Razon's to bring popular halo-halo to the Middle East

MANILA – Razon’s of Guagua, known for its creamy, no-frills halo-halo, will soon be available in the Middle East.

The Kapampangan restaurant chain is set to open a branch in Dubai, where many overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) are based.

“It will be our first international store in Dubai, and we are excited to cater to over a million OFWs in the region. There is a demand for real Filipino food in Dubai,” Jose Razon, executive vice president of Razon’s, said in an interview with Manila Standard.

Razon’s halo-halo is different from the original Filipino icy treat as it only contains three main ingredients: leche flan, saging na saba, and macapuno.

The restaurant, which has branches in Pampanga, Metro Manila, and nearby provinces, is also popular for its pancit luglug, sizzling bulalo, sizzling sisig, and dinuguan with puto.

source: news.abs-cbn.com

Poultry-related stocks fall as investors react to bird flu outbreak

Listed poultry farms and chicken restaurants took a hit Monday as investors reacted to the Philippines' first ever bird flu outbreak in Pampanga. - Business Nightly, ANC, August 14, 2017

source: news.abs-cbn.com

VIRAL: Lady cops pose with Mark Anthony Fernandez

A photo of two smiling policewomen flanking Mark Anthony Fernandez after the former matinee idol was arrested for illegal possession of a kilogram of marijuana went viral Wednesday as the two lady cops appeared to be smitten by the former 'Gwapings' member.

Fernandez was arrested Monday night by police in Pampanga province for trying to slip past a checkpoint and for possession of marijuana with an estimated street value of P15,000

Some netizens criticized the two policewomen for allegedly being unprofessional, and for supposedly giving preferential treatment to Fernandez.

The Philippine National Police (PNP) said no sanctions have been imposed against the unnamed lady cops as officials have yet to review if taking pictures with suspects is a violation of the PNP's ruled and regulations.

"Ako nakikita ko wala namang masama... Ang tinitingnan namin diyan ay ang tamang paggamit ng uniporme habang sila ay nakauniporme," PNP spokesperson S/Supt. Dionardo Carlos said.

[I personally do not see anything wrong with it, but we are looking into possible violations of the proper use of the PNP uniform.]

Carlos admitted that PNP personnel have to be reminded about their proper conduct, especially when using social media.

"Ire-review namin kung ano nagiging policy sa training service. Possibly baka kailangan sumabay sa kasakuluyan na teknolohiya ang regulasyon ng PNP," he said.

[We have to review the training service policy on social media. We might have to adjust some PNP regulations so that it will be at par with the current technology.]

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

Bouncers in Baron Geisler viral video speak up

ANGELES CITY- The bouncers involved in the viral video showing a rowdy Baron Geisler have finally aired their side of the story.

The Facebook clips show the 33-year-old actor, who appears to be drunk, being disallowed entry to the establishment in Pampanga. In the second video, Geisler is seen cursing and even challenging the bouncers to a fist fight.

Edgar Tolentino, head bouncer, said that Geisler was denied entry to their establishment because he was very drunk.

"May rules kasi kami dito, 'pag lasing na at di mo na kaya, bawal na," explained Tolentino.

When told about the policy, Geisler allegedly started shouting and throwing invectives at the bouncers.

"Sabi n'ya, 'magkano ka ba? P*tang ina mo, papatayin kita, pati anak mo,' sabi niya," Ronnie Tanglao, another bouncer, narrated.

Tanglao said that the altercation caught in the viral videos was not the first time Geisler made a scene at the bar. Geisler allegedly made a pass at dancers in the bar three years ago.

"Nanigarilyo s'ya sa dancefloor, tapos nanghipo. Akala siguro, okay lang dahil artista," Tanglao recounted.

The management of the bar has yet to decide whether to press charges against Geisler.

GEISLER'S CAMP ISSUES STATEMENT

In a statement, ALV Talent Circuit, which manages Geisler's career, empathized with the actor's "plea against the discrimination he suffered" from the club's management and security.

