Dolefil: Leader in Halal Quality Assurance

Another reason to be proud of! The Islamic Da'wah Council of the Philippines Inc., (IDCP), has awarded Dolefil the prestigious HALAL Leadership award in the Fruit Products Category. Dolefil is one of the few selected companies to receive the award during the International Halal Assurance Seminar (IHAS) held last June 3, 2011 at the Hotel Inter-continental Manila, Makati City. The award was proudly accepted by Dr. Leo P. Balito and Jasmin Sodusta, both managers of Quality Assurance Division.

The HALAL Leadership Award is given to companies who consistently complies with the requirements and passed the rigid inspection and audit by IDCP. The company should also consistently maintain and sustain the Halal-approved production process and procurement of Halal-certified raw materials. The award, then, is a confirmation that Dolefil products are guaranteed, spiritually and scientifically, for genuineness, best quality, wholesomeness and cleanliness, and best fit for human consumption.

Halal Certified Products are known for human consumption with no unlawful component and uncontaminated against filth. Critical Control Points of and Compliance Criteria of Halal are compatible in Dolefil's food safety and health programs. The alignment of the two programs reinforces one another to produce an outstanding Halal Quality Management System in Dolefil.

The underlying principle of the Halal Quality Assurance is that the production of Halal Food is an integrated process involving several interconnected stages; each production stage should comply with the Halal requirements and guidelines set by the accrediting body, and packaging materials should prevent any chance of contamination of the Halal product.

IDCP is a Halal certification authority duly recognized by the World Halal Council to issue halal certificate to all products including halal food manufacturers, processed foods, meat and poultry, ingredients and flavors, cosmetics and other non-food products including packaging.

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Source: Dolefil News Vol. X Issue No. 4

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Christmas in the Philippines

A Parol (Christmas Lantern)

Alright, since Christmas season is in the air, I will give you (readers) some interesting trivias and facts on why Christmas in the Philippines is unique among other Christian/Catholic Countries in the world.

As early as September, we Filipinos are starting to hear Christmas carols on radios and televisions as a part of our culture, we consider this season as one of the largest holidays in every year.

Philippine Christmas usually starts from what we call the '-ber months' starting from September until the Epiphany (January).

Parols and Belens are commonly seen in every houses in the Philippines during this season.

Parol a.k.a. Christmas Lantern is traditionally made of lacquered paper and bamboo, but others are made of cellophane, plastic, rope, capiz shell and a wide variety of materials.

A Belen (Nativity Scene)

Belen a.k.a. The Nativity Scene is a Filipino Christmas symbol that depicts the infant Jesus Christ in the manger, surrounded by the Virgin Mary, St. Joseph, the shepherds, their flock, the Magi and some stable animals and angels. It can be seen in homes, churches, schools and even office buildings; the ones on office buildings can be extravagant, using different materials for the figures and using Christmas lights, parols, and painted background scenery.

So, why does Christmas very important to us Filipinos?

In my personal opinion, this is the time where the family, whether extended or the family itself, gather in a house, resort and/or any other places to celebrate the birth of our beloved Father, Jesus Christ. In Urban areas, such as Metro Manila and other urban Areas, they celebrate it by having Christmas parties in their offices or in a place of a co-worker/s. And the unique thing is, we have activities like exchanging gifts were every person who are in the place will give their gifts to the person which they have picked during the draw-lots, parlor games, sing and dance competitions, and many other Filipino-related games.

Another thing that other Christmas celebrations around the world do not have is the Dawn Masses/Misa de Gallo or in vernacular the Simbang Gabi. Simbang gabi is an event which will start 9 days before the birth of Christ or in every 16th of December. These nine dawn Masses are also considered as a Novena by the Catholic and Aglipayan faithful. This refers to the practice of performing nine days of private or public devotion to obtain special graces. After the mass has been celebrated, we usually eat bibingkas (rice cake), putò bumbóng (a purple, sticky rice delicacy steamed in bamboo tubes, with brown sugar and shredded dried coconut meat served as condiments) and partnered with tsokolate (hot cocoa) to retain the heat of our body.

