Chef Tatung’s “Simpol the Cookbook”, collaborates with NutriAsia

Tweet

If celebrity chef, restaurateur, best-selling cookbook author, and popular YouTuber Chef Tatung Sarthou were to single out one word that drives his culinary journey, that would be “simpol”. Chef Tatung, after all, has spawned a huge fan base of homecooks who all share his creed, “Kahit sino kayang mag luto basta simpol.”

Chef Tatung’s “Simpol the Cookbook” online cooking show has over 1 million subscribers between YouTube and Facebook. In Simpol the Cookbook, Chef Tatung presents over 101 recipes that are easily executed using familiar ingredients and basic kitchen equipment.

This approach to cooking has defined Chef Tatung’s success through the years. His first neighborhood restaurant in Quezon City was famed for its hearty and delicious offerings. Chef Tatung quickly branched out with several casual dining restaurants that trained the spotlight on the best of Filipino cuisine, including the Tausug-inspired, blackened and coconut-infused Chicken Piyanggang.

The popularity Chef Tatung garnered from his successful restaurants led to a gig as a resident chef for ABS-CBN’s Umagang Kay Ganda. His stint at the early morning show inspired him to master his craft and develop a deeper appreciation and love for simple home cooking.

Chef Tatung soon gained international recognition for his efforts. He was one of the highlights of the Asia Madrid Fusion 2017 event at which he spoke at length about the undiscovered cuisine of Mindanao. One might also recognize him from the popular Netflix series Street Food for which he was handpicked as a resource speaker to discuss the evolution of street food in Cebu.

Chef Tatung currently hosts the popular online cooking show “Simpol,” which between Facebook and YouTube has over 1 million subscribers and counting. His passion for teaching and sharing wisdom knows no bounds.

“I really want to be known more as an author, a teacher, and an advocate. Being a chef is just a stepping stone for me to be able to do what I want to do, to understand what I want to understand,” said Chef Tatung. “There are more important things, such as food security and national identity.”

Despite the attention from around the world, however, Chef Tatung has never once lost sight of the importance of Filipino culture.

“Food is incredibly powerful in how it speaks to our values as a nation and a people,” says Chef Tatung. “It is important then to continually pass on our knowledge about cooking in a clear and understandable way to reach as many people as possible. Making cooking ‘simpol’ and less intimidating allows the story behind each dish to thrive in the hearts and minds of Filipinos everywhere.” 

No surprise, then, that “Simpol” is the title of Chef Tatung’s soon-to-be-launched fourth cookbook, a venture for which he collaborated with NutriAsia, makers of Filipino homecooks’ well-loved food condiments. Several of the prized recipes utilize NutriAsia products such as Datu Puti, Silver Swan, UFC, Golden Fiesta and Locally, highlighting these as cornerstones of the Filipino culinary experience.

Chef Tatung has been a lifelong advocate of how food can speak to the values of the Filipino people. Celebrity Chef Tatung Sarthou makes cooking easy with recipes in his fourth book, 

“Simpol the Cookbook”. 

In Simpol the Cookbook, Chef Tatung presents over 101 recipes that are easily executed using simple, familiar ingredients and basic kitchen equipment. The featured dishes include cherished Filipino classics for every occasion and a slew of recipes that merit the tag ‘heirloom’ because these evoke images of beloved family elders lording it over a hot and smoky kitchen.

The recipes in Simpol the Cookbook were perfected and carefully catalogued by Chef Tatung over the years and are now served up as parts of a handy kitchen companion for both seasoned and first-time cooks. Hearty and delicious dishes he enjoyed as a young boy growing up in Cebu are there so you may replicate these in your own kitchen with simple, easy-to-follow steps.

Simpol the Cookbook strips the cooking process of the flourishes and fancy hype one might see in foreign cooking shows and grounds the activity in the everyday Filipino’s experience. Clearly, Chef Tatung has made it his life’s mission to make cooking as “simpol as A-B-C.”

It’s a sentiment that NutriAsia shares with all of us. “We are incredibly proud and excited to have collaborated with Chef Tatung Sarthou on his latest project, Simpol the Cookbook,” says James Lim, NutriAsia’s Corporate Marketing and Communications Head. “As a Filipino company, NutriAsia has always advocated for the joys of simple, everyday home cooking. We believe that anyone can cook special, great-tasting meals. With the pandemic keeping all of us at home, we have all had to become home cooks ourselves. This has made all of us hungry for new and exciting recipes that can be done from our own kitchens. There’s no better way to learn than from someone with the immense talent of Chef Tatung.”

Good eating starts in every person’s home. With the masterful guidance of Chef Tatung and the uniquely Filipino flavors of NutriAsia condiments, let Simpol the Cookbook brighten up your mealtimes for years to come.

MR. D.I.Y. opens its 100th store in the Philippines at SM Hypermarket Novaliches

Tweet

The largest home improvement retailer in Southeast Asia, MR. D.I.Y. celebrates 100-store milestone, MR. D.I.Y. opens its 100th store in the Philippines at SM Hypermarket Novaliches, Quezon City, today.