It surmised that Geisler's past controversies were the reason he was denied admission to the venue.

The talent firm expressed support for its ward, saying it was the establishment that "caused the incident and aggravated the situation by hurting the feelings of Baron."

Here's the full statement of ALV Talent Circuit:

"We are greatly concerned about the viral video of Baron Geisler’s latest bar incident in Angeles City, Pampanga which is currently making the rounds on social media.

"We empathize with Baron Geisler's plea against the discrimination he suffered from the bouncer and management of the said venue.

"As can be seen in the longer version of video, Baron may have overreacted due to frustration but had reason and was well within his rights to question and demand explanation from the manager or somebody who had authority, why he was being denied admission into a public place that offers entertainment and serves alcoholic beverages.

"We do not know of any bar that discriminates against incoming patrons whether they appear inebriated or not. We can only conclude that this is a result of the stigma caused by similar incidents involving Mr. Geisler in the past.

"Management caused the incident and aggravated the situation by hurting the feelings of Baron. As clearly appearing in the video, there is no single justifiable reason for the management to deny admission except that he is Baron Geisler with obvious past issues.

"Nevertheless, a place for entertainment open to the public, locals and foreigners alike, cannot single out any individual purely because of the stigma of his past, unaccompanied by any illegal act, untoward incident, violation of law, ordinance and rules of the establishment.

"Despite the commotion outside the bar, we are thankful that Baron had the right mind to walk away in the end from the said incident.

"We pray for sobriety and that the public be more discerning before judging anyone." - with a report from Gel Sigui, ABS-CBN News Pampanga

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

Chasing dreams: A summa cum laude's road to success

(The Business Mentor's note: Kenneth C. Ayson took up BSBA Major in Management Entrepreneurship in Angeles University Foundation, Pampanga and graduated Summa Cum Laude. He was also President of the Year of JP Trends, A JA Mini-Company 2014-2015 and VP for Finance of the Year of Kerian, A JA Mini-Company last 2013-2014. He also served as a student leader in different organizations such as President-JP Trends, A JA Mini-Company, Vice President-Junior Managers & Entrepreneurs Society of the Philippines, and VP for Finance of Kerian, A JA Mini-Company. He was also one of the scholars of Barbara Yap Angeles (BYA) from 2011 to 2015.)

MANILA, Philippines - Each one of us is different but we are all capable of one thing: having a dream. These dreams allow us to achieve life-long happiness and contentment. Allowing one's self to dream is a manifestation of a person’s drive and passion to succeed. Setting one's self to go beyond the norm and achieve shows utmost will to have a meaningful life.

But these dreams are not easy to reach. There will be challenges that will determine one's desire to reach a goal. These challenges will either make you weak to the point that you’re about to lose the battle or make you even stronger. You choose.

In my case, these challenges made me the latter; strong enough to handle all the pressures.

One of my challenges was when my dad suffered a mild stroke. Despite his condition, what I admired most was the words he uttered. He said, “E kayu migaganaka.” (Don't worry.) We are very lucky that today, he is in a good condition and is very healthy. Having to overcome this challenge, however, turned everything around. My father had to rest and we need to stop the operation of our business. This enabled us to have a different set up, way different from what we had before.

At that time, I told myself, “Gusto ko nang sumuko.” But I looked at my parents, still smiling with pride and joy despite having such difficulties. This has inspired me to do better in order to have a brighter future and to fulfill the dreams that I have for them.
A lot of opportunities knocked on my door upon entering college, one of which was the 100 percent scholarship. This really motivated me to study hard because it made me realize that there is no reason for me to quit. Through this blessing, I saw how God has provided me with wonderful ways to stay.

Something else that motivates me is the talk my parents always had. I can still remember the time when my parents always say something about having our own house because for 11 years we have been renting an apartment. I looked at my mom’s sad eyes for she believes that it will take a long time before having our own house. This became my drive to work hard after graduation. I made a promise that the first thing that I will do is to chase the dreams that I have built not just for myself but for my parents.

