Tresemme is back with Runway Ready Backstage Fashion Show year 2.

THE TRESEMMÉ RUNWAY READY BACKSTAGE FASHION SHOW IS BACK

TRESemmé, the brand used by hair professionals, is back with its Runway Ready Backstage Fashion Show year two. Manila’s stylesetters and fashionphiles are once again given “backstage access" during one of the country’s most awaited fashion shows.

For the 2015 Runway Ready Backstage Fashion Show, TRESemmé puts backstage magic front and center, as guests witness live action behind the scenes where top hair trends are recreated right before models hit the runway.

Three of the country’s top hair professionals and TRESetters—Jing Monis, Lourd Ramos, and Victor Ortega collaborated with three of Manila’s most celebrated designers to recreate various long hair trends, from bombshell blowouts to longtails and braids and twists. Meanwhile, designers Rajo Laurel, Francis Libiran, and Rhett Eala are set to present their exclusively created ensembles inspired by the brand’s newest range, TRESemmé Split Repair. As the Split Repair range makes for long, gorgeous and smooth tresses, the designers’ works will incorporate long, clean lines, and fluid strokes to go with Runway Ready long hair.

AS LONG AS IT TAKES 

Jing Monis recreates straight and stylish ‘dos for Rajo Laurel’s collection with TRESemmé’s Split Repair—from shiny hair in long ponytails held high or tied low at the nape to “out of water” styles that are uber-sleek and shiny. “Chic and classic, long hair is sure to stand the test of time, but how you style it is the key to staying modern,” says Jing. “This season’s high, sleek and ultra-long ponytails, or wet and shiny tresses pulled back or combed up are perfect ways to style your long straight hair.”

Rajo brings this vision to life with beautiful fringed creations, from pieces that feature asymmetric or uneven fringed hems to layered fringed skirts and even embellished collars with fringes—all evocative of the various styles and lengths of salon-gorgeous hair only made possible by TRESemmé Split Repair. “My collection was inspired by long, gorgeous straight hair. I highlighted the concept of hair smoothness and length—with a sheen on fringes and unified movement.”

MOVE IT 

Inspired by bombshell blowouts, tumbling waves, as well as dramatic big buns that ruled the 2015 runways, Lourd Ramos recreates a couple of renditions for Francis Libiran’s collection. The collaboration showcases two sides of a story—flowing, moving, liberating, as well as shaped and structured. Loose features, soft fabrication plus sculpted pieces make for the designer’s feminine pieces—while Lourd’s long, wavy ‘dos and stylized big buns provide the perfect complement.

“Hollywood-like bombshell blowouts work great for all face shapes, while big buns create a certain drama and allure,” assures Lourd. “The longer the hair, the better!” Just like Split Repair treated hair that’s shiny, soft, and moisturized, Francis’ features long, flowy pieces that move along with every step, as well as more sculptured pieces that mimic long hair styled in a more structured ‘do.

BRUSH IT UP 

Victor Ortega relies on his creative prowess to make a mix of twists, loose ‘dos, and all sorts of braids, only possible with long and beautiful tresses, for the collection of Rhett Eala. His elaborate long hair ‘dos—from twisted rope braids to classic plaits—are made to perfectly match the designer’s fine lines and fluid strokes. “Just like the stunning abstract strokes of Rhett which were inspired by the season’s hair twists, my hairstyles feature loops, knots, braids, among others,” shares Victor.

Rhett’s pieces, true enough, feature gentle color sweeps on necklines or elaborate strokes on full skirts. The fluidity of the strokes on each of his creations is made possible by the use of paint brushes made of human hair that were treated with the TRESemmé Split Repair line. “With the range binding split ends, finer and smoother brushstrokes allowed me to make more precise works of art,” says Rhett.

LONG SALON GORGEOUS HAIR, YOU CAN WEAR 

You too can achieve the looks of the Runway Ready models right in your own home, as effortlessly executed by TRESemmé’s hair professionals. Having the TRESemmé Split Repair line on your own dresser is just like having the pros’ work at your fingertips, truly giving you the extra edge to style your hair the way you want it. With this new range, split ends won’t get in the way of achieving this season’s long hair trends. Its revolutionary sealing mechanism Repair Complex binds up to 88% of split ends.

