RCBC Bankard JCB Platinum Card is equipped for today’s modern traveler, with benefits such as access to over 50 airport lounges

If you are a frequent traveler, you know that a credit card aside from debit card is a must when you are traveling abroad. When you check into a hotel, the receptionist always ask for a credit card, as a security deposit. I have always encountered this when I am checking in . Credit cards are a great way to pay when abroad. They’re far safer to carry than cash. Just let your credit card issuer know your travel plans ahead of time.


That's why RCBC Bancard together with their long-time partner, JCB, recently introduced their newest prestige card, the RCBC Bankard JCB Platinum Card.

Shimpei Yamaguch, JCB General Manager (left) and Simon Calasanz, RCBC Bankard President and CEO (right) pose with one of the Geisha models present at the launch of the RCBC Bankard JCB Platinum Card



The card was formally launched at an exclusive gathering attended by RCBC Bankard and JCB executives, and members of the press at the Bonifacio Hall in Shangri-La the Fort. This latest product is set to join RCBC Bankard’s existing roster of award-winning credit cards.



The RCBC Bankard JCB Platinum Card is equipped for today’s modern traveler, with benefits such as access to over 50 airport lounges, free use of JCB Plaza lounges located in major cities worldwide, 24/7 Concierge Desk service, as well as free travel insurance worth up to Php 1,000,000.

The card also makes use of RCBC Bankard’s flexible rewards program, where cardholders can earn points through domestic or international purchases. RCBC Bankard cardholders can even earn more points when they use the card for their purchases made in Japan. Reward points earned can also be converted to Airmiles for well-known airlines such as Philippine Airlines, Cebu Pacific, Cathay Pacific, and All Nippon Airways (ANA).

L-R) Ma. Angela Mirasol, RCBC Bankard Vice President and Marketing Group Head, Yuichiro Kadowaki,  JCB Senior Vice President & Head of Development and Coordination, Simon Javier Calasanz, RCBC Bankard President and CEO, Gil Buenaventura, RCBC President and CEO, Mikihisa Asano, JCB Country Manager, and Shimpei Yamaguchi, JCB General Manager celebrate the launch of the newest RCBC Bankard JCB Platinum Card

“In creating the RCBC Bankard JCB Platinum Card, we wanted to create a product that could meet all the needs of today’s international jetsetter, especially those who frequent Japan. The exclusive privileges and benefits the card has to offer were tailor-fit for our elite cardholders who really love to travel.” Says Angela Mirasol, RCBC Bankard Vice-President and Marketing Group Head.

RCBC Bankard and JCB, Japan’s only international payment brand, have one of the longest-standing financial partnerships in the country. “This newest card product is the culmination and celebration of a partnership that has spanned almost two decades and helped expand the credit card market in the country.” Says Simon Calasanz, President and CEO of RCBC Bankard, “The RCBC Bankard JCB Platinum Card offers our cardholders the best of both financial institutions, combining RCBC Bankard’s innovative card products with JCB’s 55 years of experience in the industry and growing global acceptance network.”

The RCBC Bankard JCB Platinum Card also includes added features such as Spend Monitor, a budget management tool that helps cardholders keep an eye on their finances by allowing them to set their own budget, Spend Analyzer, which provides cardholders with a summary of their transactions, Fast Billspay, a feature that gives RCBC Bankard cardholders with a worry-free and rewarding bills payment scheme, and Unli0%, where cardholders can pay for their purchases within 3 months with 0% installment.



RCBC Bankard clients interested to apply for the bank’s newest prestige card can visit the bank’s website or call the bank’s hotline, 888-1-8888.

Erich Gonzales reveals her secret to getting fit--the healthy way

When you are around my age. You can feel that your metabolism is slowing down. No matter how you control your diet, you feel that you are gaining fat around your belly, arms and legs too.

That's why I need to exercise and squeeze  a 30-minute workout sessions into my busy weekly schedule.

I guess,  everyone struggling with their weight needs a diet supplement to reach their healthy goals.

