Travel entrepreneur is set to complete all seven continents with young daughter

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To travel the world is but a fantasy for many, but RJ and his daughter are living the dream. Yet for RJ, while traveling to exotic destinations is certainly a thrill, it’s the moments spent with Lizzie that make the trips worthwhile.

12-year-old Lizzie often flies on her own to meet her dad RJ

Travel entrepreneur RJ Samson and his 12-year-old daughter Lizzie’s travel story is a unique one. The US-based Lizzie, who lives with her mom, began traveling alone at the tender age of eight to the Philippines, and has already been to six continents by the age of 12.

Before Lizzie turns 13, the father and daughter tandem will make a trip to Australia to complete the seven continents, followed by a cruise to the Antarctic.

“Lizzie and I are definitely excited about this trip. We’ve had such a wonderful time traveling around the world, just the two of us, and we can’t wait for our next adventure,” says RJ, who runs a travel company called iTraveler Asia.

While RJ and Lizzie’s father-daughter bonding is far from ordinary, they have a routine for each trip. “Since Lizzie is based in the United States, we’d meet up at the airport of our destination and take it from there,” explains RJ.The pair doesn’t believe in setting itineraries without getting a feel of the place first, so they do the planning when they get to their destination.

RJ shares that Lizzie likes to explore new places and if it’s the first time they’re visiting, they first check out the landmarks and find new experiences along the way.

“Most of the time, we try to find kid-friendly spots,” he says.

Having been to Asia, Europe, the Middle East, North America, South America and Africa, Lizzie has her favorites. 
“I like Singapore because there are a lot of places to go and do there while South Africa is another favorite because of the wildlife.” RJ adds, “Lizzie has also taken a liking to Michelin star restaurants which we make sure that we visit on each trip.”

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

“I always tell her that she’s lucky because I wasn’t able to travel as a child,” says RJ, who is proud that his daughter’s first travel experience was to the Philippines. 

“Traveling alone has made her independent and it has built a special relationship for us even if we don’t see each other on a regular basis. Traveling brings us together, and that is priceless.”

Pesos and Sense: Investments Made Easy For You

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Bringing Financial Literacy to the Filipino People

PESOS AND SENSE is a financial literacy program that covers a wide range of personal finance and investment topics that typically intimidates the average Filipino: the stock market, mutual funds, insurance, budgeting and debt management etc.  Its goal is to empower Filipinos by teaching simple and practical knowledge in making independent and wise choices in handling their money.

PESOS AND SENSE started as a TV show in September 2011 on GMA News TV which ran for 13 episodes. It was a weekly Sunday morning show that tackled personal finance and investments, simplifying it to a more approachable and doable sense.  The show was hosted by Investment Advocate Mr. Aya Laraya, who is also a Certified Securities representative, a Certified Investment Company representative, a realtor and a writer with an MBA from University of Western Australia. He started his stint in the stock market as a simple runner for the old Philippine Stock Exchange. On top of being a licensed stockbroker, he gained relevant experience from other industries such as mutual funds, real estate and banking. He also shared his financial wisdom with the youth as a professor at the Ateneo de Manila University.

After its first season as a TV show, PESOS AND SENSE launched a seminar series which started April this year. The schedule of the seminars is posted on their website, Twitter and Facebook page.  It is also has a very active online community that provides helpful information and even inspiration to its loyal followers.

It will have its next seminar on October 20, 2012 entitled Make Your Money Grow (Module 1), 9am-12nn / 1:30pm-4:30pm; 

October 27, 2012 for the Time Value of Money (Module 2), 1:30pm-4:30pm at Philippine Social Science Center (PSSC) Auditorium in  PSSC Bldg, Commonwealth, Diliman, Quezon City (in between Iglesia ni Cristo Central Temple and UP-Ayala TechnoHub). For tickets and reservations, please call TicketWorld at 891-9999. Register now to avail the early bird rate. For other inquiries, you may call 430-2237 or email seminars@pesosandsense.com.  You may also check our Facebook at fb.com/pesosandsensetv.

and www.pesosandsense.com.

“Ruby Sparks”

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Not your conventional boy-meets-girl  romantic story,  “Ruby Sparks” leads us to Calvin Weir-Fields, (played by Paul Dano who also appeared in “Little Miss Sunshine,” “There Will Be Blood” a literary wunderkind with an acclaimed first novel.  But since then, he’s been stricken with a stubborn case of writer’s block magnified by a dismal love life. In a last-ditch attempt to reignite his creative spark, Calvin begins to envision a female protagonist in his mind.  Then one morning she steps off the page and into his life. Suddenly, Ruby (portrayed by Zoe Kazan who is also the film’s writer) is sleeping in Calvin’s bed, cooking in his kitchen, beguiling him in every way, with one mind-boggling twist: he somehow has the power to change her every time he sits at his typewriter. As Calvin tries to juggle this power, he faces a major dilemma as a writer and a boyfriend: what will it take to make this relationship from his imagination work in the real world ?

