Newest Pinoy Blockbusters hit ABS-CBN TVplus Via Super KBO this May

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ABS-CBN TVplus treats Filipinos with the TV premiere of three new Pinoy movie blockbusters via the Super Kapamilya Box Office (KBO), including “Vince & Kath & James,” “My Ex & Whys,” and “Mano Po 7: Chinoy” for a perfect summer movie bonding at home this May.

Families can enjoy fresh from the cinema movies on Super KBO bundled with other local and international movies every weekend of May priced at only P99.

Starring Julia Barretto, Joshua Garcia, and Ronnie Alonte, “Vince & Kath & James” is the highest grossing MMFF 2016film based on the bestselling ABS-CBN Publishing book series written by Queen Elly. The book’s story first became a hit online last year as Queen Elly presented her “romantic series” as screenshots of SMS exchanges between two teens on social media.

Besides “Vince & Kath & James,” families can also watch “Madrasta,” “My Cactus Heart,” “Dalaw,” “Mutant Chronicles,” “The Condemned,” “The Greatest Love” catch up, and MYX.

“My Ex & Whys,” top billed by Liza Soberano and Enrique Gil, is a romantic movie about a playboy (Enrique) who is determined to prove to his ex-girlfriend Cali (Liza) that he has changed his ways. “My Ex & Whys” earned P341 million in the box office worldwide. It is bundled with “Magic Temple,” “Relaks, It’s Just Pag-Ibig,” “The Healing,” “My Bloody Valentine,” “A Little Bit of Heaven,” “The Greatest Love” catch up, and MYX.

Meanwhile, “Mano Po 7: Chinoy,” Regal’s 7th and final installment of the Mano Po franchise, stars Richard Yap, Jean Garcia, Enchong Dee, and Janella Salvador who portrayed the struggles of a modern Chinese-Filipino family. The star-studded movie will be shown together with “Crazy, Beautiful You,” “My Amnesia Girl,” “Oro, Plata, Mata,” “My Soul to Take,” “Dark Floors,” “The Greatest Love” catch up, and MYX.

Kicking off the Super KBO movie treat is “Vince & Kath & James” (May 13-14), “My Ex & Whys” (May 20-21), and “Mano Po 7: Chinoy” (May 27-28).

To watch your chosen movie on Super KBO, use the code representing the airing date of the movie and text, SUPERKBO99 MAY13 OR MAY20 OR MAY27 to 2131 using ABS-CBNmobile. Alternatively, you can stream the movies online via abscbnmobile.com/kbo.

Epson provides technical training to Gift of Brightness beneficiary San Jose Elementary School - Pag-ibig sa Nayon Annex

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Epson Philippines imparted important technical know-how in operating the Epson products to San Jose Elementary School Pag-ibig sa Nayon Annex in Quezon City.The school had earlier received a donation through the Gift of Brightness Program, in partnership with the Department of Education (DepEd). Product orientation and technical trainings were put into place to enable the school faculty and students to maximize the use of the Technology Package and help enrichthe learning process for Filipino students.

Epson’s Mark Raleih Esguerra(left) leads the technical training and product orientation conducted for San Jose Elementary School Pag-ibig sa Nayon Annex faculty to help them be equipped in using the Epson Technology package donated under the Gift of Brightness program. 

Each beneficiary school received an Epson Technology package that includes the L220 Multifunction Color Printers and L Series Inks; M100 Single Function Monochrome Printers and Inks; an LQ310 Dot Matrix Printer and SIDM Ribbons, LW400 Label Printers and LW Ribbons, Epson projectors and a document camera.

“These technical training sessions for all schools that received the Epson GoB Technology Package ensure that we also provide relevant assistance to the custodians and students on the proper usage and maintenance, so that they can have confidence in deploying the use of these products for teaching and learning,” shared Mr. Ed Bonoan, Senior General Manager and Head of Marketing, Epson Philippines 

San Jose Elementary School Pag-ibig sa Nayon Annex faculty led by Principal Joey Mancia (back, middle) joins the Epson team during the GOB Technical Training session. 

Since the launch of the Epson Gift of Brightness, Epson has partnered with key media and government institutions to select the most-deserving and in-need schools that can benefit from the technologically advanced equipment, including high-volume printers, high brightness projectors and user-friendly scanners. 

“Until now, teachers use a lot of Manila Paper to produce visuals for their students. Sometimes we also use an overhead projector that requires a lot of acetates. But now, thanks to Epson, we have a projector to replace those old teaching tools, and we are sure that this will motivate our students to study harder and help them be more engaged in the day-to-day lessons,” shared Principal Joey Mancia, who heads both the Pag-ibig sa Nayon Annex and the San Jose Elementary School Main.

The Pag-ibig sa Nayon Annex of San Jose Elementary School consistently ranks among the top schools of the DepEd NCR Quezon City Division. 

The Gift of Brightness advocacy of Epson Philippines was launched in December 2013, and has now benefited a total of 30 schools nationwide. Epson Philippines is currently selecting another batch of beneficiary schools with the help of DepEd and other partners.

