Nothing but Praises for Filipino Figure Skater Michael Martinez

Warm Welcome Awaits Winter Olympian Michael Martinez at MOA on Feb 23 

SM Prime Holdings Inc., the property conglomerate of the SM Group of Companies, is all set to give a warm welcome for winter Olympian and homegrown skating rink talent Michael Martinez as he comes home on February 23, 2014 from a sensational performance at the Sochi Winter Olympics in Russia. 

“We are very proud of Michael. He is indeed a shining example for the youth as someone who saw no limits to what he can achieve. He has already inspired millions by following his dreams and by competing in the Winter Olympics and will continue to inspire us all as he works towards earning more medals in the future Olympic competitions,” SM Prime Holdings President Hans T. Sy said.   

To honor Martinez, SM has surprise gifts when he arrives where he will be given a motorcade at the Mall of Asia grounds starting at 4 PM which will culminate in an awarding ceremony inside the mall. During his formative years as a figure skater, Martinez frequented SM Southmall in Las Pinas and much later on SM Mall of Asia for figure skating competitions despite frequent bouts of asthma. Since skating at 8 years old, Martinez has garnered 194 medals and trophies from various international and local competitions. He is currently ranked 19th in the world based on his recent performance at the Winter Olympics. Martinez clinched 7th place at the 2013 Nebelhorn Trophy in Germany that qualified him for the 2014 Winter Olympics.   Through the years, SM and the Philippine Skating Union have conducted several figure skating competitions that have given birth to international champions such as Martinez.  

The excellence demonstrated by skaters especially during competitions is a mark of quality that the SM Ice Skating Rink can provide with its world-class venue and facilities.    

Property conglomerate SM Prime Holdings, Inc. operates ice skating rinks through SM Lifestyle and Entertainment, INc. at the SM Megamall’s Mega Fashion Hall in Mandaluyong, SM Mall of Asia in Pasay, SM Southmall in Las Pinas and SM Clark in Pampanga.   

To thank his fans for their unwavering support, Michael Martinez will be at the SM Southmall Ice Skating Rink for a meet and greet on February 24 at 4-5 PM, SM Mall of Asia Ice Skating Rink on February 25 at 12- 1 PM, and at the SM Skating Rink in Megamall’s Mega Fashion Hall on February 25 at 4-5 PM.   

For information, please visit SM Skating Rink’s website at www.smiceskating.com or visit an SM Skating Rink near you.

Jasmine Curtis-Smith's Heart of Gold

JASMINE CURTIS-SMITH’S SWEETEST VALENTINE’S DAY

Goldilocks together with Jasmine Curtis- Smith made the kids of White Cross Children's Home in San Juan, the happiest  this February. As they danced,  decorated their cakes, played games,  feasted on the ever favorite sarapinoy meals and the caramel pusong mamon, these and all with Kapatid star Jasmine Curtis- Smith. She gamely posed pictures with children and  to the people who were present that afternoon.  All smiles were plastered to those who witnessed the event as love was truly in the air.  Orphaned children has a soft spot for Jasmine as this was made evidence to the time she spent with them. She made their February truly a memorable one,  full of fun and memories to reckon with.

February is the month of giving love and showing people how much you care. Even at the tender age of nineteen, rising star Jasmin Curtis-Smith is no stranger
to bringing happiness and hope to others. During the relief operations for Typhoon Maring, for example, the young celebrity worked with World Vision and Habagat response teams to provide relief goods for victims.

As the newest member of Goldilocks family, it is clear that Jasmine’s dedication
for community work remains among her top priorities. Together with representatives from the country’s  number one bakeshop, the young actress recently visited White Cross Children’s Home to share her affection with kids who need it the most.

Located in the heart of San Juan, the White Cross Children’s Home offers food and shelter to orphaned children. Following with a group tour of the facility, Jasmine led a unigue game to break the ice: a “Trip to Jerusalem” with a twist. Everyone then proceeded with a Valentine’s-themed eating contest, with the new Goldilocks Caramel Pusong Mamon as the yummy fare.

“The kids were racing to finish as many Caramel Pusong Mamon pieces as they could, but it was obvious that they were enjoying the treat as much as the game,”
Jasmine enthused. “The incredible smiles on their faces and the sound of their
laughter – it doesn’t take a lot to elicit that out of them, just time and sincerity,”
she further added.

The children then had a chance to display their creativity through a “Decorate
Your Cake” contest, personalizing their own 6” round cakes with a variety of colorful (and delicious) toppings. Another fun surprise came when Jasmine – joined by one of Goldilocks cuddly party mascots Baker Bear – led a birthday
song for all February celebrants, making them feel very special indeed. As the event came to a close, Jasmine thanked the children for letting her to be a part of their wonderful Valentine’s day.

“Jasmine truly exemplifies what it means to be pusong mamon, and we are so pleased to welcome her into Goldilocks family,” noted Goldilocks Marketing Director Pinky Yee. “As she continues to spread hope and and reach out to children in need, we can all see that Jasmine’s heart is as soft and sweet as our Pusong Mamon,” she concluded.[]

What Makes Life Wonderful for Globe myBusiness

Globe myBusiness is providing business owners and their SMBs new products,
services and solutions that help them rediscover a world full of possibilities, opportunities, and brighter tomorrows. It’s one where business owners and their SMBs are able to do business with greater ease, with more efficiency at less cost, and attain sustainability and growth.