Now, I’m already a graduate. I talked to my friend who is an architect to help me start sketching the dream house that I want my parents to live in. For me, it’s time to give back everything that they have done for me. My dreams would remain in its lowest if not for their love and unending support.

When I was in high school, I wasn’t like this. I’m just focused mainly on my academics, nothing more and nothing less. I was just doing it for the sake of being on top of the class. But one day I woke up and realized that it is not just this stagnant goal that I am supposed to reach, but something far greater. I reminded myself to dream big, to know my priorities in life, and to focus my attention to my loving parents who worked really hard just to send us to good schools.

Most importantly, I asked myself everyday why not make them proud? Why not build dreams for them? Why not make them the happiest people on earth? From these “why nots,” I was actually inspired to do better and now even my best.

From the different competitions, seminars, and trainings that I attended, I was molded from a "no one" to "someone." I didn’t expect that I will reach this far. I am so blessed that there were people who kept on motivating me and telling me that being me is the best version of myself. God is really good because He gave me people that played a huge part in my life whenever I’m tested in the battle field of competitions.

I am lucky enough that I was chosen to represent our school in different competitions. I really felt everyone’s trust and support, and in return I make it a point that I am always inculcating excellence in everything that I do. From those competitions, I was able to gain a lot of things. One of the greatest achievements that I had was when we won the mini-company award (champion) organized by the Junior Achievement of the Philippines, Inc. (JAPI).

From the said competition, I gained enough confidence which I could use as a weapon once I’m already in the real world. It was never an easy task for us especially for me who acted as the president of our group. I need to check all the activities and strategies set by the different departments for they should all be beneficial to the success of the company. I came to a point that I got disheartened because some of our plans were ineffective. At that time, I really felt that I am not an effective leader as I began questioning my skills and decisions. But I reminded myself of everything I have went through. These are just challenges and we need to reach our main goal, our dreams, which is to win and bring home the big trophy.

So I told my members, we need to double our effort in order to reach our goal because at the end of the day all we want is to be rewarded with what we have offered. Moreover, I reminded myself to be a great leader and to share my skills which I gained through various programs.

I am glad and proud to say, we won majority of the awards and the feeling was totally different. I even won the President of the Year award which made me realize that with determination and perseverance, nothing is impossible.

All the blessings that I have right now magnify how good God is. That no matter what happens, He is always there to give us everything that we deserve. All we need to do is to be thankful and live a life according to what is right. Don’t stop chasing your dreams because you will feel the real happiness once you reached the end of the line.

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

Apl.de.ap opens his first Jollibee store

MANILA – Black Eyed Peas member apl.de.ap opened his first Jollibee store in Dau, Pampanga last week.

In his official Facebook account, the Filipino-American rapper, who is a Pampanga native, recalled how he always wanted his mom to bring him to Jollibee when he was younger.

“Since I was a young boy, I always pointed at Jollibee and my mom would say, "Anak, we need this money for your siblings also so next time na lang." And then one day, she finally took me into Jollibee and I think I lost my mind! I thought: ‘Oh my God, did this happen?’” he said.

That’s why he considers opening his own Jollibee store a dream come true.



In a separate interview with entertainment site Push, apl.de.ap said he was actually the one who approached Jollibee.

“It's been a dream of mine for years now. I got to meet the chairman and I jokingly asked him that growing up I couldn't afford to get Jollibee and it's a product that I grew up with and I truly cherish. I just asked simply and they kindly granted me with one so it's a dream come reality at this point,” he said.

The “The Voice of the Philippines” coach said he decided to get a franchise of the fast food chain because he wants “to create employment and I thought it would be the most stable thing that could help out others.”

“If hopefully this does well then we can have one there [in Sapang Palay where I was born] too. There's always a future for other places,” said.

Apl.de.ap said he also plans to open a branch in the United States.

