Prepare to fall in love in Siargao: An MMFF 2017 Movie Entry

I have never been to Siargao, but after watching the movie, a favorite surfing destination and an entry to MMFF this year. I am planning to book a plane anytime today. I wish I have the precious time to do so. It has been in my bucket list this year.  The beauty of Siargao was captured through the lens of Director Paul Soriano. 

Im a fan of Jericho Rosales, having watched all his movies. Siargao is a welcome respite for him. He's a natural in the movie. He never loses his touch.  But I admit I liked him better when he is surfing. Because that's what he do best during his free time. He is looking good and buff in the movie same with Champion surfer/IG idol Luke Landrigan. 

The under water shots are pretty amazing too and captured the best under water scene. The film should be nominated for Best Cinematography . The shots were awesome and perfect. If you want a light romance with a beautiful beach as back drop, its time to watch Siargao. It also stars Erich Gonzales and Jasmine Curtis-Smith. 

Luke Landrigan

Fresh from a public outburst and on the verge of quitting his band, 32-year old high-pro le musician DIEGO PUNZALAN takes a trip to his province of Siargao to take a break from Manila’s public eye and rethink his place in his band.

There, he meets 29-year old LAURA MOLINA, a perky but sassy fashion and beauty vlogger, who was recently dumped by her longtime boyfriend, Mikey, from whom she declined a wedding proposal. She has embarked on a solo trip to nurse her broken heart and challenge her fear of risks and independence.

With tension and chemistry running high, Diego challenges Laura to step out of her boundaries as they explore the places he once called home. Going back to his hometown also means going back to face the issues he left behind, including seeing ABI WILLIAMS, his Fil-Australian 27 year old former  fame, the muse of many of his older love songs, one he shared a deep and heartbreaking history with.

In this small and secluded surf town where time moves slowly and people might come and go – but sometimes, never leave – the unlikely triangle of Diego, Laura, and Abi  and themselves returning to their past decisions and mistakes while uncertain about the future that lies ahead. Where the tides change quickly and the ocean never stays still, they learn to take chances, and learn that, perhaps, commitment might be the biggest risk they will ever have to make.

Philcare's Health Vantage: Pay only what you can afford for a multi purpose health card

Having worked for more than 10 years at the Admitting Section of one of the country’s top hospitals, I’ve had my share of a lot of sad stories (and old excuses) from patients and their companions whenever they have to be admitted.

And as one of the frontliners I admit it can be quite stressful as you’ll be dealing with a lot of people who are stressed and panicking so you need to have lots of patience and empathy. It was kind of tough at first but dealing with them everyday made me more capable of handling even some extreme situations.

It is hard to be admitted and you don’t have cash with you to pay for everything.  The first thing that would often anger them is (If the patient has no healthcard) is when you ask for a certain amount of hospital deposit. It would usually start with some pleading, then they would began citing some news they read, before they would start shouting and will often end with more pleading.


When I left to venture to a different industry my next job was at  BPO. We were given health benefits which included a health card. Thankfully during the 4 years I spent working there, I was never admitted or had a complicated medical consultation.  As far as I can remember,  I only used my card once because of fever and flu. That one time consultation went smooth as I just showed it to the ER Ward clerk. She just swiped and asked for my birthday. No argument, as it is cashless and the doctor attended to me just like everyone else.



So you see, having a health card can really save you a lot of time, trouble and arguments.  You might not see its importance  now that you are healthy, but once you get sick and need to go to the hospital you’ll appreciate it even more. I just wish a lot of Filipinos could see its importance and that too could have a comprehensive health care system similar to the ones abroad.

Did you know that only 4% of Filipinos enjoy comprehensive HMO coverage, and most people who have that coverage only do because they work for large corporations that are given bulk discounts.  This means that most Filipinos simply aren’t prepared even for minor hospitalizations, from still all too common bacterial or viral diseases.  Will such eventualities do occur, the financial cost will very often lead debt that has to be paid over a period of several months.  Ever attentive to the needs of Filipinos.


