Nips Chocolate Bar: Jack n Jill's New Crunchy Rainbow-Filled Chocolate Bars

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Nips has been the rainbow of our lives for generations.  It has been coloring our days with its delightful sweet and crunchy candy shell and its smooth and sweet chocolate milk feeling. 

nips chocolate bars


 And, now the classic Nips has a better offering with the new Jack n Jill Nips Chocolate Bar.



nips chocolate bars
Nips Dark Chocolate Bar in 42g
The Nips Chocolate Bar comes in three variants (Milk Chocolate, White Chocolate and Dark Chocolate) and in two sizes (14g and 42g)Now, we can enjoy a richer and creamier chocolate bar filled with the crunchy coated Nips that we've loved.  

The  Nips Chocolate Bar are available in leading supermarkets, groceries and conveniece stores nationwide.

Marriott Grand Ballroom Launch: Space Themed Out of This World Party

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A few weeks ago, I was invited to the grand launch party of Marriott Grand Ballroom. There's a free shuttle ride from Resort World which my companions and found to be cool and convenient.


While waiting, there was a mini cocktail party outside.  And then, it was announced that the entrance has opened.  The hallway was dark with only laser light beams serving as our guide.  I followed the excited crowd.

Someone even stepped on my poor sandals and it broke. :(  But, it didn't bother me as I was very intrigued. There was a cosmic intro which made us feel that we were really out of this world.
 
marriott grand ballroom launch
And, then we continued to the grand launch party.

marriott grand ballroom launch
Fresh seafood were bountiful.  The bar is overflowing so everyone drunk to their hearts content.

marriott grand ballroom launch
This is the biggest chocolate cake I've ever seen.

marriott grand ballroom launch
As you can see servings weres more than adequate.

marriott grand ballroom launch
And, there's the cold cuts and pastry station and peking duck station as well.

marriott grand ballroom launch
 
marriott grand ballroom launch

marriott grand ballroom launch

marriott grand ballroom launch

marriott grand ballroom launch
 
 marriott grand ballroom launchmarriott grand ballroom launch
 The shows were so amazing that gasps and awes filled the atmosphere.


marriott grand ballroom launch

marriott grand ballroom launch


marriott grand ballroom launch
A toast for the opening was led by Marriott's Executives and the night went on.

Paper Towns Movie Review and 5 Life Lessons I learned from It

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After a satisfying watch and read of John Green's The Fault in Our Stars, I was really looking forward to watching Paper Towns.  Written by the same team Scott Neustadter and Michael H. Weber, I knew the film is in good hands. 

So here's my movie review of Paper Town after watching it on the Premier Screening at Glorietta 4.
paper town movie
Given then they had to  squeeze the 305 pages of the novel to a 106-minute movie, I knew that it the movie would loose some of the essence of the movie.  Admittedly, it really lost the emotional depth of the book.  But, it wasn't far.

paper town movie
Each cast had enough screen time to build and depict the same portrayal as the book. 
paper town movie
Some of the lines in the book like the following where used in the movie too:
  • “The way I figure it, everyone gets a miracle. Like, I will probably never be struck by lightening, or win a Nobel Prize, or become the dictator of a small nation in the Pacific Islands, or contract terminal ear cancer, or spontaneously combust. But if you consider all the unlikely things together, at least one of them will probably happen to each of us. I could have seen it rain frogs. I could have stepped foot on Mars. I could have been eaten by a whale. I could have married the Queen of England or survived months at sea. But my miracle was different. My miracle was this: out of all the houses in all the subdivisions in all of Florida, I ended up living next door to Margo Roth Spiegelman.” 
  • “Maybe all the strings inside him broke.” 
  • “Margo always loved mysteries. And in everything that came afterward, I could never stop thinking that maybe she loved mysteries so much that she became one.” 
  • “My heart is really pounding," I said.
    "That's how you know you're having fun," Margo said.” 
  • “It's a penis," Margo said, "in the same sense that Rhode Island is a state: it may have an illustrious history, but it sure isn't big.” 
  • "I've lived here for 18 years and I have never once in my life come across anyone who cares about anything that matters."
  • “You know your problem, Quentin? You keep expecting people not to be themselves."
  • "It is so hard to leave until you leave. And then it is the easiest goddamned thing in the world."
    "You will go to the paper towns and you will never come back."
  • "I can feel the pee all the way up to my ribcage. I am honestly full of pee. Bro, right now, seventy percent of my body weight is pee."
  • "As long as we don't die, this is gonna be one hell of a story."
  • “A paper town for a paper girl.” 
  • "The fundamental mistake I had always made—and that she had, in fairness, always led me to make—was this: Margo was not a miracle. She was not an adventure. She was not a fine and precious thing. She was a girl.”
The movie was really intended to be light, fun and entertaining instead of being dramatic and causing heavy heart like The Fault in Our Stars.   But, it was still emotionally stiring.  I heard laughs during funny scenes as well as "awws" when sweet lines where said across the theater.  I bet the crowd were also silently cheering for the romantic Quentin as he held on to his stubbornness or blind faith in search of Margo.

There was not so much chemistry as to the main casts Quentin "Q" Jacobsen (played by Nat Wolff) and Margo Roth Spiegelman (played by Cara Delevingn).  But, I think it was really intended for them not to have so so the ending will be lighter for the audience.  I made that assumption since complimentary to the lack of chemistry, I also noticed that Margo was made to be more likeable in the movie.  Thus, audience felt better with the ending.  (It could be happy or sad depending on the audience and it was happy for me)

If there's one thing I really appreciate with the movie is the humor.  Most of them were really unexpected too.  There's even a cameo by Ansel Elgort (who starred as Augustus Waters in The Fault in Our Stars) that surprised and made the audience all giddy.  I also felt that the Austin Abrams as Ben Starling brought some scenes to life.

