Saturday, June 16, 2018

Galleria Duemila's June Collection 2018


Wazzup Pilipinas!

June Collection
June 9– 30 2018
Galleria Duemila
210 Loring St. 1300 Pasay City

This June, we greet each cloud with warmth for they may bring rain that will quench the parched earth.

Galleria Duemila is proud to announce, “Finding Their Element”, an exhibit of the gallery’s wide-range of collection from paperworks to canvases to ceramic sculptures valued through the years. The paintings and sculptures on display mimic soaring like the wind, diving into the deep ocean, engulfing into the heart of the forest, discovering gems and lighting up pathways.

Works on display are by Alfredo Aquilizan, Jinggoy Buensuceso, Marc Gaba, Fitz Herrera, Gerry Leonardo, Luis da Cruz, Sacha Cotture, Tony Twigg, Sandy Litchfield, Roberto Robles, Maria Cruz, Nelfa Querubin, Hadrian Mendoza and Viviana Riccelli.















Alfredo Aquilizan is one of the top international artist that had over 50 solo shows in varying countries and periodically joins group exhibitions and cooperative art activities across nations. He works in various media, site-specific installations and collaborative works. He is currently a candidate for the doctorate degree of Visual Arts in Queensland College of Art Griffith University in Brisbane, Australia.

Jinggoy Buensuceso is an industrial designer and contemporary artist working with large-scale metal sculptures. His concrete choice of medium is complemented by his sculpted organic silhouettes. Buensuceso recently won the Designer of The Year Award in 2016 given by the Wallpaper Magazine in Thailand and is a three-time Mugna Awardee, the highest recognition given to designers.

Marc Gaba is a visual artist and poet that is deeply set on philosophical and theological concepts, arising from the imagined realities he is fascinated upon. He is a nominee for the Sovereign Asian Art Prize and the Ernst Young Exhibition, in 2010 and a winner for the Global Filipino Literary Award in 2012.

Fitz Herrera is a Manila-based abstractionist that composes his emotions and deep-set love for music into canvases. Utilizing a diverse-range of colors, he has created various textures in his works and has been actively exhibiting these across cities in the Philippines.

Gerry Leonardo is a fine-arts instructor that has been creating large projects involving sculptures in fiber glass.

Luis da Cruz, an architect by training, designs his one-of-a-kind sculptures through reusable objects in his bout of advocacy for sustainable design.

Sacha Cotture is a Swiss painter and an architect residing in Manila.

Tony Twigg is an Australian artist that is fascinated with the Filipino vernacular architecture. He alternates exhibiting in Singapore, Australia and the Philippines.


Sandy Litchfield is an American artist that explores watercolor as her medium and collaging as her process. Her work has been exhibited in various museums in the United States.

 An accomplished artist, Roberto M. A. Robles is both a painter and a sculptor that has been educated in the Philippines and Japan. His work has been exhibited in the Cultural Center of the Philippines, Vargas Museum, 17th Asian International Art Exhibition Daejeon Municipal Museum of Art, South Korea, Jiyu Group Exhibitions Tokyo Metropolitan Museum, Japan. He has also had a retrospective in Ateneo Art Gallery in 2011.

Maria Cruz is a conceptual artist with her technique delving more on formalism. A global artist, she traverses through different topics from color to language and to psychology. She has been exhibiting in Berlin, Australia and the Philippines.


Nelfa Querubin is a significant ceramist known for her elegantly colored stonewares. Currently based in Colorado in the United States, she has been actively joining exhibitions and competitions. Several books
have been written about her art.

Hadrian Mendoza is a top ceramics scholar in the country. He has a wide-range of experience
in kiln-building, pottery and ceramic making. He has joined several international conferences including the Southeast Asian Ceramics Festival. His main subjects are from the Filipino indigenous culture.

Viviana Riccelli has studied art extensively in Rome, Berlin, Venice and Cairo. She continuously explores the Philippines as part of her study on experiencing different cultures, forming her perception, and discovering her deep-set love for painting and drawing. She has been under the apprenticeship of famous American Abstract Expressionist movers such as Nicolas Carone and Beverly Pepper. She extends her knowledge through teaching for Verocchio Art School and Art Center in Umbria.

See the rest of the works on display until June 30, 2018 at 210 Loring St. 1300 Pasay City. For more information, you may contact us at 831-99-90 / 833-98-15 or email us at: art@galleriaduemila.com. Please follow us on our Facebook, Twitter and Instagram at: @galleriaduemila for live updates.

