Enjoying Wonderful World

November 13, 2014

‘Sari-jeepney’ hailed first Doodle 4 Google Philippines winner

“This is a sarimanok inspired idea. It symbolizes Filipino culture with deep appreciation of hard work and creativity. The concept is created to solve problems like traffic, economy, education and basic needs. The key on the tail signifies the solutions to the problems wherein we must fly high with pride and honor.” - Kim Patrick Saren, Nabunturan National Comprehensive High School.

Kim Patrick Saren, student of Nabunturan National Comprehensive High School, Compostela Valley came out on top of the nationwide contest, which saw 51,000 entries from all over the country answering the question, “What can I do for the Philippines?”

Kim belongs to the 15-17 age group category, was declared the overall winner of the first Doodle 4 Google (D4G) competition in the Philippines with his entry, Sari-Jeepney.

Launched last July, D4G encouraged students and learners to look beyond themselves and imagine what they can do for the country. The entries were judged in three categories: artistic merit, creativity, and theme communication.

Aside from Kim, three other winners were picked per age group. Angela Kaitlin Tiu’s "Love and Care for the Philippines,” Avryll Nartates’ "Coral Ripped or Coral Reef?", and Jay Portallo’s "Symphony for Peace” won for the 5-8 years old, 9-11 years old, and 12-14 years old categories, respectively.

“Through the competition, we saw the depth of the Filipino youth’s insight, creativity, and innovation. They are very keen on the idea of nation-building,” said Ryan Morales, Google Philippines Country Marketing Manager.

“The doodles reflect the aspirations of the nation over pressing issues—from solution to flooding to environment protection to food for the poor, value of education, culture preservation, and global competitiveness.”

The Doodle 4 Google announcement of winners with fun and creative activities
held at the SM Mall of Asia, November 7, 2014.

Kim’s doodle will be displayed on the Google Philippines homepage on November 10, 2014. He also took home a specially designed trophy by Google, a PHP 400,000 educational grant from BPI Foundation at any school/college in the Philippines, an art kit from National Bookstore, and an Acer C720 Chromebook. PLDT-Smart Foundation will also provide a PHP 350,000 connectivity grant for Kim’s school, Nabunturan National Comprehensive High School in Compostela Valley.

The age category winners received various prizes including a medal from Google, a Nexus 7 tablet, a 3D doodling pen, and PHP 5,000 worth of gift certificates from National Bookstore.

The pool of entries was narrowed down to 10 per age category by judges comprised of teacher and 2009 CNN Hero of the Year Efren Penaflorida, TBWA-Santiago Mangada Puno Senior Art Director CJ De Silva-Ong, PLDT-Smart Foundation, Inc. President Ma. Esther Santos, and BPI Foundation, Inc. Senior Vice President and Executive Director Fidelina Corcuera. An online public voting determined the age category winners, from which Google Doodler Katy Wu picked the overall winner.

Google's innovative search technologies connect millions of people around the world with information every day.

Doodles are the fun, surprising, and sometimes spontaneous changes that are made to the Google logo to celebrate holidays, anniversaries, and the lives of famous artists, pioneers, and scientists. The tradition originated in 1999, and creating doodles is now the responsibility of a team of talented illustrators (Google calls them ‘doodlers’) and engineers. Together they design the dynamic and vibrant doodles that are displayed on the Google homepage.

For an archive of dodles, visit google.com/doodles.

For more information, visit www.google.com.

More pictures Here.

Christian Bautista's "SoundTrack" this Saturday

Asia’s Romantic Balladeer Christian Bautista is back with a new album “Soundtrack,” produced by Universal Records.

Christian’s new album includes memorable theme songs from the most romantic movies of all time.

The album’s first single Up Where We Belong, the theme from the movie “An Officer and a Gentleman,” has already been chosen by GMA as the theme of its newest koreanovela “Empress Ki.”

Christian also bared his heart in his rendition of “A Thousand Years,” theme of the phenomenal hit movie series “Twilight.”

