Savor and enjoy coffee with Q Grader Eric Conlin of Alessi Philippines

Eric Conlin (left) on how to prep coffee

I learned a thing or two when I attended a coffee masterclass from Q Grader Eric Conlin and Chief Operating Officer of Conlins and Alessi Philippines. It was truly an educational afternoon for a coffee lover like me, that there is a flavor profile in tasting a coffee,  it requires a scale when brewing a coffee, that a good coffee beans cost a whooping php24000 a kilo and is available in the country,  how a coffee should be roasted. I was informed of Robusta and Arabica , how the two differentiates. . That Robusta  is characterized by its woody and earthy flavours while Arabica coffee is by its sweetness and acidity, fruity and zesty flavours and intense aroma. That a good coffee tastes sweet and aromatic, and should enjoy without the sugar and creamer.

Eric Conlin has one of the finest palates in the country when it comes to coffee, and his is a story that’s never been told.

The one thing you learn when you speak to Eric Conlin is that, sometimes, you need to take your time. Sometimes, you need to slow down to understand things. Sometimes, it takes a while for everything to make sense. It’s something he’s learned the hard way. And it’s something he’s about to tell us now.

It’s late afternoon at Bonifacio High Street when we catch up with Eric. He’s spent the last few hours in an interview with the press, talking about his experience as a coffee grader, his life outside of the country, and how he came back when his brother, Harris, asked him to join Conlins — a roaster of premium luxury coffee in the Philippines. Outside, the late afternoon sun begins to dim, slows down, and turns in for the evening. The walkways begin to get crowded, but here, inside the store, Eric remains largely undisturbed, and over the course of the evening, that will hardly change.

Eric is the Chief Operating Officer of Conlins and Alessi Philippines, having helped Harris build the brand in the years that he’s been back. Since then, Conlins has grown and expanded, bringing in high-grade coffee makers from Europe and high-concept household items from Italian design company Alessi. But before that, Eric had been a dog washer, then he managed indoor playgrounds, then he worked in door-to-door sales, going up to random people and asking them to buy whatever he was selling at the time — all sorts of things. Eventually, he began to work in the espresso bars in Vancouver, before finally becoming the manager of a chain of toy stores.

“It’s all part of the experience,” Eric explains, talking about his life abroad, the odd jobs he’d taken up, and what it’s like to live on a budget.

Eric had been fond of the toy stores he managed, being a collector himself. What interested him most was Lego, how the kits would start with a single brick and turn it into something else entirely, one piece at a time. With over a hundred different Lego sets and numerous action figures — from comic book characters to cartoon personalities — in his collection, Eric had found a place he could settle into, at least, for a while.

Back in the Philippines, Harris was already laying the foundation for Conlins. The brand had been in a state of expansion, finding a good deal of success as people warmed up to their coffee products and demand began to increase. It was then that he made the call to Eric, knowing that his experience in the Canadian coffee industry would be useful in developing Conlins.


That caused Eric to pause. It was a difficult choice. He had grown used to being surrounded by the things he enjoyed the most. Working at the toy stores was not such a common opportunity for a collector, and it granted him a fair discount on their products, allowing him to keep adding to his plastic towns and castles and buildings.

“It was hard to leave,” Eric admits, “But it was time.”



And so Eric packed his bags in 2005, moved back to the Philippines, and joined his brother at Conlins. While his work in the espresso shops in Canada offered the company a new perspective into the industry, it was his experience with toys, and his own philosophy, that would help shape Conlins into what we know it to be now.

“Part of the fun of Lego is the process of it, the journey of building the item,” he explains, “Some people will rush to build the piece, but Lego is about the finding, the sorting out, the act of putting it together. And you know it’s never just the end product, and that resonates with everything we do. It shouldnt just be the end.”

“You have to sometimes step back and look at what you’re going through,” he explains further, “Once you have the piece completed you can remember what you had to go through to get to the end.”

This is the exact same process that Conlins had to go through. It had to be built one step at a time, brick by brick, bean by bean, until it became one of the most renowned roasters of world-class coffee in the country.

“A big challenge for us when we started in the Philippines was that it was an instant coffee market,” Eric remembers, “It still predominantly is.”

In a country that’s used to sachets, the three-in-ones, the quick way of doing things, the fine art of coffee was a strange concept. This was the first thing they had to consider. How could you teach a community to drink coffee in all the ways it’s meant to be appreciated? How could you ask the community to learn to enjoy the entire process? There’s much to understand in the appreciation of coffee — the preparation, the timing, the technique, the taste.    

“There’s an art behind all of those,” Eric says, “You’re supposed to enjoy and savor it.”

“When you’re on a trip,” he says, drawing a comparison, “you don’t just rush, you have to casually, leisurely browse.”

