Sunday, August 17, 2025

Keeping your food and drink safe from prep to plate

Always check for molds and weird smells before consuming food. Or better yet, when in doubt, throw it away. It’s better to be safe than sorry.

Food poisoning may be associated with the hot summer months, given how bacteria thrive in oppressive temperatures. But in reality, consuming contaminated food and drink can happen anytime, anywhere—including at home.

“First off, many germ-laden dishes taste no different from unspoiled food, so there’s no way of telling if you have food poisoning until you experience the classic symptoms—nausea, diarrhea, vomiting, weakness, headache, and even a fever,” says Mark Paul S. Castillo, MD from top hospital in the Philippines Makati Medical Center (MakatiMed).

“Secondly, these symptoms don’t always present themselves immediately. Certain bacteria can trigger symptoms 30 minutes to eight hours after consuming contaminated food. Others, like the virus behind Hepatitis A, take days, weeks, and even months before symptoms appear.”

Food poisoning resolves within 24 to 48 hours, and requires nothing more from you but to ride out the vomiting and bum stomach. It’s best to hydrate with electrolytes and broth soup. Still, more serious cases could land you in the hospital for kidney failure, nerve and brain damage, and in rare but still possible situations, death.

Prevention is crucial to avoiding this most unpleasant yet avoidable condition. For MakatiMed, the goal is to ensure your food and drink are free of contaminants from start to finish.

PREP. 

“It’s all about cleanliness,” reminds Dr. Castillo. “Wash your hands thoroughly with soap and warm water before handling ingredients and cooked food. Wear disposable gloves if you have a rash or wound on your hand and need to handle raw ingredients. Chopping boards, knives, plates, pans, and other cooking utensils must also be thoroughly washed with soap and warm water, then wiped dry with a paper towel, before using them for the first time, then again on other ingredients, and just before you put them away.”

Raw ingredients like meat, poultry, fish, and seafood need to be rinsed well too, and separated, instead of sharing a single plate. “Use a brush to gently scrub some fruits and vegetables like apples, cucumbers, root crops, and squash and thoroughly rid them of dirt,” shares Dr. Castillo. “For leafy vegetables, rinse them under running water and use a salad spinner or paper towels to dry them.”

Dr. Castillo also advises keeping your kitchen countertop and sink clean with soap and water, then wipe with a paper towel or a clean dry rag. “Replace sponges at least once a week, as they can be home to E. coli and other bacteria. Washing them completely at the end of each day also helps.”

PLATE.

 Make sure food is cooked following the recommended time and temperature, and if you can, keep food constantly warm with chafing dishes. According to Dr. Castillo, “Consume hot food immediately, as leaving it in room temperature for two hours or more allows bacteria to grow.” Serve cold dishes in small amounts and only when they’re ready to be eaten. Keep the cold dish in the fridge or maintain its cool temperature with bowls of ice.

Make sure dishes, bowls, glasses, and utensils are clean or have been properly washed and dried before use. “And no double-dipping,” says Dr. Castillo. “Assign specific serving spoons, forks, tongs, and knives to dishes to avoid cross-contamination.”

KEEP.

Place leftovers in clean covered containers, keep in the freezer, and re-heat before serving. “Most people think that leftovers can live in the fridge forever. Best to consume them within 3-4 days,” notes Dr. Castillo.

Indeed, food in the fridge doesn’t always guarantee it’ll remain as fresh (or safe to eat) as the day you cooked it. “Check for molds and weird smells,” Dr. Castillo points out. “Or better yet, when in doubt, throw it away. It’s better safe than sorry.”


Thursday, August 14, 2025

CCP National Theatre Live examines the performative self through Wilde's The Importance of Being Earnest and Shakespeare's Hamlet

 

CCP NTL_The Importance of Being Earnest

The Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP)'s National Theatre Live returns to spark conversations on one’s self and society through special screenings of The Importance of Being Earnest and Hamlet this August. 

Presenting a comedic stage of false identities, the filmed stage production of Oscar Wilde's The Importance of Being Earnest premieres at Glorietta 4 Cinema on August 26, 2025, at 6p.m. Meanwhile, Shakespeare's Hamlet will also revisit the disposition of a pretender on the same date and time, at Ayala Malls Vertis North and Ayala Malls Central Bloc Cebu.

The art of Bunburying

Max Webster, the director behind Donmar’s Macbeth and Life of Pi, directs the theater adaptation of the flamboyant reimagining of Wilde’s most celebrated comedy. 


A satire on Victorian social hypocrisy, the play follows the misadventures of two young men who roam the town under false identities. Jack (Hugh Skinner) and Algernon (Ncuti Gatwa) escape their social duties through the art of Bunburying—creating a second persona. The two take on the name “Ernest” in their pursuit of marriage. 


