Smile Train Enjoins Filipino Midwives’ Support for its Cleft Campaign

Smile Train, the leading cleft charity in the world, recently joined over 1,000 midwives from across the country and gathered at Naga City for the 2011 Integrated Midwives Association of the Philippines (IMAP) Convention. Smile Train encouraged the midwives to be more proactive in dealing with cleft lips and palates in their areas and share information on how they can help put bright, healthy smiles on the faces of children born with cleft lips and palates.

“One essential element in our goal of helping children born with clefts is early intervention. In developing countries such as the Philippines, midwives are usually the first – and sometimes, the only – healthcare professionals that our countrymen in rural areas encounter. We are very happy that we have been able to speak to so many of these important healthcare front-liners at this year’s IMAP convention because with their help, network and expertise, we know we can reach more children, especially the ones who may not know that help is available,” said Kimmy Coseteng-Flaviano, Smile Train’s Country Manager for the Philippines.

An estimated 4,500 Filipinos are born with a cleft annually, on top of an estimated 120,000 with unrepaired clefts to date. Smile Train has been offering free cleft surgery, a simple procedure that may take as little as 45 minutes, to poor Filipinos all year-round for the past 12 years. Last year, it performed over 4,400 surgeries in the Philippines through the help of 50 partner organizations, or an average of 12 cleft-related surgeries daily. The organization aims to reach even more patients this year by working with the IMAP.

“We at IMAP welcome this opportunity to provide another way of being of service to our patients. Being midwives, we are witness to how parents – regardless if they are in urban areas or the deepest corners of the country – equally want the best for their children, and how painful it is for them when they cannot get treatment simply because it is inaccessible or expensive. The free surgery provided by Smile Train that is available year-round in so many partner facilities across the country is a big, big help for patients who may otherwise just spend their whole lives as, what we call in the vernacular, bingot or ngongo,” said Patricia Gomez, President, IMAP.

The Smile Train presentation was well-received by the midwives, especially when Dr. Rico P. Nebres, a Plastic Reconstructive Aesthetic Surgeon and one of Smile Train’s accredited partners, showed different cases of cleft lip and palate in children and the end-result of beautiful smiles from the treated youngsters. According to Dr. Nebres, “The importance of operating on clefts goes beyond allowing the children to live healthier lives. It also paves the way for them to live lives free of stigma and hurdles. It only takes a simple surgery to do that and Smile Train offers it for free.”

To find out more about Smile Train and its partners in the nearest location, interested parties may call or send a message to 0917-52-TRAIN (0917-52-87246) or visit www.smiletrain.org.

About Smile Train

Smile Train is the leading cleft charity in the world, with over 1,000 partner hospitals in 80 countries. Over the past 12 years, Smile Train has provided over 650,000 free cleft surgeries in different parts of the globe, with its dedicated partner surgeons performing 300 surgeries a day. With this simple surgery, Smile Train is working to help children smile for the very first time, enabling them to explore, play with other children and go to school without being teased, thus, giving them a chance at life.

Did You Know? Indoor Air May Post Greater Health Risk than Outdoor Air

FYI. This is something that many of us haven't really thought about, or realized, before ...

Press Release:

Homeowners might find it surprising that indoor air can sometimes be worse than outdoor air. According to the U.S Environmental Protection Agency (U.S EPA), the air we breathe inside our homes can be two to five times worse than air outdoors. This stunning discovery is identified as posing an even greater risk to our health as most people spend 90% of their times indoors. Particles such as pollen, mold spores, dust mites, and other allergens, visible or not, carry viruses and bacteria that may harm us and our family’s health.

To make things even more surprising, some of the most widely-used cleaning methods, such as sweeping and vacuuming, can even increase the circulation of such particles. For moms, protecting the health and safety of their children is their primary concern. Even when they clean the house using the latest cleaning tools and equipments and having the best air quality would not undermine the existence of these dangerous microscopic things.

In order to reduce the amount of disease-carrying airborne particles, it is essential to use an air filter that can effectively combat some of the most pervasive airborne particles. Filtrete™ Home Filtration Products offer the most effective and trusted air filtering products in various sizes that can cover a wide range of filtration levels for those with or without forced air heating or cooling systems.

What separates Filtrete™ from other air filters is that the filters are electrostatically charged to act like tiny magnets, capable of attracting and capturing microscopic particles from the air as it passes through the filter down to 0.3 microns in size. This unique characteristic of Filtrete™ significantly outperforms fiberglass, which on the other hand, are washable, and generate no charge. Without these electrostatic properties, these filters can’t capture the smaller particles as effectively as Filtrete™. In addition, the electrostatic charged filters in turn will greatly reduce the risk of allergies, asthma attacks and respiratory problems; that is why Filtrete™ is highly encouraged and recommended by the American Lung Association as the brand of choice when it comes to air filtering needs.

3M Philippines Consumer, Home and Office Business Division Head (the manufacturers of Filtrete™) Vivian Faustino highly encourages homeowners with air systems to utilize Filtrete™. “As the American Lung Association highly encourages the use of Filtrete™ in our homes, so does Filipino families. The risk of airborne diseases brought about by these particles is great and having a trusted air filterer like Filtrete™ will definitely bring about great changes in our kids’ health and of our whole family as well,” she adds.

Filtrete™ Air Filtration Products consist of 1” Air Filters, Air Purifiers, 4” Air Filters, Air Purifier Replacement Filters and Room Air Conditioner Filters suitable to the needs of every homeowner. For more information on Filtrete™ and other products, log on to at www.filtrete.com.

*3M and Filtrete™ are trademarks of 3M.

Hugh Laurie, from “HOUSE” to “ARTHUR CHRISTMAS”

Hugh Laurie, one of television's most admired actors who's known as the controversial Dr. House, voices an animated character who seems as cranky and brilliant as the doctor on TV.