“We launched Globe myBusiness in support of business owners and their SMBs. We call it ‘Globe myBusiness’ as we endeavor to serve the owners and their businesses as if they were our own. It reflects the level of service we provide which is highly personalized and targeted. We are not a mere network provider to them but their business advisor in the most real sense.

Globe myBusiness Head Martha Sazon says that business owners and their SMBs comprise a “sophisticated” market that knows what it wants and how to get it. Globe myBusiness rises to the challenge of meeting the demands of this market by providing innovative, customized products and services and through the best customer service. “It all comes down to fulfilling our promise to our SMB subscribers. It’s ultimately about being their trusted business adviser and constantly delivering on that,” she explained.
“At Globe myBusiness, we listen to our customers’ needs and help them customize a suite of solutions and services designed to address their specific requirements. Globe myBusiness’ differentiator is the ability to understand and deliver on the needs of business owners and their SMBs in a way nobody else can,” said Martha Sazon, Globe myBusiness Head.

Sazon pointed out that business owners and their SMBs are a very “sophisticated” market. They know what they want and how to get it. “It all comes down to fulfilling our promise to business owners and their SMBs – that through our team we can make their businesses better by helping them maximize our services. It’s ultimately about being a trusted business adviser and constantly delivering on that,” she explained.

One perfect example of how a partnership between Globe myBusiness and business owners and their SMBs can produce beneficial results is the case of restaurateur Happy Ongpauco. According to her, she is able to live a wonderful personal life while growing her business. And she has Globe myBusiness to thank for. As a result, she’s been a loyal Globe subscriber for 20 years already.

Restaurateur Happy Ongpauco is happy to share how using Globe myBusiness products and services allows her to live a wonderful life while achieving growth and sustainability for her businesses.
Restaurateur Happy Ongpauco is happy to share how using Globe myBusiness products and services allows her to live a wonderful life while achieving growth and sustainability for her businesses.
Happy still remembers the wonder she felt when she got her very first cellular phone from her dad. It was a postpaid handset from Globe. At that time, when cellular phones were not as common as they are today, the instant connections that Globe provided her added a different dimension to her life.

“Communication between family and friends became so much easier. And when my managers and staff got their own cellular phones, running my restaurants became more efficient. I was able to save on operating costs as we could exchange information more quickly and make decisions faster. We were also able to cut-down on the time and cost of transportation because face-to-face meetings became unnecessary in many cases,” said Happy.

The Happy Concept Group of companies is owned by restaurateur Happy Ongpauco. It is composed of restaurants, a catering service, a home spa and slimming service, and a bed-and-breakfast establishment. These include: World Topps; Hawaiian Bar-B-Que; Pamana Restaurant; the I Luv Backyard BBQ joint; Chef Happy’s Home Made Specialties and Catering Kitchen; My Happy Carts, which are themed food carts for kiddie parties; Boutique Bed & Breakfast; and Slim At Home.
The Happy Concept Group of companies is owned by restaurateur Happy Ongpauco. It is composed of restaurants, a catering service, a home spa and slimming service, and a bed-and-breakfast establishment. These include: World Topps; Hawaiian Bar-B-Que; Pamana Restaurant; the I Luv Backyard BBQ joint; Chef Happy’s Home Made Specialties and Catering Kitchen; My Happy Carts, which are themed food carts for kiddie parties; Boutique Bed & Breakfast; and Slim At Home.
Happy comes from a family of restaurateurs—they own the Barrio Fiesta Group of companies. She learned the ropes of running a restaurant by working in her family’s various outlets, which include Barrio Fiesta, Bakahan at Manukan, Singing Cooks and Waiters, Atbp., and Isdaan. She also studied to become a chef at the Culinary Institute of America.
So it was no surprise when she started her very first restaurant, World Topps, in Timog Avenue, Quezon City in year 2000. She had to borrow money to turn a 60-square meter space into her first restaurant concept which was all about serving global cuisine as rice toppings. In 2011, she opened a second World Topps branch and also a new concept restaurant, Bento Box.

Happy’s other businesses include three other restaurants: Hawaiian Bar-B-Que, Pamana Restaurant, and the I Luv Backyard BBQ joint. She also established the Chef Happy’s Home Made Specialties and Catering Kitchen, and My Happy Carts, which are themed food carts for kiddie parties. Those interested in availing of the services of any of Happy’s businesses should visit the website http://www.happyconceptgroup.com/

Despite having her own restaurants, she is still involved in the Barrio Fiesta Group. These past two years, she’s been busy with opening and taking charge of two Barrio Fiesta branches in Dubai, and one in Canada. She will open another branch in Qatar by the first quarter of 2014.

Happy has also expanded from the food business into the travel and tourism sector. She established The Boutique Bed & Breakfast, a seven-bedroom boutique hotel in Tagaytay. More recently, she put up Slim At Home, a mobile slimming clinic and spa that offers home services to clients. All of these enterprises are operated under the umbrella of her Happy Concept Group of Companies.

