Baskin-Robbins treats Hope Foundation kids to a special Spider-man: Homecoming movie screening.

Baskin-Robbins, the world’s most loved ice cream brand, recently held a special movie screening for the kids of Hope Foundation and Operation Smile to celebrate the premiere of the newest blockbuster Marvel film, Spider-man: Homecoming. Made possible through an amazing partnership with Columbia Films, the kids enjoyed watching the latest big screen adventure of Spider-man while indulging in Baskin-Robbins’ special frozen treats. Baskin-Robbins is an active partner of Hope Foundation and Operation Smile in bringing happiness to thousands of Filipino kids all over the country through various projects and outreach

programs. For more information, log on to www.baskinrobbins.ph or check out their social media accounts: facebook.com/baskinrobbinsph, Twitter, and Instagram @baskinrobbinsph. You can also visit Baskin-Robbins’ stores at Central Square, Bonifacio High Street, Uptown Place Mall, and SM Aura in Bonifacio Global City; Greenbelt 5, Glorietta 2 and Glorietta 5 in Makati; Ayala Malls the 30 th and SM City East Ortigas in Pasig; Trinoma Mall and SM North (Main Building and The Block) in Quezon City; SM Southmall in Las Pinas; Solenad in Sta Rosa, Laguna; SM Dasmariñas in Cavite; and SM Pampanga. Photo shows Hope Foundation kids at a Spider-man screening hosted by Baskin-Robbins.

New Blood Championships: A Tournament Designed To Find the Next Elite Generation of DOTA 2 Players

The New Blood Championship is an upcoming DOTA 2 (Defence of the Ancients) tournament that will launch in 2017. A total prize pool of USD 40,000.00 and main event slots to the second season of Galaxy Battles will serve as the ultimate prize for winners of this tournament.

The tournament itself is developed by two of the most dominant esports companies in South East Asia: Hong Kong-based organization, Purpose Win Entertainment Limited (PWEL) and Fallout Gaming (FG), the leading South East Asian and Malaysian premium esports company.

Both companies recently completed their first partnership project: Galaxy Battles. The international DOTA 2 tournament held a total prize pool of USD 150,000.00 and took place from June 14^th – 18^th 2017, in Shenzhen, China. Both companies share a vision to start building more platforms that will find the next generation of competitive esports athletes.

The South East Asian market for esports is growing at an exponential rate that PWEL’s Project Director, Sky Lim, believes that esports is no longer a niche and is prime and ready for the mainstream.

“The market for South East Asian eSports has been growing rapidly, it is the second largest market in the world,” says Sky Lim. “Many players in the region are qualified to compete with the rest of the world. So we are looking forward to creating a ‘Shining Star’ South East Asian team that will have the ability to take part at the world stage of any esports tournament.”

The New Blood Championships will be the first in a series of amateur gaming tournaments across South East Asia, specifically targeted at providing more exposure to aspiring competitive gamers. Since the tournament is strictly for amateur players, all competitive tier one (1) teams and players are banned from competing at the finals.

The New Blood Championship tournament is divided into three stages:

1. Online Country Qualifiers
2. On-ground Country Finals
3. The New Blood Championships Main Event

                                                                                                                                                                                

The open-country qualifiers will be held across five countries: Malaysia, Thailand, Vietnam, Indonesia, and the Philippines, with one additional “Rest of S.E.A” online qualifier that will consist of other countries in the region. The top sixteen (16) teams from the qualifiers will proceed to Stage 2, the On-ground Country Finals (with the exception of the “Rest of S.E.A” qualifiers who will proceed directly to the New Blood Championships Main Event).

The On-ground Country Finals will be a LAN event focused in high traffic venues to shed exposure to the finalist from each participating country. The top team from each on-ground country will qualify for the New Blood Championships Main Event.

The New Bloods Championships Main Event will be hosted in Jakarta, Indonesia and will feature one (1) qualifying team from each country qualifier, (1) team “Rest of S.E.A” qualifier, and two (2) remaining teams from GamePlan’s DOTA 2 amateur tournament to be hosted by Genysis Esports. One more available slot remains but will be announced at a later date.

The first (1^st) and second (2^nd) place winners from the New Blood Championships will proceed directly to the Galaxy Battles Season Two (2) Main Event in Manila, Philippines, from January 17^th – 21^st, 2018. All is not lost as the third (3^rd) and fourth (4^th) place teams will proceed to the Galaxy Battles Open Qualifiers Top 16 for the fight to win the Open Qualifier’s slot.