“The Epson Gift of Brightness program is our advocacy for education and the Filipino youth.After our first partnership with the Department of Education last year, we are now embarking on another batch of beneficiaries for the Epson-DepEd Gift of Brightness, and some other schools that have directly asked Epson for help. We are focusing on selecting schools from areas that have yet to receive a similar donation. The new batch of GoB schools will be very soon,” concludes Ms. Donna V. Ferro, Head of Marketing Communications and PR, Epson Philippines.

Mother’s Day indulgence at City of Dreams Manila

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City of Dreams Manila pays tribute to moms with a variety of indulgent dining choices at its award-wining restaurants and special treats at DreamPlay, the DreamWorks-inspired interactive play space, in celebration of Mother’s Day.

At Nobu Manila, the entire family can indulge in a lavish Sunday brunch buffet on Mother’s Day highlighting Japanese spice-rubbed steamship round of Wagyu beef, lobster Miso Sinigang, baked salmon, Nobu-style Kare-kare and seafood fried rice. 

As an added treat, moms get a chance to win a Nobu spa for two in the Mother’s Day raffle draw. Nobu Mother’s Day brunch, inclusive of sodas, juices, mocktails, and iced tea is at P3,880++ per person. For an upgraded beverage package, P990++ and P1,990++ will be added for alcoholic drinks and premium champagne, respectively. Children ages six to 12 years old dine at half price while those five and below are free-of-charge. 

Mothers and their families craving for premium Cantonese cuisine will be spoiled with ambrosial delicacies in the two Mother’s Day special set menus offered for lunch and dinner at Crystal Dragon from May 1 until May 14. 

The six-course Munificent menu, offered for two to eight persons at P2,380++/person, consists of: the specialty appetizer platter of deep fried prawn balls with crab meat, chilled marinated spicy jelly fish, steamed abalone sio mai dumpling; braised seafood treasure with bird’s nest in superior broth; steamed cod fish fillet with cordyceps flower; sautéed fresh scallop with spicy XO sauce and celery; braised efu noodle with shredded pork and vegetables; and double boiled eight treasures with ginseng soup. 

The eight-course Virtuous menu at P4,380++/person, an expression of fondness for maternal virtues, is good for eight to ten persons and consists of: Cantonese “Four Seasons” combination platter of roasted duck rolls, deep-fried prawn balls, simmered shredded pork ear with spicy vinegar and marinated chilled smoked pork; home-style steamed tiger grouper with cordyceps flower; roasted U.S. duck in Cantonese style with plum sauce; wok-fried butter prawn with crispy pumpkin; braised abalone with mushroom, bean curd and broccoli; pan-fried egg noodles with seafood and baby cabbage; and a dessert platter of chilled mango puree, red bean snow skin and egg custard bun.

For an outdoor family affair on Mother’s Day, a barbecue buffet awaits at the beguiling resort ambiance of Wave poolside bar and restaurant from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. Grilled prawns with lime, chicken Inasal, Lapu-lapu wrapped in banana leaves, black squid paella and aioli, oven-baked hickory-smoked Black Angus beef brisket and roasted chicken are on the buffet plus hot-off-the-grill Angus beef burgers, a selection of cheeses, dessert and crepes, and a Caesar salad station. The barbecue buffet is at P1,280.++ per person and includes one round of iced tea, soft drinks, fresh chilled juices or fruit shakes. Guests add P700++ per person for a selection of free-flowing non-alcoholic drinks, local beers and cocktails. 

At Red Ginger restaurant, moms dining on May 12 to 14 for lunch or dinner can avail of a whole Ube Violet Velvet cake at a special rate of P800++. 

Also from May 12 to 14, the Café Society offers Mother’s Day flowers as gift for moms, from potted orchids to bouquets of roses. 

Families can opt for a fun-filled Mother’s day celebration at DreamPlay where one complimentary ticket is offered to moms if with at least two kids, and 50% discount on one ticket if with one child. 

DreamPlay also offers a Mother’s Day VIP Package at P1,500 per person, which includes a DreamPlay Pass, DreamPlay t-shirt, complimentary souvenir photo, VIP access to all the attractions, and activity passes to create-your-own heart shaped gingerbread with dedication for mom and Dreamworks-inspired Mother’s Day card to be displayed at a special wall. A special dance number of Fiona with the Dreamers also awaits guests.

For inquiries and reservations, guests can call 8008080 or e-mail guestservices@cod-manila.com or visit www.cityofdreams.com.ph. 

UST, UnionBank launch massive multivolume catalogue of rare books and documents

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UnionBank of the Philippines together with University of Santo Tomas (UST) thru Miguel de Benavides Library and Archives of UST launch Semper Lumina (Always the Light),  massive multivolume catalouge of rare books and documents at the Garden Ballroom of the Edsa Shangri-La in Ortigas. UST Rector Fr. Herminio V. Dagohoy, O.P. and UnionBank CEO and chair Dr. Justo A. Ortiz lead the launch  on May 5, 2017.

