Mikael Daez live the big adventure with #noregrets

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Mikael Daez was the first Filipino on the Contiki storytelling journey to Costa Rica. His journey serves as an inspiration to the Filipino youth and engage them to experience life through travel.

Contiki provides young travellers with an opportunity to explore different destinations in the company of other youth from different countries. It is, ultimately, a learning experience to be cherished and revisited long after the trip is over.

Mikael Daez, a successful TV host, advertising model, actor, prime time telenovela staple, news anchor and blogger. He has graced advertisements across different media platforms. Daez started his career as a commercial model in product brands in advertisements. Later on, Daez started opening his career into acting and is currently signed unto the GMA Network in the Philippines. Since the day his promising career in showbiz kicked off, he has won multiple awards. But Mikael is not all glitz and glamour. He is a business school graduate of the Ateneo de Manila University.

Mikael serves as one of the national peace ambassadors of the country. Mikael Daez’ life, to sum it in a few words, is one big adventure.

Mikael has an appetite for adventure. An appetite that would make him a celebrated foodie, but more importantly, a traveler with an epic tale to tell.

He finds exploring the world truly fascinating. He believes traveling expands his perspective and forces him to grow in ways that wouldn’t happen within his comfort zone. He pursues his beliefs with a passion, a passion he eagerly shares with others.

A thirst for adventure. An insatiable hunger for sights and sounds outside vicinity of the comfort zone. And a passion to share the experience. Mikael Daez was exactly the man Contiki was looking for.

Contiki Holidays, a world renowned travel company that infuses the elements of sightseeing, socializing, and adventure as integral to its tour packages, has invited 12 storytellers from around the world to travel to Costa Rica as part of their partnership with the Sea Turtle Conservancy (STC).

Mikael Daez representing the Philippines, as one of the 12 incredible storytellers from around the world on Contiki Cares project with the Sea Turtle Conservancy in beautiful Costa Rica 

Mikael’s epic story of conservation, adventure and travelling with absolutely #noregrets — a mantra we live and breathe at Contiki, his storytelling will definitely has the powerful ability to inspire and share his incredible conservation efforts with his many young travellers and followers!

Much like Contiki travellers, sea turtles are known to journey the world, and have wondrously been doing so for over 100 million years. Due to the impact on our oceans and beaches, however, these incredible creatures are struggling to survive. The Sea Turtle Conservancy (STC) performs research that has been instrumental in saving sea turtles from extinction throughout Central America and the Caribbean.

Along with 11 other inspiring storytellers, Mikael Daez traveled halfway across the globe. To the shores of Costa Rica. With absolutely #noregrets. And made it count.

Photos: Mikael Daez

Filipinos love and enjoy WeChat

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Creating relationships through social media to promote the exchange of real ideas, participate in the conversation in an authentic way, connect them with each other. Meet and know more people while having fun through mobile and net connections!

Nurturing connections—that is what being a Filipino is about. From warm hugs to friendly smiles, the genuine hospitality inherent in the Filipino spirit is indisputably unrivaled. The need to connect is deeply wired into our roots and that is something we all take pride in.

Filipinos love WeChat, a mobile social communication app designed for smartphone users.

WeChat empowers users in fun and dynamic ways, by bringing together messaging, social communication and games in one seamless, interactive experience, with comprehensive privacy and security settings that can be tailored as needed.

Creating relationships between users and said brands makes WeChat the only social messaging app that considers it their mission to deepen the relationships of its users to the rest of the local scene.

This is why fastest growing social messaging app WeChat embodies and complements our highly social nature. Given that smart phones are now deeply entrenched into our everyday lives, WeChat, with a wide range of social features including Live Chat, Video Call, Moments, Voice Chat, Group Chat, Shake, Look Around, Friend Radar, and Sticker Shop, integrates ease and convenience into the whole mobile experience making it more enjoyable and worthwhile. But more than an enhanced way of interacting with our peers, WeChat, through partnerships with brands that have become part of the Filipino lifestyle, is now a gateway to everything that Filipinos love and enjoy.

With online shopping brands like ZaloraPH  and Lazada now having their own official WeChat accounts. WeChat offers users exclusive access to updates, sales, and promos—even discounts on best-selling items. What is arguably the next face of mobile shopping. WeChat offers its users access to Zalora’s over 500 top international and local brands of more than 15,000 apparel, shoes, accessories and beauty products, and Lazada’s wide array of mobiles, tablets, consumer electronic and household goods including toys, fashion and sport equipment.