According to her, she has enjoyed the benefits of a wonderful life through the advantages that Globe myBusiness has brought to her businesses. “Thanks to the innovative and relevant products of Globe myBusiness, it’s much easier for me to run my business while also having the time and energy for my family and personal hobbies.”

Happy explained that her businesses benefitted greatly from the package of customized services that Globe myBusiness helps create for them. “The MySuper Plans that we got from Globe myBusiness help me, my managers, and my staff keep in touch constantly. In our businesses, we have a lot of people who use their mobile phones differently. Some rely on texting most of the time. Others need to make a lot of voice calls. And then we have people who need to use their smartphones for Internet browsing.

“The good thing about MySuper Plan is that we can choose different packages of features and services for the needs of different people in our organization. And because we only pay for the services we actually need, we are able to bring our telecommunications costs down.

Happy pointed out that Globe myBusiness provides her with 24/7 access to after sales support and customer service. “We’ve also been getting advice about Globe myBusiness products and services through various touchpoints. I get all these through our dedicated Globe myBusiness account manager, or via Globe Stores, the hotline, website, Twitter or Facebook.” Happy has also been doing transactions with Globe online, whether for purchasing products and services or paying their Globe bills.

“I just love the way I am able to access Globe myBusiness whenever, wherever and however I want.” she said. “For me, Globe myBusiness consistently delivers its promise. I can always count on them to help us with both our personal and business needs. I can truly say that they are our trusted business adviser,” she added.

Happy Ongpauco and Globe myBusiness. Partners for life. Wonderful.

Like Happy, you too can discover the wonderful life as you grow your business through the products, services, and excellent customer support of Globe myBusiness. To know more, call the dedicated hotline 730-1288; email (mybusinesscare@globe.com.ph); visit its Web site at mybusiness.globe.com.ph; or follow their official Globe myBusiness Facebook Page and Twitter (Twitter @GlobemyBusiness)

ETC PREMIERES TEEN DRAMA STAR-CROSSED THIS FEBRUARY 21

ETC PREMIERES TEEN DRAMA STAR-CROSSED THIS FEBRUARY 21

This love month, ETC premieres its newest drama that follows a pair of high school students and their epic, out of this world romance. Airing within a week of the U.S., Star-Crossed, starting February 21, Fridays at 8PM, is a futuristic love story between an alien and a human.

Featuring attractive young stars Matt Lanter (90210), Aimee Teegarden (Friday Night Lights) and Grey Damon (Percy Jackson: Sea of Monsters), Star-Crossed looks at a relationship caught between two worlds, torn between two feuding sides.

After an alien spacecraft crash-lands in her small town, a 6-year old Emery Whitehill has an encounter with Roman, a 6-year old Atrian boy. Ten years later, Emery (Aimee Teegarden) and Roman (Matt Lanter) are reunited as the first group of Atrian teens enrolls in a human high school with the goal of testing the feasibility of human/alien integration.

Emery and Roman’s newly rekindled bond is immediately threatened by the small-mindedness of their respective communities. Roman’s Atrian friends, Teri (Chelsea Gilligan, Big Time Rush) and Drake (Greg Finley, The Secret Life of the American Teenager), openly distrust all humans. The human students are equally wary of the aliens, especially the school’s social queen, Taylor (Natalie Hall, Pretty Little Liars), who looks down on all Atrians – and most humans. Even good-hearted Grayson (Grey Damon), who is drawn to Emery, feels caught between the human and Atrian factions. Only two of Emery’s friends – Julia (Malese Jow, The Vampire Diaries) and Lukas (Titus Makin, Jr., Glee), seem able to accept Roman and the rest of the Atrians.

Don’t miss the newest love story to join the prime time line-up of ETC, where star-crossed romance is either destined to live happily ever after, or be torn apart.

STAR-CROSSED is from Ole Productions, Isla de Babel and 360 Powwow in association with CBS Television Studios and Warner Bros. Television with executive producers Meredith Averill (The Good Wife, Life on Mars) & Adele Lim (Private Practice, Life on Mars), Josh Appelbaum (Life on Mars, Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol), André Nemec (Life on Mars, Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol) & Scott Rosenberg (Life on Mars, October Road), Richard Shepard (Golden Boy, Ringer), Bryan Furst (Daybreakers, Tough Trade) & Sean Furst (Daybreakers, Tough Trade) and Daniel Gutman (Dance!, 12 Corazones). The series is distributed internationally by CBS Studios International.

 Star-Crossed premieres February 21, Friday at 8PM on ETC

Also check out ETC online at:
www.facebook.com/etctv
www.twitter.com/etc_channel
http://www.blink-now.com

ETC is seen on UHF channel 21, Sky Cable and Destiny Digital Ch. 16, Global Destiny Ch. 28, Cignal Ch. 9, Cable Link Ch. 34 and various cable operators nationwide.

