Boho in a Solo : An exhibit featuring hippie chic as art

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Ginny with the center piece of her art exhibit- the biggest one, done in Acrylic on a 36 x 36 canvas.

BOHO CHIC : A One -Woman Show 

Ginny Guanco presents a series of paintings expressed in a fusion of human anatomy style and fashion illustration.

Ginny Guanco’s figures for her painting exhibit at the Galerie Y in SM Megamall are what can be described as a Bohemian’s rhapsody. The art show, which features all-female subjects, opens on September 15. Of the 32 colorful paintings of women, 26 of these are clad in classic boho chic designs in a bow to the artist’s roots as a full-bloomed flower child in the 70s.

Even in her growing up years, Ginny’s inclination to art was already very evident. In school, she participated in art contests. It was no surprise that after graduating high school from the College of the Holy Spirit in Mendiola, Fine Arts was the course she chose at the University of Sto. Tomas. As an artist immersed in her era, she believed in the message of peace, love, joy, and happiness against a backdrop of rock music and hippie art. 

“I was also really into bohemian fashion then as much as I am now. I did not outgrow my fashion taste, because I feel that it fits my personality and represents who I really am.”

Her 26 muses are clad in similar fashion, in flowy and flowery creations and are labeled, alphabetically, after hippie names that derive inspiration from the elements. Among the collection, exhibit guests would meet Aura, Freedom, Lilac, Seagull, Meadow, and Ocean, all hand-drawn in acrylic, in a style which Ginny describes as a fusion of fashion and art illustration. This effect is a direct result of her training as an artist both in the UST and in the Corcoran School of Art in Washington D.C., along with fashion illustration lessons from no less than the doyenne of Slim’s Fashion and Arts School, the late Salvacion “Slim” Lim Higgins. “I would describe my drawings as a mix of the two drawing disciplines where one features elongated figures for fashion and the other shows a more sinewy effect as in the fine arts,” she describes.

This artwork, done in 2012, marks the beginning of Ginny's return to art after a hiatus of 15 years 

OCEAN

Medium: Acrylic on Canvas

Size: 24 x 30

BLAZE

Medium: Acrylic on Canvas

Size: 24 x 30

Paintings number 27 to 32 is her homage to the strong women in the comicverse, featuring pop culture heroines from Marvel and DC franchises – Black Widow, Elektra, and the two main incarnations of Wonder Woman. “I have always been attracted to strong female characters, as I was also very much into women’s rights in the 70s. I have always believed that women should be empowered, that regardless whether you are a career woman, a CEO, a homemaker, you should know how you are as a person, knowing your worth, a human being to be respected and not looked down upon. And one who is secure in who she is.” 

The solo exhibit took a long time in coming, as Ginny took a 15-year hiatus from painting, pursuing a career, first in the media, and later on as a public relations professional. It took the passing of her favorite ginger cat, Simba and a few art materials lying around to get her back to art. A post of her finished figure on social media garnered a lot of interest from friends to convince her to take up the brush again. A chance meeting with Galerie Y owner Rollie Yusi, who viewed her works with interest, set the exhibit in motion. Ginny’s boho-inspired pieces join the gallery’s carefully-curated works by established and emerging Filipino artists as it works toward the enrichment of contemporary Philippine art.

Ginny Guanco’s Boho Chic exhibit will be on view at Galerie Y from September 15 to 24. Opening cocktails are provided by; Chef Jojo Javier’s SWEETIELICIOUS, Chef Greggie Mercado of AGING’S FOOD DELIGHT, WINE DEPOT, NESTEA AND KITKAT, Strategic Works, Inc. and Ginny Guanco. The gallery is located at the 4th floor of the SM Megamall, Bldg A. 

For more information, contact Galerie Y, open from Mondays to Sundays, 10 AM – 10 PM, or call 634- 2704. Visit also the artist’s website, artbyginny.net or FB page Art by Ginny.

Century Tuna presents the winning moves of James Reid

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After a big reveal that showcased a body reinvented by Century Tuna, stopped EDSA traffic, and sent fans on a social media frenzy, top actor James Reid appears anew in a TV commercial that gives a glimpse on how thinking like a champion has brought him to where he is now. 

There’s no denying that James Reid is one of the hottest young actors today. He’s a social media phenomenon—with millions of followers online, not counting the various fan accounts that his devoted followers set up. The highly bankable love team JaDine, in which he is paired with his reel and real life partner Nadine Lustre, has sent their legions of fans in a frenzy, whether in mall tours, concerts, meet and greets, and even online where they are constant trending topics.

There are his chart-topping albums including Reid Alert which hit certified platinum level status last May. Then there are his box-office film successes—the 2014 romantic comedy and his launch movie Diary ng Panget; and Talk Back and You’re Dead, the teen romance flick that followed a year later. No doubt, his biggest hit to date is On the Wings of Love, the top-rating primetime series with Nadine that kept viewers glued to their TV sets until its sensational finale.

Clearly, James Reid is on a winning streak and his steady career path is one that is marked by a succession of winning moves. Recently, he joined the ranks of Anne Curtis and Derek Ramsey as endorser of Century Tuna, the country’s number one tuna.

