ETC PREMIERES TEEN DRAMA STAR-CROSSED THIS FEBRUARY 21

ETC PREMIERES TEEN DRAMA STAR-CROSSED THIS FEBRUARY 21

This love month, ETC premieres its newest drama that follows a pair of high school students and their epic, out of this world romance. Airing within a week of the U.S., Star-Crossed, starting February 21, Fridays at 8PM, is a futuristic love story between an alien and a human.

Featuring attractive young stars Matt Lanter (90210), Aimee Teegarden (Friday Night Lights) and Grey Damon (Percy Jackson: Sea of Monsters), Star-Crossed looks at a relationship caught between two worlds, torn between two feuding sides.

After an alien spacecraft crash-lands in her small town, a 6-year old Emery Whitehill has an encounter with Roman, a 6-year old Atrian boy. Ten years later, Emery (Aimee Teegarden) and Roman (Matt Lanter) are reunited as the first group of Atrian teens enrolls in a human high school with the goal of testing the feasibility of human/alien integration.

Emery and Roman’s newly rekindled bond is immediately threatened by the small-mindedness of their respective communities. Roman’s Atrian friends, Teri (Chelsea Gilligan, Big Time Rush) and Drake (Greg Finley, The Secret Life of the American Teenager), openly distrust all humans. The human students are equally wary of the aliens, especially the school’s social queen, Taylor (Natalie Hall, Pretty Little Liars), who looks down on all Atrians – and most humans. Even good-hearted Grayson (Grey Damon), who is drawn to Emery, feels caught between the human and Atrian factions. Only two of Emery’s friends – Julia (Malese Jow, The Vampire Diaries) and Lukas (Titus Makin, Jr., Glee), seem able to accept Roman and the rest of the Atrians.

Don’t miss the newest love story to join the prime time line-up of ETC, where star-crossed romance is either destined to live happily ever after, or be torn apart.

STAR-CROSSED is from Ole Productions, Isla de Babel and 360 Powwow in association with CBS Television Studios and Warner Bros. Television with executive producers Meredith Averill (The Good Wife, Life on Mars) & Adele Lim (Private Practice, Life on Mars), Josh Appelbaum (Life on Mars, Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol), André Nemec (Life on Mars, Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol) & Scott Rosenberg (Life on Mars, October Road), Richard Shepard (Golden Boy, Ringer), Bryan Furst (Daybreakers, Tough Trade) & Sean Furst (Daybreakers, Tough Trade) and Daniel Gutman (Dance!, 12 Corazones). The series is distributed internationally by CBS Studios International.

 Star-Crossed premieres February 21, Friday at 8PM on ETC

Also check out ETC online at:
www.facebook.com/etctv
www.twitter.com/etc_channel
http://www.blink-now.com

ETC is seen on UHF channel 21, Sky Cable and Destiny Digital Ch. 16, Global Destiny Ch. 28, Cignal Ch. 9, Cable Link Ch. 34 and various cable operators nationwide.

Camille Prats on Moving On, and Being Prepared for Life’s Emergencies

Camille Prats on moving on, and being prepared for life’s emergencies

For a lot of her fans, Camille Prats will always be Sara, Ang Munting Prinsesa. She grew up in front of our TV screens and we witnessed her turn from a cute little girl, a vivacious teenager, to one of our versatile young actresses.

Success came quite early for Camille, and so did love, but unfortunately Camille also had to endure the pain of losing her husband at a young age.

Camille Prats married her then boyfriend Anthony Linsangan in  civil rites on January 5, 2008. After 2 years, a church wedding followed on March 5, 2010. They dreamt of having 3 to 4 kids. Their union blessed them with 1 baby boy Nathaniel Caesar.

On June of 2010 Anthony felt a lymph node on his left ear, he underwent CT Scan and was ruled out of cancer and took antibiotics. On September 2010, after experiencing pain, he again underwent CT Scan and a biopsy was performed and this time around he was diagnosed of Stage 4 Nasopharyngeal cancer.

He underwent 30 sessions of radiation and chemotherapy every week for 6 weeks. Anthony stopped working due to medication and and body malaise, and Camille had no choice but to lessen her showbiz commitments to take care of her husband. He was advised on PET Scan and his nasopharyngeal cancer metastasized to bone and liver cancer. He was too tired to move on , cannot eat anymore, had patches for pain reliever, and became so weak .

