Takeru Satoh and the cast of Rurouni Kenshin held its presscon at Glorietta

 Japanese action-epic movie Ruruoni Kenshin with its lead actors Takeru Satoh, Munetaka Aoki and its director, Keishi Ohtomo held its presscon at the Glorietta Activity Center last August 7, 2014.  The show was hosted by Sam Oh and attended by the media and fans all over the Phils. Takeru Sato thanked everyone for the warm welcome he and the cast of Rurouni Kenshin got from all the fans and  media. The fans got wild everytime Takeru talks, winks and waves. While  Munetaka Aoki, his sidekick in the movie greeted the audience "Magandang Gabi and Mahal ko kayo and repeated the word "astig" three times, much to the adulation of the fans. Warner Bros. Japan releases the film and starts its regular showing in the country on August 20, 2014.

Keishi Ohtomo, Takeru Satoh and Munetaka Aoki

Two years after the release of the shocking prologue: Rurouni Kenshin, the time has come for the great climax to begin. The first half of an epic two-part finale, "Kyoto Inferno" finds the reformed assassin desperately trying to avoid the violence promised in the next film “The Legend Ends”.

Based on the Kyoto arc of the popular manga series written & illustrated by Watsuki Nobuhiro, the sequels follow the story of reformed assassin Kenshin Himura going up against pure evil Makoto Shishio who is attempting to overthrow the Meiji government. The fate of the country hangs in the balance as Kenshin Himura takes up the sword that he vowed to never draw again.


Returning as director is Keishi Otomo, highly respected around the world for such works as Ryomaden and Platinum Data. Gathering his production staff from the first Kenshin movie, he combines painstaking attention to detail with spectacle on a grand scale in his single-minded pursuit of a world-within-film like no other. The theme song is by the internationally popular band ONE OK ROCK, who has written two individual songs for both films.

Supersized, super fast, supercharged HUAWEI X1, world’s lightest and narrowest 7-inch phablet, now in PH

The world's lightest and narrowest phablet -- a new HUAWEI 7-inch Android tablet that lets you make phone calls, download 1GB movie in a minute, and use it as powerbank to charge other mobile devices is now in the Philippines.

HUAWEI, a leading global information and communications technology (ICT) solutions provider, today announced the market availability of the world’s slimmest and narrowest 7-inch LTE Cat4-enabled all-in-one phablet.

First launched during the GSMA Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, HUAWEI X1 combines the functionality of a smartphone and tablet with 4G LTE connectivity to provide an all-round mobile experience. HUAWEI X1’s full aluminum alloy unibody is compact and weighs less than a canned drink at 239 grams. Ultra-slim at 7.18mm, the device provides outstanding comfort and ease of use, even when operated with a single hand.

 Its 7-inch 1200 x 1920 FHD LTPS 10-point capacitive touch display provides an incredibly crisp and dynamic visual experience and features an outstanding 80 percent screen-to-body ratio.

HUAWEI X1 features content adaptive brightness control (CABC) technology together with a 515 nits brightness level to allow amazing visual clarity under direct sunlight. It also includes intelligent grip suppression so you can hold and scroll simultaneously.

HUAWEI X1 is powered by a Kirin 910 1.6 GHz quad-core processor and runs on Android 4.2 Jelly Bean. The ultra-long lasting 5000 mAh battery provides an exceptional 21 days of standby time, more than five full days of continuous video or web surfing, and also powers additional mobile devices with its reverse charging function. HUAWEI X1 uses the ‘Super Decode Media Files’ function to differentiate between file types to ensure the smooth streaming of media while preserving battery power and the ‘Mail Grouping Service’ which differentiates between various types of signals and mobile phone ringtones to organize messages.

