Just In Time For Breakfast: The Bicol Express Longganisa

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The long wait is over and the Bicol Express is here to stay–as a longganisa!

That’s exactly what the Bicol Express Longganisa–developed by the same team behind the now-famous Laing Longganisa (after gaining social media momentum and a massive outing as one of the top ten products during the 2019 Ultimate Taste Test by Our Awesome Planet)–is all about.

Bicol Express and its roots

Like many other Filipino dishes, the Bicol Express has several iterations. What remains constant however is its use of pork, balao/balaw, or local salted baby shrimps, coconut milk, chili, and aromatics.

In some areas of Bicol, versions of it may incorporate vegetables such as string beans, winged beans, and bell pepper.

Some would add pineapples, adding a layer of sweetness to the dish. Others have versions of the Bicol Express as sauteed and pan-fried with little coconut milk, while others would be in its original stew version.

While the origin of the dish (and its name) is widely debated (others credit its roots to a non-Bicolana cook who was inspired by Bicol’s Gulay a Lada, or Sinilihang Gulay during her stay in the region in her youth), it is a fact that the Bicol Express has become synonymous to the region’s cuisine alongside Laing/Katanga/Nantong and Pinangat.

Onboard the regional cuisine trend/train

“We wanted to bank on the booming national and global interest towards local cuisine,” Rica Buenaflor of Que Rica says, “and we started with the Laing Longganisa.”, 

With a massive response towards that idea of regional cuisine being made available and easy to prepare, her team has invested in the development and packaging of Pili Nuts (also a hit) in novel flavors such as Truffle-Pecorino Cheese.

After several successful product launches (bottled ready-to-eat meals such as Sinantolan (minced cotton fruit in coconut milk), Vegan Laing (shrimp- and meat-free dried gabi leaves in coconut milk), and other meat products such as the Pineapple-Cured Chicken Tocino) in events, bazaars, and in the digital space, the Que Rica team is taking Bicol cuisine to new, greater heights.

“The Bicol Express Longganisa is one of the five (5) new products we have developed recently while in quarantine,” she quips, “and instead of pork we used chicken to cater to customers who like healthier options.”

Several products are also in the pipeline and who knows–we’d all end up as passengers to such Bicol Express-sions of food!

Order the Bicol Express Longganisa, in a pack of 8pcs or 350g, here.

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Que Rica is a brand of fine tasting products crafted in Bicol for Filipinos in the world. The brainchild of the Le Cordon Bleu Paris-trained Ched Rica Buenaflor, it takes pride in our culinary traditions while continuing to push the boundaries of what delights the Filipino palate. Local, healthy, and proud will be forever in its DNA. It is owned and managed by Phenomenon Group Inc.

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Website: www.querica.ph

Globe At Home Prepaid offers that are perfect for ordinary Filipino families

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As Filipinos try to navigate through life in the new normal, Globe aspires to make sure every household has access to fast and reliable Internet to help each family member stay connected and be able to keep in step with daily responsibilities.

Whether it’s Daddy that has to attend Zoom meetings or Mommy who’s trying to run her online pastry business or the children that are attending online classes, staying connected during these trying times has never been more important. This is where Globe At Home ably steps up with its prepaid offers that are perfect for the needs of ordinary Filipino families.

With the health crisis impacting families from every corner of the country, having access to affordable yet sufficient data plans is of utmost importance. Globe At Home Prepaid WiFi (HPW) provides consumers with this ability as it offers a wide variety of HomeSURF and HomeWATCH promos that suit various needs and budgets.

Weeklong Internet Use

For weeklong browsing and entertainment, families can enjoy the HomeSURF199 and HomeWATCH199 promos. These are perfect for those who don’t need regular Internet connection as they can just get this on the weeks when they need it. HomeSURF199 comes with 30 GB of data, 23GB of which is available for open access data surfing. Consumers can also enjoy 1 GB per day for 7 days to use on Watch, Learn, Chat and Earn apps such as YouTube, DepEd Commons, Google, Wikipedia, Facebook Messenger, WhatsApp, Viber, Lazada, Shopee, GCash, Grab and Lalamove.

Meanwhile, HomeWATCH199 offers 34 GBs. This includes 6 GB open access data that is valid for seven days and 4 GB a day that can be used on YouTube, Netflix, iflix, Viu, VLive, Tik Tok and NBA League Pass.

