Beat the heat with Starbucks New Summer Drinks and food items + Starbucks summer cards

The heat is on, its officially summer.  Its that time of the year when everyone anticipates for Starbucks new summer drinks, food items to partner your drink with and their newest merchandise.

I have been attending the Starbucks summer campaign for 3 consecutive years now. It was always fun and exciting as I am looking forward to their summer beverages and Starbucks cards.

This time around, Starbucks held its summer getaway at SM Moa Music Hall. I loved the island vibe and booth activities as well. We were given a card to complete the activities with corresponding tickets.  I remember scoring high at the Caramelt Mountain and got 4 tickets for that. I collected 9 tickets in all the activity booths and went home with a Starbucks yellow purse!

Most of us count down the minutes and moments until summer, excitedly waiting for that sunny time of the year when we can take a break, relax, and just have fun. As soon as it rolls in, we make every minute count, savoring even the small moments in between our bigger escapades. Summer is whatever you make it and for some, even the simple act of stepping into their favorite Starbucks for an indulgent break is already a mini vacation.

Starting this April 9, Starbucks is inviting customers to come in to get away with a new set of beverages that taste like a short, sweet, sip of summer. Its new core drinks—the Triple Mocha Frappuccino, the Dark Caramel Coffee Frappuccino, and the Red Velvet Cake Cream Frappuccino—are perfect for dessert lovers.

The Triple Mocha Frappuccino is loaded with Dark Mocha Sauce layered between cold-brew infused whipped cream, white chocolate, and dark caramel. Take away the Dark Mocha Sauce and add some rich and buttery Dark Caramel Sauce and the drink transforms into the delicious Dark Caramel Coffee Frappuccino. Another drink added to the regular menu is the Red Velvet Cake Cream Frappuccino, a confectionery-inspired blend of chocolaty chips, mocha sauce, raspberry and vanilla syrup, topped with whipped cream.

For those who want to feel the tropical vibes, Starbucks also offers a limited-time beverage just for the season of sun – the Mixed Berry Frappuccino with Pomegranate Pearls. The smooth and fruity beverage is made with mixed berry sauce blended with velvety milk, topped with cream to balance its tart berry flavor.

Apart from their handcrafted Frappuccinos, Starbucks also offers a tropical treat in the form of fresh coffee beans with the new Starbucks® Kopelani Blend – a blend that brings the flavors of Hawaii into each cup. At the heart of this summer creation is the Hawaiian Ka’u coffee, combined with East African and Latin American beans which enhances the nutty notes and caramelly sweetness, for which Ka’u coffee is known for.

Carry with you the perfect complement for the balmy weather - the Botanical card, a Starbucks Card which features island scenes and tropical plants, available for an initial activation amount of Php300. Another fun and cute design is the new Popsicle card, also available for an initial activation of Php300.



There will also be new Starbucks merchandise to help you feel summer-ready wherever you go. The ‘A Day in The Island’ collection transports customers straight to the beach with its gradient designs depicting island scenes from sunrise to sunset and tropical plants. With the sun brightly shining this time of year, the ‘Gold’ collection also perfectly captures the glow and shimmer of the season with its golden tumblers in new and classic shapes.

Keith Cole, Head of Marketing, Category and QA

JoAnn Ramos, Starbucks PH Marketing Manager

Jamie Silva, Starbucks PH Category Manager

The Siren’s Island
The Starbucks Siren called customers to revel in a fun and feel-good break at the Siren’s Island – an island-carnival event where they could throw their cares to the wind and have a good time, all while enjoying the latest Starbucks’ summer offerings.

At the event, there was a grand Starbucks Ship welcoming deck - a wooden dock that marked the entry way to the sweetest destination. Fusing the elements of an island getaway and a summer pier carnival, the Siren’s Island brought the best of summer experiences in one spot.

Different stations were inspired by the new Starbucks beverages just like the tall, Dark Caramelt Mountain with its rich caramel lava. Fortunes were uncovered at the Triple Mocha Room which was designed in true carnival fashion. There were also plenty of games to play at the booths just like berry-picking at the Mixed Berries Forest and the classic ring toss game at the Red Velvet Magic Shack.

