Pages

April 20, 2013

Weekday Buffet Bonanza at Market Cafe

Hyatt Hotel and Casino Manila’s interactive restaurant, the Market Cafe offers its most exciting buffet price offer until June 30, 2013.

Treat your family and friends with a spectacular spread of epicurean delights from Monday to Thursday, feast on a wide selection of freshly cooked Western, Chinese, Korean, Japanese and Filipino cuisines and enjoy a special price of PHP990 net per person for lunch and P1099 net per person for dinner inclusive of free-flowing soft drinks and local beer.

Featured dishes include an abundant choice of appetizers, hearty salads, premium cuts of lamb and beef, fresh or baked oysters, salmon, oven-baked pizzas, pastas, sushi and sashimi, freshly made tempura and a sinful selection of homemade ice cream and desserts.
Take advantage availing this offer and satisfy your family and friends cravings with this buffet extravaganza that assures a memorable indulgence.



For more information, please call the Food and Beverage Reservations Centre on +63 2 247 8666 or make your booking online by visiting manila.casino.hyatt.com. 
Alternatively, e-mail cath.mn@hyatt.com.


April 19, 2013

Bantamweight Bibiano Fernandes gears up for his May 31st bout

From the slums of Brazil and the isolated jungles of the Amazon to the bright lights of Manila.

As ONE FC star and top Bantamweight Bibiano Fernandes gears up for his May 31st bout, he recalls his arduous journey to finally get to where he is today. 
Fernandes grew up in the slums of Manaus, Brazil. Left to fend for himself after the passing of his mother, a young Fernandes scavenged for food in the Northern Brazilian city, living on leftovers and begging for food. He even spent several years living off the land in the Amazon Jungle. Fernandes revealed that he does not think about those young times, although when pressed, he added that his childhood probably developed his never-say-die attitude. 

He returned to Manaus after a few years. Without a home and with nobody to turn to, a teenage Bibiano began cleaning houses and wash cars in exchange for food. There was a Jiu-Jitsu school in the neighborhood and he was mesmerized by what he saw. One of the students at the school became his friend and volunteered to pay a month’s fee for him to train. “He asked me if I wanted to train and I immediately said yes.” A month after rolling and tapping out veterans with years of experience, the coach asked him if he will like to compete in an upcoming tournament. Bibiano explained he had no money to pay neither the monthly fees nor the entry fee for the competition. Bibiano explained, “The coach simply said ‘Bibiano you come everyday and clean the gym’” and allowed him to train for free. 

That began a whirlwind career for Fernandes which has seen him win gold in both Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and MMA multiple times. Now with an impressive record of 13-3, he will look to add to his list of accolades by becoming interim ONE FC Bantamweight World Champion when he takes on Japanese veteran Koetsu Okazaki. 
Having fought in Japanese promotions for most of his career, Fernandes is very aware of the skills of his opponent Okazaki. When quizzed about what he makes of his opponent, Bibiano simply replied “A fight is a fight. I respect all my opponents and take each fight seriously. But I don’t have to prepare a special way for any opponent. If I fight my fight, I am confident that I will win.” 
For more updates on ONE Fighting Championship™, please visit www.onefc.com
and follow on Twitter @ONEFCMMA
and Facebook at www.facebook.com/ONEFCMMA

About ONE Fighting Championship™ 
Headquartered in Singapore, ONE Fighting Championship™ (http://www.onefc.com) is Asia's largest mixed martial arts organization. ONE Fighting Championship™ hosts the best Asian mixed martial artists and world champions on the largest media broadcast in Asia. ONE Fighting Championship™ has partnered with STAR Sports, the number one leader in sports content, for an unprecedented 10-year cable television deal with a coverage that spans across 70+ countries in Asia.

Let's Draw a Safer World for our Wildlife at the WWF Doodle Day!









Draw a safer world for our wildlife at the WWF Doodle Day on April 21, 2013 (Sunday) 10 AM to 5 PM to be held at Shangri-La Plaza Grand Atrium.

REGISTRATION SITES:

-3rd Level (near Cole Haan), Shangri-La Plaza Mall
-17th Floor, 88 Corporate Center, Valero corner Sedeño Streets, Salcedo Village, Makati City
-Big Chill branches: Enterprise Tower, RCBC Plaza, Greenbelt (Makati), Tektite Towers (Ortigas), Promenade (Greenhills), and TriNoMa (Quezon City)

Registration Fee of  Php 300.00  (Doodle Kit, Loot bag, Access to activity booths)

Proceeds of the WWF Doodle Day will support WWF-Philippines' local endangered species conservation.

Back to the 80s Concert Party with Modern English and The Alarm LIVE in Manila!

Back to the 80's !!!  "MODERN ENGLISH and the ALARM" LIVE in MANILA on MAY 3, Friday at MOA ARENA.

Modern English and The Alarm will join together on a big concert on May 3, 2013 at the Mall of Asia Arena.

