MarNigo Serenades the Elderly During Vivo’s Charity Event

                       
Singing loveteam Maris Racal and Inigo Pascual, also known as MarNigo, have graced the Christmas charity event of global smartphone brand Vivo at the God’s Grace Home Care Center (GGHCC) in Quezon City.

Aptly named as Vivo Treasured Moments, the event was meant to bring happiness to the elderly living at GGHCC as the smartphone maker’s employees led in donating cash and goods for the benefit of the home care center.

GGHCC is an institution that accept clients who are the elderly, the disabled, and other patients who need palliative care. Owned by Grace Fe T. Capital and Rufino M. Capita, the institution strives to provide the
highest quality care for their clients and perform as the substitute of family care.

Aside from helping in distributing gifts, Maris and Inigo also entertained the elderly and performed their hit songs and covers.


Despite his busy schedule, Inigo spent time with the GGHCC elderly and staff.

Inigo performed first and sang his most famous single, “Dahil Sa’yo,” to the enjoyment of the GGHCC residents.


Inigo made sure the elderly had fun during Vivo’s outreach.

Aside from singing, he also played the “Hephep hooray!” game with the elderly, home care center staff, and Vivo employees. Inigo may have lost the game, but he remained energetic throughout the game and encouraged the remaining players. 


This lolo almost upstaged Inigo with his singing voice.

For his second performance, he sang “Sana Ngayong Pasko” while interacting with the lolos and the lolas. He even approached some of them and made them sing a few lines.


Maris is a ray of sunshine to the GGHCC elderly.

Maris, meanwhile, rocked the house a bit with her rendition of “Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree.”


Like any doting apo, Maris assisted the lolas during the game.

She also played “Siomai, Siopao, Suman” game with the elderly. It was a more challenging version of “Hephep hooray!” Maris was a great sport as she eagerly helped the elderly understand the game and interacted with them every chance she had.





Maris made one of the lolos at GGHCC cry as she performed her original song, “Ikaw Lang Sapat Na.”

The young star also shared her original composition, “Ikaw Lang Sapat Na,” with the elderly and reached out to them during her performance.

The visit to GGHCC is Vivo’s fourth outreach program in the Philippines. The smartphone brand previously aided Cottoleng Filipino, Habitat for Humanity, and the AFP Medical Center (V. Luna General Hospital).

Through their presence and talent, MarNigo was able to make an impact in the lives of both GGHCC staff and residents. Like these rising stars, Vivo aims to impart compassion, kindness, and happiness as part of the company’s responsibility to society. Aside from developing high-grade smartphones, Vivo also has a heart for humanity.

Catriona Gray sets to compete for Miss Universe 2018

The Miss Universe fever is on and with that our very own Miss Philippines, Catriona Gray is now in Thailand to start her journey in the 67th Miss Universe Pageant in Thailand.

In her send off at the airport early in the morning today(November 29), Catriona Gray looked so elegant in her Chakri inspired green and gold ensemble for her departure here in the Philippines and for her arrival outfit in Thailand.She said that her outfit was a way for her to praise the beautiful country she is going. 

Catriona feels more excited than nervous in competing for Miss Universe in Thailand, she is excited to meet her roommate and all the girls in the competition. She is also very thankful to her fans for their trust and support throughout her journey.

The Miss Universe Pageant is set on December 17, 7am, live in Bangkok, Thailand.

Jumpsuit by: Anthony Ramirez Atelier
Jewelry by: VIDA LIM
Hair By: Brent Sales
Make Up by: Jelly Eugenio

#MissUniverse #Philippines #MissUniverse2018

#UAAP81 Women's Basketball: Lady Tamaraws returns to the finals after ending Tigresses Cinderella Run.

The Far Eastern University Lady Tamaraws returns to the finals after they ended UST's Cinderella run 68-66.

The Lady Tamaraws took control of the whole game, leading by as much as 13 points in the third period, but the Tigresses tried to pull a comeback in the final period although the Lady Tams were able to escape it with the win after time ran out for UST.

Clare Castro led the charge for the Lady Tamaraws after she erupted 32 points and 15 rebounds, meanwhile Fatima Quiapo added 12 points for FEU.

