A Taste of the Philippines from TBEX

Delegates of the Travel Blog Exchange (TBEX) Asia-Pacific 2016, the largest gathering of travel bloggers, writers, content media creators, and tourism industry professionals, had a feast as they discovered Philippine cuisine.

Presented by the Department of Tourism (DOT) and Tourism Promotions Board (TPB), in coordination with NMX Events, their journey of discovery began with a 15-hour food tour where they travelled to Pampanga, “the culinary center of the Philippines”, to try iconic Filipino dishes such as lechon, sisig, chicken inasal, and sinigang. They then went to Binondo to experience the country’s Chinese culinary influence on food.

The contingent was served an array of grilled fish, prawns, squids, and clams and tasted some of the native delicacies such as barquillos, turones, kutsinta, halo-halo, rice cakes including bibingka, cassava cake, and puto.

The country’s tropical fruits were also a hit as the visitors sampled the sweetest mangoes, rambutan, lanzones and marang. Calamansi was a surprise to them for its versatility – from a refreshing fruit drink to an additional flavor to condiments.



To complete their Filipino food experience, they were served some of the country’s exotic foods including balut, pako or fern salad, and sea urchin.

“I find it very interesting that the Filipino cuisine is influenced by so many other cultures and it creates a fascinating mix,” said Maria Haase who travelled all the way from Germany. “This food trip was very interesting and inspiring for me.”

Further making Filipino meals fun, the delegates experienced boodle feasts, which urged them not only to share their food but to interact and converse with one another.

Trying Filipino dishes in this unique way was something the first-time visitors were able to enjoy. “This is such a simple pleasure to enjoy. It’s amazing that we get the time to eat together. I love this kind of culture,” said Chicago-native Rosemary Kimani.

TBEX Asia Pacific 2016 was made possible with the support of Philippine Airlines, Globe Telecom, Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority (TIEZA), and Duty Free Philippines. Other sponsors included Amorita Resort, The Lind Boracay, Fort Ilocandia Resort Hotel, Limketkai Luxe Hotel, Shangri-La’s Boracay Resort & Spa, Shangri-La’s Mactan Resort & Spa, Pearl Farm Beach Resort, Primer Group of Companies, The Funny Lion Palawan, Merrell Philippines, Lakan, Banana Peel, Le Spa at Sofitel, Park Inn by Radisson, Hotel Luna, Bluewater Maribago Resort and Spa, Sonya’s Garden, Museo Orlina, and Grab Philippines.

The event was also made possible through the participation of volunteers from the University of the Philippines, Centro Escolar University, University of Santo Tomas, and Philippine Women’s University.

The amazing variety of food – from savory dishes to sweet delicacies, and our wide array of fresh ingredients, diverse cultural influences, proves that the Philippines can stand out as an exciting culinary destination.

*This is Press Release

ALONE Season 3 on December 14

 Season 3 of the hit survival series, Alone, premieres on December 14, every Wednesday at 9:00 pm on HISTORY.

The new season takes the series to the next level as the most qualified group of hardcore survivalists face new challenges unlike those seen in the past seasons as they put to the test their capability and ingenuity to survive in a remote South American region with one mission - to stay alive. There are no camera crews, no teams, and no gimmicks. At stake is a $500,000 cash prize awarded to the person who can last the longest.

Equipped only with limited gear, their wilderness experience, and cameras to self-document their journeys, these brave and self-confident 7 men and 3 women are completely separated from one another. To survive, they must hunt for food, find water, build shelters, and fend off deadlier predators, from wild boars to vicious rodents, while experiencing unpredictable weather conditions in a new and remote location.

The harsh conditions of the cold and isolated region of Patagonia in Argentina have made this the most dangerous season yet!

HISTORY™ is available on SKYCable Ch 67; Cable Link Ch. 43; Dream Satellite Ch 30; Destiny Cable Ch 57; and Cignal Ch 125.

*This is Press Release

Procter & Gamble and Robinsons Supermarket Join Forces with Mothers to Further Strengthen Their Advocacy of Wellness

What happens when mothers come together to celebrate their personal
advocacy of wellness? A Wellness Moms Movement emerges- a movement of change by mothers rallying as one for a better and healthier lifestyle.

Celebrity mothers and special guests were present during the official launch of Wellness Moms by Procter & Gamble and Robinsons Supermarket held recently at Marco Polo Ortigas, where different aspects of motherhood—Baby, Family/Household, and Personal Wellness—were openly discussed by celebrity mom guests Denise Laurel, Nikka Martinez-Garcia, and host Issa Litton during the talk show that highlighted as well P&G’s own wellness products and how they fit into one's life.

For example, Mom’s son returns home after playing outside, washing his hands with
Safeguard for 99.9% germ protection before eating dinner. After mealtime, Mom can now easily wash away the grease of the dirty dishes with Joy Antibac, as well as any stains on her son’s clothes with Ariel Power Gel. Night time arrives and her baby daughter needs to sleep, so Mom soothes baby with Vicks Baby Rub, putting on her Pampers for a dry, peaceful sleep, covering her in a soft, comfy blankie, thanks to Downy Baby Gentle. These wellness products and their home benefits were presented in the Mealtime Tips and Bedtime Tips Wellness videos released online.

Moms shared their personal tips and bytes of advice to one another, talking about how
Wellness Mom products have helped make their life at home an easier, safer, healthier and happier one.  Also, to further showcase the unity of this movement, a special Moms for Wellness mosaic wall made up of photos of different moms around the country was also revealed.

Aside from P&G, Robinsons Supermarket, who has always supported the wellness movement, has proven that two is better than one when it comes to progress and change. This mutual undertaking paved the way for a solid partnership, which was also officially revealed last Thursday through the Wellness Moms promo! From now on, whenever one buys three of the participating Wellness Moms products (Safeguard, Joy Antibac, Ariel Power Gel, Downy Baby Gentle, Oral-B, Pampers, or Vicks Baby Rub) at any Robinsons Supermarket, he/she will instantly receive Robinsons Supermarket GC’s worth 50 pesos!

