‘Replacing Chef Chico’: First Filipino-Produced Series Puts Love on the Menu

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For Filipinos, romance and food make a sizzling combination, and the first local Netflix production in a series format serves up a zesty love triangle set against the backdrop of a high-end fine dining restaurant.

Replacing Chef Chico is the brainchild of director Dan Villegas, assistant director Joi Bayan, and showrunner Antoinette Jadaone. It stars three of the biggest names in the local entertainment industry — Piolo Pascual (My Amanda), Alessandra de Rossi (My Amanda and What If) and Sam Milby (A Family Affair).

Offering a glimpse into the high-stakes and competitive culinary world, the series’ trailer introduces viewers to the main characters whose lives become intertwined at Hain, a fictional up-and-coming fine dining restaurant that specializes in customizing each dish to mirror their diners’ unique life stories. But things take an unexpected turn when titular character Chef Chico (Milby) gets into an accident, leaving him in a coma. The fate of Hain is suddenly left in the hands of his sous chef Chef Ella (de Rossi) and a newly hired consultant Raymond (Pascual), who has more than just the restaurant on his mind.

Speaking to a panel of press and outlets in the “See What’s Next” event on September 18, acclaimed showrunner Antoinette Jadaone (Fan Girl and That Thing Called Tadhana) shared that her inspiration for Replacing Chef Chico came from her love for food-related shows.

Recommending the series for holiday viewing, she added: “I think it’s perfect for the Christmas season because, at its core, it’s about love, friendship, and acceptance. Each episode tells a story of family, friendship, and love, all celebrated over food.”

Both Jadone and Villegas (Exes Baggage and Always Be My Maybe) also expressed their excitement over the evolving media landscape and what it means for the future of streaming and media consumption in the Philippines. Replacing Chef Chico was produced for Netflix in association with CS Studios and Project8.

Catch Replacing Chef Chico on November 24, only on Netflix.

Alessandra de Rossi and JM de Guzman star in What If?, a Netflix Film premiering on September 7

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About What If?:

A newlywed couple gets trapped in a remote island. Will they get out of the island or… out of their relationship?

Director: Emmanuel Quindo Palo

Production Company: Viva Films and A World Of Our Own

Producers: Vincent del Rosario III,

Veronique del Rosario-Corpus,

                                               Alessandra de Rossi  

Exec Producer: Vic del Rosario, Jr.

Cast: Alessandra de Rossi,

JM de Guzman,

Angie Castrence,

  Soliman Cruz, 

                                              Jett Pangan

Photo: Netflix 

Acer Ph makes partnership with Kita Kita stars Alessandra De Rossi and Empoy, and Fashion Brand Salvatore Mann for its SM's Pre-Holiday Promo

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The leading tech and innovations company Acer Philippines, recently makes partnership with celebrities Alessandra De Rossi and Empoy, and Salvatore Mann, a men’s fashion brand under retail giant SM, for its pre-holiday promo.

The partnerships were formally launched at the Mega Fashion Hall, SM Megamall last September 19, creating an event that embodied both Acer and Salvatore Mann in aesthetics, the Mega Fashion Hall was transformed to fit a sleek runway and was accentuated with neutral tones and elements. This set the backdrop for a striking fashion show where the Salvatore Mann collection, designed exclusively for Acer’s pre-holiday promo was launched.

Acer Philippines tapped Kita Kita actors Alessandra De Rossi and Empoy on a video titled #KasyaPa.  Producing a short film that was visually nostalgic, lighthearted yet somewhat tear-jerking and easily relatable.

#KasyaPa, the video tugs at heartstrings as it shows the struggles a lot of people experience in work, in life, and especially in love.

“We build partnerships with brands and personalities that not only resonate Acer’s aesthetics and appeal, but help enrich and strengthen them as well,” shares Sue Ong-Lim, Acer Philippines’ Sales and Marketing Director. “Empoy and Alessandra, in their most recent film Kita Kita and as seen in #KasyaPa, exhibit relatability and resilience – traits that personify Acer. Meanwhile, Acer laptops and gadgets are sleek and fashionable, yet highly functional – characteristics that define Salvatore Mann bags too.”

The Acer pre-holiday promo will run until October 15, 2017, during which any purchase of Acer laptops and projectors will earn buyers exclusive Salvatore Mann bags. Customers will get a duffel bag or backpack for every purchase of an Acer projector, an Acer Aspire i3-powered laptop or desktop; and both for every purchase of an i5-powered, i7-powered, or all-in-one Acer Aspire laptop or desktop. Additionally, exclusive Salvatore Mann sling bags await SM Advantage, SM Prestige, and BDO Rewards Card Holders. Salvatore Mann is exclusively available in the SM store. 

“Salvatore Mann is deeply honored to be partnering with Acer for its pre-holiday promo,” shares Rina Bugayong, Senior Assistant Vice President for Marketing for SM Shoes and Bags. “Hand in hand, Salvatore Mann and Acer have shown that style and functionality can be achieved; it need not be one or the other.” 

The #KasyaPa video may be found at the Acer Philippines Facebook page at www.facebook.com/AcerPH. 

For more information on the promo, visit: www.acer.com.ph, follow @acerphils on Twitter, and visit the Acer Philippines Facebook page. 

For more information on Salvatore Mann, follow @salvatoremann on Facebook and Instagram.