Grohe presents an OktoberFEAST for the Senses

GROHE, the global leader in luxury bathroom fittings and fixtures in partnership with Wilcon Depot, the country's leading home improvement and construction supply retailer, took guests on a visual, aural and culinary journey last weekend as it presented the GROHE OKTOBERFEAST FOR THE SENSES at the BGC Amphitheatre last October 20, 2017.

It was a unique  sensory experience for guests as the  high-end German brands installed several exhibits from morning to midnight. The event started with a tempting indulgence of German food, products and fun.

Grohe is known worldwide for its innovative German design and precision technology. Grohe Oktoberfeast for the Senses offered an extravagant experience that will make you want to change your bathroom as your personal space for the most satisfying showering experience. 

During the event, Grohe revealed two of its most game-changing products that have won accolades and patrons the world over; Aquasymphony Luxury Shower that is designed to transform the concept of showering into ultimate luxury SPA experience and Sensia Arena Spalet Shower Toilet that is created to maximize personal comfort and hygiene through gentle and smart cleaning.Adding up excitement and enjoyment, ABS-CBN Philharmonic Orchestra performed the finest and most loved German classical music and arias under the baton of Maestro Gerard Salonga with soprano Lara Maigue, and DJ Hannah Ichiko played with the beat that filled the night of chill music. The event feast was hosted by Tessa Prieto-Valdes.

Grohe has also shown support to the four Filipino finalists heading to the World Architecture Festival in Berlin by showcasing these shortlisted projects at the event in collaboration with BluPrint. The four finalists are Jorge Yulo Architects & Associates, Leandro V. Locsin Partners and Eriksson Furunes, Visionary Architecture and WTA Architecture and Design Studio.

AquaSymphony--the most luxurious shower in the world

AquaSymphony embodies ultimate relaxation. Being the perfect fusion between latest SPA technologies and digital innovations, it transforms the present concept of showering into the ultimate luxury SPA experience. AquaSymphony blends the most exclusive natural and man-made SPA environments into one holistic shower experience for all the senses. With its impressive size of the 1016mm x 762mm, it creates an interplay of water that exhilarates and renews you.

An AquaCurtain of water droplets falls on you, drawing you into a dreamlike state of being. The Light Curtain of rainbow coloured lights provides soothing chromotherapy with a personalised light show, whilst a variety of different sprays allows water to cascade onto your skin creating wonderful sensations. The Waterfall XL Sprays, an extra-wide water outlet, creates the sensation of a waterfall. The Bokoma Sprays, eight dynamically pulsating spray nozzles, deliver the sensation of a stimulating fingertip massage. The Rain Spray delivers very large and soft droplets for a luxurious shower feel. With its cool, fine mist, the Drizzle Spray rejuvenates your skin. The Pure Spray provides straight-falling water, rinsing away stress like a clear mountain spring. Additionally, the Gentle Steam is an optional luxury feature for your personal SPA, invoking the relaxing feeling of a detoxifying steam bath for a calm and soothing experience.

The highly-advanced sound system is another smart optional feature that mixes your personal favourite music with the sound of splashing water. The F-digital Deluxe base unit box can be connected with an Apple or Android mobile device, allowing you to use the GROHE SPA App for perfect control of light, sound and steam. These amazing technological features can help you enjoy your shower in new dimensions.

With numerous raffles, prizes and surprises, Oktoberfeast for the Senses was definitely an awesome experience. Oktoberfeast for the Senses was supported by Hugo Boss Fragrances, Make Up Factory and Brotzeit.

Discover your favorite GROHE product, which can be yours for the basking at 40% off! Imagine many other select GROHE items, from hand showers to shower systems, fixtures and fittings, individually tagged at 5%, 20%, and 30% less! This is the perfect time to get soaked in luxury! Promo duration from October 1 to November 30, 2017, exclusively available in Wilcon Depot stores. Per DTI-FTEB Permit No. 11092, Series of 2017.

