New Worlds to Discover this July on SKYcable Select

Danger by Design, Swamp Brothers, Car Crazy Central and Toddlers and Tiaras on SKYcable Select!

Press Release:

SKYcable Select brings the family new worlds to discover with its line-up of informative and thrilling TV shows.

Death-defying stunts and outrageous circus tricks comprise a normal day of professional daredevil Nik Wallenda as he embarks on a mission to bring his famous family’s skill, passion, and showmanship to a new audience. Follow Nik and his family as he designs, tests, builds, and performs exhilarating and heart-stopping circus acts that defy the limits of physics in “Danger By Design,” which premieres on July 11 at 9 p.m on Discovery Channel (SKYcable channel 39). Enjoy this and other interesting bits of knowledge and amazing new insights into the world when you add Discovery Channel to your basic plan for only P50/mo.

Enter the glamorous world of child beauty pageants as cute little girls vie for the sparkly crown onstage in “Toddlers and Tiaras.” Tune in to SKYcable See how families battle it out for the prestigious pageant titles for their children as the show premiers on August 13, Monday at 8:30 p.m on Discovery Home & Health (SKYcable channel 121). Get hooked on “Toddlers and Tiaras” as well as other shows the feature the female experience by adding Discovery Home & Health to your basic plan for only P20/mo.

Get to know the passionate car guys as the ultimate car nut, Barry Meguiar, seeks out car aficionados and talk all about automobile essentials. Follow Barry Meguiar as he goes on a journey in discovering the world’s greatest automobiles and automotive events in “Car Crazy Central” which premieres July 28 (and every Saturday thereafter) at 8 p.m on Discovery Turbo (SKYcable channel 122). Add Discovery Turbo to your basic plan for only P20/mo to enjoy this show plus more features geared for motorheads.

With an ex-New York City boy and an 80’s metal scene veteran who is passionate about all things scaly, things are about to get soggy and swampy. Stephen and Robbie Keszey, an unlikely pair of brothers, take on one of the strangest family businesses – caring for slithering, savage and poisonous reptiles deep in the swamps of Florida. Join in on the action as these brothers tackle everything from gators and lizards to pythons and crocodiles on “Swamp Brothers,” which airs its new season Mondays at 9 p.m. starting July 2 on Animal Planet (SKYcable ch 40). Add Animal Planet to your basic plan for only P50/mo to get wild with the Swamp Brothers as well as enjoy more unpredictable and unscripted animal drama.

Imagine what more you and your family can discover and enjoy when you add channels to your basic plan through SKYcable Select, making your SKYcable subscription even better.

For more information, visit www.mysky.com.ph or call SKYcable’s customer service hotline at 02-3810000 (Metro Manila, CAMANAVA and Rizal), 046-4844701 (Cavite), 02-5208560 (San Pedro, Laguna) and 044-6935877 (Bulacan), 032-3452278 (Cebu) and 082-3055456 (Davao).

PRO-FRIENDS Transforms Lives in Lancaster Estates, Cavite

Looking for a house outside the metro? Check out this fast-rising community in Cavite ...

Press Release:

Owning a house in a complete community with recreation areas and parks and is easily accessible to the metro seems like a distant dream for most Filipinos. But what if this dream could be realized for as low as PhP850,000?

Engr. Joseph Mora, Jocelyn Guzman, Dr John Cabalo,
Augusto Leonardo & Richard Tay

Property Company of Friends, Inc. (PRO-FRIENDS), one of the fastest growing real estate developers in the Philippines, is helping Filipinos to easily own their dream homes by introducing Lancaster Estates, one of its flagship projects in Cavite.

Conveniently located within commutable distance to Metro Manila, Lancaster Estates stretches across 600 hectares, spanning Imus, General Trias and Kawit in Cavite.

Lancaster Estates is perfect for start-up families and young professionals with its wide array of nine house models to choose from at an affordable price range of PhP850,000 to PhP2,750,000.

Lancaster Estates offers quality townhouses with three bedrooms and single attached houses with three or four bedrooms, depending on the model.

What makes Lancaster Estates stand out is its line-up of amenities, facilities, and services that are geared towards the comfort and convenience of its residents. One of these facilities is the Leighton Hall, a clubhouse with swimming pool. PRO-FRIENDS also built The Church of the Holy Family so that residents will no longer have to leave their community to attend mass.

“PRO-FRIENDS aims to provide only the best amenities and houses to customers,” said Jocelyn Guzman, president of PRO-FRIENDS. “We believe in building not only houses but also lives and communities in all of our estates.”

Other facilities include concrete roads, commercial areas, a transport terminal, shuttle service with pay, an entrance gate, and a centralized water system. PRO-FRIENDS also takes pride in its linear park innovation that encourage bonding and camaraderie among its residents.

Residents who work in Manila need not worry because PRO-FRIENDS is commuter-friendly, with its proximity to places like the Manila-Cavite Toll Expressway (CAVITEX), 15-minute distance from the Coastal Road in Paranaque, as well as its accessibility to banks, hospitals and shopping centers.

Lancaster Estates also boasts of its newly-built school St. Edward’s Integrated School, under consultancy engagement with the Lasallian Schools Supervision Office, the implementing arm of the Lasallian Schools Supervision Services Association, Inc., De La Salle University, Manila.

This school year, St. Edward’s Integrated School is offering Kindergarten 1 and 2, Grades 1 to 4 for primary level, and Grades 7 and 8 for secondary level.

“This is just the beginning for Lancaster Estates. We have a lot more projects and additions to this development for the years to come,” said Guzman.

As one of the fastest growing real estates developers in the Philippines, PRO-FRIENDS continues to make a mark in the industry towards its thrust of providing quality amenities and lifestyle to its residents.

Beat The Rainy Season Blues With The Best Of July Programming From Nick!

New seasons of shows airing at the Nick channel this July!

Press Release:

This July, Nickelodeon is giving viewers more reasons to tune in to the Orange Tube with new seasons and special episodes of their favorite shows.

