November 2018

L’Oréal’s ‘For Women in Science’ program opens its second cycle in the Philippines

Metro Manila, 2018 – 2018 marked a milestone for the field of science in the Philippines as it saw the return of L’Oréal’s For Women In Science (FWIS), a global program in partnership with United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). Established in 1998, FWIS aims to support and recognize women researchers who have dedicated their work in finding solutions to the some of the world’s most pressing challenges, as well as encourage young women to take the first step in changing the world through their exceptional ability in the field of science and technology.

Beginning this November, L’Oréal Philippines and UNESCO once again opens FWIS nominations to Filipino women researchers and scientists who are PhD holders until end March 2019. A grant of PHP 400,000.00 will be given to the National Fellow to be awarded on June 2019. To join, interested parties may visit www.forwomeninscience.com.

Carmel Valencia, L’Oréal Philippines’ Corporate Communications Manager shares, “Our commitment to science, and our belief in recognizing women scientists and their outstanding achievements are manifested in our For Women In Science initiative. We want to ensure that research in every field takes full advantage of the intelligence, creativity, and passion of women. Our fundamental belief is that the world needs science and science needs women, because women in science have the power to change the world.”

L’Oréal Philippines celebrated the return of the program in the country last June 5 through the awarding of the newest FWIS National Fellow for the Philippines– chemical oceanographer Dr. Charissa Ferrera. Her work focuses on educating and advocating for water quality improvement and more sustainable practices in the waters of Anda and Bolinao. Five months after winning the program, Ferrera continues to work alongside science communicators, social scientists, and local government units to improve the fisherfolks’ environment and their livelihood.

“The program provided me with a truly great opportunity to take my research, apply it in communities where it will be most useful in, and create social impact – something that I have always strived to do as a scientist. It was also a chance to raise awareness and inspire more individuals to pursue careers in science,” shares Ferrera on winning the National Fellowship in 2018.

L’Oréal Philippines and UNESCO both believe that continuing the conversation and shedding light on the different factors that deter careers in the field is essential to truly move the needle towards closing the gender gap in the sciences.

“In 2018, we embarked on this journey with L’Oréal Philippines to provide Filipino women researchers and scientists a platform to overcome the challenges they face in the field. In 2019, we want to continue the journey and include more stakeholders in the conversation to be able to inspire development and purposive action towards enabling women to be leaders in science,” said Prof. Shahbaz Khan, Director and Representative of UNESCO Jakarta Office and Cluster Office for the Philippines, Brunei Darussalam, Indonesia, Malaysia and Timor Leste.

For more information on the program, e-mail fwisphilippines@loreal.com.

For the past 8 years, COOK Magazine has been holding an annual thanksgiving party for its advertisers, columnists and friends. This year’s celebration, “Slumber Ball – A High Gloss Pajama Party”, was conceptualized by the COOK team to provide our guests with a relaxed and fun-filled atmosphere. The theme reflects the working environment at COOK – laid-back, filled with dreamy food and recipes, and lots of fun and laughter. While publishing a monthly magazine isn’t a walk in the park, 18 years in the industry is proof that when you do what you love, it won’t ever feel like work.

This yearly celebration is an opportunity to personally thank all of our advertisers for their continued support of COOK through the years and the highlight of the evening is the awarding of all the top advertisers. It also gives the COOK team a chance to introduce ourselves, along with our columnists and contributors – everyone involved in making COOK Magazine what it is. As the longest running and only monthly culinary magazine in the country today, we’ve outlasted the trends, the ups and downs, even the shift to other platforms. We’re very proud of this achievement but we know that without all the support from advertisers and friends in the industry, COOK Magazine wouldn’t exist – so thank you! As a simple way of showing our gratitude, we’re sharing with you the very thing that has fuelled COOK Magazine’s 18 years – the love for food. What else could we do better than feed the ones we love?

