The Storms of Errport

Figaro opens at Ayala Fairview Terraces

2014-08-04T23:28:00.004-07:00

Coffee plus cakes plus movies equals: sublime happiness.

Now you can grab your favorite hot latte or brewed coffee to the movies with Figaro's newest opening in Ayala Fairview Terraces last August 4. Have a nice coffee date with your loved ones and friends with Figaro's hot espresso or chocolate cookie frost and cheese, blueberry or chocolate muffins (P70 each).

You can also try their crisp and sumptuous asado or tuna pies (P60 each). Sugar cake rush? Try their traditional and bestseller red velvet cake (P119 a slice), carrot cake, triple chocolate cake or sansrival cake slices before you grab your pop corns to watch your favorite movies. Figaro is strategically located beside the movie houses in Ayala Fairview Terraces in the fourth floor for customers to enjoy and indulge in coffee and movies at the same time. Figaro's latte will definitely soothe your soul while you cry or laugh at the lines in the blockbuster movies you want to watch any time.

Chocolate cookie frost (P140)

Figaro Buttermilk Cookies (P55/piece)

"From coffee to cup." This has been the signature line of Figaro, which was first born in 1993 in Glorietta, Makati. It took the company and the group of coffee enthusiasts to establish their passion for cafe in the Philippines for two years, which aims to promote natural brewed coffee served directly in the cup. The coffee crescendo continued to inspire coffee enthusiasts as the company expanded to a whopping 82 branches all over the world--from the Philippines, China, Saudi Arabia, Papua New Guinea and Malaysia.

There are many ways on how to produce good coffee and Figaro definitely is a master of natural brewed cafe served in a cup. Pure coffee beans are brewed and roasted to perfection to capture the natural and aromatic essence of coffee that customers will definitely enjoy.

with musician, OIC Marketing Department Ms. Joan Cortez
and Business Development Officer Carmela Tecson

The new branch of Figaro in Ayala Fairview Terraces had a nice ambiance with a pianist playing both classical and contemporary songs like Titanium and Rolling in the Deep. Having a cup of coffee while waiting for your favorite movie definitely defines the beauty and perfect combination of coffee and movie.

Grilled Chicken Sandwich (P189)

Pesto Pasta (P179)

Make your next cup of coffee even better with Figaro.

Thank you very much to Ms. Annesy del Mundo!

Get ready for The Switch: Callalily and 6CycleMind Concert

2013-05-10T00:09:00.003-07:00

There are more reasons to love Pinoy music.

Callalily and 6CycleMind promoted their first major back-to-back concert dubbed The Switch and shared their preparations last May 7.

"This will be a gift to our fans and all our supporters. There will be a lot of surprises and 'switches' in this concert," Kean Cipriano of Callalily said.

They will also perform cover songs that their fans requested from them.

From their love songs to pop music, the brotherhood bands Callalily (with Kean Cipriano, Aaron Ricafrente, Lemuel Belaro and Tatsi Jamnague) and 6CycleMind (with Tutti Caringal, Bobby Canamo, Rye Sarmiento, Herbert Hernandez and Vic Aquino) have truly marked their place in the Pinoy music industry. Callalily's Magbalik, Yakap, Isabel, Sanctuary and Take My Hand and 6CycleMind's Princesa, Nalilito, Trip, Kailanman and Biglaan often topped the OPM MYX Hit Charts and gave more reasons for the Filipinos to patronize and uplift their local music.

Don't miss The Switch: Callalily and 6CycleMind's one-night-only concert on June 7 at the Music Museum produced by Soupstar Entertainment. Ticket prices are: P1 100 (balcony), P1 650 (patron) and P2 200 (VIP). You may call SM Tickets (02) 470-2222, Ticketworld (02) 891-9999 or Music Museum (02) 721- 6726. You may also like their Facebook pages at https://www.facebook.com/VerifiedCallalily and https://www.facebook.com/6CYCLEMIND

Dugong Buhay Presscon with Ejay, Arjo, Yam, Jed and Ketchup

2013-05-02T06:21:00.009-07:00

Kapamilya Gold's Dugong Buhay continues to live up to its promise, with its heavy action yet heartwarming drama series and the artists' stellar performances, especially from the young actors and actresses. Ejay Falcon, Arjo Atayde, Yam Concepcion, Jed Montero and Ketchup Eusebio shared their experiences and the challenges they encountered in perfecting the teleserye to media and bloggers last April 29.

"We would always give our best and make sure that we own the time slot for our afternoon viewers," Ketchup, who plays the childhood friend of Victor (Ejay) shared.

Pinoy viewers and critics from different social networking sites like Facebook and Twitter continuously commend and shower the young artists with positive feedback regarding their outstanding performances and improvement in their acting.

"I would owe this to our amazing mentor Mr. Nonie Buencamino, who would always teach and give us advices to improve our acting," Ejay, who plays Victor, shared.

The two leading ladies Yam Concepcion and Jed Montero also shared that they are grateful and honored to be honed by outstanding veteran actors. Along with Ejay, Arjo and Ketchup, they would also teach each other to improve their skills.

Dugong Buhay follows the life of Victor (Ejay), who is raised by Simon (Nonie Buencamino) and is taught to hate the De Laras and seek revenge. Victor tries to get closer to the enemies, but only to realize that he is also getting closer to his true family.

Follow the action-packed yet dramatic life of Victor every day at 3:30pm in the Kapamilya Gold afternoon drama series. You may visit www,abscbn.com for more updates.

SM Cartoon Fest: Every kid's dream come true

2013-04-15T06:34:00.003-07:00

Once upon a time, we dreamed of a magical world filled with princes and princesses, talking animals and spirits of the forest, heroes and villains. We joined in their wonderful adventures and discovered new lessons, made new friends and discovered new places. We were 10 years old, and wished we could pass through that TV screen and hug and play with such dear friends. And our wish was granted.

SM Supermalls made every kid's dream come true as they launched the biggest jamboree of 38 cartoon characters in 44 malls nationwide at the SM City Fairview Annex Atrium last April 12. Perfect for kids and kids-at-heart, the SM Cartoon Festbrought our childhood cartoon characters to life and offered exciting activities like face painting, cartoon film showings, craft shows, scrapbook making and raffle prizes.

I became the 10-year-old kid again clapping and shouting with joy as they presented every character on stage. We all went wild as they first featured the Angry Birds, and wished we could throw the birds live with a real slingshot. Awarded as the Overall Best Licensed Program of the Year and Best Character/Toy Brand Program of the Year in 2012, Angry Birds is truly a global game phenomenon that kids will always want to play.

Meet the Minions, Gru's loyal but mischievous glow-in-the-dark sidekicks who first appeared in Chris Melendandri's Despicable Me. Produced by Universal Pictures and Illumination Entertainment, the movie will be followed by a second installment with another comic and heartwarming adventure and will be in theaters on July 3.

Vamonos! The kids all shouted as they cheered for Dora the Explorer, the much-loved character who helps us improve our English and Spanish language skills.

Better hide your lasagna; Garfield is on the move. I still remember collecting Garfield comics from the newspapers watching the Garfield movie with Jon and Odie. Thanks to Jim Davis, Garfield shares the laughter and the lasagna with 200 million people in 110 countries every day.

Tom and Jerry joined the jamboree and after another cat-and-mouse chase on stage finally hugged each other and became friends. We have truly enjoyed Tom and Jerry's adventures even without dialogue; even my 7-year-old Japanese cousin loves to watch them all day long.

The 1970's Sesame Streetclub--Elmo who taught us the alphabet, Cookie Monster who helped us solve number problems and Bert and Ernie who helped us develop critical skills also paid a visit to the kids and kids-at-heart.

Dare to be Square. Nickelodeon's Spongebob Squarepants took a day off from his work at the Crusty Crab and danced and played with the kids at the SM Annex Atrium.

