Antonov’s Vodka Mixed Drink is the newest toast of the town

Press Release:

Antonov Vodka Mixed Drink made its stylish debut recently, as Ginebra San Miguel, Inc. kicked off the new product line in an exclusive event attended by trade partners. 

Antonov vodka mixed drink brand endorser  VJ-actress Solenn Heusaff  leads the pack of hip partygoers from the industry and charmed the night’s guests with a soulful serenade.

Cebu Pacific Citibank Card

Cebu Pacific, the Philippines’ largest national flag carrier, in partnership with the world’s most respected financial services company, brings you the only credit card you need – the new Cebu Pacific Citibank Card.

NBA FIT 2011 gets school kids high on health and wellness

Press Release:

NBA FIT -- the NBA’s global comprehensive health and wellness program that encourages physical activity and healthy living for children and families through programs and events – high-kicks its 2011 program with a school tour around Metro Manila from July 25 to August 3.

Don Bosco Technical College of Mandaluyong and Lyceum of the Philippines will be the first two schools to experience the NBA’s high-energy outreach campaign in this year’s new, expanded NBA Fit scenario, followed by FEU-FERN and Notre Dame of Greater Manila on July 26, Rizal Technological University and Pasig Catholic College on July 27, La Consolacion College Manila and Jose Rizal University on July 28, St. Vincent High School and University of the Philippines on July 29, SM Mega Mall on July 30 and 31, National University on August 1, Rizal High School on August 2, Emilio Aguinaldo College and Immaculate Conception Academy on August 3.

NBA Fit challenges, mass exercise activities, nutrition seminars and skills demonstrations will fill the two hour-long sessions, with the entire student body expected to join the activity. Winners of the NBA Fit Challenges per school will compete in a final showdown at the SM Mall of Asia on August 6. NBA Asia Head of Basketball Operations Jama Mahlalela leads the fitness and game challenges, assisted by school coaches.

The school clinics also expand to the malls on July 30 and 31 and August 5. Fully endorsed by the Department of Health and supported by Energen, Gatorade and Air 21, NBA Fit aims to communicate, educate and motivate all Filipinos to take up an overall healthier lifestyle to combat modern-day ills such as obesity, illness, malnutrition and early aging.

Filipino-American Miami Heat Coach Erik Spoelstra – an NBA Fit team member and NBA Fit Ambassador to the Philippines -- arrives in Manila August 1 with his Heat coaching staff to lead a special NBA-style basketball camp for elite athletes of the Energen Philippine Under-16 National Team.

Hot Young Designers Announces the Finalists for the Fashion Face Off 2011

Finally the Finalist for the Fashion Face Off 2011 has been announced! ^_^

Press Release:

The Hot Young Designers Marketing Company (HYD) is local partnership started by Ginger Arboleda and Sharon Teng. Their main advocacy is to discover new, young and talented Filipino designers yearly, equip them with the necessary business skills, and present them with an opportunity to start their own collections. This opportunity is a challenge called Fashion Face Off.

HYD’s Fashion Face Off 2011 is a nine month long competition, where five selected designers with diverse fashion backgrounds and various styles will be given a budget to create ready-to-wear pieces. At the end of nine months, the designer with the most earnings wins the competition. “We see that individuals now search for their own styles that represent who they are as a person, and we wanted the market to have a choice on what clothes to purchase by giving them various styles and designer creations in just one online eCommerce site. We are all looking forward to the creations of the chosen designers,” said Ginger Arboleda, the General Manager of Hot Young Designers Marketing Company.

All aspiring designers had to undergo a screening interview, where they had to show their past works and had to come up with RTW designs that would impress the panel of judges. The screening was done at Le Bistro Vert, one of the Major Sponsors of HYD’s Fashion Face Off 2011. The designer contestants who made the cut were:

Klart Lim – Klart is an Atenean graduate who took fashion courses in The Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising in Los Angeles. She was also an intern at Anna Sui in the US. Although, she just launched her KMBRLY brand a few weeks ago, she joined HYD Fashion Face Off to gain more knowledge and to get to create more styles and designs. For her style, she likes to give her collections a fun and sophisticated vibe.  Her pieces are colorful, fun, balanced, and comfortable. Klart would want to design for those women with the goal of empowering them and enhancing their natural beauty, by creating pieces that make them feel confident, happy and secure. She believes that choosing the right fabrics and finding the right colors will help create ideal attire. A balance between weight and texture is essential in making things work. Above all, Klart believes that highlighting individuality is important. Clothes should be able to reflect a person's individuality.

