Friday, February 28, 2014

Musical Event to Remember




At the launch of "Air We Breath" campaign,  held at Makati Shngrila few weeks ago,  we seated at table  2 right in front of the  orchestra to feel  good music while having a sumptuous lunch. It felt good to be serenaded  that it gave me  good vibes thus made me feel even better that day.

After the orchestra, Kim Chui went up to the  stage and gave a dance number  to support the campaign.   After then,  Arnel Pineda   shared his  interesting stories about his journey and  sang  two songs leaving us longing to hear more from him.    I wanted to request for more if I only I could but  yeah, it's only a limited number and not a concert with to   jam  with  his band over thousands people over  the crowd.

Nevertheless, I enjoyed a lot that day  that I already marked this event in my 2014 calendar as  the highlight of year 2014  but you see, we're only on the last day of  February.  It was truly  another wonderful experience with my favorite international artist. 


I was right there right in front of him and our eyes connect.  I was more like, Oh no. Is this really happening.

Arnel's voice is truly amazing.  It's not only the range and timbre (yeah, it's already given, and  his voice  is huge),  but  it's how he interprets and connects with  the audience that make him a great singer.

Monday, February 24, 2014

Introducing Buqo – the all-new premier Filipino digital bookstore app



Reading a book is cool, but reading a book on your device is awesome. Why? Well, for one, you can carry around an entire library of e-books and digital magazines in your tablet as opposed to lugging two or three thick paperbacks when you go on trips. Imagine this: With just a swipe or a tap of your finger, you can enjoy your favorite books and magazines anytime, anywhere.

All that is now possible through Buqo—the premier Filipino digital bookstore!

Buqo what?

Buqo is a digital bookstore, newsstand and reader in one app. It carries a wide selection of Filipino reads that caters to various interests. Whether you’re into romance, fiction, teen literature or motivational materials, buqo has the perfect offering suited for you. Its catalog is also brimming with specialty titles sure to whet your appetite—from travel, food and leisure to cars, fitness and entertainment.

To date, Buqo has over 500 books and magazines and counting, with familiar names such as Pol Medina’s Pugad Baboy, Bo Sanchez’s Shepherd’s Voice, Precious Hearts Romances, Summit Media, and Adarna Children’s Books, already in the fold.

Easy and convenient

If you are a tech newbie, fret not. Buqo is absolutely easy to use and navigate. Its intuitive design makes purchasing, downloading and reading on your device fun and easy. Once you have fully downloaded the content you want, you can enjoy reading your book or magazine offline. One of the best features of Buqo is that you can access your entire library on all your device—whether iOS or Android—with just one account. All you need to do is create a Buqo account and you can enjoy reading on up to 7 of your devices.

Just think about it, isn’t it great to indulge in some fun light reading while riding the MRT on your way to work or while you’re stuck in traffic somewhere in the metro? You can even read while on a long ride to the province. Anywhere you are, you can count on Buqo to keep you company.

Get Free Magazines

Downloading Buqo now is a great idea for two reasons. First, you get freebies! And you won’t be getting just any item; you’ll be getting bestselling magazine titles from Summit Media. Second, the promo is only for a limited period. Once you download the app, you get to try out all of Buqo’s fantastic features and you get to enjoy bestselling magazines, too!


Wide Selection

Buqo offers a wide selection of different publications that will suit any taste. You may even discover new books and magazines that you previously haven’t seen. You could find yourself snickering while reading Chico, Delamar and Gino’s Top 10 Book, Manix Abrera’s hilarious Kiko Machine Komiks or Pol Medina’s Pugad Baboy Series. You could also follow the “resurgence” of Pinoy comics with well-crafted titles from MythSpace, Pinoy Old School Comics (the reincarnation of the 90’s cult favorite Funny Comics) and the highly acclaimed Trese Comics.

If you are more of the serious reader type, we have books for you, too. Buqo has academic, investigative journalism and non-fiction genres. Get books from the likes of DLSU Press, Philippine Daily Inquirer, Rappler & Colayco Foundation.

How about books for becoming a better you? Get that much needed boost from Buqo’s self-help & business/finance collections that cover areas of health, career, relationships, parenting, business, and finance. Here you’ll find titles such as OMF Literature’s Ang Pera na Hindi Bitin, Faye Valencia’s 77 Way to Move On, and Larry Gamboa’s Grow Rich Pinoy.

Buqo is also the way to go if you’re looking for inspirational and spiritual reads. Dig in to a host of bestselling books from OMF Literature and Shepherd’s Voice such as Bo Sanchez’s 8 Habits of a Happy Millionaire. There is also a wide array of children’s books from Lampara & Adarna that the kids will surely love.