The media launch of the new Wellness Moms movement was not only an informative event, but also a fun gathering of moms who only want what’s best for their families. With games, new knowledge, and special P&G and Robinsons Supermarket giveaways, moms made their way home with an extra push of encouragement and motivation to continue living the Wellness Moms life.

About Procter & Gamble

P&G serves consumers around the world with one of the strongest portfolios of trusted, quality, leadership brands, including Always®, AmbiPur®, Ariel®, Bounty®, Charmin®, Crest®, Dawn®, Downy®, Fairy®,Febreze®, Gain®, Gillette®, Head & Shoulders®, Joy®, Lenor®, Olay®, Oral-B®, Pampers®, Pantene®, Safeguard®, SK-II®, Tide®, Vicks®, and Whisper®. The P&G community includes operations in approximately 70 countries worldwide. Please visit http://www.pg.com for the latest news and information about P&G and its brands.

*This is Press Release

6 Hours of Bahrain (WEC): Audi/Michelin bows out with 1-2 finish

AUDI PRODUCED A ONE-TWO FINISH IN BAHRAIN TO MARK ITS FINAL PROTOTYPE ENDURANCE RACING APPEARANCE. THE RACE WAS WON BY THE N°8 R18 (DUVAL/DI GRASSI/JARVIS) AHEAD OF THE N°7 SISTER CAR (TRÉLUYER/LOTTERER/FÄSSLER). ROMAIN DUMAS, NEEL JANI AND MARC LIEB ARE THE 2016 FIA WEC DRIVERS’ CHAMPIONS, WHILE FERRARI/MICHELIN WON THE GT MANUFACTURERS WORLD CUP.

Bibiano Fernandes says he loves Manila like home

Reigning ONE Bantamweight World Champion Bibiano “The Flash” Fernandes may have been born and raised in Brazil, but the ONE Championship titleholder feels deep in his heart that Manila is his home away from home.

Fernandes (19-3) is the promotion’s top bantamweight talent and is one of the best fighters in the world. He will take on Filipino-Australian sensation Reece “Lightning” McLaren (9-3) in the co-main event of ONE: AGE OF DOMINATION which takes place Friday, 2 Decemberat the Mall of Asia Arena in Manila, Philippines.

Fernandes has competed four times so far in Manila. His stint this upcoming ONE Fight Night will be his fifth. The Brazilian says making his ONE Championship debut in Manila was a special moment in his career.

“First time I went to Manila I thought about Muhammad Ali, the boxer, and that I fought in the same arena he fought,” said Fernandes, who debut for ONE at the Araneta Coliseum. “For me that was a big thing. Ali fought there and I fought the same place as him. So for that reason, fighting in Manila is very special for me.”

Fernandes began his tenure with ONE Championship back in 2012 at the event dubbed “Pride of a Nation”. It was ONE’s fifth show overall since establishing the promotion in 2011. Fernandes at the time was being positioned as a superstar in Manila.

Since then, Fernandes has strung together eight straight victories including four exciting finishes. He hasn’t lost since dropping a unanimous decision to Japanese fighter Hiroyuki Takaya in 2010, making him ONE’s longest reigning champion.

Yet victory hasn’t come easy he says. Fernandes believes that the key to his success is the work he puts into training.

“I believe in myself. I believe if I train right and do everything right I’m going to do my best and when I do my best the outcome is victory,” said Fernandes. “I always have confidence with my training, I always try to be healthy. What happens in the fight is in the fight. Be sharp, be strong, be smart, be quick.”

Out of his 19 total victories, nine have come by finish. The proud champion is hoping to put on a good showing against McLaren, who is 11 years his junior. At 36-years old, Fernandes has not shown any signs of slowing down. In fact, he gives fans a slight hint at what’s to come on fight night.

“[Reece McLaren] is a young guy. He wants to fight. He’s going to bring the fight,” said Fernandes. “But they call me ‘The Flash’ because I finish guys quick. Until today I still have that nickname.”

Next Friday night Fernandes returns to Manila. He defends his ONE Bantamweight World Championship belt for the fifth time.

“I like everything about Manila. Manila is a very nice, warm place. I love the people,” said Fernandes.

*This is Press Release

Give the gift of exquisite beauty with Helix-D

Be ageless by design this holiday season and gift yourself, your friends and your loved ones with the latest beauty breakthrough in skincare: Helix-D.

Available as a Face and Neck Serum as well as an Eye Serum, Helix-D possesses a powerful combination of water-magnet hydrators and anti-oxidants, while The Double Helix is comprised of encapsulated cellular envelopes that contain “Power-Peptides” and Matrikines that penetrate deep into your skin.

With the Helix-D Face and Neck serum, a reduction in the appearance of facial and neck wrinkles along with a tightening of sagging skin can be enjoyed thanks to powerful anti-oxidants that provide day-long moisturizing and hydration. The result is smoother and softer looking skin like never before.

The Helix-D Eye Serum, meanwhile, with its new eye serum active complex, can reduce fine lines, dark circles and reduce puffiness. What’s more, you can also experience increased firmness and collagen renewal – youthfulness like no other.

With their research and development team working together with several international aboratories, you can be assured that Helix-D is one of the most technologically advanced skincare solutions in the world, combining elegance and 21 st century anti- aging science.

The power to be ageless by design is within your reach. Experience this skincare revolution today with Helix-D.

Helix-D is available at the beauty section of the SM Stores in SM Aura, SM Makati, SM Megamall, SM North EDSA and SM Mall of Asia. Visit www.fastbeautyph.com and follow us on Facebook and Instagram at @fastbeautyph.

Acer Wraps Up 40th Anniversary Celebration With “Smart Cities of a New Si-vilization” Forum

On November 26, Acer and its co-hosts held a forum titled “Smart Cities of a New Si-vilization” in Taipei. As the final event to wrap up the company's 40th anniversary celebration, Acer invited government and industry leaders to discuss and share their thoughts about the future of global technology.

Stan Shih, Acer’s Co-founder and Honorary Chairman took to the stage to deliver a keynote speech where he called on governments and businesses to encourage new thinking, people-centric innovation and integrated cross-industry capabilities with a service-oriented mindset.