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

LOOK: Oblation runner proposes to girlfriend

MANILA - A naked man who took part in the Oblation Run in Angeles City, Pampanga surprised the crowd when he proposed to his girlfriend Friday.

The Oblation Run is an annual event held by the chapters of Alpha Phi Omega (APO) in the different University of the Philippines (UP) campuses.

The runners traditionally run completely naked in public areas.

It was Patrick Laxamana's third time to join the Oblation Run. A member of the Omicron chapter of APO, and an alumnus of Holy Angel University, Laxamana always gives his girlfriend, Krizzy Martinez, a rose during the run.

This year, however, Laxamana surprised Martinez by proposing to her in public during the Oblation Run.

Laxamana and Martinez, both 26 years old, have been together for five years.-- report from Trisha Mostoles, ABS-CBN News Pampanga

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

Meet the woman who founded Cabalen restaurant

MANILA, Philippines - I love hearing the saying, "if there's a will, there's a way." Oftentimes this saying becomes the battle cry of successful people.

They always believe in having a strong will to carry on despite facing difficulties along their journey.

This is how this lady made her path towards being a well-known food connoisseur.

At the age of 18, she spent her time creating fantastic menus. Her world was surrounded with great food and Kapampangan cuisine.

This lady is no other than Maritel Nievera, who began a restaurant called Cabalen.

The Business Mentor had the opportunity of talking and asking her insights especially on the restaurant business.

Business Mentor: How did you manage to develop such passion for creating menus?

Maritel Nievera: Well I grew up in an Pampanga where almost everybody loved to cook. The Kapampangan cuisine made me more curious to venture in concocting varieties.

BM: So how did Cabalen come into existence?

MN: Though I was armed with my food menus, I started Cabalen as a small “pasalubong” store in San Fernando, Pampanga. I wanted to test if some of my products would be acceptable by people. It was more of gaining my confidence. True enough months later I received many encouraging words from people I never met. In fact there customers who drove all the way from Manila to buy my products either to be sent to their loved ones overseas or personal consumption.

BM: Did those words from customers boost your confidence to explore having a branch in Manila?

MN: I was so excited as in head over heels! In 1986, I established Cabalen in West Avenue in Quezon City. It was a restaurant was serving dishes derived my recipes as well as other towns from Pampanga.

BM: Did you go to any culinary school to hone your skills?

MN: I did not have a formal culinary education, but I was blessed with a discerning palate. My good taste in food allowed me to effectively develop dishes that will be loved by our customers. In fact I personally manage our Product Research and Development Team.

BM: How much time do you devote in managing the business?

MN: I am hands-on when it comes to managing the business. I
devote a huge part of my time to the business. You may say it is because of passion and love that I find great satisfaction. When I am leisurely travelling in parts of the country or abroad, my mind and eyes are on food and concepts. This is how I began my Thai Restaurant concept “Oody’s”.

BM: The food industry is a big market. How do you keep “Cabalen” a by-word and with many followers?

MN: The key to Cabalen’s success has been maintaining high quality standards in our food, service, cleanliness and people. Sustained quality in these areas has been the main reason why our customers keep coming back to Cabalen. In fact most overseas Filipinos make it a point to eat at Cabalen within days of their arrival. Others would bring their foreign visitors as part of making their visit to the country complete.

BM: Cabalen ventured into establishing a branch in the United States.

MN: Yes, it is true. In 2013, due to the clamor of the Filipino community, I decided to open a branch in San Bruno, California. It was a success especially having the "Eat All You Can" similar to Manila.

BM: What are your plans now for Cabalen? Where you take the brand in the next few years?

MN: I am not poised to aggressively open branches in the different parts of the country. In fact major malls in Davao, General Santos, and Lipa, Batangas are offering sites to me. I am looking at sharing with qualified franchisees my success in operating Cabalen.

Internationally I am also looking aside from the US, parts of Europe and Asian countries. I am passionate in making my brand a major contributor towards making our country known. Whoever invests on Cabalen must be as passionate like me, too, aside from loving my food.

BM: where do interested parties get in touch with you?

