Renaissance Art Gallery to Hold 11th Anniversary Exhibit “Driven To Abstraction” Starting June 6, 2014

Feast your eyes on beautiful paintings by talented Filipino artists! Make sure to drop by Renaissance Art Gallery to view their upcoming exhibit that opens this coming June 6!

Press Release:

In celebration of its 11th anniversary, Renaissance Art Gallery presents “Driven to Abstraction” featuring abstract artists: Max Balatbat, Bien Benitez, Benji Bisaya, Marco Coching, Arley Carig, Jane Ebarle, Fitz Herrera, Josef Laureano, Sio Montera, Cid Reyes, Aner Sebastian, Resty Tica and Valen Valero.

 Malang

A highlight of the show are the works of master abstractionists such as National Artists Hernando R. Ocampo, Jose Joya and Arturo Luz, as well as Malang, Romulo Olazo, Gus Albor, Lao Lianben, and Nestor Vinluan.

Resty Tica's Temporary Garden in the Sky

Through over a decade, Renaissance Art Gallery has built a reputation as a nurturing ground for emerging abstractionists. Its proprietors Noli and Agnes Romero have been committed to fostering the appreciation of a non-figurative idiom, especially in an art scene that predominantly favors representational paintings.

Aner Sebastian

Abstraction is an art in which “the depiction of real objects or nature has been subordinated or entirely discarded and whose aesthetic content is expressed in a formal pattern or structure of shapes, lines and colors.” It is also called non-representational or nonobjective a term first used by Russian abstractionist, Wassily Kandinsky (1866-1944).

“Driven to Abstraction”  will have a special preview from June 6 to 8 (Friday to Sunday) and the opening cocktails is on June 9, 2014 – 6 p.m. at the ART CENTER, 4th Level, Bldg. A, SM Megamall, Mandaluyong City. It runs until June 24, 2014.

Marco Coching

For further details of the exhibit, you may contact Renaissance Gallery via phone: 637-3101, email: renaissanceart.ph@gmail.com; or website: www.renaissanceart.ph. You can also connect to Renaissance Gallery online through the following social media networks: facebook.com/renaissanceart.ph and @renaissanceartph on Instagram.

* To see more photos of paintings by the featured artists, please view this Facebook album

MALEFICENT Original Motion Picture Soundtrack

Watch the movie and get the OST! Maleficent looks like it's going to be one of the biggest blockbusters this year!

Press Release:

Award-winning, American singer-songwriter Lana Del Rey has recorded a unique reimagining of the renowned fairy-tale tune “Once Upon A Dream” from Disney’s classic animated film “Sleeping Beauty,” which is featured in the theatrical trailer & end credits of the Disney film “Maleficent”.   

This haunting cover was unveiled as part of a 90-second sneak peek of Disney’s “Maleficent” during the 56th Annual Grammy Awards® last January 2014. The track is included in the Original Motion Picture Soundtrack featuring 71 minutes of original James Newton Howard score. Howard is best known for his brilliant theatrical scores for films such as “Pretty Woman”, “The Hunger Games”, “Batman Begins”, “King Kong” and “The Sixth Sense” among others.     

“Maleficent” explores the untold story of Disney’s most iconic villain from the classic “Sleeping Beauty" and the elements of her betrayal that ultimately turned her pure heart to stone. Driven by revenge and a fierce desire to protect the moors over which she presides, Maleficent cruelly places an irrevocable curse upon the human king’s newborn infant Aurora. As the child grows, Aurora is caught in the middle of the seething conflict between the forest kingdom she has grown to love and the human kingdom that holds her legacy. Maleficent realizes that Aurora may hold the key to peace in the land and is forced to take drastic actions that will change both worlds forever. 

   

The film stars Angelina Jolie as Maleficent, Sharlto Copley, Elle Fanning, Sam Riley, Imelda Staunton, Juno Temple and Lesley Manville. “Maleficent” is produced by Joe Roth and directed by Robert Stromberg, with Angelina Jolie, Don Hahn, Palak Patel, Matt Smith and Sarah Bradshaw serving as executive producers. Linda Woolverton wrote the screenplay. 

