Write, Breathe, Live

Move Review: Safe House

2012-02-10T03:49:00.043+08:00

I never thought there is such a thing as being a CIA housekeeper. But in Safe House, we got to peek into the life of someone who "keeps" house for the government in case the place becomes needed. When that would be is another story.

Safe House stars Oscar® winner Denzel Washington who plays Tobin Frost, a former CIA agent who surrenders himself at the US Embassy in South Africa after being on the run for the last 10 years. He is brought to a safe house manned by Matt Weston (Ryan Reynolds), a rookie operative who has been doing housekeeping for the past 12 months.

Weston has been raring for a chance to prove himself but his inactive and backwater post in Cape Town seems to prevent him from being a full-fledged agent. Finally, the opportunity comes when the first and only house guest he's had proves to be more trouble than expected.

When the safe house is attacked by unknown enemies, Frost and Weston escape and try to find a way back to the United States. Things become complicated when the mercenaries keep finding them and they don't know anymore who wants both of them dead.

Frost, on the other hand, has been giving up military secrets to anyone willing to buy causing a lot of damage to his home country. Out of the blue, he appears on the grid bearing a deep secret and it's anyone's guess why. After fleeing the safe house, the two unlikely partners have to work together to figure out if the attackers were sent by terrorists or from someone inside the CIA. Who can they trust now before they're both eliminated from the dangerous game?

This is the first time I've seen Ryan Reynolds really shine. Yes, he was cute and funny as Green Lantern but his acting prowess wasn't showcased much there. In Safe House, he was able to prove that he can tackle a difficult role and passed with flying colors. He was exceptional during the scene when he was stabbed by broken glass. The emotional scenes between him and his girl friend were also very touching.

Denzel Washington's acting is as noteworthy as ever. He made me laugh with his delivery of sarcastic lines complete with poker face. And he did very well in the fight scenes. His character is actually scary :p

Story-wise, I wasn't that sold about the ending. It just left me with questions that I guess would forever remain unanswered. What were they? For one, "When the files were finally leaked to the press, wouldn't that endanger Weston's life wherever he goes from then on? He went against the CIA after all." I know you won't get what I mean if you haven't seen the film yet. But perhaps you'll also wonder the same after you've watched it.

I should also mention that the too closeup shots, for me, have become distracting at times because, instead of focusing on the dialogues and story, my mind would wander and notice a lot of things on the actors' faces like their skin or their eye bags or even the color of the lipstick. Maybe it's a girl thing that we notice those tiny details? I don't know. Perhaps, it's just me.

Overall though, Safe House is a good film. Adventure-Action-Thriller movie enthusiasts would definitely enjoy watching this. Catch Safe House in Philippine cinemas starting today, February 10. It is released and distributed by United International Pictures through Solar Entertainment Corporation.

It Pays to be Careful

2012-02-09T02:57:00.040+08:00

We’ve been hearing about food contamination cases these recent years and the number seems to keep growing. I remember a few years ago when the melamine in imported milk issue came out. I was really worried when the brands were mentioned on TV because we sometimes buy one particular milk that was among the list!

Melamine, for those who don’t know, is an industrial chemical that can cause bladder or kidney stones. People who are constantly exposed to melamine are even said to develop cancer and acute kidney failure. Now that … is …. scary!

photo borrowed from hrw.org

Another contamination case that concerned me before were the reports about candy products especially the milky one with an edible wrapper because I loved those as a kid! Unfortunately, the sweets have been found to have formaldehyde content which is a chemical used in embalming dead people! Ewww!

Other food products that had contamination issues were peanut butter and some noodle brands which were found out to be crawling with salmonella, a kind of bacteria that primarily attacks the intestines. These health threats thankfully resulted in product recalls from the market as well as demands from the public for the government to implement stricter food safety regulations.

bacteria photo borrowed from thecomposttumbler.com

A lot of the incidents mentioned above involve bacteria, the most common cause of food contamination. Since they are products of nature, bacteria are always present in the environment and it’s a fact that hundreds of thousands of people all over the world die yearly from having bacterial infections. Two of the popular food contaminants are salmonella and E. coli while dirty water could be tainted with cholera.

The other day, I saw a TV commercial revealing that the risks of bacterial contamination are no longer just found in food products but are now also in medicines. The TVC revealed a recent test showing that bacteria can be found in several herbal cough remedies at levels beyond the safety standards set by the Philippine Food and Drug Administration.

Of course, bacteria can be harmful to the body if ingested. In fact, ingestion of high levels of aerobic bacteria could have a number of potential negative effects that range from an upset stomach to more serious conditions like fever and gastrointestinal symptoms including vomiting, abdominal pain, and diarrhea. In severe cases, patients may even become fatally dehydrated.

photo borrowed from dawn.com

Certain groups at risk for bacterial infections are kids, pregnant women and their fetuses, senior citizens, cancer patients, and HIV patients. Thus, drug manufacturers should really ensure that what they offer the public are made according to manufacturing, storage, and distribution standards.

In the same way, consumers must also be careful about the quality of products they buy. We really have to be careful in taking herbal medicines because they're not regulated in the country. I'm also very wary when I read "No therapeutic claims" written on any packaging. In cases like that, I just buy medicines I've proven over the years to work.

There is a misconception that since herbals are natural, the're safe. However, this poses danger because many patients tend to self-medicate which can lead to overdosage.

We have a responsibility to take care of our bodies well so it is really important to be discriminating with the medicines we buy especially if they are not prescribed by a doctor and can just be bought over the counter. Be advised to always practice caution.

Happy Birthday Champ Lui Pio! :)

2012-02-08T02:06:00.014+08:00

I had no idea who Champ Lui Pio is the day I met him :p

I clearly remember my friend, Jeman Villanueva (of Orange Magazine TV), telling me, "Ano ka ba, s'ya yung vocalist ng Hale!" And then this bulb in my head lit up. "Oh, Hale! He's the guy who sang Blue Sky!" I belatedly and sheepishly exclaimed. See, I have that song in my iPod for months having asked my oldest son for a copy after hearing it being played over and over in our house and discovering how nice the words and melody are. I suddenly knew that my boys and my nephews (two of them are also big Hale fans) would be really envious when they find out who I got to shake hands and had a picture taken with.

It was the night Somedaydream's Hey Daydreamer video was launched in a bar in Makati. I think we came from a movie screening and my companions insisted I come with them to hear a new musician with a really catchy song. They were right. Hey Daydreamer was to become OPM Song of the Year a few months later. And Champ turned out to be the young music artist's hardworking mentor and manager.

Sometime last June, one of my editors asked me to find a young celebrity we can feature in CodeRED magazine. I immediately thought of Rez (a.k.a. Somedaydream) and found a way to contact Champ so I can arrange an interview. Long story short, we agreed on an interview date and I was an hour late! I came from a client meeting, which I couldn't immediately leave, and was so mortified at having Champ and Rez wait that long. They were really nice about it though and I was grateful they stuck around.

During the course of the interview, I found out about Treehouse Day Care, how passionate about it Champ is, and realized I could also feature him for the advocacy section of the magazine. He graciously agreed to answer questions via email later that week. Because he had a wealth of stories to tell, I was able to write another article about him. This time, a feature in MoneySense magazine about his journey from being Hale's front man to becoming the CEO of Mecca Music.

These past few months, every time we bump into each other during media events, he always has a ready smile for everyone and I sensed how much he puts value in relationships and in people who look up to him. It's not surprising then to also see how friends and fans alike always respond to him with affection. He's the real deal.

Sometime last year, too, I started listening to more Hale music as well as the songs in Synergy, Champ's solo album. A lot of the tracks have beautiful melodies and meaningful lyrics. Aside from Blue Sky, I now have a list of other favorites from the various albums and finally understood why Champ's gifts in singing and songwriting, aside from his good-natured personality, have been touching a lot of people all these years.

Last week, during Somedaydream's Bloggers Meet, I asked him to sign these and he happily obliged:

There are people who start being a fan before becoming an artist's friend. In my case, I think I started being a friend before I became a certified fan :)

Just sharing ... I thought it might be a good time to write an entry like this given it's Champ's birthday today and it'd be nice to show him how much he is appreciated for all the things he does. I believe I also speak in behalf of other friends and fans who don't blog or can't express what they want to say in writing.

So, from all of us, here's wishing you a really, really awesome day Arthur Bernard Lui Pio! Thank you for continuing to be the inspiration you are to a lot of people.

Happy, Happy Birthday Champ! :)

James and Phil Younghusband are the Faces of Aronamin Gold

2012-02-04T00:29:00.113+08:00

I am not much of a football fan but the times I get to watch a game on TV, I marvel at the players' stamina because it must really require a lot of energy just to run to and from the ends of the field and still manage to make a goal.

I tried running in a race once and I couldn't catch my breath before the first minute is up. Put me on a treadmill (or make me window shop inside a mall hahaha) and I could stride for 30 minutes or more straight; just don't make me increase the speed to a running pace. But, of course, I know endurance is built up over time and it helps if you take vitamins to keep energized all day.

The other day, members of the media got to take a peek into the active lives of Azkal players and brothers James and Phil Younghusband. We were shown an Aronamin Gold TVC that showcases what they do when they are training and, at the same time, having fun. Aronamin Gold is described as the first and only active-form B vitamins daily supplement for individuals on the go.

During game season, the brothers share that they spend most of the entire day on football practices in between taking breaks for meals and getting enough rest. "We need to shape up in the days leading to a game so we do a lot of running, intense training, and plenty of fitness work," reveals James of their training regimen. Apart from playing for the Philippine National Team, Phil and James are in demand playing for Club Team, Loyola Meralco Sparks under the United Football League.

Inherently active since they were kids, the Younghusbands are not just topnotch football players; they also train aspiring football players to be at their best. Having earned their European Union Football Association (UEFA) Coaching Licenses, the brothers founded The Younghusbands Football Academy (TYFA) and have also been busy advocating the promotion of football to the masses.

Since 2010, the two have been visiting various provinces to create football awareness and the importance of an active and healthy lifestyle to students and public school teachers. Moreover, they also hold football clinics within Metro Manila and have a regular TV segment called Football Younghusband Instructional (FYI).

In their free time, Phil and James try to do other activities aside from football. "I want to be able to try everything at least once, so I play other sports like basketball, tennis, and swimming," says Phil. For both of them, balance is essential in maintaining their healthy and active lifestyle thus they pay attention to getting the right amount of exercise, enough sleep, and balanced diet to be able to do the things they enjoy doing. "Choosing the right multivitamins is also crucial because it helps keep me upbeat the rest of the day," describes James.

Both football players credit Aronamin Gold for helping them be at their best every day. "We take our supplements seriously because it is very important for us to maintain high energy levels. Luckily for us, Aronamin Gold suits our lifestyle," they affirm.The supplements are said to provide immediate, fast-acting results that last the whole day to combat physical and mental stress and fatigue.

Younghusbands share their upcoming activities

Aronamin Gold is available at selected South Star and Metro Manila Mercury Drug branches. Its suggested retail price is P13 per tablet. For delivery, call 634.3333.

* Photos borrowed from Orange Magazine TV's Facebook album

Karylle Endorses Jeunesse Anion

2012-02-03T02:54:00.083+08:00

I find Karylle a beautiful young woman with many talents. She can sing, act, and do TV hosting aside from being a fitness advocate who has the body to prove it. The other day, she was launched as the endorser of Jeunesse Anion, the newest line of feminine napkins specifically designed for the modern-day Filipina like the multi-faceted Showtime host.

Jeunesse's Sales and Marketing head, Jericson San Agustin affirmed that they have always admired Karylle's versatility as a showbiz personality. "She can sing, dance, act, host; she also is into health and fitness; [and] she is very versatile. [All these] make her the perfect choice for our product."

I've heard about Anion napkins a few years ago from several ladies I know. I'm not sure if this is the same one as Jeunesse but, at the time, the products were only being sold through direct selling and I haven't found the time to attend any of the presentations I was invited to. So I didn't get to try any products but those who already have were raving about it.

Photo borrowed from Jeunesse's Facebook page

It's nice to know that Jeunesse Anion is now available commercially at Watsons and SM Department Stores which will make it easier to find for those who would like to give it a test run. According to the flyer I was given, Jeunesse has an all-natural, non-woven, and non-irritating material with super absorbent polymer. It promises superb absorbency, germ protection, and lasting freshness as a result of years of combined research by experts.

What sets Jeunesse apart from its competitors is the scientifically-formulated Anion strip that helps reduce odor and feminine discomfort. The strip is described to release negative-charged ions that neutralize bad odor attracted to positively-charged ions.

Jeunesse is available in three variants - the Day Pads, Night Pads, and Panty Liners, which are available in resealable packs.

For more information about Jeunesse Anion Sanitary Napkins, please call 637.8104 or 0917.5642233, visit http://jeunesseanion.com. You can also like Jeunesse Anion on Facebook and follow them on Twitter

* Photos borrowed from Orange Magazine TV's Facebook page

Here's to a Bigger 2012 for Somedaydream: OPM's Ground-Breaking Artist!

2012-02-02T03:54:00.401+08:00

His rise to stardom was phenomenal. In less than a year, Somedaydream, a one-man electro pop act, was able to capture the hearts of thousands of Filipino fans with catchy songs that he sang, composed, and produced on his own. No wonder he received accolades from various award-giving bodies in the music industry last year.

The talented 21-year-old Atenista is likewise good-looking aside from being articulate in person and in writing (read his blog here -- I love his entry dated January 3). Talk about having it all.

If you have been following this blog, you've probably read the other posts I've written about Somedaydream a.k.a Rez Toledo. It's actually easy to write about someone I personally admire and respect. He not only managed to break through the standard fare in the OPM scene; he has also become an inspiration and a role model to thousands of Filipino youths who now look up to him, including my sons and nephew.

In case you remain clueless about him after reading the first two paragraphs, watch this clip:

"You and me, sitting on a tree, K-I-S-S-I-N-G!" Sounds familiar now? Yes, he's the guy behind that LSS can't-get-it-out-of-your-head song Hey Daydreamer featured in the current Selecta Cornetto ice cream TV commercial.

Last night, Somedaydream had his very first Bloggers' Meet-Up at Blue Onion Bar and Restaurant in Eastwood and everyone had a lot of fun listening and, yes, singing along to Hey Daydreamer while members of the audience -- get this -- ate Cornetto Disc Ice Cream! :D He sang four songs from his self-titled debut album and answered all questions thrown at him. Here are some snippets:

Q: Who, or what, are your musical influences?

A: It's really wide because I remember when I was in high school, I started playing in a rock band and played bass guitar and never listened to Hale (that got some laughs because Somedaydream's manager, Champ Lui Pio, was the vocalist of that band). Back then, I listen to Wolfgang, Eraserheads, and Rivermaya. Basically, from rock, my musical influences changed to Adam Young of Owl City, Lewis Dubuc of The Secret Handshake and bands like The Maine and Forever the Sickest Kids. Right now, I've been listening a lot to David Guetta and a lot more electro artists.

Q: How long did it take you to write Hey Daydreamer? What comes first, lyrics or melody?

A: I wrote it in three hours, I think. It was a really boring day, brownout sa bahay. I was just there with a guitar and a candle. But it took around 60 hours in the making kasi Hey Daydreamer has a Prelude and then Hey Daydreamer itself. I released it digitally online on my own three years ago. Two years after, I started working with Champ and we worked on it again. When I'm writing a song, it's usually simultaneous. While I'm on the guitar or the piano, I write and compose. That way, the melody and the song are in sync.

Q. How do you come up with a melody?

A: It's definitely something spontaneous. I don't spend a lot of time changing melodies. When I come up with a melody, it's either I like or I don't like it. If I don't like it, I forget it. If I like it, I record it in my cell phone or on something. And mostly, the first melodies I came up with are the ones that come out in my songs. It's spontaneous and natural which is a good thing in terms of song making.

Q: How do you respond to criticisms?

A: I learned early on, when I spoke to people like Marc Abaya and a lot of other great artists, when you're in the scene, you learn to filter criticism. There are criticisms that are constructive and then there are those na, for the lack of a better term, walang kwenta. So, you just drop those, forget about that, and don't let it affect you. I get hurt sometimes but definitely you're more into it for the constructiveness.

Q: Can you imagine yourself doing collaborations with other mainstream artists that are not from the electro pop genre?

A: Collaborations are always good. I'd like to collaborate with other new artists when they come out. I always say I wanna collaborate with a new girl with an amazing voice. I'm really open to that.

Q. Why the name Somedaydream?

A: When I had my electronic song and materials na for my solo project, I [asked myself] what would I name it? So I made a list of random compound names, connect those nice-sounding words together, and thought of Somedaydream. I picked it because it's ambiguous. I really love it that way so I went with it.

Q: What do you do in your spare time?

A: I geek around, actually. I search for new gadgets or I watch ... I haven't watched a lot of TV series lately, but that's what I do. I read up on new instruments. Lately, I've been really focused on music so in my spare time, I try to write songs, play the guitar, and explore writing songs with just the piano 'cause I used to write songs with just the guitar. More on self-exploratory things.

Q: Do you see yourself making an album of cover songs?

A: That's a definite no. I don't want to release an album of covers. I can write my own songs so why not just put those in an album?

Q: How is Champ like as a manager?

A: Very honestly, he's not strict. He's like a brother to me, a good friend, and a mentor.

Q: If you were not Somedaydream, what would you be doing?

A: I'd probably be a director. When I was in high school, that was my thing -- directing. I'm really into the doing-it-yourself kind of thing. Before I focused into music, I was really into visual arts and arts in general.

Q: How do you see yourself in five, ten years' time?

A: Hopefully, we could go international. Second, [to] come up with more albums, next year, hopefully. And then, I'd like to be able to help out other artists aside from myself. Those are my goals.

Q: Did you expect this level of success?

A: I didn't expect it to be this fast. Every time I come out of a gig, I would tell myself, "Everything's so fast-paced!" Like, I was just in Davao, in Iloilo and Samar last week, I felt like I just gigged for FEU but actually I was in a commercial shoot the whole day yesterday so it's overwhelming in a sense and it sort of doesn't catch up with my feelings. In that way, 'yun ang unexpected. Also, with the target market, I expected my peers to like the music, like my age group. But then, we were getting feedback that older people would like it and really young people would like and understand it [too]. So that's really nice and that was surprising.

Let me include Somedaydream's clip from his ANC guesting here

because he sang acoustic versions of his songs there and he sounded great!

More things are definitely in store for Somedaydream this 2012. His manager, Champ, revealed that they have recently signed up with a big brand for a campaign that will last for a whole year. "I can't really reveal [what it is] yet," he hedged. But when asked about other offers for Somedaydream like acting, Champ shared, "We actually shot a commercial yesterday and sabi nung director, 'Marunong s'yang umarte!' I actually agreed [because] sa music videos, it's really just him performing and trying to visualize the melodies. Yesterday's commercial required serious acting and he actually did pretty well. But for now, we're taking things one step at a time."

"With the first album, he did really well. But I think the challenge for him as an artist is to make a very successful followup to the first album and probably a third one. And then after that, once he cemented his position in the music industry, I think that's when he can be open to other stuff," adds Champ. "But for now, I think he's doing a good thing for the music industry as a whole kasi, with him really doing well, I think it encourages the younger musicians to create original music and not settle for covers. I think that's what we need -- a new face, a new type of music, to ignite the new breed of next generation musicians to take over the music industry."

For now, catch Somedaydream this month during his Mall Shows happening in SM Las Pinas (Feb. 11), SM Bicutan (Feb. 18), SM Marikina (Feb 19), and SM Sucat (Feb. 25). All shows start at 5pm. Grab a copy of Somedaydream's self-title debut album for only P250 and have it signed and meet him after his performance.

Somedaydream, the album, is exclusively available in all Astroplus branches under Mecca Music and MCA Music. The tracks are also available digitally via mymusicstore.com.ph for P25 per song. To download Somedaydream's songs on your mobile phone, just text SD to 2346.

