SM Hypermart brings back Master Chefs Cooking Marathon

Known with their annual SM Master Chefs activity, SM Hypermart on its 10th year as leading wholesale and retail store brings back this activity with a bigger program that will start from July until September of this year. In partnership with 19 cooking brands such as Knorr, Nestle All Purpose Cream, Unilever Food Solutions, Tabasco, Lee Kum Kee, Lady’s Choice, Maggi, Clara Ole, Kikkoman Soy Sauce, San Remo, McCormick, Bounty Fresh Chicken, CDO, Purefoods Tender Juicy Hotdog, Purefoods Star Hotdog, Magnolia Cheeze spread, Magnolia Purefresh, Magnolia All Purpose Cream and Magnolia Dari Crème they aim for a weekly cooking marathon that will touch in both international and local cuisine that all shoppers especially the mothers will learn alternative recipes that is easy to prepare and that their family will love.

Nestle Celebrates 100 Years with I Choose Wellness Expo 2011

The centennial celebration of Nestle in touching lives of every Filipino never stops after the success of Kasambahay Habambuhay. Now, they are having “I Choose Wellness Expo 2011” at the Megratrade Hall in SM Megamall from July 2-3 and it is free admission to let everyone have a weekend filled with fun and know how to be healthy with the help of Nestle products.

Philippine Azkals is Cortal SQR's newest brand ambassadors

Pharma-Rex Inc, the maker of Cortal SQR officially launches Philippine Azkals led by Team Captain Ali Borromeo, Defender Anton del Rosario, Forward Ian Araneta, and Goalkeeper Niel Etheridge as the new brand ambassadors of the newly improved pain reliever. The said launch happen few days before their second fight with Sri Lanka on Sunday (July 3).

Nominations are now open for Jollibee Family Values Awards

Jollibee takes its part in the lives of every Filipino family in all special occasions even on weekend bonding through the years with their famous Chicken Joy, Crispy Fries and Yum Burger and many more. They are now taking a bigger step to bring out the best values in every family no matter what is their social status. With the Jollibee Family Values Awards, they will award five families from Mega Manila, Northern Luzon, Southern Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao who excels in their community and become models of respect, positive thinking, and generosity among the members of their society.

Join Nestle’s I Choose Wellness Expo 2011 on July 2-3

In line with the celebration of Nestle’s 100 years of serving the Filipino community, they will launch I Choose Wellness Expo 2011 at the Megatrade Hall 2 and 3 of SM Megamall on July 2-3, 2011. This is a free admission event of Nestle Philippines to follow up on the success of their Kasambahay Habangbuhay that was shown in selected SM Cinemas.

29 Steps for LGBT Human Rights festival on June 25 at QC Circle

Even though everyone is aware about the existence and contribution of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) in the society, there are still cases of discrimination and violence towards them. Sadly, there are no laws that will protect them because of their sexual preference and orientation even the existence of human rights. They became victims of criticism from the bigots in the society because of what other religious ideals dictates – including the so called morality.

Five years ago, human rights experts from various sectors including representatives from UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, UN Special Procedures and non-government organizations convene to discuss the issues that affects the LGBT community and to discuss their rights against violation and discrimination. From there Yogyakarta Principles was created it came from the name of the area where the conference took place (Yogyakarta, Indonesia). The principle serves as a universal guide, much like a set of international legal standards, to human rights of LGBT people. This to protect them from any form of discrimination and violence in the society, home and work as a human being regardless of sexual orientation and gender identity. But the challenge remains in each country on how they will implement the guidelines and adopt it in their respective laws in their country.

GSM Blueniversity aims to train future bartenders

It’s back to school once again for students and saying their goodbyes to all the fun and adventure they had last summer. As they return to their classrooms, mind boggling subjects and terror teachers GSM Blue still gives everyone a reason to enjoy great bonding moments with friends with their GSM Blueniversity campaign.

With this campaign, they continue the fun and excitement that we had last summer as we create new bonding moments with our friends. The good way to celebrate this kind of special day is to have a drink that is smooth and light like GSM Blue, but of course like what I always say do it moderately to enjoy every minute of beautiful conversation and great laugh.