HUAWEI X1 makes professional-quality photography possible on a phablet with an advanced 13MP Sony Exmor R BSI rear-facing camera that has a five plastic elements (5P) lens featuring panoramic shooting and an IMAGESmart engine with auto-scene recognition. Its 5MP front-facing camera has a four plastic elements (4P) lens and HUAWEI’s proprietary self-focus tips, preview screen, 10-level auto-facial enhancement and voice-activated hands-free capture, to take the best ‘selfies’. The phablet adds an extra dimension to photos with the ‘Voice Photo’ function, which takes photos accompanied by a 10-second audio clip that can be shared via Facebook and WeChat. The IR blue glass infrared filter also enables filming or photographing in low light.

LTE Cat4-enabled to make connectivity faster and more reliable than ever, HUAWEI X1 downloads work files in seconds and a 1GB movie in one minute with speeds of up to 150 Mbps. With in-built WiFi routers, 2.4/5G dual mode WiFi support, as well as voice call and SMS capabilities, the device provides on-the-spot connection to friends and family. The AirSharing function enables screen sharing and the transfer of images via cloud photo sharing. Navigating HUAWEI X1 is a breeze with the latest intuitive and easy-to-use interface, Emotion UI 2.0, featuring easily customizable home screens, enhanced ‘Standard’ and ‘Simplicity’ UIs and more than 1,000 diverse themes.

The Huawei X1 is available in black and white at PhP19,590 suggested retail price.

Globe Telecom boosts work efficiencies for enterprises with Canvas mobile app

Canvas channel and partnership manager for Australia, New Zealand and Asia Pacific Dan Stevens and Globe Vice President of IG Rey Lugtu

Globe Telecom, through its IT-Enabled Services Group (IG), is taking business innovation a step further by introducing an enhanced mobile business offering which converts paper-based processes to dynamic, feature-rich mobile apps.

In partnership with Canvas, a global leader in mobile apps for business, Globe IG launches the cloud-based software service that empowers business users to collect, share and integrate information using mobile devices with existing backend business systems. As a result of this new partnership, enterprise and small and medium-sized business (SMB) customers of Globe can unlock the potential of their smartphones and tablets by shifting key business processes from paper forms to dynamic mobile apps with functionalities.

Every Canvas app is customizable and can incorporate functionality such as GPS, image capture, dispatch, barcode scanning, electronic signatures, push notifications and access to business data such as parts catalogs, price lists and patient records.  Canvas eliminates paperwork, captures more information and allows collected data to be shared instantly - anytime, anywhere.  

With Globe Telecom being the first and exclusive partner of Canvas in the Philippines, its business customers will be able to leverage on Canvas’s cloud-based service and mobile business app store, which currently has more than 14,000 business apps ranging from inspection forms and work orders to surveys and checklists. According to Globe and Canvas officials, business customers “going paperless” can reap the significant cost, productivity and efficiency gains, saving up to 75% on paper costs and achieve annual productivity savings of about P175,000 per user on the average. A P500 monthly investment per account includes unlimited access to Canvas Application Store, unlimited creation of forms & unlimited submissions.

Excited with the new synergy between Globe and Canvas, Globe Vice President of IG Rey Lugtu shares, "Local businesses of all sizes and across all industries are shifting core business processes to mobile devices as they are drawn to the ability of mobile apps to solve challenges associated with traditional paper-based processes. With this shift in the way businesses operate, Globe IG takes a proactive stance in providing them anew with best-in-class IT solutions beyond telco core services through Canvas. With the collaboration between two industry leaders, our enhanced mobile business offerings will ultimately enhance productivity, heighten collaboration, and generate quick returns on investment.”

Canvas channel and partnership manager for Australia, New Zealand and Asia Pacific Dan Stevens added, “Forward-thinking telecommunications service providers such as Globe Telecom recognize they must deliver services that not only improve communications and collaboration, but also empower their customers to be more productive by unlocking the full potential of mobile workers. In fact, in our 2014 survey of business and IT decision makers, 63 percent of respondents indicated that they see value integrating core business applications with mobile devices and tools. We are thrilled to partner with Globe Telecom on this mobile business offering and believe that this solution will positively resonate with its customers.”

