All glitter and glamor at 2nd Virtus Awards

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It was a night full of glitz, glitter and glamor, as if the “Oscars” were held in the Philippines.

The crème de la crème among sales and marketing professionals in the hospitality industry gathered to witness the birth of exceptional and innovative hotel sales and marketing talent at the 2nd Virtus Awards held at the Novotel Hotel Manila in Cubao, Quezon City.

Novotel Manila’s Grand Ballroom was the perfect stage for hotel sales and marketing people to converge and give due recognition to the best among them. The Hotel Sales and Marketing Association (HSMA), organizer of the Virtus Awards, spared no expense in making sure that the best and the brightest will relish the moment as their names and the properties they represent were called on stage to receive their award.

A total of 4 awards—3 individual and 1 team award—were handed out to deserving hotel sales and marketing people, whose efforts shone exceptionally well amid stiff competition from other finalists.

The big winners at the 2nd Virtus Awards include Ma. Trixie Ong, Sales Accounts and Events Executive of Best Western Hotel La Corona Manila, awarded as the Virtus 2016 Outstanding Sales and Marketing Associate, while June Kelly Ichinomiya, Assistant Director of Sales, Japanese Market, The Bellevue Hotels and Resorts, was voted Virtus 2016 Outstanding Sales and Marketing Manager. Marivic Recio, Group Director of Sales and Marketing, also from The Bellevue Hotels and Resorts, was awarded Virtus 2016 Outstanding Sales and Marketing Leader.

For the last award of the night, the Virtus 2016 Outstanding Marketing Campaign award was given to Radisson Blu Cebu for their “Something Blu, A Wedding of a Kind” campaign. For just two weeks, Radisson Blu became the preferred venue of more than 30 weddings and contributed substantial revenues close to Php 9 million to Radisson Blu’s coffers. 

Radisson Blu Cebu’s signature concept was given recognition since brought weddings to life via customized packages that fit clients’ styles to make it sophisticated, stress-free and flawless from start to finish.

The task of choosing the finalists and eventual winners fell in the hands of some of the most distinguished personalities from various sectors such as the academe, government and private sector who acted as jurors. These include Ma. Corazon Jorda-Apo, Director, Market Development Group of the Department of Tourism (DOT), Ma. Christina Aquino, Executive Director for Planning and Development, Lyceum of the Philippines University, Cesar Cruz, President of the Philippine Tour Operators Association (PHILTOA), Millie Dizon, Senior Vice President for Marketing and Communications, SM Retail, Inc., Leny Fabul, Executive Director, Philippine Hotel Owners Association, Inc., Henrietta Ho, Founder/Principal, Break Thru Solutions in Marketing, Cesar Jose Jesena, Head, Tenant Management Division, Shangri-La Plaza Corporation, Donald Patrick Lim, Chief Digital Officer, ABS-CBN Broadcasting Corp., Isabella Sy Palanca, Ph.D., President, The Mother Company, Lyn Gueco Tamparong, Past President, HSMA, and Ma. Concepcion Yabut, City Councilor, First District, Makati City.

Prior to the announcement of winners, the child performers in the local production of “Annie,” currently running at the Newport Performing Arts Theater, Resorts World Manila, serenaded the guests while former DOT Secretary Dr. Mina Gabor, Ph.D., currently the President of the International School of Sustainable Tourism and Honorary Consul of Maldives, provided updates and other developments with regard to sustainable tourism during her keynote address.

“The 2nd Virtus Awards was truly such a resounding success. Everyone anticipated the announcement of winners. But more importantly, the focus of the awards was the tremendous hard work and efforts put in by these sales and marketing professionals to make the properties they serve stand out from the rest. We applaud their determination to succeed and we hope their success serve as inspiration to others in the hotel sales and marketing field,” said Margarita Munsayac, President of the Hotel Sales and Marketing Association, Inc.

