6-year haitus

It has been almost 6 years since this blog has been put in the back burner, mainly due to my change in lifestyle and priorities.  I'd like to get back to blogging soon, if not part time, just to share my views on what-nots.

With that said, I will drop a line or two here soon. Thanks.

Yoga For Life: Oneness Through Wellness

PRESS RELEASE:


SPREADING AWARENESS & WELLNESS:  In celebration of the 29th International AIDS Candlelight
Memorial, HIV advocacy group Yoga for Life-­‐-­‐-­‐in cooperation with the Local Government of Quezon City, The Love Yourself Project, Take The Test, Youth AIDS Filipinas Alliance, beyondyoga,Bliss Yoga Manila, and ECHOyoga-­‐-­‐-­‐will unite the city in an open-­‐for-­‐all yoga practice at the Quezon MemorialCircle on May 20, 2012, 4 p.m. during the "Oneness Through Wellness" event.  Yoga teachers will guide the public in the mass yoga practice as volunteers educate attendees about HIV and AIDS.  The event ultimately aims to promote health and well-­‐being among Filipinos, spread awareness about HIV and AIDS, and stop the stigma and discrimination against people living with HIV.


Registration starts at 3 PM and the event will begin at 4 PM sharp.

Midnight Mercato Food Market Comes to Late Night Wednesdays

PRESS RELEASE

Are you looking for a place to indulge your late night food cravings on a Wednesday night? Or you can’t wait until the weekend to visit your favorite late night food markets?

 

Then Midnight Mercato, Metro Manila’s premiere late night weekend food market, will be open on Wednesday nights starting February 29 to answer your foodie call!

 

Indulge in the Midnight Mercato experience and enjoy an extensive selection of foodie favorites - steamed cheeseburgers, crunchy pork belly, wagyu steak on a sticks, deep dish pizzas, authentic Vigan empanadas, ice-cream filled mochi balls, specialty milk teas, dark lager beer cheesecakes – straight from the kitchens of home-based and specialty chefs, while enjoying live acoustic performances and free wi-fi. Wednesday Midnight Mercato is perfect way to celebrate the middle of the week!

 

Midnght Mercato is open from 10:00pm to 3:00am every Friday, Saturday and Wednesday (starting February 29) and Mercato Centrale is open every Saturday and Sunday from 7:00am to 2:00pm. Midnight Mercato is located at the corner of 34^th street and 8^th avenue beside MC Home Depot in Bonifacio Global City.

 

For more information, please visit their website www.midnightmercato.com or their Facebook account www.facebook.com/mercatocentrale.  For vendor booth rental or venue rental inquiries, please email admin@mercatocentrale.ph or text 09178401152.

OFW remittances at an all-time high: social remittances as new currency from Global Pinoys

PRESS RELEASE 

Remittances from Filipinos working overseas are at an all-time high.  And no, it’s not just because they’re sending back US dollars, Saudi Riyals, Euros or Japanese Yen; but because our modern-day heroes are sending back what’s known as social remittances.

Social remittances refer to ideas, practices, identities and social capital that flow from receiving to sending country communities. It was coined by sociologist Peggy Levitt in her book “The Transnational Villagers and she describes social remittances being transferred by migrants and refugees that are exchanged by letters or other forms of communication that includes phone, fax, the internet or video. She suggested that social remittance affects family relations, gender roles, class and race identity, as well as have a substantial impact on political, economic and religious participation. 

This concept isn’t something new for the Philippines. In the 1800s, this was already seen through the newspaper La Solidaridad and the novels of Jose Rizal. Like them whose ideas paved . In the 21^st century, blogging is the new form of social remittance of Filipinos working and living abroad.  Through their blogs they are publishing their stories online to inspire others. They also advocate for causes, help others and muster support from their readers to help effect change in their own little ways.

With globalization, Filipino migrants are beginning to realize the power of harnessing the potential of social remittance. They may be students pursuing a higher education, a professional with a white-collar job or a migrant working as house help; but all of them have something in common: an economic goal and aspiration.

This year the Pinoy Expat/OFW Blog Awards or PEBA 2011 is geared to recognize the contributions of Filipino bloggers abroad. This year’s theme is dubbed as "Ako'y Magbabalik, Hatid Ko'y Pagbabago." (I Will Return, I Will Bring Change) as Balikbayans not only send back their monetary remittances; but social remittances as well.

