Scents of a man

When I was a boy, I dreamed of playing with Mickey Mouse and the gang at Disneyland. But that dream changed to something wild: Drink side by side with Hugh Hefner and his tons of bunnies at the Playboy Mansion.

At the Playboy Fragrances Hot Summer Party held at Liquid Bar at the Manila Ocean Park, a bit of my dream became reality as the club bounced to the beat of the music as I made friends with the Playboy Fragrances endorsers, the sweet and sexy Mocha Girls.

Front-lined by the controversial yet intelligent Mocha Uson, including sweet Mae and rock chic Jhane with groovy dancers Aura and Yumi, this down-to-earth group is not your ordinary girl group because of their advocacy.

The Philippines has the highest incidence of breast cancer in Asia, while it ranks 9th worldwide. Mocha's mom has been battling this disease since March last year. She has been trying to help educate people about this terrible disease. “The key to surviving breast cancer is early detection and treatment. Early detection of cancerous breast lumps dramatically increases one’s chances for full recovery, which can go as high as 85 percent. That is why women aged 20 and above are advised to undergo a monthly self-breast examination a week after her menstrual period,” Mocha said in her blog.

Mocha added that breast cancer symptoms include the following: a lump or a thickening in the breast or in the armpit; a change in size or shape of the mature breast; fluid (not milk) leaking from the nipple; change in size or shape of the nipple, changes of color, shape or texture of the nipple or the aureola.

“My hope is to bring awareness of early breast cancer detection to Asian and Filipino women. Support my advocacy. Let’s unite and help end breast cancer,” she encouraged.

After chatting with the Mocha Girls, the sexiest party continued as Playboy launched the five fragrances that it says capture the essence of the world's most captivating locales and the racy lifestyles of their Playboy men.

Whether you're aggressive, laidback, suave and sophisticated, or edgy, captivate sultry babes with Hollywood Playboy, Malibu Playboy, Miami Playboy, Vegas Playboy and Ibiza Playboy. They will give you extra confidence to take anything on.

If you want to go on an adventure, say a map-less road trip to escape the April heat, then the Malibu Playboy scent is for you. “Just roll with it,” is the Malibu Playboy's motto. His fragrance is the embodiment of spontaneity and adventure. The combination of apple, citrus and mint blended with jasmine and sandalwood make an interestingly refreshing scent.

For the man wearing Vegas Playboy, summer days are filled with excitement and excess. This high-rolling thrill-seeker is always dressed to kill. There's no wrinkle on his designer duds as he whizzes through the metro's heat in his spacious limo. A fixture in exclusive parties and casinos, the man wearing Vegas Playboy is never without his best accessory: A fragrance that's a unique cacophony of basil, tea, vanilla, musk and georgywood.

Are seductive pleasures more of your thing? Miami Playboy is a perfect fit for the man whose sexy moves are legendary. Infused with bergamot, leafy green and rosewood, this scent is for the life of the party: Check out his modern waterfront house, super-sleek yacht and flashy sports car.

On the scene to be seen? The Hollywood Playboy fragrance is for you. Experience the attention celebrities get on the red carpet with this delightful blend of citrus notes, the masculine floral scent of lavender and cedar wood with a warm vetiver, musk, warm amber, vanilla and sandalwood base.

This season, the man wearing Ibiza Playboy is in his element. For him, nothing beats unwinding on a yacht with a drink in hand and a beautiful woman at his side. This free-spirited guy believes in living life to the fullest and always partying. His scent of choice is a relaxing play of lemon, kiwi and currant with a black tea, suede, beech and nutmeg base.

Playboy Eau de Toilette bottles are designed to match the dapper and debonair men using them. Made to be as stylish as the fragrances within, these sensuously rounded glass bottles resemble flasks, wrapped in a sleek black band. A transparent Rabbit Head logo – the globally recognized symbol of Playboy – allows a peek at the Bunny silhouettes. The distinctive logo is also embossed on the top of the bottles’ black caps, creating a striking finishing touch.