Fate Smiles on Mark Oblea

 

Wazzup Pilipinas!

As a contestant on Pinoy Boyband Superstar, Mark Oblea was called the “Kwelang Bad Boy ng Bacoor.” But while it’s true that he got into his fair share of trouble when he was younger, he isn’t all bad. The truth is, under his leather jacket and tough demeanor beats the heart of a responsible, softhearted young man. 

Case in point : when Mark was eliminated during the grand finals of the show, his first thought wasn’t for himself or the opportunity he lost. It was for his family. His burning desire to give his mother and siblings a better life was the main reason he joined the competition in the first place. “Sila talaga ang nasa isip ko the whole time na lumalaban ako”, Mark says.

His thoughts also went to his mother who had been a struggling single parent. Mark promised her he’ll take on the responsibility of being the breadwinner for their family. It was then that Mark decided to establish a showbiz career. He believed doing so was the fastest way to secure his family’s future.However, finding success as a performer proved to be harder than he thought it would be. Mark went on many auditions but he always came away empty-handed. He also performed whenever and wherever he could, booking gigs at town fiestas and the like.



Mark also tried his luck at an open auditions for reality shows and talent searches. Eventually he realized he might have to give up on his showbiz dream to seek his fortune in a different industry. As much as he wanted to become a performer, Mark could no longer ignore the fact that his family needed him. “Dumating ako sa point na gusto ko na mag-quit sa pag try sa pag-aartista kasi hindi kami stable financially. Sinabi rin ng nanay ko sa akin na baka hindi para sa akin ang showbiz. Hindi naman kami nagkaroon ng intense na away about it, pero ang sakit sa akin na umabot na sa ganun, na kinailangan na niya akong sabihan ng ganun. Pero alam kong tama siya.”

Despite the challenges, Mark chose to hold on to the value of education. A graduate of De La Salle University Dasmariñas, where he studied Hotel and Restaurant Management, Mark applied as a flight attendant. Thankfully, just as he was about to turn his back on showbiz forever, fate suddenly smiled upon him. “Sinabi ko sa Mom ko na maghahanap na lang ako ng ibang trabaho, kaya nag-apply na ako sa PAL. Tapos bigla kong napanood yung commercial para sa Pinoy Boyband Superstar,” he recalls.

But because he himself had started to feel beaten down by all the times he had been rejected, Mark didn’t jump at the chance to audition for the show. He hemmed and hawed about it for a while until he decided to ask God what he should do. He prayed for a sign.

“At that time, yung kagustuhan kong pumasok sa showbiz medyo wala na. Hindi na ako kasing eager ng dati dahil ilang beses na akong na-reject. Sabi ko sa sarili ko noon, ‘Ayoko na. Mag-pa-PAL na lang ako.’ Pero naisip ko rin kasi na sayang kung hindi ko susubukan. Eh kaso hindi ko naabutan yung audition sa Alabang, and sabi nila yun na daw yung last. So nagdasal ako. Sabi ko kay Lord, ‘Kung para po sa akin ito, magkakaroon pa po ng isa pang audition.’ Lo and behold, a few days later Mark heard there would be another open audition for Pinoy Boyband Superstar at the Lucky Chinatown Mall. “Nagulat ako,” he says of that moment. “Sabi ko, ito na yung sign na hinahanap ko. Kaya nagpunta na ako.”

Mark braved a thunderstorm to go all the way to Binondo to try his luck one last time. When he got to the Lucky Chinatown Mall, he was wet from head to toe, so he freshened up in a restroom first. But just before his audition, he decided to approach it differently this time around. “Yung way na nag-audition ako hindi na katulad nung dati,” he says. “Kung kausapin ko yung staff parang tambay lang ako. Nung pinakanta nila ako, kinanta ko yung ‘Simpleng Tulad Mo.’ Pinasayaw din nila ako, so sayaw naman ako. Pero sa totoo lang, hindi na ako kasing gigil nung dati. Chill na lang ako.”

Mark’s nonchalance may have caught the staff’s eye, because soon after he got home, they told him he made it to the next round. Instead of jumping up and down with excitement, Mark considered skipping it. He didn’t want to set himself up for further disappointment in case he didn’t make the cut. But after a close friend gave him a pep talk, he went ahead and auditioned for the show’s judges—Aga Muhlach, Sandara Park, Vice Ganda and Yeng Constantino. The rest, as they say, is history.

