Havaianas Brings Back Magical Childhood Summers with the New 2013 Collection

Summer is near and if you're looking for new Havaianas, here's a peek at their 2013 collection!

Press Release:

Remember when we were kids, and everything was new and full of color and sunshine? Without a care in the world, the spirit of youth truly embodied the summer state of mind. We dreamed of visiting exotic places, going on adventures, and being princesses meeting our prince charmings. This year, the brand calls us to remember the carefree world of our childhood with the Havaianas 2013 Collection, reminding us once again that summer, like our youth, never has to end.

Bring Magical Memories to Life with the Havaianas Disney Collection

New this year is the Havaianas Disney Collection – a proud collaboration between two enduring, iconic brands. As a powerful icon of childhood whimsy and a prominent feature in many of our magical childhood memories, the imagination of Disney marries the happy summer fashion of Havaianas to bring us breakthrough styles like Havaianas Disney Art, which showcases retro pop-inspired renditions of well-loved Disney characters.

Catering to both the young and the young at heart, the Havaianas Disney Collection features whimsical prints of both classic and contemporary Disney icons. Step into the shoes of Mickey Mouse, Pooh, and the Dalmatians with the Havaianas Disney Babies collection while Lightning McQueen and Minnie Mouse accompany our toddlers on their wonderful adventures with Havaianas Kids Top. Enjoy charming renditions of our favorite storybook princesses Cinderella, Belle, Ariel, Snow White, Aurora, and Rapunzel along with Tinkerbell and Marie from Aristocrats with Havaianas Kids Slim Disney.

Exotic Prints from Faraway Lands

As children, the worlds in our heads were filled with exotic locales and wondrous creatures and bursting with color. Havaianas brings these faraway worlds to life through the Havaianas Slim Fresh, featuring eye-catching polka dot designs, Havaianas Slim Tropical, with its vibrant prints inspired by the exotic flora of the Brazilian rainforest, Havaianas Slim Animals, with wild animal hide-inspired graphics, and the Havaianas Slim Royal and Havaianas High Light II styles, both of which showcase striking imagery inspired by Thai Royal Ceramics and which come either in Slim straps adorned with a metal elephant charm for Havaianas Slim Royal, or in a mid heel style for Havaianas High Light II for that extra sophisticated touch.

A Fresh Coat of Paint for Well-Loved Classics

The collection is rounded out with fresh designs for Havaianas classics 4Nite, now showcasing fun prints like zombies, insects, and other creatures of the night, frequent mainstays of our childhood adventures, Havaianas Trend, returning once again with its funky geometric prints and stylish color palettes, and Havaianas Casual, now in more colors like Lime Green and Indigo Blue.

For the fashion-forward women who spent their childhood days rummaging in mommy’s make-up kit and walking around in heels that wouldn’t fit for another decade and a half, Havaianas brings back your favorite Havaianas High Fashion and Havaianas High Light in classy, versatile neutrals, letting you stand out with your choice of full or mid heels, along with the stylish and sophisticated Havaianas Freedom – the perfect flip-flops to complete your chic ensembles, making you look like you had just walked right off of the pages of the magazines you had once spent many afternoons cutting out your favorite style pegs from.

Finally, Havaianas launches new colors for classic best-sellers Havaianas Top, Havaianas Slim, Havaianas Top Metallic, and Havaianas Top Mix, with fresh colors in vibrant hues and rich, elegant tones.

Even Big Kids Love Their Toys

With iPhones and iPads taking the world by storm, what better way to marry two brands that you love than by sheathing your precious gadgets in rubber cases featuring the iconic Havaianas rice pattern and Havaianas ellipse? Available in a range of colors ranging from a vibrant lime green and fuchsia, to a more subtle salmon, and finally to an understated black, the Havaianas cases, available for the iPhone 4 and 4S and the iPad 2 and 3, is the perfect way to protect your well-loved gadgets while stylishly showing off your happy summer fashion.

With its 2013 Collection, Havaianas invites us to be retrospective – to remember that for many years of our childhood, summer really never did have to end. And with all the wonderful new styles available in the Havaianas 2013 Collection, it’s easy to feel a little bit guilty about wanting them all. But then we remember that sometimes, it’s alright to be a brat. After all, we were all princes and princesses once upon a time, basking in unending summer sunshine.

Rediscover your childhood summers with the Havaianas 2013 Collection, out now at authorized Havaianas retailers nationwide. Visit www.facebook.com/havaianasphilippines for more details.

Experience the summer vibe that never goes out style with the world’s favorite rubber flip-flops brand. Take part in the Havaianas story and grab a pair now, available in Metro Manila at All Flip-Flops, Celio, Complex, Duty Free Philippines Fiesta Mall, J&S Surf Shop, KidSports, Manila Polo Club, Moana, Nail Spa, Plana Forma, ROX, Rustan's, Stoked, Tick Tock Flip Flop NAIA Terminal 3, and Urban Athletics. For provincial outlets, visit www.havaianas.com.

IL VOLO's Flight Goes Further With Rock Revivals

I have Il Volo's "We Are Love" CD and am very impressed at the unique music chosen by these young men. They are really good!

Press Release:

Italian teen group IL VOLO is reaching more audiences with their repertoire becoming more mainstream each passing record or tour. The group recently released their sophomore album "We Are Love" which includes their version of Aerosmith's "I Don't Want To Miss A Thing" and U2's "Beautiful Day". They also recorded a composition by pop ballad hit maker Diane Warren, along with a duet with world-famous tenor Placido Domingo.

Released by MCA Music, "We Are Love" boasts a title cut that tightly embraces the identity of the Il Volo trio composed of Piero Barone (19), Gianluca Ginoble (17) and Ignazio Boschetto (18). The album was recorded in Los Angeles and Rome, co-produced by Grammy-winning producer Humberto Gatica and Tony Renis.

The track "Il Canto" features the voice of Domingo while the number “Cosi" delivers a guest performance by another globally respected act in Eros Ramazzotti.

