Araneta City nurtures stray cat welfare through “CoMEOWnity”

 

Araneta City deepens its commitment to kindness and shared responsibility through launching of “CoMEOWnity”, a citywide initiative aimed to protect, care, and uplift the lives of stray cats. Introduced under Araneta City’s Pet Pals program, the campaign recognizes stray cats not as passersby, but as cherished City-zens of the City of Firsts’ vibrant community.

“CoMEOWnity brings together our valued partners, patrons, cat lovers, and everyone who shares a deep compassion for stray cats,” said Marjorie Go, VP for Marketing of Araneta City, Inc. “Through this initiative, we hope to create a city where every stray cat feels safe, respected, and cared for.”

Guided by its vision of creating an inclusive environment, “CoMEOWnity” focuses on everyday acts of care—regular feeding, safe shelter, medical attention, and thoughtfully designed adoption drives—ensuring that stray cats are treated with dignity and compassion.

Done in partnership with Pet Kingdom, CARA Welfare Philippines, City Cats Cubao, and Cats of Araneta City, the program reflects a shared effort to make animal welfare a fundamental part of city living. “CoMEOWnity” is also dedicated to the memory of the late Filipina chef and restaurateur Margarita Forés, whose lifelong affection for cats—especially strays—continues to inspire acts of kindness.

Among the program’s key initiatives is a Trap-Neuter-Vaccinate-Return (TNVR) effort in partnership with CARA Welfare Philippines, ensuring humane and sustainable management of the stray cat population. Rescued cats are housed at the Araneta City cattery, where they receive regular meals, veterinary care, and ongoing attention, supported by sponsored cat food and essential supplies.

Beyond rescue, “CoMEOWnity” opens doors to second chances through its adoption drives, helping match stray cats with loving individuals and families. During its first-ever cat adoption event held on April 12 at Ali Mall, all rescued and neutered cats successfully found new homes, proving how community involvement can transform lives.

Through this initiative, the City of Firsts continues to build an inclusive space that safeguards the health and well-being of stray cats. It also actively engages tenants, employees, residents, and partner organizations in shaping a city that is not only a destination for culture and entertainment, but also a model of humane urban living.

“Through programs like CoMEOWnity, we are in the high hopes that it will encourage greater awareness and shared responsibility toward stray cats,” said Marjorie Go. “Compassion and empathy are at the heart of who we are—and through them, we affirm our responsibility to care for those who cannot care for themselves.”

For more information about Araneta City’s “CoMEOWnity,” visit its official Facebook page:

www.facebook.com/comeownity.

2026 National Food Fair Generates ₱125M in Sales, Expands Market Opportunities for MSMEs

 

NFF Special Setting

The 2026 DTI Bagong Pilipinas National Food Fair (NFF) recorded a total of ₱125.6-million in sales, reaffirming its role as a premier platform for strengthening market access and commercial linkages for Filipino food micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs).

Held from April 8 to 12, 2026, at the Megatrade Halls of SM Megamall, the five-day event gathered over 300 exhibitors from across the country. It provided a strategic venue for MSMEs to connect with institutional buyers, retailers, and consumers in a highly targeted, business-driven environment.

Department of Trade and Industry Secretary Ma. Cristina A. Roque underscored that the fair forms part of the government’s broader whole-of-government approach under the Bagong Pilipinas agenda, ensuring that MSMEs are not only supported but equipped to scale sustainably. She emphasized the importance of sustained market access and long-term business partnerships.

DTI Sec. Cristina A. Roque (extreme right) leads the ribbon-cutting ceremony during the official opening of the 2026 DTI-Bagong Pilipinas National Food Fair. Joining her is her Assistant Sec. Nylah Rizza Bautista of the DTI Competitiveness and Innovation Group and Agriculture Sec. Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. 

In her keynote message, DTI Secretary Roque reassured Filipino MSMEs, saying, “Beyond the immediate solutions that we offer, our goal is long-term growth. We want your businesses to be efficient and innovative so that you do not just survive uncertainty, you thrive in it.”

Complementing this, DTI Assistant Secretary Nylah Rizza Bautista highlighted the fair’s thematic focus, stating, “This year, we highlight key drivers shaping a stronger food sector—coconut-based products, Halal-certified goods, and the creativity of former OFWs turned entrepreneurs.”

Meanwhile, Department of Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. highlighted the critical link between agriculture and enterprise. He noted that strengthening support for farmers and food producers, coupled with improved market access, is essential to building a more competitive and resilient food industry.

Responding to evolving global trends, the 2026 NFF also spotlighted the expanding halal market as a key growth opportunity for Filipino MSMEs. With rising international demand for halal-certified products, the fair emphasized the importance of certification, standards compliance, and continuous product development in unlocking new export markets.

The event further featured emerging entrepreneurs, including overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) who have transitioned into MSME ownership, offering products shaped by both global exposure and local innovation.

Through initiatives such as the Business Connect Lounge, the NFF strengthened buyer engagement and facilitated long-term partnerships between MSMEs and institutional buyers, extending business opportunities beyond the duration of the fair.

