The Kitchen Mom by dhess

  El Real brings you affordable, high-quality pasta dishes fit for every celebration. The holidays are here—and for Filipino families, that means gathering around hearty, home-cooked meals made with love, especially during Noche Buena. It’s the most anticipated feast of the season, a time when families come together to share laughter, stories, and their favorite dishes. But with prices continuously rising, many moms are looking for smart ways to make their Noche Buena and other family celebrations just as delicious and meaningful—without going over budget. This is where El Real pasta becomes the perfect kitchen companion. Designed for wais and determined moms who refuse to compromise on quality or taste, El Real offers value-for-money pasta made from high-quality wheat flour that’s expertly milled to ensure every dish turns out to be masarap, masaya, and always sulit. Made for every type of cook and celebration, El Real’s pasta line comes in multiple formats—from classic spaghetti ...

  Transform Jack ’n Jill favorites into crowd-pleasing holiday treats The holidays have a way of turning all of us into ambitious home cooks—but sometimes, all you really want is something delicious without the stress. The secret? Some of the best holiday treats don’t require fancy ingredients at all. In fact, they’re probably already hiding in your snack stash. With a little imagination (and your favorite Jack ’n Jill snacks), you can transform everyday merienda into festive, feel-good dishes. These easy and clever recipes are perfect for Noche Buena spreads, barkada parties, potluck gatherings, or those sweet holiday surprises you whip up at the last minute—but make it look like you planned them all along. Here are a few simple holiday snack ideas you can try, featuring your favorite Jack ’n Jill treats: Piattos Nacho Bake This quick, flavor-packed party tray turns Piattos chips into a warm, cheesy, crowd-pleasing nacho bake. The crispy chips make the perfect base for gooey melte...

  Jollibee is celebrating the Christmas season with its biggest holiday campaign yet as Filipinos across the country welcome the start of Simbang Gabi with back-to-back treats. The “ Buo ang Saya ng Pasko ” (The Joy of Christmas is Complete) campaign highlights the many ways Filipino families and communities celebrate the season today, creating a more joyful December for customers nationwide. “This Christmas, Jollibee wants to remind every Filipino that the true joy of the season comes from being together. No matter where or how we celebrate, what really matters is celebrating with the people we love,” said Dorothy Ching , Jollibee Philippines ’ vice president for marketing. “Totoong mas buo ang saya ng Pasko kapag magkakasama tayo at pinagsasaluhan ang mga paborito nating mga pagkain.” A heartfelt film for the changing Filipino family This year’s “Buo ang Saya ng Pasko” campaign features a touching Christmas film made in partnership with Forsman and Bodenfors Singapore . The fil...

  Philippines-based credit card startup Zed has raised $16.5M in a Series A round led by Silicon Valley-based investor Accel . This marks a key milestone in expanding credit access across the country and the Southeast Asian region. (L-R: Kathryn Vitug , Matthew Bernardo , Steve Abraham , Danielle Cojuangco Abraham , Matthew Steinpreis .) MANILA, Philippines , December 12, 2025 – Zed, the credit card startup reinventing banking for the next generation of Filipinos, today announced it has raised US$16.5 million in Series A funding led by Accel, the top-tier venture capital firm known for backing industry-defining companies like Facebook , Spotify , Slack , and Dropbox . This investment marks a significant milestone for the Philippine startup ecosystem, bringing one of Silicon Valley’s most prestigious investors to the country. Accel joins existing investors Valar Ventures and notable angels including Immad Akhund and Dalton Caldwell , bringing Zed’s total funding to $22.5 million....

If you love coffee and discovering new brands, this is exciting news. Vietnam’s legendary coffee brand, Trung Nguyen Legend , has officially launched in the Philippines, and I got to experience it firsthand during its media launch last December 11, 2025, at the World Bazaar Festival held at the World Trade Center Pasay . A First Taste of Vietnamese Coffee Culture The Philippine launch of Trung Nguyen Legend was made possible by Dygen Food Ventures Inc., the brand’s exclusive distributor in the country. From the moment I walked into the event, it felt less like a formal launch and more like stepping into a Vietnamese café experience . Guests were introduced to the brand’s story and coffee philosophy, followed by a guided tasting of their signature blends. The flavors were noticeably bold, rich, and aromatic—definitely perfect for anyone who prefers strong coffee or needs that extra kick in the morning. According to Mr. Miguel Paolo Salazar , General Manager of Dygen Food Ventures Inc.:...

