The Manila Fashion Festival rules the runway at Green Sun

 Art Personas partners with One Globe Limited for the  upstaging of  “Manila Fashion  Festival” at Green Sun, Makati. Art Personas held a three-day show presenting  the new and promising talented designers in the fashion industry today. The show ran from November 11-13, where the society';s elite circle, celebrities and media members witnessed a grand union of fashion curators.

Fashion designers Anthony Ramirez, ARIN, Renan Pacson and Cheetah Rivera showcased their talent last November 11.  RTWs, normcore, wearable pieces and long gowns were seen on the runway from designers Chris Diaz, Jaz Cerezo, Veejay Floresca and Vania Romoff on November 12, 2014. The last installment of the show designers Pablo Cabahug, YAY, Sassa Jimenez and Mark Bumgarner ruled the runway.

The three-day fashion event  housed the creative brains behind the glamorous outfits Manila’s red carpet stars. The roster of fashion designers includes Art Personas in-house brand ARIN, go-kart champion-turned-designer Mark Bumgarner, internationally acclaimed couturier Veejay Floresca, Project Runway talents Jaz Cerezo and Cheetah Rivera, convertible clothing master Yay Clothing by Yevgeniya Alexandrovna Yushkova, 29-year-old couturier of empowered and daring pieces Anthony Ramirez, style expert in modern classic and structured creations Vania Romoff, interior design professional famed for ultra-feminine designs Chris Diaz, club glam authority Sassa Jimenez, luxury and street wear leader Renan Pacson, and formal wear connoisseur Pablo Cabahug.

Manila Fashion Festival spearheaded an exhibit that features the latest designer collections, fair booths, and fashion shows where guests treated themselves to free refreshing cocktails and sumptuous delights on the occasion. The unveiling of the images from the artistic photo shoots from the local counterpart of the modeling competition also took place in the fashion happening. On the other hand, the event itself launched the Art Personas’ homegrown ready-to-wear fashion brand that highlights bespoke designer clothes, beautifully blends feminine aesthetics and boyish vibes on clothes perfect for the young and trendy women aged 20 to 29 years.

Face Of The Philippines
In partnership with Korea Model Association—an organization under the Korea Ministry of Culture & Tourism—Manila Fashion Festival will also launch Face Of The Philippines which is set to choose the next catwalk models in a culminating night that will award two ramp stunners among the 12 male and 12 female super model aspirants who will represent the country in the 10th Asia Model Festival Awards in Seoul, Korea on April 2015. The winners will compete with other international models from different countries, such as China, Japan, Malaysia, Hong Kong, Korea, Thailand, Vietnam, and the like. Prior to the three-day affair, seven challenges will test the skills of the 24 contestants, where the activities range from modeling workshop to makeover stints, various photo shoots, and runway trials.

With the excellent combination of one superb team, a world-class event production, and a fashion-forward direction of honing talented people’s potentials, Art Personas truly begins to introduce a new take in making a fashion event more dynamic, interactive, and exciting. Even though the fashion group of models, makeup artists, videographers, and photographers is still young, a brighter and bolder future has already been seen within its creative hands because of this much-awaited kick-off event. Indeed, Art Personas has become one of the respected names in its chosen industry with the great mishmash of integrity, innovation, and collaboration.

Snowlebrate the holidays with Looney Tunes at SM City Bicutan!

Its that time of the year when everyone anticipates what's in store for christmas at all SM City Department Store. For the shoppers of SM City Bicutan, bring your kids and the whole family and experience a dreamy white christmas with your favorite Looney Tunes character such as Tweety,  Sylvester, Bugs Bunny and many more from the Cartoon Network. The Looney Tunes Show Snowfest was held last November 8, 2014. Jane Oineza opened up the show with a christmas song. The mall’s event center has been magically transformed into a Looney Tunes snow village, where mallgoers snowlebrate to their heart’s content.

At the Looney Tunes Snow Village, the young and young-at-heart can take a trip to Granny’s House and cuddle up to life-size versions their favorite characters,Tweety and Sylvester. They can also experience the magic of a snowy Christmas at the walk-in snow globe and take countless selfies with interactive snow.  Those who want to find out whether they have been naughty or nice this year can ask the Man in Red himself during the meet and greet with Santa Claus.