Il Volo, which means flight in Italian, is currently touring the world with the great Barbra Streisand as guests for the latter's latest series of live shows.

As proof of their growing popularity, they have already appeared in widely watched TV shows American Idol, Good Morning America, The Today Show, The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, Ellen, The Talk, and Rachael Ray. They were featured on the final episode of the HBO hit “Entourage”.

The group's self-titled CD sold more than a million copies while their high-rated PBS special show “Il Volo – Live from the Detroit Opera House” is being put on DVD and CD due to high public interest. According to a Filipino music insider, Il Volo’s new album "We Are Love" has been earning raves among the Filipino fans since it is a record targeting not only the older market but the younger listeners as well.

The troika of angelic voices participated in the "We Are The World" new-age version recorded to help the earthquake-devastated Haiti.

Il Volo's “We Are Love” is now available in CDs at Astroplus and Odyssey Music & Video or online via iTunes or www.MyMusicStore.com.ph

Award-Winning Filmmakers, Actors Assembled In “LINCOLN”

I know little of Abraham Lincoln except he was a good president so I'm looking forward to watching this film to know more about America's most-beloved leader.

Press Release:

Academy Award-winning filmmaker Steven Spielberg directs “Lincoln,” adapted from the book of Pulitzer Prize winning author Doris Kearns Goodwin, written by Pulitzer Prize winner Tony Kushner and starring Academy Award-winners Daniel Day-Lewis, Tommy Lee Jones and Sally Field - which essays a time in Abraham Lincoln’s life when he is in the most perilous final four months of his presidency.

 Master storyteller and filmmaker Steven Spielberg whose works span and engage all ages as seen in “Jurassic Park,” War of the Worlds,” “Saving Private Ryan,” “Schindler’s List,” “Empire of the Sun,” “Jaws” and “ET,” creates a never-before-seen perspective of America’s most beloved president in “Lincoln” as played by Daniel Day-Lewis, two-time Academy Award winner and this year’s Best Actor at the Golden Globe Awards for his portrayal of Lincoln.  

Spielberg creates a gripping historical thriller during a brief time in history when Abraham Lincoln is at both the pinnacle and bottom of his career as a nation’s leader.   The political genius that is Lincoln is brought to life on the big screen, inviting audiences directly into the heart and soul of Lincoln’s final achievements. The Lincoln who emerges is a man of raw paradoxes: funny and solemn, a playful storyteller and fierce power broker, a shrewd commander and a vulnerable father. But in his nation’s darkest hour, when the times demand the very best of people, he reaches from within himself for something powerful and everlasting. 

This compact, immersive concept for the film enlivened Spielberg. It would, when all was said and done, engage his filmmaking instincts on a different level than any film that has come before in his extensively diverse filmography.  Says Spielberg: “We came to focus on the last four months of Lincoln’s life because what he accomplished in that time was truly monumental. However, we wanted to show that he himself was a man, not a monument. We felt our best hope of doing justice to this immensely complicated person was to depict him in the midst of his most complex fight:  to pass the 13th Amendment on the floor of the House of Representatives.”  

“My movies more often are told through pictures, not words. But in this case, the pictures took second position to the incredible words of Abraham Lincoln and his presence,” Spielberg explains. “With ‘Lincoln,’ I was less interested in an outpouring of imagery than in letting the most human moments of this story evolve before us.”  

In stripping Lincoln’s final days down to their most electrifying yet stark moments of debate, political machinations, family ties and private fears and hopes, Spielberg and Kushner uncovered the gripping—and unpredictably human—nature of a democracy’s greatest battle in action. “The film does have quite a bit of suspense,” he notes, “and it could, at times, even be seen as a kind of political thriller.”  

Longtime Spielberg producing partner Kathleen Kennedy agrees that the film takes an interesting turn in the ongoing evolution of the director’s career. “Steven has always loved history and has made many movies with a historical context—and I think he recognized that some of the most interesting characters came from history,” she observes. “But Steven knew that with ‘Lincoln,’ he wouldn’t create a conventional biopic. Instead, he and Tony attempted to find the most intimate way to show the power of Lincoln’s achievements as President, through the exploration of the end of slavery and other key events that took place during his presidency.”

Steven Spielberg’s “Lincoln” provides an intimate immersion into the American leader’s most revealing moments, at a time when the dark shadow of slavery lifts and a country torn by war must be made whole.  It is in this final four months that Lincoln’s full measure of the man—his passion and his humanity—came to bear on his defining battle:  to plot a forward path for a shattered nation, against overwhelming odds and extreme public and personal pressure.

“Lincoln” will open February 20 in theaters from 20th Century Fox to be distributed by Warner Bros.   

St. Luke’s Medical Center – Global City Wears Red for Heart Health Awareness

Let's all wear RED on February 1! :)

Press Release:

St. Luke’s Medical Center – Global City(SLMC-GC) supports the worldwide campaign for women’s cardiovascular health awareness as the St. Luke’s Heart Institute, together with the Women’s Heart Health Unit (WHHU), observes the celebration of Wear Red Day on February 1, 2013.

A red dress exhibit featuring the collections of top designers Avel Bacudio, Frederick Peralta, and Renee Salud will be on display at the William H. Quasha Pavilion (main lobby) of SLMC-GC. The day will also include an intimate dinner at the Piano Lounge with members of the Heart Institute and dedicated supporters of heart health awareness from the private, business and entertainment community.

Wear Red Day was initiated by the American Heart Association (AHA) in 2003 to encourage women to pay more attention to their cardiovascular health. According to AHA statistics, coronary heart disease is the no. 1 killer of women aged over 25, but only 13% see it as a serious threat. The association thus decided to mark every 1st Friday of February as a day not only to wear the color red, but also for men and women to join forces and commit to combating the disease. Today, many countries have joined the AHA in this global effort to raise awareness.

