Maliwanag ang Pasko 2012

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Christmas waves a magic wand over this world, with the personal thoughtfulness, the warm human awareness, the reaching out of the self, everything shines and more beautiful!

Maliwanag ang Pasko has been Meralco’s signature Christmas CSR campaign for the last 6 years. Through all these years, Maliwanag ang Pasko has helped send thousands of underprivileged children all over the country to school, helping them on their way towards a brighter future. Each child sent to school was made possible through the kind and generous participation of many Filipinos who lit up their homes during Christmas.

For 2012, Maliwanag ang Pasko is poised to become even bigger and brighter than the previous years.

This year, Meralco partnered with the Department of Tourism (DOT) to brighten up the country even further during Christmas. Maliwanag ang Pasko is a campaign that strategically aligns with the DOT’s vision of putting the Philippines on the global tourism map. Moreover, Meralco is also partnering with different commercial establishments and Local Government Units to establish special Liwanag Parks all over Metro Manila.

We have witnessed last Friday, November 16, 2012, in the Meralco Multi-Purpose Hall, Meralco Compound, Ortigas Ave. , the announcement of the partnership between Meralco headed by Manny V. Pangilinan and Department of Tourism lead by Sec. Mon Jimenez. It was attended by Meralco execs and partner Local Government Units represented by respective Mayors and their offices.

Chef Marvin Agustin renews partnership with KNORR Philippines

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Well known celebrity actor, director, restaurateur and chef, recently named Young Entrepreneur of the Year,  Marvin Agustin, renews partnership with KNORR Philippines as its celebrity Chef Endorser.      

Chef Marvin Agustin, become a fixture in the local food arena,  continue to be sources of inspiration to Filipino families, especially the moms. With this partnership of two of the respected names in the food industry, expect only a continuous enriching of the Filipino family’s dining experience via a host of new projects, products, and recipes.

According to Chef Marvin, the values - Passion, Innovation, and the heart for good food are the things that bind him and Knorr. 

“It’s nice to promote something that you’ve been already using for a long time, inspired by the teachings of my mom, cooked and served well from the heart.” 

“Good food brings good friends and family together, so having Knorr by your side, is already an assurance that you have an ally in the kitchen, which I consider the heart of every home.”

Chef Marvin considers his mom Maria Teresa as his inspiration in everything he does, including being a chef. In fact, his soon-to-be-opened and first Filipino family restaurant Maria Teresa is a loving tribute to his mom.

“The kitchen has bonded me and my mom in unexpected ways, and I am thankful that Knorr has given me this chance to share a part of myself to every mother in the country,” says the accomplished restaurateur-chef-actor. 

“Together with Knorr, we will provide modern-day Filipino families with dishes that respond to their needs, while making their cooking experience fulfilling, pleasurable and enriching.”

There are a number of restaurants owned by Chef Marvin, some are  Sumo Sam, Marcianos, John and Yoko, Mr. Kurosawa,Kung Fu Kitchen,  Komrad, Johnny Chow, and Tokyo Grill. And there are soon to be  launch Gambino at Burgos Circle and and his mom's restaurant Maria Teresa. 

Thanks Knorr Philippines and Medianation Inc. for giving us the opportunity to meet the accomplished restaurateur-chef-celebrity actor Marvin and his being a part of the Knorr family, Marvin will create dishes that highlight how Knorr products:

(Sinigang Sa Sampaloc Original Mix, Knorr Cubes, and Ginataang Gulay Mix) can help Filipino mothers create the best dishes for their families. 

You can also visit Chef Marvin newest website: http://www.chefmarvinagustin.com/. 

Beat It!: Fighting Cervical Cancer One Beat At A Time

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Philippines Obstetrical and Gynecological Society (POGS) and sponsored by GSK Philippines organized the dancefest  as “Beat It!: Fighting Cervical Cancer One Beat At A Time” held last Thursday night at the Plenary Hall of the Philippine International Convention Center.

Leading Obstetrical Gynecologists and almost 1500 doctors danced their way to raising funds to fight Cervical Cancer,  the second biggest cause of female cancer mortality in the country.

Doing one thing, in one place – dancing and grooving together for the 12 women who are about to die because of the fatal but highly preventive disease. It is not the winning of the world record but saving the lives of Filipinas everyday from the cervical cancer by raising awareness and action is the true triumph of the dance fest.

