BAGUIO DAY 1: Azalea Residences' Dinner Experience at Cafe Yagam

Name the first thing that comes to mind when you think of Baguio.

Mines View Park? Then you're all probably about the lush and open scenery and posting photos on instagram.

Burnham Park? Picnics and long romantic walks perhaps?

Ube Jam and Peanut Brittle you say? Then its a food trip you may be looking for (heard there's strawberry sinigang being offered in some restaurants there)

Ghosts and Hauntings? Well we will get to that dear reader.

Whether you are looking for a romantic place to spend your anniversary, a family outing, or an adventure with your friends or officemates, Baguio presents a lot of options for the traveller in you--that is unless you go there during summer where the only thing you'll see are people lining up to whatever "instagrammable" location there is.

Yeah, summer may be over but it doesn't mean that the fun should be, and besides, Baguio's even cooler during this time of the year and you do want to wear that winter jacket you bought it the UK (or at the Ukay) right?

So instead of joining the thousands (or is it millions) of tourists looking for a place to cool off during those scorching summer months  I recently discovered that its actually better to go to Baguio when everyone else has had their fill of ube jams and peanut brittle.

Well my fairy godmother must be listening, because I got an invite last month to visit Baguio after summer for  3 days, 2 nights of food/adventure /scare trip together with group of bloggers (from June 26-28)  thanks to Azalea Residences, (which should be your choice!,,,but more on that later) and it was a totally different experience from all my previous Baguio escapades with my family and friends.

It was going to be my first trip back to Baguio after 3 years and I guess I couldn’t sleep from excitement, and despite having to go to the bus station twice, (one at 3 am and again at 10 am because of some mix up with the schedule) nothing could ruin my mood.

The bus ride was the first surprise as instead of the usual 6- hour trip, we arrived in Baguio in just 4 hours thanks to the new TPLEX highway, we were able to get to Azalea Residences at exactly 2:30 pm via Joy Bus ride Genesis Transportation in Cubao.

Because some of the bloggers who arrived earlier had already made their way to the Botanical Garden, Japanese tunnel  Casa Vallejo and  Mt Clouds, I was left to check out the premises of what would be my home.

I got first dibs on a fully furnished 3 bedroom with kitchen.  Our room was big and good enough for 5 to 6 people. I chose the room beside the kitchen for easy access on the ref.  I shared the two bedrooms with fellow bloggers Earth and Apple.

Azalea Residences is a six-storey contemporary log cabin-inspired hotel situated at the heart of City of Baguio. It is near Leonard Wood Road with address at Leonard Wood Loop Bgy M. Roxas, Baguio City.

Our first activity for the day was at Cafe Yagam.  We gathered at the lobby around 6:00 pm and headed to the cafe.

 Cafe Yagam has the cabin inspired interior with fireplace for that cozy vibe. They had a mini library smacked inside.  We were told that we were served exotic Cordilleran dishes such as Pinikpikan with Etag, Pinuneg, Binungor and Kiniwar for our dinner. I wonder what that means and how it would taste is my next worry as I was hungry the whole day. Luckily, I  had a bite of cheese ensaymada on our way to Cafe Yagam.

Debbie Molitas, Marketing Officer, Azalea Residences

Cafe Yagam serves "normal" dishes aside of course from the funny sounding names that we had for dinner.  They offer the best coffee in town, as a coffee lover myself. I suggests you try the french press, the coffee is flavorful and has that fresh aroma.

They also serves the best Cordilleran wine, "tapuy" or rice wine. The native brew is produced from fermented rice, glutinous rice and bubod (starter culture). It is light, sweet and has a little of alcohol but not that strong to knock you out in one bottle. I guess "tapuy" is good to warm you up a bit.

This is what we had for dinner. For those who would like to have a taste of Cordillera, their exotic dishes are as follows;

Pinikpikan

Pinikpikan tastes like "tinola" but savory. The dish is prepared by beating a live chicken with a stick prior to cooking. If you want your dinner with soup, this is what I recommend, best served hot.

