Wild Juan: Chef Thomas Murillo

April is a busy month for a good number of people in the food service industry as Madrid Fusion 2017 takes place.  From April 6 – 8, 2017 at the SMX Convention Center in Pasay City, people from near and far places come together to share their passion for food.  Part of the delegation representing Calabarzon is the chef behind the placed tagged as “definitely not your ordinary food find among the rising places at Tagaytay Ridge”; this is Chef Thomas Murillo of Wild Juan.

His love for food started young and he took his first step towards it during his sophomore year as a Consular and Diplomatic Affairs student at the College of Saint Benilde.  He decided to take commercial cooking and culinary arts at First Gourmet Academy and had his apprenticeship at 2nds after.  This lead him further by becoming one of the pioneering member behind Paprika PH and years later his own restaurant at a family-owned place at Tagaytay Ridge.  Wild Juan is born.

Wild Juan bears the concept of East meets West and is delivered with the hospitality of Filipinos in the Southern part of Luzon.   His food creations are something that we are all familiar with but are delivered with a twist and flair.  Perfect sample are the Sisig Paksiw, Krispy Kasoy Kare-Kare (KKK) and Gumbulalo.  Three common dishes but comes with a new level of flavor and goodness due to techniques and passion.

Learning never ends for Chef Thomas as he earns his NCII Commercial Cooking and ServSafe:  Food Safety & Sanitation certificates.  He pushes himself to be the best and at par to the world, thus making his quality for food high and passion much higher.  He doesn’t stop there as he then shares his knowledge and passion this coming Madrid Fusion 2017 to foreign delegates and proudly represent Calabarzon.

Chef Thomas Murillo, stays humble yet proud of his craft thus from love of food it now is a burning passion.  Come at the biggest food event this season at the SMX in Pasay or visit Wild Juan located at KM 68 Tagaytay-Nasugbu Highway and experience the comfort and passion that he shares at every plate served.

The Wild Juan is located at KM 68 Pinesville, Tagaytay- Nasugbu(National) Highway, Tagaytay City, 4120, Philippines. For Inquiries/reservation: +63 9154324196    +63 9178404211

Maharlika and Agimat by Liquido Maestro Kalel Demetrio

This April, food lovers and experts come together at the biggest food event of the season – Madrid Fusion 2017. To be held at the SMX Convention Center in Pasay City, food people near and far shall share their knowledge and passion about food.  Perfect food pairing is the key to a remarkable and unforgettable dining experience thus the perfect drink must come with that sumptuous dish.

Liquid Chef Kalel Demetrio is a mixologist that is not strapped in simply doing cocktails.  For him, the perfect drink may come in the form of a juice, tea, cocktail or even a smoothie.  His concept of farm-to-glass is simply a demonstration of his love for the best local produce and serving it into a drink that people will love and enjoy.  His support to the local farming business is his way of making sure that the industry will simply get the best of the best without artificial flavors enhancing it.

Madrid Fusion 2017 now serves as a venue for him to launch two of his creations thus making him pioneer in this product market niche, Agimat and Maharlika – a syrup of derived from Mother Nature’s best produce and an infused flavored kombucha.

Known as mushroom tea, Kombucha is not really coming from a mushroom but from a result of fermentation wherein SCOBY (Symbiotic Culture of Bacteria and Yeast) is formed.  This SCOBY then eats the sugar of this fermented sweet black tea thus making it lower in PH.

He took it a step further by infusing delightful flavors without losing the health benefits this concoction is known for.  With flavors added, his kombucha concoction is more palate acceptable and delightful – thus Agimat is born.  A health drink that delivers more than what is expected. 

Agimat is beyond your usual charms and amulets, it is a drink that helps protect your liver, lowers your sugar and cholesterol level and eases nerve issues.  No deity’s blessing but simply Mother Nature giving her children what she has and the gentle hands of a working Man extracting and transforming it to what will benefit all.  It may not bring immortality but it will help strengthen your life.

Making a rich and delightful drink is no easy feat that is why Liquido Maestro Kalel Demetrio came up with this product for the discerning public.

Maharlika is the newest line of flavored syrup that is rich in flavor and goodness similar to its namesake.  Each bottle of syrup underwent a carefully defined process ensuring the full extraction of flavor in each drop making it rich and true to taste.  Maharlika is more than a syrup concoction, it is a drink additive suited for royalty.

From the best of the local produce available, Maharlika defies all syrup concoction in the market by ensuring the clarity of flavor and supporting the local farming and food industry.  We make it a point that the source becomes sustainable and sufficient in the long run thus pushing for growth in all aspect of the business.  We are not only business minded individuals but people with an advocacy.  Like the nobles of Olden Times, we look after our people and land.

