Soban K-Town Grill Launch

     Kimchi, Kimbop, Bibimbop, and Soju- these keep on swirling in my head whenever I hear someone talks about Korean Food. It's not new to us because Korean restaurants are sprouting like mushrooms here in our country but only a few offers authentic Korean dishes.

     I was invited days ago to the soft opening of the newest Korean craze in town. I presume you've seen lifestyle bloggers musing their gastronomic experiences during the Soban K-Town Grill launch. It's an event where bloggers enjoyed sumptuous classic Korean dishes with a new twist that made every entrée one-of-a-kind. Are you ready to see Soban K-Town Grill's menu offerings? Heavy photos after the jump but don't worry it's worth all your Korean food cravings :)

Soban K-Town Grill Launch
6-Flavor Samgyupsal Set (P1,420)

The story behind Soban K-Town Grill:

     In Soban K-Town Grill, one key inspiration it longs to share with the Filipino market is combining traditional Korean techniques and recipes with ingredients and flavors all over the globe, to produce one-of-a-kind dishes.

Soban K-Town Grill Launch
My apologies for the dark lighting took the photo after the event :(

 
     Here is the characteristic of the Korean food evolution happening in K-Town communities over L.A, New York, Hong Kong and more, led by Korean immigrants with ties to the past and to the present. Set to revolutionize the local food scene, Soban K-Town Grill graces the Philippine shores with offerings—some familiar while others unique—for a redefined Korean dining experience.

Soban K-Town Grill Launch
(Left to Right) Managing Partners of Happyfoods Corp: Donna Tan-Ng, Dorothy Tan-Dee and Diana Tan-David; (middle) Sung Rah, President of Sariwon Korea

 

     The brainchild of the collaboration between Mr. Sung Rah, Sariwon Korean Barbecue’s award-winning restaurateur from Seoul and the Happyfoods Group behind Sariwon Philippines, Soban K-Town Grill is the first of its kind in the country. Before I forgot, the word Soban means “small tray or table” in Korean,

Soban K-Town Grill Launch

     

     The photo you see above is the one responsible for cooking the flavorful K-BBQs that you'll order inside Soban K-Town Grill. The tables have a round shape grill where K-BBQ meat will be placed on top like what you see below. 

Soban K-Town Grill Launch

6-Flavor Samgyupsal Set- this is the classic original flavor after cooking

What's unique about Soban K-Town Grill?

• It is a place where one can grill pork (samgyupsal) and chicken (dak galbi) barbecue, marinated in six mind-blowing flavors. 
• Explore a line-up of scrumptious K-Tacos (Korean tacos) and Korritos (Korean burritos). 
• Enjoy such delectable dishes in a hip restaurant ambiance, the place is minimalist in design but perfect for Instagram pictures if you're you want to make an album of your food adventures. 
• Soban K-Town Grill’s menu truly Korean and you'll be surprised of the quality, yet affordable food offerings by weaving traditional Korean ingredients and techniques with American comfort food, dashed with the Mexican street food culture.

Here are some of Soban K-Town Grill SET MENU:

1. 6-Flavor Samgyupsal Set (P1,420)

• 540 grams of grilled pork belly goodness. 
• Good for 3-4 persons, this house specialty comes in classic original, fruity, and chili bean flavors while the soy garlic, doenjang or Korean miso, and wine flavors are subject to change depending on the season. 
• Set meals are served with unlimited white rice, salad, soup, and egg roll appetizers with an optional upgrade to the signature Kimchi fried rice.

Soban K-Town Grill Launch
6-Flavor Samgyupsal Set

Soban K-Town Grill Launch
Upgrade your white rice to this flavorful kimchi rice for only Php 15!

Soban K-Town Grill Launch
Side dishes- bean sprout salad and egg roll

2. The Solo Samgyupsal Set

• Available in 90g, 120g, and 180g servings. 
• One can choose to grill from six luscious barbecue flavors for the pork set, while the chicken set offers the fruity, spicy, and doenjang flavors. 
• set meals are served with unlimited white rice, salad, soup, and egg roll appetizers with an optional upgrade to the signature Kimchi fried rice.