Internet Service on a Budget

Those on a budget that need an Internet connection on a regular basis can opt for Globe At Home’s 15-day promos like the HomeSURF599 and the HomeWatch599. These promos give consumers exceptional value for their money with enough data allocation that can last for a month’s worth of Zoom calls and research plus extra data to use for video streaming. HomeSURF599 provides 60GB of data while HomeWATCH599 lets one use up to 75GB of data.

Month-long Heavy Internet Usage

Now, for those who need enough data for a whole month’s use, Globe At Home has monthly prepaid WiFi promos like the HomeSURF999 and the HomeWATCH999, which are suitable for families that have parents that work full-time at home and children who are also attending online classes. This way, they can enjoy fast Internet speeds for work or for play, without a lockup period.

Those who watch lots of movies, videos and TV shows can benefit from HomeWATCH999, which provides 140GB of data—enough to satisfy the entertainment needs of every member of the family.

It is important to remember to never remove or change the SIM that comes with the Globe At Home Prepaid Wifi modem in order to enjoy the exclusive promos and rewards. If the SIM expires, go to any Globe Store nearest you and look for a Globe At Home Prepaid SIM only.

Globe’s resolve to establish a better and stronger network symbolizes its commitment to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDG), in particular, UN SDG No. 9, which believes in the importance of infrastructure and innovation as significant drivers of economic growth and development. Globe has pledged to advocate the 10 United Nations Global Compact principles and 10 UN SDGs.

For more information visit www.globe.com.ph

"The Importance Of “Pondo” by Alex Gonzaga, the newest endorser of Villarica Pawnshop

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Alex Gonzaga, the famous social media superstar speaks seriously about the future as she enters a new chapter as a wife. 

There probably isn’t anyone in the country who has not heard of, have seen, or have witnessed the antics of, and the humor of Alex Gonzaga whether on television, the big screen, and most especially online. She has always been seen as the counterpoint to her sister Toni Gonzaga. Alex was the wild, wacky one, while her sister Toni was the more conservative and responsible of the two in the public eye.

“From day one naman, when I entered showbusiness, it has always been my uncaring, off-the-cuff and galawgaw ways that have endeared me to fans and the public,” said Alex Gonzaga. “I was young, carefree, and rebellious in my own way while si Ate Toni talaga ang mas seri- ous, mas dutiful daughter and ate na image talaga sa mata ng publiko.”

Alex stressed that this public image, the wild and wacky sister of Toni Gonzaga was in fact what she used as her “pondo”, her investment and foundation to make a name for herself in showbusiness.

“I had to zero in on something, something na hindi malalayo sa pagkatao ko, para naman believable, I can build on, and use to endear me to the public,” she added.

Of course, Alex added that it did not hurt to have a more established sibling in showbusiness to teach her the ropes and guide her as she started life in the public eye, but she knew she had to be known for something more than being the sister of Toni Gonzaga.

“What people did not realize then na syempre, our parents raised us a certain way and that deep down, I was still a product of that up- bringing di ba,” Alex exclaimed. “I had a strong sense, a strong pondo ng mga pangaral ng mga magulang, a foundation of being God-fear- ing, a need for a sense of purpose, and above all financial security para sa future namin.”

A few years back, Toni and Alex on their own ventured into a business venture aside from their showbusiness careers. One of the more notable venture of the sisters were their Happy Cup Milk Tea business in 2017.

Alex said, “These business, yung milk tea namin is really a product of the deep lessons on preparing for the future that we have learned from Mommy Pinty, na lagging maging handa, laging may nakatabi na fall back, may investment at syempre para pomondo sa kinabukasan.”

Alex did not stop there. She invested as well in her own future with her product endorsements and YouTube channel, as a sought-aTer online content creator that has generated millions upon millions of followers which definitely generated more financial security for the young thespian.

“Yang YouTube channel na ‘yan is probably one of the best moves I have made in my career,” Alex excitedly said. “A lot of thought comes in producing each video, a lot of planning, and of course creativity to ensure that the audience will enjoy what they watch that is true to the Alex Gonzaga brand.”

“Relevance, ayan, relevance and reinvention ang pondo natin dyan sa YouTube Channel.”