The range also includes Body Sprays in sleek cylindrical bottles decorated with the Rabbit Head logo. Both the Eau de Toilette and the Body Spray designs highlight the scents' signature color: silver for Hollywood Playboy; blue for Malibu Playboy; orange for Miami Playboy; red for Vegas Playboy and aqua blue for Ibiza Playboy.

Playboy Fragrances are available at Watson's and at the Beauty sections of SM Department Stores nationwide.

Magical summer at EK

By Jan Milo R. Severo, Contributor Photos by Joco Bulilan
04/10/2011

Summer is here, and for many that means it’s time to gear up with those trunks and bikinis and take a refreshing dip, while for others, it is the time to feel and enjoy the thrill of an amusement park. But what if we combined the two for a perfect summer getaway?
Enchanted Kingdom, the first and only world-class theme park, continues to give magic to park goers as it opens its inflatable water park: the EK Biki Water World.
Made possible with a partnership with the Biki World of South Korea, the water park has a variety of six themed pools such as Shark Pool, Dragon Pool, Toddlers Pool, Octopus Pool, Rectangular Pool and the Olympic Pool.
“In our effort to be the best in the industry, the newly opened EK Biki Waterworld now has more features in addition to the regular water attractions,” EK president and CEO Mario Mamon said.
Guests can laugh their heart out while enjoying the hamster wheel, motor boat, banana boat and the trampoline. Kids and kids at heart are sure to be delighted as they make swishes and splashes in the giant inflatable pools.
Meanwhile, back in the theme park, decades-old favorites such as Wheel of Fate, Rio Grande Rapids, Jungle Log Jam, Anchors Away, Rialto, the upgraded Space Shuttle Max, the new Ekstreme Tower Ride and others will continue to give thrills to EK patrons.

Beat the heat this summer and experience a truly enchanting getaway in Laguna! From March 27 to June 5, EK is open on weekdays from 2 p.m. to 9 p.m. and 11 a.m to 9 p.m. on weekends. EK Biki Water World is open daily from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Living and relaxing in Tagaytay

