Vanity Magazine Anniversary Issue 2015

COVER

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Volume 22No.1

We are now 22 years old. Twenty two

years of challenges, hardships, determination and inspirations to come up with a magazine that will truly satisfy our readers’ taste every month, and still being here in the industry is really something to reckon with.

Without the guidance of Our Lord and Heavenly Father, who has always been with us for the past two decades, we would not have survived..thank you Lord God Almighty. And to our loyal and faithful advertisers, readers and friends who have always been there to support us through thick and thin, Kudos and special thanks to all of you..Cheers to everyone!!!

Mr. Albert Dy-Sun, President, Yakult Philippines, Inc. Mr. Michael Dy-Sun Ong, Director, VP Sales & Advertising, Yakult Phils., Inc. Beth B Flores, Gen Manager, Ott Louie Phils, Inc. Ms. Von Hizon-De Torres, Managing Director for Int’l Brands, Emperador Distillers Inc. Mr. Deocelso S. Sy, Chmn/ CEO, Ever Bilena Cosmetics Corp.

Donna Nievera Conda, Managing Director, Stratworks Commo.

Fen D Marquez, Gen Manager, M2M Advertising Tina Pentinio, Managing Director, Penticoms Commo.

Ana Manansala, Managing Director, AMPR Publicity & Commo.

Edd Fuentes, President, Fuentes Manila PR. Ms. Thelma Lagrimas, Manager, Medic Diagnostic Div., Medical Trading Corporation Ms. Minnie Clet, President/CEO, JDC Advertising Ms. Yolanda C Crisanto, Senior Vice President, CorpComm Div., Globe Telecom Ms. Betty J Bernal, VP Media, Telenetwork Advertising Mr. Rene Garcia, President, Goldware Essential Products Corporation Ms. Sali K Sauco, Marketing Manager, Goldilocks Bakeshops Inc. Ms. Susie Achacoso Cruz, President, Gifted Minds PR & Marketing Consultancy Ms. Lydia Vivero, VP for Media, Agents International Mr. Florencio Galang, Jr., Manager, PMAD, PagIBIG Fund The Food Club; Goldilocks Bakeshops, Inc; Yakult Phils, Inc.; Carlo Rossi California Red Wines; Tutuban Mall; Globe Telecom Inc; Chicken Deli; Goldware Essential Products; HyC150 Premiums; Havas Media Ortega Advertising; JDC Advertising; M2M/PHD Advertising; Media Force Advertising; PIAA Advertising; Telenetwork Advertising; AVC Media Advertising; Ms. Ana V Cawaling, President, Target Market & Commo.; Dept of Tourism, Caraga Region; Christian Commercial Corp; Metro Manila & Prov’l Magazine Dealers; Quickplate Digital Graphics Enterprises; Chromstar Digital Imaging Inc; Noel Paccalagan; Northern Luzon Magazine Dealers; Mr. Eddie Littlefield; Fernand Sucalit; Mr. Boy Villasanta...a million thanks! vanity .....................

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Volume 21 No. 5

Contents

OBSERVER 12 Fashion and Compassion for a Decade and Two – by Joy Fong COVER STORY 14 IMELDA PECHERAA GORGEOUS BLESSING TO MANKIND – by Lorna Emata YAKULT SUPPLEMENT 20 YAKULT LADIES: MONARCHY CHANNELS OF HEALTH AND WELLNESS - by Millie Vera FOOD 29 Tutuban Center’s Foodstreet: Affordable Eats for the Whole Family & Barkada FASHION 32 House of Mode Elle Opens an Academy for Dreamers

FEATURE 6 October is Marian Month – by Louie Guarin 30 MR. INTERNATIONAL 2015 SCENES 8 Elisa dela Cruz-Cadingan: Woman of Substance – by Louie Guarin 38 Miss Australia is Miss Global 2015 Miss AZEL CELESTIAL HORNILLA Editor-in-Chief

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VAL SANTIAGO Art Director

LORNA EMATA Associate Editor

LOUIE GUARIN ARNIE TAN Contributing Writers

JOANA V. MERCURIO Editorial Assistant

DAN AVILA ROLLIE ONG Photographers

Philippines Candice Ramos is 4th Runner-up – by Louie Guarin Miss World Philippines 2015: A Night of Glitz & Glamour – by Louie Guarin Parul Shah: Miss Grand International 2015 3rd Runner-up – by Louie Guarin

Engr. DANNY C. PAGSAMBUGAN USA Correspondent MILLIE VERA Lifestyle Columnist BENCH BELLO EDILBERTO SERRANO Columnists

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EVENTS 34 LEICA STORE PHILIPPINES CELEBRATES ITS FIRST ANNIVERSARY 43 GINEBRA SAN MIGUEL INTRODUCES NEWEST CALENDAR GIRL 46 Mabuhay Vinyl Marks 50th year 46 Promil Pre-School and ABS-CBN Launch I-Shine Online Talent Camp TECHNOLOGY 44 Honda launches Gen S

JOYCE PEÑAS PILARSKY Fashion Editor JOSE ANOSO ADARO Advertising Director JOY FONG Sales & Marketing Director

ROBERTO M. VILLAROSA Operations Manager

AZALEA HORNILLA

Assistant Advertising Manager

PREVIEW By

By Azel Azel Celestial Celestial

#apecsummit2015 Traffic in the Philippines 2015

VANITY MAGAZINE is published monthlyMAGAZINE

by RMV PRINT & MEDIA VANITY is published SERVICESbywith editorial monthly RMV PRINT &and MEDIA business office at 29 unit 105 SERVICES with editorial and PISO Bldg.

13th Ave., Murphy, business office at 47 C 13th Ave., Quezon City and B31 L4 Linden St., Murphy, Quezon City -and B31 - L4 Greensborough Subd., Sabang Linden St., Greensborough Subd., Dasmarinas, Cavite with Mobile: Sabang Dasmarinas, Cavite with 0939-881-0649 Mobile: 0939-881-0649 Subscription rates: one year (12 issues) P 1,440; six months (6 (12 issues) P 1,440; six months issues) P 720.

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For the month of November, guess what would be the most popular hashtag in social media? Should be obvious.

Well, It's official.

As of Oct 1, once 2015,again, our our country theworst global spotlight host countryclaims has the traffic in thebeing worldtheand ofManila this year's Apec Summit, from Nov 12-19 at has the worst traffic on Earth! This is the Philippine International certainly not somethingConvention we can bragCenter about.inIt's Pasay.

With a whopping P9.8 billion budget, weso something we need to reflect on and think of, just bear to this eye-popping figure slip wecan't can come upsee with ways on how this problem through our hands. For our country, which is now could be overcome. being tagged as "The Rising Tiger of Asia", this would seem to bethat heaven-sent andofthat I know this country oursthis has amount would come a long way for the other problems that need attention like corrupbetterment and development of ourabout nation. tion and poverty but if you think it, ifWea wish. seemingly minor issue like traffic could not be I wish ushow luck,much that more despite the political resolved, then would we be able unrest happening right now, would beMoreable to to solve this country's majorwesetbacks? protect the 21 world leaders, including our own, over, the chaos and disorder that this traffic 7,000 foreign journalists bringdelegates, us reflectsand on 2,000 what kind of lives we, that are coming andwe making this theirabout home Filipinos, live. over It's time do something this coming week.

I hope that traffic during this this and bring order because at the end of the time earn another top negatively rating in the worst day,won't we are theusones who are affected traffic category on earth.

And lastly, I pray that by it all. something really good and helpful will come out of this highest-level,most economic In fairness to ourinfluential government, efforts forum that will benefit each and everyone of us. are now being made to alleviate and neutralize ThisTotal issue,truck we are celebrating two this mess. ban is being enforced in anniversaries.

First, happy 37 glorious years the busiest NCR areas and the PNP-HPG is to one of our staunchest sponsors, Yakult. thank taking over EDSA. From our end, we, We citizens, you for your support.

AndNo to our should alsonever-ending do our part and help out. matter beloved Vanity, happy, happy 22nd Anniversary! how small, if each of us contributes for the Wherever mypursuit, mom is,there's I'm sure she iswe betterment of any nothing feeling proud right now.

We are grateful to our could not conquer. loyal supporters and readers for still being here with us all these years.

More power to all of us!

Filipinos, we can!

Cheers!

Happy reading, cheers!

(Your comments and suggestions are welcome Send them to our e-mail address: thenewvanity@yahoo.com bobby_villarosa@yahoo.com) vanity .....................

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Volume No.10 Volume2122No.1

feature

Text & Photos by LOUIE GUARIN

October is Marian Month

Lourdes GrottoBaguio

I must admit that I am a Marian devotee. I inherited the devotions to the Blessed Virgin Mary from my late beloved mother. The very first Good Friday pilgrimage I experienced with my parents was many years ago at the Lourdes Grotto in Novaliches, Quezon City. That was my baptism of fire as a Marian devotee.

We climbed about a hundred steps to reach the summit of the hill along with multitudes of Roman Catholic pilgrims.

On both ends of the wooden man-made stairways were life-sized fourteen Stations of the Cross. My dearest Mama prayed the rosary undisturbed in front of the statue of the Our Lady of Lourdes.

On the way home after 6-hours at the Lourdes Grotto in Novaliches, my mother would always fill a small plastic bottle with water at the spring where water flowed tremendously. She believed the water was miraculous in nature. One time I suffered from a stomach ache, she hurriedly applied “holy water” to my stomach. Believe it or not, the pain disappeared. It’s a miracle! I recall that incident vividly in my “young mind” at that time.

When my mother passed away in 1983, our annual family Semana Santa pilgrimage to the Lourdes Grotto in Novaliches stopped.

In April 2008, Mr. Cornelio de Guzman, now retired editor of the Travel &

Tourism Section of the Manila Bulletin, assigned me to do an in-depth article on Kamay ni Hesus Healing Church of Lucban, Quezon, otherwise called, Via Dolorosa: The Grotto of Healing and Purification (the site for religious pilgrims and the sick), for the Good Friday issue of that year. I was amazed when I saw the 50-foot image of the Ascending Christ in red robe with outstretched arms s t a n d i n g conspicuously at the apex of the mountain.

More so, I was mesmerized when Our Lady of Lourdes Grotto in Lucban, about 10 feet tall, was at the center of the hill. The lifesized images of the 14 Stations of the Cross were spread all over the place of the pilgrim’s site. It was beautifully designed - a heavenly place for Marian devotees.

