Salu, The Filipino Restaurant, Turns One and Proves Masarap Mabuhay sa Pinas

Last June 9, 2016, Salu, The Filipino Restaurant owned by the celebrity couple, Romnick Sarmenta and Harlene Bautista, opened its doors to the hungry Manilenos to provide authentic treats from different parts of Philippines. After one year, they thrive and is ready to offer more delectable and unique surprises for customers who deserve more when it comes to Pinoy food trip.

The restaurant opened their anniversary month with a blockbuster promo of buy take 1 take 1 of their famous ‘BLK’ (Binagoongang Lechon Kare-kare). A Piso for Brazo de Kalabasa shall also be enjoyed by the first 100 guests for every purchase of Php500.00 on June 11, 2017. Both of these promos were made to give thanks to all Ka-Salu/s who have dined and craved for the best of Salu plates this past year. “Masarap at nakakataba ng puso ang aming unang taon. So we thought, why not give thanks and extend to our customers those blessings that we earned because of their trust through these simple promos. These two dishes, BLK and Brazo De Kalabasa, are our top moving dish and desert on our first year. So its fitting to grant a ‘one’ of a kind treat with buy ‘one’ take ‘one’ and a ‘one’ peso dessert, as we turn ‘one”, shared by Mr. Sarmenta.

During the thanksgiving lunch that had happened last June 9, 2017, the celebrity couple also shared a colorful year that was for Salu. These include gaining tie ups with some organizations such as Hashtag Philippines through Antoinette Taus, where average of 300 kids are fed every event with Salu packed lunches that comes with love notes from volunteers. Salu was also chosen to represent the Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao for the biggest food convention in the world – Madrid Fusion, where they showcased their best southern dishes that’s available only at restaurant. Chefs, culinary experts and delegates of the congress were in awe with the taste of Mindanao cuisines that’s unique and distinct due to special ingredients such as pampa, that’s famous in Mindanao. Some of the featured dishes include Beef Kulma, Syagul Pagi, Utak Utak and Pyanggang. “We are grateful to be chosen by DOT-ARMM headed by Mrs. Ayesha Mangudadatu Dilangalen, to represent their region at the presitigous Madrid Fusion. We have built this brand to be the culinary authority when it comes to all things Filipino. And being chosen to participate in such convention was an affirmation that indeed, we somehow are in the right path of meeting our mission. Hopefully on our second year, we can serve more authentic plates and continue to be a portal for all guests to discover all the flavors of this country, especially those that are still undiscovered”, says Mrs. Harlene Bautista.

On its second year, Salu also unveils their campaign #SarapMabuhay. This showcases not just the exciting flavors that this country has to offer but also highlights the abundance of fresh ingredients that can make any kitchen push for magic. It also refers to the kind of people that you dine with which ranges from family, friends and even strangers and the overall experience of ‘salu-salo’ in the Philippines which has always been distinct. The campaign would still highlight the adventures of the owners as they search for the next utlimate plates to bring back home to Salu, to be made available for all who wants to discover more. Exciting products and experiences are also up for grabs for all diners. The Pilipinas Platter, their version of a group feast, gives customers an opportunity to taste all the specialities in different parts of the Philippines. All the cuisines are creatively plated on a special carved Pilipinas wooden plate. Luto Ni Nanay gives moms a chance to cook with the talented chefs of Salu as they learn to prepare one of a kind dishes for the family. All these plus and addition to their already exciting range of pinoy to pinoy fused dishes called Likhang Salu will be served and made available this June!

The culinary authority stands still even stronger on its second year with so much offering to its customers. Visit them for a one of a Pilipinas Food Trip at Sct. Torillo, Cor. Sct. Fernandez, Barangay Sacred Heart, Quezon City. For reservations, questions and queries, you may call Salu’s hotline 02-282-15-12, or contact them through their facebook fan page.

