Coleen and EA’s on-screen chemistry sizzles in “Mia” trailer

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LEAD ACTORS Coleen Garcia and Edgar Allan Guzman displayexceptional on-screen chemistry in the official trailer of their latest film,“Mia,” released by Insight 360 Films in partnership with Viva Films.

Directed by award-winning filmmaker Veronica Velasco, “Mia” is a romantic comedy filmabout a doctor Mia Salazar (Garcia) and a nerdy forester Jay Policarpio (Guzman).

Jay, who transforms mined-out land into rainforests, pursues the self-destructivealcoholic, Mia, who recently joined the government’s Doctor To The Barrios program to heal from the tragedy of her fiance’s death.  

Showing that conflict sometimes belies an undercurrent of passion, Mia and Jay’s occasional clashes soon create compelling chemistry between them.

The trailer, which was released on various prominent Youtube and Facebook channels including Insight 360, Mia: The Movie, CinemaBravo, and Design Pirate PH, also features the film’s official soundtrack titled “Sa Iba Na Lang” performed by duo B.O.U. and written by Jayson Dedal.       

Other cast members include veteran actors Yayo Aguila and William Martinez, Billy Crawford, Star Orjaliza, Jeremy Domingo, Sunshine Teodoro, Pau Benitez, and Xenia Barrameda.  

The screenplay was co-written by Velasco and Jinky Laurel while Noel Teehankee served as its director of photography.

Produced by public relations and digital marketing expert Chris Cahilig, “Mia” is scheduled to be in cinemas on January 15, 2020.

'Tis the Season to Thrill your Tastebuds with Yellow Cab's Potluck Holiday Bundle

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MANILA, Philippines, November 2019—Holiday get-togethers are best done over servings of tasty and generous meals. This year, Yellow Cab brings a burst of flavor to the holidays with its all-new Party Trays, the perfect addition to you and your squad’s rewarding festivities. Let the good times roll with Yellow Cab's signature edge-to-edge pizzas, and complete the experience with these filling trays!

Want to recharge your hungry squad? Light them up with Yellow Cab’s Baked Mac Pasta Tray, with perfectly cooked macaroni and savory ground beef in a sweet and tangy tomato sauce, or the Mac & Cheese Pasta Tray, an oven-baked macaroni and cheese dashed with spices and topped with crumbled bacon.

Looking for a fun, protein-packed star for your next gathering? Get the Wings Tray for a crispy and juicy addition to your holiday spread! Enjoy 32 pieces of these perfectly cooked wings and choose up to four variants per tray, which include the original Hot Chix, buttery Garlic Parmesan, lip-smacking Sweet Soy, sweet and tangy Sriracha, zesty Lemon Pepper, and fiery Smoked Chipotle, to give your holidays a bit of a kick.

Indulging a big crowd? Get all these new Party Trays and more with Yellow Cab’s Potluck Holiday Bundle! This deal includes one Pasta Tray of your choice, one 32-piece Wings Tray, two 10-inch Cheese pizzas, and two 10-inch pizzas with flavors of your choice. You may pick from Yellow Cab’s assortment of Classic and Signature selections such as Manhattan Meatlovers, Garden Special, BBQ Chicken, New York Classic, and Hawaiian. Enjoy these for only PHP 2,799—save up to PHP 835!

“Yellow Cab is here to make your holidays a fitting celebration to the end of the year,” shared Charlene Sapina, Marketing Head of Yellow Cab Pizza Co. “With our new Party Trays and Potluck Holiday Bundle, you can add excitement to your next gathering with our flavorful deal that packs a punch, served in satisfying and generous portions.”

Customers can avail of Yellow Cab’s Potluck Holiday Bundle promo until January 15, 2020 for take-out, delivery, or curbside pick-up.

Celebrate the holidays with your squad and feast on Yellow Cab's edge-to-edge pizzas, crisp and juicy wings, and mouthwatering pastas with the Potluck Holiday Bundle! For more information, visit https://www.facebook.com/YellowCabPizzaOfficial/.