Becoming part of the Century Tuna family has certainly paid off for the young hunk. He is presently at his fittest—sculpted abs, toned muscles, firm biceps—which can be attributed to a rigorous fitness regimen and a proper diet consisting of good protein that Century Tuna can provide. It’s no surprise then that James headlines their latest campaign, where he appears in a series of sizzling television commercials: the first, a TV spot focusing on metamorphosis that sent his fans in a frenzy and created a sensation; the second, which is presently airing, revolves around the idea of commitment and loyalty.

Century Tuna couldn’t be happier for having James in its roster of celebrity endorsers. From the very beginning, they already saw a champion in him. “His story is truly inspiring,” said Greg Banzon, Century Tuna General Manager. “It speaks of transformation, the relentless desire to improve oneself. It’s a winning formula that brings many positive lessons for everyone: perseverance, keeping the faith, while staying humble and true to yourself—qualities that make James a true role model.” 

Meanwhile, for James, it’s really all about trust. “I liken it to a championship game,” he reveals. “If you want to win, you naturally want to surround yourself with a teammate you can put your total faith into. That to me is Century Tuna, and I can’t think of any other name that I’d trust to keep my body fit.”

With bated breath, we watch as James continues to transform—from a teen heartthrob to a more mature actor with the determination, the attitude and the body to conquer and win in the challenging world of show business. 

Kapuso Miguel Tanfelix is now the U4U Ambassador

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GMA7 Network contract star, Kapuso young and rising actor Miguel Tanfelix is now the Celebrity Ambassador of U4U - the voice of responsible Filipino teens, to inspire others to make responsible decisions for their future. 

Aimed to fulfill the right of young Filipinos to accurate information, U4U is the Commission on Population / POPCOM's flagship program for Filipino teenagers.

The Commission on Population (POPCOM) taps young actor Tanfelix as the Celebrity Ambassador of U4U befits his personality as he is widely regarded as one of the most sought-after and responsible young actors today. 

"Miguel Tanfelix is a good role model. Despite being a celebrity, he still finds time to study. He has a great relationship with his parents and family. As the U4U Ambassador, he will inspire other Filipino teens to make responsible decisions for their future," said Dr. Carmina Aquino, senior technical advisor of CHSI.

Tanfelix is one of the top young personalities who have used social media to showcase their talents. YouTube videos of Tanfelix using the app Musical.ly were featured in the television show, “Good Morning America.”

POPCOM's partnership with Tanfelix was formally launched during a press conference held September 14, 2016, Annabels Restaurant, Tomas Morato, Quezon City.

“This advocacy is all about respect for one’s self.  When a young person uses his or her own strengths and works on his or her own weaknesses, that person earns not only self-respect but also the trust of other people,” said 17-year old Tanfelix.

POPCOM kicked off U4U in 2014 as an innovative caravan for teens and by teens. POPCOM executive director, Dr. Juan Antonio Perez said that U4U is one of several programs of the government aimed to fulfill the right of young Filipinos to accurate information. 

Through its various face-to-face, mobile and social media platforms, U4U brings critical messages to millions of Filipino teenagers and help them make responsible decisions to prevent teenage pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections (STIs).

“So far, we have brought these messages to over 4 million young Filipinos from Batanes to Maguindanao. Almost every week, U4U events are held in different parts of the country, in intimate or big open spaces,” Perez said. He also encouraged members of the press to share U4U’s mobile and online platforms with their young loved-ones.

“Teenage pregnancy is on the rise. Approximately, one in three teenagers had engaged in premarital sex,” said Perez, citing a 2013 study in the Philippines.

Tanfelix, whose social media accounts have over a million following, said  “I hope to help POPCOM reach as many teens as possible.” 

With the support of the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), POPCOM and its partner, the Center for Health Solutions and Innovations Philippines, Inc. (CHSI) selected Tanfelix not only for his star power but also for his decision to continue his education. 

As a U4U ambassador, Tanfelix will participate in a number of awareness-raising activities including, the U4U Teen Trail event – an interactive event on puberty, romance and relationships. POPCOM and CHSI helped prepare Tanfelix for his task as U4U ambassador by engaging him as a peer educator along with other student leaders of Commonwealth High School in Quezon City.

Tanfelix will lead a U4U Teen Trail event on September 17, to be held at the Commonwealth High School. Tanfelix also had the privilege to meet UNFPA country representative, Klaus Beck to hand over the Grand Anvil Award, the most coveted recognition in public relations and strategic communications. Last March, U4U was named as the most outstanding communication program on social good in 2015 by the Public Relations Society of the Philippines (PRSP). 

“When I heard of and read about U4U, I told myself that I wanted to be part of U4U. When I had the chance to meet the other peer educators and attend a really fun workshop about teen health, I fell in love with U4U,” said Tanfelix. 

Tanfelix’s formal induction as U4U Ambassador came just a week before the pilot of his new show Usapang Real Love (URL) with onscreen partner, Bianca Umali, and also before his 18th birthday.

“I still have two more years as a teenager. I hope to continue being the voice of responsible Filipino teens.”

Tanfelix started his career in 2004 after winning the plum title in Starstruck Kids, the kiddie version of the reality talent search. Since then, he has appeared in various TV shows of GMA 7, most notably in Mulawin, Niño and Wish I May. 