And of course, in Buqo, you’ll find love—love stories that is! We have lots of heartwarming, kilig-inducing titles to choose from. You’ll find the likes of Mina Esguerra’s That Kind of Guy, Pop Fiction’s She’s Dating a Gangster (soon-to-be a movie) and Summit Book’s Vince’s Life series. You’ll be delighted to know that Buqo also carries the coolest tagalog romance novels. Tagalog romance books from Precious Hearts Romances (whose works have been adapted on TV) as well as Bookware Publishing’s My Precious Valentine.

Aside from books, Buqo also has the best local magazines in the land. Here, you can get the current issues up to several years’ worth of back issues. We have cool magazines for everyone. For men, we have FHM Philippines, Entrepreneur, Top Gear, and Esquire Philippines. Women get to enjoy their favorites like YES!, Cosmopolitan Philippines, Preview, Good Housekeeping and Smart Parenting.

Foodies would really get a kick out of F & B World & Yummy Magazine. The design buffs can get their fix from Real Living, Space Design + Travel and Elle Decoration Philippines. Fitness enthusiasts can get their copies of Men’s Health, Women’s Health, and Runner’s World. The young ones also get their fair share of magazines. In Buqo, they can get K-Zone, Candy, Total Girl & Sparkling.

Being a registered Buqo user also has its perks. You get to be part of the Buqo newsletter, giving you first dibs on new content and the latest promos. Best of all, you get to participate in exclusive Buqo special offers.

Download Buqo now and be on your way to reading your favorite Pinoy books on the go, now available on the AppStore for Apple users and Google Play Store for Android users. Follow this link to download Buqo http://goo.gl/Jdq5I9.

For more updates, log on to www.buqo.ph, become a fan on Facebook via www.facebook.com/buqoapp, and follow Buqo on Twitter via @Buqo.

Shirtless in an Epic Concert

I turned green with envy  seeing my blogger friends timeline with the most popular American rock band,  Red Hot Chilli Pepper in  an epic concert last night. They posted their videos at the concert and  I saw the band members performing shirtless?  I am not particular of how this band really perform.  I was  just wondering  if they really do that  in all their performances.  But yeah,  they're really hot like chilli pepper. They're  just so energetic.  The band is planning to work on their 11th album this  month. I wanted to watch them  if there is a repeat performance.  Some local bands were also present.  I wanted to leave a comment  for the local band  if they need guitars?   I was just wondering because the audience seemed to ask for more  but  the instrument seemed to break them  or  maybe  because I just happened to watch them on YouTube and  the   venue's right there  in an open field.  

Friday, February 21, 2014

Why Be a Lifeline?




On the windblown stretches of rural areas across the bustling streets of the metropolis, unreturned, startling requests are made by illness-ridden Filipinos everyday who wish to continue living their lives.

For a major cluster of these people, the answer would be a new heart, a new pair of kidneys or a new set of eyes. However, obtaining such solution are far harder than merely enumerating them, as the scope of most Filipinos' heartbreak is captured by facts showing that throughout the Philippines, a significant number of people are currently in line for possible organ matches, and last year almost 10% individuals died waiting.

These disquieting statistics have haunted awaiting recipients and their families alike given that organ donations and transplantations have long  been in place in the country, both still remain unacceptable for many. The reasons behind why organ donors have been dismally low stretch far and wide-ranging from the social plague of human trafficking to sensitive topics concerning religion to emotions of deep family ties intrinsic to Filipinos.


What really does organ donation entail?

"The statistics for organ donation and transplantation in the country, albeit saddening, are not surprising. Because, after all, how can families even find room to think of such options when someone they love, with a beating heart and still warm to touch has just been declared brain dead?" shares Dr. Antonio Paraiso, Program Manager of the DOH-Philippine Network for Organ Sharing and Founder of the Human Organ Preservation Effort (H.O.P.E)

Dr. Antonio Paraiso, Program Manager of the DOH-Philippine Network for Organ Sharing and Founder of the Human Organ Preservation Effort (H.O.P.E) during the press conference at  Romulo Cafe yesterday, February 20, 2014.

People who would put their feet into the shoes of those who have chose to say no to organ donation would understand how it isn't anyone's idea of comfort, especially in such time of grief. "However, what we are continuing to advocate is the very essence of breathing life to losses--of carrying on with their stories by being lifeline to others," says Paraiso. "Organ donors are referred to as lifeline because just one can let up to 50 people who were once captives of organ failure, see, walk, breeze through life again."

Unlike countries such as Spain, Singapore and Denmark where all citizens are considered as lifeline unless one declares disagreement, the reverse holds true in the Philippines where consent is needed before one can donate organs. A deeper understanding of Republic Act No.7170 or the Organ Donation Act of 1991 would shed light to the weight of what being a lifeline details.