Shopee Unveils New Christmas Jingle with Jose Mari Chan on Shopee 11.11 Big Christmas TV Special

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MANILA, NOVEMBER 10 2019 - Shopee, the leading e-commerce platform in Southeast Asia and Taiwan, kickstarts the festive season with star studded performances by Alden Richards, Maine Mendoza and Jose Mari Chan on the Shopee 11.11 Big Christmas TV Special aired on GMA and Shopee Live. During the TV Show, Shopee brand ambassador Jose Mari Chan amazed viewers with an exclusive live performance of the newest Shopee Christmas jingle. Shoppers can look forward to the official launch of the Christmas jingle on all online channels on November 12.

The newest Shopee Christmas jingle is a fun rendition of Jose Mari Chan’s highly popular original “A Wish on Christmas Night”, and was specially composed to welcome Shopee 11.11 Big Christmas Sale. 

Ruoshan Tao, Head of Marketing, Shopee Philippines, said, “We’re very happy to once again work with the Father of Philippine Christmas Music, Jose Mari Chan, for our new Christmas jingle. Last year, our Christmas jingle with Jose Mari Chan received great success, garnering over 19 million views online. This year, we are bringing him back with a new jingle to bring more fun and joy for our shoppers as we usher in the year-end celebration. Together with Jose Mari Chan, we look forward to celebrating the festive season and invite everyone to lookout for our upcoming Christmas sales.” 

Jose Mari Chan, said, “I am excited to be working with Shopee again to bring joy and laughter to Filipinos during this festive season. Christmas is one of the biggest celebrations in the Philippines and I am thrilled to be given an opportunity to work with Shopee to release a new jingle. I always have an enjoyable time with Shopee and hope my fans will look forward to what we have in store throughout the holiday season.”

Shopee 11.11 Big Christmas Sale with discounts up to 95% off

On November 11, Shopee 11.11 Big Christmas Sale will offer consumers unbeatable deals including all-day sitewide free shipping with ₱0 minimum spend. There will be up to 95% off from leading brands including Pampers, Silverworks, Bosch, Unilever, Maybelline, Olay, Pantene, Globe, Anker, Safeguard, Watsons, Huawei, and more. Viewers of Shopee Live can also tune in to a 12-hour livestream session with non-stop prizes including vouchers and iPhone 11 giveaways. 

Catch these crazy deals during Shopee 11.11 Big Christmas Sale on November 11: 

● Silverworks: Users can score up to 80% off on all Silverworks products including necklaces, earrings, and bracelets.

● Maybelline: Users can enjoy up to 60% off Maybelline best-sellers such as  Maybelline Sensational Liquid Lipstick, Superstay Full Coverage Foundation, and Hypercurl Waterproof Mascara. 

● Unilever: Users can get up to 50% off popular products such as Dove Intense Repair Shampoo, Ponds Cleansing Balm and Surf Detergent Powder at Unilever Official Store. 

● Huawei: Users can anticipate exciting discounts and special bundles on Huawei products such as Huawei Band 4, Huawei Mate 30 Pro, and more at Shopee 11.11 Big Christmas Sale.

● Bosch: Users can look forward to up to 55% off on Bosch power tools and accessories such as cordless drills, hammers, and more. 

● P&G: Users can watch out for discounts of up to 50% on favorite P&G brands like Pampers, Olay, and Safeguard.

Find out more about Shopee 11.11 Big Christmas Sale at https://shopee.ph/11-11. 

Download the Shopee app for free via the App Store or Google Play.

Lee Kum Kee Hosts its First-ever International Young Chef Chinese Culinary Challenge - Philippines Qualifiers in Manila

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Lee Kum Kee, the inventor of oyster sauce and a globally renowned Chinese sauce and condiment manufacturer, invited local aspiring chefs to compete at the first-ever International Young Chef Chinese Culinary Challenge (IYCCCC) - Philippines Qualifiers at Magsaysay Center for Hospitality and Culinary Arts in Manila last week.