The brothers decided that they needed to help people understand the art behind coffee and why Conlins was so committed to creating a premium label. To do that, they would also need an even deeper understanding of coffee. With this in mind, Eric decided to fly to Hong Kong to undertake the Q Grader exam — one of the most difficult tests for anyone in the coffee business. A Q Grader is a professional cupper certified by the Coffee Quality Institute, an international organization that regulates the system of grading specialty coffee according to its quality. It requires more than just a sharp, defined palate, necessitating a deep knowledge of the entire art of making coffee. The distinction, however, more than outweighs the cost, and becoming one would help Conlins immeasurably, as Eric would be able to grade their coffee while being able to use his knowledge to educate other people about the craft.

The Q Grader test subjects examinees to 22 trials over the course of six (6) days. From grading different levels of bitter, sweet, and salty; to triangulation tests; to identifying the origin of coffee and preparing your own cups — the Q grader challenges both the skills and the patience of each participant.    

“I’d like to say I was calm and collected but there was this element of stress there’s really no way to properly prepare for it,” Eric remembers, “There’s no textbook saying that for this coffee, this is what you’re gonna taste. You have to come up with your own descriptions, your own taste.”


But Eric soon learned that there was something that would make the exam much more difficult. The Coffee Quality Institute decided that it would shorten the duration of the test to three days. All 22 trials would have to be done in record time.

“In six (6) days it’s easier because your palate gets to rest more. It’s a little more relaxed,” Eric mentions “After a while, and keep in mind these tests are back-to-back, your nose and your palate get tired. At the end of the day everything starts to taste the same.”

Each phase of the test saw their numbers dwindle as the examinees began to fail, and soon, there were only a few left. Despite the taxing processes, Eric moved on. By the end of the third day, out of the 30 who had begun, only three (3) were left.  Eric had finally passed.

There are a little over a thousand qualified Q Graders in the world. There are nearly 300 in the US, more than 60 in Australia, less than 10 in Switzerland, and so on.  Eric Conlin is one of only two in the Philippines.

“Even after taking the exam, it just makes you want to learn more,” Eric says of the experience.  “The key thing for me is I want people to be able to understand,” Eric says, “I want people to be able to identify one origin from the other. Cause not all coffee tastes the same.”

This goal has been behind Conlins’ development ever since, and the company has largely succeeded in following it.  By hosting coffee appreciation sessions and by setting up a space in their Bonifacio High Street boutique where people can stay and have coffee, Conlins is bringing the love of coffee to people one cup at a time.

From its beginnings in 2002, Conlins has created several lines of luxury coffee, with many different types falling under each range. Its Artisans Coffee line is a collection of coffee blends, all made with precision and treated as an art form; the Designer Coffee range takes premium coffee beans from different origins, identifies the limitations of each one, and blends them together to overcome these constraints; Bluenotes, on the other hand, is a range that is completely made up of arabicas — the largest selection in the Philippines; while Aroma Coffee combines beans from three different continents and focuses on coffees/espressos with nutty, fruity tones and deep flavors.

To complement their products, Conlins brought in luxury coffee machines for their roasts — the Swiss-made Jura super-automatic espresso machines, German-made WMF espresso machines, and Italian Wega semi-automatic espresso machines. It also decided to include Alessi in its wares, an Italian firm that uses art to create everyday things such as kitchen implements.

With several outlets — Conlins Coffee World in Park Avenue, CW Lifestyle Cafe in the Mall of Asia, Alessi Flagship Store in Fort Bonifacio, and Conlins Elements in Greenbelt 5. As the market continues to grow, and the understanding of coffee begins to take hold, it’s quite possible that there will be more in the near future.

            “I can say Conlins was built by a team of people,” Eric mentions, “It wasn’t built by one person. It was built by a lot of people working together to get it to where it is.”

             “As for me,” he says towards the end, “I’m nothing special.”

            Eric might claim to be one bean among the countless in the brand’s sack, one brick in the Lego-like structure of the company. But with his story, with what he’s done to take Conlins to where it is now, it’s easy to see that there is much more to his story than he cares to admit.  ###




The Story of Alessi

“I think that this will be the goal of design in the future (or at least, my goal for my future in the sphere of design): transforming the gadget function ascribed to objects by the consumer's society into a transitional opportunity, namely into an opportunity for consumers to improve their perception of the world.”
- Alberto Alessi

Alessi was founded by Giovanni Alessi in 1921, a company that produced crafted metal products for kitchens. Set in the Italian municipality of Omegna, an area with a long tradition of wood and metalcraft, Alessi began creating artisanal pieces that were focused on the experience of the user. More than simple kitchen implements, Giovanni wanted to design pieces that enhanced the perception of the owner, opening their senses to a greater breadth of awareness of the seemingly mundane.