Locally, statistics of the Department of Health (DOH) lists diseases of the heart and diseases of the vascular system as the number 1 and 2 causes of female mortality in the country. Sadly, majority of women in the country think that they would most likely die of cancer than of a heart attack, according to a study conducted under the Council on Women's Cardiovascular Health of the Philippine Heart Association (PHA).

For more information on Wear Red Day, contact Ms. Ly Pascua of St. Luke’s Heart Institute at (632) 7897700 ext. 2000/2010.

Watch Great Movies by Paying Less with SM Cinema’s Matinee Pricing Promo

If you love watching movies, this promo is for you! :)

Press Release:

Promos just got better at SM Cinema. Starting January 21, SM Cinema will be offering discount on several movies. The Matinee Pricing promo will run until April 18, 2013. Cinephiles can enjoy 30% to 50% discount on select movies from Mondays through Thursdays for screenings between 10:00am to 2:00pm.

The Matinee Pricing will be available at SM Cinema Mall of Asia, North EDSA, Megamall, Sta Mesa, Manila, San Lazaro, Marikina, Pampanga, Fairview, Southmall, Bacoor, Cebu, Iloilo, Lanang, Clark and Davao.

To know the movies to be included in our matinee pricing, please visit the SM Cinema branch near you.

About SM Cinema

SM Cinema is the country’s leading exhibitor—boasting 246 cinemas and 6 IMAX Theatres in 45 branches nationwide. SM Cinema continues to expand and lead the country’s development in cinema technology.

For a more convenient way of watching a movie, experience the newest from SM Cinema—the CINEMOBILE: Your mobile, your movie ticket. With its turnstile system, SM Cinema delivers a more convenient movie-going experience to its patrons.

You may also avail SM Cinema’s e-PLUS (Entertainment, Privileges, Lifestyle, Upgrades and Surprises) card to make your movie-watching more convenient, rewarding and fun. On top of the reward point scheme, e-PLUS is loaded with VIP privileges, special promos such as discounts on select movies, seasonal offers, quarterly raffles and invites to exclusive events. e-PLUS members can also avail promos and discounts from partner merchants. The e-Plus starter kit comes with your personalized e-Plus card, free movies, snacks and a premium item.

To know more about the SM Cinema, visit their website at www.smcinema.com. You may also like SM Cinema on Facebook (facebook.com/smcinema) and follow them on Twitter (twitter.com/sm_cinema). To connect with IMAX on Facebook, follow facebook.com/imaxsmcinema and like them on Twitter.com/imax_smcinema.

Daiana Menezes in Great Shape at Lady Grace Intimates' ‘Intimate Affair’

Too bad I wasn't able to join the press con yesterday. I heard that my male blogger friends had a lot of fun checking out the products! *wink*

Press Release:

Lady Grace Intimates, a proud Filipino company of 55 years, takes on the future with a new line of intimate apparel and a new endorser, while remembering its humble beginnings and glorious heritage, helping women gain confidence through undergarments that boast of high quality, innovative design, and the perfect fit.

Humble beginnings

Lady Grace’s passionate and hardworking pioneer is Mrs. Amelia Exconde, a schoolteacher with a knack for dressmaking, who began sewing her own set of undergarments in her quest for a bra with the perfect fit. Making her own patterns, she perfected the design and started making them for her colleagues. As the company grew it became a husband and wife team and Mr. Fidel G. Exconde handled the Finance side of the company.

The demand in the local market grew, and they began consigning to department stores in the metro. The quality and design of the products gained the confidence of the international market as well, as Lady Grace began supplying to different undergarment brands in Germany, Mexico, Denmark, Puerto Rico, the United Kingdom, Netherlands and Canada .

Daiana in her best shape

Looking ahead into the future, the company selected a new endorser who can embody the company’s heritage. “We wanted the company to be represented by a woman who is timeless, someone who can be at once funny, sexy, and full of confidence in her own skin. And we found that in Ms. Daiana Menezes,” according to Grace Exconde, the company’s Chief Operating Officer, and the daughter of Lady Grace Intimates’ founder, Mrs. Amelia Exconde.

Daiana's career has flourished through the years, becoming one of the most visible faces in TV and print today. Speaking during the event, she says, “I'm sure all the women here will agree with me that wearing underwear with the perfect fit does wonders for your mood and your confidence, and Lady Grace Intimates’ new Shapewear Series gives you that, because it enhances your shape and hides those bulges, making you feel sexy instantly! I'm very proud that Lady Grace trusted me to carry the brand. They've been in the business for so many years, and they wouldn't last this long if they don't know the needs of their market well."

The centerpiece of the event was a fashion show with models wearing the latest Shape Wear Series, as the guests were taken through a journey in time with styling, music, and visuals showcasing the passage of each decade beginning from 1958 when Lady Grace began, to the present. The Lady Grace Shape Wear series consists of Cami Shapers, Hip and Butt Enhancers, Panty Shapers, Shorts with Tummy Control, and Binders. The intimate apparel series aims to slim and shape instantly, giving a slimmer, firmer look. The materials are breathable, easy to wear, and provide the right lift and support. They can also be worn seamlessly under clothing.

The fashion show culminated with Daiana Menezes on the ramp wearing one of the newest innovations of the company: the Lady Grace Sports Bra, a versatile bra that's sporty and sexy, for the active woman that can be used in sports activities, or even under casual and formal wear.

Lady Grace Intimates seeks to promote confidence and love for whatever body type one has. Each woman can enhance her shape and feel sexy through their intimate apparel because Lady Grace Intimates has made Shapewear very affordable and accessible. Prices of the undergarments begin at P299 and up, and are available in SM and other major department stores nationwide.

About Lady Grace Intimate Apparel

From its simple beginnings in 1958 when it catered to a small market of college students, Lady Grace in the Philippines has grown steadily over the years and has continued to serve a much wider market not only of young college students but also of women who have distinguished themselves in their chosen professions and occupations.

Lady Grace product lines consist of: brassieres, panties, thongs, girdles, tank tops, cami shapers, molded butt enhancers, binders, body shapers, leg shapers, self adhesive bras and bra accessories such as transparent bra straps, nipple covers, and bra extenders.

