MVP Group gears up for Typhoon Rolly

The MVP Group of Companies is gearing up for the onslaught of Typhoon Rolly. Manuel V. Pangilinan, in a tweet last Saturday, committed that the network operations centers for telco, power, and tollways will be operational and manned 24 hours, and that the Group has mobilized its foundations to do relief and medical work in the wake of Typhoon Rolly.

"Our restoration teams from PLDT-Smart and Meralco are also on alert," Pangilinan said.

Meralco Spokesperson and Head of Corporate Communications Joe Zaldarriaga said measures are now in place to mitigate the impact of the typhoon. Its personnel are also now on standby to immediately respond to possible power outages.

PLDT-Smart FVP & Group Head of Corporate Communications Cathy Yang said the telcos have prepositioned their personnel, network equipment and resources to ensure the resilience of their services. PLDT-Smart also assured customers of quick restoration of communication in areas that will be impacted by the typhoon.

Smart Communications has also launched the Smart Store on Wheels to provide free calls, free Wi-Fi connection, and free charging to areas that are on the path of the typhoon. They will be deployed in the following locations: 

·      Aurora

·      Bataan

·      Bicol

·      Bulacan

·      Pampanga

·      Tarlac

·      Zambales 

The MVP Group urges the public to prepare, remain vigilant, and to stay informed on updates about Typhoon Rolly. Likewise, it reminds everyone to keep all channels of communication open and ready by ensuring mobile phones, laptops, radios, and other gadgets are fully charged. 

Taiwan Bubble Tea Pavilion empowers Davao business owners to ride on the bubble tea craze

The “bubble tea craze” has taken over the country and Davao City is no exception. With more and more people clamoring for this satisfying drink, business owners need to have access to top quality raw materials and highly responsive after-sales support from the best manufacturers and suppliers in Taiwan.

Opening doors of opportunities is the Taiwan Bubble Tea Pavilion at the Taiwan Expo 2019, held last November 8-9, 2019 at the SMX Convention Center Davao. Organized by the Taiwan External Trade Development Council (TAITRA), the special exhibition featured member companies of the Taiwan Bubble Tea Alliance, an organization established in 2017 to unify and boost the collective strength of over 125 bubble milk tea vendors and industrial firms.

With a theme "Taiwan Bubble Tea, Bubble Up Your Life!," the exhibition and business conference gave bubble tea fans, business franchises, and startup entrepreneurs in Davao to see and taste the latest bubble tea products from Taiwan. Hundreds of visitors, which included local business owners and buyers in Davao and nearby areas in the Mindanao region, lined up for the demonstrations and sampling held at the bubble tea booth. Customers who have tried bubble tea products before cited the difference in taste quality of the tea and pearl products from the exhibitors.

Highlighting different fields of the bubble tea industry—raw materials (e.g. tea, tapioca), packaging, equipment, total solution, and chain stores—the pavilion showcased three alliance members Good Young Co. Ltd., Mr. Sun International Tea Chain Co. Ltd. (Red Sun), and Great Eastern Food Co. Ltd., who all shared their field expertise.

Good Young is one of the more popular bubble tea suppliers in Taiwan. It is best known for its line of milk tea powder, flavor syrups, and the ready-mix CASA Milky Flavor Tea and CASA Black Tea. Aside from raw materials, Good Young also offers various services for its business partners such as taste design, private labeling, OEM customization, and production technology training. Established in 1989, Good Young Co., Ltd. is a professional tea manufacturer and mainly supplies tea and coffee products to various food and beverage industries. 

Meanwhile, Red Sun, an international tea brand known for its innovative beverages such as the Heineken Green Tea (a cold green tea mixed with Heineken beer) and its handmade tapioca balls or pearls, offered its franchise services to business owners in attendance. The company is greatly known in Taiwan for its innovative Heineken Green Tea, which made a historic record of 2.5 million cups sold in six months in 2005. The product, which was basically Heineken beer mixed with green tea, has a complex flavor profile topped with a beautifully frothy foam.

Finally, Great Eastern showcased its one-of-a-kind innovation to the now lucrative bubble tea industry, which first came to be in the 1980s. The company developed and exclusively produces 3Q Jelly Pearl, a pearl product made from naturally extracted  Konjac (a kind of taro harvested directly from the mountains), natural seaweed, sugar, pectin, and Guar gum. It boasts a low-calorie count of only 70kcal/100g—perfect for the health-conscious milk tea and bubble tea fans—and can be widely used in various beverages. 