Soban K-Town Grill Launch
Solo Samgyupsal Set

3. Dak Galbi Sets (P310 for 90g, P325 for 120g, and P360 180g)

• Available in 90g, 120g, and 180g servings. 
• One can choose to grill from three barbecue flavors for the chicken- fruity, spicy, and doenjang flavors. 
• Set meals are served with unlimited white rice, salad, soup, and egg roll appetizers with an optional upgrade to the signature Kimchi fried rice.

Soban K-Town Grill Launch
Dak Galbi Set

3. Dak Bulgogi Set (P320)

• With caramelized boneless fried chicken. 
• Set meals are served with unlimited white rice, salad, soup, and egg roll appetizers with an optional upgrade to the signature Kimchi fried rice.

Soban K-Town Grill Launch
Dak Bulgogi Set

Here are some of Soban K-Town Grill ALA CARTE MENU: 

1. Gematsal Ramyeon and Beef Ramyeon- a Korean ramen made of homemade bone marrow broth—topped with a choice of crabstick or beef.

Soban K-Town Grill Launch
Beef Ramyeon

2. Korilog (P135)

• These are rice bowls dubbed as the Korean tapsilog and chixsilog, resting on kimchi fried rice and topped with fried egg.

Soban K-Town Grill Launch

Beef Korilog

3. Kimchi Fries (P199)

• French fries smothered with cheese, roasted pork bits and kimchi.
• A crowd favorite.
• Perfect for french fries lovers who are adventurous and want a different twist in the usual flavor.

Soban K-Town Grill Launch
This Kimchi Fries is good for 2-3 persons

4. K-Taco (1 pc P75, 2 pcs P145, 3 pcs 220)

• A soft taco made with fresh lettuce, kimchi, sour cream, cheese and your choice of K-BBQ meat. 
• Served on a flour tortilla.
• This is one of my favorites! It's flavorful and I can really taste the everything on the flour tortilla. It's also heavy on the tummy but you'll crave for more :)

Soban K-Town Grill Launch
K-Taco, one of my faves!

5. Korrito (P180)

• A burrito made with fresh lettuce, kimchi, sour cream, cheese, kimchi fried rice and your choice of K-BBQ meat.
• K-BBQ meat choices are spicy chicken, pork, and beef bulgogi.
• Served on flour tortilla.

Soban K-Town Grill Launch
Korrito

     Aside from the main offerings you see above, Soban K-Town Grill also serve refreshing drinks like juices and shakes. I had Green Iced Tea (P65 single/P110 bottomless) while my seatmates had Mango Banana (P105) and Lychee (P105) shakes.

Soban K-Town Grill Launch
L-R: Green Iced Tea, Mango, and Lychee Shake

 
     They also have beers and cocktails perfect for chill out and the hot weather. These cocktails are best paired with K-BBQ meat for that wonderful Korean BBQ experience. We tasted some of the cocktails and I'm in love with Seouljito

Soban K-Town Grill Launch
L-R Galaxy, Black Dragon and Seouljito

 
     To cap off our sumptuous meal, we enjoyed their dessert offerings that's simply good for ice cream lovers. These are Coffee Prince and Ice Cream Trio.

Soban K-Town Grill Launch
Coffee Prince and Ice Cream Trio

    
 Coffee Prince (P120)- homemade coffee ice cream on a bed of salt graham and Korean red beans.

Soban K-Town Grill Launch
Coffee Prince

     
     Ice Cream Trio (135)- 3 scoops of homemade ice cream in a bowl. There are three different flavors to choose from: Cookies & Cream, Vanilla and Coffee. Since I love coffee, these dessert became an instant fave. Nothing beats homemade ice cream!

Soban K-Town Grill Launch
Ice Cream Trio- Cookies and Cream, Vanilla and Coffee

     
     Soban’s offerings are generous in serving, but most importantly, in taste and experience. As the only K-Town Grill in town, with affordable, value-for-money prices, and a hip ambiance to dig in the flavorful dishes, Soban is definitely the choice for a go-to neighborhood joint. Thank you so much Soban K-Town Grill for having me, I had a blast during the event. I enjoyed the games, and of course the food! I can't wait to be back and have another Korean BBQ time with my family and friends!

Soban K-Town Grill LaunchL-R: Kath, Martin, Rochelle, Jenny, Karina, and Kat2
We had a blast! Thank you Mr. Sung Rah for having us :)

Soban K-Town Grill Launch

Soban K-Town Grill is located at 2/F Eastwood Mall, Quezon City

Tel. no. (02) 441 8460

Open from 11:00 a.m. - 10:00 p.m.