MN: I may be reached through our website www.cabalen.ph and email address is maritelnievera@yahoo.com

---
For questions and more information, you may contact Armando "Butz" Bartolome by email: philfranchiseguru@gmail.com. His website is www.gmb.com.ph

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

Pampanga mall offers a taste of the North

MANILA – Here’s a good reason to go to Pampanga this weekend: over 100 food stalls from northern Philippines will serve their specialties in a big culinary event, which will also be attended by some of the country’s well-known chefs and home cooks.

Ayala-owned Marquee Mall will serve as the venue for “Big Bite! The Northern Food Festival,” a first of its kind in the country, which will be held from October 18 to 20. Here, visitors can sample everything that the North has to offer, from fresh produce to snacks, meals, desserts and even unusual delicacies.

For the event, Ayala Land collaborated with the Department of Tourism, the Department of Trade and Industry and the Mercato Centrale Group, which is known for putting up food markets in different parts of the country.



Maria Rowena Tomeldan, vice president and head for operations and support services of Ayala Land’s commercial business group, explained why they chose to hold the Big Bite in a provincial mall instead of Manila.

“It’s really suited for Marquee because Pampanga is the culinary capital of the Philippines… And as a group, we make sure that we don’t just bring in the strong Manila brands,” she told food writers during a preview of the event. “We make sure that we also bring in regional concepts.”

“Because you know, the Filipinos are actually so talented when it comes to food,” she added. “Even in the dining table, we talk about food while eating. That’s what makes us so different. We already plan the next meal. At saka ‘pag may party, ang tanong, ‘anong handa?’ Hindi ‘sino ang bisita?’ So that’s what we are as a race, it’s part of our culture. We want to highlight that.”

The food

Tomeldan said visitors can expect to see at least two versions of a certain dish in the first ever Big Bite, citing the sheer number of participating stalls in the event.

For the media preview held last week, organizers handpicked some of what they believe are the most successful food stalls in the food festival.

“They’re very persistent,” Tomeldan said of these local food vendors, which have made it big in some provinces and even in Metro Manila.

She is hoping that other homegrown food concepts will follow suit. “Kasi some of them are hesitant, they’re happy where they are,” she said. “So we invited food retailers and chefs and cooks all the way from Bulacan to Ilocos.”

Among the more popular food brands in the Big Bite is Nathaniel’s, which now has branches in Katipunan and Timog Avenue, both in Quezon City. The Pampanga-based shop is known mainly for its buko pandan salad, a refreshing treat made of milk, coconut and pandan-flavored gelatin cubes.

Other Kapampangan favorites include Susie’s tibok-tibok, a white pudding made with carabao’s milk and topped with fried coconut bits; Pampanga’s Best tocino and ham; and Kuliat empanadas and Toll House’s baked macaroni which are a little on the sweet side, just how most Filipinos like their food.

“Masarap ang macaroni nila,” said Tomeldan, who admitted that she has always been a customer of Toll House. “When you think about it, sobrang simple lang ang macaroni. Pero parang ‘pag masarap kasi ang macaroni, everybody eats.”

There is also Kabigting’s Halo-Halo which, like Razon’s, is known for using few ingredients. Kabigting’s version (which has beans, sweet corn and carabao’s milk pastillas) is sweet but not overwhelming, although it tends to leave a chalky texture in the mouth because of the pastillas.

Pampanga’s neighboring provinces were represented during the media preview by Sweet Heavens’ Leche Flan in Nueva Ecija, Christy’s Special Bulacan Chicharon and Bella’s Puto Calasiao in Pangasinan.

Rich and creamy, Sweet Heavens’ Leche Flan is a dream come true for those with a sweet tooth. It deserves praise for its firm and smooth texture, but easy on the syrup – it tends to become cloyingly sweet.

What hits the spot is Bella’s unflavored puto Calasiao, with the bite-size, sticky rice cake having just the right amount of sweetness. The flavored ones, like banana and mango, may be an acquired taste for some.