Canvas’ mobile business app solutions run on Android, iOS or Windows platforms on any smartphone, tablet or laptop. Globe Business customers interested to learn more about the Canvas mobile business app service can visit canvas.globe.com.ph. Those interested in signing up for a 30-day free trial may send an email to canvas@globe.com.ph.

The Information Technology (IT) Enabled Services Group of Globe Telecom serves the IT requirements of Philippine businesses from small and medium enterprises to large corporations, empowering them with a large platform of best-in-class infrastructure such as industry-accredited data centers, cloud solutions and managed services as well as a complete portfolio of business applications like machine-to-machine and productivity tools. To learn more, visit www.globe.com.ph/business.

Canvas is an easy, fast and economical way for businesses to find, customize and create mobile forms to replace paper forms. Canvas is a cloud-based software service that enables users to collect information using mobile devices, share that information and integrate with existing backend systems. Canvas also offers the first mobile business application store of its kind, allowing businesses from diverse industries to find mobile forms specific to their needs. To learn more, visit http://www.GoCanvas.com.

Sweet Chili is Now Open at Fisher Mall

Craving for a Thai food? Choose the authentic and affordable Sweet Chili. The local restaurant chain Gerry’s has expanded its portfolio of brands with the opening of
Sweet Chili, Thai Fisha and Noodles House located at the upper ground level of Fisher Mall on along Quezon Avenue in Quezon City.

Sweet Chili Pic Early Faves - Bagoong Rice, Chicken Pandan and Pad Thai with Egg

The restaurant’s affordable menu offers include Soups (Sea Food Tom Yum, Noodles in Clear Soup), Chicken (Chicken Pandani, Stir Fried Spicy Chicken in Basil Leaves), Pork (Grilled Liempo), Dry Noodles (Pad Thai Plain or with Egg), Seafoods (King Fish with Mango Salad, King Fish in Five Kinds of Herbs or in Red Sauce), Rice (Bagoong or Plain) and Desserts; are prepared by a well-trained team headed by Thai Chef Phairat B. Phonbon.

Gerry’s other brand is Kusina ng Gerry’s, a fast-casual, do-it-yourself restaurant which opened in March 2012.

Luxury Sports car Ferrari 458 Spider meets Oakley Scuderia Ferrari

The top of the line luxury sports car Ferrari 458 Spider, a mid-rear engined berlinetta
equipped with a retractable hard top, offers an open-air experience for those who prefer the wind in their face,  partners with Oakley Scuderia Ferrari Polarized Carbon Blade Sunglasses at its recent launch at Autostrada Motore, Inc.,in BGC distributor of Ferrari cars in the Philippines on August 5, 2014 and officially presented to the local market.

The 458 Spider is powered by Ferrari’s naturally-aspirated, direct-injection 4.5 litre V8. It is the brand’s first mid-rear engine convertible which has won the International Engine of the Year award for its engineering excellence in terms of driveability, performance, economy and refinement.

Joining the 458 Italia, the 458 Spider widens the range  of  Ferrari’s  mid-rear  engined  V8s  and  offers  the  same  uncompromising technological  solutions,  handling  and  performance  in  a  refined  open-top configuration. It is equipped with a Ferrari patented, fully retractable hard top, a world first for a sports car with this lay-out.

“It is with great honor that we formally present the 458 Spider to the Philippine market. In line with Maranello’s exclusive spider tradition, the 458 Spider guarantees maximum sportiness and absolute driving pleasure with the top down. Designed for the most discerning clients, the 458 Spider is truly worth the wait,” said Marc Soong, executive director of Autostrada Motore, Inc.

The power of the 458 Spider is transferred  to  the  road  by  Ferrari’s  class-leading  dual-clutch  F1  paddle-shift transmission  through  the  sophisticated  E-Diff,  itself  integrated  with  the  F1-Trac traction control and high-performance ABS for maximum handling dynamics.

Certain of the car’s features, such as its accelerator pedal mapping and the damping of the multilink suspension, have been calibrated to  even  the  engine  soundtrack  has  been  honed  to  ensure  that  the  car’s occupants are completely captivated by the drop-top driving experience.