Keynote speeches were also presented by industry leaders from Microsoft and TSMC. The keynote speeches were followed by a number of panel discussions and breakout lectures to discuss the many facets of creating smart cities and the New Si-vilization.”

The day-long event also included Acer’s Tech Showcase which gave attendees a look at what an early phase of the New Si-vilization could be by exhibiting a full suite of the company’s latest BYOC products in the segments of smart transportation and smart cities, smart retail and integrated enterprise communications, programming kits, life and wellness solutions, among other applications of new people-centric technologies and solutions.

The forum was hosted jointly by Taiwan’s Ministry of Economic Affairs, National Development Council and Acer Inc.

Malaysia, Middle East, China, Russia, Japan investors invited for PEZA’s SEZs

Numerous companies of Malaysia, the Middle East, China, Japan and others are now in discussions and being invited to invest in the Philippines’ tax-free industrial, agricultural, tourism, forestry, defense industry and other Special Economic Zones (SEZs) “due to President Rody Duterte’s new independent foreign policy to make the Philippines a friend of all countries and enemy of no one”, said the new director-general of Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA) Dr. Charito “Ching” B. Plaza on November 21 at the Pandesal Forum of 77-year-old Kamuning Bakery Café in Quezon City.

            PEZA Director-General Dr. Plaza said that the Philippines traditionally received foreign investments in the past from the United States and its allies like Japan and the West, but now investors and governments of other countries in the Middle East, Russia, China and other regions are also being invited to invest in the fast-growing economy of the Philippines. She said these defense industrial complexes can rise in Bataan, Zambales, Palawan, and at least in two areas of Mindanao. 

Plaza said the Duterte government also has a bold vision to transform some of the country’s islands into self-contained SEZs which can become future cities.  

            Plaza said officials and members of royal families United Arab Emirates and Qatar have expressed interest to lease land here for 75 years for possible agricultural and oil refinery projects, with one interested group even asking for as much as a million hectares of agricultural land in exchange for part of the venture’s profits to be donated as social development projects and schools. Dr. Plaza mentioned that among those she had discussed possible SEZ investments was Sheikh Al Thani of the respected Qatari royal family. One possible major SEZ project is the creation of a halal food processing hub in Davao, in Mindanao, southern Philippines. 

            PEZA Director-General Plaza added that they are also proposing the creation of defense industry SEZs with countries like Russia, China, Israel, South Korea or others. She added that these defense industrial complexes will not only boost economic development, they can also strengthen the Philippines’ national defense and manufacturing capabilities. Plaza had the rank of brigadier general in the military reserve force.

            Dr, Plaza added that President Duterte’s economics-focused diplomacy and independent foreign policy are boosting our ties with Asean and Asian countries, with Malaysian investors expressing interest in undertaking business ventures in the Philippines such as a large-scale palm oil planation and milling project.

            PEZA Director-General Dr. Charito Plaza said the Duterte government’s pro-poor priority shall encourage more foreign and also Philippine investors to do business in the poorest and neglected yet resource-rich rural regions of the country such as in Mindanao and the Visayas. 

Filinvest Pushes Filipinos to Own Their Dream

Gotianun-owned real estate developer, Filinvest Land, Inc. (FLI) continues its advocacy in building the Filipino dream with its campaign dubbed, “I Own My Dream,” at the recently held week-long Filinvest Home Expo at the Festival Mall in Alabang, Muntinlupa City.

Fulfilling the Filipino’s dream has always been the motivation behind the Filinvest community. Driven by the Gotianun tradition of integrity, quality and service, Filinvest continues to build more Filipino dreams while developing and expanding its diverse portfolio of residential developments. Filinvest’s “I Own My Dream” campaign aims to inspire more Filipinos to dream and own their dreams, not just here in the country, but around the world.


Home Expo 2016

The expo, an annual event, provides a unique opportunity for anyone to find the dream home that suits their budget and lifestyle. Here, Filinvest showcased its developments in Alabang, Cavite, Laguna and Batangas under its brands – Futura Homes and Filinvest. Showcased projects included Nusa Dua – a Balinese-inspired residential paradise situated in Tanza Cavite, well-suited for would.be hobby farmers, and Montebello, a tranquil enclave within Ciudad de Calamba, with a breathtaking view of Mt. Makiling.

For those who are looking to invest in their first home, various affordable communities were also present including house & lot offerings, like Futura Homes San Pedro Laguna, or the quaint townhouse units of La Brisa in Calamba.


Owning Your Dreams

The Home Expo also served as the venue for Filinvest to launch their video series, “Owning Your Dreams.” Hosted by Dream Advocate, Richard Yap, and created by big-screen director, Paolo Dy. The videos feature persons who dreamt, worked for it, and now live their dream. These individuals are living testaments to the age-old adage that dreams come true through hard work and perseverance. The videos can be viewed at http://iownmydream.com.ph/ .

The Filinvest Home Expo will continue on up to the 22nd of November. Drop by and find your dream home.

# # #

About Filinvest Land, Inc.

Built on the Gotianun tradition of integrity, quality and service, Filinvest Land Inc. (FLI) is one of the most-trusted real estate developers in the country with a diverse property portfolio catering to all markets. Currently, FLI has developed over 2,400 hectares of land and more than 600,000 square meters of prime office, residential and retail spaces.

For updates, check out www.filinvest.com or follow them on social media: www.facebook.com/Filinvest and www.twitter.com/filinvest


*This is Press Release

Philippines: Eric & Rona singing to stay in the Race!

Leg six of The Amazing Race Asia Season 5 kicks off with a piece of good news for Eric & Rona and Parul & Maggie – the teams are going to their home city: Manila, Philippines! In Manila, the teams need to head to Quiapo Market with a shopping list of essential items that will help the Red Cross Pasay Chapter.

“We are still here, second last is better than last. We can be first today….from the back!” JK muses.

