FamilyMart Philippines brings back two of its most loved pastries–the revel bar and the s’mores–at its stores nationwide
Team Out of Town Blog Hub (Outoftownblog.com) – After years of making fans long for the old days, some of FamilyMart Philippines’ most loved food items are back–the revel bar and the s’mores. The local franchise of the Japanese convenience store chain has brought back the baked goods, making a serving of each pastry bigger and more chewy and fudgy, as an answer to the clamor of long-time customers.
“We’ve been getting messages from customers, asking us to bring back these items, so we found a way to address it. Better than before, the FamilyMart revel bar and s’mores are back as a way to recognize the loyalty of our patrons,” said Angelo Balajadia, FamilyMart Philippines Category Marketing Manager – Convenience Food Retail Category.
Revel bar and s’mores back at FamilyMart
One of its most popular pastries, the revel bar is composed of an oatmeal crust that intertwines with chocolate and is topped with streusel. Meanwhile, as inspired by the campfire staple, the s’mores come in a bar with a brownie base and are topped with marshmallows. Both are moist and chewy, and best served warmed after five to 10 seconds in the microwave. Available nationwide, the pastries are up for grabs in FamilyMart stores starting at P49 each, and will soon be available for delivery via GrabFood.
Aside from the revel bar and s’mores, FamilyMart also recently introduced new items, such as the Ichigo Matcha Latte, a combination of two of its flavored drinks, as well as its own version of the twister fries, which will be made available year-round. Over the last years, the brand has been actively establishing itself as a convenience store chain and as a food destination, introducing new food products regularly even during the height of the pandemic.
Having had the privilege to meet the likes of Michael Jordan and Stephen Curry once upon a time, PLDT Home Ambassador Gretchen Ho reveals the most important life lessons she’s learned in her career as a sportswoman
Team Out of Town Blog Hub (Outoftownblog.com) – Volleyball may have been Gretchen Ho’s ticket to fame as one of the Ateneo Lady Eagles’ Fab Five during the 2010s — the sport that paved her way to being a celebrity athlete and journalist. But catch the PLDT ambassador in a heart-to-heart, and she’ll let you in on her first great love — basketball.
PLDT Home NBA League Pass Gretchen Ho with Stephen Curry
“My dad was a basketball player in his youth, so he would always teach us how to play and keep us abreast with the latest basketball games. My three brothers and I grew up to be basketball lovers! We’re a very sporty family, so enjoying the NBA with them was just one natural way we bonded together,” Gretchen recalls.
PLDT Home NBA League Pass Gretchen Ho
From an NBA fangirl to a bona fide sportscaster who has covered the games on location and met the league’s stars in person way back when, Gretchen — like many other basketball fans — has found new ways to enjoy the games despite the pandemic. The TV5 and One News anchor remain updated with the league’s 75th season through the NBA League Pass, the NBA’s premium live game subscription service. Using the League Pass, made more affordable and accessible through PLDT Home Fiber, Gretchen is able to watch the games and other exclusive content with the family — an experience that triggers many childhood memories and even life aspirations.
An NBA fangirl’s dream
One of Gretchen’s most memorable NBA moments was watching the historic Chicago Bulls – Utah Jazz Finals Game 6 back in 1998. At eight years old, she saw Michael Jordan steal the ball from Karl Malone, with the Jazz leading 86-85 and with 18.9 seconds left. A young Gretchen found herself sharing the victorious moment as MJ nailed that game-winning jumper to give the Bulls their sixth title.
Gretchen Ho watching NBA
“When Michael Jordan made his final winning shot, I was jumping up and down the bed in my pajamas! Sabi ko nga nung bata ako, pangarap ko maging NBA player — hindi WNBA, NBA talaga! I don’t know why I said that to my dad as a young girl!” she recalls with a laugh.
While the opportunity to be an NBA player remains a hoop dream, Gretchen was able to experience the next best thing: Covering the NBA All-Star Weekend twice in a row as a sports journalist.
“It was surreal for me and a great privilege. Seeing all the top NBA athletes come together to play felt like being in the Disneyland of basketball. It was great seeing how agile, strong, and flawless they were in their play,” she enthuses.
Among Gretchen’s biggest NBA fangirl moments were in 2018 when she interviewed Chris Bosh who was then set to retire from a blood clot injury; and in 2019, when she saw Michael Jordan himself in the historic Staples Center (now Crypto.com Arena) in Los Angeles.
“I’ve always loved every chance I got to tell these stories. As an athlete and a sports fan myself, I’ve always made sure to pour my heart into sharing these inspiring journeys to the audiences,” she says of the experience.