 
No carnival would be complete without a merry-go-round and the Siren’s Island also had it with a twist, a Selfie-Go-Round, carousel-themed 360◦ photo booth where everyone got to goof off and share clownish moments with their friends. Dressed up as a carnival knick knack store, there was also the Siren’s Souvenir Shop where guests got to grab Starbucks merchandise. The funfair was complete with a food cart that served up Starbucks drinks and snacks.

The Siren’s Island is just the first of many more fun and carefree summer moments that customers can share with Starbucks. Starbucks’ doors are always open, calling everyone to come in to getaway and sip a quick summer escape!

SM Cinema opens 333 screens across 64 branches nationwide for Avengers: Endgame!

The anticipation is almost over as SM Cinema brings you Avengers: Endgame!

If you want to get the best seats in the house. Skip the lines and save as much as P20 by getting your tickets via www.smcinema.com or the SM Cinema App.

The coming of the most anticipated movie of the year is fast-approaching and SM Cinema is gearing up for the massive battle about to come! After more than a decade, everyone is anxious to watch the epic finale to this story that we have been following since 2008. This is why from April 24 to 28, SM Cinema will be showing Avengers: Endgame in all SM Cinema branches – and by “all” we literally mean all schedules of the 333 screens in Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao!

You can catch the exciting comeback of Earth’s Mightiest Heroes as they take solo spotlight in all Digital 2D, 3D, SM Cinema IMAX, Director’s Club Cinema, Event Cinema, and Megascreen Large Format cinemas in any of the 64 SM Cinema branches across the country.

No time to watch it during the day? We’ve got you covered as SM Aura Premier and SM Mall of Asia host 24 hour, non-stop screenings of Avengers: Endgame from April 24 to 28!

Avengers: Endgame starts right after the grave course of events set in motion by Thanos that wiped out half the universe and left the Avengers ranks in fractures. The remaining Avengers are then compelled to take one final stand to attempt to save the world and defeat their greatest nemesis once and for all.

Is the excitement over Avengers getting you hyped? Well we have more good news for you because ticket pre-selling has already started; so, book your tickets now and be among the first in the world to see the movie!

Skip the lines, get the best seats in the house, and save as much as P20 by getting your tickets via www.smcinema.com or the SM Cinema App. Make sure to also subscribe to SM Cinema on facebook.com/SMCinema, twitter.com/SM_Cinema, and Instagram.com/SM_Cinema so that you don’t miss the latest digital promos and online activities.

Avengers: Endgame is produced by Kevin Feige and directed by Anthony and Joe Russo. Louis D’Esposito, Victoria Alonso, Michael Grillo, Trinh Tran, Jon Favreau and Stan Lee are the executive producers, and Christopher Markus & Stephen McFeely wrote the screenplay.

LA Santos millenial upbeat arrangement to "Isang Linggo Pagibig"

If my memory serves me right, I first heard LA Santos sing  a couple of years ago during the awarding ceremonies of Make Your Nanay Proud, but it was during a presscon that I would finally meet him in person.  It was for his single  "Tinamaan" a song dedicated to his first love of 2 years. Since the breakup,  LA says he’s been single, deciding to focus more on his singing and acting career.

Turns out he was telling the truth about focusing on his career as last December,  LA  performed as the  front act for the concert of R&B, pop and jazz singer  Patti Austin and Soul singer Jaya.

He said that it was an honor to perform with one of the best international artists and that his dream collaboration would be to perform with  Post Malone his favorite artist ever since he heard  "Better Now," and was all praises for the singer-rapper.

Fast forward to another recent lunch with LA. This time he told us about his  short cameo role for "Maria" which starred Cristine Reyes. He was a natural in the movie and hopes that he will be given different roles after this acting stint.  But the bigger news he had for us was that he was going retro reviving one of the most popular OPM hits of the 90's.  LA Santos held a mini presscon and talked about his upbeat remake of Imelda Papin's Isang Linggong Pagibig at Papa Kim's Korean Bakery & Café. 

He said he always wanted to have a hit song that was going  to be remembered by everyone and was  thankful that Ms. Imelda Papin herself who gave him permission to  give a millenial upbeat arrangement to one if not her most popular song "Isang Linggo Pagibig."   

The iconic singer and entertainment producer  said  L.A had the  millennial requisites for to revive the song.

Dark Skin versus White Skin, Does it really matter?

