SM Cinema partners with the Film Development Council of the Philippines (FDCP) to bring award-winning films to moviegoers

Continuing its commitment to support local independent and award-winning movies, SM Cinema has partnered with the Film Development Council of the Philippines (FDCP) to bring independent films closer and more accessible to moviegoers.

FDCP Chairman Liza Diño and SM Lifestyle Entertainment Inc. (SMLEI) President Edgar Tejerero made the joint announcement on the three-year partnership to provide dedicated SM Cinema theaters for local independently produced films and other FDCP programs.

“It is a known fact that independent filmmakers face many challenges including preconceived notion but everyone agrees that many of our talented directors and actors started out in independent films and so there is indeed a need to nurture and support them by giving their films more exposure, more venues to reach more people. From the very start, FDCP’s approach is engaging the entire film community through collaboration.  FDCP believes that all sectors from the filmmakers to the audience are stakeholders in the growth of our creative industry. This partnership with SM will not only fulfil our continuous pursuit of developing the audience into watching a variety of films but it will also give the independent producers a platform to learn how to market, to promote, and to distribute their films to wider audience.

Tejerero for his part said SM Cinema will provide eight (8) dedicated theaters nationwide that will show independent movies all year round. Participating SM branches include SM Megamall, SM North Edsa, SM Fairview, SM Iloilo, SM Southmall, SM Cebu, SM Bacoor and SM Mall of Asia (or SM Davao or SM Lanang).

As a way of promoting independent movies to a wider audience, pricing will be made more affordable, he added.

“This partnership with FDCP is our way of showing our support to the local film industry which include our independent movie producers. We believe in nurturing our independent movie producers and recognize the effort and creativity they put in their work despite the financial challenges. This is our way of helping them show their films to a wider audience because we believe in their talent and the work that they do for the local movie industry,” Tejerero said.

Moviegoers and film enthusiasts may go the nearest participating SM malls to watch the featured FDCP programmed films and events starting the early part of 2017.

Fast online approval for laboratory requests from MediCard

For some, part of having an HMO is securing a letter of approval (LOA) for laboratory tests requested by doctors to help them diagnose health problems accurately. These tests include blood tests, urinalysis, chest x-ray, among others.

A letter of approval basically confirms that such tests are indeed part of a member’s HMO coverage and authorizes the diagnostic clinic to proceed with the requested tests. However, securing an LOA may mean going through a process that can be slow and inconvenient sometimes: A medical attendant gets your card, then calls the HMO provider to advise them of the laboratory test that needs to be done. Afterwhich, the patient waits for the approval.

Now, Medicard, a leading health maintenance organization in the Philippines, takes the hassle out of getting LOA as it introduces Medicard Online LOA -- an online application that allows you to easily request for a letter of approval for your laboratory and diagnostic tests in the comfort of your own home or straight from your mobile phone on the go.

“MediCard constantly aspires to make quality healthcare accessible and more convenient for our members because we value their time. With innovations such as the Medicard Online LOA, we are able to eliminate a lengthy and time-consuming wait period to get your LOA since online application allows quick user convenience,” said Dr. Nicky Montoya.

Getting an LOA for laboratory and diagnostic tests can be done in five easy steps. First, go to www.medicardphils.com and click the MediCard Online LOA tab. Then, fill out the online form with your MediCard ID number and upload a copy of your doctor’s request.

Next, choose a MediCard free-standing clinic or any accredited clinic/hospital where you wish to avail of the test, and then your LOA and instructions will be sent via e-mail. Lastly, submit the LOA to the hospital together with a copy of your doctor’s request and a copy of the email.


Save yourself the inconvenience of waiting or long procedures and prioritize your good health now with the MediCard Online LOA.

Issuance of the LOA and access to select providers are dependent on the existing plan and coverage.

For more information, call 884-9999 or visit http://www.medicardphils.com. 

Jing Monis Salon at B Hotel Timog QC

I began coloring my virgin hair, a copper brown 8 years ago. It lasted for 8 months and I get tired and have been changing colors since then.  I experimented on light or mahinhin colors  from ash brown, to subtle brown highlights to burgundy in between keratin treatment. During those times, I wasnt that brave to go pink, red, blue or green or any loud colors. I was afraid it will not do justice with my age and skin color.