In July 2015, Tanfelix became popular in Indonesia, Malaysia and Timor Leste because of his viral Dubsmash video of Brandon Beal's hit song Twerk It Like Miley. He was featured in an Indonesian newspaper, "Sumatera Ekspres" twice. He also receives several invitation to go to Indonesia for a TV guesting and show. He has a strong following in Indonesia that is evident in his posts in social medias that contains Bahasa (Indonesian) language comments. Almost 300k+ followers was added on his social media accounts, most of them are Indonesians. (Wikipedia)

Apart from U4U, Tanfelix is also involved in a reading and literacy program for school children.

To know more, you may you follow us on Facebook at http://facebook.com/u4u.ph. 

Coca-Cola Philippines inspires companies on inclusive business

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COCA-COLA IS THE FIRST FORTUNE 500 COMPANY TO REPLENISH ALL THE WATER IT USES GLOBALLY

Company and its bottling partners meet 2020 water replenishment goal 5 years early; intend to maintain water stewardship performance as business continues to grow

The Coca-Cola Company and its global bottling partners (the Coca-Cola system) today announced they have met their goal to replenish, or in other words balance, the equivalent amount of water used in their global sales volume back to nature and communities. Based on this achievement, Coca-Cola is the first Fortune 500 Company to publicly claim achieving such an aggressive water replenishment target.1

The Coca-Cola system also announced progress against its water efficiency goal. The Company and its bottling partners improved water use efficiency by 2.5 percent from 2014 to 2015, adding to a cumulative 27 percent improvement since 2004.

Based on a global water use assessment validated by LimnoTech and Deloitte, and conducted in association with The Nature Conservancy (TNC), the Coca-Cola system returned an estimated 191.9 billion liters of water to nature and communities in 2015 through community water projects, equaling the equivalent of 115 percent of the water used in Coca-Cola’s beverages last year.

“This achievement marks a moment of pride for Coca-Cola and our partners. A goal that started as aspiration in 2007 is today a reality and a global milestone we plan to maintain as our business grows,” said Muhtar Kent, Chairman and CEO, The Coca-Cola Company.

“Now, every time a consumer drinks a Coca-Cola product, they can have confidence that our company and bottling partners are committed to responsible water use today and tomorrow. We are keenly aware that our water stewardship work is unfinished and remain focused on exploring next steps to advance our water programs and performance.”

The Coca-Cola system has achieved its water replenishment goals through 248 community water partnership projects in 71 countries focused on safe water access, watershed protection and water for productive use. In many cases, projects also provide access to sanitation and education, help improve local livelihoods, assist communities with adapting to climate change, improve water quality, enhance biodiversity, engage on policy and build awareness on water issues. The program aspects mentioned in the preceding sentence do not contribute to Coca-Cola’s replenish volume.

Replenish performance is independently reviewed by LimnoTech and verified by Deloitte. That work is reflected in a 1,188 page report. The methodology for calculating water replenishment benefits was created in collaboration with The Nature Conservancy and LimnoTech. It was the subject of scientific technical peer review to verify its accuracy, and uses generally accepted scientific and technical methods. Projects are reviewed annually and evaluated using this methodology.

Some replenish projects directly return water to the source we use while others are outside the watershed our plant uses but are important to help meet needs of local governments, communities and partners where there is a pressing need. Coca-Cola and its partners seek projects that have a direct benefit, can be scaled up to have greater impact by reaching more people and parts of an ecosystem, are easy to learn from and replicate in other places where the challenges are similar, and can be built to be sustainable by the community over time, continuing to replenish water. These efforts, as well as new projects, frequently address local source water vulnerabilities and balance additional sales volume as 

Coca-Cola’s business continues to grow.

At each of its 863 plants globally, Coca-Cola requires operations to determine the sustainability of the water supply they share with others in terms of quality, quantity, and other issues such as infrastructure to treat and distribute water. Through this process, one of the factors Coca-Cola plants must examine is whether or not their use of water and discharge of water has the potential to negatively impact the ability of other community members to access a sufficient quantity and quality of water. If so, or if there are areas where water sources may still be unsustainable in some aspect, Coca-Cola’s requirement then mandates that each plant develop and implement a Source Water Protection Plan. The plan, among other things, engages others to mutually seek solutions to promote the sustainability of the local water source. This may result in replenish projects or other opportunities. While each plant may not replenish all water to its direct source, Coca-Cola’s policy is to require that all plants work to ensure they do not negatively impact water sources and work with the community on longer term solutions.

Coca-Cola’s replenishment strategy supports the Company’s overall water goal to safely return to communities and nature an amount of water equal to what is used in its beverages and their production. On the production side, the Coca-Cola system returned approximately 145.8 billion liters of water used in its manufacturing processes back to local watersheds near our bottling plants through treated wastewater in 2015. 

“All life depends on water, but less than 1 percent of the world’s water is fresh and accessible. From mountain glaciers to estuaries, we must account for the whole system if we hope to secure freshwater for all,” said Carter Roberts, World Wildlife Fund (WWF) President and CEO. “This means partnerships matter. This is an important milestone in Coca-Cola’s continued leadership on water stewardship and sets a standard for other water users to build from.”