The Official Accounts feature is maximized to its full potential with WeChat now having accounts for personalities that every member of the household can relate to. Everyone from YouTube sensation Mikey Bustos, local comedian Vice Ganda, and tv host Phoemela Barranda, to WeChat brand ambassadors Iya Villania, Drew Arellano, and Laureen Uy have their own official WeChat accounts, connecting users further into the who’s who of Philippine entertainment.

In addition, with FHM now having its Official Account on WeChat, users are able to receive updates and photos of their favorite FHM girls. 

This latest partnership gives them a one-click way to interact with the country’s leading authority on women, men’s fashion, sports, technology, and entertainment.

This makes WeChat the only mobile platform that seamlessly rides to the beat of Filipino lifestyles.

WeChat and FHM: Helping men make the most out of mobile

What turns women on? Is it a keen sense of style? A good head on one’s shoulders? 

Perhaps the perfect blend of charm and wit… 

When it comes to preference, most ladies are into the kind of gentlemen who can talk about something new and interesting. And living in the modern times grants men access to breakthroughs that help them look suave and irresistibly dashing. This is where WeChat comes in. With features that bring socializing to the next level, WeChat helps the modern male adapt to the latest trends while giving a platform that makes mobile conversations both easy and fun.

With things going mobile, keeping women interested is now just a swipe away. Impress your woman with a sticker or two or show her the many features that make WeChat the fastest growing social mobile app in the country. Instead of just sending a plain text, use WeChat’s Video Call feature and flash a winning smile. WeChat also has Moments, a feature that lets people share updates on what’s new, what’s hip, and what’s going on in their lives.

For networking purposes, WeChat’s Friend Radar gives an easy one-swipe access to knowing who of the ladies around your area is up for a lovely chat. Speaking of chats, WeChat also has a Group Chat feature that lets people converse with their peers through mobile means. With these tools at hand, any modern male is sure to catch the fancy of a fine female specimen.

If you’re still puzzled with how the female mind works, what better way is there to learn than by consulting the number one men’s magazine in the country, FHM. WeChat sees FHM as the perfect partner for providing Filipinos with exclusive access to female views, along with other topics including movies, gadgets, music, health, and most importantly, the nitty-gritty of sex and the art of passionate lovemaking. With FHM having its official account on WeChat, users can now get updates and photos of their favorite FHM girls. 

WeChat is also the platform chosen for helping guys pick the best out of the sexy contenders of FHM’s newest feature, the brand walk off to be launched in the same date as its 100 Sexiest Women list. The brand walk off is where stunning hotties from brands like Tanduay, Petron, Rogin-E, RRJ, KojieSan, Exped Socks and Hero Poker vie for the title of the sexiest and most tempting woman to ever represent a sponsor.

Follow these steps to cast your vote:

Click on the Contacts menu from the main menu bar on the lower part of the UI	Go to the Subscription Accounts tab, which can be seen as the fourth item from the top.	Click on the + sign which can be seen on the upper right hand of the UI.
You will be directed to a list of recommended Official Accounts, where you will see FHM Philippines' Official Account: FHM_PH as the second item.	Click on the Follow button	Go back to the subscription page menu and you will see the circular icon of FHM's logo and click on the logo to proceed.
There will be a Vote Now! tab on the menu bar on the lower part of the screen.	Click on the tab and it would direct you to the voting page with the question "Which brand swept you off your feet over and over again? Send in your vote and you might just win an iPad!"

Please note that each voter can only cast one vote and choose only one answer.

With WeChat and FHM, more and more clueless males are sure to be given light on what’s inside a tricky woman’s mind.

WeChat is available free for download on Android, BlackBerry, iOS, Symbian and Windows operating system. 

Learn more about WeChat and download the app at www.wechat.com

WeChat Philippines Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/WeChatPH

Visit Enjoying Wonderful World  for more photos on WeChat media launch and WeChat-FHM Partnership, July 1, 2014 held at Craft Pub & Grill, Bonifacio Global City, Taguig. 

McJim Classic Leather proclaims three-way tie as the grand champions in talent search

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McJim Classic Leather proclaims three winners - JBK, Fifth Dynamics and Neo Domingo. The three aspiring musical acts were declared grand champions in the maiden edition of “Dreams Get Real: The Search for the Next OPM Star”  held on tonight (June 30) at Teatrino in Promenade, Greenhills.