To learn more about how to create this season’s hair trends, tweet us at @TRESemméPH #TRESemméRunwayReady or visit www.TRESemmé.com.

Switch & save with the Watsons "Seaprincess" Ms. Tessa Prieto Valdes

Get as much as 80 percent savings when you buy Watsons Label products

Ive been visiting Watsons once a week when there is a need to buy for toiletries, vitamins and wet wipes. Yes,  wet wipes! there are so many available variants and scents and they are always on sale.  I cant leave the house without wipes. I discovered recently that they are selling high end foundations and make ups, and Kanebo Kate line are now on their beauty stands. There is no need to visit Makati or Shangri-la mall for my 2-way foundation.

Everybody knows Socialite, writer, the seaprincess herself,  Ms. Tessa Prieto-Valdes, she has been a constant fixture at social networks. Last May 2, Ms. Tessa dropped by Watsons SM Aura premiere and surprised shoppers as she suggested some personal favorites to them. She manned the pharmacy counter and offered the switch and saved Watsons generic vitamins.

She also assisted the shoppers to decide on what to buy and compared prices. She helped me with my loot, I bought 3 Watsons wet wipes which was a good deal, buy two and get one for half a price. I also bought another favorite, the Watsons Argan Oil shampoo, which has a nice scent and is good for my wired hair.


From personal care items, beauty essentials, and even medicine, Asia’s leading personal care store now offers a wider variety of products under its own label, giving shoppers the choice to save as much as 80 percent without compromising on quality.

With such irresistible deals, the campaign has caught the attention of several celebrities  who have made the Switch and Saved including Tessa Prieto-Valdes, Patty Laurel, Iya Villania and the newest addition to group, Christian Bautista.

“A smart shopper knows when she is getting a good deal, that’s why a lot of us are always at here at Watsons, Valdes points out. “You’d be surprised with the savings you get just by choosing Watsons label products!”

To keep her looking picture perfect she chooses Watsons Body Serum Whitening that instantly lightens and reduces dark spots and visible imperfections. There’s also Watsons Body Lotion Whitening Mulberry designed to nourish and helps to provide whitening effects, giving you fairer and radiant skin.

Her bath essentials meanwhile include; Watsons Cream Handsoap Strawberry and Yoghurt that effectively cleanses and protects hands from dryness; Watsons scented cream body wash with goat milk; to gently slough off dead skin cells and helps to hydrate and brighten the skin and Watsons Milk & Salt Scrub Whitening to help enhance the skin, and exfoliate dead skin cells.

To keep her skin looking healthy and protect it from free radical damage, Tessa relies on a couple of products; Watsons Glutathione to lighten skin and prevent skin darkening caused by UV exposure; and Watsons Vitamin E to prevent eye disorders and help her avoid a number of diseases.

“How Deep Is Your Love” Iconic Song to be Part of Saturday Night Fever Asian Tour

“How Deep Is Your Love” the 1977 mega-hit by the Bee Gees, will be released as a single that will be part of an original cast recording of the Asian Tour of the stage musical version of Saturday Night Fever.

The Asian tour will have stops in Manila, Kuala Lumpur and Singapore and will star Brandon Rubendall who will play Tony Manero and Jenna Rubaii who will play his dance partner and eventual love interest Stephanie Mangano. The two will also perform the song on the musical’s official soundtrack (OST). The Manila leg, mounted by the Atlantis Theatrical Entertainment Group (ATEG) in close coordination with the Robert Stigwood Organization, will have performances from July 3 to 26 at the Theatre, Solaire Resort and Casino.

Everyone knows the song well. Originally intended for Yvonne Elliman (who later recorded "If I Can't Have You) instead won an award for Best Pop Performance by a Group at the 20th Grammy Awards held in February 1978 and topped the Billboard Hot 100 on 24 December 1977 (becoming the first of six consecutive US number-one hits) and stayed in the Top 10 for a then-record 17 weeks. It also ranked number 375 on Rolling Stone's list of the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time.

In a 2001 interview the Bee Gees'did for Billboard magazine, Barry Gibb reportedly said that "How Deep Is Your Love" was his favorite Bee Gees song.

