Designer Blooms Cafe serves Freshly Picked Freshly Prepared Organic Food

Designer Blooms has been a famous flower shop in the country. They've become a great source of fresh flowers and progressed in this kind of  business.

From being a flower shop, they now have a flower shop which is also a flower shop cafe.



As Designer Blooms celebrates it’s 20th Anniversary in the business it also  launched “Designer Blooms Cafe”, Philippines 1st and only fresh flower cafe

On October 27  at the Molito Mall near Alabang Town Center, guests, family and friends gathered to celebrate this momentous event and also tasted the organic food served in this cafe.



Designer Blooms is a family-owned business known for its sublime floral creations. The brainchild of sisters, Marie Garcia and Issa Garcia-Sicam, this concept café marries the beauty of flowers and the warmth of comfort food. Marie and Issa mom is the Artist in the family, she takes care of the concept of the interiors and flower arrangements.



“Freshly Picked. Freshly Prepared" true to it's tagline, I can say that this cafe is a place for healthy living enthusiasts. Designer Blooms Café offers a dining experience thru the very relaxing ambiance of it's place.

Their branch in Alabang is the first Flower Shop Cafe and they have plans of making another cafe tentatively at The Fort area.



"We have gone the extra mile to search for the freshest ingredients and we prepare everything à la minute,” says co-owner Marie Garcia.

From the modern-industrial interiors to the kitsch furniture pieces, Designer Blooms Café is a comfy and inviting spot for a quick meal, a good cup of coffee or a glass of wine, and a heaven for fresh-cut flowers.



















The menu, prepared by US-Trained and CCA Alumni Chef Diana Morales is simple, fresh and dainty. During the celebration yours truly together with a group of food bloggers tasted it's specialty dishes and tried out picking some of it's freshest flowers



It was a long list of menu...the longest I've seen so far. I strongly recommend their food because you will never ran out of good food to order.



Warm your soul with the café’s selection of hearty soups, like the sumptuous Cream of Mushroom,



the delectably velvety Roasted Tomato soup or refresh your senses with an interesting version


Roasted Beet Carpaccio Salad served with edible flowers.

If you’re craving for something a little more filling, why not indulge in the juicy Jalapeno Burger



or a delicious serving of pasta like, the Fresh Ravioli?

Conclude a delightful fare with heavenly dessert, like White Chocolate Cheesecake or Banana Cream Pie paired with the café’s freshly brewed selection of organic teas and imported coffee from San Francisco.





Warm, fresh and inspiring.

Here are some vegetarian options at Designer Blooms Cafe:

Vegetarian Panini - 215 Php

Hearty Mushroom Soup (specialty) fresh shitake and button mushrooms, thyme , parsley - 189 Php

Velvetty Roasted Tomato Soup with grilled cheese panini : roasted tomato cheddar, gruyere, rye bread - 249 Php

Designer Blooms Café is a dining destination for families, young couples and individuals in search of something more than just a place to eat.



This concept brings the outdoors in with its various floral offerings combined with a charming atmosphere to enjoy a gorgeous meal. Offering a full sensorial experience, Designer Blooms Café is sure to feed your soul.

Designer Blooms Cafe has partnered with ESQUIRE Financing Inc. to bring this unique concept of combining fresh flowers and freshly prepared food under the newly launch “powered by Esquire” program.



Powered by Esquire is actively finding more business ideas and helps entrepreneurs that want to grow their business with resources, expertise and network that EFI has acquire and stands to share to its clients.

Designer Blooms Café details:

Restaurant Location:
Molito Commercial Complex, Ayala Alabang
Contact Nos:  (632) 512-0353
(in front of Alabang Town Center)

Facebook Page: 
http://www.facebook.com/DesignerBloomsCafe

Twitter Account:
https://twitter.com/DBloomsCafeMNL

For inquires and reservations please call 02.512.0353, email David Abrenilla at designerbloomscafe@gmail.com.