Back when I was a kid, I have always been teased about my skin. I've been called negra, amasonang itim, nognog, and Nora (Aunor because she was the most popular dark skinned actress at that time). Looking back it all seemed foolish but at that time, I admit it kinda hurt and I would sometimes get pikon. But what was I supposed to do, of all the things I could inherit from my tatay, it had to be his dark skin (my nanay was meztiza!)

In my teen years, my most prized possession was my loofa and body scrub when I shower, hoping I could scrub away some of the dark and even up my skin color. All those Glutathione products had yet to be invented during my high school and college years so like a vampire, I tried to avoid the sunlight as much as I can. During summer, when we are at the beach, I don't go out while the sun's up fearing that it would just hurt my skin, and waste all my "scrubbing" efforts . Instead I would only swim in the afternoon and mostly at the pool religiously applying generous amounts of sunblock every 30 minutes. Thats how I take care of my skin, then.

When glutathione became a big thing and every skin care product began  advertising it, I think I was one of those who were really excited, hoarding and trying all sorts of  Japanese tablets and lotions. At first, I was happy with the result, even if it didn't  turn me into a "Vilma" .

But I did  get a lot of compliments for my glowing skin, the result of  years and years of using all those gluta products (even trying those injectables). And that made me more comfortable with my skin color. My obsession for gluta,  and all those whitening products, be it soaps, lotion and toners, has mellowed down and rather than focus on whitening my skin, I'm more concerned about taking care of it.

 It made me realize it isnt about having fairer skin, what's more important is having healthy skin .

One would wonder why a skin whitening brand such as SkinWhite would dare to say that dark skin is beautiful. “It’s all about choice”, says Rachelle Layda, Marketing Manager for Whitening of Splash Corporation. 

“SkinWhite is a brand that empowers women to choose. A choice to define their own standard of beauty. If you choose to have dark skin, you are beautiful. If you choose to have white skin, you are just as beautiful. The choice is yours, and SkinWhite respects that choice”.

This inclusivity is refreshing and speak volumes, especially at a time when shaming and bullying is prevalent across social media. Bashers and haters abound online with no agenda but to shame in all forms and ways – body-shaming, hair-shaming, race-shaming, gender-shaming, and yes, also skin-shaming. “This is precisely the stigma that we wish to change. Skin color should not be about one being better than the other”, adds Pam Sulit, Splash Corporation’s VP for Marketing.

“White and dark are both beautiful.” confirms Rachel Villanueva, Creative Director of Petch & Partners, the creative agency that created this campaign for SkinWhite. She continues, “It’s about time that dark skin and white skin get the same adoration and acknowledgment.”

There has never been an outright claim that DARK IS BEAUTIFUL. And for the statement to come from a skin whitening brand, it should be easy for others to follow suit. And for those who choose that WHITE IS BEAUTIFUL, there’s due acknowledgement that they’re simply taking control of their beauty too. And why not? Wear your skin, whichever way you choose. Because DARK OR WHITE, YOU ARE BEAUTIFUL.

Proud moment for Bayambanguenos-- St. Vincent Ferrer statue enters Guiness Book of World Records

Last month, I traveled all the way to Pangasinan to attend a presscon held by Bayambang Mayor Cezar Quiambao. And honestly, It wasnt just my first time to be in Bayambang--it was also the first time I've ever heard of the place. 

At the presscon Mayor Quiambao, together with his wife former actress Nina Jose, announced that they were aiming to set another Guiness World Record, which if successful was going to be the province's  second one in five years. It was going to be the highlight of their Pistay Baley or town fiesta.

I had just  shared a few of photos of Bayambang on my Facebook page LemonGreenTea,  when I got a message from a former officemate.

He said he was a resident of Bayambang, and that they were all excited and proud of how their town was slowly gaining recognition as part of Pangasinan because of the Guiness Records attempt and the St Vincent Ferrer Sculpture and Park.

But more than that he said they were proud of the progress that is happening in  Bayambang in the last few years. Before he told me that qoing home was difficult and dangerous because of the rough roads and unlit street post.  That was why he could only go home  twice a month to visit his parents and siblings. He chose to rather stay in Manila during weekends than travel all the way to Bayambang because it was so stressful. But when   Mayor Cezar Quiambao took office, the roads and infrastructure began to improve and life became much better for his fellow Bayambanguenos. In fact, he even decided to stay and start a  family of his own in. Bayambang. 