Said Barry: "A lot of the textures you hear in the song were added on later. We didn't change any lyrics, mind you, but the way we recorded it was a little different than the way we wrote in terms of construction. A little different for the better, I think, the title 'How Deep Is Your Love' we thought was perfect because of all the connotations involved in that sentence, and that was simply it.”

That iconic song will make itself heard again to a whole new generation of listeners once the Asian Tour of Saturday Night Fever takes off.

Marie Rose, Rafa Siguion-Reyna, Mikkie Bradshaw, Jamie Wilson and Carla Guevara-Laforteza are also joining the show’s 20-strong cast.

Broadway choreographer Vince Pesce, Tony Award-winning scenic designer David Gallo, original lighting designer of “Saturday Night Fever” on Broadway Paul Miller, costume designer Eric Pineda and musical director Ceejay Javier are also part of the creative team.

The Manila crew is working in close coordination with the Robert Stigwood Organization whose founder, Mr. Stigwood, produced the original Saturday Night Fever film and its various stage incarnations from 1998 to the present.

Director Bobby Garcia reveals: “We’re using a brand-new script (originally written by Nan Knighton, in collaboration with Arlene Phillips, Paul Nicholas and Mr. Stigwood) that brings back a lot of the grittiness and the coming-of-age in a tough world aspect of the movie. It’s edgy and exciting. It’s a completely conceptualized production.”


He is excited that the famous movie musical is being re-invented for a stage audience across Asia, and that “How Deep Is Your Love” will be heard again via this new cast recording of the stage version.

“We have a first-rate creative team and have assembled an amazing cast,” he says. “I think the quality of the show will speak for itself once it’s up on its feet. This production will be everything Saturday Night Fever should be.”


For tickets and more information, call ATEG at (632)650 5144 or (63917) 8381534; visit TicketWorld at ticketworld.com.ph.


Like ATEG on facebook.com/ATEGasia.

Mr Pizza is now "On Air" in the Philippines!

Pizza lovers, rejoice!

There are so many pizza restaurants in the country that you have checked in and most probably have some of your personal favorites from them.  But wait till you have a bite of that mouth watering, chewy, delicious and sweet  "Eggta" pizza from Korea's Mr Pizza. Let your taste bud decides. Mr. Pizza promises to be the next destination for pizza lovers. They offer a wide variety of pizza flavors, pastas, and chicken dishes.  Their Mr. Chicken (wings) are my next favorite aside from Egg Ta pizza.

Mr. Pizza, Korea’s Number 1 pizza chain is now in the Philippines! The good news is that you dont have to book a flight to Korea to have a taste of their sumptuous, fresh pizzas. They are now opening their 505th branch here in Manila.

Their pizza is #100 handmade dough, and kneaded right before your eyes. You can see their chefs tossing and kneading doughs around the see through kitchen. Creating your pizza right before your very eyes. Their ingredients are freshly made for you to enjoy.  They dont put oil or preservatives on it.  

Diet-conscious pizza fans would love Mr Pizza’s Smarty Pizzas. These are thin crust pizzas that are not too heavy but still packs in a lot of flavors. “Having Smarty pizza with beer is a recent trend among young folks in Korea,”Mr. Sonsaid.

The all-time popular gourmet pizza’s first branch located at the ground floor level of Greenbelt 3 Ayala Center, Makati City will be MrPizza’s  505th worldwide.

“We are number one in Korea, and we will do our best to be number #1 in the Philippines. We plan to expand aggressively in the coming months so watch out for a lot of store openings,” said Mr. Son.

We take pride in being able to provide Filipinos the opportunity to experience Korea’s best-tasting pizza. It is definitely something to look forward to,” says Tony Son, Mr. Pizza Korea’s Director for Global Division.

Originated in 1990, Mr Pizza has been number 1 in Korea since 2009. It is the only food brand listed in the KOSDAQ, a first in the food and beverage industry.

Other Mr. Pizza locations overseas include of course Korea, China, and United States among others.

Among others, Mr. Pizza credits its success to its unflinching commitment to cleanliness, kitchen sanitation, store ambience/atmosphere, ingredients, and customer service.

