Dance this Summer at the Ballet Philippines Dance School

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Now on its 46th year, the CCP Summer Dance Workshop is once again paving the way for young dance talents to achieve their dreams to become professional dancers.

Starting on April 7, 2015, dance students from all over the country will flock to the Cultural Center of the Philippines for the five week-long summer dance workshop. Esteemed Ballet Philippines current company members and alumni will guide these aspirants in honing their craft. The workshop gives courses in Classical Ballet for all ages, Modern & Contemporary Ballet, Creative Movement, Jazz, and Hip Hop for kids and teens.

The workshop will conclude with two grand performances of a double-bill program: “Flower Festival” back to back with “Wonderland” on May 9 and 10 at the Tanghalang Nicanor Abelardo (CCP Main Theater).. “Flower Festival” will feature excerpts from Aguste Bournounville’s “Flower Festival at Genzano” along with other dances, while “Wonderland” adds a new kind of groove to the beloved classic, featuring the contemporary, jazz, and hip hop dance classes.

Scholarship auditions for the CCP Summer Dance Workshop will be held on February 28 and March 21, at the CCP Rehearsal Hall. Provincial applicants may also audition on April 7. Scholarships are available for students aged 9 to 13, intermediate & advanced students, and promising males from any dance background.

The Ballet Philippines Dance School also branched out of the CCP premises, offering dance classes at the SM Aura Premiere with faculty from the Ballet Philippines network of dance artists. Aside from the usual children’s classical and modern ballet classes, the school at SM Aura Premier also offers the Ballet Philippines Fitness Program workout, a set of exercises created for women who are looking for new ways to tone and exercise their bodies; Ladies’ Ballet, which is a basic ballet class; Active Stretch, a body shaping, toning, and strengthening program; and Flamenco dance classes.

The Ballet Philippines Dance School (BPDS) is the professional training ground of the country’s most promising young talents in dance. With a unique curriculum that encompasses various dance styles and techniques, the systematized method and approach to instruction takes highly into account children’s anatomy and psyche at various ages and levels so that the training is physically safe, technically effective and artistically enriching for students of all ages.

Connect to the Ballet Philippines Dance School online through the following social media networks:

Facebook: www.facebook.com/ccpdanceschool

www.facebook.com/bpdanceschoolaura

Twitter: @balletph

Instagram: @ccpdanceschool

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/balletph

See you at the studio!

Asus presents Zenfone with 2 specs and availability here in Ph

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The ASUS Zenfone 2 was much talked about during CES 2015, and speculations about pricing, availability, and what variants will be shipped to different countries ran rampant. The wait is over folks, we have the answers right here.

Tech and smartphone enthusiasts went wild when the Zenfone 2 was released at this year’s CES. Why? Here are the reasons: 

- 64 bit architecture, 

- 4GB RAM

and other features were all mentioned, as well as lower-tiered variants for less. That meant people of different budget ranges can get their hands on the successor to the popular Zenfone 5.

Just recently, the Zenfone 2 launched in Taiwan and with it, information on prices, models, and date of availability were thrown in as well.

There will be four variants of the Zenfone 2 which will be released in Asia and neighboring regions. The ZE500CL is the cheapest and ‘entry-level’ spec, while the ZE550ML takes a step up in the display size, camera, number of active SIMs, and processor departments.

The high-end ZE551ML comes in two variants. The first has a 1.8GHz quad core 64 bit processor and 2GB of RAM while the top of the line variant has a more powerful 2.3GHz quad core 64 bit chip and 4GB RAM. Both have dual SIM capabilities, 5.5 inch 1080p Full HD screens, 13MP back and 5MP front cameras, NFC, and 3,000mAh batteries.

For pricing, the Zenfone 2 starts off at P6,983.49 up to P12,581.47 for the highest-spec’d version. Do note that the Philippine Peso prices are directly converted from their Taiwanese counterparts and is not the final price. Due to taxation and other financial factors, final Philippine prices may be slightly higher.

And finally, a post on the ASUS Zenfone 2 Facebook page announced the local availability of the units. Expect the Zenfone 2 to land on our shores around May/June of this year.

McJim kicks off second season of Dreams Get Real talent search

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WILL you be next big star of Original Pilipino Music (OPM)?

After successfully launching the careers of three of the most promising acts today, iconic brand McJim Classic Leather opens doors of opportunity for aspiring stars to become legitimate recording artists in the second season of “Dreams Get Real : The Search for the Next OPM Star. ”

“This year, we aim to make Dreams Get Real talent search even bigger, brighter, and better. We are now offering a full album and music video grant, P100,000 in cash prize, artist marketing support, and a talent management contract to the sole winner!“ said Chris Cahilig, Dreams Get Real project head.

Dreams Get Real. The talent search that launched the careers of three of the most promising OPM acts today is back for another season.