We would like to thank House Manila, for again providing us with an awesome venue. COOK’s very own Editor-in-Chief, Chef Dino Datu has prepared something for our guests, courtesy of Canadian Beef. We would also like to thank our caterers, our friends from Chefwix Catering who prepared a spread of Buttered Vegetables, Creamy Pesto Chicken and Indonesian Pork BBQ Spareribs. Cowboy Grill prepared some Pork Sisig, Beef Caldereta Adobo, Chicken Teriyaki, Steamed Veggies and Coffee Jelly for dessert. Kitchen Seventy-One owned by Chef Jhic De Guzman Dimagiba prepared Beef Caldereta, Thai Grilled Porkchop, Cajun Chicken and Baked Mac. Pedro ‘N Coi presents their specialty Filipino dishes like Pansit, Pakbet, Sisig, Bistek, Roast Chicken and their famous Pinoy street food, Tunog Kalye (fish ball). Since no celebration is complete without lechon, no less than the famous crispy lechon from Lydia’s Lechon is present. For sweet endings, there’s the Cheese Bar, Inutak, Assorted Kakanin, Pastillas Pops, Suman Cake, Pastillas Cake and Latik Fondue served by Aging’s Food Delight and delectable desserts from Sweetilicious Homemade Goodies by Chef Jojo Cuesta-Javier. Our friends generously provided us drinks too! Fill your glasses with drinks from: Lick Iced Tea, Coffee from the Illy booth, Gato Negro Wines and the Open Bar of House Manila.

Lucky guests took home major prizes such as the Bosch Fully Automatic Espresso Machine, Whirlpool Refrigerator, Bosch Mum Kitchen Machine (All in one food processor and mixer), Bosch Universal Slicer, Tecnogas Oven, and two sets of a seven piece induction cookware from Masflex. Other prizes raffled off included hotel accommodations, round trip ticket, gift certificates for buffets and spas, water filter, skin care products, and a whole lot more. As per tradition, guests wearing the most dazzling sleepwear had a fashion parade with a prize awarded to the one with the best outfit. Mayda Chua provided the night’s entertainment by serenading the crowd.The event was hosted Choi Soriano and COOK Magazine’s Advertising Manager Marlon Aldenese.

Cook Magazine’s would again like to convey our sincerest gratitude to House Manila, our official venue partner. A million thanks to the following for supporting our 18th anniversary and 8th Holiday Bash: Apo View Hotel, Bank of the Philippine Islands, Bluewater Resorts, Boracay Tropics, Bosch Appliances, Century Park Hotel, Cheez Whiz, City of Dreams, Dermablend, Diana Stalder, Dusit Thani Manila, Eastwood Richmonde Hotel, Eden, Eurotel, Excellence Appliance Technologies, F1 Hotel Manila, Fujidenzo Appliances, Gato Negro, Ginebra San Miguel, Gold Seas, Grand Hyatt Manila, Häfele Philippines, Harvest Hotel, High Tower, Hotel Celeste, Hotel H2O, Icon Hotel, Illy, Ivo, Jpark Island Resort ; Waterparks, King Sue, Kitsho, Laketown Inc., Lick Iced Tea, Luljetta’s Place Garden Suites, Luxent Hotel, Makati Diamond Residences, Marco Polo Ortigas Manila, Maria Clara Sangria, Masflex Cookware & Kitchen, Mega Prime, Mega Sardines, Mega Tuna, Mondelez International, Movenpick Resor; Spa Boracay, New World Hotel Makati, Omni Channel Marketing, Oreo, Pearl Farm Beach Resort, Perfect Shots Photobooth, Perk Communications, Petron Gasul, Photoman, PRC Inc., Rebel Marketing, Resorts World Manila, Rhodesian Sales Corp., Richmonde Hotel Iloilo, Richmonde Hotel Ortigas, San
Miguel Corporation, San Miguel Purefoods Culinary Center, Skechers Go Walk, Sofitel Philippine Plaza, South Carolina Beverages Incorporated, Stratworks Marketing Communications, Taal Vista Hotel, Tang, Tecnogas Appliances, The Henry Hotel, The Heritage Manila, Thousand Miles Travel, UCC, and Whirlpool Appliances. We want to also thank our media partners: Business Mirror, Philippines Graphic, Health & Fitness, WNOT What’s New Out There, DWIZ 882 and Home Radio 97.9.

Christmas is celebrated around the globe in many wonderful ways. And SM Home takes inspiration from these different holiday elements with merry and bright ideas on how to bring Christmas to your home.

There are also more than 500 Holiday ornaments to choose from, modern expressions of traditional holiday trimmings with an artisan touch that celebrate all that is creative and classic. With probably the widest assortment of décor in town, SM Home shares with us some holiday ideas inspired by Christmas traditions from around the world.

·         An American Classic.  The United States has many different traditions and ways that people celebrate Christmas because of its multi-cultural nature. A typical celebration of Christmas Day in America mixes Irish, Austrian, Italian, Polish, and Belgian traditions into something that is its own.

What we can call an all-American classic captures the homey warmth of the holidays -with rich reds and wintry whites that never go out of style.  A touch of silver adds sophistication, while green suggests fresh pine.