Camille Prats on Moving On, and Being Prepared for Life’s Emergencies

Camille Prats on moving on, and being prepared for life’s emergencies

For a lot of her fans, Camille Prats will always be Sara, Ang Munting Prinsesa. She grew up in front of our TV screens and we witnessed her turn from a cute little girl, a vivacious teenager, to one of our versatile young actresses.

Success came quite early for Camille, and so did love, but unfortunately Camille also had to endure the pain of losing her husband at a young age.

Camille Prats married her then boyfriend Anthony Linsangan in  civil rites on January 5, 2008. After 2 years, a church wedding followed on March 5, 2010. They dreamt of having 3 to 4 kids. Their union blessed them with 1 baby boy Nathaniel Caesar.

On June of 2010 Anthony felt a lymph node on his left ear, he underwent CT Scan and was ruled out of cancer and took antibiotics. On September 2010, after experiencing pain, he again underwent CT Scan and a biopsy was performed and this time around he was diagnosed of Stage 4 Nasopharyngeal cancer.

He underwent 30 sessions of radiation and chemotherapy every week for 6 weeks. Anthony stopped working due to medication and and body malaise, and Camille had no choice but to lessen her showbiz commitments to take care of her husband. He was advised on PET Scan and his nasopharyngeal cancer metastasized to bone and liver cancer. He was too tired to move on , cannot eat anymore, had patches for pain reliever, and became so weak .

On June 2011 his blood pressure was dropping down. August of 2011, the hospital staff made Camille signed a waiver. On the same year September 2011 Anthony Linsangan just 30-years-old passed away .

Camille, shared the story in front of media guests at a recent gathering sponsored by AXA at Ascott Makati Hotel.

She said  Anthony was too young to die, and did not have an inkling that it was cancer then, when Anthony had colds, they self medicated themselves, when Anthony had a fever, he would took Paracetamol and antibiotics. They never had a proper check up to the doctor. She thought it may be due to the food he ate or because he lacked exercise and advised the audience  to consult their doctors instead of relying on self medications.

It was a good thing that Anthony’s family helped them with the financial needs within a year of medication, unlike a lot of Filipinos who face the same predicament unprepared.

AXA urges financial preparedness for critical illnesses, other medical emergencies

According to statistics from the Department of Health (DOH), non-communicable diseases (NCDs) or lifestyle diseases such as heart attack or heart failure, stroke, and cancer are the top 3 leading causes of death among Filipinos.

Digging deeper into the numbers, it is reported that more than 276 Filipinos die of heart disease on a daily basis. Moreover, 9 people are diagnosed with cancer every hour, and 142 Filipinos die from cancer every day. At least one Filipino suffers from stroke every 9 minutes; for those who survive, they have a 75% chance of becoming permanently disabled.

While there may be increasing public awareness to preventing these diseases through diet and exercise, little is done to raise awareness for Filipinos to prepare financially for the impact of having any of these lifestyle diseases.

The cost for heart by-pass surgery, chemotherapy, or brain surgery ranges from P500,000 to as much as P1,000,000, an amount that most regular health plans cannot cover. Moreover, it is estimated that medical costs are expected to double in the next 10 years — a rate much higher than economic inflation.

That is why AXA Philippines, one of the country’s largest and fastest growing life insurance companies, is helping Filipinos prepare for the threat of future major medical emergencies by launching three (3) new products that provide adequate coverage to Filipinos when they face a critical illness.

“We want to give customers what they need,” says Rien Hermans,   President and CEO of AXA Philippines. “With the health trends in the Philippines and in most countries today, the risk of developing a critical illness is now higher than ever. Therefore, people should be protecting themselves from the financial impact of being diagnosed with a critical illness.”

“Each of our three products are individually designed to address the needs, said Amor Balagtas, Chief Marketing Officer of AXA Philippines.

Health Exentials is a simple, all-in-one health and protection plan that gives the greatest value at an affordable price. For as low as P59/day, customers can get P5.5 million worth of comprehensive benefits, which include a critical conditions benefit, total & permanent disability benefit, daily hospitalization income benefit, a one-time surgical benefit, and a maturity cash benefit. Health Exentials premiums can be as low as only P1,140 a month or P39/day.

Health Max provides maximum lifetime coverage as it gives medical benefits until age 100. It also has the widest coverage of illnesses in the market today, covering 56 major medical conditions and 18 minor illnesses. Early stage cancer diagnosis and angioplasty, not normally covered by other health plans, are included in Health Max. It also has higher medical benefits of up to P10 million, as well as a special Advanced Health Fund that starts at age 70, which can be used for various medicines and treatments most common at that age.

SME ProteXion caters to small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) with at least 10 employees. It offers health and protection packages-in-one with various benefit options to choose from such as critical care coverage, daily hospitalization income, life insurance coverage and death and disablement coverage. This simple and straightforward product has flexible payment options to suit your business budget.

“What we are emphasizing is the importance of adequate financial preparedness,” says Hermans. “Critical illnesses have significant physical and financial impacts, and we want Filipinos to understand that there are products available that will enable them to financially secure their health-related needs, and they can do so while they are still at their prime.”

To learn more about AXA Philippines’ products and services, visit www.axa.com.ph or www.facebook.com/AXA.Philippines. You may also call their customer hotline (02) 5815-AXA (292) or (02) 3231-AXA (292).

