100 Towns.100 Dishes.United for a Cheesy Christmas Season

San Felipe Neri Parish during Simbang Gabi

Simbang Gabi or Misa De Gallo is one of the highlights of the Christmas season here in the Philippines. It is held every early morning nine days before Christmas Day. Last September, Kraft Eden launched the search,Kraft Eden Queso De Gallo, for the best Christmas cheese dishes the town has to offer. The contest will depend on how many votes the food entry gained by submitting with empty Kraft Eden boxes. The contest run for exactly 100 days before Christmas. During Christmas Eve, Kraft Eden joins all Filipinos for the last Simbang Gabi of towns who mostly got the top nine spots for the best Christmas cheese dishes in the nation. The ninth and last Simbang Gabi was held in San Felipe Neri Parish, Mandaluyong City, the city that submitted the ninth winning entry, the trio cheese delight. The winning entry that got the most votes was from Guimbal, Iloilo for their entry, the Pininyahang Manok with Cheese.

Chef Celine prepares the meal entry

The event was also broadcast live on Umagang Kay Ganda, a morning television show. I got to meet Chef Celina David of Magsaysay Institute of Hospitality and Culinary Arts or MIHCA, who showed us the ingredients and the actual dish that we will be having for the event. Chef Celina stressed that MIHCA has no influence on deciding the winning entries and it was done only by voting. Chef Celine presented the recipe of the trio cheese delight on live television. She said that she prepared the dish exactly what was given in the recipe of the city it represented and she only helped to show it for live broadcast.

Kraft's Ana Sapitan(2nd) and Alex Tacderas(3rd)

Kraft's Mr. Alex Tacderas, Category Manager and Ms. Ana Sapitan, Senior Brand Manager were also present and told us during an interview how happy they were for the outcome of the whole event. They said how grateful they were for the towns and its people who respond with community spirit. Mr. Tacderas told how thankful he was for the massive promotion and campaign made by ABS-CBN to spread the word. They told us the recipes are now available online at Sarap Ng Pasko website and next year, the recipes will also be available when you buy a box of Kraft Eden. Kraft was also involved with the record breaking event of 6,750 cheese dishes served in one place last year. When asked what we will expect from Kraft to happen next year, they simply answered that it will be different but it will be a bigger event.

Trio Cheese Delight:9th Winning Voters' Choice

(L-R)Ana Sapitan of Kraft, Winnie Cordero and the 9th Winning entry recipients

Mr. Tacderas and Ms. Sapitan's message for Christmas was simple. That Christmas is the only one time in the year that a family is together that if we celebrate Christmas we should also give our best to prepare and not worry about how much are you going to spend.

Venue

For me and my fellow Filipinos, this contest helps build up camaraderie just like the participation of many Filipinos when contributing dishes that counted 6,750. It brings back the old Filipino spirit called Bayanihan. I was reminded about this when I spoke with a family matriarch during the event when she told me their story and how they were chosen to be recipients of a house and lot in Pasig courtesy of Habitat for Humanity. As a regular volunteer for Habitat for Humanity, I experienced working on the project with other volunteers who don't ask for something in return and worked alongside the recipients to finish the houses. It is also the same Bayanihan spirit that drove people to help fellows in need during the Ondoy Crisis and the participation of the people to support their town's entries for the Queso De Gallo event. The Bayanihan spirit still does exists in us Filipinos.

Merry Christmas from the L.E.N.S. Blogger

 When I first started this blog, it was about my memoirs, journals, random thoughts etc. My account in Blogger was created before that because my I need to pass my school requirements online to a Blogger site. It was only after that class that I use it to make a blogsite at Blogger. I never realize that I will do some event bloggings and more. Regardless how complicated the Blogging community now, I did not regret being part of it. So, in celebrating Christmas, I wish to write my thoughts about it. 

Our Christmas now is more commercialized than what it should be. Sometimes, we forget the reason for the season. The birth of the messiah was nothing like that. Sometimes, we take it for granted. The Americans who introduced us Filipinos to Santa Clause sometimes dominates Christmas. Knowing that the Americans are predominantly Protestants are also guilty of this. There was nothing really special about Dec. 25. It was just the closes date the Biblical scholars came to calculate which happens to be the same birthdate of the Roman Sun god. No matter how we celebrate it, let us be reminded why we are celebrating Christmas. We don't need to spend for it. We just need it to be simple. Even the Grinch and the people of Whoville found out that Christmas is not about gifts and decorations. FYI, Xmas is not the shortened word for Christmas nor it means the absence of Christ. On the contrary, X is the first Greek letter look like as translated to Christ. 