Tapuy

Brown Rice

Binungor with Agurong

Binungor is a spicy vegetable dish with stir fried snails, bamboo shoots, ginger and eggplant. It was  the spiciest I have tasted since the authentic  "laing" from Bicol. My tear fell after a spoonful of the mixed up veggies.

We met up with the owner and had some "blogger" activities and had a drink of "tapuy".  I learned a lot about the peeps beyond their websites. We headed back to the hotel at 10:00 pm and called it a night at 11:30 pm. Excited for another day of fun and activities.

Dont Miss Pagcor's Exciting Shows this July!

All roads lead to Casino Filipino branches this July.

Julia Clarete

Kris Lawrence

Michael Pangilinan

It’s gonna be a pretty evening as the band Pretty Young Thing (PYT) will charm their way to the hearts of the audience on July 1 at Casino Filipino Ronquillo. The girl band is composed of Miriam Jayne Mayo, Dania Soan, and Sharmaine Marie Eugenio.

Pretty Young Thing

Chocoleit

Audience can’t get enough of the hilarious antics of funny man Chokoleit. He returns onstage on July 1 at Casino Filipino Angeles with his own brand of humor that will surely knock the casino habitués off their seats.

Julia Clarete is not only a good actress but also a regular fixture on the small screen as a talented host. Now, it’s your chance to watch her live as she performs on July 2 at Casino Filipino Malate (Hyatt) and at Casino Filipino Madison on July 3.

As the Philippines ’ bossa nova queen, Sitti will melt the hearts of the audience with her cool and soothing voice. She will take centerstage on July 2 at Casino Filipino Parkmall Mactan, Cebu . Fresh from tying the knot with her Mr. Right, Sitti will inspire everyone about the magic of loving and being loved in return.



Fast-rising singer Michael Pangilinan will display his soulful voice at Casino Filipino Bacolod (July 6) and Casino Filipino Iloilo (July 8). Michael is the voice behind the hit song Pare, Mahal Mo Raw Ako.

Groove to the rhythm of Kris Lawrence as he performs at Casino Filipino Mimosa on July 17. Armed with a brilliant voice, he is always a formidable presence whenever he performs onstage.

For inquiries, call the PAGCOR Entertainment Department at (02) 708-2046, 526-0337 loc 2401 or 2403. Check and ‘Like’ us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/pagcor.artists #

Saturday Night Fever Asian Tour Kicks Off on July 3, at The Theatre at Solaire Resort and Casino

The 1970's are back again! If I have to choose a fashion statement that Id like to have a come back. It would be the 70s.  The 70s was the coolest in terms of bottom pants, suedes, platforms, high waisted pair of flares, the wrap-up dress of Diana Von Furstenberg, the Bo Derek Look, the afro (hair),  hippies, make up, and of course the Saturday Night Fever which opened its way for Disco dance revolution and launched the career of John Travolta, Bee Gees  and the rest is history. Now its time to relive the 70s, dance your way to Tony Manero's heart, tell your parents, titos and titas about the SNF musical and they will surely thank you for that.

Saturday Night Fever the Musical, launched the show'a full cast led by principal casts Brandon Rubendall as Tony Manero and Jenna Rubaii as Stephanie Mangano last June 25 at Eclipse , Solaire Resort and Casino. The Asian Tour kicks off on July 3 at The Theatre, Solaire Resort and Casino.

Based on the wildly popular film of the same name, which starred Oscar nominated actor John Travolta, SATURDAY NIGHT FIVER depicts the uncompromising sordid 1970’s New York that not only made a dance revolution at that time, but also spoke straight to a generation of lost, struggling young adults.

It tells the story of Italian-American Tony Manero (Rubendall) and his gang in Bay Ridge, Brooklyn who are stuck in dead-end jobs but rule the dance floor at the local discotheque 2001 Odyssey. Tony is a tough cookie; he dreams of becoming the disco king and escaping the mean streets of Brooklyn.
SATURDAY NIGHT FEVER opened in the West End at the London Palladium in 1998 and on Broadway at the Minskoff Theatre in 1999.  It has been seen by more than 10 million people with over 2,800 shows in more than 20 countries across the globe, thrilling theatergoers and music buffs alike till this very day.