Through the Taiwan Bubble Tea Pavilion, business owners and buyers at the Taiwan Expo 2019 got to see first-hand the integrity of the overall supply chain in the Taiwan bubble tea industry. At the end of the event, at least 35 Davao business owners have expressed interest in partnering with the Taiwan Bubble Tea Alliance for future endeavors. There were also numerous inquiries from other visitors about franchising popular bubble tea brands as well as establishing new concepts to make Taiwan bubble tea products more appealing and enjoyable for the Filipino market.


The Taiwan Bubble Tea Alliance and TAITRA are hopeful that this event could start more partnerships with Filipino entrepreneurs and promote the expansion and export of the bubble tea industry and culture to the Philippines. The exhibition also served as an excellent opportunity for business owners to connect with industry-leading Taiwan suppliers for potential partnerships.

To learn more about the Taiwan Expo 2019 and the Taiwan Bubble Tea Pavilion, contact the Taiwan Trade Center Manila hotline at (02) 551-7281/551-7349/551-7339 or visit the TAITRA Manila website at https://manila.taiwantrade.com/. Like and follow the TAITRA Manila Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/taiwantradecentermanila/)  for more updates.

The Romantic Anthems of Lance Edward

After the "tease" that were the viral car wash boy photos, this time Lance Edward now surprises with romantic anthems. These songs are guaranteed to "touch" the collective hearts of all this season of love and beyond.

"Kung Ako Na Lang Sana," a revival of the Bituin Escalante emotional, musical plea serves as Lance's first song. The reason for this choice, he shares, "Most people can relate to the story and meaning of the song. I sang it in a show recently and many opined na ramdam nila, at galing talaga sa puso ko ‘yung pagkanta kaya tumagos sa mga puso nila."

He carries on, "I guess, many of us have experienced that emotional state, yung may mahal kang di niya alam na mahal mo siya and you see her with someone who does not deserve her kaya yung ang wish mo, na kung ako na lang sana."

"There is no perfect life," Edward says. "We can't get anything that we want kaya minsan sa kanta ko na lang, or sa kanta na lang natin dinadaan."

 Star Music releases his first single plus other ditties such as Meat Loaf's mammoth hit "I’d Do Anything For Love" and "I Want It That Way," the iconic Back Street Boys top of the charts song, in Spotify, Itunes, Spinnr and other digital music platforms.

Why must people support your songs? Lance answers with a smile, "I hope and pray that people support it because singing is my passion. With these songs, people can feel how truthful I am, every note and every line, I am emotionally committed in interpreting them. I want people to experience and embrace the stories in these anthems. As I sing and perform them eventually, they will know that Lance Edward sings from his heart."

 Shows in leading metro and mega Manila malls and in regional entertainment centers as well are being planned. The first show is slated on February 18, in Wilcon City Center, located in Visayas Avenue.

Lance Edward, the romantic crooner concludes, "Many thanks to all of you who are now  part of this dream coming true. Please support my songs.Thank for the love. Always be healthy and may God bless us all in this incredible journey we call as life. I love you all."

  Lance Edward is in Instagram. Follow him  @lance.eeeee.

Ai Ai delas Alas bagged The Best Female Actor at Queens World Film Festival in Astor, Queens, New York

Kapuso Comedienne  Ai Ai delas Alas was beaming with pride  and excitement clutching her trophy during her presscon and thanksgiving at Limbaga Restaurant on March 30 regarding her winning the Best Female Actor in the movie "Area".

Ai Ai delas Alas was named Best Female Actor at the conclusion of 7th Queens World Film Festival in Astor, Queens, New York on March 19, 2017 for her dramatic portrayal as an aging prostitute in the indie film "Area," besting Karin Hanczewsk for Lotte, Amy Redford for Hate Crime and Dorothea Hagena in Mann Im Spagat - Pace, Cowboy, Pace.

" Hindi ko ineexpect na mananalo ako dito sa "Area" for Best Actress. Yung pinakamabigat na eksena sa pelikula ay nung nawala yung pera ko na pinaghirapan ko sa buong buhay ko,  ayun yung breakdown scene na alam kong nagpanalo sa kin" Ai Ai told us.

"Nalaman ko na lang po na nanalo ako ng Best Actress ng makita ko yung mga text sa kin na kino congratulate ako at sa social media. Nakakataba po talaga ng puso". Ai Ai added.

When people are asked what’s the first thing that comes to mind when you hear the name Ai Ai Delas Alas, you will be amazed they have the same answer- Comedy Queen and a great actress.