Bailey Dava – is an independent candidate. She has her own swimwear line called Baileylicious, which graced the pages of local magazines and online sites. She now wants to explore making ready-to-wear clothes. She believes that designer fashion should be available to everyone. She wants to create a collection that may be worn by any woman, may she be a housewife, college girl, young professional, a model or a socialite. She will be creating a line that is not only wearable on the runway or on print ads, but it should be something that can turn heads on the streets, as well. Her pieces will be available to various body types, from women who have boyish frames, pear-shaped bodies, or voluptuous figures. She believes that designer clothes should be accessible to women from every race, nationality or color.

Jackie Abueg – Jackie is a graduate from De La Salle College of Saint Benilde and took designer fashion workshops at the Asian Institute of Fashion, under the guidance of Lulu Tan-Gan. She also worked as an intern for Patrice Ramos-Diaz. She believes a woman can bring out her beauty through simplicity. For every design that she makes, she keeps in mind the principle of timelessness while maintaining traditional aesthetics.  Jackie believes that comfort plays a huge role in tropical living. Through the ingenious use of prints, she creates pieces that reflect her personality.  Jackie also believes in breaking the barriers of daywear and evening wear. Fashion is more than just what to wear and when. It embodies culture, character, and commitment. It is a tool for expression, and an outlet of creativity. Without fashion, our world would be very dull, cultures would be less unique, and people would have less room for self-expression.

Marc Blanco – Marc took up fashion courses at the Fashion Institute of the Philippines. His personal style is a style that is free from the constraints of pre-conceived notions and formats. It signifies freedom --- freedom that is popular among innovators and trendsetters. It will be enjoyed by everyone who loves irreverence in fashion that resonates across a multi-generational and dual-gender audience whose individuality and inner confidence shines on the outside. His style is sexy, smart and dynamic. Marc is a charismatic person, with an inner confidence and a lovely attitude. Marc’s pieces represent contemporary rock --- sensual, chic, and strong. It’s exudes a balance between masculinity and femininity.

Renan Pacson – Renan’s personal style is recognized by fluidity and a natural movement. He merges comfort with versatility. When asked about his fashion philosophy, Renan drives inspiration from Mother Nature. His mission is to dress people in such a way that they fit harmoniously with nature. Renan mentions that his philosophy is not just a poetic line. It enhances a deeper belief in creativity, imagination and art, which is a gift and hence, needs to be utilized. His design influences are expressed in the complex mixture of arts, mathematics and geometry that form the anatomical construction of his clothes. Variations are endless and therefore, he aims to explore this art of defining and tailoring, continuously searching for those rare combinations that really work. He believes that everyone is entitled to some form of luxury, but luxury for him does not mean spending huge amounts of money for an item. Renan defines luxury as something sensual, and this can come from wearing a perfect-fitting cotton t-shirt to a figure-flattering denim jeans. For him, luxury is that fleeting feeling that gives you extreme comfort and confidence and it gives you empowerment and inner glow. He wants luxury to be accessible to everyone.

The fashion collections of these designer contestants will be available for purchase on the 1^st of October at the HYD Online Shop (hotyoungdesigners.com). Co-presenter for the Fashion Face Off 2011 is Yabang Pinoy. Major Sponsors are Giordano, Ever Bilena, Le Bistro Vert, HD Make Up Studio and Academy, Suesh, DragonPay and Xend. Minor Sponsors are Evita Peroni and Glagla.

For more updates on the Fashion Face Off 2011 and the designer contestants, please visit http://hotyoungdesigners.tumblr.com/ or http://hotyoungdesigners.multiply.com/. You can also follow our facebook page and twitter account. For sponsorship inquiries, please contact hotyoungdesigners@gmail.com.

