Last week, my correspondent was able to get into the Spyder Charge Your Summer Program. It was reported that the program and the venue setting was really great, specially those stone wall like decoration of the stage.

Spyder, the brand that brought top-quality and high-performance multisport (swim-bike-run) and motorcycling gears in the country, launched its sumer season campaign for a more exciting, super active and healthier summer activities with Spyder-Charge Your Summer 2012.


Spyder hosted the week-long Spyder-Charge Your Summer 2012 mall event where newbies are introduced to the discipline of multisports by offering the highest quality of products to choose from. A wide variety of items like helmets, shades, eyewear, and other protective gears, accessories and products to enable a fun-filled engagement.

The event featured a series of activities to invite the interest of mall-goers. A range of activities including hourly raffles, photo-ops on standees and photowalls, and trivia games were held throughout the whole week to spice up the event. Spyder-charge was conducted against a stage resembling a mountain beach resort to capture that summer ambiance and I think they sure did a pretty good idea of capturing the attention of mall-goers because my correspondent got their attention as well.



Aside from the Spyder products on sale from March 26 to April 1, enthusiasts were also introduced to motorcycling, cycling, and running clinics. Though we weren't there when this things happens it's sure great to know that they made something like this. The clinics were held in partnership with Safety Riders, Team manager of the Philippine Cycling team for SEA Games Edmund Mangaser, and three-time ultramarathon champion and Best Female Triathlete nominee Michelle Estuar, respectively.

Also, it was the finale for the Spyder-Charge Your Summer Blogging Contest, as they announce the winners and award to the top three bloggers the cash prizes and premium items from Spyder and sponsors. The top blogs were featured on the Team Spyder website and the grand prize winner won Php50,000.00 cash prize and an all-expense paid beach vacation for two courtesy of Spyder. That was really great prize to charge up you enthusiasm this summer.



Spyder also introduced their Spyder Assist Program for the benefits of the Riders. This program offer extra protection to motorcycle riders in partnership with the nation's leading insurance company, Standard Insurance.

This covers the...

1. Personal Life Insurance, covering loss of life or disablement of up toPhp100,000.00
2. Medical reimbursement of up to Php5,000.00 for accident related injuries, including moto-related accidents.
3. Crash replacement policy for damaged helmets during major accidents resulting in damage to the helmets.

These benefits under Spyder Assist are available only with every purchase of any Spyder motorcycle helmet, and are subject to terms and conditions set in the policy.

The Spyder Assist Card may be purchased from authorized dealers together with the purchase of any Spyder motorcycle helmet at a very affordable price of Php150.00. With just this small amount your life will be secured. To register the coverage, the scratch code on the Spyder Assist card must be logged on to www. teamspyder.com/spyderassist. A copy of the policy will be sent via email.

If you have more question about the Spyder Assist Program just visit their site www.teamspyder.com/spyderassist or just simplycall their hotline at 02-8451111.

Spyder-Charge Your Summer is an event of Spyder Helmets and Optics and sponsred by Skechers Go run, No Fear, Gatorade, Sun Cellular, Kawasaki, All Terra Cyclery, and supported by Total Fitness, Multisport, One Sport, Inside Racing, and Weekend Warrior Magazines, takbo.ph, swimbikerun.ph, motorcyclephilippines.com, clickthecity.com, and juice.ph

If you were watching ASAP with their Sessionista, I'm sure you've already heard this Acoustic Pop Sessionista named Juris. The singing career of this artist continues to blossom after her latest album “Forevermore” which recently reached the gold record status. Juris is now set to release her second single entitled “Magkaibang Mundo” which was written by the former Sugarfree vocalist Ebe Dancel.

Aside from launching her latest single, Juris is going to enchant her beloved listeners not only in the Philippines but also in other South East Asian countries as she is set to be positioned to be the “Soothing Voice of Asia” with the launch of her third album this year. Her latest album produced by Singaporean company S2S will be an all-English repertoire that would cater to the wider South East Asian market.



I'm pretty much sure that Juris would eventually invade the South East Asian nations just like the other Pinoy artists who have established their names already.

Juris' solo signing career started with Star Records. Her first album “Juris: Now Playing” has achieved the platinum status while her second album “Forevermore” already reached gold. Her hits include soothing renditions of well-loved Filipino ballads like “Minsan Lang Kita Iibigin”, “Don't Say Goodbye”, and “Forevermore”.

Meanwhile, Juris will be serenading her fans in a series of mall shows—Robinsons Starmills Pampanga which was held last March 24, Robinsons Lipa last March 25, Robinsons Galleria on April 22, and Robinsons Sta. Rosa on April 29.