The teams navigate through the busy streets of Quiapo Market, buying items including rice sugar, first aid kit and an umbrella. The Philippines teams are right at home at Quiapo Market, they speak Tagalog and easily get help and directions from the locals. Not surprising, Eric & Rona and Parul & Maggie are the first two teams to complete this task.

“She’s the shopping queen, she does all our shopping…basically I’m just her butler,” says Eric describing his retail experience with Rona. “I just see this list of things. I don’t cook and I never do grocery shopping,” Chloe tells Yvonne.

“Dried fish? I don’t even know what a whole dried fish is supposed to look like!” After getting the essential items, they must head to the Red Cross Pasay Chapter where disaster-affected families cheer at their arrival. The racers reflect on helping the less fortunate and how good it feels to give back.

“The family that we donated to, one of them had no higher limbs. We wished we could have spent more time with them,” Maggie reflects. “We did however have extra money, so it was nice to give back to people who are less fortunate.”

Once they complete this task, they must take an overnight bus to Vigan City where their next clue awaits. Eric & Rona, Parul & Maggie, Yvonne & Chloe, JK & Mike and Treasuri & Louisa manage to get on the 7pm bus leaving only Tom & Anita on the 8pm bus.

At Vigan City, they must make their way by tricycle to Ilocos Sur Adventure Zone to discover their Roadblock task. Fortunately for Tom & Anita, the Race resets as the Adventure Zone only opens at 7am. In this Roadblock – ‘who’s on target?’ – One member of the team must zipline across the Vigan riverto hit a floating target. Maggie, Mike, Rona, Anita, Treasuri and Chloe represent their teams and find this task frustratingly difficult.

“Parul if you did this, your boobs would hurt,” Maggie yells to Parul. “Luckily you did it!” Parul quips.

Treasuri & Louisa come up with a strategy after their first failed attempt and manage to hit the target on their second attempt, making them the first team to finish this Roadblock challenge. Maggie hit the target on her third attempt, Mike and Chloe on their fifth attempt, Rona on her 11 th attempt and Anita on her 12 th attempt.

Once teams complete their Roadblock challenge, they must head to Crisologo Street to get their Detour information. In this Detour, teams must choose between “Longganisa Kalesa” and “Carabao Karaoke”. In “Longganisa Kalesa”, teams must stuff 15 traditional sausages while riding a horse and buggy through the ancient cobblestone streets. In “Carabao Karaoke”, teams must practice a Filipino folk song while traveling on a water buffalo cart until they reach the main square. At the main square, they must perform in front of the crowd to the judge’s satisfaction.

In a side twist, teams have the option of using a U-Turn on another team in this leg. Teams that have chosen to be U-Turned must complete the other Detour task that they didn’t choose. Each team can only use their U-Turn once in the entire Race, so they must decide wisely and strategically.

“We actually chose Carabao Karaoke because hey, it’s the Philippines! How can you not choose Karaoke?”said Rona, when they are deciding which Roadblock to go for.Eric & Rona, Yvonne & Chloe, JK & Mike decide to show their singing prowess and choose “Carabao Karaoke” while Treasuri & Louisa, Tom & Anita and Parul & Maggie choose “Longganisa Kalesa”. Once teams complete their Detour, they must head to Bantay Belfry to find Allan Wu at the Pit Stop.

“I think we had no rhythm and we weren’t really focused. We feel so sorry for the crowd that was watching us,” said JK & Mike, after failing their Karaoke task. “The judge just wants to hear and hear us over and over again!” said Chloe after their second attempt at Karaoke.

None of these tasks are easy as the team make repeated attempts to get them right. JK & Mike’s showmanship score a huge thumbs-up from the judge, making them the first team atthe Pit Stop. Yvonne & Chloe and Parul & Maggie are the second and third team to arrive. Eric & Rona, after multiple tries at karaoke, got to the Pit Stop at fourth place. Treasuri & Louisa dropped to fifth place.

After lagging behind at the Roadblock challenge, Tom & Anita just couldn’t catch up with the other teams and they are the last team to reach the Pit Stop and ultimately eliminated from the race.

“What we’ve learned from being in The Amazing Race Asia is to keep going, even if we think we are down,” said Tom & Anita.

Coming up in next episode, teams travel from Vigan, Philippines to Singapore where they undergo a splash course in Marine Biology. Searching the Singapore skyline for their next clue costs Eric & Rona valuable time and teams battle it out as they pursue the most elusive Pit Stop ever.

The Amazing Race Asia Season 5 airs every Thursday at 9pm on AXN. The Amazing Race Asia Season 5 is supported by presenting sponsor Wonderful Indonesia, and partners Garuda Indonesia,Grab and Great Eastern.

Join the action and connect with Allan, Tara and the 22 racers via:#AXNTARA and @TheAmazingRaceAsia

Team Relationship Country Social Media Handle

RachandVicky (eliminated) TravelHosts Indonesia #TARAVickRach

Treasuri and Louisa ChildhoodFriends Indonesia #TARATrezLou

Chloe and Yvonne Beauty Queens Malaysia #TARAChloeYvonne

AlexandWill (eliminated) Brothers Malaysia #TARAAlexWill

BrandonandAlphaeus

(eliminated)

OldSchoolMates Malaysia #TARABrandonAlph

EricandRona Married Philippines #TARAEricRona

ParulandMaggie BeautyQueens Philippines #TARAMagParul

JKandMike RadioDJs Singapore #TARAJKMike

ReiandKenji (eliminated) Siblings Singapore #TARAReiKeiji

TomandAnita (eliminated) Dating Thailand #TARATomAnita

LisaandNicole (eliminated) LifePartners

Vietnam #TARANicLisa

Check out www.AXN-Asia.com/TARA for all the latest news on The Amazing Race Asia Season 5

AXN isseen on Sky Cable Channel 49, Cable Link Channel 38, Cignal Digital TV Channel

61, Global Destiny Cable Channel 61, Dream Channel 20, and GSat Channel 51.AXN HD is

seen on SkyCable Channel 247.