Sprinkle on the fairy dust with the magical return of the enchanting Winx Club this month! Back at the fanciful Alfea school for fairies, the Wizards of the Black Circle try to abduct Bloom. After a change of heart upon finding out that Bloom is not who they thought she was, the wizards leave Alfea threatening to capture the last fairy on Earth. Can the Winx manage to protect the chosen one? Find out in the all-new season of the Winx Club! starting July 2 at 4:30pm.

Missed all the Firebending force and Airbending action? Worry no more as the true Avatar emerges once again to battle the Fire Nation, who has waged a century-long war against the Water, Earth, and Air Nations. As it is his destiny to master all four elements and triumph over the Fire Nation, the playful yet reluctant hero teams up with a young Waterbender named Katara and her warrior brother Sokka on his quest to save the world. Get ready to handle the twists and turns as Avatar, the Legend of Aang Special stages a comeback on July 2 at 7:00pm.

While everyone may be busy with back-to-school activities, SpongeBob and his Bikini Bottom buddies are still enjoying vacation time. BFFs SpongeBob and Patrick take a trip to the Great Barrier Reef and Plankton and Karen go onboard a romantic cruise. Mr. Krabs and Pearl also pack their bags for an Ocean Mint getaway, Patrick sets out on a homebound holiday, and Sandy travels to an out-of-this-world destination. Experience that feeling of summer adventure again when Spongebob Runaway Roadtrip hits the small screen on July 13 at 6:30pm.

Weeknights will get its dose of dark mystery when Nina arrives at the Anubis House in time for the new term. She and her friends quickly learn that fun-filled homecoming parties aren’t the only events in store for them at the boarding school. Amidst drama brought by heartbreak and betrayal, the plot takes yet another dramatic turn when a new mystery presents itself. Rattling the energy inside the house is an ancient force, requiring Nina and the gang to be steadfast and inventive in accomplishing a series of high-risk tasks in their mission to get to the bottom of the house’s unsolved mysteries. Take a peek into what truly lies beneath the House of Anubis as Season Two begins on July 16, at 9:00pm.

The best of rainy season TV viewing await you this jolly month of July on Nickelodeon! For other highlights, check out www.nick-asia.com!

The Crooner’s Songbook: The Best Of RICHARD POON

A compilation of Richard Poon's best hits is now available! Take note, this collector's album includes a DVD and minus one!

Press Release:

Since he released his debut album “I’ll Take Care of You”, Richard Poon changed the music landscape in the country with his own take of the standards, making more people, not just the older generation, appreciate the genre. No wonder he has been tagged as the multi-platinum crooner as his follow-up album “For You” also reached the platinum mark. His third record “I’ll Be Seeing You” also garnered success as it entered the charts of leading retail stores in the country.

Recognizing his achievements through the years, MCA Music (Universal Music Philippines), the number 1 music label in the Philippines gathers his greatest hits via the album “The Crooner’s Songbook: The Best of Richard Poon.” From his official singles to most requested songs during his gigs and concerts, reminisce the old times with Richard Poon’s take on the standards and some originals.

Songs included in the album are: “All of Me”, “Moon River”, “Blue Moon”, “Portrait of My Love”, “Kahit Maputi Na Ang Buhok Ko”, “The Last Time”, “Way Back Into Love”, “Panalangin”, “You and I”, “Complicated”, “Kahit Di Mo Napapansin”, “I’ll Take Care of You”, “Kumot at Unan”, “That’s All” and “Beautiful As You”.

It also features live versions of the songs “The Way You Look Tonight”, “L-O-V-E” and “All The Way” not found in his previous albums as well as his duets with Soul Siren Nina for “Fever” and Bossa Nova Princess Sitti for “My Eyes Adored You”.

This spectacular collection also comes with a bonus DVD featuring 8 of his music videos plus minus one of all tracks for an ultimate crooner experience.

Richard still entertains audiences every Sunday as part of the ASAP Sessionistas and is currently having his Philippine Tour scheduled on August 17 at USEP Convention Center, Davao, September 21 at ABL Sports Complex, Kalibo and September 22 at Capiz Gymnasium. He recently toured Ayala Teraces Cebu last May 18, Hotel Del Rio Iloilo last May 25, Koronadal Gymnasuim last June 1, Le Jardin Arnevel General Santos City last June 2 and last June 15 at L’Fisher Hotel Bacolod.

“The Crooner’s Songbook: the Best of Richard Poon” is out now in CD+DVD at leading record stores and online via www.mymusicstore.com.ph under MCA Music (Universal Music Philippines) and is presented in cooperation with Businessworld and HerWord.com. To download Richard Poon’s music on your mobile phones, just text RP to 3456.

Manage Cold Sores in 4 Easy Ways

Here's good news to those who are prone to mouth sores ... 

Press Release:

Any time is a good time to enjoy fun moments with family and friends. However, if you have been exposed to fatigue, stress or sunlight during hot days, you may be triggering an outbreak of cold sores.

A cold sore is a small fluid-filled, itchy and painful mouth blister that appears on or near the lips and can be contracted by kissing or sharing utensils with someone who has cold sores.

Cold sores can also be triggered by hormonal changes, poor immune function, fatigue and illnesses such as colds and flu. In most cases, cold sores are caused by Herpes simplex virus types I and II.

Image borrowed from webmd.com

The bad news with cold sores is that once you are infected, it cannot be cured. You need to manage and prevent the spread of cold sore within your household and workplace by following these four simple steps:

Make sure it’s a cold sore

There are two types of mouth sores that you can get. Cold sores can be passed on to others. Canker sores or mouth ulcers, on the other hand, are not contagious. Check with your doctor to determine which problem you are dealing with.

Eat a balanced diet

For cold sore prevention, proper eating means loading your diet with food rich in iron, zinc and vitamins A, C and E to keep your immune system strong and able to fight off simple colds or the flu—the top causes of cold sores.