Atlantis Theatrical Entertainment Group, Ten Bridges Media Corp., and Robert Stigwood Organisation, the producers behind the new Asian Tour of the West End and Broadway hit musical SATURDAY NIGHT FEVER, are delighted to reveal the show's full cast, led by previously announced principal casts Brandon Rubendall as Tony Manero and Jenna Rubaii as Stephanie Mangano.

Rubendall and Rubaii will be joined by Mikkie Bradshaw as Annette, Bibo Reyes as Bobby C, Nick Varricchio as Double J and Tony understudy, Nel Gomez as Joey, Carla Guevara-Laforteza as Club Singer and Flo Manero, Jamie Wilson as Monty and Frank Manero, Rafa Siguion-Reyna as Frank Manero Jr., Atair Alonso as Jay, Frank Jr. and Double J understudy, Marie Rose as Latin Dancer, Daniel Cabrera as Latin Dancer and Jay understudy, Steven Conde as Fosco and Frank Sr. understudy, Alex Godinez as Linda Manero, Jim Ferrer as Bobby C and Joey understudy, Emeline Celis-Guinid as Flo, Yanah Laurel as Connie and Annette understudy, and Earle Figuracion as Becker.

Lito Cipriano, Chinie Concepcion, and Japs Treopaldo are part of the ensemble.
Michael Carandang and Cecil Martinez are swings.

Also previously announced, this Asian Tour of SATURDAY NIGHT FEVER—its first in eight years—which features a revamped script that's close to the gritty spirit of the the '70s landmark film  and some of the greatest hits of The Bee Gees such as “Stayin' Alive,” “Night Fever,” “Jive Talkin',” “You Should Be Dancing,” and “How Deep is Your Love,” kicks off at The Theatre at Solaire Resort and Casino (Aseana Avenue, Paranaque, Manila) from July 3 to 26.
Perfomances are also set at Istana Budaya (Jalan Tun Razak, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia) from September 4 to 13 and at MasterCard Theatres at Marina Bay Sands (10 Bayfront Ave., Singapore) from September 25 to October 4.



Multi-awarded director Bobby Garcia, Broadway choreographer Vince Pesce, Tony Award-winning scenic designer David Gallo, Broadway lighting designer Paul Miller (who worked on the original production of SATURDAY NIGHT FEVER), costume designer Eric Pineda, sound designer Michael Waters, technical director Richard Martin, projection designer GA Fallarme, and musical director Ceejay Javier comprise the Asian  Tour of SATURDAY NIGHT FEVER's first-rate creative team.

About the Cast

Brandon Rubendall has appeared on Broadway in “Spider-man: Turn Off the Dark” and the 2011 revival of the Tony Award-winning musical “Anything Goes.”  Rubendall has also toured in the productions of “Wicked,” playing the romantic lead role of Fiyero; “Hairspray,” playing the roles of Fender and the lead hunk, Link Larkin; and “The Last 5 Years,” playing the role of up-and-coming novelist Jamie Wellerstein. He currently plays in the band Apollo Link, and occasionally dances for music icons Madonna, Beyonce, and Jennifer Lopez.

Jenna Rubaii has appeared in the National (U.S.) and International Tour of Green Day’s hit musical “American Idiot,” playing the role of The Extraordinary Girl. For 12 years—starting at six years old—she joined the all-girls song and dance group Entertainment Revue, which traveled across the U.S. to perform in various corporate and sporting events, retirement communities, fundraisers, and political rallies.  She’s an excellent impersonator of famous pop singer Britney Spears.

Mikkie Bradshaw played the title role in the first international staging of “Carrie The Musical.” She also appeared in the Manila productions of “The Sound of Music,” “Rock of Ages,” “Nine,” Disney's “Aladdin,” and “The Addams Family.”

Bibo Reyes made his professional theater debut playing the role of Sonny in the Asian premiere of Tony Award-winning Best Musical “In the Heights.” He also appeared in the Manila production of “Rock of Ages” and the Singapore production of “Avenue Q.”

