Avida Towers Prime unveils "Hidden Gems" of Manila

I am by heart a true Manilenya, I know my city like the back of my hand.  I was a typical "tambay" in the late 80s at Malate and Harrison Plaza. Yes, I am an old soul, probably the same age as your mom,  a "tita" to you. You name the streets, restaurants, and discos around Malate during those times, I would most probably been there with friends and exes. If there is one place that I would love to live in, it is "Manila" for I have fondest memories worth remembering when I was young.

 On April 26, we had a time of our lives touring Manila's hidden gems together with Celebrity Tour Guide Ivan Man Dy.  We met with him at Avida Towers Prime Taft along Taft Avenue.Manila. Before we proceed to the "best kept secret gems"  we checked out Avida Towers Prime Taft's bare and dressed up units model rooms first. The units are well suited for students,  newlyweds, yuppies and or OFWs looking for an investment in Manila.

Avida launched the third and final tower at the Avida Towers Prime Taft Sales Pavilion on April 26. Dubbed “Urban Places, Vibrant Spaces” the event features Old Manila Walks’ Ivan Man Dy as he did an interactive talk highlighting Manila, Makati and Pasay.

The walk is based on a specially-curated MAPA Prime Manila map that showcased the vibe of the property’s unique location and offer different perspectives on the best of urban living, owing to the development’s proximity to three major cities.

Ivan Man Dy

 The first stop was at UP College of Medicine, Museum of a History of Ideas, we toured the then "infirmary". I had my picture taken inside and posted it at Instagram, my doctor friend replied agad agad " Maraming multo dyan"!. I panicked but then again, I calmed myself thinking that the multos would probably not up in the daylight. My friend told me that he used the "dental chair" inside the exhibit.

 Ive been to Henry Hotel  last year for a blog event.  I wasnt able to explore the hotel during that time.  I was glad, I was able to see the old white house (finally from the walk tour) still intact with furnitures and fixtures from the late 50s or so. There were trees everywhere. We were also able to check out  Avellana Art Gallery. I had a grand time taking pictures of the stairs, vases, machuka tiles, retro stuff from the 50s. I suddenly remember the black and white movies from the 50s and 60s, vibe.

2nd stop The Henry Hotel Manila

The third and last stop was at the ancestral house of National Artist for Architecture Pablo Antonio. We had our sumptuous lunch inside the house which was turned into a garden restaurant run by his bridal gown designer daughter, Malu Veloso. You can book your lunch there via appointment. My Mother's Garden boasts of garden and ponds view and sumptuous food. The ancestral house is wide enough to sit 50 people.

Architect Pablo Antonio was declared a national artist in 1976. he designed the White Cross Hall, De La Salle Chapel, Far Eastern University, Orchid Garden Hotel, etc.

In today’s ever-increasing vibrant world, an ideal work-live-play lifestyle is hinged on having everything within quick and convenient reach, where driving passions and achieving goals means living at the center of the bustling metropolis.

At the heart of Manila, Taft is one distinct area that has never ceased to develop and constantly evolve with the demands of changing times, making it an ideal community, even for younger generations of urban dwellers.

The Taft district connects three major cities—Manila, Makati, and Pasay—serving as a gateway to some of the biggest commercial, business, lifestyle and cultural hubs in the metro.

As a center of everything in the metro, Taft has been thriving for decades, with throngs of people converging in the area daily on their way to nearby schools and markets, central business districts, commercial and cultural centers, and manufacturing and industrial areas.

Avida realizes the potential of Taft’s strategic location to a growing number of urbanites and has developed the Avida Towers Prime Taft in a secure community along Taft Avenue.

This masterfully-designed and well-appointed three-tower high-rise property will offer young urban professionals and their families an inspiring haven where they can kick off their activities or a restful refuge where they can relax. It will also be home to people who don’t want to spend hours in traffic to get to school, work, markets, shopping malls, hospitals, churches, and parks.

As the final leg of its development in the bustling area, Avida is set to launch the third and tallest tower of the Avida Towers Prime Taft. At 30 floors, the structure will be part of the Manila skyline as it provides residents in 865 units with inspired living right at the center of everything.

Urban dwellers can discover “hidden gems” within Manila which highlights the modernity, heritage and urban culture of the community surrounding Avida Towers Prime Taft. These best-kept secrets include the Museum of a History of Ideas in UP Manila, the Avellana Art Gallery and a fashion gallery of Project Runway’s Jojie Lloren inside the Hotel Henry Manila, and an ancestral house of National Artist for Architecture Pablo Antonio.