Any individual at time of brain death, through the consent of the immediate family (spouse, sibling, child, parent, or guardian), may become an organ donor and allow the harvesting of all any part of his/her body for donation. However, any individual who has signed an Official Organ Donor Card while living, will at time of brain death, be considered a citizen who has left a legacy".  On top of this, any individual with an Official Organ Donor Card automatically becomes a priority recipient candidate should he/she be the one who would require an organ  transplant throughout the course of his/her life.


More than ticking a box.

In this light, the Department of Health (DOH) and its partner organizations aim to continue the advocacy and awareness of organ donation as it pushes for the Philippine Organ Donor and Recipient Registry System.

More than just building a national registry or organ donors, the organizations have placed their bids to break two Guinness World records of "Most People to Sign up as Organ Donor" for One (1) Hour Single Site and Eight (8) Hours Single Site. On top of this, the Philippines has been given the green light to establish new records for the One (1) and Eight (8) Hours Multiple Sites--making it a national campaign.

This is set to happen this February 28, 2014 at six sites: Polytechnic University of the Philippines (PUP) Track & Field, Sta. Mesa Manila and Quezon City Circle, Quezon City in the National Capital Region (NCR); RTMC, San Fernando City, La Union, L. Mamba Gym, Tuguegarao City in Cagayan; JMR Coliseum, Naga City in Camarines Sur; and Almendra's Gym, Davao City in Davao del Sur. The event will officially start at 9-10AM for the one-hour category and at 9AM-5PM for the eight-hour category. This event is targeted to break India's 2013 records of having 2,755 pledged organ donors in a single site in one hour and 10,450 pledged organ donors in a single site spanning eight hours.

Registrants will be allowed to consent donations of vital organs including kidneys, lungs, heart, liver and pancreas, and even tissues such as corneas, bones and skin. "With high hopes, this attempt to break the Guinness World records will help expedite positive awareness about organ donations in the country," states Paraiso. "By securing their stand as lifelines, every pledge garnered on this day will be regarded as a legacy. People will live on. A new heart can begin pumping for another, a pair of lungs can take breaths for more, and all other organs can start changing  the lives of many.


 
i'm a LifeLine


(Press Release)


California Pizza Kitchen's Storytelling Campaign



Every Pizza Tells a Story!  And here's the great news  from California Pizza Kitchen  as they invite pizza lovers to share their pleasurable moments  in a  storytelling campaign  to start on Monday,  February 24   with two main stars:   you and your pizza.

Here's how to join:

Grab a bite of pizza in any size, any flavour, anytime, anywhere.   Have a slice at home, at the park, in the office, by the pool, at the tennis court, by your car, or even in a famous landmark. Show us how much you enjoy your CPK pizza by taking a selfie or a groupie with family or friends.


Upload your pizza story snapshot or short video to Facebook, Instagram, Twitter or YouTube.

Add the hashtags:

#MyPizzaStory
#EveryPizzaTellsAStory
#CPKPhilippines


Please don't forget to like and join California Pizza Kitchen community on:


Facebook
http://www.cpk.com.ph/
Twitter:  @CPKPhilippines
Instagram:  @CPKPhilippines


Here's mine yesterday.  I just can't get enough of pizza!






To get a free treat from your friends at CPK, like CPKPhilippines on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram and share the link of your pizza story to mypizzastory@cpk.com.ph with your full name, mobile number, date of birth and your favorite CPK location.

Every selfie or groupie will be rewarded with classic personal pizza favorite – Five Cheese + Fresh Tomato, The Original BBQ Chicken Pizza or Untraditional Cheese. A CPK Pizza Voucher will be emailed to them complete with details on how to redeem their prize. A participant will only be rewarded once regardless of the number of selfie or groupie entries. Submissions will be accepted until April 13, 2014.


 
The Original BBQ Chicken Our legendary BBQ sauce, smoked Gouda, red onions and cilantro transform this original to iconic 


Five Cheese + Fresh Tomato Cheese pizza—all grown up. Sliced tomatoes, basil, fresh Mozzarella, Monterey Jack, smoked Gouda, Mozzarella and Pecorino Romano.



Untraditional Cheese Always a good standby. Mozzarella and fresh Mozzarella.


CPK’s eight branches in Metro Manila are located at the Alabang Town Center, TriNoma, Greenhills Promenade, Power Plant Mall, Greenbelt 5, W Global Center in Bonifacio Global City, Eastwood Mall, and SM Mall of Asia. Two years ago, CPK opened in Harbor Point Mall in Subic, its first branch outside the metro.




Wednesday, February 12, 2014

AIG bullish on construction opportunities in the Philippines



AIG’s Global Head of Construction Daniel Abramson shares insights in Managing risks in Cross-Border Construction, in a half-day forum with the Philippines’ top contractors and construction brokers held last January 22, at the Mandarin Oriental Manila. 