When I heard about mySlim and how it help with weight loss. I have to try it to lose just 5 lbs off my weight.

mySlim recently launches celebrity Kapamilya star Erich Gonzales as their newest Ambassador at Seda Vertis North Hotel on March 21.

Erich Gonzales who went topless on the January issue of Rogue Magazine this year was flawless and fit. She is the epitome of a fit and healthy filipina.

She told that apart from her diet, she regularly work out at the gym to maintain her ideal body.

mySlim has always been the Slimming product for those who want to slim down for the right reasons, so it was no surprise that the very popular brand’s new endorser is perennial showbiz A-lister Erich Gonzales.

mySlim and Erich have had a similar journey. mySlim is a brand that came from a little-known company that simply proved too good a product to stay obscure. The bottom line: mySlim works, the brand is staying power, loyal customers, and the bevy of beautiful brand endorsers who have represented the brand over the years are proof positive.

In a media event held at Seda Vertis North, Quezon City, mySlim formally announced Erich as the new face of the brand, underscoring the new meaning of sexy that mySlim has helped define. With this move, mySlim cements its stand of encouraging women to see beyond weightless regimens, fad diets, and even expensive and often dangerous aesthetic interventions. *

According to Erick Armigos, brand architect of Vida Nutri-Science, makers of mySlim, "In a country that consistently ranks among the best in the world in Gender Equality, especially in the work place, the sexy F ilipina is one who embodies what it is to have self-worth and who takes care of her body for the sake of health and fitness, and not just to look sexy. "

Vida Nutriscience, made sure that their product was designed using the best, safest; and most effective 'ingredients that will complement a healthy lifestyle. MySIim contains Yerba Mate, Carnipure, and Palatinose which are potent ingredients that help you burn unhealthy fat and sustain a healthy body.

A post shared by ROGUE Magazine (@rogueonline) on Jan 19, 2018 at 1:00am PST

Yerba Mate is a potent and safe detoxification agent and metabolic stimulant that is similar to, but more powerjiil than cojfee and tea. Clinical studies prove that it helps lessen fat absorption by improving insulin sensitivity, giving your body an added fat burning boost without adversely affecting muscle mass when you exercise regularly.

The reason we become overweight is that the human body burns carbohydrates before it burns at, this is a logical evolutionary phenomenon. Carbohydrates cannot be stored, they can only be burned or lost. Fat on the other hand CAN be stored. This phenomenon allows us to not starve to death in the event that we can’t eat for periods of time in excess of 12 15 hours. The side effect is that because we rarely ever go that long without a meal in modern times, we end up storing too much fat.

Carnipure, a form of L-Camitine enables the conversion of fat into metabolic energy and reduces metabolic stress. This gives the body the ability to burn fat during workouts, even when there Is still an abundance of energy from carbohydrates.

mySlim also contains Palatinose which is a powerful metabolic booster that makes the most out of your routine exercises. It’s a type of carbohydrate that supplies glucose, our body’s preferred energy source. Palatinose helps sustain the body’s energy supply by breaking down slowly which gives our body more glucose over a longer period of time.

The science behind mySlim ensures a safe and effective way to achieve weight loss and overall fitness, especially when partnered with a healthy diet and an active lifestyle. mySlim works best for people like its new endorser Erich Gonzales who, despite managing a busy lifestyle, still takes time to eat right and to exercise.

mySlim is available in three product variants: ready-to-drink, powder drink, and food supplement mySlim is available in Mercury Drug, Watson ’s, and other leading drug stores nationwide. For more information, visit wwmvidanutriscience. com or mySlim's Facebook page

The Global No.1 Mediheal mask packs that dominated Korea’s drugstore sales is now available in the PH

The latest Korean beauty craze Mediheal mask packs,  the Global No. 1 mask pack from Korea (with collaboration from the South Korean #1 Boyband BTS) is now available at Watsons.

The mask which is available in different variants is affordable and convenient to use.  You can now achieve beautiful skin without the need for surgery. All products are dermatologically tested too.  Just pick out a product that best suits your skin type. From hydrating to brightening to anti ageing and anti acne,  (whether overnight, wash-off or sheet masks) you need in your beauty routine. Mediheal masks has it all for you.