On June 2011 his blood pressure was dropping down. August of 2011, the hospital staff made Camille signed a waiver. On the same year September 2011 Anthony Linsangan just 30-years-old passed away .

Camille, shared the story in front of media guests at a recent gathering sponsored by AXA at Ascott Makati Hotel.

She said  Anthony was too young to die, and did not have an inkling that it was cancer then, when Anthony had colds, they self medicated themselves, when Anthony had a fever, he would took Paracetamol and antibiotics. They never had a proper check up to the doctor. She thought it may be due to the food he ate or because he lacked exercise and advised the audience  to consult their doctors instead of relying on self medications.

It was a good thing that Anthony’s family helped them with the financial needs within a year of medication, unlike a lot of Filipinos who face the same predicament unprepared.

AXA urges financial preparedness for critical illnesses, other medical emergencies

According to statistics from the Department of Health (DOH), non-communicable diseases (NCDs) or lifestyle diseases such as heart attack or heart failure, stroke, and cancer are the top 3 leading causes of death among Filipinos.

Digging deeper into the numbers, it is reported that more than 276 Filipinos die of heart disease on a daily basis. Moreover, 9 people are diagnosed with cancer every hour, and 142 Filipinos die from cancer every day. At least one Filipino suffers from stroke every 9 minutes; for those who survive, they have a 75% chance of becoming permanently disabled.

While there may be increasing public awareness to preventing these diseases through diet and exercise, little is done to raise awareness for Filipinos to prepare financially for the impact of having any of these lifestyle diseases.

The cost for heart by-pass surgery, chemotherapy, or brain surgery ranges from P500,000 to as much as P1,000,000, an amount that most regular health plans cannot cover. Moreover, it is estimated that medical costs are expected to double in the next 10 years — a rate much higher than economic inflation.

That is why AXA Philippines, one of the country’s largest and fastest growing life insurance companies, is helping Filipinos prepare for the threat of future major medical emergencies by launching three (3) new products that provide adequate coverage to Filipinos when they face a critical illness.

“We want to give customers what they need,” says Rien Hermans,   President and CEO of AXA Philippines. “With the health trends in the Philippines and in most countries today, the risk of developing a critical illness is now higher than ever. Therefore, people should be protecting themselves from the financial impact of being diagnosed with a critical illness.”

“Each of our three products are individually designed to address the needs, said Amor Balagtas, Chief Marketing Officer of AXA Philippines.

Health Exentials is a simple, all-in-one health and protection plan that gives the greatest value at an affordable price. For as low as P59/day, customers can get P5.5 million worth of comprehensive benefits, which include a critical conditions benefit, total & permanent disability benefit, daily hospitalization income benefit, a one-time surgical benefit, and a maturity cash benefit. Health Exentials premiums can be as low as only P1,140 a month or P39/day.

Health Max provides maximum lifetime coverage as it gives medical benefits until age 100. It also has the widest coverage of illnesses in the market today, covering 56 major medical conditions and 18 minor illnesses. Early stage cancer diagnosis and angioplasty, not normally covered by other health plans, are included in Health Max. It also has higher medical benefits of up to P10 million, as well as a special Advanced Health Fund that starts at age 70, which can be used for various medicines and treatments most common at that age.

SME ProteXion caters to small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) with at least 10 employees. It offers health and protection packages-in-one with various benefit options to choose from such as critical care coverage, daily hospitalization income, life insurance coverage and death and disablement coverage. This simple and straightforward product has flexible payment options to suit your business budget.

“What we are emphasizing is the importance of adequate financial preparedness,” says Hermans. “Critical illnesses have significant physical and financial impacts, and we want Filipinos to understand that there are products available that will enable them to financially secure their health-related needs, and they can do so while they are still at their prime.”

To learn more about AXA Philippines’ products and services, visit www.axa.com.ph or www.facebook.com/AXA.Philippines. You may also call their customer hotline (02) 5815-AXA (292) or (02) 3231-AXA (292).

Unfriend ; A Gay Teenager’s Heartbreak and Obsession

Not so long ago, a 13-year old boy killed his boyfriend then killed himself inside a mall. The video was uploaded on popular social media and became viral. This became a sort of crusade for indie film director Joselito Altarejos who promised himself he would do something about it to show people how this new technology has so affected our lives, both in a negative and a positive way.