Unfriend ; A Gay Teenager’s Heartbreak and Obsession

Not so long ago, a 13-year old boy killed his boyfriend then killed himself inside a mall. The video was uploaded on popular social media and became viral. This became a sort of crusade for indie film director Joselito Altarejos who promised himself he would do something about it to show people how this new technology has so affected our lives, both in a negative and a positive way.

Now, Director Altarejos film Unfriend, which took the Berlin film festival by storm, takes viewers on a nightmarish journey with the film’s principal character David, jilted by his lover just before Christmas, to turn to the screens of his mobile phone, iPad and computer in a desperate attempt to extend his affair with his 17-year old love, Jonathan. Altarejos masterfully relates a gay teenager’s heartbreak and obsession with the social media and makes for a grappling tale of how the Internet can drive fragile minds into a dangerous world. As David’s phone calls, text messages and Skype calls go unanswered, he becomes more and more detached from reality and wanders through the crowds and chaos of Manila with a fatal plan forming in his head.

The film Unfriend vividly portrays life in the Philippines, where poverty forces millions to work abroad, and cheap phones and free WiFi make social media all-pervasive. It has a universal message in showing the perils that the ready availability of unfiltered information online can hold for young people-putting them in touch with shady characters and online materials instructing them how to commit suicide, assemble bombs or commit crimes, and an infinite variety of self-destructive topics.

Unfriend boasts of a mixture of veteran and upcoming actors in the persons of Ms. Boots Anson Roa, Sandino Martin and Angelo Ilagan. It is distributed by Solar Entertainment Corporation. Showing on February 26, 2014 at your favorite theaters.

Endless Love: Casting the Drama.

Endless Love: Casting the Drama

Endless Love stars ALEX PETTYFER (Magic Mike, I Am Number Four) and GABRIELLA WILDE (The Three Musketeers, Carrie) in the story of Jade Butterfield and David Elliot, a privileged girl and a charismatic boy whose instant desire sparks a love affair made only more reckless by parents trying to keep them apart. Although separated by class boundaries, their gravitational pull is undeniable and unstoppable.

Finding talented young actors who could provide the essential chemistry of David and Jade was the filmmakers’ top priority. They found the ideal performers in Alex Pettyfer and Gabriella Wilde. Shares Schwartz: “In a love story, this is the whole ball game. The first time we saw Alex and Gabriella on screen, everyone was very aware of their chemistry. You just felt it was there. Beyond the fact that they are both very attractive people, you felt this real connection between them.”

Schwartz admired his director’s knack with the talent. “Shana is wonderful working with young actors and getting them to open up to one another and letting the audience into that love story,” she says. “She spent so much time in rehearsal with Alex and Gabriella helping them forge that connection and open up not only to each other, but to the camera as well. It’s such a challenge for an actor to be exposed, and her patience and guidance have resulted in terrific performances.”

As part of the rehearsal and bonding process, Feste says Pettyfer and Wilde spent a good deal of time together off set and did a lot of fun exercises, including dancing to loud music. As filming started, the director felt inspired by the talent and commitment of her young actors. She shares: “They came to respect each other so much. When you’re doing a love story, you have to know that the other person has your back.”

When they meet, the temperaments of the soon-to-be young lovers are as different as their cultural and economic status. Feste praises her leading man, who plays David as a young man you root for: “Alex is a total romantic. What struck me the first time I met him is how open he was talking about the love he wants to find. Most 23-year-old guys are not talking openly about love! David believes that he deserves love and Alex believes that he deserves love, and that translates in the movie.”

Pettyfer discusses his director’s process: “We did some interesting rehearsing, and that helped. Shana guided us along the path. She comes from such an interesting place of wanting people to relate and connect. It’s not so much about a sole performance; it’s about collaboration. She’s given me a new look into how to connect with who I’m playing and where I’m going in the story.”

Stuber adds that the care his director put into the on-screen couple finding comfort in one another was one of the virtues of the production: “There’s a complete and utter believability to all of their interactions. Gabriella and Alex are natural and organic; they have chemistry and feel like people in love. That’s a testament to their work as actors, as well as Shana and the time she put in so that they could talk through the places that they were going to have to go with each other.”

When David connects with Jade, he finds a girl who has suffered a loss in her fa
mily that has taken her out of the social world of school. Even though she’s beautiful and bright, she’s not outgoing and hasn’t become a part of the high school. While he encourages her to see that she is a free spirit and that someone could fall in love with her, she gives him the confidence to believe in himself.

The filmmakers found that the British-born Wilde embodies many of Jade’s traits. Feste explains: “I pictured Jade as gorgeous, and Gabriella definitely is that. But how Gabriella wears her beauty is her strongest suit. She has no idea how gorgeous she is. As we were starting to rehearse, I saw Gabriella open up. She is close to the character of Jade: aware of what people think of her and quite shy. She’s an introvert, and I imagined that Jade would be an introvert. Seeing Gabriella as Jade let love change and inspire her has been fun to watch. Her arc is so strong in this movie, and that’s when you forget how beautiful Gabriella is and just realize that she is an amazing actress.”

