Azul Bar and Cafe the hippest new chill out place in Acuatico Resort, Batangas

Azul Bar and Cafe finally open its doors to an excited crowd of guests last June 5 at Acuatico Resort San Juan, Batangas. The grand opening was graced by some of the biggest OPM name in the industry including  Jim Paredes,  Aiza Seguerra, ,Nyoy Volante  and upcoming musician Zion Aquino.

The star studded concert served as a preview of what Batanguenos can expect from the only high end Resto bar in the San Juan area.

Trina Belamide, Simonette Gusi

No less than renowned OPM composer Trina Belamide will serve as Azul's consultant. so expect a good lineup of regular performers in the coming months. We were fortunate enough to be part of the opening as we were staying at Acuatico's sister resort Acuaverde. 

Ms. Simonette Gusi

Azul Bar and Cafe is the newest attraction of Acuatico Resort, one oft he most famous resort of the area. According to Ms. Simontte Gusi, general manager, they decided to put up Azul Bar and Cafe in response to the numerous request and suggestions from guests and nearby residents. "Although San Juan Batangas is known for having a lot of resorts there is really no high end resto bar that would served the high end market. Some say they even have to drive two or three hours to BGC The Fort to enjoy a good night of music and great food". 

Azul's menu is texmex inspired according to Chef Richard Dancel that perfectly complements their cocktails and beers.  “Food historians tell us TexMex cuisine originated hundreds of years ago when Spanish/Mexican recipes combined with Anglo fare. TexMex- a combination of the words “Texan” and “Mexican” is a twentieth century phenomenon and now we’re bringing it in Laiya! for some “delicioso” cuisine, said Chef Richard.

Since Batangas is known for its delicious beef, you might also want to try Azul’s Porterhouse Steak, Tenderloin, TBone, Sirloin or Beef Rib or Pork Rib Roast and Baby Back Ribs.

Finally for groups there’s the Cajun seafood platter, Meat Platter and Azul Trilogy.

“As you can see, we have a complete lineup prepared for our guests so whether they are looking for a heavy meal, or just appetizers and bar chow, I’m sure they’ll find something to order,” adds the head Chef.

Azul is open to both hotel and walk in guests of the resort.

We checked in beside Acuatico Resort's sister company Acuaverde Beach Resort.  We occupied a room at Casa Laiya with a queen bed and a balcony which we had our nice view of the beach, cabanas, sunbeds, and not to mention the picturesque sunrise.

We had our sumptuous lunch buffet style . Before we left Acuaverde we had a nice relaxing massage courtesy of Acuatico's.

Beside Acuaverde Bech Resort lies ACUATICO Resort,  a tourist’s haven. You will enjoy its balmy tropical setting and the deep-blue crystalline waters of the sea. Enjoy the majestic Mt. Daguldul whose lush virgin forest remains undefiled by human exploitation. Enjoy the beach more because of Laiya’s unique climate characterized by less rainfall.

ACUATICO is an excellent getaway for beach and nature lovers even for those who simply want to spend a brief moment of relaxation anytime of the year. The beach resort derived its name ACUATICO from the Spanish word “water”,signifying its inherent business character and accentuates ACUATICO’s most prominent feature – a 700 sqm. infinity pool that seems to assimilate with the blue waters of the adjacent sea, and distinctly differentiates it from other resorts in the area. The infinity pool is complemented by a jacuzzi, a kiddie pool and a floating bar at the pool’s center.

ACUATICO offers Balinese-inspired villas with well-appointed rooms complete with amenities, watersports and spa facilities, meeting room for corporate functions, playroom, souvenir shop and unique Day Tour areas for tourists and guests who want to relax in elegance and style. Its all-day dining restaurant serves the best in food and accommodates guest requests - whether the cuisine
be local or international – to suit their tastes.

“Acuatico  aims to provide a high-class deluxe resort under a friendly atmosphere and ensure premium leisure experience and complete satisfaction to all its guests,” GM Gusi explained.