Check out www.grohe.ph or www.wilcon.com.ph to find a Grohe showroom near you!

English Alternative Band NOTHING BUT THIEVES performs at the Kia Theatre on January 21!

English band Nothing But Thieves gained the respect from pillars of the modern rock community – among them Muse, who took them out as support band on their 2016 arena tour.

Nothing But Thieves consists of lead vocalist and guitarist Conor Mason, guitarist Joe Langridge-Brown, guitarist and keyboardist Dominic Craik, bassist Philip Blake, and drummer James Price. The alternative rock band’s music celebrates eclecticism and songcraft. “We weren't setting out to write something completely different, but I would say we experimented more, tried to push the boundaries, tried to capture something that pushed us outside of our comfort zone,” says guitarist Dom Kraik. “If a song made us feel a bit odd, that's good.” In fact, it’s that spirit that motivates them. “The mantra of the band is to not regurgitate any ideas,” says frontman Conor Mason.

Less of a consideration is whether their songs are arena-ready anthems, despite road testing their last collection while on tour with Muse. That, they say, will come naturally. “It shouldn’t be a conscious thing to write those kinds of songs. Sorry and Particles could be deemed big arena songs, but they could equally have been tiny and indie – we didn't set out to write them as massive tunes.”

Actually, say the band, they hope simply to keep growing as they have in those incredible two years since their debut. Their main goal is more noble. “We're a guitar band with a really modern take on music,” says Conor. “We're trying to be on the forefront. We play guitars, but we're not a rock band in the traditional way, because we're trying to modernise and push the boundaries of what you're supposed to sound like as a band.”

Nothing But Thieves will perform their well loved hits “If I Get High”, “Lover, Please Stay”, Amsterdam, “Sorry”, “Particles”, “Wake Up Call” and many more  at the Kia Theater on January 21, 2018 produced by Ovation Productions. Tickets available through www.ticketnet.com.ph and regular Ticketnet outlets. Ticket prices are P5750, 3750, 1750 available starting November 3, 2017.


#NothingButThievesMNL

Experience festive celebrations at the newly opened Ayala Malls Cloverleaf

To those living around Balintawak, A. Bonifacio QC and Monumento area. There's no need to travel up north to shop for malls. Ayala Malls Cloverleaf is now open,   located at the heart of Balintawak near EDSA and NLEX.

Ayala Malls Group Leasing Head Mark Sablan, Area Head of the Northern
Ayala Malls AC Legarda and Estate Head of Cloverleaf, Strategic Landbank
Management Group of ALI Jay Teodoro


It is also directly connected to the LRT Balintawak station and close to the soon-to-be-completed Skyway Stage 3 extension project along A. Bonifacio Avenue, which will cut Makati-Balintawak travel time to a 20-minute drive. With its strategic location, Cloverleaf will be one of the most accessible establishments in the northern most tip of Quezon City.

It is now open to cater to your shopping needs this holiday season. I love that just like any Ayala Malls, Ayala Malls Cloverleaf boasts an exciting mix of business, retail, dining and lifestyle entertainment options. All the shops that I have been frequenting is already there – all of which is beautifully brought together on the 11-hectare estate.

In addition to hosting a transport terminal, Ayala Malls Cloverleaf features several residential projects led by Avida and Alveo, five towers featuring office spaces for various enterprises; and Ayala Malls Cloverleaf, the anchor regional mall at the center of the township and first in the CAMANAVA (Caloocan, Malabon, Navotas and Valenzuela City) area. While built to meet the demands of the dynamic community, Cloverleaf also considers the universal need for relaxing spaces, building expansive walkways and lush gardens to envelop the open areas.

THE NEW UPSCALE MALL IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD

Last October 25, 2017, Ayala Malls Cloverleaf officially welcomed its first guests with its Grand Opening.