Tracklisting:

1. Maleficent Suite (From "Maleficent"/Score) - James Newton Howard

2. Welcome to the Moors (From "Maleficent"/Score) - James Newton Howard

3. Maleficent Flies (From "Maleficent"/Score) - James Newton Howard

4. Battle of the Moors (From "Maleficent"/Score) - James Newton Howard

5. Three Peasant Women (From "Maleficent"/Score) - James Newton Howard

6. Go Away (From "Maleficent"/Score) - James Newton Howard

7. Aurora and the Fawn (From "Maleficent"/Score) - James Newton Howard

8. The Christening (From "Maleficent"/Score) - James Newton Howard

9. Prince Phillip (From "Maleficent"/Score) - James Newton Howard

10. The Spindle's Power (From "Maleficent"/Score) - James Newton Howard

11. You Could Live Here Now (From "Maleficent"/Score) - James Newton Howard

12. Path of Destruction (From "Maleficent"/Score) - James Newton Howard

13. Aurora in Faerieland (From "Maleficent"/Score) - James Newton Howard

14. The Wall Defends Itself (From "Maleficent"/Score) - James Newton Howard

15. The Curse Won't Reverse (From "Maleficent"/Score) - James Newton Howard

16. Are You Maleficent? (From "Maleficent"/Score) - James Newton Howard

17. The Army Dances (From "Maleficent"/Score) - James Newton Howard

18. Phillip's Kiss (From "Maleficent"/Score) - James Newton Howard

19. The Iron Gauntlet (From "Maleficent"/Score) - James Newton Howard

20. True Love's Kiss (From "Maleficent"/Score) - James Newton Howard

21. Maleficent Is Captured (From "Maleficent"/Score) - James Newton Howard

22. The Queen of Faerieland (From "Maleficent"/Score) - James Newton Howard

23. Once Upon a Dream (From "Maleficent"/Pop Version) - Lana Del Rey

Download “MALEFICENT: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack” online via http://www.spinnr.ph/ or iTunes - http://smarturl.it/MaleficentOST. OST is exclusively distributed by MCA Music (Universal Music Philippines).

Disney’s MALEFICENT opened yesterday May 28, 2014 in cinemas nationwide. 

Friend or Foe App: Keep your Facebook Friends Close — and Your Enemies Closer

Here's an interesting and useful app that Facebook aficionados may want to look into. It costs $0.99 on the App Store.

Press Release:

Kaspersky Lab, a leading developer of secure content and threat management solutions presents FriendOrFoe – a free app for Facebook that allows users to assess just how “valuable” their friends are, and even shows what others think of them.

The app will reveal which of those hundreds of followers are genuine fans, who reposts and comments most of all in a user’s circle of friends, as well as highlighting threats to social network users, and how to keep personal information secure.

For those who like using various apps to analyze their activity, Kaspersky Lab has created a tool for collecting statistics about Facebook activity.

FriendOrFoe displays how many videos and photos a user publishes, the number of likes received and lots of other stats that may be of interest to Facebook devotees.

FriendOrFoe is currently available in English, Russian, German, French, Italian, Spanish, Brazilian Portuguese, Mexican Spanish, Arabic, and Japanese. Kaspersky Lab promises to add to the list of languages in the near future.

“The largest social network in the world is bound to attract the attention of cybercriminals. More often than not, they are on the hunt for personal data and login credentials which they can then use to access such things as your mobile banking account,” said Evgeny Chereshnev, Head of Global Mobile Business Development at Kaspersky Lab.

“It comes as no surprise then that Facebook is the most popular target for phishers: in the first quarter of 2014, 79.5% of all social media phishing attacks targeted this particular service. Apart from the entertainment aspect, FriendOrFoe delivers an important message about the possible threats a user faces in clear, simple terms,” Chereshnev added.