World Environment Day marked by Senator Loren Legarda with tree planting in Q.C., decries U.S. withdrawal from Paris agreement & says Phil should seek “climate justice”

Quezon City’s first bakery the 78-year-old, pugon-style Kamuning Bakery Café and Senator Loren Legarda led celebrations of United Nation’s “World Environment Day” on June 5 at the bakery’s “Pandesal Forum” starting with a ceremonial planting of Kamuning tree seedlings in Quezon City.

            In the same Pandesal Forum, Senator Loren Legarda lamented United States President Donald Trump’s decision to withdraw its government from the Paris climate change agreement, she said: “The decision reeks of ignorance and condemns U.S. foreign policy to infamy. It is truly sad, but we are not hopeless. The way forward is for U.S. cities and states to enforce it.”  She cited other countries of the world such as China, France and others for their governments’ commitment to the Paris Agreement and to global joint efforts in finding ways to solve the climate crisis facing the earth.

            Senator Loren Legarda said that the Philippines is only 0.3 percent share in global greenhouse gases (GHG), yet the country is the world’s third most vulnerable to climate change impacts. She said that developing countries like the Philippines should demand “climate justice” and vigorously champion pro-active efforts to protect the environment. She also stressed that 64 of our 84 Philippine provinces, plus 822 coastal municipalities and 25 major coastal cities are at risk due to sea level rise.  

            The legislator said that the world today faces two biggest evils threats---terrorism and climate crisis. She urged all people to do our share to protect the earth. A lifelong environmental activist since her previous career as a broadcast journalist, Senator Loren Legarda is principal sponsor and author of the Philippine Climate Change Act and its amendatory law the People’s Survival Fund Act, also the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act, plus many other environmental and disaster risk reduction bills.

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            Among many showbiz, arts, literary, political, media and other celebrities who have patronized Kamuning Bakery Cafe for the past 78 years included TV5 founder and the late newspaper publisher Joaquin “Chino” Roces and his father the pre-war media tycoon Don Alejandro Roces. In fact, it was the elder Roces who had invitedKamuning Bakery Cafe founder Atty. Leticia “Letty” Bonifacio Javier to open Quezon City’s first bakery in 1939. Among its many other clients included President Cory C. Aquino, food critic Dr. Doreen G. Fernandez and Supreme Court Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno.

            Flores said that among the numerous Kamuning Bakery Cafe customers included many literary, political, media and showbiz celebrities for 78 years. ForKamuning Bakery Cafe’s unique annual October 16 celebration of “World Pandesal Day” of giving away free pugon-baked pandesal breads, this project was publicly supported by President Rody Duterte, ex-actor and now Manila Mayor Joseph Estrada, Metro Manila Film Festival primemover and now Ilocos Norte Cong. Imelda Romualdez Marcos, Senator Sonny Angara, GMA 7 Chairman Atty. Felipe Gozon and actor Dingdong Dantes.

            The ambassadors of China, Russia, Britain, U.S.  and Singapore---Zhao Jianhua, Igor Khovaev, Asif Ahmad, Philip Goldberg, Kok Li Peng---also spoke at rare sessions of the Pandesal Forum with media and intellectuals at Kamuning Bakery Café.

BEST Center Extends Summer Sports Clinic

Multi-awarded and pioneer BEST (Basketball Efficiency & Scientific Training) Center opens another set of summer sports clinic for aspiring basketball and volleyball players at the Ateneo College Covered Courts. The highly anticipated clinics for both sports will be held every Wednesdays and Saturdays from June 7 to 28, 2017, 8:00 am - 11:30 am. The basketball clinic is accepting enrollees for students in Preparatory Level and Levels 1-5 while the volleyball clinic is open to young athletes in levels 1 to 3. By hosting these sports clinics, BEST Center not only helps kids learn the basic sports skills. It also teaches them values such as discipline, camaraderie, teamwork and leadership in a fun and interactive way while they are taking a break from school. For more information about BEST Center’s classes and tournaments, call the hotlines 411-6260, 3723066 and 372-3065, email bestcentersports@gmail.com or follow its official Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/pages/BEST-Center-Sports-Inc/66172039922.