Mr. Pizza abides by the 300% principle:  100% Hand-Kneaded, 100% Full-Hearted Topping, and 100% Grill-Baked.

“Among everything else, however, we are very strict with food quality,” adds Mr. Son.

“It’s a pact written in stone. That is our commitment,” Mr. Son said.

When it comes to variety, Mr. Pizza can rightfully claim that it's the only brand, which offers very unique flavors.

“There is nothing in the market that is similar to our top-of-the-line pizzas - Eggta, Seafood Island, Potato Gold, Gesal Montand, Macho Grande, and Secret Garden,” prides Mr. Son.

Toppings include shrimp, crabmeat, round steak, chicken breast, and buttery potato, which are not only delicious but also healthy.

Pizzas under the Classic Pizza category include a variety of traditional pizza flavors with “live” dough, fresh sauce and flavorful cheese.

Mr. Son adds: “Once you taste our oil –less pizza that’s when you’d discover the difference!”
Other items that would go perfectly well with Pizza are Mr. and Ms. Chicken,  and our varieties of Pastas.

No doubt Mr. Pizza is a must-try – fresh, unique, flavorful, fun and scrumptious!

Follow Mr Pizza on FB, Twitter, and Instagram @mrpizzaph.

Lazada #BigAppSale kicks off today!

I discovered the joy of online shopping last year, when I purchased a high end moisturizer that was out of stock at Shangri-la.   I bought it 1/2 of its price tag online. Since then I have been secretly eyeing on things that I need on the net.  because it offer better prices.  There is a lot of brands to choose from and I could compare prices and some of the products I really like are only available at my favorite online destination, Lazada.

The convenience of shopping online is countless, I get big discounts and savings. I dont have to drive myself to the mall,  the traffic nowadays eat so much more of our time. I hate crowds and I dont have to spend extra on things that I dont want. Now, that Im on the lookout for gadgets and mobile phones. Lazada offers their big app sale starting on May 21! and a favorite brand Lenovo A7000 is on sale at Php7390!

Lazada, Southeast Asia’s leading online shopping and selling destination, kicks off its Big App Sale on May 21- 24!  The four-day event promises to bring the best mobile app-exclusive promotions across all product categories to consumers in the Southeast Asia.

This exclusive sale extravaganza brings the best deals to thank Lazada’s rapidly growing number of app users for their support. Since the company launched the Android  app in June 2013 followed by the iOS app in January 2014, mobile app downloads have reached over 11 million to date in the region. The Android app has consistently ranked among the daily top four shopping apps in Southeast Asia. In April this year, the iOS app has been featured as a recommended shopping app about 70 times daily on the regional App Store.

The Rise of Mobile and Mobile Apps
According to Google’s Consumer Barometer 2014 report, smartphones (41%) and tablets (15%) are the most commonly used mobile devices in the Philippines, as compared to computers (36%). This mobile-first consumption changes the way consumers now browse and shop online.

Lazada has also seen a surge in mobile app downloads across the region, which has grown over 75% since December 2014. There were approximately 1.5 million or close to 50,000 downloads per day in April alone.

“We bring Southeast Asia’s largest online shopping mall to our consumers anytime and anywhere, with a best-in-class effortless mobile app shopping experience. Besides fantastic deals during our Big App Sale, consumers get access to the widest range of international and local products at their fingertips and enjoy secure payment options such as cash-on-delivery,” said Inanc Balci, CEO of Lazada Philippines.

The Lazada Big App Sale

The Lazada Big App sale kicks off on 21 May offering four different promotions for shoppers to get the maximum value from their purchases via mobile apps. App users can enjoy crazy deals each day at 9am, 12pm, 6pm and 9pm.  For additional value, Lazada app users can enjoy an extra 10% discount off a selected category every day, and vouchers giveaways. There will also be a ‘PhP 99 Store’ with 100 deals priced at only PhP 99.

Lazada Philippines is also excited to announce the first-ever Globe Sunday promo where an exclusive 10% discount voucher will be available to Globe ​prepaid, postpaid, TM and Tattoo customers on Sunday, May 24. This additional discount is valid for purchases made on the Lazada Mobile App and is applicable on all items. Globe Sunday is the first exclusive promo to run after the recently signed partnership between the country’s no.1 mobile brand Globe Telecom and the largest e-commerce player, Lazada Philippines.