For more information on Soban K-Town Grill

Like them on Facebook: Soban K-Town Grill 

Follow them on Twitter: @soban.ktown

Follow them on Instagram: @soban.ktown

#Krazy4SobanKtown

Good Times!~

Feature: AcneCare Soap

     Hello dearies! I would like to share this feature of AcneCare Soap. If you're one of those asking and wondering what type of soap is suited for pimple and acne prone skin, I think here's the answer that you've been waiting for. AcneCare Soap is one of the addition to AcneCare's anti-acne products that was released last year. 

     To be honest, the soaps that was sent to me by Vida Nutriscience are still with me, in my stash and unopened. Since I really don't experience breakouts for the last three years, methinks that I won't be needing these for now. But for those who are problematic with their skin due to breakouts, here's one of the soaps that you might want to try. This soap is also available at http://www.cheskasstore.net/ Since I have not tried it yet, I will not give a more in-depth review and recommendation. I will share important information about AcneCare Soap- what it's for, ingredients, price and where to buy, okay? So now let's start :)

Feature: AcneCare Soap

AcneCare - Anti Acne Soap

• Revive your skin with an original formula which won't dry skin while gently cleansing away excess oil and allowing your skin to recover.
• With Bio -Sulfur 
• Tea Tree Oil
• Ace-B3
• BFAD/ FDA Approved FR# 76392

Feature: AcneCare Soap

size: 135 g

price: 149 php (Around $3.15)

place bought: Free
Available in Mercury Drugstores, Watsons and SouthStar drugstore
Also available at http://www.cheskasstore.net/

instructions for use: Use daily for face and body. Leave it for 2-3 minutes before rinsing. For external use only.

ingredients: Triethanolamine, Stearate and/or Triethanolamine Laurate and/or Triethanolamine Myristate, Sodium Stearate and/or Sodium Laurate and/or Sodium Myristate, Aqua, Sorbitol and/or Glycerin, Melaleuca Alternifolia (Tea Tree) Oil (and) Water (and) Ethyl Alcohol (and) Hydrogenated Castor Oil (and) Tocopheryl Acetate, Sulfur (and) PEG-30 Castor Oil, Niacinamide, Ascorbic Acid, Aloe Vera Barbadensis (Aloe Vera) Leaf Extract, Tocopheryl Acetate, Cocodiethanolamide, Tetra Sodium Etidronate, Butylated Hydroxytoluene, CI 19140

Feature: AcneCare Soap

Feature: AcneCare Soap

Have you tried AcneCare Soap? Kindly share your experiences on the comments sections below :)

For more information about AcneCare, visit their website:
www.vidanutriscience.com
Like them on Facebook: AcneCare Clinically Proven Against Acne & Pimples
Follow them on Twitter: @AcneCareBeauty

For orders , you may also buy this at Cheska's Online Store

email: cheskasstore@yahoo.com

mobile numbers: 0915-3463000, 0922-5458124 and 0928-3997789

Like them on Facebook: Cheska's Store

Follow them on Instagram: @cheskasstore

Good Times!~

Celebrate Mother’s Day and More this May at KidZania Manila

     Celebrate Mother's Day this Sunday and the whole month of May at the happiest place in the metro as per Mommy Kath and Kenzo- KidZania Manila! It's an exciting month for mommies and their kids because misters and misses can team up and celebrate with their moms while enjoying interactive role-playing activities at KidZania Manila this Mother’s Day. 

     On May 8, moms of visiting kids can join some of the role-playing activities with their kids, and share the fun and excitement as they accomplish tasks in different establishments. Yay, what an exciting and super fun way to celebrate Mother's Day! More information after the jump, scroll down please :)

Celebrate Mother’s Day and More this May at KidZania Manila
B.KidZanians can also get special freebies for their moms with just a flash of their paZZports at select establishments

Mom and kids unite! Experience role-playing activities in these establishments below:

• DZMM – MOR Radio Station, Beauty Salon
• National Art & Design Academy, Bakeshop
• Cooking School, Supermarket, Fashion Boutique
• Acting Academy
• Aviation Academy
• Baby Care Training Centera
• ABS-CBN TV Studio
• KidZ for a Greener World program activities such as the H&M Upcycling Workshop
• Shell Transportation Efficiency Center
• Century Tuna Fish Market
• Vertical Garden. B.KidZanians (kids with KidZania paZZports) can also treat their moms to special freebies at the play city with just a flash of their paZZports at select concessionaires. 

