Barack Obama's favorite drink now in the Philippines

Ever wonder which drink satisfies the taste buds of the President of the United States? Apparently, it's Honest Tea, if a blog by Seth Goldman (president of the company that produces the drink) is to be believed.

What's cooler is that Filipinos can now enjoy this exciting drink, as Tan & Tan Mega Innovations Inc (TTMI). starts importing the product from the USA and distributing it (see contact details below) around Metro Manila.

Because Honest Tea is made of organic ingredients, it has several health benefits, according to Jasslyn Tan of TTMI. Here are some of them:

• Loaded with antioxidants: Honest Tea has antioxidant levels that are as high, or higher than brewed tea leaves because we use real tea leaves. All of our green teas have between 150 and 250mg of Epigallocatechin Gallate (EGCG), a key antioxidant found in green and white tea.
  
• Practice of fair trade: Honest Tea is committed to the well-being of the people along the supply chain who help grow and pick  ingredients. In 2003, Honest Tea became the first to make a Fair Trade Certified™ bottled tea.
• Use of less sugar: Honest Tea and Honest Ade contain 100 calories per 500ml bottle, while Honest Kids contain 40 calories per 200 ml dink pouches.  Our beverages are either unsweetened or use much smaller amounts of sugar, honey, or agave syrup than most other bottled products. In fact, Honest Tea was created because there was a need for a less sweet, real tea beverage.
•  Organic certification: All Honest Tea products are certified as meeting the USDA's organic standards. This means that our beverages and tea bags are produced without antibiotics, pesticides, irradiation or bioengineering.  All Honest Tea products are USDA Organic, Gluten Free and does not contain GMOs.
• Environment-friendly packaging: Our PET bottles are fully recyclable (PETE 1), Phthalates free. They do not leach and require less energy to produce and ship. Additionally, they are not made with the chemical Bisphenol A (BPA). The same is true for our Honest Kids' drink pouches.

"So far, the response has been great! We actually thought some people may find the drinks to be on the bland side at first. But they actually appreciate the natural tastes of Honest Tea and Honest Ade," said Tan.

People were surprised to find the drinks refreshing and flavorful without the unnecessary calories and sugars found from sodas and other juice drinks, said Tan. "A lot of Moms love Honest Kids because they can let their kids enjoy juice drinks without having to worry about too much sugar and calories. Kids love reading the cute quotes from the cool and colorful packaging of Honest Kids."

Honest Tea comes in these flavors: Sweet Tea, Honey Green Tea, Half & Half, Peach White Tea, Honest Ade Range, Orange Mango with Mangosteen, Cranberry Lemonade, Pomegranate Blue, Superfruit Punch with Yumberry/Goji.

There's also the Honest Kids Range: Goodness Grapeness, Tropical Tango Punch, Berry Berry Good Lemonade, Appley Ever After

Here's how to place an order: TTMI delivers for free within Metro Manila for a minimum order of P1,500 of any assorted flavors and variants. Delivery charge of P200 applies for orders less than P1,500. Call 913-4691 or e-mail helpdesk@tanmegainnovations.com to order. (PS: Unfortunately, TTMI does not ship to provincial areas at the moment). For more inf, visit www.honesttea.com/

PHOTOS: Batanes is picture-perfect paradise

Four months since my visit to Batanes, I'm still thinking of those massive green pasteurs, long and winding roads, and the deep blue bodies of water that envelopes the island. It's a place where almost everywhere you turn, there's a picture-perfect moment waiting to be captured.

But there's more to Batanes than its natural wonders. This island-province is dotted with old churches, ancient stone houses, beautiful lighthouses, and ruins that have become tourist attractions. Of course, there is the herds of cows grazing under the glorious sun--the reason why Batanes is often compared to New Zealand.

We also went to Sabang, which is a part of the province which has off-white sand along the shores of a beautiful beach. Amazing!

I was in Batanes earlier this year for a media event by Kia. To read the article I wrote about it, please click here. We stayed at Fundacion Pacita, arguably the most beautiful hotel in the province. To see photos of the hotel, please click here.

Without further ado, here are photos of Batanes I captured while we were driving around the province. Get those superlatives ready! Enjoy! :)

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10 Best Male-Female duets of the last 20 years (1993-2013)

It's always interesting when two artists, particularly a male and female, join forces to give the world musical masterpieces that stand the test of time.