Indeed. There is no question about that. She has traveled far and wide to be where she is now. The Comedy Queen.

Ai Ai has become a household name. People laugh when she laughs. They cry when she cries.

Ai Ai has the power to make you roll when she cracks jokes, and cry when she does. She can be both serious and playful. On screen, she can switch roles with ease - from serious to funny, tragic to happy.


“Area” is about a place in Angeles, Pampanga where prostitutes nestle like hungry birds.

Ai Ai is truly a queen. Countless times she has proven her grit that she is a bombshell wherever and whatever instance she maybe.

Jurors of the Queens World Film Festival were spellbound by her portrayal in the movie. Her character showed the real truth of the state of prostitution in the country and even in other parts parts of the world.

Ai Ai says that she was not optimistic to get an international award because there were 156 great international movies in the competition.

But truly as the old saying goes, "when it rains, it pours." And with Ai Ai, everything is rosy in the home front, in her love life and in her career.  (Ai Ai stars in the forthcoming Regal Films Mighty Yaya and will be working in a movie under Star Cinema soon.  She is a mainstay in GMA 7's Hay Bahay and Sunday Pinasaya)

But through all these years, her stardom never consumed her totality.  She is still the same Martina Eileen family and close friends knew, the same Martina Eileen who just wants to be happy and be surrounded with people she loves.

And everybody knows she works hard for her family, who not only is an inspiration, but the reason for being.

Echorsis: Sabunutan Between Good and Evil

MOVIEGOERS of all ages express excitement with the horror-comedy film "Echorsis" after its official trailer was released online last week.

"Echorsis: Sabunutan Between Good and Evil," which features the triumvirate of comedian John Lapus, Callalily vocalist Kean Cipriano, and award-winning independent film actor Alex Medina, received overwhelming reviews from netizens who called the movie "one of the most awaited comedy flicks of the year."  The film was directed by critically-acclaimed filmmaker Lemuel Lorca and was written by Jerry Gracio.

“Gusto kong mapanood ‘to! Trailer pa lang nakakatawa na. Good vibes lang! Ang bongga pa ng cast. Aabangan naming ‘to ng mga beki friends ko,” Facebook user Nathan Cruz remarked.

“Kahit may bagyo sa opening day, nood pa rin ako,” added Thio Tisado Pie.
The trailer, which has so far gone viral and received close to one million views, likewise attracted the straight crowd with some men even asking their girlfriends to watch the movie on their date.
“Must watch babe! Hahaha! Make some time for this movie babe please. Nakakatawa solid!” said Facebook user Christian Medina who is inviting his girlfriend.


Acceding to the persistent requests of netizens that the movie be shown in cinemas as soon as possible, the film produced by Chris Cahilig under Insight 360, is set to open on April 13 in theatres nationwide—a week ahead of its original schedule.

“There is a clamour for the movie to be shown earlier than its original April 20 play-date. We didn’t expect the public to be so excited to see it soon on the big screen,” said Cahilig.

“Echorsis,” a  parody of the iconic horror film “The Exorcist,” revolves around a gigolo Carlo, played by Medina, who is possessed by a gay demon after he deceived his closeted gay lover Kristoff (Lapus). The task of exorcising the devil out of Medina’s character then falls on the lap of Father Nick, who is portrayed by Cipriano.

Legions of Facebook users tagged their friends on the movie’s trailer, saying how excited they are to see it. Some even invited friends to watch ‘Echorsis’ with them. Veteran director Wenn V. Deramas also showed interest in watching the film.

The movie’s trailer was also posted on different blogsites where readers also showed enthusiasm toward the movie.

“Tawang-tawa ako bwisit!!! Mahusay! Suportahan natin ‘to, ‘wag puro overrated artists lang ‘yung sinusuportahan natin,” said a reader of FashionPulis.com.

“Oh em!! Natawa ako sa trailer! Mag showing kaya ditey sa Toronto?? I want! Mas ok ‘yung ganitong movie,” said another reader of the same blog.

Completing the ensemble cast of ‘Echorsis’ are Alessandra de Rossi, Chokoleit, Kiray Celis, Mich Liggayu, Ruby Ruiz, Negi Negra, Bekimon, Nico Antonio, Francine Garcia, Odette Khan, and 1:43’s Yuki Sakamoto, Anjo Resurreccion, Gold Aquino, and Yheen Valero.

“Echorsis” is supported by BellaVita Land Corp. and McJim Classic Leather.