Get more inside scoop about Somedaydream through the semi-collector's edition of Pinoy Magazine's 2012 Kick-Off issue because it is packed with lots of tidbits, exclusive photos, and more about Rez Toledo. I have a copy and I must say Annie and Ayelski Medina did a great job compiling all that info!

Also, stay tuned to radio stations this coming February 8 because a new single from the album will start playing in the airwaves :)

Somedaydream's 1st Bloggers' Meet-Up was made possible by MCA Music, Mecca Music and Pinoy Magazine in cooperation with official online partner Orange Magazine TV and Blue Onion Bar and Restaurant with special thanks to Bose, Terranova, Mossimo, Keds, and Selecta Cornetto.

* Photos used with permission from kumagcow.com and orangemagazinetv.com

Movie Review: Journey 2: The Mysterious Island

2012-02-01T00:53:00.097+08:00

I like to watch funny movies as well as adventure-themed films. Having these two elements combined in Journey 2: The Mysterious Island made it much more enjoyable to see.

My friends and I had a chance to catch this film in IMAX 3D so the experience was enhanced even more. I love all the special effects, the colorful and whimsical creatures on the island, and the thought that "What if, there really are magical places that exist in this world?"

I marvel at the brains behind the movie who had the imagination to come up with such amazing and fantastic creations. Imagine riding on a bumble bee that's big as an elephant or being chased by large birds and a huge momma lizard all over wild and new terrain!

In this sequel, Josh Hutcherson reprises his role as Sean, the boy who traveled to the center of the earth in the 2008 global box office hit. He has the makings of a good action star in the future. The one who shined the most in the movie though would have to be Dwayne Johnson who plays Hank, Sean's stepfather. Johnson has great comedic timing. He could be really funny but he also has scenes where his character would touch you deeply. I'd say one of the best ones in the movie was right after he sang while playing the ukulele.

Vanessa Hudges is an eye candy. She's pretty and sexy and played the character Kailani with confidence. The dynamics between her and Luiz Guzman (who plays her father) is well executed. Guzman's character, Gabato, is hilarious and clueless most of the time but he means well and wants the best for his daughter. Michael Kane plays Alexander, Sean's adventurous and slightly irresponsible grandfather while Kristin Davis plays Sean's mother.

Aside from several jaw-dropping and scream-inducing moments (I sheepishly admit I gave out a shriek or two during the screening because the 3D effects are really great), the story leaves audiences with the heartwarming lesson that getting along with one's family is very important and that children would do well to try and understand where their parents are coming from once in a while.

I recommend this film to be watched by all ages. Kids and parents alike would find it fun and touching at the same time. Journey 2: The Mysterious Island starts showing in Philippine cinemas this February 2. It is a New Line Cinema presentation to be distributed by Warner Bros. Pictures, a Warner Bros. Entertainment Company.

Asia's Acoustic Sweetheart Sabrina Releases New Single While 4th Album Goes Platinum in Indonesia

2012-01-31T02:13:00.407+08:00

"Moves Like Jagger" by Maroon 5 featuring Christina Aguillera became a big hit in the airwaves in 2011 and it continues to be popular this year as Sabrina, Asia's Acoustic Sweetheart, infuses her own music style on the hit song. Its music video, directed by Daphne Oliveros, is set to be premiered this February at MYX, the Philippines' top music channel.

The "Moves Like Jagger" single is released as a follow-up to Sabrina's highly successful "I Love Acoustic 4" album which happens to have turned Gold in Indonesia last November and is now certified Platinum (like her first three albums) this January. The accolades made Sabrina one of the few Filipino singers to gain multi-platinum success in Indonesia where other singers have tried but failed to break in.

Last night, I got to meet her in person during the Bloggers' Evening with Sabrina held at Red Box in Eastwood. I first heard her sing "Who Says" in MCA Music's CD Sampler and liked her style. It was a treat to hear her render her versions of several songs live. Here's a video I took of her singing her new single:

She shared with us that she consistently had vocal coaching since she was seven and was her school's resident singer who always gets to be volunteered to lead the national anthem or perform in school programs. When she was in third grade, she joined a singing contest, sang Greatest Love of All, and won. "That was my first and last kasi nanalo na ako. Ayoko ng matalo," she expressed amid much laughter from the room.

At age 14, she remembers singing at a family reunion then did some recording two years later. She was signed up to focus on Bossa Nova after she was heard singing 'Like a Lover' in Erik Santos' birthday concert. Sabrina also disclosed she only started learning to play the guitar when she was in second year high school. "Self-study lang. Never akong nag-enroll sa formal music school."

When somebody asked her if she composes songs, the lovely young woman candidly replied, "Honestly, dalawang songs pa lang. Kasi, nakaka-compose lang ako kapag depressed ako which is bihira kasi masayahin akong tao. Ipapa-arrange ko pa lang pero I'm not sure kung yun ang unang ilalabas na original kasi crucial. Kapag composition ko kasi, baka di naman ganun kaganda pero sana ... you know ... para galing sa heart."

Asked why she thinks it's much harder to please Filipino audiences, Sabrina honestly replied, "In other countries, what matters is your voice and how you sing, not really how you look like. Dito, you have to look like an actress, be super skinny, super white, and you have to be perfect physically. It's the reality. You have to know the right people and you have to look the part."

She first gained Indonesian followers when her first album was released there in 2009. She has been to the country thrice to grace different events and admitted how surprised and pleased she was that audiences sang with her when she performed. "I feel very honored. Feeling ko naka-cross ako ng boundaries. Kasi mahirap magpabilib ng tao na hindi mo ka-kultura. I'm a Catholic, most of them are Muslim. Pero na-prove ko na talent is still being recognized."

I Love Acoustic 4 has one Tagalog track, Saranghae, which has become a favorite of some of Sabrina's Indonesian fans. "Lagi nilang pini-play, ang ganda daw kahit di nila naiintindihan. So ni-tweet ko na lang sa kanila that the song talks about love para naman ... kasi ako, if I love a song, kailangan malaman ko yung message. Mamya, gusto ko s'ya pero puro naman pala masasama yung kinakanta ko," she explains. "I love my Indonesian fans because they really buy my albums; they don't pirate music."

Sabrina revealed her musical influences include Mariah Carey, Arnie Hidalgo, and Kyla. As to future collaborations, she named Usher and Boys to Men, although she wondered how they would sing acoustic duets together. To date, she has already recorded songs with Richard Poon and Calvin Jeremy who's considered Indonesia's John Meyer.

She revealed her ideal guy won't be someone from showbiz because, "Baka hindi totoo yung sasabihin sa akin." Nevertheless, in the future, she wants "to have a family, be a housewife, and have kids." She likes children and confessed that two of her childhood dreams are "maging yaya tapos President ng Philippines."

Sabrina with Annie and Ayelski of Pinoy Song Mag

If she hadn't made it as a singer, Sabrina supposed she would be a lawyer doing pro-bono work for women. And she could well likely be one given she graduated cum laude from her AB Comm Arts degree in UP Los Banos last 2010. At the moment, she's planning to take up her masters, "Maybe this year.Yes, while singing!" she affirmed.

When it comes to being in a romantic relationship, Sabrina was quick to say she's choosing her career over a love life at the moment. "Lalo na yung klase ng trabaho ko, ang daming may gusto nito tapos blessing pa na binigay sa akin. Di ko nga alam na gusto kong maging professional singer eh. So binigay sya talaga sa akin ni God bago ko pa nalaman na ito ang gusto ko. Everything happened because of Him. So kailangan ko talaga alagaan ito."

She also expressed that she wants to become successful for her fans. "Para maging proud sila sa akin. Kasi ayoko silang i-let down. Ingat ako sa mga kilos ko kasi di maganda yung tinitingala ka tapos masama ka pala. And I make sure I also do things na makakatulong sa career ko."

I Love Acoustic 4 has 18 tracks including Price Tag, Who Says, Edge of Glory, On The Floor, Last Friday Night (T.G.I.F.), California King Bed, Hold It Against Me, Rolling in the Deep, The Lazy Song, Back to December, That Should Be Me, Marry Me, Rocketeer, Just The Way You Are feat. Calvin Jeremy, and Lucky feat. Richard Poon.

This coming February 17 (Friday) at 4pm, catch Sabrina as she serenades fans in SM Pasig. Those who will buy her album "I Love Acoustic 4" will get to have their CDs autographed by the Acoustic Sweetheart after the show.

"I Love Acoustic 4" is now out in CDs under MCA Music (Universal Music Philippines) and available for download at mymusicstore.com.ph. To download the single Moves Like Jagger, text JGR to 2728 (Smart and Talk N Text), text KL343 to 2332 (Globe/TM) or text 5493161 to 2300 (Sun). For more of Sabrina's music, text SABRINA to 3456 or check out www.facebook.com/mcamusic.

A Bloggers' Evening with Sabrina was organized by MCA Music in cooperation with Pinoy Magazine (the January 2012 issue has a feature on Sabrina!), Orange Magazine TV and Red Box: Rock, Dine, Roll.

* For Sabrina's fans from other countries who would like a translation of the Tagalog quotes or words, just leave a comment under this blog post and I'll do my best to give you the English version so you'd be able to understand what she was sharing :)

* Most photos used are borrowed from Orange Magazine TV's Facebook album.

SABRINA PROMO (for Philippine residents only -- sorry, I can't afford the postage for overseas shipping): Knowing how much her fans love Sabrina, I'd be glad to make one of you happy :) So I'm giving away this tumbler with Sabrina's signature and a small towel with your idol's name.

Here's how you can win:

1. Like the Write, Breathe, Live page on Facebook.
2. Copy and paste the link of this blog post (http://mommywrites.blogspot.com/2012/01/asias-acoustic-sweetheart-sabrina.html) on your FB status and type: "I'm a big fan of Sabrina and would love to own a Sabrina towel and tumbler from Write, Breathe, Live (tagged)"
3. Please don't forget to set your status message as "public" so I'd see it even if we're not yet friends on Facebook.
4. Deadline for entries is midnight of February 20, 2012. The winner will be drawn digitally via random.org and will be announced in this blog and on WBL's FB page on February 21. Good luck! :)

Restaurant Review: Krave Restobar in Makati

2012-01-30T01:51:00.178+08:00

Everybody likes to eat good food and it's always nice to get invited to try out new dishes at places where the chef has excellent taste. I've sampled Chef Vince Rodriguez's creations during a RED Garlic Bistro food tasting event and we had a great time. So when I got invited to dine at Krave Restobar in Makati, I didn't have to think twice. I know the food would be excellent because they are also Chef Vince's concoctions.

The interior of Krave looks very classy but also very cozy. There are comfortable booths where diners could enjoy their food without too much distractions from other guests. This is a great place to go on a date or hold small client meetings in. During weekends, families could also bring their kids there for a gastronomic treat.

My friends and I started with a few appetizers. As a certified shrimp fan who also happens to like the taste of wasabi, the Rock Shrimp Popcorn was a definite winner for me :) It comes in two flavors: Wasabi Mayo and Spicy Mango.

Rock Shrimp Popcorn - P325

Next, we tried the Krave Texas Steak Roll which reminded me of RED Garlic's Alaskan Salmon Roll. It has US Angus steak with cream cheese inside, wrapped in nori and deep fried in wasabi batter. This steak roll is very flavorful although a bit spicy. But I still finished a whole piece by myself.

Krave Texas Steak Roll - P425

The Foie Gras Nigiri is quite pricey for a three piece dish but that's a given since foie gras is gourmet food and is not available in just any restaurant. Foie gras aficionados would enjoy the unique combination of cranberry compote and teriyaki balsamic reduction on top of each piece.

Foie Gras Nigiri - P645

It was my first time to eat sushi-like food that has flames on it while it was being served. The Lava Roll is another tasty treat filled with US scallops, tempura shrimp, and mozarella cheese wrapped in nori with spicy cream sauce.

Lava Roll - P385

The aromatic thin crust Beef Carpacio Pizza came out next and I enjoyed every bite! Aside from slices of beef tenderloin, I love that it has fresh arugula leaves tossed in olive oil and lime vinaigrette on top then drizzled with balsamic reduction. It's a perfect snack to share with friends and is quite similar to the great taste of RED Garlic's Torre del Griego pizza.

Beef Carpacio Pizza - P395

We were all impressed when the Tuna Tower came out of the kitchen. It's very nicely presented and tasted really good. It's has layers made of fresh tuna, kani, ripe mango, radish, Japanese cucumber and sushi rice. We tasted it by forkfuls and realized too late that we should have mixed it up first like a regular salad :p

Tuna Tower - P365

To date, nobody has satisfied my taste buds like Chef Vince does when it comes to barbecued ribs. I'm glad to have sampled Krave's Dinosaur BBQ Beef Ribs with meat so tender it easily falls off the bone. The apricot cranberry BBQ sauce made it all the more delicious. This is a must try when you visit this restaurant.

Dinosaur BBQ Beef Ribs - P595

Aside from the flaming lava rolls, we were also awed at the presentation of the Angus Pinwheel Steak which was served hanging from a metal stick and lit up with from underneath. This mouth-watering dish is made from 25oz. of USDA Prime Rib Eye served with side salad and twice baked sweet potato. It is served with three kinds of sauces -- steak oil, Pepper Mill dressing, and red wine sauce -- which are best appreciated when combined on top of slices of steak meat. Wanna impress your date? Order this one! :)

Angus Pinwheel Steak - P3495

As to dessert, it was another first for me to eat Panacotta with sweet reddish caviar on top! It tasted more like a kind of berry than fish eggs which made the experience more unforgettable. This is served with its partner panacotta topped with fresh fruits.

Caviar and Fresh Fruit Panacotta - P195

One sweet thing I miss most from the RED Garlic menu is Chef Vince's Yorkshire Bread Pudding with French vanilla sauce and, wonder of wonders, it is also available at Krave! Although it's served in a martini glass instead of the red square dish I'm used to, the melt-in-your-mouth heavenly taste is the same.

Yorkshire Bread Pudding - P155

Krave Restobar is located at 109 C. Palanca St. Legaspi Village, Makati City. They are open from 11am - 2:30pm and 6-11pm everyday. For more info, please visit their Facebook page.

A Call for Child Sponsorship Through World Vision

2012-01-29T00:50:00.152+08:00

We often hear the phrase "Children are our future" and I personally believe that to be true. It is up to us, parents and teachers, to help shape and mold them into good human beings so that, one day, they could fill our shoes and, perhaps, do things better than we did.

Everyone needs education to advance in life. Unfortunately, not all adults are equipped to raise kids well. In the Philippines, it is common to see children selling stuff or begging on the streets. Poverty is a reality in our country and it continues to be a hindrance for many parents who dream of sending their children to school.

This is where World Vision and its supporters come in through the child sponsorship program, a channel for people to help send underprivileged children to school. For P20 a day or P600 a month, one child will already be able to acquire the knowledge he/she needs to slowly, but surely, reach her dreams. In addition, the community where the child lives would also benefit from the sponsorship because World Vision also helps create livelihood programs that encourage parents to work harder for their families and empower the community as a whole.

I have been a World Vision child sponsor since 2003 and it has been a wonderful journey. Every year, I receive an annual report about how my sponsored child is doing. It's heartwarming to see her grow bigger through the photos World Vision sends me. She writes me short notes once in a while as well as a homemade greeting card every Christmas. Those things show me, and other child sponsors I know, where our small contributions have been going. It is also a continuous source of wonder that those children, whom we haven't even met yet, are being given a chance to have a good future because there are people in other parts of the country who care.

If you are compelled to help this advocacy of providing education for poor Filipino children, be a World Vision sponsor today. Together, we can make a difference, one child at a time.

This is MY World Vision ... What's yours? :)

* Find out more ways how you can help. Please log on to www.worldvision.org.ph today or call 372-7777.

A Night of Dancing with MAMMA MIA! in Manila

2012-01-27T00:26:00.070+08:00

I just had one of my dreams come true! That is, to watch MAMMA MIA! live on stage :)

I posted an announcement about the show coming to Manila a few days ago (click here to read that post which also contain backgrounders). Since we attended the press con, some of my friends and I were fortunate enough to get invites to the opening night. I, of course, asked my sister to be my plus one because she's also a big fan of ABBA songs and the movie and we have been both dreaming of seeing the live show years ago. (Read her review here and watch the adorable video of my niece, who was only two years old at the time, singing You Can Dance ... I mean, Dancing Queen! :p)

But before I watched the show proper, I was invited to preview two songs in the afternoon of January 24. There, I got to take photos and videos of the actual performances of Mamma Mia and Dancing Queen and the cast members were awesome! They did each number twice so we can take photos and videos separately. I found that such a thoughtful gesture.

I went back home to Alabang after the sneak peek to freshen up and wait for my sister. When night came, we excitedly traveled back to CCP and arrived at Harbor Square around 7 p.m. Knowing we still have an hour to spare, we decided to eat dinner first. Unfortunately, we had to wait to be seated at the restaurant we chose to dine in and had to wait again for the food and, later, the bill. Time seemed to have slowed down significantly because the staff got distracted by a group of carolers, (Yes, in January!) who came in to sing and ask money from the customers. Long story short, we got out of there much longer than we wanted to.

We didn't get to see this scene :(

And so we arrived at the CCP while the National Anthem was already being played. Rushing, we lined up at the side entrance with about a dozen or more other people only to be told by an usher that we had to wait for the second song to be finished before we could get in! At the time, the show hasn't even started yet inside. Everybody there was asking him why we can't temporarily stand just inside the door, or sit on the stairs, whatever, just so we could catch everything from the beginning. He just repeatedly told us to wait ... and wait ... and wait without giving us a clear explanation why we had to. Up to now, I still don't understand what the reason behind all the waiting was :(

After 45 years, we were finally allowed inside. We have missed two songs already by that time. The scene we caught was the tail end of Money, Money, Money before the three possible dads entered the stage. (And I so wanted to see how they did the reunion scenes of the two sets of girl friends :S) Of course we were really disappointed at the way the usher handled the matter especially when we saw another usher allowing people to pass by the very front row to get to their seats while the show was already ongoing. Anyway, we just decided to forget the incident and simply enjoy the show. And enjoy it, we did!

Having seen (and totally loved) the movie though, I wondered how the theater set up would be and how the story flow would go. Despite the many differences on film and on stage, the live version is FANTASTIC! The movable set pieces were very versatile -- imagine the taverna being turned into a bedroom or a beach front and back, in seconds. The flawless lighting likewise helped so much in accentuating everything that needed to be emphasized.

Plus, the costumes were very colorful! I loved so many pieces I saw that night but the one that caught my eye the most was Tanya's blue and white shift dress. That was so divine! I wish I could find something like that, or have one made, one of these days.

Because the audio system was really good, we heard all the words and lyrics clearly. The singing voices of the lead actors are phenomenal. Charlotte Wakefield (who plays Sophie) has got some strong lungs. I love her crystal pipes especially when she hits the high notes. I also had goosebumps when Donna (Sara Poyzer), Tanya (Kate Graham), and Rosie (Jennie Dale) sang the opening lines of Super Trooper a capella. Hearing it sung live, and by good singers, was really something. I should moreover mention that the choreography was exceptional.

I'd say the casting was done really well. The three dads did great justice to their roles. Charles Daish (as Bill), Richard Standing (as Sam), and Matthew Lloyd Davies (as Harry) had great comedic timing. They were really funny and bantered easily with each other. Earlier in the day, I had a chance to have one-on-one chats each with Charles and Richard and they both expressed how excited they were to be performing in Manila.

Watching Sara, Kate, and Jennie play the roles of Donna, Tanya, and Rosie, it's not difficult to imagine that they must also be really good friends behind the curtains. The three women have great chemistry; the way they they sang their songs together is unforgettable; and they are such a fun group to watch especially during the bedroom scene when they sang Chiquitita and Dancing Queen.

