Hundreds of thousands of Filipinos join McDonald’s 4th National Breakfast Day

March 14 was definitely McDonald’s best Monday ever! For the fourth year in a row, McDonald's National Breakfast Day delighted Filipinos across the country with free McMuffin sandwiches.

With over 400 stores nationwide who took part in the event, hundreds of thousands of Filipinos enjoyed a free and delicious McMuffin to start to their day.

From 6:00AM to 7:00AM, families, groups of friends, and individuals woke up extra early and flocked to participating McDonald's stores for their free breakfast treat via dine-in, take-out, and drive-thru. 

McDonald's Philippines President and Chief Executive Officer Kenneth S. Yang took the lead in welcoming Filipinos to the much-awaited morning event. McDonald's Chief Happiness Officer Ronald McDonald was also present, along with McDonald’s endorsers and National Breakfast Day ambassadors. The brand’s most recent endorsers Alden Richards and Maine Mendoza, popularly known as "AlDub", gave McMuffin sandwiches to customers in McDonald’s Bluebay Walk, Pasay. Other celebrities who were present in different stores around the metro included Xian Lim, Enrique Gil, Janine Gutierrez, Bianca Umali, Miguel Tanfelix, Alwyn Uytingco, Vin Abrenica, and Shaira Mae Dela Cruz. 

"We celebrated our first National Breakfast Day in 2013 to share the goodness of a McDonald's breakfast to more Filipinos," said Yang.

The National Breakfast Day experience goes beyond March 14 through a “breakfast surprise.” Participating McDonald’s stores nationwide further spread the morning cheer by giving 100 free McMuffin sandwiches to groups or organizations who are unable to enjoy a good breakfast because of their early or different work schedules. Examples of these are security guards, hospital staff, and public school teachers.

Watch McDonald’s beautiful surprise here.

“We are happy to continually delight our customers with a beautiful breakfast experience for the fourth time in a row—it’s McDonald’s best Monday ever,” said Yang. “We hope to see everyone every day at McDonald’s to enjoy our delicious and affordable breakfast offers,” he added.

Keep on sharing about your beautiful morning on McDonald’s Facebook page, facebook.com/McDo.ph, or tag @McDo_PH on Twitter or Instagram with the hashtag #NationalBreakfastDay.

Staycation at Club Balai Resort in Talisay

Yes! After several years I was back to full-time work.  My little boy is now in grade school, he has become independent (yep! I trained him to be one).  It was my desire to keep my mind up and going again, amidst work stress and braving the metro traffic.

And so after quite sometime, I think I need some relaxation.  So today, me and my little boy Ivan headed further south for our weekend staycation at Club Balai Isabel in Talisay, Batangas.

Club Balai Isabel is located right on the shore of Taal lake, overlooking the world famous Taal volcano of course, and its less than an hour land travel from Calamba City via the South Superhighway extension.  Coming from Metro Manila, including the usual traffic, maybe add another one hour and half travel time.

It used to be a private subdivision but over the years, it was developed and expanded into a resort community.  So now it has become one of the favorite tourist destinations in the south, more so, within the Taal Lake area.  The resort now offers amenities and facilities to suit corporate events, family holidays or any special occasions, and its just perfect for our mother-and-son staycation.

It was my little boy’s first time here and he was really excited with the inviting atmosphere running back and forth along the lake shore feeling the cool breeze of the wind at mid-morning. But you know, when I myself got here for the very first time some years back, what I did look for? Where did the videographer hang the wedding gown of that famous celebrity actress when she was wed here.

Before heading to our room, we had a quick breakfast, afterwhich we explore the different facilities of the resort. Oh by the way, I have some friends who are also here so we had time to bond with them as well.

Our accomodation is a 5-bedroom villa that’s good for 10 or more persons.  It has 2 toilet and bath, a mini-kitchen with fridge, dining and living room area and a balcony overlooking the lake.  There’s also a flat screen TV with cabled programs, cabinet, dresser, and a writing table.  Accordingly, we can have the option to cook, but we just forget about it.  Instead, we indulge ourselves with the resort’s food buffet and those other delicious and tempting items on their menu.

After the late lunch, we headed to the lake area where we tried their water sports activities.  Yes, one of the reasons we’re here.  Need not go to Boracay to enjoy jet-skiing, kayaking or the banana-boat ride. Accordingly, they will soon open for para-sailing  and the flying.  Ha! Ha! I am not familiar how its being done but it seems exciting as well.

