The Perfect Match at The Perfect Pint!

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Something new is brewing at The Perfect Pint: Craft Beer + Fine Food. 

(IG Photo : msmyrnz - http://instagram.com/p/uqYOR8sJdO/?modal=true)

The country's first-ever craft beer and food pairing showdown, presented by The Perfect Pint, where Craft Beer + Fine Food.

The Perfect Pint launches this food pairing showdown called 'The PERFECT MATCH.'

The Perfect Match invited known chefs, brew masters and food editors/writers of leading magazines, who are game, to submit the recipe they've  created that they recommend as a perfect pair for a specific craft beer.

I enjoyed a night ( not the Halloween Night ) as I am one of the invited bloggers to join fun and exciting food adventure -   knowing that the brewmasters make sure that their food entries will pair well and bring out the best taste of their brews and their brews will bring out the best flavors of their food!

Francis Onate of Joe's Brew 

Francis Onate of Joe's Brew pairs his Blackened Chicken Breasts with Charred Cuban Corn Salsa with his very own Sierra Madre Wheat Ale. 

Morgan Kallefjord of G-Point Brewery

Morgan Kallefjord of G-Point Brewery pairs his Salmon Gravad Lax
with his very own Red Head Ale

Kiyo Miura of Katipunan Craft Ales 

Kiyo Miura of Katipunan Craft Ales pairs his Mac and Blue Cheese
with his Katipunan Signal No. 1 Stout.

Francis Onate of Joe's Brew pairs his Glazed Pork Belly with Apple-Onion Potato Mash
with their very own Fish Rider Pale Ale

Dine at The Perfect Pint. Join this CRAFT BEER and FOOD pairing SHOWDOWN! Vote for their pairing from October 27-30 at The Perfect Pint!

The Perfect Pint: Craft Beer + Fine Food = more exciting choices and more foodie adventures and really good times.

The Perfect Pint is located at the 2/F Crossroads Bldg., 32nd Street, Bonifacio Global City, Taguig +632.823.13.20

Check out The Perfect Pint: Craft Beer + Fine Food for more information and updates. The event is powered by Courage Asia. 

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#theperfectmatchph

Valen Valero: When “Electric Dreams” Become Reality

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“The Thinker”
Valen Valero

“Since I had worked in factories and made parts of automobiles and had worked on telephone lines, I saw a chance to make a sculpture in a tradition I was already rooted in.” --- David Smith 

Those words were said by the American sculptor David Smith (1906-1965), who was a pioneer in abstract and geometric sculpture, inspired by the works of Picasso and Julio Gonzalez, who became progenitors of the so-called assemblage, or sculpture made from various unrelated materials.

The idea of working in a tradition in which an artist is alred “rooted in” comes to mind with the 7^th solo show of Valen Valero, now on view at Renaissance Art Gallery. One might say that the scumptural roots of Valero grew in the fertile soil of the family business. The Valeros are engaged in electricity distribution, managing the La Union Electric Company, which serves the threr towns of La Union, San Juan, and Bauang. The young artist thus grew up with an encompassing awareness of the presence and value of electricity.

Not surprising then that this show should be titled, and appropriately so, “Electric Dreams.” Valero presents free-standing and wall sculptures, paintings, and chairs, which are all imbued with an imagination fired as it were by the concept of electricity. Making its striking appearance and presence is the ubiquitous electric meter, or what we call “contador.” A recording instrument of the electricity consumed, it transcends its functional role and assumes guises that lend unexpected surrealist tones. Like a previously palpitating heart, it now lies, or hangs, inert within the jazzy and jangly sculptural configurations of Valero.

The free-standing works, “The Thinker” and “Electro Chemistry” are, to my mind, stand-outs. With the sculptor’s playful but logistical engagement with her materials, the viewer immediately senses the empathy generated by the works’ references. “The Thinker” is, as must be known to is an homage to the famous bronze work of the French sculptor Rodin, A skulking over-life size figure of a naked man, deep in thought, it was originally conceived as part of Rodin’s “Gates of Hell,” a sculptural narrative of Dante’s Inferno. In Valero’s own rendition of the subject, she assembles various fragments of industrial materials, steely and metallic grids and lattices and spangled wires, locked together, emblematic of a human figure. The use of such materials – which one American sculptor graphically described as “defeated” – derives from the practice of the art movement known as “arte povera” or impoverished art. A more dignified term that has been used is “non-privileged” materials such as wood, paper, rags and stones. Again, like her subject, Valero has done her own serious thinking how best to animate her materials. In a witty gesture, she has seen fit to append a shelf for coffeetable books, essential food for thought for “The Thinker.”