I could attest that David Roberts (who plays Sky, Sophie's fiance) had many of the young female members of the audiences figuratively drooling during the Lay All Your Love on Me segment. What happened? Well, you have to watch the show to find out! :p

All the scenes that involved any singing were wonderful. But my favorites among those include the one where Donna sang Winner Takes It All to Sam [Trivia: Richard told me they're husband and wife in real life :)]; the one when Harry and Donna sang Our Last Summer (but I also love the one in the film where it was Sophie and the three guys who sang this song); the tender moment when Donna was singing Slipping Through My Fingers as she helped Sophie dress for the wedding; and the hilarious Take a Chance on Me number of Bill and Rosie.

The whole production (well, the parts we did get to watch) went on smoothly and swiftly -- too fast for many of us who didn't want the show to end. By the time the cast members were taking a bow, my seatmates and I were wondering why nobody seemed to want to stand up and cheer. I guess people were shyly waiting for others to make the first move. When a few individuals did start standing up one at a time, my companions and I followed suit.

By that time, the cast were starting the Mamma Mia number and we began singing and dancing along. I barely noticed if the people behind us (we were in the third row) also stood up to join the fun. The lights were dimmed before they revealed Donna and the Dynamos who sang Dancing Queen. The euphoria inside the CCP Main Theater went up several notches higher as more people stood up to clap, sing, and dance, too.

When Dancing Queen ended, Sara shouted, "Manila, gusto n'yo pa?" and the deafening answer was "Yes!" They performed Waterloo to our utmost delight. That capped off our memorable experience of watching an undisputed and deserving worldwide smash hit. My hands were sore by the time I remembered to stop clapping. The show is THAT amazing!

So, should you watch MAMMA MIA! in Manila? Definitely! You'll be missing a lot if you don't! Just arrive really early so you'll get to watch the show in full.

* Photos without watermark are official photos from the MAMMA MIA! press kit

Pantene’s Healthy Hair for Healthy Water Campaign

2012-01-26T02:59:00.013+08:00

Many of us take our clean drinking water for granted when we have plenty of supply and our sources are very accessible. Many of you who are reading this can probably just buy bottled water from the nearest store or have several gallons delivered by a trusted water station whenever needed.

Still, there are many parts of the world where it's still hard to acquire clean water for drinking. Thankfully, Procter & Gamble (P&G) Philippines’ hair care brand Pantene joins the cause to give children safe drinking water with the launch of its “Healthy Hair for Healthy Water” Campaign.

The initiative supports the P&G Children’s Safe Drinking Water (CSDW) Program, a long-term global advocacy program that focuses on reducing sickness and death that result from water-borne illnesses caused by drinking contaminated water.

This 2012, Pantene, with P&G’s CSDW program, will provide water purification packets in the Philippines, Thailand and Indonesia. Filipinos are encouraged to donate one day of clean drinking water through online pledges at the Pantene facebook page (www.facebook.com/PantenePhilippines).

Dr. Greg Allgood, Director of the P&G CSDW Program is excited to have Pantene strengthen the campaign in the Philippines. After a recent visit to Siargo, he affirmed that the program will provide more than 17 million days (equivalent to 34 million liters) of clean drinking water during the next year for more than 25,000 of the most vulnerable people living in remote areas that only have contaminated water sources.

According to P&G’s External Relations Leader, Clint Navales, their goal is to be able to get 10,000,000 pledges all over Asia, "So we would like to invite Filipinos to support our campaign by visiting the Pantene Facebook page and giving their pledge. We’ve seen through recent calamities how difficult it is to have access to something as basic as clean drinking water, and also how important clean water is to prevent disease in these situations. With the Pantene Healthy Hair Healthy Water campaign, you now not only get healthy hair, but you help give a child good health through clean drinking water”.

The P&G CSDW Program started in 2004 using a powdered water-purification technology developed in collaboration with the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Imagine, one small packet can quickly turn 10 liters of dirty, potentially deadly water into clean, drinkable water!

The program collaborates with more than 120 partners worldwide to respond to the greatest needs for clean water. To date, clean drinking water has already been provided in over 65 developing countries.

Recently, P&G’s CSDW was able to donate clean water to communities hit by Sendong through a partnership with World Vision Philippines. They were able to distribute 600,000 water purification packets to the survivors, including more than 500 families in Mandulog and nearby communities, which was one of the areas hardest hit by the typhoon in Iligan.

Through the Pantene Healthy Hair for Healthy Water program, P&G is hopeful that the campaign will touch and improve the lives of the people who need it the most. “I’m very grateful to P&G and World Vision Philippines for the work they’re doing to reach the most vulnerable people in very remote places where clean drinking water will make a big difference in improving and likely saving lives." emphasized Dr. Allgood.

I just made a pledge at Pantene's Facebook page. It's easy and there's no purchase required. You just choose one of three pledges about things you'll do to keep your hair healthy then click the submit button. Join this worthwhile cause now!

Movie Review: J. Edgar

2012-01-25T21:16:00.057+08:00

I don't really know much about J. Edgar Hoover. I just know that his position in the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) made him one of the most powerful men in America -- equal to, or even surpassing, power the country's presidents wield. (Imagine, his reign in the FBI lasted through eight presidencies!)

Watching the movie J. Edgar made it easier for me to know more about this famous man without the need to pore through any biography books or dozens of articles I don't have time to read. I'm glad I went to the press preview the other day because I did learn a lot not only about Hoover but also a bit more of U.S. history.

Leonardo DiCaprio (his interview about the movie here) has definitely evolved into a gifted actor over the years. I haven't been able to watch Inception yet but I heard he was also good in it. In J. Edgar, he was able to portray a complex and enigmatic man who trusted very few people in his lifetime. It must be really hard to play a role that spans decades but DiCaprio made it work. He was very believable in his portrayal of an eager man in his 20's up to an old man in his '70s. It helped a lot that the makeup, which aided the aging transformations, were also exceptional.

I loved how Naomi Watts played Helen Gandy, Hoover's personal secretary who was loyal 'til the end. The woman must have been a paragon in real life! Dame Judi Dench, likewise, did a wonderful performance as Hoover's intimidating but soft-spoken mom. (Interviews with Watts and Dench here). It was a revelation how such an influential man's demeanor could still be reduced into that of a little boy's every time he's in the presence of his mother. DiCaprio and Dench shared several unforgettable scenes in the movie that showcased both their acting talents.

Armie Hammer (more about him here) portrayed Clyde Tolson, Hoover's right hand man, friend, and rumored lover. The relationship between the two men were slowly revealed throughout the story and I couldn't help but feel sorry for them because, despite the close companionship they shared, not being able to show their real feelings to the public or even to themselves must have been a source of loneliness and isolation for years. As producer Brian Grazer observed, "They were both a product of their time." Kudos though for both men because the emotions that came across the screen felt very genuine.

Of course, being a very private person, we'll never exactly know what really went behind closed doors in Hoover's personal life. But at least, we were given glimpses of who Hoover was and what must have been going on in his mind when he made those decisions, some of which are still making an impact in today's world.

Director Clint Eastwood has once again created a masterpiece. This is one of those movies that switch from the past and present times with such speed that would normally confuse viewers. Surprisingly, it wasn't hard to follow everything that's happening. That's how good the editing was!

If you enjoy watching biopics, you'll like J. Edgar. Catch it in Philippine cinemas starting today, January 25. It's distributed worldwide by Warner Bros. Pictures, a Warner Bros. Entertainment Company.

3D Vizion: Changing the Philippines’ Advertising Landscape

2012-01-24T01:51:00.003+08:00

The next time you pass by Glorietta 3 in Makati, take time to check out the TV screen located at the ground floor that showcases 3D clips which you can clearly view without needing 3D glasses. It’s really, really something!

The group behind this innovation is 3D Vizion, a budding company that has come up with a ground-breaking technology that takes the best of high-definition 2D technology and the latest in 3D technology to come up with a platform where advertisers can showcase their products and services using glasses-free 3D screens.

According to 3D Vizion’s President and CEO, Ms. Katrina Bantug, glasses-free 3D screens leave such a lasting imprint that studies have shown it is 10 times more effective compared to regular 3D media. “In the US, a study discovered that when used in a mall, the sales of the brand featured in the glasses-free 3D screen went up at least 12% in addition to the store reporting a 34% increase in consumer traffic.”

3D Vizion was founded on the premise of providing the best for Filipinos – by Filipinos. After all, we have always been at the forefront of innovation. Remember, the inventors of the fluorescent light and even the yoyo are Filipinos! Bantug shares, “When we decided to pursue this, we had only one intention in mind – to come up with a company that will revolutionize the way we do advertising here in the country – to provide our countrymen with the best available technology out there. She is joined by Mr. Mohan Kulkarni and DEMIKK Holdings, Inc., represented by Mr. Ruben Tiu in envisioning a fully-operational Filipino company that offers world-class and first-class products and services.

Ground-breaking

The revolutionary advertising technology not just catches attention but, ultimately, generates sales. It is slowly being recognized as the new standard platform for a more cost-efficient yet undeniably effective mass marketing.

3D Vizion’s screens are a step up from the usual 3D screens we’re used to seeing inside movie houses. Since they’re smaller, they can be displayed almost anywhere thus providing more spots for viewing and enabling viewers to watch without the usual red and blue glasses that may cause headaches among other discomforts or the heavy 3D glasses we’re usually given inside the cinemas.

Moreover, various researches revealed that similar technology has a proven track record of heightened engagement, yielding 92% in memory retention among audience, with 68% of the number displaying a higher probability of following the experience with a purchase. Recall-wise, the images I saw during the press launch (the iPhone, the Budweiser bottle, and the floating ducks) are indeed still very clear in my mind days after we were shown the sample clips.

Studies conducted in other industries, such as education, also prove the effectiveness of the medium in making people perceive, understand, and remember ideas. Personally, if this technology makes it to Philippine schools, I’m excited just thinking how the technology could positively boost students’ learning capacities!

At the moment though, the bottom line for advertisers is that getting the attention of media-savvy consumers, who are bombarded with information left and right, and rising above all these is an act of survival. What 3D Vizion offers is helping the industry to keep growing and working towards better ways of engaging with the mass market.

For more information about 3D Vizion and its products and services, please contact Susana Eslava at 695-1111 or 706- 7999 or visit their website at www.3dvscreens.com.

Please help this write up win in 3D Vizion’s blogging contest sponsored by Amorita Resort www.amoritaresort.com. You can support this entry by clicking the FB Like button below or sharing the link (http://mommywrites.blogspot.com/2012/01/3d-vizion-changing-philippines.html) in your FB status. Thanks :)

Family-Friendly Places: Paradizoo, Cavite and Residence Inn, Tagaytay

2012-01-23T15:14:00.002+08:00

When we hear the word zoo, we usually think of animals in cages with signs that say, “Do not feed” or “Do not touch.” We just go there to look and not interact with the zoo’s residents.

I didn’t quite know what to expect when my friends and I were invited to visit Paradizoo in Mendez, Cavite last Saturday. It’s very near Tagaytay and has the same cool weather. We arrived there early in the morning and felt the chill right after alighting from the van. I was grateful to take a sip of the hot chocolate drink we were served at the Paradizoo Café and eat spoonfuls of a soup they call Goto Mendez. We also got to try some puto and a glass of refreshing chilled lemongrass (or was it pandan?) juice.

After the nice breakfast which warmed our tummies, we toured the 10-hectare agri-tourism enclave and spent time enjoying the wide open spaces where some animals are free to roam. There are also big, fenced in areas where there are camels, ostriches, horses, ponies, and a five-legged bull!

One of our first stops is a big bird cage where people can go inside and feed the winged creatures. My 13-year-old son joined some of our friends and got “mugged” by the little birds trying to get to the seeds on Daniel’s hands. Seed packets are sold at 10 each. Before we left Paradizoo some hours later, the rest of us also got in the cage to experience feeding the birds out of our hands. It was a fun but very ticklish experience in my case :p

Aside from that exciting stop, we got to walk among very colorful and beautiful flower gardens. We also passed by rows of different vegetables that visitors can buy fresh. If you are a salad lover, know that you can buy lettuce there for only P100 a kilo! The farm also has fruit bearing plants like banana, pineapples, mangoes, coconut, jackfruit, and honeydew melon. There is practically no wastage as all the animals eat the grass as well as fruit peelings and even coconut meat.

More things are waiting to be discovered inside Paradizoo. We watched Greyhounds race each other along a wide track, went inside the butterfly enclosure where we had photos taken with the butterflies that settled on our hands, and visited a well-kept pet cemetery.

Paradizoo will also delight nature lovers who are interested in learning about clean vegetable farming practices that include seeding techniques, plant nutrition, cultural management, and irrigation and water management. Almost all the animals in Paradizoo are for sale as well as their vegetable harvests, honey from the bees, and honey-pineapple vinegar.

An agri-festival featuring livestock, vegetable, and floral fair will run from January 21 to February 25 at Paradizoo. Highlights of the event includes Greyhound racing demo, animal parade and show, animal auction, vegetable picking, seminars, organic fertilizer application, and more.

This theme farm has accommodations available for those who wish to stay longer. Spend the night at Caribbean style view deck rooms and watch magic and pantomime shows on weekends. Their newest attractions include a fish spa and a spa sanctuary where you can release stress and experience a relaxing back or head massage by a therapist.

Before we headed back to Manila, we dropped by Residence Inn in Tagaytay. I haven’t been to the place for years and it’s pleasantly surprising to see that they have added new attractions that are sure to entice guests to return again and again. There, we watched an entertaining animal show and some of us got to hold/touch several animals like a tarantula, scorpions, gecko, and a HUGE albino snake. My son and adventurous friends gamely tried almost everything but I settled on having a photo taken with the large spider on my jacket sleeve :D

We also got to ride a zipline and a cable car for the first time and the experiences were amazing! You’ve got to try those when you visit Residence Inn with friends and family! The cool wind on my face was very refreshing and the beautiful view of Taal Lake with the Taal Volcano was always a sight to see. The company of my friends, who are really great to be with, made the day ten times more fun and unforgettable.

Paradizoo, a project of Residence Inn, is located at Km 63 Panungyan Mendez, Cavite. They are open from 8AM to 4PM every day, including holidays. For inquiries, please call 899-9824, 895-7142, or 0917-8351111. You can also log in to www.zoomanity.com.ph and like www.facebook.com/zoomanitygroup

*Photos used are a hodge-podge of shots from my and my friends' cameras. Thank you Jeman and Alex for letting me borrow your pictures :)

Celebrating Chinese New Year in Binondo

2012-01-22T01:08:00.038+08:00

I often get mistaken to be Chinese. Perhaps some of my ancestors were, given that I have cousins on my father’s side who have the same eyes as mine. Sometime last year, a famous Fil-Chi singer even sent me an email to say thank you about a write up I did about him and he wrote “Shie shie” :)

Last week, I finally got to experience celebrating Chinese New Year with all the fanfare. Before, I’d just go to any Chinese friend’s house (who sent Kung Hei Fat Choi invites) where we’d eat and swap stories just like in a regular party. This time, I went with friends to join Philam Life’s event in Binondo where we really got to be in the thick of things.

Thank you Ferds of Tatak Digitista for this photo :)

It was my first time to watch a dragon dance parade and Buganda performance up close, witness a dragon eye-dotting ceremony, and release one of many red balloons tied with hundreds of wishes. The 350-feet long with 3-foot diameter dragon led guests to a parade from the Filipino-Chinese Friendship Arch at the foot of Jones Bridge to the main roads of Binondo including Quintin Paredes, Ongpin, Alonzo, Soler, Padilla and Dasmarinas before going back to the arch.

Wishing for prosperity and abundance is a common desire among Filipinos and many believe that the Chinese New Year is a good opportunity to express those wishes. Thus, Philam Life welcomed the Year of the Water Dragon by tying 500 written wishes on 500 red balloons which were released to the sky. This activity was done to symbolize how Philam Life employees, agents, and partners are committed to being an instrument in empowering the Filipino to achieve their “sanas,” dreams, and aspirations. The “sana” stories were submitted through the company’s microsite anongplanomo.com.ph.

It is Philam Life’s vision to have Filipinos take advantage of the Water Dragon’s promise of abundance and prosperity this 2012 by empowering them to take steps to realize their aspirations. Rex A. Mendoza, Philam’s President and CEO expresses their belief that in order for dreams to come true, there should be a plan. “Our financial advisors are available nationwide to help Filipinos concretize their plans and achieve financial security and prosperity; this is our wish for all Filipinos.”

Thank you John of Kumagcow for this photo of me and Rod :)

Philam Life traditionally celebrates Chinese New Year as a gesture of solidarity and respect to one of the Filipino-Chinese community’s most important traditions. The event is also an acknowledgment of Philam Life’s Chinese heritage as AIA, its mother company, traces its roots back to China, more than 90 years ago, when its first office opened in Shanghai in 1919.

The dragon parade ended with a special program held along Quintin Paredes Street facing the Philam Life office. It was also the perfect opportunity to feature Philam’s new corporate colors and office signage which was transformed from blue and green to a dynamic and vibrant red shade.

“We see prosperity in the year of the Dragon [which] has always been perceived as the most preferred sign in the Chinese Zodiac. It is associated with power, excellence, and nobility; attributes that Philam Life also represents with its six decades of market leadership, financial stability, and solid track record of delivering its promises and long heritage of nation-building and pushing forward the country’s development,” concludes Mendoza.

MAMMA MIA! Comes to Manila!

2012-01-21T01:07:00.004+08:00

I grew up listening to ABBA music. My parents had several cassette tapes of the famous Australian band’s songs and I found myself also enjoying listening to the lyrics and melodies. Aside from liking several songs, I remember playing “Slipping Through My Fingers” over and over because it sounded sweet and mellow. I didn’t quite understand the exact meaning of the words at the time though.

Over the years, I got to hear ABBA songs every now and then but seemed to have forgotten the particular song that made me like the band in the first place … until the movie MAMMA MIA! was released a few years ago. (You can read my film review here which I wrote back in 2009). When I saw it, a lot of memories rushed in – of a younger me listening to ABBA songs using my father’s stereo or playing the tapes in a heavy walkman so I can bring the music to bed and let it lull me to sleep.

I loved a lot of things about the MAMMA MIA! movie – its memorable songs, lovely story, gorgeous setting, unforgettable characters, and the fantastic actors who played them – and was pleasantly surprised to discover that a theater version was already being staged abroad for years! (I know! I should have known about that earlier!). Thus, it became one of my fervent wishes to be able to watch the show someday. So, imagine my utmost delight when I found out last year that the MAMMA MIA! International Tour is coming to the Philippines!

I am very grateful to my good friend Rod because he gave my name to one of the organizers and secured me an official invite to the press con held at Dusit Thani a couple of days ago. There, we got to meet some of the main cast who will be playing the roles of Donna (Sara Poyzer), Sophie (Charlotte Wakefield), Ali (Rosie Heath), and Lisa (Tasha Taylor Johnson). The ladies were joined by Kelly Edwards, the production's Dance Captain.

MAMMA MIA! continues to be a global smash hit since the first production opened almost 13 years ago in London’s West End on April 6, 1999. It has premiered all over the world faster than any other musical in history, opening in over 300 major cities. The show has been seen by over 50 million worldwide and has grossed over $2 Billion at the Box Office.

The story, written by Catherine Johnson, unfolds on a Greek island paradise. On the eve of Sophie Sheridan’s wedding, she goes on a quest to discover the identity of her father and brings three men from her mother’s past back to the island they last visited 20 years ago.

Let me quote a paragraph from the press kit material written by British journalist Mark Shenton because this is also exactly how I see the production: “This is a show about real people in real situations, yet a wonderful pop score that provided the soundtrack for a generation in the ‘70s and early ‘80s anchors it now as the soundtrack for a show whose appeal crosses all age and national boundaries. The essence of that is conveyed, too, in the distinctive logo for MAMMA MIA!: an image of timeless wedding day happiness that instantly conveys emotions of joy, even elation, just as the show itself does. Like the show it represents, that picture has become an internationally recognized brand in cities around the world as the image of MAMMA MIA!”