In addition to the domestic market, Lady Grace has supplied intimate apparel in the international markets including Mexico, Puerto Rico, Denmark, Holland, Germany, Finland and the United Kingdom under buyer's own brand name.

Lady Grace's ability to create new designs while maintaining high quality products at affordable prices has satisfied its customers through the years.

For inquiries, please call Ms. Ellen Magsakay at 09209089474 or 632-2085458. Email ladygracelingerie@yahoo.com and log on to www.ladygraceintimates.com

World-Class Designs at ID’s New Market! Market! Branch

Shopping for furniture? Buy Filipino! I love the green and red chairs! :)

Press Release:

Young adults, new couples and families in the market for modern furniture can look no further than ID (IDeas for Living) as it showcases timelessly designed and expertly created home furniture. One of the newest and fastest-rising names in the local furniture industry, ID is a one-stop destination for everyone’s home furniture needs⎯be it designer-inspired, locally crafted or eco-friendly.

Capturing the interest of many Filipinos with its vast array of stylish staples, ID has filled the market gap for stylish, high quality and affordable furniture for modern living spaces. With the growing demand for reasonably priced furniture, houseware, home décor and accessories that boast of modern aesthetics and top-notch quality, the people behind ID decided to expand its reach. “It was always in our plans to open several branches because we want to tap a wider market,” says ID Director Bertrand Ng.

Recently, the stylish and very affordable furniture store has set up shop in the 3rd floor of Metro Market! Market!, to the delight of style-savvy furniture shoppers.

ID Director Bertrand Ng also says that the store is all about offering good quality and well designed furniture at very affordable prices and caters to customers from every end of the spectrum.

“An entire experience is in store for shoppers who come to ID,” adds Ng. “What you buy has already been pre-selected and curated so you can be assured that every piece is of the moment and up to par with our standards.”

With its grand opening met with positive turnout from the constant flow of mallgoers who dropped by, expect ID to expose more Filipinos to elevated taste as they continuously provide them with hip, world-class home furniture at very affordable prices.

ID (IDeas for Living) is located at Metro Market! Market! and #2100 Don Chino Roces Extension. Drop by and take a cue from their home improvement ideas now!

20TH Century Fox’s Action, Thrilling Features For 2013

For those on the lookout for new movies this year, here's the list from 20th Century Fox Philippines ...

Press Release:

20th Century Fox brings in the brawny and the brainy, the dudes and the gals, the offbeat and the uptight in a series of explosive action and thriling features set to heat up the big screen this 2013 starting with Bruce Willis’ high-octane “A Good Day To Die Hard,” the Dracula-inspired “Stoker” starring Nicole Kidman, Sandra Bullock’s buddy cop movie “The Heat” and Hugh Jackman’s most anticipated return on the screen as “The Wolverine.”

Considered as one of the most enduring movie stars in the world, Bruce Willis is back the 5th time in the “Die Hard” blockbuster franchise the world over dies to line up for in “A Good Day To Die Hard” along with up and coming actor Jai Courtney. Willis not only reprises his iconic John McClane but gives the hard-talking detective a higher ante when the stage of blazing, intense action is set internationally in Moscow where he finds himself reunited with his estranged son Jack (Courtney).  

Bruce and Jai

Having always had a frictional relationship with his son for years, the older McClane decides to finally look him up with help from friends at Washington DC.  The search showed that Jack is involved in some nefarious business in Europe somewhere and John takes flight from DC to Russia with the intention of helping his son out of trouble.  Unaware that his son is a highly-trained CIA operative out to stop a ring of terrorist planning a nuclear weapons heist, the two McClanes shed as much strength, wit and humor making them unstoppable heroes despite their opposing methods.

Nicole and Mia

Creepy thriller “Stoker” starring Nicole Kidman, Mia Wasikowska and Matthew Goode starts after India’s (Wasikowska’s) father dies in an auto accident. Her Uncle Charlie (Goode), who she never knew existed, comes to live with her and her emotionally unstable mother (Kidman). Soon after his arrival, she comes to suspect this mysterious, charming man has ulterior motives, but instead of feeling outrage or horror, this friendless girl becomes increasingly infatuated with him.  “Stoker” is the English-language film debut of famed Korean filmmaker Park Chan-Wook.

“The Heat” marks Sandra Bullock’s return to action-comedy, a genre typically dominated by males where stakes are higher and doubled with Melissa McCarthy as her partner-in-crime to solve crimes.   Directed by Paul Feig, the buddy cop movie follows Sarah Ashburn (Bullock), a rigid FBI agent forced to team up with Shannon Mullins (McCarthy), a brash undercover Boston street cop to solve a high profile drug cartel. 

Sandra and Melissa

In a recent interview with EW.com Feig relates “The Heat” further as, “Ashburn’s been in the FBI for a long time. She’s a great agent but she’s slightly over-confident, a little intolerant of anybody who isn’t at her level, so she showboats a little bit. She gets sent to Boston to help crack this case about this drug lord that nobody can figure out. And she has to work with Melissa’s character because Melissa’s a street cop who knows the neighborhood. But she’s used to doing everything by herself and they band together, but it takes a long time for them to bond.  So the fun starts there.”

Hugh

Hugh Jackman takes us where Logan aka “The Wolverine” is in a moment when almost every connection, intimate connection he had to the world has been either destroyed or broken.  Based on the celebrated comic book arc, this epic action-adventure sets Wolverine, the most iconic character of the X-Men universe, to modern day Japan. Out of his depth in an unknown world he faces his ultimate nemesis in a life-or-death battle that will leave him forever changed. Vulnerable for the first time and pushed to his physical and emotional limits, he confronts not only lethal samurai steel but also his inner struggle against his own immortality, emerging more powerful than we have ever seen him before.  Directed by James Mangold with Mark Bomback and Christopher McQuarrie as screenwriters, “The Wolverine” also stars Svetlana Khodchenkova, Will Yun Lee, Brian Tee, Hiroyuki Sanada and Rila Fukushima.