Make your Christmas a snowlebration and visit the Looney Tunes Show Snowfest at SMCityBicutan! Share your fun and exciting experience online using the hashtags #smbtsnowfest and #MerrySMChristmas.

AXIS partners with mixed media artists for Children's Hour

Axis watch partners with recognized artists Ram Mallari, Buds Convocar and Salvador Ching for an art exhibit entitled "Time Out of Time" last November 12, 2014. Their mixed media works that incorporate Axis watches will be sold to the highest bidder, the proceeds will be donated to the Children's Hour charity.  They are timepieces of self-expression and style. It is not surprising then that Axis has partnered with artists to create unique expressions of time. The works of each participating artist are an artistic translation of the concept of time.

Ram Mallari turns discards into works of art. His mixed media assemblages have garnered attention and praise. Mallari’s Axis artwork is called “Time Voyager”. His work consists mainly of metal discards combined with plastics and other non-metal discarded materials that were welded together.

He is hoping that this piece will help raise more awareness on recycling and its value. Ram wants to inspire people to turn scraps into creative and functional pieces and in the process, help them understand the value of his work and its purpose.

Before pursuing a full time career in painting, Buds Convocar spent his early years in the academe handling a wide array of art subjects such as Design, Illustration, Typography, Painting and Cartooning.

His Axis work is entitled “We All Need More Time”. It communicates the need for balance -- to focus on the challenges that confront us but still make time for the people we love, especially in celebrating our triumphs.

Salvador “Buddy” J. Ching is a full-time, multi-awarded Painter, Installation and Performance Artist. His work is entitled “Oras-yon” which is part of the Women of Malolos Series. His work is inspired by the memories of the past and represents the images of our history.

The artworks may be seen at the Axis pop-up store on the ground floor of SM Mall of Asia, near National Bookstore. Axis watches are available in Watch Republic Shops and leading department stores nationwide.

HATCHING TOP-NOTCH SPIES IN “PENGUINS OF MADAGASCAR”

                Get ready for a thrilling rollercoaster ride with the world-renowned spy penguins – Skipper, Rico, Kowalski and Private in “Penguins of Madagascar.”  The Penguins’ transition from beloved supporting characters in “Madagascar” to headlining their own big screen epic was a no-brainer, thanks to their memorable traits.

“What drives the Penguins in all the films are their distinct and strong personalities,” says director Eric Darnell.   Adds director Simon J. Smith: “They’re like a band of brothers who above all value their friendship, moral code and love for one another.”   Most importantly, the Penguins really bring the funny.  “The most exciting thing about the project was to experience the story’s and characters’ humor,” says producer Mark Swift.  “They’re so appealing because they are so hilarious.”

There’s Skipper, voiced by Tom McGrath, who created the characters for the blockbuster animated feature “Madagascar,” which he helmed, along with Darnell. McGrath’s Skipper is the team’s fearless leader and keeper of the Penguin code.  He demands loyalty, obedience and order from his regimented flock, and asks nothing of his men that he wouldn’t do himself.  His right-flipper man, Kowalski, voiced by DreamWorks animator Chris Miller, is the brains of the operation, and the go-to guy when the Penguins need a quick, life-saving fix.

The third member of the team, Rico, is “voiced” by DreamWorks Animation artist and Madagascar 3 director Conrad Vernon.  Rico lives to blow things up.  When he’s kept on a tight leash, Rico is an effective weapon, but left to his own devices is a loose cannon.  Finally, there’s Private, voiced by DreamWorks Animation editor Christopher Knights; although he is the runt of the team, Private has the biggest heart of them all.  Private is always up for new challenges, but because the group still sees him as the “baby,” he’s often sidelined during their missions.

Each of the Penguins makes a memorable impression, and collectively, they’re a force to be reckoned with. “The sum of the Penguins is greater than the parts,” says Darnell.  “The guys work incredibly well as a group – far better than they would as individuals.  They’re like four parts of a complete brain: You’ve got Skipper’s leadership, Private’s heart, Kowalski’s smarts, and Rico’s courage.  So the four of them make this whole, and that makes them a lot of fun.”