04/04/2011

Living life in the fast lane, in the busy and crowded metropolis, can be a drag. With the noise, pollution and traffic, people dream of a better place where they can breathe fresh air and relax with their loved ones.
With the newly completed South Luzon Expressway in place, one can enjoy an escape within 45 minutes to experience the refreshing climate and see the verdant countryside and awe-inspiring views that Tagaytay offers. This could be an ideal place for relaxation.
Committed to develop vibrant and lasting spaces that serve as venues for new opportunities and a better life, Robinsons Land Corp.
Bloomfields Tagaytay
Bloomfields Tagaytay is an exclusive residential community within a 6.5-hectare mixed-use development area. It is on the Tagaytay-Nasugbu Highway, Maharlika West. With an American-county theme and a community size of 104 households, it only offers residential lots with option for house construction.
The residential community, which is just beside Summit Ridge Hotel, features a clubhouse, a swimming pool, a children’s play area, a service pavilion, a lawn area, gated entry and a guard house.
Bloomfields Tagaytay is almost sold out with only few lots left priced around P15,500 per square meter. The price is very competitive given that it is located in a prestigious address in Tagaytay.
The Wellington Courtyard
An eco-friendly haven in the heart of Tagaytay, The Wellington Courtyard is a sprawling property that offers a welcome respite from the chaos and frenzy of city living. It is located at Mayor’s Drive corner Mahogany Avenue.
Fashioned in a style reminiscent of American mountain retreats, this exclusive enclave of low-rise condominiums, which has a total area of 9,356 sq. m. and five buildings with five residential floors each, take advantage of Tagaytay’s breathtaking vista and shows it to full advantage. If you fancy yourself enjoying a steaming cup of java on fog-filled mornings, this could be the place.
With asphalt shingles roofing system and construction materials of concrete, steel and wood, each building has its own main lobby, a central passenger elevator, a main stairway and a fire exit. Front and rear openings of all units are for natural ventilations. All units face the central park and the courtyard.
Those who feel the tug of night life may find their urban fix in a number of restaurants in the area. These serve a plethora of choices, from fine-dining to family-style options.
And for those who just need to have their retail therapy, several malls offer a range of goodies, from local artisan crafts, homemade skincare products, fresh produce to souvenirs.
The Wellington Courtyard is a gated community with 24-hour security as well as all the amenities of a modern leisure development – a clubhouse, an open-air picnic area, a gazebo, a multi-purpose court and swimming pools for adults and kids. The property already has several completed buildings. In fact, some buyers have started occupying their units. Units are equipped with power, cable and telecommunication facilities.
The Wellington Courtyard’s miscellaneous fee covers transfer tax, document stamp tax, filing fee of registration of sale, notary fee, facilitation fee, utility costs, meters and other expenses.
Most units in this 6,000-sqm development come in one-bedroom (29 sqm), two-bedroom (49 sqm), and two-bedroom penthouse loft (80 sqm) units, with an average price of P73,000 per square meter. Most of the upper units have balconies, which mean you’re also getting more chances to just sit back and enjoy life’s little pleasures.
The Wellington Courtyard is a retreat haven for every family, a sanctuary where they could bond together and have fun. This project gives everyone an opportunity to experience the beauty of having one’s own vacation home.
Summit Ridge Hotel
As the Holy Week is fast approaching and the summer season is just around the corner, people look for a place where they can relax and enjoy moments with their loved ones. The two common places they choose are the beach and the mountain.
But for those who want to stay away from the heat of the summer, the Summit Ridge Hotel is the perfect getaway destination which offers a breathtaking view of the Taal Lake and amenities typical of a luxury resort.
Nestled in Tagaytay’s highest point at the barangay of Maharlika West, Nagugbu Road, Aguinaldo Highway, the hotel started operating in Oct. 24, 2008, and since then attracted thousands of patrons. Many companies also held their conferences and team-building activities in here. The hotel is a deluxe one with 108 guest rooms. Each room is designed with an Asian tropical touch, equipped with modern conveniences and has a view to the wonderful Taal Lake.
Summit Ridge Tagaytay is a perfect venue for relaxation and enjoyment with amenities that include a swimming pool, a fitness center, indoor badminton and basketball courts, function rooms for events and the SeriAsia Wellness Spa.
SeriAsia is a Filipino-owned and operated spa and wellness company that specializes in spas, cosmetics, food supplements and skincare products that are claimed to be made of only natural-based ingredients, all imported from and manufactured in Malaysia. It is a subsidiary of DNG Corp., one of the leading manufacturers of pharmaceutical products, traditional herbal medicine, cosmetics and health food in Malaysia and the Asia-Pacific region.
SeriAsia offers easy-to-use spa products that can be either used in the spa or in the comforts of your own home. Combining technology and the wisdom in healthcare of the ancient people — Ayurveda, aromatherapy and traditional Chinese medicine — SeriAsia enables you to achieve holistic wellness that incorporates the mind, body and spirit.
Also, Summit Ridge Hotel is beside the two-story mall Summit Ridge Promenade. It has a Robinsons Supermarket, Handyman, restaurants and many other stores.
If you are going to Tagaytay on a day trip, take advantage of Summit Ridge Tagaytay’s Weekender Package every Saturday and Sunday for P1,888 net. This includes use of a room and the hotel’s other facilities from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. The No Frills Package for P3,250 net includes overnight accommodation in a twin classic room (breakfast not included). For a king classic room, the rate is P4,250 net.
For the Holy Week, April 21 to 24, room rates are P8,250 for twin classic, P9,250 for king classic, P9,700 for twin/king de luxe, P15,000 for a two-bedroom suite and P17,000 for the Summit Suite. Rates are inclusive of breakfast (for two or four people, depending on the room); a Swedish, shiatsu or traditional massage; and a 30-percent discount coupon valid from June to September 2011.

