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Wednesday, October 31, 2018

Winford Manila Resort: Experience a 5-Star Hotel in Manila

“Maraming beses na kitang nilayasan

Iniwanan at iba'ang pinuntahan

Parang bababeng ang hirap talagang malimutan

Ikaw lamang ang aking laging binabalikan

Manila

I keep coming back to Manila

Simply no place like Manila

Manila, I'm coming home”



I’m a Manila Girl. Born and raised in the streets of Blumentritt and Santa Cruz, educated in Manila High School and the University of the East.


And as they say you can take the girl out of Manila, but you can never take Manila out of the girl

So yes even if I haven’t been to the streets of San Francisco—yet.

I’ve already been to several countries and as much as I don’t want to admit it—despite the chaos, the dirty old city streets, and its fall from glory-- Manila has and will always have its unique charm that will keep you coming back.

Of all the cities in the Philippines, I think of Manila as the rebel, the underdog who wont go down and the ultimate personification of what it is to be Pinoy.


So Whenever there's a special occasion to celebrate, like Christmas, New Year or a Birthday—just like the song says I keep coming back to Manila.

Unfortunately, its really hard to find a decent hotel in Manila. You either have to go for the ones in Chinatown, or go all the way to Manila Hotel or all the way to Roxas Boulevard to find the good ones. So if you were living in Blumentritt area—we have no choice but to go to Quezon City or Makati.



But that was then as I have discovered recently, the San Lazaro area has a not so hidden secret—and its called Winford Manila Resort.




Because of the word “casino” I never thought of it as a family friendly place. After all, who would want to bring their kids to a casino. But as I found out last week, the casino is just one of the many attractions of Winford Manila.



It was actually my grandkid Finn who first told me how much he loves their “staycations” at Winford Hotel together with his other grandparents from his father side. He couldn’t stop talking about the big beds in their room, the spacious lobby and of course the swimming pool that never gets cold (as I would later find out, it’s the only heated pool in Manila).

So when I got invited to the Winford Sunset Cocktail party and get the chance to spend a night at the hotel, I immediately said yes!


I always get a glimpse of the hotel facade whenever I was at since it was just across Winford and I couldn’t help but be impressed at its towering structure and how it has made the area a modern landmark.  It was beautiful outside but as I entered the lobby, the interiors were even more elegant.


 It’s as if you’ve left old Manila and transported to a different place. It was comparable to the new hotels in Makati and Ortigas. The ambiance and structure was classy. No wonder, its classified as a 5-star hotel. Mind you, you dont want to go out, once youre inside.


And as I would find out later, there really isn’t any reason to go out.


We checked in at a De Luxe Room with separate beds. I chose a pool view so that If I decided to swim I could check first if there were lots of people in the pool.


We were invited to celebrate the Winford Sunset Coktail Party at the 21st floor where the Helipad is located. But since it was raining during daylight, the Winford management decided to transfer it at the Winford Ballroom. From there,  we were formally welcomed by Winford Manila’s President and COO Jeffrey Evora. We were served sumptuous food from Choi Garden Restaurant and cocktail drinks from the Hippodrome Bar. 


We went up to Helipad the highlight of our tour,  the rooftop of the hotel—The 21st floor where the helipad is located. We took pictures of the sunset and our #ootds.


The heated pool is open from 8am to 10pm. We had our night dip. It was good. Pool water is warm enough . We swam for 30 minutes and then transferred to SM Kenko Spa for a 1 hour night of relaxation. I guess I slept 30 minutes during the massage. I would recommend this spa if you want to feel relaxed.


The De Luxe Room is quite big, 4 persons could fit in without bumping each other. But I guess, they only allow 2 guests. I love their beds and pillows. They have some of the fluffiest pillows around. The bed I should say is one if not the best I’ve slept in, as I was immediately in LaLa Land the moment my back touched the bed.




