Discovering the Scotch for Every Taste with #LOVESCOTCH

With its breadth of offerings in tastes and textures, Scotch is undoubtedly the world’s favorite whisky. Last February 8, #LoveScotch celebrated International Scotch Day – an event that’s all about properly recognizing Scotland’s greatest gift.

Now on its 2rd year, International Scotch Day is a moment to shine the spotlight on the wide-ranging Scotch category. From single malts to blended Scotch, the celebration pays homage to the rich history and impeccable craftsmanship that have successfully worked in harmony to produce the flavors of the likes of Johnnie Walker and Singleton – some of the world’s favorite Scotch brands today.

Befitting such a celebration, Diageo Philippines has brought in Ervin Trykowski, Diageo’s Global Ambassador for Scotch Whisky, to host an exclusive masterclass on 6 different types of Scotch. Born and raised in Scotland, Ervin knows Scotch inside and out and, with his young age, has challenged perceptions of what being a Scotch fan is.

“Smoky, fruity, honeyed, the list goes on – Scotch has such an expansive reach in flavor and quality and every sip is a discovery,” shares Trykowski. “There is a flavor for every mood; there is a taste for every situation - #LoveScotch encourages everyone to discover the perfect Scotch to match.”

Also known as the “Iconic Blend,” Johnnie Walker Black Label is recognized as the benchmark for all other deluxe Scotch blends. Created using only whiskies aged for a minimum of 12 years from the four corners of Scotland. 
Johnnie Walker Black Label is rich, complex and incredibly well-balanced, full of dark fruits, sweet vanilla and signature smokiness. A popular serve for Johnnie Walker Black Label is the Johnnie Ginger, which consists of Johnnie Walker Black Label and ginger ale. 

Johnnie Walker Gold Label Reserve, also known as the “Celebration Blend” is the perfect fit for indulgent celebrations and the ideal whisky for Scotch-based cocktails. Known for its creamy smoothness, it opens with a luxurious burst of delicate nectar and gentle smokiness that develops into sweet fruits and deeper, velvety, honeyed tones before giving way to sublime, lingering whispers of smoke and oakiness in the finish. 

A Timeless Cake Challenge

Reach for your frosting spatulas and hold on to your piping tubes, because in a few weeks’ time, the Goldilocks’s Intercollegiate Cake Decorating Challenge (ICDC) is once again whipping up a storm. In a field of the culinary arts that requires creativity, imagination, and a steady, delicate touch, which of our country’s future pastry masters has the ability to — as they say —take the cake?

On March 3 at the SM Megamall Fashion Hall, the best culinary students from all over the country will be going head to head in a live cake decorating competition held by Goldilocks, the country’s number one bakeshop. This is the 12th ICDC since 2006, and this year Goldilocks has gone back to the very heart and essence of the competition: the cake itself, and what it represents. 

“Cakes are meant to celebrate sweet moments and special memories, which all become timeless,” noted Goldilocks Marketing Director Cherry Caluya. “On the 12th year of the ICDC, we are returning to the spirit behind celebration cakes, and encouraging our competing students to design their memories and color their dreams. We want them to create something timeless,” she emphasized.

Caluya further explained that that this timeless theme can travel in either direction. “We are looking forward to seeing cake designs that will evoke memories of the past, and some that will gaze into the future. It’s an inspiring theme that will surely be interpreted in many amazing ways,” she added.
 
Almost one hundred photo entries were sent by aspiring schools from all over the country, which were narrowed down to 10 teams. These ten teams then competed in a closed-door qualifying round, until only six teams remained. On competition day, Lyceum of the Philippines Laguna, University of Batangas, Saint Anne College of Lucena, Pangasinan State University, Western Institute of Technology Iloilo, and the Holy Cross of Davao College will all vie to be named the overall champion of the Goldilocks ICDC 2018.

The team whose cake designs can truly be considered timeless will take home a Baking Showcase for their school, Goldilocks gift certificates for each member, and the honor of being among the best amateur cake decorators in the country. “Apart from a strong sense of school pride, winning the ICDC is a testament to hard work and diligence. In a manner of speaking, the trophy is simply the icing on top of the cake,” Caluya concluded.

To witness this timeless event, head to SM Megamall Fashion Hall on March 3, or log on to www.goldilocks.com.ph, or find @GoldilocksPH on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram for more information.

Sandwich celebrates 20th anniversary with "Under the Glow of the Satellite" concert on April 13!

