Latest promo from Singapore Airlines : Exceptional Value for Business Class Seats to Singapore, Maldives and Europe

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Singapore Airlines is offering Exceptional Value for Business Class Seats to Singapore, Maldives and Europe  at an exceptional all-inclusive rate starting from USD 900. The promotion is only valid until the 31st of October, while travel period is until the 31st of December 2014.

The world’s most awarded airline, Singapore Airlines, is offering the world’s best business class experience to travelers at an exceptional all-in rate starting from USD 900. The all-in fares include business class roundtrip airfare, taxes and surcharges except Philippine travel tax, as well as access to the SilverKris Lounge.  

Customers can choose from nine destinations including Singapore, Maldives, London, Barcelona, Frankfurt, Milan, Moscow, Paris and Rome.

For only USD 900 all-in, customers can travel to the Lion City to enjoy Singapore’s stunning city scenes and modern landscapes. Customers flying to the Maldives can also take delight in the island-nation’s pristine beaches for only USD 2,000 all-in. Flights to London are also available for only USD 3,500 all-in for travelers looking into visiting the diverse and exciting European city. Other European destinations are also available for only USD 3,800 all-in, allowing travelers to visit cities such as Barcelona, Frankfurt, Milan, Moscow, Paris or Rome.

Customers flying Singapore Airlines’ Business Class are treated an indulgent variety of in-flight amenities, which include contemporary seats providing passengers a more spacious and comfortable environment. Passengers can also enjoy a unique epicurean experience with meals specially crafted by the world’s most sought-after culinary masters from Singapore Airlines’ International Culinary Panel, and may utilize the airlines’ pioneering Book the Cook service, which enables travelers to pre-order gourmet dishes to be served during the flight. 

All Business Class seats are also equipped with KrisWorld, Singapore Airlines’ world-class in-flight entertainment system which features the latest movies, a wide selection of music as well as entertaining games. All seats feature all-in-one business panels with charging ports for passengers working in-between flights. Flying via Business Class also includes a baggage allowance of 40kg and will also earn customers KrisFlyer miles which can be used to redeem air tickets, with an option to mix cash and miles. 

When in transit in Singapore, Singapore Airlines passengers are entitled to a complimentary SGD20 Changi Dollar Voucher which can be used at participating shops, restaurants and lounges at Singapore Changi Airport. Passengers with at least five hours of transit in Singapore can also register for complimentary city tours that showcase the city’s prominent tourist landmarks. 

Passengers can avail of the city tours by approaching the Free Singapore Tours (FST) Registration Booth located in Terminals 2 and 3 of the Changi International Airport. 

Be among the first to receive the latest promotions from Singapore Airlines.

Sign up as a KrisFlyer member at www.krisflyer.com. 

For bookings, visit www.singaporeair.com, or download the SQ Mobile App. 

You may call the Reservations Office at 756-8888, or contact your travel agent.

The promotion is valid for purchase until 31 October 2014, while travel period is until 31 December 2014.

Valen Valero: When “Electric Dreams” Become Reality

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By Cid Reyes

“Since I had worked in factories and made parts of automobiles and had worked on telephone lines, I saw a chance to make a sculpture in a tradition I was already rooted in.” Those words were said by the American sculptor David Smith (1906-1965), who was a pioneer in abstract and geometric sculpture, inspired by the works of Picasso and Julio Gonzalez, who became progenitors of the so-called assemblage, or sculpture made from various unrelated materials.

The idea of working in a tradition in which an artist is alred “rooted in” comes to mind with the 7th solo show of Valen Valero, now on view at Renaissance Art Gallery. One might say that the scumptural roots of Valero grew in the fertile soil of the family business. The Valeros are engaged in electricity distribution, managing the La Union Electric Company, which serves the threr towns of La Union, San Juan, and Bauang. The young artist thus grew up with an encompassing awareness of the presence and value of electricity.

Not surprising then that this show should be titled, and appropriately so, “Electric Dreams.” Valero presents free-standing and wall sculptures, paintings, and chairs, which are all imbued with an imagination fired as it were by the concept of electricity. Making its striking appearance and presence is the ubiquitous electric meter, or what we call “contador.” A recording instrument of the electricity consumed, it transcends its functional role and assumes guises that lend unexpected surrealist tones. Like a previously palpitating heart, it now lies, or hangs, inert within the jazzy and jangly sculptural configurations of Valero.