Until last year. I decided to go red 2 years ago during a salon event. It was a drastic decision on my part but it was the start of something new and I loved it.   I had it retouched last year April 2016  with red ombre.

I told myself that I have to change color before the year ends or first week of January 2017.  My blogger friend Erica Yu B of Stuckwith3.com referred me to Ms. Chelle Campos also a lifestyle blogger for a Jing Monis Salon event. I said yes right away and texted that I wanted to have a base color to give way to a blue ombre.  She said I would have to request for it to my assigned stylist on the event day.

My Before Hair

I was assigned at Jing Monis Salon in B Hotel, Timog, QC at 2pm. My stylist/colorist Marquee Alon suggested for a red purple balayage ombre instead.  He advised against going blue, because that would take a lot of bleaching hours, and if not proper taken care of, my hair would turn green after 2 to 3 months. Upon hearing that I said yes right away for a red/purple balayage.   He set his video cam on timelapse for the  pre coloring and post coloring application.

 He got rid of the split ends after shampoo. He cut 2 inches off my hair.

                    He uses Swarzkopf in deep berry red and purple readying for the layered balayage.

Here's the finish product and I loved it. I wanted to keep the soft curls, though. Ah, Im still thinking about it


If you would love to color your hair as red as mine. Please visit Jing Monis Salon at B Hotel and look for my stylist/colorist Mr. Marquee Alon and ask for a balayage ombre style.

After the coloring and blow drying, The Jing Monis Salon staff gave me Asida set of shampoo and conditioner, Schwarzkopf Color Freeze  and Macadamia Natural Oil for my color treated hair. Im still using them and it keeps the ombre part red which is slowly fading to pink.

Hurom Slow Juicer: The Gift of Health

The feasting has already begun, and there will be more as you make the round of holiday parties and reunions before the year is over. Then there’s that steady line of food gifts, likely sweet and decadent pastries most often than not that may be too tempting to resist. Of course this is the season of indulgences, but it’s time to mitigate that with a delicious squeeze. It’s time to apply a full court press…of slow juicing.

The best gift we can give and indeed receive Christmas is the gift of health, because without it, we can’t enjoy all the beautiful things that come with the season such as waking up early for dawn masses and staying up late to watch the various Christmas light shows and displays. For this you need stamina, but the weather and the stress doesn’t necessarily make it easy for a lot of us to be in the pink of health.

A gift of Hurom is not just a gift of health for Christmas, it’s for life. It’s a good idea to start drinking delicious, healthy juices now rather than making a New Year’s resolution in January next year. Besides, more fruits become readily available this season. You know you can’t eat all those 12 fruits people try to gather for a prosperous year ahead, you can, however, juice them and have the healthiest fruit punch to pass around.

Hurom Slow Juicers are the product of 40 years or research and development. The difference is in the squeeze. Normal juicers with high-speed blades shred fruits and vegetables, which damage the natural enzymes of the plant, but Hurom has the patented slow juice technology that presses the juice and keeps the taste and nutrition as close to its most natural state.

You can even see the difference in the color. Hurom juices retain their natural color, and a microcospic inspection of the juice shows that the fruits have kept their cellular structure. Hurom Slow Juicers are made of materials like ultem, tritan, and stainless steel, some of which are used to build spaceships. They also come with a long lasting AC motor. Hurom juicers produce a higher yield of juice. They want you to get every last squeeze of healthy, unprocessed juice that you can consume immediately or keep for 72 hours.

Versatility is also something Hurom has taken a lot into consideration. It’s easy to juice luscious fruits, but even crisp greens like kale and spinach are juiced to their maximum with a Hurom Slow Juicer. They also make superior nut milks such as almond, which needs high performing juicing. Asians tend have a higher degree of lactose intolerance in their systems, which makes this a really handy tool for those who need milk substitutes, or indeed just because nut milks in themselves just taste delicious.

With a Hurom juicer, you can confidently pick and choose from a wide range of ingredients. You can also make smoothies, ice-cream and sorbets, using the freshest and healthiest ingredients.

Safety in juicing is something Hurom has gone to great lengths to ensure. Hurom juicers are 100% BPA free and come without any blades or sharp parts, making it safe even for children to use. Over a million customers in more than 70 countries make juice with a Hurom juicer, making Hurom the global leader. Don’t miss out!