Ivan was sad because he too small and young to try these activities nor was he allowed to board the speed boat.  But anyway, isn’t he cute in his pink floral life vest.

During the night, we were able to watch some fireworks display at a wedding event happening here at the same time.  Also spent some time chatting and catching up with one another while listening to their acoustic singer Ms. Cath Manansala, calls herself a one-man band. She’s really good doing all those yesteryears songs like the hits of “The Carpenters”. It was almost midnight when we retire to our room for the much-needed rest after a long enjoyable day.

Next day, we attended the Sunday mass at the Spousal of Mary and Joseph Chapel inside the resort.  Then we took time to enjoy the swimming facilities, Club Balai Isabel has three swimming pool areas. At the Kumintang Pool, you need not bring towel, its provided. Just leave it there after use. Ivan rented a bike to explore more the area, which is so tiresome because I need to follow him around (ha!ha! why didn’t I rent my own bike?).

Its time to go after a hearty buffet lunch.

It was a short stay and we wish we had more time.  But anyway, my little boy liked the idea of going back here some other time.  Maybe next time we can tag along his cousins if they are not so busy at all.

For me it was a relaxed weekend.  I had time to unwind, think not much of my duties at the office.  Yes! Hopefully we’ll come back.

So if you’re planning some staycation, relax moments, Club Balai Isabel is it.  Check out their website at http://www.balaiisabel.com. They are also on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

More photos here.

Michelin Innovation: Driving the search for new technologies on Road Safety and Better Mobility in Shell Eco-Marathon Asia 2016

Michelin has joined hands again with Shell for the third staging of the Shell Eco Marathon Asia (SEMA), now on its third and last year in the Philippines from March 3 to 6, 2016.

This year, MICHELIN focuses on Innovation as the driving force that ensures road safety and better mobility on race tracks and ordinary road conditions. In 2014, the key word for MICHELIN at the Shell Eco-Marathon was Michelin Total Performance, underscoring the need for tires to deliver multiple performances, to be safe, energy-efficient and long-lasting.

This year, with Innovation as the key word, participating student teams are looking for new approaches to create safe and energy-efficient vehicles that promote sustainable solutions.

The Shell Eco-Marathon is an international competition that challenges student teams from various parts of the world to create economical, environment-friendly and dependable prototype vehicles. MICHELIN continues to be the Official Global Partner and Tire Supplier of the SEMA in 2016andwillprovidetechnical assistance and support to the participating teams throughout the competition.

“Innovation is Michelin’s key strategy and driving factor for the search of new technologies, leading to ideas, products, or methods that improve road safety and mobility for all motorists, passengers and pedestrians. Michelin’s alliance with Shell furthers this search by seeking out the ideas of students in the Shell Eco-Marathon.", said Damien Hallez-Gozzard, Michelin Group Technical Communication Director.

"Shell and Michelin have partnered anew in the Shell Eco Marathon Asia because we share the same values to put innovation at the heart of developing better mobility. Michelin wants to demonstrate our innovation in sustainable mobility by providing ultimate energy efficient tires to students. We also want to share our technological expertise by giving advice about car suspension," said Michael Nunag, Chief Representative of Michelin Philippines.

The 2015 SEMA drew a record number of 127 participating student teams from 20 countries in Southeast Asia and the Middle East. Teams from Philippine schools also broke records for fuel and energy efficiency. Winners of the different Shell Eco-Marathon this year in Asia, Europe and the Americas may join the first world championship series in London.

The public is invited to visit the Michelin Safety City at the Fanzone on the SEMA grounds on March 4, 5 and 6. On display at the Michelin booth are its Michelin Innovation tires like the Michelin Primacy SUV Tire which was launched in the Philippines in February 2016. The Primacy SUV tire has 2.2. meters shorter braking distance on wet roads, 6% improved grip in wet cornering and 1.9 meters shorter braking in dry conditions.

All visitors are encouraged to join the Michelin #SaferMobility Facebook photo contest by sending pictures that depict how road safety rules are followed by Pinoy motorists. Visit the Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/sem16michelin to check the contest mechanics and know more about Michelin’s quest for safer and better mobility. All participants will receive tokens from the Michelin Fanzone booth, and winning entries will receive a grand prize at the Shell Eco-Marathon.