Celebrate Mother’s Day and More this May at KidZania Manila
This Mother’s Day, kids team-up with their moms to take on exciting role-playing activities at KidZania Manila.

     Apart from the Mother’s Day treat, kids can look forward to an even better vacation as KidZania Manila provides them with special offers guaranteed to make their summer more exciting.

Here are the exciting activities and schedules this May, so mark your calendars Kidzanians :)

1. May until August, every Friday gets leveled up to “FriYays” 

• Kids can enjoy extended hours (9:00am-4:00pm) of fun and learning at the kid-sized metropolis. 
• This gives them an extra two hours to enjoy an informative role playing experience, for the regular weekday rate of only P900. 

2. May 14 and May 15- KidZania Manilawill host the Miting de Pamilya to celebrate the International Day of the Family. 

• Visitors can enjoy an extended single shift of 9:00am to 5:00pm—for the regular weekend rate—to enable families to have more quality time to bond and for misters and misses to better explore their future careers.
• The Miting de Pamilya weekend also highlights the KidZania Manila CongreZZ voting period. CitiZens can cast their votes online, through the official KidZania Facebook app, or at the play city where the CongreZZ candidates will be campaigning. 
• Kid visitors can vote by attaching their ballot to their boarding pass and dropping it at the drop boxes distributed all over the city.

     Indeed, summer time is meant for having fun discoveries and KidZania Manila definitely adds a few more learning and interactive elements to each kid’s unique experience. These special offers are just some of the perks and benefits that await visitors of the kid-sized play city, so hurry, come make your month of May more exciting only at KidZania Manila!

To book tickets and for more information, visit manila.kidzania.com.

About KidZania

      KidZania is an interactive kids’ city combining inspiration, fun, and learning through realistic role play for kids four to 14. Kids can independently explore the kid-sized city with over 70 establishments and over 100 role-playing activities. Each experience is designed to empower kids, giving them the confidence to be their best selves, and inspiration to be great global citizens. One of the world’s most inventive, most awarded, and fastest-growing kid’s educational entertainment concepts, KidZania has 23 locations in 19 countries, including the Philippines. 

      KidZania, Inc., headquartered in Mexico, was founded in 1997, opened its first park in 1999, and is privately held. For more information about KidZania Manila, visit manila.kidzania.com.

       KidZania is locally franchised by Play Innovations, Inc., whose majority stakeholder is ABS-CBN Corporation.

GSK's Asthmalaya Campaign for World Asthma Day

     Did you know that 98 percent of Filipino asthma patients continue to lack proper treatment? It's sick to be sick and it's more disappointing to know that many Filipinos patients don't have the proper knowledge on how to combat asthma. Last May 2, GSK launched the Asthmalaya Campaign in time for the World Asthma Day celebration this year.

     It's alarming to hear the news cccording to the Global Asthma Report, an estimated 300 million people worldwide are affected by asthma.¹ In the Philippines, approximately 11 Million or 1 out 10 Filipinos are suffering from this debilitating disease.² This incurable disease burdens patients with a sense of imprisonment and constant restraint preventing them to live their lives to the fullest. We should arm ourselves on how to control the disease and to know more information about the campaign, scroll down please.

GSK's Asthmalaya Campaign for World Asthma Day

What is Asthma?

     “Asthma is a recurring inflammatory disorder in the airways of breathing, which undergoes variable expiratory flow and reversible bronchoconstrictions. In people with asthma, the airways are chronically inflamed. Certain triggers can make the inflammation worse and cause a narrowing of the airways”, shares Dr. Melvin Pasay, a pulmonologist and Medical Affairs Manager of GSK.

It has common symptoms like:

• Constant wheezing
• Breathlessness
• Chest tightness
• Coughing often late at night or early in the morning. 
• Asthma can be triggered by dust, changes in weather (often cold), animals (pet hair in particular), exercise, tobacco smoke and stress.
• The cause of asthma is unknown. However as shared by Philippine Society of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology Inc. (PSAAI) President, Dr. Carmela Kasala, several predisposing factors to consider include genetic history (personal history or first degree relative) with asthma, allergic rhinitis, eczema; weight and smoking history.