·         Joyeux Noel. In France, Christmas is called Noel, which comes from the phrase les bonnes nouvelles, or “the good news.” Yule logs made out of Cherry Wood are often burned in French homes, and is sprinkled with red wine to give it an exquisite aroma when it is burning.  This comes from an ancient tradition in which farmers would use part of the log to ensure good luck for next year’s harvest.

Bring a Parisian glow and the warmth of Christmas to your home with a shimmering palette of gold and silver- with a touch of antique brass and champagne.

·         Northern Lights Christmas. One of the highlights of a visit to Lapland is an early evening adventure in search for the Northern Lights.  Sometimes they develop a riot of colors, green interspersed with waves of red, blue, and violet dancing across the sky. The magic of this natural phenomenon with colors dancing in the skies has to be seen to be believed.

Just as the Northern Lights dazzle the holiday skies, light up your Christmas tree with an aurora borealis-like glow and add a wave of aqua for that wintry feel.

·         Tropical Holiday. Not all Christmases are white, and if you live the tropics, all is merry, sunny, and bright.

SM Home brings out the child in each of us with sweet dessert ornaments – cupcakes, ice cream, and doughnuts – in pretty pastels – baby blue, creamsicle, cotton candy, and chartreuse.

The latest Christmas Décor collection is available at the SM Home section at all SM Stores. Also, visit SM City San Jose del Monte, SM City Marilao, and SM City Baliwag to enjoy the different instagrammable Christmas centerpieces.

Gan Advanced Osseointegration Center (GAOC), the leading dental clinic in the Philippines and one of the best in Southeast Asia, is unrelenting in its growth and expansion as it opens its newest clinic to date at the Ayala Malls Vertis North.

Upholding GAOC’s philosophy of excellence and personalized service, GAOC Vertis North, their 10th clinic, aims to serve people from the North, the Camanava area, and even as far as Pampanga.

This state-of-the art clinic further affirms GAOC’s status as a leader in oral health and dentistry in the country. Boasting of an expansive 130 sqm., it comes equipped with the latest digital dental technology, featuring three treatment rooms, an operating room, a consultation room, and a sterilization room.

With focus on implant dentistry, prosthodontic and cosmetic procedures such as bridges, crowns, and veneers, patients can expect only superior dental services from a team of highly skilled and experienced dental practitioners who have completed their training in top-notch hospitals, universities and global institutions in the United States, Europe and Asia.

“The year 2018 is truly an exceptional year for GAOC,” says Dr. Steve Mark Gan, GAOC President and Chief Executive Officer. “Not only are we expanding across unserved areas, but we are growing our roster of satisfied clients and highly regarded endorsers.”

To experience GAOC’s first-rate brand of dentistry, schedule an appointment and visit a branch near you. GAOC’s Vertis North branch is located at Level 3 Ayala Malls Vertis North, Mindanao Ave., Quezon City with tel. nos. +632 ‎‎292-4262, +632 ‎‎368-1838 , +63 917-157-4262 and e-mail vertis@gaocdental.com.

For more details and information, like and follow GAOC on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter, @gaocdental or visit www.gaocdental.com.

 
Filinvest City in Alabang has truly earned its place as the premier lifestyle destination in the Metro South, an ideal live-work-play community that has everything a city dweller needs. And this early, the holiday season has arrived at Filinvest City, as it transforms itself into a more dazzling spectacle with a unique Christmas wonderland, which opens to the public on November 16.

On the sixth year of its holiday tradition, Filinvest City raises the bar even higher with the launch of “Christmas Comes Alive,” vivifying a section of Spectrum Linear Park with sparkling holiday decors and life-sized outdoor installations. A kick-off performance by no-less than thespian performer Gian Magdangal ushered by Legit Status who performed a flash mob and ballerinas who lit up each display section definitely add cheer to the festivities.

Filinvest City’s “Christmas Comes Alive” excitedly draws crowds from different corners of the metro. True to its promise of having something for everyone, and sure to entice revelers this most wonderful time of the year, Filinvest City has slated exciting activities, events and entertainment for everybody’s delight.

“Year in and year out, we set out to make Filinvest City as the most inviting holiday destination here in the Metro South,” says Don Ubaldo, head of townships. “This year, we are bringing it up a notch with Christmas Comes Alive. There are activities for everybody’s enjoyment and we have taken the festivities across Filinvest City.”

The Spectrum Linear Park, as the stunning backdrop where the main events will be held, will have four themed sections such as “The Christmas Tree,” “Once Upon A Christmas Dream,” “Aboard the Christmas Train,” and “Up, Up, and Away”—elements that are sure to keep visitors in awe.