With the regular Filipino’s financial reality in mind, PhilCare created the Health Vantage prepaid card.  With PhilCare’s Health Vantage, Filipinos pay only what they can afford, for a multi-use prepaid health card that covers ER, hospitalization, and the bulk of other services that go with it up to a limit that is many times the cost of the Health Vantage Card.

Available for individual purchase online, Health Vantage is the most affordable way to approximate the HMO coverage that employees at big companies get under comprehensive, bulk group plans.

Health Vantage gives you coverage for emergency room care and hospitalization expenses, inclusive of Doctors’ fees, Laboratory and diagnostic procedures, Room and board (regular private room) Medicines (except vaccines) as medically necessary during confinement except for cases declared as non-coverable, Special modalities of treatment which are medically necessary during ER and confinement and subject to standard inner limits, Diagnostic and therapeutic procedures as medically necessary during ER and confinement

Emergency cases are the sudden, unexpected onset of illness or injury, which at the time of contract reasonably appeared as having the potential of causing immediate disability or death or requiring the immediate alleviation of severe pain and discomfort. Emergency cases include but are not limited to Massive Bleeding; Acute Appendicitis; Fractures/multiple injuries secondary to accidents; Convulsions; illnesses or conditions resulting in moderate or severe dehydration such as diarrhea or fever; and Syncope. Pre-existing conditions and those conditions under the general exclusions of PhilCare are not covered.  In addition, ER Vantage comes with a death of dismemberment payout.

Prices for Health Vantage for adults range from Php 3,750 to Php 9,950, amount of coverage is between Php 40,000 to Php 80,000 depending on the Health Vantage card/voucher purchased.

For kids the prices range between Php 3,850 to Php 13,950.

For more details in the Health Vantage, go to: 
http://shop.philcare.com.ph/index.php?route=product/search&search=health%20vantage

You can now purchase OPPO Smartphones through GCash Scan to Pay

OPPO, Philippines’ top 2 international smartphone brand, in partnership with GCash, the country’s leading mobile wallet service, pioneers the first QR payment method for a mobile brand.

Through the new scan-to-pay feature of the GCash App, customers can now purchase any OPPO product by simply scanning a GCash QR code at selected OPPO Concept Stores for faster, more convenient, and secure transactions.

OPPO continuously uplifts the brand touchpoints to customers through innovative store experience such as adding GCash scan to pay as a preferred payment method for seamless transaction.  Customers can now also experience perks such as cashbacks, discounts, and more exclusive GCash offers.

“We are glad that OPPO is now part of GCash’s growing number of partners for its scan-to-pay payment option. With the growing digitization of financial services in the Philippines, our customers will be able to experience innovation through our phones and our unique store experience,” said Eason de Guzman, OPPO Philippines’ Public Relations Manager.

GCash aims to make digital payments via smartphones seamless and hassle-free to help customers minimize the risk of theft, keep track of their expenses, and save them from the long queues at the payment counter.

“We are happy that OPPO shares our vision of cashless payments in the Philippines.  We look forward to nurturing this partnership and reaching out to more OPPO customers in the future,” said Albert Tinio, President and CEO of GCash.

GCash Scan to Pay is initially available in 30 OPPO Concept stores nationwide. Visit https://www.facebook.com/OPPOPH/ for the store list and for future updates. 

Win a trip for two to Hongkong and meet Kento Yamazaki in person

GEM, your destination for the latest in Japanese entertainment, and SKYcable bring you the Same Time As Japan drama ‘Kiss that Kills’ starring Kento Yamazaki. Meet him in person in an exclusive fan meeting in Hong Kong on January 21, 2018.

Simply log on to http://www.mysky.com.ph/metromanila/promos/801/2017/12/21/meet-and-greet-kento-yamazaki-in-hong-kong and answer a simple question to stand a chance to win a trip for two! Contest ends on January 7, 2018.

GEM is available on SKY through SKY Select for only Php 50 per month.

