Caritas Manila Holds Celebrity Bazaar lead by Heart Evangelista on October 18 at SM Megamall

Would you like to help the needy yet dreaming to own preloved items (ukay-ukay style) from your favorite celebrities? Yes, you can do both and more when you shop at Caritas Manila's Celebrity Bazaar happening this Thursday, October 18, 2018 at the 2 level of The Mega Atrium in SM Megamall. The said charity bazaar will be open from 1:00PM until 10:00PM. Entrance fee is Php500 per person. 

Caritas Manila Executive Director Fr. Anton CT Pascual with Ms. Heart Evangelista-Escudero, Caritas Manila Celebrity Bazaar event ambassador

The bazaar will feature pre-loved luxury items up for sale from generous celebrity donors Heart Evangelista, Alden Richards, Ruffa Gutierrez, Dr. Vicki Bello, Scarlet Snow Belo, Cristalle Bello, Bang Pineda, Teacher Georcelle, Toni Gonzaga, Zsa Zsa Padilla, Vice Ganda, Iza Calzado, Divine Lee, Jinkee Pacquiao, Manny Pacquiao and premier designers Michael Cinco and Cary Santiago. Heart Evangelista is this year’s Event Ambassador.

Heart Evangelista was all-smiles as she was welcomed and introduced to media guests

"For me, a project such as this is no-brainer. I've always been happy to help in whatever way I can. Being looked up to by a lot of people, as an artist, I know I have the means as well as I can encourage more people to lend a helping hand to those in need,"said Heart during the press conference. 

On how Caritas Manila made Heart said yes to this project, this is what Heart has to say:

Proceeds from this year’s bazaar will be given to the Youth Servant Leadership and Education Program (YSLEP) of Caritas Manila. The program sends and supports less fortunate but deserving students nationwide to their college or university of choice.        

Caritas Manila Executive Director Fr. Anton CT Pascual tells how the bazaar funds their educational program

“We at Caritas Manila are so grateful for the generosity and enthusiasm of these celebrities to help YSLEP scholars,” comments Fr. Anton CT Pascual, Caritas Manila Executive Director.  Their assistance will go a long way in proving education and support can help realize the potentials of our future leaders coming from the ranks of the poor.”

Heart Evangelista says she is very happy to help send the underprivileged youth back to school

Now on its second year, the very first Caritas Manila Celebrity Bazaar was held two years ago with former beauty queen and Miss Universe Pia Wurtzbach as the Event Ambassador. The said bazaar alone has earned enough funds to support 5,000 YSLEP Scholars. There are between 3,000 to 5,000 YSLEP scholars nationwide. They are provided with a college or vocational degree which allows them 98 percent chance of helping their respective families to overcome poverty. 

To date, more than 10,000 YSLEP scholars have graduated from college and vocational schools nationwide especially from the poorest provinces.

Caritas Manila is one of the biggest non-profit organizations in the country led by its chairman, Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle.

Here, Heart Evangelista invites everyone to come and visit the Caritas Manila Celebrity Bazaar:

For more information, visit Caritas Manila at 2002 Jesus Street, Pandacan, Manila or call 562-0020 to 25, email caritas_manila@yahoo.com, or log on to www.caritasmanila.org.ph.

Mastercard lets you travel to the best destinations with Thai Airways

Press release:

Traveling has become a major part of Filipinos’ lives as an exciting and insightful exploration, and a way to break down routines or break away from the monotony that usually occupies our every day. Now, here's the piece of good news from our friends at Mastercard: Mastercard differentiates simply traveling from traveling well with one-of-a-kind experiences and great offers, as well as safety and security features that ensure protection for all your electronic transactions, so you can have the peace of mind to freely enjoy every adventure you go on.

Partnerships with leading merchants in top destinations across the world means you can always pay with confidence because your cards are widely accepted. Mastercard also lets you enjoy exclusive offers that enrich your trips – from flights, accommodations, to unique experiences – in your travel destination.

With the year about to end, now’s a great time to check off a few more destinations on your list. Fly to and explore places you’ve never been to before in Asia, Australia, New Zealand, Europe and the Middle East with Mastercard and Thai Airways’ exclusive fare promotion. 

Commune with nature in Vietnam

 You can plan your highly anticipated trip –or even trips– safely and seamlessly by using your Mastercard to book flights through Travel with Thai from October 12 to 21, 2018.