Grab a copy of Juris' latest album “Forevermore” still avalable on your favorite record bars nationwide. For more updates and online song downloads, log on to www.starrecords.ph. For more information, visit Star Records' Facebook fanpage at http://www.facebook.com/starrecordsphil or follow @starrecordsph on Twitter.

I'm not a very die-hard fan but I enjoyed meeting different celebrities and for me it was a privilege to get invited in press conferences and meet and greet event. I could say that I'm one of those few people who are blessed to have friends and acquaintances who could let me meet different artists.

For this time, though it's my second time, it's Erik Santos with his newest single “Bakit Mahal Pa Rin Kita”. Erik Santos is coined as the Philippines music's Ultimate Serenader. His newest single comes from his album “Awit Para Sa'yo” which was released by Star Records. It is his latest music compilation with 14 different tracks including nine original and five cover songs, and it is for sure that all are OPM love songs composed by renowned composers in the local music scene.


Track list includes his version of the hit song “Di Lang Ikaw” which was composed by Aiza Seguerra and written and sung by Juris Fernandez, “Muling Buksan Ang Puso” which was composed by Geroge Canseco, “Kulang Ako Kung Wala Ka” which comes from Soc Villanueva, “Sa Iyong Paglisan” which was compsed by Arnold Reyes, “If You Have To” composed by Jude Gitamondoc, “Langit” which comes from ultimate singer-songwriter, Mr. Ogie Alcasid, “'Di Na Magbabago” by Christian Martines, “Sana Ikaw” which was an original by Piolo Pascual, composed by Lucien Letaba and Rommel Tuico, “Hanggang Kialan Kita Mamahalin” which was composed by Gary Valenciano and written by Erik Santos, “Paminsan-minsan” compsed by Aaron Paul Del Rosario and hi unique rendition of “Pangarap Ko Ang Ibigin Ka” which was Regine Velasquez original and was composed by Mr. Ogie Alcasid.


Listen to Erik's newest' track and grab your own copy of “Awit Para Sa 'Yo” under Star Records on your favorite record bars nationwide. For more updates and online song downloads, log on to www.starrecords.ph. For more information, visit Star Records' Facebook fanpage at http://www.facebook.com/starrecordsphil or follow @starrecordsph on Twitter.

Gladly I was invited to watched the new video ads of the Climate Change Commission and of course watched the movie "The Lorax" on 3D.  Together with my son we both enjoyed the movie.  My son was very amazed with the RE Troopers.

The Lorax is one of Dr. Seuss classic children's book story and it was given life in 3D animation with wonderful new characters, including a boy, whose journey is to search for a magical creature that will win for him the affection of the girl he loves.

The Lorax' story centers on one of the most important issue of our time, saving our environment.  It is set in an imaginary world that is polluted and grim, because of Once-ler, a strange creature obsessed in cutting "Truffula" or trees, thinking that this will help him craft "Thneeds", which he thought everyone will need.  In the end, after realizing the sad consequences of his action, Once-ler gives the boy the last truffula seed and asked him to plaint it for trees and fauna to return.

The story of The Lorax is relevant today.  virtually almost all of the country's ecosystems have been significantly transformed or degraded.  Philippine ecosystems have changed more rapidly due to deforestation, pollution, urban congestion, marine and coastal degradation and loss of biodiversity, which have worsen the impacts of climate change in the Philippines.

"Trees are very important in the country's roadmap in the battle against climate change, they clean the air while at the same time serving as carbon sinks", Secretary Mary Ann Lucille Sering said.

The NCCAP, approved by President Benigno Simeon C. Aquino III November last year, has seven thematic priorities, one of which is Ecosystem and Environment stability.  Environmental sustainability therefore means maintaining healthy and stable ecosystems, which is a necessity especially amidst changing climate.






"Adapting to climate change requires the action of everyone.  We need to have everyone informed of what they can do to save the environment, and in the long run, the future generations.  We have to act now if we want our children to have genuine trees in their time", she said.

In cooperation with the United States Agency for International Development (USAid), the CCC aims to share the morale of the story to young and old alike as they launch their video against climate together with the premiere of the movie.

The video will be shown in all SM and Ayala cinemas for one whole year.

"Our video will show that people from all walks of life should be involved in addressing climate change.  Small actions count big, and collectively they can make an impact", she added.

"It's not too late. We still have genuine trees around us.  Climate change is here and we need to adapt.  Let's take care of the environment and we will be more climate resilient in the future," she said.

 



Another pampering night featuring new experiences of different services. 

Mr. Migs Dela Rosa of Nails.Glow invited some bloggers to try out their services at their newly opened branch located at Don Antonio, Brgy. Holy Spirit, Quezon City.  Well, since the place is very near, I took the opportunity to sign up and experience what they can offer.