Now, Director Altarejos film Unfriend, which took the Berlin film festival by storm, takes viewers on a nightmarish journey with the film’s principal character David, jilted by his lover just before Christmas, to turn to the screens of his mobile phone, iPad and computer in a desperate attempt to extend his affair with his 17-year old love, Jonathan. Altarejos masterfully relates a gay teenager’s heartbreak and obsession with the social media and makes for a grappling tale of how the Internet can drive fragile minds into a dangerous world. As David’s phone calls, text messages and Skype calls go unanswered, he becomes more and more detached from reality and wanders through the crowds and chaos of Manila with a fatal plan forming in his head.

The film Unfriend vividly portrays life in the Philippines, where poverty forces millions to work abroad, and cheap phones and free WiFi make social media all-pervasive. It has a universal message in showing the perils that the ready availability of unfiltered information online can hold for young people-putting them in touch with shady characters and online materials instructing them how to commit suicide, assemble bombs or commit crimes, and an infinite variety of self-destructive topics.

Unfriend boasts of a mixture of veteran and upcoming actors in the persons of Ms. Boots Anson Roa, Sandino Martin and Angelo Ilagan. It is distributed by Solar Entertainment Corporation. Showing on February 26, 2014 at your favorite theaters.

Endless Love: Casting the Drama.

Endless Love: Casting the Drama

Endless Love stars ALEX PETTYFER (Magic Mike, I Am Number Four) and GABRIELLA WILDE (The Three Musketeers, Carrie) in the story of Jade Butterfield and David Elliot, a privileged girl and a charismatic boy whose instant desire sparks a love affair made only more reckless by parents trying to keep them apart. Although separated by class boundaries, their gravitational pull is undeniable and unstoppable.

Finding talented young actors who could provide the essential chemistry of David and Jade was the filmmakers’ top priority. They found the ideal performers in Alex Pettyfer and Gabriella Wilde. Shares Schwartz: “In a love story, this is the whole ball game. The first time we saw Alex and Gabriella on screen, everyone was very aware of their chemistry. You just felt it was there. Beyond the fact that they are both very attractive people, you felt this real connection between them.”

Schwartz admired his director’s knack with the talent. “Shana is wonderful working with young actors and getting them to open up to one another and letting the audience into that love story,” she says. “She spent so much time in rehearsal with Alex and Gabriella helping them forge that connection and open up not only to each other, but to the camera as well. It’s such a challenge for an actor to be exposed, and her patience and guidance have resulted in terrific performances.”

As part of the rehearsal and bonding process, Feste says Pettyfer and Wilde spent a good deal of time together off set and did a lot of fun exercises, including dancing to loud music. As filming started, the director felt inspired by the talent and commitment of her young actors. She shares: “They came to respect each other so much. When you’re doing a love story, you have to know that the other person has your back.”

When they meet, the temperaments of the soon-to-be young lovers are as different as their cultural and economic status. Feste praises her leading man, who plays David as a young man you root for: “Alex is a total romantic. What struck me the first time I met him is how open he was talking about the love he wants to find. Most 23-year-old guys are not talking openly about love! David believes that he deserves love and Alex believes that he deserves love, and that translates in the movie.”

Pettyfer discusses his director’s process: “We did some interesting rehearsing, and that helped. Shana guided us along the path. She comes from such an interesting place of wanting people to relate and connect. It’s not so much about a sole performance; it’s about collaboration. She’s given me a new look into how to connect with who I’m playing and where I’m going in the story.”

Stuber adds that the care his director put into the on-screen couple finding comfort in one another was one of the virtues of the production: “There’s a complete and utter believability to all of their interactions. Gabriella and Alex are natural and organic; they have chemistry and feel like people in love. That’s a testament to their work as actors, as well as Shana and the time she put in so that they could talk through the places that they were going to have to go with each other.”

When David connects with Jade, he finds a girl who has suffered a loss in her fa
mily that has taken her out of the social world of school. Even though she’s beautiful and bright, she’s not outgoing and hasn’t become a part of the high school. While he encourages her to see that she is a free spirit and that someone could fall in love with her, she gives him the confidence to believe in himself.