Lorax, DC Comics Heroes Green Lantern, Hello Kitty, Batman, Robin and Superman, Hop, Loony Toons' Tweety Bird and Sylvester, Robby Rabbit, Monster High, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Polly Pocket and Barbie Ballerinacompleted the 38 cartoon characters showcased in the SM Summer Cartoon Fest.

Supported by Bates/Nickelodeon, Richprime, Pacific Licensing, Honeybarn, Solar Entertainment, FCI, Click Licensing and Astroplus/Magnavision among others, SM Cartoon Fest is a summer-long festival which ends on May 31. Special discounts are also available for character items and toys. Visit their Facebook page at www.facebook.com/supermalls for more updates and promos.

Daniel Padilla: 'Steady lang. Enjoy life.'

2013-04-15T06:13:00.000-07:00

The Big Dome birthday concert is looming, and Daniel Padilla is gearing up for his much-awaited rock and roll songs and band performances as he shared his preparations to bloggers last April 12.

"The Araneta concert was a dream come true, especially for someone like me who is just starting my career in the industry," the 17-year-old heartthrob, who will turn 18 on April 26, shared.

Dubbed Daniel LIVE: A Birthday Concert, the Big Dome show will mostly consist of DJ's rock and roll performances together with his band Parking 5, and Princess and I co-actors Khalil Ramos and Enrique Gil with a special participation of Kathryn Bernardo.

I had the opportunity to ask him how he wisely manages his time, balancing his academic responsibilities, his endorsements and singing and acting career at the same time, which not just makes him the ultimate heartthrob of the new generation but also a role model for the youth.

"I love and enjoy the things I do. I think it's an important factor to not take things too seriously. If we enjoy life, we would find meaning in it," DJ shared.

He may be nervous, but Danieladded that his concert will be the show of a lifetime, a performance that he and his beloved fans will truly enjoy.

Daniel also recently finished his second album released by Star Records, following his debut album that topped the charts and hit Gold in less than a week.

Little Champ set visit with Caloy, Chalk and Lulubelle

2013-04-15T06:03:00.002-07:00

Sometimes we learn life’s hardest lessons from kids.

A father and a lost son, a gift and a curse, a hero and an ally--these spell ABS-CBN's newest drama-fantaserye Little Champ. Starring the new child wonder JB Agustin Malatamban and outstanding actors, Little Champ is a story of the heartwarming journey of Caloy and his talking stallion Chalk, a quest to live with his family in harmony, and a mission to fight the evil in the world. We had the opportunity to take a peek at one of their shooting venues last April 9. I had always dreamed of working behind the scenes in a movie or series production and just witnessing the shooting venue and the editing process of Little Champmade me realize its sophistication and complexity.

We watched as Caloy, Lulubelle (Sofia Millares), Jason (Renz Fernandez) and Chalk, the talking horse performed a rap song version of Apo Hiking Society's Batang-bata Ka Pa. I was amazed at how JB and Sofia memorized their lines easily and how patient they were enough to endure many takes to perfect the scene. Chalk also seemed very trained and patiently behaved during the shooting that lasted almost an hour.

We also saw how the editing staff worked out the scene and polished the shots to be aired on TV. I was truly inspired at the intricate process and the huge effort of the actors and production staff to perfect such teleserye that truly offers life's lessons to children. It also proves the Filipino art and creativity in making movies and teleseryes that are worthy of recognition.

Don't miss Little Champ, also starring Sen. Lito Lapid, Katya Santos, Jhong Hilario, Jake Roxas, Micky Ferriols, Paolo Serrano, Coleen Garciaand Precious Lara Quigaman and directed by Richard Arellano, every night before TV Patrol in ABS-CBN'sPrimetime Bida. You may visit their Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/LittleChampOfficialPageand follow them on Twitter at @LChampOfficial.

pinoyRealTV: The dawn of the new television

2013-04-11T09:40:00.001-07:00

Change is in action. Living in the modern age where 70% of the population virtually lives in social networking sites, we have truly witnessed the future of communication. Such evolution has finally reached its peak: with the inception of pinoyRealTV, the pioneering online channel that lets us watch our favorite shows anytime and anywhere, news, entertainment and social media interaction now come in a single package that offers convenient viewing experience.

pinoyRealTV, powered by whoa.ph is part of the OTT (Over-the-top) TV arena that lets viewers watch their favorite variety shows using their own devices through broadband connection. Launched in 2012, pinoyRealTV is practically our pocket television--we can watch its specialized contents even as we travel. With previous shows including Urban Tribeand Mariel Rodiguez and Robin Padilla's Love-on-Line (LOL), pinoyRealTV launched its new set of variety programs last April 8 with media and bloggers.

Video streaming by Ustream

Food, travel, fashion and showbiz with the genuine touch of Filipino culture--these are some of the themes of the new shows that pinoyRealTV offers to its online audience. Unique Places grants us free tickets to interesting and prominent places in the Philippines; Pinoy Indies showcases celebrated and recognized Filipino digital films; Suit Up gives us fashion tips and some success stories of business entrepreneurs; Promdi Chef takes us to a gastronomic journey that offers the Filipino's very own ingenious food creations; The Workplace offers business advices on ideal work environments from first-hand corporation experts.

Jojo Alejar's Medyo Late Night Show, Hot Seat, It's Me Avel and Heart-ista Advice also line up the eight new programs of pinoyRealTV. Hosted by showbiz experts Eddie Littlefield, Alex Brosas and Julie Bonifacio, Hot Seat heats up with the question 'Handa ka na bang ma-Hot Seat?' and sizzles with latest celebrity scoops and news. Heart-ista Advicepresents celebrity heartthrobs, actors and musicians who shall generously hear our love stories and offer advices. Finally It's Me Avel, hosted by Avel Bacudiotours us to the world of Pinoy fashion and lifestyle.

Learning about pinoyRealTVI discovered more about the social media network and how it can offer more to its online audience by linking television and the online screen and ultimately creating a whole new light on convenient entertainment and news experience. With pinoyRealTV's connection to other social networking sites we can watch our favorite shows on a timeline grid, share our thoughts, comment on the programs and interact with online friends all at the same time.

Witness the future of television unfold with pinoyRealTV: Atin ito! You can visit their website at http://www.pinoyreal.tvpowered by whoa.ph.

Dugong Buhay: The art of forgiveness

2013-04-06T05:18:00.000-07:00

"Love, hate and forgiveness--these elements define someone who can live his life to the fullest. Iyan ang dugong buhay." -Carlo J. Caparas

How do you live when your life is full of lies, full of hatred and vengeance? This spells Kapamilya Gold's newest afternoon series Dugong Buhay, revived from the 1983 movie creation of komiks scriptwriter-director-producer Carlo J. Caparas. Directed by Toto Natividad and Mikey del Rosario, Dugong Buhay is another must-see work of art that is especially dedicated to the present-day farmers and workers who are abused by their landlords, painstakingly crafted and remolded using modern film technology and infused with contemporary themes. ABS-CBN launched Dugong Buhay and featured its ensemble of veteran and brilliant young artists with media and bloggers last April 3 and shared the concept behind the action-drama series and the artists' impressions about the project.

"Reviving Dugong Buhay is truly a timely project that should restore the Filipino people's interest in the art of komiks and inform them of the rich and long tradition of such works of art," Direk Carlo Caparas shared.

He added that although many people and critics do not consider komiks as a legitimate work of literature, it has become an intricate part of the Filipino culture that should be promoted and celebrated.

Direk Toto Natividad and Direk Mikey Del Rosario

Starring Ejay Falcon, Arjo Atayde, Nonie Buencamino, Anna Capri, Pen Medina, Christian Vasquez, Jed Montero, Ketchup Eusebio, Sunshine Cruz, Lito Pimentel, Yam Concepcion and Ronnie Quizon, Dugong Buhay also offers the Filipino audience not just the typical love story but also the long-gone action and heavy drama themes weaved by a complicated but timely and realistic plot design.