Lucban’s Lourdes Grotto is the 3rd highest Grotto in the world, second only to the Our Lady of the Pillar Grotto in Sao Paolo in Brazil

which is 90 feet. Lucban’s Mecca is now boasting a tourism industry with an average of 90,000 tourists a week who have heard of Rev. Fr. Joey Faller’s miraculous healing power. Amen! Father Faller is the spiritual director of the said pilgrim’s church.

My annual Holy Week vacations in Baguio City will never be complete without a visit to the Lourdes Grotto on

Dominican Hill Road. Pilgrims need to climb 252 steps to reach the apex of the shrine for meditation and tranquility. Approximately 11 flat cemented surfaces, and a dozen benches where constructed for tourists to take a breather for a minute. The 14 Stations of the Cross are placed on the grass area, a few steps away from the concrete stairways. On the left side of the shrine is the newly built chapel, and at the end of the road is a life-sized statue of the Risen Christ.

The 4th Lourdes Grotto I visited as a travel and tourism writer is the one in Guiuan in Eastern Samar. I was in Guiuan then, through the invitation of my good friend, Dir. Karina Rosa “Karen” SantiagoTiopes, regional director of the Department of Tourism-Eastern Visayas (Region 8).

Guiuan’s Lourdes Grotto is prominently built on top of a hill with green surroundings. Noticeable were tall trees, plants and bushes. I was in awe! I murmured

Our Lady of Manaoag

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a prayer and asked Our Lady of Lourdes for blessings, guidance and protection.

History states that Our Lady of Lourdes is a title of the Blessed Virgin Mary invoked by Roman Catholics in honor of the Marian apparitions which were said to have taken place before various individuals on separate occasions around Lourdes, France.

John Paul II visited Our Lady of Lourdes Grotto in Lourdes, France three times.

Someday, I wish to visit Our Lady of Lourdes Grotto in Novaliches, Baguio, Lucban and in Guiuan again; and hopefully, to visit the Our Lady of Lourdes Grotto in Lourdes (France). After all, wishes and dreams may come true at the right time in the flicker of an eye.

Pope Leo XIII established the month of October as the “month of the rosary” and recommended daily rosary devotions during this month. Our Lady of the Rosary, also known as Our Lady of the Most Holy Rosary, is a title of the Blessed Virgin Mary in relation to the “Rosary.”

Lourdes Grotto-Guiuan

October 7 is the feast day of Our Lady of the Rosary, formerly known as the feast day of Our Lady of Victory.

Some famous Marian feasts relate to specific events. To wit: *Our Lady of the Pillar-her shrine is at the Basilica of Our Lady of the Pillar situated along the Ebro River. The feast day is celebrated every 12th of October.

Our Lady of the Pillar is the patron saint of the Santa Cruz Parish in the 3rd district of the City of Manila. The Jesuits brought the patroness when they administered to the church during the Spanish era. The community celebrates the feast day on 12th of October as well, but its Marian procession is held every 3rd Sunday of October. *Our Lady of La Naval de Manila or Our Lady of the Most Holy Rosary of La

Lourdes Grotto-Lucban

Naval de Manila is a title under which the Blessed Virgin Mary is venerated in our country.

The devotion is embodied in a 16th century ivory and wood statue of her shrine at the Santo Domingo Church in Quezon City. The church is also the national shrine of Our Lady of the Most Holy Rosary.

Measuring some 1.52 meters, the body is made of hardwood while the face and the hands, including the entire Child Jesus are made of genuine ivory. Since its creation, the statue has always been decorated with elaborate garments and a “queenly crown.” It is considered the oldest dated ivory carving in the Philippines.

The Roman Catholic Church in the Philippines celebrates the feast of Our Lady of La Naval every 2nd Sunday of October. *Our Lady of Manaoag or Our Lady of the Most Holy Rosary of Manaoag is Mary, the Mother of Jesus, the patroness of the town of Manaoag in Pangasinan. It is the same as Our Lady of the Rosary title globally ascribed to: The Blessed Virgin Mary.

The Pangasinense (the townsfolk of Pangasinan) lovingly address Our Lady

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of Manaoag as “Apo Baket” as a sign of love and respect.

Our Lady of Manaoag is one of the most venerated Marian Images in our country as the Blessed Virgin Mary is the patroness of the sick, the helpless, and those in need of favors from God especially through Jesus Christ. The devotees believe that the holy water and the oil from the shrine are miraculous.

The ivory-bejeweled image of Our Lady of Manaoag is enshrined in the main retablo of the shrine.

The feast day falls on the 3rd Sunday after Easter, and the 1st Sunday of October, as Our Lady of the Rosary.

Our Lady of Manaoag attributes: fair complexion, with the Child Jesus, a rosary, a marshal’s baton, and royal regalia.

I have been to Our Lady of Manaoag Shrine twice-in 1987 with singer/performer Jojit de Nero, and in 1998 with recording artist/ entrepreneur, Anna Dizon.

Our Lady of Lourdes

The month of October is the month of the rosary.

Let us all pray the rosary. Let us include in our prayers the victims of typhoons, landslides, floods, earthquakes, massacres, wars; and most of all the SAF 44.

Let us light a candle and say a prayer. Now! AD MAJOREM DEI GLORIAM!

Volume 22No.1

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Text & Photos by LOUIE GUARIN

Elisa dela Cruz-Cadingan: Woman of Substance

…To those who help with gentle hands, life is full. …To those who care with compassionate heart, life is good beyond all measures. …To those who speak with tender voice, life is peaceful. …And those who see with loving eyes, life is beautiful!

These inspirational phrases best exemplify Elisa dela Cruz-Cadingan, president and chief operating officer of Orient Aviation Flying School, and a respected businesswoman.

She is responsible for the 15 years successful operation of Orient Aviation Flying School. Orient Aviation Flying School’s tagline: “15 years of quality service with zero incident and accident.” Orient Aviation Flying School is hailed as one of the reputable aviation schools in the Philippines and overseas. By January 10, 2016, Orient Aviation Flying School will turn 16, a testament of Elisa’s patience and determination to succeed. Soar high, Orient Aviation Flying School!

Lisa, as she is fondly called by her colleagues and friends, is a woman of substance and conviviality. She is also a workaholic, philanthropist and a fashion connoisseur.

I met Mrs. Cadingan in 2009 and from then on our communication lines have been extremely open to this very day. She’s been happily married for 25 years now to

Elisa will enter another dimension in her life - politics. I was with her last October 15, 2015 when she filed her certificate of candidacy (COC) and legibly filled-up the certificate of nomination acceptance (CONA) at the Commission on Elections’ (COMELEC) satellite office in Hinundayan. She’s running as vice-mayor under the United Nationalist Alliance (UNA) Party; with incumbent Philippines’ vicepresident Jejomar Binay, and incumbent senator Gregorio Honasan as standard UNA party bearers for president and vicepresident respectively.

Alfredo M. Lagumbay, a physician by profession and an old-timer in Hinundayan’s political arena served as vicemayor and mayor the past years, will seek reelection as mayor in the 2016 mayoralty race. Eight aspiring for councilors include: Jeanette M. Abuyog, Asuncion T. Cabello, Carolyn B. Rodriguez, Marieta C. Antipala, Elisa dela Cruz-Cadingan, Woman of Substance Santiago T. Abuyog, Mario B. Calvar, Jacinto land trip from the City of Tacloban to P. Tagoctoc and Doque A. Resma. Mrs. Hinundayan, Southern Leyte.

Carolina B. Clarito, Hinundayan COMELEC Hinundayan is a fourth class election officer assisted the UNA municipality that produces copra as a major Team when they filed their COC product. Fishing is one of the major and CONA. Hinundayan’s UNA industries and more than three tons of fish slogan: “UNA sa Tanan, Serbisyo caught annually are sent to neighboring towns Para sa Hinundayon!” as well as to the Province of Cebu.

Prior to the COC filing of Hinundayan, like other coastal towns is Hinundayan’s UNA Team, Ms. Lisa together with her teammates attended the 8am Holy Mass officiated by Rev. Fr. Plutarco S. Rodriguez, parish priest of Hinundayan’s Saint Joseph Parish.

The said parish is under the Diocese of Maasin.

The good clergy Prosperity shot (L-R seated first row) Helen Casabarstraightforwardly emphasized the Lagumbay, Doc Alfredo Lagumbay, Elisa dela Cruzimportance of the word, “service.”

Cadingan & Capt. Romel Dinulong Cadingan In his homily he said, “You must serve your town mates with love, compassion, Capt. Romel Dinulong Cadingan of Kalinga, dedication; and with all your heart. As a Apayao. Captain Romel works for the Civil public servant, service must be your guiding Aviation Authority of the Philippines force to be an effective leader.” The exclusive (CAAP) as a check pilot; while Elisa is a 8am mass was attended by the family, native of Hinundayan, Southern Leyte. friends and political supporters of the UNA Team posed for a souvenir photo with Rev. They are blessed with five healthy candidates. Blessing of the candidates by Fr. Plutarco Rodriguez. First row (from left) Dr. and intelligent children: Romel Kim (24), Father Rodriguez ensued afterwards.

Alfredo Lagumbay and Elisa Cadingan. Second Rocel Kaye (22), Rocel Kara (19), Rocel Where is Hinundayan? It’s an hour row (L-R) Mario Calvar, Carolyn Rodriguez, Kassy (14), and Rocel KC (11). All their first and ten minutes by plane ride from Manila Jeanette Abuyog & Asuncion Cabello. Third row names, “Rocel” was picked up from the Domestic Airport to Daniel Z. Romualdez (from left) Doque Resma, Jacinto Tagoctoc, contraction of their parents’ first names, Airport in Tacloban City. And two hours Santiago Abuyog & Marieta Antipala Romel and Elisa.

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blessed with an abundance of natural resources.

“Hinundayan has 17 barangays. My abode is in Barangay Sagbok. The population of our municipality is around 13,693 and 8,000 plus are registered voters,” Mrs. Cadingan briefly states matter-of-factly when this writer asked her about her hometown.

“Given the chance to win and to serve the Hinundayanon, eco-tourism tops my project list. Likewise, I want a bigger scope on education. It’s very important that there be a synergy between the national government, congressional office and the local government unit. I’ll see to it that the out-of-school youths are given a chance to explore their hidden skills in technology. On the other hand, I’ll make sure feeding programs for malnourished children will be instituted down to the barangay levels for the grade school pupils.”