The filmmakers found that the British-born Wilde embodies many of Jade’s traits. Feste explains: “I pictured Jade as gorgeous, and Gabriella definitely is that. But how Gabriella wears her beauty is her strongest suit. She has no idea how gorgeous she is. As we were starting to rehearse, I saw Gabriella open up. She is close to the character of Jade: aware of what people think of her and quite shy. She’s an introvert, and I imagined that Jade would be an introvert. Seeing Gabriella as Jade let love change and inspire her has been fun to watch. Her arc is so strong in this movie, and that’s when you forget how beautiful Gabriella is and just realize that she is an amazing actress.”

Wilde walks us through the story’s beats: “David awakens Jade to her own voice and to her youth. At the beginning, she’s quite serious and burdened by a sense of guilt toward her family following the death of her brother Chris. She’s someone who’s trying to make it all okay all of the time, and this is where David gives her license to be herself. She finds her voice in the movie as she’s falling in love. Jade goes from being suppressed to putting everything aside to fight for love and what she believes in.”

Feste wasn’t the only one impressed with Wilde’s demeanor. “Gabriella is amazing,” praises Pettyfer. “She has this beauty that takes you aback. She looks like a supermodel, but she also is grounded and actually quite shy—the most beautiful girl mixed with the quiet girl. She was perfect for Jade.”

To play Jade’s parents, the production cast the accomplished veteran actors Bruce Greenwood as Hugh Butterfield, a father whose desire to protect his daughter leads to awful results, and Joely Richardson as Anne Butterfield, Jade’s sympathetic mother who is just as romantic as her only daughter.

Greenwood, an award-winning actor who has starred in such acclaimed films as Star Trek Into Darkness and Flight, brings to life Jade’s menacing, if well-meaning, father. Discussing the part, the actor offers: “One of the foremost things that interested me about the character was that he was a father learning to let go of a child that he loves beyond all measure, after having lost a child. Trying to keep her from harm, but at the same time guide her is a tremendous struggle for him; he begins to overreact and becomes rigid in the way he looks at his daughter’s aspirations.”

Hugh is a successful surgeon in Atlanta who strongly objects to the relationship that’s blossoming between Jade and David. It was important to Feste to have the audience also see the warmth of his character, so as to not have Hugh appear as a clichéd villain. His on-screen daughter reflects on Greenwood’s talent. “Bruce is a brilliant actor,” lauds Wilde. “There’s a danger that Hugh could have just been a villain, but Bruce has kept the humanity in Hugh. While he is a villain—what he does is frightening and wrong—you can understand where it all comes from; he’s done that brilliantly.

Producer Schwartz was taken with Greenwood’s performance and ability to bring an incredible humanity to stoic Hugh. Schwartz shares: “When you see Bruce on screen, you sense a strength and integrity to him. This makes the fact that he’s the antagonist of the movie very interesting. Hugh will go to great lengths to keep his daughter from David in ways that the audience may not agree with, but can always understand.”

Feste shares that they conceived of the parents by seeing them in shades of gray. Both Hugh and Harry protect their children the best way they can. The director explains: “Do either one of them understand the love that David and Jade have? I don’t think so. I think maybe toward the end of the film they start to. Are they afraid of it? Yes, sure, because that intensity is frightening to see because it’s all-consuming. Anne is the one character who is not afraid of that love, but is drawn to it and wants to celebrate it.”

Anne is a published author who hasn’t written in years. Like Hugh, she mourns the loss of their eldest child, but while her husband’s grief pushes her away, she wants to hold on to their marriage. Stuber explains why this character is so pivotal to Jade and David’s arc: “Anne has a husband who’s cheating on her, and she’s aware of it. She’s living a lie. But seeing this young man who’s being honest with who he is and authentic in his love for her daughter…that’s a big deal to Anne. That’s something she respects to the point that she gives David information she likely shouldn’t.”
For her part, Richardson was impressed with Feste’s directorial style, one that allowed her to play Anne as a forgiving character who operates from a base of love for others—as well as a woman who has lost herself to a controlling husband. Richardson shares: “Shana is precise, thinks outside the box and knows exactly what she wants. As an actor, you can be used to self-directing. With Shana, she thinks of these imaginative scenarios to get you to do the scene the way she’d like.”