I particularly like the IPI Lightmask with its brightening effect and would also love to try the Collagen Impact essential mask. Upon googling, the IPI Lightmask is their bestseller together with The N.M.F. (Natural Moisturizing Factor) Aquaring Ampoule Mask EX. 

MEDIHEAL, the Global No. 1 mask pack from Korea, which has sold over 1 billion mask packs worldwide, is now distributed in the Philippines by Genson Distribution Inc. and is exclusively available at Watsons and SM Beauty Stores.

MEDIHEAL products were developed at the beauty school of the prestigious Seoul University by a team of skin experts and dermatologists who understand Asian skin and what works for it. The brand offers a wide range of innovative and effective sheet masks and skin care products that cater to different concerns.

There are different types of mask packs addressing specific skin concerns and needs such as acne, brightening, soothing, moisture retention and uneven skin tone.

The N.M.F. (Natural Moisturizing Factor) Aquaring Ampoule Mask EX. is MEDIHEAL’s bestselling mask pack worldwide. It contains ingredients that help moisturize the skin and help improve its elasticity.

MEDIHEAL mask packs are No. 1 in the world because they are chock full of essences, with ingredients that specifically target skin concerns. Get the most benefits from all the nutrients provided by the essences out of a MEDIHEAL mask pack as MEDIHEAL logo prints will appear on the mask sheet once it is ready to remove.

MEDIHEAL x BTS

Meanwhile, fans of Korean boy band BTS, also known as Bangtan Boys, are in for a treat as the MEDIHEAL x BTS Boxed Set, which includes 10 mask packs and 14 photo cards, will be available online at www.watsons.com.ph starting March 15.

The seven-member K-Pop group composed of RM, Jin, Suga, J-Hope, V, Jimin and Jungkook was the most talked-about on the micro-blogging site Twitter in 2017.

Jared de Guzman, Watsons Group Category Manager

Janelle de Leon, Watsons Asst Category Manager

www.watsons.com.ph will carry all four boxes of MEDIHEAL x BTS—Hydrating Care, Brightening Care, Moisturizing Care and Soothing Care. Each box will retail for Php 1,250.

For more information, follow medihealph on Facebook and Instagram

John Legend Live Tonight at the Araneta Coliseum!

10x Grammy Award winner and multi-platinum selling singer-songwriter, John Legend will be returning to Manila for his highly anticipated Darkness And Light World Tour on March 21st, 2018 at the Araneta Coliseum.

John Legend’s latest album Darkness And Light has been a worldwide smash hit with the chart-topping singles “Love Me Now” and “Penthouse Floor” featuring Chance The Rapper. The album debuted on the Top 20 of the Billboard 200 and was streamed over 12-million times in the first week.

Legend serves as one of the principles for Get Lifted Film Co., a film and television production company that serves as Executive Producers on the HBO documentary “Southern Rites”, Pop Network docu-series “Sing It On”, WGN America’s series “Underground”, and films such as “Southside With You” and the critically acclaimed “La La Land”. Legend was also featured in the film and soundtrack of La La Land with the single “Start A Fire” and in the blockbuster Disney movie “Beauty and the Beast” with Ariana Grande.

Fans can expect to hear John Legend perform these new hits with his full live band, as well as his well-loved singles “All Of Me”, “Ordinary People”, “Green Light”, “Used To Love U”, “Save Room”, “Tonight (Best You Ever Had)” and more.

Tickets will be on-sale on Thursday, November 30 via TicketNet.com.ph. For more information, visit Wilbros Live on social media.

Facebook/Twitter/Instagram: @WilbrosLive
#JohnLegendMNL #DarknessAndLightTour

Global music phenomenon and K-Pop superstars BTS: BURN THE STAGE. launches on March 28 exclusively at YouTube Red Originals

Global music phenomenon and K-Pop superstars BTS will star in an all-new YouTube Original series exclusively available on YouTube Red, titled BTS: BURN THE STAGE. Launching on March 28 at 11:00 p.m. Philippine time, this eight-episode series is an intimate eyewitness account of their star-making, sold-out world tour “2017 BTS LIVE TRILOGY EPISODE: THE WINGS TOUR,” taking BTS for 300 days through 20 cities across Asia, South America, and the United States, as well as their meteoric rise on the global stage through the band’s eyes.