Kats Happy Food 1st Flavored Homemade Hot Cocoa Mix in the Philippines

A cup of warm chocolate is perfect while reading your favorite book

Are you excited for the Christmas Season? I'm sure you do. Let me share with you the best hot chocolate I recently discovered that will make you excited for the cold weather. Allow me to introduce, Kats Happy Food Flavored Hot Cocoa Mix in the Philippines. When the weather outside is frightful, there's nothing better than cozying up with a warm mug of hot cocoa, so I've rounded up the best hot cocoa flavored mix from Kats Happy Food which are perfect for those cold nights. 

It's that time of the year where the Christmas drinks are on. Red cups are back at your ól time favorite coffee shop. Yup, for many aficionados, it's that sticker-time again to get that elusive 2019 planner. Coffee cups everywhere are wearing festive Christmas jumpers. But one drink that recently caught my fancy was Kats Happy Food first flavored homemade hot cocoa mix. Having a real sweet tooth and love of chocolate, I couldn't wait to try this one out. 

This is the best hot chocolate drink I have ever had. Yes, move over Hersheys and Swiss Miss. It comes in a resealable packet filled with ready-to-drink-powder-just add-water and stir till it becomes a delectable froth. Because I am diabetic, the nine-tablespoons to water ratio suggested by the packaging doesn’t make for a mug quite sweet enough, so if you too have developmentally stalled taste buds, I recommend using your own tastebuds to adjust the taste.

Arki's Grill in San Miguel Bulacan: A Taste of Authentic Mookata Dining Plus More!

Arki's Grill in San Miguel Bulacan is along the highway so it's perfect for a stop over. 

Have you ever had a Mookata dining experience? I've just had them recently for the first time at Arki's Grill in San Miguel Bulacan. Imagine fresh meat, seafood and vegetables grilled right on your table with a light and steaming broth simmering at the sides of the special dome grill. 

Arki's Grill has a lot more to offer than just grilled food items. 

A visit to Arki's Grill was part of the two-part heritage and culture tour of the town of San Miguel in Bulacan where we also had the chance to attend and witness the recent San Miguel de Payumo Festival. Arki's Grill is owned by Architect/restaurateur Ervin Garcia and wife Kat Payawal-Garcia. 

Architect and restaurateur Ervin Garcia, owner of Arki's Grill

Arki's Grill offers Thai-Mookata style dining experience as well as Korean Samgyupsal among many others on their wide range of food choices on their menu. Thus, it gives diners a whole new and refreshing way to rediscover different cuisines. Indeed, Arki's Grill is another flavorful dining destination awaiting to be discovered in this bustling food scene in the town of San Miguel, Bulacan. Read on and take a tasty peek at some of Arki's Grill's signature and mouthwatering dishes...

On specific nights, Arki's also entertains guests with a live performance by local singers

With a cozy and homey vibe, Arkis'Grill welcomes guests with a smile

Arki's Grill also offers daily buffets at a very affordable price

Thai cuisine is known for its seamless blend of contrasting flavors with umami, sweet, sour, salty, and refreshing bitter notes capped by a soothing layer of heat in one dish. And that's exactly what you'll get at Arki's Grill when you order their Mookata meal. 

See those smoking Mookata flavorr cooked right in front of our table?

Arki's Grill Mookata is composed of grilling fresh ingredients delivered right on your table. With fresh shrimps, beef, pork, chicken, kani, enoki mushrooms (my all-time favorite!), meat balls, vermicelli noodles, and fresh greens--is the perfect set to get acquainted with Mookata-style dining. 

Purple Plum Fairy with blogger friends Mercedes Maata and Daryll Dial Villena having fun at Arki's Grill as we cooked our Mookata.

Do you know that your Php1,000 can get you an investment fund?

 Sun Life Asset Management recently held its 2019 Market Outlook and Bright Offerings press conference for media and online bloggers. I listened intently to what was being discussed because I have plans on investing for me and my family's future as well. And I was surprised to find out that nowadays it isn't difficult to get an investment fund! Yup, contrary to what we have been made to believe, Sun Life says that all it takes is Php 1,000 to be able to start an investment fund. And we're not kidding at all! It's absolutely true! 

The imperative question would be: "How far will your Php1,000 go in this day and age?" Usually, it could buy you a few day's meal or perhaps two bucket of fried chickens from your favorite fast food joint. But with the rise of inflation and our Philippine peso spiraling down the drain, we had to wise up on how we will spend each centavo that we have worked so hard for.