The Lazada Mobile App Shopper
Consumers spend more time browsing per session on the mobile app than the desktop, with an average of 7.3 minutes on Android and 8.5 minutes on iOS, as compared to 4.5 minutes on the desktop in the Philippines. There are also more females than males using the mobile apps, with the majority of 65% aged between 25 to 44 years old. The most popular product categories shopped on the mobile apps in April are Home and Living, Mobile and Tablets, Home Appliances, and Health and Beauty in the Philippines.

The Lazada Mobile App Shopper Across Six Southeast Asian Countries 
Age group

·           Across all six countries, the biggest group of mobile shoppers are within the 25-34 age group (average 45% on Android; 51% on iOS).
·           This is followed by the 18-24 age group (average 22% on Android; 24% on iOS) for all countries except Singapore (16% on Android; 17% on iOS).
·           The number of shoppers age 45 and above are comparable among all countries (average 10% on Android; 7% on iOS) with Singapore having a higher variation (14% on Android; 10% on iOS).
Gender
·           Women are trumping men in mobile shopping in the Philippines

Android Users: 56% are female, 44% are male
iOS Users: 61% female, and 39% are male
Time spent per app session
·         In the Region, iOS shoppers spend the most time at 7.2 minutes on average versus 6.5 minutes on Android.

·         Philippines shoppers spend the most time on the site at 8.5 minutes on iOS and 7.3 minutes on Android, while Singapore shoppers spend the least, at 5.4 minutes on iOS and 5.1 minutes on Android.



“Certainly mobile shopping is more convenient and hassle-free, and that is why we think it’s bucking traditional shopping trends when it comes to gender. With an average time spent per session by mobile app shoppers being under ten minutes, it clearly beats travelling out and navigating the crowd in physical malls,” said Inanc Balci, CEO of Lazada Philippines.

Satisfy your sweet tooth with Goldilocks' Snack Bites

Small and Sweet Can’t Be Beat

It’s no secret that Filipinos posses the most insatiable sweet tooth. From lolas spoiling their apos with all kinds of treats, to opening our baon in school and finding cakes or cookies, or even waiting for mom to come home from work knowing that she always brings home something sweet for you to snack on. Indeed, our affinity for sweets is almost inherent in our culture and taste.

For almost five decades, Goldilocks has been satisfying our sweet tooth. Once again, the country’s number one bakeshop offers an exciting new product, Snack Bites, which are crunchy bite-sized pastries loaded with delicious flavor. They come in three variations, Brownie Crisps (crunchy chocolate dough sprinkled with chocolate chips), Buttercreme Bites (creamy and crispy   dough lightly coated in sugar), and Cinnamon Bites (crunchy bite sized dough covered with cinnamon and sugar). These Snack Bites are available for only P35-P45 and are lightweight and resealable, making them perfect for having a yummy merienda anytime, anywhere. Snack Bites are also ideal for taking to school or work, and even bringing home as pasalubong! To have a quick and delightful snack, visit your nearest Goldilocks outlet or call 888-1-999 Go-Delivery for orders.

Look young and glowing with Pond's Age Miracle 3-Step Regimen

BE A #PONDSMIRACLEMOM


Pond's celebrate post Mother's day with #PondsMiracleMoms Chesca Kramer and Rissa Mananquil Trillo at SM Makati last May 16, 2015. Ponds addressed every mother's most pressing concerns in skincare and beauty. Chesca Kramer let us to an afternoon of beauty workshop. She did the minimalist no-make-up look to a young mom volunteer Jewel using an eye pencil, lipliner and a pink blush-on as tools. The result was pretty natural on Jewel's face. With Pond's skincare beauty regimen, one need not to pile on make up, all you need is a lipstick, face powder, and an eye pencil to highlight your features.

The Pond's Age Miracle 3-step regimen is a must to every working and stay-at-home moms, it could easily take 10 years off your face, of course, us women would like our skin to look up to 10 years younger, with supple, dewy and glowing skin to booth.