Press Release:

Known for possessing a keen eye for the complex characters he creates, actor Hugh Laurie currently brings that talent to his work on the critically acclaimed series, "House" and on Sony Pictures Animation Studio's upcoming 3D holiday adventure “Arthur Christmas.”

Hugh Laurie joins the cast as Steve, Santa Claus' eldest son. “Hugh is marvelous as Steve,” says co-screenwriter Sarah Smith. “The character is incredibly cool and slightly in love with himself – the kind of character that just doesn’t quite get it. But Hugh completely gets it, and gave us a beautiful and funny performance.”

“Steve isn’t the head of the operation. As part of the Claus family, he plays a subordinate Claus,” says Laurie. “But that is a terrible joke, unforgiveable, and if you use that, I will sue.”

Steve is the hereditary heir to the Claus reign. He’s extremely qualified for the job, having introduced high-tech efficiency, military-style precision and the S-1: a mile-wide, invisible sleighship. Steve has dreamed of being Santa all his life; he’s even redesigned the Santa suit into something more akin to Versace than Saint Nick. But Steve might still have a little catching up to do in the heart department.

“For Steve, running Christmas is the biggest challenge he could ask for,” says Smith. “It’s like he’s running FedEx, UPS, and an army, all at once. But he’s frustrated, because he can’t take what he sees as his rightful place as Santa Claus.”

“Steve takes himself a bit too seriously – he’s sort of laughable at times, because he gets it so wrong,” says Laurie, “But we all do that from time to time. He’s a very confident fellow who has plans for modernizing and updating the operation – he’s looking to run a state-of-the-art Christmas and he’s impatient with the softer, fluffier sides of the holiday. He’s driven to maximize the gift-giving. He might not have all the social skills you’d want in a boss, but he’s just doing things the way he thinks they ought to be done.”

* Opening across the Philippines in Dec. 8 in 3D and regular cinemas, “Arthur Christmas” is distributed by Columbia Pictures, the local office of Sony Pictures Releasing International. 

James McAvoy is Voice of Santa Claus' Son in “ARTHUR CHRISTMAS”

James McAvoy, the actor who played Professor Charles Xavier in X-Men: First Class, returns to the screen in a different role and medium ...

Press Release:

“Santa’s my dad!,” exclaims British actor James McAvoy who provides the voice to the title role of Arthur, Santa Claus' youngest son, in Sony Pictures Animation Studios' new, 3D family comedy “Arthur Christmas.”

“Arthur believes in Christmas, and not just because he’s been born into the family business,” says McAvoy. “He believes it in his soul – there’s nobody else in the world who cares about Christmas more than Arthur.”

“Arthur Christmas” at last reveals the incredible, never-before-seen answer to every child's question: “So how does Santa deliver all those presents in one night?” The answer: Santa's exhilarating, ultra-high-tech operation hidden beneath the North Pole. But at the heart of the film is a story with the ingredients of a Christmas classic – a family in a state of comic dysfunction and an unlikely hero: Santa’s youngest son, Arthur. When this amazing operation misses one child out of hundreds of millions, the least capable Claus embarks on a hilarious, exciting rogue mission against the clock to deliver the last present before Christmas morning dawns.

Despite living in a world devoted year-round to the business of Christmas, Arthur LOVES everything to do with the season. He is especially passionate about what Santa – who he adores as both dad and figurehead – means to children, whose identities sometimes get lost in the huge logistics of the operation. Trouble is, in the ultra-efficient, high-tech delivery operation of Christmas, Santa’s youngest son is a spare part. Allergic to snow and suffering from a fear of heights, reindeer, and high-speed travel, Arthur isn’t exactly a natural Claus. The family loves him – but has never quite known what to do with him. And although Arthur’s office in the Letters Department is a chaotic mess of snow globes and pictures of Santa, it’s a magical little corner where Arthur alone revels in the joy of it all.

“Arthur reads every single letter that comes to the North Pole, because he believes that every child deserves to receive a present at Christmastime,” says McAvoy. “You know, he’s relegated to the mailroom, because he’s caused a lot of accidents at the North Pole, but it’s just perfect for him – he gets to read these letters about the importance and the essence of Christmas, every second of every day.”

“Arthur cannot bear the idea of a kid waking up on Christmas morning and finding out that Santa didn’t come,” says co-screenwriter Sarah Smith. “Arthur sees the world through that kid’s eyes – it would be the end of the world.”

“Arthur is a fanboy and a workhorse for Christmas,” McAvoy continues. “He wouldn’t want to do anything else – he lives for Christmas. It’s exciting to play somebody that fulfilled because you get to keep increasing the energy, as the character tries to maintain that fulfillment.”

“The movie is really funny and very clever,” McAvoy concludes. “It’s ingenious, inventive, irreverent, different, and funny – I suppose that’s what drew all of us to do it.”

Opening across the Philippines in December, “Arthur Christmas” is distributed by Columbia Pictures, local office of Sony Pictures Releasing International. Visit www.sonypictures.com.ph to see the latest trailers, get free downloads and play free movie games.

Got Family and Parenting Questions? Ask the Nurture Network Experts and you might just win a Samsung Galaxy Tab!

Hey moms and dads! Here's a good resource for family and parenting concerns ...

Press Release:

How will I know if my child is ready for school?

Hi! Recently I read an article regarding the benefits of parsley, I made tea out of parsley and served it during dinner. Is it ok for my 4 year old son to also drink and munch parsley and other herbal plants? How about herbal medicines? Thank you.

My son isn't a big candy eater, but he does drink lots of juice. His front teeth are starting to become discolored. Is this because of the juice?

If you are a mother and have plenty of questions about parenting and child-rearing but do not have a reliable resource, then search no further!

Nurture Network, an online community for parents and an avenue to share parenting and family advice, is providing mothers with the means to ask the experts as many questions on family and parenting as they have – for free.