It seems fitting that “Ruby Sparks,” a romantic fable about how two people weave a love story in and out of reality, was brought to life by a married pair of directors (Dayton & Faris) working with two actors who are also a devoted couple (Dano and Kazan). 

A sharp, modern take on the Pygmalion myth, “Ruby Sparks” is the story of a novelist’s vision who inexplicably comes to life, only to prove far more complicated than even he could have imagined.  With a light touch and a dash of magical realism, the first screenplay from actress and playwright Zoe Kazan attracted the attention of Jonathan Dayton & Valerie Faris, the married team who directed the run-away hit “Little Miss Sunshine.”  The film takes an unpredictable route into fantasy, identity and the ways we invent love – and how love can re-invent us. 

The duo decided to approach the story not as a sci-fi fantasy, but as something that is currently happening in the everyday world, no matter how bizarre it might seem to Calvin.   “Even though the story is built around a fictional premise, it illuminates so many truths about relationships.  We felt it was essential for the scenes to feel real and honest,” explains Dayton.

On the premise’s conception, Kazan shared that “I started wondering what might happen if a writer had a character come to life who could give him exactly what he thought he wanted romantically.  How do you love the person you’re with completely without saying ‘I don’t want this part or that part?’  How do you make room in a relationship for two separate people? But things get very complicated because when you really love someone you have to love all of the person, not just the parts you’ve idealized.” 

As Kazan wrote, she began sharing her work with her boyfriend, Paul Dano, the actor, and though she had not set out to write something for the two of them, they couldn’t help but envision one another in the lead roles.   “I think I was always subconsciously writing Calvin for Paul,” she muses. “But the weirdest thing is that I was writing a character who is writing my character!  There was something very meta going on.”

Kazan wasn’t so interested in the science fiction aspect of how a writer’s fantasy character might come to life – she was more intrigued by what would come next.  How would a fictional creation fare in the midst of the messiness of real life, especially when the man writing her isn’t sure of exactly what he wants?  There has been a long literary tradition of riffing on the man-made object made human:  Shakespeare with Queen Hermione in “A Winter’s Tale,” George Bernard Shaw with Eliza Doolittle in “Pygmalion,” and Mary Shelley gave it another take with her “Frankenstein” myth.  Kazan wanted to come at the concept from a literary perspective, exploring a writer who pens the lover he thinks he wants in his heart . . . but who makes him so nervous in the flesh, he is tempted to keep changing her. 

“The story leaves some questions open for discussion,” concludes Faris, “we hope that people will leave the theater with something to talk about.”  

“Despite this movie’s high-concept premise, we think audiences will identify with Calvin’s predicament.”  Kazan chimes in, “I am so proud of the movie we made.  After such a happy collaboration, we are really excited to share the film with an audience, hear their reactions, start that conversation.”

“Ruby Sparks” opens September 19 in cinemas from 20^th Century Fox to be distributed by Warner Bros.

Gloc-9 Launched His First Universal Records Album "MKNM: Mga Kwento Ng Makata"

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Philippine premier rapper Gloc-9 is hereby once again invading the Philippine rap music industry with his newly released album "MKNM: Mga Kwento Ng Makata."

MKNM is Gloc-9's first album with Universal Records.  Gloc-9 colaborated with other OPM artists like Billy Crawford, Jay Durias, Ebe Dancel, Bamboo Manalac, Chito Miranda and his Protege Denise Barbacena.

"This album contains various stories from people from all walks of life,” Gloc-9 said.  He is super proud of the album's single "Sirena," which talks about the story of a responsible gay man. “I think this is the first time that a song about a gay man is presented in a first person’s point of view,” explains Gloc-9.

“I worked hard on this song to make sure it doesn’t offend anyone.”

The song also features Ebe Dancel. Seeing this music video of "Sirena", it also boasts of Boy Abunda's participation.

Gloc-9  shared us that "MKNM: Mga Kwento Ng Makata" marks a new chapter in his career as this is his first release under Universal Records, where he joins its elite roster of artists like Jose Mari Chan, Gary Valenciano, Ogie Alcasid, Regine Velasquez, Parokya Ni Edgar, Christian Bautista, Kamikazee, Sponge Cola, Callalily, Sam Concepcion, among others.

"I am very thankful that Universal welcomed me into their stable," concludes Gloc-9. 

"I am looking forward to doing more projects with my new label."