In addition she spoke like a pro when she categorically said: “I want to create a sports tourism program. I’ll make Hinundayan a businessfriendly place, improve health services. For the indigents, there should be free check-up and medicine. I will ask my physician friends in Manila to conduct dental and medical missions in Hinundayan with able support from reputable clubs like the Lions, Rotary and Kiwanis. It takes a political will to do this.

Surely, God will make a way for a “new world” to all Hinundayanon,” Elisa quips. Elisa dela Cruz-Cadingan placed her A herculean tasks for a thumb marks on her COC

UNA Team candidates with Mrs. Carolina B. Clarito (seated), election officer of Hinundayan’s COMELEC office. From left: Marieta Antipala, Jeanette Abuyog, Asuncion Cabello, Carolyn Rodriguez, Elisa Cadingan, Alfredo Lagumbay, Santiago Abuyog, Mario Calvar, Jacinto Tagoctoc & Roque Resma neophyte like her in the field of politics.

In a nutshell, the bubbly and charismatic Elisa said: “My firm decision to run as vice-mayor of Hinundayan this May 9, 2016 is primarily to serve my townsfolk, nothing more, nothing less.”

SPECIAL THANKS: *Mr. & Mrs. Casiano S. Lagumbay *Mr. & Mrs. Albino M. Lagumbay *Elbert A. Adaro *Cris Calungsod *Paterno Mindajao *Jhong-Jhong Japson *Noli “Beb” Japson *Condrado Blanco *Barangay Kagawad of Biasong Enrique Angob *former Hinundayan Mayor Joel C. Molina *Barangay Kagawad Lucresio Culaba of Ambao *Ronald L. Lagumbay *Arcelle S. Palima *Barangay Council of Sagbok headed by Capt. Efren Gases *Barangay Council of District 3 headed by Barangay Capt. Rogelio M. Golle *ExBarangay Captain Francisco Buctot Sr. of Biasong *Barangay Kagawad of District 2 Nestor Abad *Manuel Boyboy *Barangay Kagawad of Sagbok Tata Borga *Ug sa tanan nga tabang o nitambong*

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Volume 22No.1

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Fashion and Compassion for a Decade and Two

It was an evening of beauty, glamour and charity as people from various social circles recently gathered together to witness the 2015 Best Dressed Women of the Philippines Annual Awards Ball (BDWP) of the Philippine Cancer Society (PCS) at the Rizal Ballroom of Makati Shangri-La. Becoming an institution itself where funds are channeled to indigent cancer patients since its inception in 2004 under the tutelage of event chairperson Imelda Ongsiako Cojuangco, the fashionable Best Dressed gala was spearheaded by PCS chairperson Dr. Roberto Paterno, event chairperson Angola consul Helen Ong ably assisted by nine hardworking and dedicated individuals.

Taking the stage and leaving everyone in awe with their radiating beauty and stunning gowns were 14 ladies chosen for leading lives worthy of praise on the personal, professional and civic fronts led by 2015 Style Icons Grace Ong Gobing and Joy Wambangco-Rustia together with 2015 Best Dressed Awardees Eni Alba, Natalie Diane Lim-Ang, Danda Crimelda I. Buhain-Garcia, Maika T. Garcia, Jarelle Palabay Gonzales, Mia Cabawatan-Lozada, Anna Moncupa, Ann Ong, Dr. Elsie Badillo-Pascua, Anna Sia, Patch Savellano-Singson and Dr. Hazel Paragua-Zuellig.

The Philippine Cancer Society also recognized seven men of honor as the 2015 Men of Extraordinary Influence namely Peter Coyiuto, lawyers Arturo “Johnny” Del Rosario Jr., and Nilo Divina, Davao City mayor Rodrigo Duterte, Mario “Bo” Muralla, Michael Toledo and Johnny Yu. Email Joyfong@rocketmail.com

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Volume 22No.1

cover story

ImeldaPechera A GORGEOUS BLESSING TO MANKIND

By LORNA EMATA

Fiery, free, adventurous. These are just a few adjectives that best describe our cover for this month. But this special lady has such a magnetic personality that you can’t help but want to get to know her more once you meet her. She exudes this positive and radiant energy that is so contagious, making you feel glad that you’re alive despite all the trials and challenges you might be experiencing at the moment. That’s how inspiring and contagious her aura is. So without further ado, I would like to present our November 2015 cover - Ms. Imelda Pechera.

The first time I met Ms. Mhel, I was immediately sucked into her positiveness. No bad vibes for this unpretentious and vibrant lady. She’s definitely oozing with zest and love for life. Not to mention the fact that she has

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this eye-catching face and figure. Yes, she is gorgeous, a headturner no doubt.

But these traits alone aren’t enough to fully describe the total person Ms. Mhel is. This lady has depth, compassion and generosity as well. She is also an achiever, a trademark of all the noteworthy individuals whom we had the honor and privilege to grace in our past covers. You’ll find out soon enough the reason why, as her story unfolds.

Ms Mhel started out as a plain housewife who was content to run a happy home for her family of three lovely kids and a doting and hardworking husband, who was the one running their business at that time. Unfortunately, her husband passed away at the early stage of their marriage. Thus came the most difficult time in her life. Imagine being suddenly left alone with three very young kids and a family business, which by no means was a small one, to run. This was indeed a very dark period in Ms Mhel’s life because she really struggled, and not just once did she contemplate on giving up because she felt so alone at that time. But she kept on going. And that became the turning point of her life. She kept picking herself up and gradually, she was able to triumph over the desire to throw everything away. And in no time, she learned and mastered the ropes of the company, the legacy that her husband left her with.

Pretty soon, she was doing so well and enjoying playing the roles of both a mother and a businesswoman at the same time. In her capable hands, her company thrived and her children grew up to be great and responsible individuals whom a mother would be proud of.

You may ask, how did she do it? How was she able to overcome it all? The answer - her innate positiveness and strength. Plus the fact that she was strongly motivated by her family and the people who worked for them. She also realized just

in time that this was God’s plan for her and that she was chosen to undertake these roles. So she did, with bravery and determination, because she knew then that if she falls, everybody will go down with her. And she didn’t let that happen. Ms Mhel took ownership of her and her family’s lives, as well those of her people, whom she considered an extension of her family. And once she started, she never stopped.

To give you a brief backgrounder on Ms Mhel’s business, the company started as a trading business called “ACTIP” in Alabang and supplied mostly manufacturing companies. It was in 2003 when iShip Logipack Inc was registered as a Manufacturing Company and started operating inside the Export Processing Zone. Full operation began in 2004, at first importing corrugated sheets from abroad and in mid 2005,it started its first extrusion process of these corrugated sheets in the Philippines.

This company was also the first manufacturer of corrugated plastic sheets here in the country. These said sheets resemble corrugated carton used for packaging or boxes. They assemble these sheets to form packaging materials for the products of their clients both here and abroad, reaching as far as Japan and the U.S.

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Volume 22No.1

They also design, assemble and supply pipe and joint products which are alternates for the fabrication of production tables, racks and trollies.

Their products eliminate the ancient use of welding, replacing it with a DIY method of clamping by joints, giving their customers the freedom of customizing their needs with ease.

On Ms Mhel’s part, she lets her managers and staff do the day to day operations secured that she has good and competent people. The group has a management team that sets policy directions and strategies. She is

fully abreast of the goings-on in the business as she meets with them regularly. She doesn’t go to the office all the time and this system gives her more freedom to fulfill her other duties.

Once Ms Mhel perfected the craft of delegation and time management, she began

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to take on other roles such as modelling and doing charity work outside of her comfort zone - her immediate and extended families. For the past 3 years, she has been supporting Loma Elementary School in Binan, Laguna, which has been the beneficiary of her modelling stints. Her latest charity project is the upcoming fashion and ballroom dancing event called “Brazilia” with fashion figure Boy Lizaso as her designer. Of course, a portion of the

proceeds of this occasion will go to this privileged and lucky school.

On a lighter note, this seemingly workaholic also takes the time to pursue her personal interests, to keep her motivated. She is into workouts, running, playing golf, hiking, trekking and mountaineering. Her latest conquest is reaching the peak of Mt. Apo. You can’t find a more diverse person than this.

Despite all of these, Ms Mhel remains simple at heart. Her ultimate dream is to see her company reach greater heights and her children taking over the business. But she is not obligating any of them to do this, she is still giving them the freedom to follow their hearts’ desires.

Seeing her company continue to help her people in terms of employment, success and livelihood is more than enough for her.

Having said all these, I leave you dear readers, a thought to reflect on. That in times when it is darkest and we are weakest, we can find light and strength, and eventually raise ourselves up along with the people we love. And as long as we believe in ourselves that we can do it, then we can.

This is what Imelda Pechera is all about. She is truly God’s blessing to mankind - and a gorgeous one at that!

Ms Mhel acknowledges the ff: Hair and Make-Up: Ram Pagadora Designer: Boy Lizaso III Jewelry: Kitsilver/Greenbelt Photographers: Gerald Inocencio, Dennis Guiriba and Roj Miguel

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Volume 22No.1

Pag-IBIG Fund wins AGAP Most Outstanding Accounting Office Award

Pag-IBIG Fund was recently hailed as one of the Most Outstanding Accounting Offices this year as state auditors and government accountants cited the agency for its transparency in financial reporting The Association of Government Accountants of the Philippines, Inc. (AGAP) presented the award to Pag-IBIG Fund at its annual convention held in Puerto Princesa City last October 21. Pag-IBIG Vice President for Finance Yolanda L. Espinas received the award on behalf of the agency.

“This is great news. This is a testament to Pag-IBIG’s observance of excellence and discipline in complying with stringent international rules on financial reporting. This entailed a lot of commitment and discipline, which is why I am proud of Pag-IBIG,” said Pag-IBIG Chairman Atty. Chito M. Cruz, who also heads the Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council.

The awardees of the Most Outstanding Accounting Offices are chosen yearly by AGAP based on the recommendations from the Commission on Audit (COA). State auditors

evaluate nominees based on the number of unqualified COA findings, and the accuracy and timeliness of submission of financial reports. COA Supervising Auditor Julia Moreno cited Pag-IBIG as one of the outstanding offices “because it consistently submitted financial reports on time and acted accordingly on audit recommendations as necessary. Audit opinion has been unqualified in CY 2012, 2013, [and 2014].”