GSK's Asthmalaya Campaign for World Asthma Day
Dr Carmela Kasala Pres of Phil Society of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology Inc (PSAAI)

“While there is also no known cure for asthma, this serious chronic disease can be controlled and effectively treated. By establishing a strong partnership between a patient and his doctor, results showed that asthma can be controlled” shares Dr. Kasala.

Yes, it's a burden to have Asthma, the statistics below will show you why:

• In the Asia Pacific, including the Philippines, a study showed that activity limitation caused by asthma has been quite prevalent. 
• A mean of 44.7% of respondents reported that normal physical activity was compromised, and 37.9% believed that their choice of job or career was limited. 
• A total of 52.7% of respondents said that sports and recreation were affected, and 37.6% believed their lifestyle was restricted while almost 50% reported sleep disturbances.³

GSK's Asthmalaya Campaign for World Asthma Day
Dr. Melvin Pasay, a pulmonologist and Medical Affairs Manager of GSK.

“A lot of asthma patients have resigned and became ‘prisoners’ to their condition. Many seem to have created imaginary cages and locking themselves up with lifestyle restrictions. They are assuming that frequent symptoms, exacerbations and lifestyle limitations are inevitable consequences of having asthma - unaware that their condition can be controlled,” observes Dr. Pasay. 

     We are not aware, we should be aware on how to control Asthma especially if we have a relative who is suffering from this incurable disease. What is alarming is that 98 percent of Filipino asthma patients remain uncontrolled or only partly controlled.⁴ We need to spread the advocacy of GSK to Asthma Control Awareness. 

     Regular visits and consultations with doctors likewise became less as children grew up and had lesser asthma attacks. Most are relying on peers, family and even online resources to provide limited information and possibly, sub-optimal treatment for their condition. This makes patients underestimate their condition leading to poor asthma control.

GSK's Asthmalaya Campaign for World Asthma Day

     So how do you know if you need asthma control? It’s easy, if you are an asthma patient who experiences daytime asthma symptoms (coughing or wheezing) more than twice a week, wakes up at night due to asthma, uses an asthma reliever more than twice a week or have any activity limitations due to asthma, you may have uncontrolled asthma and need to immediately consult your doctor.

GSK's Asthmalaya Campaign for World Asthma Day

     Cost of treatment is also a main consideration for compliance, but the truth is uncontrolled asthma can lead to higher odds of hospitalization and emergency room visits and become more expensive due to direct medical cost like hospitalization or medications and indirect cost like time lost from work, overall productivity or even premature death.

     In celebration of World Asthma Day, an annual event organized by the "Global Initiative for Asthma” (GINA) to improve asthma awareness and care around the world, GSK Philippines unveils “ASTHMAlaya Ka Ba Talaga? campaign, a disease awareness initiative that also seeks to encourage asthma patients, to be more proactive in consulting their doctors on how they can achieve asthma control.

GSK's Asthmalaya Campaign for World Asthma Day
Dr Melvin Pasay of GSK, Dr. Jennifer Ann Wi of PCCP, Dr Sylvia Yang PCCP, Dr. Vincent Balanag, PCCP Pres, Dr. Carmela Kasala and Dr Gio Barangan of GSK

     The celebration was participated by advocates from Philippine College of Chest Physicians (PCCP) and the Philippine Society of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology Inc. (PSAAI) who are one with the advocacy of furthering awareness and urgency among patients to consult their doctors for proper asthma control.

     As Dr. Pasay profoundly put it, “Our message is clear; “You don’t have to serve a life sentence of limitations because of Asthma, be in control and be ASTHMALAYA!”

For more updates on  Win Against Asthma Campaign, visit 

GSK’s website https://health.gsk.ph

Like them on Facebook: winagainstasthma

Good Times!~

Realizations + Globe MyStarter Postpaid Plan

     If my memory serves me right, I've been using mobile phone since I was in Grade 5. My first mobile phone was Nokia 6150 and my first sim card was Globe. It's a prepaid sim card so to track, I've been buying prepaid cards and going to the 'suking tindahan' to buy a load for more than twenty years now. 