The sculpture “Electro Chemistry”, on the other hand, suggests an ironing board, with sly overtones of electric consumption generated by the presence of an electric meter. It conveys an authentic sense of domesticity, itself a theme loaded with controversial implications. Painted in sleek black, red, and white, the electric meter this time looms less like a heart than a cranium or skull, the brain recording and registering dark, diurnal activities.

Wall sculptures or reliefs, such as “Voltage,” “Magnetic Flux,” and “Electric Dreams” employ the collage technique, whether of planes of wood or layers of metal grids. The result is always an equilibrium of tension and repose, balance and asymmetry, with enough improvisatory panache as to constitute a well-integrated piece.

By her own admission, Valero has always been fascinated by chairs. As an object, it is of enduring interest. As such, it would serve us well to assess this piece of furniture so common as to elude its significance. 

In the book on the subject, authored by Judith Miller, we read: “In Western culture the definition of a chair is a seat with a back designed for a single person. This differentiates it from a stool, which is backless, and also from benches, settees and other forms of elongated seating intended to support more than one individual. Chairs are invariably raised above the ground, usually but not always on legs, and are also movable.” In this show, Valero creates both chairs and stool, uniquely invested with her flowing “appliques” consisting of fabric inscribed with the strangely intriguing conflation of a multitude of congested alphabets and numbers, intentionally unreadable and blending into a blur.

Interestingly, the Miller book carries a foreword by the famed designer Terence Conran, which is precisely addressed to designers like Valero: “Chairs are not just for sitting on, and many are diabolically uncomfortable because their designers have ignored the basic principles of ergonomics. To me this is unintelligent design. A lot of chairs have become indoor sculpture, and in many cases the architects who have designed them have promoted their brand through the design of their chairs – for example, Corbusier, Saarinen, Eames, Alvar Aalto, Gio Ponti, Arne Jacobsen, Marcel Breuer and Mies van der Rohe. Sometimes I think that you are unlikely to be a successful architect or designer unless you have designed a classic chair.” The public is now invited to judge if Valero has created her own classic chair. Please take your seat.

Valero is what one may call “an accidental artist.” Though she has always painted as a hobby, her first interest was the culinary arts. She graduated with a degree in Food Technology at the O.B. Montessori College. But by a “brushstroke” of luck, a friend once saw her paintings, liked them, and was able to sell them. She took active part in joining many group exhibitions. In 2012, she even took up art studies at the famed Art Students League in New York.

 On this her 7^th solo show, Valen Valero’s “electric dreams” have become a reality.

Valen Valero: When “Electric Dreams” Become Reality By Cid Reyes

“10 Kumainments” for Pinoys’ healthy lifestyle

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The National Nutrition Council  launches the “10 Kumainments”, a campaign to promote the Nutritional Guidelines for Filipinos at the “3rd National Conference of Nutrition Action Officers" held at the SMX Convention Center in Pasay City on October 23, 2014.

Filipinos from every walk of life can find ways to get healthy and be nutritionally well by following very simple guidelines drawn up by the National Nutrition Council (NNC) of the Department of Health (DOH).

The 10 Kumainments are the popularized versions of the Nutritional Guidelines for Filipinos (NGF) approved by the NNC Governing Board to promote a healthy lifestyle among Pinoys. The nutritional guidelines aim to address and prevent malnutrition and diet-related non-communicable diseases such as cancer, diabetes and cardiovascular diseases.

The Kumainments are simple and easy to remember guidelines that can be easily followed by ordinary citizens to improve their nutritional status. With messages like“Kumain ng iba’t ibang pagkain”, “Kumain ng gulay at prutas araw-araw”, and “Panatilihin ang tamang timbang”, individuals are encouraged to eat the right foods, exercise right and pursue a healthy lifestyle in 10 easy rules. The messages will be aired on TV and radio stations nationwide.

A campaign character, Moises Dalisay also known as "Mang Moi", was also introduced at the launch. Patterned after Moses or Moises of the Bible story who handed out the Ten Commandments, the friendly “Mang Moi” crusades for the “10 Kumainments” that Pinoys should follow for better nutrition. 