When Sandwich got together in 1998 the plan was that there was no plan. The group was simply a bunch of like-minded music fans who wanted to make songs and play them live. They were already in other bands, and working on radio and in record labels (well except for Marc who was in school). This was just an excuse to make other kinds of music with other people, a fun thing to do on the side. They wrote a few songs because they thought that was cool (and also, they
couldn’t cover for shit so that worked out). And to be able to play live they got a monthly Sunday prod at Mayric’s (because nobody wanted that night). The record label released the first album on a lark. The album’s kick off single took off and the rest as they say, is history.

Since then the band has released eight albums. A generation of Pinoy music fans have grown up on “Butterfly Carnival” and “Sugod”. They’ve picked up every award a rock band can possibly have in Manila. They’ve played the width and breadth of the Philippines. They’ve also played in bars and festivals in Hong Kong, Singapore, Malaysia, London, New York, and LA including The Hollywood Bowl. You could say they’ve come a long way from that high school
classroom in Ateneo where they almost didn’t play their first gig because of an irate Math teacher.

Sandwich is turning 20 this year. To celebrate, they will be holding UNDER THE GLOW OF THE SATELLITE, an anniversary concert on April 13 at the Metrotent Convention Center, Metrowalk Commercial Complex. The band is also putting out a limited 7” vinyl with two new songs - “Time Lapse” and “Parang Walang Nangyari”.



Are they done? Hell no. Not when it’s getting easier to be themselves and to pluck ideas out of their heads and get them down on tape. There’s still so much fun to be had. The world is moving forward, the future is exciting and unexpected, and there’s always more music to hear and make and play. Those old punks are still in there, carrying their heroes with them as they go in search for new musical adventures together.

“Teen Titans GO! to the Movies” spoofs "Justice League" in Teaser Poster

Warner Bros. Pictures has just released a “Justice League” parody movie poster for “Teen Titans GO! to the Movies.” Check it out below and watch Teen Titans GO! to the Movies” in Philippine cinemas July 26.


“Teen Titans GO! to the Movies” finds our egocentric, wildly satirical Super Heroes in their first feature film extravaganza—a fresh, gleefully clever, kid-appropriately crass and tongue-in-cheek play on the superhero genre, complete with musical numbers.

It seems to the Teens that all the major superheroes out there are starring in their own movies—everyone but the Teen Titans, that is! But de facto leader Robin is determined to remedy the situation, and be seen as a star instead of a sidekick. If only they could get the hottest Hollywood film director to notice them. With a few madcap ideas and a song in their heart, the Teen Titans head to Tinsel Town, certain to pull off their dream. But when the group is radically misdirected by a seriously Super-Villain and his maniacal plan to take over the Earth, things really go awry. The team finds their friendship and their fighting spirit failing, putting the very fate of the Teen Titans themselves on the line!


Will Arnett (“The LEGO Batman Movie”) and Kristen Bell (“Frozen”) lend their voices to the first-ever big-screen version of DC Entertainment and Cartoon Network’s animated TV show, which also stars Greg Cipes (TV’s “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles”) as Beast Boy, Scott Menville (TV’s “Spider-Man”) as Robin, Khary Payton (“The Walking Dead”) as Cyborg, Tara Strong (the “My Little Pony” franchise) as Raven, and Hynden Walch (TV’s “Adventure Time with Finn & Jake”) as Starfire, reprising their roles from the series.


The film is being directed by Aaron Horvath and Peter Rida Michail, from a screenplay by Michael Jelenic and Horvath, based on characters from DC. Michail, Will Arnett, Jed Weitzman, and Peggy Regan are producing, with Sam Register, Jelenic, and Horvath serving as executive producers. Apart from Arnett and Weitzman, all are “Teen Titans GO!” series contributors.


“Teen Titans GO! to the Movies” is distributed worldwide by Warner Bros. Pictures, a Warner Bros. Entertainment Company.

Watch Escape series premiere this February 21 on KIX

Can you imagine being stuck in a deserted place with nothing but a wrecked vehicle and a dwindling supply of food and water? While some people might see this as a hopeless scenario, some people are firm believers that giving up in this situation is not an option. Meet these amazing people in the newest KIX series, Escape.

Have a glimpse of the unimaginable as five engineers, guided by ex-special forces soldier, Ant Middleton, save themselves with nothing but their genius and innovative ideas in KIX’s new and exclusive series, Escape which will premiere on February 21, Wednesday at 9 pm!

Expect the unexpected with every episode, as five engineers will be placed in varied locations around the world – from a desert to a mountain, a jungle, and even a desert island. The locations are crash sites based on real-life incidents. In every site, they are provided with limited food and water supply so they have to escape before these runout.  The only way out is to build a machine from the wreckage based on the real crash incidents. 

Aside from the brilliant ideas that the engineers have packed, they will also be guided and lead by Ant Middleton, a former special forces hero. Ant adds Escape to the list of television shows where he shares his military knowledge and training.

