Is McDo doing its own ad-serye?

Well, maybe yes. Just this afternoon while watching Eat Bulaga, we are all shocked at a new ALDUB commercial that aired. We still had a bit of hangover from last Saturday's Tamang Panahon  when Alden and Maine finally meet and knew each other better. It's more kilig because they finally got, not just touch, but to hug each other and talked about their feelings on stage at the Philippine Arena. ALDUB Nation is definitely rejoicing and hoping that this love team would soon be a reality. No pressure, Alden and Maine. ;)

Going back to the advertisement, McDonalds still didn't forget the roots of ALDUB, adapting another song from VST & Company, Paniwalaan Mo.

Their first McDonald's commercial only featured the Chicken Fillet ala King, also known as the ALDUB meal which is Php59 per order. Now a 1-pc Chicken McSavers meal is also included for this promotion.

Alden Richards with McDonald's Chicken Fillet ala King

Maine Mendoza with Chicken McSavers Meal

The ad came more exciting when it already featured the three lovable Lolas: Nidora, Tidora and Tinidora, played by JoWaPao (Jose Manalo, Wally Bayola and Paolo Ballesteros).

Unfortunately, Maine and Alden do not seem to meet but instead, they got closer as the two already had photos of each other in their wallet and locket. Watch the full version of the ad below:

Balikan ang kilig ng kahapon. Ang sarap MAINE-love kapag ikaw DEN ang laman ng isip niya. Alden, Yaya and some senior citizens say #ALDUBKoTo for Chicken McSavers!
Posted by McDonald's on Sunday, October 25, 2015

In a marketing perspective, McDonalds still do not fail to reach to the broad target market, the young and the old with their ads. We've been emotionally attached with the story of the #KalyeSerye which also caters to the broad audience. Now the question is, when will the two have their date at McDonald's? Will they both bite on the same hamburger? I am now expecting a part 3 of this ad series and we hope it will come very, very soon.

BELLAVITA honors best Lipa delicacies

Batangas is a must-visit at the south of Luzon. Home to marine ecosystem and exceptional delicacies, the Tagalog has a lot to offer. A few of them are the kapeng barako, warm and comforting pansit Lomi, suman and of course, crispy pata.

Just last October 25, emerging socialized housing facility BellaVita of the Ayala Properties group, honored these delicacies with the Pinakapanalong Lipa Delicacies --  a culinary contest presenting the local specialties of Lipa City. Spectators and foodies gathered in this food festival and witnessed the blessing of BellaVita housing. Now people from the outskirts of Lipa and Batangas can enjoy the delicacies that the locals are proud of and enjoy the calming atmosphere and convenience in BellaVita Lipa.

Best restaurants in Lipa vied for the titles of "Pinakapanalong Lipa Delicacies" in different categories serving warm and comforting pansit Lomi, suman and of course, crispy pata. From the start of the cook-off at 8AM,  Here are the participants and also their earned winnings:

Pinakapanalong Lomi:
LBN Lomi House
Benok’s Lomi House - 2nd Runner Up
Hanzel Special Lomi House - Grand Winner
Filian Goto and Lomi House - 1st Runner Up
Sizzling Lomi House

Pinakapanalong Crispy Pata:
Hanzel Special Lomi House - 1st Runner Up
Tolit’s D Sizzler
Filian Goto and Lomi House - Grand Winner
3G’s Fat Crackles - - 2nd Runner Up

Pinakapanalong Suman:
Aida Barcelos - 1st Runner Up
Nida Apenado - Grand Winner
Filian Goto and Lomi House - 2nd Runner Up

The first-ever food competition organized by Amaia was judged by Amaia executives, officials, and some friends from the media, including Liwag, Burt Aurelio, Project Development Team Leader (South); Alain Sazon, Project Development Manager (South); Ruthlea Bijis and Lorna Silava of Lipa BellaVita In-House Sales; and bloggers Jeman Villanueva and Josephine Bonsol.

For more inquiries, visit http://www.bellavita.ph or like https://www.facebook.com/BellaVitaLandCorp.

Maine Mendoza has a new love

Maine "Yaya Dub" Mendoza admits she has a new love aside from Alden.

