AFTER her married life failed, Donita Rose keeps herself busy with things on her mind which she wasn't able to do when she was still with ex-husband Eric Villarama.
Aside from being a mom and a host, Donita Rose is also a chef.
She left her showbiz career in 2012 and worked as a chef in the US. Now that she's back in the country, she's busy sharing her culinary passion with fellow Pinoy moms.
For her, one of the most important things to consider when cooking for the family is finding ingredients that are not only healthy but also budget-friendly.
"We Filipinos really love to eat. Our culture is practically centered on food, which brings families closer during festivities, so we should also be aware of how we prepare the food and the kind of dishes we serve," Donita says.
For cooking, she chooses canola oil, which offers more health benefits and better value for money than regular cooking oil.
Here are the reasons why Donita believes canola oil should be one of your pantry staples:
When it comes to cooking, Donita puts her family's needs first: "I've always loved cooking, but cooking food that is good for the heart, especially for my family, is what drives me to learn more dishes and expand my knowledge in cooking."
Donita opts for food that's affordable and healthy at the same time. She makes it a point to stock up on canola oil, which is one of the healthiest cooking oils in the market but does not cost as much as extra virgin olive oil, sesame oil, and coconut oil.
Canola oil has a pale golden color, light texture, and neutral taste. It also has one of the highest smoking points, which makes it ideal for use on different kinds of food.
Donita used canola oil to cook her own versions of regional delicacies when she went on a Philippine Festival Tour with Jolly Heart Mate Canola Oil. She conducted cooking demos for foodies and moms.
Fiesta fare is typically high in bad cholesterol, but Donita pointed out that serving healthy dishes instead doesn't make the celebration any less festive.
During the first leg of her tour, she whipped up chicken-durian curry for Davaoeños at the Kadayawan festival last August. She also cooked coconut timlok for the residents of Naga City during the Peñafrancia festival last September.
Next, she headed to Bacolod for the Masskara festival and shared her own twist to kansi. In the last leg of her tour, Chef Donita prepared popiah for Cebuanos during Sinulog.
It's good for your health, especially your heart.
Canola oil, which is extracted from the seeds of a bright, yellow-flowering plant of the same name, is known to be rich in vitamin A. This vitamin is good not just for your eyes but also for your immunity and skin.
A US study even suggests that canola-based diets can reduce the risk of ischemic heart disease, prevent obesity, and even help in moderating insulin and glucose levels for those with diabetes.
Donita says, "We must always be conscious that the ingredients we use should be good for the heart, like Jolly Heart Mate Canola Oil, which contains the lowest amount of bad fats or saturated fats but packs in the good kind like omega 3 and 6."
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Is Liza Soberano being groomed by ABS-CBN to become the next Darna?
Growing talk around ABS-CBN is that Liza, one of the most beauteous faces in the Kapamilya stable, will be the latest anointed Darna, in a movie to be directed by Erik Matti.
Liza's manager, Ogie Diaz, confirmed last March 26 that his ward was one of the actresses being considered to bring life anew to the Mars Ravelo
superheroine.
“Isa siya sa mga choices,” Ogie said.
And should the role be offered to Liza, Ogie said the actress would definitely accept.
“Itong Darna, superhero, maraming may gusto na gumanap pa ring Darna. Imagine-in mo yung history ng mga gumanap na Darna, like si Ate Vi [Vilma
Santos], so kung si Liza ang mapipili for the role, siyempre tatangapin namin yun.”
The most famous Pinay superheroine has been played on the big screen over the past five decades by some of the country's most famous actresses.
The very first Darna was Rosa del Rosario, who was seen on the big screen in 1953, followed by, in this order, Liza Moreno, Eva Montes, Gina Pareño, Vilma Santos, Rio Locsin, Anjanette Abayari, and Nanette Medved.
On television, which became the medium of choice for the most well-known Ravelo female hero, Darna has been played by Lorna Tolentino, Angel Locsin, and Marian Rivera.
The much-anticipated new Darna movie, to be co-produced by Star Cinema and Reality Entertainment, was offered to Angel Locsin in 2013.
Due to a spine problem, however, Angel formally announced in 2015 that she could no longer do the role. Then in September 2016, Star Cinema managing director Malou Santos announced that Angel was still the star the company wanted for Darna. In preparation for the role, Angel underwent surgery and rehab, and began regular gym training.
But on March 20, ABS-CBN, Star Cinema's mother company, issued a formal statement that the network and Angel had "mutually arrived at a final decision that she will no longer pursue the Darna movie due to her medical condition."
Since then, showbiz became rife with Darna rumors. Names bruited about as the next possible Darna have included Jessy Mendiola, Nadine Lustre, and Pia Wurtzbach. One other name was Liza Soberano.
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Who is Ahron's frequent travel companion?
Actor Ahron Villena's recent travel photos are now making rounds on the Internet because of it's similarity with the travel photos of a hunky non-showbiz guy. In a comment, Ahron clarifies that he and the non-showbiz guy are "really, really good friends."
Circulating on most social media are some of Ahron's Instagram travel photos with a non-showbiz guy with a username @krisbst08.
Because both photos posted on their own Instagram account, had identical backgrounds- is it possible to be coincidental? Ahron did not give any details on who the mystery guy is.
However, he stressed... "Group of friends kami,e. masaya kami kapag nagta-travel. Ang hirap kasi sa ibang tao masyadong marumi ang utak. masyado nila akong pinasisikat! hahaha! Wala rin akong dapat-i-explain kung sino man ang gusto kong makasama kahit saan, kahit kelan."
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Spend your Saturday afternoon in the most colorful dance party event this season. The Illumination Dance Party is set to burst colors on May 6, 2017 at the Roofdeck of SM City Olongapo, 6:00 pm, with the performances by Philippine Shuffle Squad, Gents and guest DJ Ron Poe and MC Boo. Simply present P1000 single or accumulated receipt in exchange for one wristband that will serve as gate pass.