In an interview, Ant shared that even though it was tough, he was impressed on how the engineers took on the challenge, “Some of the things the guys came up with [to escape] were mad, some I thought went really well. They all stumbled across different things but they all had to come together as a team really quickly.” 

There’s only one way to figure out how these people defied the odds.  Tune into KIX, the ultimate destination for action entertainment! 

Watch Escape on its series premiere this February 21, Wednesday at 9 pm and catch new episodes every Wednesday! You can watch KIX on Cablelink Ch.54, Cignal TV Ch. 133, Destiny Cable Ch.63, Gsat Ch. 18 and SKYcable Ch.63.

OPPO celebrates Lunar New Year with a Bang!

 In celebration of the Lunar New Year, OPPO Philippines will be painting the town red and filling up Feb 16-18 weekend with activities both online and offline. For starters, OPPO will offer the flagship OPPO F5 Red 6GB variant at a limited price of Php19,990 in all OPPO authorized dealers nationwide.

This long weekend, enjoy staying at home by playing the rapid growing game Arena of Valor. Be rewarded by getting a chance to win one out of five OPPO F5 Red smartphones! Each day, players get a chance to get 2 red packets which may contain in-game items or an OPPO F5 Red!

Spend this Saturday at UP ROOTS with the biggest fair gathering of the university and witness a celebration of music by the students of University of The Philippines. Join the activities at the OPPO booth, take selfies and get a chance to win OPPO F5 Red smartphones!

“We encourage everyone to participate in our vast activities this Lunar New Year. Our OPPO F5 Red 6GB is now more tempting because you can even win a brand new OPPO smartphone just by playing AOV. They can also join us this weekend at UP ROOTS for a day of music that is definitely a selfie-filled day for all,” said Eason de Guzman, Public Relations Manager OPPO Philippines

For more information customers may visit https://www.oppo.com/ph/. They can also follow OPPO on Facebook via https://www.facebook.com/OPPOPH/ to see the latest updates and events from OPPO.

MarAwit, Awit para sa Marawi

The UP Alumni Association in cooperation  with the Sigma Rho Fraternity Alumni Council, is staging a concert entitled “MarAwit… AwitparasaMarawi” on February 27, 2018 (Tuesday), at 6:00 pm, at the UPFI Film Center in UP Diliman, Quezon City. The project is intended to raise funds towards the education of the afflicted children of Marawi City in the wake of its recently ended occupation by Maute Group-ISIS rebels.

 A concert of songs performed by the three most awarded choirs in the University and in the  country namely; the UP Concert Chorus [UPCC]; the UP Madrigal Singers [UPMS]; and the UP Singing Ambassadors [UPSA]meant to embody, describe and express the greater suffering wrought by a war – as well as the joys kindled by a restored peace – will bring to greater international cognizance: consciousness of, empathy for, and ultimately action towards the holistic rebuilding of the tangible and intangible ruins left behind the tragedy of human conflict.

Ticket prices are P3,000, P2,000, and P1,000 – available at the UPAA Secretariat at Rm. 211, 2nd Floor, AngBahayng Alumni, UP Diliman, Quezon City; Tels. 920-6868 and 920-6871; email: upalumn@yahoo.com.

Take the best selfie with your Valentine with Vivo V7+

It is once again the season of romance, flowers, and gooey-eyed couples intoxicated by that thing called love.

Whether you are out and about painting the town red or enjoying a home-cooked meal for Valentine’s Day, it’s about making the most out of the grandest or simplest moments. Aside from the memories you will create, a photo with your loved one is one of the most poignant souvenirs during your V-date.

Vivo, one of the leading smartphone brands in the world, introduced its flagship V7+  that has a 24-megapixel front camera to make sure that you and your SO can relive the romantic night with a clearer selfie. The 24-MP selfie camera is raved for allowing users to take good photos even in low light—perfect for capturing a fun night out or a candlelit dinner at home.

“Capture your best selfie with your Valentine using the 24 mp front camera of V7+”


Photo too dark? Don’t worry. Vivo V7+ also has a built-in soft light flash for selfies for your convenience. You also do not need a separate photo editor to enhance your selfies. The V7+ comes with the innovative Face Beauty 7.0 to even out your complexion and reduce the appearance of blemishes.



“Fresher and brighter skin complemented by a variety of filters with the Face Beauty 7.0”

The V7+ allows you to change the aperture focus of the front camera with its Portrait Mode for a bokeh effect that can minimize a noisy background, putting you and your better half in the spotlight.

“Bokeh effect that puts you in the spotlight when you take a selfie”

This phone also has 5.99-inch all-screen display that allows you to see every detail of the photo so you can make sure it’s flawless before sharing the romance online. With its 84.4% screen-to-body ratio, no need to zoom in to check your selfie before posting!