Security advice from FriendOrFoe

Photos

The app prompts you to check any photos you've been tagged in – there may be some compromising pictures.

Check-ins

The app lets you see if someone has checked you in without your permission and helps clean your profile of any unauthorized check-ins.

App permissions

FriendOrFoe can review all the apps you are logged in to and show what permissions you gave them.

Search history

The app will show you all the people or things you've searched for on Facebook. You can't stop Facebook from storing this information, but you can erase it.

The developers will be continually improving the app’s functionality in response to user feedback.

G Töngi Launches Dramatic Reading Series at Century City Mall

This sounds very, very interesting! I'd love to watch one of these productions!

Press Release:

Media celebrity G Töngi, newly appointed Artistic Director of Upstart Productions, spearheads Upstart Soundstage, a series of bi-weekly dramatic readings at Century City Mall at 7:00 pm on Sunday, June 15, 2014. Upstart Soundstage will present a different full-length drama, comedy, or musical every two weeks, each show featuring well-known theater personalities and stage directors. No props, no sets, no costumes—just pure performance.

“Readings like this are very popular in L.A and New York,” declares Töngi, who has timed her birthday celebration to coincide with the first play in the series. “We want to do the same thing over here.” To that end, Upstart has lined up an impressive array of actors for the project: noted stage and screen personalities Cherie Gil, Iza Calzado, Audie Gemora, Noel Trinidad (one of Upstart’s board members), and Töngi herself, along with renowned directors like Anton Juan, Jaime del Mundo, and Bobby Garcia.  

But will Manila audiences take to the concept of stage shows without any staging? Apparently, they already have: Töngi and her partners have conducted quite a few informal readings of this type, and they’ve all been very well-received. Upstart founder Joel Trinidad, Noel’s son, is not at all surprised. “I’ve always loved dramatic readings, “ he shares. “When you take away the sounds and lights and costumes, you force people to really pay attention.” Upstart Managing Director Onyl Torres, who doubles as the company’s Musical Director and Composer, likens the medium to a radio play. “You get the same emotions, the same human drama,” he says. “It’s very powerful.” Töngi concurs: “In our last few readings, people were in tears—the actors and the audience.”

Upstart Soundstage kicks off with Töngi’s birthday celebration: a reading of Jane Alexander’s The Baby Dance, an emotionally charged drama about a suburban couple adopting the unborn baby of a poor couple. Other proposed shows in the series—which will run continuously, every two weeks, in three-month blocks—include Pippin by Stephen Schwartz, Glengarry Glen Ross by David Mamet, The Seagull by Anton Chekov, Les Liaisons Dangereuses by Christopher Hampton, and many others. “A different show every two weeks, at a fraction of the cost of a regular show,” notes Töngi. “Where else can you experience that?”

Upstart Soundstage: The Dramatic Readings. Starting Sunday, June 15, at 7:00 pm at the event space on the 5th floor of Century City Mall, Kalayaan Avenue, Makati, and playing continuously every other Sunday from then on. Tickets at P350 each, available at the door. Brought to you by Century City Mall and Upstart Productions.

Double Dose of Fun from Rex Navarrete

Two funny shows starring Rex Navarrete! Don't miss these!

Press Release:

Double up with laughter as Rex Navarrete serves a double dose of his antics on May 31 at Bar 360 in Resorts World Manila and on June 4 at Strumm’s in Makati. 

“I can’t wait for this and for the audience and I to have an intimate moment together,” says Rex who will be in town for the shows and some scuba diving. This year has been busy for the Fil-Am comedian who began his career on stage in 1990. “I’ve been doing shows all over, I just came back from some gigs in Australia and New Zealand,” he shares.

Mike Unson, who’s opened for American comedian Rob Schneider back in November 2013, will open both shows for Rex. Unson has been in this coveted spot since 2004. 