Endless Love is now showing in cinemas nationwide and is distributed by Solar Entertainment Corporation

My Oishi OWow! Moment with Daniel Padilla

“I had my entire Saturday planned when my editor [ED] texted me at around 10 am asking to attend an  Oishi event scheduled at noon.

I said yes, took a quick shower, grabbed a shirt and a pair of jeans, laced up my chucks and rushed to the LRT. It usually took an hour to get to Bonifacio Global City from my place but because of the heavy traffic– and no thanks to the wrong directions ED gave me (“Just look for the IHOP Building, he said”) which was

actually a few blocks off — it took me an hour and a half to get there.

I had to ask 5 guards on almost every street corner who were equally confused before I finally made it to the W Bldg building on High Street. I had to freshen up inside the elevator, since I was perspiring from the long walk and thankfully looked less haggard when I reached the Skye Lounge.

The venue looked quite different from the night parties/event photos I see on Facebook as it transformed into a festive summer arcade with the bright red , yellow, orange and green, colors of my favorite Oishi snacks. There was a mini Oishi Sari Sari Store stacked with everyone’s favorites crunchy treats and I loved the color blocking it creates–plus their healthy drink Oaties and Smart C+.

After signing the guest list, Miss Martha of Bridges PR handed me a white towel, an Oishi sack bag, and a pink Oishi printed scarf and told me that there would be a  game and I was part of the pink team.  The program had already started with RJ Ledesma doing hosting chores with a female radio DJ.

I squeezed my way near the front of the stage hoping to get some decent photos and noticed there were a lot of celebrities, media and bloggers, some with their entire families in tow to support the event. Some of the celebrities I spotted were Phil and James Younghusband, Mikaela Lagdameo Martinez and family, Pia Magalona and her children, Anton del Rosario and Ms. Tessa Prieto Valdez with her daughter Athena.  There were also several young children running around mesmerized by all the goodies around them.

Oishi’s O! Wow! endorsers were then introduced to lead their teams–Ramon Bautista for the Green Team, Elmo Magalona for the Red Team, Slater Young for Yellow Team.

RJ then described the games available such as the Oaties milk the cow, Ramon’s Boot Camp, Scramble, the Elmo Jeep, Slater Young’s Zorb, a big rolling plastic ball and Daniel’s Padilla’s shoot out basketball hoop and the prizes at stake for the winning team. 

As I was busy taking pictures, RJ then called in another ambassador for Oishi– and I was taken back by the sudden movements of everyone pointing their cameras to the guy in a white Oishi Team O shirt, wayfarer shades, tattered jeans and his high cut running black shoes– I actually caught a whiff of his scent before I saw him come up the stage– and he smelled divine.

And just like that, it seemed time stood still for a moment as everyone’s eyes were glued on this teen heartthrob they call DJ or Daniel Padilla.

I admit I am more of a fan (make that die-hard fan)  of his uncle Robin Padilla way back my college days, and Daniel exuded almost that same rugged charm and mystery that made most girls and ladies–including me find irresistible .

Not to sound like a cradle snatcher, but I finally understood why he’s one– if not the most popular teen actor today. He has loads of appeal, he is young, fresh and was quite taller than I expected.. His famous #medyobadboy also perfectly suited his rebellious image though he was really quiet.

He was, or should I say seeing him was my perfect Oishi O Wow! moment. Much as I hate to admit it, I felt like a high school girl who just met her long time crush. Had they asked to us to form a Daniel Padilla fan’s club on that day, I would have volunteered– or fought my way to be president. I think I’m still blushing as I type this.

I was on cloud nine and I forgot about walking 30 minutes under the heat of the midday sun and that my stomach was already growling for some decent lunch.

I stood there dumbfounded as Daniel displayed his basketball prowess, shooting hoops, and gamely posed for photos with everyone. I keenly observed how he smiled, the way he talked, walked and posed.

What I’d do to be in Kathryn Bernardo’s shoes and spend a day with Daniel Padilla…hayz.

Just as Ed instructed (REQUESTED lang! –ED), I went home carrying a big bag full of Oishi goodies…and an Oishi OWow memory in my heart that would always be remembered.

Happy 40th anniversary Oishi! Thanks for re-igniting the fan in me after all these years. I didn’t know Johnny Depp would ever have to share top spot with a much younger Daniel Padilla.