If you want to try your luck, the Winford has two casino floors, one is for the slot machines and Bingo while the other floor is for card games. There is also a bar beside the casino where you can watch mini concerts featuring some of the best OPM artists. For one Saturday every month, Winford Manila treats its guests to an evening of free entertainment from some of the country’s finest acts at the Hippodrome.


They have 128 stunning rooms and suites each room boasts sleek décor that incorporates subtle colors and themes for an Asian-inspired touch.


Breakfast is served at Copa De Manila one of Winford’s dining options where they serve ala carte meals as well as lunch and dinner buffet.


You can choose between the well-appointed Deluxe Rooms or relish in the extravagant, up-market design of the Executive Suites.  The Deluxe Double (smoking and non-smoking rooms available) and Deluxe King (smoking and non-smoking) depending on your bed preference has a size of 29 sqm. It has all the amenities you need from a 40” Flat Screen TV with cable, a Safety Deposit Box, Room telephone, Bathrobe and slippers, Minibar + fridge, Working desk, In-room Iron Board and Hair dryer.



Winford Manila Resort  (beside SM San Lazaro)
Address:
San Lazaro Tourism & Business Park,
MJC Drive, Sta. Cruz, Manila

Guest Services Hotline:
 (02) 528-3600

For reservations, please contact:
reservations@winfordmanila.com

For queries:
guestservices@winfordmanila.com
sales@winfordmanila.com

Tuesday, October 30, 2018

Say Hello to Hello K-idol 10 trainees



If you are a fan of K-Pop music and its culture. Hello BTS!  Then its time to check out the Hello K-Idol trainees who made it to the Top 10. Viu partners with MYX to bring you the first Viu Original reality show of its kind in the country, Hello K-Idol.


Viu, a regional video streaming service by PCCW Media Group, together with Globe Telecom, has produced the first Viu Original reality show of its kind in the country, Hello K-Idol. Initially only available on the Viu platform, Viu is proud to announce that viewers will now also be able to watch Hello K-Idol, through a partnership with ABS CBN, on MYX Channel, every Saturday night at 9 PM starting on November 3, 2018.



After a series of online and on-ground auditions held by Viu and Globe, 10 male finalists aged between 18-27 were selected to be featured in the show’s seven episodes. The final winner will be awarded the coveted prize of a four-month all-expense paid scholarship to learn K-Pop vocal and dance at a prestigious entertainment talent school in Korea.


The webisodes will follow the K-Idol finalists as they undertake the 7-week challenge, where they will hone their talents in singing, dancing, performing, styling, and teamwork. A star-studded cast will critique their performances, while providing them with much-needed guidance on their quest to stardom. K-idols Yook Sung-Jae from the award-winning K-drama, Goblin, and Jung Joon-Young from the variety show, 2 Days & 1 Night, will serve as inspirations for the K-Idol finalists.




Mentors on the panel include singers Jinho Bae and Morissette Amon, and Korean professional dance artiste, Dasuri Choi. Kring Elenzano-Kim, prominent online host and personality, former reality TV star, and founder of two of the biggest K-Pop fans organizations in the Philippines will be hosting the show.




Helen Sou, Senior Vice President, Digital Media of PCCW Media Group, added, “Our first original reality show Hello K-Idol, co-produced in the Philippines with Globe Studios and supported by ABS CBN, MYX Channel and Ayala Malls, is indeed a significant milestone in our pan-regional expansion. By collaborating with our local partners with common vision here in the Philippines, we will continue to engage our “Viu-ers” to unlock local creativity in regional media scene together, ensuring Viu’s success in the market.”




Arianne Kader-Cu, Country Manager of Viu Philippines, said, “We are happy to announce that through this partnership with MYX, we will be able to share our content with viewers both online and offline. Viewers will be able to follow our k-idol finalists either via our Viu app/Viu.com or through MYX Channel. We hope that Hello K-Idol will just be the first initiative of its kind as we continue to build a stronger contemporary Filipino content segment, bringing Viu closer to the local audience.”