Sponsors include Resorts World Manila, Strumm’s Makati and www.wheninmanila.com.

Tickets are at Php 1,500 and are only available through Ticketworld.  Call 891-9999 or log on to www.ticketworld.com.ph for inquiries.

Experience New Zealand at Glorietta with Singapore Airlines

Get a chance to go to new Zealand for free! Find out how!

Press Release:

MANILA, Philippines – The New Zealand Embassy, has partnered with Singapore Airlines and Glorietta as they bring together this year’s ‘Experience New Zealand at Glorietta with Singapore Airlines’, a fair to be held at the Glorietta Activity Center, Palm Drive from June 20 to 22, 2014. The fair will give Filipino travelers a foretaste of the finest New Zealand has to offer, from a variety of delicious food and fresh produce, to the best travel deals to New Zealand’s picturesque cities.

In line with Ayala Malls’ commitment in providing innovative and rewarding experiences to shoppers, Glorietta shoppers will also be given the chance to experience New Zealand for themselves as Singapore Airlines and the New Zealand Embassy are giving away two ‘Experience New Zealand’ packages to Auckland, one for 6 days and 5 nights, and the other for 5 days and 4 nights, inclusive of round-trip economy class tickets via Singapore Airlines, accommodations and tours.

To avail of a raffle coupon, shoppers must present P2,000.00 single and/or accumulated worth of receipts from any Glorietta 1 to 5, 6750 and The Link merchants, plus one purchase of Singapore Airlines/SilkAir Ticket from Manila, Cebu, Davao or Kalibo to Auckland or Christchurch from May 20, 2014 to June 22, 2014. Tickets can be purchased from www.singaporeair.com, SQ Mobile App, Singapore Airlines/SilkAir Ticket and Reservations Offices, and travel agents. AMORE and VIPinoy card holders, as well as Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer members may also increase their chances of winning by presenting their cards along with the proof of purchase to double their raffle coupons. The promo will run from May 23 to June 22, 2014, with the grand draw on June 24, 2014.

For bookings and more details, visit www.singaporeair.com. You may also contact the Glorietta concierge at 752-7272 for more details on the promo.

Photo of the contract signing shows (from left, standing): Myrna Fernandez, Ayala Land Assistant Vice President; Hernando Banal, New Zealand Trade Commissioner, New Zealand Embassy; Rita Dy, Manager for Marketing Communications and Services, Singapore Airlines; (seated): Rowena Tomeldan, Ayala Land Vice President and Head of Operations and Support Services, Commercial Business Group; H.E. Ambassador Reuben Levermore, Ambassador of New Zealand to the Philippines, New Zealand Embassy; Ranjan Jha, General Manager, Singapore Airlines 

Sterling Bank of Asia launches Go Anywhere Raffle Promo

Read more about the ShopNPay US Dollar Visa Prepaid Card here.

Press Release:

Your chances to go anywhere in the world just got better as Sterling Bank of Asia’s Go Anywhere Raffle Promo for its newest product, ShopNPay US Dollar Visa Prepaid Card, takes off. The ShopNPay US Dollar Visa Prepaid Card is the first and only US Dollar Visa Prepaid Card with EMV chip. 

Launched recently at Discovery Suites Ortigas, corporate executives of Sterling Bank of Asia as well as Visa Worldwide and members of the media gathered to celebrate and formally launch Go Anywhere Raffle Promo with Chris Tiu as the brand ambassador for ShopNPay US Dollar Visa Prepaid Card.

Eligible cardholders will earn 1 raffle entry every time they load their ShopNPay US Dollar Visa Prepaid Card, with a minimum amount of $100 (USD). The lucky winner will receive a travel voucher anywhere in the world worth $2,000 (USD). 

 The Go Anywhere Raffle Promo runs until July 31, 2014. For more details you may call 721-6000.

Crocs Announces Epic Sale Dates

For those who want to shop for Crocs shoes at rock bottom prices, this is your chance!