Left to right (Standing): Julius Caezar Lumanog of Fresh Fuel Philippines, Joan Nerina Bretania of Diocita's Hotel, Muhajiran "Pongky" Ijiran III of Kuya J Restaurant, Elier Maghanoy of King Chef Seafood Restaurant, Saturnino Famat of Wang Fu Chinese Café, John Rafael Flores of The Grand Convention Center of Cebu, Jefferson Palma of King Chef Dimsum Kitchen, Elmar Ruelo of RBX, Janin Jayco of U-Rack Bar-B-Q & Wings, Michael Lee Avisado of Vikings Luxury Buffet

Young chefs, budding restaurateurs, and aspiring culinarians from across the Philippines put their skills to the test and rose to the top of their game as they battled it out to earn the privilege of representing their country for an international culinary contest. 

Since its inception in 2014, the IYCCCC has been a biennial contest providing an international exchange platform for the Chinese culinary industry. It encourages young chefs from the world to hone their skills and learn, while at the same time, promoting the inheritance of Chinese culinary skills and sustainable development of the Chinese culinary industry with the aim of enhancing the international standard of Chinese cuisines.

A Palatable Pursuit 

A star-studded judging panel, including Singaporean award-winning Chef Aaron Tan Kean Loon, Champion of Lee Kum Kee International Young Chef Chinese Culinary Challenge 2016, Executive Sous Chef Intercontinental – Singapore, and Chef James Antolin, President of LTB Philippines Chefs Association, Ms Sandy Cu, Product and Business Development Director of Sysu International, and Mr. Ryan Cruz, Business Manager, Lee Kum Kee Philippines selected two winners from the Philippines Qualifiers. The top two talented contestants - Michael Lee Avisado from Vikings Group and Muhajiran "Pongky" Ijiran III from Kuya J Restaurant, earned the privilege to go on to the next level in the 4th IYCCCC in Hong Kong next year, competing with around 50 aspiring young chefs from over 20 countries and regions for the international championship. In the last contest, all three contestants from the Philippines won bronze awards.

 Shrimp Royale

The biggest winner during the IYCCC Qualifiers was Michael Lee Avisado from Vikings Group who aside from winning the coveted Gold award, also went on to win the Best Sauce Combination and the Best Presentation categories. Coming in second place with the Silver Award was Muhajiran "Pongky" Ijiran III of Kuya J Restaurant while the Bronze winners were Elier Maghanoy from King Chef Seafood Restaurant (who also won the Most Creative category), Jefferson Palma from King Chef Dimsum Kitchen and Janin Jayco from U-Rack Bar-B-Q & Wings.

The man of the moment, Michael Lee Avisado, has been in the culinary industry for 9 years already and has been with the Vikings Group already for 2 years. He is currently the Executive Sous Chef, as well as the Officer-in-Charge of the restaurant’s Mall of Asia branch. He is partial to Lee Kum Kee for his unique creations as the flavors blend well while retaining each ingredients’ distinct taste. His winning recipe, Shrimp Royale, uses Lee Kum Kee’s iconic XO sauce as its base.

“With the mission of ‘Promoting Chinese Culinary Culture Worldwide’, Lee Kum Kee is committed to nurturing Chinese culinary talents worldwide. The IYCCCC is an optimal platform for young Chinese chefs from around the world for culinary exchange. In the 3rd IYCCCC, we had representatives from the Philippines for the first time. This year, we are going even further to host the first-ever Philippines Qualifiers. I wish the two talented winners all the success in the finale in Hong Kong next year, representing the Philippines to fight for the championship,” said Mr. Leslie Lau, Managing Director - South Asia of Lee Kum Kee

Renowned for the invention of oyster sauce and its premium quality with over 130 years of history, Lee Kum Kee, is one of the world’s most recognizable names for Chinese sauces and condiments across the globe. Lee Kum Kee first entered the Philippine market with Sysu International Inc as the sole distributor back in the 1980s and has since been one of the trailblazers in the industry, furthering its efforts to promote Chinese culinary culture, and nurturing future local culinary talents.