The Nurture Network experts are an accomplished panel of family and parenting advisors with their own unique expertise. The Nurture Network experts are: Dr. Joselyn Eusebio (Pediatrician), Dr. Joycelyn Frances Lara-Esguerra (Dentist), Ms. Nieves Serra (Dietitian and Nutritionist), Ms. Ma. Regina Tulio (Pre-School Teacher), Dr. Leticia Peñano-Ho (Psychologist), Ma. Isabel Sison-Dionisio (Parenting Expert) and Chef Carina Guevara.

But more than just getting answers to their questions, mothers and fathers can also win prizes through its “Ask the Experts” promo. Through the promo, parents can ask the Nurture Network experts family and parenting questions, and earn points via successful referrals they make after asking their questions. Participants will immediately get 1 400gm Aqiva box for every question to the expert and successful referral. Six lucky winners with the highest number of unique successful referrals will receive 1 Samsung Galaxy Tab and 6 months supply of Aqiva milk!

Just visit the Nurture Network website at www.nurturenetwork.com.ph, sign up to become a member, and refer your parent friends! Promo runs until 29 November 2011.

About Nurture Network

Nurture Network was designed to be a support site for parents who want nothing but the best for their families. It is a website community that was created to assist in all aspects of parenting and family life – whether it's about making meals, dealing with a child's tantrums, or being involved with his/her spouse in making sure the family is raised the way they prefer it. Nurture Network is created for parents, by parents, so they will always be sure Nurture Network has its best interests at heart. That's what Nurture Network is all about.

RCBC Bankard’s Big Garments Sale in Bulacan on Nov. 26 & 27, 2011

Sharing with you RCBC's BIG GARMENTS SALE event happening this coming weekend, November 26 & 27 at Meycuayan, Bulacan. It's a tie-up sale event with Startrends/TOPS (The Off Price Store). Big Garments Sale is usually exclusive to their members. They sell items from various signature brands at very, very low prices; as low as P100, said my PR contact.

This is a great sale for those who still need to go Christmas shopping. I was also told that they'll be serving snacks for the shoppers and that non-Bankard cardholders can enter by simply filling-out an application form.

Press Release:

There’s only a few more days till December! Have any of you started shopping for gifts already? If not, then you’re in luck! RCBC Bankard brings you the much-awaited BIG GARMENTS SALE for your early Christmas shopping extravaganza!

Make a mad dash to the warehouse sale and enjoy great shopping for everyone on your gift list. If you’re an RCBC Bankard cardholder, you can avail of exclusive 0% Installment for 3 months. Best deal ever if you have a long list of people to buy gifts for!

Mark the date and see you all there on November 26 & 27!

Featured Brands: Diesel, Tommy Hilfiger, H & M, Hollister, Aeropostale, G2000, Gap, Calvin Klein, Old Navy, Forever21, Lonsdale, Jack & Jones, Pepe Jeans, Emporio Armani, and Express.

Complete address: Block 4 Lot 3 Acefree St. Sterling Industrial Park, Iba, Meycauayan, Bulacan

Directions:

1. Take NLEX

2. Exit at Meycauayan

3. Turn left at Exit Rotunda towards Iba

4, Turn right into Sterling Industrial Park

5. Ask the guard for the directions to Acefree Street

6. The gate is color GREEN

BUM Celebrity Endorsers to Grace Cosplay Fashion Show on Nov. 25, 2011

I blogged about BUM Equipment last August to help spread the word about their Cosplay dress up contest. Tomorrow, be there at the fashion show event in MOA and get to see celebrities as well as have a chance to win nice prizes. More details below ...

Press Release:

Bea Binene, one of GMA 7’s youngest teen star together with ABS-CBN’s Empress Schuck and Dino Imperial will join BUM apparel’s biggest fashion show called “REVEAL YOUR DARKSIDE” on November 25/Friday, 6pm at the Mall of Asia Music Hall.

As BUM’s latest celebrity endorsers, BEA, EMPRESS and DINO will strut the runway wearing the latest Holiday Collection of BUM with “Cosplay” as theme of the show as culminating activity of BUM’s online Cosplay Contest launched last August 2011.

So Cosplay and BUM fanatics can expect a one-of-a-kind fashion event that would inspire them to express their angst, passion, and identity more freely through BUM’s Collection. Mall goers will enjoy BUM’s treats as early as 1pm with live games on screen. Shoppers can play live video games at the Music Hall venue and win fabulous prizes courtesy of our sponsors Netopia Internet Café and Ideal Vision. Register as early as 1pm and get a chance to win prizes in our event raffle such as NOKIA C1 cellphones, five (5) pieces of P500 GLOBE prepaid loads and BUM gift packs. Raffle draw will be held at exactly 6:30pm.

There will be special Cosplay contest during the event. Cosplayers who registered online for the BUM COSPLAY competition will have their catwalk presentation at 3pm. Three (3) winners will be chosen in the Male, Female and Mecha category/armored type cosplay. Winners will receive P 2,500 cash and BUM giveaways. For more information about the show, visit www.bumequipment.com.ph and like www.facebook.com/bumequip. 

Happy Feet 2 Toys in Jollibee Kids Meal for November - December 2011

These toys are cool! I watched the press screening of Happy Feet 2 last week and found it a really great film for the whole family. Now, kids can take home some of the memorable characters thanks to Jollibee :)

Press Release: Dance to the new adventure of Happy Feet 2 with Jollibee’s Ice Funcapes

Mumble and his gang of tap-dancing penguins are back and Jollibee is letting kids join in the Antarctic fun with the Happy Feet 2 Ice Funscapes -the first collect and connect Jollibee Kids Meal toys.

Fly, swim, climb, and glide with your favorite Happy Feet 2 characters. There are four toys to choose from-- Jumpin’ Diving Ramon, Erik’s Penguin Pool, Sven’s Super Climber, and Mumble’s Swerve N’ Slide.