“To be recognized by COA and AGAP is truly an honor. The credit belongs to our hardworking Finance team, which is headed by Deputy CEO Emma Linda B. Faria, who is the first recipient of FutureGov Magazine’s Government Chief Financial Officer of the Year, and Senior Vice President Florentino España Jr. To win the Most Outstanding Accounting Office award is proof of Pag-IBIG Fund’s steadfast commitment in pursuing the highest standard of quality and transparency in reporting its financial performance.

We adopted the International Financial Reporting Standard earlier than other agencies, we were the first agency to implement joint conferences with COA, and we comply religiously with the Code of Corporate Governance for state-run companies. We do all these to safeguard the Fund which belongs to our 15.7 million members,” said Pag-IBIG President and CEO Atty. Darlene Marie B. Berberabe.

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YAKULT LADIES: MONARCHY CHANNELS OF HEALTH AND WELLNESS Now an institution—37 years and counting—YAKULT celebrates this year not only its founding date but also the glory of Yakult Ladies in a fitting honor with their distinction as “Monarchy Channels of Health and Wellness.” A special ceremony unfolds on November 21 at the Manila Hotel not only to celebrate Yakult’s Anniversary but also to extol the feat of the Yakult Ladies with exemplary service not only to their mother company (Yakult Philippines) but also to let them take center stage for their precious role not only in making Yakult Probiotic drink available to the people but also in educating them on the health and wellness benefits the product brings.

Women, most of them mothers, hold a caring role that makes family members feel good because they are loved and nurtured. The old adage “Mother knows best” exemplifies the crucial role every Yakult Lady plays as she brings right to the doorsteps of homes or within the ambit of communities a drink, which when taken regularly, spells health and wellness. These ladies have a singular objective: To bring health to every home by making people acquire the habit of drinking Yakult each day.

Their mission meets the quest of every enlightened head of family or pillar of the home for lasting wellness to every single one of their family members, cognizant that indeed “Health is Wealth” and that good health habits must start at home.

“A bottle or two of Yakult each day keeps tummy diseases away” seems like a fitting mantra that these ladies have put to heart, hoping it would rub on to every person they come in contact with. Theirs is not just a daily bout with street life as peddlers of a product; theirs is a mission which they pursue almost every day of their lives with zeal—all because they know that the product they carry will bring its consumers a lot of good.

Ms. Marina Moreno (Name of Yakult Lady #1), who has been a Yakult Lady for 18 years now, speaks from the heart when she says, “It does not feel much like work to be a Yakult Lady; it feels like a mission.

Whenever I propagate Yakult to a prospect, I take about the health benefits Yakult brings with great confidence, even citing actual results of my own family’s experience of improvement in health.”

“My daughter Mariel used to have trouble not being able to eliminate body waste daily, but after some time taking two bottles of Yakult each day, that problem was solved.”

“A suki of mine in a subdivision which I supply with Yakult daily reported that his stomach acidity went away and he no longer suffered from tummy upsets caused by his intake of certain foods.”

“It must be the beneficial bacteria in every Yakult bottle—as many as 8 Billion live Lactobacillus Casei Shirota strain that fight harmful microorganisms that enter the body,” she explained with ease.

The key is Yakult’s being Probiotic: a marked health advantage.

The exact opposite of Antibiotic, Probiotic works more as a safe preventive measure against diseases.

On top of the beneficial bacteria, every bottle of Yakult contains many other ingredients that contribute to the potency of Yakult in helping bring about health and wellness among its regular users.

So when one says, “I want to be in the pink of health,” a typical Yakult Lady will quip, “Then go for Yakult! It’s a good start on the road to health and wellness.”

YAKULT—A HEALTH MINE IN COMPOSITION

Just what goes into every bottle of Yakult? Let us check it out!

Yakult rates low in caloric count—the

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By MILLIE VERA

calorie content per 80 mL bottle is only 60 kilo-joules, which is good new among weightconscious folk. In a nutshell, Yakult is all these: Composition: Calories …………………................ 60 kj L. Casei Shirota Strain …..........8 Billion Water (moisture) ………............….81.9% Solids …………………..…......…..18.1% Fat ………………………........….…0.1% Protein ………...………….......….…1.2% Carbohydrates …………..…......….16.5% Ash ……………..………….......…...0.3% Yakult is mainly dried skimmed milk, sugar, glucose, essence 8 billion live Lactobacillus Casei Shirota Strain. The key word is its being PROBIOTIC. Probiotic Lactobacillus Casei Shirota in Yakult brings on more assurances of being preventive in nature and generally carries no adverse effects. A couple of bottles of Probiotic drink Yakult can be consumed safely day after day without fear of overdose and damage to kidneys, among others, typically associated with taking Antibiotics at certain levels.

Probiotics are live microorganisms that promote people’s health by improving the balance of intestinal flora. The Probiotics concept works on the principle of “prevention is better than cure” and Yakult does much to lend veracity to the adage.

areas and in countryside areas, brave the streets, both paved and unpaved, rain or shine. As many of them have declared, they are unfazed by “less than spectacular floods and windy spells.” Theirs is a mission worth braving Nature’s challenges for. For them, every step they take in their daily journey laden with their trolley filled with probiotic drinks is a step taken in the name of Yakult works in the tradition of Probiotics – promoting life and wellness; and the Yakult ladies, in their decades-old tradition as trolley-trotting health providers, truly befit their new title as the “Monarchy Channels of Health and Wellness.” This is such a welldeserved royal title for these selfless vanguards of health and wellness!

YAKULT LADIES TELL A GOOD STORY YAKULT—HERE AND ELSEWHERE

Yakult Philippines is 37 years old this year but Yakult as a pioneering name in probiotics is actually almost 80 years old now.

Topnotch Yakult Lady Ms. Marina Moreno narrates that the story of Yakult started in Japan in the 1930s, upon the discovery by Kyoto Imperial University of Medicine Department of Microbiology protégé Dr. Minoru Shirota of the phenomenal strain of bacteria named after him. Dr. Shirota was the first in the world to succeed in culturing a strain of lactic acid bacteria beneficial to human health. Its PIONEERING status, added to proven potency, lends the brand greater strength that has been propelling global growth.

Each Yakult Lady has imbibed Yakult’s corporate philosophy, which has gained worldwide recognition. Today, the term “Shirota-ism” has become synonymous to Probiotics advocacy.

The statement: “We contribute to the health and happiness of people around the world through (the) pursuit of excellence in life, science in general, and experience in microorganisms in general” aptly captures this philosophy. And this is what the Filipina Yakult Ladies have imbibed as their mission, and serves as more than a mere tagline in their profession. They have spent days learning about their product in the seminar rooms and halls of the Yakult Calamba headquarters and even much more drinking the product themselves and experiencing its value to health and wellness. Ultimately, what they offer is a chance to attain a good digestive condition, enhanced by probiotic protection, and the general wellness and feelings of comfort and peace of mind that results.

The global mission of Dr. Minoru Shirota has gone far, as he has successfully enabled “overseas companies like Yakult Philippines to use their role as Probiotics

PIONEER to raise the quality of life of people throughout the world.” In this country, the mission of bringing this Probiotic drink near the doorstep of every home and every establishment of service and business continues to be carried out with increasing efficiency and intensity by Yakult Ladies dispatched in many areas of the country. Yakult has been faithfully adhering to its tried-and-tested distribution strategy. Some of them have been called “A” List Ladies in the previous years with their remarkable performance in fulfilling their mission. This is the company’s unique “Yakult Lady Delivery System”, which ensures that every bottle of Yakult is delivered at the right temperature and guaranteed freshness since the beneficial bacteria themselves have to be in perfect health when they reach their consumers’ digestive track.

The ladies do not only deliver Yakult—they also bring good tidings with their pleasant smiles that may brighten up anyone’s day. These friendly ladies are able to develop sincere friendly relationships. What’s more, they dish out sound health advice when warranted.

From Dr. Shirota’s point of view, the above-described strategy is viewed two ways: “It serves to make his trusted Probiotic health drink very accessible to the people and also serves to open up decent and reliable livelihood opportunities among womenfolk, who generally wield the “nurturing” role among family members.

The Yakult Ladies themselves are consumers of Yakult drink. They practice what they preach, endorsing something that one has tried and proven to work and which one firmly believes in, as these ladies are themselves Yakult drinkers and Yakult fans.

Their faith in this probiotic health drink gives them the credibility and the passion to parade their trolley of fresh Yakult drinks in the streets of cities as well as in suburban

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wellness, health, and wealth, for health truly is wealth.

YAKULT PHILIPPINES AND ITS DISTINGUISHED LADIES

Yakult Philippines joined the growing Yakult Family worldwide in 1978, its headquarters ideally located in Barrio Makiling, Calamba, Laguna, close to Metro Manila—ideal because of the need to make every Yakult bottle reach its destinations fresh. Yakult’s manufacturing facilities, expanded and refurbished in 2001, have well been able to meet the growing demand of existing consumers and the ever-growing market not only in Metro Manila and the

CALABARZON hub but throughout the country, in much the same aggressive stance that from Yakult Japan and then the United States, Yakult has spread its tentacles to practically every key city of the world.

The expansion and upgrading years back of the manufacturing plant in the Philippines for greater and more efficient production heralds the unprecedented demand growth of this pioneering Probiotic brand in this country alone. The enhanced manufacturing capacity was a timely move to meet an unprecedented growth in Yakult sales from Luzon in the northern part of the country down to Visayas and Mindanao.

Indeed the Yakult Ladies have really been making remarkable inroads in metropolitan and suburban communities, up to the far reaches of the countryside—whether in Luzon, Visayas, or Mindanao. Brave women these Yakult Ladies are! Brave and determined—truly the hallmark of a monarchial breed!

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food

Tutuban Center’s Foodstreet: Affordable Eats for the Whole Family & Barkada

Who doesn’t like street food? At almost every corner of the city, you will find a pushcart or makeshift stall selling your favorite chow. Whether it’s pork barbecue, grilled seafood, quick and affordable snacks are lined up that will surely fill your tummy. You can find it here at Tutuban Center’s Foodstreet.

Open from late afternoon till late at night, Foodstreet has numerous stalls selling all the chow and snacks your family and barkada can possibly want.

Choose from an assortment of grilled favorites and fried food that are cooked fresh and are guaranteed to be delicious eats.