"I am very honored to take the leading role of this famous work crafted by our very own Carlo Caparas. I and Arjo may not be really considered "professionals" in such type of field, but we are always motivated to do our best, believing in the skill and the competence of our creative and technical staff that primarily define the 'masterpiece' in this series," Ejay Falcon shared.

Following the success of Caparas' other TV-adapted creations Pieta, Elias Paniki and Panday, Dugong Buhay revolves around the ill-fated life of Victor (Falcon), carved and molded by anger, revenge and lies. Raised by rebel worker Simon (Buencamino), Victor is honed to fight for the abused farmers and against the landlords, the De Lara family, who, as he discovers in time, is his true family. A warrior armed with vengeance, he will face the battle that was never his to fight--a battle that will eventually lead to a war between him and his true identity.

Direk Toto Natividad

With special participation of Carlo Aquino, Ahron Villena, Valerie Concepcion, Maliksi Morales, Jamilla Obispo and Yen Santos, Dugong Buhay premieres on April 8 at 3:30pm in the Kapamilya Gold afternoon drama series.

Caribbean Footwear: Experience a wild summer adventure with the Urban Safari Collection!

2013-04-05T22:10:00.000-07:00

Travel is the ultimate get-away from everyday stress and the monotonous life we suffer from--may it be school, work or both. We go to the beach and take vacation trips to rejuvenate and refresh ourselves, and that comes with considering comfort and ease in what we wear for our summer ventures. Comfort always comes first with our clothes, especially our flip flops. We must have all experienced those flimsy and uncomfortable pair of flip flops that didn't even last a month, designs that grew pale and pasty and even stuck on our feet. Worry no more--Caribbean Footwear, the ultimate novel brand that infused art and science into our flip flops--has finally granted our wishes.

A proudly local brand that first bloomed in 1995, Caribbean Footwear spells travel, beach and adventure. It formerly manufactured products for big footwear companies and started their flip flop designs in 2010. This year Caribbean Footwear launched its newest Urban Safari Collection with media and bloggers last April 3 at Red Mango, Greenbelt 3.

Comfort, Durability and Fashion--these are the three tenets of Caribbean Footwear. It ultimately believes that comfort and style can be stringed together by art and science and can eventually achieve a durable and long-lasting pair of flip flops perfect not just for our summer escapades but also for our everyday use.

Here are the concepts behind the perfect blending of fashion and technology that make Caribbean Footwear unique from other flip flop brands:

1. The science is in the strap.Caribbean's flip flop straps are molded perfectly to achieve comfort, durability and elegance using its own avant-garde technology.

2. The technique is in the toe.Revisiting and reconsidering the science of balance in our feet, Caribbean specially designed its flip flop's arched structure that supports the balancing act maintained by our toes.

3. The core is in the curve.Counting durability as one its main principles, Caribbean offers the model of the mid-foot curve, which serves as our aide that maintains our posture and proper foot formation. Such perfectly and practically designed structure enhances our endurance while walking or running.

4. The secret is in the sole.Caribbean footwear is scientifically-designed to shape our sole that provides comfort in mobility and protection against harsh elements that usually leave our feet injured or calloused.

5. The absolute transformation is in the Anti-slip technology. If there's anything especially extraordinary and revolutionary in Caribbean compared to other well-known footwear brands, it is the anti-slip foot bed technology that can make us finally say goodbye to that uneasy and unpleasant feeling when we walk our flip flops for too long.

Caribbean's flip flop combines art and science in one--its classy and elegant designs that range from its basics collection, design prints to the stripes revolution available for men and women, and its cutting-edge technology that lives up to its promise of durability and long-lasting comfort.

Caribbean Footwear is now available in leading department stores and supermarkets nationwide. You can never go wrong with Caribbean Footwear with its Urban Safari Collection design and its affordable prices ranging from P180-P300. You may also visit their website at http://www.caribbean.com.ph/ and like their Facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/CaribbeanFootwear.

My Urban Safari flip flops!

Hollywood's Chubbuck Acting Technique with Director Rahyan Carlos

2013-02-21T16:34:00.001-08:00

"Learning is a never-ending process."

The only Filipino representative who learned firsthand Hollywood's secret to exceptional acting performance, Star Magic director-writer-acting coach Rahyan Carlos shared his experience under the renowned acting trainer Ivana Chubbuck, author of the book "The Power of the Actor" to media and bloggers last February 6.

Direk Rahyan also shared the intensity of the training under Ivana Chubbuck as he worked with other famous Hollywood artists and mastered the Chubbuck Technique that was used by some of the Academy award winners and nominees like Jim Carrey, Charlize Theron, Brad Pitt and Halle Berry.

"It was an honor to be able to learn the Chubbuck Technique firsthand and I am truly glad that I can teach this to our fellow artists in the Star Magic Workshop we will launch this summer," Direk Rahyan added.

He also shared how artists in Hollywood train intensively and prepare way ahead of time to master the technique, and how they are eager to learn that compared to most Filipino artists during workshops who are still shy to try a technique, Hollywood artists would always volunteer and compete with everyone in the workshop.

Chubbuck Technique is what Direk Rahyan basically dubs as karga in Filipino. Before the execution of the scene the artist must first be able to connect himself with the story line and correlate it to a similar experience; in other words, the artist must have a karga or an emotional load that reflects the scene to be able to execute an authentic acting performance. He added that the technique is never easy and needs to be mastered to be able to produce an outstanding performance we often see in Hollywood films.

Some of the bloggers were also invited to be mentored by Direk Rahyan and were given lines from certain Filipino movies to act out while applying the Chubbuck Technique. I saw how difficult it was to first internalize the dramatic atmosphere of the scene and correlate it with your own experience.

He also shared that such technique can be mastered by anyone interested to improve their skills. I truly learned a lot from Direk Rahyan and was inspired by his message that there is no limit to learning because he believes that whatever field we take--acting and singing performances, teaching, research--the learning never stops and we should continue to accept, evaluate and discover new things to improve our skills and knowledge.

Direk Rahyan Carlos will offer the Star Magic workshop in three categories: the Introductory, Advanced and Master Classes to both amateurs and professionals for the first time. Registration is on March 16 and 17 with limited slots. For inquiries you may call the ABS-CBN Star Magic Acting Studio at 415-3828 or 41502272 local 5142 or 5244. You may also email them at starmagicworkshops@abs-cbn.com.

Apoy sa Dagat Director FM Reyes: "Why not promote our own Philippine islands?"

2013-02-21T16:19:00.001-08:00

In a country where the audience is apparently divided into socioeconomic classes, just "how do you make both ends meet?"

A good, well-thought out story, a quality entertainment show, plus a free ticket to the unseen paradise of the Philippine islands--these spell out ABS-CBN's newest teleserye Apoy sa Dagat as director FM Reyes and Nick Olanka and the creative staff shared their insights and the story behind the soap opera at the Bloggers Conference last February 9.

"This teleserye shall redefine what a quality show truly is, and shall bridge the gap between what we offer in the cinema and in free TV," Direk FM Reyes shared, who believes that quality and educational programs should not be restricted to the elite and high class community but must be offered most especially to those who cannot afford them and who should watch them.

Direk Nick Olanka and the creative staff also shared some of the special techniques they used in the teleserye that also showcases the beautiful islands and beaches in the Philippines like Bataan. I truly learned a lot from the directors especially from Direk FM, who also said that the names of the places involve a semiotic correlation with the emotional load of the story.

"Our efforts to produce an exceptional and quality teleserye, where the audience will not only be entertained by the story but also be educated by the diversity and beauty of our country is most especially dedicated to those who cannot afford quality cinema and cable channels," Direk FM added.

Starring outstanding artists Piolo Pascual, Deither Ocampo and Angelica Panganiban, Apoy sa Dagat is a story of twins Serena and Rebecca who got separated when they were still young. As both lead separate and completely different lives--Serena living with Ruben (Piolo Pascual) in the beautiful island of Bataan and Rebecca living in the corporate world--they will eventually meet each other and prove that fire and water can never co-exist; one will always have to destroy the other.

