Catch Ogie Alcaside LIVE at the Ayala Malls

September 11 • 6 PM
Glorietta 5 Atrium

September 18 • 6 PM
Market! Market! Activity Center

September 19 • 6 PM
MarQuee Mall Activity center

September 25 • 7 PM
Ayala Center Cebu – The Terraces

Ogie Alcasid will perform live at Pavillion Mall on September 26 • 6 PM

Get a copy of his latest CD and have it signed after the show.

Jewelmer, the leading producer of rare golden Palawan South Sea pearls unveiled the Luster for Life Exhibit in Ayala Center Cebu last July 23, 2010. Located at the Rotunda, 1st Level Activity Center of the popular shopping destination, the exhibit takes visitors on a visual journey where they can learn the story of the Palawan South Sea pearl from birth to fine jewelry piece and is part of what the company calls the “Jewelmer Experience”.

“The Jewelmer Experience engages the senses. It’s everything from the color of our showrooms, the interaction of clients with our people, our imagery, and philosophy. All of these are but a small part of the whole Experience. Its quite difficult to explain,” says Jewelmer’s Retail Manager Catrina Paulino, “it really should be experienced to be fully appreciated.” Paulino goes on, “The Luster for Life exhibit, in particular, shares our brand values in a visual and engaging way.”

First launched at Marquee Mall in Pampanga, the exhibition has since made its way to Glorietta 4 in Makati City before landing in Cebu and will continue making its rounds in premier shopping destinations in the Philippines within the year. “ The Jewelmer showroom in Cebu opened back in 1994. However, this is the first time we brought an exhibit here,” says Paulino.

The Luster for Life exhibit is composed of six main panels: Palawan South Sea pearls, Luster for Life, The Miracle of the Rare Golden Pearl, European Elegance, An Environmental Gem, and A Nation’s Pride Each segment features a combination of vivid imagery and descriptive text. Also included in the exhibit are the actual tools used for pearl cultivation, a pearl diorama, and some unique pieces that are part of Jewelmer’s fine jewelry collections.

Palawan, the Last Frontier

Jewelmer’s South Sea pearls come from the pristine marine environment of Palawan, Philippines

Jewelmer’s pearl farm is located in the pristine marine environment of the province of Palawan, in what is considered by most to be the Philippine’s last frontier.

This group of 1,700 islands is home to flora and fauna found nowhere else in the world as well as one of the few places that the gold-lipped Pinctada maxima oyster, the only bivalve capable of producing the golden South Sea pearl, can grow.

Luster for Life
When women wear pearls, it is she who glows. Pearls have the unique ability to enhance the beauty of its wearer, rather than call attention to itself. This is because of its luster, or the warm glow of the gem.

The Rivage des Perles Collection by Jewelmer: an exquisite example of the harmonious blend of European elegance and Filipino craftsmanship.

The luster is described as the pearl’s outer sheen and surface brilliance and is created when light passes through thousands of layer of nacre, the substance that makes up a pearl. Jewelmer’s South Sea pearls possess thick, translucent layers of natural nacre that gives their pearls a unique luster that the company has come to be known for.

The Miracle of the Rare Golden Pearl

Jewelmer pearl farmers carefully tend Pinctada maxima oysters while they grow their precious cargo: the Palawan South Sea pearl.

Jewelmer is the only pearl producer in the world that has successfully produced pearls with a rich, natural golden color. Through decades of research and biotechnology, Jewelmer was able to perfect the breeding process that produces gold-lipped Pinctada maxima pearl oysters capable of growing large, lustrous, golden pearls. This deep, rich color can only be found in South Sea pearls produced in the Philippines.

European Elegance
The design process is the ultimate exercise in creativity. It can proceed both ways, with designers beginning with a piece in mind to adorn with selected pearls, or starting from the pearl itself and creating a design around it.

Inspired by nature, each piece is a product of east and west working together on such a delightful material, pearl lovers are bound to be always surprised.

A team of Italian, French, and Filipino artists draws inspiration from a multitude of sources and creates exquisite designs that enhance the beauty of each pearl. These designs are then executed by highly-skilled Swiss and Filipino goldsmiths and artisans.

A lustrous baroque pearl can inspire whimsy as seen in this Eagle brooch crafted with precious metal and stone.

Exclusive to the Cebu leg of the exhibit are three South Sea pearl collector pieces: a baroque pearl strand necklace and an eagle brooch. The strand necklace is composed of 49 large, natural silvery-blue baroque South Sea pearls set with 18-karat white gold, while an irregularly shaped, large baroque South Sea pearl inspires the body of an bejeweled eagle made of gold and diamonds. Both of these one-of-a-kind pieces were part of a recently concluded international pearl exhibition held in Qatar, UAE.