Coca-Cola collaborates on replenish projects with governments, civil society and other members of the private sector. Some of the many organizations Coca-Cola partnerswith include Global Environment & Technology Foundation (GETF), Millennium Challenge Corporation, TNC, United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), UN-Habitat, United States Agency for International Development (USAID), WaterAid, Water and Sanitation for the Urban Poor (WSUP), Water for People, WWF, and World Vision.

Four programs with significant contribution to Coca-Cola’s water replenishment activities are our global conservation partnership with WWF, The Coca-Cola Africa Foundation’s Replenish Africa Initiative (RAIN), the Company’s Every Drop Matterspartnership with UNDP, which expanded to New World in 2014, and Coca-Cola’s investment in 50 water funds across 12 countries in Africa, Latin America and the Caribbean, with key partners TNC, FEMSA Foundation and the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB). All of these programs are active and committed through 2020.

Replenish projects work to balance, or offset, the direct water use of The Coca-Cola Company and its bottling partners across operations in more than 200 countries. The water use is inclusive of water used within manufacturing as well as finished beverages, which includes water from fountain sales. The water footprint of growing agricultural ingredients sourced by the Coca-Cola system is not included in this goal. However, sustainable water practices are part of Coca-Cola’s Sustainable Agriculture Guiding Principles required for suppliers.

To learn more about Coca-Cola’s water stewardship program, visit the Company’swater stewardship report.

About The Coca-Cola Company

The Coca-Cola Company (NYSE: KO) is the world's largest beverage company, refreshing consumers with more than 500 sparkling and still brands and more than 3,800 beverage choices. Led by Coca-Cola, one of the world's most valuable and recognizable brands, our company’s portfolio features 20 billion-dollar brands, 18 of which are available in reduced-, low- or no-calorie options. Our billion-dollar brands include Diet Coke, Coca-Cola Zero, Fanta, Sprite, Dasani, vitaminwater, Powerade, Minute Maid, Simply, Del Valle, Georgia and Gold Peak. Through the world's largest beverage distribution system, we are the No. 1 provider of both sparkling and still beverages. More than 1.9 billion servings of our beverages are enjoyed by consumers in more than 200 countries each day. With an enduring commitment to building sustainable communities, our company is focused on initiatives that reduce our environmental footprint, create a safe, inclusive work environment for our associates, and enhance the economic development of the communities where we operate. Together with our bottling partners, we rank among the world's top 10 private employers with more than 700,000 system associates.

1We acknowledge that different companies and industries water use varies within their products and production. Coca-Cola’s claim is based on publicly reported claims and information as of June 1, 2016, and is inclusive of water return against direct water use.

Capture and share VR photos with Cardboard Camera, now on iOS

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Whether you’re hiking on the Olympic Peninsula or attending your cousin’s wedding, go beyond the flat photo or selfie. 

With Cardboard Camera—now available on iOS as well as Android—you can capture 3D 360-degree virtual reality photos. Just like Google Cardboard, it works with the phone you already have with you. VR photos taken with Cardboard Camera are three-dimensional panoramas that can transport you right back to the moment. Near things look near and far things look far. You can look around to explore the image in all directions, and even hear sound recorded while you took the photo to hear the moment exactly as it happened. To capture a VR photo, hold your phone vertically, tap record, then turn around as though you’re taking a panorama.

Bugaboo Spire in B.C., Canada captured by Googler Adam Dickinson Starting today, you can also share your VR photos with friends and family on both iPhone and Android devices. Select multiple photos to create a virtual photo album, tap the share icon, and Cardboard Camera will generate a link (like this) that can be emailed, messaged, or posted in apps and on the web. With a VR viewer like Google Cardboard, your friends can relive those moments as if they were there.

From rock concerts to real estate to mountaintop vistas, more than 5 million moments have been captured with Cardboard Camera on Android. 

Share your VR photos with the #CardboardCamera hashtag—we can’t wait to see the world through your lens.

Give Life to Dreams, Merck continues advocacy on fertility awareness

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For some Filipino couples, dreams of having and raising a baby together are dashed by fertility issues, which, unknown to many, is actually a disease recognized by the World Health Organization (WHO). The organization describes infertility as “a disease of the reproductive system defined by the failure to achieve a clinical pregnancy after 12 months or more of regular unprotected sexual intercourse.”

Merck Philippines, the local arm of the world’s oldest pharmaceutical and chemical company, joined forces with St. Luke’s Medical Center – Global City for a public information project that promotes awareness on infertility, as well as the different medical solutions that can give life to the dreams of Filipino couples. This project coincides with the fifth year of St. Luke’s flagship Center for Advanced Reproductive Medicine and Infertility (CARMI).

“As of a Synovate survey we conducted in 2011, one out of ten Filipinos are suffering from infertility.  This condition is related to our socio-cultural practices, including the marrying age, educational status, and professional goals,” said CARMI head Dr. Virgilio M. Novero, Jr.

Aside from socio-cultural factors mentioned by Dr. Novero, a couple’s fertility can also be affected by issues in the female and male reproductive systems, as well as various medical conditions that can affect the quality of the egg and sperm cells. 