Press Release:

Crocs fans, you are in for a treat this summer! The world’s favorite comfort shoe brand is set to have an Epic Sale Event from May 16 to 18, 2014 at the Filinvest Tent in Alabang, Muntinlupa City. It’s a Crocs sale unlike any other and more than what you’ve experienced before! The anticipated sale of the season will surely bring smiles to loyal fans as it offers up to 90% off on a wide selection of styles.

Citibank cardholders are invited to join the exclusive preview sale on May 15, 2014.

Crocs is making this event more special with a contest on Facebook where fans will be given the chance to win VIP Passes as a way of saying thank you for the support they’ve shown in the past seven years.

Aside from the Alabang sale, you can also head down to SM Dasmariñas and Studio of Riverbanks Center in Marikina on May 29-June 1 to enjoy even more markdowns. Stay tuned as Crocs announces more dates!

For more information on the contest, other promos, and announcements, simply like Crocs Philippines on Facebook and follow @crocsph on Instagram and Twitter.

People with Disabilities Tell Stories of Exercising Their Right to Vote in 2013 Elections

PWDs also have a right to vote and it is good to know that several groups are making sure this happens.

Press Release:

The Asia Foundation and Vera Files, Inc, with support from the Australian Government, launched last April 23 “The Right to Vote: Filipinos with Disabilities and the 2013 Elections”, a publication that tells the stories of people with disabilities (PWDs) in exercising their right to vote during the 2013 elections.

The publication examines the gains and challenges of the Commission on Election (COMELEC) and its Inter-Agency and NGO Network on the Empowerment of PWDs and of the Fully Abled Nation project to enable people with disabilities to fully enjoy their right to suffrage. The publication is a product of rigorous and intensive research, interviews and analysis conducted over the past months throughout the country. The Right to Vote chronicles the journey of the government and civil society to make the 2013 elections disability-inclusive.

Speaking at the book launch, Australian Ambassador to the Philippines Bill Tweddell said, “Australia, through our aid program, is ensuring that development is benefiting those most in need and most vulnerable, including people with disability. Australia is pleased to have partnered with The Asia Foundation, government agencies and non-government organisations to bring the issues of Filipinos with disabilities to national attention during local elections.”

“This book is as much about the journey of the Philippines in giving more people the chance to exercise citizenship as it is about the journey of people with disability in advancing a fully abled nation.”

The Fully Abled Nation project, supported by a Php52 million (A$1.3 million) funding from the Australian Government and implemented by The Asia Foundation, led a campaign to increase participation of people with disabilities during the 2013 midterm elections. The project also collaborated with people with disabilities, disabled persons organizations, the COMELEC, the National Council on Disability Affairs, the Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting, and other elections-focused NGOs to increase awareness of the public on the importance of right to suffrage of people with disabilities and to participate in other democratic processes.

(L-R) Atty. Esmeralda Ladra on behalf of COMELEC Commissioner Grace Padaca,
Dr. Steven Rood, Former Commissioner Rene Sarmiento,
H.E. Bill Tweddell, Capt. Oscar Taleon, and Mike Limon on behalf of
NCDA Chairperson Carmen Zubiaga

The book launch, held at the Diamond Hotel Manila, was also attended by Dr. Steven Rood, Country Representative of The Asia Foundation, Ellen Tordesillas, Trustee of Vera Files Inc., former COMELEC Commissioner Rene Sarmiento, AKAP-Pinoy President Capt. Oscar Taleon, and National Council on Disability Affairs Executive Director Carmen Zubiaga, and representatives from the sector of people with disabilities, and other partners of the Fully Abled Nation project.

Founded in 2008, Vera Files Inc. is comprised of veteran journalists who take an in-depth perspective into issues oftentimes ignored by the Filipino society. The Right to Vote’s main writers are Artha Kira Paredes, Lala Ordenes-Cascolan, Avigail Olarte and Maribel Buenaobra. It is co-edited by Luz Rimban and Yvonne T. Chua.

