Nine years ago, a small group of like-minded PLDT executives banded together over coffee for an advocacy for teachers. With a common dream of being a catalyst of change in the lives of teachers,  Gabay Guro was born and became the CSR arm under the PLDT-Smart Foundation. 

What transpired after that fateful day revolutionized education-based advocacy efforts in so many levels giving birth to a holistic approach that was anchored on the now famous Gabay Guro pillars - Scholarships, Trainings, Housing and Educational Facilities, Livelihood Programs, Broadbanding and Computerization, and Teachers’ Tribute. 

Gabay Guro managed to write off mediocrity since then, championing excellence and  paying tribute to teachers all over the country (and nearby countries) by bringing attention to their heroic deeds and at the same time, providing them with the necessary tools to contribute to the change in the lives of their students and their families.

To this day, Gabay Guro managed to thrive on volunteerism – mostly among the ranks of the executives from PLDT and Smart.

Nine years after, Gabay Guro has over 1,100 scholars in various state colleges and universities nationwide. There are over 300 LET passers, 496 active scholars as of August, 2016 and a projected 167 graduates in 2017. Gabay Guro also celebrates the fact that 137 scholars graduated with honors – 112 cum laudes  and 25 magna cum laudes.  Gabay Guro has also partnered with local government units to further teacher education. 

The foundation has conducted trainings for over 16,000 teachers in the course of its nine years. Today, it runs eight training programs for teachers around the country namely: Teacher’s Treasure Chest; English Proficiency Training; Computer Literacy; Emotional Intelligence; Teacher’s Armor; Leadership Training; IT Sustainability and Literacy; and Unleashing Creativity in Teaching. At the same time, Gabay Guro answers to the needs of the times by doing grassroots anti-drugs trainings in schools. 

Gabay Guro’s initiative on Broadband and Computerization has had great impact nationwide.  All partner-schools were recipients of either computers/laptop or internet connections from PLDT or Smart. 

Knowing that shortage of educational facilities is a major disaster area in the Philippine education system, Gabay Guro has taken the cudgels in the construction of classrooms in the provinces, mostly those that have been hit by debilitating calamities. There is over 40 classrooms constructed and donated already in the ff. provinces: Cebu, Bohol, Leyte and Capiz.

Gabay Guro has grown to be the force that it is today. Whereas in the beginning, there were only a couple of thousand member-teachers under its stable, 2016 sees 20,000-strong membership (and growing!) at its helm and has easily taken over the leadership, the one that sets the bar of service, in all education-related NGOs around the nation.

Ms. Chaye Revilla and the Gabay Guro team of visionaries with her in the foundation, were propelled by this belief: “our nation’s children depend on our nation’s teachers to lead them to the future. And this teachers’ month, Gabay Guro gives tribute to those who teach the next generation of nation-builders.”

The pinnacle of Gabay Guro’s celebration is embodied in the tribute event held every year at the MOA Arena. Year after year, the organizers leave no stone unturned ensuring that it is in Gabay Guro where teachers get to be treated like royalty. Generosity at its finest, raffle prizes have grown to be the staggering house and lot and vehicle showcases and livelihood opportunities that they are today in every Gabay Guro tribute event. 

The Gabay Guro’s 9th Teacher’s Tribute this year, the biggest gathering of the country’s celebrities, will not disappoint on Sept. 25 at the MOA Arena. Stellar names set to give the teachers the time of their lives on this day are Regine Velasquez, Ogie Alcasid, Gary Valenciano, Pops Fernandez, James Reid, Nadine Lustre, Ms. Lea Salonga and Mega star Ms. Sharon Cuneta and more surprise guests on the big day.

This is the day where our teachers get to let their hair loose, meet the biggest celebrities, be treated to a whole day of entertainment and huge raffle prizes beginning with house and lot and vehicles., anything to remind them of their invaluable presence in our lives.

This year’s event is made possible through the help of the ff. sponsors: Perry’s Group of Companies (for the house and lot), Foton for the (Gratour Van),  Intel, Devant, Motorlandia (for the Honda and Suzuki motorcyles), Ropali,  Penshoppe, National Bookstore, Enchanted Kingdom, Splash, Tempra, Flanax, Bonamine, Vivalyte, Mundipharma, Gardenia, Bic, Art Attack, Microsoft, Smart Bro, Ultera, Talk N Text and 51 Talk.