Season 81 MVP Grace Irebu led the way for the Tigresses with 28 points and 13 rebounds, Reynalyn Ferrer added 11 points, and Misaela Larossa added 10 points. The Tigresses went to battle La Salle in a play off for the fourth seed and then faced the third seed Adamson in the step ladder semifinals.

The Lady Tamaraws sets up a best of three finals against the defending and still undefeated NU Lady Bulldogs this coming December 1, 11am, at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City.

#UAAP81 Playoffs: UP is back in the finals after 32 years, erases Adamson's twice to beat.

The University of the Philippines isn't anymore exempted in the finals of the UAAP after they erased the twice to beat advantage of the Adamson Soaring Falcons 89-87 in an overtime second game of the semifinals.

Juan Gomez De Liano led the Maroons with 30 points, Paul Desiderio salvages the win for UP with 16 points including the game winning basket with 11 rebounds, Bright Akhuetie had 13 points and 17 rebounds.

Jerrick Ahanmisi led the flight of the Falcons with 20 points, Jerom Lastimos added 17 points including the overtime basket, Papi Sarr added 16 points and 15 rebounds, while Simon Camacho added 10 markers.

UP sets up a battle of Katipunan as they face the defending champions Ateneo Blue Eagles in the best of three finals that will begin this Saturday, December 1, 2011 at the Mall of Asia Arena. 

Julie Anne San Jose: The Embodiment of Vivo’s Edge

                                   

Singer-songwriter and actress Julie Anne San Jose has come a long way with her talents. With a career that has spanned more than a decade, Julie Anne has worn many hats: from acting in soaps to producing albums to singing and writing her own songs. Young, beautiful, and full of ambitions, Julie Anne makes the perfect Vivo endorser as she embodies what the brand is: Youthful, beautiful, edgy, and a relentless innovator.

Julie Anne started out very young; no wonder at the age of 24, she already has a multitude of accomplishments under her belt.

“I started singing at two and a half years old. It was my grandparents’ idea to pursue my singing, to pursue being an artist. Then, they encouraged me to join various pageants like Little Miss Philippines. But I stopped for a while because I need to continue my schooling,” she said as she reminisced her ups and downs in the industry.

“I’m just very glad and super-blessed that I have the chance now to pursue my grandparents’ dream and my dream as well. Ever since I was a kid, I’m really passionate about music,” Julie Anne added.

Julie Anne says it’s important to keep innovating herself to offer fresh takes on her craft.

With a relatively long career in entertainment, Julie Anne never fails to put herself on the spotlight despite the many new artists that come along. In her performances and TV appearances, Julie Anne consistently exudes beauty and confidence as she reinvents her appearance and continuously hone her talents.

Vivo is very much the same. The brand relentlessly aims to produce phones with designs that are aesthetically pleasing and highly functional. Sleek and chic, Vivo smartphones are a powerhouse both in specs and design.

“Vivo is a super nice brand. I’m really into selfies. I’m just really glad that Vivo got me as one of its endorsers. I’m just happy to be part of the family… I love Vivo’s features like the In-Display Fingerprint scanner and the camera and the Face ID access,” Julie Anne said.

This is why Vivo and Julie Anne are made for each other. Just like the young songstress, Vivo always reinvents itself with new technology that gives the brand a competitive edge amongst all its other contemporaries. A prolific innovator, Vivo is always ahead of its competitors in terms of cutting-edge technology.

Julie Anne is a proud Vivo endorser.

“I’m really looking forward to more of Vivo’s new smartphones and technology in the future and share them to the youth,” Julie Anne said.

It is exciting to see a bright, young celebrity and a respected global brand collaborate. There is so much in store and to look forward to with Julie Anne and her campaigns for Vivo.

Webnovel Hosts First Fan Meeting in Manila

Webnovel Hosts First Fan Meeting in Manila

Webnovel, a global fictional stories hub, hosted its first-ever fan meeting in Manila to discuss the creation and translation of Webnovel narratives to Filipino fans and authors last November 24, 2018.

(Webnovel’s Fan Meeting in Manila)

Rich Content and Active Community

Officially launched in 2017 as an overseas portal of China Literature, which is China's largest online literature platform, Webnovel is a comprehensive platform, both on website and app. It is committed to the global dissemination of web novels, bringing more value to authors worldwide and delivering high-quality web novels and excellent reading experience to global readers.