Unlike anything released by BTS before, this show is an intimate, personal portrayal dedicated to each other and to their fans across the globe. It celebrates the triumph of their friendship as they overcome hardships together, and shows their growth and hard work as BTS continues on the path to grow into pioneering artists of worldwide renown.

BTS: BURN THE STAGE will appeal to the devoted members of BTS’ global ARMY fanbase as well as music lovers who are relatively new to BTS’ music. The series includes intimate interviews and raw moments with band members in their private quarters backstage or in hotel rooms, as well as never-before-seen footage of key breakthrough moments for the band, such as their historic win of the Top Social Artist award at the 2017 Billboard Music Awards and their acclaimed performance at the American Music Awards.

BTS has been active on YouTube since their 2013 debut, and today ranks as YouTube’s biggest K-Pop act, earning 10 billion views to date across official and fan uploads. BTS ranks amongst the top 10 artists on the platform this year (see chart), earning more views in 2017 and 2018 to date than any other K-pop act. Because of YouTube’s global reach the group has become a global phenomenon, with over 87% of their 2017 views across YouTube coming from outside of South Korea, from places like the United States (441 million views), Brazil (317 million views), and Mexico (230 million views).

BTS have broken records across social media for engagements, and YouTube is no exception: they own the record for the most likes on the video release days for DNA (#1) and Mic Drop (#2).

Episodes 1 and 2 will be released on March 28 on BTS’ YouTube channel, Bangtan TV. While episode 1 will be free to watch for all fans on YouTube, episode 2 onward will be available by signing up to YouTube Red, YouTube’s subscription platform. Those from the Philippines can watch through youtube.com/movies. Stay tuned for a new episode coming out every week until May 9.

“We’re thrilled to be working with BTS to launch their groundbreaking documentary on YouTube Red to their worldwide ARMY fans. YouTube has been instrumental in spreading BTS’ music around the world, so today we’re happy that we can be a part of this series’ launch that showcases BTS’ maturation as global phenomena,” said Nadine Zylstra, Head of YouTube Originals, Asia Pacific.

BigHit Entertainment said, “BTS: Burn the Stage is a real-life documentary series where viewers can encounter both fantastic performances of BTS portrayed on the stunning stages of their sold-out world tour, and the more personal side of BTS members in behind-the-scenes moments. We hope the series can convey authenticity of BTS to the world at large as well as to BTS’ dedicated fans.”

YouTube Red is currently available in the U.S., Korea, Australia, New Zealand, and Mexico. Fans in many other countries around the world can purchase the series via YouTube transactional video on demand [Link].

Stay tuned for future media alerts ahead of weekly releases of episodes 1 through 8, and follow the buzz on social media with #BTSxYouTubeRed!

About YouTube Red Originals

YouTube Red is a paid membership that gives you an enhanced, uninterrupted experience across YouTube. Members get exclusive access to new Original series and movies from top talent. YouTube Red is currently available in South Korea, the United States, Australia, New Zealand and Mexico. For more details on YouTube Red, please visit YouTube.com/red.

3D 2N in KL Malaysia: Day 1 Bukit Bintang

1st Day funk!

feb 10

I won a raffle ticket for 2 to Air Asia Malaysia last year. I forgot about it until the PR emailed me to book before Feb 11.  I told my partner if he wanted to go with me, but his passport expires before the said date. So I asked my mother  if she'd love to travel to Malaysia and she said yes right away. I had my DIY itinerary ahead of time and based it on travel blogs that I have read prior to this trip.

My mother and I were too early at NAIA 3, our flight is scheduled at 6:45AM on Feb 3. We arrived at 3:330am. Excited noh? I was thankful that our flight was not delayed.  We boarded and landed in  KLIA2 at exactly 1045AM.