From character to talent

03/30/2011

Pete Magtibay... Pacoy Ledesma... Ding Quintos... Santi Santillan... Arnie Enriquez... Ronnie Roxas Jr... Sid Lucero...
They are the characters of the classic movie Batch 81 by award-winning director Mike de Leon starring veteran actor Mark Gil, who plays the character of tough Sid Lucero. Years later, a young, fresh and talented actor hit the boob tube and independent silver screen by storm, and he called himself Sid Lucero.
A third-generation scion of the Eigenmann acting clan and the son of Mark Gil, Sid has a natural acting ability that shines through in every performance. His role in Selda earned him a Best Actor nod at at the 2008 Thessaloniki Film Festival, while his stint in the teleserye Dahil May Isang Ikaw garnered him an International Emmy nomination just last year. But Sid\'s latest venture presents a side of him that fans rarely see onscreen: as himself, relaxing on a rare day off.
That\'s why leading food and beverage manufacturer Universal Robina Corp. (URC), in a press conference at Holiday Inn, announced that they chose Sid Lucero as the best endorser for the delicious and convenient Great Taste Trio, whose perfect mix of talents, looks and substance truly blends for the coffee brand as he gets his first ever product endorsement.
\"Sid was a natural choice for our brand,\" said brand manager Janina Dizon. \"He\'s young and leads an active life with his acting career and different hobbies. Great Taste Trio provides the right mix of coffee, sugar and creamer that puts dynamic people like him in a good mood.\"
Sid, who is no stranger to commercials since he appeared in an ad when he was eight years old and intermittently throughout his college years, admits being \"flattered\" that he was \"asked to endorse Great Taste Trio.\" Starred in numerous teleseryes and independent films, Sid said, \"It\'s a lot more technical (doing TV commercials than film), but I enjoy it.\"
The 30-second TV commercial, directed by Sid Maderazo, follows the young actor on his ideal day: lounging about his pad, skateboarding, jamming with friends and enjoying a cup of coffee. The ad captures Sid\'s vibrant personality and multifaceted interests, and he even had some input on the set design. \"It was so much fun (shooting) this commercial because I was doing things that I like,\" shared Sid.
After the nominations, awards, TV shows, movies and now, an endorsement with his own TVC, Sid Lucero is no longer just a movie character anymore, but a real life talent that reminds everybody that happiness all boils down to simple joys.

Aquinto bags Shooting Idol

By Karl Fender

Loving the smell of gunpowder in the morning, or rather noon, Loy Aquinto trounced his rivals from different clubs in the country as he bagged the first-ever Inter-Club Philippine Shooting Idol before the rowdy crowd of the fertilized Maguindanao land.
The 51-year-old president of the rugged Yellow Pinas Movement Club topped the 50m rapid fire event by scoring a total of 789.26 points in the finals, besting the itchy trigger finger of hometown hero Andali Ampatuwad of Maguindanao Shooting Spree Club by 58 points.
“Masayang masaya ako, kasama ng mga ka-club ko sa panalong ‘to. Sobrang nahirapan kami at mabuti naman at nagbunga ang ilang buwan naming pagpa-practice,” said the soft-spoken single pistolero.
The almost flawless performance, which Aquinto did through the use of his P4.5-million second-hand Poorch 922 caliber pistol, overshadowed club mate and shooting buddy, Ricoa Pulo’s poor performance for the club. Pulo, however, captured the loyalty of Aquinto by supporting him all the way in the competition.
The rookie competition, which was a very successful event, was also the small gathering of gun aficionados all over the country. 
Meanwhile, Aquinto is ready to go to the US for another competition. This time, he will raise the flag of his poor club via NBA 2K11 Play Station 3 Challenge against high school students in Disneyland, Orlando.
“I will bring home the bacon,” said the ageless club president, adding “Ang tagumpay ko ay para sa inyo.”