We have had many great duets in the past decades and it's impossible for me to know every single one of them. However, I do know several great ones growing up, being a music fan since I was in grade school, to make this particular list.

First, let me define what I consider a duet. Nowadays, when rappers give cameo appearances in many female-led tracks, it becomes increasingly difficult to separate a real duet from what is not. For me, a duet is when a male and female actually sing together in harmony, when they trade verses, not just a female singing the verses with a rapper on the bridge.

This is a strictly male-female duet list. I will be listing down a separate post enumerating my fave female-female duets soon. Songs from a female artist and an all-male group (or vice versa) such as "One Sweet Day" are not included.

This list also pertains to studio recordings only, original or remixed versions. Live performances are excluded. And as always, I have not included any Mariah Carey duet in the list because you already know she'll be on top by default. :)

As the title of this post says, this list covers only the past 20 years (1993 to 2013). This list would have included "Endless love" by Mariah Carey and Luther Vandross, but that duet was released in 1992.

Lastly, let me state the obvious--that this list is based solely on my personal taste. These are the songs I grew up loving, the ones I still remember and listen to up to today, the ones that I will sing still for years to come. 

Without further ado, here are TWIST's 10 favorite male-female duets of the last 20 years. Enjoy! :)

10. Rihanna and Ne-Yo - "Hate that I love you" (2007)
         
          This sassy song has a great premise and slick lyrics. The duet partners delivered with smooth and sexy vocals which blended very well together. The song is a playful, modern R&B track that is easily the anthem for lovers in a relationship but have feelings for someone else.

9. Jordin Sparks and Chris Brown - "No air" (2008)

          It's essentially a love song but is perhaps more suited for young lovers. Clever lyrics combined with just the right tempo to allow Jordin and Chris enough room to wow us with their vocals, it's a song that proves that love songs need not be sappy.

8. Jennifer Lopez and LL Cool J - "All I have" (2002) 

          I didn't realize this song would figure into this list until I was shortlisting the dozen duets that I've loved over the years. When J-lo released this song she was on top of her game--and it shows. The track is sexy, heartfelt. It doesn't hurt that the beat is sick (in the cutest way).

7. Marc Anthony and Tina Arena - "I want to spend my lifetime loving you" (1998)

          This is one of the most challenging duets to do vocally speaking. Tina has crazy good vocals and Marc is no slouch. To me, it's such a classic song which we all would still be listening to long before we have forgotten the movie it was made for.

6. Whitney Houston and Enrique Iglesias - "Could I have this kiss forever?" (2000)

          I distinctly remember seeing the song's music video on MTV back in the day. Back then, I liked the song. But I've rediscovered the song in recent years and have gone to truly love it. How could I not? Enrique is sexy. Whitney's vocals are insane. It's a duet we'd remember, well, forever, yes?

5. Michael Jackson and Janet Jackson - "Scream" (1995)

          I was only 10 when this song came out so, no, I wasn't able to enjoy it during its heyday. But thanks to music becoming more easily accessible, I have enjoyed this track in the last couple of years. Michael and Janet, while known to the world as siblings, have very distinct successful careers. It's a match up that would be very hard to replicate--no two people could even come close.

4. Elton John and LeAnn Rimes - "Written in the stars" (1999)

          Again, this is one of those songs that was introduced to me during the MTV days, when people actually tune in to the television to wait for music videos (not go to YouTube and look for the material they want). I thought it was a decent duet then, but today, I think it's one of the best duets ever. Elton and LeAnn have great voices, but singing together just make them more magical.

3. Ricky Martin and Christina Aguilera - "Nobody wants to be lonely" (2001)

          Both Ricky and Christina were on their prime when they released this song twelve years ago so their paring was welcome to millions of their fans, me included. I love the lyrics and, again, Christina's vocals are tasteful, Ricky's sexy. I'm crossing fingers hoping they re-team one of these days just to see what else they can offer us.

2. Kid Rock and Sheryl Crow - "Picture" (2001)

          This song isn't just one of my favorite duets--it's one of my most favorite songs ever.  From the first to the last note, it's a song that has a power to transport me somewhere as if I was Kids Rock in the first verse and I was Sheryl on the second verse. It moves you. It's a shame it didn't become as big a hit as I think it should have been, but it nevertheless is a lovely love song.