Alessi in the Philippines

When Alessi opened in the Philippines, it was something of a surprise to the market. While there had always been suppliers of European houseware, none could give as much value as it did. Alessi was simply different. It was a brand that made the ordinary rather more interesting, more unusual. Not just by making them out of precious metals or modern technology, but with how the company itself approached design. Alessi’s value was in the concept of its pieces themselves, the way they interacted with their owners, the way they made people feel.
             Conlins, the company that brought it to the country, had been looking for a brand that would complement their existing ranges. Known for their own line of luxury coffee blends and being the distributor of high-end European coffee makers, it wanted to extend its reach to include household items that would fall along the same lines of quality. They wanted a brand that had a vision that was like their own. It was then that the company decided on Alessi, and the first shop, displaying some of the most iconic pieces of the brand, opened at Bonifacio High Street in 2007.
“In the same way that we want people to appreciate the intricacies and nuances of what different coffee origins have to offer, we want them to experience what designs from all over the world are like. We brought Alessi into the Philippines because we felt that it was the right time for the Philippine market,” says Harris Conlin, Chief Executive Officer of Alessi Philippines, “We were looking for a brand that can speak to a variety of people, one that was in line with the mission of Conlins. This brand should be able to transcend the values of quality, function, and price.  We found these qualities in Alessi. Their objects have the ability to speak and convey messages, bring forth emotions and express cultural values; though not through the use of words, but through shapes, lines and forms. This is a quality which we call the poetic value of an object.”



            “If the person can understand the value - not only the value in price but the value of the product, the story behind the product, it adds character, it adds weight to why they would want it,” he continues.



            Each piece in the Alessi product lines tells a story, and this is precisely what drew Conlins to the brand. They wanted to make this approach to lifestyle, this appreciation of making art out of the mundane, available to the Philippines. To date, Alessi has collaborated with over 500 creators, including the celebrated French designer Philippe Starck and the German-born Richard Sapper, two of the most important designers of their generation. Each designer, in turn, has a unique approach to design, a different way to appreciate the common.



            “When they design, they create. They’re artists and their thought processes in these pieces are shown through the use of lines, the use of shapes,” Eric Conlin, Chief Operating Officer of Alessi Philippines, explains, “These elements will speak to a customer, or to the people who collect Alessi. When you ask somebody what appeals to them sometimes we don’t know how to describe it but there’s something that just speaks to you.”



            “Why is this plate special? What were the designer's thoughts, making this piece? It's never just about the function anymore,” he goes on, “If it’s just about the function, somebody can just opt for a banana leaf to eat off from or they can always eat from the saucepan. Why bother using the plate?  But when we start appreciating the processes, what we do every day, the things that seem mundane — why can’t they be special? And that’s the idea of using things that accentuate the everyday and make you appreciate life more.”

            As with most art, the appeal to any viewer or buyer may vary. One thing might speak to a person but another might view it an entirely different manner. A piece could bring forth memories, or the feel of the wind, or invoke the experience of an evening outdoors. The reason behind this is that all Alessi pieces start as an idea. That idea is then given form, driven into something tangible.It was brought into the world as faithfully as Alessi’s means could allow. In some cases, people are even left wondering how a piece is made, since none of them are ever completely direct in nature.

            The appeal of Alessi began to take hold in the Filipino market, and it soon gained a following, prompting Conlins to open Conlins Elements— one in Greenbelt 5 and another in Trinoma both carrying Alessi products. The popularity of the brand grew exponentially over the following years, and people outside of Luzon began to ask for its avalability in the Southern part of the country. Toward the final quarter of this year, Alessi is set to open a flagship store in Cebu, and as it continues to develop its position in the market, more outlets will undoubtedly follow.


            The appreciation of Alessi is one that comes in stages. Harris tells of how, when a customer first walks into the Alessi store, they might initially be drawn to the colorful pieces. The pieces with pop culture sensibilities might attract them with their wit, their humor. From here, they could eventually develop a taste for the monochromatic uniformity of metals, choosing to purchase pieces that are elegantly designed and with more complex thought processes. At this point they might develop a fondness for a certain designer or style, and begin to collect limited edition pieces made by the artist. Collecting Alessi, in this sense, is very much like collecting art, although it is art that has a precise function in the household or office.
     
            With its constant collaborations, Alessi has collected a substantial group of cultures and traditions, making it one of the most diverse companies when it comes to design influences. All of these, however, go through Alessi’s trademark processes of creation, and while they might be crafted with modern technology, each one is still made with the artisan’s principles in mind, and Italian master craftsmen are still entrusted with their production.

            “Because Alessi doesn’t have in-house designers, it brings in a lot of cultures. Each designer comes from a different part of the world,” Eric says, “So alessi itself is an eclectic brand bringing together cultures from around the world. Each designer brings a portion of themselves in their piece, and each piece has a story to tell. Its up to our clients whether they can understand or relate to the what the pieces want to convey.  But it’s even more special when a customer can create a story for themselves and relate to it themselves.”