Direk FM also shared the sophisticated and difficult characters of the twins where Angelica cannot represent both via simple physical differences and must portray each one in completely distinct attitudes, mannerisms and expressions. I have been watching Apoy sa Dagat and just like what Direk FM said, Angelica indeed does an excellent job in portraying the twins.

Apoy sa Dagat is also starred by renowned artists Nikki Gil, Patrick Garcia, Aiko Melendez, Angel Aquino, Liza Lorena, Freddie Web, Perla Bautista, Sylvia Sanchez, Melai Cantiveros, Regine Angeles, Bryan Santos, Wendy Valdez, Mikylla Ramirez, Zeppi Borromeo, Rico Barrera and Alizon Andres.

Bryan Termulo at 25 promotes 1st major concert

2013-02-15T19:50:00.005-08:00

A good story is never complete without an enchanting background music that would always make us fall in love with it. Dubbed as the Prince of Teleserye Theme Songs, Bryan Termulo promoted his first major concert at the bloggers conference last February 9 at the Insomnia Bar, Centris Walk and shared his preparations for the special event especially dedicated to his fans.

"I've been in the industry for five years and I want to thank all those who supported me ever since through this concert," the balladeer shared, who will also celebrate his 25th birthday at his concert.

He also said his fans will see a whole new side of him and will showcase his talent in dancing, and of course, will make them fall in love again with his love songs.

I have always remembered him in Bihag, the theme song of Sophia (Jodi Sta. Maria) and Bart (Rafael Rosell) in 100 Days to Heaven that would always make me fall in love and wait for the next episode of their love story. Who would not forget the handsome voice singing Kailan, Pagdating ng Panahon, Hanggang Ngayon and Dadalhin while we watch our favorite teleseryes Walang Hanggan, Dahil sa Pag-ibig and Ina, Kapatid at Anak. The kilig factor never stops as he sings Sa Isang Sulyap Mo in ABS-CBN's newest teleserye Juan dela Cruz every time Juan (Coco Martin) visits Rosario (Erich Gonzales) in her flower shop. Indeed, Bryan Termulo has marked his niche in the industry and said that he would also like to take it to the next level and write songs in the future. As a fan of good Filipino teleserye myself, I can say that Bryan's songs has truly painted a more colorful picture of what love is with his songs infused in such teleseryes.

Don't miss Bryan's Birthday Concert dubbed Bryan XXV Termulo on March 9, 2013 at the Music Museum 8pm with special guests Liezel Garcia, KZ Tandingan, Bugoy Drilon and Melai Cantiveros. You may purchase tickets and call Ticketworld at 891-9999 or Music Museum 721-0635 and Teatrino 721-6726. Ticket prices range from P800-P2000 and VIP ticket buyers (P2000) will get a limited Mini-Magazine from Bryan Termulo and a Meet-and-Greet after the concert!

You may also visit his page at www.facebook.com/BRYAN TERMULO and his Twitter at www.twitter.com/bryantermulo. The Bryan Termulo Bloggers' Conference was brought by BWB Records and Music Production Inc. in cooperation with LionhearTV, Pinoy Magazine, Erase Placenta, Lifeline, Cetaphil, Skechers, SOLO, Star Magic and Tambayan 101.9.

Yeng Constantino on love, music and faith #B.A.B.A.Y #Metamorphosis

2013-02-08T18:15:00.001-08:00

"Don't be afraid to try something new."

Her passion for music, her love for reinvention and her ardent belief for OPM music--these truly justify the million fans who adore and admire Pop Rock Princess Yeng Constantino. Yeng launched her fifth music record with media and bloggers entitled "Metamorphosis" produced under Star Records, which perfectly fits her newest transformation as a singer-songwriter in the OPM industry.

The youth can truly relate to the album with Yeng's carrier single "B.A.B.A.Y" that also defines the talented artist's transformation from being a Pinoy Dream Academy grandchampion to a renowned OPM singer-songwriter who has already established her pop-rock niche in the industry. Yeng shared the story behind B.A.B.A.Y which deviates from its overt sad lyrics matched with a lively rhythym and a light and colorful music video, that roots from her personal experience with a good friend who in time started to fall in love with her and suddenly disappeared without a trace because he decided to stay away to preserve their friendship. The album also includes her original tracks "Hahanapin Kita", "Josephine", "Messiah", "Pasensya Na", "Di Pa Huli", "Teleserye", "Pag-ibig" and "Sandata".

I couldn't help but watch in awe as the 24-year-old artist, who from being a "disciple" of his good mentor Raymond Marasigan to being a teacher of music herself to young aspiring singers shared to bloggers her passion and excitement for her self-composed album that took her two years to make, and her unending love for her fans to which the album was dearly dedicated to. I was also amazed and inspired at how she wants to uplift the status of OPM music internationally and believes that our use of the Filipino language would be the key factor for us to promote our country in such industries.

I also had the chance to ask her what message she could give to the youth and all her young fans and said that they should always try something new and continue to learn from their experiences, good or bad to become a better person. A "disciple" of God herself, she also advised the youth to always offer to Him whatever accomplishments they have made and to always believe in Him. It was really inspiring when she shared how she felt empty after she has reached her "nirvana" as a singer because she has forgotten the simplest things in life that truly make her happy, and realized that she wants to offer all her success to God and her fans.

As part of the youth I can truly say that Yeng is an inspiration and a model for us to pursue our dreams, to always believe in them, to always love our parents and to always look back to our humble beginnings once we reach success.

Yeng Constantino will launch her fifth album Metamorphosis, which is currently no. 1 on MYX daily Top 10, MYX Hit Chart and MYX Pinoy Countdown this Sunday February 10 in ASAP 18. Her album is now available in music stores nationwide and is also available online at www.mymusicstore.com.ph and iTunes. You can also visit her website at www.yeng.ph and her facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/yengunplugged.

Bayan Mo Ipatrol Mo Tayo Na: Be aware. Be informed. #BMPMTayoNa

2013-02-05T01:12:00.001-08:00

While most of us, especially the younger generation are virtually living in the overwhelming realm of the social network I can't help but ask: just how many of us are informed with news and current events? Just how many of us inform ourselves with such relevant information? And most importantly, while I often see a lot of Avengers Alliance and Diamond Dash application requests in my Facebook account from friends and a trending #SirChief1stHUGtoMaya and other endless rants on Twitter, I can't help but wonder: just how many of us use these social media networks to properly educate ourselves?

From Ako ang Simula and Boto Mo Ipatrol Mo, ABS-CBN News and Current Affairs launched their new campaign for clean and orderly elections this coming 2013 as Bayan Mo Ipatrol Mo: Tayo Na #BMPMTayoNa with media and bloggers. Hosted by Ms. Jing Castaneda, the campaign promotes a new application for IOS and Android phones that helps patrollers to easily report any campaign-and-election-incident to ABS-CBN and more importantly to help them secure their identities as patrollers. One can also be updated with the latest events about election and be informed about Halalan 101 through the application.

As a Linguistics student and a blogger, I truly learned a lot from the conference especially from blogger-journalist Inday Varona who discussed about citizen journalism. I also had the chance to ask their method of information dissemination about this campaign especially to the younger generation who, even though are very much exposed to the social network and are only one click away to relevant information seem to be not too aware about such current events. She said that there is no "shortcut" to this problem and ABS-CBN and the BMPMTayoNa team are currently improving and developing their campaign to be able to reach out to the youth.

I also learned about the experiences of other bloggers about the campaign period especially from my mentor Ms. Josephine Bonsol who for seven years has been assigned as BEI during barangay elections. I realized how much such teachers sacrifice their lives being hostaged and kidnapped because of the endless political "wars" that seem to be more evident in barangay elections. I also learned a lot from head of ABS-CBN News and Current Affairs Ging Reyes, blogger Flow Galindez of www.angsawariko.com and Richard Paglicawan of www.lionheartv.net.