Judy Craymer, the show’s producer, shared that they had no idea how MAMMA MIA! would be received when the production was put in front of its first-ever paying audience in London. Happily, she remembers, “The audience went wild. They were literally out of their seats and singing and dancing in the aisles – and they still are. Every night.” Who won’t be when you get to listen live to ABBA’s unforgettable chart-topping hits like “Dancing Queen,” “Take a Chance on Me,” and “The Winner Takes It All”?

Director Phyllida Lloyd succinctly puts it – MAMMA MIA! is “the show Bjorn [Ulvaeus] and Benny [Andersson] never knew they had written. Their music has made pop history; our show has made musical theater history.”

MAMMA MIA! will be shown at the CCP Main Theater from January 24 to February 19, 2012. It is presented by Infinity, powered by Smart and Citibank and is brought to us by Lunchbox Theatrical Productions, David Atkins Enterprises, Hi Definition Radio, and Concertus Manila.

MAMMA MIA! Weekday rates are priced at P750, P1500, P3000, P4000, P5000, and P6000; Weekend matinee rates are P1000, P2000, P3500, P5000, P6000, and P7000. Groups of 20 or more can also get a 10% discount. Senior citizens also enjoy 20% off on ticket prices. Avail of other deals from TicketWorld by calling 891-9999 or logging on to www.ticketworld.com.ph

You may also want to check out other promos by Ayala Malls, Cebu Pacific, Dusit Thani, and Rustan’s. Don’t fail to witness this theatrical experience before the production wraps up the tour which ends in Manila! Please click here for more details about the said promos.

A Shot That Saves Children’s Lives

2012-01-20T02:27:00.023+08:00

There are babies born who won’t be able to celebrate their first birthdays. Did you know 13 kids die in the Philippines every day because of a seemingly trivial condition? Unfortunately, not a lot of parents are aware that diarrhea is the second leading killer of children aged less than five years old. This statistic has been reported in an article entitled “Global, regional, and national causes of child mortality in 2008: a systematic analysis” which came out in The Lancet (2010).

Photo borrowed from gavialliance.org

The World Health Organization (WHO) and UNICEF likewise confirms that 1,500 children around the globe die daily because of rotavirus-related diarrhea. But that’s not all. Children who escape death are not home-free because diarrhea affects nutrient absorption which leads to lasting impact on the growth and development of a child.

In fact, growth discrepancies of up to 8.2 cm by age seven have been attributed to early childhood diarrhea with profound effects on fitness, cognition, and schooling as observed in children who have experienced regular spells. Sadly, the calculations show that kids who regularly suffer from diarrhea in the first two years of life can lead to a loss of 10 IQ points and 12 months of schooling by age nine.

Part of the eight Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) set by the United Nations include lowering children mortality by saving them from rotavirus-related deaths. This counts among the most important missions every country should take since the disease is highly preventable through vaccination. WHO’s Strategic Advisory Group of Experts (SAGE) recommends that rotavirus vaccination be included in all national immunization programs, especially in countries where diarrhea deaths account for more than 10% of deaths in children younger than five.

Photo borrowed from medtips.in

One of the key health policy directions of the Aquino administration is the attainment of MDG 4, specifically the reduction of infant mortality rate. In a lecture delivered by Department of Health Secretary Enrique T. Ona at the 2nd Philippine Outlook Forum last October, it was established that rotavirus vaccination is needed to achieve the country’s goal to lower the statistics. By preventing diarrheal deaths among children through rotavirus shots, the country will be able to substantially reduce its overall child mortality and be nearer the achievement of the fourth MDG by 2015.

“We need to be serious about saving our children from the grip of this burdensome but highly preventable disease,” says Dr. Salvacion Gatchalian, Director, Clinical R & D and Medical Affairs for GlaxoSmithKline Philippines. “And there is no better way than to vaccinate our children to protect them from rotavirus, the most common cause of diarrhea, which accounts for 12% of deaths among children under five in the Philippines.” She is hopeful that, if properly implemented, the Philippines may be the very first country in Asia to included rotavirus vaccination in our national immunization program.

Thirteen children died yesterday, thirteen died today, and another thirteen will die tomorrow from diarrhea-related illnesses. With the rotavirus vaccine, millions of innocent lives will not have the same ending. If you are a parent of a child below five years old, do ask your pediatrician for more information about the rotavirus vaccine. It might just save your child's life.

Restaurant Review: P.F. Chang’s in Alabang

2012-01-19T01:20:00.057+08:00

Finally! A new and exciting place to dine in is now open in the South! This is definitely good news for us who live in the area :) I was invited to lunch at the world-renowned P.F. Chang’s two days before the store officially opened and the experience was amazing!

Not only was the food great, the overall ambiance of the place and the ultra-friendly staff made the afternoon a memorable one. There, we got to meet the famous establishment’s co-founder, Mr. Philip Chiang, who graciously welcomed us to their newest branch, the 217th, which is actually the first in Asia!

Mr. Chiang shared that since he hasn’t experienced the Philippines yet, he doesn’t know what might distinguish them in the country’s milieu but says he feels that, “So far, we’ve always raised the bar in terms of the Chinese dining experience in countries we’ve opened.”

He further described their menu as easy to digest. “It is not a challenging selection and includes many recognizable dishes. We also like to stretch our creativity a little and incorporate dishes that may be in keeping with ‘contemporary’ trends.”

Mr. Genaro Perez, P.F. Chang’s Director for International Marketing, also explained to us that everything they serve is prepared with the freshest ingredients, nothing frozen, and no garnishes and artificial flavors. He assured us that they ensure what we order here would taste exactly the same as those served in their other 200+ branches in the US and in other countries.

The cuisine at P.F. Chang’s is said to be inspired by the different regions of China, reflecting a range of new influences from across Asia. The impeccable service exhibited by their staff was a welcome treat to those of us who were not used to being cheerfully asked “How are you?” by waiters and waitresses. I also appreciate how they took time to explain to us what they were serving and how best to mix the sauces to make the flavors pop.

We first got to taste Chang’s Chicken Lettuce Wraps (PhP285), their signature appetizer made with wok-seared minced chicken, mushrooms, green onions, and water chestnuts served over crispy rice sticks and cool, crisp lettuce cups. I love the flavor of this one!

Next, we tried the Dynamite Shrimp (PhP295) which is composed of shrimp tossed in a zesty sauce and served over lettuce in a martini glass. This appetizer is a bit spicy, which I don’t usually like in food, but I ate a few pieces because they tasted really good.

Guests have the option to order white or brown rice, which is very aromatic. I tried a bit of each as I sampled Chang’s Spicy Chicken (PhP320) made with tender, diced chicken breast lightly dusted and stir-fried with a tangy sauce of sweet and spice. Surprisingly, despite its name, this flavorful dish won’t leave your tongue smoking.

The Mongolian Beef (PhP695) is another must-try dish at P.F. Chang’s. It has 12 oz. tender U.S. Angus beef that’s wok-cooked then quickly tossed with scallions and garlic.

I am not much of a fan of lamb because of the aftertaste but the Chengdu Spiced Lamb (PhP900) convinced me that there are lamb dishes worth ordering! This one has richly spiced, marinated lamb, tossed with cumin, mint, tomatoes, and yellow onions. Despite the spiciness, I enjoyed every bite.

My top favorite of all the dishes served though would have to be the Shrimp with Candied Walnuts (PhP795, for two PhP460). All its ingredients are some of my favorite foods: tender shrimp tossed in a creamy sauce with candied walnuts and honeydew melon. Yum!

What’s a Chinese restaurant though without noodles? The Lo Mein (PhP225) served at our table has stir-fried egg noodles, mushrooms, bean sprouts, bok choy, carrots, celery and onions.

If you are curious how P.F. Chang’s started, here’s the short story: Mr. Chiang was running two other Chinese restaurants in Beverly Hills and West Hollywood when fellow restaurateur, Philip Fleming, approached him with an idea. Together, they opened the first P.F. Chang’s in 1993 in Scottsdale, Arizona. The business has since grown exponentially over the years with its dine-in, take out, and party reservation services. Among the celebrities spotted at the restaurant’s different locations are John Travolta, Gwen Stefani, Justin Bieber, and Selena Gomez.

P.F. Chang’s partner in the Philippines is Global Restaurant Concepts, Inc. headed by president and CEO Mr. Archie Rodriguez. He revealed that when looking for restaurants to bring to the Philippines, they like to consider a few simple factors: Is their personal experience at the restaurant consistently memorable? Is the food good and fresh, using the best ingredients? Is the service and culture above par? Is the concept sound? Will the menu and atmosphere appeal to families?

“We believe P.F. Chang’s scored high marks in all of these categories. And, we are excited to share our experience with the rest of the Philippines,” shared Rodriguez. He really made a good call bringing the restaurant here because our experience dining there was really great. I’m looking forward to bringing hubby and the kids there soon.

P.F. Chang’s is located at The Street in Alabang Town Center. It will formally be opened to the public today January 19, 2012. For more info, please log on to www.pfchangs.com

*Photos without watermark borrowed with permission from Orange Magazine TV's Facebook album

Movie Review: We Bought a Zoo

2012-01-16T02:47:00.141+08:00

It's nice to cuddle a small kitten or puppy in one's arms but, as far as wild animals go, I usually am contented looking at them when metal or glass is separating us, especially when it comes to snakes! I like learning about animals from a safe distance, so to speak. Perhaps that's why some of my favorite cable channels include Animal Planet, National Geographic, and Discovery. I also would probably think a hundred times first if the last job on earth is being a zookeeper :p

Thus, I really, really admire people who are brave enough to work with temperamental animals every day. When I saw the trailer of We Bought a Zoo a few weeks ago and read several press releases about it, I kept thinking what possessed the book author (the movie was adapted from a true story, by the way) to buy a house that comes with a zoo?! After watching the press screening last week, I understood why they needed to be there.

We Bought a Zoo is a very heartwarming family movie that will touch young and old alike, deeply. Matt Damon did such a great job portraying Benjamin Mee, the widower who was having a difficult time moving on after his wife's death on top of dealing with his son Dylan (Colin Ford), who has issues of his own.

My favorite line in the movie: "All you need is 20 seconds of insane courage,

and I promise you, something great will come of it."

Benjamin resolved to find a new home for himself and his two children away from the places that hold beautiful memories he deemed too painful to be reminded of. And so their adventure began when he and his daughter fell in love with a house out in the countryside, which happens to have a zoo for a backyard. In a nutshell, they "inherited" all the animals and accompanying expenses there when they bought the property.

The Mee's passage towards healing became filled with challenges that were overwhelming at times. And yet, they persevered to come out of it and make everything -- their relationships with each other and the zoo staff, the difficulties of caring for more than a hundred animals, and preparing the zoo for opening day -- work.

We Bought a Zoo is a story of triumph over adversity. It is about hope, love, friends, and family. Matt and Colin are joined by an excellent cast composed of Maggie Elizabeth Jones (as the adorable Rosie Mee), Scarlett Johansson (as Kelly the zookeeper), Thomas Haden Church (as Duncan, Benjamin's funny brother), Elle Fanning (as Lily, the simple country girl with a generous heart), and John Michael Higgins (as the snooty zoo inspection officer).

I hope fathers would come see this movie with their wives and children so they can better appreciate what they have. I love Matt's performance because he was able to express deep, and sometimes raw, emotions flawlessly. As expected, a lot of eyes were misty when the cinema lights went on but we shed happy tears as we rejoiced with the characters in their journey to truly finding themselves and each other.

*We Bought A Zoo opens January 18 in Philippine theaters from 20th Century Fox to be distributed by Warner Bros.

Mikey Bustos, endorser of Chicharron ni Mang Juan, is Back in Manila for More Projects

2012-01-15T15:59:00.059+08:00

Mikey Bustos, the Filipino-Canadian YouTube sensation and the face of Jack ‘n’ Jill’s Chicharron ni Mang Juan came back to Manila last December to delight his fans once again. I first met Mikey last October (blog post about it here) before the first Chicharron ni Mang Juan commercials came out.

We had a grand time during that first press con as he talked about growing up in Canada, being raised to uphold Filipino values, to enjoy Pinoy food, and his journey from YouTube to local Philippine television. Despite being raised in a Western society, Mikey makes sure that he stays close to his Filipino roots and insists that he is a true Pinoy at heart.

He describes his last visit as a “mind-blowing and amazing experience,” and says he can’t help but feel happy to be back in his home county, surrounded by friends and loved ones. More than that, Mikey has been excitedly catching up with his loyal fans via Twitter and Facebook, in malls, and other venues wherever he happens to be recognized, sometimes not as Mikey, but as Mang Juan! :p He sincerely expresses how much he loves his fans and that, “I don’t know where I’ll be without them.”

Although he was a finalist in Canadian Idol, Mikey really gained popularity among local and international audiences when his Pinoy Tutorials (uploaded in his YouTube channel Mikey Bustos Daily Videos in February 2011) went viral with thousands of hits and counting.

To date, he has posted a total of 19 videos that provide humorous insights on Filipino-isms that range from local accents to table manners and even balut-eating. Mikey possesses a strong and authentic Filipino identity―a rare attribute from someone born and bred abroad―having been brought up in a strictly traditional Filipino household. “Me and my brother were raised in really old school traditions,” he reveals. Mikey even has the Pinoy accent down, which is something he thanks his mom for.

Mikey singing "Yellow" by Coldplay during the press con

“A product like Chicharron ni Mang Juan calls for an endorser who is just as innovative and dynamic in his craft, but embodying the well-loved Filipino values that give life to our country and culture,” says Teree Eugenio, Marketing VP of URC Snack Foods.

Chicharron ni Mang Juan has truly found its perfect match in Mikey as they both embody that old school Pinoy quality with a modern twist. And just like Chicharron ni Mang Juan, Mikey Bustos’ brand of entertainment always leaves Pinoy fans wanting more.

The “no pork” Chicharron ni Mang Juan is available in three exciting, uniquely Pinoy flavors—Espesyal Sukang Paombong, Espesyal Suka’t Sili and Spicy Sisig.

You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown To Be Staged in Manila

2012-01-14T22:45:00.000+08:00

One of my all-time favorite songs is Happiness, which I first heard sung by Lea Salonga and her brother Gerard in one of Lea's concerts. At the time, my youngest son was still a mere toddler and I remember how we used to sing the song together with the blending and all especially during the last part: "For happiness ... is anyone ... and anything ... at all ... that's loved ... by .... yoooou!" :)

Happiness is such a feel-good song and I'm really, really glad that I'll get to hear it sung live by another set of great performers this coming February. You see, one of the country's most exciting theater companies, 9 Works Theatrical, will be bringing to life the timeless characters from Charles M. Schulz' popular comic strip PEANUTS via the Tony award-winning musical, YOU'RE A GOOD MAN, CHARLIE BROWN.

The cast will take audiences back to the good ol' days when baseball games, book reports, kite-flying, and glee club rehearsals were all the craze. The story will be told through a series of recognizable vignettes that look into an average day in the life of Charlie Brown and draw from the richness and universality of his everyday situations. These make the musical play a perfect family show that is sure to resonate with the young and the young-at-heart.

During the press con, we were treated to several short performances by the talented cast and it was so amazing to see the characters come alive on stage. I love the costumes especially Charlie's. He is played by Robbie Guevara who was recently seen onstage as Uncle Max in The Sound of Music. Those who are familiar with 9 Works' previous plays would also know that he is an accomplished director on stage.

Carla Guevara-Laforteza takes on the role of the bossy and crabby Lucy. She recently played Maureen Johnson in Rent, the Sour Kangaroo in Seussical, and Sister Berthe in The Sound of Music. My friend, Rod, and I had our pictures taken with her and she delightfully remained in character.

Appearing in his first 9WT musical is singer-actor and TV personality Franco Laurel who will be playing the blanket-toting Linus. He's the former host of a couple of TV dance shows and has since found his true calling in theater having played starring roles in Joseph the Dreamer and Sweeney Todd, among others.

9 Works Theatrical's Marketing and PR Director Toff de Venecia will play Linus at certain performances. His acting credits include roles in Mulan Jr., Emperor's New Clothes, and Aladdin Jr., and more.

Charlie's famous dog, Snoopy, is played by Lorenz Martinez who was last seen as Benny in Rent and as Herr Zeller in The Sound of Music. I wish I could have seen him in the Netherlands production of Miss Saigon because he was said to be the youngest to perform the role of the Engineer.

GMA 7's resident "Kuya" and foodie, Tonipet Gaba, will bring the sensitive piano-playing Schroeder to life. His stage credits include lead roles in Oliver, Jesus Christ Superstar, and The Little Mermaid.

Playing Charlie Brown's younger sister Sally is Sweet Plantado-Tiongson who was the Musical Director for Vocals in 9WT's Sweet Charity. She's a performing-recording artist who is part of one of my favorite vocal groups, THE CompanY. She played roles before in The Little Mermaid, The Lion, the With, and the Wardrobe, and Joseph the Dreamer, among others.

For this production, 9 Works invited veteran actor and director Michael Williams to helm the show. He has numerous directorial credits with Repertory Philippines and his own company, Theater Down South. Here he is introducing the members of the cast who rendered a short but enthusiastic version of Happiness :)

You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown will be shown from February 11 to March 3, 2012 at the Carlos P. Romulo Auditorium, RCBC Plaza Makati. Friday shows are at 8pm, Saturday shows at 3:30pm and 8pm, and Sunday shows at 3:30pm.

They are offering a limited number of performances available for fundraising and block-buying. For tickets and other inquiries, please call 557-5870, 586-7105, or 0917-5545560 or email info@9workstheatrical.com.

Pinoy Mag Soon to Release Semi-Collector's Edition Featuring Somedaydream

2012-01-13T05:09:00.004+08:00

The "Dreamers" have another cool thing to look forward to next week. I had a chat with Annie of Pinoy Mag the other night at the MCA Music office and she showed me the digital copy of their first cover for 2012 :)

Yep, Somedaydream will grace Pinoy Magazine's kick-off issue's front and back covers for January-February. The magazine will be officially available at leading newsstands and bookstores nationwide starting January 19.

Some cover texts are intentionally blurred for confidentiality
until the issue comes out on January 19

Fans of Rez Toledo would want to grab a copy (or more :p) of this semi-collector's item because, according to the press release sent to me, the magazine contains 38 pages of exclusive photographs that include never-before-seen photos of Somedaydream while he was growing up. In addition, there will be 100 plus secrets and confessions that followers of 2011's OPM Breakthrough Artist would surely love to know :)

As a backgrounder, Somedaydream started as an Internet sensation but, as soon as his first single “Hey Daydreamer” was heard on the radio and gained massive airplay, there was no stopping one-man-act Rez Toledo from winning the hearts of a bigger audience. In the latter part of 2011, he was named as OPM Breakthrough Artist at the Yahoo! OMG Awards and also selected as one of Yahoo! Philippines Icons. Furthermore, Monster Radio RX 93.1 named him OPM Male Artist while “Hey Daydreamer” became OPM Song of the Year for 2011.

The much-anticipated Pinoy Mag issue will be available at the following outlets: ASTROPLUS, 7/11, Mini-Stop, Expression Inc., Pandayan Inc, Odyssey Record Bars, National Bookstores, NBS Book Express, Mercury Drug (selected branches only), Ever Supermarket, Wilcon Builders Depot, Filbars Inc., Kid & Mom, Mightee Mart, Total Gasoline Station, Petron Gasoline, Shell Select, Caltex, Booksale Cebu, Sea Oil Gasoline, Tropical Foodmart, Office Warehouse, RJ Guitar, Quick Stop, Emilenes Drug Stores, Finds Convenience Store, and newsstands nationwide for PhP28.00 each.

For more updates, follow Pinoy Magazine on Facebook and Twitter.