When Mark didn’t make it into the group that was eventually named BoybandPH, disappointment, fear, and yes, a little bit of envy threatened to swallow him whole. But he got over it when he realized how fortunate he was to have made it as far as he did.

“Nakaramdam ako ng disappointment, and siyempre natakot din ako kasi hindi ko alam kung anong mangyayari sa akin. Eventually naging happy ako sa mga nakapasok. Deserving naman sila. Saka nung binalikan ko lahat, naalala ko na ang hiningi ko lang kay Lord sa simula nung competition was makapasok sa Top 12. Eh higit pa doon ang naabot ko. Nung na-realize ko yun, OK na, nawala na yung sakit. Natanggap ko na yung nangyari.” 

That paved the way for other things to come his way. Immediately the day after the Pinoy Boyband Superstar finale, Mark found himself in meetings with talent management Cornerstone Entertainment. Mark has since done two shows for Dreamscape which gave him his first official TV breaks : Wansapanataym titled My Hair Lady and a primetime hit teleserye My Dear Heart both were in triangle with Loisa Andalio and Jameson Blake. “Forever ako magiging grateful kay Sir Deo and buong Dreamscape family sa tiwala na binigay nila”. After airing of both soaps in July 2017, Mark spent months in honing his music which is his first love. He underwent trainings in vocals, guitars and songwriting. Alongside acting workshops under Nicco Manalo and PETA’s Dudz Teraña.

Mark has high hopes for his music. “Gusto kong dumating din ako sa point na kapag narinig ng mga tao yung intro pa lang ng kanta ko, kahit nga yung first few chords pa lang ang nag-pe-play sa radyo, magsisigawan na sila. Sobrang solid nun pag nagkataon.” December 2017, Mark got signed by one of the country’s prime record labels - Universal Records. “Dream come true na making part ng iconic na record label. Medyo pressured nung una na mas excited kasi para makasama sa roster ng artists ng Universal di ba? Sobrang honored, and also magandang motivation and drive for me to do better ang making bahagi ng UR family”.

Mark released his debut single entitled ‘Langit Pag Nandiyan’ written by Gracenote lead vocalist Eunice Jorge and produced by hit-making producer Ito Rapadas which is performing very well in major digital stores - Apple Music, i-Tunes, Amazon, Deezer and Spotify. Talking about the meaning behind the song, Mark says “The song is about honoring people in your life. It can be a song for a friend, a loved one, a relative, or anyone who’s always there to support you despite different setbacks and challenges. At the same time, it is also a personal anthem for all the people who’ve been a part of my journey to pursue my dreams”. Last May 26, its official music video was premiered on MYX and now enjoying a good rotation on air. 

Mark also recorded a remake of “Tabi”, a 2008 original OPM hit by Paraluman. Universal Records did a silent release online and has been receiving an overwhelming response. In less than three weeks, it already gained almost 200k hits on Spotify without announcement and hype, and included in four playlists to date : Men Of OPM, OPM Chillax, Acoustically OPM and Pinoy Covers. 

Mark also penned couple of original songs that will be included in his EP that’s slated for release on the third quarter of the year. “Masaya ako na nakapasa sa UR ang mga origs ko. Excited ako sa kung paano sila iaarrange ulit ni Sir Ito”. There’s a track too from his co-Cornerstone artist who eventually became his good friend. Frontman of iconic OPM band Callalily Kean Cipriano. “Nagkakilala kami dahil sa Cornerstone. Pareho kami ng handler,” he explains. “Eventually niyaya ako ni Kean pumunta sa bahay niya. Hindi ako makapaniwala. Pinapakinggan ko lang yung mga kanta niya dati, and ngayon kaya ko na siyang i-reach anytime kung may mga tanong ako about music and we have plans to collaborate too. Sobrang astig.”

2018 is a brighter year for Mark for having bagged the following exciting projects : Task Us’ leadman in their very first 6-part webseries, an upcoming guesting in an indie film called “Amats” directed by one of the best names in the industry Direk Dondon Santos which is an official entry in 2018 Pista Ng Pelikulang Pilipino come August, sang one of the sub themesongs for another indie film “Bakwit Boys” produced by T-Rex Productions called “Fiona”. September 2018, Mark will be seen again nightly in ABSCBN’s latest primetime teleserye as a regular cast. Having to share the same stage with OPM bands that he used to listen to when he was growing up and was on the road to being a musician, is another dream come true for Mark. He was recently part of Robinson’s OPM Jams series with Spongecola and come June 19, Mark will be fronting for The Dawn at Eastwood Central Plaza for “Rewind Tuesdays”.