Mall-goers were greeted by a festive marching band to signal the official opening of the mall. Upon entry, guests were further treated to several discounts and promos of an impressive 81% open merchants. Later in the afternoon, guests were serenaded by Darren Espanto at the Activity Center. 

“Ayala Malls Cloverleaf was crafted to fit the various lifestyles of the people in the community. Here, in the north, people were looking for a place where they could chill and relax, and escape the busy-ness of the city,” shares Rowena Tomeldan, Head of Ayala Malls Group, Ayala Land Inc. “Ayala Malls Cloverleaf thus brought together different merchants, offering a diverse mix of experiences – from pampering to dining to retail shopping. We aim to be the community’s go-to place for everything.” 

Delighting the residents and visitors in the community, Ayala Malls Cloverleaf houses several mall anchors including Robinsons Supermarket, Robinsons Department Store, and six cinemas, which brings everything you need, from fashion to tech, home and other novelty items. Here, the shopaholics and mall-goers will find their favorite international and foreign brands such as H&M and Uniqlo, as well as fitness brands Anytime Fitness and Slimmers World.

While the men have their tech and gadget go-tos, the kids will discover their new favorite playground in Ayala Malls Cloverleaf, which now has Kidzoona, Time Zone and Toys R Us. A special heritage wall mural designed by Googly Gooeys can be seen at the fourth floor, which highlights the mall’s special connection to the CAMANAVA and Balintawak community.

Exciting the gourmands of the North, Ayala Malls Cloverleaf also becomes a new foodie destination with an array of dining options, which aim to excite the palate and delight the epi(curious). Have your fill of your hawker favorites such as Turks, Reyes Barbeque and Hokkaido Takoyako, among others. Try out the delicious, new food concepts from Banawe and Binondo such as Tra Vinh Authentic Vietnamese Noodles, Tacoman by Silantro, Neil’s Lechon Cebu, Mr. Ube Rice & Noodle House, Hot-Star Large Fried Chicken and Botejyu Express. To help you satiate your sweet tooth, take to Eng Bee Tin for their famous hopia, Wicked Snow, The Baker’s Co., BLK 513, and Scrapes.

PROJECT STAR: CELEB POWER

As Ayala Malls Cloverleaf opened its doors to the public, it also opens its hearts to the less fortunate. At the Festival of Stars, Ayala Malls Cloverleaf launches a fundraising event that will benefit ChildHope Philippines, and provide aid and assistance to the street children of Monumento and Balintawak, Quezon City.

In Project Star, get the chance to see your favorite stars and idols up close and personal. On October 25, be serenaded by Darren Espanto, then Julie Anne San Jose on Oct 27, Silent Sanctuary (Oct 28), and Kim Chiu (Nov 4).

For every album purchase on the day of the event, get one VIP seat stub, while every donation of Php 150 to ChildHope Philippines at the designated booth on the day of the event entitles you to one Project Star Merchandise and one seat stub.

Also, catch Erich Gonzales on Nov 3, Himig Handog (Nov 11), The Voice Kids (Nov 18) and KZ Tandingan (Nov 25).

At Ayala Malls Cloverleaf, discover a fiesta of fresh finds, indulge in new flavors, and experience festive celebrations.

For more information, visit facebook.com/AyalaMallsCloverleaf.

Marvel Cinematic Universe, Thor: Ragnarok captures the biggest opening day gross of P38.56M!

The God of Thunder’s exciting new adventure in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Thor: Ragnarok opened at No.1 yesterday nationwide, capturing the biggest opening day gross for a Marvel Studios title for 2017.

The Chris Hemsworth-led blockbuster posted an otherworldly P38.56-M opening gross (including Tuesday's sneaks) and now ranks fourth in the year's biggest openers (bested only by Beauty and the Beast, Wonder Woman and Fast & Furious 8).