To date, Avida has 77 projects in 29 locations nationwide, comprising of more than 60,000 homes. Visit www.avidaland.com to learn more about “Urban Places, Vibrant Spaces” and to pre-register for free seats to the April 30 event.

Celebrate your weekends at Richmonde Hotel Ortigas

If you are looking for a nice homey vibe with delicious and sumptuous buffet and an 80s band to party your night away with friends on a friday night.  Try to visit Richmonde Cafe at Richmonde Hotel.  Richmonde Cafe offers colorful and delicious food, mind-blowingly great flavor combinations, and a light, sweet ending. You'll never have the "suya" moment once you savor each dishes prepared by their resident Chef. You'll get the most value out of your money with a wide variety of menu and drinks.

Richmonde Café, the all-day dining restaurant of Richmonde Hotel Ortigas, is located right in the heart of Ortigas Center’s business district.

I have been to a lot of restaurants offering dinner buffet (eat-all-you-can)  but Richmonde Hotel's Richmonde Cafe, stand out among the rest because you'll get quality food prepared the same day and they never stick to the same menu, they change it every 2 weeks or so. so that if you come back again, you'll be introduced to new dishes, soups, drinks, pastas, and fresh salads.

Indulge in a mouthwatering array of international dishes, action stations for a la minute cooking, and refreshing drinks at the FEAST ON FRIDAY DINNER BUFFET, served from 6pm to 9pm, for only PhP 750nett per person. From soup and appetizer to carving, main course and desserts, have your fill of unlimited gastronomic pleasures which now come with bottomless iced tea and select juices, plus even 50 % discount on wine bottle orders!

As a special treat for you reader, Richmonde is offering 25% discount on Friday Dinner Buffet Rates for a minimum of 4 persons. Use my promo code "LGTPxRHO" upon reservation.

“Thank God, it’s Friday!” signals the end of another tiring or stressful work week and the start of a weekend of rest, relaxation, and even adventure for some. Richmonde Café, the all-day dining restaurant of Richmonde Hotel Ortigas, joins the T.G.I.F. celebration by offering the dwellers of the metro’s concrete jungle a convenient and relaxing venue, away from the maddening crowd, where they can kick-off the weekend with friends and colleagues, over a scrumptious buffet, wine, and drinks, right in the heart of Ortigas Center’s business district.

And because Friday coupled with another happy occasion means double the merriment, Richmonde Café gives you even more reasons to hold them Within its cozy and inviting space with first-rate service. Treating your “bestie” to a birthday dinner with the gang? For a minimum of four diners paying the regular rate, the birthday boy/ girl eats for free! And they’ll even get a special cake so they can blow the candle and make a wish. How about rewarding your team for reaching the targets for the month? Well, if you’re one Of the lucky companies featured for the month, you can treat them to dinner and get 30° 0 off on the buffet rate for a minimum of 6 persons.

Or maybe you can just invite your officemates for some well-deserved unwinding and go Dutch, especially if it’s “Payday Friday”. Plus, there’s no need to end the night early because just a few steps away is Richmonde Hotel’s The Exchange where you can continue to drink up and party while the bar’s talented resident band, Big Bash, performs your favorite tunes from the 70’s and 80’s.

For inquiries and table reservations, call 638-7777 local 3409.
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Show your true colors and vote for your favorite M&Ms Characters

We are just a couple of weeks away from determining who will lead the Philippines in the next six years.

Every candidate have detailed their platforms with a few tirades against their opponents along the way. and so far its shaping out to be the most exciting one we've had in history thanks to social media.

You might have your choices, even prepared a list but have you shown your true colors yet?

Putting some fun and color in an otherwise very serious election season M&M shakes up the campaign trail with the  Vote M&M’S 2016 campaign.


From catchy campaign slogans to snazzy jingles, the Vote M&M’S 2016 Campaign heated up at the exciting Miting de Avance, held at the Makati Coliseum last April 22, 2016.  

Guests cheered the arrival of Red, Yellow and Green as they made their grand entrance from the M&M’S Motorcade and the three M&M’S® Characters went on to wow the crowd as they danced, debated and posed with fans.

 I Vote for Yellow! #mmsyellow

The event was a fun way to get to know the three M&M’S candydates vying to win the M&M’S Character of the Year Award.  At the Q&A, the three characters revealed their fun personalities as they answered all-important questions like Why should I vote for you?  and showcased their talent at a dance-off supported by their respective cheer squad.

Guests were also able to play games like the ring toss, swim in the ball pit and win colorful M&M’S merchandise. Of course, they all stopped by the ballot box to support their candydate and took home souvenir photos decked in the paraphernalia of their favorite M&M’S®character.