Shining on stage with their unique performances and proving that they could be the next big thing in Original Pilipino Music (OPM) were band Fifth Dynamics, vocal trio JBK and solo performer Neo Domingo.

Fifth Dynamics

JBK

Neo Domingo

“The three-way tie was indeed unexpected. Since each of the Top 3 finalists—JBK, Fifth Dynamics, and Neo Domingo—brought something different to the table image and talent-wise, we decided to give our all-out support instead to them by announcing all of them grand champions,” McJim says in an official statement.

“Their undeniable potential, sense of originality, and the strong public acceptance of their singles in key areas nationwide made them all worthy of being called the future of the Filipino music industry,” the statement adds. 

As grand champions, JBK, Fifth Dynamics and Neo Domingo received cash prizes and gift packs from McJim Classic Leather, a recording and management contract, and a grant to film and release the music videos of their winning singles.

Meanwhile, JBK’s “Anong Meron Ka” composed by Urie Tesorio was handpicked by special judge, Jim Paredes of the iconic APO Hiking Society, for the “Critic’s Choice” trophy. Paredes described the song as “the most catchy, nice, easy to like and remember” among the six singles recorded by the finalists. “It’s a great song actually,” he says.

Another composition of Tesorio coveted the “DJ’s Choice” trophy. Domingo’s danceable single “Pagbigyan Mo Na” was voted by selected radio jocks across the archipelago as their personal favorite. 

Being declared as the next OPM stars was nothing short of life-changing for the three winners.

Mark Cordovales, vocalist of Fifth Dynamics, who performed “Anyare” written by Cordovales and Angelo Katigbak with the help of poet and public relations expect Chris Cahilig, says that ”Dreams Get Real” has given them the chance to a connect to a much wider audience. “Dati, sa bars lang kami nagpe-perform, ngayon nasa radyo na, naririnig na namin yung sarili naming kanta,” he says. The rest of the band is composed of John Peterson Leyva (rhythm guitar), Eljon Nono (lead guitar), Daryl Jay Santos (bass guitar) and Aldrin Condat (drums).

The boy band JBK, composed of Joshua Bulot, Bryan del Rosario and Kim Ordonio, was thankful that ”Dreams Get Real” provided them the avenue to showcase their talent. 

“The experience has been exciting,” says del Rosario. “We are very much thankful to McJim for this awesome opportunity of being out our sense of originality as artists.”

As for the solo performer, Domingo, the search has made him connect to his OPM roots. “Yung mga taong narinig na nila ako before, ibang areglo, ibang tunog ang mapapansin nila,” he says. “Actually, yung totoong Neo ang makikita nila.” 

“We’re happy and proud that McJim has provided the winners and the finalists the head-way to be successful in the music scene,” says Cahilig, who acts as the project head of the competition. “The listeners, composed of people from all classes and ages, are already hooked with the fresh-sounding, catchy tunes. We are confident that the performers McJim has discovered will become household names in no time.” 

A proud Filipino company, top-quality leather manufacturer McJim has always been an advocate of world-class and original Filipino talent. In the past, the brand has engaged iconic OPM acts Jose Mari Chan and Randy Santiago as its brand endorsers.

The Top 3, along with the other McJim Dreamers Archetype, CK Arca and Dream of Pearl already had a taste of being recording artists by working with music experts, such as the respected arranger Jonathan Ong of Sonic State Studio for the Dreams Get Real: The Compilation Album, which features original compositions they performed during the search. Joining them are 1:43, which has just launched their newest album Kalye Pop featuring the monster hit “Hayop sa Ganda,” with the song “Pwede Bang Malaman” and Urie’s Attack with the piece “Mensahe.”

Archetype

CK Arca

Dream Of Pearl

In the run-up for the grand finals, the Top 6 attended their very first press conference, made radio and TV appearances and were featured in MTV Pinoy.

The songs are currently gaining massive airplay in radio stations across the country and being used in TV shows such as iJuander (GMA News TV), Maynila (GMA 7) and Letters and Music (Net 25).

The Philippine's newest travel lifestyle destination home to the Tune Hotel Aseana City

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Here's one of the country’s newest and most impressive lifestyle and travel destinations! 

