Pet Summit Philippines 2017: An Animal Lover's Lifestyle

The Pet Summit Philippines was held at Bonifacio High Street, Bonifacio Global City on April 2 as opening salvo for "Summer On The Street".

It showcased all the latest and top quality brands from the country’s Pet Industry leaders in pet food products, health supplements, grooming aids, fashion apparels and accessories, transportation and training services, to dining and leisure establishments.

It was done to promote responsible pet ownership for healthier and happier pets and provided for pet lovers to engage and discover the best products and service providers available in the market today.


My senior dog became healthier with the new kind of dog food, my PuppyMama is now a gourmet dog food expert, and the puppy is happier.


I gained awareness about what can be done for our canine friends. It was a day that was devoted to our animal friends, all kinds of pets, including reptiles.

Walking around Boni High was an experience that any pet lover would like. I saw my friends and it was a terrific, fun-filled afternoon, with so much activities to do. There were so many dogs and there were also cats, all looking their best for a summer day. The stalls were filled with goodies, activies and there were a lot of freebies.  

 

What we see at the store we frequent to buy pet products is limited. There might be a wide selection even in those pet products stores yet it still cannot compare to what I discovered at the Pet Summit. That is because the pet product stalls include that of the most popular brands, the ones that sell online, and stores that we have not visited. There were so many new pet products and there were terrific deals and discounts for buyer that it was a pet owner's shopping haven. 

There is so much more to Pet Summit Philippines 2017 than being a pet trade show. It was an event that brings those with common interest together, a chance to get hands-on knowledge about products, to gain knowledge from attending seminars, at to enjoy the company of man's best friends.

Pet Summit Philippines does more, not just for our pets, but for animals that are in need. 

Understanding The Cloud and Data Storage Solutions

Most of us understand what MB and GB means, and that is how data is counted. We might have a USB that says 4GB, and that is how much data it can store. Online, you can use The Cloud to store your data using free cloud services such as that of iCloud. But, what if the data that you need to store is enormous?

Gain Savings from Storage Solutions Services

The advantages of using cloud storage services include massive amount of savings for businesses. It is the way also for a small company or even a one-man team to be at par with those who have their own hardware for data storage. Most of us have access to The Cloud, like when we listen to a podcast instead of downloading it to our phones. The Cloud is there to hold what is known as digital assests, such as images, documents, videos, and more. Using The Cloud means that it is possible to access these things that can be enormous files that would consume a lot of space and might not even fit the capacity of a mobile device or computers. Big companies typically have servers for storage, management, and processing of data as these have the hardware and features that most desktops do not have.

Free cloud services do have a limit and even if you have a server, it has a limit also.

For larger storage, and one that does have the security, and features like what techies would need, or one that does have the capacity to be user-friendly, with the options for advanced customization, there is a cloud service that does the tasks that we need, provides the consultancy, has the capacity, simplifying the accessing and retrieval, and can save you up to 98% of data storage expense as it greatly cuts the cost of hardware purchase, upgrade, used office space, and even may reduce the need for manpower.

To make understanding the why we need an excellent cloud service, a good example would be that of power sources. We cannot be totally dependent on a generator for power and must plug in. When there is no electricity, we must use the generator. The electrical outlet is like The Cloud, and we should have a power source that suits our requirements, which is a cloud service. For more power, one needs a larger cloud service.

It is possible that the internet will drop. And, there are times that it means the free cloud storage can get messed up. To prevent that occurrence from becoming a data tragedy, it is best to use a paid cloud service for the additional support required to prevent that tragedy from happening.

Expert data storage can make the IT infrastructure less complex, and will refine and advance the data center for maximum efficiency. How you store your data is vital, as you must have the right cloud service that will accommodate the growth, and protect it. Ideally, for important data, there should be a backup, an archive, disaster recover, storage encryption, and data protection. An expert cloud service can plan these things for you so that the requirements met.

If you want to store data the right way, and plan for the future so that your needs are met, there is Nexus-InfoFabrica, that has cloud services to suit your requirements. Contact +632 555.2400 or email to john.defiesta@infofabrica.com.

Image credits: http://www.infofabrica.com/

Discover Yokocho: A Dream Food Place at the Heart of Baclaran

Going to Yokocho is like traveling to Japan by going to Baclaran


In the heart of Baclaran, the cleanest place to dine and unwind is Yokocho that has the very best of authentic Japanese Food at affordable prices.