The V7+ comes in Matte Black color and Crown Gold for only Php Php17,990. It is available at Lazada, Argomall, and all Vivo concept stores and kiosks.

For inquiries about Vivo, visit the Vivo website at www.vivo.com/ph or check out their Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/VivoPhil/), Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/vivophil/), and Twitter (https://twitter.com/vivo_phil) accounts.

The Romantic Anthems of Lance Edward

After the "tease" that were the viral car wash boy photos, this time Lance Edward now surprises with romantic anthems. These songs are guaranteed to "touch" the collective hearts of all this season of love and beyond.

"Kung Ako Na Lang Sana," a revival of the Bituin Escalante emotional, musical plea serves as Lance's first song. The reason for this choice, he shares, "Most people can relate to the story and meaning of the song. I sang it in a show recently and many opined na ramdam nila, at galing talaga sa puso ko ‘yung pagkanta kaya tumagos sa mga puso nila."

He carries on, "I guess, many of us have experienced that emotional state, yung may mahal kang di niya alam na mahal mo siya and you see her with someone who does not deserve her kaya yung ang wish mo, na kung ako na lang sana."

"There is no perfect life," Edward says. "We can't get anything that we want kaya minsan sa kanta ko na lang, or sa kanta na lang natin dinadaan."

 Star Music releases his first single plus other ditties such as Meat Loaf's mammoth hit "I’d Do Anything For Love" and "I Want It That Way," the iconic Back Street Boys top of the charts song, in Spotify, Itunes, Spinnr and other digital music platforms.

Why must people support your songs? Lance answers with a smile, "I hope and pray that people support it because singing is my passion. With these songs, people can feel how truthful I am, every note and every line, I am emotionally committed in interpreting them. I want people to experience and embrace the stories in these anthems. As I sing and perform them eventually, they will know that Lance Edward sings from his heart."

 Shows in leading metro and mega Manila malls and in regional entertainment centers as well are being planned. The first show is slated on February 18, in Wilcon City Center, located in Visayas Avenue.

Lance Edward, the romantic crooner concludes, "Many thanks to all of you who are now  part of this dream coming true. Please support my songs.Thank for the love. Always be healthy and may God bless us all in this incredible journey we call as life. I love you all."

  Lance Edward is in Instagram. Follow him  @lance.eeeee.

Check out the MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE- Fallout featurette

Paramount Pictures has released a new behind-the-scenes featurette for Mission: Impossible – Fallout that dives deep into the film’s centerpiece action sequence, the helicopter stunt.


Check out the featurette at https://youtu.be/jfFFi3s2Ut0 and watch Mission: Impossible – Fallout in Philippine cinemas July 25.

Tom Cruise, Henry Cavill, Simon Pegg, Rebecca Ferguson, Ving Rhames, Sean Harris, Angela Bassett, Vanessa Kirby, Michelle Monaghan, Alec Baldwin, Wes Bentley, and Frederick Schmidt star in MissionImpossible – Fallout. Filmmaker Christopher McQuarrie returns to the helm.


The best intentions often come back to haunt you. Mission: Impossible – Fallout finds Ethan Hunt (Cruise) and his IMF team (Alec Baldwin, Simon Pegg, Ving Rhames) along with some familiar allies (Rebecca Ferguson, Michelle Monaghan) in a race against time after a mission gone wrong.

Mission: Impossible - Fallout is distributed in the Philippines by United International Pictures through Columbia Pictures. Follow us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/uipmoviesph/

Play Arena of Valor and win an OPPO F5 This Long-Weekend

OPPO Philippines teamed up with Arena of Valor, the fastest growing 5v5 multiplayer online battle arena in the Philippines, for something exciting this long weekend. From February 16-18, 2018, Arena of Valor will be having a special Lunar Year offer by giving red packets for every 5v5 Grand Battle or Ranked game which contains in-game items and the rare OPPO F5 Red! 

Each day, players may acquire up to 2 red packets which could contain 8 Hero Shards, 8 Skin Shards or the grand prize - the OPPO F5 Red! Players are encouraged to play over the long weekend for a chance to win one out of the five OPPO F5 Red smartphones to be given away! 

Experience seamless gaming with OPPO smartphones featuring its game acceleration, stop unwanted notification feature, and effortless boost system, best for playing games like Arena of Valor. Get to enjoy games in the best way you can with the latest 2.5GHz Octa-Core processor on the OPPO F5 series and A83, and its 18:9 Full Screen Display.

For more information, customers may visit https://www.oppo.com/ph/. They can also follow OPPO on Facebook via https://www.facebook.com/OPPOPH/ for the store list and latest updates. Arena of Valor is available on Google Play store for download.