Nikko Acosta, Senior Vice President for Content Business Group of Globe, said, “Globe has always tried to find ways to help Filipinos share their love and talent for performance. With Hello K-Idol, co-produced with our partner, Viu, we are offering customers the power to enjoy the show anytime and anywhere with just a touch of their mobile phones and tablets.”



Andre Alvarez, MYX Channel Head, said, “With the growing trend of K-Pop music around the world, thanks to the concerted efforts of Viu and Globe Studios for bringing Hello K-Idol to our channel, this opens an exciting opportunity for us to tap into this new market, thus reinforcing our position as the Philippines’ number 1 music channel.”




For updates about Hello K-Idol and the trainees, follow the Hello K-Idol page on Facebook (www.facebook.com/HelloKIdolOfficial).

Viu is a leading pan-regional over-the-top (OTT) video streaming service operated by PCCW Media Group. It is available in 16 markets across Asia and the Middle East including Hong Kong, Singapore, Malaysia, India, Indonesia, the Philippines, Thailand, Myanmar and Middle East countries of Bahrain, Egypt, Jordan, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the UAE.

Operating an ad-supported tier and a premium subscription tier with additional features, Viu delivers premium Asian content in multiple genres, curating shows from top content providers with local language subtitles as well as original production series under the ‘Viu Original’ initiative.




Viu offers users express delivery of telecast content, streaming and download features, and localized user interfaces. With the patented Dynamic Adaptive Transcoding technology, Viu gives users a smooth, unbuffered viewing experience regardless of device or network conditions.

The service can be accessed via Viu app (available for free on App Store and Google Play) on connected devices, e.g. smartphones and tablets, as well as on web by logging into www.viu.com.

Monday, October 29, 2018

Durex PH aims to raise awareness and encourage the public to take active precautionary measures against HIV




Only 15 percent of young adults aged 15 to 24 years old have knowledge about HIV prevention, a UNAIDS Philippines study showed. The lack of an extensive sex education in the curriculum is seen as a contributing factor—directly or indirectly—to the country’s high HIV growth rate.


UNAIDS Country Director for the Philippines Dr. Louie Ocampo shares that if the current trend of reported new HIV cases in the country, we are seeing tripling of numbers at about "265,000 cases by the end of 2028-2029."


Discussions on the human immunodeficiency virus or HIV have always been done in extremes – either it is too technical and clinical or it is peppered with myths and falsehoods – creating a large disconnect with young adults, the audience who matter the most.



“We believe that education is the best way to prevent HIV, especially among the young adults. If they are equipped with the right knowledge about HIV and its potential risks to their health, we believe that they stand a chance in protecting themselves against the chronic disease,” said (Karol Canlas) Durex Philippines (Brand Manager).



In September, Durex Philippines took the playful and quirky approach to bringing HIV awareness to mind with the launch of its “Always Come Prepared” campaign. Led by the radio trio of Sam YG, Tony Toni, and Slick Rick, the campaign aims to make the conversation on the threats and dangers of the disease lighter and easier to understand for the general public.


Durex Philippines recently launched its Always Come Prepared campaign that aims create HIV awareness and help prevent it. Key organizations--UNAIDS, Love Yourself, and advocates from the medical field, and Boys Night Out (BNO), joined hands with Durex on its mission to curb HIV in the country. (L-R) BNO's Slick Rick, Reckitt Benckiser Read for regulatory Atty. Ricky Salvador, Sex Therapist Dr. Rica Cruz, UNAIDS Country Director for the Philippines Dr. Louie Ocampo, Reckitt Benckiser General Manager Chris Ritchie, Infectious Diseases Expert Dr. Marion Kwek, Love Yourself and Safe Spaces advocate Losif Cadelina, and BNO's Toni Tony and Sam YG.