As a leading authorized digital reading platform and literature intellectual property (IP) incubator, China Literature has reserved more than 10 million digital works, hosted 7.3 million authors. Those Chinese TV dramas on the air in the Philippines, such as Fighter of the Destiny, Martial Universe and The Rise of Phoenixes are all intellectual property belonging to China Literature.

The novels on Webnovel are constantly updated, with many free chapters. Readers support their favorite authors and translators in various ways, while the active readers spend over 1.5 reading hours daily, and with their encouragement, the authors and translators get further motivated to be more productive and to deliver better works.

Webnovel offers users an interesting and diversified interactive community service, where they can easily understand diversified culture by following updates, posting comments, learning the culture behind a work.  Meanwhile, they can share their reading and writing experiences and have fun.

Up to now, the total number of unique visitors has exceeded 20 million. It has more than 200 individual translators and groups, and over 5,000 original authors. About 200 English translations of web novel works and over 9,000 original English works have been published on Webnovel.

(Webnovel’s homepage)

Incentive System for Authors

Authors can create their own story on Webnovel and the Webnovel’s editorial team will provide professional writing skills to authors. The excellent royalty payment and Contracted Works Guarantee systems will ensure the authors’ earnings.

Webnovel has millions of loyal users. With various platforms such as the app, mobile website, and desktop website, all works will gain immense exposure. In addition, authors will also have the chance to participate in the commercialization of their works. They can bring their characters and stories beyond the pages.

At the present time, more than a dozen categories are available to readers, including fantasy and romance , etc . More and more works are constantly being created.

(Rich content and categories created by authors)

Webnovel in The Philippines

With the popularization of digital reading, Webnovel is growing rapidly, adopting a diversified business model. Now, it’s on top of e-book reading apps ranking of Google Play.

Fantasy and romance novels on Webnovel are extremely popular in the Philippines. As of November, 2018, 30% of Webnovel’s global readers are Filipino readers. Nearly thousands of local authors are creating their stories on Webnovel too.  Anjeeriku’s PS I'm (not) Over You and Lynerparel’s Adopted Soldier are among top titles of them.

Currently, some of the Filipino authors can earn more than one thousand US dollar a month on Webnovel. Their income will rise along with their continuous updates and growing fan base.

There will also be novels written in the local language on Webnovel in near future. Hard-copy books will also be published by local industry partners in the Philippines.

#UAAP81 Ateneo ends FEU's season 81 campaign

The Ateneo Blue Eagles dominates the FEU Tamaraws 80-61 to book their ticket to the finals.

Thirdy Ravena led the Eagles flight with 22 points, Angelo Kouame added 18 points and 11 rebounds in this game.

No one on the side of FEU scored in double digits, their top scorer was Kevin Ebona with 9 points, the Tamaraws really struggled in this game.

The Tamaraws bids adieu to their six players this season namely, Prince Orizu, RJ Ramirez, Axel Inigo, Richard Escoto, Jasper Parker and Arvin Tolentino.

#UAAP81 Juniors Basketball: 11/25/18

The Far Eastern University-FERN Baby Tamaraws upsets the Ateneo Blue Eaglets in overtime 87-80. 

FEU shrugged off a cold start in this game after they dominated the Blue Eaglets in the fourth period although they weren't able to seal the game at 70-68 after Ateneo was able to force an overtime in this match, going into the extended regulations RJay Abarrientos went unstoppable after he scored 12 out of FEU's 17 points in the overtime period to give the win for the Tamaraws. 

Rjay Abarrientos scored a season high 28 points in this game, teaming up with Abarrientos is Xyrus Torres who added 21 points, while JB Sajonia added 14 points for the Baby Tamaraws in this game for them to go 2-1. 

Ateneo's tower of power Kai Sotto topped again with 31 points and 13 rebounds, Geo Chiu added 11 points and 11 rebounds and Ian Espinosa had 10 points. 

__________________________________

The De La Salle Zobel Junior Archers sneaked past the UPIS Junior Maroons 55-48. Lance Jomalesa led the Junior Arches with 15 points and 19 rebounds followed by Louis Subido's 13 points. Meanwhile Ralph Labao top scored for the Junior Maroons with 11 points and 13 rebounds.