During the Christmas Eve, we usually go to chapels/churches to celebrate the Midnight Mass and witness the re-enactment of the journey of Joseph and Blessed Virgin Mary in search of lodging in the middle of the unknown. The Panunulúyan is performed after dark, with the actors portraying Joseph and the Virgin Mary going to pre-designated houses.

We also consider Christmas as primarily a family affair. On Christmas Day, we celebrate a Misa de Aguinaldo which the main means of this is the celebration of the birth of Christ.

As of extension of the Christmas season, we also celebrate the New Year's Eve or the Media Noche, a feast that is also supposed to symbolize their hopes for a prosperous New Year.

Christmas season officially ends on the Feast of the Three Kings a.k.a. the Feast of the Epiphany. It is celebrated in every 1st Sunday of the New Year.

So this is it! I was suppose to blog this last week, but I am so busy that I can't even touch my PC.

Enjoy reading and Happy Holidays! ☺

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15 Ways To Keep Relationship Working

As of my personal experience and as what I had observed on other intimate relationships, here are some of the things you should consider to be able to keep you relationship working:

• First, LOVE EACH OTHER - Of course, you cannot be in a serious relationship if both of you don't have the same feelings in each other.
• Second, DO NOT LIE - Lying in your partner would mean a lot if we discuss how loyal you are in each other. As much as possible, do not make lies especially when you want to comfort him/her.
• Third, KEEP COMMUNICATION OPEN - Well, you may notice most of the relationships today may start to be intimate by texting him/her love quotes and other love messages or even calling him/her. When you are in a long distance relationship, this thing is the most important.
• Fourth, STAY SWEET - Staying sweet despite of all the terrible things that may happen in the duration of your relationship makes your partner more comfortable when they are with him/her.
• Fifth, WHEN YOU GET HURT JUST FORGIVE AND FORGET - I may have experience this once in my life and this way is the best way to just understand him/her whatever tragic happens in your relationship. Simply forgive and forget what had just happened.
• Sixth, NEVER TALK ABOUT BREAKUPS - Never never never mention things such as break ups! Especially when both of you are in the middle of your lover's quarrel, he/she may get it seriously! Believe me, it hurts!
• Seventh, NEVER SAY IT'S OKAY WHEN IT'S NOT - Definitely, don't try to be a hypocrite to your partner. Just say what you have in mind. If it's not okay, then it's not. Actually, he/she may comfort or find ways to make you feel okay.
• Eighth, FORGET ABOUT PRIDE - Hell yeah, just remove the word 'Pride' in your vocabulary when you're talking about relationships. It will make your relationship complicated.
• Ninth, IF YOU SAY SORRY MEAN IT - As what I have experienced, I may say I'm sorry but I actually didn't mean it. Well I guess next I will be saying sorry to my partner, I'm gonna mean it!
• Tenth, DON'T COMPARE YOUR PAST TO YOUR PRESENT - It will just make your partner to be your past, soon. Just get satisfied of what he/she have, remember, every human being is unique, there may be some similarities, but not all.
• Eleventh, DON'T TALK ABOUT YOUR EX'S - Duh, what the heck by the way, personally I get irritated when I'm talking about my ex's.
• Twelfth, GIVE AND TAKE PROCESS - Don't expect everything you gave to him/her has a return in exchange, well if it does, good; hence if does not, that's fine.
• Thirteenth, BEWARE OF HIS/HER FEELINGS - Caution! Read his/her actions because sometimes they express it by their moves. Be sensitive, do not get numb.
• Fourteenth, WHEN YOU HAD A FIGHT DON'T LET THE DAY PASS - Definitely, if it does, then he/she may think things more complicated and you can't hardly apologize as if you are toddlers.
• Fifteenth, DON'T BE THE PERFECT ONE BE THE RIGHT ONE - Well obviously there's no perfect human being in this mortal world. And never will be, just be happy of what you have both, just continue loving each other and someday, you may find that you don't need to be perfect, just right.

I hope I have shared my thoughts and observations on how we can preserve the relationship you have now or soon. Just remember, stay happy, be contented.

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