The Kapuso network promises exciting and all-new shows at the start of the year as it is set to premiere five drama shows in its afternoon and primetime block. “The Borrowed Wife,” a “story about love and obsession,”starring Camille Prats, TJ Trinidad, Rafael Rosell, and Pauleen Luna premiered on January 20. Jennylyn Mercado leads the cast of “Rhodora X,” to premiere on January 27. The primetime drama reunites the actress with former on and off-screen partner Mark Herras and fellow “Starstruck” contestant Yasmien Kurdi. Meanwhile, after working together in the 2013 afternoon drama “Kakambal ni Eliana,” Kristoffer Martin and Kim Rodriguez will team up again in “Paraiso Ko’y Ikaw,” also premiering January 27. Louise delos Reyes, after several shows with Alden, will star in the fantasy drama series “Kambal Sirena.” This time, she will be teamed up with Aljur Abrenica, whose last two soap operas were with perennial screen partner Kris Bernal. While Max Collins and Luis Ala

DESPITE the holiday rush, Ideal Macaroni, the maker of Ideal gourmet pasta and now the sole distributor of the Easycook brand of beans, peas and lentils in Philippine market, took some time to invite media and online bloggers to a cooking demo intriguingly titled “Peas Be Unto You, and Lentils too!” Having read the benefits of these “superfoods,” I went out of my way, squeezed in to my tight schedule between work and family, merry-making and PMPC caroling, to attend the demo at Genting Star Tourism Academy in the Resorts World Manila Complex. First part of the program was a short tour of the posh tourism academy which is fast becoming the tourism training center of choice of many students and practitioners in this industry. The school is complete with facilities for actual training including its own mini casino! This is to make tourism graduates at par with their foreign counterparts, according to Dyan Fernandez, Senior Manager, Business Development, who accompanied the media

Together with members of the media – TV, print and online bloggers – and their respective families, Jollibee shared the Season of Joy with fun games and prizes at BCG’s Mind Museum. The year-end occasion also formally launched the holiday season’s treat which is the Jollibee Chickenjoy Bucket Treats! Members of families – from tots to teen-aged girls and boys and even grandmas – joined family games and won exciting prizes like Dancing Jollibee doll, GCs and Mind Museum entrance tickets! The party went livelier with the presence of ever smiling Jollibee mascot! Kids got so excited and instantly gravitated around Jollibee and got the thrill of their lives dancing with the most famous mascot in the Philippines! Showbiz’s dancing diva Regine Tolentino and her family also graced the party. They performed a zumba dance number to remind party-goers that they need to exercise even in the days of bingeing and merry-making. There’s no question how good Regine is in the dance floo