This weekend, we are teased with posts all over Facebook and Twitter with #DalawaAngPusoNiMaine. We now wonder for whom is she offering her "second heart." We are all excited and not disappointed with the latest commercial for 555 Sardines which aired Saturday at Eat Bulaga break. Dubbing Sana Dalawa ang Puso Ko with a little rapping, watch the video below.

Bakit kaya dalawa ang puso ni Meng?

Si Maine, sobra mag mahal… not once but twice! #MaineHearts555

Posted by 555 Sardines on Friday, October 2, 2015

Congratulations once again Maine for another endorsement. This was the 4th since her first with McDonald's launched in September.

ALDUB's extended version of McDo commercial

#ALDUBPapaNaKita sounds awkward but the kilig doesn't stop in the extended version of Alden and Maine's McDonald's commercial. Wake up to a great morning seeing these two lovebirds.

The first version was released on September 7 right after the first meeting and when #ALDUBBattleforACause trended with around 3M tweets. Watch the video below:

Papa Na Kita #ALDUBKoTo
Throwback Kilig!— Sarap balikan ang unang kilig. Nakaka-LSS ‘to! Get ready to sing along with Alden and Maine! #ALDUBKoTo #ALDUBPapaNaKita
Posted by McDonald's on Sunday, September 27, 2015

Sharing more screenshots for you ALDUB Nation. ;)

Celebrate the Chinese Mid-Autumn Festival at Brooklyn's New York Pizza

If you want pizza and be lucky, call your family and friends to come to Brooklyn’s New York Pizza to celebrate the Chinese Mid-Autumn Festival and play the Chinese Mooncake Festival Dice Game for only P600 per person, minimum of 12 pax, which includes food and prizes to be won!

No more hassle for shopping on prizes or planning for food to feast with your family and friends. Dial 351-0000 for reservations and choose where you would like to get together with your family and friends from any of our 6 branches: Makati, Tomas Morato, Ortigas, Alabang Town Center, BF Parañaque and Robinson's Place Manila.

The Chinese Mid-Autumn Festival is a celebration of good harvest celebrated on the 15th day of the eighth month of the Chinese calendar which falls on September 27 this year! In China, it is a two-day holiday for the Chinese people to go to their hometowns get together with their family and friends for thanksgiving. Another tradition done for this celebration is the Chinese Mooncake Festival Dice Game wherein prizes are being won depending on the dice you roll.

Looking for an activity and venue to bond with family and friends? Come and celebrate the Chinese Mid-Autumn Festival with us and play the traditional Chinese Mooncake Festival Dice Game. Call now at 351-0000 for reservations!

To get updates on Brooklyn’s, just go to:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BrooklynPizza
Instagram & Twitter: @brooklynsnewyorkpizza
Website: www.brooklyns.ph

Watch the #ALDUBforMcDoTVC video

ALDUB is the newest McDonald's endorsers! Guess what ALDUB Nation will be ordering for lunch today.

AlDub you all - this one's for you! Ulit-ulitin ang kilig! #ALDUBKoTo #ALDUBonMcDoTVC pic.twitter.com/5OS6Y0yLUY

— McDo Philippines (@McDo_PH) September 11, 2015

Version 2 is more kilig:

AlDub you all - this one's for you! Ulit-ulitin ang kilig! #ALDUBKoTo #ALDUBonMcDoTVC

A video posted by McDonald's Philippines (@mcdo_ph) on Sep 10, 2015 at 10:23pm PDT

Still the two don't really meet in this video. haha

Get your Chicken Fillet Ala King Meal for only Php59 at the nearest McDonald's branch.

Stay tuned for #ALDUBforMcDoTVC

It's a giveaway.

Abangan bukas! #AlDubKoTo #AlDubforMcDoTVC #ALDUBLostWithoutYou pic.twitter.com/FEEJ4UzzUN

— McDo Philippines (@McDo_PH) September 10, 2015

The ad will launch tomorrow on TV. Be sure to catch it.

Congratulations Pambansang Bae and Yaya Dub! (pabebe wave) Though the weeksary today isn't very happy at all.

#ALDUB you McDonald's!

Not really a fresh news but McDonald's Philippines has given its share on the bandwagon about the biggest love team of the season, ALDUB, which is composed of Alden Richards and Maine "Yaya Dub" Mendoza.