Also noteworthy is the very tasty and indulgent chicharon from Christy’s, which is best enjoyed with steamed rice.

“We’re getting all the contacts of the best suppliers and putting them all together in one big event. So parang the best of the best,” said Sandy Espinosa, marketing manager of Ayala Land’s commercial business group.

“There will be stalls from Baguio, Ilocos, from different parts of the region,” she added.

Other activities

Aside from the food stalls, Big Bite will also feature cooking demonstrations from top chefs and cooks such as “Junior MasterChef Pinoy Edition” judge Chef Rolando Laudico, Chef Sau del Rosario, Sabrina Artadi of “Sabrina’s Kitchen,” and Lilian Borromeo of the famous dining destination, Kusina ni Atching Lilian.

There will also be inter-school cooking competitions among culinary schools such as Philippine Women’s University, Systems Plus College, Angeles University Foundation, NorthPoint Culinary Academy and Bulacan State University.

Contests will also be aplenty, from eating showdowns to the search for the best heirloom recipe.

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

'Frustrated' Arroyo pleads 'not guilty'

MANILA, Philippines - (UPDATE 4 - 9:25 a.m.) A "frustrated" former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo personally entered a plea of not guilty on charges of electoral sabotage at the Pasay City Regional Trial Court Thursday morning.

Arroyo, now second district representative of Pampanga, entered her plea before Judge Jesus Mupas at around 8:55 a.m., around 15 minutes after arriving at the court from the Veterans Memorial Medical Center in Quezon City, where she has been detained since late last year after she was ordered arrested by Judge Jesus Mupas.

Her husband, Jose Miguel, and sons Juan Miguel, representative of the Ang Galing Pinoy party-list, and Diosdado, representative of Camarines Sur, were with her at her arraignment.

Arroyo's husband, who arrived with eldest son Mikey, ahead of the former president, told reporters his wife was "frustrated" over the "injustice" being done to her.

"There is no case against her," he said.

Diosdado accompanied his mother in the convoy from the VMMC and escorted her into the courtroom along with Arroyo's spokesperson Elena Bautista-Horn.

Arroyo was in a cream coat and wore a neck brace.

After the arraignment, Arroyo lawyer Ferdinand Topacio told New5 that they had finished the "first step to clearing" her name and are "ready to go to trial."

The pretrial conference has been scheduled on April 19.

Arroyo returned to the VMMC soon after she was arraigned.

The case against Arroyo, filed by the Commission on Elections last November, has to do with alleged widespread cheating during the 2007 mid-term elections, when, among others, the senatorial slate of her administration managed a 0-12 sweep of Maguindanao province.

Her co-respondents are former Maguindanao governor Andal Ampatuan Sr., former Comelec chairman Benjamin Abalos Sr. and former Maguindanao election supervisor Lintang Bedol. Arroyo's husband was excluded for lack of evidence.

Ampatuan is detained at the Camp Bagong Diwa jail in Taguig City along with others accused of the November 23, 2009 Ampatuan massacre in which 58 people, 32 of them media workers, were killed. Bedol is under the custody of the Comelec and Department of Justice.

Before the Comelec filed the charges, Arroyo had attempted to leave the country, ostensibly to seek treatment for a hormonal condition.

She managed to secure a temporary restraining order against her and her husband's inclusion in the government's travel watch list, which required them to seek clearance before leaving the country. However, she was stopped at the airport by immigration officials on orders of Justice Secretary Leila de Lima.

The electoral sabotage case practically rendered the TRO moot.

A group of Arroyo supporters, some from as far as Pampanga, had gathered near the Pasay City Hall as early as 6:30 a.m.

A media pool of two reporters, a photojournalist and one television cameraman has been allowed inside the courtroom to cover the arraignment.

On Wednessday, the National Capital Regional Police Office, announcing tight security measures, said media would be barred from the court and its immediate vicinity. (with a report from Clara Masinag, InterAksyon.com)

source: interaksyon.com