ASHLEY RIVERA aka PETRA MAHALIMUYAK Is Your WHITE CASTLE CALENDAR GIRL for 2026

 

I've heard of her a couple years back, but my first personal encounter with her was during an event in San Juan and I was hailing a car to go home with a TV. She was a guest too of the brand and she had to go to another event/go home but she preferred a motor ride through a ride hailing app so she could get there early. Needless to say, I thought celebrities would prefer to have their drivers and car, but she's a cowboy, didn't even mind what people would say. She's beautiful, like a ball of energy, and she's super down to earth. I said, I like her already!

I've covered several calendar girl launches, but this year, White Castle was the last one to actually do it. They've been looking for someone who could fit their brand, someone who could represent them in so many ways, and when the choice was made, I was so happy to hear it was going to be Ashley Rivera aka her alter ego Petra Mahalimuyak.

White Castle's VP for National Sales Brandon Jon Limpe-Aw says "Thank you for being here despite the traffic, rain and all. For the upcoming year, we are going to introduce our 2026 Calendar Girl. After Ninong Ry, Sassa Gurl, Ria Atayde, and more, we want to have the persona of White Castle on social media. We looked for someone humorous, funny and a really great personality. We found her in a podcast, this was also something that she wished for, and we got interested about her. We scanned her social channels, and found out how she aligns with our brand. Cheers!"

He also mentioned why they chose her and said "Her energy is really big, and that's why we chose Ashley Rivera aka "PETRA MAHALIMUYAK". I think the universe really just transpired, and we really wanted Ashley to be our White Castle Calendar Girl for 2026!"

Ashley says "They're right because I really wished for it during a podcast, and there's so many women to choose from. White Castle trusted me and I am so grateful. I will have those life sized photos of me and put them in the lobby of my condo. I would like to dedicate this to my Mom who's here. My Mommy Vicky already has her own followers, I'm glad netizens are also having fun with her on social media. When I found out, I was shocked because it's something that happened before the year ends. When I was chosen, they shared the story board and I was so happy because it's in a ranch, classic, I was speechless when I saw the layout. Let's see because I have so many plans about content we're going to come out with after this launch! Watch out for that!"

Here's some more videos from the launch, particularly her dance number when she went on stage!

Congratulations Ashley! You're gorgeous, funny, so eloquent, and really deserve this recognition! You're one remarkable lady that people should discover even more!

Cooking with Truffle Is NOT Complicated

I'm a Truffle buff and I'm not afraid to cook with it. I'm also the first one in line to have dishes with it, because for the fun part, I'm crazy obsessed with it. 

Cooking for it must be a mystery for most people, but let me tell you a simple rule. If you are cooking with truffle, use the black variety. If you are using it for a salad or finishing something like soups or dishes, use the white kind because it doesn't need heat for the flavor to permeate. With that in mind, the good people over at UMBRIA are suggesting two new dishes which you can serve your family and friends. Let's introduce these two recipes and get straight to business.

 Beef Mushroom Sandwich

Ingredients: 30 grams Sukiyaki Cut Beef, 50 grams Portabella Mushrooms, a table spoon of soy sauce, Mayonnaise, a good crusty bread, Umbria Truffle Oil and Worcestershire Sauce.

Marinate the beef with soy and Worcestershire sauce (overnight if possible) but 30 mins would do. Cook it with butter, mushrooms, season with salt and black pepper. Put mayo on bread, when beef caramelizes, add mushrooms. Salt to taste, then finish the beef with a little Umbria Truffle oil after placing it on top of bread. Remember, a little goes a long way.

 Potato Leek Soup with Truffle

Ingredients: 3 Medium sized potatoes, 35 grams of leeks, 750ml chicken or vegetable stock, 125 ml of Cream, White Pepper, Umbria Truffle Oil

Peel potatoes and cut into slices, chop up leeks and saute on hot pan with butter. When leeks become wilted, add potatoes, stir it in til it crumbles. Add broth, salt and pepper to taste. Put it into a blender or use an immersion blender if you have one. Add in cream, mix thoroughly (not to boil so it gets creamy). Put a few fresh leeks on top, crunchy bacon (if you have it) and about a half teaspoon of Umbria Truffle Oil. Put this on the side of the sandwich we prepared earlier, and it's a meal you'll love for sure!