Jumpin’ Diving Ramon launches “the Amigos” lead penguin up in the air by placing him on the launcher platform and pressing the ice button. Erik’s Penguin Pool lets you rotate the knob and make Mumble’s son swim across the pool. Press the lever on the side of Sven’s Super Climber that leads Mighty Sven to the top of the trail. And watch everybody’s favorite dancing penguin glide in Mumble’s Swerve N’ Slide. Go on the coolest adventures with your favorite Happy Feet 2 character, or complete the fun on ice by collecting and connecting all four.

Be the first of your friends to complete the set! Happy Feet 2 Ice Funscapes collectibles are available with every order of the following Jollibee Kids Meals: Yumburger (P80), Jollibee Spaghetti (P88), 4-Piece Chicken Nuggets Crunchers (P98), and 1-piece Chickenjoy (P103). Happy Feet 2 opens in cinemas nationwide on November 23. Promo runs from November 11 to December 10, 2011.

Kermit &, Miss Piggy in “TWILIGHT” Mode :)

These are some funny spoofs :) I can't wait to watch the movie early next year! It sounds like it's gonna be another good one.

Press Release:

In anticipation of the opening of the new family comedy “The Muppets,” Disney has just released new character posters taking a visual cue from “Twilight.”

Check out these hilarious images of Miss Piggy, Kermit the Frog and Rowlf as Bella Swine, Vamphibian and WereRowlf, respectively.

In “The Muppets,” the world's biggest Muppet fan, Walter, his brother Gary (Jason Segel) and Gary’s girlfriend Mary (Amy Adams) from Smalltown, USA, discover the nefarious plan of oilman Tex Richman (Chris Cooper) to raze the Muppet Theater and drill for the oil recently discovered beneath the Muppets' former stomping grounds. 

To stage a telethon and raise the $10 million needed to save the theater, Walter, Mary and Gary help Kermit reunite the Muppets, who have all gone their separate ways: Fozzie now performs with a Reno casino tribute band called the Moopets, Miss Piggy is a plus-size fashion editor at Vogue Paris, Animal is in a Santa Barbara clinic for anger management, and Gonzo is a high-powered plumbing magnate.

Opening across the Philippines on February 2012, “The Muppets” is distributed by Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures International through Columbia Pictures.

EXTENDED! Solo x Kenkoy x Online Model Search 2011

Last August, I blogged about Solo's launch of its new Pinoy Cartoonist Series featuring the classic character, Kenkoy. You can read that writeup here. I have a Kenkoy shirt in black with white comic strips printed in front and I observed that it usually gets peoples' attention whenever I'm wearing it because of the unique design. For links to the complete lineup of his and her Kenkoy merchandise, click here.

I like Solo's clothes because they fit me really well, especially the shirts for women. Just yesterday, I bought a Solo shirt at The Row during the Glorietta 5 sale. Too bad the sale has ended but, good news for the guys, Solo is still dropping prices to 30% off on men woven tops/polos (selected items only) from November 15 to December 31, 2011! 

In addition, if you are an inspiring model, read about the extension on Solo's model search below and join! Continue reading to find out also how you can win Solo gift certificates. 

 Press Release:

The search for the next faces of Solo for 2012 is EXTENDED due to popular request! Submission of entries is extended until November 30 and voting ends on December 2.

Solo Online Model Search gets bigger on its 3rd year as Solo celebrates and relive the greatest and most-loved comic character of all time KENKOY created by the Father of Philippine Cartoon Tony Velasquez.

 

Phoebe Rutaquio

After successfully launching Jaggy Tallada and Jhonna Flor as 2010’s grand winners and Mehran Khaledi and Phoebe Rutaquio as 2011's grand winners, we are now on search for two new faces of Solo to be officially unveiled in 2012.

Head over to the contest site www.solo.com.ph/modelsearch2011 and be part of this year’s search! You may be the next face of Solo by submitting your creative photo entries or by taking part by supporting and voting for your fave entries! Entries will be judged according to the following criteria: 30% Voter’s Choice and 70% Solo’s Choice (40% for Being Photogenic, 20% for Creativity and Styling and 10% Layout) for a total of 100%. 

Mehran Khaledi

The highest scorers: 10 Male Photo Entries and 10 Female Photo Entries will be the finalists. The top 20 finalists will have a go-see and interview with the judges. Cash Prizes and gift certificates await the grand winners for Best Male and Best Female Photo Entries, as well as their partner Graphic Artist/Photographer. There are also prizes for the lucky voters so keep your votes coming in and you might win Solo shopping GCs!

Get updates via Solo website, Facebook and Twitter pages. http://www.solo.com.ph/modelsearch2011/

"UNDERWORLD AWAKENING” U.S. Poster Revealed

Press Release:

Columbia Pictures' upcoming action horror-thriller “Underworld Awakening” brings a stunning new dimension to the epic battle between Vampires and Lycans, as the first movie in the franchise to shoot in 3D.

Take your first look of the film's first domestic (U.S.) poster which Columbia Pictures has just released.

Kate Beckinsale, star of the first two films, returns in her lead role as the vampire warrioress Selene, who escapes imprisonment to find herself in a world where humans have discovered the existence of both Vampire and Lycan clans, and are conducting an all-out war to eradicate both immortal species.

Also starring Stephen Rea, Michael Ealy, Theo James, India Eisley and Charles Dance, “Underworld Awakening” is directed by Måns Mårlind and Björn Stein and co-written and co-produced by original director Len Wiseman.

Opening across the Philippines in January 2012, “Underworld Awakening” is distributed by Columbia Pictures, local office of Sony Pictures Releasing International. Visit www.sonypictures.com.ph to see the latest trailers, get free downloads and play free movie games.

Nothing to Declare at Vargas Museum

Heads up art aficionados! This sounds interesting ...  