Bourne Legacy Shoot Schedules in Manila, Philippines

2012-01-12T23:48:00.024+08:00

I am a fan of the Bourne series and I am obviously looking forward to its next installment. A week ago, my Twitter feeds became inundated with tweets about Edward Norton sightings in Manila. Next, people started posting links to supposed-to-be calls for auditions to those who'd like to appear as one of the thousands of extras needed in the film.

And then some of my friends began tweeting about going off to the movie set to shoot with the stars. I didn't know if they were simply joking or if some of them would really appear on screen when Bourne Legacy did start showing in cinemas. Let's just see in time who were telling the truth :p

Either way, the fact remains that a lot of Filipinos are very interested about the news that an international film outfit with popular stars like Jeremy Renner, Edward Norton, and Rachel Weisz will be here for several weeks.

As such, here's sharing the movie's shooting schedules and locations as reported by the Philippine Entertainment Portal earlier:

"The cast and crew will shoot in San Andres until January 15, 2012. On January 14, they will be at San Andres corner Quirino and Taft Avenues; January 15 on Leveriza St.; January 18-19, at J. Bocobo St. corner Remedios Circle; January 25 on Riverside Road, Real and Sta. Lucia streets in Intramuros. By February 17-18, scenes will be shot at Jones Bridge and from February 8-15, they will be at Ramon Magsaysay Boulevard, Sta. Mesa."

Need to see the map? Visit this GMA Network article.

I'm just wondering if you will file for a leave on any of those dates now? :)

Krissy & Ericka Release Their Second Album Twelve: Fifty One Under MCA Music

2012-01-11T23:24:00.058+08:00

Sisters and YouTube sensations Krissy and Ericka, whose videos garnered a million hits with their renditions of popular songs, are releasing their second album entitled "Twelve: Fifty One" under MCA Music tomorrow. This contains ten tracks combining their versions of current hits such as Adele's Rolling in the Deep, Justine Bieber's That Should Be Me, Katy Perry's Last Friday Night (T.G.I.F.), Taylor Swift's Back to December, Far East Movement's Rocketeer (featuring The Lamars), and Rihanna's Love The Way You Lie 2.

Twelve: Fifty One also features original songs written by Krissy and Ericka like Rewind (featuring another YouTube sensation, AJ Rafael), In Your Arms, the banner single 12:51, and Anything (written and featuring international artist Marie Digby). Fans should watch out also for the bonus track which is the young ladies' version of Eric Clapton's Change the World which, incidentally, is also included in the MCA Music compilation album entitled '90s Music Comes Alive.

I've already listened to 12:51 in MCA's Music Sampler CD and found it really nice. Krissy and Ericka do have youthful but powerful voices and their blending is very, very nice. I'm looking forward to hearing the whole album soon. Here's a video I took of them earlier inviting everyone to grab a copy of their latest CD.

Aside from the album launch, the sisters will be joining AJ Rafael as special guests in his shows in Southeast Asia this month. They will be in Indonesia this January 13 at the Hard Rock Cafe in Jakarta; in Malaysia on January 14 at the Bentley Auditorium in Kuala Lumpur; in Singapore on January 16 at the Drama Center Theater; and here in the Philippines on January 18 at the Music Museum.

Adding more glitter to their Asian tour is the release of Twelve: Fifty One in Singapore and Malaysia the same week as that of the Philippines and soon in more Southeast Asian countries.

To download Krissy and Ericka's music, text KANDE and send to 3456.

Movie Review: Bodyguards and Assassins from the 6th Spring Film Festival

2012-01-10T23:43:00.115+08:00

I think a lot of Filipinos watch Chinese movies because we are fascinated with all those magical Kung Fu flying moves that we usually see in those kinds of films. More often than not, too, we find that we also "get" their humor and laugh at their jokes (just think Jackie Chan and you'll know what I mean).

Anyhow, when I got an invite to preview a Chinese movie that's included in the 6th Spring Film Festival happening this month, I said yes because I'm sure the organizers would be showing quality films that are really worth watching. I was glad I came.

Bodyguards and Assassins is about a story based on one of China's historical periods. It is set in 1905 when Hong Kong was still under British rule and revolution was on the rise. Sun Yat-Sen, foremost pioneer of Nationalist China, was then set to arrive in Hong Kong to meet with, and unify, faction leaders so they can all finally take down the corrupt and crumbling Qing Dynasty.

When she found out about it, Empress Dowager Cixi, the de facto ruler of the Qing Dynasty, orders Sun to be assassinated. For the Chinese citizens who had long been dreaming of freedom, it was understood that protecting Sun Yat-Sen means keeping China's liberation hopes alive.

Thus, businessman Li Yutang gathers a motley crew of people composed of a tofu vendor, a beggar, an orphan, and rickshaw pullers to serve as bodyguards. Despite their lowly statures in society, the heroic group was able to display their superb fighting skills as they battle it out with the assassins to protect a leader they haven't even met.

The flow of the story is really, really good. There are personal conflicts that need to be resolved, principles to fight for, and memorable characters who will tug at your heart. I felt a lot of emotions while watching this movie. Although there are the expected funny scenes, I found myself touched immensely by the loyalty of Ah-Si the servant for his masters, the deep love of Li Yutang for his only son, and the young Master Li's resolve to serve his country at all cost, even if he might lose his life.

I think that if a lot of Filipinos would get to see this movie, maybe more of us would love our own country, too, enough to really fight for the right things that will benefit everyone and not just a chosen few.

FYI, this action-historical movie garnered numerous awards from the 4th Asian Film Awards, 29th Hongkong Film Awards,16th Hongkong Film Critics Society Awards and 47th Golden Horse Awards. It's really worth watching.

Catch Bodyguards and Assassins and the other five notable films during the Spring Film Festival at the Shangrila Mall Cineplex this coming January 20-29. Admission is free! For the list of other films and their synopses, screening schedules, art activities, and other details, please click here.

Kris Aquino Finds "True Love" in San Marino Corned Tuna

2012-01-09T23:01:00.058+08:00

Kris Aquino seems to be everywhere. She's in movies (remember Segunda Mano just last month?), talk shows, telenovelas, and different TV commercials. Her title "The Queen of all Media" fits her very well because Filipinos do take notice of whatever she says or endorses.

This 2012, she starts the year by announcing, "I finally found true love" which set people abuzz about who she is talking about. After all, her romantic relationships with all the drama involved has been well-publicized throughout the years so the statement was met with much interest and speculation. Kris moreover revealed that the relationship will affect her life positively.

Yesterday, this Director's Cut TV commercial was launched at The Buzz:

"My search is over,” she declares. “I found true love in San Marino.” It may not be the kind of news that a lot of people are expecting to hear but this kind of love story is definitely a relationship that also involves the heart.

Kris explains that true love is not limited to romantic relationships as it can also be found in things closest to one's heart. In her case, she affirms that true love is about her family and how she wants to live a full and healthy life so she can spend more time with them.

“I want to love more so I want to be healthy. I want to live long, especially for my kids,” says the youthful-looking mom. “It is with this that I am particular with the food I eat. I want to have a healthy heart.”

San Marino Corned Tuna, after all, has less oil than the usual tuna flakes in oil and has lots of tuna. "It has Omega-3 DHA which is good for the heart," shares Kris. Every 180-g can of San Marino Corned Tuna has 1,125 mg of Omega-3. Omega-3 DHA contributes to having a healthy heart as it lowers cholesterol and blood pressure, and reduces risks of heart attack and other cardio-vascular diseases.

Asked why the shift to San Marino Corned Tuna, Kris reveals, “I believe in San Marino and what it stands for – good health beyond appearance. I find it deeply satisfying. I won’t settle for anything less than San Marino.”

“What’s inside is truly more essential, especially when it comes to the food you eat. I like the taste of corned beef, but I also want something that will satisfy more of my nutritional needs. This is why I love San Marino Corned Tuna—it has the delicious taste of corned beef and the health benefits of tuna,” Kris says of her newfound true love.

“For me, it’s simply the best! I join the millions of Filipinos who choose the country’s number one corned tuna,” concludes the Queen of Talk.

* Reference for quotes came from a Manila Bulletin advertorial

Movie Review: Alvin and the Chipmunks: Chipwrecked

2012-01-08T03:26:00.140+08:00

They're cute, they're funny, and they're back! The singing sensations Alvin, Simon, and Theodore plus the lovely Chipettes Brittany, Jeanette, and Eleanor once more bring mayhem and music on the big screen in their latest adventure called Alvin and the Chipmunks: Chipwrecked.

Jason Lee returns as long-suffering guardian Dave Seville and David Cross as cranky ex-music producer Ian, along with the voices of Justin Long, Matthew Gray Gubler, Jesse McCartney, Anna Faris, Christina Applegate, and Amy Poehler.

The group was supposed to be en route to the International Music Awards via a luxury cruise ship. Expectedly, Alvin couldn't resist pulling all the stops and pushing the limits of what he can do on the virtually spacious playground. No thanks to him, he and the rest of the chipmunks find themselves stranded on an island where there are no comforts of home nor room service.

The domesticated and pampered "six-some" then have to figure out how to forage for food and find shelter while waiting for Dave to rescue them. Soon after, they discover that they're not alone on the seemingly deserted island. There, they meet Zoe (played by Jenny Slater), who has already been there for years and who has made friends with a basketball, golf ball, baseball, tennis ball, and nerf football and even gave them names!

The friendly group dynamics shift when Theodore gets bitten by a spider and they discover some hidden treasure. In addition, the island's volcano starts rumbling and threatens everyone's safety.

Find out what happens by watching the movie. Is Zoe a friend or a foe? What lessons would the chipmunks learn on the island? And will Dave find his "kids" in time to make it to the music awards?

Parents, whose kids would likely beg to be brought to see the film, would be glad to know that the central themes of the movie are about growing up and trying to make the right choices as well as letting children find out for themselves how much of a difference they could make when they do decide to become responsible not only for themselves, but for the people they care about.

Like me and my youngest son, I'm sure you'll also find a lot of things to like in Chipwrecked. The blending of voices in the musical numbers alone will make you tap your feet and even sing along!

“Alvin and the Chipmunks: Chipwrecked” from 20th Century Fox to be distributed by Warner Bros. opens nationwide today, January 8.

Movie Review: Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows

2012-01-06T14:59:00.160+08:00

I've been a fan of Robert Downey Jr. for as long as I can remember and he remains one of the best actors I admire. He has just proven once again how good he is with Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows.

RDJ plays the brilliant detective very well. His inherent wit and charm come across the screen effortlessly. Jude Law, who plays Dr. Watson, also did great as Holmes' loyal friend and sidekick. The two, who are said to be good friends off-screen, have a good dynamic that make their scenes really fun to watch.

In this film sequel, the characters created by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle are set up against a brilliant professor and mastermind who uses his extraordinary intelligence to commit crime. Holmes has finally met his intellectual match in Professor James Moriarty (played by Jared Harris) whose capacity for evil, plus the absence of a conscience, may just upstage the principled detective.

The story involves a scandal that takes down an Indian cotton tycoon; the apparent overdose of a Chinese opium trader; bombings in Strasbourg and Vienna; and the death of an American steel magnate. No one, except Sherlock Holmes, sees the connections between these seemingly random events. The great detective suspects the deliberate web of death and destruction being spun by a singularly sinister spider -- Moriarty.

In a press release, RDJ describes his character as being consumed with beating the professor at his own game to the point of "nutting up" and possibly endangering his own sanity. The twists in the movie did leave me puzzled as more and more clues are revealed before culminating in a conclusion that was quite unexpected.

Joining the cast are Noomi Rapace who plays Sim, a feisty gypsy who got embroiled in the happenings no thanks to her mysterious brother Rene; Stephen Fry who plays Mycroft Holmes, Sherlock's very eccentric sibling; Rachel McAdams who returns as Irene Adler; Kelly Reilly as Watson’s bride, Mary Morstan (she looks a lot like an older Taylor Swift!); Eddie Marsan as Inspector Lestrade; and Geraldine James as Holmes’s long-suffering landlady, Mrs. Hudson.

What jolted me later as the film credits started rolling was vaguely remembering having read a particular story about Sherlock Holmes meeting an accident in Switzerland. When I got home last night, I looked for three books that we've had since the early '90s and am now compelled to re-read each one to familiarize myself once again with the magic of joining Holmes and Watson in their seemingly never-ending escapades.

Do watch A Game of Shadows. It has action, comedy, mystery, and a whole lot more. Admire the period costumes, be amused at Holmes' disguises, be awed at the bombing and chase scenes, laugh at the witty dialogues, marvel at ingenious contraptions and thingamajigs, and root for the good detective and his allies while thoroughly enjoying the story that's excellently directed by Guy Ritchie.

Opening across the Philippines this January 8, Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows is distributed by Warner Bros. Pictures, a Warner Bros. Entertainment Company.

With a Grateful Heart

2012-01-01T10:15:00.000+08:00

My write up, posted in SmartSuperWomen.com yesterday, is about things we can do before, or right after, the New Year starts. Among the list is remembering all the good stuff that happened for the past 12 months.

As I welcome 2012 with all of you, let me share the following things I am thankful for in 2011:

The Gift of Friendship

I sincerely believe that our hearts will always have space for new friends. I am blessed to have met a lot of good people through my work and a select few (you know who you are!) have really become very close to me these past months. They have become my confidantes, my comrades, and even my shoulders to cry on. Thanks guys and gals for being there. I truly treasure you.

To my old friends who I don’t get to see much anymore, I am really glad that we have the internet to bridge whatever distances that separate us. The laughter and camaraderie remain until we meet again.

The Gift of Writing

I am fortunate to have editors and clients who continue to trust me with writing assignments that I, more often than not, enjoy doing. Special thanks (in no particular order) to Jing L. and Rossana L. of SmartSuperWomen.com; Heinz B. of MoneySense magazine, Judith J. and Melody B. of BusinessWorld’s High Life magazine and HerWord.com; Amyline C., Regina A., and Irene F. of Manila Bulletin; Mel A. of CodeRED magazine; and Cora L. and Anna G. of United Business Media.

Thank you, too, to the members of the Christian Writers Fellowship for always being there to encourage and inspire me especially my Ates in the group – Grace Chong, Yay Olmedo, Jophen Baui, and Yna Reyes.

The Gift of Lessons Learned

Not everything that happened in 2012 was all good. Some were painful reminders that mistakes happen and that not all people are as pleasant as they seem. As I became witness to what certain people are capable of, I’ve also discovered new things about me which made me more firmly resolve not to allow myself to be taken advantage of nor be too trusting of new acquaintances and even new clients. I have also promised myself to distinguish priorities from flights of fancy.

The Gift of Events

The past 12 months was a whirlwind that blew me into this and that direction. I never thought I’d enjoy going out this much after years of staying at home and just writing most of the time. 2011 was my year to mingle and experience a lot of new stuff that, I think, made me wiser and more discerning about many things. Thank you to the PR agencies and staff who gave me those opportunities.

The Gifts of Music, Theater, Movies, and TV Shows

I’ve always loved listening to music since I was young so having lots of opportunities in 2011 to cover events related to these are blessings indeed. I got to meet a number of talented OPM artists I admire and whose music I enjoy listening to. Thanks so much Jeman V. of OrangeMagazineTV for introducing me to the wonderful people behind Mecca Music, Polyeast Records, MCA Music, Cornerstone, and Universal Records.

After being assigned to write a review of RENT in 2010, my love for theater has grown exponentially since mostly because of Tita Toots T., Joy W., and Omar I. who opened doors to the worlds of 9Works Theatrical, Repertory Philippines, Atlantis Productions, CTE Productions, Stages, Tanghalang Pilipino, Dulaang UP, Ateneo Blue Rep, and UP Samasining.

In the past, I’d just catch whatever movie is being shown on cable TV or a DVD that hubby and kids were watching. Ten to one, I won’t get to finish the whole thing because I’d get distracted with pending writing deadlines or house chores. But when I started getting invites to premieres, I was finally able to watch and enjoy a whole movie without any interruptions. So this grateful gal wants to wholeheartedly thank the movers and shakers behind Columbia Pictures, Disney/Pixar, Warner Bros., 20th Century Fox, Solar Movies and Events, and OctoArts Films for inviting me to your screenings.

Thank you as well to Flow G. for the invites to ABS-CBN events particularly to the press cons and advance screenings of 100 Days to Heaven and Budoy. Those are truly wonderful shows for Filipinos.

The Gift of Family

Above all the other things I am truly grateful for is my family whose individual members continue to inspire me to strive harder and become a better wife, mom, daughter, sister, and aunt. I love each and every one of you to bits! I embrace your presence in my life with a thankful heart and lots of hope for better days to come.

Blogapalooza Freebie Review: A Visit to Sparkle Spa

2011-12-30T17:41:00.073+08:00

When your work entails being in front of the computer almost 24/7 like mine does, chances are, you also often experience having aches and pains in your hands, arms, back, and butt. This is the reason why I love having a whole body massage every now and then because it rejuvenates my tired muscles and make them ready for work again.

Finally, I got to use the Sparkle Spa gift certificate I got from Blogapalooza! The establishment is not very hard to find. From Bicutan, you just take the left service road (going North) and stop at Robinson's Supermarket near Merville. Sparkle is located at the right side of the building.

The place looks very nice and well-maintained. The ambiance is cozy and there's even WiFi! Although the theme is predominantly pink, they have services that guys can also avail. My hubby also had a massage while our eldest son (who plays the guitar) tried the foot and hand reflexology treatment.

On the first floor are seats for those who are availing their hair treatments. Upstairs are two comfy chairs for customers who want to have foot, hand, back, and head massages; and two beds for those who need their whole body pampered.

Unlike other spas, Sparkle does not have any shower or sauna rooms. You get massaged immediately while soothing music play in the background. Their beds are comfortable and the masseuse responds politely when you tell her to adjust the pressure applied on your muscles. Moreover, the staff are friendly and will readily answer any questions you have about their services.

For a complete list of what Sparkle has to offer, please visit www.sparkle.ph

Uncle Sam's Flying Circus Comes to Manila

2011-12-27T10:39:00.072+08:00

It's not often I get invited to watch acrobatic shows but I do enjoy being amazed at performers' self-discipline and creativity in coming up with difficult and breathtaking routines that average persons like me won't probably be able to do in our lifetime.

Yesterday, I got to watch Uncle Sam's Flying Circus at the SMX in MOA and was impressed at some of the acts. There were jugglers, hula hoop dancers, Icarian game performers, and more. I'd say I was most impressed by the Genesis duo and the girl in silver who did some complicated balancing acts.

Of course, no circus would be complete without a clown and the one they have was pretty funny. He got two volunteers (well, more like pulled them with him towards the stage) from the audience and proceeded to command them to do stuff using gestures, facial expressions, and his whistle. A lot of people laughed at the antics because the volunteers were game enough to join in the fun.

There were also two performers who impersonated Britney Spears and Lady Gaga. The dance moves and costumes were nice although the lip-synching needs to be improved :p

Kids and kids-at-heart would like watching Uncle's Sam's Flying Circus. However, if you've already watched a Cirque du Soleil show before like I did, avoid expecting too much because you'll probably be disappointed. Just enjoy what the Uncle Sam team has to offer and you'll still end up having a good time.

Shows at SMX runs from Dec. 25, 2011 to January 1, 2012. There will also be shows in Cebu on the first week of January. For show schedules and ticket inquiries, check out the SM Tickets website.

* Photos borrowed from Orange Magazine TV's Facebook album

Movie Review: My Househusband: Ikaw Na!

2011-12-24T01:38:00.122+08:00

Times have changed. These days, it's no longer practical for most Filipino families to expect just the husband to bring in the bacon. More often than not, moms have no choice but also take in full time jobs to support their families' necessities.

Personally, it's not really an issue who gets to bring home more money. What's important is that the total family income can provide for everybody's needs and if circumstances come where the wife has to take in a full time job while the hubby stays at home, the guy should not be discriminated against just because the situation is not what most people consider as the norm.