ACUATICO’s corporate philosophy is to provide a high-class deluxe resort under a friendly atmosphere south of Manila and ensure premium leisure experience and complete satisfaction to all its guests. It anchors its activities on exerting its best in meeting the various needs of its clients, rigidly implementing a set of values predicated on excellent service, optimum quality, adaptable flexibility, cohesive teamwork and solid commitment, ever conscious of its highly-motivating slogan – “Happy Guests, Happy Employees and Happy Stakeholders.”

ACUATICO has recently topped the lists of preferred holiday destination accommodations and awarded a Certificate of Excellence by Trip Advisor in 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014 and 2015.

Continuously gaining popularity, the resort is operated by Acuatico Beach Resort and Hotel, Inc. and managed by husband and wife team, the latter having extensive exposure in hotel management and operations. The resort is staffed by fully-trained personnel whose affable and courteous manners immediately put the guest at ease and settle him into a feeling of confidence and comfortability.

With Manila Sales and Reservations Office address
 Unit 142 Ground Floor Mile Long Building, 
V.A. Rufino corner Amorsolo street Makati City, 
ACUATICO Beach Resort is a bona-fide member of the Association of Laiya Resorts Owners
(ALRO) and accredited by the Department of Tourism (DOT).

Avida celebrates 25 years with Tunog Natin! Songs from Home

Johnoy Danao

I have been a Johnoy Danao fan dubbed as the "Philippines Best Kept Secret" for 2 years now,  I accidentally discovered him singing covers at DJ Mo Good Times radio show.  DJ Mo seemed to love him as he kept on featuring Johnoy on his podcast show, this was the time when DJ Mo was mending a broken heart.  After that I have been downloading his covers from time to time. Songs like Fix you, Cry, Someone like you, Marry Me, The Scientist,  and many more acoustic covers to his credit.  Its his throaty, sweet and appealing voice that hooked me listening to all those covers. When I learned that "Ikaw at Ako" was his original. I fell in love with this guy instantly.

I got an invite to Tunog Natin, Songs from Home partners with Avida  held at the Avida Showroom in Glorietta 4 last October 13, the launch was hosted by Tunog Natin Creative consultant  Jim Paredes and graced by Chris Cahilig, Princess Velasco, Project Officer Anjo Resurreccion, Producer Jonathan Ong and Avida Representatives Tess Tatco and Anne Jarra and my favorite Johnoy Danao who sang "Ikaw at Ako" to the delight of everyone.

 Avida celebrates 25 years by launching Tunog Natin! Songs from Home, which features OPM sang by their chosen artists with different arrangement. It also includes Avida’s anniversary soundtrack “Home is Here”, which is an original composition sung by  Johnoy Danao.

You can download  Tunog Natin and listen to the entire album at Spotify and Itunes.

Home is truly where the heart is, and there is nothing like home-grown music to stir your emotions and always transport you back to its familiar comfort. In celebration of the sound of inspiration in Original Pilipino Music (OPM), Avida launched the second edition of Tunog Natin! Songs from Home through Soundscape Sessions, an afternoon of sounds and socials held at the Avida Showroom in Glorietta 4.

The second edition of Tunog Natin! Songs from Home, featuring a collection of classic Original 
Pinoy Music performed by some of the country’s homegrown talents, was launched in line with 
Avida’s 25th anniversary celebration of Inspiring Lives. Pictured above are the people behind the 
project, (L-R) Tunog Natin artist Johnoy Danao, Tunog Natin Album Producer Jonathan Ong, 
Tunog Natin artist Princess Velasco, Avida Marketing Head Tess Tatco, Tunog Natin Creative 
Consultant Jim Paredes, and Tunog Natin Project Officer Anjo Resurreccion.