Eating Like a Rabbit

Kuwento ni Ate Shawi, maski vegetarian daw si KC buffet ang kinakainan niya pero malinis naman ang kanyang plato pagkatapos. Parang kuneho lang.

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Kaya naman pagpunta ko sa Vegetarian Food Fair ng Mabuhay Temple sinimot ko rin ang aking plato.

 

Ang pagkain ng mga berdeng gulay gaya ng brocolli, spinach, malunggay, at iba pang madahon ay tumutulong sa pagpapalakas ng ating mga muscle. Kapag kulang tayo sa calcium ay maaring magdulot ito ng problema sa buto gaya ng osteoporosis, lalo na sa mga kabataan.

Kaya't ugaliing kumain ng mga gulay gaya ng brocolli, spinach, malunggay, at iba pang madahon at kulay berdeng gulay (green, leafy vegetables).

Isama din sa pagkain ang mga produktong soya gaya ng soya milk, taho, tofu, at iba pa. Uso ang mga sangkap na ito sa mga pagkaing makikita sa Mabuhay Temple Vegetarian Food Fair.

Nakatatlong plato ako nung linggo at parang gusto ko ng tumira doon.

Samantala, may mga pagkain naman na bagamat hindi mataas ang calcium sa natural na anyo, ay "fortified with calcium" o sinadyang lagyan ng calcium. Kasama dito ang mga cereals, orange juice, at iba pa.

 

Calcium supplements

Uminom ng mga tabletang may calcium na pandagdag sa calcium na galing sa ating pang araw-araw ng pagkain.

Ang mabuti ay tanungin ang inyong doktor kung kailangan mo ba ng calcium supplements, at humingi ng payo kung anong uri ng calcium supplement ang dapat bilhin.

Siguradong imumungkahi niya na kumain ka ng gulay.

 

A book about seeking your personal path to success

True seekers of truth seek God with their whole hearts.  And those who already have a true relationship with Christ can be those who want to start a relationship with God.

The Beatitudes
"Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are they who mourn, for they shall be comforted. Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth. Blessed are they who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied. Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy. Blessed are the pure of heart, for they shall see God. Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called children of God. Blessed are they who are persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven." Gospel of St. Matthew 5:3-10

HOW TO FIND YOUR PERSONAL PATH TO SUCCESS

Wondering what God wants you to do with your life? Chaddock offers step-by-step instructions and challenging questions to help you discover your primary passions and greatest strengths.


Is there more to life?


Do you sometimes question what you're doing? Do you wonder why you're here? Robin Chaddock draws on her extensive experience as a life coach to help you find the answer by providing step–by–step instructions to uncover your primary passions and greatest strengths, and then provides a framework for discovering how to use them to achieve satisfaction and fulfillment.


Each person has a God–created purpose in life—a “divine assignment” that will fulfill their deepest longings. Once you discovers this, you can...

• nurture and improve your strengths




• use your talents and gifts to improve the world




• positively impact your sphere of influence




• bring out the best in the people around you




• develop a more intimate relationship with God

The informative, easy–to–read chapters include fun and challenging questions to help you explore your beliefs and clarify your goals. Knowing your personal path to success enables you to live confidently, experience happiness, encourage family and friends, and help others.


Published by Lifebooks, "How to Find Your Personal Path to Success" is now available in all branches of National Bookstore and Powerbooks nationwide! For more books to live by, like this Facebook Page and follow this Twitter Account.

Product Details


Title: How to Find Your Personal Path to Success
Subtitle: Keys to Living Out Your Purpose and Passion
Author: Robin Chaddock
Binding: Paperback
Size: 5 1/4? x 8 1/4?
No. of pages: 224
Language: English
ISBN-10: 971-0453-33-5
ISBN-13: 978-971-0453-33-7
SRP: P195.00/copy

Help Save Palawan

The Philippines’ Last Ecological Frontier: Saving the island of Palawan, one signature at a time

 

Falling in love with the beauty of Palawan is falling deeply in love with the immaculate splendor of Mother Nature.