South-grown talents such as school chorale groups and community dance troupes will also fill the air with Christmas tunes and grooves every Friday starting November 16.

Come November 17, the Spectrum Linear Park will be filled with good music as Filinvest City has lined up concerts by today’s hottest bands and artists every Saturday at 8 p.m. On November 17 – independent electronic pop artist BP Valenzuela; November 24 – solo folk project I Belong to the Zoo; December 1 – indie rock band December Avenue; December 8 – indie alternative rock band Autotelic; December 15 – singer and rapper Quest; December 22 – the influential Rivermaya; December 29 – indie folk band The Ransom Collective. Rising electronic producer Wicked Adobo will also grace the stage and start each show at 7 p.m. Each concert will be capped off by a grand fireworks display, a real visual treat for city dwellers.

Also a big part of this year’s “Christmas Comes Alive” is the Building Décor Contest where multinational and local companies outdo themselves as they light up their corporate headquarters, making Filinvest City a sight to behold. This feast for the eyes is even more accentuated by the sparkling Christmas lights and decors that adorn the streets in the Metro South’s garden city.

While everything you need is already here – a Christmas wonderland and free concerts – a weekend night market is a welcome addition to the community. Banchetto Filinvest City will be open every Friday and Saturday from 5 p.m. to 2 a.m. starting November 16 and will feature a delicious and diverse assortment of food options for those who live, work and play in the city and neighboring provinces.

Indeed, with “Christmas Comes Alive,” Filinvest City cements its position as the south’s ultimate holiday destination for families and friends. So, come one, come all and enjoy the holidays at Filinvest City!

For more information on Filinvest City’s activities and events this holiday season, visit www.facebook.com/FilinvestCityOFFICIAL.

Are you looking for a perfect gift to give for a friend or a loved one? Why not give a gift of healthy eyesight? It’s practical and it will also give them clearer vision to live a better life.

Essilor, the world’s leading ophthalmic optics company, lets you give the gift of vision with this valuable offer: buy a pair of Crizal lenses and enjoy 50% off on the second pair. You can save as much as P1,950.

This offer is ongoing until November 30, 2018 and is valid in all participating optical stores nationwide. It covers Crizal Prevencia, Crizal Forte UV and Crizal Alize.

Crizal Prevencia offers the most complete protection from harmful blue light while Crizal Forte UV shields the eyes from damaging ultra violet rays. Crizal Alize reduces glare from computer screens, tablets and smartphones, reducing eye fatigue. Crizal is one of the flagship brands of Essilor, the world’s leading ophthalmic optics company.

For more information, visit Essilor’s website at www.essilor.com.ph, and follow @EssilorPH on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

There’s a new holiday that everyone looks forward to other than Christmas and New Year and it’s called the Long Weekend. As with any other holiday, busy people usually spend their newfound free time doing leisurely activities like strolling around the mall, catching a movie, going on trips, or having a good old-fashioned staycation.

However, the long weekend poses an opportunity for everyone to try and explore something new. A change in the usual routine is always good and if it’s for trying something that benefits you, even better.

If you’ve always wanted to get started on your health regimen or improve it, the long weekend’s a great time to try. It gives you the liberty of assessing yourself and injecting new activities in the gym that will be even easier to track when you get help from a wellness program.

Making your long weekends so much better

Choose a science-backed, rewards-based wellness program that helps you understand your body better by knowing your health through a series of assessments to determine your Vitality Age, or how close your body’s age is to your actual age. Then improve your health by reaching each of its recommended goals as you make wiser, healthier choices on your activities and lifestyle.

As you successfully reach your goals, you get points that help you elevate your Philam Vitality Status to get more out of your healthy choices. The more points you have, the more you’ll be rewarded with discounts on products and services you can enjoy whenever you want. For example, you can receive discounts to your gym membership at Gold’s Gym as well as training equipment and clothing from Toby’s and Garmin so you can continue staying active building your body.

Getting active during the long weekend doesn’t mean you’ll be abandoning your favorite leisure activities either.

Got an itch for travel and entertainment? Part of the sweet deals you can be rewarded with are for your airfare via Philippine Airlines or your tickets to SM Cinemas so you can catch the latest block buster hit! Who knows? You and your friends might even get a thrill of a lifetime on extreme theme-park attractions and physical activities with your discounted passes to Enchanted Kingdom!

If you also yearn for a little more “Rest and Relaxation”, you’ll definitely enjoy saving on hotel room bookings in hotels like Marriott or Seda.