The Daily Tribune's 11th Anniversary Issue (Spoof)

Flying Pig lands in Morato

01/17/2010
Complete impossibility, that’s what “flying pig” means using the figure of speech (“when pigs fly”). But in a child’s view, anything is possible — even a restaurant that features pork as their main course.

It all started with Rico, the four-year-old son of restaurant mogul Raymund Magdaluyo of The Red Crab Group, which also runs restaurants such as Crustasia, Blackbeards Sea Food Islands, H&E, I-Republik, Clawdaddy, Fish Out of Water, Texas Smoke ‘Em and Blue Fish. Rico saw a piece of installation art that used an LPG tank with a wig at the top of the tank. He asked his dad if that was a flying pig, which inspired Magdaluyo to come up with the idea of a meat place called Flying Pig.

After a year at Eastwood City, Flying Pig was successful enough to warrant another venue for meat lovers as the “pigging out” restaurant opened a new store in Tomas Morato, Quezon City. As the name itself literally implies, Flying Pig offers customers different dishes of pork. “It is a French-American bistro that essentially offers meats,” marketing manager Joel Sarmenta explains.

“Here, you will find different types of pork dishes, American style,” Jovan Balolong, kitchen manager of the restaurant, added.

Being a meat lover, the delightful stuffed pork knuckles took my attention because of the enchanting taste of the crispy fried pork knuckles, stuffed with home-made meatloaf with bacon rice pilaf.

Balolong says the crispy knuckles, composed of pata, ground pork, chicken liver, among others, is the restaurant’s best-seller.

Sarmenta recommends another best-seller: The Queen Platter. This is composed of half baby back ribs, quarter chicken and two sausages. The flavor of the baby back ribs leaves a pleasing taste, which, Sarmenta claims, makes it “the best baby back ribs in town.” While the tang of the sausages reminds me of a Bavarian feast, the addition of the chicken’s juicy taste keeps the dish quite unique.

Balolong reveals that the meats are marinated overnight for a satisfactory taste that will leave customers coming back for more.

Other porky dishes are Bangin Bagnet, an Ilocandia crispy pork belly with adobo rice, pinakurat vinegar and balsamic liver sauce; The Flying Meatloaf, a country style baked meatloaf in rich gravy on a bed of mash potatoes; Frying Cuchi Frito, roasted suckling pig fried to perfection, served with bacon rice pilaf and balsamic liver; and Kurobota Pork Cheek, which is slow-braised Kurobota pork cheek in lager beer with tri-pork mushroom risotto.

The restaurant also serves burgers, but in a different style. As their menu reveals their burgers use pork in their patty, I can’t help but to order it and try a different kind of burger. Grandma’s Sunday Burger with Egg is delicious. The quarter-pound pork patty matches well with the creamy mayo, tasty lettuce and sunny side up egg, while fried potatoes complete the menu.

Meanwhile, other sandwich meals such as Pork Cubana Burger with ham and cheese and Flying Pig Ultimate Club Sandwich will surely satisfy your taste buds. Also, add pasta to the list as the delectable crunchy pork belly on garlic pasta and The Flying Bolognese are worth a try.

The Flying Pig, however, also offers seafood and vegetable dishes to balance the menu. Balolong says these cannot be deleted from the menu because they offer customers an alternative choice, saying, “Although pork is our main course, the food includes side dish vegetables. To which Sarmenta adds, “It doesn’t automatically say that pork is unhealthy.”

Spinach whipped potatoes, buffalo shrimps, Mediterranean salad and chilled fresh oyster are also in the menu. The restaurant also allows cross orders since The Red Crab restaurant is just around the corner.