Fate smiled upon Mark by pairing him with the right people who are all guiding him on his way to stardom. As long as he works hard and keeps his eye on the sweet and priceless rewards, there will be no stopping him. With his rugged good looks, charm, and musical talent, Mark is bound to win the hearts of many fans worldwide. 

Flyweight Title Picture Hangs in the Balance for Danny Kingad in Macau


Wazzup Pilipinas!
ONE: PINNACLE OF POWER in Macau, China on June 23 is one of the deepest cards from top to bottom offered by ONE Championship for its 24-event calendar this 2018.
From the preliminary portion to the main card of ONE: PINNACLE OF POWER, there are plenty of bouts with championship and ranking implications, including the three-round flyweight encounter between former title contender Danny Kingad and Chinese prospect Ma Hao Bin.
The winner of the aforementioned 61.2-kilogram tussle could earn a shot at the ONE Flyweight World Championship, which will be on the line in the main event of ONE: PINNACLE OF POWER as Adriano Moraes is slated to duke it out with Geje Eustaquio in a much-awaited rematch and title unification contest.
Kingad is now trying to build some momentum towards a second crack at the ONE Flyweight World Championship, while Ma has aced six of his assignments since joining the promotion in 2016.
However, the 22-year-old Baguio City native finds himself in a peculiar position if he and his teammate Eustaquio will walk out of the Studio City Event Center with respective victories.
Kingad knows that he has to be relegated to a gatekeeping role if Eustaquio will be successful in unifying both titles against Moraes at ONE: PINNACLE OF POWER.
“I will be super happy for coach Geje if he wins the match in Macau. It’s an honor to be competing alongside him on June 23. I’ve learned a lot of things from him. For this training camp, I’ve spent more time with him. I want him to win the title,” he said.
Although he could be knocking on the door for a world title shot again with a decisive win over Ma, Kingad stressed that he will gladly play gatekeeper to Eustaquio.
“I don’t mind filling that role if ever he wins against Adriano Moraes. He is my senior, and we are teammates. He is like a brother to me,” he stated. “I am still young. I believe that my time will come.”
Kingad is not fond of the idea of squaring off with Eustaquio for the flyweight crown, pointing out that he would not trade his treasured friendship with his Team Lakay comrade for a shot at the world title.
“That's not going to happen. We always go at it in practice anyway. I'm happy that I get to spar with him all the time because he pushes me to the limit. We push each other, and we push each other to the next level,” he shared.
“I will support coach Geje all the way. For now, I'll just keep getting better as a competitor. I'll wait for my time,” Kingad added.
Following an unsuccessful challenge for the ONE Flyweight World Championship this past November against Moraes, which ended in his first professional defeat, Kingad rebounded with an impressive triumph over a battle-tested veteran in Sotir Kichukov four months later.
Kingad seeks to sustain his winning groove in ONE Championship as he is set to take on Ma, a Chinese national freestyle wrestling champion with a mixed martial arts record of 11-2.
Diligently preparing under the tutelage of head coach Mark Sangiao at Team Lakay in Baguio City, Kingad is fully aware of his opponent’s capabilities.
“Training is, as usual, very tough. We are drilling very hard each and every day. I am still working on all areas, be it my striking or my grappling,” he mentioned.
“Knowing my opponent is a good wrestler, however, I am particularly working on my takedown defense for this match. I want to keep this fight standing, so I have worked very hard on my takedown defense,” Kingad explained further.
Despite the threat that Ma poses in the grappling department, Kingad assured that he is comfortable wherever the bout goes on June 23.
“I want to test his stand-up game. I believe I am stronger, faster, and more explosive than he is,” he disclosed. “I am definitely going for a knockout in this match. However, if he does take me to the ground, I will be ready for anything.”
Kingad believes that his in-ring meeting with Ma at ONE: PINNACLE OF POWER is a must-win clash as he embarks on a hazy road towards the organization’s flyweight championship.
“I must win this bout because honestly, I don’t know what the future holds. What if we don’t get the result that we want for coach Geje? I am ready to step up. I cannot wait to get right back in there and make another run at the title. I know things will be very different next time,” he ended.