The Philam Vitality wellness program gives you all these cool perks, and now that its integrated into BPI-Philam’s Wellness Series, it also allows you to get an upfront additional 20% coverage from your insurance, which may increase up to 50% when you consistently keep your Platinum Philam Vitality Status year after year.

If that sounds like a great deal you want in on, all you have to do is visit your preferred BPI or BPI Family Savings bank, meet a Bancassurance Sales Executive, and start your new journey to a rewarding healthy lifestyle today.

BPI-Philam’s always ready to answer your questions, so drop them a line on their Facebook page www.facebook.com/BPIPhilamOfficial or know more about their products at www.bpi-philam.com.

Manila, Philippines – For generations of Filipinos, snack time is Rebisco time.

The well-loved Filipino snack brand has been a go-to choice for baon, for merienda, as pasalubong or simply as a comfort food. And this year, the homegrown snack maker marks another milestone as it celebrates 55 years in the business and in the hearts and homes of Filipinos, here and abroad.

“Rebisco has grown leaps and bounds since we started 55 years ago,” Rebisco President Jonathan C. Ng said. “We’ve expanded our product portfolio and our markets, and we continue to nurture generations of our most valuable asset—our employees. More importantly, Rebisco has become an integral part of Filipinos’ snacking culture, which is why we’re excited to share this milestone with our consumers.”

Modern twist to an icon

For many Filipinos, no trip to the province is complete without the iconic multicolored Rebisco can—a simple and multifunctional pasalubong that represents the priceless joy of sharing and bonding over delicious snacks with family and friends.

As part of their 55^th year celebration, Rebisco teamed up with four renowned Filipino contemporary artists to create the Rebisco Special Edition Designer Cans. The cans showcase Rebisco’s rich history and evolution through the unique perspectives of each artist. Using the can, Migs Villanueva, Aris Bagtas, Roel Obemio, and Joseph Banez recreated a shareable masterpiece that captures the culture and tradition that Rebisco has helped shape over the years.

“Long after the biscuits have been consumed, the original Rebisco can becomes a permanent part of the Pinoy household as a rice container, a flower pot or as a storage for toys and other knick knacks,” Rebisco Marketing Communications Head Lulu de la Peña said. “It has become an icon that we are truly proud of and the Special Edition Designer Cans continue that enduring tradition of supporting local artistry, serving great food, and promoting great Filipino family values.”

Artists for Rebisco

Palanca awardee visual artist Migs Villanueva noted how Rebisco has been part of her own life as a mother, a grandmother and even as an artist. “I wanted to depict the affection and the connection between family members like mother and son or siblings because that’s the nucleus of the society. Rebisco is a family thing,” she said.

For his part, Roel Obemio based his artwork on social narrative observations, inspired by his own experiences with Rebisco. He shared, “Kumakain ako ng Rebisco habang nagpipinta ako. ‘Yun ang mga ibinibigay namin sa mga kamag-anak namin saMindanao. Sa probinsya common na siya. Icon na kasi e. Lumaki ako sa ganun.(I eat Rebisco when I paint. And that’s also what we give to our relatives in Mindanao. It’s common in the province because it’s an icon. It’s been a part of my experience growing up.)”

Aris Bagtas, who paints Filipino folk art and culture, expressed excitement over the collaboration, which is a special collectible item. “I’m really proud kasi Filipino product ‘yun,” he added. Filipino Pop-Social Realism artist Joseph Bañez also noted the significance of the campaign. “’Yung makilala ka, madagdagan ng exposure at magingpart ka ng isang icon na produkto dito sa Pilipinas, that’s the best part. (To be recognized, to gain more exposure and to be part of an iconic Filipino product, that’s the best part.)”

A Filipino tradition

Ng added that the company’s 55^th anniversary is a celebration of its legacy and an opportunity to express gratitude to its loyal consumers. “It truly is heartwarming to see and hear how Rebisco has made so much impact on generations of Filipinos. That, to us, is our biggest cause for celebration this year,” he said. “We hope our consumers enjoy their very own special edition designer can and celebrate this momentous occasion with us.”

The Rebisco Special Edition Designer Cans are now available at all leading supermarkets nationwide for a SRP of P175 per can. There are four sets of designs, and each can contains assorted premium biscuits, crackers, cookies and wafers. Share your own #Rebisco55 story at Rebisco Snackademy’s official Facebook page and watch the highlights of the Rebisco Special Edition Designer Can Launch  

>>https://www.facebook.com/RebiscoSnackademy/videos/326308058195502/ .