International Insurance leader AIG is bullish on new construction opportunities as the economic boom in the Philippines triggers further expansion in the large-scale building sector.

Based on the 2014 Philippine Report, the construction sector is one of the fastest growing industries in the country, with a 32.5% growth in the first quarter of 2013 and double-digit growth in successive quarters.

AIG’s international and regional construction experts spoke to members of the local construction and insurance industry at a half day forum in Makati City to showcase the company’s full spectrum of construction industry products and services.

"The ongoing expansion of the Philippines economy and growth in large-scale construction projects presents AIG with opportunities to expand its construction insurance portfolio in the Philippines, and offers the Philippines construction industry an opportunity to take advantage of AIG’s recently enhanced resources and capabilities in its construction and construction-industry product offerings," according to Daniel Abramson, AIG’s global head of construction.

"The forum on Managing Risks in Cross-Border Construction exemplifies AIG’s commitment to highlighting the importance and value of an experienced team with deep industry knowledge and underwriting expertise to offer its construction clients solutions for their complex risk transfer needs. We are committed to providing innovative ways to deal with evolving risks in this sector.”

AIG invited its global and regional industry experts to share their insights with top contractors and construction brokers at the forum held at the Mandarin Oriental in Makati.

The meeting highlighted how a well-designed insurance solution can address complex risks and challenges in 21st century construction projects.

“We have tremendous depth of experience in construction, and other commercial endeavors, which help our clients manage, reduce, and avoid risks,” said AIG Philippines President and CEO, Mark Lwin.

AIG provides Infrastructure solutions backed by an experienced underwriting team and has 38 engineers focused on Asia Pacific and the Philippines.

This technical engineering expertise enables AIG to have a better understanding of risks across several industries which include Aviation, Energy, Property, and Marine.

AIG is a recognized market leader in the infrastructure sector and has unrivalled capabilities to support owners’ and contractors’ insurance needs.

AIG has been a licensed insurer in the Philippines since 1948, and is a leading provider of property and casualty insurance in the Philippines market today. AIG maintains a major presence in the Philippines market with over 3,000 employees working within AIG Philippines, Inc. and AIG Shared Services.

American International Group, Inc. (AIG) is a leading international insurance organization serving customers in more than 130 countries. AIG companies serve commercial, institutional, and individual customers through one of the most extensive worldwide property-casualty networks of any insurer. In addition, AIG companies are leading providers of life insurance and retirement services in the United States. AIG common stock is listed on the New York Stock Exchange and the Tokyo Stock Exchange.

View from Wooden Cabana





This was my view last Saturday  in my friend's house,  my favorite spot  in her crib,  the cabana.     I felt  so relaxed  with my body laid  flat on the bench.  There is  a  swing but it made me a bit nauseous   like I was riding a roller coaster so I  didn't stay  there for long.  Inspired by the resort,  my friend is planning to put some white curtain to give a different atmosphere.  All the furniture in their house are made of  these hard material.  They sold all  the old  stuff  but kept  the  wood plaques   that are  intended to display  in their new house.

It's  just so cool to stay under this shade  like I was imagining myself  having a quiet moment  in  a  Resort & Spa but the reality is,  I was actually  in the middle of  a busy street.

Tuesday, February 11, 2014

DOT launches Tourism Star Philippines



Today,  February 11, 2014 at Manila Diamond Hotel,  the Department of Tourism (DOT) launched TOURISM STAR PHILIPPINES and presented a new set of awards for individuals  who have demonstrated  strong and deep commitment to the country's tourism through excellent customer service and investment in tourism development efforts.

Dubbed as DOT'S TOURISM STAR PHILIPPINES, the awards are divided into two (2) catergories: (i) front-liners and individuals who embody the true Filipino brand of warm hospitality, of going the extra mile in the service of tourists;  and, (ii) local chief executives (LCE), a mayor or a governor, whose projects contribute positively to the tourism industry.




Who can be nominated

The individuals' category is open to all Filipinos who have direct or indirect contact with tourists and who may belong to one of the following: (a) travel agencies and tour operators; (b) tour guides;  (c) tourist transport (tour buses, taxis, kalesas, etc.)  (d) accommodation establishments; and (e) individual service providers that may include entrepreneurs, government employees, policemen and others who do not fall under any of the mentioned sectors. An individual nominee must exhibit Filipino quality of hospitality; flexibility, adaptability and creativity; honesty;  professionalism; and promptness.