The top-selling cinemas are (in descending order) SM Mall of Asia (P1.67-M), SM North EDSA (P1.59-M), SM Megamall (P1.25-M), Newport Cinemas (P1.07-M), Glorietta 4 (P886,362), Trinoma (P874,529), Greenbelt 3 (P724,343), Ayala Malls Cebu (P643,876), SM Aura (P600,699) and SM Cebu (P574,834).

They are followed by Robinsons's Magnolia (P564,982), Power Plant (P561,821), SM Iloilo (P561,010), Bonifacio High Street (P536,086), Greenhills Promenade (P484,702), SM Clark (P480,530), Shang Cineplex (P480,530), Uptown Place (P472,439), SM Seaside City Cebu (P461,076) and Fisher Mall (P447,360).

Directed by Taika Waititi from a script by Craig Kyle & Christopher Yost and Stephany Folsom and Eric Pearson, Thor: Ragnarok picks up after the events of Avengers: Age of Ultron.

In the film, Thor (Chris Hemsworth) is imprisoned on the other side of the universe without his mighty hammer and finds himself in a race against time to get back to Asgard to stop Ragnarok—the destruction of his homeworld and the end of Asgardian civilization—at the hands of an all-powerful new threat, the ruthless Hela (Cate Blanchett). But first he must survive a deadly gladiatorial contest that pits him against his former ally and fellow Avenger—the Incredible Hulk (Mark Ruffalo).

The film stars Chris Hemsworth, Tom Hiddleston, Cate Blanchett, Idris Elba, Jeff Goldblum, Tessa Thompson, Karl Urban with Mark Ruffalo and Anthony Hopkins.

Now showing across the Philippines, Thor: Ragnarok is distributed by the Walt Disney Company.

Plan and decorate your Halloween with Daiso Japan

Halloweens don’t always have to be the scariest time of the year. Sometimes, you can make things more interesting by giving it a cute twist. With Daiso Japan’s unique accessories and quirky décors, everyone can have more options when it comes to planning and decorating for a spooky party.

Go all out with preparing for a memorable Halloween night. Daiso Japan sells spook-tacular décor, such as creepy spider ornaments, that give guests a quick scare. Show your imaginative side and design your wall with charming stickers to balance out the scary vibe. 

Dress up your child in cute or spooky costumes for a fun Halloween.

Stand out with a mischievous outfit and complete it with a headpiece that can give it a mysterious yet lively look. Daiso Japan offers witch’s hats and bat wing head bands that come in various colors and styles to give more options to showcase your creativity.

Of course, celebrating the spookiest day of the year is not complete without sweets and treats. Bake and create delicious cookies that you can give out to kids with Daiso’s shaped cookie cutters. Collect candies and chocolates with Daiso’s bizarre treat bags that will surely guarantee you a treat, not a trick!

Put on these cute glasses and channel kawaii this Halloween.

Turn on LED candles for a bright yet mystic Halloween party.

Complete your kid’s Halloween look with these hair veils that come in bright or dark colors.



With the many fun and out-of-the-ordinary items that Daiso Japan offers, you can Daisofy your Halloween and celebrate the season the way you like it. Get your party essentials at any of the 53 Daiso stores nationwide. 

Epson launches the new compact L-series integrated ink tank printers

Epson L-series Integrated Ink Tank Printer

Epson, a global leader in printing technologies and market leader for ink tank printers, has launched its new A4 duplex integrated ink tank printer, the new L-series printers that offer one of the lowest printing costs in the market.

Sporting a brand new sleek design, the new L-series integrated ink tank printers have been re-designed into a compact size with the ink tank integrated into the printer, offering the smallest footprint amongst all brands of ink tank printers .

Designed with the customers’ experience in mind, its easy-to-use spill-free ink bottles offer users ease and convenience when refilling the ink bottles. The ink bottles are designed to prevent re-filling errors with each ink bottle nozzle uniquely customized to fit its matching color tank.