 New Hurom H-AA Series Slow Juicers are available in Abenson, Anson Link, Duty Free, Gourdo’s, Rustan’s, Landmark, Metro Gaisano, Royal Duty Free, S&R, SM Appliance, SM Home, True Value, and Western Appliances.



To learn more about Hurom Slow Juicers, visit the official website at www.hurom.com and follow us on our social media accounts: (Facebook) http://www.facebook.com/huromphofficial, and (Twitter & Instagram) @HuromPHofficial. You may contact directly to hotlines (+632) 926-8038 / (+632) 926-8009.

Non-stop Christmas Sarap from Goldilocks Bakeshop!

Goldilocks greets everyone a very Merry Christmas with their Christmas delights in tow! Visit your favorite Goldilocks branch near you to stock up on these goodies this Holiday season!

Start off the celebrations with the Goldilocks Christmas Greeting Cake, complete with a sugary Christmas train with Santa at the helm! Perfect for your office Christmas parties or any other pot-luck get-togethers.

For your Noche Buena feast, make the Chunky Choco Cake the centerpiece. Cap your Christmas dinner with this delicious rocky road cake bursting with marshmallows, chocolate chips and cashew nuts, made even special with a choco mousse filling!

As for your nephews and nieces, give them the sweetest Aguinaldo—Goldilocks’ Choco Lollipops. It’s available in different Christmas designs for that extra festive feel and, of course, can satisfy every kid’s sweet tooth.

Finally, if you need last minute Kris Kringle gifts, why not get a box of brownies? Goldilocks' brownies come in a box of 6 brownie varieties: Butterscotch, Brownie with Mallows, Marble, Brownie with Rice Crispies and Raisins, Hazelnut Brownie with Tiramisu, and Triple Chocolate Brownie flavors! You can even get a box just for yourself. And hey, if you can’t think of anything else to give this Christmas, you can’t go wrong with a box of delicious Fruit Cake from Goldilocks!

There are many ways to give someone a very merry Christmas, and a good lot of them may involve some Goldilocks Christmas delights.

What are you waiting for? These Christmas delights from Goldilocks are only available until January 3, so visit your nearest Golidlocks Bakeshop to sweeten your Holidays! For more information, visit the Goldilocks website at www.goldilocks.com.ph! Merry Christmas!

Tips to make dishwashing fun with "Mighty Mom"

Dishwashing doesn’t have to be a difficult task especially this Christmas season even though you are expecting stacks of it. Here are a few tips to make your life easier.

Get a reliable dishwashing liquid! 
This is very important because your dishwashing liquid will be your sink-buddy so better choose the best and most user-friendly like the Mighty Mom Dishwashing Liquid. As the name suggests, ‘Mighty Mom’ is mighty against tough stains and germs because it is a degreasing, deodorizing and anti-bacterial dishwashing liquid soap that comes in the traditional lemon scent or the uniquely Filipino-kalamansi fragrance.

 Organize your dishwashing session 
It’s very wise to have a standard sequence in washing dishes. You could wash glasses first, then the spoons and forks, and end with the plates when the sink gets less crowded. You could have your own version but make sure to stick to that process as it makes dishwashing faster and more efficient.

Enjoy the task by using cool dishwashing tools
Make dishwashing fun for you and try to find cool items that perk up the chore like having a colorful sponge or using dishwashing liquids with pumps. Instead of lifting the soap every now and then, use one with a pump like the Mighty Mom Dishwashing Liquid. To be more energetic, the product has Lemon or Kalamansi scents as well.

Have the best holidays with Mighty Mom Dishwashing Liquid, available in 1 Gallon Lemon, 1 Gallon Kalamansi, 250mL Lemon, and 250mL Kalamansi at SM Supermarket, SM Savemore, SM Hypermarket, Robinsons Supermarket, Shopwise, Metro Gaisano, Wellcome, AFPCES, Pioneer Center, Fisher Supermarket and San Roque Supermarket. For faster and hassle-free transactions, Mighty Mom Dishwashing Liquid can also be bought online at Marketa.