The free-standing works, “The Thinker” and “Electro Chemistry” are, to my mind, stand-outs. With the sculptor’s playful but logistical engagement with her materials, the viewer immediately senses the empathy generated by the works’ references. “The Thinker” is, as must be known to is an homage to the famous bronze work of the French sculptor Rodin, A skulking over-life size figure of a naked man, deep in thought, it was originally conceived as part of Rodin’s “Gates of Hell,” a sculptural narrative of Dante’s Inferno. In Valero’s own rendition of the subject, she assembles various fragments of industrial materials, steely and metallic grids and lattices and spangled wires, locked together, emblematic of a human figure. The use of such materials – which one American sculptor graphically described as “defeated” – derives from the practice of the art movement known as “arte povera” or impoverished art. A more dignified term that has been used is “non-privileged” materials such as wood, paper, rags and stones. Again, like her subject, Valero has done her own serious thinking how best to animate her materials. In a witty gesture, she has seen fit to append a shelf for coffeetable books, essential food for thought for “The Thinker.”

The sculpture “Electro Chemistry”, on the other hand, suggests an ironing board, with sly overtones of electric consumption generated by the presence of an electric meter. It conveys an authentic sense of domesticity, itself a theme loaded with controversial implications. Painted in sleek black, red, and white, the electric meter this time looms less like a heart than a cranium or skull, the brain recording and registering dark, diurnal activities.

Wall sculptures or reliefs, such as “Voltage,” “Magnetic Flux,” and “Electric Dreams” employ the collage technique, whether of planes of wood or layers of metal grids. The result is always an equilibrium of tension and repose, balance and asymmetry, with enough improvisatory panache as to constitute a well-integrated piece.

By her own admission, Valero has always been fascinated by chairs. As an object, it is of enduring interest. As such, it would serve us well to assess this piece of furniture so common as to elude its significance. In the book on the subject, authored by Judith Miller, we read: “In Western culture the definition of a chair is a seat with a back designed for a single person. This differentiates it from a stool, which is backless, and also from benches, settees and other forms of elongated seating intended to support more than one individual. Chairs are invariably raised above the ground, usually but not always on legs, and are also movable.” In this show, Valero creates both chairs and stool, uniquely invested with her flowing “appliques” consisting of fabric inscribed with the strangely intriguing conflation of a multitude of congested alphabets and numbers, intentionally unreadable and blending into a blur. 

Interestingly, the Miller book carries a foreword by the famed designer Terence Conran, which is precisely addressed to designers like Valero: “Chairs are not just for sitting on, and many are diabolically uncomfortable because their designers have ignored the basic principles of ergonomics. To me this is unintelligent design. A lot of chairs have become indoor sculpture, and in many cases the architects who have designed them have promoted their brand through the design of their chairs – for example, Corbusier, Saarinen, Eames, Alvar Aalto, Gio Ponti, Arne Jacobsen, Marcel Breuer and Mies van der Rohe. Sometimes I think that you are unlikely to be a successful architect or designer unless you have designed a classic chair.” The public is now invited to judge if Valero has created her own classic chair. Please take your seat.

Valero is what one may call “an accidental artist.” Though she has always painted as a hobby, her first interest was the culinary arts. She graduated with a degree in Food Technology at the O.B. Montessori College. But by a “brushstroke” of luck, a friend once saw her paintings, liked them, and was able to sell them. She took active part in joining many group exhibitions. In 2012, she even took up art studies at the famed Art Students League in New York.

On this her 7th solo show, Valen Valero’s “electric dreams” have become a reality.

Catch the nostalgic “Palibhasa Lalake” craze on the ultimate throwback channel, Jeepney TV

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"Palibhasa Lalake", one of the most memorable sitcoms in the history of Philippine television is set to make a comeback this October 20 on Jeepney TV, the ultimate throwback channel.

The comedy sitcom in 1987 with the original cast composed of Richard Gomez, Joey Marquez, John Estrada, Gloria Romero, Cynthia Patag, Amy Perez, Carmina Villaroel, Anjo Yllana, with the Gwapings - Eric Fructuoso, Mark Anthony Fernandez and Jomari Yllana and Jao Mapa, also Claudine Barretto, Rica Peralejo, G. Toengi, Regine Tolentino, Lindsay Custodio, and many more.

"Palibhasa Lalake" reunion during the press conference held at the Dencio's City, Eastwood. 

“Palibhasa Lalake” will be returning to Jeepney TV and will air from Mondays through Fridays, bringing a daily dose of nostalgia.

Catch the show’s memorable characters once again, as Jeepney TV is going all out in bringing the “Palibhasa Lalake” craze back this October. Aside from the sitcom airing on weekdays at 8:00pm with replays at 11:00pm and 5:45am, the week’s five consecutive episodes will also have a marathon run on Saturdays at 4:00pm beginning October 25.