As part of the government’s broader market access strategy, the National Food Fair continues to evolve as a dynamic platform that prepares, positions, and connects Filipino enterprises for growth in both domestic and international markets.

With its strong sales performance and expanded market linkages, the 2026 NFF reflects the resilience, creativity, and growing competitiveness of Filipino food entrepreneurs.

Strawberry, Biscoff, and Cheese in new Mang Inasal Halo-Halo treat

Looking for something new and refreshing this summer? Try the new Mang Inasal Strawberry Cheesecake Halo-Halo!

This berry-creamy treat is made with Mang Inasal’s extra creamy milk, strawberry syrup with strawberry bits, strawberries and cream ice cream, and cheesecake cubes, finished with grated cheese and Biscoff cookie crumbs. Like the new and improved Mang Inasl Extra Creamy Halo-Halo, the Strawberry Cheesecake Halo- Halo also has milk dusting for that longer lasting creaminess that customers have come to expect from this treat.

“Taken as a dessert or snack, the new Mang Inasal Strawberry Cheesecake Halo- Halo is yet another effort of the brand to offer new and refreshing treats to its customers. Please try it now and let us know what you find refreshing and delightful in this limited time offer,” said Mang Inasal president Mike V. Castro.

Enjoy the Mang Inasal Strawberry Cheesecake Halo-Halo via dine in, takeout, drive thru, and delivery

The Strawberry Cheesecake Halo-Halo is part of Mang Inasal’s Limited Time Offer lineup, bringing new and on-trend flavors that give customers more reasons to enjoy and elevate their eating experience. Available for dine-in, takeout, and delivery nationwide from April 15 to June 15, 2026, prices start at P90 for the small (12 oz) and P110 for the regular (16 oz).

Join the Mang Inasal Nation Facebook Page to share your feedback.

Want to get more Mang Inasal exclusives NOW? Visit https://manginasal.ph for the latest news, https://manginasaldelivery.com.ph for delivery deals, and follow Mang Inasal on social media for more Ihaw-Sarap and Unli-Saya updates!

These Three Food Concepts are Redefining Dining as an Experience

 

Kariton's

The local food scene has never been more exciting than in the past few years. With new concepts emerging and a constant demand for something fresh, business owners are constantly thinking about how to ensure they’re set for success.

The modern dining experience is holistic, and the most successful food entrepreneurs understand that every detail shapes how a brand is remembered. Today, it’s not just about what’s on the plate. It’s about every touchpoint before and after the meal – from how customers first discover a restaurant online, to how they’re welcomed, how efficiently they’re served.

Yet across today’s food scene, the experience is constantly challenged by a recurring issue: friction and delays in payment. For three food entrepreneurs, solving this has become central to building their businesses.

Designing the full experience with the customer in mind

For one of Manila’s coolest new gelato shops, Kariton, designing the experience begins with putting the customer first.

“The name Kariton comes from the street carts many of us grew up with, so when people walk in, I want them to feel an instant sense of warmth and curiosity. It should feel approachable, not intimidating, but once you taste our gelato, you’ll realize that it’s made with serious technique and high-quality, local ingredients,” Leon Taira, Global Partner of Kariton, explains.

Kariton blends Filipino culture and nostalgia with a fun, Australian-inspired charm to use gelato as a shareable way to introduce local ingredients and culture. But because gelato melts quickly, service speed is a priority. “Very early on, we realized that small details matter a lot. Things like queue flow, signage, temperature control, portioning, and how staff greet you. At the same time, we don’t want to rush the customer, and we want to make sure we have time to tell them our story and the stories in each scoop.”

This challenge of balancing convenience with staying true to their concept is something modern food businesses, including Mariell Chuateco-Tanchip and her team at Taste &Tell, are navigating, especially after expanding from their home business into their first physical store.

“We realized dining is about the entire journey — ambiance, service, speed, and even how customers pay. Even if the food is excellent, a slow or stressful checkout can change the entire experience,” she says. “Generosity is important to us. We never want guests to feel like they’re getting less. We want them to leave full, happy, and excited to come back,” she adds.

Nolita Joe's

This is echoed by Patrick Santos, owner of Nolita Joe’s, whose service philosophy marries the best of New York-style dining – which is fast-paced – without sacrificing quality. For him and his team, it’s about balancing efficiency with what guests expect and deserve.

“It’s not unusual for guests to either rave about or get annoyed at the small things, so everything should matter. Even something as seemingly minor as waiting a bit too long for the bill to be settled or having limited payment options can affect the whole experience,” she points out.

To address this friction, all three businesses have since integrated GCash for Business and tools like the new GCash SoundPay to improve both speed and service flow, especially at checkout. GCash SoundPay is a payment device that enables instant cashless transactions through QR payments with real-time voice confirmation, helping both staff and customers confirm payments instantly, without slowing down service.

“It’s made things a lot more seamless. Less friction, faster turnover, and less stress for the team. It really helps during peak hours. Faster transactions mean more turnover and better customer satisfaction,” he explains.

