Happy New Year, Basketball!

by Mikey Favis

It’s already 2012, so why don’t we ring in the New Year with some more basketball!

Christmas vacation (for those who are still in school or took leaves off of work) is winding down and it’s back to reality.  As you have probably already heard of, the NBA is back and there is once more a balance in the basketball world. However, with all the buzz the NBA has gotten over the past few weeks, we have forgotten our very own local basketball league, the Philippine Basketball Association or the PBA.

With the Christmas Season and the holidays rolling in, being a very family-oriented culture, the PBA “shut down” or went on a much needed leave of absence so that all the players, coaches, officials and members of the PBA could spend the holiday season with their loved ones. Before the PBA paused to take their Christmas Break, we were left with Final Four after the Quarter Finals round had finished. The Final Four or the Semi-Finals begins on January 4, 2012 with the Powerade Tigers Opening up against the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters.

JAN 4: Rain or Shine VS Powerade

This will surely be a very interesting and exciting series because it pits together two very high-octane and fast paced offensive teams. Both Powerade and Rain or Shine rely heavily on 3point shooting and fast-breaking. With Rain or Shine, the so called “Cinderalla Team” of the PBA (they were the first 8^th seed team to defeat the number 1 seeded team in the playoffs). Led by their scoring machine, Gary “El Granada” David, number one overall draft pick Javee Casio and former Smart-Gilas swingman Marcio Lassiter, the Tigers look to carry their momentum of eliminating number one seeded B-Meg into their match-up with the Elasto Painters.

On the other side of the fence, Rain or Shine was one of the top-scoring teams in the league this past season and is arguably the most physical defensive team. With their array of shooters and their sticky like glue defense, the Elasto Painters, spearheaded by dynamic and possible Rookie of the Year winner Paul “Angas ng Tondo” Lee and veteran Gabe “The President” Norwood, Rain or Shine looks to make quick work of the Tigers.

JAN 5: Talk N Text VS Petron

The second game, which will be on the 5^th of January, is the more anticipated and dramatic game between the Petron Blaze Boosters and the Talk N Text Tropang Texters. Already known as the “Championship before the Championship” all the hype in the PBA will revolve around these two teams. Featuring a rematch of last year’s finals and two of the more popular franchises, look for this to be a very exciting and down to the wire match.

With the long break, the Tropang Texters look to come back stronger than ever as most of their lineup is finally healthy. Being called the “Walking Wounded” for the whole season, TNT enters the semis with a full lineup. At their fullest, the Texters are the deepest team in the league wherein everyone of their players in the first and second unit can come out and score in the twenties. Led by Jimmy “Mighty Mouse” Alapag and Kelly “The Machine Gun” Williams, you can expect Talk N Text to come out guns a blazing and prove to everybody their loss last year in the finals was a fluke.

 On the other hand, Petron, the reigning PBA champs look to repeat and seem like the best suited team to combat TNT’s offensive firepower. Petron will rely once more on Alex “The Crunchman” Cabagnot and Arwind “Spiderman” Santos to carry the banner for the boosters. Alongside their one-two punch, Petron has an array of role players in Danny Ildefonso, Joseph Yeo, Rob Reyes and Smart-Gilas defensive Specialist Chris Lutz. This series will surely have a championship atmosphere and will certainly go the distance.

The NBA may be back, but it’s Playoff time in the PBA so expect a whole lot of drama, excitement and last-second plays in the semi-finals. This will surely be an interesting semis for the PBA with all the storylines and subplots within each series. Let’s all be thankful that we’re only fans because no matter what happens, we are the ultimate winner since there are a number of fantastic games lined up for our viewing pleasure. It truly is a Happy new Year for basketball!

                

Fun and Easy to Make Holiday Treats

by Mikey Favis

‘Tis the season to feel and share everyone’s love by making and sharing delicious treats. These sweets are very easy to prepare and would REALLY satisfy your cravings for holiday treats!!!

Eggnog

Eggnog is a really delicious treat for everyone. It’s a sweet dairy-based drink that is loved by all ages, made up of beaten eggs, sugar, milk, and liquor. Yes, liquor. Bourbon and vodka are the most common used liquor for eggnog. And it is usually garnished by nutmeg or cinnamon before serving.

This eggnog recipe would not include liquor since the children might also want to drink lots of it. So here is the eggnog recipe that is very easy to make, you’ll have it prepared in no time. It serves 8 people at most.

Eggnog Recipe Ingredients

   1. 6 eggs
   2. 3 cups milk
   3. 8 tablespoons sugar
   4. 3 teaspoon vanilla essence
   5. 1/2 teaspoon nutmeg, ground


Eggnog Recipe Directions

* In a large bowl, beat the eggs using an electric beater (if available).
* By turn, add milk & sugar.
* Continue beating until mixture thickens slightly.
* Add in the vanilla essence & ground nutmeg.
* Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate until chilled (at least 3 hours)


Chocolate Rum Balls

Rum balls are yummy truffle-like treats that can be prepared easily. No baking needed, can’t you believe that. This easy to prepare treat is made of chocolate and rum. Yes, rum indeed. And because it does not need to be baked, the alcohol isn’t lost when it is prepared. It is usually coated in chocolate sprinkles or powdered cocoa.