Have good hygienic habits

Good hygiene is one of the best ways to manage and prevent cold sores. Keep your hands clean by washing them regularly to avoid getting colds, flu or infection.

When you start feeling symptoms like tingling sensation, avoid infecting anyone else in your home by washing your hands so you can nip a cold sore outbreak in the bud.

Use a soothing gel

While there is no cure for cold sores, one can reduce the frequency and severity of cold sore outbreaks. A good way to do this is to take an antiviral medication, which has been an approved treatment for these outbreaks.

You can use a soothing gel that contains Carbenoxolone Na which provides symptomatic relief. Carbenoxolone Na is proven to have antiviral activity against a spectrum of viruses that include herpes and adenovirus.

Carbenoxolone Na is also an anti-inflammatory solution that relieves pain and shortens the healing time of open and aggravated lesions caused by cold sores and canker sores.

For more information about Carbenoxolone Na, consult with your doctor or call New Marketlink Pharmaceutical Corporation at (02) 480-4207.

General Luna Treads a New Direction with 'Different Corners'

Press Release:

The women of General Luna have just entered a more exciting phase in their music career with the release of the band's second album, “Different Corners” (Warner Music).

Two years after causing a stir in the industry as no-nonsense female rockers who happened to be pretty, the ladies are now ready to prove that they have more to offer by way of songs that persuade the audience to listen more closely.

Consisting of nine tracks that weave interrelated themes and flowing arrangements, “Different Corners” is a record which the band members themselves describe as a departure from their self-titled debut.

Lead singer and main lyricist Nicole Asencio says it's “stripped down, emotionally naked and more honest than the first album.”

Lead guitarist Caren Mangaran agrees, pointing out that “the album itself is who we really are. No pretenses.”

Rhythm guitarist Audry Dionisio believes it's “more meaningful, easier to understand, the kind of album you can play in your car and trip on while driving.”

Drummer Bea Lao opines that “the vibe now is more mellow, more direct.”

Bassist Alexis Montemayor sums it up: “It definitely has a clearer direction than our first album.”

The biggest difference is that the band wrote more originals – six songs that explore unity in diversity (the title track), recapture lost moments with friends (“Watcher”) and lovers (“Nadama”), reach out to the troubled (“Tulala”), probe sensuality and commitment (“Arms”), and express concern for each other (“Sister”).

In addition, the band collaborated with Japs Sergio of Rivermaya and Ebe Dancel who contributed the songs “Walang Imposible” and “Daan,” respectively.

The band likewise covered Diane Warren's “If This Day Was the Last Day” and Seal's “Kiss from a Rose” (the album's bonus track).

A team of respected musicians – Francis Reyes (formerly of The Dawn), Monty Macalino (Mayonnaise) and Dancel – who worked on General Luna's debut record were also on hand to help guide the band record the songs for the new album.

The album's overall producer, Warner Music A&R director Neil Gregorio, took charge of one track (“Tulala”) as well.

“Different Corners” represents a change that may lead General Luna to find its own place in contemporary Pinoy rock.

The album is scheduled to be released late-June but as a gift to their supporters, the girls will be having a “Fans Day” on June 27 at B-Side, The Collective, Makati City. During the said event, they will play a total of 8-10 songs, 4 of which will be tracks from their new album. The girls are excited because not only will they be debuting some tracks from their new album, but they will also interact with their supporters by jamming with them and relating to them their personal stories over beer and bar chow.

General Luna’s second album “Different Corners” under Warner Music Philippines will be available in record outlets and on iTunes beginning June 29. Text “Corners” to 5677 to get “Different Corners” ringback tone. Log on to http://www.facebook.com/GeneralLuna for more updates on the band.

Power Mac Center to Hold Aperture 3 Workshops by Gunther Deichmann

Heads up photography enthusiasts! Here are the schedules of paid and free workshops on Aperture 3 for Macs ...

Press Release:

To enable users to maximize the use of Macs in their photography pursuits, Power Mac Center (PMC), a chain of reliable retail shops and service provider of Apple products and premium accessories in the country, will conduct an Aperture Lecture Series which already started last June 20-21, at the PMC Training Center, 2nd level, Cedar Executive Building, Arnaiz Street, Makati City.

Photo borrowed from technoodling.net

The workshops will help participants explore unlimited possibilities with Aperture 3, the latest version of Apple’s photography software for Macs. Aperture 3 gives users powerful yet easy-to-use tools to refine images, showcase photography, and manage massive libraries on Mac.

Internationally multi-awarded Australian photographer, Gunther Deichmann, a certified Apple Pro Trainer for Aperture and a member on the Apple Aperture Advisory Board Asia, will be the lecturer of the series. Profile and portfolio of lecturer can be gleaned from www.deichmann-photo.com.

Said Deichmann, "I would like to invite everyone to attend this lecture series as this will be a wonderful learning experience, especially to the travel bugs who will get to learn more techniques on how to preserve their experiences through photography."

Photo borrowed from pocket-lint.com

Points to be covered in the lecture series include color correction and editing, making the right adjustments with proper tools, backing up and protecting files, Aperture on the field, as well as managing and sharing libraries.

Said PMC Marketing Manager Joey Alvarez, “The Aperture lecture series will give Mac users the opportunity to make use of the many benefits of the Apple software. Moreover, the workshop will make them more aware that Aperture is an important part of their journey in photography."

The 16-hour, two-day lecture will have an introductory price of P5,000. Complete dates for the lecture series are the following: June 20-21; July 18-19; August 16-17; September 17-18; October 17-18; November 21-22 and December 10-11.

In addition to these, PMC will also be holding free one-hour lectures on the following dates and venues: August 23 at the SM Mall of Asia, August 24 at Greenbelt, and August 25 at TriNoma. Sessions will be from 6 to 7 pm.

To register for free, please email aatc@powermaccenter.com, training_request@powermaccenter.com or call / text 0908-8856277.