Make sure you enjoy your time at home and prepare food for them, your family and friends will surely love it because the one who prepared it is YOU. Truffle is NOT complicated, think of it as perfume when you're about to go out on a date, but you're just putting it on a plate. Umbria is distributed in the Philippines by Dygen Food Ventures Inc. which is under Dyna Drug Corporation. It's available at https://goodwill.market/ which you can order online with.

Trust me on the truffle.

Wine Love with Casillero del Diablo

I have always loved chilling a good ol bottle of wine and downing it with friends and family. Filipinos often love the sweet fruity type whilst I prefer the mildly stronger reds with notes and whites that have really good spice content on them. Now this was gifted to me a couple days ago and probably the first time I’m having Casillero del Diablo. I have had it during a post New Years Eve dinner and enjoyed the Cabernet Sauvignon and Sauvignon Blanc much that when there were a few leftover wines, I thought of probably cooking with it.

If you’ve got good wine, cooking with it intensifies the flavors so I’ve decided to do a Coq Au Vin. Coq Au Vin simply means Chicken in Wine (it’s just a french fancy way of calling it) I have learned to cook this in a workshop I attended years ago and was surprised how relatively easy it was to do it.

In a pan simply put olive oil and about 3 table spoons of butter. Be careful not to burn the butter because it will taste weird in the dish. You put in a whole chicken or chop it in quarters, then brown all the sides until it turns golden. Don’t worry if you don’t cook it all the way because you’ll do it later. Take it off the pan and set it aside.

Put the chopped onions, carrots and celery in the same pan and saute it. If you’ve seen it cooked a bit and caramelized the onions, then pour the whole bottle of Casillero del Diablo and deglaze that pan. Make sure you take those brown things and scrape it because that’s where the flavor lies. Add a sprig of thyme and parsley then wait for the wine to reduce. A good Chef told me you should only use wine that YOU love to drink because what you will get in the end is a stronger version of it. When reduction occurs, put in the Chicken. If you see the chicken is not simmering, add chicken stock if you have some, else, just pour more water until it’s completely covered. Add potatoes and pearl onions (I have some bottled ones from France) then add the can of Tomato paste. Boil it again until the liquid reduces.

In a separate pot, blanch vegetables like carrots, brocolli, cauliflower. In a separate pan, put about half a stick of butter and melt it. Put fresh garlic, brown it a little then put in the veggies. Stir fry the vegetables and then place it on one side of the plate. Go back to your other pan and taste the sauce, adjust with salt and pepper if you see the need to do so. Arrange the chicken on the other side of the plate and season well (freshly cracked pepper will do wonders!) then pour the wine reduction on top of the chicken. This is your Coq Au Vin! Serve and enjoy!

For those who would have more Casillero del Diablo Sauvignon Blanc, Chef Sharwin Tee has his Spicy Mussel and Clam Binakol. Saute ginger, lemon grass in a pot with Olive Oil then add in Gochujang (chili paste). After a minute add in the mussels and clams plus a cup of Casillero del Diablo Sauvignon Blanc. Cover the pot until it cooks, it usually takes 2 minutes. Add enough coconut water and young coconut meat, when it boils turn off the heat. Garnish with basil and serve.

Red or White you’ll have to make sure your wine is good for drinking or cooking. Casillero del Diablo proves our point, it’s one of the wines distributed by http://www.flyacecorp.com so if you need some, you know where to go.

Cheers!

KUMAGCOW

Fresh Blogs Fast!

Sandara Park for Penshoppe

When news about her arrival in the Philippines was out a few days ago, I was excited to cover because I find Sandara a little quirky than the usual international performer. She might be already in +2NE1 but she never get to be an entitled artist and only answered in Filipino when she was asked during the press conference for Penshoppe. I find her humility attractive, let alone her fashion statement since she's been wearing this brand since high school. She felt that it was serendipity even if she could only afford a few shirts back then and she was so happy that she got to work with the actual brand now.