Her hardcourt inspiration
It is every sports fan’s dream to meet their idols in person. In Gretchen’s case, not only did she meet Golden State Warriors Stephen Curry, she also hosted two events for him during his time in Manila.
“Steph Curry is a phenomenal game-changer—the first player in NBA history to make 3,000 career 3-pointers. And yet, he stays humble. I love who he is inside and outside the court. He’s very playful on the court and a great family man off it,” she shares.
Gretchen personally feels drawn to stories of underdogs who had fought through with nothing but perseverance — much like San Francisco’s Golden Boy.
“Beyond the games, what I love about the NBA are the inspiring stories the league’s stars carry with them. It’s amazing how much hard work they put into their craft to stand out and make a mark among other great basketball players around the world,” she says.
“What I love the most are stories of players who have been undervalued yet have worked their way up with a constant improvement, quality in performance, and commitment so they can be the best they could ever be. I think this is relatable to anybody who aspires to be better in whatever they do.”
A growing NBA community
It’s this underdog arc that Gretchen finds relatable to many Filipinos — known for pulling through adversity in any sport, career, or just about any situation.
“It’s no secret. Everywhere you go in the Philippines, there’s always a basketball court! If not a full one, there’s at least a makeshift one on some post or board,” she muses.
Gretchen especially feels delighted that Filipino athletes are now making it in the league. Take for example Utah Jazz’s Jordan Clarkson and Houston Rockets’ Jalen Green, she says, two Filipino-American athletes now sharing the NBA court for the first time and making a mark in the league.
PLDT Home NBA League Pass Gretchen Ho
“This just goes to show that the Filipino can make it. I love it when Jordan and Jalen openly acknowledge that they are Filipinos! It makes the dream to send a full-blooded Filipino even more reachable when you see the two of them doing well in the NBA!”
These days, even with no NBA field assignments, Gretchen stays updated with the league through her devices. As the excitement continuously piles up on the NBA’s historic 75th Anniversary Season, Gretchen remains connected to the world’s biggest basketball league — through the NBA League Pass powered by PLDT Home.
For fans like Gretchen who can get technical about the games, the NBA League Pass offers live stats and multiple viewing options. It also includes the NBA Mobile View, which delivers a closer shot of the action optimized for viewing on smartphones, tablets, and other mobile devices.
“It is a great way to keep up with the jam-packed schedule of games, storylines, and tributes. With NBA League Pass, I’m able to watch the marquee games live and on-demand,” Gretchen says. “I also love that it has many great features — like using different camera angles so I can view every heart-stopping moment the way I want to!”
With NBA League Pass charged to your PLDT Home Fiber bill, Filipino homes can have a virtual front-row seat to a variety of games for as low as P85 a month!
PLDT Home remains the undisputed fastest broadband network in the Philippines after an impressive speed performance for the second half of 2021, dominating its telco rivals with a Speed Score of 77.24 at the Ookla® Speedtest Awards. With the brand’s fast and reliable internet connection, NBA fans can enjoy uninterrupted sports action and continue to be updated on the league and its biggest stars this season and beyond!
For more information on how to enjoy the NBA League Pass via a PLDT Home subscription, please visit the official website at pldthome.com/nba-leaguepass.
Team Out of Town Blog Hub (Outoftownblog.com) – The Philippines’ leading airline, Cebu Pacific (PSE: CEB), recently announced its continued partnership with one of the country’s leading insurance providers, AXA Philippines, with the launch of Piso Protect, an affordable personal accident microinsurance for everyJuan.
P1SO is LYF! Ceb Piso Protect
Piso Protect Personal Accident microinsurance ensures everyJuan’s financial security, in case of accidents, that may result in injuries, disabilities, or death. With this product, the insured can get accidental death or permanent disablement coverage of up to P250,000, daily hospitalization coverage of P1,000 per day for a maximum of P5,000, and a surgical cash benefit of P5,000.
Flight purchase is not required to avail of Piso Protect. For as low as P1/day or P365/year, this easy-on-the-pocket accident insurance can help cover the cost of hospitalization due to accidents.
The new offering comes at a critical time when the world is gradually transitioning to normalcy. More people need accident insurance coverage, as accidents happen to nearly everyone anytime, anywhere. Hospitalization can be costly, that is why it is better to be prepared for these unforeseen instances.
“It has been our commitment to keeping passengers’ safety and peace of mind our priority, and we are delighted to offer something relevant, valuable, and affordable, addressing needs that cover beyond travel,” said Candice Iyog, CEB vice president for Marketing and Customer Experience.
Cebu Pacific goes beyond travel with AXA Philippines tie-up
“We are happy to continue our partnership with CEB to offer affordable, high-value personal accident insurance that can help provide extra financial protection for all,” said Nandy Villar, AXA Philippines Chief Customer Officer.