Here's the Palibhasa Lalake Basaan Reunion held at the Eastwood Central Plaza, Libis, Quezon City.

Jeepney TV  throwing a special “Palibhasa Lalake Basaan Reunion” for the sitcom’s fans last Saturday,  October 18 at Eastwood Central Plaza, wherein Jeepney TV gives free beers to everyone until supplies last.

The biggest and most epic basaan reunion of the year also highlights the mash up live rendition of the man behind Palibhasa Lalake’s OST “Katawan,” rock music icon and Hagibis producer-songwriter — Mike Hanopol.

Catch the nostalgic “Palibhasa Lalake” craze this month of October on the ultimate throwback channel, Jeepney TV (SkyCable Channel 9).

For updates, visit and like Jeepney TV on Facebook (www.facebook.com/JeepneyTV).

PLDT Gabay Guro gives tribute to teachers in Grand Gathering 2014

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PLDT Gabay Guro (2G), the teacher advocacy group of the PLDT Smart Foundation (PSF) and PLDT Managers' Club Inc., organized a biggest  tribute to teachers as it celebrates National Teachers’ Month in this year’s Grand Gathering event at the SM Mall of Asia Arena last October 5.

Over 20,000 teachers from different parts of the country attended this spectacular celebration for free highlighted by a throwback concert featuring popular celebrities, including Ogie Alcasid, Regine Velasquez-Alcasid, Side A, The Voice Kids winners, Derek Ramsey, Jonalyn Viray, Dulce, Rachel Alejandro, Manilyn Reynes, Jessa, Dingdong Avanzado, Iya Villania, Alice Dixson, and many more.

2G has been supporting teachers and students who would like to take up the teaching profession for seven years now. 

All of 2G efforts are aligned with its pillars, which are: 

Teachers’ Training that presents new modules on Emotional Intelligence and IT Literacy and Sustainability; 

Housing and Educational Facilities; 

Livelihood Programs; 

Broadbanding and Computerization of Schools; 

Teachers’ Tribute, highlighted by the 2G Grand Gathering.

The Grand Gathering feature the biggest raffle draws, with substantial major prizes that include a house and lot from Camella Homes, a brand new HAIMA car from Laus Group of Companies, an APE Piaggo three-wing van from Auto Italia, 10 PLDT Home Cyberya Internet Café setups, Retailer Phone Kits and Sims from Smart and Sun, and cash prizes.

Among the other raffle prizes are laptops from PLDT HOME Bro, laptop and tablet in-one from Microsoft, electric fan with oven toaster package from Fujidenzo, gift packs from various sponsors, myPad3 from myPhone, Cignal prepaid kits, quad core polaroid platinum tablets from PLDT HOME Telpad, Samsung tab 7, a trip for two to Hongkong, tricycle from Honda Philippines Inc., and a motorcycle from PR Savings Bank.

2G has awarded around 1,000 scholarship grants to aspiring teachers. It has enabled more than 300 scholars to graduate from its 40 partner schools nationwide.

Five of the 2G scholars have continued their quest for higher learning and received Master’s Degree scholarships from the Philippine Women’s University.

2G and PLDT Hong Kong launched last June this year, a scholarship program for Overseas Filipino Workers’ (OFW) children and dependents. They also sponsored 110 OFW teacher-candidates in their review and venue fees for the Licensure Examination for teachers.

2G and its partners have also donated some 28 classrooms to various public schools in the country, especially those that are located in the calamity-ravaged areas. It was the first organization to build permanent structures in the form of sturdy classrooms after the 7.2-magnitude earthquake that devastated Bohol in 2013. It was likewise one of the first responders in the rehabilitation of typhoon-damaged Leyte.

Christian Bautista celebrates birthday, sings theme of new GMA series

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Asia’s Romantic Balladeer Christian Bautista, who is celebrating his birthday today, October 19, has been tapped by GMA to sing the theme of the Kapuso Network’s biggest Korean series “Empress Ki.” The series’ theme song is “Up Where We Belong,” a cut from the soon-to-be-released album of Christian under Universal Records entitled “Soundtrack.”

The series will start airing tomorrow, October 20, on GMA Telebabad. The series is reminiscent of GMA hit Korean dramas like “Jewel in the Palace.”

Currently, Christian is busy taping for the primetime series “Strawberry Lane,” hosting “Marian,” and performing on “Sunday All Stars.”

Next month, Christian will launch his newest album “Soundtrack,” which contains memorable themes from the most romantic films of all time. He will be joined by some of the hottest female recording artists in the album.