For more about the Hotel Sales and Marketing Association, Inc., visit hsmaph.com. 

KAIZEN Studios presents Fil-Am Director Anthony Diaz V film : “BREAK” ( crime, drama, love story and action film )

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KAIZEN STUDIOS presents “BREAK” a crime, drama, love story and action film written and directed by Anthony Diaz V, who is also the lead star of this full feature film. 

“BREAK” is a story of a young Japanese-American man who crosses the line with the underworld element in Tokyo, while dealing with his own personal struggle of being an outsider trying to fit in with Japanese society. The story is told with the backdrop of the American and Japanese Hip-Hop & Rap scene.

 

The 1st Hollywood style movie that was shot in Japan, with Japanese actors speaking both English & Japanese throughout the film, “BREAK”  movie caters to a Global Audience.

“BREAK” press conference on Saturday, November 19, 2016,  Power Plant Mall, Rockwell Center, Makati, Philippines

“BREAK” starring Anthony Diaz V, Namihiko Oomura, Kaede Ishizuka & Tohru Watanabe. Japanese rapper Ish-One and American rapper Crazy-T infuse hip-ho into the movie soundtrack and are also showcased in the film.

Anthony Diaz V discovered his love for film and has since completed dozens of short films starting from the young age of 15. This has given him a broad range of hands on experience through screen writing, directing, producing, acting and editing his own short films.

His passion for film-making led him to enroll at the University of Las Vegas Film School, USA (UNLV) where many famous movie directors and producers have taught. He graduated with high honors with a Bachelor Degree in Film in the year 2010 at the age of 20 making him the youngest graduate in the history of the program.

Anthony wrote, directed and acted in a short film called “Delusion” which was specially showcased at the UNLV Film Festival. The next film he wrote, directed and acted in is called “Forgotten Heroes.”This film is about the war in Afghanistan and how it affects a U.S. military family. It received rave reviews and has played at various movie festivals and is under consideration to be showcased at Capitol Hill in Washington D.C.

“BREAK” press conference on Saturday, November 19, 2016,  Power Plant Mall, Rockwell Center, Makati, Philippines 

In 2012, Anthony started a film production company called Kaizen Studios in Las Vegas, Nevada USA. In 2013, he also established Kaizen Studios Co., Ltd. in the Shibuya District in the heart of Tokyo, Japan. He recently completed an Independent Hollywood movie, called “BREAK” in which he wrote, directed and acted in which uses Japan as a backdrop. He is currently in Pre-Production for his next film to be produced in Tokyo and is also playing the Lead Actor in an upcoming Gorio Vicuna Film. Anthony Diaz V has been visiting Japan each year since the age of 8, which has greatly influenced his journey in the world of film.

"When I was a kid, my family had movie night every Friday. After every film I would ask my parents..."what motivated the characters actions?" At age 8 my dad let me watch The Godfather, Taxi Driver, Reservoir Dogs, Pulp Fiction, El Mariachi, The Shawshank Redemption etc. Films that many kids my age at the time wouldn't be interested in. Also, for as long as I can remember, I along with my brother and sisters would always re-enact movie scenes and quoted movie lines everywhere we went," shared Anthony Diaz V regarding his journey in films.

"I always wanted to be an actor first and was in school plays since I was 5 years old, in Kindergarten. I thought that actors were the extent of the "movies." Not realizing till later on that there was a whole process behind what we see on screen. So when I became aware of the process, thats when I asked my dad for a camera and he gave me a cheap China made digital 4MB SD card palm camera," said T-Boy, as Anthony is called.

""BREAK" was actually inspired from a short film I made when I was 17 years old called "Lunch Break" which I shot with my high school friends in Vegas. The premise of the story is similar, but I expanded the universe and characters against the backdrop of Japan. 

This film is really unique as it blends American storytelling with Japanese cinema infused with hip-hop. Its the first time to my knowledge that a film has simultaneous English and Japanese language throughout the movie with supporting subtitles.