Snack Stop

grilled seafood , squid , stuffed tilapia , stuffed milk fish , liempo ,prawn ,chicken and pork barbecue

French Milk Band

Mr. Don Melo Marketing Officer, Tutuban Center

dining area

The stalls at Foodstreet offer value-for-money food in a casual setting. You can chomp on your chosen pulutan with the whole barkada on almost any gimik night.

If dinner is on the menu, the choices are endless too.

Some stalls serve rice meals, such as tapsilog, while others dish out mami, siopao and siomai, shawarma and all kinds of sandwiches. If you want barbecue, you can choose from grilled chicken, liempo, dried squid, and even bangus.

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Volume 22No.1

MR. INTERNATIONAL 2015

Recently, it was literally, “ raining men “, at the Resort World , for the final selection of the Mr. International 2915. All the male contestants , were virtually goodlooking, tall than the average Filipino male and most of all, were sporting physique, that stated, that they are simply Gym rats.The evening , was the final stage, that has started in varying scenario.There were contestants , that emanated from the different provinces, where, they were originally selected.The said contest, is arguably considered one of the best and highly acclaimed male contest , and past winners, had made a major impact in the International contest, by winning the top award.

This year, the major Title at stake , were, Mr. International and the contest will be held in Manila, being the host. next, was the Mr. International Tourism, and the lucky winner, will be

send , to the Central American Country of Panama. Then , Mr. Global , will be flying to Bangkok , Thailand for the contest. The winner for Mr. International-Model, will be showing his fashion acumen, in Miami, Florida. Finally, Mr.International-Asia, will show his chops in China.

As ever, the winners were awash with cash prizes galore, big trophies, framed citations , endorsement contract, sterling sashes, not counting the flashes from the covering media and kibitzers.The evening was a fitting finale for the boy/s who could end up as stars, in our evanescent stage. This the 4th year being organized by PEPP Foundation - Prime Event Productions Philippines and the young producer Carlo Morris Galang. This year the Philippines is the host country for Mr. International 2015 Pageant to be turned over by last year title holder Mr. International Philippines Mr. Neil Perez.

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Bluewater Panglao-Biking Bluewater Panglao-Breakfast

Amuma Therapy Bluewater Panglao-Deluxe-Bedroom-4

Bluewater Panglao-HoneymoonVilla-Bedroom

Aplaya

Beach Huts

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Volume 22No.1

fashion

House of Mode Elle Opens an Academy for Dreamers

Creation of Alex Pigao.

A Mode Elle’s beautiful student wearing a Designed by a 14 year old girl, Chenee Sleek and sexy creation Michael Sta. Maria Abunda

by Russ Cuevas. creation.

Most often than not, children already know what they want to be when they grow up when adults ask them about their dreams. As they say, aspire big and start young.

Armed with talent, determination and proper guidance, young dreamers may well be on their way to success.

Fortunately for those who want to be part of the entertainment industry, there is a school that can Collection made by Aaron Dela Cruz. help them hone their skills and discover other talents as well.

The House of Mode Elle, a fashion house that caters to talented young artists, recently launched the Mode Elle Academy which is open to kids as young as two years old. Courses offered include modeling, acting, singing, dancing, personality development, makeup and photography. The students will be categorized in three sections, Group two to 10 years old for kids, 11 to 15 years old for teens, and 16 to 29 years old Educational Theater Association (PETA).

Castillo will handle modeling, acting and for adults.

Upon enrollment, students personality development courses. automatically receive lessons in modeling and Other instructors are Bong Lee for personality development. The aspiring artists makeup, Ojie Ramos, Jolie Navia and Champy will undergo 25 sessions but may also avail of Cachola for advanced photography, Joanne Co of Kids at Work and Marc Alcala for acting, the unlimited sessions if they wish to. Tall ones Jenny Saavedra of UP Music and Yamaha Music get to have an advantage as the academy offers scholarship to girls who are 5’7" (and up) tall, School for singing, and Christine Feliciano and and boys who are 5’10" (and up) in height.

Airalyn Dimapilis for dancing.

Many experts will share their But for Mode Elle, beauty is not just skin-deep. The “fashion house with a heart” is knowledge to the students and inculcate values and skills in them. The team of instructors will what the House of Mode Elle has been called since its inception in 2012 because it was built be headed by House of Mode Elle founder Allen Castillo, who has been training models for years for a charitable cause. As a cancer survivor and is also a theater actor from the Philippine himself, Castillo knows how hard it is to cope

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Adam Balasa’s wedding creation with such condition. His condition awakened compassion within him and led him to do volunteer work.

Castillo visited halfway homes and met other people suffering from cancer. They were just kids, trying to live each day, hoping a miracle will happen. The fight against cancer is a non-stop battle that not all patients can endure but with the support of family, friends and even strangers who are willing to lend a helping hand, the struggle may become a little bit more bearable.

Castillo knew he had to do something and hence, the House of Mode Elle was born.

Castillo believes that promoting beauty inside and out is the right way to go. True to its mission to promote beauty while helping cancerstricken children, the media presentation of the Mode Elle Academy kicked off with a fashion show for a cause, featuring 170 Mode Elle talents who were clad in clothes design by professional fashion designers.

Ticket sales were donated to the beneficiaries of Tahan Tahanan in Quezon City and Child Haus in Manila, two nongovernmental organizations that provide temporary shelter to kids with cancer and other non-communicable diseases and their families.

“We give scholarships to kids with cancer who want to be artists and models. One of the cancer survivors that we trained is Chantal Rivera. She has performed in some of our past events. We also give medications and other hospital necessities for these kids suffering from cancer,” disclosed Castillo.

events

Leica Store Philippines celebrates its first anniversary

MANILA. Leica Store Philippines celebrates its first anniversary with the launch of a new photo gallery and the new Leica SL camera. It is a month of triple celebrations for the premium German brand, Leica Camera in the Philippines. It was the same time last year when Leica Camera, the legendary German camera and sport optics manufacturer with over 160 years of heritage, opened its doors in Manila, Philippines. Since then, cameras that are designed after its founder Oskar Barnack’s philosophy of versatility, excellence and picture quality have become accessible to Filipino photo journalists, hobbyists and enthusiasts alike.

We believe that there’s more than meets the eye. There are stories and certain types of beauty that can only be recognized once they’re zoomed in or viewed from the lens—and it is what constantly drives Leica to innovate,” said Ivan Yao, Managing Director of Lucerne. “We are very happy to share this passion in photography with the Filipinos and being in Manila for a year now is indeed a great milestone,” he added.

Managing Director of Leica Camera Asia Pacific, Sunil Kaul says, “101 years of photographic history at Leica stands for generations of scientists and precision engineers who were never satisfied with anything that was only just tolerable. It had to be the best. German precision engineering and a worldwide ambassador for ‘Made in Germany’, Leica cameras attained the status of coveted collectors pieces and

status symbols. I send only my best congratulations to Lucerne on an excellent job in providing a destination for photography enthusiasts to exchange and share their stores.

To celebrate the first year anniversary of Leica Store Philippines, the company proudly unveils the Leica Gallery. For the initial salvo, the gallery will feature Fade Into Light— a travel photography series by AP Murillo and Raul Echivarre, that perfectly captures the act of gathering fish in Currimao, Ilocos Norte.

Taking the celebration of art and photography to greater heights, the event will also coincide with the launch of the new LEICA SL. A mirrorless system camera that sets new standards in terms of speed, picture quality and versatility.

Leica SL

The vision behind Fade Into Light

AP Murillo

Memories can be written or photographed, but not all are preserved for eternity. Some are ignored or often unnoticed, such as the seemingly mundane act of fishing using a net called Daklis— a long narrow, floating net mean to sieve the shallows for fish.

After chancing upon this activity in 2008, AP Murillo and Raul Echivarre have chosen to bring life to this overlooked subject through photography. Five years later, the works of these two photographers converge to form a series of hidden gems that a passing eye would have never caught.

About Fade Into Light

Raul Echivarre

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The title refers to a series of professions that are slowly waning into irrelevance. The first act of the exhibit focuses the spotlight on the heroic fishermen who want to give their children an entirely different future— something that no longer involves nets and long days in the sea.

Fade Into Light is a body of work that chooses to celebrate

the beauty of an honest day’s work. It is a nod to the hard workers who have one way or another been part of a chain that has brought food to our table; and who are now in the process of embracing new tomorrows along with the demands of time.

Photography for a cause

Helping the residents of Currimao, Ilocos Norte prepare for a brighter future ahead, Leica Gallery’s Fade Into Light will have the artists sell their masterpiece for a cause.

Proceeds will support the education of the fishermen’s children through the non-profit organization, Sitio Remedios Heritage Corporation.

A survey conducted in the said barangay showed that only 5% of the population afforded to go to college. To boost this figure, Sitio Remedios Heritage Corporation

“The Leica RF system, paired with its high quality lenses, makes it a very irresistible proposition. RF focusing surprisingly yields very sharp results almost as if the images were manually focused. To use a different system is something that is unthinkable ever since we shifted to this 5 years ago,” added Echivarre.

Taking the quality of photos to a whole new level, Leica gladly presents a new addition to their very impressive portfolio of cameras— the Leica SL. It features an electronic viewfinder that utilizes EyeRes technology. With a latency time below the threshold of perception, an impressive resolution of 4.4 million pixels and a magnification reminiscent of a medium format camera, this electronic viewfinder offers an entirely new visual experience and numerous advantages: the final image is visible in the viewfinder before the shutter release is pressed, which enables optimum control over the final picture in any situation.

The Leica SL also has the high-performance Maestro II series processor that allows photographers to capture even the fastest-

Fade Into Light

currently subsidizes the education of 25 and nine of them will graduate from college this academic year.

Funds that sustain this vision come from the operations of Sitio Remedios, a small bed and breakfast destination by the shores of the west Philippine Sea. Through this establishment, fisher folk and their wives also get to learn some housekeeping and hospitality skills.

Leica Camera on capturing the unforgettable moments

Creative director AP Murillo and management consultant Raul Echivarre, who are both members of the Camera Club of the Philippines, found the Leica M as an instrumental tool in achieving their vision for this project.

“While its size and weight has been a factor in choosing this system, what really sets it apart from other compact systems is its ability to enable us to use rangefinder focusing,” said Murillo.

moving objects. Meanwhile, the 24 MP CMOS full-frame sensor guarantees impressive dynamic range, excellent contrast rendition, exceptional sharpness, the highest resolution, and noise-free images in almost all lighting conditions.