            “Alessi opens our eyes to many different things, rather than seeing the world though closed lenses we are able to open not only our eyes but also our minds,” he goes on, “We are able to see life and the objects that we encounter in different manner; the obvious answer no longer seem as important as finding and appreciating the small details and intricacies.  Through Alessi we learn to see things not for what what they are, rather see them as what they can be.  We become aware and gain a new appreciation of our daily processes, things that we have always been taught as ordinary become extraordinary.”

            It’s the little things that happen in between the big ones that tell your story. It’s these tiny fragments that are told and retold each day, remembered with a single piece here, a single symbol there. When you take the time to appreciate each fragment, to understand the meaning behind them, then you begin to realize that there is much more to the everyday than you allow yourself to see. From the moment you wake up and take a look at the things that surround you, the things that you’ve collected over the years, the things that remind you of why you choose to do what you do, why you even get up in the first place —nothing will ever be the same.

 Alessi is available at the Alessi Concept store at Bonifacio High Street in Taguig (856-4452) as well as in Conlins Elements stores in Greenbelt 5 Makati (729.9698) and Trinoma, Quezon City (900-0668).

Come and play with your friends in Dora’s Best Friends Picnic

A different kind of adventure awaits kids at Dora’s Best Friends Picnic, happening on July 20, from 2 to 6pm, at the SM Megamall Event Center. Little Nicksters aged 2 to 7 are sure to have a fun-tastic time learning and playing with their families and fellow Dora the Explorer fans.

To kick things off, friends of Dora and Boots can challenge one another to a game of ring toss in the Dora & Boots Friendship Rings booth. Kids can also hang out and visit Diego’s Face Painting corner, Benny’s Smart Art Balloons station, and Isa’s BFF Looms factory for a more creative playtime.

And since young explorers are always ready for a challenge and looking for new escapades, Nicksters can participate in the Kindermusik Philippines segment and be part of a one-of-a-kind musical play adventure.

With other Nick Jr. enthusiasts joining in the fun, little tots can make new friends and bring home cool prizes from the sponsors and Nickelodeon by joining the exciting games. They can also share a picnic blanket with other adventurers as Nickelodeon treats them to a special Dora the Explorer episode.

As an added treat, everyone’s favorite explorers, Dora and Boots, will make a special appearance and have everyone up and dancing!

Kids will definitely not want to miss going on an adventure jam-packed with exciting activities and awesome surprises. So, round up your friends and see you at Dora’s Best Friends Picnic!

Nickelodeon’s Dora’s Best Friends Picnic is presented by Alaska NutriBuild 345 and co-sponsored by Purefoods Fun Stuff Nuggets and Zesto Juice Drink, and official venue partner SM Megamall.

SANDARA SENDS SHOUTOUTS TO GERRY’S

Gerry's,  Sandara Park's favorite Restaurant

Korean superstar Sandara Park, known as Dara or Sandy to thousands of fans, named Gerry’s as her restaurant of choice. Recently, Sandy who was in Singapore visited Gerry’s at Cuppage Road and on her Twitter account wrote: “Ang sarap talaga ng Gerry’s!”

Dara, who became popular in the Philippines via Channel 2’s Star Circle Quest earlier posted on Instagram: “That’s (Gerry’s) my forever favorite restaurant!” While in the Philippines, Dara brought his Korean friends including members of the K-Pop group Big Bang to feast on Pinoy favorites.  

Refashioning itself with a cozier, homier ambience Gerry’s is set to open in Cauayan, Isabela; Fisher Mall in Quezon City, Robinson’s, Tuguegarao, SM Centerpoint in Sta. Mesa, Manila; Star Mall, Cebu, Aseana Mall in Paranaque City. Earlier this year, Gerry’s opened branches at the Ayala-run Fairview Terraces Mall and Iligan. The homegrown restaurant currently has more than 60 branches nationwide, with five in three locations abroad – Singapore, Qatar, and the U.S. 

THE UNIQUE HEROES OF MARVEL'S “GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY”

“I think ‘Guardians of the Galaxy’ has one of the best ensemble casts for an origin movie that Marvel has ever had because it is so eclectic,” producer Kevin Feige says on the approach to casting the unique characters in Marvel’s “Guardians of the Galaxy.”

We didn’t set out to cast a relative unknown for the lead nor movie stars for the voices of Rocket and Groot, it just evolved liked that, again, because we had the freedom to say ‘anybody’s on the table’ for this one.”

An action-packed, epic space adventure, Marvel’s “Guardians of the Galaxy” expands the Marvel Cinematic Universe into the cosmos, where brash adventurer Peter Quill finds himself the object of an unrelenting bounty hunt after stealing a mysterious orb coveted by Ronan (Lee Pace), a powerful villain with ambitions that threaten the entire universe. To evade the ever-persistent Ronan, Quill is forced into an uneasy truce with a quartet of disparate misfits—Rocket, a gun-toting raccoon, Groot, a tree-like humanoid, the deadly and enigmatic Gamora and the revenge-driven Drax the Destroyer. But when Quill discovers the true power of the orb and the menace it poses to the cosmos, he must do his best to rally his ragtag rivals for a last, desperate stand—with the galaxy’s fate in the balance.

