Thursday, June 4, 2015

Day Tour at Profood Cebu's Mango Factory

And who goes home from Cebu without some dried mangoes for pasalubong? The City is very known for its dried mangoes, and I would't miss for the world given the chance to tour their factory. When my boss Carissa told me that were going to a mango factory called Profood, I can't help my excitement. We go there by the help of Ms. Nelia Navarro and Ms. Hop of DTI Cebu. Profood is the biggest and largest food processing company in the Philippines. They process variety of tropical fruits you can find in the Island. From mango, banana, pineapple, coconut, guava, guyabanos,papaya, dalandan (Philippine Orange), passion fruit, calamansi, (Philippines Lemon), jack fruit, mungosteen, tamarind and more. 


Our ride with Ms. Daisy, Ms. Franz, my boss Carissa and me.

I was very blessed, not only did I tour around the factory but also having meet the man behind's Profood's success Mr, Justin Uy and her charming first born Ms. Daisy who is very energetic to guide us and tour us around Profood's vicinity. She showed us the areas where in mangoes are being wash, peeling, slicing and being pack. 

with the Founder of Profood Mr. Justin Uy, my boss Carissa, her friend Ms. Franz, Ms. Daisy, me and Kuya Dodong our tour guide.

It was so amazing to know that Profood is now all over the world from Asia, Europe, Middle East and America, they are indeed every part of the world. And considering that Philippines is among the top 10 mango producing countries of the world (No. 6, contributes 3.5% share of the world’s production) producing an average of about 1 Million MT per year is truly amazing.

Mango peeling area.

Aside from their Cebu factory which is the company's main headquarters and processing plant. They also have a manufacturing site in Davao City wherein they produce aseptic fruit tree and semi-process dried fruits products. And a sites in Bulacan for toll packing sauces. They also established a network of fruit suppliers and buying stations of fresh fruits all over the Philippines.

Profood also open a tourist facility in their compound last February 15, 2012, promoting the Philippine mango through museum exhibits and a factory tour. That aims to bring local and foreign tourist who are curious about the Philippine mango and educate people about Profood International Corporation in general, their history, the products offer, an overview of how these products are made to meet international standards. They would not only answered your questions on how dried mangoes are made and other fruits. But they will also take you to their audio room or mini theater wherein they play a video on how mangoes came from and how it differs from other mango varieties around the globe. 

Audio room.

Profood gallery also have a one-stop pasalubong gift-shoppe showcasing their products and other souvenirs that the Philippines is famous for. The gallery is open from 9:00am to 4:pm Monday-Friday for more information about their factory tour and schedule you can call this number at (63) (32)520-9349 ; (63) (32)346-1228 local 301 they are located at V. Albano Street, Maguikay, Mandaue City or you can check their website at www.profoodcorp.com.

Profood pasalubog gift-shoppe.

Profood fliers with vicinity map on the back. Your helpful guide to go there.

Profood group of companies also caters to the tourist industry through its luxury resort, Imperial Palace Waterpark which is now J.Park Island as well as J. Centre Mall in Mandaue City.

After our tour Mr. Uy took us for lunch at Tao Yuan, located on the 2nd floor of his mall, the J. Centre Mall in Mandaue City.

TRIVIA: Did you know that this furniture's are made out of Mango Seeds? Yes, they are! Mango seeds were considered product waste. But Pro-Nature (PRO-for Profood, NATURE for NaTurescast) has rescued these mango seeds and turned them into useful products through the addition of modern materials and NaTurescast technology. Isn't it cool? Enhance your personal space with PRO-NATURE and see how yesterday's castaway mango seeds can become today's treasure. 


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Wednesday, June 3, 2015

Henry My Love!


Meet My Love! I meet him at Henry's Hotel in Cebu City, located at Paseo Saturnino, Banilad Cebu City. You can get to know him and experience a unique hotel experience at Henry's. Kindly note his taken and his mine. Alright? lol.

Love at first sight!

And we sealed it with a kiss!
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Tuesday, June 2, 2015

Zip Line Experience at the Heart of Cebu

Cebu City, Philippines offers a variety of fun thing activities to do when your visiting in town. And one of which is there famous "Sky Experience Adventure". They offer extreme adventure that would surely drop your jaws. This urban adventure isn't new to me, because way back in 2009 I had the opportunity to try their famous Sky Walk Extreme wherein you will walk around a translucent glass flooring on the outer-rim of Cebu's tallest building at the 37th floor of Crown Regency Hotel & Towers, with an overhead safety harness at the main outer rim of the building, it is approximately 126.55 meters high above the street. I was trembling and having hard time moving my feet. Especially strong wind was blowing it was really scary with so many what "if's" in mind.