 

Entirely  in  aluminum,  the  hard-top  solution  adopted  for  the  458  Spider  offers  a number of advantages over the traditional folding soft-top, including a reduction of 25 kg in weight and a deployment time of just 14 seconds. Fully integrated into the styling of the car, the hard-top was engineered to fit neatly ahead of the engine bay without compromising aerodynamics or the performance of the car. The small space needed to house  the  roof  enables  the  designers  to  include  a  generous  rear  bench  for  luggage behind the seats.


The rear of the car is characterized by innovative forms with the buttresses designed to optimize the flow of air to the engine intakes and the clutch and gearbox oil radiators. For maximum comfort whilst driving top down the 458 Spider features a generously-sized adjustable electric wind stop. The design was perfected to slow and diffuse the air in the cockpit, enabling normal conversation to be held even at speeds over 200 km/h.

New technical solutions adopted for the chassis guarantee identical levels of structural rigidity with the roof up or down.  The  result  is  a  car  that  is  truly  exciting  to  drive, blending  extreme  performance  with  the  responsiveness  that  has  always  characterized Ferrari’s open-top berlinettas.


Ferrari 458 Spider technical specifications

Dimensions
Length  4527 mm (178.2 in.)
Width  1937 mm (76.3 in.)
Height  1211 mm (47.7 in.)
Wheelbase  2650 mm (104.3 in.)
Dry weight  1430 kg (3153 lbs)*
Weight/power ratio  2.51 kg/CV (7.42 lbs/kW)
Weight distribution fr/r  42%/58%

Engine
Type  90° V8
Displacement  4499 cc (274.5 cu in.)
Maximum power  570 CV (425 kW)** @ 9000 rpm
Maximum torque  540 Nm (398 lbs/ft) @ 6000 rpm
Specific power output  127 CV/l
Compression ratio  12.5:1

Tyres
Front  235/35 ZR20 8.5”
Rear  295/35 ZR20 10.5”

Performance
Maximum speed  320 km/h (198 mph)
0-100 km/h  <3.4 s

Fuel consumption + emissions
Fuel consumption***  11.8 l/100 km
Emissions***  275 g CO 2 /km

Gearbox
Dual-clutch, 7-speed F1

Electronics
E-Diff3, F1-Trac, high-performance ABS

* With forged wheels and Racing seats
** Including 5 CV of ram effect
*** Combined cycle with HELE system (ECE+EUDC)

The special edition eyewear salutes the passion and perfection of Scuderia Ferrari, the Prancing Horse’sofficial racing team. Each frame in this premium sunglass collection carries highlights in the iconic color Scuderia Ferrari red, and select renditions are accented with the Scuderia Ferrari emblem.

The eyewear features laser-etched logo at the corner of the lens, as well as logo embossed Microclear bag for lens cleaning and frame storage. Custom packaging and custom case make each edition a collectible.

“The partnership of Oakley and Ferrari is a very exciting one.Being the best in what they do is in their DNA. Both brands push the envelope and use cutting-edge technology to deliver amazing products to consumers.” said Scott Betty, Global Director of Optics at Oakley, Inc.
The special edition Scuderia Ferrari Polarized Carbon Blade Sunglasses are available at all Oakley authorized dealers. For more information, visit the official Oakley website at www.oakley.com.

Piolo’s Triathlon Team shines in Iron Man tilt

Sun Life Tri team member Piolo Pascual finishes the cycling leg of the Cebu 2014 Iron Man strong.

When famous actor and athlete Piolo Pascual heard of the Cebu 2014 Iron Man, he decided it would be a fun challenge to take on the Ironman for a fourth time. As an endorser for Sun Life, he joined the triathlon as part of their Tri-Team, taking charge of the cycling leg of the relay race.

After months of sticking to a grueling training regimen, the fitness buff successfully completed the 90-kilometer cycling leg in a respectable time.

In a recently held press conference, Piolo was asked how the training has affected his health. “Training for triathlons has improved the state of both my mental and physical health. During the demanding training for this competition, I kept on repeating two simple words in order to stay focused and motivated: ‘I WILL’.”