The soundtrack songs were pretty good.  I liked that they introduced non-mainstream songs.  But, I also felt that on some scenes, the instrumental scores failed to draw the sufficient feelings and impact.

I liked the ending, it was open-ended but with some sort of closure just like the book.

paper town movie
Although the novel and film is targeted for teenager or those coming-of-age, I feel that the lesson or message are applicable to adults to so families can actually watch it together.

The Lessons or Message I was able to draw from the movie:
1. People change, we grow apart but we can always keep our memories. 

2. Sometimes, we fall in love with our imagination especially when we're young and our fantasies and romanticism runs wild.

3.  Sometimes, we need to take courage, choose our separate ways to find our true or real selves.
  • For Margo, she has always felt that she didn't belong so she left to find herself. She seems lost that it was easily understandable for Quentin that he needed to let her go.
  • For Quentin, his acts of going out of his comfort zone only confirmed that he really wanted to fulfill his goals.
  • Quentin, Ben, Radar, Lacey and Angela were out to find Margo, instead they found and discovered more about themselves.
4. The stereotype that being pretty and popular is everything isn't true.
  • Margo and Lacey Pemberton belonged to that category and yet, they were unhappy. 
5. True friendship is awesome.
  • The three unpopular kids Quentin, Ben and Marcus a.k.a. Radar had a great friendship that made them really happy.  Even though they did lame things during their high school years, it was cool because they did them together.
Overall,  I highly recommend this movie.  Whether it's just light entertainment you're looking for or a certain degree of emotional stir, I think this is certainly worth your while.  And even though it's fun and light, it still has a lesson or message to instill in us.

Watch Paper Town Movie

JAMBONGGA The Active Music Jam, Learning About Ka-entreP and My Super Cheap Haircut at Haircut & Style

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Last July 3, I passed by TCE Mall for the JAMBONGGA The Active Music Jam.

JAMbongga the active music jam
There was no jamming but we were oriented on Ka-entreP, an organization where members pay a minimal monthly fee for support and seminars.

JAMbongga the active music jam
One of the sponsors is also Radyo Ganda.

JAMbongga the active music jamJAMbongga the active music jam
I got to learn what a Barter does too.  They bring back a dead mall to life.  TCE mall needs much of that!

nagas kinalas
Some of us also sampled Naga's Kinalas.

haircut and style
On the third floor there is newly opened Haircut & Style.

haircut and style
Rates are super cheap.

haircut and style
Lots of seats but there was only one specialist available.

haircut and style
Here she is...

haircut and style
And, tada... the result of my 40 php haircut.

Midea: New Wave of Cooking with Chef Rob Pengson

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Last night, I was fortunate to learn about the New Wave of Cooking using Midea products with the handsome culinary genius Chef Rob Pengson.

midea chef rob pengson
Within 45 minutes, he has simultaneously conjured 9 dishes using Midea's latest innovation. 

Chef Rob Pengson


Midea Microwave Oven
midea microwave oven

With Midea's Microwave Oven, you can save electricity and maintain optimal food nutrition because its short cooking time.

tuna and egg sandwich
Tuna and Egg Salad Sandwich (Using Midea Microwave Oven)
Allow me to showcase the delectable dishes of Chef Rob Pengson which he made right before our very eyes.

ginataan
Ginataan (using Midea Microwave Oven)
Can you believe that per 3-minutes cooking time, you only spend 1 php for electricity?



Midea Digital Multi-cooker / Pressure Cooker  
rice cookers
With the advancement of technology, Rice Cookers have now transformed into Multi-Cookers allowing you to cook a wide-variety of dishes from staples to viands.

seafood paella
Seafood Paella (using Midea Digital Multi-cooker)
Moreover, cooking rice with precision has never been as easy as a touch of button.  Midea's Digital Multi-cooker's are equipped with Thermal Circulation Technology that adjusts the tempature and cooking time based on your water and rice quantity.  In addition, the pot has a honeycomb texture that cooks the rice thoroughly and evenly.

d
chocolate cake
Chocolate Cake (using Midea Digital Multi-cooker)
It also allows you to click some of its program settings to do the guesswork of time estimated cooking time.  After which, you can just open the lid and see the progress and adjust accordingly. 

yang chow fried rice
Yang Chow Fried Rice (using Midea Digital Multi-cooker)


You can take a step further by buying Midea's Digital Multi-cooker that doubles as Pressure Cooker.



Midea Induction Cooker


midea induction cooker

Many condominiums don't allow gas stoves for safety reasons. 

pad thai
Pad Thai (Using Midea Induction Cooker)
I know a lot of families who also prefer induction cookers for its space-saving and low-maintenance benefits on top of its safety features. 

beef salpicao
Beef Salpicao (Using Midea Induction Cooker)
Midea's slim design Induction Cooker consumes 37% less electricity with its double coil system produces more heat and reduces the cooking time. 

tom yum goong
Tom Yum Goong (Using Midea Induction Cooker)

Because its flame-less and auto-shut off feature, even your kids can use them.  

Midea Safety Kettle
 midea safety kettle

Midea's Safety Kettle is a new discovery for me. 

miso soup
Miso Soup (Using Midea Safety Kettle)

It's an economical kettle that has a double wall making it safe to touch.  It also has a patented UK Strix control that prevents dry boiling, overheating as well as electrical shocks.  It even has a cord storage for your convenience.

Midea is one of the world's largest producer of consumer appliances.  It is a trusted brand that has been around since 1968 and it continuous to innovate new products which can now serve our Filipino lifestyle.