In fact, the Penguins are very much in the tradition of great movie teams, notes McGrath, like The A-Team, The Dirty Dozen, “Star Trek’s” Kirk and Spock, and even The Marx Brothers.  “They’re these huge personalities in a tiny package,” he says.  “And like many great screen teams, the Penguins are taken out of their comfort zone.  They embark on a globetrotting adventure, where they meet characters who really make the Penguins step up their game.”

Their inextricable bonds and unforgettable antics are on full display when we discover the origins of the Penguins in the film’s opening sequences, set in Antarctica’s icy wasteland.  Right off the bat, we’re aware that these are not your typical penguins.  Skipper, Kowalski and Rico are marching to the beat of a different drummer, avoiding the documentary-film tropes of penguins waddling across the icy tundra and triggering audience exclamations of “aren’t they cute!”

A DreamWorks Animation feature presentation, “Penguins of Madagascar” opens November 26 in 2D, 3D and IMAx format from 20th Century Fox to be distributed by Warner Bros.

Globe launches iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus!

                The long wait is over. Globe Telecom officially launches the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus with its suite of compelling offers and exclusive privileges for a total digital experience for Philippine consumers.

                “Finally, the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus have arrived in the Philippines and Globe is beaming with excitement to bring the latest iPhones to Filipinos. With our long-standing partnership with Apple, we are poised to provide a complete digital experience to consumers: best-in-class postpaid plans, exclusive privileges and the biggest rewards, and a complete suite of value-added services and apps,” said Issa Cabreira, Senior Vice President for Consumer Mobile Marketing at Globe Telecom.

Reset program
                The leader in postpaid is bringing back its highly-successful Reset program, a Globe-first, which allows existing postpaid customers to renew or extend their existing account to get the iPhone 6 or iPhone 6 Plus. This means that if a subscriber’s 24-month contract is still not up for renewal to get a new device, a corresponding “reset fee” can be settled to get the latest devices under the same postpaid line. The Reset program is available until December 31, 2014.

iTunes apps purchase
                Another exclusive offer is the easy apps purchase from the US iTunes Store using GCASH American Express Virtual Card, enabling customers to download and purchase apps, media, and games and charge it to their postpaid bill or prepaid load without using a credit card. The GCASH American Express Virtual Card is a prepaid virtual card connected to a user’s GCash mobile wallet which allows the user to shop conveniently online from local and international sites. It also provides users with added security in the form of a card that won't get stolen, and a security code that can be renewed easily.

Discounts on iPhone accessories
                New and existing customers availing of the iPhone 6 or iPhone 6 Plus from Globe are also entitled to get 35% discount on Speck, Ballistic and Tech 21 products, and 25% discount on all powerbank brands at Beyond the Box and Digital Walker stores. Customers can also get 30% discount on Moshi, Lab C and Opt cases, Belkin accessories, Milli powerbanks, Divoom and Doss Bluetooth Speakers at Switch stores. The offer is available from November 14-16, 2014, with redemption until March 31, 2015.

Complete suite of Globe Apps
                Customers can also enjoy the complete digital experience with Globe Apps, where they can store and access photos, videos, music, documents, contacts, and messages in one place with Globe Cloud; book seats and buy movie tickets with GMovies; enjoy great discounts and deals, membership privileges and redeem offers with GDeals; and check load balance, subscribe to promos, share load and manage account with GServices. Exciting perks and freebies are up for grabs for customers getting the iPhone 6 or iPhone 6 Plus from Globe on November 14.

                Globe is offering the iPhone 6 (16GB) at Plan 1299 with P800 monthly cashout good for 24 months, while the iPhone 6 Plus (16GB) is available at Plan 1299 with P1,000 monthly cashout also for 24 months, payable through major credit cards at 0% interest.

                Both plan offers come with 3GB of GoSURF mobile data monthly, Photo Bundle for unlimited access to Instagram, Photo Repost, Photo Grid, and Instasize, 20 minutes of calls to all networks, 400 texts to all networks, free 3 months of access to Spotify Premium, and free Gadget Care coverage for 1 month.

                The iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus will be available in Globe Stores nationwide starting November 14. The iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus is also available online at www.globe.com.ph/iphone6.