Wilde walks us through the story’s beats: “David awakens Jade to her own voice and to her youth. At the beginning, she’s quite serious and burdened by a sense of guilt toward her family following the death of her brother Chris. She’s someone who’s trying to make it all okay all of the time, and this is where David gives her license to be herself. She finds her voice in the movie as she’s falling in love. Jade goes from being suppressed to putting everything aside to fight for love and what she believes in.”

Feste wasn’t the only one impressed with Wilde’s demeanor. “Gabriella is amazing,” praises Pettyfer. “She has this beauty that takes you aback. She looks like a supermodel, but she also is grounded and actually quite shy—the most beautiful girl mixed with the quiet girl. She was perfect for Jade.”

To play Jade’s parents, the production cast the accomplished veteran actors Bruce Greenwood as Hugh Butterfield, a father whose desire to protect his daughter leads to awful results, and Joely Richardson as Anne Butterfield, Jade’s sympathetic mother who is just as romantic as her only daughter.

Greenwood, an award-winning actor who has starred in such acclaimed films as Star Trek Into Darkness and Flight, brings to life Jade’s menacing, if well-meaning, father. Discussing the part, the actor offers: “One of the foremost things that interested me about the character was that he was a father learning to let go of a child that he loves beyond all measure, after having lost a child. Trying to keep her from harm, but at the same time guide her is a tremendous struggle for him; he begins to overreact and becomes rigid in the way he looks at his daughter’s aspirations.”

Hugh is a successful surgeon in Atlanta who strongly objects to the relationship that’s blossoming between Jade and David. It was important to Feste to have the audience also see the warmth of his character, so as to not have Hugh appear as a clichéd villain. His on-screen daughter reflects on Greenwood’s talent. “Bruce is a brilliant actor,” lauds Wilde. “There’s a danger that Hugh could have just been a villain, but Bruce has kept the humanity in Hugh. While he is a villain—what he does is frightening and wrong—you can understand where it all comes from; he’s done that brilliantly.

Producer Schwartz was taken with Greenwood’s performance and ability to bring an incredible humanity to stoic Hugh. Schwartz shares: “When you see Bruce on screen, you sense a strength and integrity to him. This makes the fact that he’s the antagonist of the movie very interesting. Hugh will go to great lengths to keep his daughter from David in ways that the audience may not agree with, but can always understand.”

Feste shares that they conceived of the parents by seeing them in shades of gray. Both Hugh and Harry protect their children the best way they can. The director explains: “Do either one of them understand the love that David and Jade have? I don’t think so. I think maybe toward the end of the film they start to. Are they afraid of it? Yes, sure, because that intensity is frightening to see because it’s all-consuming. Anne is the one character who is not afraid of that love, but is drawn to it and wants to celebrate it.”

Anne is a published author who hasn’t written in years. Like Hugh, she mourns the loss of their eldest child, but while her husband’s grief pushes her away, she wants to hold on to their marriage. Stuber explains why this character is so pivotal to Jade and David’s arc: “Anne has a husband who’s cheating on her, and she’s aware of it. She’s living a lie. But seeing this young man who’s being honest with who he is and authentic in his love for her daughter…that’s a big deal to Anne. That’s something she respects to the point that she gives David information she likely shouldn’t.”
For her part, Richardson was impressed with Feste’s directorial style, one that allowed her to play Anne as a forgiving character who operates from a base of love for others—as well as a woman who has lost herself to a controlling husband. Richardson shares: “Shana is precise, thinks outside the box and knows exactly what she wants. As an actor, you can be used to self-directing. With Shana, she thinks of these imaginative scenarios to get you to do the scene the way she’d like.”

Endless Love is now showing in cinemas nationwide and is distributed by Solar Entertainment Corporation

My Oishi OWow! Moment with Daniel Padilla

“I had my entire Saturday planned when my editor [ED] texted me at around 10 am asking to attend an  Oishi event scheduled at noon.

I said yes, took a quick shower, grabbed a shirt and a pair of jeans, laced up my chucks and rushed to the LRT. It usually took an hour to get to Bonifacio Global City from my place but because of the heavy traffic– and no thanks to the wrong directions ED gave me (“Just look for the IHOP Building, he said”) which was

actually a few blocks off — it took me an hour and a half to get there.

I had to ask 5 guards on almost every street corner who were equally confused before I finally made it to the W Bldg building on High Street. I had to freshen up inside the elevator, since I was perspiring from the long walk and thankfully looked less haggard when I reached the Skye Lounge.

The venue looked quite different from the night parties/event photos I see on Facebook as it transformed into a festive summer arcade with the bright red , yellow, orange and green, colors of my favorite Oishi snacks. There was a mini Oishi Sari Sari Store stacked with everyone’s favorites crunchy treats and I loved the color blocking it creates–plus their healthy drink Oaties and Smart C+.

After signing the guest list, Miss Martha of Bridges PR handed me a white towel, an Oishi sack bag, and a pink Oishi printed scarf and told me that there would be a  game and I was part of the pink team.  The program had already started with RJ Ledesma doing hosting chores with a female radio DJ.