As my mentor Josephine Bonsol always say: the change should always start with us, and we should start by being aware and by being informed with relevant facts. The campaign truly made me more aware about the election system in our country and made me realize that even though I am still young I also have the power to change the system. I may not be able to show it by marching on the streets, but I can definitely write and share these kinds of advocacy and campaigns through social media networks and pass on to every one of my 1 039 friends this message that may change our lives forever.

David Pomeranz launches new album "You're the Inspiration"

2012-12-20T00:39:00.000-08:00

The Old Songs...

Got to Believe in Magic...

On this Day...

Born for you...Who would not remember such love songs that have always made us believe and fall in love?

David Pomeranz continues to inspire Filipinos with his new album "You're the Inspiration" and performed some of his favorite songs at the "David Pomeranz: A Christmas Gift from the Music Man" press conference at Cerchio Grill and Lounge last December 18 with media and bloggers.

"[The album] is an experiment. These are revivals of the songs that I love to listen to in the radio, the same songs that I know Filipinos love to sing along to," David, the internationally-acclaimed singer-songwriter and much-loved artist shared.

The King of Hearts added that compared to his previous albums, You're the Inspiration is different in a way that he has "put his heart and soul to his favorite songs that Filipinos also grew to love."

He said that he has also seen how Filipinos fall in love with his songs as he shared his first concert experience in the Philippines in 1983 at the Folk Arts theater and was surprised to see his fans go wild over his love song performances compared to his rock songs.

One of the most ingenious recording artist and songwriters who achieved 18 Gold and 22 Platinum records and sold over 35 million copies worldwide, David Pomeranz is currently having a nationwide tour entitled "The Magic of Christmas" in the Philippines that started last December 13 in Casino Filipino-Bacolod.

The new album is a collection of songs that David "wants to sing along with his Filipino fans", which includes You're the Inspiration, To Be With You, The Search is Over, Nothing's Gonna Stop Us Now, Now and Forever, As Long as You Love Me, All Out of Love, Have I Told You Lately, I'll Be Over You, These Dreams and What Matters Most.

His upcoming shows will be at the Airport Casino Filipino-December 20, The Pavilion-December 21, Iloilo-December 22, Angeles-December 27, Olongapo-December 28 and Tagaytay-December 29.

David just came from General Santos City before the press conference and also shared his encounter with pound-for-pound boxing champion Manny Pacquiao, saying that he looks at Manny as an "artist with such accurate moves that you rarely see in the boxing ring."

He also shared how he loves spending Christmas in the Philippines especially because of the unique Filipino Christmas spirit. He said he also loves seeing the Christmas parols and enjoys his favorite Pinoy delicacies like cassava cake, ube ice cream, pancit and adobo.

David Pomeranz's "You're the Inspiration" album is distributed by MediaNation Inc. and will be available nationwide.

How do you give love on Christmas Day?

2012-12-19T23:38:00.000-08:00

How do you give love on Christmas day? A old sweet man passed by our house one day to play a Christmas song that I've loved since elementary, with nothing but an old violin.

Ploning: Home for lychees

2012-11-05T22:13:00.000-08:00

Language is a window to one's culture.

Being a Linguistics student for one and a half year now I have learned the significance of our respect for, awareness and knowledge of the diversity of languages, not just in the context of preserving them but also in the notion of treating them as an important key to unlock and acquire new knowledge for humankind, discoveries and revolutionary breakthroughs that may only be accessed through language, and a descriptive perspective and understanding of it. I have also learned that behind this field of disovery one can also peek into one's unique culture that is intricately woven with language, farming rituals and medicinal herbs, dance steps and song lyrics and poems that are unique and can only be expressed through that language.

Living in the city for 18 years I have had little experience of different cultures, and reading them in books with no pictures was quite disappointing. And so as I watched Ploning (2008) I was able to peek into the beautiful island of Cuyo, Palawan and to witness a story of culture that further ignited my passion to learn about them and made me appreciate the diversity of languages in the Philippines even more.

An official entry for the Best Foreign Film Festival of the 81st Academy Awards, Ploning is both a tale and a song about a mysterious woman who hid her past, a lost man who searched for his past and a heartwarming and equally mysterious relationship all reflected through the eyes of 6-year-old Digo (Cedric Amit). Starring renowned artists Judy Ann Santos, Gina Pareno, Tony Mabesa, Eugene Domingo, Tessie Tomas, Joel Torre and Ces Quesada among others, Ploning also showcases the elegant and sophisticated style of Filipino cinema that can top international films and can make us all proud of our own creations.

The story revolves around Muo Sei (Boyong Fernandez), 30-year-old fisherman in an illegal fishing vessel, haunted by his past and a name he always calls for in his sleep every night. Advised by his Taiwanese boss he was given half a day to find "his Ploning" in his hometown in Cuyo, Palawan, and with the help of the people who once knew Ploning he was able to revisit his past, his childhood fondess for lychees, his memories with his strict brother (Lucas Agustin and Joel Torre), his questions about death and his precious hours with Ploning (Judy Ann Santos), who, he found out in the end to be his true mother.

Ploning is a geniusly sophisticated film in terms of how it unfolded the story plot: series of flashback to Digo's childhood were all beautifully knitted together and questions you would ask in the first parts were all resolved in the ending that really made me cry: why Ploning wore a white dress in his father's burial, why she never laughed and always kept her feelings to herself, why she wanted to go to Manila. These were questions that 6-year-old Digo also asked, and 25 years later was able to clearly make sense of: that his Ploning was not merely a name printed on a souvenier item in his hometown.

Crafted with outstanding cinematography, a majestic setting and interwoven with the native culture of Palawan in the form of their use of the Cuyunon language, Ploning is a critically-acclaimed film that truly helps contribute to the awareness of Filipinos about the diversity of our languages and showcase a uniqueness possessed by a culture and a language that should not be discriminated or marked as an inferior or minor aspect of a community.

According to director Dante Nico Garcia, also a Cuyunon native, the film was also a tribute to his hometown, to the people who still know how to speak Cuyunon and equally to those who have forgotten it. Such outstanding films should be widely disseminated and promoted for the benefit of the indigeneous communities to help them uplift their unique identities and make them proud of their own languages, and equally for the benefit of the present generation who have little knowledge about these cultures.

Published Essays: Asking, seeking too much

2012-11-05T22:11:00.000-08:00

http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=818067&publicationSubCategoryId=86

I do not believe in God.

People in my community always said He is everywhere. Of course He’s everywhere, I thought 10 years ago: He was framed on our dining room wall, seated with a bunch of people eating bread and drinking wine; He was displayed on our bedroom window. He always had a special corner in the house where mom would light candles before a paper portrait of Him. He was always on TV every 3 p.m.; He was always in my pocket; Mom would hand me that beaded necklace before I’d go to school. He was always in my CLE books: still, unsmiling, strange.

For eight years I was educated by Catholic schools that tried to fill me with the significance of believing in God, but instead I felt they injected me with a rather strict culture: memorizing Bible passages, filling in the blanks with the Eight Beatitudes, reciting the Apostles’ Creed and the rosary every morning before the flag ceremony. I did not really complain about these “routines”; I was too innocent to care and too gullible to ask why I was supposed to learn the sign of the cross and to give P5 during the offertory at Sunday Mass.

Learning about the nature vs. nurture theory, I can say that I was nurtured to believe in God with a rich religious environment and society that worshipped Him in a unique way. With this I have come to draw a personal picture of Him, and have granted Him a mortal existence in my everyday life: I would thank Him for the new day every morning, talk to Him before I go to sleep and recognize His presence for every competition and elocution and dance performance and exam I had to overcome.

