SM Conducts 'Shake Drill' Dry Run Across All Malls

Press Release:

SM Supermalls, the country's biggest mall network, shows its full support to the July 30 metro-wide earthquake preparedness drill dubbed as the "Metro Manila Shake Drill" by conducting its own simultaneous dry run earthquake and evacuation drill across all participating malls in the National Capital Region (NCR). 

The dry run aimed to simulate the coordinated commencing of the drill, test devices and utilities that will be used to train and familiarize all mall personnel; and address concerns that may be encountered on the actual day of the drill.

Valuing the safety and welfare of all SM Supermalls customers and the communities where its malls operate, SM went on a full campaign to raise awareness for the upcoming Metro-wide Shake Drill. In-mall public announcements and mall collateral materials are strategically in place to ensure that the public is made aware and well-prepared for the drill. 

An Emergency Response Group has already been activated to ensure the smooth implementation of the dry run across the malls. The importance of disaster preparedness is key across SM’s operations, from its management down to the employees and mall frontliners.

The Metro Manila Shake Drill, scheduled on July 30, is spearheaded by the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA), in partnership with DOST-PHIVOLCS. It aims to prepare various agencies and the general public for a potential major earthquake scenario. The exercise will be held simultaneously from 10:30 AM to 11:00 AM across Metro Manila. A separate nighttime drill will be conducted in the Ortigas Business District in Pasig City from 7:30 PM to 8:30 PM

For more details about SM Supermalls' Shake Drill participation, visit SM Supermalls' official website www.smsupermalls.com.

The Ultimate Barkada Experience in Greenwich BGC

Press Release:

July 23, 2015 marks a great occasion for the homegrown pizza and pasta brand, Greenwich, as it opens its first pizzeria store in the burgeoning community of BGC. The new BGC branch, located at the first level of the BGC Stopover Pavilion on the corner of 31st Street and 2nd Avenue, will carry the new Greenwich store concept as seen in the recently opened branches in Megamall, Glorietta, and Kanlaon St. Quezon City which happens to be a nice and cozy stand-alone store. With facilities to match its upscale surroundings, Greenwich BGC is styled for the hip and young crowd to gather, hang out, and of course, share in a slice (or two) of delicious pizza.

Greenwich BGC

The new Greenwich has been fashioned to look like a casual pizzeria meets a neighborhood café, with bar stools, brick walls, colorful wall art, cozy lounge chairs, and warm lighting. Designed to maximize your barkada experience, Greenwich’s new branch is as inviting as its delicious signature pizzas, pastas, and other favorite treats.

Ultimate Overload Pizza

The evening kicked off with a showcase of the new store elements and the featured pizza of the evening -- the Ultimate Overload. Groups of friends were able to enjoy an unlimited supply of the Ultimate Overload pizza, served with cold-drinks as they enjoyed the night filled with great music by the guest DJs.

Issa Pressman and Brett Jackson

Some of the attendees of this remarkable occasion were: DJ Rammy Bitong, socialite Ria Atayde, Radio DJ Suzie Gamboa, Radio DJ Katz Salao, and host and Radio DJ Bea Fabregas. A few other notable personalities such as actor/model Brett Jackson, Issa Pressman, and MTV Pinoy VJ Chris Schneider were present as well!

Greenwich Senior PR and Corporate Affairs Manager Cookie Cabrera 
with MTV Pinoy VJ Chris Schneider

This new branch embodies the new chapter that Greenwich enters into as they simultaneously welcome four individuals into the Greenwich barkada, namely Robi Domingo, Andre Paras, JM De Guzman, and Yassi Pressman. This variety of personalities and talents depicts what Greenwich is all about: a celebration of variety coming together for one great taste.

the new Greenwich Barkada

The additional group to the Greenwich barkada was first seen enjoying Greenwich’s best-selling product, the Ultimate Overload in their latest TVC. Topped with 2 kinds of cheeses, 4 kinds of meat, and a variety of other crowd favorites for a total of 13 toppings on top of a freshly-made, thick crust, the Ultimate Overload Pizza is sure to thrill every member of the Barkada giving them the #UltimateBarkadaExperience.

young and hip interior store designs

Drop by the newest Greenwich branch at the BGC Stopover with your friends for your share of  the #UltimateBarkadaExperience and enjoy a barkada session to remember over an Ultimate Overload Pizza.

SABEL is back!