Under Webster's direction, deception arrives in vibrancy. A society's obsession with names and the legacies attached to these comes into light through satirical means. Whether the performative man succeeds in achieving his desires or succumbs to what is expected of him is for the screen to tell, but the art of performance already realizes the importance of one's truth.


This recent staging was performed from November 21 to January 25, 2025 at the Lyttelton Theatre. The three-act play premiered in 1895, and eventually published into a book in 1899. 


Perception vs. Reality


Portrayed by Hollywood A-lister Benedict Cumberbatch, Hamlet wrestles with what is and what appears to be in his quest for revenge. He feigns madness to discover those who reconstruct their truths to appear as something other than reality. As every individual performs in his eyes, the Prince of Denmark delivers multiple soliloquies, introspecting about lies as tools for sculpting truths. 


Directors Lyndsey Turner and Robin Lough ensure that this production of Hamlet conveys the real Shakespearean tragedy, disseminating the cathartic ultimatum: that the fallacies man performs eventually become his truths. 



Anagnorisis and the London Theatre Experience in the Philippines


The CCP National Theatre Live continues to bring renowned productions of classic dramas from the London stages to enrich Filipinos’ love and appreciation of the performing arts. First launched in June 2009, UK’s National Theatre Live is a groundbreaking project to broadcast the best of British theatre live from the London stage to cinemas across the United Kingdom, around the world, and now in the Philippines. Digitally filmed in high-definition quality, NTL films their plays in front of live theater audiences, but optimized for the big screen and made accessible to theater fans across the globe.


CCP NTL_Hamlet



Drama is an intimate collaborative form that inspires introspection until anagnorisis, the realization of one’s identity amidst various pressures. The Importance of Being Earnest and Hamlet are two of many fictions that dissolve into facts, underscoring the performative self as a crucial constituent of the real one. 


Regular ticket price is at Php300 in Makati and Cebu, and Php350 in Vertis North, with special ticket price for students at Php150, upon presentation of a valid ID. Visit the ticket booth or avail now at www.sureseats.com


To get the latest updates on CCP’s National Theatre Live and other events, follow the official CCP social media accounts on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube. Visit the CCP website (www.culturalcenter.gov.ph) for more news. 

Wednesday, August 13, 2025

Mang Inasal shines with 9 wins at 2025 Marketing Excellence Awards

 

Mang Inasal bags 9 wins at 2025 Marketing Excellence Awards

Mang Inasal, the Philippines’ Grill Expert, dominated the 2025 Marketing Excellence Awards held last August 8 at the Grand Hyatt Manila, Taguig, winning nine trophies across different categories.

 The brand’s broad success demonstrates its strong command of diverse marketing strategies, successfully engaging consumers through digital platforms, advertising, insightful research, immersive experiences, and impactful partnerships.

Among the awards was the coveted Gold for Excellence in Marketing to a Specific Audience for Love the Flavors, Love the Philippines, a landmark collaboration with the Department of Tourism that championed Filipino food as a vital part of the country's culture and heritage, attracting locals, tourists, and festival-goers alike.

The brand also received four Silver Awards for Digital Marketing (#MangInasalCreamyYESSummer), Consumer Insights/Market Research (‘Yan ang Kaing Mang Inasal), Experiential Marketing (Pork BBQ Caravan), and Sponsorship Activation (Mang Inasal Celebrates Festivals); and four Bronze Awards for Advertising (‘Yan ang Kaing Mang Inasal), Out-of-Home Advertising (It’s A Sign), Viral Marketing (4- Cheese Halo-Halo), and Marketing Leader of the Year (awarded to Mang Inasal Marketing Head, Allan Tan).

Mang Inasal bags 9 wins at the 2025 Marketing Excellence Awards


“All these wins come from the passion and dedication of our diverse teams working together to delight our growing community of consumers nationwide,” said Tan. “We believe Mang Inasal is more than just food. It's about the special experiences our customers share with us. And these recognitions remind us how important that connection is, and they inspire us to keep creating campaigns that genuinely touch hearts and bring people closer.”

These wins at the Marketing Excellence Awards raise Mang Inasal’s total recognitions for 2025 to 19 local and international honors. This count includes its first Asia-Pacific Tambuli Award for Love the Flavors, Love the Philippines and two Silver Awards at the 5th ASEAN PR Excellence Awards, one for the Mang Inasal Nation Facebook Group and another for the 2024 Pork BBQ Launch. Together, these achievements solidify Mang Inasal’s standing as a powerhouse in creating campaigns that not only capture attention but also build lasting connections with its customers.

Want more Mang Inasal exclusives NOW? Visit https://manginasal.ph for the latest news, https://manginasaldelivery.com.ph for delivery deals, and follow Mang Inasal on social media for more Ihaw-Sarap and Unli-Saya updates!