Here is a very easy to follow recipe for chocolate rum balls. It doesn’t require baking so it would be done in no time. It makes 24 rum balls at most.

Chocolate Rum Balls Recipe Ingredients:

  1. 1 cup ground pecans
  2. 2 cups chocolate wafer cookie crumbs
  3. 1/2 cup powdered sugar
  4. 1/3 cup rum
  5. 3 tablespoons corn syrup
  6. 1/2 cup chocolate chips
  7. 3/4 cup chocolate sprinkles


Chocolate Rum Balls Recipe Directions:

* In bowl, mix cookie crumbs, pecans, sugar, rum and corn syrup.
* Shape into 1 inch balls measuring about 1 Tablespoon of mixture.
* Line a tray with wax paper. Place balls on a tray and refrigerate until cold.
* In a double boiler (if available) using hot but not boiling water, melt chocolate; let cool slightly.
* Dip balls into melted chocolate with only a thin coat. Roll in chocolate sprinkles.
* Place balls on the waxed paper lined tray until chocolate is set.


No-bake Oatmeal Cookies

Oatmeal cookies are yummy cookie treats that are made with oats and a large variety of ingredients. Coconut flakes, raisins, walnuts, almonds, and chocolate chips are only some of the ingredients that could be mixed with oats to create a mouth-watering oatmeal cookie.

Here is a very easy to do recipe of no-bake oatmeal cookies. No baking again so the cookies can be prepared in no time, serving depends on preferred size.

No-bake Oatmeal Cookies Recipe Ingredients
 
   1. 3 cups quick cooking oats
   2. 1 cup flaked coconut
   3. 3 tbsp. cocoa
   4. 1/2 cup nuts
   5. 2 cups sugar
   6. 1/2 cup milk
   7. 1 stick butter
   8. 1 tsp. vanilla


No-bake Oatmeal Cookies Recipe Directions

* Cook sugar, milk and butter.
* Bring to a boil and boil for 1 minute.
* Add the vanilla.
* Pour over all other ingredients and stir until well mixed.
* Drop by preferred size onto waxed paper to cool.

RESORTS WORLD MANILA

Where you at? # 1


By: Norman Barracoso

“It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas. Ev'rywhere you go take a look in the five-and-ten, glistening once again with candy canes and silver lanes aglow” … Tunes of joy and melodies of happiness are again felt during this time of the year. Bells are ringing and people are playing to the beat of Christmas here and there to greet us another season of love. At last, it has arrived. It’s that time of the year again, folks, time for us to celebrate Jesus’ birth, and for some, time to buy those expensive and luxurious gifts. It’s the time where everything’s on sale, and people feel like spending money. Yes, it’s okay to enjoy and spend a little of “that” during Christmas but looking deeper through the meaning of Christmas, is it just really about giving gifts and buying stuff? Well for us, Christmas time means family time and nothing can ever replace Christmas gatherings spent with family.

And here in DTF, we present you our ideal hangout place, perfect for the family: Resorts World Manila, which is located right at the center of Newport City, Philippines. By perfect, we mean that it’s suitable for all ages, from kids to grown-ups. It’s family time, and we don’t want anyone in our family to be deprived of Christmas.

Their tagline “shop, dine, watch, and play” says it all. In Resorts World, families can indulge themselves to fancy yet affordable restaurants. Another thing we like about this place is the flexibility of the restaurants.  Diners can choose from a wide array of restaurants, inspired by different genres of food across the globe. You can enjoy traditional Filipino food in Crisostomo, or feel the Mardi Gras season in New Orleans, or have a good night at the Bar 360. These are just some of the highlights where families can sit down and relax and really feel the company of their loved ones. 

Dinner celebrations are usually the highlight of Christmas for the family. But for the teens, shopping is. Well, Resorts World is there to cater for our needs. From local brands like Bench, to branded items like Lacoste, RW definitely knows what each family would buy.

Yes, we already have food and shopping, but how about those little ones who just want to watch theatre plays or catch movies from the annual Metro Manila Film Festival? Aren’t they part of our tradition as well? Most certainly they are. Here in RW, local and international performers like the cast of Sound of Music play every month depending on availability of the place. Especially now that it’s Christmas season, theatre plays are even more advertised.

Finally, the part where most of our parents or usually our lolo’s and lola’s would want to be in during the holidays: THE CASINO! It’s the perfect place for grown-ups to relax and take a day off from work and just have the time of their life. RW’s casino gives a Venetian feel that will give you goose bumps, making you feel like you’re in Las Vegas. Their casino is arguably the best looking casino in the Philippines, from unique sets of tables, to fancy cafés scattered all around the casino area.

But wait, there’s more.. After a long day of shopping, eating, and of course playing at the casino, Resorts World Manila has their hotel right on top of the mall. It’s a 6-star casino hotel that caters to everyone. It’s the package you’ve all been waiting for. From shopping to high-end hotels, I guess you can never go wrong with this place.

Let us welcome this Christmas season with our family. After all, they’re the ones that’ll be there for us, no matter what.

Merry Christmas again, and we wish you all the best.