The Adamson Baby Falcons topped the UE Junior Warriors 56-44. Ap Manlapaz top scored for the Baby Falcons with 14 points and 16 rebounds, Jesse Sullano top scored for UE with 12 points and 11 rebounds. 

Kevin Quiambao and Terrence Fortea teamed up for NU Bullpups as they beat down the UST Tiger Cubs 84-55. Quiambao scored 13 points while Fortea added 11 points, Gerry Abadiano and Reyland Torres scored 10 points respectively also for NU. Johnvic Casingcasing led the Tiger Cubs with 19 points

Ang Pangarap Kong Holdap

Pepe Herrera, Jelson Bay, Jerald Napoles, and Paolo Contis will make you laugh out loud as they play aspiring thieves in "Ang Pangarap Kong Holdap". Written and directed by neophyte director Marius Talampas, produced by MAVX productions and Octoarts Films, this is one movie you shouldn't miss this November 28 in cinemas nationwide!

Eman, Carlo, and Toto are the dumbest thieves in Barangay Husay, a town that houses the best hold-uppers, snatchers, and criminals in Manila.  They are an embarrassment to the town, and are always mocked by the other group of criminals because they have never succeeded in any of their hold-up attempts.

Ka Paeng, the leader of the organization of criminals in Barangay Husay and father of Eman, decides to add newcomer Nicoy to his son’s group so they can improve their chances.  The idea didn’t sit well with the group but they didn’t have any choice.

Nicoy, desperate to be accepted by the group, presents an opportunity.  He shares an information about an item that will be bought for a large amount of money in an abandoned warehouse.  Nicoy suggests that if they rob the trade, it will change their lives forever.

The heist, he says, will launch them as the top criminals in Barangay Husay.  Unknown to them, a lof of other dangerous parties are also interested in the trade, including Ka Paeng himself.

Will the heist fulfill Eman, Carlo, and Toto’s dreams to become the top criminals in Barangay Husay?  Or will this be another one of their embarrassing failed robberies?

Pinoy Fighters Reigned Supreme in One: Conquest of Champions

Filipino Fighters once more dominated the One Championship cage as they went on a romp to continue the winning streak of the Philippines in the biggest Asian Mixed Martial Arts tournament held at the Mall of Asia Arena. 

In the main event reigning ONE Heavyweight World Champion Brandon “The Truth” Vera of the Philippines made quick work of Italy’s Mauro “The Hammer” Cerilli, stopping his opponent with a well-placed left hook counter to the jaw that turned the lights out on the Italian. After an aggressive Cerilli stalked Vera across the cage, the Filipino-American took a step back and uncorked the counter that landed right on the button. Cerilli was out before he hit the canvas as referee Olivier Coste stepped in to call a halt to the contest just passed the one minute mark. The victory also earned Vera GoDaddy KO of the Night honors.

In the co Main Event, Eduoard Foloyang took home the One Lightweight World Championship belt after he scored a Unanimous Decision win over Singapore's Amir Khan, Folayang dominated Khan from start to finish, punishing his younger opponent with a variety of striking combinations featuring spinning heel kicks and sharp elbows. Khan tried his best to counter Folayang’s offense, but appeared a step slower and couldn’t pin down Folayang’s timing. In the end, all three judges saw the bout in favor of Folayang.

Former ONE Featherweight World Champion Honorio “The Rock” Banario of the Philippines overcame a game effort from challenger Rahul “The Kerala Krusher” Raju of Singapore to win by unanimous decision after three rounds. Banario dominated Raju in striking exchanges while also threatening with submissions in the first round. Raju made it a competitive bout in the second frame, but Banario came alive once again in the third and nearly finished the Singaporean with a rear naked choke. In the end, all three judges saw the bout in favor of Banario.

Jeremy “The Jaguar” Miado of the Philippines sent the crowd into a frenzy with a second-round technical knockout victory over China’s Peng Xue Wen. Miado looked to trade hands early on, clipping Peng with solid punches from different angles. With Peng opting to continue exchanging strikes in the second round, Miado capitalized on the opportunity, dropping his opponent to the mat with a stinging right uppercut and then drilling a barrage of follow-up blows to force the stoppage.