The PLDT Gabay Guro grand tribute event is exclusive for teachers only. Admission is free. Follow Gabay Guro on Facebook, twitter and Instagram at @PLDTGabayGuro or visit the Gabay Guro official website gabayguro.com for more details. 

(PR Release)

Marco Polo Davao, the first and only premier hotel in Mindanao, celebrated Mid-Autumn Festival on Sept. 15.  The Mid-Autumn festival or the Mooncake Festival is an annual celebration of our Chinese brothers and sisters in honor of good harvest, good fortune and reunion of families.

Mooncake Day is usually celebrated on the 15th of the 8th month of the lunar calendar when the full moon is at its roundest and brightest. Chinese tradition says that the full moon is a symbol of peace and prosperity.

Marco Polo Davao Mooncake Gift Boxes

 "This year, Marco Polo Hotels offers a selection of unique mooncake gift boxes, each containing delectable and traditional mooncakes. The custom-crafted gift boxes are available with disposable cutleries including the popular Piccolo Kids Club mini mooncake box specially designed for the little VIPs. Flavors for the mooncake include Low-sugar Lotus Seed and Red bean paste."

Piccolo Kids Club mini mooncake box

A sumptuous and special dinner buffet was prepared for the guests to enjoy at the hotel’s posh Cantonese Restaurant,  Lotus Court. All time Filipino-Chinese signature and favorite dishes were among the choices; Seafood Delight, Pork Knuckle with Butterfly Bun, Steamed Pompano with Black Beans, Stir-Fried Crabs with Ginger and Onion, Homemade Tofu with Enoki Mushroom, Lechon, fresh fruits and the Ultimate 4 kinds of Bochi.

Lotus Court at Marco Polo Davao

Buchi in 4 delicious filling - durian, mongo, chocolate, lienyung

Oh! Lechon we've met again :)

Pork Knuckle with Butterfly Bun

Stir-Fried Crabs with Ginger and Onion

Assorted Pastries

Marco Polo Signature Earl Grape Iced Tea

The night was made extra special as guests were entertained and serenaded with traditional Chinese songs and dances. 

Students from Colegio de San Ignacio performing the Lantern Dance.

The dazzling F&B Staff of Lotus Court in traditional Chinese outfit

During this day, mooncakes are served or given as a gift to express goodwill, benevolence and prosperity. 

Yay! Thank you so much Marco Polo Davao and GM, Dottie Wurgler-Cronin for this lovely and delicious mooncake. Sharing this back for more blessings, peace and prosperity.

Custom-crafted Marco Polo Mooncake. Thank you very much!

Awesome friends from the media and Marco Polo Davao GM, Dottie Wurgler-Cronin. 

Thank you for having us!

(Photo by Maya Padillo)

For your bookings/inquiries Call;

THE MARCO POLO HOTEL DAVAO

C.M. Recto Street

Davao City, Philippines

(082) 221 0888

https://www.facebook.com/marcopolodavaohotel/

https://twitter.com/MarcoPoloDavao

Other photos courtesy of Marco Polo PR, thank you Sarah Dayrit!

Norde International Distributors, collaborator of global brands that create cutting edge machineries in digital graphic printing solution has finally set foot in Davao City, their second showroom outside of Metro Manila.

Davao City Counselor Joanne Bonguyan led the cutting of the ribbon on September 14, along with Norde Executives to formally open the showroom. Norde International Distributors is located at 1&2 Right Wing of FRDC Complex, Davao Golf Club Road, Quimpo Blvd., Davao City.

Norde Executives. 

(L-R) Dennis Ty, Marketing Manager | Steve Venn, Managing Director 

 Allan T. Hao Chin, President | Josephine O. Recalde, Provincial Territory Sales Manager

Established in 2005, Norde International Distributors is Philippines’ leading hub of large, advanced and highly digitized printing technology solutions that serve various industries. 