Ms. Angeli Umali, Hotel Manager together with her Tune Hotel Aseana Guest Services staff

The Philippines largest internationally owned and operated hotel brand – Tune Hotels – has continued its impressive expansion in the country with the opening of the 200-room Tune Hotel Aseana City.

Located in the center of the Aseana City in Paranaque, the property is the ninth Tune Hotels to open in the Philippines in the last two years after Angeles City, Ermita, Makati, Cebu, Davao, Cagayan De Oro, Quezon City and Ortigas.

Tune Hotel Aseana City is owned and operated by Red Planet Hotels and they have a long-term lease agreement for the site with D.M Wenceslao & Associates, Inc. The company’s Chairman, Delfin J. Wenceslao, Jr. was present with Red Planet Hotels Founder and Senior Vice President for Acquisitions, Ken Kerr, to officially open the hotel.

Mr. Wenceslao said the Tune Hotel Aseana City was a welcome addition to the expanding precinct of Manila that will contribute to fulfilling Aseana City’s “work-life balance” mantra.

The hotel is perfectly located for both business travellers and leisure travellers to the area and Sahlee Zaldivia, who is the Country Head for the hotel’s owner – Red Planet Hotels, said this Tune Hotel (www.tunehotels.com) in a newly-developed precinct of Manila, will further strengthen the company’s confidence and commitment to the country’s tourism industry. 

“The Aseana City precinct continues to grow and is fast becoming one of the country’s newest and most impressive lifestyle and travel destinations, the perfect location for the Philippines’ latest Tune Hotel and our ninth overall in the country,” Ms. Zaldivia said.

Tune Aseana First Guest Mr. June Mare Ligan is welcomed by Ms. Sahlee Zaldivia, Country Head of Red Planet Hotels Philippines.

“By the end of 2014, we will have a total of 1,720 rooms with ten hotels in the Philippines, cementing our position as the largest internationally owned and operated hotel brand in the country.” 

(L-R) Mr. Benjamin Martinez, Director of Sales and Marketing, Mr. June Mare Ligan, Angeli Umali, Hotel Manager – Tune Hotel Aseana City, Ms. Sahlee Zaldivia, Country Head, and Ms. Rocemar Ballada, Senior Sales and Marketing Manager.

“Not only are we growing in numbers, but we have received a great deal of acceptance among the travelling public for the value for money that we provide.”

The next Tune Hotel to open will be the 189-room Tune Hotel Ayala Avenue in November 2014. 

The expansion will allow the company to take advantage of the 24% growth in tourist arrivals projected by the Department of Tourism for 2014. 

“We are fully committed to helping expand, and grow with, the international and domestic travel industries in the Philippines,” Ms Zaldivia said.

Red Planet Hotels Chief Executive Officer, Tim Hansing said even more sites are being sought to build new hotels in the Philippines.

“We see the Philippines as the perfect platform to drive the South-East Asian expansion of Tune Hotels because of the country’s acceptance and embracing of new and inspiring brands that enable travel to the wider population,” Mr Hansing said. 

“Our performance since opening our first hotel in Cebu and Angeles City in February 2012 has given us a great deal of confidence to expand further and we have already identified more new sites for hotels to that end.”

Since its establishment in Malaysia in 2007, Tune Hotels has 42 operating hotels worldwide in the Philippines (9), Malaysia (12), Indonesia (9), Thailand (4), England (4), India (1), Japan (1), Scotland (1) and Australia (1). 

Tune Hotels feature space-efficient, streamlined rooms focusing on high-quality basics: five-star beds, powerful hot showers and high-speed wifi. All hotels also provide housekeeping services, electronic keycard access into rooms, extensive CCTV systems, and no access into the main lobby without a keycard past midnight. 

Tune Hotels is a sister company of Air Asia Airlines.

For more information visit the website: www.tunehotels.com

About Red Planet Hotels Limited

Red Planet Hotels Limited was formed in 2010 and is a privately owned regional hotel investment company focused on Asian markets by developing a portfolio of hotels in the Philippines, Japan, South Korea, Indonesia and Thailand.

Red Planet Hotels Limited owns the hotels it operates and they are all managed under a franchise agreement with Tune Hotels. Red Planet Hotels Limited was formed with a vision to capture the growth in the worldwide value hotel market, supported by the growth in budget airlines and the robust economies of the ASEAN region, Japan and South Korea.