Nick Varricchio flew all the way from New York City and is così eccitato to be performing with this awesome cast! His theater credits include “A Chorus Line” (Al) and “The Light in the Piazza” (Giuseppe). He also appeared in Paramount's 2011 Nickelodeon film ”Fun Size” (Jonathon) or as AXE Body Spray's “The Attendant.”

Nel Gomez recently top-billed Manila Shakespeare Company's production of William Shakespeare's “Romeo & Juliet.” His other professional theater credits include “Shrek The Musical” (Pinocchio), “Grease” (Sonny), “The Glass Managerie (Tim Wingfield), “The Producers” (Ensemble), and “Carrie The Musical” (Freddy).

Carla Guevara-Laforteza has performed internationally in London's West End “Miss Saigon” (Kim), Singapore's “Avenue Q” (Kate Monster/Lucy the Slut), and “Spelling Bee” (Olive). Other theater credits include “Song and Dance” (Emma), “You're A Good Man Charlie Brown” (Lucy),  “Company” (Marta), “The King and I” (Tuptim), and “Nine” (Carla).

Jamie Wilson began his professional theater career at the tender age of seven years old, playing Theo in Repertory Philippines' production of “Pippin.” Since then he has made the stage his home, appearing in numerous musicals and straight plays and tackling a wide range of characters in his 35 years as an actor. Theater credits include “Camelot” (Tom of Warwick),  “A Midsummer Night's Dream” (Nick Bottom), “Speed-The-Plow” (Bobby Gould), “Angels in America” (Belize/Mr. Lies), “Cabaret” (Emcee), and “Into The Woods” (The Wolf, Cinderella's Prince).

Rafa Siguion-Reyna, an alumnus of New York University, moved back to the Philippines in the summer of 2013 to pursue an acting career. A finalist in TV5’s “Celebrity Dance Battle,” his acting credits include Kenickie in 9 Works Theatrical’s production of “Grease”; Mercedes the Magnificent in 9 Works Theatrical’s “La Cage aux Folles“; Ric in GMA Network’s Primetime show “Niño”; Baldo in GMA Network’s “Yagit”; Ferdie in the independent film “Toto”; and Ricky in the film “Hari ng Tondo,” an official selection to the 2014 Toronto International Film Festival.

Altair Alonso starred in “The Little Mermaid” as Prince Christian, which toured in a cruise ship across Asia in 2010 and covered as Tommy Basilio in “Rivalry: The 2nd Round.” Currently with Atlantis, Altair has performed in "In the Heights,” Disney's “The Little Mermaid,” Disney's "Aladdin,” "The Full Monty,” "Piaf,” "The Addams Family,” "Rock of Ages,” and "Shrek The Musical.”

Mary Rose, born and raised in New York City, received her BFA in dance from Rutgers University. She was a semi-finalist on the Latino singing competition “Tengo Talento, Mucho Talento” and can also be seen in commercials for GAP and Direct TV.  Marie was recently part of the workshop for the Netflix series “The Get Down.”

Daniel Cabrera has been part of musical theater productions such as “The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe,” “Pinocchio,” “Jack and the Beanstalk,” “Cinderella,” Disney's “High School Musical Onstage,” and “Footloose.”

Steven Conde started acting with Chancel Repertory Theatre in 1999. Some of his theater credits include Trumpets' “The Little Mermaid” and “The Bluebird of Happiness” and Atlantis Productions' Disney's “Aladdin,” “The Full Monty,” “Ghost The Musical,” and “Shrek The Musical.”

Alex Godinez took the stage as Sharpay Evans in the Manila production of Disney's “High School Musical Onstage” in 2007. Shortly thereafter, she moved to Los Angeles to study music and dance at Musician's Institute in Hollywood and trained different acting methods under world-renowned mentors Howard Fine and Anthony Meindl.

Jim Ferrer recently made his London Theatre debut via the National Theatre production of “Here Lies Love.” Other theater credits include Disney's “High School Musical Onstage,” Disney's “Camp Rock,” “Wizard of Oz,” “Alice in Wonderland,” “Maxie The Musical,” “Legally Blonde,” and Disney's “Tarzan.” Jim also did wig styling in Atlantis' productions of “Nine” and “Rock of Ages.”