Press Release:

NOTHING TO DECLARE (NTD), an international art project aiming to contribute to contemporary discussions on migration will open at the University of the Philippines Jorge Vargas Museum, November 18, at 4pm and will run till 7 January 2012.

Participating artists are: Danielle Adair (USA); Magda Biernat (USA); EG Crichton (USA); Noel Soler Cuizon (Philippines); Phyllis Evans, David Freeman and Leila Hernandez (USA); Hannah Israel (Philippines/USA); Karen Marshall (USA); Frances Nicole Manzanero (Philippines); Christian “Bong” Ramilo (Australia) and Christina Quisumbing Ramilo (Philippines), Melissa Ramos (Philippines/Australia) Alwin Reamillo and Juliet Lea (Philippines/Australia), Angelika Rinnhofer (USA), Martin Sims (Australia) and Joo Woo (USA).

NTD@Vargas is one of a series of three exhibitions. The other exhibit venues are: Yuchengco Museum, 16 November to 29 January 2012; and BLANC Compound, 18 October to 12 November 2011. Each venue has a different set of artists, altogether totaling more than 50. Artists were selected from more than 100 submissions who responded to the Call for Proposals sent out in 2010 by a board of organizers and curators composed of Flaudette May Datuin, head curator and project leader(Department of Art Studies, College of Arts and Letters, University of the Philippines), Josephine Turalba (Dean, School of Fine Arts and Design, Philippine Women’s University) and Precious Leano (Executive Director, Filipino Visual Arts and Design Rights Organization or FILVADRO).

Each venue is headed by a team of curators, as follows: Vargas Museum, Leo Abaya (faculty, University of the Philippines College of Fine Arts and visual artist) and Tessa Maria Guazon (faculty, University of the Philippines Department of Art Studies); Yuchengco Museum by Claro Ramirez, Jr. (visual artist and artistic director for exhibitions and new media projects, lopez museum, faculty, international baccalaureate program, Southville international school), and Sharon Mapa Arriola (faculty, De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde School of Design and Arts); and Blanc Compound, Karen Ocampo Flores (Faculty, De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde, School of Design and Arts; Faculty, Asia Pacific College, School of Multimedia Arts) and Precious Leano.

The exhibitions are take-off points for guided tours, an essay writing contest, forums, training workshops and other education programs. For schedules and updates, please visit: http://nothing2declare2011.wordpress.com/

The UP Vargas Museum is open from Tuesday to Saturday, from 9am to 5pm except for the Main Gallery (except for scheduled group tours) which are as follows: Tuesday and Wednesday: 9am to 1pm; Thursday and Friday: 1pm to 5pm; Saturday: 9am to 5pm

While this schedule might pose limitations, the other galleries of the Vargas Museum may still be viewed within regular museum hours. The basement, ground floor, and third floor galleries will remain open throughout and continue to host changing exhibitions.

Admission fees: PhP 20.00 – UP students, alumni, faculty and employees; PhP 30.00 – Non-UP; Free – Every Wednesdays for UP students, alumni, faculty and employees

For inquiries and concerns on museum such as reservations and scheduling a group tour/visit, please visit http://vargasmuseum.wordpress.com/visiting-the-museum/schedule-a-tour/. For other details: log on to http://vargasmuseum.upd.edu.ph/ 

Brad Pitt & Matt Damon are Will & Bill in HAPPY FEET 2

I love eating shrimp but would probably refrain from eating a couple if they have the voices of Brad and Matt :p

Press Release:

Warner Bros.' animated adventure “Happy Feet 2” introduces new characters of every dimension, from the largest scale to very tiny creatures.” In fact, the tiniest of the film’s creatures are voiced by two of today’s biggest stars: Brad Pitt and Matt Damon as Will and Bill The Krill.

One of the film's most spectacular adventures is undertaken by the small fry. “It's the journey of two tiny krill, Will and Bill,” director George Miller says. “They live in a great biomass of billions and billions of krill that move with the tides…they're the bottom and the basis of the food chain. Every animal up the chain relies on krill. And in the middle of these indistinguishable billions are Bill and Will, played by Damon and Pitt. Will decides that he feels he's different from everyone else around him and he ventures outside the swarm. Will wants to evolve higher up the food chain. Bill, on the other hand, is terrified. He just wants to stay and continue to behave exactly like all the other krill.”

Miller was happy to have the opportunity to pair Damon and Pitt in the recording studio to capture both their irrepressible banter…and their singing. “They were really very free, working off each other, because they know each other so well. Matt Damon can sing, and Brad Pitt made it really clear upfront he couldn’t. But Brad just said, ‘This is a no-shame zone; I’m just going to go out there and give it a go,’ and he did remarkably well. His singing is in the movie.”

Damon admits, “The singing was a bit of a surprise. It was fun to just go for it and say, ‘What the hell?’ It’s definitely not my strong suit, but I figured, you gotta go loud or go home.”

It was lucky for the filmmakers that both Pitt and Damon were available to record together in the same studio. And both actors agree they were fortunate to have a filmmaker like George Miller to guide them. Damon observes, “There is a contagious fearlessness that comes from George. You see a guy who loves the project that much and you realize that what made the first movie great is that spirit. Brad and I were doing stuff we’ve never done in any kind of movie, animated or not. We left there thinking, ‘Now that was cool!’”

Co-producer Doug Mitchell adds, “We learned later on that Brad’s and Matt’s kids are fans of the first film, and I think it is safe to say that they had a lot to do with them taking the roles.”

One should never undervalue the contribution of the small. Filmmakers learned that lesson, as Bill Miller comments, “Do not underestimate the power of children to pester their parents to act in a film. Matt Damon told us he hadn’t even cracked open the screenplay to ‘Happy Feet Two’ before his daughter said, ‘Dad, you’re doing it.’ Matt really had no choice.”

Opening across the Philippines on Nov. 23 in IMAX 3D, 2D and regular theaters, “Happy Feet 2” is distributed by Warner Bros. Pictures, a Warner Bros. Entertainment Company.