NBA FIT Returns to the Philippines to Promote Health and Wellness

Filipino-American Miami Heat Head Coach Erik Spoelstra to Lead Expanded Program

Press Release:

MANILA, July 20, 2011 – NBA FIT returns to the Philippines from July 25-Aug. 7, across Metro Manila, the National Basketball Association (NBA) announced today.  The 2011 Philippines program will see an expanded schedule following the success of last year’s inaugural event.

NBA FIT is the league's global comprehensive health and wellness program that encourages physical activity and healthy living for children and families through programs and events. 

NBA FIT Philippines 2011 is fully endorsed by the Philippines Department of Health (DOH) and will feature Filipino-American Miami Heat head coach Erik Spoelstra, who led his team to the NBA Finals this season. Spoelstra, an NBA FIT team member and NBA Ambassador of the Philippines, will be assisted by some of his Heat coaching staff, as well as local health and wellness experts and celebrities.

NBA FIT programming will include the following elements during the two week event:

NBA FIT Clinics – Held at grade schools, high schools, universities, and shopping malls, these interactive health seminars will focus on three keys to a healthier lifestyle — regular physical activity, better daily nutrition, and smart personal health choices. Fans can take part in various health tests, enjoy healthy cooking demonstrations from celebrity chefs and take part in the NBA FIT Challenge, a timed fitness obstacle course with chances to win great NBA prizes.  Participants with the best times from the tour will be eligible to participate in the grand finale of the NBA FIT Clinics at the SM Mall of Asia Music Hall on August 6^th, 2011. The NBA has set a goal for 10,000 fans to make their own commitment to healthy living by signing an NBA FIT Pledge.

NBA FIT Development Camp – Spoelstra and Heat assistant coaches David Fizdale and Chad Kammerer, will lead a basketball camp for the Energen Philippine Under-16 National Team, which is currently preparing for the FIBA-Asia Under-16 Championships in October. The camp will be hosted by the Araneta Center at the world-famous Araneta Coliseum on August 5, 2011.  Gatorade will conduct advanced hydration “sweat tests” that can help educate and prepare the participants for future competitions.  Spoelstra will also lead a coaching clinic for coaches from the Basketball Federation of the Philippines and from National Capital Region high schools and colleges, who will also be invited to observe the camp. 

Celebrity NBA FIT Challenge – Following the NBA FIT Development Camp, 16 celebrities from the entertainment and sports world will be divided into four teams to see who can complete the NBA FIT Challenge in the quickest possible time. The winning team will win autographed prizes for their favorite charity.

NBA FIT Fun Run presented by Air21 – The second annual NBA FIT fun run, co-organized by the NBA and RunRio, the premier race organizer in the Philippines, will be held on August 7, 2011 at the Fort Bonifacio Global City.  Approximately 6,000 runners are expected to participate in the run.  Distances include 3K, 5K, 10K and the newly added 21K.  For registration details, log on to RunRio.com.

Spoelstra and the NBA FIT team will also partner with the Philippine Department of Health and Health Secretary Enrique Ona to promote healthy living among local Filipino youth and to educate them on the dangers of smoking, drugs and excessive alcohol consumption.

“I had a really fulfilling trip last year working with Filipino families and youth and I am thrilled to come back to the Philippines under the NBA FIT program,” said Erik Spoelstra, Head Coach of the Miami Heat. “Healthy living and physical activity are so important and NBA FIT is a chance for me to give back to the local community where basketball is such a passion amongst the people.”

“We had such a great response to our first NBA FIT program last year, and we are excited to bring this back to the Philippines in a much bigger way this year, said Ed Winkle, Senior Director, Business Development & Marketing Partnerships, NBA Asia. “We thank our passionate Filipino NBA fans for making this possible and our partners for their continuous support in promoting health and fitness to the Filipino community.”

Official partners of the NBA FIT Philippines 2011 include Gatorade, Energen, Air21, Head & Shoulders, Alaska, Sanofi-Aventis and Philippine Airlines. Media partners supporting the camp are Basketball TV, Studio 23 and NBA Premium TV. Partners in sport include Run Rio and Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP). Venue partners are SM Malls and Araneta Center. Community partners endorsing the program include the Department of Health, and the Food and Nutrition Research Institute.