A Comedy Series & An All Male Culinary Show Premier On 2nd AVE & DIVA Universal Channels On Monday, June 25

New shows! And they sound interesting!

Press Release:

Making their Philippine premiere on Monday, June 25 are “Suburgatory,” the latest addition to 2nd Avenue’s comedy series and “Hot Guys Who Cook,” featuring up close and personal 18 of the hottest hottest guys from around Asia, over six episodes.

Airing at 8:30 PM on 2nd Avenue, “Suburgatory “ is about single dad George (Jeremy Sisto) who decides to move to the suburbs when he starts to feel a little out of his parenting league. The move comes much to the ire of his sixteen year old daughter Tessa (Jane Levy) who likes her life in the urban jungle that is New York.

From skyscrapers and traffic jams, Tessa must adapt to her new surroundings of cookie-cutter homes and manicured lawns. Something her motorcycle boots and oversized backpack refuse to do. To Tessa, the move to the suburbs is her version of purgatory—it’s suburgatory

On DIVA Universal at 9PM, Viewers can expect a feast for their eyes and appetite as DIVA Universal presents, “Hot Guys Who Cook.” Each half-hour episode will sizzle with three “Hot Guys” each cooking their signature dish under seven minutes. While slaving over a stove, the guys will be sharing endearing stories and anecdotes on cooking and some personal experiences, making Hot Guys Who Cook a delicious series to watch.

Firing up the pilot episode will be Canadian-Filipino model Jason Godfrey, French- Filipino food columnist Erwan Heusaff and host Josiah Mizukami. The rest of the line-up comprises, race car driver Alex Yoong, ex-MTV VJ Utt, Mixed Martial Arts fighter Peter Davis, banker-writer Redza Minhat and actors: George Young, Tom Price, Nat Ho, Henry Golding, Paul Foster, Keagan Kang, Shane Mardjuki, Bobby Tonelli, Brendan Fernandez; and Filipino models Drew Rivera and Victor Basa.

Small-town Locals to Build “Courts of Inspiration” Around Visayas & Mindanao

Nice advocacy Alaxan FR!

Press Release:

Quick! Name one Filipino adult who has never set foot on a basketball court in his entire life.

Impossible, isn’t it?

For a game that favors relatively tall people, it’s rather impressive how basketball has permeated Filipino culture. To this day, it is the nation’s most popular sport. Here, the passion is so great that you’d see people play it while wearing slippers, sandals, or sometimes, even barefoot. But nothing reinstates this fact better than the presence of basketball hoops everywhere—on the sides of buildings, in front of sari-sari stores, even in the middle of the street.

More than Just a Sports Venue

Basketball is so deeply ingrained in the local culture, that it’s hard to find a neighborhood that doesn’t have a basketball court tucked somewhere. Virtually every town has it. In fact, there are more basketball courts than there are barangay health centers. Moneyed districts may pride themselves with a “covered court,” while others will have at least some form of clay court.

More than just being a location for recreation however, these places serve a bigger social purpose. Be it a council meeting or the barangay singing contest, basketball courts are default venues for holding community events. Is the school year about to end? There’s a good chance that the local public school will hold graduation ceremonies in there. Did a typhoon ravage the neighborhood? Expect the covered court to be turned into an evacuation center. In a sense, the place has become the de facto town square for most communities.

Inspiring Greatness

“To Filipinos, the basketball court is a symbol of the community spirit,” says Kristine Martinez, Alaxan FR Product Director, citing how a people bound by a common love for the game go to the courts not just to hone their skills, but also to bond with the rest of the community. “It’s a cultural icon, one that carries huge social impact,” she stressed.

Seeing the potential to drive social value, Alaxan FR is harnessing the power of the community through the Aray Natin, Galing Natin campaign—a collaborative effort between small-town locals to construct these symbols of community, and turn them into something that moves people to aim for greatness.

For its initial project, Alaxan FR chose Iloilo. Driven by the desire to provide their community with its first real basketball court, locals from barangay Tabuc Suba in Jaro District were brought together to build their own “Court of Inspiration” under the campaign. Upon completion, the place will be filled with “Legend Markers”—marking areas with powerful messages conveying accomplishments and legacies of basketball legends—to inspire themselves to strive hard to accomplish the same. Through the effort, Alaxan FR aims to teach the locals to embody the values that make champions.

Rewarding Greatness

Barangay Tabuc Suba is just the first of many places where Alaxan FR is building Courts of Inspiration, according to Martinez. Courts of Inspiration will soon break ground in nine other areas. For Visayas, they are to rise in Bacolod, Dumaguete, Tacloban, and Cebu. In Mindanao, construction will begin shortly in the communities of Davao, Cagayan de Oro, Butuan, Zamboanga, and General Santos. Through these projects, the campaign aims to give members of communities in different parts of our country pride in having personally built something that doesn’t just hone their skills, but builds their character as well.

“I was impressed at people’s willingness to jump at the opportunity to serve their community at our initial project in Iloilo and I believe I’d witness the same level of enthusiasm in the communities where succeeding Courts of Inspiration are to be built,” added Martinez. “For the noble effort that people have exerted for the projects, we’re planning to give them a special treat after the completion of the projects. That’s something they should watch out for,” she ends.

* Photos taken during the Iloilo groundbreaking 

KYLIE MINOGUE is back with a blast with the new single “Timebomb” and “THE BEST OF KYLIE MINOQUE” Special Edition with DVD

Good news to Kylie Minogue fans! Here's a great compilation of her music that has already spanned more than two decades! 

Press Release:

Eager fans of the international pop superstar Kylie Minogue have been religiously following hints about a surprise she’s been preparing—including a countdown on her website and tweets with the hashtag #ticktick—but now, it’s already been unleashed. A new single and video “Timebomb” had just been released marking her own 25th anniversary in music (K25) and gearing up the new album 'The Best of Kylie Minogue' which is due out in 2013 as announced by Polyeast Records, the country’s official licensee of EMI Music International.

