Food and Fun at CulinarySchools.Org!

After the crazy week that was (aka exam week), Yue and I finally get to enjoy some free time as his school finally declared this week to be "Academic Ease" week - no synchronous classes in the morning, and no offline activities or school projects. That means not having to set my alarm at 6 in the morning, plus plenty of time for me to catch up on my writing backlog and watch my favorite Korean variety shows and Kdramas.

For Yue, this will be a week of no studying and just pure gaming fun, haha! With a new gaming console and an upgraded computer processor, this kid is bound to enjoy his "Academic Ease" week to the fullest. He's even discovered a new website with a huge collection of online games, and that's what keeping him busy right now.

Culinaryschools.org.

We chanced upon Culinaryschools.org while searching for a temperature and weight conversion chart for his Science class, and as it turns out, this website offers more than just conversion charts and health calculators. Culinaryschools.org is also a comprehensive source of information of all things related to culinary arts - from the types of chefs, to different degrees and majors, to schools where you can get top-class culinary training... this website has it all!

For the kids, Culinaryschools.org has an extensive collection of online games related to food and cooking, because well, we gotta start 'em young! I'm sure even adults will find (some of) the games fun and entertaining, because I did! Here are some of the games that both Yue and I enjoyed:

Tap Supermarket.

Tap Supermarket is an isometric game where the player manages a grocery store by manning the till and checking out customers, restocking products, and expanding the line of goods sold. You can unlock new sections of the supermarket as you earn more money and get more stars.

Sushi Matching.

Sushi Matching, as the name suggests, is a matching game where you connect three or more of the same type of sushi in a row. There are 25 levels in this game, and for each level, there are specific sushi matches that you need to make within a time limit. The faster you finish, the more likely you'll earn three stars for that level.

Victor and Valentino Mission to Monte Cabre.

There's also Victor and Valentino Mission to Monte Cabre (yes, the same Victor and Valentino from the Cartoon Network series), where you explore and complete missions in Monte Cabre and the Underworld. You go through obstacle courses, answer quiz questions, smash pinatas, and try to find as many hidden talismans as you go along.

We Bare Bears Shush Ninjas.

Another Cartoon Network game that we truly enjoyed is the We Bare Bears Shush Ninjas, because yeah, I'm a sucker for anything We Bare Bears. Inspired by the Shush Ninjas episode from the first season of this well-loved animated series, you simply tap on the loud eaters and drinkers, and those using or talking on their phones to shush them and keep them from making too much noise inside the cinema. 

3D Dalgona Candy.

Finally, there's the 3D Dalgona Candy, a punch-out game inspired by no less than the critically-acclaimed Netflix series, Squid Game. The rule of the game might seem like a no-brainer as you simply have to cut out the carved symbols in the candy, but playing the game was actually quite challenging. It took me five tries before I could finish the first level, and that was a simple square! Thank goodness this game is not as violent as the series, haha!

Younger kids will have even more fun with Culinaryschools.org as the website has more games that are suitable for preschoolers and grade schoolers. These games are not only entertaining, they also help kids learn more about food, healthy eating, the importance of exercise, and even numbers and counting. It's a great way to spend "Academic Ease" week, don't you think? 

Building a Home Gym? Here are 3 Must-Have Pieces of Equipment.

With new strains of COVID-19 affecting various parts of the world, people are beginning to become wary of entering public spaces again. One area where many people may be unsure of going to is the gym, with many opting to work out from home. However, in order to properly work out at home, you’re going to need the right equipment.

Park Seo Joon for Jill Stuart.

While you don’t need everything your public gym provides for a workout, it is still highly beneficial to create a mini home gym. So if you’re trying to create your own workout space, what is the best equipment to start with?

Here are three must-have pieces of home gym equipment.

Jungkook's workout routine includes dumbbell curls.

Dumbbells

One of the best pieces of home gym equipment to own is a variety of dumbbells. To start your home gym, you should have a variety of dumbbell weights, allowing you to do several different exercises. You should have several light dumbbells for accessory work, as well as several heavy dumbbells for exercises such as dumbbell curls and dumbbell chest presses.

Dumbbells are extremely versatile and can be used whether you're working out your upper body, lower body, or core. The versatility of dumbbells makes them a must-have, allowing you to use them for just about everything, rather than a machine that can be used for only one type of workout.