But most importantly, the overall theme is of a foreigner trying desperately to fit in. It is what most of us have experienced in some form or another."

Anthony (T-Boy) hopes “Break” will be chosen to compete at the next Sundance International Film Festival.

“We are waiting for the announcement in December. This is my first submission, but I’ve attended the festival several times, years ago. The event is the perfect place to meet new people I can learn a lot from. Also, most film buyers and distributors attend Sundance more than any other film festival in the world. So if you are accepted into Sundance, it’s the closest to hitting a home run.”

Catch "Break" at the nearest theaters nationwide. 

For more info and updates, visit  Anthony DiazV Info@kaizenstudios.com 

Facebook.com/anthonydiazv www.thebreakmovie.com

and

https://www.facebook.com/myrns.roman/videos/10209196441641125/

Enjoy abundant, hassle-free holiday banquets with Kenny Rogers’ Holiday Feast

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Christmas is near! Are you ready for the holidays ? To enjoy this joyous time, make your do lists, plan for parties, gifts and the most important.... food ! 

Here's to share the Merry Kenny Christmas Holiday Feast. Enjoy abundant, hassle-free holiday banquets with Kenny Rogers’ Holiday Feast! 

The holiday season has always been the busiest and craziest time of the year. You can see people from all walks of life searching for ways to paint the town red— whether through organizing annual family reunions, hosting barkada Christmas dinners, or scouting for a sweet date spot to celebrate the joyful season with a loved one.

Indeed, there’s no better way to savor the year’s most wonderful season than by spending quality time with the entire family or barkada over festive meals, endless exchange of stories, and unforgettable conversations. This year, take the hassle out of planning, shopping, and preparing satisfying, deliciously healthy spreads for the family or the entire barkada with the new Kenny Rogers Holiday Feast. 

Specifically “curated” to deliver complementing flavors and textures, the new Holiday Feast is perfect for both solo eaters and big groups of six or ten people. There’s something for every member of the family, barkada, and office team, thanks to the mouthwatering array of Kenny Rogers favorites—including ribs, pastas, sides, and a Christmas spin-off of Kenny’s classic muffins: the Merry Kenny Muffins in Raspberry, Orange and Coffee Choco Chip flavors.

A group of six can opt for the P1,999 meal, which comes with one whole Roast Chicken or one bucket of OMG Unfried Fried Chicken, three Half-Slab Ribs, choice of Spaghetti or Carbonara Platter, six Regular Sides and Christmas Muffins, one bowl of rice, and one pitcher of drinks. This set offers amazing value, as all this deliciousness comes priced at only P333 per person – a total saving of P690!

For a bigger get-together, a group of ten can choose the P3,299 meal offers two whole Roast Chicken or two buckets of OMG Unfried Fried Chicken, four Half-Slab Ribs, choice of Spaghetti or Carbonara Platter, ten Regular Sides and Christmas Muffins, two bowls of rice, and two pitchers of drinks at only P329 per person – a total saving of P1,110!  

Kenny Rogers is also offering the Holiday Plate (P399), a solo meal ideal for the holiday season, which consists of a Quarter Roast Chicken or 2pcs Unfried Fried Chicken, Lasagna with Garlic Bread, Choco Mousse, choice of soup, muffin and a Regular Side. 

Deliver a sweet Yuletide message to loved ones by gifting them with a Merry Kenny Muffin treat! The Christmas Muffins are available in boxes of six (P75) or twelve (P150).

Kenny Rogers’ new Holiday Feasts take the hassle out of choosing meal components that will appeal to everyone in the family, barkada, or office team. Valuing Christmas as a joyful season to be savored, Kenny Rogers has carefully put together a spread that allows customers to create moments for kwentuhan, catching up, and laughter. After all, creating new memories together with loved ones is more fun and delicious when done over favorite meals.