Vivo Y95 and Y91 are phones of the modern go-getter

Global smartphone brand Vivo is known for its youthful and energetic vibe. Thanks to its legion of young followers, Vivo is known to constantly innovate to match the dynamic and ever-changing landscape of self-expression and communication led by the fresh generation. This tight adherence to innovation can be seen through the launch of the brand’s Y series, a set of Vivo smartphone models which cater to a younger crowd.

But why exactly is Vivo’s Y series created for the young? Let us count the ways:

1. Vivo’s Y series offers convenient and high-quality photography

In today’s world of “pictures-or-it-didn’t-happen”, tools for self-expression must always come in handy. Same goes for tools that would ease today’s fast-paced lifestyle both in work and play. Photo-taking with Vivo’s Y series is easy and convenient. AI-powered camera in mobile phones are dominating the smartphone arena and Vivo spearheads this great technology, enabling users to get the most out of their device. Vivo is famous for pushing innovation as its key agent for delivering topnotch products, delivering its brand promise of being in the frontline of cutting-edge smartphone technology. The Vivo Y91 boasts of an 8MP front and 13MP plus 2MP back AI-powered back camera and the Vivo Y95 of a 20MP front and 13MP plus 2MP back camera. Photos taken with these are flawless and sharp, and akin to professional shots taken by a DSLR camera.

The Vivo Y95 is truly the phone of today

2. Vivo promises a fast and smooth performance

Vivo phones, apart from its stylish and premium look, are sought after because of this one powerful feature: a powerful processor that ensures faster processing speeds, quick app activation, and seamless app switching. Both the Vivo Y91 and Y95 are equipped with Qualcomm Snapdragon 439 Octacore which enables the phone to function smoothly as you maximize multiple apps and high graphics games.

3. One can never go wrong with the Y series’ high-capacity battery

One’s smartphone must be able to keep up with all the demands of a fast-paced lifestyle. With heavy app use and constant social media access, most smartphone batteries end up consumed.  Vivo understands this constant need and as such, the Vivo Y91 and Y95 battery capacity is at an ample 4030mAh which is further made powerful by an exclusive smart-energy power management system. This allows you to use apps and consume data longer even while you are on the go. This is perfect for any go-getter who are constantly pursuing day-by-day errands and goals.

Vivo’s latest Y series, with its powerhouse specs and affordability, truly fit the lifestyle of the contemporary dynamo. Grab your own Vivo Y95 or Vivo Y91 for only Php 13,999.00 and Php9,999.00 respectively, available at Vivo’s official online stores on Lazada and Shopee.

Throwback with The Company and Jon Santos in The Theater at Solaire this December 1

Throwback Shindig

                        

Groove back to the decades of golden music of the 60s, 70s, 80s and 90s in a concert driven by nostalgia and one that will tickle the funny bones. See the Philippines’ premier vocal ensemble on stage with a class act comedian in “Throwback with The Company and Jon Santos” on December 1, 2018 at The Theatre at Solaire.

Starting out as an out-of-college regroup, The Company has evolved in their 3 decades in the music industry. From singing the traditional genres, they decided to move to acapella and vocal jazz as a new challenge to themselves and for the novelty of the pieces. Living to its namesake, The Company reinvented their identities while maintaining the bond that they have developed in the years prior their success. The release of their singles “Everlasting Love”, “Muntik na Kitang Minahal” and the popular love song “Now That I Have You” which is often used as movie theme songs, or in wedding halls, have seemingly immortalized their names. The original members apart from Moy Ortiz, have moved on to pursue the next chapters of their lives but not without passing on the torch to their successors whom have kept their legacy alive and very much felt today.

A stark contrast to the steady melody of songs comes Jon Santos, a powerhouse comedian famous for his impersonations that imprint themselves into the mind. His satirical impressions of the country’s most prominent political personas are complemented by his quick wit, allowing such a seemingly hilarious number to become the controversial stirrer of important conversations. He has transformed himself to the likes of Former President Joseph Estrada, Sen. Miriam Santiago (+), and Batangas Governor Vilma Santos who he admits, is his favorite. Although he became known for his comedic prowess, Jon was able to establish his credibility as a theatre performer who can add more spunk to any character he portrays. He has performed as lead in “Priscilla Queen of the Desert”, and more recently, “Rak of Aegis”.