As time passed by though, I began to ask questions. Just like young Jesus in the book Christ the Lord: Out of Egypt, and probably just like the author Anne Rice herself, my curiosity grew like wildfire as my environment gradually changed. Such change, however, I never considered to be a big deal or a revolutionary turn in my life as a Roman Catholic, as I began to look through a “new lens” of religion. I just became a little disturbed that as I explored this new world even with a descriptive perspective, my own picture of God, once a crystal clear view of Him as written in the Bible and of Jesus’ life as coherently described in the Four Gospels, seemed to blur a little, like clearly seeing yourself on a still pond then becoming distorted into a ripple.

The bright, detailed painting fading into a slightly indistinct work of art was gradual. Back in high school, after being pampered by two Catholic schools run by nuns, I learned of other ways of worshipping God with strange names like Iglesia ni Cristo and Born Again. I began to wonder why some of my classmates did not do the sign of the cross or did not attend our Mass at school. I once attended a seminar spearheaded by Born Again volunteers and they praised my God with religious songs that I had never heard in our own church. They sang with such passion and enthusiasm that they always closed their eyes, and I deeply wondered why my community was never like this and people didn’t sing very loud like they did.

At one point I feared this difference in religion would mark a sensitive border line, defining my social place and my friends at school. I felt compelled to box others according to religion when it should not have been. I later realized that such thoughts actually prevented me from discovering the uniqueness of people’s ways of living and their different cultures which have fascinated me ever since. But the questions surged like a landslide.

For one thing, growing up in a Roman Catholic-type environment, I was always made to conclude that good people are those who believe in God. But then as I tried on different lenses, I met people who were equally good and kind but didn’t actually believe in God. It was a strange and overwhelming discovery, yet it further blurred my view of God and more questions poured down like hail.

I struggled to keep my faith and tried to “see with eyes unclouded” by emotions when I took a class that dissected the existence of Jesus Christ born of a Virgin Mary. His unlikely existence, Jesus being a gay or an abnormal person in biological terms — it’s science bumping into religion, after all. Reading texts on the views of atheists and non-believers of Christ, watching the Da Vinci Code, all these new perspectives were overwhelming, yet confusing all together. Did Jesus really exist in the first place? How could he have been XY if he had no paternal origin?

But these questions were never rhetorical in any way. These were questions born out of curiosity, out of my itch to learn more about my belief and of others’. After all, my conscious acceptance of a God is an essential part of my life, and a very interesting part of one’s life holding a timeless controversy and conspiracy that has united and divided man throughout history.

These questions were also born out of the values I learned during high school and in my first college year: to keep asking questions, and treating every answer in a descriptive point of view. My mentor Josephine Bonsol keeps telling me to know the facts first before anything: before judging others’ religions, before starting to act like a hypocrite who memorizes every word in the Bible but gossips about his neighbor right after he steps out of the church; before starting to doubt the existence of my God.

I sometimes fear I ask too many questions and bother too many people. But Anne Rice taught me to keep asking questions, just as seven-year-old Jesus did.

I sometimes fear I seek too many answers and may not find or understand them all. But Jesus taught me, in his life as a young lad who cried and laughed and experienced nightmares just like the rest of us, to continue to find the answers and not to fear.

I continue to ask questions, and accept answers as they are, just as Jesus — kid as he was, once upon a time—did. Until then, I do not just believe in God; I follow His ways.

Published Essays: The Woman I Never Understood

2012-11-05T22:09:00.000-08:00

http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=686135&publicationSubCat

When you cry, she cries more. When you hurt, she hurts more. And when you say you love her, she will only smile and whisper under her breath, “I don’t even have to say it; you know I love you more.”

Acceptance is a virtue. I was taught in high school that one thing I have to accept is my natural limitation in understanding everything, especially at my age. Then I was also taught to realize that as part of the emotionally confused youth, I tend to think I’m Superman and sometimes decide on big things on my own, not quite realizing they’re not for me to make. I do understand the cultural norms in life, both at the positive and negative levels, but it deeply struck me to tears when Mitch Albom’s For One More Day seemed to ask: “But do you understand her?”

I simply don’t. She always forgets her favorite movie titles. She always narrates her whereabouts at work. She always sleeps early at night. She always washes our clothes early in the morning. She always dozes over half of the movie she watches. She, more often than not, scolds our big sister for simply this and that.

But that’s all I see about her. It didn’t strike me at first that I should see her as a puzzle, a riddle; all that she shows to us is a big understatement of who she really is. In a daughter’s eyes, she is simply a mother. A caring mother. An overprotective mother. Like Chick Benetto’s mom, mine also nags me about everything. From schoolwork to socks to untied shoelaces to extra bottles of water to lunch bags, she always reminds me not to forget these simple things, and I’m like, “I know mom. I’m a Girl Scout, remember?”

Looking back, I figured I was not quite the Girl Scout at all. My busy school days left me forgetful most of the time and all I could do was call my mom back home for my silly school project. And she would always tell me she’s already on her way because she knew beforehand. She always knew. School clothes, my favorite lunch, and extra money — all those things. I seldom had to ask her; she always knew.

Like Chick, I also made my mom angry at times. I never got as far as smoking like when Chick hid cigarettes from his mom, but I always make mine mad by informing her about small trips or sleepovers at the last minute. She really hates panicking, she gets all upset and irritated. There was one night when my twin sister and I got home from school and quickly ran through our closets while we told her we would have a sleepover for a last-minute class practice. While she hid her utmost worry with lengthy reminders and more scolding, she diligently helped us prepare our stuff and even made us nice sandwiches for dinner. Then she kissed us a long goodbye.

At times when I thought I was able to successfully slip past her doubts and rejections about such trips, I tried to analyze why I still had to escape from her strict methods. I began to wonder how mothers get their exaggerated protective instincts about everything, and why we kids should have to endure it.

But then my high school mentor, Josephine Bonsol, also a mother, taught me how to understand my mom more. She said I should take into account the sufferings and frustrations she may have gone through when she was young, making her what she is now and unconsciously imposing on us the strict methods she was once also under.

I remember one of her stories about her mom being too strict with her, being the oldest one. She bitterly recalled how her mom always scolded her about everything even though she didn’t do anything wrong. But what I admired about my mom the most was her determination not to physically hurt us the way she was paddled with a dos-por-dos during her childhood days.

I cannot say I fully understand her now because I can still see her only as my mother. I cannot see her as a woman who may have deeper stories and frustrations in life. It’s because she’s not only my mother: she’s also a daughter, a sibling, a wife and a woman.

But I can proudly say I love her more now, especially after crying over Chick’s ghost story with her mom. Mitch Albom made me want to value the days I can have thinking I may never have one more day with her.

But then again, at this young age with a promising future I believe would last for more than just one day, it’s hard to think I could lose her any day now. Although I was also taught to always think about what may happen in the future, it always seems like a macrocosmic concept — or reality — too big to be grasped by a 17-year-old. My head’s always filled with the things I want and dream to do — watch movies, travel around the world, get rich and be a “citizen of the world.” When I look at Mom, I simply see the woman who never failed to bring out the best in me and who supported me all the way, not the ghost who would haunt me and bitterly whisper, “Life goes quickly, doesn’t it? I miss you every day, Je.”

It’s heartbreaking when I think of it now. Maybe especially for Chick who wasn’t even there when his mom died. And especially when he actually had the chance to save her but he couldn’t because he had lied. I have lied to my mother a ton of times, and now I’m wondering if there should be a scheduled time I should admit it all to her, so I would not believe I didn’t trust her all along. Or maybe I should admit all of it now. Time can be tricky, I guess, and scary when you think there’s a lot more left but it’s actually even shorter than a day.

I know I will definitely cry when I lose her. But not with guilt. Not with frustration that I wasn’t able to give all the love a daughter could ever give to her mother. After all, she would then only whisper to me, “You can’t lose your mother, honey.”

But before my mom the ghost can even mutter it to me, I will not fail to say to her, “I love you every day, Mom!” Every day.

Figaro's New Christmas Treats perfect for the Holidays!