“At the end of the day, the physical aspect of competition will only take you so far. The will to continue, the will to endure, and the will to win is what will push you past your limits. As such, ‘I WILL’ became my mental battle-cry,” he explained.

Piolo’s training required him to be at his most intense, yet most comfortable. “To be able to train, I had to focus on what I needed to do,” he explained. “So I try to keep distractions and discomfort to a minimum by using elite performance gear and apparel like Under Armour.”

When asked what he loved most about Under Armour, Piolo said, “I love the material that Under Armour uses in their products. It’s unrivaled by others available in the market.”

Piolo was present during the opening of the Philippines’ first Under Armour store in Bonifacio High Street Taguig. It was also where the performance apparel brand cemented their partnership with Piolo for his latest TV show that he produces and hosts.

“Under Armour also supports my show, Team U, which encourages grassroots sports development and promotes a healthy athletic lifestyle for everyone.” Pascual concluded.

Team U airs on the ABS-CBN Sports channel every Sunday at 11:30 AM.

HEROES RISE TO THE CHALLENGE ON TOONAMI THIS AUGUST

Toonami fans will surely be delighted as Toonami has new shows for everyone to be loved and here are the list for fresh shows this August.

Discover new worlds, go on exciting adventures and fight for what is right with Toonami. The ultimate destination for fan boys and girls, available on SKYCable Channel 42 and Cignal Channel 36 offers new shows and fresh episodes this August.

New shows

Metal Fight Beyblade Zero G – Starts  on August 4, Weekdays at 6:30 p.m.
It’s time for an all new generation to battle it out in the action-packed story of Metal Fight Beyblade: Zero G! The WBBA has worked tirelessly over the last 7 years to rebuild the Beyblade world by introducing a new Bey system and train the next generation of Bladers. Zyro Kurogane aspires to be just like Gingka and become the World’s Best Blader.

THUNDERCATS – Weekdays at 6:52 p.m.
Following the destruction of the kingdom of Thundera, the Thundercats are forced to roam the planet Third Earth and find a way to defeat the evil sorcerer Mumm-Ra, who plans to rule the universe. Will Lion-O rise to the occasion and become the leader he is destined to be?

Exclusive movie

GREEN LANTERN: FIRST FLIGHT – Premieres on August 31 at 12:30 p.m.
More than 3 billion years ago, a race of immortals known as the Guardians of the Universe established a team of heroes who are assigned to defend freedom and justice across many galaxies. Together they are known as the Green Lantern Corps. But when Earth’s new representative to the Corps, Hal Jordan, realizes that his trainer and mentor Lantern Sinestro is conspiring to threaten the existence of the Corps, Jordan must quickly master his new powers to combat the treasonous Lanterns and maintain order across the universe.

New episodes

Inazuma Eleven Go – Weekdays at 5:00 p.m.
The true revolution won’t occur until the crowds watching are reminded of the power of real Football and decide to take a stand. The Raimon Eleven welcomes back members who had quit, and the regional championship match begins. Raimon and Pirates Cove, from Merchant Marine Academy, play a close match, with Raimon players feeling bruised and beaten at halftime. Will Coach Evans’ strategy save the game?

Batman: Beware the Batman – Saturdays at 6:30 p.m.
Katana saves Batman from Cypher, a part-robot villain with mind control powers, who is seeking the Ion Cortex. Will the duo completely stop Cypher from getting what he wants? Or is Cypher stronger than they thought?


Get the latest updates on your favorite shows and characters by following Cartoon Network on Facebook: www.facebook.com/ToonamiAsia or visit www.toonamiasia.com

“GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY” GROSSES P104-M TO ITS 4TH DAY!

           The heroic misfits of the universe took the Philippine box-office by storm as Marvel's “Guardians of the Galaxy” opened at No. 1 nationwide with an otherworldly gross of P104-M in just four days (July 31 to Aug. 3). This was announced today by a spokesman of Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures International which distributed the film.