1. Pink and Nate Reuss - "Just give me a reason" (2013)

          Even before Pink released this song, I have been in love with it the moment I heard it as part of her album. I was recommending it to friends, saying that it's going to be a huge hit soon. I was proven right when the song shot to #1 in the Billboard Hot 100 and became a global hit. Chart statistics aside, many people don't realize how great Pink's singing ability is--and she showcases those pipes in this track. Nate provided an equally impressive vocals, which gave us this wonderful duet.

Runners up: Alicia Keys and Usher with "If I ain't got you;" Barbra Streisand and Bryan Adams with "I finally found someone;" Nelly and Kelly Rowland with "Dillema;"Celine Dion and R. Kelly with "I'm your angel."

What are your favorite duets? Sound off on the comments section below! :)

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Of smartphones, social media, and secondary screens

Photo courtesy of http://www.mixingdigital.co.uk/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/second-screen.jpg

Some 13 percent of Internet traffic in the Philippines comes from mobile. Of the total web traffic in the country, some 25 percent browse from work while 71 percent browse from home.

Showing no signs of slowing down, mobile technology has truly become a game changer, as people change their habits and buying behavior. Then there's social media, proliferated more aggressively by mobile gadgets, that is vying for more of people's attentions nowadays.

These are just some of the talking points discussed by Maria Java, country manager of Effective Measure (a company that delivers data for publishers, ad agencies, advertisers, ad networks and researchers), during her talk recently at this year's annual Ayala Merchants Rewards Forum at the Fairmont Hotel in Makati City.

Maria Java of Effective Measure
(Photo from the Philippine Daily Inquirer)

"There is value in knowing the behavior of a brand’s customers. In a survey we conducted, we found that 83 percent of respondents are influenced to buy a product after engaging with a brand online via a brand's Facebook page. Some 72 percent are influenced to buy based on ads placed on Facebook," Java said.

The Ayala Merchants Rewards Forum, now on its 9th installment, aims to gather Ayala Malls merchants to talk about the latest trends in retail in a two-day event. The forum is just part of a bigger celebration called Ayala Merchants Rewards (now on its 15th year), which includes giving awards to partner merchants who have excelled in categories like windows displays and marketing initiatives.

Java's presentation contained more interesting data about this mobile revolution that ought to encourage brands to take the technology more seriously, if they haven’t already. According to her, there were over 100 million smartphone users who consumed 1GB of data in 2012.

Of the 35 million Filipinos who go online, more than half (53.47 percent) are female while the rest (46.53) are male. Consequently, more than half (51.52 percent) are between the ages of 25 and 44; 18% are 45 or older; while about a quarter (24 percent) are between the ages of 18 and 24.

Moving on to social media, Java said the biggest mistake brands can make about this influential platform is to treat it as a one-way communication venue.

"Social media is supposed to elicit conversations or comments. It is not a bulletin board where you post something and expect everyone to just read it. Social media campaigns should create resonance," she said.

If a brand should decide to sign up a celebrity endorser, there should be an effort to make sure there's a digital component. Social media, she said, should not be an afterthought. It needs its own plan.

"Celebrities are still effective triggers. But should they, let's say, tweet something, it should be in a manner that is representative of your brand's tone. It must be engaging to maximize resonance capacity," she said.

Brands, now considered as publishers, should take advantage of blogs, YouTube, conversation apps, as well as Facebook and Google+.

During her talk, Java also touched on the "secondary screen" in the modern day's living room. She was referring to the smartphones and tablets that people would fidget with while watching the television, effectively drawing eyeballs away from TV ads.

In Singapore, a person has an average of four devices. While Java didn't have the exact figure for the Philippines, she thinks it won't be too far from that of the neighboring Asian country.

Furniture shop reaps benefits of successful rebranding

Eric Alvin Po, owner of Mav

This entrepreneur is reaping the benefits of a successful rebranding of his furniture shop, Mav.

Mav opened some six years ago and was doing well. But since the rebranding, when it offered more reasonably priced items that cater to a wider middle class rather than selling high priced items only, business grew some 80 percent.

Of course, Mav also has the aggressive growth of real estate in the country to thank for. After all, it is pieces of furniture that turn a bare space into a cozy home; an accent piece can provide a touch of elegance and sophistication to a hotel room or lobby.

"We produce a limited number of pieces for every item we have. Many of our items are perfect for individuals or families that are moving into a condominium unit, though we cater to commercial clients as well," Eric Alvin Po, owner of Mav, told Kenneth del Rosario of the Philippine Daily Inquirer.

Mav sells pieces with a more classic design and feel. Many of the items in Mav feature metals and irons, as well as upholstered pieces.