Alex mentioned that she capitalized on her showbiz identity, on how she has been seen by the public, and her connections as well as her investment on video equipment, learning editing skills, and the like to ensure that she remains relevant as people begin to move their attention to ‘digitainment’.

In a rare moment of introspection, Alex Gonzaga turned very serious and said,

“Now that I’m a wife and syempre, in the future a mother, lahat ng natutunan ko, lahat nang naipondo ko sa sarili ko, sa business, at kung anu-ano pa, I have to channel now in my new role.”

Alex married long-time boyfriend Mikey Morada, a businessman and City Councilor in Lipa Batangas in November of 2020 during the height of the pandemic.

“I have to be wiser in my investments, I have to be wiser in spending money, need na mas maingat sa mga desisyon kasi I no longer just have to look a:er myself at mga needs ko, may sarili na ako ngayong pamilya and di na naman uso na dapat bilang maybahay ay iaasa natin buo ang kinabukasan sa mga asawa natin di ba?”

“This deal that I have now with Villarica Pawnshop is a blessing,” Alex added. “Dati kasi pag nasa isip ko pawnshop, ibig sabihin nun sangla, parang utang ba na may collateral kasi short ka sa pera, negative ang dating.”

Alex further mentioned,

“Habang nakikipag-usap ako sa kanila, I learned so much more that the industry pala ng pawnshop has trans- formed. Naging paraan na sila para maka-access ang mga Pilipino sa mga lugar na di nararating ng mga bangko sa mga serbisyo na parang pang bangko na rin. They offer such a wide range na service, sila Villarica pala ay ka tie-up na rin ng mga bangko, na nag po-provide na rin sila ng mga paraan para makakuha ng karagdagang pondo para sa mga negosyo ng mga tao.”

Especially in this time of the pandemic, where businesses are closing, that companies are right sizing le: and right, people need to adjust the way they think or else risk their future and their families.

“Naku when you see the news, minsan nakakaawa ang mga nawawalan ng mga trabaho. Napalaki kasi ang iba na need mo maging emp- leyado, na maging manager para sure ang future. Right now, people need to realize na dapat pondohan nila ang mga sarili nila, na pwede rin naman magsimula ng maliit na negosyo, maging entrepreneur,” Alex said. “And si Villarica, believe it or not can help them with that, among other things.”

Alex also mentioned that some Filipinos may find it more prudent to invest in gold if they have the extra money.

“Sabi nga ni Mommy Pinty sa akin, ang alahas, lalo na ang gold, pondo rin yan. She said that it was and will always be a wise investment.” She added that Villarica is a good source of excellent quality gold if one has the extra funds.

With more than 500 branches nationwide, Villarica remains to be a leading pawnshop with the highest appraisal value and a preferred money remittance (“cash padala”) and money changer outlet in the Philippines.

To learn more about other services like bills payment, POS withdrawal, auctioned jewelry selling and even loading, and most especially how Villarica can help you ensure your future and aid you in setting up your business especially in the time of the pandemic, visit www.villaricapawnshop.ph for more information.

The BIGG Move: How BIGGS Pivoted From Dine In To Digital

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 The 38-year old Bicol-born BIGGS is now online.

There’s a common plotline among stories of brands moving into the digital space: the need to scale up, expand its demographics, or make up for a cool portfolio.

For 38 year-old Bicol-born restaurant chain BIGGS, it’s simply to let its customers continue the dining experience at home.

2020, of course, played the key role: quarantine regulations kept everyone at home. This meant restaurants trying to thrive through a business model that’s built around social interaction and the togetherness that ‘dining in’ actually is. With no clear timelines as to when customers would come back, restaurants scrambled to cut costs on all corners, grow its delivery segment, and even diversify its products. 

But instead of simply looking for means to survive, BIGGS found a way to thrive. To do this, they didn’t look very far: it’s a picture of a BIGGS customer who’s alone in the kitchen. He’s looking through his fridge for an easy-prep, delicious, filling comfort food which he can make with the help of a pan, an oven, or a grill. Along comes the bestselling Biggs Ready-To-Cook Ribs. 

Half a year later with over ten products and twelve more in the pipeline, the brand straddles the future by reigning in both the digital (with a vibrant e-commerce page) and retail spaces (being in over 50 stores in Metro Manila and Bicol).