The film's main protagonist Peter Quill is played by Chris Pratt (“Zero Dark Thirty,” “Moneyball”). Quill is an interstellar adventurer who was abducted from Earth at a young age. After recovering an ancient artifact, Quill must rally an unlikely team of cosmic misfits to prevent a powerful villain from destroying the galaxy.

Zoe Saldana (the “Star Trek” and “Avatar” film franchises) plays Gamora, an orphan from an alien world who was raised by the mysterious Thanos to become the perfect weapon. As Thanos’ personal assassin, Gamora has earned a reputation as a formidable warrior. Gamora now seeks redemption for her past crimes.

A physical brute, Drax is played by Filipino-American former professional wrestler Dave Bautista (“Riddick”). Drax has a personal vendetta against Ronan, who killed his family. Now fueled by pure rage, Drax will stop at nothing to take his revenge on the most dangerous being in the galaxy.
Groot (voiced by Vin Diesel) descends from a race of walking flora and resembles a sentient tree. Despite his strange appearance and limited communication skills, Groot proves to be a valuable ally and a loyal friend—not only to his fellow bounty hunter Rocket but to the rest of the Guardians of the Galaxy as well.

Finally, Rocket (voiced by Bradley Cooper) is a bounty hunter and mercenary whose mastery of weapons and battle tactics make him a formidable warrior, despite being a genetically altered, cybernetically enhanced, talking raccoon. The result of traumatic biological experimentation, Rocket is a genuine gun-toting badass and mechanical genius who has a huge chip on his shoulder.
Marvel’s “Guardians of the Galaxy” opens across the Philippine on Thursday, July 31, 2014.

Experience the best of Dubai’s shopping offerings with Cebu Pacific

 Dubai is the shopaholics paradise, you can find almost anything here from skincare to bags to chocolates to electronics, on sale, all year round. Think anything you want and voila! Dubai is the answer.

Beyond its impressive skyscrapers, a seven-star hotel, and romantic desert safari, there are countless reasons why Dubai has skyrocketed on top of every stylish traveler’s bucket list. The city has transformed shopping into an art with its highly anticipated annual shopping festival, glamorous malls, atmospheric souks, and the best of high-end brands and quirky finds that are available. Cebu Pacific, the country’s leading airline, offers every Juan the chance to explore the best that Asia’s emerging shopping juggernaut has to offer, as it flies direct from Manila to Dubai.

Scarves abound at Dubai souks in a variety of color and prints.

Dubai’s definitive shopping festivals.
 Held annually from January to February when the Dubai weather is at its coolest, the Dubai Shopping Festival (DSF) is more than just a shopaholic’s paradise where tourists can score as much as 70-percent off on glam finds. Attracting more than 3 million people to Dubai every year, the DSF also features film festivals, fashion shows, and fantastic street performances. Those who want to plan their shopping strategies can find out more about this shopping festival on www.mydsf.ae.

From spices to stylish slippers, the souks in Dubai are a feast for the senses

Tourists who want to avoid the peak season and the throng of buyers during the Shopping Festival can visit its summer version, the Dubai Summer Surprises, which is held yearly from July to August. Offering citywide promos and sales, this more family-oriented shopping festival offers plenty of attractions for kids of all ages—from playgrounds and soft toy areas, to the latest video games and a 4D cinema. Another must-see stop for young adventurers is the Modhesh World's Summer Camp, a 37,000-square-meter indoor summer playground that is home to uniquely themed educational and entertainment zones. Plan an amazing Dubai summer experience by visiting www.summerisdubai.com.



The best of high-end shopping.
The Dubai Mall, the city’s biggest mall, is also the world’s most visited destination for three consecutive years. This 500,000 square-meter behemoth houses over 1,200 shops as well as the Dubai Aquarium and Underwater Zoo and the SEGA Republic theme park. The mall will continue to expand to accommodate the influx of visitors, adding new personalized and flagship stores of famous international fashion brands to its Fashion Avenue. Meanwhile, the Mall of the Emirates, recognized as the world’s first-ever shopping resort, houses over 500 international brands, from fashion and lifestyle to sports and electronics. Aside from designer and boutique brands such as the Harvey Nichols department store, the mall houses a traditional Arabian souk-themed section lined with 26 stores. For tourists looking for alternative yet equally stylish shopping spots beyond the bigger malls, the less frequented Wafi Mall and Mercato Mall are quieter but are as stunning with their Egyptian and European inspired architectures and wide selection of designer brands and interesting crafts shops.