For more information about NBA FIT Philippines 2011, please log on to www.nba.com/philippines or follow us on twitter at www.twitter.com/NBA_Philippines

About the NBA

The NBA, founded in 1946, is a professional sports league and global business that features 30 teams in the United States and Canada.  During the 2010-11 season, NBA games will reach 215 countries and territories in more than 40 languages.  Official NBA rosters currently feature 83 players from 40 countries and territories.  NBA merchandise is sold in more than 125,000 stores in 100 countries on six continents.  NBA.com averages more than 26 million page views per day, with more than 50 percent of the site’s visitors coming from outside of North America.  The NBA is the No. 1 U.S. sports league on Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube, with the most fans, followers, and videos viewed on each, respectively.

Friday Food Trip: Ongpin Mañosa Restaurant

Located at 926 Ongpin St. Binondo Manila, Mañosa offers authentic Chinese Food. Open from Monday to Saturday, 10:00 am to 9:00 pm.

FREE Red Ribbon Treats is back at Eastwest Bank!

Yes It's back! Last year, I was able to enjoy this offering from Eastwest Bank! It gets better this year with the addition of Cheese Roll, Ensaimada, Classic Mamon, Pan Grilled Chops Half and Any Half Roll!

• This Promo is open to all EastWest Bank Credit Cardholders ("Cardholders") in good credit standing.
• Promo period is from June 24 to September 30, 2011. Redemption period is from June 24 to November 30, 2011.
• To qualify for a FREE Red Ribbon treat, the Cardholder must make a purchase using his/her EastWest Bank Credit Card at any merchant during the promo period corresponding to the spend requirement below

• To redeem, the Cardholder must present his/her EastWest Bank Credit Card and surrender the valid original credit card charge slip/s (Customer's copy) at particpating Red Ribbon outlets nationwide.
• Upon redemption, the Eastwest Bank Credit Card will be validated against the credit card charge slip/s presented. The credit card details in the charge slip/s must match with the EastWest Bank Credit presented.
• Redemption is valid for dine-in and take-out only and is not valid for delivery.
• Cardholders can redeem maximum of five (5) Red ribbon treats per day, per store. Unreadable charge slips will not be allowed for redemption.
• The offer cannot be exchanged for cash or products other than the offers indicated above.
• Eastwest Bank shall not replace expired, lost or stolen charge slip/s.
• Eastwest Bank reserves the right to charge the cost of the free treats redeemed from Red Ribbon against the Cardholder's Eastwest Bank credit card should his/her redemption be found to be fraudulent.
• In case of dispute in respect of the Cardholder's eligibility, coverage of promo dates, fulfillment, etc., Eastwest Bank's decision shall be conclusive. All questions or disputes regarding the Cardholder's eligibility for the Promo or for any redemption shall be resolved by eastwest Bank at its sole discretion with prior approval from DTI.

Take note that all other transactions that are not supported by charge slips like online purchases, mail/telephone-order transactions, cash advance availments, Insta-Cash/Balance Transfer/Convert-to-Installment transactions, Quick Bills, auto-charge insurance premiums, fees and charges are not eligible under the promo.

Per DTI-NCR Permit No. 4545, Series of 2011.

A Liter of Light Campaign to lighten up thousand of homes in Payatas

Press Release: 

A Thousand Points of Light is the first large-scale activity of the Isang Litrong Liwanag (A Liter of Light) Project of MyShelter Foundation. My Shelter Foundation is a non-profit, non-government organization, established in 2005 by its founder and executive director Illac Diaz with a trust of finding uncommon solutions to common problems. Through the years, it has introduced groundbreaking social enterprise, appropriate technologies and alternative construction in the Philippines, pioneering projects such as the Pier One Seafarer's Dormitory, the Design Against the Elements (DAtE) competition, and the Bottle School Project. With the help and support of partners, sponsors and volunteers, MyShelter Foundation continues to create a system of sustainability and reliability through its capability-building and employment-generating projects.