With the introduction of the New Blood Championships Tournament and the goal of finding the Philippine representative, High Grounds Café owner, Eric Redulfin says, “It is time to discover new stars and rising talent and with the launch of the New Bloods Championships that opportunity now presents itself. It is a place where new local talents are born and communities can finally get behind their country’s team.”

The first season of Galaxy Battles took place in China from June 14^th – 18^th, 2017, at the Shenzhen Bay Sports Centre Stadium to a crowd of 12,000 attendees over the course of seventy two (72) hours. Eight (8) teams squared off for a prize pool of USD150,000 with Team Newbee prevailing as Grand Champions.

“Building platforms that allow aspiring, competitive athletes to further their careers is the ultimate goal. We at Fallout Gaming have always believed in building platforms that allow amateurs to progress further. Forging partnerships with PWEL and High Grounds only helps to accelerate our vision”, shares Adrian Gaffor, Founder and Managing Director of Fallout Gaming, in a concluding statement.

About Purpose Win Entertainment Limited (PWEL)

Purpose Win Entertainment Limited (PWEL) is a Hong Kong & Malaysia-based eSports company that organizes international tournaments. The company seeks to promote the development of eSports around the world. PWEL’s aim is to be the leading eSports organizer in the world via different games and platforms to bring an extraordinary experience to those who participate in PWEL tournaments. 

About Fallout Gaming

Fallout Gaming is a Malaysian esports marketing company focused on developing the industry by bringing commercial brands and the world of gaming together. Established in 2015, Fallout Gaming has now developed an eco-system which brands can harness, whether it is in tournaments, marketing, and strategy, digital and social media; built on strong corporate foundations, fueled by passion.

About High Grounds Café

High Grounds Café is the first and only fully-branded, high-end gaming café in the Philippines. High Grounds Café differentiates itself from other internet shops and cyber cafes in the country by providing gamers with a premium and top-notch environment that is powered by TNC, the top gaming brand in the Philippines, and gaming computer giant, Acer Predator.




*This is Press Release

NBA 3X Philippines 2017 Presented by AXA Attracts Provincial Participants

NBA 3X Philippines 2017 presented by AXA reached an all-time high in popularity this year with increased participation from Metro Manila and provincial teams joining the various age group categories of the seven-year old 3-on-3 basketball tournament.

Fifty-six out of 176 participating teams survived the qualifiers held at Don Bosco Makati on July 15-16.  The quarterfinals, semifinals and finals matches of the Boys Under-13, Under-16, and Under-18, Girls Under-18, Men’s Open and Women’s Open were staged at the SM Mall of Asia Music Hall on July 22-23.

New champions were hailed in the avidly watched Men’s Open division that was won by Team Rocan from Valenzuela, Bulacan.  Christian Chua, Mark Fernandez, Elmer de la Cruz, and Philip Torres outhustled Team 459 Legaspi from Colegio San Juan de Letran in a closely fought game.  EGS Elite, four-peat champions of the NBA 3X Philippines Men’s Open division since 2013, was unable to follow through with their plans for a fifth championship after failing to show up in the quarterfinals.

The Women’s Open Division was won by National University (NU)-A with Trixie Antiquiera, Ria Joy Nabalan, Samantha Harada, and Rhena Itesi, besting their teammates on the opposing NU-B squad. Both teams play for the NU women’s basketball team that has dominated UAAP women’s basketball for three consecutive seasons. “It was a challenge to have to face our teammates who are familiar with our style of play, but we are proud to earn this victory,” said Antiquiera.

Among the highlights of the afternoon was the hotly contested match between the Boys Under 16 finals between the Berkeley Aquanauts of Berkeley School Baguio and Makati Basketball.  Intense play coupled with dazzling, athletic play from two former Jr. NBA National Training Camp finalists, Jazzy De Ayre and Ethan Rodelas, mesmerized the mall crowd, eliciting cheers and loud crowd reaction.  Similarly, the Boys Under-13 finals between Berkely School of Baguio and De La Salle Zobel-2 showcased wire-to-wire action from very young ballers playing like big boys, which the crowd enjoyed immensely.

A special division for AXA also freatured the rich basketball culture within the world’s largest and fastest-growing life insurance company in the country.  Eight teams from the field of AXA teams made it to the quarterfinals.  In the end, Team AXA Life-A bested AXA’s Go Elite in a “man’s game”, that gave the crowd a “show of force”.

The Girl’s Under-18 Division title match came down to the girls of Team Bulacan and University of Baguio, where Bulacan relied on Cindi Gonzales’s steadyplay in the paint and deft ball distribution to win the day.  Additionally, Escuela de Sophia dominated the Boys Under-18 division and edged out schoolmates EDSCI by nailing crucial two-pointers that to secure the lead and the victory.