Visit Gerry's Restaurant at SM Sta. Mesa

Gerry's with its popular filipino dishes is now open to serve you at SM Sta. Mesa. Gerry's recently unveiled its newest restaurant branch at SM Sta. Mesa  to the public last November 11.
Residents of Sta. Mesa, no longer need to go far to enjoy delicious Filipino favorites with the opening of  this well-loved restaurant.

Bulalo crispy pata

Located at the second floor of the famous mall, Gerry’s presents diners with their best selling dishes such as Pork sisig, Crispy Pata, Bulalo, Kare Kare, Grilled Squid, and many others, as well as their new  desserts, the fruit medley and Toasted ice cream.

I love how this fruit platter medley tastes with ice cream and mango slices, it compliments everything. This is my new favorite dessert from Gerry's.

The rebranded Gerry’s which has dropped ‘Grill’ from its name is among the flagship brand’s new outlets scheduled to open within the Christmas season.

Gerry’s Restaurant and Bar is scheduled to open two more branches before end of the year: Antipolo and Las Pinas. It hopes to close the year with 70 branches worldwide, among them two in the US and Singapore and one in Qatar.



Gerry’s recently reopened its renovated branch at the ground level of Ali Mall at the Araneta Center in Quezon City.

The branch is the second reopened outlet after Tacloban which resumed operations in June seven months after typhoon Yolanda struck Eastern Visayas.

Gerry’s Restaurant and Bar’s aggressive expansion opened new outlets which include SM Malolos in Bulacan, Ayala Terraces Fairview, Naga, Iligan, Cauayan in Isabela, Tugegarao, and Fisher Mall along Quezon Avenue in Quezon City.

Meanwhile, Kusinang Gerry’s, a fast-casual/do-it-yourself restaurant is also set to open in Talisay, Cebu within the month.

Last June, Gerry’s Group of Companies launched Sweet Chili, located at the third level of Fisher Mall; the third brand under the Gerry’s Group of Companies.

Lets celebrate Thanksgiving at Oakwood's Oakroom

We all have something to be thankful for and what best way to celebrate Thanksgiving with your loved ones than with a memorable feast at Oakroom.turkey dinner

Gather together in gratitude on November 27, from 6:00 to 11:00pm, and indulge in a hefty four-course dinner highlighted by a traditional roasted turkey complete with sage and sausage stuffing, braised brussel sprouts, whipped potato, cranberry-orange compote and giblet gravy. The sumptuous spread to look forward to, complimented with a glass of red or white wine, is specially created by Oakroom’s executive Chef Jerome Cartailler and priced at only Php 1, 400 nett per person.

The Oakroom is located at the 6th floor of Oakwood Premier Joy~Nostalg Center Manila along ADB Avenue, Ortigas Center, Pasig. For reservations, please call 637.7888 or email premiermanila@oakwoodasia.com.

The Look of Style Awards 2014 reinvents Maria Clara

The 2014 LOOK of Style Awards was held last Nov. 12 at Buddha-Bar Makati.  A runway show was presented for the apparel category which features creation of Xioti Chiu, Bengt Enrique, Jinggo Inoncillo, Exur Lopena, Daryl Maat, Viña Romero, RJ Santos, Ron Santos, Eugene Tidalgo and Mike Yapching.

Accessories category finalists are Meme Dakay, Shiela Damalerio, Louie dela Cruz, Christopher Gomez, Nere Ku and Em Mariano.

In the novel Noli me Tangere, Jose Rizal described María Clara as the most beautiful and widely celebrated lady in the town of San Diego. She was the epitome of virtue, “demure and self-effacing” and endowed with beauty, grace and charm, and promoted by Rizal as the “ideal image”of a Filipino woman who deserves to be placed on the “pedestal of male honour.”

Its been more than a hundred years,  yet a lot still regard Maria Clara as the true standard of a real Filipino woman.

But how would she look,  and more importantly what should she be wearing in this modern era?

This was the challenged posed to the finalists of the 2014 LOOK of Style Awards.  Each finalist in the apparel and accessories categories were tasked to create pieces inspired by “Maria Clara.”