Norde collaborates with internationally known and top-of-the-line brands to bring to the Philippines state-of-the-art graphic technology solutions that offer world-class quality printing solution to practically everything across broad spectrum of industry.

Norde International Distributors offer printing solutions covering general commercial printing, publishing, signs and display, labels and packaging, fashion and textile, interior design, architecture and fabrication and 3D printers both for industrial prototyping and entry level investment.

“Our identity is built from the premium machines that we offer and our customers’ satisfaction. Quality is the topmost priority in this industry and as such, we make sure that we provide the finest products in digital technology that enhance creativity and productivity in the long run.” Said Norde Business Development Manager, Nina Suarez.

Norde International Distributors Showroom in Davao

HP Latex Large Format Industrial Printer is one of the quality  products Norde represent. This machine produces high quality large prints on fine and rigid materials, from small to large industrial signs and display both indoor and outdoor.

Amazing collection of paper product output of HP Indigo printing machine. Cost-effective and capable of producing vibrant colors on variety of substrates and media. 
Your imagination is the only limit.

This is the Eva 3D scanner. One of the 3D Scanning solutions distributed by Norde. 

They revolutionize the way things are made with 3D printing.

They’re the up-to-the-minute 3D printing solutions for industrial design - prototyping and manufacturing, art, science, education, healthcare, heritage preservation, reverse engineering, product customization, body scanning, quality control and inspection and many more. The possibilities are endless.

Said to be Earth’s highest-rated desktop 3D Printer, The Lulzbot Taz. Probably what Hiro used to print Baymax’s armoured suit. Fiction is now real. Cool!

Lulzbot Taz printed this rocket, octopus, cup, the castle and the orange toy with revolving ball at the center, awesome! Maybe my next car will be 3D printed, who knows? I’m willing to wait for months!

The works of Finishing Machines. Product outputs in innovative, fine-finished, precise, clear-cut carving and laser-cutting. 

Carved signs and displays made by Finishing machines.

Etching machines for aluminium composites, glass printing and 2D wood carving solutions for furniture, scale models and for any other various purpose are also available.

Direct-to-tile printing is amazing. And whoever would purchase one of these machines, please let me know, would love my bath tiles lined with my flower photographs, so cool!

Machines to laser cut plastics, textile, leather, furniture and paper packages for various industrial applications are also on hand at Norde.

The incredible Kornit Digital Printing Machine - prints directly to garments.  

Your art and statements printed directly to the garment is just amazing. This will be artists and designers love-machine. Norde carries the complete portfolio of direct-to-garment printing solutions from entry level to mass production.

Direct to garment digital printing possibilities

On matters of technical assistance, Mr. Allan Hao Chin, Norde’s President assured their would-be clients that they have well-trained technical support team based in Davao that are capable of offering after-sales support and assistance.

Their machines also come with well-supported integrated software counterpart and highly capable people who will conduct hands-on equipment training on the operation of the machine.

Norde brings to Davao the future-is-now in digital printing and cutting technologies in practically everything – paper, metal, wood, garments, ceramics, glass and plastics. Norde brings in machine that makes possibilities happen and imagination is the only limit.

If you want to level up your printing solution and would be interested to invest in digital printing business; visit their showroom at

NORDE INTERNATIONAL DISTRIBUTORS

1&2 Right Wing, FRDC Complex, Davao Golf Club Road,

Quimpo Boulevard, Matina

Davao City, Philippines

Or visit their webpage;

www.norde.com.ph

https://www.facebook.com/NordeInternationalDistributors/

ON September 3, 2016, Davao Digital Influencers, Inc. a newly formed organization of social media influencers here in Davao City was launched. The first set of officers was also inducted by no less than City Counselor Joanne Bonguyan, who represented the Mayor. 

Despite the rough start, it was amazing how teamwork can put up a successful launch in just a matter of weeks. The core group was able to get it going and has turned it into a full blown and functioning organization. 

#TeamDDI is a coming together of dedicated and passionate bloggers, video bloggers and microbloggers whose mission is to utilize its influence to create positive impact in the community where we operate and also to support MSMEs, government agencies and the marginalized sector. The organization aim to be advocates of responsible social media use and to promote Davao region's socio-cultural agenda.