Yokocho is actually a food court that transports you into a Japanese dining area with over 100 food choices. This is made possible by the various large food stalls. It is like a fully-airconditioned food park, with each stall having various, delicious, specialties.

Yokocho is located at the 4th floor of Victory Food Court Market, the building that is right in between Berma and Jollibee which is at the street on the left side of Baclaran church. To get to the fourth floor, you may choose to use the scenic elevator or take the escalator, which does provide a shopping and foodie experience per floor. This building is people-friendly, as it makes access for those tired from shopping so easy, having the shortest escalator I have ever seen at the ground floor level. Yokocho is open daily from 11:00AM - 10:00PM.

There is seating in between the stalls and at the sides of the food court. The place is comfortable and has the relaxing atmosphere that removes you from the middle of Baclaran, the noise of the place that is teeming with vendors, to a resto haven that is totally Japanese. There is a smoking-dining area at the terrace with a clear, near, view of Baclaran church.

Ordering is an experience as you would have to visit the different food stalls. Then, you will wait to be served, and you don't have to bother to stand up to for additional orders, as there are waiters to attend to your needs.

You may also choose that to indulge in a few drink like this sake which is robust and silky, masculine, with the purity and clarity, of unflavored, unadulterated taste of the rice it is made from.

For me, it was impossible to find a place near Baclaran church that is clean and has great food, until I discovered Yokocho.

Author's Note: For the ladies, there is a real Japanese toilet, with heated seat, and bidet choices. 


Click this to visit the Yokocho Food Court Facebook page

TRANSFORMATIONAL LEADERSHIP: REWRITE YOUR FUTURE

Become the leader who inspires others to reach for extraordinary heights

PASAY CITY, METRO MANILA: Successful Living Summit will hold, for the first time in the Philippines, SLS1 Transformational Leadership on May 5 – 7, 2017 at Marriott Grand Ballroom, Marriott Hotel Manila, Pasay City.

Lead by the charming and charismatic Ever Miranda, a consultant with The John Maxwell Team, participants can expect a 3-day experiential training where transformation occurs by way of exploration, reflection, and participation in activities that parallel real life situations. Participants will examine their behaviors and experience the effects of their behavior while embracing feedback in a safe and supportive environment. Assumptions will be challenged and new ways of thinking will be formed.

Those who have attended this training in the USA report that it is life-changing, enabling them to appreciate their relationships, helping them to overcome their success blockers to reach confidently for their lifelong dreams. Here’s what some of their graduates say about SLS1:

                “Before SLS1, I was holding back on my goals. SLS empowered me to overcome the fears that were holding me back. “  -  Alonso Vargas, California

                “My experience in SLS was beautiful, I have no words to say how amazing this training is. SLS is a journey to discover who are as a person and your mission that God sent you in this world for. Without SLS in my life, I wouldn’t be living, I would be a human being in this world without a purpose.”  -  Carlitos Henriquez, USA

Registration begins at 1:00 PM on May 5, 2017 and training will follow shortly after ending at 10:00PM. The second day of training will be from 12:00 – 10:00 PM and third day of training starts at 12:00PM commencing at a graduation at 7:30PM where participants can invite family or friends.

Participants can avail of the early bird rate of P15,000.00 until May 1, 2017 after which time it will increase to P18,000.00. Registration is done online at http://bit.ly/SLSTransform. Students and church workers get a special rate, just email info@eventdetailer.net to express your intent to participate.

SLS1 Transformational Leadership is produced by Thirdmillenium Projects, Inc., Makati City and organized by Event Detailer Events Management Services, Parañaque City.

From Bana Grass to Green Coal: Free Planting Material for Contract Growers

Bana Grass (Pennisetum Purpureum X Pennisetum Americanum)

This hybrid perennial plant is drought tolerant, pest-resistant, and non-invasive. It is a sustainable bioenergy resource that is high yeilding. This plant crop trives in the Philippine climate conditions.

Green Coal and More

Bana Grass is a C4 plant specie, a bio-friendly and sustainable crop that can last up to 35 years. Using the advanced technologies of Mackay Green Energy, Inc. it can be made into green coal, green power, silage, green based organic fertilizer, and other renewable energy sources. Note that this green coal when it turns to ash has no toxic elements and is used as fertilizer.