Page 1 of 2

The Theatre at Solaire’s advocacy of bringing Original Pilipino Music (OPM) under the limelight means offering acts that the audience demands, but also presents ingenious collaborations. “This unexpected tandem will highlight another layer of OPM that goes beyond the tunes, lyrics and voices. The Company and Jon Santos together on one stage merges what the Filipinos love most – good music and witty comedy. You will witness a new wave of theatrics that’s as exciting but with more spontaneity and humorous reality jabs.” says Audie Gemora, Solaire’s Director for Entertainment.

With The Company’s vocals injected with Jon’s brand of comedy, expect a night filled with throwbacks with the best “retro” beats that will make you dance, laugh and remember the heydays of the past,

For tickets to “Throwback with The Company and Jon Santos”, you can call TicketWorld at 891-9999.

#UAAP81 Playoffs: FEU outlast La Salle to book last ticket to final four

And the FEU Tamaraws barged back into the Final Four after they outlast the De La Salle Green Archers in a neck and neck 71-70 for the last spot in the final four.

Arvin Tolentino saved the day for the Tamaraws after he knocks down a cold blooded three in the final 5 seconds of the match to solidify FEU's win and their return to the final four, he also top scored for the Tamaraws with 15points.

Barkley Eboña came big in this game with 12 points and 16 rebounds, Kenneth Tuffin followed with 11 points, and Richard Escoto wrapped up the top scorers for FEU with 10 point.

Santi Santillan top scored for La Salle with 10 points.

Brandon Vera ready to defend title agains Mauro Cerilli in One: Conquest of Champions in Manila

The largest global sports media property in Asian history, ONE Championship™ (ONE), recently held the official ONE: CONQUEST OF CHAMPIONS Kick-Off Press Conference last Tuesday, 20 November at the City of Dreams in Manila. In attendance were Chief Financial Officer of ONE Championship, Mr. Hua Fung Teh, ONE Heavyweight World Champion Brandon “The Truth” Vera, world title challenger Mauro “The Hammer” Cerilli, former ONE Lightweight World Champion Eduard “Landslide” Folayang, and Singaporean star Amir Khan.

Also in attendance were CMO of Zilingo, Marita Abraham, and Vice President, Gaming Operations of COD, Mr. Roger Lwin.

Announced at the Press Conference were news of ONE Championship’s new athleisure business and the launch of the official ONE Championship online store, offering global fans direct access to a wide range of urban lifestyle streetwear. Available at https://shop.onefc.com/, consumers will be able to purchase the newest merchandise and pre-order special limited edition products globally online, anytime and anywhere.

Ticket information for ONE: CONQUEST OF CHAMPIONS is available at www.onefc.com.

Vivo Provides Phone Discounts for Lalamove Drivers Nationwide

Global smartphone brand Vivo, in partnership with MemoXpress, a mobile device dealer store and Lalamove, a courier service have joined together to provide convenience to Filipino drivers. Lalamove partner drivers will get a 5% discount from the suggested retail price (SRP) of available Vivo phones such as the V11, V11i, Y71 (2 GB and 3 GB), Y53c, Y81, Y85, and X21 at MemoXpress stores nationwide from October 19, 2018 until December 31, 2018.

With almost 15,000 partner drivers in Metro Manila, Lalamove aims to provide them quality benefits by partnering with top brands such as Vivo. Giving them access to topnotch mobile devices to help them with their day-to-day deliveries. All they have to do is to sign up using the MemoXpress portal (visit: https://mx.memoxpress.ph/lalamove-portal). The said portal will serve as a means to pre-order and pick up their preferred Vivo phone available at MemoXpress stores nationwide. A customer service representative will call to assist and confirm the partner drivers' orders. All interested partner drivers will only show their Lalamove ID and verified status on their Lalamove driver application at the chosen MemoXpress branch.

(L-R): Lalamove Strategic Partnership Manager Akiko Sumulong, Lalamove Managing Director April Dannah Majarocon, Vivo Vice President and Channel Sales Director Hazel Bascon, Vivo Channel Sales Business Development Manager Mark Cuevas, MemoXpress Vice President for Operations Edward Tan, and MemoXpress Division Head Corporate Exhibit E-Commerce Wilton Yu commemorate the partnership between Vivo, MemoXpress, and Lalamove in providing a 5% discount on selected Vivo phones at MemoXpress stores for Lalamove driver partners from October 19, 2018 until December 31, 2018.