Fil-Australian Theater Actor Robert Vicencio Produces IP MAN THE MUSICAL Set For 2014 World Premier

Martial arts in a theater production? That sounds awesome!

Press Release:

What happens when a Filipino-Australian theater actor and a mainland Chinese businesswoman pool their creative artistry together ?

Robert Vicencio who was originally onstage in the smash hit musical “Miss Saigon” at London’s West End and around the world together with Ms. Wang Hongming recently formed W Squared Live Entertainment Ltd.

Based in Shanghai, the company is managed by international & local industry experts, focusing on both musical productions and entertainment solutions in the ASEAN region.

At a recent press launch held in Singapore, the company has formally announced its major production for 2014 – the world premiere of “Ip Man The Musical.” The musical is based on the globally successful movie trilogy “Ip Man.” (The first time an international major musical will chose to premiere its show in Singapore. )

“Ip Man The Musical”  is the world’s first Chinese concept-based musical with martial art elements strategically designed to target both the overseas and China Mainland markets. It also aims to perfect the combination of artistic and commercial elements into one theatrical production created for a global release.  

Robert Vicencio who holds strongly his enthusiasm for Chinese culture and passion of musicals and martial arts told the Asian press that "there is a great similarity between singing and martial arts, from the slow perfection of each move, to the breathing which is required to sustain long notes or powerful blows. Creating 'Ip Man the Musical' finally brings to life this philosophy of mine and materializes it into a musical stage to be shared with the world. I truly believe it’s the right concept, right team, right story and more importantly the right time!"

Grandmaster Ip Ching has joined the creative team of “Ip Man The Musical ” in order to bring more significance to the musical’s production team as a whole, injecting a pure perspective of the Wing Chun martial arts philosophy straight from the son of the ‘The Father of Wing Chun’ into the musical’s development.

According to Grandmaster Ip Ching, "It will be the first time to promote Wing Chun using the medium of a musical. And we hope that the production can attract a wider range of audiences so they will become more knowledgeable about Wing Chun through this innovative production! I wish 'Ip Man the Musical' great success in the future!"

Grandmaster Ip Ching continues to advise on “Ip Man 3D,” the 3rd installment of the successful movie series produced by veteran Hong Kong movie producer, Raymond Wong and written by Edmond Wong. Incidentally, the Wong’s have also been invited to join the creative team of “Ip Man The Musical”.

"I am very pleased that Ip Man the movie has helped influence the creation of Ip Man the Musical. This will transcend to international theatrical stages, and create higher levels of  awareness, appreciation and audience appeal of  the national treasure Wing Chun. I am confident that the musical will be more popular due to the fact that Kenji Kawai, who is Ip Man the Musical's co-composer, is also the musical director of all the Ip Man movies," Raymond added.

Robert’s co-producer Ms. Wang Hongming who helped and participated in introducing original musicals into China thinks the development of Chinese concept musicals is very promising. She further explained that “the efforts of the team are bound to give an unforgettable experience to the audiences who like both musicals and martial arts globally.”

Auditions will be conducted by middle of 2013 and will travel through China, South Korea, Japan, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Philippines and other parts of Asia with the aims of identifying and discovering new musical talents.

“Ip Man The Musical” is also supported by the FLY Sound Company from Taiwan which serves as the production’s audio equipment strategic partner and Lateensail from Japan, who will provide all multimedia technologies and content, as the production’s multimedia strategic partner.

In addition, “Ip Man the Musical ” and its producers are strongly being looked at for support from the Singaporean government with its aim to create Singapore as a “West End” of Asia, with the producers finally deciding to premiere their show in Singapore, a first for that territory.

A Slice of Heaven with Baguio Country Club’s trademark Raisin and Banana Bread at Heaven & Eggs

I'd love to try these breads soon!

Press Release:

A trip to Baguio City, often dubbed as the Summer Capital of the Philippines, can never be complete without sampling and stocking up on fabulous food finds. Among the most sought-after baked goodies are the Raisin Bread and Banana Bread from Baguio Country Club, which have become cult favorites among food lovers and pasalubong shoppers.

Now, those with a hankering for Baguio Country Club’s trademark treats need not go all the way to Baguio, as they can now enjoy their favorite Raisin Bread and Banana Bread at Heaven & Eggs Glorietta 4. Baked freshdaily at 2am , these are  rushed down right away via the new highways from the city of pines to arrive in Makati every morning at 6am, allowing breakfast, dessert, and snack aficionados to have their fill of these pastries before they go about their day. Supplies run out fast and get sold out by lunchtime, but Heaven & Eggs has bread lovers covered as a second shipment sometimes arrives in the shop in the afternoon.

Dense and moist, the Raisin Bread is chockfull of raisins and has a hint of cinnamon, while the Banana Bread is filled with the sweet goodness of ripe fruit. Dab a tinge of butter on the Raisin Bread, or have either of the baked goodies solo, they’re perfect partners for breakfast, midday snacks, and steaming cups of coffee or tea. Raisin Bread fanatic and loyal Baguio Country Club Member Raymond Ilusorio Yap comments,“The Raisin Bread is very special and can only be made in Baguio.  The secret is Baguio’s atmosphere that gives it just the right amount of fresh air and humidity. It’s just not possible to bake it moist the same somewhere else. So I found a way to share my favorite breakfast everyday in Manila. Credit is due to new and fast vehicle engines that can make the 250km trip daily.”

Enjoy Baguio’s best from the city below heaven and above the clouds, indulge in Baguio Country Club Raisin Bread and Banana Bread only at Heaven & Eggs, located at the ground floor of Glorietta 4, Ayala Center, Makati.

Papa John's Offers Big Barkada PBA Meals

Aside from these awesome feasts, also check out Papa John's Valentines promo for couples here.