More than a professional still-picture camera with video recording capability, the Leica SL distinguishes itself as a fully fledged video camera. With its sensor and processor, the camera enables the production of professional videos in cinematic (4K) resolution.

“With a new camera in line, a gallery with inspiring artists and visions, we at Leica are very sanguine about celebrating more colorful years here in the Philippines,” said Edith Dychiao, General Manager of Leica Store Philippines.

Leica Store Philippines is located at the Lower Ground Floor, Greenbelt 5, Makati City. For more information, visit http://www.leicacamera.com/. For Media enquiries, please contact: Leica Store Philippines, Marketing Head - Sharllene Ramos | Direct Line: +632 790 3908 | sharllene@lucerneluxe.com

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Volume 22No.1

When it comes to Family, Cheers to Good Times!

One of the things that most people regret in life is their lack of time spent with family, and not for showing affection to loved ones. Work and other preoccupations make such a hectic world where we’re constantly multitasking and spreading ourselves too thin, to the point where we’ve lost touch with what and who really matters in life.

Carlo Rossi understands this. So Cheers to Good Times!

Enjoy precious moments with your spouse and older family members in the company of Carlo Rossi. Catch up, trade stories, laugh and unwind. These moments are a celebration of life, which allow you to freely wear your heart on your sleeve when it comes to expressing appreciation to family and loved ones. It’s time to raise your glass and toast “to family, long life and good fortune”.

Carlo Rossi is a leading brand in the United States and several other countries around the globe, with over 30 years of experience in the wine industry.

In the Philippines, Carlo Rossi is the No.1 Wine brand with Carlo Rossi California Red, along with other flavorful variants to choose from: Carlo Rossi Red Moscato, “Because some like it sweet,” Carlo Rossi Sangria, for that “Fruity refreshing taste,” and Carlo Rossi Sweet Red, for that “Different Kind of Sweet.”

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Text by LOUIE GUARIN Photos by DAN AVILA

Miss Australia is Miss Global 2015

the venue of the 2014 tilt. Miss Global-Philippines 2014 Catherine Marie Almirante, emerged 2nd runnerup to Ela Mino of Canada who was adjudged Miss Global 2014.

Miss Global pageant’s slogan: “Empowering Women, Embracing Cultures, and Embodying the Beauty Within” speaks to a more modern, diverse and inclusive mission-beyond just physical beauty.

Rewind: Fifty gorgeous, smart and intelligent women from around the world gathered in one monumental beauty contest for a cause dubbed, “Miss Global 2015.” The 50 lovely bevies appeared in a well-choreographed opening production dance number dressed in immaculate white dresses. They sashayed and danced to an upbeat tempo.

Brian Corsetti, well-known USA-based TV host/producer; and Philippines’ Venus Raj, Miss Universe 2010 4th runner-up; served as the pageant’s hosts.

The national costume competition did not impress me at all.

I was disgusted. Some of the candidates’ were not even in their authentic country’s national costume. Why? Miss Global is an international beauty pageant per se, so to speak.

Nonetheless, my palpable excitement kept my adrenalin to a maximum speed when the girls took center stage one-by-one during the swimsuit portion. They paraded in 2-piece blue swimwear. A cacophony of hurrah heralded the theatre area. Truly, it increases male testosterones! Oh, La, La! C’est la vie!

Miss Philippines Candice Ramos Is 4th Runner-up

“I have met some of the most amazing and selfless people on my Miss Global journey. I have gained so much experience and learned many life lessons that will stay with me forever and assist me in my future. I have been overwhelmed by the people’s kindness and generosity. I have grown so much personally and professionally with the help of my management team who were there to coach, train and guide me every step of the way. I am feeling so very blessed and truly humbled. Never in my life would I have imagined that I would have this experience or opportunity. I am very excited and I have enjoyed the process and all that it has taught me,” quips Jessica Peart of Australia, proclaimed/ crowned “Miss Global 2015.”

The 3rd edition of Miss Global 2015 beauty pageant was held last 22nd of October at the Newport Performing Arts Theatre of Resorts World Manila, Pasay City.

Pauline Sofia Laping is the CEO/national pageant director of the Miss Global-Philippines, while Van M. Pham is the president & founder of the Miss Global Organization.

Flashback: In 2013, the 1st Miss Global search was held in Los Angeles, California, USA. Cabo San Lucas, Mexico was

Newly-crowned Miss Global 2015 Jessica Peart from Australia (center) flanked (from left) by 3rd runner-up, Gergana Doncheva from Bulgaria; 2 nd runner-up, Lorna Murphy from Ireland; 1st runner-up, Virginia Prak from Cambodia; and 4th runner-up Candice Ramos from the Philippines

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top 10. For the 10 semifinalists, Brian and Venus alternately called in the top 5 finalists in random order . The 5 finalists when through the usual question and answer portion as a barometer for their intelligence quotient.

One girl stood out when asked by pageant juror with the question: “What is the biggest challenge of being a beauty queen and why? She’s Jessica Peart and she smartly replied: “I’d like to say that there are many challenges in

(from left) Miss Cambodia-Viriginia Prak, Miss Myanmar-Htet Htet Yee Aung, Miss NepalSunita Pun and Miss Sri Lanka-Mahadewan Indeewari performed their traditional dances

On the local-front, the dashing Ken Alfonso, model/singer/ TV host; performed a song number as well.. His version of the ditty “All of me” endeared him to pageant’s aficionados.

Special awards were handed down to the lucky girls. To wit: Philippines’ Candice Ramos is the Miss New Placenta; England’s Sophie Rankin, Miss Azumi Boutique Hotel; South Africa’s Zandile Tanda, Miss Photogenic; Guyana’s Ariella Basdeo, Miss Enterprise; Ireland’s Lorna Murphy, Miss Fitness; Bulgaria’s Gergana Doncheva, Miss Talent; Myanmar’s Htet Htet Aung, Miss Fashion; Canada’s Eden Boutilier, Miss Goodwill; and Taiwan’s Jolie Chi, Miss Congeniality.

From 50 hopefuls it was narrowed down to top 20. And then from top 20 it was trimmed down to Miss Philippines Candice Ramos-4th runner-up Miss Global 2015

Entertainment numbers were provided by selected candidates. Miss Ireland, Lorna Murphy, did a remarkable Broadway/rhythm/jazz tap dance.

Virginia Prak of Colombia, Htet Htet Aung of Myanmar, Sunita Pun of Nepal, and Mahadewan Indeewari of Sri Lanka did breathtaking and impressive cultural dances of their respective countries. Their spot number, I aptly called “Dances of the World.”

Hats off!

Gergana Doncheva of Bulgaria rendered song number to the delight of the crowds. Gergana is a professional pop singer and rapper in her country. She magnetized us with her performance, and humbly said after her act, “Manila, I’m honored to be here and performed before you. Thank you!”

Lorna, Virginia, Htet, Sunita, Mahadewan and Gergana received thunderous applause. Thank you, girls!

Jessica Peart- Miss Global 2015

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Crowning moment of Miss Global 2015 Jessica Peart

being a beauty queen. The challenge for me has been seeing so much hardships and trials while participating in charity work. To see so many people struggling in life, and so many people joining in on the task. But the most positive thing is being able to contribute to changing the lives of those who aren’t having the best of times.”

The moment of truth was the announcement of the magic 5 winners: Miss Philippines Candice Ramos, 4 th runner-up; Miss Bulgaria Gergana Doncheva, 3rd runner-up; Miss Ireland Lorna Murphy, 2nd runner-up; and Miss Cambodia Virginia Prak, 1st runner-up.

Miss Australia, Jessica Peart is Miss Global 2015. Jessica is 21 years old.

She stands 5 feet and 11 inches tall. She wants to become a speech and language pathologist. Jessica is presently enrolled at Deakin University in Melbourne, Australia. Her ambition in life is to be an advocate of women’s rights and good health. For 3 years now, she has been working part-time at a local nursing school in Australia.

To Jessica, Virginia, Lorna, Gergana and Candice…CONGRATULATIONS! Mabuhay kayo! Cheers!

Volume 22No.1

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Text by LOUIE GUARIN Photos by DAN AVILA

Miss World Philippines 2015 Beauties (from left) Maria Vanessa Wright, 3rd Princess; Marita Cassandra Naidas, 1st Princess; Hillarie Danielle Parungao, Miss World Philippines 2015; Mia Allyson Howell, 2nd Princess; and Princess Emma Mary Tiglao, 4th Princess.

Miss World Philippines 2015: A Night of Glitz & Glamour

It was truly a night of glitz and glamour when past beauty queens witnessed the 5th edition of Miss WorldPhilippines 2015 grand coronation night held at The Theatre of Solaire Resort & Casino last October 18.

The pageant was under the auspices of Cory Quirino’s Global Quest and Arnold L. Vegafria’s Entertainment Productions.

Twenty-six lovely and talented ladies seemingly descended from heaven and brought forth their beauty, charm and sex appeal before screaming pageant aficionados.

Gwendolyn Ruais, Miss World 2011 1st Princess; Iya Villana-Arellano, TV star and commercial endorser; and Tim Yap, lifestyle columnist; served as the pageant’s hosts.

The Board of judges were: former senator Miguel Zubiri, Cris Albert of FILA, Fernando Carillo of the fame TV show, The Crowning Moment: Valerie Weigmann, Miss “Rosalinda”; Celine Matias, Jose Mari World Philippines 2014 crowns Hillarie Danielle Abacan of GMA-7, Flint Carl Richardson Parungao as the new Miss World Philippines 2015.

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of Solaire, Maria Franchesca Tan, Vic Alcuaz, Col. Ricardo Nolasco, Dr. Mary Jane Torres, former Ilocos Sur governor Luis Chavit Singson, Miss World 2013 Megan Lynne Young, and Ben Chan of Bench Shop (chairman of the board of jurors); to mention a few.

From 26 candidates it was narrowed down to 13 semifinalists. And from the top 13, it was trimmed down to top 5. The lucky Top 5 bevies were candidates number 12-Emma Mary Tiglao of Mabalacat, Pampanga; number 11-Maria Vanessa Wright of Cainta, Rizal; number 19Hillarie Danielle Parungao of Solano, Nueva Vizcaya; number 14-Marita Cassandra Naidas of Antipolo, Rizal; and number 21Mia Allyson Howell of the Province of Catanduanes.

