Discover Korean fine dining

There is a brand-new dining spot in Solaire Resort and Casino called Kiwa Korean Grill. The restaurant’s interiors reveal wood patterns accentuated with stones. Behind the traditional yet modern and chic look of the restaurant is a Korean design firm. Almost everything in the 184-seater restaurant tells of its origin from Korea.

Prior to its formal launch, the restaurant hosted a lunch for a special few. During the lunch, head chef Gi Won Park served us a parade of appetizers, which included familiar items such as the haemul pajeon or seafood and vegetable pancake and the japchae (Korean glass noodles). There were also new discoveries like the beef-topped chadolbaegi salad, Pumpkin salad and Baebaek Kimchi or rolled white kimchi placed inside a pear.  For the main course, the tabletop grills were switched on to cook the yangnyeom galbi (marinated beef ribs and samgyeopsal or seasoned pork belly). Of all the courses, it was the marinated beef ribs that had me asking for a second serving. The servers did the grilling for us so all we did was wait to be served.

I marveled at how the smoke dissipated quickly from the grill, leaving no trace of the smell of the food on my clothes. I found out that the owners invested in a state-of-the-art exhaust, which is housed under the restaurant so all the smoke is ventilated under the floor and the guests can still go to their next appointment without worrying about smelling like barbecue.

By its grand opening next month, Kiwa promises to have more dishes on its menu. Those who enjoy drinks can look forward to dishes that are perfect for Korea’s popular alcoholic beverage soju and other rice wines. Also lined up are special items such as lobster tail and Japanese wagyu for that truly five-star Korean dining experience. 

(Kiwa is located at Solaire Resort and Casino on Aseana Avenue, Parañaque City.)

A Filipino ‘Rising Star’

Meralco senior vice president and head of customer retail services and corporate communications Al Panlilio was named as one of only seven finalists from the energy sector worldwide in the recently concluded Platts Global Energy Awards held at Cipriani’s in New York. Panlilio was recognized in the “Rising Star Award” (individual category). The Platts Global Energy Awards rewards corporate and individual excellence in the energy industry.

Panlilio was noted for being a transformative leader who injected a new philosophy for an enhanced customer experience for Meralco customers. His most ambitious project yet was to start Meralco on its “Smart Grid” journey, which seeks to bring the benefits of innovative power solutions to Filipino consumers. This includes offering prepaid electricity service called Kuryente Load (KLoad), which enables customers to purchase electric loads for as low as P100, much like buying prepaid cell phone loads. Customers are able to save from 20 percent on average because they are able to monitor their electric consumption daily. KLoad was also recognized by Platts as finalist in the Breakthrough Solution of the Year, a first in the world for being the first prepaid electric service integrated with mobile. (Lifestyle innovations, indeed, if you ask me.)

The initiatives have led to Meralco’s achieving successive highs in its annual customer satisfaction surveys. Panlilio likewise received praises from Meralco president Oscar Reyes and chairman Manny V. Pangilinan.

Panlilio also broadened and deepened Meralco’s connection with its customers by making social media a key communication channel, using Twitter and Facebook to reach out to its customers. To highlight the company’s drive for transparency and integrity, it launched the monthly Meralco Advisory, an infomercial in TV news report format that communicates the bare facts on changes in the prices of electricity and the reasons for such changes, and also provides energy efficiency tips and other helpful information to customers. He also spearheaded the Meralco Virtual Engine (MoVE) — an app that has a directory of all Meralco business centers, provides notices on outages, and an appliance calculator that allows a customer to estimate his or her bill.

Under Panlilio’s guidance, communications reached new levels of excellence after Meralco reaped record-breaking recognition from industry award-giving bodies, such as the International Association of Business Communicators’ Quill Awards culminating in the Top Company Award in 2013, and the Anvil Awards from the Public Relations Society of the Philippines (PRSP).

Congratulations, Al Panlilio and Meralco!

Cebu car enthusiasts choose TOTAL Excellium

The Cebu car scene is one of the most exciting in the country. No wonder Bumper to Bumper, the longest-running car show and biggest automotive lifestyle event in the country, brought its activities to the Queen City of the South. Bumper to Bumper (B2B) Sinulog, which happened on Jan. 15 and 16 at the SM Seaside City, was supported by Cebu car clubs and TOTAL Excellium.

Ryan Yu, one of the more noted representatives of the city’s car club industry, said B2B is a car show for all. “We unite the car clubs because we have the same passion and love for cars,” he said.

During one of Yu’s visits to Manila, he bumped into Jonathan Chio of Ladder Events Production, the organizer of the B2B event. The rest was history. Today, Yu is a proud partner of this much-awaited annual event.

Yu, who got his driver’s license at 12, loves to be in the fast lane. Among his collection, he singles out his Nissan Skyline as his favorite buddy on the road.

“I’m very discerning when it comes to fuel products because I only want the best for my car. With TOTAL Excellium, I found that I can drive longer and the car can perform better. TOTAL products are made in France so I know I can count on its quality and excellence,” said Yu, an automotive expert himself.

TOTAL Excellium is the company’s latest innovative fuel product from France. It’s a Euro 4-compliant fuel product that cleans and protects engines from the first gas-up and promises fuel efficiency, engine protection and less emissions.

In the Philippines, TOTAL has built a strong presence since it entered the market in 1997. It is engaged in the importation, distribution and marketing of refined petroleum products (fuels and lubricants) and special fluids. The company owns and operates two oil terminals and a fast-growing network of service stations. It also has investments in satellite fuel depots in strategic locations in the country and is a co-owner of SunPower, the second largest solar power company in the world.