Ticket Prices:
VIP - Php 6,340(Reserved Seats)

PATRON - Php 4,760(Reserved Seats)

LOWER BOX A (201-202/221-222/FIRST 10 ROWS OF 202-208/215-221) - 
Php 3,700(Reserved Seats)

LOWER BOX B (11TH ROW ONWARDS OF 203-208/215-220) - Php 2,640(Reserved Seats)
UPPER BOX - Php 1,590(Reserved Seats)

PRESENTED BY: NOVUHAIR | MIDAS HOTEL | ABS-CBN | ASAP 18 | DMC PHILIPPINES

Tickets are now available at SM Tickets outlets.
Call 470-2222 or visit www.smtickets.com to buy tickets online

Here's one of my Modern English fave !


Moving forward using all my breath 
Making love to you was never second best 
I saw the world crashing all around your face 
Never really knowing it was always mesh and lace

I'll stop the world and melt with you 
You've seen the difference and it's getting better all the time 
And there's nothing you and I won't do 
I'll stop the world and melt with you 

(We should know better) Dream of better lives the kind which never hate 
(We should see) Trapped in a state of imaginary grace 
(We should know better) I made a pilgrimage to save this human's race
(We should see) Never comprehending a race that's long gone by 

(Let's stop the world) I'll stop the world and melt with you 
(Let's stop the world) You've seen the difference and it's getting better all the time 
And there's nothing you and I won't do 
(Let's stop the world) I'll stop the world and melt with you 

The future's open wide 

I'll stop the world and melt with you 
(I'll stop the world) You've seen some changes and it's getting better all the time 
And there's nothing you and I won't do 
(I'll stop the world) I'll stop the world and melt with you 

The future's open wide

hmmm hmmm hmmm 
hmmm hmmm hmmm hmmm 
hmmm hmmm hmmm 
hmmm hmmm hmmm hmmm 

I'll stop the world and melt with you 
(I'll stop the world) You've seen the difference and it's getting better all the time 
And there's nothing you and I won't do 
(I'll stop the world) I'll stop the world and melt with you 

I'll stop the world and melt with you (I'll stop the world and melt with you) 
I'll stop the world and melt with you (I'll stop the world and melt with you)





“Cattle Country of the Philippines” Masbate with Rodeo Festival

Masbate celebrates the Rodeo Masbateno Festival April 9-14. This annual event is a chance for the locals and spectators to showcase their skills in livestock handling just like how the cowboys do.

Former Las Piñas Congresswoman and Team PNoy senatorial aspirant Misis Cynthia Villar 'Misis Hanepbuhay' graces Masbateños on their yearly Rodeo Festival. Riding in a kalesa, Mrs. Villar, who was the guest of honor, paraded around the city with Masbate Gov. Rizalina “Dayan” Lanete.
Rodeo Masbateño Festival, an annual event that showcases skills in livestock handling. Rodeo games include cattle wrestling, casting, carambola, lassoing, and bull-riding. One of the highlights of this year’s celebration is the first ever bull- riding event in the country for women. Fair and exhibitions, and trade of cattle and horses are also part of the festivity. 

The province of Masbate started the festival way back in the summer of 1993. At present, Masbate is considered as the “Cattle Country of the Philippines.”

Step into Wanderland -The ultimate sonic playground for the summer

Get ready for one surreal summer experience as Karpos Multimedia Inc. proudly presents Wanderland, an annual outdoor music and arts festival with sights, sounds and a little something extra.

Slated to rock music-loving Manila on May 18, 2013, this whole-day event is the first of its kind in the Philippines and will be the first major concert at the new Globe Circuit Events Ground in Makati. 

Wanderland makes its scorching debut this summer by bringing together the hottest indie pop and indie rock bands and up-and-comers, both foreign and local, all on one stage. All the rage activities also await revelers, such as performances by live art artists Anjo Bolarda x Martojaks, Secret Fresh and Thursday Room, inflatable slides, bull rides, jousts and a Velcro wall. 
Headlining the music festival is Australian five-piece outfit The Temper Trap, best known for upbeat joyride tracks “Sweet Disposition,” “Fader” and “Need Your Love.” Composed of Dougy Mandagi (vocals), Jonathon Aherne (bass guitar), Toby Dundas (drums), Lorenzo Sillitto (lead guitar), and Joseph Greer (keyboards, guitar), The Temper Trap formed in 2005 and steadily built a solid fanbase while playing at numerous music festivals in Australia, the UK and beyond. In 2009, the band took the mainstream music scene by storm with its critically acclaimed debut album Conditions, whose ethereal carrier single “Sweet Disposition” shot up the European music charts and spawned several remixes, including the popular house version by Axwell & Dirty South. The Temper Trap went on to land two distinctions --- “Best Group” for Conditions and “Most Popular Australian Single” for "Sweet Disposition” --- at the 2010 ARIA Music Awards. That same year, the band broke into the US market, with “Sweet Disposition” gaining heavy radio airplay and figuring prominently in various TV shows (“Skins,” “Greek,” “One Tree Hill”), commercials and films (“500 Days of Summer,” “Eat, Pray, Love”). Conditions also spawned two more soundtrack staples: the infectious ditty “Fader” (“The Vampire Diaries”) and the easy, breezy “Love Lost” (“Pretty Little Liars”). They completed a sell out US tour ahead of a run of summer festivals, including appearances at T in the Park, Wilderness and Truck Festival, and a show at Somerset House that sold out in less than 48 hours. They closed the year supporting Coldplay on their autumn stadium tour of Australia, before heading back to the UK to play Xfm’s Winter Wonderland. 