The most anticipated part was the swimsuit competition and the VTR was shot at the Hannah Beach Resort.

The evening gown segment was divided into 3 batches. The 1st batch of candidates 1 to 8 wore black gowns, 2nd batch-candidates 9 to 17 in flaming red;

Hillarie Danielle Parungao named Best in Swimsuit winner

Arnold Vegafria, Megan Young-Miss World 2013- and Cory Quirino

Hillarie radiantly replied: “Always rely on compassion. I believe that compassion can open doors to many challenges in life. I also believe that in compassion we get to understand other people, and in understanding other people we become a better society.”

I was not surprised at all when Hillarie Danielle Parungao was proclaimed and crowned Miss WorldPhilippines 2015. Hillarie is 24 years old, stands 5’6" Best in Long Gown, Hillarie Danielle Hillarie Danielle Parungao tall with a whistle-bait Parungao-designed by Edwin Uy Miss World Philippines 2015 figure of 32-23-34. She will compete on December 19 at the prestigious 65th Miss World 2015 in Sanya, China.

Her runners-up included: Emma Mary Tiglao, 4 th Princess; Maria Vanessa Wright, 3rd Princess; Mia Allyson Howell, 2nd Princess; and Marita Cassandra Naidas, 1st Princess.

Valerie Weigmann, Miss World-Philippines 2014 passed on the crown to the teary-eyed and glamorous Hillarie Danielle Parungao.

Hillarie received one million pesos in cash, trips and products courtesy of the pageant’s sponsors. The four runnersup received cash and products likewise.

To all the winners…CONGRATULATIONS! Hillarie Danielle Parungao…Bring home the bacon!

God speed!

Miss Photogenic - Emma Mary Tiglao

while the 3rd batch-candidates 18 to 26 wore gowns in shades of white and flesh.

Unbelievable but true! Candidate number 19 went home with 9 special and corporate awards such as: Best in Sports Challenge, Best in Fashion Runway, Best in Swimsuit, Best in Long Gown, Miss Zen Institute, Miss Techno Marine, Miss Solaire, Miss Figlia and Miss Phoenix.

The top 5 finalists put their best foot forward during the Q&A rigmarole. Hillarie Danielle Parungao stood out and received a resounding applause from the crowds when she answered the pageant’s juror, Cris Albert’s question on what her philosophy in life was.

Hosts - Gwendoline Ruais, Tim Yap and Iya Villania-Arellano

Top 13 semi-finalists

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Volume 22No.1

scene

Text by LOUIE GUARIN

Parul Shah: Miss Grand

Photos by JR NOSES

International 2015 3rd Runner-up She dazzled the members of the fourth estate with her beauty, charm and grace when she entered the Monet Ballroom 2 of Novotel Araneta Center that afternoon of October 27. It was her homecoming-cumpress conference arranged by the PR and marketing teams of Binibining Pilipinas Charities, Inc. (BPCI). We were treated to audiovisual clips of the said international pageant while waiting for the girl of the day, Parul Shah and her co-winners in the 2015 Binibining Pilipinas contest.

Parul Shah placed 3 rd runnerup at the Miss Grand International 2015 beauty tilt held last 25th of October at the Indoor Stadium Huamark in Bankok, Thailand.

Anea Garcia of Dominican Republic was crowned as Miss Grand international 2015. Claire Parker of Australia, 1 st runner-up; Vartika Singh

Miss Grand International 2015 Best in National Costume Parul Shah with designer Edwin Uy

our children, and our future. Peace filled with education, empowerment and understanding.

Peace even in the smallest voice, multiplied by millions can transform this world. So join me as one with the world. Please stop war and choose peace.”

Miss Grand International beauty pageant’s main advocacy is the promotion of peace. In its annual beauty search, the organization aims to search for potential women to encourage and run the campaign, “Stop the War and Violence.”

“The most influential person in my life would be my father. I do believe that peace starts at home. I was born to a Filipina mother who is Christian, and an Indian father who is Hindu, in a country that is governed by Muslims and I do believe that we could co-exist with each other if there is understanding and where there is no power struggle and no one tries to be above the other. I’ve learned this

Parul Shah (5th from left) welcomed by (from left) Ann Lorraine Colis, Hannah Ruth Sison, Yvethe Marie Santiago, Stella Marquez de Araneta, Rogelie Catacutan, Christi Lynn McGarry and Pia Wurtzbach

of India, 2nd runner-up, while Rattikom Kunson of Thailand, was 4th runner-up.

Parul, a nursing graduate from the University of Cordillera in Baguio City described her experience in the international pageant as surreal. She genuinely expressed her gratitude to all her Filipino fans and supporters who accompanied her in her triumphant journey in the said quest. She dedicated her achievement to her family, BPCI, and most especially to Mrs. Stella Marquez de Araneta, to her mentors and to all Filipino people all over the world.

Parul grew-up in Dubai, India and the Philippines. Her mother is a Filipina (a devout Christian), while her father is of Indian descent (a practicing Hindu). She speaks fluent English, Filipino, Hindi, Gujarati, and mind you, the Ilocano dialect.

She shared to the entire world during that pageant night how her father was able to foster a peaceful environment amongst his family despite several differences in culture and beliefs.

Parul Shah in her “peace speech” was quoted as saying: “Our ancestors have died fighting for the life we live today. Let’s honor that by choosing peace, peace for our homes,

from my father. He taught me that in having humility and respect, peace can ultimately be achieved,” answered Parul Shah when asked the question on who is the most influential person in her life during the Q&A portion for the top 5 finalists.

The statuesque and morena beauty bagged the Best in National Costume award.

Her costume was designed by Filipino designer, Edwin Uy. In my ambush interview with Edwin, I asked him to describe his creation. “Parul’s costume was made of wooden and gold beads including her headdress. It took 3 weeks to finish the bejeweled Muslim-inspired Maranaw costume. Three workers did magic to my creation,” Erwin informed this writer.

The members of the press asked Parul the following questions in to-to.

Herewith: What’s the best thing you’ve learned in the pageant? “I enjoyed every minute of the pageant immensely, and I met the 77 candidates from different countries. I had so much fun!”

What’s the best life lesson after capturing the title? “With or without the crown, I gave 100% of my best in the pageant.

Although the title was not meant for me, I don’t regret it. That day was really for Anea Garcia of Dominican Republic. I’m happy I emerged 3rd runner-up.”

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Parul Shah - 3rd Runner-up, Miss Grand International 2015 What was in your mind before the announcement of the top 20 and top 10? “I have to be there. I have to get that slot. I have to bring home the bacon. Thank you God!” How did you plan your “peace speech”? “It’s how you deliver it. You have to feel your sincerity. It must come from the heart.”

Who among the candidates did you became close with? “I became close to the candidates from Netherlands, India, Norway, Spain and Colombia. Miss Netherlands is my roommate.”

Do you have plans to get married?

“Not yet. I have to send my siblings to college.

Marriage is not in my priority list at this moment.”

How did you prepare for the quest?

“I was in complete shock when I got the news from my mentor, Tito Rogil Flores that I would represent the Philippines in this stint. It didn’t sink in first. It took some time. I underwent all the necessary training to win the pageant.”

Note: Parul Shah was Binibining Pilipinas-Tourism 2014.

“I felt the outpouring of love from the Filipino people and their support. I love you all! At 27 years old, I will retire with flying colors. I’m proud of where I am now. A new chapter in my life has opened. I will go back to reality - work as a nurse in Dubai for a living.

Anytime the BPCI needs me, I will be here right away,” Parul said in her closing spiel.

Parul’s homecoming affair was attended by the Binibining Pilipinas 2015 winners: Pia Wurtzback, Binibining PilipinasUniverse; Janicel Lubina, Binibining PilipinasInternational; Cristi Lyn McGarry, Binibining Pilipinas-Supranational; Rogelie Catacutan, Binibining Pilipinas-Globe, Anne Lorraine Colis, Binibining Pilipinas-Tourism and crowned “Miss Globe 2015” last October 8, 2015 in Toronto, Canada; Hannah Ruth Sison, 1 st runner-up; and Yvette Marie Santiago, Binibining Pilipinas-Supranational 2014.

The beauty queens gave their “congratulatory messages” to Parul, and they reminisced their joyous moments during their batch days.

Parul Shah…

CONGRATULATIONS! Cheers!

events

GINEBRA SAN MIGUEL INTRODUCES NEWEST CALENDAR GIRL

Ginebra San Miguel Inc. (GSMI) introduced its newest calendar girl in a grand launch held recently at the Oak Ballroom, Sequoia Hotel in Quezon City.

Actress, singer and model Arci Muñoz is Ginebra San Miguel’s Calendar Girl for 2016. Arci joins the ranks of popular beauty queens, models and actresses who have graced Ginebra San Miguel’s calendars including two-time calendar girl Marian Rivera (2009 and 2014), Anne Curtis (2011), Solenn Heussaff (2012), Georgina Wilson (2013), Angelica Panganiban (2007) and her Pasion de Amor co-star Ellen Adarna (2015).

Arci, a Theater Arts major at the University of the Philippines, entered show business in 2005 via a talent reality search. Since then, Arci has appeared in several television projects, and is currently the lead vocalist of the rock band Philia.

In 2008, she represented the Philippines in the prestigious Asia Supermodel Competition. Her biggest TV break came earlier this year when she landed the lead role in the toprating drama series Pasion de Amor on ABS-CBN. “Being part of the Ginebra San Miguel family is such a big honor and privilege,” says Arci. “I had fun during the photo shoot because our concept for the calendars showed who I am behind the camera. The calendars are actually a sneak peek into my

life. Not many people know that I am athletic, that I work out and play basketball. I am a rocker but I also love girly things like fashion,” relates Arci.GSMI has released five layouts for its 2016 calendar. “The first Ginebra San Miguel Calendar Girl was launched in 1988, and since then, consumers look forward to this yearly,” says GSMI vice president and Marketing manager Nelson Elises. ”For 2016, we chose Arci Muñoz as our brand ambassador because she embodies the Ginebra San Miguel brand character—strong, versatile and resilient. She is a complete package. She’s got the beauty and the brains. She is multi-faceted. She’s a singer, an actress and a model. Truly, ‘ganado sa buhay’ and definitely one of the country’s most talented, and hottest up and coming artists,” adds Elises.