“Timebomb was a track I felt was the perfect song to be part of the K25 celebrations. So, we decided to make it one of our surprises uploads on Kylie.com! Not only was I super excited about the song and the video, but the surprise element felt absolutely appropriate. It's the first time I've released a single like this and it was been so much fun. I love the fact that fans are responsible for the release with the 'tweet to unlock' mechanism, it feels fresh!” Australian pop icon Kylie said in an interview. “Timebomb” was unleashed online last May 25, 2012 and 25,000 tweets were received in 43 minutes after the announcement according to Kylie’s website.

The video for “Timebomb” is fast paced and full of energy as looking-so-spectacular Kylie walks through the streets of Soho, an entertainment district in London. Kylie added, “London will always be happening as far as music is concerned. We wanted to reflect that this is a tune made and recorded in London and reflect that in showing ultra cool London in the video.”

K25 spans Kylie’s 1987-2012 careerwhich have seen her release 11 studio albums and countless singles. Her first single, "Locomotion", spent seven weeks at number one on the Australian singles chart and became the highest selling single of the decade. Her debut album, Kylie (1988), and the single "I Should Be So Lucky", each reached number one in the United Kingdom, and over the next two years, her first 13 singles reached the British top ten.

From then on, Kylie was also responsible for several worldwide hits that followed like “Spinning Around”, “Can’t Get You Out of my Head”, “Slow”, “All The Lovers” and others. Kylie, who recently turned 44, has achieved worldwide record sales of more than 68 million, and has received notable music awards, including multiple ARIA and Brit Awards and a Grammy Award. She has mounted several successful and critically acclaimed concert world tours and received "Australian Entertainer of the Year" for her live performances.This only proves what her capacity for reinvention and captivating iconic pop songs have led her to 25 years in the music business.

“It's definitely a sign of where I'm heading. I love making pop dance music so that's our launch pad but as always, there will be some variations on the theme,” Kylie said.

As the K25 celebration continues, don’t forget to check out the pop smash single “Timebomb” which is now available for download on www.mymusicstore.ph or vote for the video on MYX-- just in time for Kylie's album 'The Best of Kylie Minogue' out in the market only by Polyeast Records on audio CD plus DVD. For more updates please like PolyEast Records on Facebook and follow them on Twitter and Instagram.

THE BEST OF KYLIE MINOQUE Special Edition CD/DVD song line-up:

1.) Can’t Get You Out Of My Head
2.) Spinning Around
3.) I Should Be So Lucky
4.) Love at First Sight
5.) In Your Eyes
6.) Kids (Featuring Robbie Williams)
7.) Better The Devil You Know
8.) All The Lovers
9.) Give Me Just A Little More Time
10.) Celebration
11.) Slow
12.) Red Blooded Woman
13.) I Believe In You
14.) On A Night Like This
15.) Confide With Me
16.) Get Outta My Way
17.) The Locomotion
18.) Tears on My Pillow
19.) Wow
20.) In My Arms
21.) Never Too Late

Fun and Nutritious Refreshments for Children

Moms! Looking for healthy and nutritious milkshake recipes? Try  this one!

Press Release:

We all are experiencing the heat nowadays, and your little one is no exception! While most children are out and about, playing and exploring under the heat of the sun, they often crave for cold drinks that are refreshing – but not necessarily healthy, such as sodas and artificial juices and teas. These beverages are often loaded with sweeteners and do not have enough vitamins and minerals that young children need to stay healthy.

To help balance your child’s nutrition, and to keep drinks still refreshing, delicious and nutritious for your child, AQIVA recommends serving him milkshakes as a fun and healthy treat! Milkshakes are not only cool and refreshing, they are also a sure-fire hit among kids looking for a cold break from the heat! By adding your child’s favorite fruits, your milkshake variations are limitless and would make them want to drink more.

But more importantly, the milkshake truly becomes more creamy, healthy and nutritious by simply adding AQIVA to the recipe! This is because Aqiva is a milk supplement formulated with Adequate, Quality and Important nutrients that help ensure balanced nutrition for children 4 years and above.

AQIVA contains more than 40 ingredients including 25 essential nutrients, to help supplement your growing child’s nutrition while you teach him healthy eating habits. AQIVA comes in great-tasting vanilla flavor that makes milkshakes more delicious while still being healthy for children!

Aqiva Nutty Choco Milkshake By Chef Carina Guevara

1 1/3 cup Aqiva (dissolved in water)

½ cup Chocnut (or any other milk chocolate brand)

¼ cup chocolate syrup

2 cups crushed ice

2 tablespoons sugar (optional)

Chocolate syrup to garnish

Blend all ingredients except for the chocolate syrup garnish. Pour some of the syrup on a prepared glass and pour the shake in. Serve.

Cool and Healthy Tips:

-- Do you want to add fruits to your Aqiva Milkshake? Why not try avocados! Simply replace the Chocnut with 2 cups ripe avocado pulp, scooped out right before making the preparation so that it won’t discolor.

-- For older kids, you can even add some sago (tapioca pearls), nata (coconut jelly) or even kaong (sugar palm) to replicate drinks from famous tea places. Just make sure that the size of these sweets is chewable enough for your kids to avoid choking.

Virtualization Leader Kicks Off Technology Day Event in the Philippines

Relevant news for companies who are considering to virtualize their data center infrastructure ...

Press Release:

VMware, Inc. (NYSE: VMW), the global leader in virtualization and cloud infrastructure, held its annual VMware Connect Technology Day 2012 at the Makati Shangri-La Manila Hotel last May 29.

Speaking at a press conference were spokespeople from VMware and The Philippine American Life and General Insurance Company (Philam Life), the largest life insurance company in the Philippines and the market leader for over 60 years, where they discussed business trends that are influencing the way enterprises manage their IT infrastructure; and how companies in the Philippines can leverage virtualization to gain a competitive advantage.