About The Amazing Race Asia Season 5

In this latest season, 11 teams of socially savvy, fearless racers from all over Asia will embark on a once-in- a-

lifetime experience, traversing the globe and proving their mettle on a quest to be crowned the all-out

champion.

Travelling to multiple countries in the shortest amount of time, each team will arrive at a new destination where

they must compete in a series of physical and mental – and often emotional – challenges. Only when the tasks

are completed will the teams learn of their next exotic location. Teams who fall the farthest behind will gradually

be eliminated as the race progresses, with the first team to arrive at the final destination winning The

Amazing Race Asia and the USD$100,000 cash prize.

The 11 chosen teams hail from six countries across Asia and represent a true cast of characters with

diverse personalities, backgrounds, talents and relationships. They range from popular Singaporean DJs to

Filipino beauty queens and promise viewers a highly entertaining and edge-of- your-seat journey.

The Amazing Race Asia Season 5 is produced in collaboration with award-winning international production company, Profiles Television and globally renowned series creators Bertram Van Munster and Elise Doganieri.

www.AXN-Asia.com/TARA

#AXNTARA

About AXN

AXN is Asia’s leading general entertainment channel featuring exclusive top-rated drama series, blockbuster features, reality programs and groundbreaking original productions. The channel appeals to a discerning audience seeking content that is smart, intriguing and unexpected, and all delivered close to the U.S telecasts. From critically acclaimed series, The Blacklist and Quantico, to award-winning reality shows, The Voice and The Amazing Race Asia, AXN is defined not by a genre, but by an attitude that truly redefines action.

First launched in Asia in 1997, AXN is a global channel brand with a presence in Latin America, Africa and Europe. In Asia, AXN is enjoyed in 85 million households across 20 territories.

AXN Asia is wholly owned by Sony Pictures Entertainment and managed by Sony Pictures Television Networks, Asia, which also operates leading channels Animax, Sony Channel, ONE and GEM.

www.AXN-Asia.com

Swing your Sundays into High Gear with Supercharged History this December

Swing your Sunday late night viewing into high gear with two automotive reality shows, Big Easy Motors and Counting Cars Season 5, in Supercharged History which premieres December 4, Sundays starting at 10:00 pm.

Big Easy Motors highlights the work done by Charles Handler and his crew at The Bomb Factory, a New Orleans-based car service company that turns junk into custom cars. He searches all over Louisiana to look for classic vehicles not in good shape. He fixes them and restores them into as-good-as- new condition. Once the restorations are complete, he sells them in high-stakes auctions where he intends to make a huge profit if everything goes according to plan.

Big Easy Motors, part of Supercharged History, premieres December 4, Sundays at 10:00 pm Counting Cars Season 5 chronicles the daily activities at Count's Kustoms, a Las Vegas-based automobile restoration and customization company owned and operated by Danny Koker. The series follows Koker and his all-star team as they restore and modify classic automobiles and motorcycles, and also documents the occasional conflict among his staff. For Koker and his crew, because every job is high stakes, they can't afford to lose.

Counting Cars S5, part of Supercharged History, premieres December 4, Sundays at 10:30 pm HISTORY™ is available on SKYCable Ch 67; Cable Link Ch. 43; Dream Satellite Ch 30; Destiny Cable Ch 57; and Cignal Ch 125.

About HISTORY® and HISTORY HD™

HISTORY® and HISTORY HD™ are the leading destinations for entertaining hit series and revealing, award-winning event specials that connect history with viewers in an informative, immersive, and fascinating manner across multiple platforms. Programming covers a diverse variety of genres ranging from real-life characters which bring history to life every day – from natural history, contemporary history, technology and science, as well as archaeology and pop culture. Hit series include Kings of Restoration, Pawn Stars, Vikings, Ancient Aliens, Duck Dynasty, Counting Cars, Ride N’ Seek and Photo Face-Off. For more information, please visit:

Homepage: www.historyasia.com

Facebook: HistoryAsia

Oakley Freedom Train – Redesigning Sportswear

Oakley the premium brand on quality eyewear had a fashion show held at Whitespace in Chino Roces Makati last November 17, 2016.

The whole apparel line is dedicated for golf, biking, lifestyle and training wear. Oakley gave a brand new look to the whole collection as you will not see the boring sportswear you are used to see, but a mixture of unique prints and colors while still retaining the technology that Oakley is known for. The items in the collection feature the Ohydrolix fabric – a cloth that maximizes comfort by transporting perspiration away from skin and carrying it to the outer surface where it can quickly evaporate. This wicking ability helps protect the wearer from overheating in hot climates and chilling in cold climates. Not only will you look good while training, it will also enhance your performance.

Johann Coffee and Beverages Now Open in Valero Makati

JOHANN, Valero Plaza Condominium, Valero Street, Makati branch finally opens its doors to everyone in the area last November 16, 2016.

Another happy coffee branch for Johann Coffee and Beverages, with its ambitious target of having 500 branches all over the country in a span of 3 years seems to be on track.


The space is bigger that the earlier branches that they've already opened and the capacity of this branch is bigger which can hold up to 35 customers if I remember it correctly. New thing that caught my taste buds attention was their Spicy Hot Chocolate, a must try, imagine having siling labuyo in your hot chocolate.

SBP-Passerelle Luzon finals got Berkeley and ISBB

photo credit: sun star baguio

Now on its 31st year, SBP-Passarelle is the longest running and most prestigious interschool basketball competition for children where students ages 9-11 compete in the SBP tournament, while students ages 12-14 compete in the Passarelle tournament

Berkeley School and International School for Better Beginnings (ISBB) bagged the championship title for the Luzon finals of SBP (Small Basketeers of the Philippines) – Passerelle, the largest twin tournament in the country, held at the Easter College Gym in Baguio City.

Berkeley School of Baguio easily won the SBP tournament against Wonderland School of Dagupan and earned their 4th consecutive regional championship title, 69-36. 3rd place went to Sacred Heart University after winning the battle against St. Scholastica’s Academy, 56-50.

Meanwhile, it was a hard feat for ISBB to beat St. Louis University during the Passerelle tournament until they finally took the lead halfway through the last quarter, ending the intense battle with 67-64 score. Holy Angel University came in 3 rd in a match against Urdaneta City National High School, 50-47.