"It can be turned into Green Coal (charcoal) using Torrefaction. During the Torrefaction process, the volatile components are captured and fed to an Externally Fired Gas Turbine (EFGT) to produce electricity. It can also be used as a Biomass Fuel, perfect for IFGT (Indirectly Fired Gas Turbine) and existing steam boilers. Using Fischer-Tropsch Process, Bana Grass can be converted to liquid fuel. Biofuels can be customized to produce diesel, gasoline, kerosene & aviation fuel. Around 8 weeks, the crude protein content is extremely high (approximately 16%) when harvested making it a good feedstock for cattle, goat or sheep. At 4 months, the tops can still be used for feed while the stalk is used for biomass fuel. The mature cane (4 months) has a typical moisture of around 55%. The green leafy parts have a moisture content of between 65 & 70%. When expressing dry tonnes, we assume an actual moisture of around 12%." ~ quoted from the Mackay Green Energy, Inc. website.

Renewable energy resources are necessary in reducing carbon footprint - and what Mackay Green Energy, Inc. does with the use of biomass. This company has various renewable energy systems that converts waste and biomass to energy and fuels, like making Bana Grass into green coal.

Bana Grass from Mackay Green Energy, Inc. can be planted in idle land. This plant has a lot of uses, and is the right choice to make for the planet, as it is possible to use it to make animal feed, fertilizer, and a fuel source like green coal that reduces carbon footprint.

To make an investment in this crop and earn is possible, as idle land may be leased to Contract Growers. Mackay Green Energy, Inc. provides Free Planting Material to Contract Growers. You may also become a Plantation Company Partner, and/or invest as a Power Plant Company Partner.

Learn more by visiting the Mackay Green Energy, Inc. website. 

Author's note: There is an urgency here for the awareness to be brought to attention of the masses and the goverment that there should be more support given to plant crops such as Bana Grass. We travel far and see fields of green, yet that kind of grass cannot be utilized to the max. The time is now to use and support renewable energy sources and do our part is saving our planet for the sake of our children's children.

Image credits: Mackay Green Energy, Inc Facebook page 

Herbalife Philippines Is The Official Nutrition Partner Of The Philippine Volcanoes

MANILA, PHILIPPINES (APRIL 10) – Global nutrition company, Herbalife Nutrition proudly announces its newest sports partnership with one of the most exciting team in the local sports scene to date, the Philippine Rugby Football Team-Philippine Volcanoes. 

Herbalife Philippines General manager Rosalio T. Valenzuela and Philippine Rugby Football Union (PRFU) President Rick Santos led the contract signing which was held at Herbalife’s Philippines corporate office. Also present to witness the momentous event were Herbalife Philippines’ management team; PRFU’s William Bailey (treasurer), Ada Milby (secretary-general), Jake Robrigado Letts (National Teams Head), and national team players’ Justin Villazor Coveney and Acee San Juan.

“This is another milestone for Herbalife Philippines, as this partnership exemplifies the company’s commitment to a healthy, active life, supported by good nutrition. Together with the Philippine Volcanoes, we are confident that we can inspire more people to make better choices towards a healthier lifestyle,” said Rosalio T. Valenzuela, General Manager of Herbalife Philippines.

The Philippine Volcanoes are one of the Philippines most successful national teams. Just recently, they bested 10 other countries to win the top prize in the Asian Rugby Sevens Trophy Series competition in Qatar. Currently, the team is ranked first in the Southeast Asia (SEA) after bagging the gold medal in the 2015 edition of the SEA Games.

With the recently forged partnership, Herbalife becomes the Official Nutrition Partner of the Philippines Volcanoes. The team will receive a monthly supply of products which includes the recently-launched sports nutrition line Herbalife24 F1 Sports and Rebuild Strength. 

“Our partnership with Herbalife Nutrition is inspired by our shared commitment towards improving lives through an active lifestyle and healthy well-being. The collaboration provides a much-needed boost to the development and promotion of Philippine Rugby as the PRFU focuses on grassroots development and defending the Men’s and Women’s 7s medals at the SEA Games,” said Santos.

 

Herbalife Philippines General Manager, Rosalio T. Valenzuela and Philippine Rugby Football Union Inc. President Rick Santos sealed the news sports partnership via a contract signing ceremony held at Herbalife’s corporate office.