Jon Robertson, General Manager, VMware in ASEAN said, “Each organization’s IT and business requirements are different and there is no one-cloud-fits-all approach. Virtualization is the technical foundation for cloud computing, and customers are leveraging our industry-leading products like VMware vSphere® to transform their datacenters into simplified cloud computing infrastructures. VMware is on a mission to simplify and automate IT management in the cloud era and enable customers to deliver IT as a Service, and this has seen us successfully expand our footprint across Southeast Asia.”

The full-day VMware Technology Day Event saw VMware experts sharing their leading insights around the state of virtualization and cloud computing adoption in Manila, and how cloud computing can be a source of competitive advantage.

“We continue to see strong demand for our robust virtualization platform in Philippines, particularly in the BPO, healthcare, financial and government sectors industries. Most VMware customers start with a desire to increase server efficiency and reduce capital expenses by virtualizing low risk workloads. As more of their datacenters are virtualized, customers can realize more value by implementing management and policy-driven automation. The resulting quality of service improvements accelerate transformation to an agile cloud computing model, which allows customers to accelerate their IT so that in turn, they can accelerate their business,” said Nicholas Tan, Head of Field Sales for VMware in the Philippines.

In addition to discussing the tangible results that Philam Life has realized from its VMware virtualization implementation, spokesperson, Romy Cambaliza, Chief Information Officer, Philam Life, also shared his advice to companies in the Philippines that are considering virtualizing their physical infrastructure.

“By virtualizing our datacentre infrastructure on VMware vSphere®, Philam Life has been able to achieve a lower total cost of ownership by minimizing unnecessary IT infrastructure investments, and benefit from a more cost-effective, self-managed, dynamically optimized environment for the most efficient delivery of IT services. With full control over the availability, reliability, scalability, and security over our IT infrastructure, we are also more responsive to the needs of the business,” said Mr. Cambaliza.

Philam Life is part of the AIA Group Limited, the largest independent publicly listed pan-Asian life insurance group in the world.

For more information about VMware in Asia Pacific, please visit www.vmware.com/ap.

Director Marc Webb Talks About “THE AMAZING SPIDER-MAN”

An interesting read about the background of, and what to expect from, the latest Spiderman movie ...

Press Release:

Given his surname, you might think that it’s inevitable that Marc Webb would end up directing a Spider-Man movie. But the 37 year old would be the first to admit that he’s something of a leftfield choice to oversee this latest iteration of the friendly neighbourhood webslinger, with The Amazing Spider-Man representing only his second film, following 2009’s hit romantic comedy, 500 Days Of Summer.

That movie’s wry humour, flashy setpieces and focus on characters, though, persuaded The Amazing Spider-Man producers, Avi Arad, Matt Tolmach and the late Laura Ziskin that Webb was their Spider-director. And Webb has risen to the challenge, with an earthy, grounded aesthetic that sees the webslinger’s legendary story take place in a very recognisable universe: ours.

We caught up with Webb in his Culver City editing suite, and talked to him about his decision to get involved with the project, the challenges of making Spider-Man swing, and finding Andrew Garfield...

How did you get involved with The Amazing Spider-Man?

I was meeting with these guys [Avi Arad and Matt Tolmach] and they brought up the idea. I was meeting with them on something else and I thought it was totally ridiculous. I said, I don’t make movies like that. They said, that’s why you should do it.

This is a new version of the Spider-Man story. How different is it?

There’s so much to tell in terms of who this kid is. My favourite thing about Spider-Man, is Peter Parker, the fact that he’s a kid from Queens who’s not a billionaire and he’s not an alien. He’s a kid who has the same problems we all do and that makes him intensely relatable. Spider-Man becomes wish fulfillment for that, flying through the air and beating up bad guys, but that all emanates from what Peter Parker would dream of, whether or not he was Spider-Man. To me, I wanted to start from a place where it felt like, if you walked into the theatre, that it was the same universe you lived in, and ground that both aesthetically and emotionally, which is difficult when you have a giant lizard running down the street.

How did you approach the scenes where Spidey is swinging through the city?

It was important for me to not just see Spider-Man swinging away from afar, but to be with him and feel that. We went to New York, near Columbia and Harlem and built a travelling rig system. We have motion capture elements that are there to create a sense of realism, weight and physical realism that we’re still working on and will be working on until the day before the movie comes out. It’s about expanding the universe, where you earn the spectacle of Spider-Man’s abilities.

You shot the movie in 3D. It seems that, if any character is suited for 3D, it’s Spider-Man.

I agree completely. 3D after Avatar was, for the studios, the thing to do because it was the salvation of the theatrical experience. But it was misused and maligned. But the truth is, it’s an incredible tool for specific things and particularly to create that sense of flying. There are movies for which it is made and there is no character better suited for 3D than Spider-Man.

Let’s talk about Andrew Garfield. What made you cast him as Peter?

He was just the right guy. In his screen-test, he killed it. It was one of those things - we did the screen-test and that night I was cutting it together and I couldn’t stop watching it. He moved like a kid, his elbows were flying all over the place, and even though he’s a little bit older, he had the humour, the awkwardness but also an ability to go deep in a way that very few actors can do. He’s a highly-trained actor, he’s very thoughtful about that and that grabbed me. The editors we’re working with, they didn’t know he was British! (laughs)

What can we expect from his Spider-Man?

We start off with a different kind of Peter Parker, without subverting the iconography of what Peter Parker and Spider-Man is. There are certain mythological obligations people have in any story, but it’s so radically different in terms of tone and what he experiences and backstory and the mystery about his father that I’m very comfortable with the movie occupying a different space. What we took for the beginning of the story is Peter being left by his father and mother, and what that does for him, and the emotion ripples through the movie, and subsequent movies as well.

So he suffers?

I wanted him to feel pain. We fall in love with heroes not because of the way they can punch someone, but for how they can take a punch. But he’s funny. We wanted to give him some quips, that was such an important part of the character that I really enjoy in the comics.

And then there’s Emma Stone as Gwen Stacy, a hugely important character for Peter.

