Anne and her #BeefyEverAfter at Jollibee

Jollibee welcomes Celebrity endorser Ms. Anne Curtis to its family last Feb 15 at Glorietta, Makati and reunited to where it all began.

Anne Curtis, who sported a short hair and was beaming in her red dress joins Jollibee family ' "I’ve come full circle with this endorsement,” says the Fri-Australian actress.

Jollibee, the country's number one fast-food chain, is proud to welcome another star to its ever-growing family of celebrity endorsers. Anne’s first project for the homegrown QSR brand is an ad campaign featuring the best-selling Burger Steak, which premiered last February 12, 2017.

“Anne is dynamic and talented, and her cheerful demeanor brings joy to everyone around her,” said Francis E. Flores, Jollibee Global Chief Marketing Officer and Philippines Head of Marketing. “We hope the nation shares our excitement over Anne being the newest endorser of one of Jollibee’s most populaf products, the Burger Steak.”

A joyful discovery 2017 marks Anne‘s 20th year in Philippine show business, where she had made waves through a slew of TV shows, critically acclaimed blockbuster hits, and in recent years, sold-out concerts at some of the country’s most prestigious event venues.

Her journey to stardom began exactly twenty years ago, at a Jollibee store along Boni Avenue in Mandaluyong City.

“Jollibee brings me so much joy,” she said. “At a young age, my mother introduced me to the Filipino treat that is Jollibee. This is where I got to taste the sweet Jolly Spaghetti, the joys of Chickenjoy, and of course, the Filipino version of steak, the Burger Steak with rice! It started my life here in the Philippines,”

A 12-year-old balikbayan visiting relatives from her mother’s side, Anne was discovered by a talent scout while she was enjoying Jollibee’s signature treats.

“I remember having Chickenjoy and Jolly Spaghetti,” said Anne, who excitedly recounted her ‘discovery’ story. “I wouldn’t be the star I am today if I was not eating at Jollibee 20 years ago. It’s just one of the reasons why Jollibee has a special place in my heart.”

“It is such an amazing story,” added Flares. "Anne just proves how instrumental Jollibee is in introducing relatives and friends from abroad to the Pinoy experience.”

“With Jollibee, there’s always a treat to look forward to, from mainstays like Burger Steak and limited time offers like the Tuna Pie. You’ll never get tired of eating at Jollibee, because there’s so many treats to choose from. The food really brings me so much joy,” said Anne.

With a truly joyful discovery story, Anne believes that her Jollibee endorsement could not have come at a better time.

“I’ve always come so near, yet so far,” she said. “There were plans before, but they never pushed
through. Finally the time has come and it’s really a big dream come true for me. I feel like I’ve come full circle in my career.”

Witness Anne find her beefy ever after with the latest Jollibee Burger Steak TVC, which began airing in the Philippines last February 12, just in time for Valentine’s Day.

La Carmela de Boracay Resort Hotel: The Vacationers and Celebs Choice Resort

La Carmela de Boracay, the iconic resort/hotel owned by Boy So is the answer to every vacationers' needs. The resort hotel has everything anybody needs when on a holiday in the paradise island of Boracay.

La Carmela de Boracay is known by both local and foreign tourists for its affordable rates, homey interiors, pleasant staff and crew and accessibility. It is also the most suitable choice for occasions like birthdays, holidays, wedding anniversaries, and other events because of its affordable rates and the amenities necessary in celebrating such occasions.


La Carmela de Boracay is frequented by local celebrities, including Boy Abunda and his celebrity friends. The resort hotel has been featured in some of ABS-CBN's shows. It is no surprise if one spots a local celeb in the pool or having breakfast or dinner in its dining room.

La Carmela de Boracay is centrally located at Station 2, near the Tourist Center, in the heart of Boracay. It is at the center of the island, only a few meters walk to the shopping mall or the market.

Making room reservations in La Carmela is easy. It's staff and crew will offer answers to every reservation question.

The hotel offers beachfront convenience at affordable rates on Holidays. It also has special package rates for groups, barkadas and families.

La Carmela which was built in 2011, has now five buildings.

The Main Building houses Standard, Semi Deluxe, Main Deluxe, Panorama Deluxe and Super Deluxe rooms.

The Executive Wing includes Executive Deluxe, Panorama Deluxe, Family-room Wing, and Panorama Super Deluxe rooms.

The Premiere East and West building offers Premiere Deluxe and Premiere Super Deluxe rooms.