While the product is already there--the Ribs being one of its flagship products for years--launching it in a platform so new and in a year so challenging is another story. Here are five (5) of the key steps BIGGS took to successfully pivot itself to e-commerce.

1. Talk to your customers. For BIGGS, it’s not only looking at past sales performances to determine which product to develop but to have its customers be product co-creators. Through surveys, focus group discussions, and interviews--all done online--BIGGS asked its customers on how frequent they cook in a week, the food preparation methods they are looking for, even the flavor profiles they prefer.

2. Invest in Creatives. The e-commerce space is peppered with compelling visuals and rich content. The competition for attention is stiff. By having its in-house team work with creative suppliers, BIGGS is able to come up with fresh content every time through its many social media platforms.

3. Build relationships with an enabler. Besides being a landscape for creatives, the e-commerce space requires efficiencies to be made in the logistics, inventory, web development and operations departments. An enabler company builds these synergies within its team or outside to bridge these gaps.

4. After building an incredible website, invest in paid ads. In many cases, the website will be very much like a physical store: it requires careful construction, regular upkeep and constant improvements. Driving customers to it is another story. Driving traffic through organic content works to some extent, but with tight competition coupled with continuous changes in social media algorithms, it’s going to be a slow burn. Paid ads ensure the visibility of your products to your target audiences and guarantee optimal sales conversion.

5. Strike a balance between what you have (both product and data) and what your customers like. Fortunately, BIGGS already had a hero product in mind--the BIGGS Ribs. What needed to happen is to reformat this restaurant hit into something its customers can prepare at home with limited tools. Making data-driven decisions--supported by rich data found in its e-commerce systems--help the brand make changes quickly. If there’s one learning that stood out in this movement from dine-in to digital, it’s the importance of agility.
   
   
   
   

Check out BIGGS Ready To Cook via www.biggs.ph.

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Biggs Ready To Cook is the retail arm of the 38 year-old restaurant chain BIGGS. It is a line of easy, ready-to-cook frozen versions of the BIGGS’ bestsellers. It is owned and managed by BIGGS Inc and is present in over 50 supermarkets. In Manila, its digital distribution partner is Phenomenon Group Inc.

Instagram: @biggsreadytocook

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Website: www.biggs.ph

Shopee Gives You More Reasons to Shop with the Shopee Loyalty Program

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 Users can experience a new level of value and engagement via Shopee Loyalty, with rewards including vouchers and exclusive deals to be unlocked every month 

MANILA - Shopee, the leading e-commerce platform in Southeast Asia and Taiwan, is officially launching Shopee Loyalty, a brand new in-app program that delivers a more rewarding shopping experience for users. With Shopee Loyalty, users can enjoy a range of exclusive perks, vouchers, and deals every month when they shop more with Shopee. 

Highlights of Shopee Loyalty

Shopee Loyalty is an in-app program where users can earn and claim exciting rewards every month when they shop on Shopee. The membership is free and consists of four tiers. Shoppers can unlock higher tiers and enjoy bigger rewards by completing a certain number of orders within a month.

Shopee Loyalty is easily accessible with a single tap from the Shopee home page. On the Shopee Loyalty page, users  can:

• Track their Shopee Loyalty tier progress for the month

• Discover various tier and reward milestones

• Redeem eligible vouchers that are refreshed monthly, including free shipping vouchers and special birthday vouchers. 

Martin Yu, Director at Shopee Philippines, said, “We are excited to bring more joy and reward Shopee users better with Shopee Loyalty. Shopee has seen online shopping grow in importance for Filipinos in the past year, as more people turn to Shopee for their needs, from groceries to entertainment. Shopee Loyalty gives users more ways to save and have fun with Shopee as they shop online more, together with our in-app features, membership clubs, and shopping campaigns that users enjoy regularly. We look forward to helping users unlock more value with Shopee in the future.”

On February 15, Shopee users can also look out for exclusive free shipping vouchers from 12:00 MN to 2:00 AM and 12:00 NN to 2:00 PM for all purchases made with ShopeePay. 

To learn more about Shopee Loyalty, visit https://shopee.ph/m/shopee-loyalty-education  

Download the Shopee app for free via the App Store or Google Play.