ISBB also received the much-coveted Sportsmanship award for the Passerelle tournament while for the SBP tournament, the award was given to St. Scholastica’s Academy. Organized by the multi-awarded school for basketball and volleyball, BEST Center, sponsored by Milo, and supported by Chris Sports and Rain or Shine, SBP- Passerelle emphasizes the importance of fair play not just among players but also among coaches and parents. BEST center does not only aim to build future basketball champions, but also helps athletes develop values and discipline and team work and sportsmanship.

The last to host its regional finals is the Visayas, to be held in Roxas City on November 19-20, 2016. Other representatives for each region are La Salle Greenhills for SBP and Adamson University for Passerelle from NCR; and Xavier University for SBP and Holy Child of Davao for Passerelle from Mindanao, Winners for each regional finals will battle it out on the national championship to be held in Bacolod City.
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For more information about BEST Center’s classes and tournaments, call the hotlines 411-6260, 3723066 and 372-3065, email bestcentersports@gmail.com or follow its official Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/pages/BEST-Center- Sports-Inc/66172039922

The Journey to the Crown: A Celebration of Beauty premieres exclusively on etc

Right at the start of our consciousness, a beauty pageant always means the holy grail of all pageants—The Miss Universe crown. It is deeply embedded in our culture, a much-anticipated event and a source of inspiration for every aspirational Filipino. 

As etc champions every Filipina beauty, it premieres The Journey to the Crown: A Celebration of Beauty, a 10-episode reality-documentary show that brings to fore our passion for beauty pageants. Hosted by 2010 Miss Universe 4^th Runner-up Venus Raj and 2011 Miss Universe 3^rd Runner-up Shamcey Supsup-Lee, the weekly program will showcase the odyssey that leads to fame and glory.

The Journey to the Crown: A Celebration of Beauty airs on etc every Sunday at 7:30 PM.  Don’t miss out and join the conversation at #MsU2016onETC.

For more updates, log on http://www.solarentertainmentcorp.com/channel/whats_new/etc/

Facebook:  www.facebook.com/etctv

Twitter and Instagram via @etc_channel

About etc

etc is the Philippines' TV destination for the fun, fierce, and stylish Filipina. Catch us on UHF channel 21, Sky Cable channel 16, Destiny Digital channel 16, Global Destiny channel 28, Cignal channel 9, or Cablelink channel 34.  

You can also livestream ETC via http://www.blink-now.com/.

Anti-Gravity yoga and parent-approved baby products on Modern Living TV

Want to try a new kind of workout? Join Stephanie Zubiri as she goes on a real mind-body- spirit experience with Anti-Gravity yoga, a new type of yoga which combines traditional yoga, Pilates, calisthenics and aerial acrobatics. It is a must try for fitness and yoga fans who want to get toned and lose excess weight while flipping your way on a hammock.

Steph tries Anti-Gravity yoga Celebrity mom Bianca Gonzalez helps first-time parents as she gives child rearing tips and checks out the latest parent-approved baby products at The Parenting Emporium, a retail social enterprise which provides parents and caregivers with a venue to discover and avail of premium baby and childcare brands, and to participate in workshops, consultations, and other childcare support products and services.

This week’s episode also gives you tips on brightening up small living spaces this Christmas season with cheery but easy holiday decorating options from West Elm, a modern furniture and home decoration store born in Brooklyn, New York.

Also explore the resort-inspired community Shell Residences, a 2.2-hectare residential complex found at the heart of the Entertainment City and the Mall of Asia Complex where you can marvel at the majestic sunsets and enjoy 365 days of shopping, dining, and world-class entertainment.

Every episode of Modern Living TV features the latest eye candy in the form of breathtaking living spaces and other elements of modern living. Don’t miss Modern Living TV’s latest episode! Now on its 6 th season, Modern Living TV airs every Saturday on ANC at 6:00 p.m., with replays on Sundays at 10:30 a.m. Modern Living TV is the first lifestyle TV show by a news media organization.

Team Secret crowned as the first ROG Masters 2016 winning the overall grand prize of USD 150,000

Team Secret is the first-ever ROG Masters DOTA2 champions beating Philippine team Execration in a 3-0 sweep to win the tournament prize of $150,000 (roughly PHP 7 Million) at the ROG Masters World Finals held in Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre (KLCC) in Malaysia.

Team Secret: One of Europe’s Finest DOTA2 Team

One of Europe’s finest, Team Secret got a direct invite to ROG Masters 2016, touted as Southeast Asia’s biggest gaming event. The team is composed of captain Clement “Puppey” Ivanov, Johan “pieliedie” Åström, Pyo “MP” No-a, and the latest addition to the team, Maurice “KheZu” Gutmann (formerly Escape Gaming's offlaner), and Yeik “MidOne” Nai Zheng (formerly from Fnatic). 

Team Secret proved to live up to the expectation of being the crowd favorite, dominating the final matches between Philippine team Execration in a 3-0 sweep. The team’s victory once again proved to the DOTA2 community that they remain to be undisputed and relevant in the scene. Though not part of the Boston Major qualifiers, Team Secret is expected to be back in Asia by next year for a series of DOTA2 tournaments.

Philippine Pride Execration’s Journey in ROG Masters 2016

Local pride Execration (XctN) is composed of key players from Cavite City with team captain Kimuel “Kim0” Rodis, along with Khim “Gabbi” Villafuerte, Djardel Jicko “DJ” Mampusti (formerly from Fnatic), Abed “Abed” Yusop, and Rafael Sicat “Rapy” Palo. During the local qualifiers, Execration failed to make it to the finals, but was able to secure a spot at the ROG Masters World Finals by winning in the South East Asia game qualifiers. 

The team showcased impressive performance in international DOTA2 tournaments such as MPGL in Malaysia in September where they became the grand champions. Shortly after the tournament, the team was handpicked by Valve and got a direct invite to the Boston Major which is the first “Major” of the 2016-2017 DOTA2 championship series that will take place at the Boston, Massachusetts in December 2016. For this tournament, Execration will be substituting Rapy for Adam Erwann “343” Shah.