The Ocean View building has Premier Ocean View, African Safari Suite, Greco Roman Suite, and Celebrity Suite.


Hospitality among the hotel staff and cleanliness in the hotel are of utmost importance. La Carmela de Boracay sees to it that its guests are comfortable and happy in their stay at the hotel resort.

Since 2011, La Carmela has been frequented by both local and foreign the tourists. It has a steady stream of guests from all walks of life. Everyday is peak season for the hotel-resort.

"We want our guests to feel at home while vacationing. It is important to us that they have a happy and wonderful experience in La  Carmela," says Boy So.

This year, La Carmela De Boracay has lined up a series of activities for guests to enjoy.

"We will be more active in engaging the public in our entertainment activities. Gusto namin mas mapasaya  pa sila," adds Boy.

The Celebrity Suite

Facade of La Carmela de Boracay Resort Hotel

The Poolside

Ocean View Suite

The Premiere West Lobby

For more information visit La Carmela de Boracay Resort Hotel's official Facebook page

Starbucks features the new Tahitian Vanilla Macchiato and Valencia Orange Cocoa Cappuccino

To all Starbucks coffee lovers, Starbucks brings you the new espresso handcrafted beverages that would set your coffee experience a top- notch level. Expect the new handcrafted macchiato and cappuccino beverage to hit every coffee lovers instagram feeds and help make it trend nationwde.  I cant wait to taste a sip and snap a picture of these two starting February 21!

Delight in the wonderland of Espresso with the new Starbucks espresso layer collection which includes the new Tahitian Vanilla Macchiato and Valencia Orange Cocoa Cappuccino. The global coffee brand welcomes customers to the next level of coffee artistry with new indulgent beverages.

Available starting February 21, these beautifully layered espresso beverages are set to introduce an extraordinary coffee experience that will surely excite even those who are only starting their coffee exploration.

Tahitian Vanilla Macchiato offers a twist on the classic pairing of vanilla and coffee – a marriage made in heaven. Tahitian Vanilla has a unique floral aroma and mild sweetness which pairs the roasty coffee, complemented by a layer of velvety steamed milk, then topped with Starbucks signature espresso and finished with vanilla bean specks and vanilla drizzle in our classic double crosshatch pattern.

Meanwhile, the refreshing Valencia Orange Cocoa Cappuccino is perfectly blended to suit the taste of those who need the reinvigorating sweet flavor. In this beverage, Valencia Orange Mocha Sauce is combined with milk, topped with dense and creamy foam and then layered with affogato-style signature espresso shots, sweet cocoa powder and tartly-sweet bits of orange peel to add even more flavors.

These layered espresso beverages are handcrafted by Starbucks Baristas, reflecting their true artistry and sharing their passion for coffee to the customers with every sip.

“We are delighted to introduce Starbucks latest take on espresso, with Baristas offering unique and sophisticated treats for coffee lovers. They vary in flavor, texture and experience but espresso is always at the core. Starbucks Baristas craft carefully selected ingredients with espresso to produce stunning combinations of flavors and layers. These beverages invite customers to experience new and different ways to enjoy coffee,” said Keith Cole, head of marketing, Starbucks Philippines. 

Also available for a limited time is the Starbucks Tribute BlendTM created to celebrate the company’s 40th anniversary in 2011. It combines the all-time favorite coffees: Ethiopian sun-dried beans with an exotic flourish of dark cherry; Aged Sumatra, loved for its syrupy body and cedary spice notes; juicy, herbal and complex coffees from Papua New Guinea; and our Colombia coffee, bright, balanced and nutty. You can also enjoy this coffee anytime, anywhere with the Starbucks VIA® Tribute BlendTM so you won’t miss out its layers of flavors even on the go.

What’s more, the Starbucks Cold Brew, the slow-steeped and brewed without heat coffee which was previously available only to Starbucks Reserve stores, is now available in all Starbucks stores nationwide.

“Why Iconic Characters Wear Chucks” x Millie Bobby Brown

In celebration of the daring spirit of youth, Converse debuts the Forever Chuck, a digital and social media series exploring three core cultural scenes that made the Chuck Taylor iconic: film and TV, LA culture and style and the world of Fashion, high and low.

Directed by award-winning filmmaker Karim Huu Do, the Forever Chuck series kicks off with “Why Iconic Characters Wear Chucks” celebrating the types of unique characters that have made Chuck Taylor an iconic symbol on-screen.