Herbalife Philippines General Manager, Rosalio Valenzuela and Philippines Rugby Football Union Inc. President Rick Santos raised their glasses for a shake toast right after the contract signing. Joining them are (from right) William Bailey, Ada Milby, Acee San Juan, Jake Robrigado Letts and Justin Villazor Coveney.

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 About Herbalife                                                                                                                                                                                                    

Herbalife is a global nutrition company that has been changing people's lives with great products since 1980. Our nutrition, weight-management, energy and fitness and personal care products are available exclusively to and through dedicated Herbalife Independent Members in more than 90 countries. We are committed to fighting the worldwide problems of poor nutrition and obesity by offering high-quality products, one-on-one coaching with an Herbalife Member and a community that inspires customers to live a healthy, active life.

We support the Herbalife Family Foundation (HFF) and its Casa Herbalife programs to help bring good nutrition to children in need. We also sponsor more than 190 world-class athletes, teams and events around the globe, including Cristiano Ronaldo, the LA Galaxy and champions in many other sports.

The company has over 8,000 employees worldwide, and its shares are traded on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE: HLF) with net sales of US$4.5 billion in 2016. The Herbalife website contains a significant amount of financial and other information about the company at http://ir.Herbalife.com. The company encourages investors to visit its website from time to time, as information is updated and new information is posted. To learn more, visit Herbalife.com or IAmHerbalife.com.

Nexus, InfoFabrica of Singapore partner to deliver comprehensive Cloud services

Nexus Technologies, Inc. (Nexus), a top enterprise solutions provider and information technology (IT) reseller, today inked a partnership with InfoFabrica (IFF) of Singapore to provide Hybrid Cloud services across the enterprise, commercial and SME sectors in the Philippines. 

This alliance, through Nexus-InfoFabrica, Inc., aims to bring proven Cloud solutions from the leading Cloud Service Providers (CSPs) such as Amazon Web Services (AWS), Microsoft Azure, IBM Softlayer, and Google to local companies gearing towards Cloud services.

The joint venture merges Nexus’s proven coverage of the local market’s IT requirements, and IFF’s Cloud skillset. IFF is recognized as an early adopter of the Hybrid Cloud platform, and maintains a strong presence in the ASEAN region with their Cloud consulting services.

According to Gartner, Inc., worldwide Public Cloud Services are expected to grow by 18% in 2017 to a total of $246.8 billion, up from $209.2 billion in 2016. The highest growth will come from Cloud system infrastructure services (infrastructure as a service [IaaS]), which is projected to grow by 36.8 percent in 2017 to reach $34.6 billion. Cloud application services (software as a service [SaaS]) is expected to grow by 20.1 percent to reach $46.3 billion.

“There is a huge opportunity for Philippine companies, big or small, to take advantage of what Cloud services have to offer,” said John Defiesta, Nexus-InfoFabrica Country Sales Manager. “Our direction is to guide companies through the entire process of shifting their business processes to the Cloud -- whether from an on-premise environment to the Cloud, or to manage a mix of both on-premise and Cloud environments,” he added.

Aside from CSP product offerings, Nexus-InfoFabrica will provide value-added professional and managed services to its clients such as migration from on-premise to the Cloud environment and vice versa, data center replication, infrastructure consulting, and Cloud architecture and design. Potential clients can also conduct proof-of-concept testing, free of charge, at a VMware-and-Cloud laboratory based in IFF-Singapore.

Nexus-InfoFabrica will also address security concerns associated with conducting business on the Cloud. Most customer qualms point to Cloud security operations such as maintaining compliance, identity and access management, dealing with advanced threats, insufficient visibility, and consistent controls. 

“Customers are assured that they not only gain access to the CSP’s fraud detection systems and governance and compliance security solutions. They also have the full support of the Nexus-IFF team to help them ward off security threats and create a safer environment for their business on the Cloud,” concluded Defiesta.

Companies across various industries, including the country’s fast growing business process outsourcing (BPO) sector, may learn more about Nexus-InfoFabrica’s suite of Cloud services by calling +632 555.2400 or sending an email to john.defiesta@infofabrica.com.

The Rib Shack BF Homes

For ribs that are fork tender, pulling of the bone cleanly, cooked to perfection in the American tradition - that is one of the reasons why you should eat at The Rib Shack, BF Homes.