Dove Proves That Beauty is a State of Mind

Watch the video and learn from this new social experiment that illustrates the ongoing conflict women have with recognizing their beauty.

Press Release:

Inside every woman is the power to feel beautiful, confident and radiant. This is according to a first-of-its-kind social experiment conducted by Dove to illustrate that the right state of mind can unlock a powerful feeling of beauty that lives inside all women. 

The experiment was guided by psychologist and New York Times best-selling author, Dr. Ann Kearney-Cooke (Ph.D., Counseling Psychology) who has spent thirty years conducting scientific research around women’s body image and self-esteem.

During the experiment Dr. Kearney-Cooke invited the participants to wear a custom-made “beauty patch” for two weeks, which would help them feel more beautiful.  The women were then invited to keep a personal account of their life-changing experience throughout the two week period. All the women agreed that wearing the “beauty patch” helped to improve their self-esteem and to change their personal lives in ways that they had not imagined. 

At the end of the experiment, however, it is revealed that the “beauty patch” contained nothing and that the power of believing in their own beauty influenced feeling beautiful. 

"When a woman feels beautiful, she radiates happiness and confidence, which inspires her life in a significant way,” said Dr. Kearney-Cooke.  “These women, like so many others, struggle to recognize their own beauty and it severely affects their daily lives.  This ground-breaking experiment was designed to illustrate that beauty is a state of mind and that the power to feel beautiful comes from within.”   

Beauty is a State of Mind

Throughout the Dove: Patches film, it becomes clear how low self-esteem affects many elements of the women’s lives.  As the women become more confident about the way they look, personal relationships flourish and they develop a more optimistic outlook on their daily routine.  One of the women who participated shared that she felt ashamed of her arms and had always avoided shopping.  A few days into the experiment, she started to feel more beautiful and invited her daughter to go shopping for the first time.  

The two of them spent an unforgettable day together and they tried on dresses that she had never dreamed of wearing.  Dove hopes that all of the women’s inspirational stories featured in the Dove: Patches film will serve as powerful examples and encourage all women to develop a stronger relationship with their own beauty. 

Dove invites all women to create a world where beauty is a source of confidence, not anxiety. When women look and feel their best, they feel happier, and Dove believes it is important for women to see the beauty in themselves so that they can inspire the next generation.  In the Philippines, only 7% of Filipinas think they are beautiful. Help us reach the 93% by sharing the Dove: Patches video to your loved ones, friends and readers. Together, let’s help women realize that feeling beautiful comes from within. 

Al Gatmaitan's "IN PURSUIT OF A DREAM " Set on May 14 and 23

I've heard and seen Al Gatmaitan perform in Philippine Opera Company's Ang Bagong Harana productions before. He has a great voice! So do catch his upcoming performances!

Press Release:

Every artist has dreams to pursue, but it is how one conquers those dreams that make a difference. Over the last couple of months, AL GATMAITAN, one of the country’s topnotch tenors was quietly working on a dream project to further hone his craft as a theater actor.

Embarking on a major decision to widen Al Gatmaitan’s horizons, and to further advance his studies, he passed a rigorous audition process and was selected to be part of the New York University Steinhardt School for Music and Performing Arts Professions this coming June.  

But before he takes a bite of the Big Apple, catch AL GATMAITAN: IN PURSUIT OF A DREAM – a special fund raising concert presented by The Philippine Opera Company and Grupo Reposo, in collaboration with LRI Design Plaza set on May 14 and 23, 2014. With Karl Estudillo, collaborative pianist, directed by Will Fredo.  

The concert on May 14, 2014 (7:30 p.m.), will be at The Opera Haus located at 3657 Bautista Street, Brgy. Palanan, Makati. Special guest artists include: TV, film and stage actress Ms. Ayen Munji-Laurel, Sopranos Karla Gutierrez, Gabri Panlilio, and Janine Santos; Tenor Nazer Salcedo, Baritone Lawrence Jatayna and Mezzo Soprano Clarissa Ocampo.