“Instead of just giving up their dreams of having a child, there are modern and effective ways to address infertility,” explained Dr. Novero. “A couple can come in for a series of basic and ancillary tests to determine the root cause of their fertility issues, and we can help develop a treatment plan that will deliver their desired result: pregnancy.”

The science of ART

One of the medical solutions that childless Filipino couples can explore is Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART), which is an umbrella term that refers to in-vitro fertilization (IVF) and its variants. This special fertility treatment procedure stimulates multiple ovarian follicles and facilitates egg cell retrieval. During the course of treatment, embryos will be formed outside of the female patient’s body—and once the “cultures” have formed successfully, they will be transferred to the patient’s uterus.

ART is recommended for patients suffering from blocked fallopian tubes, severe sperm deficits, unexplained infertility, mild endometriosis, and ovulation disorders, among others.

Though not unheard of for Filipinos, IVF is often seen as risky, needlessly expensive, exclusive to those who can get the procedure done abroad, and worse, ineffective. Dr. Novero explained that ART has made significant improvement in efficiency over the years.

“In the past, doctors can only recommend IVF to a select few,” said D, r. Novero. “But in the recent years, technological advances, including new knowledge in hormonal treatment, improvement in video technology and other medical equipment, has boosted IVF’s efficiency.”

Dr. Novero mentioned that the success rate of the procedure has also recently seen a significant rise—today, over six million children are born all over the world after their parents have undergone an IVF procedure.

“Our success rates are now at 35 to 50 percent for pregnancy, and 20 to 25 percent for live births,” Dr. Novero said proudly. “The success rates depend on the patient’s profile, the competence of the medical staff, the quality and standards of the IVF lab, and of course the use of cutting-edge technology. At CARMI, our patients can be assured that we have a team of highly trained and experienced medical staff, a state-of-the-art IVF lab, and modern technology that can increase the success rate of pregnancy and live birth.”

“With the help of Filipino doctors and specialty groups, Merck has been able to propagate more information on infertility,” said Dess Cartaño, Senior Product Manager for Fertility, Merck Philippines. “At this point, we want to provide fertility-challenged couples with actual, effective, and efficient solutions that will give life to their dreams of a family once more.”

To know more about infertility and IVF in the Philippines, Merck Philippines will be holding a seminar on the science and possibilities of IVF on September 24 at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Ortigas.

MACPOWER Gadget Sale 2016 !

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Get your wallets ready! Macpower Marketing Corporation, the top distributor of high-end gadgets accessories here in the Philippines will have its first Mega Gadget Sale at Alphaland Makati Place on September 28-30, 2016 from 10am up to 6pm. 

MMC will give you special deals and discounts up to 80% OFF on your favorite products like Boompods, MB Quart, Lumee, Runtastic, Homido, Moktak, Rhinoshield, etc. Entrance is FREE but you have to register online. Those who will register will get a chance to win some premium items on their major raffle so what are you waiting for? Register now! 

REGISTER HERE: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/mega-gadget-sale-2016-tickets-…

Hey foodies! Street food in a mall? Why not!

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Here in the Philippines, we think of the sidewalk when we say “street food”. However, those who have been to Singapore know of this kind of food as “hawker food”. It is as flavorful as it is mysterious.

Now, you don’t have to go to Singapore to get a taste of this highly popular cooked food concept. Because just when you thought we already have the world’s cuisine within our midst, here comes SM with another first as it opened its doors to Filipino foodies and non-foodies alike – welcome Makansutra.

Makan is the Bahasa word for “food”, and Sutra means “guide” according to Buddhist scriptures. Makansutra Chief Executive and Makan Guru KF Seetoh put the two words together to fittingly describe what the company aims to achieve: to serve as food and dining guide through recipes that have been inherited from the forefathers of the Asian region.

Makansutra in SM Megamall A is the company's first fully-owned restaurant in the Philippines, and the first of its kind in the country. It showcases hawker restaurants that are popular in Singapore, offering various recipes with Asian origins such as China, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Singapore.

Gathering a total of 70 to 80 Filipino chefs, the owners of the restaurants themselves came all the way from Singapore to teach the art of cooking authentic heritage street food that customers will find unique and delectable.

“These foods became iconic and famous, became big business in many countries. The Philippines deserves this kind of food variety and I hope they enjoy this because Filipinos love and appreciate good, authentic food,” Seetoh observed. “In Singapore, we have difficulty getting people to learn how to cook as a profession. Here in the Philippines, it only took the Filipino chefs and cooks a week to learn the authentic heritage street food recipes that Makansutra offers.”

Asked why he chose to open first in SM, Seetoh remarked, “Why not SM? You can’t find any other better location, except maybe SM MOA. It took one breakfast with Hans Sy and I was fortunate enough for being given the opportunity to have a space here. No other mall in Singapore compares to the size and the kind of crowd that Megamall has.”

One of Seetoh’s Filipino partners, Chef JJ Yulo, believes that this innovative concept in dining will be warmly accepted by the Filipinos. “Street food in general is not hard to sell. To me, it means fast, casual, delicious, humble, affordable. We want to expand the vocabulary of Pinoys beyond tapsilog,” Yulo said.

Not only is it good for expanding the adventurous tastebuds of Pinoys, but it will also bode well for the food industry. 