Located along Arnaiz Avenue in Makati City, Po said its 200-sqm store houses new items every three of four months. Aside from beds and chairs, Mav offers windows blinds, wine racks, lamps, wall accents, perimeter lighting, and wall dividers, among many others. Many items in the store have tag prices that range from P20,000 to P100,000.

"People are coming back to loving items that can be considered as classic, but not items that are too splashy. Filipinos have really become more adventurous when it comes to the furniture at home," Po said.

Most items in Mav come from the US, China, and across the Philippines. Po proves that one doesn't need formal training in designing to create beautiful pieces. He designs pieces as well, mostly tables. Displays at Mav store virtually change every three to five months.

The furniture business is not at all saturated, he said. But one advantage that Mav is that it can deliver items in as fast as seven days, whatever part of the country you may be.

"We have foreign clients or balikbayan who are only in the country for several days so they want to be able to have the item they bought in their homes before they go fly overseas again. Usually, they would come inside our stores and buy everything from there. Our ready stocks have worked wonders for us," he said.

Mav also has expert designers and interior decorators that can readily help clients choose what they want from the store, whether customers come to furnish their dining, bedroom, living room, or outdoor area of the house.

*** Editor's Note: This article, written by yours truly, first appeared in the Philippine Daily Inquirer on May 18, 2013. It has been heavily edited for TWIST. Enjoy! ***

Wafu is upscale Japanese restaurant in newly renovated Greenhills

There are, quite literally, hundreds of Japanese restaurants in the Philippines, some leaning toward quick food delivery, others delivering a more sophisticated dining experience. But few are like Wafu, an upscale restaurant that gives importance to the most minute details--both food and ambience.

In the words of Bryan Tiu, the businessman who put up the resto, Wafu offers only the freshest sushi and sashimi in town, as well as a variety of traditional & “reinvented” Japanese dishes.

"I've always wanted to open an upscale Japanese restaurant. I used to travel to Japan three to four times a year for business, and I was constantly absorbing the culture with each visit," he said. "My vision was to open a Japanese restaurant that would become a destination place."

That's why, after selling his Japanese casual chain to a huge food conglomerate, Tiu wasted no time in putting Wafu up. Of course, this time, Wafu is a more ambitious undertaking. But Tiu is confident about Wafu's menu of innovative Japanese dishes. 

Located in the newly renovated area of the Greenhills Shopping Center, Wafu had its soft opening in September 2012. Today, it is in full swing, attracting diners to its 800-square meter location.

Chef Chris Oronce, the man behind Wafu's delectable menu, said the wafu-style of cooking will appeal to Filipino diners because it is very Asian.

"Being Filipino, I know what our guests at Wafu will like," he explains. "It's a mixture of sweet, salty, a little spicy, sour and the umami flavor. The palate of Filipinos is very diverse. They will be able to appreciate the taste of wafu-style cooking."

Chef Oronce's extensive experience in food and restaurant operations management were gained working in distinguished restaurants in the US including the MGM Grand Shibuya in Las Vegas where he spent his last years before returning to the Philippines. His other US stint includes the Koi Restaurant at Planet Hollywood, Las Vegas, worked with celebrity chef Bobby Flay at Mesa Grill Caesar's Palace, Las Vegas and Nobu in New York.  

"Our respect for food is very high. We want Wafu to be an institution; to be a restaurant that is accessible to everyone," Oronce said.

Tiu’s foray into Japanese food reflects his fascination for the Asian country’s culture and cuisine. Wafu stands out from any neighboring restaurants, brimming with sophistication on the outside while exuding warmth and luxury on the inside.

The main ground floor dining area has a separate sushi bar and sake bar, while the second floor features a teppan grill dining section where diners can enjoy steak, wagyu, and fresh and live seafood. The mezzanine has function rooms for business meetings and other private functions for larger groups. Altogether, Wafu can seat 250 people.

"The challenge for us is to be different from our competitors. Our extensive menu of Japanese dishes and personalized service will make Wafu a favorite chef-driven concept among the metro's diners," Tiu said.

Ingredients at Wafu, he said, are flown in directly from Japan to give diners a taste of how food is prepared and presented there (except for live catch like lapu-lapu, lobsters, and shrimps, which is supplied locally to support local farmers).

The Japanese restaurant got its name from Western dishes cooked "wafu-style," which means that food are prepared to suit Japanese tastes.


Here are more photos for you to enjoy! :)