Elijah Wood & Robin Williams Return in “HAPPY FEET 2”

I'm sure Robin Williams will bring the house down once again with his dose of humor and witty dialogues :)

Press Release:

Original “Happy Feet” cast members Elijah Wood and Robin Williams return to breathe life to beloved Penguin characters in Warner Bros.' adorable sequel, “Happy Feet 2.”

In the film, Mumble -- The Master of Tap – has a problem because his tiny son, Erik, is choreo-phobic. Reluctant to dance, Erik runs away and encounters The Mighty Sven—a penguin who can fly! Mumble has no hope of competing with this charismatic new role model.

Elijah Wood reprises the role of the masterful tap-dancing penguin, whose unique talents have captured the hearts of so many. “I knew that George would never do a sequel unless it was something that he felt was true to the original story and that there was another compelling story to tell.”

In fact, the same things that attracted the actor to the original film have been reprised in the sequel. “There are beautiful environmental themes throughout, pointing to the change that is occurring in our world now, and how it’s affecting our precious animals,” Wood continues. “George handles it so well, just as he did in the first film. It’s woven into the piece in an organic way, along with the themes of love and identity. I think it’s especially good for young people to see a film like this and recognize that it’s ultimately the things that differentiate us from others that are our strongest defining characteristics. Those are qualities to be celebrated, not ashamed of.”

Mumble’s best friend also returns in the sequel: Ramon, the talkative Adelie penguin, who has been drawn to Emperor Land because he finds the senoritas altas alluring. Too bad they find him alarming.

Robin Williams again voices Ramon. “He is basically still the same incurable romantic. He still loves las chicas, but he has not found the bird of his dreams. And yet, he still has an image that he is a gift to all females, that they want him in the worst way. The Adelies all are very, very machismo; so though he is small, he is fierce.”

According to co-screenwriter Gary Eck, “Robin Williams just brought so much to the table. He came up with these lines, and we sit there and you say, ‘That’s great! We’ll use that! Sure, we spent eight months coming up with that line, but you just made it even better in two seconds. So, thank you!’” he laughs.

No matter how macho he is, a penguin can only take so much rejection from the opposite sex. Realizing he’ll have no luck with the Emperor ladies, Ramon journeys back to Adelie Land, where he finds that things have changed. Not only is the ‘New Adelie Land’ full of many different species of penguin, the place is more colorful—with patches of green peeking through the snow. And so is Lovelace, the guru Rockhopper Penguin who now sports a crazy rainbow sweater.

Lovelace is also voiced again by the multi-talented Williams, who points out, “Lovelace was rescued from an oil slick. A penguin loses buoyancy in a slick, so he was scrubbed up by humans—who the penguins refer to as ‘the aliens.’ But after being cleaned up, penguins lose some of the warmth of their feathers, so there are folks who knit little sweaters for rescued penguins. They can’t swim in them, but until they’re ready for release, they wear them. Lovelace’s is striped; he looks like a tiny colorful Rasta penguin.”

Opening across the Philippines on Nov. 23 in IMAX 3D, Digital 3D and regular theaters, “Happy Feet 2” is distributed by Warner Bros. Pictures, a Warner Bros. Entertainment Company.

Marathon Runner Goes the Distance with Cebu Pacific

My hubby started joining races a few months ago. You can read all about his running adventures (and misadventures, LOL) in Trails Unlimited, his own blog. I'm sure he and his other runner friends would also like to join races in other countries in the future. It's nice to know that Cebu Pacific has some of the lowest fares to make that possible.

Press Release:

Jinoe Gavan knows all about going the distance. Five years since he first put on his trainers, the marathon veteran dishes out tips to newbies, weekend runners, and other enthusiasts on his website takbo.ph. Having successfully conquered the country’s major runs such as the Cebu Marathon, Quezon City Marathon and Condura Marathon, Jinoe has gone on to race in some of the more prominent marathons in the region.

“(I participated in the) Standard Chartered Marathon in Singapore in 2009, and Hong Kong in 2010, where I clocked in my personal best of just under five and a half hours (5:29:46),” says Jinoe. Training for international marathons is no less rigorous than training for local runs: it begins with a training plan, keeping a log, building up mileage and studying the terrain, all while making good time.

As a runner, Jinoe is mindful of maximized routes, on-the-road safety, and sticking to the shortest possible time. Is it any wonder then that he looks for these same characteristics in his travel arrangements? With its expanding international itinerary, Cebu Pacific, the country’s pioneer in affordable airfare, has become a constant presence in Jinoe’s race across the archipelago and around the region.

“What I enjoyed (about my Cebu Pacific experience) is that the flights were on time, the journey was safe, all my bags and things were taken care of. I did not have major problems with the airline and I get to focus on the race, and the R&R,” he shares.

Jinoe admits that Cebu Pacific’s friendly prices have made marathons more accessible. “I was able to join a lot of events locally and internationally with the best rates from Cebu Pacific. It encourages runners to plan for and join marathons in other countries,” he adds. Cebu Pacific has year-round Go Lite Airfares to some of the region’s most popular running destinations including Hong Kong and Singapore, for as low as P2,999 per leg. With these affordable rates, Jinoe and his other runner-friends are able to squeeze in a few more days to relax, see the sights and celebrate another completed marathon. 

“I usually look for ice cream to celebrate. Then after a nap, I go out and find some local dishes to try, visit the attractions, and go shopping. International marathons attract a large number of participants, making the atmosphere very festive.”

Jinoe’s always on the lookout to improve his time, as well as explore new terrains. So what’s on the horizon for this seasoned runner? “(If the logistics prove feasible), I would love to join the Great Wall Marathon. It is said to be full of uphills and downhills, which is definitely a challenge,” he says. The Great Wall of China Marathon is scheduled for May 2012. Cebu Pacific has a thrice weekly Manila-Beijing-Manila flight with airfare beginning at P3,999.