Press Release:

Give yourself a three-point shot to the true awesome goodness of Papa John’s Pizza while enjoying your favorite basketball games at the PBA!  These large meal setups are good for a small barkada group or an entire 12-man team, be it in the comforts of your widescreen televisions or with the energetic crowds where the games are being played.

For only ₱999, Mythical Five Meals are good for five heads.  It includes 1 large 14” (35.56 cm) Papa John’s Pizza of any flavor of your choice (both signature and specialty pizzas), 2 orders of any of your favorite Pasta (Diablo Burst, Carbonara, Bolognaise), 2 orders of Potato Wedges, 1 1.5-liter of your favorite soda drink (equivalent to 5 persons). Also, for an additional ₱120, you get 1 PBA shirt.  Mythical Five Meals will definitely give you that all-star MVP high as you watch the most exciting season of PBA this 2013!

A large team of 12 can still indulge with Papa John’s Pizza’s mouthwatering offerings as they celebrate a victory watching the most exciting basketball league in the country.  For only ₱2499, the PBA Meals is a feast to behold with 3 medium (30.48cm) Pizza of any flavor of your choice (both signature and specialty pizzas), 12 pieces of Chicken Wings, 4 orders of your favorite Pasta (Diablo Burst, Carbonara, Bolognaise), 2 1.5-litr of your favorite soda drink (equivalent to 12 servings of regular soda).  With all of these tummy-filling treats, you get to save ₱926 off the regular price.  Also, you only need to add ₱150 to get a PBA shirt to relish the games experience!

Loyal fans of Papa John’s Pizza also get the chance to buy trademark Papa John’s Pizza shirts for only ₱150 each for every meal purchase.  Makati residents also get to have Papa John’s Pizza deliver for them by dialing 887-7272.

The Mythical Five and PBA Meals promo is valid until March 15, 2013, and is not valid with other ongoing promos and discounts. Prices are inclusive of VAT, while subject to 10% service/delivery charge.

Feel tall and triumphant with these exclusive treats from Papa John’s Pizza, the official pizza of the Philippine Basketball Association!

Awesome Australia at Marriott Manila

Celebrate Australia Day at Marriot Manila this month!

Press Release:

We’re kicking up January with a party and eating experience like a true-blue Aussie! Sashay your way to the land down under on January 26 from 6:30 PM to 10:30 PM, Australia Day for a lavish pool side barbeque and wine party for only P2500 net. At this price, expect a good value all-you-eat-and-drink night that’s also synonymous to fun.

Party and cooking go hand in hand, so what better way to get into the party mood than with our lavish yet relaxed poolside party highlighting all-around stellar eats from Australia. Admit it, they’re the kind of stuff you can’t get anywhere else.  Regal, refined, and right tasty Australian, the lengthy al fresco buffet features shrimps, petit grilled steaks, lamb, fish, meat pies, cured meats, and desserts with butter, cream and  jellies. Beverage selections from sparkling water to wine are courtesy of the Wine Warehouse all located in a seductive corner.  Plus, the cocktails and drinks are either fierce or ingenious, a symbol of Australia’s stylish boozers everywhere.

And as an antidote to this exciting food coma in the making, the band plays starkly cool classic rock songs to launch the evening. Fortunately, the live music revolves around the songs of famous Aussie musicians such as Silver Chair, Kylie Minogue, and Olivia Newton-John among others.

If a wild party is not your thing and considers a refreshing food experience as a come on, this awesome Australia night life party escape will surely raise a fond smile whether with your family, beau, or friends.

For inquiries or reservations, call 988-9999.

“A GOOD DAY TO DIE HARD” Latest Trailer Reveal

Woot! "John McClane is back!

Press Release:

The movie to die hard for this year unveils its latest trailer with Bruce Willis and Jai Courtney in a series of high-octane action in “A Good Day To Die Hard”

“A Good Day To Die Hard” is the fifth installment in the blockbuster franchise “Die Hard” with Bruce Willis reprising his iconic role as John McClane – the take-no-prisoners cop who visits Moscow for the first time only to be embroiled in an international crime heist along with his son, McClane Jr. played by Jai Courtney. 

The first “Die Hard” shown in 1988 introduced John McClane eternally being in the wrong place at the wrong time, with the skills and attitude to always be the last man standing, making him enemy #1 for terrorists the world over. Now, McClane faces his greatest challenge ever in “A Good Day To Die Hard,”  this time on an international stage, when his estranged son Jack is caught up in the daring prison escape of a rogue Russian leader, and father and son McClane must work together to keep each other alive and keep the world safe for democracy.

“A Good Day To Die Hard” is a pre-Valentine date movie to open February 13 in theaters nationwide from 20th Century Fox to be distributed by Warner Bros.

It's Going to Get F!@#$ng Crazy on OFF THE HOOK: EXTREME CATCHES

Here's something to "catch" on Animal Planet this month!

Press Release:

Showtime Eric Young, an avid yet novice outdoorsman and professional wrestler, is getting out of the ring and turning in his tights for a brand new category of tackle. On OFF THE HOOK: EXTREME CATCHES, join Eric as he embarks on the ultimate amateur angling road trip with a mission to quench his thirst for the craziest fishing adventure. From women’s pantyhose on rods and reels to catch sharks in the Atlantic Ocean, to launching live bait with fire extinguishers on Lake Michigan, to hand fishing with Tennessee’s bikini-clad "Girls Gone Grabblin", and odd local traditions practiced for centuries, go on a fishing expedition like no other as Eric unravels the country’s most out-of-this-world fishing techniques! A 12-part series, OFF THE HOOK: EXTREME CATCHES premieres Monday, January 21 at 9:00 p.m., with encores every Wednesday at 9:00 p.m., Thursday at midnight and Saturday at 10:00 p.m.