      But as time passes by, I've come to realize that having a prepaid sim card number has pros and cons that I need to address now that I've been sending SMS and make important calls constantly with my blog clients and PR persons for campaigns and projects. I will list down below those positive and negative sides of having a prepaid sim card and my realizations why now I need to go postpaid.

Realizations + Globe MyStarter Postpaid Plan

Advantages of having a prepaid sim card:

• If I have a tight budget, I can buy a load for as low as Php 5.00.
• I'm free from a 12 or 24-month contract.
• I'm independent because I can switch from one sim card number to another anytime.
• If I'm no longer happy with the services, I can readily change to a different provider without having early termination service fees.

Disadvantages of having a prepaid sim card:

• Hassles of loading every time I don't have a load.
• Some stores or 'suking tindahan' hasn't replenished their load balance yet.
• The number of minutes of the load that I buy may come with an expiration date. Unused text and minutes will be forfeited when the expiration time has passed.
• My prepaid sim card can be deactivated if I don't buy load for a specific period of time.
• Fees and charges may be higher than that of a postpaid If I'll do the math.
• If I don't have a load, a missed call should be returned back asap and if not it's a missed opportunity. 

   Because of my part-time job which is blogging, I've come to realize that communication is very important and a missed call not returned immediately means missed opportunity. I have a handful of experience where I cannot return a text or a call to a client who is asking me to edit the sponsored post that I've already published immediately because I was inside a vehicle on my way to an event.

Realizations + Globe MyStarter Postpaid Plan

   
     There was a time where I need to send an SMS to a PR person-in-charge of the event that I'm stuck in traffic and I'll be late. I was about to send a text and found out that I don't have a load. I can't even borrow because I still have a loan. See the picture? That's why I think going postpaid will be beneficial to me now that I always keep in touch with blog clients.

Realizations + Globe MyStarter Postpaid Plan

   
     I recently read from Globe's website that they have this new service which will benefit freelancers like me. I can now avoid the hassles and the advantages of having a prepaid sim card which I posted above if I consider and try the Globe My Starter Postpaid Plan- prepaid sim card numbers can now be converted into postpaid plans without changing your number.

• For prepaid customers, one of the basic challenges when upgrading to a postpaid plan is to change your mobile number.
• Retain an existing prepaid number, upgrade to a postpaid plan. Globe's assurance and convenience of a fixed monthly bill within your budget are now possible.
• The Globe MyStarter plan will allow prepaid customers to use their mobile numbers as they move to a postpaid plan.
• Globe MyStarter plan is available at Plan 300 and Plan 500.
• Should one go over the plan’s limit, it can easily be topped-up with a prepaid load when needed. To enjoy their digital lifestyle more, the myStarter Plans are bundled with more data power.

Realizations + Globe MyStarter Postpaid Plan

Here are the plans in Globe MyStarter Post Paid Plan:

1. Globe MyStarter 500 

• Unlimited calls and texts to Globe and TM.
• 300 texts to other networks.
• 200 MB of data. 
• Free access to Facebook, Viber, and 1 GB of data for Spotify Basic.
• Disney Mobile devices that are exclusively available with the Globe myStarter plan 500 with P250 monthly cash out that can be charged to the monthly bill. Disney Mobile comes in three themes – Frozen, Mickey Mouse and Disney Princess. 

Realizations + Globe MyStarter Postpaid Plan
Globe myStarter plan 500 Disney Mobile Phones bundle

2. Globe MyStarter Plan 300

• 300 texts to all networks
• 300 minutes to Globe and TM
• 200 MB worth of data. 
• Free access to Facebook, Viber, and 1 GB of data for Spotify Basic.

     So now I'm planning to go postpaid and enjoy the benefits of Globe MyStarter Plan 500 without changing my number. I've been writing my recent number for more than six years now and I'm already attached to it. I'm sure you can relate to me when I say that my mobile number is already a part of my life and I'll feel incomplete if I lose it or just change it like that. How about those who already knew my number? It's a hassle for me to change my beloved number that's why I'm thankful to Globe for this plan. 

To learn more about what Globe Postpaid Plans visit http://www.globe.com.ph, 

Call 7301010, or visit a Globe store nearest you