Joining The Temper Trap are two American alt-rock bands: Neon Trees, who rose to popularity with certified charttoppers “Animal,” “Everybody Talks” and “1983”; and Nada Surf, who’s responsible for the ‘90s coming-of-age track “Popular,” the melancholy “Inside of Love” and its unforgettable rendition of the new wave anthem “If You Leave” from the seminal soundtrack of “The O.C.” The lineup offers more indie-pop goodness in the form of New Zealand-based folk group Avalanche City, Australian pop duo Colour Coding, and the female-fronted indie quintet from Melbourne, Tully on Tully. Homegrown talents Up Dharma Down, Taken By Cars, Pulso, Yolanda Moon, and She’s Only Sixteen round up the cast. 

Wanderland 2013 is presented by Karpos Multimedia Inc., the group behind The Cranberries Live in Manila, We Are The In Crowd, This Century and Set Your Goals, The Maine Live in Manila among others.

Tickets are priced at PhP 4,800 (exclusive of ticket service charge), available at all TicketNet, TicketWorld and SM Tickets outlets.
Gates open at 11AM. 

For more information and updates about the art and music festival, check out Wanderland.ph and the following social media sites:
 Facebook/Wanderlandfest
Twitter/Wanderlandfest
Instagram/Wanderlandfest.

Do not forget to hashtag #WanderlandMusicFest 





April 18, 2013

Superman “Man of Steel” 2013

"A young boy learns that he has extraordinary powers and is not of this Earth. As a young man, he journeys to discover where he came from and what he was sent here to do. But the hero in him must emerge if he is to save the world from annihilation and become the symbol of hope for all mankind."



The movie Superman  “Man of Steel” starring Henry Cavill , Amy Adams, Diane Lane, Kevin Costner, Michael Shannon, Russell Crowe, Antje Traue, Ayelet Zurer, Henry Lennix, Christopher Meloni and Laurence Fishburne. This is  directed by Zach Snyder.

Warner Bros. Pictures and Legendary Pictures comes “Man of Steel,” with Henry Cavill (from “Immortals,” TV’s “The Tudors”) in the role of Clark Kent/Superman, under the direction of Zack Snyder (of “300,” “Watchmen”).

Synopsis

From Warner Bros. Pictures and Legendary Pictures comes MAN OF STEEL, starring Henry Cavill in the role of Clark Kent/Superman, under the direction of Zack Snyder (“300,” “Watchmen”). A young boy learns that he has extraordinary powers and is not of this Earth. As a young man, he journeys to discover where he came from and what he was sent here to do. But the hero in him must emerge if he is to save the world from annihilation and become the symbol of hope for all mankind.

The film also stars Amy Adams as Daily Planet journalist Lois Lane, and Fishburne as her editor-in-chief, Perry White. Starring as Clark Kent’s adoptive parents, Martha and Jonathan Kent, are Diane Lane and Kevin Costner. Squaring off against the superhero are two other surviving Kryptonians, the villainous General Zod, played by Michael Shannon, and Faora, Zod’s evil partner, played by Antje Traue. Also from Superman’s native Krypton are Lara Lor-Van, Superman’s mother, played by Ayelet Zurer, and Superman’s father, Jor-El, portrayed by Russell Crowe. Rounding out the cast are Christopher Meloni as U.S. military man Colonel Hardy, Harry Lennix as General Swanwick, Michael Kelly as Steve Lombard, and Richard Schiff as Dr. Emil Hamilton.

The film is set to be released on June 14, 2013, in conventional, 3D and IMAX theaters.

After “Gangnam Style", What could PSY possibly have in store for us next?


After K-POP music become a global phenomenon due in large part to Korean singer PSY’s massive 2012 dance hit “Gangnam Style,” the whole world—along with many Filipinos—is now eagerly awaiting the release of PSY’s new single this April.

In celebration of the new song release, LINE, a world-leading mobile messenger with social networking services, is set to offer PSY stickers (quirky and colorful emoticons) to its users, adding a little ‘Gangnam’ to their chat messages.
LINE’s PSY stickers consist of 40 diverse items, all of which depict PSY’s humorous expressions and gestures, including his signature horse-riding dance motion. The stickers are priced at USD 1.99 or 100 LINE coins.

“PSY has truly become a global pop icon, and he has especially captured the imagination of Filipinos of all ages,” explained Lee Jin Woo, General Manager of LINE Business Office at LINE PLUS. “We at LINE want to reach out to these fans through these stickers, and create a synergy between PSY’s worldwide fans and LINE’s global users.”