The same goes with my "Edge Coaster" experience. It is the world's very first and only amusement ride of its kind, where in you goes around the edge of the 38th floor of the building while riders are being locked onto a rail seat. What really scares me is that, you will be seated in a two-seat platform with a control lever that can tilt the platform down up to 55 degrees that takes you around the edge of the 38th floor of Crown Regency Hotel. Overlooking the spectacular view of the city. It was really scary! Yet I had the best day of my life and I'm able to conquer my fears. And promise myself, never ever to do it again. I'm glad I'm able to experience it once and that's it.



And just a few day's ago I was in Cebu together with my boss for a business trip, and my boss is very eager to experience the fun Sky Experience Adventure has to offer. Even before heading to Cebu, my boss made sure that going there is part of our itinerary. It was around 6:00 pm when we reached at Crown Regency, we head straight to 19th floor of the building wherein the registration counter is located. 


I was surprised to find out that they are now offering another fun urban adventure and that is the Sky Experience Adventure's Tower Zip where it allows you to zipped across to another building on cable line at 473 feet in the air and land on the roof of a different building 250 feet away.

This is how it looks like crossing to another building. Photo grab in google. 

When my boss asked me if I would like to try the Sky Adventure Experience, without hesitation I said yes to Tower Zip since I already tried the other two. Being a adrenaline junkie, I wouldn't missed it for the world. Even if i'm feeling nervous, even if this wouldn't be my first time in zip lines. After changing our outfits to safety suits for the rides we where instructed to head up to the 42nd level of the building. 



I was the first one being called by the operator but end up being the last one to zipped because I was too scared to leave the platform. I was screaming to my heart content and was thinking of backing out. But I was feeling embarrassed to my boss, who zipped silently. It was a little scary at first but once you get the "hang" of it, you'll be fine. You can actually do the Superman or the Spiderman pose if you like. But with our case we can't try those pose because it was at night and the winds current is strong, so better try this ride when the sun is out.



Truly this urban experience will get your knees trembling with fear and excitement, but when you've conquered it, you will be proud of yourselves , knowing that you've overcome what millions of people, fear the most. So better keep this in your itinerary when your visiting Cebu for vacation or work. This heart pumping adventure is located at Crown Regency Hotel and Towers at Fuente Osmeña, the heart of Cebu City in the Philippines.

Ps. after each rides you will be given a certification. For ride rates you can check Sky Experience Adventure website at  www.skyexperienceadventure.com. They also offer wall climbing on top of the building, which I personally didn't try because I find it so lame. Sorry! But you can! Good luck!
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Monday, June 1, 2015

TCC : The Chocolate Chambers of Cebu Philippines

Cebu is best known for lechon (roasted pig), dried mangoes and now making its name for chocolates both locally and internationally. Thanks to Ms. Raquel Choa, the owner and founder of Ralfe Gourmet Inc. - an artisan chocolate boutique based in Cebu that focuses on creating quality chocolate from locally-sourced cacao.

TCC Cafe from outside.

TCC table setting inside.

It was around 8 o'clock in the evening when we arrived at TCC (The Chocolate Chamber) cafe, a 72-square meter chocolate boutique that has a seating capacity of 20 persons, with beautiful and refreshing interiors which designed by Ms. Raquel herself. We were greeted by one of his son, who is so welcoming, polite and attentive to my boss who keep on asking so many questions about TCC. As I looked around I was amazed the by the paintings using chocolate as paint hang on the walls. Everything in the room is elegantly laid out from porcelain tableware and shelves of various neatly ordered chocolate confections; and a very temping display of chocolate cakes and pastries. 

Cacao seeds. 

Chocolate paint wall hanging.

Chocolate paint wall hanging.

Chocolate paint wall hanging.

Chocolate paint wall hanging.

A few minutes later Ms. Raquel arrived and greeted us. I considered myself very lucky having this kind of opportunity of meeting her in person and having the privileged to be seated in front of her. She is very warm and pleasant. I like the positive aura she posses while she talked to us and shared to us her life story, her dreams, her imagination, TCC and her recent success at Asia's Ethnic Food and Ingredients Show IFEX Philippines last May 21-24, 2015 at SMX Convention Center Mall of Asia in Pasay City. 

with Ms. Hope and Ms. Nelia Navarro of DTI Cebu, Ms. Raquel Choa, my boss Carissa and me.

But everything didn't start out as sweet. Her humble beginnings resembled the bitter taste of chocolate before they turn into the sweet confectionery that everyone loves now. Ms. Raquel grew up from a poor family, living in her grandmother's house in the mountain of Brgy. Balamban Cebu City, away from the bustling metropolis and lived a simple life in the mountain side. Living in the mountain expose her to the reality of life where she learned the dirty works of farming and selling crops, charcoal, brooms and coconut husks. She also told us that they only eat rice once a year during summer and most of the time they ate corn and crops.