With their new Holiday Feast, with a mouth-watering array of our favorites, we can now surely enjoy and celebrate this season with our loved ones with no hassle. Truly a wonderful Christmas this would be!

Start creating memorable bonding moments today by sharing the Kenny Rogers Holiday Feast, available in all Kenny Rogers Roasters stores nationwide.

Happy Holidays to all ! 

Sari-sari stores in the Philippines see a refreshing future with Coca-Cola

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It has been two years since Carmencita Aspiras turned around her home-based business – a sari-sari store that she used to help augment her family’s daily finances, including the allowances and requirements of her children who were earning their college degrees.

The Coca-Cola Company Asia Pacific Group president, John Murphy, joined the graduates of the Coca-Cola STAR Program in a toast to celebrate the success of the program in enabling women entrepreneurs increase their profit. Murphy is joined by TESDA Deputy Director General Rebecca Calzado, Coca-Cola Philippines President Diego Granizo, and Coca-Cola Philippines Sustainability Manager Gilda Maquilan.

Like most sari-sari stores in the country, Aspiras ran it for the first two years based on her own perception of how the business ought to be managed. But joining and completing the Coca-Cola 5by20 Sari-sari Store Training and Access to Resources (STAR) program in 2014 changed the course of her business, and her life.

“From earning P2,500 to P3,000 daily, by implementing what I learned from the program, my store now earns an average of P5,000 daily.

More than doubling her store’s daily earnings, Aspiras said that what struck her most in the Coca-Cola STAR program was how it helped her become a better wife, mother, and person. “I am what I am today because of the (Coca-Cola STAR) program. I was able to let my children finish school, business is thriving, and if not for the program, I wouldn’t have the opportunity to be here in front of you,” Aspiras said during a roundtable meeting with John Murphy, the president of the Asia Pacific Group of The Coca-Cola Company.

Coca-Cola STAR Program graduate Carmencita Aspiras welcomed The Coca-Cola Company Asia Pacific Group President John Murphy to her Baby’s Store in Taguig City. More than doubling her income, the program helped Aspiras achieve the dreams she had for her family, particularly for her children to finish their school.

Coca-Cola, with its 19 manufacturing facilities in the Philippines, and over 10,000 strong labor force, is proactive in promoting women empowerment through 5by20, a global initiative that aims to empower 5 million women worldwide by the year 2020. Locally, the 5by20 initiative targets the empowerment of 200,000 women through the STAR Program.

“It’s an honor for us to be here with you today. When the program was started, people inside and outside the company were wondering if it was possible to empower five million women around the world. Sitting here with you today shows that vision is being fulfilled by people like you. And your stories will continue to inspire us at Coca-Cola to continue with these programs,” said Murphy who was in the country along with other top executives of Coca-Cola for a three-day visit.

Murphy visited the various sustainability programs of Coca-Cola Philippines, particularly the Coca-Cola STAR Program. Earlier in the day, he visited Aspiras’ store in Barangay Wawa, Taguig City.

In that meeting, Murphy was joined by 10 women micro-entrepreneurs who have completed the Coca-Cola STAR Program as well as officials from the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA), led by Deputy Director General Rebecca Calzado.

The Coca-Cola STAR Program is implemented in partnership with TESDA, where women around the country can enroll and undergo the Basic Entrepreneurship and Gender Sensitivity Training at the STAR Center for Excellence operated and managed at the TESDA Women’s Center in Taguig City and other STAR Program trainings conducted in the regions.