Much like the debut album, Tunog Natin! Songs from Home Volume 2 will again feature the passion and artistry of some of the best local artists of today and well-loved OPM songs with an emotional appeal that can transcend generations. Independent singer-songwriter Johnoy Danao gave attendees a taste of the uplifting music packed in the album during the launch. While, the creative team behind the masterpiece, award-winning composer and arranger Jonathan Ong and Jim Paredes, sat out for a bit of chat with the guests.

Tunog Natin! Sounds from Home is Avida’s contribution in promoting local music. Aside from the participation of veteran artists, the commemorative album also introduces promising talents that are bound to make a mark in the local music scene. It features renditions of popular OPMs from Jim Paredes, Bloomfields, Johnoy Danao, Moira Dela Torre, and Princess Velasco, to name a few.

The album is in line with Avida’s mission to keep the Filipino heritage alive, as part of its ongoing Inspired Living campaign, which extends support to the essential artistic foundations that make a community. And the second edition of Tunog Natin! could not have been more apt as Avida celebrates 25 years of inspiring possibilities, as it pays homage to the nation through music that connects us all.

In line with Avida’s 25th anniversary efforts to promote local talents, all the songs from the Tunog Natin! Vol. 2 album will be made available for listening and free download in local and international music portals like Spotify and iTunes.

Avida is also launching the album during its festive anniversary celebration on October 14, through a free Tunog Natin concert where select local artists will perform OPM hits. Tasty fare from food booths and great music await as the concert is open to the public 8PM onwards at 34th St. corner 9th Ave (beside Turf BGC) in Bonifacio Global City, Taguig. Avida will also put the spotlight on local artists through another public concert in November.

The First Pacific Leadership Academy invites you to The Musicality of Faith

In this day and age of extreme work quantification, where your every move can be tabulated and distilled as a neat column of numbers on a spreadsheet, it’s very easy to lose yourself to the mind-numbing monotony of the daily grind. In the race to make the top of the Fortune 500 list, many companies strip the workplace down to the basics, reducing their employees to worker drones who clock in and out with nothing to distinguish one from the other but the rate of their deliverables.
But there’s a better way to do run a business without sacrificing your employees’ individuality and happiness at the altar of workplace efficiency.

On February 27, the First Pacific Leadership Academy (FPLA), the preferred leadership company of the MVP Group, has invited several thought leaders to discuss how the merging of spirituality and music in the workplace can create an environment that is both uplifting and effective.

In FPLA’s first Executive Talk of the year 2015, titled “The Musicality of Faith,”several of the country’s leading personalities in religion and the music industry gather to talk about how to better invigorate a workplace. Included among the guest speakers are Fr. Benildus Maramba, Jim Paredes, Joey Ayala, Noel Cabangon, and the KoroI lustrado singers. For an afternoon of religious insight (and the odd musical performance or two), this esteemed group of luminaries in music and religion will lead the in-depth conversation regarding humanistic values that music and spirituality can lend to a business establishment.

Joey Ayala

Jim Paredes

Many studies have been launched to uncover just how music significantly increases workplace efficiency. Whether this is due to the music’s tendency to brighten up a dreary mood or tothe psychological effects of some hidden musical undercurrent is still up for debate, but the fact remains that music has proven itself to be an invaluable tool for an efficient—and happy—work environment.

In the interests of optimizing the workplace, music’s function as “a powerful gateway to connect us to our spiritual nature,” as described by Grammy-nominated songwriter and social entrepreneur Frank Fitzpatrick described, opens up avenues to further improve the spiritual front. According to author and educator Corinne McLaughlin, there are numerous benefits one can reap from an ethical and spiritual workplace, such as “increased productivity and profitability, as well as employee retention, customer loyalty, and brand reputation.”

Thus, the need for “The Musicality of Faith,” where the Executive Talks guest speakers, who are each powerful influencers in their own right, will discuss just what music and spirituality can bring to the conference table, and how it can help resolve real life situations that arise at the office. FPLA’s Executive Talks, historically well-attended by professionals from a wide range of industries, promise a lively discussion about the power and spirituality of music.