“LINE will always be one step ahead of users’ needs, and we are constantly working to provide a wide variety of services to meet their quickly changing desires through our free app,” he added.

Together with PSY’s sticker release, LINE is adding more K-POP celebrities to its current Official Account list of G-Dragon, KARA, and JYJ. New additions to the line-up will include CNBLUE, FTISLAND, Lee Min-ho, Miss A, Wonder Girls, ZE:A, 2AM and 2PM.

LINE Official Accounts allow fans to add their favorite celebrities on their friends list and follow their messages, pictures and even video and audio clips on a daily basis. Fans can also interact with celebrities in real-time during 'On Air Mode' where the celebrities can read and respond to messages via text.

“LINE works to extend and enhance users’ entertainment experience through celebrity engagement,” Lee Jin Woo explained. “We are committed to meeting and exceeding the expectations of global users for a more fun and unique communication experience.”

PSY’s promotional stickers can be availed at the LINE Sticker Shop. The shop can be accessed by clicking the “More” tab or through the Sticker Keyboard by clicking on the “+” tab. If users receive PSY stickers from their friends during a conversation, clicking on the PSY stickers will take them to the Sticker Shop.

PSY hit the big time as he soared to the top of global charts towards the end of last year. ‘Gangnam Style’ clocked in more than 1 billion views on YouTube, becoming the first and only video so far to achieve those numbers. The video is not only the most viewed, but it is also the most ‘liked’ video in YouTube history. By the end of 2012 the song had already topped the music charts of more than 30 countries.

LINE has continuously introduced entertaining and interactive features like LINE Camera, Official Accounts, and even games that are currently leading the mobile SNS game market. The app is available for free at Apple’s App Store, Google’s Play Store, as well as on Blackberry, PC and other platforms.

For more information about LINE, visit its official website http://line.naver.jp/en/.

JOHN RENDEZ RETURNS TO RAP RECORDING

Rap artist and composer John Rendez is back to the recording scene. 

Months after he returned to the country in August, 2011, the 42-year old rapper-composer and actor has started to carefully lay out the plans for a comeback to what he loves doing most - doing rap compositions and singing them.

It took him exactly a year to finish the new all-rap album, from conceptualizing the type and quality of its contents, to composing the new rap songs, to deciding on some "updates" to his previous compositions.

Everything fell into place and on October 1 last year, John Rendez, together with Ms. Nora Aunor, his long-time friend and now business manager, has inked a distribution deal with PolyEast Records for the release of the new John Rendez CD album, titled "Metaldog"/"There Can Only Be One".

A follow-up to the self-titled album John did years ago, also bearing the "Metaldog" tag, with its carrier single, "There Can Only Be One" (a new original composition), the album is a decided mix of so-called "high end" rap and what may be regarded as "low end/pang-masa" hip-hop beat.

The experience of doing the whole album was as fulfilling as John has envisioned. 

"It's good to be back to what I love doing most! Couldn't think of any other thing as fulfilling," said John. 


No less than the bosses from PolyEast Records,  Mr. Jesmon Chua and Mr. Chito Ilagan, the album distributor, would attest to the CD rap album's great potential to become a qualified hit.

"It's very positive. It's worth the long wait.  I can now say I'm a professional composer!"  John noted.

PINOY RAP INFULENCE.  Eleven original compositions make up this new rap album by John Rendez, including: There Can Only Be One, No More Musik By The Suckers, Ratt9MM, Metaldog, Kembotan, Everybody Sayaw (relieving John's early years on television, via ABS-CBN's "Ready Set Go!" in the early '90s). Under the Ground, Sowerzitat?, Domination, Coming To A Theater Near You, and a semi-novelty Tagalog rap, Plastik Pala.

"It's really no great surprise, every rap song, very up-to-date music!" said John.

For his second album, John Rendez collaborated with noted music composer, Jonathan Ong, with mixing (mixdowns) by Robert Javier and Tony D.

"We clicked together, so good! Wala akong masabi!" he intoned.  "Jonathan Ong is the best! And Tony D. and Robert Javier, from the Sonic State Studio, in Mandaluyong, very, very good!

"Couldn't be more 'happier'!" the Fil-Am rapper who hails from Angeles City, Pampanga, couldn't contain his happiness.


He said his roots are reflected in the rap songs the album contains.

"These are heavily influenced by my past.  But you know what?  It's also Pinoy rap influence,"  John stated.

PERSONAL STATEMENT.   Like any other artist true to his calling, John expresses a kind of mixed feelings about his comeback as a recording artist, through his new all-rap CD album.

"This is my music," he said.  "This is the quality of my character.
If you want to know what kind of a person I am, listen to my music.”

"This is the statement of the person that I am, at this time; the person that I was, and also the person (to remember me by)," he also said, with words deeply felt.

John hopes that "people try to understand it.  I'm not gonna be something that I'm not; not gonna be something original.”

"I think, maybe, I'm gonna find a balance of my skills, my state of mind, and my 'feel' for what's 'in' nowadays. “

"If you don't like me, it's okay.  You can't please everyone.  I just want my music to be given it's own chance."