Maharlika, is not just a brand of syrup.  It is a syrup concoction made by caring hands of working people.  From selection to packaging, each bottle under goes a specific determined process to ensure that we remain true to our name and purpose;  that is to deliver a product that will make you experience the best there is in the market.

Maharlika is fitted for royalty as they only serve the best that you deserve!

With Barik already in some establishments where he has designed drinks suited for their clients and image, Agimat and Maharlika is soon to join the niche of market with discerning taste.

NABH International Accredits Cabrini Medical Center as its first in Southeast Asia

The National Accreditation Board for Hospital International (NABH International) continues to support the Philippines in gaining international accreditation in the field of healthcare. The latest accreditation was awarded to St. Frances Cabrini Medical Center. A non-profit organization, NABH International is recognized by International Society for Quality in Health Care (ISQua). One of the organization’s main objective is to redefine healthcare quality in the developing worlds but at the same time, providing accreditation with an affordable cost. St. Frances Cabrini Medical Center, located in Sto. Tomas, Batangas, has always held on to their mission statement which is to passionately strive in providing healthcare needs and deliver high quality healthcare service to improve lives.

The organization has seen their main objective being imbibed by this world-class provincial medical center.

It has also been the chosen venue for international medical missions targeting indigent people of Region IV and V that do not have access to proper medical care. These missions support the hospital’s advocacy and that is to ensure that they extend the same quality of service to everyone who goes inside their hospital doors who is in need of medical care.

The hospital has aimed to provide excellent service to the entire Calabarzon (Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal and Quezon) region. They have achieved various milestones one of which is to be one of the only four hospitals in Southern Tagalog accredited as a Center of Excellence by the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth).

St. Frances Cabrini is the only hospital who is a participant in the United Nations Global Compact Initiative. An organization that is anchored in the practice of human rights, fair labor practice, and protection against corrupt practices.

“St. Frances Cabrini has complied with all the standards of NABH International. This ranks them at par with the best hospitals in the world in terms of patient care and patient safety.” NABH Director Dr. BK Rana stated who was also one of the assessors.

Joyce Socao-Alumno, NABH Philippines Representative and Country Head of Aster DM Healthcare says, “Accreditation is beyond licensing which is the basic requirement for hospitals and even more than ISO certification. Accreditation is a tool that is meant to assist hospitals achieve excellence by benchmarking with the best of the best. A hospital cannot claim it is world-class if there is no third party expert to say that what they are indeed of global standard. NABH International, just like JCI, is recognized by the International Society for Quality in Healthcare (ISQUA) as an accredited agency that audits hospitals against the global standards of patient care and patient safety. These assessors were trained and licensed to do the audit. The NABH International assessment is more than lip service. It involves audit of the entire organization of the hospital from the CEO down to the lowest ranking staff, and every nook and corner of the facility.”

"Although our hospital had all the universal equipment and qualified specialists all these years, the hospital achieved NABH accreditation only when it thoroughly started following all the NABH norms of documentation, patient safety and patient education. The NABH accreditation is actually more for the interest of the patients’ care and safety as it ensures best treatment for patient," said Dr. John Cresencio F. Alonzo, SFCMC President/COO.

“This accreditation does not only target city hospitals. NABH International also provides accreditation to small health care organizations, wellness centers and blood banks to name a few. Each category has a set of standards that they need to comply with. These organizations may apply under the relevant accreditation program that depends on the services that they offer. Hopefully, more hospitals and wellness centers in the Philippines will achieve international accreditation in order for the Philippines to gain global acceptance in the field of healthcare,” Alumno added.

Having an international accreditation also gives the Philippines the opportunity to explore the medical tourism industry that is currently on an uptrend. St. Frances Cabrini is the first to be proclaimed as a Medical Tourism Special Economic Zone. Another achievement under the hospital’s long list of distinctions.

The NABH International plans to continue extending their international accreditation to the Middle East and South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) countries.

The process may be tedious but once the organization completed and passed the assessments, they will be accredited for three years.

HOW MUCH MONTHLY SALARY YOU NEED TO AFFORD A HOUSE IN 10 PH CITIES

HOW MUCH MONTHLY SALARY YOU NEED TO AFFORD A HOUSE IN 10 PH CITIES

Planning to buy a home? Check out whether your current salary could buy you a house in these 10 cities and municipalities in the Philippines

Ever wondered how much monthly salary you should be earning in order to afford a house in different cities and municipalities in the Philippines?

Global property website Lamudi Philippines looked into its May 2016 listings data and see the average prices of homes in different cities in the Philippines. With these averages, we used the 2.5 rule to determine how much monthly salary you should be earning in order to afford a home in these places.

The 2.5 rule works like this: the cost of the home you can afford is 2.5 times your annual salary.

But this approach is only a general guideline. Although many financial experts highly recommend not buying a home that’s more than this, some people’s lifestyle may be able to let them afford a slightly more expensive property (for example, childless couples or singletons), while others who have higher monthly expenses should consider spending on a much cheaper property.