The three day activity started yesterday July 1 until July 3, 2011 which aims to bring "sustainable" and "green" lighting technology to 1,000 homes in the Payatas Community.

Isang Litrong Liwanag, MyShelter Foundation's latest venture, is a sustainable lighting project which aims to bring the eco-friendly solar bottle bulb to low income communities nationwide. Designed and developed by students from the Masachussetts Institute of Technology (MIT). The Solar Bottle Bulb is a devise based on the principles of Appropriate Technologies - a concept that provides simple and easily replicable technologies that address basic needs in developing  communities.

The Solar Bottle Bulb is a contraption made from recyclable PET bottles, CG corrugated sheets and a solution of water, chlorine and salt. By using this readily available materials and the natural source of light - the sun, the people in the community are empowered to utilize a cheap and long term alternative to electric light. With the Solar bottle bulb installed in their homes, housewives will be able to work on their domestic chores; children will be able to study under better light; and households and small-scale business can save on their monthly expenses. To date, beneficiaries of the project have been saving Php200.00-400.00 a month on their monthly electric bills.

A Thousand Points of Light is a three day pioneering activity with the singular goal of lighting a thousand homes in Payatas community. From the garbage, PET bottles will be collected and transformed into Solar Bottle Bulbs by following these simple steps:

Volunteers will engage in different tasks , from the preparations (involving drilling of holes and organization of materials), to the actual assembly and installation of the bottles in the homes. Apart from displaying the power of the technology, the project aims to bring together the efforts of the community, volunteer delegations from different areas, as well as media partners namely: Meralco, IPM group, Bosch Foundation, Schneider Electric, Puyat  Steel, Themeworks and Mannasoft, in order to show that it is possible for anyone, even with just the simplest materials to change the world.

"I hope this A Liter of Light Campaign will reach those remote areas in the provinces which lacks or does not have access/supply of electricity".

If you want to volunteer, donate or simply inquire feel free to email them at info@aliteroflight.org or at myshelterfoundation.ph2@gmail.com. You can also visit and like their Facebook page and follow them on Twitter.

SPREAD THE WORD! ^_^

I'm Shoe In Love: Rescheduled plus updates!

I was not able to post this when EastWest Bank notified me that there will be having a Shoe In Love Sale at NBC Tent on June 25-26 because surely I'll miss it! =(. Good thing it was rescheduled! ^_^

Together with LIST, Eastwest bank, ETC and Multiply, The I'm Shoe In Love: Find your Perfect Pair will push through on July 9-10, 2011 - 10:00 am - 8pm at NBC Tent Bonifacio Global City.

This bazaar is going to be a 2-day sale event that aims to carry leading commercial as well as online brands of footwear. With over 100 booths, this bazaar will be a shopping mecca for all you shoe aficionados out there. With the many varieties of footwear available, this is the best place for you to find that pair (or those pairs!) that will not only fit your feet but your personality too.

Good news to all Eastwest Bank Credit Cardholders, Free Entrance awaits us! The first 1,000 Eastwest Bank Credit Cardholders who will attend will get a FREE I'm Shoe In Love tote bag!

For the Non-Eastwest Bank Credit Cardholders, an entrance fee of Php 50.00 will be charge.

For those who purchase the Groupon deal, this will still be valid.

Participating brands are as follows: Charles & Keith, So Fab, LYN, Figlia, Ipanema, Grendha, T. Studio, Flatshop by VNC, Barbie by Shubiz, Vibram Five Fingers, Swatch Seasiders, Cushe, Elle, Hush Puppies, Sebago, Converse, The Ramp, Suelas, Marengo, Cole Vintage, Trunkshow, Terra & Agua, Sole Sister, Keep, Frollic, Suki, Republic, Marc Ecko, Zoo York, Skechers, And1, Gola, Shoes to Kill, Everybody Needs A Pair, GBX, Katie Shoes, Virtual Mae, S&H, Gold Dot, Blushing Geisha, Souq International and many more!

Check out their FB page for the newest updates - http://www.facebook.com/TheLiSTGroup 

See you all on July 9! ^_^