Woman Elan Vital, yes that’s me, was elected Vice President for External Affairs, thank you DDI for the trust. At this point my blog mantra I think suits well my circumstance, Woman, may the force be with you! 

Since I’m the VP for External Affairs, I was tasked to deliver my Welcome Address. I’d like to share with you what went down during that night, despite the unfortunate Roxas Avenue incident.

Davao Digital Influencers, Inc.

Welcome Remarks

Hon. Counselor Joanne Bonguyan, GM Dottie Wurgler-Cronin, representatives of our generous sponsors, our guests, our friends from the media and the awesome Influencers, who came tonight despite the horrendous incident that happened last night, maayong gabii sa inyong tanan.

Your officers actually went into a chat discussion whether to push through with this event or not, but we thought we already have a lot of compromises and we need to honour them and maybe we just have a find a middle ground to come about with this situation.

We are saddened with what happened and I think everyone does. 

This is another painful episode of a davaoenos life, but just like what we are truly made of, we always rise above our misfortunes. 

We don’t want this to happen even to the worst of our enemies and in times like this, given the nature of what our organization does, and given the nature of what we do best - this will test the true predispositions of our capabilityties to handle this situation.

Social Media or Digital Influencers as what we call it in our circle – we play a very critical role in dealing with information in this situation. I’d like to believe that we aree all social media grown-ups and that we will deal with every information with outmost accountability.

If I may quote Inday Sarah, “We will not be terrorized by this heinous crime and I call on all Dabawenyos to unite and let us help each other rise from this senseless incident.”

And I know we can do that. 

Tonight, we will launch a responsible community of digital influencers. Influencers that will be our city’s partner in promoting solid and truthful social media information. 

We cannot afford to party knowing that there are a lot of our fellow Dabawenyos who are in grief right now, but instead tonight, we will use this event to get to know each very well as this will help solidify team DDI. And maybe plan our next course of action what we are going to do next to help and carry out our organization’s mission.

We’re safe around here; we are in the heart of Davao, thank you Marco Polo Davao for being our partner.

We have so much in store for us tonight, but I think we will wrap up our activity early so we can go home early.

Again, welcome thank you all for coming. Keep calm and we’ll try to do business as usual. 

Maayongg gabii.

Picking the right dentist when you move to a new area can be a hard decision. There are a usually a ton of great dentists in most big cities that can fit you and your families' needs perfectly. Not all dentists are created equal, though. Many of them have different certifications and skills that allow them to perform certain procedures that other dentists may or may not offer as well. It is important to consider everything that a family dentist does when making a decision. The following are different services that you may need from your dentist.

Photo by: charlottedentalpartners.com

General Dentistry

This basically covers any sort of basic procedure that a dentist performs for their patients. Regular cleanings, smaller fillings, and some more basic oral surgeries are something that just about every dentist can provide to their patients. It is important to note that some dentists have more experience and education when it comes to dealing with children's teeth. Those that have children should inquire about family dentistry before they make their decision.

Cosmetic Dentistry

Cosmetic Dentistry is any kind of dentistry that is necessary for quality of life but does improve the appearance of the person's smile. Some common cosmetic dentistry practices are dental implants. This is the process of replacing a missing tooth with a fake tooth so there is no gap in the person's teeth. Veneers provide a similar look. Instead of being a full replacement they go over the damaged tooth to give it a more healthy look. There are many different versions of veneers that come at different price points. Cosmetic Dentistry also includes teeth whitening.

Emergency Services

Some say that tooth pain is some of the most severe and intense pain that human being can experience. When you are looking for a dentist be sure to make sure that they and their staff will be able to accommodate you if you have an emergency dental situation and are in extreme pain. This is the time where you need a dentist the most.

It may be hard to choose a dentist Charlotte NC has to offer. Charlotte Dental Partners offers all of the services discussed above. Don't choose a dentist that doesn't provide all of the services that you and your family are going to need. Don't be afraid to ask a lot of different questions when choosing your dentist. It is a choice that you want to get right the first time.

Singer Island is a great vacation spot in Florida, filled to the brim with exciting activities, great shopping, and wonderful dining options. This family friendly destination is perfect for people of all ages, whether you're looking for rest and relaxation or a bit of adventure.