Last year’s triple-tie winners, Fifth Dynamics, JBK and Neo Domingo, are rocking the music scene after recording chart-topping hits and are busy with television guest appearances, and mall and corporate shows across the country. The talents are likewise completing their debut albums produced by award-winning arranger and composer Jonathan Ong of SonicState Studio.

Fifth Dynamics. Fast-rising band Fifth Dynamics who released two chart-topping songs “Anyare” and “Pogi Kame” is a product of Dreams Get Real Talent Search last year.

Fifth Dynamics, led by former The Voice of the Philippines contestant Mark Cordovales, is a fast-rising band. After winning the Dreams Get Real talent search, the group has released two chart-topping single titled “Anyare” and “Pogi Kame.”

On the other hand, vocal trio JBK, which is composed of Joshua, Bryan, and Kim, is making everyone’s heart melt. The group’s R&B-infused ballad, “Anong Meron Ka,” gets major airtime on popular radio stations nationwide.

Neo. Dreams Get Real Grand Champion Neo Domingo has released song “Pagbigyan Mo Na,” which is heavily played on different radio stations across the country.

Likewise, Neo Domingo topped national and local charts with his debut single “Pagbigyan Mo Na”. It was likewise named as the Most Wanted Song of 97.1 Barangay LS FM. His follow up single“Kaching-Kaching” featuring Fifth Dynamics is now heavily aired on Metro Manila and provincial radio stations.

This year’s contestants will work with award-winning musical talents and will have a chance to perform at big venues. “They will have a first-hand experience of the entire recording process and will get a chance to perform in shows while they are in the competition,” Cahilig said.

JBK. Vocal trio JBK composed of Joshua, Bryan, and Kim released the hit song “Anong Meron Ka” after winning the Dreams Get Real Talent Search and has been doing shows across the country ever since.

The talent search is open to all unsigned male and female solo artists, aged 15 to 35 years old, with Filipino lineage.

To audition, interested artists need to send a video recording or Youtube link of their performance/s (they may opt to submit a cover or an original song of any genre of their choice) together with the filled-out application form.

An initial pool of twenty contestants will undergo a series of weekly eliminations—starting in July—until only 10 finalists remain in the competition. The finalists will record and film viral videos to be posted on the TV Get Real YouTube channel of McJim Classic Leather, where the Top Six will be chosen from. The remaining six will then battle it out in an epic grand finals night, which will be held on November 15.

“The contestants need to go through an elimination process to reveal who truly has star quality. They will also experience what it’s like to do a professional recording session,” Cahilig explained.

“The local music industry is very hard to penetrate; it’s a highly competitive arena,” Cahilig pointed out. “Dreams Get Real is here to help new artists break into the music scene. We will give them the platform—a ticket to possible stardom.”

Like the official McJim classic leather facebook page at www.facebook.com/OfficialMcJIM and get more information on how you can be the next OPM star.

Colorectal cancer: What you need to know

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Colorectal cancer is one of the most curable types of gastrointestinal cancer, if found early.

Do you experience diarrhea or constipation that lasts for days, abdominal pain and rectal bleeding? Get yourself screened for bowel cancer. Also known as colorectal cancer, it is a malignant tumor that develops in the lining of the large intestine and can spread to nearby organs or to glands called lymph nodes.

“Bowel cancer is one of the leading causes of cancer-related deaths in the Philippines but it is highly preventable and treatable when diagnosed early. Filipinos should have sufficient information of the disease to know how it can be prevented or managed,” says Dr. Nicky Montoya, president of MediCard Philippines.

Here are essential facts about bowel cancer:

It can be colon cancer or rectal cancer.

Bowel cancer can start in the colon (colon cancer) or in the rectum, which is the last 12 centimetres of the large intestine (rectal cancer). The difference in location requires different methods of treatments.

It usually starts as polyps.

Most bowel cancer cells start as polyps, which are abnormal growths in the inner lining of the colon and rectum. Polyps are not malignant except for one type called adenoma, which becomes cancerous over time and multiplies to form a tumor. 

Its risk increases with age.

Polyps normally appear as people get older and adenoma develops into cancerous cells in about 10 years. This explains why majority of those who are diagnosed with bowel cancer are 50 years old and above. The disease can also develop in younger people although it occurs much less frequently.

It can be triggered by poor diet and an unhealthy lifestyle.

“Bad food” and lack of exercise can build up toxins in the colon. Studies link bowel cancer to a diet that’s low in fiber and high in fat and calories. Cigarette smokers, heavy alcohol drinkers, obese people, and those who have sedentary lifestyles are also prone to developing the disease. 

Its crucial symptoms are changes in bowel habit.

Signs of bowel cancer include prolonged diarrhea or constipation, abdominal pain, vomiting, rectal bleeding, bloating, and a relentless feeling of moving your bowels even when you’ve just finished doing so. You may also see blood in your stool. Physically, you may experience weakness, fatigue and rapid weight loss.

It is 90 percent curable when diagnosed early.