A potential Tourism Star from the local chief executive (LCE/ mayors or governors) category, on the other hand must have "led", headed", contributed", or "facilitated" tourism movement in their community, tourism income, and jobs creation. Nominees must not only be backed up by a list of tourism-related accomplishments, but also a proof of support to DOT regulatory and development functions such as preparation of local tourism office budget and work plan, enactment of local ordinances on mandatory accreditation and collection of tourism statistics, among others.  The LCE Star nominees will be judged according to institutional, promotions, planning and product development, regulatory, investments, centerpiece projects, support to DOT advocacies and best practices in tourism.

The local government community of the LCE Tourism Star shall receive a maximum of PhP1-M worth of funding for a community-based tourism project proposed by the awardee (may be in the form of a training, a livelihood project, or a product development or enhancement initiative), a bronze marker to be placed  conspicuously   in his jurisdiction, free participation/booth space in a market-matched international travel fair, display of the DOT Tourism STAR logo in the LGU's website, and a trophy to be awarded by no less that President Benigno Aquino III.

Other prizes for the awardees will be  given by the program sponsors Bank of the Philippine Islands (BPI), MyPhone, Duty Free Philippines (DFP), and the Technical Education Skills Development Authority  (TESDA).

DOT Undersecretary Maria Victoria V. Jasmin said this award is one way of recognizing the valuable contributions made by the people from the tourism industry and local government units alike. "The Tourism Star Philippines celebrates the excellence and dedication exemplified by these industry people in driving the country's tourism forward," she added.

The DOT Tourism Star Philippines is also linked to the Department's branding campaign It's More Fun in the Philippines". The Tourism chief is also giving out the Secretary's Award, a token and a special recognition chosen by the department head for individuals, associations or institutions that made remarkable contribution in any field which support Philippine Tourism.

"The awards program is in honor of the tremendous contribution of many Filipinos in what is now the fastest growing industry in the country, a priority sector that is able to drive inclusive economic growth, one that is worth PhP571.3 billion in the nation's GDP. It brings to the fore the core strength of our tourism campaign, the Filipino brand of warm hospitality and our commitment to service and outstanding visitor experience" Secretary  Ramon Jimenez, Jr. shared.

The program will also mark a significant milestone in the DOT, as it fully implements the National Tourism Development Plan (NTDP) which leverages on public-private sector partnerships to improve competitiveness of tourism facilities and services, capacitate local government units, ensure sustainable tourism development and initiate focused marketing and promotions.

"Hopefully, the DOT's Tourism Star Philippines would not only engage more individuals and local chief executives alike to take more proactive roles in our efforts or raising competitiveness in tourism, but also in instilling in every Filipino the culture of tourism. The success or failure of tourism largely depends on how people will respond to the call of nation-building. And that the power is in the people's hand. We are, therefore, counting on their continued dedication and commitment to our bid towards achieving 10 million international arrivals and most importantly generating seven million jobs by 2016,"  the tourism chief added.

The deadline for submission of nominations is on May 31 of every year. The first awarding ceremony will  be held in September 2014, in time for the Tourism Week celebration.  President Benigno Aquino III will be conferring the award to the recipients.

For more information, please visit www.tourismstar.ph.

View photos here.

Monday, February 10, 2014

Kim Chiu and Arnel Pineda support GSK's Win Against Asthma Campaign



A  musical press conference was held last Thursday, February 6, 2015 at Makati Shangrila for  GSK's  Win Against Asthma Today campaign  to amplify the awareness  amongst patients, the public and the medical community.   Department of Health  (DOH) Assistant Secretary Dr. Eric Tayag  graced the event and used the dance floor to support the campaign.  In his message, he said that the department has included asthma as one of the lifestyle diseases that need people's awareness.  "GSK is known to produce  treatment for asthma. This is a good partnership to create awareness and we're glad that Kim Chiu and Arnel Pineda support the campaign. There is cure for asthma and can be controlled,"  he added.  

Kim Chiu, grand winner of  Pinoy Brother Teen Edition and  Arnel Pineda of famed international rock band Journey  are the new  ambassadors of  "Win Against Asthma Today" campaign.     Chiu and Pineda are  both  asthma survivors and  managed the disease through medication.


By launching the Win Against Asthma campaign, GSK is taking a very big opportunity to increase awareness and amplify existing efforts to spread information about asthma and how it can be managed. GSK strongly believes and advocates that in partnership with their doctors, asthma patients can realize that their condition need not deter them from achieving their goals.

Win Against Asthma calls Filipinos to action to consult their doctors and discuss the best way to manage their asthma.



 IF KIM CAN WIN, YOU CAN TOO!

Kim Chiu has come a long way from her Pinoy Big Brother days.  She is now one of the most sought after actresses in local showbusiness.  

Hailed as the country’s Teleserye Princess, a box-office queen, and one of the most pleasant and wholesome girls in the industry, one may think that Kim Chiu has had it easy.