The movie, My Househusband: Ikaw Na!, starring Ryan Agoncillo, Judy Ann Santos, and Eugene Domingo, was able to give audiences a glimpse into the lives of a family where the husband loses his job and his wife takes over the responsibility of earning for their needs. Although some of the scenarios felt a bit exaggerated, this film is mainly a comedy anyway and viewers would do well to focus on the movie's messages.

However, the truths discussed within the story, I believe, would resonate in many people's minds especially on the topics of marriage and partnership, compromises, extended families, friendship, and work ethics. Couples, most especially, would learn a thing or two that may make their relationship a lot better after they leave the cinema.

Ryan Agoncillo played his role very well although some friends of mine and I felt that he could have been given a more dramatic scene that would really help him show the depth of his character like a solo shot where he'd let out all his frustrations at what has been happening in his life at the time. Maybe, just maybe, he'd have a better chance of bagging the Best Actor Award at the MMFF.

Judy Ann Santos performed effortlessly as the wife and mother who gets squeezed into a situation where she had to harness her strength and talents to pull her family out of their tight circumstances.

Eugene Domingo, as expected, has once more shown her wonderful comedic timing and delivery of ultra-hilarious punch lines that had audiences rolling around in their seats. Her portrayal of a mistress and a BFF is quite unforgettable and would most likely stick with a lot of people for a long time.

Do watch this very nice movie during its Metro Manila Film Festival run from Dec. 25 to January 7. It will not only make you laugh but also think and change your mind about looking past traditions and so-called societal rules that have become passe now that we're into faster-paced lives, higher standards of living, and high-tech environments.

*Photos borrowed from My Househusband: Ikaw Na! Facebook page

* To read other blog posts about this movie, please click the following links:

Pay Easy, Be Gorgeous with BPI and David's Salon's Tie-Up Promo

2011-12-23T05:37:00.074+08:00

I've been banking online since around 2001 or 2002. BPI Express Online has made my life easier in terms of settling utility bills and doing money transfers to members of my family. I could pay our electric or telephone bills past 12 MN with just a few clicks without having to line up and waste time at a payment center.

A few months ago, after a certain bank with irresponsible officers keeled over and died, I had my kids transfer all their savings to BPI Jumpstart accounts. Right after they got their ATM cards, I enrolled their accounts online to make it easier for them to monitor their cash flow. Now, whenever they use their debit cards to buy stuff (e.g. a pair of pants D really liked or a scientific calculator to replace the one J lost), they can check where their money went days later.

You, too, can enjoy these conveniences by enrolling your BPI accounts online. What's timely about this is that there's currently a promo between BPI and David's Salon called Pay Easy, Be Gorgeous where clients are encouraged to "make more time for the things that really count by choosing to manage their accounts easily and conveniently with BPI Express Online," as described by Anj Mirasol, Senior Manager, BPI.

(L-R) Carlo Gatuslao, Assistant Vice President, BPI; Anj Mirasol, Senior Manager, BPI;
David Charlton, President and CEO, David's Salon;
and Patrick Zulueta, Marketing Manager, BPI

The promo was launched via a mini-salon show held at the Event Center, SM Megamall last December 21 where customers were treated to a live hairstyling demo done by Mr. David Charlton, David's Salon President and CEO.

At BPI, clients enjoy less banking time and more me-time because you can now pay bills to over 300 merchants, including Meralco, Globe Telecom, Sky Cable, Smart Telecom, Manila Water, Ateneo de Manila University, BPI Express Credit Card, as well as the Philippine Red Cross via BPI Express Online.

By simply enrolling a deposit account, and paying a bill through BPI Express Online during the promo duration, clients will be qualified to receive a coupon which entitles them to a free treatment at David's Salon, including a haircut, manicure, OR pedicure at participating David's Salon branches.

Promo is open to existing BPI, BPI Family Savings Bank and BPI Direct clients. Promo runs until February 26, 2012. For more information about BPI 24/7 Banking, visit www.bpiexpressonline.com

We "Crabbed" All We Could at Crustasia in Rockwell

2011-12-22T05:35:00.117+08:00

I love seafood especially shrimp and crabs so being invited to lunch at Crustasia Rockwell the other day was definitely a welcome treat! My friends and I joined other guests who enjoyed eating several lip-smacking crab dishes prepared by Crustasia's creative cooks headed by Executive Chef Peter Ayson.

We savored crabs that were as big as the plates they were served in. Each large claw spilled out sweet and juicy crab meat that is greatly enhanced by the flavors and sauces on each plate. Who'd have thought that crabs can be cooked in so many ways?!

Diners can ask the kitchen staff to break the tough crab shells before serving them on the table. But you'll also be provided with a crab cracker to help you further break smaller parts, as needed.

Among the different variants I got to taste that day, two became my fast favorites: the one coated with, according to the waiter, a mixture made with duck eggs (heavenly yummy!) and the one loaded with lots of crispy minced garlic (very, very tasty!).

The crab cakes are also good appetizers.

Some of the concoctions were a bit spicy so I just took a little bite of each. I like the one with cashew nuts though even if the sauce did sting my taste buds a bit. Good thing there were lots of rice and iced tea to wash away the hot feeling on my tongue.

To give you an idea about costs, I was told that crabs at Crustasia sell by P145 per 100g. and that the crabs we had weighed around 800g. to 1kg. each. For inquiries, please call 728.5463

Photo borrowed from Myke Soon's FB album

Overall, Crustasia in Rockwell is a really great place to bring your family and friends to (Ms. Janice de Belen was eating there with several lovely ladies when we arrived) for a hearty meal and good conversations. The ambiance is very nice and the staff really friendly. Thank you Ms.X for the invite :)

Globe's Blackberry Christmas Offer

2011-12-21T23:45:00.003+08:00

'Tis the season to have a (Black)berry Merry Christmas! :)

Four days before December 25th and I haven't found the perfect gift yet for my husband. And then I saw Globe's Kris Kringle Blog Writing Contest where three bloggers can win 1 of 3 Blackberry phones each!

So let me tag this writeup as Something Special because, if I win one, I'll definitely give it to hubby. He likes qwerty phones and the one he's using at the moment is quite old already and might be ready to conk out anytime soon. A new Blackberry phone would be a great gift! :)

Did you know? Globe is offering the following amazing Blackberry offers with unlimited mobile surfing plans and free Globe services. My Super Plan UnliSurf Combos range from P599 to P2499.

BlackBerry Curve 8520

FREE at UnliSurf Combo Plan 599 with unlimited mobile surfing

BlackBerry Curve 3G 9300

FREE at UnliSurf Combo Plan 999 with:

• unlimited mobile surfing

• P400 consumable amount

• 1 freebie from A to C, E

BlackBerry Curve 9360

FREE at UnliSurf Combo Plan 1799 with:

• unlimited mobile surfing

• P1,200 consumable amount

• 3 freebies from A to C, E

BlackBerry Bold 9780

FREE at UnliSurf Combo Plan 2499 with:

• unlimited mobile surfing

• P1,900 consumable amount

• 5 freebies from A to C, E

Here are the handset prices for each plan:

And here are your choice of freebies:

A - 10 min calls and 200 SMS to Globe/TM
B - 5 min calls and 25 SMS to other networks
C - 20 mins IDD calls and 10 ISMS to 10 destinations**
E - Unlimited calls and text to one Globe/TM number
** US, Canada, Guam, Hawaii, Alaska, Singapore, Hong Kong, China, Taiwan, Thailand
(Yes, there is no letter D. I double checked Globe's details! :p)

The promo period runs from December 1 to 31, 2011. Per DTI-NCR Permit No. 9409, Series of 2011 and is available for new Globe Postpaid line applications only.

I Survived the Del Monte Fit 'N Right 30 Day Challenge! :)

2011-12-20T23:34:00.214+08:00

Despite several invitations to do free trials or work out for free in different gyms in the past, I'd always end up forgetting where I placed the gift certificates or throw the cards away outright. I couldn't imagine myself slaving away on all those huge exercise equipment that I knew most gyms have. In my mind, I've always thought that staying active through regular walks and doing house chores would be enough. I tried running a few times and was even "dragged" by hubby to join one race (story here) a few months ago but it only convinced me further that activities like those are not for me.

When I attended a Del Monte event sometime last month, a couple of blogger friends encouraged me to sign up for the Fit 'N Right challenge. This entails working out at Gold's Gym for one whole month while drinking a bottle of Del Monte Fit 'N Right once a day. I was really hesitant to fill out the form because, again, it was hard to imagine myself hopping from one gym machine to another. But, since the initial measurements taken indicated that I have excess body fat, I caved in.

Still, doubts kept creeping up on me the rest of the day. If I do start going to the gym, albeit for just one month, would I be able to fit those visits in my already seemingly full schedule? By the next morning, I almost forgot about joining the challenge until a delivery guy showed up in front of our house that afternoon and left me with two cases (48 bottles) of Del Monte Fit 'N Right drinks. There was no way I could back out now!

Thankfully, Jeman Villanueva of Orange Magazine TV, another challenger, also lives in Alabang and we both decided to be gym buddies as often as possible so we could cheer each other on. I knew I'd need a lot of encouragement to see this through because, just thinking of sweating it out in the gym and feeling the body aches after, made me want to just curl up in bed and sleep.

Jeman and I, along with Rod Magaru, our friend and fellow blogger who also signed up for the challenge, first visited Gold's Gym Glorietta on November 20 for an orientation with Chris, one of the trainers there. The next day, we got measured by Mark, another trainer, and were made to do some exercises to gauge how fit we are. I think I was out of breath even before we were even halfway through the list of stuff to do. Results? I was found to be underweight but mildly obese, which simply meant I have fats in the wrong places :p That kinda challenged me to shave them off by the time the four weeks is up.

And so our journey towards being fitter and healthier started. Jeman and I tried to schedule workouts before or after the events we cover. If we happen to be in the Ortigas area, we go to Gold's Gym in Robinson's Galleria. There were times we'd visit the Alabang branch during weekends. But, most of the time, we'd be in Makati either in Glorietta or Hotel Intercon which is quite small and have a lot less equipment than the other branches.

I didn't get to complete the exact 30 days because there would be instances when I really don't have time to go to the gym or I would not be up to it because my body would still be screaming in pain from a previous workout. My rough estimate would be, in the space of one month, I averaged around three to five visits to the gym per week.

Surprisingly, aside from enjoying a daily refreshing bottle of ice cold Del Monte Fit 'N Right (I made sure there's always at least one bottle in the ref every day), I found out that exercising could be addicting! I guess it must be the motivation of seeing other people determinedly pushing the limits of what their bodies can do and seeing results after a certain amount of time has passed. There were days I did look forward to working out and melting off those unwanted fats.

Two weeks into the program, I noticed my jeans have started to become looser, I could wear some old shirts again without feeling like a suman and I felt I have more energy when climbing stairs or lifting stuff. After a month, we had ourselves measured again. Although I was supposed to gain pounds, my weight remained the same but my arm and leg muscles have become firmer and, guess what, my body fat percentages decreased from 34.2 to 33.2 to 30.9! Yey!

According to Del Monte Fit 'N Right's The Science of Sexy, the discovery of more body-friendly food ingredients that make people avoid diseases while keeping one's weight down enabled health and well-being a simple yet oftentimes difficult choice to make.

Here's a basic formula we should all keep in mind: FAT equals Calories Consumed minus Calories Burned

In short, how much fat our bodies accumulate is determined by the caloric content of the food we eat versus the calories we burn through regular physical activities and exercise. Ergo, to lose weight and reduce fat mass, we have to increase physical activity to burn more fat and/or eat fewer calories.

One of the best lessons I learned from all these is that we need to be conscious about weight loss and maintaining the right weight by trying to work in little steps into our everyday lives. This means having at least 30 minutes of daily aerobic activity (jogging, climbing stairs, etc.) into our daily routines and lessening daily carbs intake.

Still, weight is not the only measure of fitness because muscle weighs heavier than fat. That holds true for me. My bet is that I developed more muscle during the one month workouts thus my weight didn't change and yet, I lost around 4% body fat.

Del Monte Fit 'N Right contains L-Carnitine, a fat burner that metabolizes calories the body takes in by converting fatty acids into energy. This beverage also contains Green Coffee Extract (GCE), a natural ingredient taken from unroasted (meaning not present in coffee we drink everyday as the beans have already been roasted) green coffee beans which blocks the body's absorption of sugar and results to less excess calories that can turn into fat. According to a clinical study, daily consumption of GCE has resulted to significant reduction in fat vs. L-Carnitine alone and vs. diet and exercise alone.

The New and Improved Del Monte Fit 'N Right harnesses the science of sexy and captured it in a bottle to amplify weight loss efforts. Its patented formulation results to greater overall fat loss than ever before, with just one bottle a day. Achieve a healthier and fitter body by trying Fit 'N Right for 30 days. Don't forget to combine this with some changes to your diet plus a little exercise and you'll see good results after one month. I did :)

Qs and As with My Househusband: Ikaw Na! Stars

2011-12-18T03:06:00.296+08:00

After meeting Eugene Domingo and the Agoncillo couple (Ryan and Juday) separately the past couple of weeks, I was once again invited to cover the grand press con of My Househusband: Ikaw Na! which is OctoArts Film's entry to this year's Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF) at Guilly's in Quezon City.

The stars of the movie made the afternoon really fun. Aside from the three main characters, also present were Rocco Nacino, who plays Judy Ann's brother in the movie; Shalala, who plays a bank manager; and Ellen Adarna, who plays a bank teller.

Here's sharing some of the highlights during the Q & A portion:

Q: After coming out recently in the cover of Sense & Style, are you willing to do more daring photo shoots like that?

Eugene: Sa totoo lang, kung meron man akong pagsusumikapan talaga, gagawin ko to have a partner ... sila [Juday at Ryan] talaga yung couple na gusto kong ma-achieve -- parang mag-barkada na mag-asawa na magkalaro. Lagi silang ready, very spontaneous, in other words. Actually, si Judy Ann Santos talaga ang peg ko sa show business, you can quote me on that.

Q: Sa My Househusband, third party ka dito. In reality, ok ba sa 'yo yung ganung concept?

Eugene: Naku iha, hinde. Masamang maging third party kasi makakarma ka. At ang karma ngayon, digital! 'Di ba? (laughter) Ah, digicam ang tawag ngayon d'yan. Masamang makiapid, hindi maganda, minamalas. Kaya nga ang character ni Aida Capinpin dito ay nasampal ng bonggang-bongga ni Judy Ann! Hindi ko naman akalain ... Sinabi ko lang sa kanya, "Judy, sampalin mo ako, wag kang matakot ha." D'yos ko, dalawang sampal, ang lalakas! Isa dito, isa sa hindi ko maintindihan saan nanggaling! (Looking at Juday) Ang lakas mo palang manampal! Kaya 'wag kayong magkakamaling maging third party ... kasi ikamamatay ninyo ang sampal ni Judy Ann Santos!

Q: Rocco, your role in this movie is like a confidante for Judy Ann. In real life, kapag may problema kang personal, who do you usually ask advice from?

Rocco: Usually my mom. Kasi I actually grew up being a mama's boy. She's always there for me. Whenever I want to ask about work, life, love life, s'ya yung una kong kinakausap. Looking up to her, being a breast cancer survivor, being a workaholic, I've seen how she does things. Feeling ko talaga, she's the perfect person to look up to.

Q: Saan mo maa-attribute yung success mo ngayon?

Eugene: Yung success, shempre, lagi mong ia-acknowledge ang Panginoon. Kahit na anong pagsusumikap, kung ang faith mo ay hindi buong-buo, hindi ka makakarating sa paroroonan mo. Number two, alam mong mayroon kang gift [kaya] you have to embrace it and acknowledge it. And you have the chance to study ... pag-aralan mo, i-develop, accept everything. Huwag kang mangiming tanggapin kahit maliit, malaki, 'ika nga there are no small roles. Basta mayroon kang chance na mapalawak ang iyong knowledge and experience, tanggapin mo lahat yan. At saka 'wag kang magmadali na marating ang karuruk-rurukan hangga't hindi pa naman talaga para sa iyo kasi you will end up competing with others and that will make you really frustrated. Just take your time, enjoy every moment, and your time will come.

Q: Is there a connection between your two previous movies (Kasal, Kasali, Kasalo and Sakal, Sakali, Saklolo) and My Househusband?

Ryan: This is a totally different story. Although hindi maikakaila na maisip ng ibang tao na ito ang pangatlo[ng movie] lalo't andyan si Direk Joey and then us. Kumbaga yung unit na yun, naia-associate with the first two movies. That's why we're very careful to explain that it's not connected and it's a totally different movie. The characters are very different. When we did KKK and SSS, we did not know that we were coming up with a full-blown comedy. That's the magic of Joey Reyes' scripts. It's very intricately written and by the time it's edited, iba na yung lumalabas sa screen. What comes out is a gem. Even as actors, there's only so much that a director can tell you. Yung My Househusband, I think you'll be pleasantly surprised.

Q: What part of the movie is true in your life?

Rocco: Isa akong nursing student dito. In real life, I am a nurse and I have a sibling kaya ako ang tumatayong pangalawang naga-advice sa kanya kapag may problema s'ya. Sakto yung mga eksena [ko with Judy Ann] sa akin, I'm there to listen. I'm not madaldal, I'm more of a listener talaga. I like to listen dun sa mga sinasabi ng kausap ko so sakto yung character na binigay ni Direk Joey.

Eugene: Ang layo naman ng character ko sa totoong buhay. Ang sa akin lang, ang sarap palang magkaron ng best friend na lalake, na straight! Kasi konting-konti ang mga kaibigan kong straight. Sa totoo lang! Sa set, kapag kasama ko si Ryan, bago kami mag-shoot, nagkukuwentuhan kami. (Looks at Ryan) Straight ka naman 'di ba? (laughter) Sarap! So sana magkaroon pa ako ng ibang kaibigang straight na lalaki, yung walang malisya.

Ryan: Dito sa pelikula, si Rod, isa s'yang ama na 5'6" ang height at may asawa s'yang maganda so naka-relate ako. Pero bukod dun, in real life, may best friend talaga akong babae. Kasi totoo yun ... kapag totally platonic [ang relationship], walang kahit anong bahid ng malisya, eh maganda and sweet ang exchange ng tinginan.

Juday: Siguro sa characters namin ni Ry, makaka-relate kami 10 years from now? Kapag malalaki na ang mga anak namin at nag-aaral na at nakikipag-debate na rin sa akin tungkol sa pag-aaral. Kasi ngayon, mga tsikiting pa, tumatakbo, nabobola mo pa, nasusubuan mo ng masasarap na pagkain. Susunod n'yan, ayaw na nilang kumain kasi gusto nila kasama na nila mga kaibigan nila. Totally different yung pelikula sa buhay naming mag-asawa. Kasi sa buong pelikula, hindi kami nagngitian masyado o nagbibiruan. Kasi kami ni Ry, para kaming magkabarkada and I think that's really important when you get married. It's to marry the person who can make you laugh, who will cry when you cry at the same time ... Importante din na magkaibigan kayo ang alam nyo saan pumapasok ang pagiging mag-asawa.

Q: What makes you trust Direk Joey Reyes and his vision for the film?

Ryan: His mastery of the middle class, yun ang benta sa akin at naiintindihan ng aking mga kaibigan at pamilya. Dun ako kumportable. Also, pag sinabi mong commercial yung film, you cater to something na parang hinihingi ng audience. Si Direk Joey, kaya n'yang ibigay ang gusto ng audience at higitan pa at ipasok yung kailangan ng audience.

Juday: Si Direk Joey, after doing 65 films already and getting awards, sino naman kami para hindi s'ya pagkatiwalaan? In fact, we are so honored, nagpapasalamat kami kasi palaging kami ang ina-ask n'ya sa mga pelikula n'ya. And it never fails. Sa pagkakataong ito, masarap gumawa ng pelikula with Direk Joey kasi it's always real life and alam mong nakaka-relate ang mga tao sa lahat ng aspeto ng pamumuhay, sa lahat ng klase ng edad, mare-reach n'ya at ang fan base ng pelikula, hanggang bata. Kahit panuorin mo ng paulit-ulit, kahit anong panahon, naiintindihan ng mga tao. Kahit panuorin s'ya ng mga anak namin in the future, one way or another, makaka-relate sila. Importante sa amin ngayon yan bilang mag-asawa kasi alam naming may naipararating kaming magandang mensahe sa mga tao with Direk Joey on our side.