While running along the Great Wall may be too daunting for first-time marathon participants, there are a number of races across Asia to suit runners of all inclinations. Standard Chartered holds annual marathons in Hong Kong and Singapore and also plays host to the Sundown Marathon, Asia’s only mass night running event. Cebu Pacific has multiple daily flights to these destinations, giving participants the flexibility they need for their pre- and post-run activities. Osaka City in Japan has two major runs scheduled for February 2012: the all-female Osaka International Ladies Marathon and the free-for-all Senshu International City Marathon. Cebu Pacific flies to Osaka thrice a week at the promotional rate of P3,999. Cebu Pacific also has two weekly flights to Bangkok and Shanghai, which runners can check into as a pitstop before heading on to the races in other parts of Thailand and China.

With Cebu Pacfic’s Go-Lite fares, taking the first step on a journey toward fitness and fulfillment has never been easier.

Hilary Swank, Katherine Heigl, Lea Michele Light Up “NEW YEAR’S EVE”

The previous post was about the guys of New Year's Eve. Here's balancing it out with details about the female cast members ...

Press Release:

If you can have Hilary Swank, Katherine Heigl, Michelle Pfeiffer and Lea Michele for the holidays, it won't be just another New Year's Eve. Director Garry Marshall assemble these talented ladies together for New Line Cinema's romantic comedy “New Year’s Eve” which celebrates love, hope, forgiveness, second chances and fresh starts, with intertwining stories told amidst the pulse and promise of New York City on the most dazzling night of the year.

The focal point of the film is the countdown to 2012, represented by the ceremonial “ball drop” in Times Square. Imagine one person being responsible for seeing that this spectacle goes off without a hitch, live, while the eyes of the world watch… and that would be Claire, portrayed by Hilary Swank.

Swank, who trained with her real-life counterpart for the role, admits, “I had no idea of what goes on behind the scenes. As an audience member you think someone pushes a button and it just happens, but there is so much that can go wrong. From the time you meet Claire to where the story ends there are a lot of dramatic and funny things that happen on that platform, any of which could potentially ruin the entire event—not to mention her career.”

As she struggles with the logistics of keeping it all on track, while holding the media at bay and trying to keep everyone’s midnight appointment with tradition, she is privately mindful of another important appointment she means to keep when all the hoopla is over.

Katherine Heigl plays Laura, the girl Jon Bon Jovi’s character, Jensen, let slip away. Although still hurt and angry about the way they parted a year ago, Laura has gone on with her life and earned her own measure of success, parlaying her culinary talents into a growing catering business. Tonight she’s handling her highest-profile job ever: an exclusive New Year’s Eve bash for the rich and famous… at which Jensen is scheduled to perform.

“It all comes to a head at the party,” says Heigl. “Their meeting is immediately contentious. Without warning, Laura just slaps him, out of nowhere, and storms off, and then you realize they have a history. They were serious about each other once but he moved on without any explanation. He broke her heart and she’s been harboring a lot of resentment ever since, just dreaming of the day when she could let him have it.”

Unbeknownst to Jensen, there could be more trouble ahead. Making her feature film debut, Broadway and television star Lea Michele appears as Elise, the rocker’s newly hired back-up singer, who just got unexpectedly delayed en route to the concert. It’s the worst possible luck, tonight of all nights, on the brink of her first big break. Adding insult to injury, Elise is stuck for the unknown duration with what appears to be the only guy for miles around who could make things even worse: the cynical Randy (Ashton Kutcher).

“It doesn’t start well,” says Michele of the strained exchange between Elise and Randy. “Out of the thousands of people celebrating that night, Elise can’t understand why she got stuck with this one. But as time passes they get to know each other a little. She’s a singer and he’s an artist so they discover that they have more similarities than differences. She’s also curious about what happened to make him feel the way he does.”

An expert on the subject of regrets, Ingrid is “a meek, unassuming soul who has walked the same small circuit of her neighborhood and worked the same thankless job without complaint her entire adult life,” says Michelle Pfeiffer, who takes on the role of the easily overlooked assistant. “Afraid of her own shadow, she’s carved out a simple, safe existence that won’t throw her any surprises.”

Even so, there are surprises in store for her. Ingrid has a heart-pounding brush with mortality and it turns her life around in a dramatic way. Reviewing a list of long-unfulfilled New Year’s resolutions, she finally summons the courage to quit her job, which is the first item on it, and embarks on a quest to cross off as many of the remaining items as possible before the clock strikes twelve.

Opening across the Philippines on Dec. 8, “New Year’s Eve” is a New Line Cinema presentation distributed by Warner Bros. Pictures, a Warner Bros. Entertainment Company.

Big Names Lead the Guys of “NEW YEAR’S EVE”

Looks like this movie has a good story and would showcase a lot of eye candies! :)

Press Release:

A formidable line-up of A-list actors have enlisted for the party of the year in New Line Cinema's romantic comedy “New Year's Eve.” They are Jon Bon Jovi, Robert De Niro, Josh Duhamel, Zac Efron and Ashton Kutcher.

Director Gary Marshall reunited with his “Valentine’s Day” screenwriter Katherine Fugate to bring audiences the quintessential film about the beloved holiday, “New Year's Eve.” “We wanted a story of first love and one of forgiveness, as well as stories about taking a risk, letting things go, revisiting an old flame, making amends, having a baby, starting fresh… with love being the mitigating force through all of them,” explains Fugate.

The focal point for all this “New Year’s Eve” action is the countdown to 2012, represented by the ceremonial “ball drop” in Times Square. But the ball drop is only part of the show. The evening’s headline act, rock superstar Jensen, is set to kick off the festivities at 12:01 following an earlier gig at a private party nearby. Jensen is played by the multi-talented Jon Bon Jovi.