2012-10-26T05:49:00.000-07:00

Christmas is truly a season of family celebration and bonding with gift-giving, unlimited candies and Christmas tree-decorating. A million thanks to my dear mentor Ms. Josephine Bonsol for an early Yuletide treat with Figaro's new Christmas Delights, I was able to take a break from last minute papers and to forget the butterflies in my stomach waiting for my final grades as I bonded with my nanay and kuya Mark Fortaleza at Figaro Tomas Morato last week.

It's chocolate overload with Figaro's Triple Chocolate Toffee Bar (Php95), a heavenly slice of layered chocolate that is every kid's dream come true: chocolate fudge, nutty toffee filled nuts and chocolate ganache with chocolate balls on top. It was our favorite as I remembered getting amused at the chocolate balls wrapped in different Christmas-colored foils our titas would always give us during Yuletide season.

photo from www.jobonsol.net

You will surely fall in love with Figaro's Red Velvet Cake (Php110), a slice of delightful red soft and moist cake with layers of sweet frosting to compliment the chocolatey red taste of the cake. It's perfect not just for the Christmas season but also for birthdays as I remembered my friend giving a two-thumbs-up to the delectable moist cake perfect for dessert after a satisfying lunch of Figaro's Spoon Meals.

Fruit cakes always complete the Christmas celebration made even more special with Figaro's Taisan Fruit Cake (Php70), soft foam cake filled with a burst of Christmas flavors of fruit glaze and nuts.

photo from www.jobonsol.net

Add Figaro's Christmas Cupcake (Php80) and your sweet Christmas is complete: a chocolate moist cupcake topped with butter frosting and colorful Christmas candy sprinkles that reminded me of the vibrant decorations on our Christmas tree.

photo from www.jobonsol.net

Figaro's Cheese Bacon Scone (Php85) was new to me, but I enjoyed the cheese and bacon-flavored quick bread best dipped with Figaro latte as I listened to nanay Josephine's amusing stories I'll always cherish.

Enjoy your hot Figaro latte and cold drinks with Figaro's new Chistmas Merchandise--artisan mug, frosted tumbler or premium mug.

Christmas is in the air best celebrated with Figaro's new Christmas treats now available at all Figaro branches nationwide. You may visit www.figarocoffee.com and like their Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/figarocoffeecompany.

Thank you very much to nanay Josephine Bonsol and Ms. Annesy Del Mundo!

Jollibee launches the Crispy Wings Hour with Alden Richards

2012-10-21T21:33:00.002-07:00

Fridays just got better as Jollibee launched its Crispy Wings Hour with Kapuso heartthrob Alden Richards and bloggers last October 20 at Trinoma. Mark your calendars: for the whole month of October, Jollibee will be giving away free samples of Jollibee Crispy Wings every Friday, from 3-4pm to all dining customers in 120 participating stores nationwide.

Alden's newest favorite snack, Jollibee Crispy Wings is a deliciously filling and crispy treat perfect for afternoon breaks with friends and colleagues.

"I've always been loyal to Jollibee because it's affordable and their newest Jollibee Crispy Wings truly makes the best of my merienda time," Alden, a former Business Administration student said during the bloggers' interview.

Growing up to love Jollibee, I can say that its new Jollibee Crispy Wings is truly an innovative and unique snack experience to share the table and bond with my friends and family. My dad especially loved dipping the Crispy Wings in its special sweet chili sauce and matching it with his all-time favorite french fries. Marinated in a special seasoning then fried to a delicious crisp, Jollibee Crispy Wings will truly boost your snack time and give you more reasons to look forward to dine at your nearest Jollibee store.

“Through the Crispy Wings Hour promo, we want to enable our customers to get into the habit of making the most out of their snack time,” shared Jollibee Senior Brand Manager Kay Segismundo. “And one of the best ways for them to brighten up their afternoon break is by enjoying the new Jollibee Crispy Wings, the delightfully crispy treat from Jollibee.”

You can order the two-piece Jollibee Crispy Wings and match it with your favorite regular fries or rice for only P70. You can also an extra P10 to get a regular-sized softdrink. Share it with your barkada and family and order the 6-piece Jollibee Crispy Wings Pack for only P170, or get the 12-piece Jollibee Crispy Wings Bucket at P340.

It's TGIF and a more fun snack experience for the whole month of October so don’t miss the Crispy Wings Hour at Jollibee stores in Trinoma, SM Megamall L3, Baguio Harrison, SM Sta. Rosa, Parkmall Mandaue City, SM City Davao, and other selected branches nationwide. You may visit www.facebook.com/JollibeePhilippines for the complete list of participating stores.

The Avengers: Loki's Tesseract

2012-05-14T15:30:00.000-07:00

Chitauri's Portal and the Fourth Dimension.

Aside from all the mind-blowing action and witty humor that truly made it a must-watch and a record-breaking movie, The Avengers shared us some knowledge--and some truth--about the Tesseract (originally Cosmic Cube in the Marvel comics Captain America but later called Tesseract in the movie), the cosmic concept that has raised endless debates dating as far back as Aristotle's time and has covered a wide range of theories from Euclid's Geometry Axioms to Einstein's Special Theory of Relativity to the Superstring Theory. Although it doesn't really exist as a tangible object, much less as a dangerous instrument that could wipe out the entire planet, the tesseract may, in simplest terms be conceived as a cube as correctly portrayed in the movie.

From what I've researched the Tesseract, also called the hypercube is a "guided demonstration" of how we perceive in the fourth dimension. Living in the world of three-dimensional perception, this notion should be impossible to simply be drawn as a smaller cube inside a bigger cube, as it is best described in conceivable form. Mathematicians for years have debated about its existence, others claiming that as point is the first dimension, a line/square is the second dimension and a cube is the third dimension, time is the fourth dimension (initially proposed by writer H. G. Wells and supported by Albert Einstein's theory). While others scientifically relate its existence as the world of the paranormal phenomena--ghosts, after-life dimension, dreams, religious mysteries, dreams and maybe mythological times as the Tesseract was portrayed in the movie to be a portal--others like Helena Petrovna Blavatsky of the Victorian era, with her magnum opus "The Secret Doctrine" argued the scientific claim and proposed that such notion is not a quest for discovering a higher form of dimension; rather a new characteristic of matter she called "permeability" revealed by clairvoyance.

The fact that the concept of Tesseract used in The Avengers already amused me as the concept itself has marveled me ever since I met Madeleine L'Engle's A Wrinkle In Time, my first and favorite sci-fi book I read as a kid. With Madeleine's background research and interest in the Tesseract infusing it into the 50-year-old Newbery-Award-winning children's book, I was able to initially picture it as the time machine, giving me a lifetime opportunity to travel to different worlds and dimensions with Meg, Calvin and my favorite Charles Wallace. Even then, L'Engle was able to simplify the idea with Tesseract being like "folding space" into higher dimensions where “a straight line is not the shortest distance between two points.”

The Avengers: "We have a Hulk"

2012-05-13T21:25:00.000-07:00

"But let's do a head count here. your brother the demi-god, a super soldier, a living legend who kind of lives up to the legend, a man with breath-taking anger management issues, a couple of master assassins, and you big fella, you've managed to piss off every single one of them."

Two words: Tony Stark. What resembled Transformers: Dark of the Moon in terms of breath-taking cinematography, the action-packed thrill and the dark apocalyptic atmosphere became more than just what thirteen-year-old teenagers and Marvel fanatics lined up for; even their girlfriends and self-proclaimed geeks like me itched to watch Joss Whedon's block-buster hit and most-awaited movie of the year The Avengers.

And it's all because of the intellectual and witty humor--that Ironman has become overly famous for in his two movies--infused in the dim and end-of-the-world plot. And even though the laugh-off-the-seat punchlines were 90% Tony Stark, the other Avengers and even Loki had their own funny moments to contribute--they are a team after all--how Thor immediately denied that he and Loki are true brothers when Black Widow told him Loki has killed 80 people in two days; how Captain America, Thor and Ironman wrestled like real ten-year-old kids fighting over a precious in-demand action-figure doll (aka Loki) (Thor: Do not touch me again! Tony: Then don't touch my stuff.), and how Steve Rogers aka Captain America always boiled over Tony's witty sass-mouthing (Steve: Big man in a suit of armour. Take that off, what are you? Tony: Genius, billionaire, playboy, philanthropist.)