The concert on May 23, 2014 (7:30 p.m.), will be at LRI Design Plaza located at 210 Nicanor Garcia St., Brgy. Bel Air II, Makati. Special guest artists include: Soprano Gabri Panlilio, Mezzo Soprano Clarissa Ocampo, Soprano and stage actress Tricia Amper-Jimenez, Film, TV and stage actress Liza Dino, Singer and songwriter Aiza Seguerra, and world renowned concert pianist Raul Sunico.

AL GATMAITAN has trained at the UP College of Music Major in Voice and has experiences in acting from various theatre groups such as Dulaang UP, UP Playwrights, Trumpets, Spazio Teatro and Teatro Calabria  in Italy and PETA (Philippine Educational Theatre Association) where he started his career, which honed him to be what he is today. 

His three years of stay in Italy for language studies, bonded with rigid vocal and acting training from highly renowned masters of the arts in full bright scholarships proved that these people believe in what he can do. He has been part of several telenovelas in ABS-CBN, appeared for the highly-acclaimed movie musicale, Emir, and The Mistress for Star Cinema. His first major film under HUBO Productions, In Nomine Matris (In The Name of The Mother) was part of the Metro Manila Film Festival 2012 under the New Wave Category. 

In theatre productions, AL played the Tenor for Philippine Opera Company's Master Class and he has been part of the successful runs of Ang Bagong Harana under the direction of Mr. Floy Quintos.  He covered as Roger Davis for Nine Works Theatrical Production of Rent, he collaborated with Tanghalang Pilipino for Banaag at Sikat (under Mr. Jose Estrella) and Noli Me Tangere 2011 (under Mr. Audie Gemora) where he was nominated as Best Male Featured in a Musicale for PhilStage's Gawad Buhay Awards. And he has been nominated twice in Aliw Awards for Best New Male Classical Performer and Best Actor in a Musicale. Last 2013, he played Kuya Boy for Bit by Bit's production "Maxie the Musicale."

A diverse repertoire of songs such as: “EMPIRE STATE OF MIND” (from Alicia Keys – “The Element of Freedom" by Janet Sewell, Angela Hunte, Shawn Carter, Sylvia Robinson, Burt Keyes, Alicia Keys and Alexander Shuckburgh); UNA FURTIVA LAGRIMA (from L’Elisir d’amore (Gaetano Donizetti); LAMENTO DI FEDERICO ("È la solita storia del pastore" from L’Arlesiana by Francesco Cilea); WHEELS OF A DREAM (from "Ragtime Wheels of A Dream by Stephen Flaherty; Lyrics by Lynn Ahrens); ALL I ASK OF YOU (from The Phantom of the Opera by Andrew Lloyd Webber); NASAAN KA IROG (Nicanor Abelardo, Arranged by Ryan Cayabyab); ANG PAG-IBIG MO (Leopoldo Silos); I BELIEVE (Words and Music by Eric Levi), and much more will be performed. 

Ticket price is Php 1,000.00. For inquiries, please call telephone numbers  8229609, 0917-8072223 and 0917-5224183.

The Agoda App: Smarter Hotel Booking on Your Mobile

It's summer! The perfect time to take vacations and getaways! Make it easy on yourself when looking for good and affordable places to stay at any destination you're planning to go to! 

Press Release:

Online hotel bookings have become a staple for most travellers today, from bargain hunters to business travelers looking to make quick, easy and secure bookings. In June 2013, Hotelmarketing.com reported that one in four online travel bookings made in the Asia Pacific come from a mobile device. 

Enter the Agoda app, an incredibly handy tool for booking hotels on iOS and Android devices. Agoda.com is Asia’s leading hotel booking site that offers lowest rates and a fuss-free booking experience. The site’s intuitive layout translates onto the mobile app, which allows users to securely book their accommodation with the help of some very useful features, such as multiple language support (36 in total), conversion to various currencies, as well as Google Maps integration. 