Red Planet Hotels Limited now has an ownership interest in 36 Tune Hotels either in operation or under development.

About Tune Hotels

Tune Hotels is part of the lifestyle business conglomerate Tune Group that was founded by Tan Sri Tony Fernandes and Dato’ Kamarudin Meranun.

Since launch, Tune Hotels has welcomed more than seven million guests in its properties throughout Asia, Australia, India and the United Kingdom.

Global brand Midea showcases products that make life simpler

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World’s largest consumer appliance producer launches line of products for the busy homemaker.

Homemakers now have to look forward to at home, something that make life simpler - Global brand Midea’s Consumer Appliances line.

The international appliance producer launches this innovative collection with the aim of ultimately changing the face of household chores by making every busy homemaker’s life easier.

Midea has consistently strived to make the lives of its consumers easier with their line of innovative products. Midea Global partnered with Concepcion Industrial Corporation to bring the brand closer to Filipinos.

Mr. Philip Trapaga, General Manager of Concepcion-Midea Inc. Philippines says that “nowadays, multitasking is a trait that seems to be innate in every Filipina. Gone are the days when women merely have their household to manage. Now, they also have to juggle their responsibilities at home while still tending to their careers.”

This great shift is something the global brand hopes to give solution to. Women at present are breaking away from their traditional roles and together with this come more things for them to manage.

This is supported by the current upward trend observed in the 2013 worldwide Women’s Advancement Index study that ranked the Philippines third in the Asia Pacific region in terms of women’s participation in the workforce.

This figure supports the continuous display of independence among women in the country, whether it comes to their career or simply their life. 

The Midea One Touch Washing Machine

“Time is something very important for active homemakers. Being hands-on with their decisions for their household can be a challenge especially with their busy schedules and other responsibilities. This, however, is definitely possible with the right appliances,” says Mr. Trapaga.

Midea’s One Touch Washing machine is engineered to make the lives of us Filipinos better, adds Mr. Trapaga. He continues, “From its one-touch feature that enables you to wash, rinse, and dry with just a touch of a button to its smart sensors which detects the weight of the laundry you’ve put and automatically fills in the right amount of water, these features are all geared towards making the laundry chore easier and simpler.”

One of the highlights of this washing machine is its Quick Wash function that lets users clean a drum full of clothes in as fast as 19 minutes. Among its most attractive features, however, is the piso wash, a perfect element for all the budget-conscious. The model boasts of energy efficiency, as one wash cycle is equal to only one peso in electrical consumption.

For Fresh and healthy food

The Midea Party Refrigerator

“We call our Midea French door model our “Party” Refrigerator as it is built to store a huge amount of food and drinks fit to throw a big party. We Filipinos love to celebrate and entertain in our homes and the Midea Party Ref is the right product for their needs,” says Mr. Trapaga. 

Midea’s Party Refrigerator comes with a wide range of innovative features. With wide interiors, adjustable shelves, and efficient French doors, this model can store up to 20 baskets full of groceries.

The refrigerator system also boasts a “Keep Fresh technology” that maintains the optimum level of humidity to maintain food freshness for longer periods of time. It also irradiates natural light to enhance the nutritional value of food and uses UV light to break down pesticides commonly found in fruits and vegetables.

Similar to the One Touch Washing Machine, the Party Refrigerator fuses high-quality with affordability and energy savings. It is designed with a cutting-edge Turbo Inverter Compressor that enables users to reach desired temperatures without need for costly warm-up times.

Merging quality with affordability

Raul Joseph “Jojo” Concepcion, Chief Executive Officer of Concepcion Industrial Corporation (CIC) and Chairman of Concepcion Midea Inc. Philippines (CMIP) believes that Midea’s new line has all the qualities that can make the lives of consumers simpler. For him, however, a product’s quality goes beyond a solid set of features.

 

Concepcion describes, “We want to bring innovation to a new level of easy. And Midea already has this in their product portfolio. For CIC’s part, we simply want to reinforce their product line with strong aftermarket support and rich local experience.”

“Picking the right appliances goes a long way in building a home. With the help of Midea’s products, our busy homemakers can focus on the things that matter the most to them—be it fulfilling the promise of their careers or spending more time with their families,” finishes Trapaga.

For more information on Midea, please call +632-850-9888 or visit midea.com.