Jason Magbanua shoots a Wedding Prenup Video using ASUS' Zenfone 3 Deluxe

A prenup video shoot with a smartphone? Master Storyteller Jason Magbanua put ASUS' latest premium flagship smartphone to the test



ASUS Philippines makes the impossible a reality with its game-changing technology. Together with the master storyteller, Jason Magbanua, ASUS sets the bar for incredible possibilities. Watch the video to find out: https://www.facebook.com/ASUSph/videos/10150753839204957/

Words from the Master Storyteller

“Steph and Francis’ love story stood out from the pack of most entries sent. It was a treat getting to know them over Japanese and discussing the approach of how to tell their story best via video. It’s essential for us to really get into the meat of the narrative to pick out details and to focus on the essential, said Jason Magbanua.

To create an incredible love story, an incredible amount of research and work must be done. Steph and Francis were worlds apart in background, culture, personality and geography. They couldn’t be any more different. And there’s the rub - what makes them tick? what makes the relationship work?” Click play and find out:

https://www.facebook.com/jasonmagbanuafilms/videos/10154156831380886/

Saving Sally: A tale of young love, monsters and how dreams come true

Its shaping up to be a very interesting Metro Manila Film Festival,  Gone are the usual big names and franchised movies which have been often criticized for their quality and for being too commercial. Instead we get 8 quality film choices each representing  different genre. If looks alone would be the basis one such film is Saving Sally which got a lot of buzz since its trailer first debut in youtube.

Saving Sally was one of the most anticipated millenial film this coming December which gets an A rating from The Cinema Evaluation Board. The film was inspired by Neil Gaiman's Mirror Mask and is a love story told in a unique way that combines live action & vivid kaleidoscope-colored animation under the helm of Director Avid  Liongoren. 

It took 10 years for Director Avid Liongoren to finish the movie due to budget constraints. Saving Sally is a motion picture that weaves a young romantic story set in wonderful 2D animation hues.


The Metro Manila Film Festival Screening Committee describes “Saving Sally,” one of the eight entries in this year’s December film festival as “an atypical youthful love story replete with child-like elements as applied through 2D animation.”  

How the film was put together is also anything but typical. You might as well call it “epic.”

“Saving Sally” was mounted by a small team of young animators led by its director Avid Liongoren who has directed for television and TV commercials. They began shooting as early as 2005 but production slowed down due to funding.

Production came into full swing in 2010 on a blue screen, which was later replaced with a stylized Manila and 2D animated monsters created by Liongoren and his team of artists at Rocketsheep. Every frame, every background, every piece of art was painstakingly made. “What we lacked in manpower, we made up for with love in every single frame. We spent countless hours checking and rechecking every detail,” shares Direk Avid.   

The result is ready to be served come December 25. "Saving Sally" as director Liongoren puts it is "a  familiar coming-of-age story told with superstylized visuals. The project blends live action, 2d animation and an abundance of warm, fuzzy feelings to create a totally unique and lovable little film."

                                                                                                                                         
Get ready to be dazzled and mesmerized, children, millennials, and the young-at-heart. “Saving Sally” will make you believe in love, comic books, and the monsters in our heads all over again.

Cheer on as Marty (Enzo Marcos), an aspiring comic book artist pines for his best friend Sally (played by Rhian Ramos), a gadget inventor. Sally, however, has monsters for parents and an inconsiderate boyfriend (TJ Trinidad). In Marty’s fantasies, he conjures up ways of defending the love of his life from the big bad world.    

At its very heart, “Saving Sally” is a simple story about love

“Saving Sally” stars Rhian Ramos, Enzo Marcos, TJ Trinidad,  Bodjie Pascua, Carme Sanchez, Sharmaine Centenera Buencamino, Archie Adamos.

Rated Parental Guidance  by the MTRCB.

Bringing you a tale of young love, monsters and how dreams really can come true, "Saving Sally" opens this Christmas in cinemas nationwide.

Shop at Restaurant Depot and Enjoy Big Savings!

Restaurant Depot is a membership-only warehouse club for people involved in the foodservice industry - canteens, food stalls, restaurants, caterers, home bakers, and chefs. Membership gives you access to a large selection of ingredients, food supplies, and kitchenware in a convenient shopping format, where buying in bulk translates to big savings.