Filipino restaurateur and award-winning cultural storyteller Erwan Heussaff champions intentional living as key to overall health and longevity. Manulife’s Longevity Symposium highlights how small, intentional choices in physical, mental, and financial health can create lasting impact on individuals and communities. MANILA, Philippines – For Manulife Philippines brand ambassador and content creator Erwan Heussaff, living better and attaining longevity boils down to one thing: intentionality. In a video he produced in partnership with Manulife Philippines, Erwan looked back at his experience speaking during “ Time to Move: the Manulife Longevity Symposium ” in October where he and other industry experts tackled how Filipinos are approaching health and aging in the lens of longevity.  PHOTO CAPTION: Manulife Philippines Brand Ambassador Erwan Heussaff, joined by Manulife Environmental, Social & Corporate Governance Managing Director Ariel Kangasniemi, talked about sustainable...

Manila, 10 December 2025 — niko and … is gearing up to bring a burst of anime energy to Manila as its limited-edition Evangelion collection lands at SM Mall of Asia on December 12. EVA fans, collectors, and fashion lovers are in for a treat as the collaboration drops exclusive pieces created for the 30th anniversary of Neon Genesis Evangelion and available only for a limited time. With its mix of style, nostalgia, and Japanese creativity, the release is shaping up to be one of the most anticipated crossovers of the season. The launch marks the global celebration of the anime’s milestone and highlights the growing presence of niko and … and ADASTRIA in the Philippine market. The Evangelion collaboration serves as the newest example of this creativity. The collection reinterprets key elements from the series through clean silhouettes, subtle graphics, and styles meant for daily wear, allowing fans and new audiences to experience the world of Evangelion in a fresh and accessible way. As a...

  Holiday spending hits differently when it comes with a chance to win big; and this year, Maya is making every peso work harder and smarter. As the #1 Digital Bank in the Philippines, Maya is giving you the easiest way to become a Twinyonaryo : win ₱1 million for yourself and another ₱1 million for your chosen person just by borrowing or spending with Maya. And here’s the plot twist: the fastest way to rack up entries? Borrowing — responsibly. Maya Easy Credit : Your Instant, Smart Extra Budget Need a little holiday boost for noche buena grocery, gifts, reunions, or last-minute bills? Maya Easy Credit gives you up to ₱30,000  revolving credit you can use instantly. No paperwork, no waiting, just tap and go. And every ₱1,000 you borrow or pay using Maya Easy Credit earns you 5 raffle entries, one of the highest multipliers in the promo. And since you can use it to pay directly at stores via QR, using your borrowed credit is fast, ...

Score up to 30% discount when shop for your favorite snacks and drinks via URC’s “Dead Selling III: Livestream ng Lagim” this October 23. This Halloween, horrors lurk in every corner. Some would decorate their house with different kinds of ghosts, ghouls, skeletons, and other supernatural creatures, along with friendly Jack o’ Lanterns. There are others who might be streaming scary movies as early as now to really bring in the spooky vibe.  Your TikTok feed also isn’t safe from jump scares. As everyone prepares for the Halloween season with their favorite snacks and creative costumes, you can have your own interactive experience with “Livestream ng Lagim,” the third run of Universal Robina Corporation’s (URC) “Dead Selling” activity, starting on October 23, 2025.  It’s about to get spooky with URC’s interactive live selling activity, “Livestream ng Lagim,” this October 23, 2025.   This three-episode online live selling event will feature spooky ghost stories and must-grab...

Jollibee, the home of the langhap-sarap experience, just leveled up their Cheesy Yumburger line, letting fans choose their own delicious bias. Still made with the same beefy langhap-sarap patty you know and love, the Cheesy Yumburger now comes in two crave-worthy variants: Original Cheesy Yumburger – The crowd-favorite classic with creamy cheese and signature Yum sauce. Special Cheesy Yumburger – A bold new flavor adventure with creamy cheese, tasty ketchup, pickles, and onions, available starting October 1, 2025. Whether you're a loyalist to the OG or curious to try something new, there’s now a Cheesy Yumburger made just for you to satisfy any of your cravings.  “Fans have always loved the Cheesy Yumburger for its beefy patty and cheesy goodness. With this limited-time offer, we’re giving them more ways to enjoy it — either sticking with the Original or switching things up with the bold Special variant,” said Pam Reyes, Assistant Vice President, Jollibee Philippines . “Kahit ano...

Sintang, October 03, 2025 – Across many parts of Asia, flavor is not just a matter of taste; it is a legacy, an identity, and a reflection of the human connection to nature. In Southeast Asia, the rich spices and traditional cooking techniques passed down through generations thrive due to the abundance of local food sources, including forests, fields, rice paddies, and rivers. However, climate change and the exploitation of natural resources are now threatening the continued availability of these local food sources. In the Philippines, 2025 food security efforts increasingly focus on empowering communities and reviving indigenous farming. The Department of Agriculture (DA) has set ambitious goals, including raising rice output to 20.46 million metric tons and cutting post-harvest losses. Still, grassroots initiatives best reflect the nation’s wisdom. In Mindanao and the Cordillera, farmers cultivate traditional rice varieties like Tinawon and Unoy through ancestral practices that valu...