Emeline Celis-Guinid is a proud full-time mother.  Her theater credits include “Grease,” “Once On This Island,” “Rama at Sita,” “Wanders,” and “Rock of Ages.”

Yanah Laurel is a two-time Aliw Award nominee for Best Actress in a Musical. Theater credits include “Spring Awakening,” “Legally Blonde,” Disney's “The Little Mermaid,” “Nine,” “Carrie,” and “Shrek.” She was also part of Resorts World Manila and Star Cruises Gemini's “Broadway At Sea,” which toured Singapore and Malaysia.

Japs Treopaldo is a proud Thomasian where she got her first training in dance and theater  from UST Salinggawi Dance Troupe and Teatro Tomasino. Theater credits include “Legally Blonde,” “In The Heights,” Disney's “The Little Mermaid,” “Rock of Ages,” “Nine,” Disney's “Aladdin,” and “Priscilla, Queen of the Desert.”

Lito Cipriano is part of the Hotlegs Dance Company, which has been featured in concerts starring Filipino pop artists Regine Velasquez, Martin Nievera, Ogie Alcasid, Jaya, Pops Fernandez, Lani Misalucha and Erik Santos.  He also earlier appeared in a production of “Jesus Christ Superstar.”

Chinie Concepcion completed BA in Musical Theatre from Singapore’s Lasalle College of the Arts, with First Class Honours, last year. While in Singapore, she was tapped to act in Media Corp.’s “Crime Watch” and in several corporate videos and events. She has performed with Repertory Philippines (“Sleeping Beauty,” “Oliver!,” “Once Upon A Mattress”), 9Works Theatricals (“Sweet Charity,” “The Wedding Singer”), and Trumpets (“The Little Mermaid,” “Joseph the Dreamer,” “The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe”), among others.

Michael Carandang, who dances with The Hotlegs and Dancemasters, was trained as a dancer way back when The Metropolitan Theater in Manila was still open. He was also part of the opening team in Hong Kong Disneyland, where he played chorus dancer for "The Festival of the Lion King.”

Cecile Martinez is definitely thrilled with SATURDAY NIGHT FEVER, where she dons three different hats: Assistant Choreographer, Dance Captain, and Female Swing. The challenge is extensive as she is involved both in the creation and execution of the show featuring a powerhouse cast of local and foreign actors. She has choreographed for Atlantis' “Hairspray,” “Legally Blonde,” “Xanadu” Disney's “Tarzan,” “Rock of Ages,” “The Addams Family,” Disney's “Aladdin,” “Ghost The Musical,” “Carrie The Musical,” “In The Heights,” Disney's “Aida,” “Shrek,” Disney's “The Little Mermaid,” “Nine,” and “The Full Monty.”

For tickets to SATURDAY NIGHT FEVER in Manila, call Atlantis Theatrical Entertainment Group at (632) 650 5144 or (63917) 8381534; or  visit TicketWorld at ticketworld.com.ph.
Saturday Night Fever The Musical is presented by PLDT and Citibank in cooperation with ABS-CBN, Philippine Daily Inquirer, The Philippine Star, Monster Radio RX 93.1, Crossover, Mellow 94.7 Sound Good, Retro DCG-FM, Makati Diamond Residences, First Unitel Travel, Portfolio Studios.
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Mom spreads goodness—in a jar

Like most success stories, it’s the ones closest to us who realize the potentials of what we could offer the world before we do. Such was the case for management expert Marissa Aldaba-Mariano who decided to turn her cooking passion into a business through The Goodness Jar, four variants of spreads that work with anything you pair them with.

“‘This is so-o-o good!’ It was all I heard the first time my mom, Marissa Aldaba-Mariano, served her liver pâté during one Sunday family lunch. It was an instant hit, and has since become the pièce de rèsistance also at potluck parties,” said Marissa’s daughter Paricia.

“Inevitably, people broached the idea of her going into business. With her commitments as a management consultant, Mom would only occasionally package the spread to give away as gifts. Early this year we finally convinced her to take a leap of faith and give the business venture a try,” she said.