Strolling around Dubai’s charming souks.
 While its massive malls may have earned Dubai its world-class reputation as a shopping destination, a visit to the city will not be complete without experiencing the lively and vibrant traditional souks that showcase local handicrafts, textiles, and spices. Immerse in the surplus of aromas, from frankincense to exotic herbs and spices, at the Deira Spice Souk. At the colorful Deira Gold Souq, there is all-day glitter with jewelry and gold on display in shop windows summoning the attention of those looking for bling. The city’s oldest market place is located in Sharjah, and the now air-conditioned alleyways of this covered market is filled with souks, bazaars, and shops that sell an abundance of finds from antique handicrafts, wooden Arabic wood pieces, handmade jewelries, and hand-woven garments, and novelties.

The cosmopolitan city of Dubai is also getting ready to make it even bigger in the international area, winning the right to host the World Expo 2020. The first Middle Eastern city to host the trade exhibition, Dubai is adopting the theme “Connecting Minds, Creating the Future” and is set to build a huge exhibition center, new hotels, entertainment venues, and improved public transportation, among other developments. For more information, visit www.dubaitourism.ae. Explore the best of Dubai shopping with Cebu Pacific Air with year-round fares starting for as low as P4,999. Plan ahead and get baggage allowance up to 40 kilos for your shopping finds too! Visit www.cebupacificair.com and book your flight now.

Jollibee's Amazing Aloha Champ is back!

 My favorite Amazing Aloha is back, this is my one complete meal that keeps me going throughout the day, with its juiciest patty, cheese, lettuce and pineapple. The right combination for me.

This July, those looking for an #Amazing burger experience can get their hands on the new Amazing Aloha Champ from Jollibee. Made with a 1/3 pound 100% pure beef patty topped with a juicy pineapple slice, crispy bacon strips, honey mustard dressing, lettuce and cheese, you can expect amazing langhap-sarap in every bite!

Price:
P145 Solo
P179 Value Meal with regular fries and drink
P190 Super Value Meal with regular fries and Coke or Sarsi Float

Available for a limited time only in Jollibee stores nationwide.

Antistax helps you attain healthy legs

Supermodel, entrepreneur and mom Ms. Tweety De Leon-Gonzales the Antistax ambassadress together with host Gelli Victor shared to the media their secrets to sexy long legs in "Tea Time with Tweetie and Ellie" at the Chi Spa Shangri-la Hotel last July 3, 2014. Ms. Tweety de Leon told that she begins her day by eating healthy and juicing fruits. She plays squash, that alone requires a lot of leg movement, and dwells on her passion for making "charms" jewelry.  

She shows us around these stations and share her passion for what makes her the good model that she is by leading a healthy lifestyle, getting a hobby that  makes her happy and earn at the same time, and by practicing a correct posture when walking and posing for the camera.

She takes care of "Ellie" the elephant, a metaphor for leg cramps, the one that drags her legs down by taking  Antistax the leg supplement which is available in tablet and cooling leg gel.

Red wine in small quantities is supposed to be the secret of a long and healthy life, but did you know that the secret of healthy legs is hidden in red vine leaves? It’s true.

For many years, researchers puzzled over the fact that French wine growers almost never suffered from vein disorders. Then they discovered that the farmers were making infusions and poultices from vine leaves to treat their heavy, swollen and painful legs. This home remedy was proving to be a great success.

Pharmacologists analyzed the active ingredients of the red vine leaf and developed it into an effective extract, containing significant amounts of bio-active Flaven. This pure herbal extract is the basis of the Antistax range of products for tired, heavy legs which have been clinically proven to improve blood circulation and reduce swelling.

Strict guidelines determine which leaves can be harvested, to assure the highest quality and content of herbal protective agents. The leaves are carefully rinsed and dried, before being enriched via a special process to obtain bio-active Flaven.

By the way – did you know that one Antistax tablet contains as much bio-active Flaven as you would get from three bottles of red wine? So it delivers good news for your legs without the next morning headache!

Antistax is available in two forms: topical cooling leg gel and in tablets. The cooling gel contains bioactive flaven, a type of flavanoid dried from a special variety of grape leaves, and the calming and cooling properties of peppermint oil and menthol, offering immediate relaxation. On the other hand, the tablet offers a 360mg of the same falavanoid, which may help improve the blood flow in the legs and fight tired, heavy legs.

Antistax - Walking Tips

Walk with your body upright, looking straight ahead, chin pointing slightly downwards, stretching the back of your neck.

Pull your shoulders back and lift your chest.

Pull in your stomach and bottom, keep muscles slightly tensed and try to avoid a hollow back.

Keep your elbows parallel and close to your body, bend your arms slightly allowing them to hang loosely at your side and swing as you walk, with your hands slightly clenched.

Make sure your heel hits the ground first and that you then roll onto the ball of your foot and then your toes.

 Your knees should always be relaxed and not completely straightened.