Moises "Mang Moi" Dalisay discusses the 10 Kumainments, the Nutritional Guidelines for Filipinos with Jovita Raval, the National Nutrition Council Chief of the Nutrition Information and Education Division.

“We encourage all the Nutrition Action Officers in the country to help disseminate the 10 Kumainments to the barangay level, to the households so that they can contribute in influencing proper nutrition behaviours and to also be able to help reduce malnutrition in the country,” said Jovita Raval, NNC Chief of the Nutrition Information and Education Division.

The NGF was developed by the interagency and multi-sectoral Technical Working Group on the Nutritional Guidelines for Filipinos chaired by the Food and Nutrition Research Institute of the Department of Science and Technology (FNRI‐DOST). The NGF also underwent multi-sectoral consultations. NNC was tasked to disseminate the NGF to ensure its adoption among Filipinos to contribute to improved nutrition.

The launch was attended by Nutrition Action Officers from all over the country who are also expected to help in the dissemination of the 10 Kumainments in barangays nationwide. The 3rd National Conference of Nutrition Action Officers used the theme in this program, “I Need You NAO and Forever” and conducted sessions that tackled nationwide data and project updates from the NNC and its partner agencies.

(L-R) Carmelita Abalos, President of the Nutrition Action Officers Association of the Philippines; Mario Capanzana, Director of Food and Nutrition Research Institute; Jovita Raval, NNC Chief of the Nutrition Information and Education Division; Dr. Corazon VC Barba, Professor Emeritus of UP Los Banos; Dr. Rodolfo Florentino, President of the Nutrition Foundation of the Philippines launch a popular version of the Nutritional Guidelines for Filipinos, the "10 Kumainments". The standee in the middle is the main character for the campaign, Moises "Mang Moi" Dalisay.

For more information, visit the NATIONAL NUTRITION COUNCIL

2332 Chino Roces Ave. Ext., Taguig City. 

Tel. Nos. 843.0142; 843.1337; 843.5824; 

Fax No. 843.5818; 

Email: info@nnc.gov.ph 

http://www.nnc.gov.ph 

www.facebook.com/nncofficial

Twitter @NNC_official.

Nurturing Homegrown Talent Can Lead to Country’s Success

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Giftedness is a term mostly associated with talent. While most believe the terms are synonymous and interchangeable, Professor Françoys Gagné, Ph. D, states otherwise. Considered as one of the most prominent names in the field of gifted education, Professor Gagné is the founder of the Differentiating Model of Giftedness and Talent (DMGT), a theory identified and used by international educational authorities to define their target population and plan intervention provisions. 

Professor Françoys Gagné, Ph. D discussing the Differentiating Model of Giftedness and Talent 

According to the DMGT, giftedness is a superior natural ability that is evident without systematic learning or teaching. Professor Gagné uses the term ‘gifted’ to designate any person who possesses a natural aptitude that placed them among the top 10% of their age group. Whereas, talent implies a mastered skill that has been developed exceptionally well. Professor Gagné claims that for gifts to translate into talents, they must be developed through a variety of catalysts. These catalysts include intrapersonal factors such as perseverance, general curiosity, intrinsic motivation, and ambition, and environmental factors like family, school, and quality of the peer group.

Nature and Nurture Working Together

(clockwise L-R) Professor Françoys Gagné, Ph. D with the Promil Pre-School team, Dian Yu, Product Manager, Rachelle Tongson, Group Product Manager, and Miko Acuna, Marketing Director, with current Promil Pre-School kid, Sage Araneta

There are over 1.27 million gifted children in the country according to data gathered by the Department of Education (DepEd) in 2010. A big number of these potentially gifted Filipinos are overlooked because of the lack of proper guidance and support.

While environment plays an important role that can aid in developing children’s raw abilities, it can also present less than ideal influences. Giftedness and talent do not flourish on their own. 

“Nurturing the potentially gifted is a shared responsibility of the family, as well as both public and private sectors, if they are to be developed maximally,” shares Dra. Letty Ho, President, Philippine Center for Gifted Education, Inc.

Celebrating Homegrown Talent and Skill

It is not enough to have the talent – It’s how the talent is utilized to achieve greater success in a broader scale, like in ones community or even country. Improvements in economic growth are closely related to the level of cognitive skills of the population.

