SINGAPORE'S OWL COFFEE CREATES A STIR IN PHL

I have to admit I'm an addict! To coffee that is. I cannot resist its aroma wherever I go. Coffee is part of my life. Whether in a meeting, chillaxing at home, working on my desk or just watching TV, you will mostly see me with a hot cup of joe. Heck I even do it while dumping! But I'm more fond of coffee in a sachet because of its convenience. And it's easier to prepare than brewed.

Just recently, I got an Owl Coffee complimentary pack from a business partner who flew in from Singapore. He said he normally brings this as pasalubong (Filipino term for homecoming treat) for family and friends. The kind that I got was Nanyang White Coffee that comes with creamer and sugar just like the photo below borrowed from Kumagcow.com.

I was immediately hooked. I used to buy loads of 3 in 1 white coffee from a local brand but now this is my guy.

As I'm composing this blog entry, I'm sipping on one :-)

OWL STORY

Owl Coffee if you search on the net is a known coffee brand from Singapore. It also has strong presence in the underlying regions of Southeast Asia such as Malaysia and Indonesia.

I was surprised they've a lot of variants. They even have ginger tea which to us Filipinos is good old Salabat. This is good news since Filipinos like to try new flavors and things.

Here are the different variants as culled from their online press release:

"OWL Coffee comes in several variants such as Everyday Favorites 3-in-1 Strong, and 3-in-1 Regular Low Fat for diet conscious individuals.  They also have the Kopitiam Roast selection deriving its distinct taste from Singapore’s coffee shop culture that includes Kopi Siew Dai with Less Sugar, and Kopi-C which features evaporated milk as its creamer giving it a creamy smooth taste.  Next in line is the Nanyang White Coffee line.  Known for its strong, robust flavor without the bitter aftertaste, OWL’s White Coffee Gula Melaka is sweetened with coconut sugar for a unique aromatic blend.  For those who are not too fond of coffee, OWL has its Teh Tarik (Milk Tea) and Ginger Tea w/ Honey which are both great for a soothing morning and afternoon beverage."

Some of the popular variants of Owl.
(Borrowed from LivingMarjorney.com)

I also saw in their Philippine Facebook page that they're launching a mascot called Boy Owl. Oh boy, he has lots of cute photos doing human things such as exercising, working on a laptop, drinking coffee etc. I think he'll be a hit with the girls and kids.

Here's a glimpse of Boy Owl in Action.

I think the mascot symbolizes the brand's advocacy for living a full and balanced life.

Check out more of their latest media release below for more info. You can also like their official Facebook page here Owl Philippines and get updates on products and promos.

They are also running a contest in this blog The Peach Kitchen. 

CATCH THE OWL!

One of Singapore’s most well-loved brands, OWL Coffee & Tea, has something up its feathery sleeves. The OWL brand, known in Southeast Asia for its assorted gourmet coffee and tea concoctions in a pack, introduces its cute, cuddly and responsible mascot simply named Boy Owl.  He exudes the inherent brand values of OWL such as  living a full life as well as being an advocate of a balanced lifestyle.“By drinking OWL Coffee to keep him on the go, Boy Owl engages in a lot of everyday  activities.  With a mantra of work hard-play hard, it’s no surprise that on any given day you can catch him working in the office, traveling to new places, playing sports, doing exercises, or just simply helping people in need.  He embodies the best of what we can be.& says Daniel Lin, OWL Export Manager for Southeast Asia.

So if you see this large feathered friend around, get your smart-phones or digital cameras ready and be sure to practice that perfect smile before clicking those selfies.  He’s gonna be in the malls, in parks, in schools, and on the street.

As a bird, it’s easy to get around with those wings.  Keep your eyes on the lookout.  Who knows, you might also get the chance to get OWL Coffee samples from this generous bird if the timing is right.  Check out more photos of Boy Owl in OWL Coffee Philippine’s official Facebook fan page by simply liking (https://www.facebook.com/OwlCoffeePhilippines) and keep up to date with what’s happening in the world of OWL.  There’s the usual information and tidbits on the various flavors of OWL Coffee & Tea as well as regular giveaways - so don’t forget to take a peek from time to time.

OWL is proud of its famous, traditional brewing methods since 1956.  Its blends owe their unique flavor and aroma to the world-renowned coffee growing regions along the straits of Malacca, the prevalent coffee culture in Singapore, as time-tested recipes crafted for your enjoyment.

The brand was recently launched in the Philippines through a press-conference made  more interesting with a coffee talk and various, fun games.

OWL Coffee comes in several variants such as Everyday Favorites 3-in-1 Strong, and 3-in-1 Regular Low Fat for diet conscious individuals.  They also have the Kopitiam Roast selection deriving its distinct taste from Singapore’s coffee shop culture that includes Kopi Siew Dai with Less Sugar, and Kopi-C which features evaporated milk as its creamer giving it a creamy smooth taste.  Next in line is the Nanyang White Coffee line.  Known for its strong, robust flavor without the bitter aftertaste, OWL’s White Coffee Gula Melaka is sweetened with coconut sugar for a unique aromatic blend.  For those who are not too fond of coffee, OWL has its Teh Tarik (Milk Tea) and Ginger Tea w/ Honey which are both great for a soothing morning and afternoon beverage.