Always stay relaxed and walk at your own pace.

Henry Cavill Returns as Superman for "Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice

FIRST IMAGE OF HENRY CAVILL AS MAN OF STEEL IN “BATMAN V SUPERMAN: DAWN OF JUSTICE”

Warner Bros. Pictures has just debuted the first image of Henry Cavill as the Man of Steel in “Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice,” the highly anticipated action adventure from director Zack Snyder.

Starring Cavill in the role of Clark Kent/Superman, and Ben Affleck as Bruce Wayne/Batman, the film also stars Gal Gadot as Diana Prince/Wonder Woman, with Amy Adams, Laurence Fishburne and Diane Lane returning from “Man of Steel,” Jesse Eisenberg as Lex Luthor, Jeremy Irons as Alfred, and Holly Hunter in a role newly created for the film.

“Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice” is written by Chris Terrio, from a screenplay by David S. Goyer.  Charles Roven and Deborah Snyder are producing, with Benjamin Melniker, Michael E. Uslan, Wesley Coller, David S. Goyer and Geoff Johns serving as executive producers.
Principal photography will take place on location at Michigan Motion Picture Studios and on location in and around Detroit, Michigan; Illinois; Africa; and the South Pacific.
Set to open worldwide on May 6, 2016, “Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice” is based on Superman characters created by Jerry Siegel & Joe Shuster, Batman characters created by Bob Kane, and Wonder Woman created by William Moulton Marston, appearing in comic books published by DC Entertainment.

Giordano celebrates 25th anniversary with "World Without Strangers" music festival

The day was set for nostalgia as music unfolds and rocked the whole of Glorietta Activity Center, it was a day to reckon with as some of the filipino great bands joined force for the Giordano's latest campaign "World Without Strangers". The music brings back memory from some of the country's famous bands.

Giordano  celebrates its 25th anniversary by World Without Strangers Music Festival last July 4, 2014 at the Glorietta Activity Center with 8 hours of full opm concert. The musicfest was hosted by Boys Night Out, and featured15 local bands, including Callalily, Sponge Cola, Urbandub, Franco, Up Dharma Down, Gracenote, Techy Romantics, Taken By Cars, Kala, Autotelic,
Join The Club, Cygnet, Maude, Hidden Nikki and Yolanda Moon. It was a free-admission event that starts at 1:00 pm and ends at 9:00 pm everyone rocked on to their favorite bands.

Boys Night Out hosted the eight hour event and  entertained the audience during breaks and shared their antics to the crowd.

Urbandub

Urbandub belted out "The Fight is Over" which is my favorite song from the group. It was amazing how Urbandub still rocked the crowd. They also sang "first of summer".

Franco

This was the first time I saw "Franco" sang live. I always listen to them in my ipod.  I love Franco for its soothing rhythm and reggae appeal  that is inspiring to listen to.

Rico Blanco performed his latest single, ‘World Without Strangers’, the official lyric video of
Giordano Philippines.

“A world without strangers is a borderless one where people walk hand in hand and celebrate life as one,” said Rico Blanco, music icon and Giordano Philippines’ latest brand ambassador.

Set to a light, upbeat tone, the song is about a world where there is no class or cultural divide; a world where everyone is bonded by a familial tie. Guests swooned to Blanco’s comfortingly familiar signature singing style, which put a Filipino stamp on the song that is still relatable to everyone, anywhere in the world. The song’s official lyric video was also launched during the event.


Statement Tee Design winners

The Giordano Statement Tee Design Contest, which attracted a large number of entries, revolved around the “World Without Strangers” theme. Ten designers, five from the male category and another five from the female category, were recognized during the festival. The top 10 designers are Gino Jardinico, Timmy Joy Raymundo, John Angelo Tan, Ivan Marc Robinson, Nadine Encarnacion, Benedict Lim, John Francis Pasicolan, Katherine Francisco and Cathleen Kay Bayani, whose design for both male and female categories were chosen.

The winning designs will be released in Giordano stores by the end of July.

World Without Strangers Citizens

As Giordano rallies for a world without strangers, 12 individuals were also recognized during the festival who have contributed to creating that ideal world. The awardees, called World Without Strangers Citizens, range from social workers to artists, from writers to taxi drivers.

The awardees are: Alex Eduque, volunteer; Jose Yap Dalisay, Palanca award-winning writer; Bengie Reyes, sculptor and furniture designer; Atty. Karen Jimeno, lawyer and social worker; Donnalyn Bartolome, artist and songwriter; Efren Penaflorida, teacher; Sophia Deliu, policewoman; Jovy Sasutona, handicapped painter; Creo Baylon, inventor; Nelson Balmores, a handicapped social worker for Gawad Kalinga; Edita Queras, a tricycle driver; and Doroteo Ochavo, a taxi driver who made news in 2012 for constantly returning things left behind by his passengers.