Not many know that Kim also suffers from asthma. Kim shares that she has suffered from asthma since high school and has been dealing with it it for over 5 years now.

‘Eversince masyado na akong active. Back in high school, I played volleyball, basketball and even sipa,’ she quipped. One day, Kim shares that she just coughed non-stop and experienced unexplained shortness of breath accompanied by rapid heartbeat. She was rushed to the hospital and was eventually diagnosed with asthma. Entering showbusiness made it more challenging to manage her asthma as it entailed a lot of hours of taping and working overtime, not to mention the constant lack of sleep.

‘Sa work naming mga artista, kasama namin ang pagod at puyat pero syempre hindi naman talaga maiiwasan yun para makapagbigay saya sa iba,’ she shared. And for Kim, it is no question that the saying ‘the show must go on’ holds true even with her condition.


For others like her who are living with asthma, Kim’s advice is to be happy, enjoy and live life to the fullest. “Sa lahat ng may asthma na katulad ko, ‘wag po kayong matakot sa sakit natin. We can do whatever we want, as long as alaga nyo ang sarili nyo, regular na magpatingin sa doktor at may gamot tayo, kaya natin ito!’

For Kim Chiu, the clear choice is not to allow asthma to restrict her. Instead, Kim chooses to be a winner over asthma!

 
Kim Chiu likes doing something new everyday and nothing can stop her from doing so. She is one with you in your fight against asthma.


 





Arnel Pineda's  Breathtaking Journey.   

When the famed rock band Journey needed a new vocalist to replace the legendary Steve Perry, they turned to You Tube, where they found various clips of an unknown 40-year-old band singer from the Philippines. Then, Arnel Pineda was simply just a small-town boy, living in a lonely world, covering different rock songs that included those of Journey. But fate was kind and he had the phenomenal voice, stage presence and the bearing of a natural-born rock star. Now he is living a dream that goes on, and on, and on, and on.

Arnel Pineda didn’t stop believing and his amazing journey keeps reaching unbelievable new heights. His mythical rise from the slums of Manila, to being a pizza joint singer and conquering the international music scene is nothing short of breathtaking.

Who would have known, that with every heart-pounding performance he gives, Arnel suffers from a real and literally breath-taking condition called asthma.

Asthma didn’t come ‘til later in Arnel’s life. He recalls one morning in the year 2000, while cleaning their room in their old house in Kamuning, he felt an onset of colds which he thought was just a normal thing until it got worse in just about 30 minutes. ‘Bigla nalang maga na yung ilong ko at merong shortness of breath,’ he shared. ‘Nagpahinga ako sandali pero after awhile, ayan na naman.’

Arnel found his first time condition odd and having no budget for consultation, sought the advice of a doctor-friend who discovered that his larynx was inflamed due to dust. Apparently it was a case of asthma triggered by allergies. ‘Nung una nga, eh, mahirap paniwalaan kasi malakas naman ako at hindi naman ako naninigarilyo.’ The doctor questioned Arnel about his exposure to smoke and apparently another major trigger was inhaling 2nd hand smoke from the bars and venues where he’d performed in Manila.

Eventually the triggers also came from vehicle smoke when he’d commute and ride the jeep, tricycle or taxi.  This went on for years and even worsened around the time he was discovered to be Journey’s lead singer in 2008.

But of course, Arnel, being the believer that he is, couldn’t just let his sickness topple the wonderful opportunity of raising the Filipino flag in the world of music and took everything as a challenge.


Arnel’s profession and commitment as a performer is huge since he has to face about 15,000 people when touring. His voice and energy need to be in tip-top shape while giving his all for about 2 hours. Cancelling a show or even shortening the time is never an option for the band. ‘Talagang kahit ano pa man ang mangyari, tuloy ang show, all-out ang perfomance at hindi ko pwedeng payagan na ang asthma ko ang iiral.’


Arnel has been managing his asthma for a long time. He has battled the disease, dismissed fear in dealing with his condition, and has stopped considering it a big hindrance to his career. Arnel strongly believes that as long as he works very closely with his doctor, he will win over asthma.

And with his commitment, both to bring happiness through his music or winning against asthma, indeed, he never stops believing.


 
 Arnel is committed to bring happiness through his music and winning against asthma.




GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) one of the world’s leading research-based pharmaceutical and healthcare companies – is committed to improving the quality of human life by enabling people to do more, feel better and live longer.

For further information please visit www.gsk.com.






Sunday, February 9, 2014

PHILIP Lifestyle Guy! Season 2




Philip Lifestyle Guy on its second season  invited media  bloggers yesterday,  February 8  at  Guevarra's  Chef  Laudico  for  a  sumptuous buffet  meal.