The new integrated L-series printers significantly lower the total cost of ownership to businesses with its ultra-high page yields. Each complete set of 4 ink bottles increased its yield to 7,500 black and white pages and 6,000 color pages to help businesses lower their operating costs. The pigment-based black ink also provides laser-like quality, making documents water and smudge-resistant when printing in mono. 

The new L-series ink tank printers come with auto-duplex  print function which affords users up to 50% savings on paper cost, reducing running costs even further. Epson is currently the only brand offering ink tank printers with auto-duplex function in the market.

Since Epson first launched its breakthrough ink tank system printers, the company has continued to provide innovative modifications to further improve productivity for business and home users. 

Epson’s long-term product development and manufacturing philosophy is aligned with the company’s motivation to innovate for the future to realize the company’s business goals, and at the same time ensure customer satisfaction and preserve the environment with its limited resources. 

“Epson printers have also taken steps to drastically reduce environmental impact by lessening the amount of consumables used. Compared to laser printer’s toner cartridges which gives low black page yield and made from more plastic materials, customers can print 7,500 pages with the Epson L- series resource-friendly ink bottle,” explains Russer Cabrera, Product Manager, Inkjet Printers, Epson Philippines. 

The new L-series printers come with PrecisionCore printheads  for high performance, achieving high ISO print speeds of up to 15ipm for standard black and white printing and 33ppm for draft printing, for improved business efficiency. Delivering a maximum print resolution of 4800 x 1200 dpi, Epson’s PrecisionCore printheads are composed of Micro Thin Film Piezo print chips for precise multi-size droplet control capabilities, ensuring the greatest details and extremely smooth gradations in documents or photographs.

The integrated ink tank printers deliver exceptional quality black and white prints with the use of black pigment ink that produces water and smudge-resistant printouts. For photo printing, the printers offer outstanding lab-quality photos when printing on photo media. Large-sized photo printing is made possible as the printers support borderless printing of up to A4 size.

Additional features include a 30-page Automatic Document Feeder (ADF) for unattended scanning and copying of multi-sheet documents .

The ink tank printers support printing on-the-go and comes equipped with Ethernet2, Wi-Fi, and Wi-Fi Direct connectivity, enabling users to print wirelessly within a network, connect to mobile devices or print remotely from anywhere via Epson Connect, Epson’s suite of connectivity solutions.

As the brand with the widest range of ink tank printers worldwide, Epson continues to lead as the number one ink tank vendor, achieving the largest market share of ink tank printers among ink tank vendors across South East Asia. There are now over 20 million Epson ink tank printers sold worldwide since its launch in 2010.

“We have redesigned the experience of our L-series ink tank printers to bring greater convenience and ease-of-use to users, as well as added new features that support the business needs of our customers. The new integrated ink tank printers are designed with the customers’ experience in mind to offer one of the lowest printing costs in the market. We look forward to offering solutions that support businesses by helping them to manage their operational costs and improve business efficiency,” said Eduardo Bonoan, General Manager and Head of Marketing, Epson Philippines.

The new integrated ink tank printers consist of the L4150 and L4160 models, and the L6160, L6170 and L6190 models.

Clint Eastwood's real-life heroes drama “The 15:17 to Paris” will be shown Feb 21, 2018

Clint Eastwood’s drama “The 15:17 to Paris,” about the real-life heroes who derailed a terrorist attack during a highspeed train ride, will be released
in the Philippines on February 21, 2018. The announcement was made October 24 by Sue Kroll, President of Worldwide Marketing and Distribution, Warner Bros. Pictures.

Kroll stated, “Clint Eastwood is one of our most prolific and enduring filmmakers and we are thrilled to continue our longtime collaboration with him as we bring his next film to the screen. This is both a touching story of three lifelong friends and a compelling tale of patriotism and heroism, and we felt this would be a great window for audiences everywhere to experience this uplifting true story.”