And after their big meet-up last Saturday that took ALDUB Nation by storm, the following day was just as exciting as Yaya Dub was seen in a McDonald's branch in BGC and the hashtag #ALDUBforMcDoTVC has trended in the Philippines and Worldwide. This is seen in Wally Bayola's Twitter account:

PAPPARAPAPA ALDUB KOTO! AYAN NA INIINTA NATIN! CONGRATS @mainedcm TVC @McDo_PH #ALDUBforMcDoTVC pic.twitter.com/3Jn2MT9SQA

— Wally Bayola (@ImWallyBayola) September 6, 2015

A few days ago, McDo Philippines' Twitter account gave us a teaser which heightened up the #kilig for this campaign.

#ALDUBSeeYouAgain #SaTamangPanahon <3 #AlDubforMcDoTVC pic.twitter.com/Wv7wEv3IpY

— McDo Philippines (@McDo_PH) September 8, 2015

And a few hours ago, they posted this:

#ALDUBKapitLang #SaTamangPanahon 👫 ❤ #AlDubforMcDoTVC pic.twitter.com/QKPSQq3cXi

— McDo Philippines (@McDo_PH) September 9, 2015

Congratulations on your first endorsement, Maine! We are so excited to see your commercial. For updates, continue to follow McDo's PH Twitter account and also follow the hashtags made by ALDUB Nation everyday, also this one: #ALDUBforMcDoTVC

So McDo, when is your #TamangPanahon?

#CheesePaMore: Gardenia's spin-off to old favorites

I love cheese and I hope I get to bring cheese anywhere I go. And thank Gardenia that they released new products that are so convenient and still lives to its yummy goodness. And they are not just filled with cheese, they are old-time favorites for me.

I brought Gardenia Toasties at the office for my break time snack and I didn't know that it was one of the new Gardenia products. It's crunchy and cheese-filled goodness that I cannot stop munching on. It is so convenient to bring so you can have it also while at home, school or on the road. You can also serve it with coffee or at any given occasion. Did you know that it also comes with Crunchy Buttered Toast variant?

For those who watch their weights, figures and health, Gardenia Toasties has 0% transfat. Now I wonder if I can mix it with salads or soups for that extra texture.

Another thing in the cheesy goodness is the Gardenia Cheese Buns. This is definitely I remember back in my high school days when we take a break. But Gardenia's version is soft and cheesy and again, transfat-free! Gardenia promises that their products are baked to goodness with fresh ingredients and keeping them flavorful with every bite. Cheese Buns lives to Gardenia's tagline, "Masarap kahit walang palaman."

For more information about Gardenia, you can visit their Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/gardeniaph or website at gardenia.com.ph.

first XILAIMEN Seafood Restaurant opens in Robinsons Magnolia

It was a long busy day and it was just after my Baguio stint and I was thankful to be invited by one of my friends from the said tour. The newest restaurant resting at the center of the Robinsons Magnolia is Xilaimen Seafood Restaurant.

Ms. Andrea Joyce Ng-Wen

Xilaimen Seafood Restaurant opened July 19 this year and is located fronting the ice cream house at the ground floor of Robinsons Magnolia and serves authentic Chinese seafood dishes that are rich and flavorful. The place is also very cozy for family gatherings, dates and reunions.

According to Ms. Andrea Joyce Ng-Wen, “Xilaimen means happiness in Chinese and this is what we want for the customers to experience whenever they dine in at our restaurant.” “An ambiance of joy as they enter the restaurant,” added by Ms. Wen. Not only with the restaurant but with the food that is served as well. By doing so, it makes the food experience more fun and enjoyable, more enticing for everyone to go back and have an exquisite dining experience.

The food are overwhelming with flavor and generous servings and are very affordable. We were served with these amazing dishes that made it a night full of flavor.

Mixed Seafood with Polonchay Soup

Lapu-Lapu in Egg White

Sauteed Fried Crabs with Sotanghon

Elephant Shell with Broccoli Flower in XO Sauce

Cold Cuts

There are defnitely more in store and I returned to Xilaimen for dinner and spent only around Php1000, which is already reasonable for these dishes. And they're good for 2-3 persons.

Clockwise from left (Fresh Shrimp in XO Sauce with Broccoli Sauce, Special Seafood Hotpot, Yang Chow Fried Rice)

I'm really sure that these dishes are prepared clean and added with love before it gets to the plate. The experience on the mouth and inside the restaurant is really worth-spending.