 

One can only imagine how trip to this lovely destination, lying more than 500 kilometers southwest of Manila, can turn into the most unforgettable leisure experience ever. Known for its rich natural resource that have awed and captivated both Filipinos and foreigners alike, the island of Palawan has earned the distinction of being the most biodiverse island in the Philippines. It serves as home to 40% of the country’s remaining mangrove areas, 35% of the country’s coral reefs, 17 biodiversity areas, 2 UNESCO World Heritage Sites (the Puerto Princesa Subterranean River Natural Park and the Tubbataha National Marine Park), and eight declared protected areas. It is also the provinces that houses one of the Seven Wonders of the World.

 

The variety of natural life found in this vast strip of greenery that is known as Palawan is unmatched anywhere in the Philippines. This is the reason why the National Geographic Traveler magazine hailed the province as the best island destination in the entire East and Southeast Asia, and the 13^th best island in the world having “incredibly beautiful natural seascapes and landscapes” both in 2007.

 

Ten million signatures to save Palawan

Despite the presence of such a very rich and diverse natural culture, Palawan is also a very fragile piece of land, with a thin layer of topsoil that is prone to erosion and landslides. And with aggressive mining taking place in certain areas of Palawan, it will only be a matter of time before the whole island sinks into the sea and be forgotten as a once proud and pristine natural treasure.

 

If the Philippines were to lose Palawan, the country will not only lose a valuable and irreplaceable treasure. More significantly, it will lose one of the Earth’s most precious and beautiful legacy to the next generation.

This is the advocacy being championed by the “Save Palawan Movement” as it encourages Filipinos to help stop mining in Palawan and other key biodiversity areas in the country by joining the march towards 10 million signatures aimed at saving the Philippines’ last ecological frontier.

 

“Currently, there are about 15 ongoing mining operations in Palawan, according to the Palawan NGO Network Inc. (PNNI). An even more shocking and outrageous fact is the number of pending mining applications in Palawan, which now stands at more than 100 as we speak,” says Gina Lopez, Managing Director of ABS-CBN Foundation Inc. “We have to note that contrary to what mining companies claim, the local mining industry only accounts for 1.3% of the country’s gross domestic product.”

 

In fact, a recent study conducted by UP School of Economics Dean Dr. Arsenio Balisacan reveals that of all the identified sectors, only mining had an increase in poverty incidence in a span of more than one decade from 27.84% in 1988 to 48.71% in 2009. This gives it the highest poverty incidence rating in 2009, followed by agriculture (47.92%).

 

This is just one of the recent details and researches that are set to be shared with campaign partners during the Save Palawan Movement General Assembly on November 21, 2011.

 

Also set to impart their knowledge and expertise during the said gathering are esteemed environmental scientists and researchers from Ateneo de Naga University and Ateneo de Manila University, led by Dr. Tony La Vina the head of the Ateneo School of governance, Dr. Boying Bautista and Atty. Gerthie Anda, who will be discussing the impact of mining to the economy;  Atty. Jean Feliciano on the livelihood of Indigenous People in Brooke’s Point in Palawan; and freelance documentary producer and director Bernie Lopez on the largest mining venture in the country that is threatening Mindanao provinces with a potential mega disaster and other environmental and tribal issues.

 

“This very important gathering not only aims to renew our commitments for Palawan’s cause but also to increase awareness and share the vision preserving the natural beauty of Palawan and all the other key biodiversity areas here in the Philippines,” shares Lopez.

 

“With the help of more Filipinos, we hope to be able to save Palawan by asking both the local and the national governments to say no to mining so that we can protect one of our last remaining treasures and give the future generations a more beautiful and livable environment.”

 

Eating at Impressca is Caring for the Environment

Impressca is an  Italian word that means "freshly served".  When you dine at Impressca, it is guaranteed that you will be eating pure organic food.