Bring home the Hacienda Alsacia special brew this Christmas

Most would hold their coffee mugs with much passion, enjoying the scent of the coffee granules melting in hot water. Some would even say they won’t trade that precious time for anything. Yet only a handful would reach an understanding that, in between sips and slurps, they would be enjoying the fruition of a three-to-five-year process.

This Christmas, Starbucks shares its coffee story with Filipinos. By bringing in store the Hacienda Alsacia—a prized coffee harvest from the company’s own farm in Costa Rica—the global coffee brand encourages its customers to appreciate their favorite handcrafted beverages from the seed and discover in its markings the work poured into it by farmers.

The Hacienda Alsacia is sourced from the company’s first-ever farm in South America, acquired by Starbucks in 2013 as an investment to the coffee industry’s sustainability. In this 240-hectare lot, agronomy experts work alongside farmers to develop coffee varieties, improve yields, and overcome diseases in crops.

“We are very much honored to have this Roastery exclusive coffee to share with our partners and customers in the Philippines, in time for the 20th anniversary celebration year,” said Keith Cole, head of marketing for Starbucks Philippines. 

Planting the future of coffee
The Costa Rica farm investment is a historic move for the coffee brand, as it brings the global name on ground and knee-deep into the experience of farmers. From planting in nutrient-rich places and protecting the crops from weather and disease, to meticulously handpicking the cherries and drying and milling them for the seeds, Starbucks follows the trail of coffee planters.

Given the care and growth period coffee needs, farmers would often be challenged into choosing other crops to provide for their families. To better understand how to help these farmers, Starbucks put itself in their shoes by joining the movement for coffee sustainability back in 2004.Since then, it has reached Nicaragua, Mexico, Rwanda, Tanzania, and China farms in pursuit of more robust and resilient farms.

Hacienda Alsacia, a Tribute to Coffee Farmers
As Starbucks Philippines carries on the celebration for its 20th Anniversary, it transports a cherished piece of this venture: beans grown right from the first Starbucks farm in Costa Rica. Previously served exclusively at the Starbucks Reserve Roastery and Tasting Room in Seattle, the special pack will be available for purchase at Starbucks stores nationwide.

Unassuming as the Hacienda Alsacia may seem, the coffee brings in something equally precious as the recently released 20th Anniversary bejewelled mugs and tumblers collection this Christmas: the brand’s commitment to help farmers sustain their livelihood and vocation. 

Bring home the Hacienda Alsacia special brew this Christmas, and savor the taste of beans that nourish the future of coffee.

IMPOSSIBLE: World’s Greatest Magic Show opens on Christmas Day to January 3

Exciting. Thrilling. Amazing! The stage is set for the biggest magical spectacle this Holiday season as IMPOSSIBLE: World’s Greatest Magic Show finally arrives in Manila. Opening on Christmas Day, December 25th to January 3rd at the Araneta Coliseum, Filipinos will finally be able to see the much-awaited magical show live on stage.

Fresh from its record-breaking success in London’s West End, IMPOSSIBLE has been hailed by critics as “the Hottest Act in Town” (Daily Mail) for giving “variety, illusion and magic a brilliant, fresh spin” (The Stage). The Guardian describes IMPOSSIBLE as “a fiesta of trickery and illusion,” and "an absolute blast from start to finish!" says Hollywood News.

IMPOSSIBLE features six of the world’s most mind-blowing magical acts, fusing death-defying stunts, technological trickery, grand stage illusions and close-up magic in a fast-paced breath-taking performance that reinvents the biggest illusions in history.

“We were overwhelmed by the welcome that London audiences showed IMPOSSIBLE last year and hot on the heels of our success in different parts of the world. We are delighted to be bringing our spectacular World Tour now to Manila.” says Jamie Hendry (Producer).

IMPOSSIBLE features Boundary-Breaking Magician Ben Hart, Explosive Street Magician Magical Bones, Mind-Blowing Mind-Reader Chris Cox, Grand Illusionist Josephine Lee, Master of Magic Ali Cook, and Comic Daredevil Bello Nock.