The Celebrity Division was won by Team Uy, Uy, Uy headlined by sports analyst Dominic Uy, PBA legend and coach Vince ”The Prince” Hizon, as well as coach and sports analyst Charles Tiu.  Their opponents, Mongrel Mob, starring ex-PBA player Mark Andaya, TV host Bobby Yan and actor Neil Sese, fought valiantly but were left behind in the end game.

In the Individual categories, Billion Enriquez from Zamboanga is AXA Three-Point Shootout Champion; Brian Agarin of Cubao, Panasonic Master Three-Point Contest Champion; Alexis Ramos of Tanauan, Batangas, Cloudfone Shoot-Solve-Selfie Challenge champion; and Shekel Estrelles of Caloocan, Globe Do It Different Three-Point Challenge champion.  In the AXA Shoot For A Cause challenge, free-throw shooters raised P70,000 worth of free throws for Tahanang Walang Hagdan.

NBA talents Steven Adams of the Oklahoma Thunder, former Sacramento Kings head coach Reggie Theus, also known as Kobe Paras’ coach at Cal State Northridge in the US NCAA, and the Laker Girls awarded all winning individuals and teams their medals and trophies.

The official partners of NBA 3X Philippines 2017 presented by AXA include CloudFone, Globe At Home, Globe Prepaid, Panasonic, with SM Mall of Asia and Spalding serving as Supporting Partners.  Official NBA broadcasters for the event are ABS-CBN Sports and Action, Basketball TV, and NBA Premium TV.

For more information on NBA 3X Philippines 2017 and the registration process, log on to www.nba3x.com/philippines and follow www.facebook.com/nba3xasia. 

For more details on AXA Philippines and their product offerings, visit www.axa.com.ph and www.facebook.com/AXA.Philippines. 

For all things NBA, visit www.nba.com and follow the league on Facebook at www.facebook.com/philsnba and Twitter at www.twitter.com/nba_philippines.

Heart of Kapitan for the Country's Heroes

PAL Chairman Lucio C. Tan is granting special privileges for the men and women of the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the Philippine National Police in recognition of their sacrifices for the country.

Dr. Tan is granting 40 kilos free baggage allowance to AFP and PNP personnel in active service traveling on all PAL domestic routes on official or personal capacity.

Military personnel are required to present their valid identification card upon check in at the airport. Baggage in excess of the free baggage allowance of 40 kilos shall be assessed the applicable excess baggage rates.

This grant, which is applicable across all fare brands, shall be valid only for travel until 31 December 2017.

“My heart goes out to our country's heroes and heroines who have sacrificed their lives in the battlefield and to all those who continue fighting to save Marawi and other critical areas. You deserve the country's highest honor,”stressed Chairman Tan.

In addition, a 20% discount on ALL regular domestic fare brands (except budget economy fare brands) is also being provided to all active members of the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the Philippine National Police for any type of travel – official or personal. AFP and PNP personnel must present a valid ID card upon ticketing.


On July 25, 2017, President Rodrigo Duterte will be honoring fallen soldiers of Marawi in Malacanang Palace with the family members of deceased soldiers as special guests.

PAL is extending two free domestic tickets to Manila for each family attending the said event called “Salamat Magigiting na Mandirigma, Go Negosyo Kapatid from Marawi Financial Assistance to the Families of Fallen Heroes”.

Earlier, the flag carrier donated two million pesos to the AFP for the soldiers who are fighting or have fought in Marawi. 

The Tan Yan Kee Foundation – the corporate social responsibility arm of the LT Group as well as the PAL foundation are carrying out donation drives and humanitarian cargo grants, respectively, for those affected by the Marawi situation.

*This is Press Release

Katsu Sora opens in Glorietta 4

Everybody’s favorite premium tonkatsu is now in Makati! Katsu Sora, the Japanese restaurant that offers authentic tonkatsu and a diverse selection of high-quality Japanese dishes, is set to open its ninth branch at the ground floor of Glorietta 4 on July 26, satisfying cravings and stirring more excitement among food enthusiasts all over the metro.

Visit the newest branch at the grand opening and enjoy a free Sakura Tonkatsu set with every order of any two Katsu Sora sets. Gather your friends and family and indulge in any of Katsu Sora’s premium pork – Iberico, Shimofuri, Kurobuta, and Sakura. Each of which is guaranteed of the highest quality: tender, juicy and an outstanding flavor.

Katsu Sora takes pride in its wide variety of options at the buffet bar. Make your own salad with a variety of ingredients and explore as many salad mixes as you want with 12 salad dressings to choose from. You may also fill your bowl with a hearty serving of either Awase Miso or Shin-su Shiro Miso soup. For the health-conscious ones, worry no more as Katsu Sora serves brown rice.

