Samsung’s microwave oven and validated its anti-bacterial performance leading to Samsung’s microwave oven accreditation having added anti-bacterial agents to the ceramic enamel cavity.
The Korea Research Institute of Standards and Science (KRISS) acknowledged the same and ensured a “level of durability that is at least 7.5 times higher than iron plate to which epoxy coating is applied.”
“Our antibacterial ceramic enamel cavity is created the way pottery is produced. We apply antibacterial porcelain enamel that is produced in high temperatures…to the inside of a microwave. The result is a high-class material that has a smooth, shiny surface like that of a piece of pottery. We’re the only company in the world to have such a feature in microwave ovens,†said Mr. Chang Wan Hong, executive vice president of the Samsung Digital Appliances business.
Samsung Microwave Oven
May 11th, 2011 — Appetizer, Batangas, Beverage, Casual, Cebu, Cravings, Cuisine, Davao, Dessert, Filipino, Greenhills, Iloilo, Makati, Mandaluyong, Manila, Naga, Paranaque, Pasay, Pasig, places, Quezon City, Quick Service, Restaurants, Tagaytay, Taguig, The Fort, Western, Where To Eat
When the mother came home, she comforted the family that they could always order through the 8-7000 Jollibee Express Delivery hotline. 🙂 The advertisement highlighted that serving delicious meals can be enjoyed by the whole family with just a phone call.
“Whether daddy wants a piece of crispylicious Chickenjoy, kuya craves for a bite of Champ, ate loves the tasty and meaty Jollibee Spaghetti or bunso wants a delightful cup of Chocolate sundae, busy moms can have all these delivered right at their doorsteps in time for dinner.“
May 7th, 2011 — Casual, Cravings, Cuisine, Dessert, Filipino, Restaurants, Sweet Shops
Surprise your moms with a cool “I Heart Mom†eco bag on Mother’s Day. The eco bag is free for a minimum spend of P 1,500 at any Max’s Restaurant nationwide.
“Made from recyclable materials, Max’s eco bag with the endearing inscription, ‘I Heart Mom’ pays tribute to the most important woman in our lives. It also sends out a powerful message about environmental awareness and the urgent need to protect Mother Earth,†shares Max’s Group of Companies Corporate Communications Officer Bobby Simborio.
Max’s Restaurant Mother’s Day I Heart Mom Promo
Max’s Restaurant is also providing a unique opportunity for diners to help women in crisis through Max’s Corner Bakery’s ‘I Heart Mom’ cookies. For every purchase of these at P 20 per piece, customers help support Grace To Be Born Ministry.
“We invite everyone to make Mother’s Day even more special this year, with a deeper sense of purpose and the most sincere acts of love. †adds Simborio.
Grace To Be Born Ministry is a pro-life and non-profit organization that provides shelter, counseling and spiritual guidance to pregnant women, and unwed mothers in desperate situations.
May 6th, 2011 — Affairs, Batangas, Beverage, Casual, Cebu, Coffee Shops, Cravings, Cuisine, Davao, Greenhills, Iloilo, Makati, Mandaluyong, Manila, Naga, Ortigas, Pasig, Promos / Events, Quezon City, Restaurants, Sweet Shops, Tagaytay, Taguig, The Fort, Western, Where To Eat
It is an outstandingly happy hour for Starbucks customesr as Starbucks Philippines recently launched its one-week promo on its Frappuccinos which is offered at half the price (50% off!) everyday from 12 noon to 2pm from May 2 to May 8, 2011. This is to highlight their new offering of the ‘However-You-Want-It’ Frappuccino blended beverage option.
Yeah I know, I was quite late in publishing this because I’m quite busy organizing a blogger mountain climbing event. Anyhow, you still got three chances including today!
Starbucks Happy Hour
This promo is so successful that some customers abused it on the first day so they updated the promo immediately by limiting each purchase of the Frappuccinos under this promo to only two beverages for every customer.
I’ve got one secret to share…they actually officially start 10 minutes before 12nn and end 10 minutes after 2pm to avoid inconvenience with minor time difference in watch/clock synchronization with customers. ssshhhhh…. 🙂 One more thing, as long as you are in the queue by 2:10pm cut-off time, you’re still in! 😛
Once this is over, I hope Starbucks do a repeat of this Starbucks Happy Hour soon! This is really an awesome treat specially with the scorching heat of the summer season.