Chesca Kramer let us to her skin care regimen and her most precious Ponds staple which is the Pond's Firm and Lift eye contour lifter and the Pond's Firm and Lift Face and Neck Day Cream. When applying the eye cream, one should pat the under eye softly make sure that the cream went on evenly. She told that we should not forget the neck part, make it a routine to put a moisturizer on it,  spread it outward so as not to toggle the skin.

“One of the most important and happiest parts of our daily lives as mothers is having to take care of everyone else,” says actress, model, and mom of three Chesca Kramer. “But more than that, it is also necessary to find time to take care of ourselves, the way we look, how we feel. Looking and feeling beautiful and younger is just a few steps away, with my checklist of beauty must-haves.” For Chesca, true enough, all it takes are three skincare steps from the Pond’s Age Miracle line to stay radiant, fresh, younger-looking, and beautiful. “I hope to help other moms out there create a simple and ageless beauty regimen to maximize their days. I believe that you don’t need heavy makeup to show how beautiful you are. It all starts with great skin. So, I’m sharing the #PondsMiracleMom 3-step regimen, to give moms skin that looks up to 10 years younger.”

THE SKIP TO YOUR STEP
Step 1:  Cleanse.  Wash away signs of aging and enhance your skin’s overall radiance with Pond's Age Miracle Cell ReGEN Facial Foam. “Because this cleanser is formulated with Intelligent Pro-Cell Complex and has micro granules that gently exfoliate dead skin cells, one wash instantly gives my skin a natural glow,” beams Chesca. “My face is softer, smoother, more radiant.”

Step 2:  Moisturize. Apply a layer of Pond's Age Miracle Day Cream over the face and neck to help renew skin cells and fight signs of aging. “This anti-aging moisturizer is truly one of my favorite Pond’s breakthroughs,” shares Chesca. “It’s not only infused with the same Intelligent Pro-Cell Complex as the cleanser, which can help you look up to 10 years younger, but it also has SPF 15 PA++ to fight the aging effects of the sun. In just seven days, you’ll notice visible reduction of fine lines, wrinkles, and dark spots.”

Step 3: Conceal and Protect. Finish with a layer of the Pond's Age Miracle BB+ Cream for a natural coverage while addressing other aging concerns and providing sun protection with SPF 30 PA++. “I love this anti-aging concealer for its natural finish on the skin. Its tint blends effortlessly with my skin tone to make for such a refreshed and flawless look,” adds Chesca.

With the Age Miracle line that helps moms get younger-looking skin, Pond’s further emphasizes that mothers—our  superheroes and “miracle workers”—truly only deserve the best. Every day is a celebration of the #PondsMiracleMom.

Rose Byrne plays "Rayna" to Melissa McCarthy's "Spy"

 "Spy" is a movie that will let you forget your problems pronto. Melissa McCarthy is a natural at doing her role from deskbound CIA analyst to spy agent in the field.  She is the guardian angel to her crush Agent Bradley Fine (Jude Law). I never had a grand time laughing until last night.

                Rose Byrne struts her way into a global chase against a group of undercover agents in “Spy” starring alongside Melissa McCarthy, Jason Statham and Jude Law.

                Byrne takes on the role of Rayna, a beautiful and privileged Oxford-educated daughter of a recently deceased arms dealer who becomes frenemies with Susan Cooper, a novice spy who gears up for action after Fine (Law) suddenly goes off the grid during a dangerous assignment. Agent Cooper leaves her dreary desk job behind, entering the world of international espionage in Europe.  Soon, Rayna and Susan butt heads when Rayna has come into possession of an unusual inheritance, a small tactical nuclear weapon enough to give the world a total meltdown.

                Rose Byrne says her character is all about status. Rayna wears garish outfits for grand entrances into the finest hotels. Perpetually bored and unimpressed, she lacks a sense of humor and has a brutally direct manner of speaking.    “I liken her to royalty, or a member of a corrupt dynasty. She’s posh and talks as if she’s from another era, an effort to compensate for her poor Bulgarian roots.”  Despite her coldness, Rayna feels slightly sympathetic and curious about Susan, who reminds her of a “sad Bulgarian clown.”

                Of Byrne, who also co-starred with her in “Bridesmaids,” McCarthy says, “I would work with Rose 300 million times. She manages to play a character that’s dastardly yet likeable, which is a tricky thing to pull off. You don’t see the work behind her performance. You just see a remarkable character who turns on a dime.”