Outdoor Activities

There are number of outdoor activities sure to excite visitors. Singer Island is a great place to go diving. On underwater expeditions, scuba divers can expect to see an exciting variety of sea life. Fans of the sea can also take a visit to the Manatee Lagoon, a discovery center that gives visitors the chance to view manatees up close.

Shopping in Singer Island

If you love to golf, you're in luck. Singer Island has a number of great golf courses for you to choose from. The Sandhill Crane Golf Club has a driving range, a putting green, and 72 holes. The North Palm Beach Country Club has 18 holes, and it also offers rentals and lessons.

Shopping

If golfing isn't your speed, spend a day of retail therapy at The Gardens, the local shopping center. This upscale retail destination has a number of great stores, from Urban Outfitters to Z Gallerie. When you're finished shopping, grab a bite to eat at one of the restaurant options, such as The Cheesecake Factory or Fro-Yotopia.

Sunset in Singer Island

Culture

For days when you're in the mood for some local culture, take a trip to the Jupiter Inlet Lighthouse and Museum. This classic lighthouse offers climbing tours and beautiful views of the water. The accompanying museum has interesting exhibits on local history and area plants and habitats.

Adventure

If you're traveling with kids, make sure to take them to Rapids Water Park, the area's premiere destination for family fun. It has a number of thrill wides sure to keep kids cool on hot summer days.

When staying in your Singer Island vacation rentals, you'll never be at a loss for fun activities, great shopping, and excellent dining options. This Florida vacation spot has everything you want for your next family trip.

(Images: CTO)

When you're in those first few months of motherhood, it can be challenging to get into a good rhythm with sleep. Once the baby is sleeping through the night, you'll quickly learn that motherhood is a constant and full-time job that can leave you feeling exhausted. In the process, it can pretty easy for many moms to get so tired that they don't get a chance to really take good care of themselves. If you're a mom who doesn't feel like her usual sassy self anymore, consider these three tips to help you feel and look more like your best self.

1. Use concealer.

Concealer is liquid gold for the mother who has been up all night taking care of a little one. Concealer camouflages the dark circles and gives you a brighter appearance. If you're a mother who has experienced the hormonal changes through breakouts and dark spots on the face. Just simply dab a bit of concealer on those spots before applying foundation. It will do an excellent job of creating an even palate to apply foundation and present a fresh look.

2. Build a stress-free wardrobe.

Looking through the closet to find a comfortable pair of jeans to cover a muffin top isn't fun. Instead of going through that hassle, just considered easy one-pieces that you can throw on. For example, a long maxi dress from the Anze clothing brand paired with some sandals and a simple chain necklace create a stylish look. Dresses are easy to throw on and very comfortable to wear as well. Purchase a few necklaces, earrings and bangles that are easy to mix and match with different dresses. This will be great for versatile accessorizing and help you feel a lot better about the way you look.

3. Carve out time.

One of the most common complaints involves a lack of time. Even though many women may struggle with having more time in their schedule to handle things, it isn't impossible. You might have to get creative with how you do things, but it's important to spend a little bit of time taking care of yourself. There will always be dishes that need washing and floors that need to get vacuumed. However, it's still up to you to make sure to put yourself at the top of the priority list.

If you're not okay, there's no way you'll be of any benefit to anyone else around you.

These steps might seem cosmetic and trivial, but they'll make a difference in the way you look and feel. Put yourself as a top priority today!

(Image: CTO)

Waling-Waling. Philippines' National Flower is endemic to Davao.

More of my flower shots on Instagram @FlowersOfDavao

WHAT I WANT THE WORLD TO KNOW ABOUT DAVAO

What we typically know about the definition of Digital Influencer is that, they are individuals who have the power to affect the decisions, emotions and perspectives of others because of their perceived knowledge, position, relationship or authority in that particular field shared through digital media.

I’d like to share a little story about one of my recent encounters with a former priest-anthropologist mentor of mine. Sometimes I don’t like talking to this man, not that I don’t want to know what happened to the everydayness of the Dalits, but it’s just that in his world so full of intellectual octa cores, I’m tailing way far loading for my next brain resolve. In other words, I'm just one struggling celeron in his world. He’s sickhead and an intellectual influencer in an analogue kind of way.