On OFF THE HOOK: EXTREME CATCHES, Eric crisscrosses America to uncover fishing masterminds who go to extremes to haul in their catch, some of whom have pioneered ingenious and insane methods of catching fish for both profit and play. Using all sorts of unique bait, tackle, poles and transportation, join Eric on his pursuit to be the makeshift MacGyver of fishing as he tries his hand at a host of these mind-blowing techniques. From the wildly dangerous to the all-out crazy and downright bizarre, watch as Eric learns from the experts and puts his new skills to the test by going head to head with some of the biggest (and smallest) fish around. Paddleboard and jet-ski fishing for sharks? No problem! Underwater spear fishing and nighttime squid jigging? Easy. Fishing for dangerous alligator gar or invasive species like snakehead fish and carp? Um, that might be an issue.

From the waterways of New England to the beaches of North Carolina, from the coasts of Florida to the sunny shores of California, and everywhere in between, get ready for a fishing jaunt like no other. No matter how long it takes, how foolish it seems or how many bumps and bruises he gets along the way, nothing is going to stop Eric and his incessant quest to catch the ultimate fish, including the ones that got away! Catch the craze on the following episodes of OFF THE HOOK: EXTREME CATCHES:

SHARK-A-MANIA

Showtime Eric Young ventures to Shark Central - the Gulf Coast of Florida. First he learns how to fish for sharks using women's pantyhose. Then he fishes for sharks in the middle of the ocean - while standing on a 4-inch thick paddleboard.

SAILFISH SMACKDOWN

Eric ventures to South Florida to go after the fastest fish in the Atlantic - the sailfish. But he's not fishing from the luxury of a yacht -he's fishing 8 miles off the coast or Miami, from a homemade raft he'd built himself.

RUNNING WITH THE DEVIL

Eric journeys into the heart of Texas to take on the aptly named Devil's River to go fishing - from a kayak.  He braves whitewater rapids, flash floods, snakes, scorpions, and extreme heat, all to find the biggest bass in the state.

AMBERJACKED UP

Eric travels to the Outer Banks of North Carolina, where he's going after one of the orneriest fish in the ocean - the mighty amberjack. And he's going after it 30 miles off the coast, in the middle of the ocean, from a jet-ski.

SKISHING HELL WEEK

Eric travels to Rhode Island to skish - a combination of ski and fishing - to land a striped bass. He'll free float miles from the coast armed only with a rod, and if he lands a big one, he could be towed through the water like he's on water skis.

THE DEATH RACE

Eric heads to Long Island Sound, New York, where he'll take on 'the Race', a dangerously fast, boulder-filled stretch of water that is an underwater superhighway for striped bass. He'll be free-diving, and hunting the stripers with a spear gun.

BEARD GONE GRABBING

Eric travels to Tennessee, where the catfish is king. He's there to learn how to hand fish from a team of bikini-clad, local legends known as the "Girls Gone Grabblin".

Manilabake: Traditional Baking Given A Modern-Filipino Twist

I love Manilabake's calamansi polvoron and muscovado cookies that my hubby brought home last month. You can read his food review here :)

Press Release:

Manilabake by Serye Café Filipino, a bakery café that opened in Katipunan only this July, is the closest to “homemade” that one can get – if one defines “homemade” as being “well-made” or created with tender loving care, using a combination of traditional and innovative methods, and only the very best local ingredients.

Manilabake takes off from the recent trend of artisanal shops, where the baker as artisan uses all of his skill and attention in creating quality baked goods for his customers’ enjoyment and health. Its breads, cakes, pies and other pastries are made from heritage recipes, many of which involve much patience and time. 

“Commercial food products nowadays are all too often made quickly to the detriment of eating quality, taste and nutritive value. Consumers have reacted, giving rise to a return to traditional ways of preparing food. Think of the slow food movement, for instance. Or the success of weekend markets that offer homemade goods,” said Gretchen Lim, proprietor of the bakery cafe.

Ms. Lim underscores that Manilabake by Serye Café Filipino practices many of the “time-honored ways of baking.” Although the bakers learn and apply the new ways that may be more efficient, they “do not compromise” on taste and nutritional value.  

“Bakery products are among those products made too quickly.  Many breads you buy are a product of way too much yeast, with way too much sugar and water, mixed at high speeds and then baked at a moderate oven just until the bread looks baked – all in order to get a product out from start to finish in under two hours. But good bread is the result of, among other things – pure ingredients, proper fermentation (or rise) and a full bake,” she explained. 

Manilabake’s motto is “good bread comes from good baking.” The bakers patiently wait for the dough – well-mixed, hand-shaped, and laid out in a cool place to ferment – to develop flavor and structure fully, before it goes into the charcoal-fired, ceramic oven hot enough for the sugar to caramelize and the bread to fully bake.  

“This process is not quick…,” Ms. Lim said, citing as example that the slow, cool rise of staple pan de sal takes over 12 hours. 

“For our pastries (pies and empanadas), we developed a tasty, flaky crust as our base and we train our bakers to handle crust gently and properly to retain its tender-flaky characteristics. This again takes time.” 

Each recipe was personally developed by Ms. Lim through “trial by fire” in the kitchen, so to speak, backed by short culinary courses and a lifetime of direct tutorials from talented cooks in the family. 

“The recipes come from learning by observing my mother bake and through my own research and experience in the kitchen… There have been instances when we get the taste and texture at the first go but then we struggle with the final presentation,” said Ms. Lim. 

Manilabake is very particular about the ingredients they use, favoring unbleached, chemical-free flour, Pangasinan sea salt and their own sourdough starter for their breads. Only the “right amount” of commercial yeast is used as additive. 

The rest of the ingredients are also locally sourced: milk bought off the local dairy, eggs from the local farm, calamansi from the city market, wild honey from Palawan, muscovado from Sultan Kudarat, tablea chocolate from Malagos, cashews from Bataan, longganisa from Vigan, buffalo mozzarella from Nueva Ecija, and coffee from Benguet and South Cotabato, among others.

Being sister-establishment to Serye Café Filipino, the first authentic modern-Filipino café-cum-restaurant, Manilabake shares the same brand sensibilities of quality for value, and the brand philosophy of “Celebrating Filipino coffee, cuisine and culture.”