Dumbbells do cost a lot, especially if you are purchasing several sets in different weights. However, they are well worth it and you can essentially build an entire workout regime just out of dumbbells.

Kang Ha Neul in Midnight Runners (2017).

Resistance Bands

Just like dumbbells, resistance bands are an extremely versatile piece of equipment that can be used in a variety of exercises. Resistance bands add tension during an exercise making it more difficult to complete and engaging more muscles.

You can use resistance bands while squatting to engage more leg muscles, or you can slowly pull them apart to engage your upper body. Resistance bands are important to engage muscles that aren’t used as much, giving you a more well-rounded workout.

When you pair resistance bands with other equipment you can specifically target muscle groups, allowing you to properly train your body just like you would be able to at a public gym.

Park Seo Joon in Fight for My Way (2017).

Punching Bag

At first glance, a punching bag may be a unique inclusion to the list of must-have home gym equipment. However, a punching bag is a great way to get both cardio and muscle training into your workout.

Using a punching bag is a great way to train your body and keep it in shape. If you have something like a smart punching bag, you can even track your progress and monitor your workouts. Just like how a smartwatch tracks steps, a smart punching bag will track your punches, allowing you to set and reach goals.

If you’re looking for a unique and effective addition to your home gym, a punching bag can be a great way to add a new twist to your workout.

How To Set Up A Publishing Company.

If you are a bibliophile, and you want to help writers achieve their publishing dreams, you should set up a publishing business of your very own.

By setting up a publishing company, you could give would-be authors a chance to publish their books. However, if you are going to set up a publishing company, you should have a set plan.

Remember that it is no easy feat to set up a publishing company out of the blue. Here are some great tips for setting up your very own publishing company.

Teaser from Romance is a Bonus Book (2019).

Choose A Set Genre

If you are going to set up a publishing company, you should make sure that you choose a genre. Remember, you will be publishing the books of various people. However, if you publish in a myriad of genres, you might stretch yourself too thin in the long run.

The best way to prevent this from happening is to choose a specific genre that you could work with. This depends on your preference, and which genres are the most popular. By choosing a specific genre, you will be able to set up a more focused and efficient publishing company.

Manage Your Budget Efficiently

A key aspect of running any type of business is budgeting. If you go into the business without any knowledge on how to budget your funds, you might go bankrupt in no time.

First things first, you should make sure that you have enough money to set up a publishing business. Remember that setting up a publishing business requires a lot of funding. You will need to fund the whole printing process, hire an agent for your clients, and in some cases, buy the rights to the book you will be publishing.

Wi Ha Joon and Lee Na Young in Romance is a Bonus Book (2019).

Hire The Best Employees

If you want your business to thrive, you should know that your choice of employees is a big factor. Remember that book publishing is a multifaceted affair.

You are not only expected to publish a book. You are also expected to have it edited, printed, and marketed. These are only a minimum of what your authors will expect of your company.

As a rule, you should strive to hire only the best. Seeing as you are starting out, you don't need a large roster of employees. You just need a skilled roster to help support you and get your publishing business up and running.

Choose What Type Of Publishing You Will Offer

When you start a publishing company, you should make sure that you know what type of publishing you will be offering. There are two types of publishing that you could choose from. There is traditional publishing, and there is self-publishing.

The two are very prominent types of publishing, and a lot of writers tend to choose between the two. Here is a short but detailed analysis of the two types.

• Traditional Publishing

This type of publishing is by far the oldest type of publishing, and is used by a majority of writers. This type of publishing system has been in use for many years. If you are going to run a traditional publishing company, you should expect to pay for the whole publishing process. You also have the option to buy the rights for the book from the author.

Choi Woo Shik in Our Beloved Summer (2022).

• Self-publishing

This is a relatively new type of publishing, and while nowhere near as mainstream as traditional publishing, it is in fact very popular, and many writers are working with self-publishing companies.

The main characteristic of a self-publishing house is that it caters to authors who don’t want to adhere to the rules of traditional publishers. If you are going to be a self-publishing house, you won’t have to pay for the overall publishing process. Instead, your clients will pay you to assist them with the publishing process. The only setback is that you won’t have ownership of the rights of the book you are publishing.