After three months, The Goodness Jar was out on the market. It comes in four variants, and is available by order and at selected outlets, like The List Salon in Bonifacio High Street, Island Favorites in Greenhills, and Tommy’s Freshly Roasted Coffee shops in Makati City.

Marissa is banking on her marketing management background to make the business work. Also, while she never had any formal training in culinary arts, she had the best teacher -- her mother, Angelina Hemedes-Aldaba.

“I learned how to be a smart buyer and efficient cook from my mom,” Marissa shared. “She taught me how to select fresh ingredients, from vegetables to fish and meats. She showed me how to use whatever ingredients are available, including leftovers, to create new dishes. Today I enjoy experimenting with basic recipes by substituting ingredients to produce new flavors and textures.”

Marissa’s first love was baking. When she was in high school, she would make cookies and pastries after class and set aside some to share with her classmates the next day. Soon she was taking orders for her chewy cookies; it was a small and short-lived business.  

After finishing Liberal Arts and Commerce, major in psychology and marketing management, at De la Salle University, she worked in a car company and several leading local and international FMCG (fast-moving consumer goods) firms for two decades. During this time, she managed to cook only on weekends.

Out of the corporate life, she happily spent her afternoons working magic in the kitchen. Now she is confident about taking her hobby to a new level.

Marissa Aldaba-Mariano (back) with husband Nicky, sons Luigi and Nicolo, mother Angelina Hemedes-Aldaba (seated), and the writer.

“Preparing food for a huge family trained me to plan well, cook in batches, and store food efficiently. Corporate experience helped me to establish basic systems to manage sourcing, inventory, production, order fulfillment, and customer relations. A major difference between cooking for the family and for a market is ensuring consistency. I had to adjust initial production procedures and controls to see to it that taste and quality remain the same, thereby avoiding losses,” she explained.

She has realized that the ability to prepare excellent tasting dips and sauces is not a guarantee of commercial success. It takes a lot of hard work, flexibility and commitment. But with the steadfast support of family and friends firing up her spirits, she is prepared to hurdle roadblocks.

The Goodness Jar comes in four variants – Liver Pâté, Garlic Herb, Creamy Jalapeño, and Pesto Cheese – in 4 fl. oz. and 10 fl. oz. containers. All products need refrigeration, as only fresh ingredients are used and no preservatives are added.

“What's important is to love what you do and to believe that God gave you the dream because He knows you can make it come true,” Marissa concluded.



(For orders and inquiries, email thegoodnessjar@yahoo.com or contact (0922) 881 7007.  Pick-up points are in San Lorenzo, Makati City; Kapitolyo, Pasig City; and West Kamias, Quezon City.  For special recipes and updates, visit www.facebook.com/TheGoodnessJar and Instagram at @TheGoodnessJar.)

Who's Ready for "Magic Mike XXL" ?

Are you excited for the grind of the year?  After a long hiatus, Channing Tatum and company are back for the hottest moves on the big screen!

The guys who wowed audiences around the world in the rousing hit “Magic Mike” are back. This time, they’re turning up the heat and taking it on the road in Warner Bros. Pictures' new all-male romp “Magic Mike XXL” – with a revealing new story, a fresh perspective on the future and a bigger, bolder set.

“Magic Mike XXL” reunites original stars Channing Tatum, Matt Bomer, Joe Manganiello, Kevin Nash, Adam Rodriguez and Gabriel Iglesias.

Picking up the story three years after Mike (Tatum) bowed out of the stripper life at the top of his game, “Magic Mike XXL” finds the remaining Kings of Tampa likewise ready to throw in the towel. But they want to do it their way: burning down the house in one last blow-out performance in Myrtle Beach, and with legendary headliner Magic Mike sharing the spotlight with them.
On the road to their final show, with whistle stops in Jacksonville and Savannah to renew old acquaintances and make new friends, Mike and the guys learn some new moves and shake off the past in surprising ways.

“Magic Mike XXL” director Gregory Jacobs echoes the sentiments of moviegoers around the world when he says, “I wanted to know what happened to these guys. I love these characters, and the possibility of following their story was something that really intrigued me, plus the aspect of Mike reclaiming his bond and his friendship with them, his realizing that he missed them and that they missed him, too. I felt it would be great to get the band back together and make a road trip movie.”