For more updates on ONE Championship, please visit www.onefc.com, follow us on Twitter and Instagram @ONEChampionship, and like us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/ONEChampionship. ​ ​

Five Filipino Films Featured in 21st Shanghai International Film Festival


Wazzup Pilipinas!

Five (5) Filipino films will be competing and screening at the 21st Shanghai International Film Festival (SIFF) in China starting June 16, 2018. SIFF is one of the largest film festivals in Asia and has prominently featured Filipino films in the past, with last year’s top prize, Golden Goblet, awarded to Pauwi Na by Paolo Villaluna.

This year, two (2) films will be competing at the Asian New Talent – RESPETO and Nervous Translation. These films bagged nominations in the following categories: Best Cinematographer for Dennese Victoria, Jippy Pascua of Nervous Translation; Best Scriptwriter for Shireen Seno of Nervous Tranlation, Best Director for Treb Monteras II of RESPETO; Best Actor for Abra of RESPETO; and Best Actress for Jana Agoncillo of Nervous Translation.

At the Panorama Section, Smaller and Smaller Circles by Raya Martin and I’m Drunk, I Love You by JP Habac will be screened. Raya Martin is also this year’s member of the Jury for Asian New Talent.

Finally, the Belt and Road Film Week will screen Neomanila by Mikhail Red.








“It's always thrilling to learn that these films continue to go around the world as proudly showcased in international film festivals. We wish our Filipino films the best of luck in SIFF,” said FDCP Chairperson and CEO Liza Diño.

Chairperson Diño herself is participating in SIFF as a speaker at the High Level Forum on the Cultural and Economic Importance of Film and the Role Of Copyright hosted by the World IP Organization on June 19-20. Meanwhile, QCinema Festival Director Ed Lejano will be a part of The Belt and Road Summit to discuss enhancing cooperation through festival programming.

The 21st Shanghai International Film Festival in China runs from June 16 to June 25, 2018.

Four Korean Firms View USD 4.4B Investment in PH Energy Sector



Wazzup Pilipinas!


Four Korean firms have expressed their intention to invest a total of USD4.4 billion in various energy projects in the Philippines, Department of Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi today said.

The four firms: SK Engineering & Construction, Sy Enc Co., Ltd., BKS Energy Industry Ltd., and SK E&S, formally submitted their letters of intent during the Philippines-Korea Business Forum and Luncheon, which is part of the activities included in President Rodrigo Duterte’s official visit to the Republic of Korea.

“We welcome these investments, especially as we anticipate the growth of our economy and expected demand due to the government’s Build Build Build Program,” Cusi said, after receiving the letters of intent from the companies in South Korea.

SK Engineering & Construction, an EPC contractor in the Philippines, submitted its proposal for a coal-fired power plant and plans to expand its operations amounting to more than USD 2 billion in Quezon province. An EPC contractor normally handles all activities from design, procurement, construction, commissioning up to the handover of the project to the end-user or owner.

The power project in Quezon is expected to create at least 3,000 jobs per year during the construction period, and a total of 600 jobs per year during its operations.

On the other hand, Sy Enc Co., a renewable energy firm, submitted a proposal for a wind power generation project. The company plans to expand its operations amounting to over USD 255 million in the Philippines, which is projected to generate 10,000 jobs.

For its part, BKS Energy Industry Ltd. submitted a proposal for solar power generation and is looking at investing USD 500 million in the Philippines, which is projected to generate more or less 1,000 jobs per year.

SK E&S, which engages in the business of power generation, district energy, and city gas in both Korea and overseas, submitted its proposal for an LNG terminal hub. The company is planning to invest USD 1.6 billion, which they projected to generate 2,200 jobs during the construction period.

“We are expecting more Korean firms to express their interest in investing in Philippine energy projects. We are hoping that this will result in a more robust energy sector for the country, help our job generation efforts and boost our economy,” Cusi added.

DOE Consults Public on Power Policies



Wazzup Pilipinas!


POLICY DISCUSSIONS: In photo are the stakeholders participating in the discussions during the DOE’s public consultation on proposed power industry-focused policies on Monday (June 11) at the Legend Villas in Mandaluyong City.

The Department of Energy-Electric Power Industry Management Bureau (DOE-EPIMB) conducted on Monday (June 11), a public consultation on three proposed policies at the Legend Villas.

The public consultation solicited comments and suggestions from power industry stakeholders to further improve existing policies of the DOE.

Under the watch of Energy Secretary Alfonso G. Cusi, the DOE-EPIMB intends to issue three new policies concerning the power sector.