Organic food is produced and processed without using any synthetic ingredients or chemical substances which can disrupt the balance of nature and they are produced by farmers to sustain  renewable resources and the conservation of soil and water to enhance environmental quality for future generations.

Above all it is the best thing for our health and environment. Prevention is better than cure so it is already our investment to a healthier life in the future.



A Brief History of Impressca

Miss Beth first opened the restaurant in Legazpi City in 1994 when she was still in college.
2006, it closed down.
When God paved the way to reopen her business in 2008 she took advantage of a better way to revive the business by bringing it to the metro and educate the people living in the city  - enjoying life's pleasure with healthy choices while taking care of our Mother Earth.

We only have one planet to live and it's going to give up if we're not going to take care of it.



Healthy Food at Impressca

Impressca's specialty is "Create Your Own Salad"  – For only P99, diners can create their own mix of green veggies.
When Wendys has stopped serving customized salad, Impressca has continued it's trend and it has become their best seller in all branches.



Another healthy food served is the 5 Herbs Marinara Pasta – consist of oregano, taragon, black pepper, basil and cumin. The most beneficial herbs are in this meal.



Eating at Impressca is  Caring for the Environment

For every P200 worth of purchase from Impressca, a customer contributes to planting a tree – a personal support to the livelihood of local farmers.

Miss Beth herself encourages the practice of urban gardening. It is one of the simplest ways to reduce the effects of pollution is to Plant more Trees, shrubs, herb garden, houseplants, vegetable crops, decorative flowers

They reduce the amount of carbon dioxide in the air, they increase oxygen, and they help eliminate toxins. Not only do they provide nourishment for the entire food chain as well as the earth itself, but they are a safe and effective solution to some of our biggest environmental problems, improving both outdoor and indoor environments.

Ingredients used by Impressca are harvested from their own garden.



Benefits of patronizing Organic Food to Farmers

Local farmers has lower capital investment, and has the ability to achieve higher premium in the market, and the ability to use traditional knowledge. When you eat at Impressca you support our local organic farming. It is the kind of farming that does not involve usage of chemicals such as chemical fertilizers and chemical pesticides.
Impressca also adheres to R.A. 9003. They separate biodegradable and non-biodegradable wastes. They compost their biodegradable wastes and recycle and reuse the non-biodegradable ones. I hope you can visit Impressca to learn more about taking care of our health and helping out the environment at the same time.


Branches:

• SM City San Lazaro
  Lower Ground Floor
  Sta. Cruz, Manila


• Cyberzone SM Araneta Center
  Lower Ground Floor
  Cubao, Quezon City


• Food Plaza – UP Faculty Medical Arts Bldg. – PGH
  
  UP Manila Taft Ave., Manila


• Mother Ignacia Place
  139 Mother Ignacia Ave.
  South Triangle, Quezon City


• The Block (Opening Soon)

Have a Healthy Lifestyle!

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Herbal Medicine for Loosing Weight

In 1527, the Swiss thinker Paracelsus demonstrates that only a small part of the plant has an effect upon the human body (1g per 20 kg of plant), which is what we now call active substance. Later on, scientists have developed methods to isolate these substances.

However, the first complete categorization of all known medicinal plants was printed in a book called Theatrum Botanicum by John Parkinson in 1640 AD. In 1649 Nicholas Culpeper published A Physical Directory, which is considered one of the best herbal pharmacopoeia manuals still quoted today.

The world of today is a world of progress, no one doubts about that.

We have managed to do in 200 years of continuous industrial revolution, what we couldn’t do in thousands and thousands of tumultuous history.

And yet, with all these technological breakdowns and synthetic substances, artificial food, not to mention the reign of King Plastic, some people still find the power and the wisdom to ask themselves how people in the past remained healthy and fit without nutritional supplements, drugs, even antibiotics.