Curse of the blurred photo-op! haha.

Now I couldn’t wait for the next Oishi O Wow! event!

Mixels Animated Shorts Premiere on Cartoon Network Philippines February 17

Cartoon Network and The LEGO Group Mix It Up Globally with MIXELS 

Mixels Animated Shorts Premiere on Cartoon Network Philippines February 17

Calling All Mixels App to Launch in First Quarter

LEGO® Mixels Building Sets in Stores March 1

Mixels is a groundbreaking global franchise created by the powerhouse partnership of two of the biggest forces in kids’ entertainment – Cartoon Network and The LEGO Group – and will make its global debut on multiple screens and platforms this February.  A true multiplatform brand, Mixels.com arrives on the web first on February 15, followed by animated shorts on Cartoon Network Philippines starting February 17 during Funday Mondays at 5:25 p.m. Soon after, kids will be able to “mix, max and murp” with their own LEGO ® Mixels collectible building sets and download the Calling All Mixels app. 

Kids’ media consumption changes every day and this unprecedented collaboration and launch of Mixels continues the evolution of how Cartoon Network is looking at the development and distribution of content and IP creation. Bringing together world-class animators, game developers and product designers from the onset and launching the property on multiple platforms and formats, Cartoon Network and the LEGO brand will enable kids to have a fully integrated and rich experience from the very start of this exciting new franchise.

Mixels is centered around a world of colorful creatures who can mix and combine with each other leading to hilarious and surprising results. They are comical, mischievous creatures that live in tribes of three. Each tribe is based around a unique element. The Infernites are fiery and short 

tempered, but handy for a barbeque. The Cragsters are the industrious mining tribe and the Electroids are a quirky bunch with enough nervous energy to light up the whole world. Nixels, annoying and destructive little creatures, wreak havoc over the Mixel land trying to tear down and break apart the tribes.
Mixels.com will be a central hub where fans can watch all of the shorts and learn more about the characters and setting of the Mixels world. Kids will be able to interact with the brand by exploring the environment of each tribe and meeting the Mixels, mixing multiple Mixels to discover lots of fun combinations and playing mini-games featuring characters from different tribes. Each tribe’s world will be filled with rich, colorful graphic elements that portray that environment’s unique qualities. Using cubits, kids can mix together Mixels from the same tribe to form a Gigantic Max or mix together elements from different tribes to discover new and exciting combinations. By making successful mixes, kids will unlock exclusive mini-games. As new waves of Mixels are introduced, new tribes and mini-games will be added to the site to reflect the ever-growing universe. Mixels.com was developed by Cartoon Network Digital, the Emmy-nominated studio behind the Watch Cartoon Network App and Cartoonnetwork.com.
The animated shorts, consisting of 1-2 minute segments, feature any number of characters on a series of adventures where they will be able to “mix” (two characters combine); “max” (all three members of the tribe combine) or “murp” (when the combo just doesn’t quite fit).  The Mixels shorts debut on Cartoon Network on February 17 and will air weekly. Created for Cartoon Network by John Fang (Generation Rex, Ben 10) and Dave Smith (Powerpuff Girls), Mixels is executive produced by Jennifer Pelphrey, Tramm Wigzell, Brian Miller and Rob Sorcher and is produced at Cartoon Network Studios.
Calling All Mixels, the digital application launching in the first quarter is an addictive mixture of exploration, combat and strategy, with a creative spin on mixing. Find lost Mixels, discover new lands and create amazing mixes, in a world of lush 3D graphics, all while building elaborate structures to secure your Cubit supplies. Players take the role of Flain, a member of the Infernites as he sets forth on an adventure to find and reunite the lost Mixel tribes! It will not be an easy task as annoyingCalling All Mixels was developed by Hibernum Creations and published by the Emmy and Webby-nominated Cartoon Network Games.
LEGO Mixels is a new series of buildable toys that create fun collectible characters that leverages the versatility and creativity of the LEGO building system to recreate the “mix,” “max” and “murp” fun of Mixels in physical form. LEGO Mixels are batched and released throughout the year in tribes such as Frosticons, Infernites, Stretchers, Cragsters, Electroids and Fang Gang. Kids will be able to mix and combine the LEGO Mixels, using the mysterious Cubits, to build new characters with hilarious results, to further immerse themselves in the sprawling Mixels world.
Cartoon Network is the leading kids’ channel in the Philippines. Its dedicated Philippine feed offers the best in animated entertainment, drawing from the world's largest cartoon library of Warner Bros., MGM and Hanna-Barbara titles. Cartoon Network also showcases popular original series such as Ben 10, The Amazing World of Gumball and Adventure Time. Cartoon Network is available in 23 territories throughout the Asia Pacific region and is currently seen in over 65 million cable homes. Online, Cartoon Network Asia Pacific reaches nearly five million unique visitors a month.