First is a policy prescribing a uniform monthly electricity bill format for the captive market of distribution utilities (DUs) to ensure greater transparency and public awareness.

The proposed policy calls for further transparency in the electricity bills of DUs by providing a breakdown of the transmission charge to include delivery and ancillary service charges, and itemized systems loss to identify technical and non-technical losses.

It also entails the adoption by all DUs of a uniform bill format, which can be easily understood by electricity end-users. The new bill format will reflect the status of bill deposits being charged by the DUs to the consumers, giving them updates on the principal and the interest earned.

The Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC), as prescribed in the draft Circular, will also provide the necessary regulatory issuances for the implementation of the policy within 60 days.

The second policy proposal prescribes the rules governing the review and evaluation of direct connection applications by industrial, commercial and other qualified electricity end-users, as well as ecozone enterprises.

This provides a transparent procedure on how the DOE will exercise its function to review and evaluate applications for direct connection of end-users and economic zone enterprises to the grid.
Applications for direct connections were previously being filed with the ERC until the Supreme Court declared that the direct supply of electricity is not within the ERC's jurisdiction to resolve, but falls within the purview of the DOE.

Currently, the ERC endorses to the DOE all previously filed applications for direct connections.

The third policy is for the efficient transition of the Wholesale Electricity Spot Market (WESM) to the Independent Market Operator (IMO) regime.

The draft Department Circular on IMO Governance Arrangements primarily stipulates additional guidance and operational safeguards for the WESM under the IMO to ensure transparency, competitiveness, the protection of public interest, as well as the integrity of the WESM.

More than 150 participants attended the event, including representatives from the House Committee on Energy, National Electrification Administration, National Grid Corp. of the Philippines, Philippine Electricity Market Corp., Philippine Competition Commission, Power Sector Assets and Liabilities Management Corp., generation companies, distribution utilities, electric cooperatives, retail electricity suppliers, direct customers, local government units of Bulacan and Ilocos Sur, the academe, and consumer group Citizen Watch.

For wider stakeholder involvement, the DOE will accept the public’s comments and suggestions on these proposed policies: (1) until 15 June 2018 for the Independent IMO Governance Arrangements; and (2) 30 June 2018 for both the Uniform Electricity Bill Format and the Direct Connection Guidelines.


Comments may be submitted via email through pmdd.wesm@gmail.com and epira.epimb@gmail.comor fax them to (02) 840 -1773.

Friday, June 15, 2018

Discovering Wild Plants To Forage In The Philippines


Wazzup Pilipinas!

Foraging, the natural art of scavenging for local ingredients, is thriving in the culinary world. The cost of food in the Philippines increased by 5.7% in May of 2018, causing families to look for more options in fresh produce and dairy products. As “food inflation” continues, despite the economic improvement, finding natural means of produce provides more than what the local groceries, sari-sari stores, and carinderia have to offer. In fact, our native country has so much to offer other than what is grown in the regions of Benguet or Mindanao.

Foraging: Stepping up to organic farms
This may be an unpopular concept for Manileans. However, you might be surprised to see the availability of natural food that grows along the less populated places in the country. Due to rapid industrialization and crop cultivation, our lands are quickly being eaten away upon acres of quality soil.  As a result, we turn to cultivated and processed food items. But, that does not mean we cannot find edible plants to forage with little to no cost at all.

Wild raspberry, Rubus rosifolius Linn
Locally known as “Tungaw-tungaw,” the native fruit is hollow with a tangy, strawberry taste. You can find this abundant plant in shrubs that grow up to six feet with whitish flowers and red fruits that resemble raspberries. They can be eaten raw or processed into juice, wine, or ripe jam. What’s more, these fruits are a rich source of phytochemicals that help fight Alzheimer’s and cancer cells.

Ti, Cordyline terminalis or Cordyline fruticosa
The Ti plant is an ornamental shrub with smooth, elliptic leaves up to 2 feet long. It comes in a variety of colors, such as red, green, yellow, pink, purple, and brown. Ti is a native plant in the Far East and works wonders as an edible source of survival, containing starch. The roots are used to make Okolehao, an alcoholic beverage. You can eat them baked or boiled, never raw.

Screw pine, Pandanus
Commonly seen in rainforests and mangroves, the screw pine can grow up to nine meters long, with stiff and saw-like edged leaves. The fruits are rough, similar to pineapples, yet the taste may be astringent and bitter. It can be eaten raw or cooked.