Press Release:

“A teleserye crammed into an hour and half…” says one of the country’s top editors and that barely describes SABEL: LOVE & PASSION, a “little” show that has had packed audiences raving. So much so that it now makes a “small” comeback on August 11 and 12, 8pm at the Music Museum. Difficult to describe though not to understand, SABEL: LOVE & PASSION is a musical cum ballet recital cum pop concert cum, yes, teleserye all packed into one hour and thirty minutes and performed without an intermission. Intriguing to say the least, this production is inspired by the paintings of National Artist Ben Cabrera featuring a madwoman of the streets. 

Narrating the show as well as performing in the title role is the highly-praised film actress Iza Calzado, acting for the first time ever on stage. Dancing out the whole story to the choreography of Ronilo Jaynario is the Philippine Ballet Theater while the songs are performed by concert singers Aicelle Santos, Bo Cerrudo, Joaquin Pedro Valdes, and Timmy Pavino. Renowned pop hitmaker Louie Ocampo handles the Music and Musical Direction while Aliw Awards Hall of Fame Director Freddie Santos is in charge of the lyrics, script and stage direction. Backgrounded by an abstract set designed by Joe Tecson, the show also serves as a canvas for high-tech video mapping as designed and executed by Video Sonic. If it takes this much to describe this “little” show, one can only imagine how much show there actually is to enjoy.

Tickets are very limited. Call TicketWorld (891-9999) and at Music Museum Ticketron (721-6726) now!  

Limbaga 77, Savor the Taste and Feel Of Filipino Home-Cooking

Looking for a new place to dine in? Here's a good option!

Press Release:

That feeling of coming home, being welcomed by the hearty aroma of a lovingly prepared meal to be shared and savored with loved ones – that’s what Limbaga 77 hopes to evoke as diners step into this newly opened restaurant located in Scout Limbaga, Tomas Morato, Quezon City. 

Limbaga 77 facade

After all, the place was converted from a 50 year old house and its original architecture was retained including the wooden floor panels and the large window frames, to preserve its cozy, homey feel.  The old house’s receiving areas were converted into dining halls, bedchambers into function rooms and the patio and veranda into al fresco dining areas –  all comfortably furnished and decked with minimalist ornaments. Limbaga 77’s owners, led by entrepreneur, Rex Tiri, said “it was really intended to be a venue for family and friends – like a second home where they can enjoy comfort food.”

The Limbaga 77 menu is decidedly Filipino, comprised of classic recipes reminiscent of the country’s diverse home cooking.  While diners are made to feel right at home, their palates are treated to an appetizing journey by offering them dishes that have graced the tables of households in different regions of the Philippines.    

Poqui Poqui Rolls

For example, there’s the all-time favorite Crispy Pata – boiled, baked, and deep fried pork leg in coconut juice and beef stock with roasted garlic soy sauce and bay leaf – which will go well with Poqui Poqui Rolls, an Ilocano inspired grilled eggplant omelet stuffed in lumpia wrapper and served with a homemade sweet chili sauce.  Diners can also order Stuffed Laing, the restaurant’s version of the popular Bicol delicacy that combines fresh taro leaves, ground pork, white shrimp, simmered in chicken stock, coco milk with lemon grass, white onion and garlic or Binusog na Pusit – succulent squid marinated in organic honey and calamansi, stuffed with tomatoes, onion, cheese, chili leaves pesto, sprinkled with soy sauce.  

Of course, any Filipino meal is not complete without rice.  While most like rice just plain and simple, diners are encouraged to try the Danggit Fried Rice featuring the South’s well-loved dried fish mixed with scallions, sliced scrambled eggs, onions and garlic; or the Bagoong Rice, made savory by accentuating rice with tangy fish paste, bits of sweet mango, tomatoes, white onions and garlic.

Binusog na Pusit

Limbaga 77’s original creations are likewise a must-try as they present ingredients and ways of cooking that are quite out of the ordinary.  Ever heard of Stuffed Bulaklak ng Kalabasa? This dish serves squash blossoms packed with a delicious meld of ground pork, local white cheese, cheddar cheese, spring and white onions and garlic.  How about Dahon ng Sili Pesto Pasta? This is the Filipino version of aglio e olio linguini pasta using local chili leaves pesto, topped with cashew nuts.   Most people know adobo to be a chicken and/or pork fare but Limbaga 77’s version is Spicy Seafood Adobo, which brings together crabs, white shrimps, mussels and squid cooked in coconut milk, soy sauce, and vinegar.   