GLOC-9 feat. Ebe Dancel "Sirena" Music Video

Gloc-9’s MKNM: Mga Kuwento ng Makata tracklist:

1."Balak ni Syke (Syke's Plan)" 

2."Apatnapungbara" (featuring Ian Tayao)

3."Silup (Semordnilap of the Tagalog word Pulis which means "Police")" (featuring Denise Barbacena)

4."Alalay Ng Hari (King's Assistant)" (featuring G-Dawg a.k.a. Gordon Lambatan)

5.“Sirena (Mermaid)" (featuring Ebe Dancel)

6."Hindi Mo Nadinig" (featuring Jay Durias)

7."Sino (Who)" 

8."Salarin (Malefactor)" (featuring Bamboo Mañalac)

9."Inday (Pinoy slang for maid)" (featuring Cathy Go)

10."Bakit Hindi (Why Not)" (featuring Billy Crawford)

11."Malakas (Strong)" 

12."Pison (Steamroller)" (featuring Chito Miranda)

13."Thankful" (featuring Maychelle Baay of Moonstar88 and Bambu)

14."Hari ng Tondo (King of Tondo)" (featuring Denise Barbacena)

15."Kung Tama Siya (If He Is Right)" (featuring Jaq Dionisio of Kissjane)

Download Gloc-9 “MKNM” full album at:

Itunes: http://itunes.apple.com/us/album/mknm-mga-kuwento-ng-makata/id552298332

MyMusicStore: http://www.mymusicstore.com.ph/album/gloc-9/1029959/Mga-Kuwento-Ng-Makata-MKNM

FOLLOW GLOC-9 on:
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/glocdash9
Twitter: https://twitter.com/glocdash9
Instagram: glocdash9
Website: http://glocdash9.com/

FOLLOW UNIVERSAL RECORDS:
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/universalrecordsphfanpage
Twitter: https://twitter.com/universalrecph
YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/UniversalRecPH
Instagram: universalrecordsphilippines

Nido Fortified Science Discovery Excitement and Giant Cartoon Fun

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Nido Fortified Science discovery Center always allow visitors to be immersed in an interactive learning experience. It utilizes state-of-the-art equipment using the latest in engineering, computers and digital technology to make learning more fun and exciting!

Ben Tennyson goes from zero to hero through the Omnitrix, an alien weapon that grants him the ability to transform into ten different aliens, hence the name Ben 10.

A hit among kids all over the world, Ben 10 is a television show that explores the adventures of a kid who fights evil and accomplishes impossible feats, through the power of advanced alien technology.

Also believing in the power of technology, specifically in the magic of science, is the NIDO FORTIFIED Science Discovery Center — an attraction that featuring hands-on exhibits that present kids with a one-of-a-kind educational immersion that’s fun, entertaining, and highly interactive. 

“The Science of Cartoons’ truly embodies what the Nido Fortified Science Discovery Center is about – allowing kids to learn by getting them involved in the experience, in the medium they enjoy the most. With the help of Cartoon Network, we were able to achieve the very essence of fun and learning. We can’t wait to open The Science of Cartoons to the public” shares Mr. Arturo Carballo, Senior Operations Manager of NIDO Fortified Science Discovery Center.

Packed with plenty of activities for children to enjoy, The Science of Cartoons serves as a treat for families, and offers a great way to have fun while putting their creative skills to work. Kids can play with their imagination in a giant cartoon-making activity that involves building the Giant Ben 10 and other Cartoon Network favorites.

Capping this event is a parade led by the SM Marching Band - featuring today’s well-loved characters: Ben Tennyson from Ben 10, Gumball and Darwin from The Amazing World of Gumball, Finn and Jake from Adventure Time, and Oggy from Oggy and the Cockroaches.  

The kids are surely in for a surprise, as the NIDO FORTIFIED Science Discovery Center gives them an exclusive sneak peek to the center’s newest galleries, offering a never-before seen treat. 

Boasting of eleven new galleries updated with fresh new material kids are sure to love, The Nido Fortified Science Discovery Center brings a brand new world of interactive fun and excitement. 

With over a thousand interaction points, each gallery can keep 800 hands, eyes, and senses busy with various touch, mechanical, and visual exhibits. The center’s new facilities are designed to keep a high level of engagement at all times, giving children a unique way of learning while having fun at play.

This is the replica of Lolong,  the world’s largest saltwater crocodile captured last year in the Philippines, the largest in captivity and now in the Guinness World Records.

“A perfect bonding opportunity for every family, The Nido Fortified Science Discovery Center is the place to learn, play, and emotionally grow together,” shares Mr. Carballo. 

“We hope to instill in children the love for learning at such a young age, helping them realize how unique and interesting the world of science is.”

The NIDO FORTIFIED Science Discovery Center is located at the Ground Floor of the Southside Entertainment Mall at the SM Mall of Asia. 

For more information, you may visit The NIDO FORTIFIED Science Discovery Center website, www.sciencediscovery.ph, and our Facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/NFSDC, 

or you may call (02) 556-0331 or (02) 556-2153.

and check out more pictures at Enjoying Wonderful World Facebook Fanpage.