                While filming and on the run, Rayna’s adventures transitions to a far more luxurious form of air transport, McCarthy and Rose Byrne shoot a flight sequence onboard Rayna’s private jet, which is replete with her unmistakable style – that is to say, gaudy leopard skin upholstery and Versace red and gold wallpaper. Having grown interminably bored in Rome, Rayna is whisking her newfound “sad Bulgarian clown” companion to Budapest for drinks. Chaos breaks out during the flight, and the plane’s occupants find themselves in a nosedive, experiencing the zero gravity effect of weightlessness.

                To overcome the challenges of filming this sequence, SFX supervisor Yves De Bono had the plane mounted on a 20-degree gimbal, allowing it to tilt and swivel in any direction. Movement was hydraulically controlled from the ground, and both cast and stunt team were harnessed to cables to simulate floating. Rose Byrne spent time in a swimming pool practicing controlling her physical motions to prepare for the sequence, which required a week to complete.

                Director Paul Feig says Byrne’s role as Rayna is his favourite, “Rose is one of the most talented comedic actresses out there and nobody knew for years that she was a comedic actress. She plays Rayna Boyanov, the daughter of a black market arms dealer, a spoiled rich girl who grew up in Bulgaria but went to school in London and has completely got rid of her accent. Now she's got a very posh English accent, composed and classy, but she is swearing all the time and she is so funny.”

                “Spy” opens this May 21 from 20th Century Fox to be distributed by Warner Bros.

Real People, Real Heroes

We often see heroes as larger-than-life individuals with super strength, cool gadgets, or martial art skills. But in real life, heroes are characterized by genuine kindness, selfless acts, and making a difference. It is these seemingly non-super-powered (yet still challenging) every day acts of kindness and selflessness that make these real life heroes super in their own right.

AIA Group Limited, the real life company, believes that ordinary people are more than capable of going above and beyond the call of duty to help others.  They have launched the first-ever AIA Real Life Hero Awards, a conglomerate-wide search for outstanding financial advisors of the AIA group of companies, which includes Philam Life, the country’s premier life insurance company. AIA has been on the look-out for stories of advisors that best embody the four brand beliefs of AIA: professionalism, caring, fairness, and ease to work – making them fit to be called heroes.

Out of the 15 selected candidates from various AIA markets in the Asia Pacific region, the Philippines is proud to have two finalists from Philam Life. Captain Chris Cervantes actively promotes financial literacy among his fellow OFWs, and Nina Solomon shares her time and blessings to many charitable institutions. Their mission as Real Life heroes is to help Filipinos secure the future, so they can enjoy the present.

To know more about the inspiring works of Chris Cervantes and Nina Solomon, and to vote for whom you think is the best Real Life Hero, please visit http://www.aiareallifeheroes.com/hero/voting/index.   Last day of voting is on May 20, 2015.

“Let Your Beat Out” with Honda Philippines Facebook promo and win amazing prizes

Honda Philippines Incorporated launches  its latest promo on Facebook, the “Let Your Beat Out” video upload contest last May 18 at NBA Cafe Manila, SM Aura.

Everyone is invited to upload their personal video entries taken from street sports, extreme sports or into music. State your name before the start of video, your life aspirations and bring out the best of what you do and win amazing prices from Honda Philippines.

To choose the best video, 50% of the final score will be based on the number of likes and shares while the remaining 50% will focus on content creativity and uniqueness of presentation.

To join the “Let Your Beat Out” promo, simply “Like” the official Honda Philippines Facebook fan page, www.facebook.com/hondaph to be able to upload videos.

Uploading of video entries will be from May 18 to May 28, 2015. Include the official hashtag, #letyourbeatout, when uploading entries.

Winners for the various categories will get the chance to share the limelight with the main product endorsers during a launch event entitled “Let Your BeAT Out!,” happening this coming May 30, 2015 at the SM Mall of Asia Music Hall starting at 4 p.m.Also up for grabs are VIP Access Passes and exciting Honda BeAT goodies.