Hearing stories like that made me even more excited when we came back to Bayambang last week to witness the unveiling of the St. Vincent Ferrer Statue and if it would set a new world record. 

Mayor Cezar Quiambao, his wife Mrs.Nina Jose Quiambao and family, Swapnil Dangarikar, Guiness World Record Adjudicator, Congresswoman Baby Arenas and counselors, and selected media attended the festivities, and together with thousands of cheering Bayambanguenos I was so happy to be part of the record setting event. 

Dangarikar, made the formal announcement that the 50.23-meter statue of this town’s patron saint, Vincent Ferrer was the world’s tallest bamboo statue (supported). Dangarikar said Bayambang set a “first, unique record” because “this is the first time somebody has attempted to make a sculpture of this scale.” “We already saw the drawings before I came here so we knew it has support structure and is bamboo on the outside. The steel is OK but it has to be made completely of bamboo on the outside which I have checked. Also it has to be of a certain height to qualify for a record,” he told media.

It took 10 months and more than 600 people from Bayambang to build the impressive 

structure,  but whats even more impressive was that the municipal government did not spend a single centavo for the project and that it was the Kasama Kita sa Barangay Foundation Inc. that funded it.

Currently the holder of the Guinness World Record for the longest barbecue grill that it garnered in April 2014, Bayambang successfully acquired another Guinness record, this time for the world’s tallest bamboo sculpture (supported) of a religious figure.

Homage to the town patron, Saint Vincent Ferrer

This year, Pista’y Baley focuses on the commemoration of the two milestones of the town’s parish, namely the 600th death anniversary and the quadricentennial (400th year) of the presence of the town’s patron saint, Saint Vincent Ferrer, in the municipality. Balon Bayambang (New Bayambang) hence prepares for a week filled with merriment and exuberance, April 5, 2019 being also the 405th Pista’y Baley and which will highlight the Jubilee celebration of St. Vincent Ferrer Parish Church.

One of greatest miracle workers in the history of the Catholic Church, St. Vincent Ferrer (1350-1419) moved in the limelight before both ordinary and great people of the world. St. Vincent Ferrer, a Dominican priest, was born in Valencia, Spain on January 23, 1350 to Guillem Ferrer and Constancia Miquel who were both nobles. He entered the Dominican order at the age of 15 and was ordained priest in 1378.

This Dominican preacher lived during one of the most turbulent periods in the history of the church, during the time of the Western Schism. St. Vincent preached not only in Spain and France but also in Italy, Germany, and Switzerland.

The patron saint of builders

St. Vincent Ferrer is the patron saint of builders because of his fame for "building up" and strengthening the Church: through his preaching, missionary work, and his teachings.

All his life he felt that he was called to carry the gospel not only to Christians, but also the Jews, the Muslims, and some heretical sects. Some would consider it a conservative estimate that St. Vincent Ferrer converted 25,000 Jews and 8,000 Moors; his total number of conversions was around 200,000 souls, among them Moors, Jews, heretics, and apostate Catholics.

Reputed to have received the gift of tongues, St. Vincent once converted 10,000 Jews at one time by marching right into their synagogue and preaching to them. Consequently, the Jews turned their synagogue into a Catholic Church.

Epic accolade to Bayambang’s overseer and guardian

Saint Vincent Ferrer has been a beacon of faith in Bayambang for hundreds of years, and his presence has been incessantly felt by Bayambangueños through the Saint Vincent Ferrer Parish Church. He remains to be a symbol of devotion for the people of Bayambang, and the influence that he has had on the local culture is undeniable.

Many devotees of St. Vincent Ferrer believe that it is their revered patron who perpetually saves them from the onslaught of natural calamities. Historical archives have it that near Palma of Majorca, St. Vincent Ferrer stilled a storm in order to preach from a wharf. At Beziers he stopped a flood. And Bayambang, which he oversees as the patron saint, was saved on several occasions from natural calamities.