Q: What's the message of this movie sa mga families ngayon or mga mag-asawa?

Juday: Gusto naming ipakita sa mga tao na walang masama sa pagiging househusband. As long as ang lalake na natitira sa bahay ay hindi lang andun sa bahay para mag-imbita ng barkada at magpalaki ng t'yan, umiinom, nagkakalat ... mabaho ang bahay, pati s'ya mabaho. Hindi dapat ganun. Kumbaga, mag-asawa kayo, magtutulungan kayo. Kaya nga kayo nagpakasal dahil partners kayo, 'di ba? Hindi pwedeng isa lang yung nagtatrabaho. Sa panahon ngayon, hindi naman pwedeng pangatawanan natin yung salitang padre de pamilya. Eh kung si padre eh walang trabaho, eh di tumirik na lang ang mga mata [ng pamilya] kakahintay ng pagkain, 'di ba? Pinaparating namin, sa panahon ngayon, walang masama kung sino ang nag-aakyat ng pera. Pero importante na may respeto kayo sa isa't-isa bilang lalaki at babae, as a husband and a wife. Importante na nagkakaintindihan kayo. Hindi na uso ngayon yung 'Lalaki ako, ako lang ang magtatrabaho,' kasi mahirap talagang maghanap ng trabaho ngayon. So sana, kapag napanood ng mga tao ang pelikulang ito, marami silang matututunan. Sana panoorin ninyong lahat.

My Househusband: Ikaw Na! will start showing in Philippine theaters on December 25

* Photos borrowed from Orange Magazine TV's Facebook album

FTX / Fitness Exchange: A Place for Fun Intense Fusion Training

2011-12-17T03:05:00.113+08:00

A new workout place has just been opened in the heart of Makati City and it's unlike any other gym I've ever been to! FTX is not crowded with a lot of bulky exercise machines. Except for the treadmills on one wall, most of the equipment take up less space than regular fitness equipment many of us are used to seeing or using.

The night we went there, my friends and I got to witness very fit members of the FTX staff demonstrate some of their CirQFit Signature Exercises. They went from one fitness section to another until they completed the full routine. The exercises are short but intensive and are apparently very effective.

Reijo del Prado, FTX's managing partner and image model told us how he went down from weighing 180+lbs (if I got my numbers right) down to around 130lbs from May to August of this year.

Aside from the CirQFit exercises, we also watched an instructor do Fly Yoga. She's so graceful and her body's so pliant, I couldn't help but wonder if I'd ever get to that level of flexibility if I do that kind of exercise regularly.

Next, two guys demonstrated how Muay Thai is done. It's a blend of dance and combat moves that made one lady gasp audibly every time the fighters hit each other :p

I didn't get to try out the exercises when we were there because we had to leave early but I definitely would love to see for myself how intense the seemingly short workouts are.

FTX is located at 2/F Three Salcedo Place, Tordesillas St. just in front of Salcedo Park. They don't require any membership fees. You just pay as you come. Single passes are at P650 each but there are lots of promos ongoing like the special rate of P1000/4 pax and 50% off for 14 years old and below.

You can choose from 15 CirQFit Signature Exercises (Lose Big Now, Kettle Burning, Tarzan's Jungle, Gladiator's Zone, Model's Runway, Burns & Glory, Core Builder, Strongman, Tita Cora's Circuit, FTX Chairman's Express, Baller's Circuit, Marvin's Xtreme Xpress, Runner's Circuit, FTX Express, and FTX Extreme); FTX Dance & Yoga (Zumba, 80's Groove, Teens Hip-Hop Cardio, Striptease Cardio, Pole Dancing, FTX Techno Rave, Ashtanga Yoga, and FTX Fly Yoga); and FTX Core & Combat Trainings (Boxing Skills, SPA Boxing, Boot Box, Circuit Box, Muay Thai, Kettlebell Basics, Kettlebell Elite, and Rip60).

For more info about what FTX can do for you, visit www.gymftx.com or email info@gymftx.com. You can also contact them at 822.3311 or 0916.2701177

*Photos borrowed from Orange Magazine TV's Facebook album

Movie Review: Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol

2011-12-16T01:44:00.176+08:00

Ethan Hunt is as awesome as ever! I got to watch the premiere of Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol and was blown away by the amazing stunts. A lot of scenes were literally and figuratively breathtaking! The adrenalin was consistent all throughout this movie.

Admittedly, I can't remember much about the past MI films except that scene where Tom Cruise had to prevent himself from falling down and touching an alarm-sensitive floor. Now, I'm itching to find our old DVD copies of the first three films and have an MI-watching marathon :p

In this latest sequel, Ethan Hunt (Tom Cruise) was broken out of a Moscow prison by fellow agents to once again be asked to take on another assignment. Things go awry and he ends up being blamed for the terrorist bombing of the Kremlin. As a result, he and the rest of the agency are disavowed when the President initiates "Ghost Protocol".

With very limited resources and no backup, Ethan tries to find a way to clear the IMF's name and prevent another attack. As further complication, he is given no choice but to continue on the mission with three other fellow fugitives with vague personal motives.

Tom Cruise is joined in this movie by an exceptional international cast. Paula Patton plays Jane Carter, a very capable field agent who can be as tough as the guys. She not only wants to finish the mission but to exact revenge on the assassin who killed someone she loved. Her fight scenes are something to look forward to. She's lovely, but can be deadly.

Returning from MI3 is Simon Pegg who plays techie-guy Benji Dunn. This time, he has graduated to field agent and applies his brand of humor to several of the scenes. He's the one who provides the comic relief in between the very intense action-packed sequences.

Agent Willian Brandt is played by Jeremy Renner, an analyst who's smart as a whip but could also hold his own out in the field. He's a reluctant member of the team who's forced to join the group due to unavoidable circumstances. Slowly, more of his character is revealed and audiences will get to find out what makes this seemingly staid desk guy tick. Check out another post in my other blog where Renner talks about being in the movie. It's a very revealing Q&A which makes it a nice read.

I like these four main characters. They all play significant roles that collectively make MI4 really worth watching. As Tom Cruise was quoted to say in the film's production note, "Each member is a unique piece creating a wonderful dynamic for the team.” And that is very true.

Of course, a movie also needs supporting characters and the other cast members, who came from Russia, India, Sweden, and France, also contributed much to the story's impact.

I watched Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol in SM MOA's IMAX theater. It's not in 3D but that is fine. You don't need 3D glasses to be awed at the magnitude of what the filmmakers and actors have accomplished.

What I appreciate here is the story angle that things don't always go exactly as planned. Gecko gloves could fail, a mask making machine may break down, and a camera contact lens might be detected by the enemy but the agents will still find a way to do what they set out to do using their intuition and training in smart and inventive ways even to the extent of stretching their physical limits. Those are what make this spy movie cool and that's part of the MI4 magic.

The scenes were shot in a variety of places including Moscow, Prague, Dubai, Mumbai, and Vancouver. But the highlight of this movie, and I think many would agree, would have to be those that happened in Dubai such as Tom Cruise's stunts climbing up the glass walls of the Burj Khalifa, the world's tallest building, and of chasing someone through a violent sandstorm. If you want to find out more about how they did the climbing stunts, read the movie's production notes here. Go to page 8.

At the end of the movie, all I could think of what that Tom Cruise, at age 49, still has what it takes to make female members of the audience gasp and sigh :) He remains the charismatic Ethan Hunt we saw in 1996 during the first MI film and, with his kind of boundless energy, enthusiasm, and fearlessness about doing his own stunts, I think and hope we'd see a lot of him for many years more.

Don't fail to catch Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol in Philippine theaters starting December 15 (one week earlier than the US opening!). According to my contacts at Solar Movies and Events, it will still be shown in SM IMAX theaters during the Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF) season from Dec. 25, 2011 to Jan. 7, 2012 and will resume screening in regular theaters by January 8.

IBM Outreach and Media Chef Challenge

2011-12-15T03:23:00.141+08:00

Thanks to IBM, I found myself playing teacher and chef in one day! The afternoon of December 12, I joined IBM staff, volunteers, and other members of the media at the Pio del Pilar Elementary School in Makati for the KidSmart Learning Program wherein IBM donated several computer units for the students' use. This project is a partnership with the IT Journalists Association of the Philippines (Cyberpress) to promote and advance the use of computers for young elementary students. Aside from Pio Del Pilar, another beneficiary is the Diosdado Macapagal Elementary School in Quezon City.

We were assigned "work stations" and several second graders who eagerly tried out the educational games installed in the PCs. Jeman Villanueva (of OrangeMagazineTV) and I enjoyed interacting with our "students" who, at first, would shyly raise their hands when we ask them questions. Pretty soon, though, they were laughing and joking with us which made the time pass very quickly. I would remember those sweet smiles for a long time.

IBM also had a huge Little Tykes/IBM toy computer assembled in one area of the computer room. I hope that many kids would get to enjoy that in the coming months and years.

After our stint as teachers, we proceeded to Enderun College to try our hand at being chefs. The night was actually a celebration and thanksgiving to cap off IBM's year-long centennial celebration.

We were divided into groups and were instructed to try and replicate the dishes that were demonstrated earlier by one of Enderun's chef professors. Our group came up with chicken and beef tenderloin dishes which we thought turned out pretty well. They tasted good, as far as my taste buds are concerned :p

However, another team won for cooking the best-tasting and best-looking dishes. I was just surprised that when they announced the best upcoming chefs from each group, I was the one named in ours :)

During the sumptuous dinner prepared for the guests, IBM key officers awarded six new Community Impact Grants to projects that are in line with the company's community agenda and local community priorities, in partnership with academic institutions or not-for-profit organizations. The projects were awarded grants worth $10,000 each.

The IBM Community Impact Grants reward an IBM's employee's dedication to community service, with a particular focus on projects that apply innovation and professional skills in improving the communities where they live and work.

The 2011 IBM grant recipients include:

• Negrense Volunteers for Change for their “Bulig Mo...Kabuhi Ko” / “Young Scientists of Negros” Project: IBM will help drive higher quality of education by leveraging technology in helping five public elementary schools in setting up Science libraries and laboratories.

• RFM Foundation, Inc. - The Outstanding Students of the Philippines - Alumni Community (National Capital Region): IBM will help expand the coverage of the “Youth Hours 2011” project. This is an annual youth seeding formation workshop focused on the three pillars of the Ten Outstanding Students of the Philippines (TOSP) program: academic and professional excellence, leadership and social responsibility.

• De La Salle University’s Operation Big Brother: This program aims to implement a high quality high school education for selected groups of student in selected high schools in the Division of Schools in Manila. Specifically, it aims to create quality education by providing students with an enhanced curriculum (based on La Salle), and providing all necessary support elements to include: continuous training and development of teachers, provision of learning resources, and a strong values formation component. The IBM grant will be used to cover the cost of learning resources and student learning materials i.e. full set of books, workbooks, school supplies, and logistics i.e. for teachers and project volunteers involved.

• Ayala Foundation’s My Library Project – Online Public Access Catalog (OPAC): The project is focused on CENTEX Manila, a public elementary school that will be replicated to other community libraries under Ayala Foundation's "My Library" Project. Through the IBM Grant, IBM volunteers will help develop a system that can feature modules on acquisition, cataloging, circulation, OPAC (Search engine). Students will find great value in having all the needed information easily accessible with just one click.

• Miriam College Southeast Asian Institute for the Deaf’s (MC-SAID) Helping People with Disability project: The IBM grant will be used to purchase additional PCs for their computer laboratory that will help propagate the internet safety coaching material to more people (adults and students alike) and also enhance their computer classes with more up to date tools. In addition, the grant will help fund MC SAID outreach activities which are spent with more disadvantaged deaf communities and re-echo Internet Safety Coaching.

• Exempli Gratia Foundation’s Health – Education – Livelihood – Preparedness (HELP) program: IBM will help sustain standard H.E.L.P. programs that aim to address primary concerns of livelihood, values formation and nation-building -- like medical and dental missions, post typhoon relief operations, and donation of e-classrooms in various towns and cities outside of Metro Manila.

*IBM's Celebration of Service builds on the company's flagship program for empowering volunteers called the On Demand Community. Launched in 2003, the On Demand Community enables employees and retirees to find volunteer activities and identify skills and expertise they can contribute to a specific cause. In October 2010, On Demand Community surpassed 11.5 million hours of service logged by more than 170,000 participants.

IBM's Centennial Celebration of Service is sponsored by the international philanthropic foundation at IBM, which has been a leader in corporate social responsibility and corporate citizenship for 100 years. To learn more about IBM's corporate citizenship initiatives, please visit: http://www.ibm.com/blogs/citizen-ibm.

*Photos borrowed from Orange Magazine TV's Facebook page

DCinema Paves the Way for Digital Revolution in Philippine Cinema

2011-12-14T00:53:00.106+08:00

DCinema Alliance Corporation, Asia's pioneer in digital systems and integration, recently announced that full conversion of all Philippine theaters to digital cinemas will be implemented. This swifter and easier digitalization process has been made possible by the Virtual Print Fee (VPF) program because it has finally been made available in the country.

VPF is a financing mechanism or subsidy program that funds the first purchase of digital cinema equipment. It was initiated by the six major Hollywood studies and designed to allow theater owners to recover a portion of equipment costs. As a clear comparison, we were told that a movie's print per copy costs around $1000 - $2000 while a hard drive, where the digital copy would be stored, only costs $50.

In the Philippines, DCinema will serve as the deploying entity in the implementation of the VPF program. The goal is to have all cinemas in the country running in digital technology by 2013. From the total of 650 cinemas all over, 90 screens are reported to be already digitalized.

From the press con held at Annabelle's in Quezon City yesterday, speakers explained to us the many benefits that digitalization offers. We found out that aside from providing enhanced viewing experience for moviegoers, the conversion to digital cinemas will also benefit the film industry because the technology offers lower distribution, editing, and reproduction costs compared to analog cinemas. In addition, image and sound quality will be maintained from day one until the last day of showing.

It was also highlighted and applauded by key players in the movie industry that the shift to digital cinemas will reduce the chances of piracy with tighter copy protection as a time-lock function would only allow a movie to be accessed at a preset time. This feature prevents unauthorized copies from being distributed prior to world or local premieres.

According to DCinema President and CEO Mr. Rey del Poso, sixty thousand digital screens are now up and running worldwide and that around 28,000 of those were converted just this year. "The cost of conversion is at its lowest given the high demand so I encourage all theater owners in the country to take advantage of the global trend and rally towards this digital revolution."

In the Philippines, it was SM Cinemas that launched the first digital theater in the country at Cinema 1 of The Block in SM North Edsa. Mr. Edward Tejero, Senior VP of SM Cinemas, revealed that, "We're looking at a 100% conversion by April 2012. That's how committed we are to bringing the movie industry to the next level."

He moreover explained that digital conversion means bigger box office earnings because it will allow for simultaneous movie releases with provincial branches. It will also improve the batting average in terms of fighting camcording. Local movie producers in the Philippines, he projected, would see the value of lower production costs. Furthermore, the renaissance of theater ads conversion will be easy and sending them nationwide would decrease costs to more than 200%.

Apart from SM Cinemas, other groups like the Ayala Digital Cinemas, Robinsons Galeria Digital Cinemas, Star Mall Cinemas, and Bohol Quality Cinema have embraced the technology as well. DCinema is looking forward to seeing more theaters following suit in the coming months.

* Photos borrowed from Orange Magazine TV's Facebook album

Pony Show Off: Digital Film & Poster Art Competition

2011-12-13T02:02:00.118+08:00

I've always believed that Filipinos are one of the most talented races in the world. We have such a large pool of people who can take on creative challenges like Pony Footwear's digital video and poster art competition.

Dubbed as "Show Off", various designers and aspiring digital video makers interpreted Pony's tagline "Let's Get It On" using a large number of images, videos, designs, and short narratives. Hundreds of entries were submitted and showcased Filipino creativity and artistry to greater heights. Many of the entries were able to capture Pony's spirit and character.

Pony, for those who don't know, is an American brand of footwear that originated in Brooklyn, New York back in 1972. Since then, it has become a top global athletic brand and has been worn by winning athletes in the various fields of sports. Pony has also become associated with popular rebel rockers such as Korn, Staind, and Limp Bizkit who wear the clothing and footwear lines.

Poster Art First Place Winner

At the core of the Show Off competition are Pony's ideals which encourages individuality, freedom of expression, and living up to one's potentials. All the entries were posted on Pony's Facebook fan page and gathered online votes which made up 20% of the total score for each submission. The other 80% was divided into concept and story (50%) and visual impact (30%) scored by chosen judges.

Film First Place Winner

Winners were announced and awarded last December 11 at 55 Events Place in Timog, Quezon City. Those who bagged the top prizes got the following: P40,000 cash plus P10,000 worth of Pony shoes for first placer; P20,000 cash and P5,000 worth of Pony shoes for the second placer; and P10,000 cash and P5,000 worth of Pony shoes for the third placer.

Trophies

The winners for the PONY SHOW OFF DIGITAL FILM CATEGORY:

1st Prize: Kevin Dayrit “Soundless Transposition”, 2nd Prize: Winson Rojo “Bold & Wild”, 3rd PRIZE: Vancleef Emnacen “Pony Tale: Sneaky Sneakers”

Bamboo, Jesus Genotiva, and Champ Lui Pio

The winners for the PONY SHOW OFF POSTER CATEGORY:
1st Prize: Jesus Genotiva “Rock n Roll”, 2nd Prize: Reuben Francis Vidanes “Dare:Grafitti Let’s Get It On”, 3rd Prize: Frederick Uy “Hot Dog”

Nani Naguit, Ramon Bautista, and Baron Geisler

The awarding ceremonies were hosted by Internet sensation, TV personality and film professor Ramon Bautista and renowned music video director Nani Naguit.

Absolute Play

Major awards were presented by celebrities and music icons such as Renz Fernandez, Devon of PBB Teen Clash, Champ Lui Pio, actor Baron Geisler and Bamboo.

Kitchie Nadal

Guests and participants were also treated to live performances from up and coming young band Absolute Play, rock princess Kitchie Nadal, and the lords of metal rock, Wolfgang.

Basti Artadi of Wolfgang

To see all the winning entries, please visit Pony Show Off's Facebook page.

Christmas Dome and More at Cheesecake, Etc.

2011-12-12T02:14:00.092+08:00

I can't recall the last time I ate at Cheesecake, etc. so I don't remember having a particular favorite dish there. When a friend invited me to have lunch at the Glorietta branch recently though, I found myself enjoying what we ate.

We started with the House Salad and I chose to have mine with the Asian dressing. I love the mix of greens, fruits, and nuts. I'd definitely come back for that one. I think I could finish two plates in one sitting if I don't eat anything else.

House Salad - P175

Next, I dug into the Seafood Pasta which felt really heavy on the tummy. I could barely finish the bread that came with it. Although it has squid, mushrooms, olives, and shrimp, I would have loved to have more shrimp in there.

Seafood Pasta - P195

My friend opted for the Garlic Longganisa Pasta instead.

Garlic Longganisa Pasta - P165

And then came the dessert -- a big slice of Christmas Dome Cake made with berry forest cheesecake and white chocolate mousse with almond sponge decorated prettily on a white saucer. I'm not fond of chocolate cakes so this one is the perfect dessert for me. Too bad they only serve this during the Yuletide season. So catch it while it's being served at Cheesecake, etc. branches!