Listen, I’m a romantic. I love relationships, guy/girl stuff that’s interesting and relatable. And Gwen is very smart. Emma’s attitude is so not a movie star, but she’s the biggest movie star I’ve ever worked with. She’s so charismatic and funny and decent and a wonderful actor. The other thing I like about her, is the humour. She’s very funny.

And can you talk about choosing The Lizard as the villain?

I’m interested in the idea that Curt Connors was his mentor and then became his adversary and he cares about this guy who he has to fight. He’s the literal embodiment of the theme of the movie, which is we all have a missing piece. He has no arm, Peter has no parents. He has to fill that void, and he fills it with Spider-Man. Curt is not as strong as Spider-Man on the inside, but he’s much stronger on the outside, and essentially he becomes a big bully. But I like that The Lizard thinks that what he’s doing is right, in his weird, haywired brain, he’s right. He’s not the bad guy. I love that. I love the idea that Peter is trying to find the humanity in the inhumane, it gives him a very good obstacle to navigate.

Will we hear the phrase, ‘with great power comes great responsibility?’

That’s ingrained in the very DNA of Spider-Man, with great power comes great responsibility. There are different incarnations of that idea that are learned in different parts of this movie, and it’s part of his arc, but it doesn’t completely define his character. It’s about him growing up. Every movie is, who am I? We say that in the movie, explicitly. Being responsible for things bigger than himself is what he’s about, it’s what superheroes are all about. It’s why we love them.

Opening across the Philippines on June 29 in Digital 3D, 2D and regular theaters, “The Amazing Spider-Man” is distributed by Columbia Pictures, local office of Sony Pictures Releasing International.

Fly Responsibly with the Bright Skies for Every Juan Programme

Wanna help preserve the environment? Here's one way ...

Press Release:

Every time we fly, our aircraft burns fuel and emit carbon into the atmosphere. The release of greenhouse gases contribute to climate change, which is now the most serious and pervasive threat to humanity and nature.

What if airline passengers have the chance to offset their carbon footprint whenever they fly?

The World Wide Fund for Nature Philippines (WWF-Philippines) and Cebu Pacific Air, Inc. (CEB) invite travelers to fly responsibly by donating to the Bright Skies for Every Juan programme when booking their trips online at www.cebupacificair.com. The CEB website generates a donation amount that corresponds to the distance of their flight and the estimated amount of carbon dioxide emitted.

Through this programme, airline passengers have the opportunity to minimize the ecological impacts of air travel and help protect the Philippines’ Great Reefs, the Apo Reef in Occidental Mindoro and Tubbataha Reef in Palawan, which together generate enough food and livelihood for some 40 million Filipinos each year.

The Bright Skies for Every Juan Programme

WWF-Philippines’ partnership with CEB began in July 2008 – initially to prepare Mindoro’s Apo Reef for the looming effects of climate change. A powerful patrol boat bearing WWF and Cebu Pacific colors has now apprehended dozens of park violators.

The inclusion of the Tubbataha Reefs of Puerto Princesa City has dramatically enhanced the breadth of the program.

“We want to provide an innovative opportunity for our passengers to contribute to a climate adaptation program to fight global warming,” says Lance Gokongwei, CEO and President of CEB. “Since airlines contribute their own carbon footprint to the atmosphere, Bright Skies for Every Juan, our climate adaptation program, gives CEB the chance to do something concrete for the environment.”

WWF-Philippines Vice-Chair and CEO Jose Ma. Lorenzo Tan says, “At the end of the day, the most crucial decisions - that to consciously do what we can to reduce our impacts - lie in our own hands. We have a shared responsibility to minimize our footprint not just when we fly – but in whatever we do.”

Bright Skies, Great Reefs

Formed from the eruption of undersea volcanoes nearly 15 million years ago, Tubbataha or ‘long reef’ in the Samal tongue is located in the central Sulu Sea, about 160 kilometers southeast of Puerto Princesa City in Palawan.

The Tubbataha Reefs host over 600 kinds of fish that frolic amongst 396 types of soft and hard coral. Other denizens include 14 species of sharks including the ferocious tiger shark; 12 species of dolphins and whales; a nesting population of endangered hawksbill and green sea turtles; and over 100 species of birds, including rare migratory birds.

“Few reefs come close to the biological productivity of Tubbataha,” explains WWF-Philippines Vice-Chair and CEO Lory Tan. “Through a well thought-out plan implemented by the Tubbataha Protected Area Management Board and the Tubbataha Management Office, fish biomass has remained stable for over a decade. Today, Tubbataha’s fish biomass stands at over 200-tonnes per square kilometer. Incredibly, this is five times greater than the productivity of a typical healthy reef.”

On the other hand, Apo Reef is the largest in Asia and is situated 15 nautical miles west of Sablayan in Occidental Mindoro. It is home to almost 200 species of soft and hard coral, 385 species of fish plus charismatic undersea giants like thresher and hammerhead sharks, manta rays, sperm whales, dolphins and sea turtles.

Through the DENR and the local government of Occidental Mindoro, WWF helped secure the future of Apo Reef through its proclamation as a ‘no-fishing’ zone in 2007. Overall coral growth dwindled to less than 33% in 1994 but has steadily improved. In 2006, an assessment cited growth at 52% and rising.

Through the generosity of thousands of Cebu Pacific airline passengers, the Apo and Tubbataha Reefs will enjoy better protection through improved local government alliances and enforcement efforts, financial sustainability schemes and responsible ecotourism.

In the face of economic and environmental fragility, the importance of the Apo and Tubbataha Reefs, as well as the wealth beneath and above their waters have never been more critical.

WWF-Philippines and CEB encourage airline passengers to fly responsibly and help sustain the excellent health of the country’s great reefs.

Make Your Dads Feel Special with Gifts Galore From SMART Rewards

Looking for gifts for the special man in your life? Here are some suggestions from Smart ...