This is why the church, with the assistance of Mayor Cezar T. Quiambao, his wife, Mary Clare Judith Phyllis Jose-Quiambao, and several private firms spearheaded the construction of the Saint Vincent Ferrer Prayer Park in the heart of the town of Bayambang which is politically subdivided into 77 barangays, 11 of which are urban barangays and 66 are rural barangays.

The park will serve as a place of serenity, not just for Bayambangueños, but for anyone seeking spiritual help and guidance.

Towering over the central district of Bayambang is the Church of the Saint Vincent Ferrer Parish – an imposingly grandiose and historical edifice where the municipality’s patron saint, St. Vincent Ferrer, is enshrined. The church, built in the early 17th century, is a combination of achievements in Spanish and Filipino art and architecture, craftsmanship, and engineering.

Due to the damages brought about by the elements and natural calamities, the church has undergone some repairs and structural changes from the time it was built to the present.

Dr. Clarita Jimenez, one of the most prominent daughters of Bayambang, describes the church as, “A silent witness to the town’s history of trials and triumphs. Above all, it has been a solemn sanctuary for prayer and worship for the religious, industrious, cooperative, and friendly parishioners.” 

Bayambang is also most fortunate and privileged to have a remnant of the saint in its possession. In a chalice strategically installed at the center of the Prayer Room of the parish can be found a relic of Saint Vincent Ferrer. While deep in prayer to feel as though the saint is there with them, devotees can glance at the relic as they search for something deeper within themselves and feel a comforting presence that guides their souls.

Colossal Structure

Standing at 50.23 meters high, this monumental structure made of steel and engineered bamboo currently holds the Guinness World Record for the Tallest Bamboo Sculpture (Supported) of Saint Vincent Ferrer, making it a valuable tourist spot in Pangasinan and Northern Luzon.

Tourists and visitors will look up in astonishment as they gaze upon the height of the image as a symbol of the Bayambangueños’ faith and devotion to the patron saint of builders.

The current parish priest of St. Vincent Ferrer Church, Rev. Fr. Allen O. Romero, said that the land from God is being developed to become “a beautiful place where people can go and have peace of mind, where pilgrims from different places can visit, and where people can pray and meditate and venerate our patron.” 

A chapel will be situated just beside the statue to serve as a place of meditation where devotees can find peace and serenity during their visit. The chapel is added to the master plan because, despite the expected influx of tourists, there needs to be a solemn spot where they can pray and reflect.

At the center of the rotunda will be a fountain, a calming presence to welcome visitors to the Prayer Park. The water element is added to the park because of the weight of its importance to Catholicism. For Catholics, water is a symbol for purification and cleansing. This is why Catholics dip their fingers in holy water before attending a holy mass and why water is poured over a baby’s head during baptism. This element adds to the overall solemnity and tranquility of the Saint Vincent Ferrer Prayer Park.

Like any other religious spaces, an area where devotees can light candles is important to have. At the Saint Vincent Ferrer Prayer Park, the candle-lighting area is situated just at the back of the 50.23-meter high structure. It will be a spot where devotees can pray for the illumination of their minds and souls, and as the light from the candle keeps glowing, the faith of the devotees keeps on burning.

Situated near the chapel and candle-lighting area are the stalls that will be erected to provide a venue where devotees can buy their food, candles, or souvenirs. 

Because the park is expected to attract many tourists from all around the Philippines and even the world, Bayambangueños would like to showcase what else the town has to offer by marketing the different delicacies and products that are proudly made in Bayambang. 

Aside from marketing the prides of the town, this will also give the locals a great source of revenue, which is one of the major goals of the project.

Pista’y Baley 

Bannering the theme “Bayang Pinagtibay ng Pananampalataya at Pagkakaisa Laban sa Kahirapan,” the municipality of Bayambang in Pangasinan celebrates Pista’y Baley from April 1 to 8, 2019.

Pista’y Baley, the Pangasinan term for pistang bayan or town fiesta, is one of the grandest and most revered celebrations of Bayambang in the third district of the vote-rich province of Pangasinan. It is the annual moment when the people of all 77 barangays of the town come together in witness and a salient part of a series of revelries where their unity and camaraderie are manifested.

Year after year, Pista’y Baley attracts hordes of visitors from all over the country. Family members of Bayambangueños from other provinces and foreign and local tourists visit Bayambang to enjoy the merriment that only Pista’y Baley offers.