Ben Hart and Magical Bones made the news headlines recently as they left Filipino audiences stunned with their up-close magic and sleight of hand tricks during their promo tour in Manila to announce the show.

“Wilbros Live is thrilled to bring the world’s greatest magic show IMPOSSIBLE to Manila. This is a must-see live spectacular for the whole family this coming holiday season,” adds executive producer Winston Llamas of Wilbros Live.

Don’t miss the much-awaited show. You have to See To Believe the IMPOSSIBLE!
Tickets at affordable prices – starting at P160. For ticket reservations, visit TicketNet.com.ph or call 911-5555 for more information.

#SeeToBelieve #ImpossibleMNL

Diana Stalder Brings The Premium Whitening Fusion In The Philippines

Diana Stalder Face, Body, Skincare Center brings the premium whitening fusion, a combination of two powerful brands for fast and effective whitening.

Casmara Nacar Treatment is an imported brand from Spain. It is a skin lightening and illuminating treatment which is suitable for all skin types, especially for skin with localized and/or diffuse blemishes.

Blanc White is a full range of whitening and anti-aging system. It is a six-step, high quality beauty regimen packed with a powerful combination of premium products that work together to deliver an anti-aging and whitening benefit for a youthful-looking and radiant skin. Actively supports generation of new cells, helps stimulates collagen synthesis, enhances skin elasticity and firmness, and promotes healthier and fairer-looking skin.

Clients could avail the Premium Whitening Fusion on discounted price for only Php35,988 with a savings of Php8,000 which they could consume within a year. Promo period is on December 15, 2017 to February 15, 2018.

Smart Music Live and Smart Giga Movies bannered 2017's biggest concerts and box-office hits.

The year 2017, would probably be remembered as one of Smart Communication’s biggest year for entertainment as  Smart Music Live and Smart Giga Movies bannered some of the year’s biggest concerts and box-office hits.

Britney Spears might just be   2017’s biggest international artist to do a Manila concert leg with her June 15 concert but  Smart Music Live also brought in a lot of other big names in the world music arena with concerts from Ariana Grande, Fifth Harmony, David Guetta, Shawn Mendes, Liam Gallagher, Two Door Cinema Club, Zara Larsson, Daya, DNCE and Dua Lipa.

Next year,  Smart Music Live  turns up the screaming volume even higher with the concerts of no less than Ed Sheeran and Bruno Mars.

Smart movie fans also  were treated to free tickets, exclusive mini-tours (via Smart Music Live Party Bus), perks and exclusive concert deals.

It all began with Logan for  Smart Giga Movies, Smart Postpaid’s year-long sponsorship of red carpet screening events, social media engagements, and exclusive perks related to some of 2017’s mainstream Hollywood releases.

Apart from Logan, Smart Giga Movies hosted events for Fast and Furious 8, Ghost in the Shell, Kingsman 2: The Golden Circle, Justice League, and Wonder Woman.

Congratulations Smart for making 2017 a memorable one for your loyal subscribers. For more details, follow Smart’s Facebook, Instagram (@livesmart) and Twitter accounts. Subscribe to GigaSurf packages or visit smart.com.ph to know more about the next perks from Smart Music Live and Smart Giga Movies.

Chef Anton Amoncio in "Let It Snow": An Early Christmas in Canada

It was an early Christmas gift for celebrity chef Anton Amoncio who is still in high spirits after participating in “Let it Snow,” a chef exchange program by the Canadian Beef Centre of Excellence held in Calgary, Canada. This is the first time that a Filipino chef was featured in the exchange. His trip was made possible through the Culinary Exchange program of the Canada Beef Centre of Excellence and in partnership with Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise.


Chef Anton, together with other world-renown chefs, whipped up appetizing recipes using Canada beef.