But even single-named international rock stars have problems and what’s troubling Jensen on this festive night is a heartache he’s been carrying too long, over a woman he left behind for the wrong reasons. “Now he’s trying to think of a way back into her life, a way to get back into her good graces, if that’s even possible,” Bon Jovi explains.

Ashton Kutcher plays Randy, a too-cool-to-care killjoy who has nothing good to say about anything, and especially about New Year’s Eve, against which he seems to hold some kind of grudge. Kutcher admits, “He’s a bit of a jerk. His holiday plan is to stay home and avoid the whole celebration because all the amateur partiers are crowding the streets—all those guys who don’t go out all year and then suddenly go bananas on New Year’s Eve—and he thinks he’s above all that.”

The story then moves to a man who has reason to feel even more cynicism. Confined to a hospital bed, Stan, played by Robert De Niro, is an acclaimed photojournalist who spectacularly cheated death in war zones around the world throughout his hard-driving career but is now coming to terms with an enemy he can’t evade. Stan admits to having alienated everyone he’s ever known. Now, refusing treatment, he is determined to hold on just long enough to watch the ball drop in Times Square one last time. Alone.

Zac Efron plays a confident young bike messenger named Paul who shares an adventure with Ingrid (Michelle Pfeiffer), an overlooked assistant who finally summons the courage to quit her job. If Paul provides the wheels and resourcefulness Ingrid needs to beat the clock, then she, in turn, can offer him the one thing he covets most on this night of revelry: tickets to the hottest party in town, the Ahern Records Masked Ball. Intended for her ungrateful boss, the tickets were the last thing Ingrid purposefully picked up on her way out the door.

Efron sees Paul as “an energetic, fun-loving guy who prides himself on being a wheeler-dealer, a guy who gets things done and nothing breaks his stride. When Ingrid strikes this deal with him, he knows he’s definitely the man for the job. But along the way, the party becomes secondary to what turns out to be an amazing New Year’s Eve, and he spends every minute of it helping her and making her happy. It’s a real testament to the power of spreading joy.”

Meanwhile, as these stories unfold, one New Yorker is desperately trying to get back into the city for two very important appointments. Sam, played by a tuxedoed Josh Duhamel, has just attended his best friend’s wedding in Connecticut and is driving back, pondering the direction of his life, when he collides with a road sign. Out of towing distance and with no body shops or rental agencies available on this special day, he’s forced to take an unconventional route home that could turn out to be the course-correction he needs most.

The evening is especially meaningful as it’s the first New Year’s Eve his family is commemorating since losing Sam’s father, and Sam is set to speak in his place at their annual gathering. As much as this weighs on his mind, he also can’t help thinking about the fascinating woman he met by chance on this very night one year ago.

“She wouldn’t give him her number. She said things were complicated for her and that if he was still interested next year they could meet at the same spot, same time,” Duhamel reveals. “As much as he thinks it’s crazy and tries to dismiss the idea, he wonders if she’ll be there now… and if she’ll be looking for him.”

Opening across the Philippines on December 2011, “New Year’s Eve” is a New Line Cinema presentation distributed by Warner Bros. Pictures, a Warner Bros. Entertainment Company.

LG Takes On the Realm of Social Media

Last month, I got to experience the newest in LG 3D technology in such a fun and engaging way. You can read all about it here. 

Let me just express how much I appreciate LG for acknowledging the positive sides of online media  information dissemination and for trusting bloggers to help us spread the word about new products and innovations. Thank you LG!

Press Release:

Recognizing the ever changing movement in the digital sphere LG expands its communication touch point and engages online bloggers, the minutemen of the digital revolution, putting them at the forefront of experiencing LG Cinema 3D. “Social media is a new way of marketing, dare I say even a new way of thinking. Today’s consumer engagement involves garnering advice, reviews and recommendations by online bloggers and social media portals that offer firsthand experience on brands/products. It is a platform for many tech savvy personalities to get to know about a brand in a personal and dynamic way” said Karen Capellan, Head of Corporate Marketing, LG Electronics Philippines Inc.

The long term value of social media efforts has been recognized by the global leader. LG looks to invest more in engaging online communities and bloggers as part of their initiative to reach out to new customers as well as engage existing consumers.

Recently, LG hosted an intimate get-together for representatives of the online community. Through interactive games and activities, attendees experienced why LG is credited as the global leader and innovator of 3D technology with products like the Cinema 3D TV and its Home Theatre System as well as the Optimus 3D.

First-Look at Poster & Trailer of “Journey 2: The Mysterious Island”

I enjoyed watching the first movie starring Brendan Fraser. After watching the trailer of this sequel, I think I'd also enjoy watching this one :)


Press Release:

Warner Bros. jumpstarts the buzz for “Journey 2: The Mysterious Island” as it launches the film’s poster and trailer:

In this follow-up to the 2008 worldwide hit “Journey to the Center of the Earth,” the new 3D family adventure “Journey 2: The Mysterious Island” begins when young Sean Anderson (Josh Hutcherson, reprising his role from the first film) receives a coded distress signal from a mysterious island where no island should exist. It’s a place of strange life forms, mountains of gold, deadly volcanoes, and more than one astonishing secret. 

Unable to stop him from going, Sean’s new stepfather, Hank (Dwayne Johnson), joins the quest. Together with a helicopter pilot (Luis Guzman) and his beautiful, strong-willed daughter (Vanessa Hudgens), they set out to find the island, rescue its lone inhabitant and escape before seismic shockwaves force the island under the sea and bury its treasures forever.

“Journey 2: The Mysterious Island” also stars Michael Caine as Sean’s grandfather, Alexander Anderson, and Kristin Davis as Sean’s mom, Liz Anderson.

Opening in theatres beginning January 2012, “Journey 2: The Mysterious Island” is a New Line Cinema presentation, will be distributed by Warner Bros. Pictures, a Warner Bros. Entertainment Company.