I squeezed my way near the front of the stage hoping to get some decent photos and noticed there were a lot of celebrities, media and bloggers, some with their entire families in tow to support the event. Some of the celebrities I spotted were Phil and James Younghusband, Mikaela Lagdameo Martinez and family, Pia Magalona and her children, Anton del Rosario and Ms. Tessa Prieto Valdez with her daughter Athena.  There were also several young children running around mesmerized by all the goodies around them.

Oishi’s O! Wow! endorsers were then introduced to lead their teams–Ramon Bautista for the Green Team, Elmo Magalona for the Red Team, Slater Young for Yellow Team.

RJ then described the games available such as the Oaties milk the cow, Ramon’s Boot Camp, Scramble, the Elmo Jeep, Slater Young’s Zorb, a big rolling plastic ball and Daniel’s Padilla’s shoot out basketball hoop and the prizes at stake for the winning team. 

As I was busy taking pictures, RJ then called in another ambassador for Oishi– and I was taken back by the sudden movements of everyone pointing their cameras to the guy in a white Oishi Team O shirt, wayfarer shades, tattered jeans and his high cut running black shoes– I actually caught a whiff of his scent before I saw him come up the stage– and he smelled divine.

And just like that, it seemed time stood still for a moment as everyone’s eyes were glued on this teen heartthrob they call DJ or Daniel Padilla.

I admit I am more of a fan (make that die-hard fan)  of his uncle Robin Padilla way back my college days, and Daniel exuded almost that same rugged charm and mystery that made most girls and ladies–including me find irresistible .

Not to sound like a cradle snatcher, but I finally understood why he’s one– if not the most popular teen actor today. He has loads of appeal, he is young, fresh and was quite taller than I expected.. His famous #medyobadboy also perfectly suited his rebellious image though he was really quiet.

He was, or should I say seeing him was my perfect Oishi O Wow! moment. Much as I hate to admit it, I felt like a high school girl who just met her long time crush. Had they asked to us to form a Daniel Padilla fan’s club on that day, I would have volunteered– or fought my way to be president. I think I’m still blushing as I type this.

I was on cloud nine and I forgot about walking 30 minutes under the heat of the midday sun and that my stomach was already growling for some decent lunch.

I stood there dumbfounded as Daniel displayed his basketball prowess, shooting hoops, and gamely posed for photos with everyone. I keenly observed how he smiled, the way he talked, walked and posed.

What I’d do to be in Kathryn Bernardo’s shoes and spend a day with Daniel Padilla…hayz.

Just as Ed instructed (REQUESTED lang! –ED), I went home carrying a big bag full of Oishi goodies…and an Oishi OWow memory in my heart that would always be remembered.

Happy 40th anniversary Oishi! Thanks for re-igniting the fan in me after all these years. I didn’t know Johnny Depp would ever have to share top spot with a much younger Daniel Padilla.

Curse of the blurred photo-op! haha.

Now I couldn’t wait for the next Oishi O Wow! event!

Mixels Animated Shorts Premiere on Cartoon Network Philippines February 17

Cartoon Network and The LEGO Group Mix It Up Globally with MIXELS 

Mixels Animated Shorts Premiere on Cartoon Network Philippines February 17

Calling All Mixels App to Launch in First Quarter

LEGO® Mixels Building Sets in Stores March 1

Mixels is a groundbreaking global franchise created by the powerhouse partnership of two of the biggest forces in kids’ entertainment – Cartoon Network and The LEGO Group – and will make its global debut on multiple screens and platforms this February.  A true multiplatform brand, Mixels.com arrives on the web first on February 15, followed by animated shorts on Cartoon Network Philippines starting February 17 during Funday Mondays at 5:25 p.m. Soon after, kids will be able to “mix, max and murp” with their own LEGO ® Mixels collectible building sets and download the Calling All Mixels app. 

Kids’ media consumption changes every day and this unprecedented collaboration and launch of Mixels continues the evolution of how Cartoon Network is looking at the development and distribution of content and IP creation. Bringing together world-class animators, game developers and product designers from the onset and launching the property on multiple platforms and formats, Cartoon Network and the LEGO brand will enable kids to have a fully integrated and rich experience from the very start of this exciting new franchise.

Mixels is centered around a world of colorful creatures who can mix and combine with each other leading to hilarious and surprising results. They are comical, mischievous creatures that live in tribes of three. Each tribe is based around a unique element. The Infernites are fiery and short 