Experience authentic tonkatsu and a host of other Japanese meals at Katsu Sora. For more information, visit http://katsusora.com/.

*This is Press Release

Inaugural Event in Surabaya Postponed

The largest sports media property in Asian history, ONE Championship™ (ONE), has announced that its inaugural event in Surabaya, Indonesia, ONE: CONQUEST OF KINGS initially set for 29 July, is currently being rescheduled due to logistical issues and has been postponed as of further notice.

ONE Championship has always put on incredible live events in Indonesia, and four additional events are being planned in the country for 2018. Fans can expect to see Indonesian martial arts superstars in featured bouts such as “The Terminator” Sunoto, Stefer Rahardian, and Anthony “The Archangel” Engelen, to name a few.

ONE Championship is set for another blockbuster evening of world-class entertainment with its second historic event in Macao, China. On 5 August, ONE: KINGS & CONQUERORS will once again light up the Cotai Arena of The Venetian Macao with a showcase of authentic martial arts action. In the main event, ONE Bantamweight World Champion Bibiano Fernandes of Brazil will take on top contender Andrew Leone of the United States.

37-year-old Bibiano “The Flash” Fernandes of Brazil is the reigning ONE Bantamweight World Champion, and widely considered one of the best bantamweights in the world. He made his promotional debut back in 2012 and captured the title in 2013, and has since then remained unbeaten inside the ONE Championship cage, showcasing tremendous striking and grappling ability. A winner of his last 12 bouts, including three submissions and two knockouts, Fernandes is set to defend his title against Andrew Leone.

Andrew Leone of Cortland, New York, is a 27-year-old martial artist who trains alongside some of the most talented combat sports athletes in Asia at the renowned Bali MMA gym in Bali, Indonesia. With a standout record of eight wins and only two losses, Leone is coming off three solid victories over top-caliber opponents, earning him a shot at the ONE Bantamweight World Championship. In his next bout, Leone will challenge Bibiano Fernandes for the world title.

For more updates on ONE Championship, please visit www.onefc.com, follow us on Twitter and Instagram @ONEChampionship, and like us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/ONEChampionship.

About ONE Championship™

ONE Championship is the largest sports media property in Asian history. Headquartered in Singapore, the world’s most exciting mixed martial arts organization hosts the largest sports entertainment events across Asia featuring the best Asian mixed martial artists and world champions, all signed to exclusive contracts, on the largest media broadcast in Asia. ONE Championship is broadcast to over 1 billion viewers across 128 countries around the world with some of the largest global broadcasters, including FOX Sports, Setanta, MNC, Astro, Thairath TV, ABS-CBN, TV5, MYTV, HTV, OSN and more.

*This is Press Release

Neuropathy Awareness for Good Health

What is Neuropathy?

Neuropathy, a disorder affecting nerves, is experienced by many people in the Philippines. Despite this high frequency, many men and women who have it are not even aware of their condition. In fact, nerve health is not a topic that many people actually think about.

The symptoms of nerve damage, or Neuropathy, are often nothing out of the ordinary. Numbness, muscle weakness, and pins and needles can be caused by other conditions as well. In fact, they are often attributed to more mundane causes, such as fatigue or wrong sleeping position. While these symptoms can indeed be linked to such causes, it is undeniable that Neuropathy is a possible cause.

Such symptoms are often thought of as so inconsequential that sufferers do not seek medical advice. Frequently, sufferers report minor discomfort or irritation at their symptoms and tend to ignore their persistence.

Other possible symptoms of Neuropathy include increased sensitivity to touch, sharp pains, extreme sensitivity to pain, a burning feeling, reduced sensitivity to pain, loss of sensation, and reduced sense of touch.

There are also a number of conditions in which nerve damage appears or can be a secondary complication. Causes and risk factors are multiple and include causes and conditions such as genetics (a family member suffers from Neuropathy), chronic diseases (like diabetes), environmental toxins (such as smoking), alcoholism, nutritional deficiencies (including B Vitamin deficiency), and even side effects of certain medications. This condition can be idiopathic (have no known cause).

Before symptoms get worse and lead to permanent nerve damage, it is of vital importance to consult a doctor immediately. Taking daily maintenance for nerve nourishment may also prevent nerve damage or Neuropathy.

Neuropathy Awareness

Merck Inc., the maker of Neurobion, understands just how serious and difficult nerve health issues can be, especially for the people who work hard every day to provide for the ones they care about. This holds true especially in the case of people who perform repetitive motions as part of their daily routine.

The act of daily commuting puts pressure on the hands and feet, and on the nerves.