For this year PEBA opens a new blog search called PEBA’s Any Blogger, Anywhere for all Filipino bloggers in various categories, at home or abroad. This year’s blog contest will look into narratives as to how returning Expats/OFW will make use and share their social remittance or their talents, skills and fortunes to bring change to their families, communities and country. Expats/OFW bloggers who will be joining the contest will be required to write a blog entry on the said theme. There is also an ongoing blog contest for OFW supporters.

For 2011, VIPinoy, a service and perks for overseas Filipinos and OFWs offered by Ayala Malls is the biggest sponsor of PEBA. Ayala Mall is providing Trinoma Activity Center as the venue for the awards nights on December 9, 2011 and Market Market as venue for its photo exhibit from December 9, 2011. PEBA is equally supported by one of its long time partner NOKIA and communication giant Globe Telecom.

PEBA will exclusively invite some 200 guests who can make their reservation and confirmation/RSVP of their attendance through VIPinoy Lounges in the different Ayala Malls and the awarding will be watched by a thousand or more and will be telecast live for OFWs to watch. 

For more information regarding PEBA, please visit http://www.pinoyblogawards.com/.

You are now informed: Decade for Road Safety 2011-2020

Did you know...

• At least 2 vehicles on a major highway in the Philippines get involved in a road accident every hour
• an average of 50 road crashes occur every day
• 80% of road accidents are caused by avoidable human error
• 64% of drivers said vehicle malfunction due to neglect of machinery is to be blamed for road accidents
• 44% admitted their accident was caused by overspeeding
• 22% said they were involved in a road accident due to failure to follow traffic rules

Based on the data of Safe Kids Philippines,  road accidents in the country kill 7 children daily, cause injuries to 400 kids every day.  Road accidents is the 2nd leading cause of unnatural deaths in the country, with children the most vulnerable to this danger.
The years 2011-2020 have been declared by the United Nations as the "Decade of Action on Road Safety" - an advocacy to create more awareness and action towards the rising number of road related accidents/deaths worldwide, particularly in 3rd world countries.

The advocacy requires motorist to take the Road Safety Pledge, a simple pledge that reminds motorist to exhibit responsible on-road behaviour such as using seatbets, not driving under the influence and not using a cellphone while at the wheel. 

In line with this, the BPI Family Savings, through its volunteerism arm, BPI Bayan, ties up with the Automobile Association of the Philippines (AAP) to promote the "Spread the Pledge Campaign".   This campaign targets at least 500,000 motorists in Metro Manila to take the pledge. 

This partnership between AAP and BPI Bayan aims to raise awareness among drivers and car owners about their inherent responsibility as road users to ensure that they keep their car in good working condition, be physically/psychologically fit to drive, focus attention on the road and follow all road laws and regulations.

How can you help?

1. Visit and like BPI Bayan Facebook Fanpage and "like" the Road Safety Pledging Campaign;
2. Read and accept the condition of the pledge;
3. Share on your wall!

That easy!  The goal is to make 500k people aware, pledge and follow the road safety pledge.  By doing so, we could help save lives.

Special guest, a now wiser Christopher Lao also took the pledge.

Jamba Juice Now Blending with the Country’s Dynamic Lifestyle

Press Release

The name famed for refreshingly delicious drinks and better-for-you snacks—one which has become synonymous with dynamic living in California —is now in the Philippines to complement the refreshment needs of the country’s growing active market.

Known for being a category-defining leader in blended beverages and delectable snack bites, Jamba Juice shares its flavorful products for the first time in Southeast Asia as it opens its first outlet in Bonifacio High Street Central.

“We chose Bonifacio High Street Central as it is known for being the go-to destination for a rising number of urbanites who live dynamic lifestyles—the same market Jamba Juice has successfully captured in California,” shares Sharon Fuentebella, Managing Director of Jamba Juice Philippines.

Better-for-everyone

From smoothies to juices, from yogurt to oatmeal, Jamba Juice is bringing the same products and technology to the country so that Filipinos can have the Jamba Juice experience and find out firsthand why it has been a runaway favorite among American celebrities and urbanites alike since its inception in 1990.

“High quality is a major recipe of Jamba Juice that is why all its products are made only with whole fruits,” says Mark Gamboa, Marketing Manager of Jamba Juice Philippines.

Gamboa adds that the brand offers more than just uniquely blended beverages. “Jamba Juice represents the ideals of a lifestyle anchored on active living, exceptional quality, and a heritage that highlights better-for-you options for people on-the-go.”