John Rendez’ album METALDOG is now available nationwide distributed by PolyEast Records.



Villar Leads Manila Bay Clean-up

In consonance with the forthcoming Earth Day celebration, Team PNoy senatorial candidate Cynthia Villar yesterday led the clean-up drive at Manila Bay in the Las Pinas-Paranaque Critical Habitat & Eco-Tourism (LPPCHEA), which was recently included in the Ramsar List of Wetlands of International Importance, an intergovernmental treaty on the conservation and sustainable use of natural resources.
“We have to care and protect our environment. We have to repay Mother Earth for providing us all the necessary materials we need to survive,” stressed Villar.

The clean-up activity at Manila Bay which started 7 am yesterday, Villar said, is their simple way of saying “thank you,” and “demonstrating our love to Mother Earth.” However, she stressed that “caring and loving” our environment should not only be done during the Earth Day celebration.

“Everyday of our lives, we should all strive to protect Mother Earth,’ said Villar who has earned the moniker “Misis HanepBuhay” for giving jobs to Filipinos.

Villar was joined by students and volunteers from various sectors in last Friday’s clean-up activity, which was followed by a tour along the stretch of LPPCHEA aboard a banca around 7:30 a.m. The activity ended with a boodle fight, also led by Villar. The three-term Las Pinas congresswoman said she feels happy with the improvement at the LPPCHEA since there are lesser garbage being collected.

“We can attribute this to our consistent clean-up efforts,” said Villar. The Villar Foundation, where she sits as Managing Director, together with students and other volunteers, also conduct weekly cleanups. “The more partners we work with, the better it will be for the environment,” she said.

The Villar Foundation had earlier inked a Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) with Manila Broadcasting Company (MBC) represented by radio station DZRH in its Manila Bay Cleanup drive.

“The Villar Foundation and DZRH agree that this is not only a joint cooperative undertaking, but more importantly, it is a major public service activity that would help contribute to the promotion of a livable, healthier and ecological sustainable Manila Bay,” read the MoA.

Villar noted there is more reason to protect the 175-hectare LPPCHEA area after it was listed in Ramsar along with the world-renowned Tubbataha Reefs National Marine Park and the Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park (Underground River), both found in the Philippines.

"Ramsar has recognized LPPCHEA’s global importance to biodiversity and the need to give it special protection from various threats,” said Villar, adding that LPPCHEA is the so-called 'last bastion' in Metro Manila.

Based on Proclamation No. 1412, LPPCHEA is a critical habitat because to its global importance to biodiversity. It is a habitat for the survival of threatened, restricted-range and congregatory species.

But despite being a critical habitat, Villar lamented it faces threats of being reclaimed. In opposing the planned reclamation, Villar, a strong environmental advocate, noted that taking care of our environment will save us from disasters and calamities.

She maintains calamities would further burden the already poor Filipinos who are facing various problems due to difficult times.

Disasters like flooding, Villar said, can make one poorer if his properties are destroyed.

To avoid worst scenarios, Villar, who has earned the moniker “Misis Hanep Buhay” for giving jobs to Filipinos, underscored the need to clean our rivers, our creeks and other bodies of water especially Manila Bay.

“We can simply help protect the environment by not throwing our garbage into the sea, the rivers, the creeks. If we resort to indiscriminate throwing of garbages, these wastes will return to us during floodings. The garbages that we throw also caused massive floods,” warned Villar.

April 17, 2013

Landco, Younghusbands to hold Tribeca Football Fest on April 21

Leisure real estate developer Landco Pacific Corporation, in partnership with Chelsea FC Soccer School Philippines, the school operated by famed football superstars Phil and James Younghusband, will hold the first Tribeca Football Festival on April 21st. The event, which is expected to feature some 500 football enthusiasts, will be held on the 7-Aside Football Field from 8 am till 4:30 pm. 

James and Phil Younghusband
During the football fest, the Younghusband brothers will be at the event for the awards ceremony along with officials of Landco Pacific Corporation, the developer behind Tribeca Private Residences, and joint venture partner, ATR KimEng Land, Inc. The Tribeca Football Fest is sponsored and supported by Meralco, MVP Sports Foundation, Smart, and PLDT-SME. 

Tribeca Private Residences provides football players a safe and friendly environment, where they can hone their technical skills and sportsmanship. 

“Tribeca is very proud to be the home of the Chelsea FC Soccer School in the Philippines. As such, Landco is able to support our budding and very talented Filipino football players. Phil and James [Younghusband] are to be commended for their generosity in doing their part in helping the country develop world-class soccer players. 

“Landco can do no less and we are honored to host the very first Tribeca Football Festival here in our exclusive property. Through this event, we are helping showcase the talents of our young Filipino football players while giving them a high-level of competition where they can hone their skills,” explained Alfred Xerez-Burgos III, President and CEO, Landco Pacific Corp. 

Tribeca Private Residences is a 9.7 hectare resort condominium development that combines a modern 17-storey condominium tower with lots of open green spaces featuring a 3-hectare Central Park as well as a 1,800 sq. m. Aqua Park. 