Wearable clothes, bags, shoes and jewelry, which utilize local and sustainable materials and techniques and reflect the new generation’s take on the Philippines’ national attire, were presented before a panel of designers, British Council officers, and LOOK Magazine editors during a prejudging.

As in previous LOOK of Style Awards, scholarships in short courses in the UK will be awarded the winners in the apparel and accessories categories.

A chance to showcase one’s creations in a London show also awaits this year’s big winners.

One of the finalists in the accessories category will also be awarded a scholarship by Amina Aranaz-Alunan in the School of Fashion and the Arts (SoFA).

The LOOK of Style Awards 2014 is supported by Hana Shampoo, Champion Infinity, SM Accessories and London College of Contemporary Arts, with Fashion is Great, Uber, Max Factor, Z Salon, Coca-Cola and Victoria Visual.

For more information on the 2014 LOOK of Style Awards, visit www.facebook.com/lookmagazineph and www.facebook.com/BritishCouncilPhilippines, and follow @lookmagazineph on Instagram and Twitter. Follow LOOK of Style Awards on Instagram using the hashtag #LOSA2014.

Set sail to fun this Christmas as SM City Sucat celebrates a YO HO holiday!

SM City Sucat celebrates a Yo Ho Holiday starting November 9.  The unveiling of the christmas season's Yo Ho Holiday was hosted by Chino Lui Pio and attended by celebrities Danica Sotto-Pingris, Christine Jacobs,  Beauty blogger Verniece Enciso and Santa Claus! Santa joined the fun as he  gamely posed with the celebrities, bloggers and mall-goers.

The Christmas season is about to get more exciting as SM City Sucat invites kids and their families to Celebrate a Yo Ho Holiday. The merrymaking began on November 9, at 6 p.m.  Mall-goers came in their best nautical and pirate-inspired costumes to revel in the festivities and score awesome surprises.

Families can sail to an awesome adventure aboard the giant pirate ship at SM City Sucat’s Atrium B and capture the fun in dozens of photos with a beautiful snowy mountain as their backdrop.  They can also take greeting-card worthy photos with the majestic 30-foot Christmas tree decked in twinkling lights and baubles of different colors.

Even Santa Claus himself is joining in on the fun, ready to meet and greet his fans, both young and young-at-heart.

Katniss is back for "The Hunger Games: Mockingjay –Part 1"

“THE HUNGER GAMES: MOCKINGJAY – PART 1”
ACADEMY AWARD-WINNER JENNIFER LAWRENCE SETS THE WORLD ON FIRE ANEW ON NOVEMBER 20

Jennifer Lawrence’s Katniss is set to set the world anew on fire as she stands to lead their people in the highly-anticipated third installment of the blockbuster phenomenon that blazed across movie screens around the globe, “The Hunger Games: Mockingjay –Part 1.”

The movie finds Katniss Everdeen (Lawrence) in District 13 after she literally shatters the games forever. Under the leadership of President Coin (Julianne Moore) and the advice of her trusted friends, Katniss spreads her wings as she fights to save Peeta (Josh Hutcherson) and a nation moved by her courage. “The Hunger Games: Mockingjay - Part 1” is directed by Francis Lawrence from a screenplay by Peter Craig and Danny Strong, from an adaptation by Suzanne Collins and produced by Nina Jacobson's Color Force in tandem with producer Jon Kilik. The novel on which the film is based is the third in a trilogy written by Suzanne Collins that has over 65 million copies in print in the U.S. alone.

The story now accelerates to new, exhilarating levels as the futuristic chronicle of Katniss Everdeen enters into a new realm. The Games may have been obliterated for good, but the fight to survive is about to intensify. Faced with the most daunting odds - and watched by the eyes of a hopeful nation - Katniss must put into motion courage, strength and empowerment against the all-powerful Capitol. This is the moment when she realizes she has no choice but to open her wings and fully embody the Mockingjay symbol. If only to save Peeta, she must become a leader.