            Capitalizing on solid reviews and positive word-of-mouth, "Guardians" built on its P15.94-M opening day gross July 31 to achieve the sixth-biggest opening of the year, making it ahead of recent blockbusters “Godzilla” and “Dawn of the Planet of the Apes.”

            The space adventure of quirky, unique heroes including Drax (played by Filipino-American Dave Bautista) also now holds the record for all-time fifth-biggest opening weekend for a Disney/Marvel title in the country.

            In the U.S., the Marvel Studios and Walt Disney Pictures release set a new August opening record with an estimated $94 million. The previous August record of $69 million was held by Universal Pictures' “The Bourne Ultimatum” back in 2007, which itself beat “Rush Hour 2's” $67.4 million from 2001. There have not been a lot of big movies that opened in the first weekend of August in a number of years and "Guardians" perfectly capitalized on Marvel and Disney's solid record with moviegoers to set what may be an unbeatable August opening record.

            Back in the Philippines, SM Mall of Asia generated the biggest opening receipts with P5.30-M, followed by SM North EDSA with P5.22-M and SM Megamall, P4.90-M.

            In the Top Ten with outstanding sales are Glorietta 4 (P3.47-M), Trinoma (P3.46-M), SM Cebu (P3.11-M), Power Plant (P2.81-M), SM Aura (P2.63-M), Greenhills Promenade (P2.58-M) and Greenbelt 3 (P2.47-M).

            Eastwood (P2.37-M) claimed the 11th rank, followed by Shang Cineplex (P2.13-M), Alabang Town Center (P2.08-M), SM Southmall (P1.99-M), Ayala Cebu (P1.83-M), Newport City (P1.80-M), Gateway (P1.69-M), Bonifacio High Street (P1.44-M), Fisher Mall (P1.37-M) and SM Clark (P1.30-M).

            From Marvel, the studio that brought you the global blockbuster franchises of Iron Man, Thor, Captain America and The Avengers, comes a new team--the Guardians of the Galaxy. 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, 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.

            Marvel's “Guardians of the Galaxy,” which first appeared in comic books in MARVEL SUPER-HEROES #18 (Jan. 1969), stars Chris Pratt, Zoe Saldana, Dave Bautista, featuring Vin Diesel as the voice of Groot, Bradley Cooper as the voice of Rocket, Lee Pace, Michael Rooker, Karen Gillan, Djimon Hounsou, with John C. Reilly, Glenn Close as Nova Prime Rael and Benicio del Toro as The Collector.


            James Gunn is the director of the film with Kevin Feige producing, and Louis D'Esposito, Victoria Alonso, Jeremy Latcham, Alan Fine and Stan Lee serve as executive producers. The film is written by James Gunn and Nicole Perlman.   Marvel's "Guardians of the Galaxy" is now showing in Philippine theatres.

            In addition to "Guardians of the Galaxy," Marvel Studios will release a slate of films based on the Marvel characters including "Avengers: Age of Ultron" on May 1, 2015; "Ant-Man" on July 17, 2015; and the untitled "Captain America 3" on May 6, 2016.

Unboxed the AmaZing Rewards

Zing rewards card was presented to the media on August 1, 2014 at Century City Mall for a night of music, good food and magic. Eric Mana, the Filipino magician and mentalist entertained the media by his tricks, much to the delight of everyone. Media guests went home with their personalized Zing rewards card that earned points when it was swiped in an instant.

Zing Rewards is a loyalty-based rewards platform that puts the premium on perks by offering exciting freebies and rebates at places you love to eat and shop.  Unlike other rebates or discount cards, this is the only rebate card that is covered by AIG insurance, which offers Wallet/Handbag Protection with a maximum coverage limit of P 5,000.00 and a Purchase protection which covers your purchase when its lost due to theft and accidental damage for 30 days from the date  which pays up to P 20,000.00. "If you're a cardholder and you lose your wallet, we pay for it," added CEO Ed Limjoco.