He also showed his edgier side in “Kiss From A Rose,” theme from “Batman Forever.”

Christian also tapped some of the best female singers to collaborate with him. Former sweetheart Rachelle Ann Go joins him in their rendition of “The Way We Were.”

Perennial stage leading lady Karylle performs the romantic “After All” with Christian. This is the first time the two performed a studio duet together.

Julie Ann San Jose and Christian went “Cruisin’” in a new duet, while Nikki Gil lent her beautiful voice in the duet “Come What May.”

The launch of the album “Soundtrack” will be launched this Saturday, Nov. 15, 7:00 p.m., Eastwood Mall Open Park.

Here's Christian Bautista's SoundTrack:

1. Come What May (duet with Nikki Gil)

2. Up Where We Belong

3. How Deep Is Your Love

4. When You Say Nothing At All

5. After All (duet with Karylle)

6. A Thousand Years

7. Cruisin’ (duet with Julie Ann San Jose)

8. Way Back Into Love

9. Love Is All Around

10. The Way We Were

11. Kiss From A Rose

12. Unchained Melody

Bonus Track

13. Seasons of Love (Theme from the series of the same title)

November 12, 2014

The Galeón: a New Museum to rise in Manila

The SM Group of Companies in collaboration with Museo Del Galeón, Inc. held today the ground-breaking ceremony for The Galeon, enivisioned to be a worthy addition to the community of museums, to open in late 2015.

Acapulco Galleon Museum will be a cultural facility with an 8,000 sqm. Total exhibition space, featuring a full-scale reproduction of a magnificent galleon. Unlike all other galleon reproductions attempted before in the Philippines, the new museum bases its reproduction on a very precise set of naval architectural plan published in 18th century Manila.

“What was then just an idea is now fast becoming a reality,” said Hans T. Sy, president of SM Prime Holdings, Inc. When briefed on the project, Hans T. Sy graciously offered a beachfront location in the Mall of Asia complex as the site for the museum. The support given is towards facilitating the circulation of vital knowledge of the first globalization of trade and commerce, in which the Philippines and Mexico were polar points of activity.

The Galeón will convey accurate, exciting information that will throw light on the roots of today’s banking, shipping, commerce, and cultural exchange in the Pacific region. Silver, gold, and potatoes from the Americas and wine, tools, and furniture from Europe were traded for Asian silk, spices, and ceramics in global circuits that are still used today by more than 40 modern nations.

Bronze coins were brought to Manila from Mexico and Peru for the Asian trade.

17th -18th century Bronze Cast, Signal cannon - Used to signal the sighting of ships, whether friend or foe.

The 300 year exchange produced extraordinary cultural change on both sides of the Pacific. Notably, the thousand year old tradition of boat-building in the Philippine archipelago transitioned into ship-building according to European design.

When Madame Margarita Zavala, spouse of former Mexican President Felipe Calderón, visited the Philippines in 2011, she enthusiastically endorsed the plan to build a galleon museum in Manila.

His Excellency Ambassador Julio Camarena of Mexico and Hans T. Sy initiated the ground-breaking ceremony at the Mall of Asia. Also present was Pasay City Mayor, the Honorable Antonio G. Calixto. The program featured Ms. Marian Roces, Lead Curator of TAO Inc. as the keynote speaker, and Senator Edgardo J. Angara who is also a member of Museo Del Galeón, Inc.

Upon completion, The GALEÓN will command magnificent views of the glittering Manila Bay. Construction will begin November 2014 with completion expected on the last quarter of 2015.

Michael Bublé – Live in Manila 2015

Michael Bublé – Live in Manila 2015 presented by Wilbros Live with Dainty Group International, to be held at the Mall of Asia Arena on January 31st 2015.

Michael had several hit singles that Filipinos love, including “Home”, “Sway”, “Everything”, “Haven’t Met You Yet”, and the 2013 smash song, “It’s A Beautiful Day.”