Aside from Agoda.com’s full booking functionality being accessible via the App, a little-known perk of using the Agoda App is its “Insider Deals”. “Insider Deals” are special/flash discounts of up to 40% or more, applicable only to bookings made from the app. These deals depend on season and availability, so lucky users browsing at the right time have a good chance of stumbling upon some really fantastic deals as prices are constantly updated. 

The Agoda app also comes in particularly handy in the face of unexpected changes like a sudden flight cancellation, or a last minute trip extension. The app allows users to conveniently book a hotel in just a few taps regardless of their location, as long as they have access to data. The app is a single stop for all necessary information before making a booking, such as guest reviews, photos, highlights, policies and attractions, all listed within the hotel page. 

Currently, the app is rated 4.5 stars on Google Play with over 17,000 ratings. It is available for free on both the App Store and Google Play. 

• Making a booking on the Agoda app is simple. Users can find hotels via a search bar or via “Find hotels near me”, which auto-detects the user’s location. 

• Upon entering the desired dates, search results can be sorted by popularity, star rating, review score, hotel name or price. Or simply pick a hotel from the location map. 

  

• All necessary information will be displayed. Upon deciding, select payment method, fill the payment form and a confirmation voucher will be emailed to the user. 

Viva Brasil! – Make Your Own Havaianas 2014

So, who's excited to make their own Havaianas this year? :) 

Press Release:

Known for the samba and the most decorated national football team in the world, and home of the biggest and most festive street party in the world, Brazil is a cultural melting pot of ethnicities that has cultivated a very colorful and lively street culture.

To quote Vogue, “Brazilians have the ability to make a party out of nothing, and then make it the most exciting night you’ve ever had.”

While we all may not have the luxury of experiencing the streets of Brazil this summer, Havaianas brings Brazil to the Philippines through Make Your Own Havaianas 2014. As the summer season hits full throttle, it’s that special time of the year when Havaianas gives us the creative license to decorate this season’s must-have accessory—flip-flops. 

In its ninth year, Make Your Own Havaianas returns to its Brazilian roots. After all, flip-flops were made to perfectly complement the Brazilian vibrant lifestyle: vivacious, expressive, adventurous, and always the life of the party. 

The thrill in this full-customization event comes in the ability to mix and match everything: from the soles and the straps, to color combinations inspired by street art, and to the fun limited edition pins – all exhibiting Brazil. 

Inspired by a 200-year old tradition from Brazil, this year’s commemorative pair features colorful Bonfim wish ribbons that are worn for good luck. The print wishes every wearer Alegria, Diversao, Empolgacao, Euforia, and Felicidade or Joy, Amusement, Excitement, Euphoria and Bliss – true to the Havaianas always summer spirit. 

Make Your Own Havaianas is the ultimate activity for self-expression and Havaianas encourages everyone to be as daring as the Brazilians when customizing their flip-flops. Brand Development Group Director Ammiel De Leon said, “Think of how the Brazilians would do it—always bold and fun in style and a natural stand out.”

“Brazilian culture is all about self expression, and not being ashamed of how vividly you express it.” Anne Gonzalez, Terry SA Managing Director said. 

This year’s event is made even bigger and more accessible.  At the heart of Makati, Make Your Own Havaianas 2014 will take place in its new home at the Glorietta Activity Center from May 8 (Thursday) to 11 (Sunday), 2014 open from 10:00 AM to 9:00 PM on weekdays, and 10:00 AM to 10:00 PM on weekends. There will be no entrance fee so everyone is welcome to customize their own Havaianas and celebrate the streets of Brazil.

As you enter this year’s Make Your Own Havaianas Brazilian Carnavale, come in your most festive summer attires and allow the Brazilian roots of Havaianas to unleash the creativity in you. Then flaunt it, the Brazilian way.