Tribeca Private Residences’ newest addition is Hudson Place Tower 1, which is one of five residential condominiums set to rise in the master-planned development. It has 407 residential units. For more information about Tribeca Private Residences and how to enroll in The Chelsea FC Soccer School, please call 842-8000. 
Landco Pacific Corporation is the developer of high-end leisure communities, resort-inspired condominiums and luxury home communities. For more than 20 years, the company has made its mark in Philippine real estate, and is widely acknowledged as one of the leading leisure developers. For more information about Landco Pacific Corp., please call 836-5000. 
THE 1st TRIBECA FOOTBALL FESTIVAL  organizers and sponsors include: Albert Martin Villa-Real (left), Vice President for Sales, Landco Pacific Corp.; links hands with (starting second from left) Alfred Xerez-Burgos Jr., Vice Chairman, Landco Pacific Corp.; Alfred Xerez-Burgos III, President and CEO, Landco Pacific Corp.; James and Phil Younghusband, Directors of the Younghusband Football Academy; Lorenzo Andres Roxas, Chairman and President, Maybank ATR KimEng Securities Inc.; Manuel Tordesillas, Chairman, ATR KimEng Land Inc.; and Renato Leveriza Jr., President, ATR KimEng Land Inc.
JAMES YOUNGHUSBAND shown here in action at the 7-Aside Football Field located in Tribeca Private Residences in Sucat, Muntinlupa which is the venue for the 1st Tribeca Football Festival on April 21, 2013.
PHIL YOUNGHUSBAND shows his moves at the 7-Aside Football Field in Tribeca Private Residences in Sucat, Muntinlupa, the venue of the 1st Tribeca Football Festival scheduled on April 21st. Younghusband and his brother and fellow National Football Team member James are joining up with upscale leisure real estate developer Landco Pacific Corporation for the event. Landco Pacific Corporation is the developer behind Tribeca Private Residences and other leisure real estate developments in the country.


Villar elated over inclusion of LPPCHEA on Ramsar List of Wetlands of International Importance


Las Piñas-Parañaque Critical Habitat and Ecotourism Area (LPPCHEA) is included on the Ramsar List of Wetlands of International Importance.
“The inclusion of LPPCHEA on the Ramsar List of Wetlands of International Importance is very good news indeed. We should be proud of the recognition, and at the same time, we are encouraged even more to protect it," said Former Las Piñas Representative Cynthia Villar.

LPPCHEA is the sixth Philippine site designated as ‘Wetlands of International Importance’, it was included on the list on March 15. 

The others on the list are: the Tubbataha Reefs National Marine Park in Sulu (listed on December 11, 1999); the Agusan Marsh Wildlife Sanctuary (listed on December 11, 1999); the Naujan Lake National Park in Oriental Mindoro (listed on December 11, 1999); the Olango Island Wildlife Sanctuary in Cebu (listed on January 7, 1994); and the Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park in Palawan (listed on June 30, 2012). 

The Philippines joined the Ramsar Convention in 1994. Signatories to join the Convention agree to "include wetland conservation considerations in their national land-use planning," and commit to implement and promote "the wise use of wetlands in their territory."
The Convention on Wetlands—signed in Ramsar, Iran on 1971— is an intergovernmental treaty that embodies the commitments of its member countries to maintain the ecological character of their Wetlands of International Importance and to plan for the "wise use", or sustainable use, of all of the wetlands in their territories.

"The international treaty organization has recognized LPPCHEA’s global importance to biodiversity and the need to give it special protection from various threats. LPPCHEA is the so-called 'last bastion' in Metro Manila and faces various threats" said Villar.

Ramcar Convention cited on its website that LPPCHEA “faces threats” such as “ongoing land reclamation projects and mangrove cutting”, and “waste from nearby cities (that) accumulates along the coast”

Despite being  declared as a critical habitat in 2007 by Proclamation No. 1412, there are existing plans to reclaim the area.

Villar is very vocal about her opposition on the planned 635.14-hectare Manila Bay reclamation project that will also affect LPPCHEA. She filed a petition for Writ of Kalikasan on March 16 against the said project, which the Supreme Court granted on April 10 last year. The writ of kalikasan was issued but not a temporary environmental protection order or TEPO—without a TEPO, the contractor can still proceed with the projects.

A series of hearings, which wrapped up only a few weeks ago, was held at the Court of Appeals. Villar herself took the court stand on October 12 as petitioner and witness. Villar’s group is aiming for the issuance of a permanent environmental protection order, so that the reclamation project will be junked altogether.
   
“I have repeatedly talked about the catastrophic effects that the proposed Manila Bay reclamation project will bring about—including the damage to the bird sanctuary as well as to the mangrove forest and marine habitat. The worst of which, is that it will cause severe flooding in 37 barangays in Bacoor, 11 in Paranaque and 17 in Las Piñas. Floods with a depth of as much as 5.12 meters or equivalent to a two-storey high building,” cited Villar.