Chef Anton Amoncio with from left: Katrina Dumlao and Cyrinne Ellet Dela Cruz

The week-long event is in celebration of Canada 150, which is the 150th founding anniversary of Canada. Three events happened at different Canadian luxury resorts, highlighting the seasons of Canada: at the Fairmont Banff Springs in early summer, Fairmont Royal York Toronto in harvest season, and Chateau Lake Louise for winter.  Chef Anton’s visit to the famous Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise is the finale of Canada Beef’s Canada 150 celebrations this year.

Chef Anton Amoncio with Executive Chef Jean-Francois Fortin of the Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise at the Bow Valley Ranche Restaurant, Fish Creek National Park in Calgary, Canada   


Chateau Lake Louise is a luxury outdoor travel experience located in one of the most beautiful sceneries that Canada has to offer.



Chef Anton rubbed elbows with some of the culinary experts including Chef Marty Carpenter, president of the Canadian Beef Grading Agency, and Abe Van Melle, the Technical Manager for the Canadian Beef Centre of Excellence. Interesting topics about Canada were discussed over dinner at the Chop Steakhouse and Bar.

Lunch at the Bow Valley Ranche Restaurant with Michael McLean (in the cowboy hat) and Executive Chef Jean-Francois Fortin.




According to Chef Marty, Canada beef is classified by its flavor, which comes from the predominant use of barley in their cattle feed. Combined with the almost vineyard-like culture of their cattle industry, this puts Canada beef in a league of the world’s premier beef products.



Chef Anton also joined in the briefing activities scheduled for “Let it Snow” and toured the kitchen at the head office of the Canada Beef Centre of Excellence.

Chef Marty brought the entourage for lunch to the Bow Valley Ranche Restaurant at Fish Creek Park where Chef Anton had the opportunity to meet Jean-Francois Fortin, the Executive Chef of the famous Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise and Michael McLean, who works with the Bar U Ranch National Historic Site.

Chef Anton Amoncio with Carlos Munda and culinary experts at Bow Valley Ranche Restaurant at Fish Creek Park.


Chef Anton had his share of the limelight when he presented his own recipes using the best quality Canada beef: Beef Morcon Sliders, Bistek on Green Onion Blinis, and Beef Shortribs Sinigang in Green Mango. He proved once more that Filipino chefs are at par when it comes to culinary artistry. The warm acceptance that Chef Anton experienced in his trip to Canada was enough to melt even the biting cold of winter. 



Chef Anton Amoncio is a talent of Asian Artists Agency. For inquiries, please call (02) 855-4765 or (02) 405-4423, email info@asianartistsagency.com, and visit fb.com/asianartistsagency

Star Wars: The Last Jedi grossed a staggering P145.2-M in five days

The Philippines is one with The Force as Lucasfilm’s Star Wars: The Last Jedi grossed a staggering P145.2-M in its first five days of release, opening at No.1 for the Dec. 13-17 frame.


Receiving some of the most glowing reviews in years, the Rian Johnson-directed tentpole was lauded by local critics and fans alike, with some even saying its the best Star Wars movie yet.

The biggest box-office grosses were reported by SM Megamall (P7.1-M), SM Mall of Asia (P6.5-M) and SM North EDSA (P5.6-M).


Trinoma leads the rest of the Top 10 with P4.9-M, followed by Greenbelt 3 (P4.5-M), Glorietta 4 (P4.3-M), Power Plant (P4.1-M), Bonifacio High Street (P3.59-M), Greenhills Promenade (P3.55-M) and SM Aura (P3.3-M).

The Force is also strong with the Top 20 cinemas, led by Alabang Town Center (P3.2-M), Shang Cineplex (P3.1-M), U.P. Town Center (P3-M), SM Cebu (P2.6-M), Uptown Place (P2.5-M), SM Southmall (P2.3-M), Ayala Mall Cebu (P2.26-M), The 30th Mall (P2.24-M), Robinsons Magnolia (P2.1-M) and Robinsons Galleria (P2-M).


In the US, Star Wars: The Last Jedi opened with a stellar $220 million weekend — the second-highest opening weekend of all time.


With international grosses hitting $230 million, Star Wars: The Last Jedi totaled $450 million worldwide.