With the traffic and the sheer number of commuters out there, commuting conditions are far from ideal for nerves. Crowded vehicles, jostling for position in a full train, standing in a moving bus – these can all take their toll on nerves after some time.

This is why Merck came up with its Neuropathy Awareness Campaign. This is in line with the company’s WE100 corporate vision of helping humankind live longer, fuller lives of quality and good health, and is intended to educate Filipinos on Neuropathy, its causes and common symptoms, and ways to prevent it from happening.

A Salute to True Heroes 

This campaign brings the spotlight onto the everyday True Heroes, the men and women who work hard daily to take care of the people they care about.

As Merck Inc.’s Head of Marketing Ming Arroyo-Cunanan put it, “The people who wake up extra early to commute, and then selflessly pour out all their time and energy just to provide for their families — these people are the True Heroes. To be able to work like this every day without complaint and hesitation is very admirable, more so, deserving of some kind of recognition.” 

Given the important role of these True Heroes in their families, they undoubtedly deserve recognition and care. These are part of the Neuropathy Awareness Campaign, in which people are urged to take care of their nerves so they can continue their important roles. Nerves deserve to be taken care of.

This comes amid the reality that, while damaged nerves repair naturally via regeneration, after a certain time (when approximately 50% or more of nerve tissue is damaged), the damage is permanent. This so-called “point of no return” makes early detection and diagnosis vital.  

The Neurobion Nerve Therapy Trip

In line with Neuropathy Awareness Month, Neurobion decided to give these True Heroes a trip that they wouldn’t expect but most definitely deserve.

Loy Juan Dy-Buncio, Neurobion Brand Manager, said “Neurobion wanted to do something that not only would spread awareness on nerve damage, but would also serve as a treat to those who are susceptible to it, and these are the working-class Filipinos.”  

And with that, the Nerve Therapy Trip was born.

Launched recently, the Nerve Therapy Trip will provide an upgraded bus ride that keeps passengers relaxed as they head to and from work.

 

Neuro Motion

The Nerve Therapy Trip will also teach them how to care for their nerves despite their busy lives with the Neuro Motion video, a collection of simple exercises that the regular person can perform on the way to work or even at the office. Video will be played during the Nerve Therapy Trip.

To experience the Nerve Therapy Trip for yourself, look for the Neurobion buses on the Alabang-Navotas route and vice versa for 25 days beginning August 7. Take a ride to #LoveYourNerves!

39 Years of Producing the Best

For 39 years now, BEST (Basketball Efficiency & Scientific Training) has been training generations of aspiring young athletes. This multi-awarded sports clinic has produced some of the biggest names in basketball, including Chris Tiu, JV Casio, Larry Fonacier, LA Tenorio, Kobe Paras, Kiefer Ravena, and Mark and Mike Nieto, to name a few.

BEST Center’s passion and dedication in helping kids learn the fundamentals of basketball and improve sports development in the country is evident in its continuous efforts to improve its training program. This may be the reason why, despite the growing number of sports clinics in the country, parents still trust BEST Center in developing their kids’ athletic skills.

Take for instance Ambia Mari Abolucion, who belonged to the first batch of students in BEST Center summer clinics in Pampanga during the early ‘90s. She shared, “I was able to experience the kind of training that BEST Center provides and this is why I enrolled my 5-year old daughter, Izellah, in the clinic. This will serve as her foundation in the sport and I want it to be the best.”

Another BEST Center graduate, Kristine Siapoc, who is now an aspiring soldier, agrees. “BEST Center helped me in improving my basketball skills, and paved the way for a scholarship in La Salle, and this has allowed me to play in major collegiate basketball leagues like the UAAP.” Kristine serves as an inspiration to her 9-year old sister, Kharel, who is also training with BEST Center to fulfill her dreams of becoming a professional basketball player someday.

Other parents enroll their kids in BEST Center not only for the skills training, but also for the values that they teach their young participants. Edwin Yap, also a BEST Center graduate, enrolled his sons Aidan, 7 years old, and Aiken, 5 years old in the clinic.  “BEST Center really is the best, not only in teaching the fundamentals of sports, but also in implementing discipline, camaraderie, and sportsmanship.”

Founded in 1978 by former national coach, Nic Jorge, BEST Center takes pride in using the latest technology and most advanced training methods. It is nationally renowned for its great contribution to sports development in the Philippines, and has been cited by the Philippine Sportswriters Association (PSA) and the Olympism Award from the Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) as a hall of famer.

For more information about BEST Center and its clinics, call 411-6260 3723066 or visit https://www.facebook.com/pages/BEST-Center-Sports-Inc/.