Kasambuhay Habambuhay: Celebrating Nestle’s 100 Years in the lives of Filipinos

In line of the 100 Years of Nestle in the Philippines they launches the Kasambuhay Habambuhay: A Short Film Anthology which will be shown in SM cinemas nationwide: SM Megamall Cinema 3, SM Southmall Cinema 6, SM Rosales Cinema 1, SM City Davao Cinema 1 and SM City Cebu Cinema 7) like for free from June 11-12, 2011. There will be 10 short films with 10 minute running time each, showing different stories about culture, friendship, family, love, faith and hope, and showing how Nestle touches the lives of every Filipinos in their simple way.

Movies included in the short film anthology of nestle were The Howl and the Fussyket, Unplugged, Silup, Isang Tasang Pangarap, Sali Salita, Oh! Pa Ra Sa Ta U Wa Yeah!, Downtown, Tingala sa Baba, Cooking Mo, Cooking Ko and Sign Seeker. Each film features Nestle products including Bear Brand Powdered Milk Drink, Nescafé, Milo, Nestea, Nido, Coffee-mate, Maggi, Bear Brand Sterilized Milk, Nestlé Ice Cream, Koko Krunch, Nestlé Fruit Selection Yogurt and Nestlé Fitnesse.

The Grove by Rockwell brings How to Plan a Kiddie Party Fair

On June 11, The Grove by Rockwell in partnership with Mommy Mundo brings a whole day activity of giving tips, ideas and seminar on preparing a unique and well-organized birthday party for your kids and maybe you can be a possible earning for families who wanted to venture on business related to this. The activity will happen at The Grove by Rockwell from 10am to 7pm.

Converse Block Party at the SM Mall of Asia

Last May 28, Converse had their Block Party at the SM Mall of Asia Music Hall and it was open to all extreme sports and music lovers or for those who wanted to see Converse shoes and booths inside the event. Skateboarders, rock bands, beat boxers, basket ball players and so many mare showcases their talents the one biggest event of Converse here in Manila with NCAA and UAAP basketball players, celebrities like Carlos Agassi, Callalily, Gloc 9, Pointblanc , and Philippine All-Stars.

Green Lantern-ized Glorietta 4 Grounds

In line with the release of Green Lantern in all cinemas nationwide on June 16, Warner Bros Pictures the distributor of the film and Ayala Malls change the mood of Glorietta 4 Grounds in Makati City to Green Lantern theme.

 (This is how it looks like in the daytime)

Sam Concepcion stars in Rep Phil’s Peter Pan

From Noah, High School Musical and The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe, ABS-CBN star Sam Concepcion will return to the center stage as he takes the role Peter Pan in a first collaboration project of Repertory Philippines and STAGES. The first Asian premiere of Willis Hall’s Peter Pan: A Musical Adventure is set to open on September 29 to October 30 at the Meralco Theater in Pasig City.

Sam was discovered through ABS-CBN talent search Little Big Star and now stars in the Kapamilya network’s Sunday teen show dram Good Vibes and also a mainstay in ASAP Rocks. According to him doing the Peter Pan role excites him where aside from singing, dancing and acting onstage, is that he can fly in this musical which was one of his dreams as an actor. He said that he is very thankful that he has given the opportunity to be part of the Peter Pan production along with the different actors joining the group.

WWF Links Up With National Convergence Initiative

Infanta, Quezon – With 50 years of global experience in crafting and implementing a proven range of conservation solutions, the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF-Philippines) has committed its full support and expertise for the government’s National Convergence Initiative (NCI) – an ambitious drive to synergize efforts of the Department of Agriculture (DA), Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) and Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) in the push towards a more sustainable economy, in a climate-defined future.

Top-level representatives of the three national government agencies, the Governor and Vice-Governor, plus two Quezon congressmen converged at a Social Center in Infanta, Quezon on 30 May to launch the newest phase of the NCI, which includes partnerships with both WWF-Philippines and Gawad Kalinga.

Walking against hunger with Walk the World 2011

Thank God it didn’t rain and for the cool breeze during the Walk the World 2011 of United Nation World Food Programme (WFP) with its global humanitarian partners TNT and Uniliver last May 29 at SM Mall of Asia, Pasay City. Philippines. This annual global walk that happens in more that 80 countries around the world in 24 time zones aims to elevate awareness on global hunger where children are very much involve and victims of it. Also the annual global walk will raised funds for the project of WFP in their respective areas; here in the Philippines it is in the conflict affected areas in Central Mindanao. The target beneficiaries of the funds being raised on the event is to provide children a warm nutritious meals during the school year in remote areas in Central Mindanao like in Lanao where most of the children go to school barefooted and haven’t eaten anything. With the help of all the supporters and WTW participants this campaign to fight child hunger will be possible.