Other past Ginebra San Miguel calendar girls were former beauty queens Anjanette Abayari (1994), Alma Concepcion (1995) and Michelle Aldana (1998); former movie stars and TV personalities Janna Victoria (1999), Patricia Javier (2000), singer Geneva Cruz (2001), Rica Peralejo (2002), Aubrey Miles (2003), Belinda Bright and Maricar De Mesa (2004).This year, Ginebra San Miguel has added a different twist to the annual calendar’s promotions. For every purchase of two bottles of Ginebra San Miguel Bilog, Angelito, Frasquito or a bottle of Frasco at 7-Eleven, MiniStop and other participating outlets, consumers will get a limited edition magazine calendar. To add to this sweet deal, each magazine calendar comes with a set of “Ganado coupons,” which offers discounts and freebies or premium merchandise items in selected outlets.

GSMI’s flagship brand Ginebra San Miguel has been enjoyed by many for over 180 years and remains the no. 1 selling gin in the world according to leading global drinks journal Drinks International.

Last year, Ginebra San Miguel launched its “Ganado sa Buhay” campaign, which celebrated the hardworking Filipino worker who is “ganado sa buhay”, who works hard to provide his family a better future.

Other GSMI products are GSM Blue, GSM Blue Flavors, Ginebra San Miguel Premium Gin, Don Enrique Mixkila, Antonov Vodka, Vino Kulafu and Primera Light Brandy. For more information, log on to www.ginebrasanmiguel.com or like the official Facebook page www.facebook.com/BarangayGinebra

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Volume 22No.1

technology Leading motorcycle manufacturer Honda Philippines, Inc. (HPI) has launched Generation S, a new breed of smart, responsible riders who choose and value Honda scooters for their revolutionary technology, innovative features and practicality.

“These Gen S smart riders appreciate how their Honda scooters, powered by Smart Te c h n o l o g y, enhance their daily life by creating positive impacts on

Honda launches Gen S

fuel savings, road safety and the environment, especially in the long term,” said HPI president Daiki Mihara.

The Generation S campaign was launched during the Honda Gen-S Scooter Parade and Festival at the Blue Bay Walk in Pasay City, to coincide with the unveiling of the all-new Zoomer-X, the third instalment in Honda’s Gen-S

scooters which are all equipped with Smart Technology features.

“The Honda Gen-S scooters now include the BeAT-Fi ‘Scooter for All’, the Click125i ‘Premium Scooter’, and the Zoomer-X ‘Unique Real Naked Scooter’ which all feature Enhanced Smart Power, Idling Stop System and Combined Brake System.

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These are the perfect scooters for the varied lifestyle and personalities of our next generation smart riders,” HPI product planning manager Elie Salamangkit Jr. said.

Honda’s Enhanced Smart Power (eSP) is an advanced engine technology that combines high power and high fuel efficiency with a quiet start and smooth engine revs. This enables the engine to be more “eco-friendly” as it maximizes the combustion process while minimizing friction to optimize energy output and reduce the risk of waste. The eSP technology is integrated with the Unique Honda ACG starter that is able to start the engine jolt free and with a more refined sound.

Enabling more fuel efficiency and savings is Honda’s advanced Idling Stop System (ISS) which automatically switches off the engine after three seconds of idling and restarts it with just a twist of the throttle for a quick start up and go.

This further minimizes fuel consumption especially when stopping at traffic lights or making brief stops.

image of structured stainless steel frame from dual seat to RR grab, making it as stylish and customizable as it is powerful and innovative.

During the whole-day event which was capped by the GEN S scooter parade, visitors were treated to exciting games and raffles, photo booths, live DJ and band performances, Smart Technology workshops and a special AVP message from Honda GEN S ambassador and Zoomer-X endorser Daniel Padilla.

Scooter enthusiasts were also treated to test drives and exciting activities courtesy of Smart Tech testing booths where

Ensuring enhanced road safety is the Combined Brake System (CBS) which allows for quicker and safer stops as it distributes brake force to the rear and front wheels with just a squeeze of the left brake lever.

Zoom-in on unstoppable features

Aside from its Honda Smart Technology features, the Zoomer-X also comes with an upgraded 110cc PGM fuel-injected engine that delivers clean combustion and low friction for 5% higher torque and 6% higher power, making

they experienced how the Smart Technology works in Honda’s latest line of scooters. These included the Scooter Dyno Test which measured the scooter’s speed and fuel efficiency and the Scooter Ramp Test which highlighted the Idling Stop and Combined Brake Systems.

The all-new Honda Zoomer-X is available in lively Marigold Yellow and trend-setting Mat Crypton Silver Metallic colors for Php93,900.

the scooter and its rider an unstoppable force on the road.

Compared to its first version, the all-new Zoomer-X has an 8% higher fuel efficiency which notches at 62.5km/ liter (ECE R40 Test Method).

The all-new Zoomer-X also features bold advancements in design and feature as it draws inspiration from a naked, tough and durable design concept.

The unique scooter now sports a fully-digital meter panel, new headlight in stainless steel frame, inverted shock absorbers, 12" cast tubeless tires, unique seat compartment, and real naked style which features new wrapped-around

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Volume 22No.1

events Mabuhay Vinyl Marks 50th year

The 2nd Caraga Regional Tourism Stakeholders Summit

Philippines’ leading chemical manufacturer also bestows recognition on long-term partners Mabuhay Vinyl Corporation (MVC), the only chlor-alkali producer in the Philippines, looked back on half a century of success by having a Nostalgia Manila-themed 50th anniversary celebration held on August 27 at the Shangri-La Hotel Makati.

More than a hundred MVC customers, business partners, guests, officers, as well as past and present employees gathered together and reminisced about the challenges and triumphs the company had faced during the past five decades and looked forward to 50 more years of enhancing lives. Guests from major shareholder Tosoh Corporation and Mitsubishi Corporation were likewise present in full force in support of the company’s historic occasion.

It was in 1965 when the company founded by Judge Guillermo B. Guevara, the Mabuhay Rubber Corporation, restarted operations as a chemical company producing caustic soda and polyvinyl chloride resin. The company was formally renamed Mabuhay Vinyl Corporation in 1967.

Leading the celebrations were Mr. Edwin Umali, MVC President and Chief Operating Officer, and Mr. Kenichi Udagawa, President of Tosoh Corporation. Tosoh Corporation is MVC’s largest shareholder and is a Japanese chemical and specialty products and materials group that comprises over 140 companies worldwide with a multi-ethnic workforce of more than 11,500 people.

MVC also took the opportunity to honor and recognize a number of their most valued business partners. Special appreciation was given to Unilever Philippines and Procter & Gamble, both of whom have been the company’s customers since the 1960s.

The celebration was replete with 1960’s elements with the décor, entertainment performances and musical renditions adopted from the decade when MVC was founded. Hosted

by Ms. Issa Litton, the event was made more memorable with the performances of Mr. Richard Poon, The Bloomfields and the Manila Philharmonic Orchestra Quartet.

MVC creates products which enhance Filipino lives, empower the growth of other industries and contribute towards nation building. It is the only producer of caustic soda and liquid chlorine, and the leading producer of hydrochloric acid and sodium hypochlorite in the Philippines.

Photo above shows (L-R): KazuyasuHagashiyama, President of Tosoh Polyvin Corporation; Katsumi Mineshige, Associate Director and Sr. General Manager, Corporate Strategy of Tosoh Corporation; Toshinori Yamamoto, Managing Director of Tosoh Corporation; Edwin Ll. Umali, President and Chief Operation Officer of Mabuhay Vinyl Corporation; Kenichi Udagawa, President of Tosoh Corporationl Shingo Tsutsumi; Associate Director and Sr. General Manager, Chlor-Alkali Division of Tosoh Corporation; Tetsuro Hachimura, President of Philippine Resins Industries, Inc. and Naoki Tominaga, Manager, Corporate Strategy of Tosoh Corporation.

Department of Tourism-Caraga Region

Promil Pre-School and ABS-CBN Launch I-Shine Online Talent Camp

Hi moms and dad! Have you heard the latest news from Promil Pre-School? Raise your hands if you do coz they’re back and ready to search for lil kids who will shine bright showcasing their talents and skills online.Promil Pre-School I-Shine Kapamilya host Dimples Romana is back together with mentor for Visual Arts Xian Lim and new mentor for Performing Arts Karylle to search for kids who have the potential to shine with their talents through Promil Pre-School IShine’s latest online talent camp beginning October 5.

For its fourth season, Promil Pre-School and ABS-CBN are bringing the talent search closer to more parents and their children by launching the first online talent camp (www.ishine.abs-cbn.com) to encourage and help mothers to nurture and develop their children’s gifts through comprehensive workshops.

This year, the talent camp expands as workshops will now include lessons in both Performing Arts (singing, dancing, acting, music), and Visual Arts (painting, drawing, crafting). ”A mom’s role is always important. My mom is my shining light and I wouldn’t be where I am today if it wasn’t for her, that’s why launching Promil Pre-School I-Shine as an online talent camp is a great idea because this will be more accessible to more moms and they can be more involved in nurturing the talents of their kids,” Visual Arts mentor Xian Lim shared.

To join the online talent camp, moms need to register and choose where to enroll their kids, whether performing arts or visual arts in the website (www.ishine.abs-cbn.com).

Once enrolled in the online course, moms and kids will have the chance to watch and learn from video lessons each week taught by celebrity mentors Karylle, John Prats, and Menchu LauchengcoYulo for Performing Arts and Xian Lim, Agot Isidro, and Christina Dy for Visual Arts. new

Promil Pre-School I-Shine talent camp will have weekly video challenges for students in line with the workshop, which will serve as their audition videos.

Students who will emerge as the Promil Pre-School IShine online talent camp champions (one winner per category) will be chosen by the mentors and will win a cash prize, a roster of TV guest appearances, and a contract with ABS-CBN’s Chicken Pork Adobo, among others.

The Promil Pre-School I-Shine Talent Camp aims to help exceptionally talented preschoolers develop their full potential.

It is the product of Promil Pre-School’s advocacy in developing Filipino children’s talents with the help of their parents, proper care, and proper nutrition.

This online talent camp is on-going already and I’m sure that everyone is excited to enroll their children. I’m encouraging parents their to try this new kind of online contest because there will be task every week and this will help your child hone their talents and skills plus there will lots of fun and learning waiting. Good luck to all joining!

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