Embracing new tools as part of the experience

Across all three concepts, one shift is clear in modern dining: technology is an essential part of hospitality. For Leon, removing friction is key to repeat visits. “Before being able to provide cashless payment options, the common issues we would face included not having exact change and delays during peak hours. These small frictions add up and can slow down the entire service flow and ultimately affect the chances for return visits.”

For today’s young restaurateurs, success is no longer just about serving great food. It’s about the experience around it, which requires understanding customer behavior, mastering operations, and designing a seamless experience from start to finish. Throughout their journey, they have found support in solutions like GCash for Business.

If you’re a young business owner, getting started with GCash for Business is your first step into your easy era. Create an account on the GCash for Business Portal. You can get started as a merchant using just your verified GCash account of at least 12 months to qualify for a Starter Plan. Order a GCash SoundPay device, then wait for your email confirmation on your GCash SoundPay delivery. For more information on how GCash helps empower businesses and explore other products to help your business, visit GCash for Business.

How often do you go to the bathroom to pee?

 

Frequency in peeing is affected by several factors, including age, liquid intake, specific medical conditions, and bladder size.

Its official term is micturition, but to us, it’s simply urinating or peeing, a natural and necessary function of a healthy human body. “Urination helps cleanse the body of toxins, excess sodium and fluid, and metabolic waste,” says Rolando Guillermo O. Saulog, MD, a Urology Doctor at top hospital in the Philippines, Makati Medical Center (MakatiMed).

On average, a person pees between 6 to 7 times a day, but if you are taking more (or less) trips to the bathroom, there’s no real need to worry. “If you go only four times in a 24-hour span, it is fine. And if you go 10 times, that’s okay too.”

According to Dr. Saulog, the number of times you urinate per day depends on the following factors:

Age. “As we grow older, our bladder (which stores urine) does not expand as much, so it fills up faster, making our visits to the bathroom more frequent. Menopause and the decreasing production of the estrogen hormone can also affect bladder function.”

What and how much you drink. “Alcohol and caffeine are forms of diuretics, which prompt the kidneys to release extra fluid from the blood vessels. Consume copious amounts of coffee, tea, beer, or wine, and you can expect to spend a lot of time in the toilet.”

Pregnancy. “Mothers-to-be can chalk up peeing often to hormonal changes (an increase of progesterone relaxes the muscles, including those in the bladder), extra fluid and blood produced by the body, and weakened pelvic floor muscles due to an expanding uterus.”

Specific medical conditions. “If you need to urinate often, only yield small amounts each time, you may have a urinary tract infection (UTI). Diabetes can also cause you to urinate frequently, as it is the body’s way of emptying the bloodstream of excess sugar. Low potassium, too much or too little calcium, an enlarged prostate, congestive heart failure, painful bladder syndrome, and kidney issues can also make you visit the bathroom several times.”

Medicines. “Diuretics in pill form are given to individuals with high blood pressure, heart failure, edema, kidney disease, and liver disease. Certain medicines for diabetes and mental health can also make you pee more than average.”

Bladder size. “A man’s bladder can hold as much as 700 ml of urine, while a woman’s bladder can store about 500 ml.”

On the flip side, MakatiMed says that oliguria or urinating only 1-2 times in 24 hours (that’s peeing less than 400-500 ml a day) could be due to dehydration, blockages in the urinary tract, or infection.

When should you see your doctor? “Definitely when your peeing includes pain or a burning sensation, or when pain is felt in your lower back, pelvis, or genitals,” says Dr. Saulog. “Blood in the urine is also a cause for concern, as is incontinence or difficulty controlling your pee.”

Other signs that a consultation with a health practitioner is in order: urine that is cloudy, dark, and foul- smelling.

Tests help pinpoint the cause of your tendency to pee often or not enough. Results from a urinalysis will give your doctor an idea of the color, appearance, and microscopic contents of your sample. A kidney functioning test, which relies on a blood test and urine sample, can gauge how well your kidneys are working. Imaging tests (x-ray, ultrasound, MRI, CT scan) will reveal if peeing too much or too little comes from a pre-existing or newly discovered medical condition. A uroflowmetry test (available in MakatiMed) is a simple, non-invasive test used to evaluate how the bladder is working, often to detect why a patient has frequent or urge to urinate, a weak or slow urinary stream, difficulty starting urination, or a feeling that the bladder is not empty after urinating.

“Healthy living ensures efficient and natural urination,” reminds Dr. Saulog. “Stay hydrated. Eat fruits and vegetables and foods rich in probiotics; they may help address recurring UTI. Avoid too much caffeine and alcohol. Pee and cleanse using an unscented soap after sexual intercourse to lower your risk of developing UTI. Women can also reduce the risk of UTI by wiping from front to back after peeing.”

“Most important: Do not hold back your pee. Go when you feel like it.”

For more information, please contact MakatiMed On-Call at +632.88888 999, email mmc@makatimed.net.ph, or visit www.makatimed.net.ph. Follow @IamMakatiMed on Facebook and Twitter.