This Executive Talk is scheduled for 2:00-5:00pm on February 27. It will be held within the First Pacific Leadership Academy, on Km. 27 Sumulong Highway, Antipolo City, Rizal. To reserve tickets or to learn more about the Executive Talks, call 696-3051 or visit http://www.fpacademy.net/etalks.

Krem Top challenge you to change for the better this coming 2015

If there is one trait that foreigners love us filipinos, is being "maasikaso" or attentive. We attend to the comfort of others, if we have visitors around the house, we offered everything from food to bed. We even persuade the visitor to stay longer if he or she is a friend, we are always that accomodating. This is just one trait that makes us humanely perfect to others.  If you are mapagpasalamat, matatag, masigasig, mapagmalasakit and magalang, then you embodies the true filipino.

Dr. Mina Ramirez

As 2014 is about to end, we should reflect our lives in the past and plan for a better future. We should list down our resolutions to start things right and prompt for the year 2015 and Change for the Better.

The Krem Top Change for the Better event was held last December 3, at Cafe Romulo. It was hosted by Ms. Gelli Victor with guest speakers Mr. Jim Paredes and Dr. Mina Ramirez.

Jim Paredes

Dr. Mina Ramirez of the Asian Social Institute explained, “If you want to get to know the Filipino, learn the language.  Most of our values are deeply rooted in how we express ourselves.  The Five Core Filipino Values based on the Basic Aspirations of a Filipino are in Filipino language because there are no direct translations of these traits.  The words are unique to us.  Understanding these traits would mean dissecting the soul of a Filipino.”

“Filipinos may be hard pressed at times, but in general, we are rich.  We are rich in natural resources; we are rich in our people.  If we can just get to know more ourselves clearly and use our values to our advantage, we will become a better nation.  It’s time to change for the better,” said Dr. Ramirez.

Alaska Milk Corporation’s Vice President for Marketing and Krem-Top Change for the Better campaign lead, Blen Fernando, is optimistic that this project will help create awareness about the need to keep or enrich or restore these core values of Filipinos.  “We hope that Krem-Top’s Change for the Better campaign will inspire us to be the better version of ourselves for the benefit of our families and our country.  The public can count on our continued support to champion the Filipino spirit that will help make us a better and stronger nation.”

Dr. Mina Ramirez of the Asian Social Institute, identified Five Core Values that defines the Filipino people. These core values make Filipinos different and stand out from the rest of the world and are vital for nation-building.  Based on Dr. Ramirez’s study “The Filipino Worldview and Values” and her insights from decades of practice as a phenomenological sociologist, here are the Five Core Filipino Values based on the Basic Aspirations of a Filipino:

Mapagpasalamat
This is based on Filipinos’ aspiration for “Pamumuhay” (Life) and “PananaligsaDiyosat Kapwa” (Faith in God and people).  Filipinos know how to enjoy life.  We have many holidays, feasts, occasions, and reunions.  Filipinos are cheerful and naturally sociable.  We love to connect to people. We are a happy race.   We wear smiles on our faces even in depressing situations. This is because we always look at the bright side of life. We always have a positive outlook because we always find things to be thankful for, even in the smallest things. We would always say “SalamatsaDiyos” (Thank God) whenever good things happen because Filipinos, from whatever religion, would attribute life’s blessings to the Higher Being. We also acknowledge the good deeds of other people towards us and we do our best to return the favor.

Matatag
Being in a country prone to natural disasters, Filipinos have adapted and learned to be strong in times of need and in hard situations life throws at us. We continue to stand up, be firm, and fight because we have our loved ones and life’s aspirations to be strong for. This strength is drawn from our love for our family and to the higher being we believe in. This is based on Filipino’s aspiration for “Kaayusan” (Order).  In fact, Filipinos’ common expression is “Ayos Na”.  When we are able to get through difficulties, we say “Ayos Na”.  We, Filipinos long for “Kaayusan” and we will endure everything and be strong amidst hardships and challenges until we surpass the obstacles.