Press Release:

Provider, mentor, confidante, protector -- these are just some of the roles that fathers play in everyday life. For this special holiday, SMART Rewards raises a toast to all dads for being an important role model in our lives with a list of exclusive gifts and treats for him on Father’s Day.

For tech-savvy pops, give him a SMART Nokia Lumia 710 free at DATA PLAN 1000 in all Smart Stores nationwide. One of the top smartphones in the market, the Nokia Lumia 710 helps dad stay connected with its integrated social networking features and a host of available mobile apps. With SMART Rewards, your dad can also get a P50 bill rebate on their next SMART Postpaid bill. All he has to do is text REDEEM50 to 9800. 

Movie buff dads, on the other hand, will have a blast with the Tickets and Treats promo via bCode. With enough points accumulated, subscribers can start redeeming free popcorn, drinks, movie tickets and coupons for a P100 discount on movies available in all SM Cinema branches nationwide. 

Another surefire way to make proud papas feel loved is to give them gifts that they will enjoy. Spruce up dad’s wardrobe with new kicks from GBX and Sportshouse or treat him to some rest and relaxation at select Microtel destinations using Smart Rewards’ discount coupons. Also, check out SMART Rewards website every Wednesday for more travel deals via SMART Rewards’ Supreme Blowout (in partnership with GROUPON). 

With all these gifts and treats from SMART Rewards, there is no better way to show dad how much we love him. So go ahead, reward dad with only the best this Father’s Day, only with Smart Rewards. 

The country’s first mobile rewards program, SMART Rewards gives subscribers amazing promos and freebies each time they earn SMART Rewards points. SMART subscribers can easily get a list of all the SMART Rewards redeemable items by texting REWARDS to 9800 for free. You can also visit smart.com.ph/rewards to find out more about SMART Rewards.

Get Ready for The Big Miracle!

I saw the trailer of this movie and found it very touching. I hope I get to see this soon ...

Press Release:

Based on the inspiring true story that captured the hearts of people across the world, the rescue adventure Everybody Loves Whales tells the amazing tale of a small town news reporter (John Krasinski) and a Greenpeace volunteer (Drew Barrymore) who are joined by rival world superpowers to save a family of majestic gray whales trapped by rapidly forming ice in the Arctic Circle.

Local newsman Adam Carlson (Krasinski) can’t wait to escape the northern tip of Alaska for a bigger market.  But just when the story of his career breaks, the world comes chasing it, too.  With an oil tycoon, heads of state and hungry journalists descending upon the frigid outpost, the one who worries Adam the most is Rachel Kramer (Barrymore).  Not only is she an outspoken environmentalist, she’s also his ex-girlfriend. 

With time running out, Rachel and Adam must rally an unlikely coalition of Inuit natives, oil companies and Russian and American military to set aside their differences and free the whales.  As the world’s attention turns to the top of the globe, saving these endangered animals becomes a shared cause for nations entrenched against one another and leads to a momentary thaw in the Cold War.

“Big Miracle” is released and distributed by United International Pictures through Solar Entertainment Corporation.

SABRINA Releases “Acoustic Love Notes”

Congratulations Sabrina for the new album! Looking forward to hearing your original songs! 

Press Release:

Asia’s Acoustic Sweetheart Sabrina joins forces with famous radio/ TV personality Joe D’Mango for an album that will touch the hearts of many—“Acoustic Love Notes”. Inspired by his popular and long-time show “Love Notes”, Sabrina interprets classic love songs acoustic style coupled with Joe D’Mango’s love messages.

The song line-up includes the carrier single “Somewhere Down The Road” originally by Barry Manilow, Brian McKnight’s “One Last Cry”, “Cry” by Mandy Moore, Christian Bautista’s “The Way You Look At Me”, “Can You Help Me” by Usher, Mikaila’s “The Art of Letting Go”, “I Don’t Want You To Go” by Lani Hall, Brandy’s “Have You Ever”, “Someone Like You” by Adele, Tamia’s “Officially Missing You”, “If Love Is Blind” by Tiffany, Jann Arden’s “Insensitive” and “Without Me” by Clair Marlo.

For the first time in any Sabrina album, it features 4 original songs, 2 of which she composed herself—“One True Love” and “Over For Now But Not Forever”. Her first Filipino track “Sa Bawat Paghinga” was written by award-winning composer Toto Sorioso and the other original track “Again” is a duet with up and coming singer Anj Sulit.

“This project with Mr. Joe D’Mango actually started with my guesting at his show where I sung my all-time favorite love song ‘Somewhere Down The Road’. From there, my record label, MCA Music thought of having us working together and the rest is history. It was truly an honor working with him having been a fan of his show through the years,” Sabrina said.

“It’s been a while since I came out with a Lovenotes compilation album. Now, it gives me great pleasure to be part of a soulful collaboration on a new album with Asia’s Acoustic Sweetheart , Sabrina. This endearing album contains some of the most memorable songs that captured the hearts of many who have loved and failed and many who have loved and have been loved in return,” as Joe D’Mango wrote from the album intro.

Sabrina has been making waves in Asia since the release of her “I Love Acoustic” series which is currently on its fourth volume. The albums have been multi-platinum success in Indonesia and certified Gold in Singapore, Thailand and the Philippines. Among Filipino singers, only two have officially break in the Southeast Asian market—Christian Bautista and Sabrina.

Be it songs of heartbreak, love lost, letting go or falling in love again, it is here in “Acoustic Love Notes” where you will hear a different Sabrina.

“Acoustic Love Notes” will be out this June 18 under MCA Music (Universal Music Philippines) at leading record stores nationwide and online via www.MyMusicStore.com.ph and is presented in cooperation with Wow Videoke, Businessworld and HerWord.com. To download Sabrina’s music on your mobile phones, text SABRINA to 3456. For bookings and inquiries, please contact Sammy Samaniego at +632 9162504 local 107, +639178565174 or +639209682991 or email sammy.samaniego@umusic.com.