This resto-bar, located at 71 Presidents Avenue Corner M. Rufino Street, is a bit after Starbucks Phase 1 and the Jehovah's Witness building. It has ample parking in front and one can park along the street. There is no need to go thru the strict guard house to visit this resto, as it is possible to access it by going from Sucat to SM BF, President's Ave.

The fully air conditioned dining area provides comfortable seating, ideal for gatherings. There is a bar that has imported and local beers, and other drinks. There are TV's and the WiFi is strong. It is full-service, with well-trained, jovial, and friendly staff, and all your needs are catered to even before you ask, such as a pitcher of water being placed on the table, water glasses.

The food is varied, though the menu isn't that large but the selection is more than enough to appease any appetite. What is served at The Rib Shack BF is what I call "dude food" and is perfect for the hungry man who has to have a great meal. This is one of the right places to go to, for American sized servings at an affordable price.

The ribs with fixings such as mashed potato and coleslaw hit the spot. The mashed potato is so totally great. The ribs are so soft, and filling, the meat is like pulled pork, soft enough for nearly anyone to eat. Though there are utensils, it is okay to eat the ribs while holding these, as many do that, like caveman devouring meat. The ribs are so good, that it is better than other ribs I have tried. The sauce is thick, and you may opt not to use it, yet then, I had a lot of it, using it as an unli dip.

And, note that when I was eating the ribs, I remembered my Dad, who could only eat food that was soft enough during his later years, and he would have liked this resto's ribs so very much.

The buffalo wings are large. The spice level is mid-heat, and the textures do stand out, making it a delight to eat as the insides are soft, the crunch of the skin is medium-light, and the generous layering of the sauce and the side of the sour cream dip makes it truly a feast.

The pizza has a very crunch bottom layer. I love that. The toppings are generous, and it is made with quality ingredients - and the cheese? The perfect pull when you bite into it is there!

The Rib Shack BF food experience is a must-have for all those who have a hefty appetite.

To see more of the food that they serve, 
like The Rib Shack BF Facebook page.

REGION 10 GOES MADRID FUSION 2017 FEATURING THE BEST OF THE BEST

Madrid Fusion 2017, the biggest food event of the year, went into a spin as Region 10 brought in the best of the province in a variety of kakanin.  With Regional Director Marie Elaine S. Unchuan of the Department of Tourism (DOT) leading the way, Region 10 aimed to win the heart and stomach of all attendees of the event, local and foreigner alike.

With this year’s delivery of the best delicacies from the region, RD Unchuan aimed to let people knew that there is truly more than what is known about Region 10.  From point to point of the region, the whole Region 10 DOT was ready to wow those in the event with what they were presenting in the 3-days event.  From Bukidnon to Misamis Occidental, a good selection of delicacies was presented as part of the gastronomic wonder of the region.  The delegations are as follow:  RD Marie Elaine S. Unchuan - DOT10, Josephine H. Roque – DOT 10 Focal Person, Leonila S. Arguelles – Kitchen Focal Person, Chef Benzar Aradani , Camille Ambalario – Chef’s Assistant , Nelia B. Lee (Food Sponsor), Agnes Garcia Sue (Food Sponsor – Clarin, Misamis Occidental), Mayor Clive Quino and Mrs. Rina Quino (Food Sponsor -Manolo Fortich, Bukidnon) with other DOT 10 personnel.  

People were won over by the delicious suman from Clarin, Misamis Occidental, the crunchy peanut brittle, the delicate pastel by Vjandep from Camiguin, that grated young corn delicacy called binaki  and chicharon from CDO, the peanut goodness of Cheding’s from Iligan City and the sweet pineapples of Manolo Fortich, Bukidnon.  Paired off with it were the various coffee goodness of the region.  Not only are delicacies featured but also the Humba de Oro and Ostrich Salpicao; two dishes displayed during the regional lunch last April 8 under the careful hands of Chef Benzar Aradani.

A good number of gastronomic wonders are to be expected and seen at this year’s Madrid Fusion.  Region 10 was all set to give and serve their own tongue-wonder creations and win the hearts of people to come and explore and taste what they have to offer as a region, as a province and as Mindanao.

POST MADRID FUSION 2017 Press Release by: Arnold A. Alesna