For the blog news, starting January 1st, 2011, I will be creating a new blogs for specific posts. For the movies: http://blockscreeningreviews.blogspot.com/  and http://walanghiyaanangtakaw.blogspot.com/ for food. I hope that as early as now, you can add yourselves as followers. More contests soon for followers and readers. Thanks to you all and have a blessed Xmas to all.

Movie News: Hall Pass

Warner Bros. gives you a sneak peek pass to next year's movie from the Farrelly brothers, who brought you the cult slapstick movie, There's Something About Mary. Hall Pass is about two friends given permission by their wives for a guilt-free, one-week off from marriage. Stars Owen Wilson, Jason Sudeikis, Christine Applegate, and Jenna Fischer. Hall Pass is showing February 25, 2011.

Rosario

The story revolves around Rosario (Jennylyn Mercado), a paragon of beauty and grace, intelligent, sophisticated, a liberal thinker, a young and liberated Filipina in the 1920s who has just arrived from New York, and is spending her vacation in their hacienda. The daughter of Don Enrique (Phillip Salvador) and Doña Adela (Eula Valdez), Rosario was a passionate woman who lives according to her heart’s desires.

She was a woman ahead of her time then , she meets and falls in love with Vicente (Yul Servo), an older man who manages the tobacco plantation owned by Rosario’s family. When Rosario’s father finds out about his daughter’s scandalous affair, he sends Rosario to a convent.

She escapes, and elopes with Vicente to Manila where they raise a family. But Rosario’s life of married bliss slowly crumbles when Vicente becomes ill with tuberculosis, and she is lured to committing adultery. Temptation and scandal still hound Rosario as she continues to defy the moral restrictions of her time.

Based on a true story and set in one of the most colorful periods in Philippine history, ROSARIO is destined to be a modern masterpiece in Philippine film making. It is a monumental yet intimate portrait of a woman’s emancipation and the sometimes painful consequences of following one’s desires. Watch out for “Rosario,” a story about love betrayal, guilt and redemption, and about what it means to be ahead of one’s time.

Cast:

• Jennylyn Mercado as Rosario
• Yul Servo as Vicente
• Dennis Trillo as Alberto
• Isabel Oli as Carmen
• Sid Lucero as Carding
• Philip Salvador as Don Enrique
• Eula Valdez as Doña Adela
• Dolphy as the elder Jesus

Facts:

• This is Albert Martinez’s first directorial feature film.
• This is Jennylyn Mercado’s first self-titled role/film.
• This is TV5?s (Studio 5) first movie project.
• Bea Alonzo was first considered to play the role of Rosario.
• An on-the-set Spanish consultant was hired to guide actors when they need to deliver lines in Spanish.
• Rosario is the first to use new Arri Alexa camera (in the Philippines).

3 Days left:Save the Philippine Eagle! MANILA VOLUNTEERS NEEDED for Dec. 13-24

The Philippine Eagle Foundation's long-time partner, Caltex, will be running a fundraising campaign for the Philippine Eagle Foundation (& other charities) at selected Caltex stations in Manila from December 13-24, 2010. For every P500 peso fill up, Caltex will donate P20 to a charity of the motorist's choice. One of the 5 choices is the Philippine Eagle Foundation. Now, the foundation needs volunteers to charm the motorists and convince them to give to PEF. Will you be our princes and princesses charming? :) At least 2 volunteers per station are needed, for a minimum of 4 hours a day, from December 13-24. Caltex will provide a cash allowance per volunteer per day. KAAKBAY is supporting this endeavor. We are encouraging KAAKBAY members and supporters to volunteer! Sign up is required, especially to avail of the allowance. Please send message to Ms. Tatit Quiblat at tatit@philippineeagle.org or 09177122895 to sign up and for your preferred date and time (you set the time, as long as it is between 8am to 9pm). You can volunteer as many times for as many days in as many stations as you want. Please see the list of stations below. You will be provided with a guide document (what to say, what to do, etc.) once you sign up. For those unable to volunteer, you can help by convincing all your friends and family to gas up at the selected stations during the promo period and choose PEF. Let's get Caltex to make a difference by helping the Philippine Eagle! Thank you! Tatit Quiblat Manager for Development Philippine Eagle Foundation Landline: 082 2712337