During the press conference, she wasn't really asked by the press. They kinda filtered the questions and the only ones asked were about her experience going back to the Philippines and not much about parts of her collection. She mentioned though that she's very much a shirt and jeans kind of girl so if it's just a simple day she'd really wear Penshoppe as it is comfy.

She's very funny, in a witty but subtle kind of way. I wanted to ask her about her summer essentials but didn't get picked for the questions, I didn't feel bad though. I must have asked a hard one on paper so they didn't choose mine.

Jeff Bascon, the Brand Director for Penshoppe welcomed the 2NE1 star. He's happy that she's now a part of the brand where he says she's a perfect fit. I completely agree. I didn't get to see the fashion show in Trinoma though, because they wanted us to sit a few rows in the back. I didn't plan to shoot heads of people I don't know as with any other fashion show I've been to (I call that a caste system, which has been phased out in New York Fashion Week ages ago) and the stage wasn't even raised so how can I shoot from there. That's a no-no for me. So I felt bad, really really bad and left before they even started. Anyway, I got decent shots of Sandara during the press conference, so I think this will be sufficient. She wore a white denim number and a shirt inside, looked cute.

 

Here's part of Sandara's interview where she was asked questions by VJ Chino Lui Pio. Enjoy!

She's happy. Penshoppe is international. I'll probably get over not having to shoot the fashion show, so sorry for not showing you any of the clothes featured there. Maybe if I visit their store I'll have them on Instagram, so again my apologies for not having the freaking runway show covered. 

Thanks Penshoppe!

For more information about their brand:

PENSHOPPE

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http://www.penshoppe.com/

New Flavor Magnum White Almond Launched

Looks like we're in for an indulgent day. 

Filipinos have been so crazy about Magnum since day 1 and it's going to get more crazy as a new flavor lands on Philippine shores. Yes, ladies and gentlemen, welcome the NEW Magnum White Chocolate Almond.

This is the first white Belgian chocolate ice cream creation and it'll be the grandest white celebration and take over happening in malls around the metro. They already had one earlier with top celebrities and influencers during a White Party last September 30. 

This October 4, 2015 Magnum will be taking over SM Megamall, SM North EDSA, SM Mall of Asia, SM Aura, Glorietta 1, Trinoma, Robinsons Magnolia, Robinsons Galleria, Eastwood Mall, Ayala Fairview Terraces, Alabang Town Center, and UP Town Center. The ultimate dream Magnum White Almond will come out together with several celebrities, world class DJ's so you can party out while having your favorite Magnum White Chocolate Almond with rich vanilla ice cream covered in thick cracking white Belgian chocolate and almond slivers.

This is also going to be available in leading supermarkets and stores nationwide on October 5, 2015. So make sure you rush out and hoard it to become the first to have Magnum White Chocolate Almond in your homes. Share it with your friends and family too! It's time to #CelebrateWhite so head on to www.Magnum.com.ph for more information or follow them no Twitter at @Magnum_ph for more details.

For more information about their ice cream:

Magnum Manila

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http://www.magnum.com.ph

Glutamax and Posh Nails Partnership

It looked like a grand party in The Roxy, a quaint dance studio in Tomas Morato, Quezon City. The Philippines number one premium whitening brand Glutamax and Posh Nails has held a White Zumba Party to celebrate their brand's partnership. From now on, Glutamax products will be seen quite frequently in Posh Nails branches and they on the other hand will be dishing out Whitening Manicure+Pedicure Services that's Powered by Glutamax. Isn't that awesome? They promise to make your nails stain free, lighter, smoother and more youthful. Jusy ask their pretty endorsers Stephanie Sol from GMA and Alice Dixon of whom we saw that afternoon.

Glutamax still carries the best underarm and inner thigh cream, light and firm facial wash, instant white lotion (oh yes they have that!), light and tight feminine wash (for the ladies), reduced glutathione capsule, lightening soap, lightening lotion, deodorant and antiperspirant lightening cream and you can buy them all in leading supermarkets nationwide.

In the event, they also awarded the best outfit and best zumba participant. No less than the gorgeous Alice Dixon awarded the participants. They really enjoyed the activity that afternoon. 