“If we all succeed, then this is good for the industry and the country,” Yulo said.  

“It’s good to have it in a mall like SM because of its foot traffic, which is good for business. Turnout is great even if it’s a weekday. The best thing about this is that it’s convenient for you to keep coming back, and you will not run out of choices because there is something for everyone with different taste preferences. None of these foods are adopted for the Pinoy tastebud. These are all authentic heritage food from various regions. It’s our entry point to Singapore’s popular foods.”

Two of the restaurant owners, Ah You of Hong Kong Street Old Chun Kee and Sam Hussin of Alhambra Padang Satay, are both positive about the reception of Filipinos to these unique Asian heritage cuisine. This being their first time to operate in the Philippines, they were amazed at the first-day turnout of customers considering it was a weekday. They expect that more customers will come in during weekends.

For us Pinoys, eating knows no time. With SM’s latest pioneering offer through Makansutra, dining will be more than just a habit and a necessity – it’s definitely going to be a relishing adventure.

One-of-a-kind venue experience at Globe ICONIC entertainment zone

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Wireless audio streaming through Globe Soundplay app and Interactive LED Omega Claw game

The ICONIC store, Globe Telecom’s premiere lifestyle destination, is revolutionizing the Philippine retail and entertainment industry. With the 1st phase of the entertainment facility completed last June, the venue was able to hold successful large scale events such as Green Day’s: American Idiot play, NBA Fit and HOOQ Hangouts. 

Aside from being the ideal entertainment venue for events, the two massive Times Square-like LED walls provide live video feed and on-ground entertainment. Informative and engaging videos such as short clips by Globe Studios and lifestyle ambient visuals are showed daily. Every 7:30 P.M., people are also treated to a lights and sounds show.

From 5:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m., the ICONIC store transforms into a carnival wonderland with the Omega Claw game which uses augmented reality and face detection technology to capture the faces of anyone near the venue through live feed cameras. The pictures are then posted in the country’s largest interactive outdoor LED billboard with the tagline “You’ve been clawed.” People are encouraged to pose for the camera as they are seen by spectators around. This fun, unique and interactive technology will be refreshed regularly to give BGC Central Amphitheatre visitors something to look forward to.

Anyone who is within the area of the Globe ICONIC Store can, likewise, connect to the Globe ICONIC WiFi service to experience ultra-fast Internet connection speeds of up to 100 Mbps. They can also listen to the audio of the videos being played on the outdoor LED screens through Globe Soundplay App, an audio streaming app that lets you listen to the videos playing in the ICONIC store through your own smartphone. When connected to the Globe ICONIC WiFi, just open the app to stream high-quality real-time audio right from your smartphone. This innovation lets you avoid unnecessary noise pollution within the area, allowing you to privately listen to the Globe Iconic outdoor LED screens’ video contents.

“The ICONIC store is set to be a premiere venue that will once again change the retail experience with multi-faceted store built to house the latest trends and live entertainment. Customers can experience our latest products interactively, explore new content with our upcoming chroma studio and museum. And outdoors, we continue interaction with our customers through features and activities like Globe SoundPlay and Omega Claw, truly making the ICONIC store a one-of-a-kind venue in the Philippines.” says Globe Stores and Retail Transformation Head, Joe Caliro.

Phase 2 will feature the complete Globe ICONIC Store with a glass bridge that connects two stores on both ends. Also within the store, is a chroma studio for recording and shooting videos that partners and customers can use, view and enjoy. The ICONIC store is set to open by the end of the year. 

Visit the Globe ICONIC store at BGC Central to experience the Globe Soundplay App and Omega Claw game.

Crime thriller "The Blacklist" Season 4 set to premiere on AXN with more shocking twists

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AXN turns up the drama this month with the gripping return of the critically acclaimed thriller, The Blacklist. 

In season four, premiering on September 27 at 9:45pm, former U.S. Naval Intelligence Officer turned criminal mastermind Raymond “Red” Reddington (James Spader) has become the FBI’s Most Wanted Fugitive. For decades, he evaded capture until he voluntarily surrenders to FBI Assistant Director Harold Cooper.

He claims he has in his possession a “blacklist” of the world’s most dangerous criminals he has been associated with during his nefarious career and is willing to cooperate with the FBI to bring them down under two conditions: immunity from prosecution, and that he insists on working exclusively with Elizabeth “Liz” Keen (Megan Boone), a newly assigned rookie profiler with the FBI.

Teaming up with special agents Donald Ressler,  Diego Klattenhoff Aram Motjabai, Amir Arison), and Samar Navabi, Mozhan Marnò, Reddington and Liz join ranks, use all available resources and technology of the FBI, and will never stop at nothing until all names on his list are crossed out – either arrested or eliminated.

Along the way, Cooper, Keen, and the other agents become suspicious of the real motives of Reddington. They are not aware of the behind-the-scenes maneuverings perpetrated by Reddington as he manipulates to his end the trust of his former allies. Little did they know that for every case they work on, for every criminal they track down and apprehend, Reddington always has a hidden agenda for his own personal gain. Moreover, Keen starts to question Reddington’s interest in her, not content in hearing him say that she is “very special” to him. 