A well-loved heritage

Jamba Juice, a business that celebrates a healthy lifestyle, now boasts over 744 stores worldwide,

and its entry into the Philippine market is made possible by The Max's Group of Companies.

As one of the biggest food brands that has been operating inside and outside the country for more than 60 years, The Max's Group of Companies is known for introducing the much-loved Max’s Restaurant and Max’s Corner Bakery, and for bringing a world-renowned doughnut brand to the Philippines.

Fuentebella discloses that Jamba Juice’s pioneer store will be followed by 40 company-owned locations in the next 10 years. And because The Max’s Group of Companies’ growing food portfolio has provided them with a new perspective on the eating habits of the Filipino, they are optimistic about Jamba Juice growing into a well-loved brand in the country.

“Jamba Juice is armed with the same values that the Max’s Group of Companies introduced to Filipinos. As a groundbreaking milestone for the company and for the Philippine market, we are excited to see how the brand will continue to cater to this dynamic and growing market,” says Fuentebella.

HTC UNLEASHES THE HTC SENSATION XL WITH BEATS AUDIO™

Press Release

Beats integration, combined with amazing 4.7-inch display, introduces

powerful entertainment experience

PHILIPPINES – 11 November 2011 – HTC Corporation, a global designer of mobile devices, today unveiled the HTC Sensation XL with Beats Audio™ integration.  This latest innovation is the result of the new partnership between HTC and Beats announced in August and takes mobile entertainment to a new level with an amazing 4.7-inch screen and a specifically optimized audio experience.  The HTC Sensation XL with Beats Audio™ joins the HTC Sensation XE with Beats Audio™ to provide customers with a strong line-up of HTC smartphones integrated with Beats Audio.

“Our partnership with Beats Audio complements our commitment to bringing the ultimate experience that indulges the user’s senses, be it listening to music, watching a movie or playing a game,” said Lennard Hoornik, President of HTC South Asia Pacific. “This new association exemplifies our dedication to our customers today and into the future.”

“HTC is an incredible partner and has completely embraced our desire to make the music experience on the mobile phone as powerful and as rich as it can be,” said Jimmy Iovine, Chairman of Beats by Dr. Dre.

Design, Performance and Stunning Audio

With the 4.7-inch screen, slim 9.9mm design and Beats Audio integration, the HTC Sensation XL with Beats Audio™ was specifically created to deliver the best entertainment experience with stunning audio and visuals for music, movies and games. The HTC Sensation XL with Beats Audio™ features unique audio tuning by Beats that ensures customers will hear their music as the artist intended.

Unique to HTC phones, the HTC Sensation XL with Beats Audio™ includes new lightweight urBeats™ headphones, created exclusively to integrate with the Beats’ audio profile on the device. The built-in microphone makes hands-free calling easy and the on-cable remote control allows customers to pause, advance or rewind, and to answer a call mid-track.

Customers can also send music recommendations and track information to friends over SMS, email or through their Facebook profile. To allocate the perfect audio alert to an incoming call or message from friends and family, use the ringtone trimmer to edit a music track and add it to a friend’s contact profile.

Capture the moment

The HTC Sensation XL with Beats Audio™ boasts an 8MP camera, featuring an f/2.2, 28mm wide-angle lens with BSI sensor to fit more of the scene into every shot and for better low-light performance. In video mode, the HTC Sensation XL with Beats Audio™ enables customers to record a perfect moment with stunning clarity and incredible stereo sound – perfect for sharing on YouTube, Facebook or a TV.

Availability

The HTC Sensation XL with Beats Audio™ will be available at Smart Communications and HTC authorized resellers at a suggested retail price of PhP 32,500 by end November.

About Beats Electronics LLC

Established in 2006, Beats Electronics is the brainchild of legendary artist and producer Dr. Dre and Chairman of Interscope Geffen A&M Records Jimmy Iovine, who set out to develop a new type of headphone with the capability to reproduce the full spectrum of sound that musical artists and producers hear in professional recording studios. For more information, please visit http://beatsbydre.com.

About HTC

HTC Corporation (HTC) is one of the fastest growing companies in the mobile industry. By putting people at the center of everything it does, HTC creates innovative smartphones and tablets that better serve the lives and needs of individuals. The company is listed on the Taiwan Stock Exchange under ticker 2498. For more information about HTC, please visit www.htc.com.