“Last year, the M&M’S® Characters had a fantastic time visiting the Philippines’ most popular tourist sites. Red, Yellow and Green loved it here so much that they couldn’t resist coming back and bringing their own brand of spontaneous fun to the elections,” said Henry Azcarraga, Mars Chocolate, Philippines Country Director.

Fans of the M&M’S characters can still join the Vote M&M’S 2016 campaign and get the chance to win a P5,000 in cash or M&M’S merchandise at the weekly raffle. Will you vote Matapang and Magaling Red? A powerful and a fearless leader, Red is the candydate who will see you through tough times.

Or will you support Kabarkada ng Bayan Yellow? The friendliest candydate, Yellow is always seeing the sunny side of things. If you’re looking for someone sweet and reliable, then he’s your choice.

And last but definitely not least is Ang Confidently Smart Bae-yani Green. The epitome of Girl Power, Green is one magnetic candydate and with her charm and wit, voters are sure to find her irresistible.

To vote, simply post a caption on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram on your chosen candidate with the corresponding hashtags: I vote Red!  #mmsred, I vote Yellow! #mmsyellow or I vote Green! #mmsgreen, and get the chance to win prizes weekly!

Voting period is from 15th April till 15th May 2016.Then watch out as we announce the winner of the Vote M&M’S® 2016 Campaign on 20th May 2016 online.

So will it be “Mr Know-It-All” Red, optimist Yellow or confident Green?The race is on between these three colorful candy-dates at the Vote M&M’S 2016 Campaign!

For more information on the campaign, visit the M&M’S Philippines Facebook page

Leo Consul: From broken slippers to accomplished dreams

“There is more to a boy than what his mother sees. There is more to a boy than what his father dreams. Inside every boy lies a heart that beats. And sometimes it screams, refusing to take defeat. And sometimes his father's dreams aren't big enough, and sometimes his mother's vision isn't long enough. And sometimes the boy has to dream his own dreams and break through the clouds with his own sunbeams.” 

― Ben Behunin, Remembering Isaac: The Wise and Joyful Potter of Niederbipp

As Leo Consul joined us on our table to share his story, I couldn’t help but feel an overwhelming sense of pride for his “nanay” who was sitting quietly beside him.

Mabait talaga yang anak kong yan,”  she tells us. “Matalino at Masikap.”

To say that Leo lived a hard life would be an understatement and a great injustice to what he has overcome.

When he was a child, instead of playing on the streets, he was roaming it in search of something to sell and something to eat. His introduction to Jollibee was not via a drive through or the take out counter but the back alley garbage bin where he would look for half eaten food to reheat and share with his family.

Yet as he sat proudly beside his mom, you couldn’t feel the slightest trace of resentment, anger, or even disappointment, instead there is only love, and gratefulness for bringing him into this world.


“A man of perseverance and dedication; a man who is willing to walk a thousand miles just to reach his destination.”

This is how actor and host Leo Consul says he would describe himself to people meeting him for the first time.

 A former host of Eat Bulaga Indonesia, Leo—who has been living abroad for almost four years—recently returned to the Philippines for a short visit.

 “The show catapulted my career in Indonesia and made me a household name. It was a fun and exciting experience because I was recognized not only in Indonesia but in the Philippines as well. It was difficult for a newbie like me in so many levels but I managed to get thru it all,” he says.
He ended up leaving the show after a year in search of greener pastures. Also, getting by day-to-day was a struggle.

Living alone, away from his family, friends and his comfort zone was no joke, he says.
“It’s not a walk in the park. The struggle is real. I started there as a teacher in an international school but my passion wasn't there. I quit the profession and pursued my career in the entertainment industry,” he says.


But Leo’s Eat Bulaga Indonesia experience did lead to positive things. He became known and got other work. “The show paved the way and opened doors for me. I was trusted by different networks to host my own show up until now. Leo hosts the morning TV show, Celeb On News in Indonesia and will soon star in his own teleserye. He is also dubbing a cartoon series in Indonesia titled "Kiko " which will be aired internationally.

Throughout his four years in Indonesia, Leo kept alive his dream of breaking into show business in the Philippines.

“It has been my dream to break into the entertainment industry here in the Philippines,” he explains. “While I am doing great back in Indonesia as a TV host, commercial model and an actor, I still have this yearning to be seen here and entertain our kababayan, most specially my father who has been dreaming of seeing me on local TV, doing things I am passionate about, instead of watching me on DVD/CD copies of my shows back in Indonesia.”