Both Team Secret and Execration have earned themselves hardcore e-Sports fans due to their consistent performance, incredible hero picks, and impressive gaming style after winning various DOTA2 tournaments both locally and internationally.

ROG: Empowering Gamers and the e-Sports Scene in the Philippines

“ASUS Republic Of Gamers (ROG) being the world’s undisputed no.1 gaming laptop brand is always dedicated to support the local e-Sports scene and as well as Filipino rising starts in the country. We believe that Filipinos can compete with the world’s greatest players – Execration and Mineski proved this during the ROG Masters 2016 world finals and we are so proud of them,” shares ASUS Philippines Systems Group Country Manager George Su.

“We have been emphasizing the importance of the Philippine market to us and we will continue to support key e-Sports activities in the country because we believe that ROG’s gaming machines and innovations will empower professional gamers and enthusiasts in their quest for glory,” Su concludes.

Cash Cab Season 2 Philippines Hits the Road with Celebrity Guests this November on AXN!

Get ready for the ride of your life as Ryan Agoncillo gets back on the road in Season 2 of Cash Cab Philippines premiering November 17, Thursday at 8.30pm.

Cab Cab Season 2 takes you on a wild and exciting journey with celebrity guests including Marc Nelson, Rovilson Fernandez, Epy and Ronnie Quizon, Iza Calzado and Ben Wintle and the Philippine teams from The Amazing Race Asia Season 5 – beauty queens Maggie Wilson-Consunhi and Parul Shah, and married couple Eric and Rona Samson-Tai.

Ryan Agoncillo takes on the role as a cabbie as he picks up unsuspecting passengers and drives them to their destination while asking them trivia questions. Passengers stand a chance to win generous cash rewards but they might be left on the curb if they get too many incorrect answers.

Cash Cab Philippines Season 2, is an AXN original production presented by Petron and Cebuana Lhuillier, premieres November 17, every Thursday at 8:30 pm right before The Amazing Race Asia Season 5.

AXN is seen on Sky Cable Channel 49, Cable Link Channel 38, Cignal Digital TV Channel 61, Global Destiny Cable Channel 61, Dream Channel 20, and GSat Channel 51. AXN HD is seen on Sky Cable Channel 247.

About AXN

AXN is Asia’s leading general entertainment channel which features exclusive top-rated drama series, blockbusters, reality programs, and ground-breaking original productions. AXN appeals to a discerning audience seeking content that is smart, intriguing, and unexpected all delivered close to the U.S. telecasts. From critically-acclaimed series, The Blacklist and Quantico, to award-winning reality shows, The Voice and The Amazing Race Asia, AXN is defined not by a genre but by an attitude that truly redefines action.

Since it was launched in 1997, AXN has become a global channel brand with presence in Latin America, Africa, and Europe. In Asia, AXN is enjoyed in 85 million households across 20 territories.

AXN Asia is wholly owned by Sony Pictures Entertainment and managed by Sony Pictures Television Networks Asia, which also operates leading channels Animax, Sony Channel, ONE, and GEM.

Vegetarian Buffet for P350 in Makati

I guess this will be a very challenging review for me by far, because first of all, if you have been following my food adventures I most of the time mention that I'm a carnivore kind of eater so something like this kind of restaurant is really not my thing. But for the sake of my readers that are not like me and someone that is doing the reverse of what I do and in fact a vegan then this will be one of best recommended restaurants that I can give you.

I was able to take a chance to be introduced to this vegetarian restaurant that fits to vegetarians unlike me. The set of menu that they have are all strictly vegetarian, no meat at all of any kind. The day that I went there was a Saturday where they usually have a promo for buffet and you'll be surprised that for only P350 you'll be able to enjoy all the food that they will be serving and that is minus the guilt because all the food that will be served are all pro-health conscious.

Let me give you some of the pics that I got in my album:



The above were just some shots that I took on my stay, I was lucky enough to have a friend in the review, From his feedback, it appears that everything is delicious and worth every peso. Everything for P350. Must try in the restaurant is going to be their Lumpiang Hubad which is their specialty and what other customers have been going back for.

For addional information, they also have a branch in Cebu, - 288E Gorordo Avenue, Kamputhaw Cebu City | 412 7177

Sweet holiday treats from Dairy Queen

Christmas comes early with Dairy Queen’s latest holiday offerings that will definitely satisfy your after-party dessert cravings! Your favorite creamy, smooth DQ soft serve gets a splash of Christmas colors with the launch of the Blizzard of the Month: M&M’s Red and Green.

To introduce the new holiday flavors, Dairy Queen held an exclusive event on November 16 at The Oasis - the first and only air-conditioned, open-air floating garden restaurant located in Gateway Mall, Araneta Center.

Everyone was excited to get first dibs on the cool mouthwatering treats! There’s the Double Fudge M&M’s made with signature DQ soft serve, pieces of M&M’s and swirls of cocoa fudge. Get your fruit fix when you order the Strawberry Banana M&M’s made with creamy soft serve and M&M’s, mixed with strawberry coating. Love pistachio ice cream? Then Pistachio M&M’s is a must-try. It is a combination of smooth soft serve and M&M’s, blended with pistachio coating.

All three are available in mini (P59), regular (P79), medium (P99), and large (P119) sizes. The M&M’s Blizzard are served upside down (or it’s free!) in Christmas-themed DQ cups starting November 15, 2016 until January 16, 2017 in all participating DQ stores.

Other DQ favorites are also getting a holiday makeover for the whole month of December! The classic Dilly Bar now comes in a shape of a Christmas Tree with red or green drizzle on top, selling for only P39. Spread some Christmas love with the Santa Reindeer Ice Cream Cake, the same well-loved vanilla flavored ice cream cake with Christmas-themed toppers available for only P749 at participating DQ stores.

For more information and updates, visit www.dairyqueen.com.ph.