The story begins again as Katniss has just been rescued from the destruction of the Quarter Quell. She awakens in a shocking world she didn’t even know existed: the deep, dark underground of supposedly annihilated District 13. She quickly learns of the devastating reality she must face: District 12 has been turned to rubble; and Peeta is being held, manipulated and brainwashed by President Snow in The Capitol. At the same time, Katniss’s eyes are opened to a secret rebellion rapidly spreading from District 13 throughout all of Panem – a rebellion that will place her at the center of a daring plot to hack into The Capitol and turn the tables on President Snow.

The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 1 dives further into the fabric of Panem and into the story’s most powerful emotions as Katniss and the nation enter a harrowing but transformative time. Explains returning director Francis Lawrence: “Emotionally, Katniss is like a foreigner in a strange land as this story begins. This is the time when she realizes she can’t stand by and do nothing. There has been too much deception and the people Katniss loves are in danger. She will do whatever it takes to keep them safe.”

The director continues: “The stakes have always been high in The Hunger Games but now the entire world opens up. The Games themselves are gone, but threat of oppression now permeates all of Panem. This chapter gave us a chance to reveal entirely new locations with amazing action sequences. It’s a gigantic movie.”

In her third and most poignant turn as Katniss, Academy Award winner Jennifer Lawrence relished the chance to portray the character at this heightened juncture as she emerges from distress to take her first steps into leadership. “I was excited for Katniss to come into her own as a leader, but she’s still a very reluctant hero,” Lawrence observes. “In the first movie she wanted to save her family. In the second, she tried to save her friends and herself. Now, she starts to realize the impact she has on the wider world and that she has a choice to lead this battle for what is right.”


 That choice does not come easily for Katniss, who recoils at nearly every element of her new life: the militaristic order of District 13, the pressure to perform on cue, and the heart-wrenching reality of war. Katniss remains hopeful that becoming the Mockingjay might truly change things. “As an actor, the challenge was having Katniss wake up in a brand new environment, where she has to rebuild herself from nothing. Katniss has not only left behind her old life as a District 12 victor, she has entered a world unlike any other. Says Lawrence: “She has to get used to a new way of life in District 13. Everything is deeply unfamiliar and it’s all underground, so she can’t even go outside or hunt.”

Lawrence continues about approaching Katniss: “She felt almost like an entirely different character because she is so stripped down and feeling so empty. It’s something that truly does happen to people after 4 traumatic events like she’s been through. Katniss still has the same core, but she’s in a completely different place inside and out.”

Join the revolution when “The Hunger Games: Mockingjay –Part 1” opens November 20 in theatres across the nation (Phils.) – from Pioneer Films.

Globe powers customers with Globe Prepaid's GoSakto

Globe Telecom through its digital brand Globe Prepaid, powers customers with over 200 million prepaid promo combinations with the new GoSakto, the country’s first-of-its-kind prepaid service that allows customers to create their own promo bundles the way they need it depending on their budget, lifestyle and needs.

Prepaid customers can now enjoy the promo’s newest and most exciting feature which allows them to choose the sites or apps they want from any of the surfing buckets (social, chat apps, information, entertainment and shopping) in addition to their promo bundle.

 These new sites and apps available form a wide selection, from favorites like Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and Viber to new ones in Spotify, Youtube, and Sulit-OLX. Customers can register via different platforms such as an easy-to-use menu on USSD (*143#), Globe Portal, Facebook and the new GoSakto App which is available to Android and iOS smartphone users.

Moreover, prepaid customers get the freedom to choose the promo validity which can be good for 1 day, 2 days, 3 days, 7 days, 15 days or even for 30 days. They can also select the type and number of call minutes and texts they need and adjust the MBs of mobile surfing the way they want it.

 “We want to give our prepaid customers the freedom to decide on the prepaid promo that exactly fits their lifestyle, budget and needs. Globe revolutionizes the prepaid market by bringing the first and only prepaid service GoSakto, which allows prepaid customers to personalize their call, text and surfing needs that’s sakto to their lifestyle, without worrying about their budget,” says Issa Cabreira, Globe Senior Vice President, Consumer Mobile Marketing.

Catering to the digital lifestyle of the youth, Globe gives its prepaid customers the promise of providing a surfing experience that speaks their language, giving them the freedom to choose the sakto call/text/mobile internet promo they need.

To know more about the expanded GoSakto promo, visit www.globe.com.ph/gosakto.