That dream came true when he met TV host and talent manager Boy Abunda.  “I asked for Direk Eric Quizon's help for my movie and he said Boy Abunda might be of great help. He sent an email to Boy to introduce me and cc-ed me and from there, we started talking about this whole thing. Boy Abunda and I officially met when he visited Jakarta last year.” Boy will be managing his career in the Philippines and in other Asian countries except Indonesia.

Leo considers that a lucky break. “I am blessed and fortunate enough to be given this once in a lifetime opportunity by Boy Abunda to introduce me and explore the possibilities here in the Philippines,” says Leo. “At times, I would see myself while on the set of my shows, daydreaming and asking myself what would it be like doing the same thing that I do back there but in a different setting, audience and country, which is my home. I would still love to host shows, do commercials and act or anything that the industry could offer. I am not going to leave Indonesia, for I owe a huge chunk of my success to my fans and colleagues back there. We're planning to do this in both countries.”

The good-looking actor and TV host has detailed his inspiring life journey in a book, A Thousand Miles in Broken Slippers. 

The book contains his life story from when he was a baby up to this point.
“In this book, people will get to know my bittersweet past back in our small town in Bolinao, Pangasinan. It tells about my struggles, pains, survival, painful memories, happy moments with my childhood friends, tears and of course my journey as an artist in Indonesia. It is a hodgepodge of everything.”

Leo thought of publishing this book not just as a means to promote himself or to boost his career as an artist but mainly to inspire people who may share the same dream and hope or those people who have different dreams but with same passion and determination to pursue in life. Among the most interesting parts of the book is how Leo worked himself up from his humble background growing up in Pangasinan.

To hear Leo tell his story borders on the unbelievable. “Just hearing the word Bolinao could bring thousand folds of happy and painful memories. It's traumatizing, in a way. It was the sanctuary of my childhood years and the niche of my struggles at the same time. I wasn't born with a silver spoon. At a very young age, I learned to stretch my bones just to earn cold coins to fill up our stomachs. I was introduced to Jollibee not in a conventional way but in a very demeaning and painful way and that's thru the trash bin. I would eat leftovers from the buses I cleaned in the middle of the night back then just to get thru the night. To be honest, every time I look back, it never fails to bring me to tears and sadness. I was one of those kids who was dressed in shabby clothes, worn-out slippers, exhausted and famished only with great determination and perseverance. I used to collect and sell junk (bottles, metal, broken glass, newspapers, etc.) dressed in a yellowish school uniform, carrying a hanging-by-a-thread-bag, and flimsy slippers.”

Leo walked to school every day, under the scorching heat of the sun. He was the kind of kid who would never be given any attention had he not excelled at school.“I have been to Baguio City since I studied there in UP for four years before I moved to Diliman for my final year. That's where I also landed a job as TV host in ABS-CBN Regional Network Group, which brought me to many places as we shoot for our travelogue show which was called "NC Atin To" which later renamed, "MagTV Na Atin To".”

Of all the places he has been to, his favorite would have to be the Banaue Rice Terraces.
“I consider myself a traveler, not a tourist,” he says. “Every time I visit a place, I make sure I immerse myself into its culture, values and traditions. I am not a cosmo kinda guy. I enjoy the outskirts/suburbs more than the city. There, I find peace and the perfect opportunity to reflect and enjoy serenity at its finest before I get myself back to the city’s hurly-burly.”

At this point, having spent his life in both the Philippines and Indonesia, Leo says he still identifies as Filipino.

Explains Leo: “I'm still a Filipino, of course. For me, what makes a certain country appealing and more interesting is not just its beautiful spots and scenery. I think what sets each country apart is its people. We, Filipinos, are known for our warm hospitality. We are friendly and loving people and that for me, makes our country great and fun to pay visit to."
He is excited over all the possibilities opening up to him. He is also eager for people to get to know him and discover what he has to offer.

 “I am a man of many interests. I love traveling. I make sure I visit different countries each year. I also love cooking. In fact, my first show after Eat Bulaga Indonesia was a cooking show. I also play sports like Badminton and Tennis. I love singing. I actually released a single in Indonesia while I was hosting Eat Bulaga Indonesia but it didn't work out. I am also a hiphop dancer. I was a member of UP Baguio Shadows (dance troupe). My favorite artists would be Gina Pareño as an actress, Joel Torre (Actor), Toni Gonzaga (Host), Eugene Domingo (Comedienne) and Luis Manzano.

“Being in show business wasn't really my dream when I was a kid, probably because I didn't have the looks to back it all up. I was an ugly duckling. But I have always wanted to become a news anchor,” he says.

 His battlecry is simple. “(I have always believed that) Poverty is not a hindrance to success. It was ABS-CBN Baguio which sparked my interest in show business because they gave me the confidence and made me believe that I have a spot in this industry.”