Ralfe Gourmet packaging.

She even had to cross seven rivers to be able to reach to school everyday and that her grandmother would often served and prepare tablea (traditional Filipino chocolate drink) every morning. At the age of 12, she worked as kasambahay (house help) in Laguna, she also experience selling candles and sampaguita in the city to help her parents. Hard as may it seems but to her, she never took this things hard and hindrance but serves her as inspiration for better tomorrow. And realize that life in the mountain is way better than being lived in the city. 

Ms. Raquel preparing us a tablea drink.

Ms. Raquel is cacao farmer herself, making tablea is her passion since she has been exposed to it since childhood. With her grandmother as trainer, its no surprise that as early as 7 years old she already knew how to prepare tablea.

Tablea drink.

After an hour of chatting she invited us to her chocolate factory, a few blocks away from her TCC cafe. Her chocolate factory is actually their house, where she and her husband and 8 children live. It is commonly known in the area as Chocolate House. When we reached to her factory she introduced us to her staff who were having meetings at the time and Mr. Edu Pantino, her business partner. Whom later at night, I found out that we could be related to each other. Especially that we both came from the same province in Leyte. His from Caridad while I'm from Maybog a neighboring barangay's in the province of Baybay Leyte. Unfortunately we haven't had the chance to talk much because we were about to leave.

Ms. Nelia Navarro, my boss Carissa, Ms. Raquel Choa, Me, and Ms. Hope. Picture credit to Sir Edu.

Today Ralfe Gourmet is now supplying chocolate to various high-end local hotels, resorts and airports throughout the country and its now starting to be known in the international market. Sooner of later there will be TCC cafe in the heart of France.

Solo picture with Ms. Raquel. Picture credit to Sir Edu.

One of the remarkable thing I admire about Ms. Raquel Choa is her heart and advocacy on helping other people. Educating them that life in the mountain is way better in the city, and she is trying to do her best to bring back the people in the mountain who now resides in the city streets and piers living homeless. Today she and her husband bought a 33 hectares of cacao plantation in Cebu and developing the land for a bigger chocolate factory, wherein she employed locals and also provide a home facility in the area which she called chocolate village. As I was looking at the blueprint landscape design in the table for the bigger chocolate factory, I can't help but praise the 7-old girl who dream, believes on her imagination and now living the dream. Just like what her favorite song "Pangarap Na Bituin"; her younger life seems to be no light in the future, but though hard work, dedication, and faith with the God, she is now shining brightly as she continue to reach for her dreams.

 Indeed her life story is a living testament that all dreams are valid, with hard work, dedication and faith they do come true.

I would like to thanked Ms. Nelia Navarro and Ms. Hope of DTI-Cebu for fixing this itinerary for us.

To know more about Rafle Gourmet you can check out their websites at www.ralfegourmet.com. While The Chocolate Chamber cafe is located at President Quirino Street Corner Magsaysay Street Barangay Kasambagan Cebu City, Cebu Philippines 6000. With operating hours from Mondays-Saturdays 9:00am to 9:00pm, Sundays 10:00am to 7:00pm.
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Thursday, May 21, 2015

Pussy Cat Day!

I'ts been awhile since the last time I posted something for my fashion page, because of my busy schedule at work and sometimes I felt like I don't want to dress up. I've been wearing simple top and jeans for my ootd lately. But today I had the chance to dress up in favor of my friend who is selling clothes online and she needed a part time amateur model (LOL), so I volunteered which she gladly agree. 

She handed me over this top with pussy cat prints, which at first I don't like, its so not me, I said. I'm not an animal lover and I felt like wearing this would not suits with my personality. But then she insisted and convince me that I would look okay with in, so I tried it on. 

It was cute and I like how I look at it when I added some accessories and matched it with my super duper comfy white doll shoes. This cutie kitten prints make the top a standout choice for work or weekend wear! It's irresistibly light and amazingly fun to wear. And you would likely adore its flattering fit.


 
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Monday, April 27, 2015

Baguio Again!

Visiting Baguio was not really on our itinerary, but since my best friend Sharon cousins visiting Abra would want to stop over Baguio for overnight because her other cousin owns a transient house in Baguio, so we decided to joined them and go to Baguio. The idea coming back here didn't really excite me much, because I'd been here twice. But since it was my best friend first time so I decided to joined her excitement being her tour guide in the city. We leave Abra late in the morning and we reached Baguio 5 hours later, it was late afternoon when we arrived in Baguio and it was gloomy and a little rain pouring outside. Since this time we came with a bunch of people, my best friend and I were kinda hesitant to go on our own plan. After a few hours of resting and there is no plan from the group, me and my best friend decided to go on our own.