In the early evening of August 21, 2015, the world watched in stunned silence as the media reported a thwarted terrorist attack on Thalys train #9364 bound for Paris—an attempt prevented by three courageous young Americans traveling through Europe. “The 15:17 to Paris” follows the course of the friends’ lives, from the struggles of childhood through finding their footing in life, to the series of unlikely events leading up to the attack. Throughout the harrowing ordeal, their friendship never wavers, making it their greatest weapon and allowing them to save the lives of the more than 500 passengers on board.

The heroic trio is comprised of Anthony Sadler, Oregon National Guardsman Alek Skarlatos, and U.S. Air Force Airman First Class Spencer Stone, who play themselves in the film. Starring alongside them are Jenna Fischer (“Hall Pass,” TV’s “The Office”); Judy Greer (“War for the Planet of the Apes”); and Ray Corasani (TV’s upcoming “The Long Road Home”). Paul-Mikél Williams plays the younger Anthony; Bryce Gheisar plays the younger Alek; and William Jennings takes on the role of the younger Spencer‬.

Eastwood (“Sully,” “American Sniper”) directed from a screenplay by Dorothy Blyskal, based on the book The 15:17 to Paris: The True Story of a Terrorist, a Train, and Three American Heroes by Anthony Sadler, Alek Skarlatos, Spencer Stone and Jeffrey E. Stern. Eastwood also produced the film, along with Tim Moore, Kristina Rivera and Jessica Meier. The film’s executive producer is Bruce Berman.

Behind the scenes, the creative team includes frequent collaborators Tom Stern, who served as cinematographer on 13 of Eastwood’s previous films; Deborah Hopper, who has served as Eastwood’s costume designer on 17 prior films; and Blu Murray, who most recently cut “Sully.” Veteran art director Kevin Ishioka, whose work can be seen in “Sully” and in this summer’s “Dunkirk,” served as production designer.

The film will be distributed by Warner Bros. Pictures, a Warner Bros. Entertainment Company, and in select territories by Village Roadshow Pictures.

GCash: Pay for everyday purchases using your mobile phone #GCashMoNaYan

Recent surveys often report that millennials would rather lose their wallet than lose their phone. Are wallets and cash things of the past?

GCash seems to be making this happen sooner by introducing the scan to pay feature in the GCash App.  GCash is the mobile wallet service for Globe customers used to pay bills, send money or buy load.  Now, the new feature lets you pay for goods and services just by scanning a QR code using your phone.

“We want to give the people a different kind of experience where all they will be needing is their phone to pay for their daily expenses.  With scan to pay, there will soon be a time when GCash can already be used to pay your neighborhood sari-sari store or even the balut or ice cream vendor just by scanning the QR code sticker of the vendor.  It has been done in other places and we’re also doing it here,” said Anthony Thomas, President and CEO of Mynt which operates GCash.

The scan to pay feature can now be used at Mercato Centrale, Kabisera, and Ibiza, among many others, in Bonifacio Global City, Taguig. It is also being rolled out in in various establishments such as malls, fastfood joints, pharmacies, at movie theaters.

To experience the cashless lifestyle with scan to pay, all you need to do is download the GCash App which is available for both Android and iOS devices. Top up or cash in at Globe Stores or GCash Partner Outlets such as SM Business Centers, Puregold, Cebuana Lhuillier, and 7-Eleven. Find the QR code of the merchant then just use your GCash App to scan the code and pay. This is a whole new level of cashless lifestyle.
   
The GCash App scan to pay feature is definitely a game-changer, making cash so yesterday. If you want to experience the scan to pay feature of GCash, head on to Glorietta 4 this October 25!

Try it and you’ll agree, cash is so yesterday. GCash mo na yan

TrueMoney PH is now one of the largest payment and remittance networks in the country,

TrueMoney Philippines recently achieved one of their biggest milestones to date. In less than a year of operations in the country, the company already reached its 1 million transacting customer mark. TrueMoney is a Fintech brand of Ascend Money, a digital finance venture of the C.P. Group from Thailand, one of the largest diversified conglomerates in Asia, and Ant Financial (Alipay), the payments arm of e-commerce giant Alibaba Group.