Looking for the place to go for a robust, meaty meal? Don’t say, “When pigs fly.” Make your way to Flying Pig.

The Flying Pig is located at Ground Floor, Eastwood Mall Veranda, Eastwood City, Libis, Quezon City and at No. 104 JSB Building, Tomas Morato Avenue, corner Scout Delgado, Quezon City.

A sweet ‘three-peat’

It doesn’t take a winner to know that defending a crown is not easy. But for back-to-back-to-back bartending champion Sir Raminad “Hang Time” Ong of TGI Friday’s Malate, it is a walk on the park. Ong managed to get an amazing “three-peat” performance in TGI Friday’s 15th Shake, Rattle and Pour Bartending Championships held at the Glorietta Activity Center recently.
Mr. Hang Time was just a normal culinary arts student when he first set foot in a TGIF branch many years ago. Back then, he was impressed by the bartenders doing their flair moves. “As a culinary arts student, we used to frequent hotels, bars and restaurants. And Friday’s’ bartenders doing flairs caught my attention. I knew I wanted to be one of them,” Ong recalls.
Ong not just won his third straight title this year, he also brought home all the Compulsory Round awards such as Drink Knowledge Test and Routine Pour Test (shared with Genrev Paul “The Revolution” Bascano of TGIF Ayala Center Cebu), as well as the Multiple Pour Test, Flair Test and Speed Round Test. The Compulsory Round showcases the technicalities of pouring and speed.
Meanwhile, last year’s Compulsory Round overall winner Ralph Emerson “Ace of Asia” Daganio of TGIF Mall of Asia is this year’s first runner-up and Michel “Flair Angel” Rabago of TGIF Glorietta is the Pour-Off Master.
In the Freestyle Round, crowds were awed when the 10 finalists tried to outdo each other with their spectacular showmanship, bottle-flipping and drink-tossing tricks. Other finalists include Francis “Flexi” Doming (Friday’s Robinsons Galleria), Joel “The Professor” de los Santos (Friday’s Bonifacio High Street), Jose Miguel “El Latino” Gonzales (Friday’s Alabang), Aldrin “Black Spiker” Javar (Friday’s Trinoma), Junjun “Mr. Major Major Entertainment” Marcelo (Friday’s Ermita); Haris “Freestyler” Manlapaz (Friday’s Sta. Lucia), Genrev”The Revolution” Bacasno (Friday’s Ayala Center Cebu).
This year’s panel of judges included Jen Rosendhal, former Viva Hot Babe; Jojie Alcantara, director of purchasing, Bistro Group of Restaurants; Jose Victor Ignacio Mercado, key accounts executive, Unilever Food Solutions; Cristy Genovea, corporate training manager, Bistro Group of Restaurants; and Tamala Fowler, TGI Friday’s international director for operations.
Being a three-time consecutive champion, Ong received a cash prize and gift packs plus the privilege of representing the Philippines again in the Friday’s Asia-Pacific Bartending Tilt to be held in Japan this November, which he won last year in China. He also has the chance to wave the Philippine flag in Dallas, Texas, in March 2011 to compete again against Friday’s bartenders from all over the world in the much-anticipated TGI Friday’s 2010 World Bartending Championship if he wins the Regional Competition. He fell one place short last year and is now back to claim that place in the world championships.
TGI Friday’s “battle of the bar” has become an annual sensation since its launch in 1995. It has produced Filipino bartender greats such as Ronald Valencia, first runner-up, 1998 Friday’s World Bartender Championship; Jojo Almanza, third runner-up, 2005 World Bartender Championship; Matthew “Kryptonite” Burgos and Eric “El Terrible” Martinez, who both represented the Philippines and won 2007 first runner-up and 2006 champion, respectively, at the TGI Friday’s World Bartender Championship.
Raminad “Hang Time” Ong, with his three-peat and multiple awards in the regional and world championships, definitely belongs in this elite list.

10/02/2010