Vivo and Lalamove launch their partnership to provide a 5% discount on selected Vivo phones at MemoXpress stores nationwide for Lalamove partner drivers from October 19, 2018 until December 31, 2018. The satellite launch was held in Cebu City recently.

Bask under the glorious Palawan sun with the first of its kind Avara Nature & Yacht Club

Bask under the glorious Palawan sun with the first of its kind Avara Nature & Yacht Club
Experience serene, luxurious seaside living in Taytay, Palawan

A glimpse of a seaside living redefined through Avara.

Nov. 13, 2018 (MANILA) – Imagine this: The sound of waves crashing on the shore and the sunlight peeking through the window wake you up on a lazy Saturday morning. You slowly open your eyes, afraid that you’re just in the middle of a dream. But you’re not. You stand up as you feel the gentle sea breeze touch your face. You go out of the porch and look at the horizon. You take your time to enjoy the beauty of the blue skies and the deep sea. The yacht will be waiting for you whenever you’re ready, anyway. That’s the promise of Avara Nature & Yacht Club—the easy life of the seaside.

 
Airdance group and Filipina harpist Avonlea Paraiso wow the Avara guests with their performances.

Established by the Seaside Premier Development Corporation, Avara is the first of its kind nature and yacht club located at Calauag Bay in Taytay, which was Palawan’s first capital.


The Avara Balanghai designed and created by Master Sculptor Rey Paz Contreras.

The plan for the exclusive resort was formally unveiled at the Grand Hyatt Manila led by its President and CEO Ms. Veronica C. Young.

“After many months of sailing and voyaging aboard bangkas and riding waves, we found the perfect island in Taytay, Palawan to be the home of our pioneering project. It is with a great pleasure to present to you tonight, Avara Nature and Yacht Club - the first of its kind in the Philippines, bridging the middle class to the lifestyle of the rich and famous. As Seaside Premier Development Corporation’s flagship project, we aim to redefine seaside living, where nature meets luxury,” she said in her opening remarks.

Coastal living redefined

Avara, which means Sunshine Island, is an eco-luxurious resort that use solar panels as a source of renewable energy, utilize a recycled water treatment system, maximize a hydroponic garden, and take advantage of other eco-materials available.

Its accommodation is inspired by the Maldivian architecture. Members can choose to stay in a one-bedroom Water Villa with jacuzzi, two-bedroom Water Villa with private infinity pool, or one- or two-bedroom Beach Casitas.

Aside from the villas and casitas, Avara members will also have an exclusive access to a two-bedroom yacht with crew for an overnight stay or for cruising around the island and nearby areas. Avara’s yacht features two cabins and a family room in the lower deck; a living room, a kitchen and dining area, and a plunge pool in the main deck; and an open dining space and a sun deck in the fly bridge.

The Avara Island has nothing but the best facilities for its members. Guests will first experience the Avara service upon their arrival at the dock or the harbor. But the ultra-luxurious resort also has a helipad for those who will be coming in by air. VIPs also have the option to skip the reception and go straight to their accommodation.

There will also be a boardwalk open for development to entrepreneurial Avara member. Meaning, Avara members can also be concessionaires to open their own business—it could be a coffee shop, a grocery store, a bakery, a souvenir stop, and similar ventures. As support to the member-concessionaires, Avara will ensure that the business will be the island’s lone supplier for the specific product.

The island can also accommodate as many as 100 guests at their main dining area and at the grill restaurant. But guests will have more dining options since Avara includes a poolside bar, a seaside bar and lounge, picnic areas, and private dining venues.

Avara is fully equipped with a gym, a water sports center, a tennis court, and a golf course to those who want to keep up with their fitness routine.

The island also has a playroom and nursery, spa and massage cabanas, a bonfire area, a clinic with an in-house doctor and nurse, and a gaming area for the enjoyment of the Avara members.

At any given time, Avara will host up to 300 members to ensure quality service.