Left to right: (Standing) Jefferson Palma of King Chef Dimsum Kitchen, Janin Jayco of U-Rack Bar-B-Q & Wings, Muhajiran "Pongky" Ijiran III of Kuya J Restaurant, Michael Lee Avisado of Vikings Luxury Buffet, Elier Maghanoy of King Chef Seafood Restaurant

Left to Right: Mr. Leslie Lau, Managing Director - South Asia of Lee Kum Kee and Mr. Ryan Cruz, Business Manager, Lee Kum Kee Philippines

Left to Right: Mr. Leslie Lau, Managing Director - South Asia of Lee Kum Kee and Mr. Ryan Cruz, Business Manager, Lee Kum Kee Philippines

Left to Right: Silver Awardee Muhajiran "Pongky" Ijiran III of Kuya J Restaurant and Mr. Ryan Cruz, Business Manager, Lee Kum Kee Philippines

Left to Right: Gold Awardee Michael Lee Avisado of Vikings Luxury Buffet Mr. Leslie Lau, Managing Director - South Asia of Lee Kum Kee and Mr. Ryan Cruz, Business Manager, Lee Kum Kee Philippines

For more details, please visit www.LKK.com, follow Lee Kum Kee on Facebook (@LeeKumKeePh) and use the hashtag #LeeKumKeePh.

About Lee Kum Kee

Lee Kum Kee was established in 1888 by its founder Mr. Lee Kum Sheung. With its sustainable development in 131 years, Lee Kum Kee has become a well-known household name of Chinese sauces and condiments, as well as an international brand and “a symbol of quality and trust”. Spanning over three centuries, Lee Kum Kee is a globally renowned Chinese multinational corporation offering over 200 choices of sauces and condiments to over 100 countries and regions. Please visit www.LKK.com for further details.

About Lee Kum Kee International Young Chef Chinese Culinary Challenge

Since its inception in 2014, the Lee Kum Kee International Young Chef Chinese Culinary Challenge has been a biennial contest that demonstrates the Group’s mission of promoting Chinese culinary culture worldwide, setting an international platform for young Chinese culinary chefs from around the world to hone their skills and exchange experiences with their counterparts. 

Jessica Zafra's latest book is now available at Fully Booked, Shopee, and other stores

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From the author of the Twisted series comes a collection of 27 stories from the last 27 years. The Collected Stories of Jessica Zafra contains award-winning fiction from Manananggal Terrorizes Manila (1992) and The Stories So Far (2014), plus new stories and an introduction by Don Jaucian.

“Jessica is a natural short story writer, and I don’t know anyone else in the Philippines writing in English who does it as well as she does. The fact that she’s a Filipina couldn’t matter less. She would be recognized anywhere on earth that good English is read. But of course in this fatuous world the unmerited hegemony of “English” literature (including of course American, Canadian, Australian, etc. etc.) reminds us that it still fancies itself as the arbiter of the Real Thing. But plenty of us round-eyes know that’s baloney, and JZ provides us with ammunition to stand up in public and say so.” – James Hamilton-Paterson, Whitbread Award-winning author of Gerontius, Playing With Water, Seven-Tenths, Ghosts of Manila, and the bestselling Cooking With Fernet Branca and Empire of the Clouds

The Collected Stories of Jessica Zafra is published by Ateneo University Press. SRP P345. Now available at Fully Booked stores, Solidaridad, Popular Bookstores, the Ateneo University Press bookshop, Loyola Bookshop, and on Shopee. Coming soon at Mt.Cloud Bookshop in Baguio and other outlets.

Book signings and author talks will be announced soon. Follow @jessicazafrascats on Instagram and the JessicaRulestheUniverse Facebook page for announcements and updates.