LPPCHEA serves as a sanctuary to migratory bird species from as far as Siberia. According to the Wild Bird Club of the Philippines, Metro Manila has 150 species of birds, 72 of which are found at LPPCHEA. It is the only bird sanctuary located in an urban setting, thus it is considered as the ‘last bastion’.  
  
Description of LPPCHEA on the Annotated Ramsar List of Wetlands of International Importance:
Las Piñas-Parañaque Critical Habitat and Ecotourism Area (LPPCHEA):
A coastal wetland in Manila Bay situated within the metropolis of Manila, comprising two interconnected, mangrove-covered islands, shallow lagoons and coastline. A Presidential Proclamation in 2007 designated the site as a ‘Critical Habitat’ for the survival of threatened, restricted-range and congregatory species. At least 5,000 individuals of migratory and resident birds have been recorded at the site, including about 47 migratory species such as the vulnerable Chinese Egret (Egretta eulophotes). The most important of the resident bird species is the vulnerable Philippine Duck (Anas luzonica) which breeds at the site. Records from 2007-2011 show that the site supports at least 1% of the estimated population of Black-Winged Stilts (Himantopus himantopus) using the East Asian-Australasian Flyway. The site faces threats associated with being located near densely populated areas. Waste from nearby cities accumulates along the coast and heavy metals and other organic contents coming from residential and industrial effluents affectsurrounding areas. Other threats include ongoing land reclamation projects and mangrove cutting. Efforts to ensure the long-term conservation of this site are ongoing.

April 16, 2013

Super Summer Offers at the SM Kids’ Fashion Warehouse Sale

Leading retail chain introduces newest promos on children’s apparel 

Prices go down as the temperature goes up at the SM Kids’ Fashion Warehouse Sale. Youngsters can indulge in season-worthy fashion at rock-bottom prices and stock up on outfits for school or play. 
Popular brands like Big & Small, Orange Juice, and Saint Patrick offer the latest in casual separates ideal for any activity. Winnie the Pooh, Barbie, and Mickey and Minnie tune in to their popular toon namesakes for a fun look that never fails to bring a smile to every face. From active wear to swimsuits and rompers, there’s definitely a wide range of clothes to choose from.

Kid-friendly trends are now more accessible with special discounts from SM Kids’ Fashion. Customers can avail of 0% interest on select credit cards with a Php3,000 minimum purchase. Instant rebates of Php 1,000 are also available for MasterCard holders with a minimum single-receipt purchase of 3,000 from April 15-June 30, 2013.

Indulge in fashion that knows no age at SM Kids’ Fashion Warehouse Sale from April 19 to 21 at Megatrade Hall B, SM Megamall.

Villar Receives Honoris Causa from Bataan Peninsula State University Urges graduates to be job creators rather than jobseekers

Bataan Peninsula State University is the first and only state university in the province of Bataan of the Philippines. For BPSU, a life without challenges to conquer would be futile as the university always stretches the limit to adapt to the changes and to turn trials into opportunities.

A university of excellence acknowledged in the country and the Asia-Pacific Region for quality graduates and knowledge responsive to socio-economic needs, provides quality and relevant education that will develop highly qualified and competitive human resources responsive to national and regional development.

A Commencement Exercises was held at the BPSU main and former Las Piñas Representative and Team PNoy senatorial candidate Cynthia Villar was guest of honor and speaker.  BPSU, during its recent commencement exercise, she received an Honoris Causa in Doctor in Humanities from the Bataan Peninsula State University with officials led by its President Delfin Magpantay conferred on Villar the honorary degree Doctor of Humanities, Honoris Causa.
In her acceptance speech, Villar said the recognition is ‘extra special’ since it was given by a state university in Bataan, the home province of Senator Manny Villar’s mother, Curita Bamba Villar or Nanay Curing, who hailed from Orani.

“I am honored and happy to receive the honoris causa from Bataan Peninsula State University and to be invited as their commencement speaker. I always look forward to interacting with the youth and in my own way, give them inspiration and guidance as they start a new phase in their lives,” said Villar.
Villar, in her commencement speech, urged the more than 1,200 graduates of the Bataan Peninsula State University not to be discouraged by the unemployment and underemployment problems in the country but rather consider entrepreneurship as an option to merely seeking employment after graduation.

“There is always the option to go into entrepreneurship—to be an entrepreneur, to employ people instead of getting employed. In fact, I hope, many of you will aim to go the entrepreneurial way,” Villar told the graduates from the main campus of BPSU in Balanga City and branches in the towns of Abucay, Dinalupihan and Orani.

As an active advocate of entrepreneurship, Villar narrated to the graduates the success story of her family’s real estate business, which started as a small gravel and sand company. She cited that capital is not everything in business.

She added that entrepreneurship as a way out of poverty. “When (Senator) Manny and I started our business in the 1970s, we only had P10,000. So we had to borrow P70,000 from a bank to buy two second-hand trucks that we used in delivering sand and gravel to construction companies. Then, Manny saw the potential of building small houses. We pursued our dream with hard work and persistence.”
Villar was awarded by Go Negosyo as among the ‘The Women Entrepreneur Icons and Filipina Entrepreneurs of 2013’ during the 5th Filipina Entrepreneurship Summit last month. As a congresswoman, Villar led the passage of bills that benefited entrepreneurs, among which was the Magna Carta of Micro-Enterprises and Republic Act 9178 or the Barangay Micro Business Enterprises (BMBEs) Act. 