Since, she really wanted to try the Strawberry picking in La Trinidad Benguet we head it there first, it was around 4:30 in the afternoon and I am very thankful that I know someone from there. She's a niece of our supplier whom I meet 3 years ago here in Baguio and since then on, we became friends. I hurriedly dialed Kinjud's number hoping to catch her in La Trinidad, and luckily shes still there, she gave me the direction and voila! an hour later we arrived and standing, looking over the green fields with lots of people picking strawberries. 


Coming here would usually takes you three kilometers or 30 minutes or less from Baguio City proper. Anyone can go here using any way of public or private transportation. You can hire a taxi from the city proper that would cost you Php 100.00 or more depends on the traffic situation in La Trinidad road.


I am very excited because this is also my first time trying out there famous strawberry picking, because the last time I was here, it was planting season so instead of picking the strawberries, me and my co-worker end up digging the fields and help the local farmer plants the seeds. It was okay and we had fun though, but this time, its the real thing. Nothing beats the experience of getting this beautiful heart shaped berries fresh from the farm.


Since, its the peak season picking a strawberry straight from the field is quite pricey, not like during lean season, one basket would only cost you Php 150.00 but now it was around Php500-600.00 thanked goodness! I'm glad I had a friend from the area who managed to help us bargain and we were able to get it at Php 400.00 not bad right?



with my bestfriend Sharon and my friend Kinjud.
Sharon and I were really happy picking them and eating in between, although we were informed that we should eat them after washing but sorry we can't help it. It was so delicious and sweet.


After filing in our basket with strawberries we head back to Kinjud's vegetable stall in the are, Sharon and I bought some fresh lettuce, broccoli and some pasalubong or present for our love ones back home. My best friend even bought a walis tambo o broom reed, its not because she could find one in Manila, but because walis tambo from Baguio are durable and world class quality, in fact this is one of most popular product that everyone always takes home from Baguio. And of course your strawberry experience won't be complete if you won't try their very own strawberry ice cream. At first Sharon and I thought this is like any other dirty ice cream you could see in the street, but to our surprise this one is an exception. The ice cream is really good. we really loved it, its creamy with little chunks of the actual fruit and its sticky, it wont easily melt, we even played it turning upside down. This ice cream should be in your list if your planning to visit the strawberry farm. Totally worth a taste and you won't be disappointed.


It was around 5:00 pm when Sharon and I leave the farm, my friend Kinjud advice us to take the Bokawkan Road so we can dropped in Tam-awan Village, another tourist attraction in Baguio. I'd been here before, Tam-awan is a 2.5 hectare- mountain-side village that was built to preserve and showcase Cordillera's culture and history. An artists’ colony set amid a charming collection of Ifugao and Kalinga huts. It is the heart of Cordilleran arts and culture uniquely blends indigenous aesthetics and exquisite Cordilleran craftsmanship with an artist’s concept for a village adapting to Baguio setting. I am very excited to tour my bestfriend around the place becasue there are a number of Igorot huts within the village which would allows her to see the traditional homes of the Cordilleran people. But unfortunately we arrived just in time for their closing time. 


So we head back home, while on our way to the city we can't help be amazed by the fogs on the road. So we asked our taxi driver if he could pull over and let us have a photo opt with the fogs and he certainly said yes and even took our pictures. If there is one thing I loved about Baguio definitely its the fog. I love this visible mass consisting of cloud water droplets or ice crystals suspended in the air at or near the Earth's surface. I felt like I am one step closer to heaven every time I am surrounded with fogs. It's just amazing.



 It was dark when we reached at our transient house. Everyone was asking us where we have been, and we were like; "Oh! we were just in the park" (liar!), we didn't want them to know we've been wandering around the City. After dinner my best friend and I were lying in bed getting bored, while waiting for the rain to stop. It was around 10:00pm when the rain stopped. So we hurriedly went to Wag-wagan night market or locally known as ukay-ukay or thrift stores. Which open at 9:00pm to 3:00am along Harrison Road in Baguio. This is were great deals of signature items, like clothes, shoes and other fashion accessories you will find. These are shipped from overseas in bulk and are sold here at a very cheap prices. Your Baguio Itinerary won't be complete without you coming here or check them out at least. Baguio City is known to be the “Shopping Capital of the North”, the best place to buy secondhand garments. And we would't miss it for the world even if its raining.



 On the next day, we were getting ready to head back home, and stroll for a while in Burnham Park. It was so nice walking around at the park, because the flowers are blooming everywhere. 




Unfortunately our group findout that we went to Strawberry Farm, so they decided to go there and try the famous strawberry picking. While every bodies busy picking the strawberry, my best friend and I were busy buying  "pasalabong" and eating strawberry ice cream.  



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