Turner Broadcasting System, Inc., a Time Warner company, creates and programs branded news, entertainment, animation and young adult media environments on television and other platforms for consumers around the world.

 Nixels roam the lands between all the Mixel tribes and cause trouble for everyone in sight. Flain and the rest of the Mixels will have to use all of their wits to find new friends, gain new bases, gather ingredients, get stronger and deal with constant Nixel problem if they plan to ultimately reunite all the Mixel tribes!

Goldilocks Adds Cinnamon Loaf to Sweeten Your Life with Spice

SWEETEN YOUR LIFE WITH SPICE

Sweet food and desserts are commonly sought out during February, the month full of love and affection, to share with loved ones. There are times, however, when the classic bestsellers such as chocolate, vanilla, mocha, or cheese flavors need a new addition to their fold.

Cinnamon has always had an incomparable taste, with its warm and sweet taste delighting the palette, and a pleasant, zesty undertone that leaves you wanting for more. Goldilocks, the country’s number one bakeshop, has taken this distinctive flavor and created a Cinnamon Loaf that is worthy of its well-loved bread line. Baked to perfection and topped off with raisins, the Cinnamon Loaf is truly a treat to share.

Have a loaf of spicy sweetness and visit your nearest Goldilocks Bakeshop, or call 888-1-999 for Go-Delivery today []

LUCKY YEAR OF THE HORSE

LUCKY YEAR OF THE HORSE

With the arrival of the Year of the Horse comes a whole new change in fortune. For some, 2014 might even usher in bigtime winnings. As the saying goes, “money won is often sweeter than money earned”.

To foster the prosperity of the Chinese New Year, Pacific Online Systems Corporation – distributors of the hit-game Scratchit – has unveiled its new Lucky Horse game. For as little as Php 20.00 per game card, lucky winners can take home as much as Php 200,000.00!

With Lucky Horse, finding your luck has never been easier! Just scratch off the game area on the card and if three numbers match, lucky winners can collect a prize which corresponds to this value. Moreover, each card comes with a BONUS area for a chance to win more prizes. Indeed, finding luck with Scratchit is as easy as A-B-C.

Lucky Horse is the latest addition to an exciting roster of Scratchit games, which includes Bee Lucky, Red Hot 7s, Go Bananas and many more. Each game has its own unique way of winning, providing hours of entertainment and prize opportunities. The game cards are available in Php 20.00 and Php 50.00 denominations and prizes can go up to Php 500,000.00.

Run to your nearest Philippine Sweepstakes Charity Office (PCSO) lotto outlet or to any Lucky Circle branch and try your luck with Scratchit now! []

Paint the Town Gold this Valentines Day

Paint the Town Gold this 
Valentines Day

Time is precious as gold, especially when it is spent with your special someone.  And what better way to express your love than giving the premium BENCH PREMIUM GOLD COLLECTION
BENCH, one of  the country’s leading lifestyle and clothing boutique has been producing quality watches since 2004.

This Valentine’s month,  enjoy the classic yet modern design of gold watches, crafted especially for couples.  The collection boasts of its sophistication, beauty, and elegance, making it the best gift for you and your partner.
Couples will definitely enjoy letting time swift gently with the ergonomically designed styles of the ROYAL Collection with gloss dial and polished bracelets. This selection is also available in Stainless Steel and Black Steel which lovers can choose from.

Meanwhile, the SLIM Collection is also meticulously custom-built from the minute parts to its nicely woven mesh gold finished bracelet.  Tiny details such as the size and shape of the crown and slightly contoured case has to be considered to create that nice and comfortable fit in your wrist.
For the perfect gift to the most important women in your life, check out the LADIES collection. One can select from three array of watches with a sexy, sleek design perfect for the fashionable yet classic women out there.