Started as a traditional hardware store in Malaysia back in 2005, MR. D.I.Y. has over 1,250 stores across Southeast Asia, including in the Philippines, Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia, Singapore, Brunei, and Cambodia. The retailer which used to be a conventional hardware store has become a game-changer in the retail industry. Just last year, MR. D.I.Y. celebrated its 50^th store at Ayala Malls Fairview Terraces and is now opening its 100^th store in SM Hypermarket Novaliches.

MR.D.I.Y.’s 100^th store celebration will kickstart by giving away 3 iPhone 12 Pro (128GB) and 10 consolation prizes of P1,000 worth of cash vouchers in MR. D.I.Y. Spend & Win Contest throughout December. For a purchase of P400 and more, customers can join by scanning the QR code, fill up the electronic form and share it to their social media accounts.

MR. D.I.Y. Philippines Chief Operating Officer (COO) Ms. Roselle Marisol Andaya said, “This significant milestone is a result of the unwavering commitment and dedication of everyone in MR. D.I.Y.  We thank our valued customers, business partners and the community for their tremendous supports. This has been a challenging year for our customers, and it is wonderful to be in a position to give them something exciting to look forward to.”

“We would also like to assure our customers that we are dedicated to continuously bring more value and convenience to them nationwide, offering them even greater value-for-money products by staying true to our motto of ‘Always Low Prices’. Here’s to 100 stores milestone and to many more as MR. D.I.Y. continues to expand our physical footprint, evolve and innovate to bring better and bigger value to our customers, added Ms. Roselle”

MR. D.I.Y. offers over 14,000 types of products across ten (10) categories, namely, household, hardware, electrical, car accessories, furnishing, stationery & sports, toys, gifts, computer & HP accessories and jewelry and cosmetics. There is always something for each member of the family to be excited about when shopping at MR. D.I.Y. Furthermore, the retailer is also supporting ABS-CBN Foundation-Bantay Kalikasan’s Mother Nurture Campaign for La Mesa Ecopark and Watershed through The Good Bag campaign. The celebration will extend until January of next year. 

For more details, please visit MR. D.I.Y. official Facebook at @mrdiyPH and corporate website at www.mrdiy.com/ph.

 

ING launches payment account that promises maximum flexibility and security so customers can ‘do their thing’

Tweet

ING Philippines announced the launch of its payment account “ING Pay” that is designed to make everyday payments more convenient and secure especially during a time when these activities are increasingly done digitally.

ING Philippines, the first all-digital bank in the country, held a virtual media launch last November 24, Tuesday, as they enter the digital payments market promising a convenient, quick, and secure payment account that makes banking easier and gives more time for Filipinos to do their own thing. – this is ING Pay.

 What is ING Pay?

ING Pay is the newest product offering of ING Philippines. ING Pay makes payment easy, smart, and convenient through different features such as bills payment, virtual VISA debit card, and real-time InstaPay transfers. ING Pay also helps customers separate their daily account from their savings.

 · ING Pay gives customers more flexibility and security in managing their finances, offering them a solution to transact and keep their debit cards securely via the ING mobile app 

· Easy way to transact with pre-enrolled billers and free instant fund transfers 

· 5%* cashback on all valid purchases using the ING Pay cards until December 31, 2020 

 

Doing things at home whether that is for work, business, or personal needs has changed the way people manage their many commitments. It has also given us time to pick up a new hobby or even explore further that thing we have always wanted to do again at home, whether that is gardening, writing, baking, or even focus on other interests or things that we are passionate about. 

“We have received very encouraging results since our launch in 2018 with our entry product – ING Save Account. The launch of ING Pay today further demonstrates our commitment to empower customers as they look for a safer and more efficient way to make payments and transactions in the midst of the pandemic. Now ING customers can transact digitally at the convenience of their home. We take the hassle out of payments so our customers can spend more time on the things that matter to them,” said ING Philippines country manager, Hans Sicat. 

The design of ING Pay is aligned with the bank’s global brand tagline ‘do your thing’, which encourages people to do more of the things they love by minimizing the friction and maximizing the simplicity of banking. 

Hans added that ING Pay will now work hand-in-hand with its award-winning savings account, which offers the highest interest rate in the market. ING customers can continue to enjoy a fully mobile account opening experience with just one government-issued ID and having multiple digital ways to fund the ING Pay and ING Save accounts using PESONet, InstaPay or mobile check deposit via the ING app. 

Commenting on how ING Pay provides a differentiating experience, Mohamed Keraine, Head of Retail at ING Philippines shared that “a successful product is able to address true customers’ needs. With a strong focus on customer-centricity, we are able to leverage technology and make banking processes easy, so customers do not have to spend more time than necessary. We deliver personal and instant insights so customers can take actions or just have peace of mind that their finances are being taken care of.” 