Invest In Publishing Equipment

Once you have chosen what type of publishing you are going to invest in, you should make sure that you have the right equipment to publish books at a rapid rate. As a rule you should make sure that you have a printing press on hand. You should also invest in robotic automation to help with the book binding process.

If you are printing physical books, you should also make sure that they are packaged and moved efficiently. One of the best ways to prevent people from tampering with your book, is to invest in tamper evident packaging from Shosky. The company creates some of the best security tapes in the business, and could ensure that your packaged books are as protected as possible.

Set Up An Efficient Website

Having a website for your company is an important factor to getting clients. Remember that there are already a myriad of established publishing companies out there. This means that you will need to make your website as easy to spot as possible. Your website should also be as attractive as possible. If your website design is subpar, you will surely have trouble getting your potential clients interested in working with your company. You could also use some memorable quotes on your website. This will make your website more fun and engaging.

Lee Jong Suk in Romance is a Bonus Book (2019).

Reach Out To Various Book Retailers

If you are going to set up a publishing company, you should make sure that you have as many connections to book retailers as possible. Remember that you will need to sell your client author’s books as effectively as possible. By making connections with various book retailers, you will be able to enhance your chances of selling your published books.

Conclusion

If you are going to set up a publishing company of your very own, you should have a strategy to follow. Remember that running a publishing company is a great challenge. With these tips, you could set up a great publishing company.

Visa and Tanghalang Pilipino Bring “Lukot-Lukot Bilog-Bilog” Web Series to Tele-Radio.

Visa, the world leader in digital payments and its partner, Tanghalang Pilipino, the multi-awarded resident theater company of the Cultural Center of the Philippines, is bringing their financial literacy web series “Lukot-Lukot, Bilog-Bilog Pa More” to tele-radio this January.

Following a successful online launch, Tanghalang Pilipino in agreement with the Manila Broadcasting Company (MBC), will see the web series featured in “TARA, PEEPS!” a multimedia children’s program and broadcasted in DZRH Radio and cable channels nationwide. The show teaches Filipinos the importance of becoming better in managing their finances. It made its tele-radio debut on January 2, 2022 and will be aired every Sunday in January at 3:30PM.

“We are excited to explore new ways to reach more Filipinos, especially the youth, and help them become financially literate. This partnership between Tanghalang Pilipino and MBC to broadcast Lukot-Lukot, Bilog-Bilog Pa More on tele-radio is a welcome addition to our growing channels in promoting financial literacy through online and social media,” said Dan Wolbert, Visa Country Manager for the Philippines and Guam.

The five-episode online adaptation of the interactive musical launched in 2017 is written by Eljay Castro Deldoc and directed by Avic Ilagan. It features teenager Gwyneth and her journey to learn the values of proper financial management with the help of her family and friends, and some Filipino heroes brought to life. An interactive session after each episode’s airing with financial experts Salve Duplito and Rose Fres Fausto is also available, to share insights and easy-to-apply tips in various topics such as the value of saving, basics of credit, earning additional income, and scam awareness and prevention.

“We are one with Visa’s goal of a financially literate Filipino generation through the power of performance art. This agreement with MBC is one of our ways to contribute to this advocacy. With the power of theater matched with MBC’s nationwide coverage complementing our online presence, we will be able to reach more of our countrymen in the provinces and be an instrument to help them become wiser with their money,” shares Carmela Millado-Manuel, Tanghalang Pilipino Company Manager.

From its premiere back in 2017, Lukot-Lukot, Bilog-Bilog has reached over 50,000 students and educators all over the Philippines. At the height of the pandemic in 2020, it was made available to a wider audience through Tanghalang Pilipino’s Facebook and YouTube channels.

For more information about Visa and Lukot-Lukot, Bilog-Bilog Pa More, visit www.visa.com.ph.

Panasonic Ensures Safety of Medical Students and Future Doctors, Equips FEU-NRMF Medical Schools with nanoe™ X Technology.

Pursuant to their mission and vision as a company, Panasonic continues to advocate cleaner and fresher air for life. In recent events, the company partnered with the Far Eastern University – Nicanor Reyes Medical Foundation (FEU-NRMF) in Novaliches, Quezon City through a donation in the form of nanoe™ X-equipped Panasonic Air Purifiers as well as Panasonic Portable nanoe™ X Generators for the university’s use in its medical schools.