An Environmental Gem

Miracles of nature: giant silvery blue baroque pearls set in white gold come together in a breath-taking graduated strand necklace.

A lustrous South Sea pearl is the reflection of the health and beauty of the environment where it was cultivated. In the face of globally dwindling natural resources, Philippine pearl farmers give back to Mother Nature and become stewards of marine life. Thus, Jewelmer is committed to a unique kind of pearl farming: a non-extractive, environmentally sound process, which ensures that nature remains protected and unexploited.

A Nation’s Pride
The pearl is the Philippine’s national gem, the best representative of a land rich in natural resources as well as people with smiles as warm and welcoming as a golden pearl.

Finally, on October 15, 1996, former President Fidel V. Ramos concretized the pearl’s role in Philippine culture through Presidential Proclamation No. 905.

Jewelmer’s South Sea pearls come from the pristine marine environment of Palawan, Philippines

The proclamation acknowledges the South Sea Pearl’s role in the country’s socio-economic & cultural tradition as well as the gem’s part in the promotion of Filipino heritage and as a support of its national development efforts.

Jewelmer continues to share the spirit of the Philippines through the warm, lustrous glow of the South Sea pearl: a true living gem and the pride of a nation.

Watch out for the The Luster for Life: A pearl exhibit in TriNoma, Quezon City later this month, at Alabang Town Center, and at Greenbelt 5 at the heart of Makati later this year.

First of all, what is an ECO BAG?

ECO BAGS are inexpensive reusable shopping bags common in Australia and also used in some other countries.

ECO BAGS and other similar reusable shopping bags are commonly distributed at the point of sale by supermarkets and similar retail outlets. They are intended to be reused repeatedly to replace the use of hundreds of HDPE (High Density PolyEthylene) plastic bags.

This arose from an Australian Federal Government initiative in 2003 – essentially a threat to outlaw plastic bags if retailers did not voluntarily discourage their use.

SM’s Eco Bag is a hard wearing non woven fabric bag made of 100-percent polypropylene, and may last up to two years of weekly use. Polypropylene is recyclable, non-toxic, allergy-free and non-reactive to human skin.

The latest collection features four new designs, designs which not only hope to deliver the environmental message but designs which are also now more appealing, fashionable and youthful.

photo by Andrew “Doyzkie” Buenaviaje

Spark – This orange Eco Bag represents Fire. Proceeds from the Spark Eco Bag will go a long way to fund initiatives in conserving and producing renewable, Earth-safe energy.

Renew – This white Eco Bag represents Renewing the Earth. Proceeds from the Renew Eco Bag will fund efforts related to recycling.

Breathe – This light-blue Eco Bag represents the Air we breathe. Proceeds from the Breathe Eco Bag will help fund projects related to air pollution.

Flow – This blue Eco Bag represents Water. Proceeds from the Flow Eco Bag will fund projects related to water conservation.

For every P500 single or accumulated receipt purchase at any SM Supermall establishment, a customer may avail of one SM Supermalls Eco Bag for only P35. SM Prestige and Advantage Card holders will be given two extra reward points for each time they use the Green Bag for groceries at SM Supermarket, SM Hypermarket, and Savemore Market.

So what are you waiting for? Get out of the bad habit of using environmentally hazardous plastic bags, grab your own SM Eco Bag now. Not only that, one peso will be donated to an environmental cause with every purchase of the SM Eco Bag.

Footwear shopping, anyone? Now is the perfect time to do so as Skechers is holding a month-long SALE of up to 70% off on selected items. So what are you waiting for? Invade the Skechers store nearest you, NOW! Skechers has outlets in the following malls: Market! Market!, Trinoma, Glorietta 5, Festival Supermall Alabang, Marquee Mall, and Ayala Center Cebu.

The White Hat is a Manila-based brand that was born from the idea that of wanting to introduce a totally new product into the Philippines. From the very beginning, White Hat wanted to do things the right way. So, they patiently searched all over the world until they found the BEST suppliers in Italy for their yogurt. As we all know, the best ice cream comes from Italy. And so does the best yogurt, or as they claim.

Next, they flew in an Italian Gelato expert to help them develop their recipe because they wanted their product to be authentic. They then held a series of taste tests where they invited friends, food critics, and celebrities who tasted several versions and gave their comments. From those, they finally came up with a perfectly smooth, creamy frozen yogurt with a slight tangy sourness, confirmed to have LIVE ACTIVE CULTURES, and authentically Italian. Did I mention that its 98% FAT-FREE?