However, as general as it is, the 2.5 rule allows us to gauge the housing market. By knowing how much you can afford, you can determine how far your income can take you based on Lamudi’s average house prices in 10 cities and municipalities in the Philippines.

Starting with…

Antipolo, Rizal

Ave. home price: Php4.06 million

Monthly salary you need: Php135,533

The capital of Rizal, Antipolo is also the province’s most populated city. For years Antipolo is one of most favored residential options for many of Metro Manila’s workers, but commute to and from Metro Manila has become unbearable as of late due to traffic congestion. But this is expected to improve soon when LRT-2 is extension is completed. As of May 2016, average home price in Antipolo stands are Php4.06 million. This means in order for a person to afford a home in Antipolo, he must have a monthly salary of at least Php135,533.

Imus, Cavite

Ave. home price: Php1.92 million

Monthly salary you need: Php64,000

Situated southeast of Bacoor, Imus is now consider a highly urban area teeming with many residential subdivisions, shopping malls, and industrial estates. It also has a huge population that’s expected to increase further (its population increased more than 5 percent per year between 2010 and 2015). As of May 2016, average house price in Imus is at a relatively affordable Php1.92 million, which means in order for an employed person to afford to buy a house here, he or she must be earning at least Php64,000 per month.

Mariveles, Bataan

Ave. home price: Php270,492

Monthly salary you need: Php9,016

Located at the southern tip of Bataan Peninsula, Mariveles can be seen from Manila Bay on a clear day, but road travel to this municipality will take approximately 4 hours via the North Luzon Expressway and San Fernando, Pampanga. Hence, home price as of May 2016 is relatively affordable, averaging Php270,492. A monthly of Php9,016 may be able to afford you a home here—if you don’t mind the commute time.

Bacoor, Cavite

Ave. home price: Php3.742 million

Monthly salary you need: Php124,733

Similar to its neighbor Imus, Bacoor is quite a popular suburban residential destination for those working in Metro Manila, but homes are quickly become more expensive (much more so than Imus being closer to the capital). As of May 2016, average house price in the city stands at Php3.742 million, which means one has to have a monthly salary of Php124,733.

Santa Rosa, Laguna

Ave. home price: Php2.5 million

Monthly salary you need: Php83,333

Situated approximately 34 km south of Makati via the South Luzon Expressway, Santa Rosa City is known as Laguna’s motor city being home to the production facilities of international carmakers Toyota, Nissan, Honda, and Mitsubishi. As a result, home prices have been climbing steadily. As of May 2016, average house price in Santa Rosa stands at approximately Php2.5 million. This means one should be making at least Php83,333 per month in order to afford a home here.

General Trias, Cavite

Ave. home price: Php2.55 million

Monthly salary you need: Php85,000

General Trias’s population has been steadily growing since 2000, and it is now home to several industrial estates, many residential subdivisions, and leisure estates. Average home price in this Cavite city currently stands at Php2.55 million; hence, a person who plans to buy a house here should be making Php85,000 per month.

Lucena, Quezon

Ave. home price: Php2.49 million

Monthly salary you need: Php83,000

The capital of Quezon Province and one of CALABARZON Region’s highly urbanized cities, Lucena also boasts a highly evolving housing market. Currently, home price averages Php2.49 million, which means an average monthly salary of Php83,000 is needed to afford the city’s homes.

Calamba, Laguna

Ave. home price: Php2.75 million

Monthly salary you need: Php91,666

Highly accessible from Metro Manila via the South Luzon Expressway, the historic city of Calamba is also a popular weekend destination because of its many hot spring resorts. The city’s housing market is also quite buoyant, with houses averaging Php2.75 million according to Lamudi data. A person who wants to relocate in the city must be making at least Php91,666 per month.

Davao City

Ave. home price: Php6.64 million

Monthly salary you need: Php221,333

Over the next six years the city of Davao will become one of the country’s most celebrated cities being the official home of president-elect Rodrigo Duterte. But as of this writing Davao’s housing market is already quite pricy, with homes averaging Php6.64 million. This means a monthly salary of Php221,333 is needed to afford houses in Davao.

Cagayan de Oro City

Ave. home price: Php5.89 million

Monthly salary you need: Php196,333

Similar to Davao City, Cagayan de Oro’s housing market is quite expensive as of this writing. Houses in this Northern Mindanao city average Php5.89 million, which means a monthly salary of Php196,333 is needed in order to afford homes here.

Although figures on average house price presented in this article are based on actual properties for sale listed on the Lamudi website, they do not mean one cannot find homes for sale in these cities that priced well below these averages. Home-seekers are encouraged to visit Lamudi Philippines to check out a wide range of homes available for sale in the cities mentioned above.