As we witnessed how Tony Stark also idolized The Hulk very much he even invited him to visit Stark Tower (his candyland), we also witnessed the end of the world as it is when Nick Fury (Samuel Jackson, Ironman) activated the Tesseract at the S.H.I.E.L.D headquarters, a hypercube with a powerful energy source and opened a portal releasing exiled Norse god Loki (Tom Hiddleston, Thor). With plans of conquering Earth, he stole the Tesseract and manipulated Hawkeye and astrophysicist Professor Erik Selvig (Stellan Skarsgård) to help him escape and collect Iridium for the Tesseract needed to stabilize it.

With The Avenger s' Initiative (which served as epilogue scene for all Marvel Hero movies involved in this movie), Nick Fury assembled Black Widow ( Scarlett Johansson), Hulk (Mark Ruffalo), Captain America (Chris Evans), Ironman (Robert Downey Jr.) and Hawkeye (Jeremy Renner) to stop Loki with his plan of wiping out the entire planet with the Tesseract. Complications immediately exploded with Thor interrupting the mission as he still had "unfinished business" with his brother, and all members--especially Tony and Steve--having "friendship" issues.

They managed to capture Loki but worse misunderstandings followed when Tony and Dr. Bruce Banner (aka Hulk) (friends as they immediately became mainly because they spoke the same "language") were able to breach Nick's security files and found out that The Avengers and the Tesseract were to be used by the government to create nuclear weapons, thus making them "not a team, but a time bomb".

Just as the heroes were caught off-guard, Loki's army attacked their ship led by Hawkeye, where Dr. Banner finally lost control, threatening and attacking not only the enemies but also Thor and Black Widow as well, and hard-core enemies Captain America and Ironman had to work together to keep the ship from crashing. Thor faced his brother Loki again, but fell into his trap and fell from the ship.

Tony's agent Phil Coulson (Clark Gregg, Ironman) tried to stop Loki but was killed in the process, and together with Nick's "dramatic" scheme because the Avengers needed "a push in the right direction", the team reunited to finish the job and save the world.

Led by Captain America, the battle began as Loki, with Prof. Selvig's assistance assembled the Tesseract to open the portal that led to the world of the Chitauri, the alien race Loki recruited and released his army that all brought me back to the plot and the Decepticon aliens of Transformers: Dark of the Moon. In the end, Black Widow was able to close the portal using Loki's Tesseract staff just seconds before Ironman delivered his atomic bomb (which was released by the government to destroy Manhattan) to Chitauri portal.

Kraft Foods Philippines wins in Global CSR Awards

2012-05-10T21:09:00.001-07:00

For more than just making a "delicious difference", Kraft Foods Philippines (KFP) won Gold at the 4th Global CSR Awards last April 19 for its "Go Green" Program which continues to save water and energy and reduce carbon emissions for the environment.

Aside from "Making Today Delicious", Kraft Foods, with its multi-awarded sustainability program "Go Green" aims to preserve the environment by reducing KFP's use of water and energy and by lessening its carbon emissions. Kraft Foods has recently upgraded their Water Recycling Facility last March 2012 in their Sucat, Parañaque Manufacturing Plant, which utilizes reverse osmosis and ultraviolet light to treat water that KFP uses in their production activities.

The Global CRS Awards is Asia's most prestigious recognition awards program for corporate social responsibility (CSR). Organized by the Pinnacle Group International based in Singapore, the Global CSR Awards recognizes companies for outstanding programs demonstrating ongoing commitment to respect for individuals, communities and the environment in the way they do business.

Kraft Foods has bagged its 5th Award for its "Go Green" program in two years.

One of the endeavours of Kraft Foods is to "make every drop reusable" with its wastewater recycling program, involving specific processes producing the high quality standards KFP needs for its manufacturing activities. As a result, Kraft Foods uses treated water instead of fresh water to preserve our natural resources.

“I am personally very pleased to share that with this improvement initiative, Kraft Foods will be able to make a significant reduction to its water consumption,” says Sudip Mall, Kraft Foods Philippines’ General Manager. The amount of water that Kraft Foods hopes to reduce with this new facility is equivalent to filling up 4 Olympic-sized swimming pools or 581,000 5-gallon containers of water!

“Our programs like ‘Go Green,’ don’t just make sense for our business. We also work to protect resources for future generations. I would like to add that it is truly remarkable the way our employees have relentlessly focused on driving our environmental initiatives, of which this facility is an example. We are very proud of the award bestowed upon us and this new phase of our program for the planet’s betterment," he adds.

Aside from the biomass boilers KFP will use in the future, which reduce carbon emissions and utilize alternative energy sources, the ultimate goal of Kraft Foods' "Go Green" program is that by 2013, it will have reduced its water, energy, and carbon dioxide emission and waste generation by 5% year-on-year. It also continues to reduce, reuse and recycle through their Water Management, Ozone Protection, Energy Conservation and Waste Management and Reducing Packaging Use.

PLDTmyDSL and Nuffnang bring you The Avengers!

2012-04-22T02:24:00.001-07:00

They are all coming to town. Heed the call for the Earth's mightiest heroes, and for the country's mightiest Broadband Internet access...Avengers, PLDT myDSL Assemble!

I may be a big fan of the movies, but my brother Norman is simply a genuine expert of the Marvel heroes who can definitely win a quiz bee competition about it. He has been extremely excited since the day The Avengers movie was first promoted online, and it really amused me how keeps talking about it with such gusto and accuracy of the details of the story.

Of course, my brother wants to get the latest release of trailers and posters ahead of everyone else, and I've seen him exploring every nook of the Internet reading blogs and watching videos almost everyday. Good thing there's PLDT myDSL, the ever-reliable Internet broadband offering only the fastest Internet connections. As PLDT myDSL just seems to possess the Avengers' powers, I and my siblings can surf the Internet better for our convenience.

I always love to watch videos on Youtube, and all thanks to PLDT myDSL's fast connection matching the superhuman speed of Thor and the vast leaping ability of The Hulk, I can enjoy watching movie trailers and educational documentaries in no time.

I can also watch my favorite martial arts videos, especially Judo competitions (as I take summer club training) that continue to amaze and inspire me. I really want to improve my Judo skills, and maybe become a good judoka someday, just as Captain America is an expert in martial arts and Hawkeye is a master archer and an exceptional athlete.

Especially with PLDT myDSL's fast connection, I also love to read the latest news and updates online. Being a tech-savvy and science geek myself, I also seek the latest innovations in both fields, while I continue to wonder about the science behind Ironman's signature energy replusors and his regenerative life support.

A big fan of action, sci-fi and spy movies, I also look forward to watch Black Widow, one of the world's greatest spies in The Avengers with her amazing girl power skills.

Most of all, I love to share all these edifying and informative readings and videos and engage in productive activities offered by the giant social networks like Facebook, Twitter and Google+ in the Internet. And as this is equally an enlightening update worth sharing, PLDT myDSL now offers the Great Payday Sale to help you get that fast Internet connection you've always wanted. This summer is the perfect time to enjoy the strongest connections at home with PLDT myDSL’s Great Payday Sale happening on April 27-29, 2012. All you have to do is register at the nearest PLDT Home booth or malls nationwide on April 27-29, 2012 with 1 valid ID, no cash out! You can upgrade their Internet with PLDT myDSL’s biggest Internet sale ever. What's more, freebies like a WiFi+Modem with free installation and 1 month DSL will be given away. That’s as much as P5,000 savings! You can also apply online at www.pldtmydsl.com.

Experience the fast connection offered by PLDT myDSL and unleash that Avenger superpower in you!