Can’t decide which toppings to choose for your yogurt? The White Hat has some pre-made topping combinations dubbed as “hats”. From the uber-sweet Pinoy Hat, to the very playful Wizard’s Hat, be who you want to be and have a healthy snack at the same time!

But thats’ not enough, the frozen yogurt must be paired with a selection of premium healthy toppings for it to taste perfect. So, White Hat then made a selection of top quality premium toppings which is presented to the customers in a 21 topping bar for us to choose from. Toppings include FRESH fruit, healthy premium cereals, nuts & crunchies, fun toppings, and the occasional surprise toppings (think homemade!). And since they believe in giving customers value for money, their topping servings are GENEROUS.

The White Hat’s toppings selection

To have a consistently good product is a challenge that White Hat is ready to meet. They believe that their AUTHENTIC ITALIAN FROZEN YOGURT is going to set new standards for everyone. Their product is freshly made every day and tastes soooo good, you won’t be able to keep it off your mind. In fact, it will always be on top of your mind, on top of your head, and it will always be known as….THE WHITE HAT®.

The Wizard’s Hat – Large – P155

WHY SHOULD YOU EAT YOGURT?

Here are yogurt’s 6 health benefits:

- BETTER DIGESTION. Real yogurt contains LIVE, ACTIVE CULTURES (lactobacillus bulgaricus and streptococcus thermophilus) sometimes known as “PROBIOTICS”. These help people with gastrointestinal conditions such as constipation, diarrhea, H. Pylori infection, colon cancer,, and those who are lactose intolerant.

- STRONGER BONES. Real yogurt contains CALCIUM, which is essential for building strong bones and helps to prevent Osteoporosis.

- REDUCES THE RISK OF HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE. A study made with 5,000 students in Spain showed that eating 2-3 servings of low-fat dairy a day led to lower blood pressure.

- BOOSTS THE IMMUNE SYSTEM. Real yogurt with live, active cultures boosts the immune system by increasing white blood cells which fight infection.

- BIGGER MUSCLES. Real yogurt contains PROTEIN which are needed in muscle building.
WEIGHT LOSS. Eating low-fat yogurt in place of other high-fat desserts helps in losing weight without the feeling of being deprived.

But don’t take my word for it, go and visit The White Hat and try it out for yourself. White Hat guarantees that you will love their product…. it’s sooo good, or they’ll eat their hats!

The White Hat is at the 2nd level, Building C hallway of the Northwing, SM City Cebu (in between Karat World and David’s Salon).

True blue Havaianaticos (those obsessed with these comfy and stylish flip flops) can select a Philippine-designed MYOH commemorative sole and pin as mementos of this historic event. With all these options, you’ll never run out of creative ideas for your own personal version of the word’s favorite flip flops. So head over to SM City Cebu Northwing Atrium until Monday, August 2, 2010 and Make Your Own Havaianas.

Sinjin with co-CBS members Wilhelmina and Mark

This is my second time to participate in the Make Your Own Havaianas event. The first time was last year where I made 3 pairs of Havaianas flip-flops.

One of the MYOH Roulettes

The area was opened to the invited VIP and media guests at 4pm and upon entrance, we were provided with a checklist to help us note our choices. It took me quite some time to decide on the color combination of my flip-flops. Good thing, roulettes with all the possible sole and strap color combinations were available. They helped me a lot in my selection. Volunteers were also around, willing to give their honest say on your choice sole and strap color combination.

Last year, I got 3 pairs all for myself, this year, I decided to get only 1 pair for myself and another pair for mom. For mom, I chose the black MYOH@5 commemorative sole.

After that, I had to choose which limited edition lifestyle or swarovski pins I should decorate my flipflop straps with. For mom, I chose 2 pins, swarovski-embellished dolphin and star pins. For myself, I chose 6 letter pins spelling my name Sinjin on the right strap. On the left strap, I chose 3 pins, a “limited” pin, a MYOH@5 commemorative pin and a peace guitar pin.

MYOH Assembly Counter

So after I’ve made up my mind on the sole-strap color combination and the pins, I took note of them using the checklist. I then headed to the assembly area and waited for my turn at the counter. When my turn has arrived, I was surprised too see the same guy who assembled my flip-flops last year. For the second year in a row, he’ll be assembling my flip-flops, grreat!

Here’s how a pair of Havaianas flip-flops is assembled from scratch:

Punching pins into the straps is usually the most tedious and time consuming part of the process. The assembler will ask you where and how you’d like your pins to be punched. The pin locks this year are quite inconsistent as some of them do not match the pins thus causing delays.