In Lucasfilm’s Star Wars: The Last Jedi, the Skywalker saga continues as the heroes of The Force Awakens join the galactic legends in an epic adventure that unlocks age-old mysteries of the Force and shocking revelations of the past.

The film stars Mark Hamill, Carrie Fisher, Adam Driver, Daisy Ridley, John Boyega, Oscar Isaac, Lupita Nyong’o, Andy Serkis, Domhnall Gleeson, Anthony Daniels, Gwendoline Christie, Kelly Marie Tran, Laura Dern and Benicio Del Toro.

Star Wars: The Last Jedi is written and directed by Rian Johnson and produced by Kathleen Kennedy and Ram Bergman. J.J. Abrams, Tom Karnowski and Jason McGatlin are the executive producers.

Now playing in Philippine cinemas, Star Wars: The Last Jedi is distributed by the Walt Disney Company (Philippines).

Give the gift of Health with Maxicare's EReady and MyMaxicare LITE prepaid cards

Gift ideas this Christmas under 1000 and 2500

It’s the season of gift giving, and one of the most grueling parts of the holidays has finally come upon us – choosing just what to buy for our loved ones! While the amount we spend on someone shouldn’t reflect how we feel about them, it’s still important to be able to budget our spending on gifts.

Along these lines, we’ve prepared some great gift ideas for your loved ones that we’ve laid out into two popular budget ranges. Check them out and get ready for Christmas!

Under Php2500

Good earphones
The gift of high-quality music is precious. So do a little research and find a pair of great earphones that’s within budget for your music-loving friends.

Fountain pen
Once you’ve tried a fountain pen, you’ll never want to go back. Fountain pens are characterized by an incredible smoothness in the way they write, and will last forever if you take care of them. You can get a really great fountain pen for Php1000-1500 – throw in a bottle of ink for about Php300-500 and you’re still under the budget!

Prepaid healthcare – Php2199/1599

They say that gifts are a way of showing someone that you care about them. You can translate that thoughtfulness into literal care with the MyMaxicare LITE prepaid healthcard! For a one-time payment of Php2199, the recipient of this gift can get up to Php25,000 coverage for any of 8 common diseases – dengue, chikungunya, malaria, typhoid and paratyphoid, cholera, gastroenteritis, leptospirosis, and pneumonia – valid for 1 year, and for patients between ages 2 and 60 years old. Cardholders are covered for room and board, lab tests, professional fees and more, and even get additional discounts at select health services. You can also opt for a Php1599 card that has all of these benefits, though excluding access to major hospitals.

Under Php1000

Power bank
A good power bank with a thin and light profile but a big capacity like 5000 or 10000mAh will help your loved ones stay in touch with you – or at least allow them to play a few more rounds of Candy Crush.

Dashcam
These little dashboard-mounted cameras are soon going to be an essential part of driving around the slow and furious streets of the Philippines. They’re an amazing gift for anyone who drives regularly.

Prepaid healthcare – Php549/749
Even at this lower price range, you can find great prepaid healthcare options. Maxicare’s EReady prepaid health card provides up to Php15,000 coverage on emergency medical conditions, inclusive of ER fees, dressings, casts, and sutures, IV fluids and blood products, and more. It’s valid for up to 1 year from the activation date, and cardholders are eligible if they are between the ages of 15 days old and 65 years old. EReady can be purchased for a one-time payment of Php749 for access to major hospitals, and Php549 without this access.

Prepaid healthcare services

With Maxicare’s EReady and MyMaxicare LITE prepaid cards, the HMO opens up new, more flexible opportunities for Filipinos who can’t afford the monthly dues for a more traditional healthcare plan. These innovative programs ensure that a greater number of people are able to access healthcare, leaving no one behind when it comes to what matters most.

To buy Maxicare prepaid healthcards, just log on to 

www.maxicareprepaidhealthcare.com.ph.
EReady and MyMaxicare Lite are also available in all Robinsons Department Stores (Business Center) nationwide and via IRemit.