Philip Lifestyle Guy  is a Lifestyle Show and Website for Lifestylers.   The show airs Sundays, 11a.m.to 12 noon on  TV5.

 Press release follows.

Over 20 years ago, Philip Abadicio was invited to write for the lifestyle section of the Manila Times. He had no journalism background but he always wanted to know what was the latest, the newest restaurants and food finds, the upcoming designer and the best new work of the artists, the interior decorators and the culturati, and he wanted to know how the glitterati lived. It was the end of the excessive discos of the 80s and the start of the all-night clubbing 90s.

For years, Philip Abadicio has been writing about the newest, the most delicious, the best dressed, the ultimately exclusive, and the lives of the rich and raunchy. He was also a PR practitioner and established RPA & Communicate where he mastered the ropes of the lifestyle industry. The experience gave him the chance to hobnob with some of the country’s celebrities in society, showbiz, business, politics and media. It molded Philip into the Lifestyle Guy.

His renewed contract for a 2nd Season with TV5 has given him an assurance of his status as the only TV show and host that paves the way for lifestyle to be more interesting and within reach of all Filipinos.

“In the past, lifestyle was mostly for the affluent, the highly educated, and because of this perception, it catered to a very limited audience. I want Philip Lifestyle Guy to be relevant and enjoyed not only by people of wealth and influence but by all our Kapatid here and abroad,” explains Philip Abadicio with so much passion. The lifestyle show will make the audience experience the delicious food, the wonderful places, the latest gadgets, the latest fashion, the beauty fixes, the spa treatments, and all other aspects of lifestyle.

Philip fondly calls his viewers and readers ‘lifestylers.’ “It’s a term of endearment for all those who watch the show, consult me about their lifestyle concerns, have joined our contests on-air and of course, online,” he shares. Philipabadicio.com brings the art and style of living with more in-depth information on some of the feature stories of the show, Philip Lifestyle Guy. The show and more recently, the website, have become an eye-opener on how life can be lived in style and with loads of fun. Philipabadicio.com is the Lifestyle Guy’s Site for Lifestylers!

“We hope to provide a lifestyle show where we all learn and be more conscious of the beautiful, inspiring and delicious things around us. It’s a show that I’m hoping will educate, entertain and inspire all of us,” he explains. Philip Lifestyle Guy will be visually appealing, culturally enriching, and gastronomically appetizing with the different segments in every episode.

Philip Lifestyle Guy  airs on TV5 every Sunday from 11 a.m. to 12 noon.

For more updates, announcements and details, please follow Philip Abadicio on social media accounts:

Facebook:    Philip K. Abadicio
Twitter:  @philipabadicio
Instagram @philipabadicio
Website:  http://www.philipabadicio.com/


Photos at the event yesterday.

Bloggers with Chef Jackie Laudico and Chef Laudico

Sumptuous Buffet Meal at Chef Laudico Guevarras

Philip Abadicio with media bloggers during Q&A portion at the launch of Philip Lifestyle Guy! Season 2

Guevarras Chef Laudico

Thursday, February 6, 2014

A Lookback Gift Video from Facebook on its 10th Anniversary





A few days ago, some of my friends posted on their timeline their lookback movies that show their old photos, status and highlights of their  first moments and important events in their life.   So I clicked mine and shared.  Funny how my video appeared where most of them were food.   While my friends statuses'  show emotional lookback that made them cry,  mine was different  with Sinabawang Tuna,  Magnolia Pinipig Crunch and Pichi-Pichi  as my first moments.

A  LOOK BACK is  Facebook's way of thanking its users on its 10th Anniversary with its personalized video that chronicles the important events and moment on the social network.  It  reminds users the year they joined FACEBOOK, first moments, most liked photos and photos they shared.

So how's your Look Back Video?  Did it make you cry  or  did it give you a LOL moment?

Wednesday, February 5, 2014

Unleash the Beast with Energy Monster Drink



At Makati Shangrila yesterday, February 5, 2013,  Monster Energy launched Ken Block's Japan Experience  hosted  by Kat Alano,  a perfect host  with personality that shows full of energy.   Ellen Adarna  spiced  up  the event and she invited everyone to unleash the beast  with  Monster Energy Drink.


Please check this out.

Monster Energy will be raffling off three Japan Trips.

3 Grand Prize Winners Receive a VIP Trip for 2 to Japan
3 First Prize Winners Receive a Ken Block Traxxas RC Car
5 Second Prize Winners Get Exclusive Monster Energy Gear

How to win.

Text MONSTER to 2600

Promo period: Feb 15 to April 15, 2014

Visit www.monsterenergy.com for complete details.








More of the events to be posted soon.