The Honda “Let Your BeAT Out” launch event will showcase the unveiling of Honda’s latest scooter model, which is also powered by the revolutionary Honda’s Smart Technology. Other electrifying activities in this much-anticipated event include a Streetdance Competition, a 3x3 Streetball basketball contest, Skateboard tricks and Dunking/Ball Handling exhibition and finally a grand scooter ride by Honda’s latest product endorsers and awarding of competition winners.


For more about Honda motorcycles, visit the Honda Philippines Incorporated website, www.hondaph.com.

INFAMOUS “SAN ANDREAS” FAULT TRIGGERS WORST EARTHQUAKE IN HISTORY

I
New Line Cinema's action-thriller “San Andreas” imagines the largest magnitude earthquake in recorded history. A seismic swarm along a previously undetected fault near Nevada’s Hoover Dam crosses the border to trigger California’s notorious San Andreas Fault, which erupts in a massive jolt that rocks Los Angeles to its core. But it doesn’t stop there. The shockwave travels up the fault line, setting off a ripple effect of chaos and destruction all the way to San Francisco.

It was the fusion of wide-scale calamity and intensely personal connections that drew Dwayne Johnson and director Brad Peyton to the project, while it was still in the latter stages of development with producer Beau Flynn. The three had previously collaborated on the worldwide hit “Journey 2: The Mysterious Island,” and welcomed the chance to work together again on such a vastly different story where everything – the action, the scale, and the emotional beats – is amplified.

Says Peyton, “This is different from anything I’ve done before. It was more demanding in its larger-than-life elements but also in striking that tonal honesty. I wanted the characters to ring true so audiences could see it through their point of view as opposed to standing back and witnessing it from a safe distance. Because, as impactful as the action is, at the heart of every story are people you care about.”

The idea for “San Andreas” originated with Flynn, a longtime fan of classic disaster films who was eager to update the genre with today’s 3D capabilities and cutting-edge technology to create photorealistic images. Beyond that, he concedes, “The reason this movie resonates so much with me is that within three weeks of my moving to Los Angeles, the Northridge earthquake hit. I had never even felt a tremor before, and to experience a major earthquake was terrifying, powerful. It makes you feel very small and humble. I was always fascinated by the San Andreas Fault, specifically, even though I grew up in Miami, 3000 miles away. It’s just something I think people are aware of, consciously or not. It’s in the zeitgeist.”

To keep audiences on the edge of their seats, the filmmakers raised the cinematic stakes on “San Andreas.” Applying creative license to a real-world threat, the story’s far-reaching scenarios aim for a heightened sense of action and drama. Nevertheless, while not everything depicted on screen is fact-based, the film still acknowledges the reality behind it.

In March 2015 the U.S. Geological Survey estimated the odds of California experiencing a magnitude 8 or greater seismic event in the next 30 years has increased, as has the possibility of multi-fault ruptures, like links in a chain. Attention has long been focused on the infamous San Andreas but there are others steadily building pressure, including the Puente Hills Fault, running from Orange County to downtown L.A., and the underwater Cascadia Subduction Zone, from Northern California to Vancouver Island, with its potential to set off coast-engulfing tsunamis. Quakes have recently been reported in Nevada, Virginia, Oklahoma, Missouri and previously unidentified hot-spots across the country, and remain a global fact of life – with a USGS estimate of approximately 500,000 detectable quakes around the world each year, 100,000 of which can be felt and as many as 100 that will cause damage.

“I took all my own fears and translated them into the script,” says screenwriter Carlton Cuse, “knowing Brad would execute every sequence at a very high level, and he exceeded my expectations.”

Within the broad canvas of a catastrophic quake, “San Andreas” finds its heart in the deepest instincts such an unpredictable and uncontrollable force of nature provokes: our need to reach out to others and to confirm what’s most important to us. “Disasters have a way of bringing out the best in people,” Peyton suggests. “Individuals gain focus and find strength. Ordinary people become heroes, while heroes push themselves to the limit.”

Concludes Flynn, “I think it’s fair to say no one knows exactly what they would do when faced with a fight-or-flight scenario, and that’s something we explore in the movie.”
Opening across the Philippines in both 3D and 2D format on May 28, 2015, “San Andreas” is distributed by Warner Bros. Pictures, a Warner Bros. Entertainment Company.