OWL is available in all leading supermarkets and groceries nationwide.  The &Owl Made Me Do It& just wrapped up its 1^st wave of 13 buildings in the metro’s various business districts.Keep an eye out as the 2^nd wave starts soon probably in a venue near you.  The campaign sets up sampling booths and information kiosks in major business hubs, BPO centers, corporate  buildings and food parks where classy baristas serve free OWL Coffee & Tea blends.

By Paolo Angelo Florenda

TRANSFORMERS AGE OF EXTINCTION: A PRIMER

Optimus Prime rides Dinobot leader Grimmlock

Optimus Prime, the charismatic leader
of the Autobots

The Metal Mayhem has begun! I know everybody's eager to watch the latest spectacle of Michael Bay that opened today. But before doing so, let me give you a primer on what to expect from this steel and shrapnel theatrics.

1. Director Michael Bay, unintentionally or otherwise, showcased the economic might of the World's second superpower China through the colossal battle in Guangdong. The film subliminally highlighted China's most progressive province, home to most of the World's valuable brands. As a backdrop and through sweeping imagery, Guangdong's towering buildings and huge production facilities figured prominently, demonstrating the highly touted Chinese economic invasion. I saw glimpses of corporate structures of Philips and Samsung during the massive fight sequences. Fortunately, they weren't destroyed 😉

2. The movie kinda harks back to its earlier permutations. Early in the film and similar to the first installment, sweeping camera angles and country and 80's music fittingly accompanied the relationship narrative of new recruits Mark Wahlberg and Nicola Peltz who played his daughter.

Superstar Mark Wahlberg topbills the latest
Transformers film

3. I was silently and fervently hoping for a romantic sub-plot similar to the first film, which I think was one of the biggest selling points of the franchise, but sadly there is non. The initial awkwardness and clumsiness of Sam Witwicky (Shia LaBeouf) in courting bombshell Mikaela Banes (Megan Fox) was a hit. I think because average people can definitely relate to his character. It even made Fox a poster girl for hotness for a few years. It also made 80's New Wave music hot again.

4. I'm quite disappointed with the Dinobots' bland introduction and limited roles. They were relegated to beasts of burden by Optimus Prime. To make matters worse, they don't speak but growl. This is farthest from the original 80's classic cartoons where the Dinobots have different, funny and interesting personalities albeit short in IQ, which a dinosaur should be, given their pea-sized brains. Their one liners were the comedic highlights in that series. In fact, the presence of the Dinobots in the show got the highest ratings and was highly anticipated.

Meet the new and menacing Dinobots!

5. The screeching metal noises that were very prominent and irritating in the second and third installments were toned down a bit here. Now it was a pleasure to watch the transforming and battle scenes. The shrill noises made by clashing and rubbing metals were turned into ambient (background) sound.

6. Despite some of its few misses and its  exaggerated storytelling, I must say the actions scenes and compelling imagery and CGI were the best in the series.

So go ahead and watch it! Immerse yourself in the pure pleasure of a true cinematic experience. After all, this is the essence of watching a movie.

By Paolo Angelo Florenda

Want Whiter Teeth? Do this very simple trick!

Everybody wants whiter and clean teeth. Who doesn't? Maybe the unhygienic few. I know you can relate to this scenario: Walking towards you is a hot and attractive woman, you were spellbound until she smiled, with a hepatitic teeth (yellowish darn it)! It has been proven that having clean and attractive teeth can increase one's charm level tenfold. Believe me. Just ask any chick!

Anyways, I will veer away temporarily from my usual blog topics and instead give my huge contribution to mankind: My own Lifehacks...

This very easy trick is guaranteed to make your teeth whiter, cleaner and attractive, not to mention healthier. And of course, you can save on toothpaste costs.

Ready? Here goes....

When applying toothpaste, make sure to squeeze it as deep as you can in your toothbrush. See my own illustration below (pardon for the low quality photo).

The secret here is that the deeper the toothpaste, the more you utilize its cleaning power because the brush holds it better. This is in contrast to just applying a pea-sized paste on top of the brush which is a common practice. Most of it is just wasted when you brush. Even the dental industry promotes this pea-sized practice, just look at the instruction section of your toothpaste tube.

Makes sense right? If in doubt, I got this idea from one of the most reputable and popular toothpaste brands when I was shopping for a new one. {source}

Of course combine this with your usual at-least-twice-a-day brushing regimen and avoidance of highly colored drinks such as coffee, tea, chocolate etc. and you're on your way as the next Close-Up model!

Happy brushing!

By Paolo Angelo Florenda