Gabby Alipe from Urbandub Now Have A New Strain

Gabby Alipe began his musical journey as the frontman of the Cebu-based rock band Urbandub in 2001. When the band announced a hiatus in 2015, Gabby welcomed the opportunity to take a breather and focus on other things.

Bands usually goes on hiatus so each member can pursue their individual interests. For a time, Gabby’s interests were limited to his company and his family—particularly his son Jacob—but eventually the call of the music scene proved to be impossible for him to resist. Not because Gabby craved fame or fortune, but because he’s an artist who needs a creative outlet.

For Gabby, the most fulfilling part of playing in a band was being able to tell stories through music. “Sixteen years after I began my journey, here I am embarking on a new challenge as a solo artist. It’s definitely a big adjustment. I’ve always been more comfortable in a band setting, where I can feed off my bandmates in terms of arrangement and songwriting. This time it all has to come from me. I decided to call my EP A New Strain because it’s something new. It’s more organic—I employed a simpler approach on it, compared to all the stuff I did with Urbandub,” he explains. “Back then everything had to be grand, in-your-face and loud.”
Gabby was Urbandub’s main songwriter, but he says he still had to write songs that fit each member’s individual taste. When he went into the studio to work on songs for his debut solo EP, he had more creative freedom than he ever had before.

“The band’s arrangements and songs were always a group effort. I may have been Urbandub’s main songwriter, but I was only one aspect of the whole. My music is different now because I don’t have any of my bandmates to help me. I also made a conscious effort to shy away from the songwriting approach I employed when I was still with Urbandub,” he says.

Gabby admits he felt a little uncertain when he began working on A New Strain. Having played in a band for over a decade, he was used to having other people to rely on. He reveled in his newfound freedom as a solo artist, but he still wanted to have someone he could bounce ideas off of. That’s where his producer Eric Perlas came in.

“The recording process was a lot scarier this time,” Gabby says. “I did everything alone for the first time. At first, there was a lot of confusion and uncertainty. I wasn’t sure whether I could come up with songs I would be proud of. But my producer, Eric Perlas, really helped me focus, and after that everything went smoothly. I owe a lot to him. In a lot of ways, he became my ‘bandmate’ for this project. Eric had a big role in the creation of this EP.”

Aside from Eric, Gabby also surrounded himself with some A-list collaborators. “I got the chance to do two songs, ‘Demons’ and ‘Paalam’ with Buddy Zabala and Raimund Marasigan, who played bass and drums, respectively. Those two were part of the Eraserheads, and it was such a huge honor and privilege for me to work with my music heroes. I’m a Hip-Hop/Rap fan also, so I enjoyed working with Gloc-9 and Cebuano rapper Pain-in-the-Neck on a remix of my song ‘Ether.’”

A New Strain is bannered by the lead single “Visions.” According to Gabby, he wrote it because he wanted to include a song about having a positive mindset on his EP.

“‘Visions’ is about being positive in the face of whatever struggles you encounter,” he explains. “It’s about how a person has potential and can achieve anything as long as they believe in themselves and not let fear control them As long as you have a clear vision of the future and of your goals—no matter the hindrance or road blocks—as long as you work hard.”

Gabby is also excited about the other songs on the EP. “There’s a song called ‘Ether’ on it, and it’s about being lost and trying to find your way. ‘Demons’ is about setting aside negativity, ‘Ocean’ is an expression of love, and ‘Paalam’ is about letting go of the past in a positive way,” he shares.

Gabby made every effort to stretch himself artistically on A New Strain while making sure to come up with material that captures where he is at this point in his life.

“As a songwriter, for this particular EP, I wanted to challenge myself musically. I wanted to step out of my comfort zone and come up with a collection of songs that would best describe my current mindset, highlight my personal preferences in music, and most importantly, have a good message,” he says.

As Urbandub’s frontman, Gabby enjoyed commercial and critical success as a musician. The band put out their first album Birth in 2001 and it was considered a success, but only in Cebu. Distribution problems prevented it from finding an audience beyond the band’s hometown. It was only when Gabby and his bandmates released Influence two years later that they finally hit the big time. It sold well and they even won awards for it. Urbandub released four more albums—Embrace, Under Southern Lights, The Apparition and Esoteric and an EP- Sending A Message—before announcing an “indefinite hiatus” last year.

Looking back on his time with Urbandub, Gabby describes himself as an “accidental singer,” although he grew into that role over time and is now comfortable enough in it to strike out on his own.

“I was never really a singer. I never thought I’d end up fronting a band. I always saw myself as a guitar player and songwriter. My journey as a musician began in high school. I joined different bands as a guitar player. When I was in college, I began playing in bands in Cebu as a bass player. When one of my bands didn’t want to write original material, I decided to form a band with my friend Jed Honrado. Jed and I formed Urbandub, and that led me to start singing—only because nobody knew who we were, so nobody was interested in becoming our vocalist. Now, sixteen years later, after Urbandub’s run, I’m taking on a new challenge as a solo artist.”

“I hope they’ll be able to relate to what I’m trying to say in these songs. Everyone will have a different interpretation of the songs and how they can apply all the lyrics to their lives. Regardless, I hope they take something positive away from this EP. I will always be grateful to all the Urbandub fans, but I hope they continue their journey with me. At the same time, I want to gain new listeners as well.”

Gabby says that all the songs on A New Strain are his personal stories, and he’s looking forward to touching people with them.

“I’m a storyteller. The new EP is basically a collection of stories and thoughts that I’ve accumulated through my experience in music and life. My goal is to share my stories with people who are willing to listen, and hopefully they’ll be able to relate to my songs.”

A New Strain is out under MCA Music on digital downloads and streaming via Spinnr, Spotify, iTunes, Apple Music, Deezer and VEVO and on CDs at Astroplus and Astrovision outlets.

View a sampler of his live performance in A Space watch:

For more updates and information on Gabby Alipe, log on to the following pages:
Facebook- MCA Music (Universal Music Philippines)
Instagram- mca_music
Twitter- @mcamusic


For more about Gabby Alipe :
Twitter - https://Twitter.com/Udubgab
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/udubgab/