Healthwell Nutraceuticals Inc. is an affiliate of YSA skin care corporation. It is founded by its Chairman Robert Nazal and their President Jose Paulo Legaspi. 

For more information about their services:

GlutaMAX

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http://www.myglutamax.com/

I'm Having A "Nice Day Coffee"!

Imagine waking up to something new... something more than your ordinary coffee for breakfast. This is a Nice Day and we're keeping it that way by having Nice Day Coffee. These are options you would really love because unlike your ordinary ones, Nice Day Coffee has a ton of things added to your coffee, plus... it doesn't even sacrifice flavor. They won't put 100% Premium Quality Coffee on the front anyway if that ain't true! I went ahead and tasted each one to find out how special this is. I'm telling you, this has got to be the best part of it! Ha!

One of the nicest things I've ever gotten in shops in Malaysia and Singapore was White Coffee. Nice Day Coffee amped up this one by putting in Glutathione, Collagen and Sucralose. Now how can you even have coffee that would be able to whiten and make your skin glow in one putting.That's just amazing!

Nice Day Coffee Slim on the other hand has CLA Fat Burners, L-Carnitine, Fiber and Sucralose that promotes normal digestion, cleans that out and gets you to even lose weight. It's low calorie too so you don't have the guilt of having coffee and all that not so good things that come with it.

Nice Day Coffee Cleanse has Ganoderma, Grape Seed, Cranberry, Sylimarin, Spirulina, Goki Berry and Coco Sugar. If that mouthful ingredients used in most Eastern medicine don't convince you that this is one great concoction, I don't know what will. All the good things for skin, for digestion, for what some say keeps cancer at bay... it just makes you feel good and be good all throughout the day!

Just ask Ellen Adarna!

Now if you've got this for breakfast, how can you not say it's a Nice Day?! Go to your favorite groceries and shops and take a load of Nice Day Coffee variants that would fit your lifestyle. I know I'm buying more of the Slim 6in1 Coffee mix! What's yours?! :) What's your idea of a nice day?

For more information about their products:

Nice Day Coffee

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http://www.nicedaycoffee.com

Valor: High Quality Spanish Chocolates Now In The Philippines

Valor Dark Chocolate Mousse with Truffle, Valor Milk Chocolate Chocolat Au Lait, and Sugar Free Neopolitans with Stevia

It looks like we're in for a very sweet year as the number 1 chocolate brand from Spain just landed Philippine shores. Valor, a brand coined by its founder Valeriano Lopez Lloret, had his family of master chocolatiers to passionately create the best chocolate products since 1881. It continued to thrive until it's fifth generation today; and now they're gearing up for introducing it to the world by releasing it internationally and still having the same quality as it comes out fresh from bean to bar as guided by the same principles of the Lloret family business.

Valor's chocolatiers import their cacao beans from only three places. It comes from Ghana (Forastero), Ecuador (Guayaquil) and Panama (Trinitario) all of which are world class sources of this fine product. Valor’s central factory is in Villajoyosa Spain, and this is where every bean goes through a process making it the highest quality possible. It's also made of all natural raw materials and used with even natural sweeteners in order to produce the world's finest chocolates. They also released the latest in their line of products, they now Sugar Free choices! They use the plant called Stevia which comes from South America. It is said to be 15 times sweeter than ordinary sugar but its got zero glycemic index, nothing that other sugar free artificial sweeteners can do in this time and age. It's the right time everybody enjoys these guilt free choices, all of which can be bought in leading supermarkets and stores nationwide!

Oh and before I forget, if you haven't found the perfect hazelnut choco spread yet, Valor has 130 years of experience to concoct the best one I've tasted so far. Plus, it's got NO Sugar Added making it au naturelle and so good in each bite. I am just stopping myself from finishing this whole jar because I want to have more in the next few days. I am not joking.... you should go ahead and find this on the counters and treat your family to something really good. It's even good on bananas which I put inside sandwiches at home.

It's so good and I'm going to enjoy the chocolate bars for dessert, hey don't stop me! It's guilt and sugar free remember?! :)

For more information about their products:

Valor Chocolates Philippines

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Visit their official website

http://www.valorchocolates.ph