In an effort to share to a wider world the priceless collections that have “nourished the minds of countless generations of Filipino students" Semper Lumina launched a six-volume catalogue of rare publications, a two volume catalogue of the UST Archives, and the Heritage digital library.

The Herculean project titled “Semper Lumina” (Always the Light) features the vast treasures found at the UST Miguel de Benavides Library and the Archivo de Santo Tomas. It is a follow through of “Lumina Pandit” (Spreading the Light), an international exhibit of the rich collection of Asia’s oldest university with accompanying two-volume catalogues showing such holdings.

Fr. Angel Aparicio, O.P.

“The collection of rare books of the UST Library is an eloquent witness to the role of this institution in nurturing the values that have contributed to the birth and growth of this nation,” wrote UST prefect of libraries Fr. Angel Aparicio, O.P., in the Volume 1 prologue. He served as the catalogues’ general editor.

Volumes 1 to 3 feature catalogues of rare books housed at the UST Heritage Library section dated 1492 to 1900, while Volume 4 covers rare Filipiniana periodicals up to 1945.

Among the 466 books printed between 1492 and 1600 included in Volume 1 are Josephus Flavius’ “De Bello Judaico” (The Jewish War, 1492), Nicolaus Copernicus’ “De Revolutionis Orbium Coelestium Libri VI” (1542), and the Biblia Regia Plantin or Polyglot Bible (between 1569 and 1573), among others.

Totaling to 5,861 entries and presented in three parts, Volume 2 focuses on the collections of UST acquired in three centuries (17th to 19th centuries) and used as textbooks by the University. Among the books in the collection is Pope Leo the Great’s “Opera Omnia” (1614). This volume is one of the catalogues of Lumina Pandit II.

Volume 3 showcases the UST Filipiniana rare collection, which is considered one of the richest of its kind in the Philippines. Publications included are the first edition of José Rizal’s “Noli Me Tangere,” one of the three original copies preserved by UST.

Rare Filipiniana periodicals like “La Solidaridad” and “La Independencia,” are shown in Volume 4

Meanwhile, a separate catalogue in two volumes for the collection of the UST Archives (becerros, folletos, and libros) will also be released with archivist and respected Philippine church art and architecture historian Prof. Regalado Trota José as editor.

Documents included in the catalogue are the Foundation Act of 1611, Apolinario Mabini’s 1898 Decalogo, copy of Rizal’s “Ultimo Adiős,” and documents in baybayin (1623), recently declared National Historical Treasures by the National Archives.

Digitized versions of books and periodicals from the UST library (834,000 pages) may be accessed through the UST Digital Library (digilib.ust.edu.ph). As of date, a total of 1.5 million pages has been scanned, which will also be uploaded on the website.

UST Rector Fr. Herminio V. Dagohoy, O.P

UnionBank CEO and chair Dr. Justo A. Ortiz

Asia’s only Pontifical University finds its roots to the donation by Msgr. Miguel de Benavides, O.P., second Archbishop of Manila and founder of UST, of his personal library collections.

Let's Celebrate Mother’s Day for a Cause at City Garden Grand Hotel

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The journeys through motherhood, whether it be struggles, triumphs, or anything in-between,  is the most difficult, but rewarding and wonderful gift of life.  From all walks of life, we always think how we become - it's because of our mother. 

Making it extra special and memorable, City Garden Grand Hotel invites you the grandest celebration honouring all the moms this coming Mother’s Day. Treat your mother only with the best gastronomic varieties in the hotel’s all-day dining restaurant, Spice Café.

On May 27, 2017, City Garden Grand Hotel will be having Mother’s Day Buffet Dinner for a Cause at Spice Café, guests will enjoy a buffet dinner with relaxing jazz entertainment in the background for only PhP1,500 per person. A short program will be held honouring the “super moms”, and to make it sweeter and memorable, a balladeer will be performing to serenade during the night, not to mention the goodies and giveaways that will be given for the mothers. 

The Mother’s Day event proceeds will be given to the Philippine Foundation for Breast Care Incorporated, to help the women, especially mothers, who are fighting from breast cancer. 

Guest can also enjoy the month long offer of Spice Café’s Mother’s Day Afternoon Tea and experience delightful merienda treats for only Php 250 per person, wherein guests can enjoy a choice of brewed coffee or tea and a selection of pastry sets and sandwiches available from 1:00 PM – 5:00 PM only. 

In addition, treat the whole family to a sumptuous brunch buffet at Spice Café for the Mother’s Day Brunch Buffet Special on May 14, 2017 for Php 1,100 per person. There will be selections of luscious continental, eastern and local cuisines.

For more information or to book a table on the Mother’s Day Buffet Dinner for a Cause, visit Spice Café located at the 7th floor of City Garden Grand Hotel or call at +632 554-3428. reservations@citygardengrandhotel.com.