Bowel cancer may not cause any symptoms during its early stage, which underlines the importance of regular colorectal cancer screenings and tests including colonoscopy, CT colonography, flexible sigmoidoscopy, double-contrast barium enema (DCBE), Guaiac-based fecal occult blood test, fecal immunochemical test (FIT), and stool DNA test. 

Treatments include surgery (removal of polyps before they become cancerous), chemotherapy, radiation therapy, and targeted drug therapy. While no alternative treatment has been proven to cure bowel cancer, certain techniques can help relieve distress from the disease, including yoga, music therapy and relaxation exercises.

The MediCard Lifestyle Center offers endoscopy and other quality medical services. 

Visit its website at http://medicardphils.com for more information.

Creating a Benchmark for Volunteerism and Social Responsibility: The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf

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Can volunteer engagement be a prominent part of what your brand stands for? The answer is YES.

Long before corporate social responsibility and volunteerism became a buzzword for brands and corporations, The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf has already made it an intrinsic mission and company philosophy. 

It’s a commitment that they took on back in 2008, when they started the Give In To Giving, 12 Cups with The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf campaign, an initiative designed to share this mission with its loyal customers. 

“It began by taking something that was relevant to customers at the time—the “planner craze,” if you will— and creating something more meaningful that could be an extension of our commitment as a brand to giving back. What spurred out of this intention was a Commemorative Notebook that became a medium for us, and our patrons, to support advocacies in need and share their blessings. It was and continues to be the only journal that encourages more purposeful action towards ones’ social responsibility,” explained Paolo del Rosario, Vice President for Marketing of The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf.

Customers were asked to collect 12 stamps and choose from any of the 12 advocacies and organizations that The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf was supporting. These ranged from women’s groups, to children, animals, the environment, indigenous people or those with disabilities and illnesses. Completing all 12 stamps meant the customer could bring home the commemorative notebook that featured artworks from contemporary Filipino artists and proceeds collected went to each customer’s chosen organization. The original artworks featured in the covers of the Commemorative Notebook were also auctioned and were donated to the charities. 

The entire campaign was such a success that not only was it well received by loyal patrons; it also won numerous awards. 

The following year, The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf introduced its follow up with 24 Cups of Goodwill, where proceeds from the campaign were given to its 24 partner organizations. In 2010, for Changing Lives with Every Cup, they shifted their focus on sending scholars to school by partnering with Real Life Foundation and their Adopt-a-Scholar program, where the company was successfully able to send 8 scholars to university. 

In 2012, they continued their efforts with the iBuild campaign, which helped raise sustainable housing solutions for impoverished families. And by 2014, they introduced the Brew Your Best Year campaign, which evolved their efforts into giving back to their loyal patrons by helping them give back to themselves as well. Through this initiative, they hope to help each person in their journey towards becoming the best version of themselves. 

Their efforts through the years prove how a brand can become meaningful in addressing social change. 

“It’s so much more than being well-intentioned; because at the end of the day, taking on social responsibility has to be part of a brand’s DNA,” says del Rosario. 

Is it naïve to expect businesses to take on a responsibility as great as this, the way The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf did? 

Not necessarily. 

Companies today, locally and worldwide, are putting more focus on developing a culture of volunteerism and social responsibility—recognizing how working together can make a real difference in the community, while at the same time opening up opportunities for learning, cooperation and leadership within the organization. 

What makes The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf®’s efforts stand out however, is the sincerity that drives their initiatives, where they have managed to uplift the true essence of what it truly means to care. 

Case-in-point, expanding annual efforts to now cover a full year of advocacies. 

Consistently, The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf brings people together to participate in various community outreach events. “We place great effort into putting such events together not only for the sole purpose of helping the community, but also to encourage our own Customers and Team Members to spend meaningful time bringing joy to others in an impactful and sincere way,” explains Nella Lomotan, Engagement Marketing for The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf.

These pocket initiatives, held monthly, are part of the Caring Cup series. And whether it’s a simple story telling event in a hospital, a physical fitness session with public school students, a tree planting project, an art workshop for children with disabilities, each event is designed to foster the spirit of volunteerism and giving among its participants. 

In fact, last February 14, The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf made sure to create an avenue to give love and receive love as they mounted the “Paint the Town Red this Valentines’ event. Volunteers spent the day of love giving love to children with disabilities at AIME home via a t-shirt painting activity with the intent of giving kids something that they will always remember. 

“The Caring Cup is a way for us to expand and uphold a vision that we have long established for the company, where we hope to cultivate the spirit of volunteerism in our Community. We strongly encourage everyone who wants to be a part of something that impacts the life of others in a meaningful way to visit our stores and sign up for our next events.” ends del Rosario. 

Follow The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf’s social media pages and subscribe to www.brewyourbestyear.com to stay updated on their Caring Cup events.

Facebook: facebook.com/coffeebeanphilippines

Instagram: instagram.com/cbtlph

Twitter: twitter.com/cbtlph