tempered, but handy for a barbeque. The Cragsters are the industrious mining tribe and the Electroids are a quirky bunch with enough nervous energy to light up the whole world. Nixels, annoying and destructive little creatures, wreak havoc over the Mixel land trying to tear down and break apart the tribes.
Mixels.com will be a central hub where fans can watch all of the shorts and learn more about the characters and setting of the Mixels world. Kids will be able to interact with the brand by exploring the environment of each tribe and meeting the Mixels, mixing multiple Mixels to discover lots of fun combinations and playing mini-games featuring characters from different tribes. Each tribe’s world will be filled with rich, colorful graphic elements that portray that environment’s unique qualities. Using cubits, kids can mix together Mixels from the same tribe to form a Gigantic Max or mix together elements from different tribes to discover new and exciting combinations. By making successful mixes, kids will unlock exclusive mini-games. As new waves of Mixels are introduced, new tribes and mini-games will be added to the site to reflect the ever-growing universe. Mixels.com was developed by Cartoon Network Digital, the Emmy-nominated studio behind the Watch Cartoon Network App and Cartoonnetwork.com.
The animated shorts, consisting of 1-2 minute segments, feature any number of characters on a series of adventures where they will be able to “mix” (two characters combine); “max” (all three members of the tribe combine) or “murp” (when the combo just doesn’t quite fit).  The Mixels shorts debut on Cartoon Network on February 17 and will air weekly. Created for Cartoon Network by John Fang (Generation Rex, Ben 10) and Dave Smith (Powerpuff Girls), Mixels is executive produced by Jennifer Pelphrey, Tramm Wigzell, Brian Miller and Rob Sorcher and is produced at Cartoon Network Studios.
Calling All Mixels, the digital application launching in the first quarter is an addictive mixture of exploration, combat and strategy, with a creative spin on mixing. Find lost Mixels, discover new lands and create amazing mixes, in a world of lush 3D graphics, all while building elaborate structures to secure your Cubit supplies. Players take the role of Flain, a member of the Infernites as he sets forth on an adventure to find and reunite the lost Mixel tribes! It will not be an easy task as annoyingCalling All Mixels was developed by Hibernum Creations and published by the Emmy and Webby-nominated Cartoon Network Games.
LEGO Mixels is a new series of buildable toys that create fun collectible characters that leverages the versatility and creativity of the LEGO building system to recreate the “mix,” “max” and “murp” fun of Mixels in physical form. LEGO Mixels are batched and released throughout the year in tribes such as Frosticons, Infernites, Stretchers, Cragsters, Electroids and Fang Gang. Kids will be able to mix and combine the LEGO Mixels, using the mysterious Cubits, to build new characters with hilarious results, to further immerse themselves in the sprawling Mixels world.
Cartoon Network is the leading kids’ channel in the Philippines. Its dedicated Philippine feed offers the best in animated entertainment, drawing from the world's largest cartoon library of Warner Bros., MGM and Hanna-Barbara titles. Cartoon Network also showcases popular original series such as Ben 10, The Amazing World of Gumball and Adventure Time. Cartoon Network is available in 23 territories throughout the Asia Pacific region and is currently seen in over 65 million cable homes. Online, Cartoon Network Asia Pacific reaches nearly five million unique visitors a month.

Turner Broadcasting System, Inc., a Time Warner company, creates and programs branded news, entertainment, animation and young adult media environments on television and other platforms for consumers around the world.

 Nixels roam the lands between all the Mixel tribes and cause trouble for everyone in sight. Flain and the rest of the Mixels will have to use all of their wits to find new friends, gain new bases, gather ingredients, get stronger and deal with constant Nixel problem if they plan to ultimately reunite all the Mixel tribes!

Goldilocks Adds Cinnamon Loaf to Sweeten Your Life with Spice

SWEETEN YOUR LIFE WITH SPICE

Sweet food and desserts are commonly sought out during February, the month full of love and affection, to share with loved ones. There are times, however, when the classic bestsellers such as chocolate, vanilla, mocha, or cheese flavors need a new addition to their fold.

Cinnamon has always had an incomparable taste, with its warm and sweet taste delighting the palette, and a pleasant, zesty undertone that leaves you wanting for more. Goldilocks, the country’s number one bakeshop, has taken this distinctive flavor and created a Cinnamon Loaf that is worthy of its well-loved bread line. Baked to perfection and topped off with raisins, the Cinnamon Loaf is truly a treat to share.

Have a loaf of spicy sweetness and visit your nearest Goldilocks Bakeshop, or call 888-1-999 for Go-Delivery today []

LUCKY YEAR OF THE HORSE

LUCKY YEAR OF THE HORSE

With the arrival of the Year of the Horse comes a whole new change in fortune. For some, 2014 might even usher in bigtime winnings. As the saying goes, “money won is often sweeter than money earned”.

To foster the prosperity of the Chinese New Year, Pacific Online Systems Corporation – distributors of the hit-game Scratchit – has unveiled its new Lucky Horse game. For as little as Php 20.00 per game card, lucky winners can take home as much as Php 200,000.00!

With Lucky Horse, finding your luck has never been easier! Just scratch off the game area on the card and if three numbers match, lucky winners can collect a prize which corresponds to this value. Moreover, each card comes with a BONUS area for a chance to win more prizes. Indeed, finding luck with Scratchit is as easy as A-B-C.

Lucky Horse is the latest addition to an exciting roster of Scratchit games, which includes Bee Lucky, Red Hot 7s, Go Bananas and many more. Each game has its own unique way of winning, providing hours of entertainment and prize opportunities. The game cards are available in Php 20.00 and Php 50.00 denominations and prizes can go up to Php 500,000.00.

Run to your nearest Philippine Sweepstakes Charity Office (PCSO) lotto outlet or to any Lucky Circle branch and try your luck with Scratchit now! []