Left to Right: Lars Voedisch, Founder and Group CEO, Paolo Alba, Regional VP and Country Lead (Philippines), and Hannah Kiwahko, Associate County Lead (Philippines)  PRecious Communications, an award-winning multi-market integrated communications agency, is celebrating its third year of growth in the Philippines. With the National AI Roadmap in effect, the agency continues to scale its operations and strengthen its foothold in the market, growing 2.5x year-on-year on the back of established partnerships with leading tech enterprises and fast-growing startups in the Philippines and Southeast Asia. Amid the country’s fast-tracked adoption of AI, the agency has been strengthening its digital capabilities to support the demands of the growing economy.  As domestic spending remains strong and inflation stays low, the University of Asia and the Pacific forecasts the Philippines’ gross domestic product (GDP) to grow by 5.8% in the third quarter of 2025. Among the fastest in Southeast...

  Five flagship brands from food and beverage firm Universal Robina Corp. (URC) have landed in an exclusive list of products consistently chosen by millions of Filipino households.  Great Taste , C2 , Piattos , Nissin and Payless were all among the most chosen FMCG brands in the Philippines according to the 2025 Brand Footprint Report of global consulting firm Worldpanel by Numerator.  “The results of this study show that our brands continue to earn the trust and loyalty of Filipino consumers,” said URC Chief Marketing Officer Karen Ong. “We’re proud that our products remain staples in homes across the country,” she added.  The Brand Footprint report is Worldpanel’s annual ranking of the most chosen FMCG brands worldwide. It uses a metric called “consumer reach points” (CRP) to measure a brand’s strength based on how many shoppers are buying the brand and how often. It essentially shows which brands are winning at the point of purchase.  One CRP represents a s...

MANILA, Philippines, 25 July 2025 – Our lungs work around the clock to keep us alive, yet lung health remains one of the most neglected aspects of overall wellness. Breathing difficulties are often dismissed as a natural part of aging, but in reality, lung health is affected by far more than just getting older. Daily exposure to air pollution, secondhand smoke, haze, prolonged air-conditioning, poor nutrition, and even lack of sleep can gradually impair lung function, often without obvious symptoms. This silent damage is taking a toll. In 2024, pneumonia ranked as the fourth leading cause of death in the Philippines, claiming 19,842 lives, according to the Philippine Statistics Authority. The year prior saw a 27% surge in cases, with a concerning 11% increase among children under five—evidence that no age group is spared. Behind these numbers are often subtle symptoms or signals from the body that are easily missed or ignored until it's too late, such as persistent cough, shortness...

  Jollibee Launches New Jolly Meal Savers Line-Up Share-worthy News: Busog sa Sulit-Sarap Meals for Only ₱99! Jollibee fans have more reasons to celebrate their favorite meals. Starting July 9, the new Jolly Meal Savers is here—featuring Busog sa Sulit-Sarap meals for only ₱99! It’s a feel-good deal that’s just too good to keep to yourself. Making its exciting debut in this sulit-sarap line-up is the NEW 1-pc. Burger Steak with Double Rice— the classic fan-favorite meal, made even more filling with an extra serving of rice.  Your Favorite Meals, Now in a Sulit Line-Up The new Jolly Meal Savers line-up delivers unbeatable value and satisfaction through full meals that include sides and drinks.  Each option is a complete and flavorful experience built around best-loved Jollibee favorites: NEW: 1-pc. Burger Steak with Double Rice and Drink  1-pc. Chickenjoy with Rice and Drink Jolly Spaghetti with Fries and Drink With generous servings and sulit prices, these meals are ...

  MANILA, 25 April 2025 – YouTube, in partnership with Shopee, launches YouTube Shopping in the Philippines. With this launch, the YouTube Shopping affiliate program is now available in six countries across Southeast Asia, further fueling the burgeoning video commerce in the region. YouTube Shopping seeks to elevate the purchase experience and create more opportunities for viewers, content creators, and even advertisers.  Viewers can now seamlessly find and buy the things they love while watching content from their favorite creators. The YouTube Shopping affiliate program transforms video e-commerce from links in the description box to actual and direct product tagging – no more extra clicking, endless searching, or switching between websites. All they have to do is check out!  The launch of the YouTube Shopping Affiliate Program in the Philippines offers exciting opportunities for both Shopee sellers and content creators. Shopee sellers can now expand their reach by coll...