As a promised paradise for those who love the beach, Avara offers a myriad of water action such as diving, snorkeling, kayaking, jet-skiing, banana boat riding, stand-up paddle boarding, wind surfing, scuba diving, island hopping, and fishing in coordination with neighbor islands. The resort also provides options for on land activities like trekking, biking, and vegetable picking.

There are also a lot of activities that Avara members can enjoy outside its vicinity. After all, Taytay, Palawan boasts of picturesque sites like the Canique Waterfalls, the Lake Manguao, the Irrawaddy Dolphins in Malampaya Sound, the Fuerza de Santa Isabel, and the Church of Santa Monica. Taytay is also hope to a paradise-like hidden valley that gives tourists a bird’s eye view of the pristine, idyllic coastal areas of the municipality.

Board of advisors


The executives and board of advisors behind the Avara Nature & Yacht Club.

To ensure nothing but the best of services and facilities at Avara, Seaside Premier Development Corporation tapped some of the industry’s most respected personalities for the resort.

Its board of advisors include the following:

⦁ National Coast Watch Center Executive Director Rear Admiral Joel S. Garcia for Coastal and Marine Management
⦁ Philippine Army’s 7CMO Battalion Commanding Officer Col. Eugene Osias for Security Affairs
⦁ Cebu Port Authority Commissioner for the Shipping Sector Ms. Regina Barleta for Port Management and Shipping
⦁ Incoming Manila Board of Realtors, Inc. President Ma. Teresa R. Bigornia for Marketing
⦁ Motivational speaker John Anthony Calub for Sales
⦁ The Manor’s Le Chef Executive Chef William “Billy” King for Culinary Arts

“We thank these distinguished personalities for believing in our idea. We can’t wait to show you the beauty of Avara,” Ms. Young said.

Avara Nature & Yacht Club will formally open its shores in the summer of 2020.

RAWR Awards bare its official winners for the Year 2018

It was a night of Philippine fiesta-themed for the awards night of the annual RAWR Awards 2018 and was held last November 14 at Le Rêve Pool and Events Place in Quezon City.

From its last year’s list of awards of 25, the awards this year has grown to 30 including special citations.

Both the TNT Boys and the Queen of All Media Kris Aquino were recognized as the Royal Cub and the Royal Lion awardees.  The Royal Cub Award recognizes young individuals or groups that exhibited excellence in their craft and have earned respect for their passion and talents that they have shared to world. Meanwhile, the Royal Lion Award is a distinct honour for someone who has shown courage beyond all odds. Though hard to find like a precious gem, still that individual sparkles in all aspects.

Both Joshua Garcia and Kathryn Bernardo were named as Actor and Actress of the Year for their respective body of work in ‘The Good Son’ and ‘The Hows of Us’. JM De Guzman was also given the award for The Great Comeback, Tony Labrusca as Breakthrough Artist of the Year, Donny Pangilinan as Favorite Newbie, Vice Ganda as Favorite TV Host, DJ Jhai Ho as Favorite Radio DJ, Hashtags as Favorite Group and MayWard as the Love Team of the Year.

The Kapuso Network managed to clinch five awards—Kyline Alcantara was named Favorite Kontrabida for her effective portrayal of a villainess in ‘Kambal Karibal’, ‘Inday Will Always Love You’ as Bet na Bet na Teleserye, Maine Mendoza as Pak na Pak na Comedian, Jessica Soho as Female News Personality of the Year and Kimpoy Feliciano as Digital Influencer of the Year.   

Here are the rest of the winners:

• Bibo Award – Ella Ilano (Sana Dalawa Ang Puso)
• Favorite Bida – Kathryn Bernardo (La Luna Sangre)
• Supporting Actor of the Year – Darren Espanto (The Hows of Us)
• Movie ng Taon – ‘The Hows of Us’
• The Advocate – Angel Locsin (Red Cross)
• Fan Club of the Year – MayWard
• TV Station of the Year – ABS-CBN
• Radio Station of the Year – Barangay LS 97.1
• Brandspeak - Smart Communications Inc. and OPPO
• Hugot Song of the Year – Mundo – IV of Spades
• Favorite Performer – Morissette Amon (Morissette is Made)
• Male News Personality of the Year – Jeff Canoy
• PR of the Year – Ripple 8, Strategic Works, Abs-CBN Corporate Communications and Spark It! PH
• Trending Show of the Year – It’s Showtime