Nails.Glow Don Antonio branch opened last March 11, 2012. According to the General Manager that specific branch is their 17th store as of that very moment.  Hmm... imagine for almost 3 years they have already branched out that number, very fast.


Why they manage to have 17 branches in just 3 years? Well for a start they sure know how to offer good quality services for a very reasonable and affordable prices.  Also, perhaps they have a secret or management technique that they've used to make their brand progress that far.


So, to start the pampering night, they've started it with the usual services that I tried on other establishments.  First was the foot spa with pedicure. Then, I did try the hand spa, manicure and the paraffin treatment which was new to me.  The paraffin treatment takes long also, though I only tried it on my feet.  Just like any other treatment this one also hurts because I need to plunge in my feet on a the paraffin solution (not sure if that's they call it) for three times and then it will be covered with wax which will be covered for 20 minutes.  Whew, another long time with less movement.  Anyway that's why it's called pampering.


With regards to the courtesy and professionalism of their staff, I could really say that I really like how the staff of nails.glow treat us.  They keep you entertained and they even tell you what are the services that you need to try, and guess what??? I have learned a lot from them, they've told me about the proper caring of nails, what to do, and how to keep it clean.  Of course they all know how to promote their company.  They are also provides free iced tea or coffee while enjoying the services.


Well, because of the hands on owner of the branch, Ms. Tiff and the close monitoring of the General Manager and the continuous promoting of their Marketing Manager, Mr. Migs dela Rosa and the very talkative staff results with quality services in an affordable price.

Please do visit Nails. Glow at #18 A Don Jose St., don Antonio Heights, North Gate Brgy. Holy Spirit, Quezon City (9905232/09328851100) or you can visit their site www.nailsdotglow.com and their Facebook Page for updates and their other branches.  Here are the services that they're offering.

Marvin Agustin’s journey to what he is today—a successful chef and restaurateur—is so inspiring that it became the cornerstone of his latest endorsement for Knorr Cubes.

Marvin recently signed on to become the new brand ambassador for Knorr Cubes, the favorite partner of people like him who are passionate about food and cooking. As such, he is also the new face behind Knorr Cubes’ “Door to door Sabaw Challenge” in which he will be visiting different cities all over the Philippines, challenging cooks to identify which is the better, more ma-karne and better-tasting sabaw: the one made with Knorr Cubes, or not?

During the challenge, Marvin will present two versions of sabaw, one made with granules and the other, made with Knorr cubes. Marvin believes so much in the product’s claims to deliver the meatiest taste and flavor that he throws in a promise to give up cooking if they end up choosing the sabaw that’s not made of Knorr cubes—and everyone knows how passionate Marvin is about cooking, so for him to promise that is a big deal.

Among the locations Marvin will visit are Laguna, Iloilo, and Metro Manila. There will be a series of 30-seconder commercials featuring Marvin engaging cooks and housewives to take part in the challenge.


“That’s really what it’s about: Marvin being confident about the product so much that he’s willing to give up his passion for cooking just to prove a point, which is that Knorr cubes is the meatiest out of all the cooking aids in the Philippines,” says Monica Rios, brand manager of Knorr for Unilever Philippines, which is spearheading the Door-to-door challenge.

Marvin grew up in a household where cooking was a passion. Their apartment was small, and from the living room, one could sit and smell what was being cooked in the kitchen.

His mother loved to cook Filipino dishes. “Mahilig kami sa sabaw. Mahilig kami sa sinigang, mahilig kami sa nilaga. Every meal, kailangan laging may sabaw. Sabaw at kanin,” recalls Marvin. “At we really used Knorr cubes. Kahit pinakbet, nilalagyan ng Knorr shrimp na cubes.”

As a teenager, Marvin worked as a waiter, and later, became a mascot for a popular fastfood chain. From there, he worked his way up, became a popular actor and re-invented himself into a successful businessman with a chain of restaurants that includes Sumo Sam, Oyster Boy, Marciano’s, Komrad, John and Yoko and Mr. Kurosawa.

This is what inspired Unilever to choose him to be the latest endorser of Knorr Cubes.

Says Rios: “It’s a nice success story to hear, that he started out as a waiter, and even worked as a mascot for a while. He has proven that he can rise above all the challenges in life. Now he’s a chef and a restaurateur. It’s very inspiring, the way he was able to achieve everything…maypassion siya, and he just really went for it. So it’s a nice feeling for him to be endorsing the product.”