To pique the interests of young adults on the campaign, Durex also presented a unique visual of a toy soldier using the condom as a parachute.



“Their openness and tongue-in-cheek manner of talking about sex-related issues and concerns, particularly HIV, is a good way for us to reach the younger audience. Medical experts have long talked about the dangers of HIV, but why is it still rising in the Philippines? The message must have been lost somewhere,” said (Chrisel Segundo, Category Manager – Relief and Wellness).



Condoms are still the only known effective method of preventing the transmission of HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases. With its latest campaign, Durex Philippines aims to raise awareness and encourage the public to take active precautionary measures against HIV.

Eatigo Kicks Off Halloween with Scarily Good Treats


Much can be said about Halloween and its many delicious treats, but Eatigo is adding more. Known for sky-high discounts on thousands of restaurants all over Asia, the app is bringing in more reasons to enjoy this scarily good holiday, starting off with the best part—heaps and heaps of heavenly food.



Kicking off a breakfast favorite is Pancake House. Opening the door is like returning to your childhood with the delicious waft of pancakes, chicken, waffles, and coffee in the air. No wonder it’s been around for years. The cult-favorite restaurant has every breakfast staple customers want in spades.





Another setting perfect for gatherings is Peri Peri Charcoal Chicken. The pièce de résistance is of course, their spit-fired chicken grilled to perfection, but also the customized sauces and marinade they serve to satiate every diners’ palate. Really, it’s a win-win for everyone.




No one does big more than Big Guys pizza. Ooey gooey mozzarella cheese slapped on huge-freshly baked dough, drizzled with pepperoni, pineapples, olives, and so many more delicious toppings that even out on a huge, ready-to-share box of pizza.




Take a step back into Uma Uma Ramen’s 60-year old recipe. With the rainy season upon us, find comfort in a steaming bowl of robust noodles and aromatic tonkotsu stock that is also MSG-free. There are many flavors to choose from, but you can’t go wrong with the classic Uma Uma Ramen which is to put it simply, divine.


 

A modern and sophisticated restaurant serving up favorite local dishes is Sentro 1771. Beautiful wooden interiors and warm lighting welcomes customers, inviting them to sit down and have a hearty meal. They are best known for their famous Sinigang na Corned Beef, as well as the Fried Kesong Puti, Adobo Catfish Flakes, and Rated GG.

Hungry yet? All these fine restaurants are readily available on Eatigo and all you have to do is download the app, sign up, and start browsing for awesome deals. Now that’s our kind of treat!

Join the BIC Amazing Asia Getaway Promo!




Itching to hop on another plane and go on a much-needed getaway? BIC Lighters have your back because they’re giving away some major prizes to top-notch Asian destinations that any creative traveler would love!

This is BIC Lighters’ way of giving new and loyal customers a chance to take a much-needed breather from the everyday hustle and bustle!



Excited? Here's the easy-peasy way on how to join the BIC Amazing Asia Getaway's e-raffle promo. Until November 20, 2018,  simply purchase any two (2)  BIC Lighters at any 7-Eleven store nationwide and have your CLiQQ Card or App Barcode scanned before payment. For every two (2) pieces bought of the same items, you will earn one (1) or two (2) e-raffle entries.

Now here’s what you might just win. For the first draw, there will be two lucky winners of a trip for two to any of these destinations: Bali, Taipei or Seoul; four winners of heavy-duty Samsonite luggage; and ten winners of Grab vouchers worth Php5,000 each.

For the second draw, there will be two lucky winners of round trip tickets for two to one of these destinations: Hong Kong; Bangkok, or Tokyo; four winners of heavy-duty Samsonite luggage; and ten winners of Grab vouchers worth Php5,000 each.

So achieve your travel dreams now with BIC Lighters and join the BIC Amazing Asia Getaway Promo!

For more inquiries regarding the promo, you may contact customercare@7-eleven.com.ph or visit www.facebook.com/BicLighterPhilippines


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