Bulaklak ng Kalabasa

The delight does not end after the main meal because the desserts and coffee also offer a unique experience. Highly recommended are the Brazo Tablea Cake, a Filipino-Spanish fusion dessert highlighted by hints of cocoa tablea and Batangas barako coffee; and Bikoron, which presents sticky rice cooked in coconut milk in turon-style – rolled in lumpia wrapper with a dash of peanut sauce.  Coffee lovers on the other hand will surely be interested in Limbaga 77’s luscious concoction of organic coffee beans from Benguet, Mt. Province, and Bukidnon, sweetened by a popular sacharrine treat from Ilocos called Balikutsa.   

With its delicious food, cordial atmosphere, Limbaga 77 is actually a place that diners who love Filipino cooking can call home. For inquiries and reservation, call 09267158134 or email limbaga77cafe@gmail.com

Ampalaya The Musical All Set On July 15 at the CCP

Press Release:

Dumaguete City in Negros Oriental has long been known as the Cultural Center of Southern Philippines, and for the first time ever, the Silliman University Cultural Affairs Committee, the city’s unofficial cultural arm, brings to Manila audiences AMPALAYA THE MUSICAL - an original new musical that will delight and educate, with a performance on 15 July 2015 at the Tanghalang Nicanor Abelardo of the Cultural Center of the Philippines, which is part of Silliman University’s commitment as the official regional cultural hub of the CCP.

AMPALAYA THE MUSICAL celebrates Philippine culture through music, dances, games and values. The musical play is based on the award winning children’s story Alamat ng Ampalaya (The Legend of Ampalaya) written by Augie Rivera, Jr. Another highlight of this production is the original music by renowned New York-based guitar virtuoso Maestro Michael Dadap who has set the play’s music using a live 22 piece Orchestra Sin Arco (Orchestra of Plucked Instruments). The play is directed by Dessa Quesada Palm, of the Philippine Educational Theater Association, with musical direction by Dr. Elizabeth Susan Vista-Suarez and choreography by Angelo Sayson. 

Maestro Michael Dadap

AMPALAYA THE MUSICAL has just finished its run from July 3-6, 2015 and its first full length run last September 2014 which were both held at the Luce Auditorium. The musical began as a short play, which debuted in 2000 in Boston. 

Synopsis:

Long time ago in the town of Sariwa, there flourished a beautiful garden filled with the most colorful, fragrant, and nutritious vegetables. Everyday as the sun comes up, they laugh and play together in the garden.

One faithful day, a hairy, bland, and colorless Ampalaya wandered in Sariwa and found the gleeful veggies going about their usual games. Envy starts to creep into Ampalaya's core when she noticed the positively striking individual characteristics of the other veggies--- everything she was not. She knew she had to possess all these characteristics to be part of the family, so she devised a plan for her to get those special stuff. She waited until all the veggies were asleep and stole a little bit of everything from everyone.

When the veggies awoke from their slumber, they were in shock when they saw that all their best had gone missing. During their panic, a beautiful new vegetable arrived to see what the fuss was about but because of their distraught disposition, they could not entertain her as they sought to find out who the culprit was . The veggies decided to seek help from a wise old NunosaPunso who told them what they needed to do in order to get back what was stolen from them. They followed and investigated the new vegetable only to find out it was indeed Ampalaya donning their best individual qualities. They call the UbodmansaSaging and her jury to plead their case against Ampalaya.

Ampalaya was unfazed with all the questions and ill feelings that were being thrown at her. She firmly believed that she did nothing wrong---the jury thought otherwise. After deliberation, a sentence and punishment was given, and everybody learned a bitter lesson that day.

AMPALAYA THE MUSICAL is presented by the Cultural Center of the Philippines, Dumaguete City Tourism Office, CocoGrande Hotel, Philippine Airlines, Lorenzo Shipping Corporation, Bayview Park Hotel Manila, and the National Commission for Culture and the Arts.

Tickets now available at TicketWorld. For more information, contact (035) 422-4365 or 0917 323 5953 or email: cac@su.edu.ph or silliman.cac@gmail.com.

SM Supermalls Wins in Shopping Center Category of the Reader's Digest Trusted Brands Survey

Press Release:

SM Supermalls was recently awarded at the annual Reader’s Digest Trusted Brands Survey, garnering recognition in the shopping center category. The award solidifies SM’s reputation as a top-notch valued brand in the region. 

Receiving the award for the mall giant are Grace Magno, Vice-President of Advertising for SM Supermalls, Annie Garcia, President of SM Supermalls, and Ian Mathay, Assistant Vice-President for Operations of SM Supermalls. Presenting them with the award is Sheron White of Reader’s Digest (second from left).