Bo’s Coffee Supports its Homegrown Roots



 

"One Heavily Caffeinated Blogger."  That says it all,  right there on my side bar.   I always blog about my love for coffee.   You ask?  How do I start my day?   COFFEE!  What about  having a cup of coffee everyday  and  at same time  supporting  an  advocacy,  promoting homegrown coffee and supporting our local farmers.     

At 2pm yesterday, upon the invitation of Bo's Coffee,  we headed Glorietta 5 for launch of  their new branch with a different concept.   It was actually an informal event  where Mr. Steve Benitez, Bo's Coffee CEO,  shared his passion and his advocacy in promoting homegrown coffee and discussed all things about it and the many exciting changes for this proudly Filipino brand.  
  

Upon entering the coffee shop, I already felt at home with the baristas warm way of welcoming the guests.  Local products such as   Sagada Coffee Gelato, Coffee Origin Tumblers featuring handwoven fabrics from different regions of the Philippines reflects the  new store look  and with  its local accents such as  Kenneth Cobonpue lamps.


 



These are just some of the things that Bo’s Coffee is excited to share with coffee lovers in Manila with the opening of  its Glorietta 5 concept store.

As an avid supporter of Homegrown coffee, culture, and talent, this proudly Homegrown brand aims to not just provide customers with a distinctive and fresh new experience, but also to encourage everyone to see the value and beauty of homegrown products.

 


"Our Glorietta 5 branch redefines the local coffee experience,”  Mr. Benitez said.   “We showcase the best of what the country has to offer, from Theo & Philo’s artisan chocolates, to social enterprise merchandise, to our very own Philippine Coffee Origins Arabica beans.”

 

Given its aim to support and preserve local culture, Bo’s Coffee has been working with its social enterprise partners in order to provide more opportunities for young entrepreneurs and the various communities they are helping. Their partnership with ANTHILL Fabric Gallery, in particular, has enabled customers to learn more about the distinctive fabric patterns from areas such as Sagada, Benguet, Mt. Matutum, Mt. Kitanglad, and Mt. Apo. Having been created by artisan weavers, these fabrics are currently featured on Bo’s Coffee’s tumblers and luggage tags.

In addition to this, Gawad Kalinga – Enchanted Farm’s (GK-EF) Bayani Brew Filipino Iced Tea and local artisan chocolate brand Theo & Philo are now also being offered in selected branches.

A lot of changes are happening at Bo’s Coffee, and as the months progress, one can be certain that social procurement and the passion for all things homegrown will remain an integral part in their plans. “We our embracing our Homegrown identity,” says Benitez.

“We want customers to feel at home in our stores and be reminded of the beauty of our culture and heritage. We are also looking forward to partnering with more social enterprises to create an even bigger impact among the different communities in the Philippines.”


More photos at the event.


And we are part of this advocacy to promote  homegrown coffee and  help  our  local coffee farmers.









For more information about Bo’s Coffee, visit www.boscoffee.com.

Tuesday, February 4, 2014

One Day at the Garage Sale



Yard sale serves us a lot of benefits.  Bonding, earning, discovering life and getting rid of our own trash/mess,  to name a few.    Everyday has a different story.  So to say,  it's always a day full of fun.

During our garage sale,  I checked all my friend Joy's  items which I think I can wear  in the future.   I felt some kind of regrets selling and seeing   old  stuff  being given away.

I checked through all the clothes for sale  and took this one that shines,  out of the many items  on the rack.  I found it, literally, shinning shimmering gold.  My friend Joy was selling this  almost on  a steal price,  like yes, a giveaway.  For $2, you can have 3 to 5 items while some of them were rarely use.


So I got the gold sleeve blouse   and matched it with blue scarf.  Tadaaa!    I was supposed to wear this in  coming  event but since I already wore it  here like I am already at the event,  I am thinking to save it in next few months till I buried this post in my old archive.


And so I saved these two,  gold and blue..



The clothes that we are selling, but just  saved them  for a different purpose.


Battling middle life  crisis becomes easier when there is  someone beside  you that keeps reminding the valuable  purpose of   this emotion in  life.

Sunday, February 2, 2014

Get Well Soon!



I hate to know that you are still sick.  It's not easy for me too so  I'm sending you this message of love,  a dose of medication for you  to  be  better.   Get well soon!

Saturday, February 1, 2014

Grand Baby Fair



Grand Baby Fair on its 4th year invites everyone to avail  up to 70% off on select items at SM Megatrade Hall with over 200 brands/exhibitors.   Shop and learn more about Pregnancy and Child Safety.  Also get a chance to meet celebrity moms Bianca Araneta, Lexi Schulze, Pia Guanio Mago and Bernadette Allyson Estrada.









See you all SM Megamall, Megatrade Halls 1-3.  January 31 to February 2, 2014

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