ABOUT LAMUDI

Launched in 2013, Lamudi is a global property portal focusing exclusively on emerging markets. The fast-growing platform is currently available in 34 countries in Asia, the Middle East, Africa and Latin America, with more than 800,000 real estate listings across its global network. The leading real estate marketplace offers sellers, buyers, landlords and renters a secure and easy-to-use platform to find or list properties online. For more information, please visit http://www.lamudi.com.ph

Visit Lamudi Philippines on Facebook, Twitter, Google+ and LinkedIn.

I Want Seats: Real-Time Online Bus Reservation

Why wait in line when you can book online?

iWantSeats is an online bus booking platform in the Philippines. Currently offering deluxe trips to Baguio and Baler to and from Manila via JoyBus, more routes will be added to serve you!

Booking your bus ticket has never been as easy as booking your hotels and airline tickets! With just a few clicks, you can reserve and confirm your seat and just go to the terminal on the day of your trip. 

Explore new places, or travel to and from your city without having to wait hours at the terminal as a chance passenger. 

Leave the booking to iWantSeats and enjoy more of your trip. 

Book to Baguio or Baler now at iwantseats.com.ph. 

Watch out for new trips coming soon!

AQUABEST ANNOUNCES NEW BATCH OF SCHOLARS

Aquabest the country’s leading water franchise is pleased to announce the awarding of its new batch of scholars under its Corporate Shared Values (CSV) program.

Under its CSV program the company offers scholarships to the children of its deserving employees. The company has always placed an emphasis in the welfare of its employees and their families. This is driven by the company's realization that its people are its prime assets and as part of its Christian values. 

 Every year the company sets aside funds to help with the education of its employees in good schools that offer quality education. With the scholarship grants, the children of its employees get to realize their dreams and reach their full potential. 

Since its inception the scholarship program has assisted dozens of children in getting the good education needed to succeed in their life. This year's scholars are: Aletheia Arellano, Grade 3 at Greenfield Academy, Danica Marie Boton, Grade 10 at Fortunato Halili National Agricultural School, Jianne Rhed Catapia, Grade 4 at PBTS Academy, Mabhe Dimple Esguerra, Grade 3 at Saint Jude Academy of Quezon City, Samantha Siervo, 2^nd year at Mary the Queen College, and Scarleth Jane Cayetano, Grade 3 at Merry Mount Preparatory School of Quezon City.

Good Medication Adherence Plays Part in Controlling High Cholesterol

Healthcare experts suggest the importance of a well-balanced lifestyle in curbing illnesses. However, a study found another important factor in easing diseases, including those that are triggered by high cholesterol. Based on the most recent survey conducted by the Food and Nutrition Research Institute of the Department of Science and Technology (FNRI-DOST), one in every ten Filipino adults has high cholesterol, while 21 in every 100 are in borderline high. While it is important to keep proper nutrition and lifestyle in check, a study published in the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America suggested that successful treatment of diseases require consistent intake of medications as indicated by doctors.

“Proper medication adherence is found to be an effective way of managing, if not averting, known diseases,” said Tomas Marcelo Agana III, president of Pharex HealthCorp. “That’s why for people with high cholesterol, we want them to bear in mind that good compliance to medication will keep their cholesterol levels at ease and eventually, improve the quality of their lives.”
Almost one-third of patients discontinue their medication earlier than instructed, leading to “poor clinical outcomes, high healthcare costs and lost productivity.” However, for some people who wish to continue their medication, Agana noted that certain factors like budget constraints may keep them from doing so. This is why Pharex HealthCorp., the most prescribed generic brand of medicines, offers its 15-day Compliance Pouch for high cholesterol.

The new Pharex 15-day Compliance Pouch for high cholesterol is designed to help patients comply with their medication while saving on costs. It helps patients maintain their cholesterol at its normal and desirable levels, keeping them from acquiring the worst consequences of high cholesterol.
Cholesterol is a type of fat (lipid) in blood that plays vital roles in the body system’s day- to-day functions. However, too much of it can clog and harden arteries, the blood vessels that carry blood away from the heart. Because of this, the normal blood flow is suppressed, affecting one’s body system. High cholesterol triggers the development of different cardiovascular diseases like stroke and heart attack, and other health problems like renal failure.
“This product is specially produced to fight low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, which is often referred as ‘bad’ cholesterol,” said Agana. “With the new Compliance Pouch for high cholesterol, patients can continue their medication without worrying about ceiling-high costs.”

Agana concluded, “Complying to your medication is a high priority, but while healthcare providers give the best advice to ease cholesterol levels we are no less responsible for our own health. On top of proper medication, we also have to prioritize proper diet and exercise. At Pharex HealthCorp., we will aim to provide the best possible care that every Filipino deserves.” The new Pharex Compliance Pouch is available in all leading drugstores.
For more information, please contact 4338088 (local 820).