CALTEX Stations where Volunteers are needed: Makati: Gil Puyat Ave. & Malugay St. Edsa Cor. Harvard, Makati Pasig: Meralco Avenue, Cor. J. Vargas Marcos Highway Pasig C5 Avenue Bagong Ilog Paranaque: Macapagal Blvd Paranaque Better Living Paranaque http://madmimi.com/system/promotion_images/0096/4783/1013695871_f5h2H-M.jpg Las Pinas: 275 Alabang-Zapote Road Pamplona Manila: Quirino Ave. Cor Mabini St., Manila San Juan: Edsa Cor. Connecticut, Greenhills Ortigas Cor. Mckinley St. Ortigas Cor. Wilson St., Greenhills Quezon City 1160 Edsa Samson 1, Balintawak Mindanao Ave., Bahay Toro Navotas/Bulacan/Valenzuela: Mc Arthur H-Way, Tikay, Malolos NLEX Valenzuela Nfpc, R-10, Navotas Pasay: Nayong Pilipino,Mia Road Rizal: Km17 Ortigas Ave Ext, Brgy., Cainta Cavite: Daang Hari Cavite

For more pictures of the Philippine Eagle, visit: (http://alainpascua.smugmug.com/Philippine-Birds/By-Species/Philippine-Eagle For more information about the Philippine Eagle, visit: http://www.philippineeagle.org/

©2010 Unit-1 11/F The One Executive Office Building #5 West Avenue corner Col. Martinez Street | Nayong Kanluran, Quezon City, Philippines

EXPERIENCE “TRON: LEGACY” IN DIGITAL 3D, IMAX 3D

Presented in Disney Digital 3D™, and IMAX® 3D, Walt Disney Pictures' new sci-fi adventure “TRON: Legacy” features cutting-edge, state-of-the-art technology, effects and set design that bring to life an epic adventure coursing across a digital grid that is as fascinating and wondrous as it is beyond imagination.

Directed by Joseph Kosinski, “TRON: Legacy” stars Jeff Bridges, Garrett Hedlund, Olivia Wilde, Bruce Boxleitner and Michael Sheen. The film is scored by Grammy® Award–winning electronic music duo Daft Punk.

At the epicenter of the adventure is a father-son story that resonates as much on the Grid as it does in the real world: Sam Flynn (Hedlund), a rebellious 27-year-old, is haunted by the mysterious disappearance of his father, Kevin Flynn (Bridges), a man once known as the world’s leading tech visionary.  When Sam investigates a strange signal sent from the old Flynn’s Arcade—a signal that could only come from his father—he finds himself pulled into a digital grid where Kevin has been trapped for 20 years.

The 3D experience of “TRON: Legacy” will bring viewers into the Grid, and along for the ride, more than any other film in cinematic history. Using the next generation of 3D technology developed after “Avatar,” “TRON: Legacy” will allow the audience to experience the digital grid and be part of the action in the highly stylized landscape.

Shooting in 3D achieves an immersive experience for the audience that mimics the immersive experience Sam has inside the computer; the audience does not simply witness Sam’s journey inside the Grid, they travel alongside him.  The effect is enhanced by opening in 2D for the real-world scenes then switching to 3D when Sam enters the digital grid.

As Kosinski explains, “Ours is sort of a ‘Wizard of Oz’ approach. Ninety-eight percent of the 3D is in the digital TRON grid. The 3D really starts once we get into the Grid.”

“TRON: Legacy” will also be presented in IMAX theaters, so the filmmakers are making preparations to enhance the audience’s enjoyment by providing a unique experience. Specifically, they are finishing several sections of the film in a tall format—not letterbox—and in an IMAX theater, that means  black bars at the top and bottom of the frame will disappear and it will become a full-screen sequence.

Kosinski elaborates:  “In IMAX theaters there are several sequences, amounting to about 35 minutes in the film, that will open up to an expanded aspect ratio. We’ll be switching from 2.35 to 1.78, which will provide more image at the top and bottom of the screen. This will create an even more immersive 3D experience.”

The “TRON: Legacy” audiences will discover an exciting, evolved grid that pulsates with the latest technology, stunning visual effects and leading-edge design. With an insightful father-son story that’s grounded in cultural reality, a strong, relatable female lead and a unique, one-of-a kind style, “TRON: Legacy” blends what’s real with super-imaginative, eye-popping visuals and 3D action.

Tron:Legacy is now showing in cinemas nationwide.  “TRON: Legacy” is distributed by Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures Philippines.