Though purely fictional, some of the elements and atmosphere of Mike’s world are inspired by Tatum’s own experiences from his early days as a dancer, and not all of it could be contained in one telling. “One of the things Channing originally brought up was his trip to a stripper convention back in the day,” says screenwriter Reid Carolin, who, along with Nick Wechsler, Jacobs and Tatum, also returns as a producer on the sequel. “We tried to work it into the first movie, but it’s such a big set piece that it was a story unto itself.”

As happy as the characters were to get the show on the road, so were the actors who portray them. “There was never a dull moment,” states Joe Manganiello, reprising his role as Big Dick Richie (BDR), alongside Matt Bomer as the picture-perfect Ken, Adam Rodriguez as Latin sensation Tito, Kevin Nash as wild-man Tarzan, and Gabriel Iglesias as their freewheeling MC, Tobias. “When we were cast in the first movie, none of us had a clue we would have this kind of chemistry, but it didn’t take long. There was some kind of providence in assembling this group. It just works. Greg has a great heart and I think that sensibility really lent itself to this script, which is essentially about bros bringing out the best in each other and having a good time.”

Consequently, while showcasing the tight group dynamic, “Magic Mike XXL” also plays up their individual personalities and talents to a greater extent. The cast also got the opportunity to demonstrate their comic timing, as the story takes them from a rowdy reunion in Tampa to some hilariously bumpy but rewarding detours through Savannah on their way to the big event.
Says Jacobs, “It’s Mike’s journey but it’s also a journey for all of them. We spent a lot of time fine-tuning and weaving each one into the story because it was important to all of us that the other characters were well developed and that everybody had his moment to break out and shine.”

Opening across the Philippines on July 15, “Magic Mike XXL” is distributed by Warner Bros. Pictures, a Warner Bros. Entertainment company.

Book a romantic dinner cruise date at Esplanade Seaside Terminal

Esplanade Seaside Terminal,  the latest project of SM partners with Sun Cruises, Prestige Cruises and Orient Craft. It was launched last June 25 and offers various cruises such as Manila Bay Cruise, Dinner Cruise and Corregidor Tour at the Seaside Blvd., Mall of Asia. The tour is PPA accredited to accommodate both domestic & foreign vessels and is safe for the riding public.

The seaside terminal offers ample parking space to the riding public. and is closed to SM Moa and SM By the Bay.

I was able to experience the dinner cruise together with some blogger friends.  We travelled at the speed of 8 knots and took pictures of  the Manila Bay sunset as we enjoyed our sumptuous dinner with the live band.   It was an overall awesome experience and would want to do this again, given the right weather and time.

 You can enjoy a romantic dinner cruise date with your special someone and get the perfect sunset view by booking your tour at the Esplanade Seaside Terminal.

The Mall of Asia complex has been rapidly growing with new developments emerging every year. The complex is now known to be a major retail, entertainment and business hub with the presence of such iconic structures as the E-Com buildings, the SMX Convention Center, the MOA Arena and of course SM Mall of Asia.

SM continuously strives to innovate and provide a slew of new services for the convenience and enjoyment of the public, with the latest project which is the Esplanade Seaside Terminal. The Esplanade Seaside Terminal is located at Seaside Blvd., Mall of Asia Complex. With its launch, this port provides an easy gateway to Corregidor as well as an avenue for our guests to enjoy the fabulous Manila Bay sunset through various cruise offerings with our partners Sun Cruises, Prestige Cruises and Orient Craft.

Animax Asia to air Charlotte on the same day as Japan

An original anime production by prolific writer Jun Maeda is premiering first and exclusively on Animax – Asia’s first 24-hour Japanese anime channel.

Reunion of the visual novel maestros
Renowned Japanese visual studio Key has come together with Progressive Animation (P.A.) Works for Charlotte, which will air on the same day as its Japan telecast on Animax Asia, in July. Boasting local subtitles including English, Bahasa Indonesia, Mandarin and Thai, the anime was written by Key’s co-founder Jun Maeda, who is also contributing to the musical score.  The anime will also feature character designs by fellow Key colleague Na-Ge.  The two had worked with the same producers on popular 2010 anime Angel Beats! and together, the dream team promises to conjure up the same magic in Charlotte.