Xilaimen Seafood Restaurant is located at the Upper Ground Floor, Al Fresco, Robinsons Magnolia, New Manila, Quezon City with telephone number (02) 720-97-25.

Check out Kwento Ni Totoand Mommy’s MAG Life’s Xilaimen Seafood Restaurant Giveaway on Instagram just follow their account @yashirokuru and @satnomangie and read the details on how to join.

Pasalubong finds in Baguio City

You definitely have something to take home when you've been someplace, that is a big Filipino character. And during our tour in Baguio City, two places should not be missed: Tartland Baguio Pasarabo and Good Shepherd Convent.

We stopped over at a place where a common delicacy is made: lengua. There's no other place in Baguio that creates a crispy, milky and delicious lengua than in Tartland. We almost got lost driving to Tartland but the journey was worth it because we are about to meticulous review how their famous lengua is made and reaches to our palate.

The working area is very sanitized and the workers are well equipped and neat. From a simple mixer turned into massive machines for big production now displayed at the developed facility just a meter from the owner's home.

The mixer and syringe pioneering the Tartland business

Workers and baking oven

After a few talks and a visit inside the factory, we are so lucky that the owner let us taste the product fresh from the oven. There are a few overcooked lengua and I prefer them than the lighter ones. But every jar of lengua you buy from the market or pasalubong store, they are guaranteed fresh from the oven and tastes so good.

Another pasalubong find from Baguio is the Good Shepherd Convent that produces the famous ube. Most people want this from any tourist who goes to Baguio. Overseeing the Mines View from the convent, (by the way, the place is also managed by nuns) you can stroll along while some of your companions may be queuing for jars and jars of ube which costs Php200 each. Enjoy the view or buy, you will be satisfied. Also for every purchase, you help Cordillera youth with their studies.

I really have to bring something home because I wanted to.

While the dark seeps in and it's nighttime in Baguio City, we are about to get scared. Follow the #aftersummer trail.

What to eat in Baguio City's "Slaughterhouse?"

Find comfort in Baguio City's slaughterhouse. Though the  name has an uneasy feeling but the meals are perfect for beer-moments even. If  you want to have a dive on warm soup with a lot of memories as your pasalubong, Balajadia Restaurant is the place to be.

The entrance welcomes you with a smoking grill and boiling large pot of papaitan luring you into this humble restaurant.

Just beside a public market, the place is forgivable to be clean and efficient. They serve barbecue, warm soup dishes and the price is very affordable. But note of these dishes for your next Baguio City visit: liempo, bulalo, papaitan and BnB.

The liempo has a special blood sauce, just like the sauce from the local dinuguan. I cannot imagine the combination at first but it tastes great. While the bulalo and papaitan are regular inuman session dishes, we are greatly curious of what BnB is.

Liempo with blood sauce

Standing for Butt and Balls, yes this dish is made of pork butt and balls that are somehow awkward to eat. Cooked like asado but more tender than meat. Try it soon.

Continue my Baguio City adventure here.

authentic Igorot dishes in Cafe Yagam

Travel is not complete without food. And for every place you visit, you'll learn more of the culture. During our #aftersummer #groupgetaway in Baguio City, courtesy of Azalea Residences, we get more acquainted with the locals by trying their own dishes. These dishes are served fresh warm in Cafe Yagam.

We are totally feeling the cold weather in Baguio and it was raining outside. Cafe Yagam, was just a humble 2-storey house converted to a restaurant. The fireplace warms down the cooling climate and even made cozier by the owner of the place, Miss Poleen Carla Rosito, that welcomed us cheerfully.

Then the food is served. They taught us how natives prepare these food and why they are made. Mostly these dishes are served in big tribe gatherings or offered in rituals and later consumed.

Kinwar

Blood Sausage

Pinikpikan

You'd better be careful of what you put in your mouth. If you can't tolerate exotic dishes like these, Cafe Yagam also serve normal food in the menu. But the experience trying these are priceless. They also come best with rice wine, also called tapuy, to draw heat to your esophagus down.

Cafe Yagam is located at 25 J. Felipe St., Gibraltar, Baguio City. You can also call them at these numbers: +63 948 9585 157 or +63 946 4550 364.

Cafe Yagam was our last stop for the first day in the Baguio City group getaway. Click here to continue the tour.