Their secret was that that they used what Mother Nature gave them: the plants to cure themselves. Fortunately, this knowledge hasn’t been forgotten; even if they’re not so widely used, plants have found their place in our civilization.

The story begins thousands of years ago, before the recorded history, when man didn’t know how to write or read, but knew how to follow their instincts.

They discovered that certain herbs could alleviate their pains, others could make a wound disappear and others could even kill them.

In the course of time, societies developed and with them appeared the means to transmit their knowledge other than orally.

5000 years ago, in Ancient China, people used rhubarb (Rheune palmatum) as a purgative without knowing anything about the actual active substances they contained.

Also, they used Ephedra to treat asthma, even though the substance called ephedrine was discovered much later, in 1887 AD.

All oriental ancient civilizations had their insights into the fascinating world of botany, as plants were one of the few elements to which they could resort to heal themselves. The famous king Hammurabi of Babylon (18th century BC) recommended mint to cure constipation and other digestive disorders.

Mesopotamian doctors considered that the best time to take a herbal medicine was at night or early in the morning, a principle which is confirmed nowadays by modern studies.

The Indians had an entire system of rules, prescriptions, remedies and practices, called Ayurveda, many of which involved the use of plants. They also had strict rules about when, by whom and from where the plants should be collected

People in Ancient Egypt knew and used the castor-oil plant, wormwood, saffron and oregano to heal and disinfect wounds; they also put coriander in their tombs so that the spirit will remain healthy in his afterlife.

There are written records of their use of garlic (especially for the workmen who built the pyramids), indigo, mint and opium. The Greek and Roman civilizations have made a major contribution to the medical science.

Although much of their studies stemmed from other cultures (Mesopotamian, Egyptian), they added precious information and, in time, they became more and more concerned about the diseases and cures as natural and realistic processes, rather than spiritual or magical.

Physicians like Hippocrates, Dioscoride and others have recorded their discoveries; their works would enlighten the pre-medieval civilizations for many centuries after their death. Dioscorides wrote De Materia Medica (1st century AD), which contained a list of hundreds of medicinal plants, along with their description and curative qualities.

The Dark Ages met with a lack of any further recorded herbal studies; the knowledge was probably transmitted from generation to generation – parents taught children, monks, even herbalist taught apprentices.

However, there lived a great Persian physician by the name of Avicenna (Abu Ali al-Husayn ibn Abd Allah Ibn Sina) who wrote one of the most famous books in the history of medical science: The Canon, which also contained information about how plants should be used and their properties.

 

As chemistry as a science developed, physicians started to use more and more widely synthetic medicines, such as aspirin, which proved to have side effects. Yet all pharmacists and drug producers confirm the fact that, unlike artificially synthesized substances, medicines extracted from plants are more accessible to the metabolism and friendlier with the human body.

the feeling of missing somebody

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Why do you miss somebody? Is it because absence makes the heart grow?

For Nora Aunor fans, they really miss their idol so much

How much she really mean to you? Nora means a lot to showbiz fanatics because when Nora was still active doing shows she had influenced them a lot.

A great way to show someone that you miss is to:

• Write a love letter that contains sweet messages


• Share about all the great times you had with her


• Make her feel what you are feeling through words you say


• Express your emotions and get some inspiration from her

Take care of our environment, Live Positively!

Last week we went to Sapinit watershed to join  Coca Cola Foundation and Philippine Disaster Recovery Foundation for a tree planting activity.

With the help of Sapinit Settlers Association, a community living in this area, we were able to plant huge number of trees in the area.

In this area they are being thought that they should work one with the nature in order to reach the economincs and ecological benefits not only a forest can provide.

A lot of them just recently transferred here over the years. And they are trying to find ways to make this area sustainable.

There's not too much livelihood here but with the program they're being thought what a mother tree is, what wildlings are.

Part of the activity we have some people gathering wildlings. They find a little shrub from a mother tree that falls into the ground which grows from 3-4 inches.
When they're too densely populated there's no enough nutrients to sustain all from tree.
So you really have to take it from the tree and connect the wild lings and  bring to the nursery.