Charlotte, rumoured to have been based on Maeda’s own early life, is set in an alternate world where a few children come into unusual superpowers upon puberty.  One of the colouful characters is Jōjirō Takajyō, who can move so fast he appears to be teleporting.  There’s also student singer Yusa Nishimori, who can communicate with the dead.  The children are enrolled into Houshinomi Academy, which has its own student council for guiding those who encounter problems with their newfound abilities.

The protagonist?  Yū Otosaka, an ill-mannered first-year transfer who uses his ability to possess another person’s body for five seconds in order to cheat in his exams.  When Yū meets school council president Nao Tomori, the fate of these extraordinary children begins to unravel.  Will the youthful duo be strong enough to fight their destiny?

Charlotte premieres on 4 July 2015, airing every Saturday night at 12.30am with an encore the next day at 8pm, first and exclusively on Animax Asia.

*photo credit:  Animax Asia

READERS DIGEST TO HONOR THE PHILIPPINE’S MOST TRUSTED BRANDS

Trust. It takes years to build, seconds to break, and forever to repair. Our lives are fueled by trust and our decisions, whether personal or professional are influenced by the confidence we have in these relationships.

In an era where too much information has its benefits and disadvantages, trust is that one factor that remains constant. Once trust is established, it becomes an instinctive response – the consumer buys the brand without so much as a second thought because they can relate to it as "their" brand.

For consumers, the mark of a trusted brand is a seal of excellence, and a relationship that goes far beyond price, trends and marketing campaigns.

For business, trust is the ultimate vote of confidence. A forward-facing measure imbued with expectation, promise and satisfaction and a solid reputation of distinction.

MOST TRUSTED SURVEY

On June 30, 2015, Reader’s Digest once again recognizes these companies at the Trusted Brands Awards ceremony to be held at the ballroom A of the Marco Polo Hotel in Ortigas, Pasig.

Department of Trade and Industry Undersecretary for Consumer Protection Group (CPG) Victorio Dimagiba will be the keynote speaker while Reader’s Digest Asia Pacific Group Advertising and Retail Sales Director Sheron White will be personally awarding the trophies to the winners.

For the past 17 years, Reader's Digest has approached ordinary Filipino consumers to ask their opinions on what brands of products and services are important to them.

Backed by all these years of research, it has confidently and precisely identified the features a trusted brand must possess in order to maintain relevance and purpose for its consumers.

A trusted brand enjoys international appeal, yet at the same time upholds a strong local connection.  It has individual relevance for all its consumers, just about anywhere and in any culture.

Cost, quality and desirability are all important factors for consumers. Yet it's vital for a brand to stay true to its promises. While brands come in and out of vogue, those that capture our attention, maintain our confidence and win over our trust do so by holding fast to their core principles.

For the Trusted Brand Survey, Readers Digest has commissioned leading global market research company Ipsos to survey a representative sample of people in Asia on their most trusted brands in 42 categories of products and services across a wide range of industries.

Approximately 5,000 individuals were selected across 5 of Asia’s key markets such as the Philippines, HongKong, Malaysia, and Taiwan.

In the Philippines, around 1000 respondents completed the survey. Half were subscribers to Reader's Digest, while the remainder were selected to reflect the demographics of the general population.

Each respondent was required to complete a questionnaire or participate in a mail, face to face, telephone or online survey. Ipsos asked each participant to tell us the name of their most trusted brands and then to rate each of those brands listed on the following six attributes: Trustworthiness, Credibility, Quality, Value, Understanding of Customer Needs, Innovation and Social Responsibility.  This year the awards will be presented in each of the 42 categories.


GOLD Trusted Brands Awards – will be given to brands that scored significantly higher than their rivals.

PLATINUM Trusted Brands Awards – will be given to brands that performed exceptionally, winning their category for at least 3 countries surveyed.

ASIA TRUSTED Brand Awards will be given to a brand that wins the Reader's Digest Trusted Brand award in the same category for at least three countries surveyed.