The straps are then attached to the soles.

After all that, the MYOH assembler will present to you your MYOH masterpiece for final inspection.

Joe, with my MYOH masterpiece. I was very flattered when Joe described my MYOH creations as works of art. Hihi!

Satisfied with what I’ve seen, I then headed to the counter to pay for my 2 new pairs of customized flip-flops (The media and VIPs were allotted 1 complimentary pair with 2 pins so I paid nothing for mom’s pair of Havaianas!) Whew!

Other scenes at MYOH 2010:

Gubernatorial daughter Christina Codilla-Frasco, spotted at the MYOH 2010 VIP and Meida Launch

The busy Make Your Own Havaianas 2010 Assembly Counter

The MYOH area before the invasion of the Havaianaticos!

Havaianaticos take time to mix and match soles and straps.

Other photos:

Special thanks to Ms. Jaja Chiongbian-Rama and Ms. April Rama of BigSEED Media and Marketing Solutions! All this won’t be possible if not for you guys.

‘Til the next MYOH!

MAKE YOUR OWN HAVAIANAS 2010 in MINDANAO will be on August 13-15, 2010 at LIMKETKAI MALL!

Grüezi! That’s one fine Swiss hello to a great feast as the Marco Polo Plaza Cebu celebrates Swiss National Day, along with its traditional food fest entitled “Swiss Alpine Festival”.

Last year, Swiss nationals and locals alike were truly delighted by the authentic showcase of Swiss cuisine, art and culture at the Marco Polo Plaza. The food festival culminated with the Swiss National Day with great entertainment, games and exciting raffle prizes!

Now on its 4th year, the Marco Polo Plaza calls on all global citizens once more to join this exciting week of culinary journey to Switzerland, as well as celebrate Swiss National Day.

From July 30, Friday, until August 8, Swiss traditions cross oceans to the hotel’s Café Marco, where diners can enjoy a gourmet selection as comprehensive as the alphabet. Those who come for lunch and dinner get to enjoy Swiss delicacies from Alpine air-dried beef to chocolates, cheese fondue to raclettes, roesti, sausages, and Zurich-style veal. Enjoy a world of Swiss goodness alongside Café Marco’s international buffet favorites. The Café Marco serves lunch from 12:00 pm until 2:30 pm at Php 885 and dinner from 6:30 pm until 10:00 pm at Php 1,072.

On Saturday, July 31, the Marco Polo Plaza, to be led by General Manager Hans Hauri, a Swiss national himself, will also celebrate Swiss National Day – a truly festive affair to honor and gather Swiss nationals outside their homeland.

Swiss National Fest dinner tickets will be sold at Php 1,090+ for a delectable spread of Swiss buffet at the Garden Terrace, unlimited soft drinks and juices, great entertainment, traditional games, bonfire and a chance to win some exciting prizes. Also, enjoy a Swiss Weekend Package from July 30 to August 2, with room rates starting at Php 2,999+.

So come up to Nivel Hills, celebrate Swiss National Day and experience a wonderful week of ultimate Swiss goodness from A to Z, only at Cebu City’s finest, the Marco Polo Plaza! For inquiries and reservations, call 253-111 loc 8245 or email mpplaza@marcopolohotels.com.

It is that time of the year again for the fashion event anticipated by all fashionistas and stylistas. Havaianas, the world’s favorite flip flops brand, is celebrating its 5th year of offering Filipinos the chance to add personalized color and style to their lives—and their happy soles.

Havaianas, the first flip flops brand to offer pair customization in the country, will hold its 5th annual Make Your Own Havaianas event at SM City Cebu Northwing Atrium from July 30 to August 2, 2010. In honor of this landmark anniversary, Havaianas aims to make this fashion event bigger, better and brighter than ever.
“We always endeavor to improve Make Your Own Havaianas every year” says Anne Gonzalez, Managing Director of Havaianas Philippines. “This year, though, we can really say that we’re going all out. We’re celebrating the 5th installation of this trademark event in honor of all the Havaianaticos that show up each year.”

Make Your Own Havaianas 2010 is the perfect venue to unleash your creativity and let your imagination go wild. Aside from the extensive color palette of Top and Slim soles and straps, Havaianas fans can choose from stylish new options—from silver letter pins and crystal studded pins to jelly, fluorescent and glow-in-the-dark Top straps.

True blue Havaianaticos (those obsessed with these comfy and stylish flip flops) can select a Philippine-designed MYOH commemorative sole and pin as mementos of this historic event. With all these options, you’ll never run out of creative ideas for your own personal version of the word’s favorite flip flops. So head over to SM City Cebu Northwing Atrium from July 30-August 2, 2010 and Make Your Own Havaianas.