And so one day, over a 5inch thick book of Dalitology and a stingy cup of Civet coffee, he shared that what if influencers in the digital world, where stories can reach and influence millions in just a click of a mouse, can spare a little time to tell and share stories of the Dalit's plight? I bet my job as an anthropologist would be a lot less taxing, what do you think? I think the digital immersion would be another platform to do your research, what do you think again?

Putting it differently, there are countless stories out there and a hundred and one more ways to tell it.

I read it somewhere that storytelling is central to human existence and is very common to every known human culture. So much that it evolved and has adopted a new form and has given rise to a dynamic narrative platform – the digital podium. Digital technology has given us a window to see into what’s taking place when humans tell, read, watch and listen to stories being shared online. Stories gain power and they become an influential tool for driving our objectives forward.

We as #DigitalInfluencers has the power to influence, engage and inspire our stakeholders into action in a way not possible with any other forms of communication. Digital media can be two very fluid worlds. One can flounder on stories right in the confines of virtual reality or get real and face the face of reality. 

There are stories big and small all around us. These are the stories that move us, these are the stories that make us feel alive, stories that inspire us, stories that make and break us. 

Davao City is one repository of never ending and rich stories worth sharing to the world. Stories of defeat, victory, depression, inspiration. Stories of food, beauty, fashion and so much more. And just like the Dalits, we also have our own stories of social injustices, cultural biases, pains and comforts of development, stories of love, conquest, division, heartbreaks and betrayals. 

My elder even have his own story of invitation. An invitation to live and invest in Davao, The City in Bloom. (Gosh, matraffic na!)

This is why Davao City needs more not just digital story tellers but digital influencers who can delight, bewitch, touch, teach, recall, ignite, motivate, challenge, engage, influence and can make a difference in this anxious and fast-moving world.

In the words of Robert McKee, - storytelling is the most powerful way to put ideas into the world today. And we are glad we the Davao Digital Influencers share this vision and mission to share in a responsible and sensible kind of way.

Davao Digital Influencers through the inspiration of our organizational mission will share stories to the world that’s engaging, inspiring, influencing and will hope to make a difference in the community where we operate. This is what we want the world to know about Davao.

Today, marks the birth of the influencers who will deliver this commitment. Congratulations, Davao Digital Influencers, Inc.

We thank you dear generous sponsors for believing in our dream to make this world a better place.

DAGHAN KAAYONG SALAMAT!

Thank you to our generous sponsors for supporting Davao Digital Influencers, Inc. 

Platinum Sponsor

PLDT HOME is the country’s leading broadband and digital services provider that allows seamless, simultaneous streaming in all your devices at home. Enabling moments that bring your family closer together, PLDT HOME offers Fibr, DSL, Ultera and Telpad services. 

PLDT brings you the finest options when it comes to telecommunications solutions. Whether you need high-speed Internet connection, a landline or a combination of both, PLDT HOME has the right package for you.

Gold Sponsors

Coca-Cola FEMSA is the largest franchise bottler of Coca-Cola products in the world. The Company has 63 bottling facilities and serves more than 358 million consumers through more than 2,800,000 retailers and over 100,000 employees worldwide.

Locally, the Coca-Cola FEMSA Philippines operates 19 plants and 53 sales offices and distribution centers across the country. It has operates two plants and one Distribution Center in Davao. The first plant was established in May 1950 and is located along MacArthur Highway. The second plant is located in Barangay Darong, Sta. Cruz. Collectively, both plants employ around 350 associates.

The Davao Digital Influencers Inc. is supported by Cebu Pacific, the largest airline operating flights to Davao. It offers seat sales that go as low as P599 all-in, and a network that spans Asia, Australia, the Middle East and Guam. It operates direct flights from Singapore, Manila, Cebu, Iloilo, Bacolod, Cagayan de Oro and Zamboanga to Davao. Book now through bit.ly/DavaoCEB or call 7020-888. The latest seat sales are also up on Cebu Pacific’s Facebook and Twitter pages.