April 15, 2013

Take care of your body, eat healthy, and stay fit : Barley grass bolsters nourishing properties, healing multitudes


Taking care for myself and for my family is the most important. As always, taking care for our body, as is very important for our overall health and well-being. A healthy living is essential to maintaining good health across our life span.

Good nutrition is important to all people. Addition to eating well, you need to eat safely. By following a few basic safety rules when you prepare and eat your meals, you can protect yourself from food-related illness. Sometimes, I think I need to take some kind of supplement to get more vitamins and minerals, but how do I know which ones I should try and which one should stay away from? Listening to doctors and people knowledgeable to health, doing researches, reading and taking notes to stay health and fit,  are included in my activities.

Barley Grass which is one of nature's most nourishing foods. "The leaves of Green Barley provide the nearest thing to the perfect food this planet offers" - Japanese researcher Hagiwara

Recently I read research which unveiled a wealth of other possible benefits of green barley leaves. Read this very important and great information on barley grass. 

Find out how to take care of your body, eat healthy, and stay fit!

Numerous studies have proven that organic barley grass is the potent super food containing important vitamins, proteins and minerals that are essential for the human diet.

It has seven times more vitamin C than oranges, five times more iron than spinach and 10 times more calcium than milk. Young barley grass also has more than twice oxygen radical observance capacity (ORAC) or antioxidant value found in 200 grams each of prunes, raisins, kale, raw spinach and grapes combined.  ORAC measures the ability of a plant to neutralize harmful free radicals that are the culprit in lifestyle and age-related diseases.

With these components, it’s not surprising that barley used by many as an excellent countermeasure against heart diseases, cancer and diabetes, while some use it to combat anemia, asthma, dysmenorrhea, goiter, migraine, osteoarthritis and other common illnesses.

In today’s lightning-quick lifestyles and chemical and preservative-based foods, barley grass serves as the body’s balancing force against stress, fatigue and dreadful diseases. This trend is long foretold by the country’s top distributor of the finest barley powder from New Zealand: Santé International, Inc.

“Health is wealth indeed. Thus, through our products, we want to help our consumers maintain their everyday strength, while they perform their roles for the long run,” explains Jesus Joey Marcelo, Chief Executive Officer of Santé International, Inc.

Today’s barley authority offers five products that underwent a meticulous and patented manufacturing process but Marcelo discloses that the company will soon introduce new and exciting barley-based products that will surely benefit many.

Living proof for better health

Mercedita Alakar, a businesswoman, was bothered by body pains, constant weakness and incessant coughing after suffering from stroke and hypertension. “I took Santé Barley Pure New Zealand once a day and felt at ease afterwards. The ache on my nape was gone, my blood pressure went down and I’m no longer stressed out.”

Princess Jamila Cana, on the other hand, was diagnosed with neonatal pneumonia with clinical sepsis months after she was born on May 2010. In August of that same year, she was given Santé Pure Barley New Zealand by her mother. In three weeks’ time, Cana was healed of blood infection and her blood count normalized. She can now breathe normally and play actively. Meanwhile, the family of metal cutter Renato Ualdan, who suffered from stroke and was once bedridden, took Santé Pure Barley twice a day. He gained his strength and appetite, and his skin color and blood pressure also improved.

The stories of Alakar, Cana and Ualdan are living proof of the findings of world-renowned Japanese scientist, inventor and pharmacologist, Dr. Yoshihide Kagiwara, who said that barley “is the only vegetation on earth that can supply sole nutritional support from birth to old age.”

Santé Barley also helps people who are constipated, has slow metabolism and weak immune system. Its high-fiber content helps promote regular bowel movement and acts as detoxifier that removes heavy toxic metals in the body. Its young grass is rich in chlorophyll, a deodorizer that helps control bad breath, urine and fecal odor and body odor.

Aside from the two major brands, they also have Santé Choco Barley, a chocolate drink dedicated to help kids’ little tummies in terms of digestion and make them more energetic in school and at play. This energy booster also reduces wheezing and inflammation commonly associated with asthma. For coffee connoisseurs, they would surely love Santé Barley Fusion, the new great tasting adventure to wake up their senses. And to defy skin age, there’s Santé C'est Bon, with papaya extracts that lighten skin along with goat’s milk that moisturizes and exfoliates dead skin.

To ensure product credibility and reliability, Santé uses only barley grass certified by BioGro New Zealand’s leading organic certifier. This assures users that Santé barley grass does not contain unsafe levels of heavy metal, herbicide and insecticide residues. Furthermore, Santé products contain no pork, lard or other elements of impurities defined under Islamic Law so therefore, Halal certified.

For more information about Santé products, visit www.santebarley.com.