Michael Bublé, the four-time Grammy award winner and Canadian superstar, is returning to Manila as part of his World Tour.

It’s been more than 10 years since Michael’s last concert in Manila and he is very excited to come back and serenade Filipino fans with his much loved, chart-topping songs.

Michael Bublé has been selling out Arenas across the globe, making this show one of the year’s hottest concert tickets. In London, he was originally slated to do six nights at the London’s O2 Arena, but had to add four extra shows when the first run sold-out in just five minutes!

“No one can accuse Michael Bublé of being anything but a crowd-pleaser,” The Telegraph raved, adding that the Canadian superstar “had the audience shrieking in appreciation”.

“This feel-good show was complete. Maybe nice guys don’t finish last, after all,” the London Evening Standard concluded.

Besides Europe, America, Australia and New Zealand, Michael will now extend his fifth concert tour and biggest ever to Asia – to include stops in Manila, Hong Kong, Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, Jakarta, Seoul, Tokyo, and for the first time ever, Shanghai.

But, of course, it’s all about the music, with the tour celebrating Michael’s latest chart-topping album.

“My new record is about love, happiness and fun,” Michael says.

Released in April 2013, To Be Loved debuted at number-one on the Billboard 200, becoming the crooner's fourth consecutive number-one album on the chart. Produced by fellow Canadian Bob Rock, To Be Loved features the hit single “It’s A Beautiful Day” – co-written by Michael – plus his interpretations of the Bee Gees’ “To Love Somebody”, Elvis Presley’s “Have I Told You Lately That I Love You?” and Randy Newman’s “You’ve Got A Friend In Me”. Reese Witherspoon also joins him for a delicious version of “Something Stupid”.

“I think it’s the best album I’ve ever made,” Michael says. “I know every artist on earth says that when their new album is coming out but, really, this time it’s true. I swear. You can ask my mother.”

Michael’s Christmas album was in the first place on the Billboard 200 for the final four weeks of 2011 and the first week of 2012, totaling five weeks atop the chart. It also made the Top 5 in the United Kingdom. With this, Christmas became his third consecutive number-one album on the chart.

Michael Bublé is always striving to make better albums and do better shows.

“Do not think I take my success these last 10 years for granted. I was anything but an overnight sensation, which inspires me to deliver big time for my fans – maybe even make some new ones this time out.

“Trust me, there’s no sitting back, no phoning in for me.”

The multi-awarded singer adds “I just love getting in front of people. It’s so important to be in touch with your audience. They’ve paid their money; I want them to be entertained. If they want to cry or laugh or dance or sing or yell, they can do whatever they want. My responsibility is just to take them away.”

Tickets to Michael Bublé – Live in Manila 2015 will be on-sale on November 14, 2014 via www.smtickets.com or call 470-2222 or 374-22222.

November 9, 2014

Snowlebrate the holidays with the Looney Tunes at SM City Bicutan! #MerrySMChristmas!

Let's Snowlebrate the holidays with the most iconic cartoon characters at SM City Bicutan! You want to meet Looney Tunes characters like Bugs Bunny, Daffy Duck, Porky Pig, Elmer Fudd, Tweety and Sylvester ?

Yesterday (November 8) at the SM City Bicutan, kids and the whole family dreaming of a white Christmas enjoyed a treat to a Looney Tunes Show Snowfest. The mall’s event center has been magically transformed into a Looney Tunes snow village, where mallgoers snowlebrate to their heart’s content.

During the opening of the Snowfest, the people enjoyed as a beautiful lady from the Pinoy Big Brother, Jane Oineza gave catchy and joyful song and dance presentation.

At the Looney Tunes Snow Village, the young and young-at-heart can take a trip to Granny’s House and cuddle up to life-size versions their favorite characters, Tweety and Sylvester.

They can also experience the magic of a snowy Christmas at the walk-in snow globe and take countless selfies with interactive snow. Those who want to find out whether they have been naughty or nice this year can ask the Man in Red himself during the meet and greet with Santa Claus.