Are you planning to do some foraging in your local area or backyard? Isn’t it exciting to know that the palms and plants we often ignore are actually rich sources of food for survival and health? This time, you'll know which wild plants to look for during your next trip outdoors.

Your Fridge Might Be Making Your Child Prone to Sickness!


Wazzup Pilipinas!

Many of us have the impression that storing our foods in the refrigerator will keep them fresh and safe. But, not having your appliance set at the right temperature can create a breeding ground for harmful bacteria to grow and flourish, which can result in an unsafe environment for food storage for you and your kids.

Improper food storage and sanitation can lead to a high risk of foodborne illnesses, especially this rainy season. Among these diseases is listeriosis, a serious infection caused by eating food with the bacterium Listeria monocytogenes.

Listeriosis can be dangerous to pregnant women, newborns, children, and elderly, and can result to   fever, muscle aches, or even gastrointestinal symptoms such as nausea or diarrhea.  

As such, refrigerating a food contaminatedwith Listeria can cause it to spread to other food products inside the refrigerator that may be making your child prone to sickness.

The good news, however, is that there are various ways we can do to reduce the risk of listeriosis at home by raising anawareness on proper refrigerator care to help improve the quality of food that you and your kids eat.




Consume Use-By Date food products immediately

Use-by date refers to the final day by which perishable goods should be consumed.  After the recommended date, food quality is likely to go down and the food safety is lessened.
Therefore, it is important to make sure that food products are eaten before their use by date and not after.

You may realize that use-by date products spoil easily. Thus, it is crucial for you to follow storage instructions. However, take note that you should follow the use by dates on unopened ready-to-eat food products and not storing food packages after they have been opened. Storing opened food products in the refrigerator can increase the risk of Listeria to grow. 

Clean your refrigerator regularly

It is important to wipe food spills immediately to keep Listeria from growing and spreading to other foods. You can clean the inside walls and shelves with hot water and a mild liquid dishwashing detergent then rinse it thoroughly.

Likewise, make sure to throw old and spoiled foods that may cause growth and spread of bacteria. Try moving older foods in the front part of your fridge to make it more visible so that it can be consumed before it gets spoiled.


Keep raw meat, poultry, or fish, which may contains several bacteria, from cooked meals. Also, make sure that raw meats are at the bottom part of the shelf to avoid it from dripping. However, it is still better to have them sealed in a tight container.

Properly sanitizing your refrigerator can avoid different types of bacteria like Coliforms, Vibrio, salmonella, e-coli, Botulinum, and Pseudomonas—all of which harmful to the human health—from growing on foods such as raw meat, milk, fish, and more.


Keep your refrigerator at the right temperature

Having your refrigerator at the proper temperature can avoid or slow the growth of Listeria. To check if your refrigerator is at the right temperature, put an appliance thermometer inside and make the necessary adjustment in the temperature control. Makes sure that your refrigerator register at 40°F (4°C) or below and your freezer at 0°F (-18°C).

Refrigerating below the recommended 4  will significantly slow the growth of bacteria. But as the temperature rises, the bacteria can grow at a faster rate, which can result to spoilage, wastage, and food poisoning.

Your refrigerator plays an important role in keeping your food safe and free from any bacteria that can result to foodborne illnesses. In fact, operating at the wrong temperature can leave room for the bacteria to get the nutrients and temperature it need to grow inside your refrigerator.

While refrigerators can be a breeding ground for foodborne illnesses, Beko Refrigerator’s Active Ioniser neutralises the bacteria that cause effluvia to create an antibacterial effect to keep the refrigerator from harmful pathogens such as Listeria. Also, Its Blue Light Technology allows for a continued process of photosynthesis, allowing fresh produce to maintain their natural flavors and nutritional value for up to 30 days.

On top of that, the Beko Refrigerator’s new age of NeoFrost Technology keeps the humidity of their refrigerator at an optimum level of up to 90 percent in the cooler for longer freshness. It also makes for a more stable and faster cooling for both the cooler and the freezer compartments at A+ energy efficiency level. Moreover, itsindependent cooling systems also helps in preventing odor transfer in between the compartments to keep the quality of the air inside at maximum levels.

To know more about Beko and Beko Philippines, like the Beko Philippines fan page (@BekoPH) or visit the website at www.beko.ph.

Written By Dyeun Zapanta, Assistant General Manager for Beko