Nurture them there and Plant them in a separate location when ready to be transplanted.

It is a multi year grant project with a budget of $84,000  from the funding team Coca Cola Atlanta.

The government will support the people living in the area. They train them not to cut the trees. If so in a sustainable manner.

The project also provides livelihood, they make a living by selling seedlings. Some of them are fruit bearing trees so they can sell the fruits.

Then all of that contributes in providing people livelihood so that they dont cut the trees.

Our Tree Planting Activity does not end here, this is our commitment forever.

Take care of our environment! Live Positively!

Winners of Miss Philippines Earth 2011

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The long wait is over we have now a new queen that will represent our country to compete for Ms. Earth, as she embodies environmental awareness and love for mother earth. Here are the Winners of Miss Philippines Earth 2011.

 

Miss Philippines Earth 2011 – Athena Mae Imperial from Casiguran, Aurora
Miss Philippines Air 2011 – Jonavi Raisa Quiray from Puerto Princesa
Miss Philippines Water 2011 – Murielle Adrienne Orais from Cebu City
Miss Philippines Fire 2011 – Michelle Gavagan from Las Pinas City
Miss Philippines Eco-Tourism 2011 – Tarhata Clio Shari Rico from Makati City


The competition was tough, the judges had their hardest time choosing the right winner. Grand  coronation night was held last June 5, at the Puerto Princesa City Coliseum in Palawan.

Visit San Juanico Golf Hotel

San Juanico Golf Hotel, a paradise!

THE SAN JUANICO GOLF HOTEL, a 30-room hotel with breathtaking views of verdant, rolling hills and the engineering marvel that is San Juanico Bridge is now open for guests and golfing enthusiasts.

Located in Barangay Camansihay (just 10 kilometers from the capital Tacloban City), the new hotel inside the San Juanico Park, Golf and Country Club has all the amenities visitors would need for a comfortable, safe and memorable experience when touring Leyte or enjoying their golf game at the 18-hole golf course.
The San Juanico Golf Hotel helps meet the growing demand for quality accommodations needed by the increasing number of visitors to the Eastern Visayas region, especially Tacloban City.

National Cherry Blossom Festival 2011

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National Cherry Blossom Festival Parade 2011 - Cherry Blossom Festival 2011, parade will be starting from 10:00 am upto noon time,

It will be at Constitution Avenue from 7th to 17th streets, NW.

Ticket price will be 17 dollars per person for the grandstand seating and will be free along the parade route.

The National Cherry Blossom Festival Parade is Washington, DC’s largest public event of the year, with about 100,000 spectators from around the world. This parade combines wonderful entertainment for the whole family including decorated floats, gigantic colorful helium balloons, marching bands, clowns, horses, antique cars, military and celebrity performances, the National Cherry Blossom Festival® All-Star Youth Tap Dance Team and Choir, and various cultural performing groups. Actor Atticus Shaffer, who plays the youngest son Brick Heck on ABC’s “The Middle,” will be Grand Marshal of the 2011 parade. The event is simulcast live on ABC 7/ WJLA-TV and NewsChannel 8.

Some pf the highlights of Cherry Blossom Festival Parade 2011 are:

• Sheryl Lee Ralph, an original cast member of the 1982 Tony Award winning “Dream Girls.”


• The soulful, powerful, pop diva CeCe Peniston sings a melody of her hits.


• Giant balloons include Bugs Bunny, Madeline, Yogi Bear, cherry blossoms, and Japanese lanterns.


• The Youth Choir and All-Star Tap Team showcase the talent of over 1,000 youths from around the country.

 

Roses are red, Violets are blue, Island Rose for you

Here's a video of my interview with Dustin as he talks about how roses grow in our country.

Roses are red, Violets are blue, Island Rose for you

Here's a video of my interview with Dustin as he talks about how roses grow in our country.