                              We slept while waiting on board

I thought of getting a bus instead of a train. So I  bought our bus tickets inside the airport. Bus ticket going to KL Sentral is RM 12 per person. Travel time is 1 hour.

 Tip: If you buy the tickets you have to get to the bus terminal on its scheduled time or the bus will leave you.  It says 12nn so we ran from airport going to the Bus terminal. The Bus terminal is located outside the airport.

We get off  at KL Sentral, we had our late lunch at McDonalds.
 For RM 12 you can get a Big Mac, large Fries and large soda.   I ordered 2 spicy chicken and a large drink for only RM 8.

I booked Melange Boutique Hotel at Bukit Bintang. Since its near Jalan Alor, for foodtripping, Sephora, H&M, Zara Pavilion,Petronas Towers, KLCC Suria for some shopping and some big malls around it.  I booked at Traveloka ahead of time and availed a huge discount. 

To get to Melange Hotel, after KL Sentral, we rode the Monorail purple train going to Bukit Bintang.

We get off Bukit Bintang station and passed inside Sungei Wang Plaza. 

If you plan to walk from the MRT station to Melange Hotel. It will only take you 8 mins. Since my mother was tired and could not walk further during that time. 

We hailed a taxi outside Sungei Wang Plaza and the driver charged us RM 20. We were ripped off. Hahahaha. 

Tip:  Book a Grab, it would only cost  RM 5 from Bukit Bintang to Melange. So better download a Grab app when in Malaysia to save up some transpo fare. 

Melange Boutique Hotel has a theme in each floors. We checked in at Handsome (Tampan) in RM 403. It has an off white color theme. The airconditioned unit and shower was good. Breakfast provided at 7th floor (Rococo) was okay. There were 2 menu choices during that time,  Nasi Lemak and American Breakfast. My mother approved and loved Nasi Lemak. 

My mother preferred to stay inside the hotel room  I went outside and explore Jalan Alor all by myself, and its nearest malls in the Bukit Bintang area.

                                                       Foodtripping alone!

                                                  Jalan Alor on a Saturday Night

Jalan Alor on a Saturday night was alive and festive  because they are going to celebrate Chinese New Year in a week or two.  I love how their dimsum has color coding for flavors. I bought beef noodles and the colorful dimsum for my mother. Everything looks delicious and not to mention affordable.

Dimsum is around RM 10 while seafood/beef noodles is at RM 12.  I also bought pineapple chunks for only RM 3. Bottled water is RM 1.

You can have a decent meal 3x a day, for only RM 100 if you are in a budget. The food is deliciously good and healthy. They are not heavy on salt and MSG.

                           Roasted fried chicken for RM 9 at Pavilion KL

Everything is affordable. Same with their milk teas and coffee. My mother enjoyed a hot cup of coffee at Old Town, KLCC Suria. She tried the white coffee. It was perfect according to her.

After dinner, I have decided to go to Lot 10, Starhill Gallery and Pavilion. Since it was only walking distance from our hotel.

The mall operating hours is from 10AM to 9PM.

I went to Sephora  to buy Fenty Pro and Filtr Foundation in shade 290.
They were selling it at RM 145, its cheap without the tax. But unfortunately, it was out of stock. I asked the SA if 290 shade is available at Sephora KLCC Suria. She was clueless. She should have checked it first by calling the Klcc Suria branch, instead she told me to just visit the store. Since Petronas Towers was included in my itinerary, and located in KLCC Suria. I never bothered her. I don't want any argument during that time.

This is where the heart of the action is.. 🏃 🚶 🕺 💵 ⌚ 😍 ♥ 💋 🎉 💄 ~ ~ #pavilionkl #airasiamalaysia #chinesenewyear #sephoramy #mango #giorgioarmani #love #travelgram #wanderer #wanderlust #colorfulmalaysia #instatravel #travelporn #trip

A post shared by Lou Sv (@lemongreenteaph) on Feb 6, 2018 at 10:55pm PST

After Sephora, I dropped by Zara and bought a skirt for RM 40. It was on sale, but the price point is just the same in Manila.

Part 2 Next..