 Humble Beginnings and Rapid Growth 
It wasn’t so long ago when TrueMoney Philippines was just a business concept on a set of PowerPoint slides.

Within the first few months, TrueMoney Philippines grew its workforce from one person to hundreds of employees spread across several regions in the country. The team also launched its core technology system and began offering services on a pilot basis to several partners.

In a few months’ time, it already built what is now one of the largest payment and remittance networks in the country, with over 5,000 TrueMoney Centers.

“Our mission is to provide everyone with ACCESS to affordable and innovative financial services, particularly those who are underbanked and underserved today,” says TrueMoney Philippines CEO Xavier Marzan. “That means being pervasive and going to where these underserved segments are.”

Today, TrueMoney Philippines already provides services such as payment of e-commerce purchases, bills payment, buying of load and credits, and remittance to multiple provinces nationwide, including far flung areas in Albay, Bataan, Benguet, Bohol, Bukidnon, Cagayan de Oro, Camarines Sur, Cavite, Cebu, Davao, Ilocos, Isabela, Laguna, La Union, Metro Manila, Misamis Oriental, Nueva Ecija, Nueva Vizcaya, Pampanga, Pangasinan, Quezon, Rizal, Tarlac, and Zambales and more!

“Where we are today is just the starting point,” Marzan says. “We are constantly growing our network of partner centers to cover more greenfield areas.” 

With an empowered footprint of TrueMoney Centers in strategic corridors, TrueMoney introduced its Money Padala (remittance) service a few months ago. For TrueMoney’s Partner Agents, this meant a more diversified portfolio of services and a greater potential of earning higher income. For its customers, it meant convenience and affordability as TrueMoney’s cash-to-cash Money Padala service is one of the lowest sending rates in the country.

While the average rates for domestic remittances today range from 3 percent to more than 10 percent for some providers, TrueMoney rates go as low as only 2 percent of the transaction amount—without any additional charges to the recipient. So say for remittances of P1,000, the total cost of sending is only P20. The recipient also gets the entire amount without any additional charges.
To reinforce its drive to serve the masses, TrueMoney has also worked with talk show host Boy Abunda in promoting the new brand in the Philippine market.

“This is just the first step,” Marzan adds. “In the coming months, we will be launching additional payment partners and expanding our portfolio of services. Given our industry, we need to constantly stay ahead of what the market demands. We need to be at the forefront of innovation to address current gaps in the market with new products as well as to solve difficult challenges in an emerging market like ours with new capabilities.”

To know more about TrueMoney and how to become a TrueMoney partner agent, visit www.truemoney.com.ph or call (02) 7189999. You may even text them at 09778063775 (Globe) or 0998565999 (Smart).

The Biggest Health and Wellness Festival Comes to BGC with Anytime Fitness

Anytime Fitness, the world’s largest and fastest-growing fitness franchise, recently celebrated health and wellness with an exciting obstacle course, fabulous giveaways, and plenty of Zumba at the My Healthier Place Fitness Fest at the BGC Amphitheatre,Taguig.

“People form the core of Anytime Fitness. The fitness festival celebrates our community nationwide from Baguio to Davao as part of our shared commitment to get to a healthier place,” Anytime Fitness Philippines Master Franchisee Maurice Levine explains. “Through this event, we hope to inspire more people to discover their passion for health not just for themselves, but for their loved ones as well.”

    Anytime Fitness Asia CEO Maurice Levine with hosts Marc Nelson and         Rovilson Fernandez

Open to Anytime Fitness club members and non-members alike, the My Healthier Place Fitness Fest brought together several attractions and activities to inspire people to improve their lifestyles while having fun. Some of today’s well-known media personalities also joined in to support the thrust for better health such as Marc Nelson and Rovilson Fernandez.