At Restaurant Depot, you can find all these great selections under one roof.  Their aim is to be your reliable partner – providing a convenient foodservice shopping experience where SAVINGS come in BIG SIZES.

FRESH AND FROZEN – Seafood, meat, chicken, and pork products have all gone through rigorous quality control standards by trusted suppliers and are priced competitively for your needs.

PROCESSED – From frozen dimsum products to processed meat products and shabu-shabu ingredients, Restaurant Depot has a variety of pre-made food products for business needs.

BAKING ITEMS – Restaurant Depot is a baker’s haven with its specialized sections for fudges, syrups, flavorings, sprinkles, nuts and chocolates.

OIL – Giant sizes of various oil brands are available in the store for easy selection as well as an extensive selection of cooking oils, olive oils and truffle oils.

DRY GOODS – Restaurant Depot has all the staples for a full service meal from flour, rice, salt to sugar products in bulk sizes.

DAIRY – Restaurant Depot’s big sizes of mozzarella, cream cheese and dairy products gives you huge savings where it counts.

CANNED GOODS – Various sizes of canned mushrooms, corn, olives, tuna, and meat products are available to cover your kitchen needs.

NOODLES AND PASTA – Restaurant Depot has pasta and noodles in all shapes and sizes for your kitchen’s recipes.

SPICES – Restaurant Depot has an extensive array of spices with shelves full of choice seasonings for your easy selection. Spices and seasonings are available in large packs, ensuring huge savings and more quantity for lower prices.

BEVERAGES – From ready to drink juices, beverage syrups, purees, to economical juice powder packs, Restaurant Depot provides numerous choices of beverage blends for your foodservice needs. The store also has a wide section of alcoholic products; from imported wines, beers and liquor for your bar needs.          

SAUCES AND CONDIMENTS – Restaurant Depot has all the condiments to flavor your food, from ketchups, mayonnaise, mustards, soy sauces, fish sauces, and vinegars. Apart from this, Restaurant Depot brings world food cuisine to table tops with everything from Thai to Malaysian to Japanese condiments.

PACKAGING – With an extensive assortment of cupcake liners, pastry and cake boxes; as well as various plastic food storage sizes for take-out needs and disposable party products in bulk, the store is filled with options for your packaging requirements.

CLEANING – From scrubs to sponges and cleaning liquids, Restaurant Depot has larger sizes in order to optimize your cleaning budget.

TABLEWARE – Restaurant Depot has dinnerware and drinkware for classic table settings, as well as table accessories to complete your table tops.

KITCHENWARE – From flatware to small electrical appliances, Restaurant Depot has a wide array of pots, pans, kitchen tools and catering equipment to fulfill your needs.

Visit Restaurant Depot today! Membership is free.
Store hours are 8 am – 7 pm, Mondays to Sundays.

Bring your family this holiday season at the newly opened Cinema 7 and 8 at SM Cinema MOA

 

If you are planning to spend christmas binge watching MMFF 2016 entries with the family this weekend. Its about time to visit the newest Cinema 7 and 8 at SM Cinema MOA. The brand new Cinema 7 and Cinema 8 of SM Mall of Asia houses 153 seats each and is both equipped with a top-of-the-line digital cinema projector system, Christie CP 2215, and Dolby 7.1 surround sound technology for the best rendition of your favorite blockbuster films into the big screen.

To complete the cinema experience, moviegoers can sit comfortably in the cinemas’ stadium-type, premium glide seats for the best view inside the theatre.

SM Cinema launches Cinema 7 and 8 last December 15, 2016 at SM Moa with the block screening of Rogue One: A Star Wars Story. The event was well attended from the media and moviegoers. We got to enjoy the movies with the kids wearing their favorite Star Wars characters. 

SM Cinema encourages more families to spend the holidays at the movies with 2 new cinemas opening at the SM Mall of Asia

As a standard in all SM Cinema theatres, Cinema 7 and 8 provides further ease of access with its PWD-friendly facilities. PWD lavatories and slots are available for guests of SM Cinema. For the perfect snack to go with your movie, choose from Grub Central’s wide selection of affordable and tasty cinema treats.

Spend the holidays with the family at the movies and be the first to try out SM Mall of Asia’s newest cinemas! For tickets, visit Mall of Asia’s SM Cinema ticket booth or book your seats through www.smcinema.com.