For example, ING Pay features more than 70 pre-enrolled billers and merchants, including major utilities, credit cards, insurance and telecommunication companies. By doing so, customers do not need to spend extra time filling up the biller or merchant’s info when making a payment. 

“A non-negotiable aspect is to keep our customer’s account and information safe. We offer every ING Pay customer a free virtual debit card where the details are only accessible via the ING mobile app, so they do not have to worry about card details falling into the wrong hands. ING Pay customers can also freeze or unfreeze their card in one tap via the ING mobile app when they need to secure it.” 

Mohamed also revealed that “the ING Pay physical debit card will be available soon so look out for our announcement on social media and notifications. And with the festive season approaching, we hope our customers can have an enjoyable time spending for the holidays by offering 5%* cashback on all their purchases using either the ING virtual or physical debit cards from now until December 31. Each ING Pay customer can receive up to PHP 50,000 in cashback, with no minimum spend per transaction.” 

With the ING Pay physical debit card, customers will be able to withdraw cash at any local BancNet ATMs. Both the virtual and physical cards can be used for purchases and transactions at online or physical stores. 

Noting the increase in digital transactions in the last few months, ING Pay offers free instant fund transfers via InstaPay to participating financial institutions in the Philippines. Mohamed emphasized that ING customers also do not have to worry about any fees when opening accounts or transferring funds via InstaPay and PESONet. The bank has maintained a no-fees policy since its launch in 2018 and intends to keep it that way as part of the value that it delivers to customers. 

“Easy, personal, instant and seamless banking is no longer just a concept. Now, all it takes is a smart phone and internet connection for you to enjoy these benefits,”Mohamed added. 

For Pinoy Chef Sau Del Rosario, a user of ING Pay, doing his own thing is continuing to pursue his love for gastronomic adventures and culinary experiments as he continues to serve Filipinos with his every dish. 

“Being able to pay my bills via the ING App means I can spend more time in cooking for our modern heroes, serving the Filipinos, and taking care of my business.” 

Reese Fernandez-Ruiz, President and Founding Partner of Rags2Riches said that doing her thing means pursuing her advocacy through her organization. The social entrepreneur also mentioned that ING made her life easier as a mother and entrepreneur while working from home. 

“With ING, I can do my thing because the important tools that I need to run and sustain our enterprise are on my phone. I can simply open my ING app, InstaPay Transfer payments to our suppliers and artisans, with an adjustable daily transfer limit.” 

Cheese On A Roll at Goldilocks!

Tweet

There is just something so addicting with cheese, especially with bread during breakfast or snack time. Here's new to enjoy.

Say “Cheese Please!” to the new cheesy treat from the country’s number one bakeshop, Goldilocks! 

We are sure you’ll love their new Cheese Roll. Bite into delectable cheese enveloped by soft sweet bread. It’s the perfect merienda treat for the whole family!​ 

Enjoy these and other scrumptious snacks at Goldilocks stores nationwide.

For more information, you may follow @GoldilocksPH on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, or visit the official Goldilocks website at www.goldilocks.com.ph.

UNIQLO to Bring its World-Famous Retail Experience and LifeWear to More Filipinos, with Store Openings in Butuan, Zamboanga and Manila

Tweet

 

Japanese global apparel retailer, UNIQLO, announces the opening of three new stores, adding over 2,915 sqm of shopping space in Paranaque, Zamboanga and Butuan.

With an increasing demand for essential clothing, UNIQLO continues to deliver its high-quality LifeWear clothing, and outstanding customer service. Through a series of new store openings, the brand brings its world-class retail shopping experience to even more people across the Philippines.

“With our latest store openings, we hope to make our unique LifeWear items available to more Filipinos, and to help them with their everyday clothing needs,” says Masayoshi Nakamura, COO, UNIQLO Philippines. “We want our new stores to be accessible to locals, to bring greater shopping convenience and to enable new customers to experience UNIQLO and LifeWear for the first time.”

UNIQLO is set to open its SM City Sucat brand at the Ground Level of Building B on December 18, 2020. Resident from nearby areas will be able to shop for the brand’s wide variety of items in 1,014 sqm of shopping space.

Following this, UNIQLO will also open two new retail stores in the Mindanao region, in the first quarter (Spring/Summer) of 2021. UNIQLO will open its first store in Zamboanga City at SM MindPro. The store will be located at the ground floor near the main entrance of the mall. Accessible from the main road, this new store will offer a 766 sqm of shopping space.

UNIQLO will also open a store in UNIQLO SM City Mall Butuan. The store will offer 859 sqm new shopping space and will be strategically located on the ground floor of the mall.

All three new stores will showcase the latest and a complete line-up of UNIQLO LifeWear, carrying all items for women, men, kids and babies, including UNIQLO shirts, pants, jeans, denims, dresses, the AIRism collection, and UV Protection pieces.

For more updates, please visit UNIQLO Philippines’ website at www.uniqlo.com/ph and follow social media accounts, Facebook (facebook.com/uniqlo.ph), Twitter (twitter.com/uniqloph) and Instagram (Instagram.com/uniqlophofficial).