MAROON 5 PERFORMS THEIR HIT SINGLE “DON’T WANNA KNOW” FEATURING KENDRICK LAMAR AT “2016 AMERICAN MUSIC AWARDS” ON RTL CBS ENTERTAINMENT

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Gigi Hadid and Jay Pharoah Will Host The Live Broadcast

MONDAY, NOVEMBER 21ST at 9:00am (8am JKT/BKK) on RTL CBS Entertainment

Pop music superstars Maroon 5 will be joined by platinum-selling artist Kendrick Lamar to perform their hit single, “Don’t Wanna Know” finale at the “2016 American Music Awards.” They join hosts Gigi Hadid and Jay Pharoah, as well as previously announced performers including James Bay, Fifth Harmony, Lady Gaga, Green Day, John Legend, Bruno Mars, Shawn Mendes, Twenty One Pilots, The Weeknd, special duets from The Chainsmokers and Halsey, and Ariana Grande and Nicki Minaj, and “The American Music Award of Merit” honoree and performer Sting. The “2016 American Music Awards,” the world’s biggest fan-voted award show, will broadcast live from the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles on Monday, November 21 at 9:00am (8am JKT/BKK), first and exclusive on RTL CBS Entertainment.

This will be Maroon 5’s fourth time performing at the American Music Awards. They first took the stage in 2004 to perform “Sunday Morning,” followed by “Won’t Go Home Without You” in 2007. At the 2011 AMAs, Maroon 5 took the stage with Christina Aguilera to perform “Moves Like Jagger.” They are 10-time AMA nominees and three-time winners: Favorite Adult Contemporary Artist in 2013 and Favorite Duo or Group - Pop/Rock in 2011 and 2012.

This year will mark Kendrick Lamar’s second American Music Award performance, first taking the stage in 2013 to perform a medley of “Swimming Pools (Drank)” and “Poetic Justice.” Kendrick Lamar is also a two-time American Music Award nominee.

Maroon 5 have solidified their position as one of pop music’s most enduring artists. The band captured their first of three Grammy Awards as “Best New Artist” in 2005 and have gone on to sell more than 17 million albums worldwide. Their releases have also gone gold and platinum in over 35 countries. Maroon 5 tallies its 12th Hot 100 top 10 with their newly released smash hit single “Don’t Wanna Know” featuring Kendrick Lamar, making them the most successful group on the charts history. The single also notably entered #1 on the Billboard Top Tracks, scoring the group’s third chart-topping start, and the single also rocketed to #9 on Billboard’s Hot 100 in its first week and reached #1 on iTunes.

Maroon 5 won over fans and critics alike with the hybrid rock/R&B sound they introduced on their debut album, Songs About Jane and their double platinum album, It Won't Be Soon Before Long. Their third studio album, Hands All Over, featured the anthemic “Moves Like Jagger,” which climbed to the #1 spot on the Top 40 and Hot AC charts, as well as claimed the #1 spot on the Billboard Hot 100 and has also gone on the become one of the best-selling singles of all time. Maroon 5’s fourth album Overexposed, quickly reinforced the group’s status as a powerhouse in popular music with all of the collection’s singles rising to the top of Billboard’s Adult Pop Songs chard. To date, the band holds the record for the most #1s – 11 – in the chart’s 20 year history. the charts. In support of the album, Maroon 5 also had one of the year’s highest grossing tours, with over 50 million dollars in ticket sales. The band’s current album, V, debuted at #1 on Billboard’s Top 200 chart and features the hit singles “Maps,” “Animals” and “Sugar,” all of which hit #1 on the Top 40 chart. The music video for the chart topping and GRAMMY- nominated single "Sugar" has logged over1.5 billion views to date. Maroon 5 is currently on their world tour which kicked off in February 2015. When the tour wraps at the end of 2017, the band will have played over 120 concerts in 30+ countries with more than 2,500,000 fans in attendance.