“What really occupies center-stage at Manilabake is the baked product, especially freshly-baked bread. It caters more to the baked goods market – those in search of breads, cakes or pastries. It also has a line-up of cooked meals but it is not as extensive, nor as filling, as those of Sérye Café Filipino,” said Ms. Lim.

Folks can park their car nearby, order their goods to-go, and bring home a slew of delicious baked treats as pasalubong. A quick stop for the harried office worker would take care of the office baon for lunch, and also solve that nagging question of what to bring to an after-work occasion (or impress one’s dinner date with).  

The bakery café may also serve as an alternative to the neighborhood coffee shop for a light meal, with coffee and dessert. If a snack is all you’re looking for, the Champorado (chocolate-flavored porridge made from tapol or wild, glutinous purple rice, P145) and Shepherd’s Pie a la Cubana (mashed camote and mashed potato blanketing the meat filling, P195) will also suit nicely. 

Current bestsellers include: the Pan de sal (P8; whole wheat, P10; barbecue-filled, P45), Bonete bread (P5), Cinnamon Raisin Loaf (P225), Macapuno Pandan Cake (six-inch round, P495; nine-inch round, P885), Mocha Manila Cake (six-inch round, P770; nine-inch round, P1,215), Calamansi Cupcake (P70) or Pull-Apart Loaf (P180), Tsokolate Biscotti (P150), Muscovado Cookies (12 in a jar, P170; 20 in a jar, P280), and coconut sugar-sweetened Apple Pie (P145).  

MANILABAKE by Serye Café Filipino is located at 206-A Katipunan Avenue, Blue Ridge A, Quezon City. Operating hours are 6 a.m.–9p.m. from Monday to Sunday. Deliveries are free within a five-kilometer radius. For orders, call (02) 509 1973 or (0916) 4984547.

“BOEING BOEING” Set To Open On January 25

I heard part of the script being read by Michael Williams and Michael de Mesa late last year during Repertory Philippines' presentation of their 2013 shows (see lots of photos here) and the dialogues are funny! Can't wait to watch this play on stage soon!

Edit - Jan. 26: My show review is up! You can read it here. Don't miss watching this production. It's really, really great! :)

Press Release:

Fasten your seat belts!

Repertory Philippines proudly presents its 76th theater season with the opening salvo of BOEING BOEING, the classic '60s sex comedy hit of errors that won the 2008 Tony Awards and the Drama Desk Awards for Best Play Revival.

BOEING BOEING is set to open on January 25 and shall run up to February 17, 2013. All performances are at Onstage, 2/F, Greenbelt 1, Paseo de Roxas cor. Legazpi St., Makati city.

BOEING BOEING (by Marc Camoletti and translated by Beverley Cross and Francis Evans) will be directed by Miguel Faustmann.

A riotous farce, in the comedy, "an architect living in Paris has been successfully juggling three flight attendant fiancées with his housekeeper reluctantly playing romantic air-traffic controller as they fly in and out of his swank bachelor pad. But when an old school pal visits, things get rather turbulent. Schedules change, flights are delayed and chaos ensues in this whirl of mayhem and matchmaking."

David Bianco will essay the role of Mr. Bernard Whitford, an American architect businessman living in Paris ---  a swinging bachelor. He is a combination of Don Draper and Jack Tripper. A playboy who juggles love affairs with three air hostesses who touch down briefly but lovingly in his apartment between flights.

David and Topper

Topper Fabregas will play the role of the unworldly Robert, Bernard’s boyhood friend, newly arrived from Wisconsin.

Bringing to mind fantasy drawings from a vintage Esquire or  Playboy for a portfolio of international dream girls are the three fiancées: Giannina Ocampo as  Gabriella, the sentimental, lusty Italian stewardess. Carla Dunareanu as Gretchen, the hilarious, aggressive, dominating but thin-skinned German stewardess. Jennifer Blair-Bianco as Gloria, the Southern belle with upbeat disposition take-charge health-obsessed American stewardess.

Giannina, Carla, Jennifer

Ms. Baby Barredo will play the role of Bertha, Bernard's long-suffering housekeeper who is a chic, black-clad philosopher. A French existentialist maid who loves nothing more than to complain. Ms. Joy Virata is alternate.

Baby and Joy

The artistic and creative team of BOEING BOEING is led by Baby Barredo (Rep Artistic Director), Miguel Faustmann (Stage Director), John Batalla (Lighting Designer), Miguel Faustmann (Set Designer), and Raven Ong (Costume Designer).

BOEING BOEING’s production staff is composed of Juno Henares (Executive Producer), Gidget Tolentino (Production Manager), Andrew Miranda (Stage Manager), Pol Roxas (Sound Technician), Pablito Salvador (Lighting Technician) and Adul Lasin (Set Execution and Scenic Artist).

The marketing, sales and publicity of BOEING BOEING is led by Toots Tolentino (Publicist), Charlie Barredo with Oliver Usison, Letty Barredo, Marie Talay and Rose Silva (Marketing and Sales).

Co-presented by the City of Makati, BOEING BOEING  is  bound to  reintroduce a forgotten contemporary comedy, to a new generation of theatergoers.

BOEING BOEING also won 2008 Tony Awards and Drama Desk Awards for Best Actor (Mark Rylance) and it also received four additional Tony nominations. A film version starring Tony Curtis and Jerry Lewis was publicized as “ the big comedy of nineteen-sexty-sex. ”

BOEING BOEING is presented through special arrangement with Eric Glass Ltd.

Celebrating its 46th year, Repertory Philippines is now  accepting reservations for schools, civic groups and corporate sponsorships.

For further inquiries regarding the details of show, please call 5716926 or 5714941 or email info@repertory.ph or log on to www.repertory.ph. Tickets are also available through Ticketworld at 8919999 or visit www.ticketworld.com.ph.

Visit www.repertory.ph, subscribe to youtube.com/repertoryphils, and “like” Repertory Philippines on Facebook.

See you at the theater !!!!