Choosing Piso Protect is readily available on the CEB website here https://bit.ly/CEBPisoProtect – once selected, customers will be redirected to AXA’s website to complete the purchase.
Piso Protect is just one of several products under this suite of lifestyle insurance packages offered by the CEB and AXA Philippines partnership. Back in September 2020, CEB and AXA Philippines were the first to offer non-travel insurance products in the Philippine aviation industry, with CEB Health Protect, insurance that provides coverage for top three critical conditions, namely cancer, stroke, and heart attack.
Team Out of Town Blog Hub (Outoftownblog.com) – The Philippines is seeking the support of Korean tourism players in its effort to ramp up the promotion of the country as a safe and fun destination in the new normal.
Tourism Secretary Berna Romulo-Puyat led the Department of Tourism (DOT) delegation to Korea from March 28 until April 1, and met with Korean tour operators like Kyowon KRT, Modu Tours, and Hana Tours and representatives of government agencies like the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy. The delegation also met with representatives from the aviation industry, including Philippine Airlines, Cebu Pacific, Asiana, Air Seoul, T’way, Jin Air, Jeju Air and Fly Gangwon.
DOT seeks return of Korean tourists photo by Bambi Corro via Unsplash
The DOT is seeking to tap the Korean travel market, the country’s largest, before the pandemic, to boost tourist arrivals from that country. The tourism chief pitched the Philippines’ newest tourism products and activities that will likely appeal to the Korean travel market in the new normal.
“The Philippines is more than ready to welcome our Korean tourists. Our entry requirements are one of the safest and most relaxed in Asia,” said Puyat in a briefing held by the DOT for some 80 Korean tourism industry players and media representatives at the Lotte Hotel, Seoul, on March 30.
“It is understandable that some may still be reluctant to travel amid the pandemic but let me reassure you that the Philippine Government and tourism industry have instituted measures to keep everyone safe,” she added.
Fully vaccinated foreign tourists with negative COVID test results need not quarantine or undergo testing upon arrival. Unvaccinated children below 12 may travel to the Philippines with their fully vaccinated parents.
PHILIPPINES AS A SAFE AND FUN DESTINATION
Puyat also underscored the high vaccination rate among the country’s tourism workers and stakeholders, which is now at 97 percent nationwide, and the decreasing daily rate of Covid-19 infection in the country.
“With the majority of the country’s tourism workers being fully vaccinated, we have begun rolling out our booster shots for added protection. We hope that these efforts will help entice visitors to return, especially now that we have developed many new tourism circuits catering to the interests of tourists in this new era of travel,” added Puyat.
The Philippine government took advantage of the tourism lull brought about by the pandemic by developing a total of 112 new tourism circuits across the country, introducing the best travel products and experiences, including culinary, history, nature, wellness, and farm tourism. Puyat announced that 102 more tourism circuits in 14 regions across the country are undergoing development.
Puyat also apprised participants on the DOT’s latest campaign “It’s More Fun with You” to welcome back foreign tourists and showcase the preparations that the Department made during the pandemic, covering both safety measures and tourism circuits.
“In this campaign, we highlight the preparations that our tourism industry has carried out while travel was put on hold. We will also feature the exciting destinations to visit, activities to experience, and culinary wonders to try. We have missed you; our destinations have also missed you, and the Philippines would certainly be more fun if you come and visit us,” Puyat said.
THE WTTC SUMMIT 2022 IN MANILA
Similar to the DOT’s seven-day mission to Japan last month, Puyat sought the participation of Korean tourism officials and industry players in the upcoming World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC) Global Summit, which the Philippines will host for the first time in Manila on April 20-22.
“We hope that tourism professionals and the media from Korea also come, attend, and enjoy. With the theme “Rediscovering Travel,” the Summit will provide an opportunity to address the social, environmental, and economic challenges as we rediscover global travel amid this pandemic,” said the DOT chief.
TOP SOURCE MARKET
Though fourth in the ranking of arrivals in the Philippines in the past two months with only 5,551 visitors, Korean tourists registered some 1.98 million arrivals in 2019, which is considered the highest arrival figure among all markets ever recorded in the country.
Other than its natural beauty, the lure of the Philippines to South Korean tourists can be partly attributed to the proximity of the Philippines, which takes only three and a half hours by air. The emergence of low-cost carriers, resulting in frequent flights and reasonable travel cost, and good quality of service have also attracted Korean tourists to the Philippines.
of 77.24 at the Ookla® Speedtest Awards. With the brand’s fast and reliable internet connection, NBA fans can enjoy uninterrupted sports action and continue to be updated on the league and its biggest stars this season and beyond!