Oh I’m so excited about this. I made 3 pairs of Havaianas in last year’s Make Your Own Havaianas. I hope to make another unique pair of flip-flops this year! So what are you waiting for? Mark your calendars! Once again, that’s July 30-August 2, 2010 at the SM City Cebu Northwing Atrium, Mall Hours

***A.L. Amizade Marketing, Inc. is the exclusive sub-distributor of Havaianas in Central and Eastern Visayas. In Cebu, Havaianas is available in All Flip Flops SM and Ayala, Rustan’s, July, Republik, Maribago Blue Water Resort, Abaca Boutique Resort and R.O.X Ayala. The Havaianas Kid’s line is also available at Ballooney Shoppe. Celebrate 5 years of chic and colorful customization at http://www.havaianasphilippines.com/myoh

With its passion for coffee and excellence, CoffeeCat promises to further enrich the highly developed coffee culture scene in this city already spoiled with choices which begs the question: Will CoffeeCat make it big in Cebu? Will CoffeeCat have a place in the Cebuanos’ highly discriminative taste? Read on.

What’s in a name: CoffeeCat…? The name ‘Coffeecat’ is the product of an intriguing play of words coupled with a serendipitous association to a cat-sized mammal called a civet cat, which has a close affinity towards coffee berries.

“The concept for CoffeeCat was born out of a dream of creating a new type of meeting place –one that mixes modern, industrial, and minimalist elements yet retains a warm and cozy ambiance for good conversations, great beverages and delectable dishes.”, says JC Tan, President and General Manager of CoffeeCat. “This is a meeting place that recognizes the Filipinos’ cultural tradition of taking a break from daily workday life and relaxing in the company of others. These, combined with the Italian coffee culture and influence of the North American pastry tradition all came together in the vision of Coffeecat.”, he adds.

Mr. Tan is very young at 24 years old so it’s not astonishing that the coffee shop is dynamic, complex, sophisticated, yet simple, a reflection of today’s youth.

Marie Peluchi Tan (Coffee Cat Corporate Secretary and District Manager for Cebu) and JC Tan, being grilled by the all-female media representatives.

CoffeeCat Cebu is 90 square meters of stylish and chic space which can accommodate a total of 60 guests with its indoor and outdoor seating combined. The café specializes in expertly handcrafted beverages made from premium coffee blend illy®, a careful balance of 9 types of pure Arabica beans from South and Central America, India and Africa which creates the unmistakable illy flavor always identical in any espresso cup, wherever it is drunk around the world; non-coffee drinks like Avalanche™ Ice Blends and its signature product – Yogo™ Premium Frozen Yogurt in Original or Green Tea Flavors.

April Rama, Jaja Chiongbian-Rama, Cebu City Councilor Eduardo Rama and Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama, grace the opening of CoffeeCat!

REVIEW: During the opening last Friday, July 16, 2010, I only got to taste YOGO, their very own frozen yogurt. I got the medium size with 2 toppings: strawberry and mini Oreos. Verdict: I LOVE. At least for me, the right blend of sweetness-sourness and creaminess is just perfect. Meanwhile, I wasn’t able to taste their coffee products but I visited the shop again last Sunday to taste the Vanilla Avalanche. Most of the time, I always order the Vanilla Frap when I’m in any coffee shop so I had to try CoffeeCat’s own version of the drink. I was very well satisfied. It’s actually a notch higher when compared to the Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf’s Vanilla Frap Drink plus the whipped cream was really creamy and had volume. It has this “melt in your mouth” feel.

Sinjin’s Yogurt

YOGO is available in small, medium, large and pint sizes. There are 3 types of toppings available: FRUIT (mango, banana, pineapple, blueberry, strawberry, kiwi fruit, mandarin orange, peach red ruby cherry, grape), DRY (Mochi, Special K, Meuslix, Butterfinger, Reese’s, Fudge Brownie, M&M Minis, Oreo Cookie, Desiccated Coconut, Granola, Crushed Graham, Sliced Almond), LIQUID (organic honey, chocolate sauce, caramel sauce).

Yogo™ Toppings

Guests may also check their email, download a file before a meeting, or simply browse the internet by logging on to Coffeecat’s in-store free wireless internet service aptly called wireless@coffeecat.

Special thanks to Ms. Jaja and April for inviting the Cebu Bloggers Society to the opening!

Ribbon Cutting with Cebu Holdings Inc. President Francis Monera, Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama and Ms. Marie Peluchi Tan of CoffeeCat.

The Cebu Bloggers Society at the Coffee Cat Opening

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