For years, Reddington has sacrificed everything, even to the point of risking his life to protect Keen. But his efforts seem to be for nothing. Feeling betrayed, Keen loses focus, gets involved with the shooting of a high-ranking government official, and lands in the FBI’s Most Wanted list. In the end, she is determined to get away from what she perceives to be the controlling and overprotective Reddington. She devises a clever way and successfully does, but her plan backfires. Keen ends up in the hands of Reddington’s longtime nemesis, Alexander Kirk (Ulrich Thomsen), who claims to be her real father.

Everything becomes even more personal in the latest installment of the highly anticipated series. Reddington rescues Keen from Kirk, but their reunion casts a cloud of doubt on their relationship. The rivalry between Reddington and Kirk takes a dark turn. As Keen confronts her past, Ressler suddenly figures in her life. Is Kirk really Keen’s father? If not, who is? And the burning question will finally be answered: How is Reddington related to Keen that he cares so much about her? 

The critically acclaimed crime thriller has received positive reviews for showing an ingenious and compelling crime procedural. Television critics have praised James Spader’s riveting performance as criminal-turned-informant Raymond Reddington, earning him a nomination for Best Actor – Television Series Drama in the Golden Globe Awards for two consecutive years, 2014 and 2015. He was also nominated for Best Actor in a Television Series in the Saturn Awards in 2014. 

The Blacklist Season 4 premieres the same week as the U.S. telecast on September 27, every Tuesday at 9:45 pm. First & Exclusive on AXN

AXN is seen on Cable Link Channel 38, Cignal Digital TV Channel 61, Global Destiny Cable Channel 61, Dream Channel 20, GSat Channel 51, and SKYCable Channel 49.

www.AXN-Asia.com

Stakeholders unite to boost Philippine tennis

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Randy Villanueva, acting PhilTA President organized the Philippine Tennis Summit and gathers key stakeholders in effort to make a world class tennis association for the Philippines. Organizers, sponsors and regional tennis officials attended the recent Philippine Tennis Summit where they all agreed to reorganize the sport that has been in doldrums for several years.

The Philippine Tennis Summit aims to discuss the present state of the industry and identified action plans towards its improvement and to Promoting reform in Philippine tennis.

Held at Makati Sports Club last September 6, stakeholders, including tennis coaches, players, parents, sponsors, regional representatives and PhilTA officials, among others, along with members of the media issues on Philippine tennis were brought forth.

Villanueva presented the current state of Philippine tennis, citing the need to improve the country’s standing in international competitions, increase the number of tennis players in the country, and attract them to become members of the national tennis association that represents the International Tennis Federation in the Philippines, among others.

Villanueva laid down the plans for Philippine tennis, identifying a strategy that starts with changes within the existing organization, followed by milestones that will create funding and resources, enable extensive training programs, and make way for a consistent supply of high-caliber Filipino tennis players before reaching the ultimate goal of becoming a world-class tennis association.

To consider the vision of becoming a world-class tennis association, Villanueva said that the country should have at least two Olympians, at least two players in the top 100 of the ATP & WTA rankings, four junior players in the Top 100 of the ITF boys’ and girls’ categories, qualify for the Fed Cup World Group, and qualify for the Davis Cup World, all by 2024. 

He stressed that to be able to achieve all of these, there’s a need to augment the current set-up of the current national tennis association to make way for positive changes specifically in making Philippine tennis inclusive to many. This will pave the way for more active memberships from tennis players, increase in pool of talents, and make the association more sustainable in terms of funding.

“There’s really a need to amend the organization if we are to become a world-class association. The association right now is being run by just 12 people who do not represent any Philippine tennis stakeholders, region or clubs. I think it’s very important that we make it more inclusive to everyone and encourage more participation from the whole Philippine tennis community,” said Villanueva.

One of those elated to hear Villanueva’s vision for Philippine tennis is sports patron and PhilTA chairman of the board, Jean Henri Lhuillier.

“It’s refreshing to have this Philippine Tennis Summit and hear the great plans of Villanueva to move forward Philippine tennis. As always, I’ll be here to support in whatever capacity I can to bring to fruition PhilTA’s plans,” said Lhuillier.

During the summit, Villanueva also advised that he initiated the event in an effort to uplift Philippine tennis and clarifies that he does not have any plans to gun for the presidency in the organization’s next election and is just happy to be able to lay down the work for whoever will succeed him.

TOFARM captures lives of Farmers through Music

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After successfully putting the spotlight on the lives of the Filipino Farmers at the ToFarm Film Festival, Universal Harvester continues its advocacy of recognizing the inspirational stories of the agricultural sector with the first ToFarm Songwriting Competition.

“What started out as a program to give recognition to the hardworking farmers has now evolved to different layers that form our main advocacy for agriculture," says Dr. Milagros How, Executive Vice President of Universal Harvester lnc.

“ToFarm was first crafted as a program to help award those in the agricultural sector whose hands and feet, hearts and minds have been dedicated to provide bountiful feast for the whole nation. But then we thought it would be more meaningful if the much needed call to recognition for this industry is extended to the public,” she adds. 

This is an opportunity that Dr. Milagros How, Executive Vice President of Universal Harvester lnc. took advantage of as she continues her quest to creating awareness and recognition for her advocacy in the agricultural sector. To find a voice through song and to use music to gain recognition for our hardworking farmers and other workers in the similar sector this is the mission of the first TOFARM Songwriting Competition.