“We are proud to recognize our first batch of World Without Strangers Citizens. They deserve this recognition because they are doing their share to build a world without strangers, and in doing so have inspired others,” said Bea Lim, Giordano Philippines’ vice president for marketing.

For photos of the event and updates about the World Without Strangers campaign, please visit www.facebook.com/GiordanoPhilippines.

Giordano Creates a World Without Strangers with New Campaign

In celebration of its 25th anniversary in the country, Giordano Philippines launched its World Without Strangers (WWS) campaign along with a new collection built on the brand’s roots and core philosophy. 

“We are going to back to our roots, and we want to remind people what our brand stands for. With WWS, we champion wearable pieces that don’t overshadow the wearer’s personality. And anyone from all walks of life can relate to the pieces,” said Bea Lim, Giordano Philippines’ vice president for marketing. 

Starting July, Giordano stores will showcase the first wave of the WWS collection. Key pieces in the collection are statement tees in solid colors with “World Without Strangers” emblazoned in front. The first phase will feature graphic printed tees in primary colors. The second phase will consist of slogan-printed tees in bright and pastel colors with phrases like “Breaking Barriers”, “Unity Love Respect”, “Just Like You” and “One Song Underneath One Sun”.

The collection also features other styles such as striped tops in different cuts, colored hoodies, two-way denim pants, neppy jeans, sweatshirts and WWS caps. 

“Every piece in the WWS collection is a basic building block to any wardrobe, and it comes to life with the wearer’s personality and taste,” Lim said.

World Without Strangers has always been Giordano’s credo since the brand’s beginnings in Hong Kong. The brand’s classic and timeless quality transcends differences and preferences, making it a brand for everyone, everywhere.

For more information about the WWS Campaign, visit www.facebook.com/GiordanoPhilippines. 

"Foosball" soon to kick balls in PH cinemas.

               As everyone glued their eyes on FIFA 2014, and rooting for their favorite team. Its about time to kick some balls on "Foosball".  With over 2 million admissions in Argentina, home of soccer icons Diego Maradona and Lionel Messi, “Foosball” (“Metegol” in Argentine Spanish) is showing in Philippine cinemas very soon.


                “Foosball” (known/retitled in the US as “Underdogs) tells the story of Amadeo, a shy but talented boy, and of a foosball team that is trying to get back together after having been dismantled. With the help of the foosball players, Amadeo will have to face his most terrible rival on the football pitch: the Champ.  Guided by their leader, the charismatic Right Winger, the foosball players and Amadeo will set off on a great adventure together, like a true team, to get back the dignity that the Champ stole from them. Football is the stage on which this story of love, respect, friendship and passion is played out.

Directed by Academy Award Winner Juan José Campanella with animation supervisor Sergio Pablos who also supervised the blockbusters “Rio” and “Despicable Me,”  “Foosball” (English-dubbed version) will open very soon in theatres this 2014 from Axinite Digicinema.   Follow Axinite Digicinema at Facebook and YouTube.

Visit the 27th Corporate Giveaways Buyers' Show at the SMX Convention Center

Upbeat economy results in bullish business gifts industry

The Philippines is currently enjoying revived confidence from domestic and international business, as evidenced by, among other things, upgraded ratings from the world’s leading credit rating agencies. These improvements have directly resulted in an upbeat corporate gifts and rewards industry, poised to take advantage of the increased economic activity.

Hundreds of the country’s most reliable suppliers of business gift items are set to showcase their products and services at the annual Corporate Giveaways Buyers’ Show, the Philippines longest-running and most successful trade exhibition on business gifts, premiums, promotional ideas and merchandise incentives.

Now on its 27th year, the Corporate Giveaways Buyers’ Show regularly attracts purchasing managers, marketing and event professionals, HR practitioners, public relations specialists who visit the show to explore and source their year-round business gifts requirements, office solutions and even food and beverage gift options. It is scheduled on July 9-11 at the SMX Convention Center, Mall of Asia Complex, Pasay City.

“We believe the show has become a reliable barometer of the industry’s confidence in the economy. When companies are doing well, they tend to share their success with others. One of the ways this can be seen is in the quality and quantity of the gifts that they hand out during the year.” shares Raquel Romero, President & General Manager of Worldexco, organizers of Corporate Giveaways Buyers’ Show. 

Corporate Giveaways 2014 is open from 10am to 7pm. Admission is free (only visitors 18 years and above will be admitted). Interested parties can register in advance through www.corporategiveawaysbuyershow.com. Onsite registration at the SMX lobby will also be available during the event proper.

“This is the largest edition of the show in recent years, with an increase of over 50% of exhibition space occupied, compared to 2013. Out of over 100 participating companies, 30 are first-timers to the show, further indicating a boom in the gift-giving industry” adds Romero. “Visitors are sure to find what they need among the thousands of options at Corporate Giveaways 2014.”