For the warm-up started  “Gangnam Style”song was played and celebrity Anne Curtis,  spokesperson for GSK Philippines’ Cervical Cancer Prevention campaign opened the program with “Call Me Maybe.”

Also present during the event were Richard Yap (aka Papa Chen), Jason Zamora of Manouvers and the Philippine All Star.

To stop the human papiloma virus (HPV), the cause of cervical cancer from infecting women, an effective and so important relevant cervical cancer vaccine is necessary. The Beat It!: Fighting Cervical Cancer One Beat At A Time dance fest encourages Filipinas to be healthy by taking care of yourself.

This is an amazing event with a great cause. Let us all support this campaign and help prevent Cervical Cancer!

Some Photos c/o Mac Vazquez

Headphones that are built to last

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This is the kind of thing that made me love tested. Very useful, and it's something I might actually do!

Each time you recklessly chuck your headphones in your backpack after every use, you know too well those headphones might not come back to you in one piece.

The Construct headphones

Let’s face it: the backpack, combined with an active lifestyle, is an extreme environment for headphones. Adventurous and active music lovers always find it hard to make a pair of headphones last due to all the wear and tear from their activities.

“Loose cords and broken headbands are just some of the problems that many music lovers encounter with their headphones. Whether it gets broken in the backpack or in the mountains, people always end up disappointed with subpar durability,” says Ms. Angelia Oh, General Manager for Philips Consumer Lifestyle, Philippines.

To address this issue, Philips and surf brand O’Neill teamed up to develop a range of headphones that are strong enough to endure extreme conditions. The Philips O’Neill The Construct SHO7205BK is part of this line.

According to Ms. Oh, The Construct is one of the most durable headphones in the market due to its material and construction. Its ultra flexible TR90 headband can withstand bends, stretches and twists without deforming or breaking. Its cable is just as tough and is also tangle-free. The headphone’s drivers are also protected with metal rings around the earcan and employ engineered safe release cans that allow it to weather hard impacts.

In terms of sound quality, The Construct holds its own, with Ms. Oh explaining that “The Construct delivers solid deep bass that’s crisp and powerful through 40mm drivers.” This means that users can still clearly hear their music regardless of their activity. And where comfort is concerned, Ms. Oh says that the ear cushions are soft and thick enough for isolation while the headband cover is made of soft fabric for added comfort.

Ms. Oh adds that The Construct can be enjoyed by a wide variety of listeners. “Sound lovers are not limited to commuters or office workers. They are everywhere. And we want everyone to take their music with them everywhere as well without the fear of it getting broken,” she remarks. 

“The Construct is a pair of headphones they can literally bring anywhere, even in the great outdoors.”

 “Durable portable headphones are hard to come by. But this range of Philips O’Neill headphones were made to outlast, withstand and endure, with the consumers’ utmost needs in mind,” she concludes.

John Lloyd Cruz and Angelica Panganiban Go Soul Searching in "24/7 In Love"

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Star Cinema’s offering in celebration of the 20th anniversary of Star Magic, “24/7 In Love,” filmed in Vietnam for 10 days, not only is love the fruit of their hard labor but also a very special episode.

Revenge is exactly what Verna (Angelica Pangabiban) wanted upon learning about the infidelity of her husband. With the hopes of restoring herself, she goes to Vietnam for a vacation. And as she takes a break from all the despair of her troubled marriage, there she meets a Filipino waiter named Elvis (John Lloyd Cruz).  Vietnam and Elvis have become Verna’s refuge, but an escape can only do so much. Will Verna have the strength to face her past and the outcome of her choices?

Director John-D Lazatin expresses his thanks to John Lloyd and Angelica for being very pleasant to work with. “Since both John Lloyd and Angelica are such good actors it was a very positive experience. Tapos siyempre si John Lloyd sobrang galing na rin na artista, first time ko siyang i-direk sa big screen so I’d like to think na sana all directors get to work with him.” 

The story of the episode, he adds, teaches audiences the lesson of setting priorities, reaching for your dreams, and standing by one’s decisions. 

The relaxing atmosphere in Vietnam, nurtured the now-blossoming love story of Angelica and John Lloyd. Watch how their chemistry on and off the screen unfolded. Filmed in Hanoi, 24/7 In Love” opens on November 21 in theaters nationwide.