 (Mr. Stephen Anderson, World Food Programme Country Director)

Blackbeard’s Seafood Island: Going for a Seafood Extreme and more

From Filipino-Indonesian fusion in John Bamboo, then followed by All Meat Extravaganza in The Flying Pig, comes another extreme food tasting but this time it’s more of what I enjoyed the most “SEAFOOD”. Yes it is in all caps to put emphasize my love and cravings for crabs, fishes, oysters and clams and I am thankful that the maker of Red Crab created concept restaurant that caters to seafood lovers like me - Blackbeard’s Seafood Island.

Winners of the 34th Gawad Urian

Last May 17 at the Marriott Hotel in Newport Manila, the group of Filipino Film Critics (Manunuri ng Pelikulang Pilipino) awarded the winners of the 34th Gawad Urian. Some of the winners who veterans in the independent film making includes Sid Lucero (Best Actor - Muli), Rosanna Roces (Best Supporting Actress - Presa) and Jerrold Tarog (Best Music - Damgo ni Eleuteria).

Here's the complete list of the winners of the 34th Gawad Urian:

Best Picture- Ang Damgo ni Eleuteria (Creative Programs Inc., Panuumduman Pictures)
Best Director- Remton Siega Zuasola (Ang Damgo ni Eleuteria)
Best Screenplay- Arnel Mardoquio (Sheika)
Best Actor- Sid Lucero (Muli)
Best Actress- Fe GingGing Hyde (Sheika)
Best Supporting Actor- Joem Bascon (Noy)
Best Supporting Actress- Rosanna Roces (Presa)
Best Cinematography- Christian Linaban (Ang Damgo ni Eleuteria)
Best in Production Design- Rodell Cruz (Amigo)
Best Editing- Willie Apa Jr. and Arthur Ian Garcia (Sheika)
Best Music- Jerrold Tarog (Damgo ni Eleuteria)
Best Sound- Dempster Samarista (Sheika)
Best Short Film- Pam Miras (Huwag Kang Titingin)
Best Documentary- Monster Jimenez (Kano)

Join Walk the World Philippines 2011 on May 29 at SM Mall of Asia Ground

Be part of the global campaign against child hunger as United Nation World Food Programme (WFP) with its global humanitarian partners TNT, Uniliver and DSM brings Walk the World 2011 on May 29. Here in the Philippines it will happen at SM Mall of Asia Ground and aside from the usual 2K walk, there will be a running event divided in three categories (5k Run for Females, 5K Run for Males and 10K Run for a team of 10 members).

28th International AIDS Candlelight Memorial on May 15!

In line with the 28th International AIDS Candlelight Memorial there will be a candle lighting activity and a yoga session on May 15 at the Glorietta 3 Park in Ayala, Makati City from 3:30PM to 7PM.

The yoga activity in partner with the annual candlelight event for HIV/AIDS entitled Yoga for Life: Touching Lives, will be supported by Yoga instructors such as Roland dela Cruz, Jeannie Javelosa, Tesa Celdran, Marilen Elizalde, Marc Carlos, Lex Bonife and Rebecca de Villa. It encourages participants of the activity to live a healthy and well life, inner peace, and self empowerment especially the advocates of HIV/AIDS awareness and those living with AIDS. For those who want to participate must bring extra clothes and mats for the yoga session.

9 Works Theatrical goes full swing with Sweet Charity on August!

 After the sold out performance of Rent the Musical and The Wedding Singer, 9 Works Theatrical brings another Tony Award winning musical comedy entitled Sweet Charity. It won Best Choreography in 1986 in Tonys during its revival in Broadway in the same year. Sweet Charity debut in 1966 and presented in Broadway several times. It also had production tours in different country and even featured Christina Applegate during the 2005 revival.

Watch Pacquiao vs. Mosley Fight with PLDT myDSL Big Ticket

Watch another boxing history unveils on May 7 at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, Nevada as People’s Champ Manny “Pacman” Pacquiao fights Shane “Sugar” Mosley for the World Boxing Organization (WBO) Welterweight title. The said boxing fight can be watched live by the Filipino viewers on May 8, 9am (Philippine time) through Big Ticket is a PLDT myDSL.