Christmas Dome Cake - P170/slice, P1200 whole

If you prefer other flavors, there are lots of mouth-watering sweets on display at the cake counter which you can choose from. Have a sweet Christmas season everybody! :)

To get more updates on their promos, Like the Cheesecake, etc. Facebook page.

Yahoo! Rocked it for the Philippines

2011-12-11T23:01:00.085+08:00

I appreciate listening to music from various Filipinos artists and I'd like to see more OPM (Original Pilipino Music) songs be created by aspiring young musicians.

Last December 8, Yahoo! Philippines hosted music concerts simultaneously in Manila, Cebu, and Davao and featured live performances by 50 acts from various genres including rock, pop, indie, and soul/R&B. There were also 12 breakthrough artists who shared the stage with some of the country's top music icons including Wolfgang, Urbandub, Pupil, The Dawn, and Imago.

Yahoo! Rocks has been reported to have attracted a crowd of over 30,000 music lovers and fans across the three cities. All performing artists were selected by Yahoo! viewers via online voting.

I got to attend the press con at Gilligan's SM MOA in the afternoon but wasn't able anymore to come to the concert proper because I had another coverage that night. From the many questions thrown by members of the media, I distinctly remember Organisasyon ng Pilipinong Mang-aawit Secretary General Dingdong Avanzado's reply to one question and would like to share it with you. He said if we want to support Filipino musicians and promote their music, half of the songs we store in our iPods or personal music players should be OPM. Makes good sense. Personally, I roughly estimate that my iPod has more than 50% OPM songs and are all "ripped" (is there a better sounding word? share it with me!) from original CDs I own.

"Music is a big part of Yahoo! and since launching OMG!, we have hosted a number of online music events with great success," said Arlene Amarante, Yahoo! Philippines Country Ambassador. "In keeping with Yahoo!'s tradition of music and expanding the boundaries of mainstream listening, Y! Rocks pays a tribute to the richness and diversity of 'Original Pilipino Music' and showcases the exceptional talent we have in the country."

Amarante added that she hopes this musical platform will remove barriers and create opportunities for up-and-coming musicians to collaborate with the established mainstream bands.

Cheers to Yahoo! Philippines and the participating bands for coming up with such a worthwhile advocacy. I heard from several blogger friends that they thoroughly enjoyed the concert despite the on and off rains that night. I hope Yahoo! organizes another one soon.

The New Fersal Hotels: Filipino Hospitality Made Even Better

2011-12-10T03:00:00.124+08:00

The Fersal Group of hotels emphasizes on comfort, affordable rates, and personalized service. It began operations in 1994 through the very first Fersal Tourist Inn in Annapolis, Cubao. The group of hotels grew to six locations within Metro Manila as balikbayans, travels, families, and business people discovered that staying at Fersal means getting value for their money.

"The Fersal Tourist Inns were originally marketed as apartelle types that guests found appealing and acceptable," says Jean Salonga Fernando, VP for Sales and Marketing Operations. "Fersal's enduring popularity over the years can be attributed to its decent, homey, and family-oriented image."

After upgrading their facilities starting 2007 and adding new features like complimentary breakfast and complimentary WiFi, the renamed and rebranded Fersal Hotels now exude a trendier and more contemporary ambiance with new features like better air-conditioning units, LCD TVs, and coffee and tea facilities in every room as well as hotel quality mattresses.

Aside from offering comfortable rooms, Fersal Hotels now have Inn Cafe in every branch to cater to the guests' food-related needs. I got to try several of the dishes they serve the other night and they are very filling and really delicious! Inn Cafe's Sisig, most especially, is one of the best I've tasted in a long time.

Egg Drop Soup

Sisig

Rellenong Bangus

Creamy Cheese Lasagna

Chicken Galantina

Buko Pandan

Aside from dine-in, Inn Cafe also accepts orders that you can bring home to your family or to big parties. See the Holiday Handa dishes and their affordable prices. In Cafe also have Lauriat Party Packages that cost P120 per serving and which already comes with pancit canton, rice, crackers, and iced tea.

To know more about Fersal Hotels, visit www.fersalhotelgroup.com, like them on Facebook and follow them on Twitter for updates on promos, special discounts, and exclusive fan privileges.

The Feral Hotel Group owns, develops, and managers all six branches (P. Tuazon Cubao, Annapolis Cubao, Malakas Diliman, Kalayaan Diliman, Andalucia Sta. Cruz Manila, and Neptune Bel-Air Makati) of Fersal Hotel and two locations of Hotel Elizabeth.

wi-tribe Pure 4G Prepaid Internet Sticks Now Available at 7-Eleven

2011-12-09T00:19:00.073+08:00

I don't know much about the technical features of internet sticks. I just use mine whenever I'm out of the house and need to go online using my netbook. My eldest son, the techie one, explained to me last month that 3G is the best thing at the moment when it comes to mobile phone connection features.

And then I encountered the term 4G during the wi-tribe press con. I researched online and this is what I read from DifferenceBetween.net: "4G speeds are meant to exceed that of 3G. 3G technologies use a hybrid of circuit switching and packet switching. Circuit switching is a very old technology that has been used in telephone systems for a very long time. The downside to this technology is that it ties up the resource for as long as the connection is kept up. Packet switching is a technology that is very prevalent in computer networks but has since appeared in mobile phones as well. With packet switching, resources are only used when there is information to be sent across. The efficiency of packet switching allows the mobile phone company to squeeze more conversations into the same bandwidth. 4G technologies would no longer utilize circuit switching even for voice calls and video calls. All information that is passed around would be packet switched to enhance efficiency."

Hmmm, it's still a bit technical for me but I gathered that having 4G technology means faster speed :D

So, if you're often on the go and need a broadband stick that delivers fast connection, check out wi-tribe's Tri-Speed Pure 4G Prepaid internet sticks. These allow subscribers to surf at speeds of up to 6Mbps or for as low as P25 unlimited a day at 512 kbps (50% cheaper than mobile phone providers charge!). The internet sticks are available at 7-Eleven stores for P995. Each come with an extension cord (if you want to position your stick nearer the window, for example, for better signal) inside a very nice tumbler.

wi-tribe, a partnership between San Miguel Corporation and Qtel Group, partnered with 7-Eleven because the strategic location of its stores has a wide coverage in Metro Manila. The first store to introduce 24-hour convenience shopping, 7-Eleven has now over 650 stores nationwide, caters to a wide market, and offers a vast array of products.

At the moment, wi-tribe Pure 4G internet is exclusive to the Metro Manila area. For more information about wi-tribe's 4G broadband plans, please log on to www.wi-tribe.ph or call 31-tribe.

Ryan and Juday's Comeback to the Big Screen in My Househouseband: Ikaw Na!

2011-12-08T01:28:00.140+08:00

It has been a while since Ryan Agoncillo and Judy Ann Santos-Agoncillo are seen together on the big screen. After the success of their previous films Kasal, Kasali, Kasalo and Sakal, Sakali, Saklolo which were shown quite a few years back, the couple now teams up in OctoArts Films' Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF) entry My Househusband: Ikaw Na! -- their first movie together after getting married.

The film is also Juday's comeback movie after giving birth and lying low from showbiz for a while. The real life husband and wife team play married couple Mia and Rod, the lead characters, and the roles became more realistic in their hands because they can relate to their characters in terms of raising kids, balancing career and family life, staying best friends with one's significant other after tying the knot, being clear on priorities, and keeping a sense of humor especially during tough times.

According to Director Joey Reyes, the two kept it "real" and, aside from their well-polished acting skills, Juday and Ryan's portrayals have an extra something, "an almost instinctive element," he adds. Ryan is said to be a revelation in this movie as per Direk Joey and co-star Eugene Domingo who plays a mistress living next door and who ends up being Rod's BFF.

Juday is positive that a lot of people will be able to identify with the characters in My Househusband. "Lahat makaka-relate dito -- mag-asawa, mag-boyfriend, all ages sa kahit anong estado ng relationship, mapabago o matagal na -- kasi lahat ng issues napag-usapan. So hopefully, after lumabas ang mga tao sa sinehan, may mapulot silang aral at may mabigay silang respeto sa mga partners nila."

How close are their roles to real life? Ryan replies, "Malayo kami kina Rod at Mia. We never struggled about gender equality." As to having someone from the opposite sex as a best friend and in a purely platonic relationship, Ryan shares, "In real life, I have a good friend, a female. This is the first time though in film [that] my best friend is a woman. Ang ganda nung nag-develop na friendship. It needs a very light touch and Eugene really showed her mastery. She was basically handholding me through the scenes. Pwede pala ma-translate sa film yung totoong pagkakaibigan ng isang babae at lalaki ng walang malisya pero it doesn't mean it's dry and boring."

Ryan further enthuses, "Enjoy ako kausapin [si Eugene]. She's a very intelligent woman. I've experienced a little of her brilliance. She's larger than life. Bongga s'yang tao." Eugene, on the other hand, has been quoted in the press release to say it's her first time to play a character who is best friends with a straight male. "Ibang-iba ang point of view dahil dun and since I have very few straight male friends in real life, playing Aida was very refreshing and challenging."

Tying the timely movie together is Direk Joey who has won awards in past MMFFs. "Many men today are 'househusband' either by choice or circumstance and in this film, we show the hilarious side of it," he explains.

* My Househusband: Ikaw Na! press con was held at Napa Restaurant and Bar (yummy food!) located at #12 Scout Borromeo, QC. This movie is OctoArts Film's entry to the 2011 MMFF. It opens on Christmas Day.

* Photos used with permission from OrangeMagazineTV.com. Please click here for more photos from the press con.

Concert Review: The Songwriter and The Crooner

2011-12-07T02:57:00.155+08:00

Last month, I wrote about meeting Mr. Jose Mari Chan in a press con announcing his concert with Richard Poon. You can read that entry here.

Just this Saturday, two of my friends and I trooped to PICC despite the rainy weather to enjoy a night of music. We were very glad we came to watch The Songwriter and The Crooner because the songs were ear candy all the way. I was just a bit disappointed that the three big screens in front were just used to show background moving graphics and not to highlight the performers while they sing for the benefit of those of us seated near the back.

Anyhow, the show started with a duet by Richard and Mr. Chan. They sang a medley of Sir Jo's compositions: Big Beautiful Country, Mr. Songwriter, and Big Band. After that, Richard sang several songs by himself and with Baihana before his hilarious guest, Pokwang, arrived on the scene to add merriment to the occasion. After doing some stand up comedy and interacting with the audience, she sang one solo before leaving the stage once more for Richard.

Pokwang grabbed a fan's camera and took a photo of herself! :p

Next, Richard sang a medley of Tagalog songs. Two very familiar OPMs, Panaginip and Kahit Maputi Na Ang Buhok Ko, sounded grander and better when he sung them accompanied by the big band. What followed are more songs, this time composed again by Mr. Chan. It included Hahanapin Ko which was originally sung by Anthony Castelo.

Midway through the concert, the two talented musicians joined forces again to sing I Remember the Girl. Remember that Joey Albert song?

When Sir Jo took over the stage, I forgot all about taking down notes on my iPod because I became busy taking videos of some of my all-time favorite songs. Unfortunately, we were seated quite far from the stage so all my videos are blurred and not fit for posting :p

Still, based on the videos I have, here is the list of songs Sir Jo sang solo: Constant Change, Tell Me Your Name, Can't We Just Stop and Talk Awhile, and Refrain. All these I grew up listening to and it was pure bliss listening to them being sung live by one of my favorite songwriters.

Sir Jo's guest is a lovely young lady named Noelle Cassandra. She not only can sing well, she plays the harp while singing! I first saw her perform during a Johnson's Baby event a few months back and I was glad to witness her unique talent yet again. Accompanied by her harp, Noelle sang Sing Me Your Song Again, Daddy and A Love to Last a Lifetime with Sir Jo.

It's well-known that Beautiful Girl is one of Mr. Chan's famous songs. In fact, we were told it has been translated in other languages already. As a treat to the audience, Richard and Sir Jo sang the song in English and Chinese. It was truly beautiful!

And since it's already the Yuletide season, the two also sang Christmas in our Hearts and Perfect Christmas which suddenly seemed to envelop the music hall with the appropriate holiday spirit.

Aside from the music, what was also really entertaining were the jokes that Sir Jo shared with us in between songs that had us all laughing out loud. He could very well have a career as a stand up comedian if he would so decide. He is that funny! :D

The whole night was very memorable. We laughed, we hummed and sang along, and listened to some of the best songs ever written and sung by Filipinos. Thank you Sir Jo and Richard! I hope I get to cross paths with you again one of these days. In the meantime, I'll continue listening to your music :)

*Photos used courtesy of Pinoy Beat. You can view more photos from the concert here.

Movie Review: Arthur Christmas

2011-12-06T04:50:00.021+08:00

I believed in Santa Claus when I was a little girl. Every Christmas morning, my sister and I would eagerly check the socks we left near the big window leading to our roof and find goodies inside them. It was devastating when a show on TV showed a mommy and a daddy furtively leaving gifts for their kids with tags that say, "From Santa." I was around seven or eight when that happened and the magic I used to feel on Christmas mornings disappeared.

Still, even before I found out the truth, I did wonder how Santa gets to go around the world in just a sleigh and nine reindeer and deliver gifts to millions of children like me.

When I watched Arthur Christmas the other day, I smiled at how the movie portrayed the gift delivery activity. Parents, who have kids who still believe in Santa Claus, won't have to worry about spoiling their innocence. In fact, little kids would most likely be in awe at the high-tech way Santa is delivering presents nowadays.

I watched the movie in 3D with my youngest son and we thoroughly enjoyed it. Arthur is actually Santa's youngest son who's in charge of answering all letters to Santa from the North Pole. When Santa missed leaving a gift to one child out of millions, Arthur decides to deliver the gift himself in a race against the clock with the goal to make sure that one child would have a happy Christmas. What follows are a series of funny misadventures that will have you laughing while cheering on the determined young man to succeed in his mission.

Arthur Christmas is a very nice film for all ages. It's about caring for one's family and for other people you don't even personally know. It's about having a passion that would push you to pursue something until you reach your goal. It's about thinking of other people's happiness especially that of little children.

I highly recommend parents to watch this with their kids this Christmas season. It's a timely movie that will bring out the spirit of the holidays in all of you, as it did in us.

* Read an interview with James McAvoy here about giving voice to Arthur and an interview with Hugh Laurie (a.k.a. Dr. House) here. He provided the voice for Steve, Arthur's brother.

Eugene Domingo Plays "The Other Woman" in My Househusband: Ikaw Na!

2011-12-05T16:05:00.007+08:00

I've always liked watching Eugene Domingo on screen. She plays hilarious roles really well whether she's the lead star or part of the supporting cast. I saw her in Babae sa Septic Tank and her antics there really cracked me up. Her cameo in Zombadings was equally entertaining despite the few scenes she was in.

When I watched the trailer of My Househusband: Ikaw Na! during the press con held last week at Kenny Rogers in Katipunan, I knew Uge would deliver an outstanding performance yet again.

It was fun hearing her answer questions from the online media community. She replied with humor and candidly expressed her thoughts. She told us how glad she is to be working with Ryan Agoncillo because they were only together in one scene during the movie Kutob in 2005. Now, six years later, she plays BFF to Ryan's character and gets to be the other woman that Judy Ann Santos gets to be jealous of.

Eugene said this movie is special to her for several reasons: playing a mistress is a first in her career; it is the first Ryan-Juday film as a married couple, Uge got to work again with Direk Joey Reyes who she considers one of her favorite directors, and the story is beyond assumptions made based on the title. "It will make you think about -- or make that, rethink -- the roles a man and a woman play in a marriage, the relationships between the opposite sex, the importance of, and dynamics in, communication, and so on. Makatotohanan ang kwento ng pelikula at kung di n'yo man makita ang sarili niyo kay Mia, Rod, o Aida, ay may kakilala kayo na kahawig ng buhay nung tatlo," she explains.

She also believes that this Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF) entry will showcase the metamorphosis of Ryan into a notable actor. "Si Juday, magaling na talagang aktor yan, dati pa, pero dito, humabol si Ryan dahil nga sa kanya ang title role ... Mark my words, Ryan in My Househusband' is a revelation!" enthuses Uge.

My Househusband: Ikaw Na! is the story of a married couple in a non-traditional set-up wherein the husband is the one who takes care of the house and the kids while the wife holds an office job to feed the family. Along the way, various situations happen to test this arrangement and the couple's relationship.

Direk Joey describes the film as neither comedy or drama but rather being 'about real life.' He affirmed, "Madami ng househusbands sa panahon ngayon who became one either by choice or circumstance -- at alin man sa dalawa ang dahilan ay hindi yun masama. In the film, we explored the intricacies of being in the shoes of the househusband as well as the working mother."

He invites audiences to watch out for the confrontation scene between Mia and Aida because, "Kakabugin nila si Anne Curtis at Christine Reyes!"

Like Eugene, Direk Joey is all praises for Ryan and Juday who, he illustrates, were able to apply their real lives as parents to their characters in the movie. "It's very real and we get the work done faster kasi nga natural na lang sa kanilang dalawa yung role."

*My Househusband: Ikaw Na!" is produced by OctoArts Films as their entry to the 2011 MMFF that's set to open on December 25.

*Photos courtesy of Orange Magazine TV. Click here to view more pics from the press con.

DOLE Philippines "Goes Bananas" for a Good Cause

2011-12-04T02:11:00.035+08:00

Just in time to bring Christmas cheer, Dole Fresh Philippines unveiled the winning entries in its recent Facebook photo contest "Banana Morning Smile". A photo exhibit was held last December 1 in Greenbelt 5's Fashion Walk to show off those winning smiles aimed to spread positivism while supporting a good cause.

In partnership with Operation Smile Philippines, Dole Fresh Foods Division launched the online contest last October where customers and Facebook fans were encouraged to own positive mornings and post their morning smile photos using a DOLE Banana. Entries were viewed and voted by the Dole Fresh Philippines' fan base and judges from the brand.

Since Christmas is about sharing happiness and joy, Dole rallies its consumers to help out and support Operation Smile with the mission to bring back smiles to children who have cleft lip/palate deformities. "We at Dole, would continuously extend this opportunity to our consumers and demonstrate that they too can be a part of this cause, whether through our campaign or at their own initiative,” says Joanna Penaranda – Regional Marketing Team Leader of Dole Asia.

(L-R) Operation Smile Board Trustee Treasuer Patricia Arches,
President and Executive Director Bobby Manzano,
Banana Morning Smile beneficiaries and Brenda Santos-Te

She shared that their partnership with Operation Smile Philippines dates back to 2003, "And we recognize that for mothers alike, our children always come first, precisely because they inspire us to be the best that we can be. This inspiration is the core of owning that positive morning – and our products are aimed at exactly that, to provide you the best and purest form of health and nutrition because you need to continue to live life to the fullest.”

For every entry from the “Banana Morning Smile” promo, Dole Fresh Philippines donated a cluster of DOLE® Bananas to the missions of Operation Smile Philippines. The company also fulfilled one of its commitments last November 17, 2011 at the Ospital ng Makati: its sponsorship of four (4) cleft lip / palate operations representing the duration in weeks that the promo ran.

Other photos of the winning entries can be found here.

For more information concerning the Banana Smile promo, please visit www.facebook.com/DoleFreshPhilippines for promo terms and conditions. You may also check out www.facebook.com/operationsmilephils to know more about this amazing foundation, email them at info@operationsmile.org.ph or contact +632 8119737 to 40.

* The “Banana Morning Smile” promo was launched by Dole last October 24 2011 and ran until November 21, 2011. The entries for the competition were judged every Tuesday from October 24 to November 21, 2011. The criteria for judging were as follows: 20 percent for the number of “likes” received by the photos, 50 percent for the creativity employed by the contestants in incorporating the DOLE® Banana, and 30 percent for the total impact. The weekly winners of the contest will be received Fitness First Gym Memberships while the grand winner a 16GB Blackberry Playbook. The most important winners of the competition, however, are the children who were chosen as recipients of Dole Fresh Philippines’ sponsorship.