Tuesday, August 12, 2025

Kuris-kuris Exhibit by Gibraltar at Gateway Gallery from August 16 to 22

 

Kuris-kuris Exhibit by Gibraltar



Filmmaker and visual artist Ray Defante Gibraltar is marking an important period in his life with a pair of milestone projects — his first solo art exhibit and first book. Both deal with themes of mental health and are direct expressions of his former struggles with addiction.

Titled “Kuris-kuris At Ang Pagpapaamo sa Aking mga Dragon,” the art exhibit features striking abstract mixed media pieces that portray a tapestry of mental, psychological, and emotional turmoil. Kuris is a Bisayan (Cebuano) word for doodles or scribbles.

The exhibit runs from August 16 to 22, 2025, at Gateway Gallery, 5th floor, Gateway Tower in Araneta City. It’s the same venue where Gibraltar held his previous exhibit, Under Construction, a two-man show with colleague Jom Vega in August 2024.

Nagdyo-dyornal din ang adik



Folded into the “Kuris-kuris” opening event is the debut of Gibraltar as a published author. Titled “Nag Dyo-dyornal Din ang Adik (Mga Pinta at Kuwento Tungong Kahinahunan),” the book is a companion piece to the exhibit, containing a catalogue of all artworks in the exhibit and essays on select pieces that feature the autobiographical stories and inspirations behind them.

The 90-page tome tells about his journey from the darkness of addiction to the light and hope of recovery and rebuilding his life as an artist, a son, a sibling, a husband, and a father.

“Ang pagsalin ng aking mga karanasan sa mga pahina ng librong ito, at ang pagbabahagi ng aking personal na art journal, ay isang paglalakbay pabalik sa aking sarili (The translation of my experiences into the pages of this book, as well as the sharing of my personal art journal, is a journey back to myself),” Gibraltar writes in the book’s Foreword.

“Isang pangangailangang kailangan harapin ang mga pangyayari sa aking buhay, lalo na ang mga sugat, ang mga natutunang aral, at ang mga kwento ng pag-asa sa aking pag-ahon mula sa adiksyon (Facing these experiences in my life is a need that has to be face, especially the wounds, the lessons learned, and the story of hope in my recovery from addiction).”

"Kuris-kuris At Ang Pagpapaamo sa Aking mga Dragon" is his first solo art exhibit and "Nag Dyo-dyornal Din ang Adik (Mga Pinta at Kuwento Tungong Kahinahunan)"; is his first book.


Manila Prince Hotel Showcases Gown by Celebrated Designer Ryan Chris

 



A gorgeous gown by famed fashion and wedding designer Ryan Chris is on display at the Manila Prince Hotel's showroom, highlighting Filipino artistry. He was one of the featured designers at the hotel's inaugural Manila Bridal Fair, which took place in the Grand Ballroom on July 26 and 27, 2024. One of the highlights was a bridal fashion show, in which Ryan's designs enthralled viewers with their sleek yet contemporary aesthetic.

Ryan Chris Profile

As CEO and President of Ryan Chris House of Fashion, he has built a brand defined by timeless elegance with a modern fit. Drawing inspiration from classic bridal looks, Ryan favors refined silhouettes, soft ivory tones, and subtle details that retain their beauty for decades. His creations often incorporate elements from Philippine heritage, honoring traditional craftsmanship while infusing a contemporary touch.

Ryan’s passion for fashion traces back to childhood, when a wedding-themed coloring book gifted by his grandmother sparked a lifelong fascination with bridal gowns. In school, he would sketch dresses with classmates excitedly choosing their favorites.

Ryan Chris and Gowns


“I began in the wedding industry as a planner, helping brides choose gowns before realizing I wanted to design them myself,” said Ryan Chris. “My journey has always been about creativity, perseverance, and telling each bride’s unique story through her gown. Manila Prince Hotel celebrates timeless beauty and elegance, the same values I bring to the Ryan Chris brand. This partnership is more than just showcasing a gown, it’s about inspiring others and sharing the story behind every creation.”

From sketching dresses as a child to staging fashion shows featuring over 100 original looks, Ryan has become one of the country’s sought-after designers. His works have been featured in Ofrendas de Flores and Sketches + Stitches, a charity fashion show benefiting indigenous students and children with cancer.

 “We are proud to support a local talent like Ryan Chris,” said Marvin Kim Tan, vice president for sales and marketing of Manila Prince Hotel. “His designs embody the style and quality we value, and we are delighted to have his work in our showroom.”

The gown is currently on display at Manila Prince Hotel’s showroom, allowing visitors to see firsthand the artistry that has made Ryan Chris a standout name in Philippine fashion.



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