Finding Fun in Fitness
From the Zumba class to the Fitness Boot Camp, there was something for everyone. 

Delectable and healthy recipes were served during the cooking segment of the festival featuring Sabrina’s Kitchen. Samsung also introduced its newest line of smart watch technologies to better track an individual’s fitness journey with the introduction of the Samsung GearFit 2 wearables during the Trace Your Fitness Journey segment.

Battle of the Purple Warriors 2017 Champions Anytime Fitness Shaw
Anytime Fitness Clubs also competed against each other in the “Battle of the Purple Warriors 2017” where Anytime Fitness Shaw was crowned champions.
Raffle prizes from Uniqlo, Forever 21, New Balance, Cebu Pacific, Samsung, and Jamba Juice, as well as a six-month membership at Anytime Fitness were also given away to lucky guests.


Meet the Newest Digital Ambassador

The My Healthier Place contest, which began running last July, culminated during the festival with doctor of internal medicine Cecille Francisco being named Anytime Fitness Digital Ambassador for 2018. Not only does she gain the coveted title plus other freebies but also a free trip to Thailand. Teacher Gia Geronimo came in first runner-up and UP Diliman student Hinson Or came in at second. 

From left to right: Rovilson Fernandez, Anytime Fitness Philippines Director Johannes Raadsma, Anytime Fitness Digital Ambassador for 2018 Cecille Francisco, Anytime Fitness Asia CEO Maurice Levine and Marc Nelson


For more details, visit www.anytimefitness.ph and follow Anytime Fitness Philippines online at https://www.facebook.com/AnytimeFitnessPhilippines/.

VAL JOHN BRINGS RAIN BACK TO THE PH

Anything about Korea, its history and culture including K-Pop and K-dramas, language, food, fashion, and cosmetics have pervaded the consciousness of Filipinos. Some spend huge amount of money to visit Korea or attend a K-Pop concert. Others join dance cover competitions that would give them a once in a lifetime chance to compete with other foreign finalists in Korea.

Val John (center) with Miko and Gab

Such is the case of Val John, the Cultural Diplomat of the Korean Cultural Center. The Ateneo graduate was the Philippines’ representative in the 2015 K-Pop World Festival held in Changwon, South Korea. Val John is a self-confessed fan of Rain, Korea’s King of Pop. “His dance moves are amazing,” he answered when asked why he likes the Korean superstar.

His enthusiasm about anything and everything Korean started when he was in high school. He is a good friend of Sandara Park’s brother Park Sang-Hyun (known by his stage name Thunder) whom he met while they were undergoing ABS-CBN workshops. Val John was a volunteer of the Korean Cultural Center in 2010 and studied the Korean language in 2011. He lived in Korea for four years where he trained in singing and dancing, did some business, and learned more about the language.

Val John turned his passion for everything Korean into another worthwhile endeavor. He is one of the performers and concert producers of Rise 2 Shine Benefit Concert featuring his idol, Rain, at the Smart Araneta Coliseum on November 3 (Friday), 8pm. Joining them onstage are Sam Concepcion, Jay R, Kris Lawrence, Miko and Gab, Loisa Andalio, Isabelle de Leon, Jinho Bae, Dasuri Choi, Krissha Viaje, Bendeatha, and Cursebox. Miko and Gab will be the opening act of Rise 2 Shine.

The event is presented by Ko-Ph World Foundation, Yeppunonnie, and Ouniwang. This is for the benefit of Marawi, MYNP Foundation, and Ko-Ph World Foundation.

“I invite everyone to watch the concert. Not only will you get a chance to watch Rain perform but our local artists as well. We will show everyone that Pinoys are world class talents. Plus, you get to be part of a good cause,” says Val John.   

Tickets are now available at all Ticketnet outlets. Call 911-5555 or visit www.ticketnet.com.ph.