Smart brings together the Eraserheads to go all out for a new, complete prepaid offer: the ‪#‎SmartAllOutSurf 30! 

This is the first complete call, text and data offer for Prepaid! For P30, prepaid subscribers get 2 days of: 

• 300MB data with FREE Facebook 
• Unlimited text to all networks 
• 30 minutes free calls to Smart, TNT and Sun

Silver and Bronze Sponsors

PR, Events & Promotions | Jolly Heart Mate Canola Oil | Seda Abreeza Hotel

Park Inn by Radisson Davao | Marco Polo Davao | JG Summit Holdings, Inc.

Benefactors

TBR Concepts | Kai Artisan Chocolates | KaiserWebs | Biscoff Bren Ang Photography | M Magazine | San Miguel Brewery Inc.

Celebrity Chef Donita Rose, the Brand Ambassador of Jolly Heart Mate Canola Oil, kicks off her first leg of Regional Festival tour at Gaisano Mall on August 20 here in Davao in time for Kadayawan Festival celebration. 

Celebrity Chef Donita Rose and Sous Chef, Sonny

(Photo by Joel Bagas)

Chef Donita Rose came for a cooking demonstration, showing off her cooking techniques featuring her unique and signature dish, the Chicken Curry with Durian. 

What we notably know about durian is that they’re abundant in Davao and they’re mainstays to a lot of desserts and frozen delights. We seldom see durian as an ingredient for a main dish and seeing how Chef Sonny, Donita’s Sous Chef during the show poured in real durian meat to the curry mixture tugged up excitement in me how the dish would fare with durian. Interestingly, after the cooking demo we had a chance to sample her finished dish – and it was actually good. 

Sauce so creamy. The curry just right. Taste so good. The milder than mild whiff of durian is perfect for non durian eaters. If I’ll do my version of this recipe, it’ll be durian all the way. Yay! Durian in Agdao Public Market now sells P30/kilo, perfect time to cook!

Chicken Curry with Durian by Chef Donita Rose

(Photo by FlyAce PR)

The Chicken Curry with Durian sample packs distributed to the audience

Thanks a bunch  #JollyHeartMateCanolaOil for the front row seat.

With Leebai Sinsuat Ambolodto of Edge Davao, the Royal Chef 

and Tere Nierva of davaofoodtrips.com

In a small table talk with Chef Donita during the Meet and Greet at Rekado Restaurant, she emphasized the use of abundant local ingredients in her recipes. This is what we can expect in her special dishes along with the use of Jolly Heart Mate Canola Oil in the course of her regional festival tour around the country, something every local can easily source. 

 “We must always be conscious that the ingredients we use should be good for the heart, like Jolly Heart Mate Canola oil which contains the lowest amount of bad fats (saturated fats) but packs in the good kind like omega 3 and 6 that are good for the heart,” Donita shared.

Woman Elan Vital and Jolly Heart Mate Brand Ambassador, Chef Donita Rose

I’m a mother of 3, 4 including my husband :p and I’m a regular of GMall supermarket. I have to be honest that while I often see this brand on the shelf, I never really attempted to pick one. All for the very cultural reason that this is not my usual brand. And also for the fact that, I have limited knowledge of the product. I’m one customer that needs first hand info to believe and try it to possibly shift.

This event is quiet enlightening for me. The casual talk with Ma’am Zeny Prudentino, Senior Product Manager explaining the benefits of Jolly Heart Mate Canola Oil made me decide to try. 

Jolly Heart Mate Canola Oil also contains Vitamin A and has a pale golden color, light texture, and neutral taste that makes it good for all kinds of cooking. Aside from being versatile, it also has one of the highest smoking points which make it very ideal for frying.

Thank you Jolly Heart Mate Canola Oil for these samples.

Yay! Doing now my own kitchen demo of these brightly colored Jolly Heart Mate Canola Oil. Product Review coming right up. Please check back again or you may subscribe to my blog so won't miss a post.

Jolly Heart Mate Canola Oil 

is distributed by FlyAce Corporation, 

7th Floor, Fly Ace Corproate Center, 

13 Coral Way, Central Business Park, Pasay City.

Like them on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JollyHeartMateCanolaOil/