Masigasig
When Filipinos dream of something, we do everything possible to get it. We do it for our families and loved ones.   This is based on Filipinos’ aspiration for “Kasaganaan” (Abundance) and “Ginhawa” (Relief).  A Filipino aspires for abundance not for himself but for his family.  The Filipino translation for Happy New Year is MasaganangBagongTaon (Bountiful New Year) because we equate happiness and celebration with abundance.  In Bisaya, “Ginhawa” means breath.  And the smooth flow of breath is the smooth flow of life which we call “Ginhawa”.  “Ginhawa” according to lay theologian Dr. Jose de Mesa is the feeling of well-being in a Filipino.  An example would be Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) who endure being away from home to give their families a good life – abundance and relief from hardships.

Mapagmalasakit
It is because of our love for the family extended to friends, neighbors and other people that make Filipinos naturally compassionate. This compassion enables us to help other people without asking for anything in return. This is based on Filipinos’ aspiration for “Loob at Damdamin” and “Kapwa” (Other People) as explained in Dr. Mina’s The Filipino Worldview and Values.  “Loob” is the seat of Filipinos’ dignity.  The personhood of Filipino is manifested in his “kalooban”.  Filipinos tune in each other’s “kalooban” by checking on each other’s condition and chatting about each other’s lives.  Filipinos reach out to other people.  Due to our familistic culture, Filipinos use “kapwa” to refer not just to a stranger but to a relative, a next-door neighbor, a distant relative or a friend.  Our “Mapagmalasakit” trait makes it easy for us to champion the Bayanihan spirit - to unite and help each other during calamities and celebrate together during special occasions.

Magalang
The use of po, opo, and pagmamano (kissing of the hand) are distinct Filipino ways of respect. We say these words and use this gesture to show our respect and love for the elderly. The Filipinos’ respect is not just limited to the elderly but also to other people’s properties, emotions, and ideas. We are polite people.  Our language itself is also respectful because it does not have anygender bias. Examples would be the words kapatid (brother / sister) or asawa (husband / wife) or biyenan (father-in-law / mother-in-law) or anak (son / daughter) which do not manifest differences in gender. These words are uniquely Filipino definitely respectful of the sexes. Our respect for other individuals is embedded in our culture and in our language.  This is based on our aspiration for “Lakas ng Loob” or “KagandahangLoob”.  Malakas and Maganda, Filipinos’ original creation story brings dignity to both the Filipino and Filipina.  Both the man and the woman sprang from the bamboo.  The man bowed to the woman.  They held hands and went off together.  Dr. Ramirez said, “This is a very non-sexist indigenous version of the creation story.”

This inspired Krem-Top coffee creamer to launch a campaign to kindle and challenge individuals to exercise a habit of changing for the better.  The campaign that started in 2012 is a call to action for people to commit and sustain the change to become better individuals, not just during the turn of the year but all throughout the year and beyond.

The campaign has grown from being a personal call to change to being nationalistic as the  mission is not just on one’s self anymore but on the entire nation as the Filipino spirit has been put into tests with the onslaught of recent calamities in the recent past. Krem Top’s Change for the Better campaign reminds us of the small distinctly Filipino traits that when rekindled can make our country better. This is coming from the idea that even small changes when put or done together can create a huge impact in the community.Change for the Better campaign reminds us of the innate Filipino traits that when practiced every day, can make our lives and country better.

This year, Krem-Top’s Change for the Better campaign looked at the values that are natural among Filipinos that will remind us of our identity and can strengthen our nationhood.


For more information about Krem-Top Change for the Better campaign, visit www.facebook.com/AlaskaKremTop or follow @kremtopPH on Twitter.