The TOFARM Film Festival last year where six stories highlighting the tribulations and triumphs of our farmers and similar workers in the sector were made, Universal Harvester Inc. now ventures into another medium to give more hype and meaning to their push for agricultural revolution.

“The TOFARM Film Festival, we harnessed the power of the cinematic arts to present the lives of our dear farmers and kababayans in the agricultural sector. Now, we are utilizing another field of art, which is music. Music is a universal language and we Pinoy are musical people. Filipinos are born with an innate talent in music. Our music are written from the heart in both lyrics and tune as we portray lives and everyday experiences through songs. Our songs contain and express our ambitions, dreams, emotions, frustrations, struggles and successes. With the musical compositions that we will harvest in the first TOFARM Songwriting Competition, we hope to discover musical wonders that would highlight the diligence, hard work, perseverance, resilience, tenacity and optimism of our farmers” - Dr. How explains in front of media at the launch event held at the Edsa Shangrila Hotel.

The opening of the Songwriting Festival was held last September 10, 2016 at the Mactan Function Room of the EDSA Shangri-la Hotel. 

Heading the announcement during the launch are Dr. Milagros How, Executive Vice President of Universal Harvester lnc., Project Director Rommel Cunanan, with Luchie Roque, Trustee and former Program Director, National Music Competitions for Young Artists (NAMCYA), Jed Balsamo, resident music director of Ballet Philippines, Olivier Ochanine, former music director and conductor of the Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra (PPO) and members of media present during the launch.

Guided by its theme, “Planting the seeds of change,” the First TOFARM Songwriting Competition is open to all Filipino amateur and professional songwriters. 

Different song genres are encouraged and suggested, but not limited to:

• Folk/Acoustic
• Rock
• Jazz
• R&B
• Country
• Pop
• Inspirational
• Fusion

The following requirements must be submitted on or before NOVEMBER 18, 2016: 

• Duly accomplished Application Form
• Copy of a valid ID with specimen signature of the applicant (including co-applicants, if collaboration) indicated thereon
• Song Entry in mp3 format labelled with the title and the contestant’s name or pseudonym directly on the CD 
• Lyric sheet (in English/or in any Filipino language Pilipino line-by-line translation, if applicable) two (2) hard copies and one (1) copy in pdf file in the Song Entry CD

Criteria in choosing the song entries are quality of composition, lyrics and its originality.

Nine (9) Finalists will be chosen by the TOFARM Listening Committee. Results shall be announced on DECEMBER 5, 2016 through print media and website announcements. Each of the nine (9) finalists will receive a certificate and P40,000.

From the finalists, a grand prize winner, 1st runner up, second runner up and the People’s Choice will be chosen during a special live concert happening on February, 2017.

Aside from the trophies, the grand winner will receive P300,000 cash; the first runner up, P200,000 cash and the second runner up P100,000. The People’s Choice award will also receive P75,000.

Entries may be sent via courier or postal mail to: TOFARM SONGWRiTlNG COMPETiTiON, TOFARM Secretariat 10th Floor, Harvester Corporate Center, 158 P. Tuazon St. corner 7th Street, Cubao, 1109 Philippines or via email tofarmmusic@gmail.com

Filipina Singer Ivy Grace Paredes Gets All The Yeses She Needs From The X Factor UK Judges

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Ivy Grace Paredes, 33, from the Philippines, impressed all four judges of The X Factor UK with her rendition of Whitney Houston’s All The Man I Need on the sixth episode of the show today.

On camera before she belted out her version of the hit song, she said that she was inspired to join the competition after seeing 4th Impact on the show last year. “If they can make it, I can make it, too.” She said that she wasn’t getting any younger but that she could still be on The X Factor UK stage.

After her powerful performance Simon Cowell reacted, "Oh my God! What just happened there?!"

"She just sang our faces off, pretty much, that's what happened," replied Nicole Scherzinger.

Louis Walsh said that her audition was amazing to which Simon said it was more than amazing and thought the second half was incredible. 

“Everybody comes in here saying ‘I want it so bad, am fighting for it’ but that, right there, is wanting it and fighting for it,” said Nicole. Louis said she was sensational and thought she was a little diva. Sharon Osbourne said that Ivy Grace did herself proud. 

A native of Malaybalay, Bukidon, Ivy Grace tearfully said that she chose to join The X Factor UK because of her daughter.

"For me, I believe this is the biggest competition and I want to be a part of it. (The) X Factor (UK) can give me the stepping stones I need to do good in the future because this is all for my daughter." Her daughter is 2 ½ years old and is under the care of her parents in the Philippines.

Ivy Grace Paredes moves on to the next round of The X Factor UK. 

The X Factor UK airs first and exclusive on RTL CBS Entertainment same day as the UK on Sundays and Mondays at 10:30am with primetime encores Sundays, Mondays and Thursdays at 9:00pm. 

RTL CBS Entertainment is available on SkyCable channels 53(SD) and 196(HD), Destiny Cable channel 53, Dream Satellite channel 17 and Cablelink channels 37(SD), 313 and 800(HD).