Gifted child and award-winning violinist and pianist, Ira Aclan

i-Shine Talent Camp 3’s Grand i-Shiner Telesa de Torres

Professor Françoys Gagné, Ph. D, emphasizes that “individuals, young and old, differ in many respects: their aptitudes or potentialities, their personal qualities, their needs and their interests, their will-power and their perseverance, their investment in time and energy in the development of their talents, the characteristics of their social environment, and the qualities of significant people around them. All these elements can contribute to a person’s level of professional success; they are the ingredients of outstanding success, in school and in adult life.”

Professor Gagné’s visit to the Philippines could not come at a more opportune time, with the Philippine Center for Gifted Education, Inc. bidding to spearhead the establishment of the ASEAN Association for Giftedness, and the country showing strong economic growth.

Giftedness and talent could be a driving force for the Philippine economy to continue the steps it is taking towards becoming a progressive country. Nurturing homegrown talent can benefit the country greatly by spurring its development. 

Heritage Through Generations

For over 25 years, Promil Pre-School has been an advocate of nurturing Filipino children’s gifts into talent. With the right balance of support from parents, proper care through the right learning environment, and proper nutrition from Promil Pre-School, gifts can be nurtured into exceptional talents that benefit a larger community.

“We are one with Professor Gagné in promoting the proper nourishment of children’s gifts to become talents. This is one of those instances where proper education can really make the world of difference,” says Dian Yu, Product Manager, Wyeth Nutrition, Inc.

From National Hero Dr. Jose Rizal to Andrea Veneracion, who gave the world the Philippine Madrigal Singers, to world-class performer Lea Salonga and boxing champion and politician Congressman Manny Pacquiao, Filipinos whose gifts were developed into talents have proven to contribute immensely to the advancement of the country and building of national pride.

“This is a vision that Promil Pre-School shares with Professor Gagné. The brand was founded on the premise of making it easier for people to reach their full potentials and become gifts not just to themselves or their families, but also to their community. We believe that well-rounded and fully-developed talented individuals are those who are able to use their exceptional abilities for the greater good,” adds Yu.

The Voice of the Philippines Season 2 premiers Sunday October 26

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“The Voice of the Philippines” is back on Philippine TV with its premier this Sunday October 26.

New batch of extraordinary Filipino artist will again showcase their singing prowess in the much awaited Season 2 of the Philippines most watched singing competition, “The Voice of the Philippines.”

Season 1 coaches Apl de Ap, Bamboo, Sarah Geronimo and Ms. Lea Salonga are all back in this new season to be the eyes and ears to upcoming Pinoy singing superstars.

Hosts Toni Gonzaga and Luis Manzano expressed their excitement in hosting the new season of The Voice, which will start on Sunday, October 26 with the blind auditions.

"I'm really happy about the hosts of Season 1 and Kids teaming up. Of course, I'm proud to be back too, since this format is really close to my heart. We get to discover more talents and I'm sure it's going to be an exciting season," Toni said during the press conference for the show Thursday, October 23.

"In The Voice Kids, we were impressed by big voices coming from little children, and that proves that innate talent of pinoy singers. This season, I got to travel the country and I saw the amazement and joy in each artist when I gave them the envelope. During the blinds, I was surprised and checked some of them. So I got to know their inspirations and motivations," said Luis, who hosted The Voice Kids

The Voice of the Philippines Season 2 will still be hosted by Toni Gonzaga, Alex Gonzaga, Robi Domingo with the addition of Voice Kids host Luis Manzano.

“I’m really happy about the hosts of Season 1 and Kids teaming up. Of course, I’m proud to be back too, since this format is really close to my heart. We get to discover more talents and I’m sure it’s going to be an exciting season,” said Toni.

For Season 2, coaches Apl, Sarah, Bamboo, and Lea will have to assemble 14 artists to form a team by the end of the blind auditions. The new season will also introduce the “steal,” which will definitely add spice and excitement to the competition. In the battle rounds, each coach will have to pit two artists against each other and choose only one that will move on to the next round. If a coach likes an artist, he or she can ‘steal’ the losing artist. If two or more coaches like the losing artist, the artist, just like in the blind auditions, gets to choose which coach or team to transfer to.

“This season is going to be more thrilling, and that’s going to fuel an even intense competition among the coaches. Palaban lahat. I’m glad to be of service and show the latest happenings in the program. There are lots of great singers this season,” said Robi.