Cynthia’s mother of pearl dial and crystal zones on bezel will definitely top ladies’ favorites because of its simplicity yet elegant look.
For those who prefer to keep it sassy and classy, the Chloe design, available in rose gold, stainless steel and two-tone, is the perfect time-telling accessory to have because of its timeless champaign dial and date display.

Meanwhile, ladies can always come fashionably late with Paige’s elegant look, which will surely make a statement.  This is also comes in stainless steel and two-tone selection.
This February, love will definitely be in the air, couples will find a perfect fit not only between them, but also in the Bench Premium Gold collection. With the exquisite look of these time pieces, time spent will just pass by in a modish way.

All watches are stainless steel in Rose Gold/ Yellow Gold Plating and  all fitted with Top Grade Japanese Movement . These Bench Gold Premium Collection are available in Bench and L Timestudio stores nationwide.

Michael Martinez Filipino Figure Skater Road to Olympics 2014

PH's Olympic Winter Bet on Thin Ice

Figure skater Michael Martinez is the Philippines’ first athlete to qualify for the Winter Olympics ever. In this year’s games held in Sochi, Russia, he is our lone representative.
Entering his final two months of preparation for the games, the young phenom admitted he was already feeling the heat.

“My training is not yet complete,” said Michael in an interview after a training session at the skating rink of the SM Mall of Asia. “I need four hours with a coach, but we can only afford one hour. We lack the budget.”
At 17 years old, Michael is up against 29 other top figure skaters in the Sochi games. Despite his youth and frequent asthma attacks, Michael managed to rank 28th among the best senior-level figure skaters in the planet!
Early in 2013, he landed 7th at the 2013 Nebelhorn Trophy in Germany that qualified him for this year’s Winter Olympics. To reach the finals, he needs to be part of the top 24 competitors in his category.
The absence of government support compelled Michael to seek sponsors elsewhere. One of his biggest supporters is SM, which donated Php 1 million for his training and other expenses related to his Olympic participation. He was actually “discovered” in SM Southmall in Las Piñas when he was still in his formative years as a figure skater.

Michael’s main supporter is his mother, Teresa, who accompanies him in his training and competitions abroad. She also knows first-hand how much the pursuit of Olympic gold can cost. “It will cost you half-a-million pesos per competition. You also pay for the airfare and hotel of the coach who charges $400 a day,” Teresa recounted, adding that Michael has already competed five times in 2013.
“One of his coaches in the US charges $100 an hour, he has an Olympic coach that charges $150 an hour, and a choreographer that charges $130.” She said that adding ice time, the daily cost of training could easily amount to $500-600.

The need for the coaches could not be stressed enough as Michael is yet to learn a crucial skill – quad jumps – a jumping technique with four revolutions. His Filipino coach Ted Domingo underscored the necessity of training abroad. “We’re talking about high level competition. In the Philippines, we still don’t have that kind of training,” he said.

The Philippines has yet to win an Olympic gold, and winning one in figure skating, in Winter Olympics at that, would be sweeter. But Michael needs more than just a dream. SM has broken the ice, so to speak, and that is enough to help him make history – for now.

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SMART C- A REFRESHING HEALTH CHOICE.

SMART MOVES

More and more young people are breaking the "young and reckless" stereotype as they make smarter and healthier choices in their fast-paced lives. Take for instance the young and unstoppable Pinoy Big Brother Unlimited grand winner, Slater Young.  Amidst his engagements, Slater has chosen to get his immunity boost in one refreshing and convenient drink, Oishi Smart C+.
So, make the clever move and #thinkaboutyourdrink. Your best ally and defense is your daily dose of resistance-building Vitamin C; Smart C+. Now you can cope with the daily demands of your dynamic life which then makes you unstoppable and ready whenever, wherever.
As Slater put it, “Why just drink to refresh when you can also drink to get your daily dose of Vitamin C? With Smart C+ you get both and I think that’s really smart.”
Smart C+ comes in three thirst-quenching flavors: Lemon Squeeze, Orange Crush and Pomelo Grapefruit. Each refreshing flavor contains 500mg of Vitamin C+ to keep up with your daily tasks and passionate pursuits.
Smart C+ is available at leading supermarkets and grocery stores nearest you.
For more information, visit www.oishi.com.ph .