Platinum-selling, Grammy award winning artist Kendrick Lamar is one of the rare artists who has achieved critical and commercial success while earning the respect and support of those who inspired him. A native of Compton, California, Lamar caught the attention of CEO Anthony “TopDawg” Tiffith who immediately signed a young Lamar to his label, Top Dawg EntertainmenBeside fellow Top Dawg Entertainment artists Ab-Soul, Jay Rock, and ScHoolboy Q—a group whose members, for the most part, appeared on one another’s mixtapes and t. albums. Overly Dedicated (2010) was the first Kendrick Lamar mixtape and fared well enough to enter Billboard’s R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart that October. His first official album, Section.80 (2011), was released as a digital download the following year and entered the Billboard 200 at number 113. By that point in his career, Lamar’s reputation had been strengthened through guest appearances on dozens of tracks, and he had the support of veteran West Coast stars as well. During a 2011 con- cert, Dr. Dre & Snoop Dogg dubbed him “The New King of the West Coast,” a notion Dre endorsed more significantly by signing Lamar to the Aftermath label. Lamar’s good kid, m.A.A.d city was released in October 2012 and debuted at number two on the Billboard 200. Three of its singles—“Swimming Pools (Drank),” “Poetic Justice,” and “Bitch Don’t Kill My Vibe”—reached the Top Ten of Billboard’s Hot R&B/Hip-Hop chart, with each one enjoying lengthy stays on playlists of urban U.S. radio stations. More significantly, the album showcased Lamar as an exceptional storyteller capable of making compelling concept albums. When the nominees for the 56th Annual Grammy Awards were announced, Lamar was listed in seven categories, including Best New Artist and Album of the Year. Lamar remained active during 2013-2014, with touring as well as being sought after for several guest appearances by industry heavy-weights worldwide. In early 2015, he announced that his third album, To Pimp a Butterfly, was due in March with tracks featuring Snoop Dogg, Bilal, Thundercat, and George Clinton. A technical accident caused the digital album to be released eight days early, but it immediately earned rave reviews and topped the Billboard 200 with sales of 325,000 copies within its first week and has since been certified platinum. Lamar went on to win five Grammys for Butterflyincluding Best Rap Album. In 2016 Lamar released untitled unmastered., an album that closed the chapter on the Butterfly sessions. The album went on to top the Billboard 200 album chart.

The nominations for the “2016 American Music Awards” were announced last month, revealing that Drake leads with 13 nominations, while Rihanna received seven and Adele and Justin Bieber received five nominations each. Beyoncé and The Chainsmokers each received four nominations. Additionally, Bryson Tiller, Twenty One Pilots, Carrie Underwood, Fetty Wap and The Weeknd earned three nominations each.

The Artist of the Year nominees are Adele, Beyoncé, Justin Bieber, Drake, Selena Gomez, Ariana Grande, Rihanna, Twenty One Pilots, Carrie Underwood and The Weeknd. New Artist of the Year are Alessia Cara, The Chainsmokers, DNCE, Shawn Mendes and Zayn. 

At the American Music Awards, artists will be honored in multiple musical genres. Pop/Rock, Alternative Rock, Country, Rap/Hip-Hop, Soul/R&B, Adult Contemporary, Contemporary Inspirational, Latin, EDM and Soundtrack, are some of the genres alongside the awards for Artist of the Year, New Artist of the Year Un-leashed by T-Mobile and Collaboration of the Year. This year, new categories include Tour of the Year and Video of the Year, while Favorite Song categories in the genres of Pop/Rock, Country, Rap/Hip-Hop and Soul/R&B have been added in lieu of the Song of the Year category. 

American Music Awards nominees are based on key fan interactions as reflected in Billboard Magazine and on Billboard.com, including album and digital song sales, radio airplay, streaming, social activity and touring. These measurements are tracked by Billboard and its data partners, including Nielsen Music and Next Big Sound.

The American Music Awards winners are voted entirely by fans. Voting is now open in all categories.

The “2016 American Music Awards” is produced by dick clark productions. Allen Shapiro and Mike Mahan are Executive Producers. Larry Klein, Barry Adelman and Mark Bracco are Producers.

For the latest American Music Awards news, exclusive content and more, be sure to follow the AMAs on social and join the conversation by using the official hashtag for the show, #RTLCBSAMA.

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Twitter: @RTLCBSEntertain