Philippines Celebrates the Longest, Tastiest & Most Meaningful Christmas Season with Kraft Eden Cheese
Anna Sapitan [Senior Brand Manager of Eden] talks to Winnie Cordero of ABS-CBN's Umagang Kay Ganda. |
100 Days, 100 Towns & 100 Unique Dishes. This is what Eden: Sarap ng Pasko 100 Days of Christmas is trying to achieve, and they did that with flying colors.
Kraft EDEN Cheese, in partnership with ABS-CBN Foundation and more than a hundred Local Government Units across the Philippines, teams up and take it a step further to celebrate the longest, tastiest and the most meaningful Christmas season ever. At exactly 100 days before Christmas day, hundred towns around the Philippines, were asked to incorporate their local dishes with Kraft Eden Cheese. Like in Malabon City, which is famous for their 'pancit', they infuse Eden Cheese on it and called it 'Pancit Malabon with Cheese Crackling Toppings', while in Valenzuela City, (where I stay now) they chose 'Kinesohang Putong Polo' since our place is famous for it's putos.
San Felipe Neri Parish at 4:30 AM. |
TOP 9. Mandaluyong City's Trio Cheeze Delight which made of langka , boiled squash, powdered milk, boiled corn, gabi, butter, lumpia wrapper and of course Kraft Eden Cheese. |
The winners are based on people votes. People are encourage to vote by writing the following information on a piece of paper attached to one (1) empty pack of EDEN (35g, 180g or 500g pack): Name of Favorite Featured Town, Name of Eden dish for that town, Name, Age, Complete Address, Contact Numbers and Signature.
The winning town, won two (2) million pesos and a winning voter will bring home a hundred thousand pesos!
Guimbal, Iloilo emerged as the winner with their "Pininyahang Manok with Cheese", I asked Alex Dan Tacderas, the Category Manager of Kraft Philippines if Guimbal is always on top of the leaderboard since the voting started but, he said "No actually, Guimbal is a dark horse in this competition. A lot of votes for Guimbal came in at the final leg of voting." he added.
Top 2 is Cheesy Carbonara con Chicharon of Camiling, Tarlac; followed by Cheese Crab and Young Coconut with Kangkong of Loboc, Bohol. Binan; Laguna's Topazzo is at the 4th Place; then Pancit Malabon with Cheese Crackling of Malabon City; Shaggy Cheesy Roll of Paranaque City; Filled Katuray ala Keso en Tuna of San Miguel, Bulacan; on the 8th Place is Kraft Malunggay Fettuccine of Muntinlupa City and completing the Top 9 is Mandaluyong City's Trio Cheeze Delight.
These Top 9 towns are part of the culminating activity dubbed as "Keso De Gallo" done after the Misa De Gallo. In here, the whole community, partake on their winning dish after participating at the Simbang Gabi, a distinctive Filipino tradition.
On December 16, they started the Keso De Gallo at Guimbal in Iloilo and then head on another town the next day. December 24 is the last leg of Keso De Gallo this was held in San Felipe Neri Parish, Mandaluyong City.
Anna Sapitan, the Senior Brand Manager of Eden said to us during a little interview that this is a no easy task on their part. They can just choose to do a TV commercial on a studio and then they're done. But instead they chose to help featured these communities and celebrate with the whole nation by, sharing. Though they experience a lot of humps along the way, the end product is very fulfilling and rewarding. "Our goal is to bring families together especially during the Christmas season", she added.
"I'm really touched on how the locals welcomed us when we arrived in their towns." said Alex Dan Tacderas, the Category Manager of Kraft Philippines. "You can really feel their warm response, and they would asked us what else we need," he added. "Next year, it will be a bigger and brighter!" he exclaimed when asked what's their plan for next year.
The event is broadcasted live via ABS-CBN's Umagang Kay Ganda with hosts, Donita Rose, Rica Peralejo, Winnie Cordero, Phoem Barranda and others. Pilipinas Got Talent's Luther and his puppet, Titoy brought the laughters especially to kids when they did a short skit.
San Felipe Neri Parish at Boni Ave corner Aglipay Street in Mandaluyong |
The opening number at Umagang Kay Ganda |
Umagang Kay Ganda Hosts: Rica Peralejo, Donita Rose, Alex Santos, Andrei Felix, Bern Joseph Pacia aka Bekimon, Winnie Cordero and Phoemela Barranda. |
Donita Rose interview one of the families (beneficiaries) present that morning. They were treated to a sumptuous breakfast and received many gift packs from KRAFT and other sponsors as well. |
One of Pinoy Got Talent's alumni, Luther and his cute puppet Titoy had a photo op with the choir members during the break. |
Chef Celina David of MIHCA [Magsaysay Institute of Hospitality and Culinary Arts] shares some of her experience during this nationwide event. They did the Trio Cheese Delight for that day. |
Trio Cheese Delight |
A lot of kids partaking on the breakfast prepared by Kraft Eden Cheese. |
This is a truly heartwarming event for me and made me think that I should be thankful with what I have today, and not ask for too much especially on material things. This event wants a message sent across and that is, Christmas means sharing. Indeed, Eden Cheese' 100 Days of Christmas brought a new dimension to how Filipinos and the Philippines as a whole celebrates the Holiday season.
Merry Christmas & Happy New Year everyone! :]
I personally have not yet tried cooking tortang talong with Eden cheese. Might as well try it at home.
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing the link Kriza, it is very informative indeed! Of all the cheese I've used, only eden satisfies all my deserts.
ReplyDeleteYou should try it, it will make your dish even more tasteful. I so love cheese! :) , thanks for sharing this article.
ReplyDelete