You can earn cashback rebates by using your card when you shop at any Zing merchant establishment. You can earn Zing rewards by sharing your amaZing experiences through Facebook and Twitter.

CEO Ed Limjoco and staff

Get a Zing Rewards card at any of the merchant partner establishments. Shop and swipe to start earning cashback rebates. Register your card online and get access to member exclusive perks and discounts. Share your amaZing experiences to score more points. Use your rebates to shop and get even more benefits and exclusive offers from Zing merchant establishments. Find out more! http://zingrewards.com/Home/HowItWorks

Your points are as good as cash when you use them at any Zing merchant establishments. One point is equivalent to a peso. You may also use your points to avail of member exclusive deals.

COCA Restaurant celebrates one year at Skypark, SM Aura

 COCA Restaurant at Skypark SM Aura Premier celebrates one year of good business last July 30, 2014 at the 5th level  and they have chosen to give back to the community by partnering with Life Project 4 Youth (LP4Y). The restaurant has been well-known for its “Suki” steamboat dining. COCA started out with a 20 seater at Soi Dejo, Thailand by Mr. Srichai Phanphensophon and his wife, Mrs. Patama. I was lucky enough to be invited and taste the Thai-Chinese fusion here in SM Aura branch.

The name “COCA” is derived from Mandarin “kekou” which means “appetizing.” COCA Restaurant is well known for Thai-style “Suki” steamboat dining. It is a Thai variant of hot pot, where dining clients can cook vegetables, meat, and noodles in a steaming hot broth. From the restaurant’s Thai roots, Coca Restaurant has later on become more diverse with their food as they created a fusion between Thai and Chinese cuisine. It now has various branches in countries such as Singapore, Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, Japan, Laos, Vietnam, Korea, and the latest addition to the pack, Philippines.

This is how our  Emperor’s Platter with Ojiya (PHp 2750) looks like, it was a combination of vegetables, mushroom, and seafood (read: big crab)  You will dip cook everything in either tom yum soup (which is my favorite) and clear chicken broth in this pan (picture above)

The Emperor's Platter

Our waiter helped us cook everything , while other dishes were served such as these;

Sweet and sour pork (php 350.00)

 Seafood Durian Spring Roll  (php 420.00)

Spicy Seafood Salad

This spicy salad is a combination of jelly fish and seafood among others and their special suki sauce. I love that they served this as an appetizer.

Galorgee (Small - php 250,00,  Large - php 450.00)

We ordered Galorgee or "palitaw" for you as our dessert. This is crispy to the bite with peanuts, sugar and sesame seed. This is made of crispy glutinous rice. Best to eat when served hot.

COCA Restaurant has the classic interior and ambience inside.  They have a wide selection of Thai-Chinese menu to choose from. What stands out for me is their Emperors Platter, but has a steep price tag. The catch is you dont have to fly to Thailand, Singapore or Japan just to have a dip of their menu.

In line with one year of good business, Coca Restaurant has partnered up with (LP4Y) to give back to the community. According to Coca Restaurant’s general manager, Ms. Karen Tanchanco-Caballero, “Business has been really well for the past year, and I think it’s the right time to give back to the community. This partnership with LP4Y, which gives the excluded youths a chance to build their careers and become more productive members of society, is a perfect way of giving back.

Aurelie Garancher of (LP4Y) told “We are very happy and excited in this partnership with Coca Restaurant. We see this as a chance to help more youths gain experience and discover possible hidden potentials. Together with Coca Restaurant, we hope to help them build their career as much as we can.”

Dave Bautista invites his fellow filipinos to watch "Guardians of the Galaxy"

Fil-Am professional wrestler Dave Bautista who plays Drax the Destroyer in Guardians of the Galaxy, invites his fellow filipinos to watch Guardians of the Galaxy. The movie is digitally re-mastered in IMAX format. Director James Gunn consulted with the company to optimize the space epic for later conversion. 

Watch Dave Bautista"s invite here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DPLU2hv-pzE

Check schedules of the movie here;

http://smcinema.com/movies/details?movie-code=GOTG-IMAX