Actress Millie Bobby Brown is the host of this episode, exploring why the coolest characters in film wear Chucks, and what Chucks say about the characters who wear them – meeting legendary stylist Stephanie Collie (whose credits include Peaky Blinders & various feature films) to get her expert opinion. Brown was most recently nominated for a People’s Choice Award and
Screen Actors Guild Award on behalf of her performance in the critically acclaimed Netflix sensation "Stranger Things."

“The Chuck Taylor has remained a symbol for underdogs, rebels and teen heroes – the characters we love and identify most with - in films and television,” said Julien Cahn, Chief Marketing Officer at Converse. “By pairing some of the most memorable scenes of the past with rising stars of today, we celebrate Chuck Taylor’s legacy and pay homage to its place within youth culture - both on and off screen.”

All of the films within the Forever Chuck series will highlight the confident and daring spirit of youth, a spirit that has defined Chuck Taylor loyalists in the past, present and future.

Buhay Saya, Bahay Sagana at Bella Vita Alaminos, Laguna

Buying a house, is perhaps the biggest commitment one can make in a lifetime.

With so many aspects to think about, you really have to consider everything, from your financial capability to your emotional stability as having your own house is also a big responsibility (almost like or even more than getting married)

Factors like location, mortgage payment, property taxes, utilities homeowner-association dues and maintenance should be listed down because you have to take care of your financial wellness even after you have paid for your house.

Living Room

So while everyone dreams of having a house they could call their own, you have to be brave enough to commit and pursue it.

Last week, I was invited to visit Bella Vita Land in Alaminos Laguna. It was a Saturday, no traffic and it only took us 1 hour from Makati to reach Laguna. We had an ocular-on-site visit to check out their model houses called Poli Inner, Poli End, and Gemelli (Duplex). 

Poli End's Price List:

Floor area             23 sqm
Lot Area (Ave.)   56 sqm
Unit Price (Ave.)  Php693,000

Price varies accordingly, you may check out their site and an agent to show you around the Bella Vita communities of your choice.

Bella Vita is owned by Ayala Land and the property encapsulates the objective of providing decent and affordable homes. Established in 2011, BellaVita Land Corporation brings well planned communities to more Filipinos. It caters to starting families, civil servants, private workers, entrepreneurs and OFWs. who are seeking to own their first home, looking for rental opportunities, want to live near their place of work or want to ensure that their hard earned money are well spent.

Bedroom

Owning a house may be complicated but with properties such as Bella Vita, it makes the decision a little easier to make.


Here are the complete list of Bella Vita communities

BellaVita Porac
BellaVita Capas
BellaVita Cabanatuan
BellaVita Cabanatuan East
BellaVita Pililla
BellaVita General Trias
BellaVita Alaminos
BellaVita San Pablo
BellaVita Lipa
BellaVita Tayabas
BellaVita Pila
BellaVita Lian
BellaVita Iloilo
BellaVita CDO

Visit their site http://www.bellavita.ph/ for more details

Playground and a Basketball court at Bella Vita Alaminos

Bella Vita made Christmas 2016 a season of empowerment

BellaVita, one of the country’s forerunners in building homes in social enterprise communities, marked its 5th year by giving back to its residents in the latter part of 2016.Focused on “living and livelihood integration” as an approach to developing its communities, the company organized workshops to help BellaVita residents create simple yet affordable livelihood projects in time for the Christmas season. The program was called “Saya-SaganangPasko Handog ng BellaVita.”

The company held the workshops in multiple locations nationwide during the last quarter of 2016.  These activities were done specifically in Cavite,Pampanga, Iloilo, and Cagayan De Oro. Residents, mostly homemakers, learned how to make pastries like Graham Balls and Blueberry Cheesecake in jars.

“We try to go beyond building homes to create a community that is sustainable – masaya at masagana, and we do this by providing ways for learning and livelihood among our residents,” saidVice President & COO, May Platero-Rodriguez.

Integrated Communities

At present, BellaVita has a total of 14 live projects, with 12 projects located in Luzon, one in Visayas and one in Mindanao. The company remains steadfast in providing decent homes to Filipinos. These are quality homes that are strategically located and designed to to offer residents a comfortable living experience.

BellaVita is a residential brand of Ayala Land, the Philippines’ leading developer of sustainable estates offering a diverse mix of quality residential and commercial developments that support local economic growth.

This year, BellaVita will be marking its 6th year in the industry.