It has always been Panasonic’s objective to provide cleaner and quality air for the community. And in this time of need, the installation of Panasonic’s nanoe™ X technology, through the different avenues it has been able to explore, not only turned the company’s vision into a reality but has been amplifying the safety and welfare of people affected by the novel coronavirus in high-traffic areas including vaccination sites, hospitals, and schools. This initiative is in par with Panasonic’s agenda of expanding their current program this 2022 to be of assistance to students, most especially in the medical field, that will be instrumental in the future of the health care system of the Philippines.

Moreover, these groundbreaking, state-of-the-art technologies are designed and have been verified to have inhibitory effects on airborne and adhered viruses, including the novel coronavirus*. Students, teachers and staff members of FEU-NRMF can now breathe a sigh of relief, with the assurance of another layer of protection from the virus, especially now in the event that face-to-face classes are nearing its resumption.

Previous Panasonic excursions included partnerships with different local city government units to disseminate the technology they have, including donations to Mandaluyong City, Makati City, Malabon City, Taguig City, Quezon City, and the Philippine General Hospital (PGH).

Guests in attendance at FEU-NRMF’s Alfonso Hall for the short turnover ceremony held last December 10, 2021, included General Manager of Life Solutions and Panasonic Country Head, Yosuke Tanaka, Communications and Product Planning Manager of Panasonic Air Conditioning Philippines (PACPH), Francis Serrato, FEU-NRMF Chief Operating Officer, Juan Enrique Reyes, Dr. Magdalena Natividad, Dr. Nolan Pecho, and other FEU-NRMF department heads, staff, and medical students, who all showed exuberance, appreciation and interest in learning more about the aforementioned nanoe™ X technology.

Yosuke Tanaka, in a short message to students and staff present, shared, “It is a great honor for Panasonic to be sharing our technology. It is our pride and joy to make nanoe™ X technology accessible in this prestigious university and give everyone the opportunity to experience quality air for life so you can focus on your craft as future medical professionals.” A total of 16 Panasonic nanoe™ X air purifiers and 18 Panasonic Portable nanoe™ X Generators were donated. Classrooms equipped with nanoe™ X products are identifiable through Panasonic’s nanoe™ X safety seal sticker. With this contribution, the company hopes for improved protection in its classrooms in time for the resumption of face-to-face classes. Freebies such as nanoe™ X face masks, fans, and pillows, were also given to students in attendance.

Francis Serrato, Communications and Product Planning Manager of Panasonic Air Conditioning Philippines (PACPH) held a short lecture to further educate everyone in attendance on the science behind the brand’s nanoe™ X technology. “Panasonic has leveraged the power of hydroxyl radicals contained in water to purify the air around us. Proven by its effectiveness on four novel coronaviruses variants** , Alpha, Beta, Gama and Delta, the assurance of breathing in clean air when these products are around is something we, in Panasonic, are glad to share.”

During the event, some students were also asked how they feel about the installation of the nanoe™ X technology in their school premises. Katrina Pacuan, a 3rd year medical technologystudent, said, “It’s easier to breath now especially if you have this kind of technology that protects you from harmful viruses.”

A nursing student also shared his thoughts, “I’m so excited for face-to-face classes to resume because now we have nanoe™ X technology to protect us from viruses and assure us of our safety and welfare.”

 Notes:

 *: based on Texcell, a global contract research organization, verified the inhibitory effect of the nanoe™ X technology with the benefits of hydroxyl radicals on adhered novel coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) placed in a 45L box. Over 99.99% of adhered novel coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) activity was inhibited within 2 hours. Note: This verification was designed to generate basic research data on the effects of nanoe™ X on the novel coronavirus in laboratory conditions different from those found in living spaces. It was not designed to evaluate product performance.

**: based on a comparative verification of in collaboration with the Japan Textile Products Quality and Technology Center (QTEC) was conducted in a 45L test space containing the four novel coronavirus variants with and without exposure to nanoe™. Over 99% of four novel coronavirus variants activity was inhibited within 2 hours.

This verification was designed to generate basic research data on the effects of nanoe™ on the novel coronavirus in laboratory conditions different from those found in living spaces. It was not designed to evaluate product performance.