Marvin feels honored to be chosen to join Knorr’s family of chefs. “When I first learned about it (endorsement), sabi ko, everyone knows that I really love cooking. I love cooking for my friends and my family, and Knorr cubes is really what we use for soup. So napakasaya at family-orientedang pino-promote namin na brand.”

Get the latest updates from Marvin himself! Like Marvin Agustin on Facebook or follow him @marvin_agustin on Twitter.

Knorr Philippines

Life is full of surprises...gladly, that surprises makes our life meaningful and ease the hardship that we always encounter in our life. Blessings pour at all times.

Though we experienced lots of sufferings and challenges, this time we embraced the happiness because of the achievements of my eldest son, Maki.


It's a very happy moment, these are the ribbons that Maki got from the recognition, most kind, most punctual, most responsible, most honest and most industrious. Well, some of the ribbons that he got, I also received it when I was on my elementary days.


Aside from those ribbons he was also chosen as Best in English.

The finale will be on Monday, March 26, 2012, during the commencement day he will receive the medal for being the 1st honor of the nursery class.

What's in store on this? Well, at his young age he was able to make us proud even more, his achievement give us so much happiness and makes our expenses lesser. Yes, he is now a scholar of their school, with 100% no tuition fee for this coming school year.

Blessing is just around the corner, and hope it will continue. Thanks God!!! and congratulation to my eldest son Maki.

Mcdonald's McFlaot Summer Medley also includes affordable snack combos.  For only P50, customers can get a Regular Coke McFloat with Medium Fires.  While for P55, you can pair up your Medium Fries with any of the four new regular-size McFloat flavors.  Totally fit for epic summer hangouts and even road trips!

"Summer is all about fun and excitement.  bonding with friends is more fun with great food and cool music.  With McFloat Summer Medley, McDonald's is sure to become a favorite destination this season," says Margot Torres, McDonald's Philippines, Vice-President for Marketing and Communications.

Xian Lim, whose favorite summer activities include hanging out with friends, adds excitement to the campaign with his won tune of youthfulness and fun.  "Summer is one of my favorite times of the year because you can relax and just have fun," says Xian. "I'm happy that I can help bring a little bit of summer to everyone this year and I feel so excited to be a part of the McDonald's family in the Philippines."


McFloat Summer Medley is available in all McDonald's stores nationwide, whether dine-in, take-out or drive-thru.  You can also dial McDelivery 8-6236 or visit www.mcdelivery.com.ph to enjoy the McFloat Summer Medley anytime, anywhere.  So hurry, text, BBM or call your friends and head to the coolest hangout place this summer- McDonald's!

Watch for more awesome surprise this summer!  For more information, visit www.mcdonalds.com.ph.

How do you make foam?

Foam-making in the past may have been a tedious, manual labor-intensive job but the process was made even better, thanks to modern technology. By using state-of-the-art equipment, Multiflex RNC Philippines of the RGC Foam Group, makers of the popular Uratex foam, totally revolutionized foam-making not only in the Philippines but also in South East Asia.

Being one of the largest foam-makers in the region and with advanced foam manufacturing equipment, let us see how a Uratex foam product is made:


 • The Research & Development laboratory – Just like cooking, a good foam starts with the perfect recipe, and in foam-making, the R&D facility of the RGC Foam Group, one of the country’s most advanced, is where it all starts. There, Uratex laboratory personnel develop formulations that result to certain types of foam and also conduct tests to ensure that the formulation will meet final product specifications that customers look for. Over the years, this department has developed thousands of formulations that benefited the Philippine industrial history, from the car development program of the 1970s to the footwear, garments and electronics boom in the 1980s and 1990s.
• Foaming – Once the formulation is finalized, it is entered into the foaming machine’s computer system. There, up to 26 streams of different chemicals are doused using computer-controlled metering pumps for precision. The liquid will turn into cream within seconds and then into solid state within 1.5-2 minutes, and where the solid foam block may be cut between 1 to 60 meters in length. At the Muntinlupa plant, the foam is cut in 30-meter lengths. This high-tech machinery is complimented by a quality management system and ran by highly-trained personnel.
• Curing area – The 30-meter long blocks are then picked up by an overhead crane and transferred to the curing area. Foam is produced via an exothermic reaction where the center may reach up to 145-165 degrees Celsius within 20-30 minutes. It will not start to cool for another 3-4 hours but will reach room temperature within 24 hours and is “cured”.
• Foam block warehouse – This is the storage area for the foam blocks. From there, the plant’s production department will request for a specific type of block with different sizes as per orders coming from customers. These blocks are then moved to the production area where they will be cut according to the desired sizes.
• Production area – It is from this area where the Uratex products that we all see come from. The foam blocks are cut into the requested size and then “contoured” based on the type of product to be produced, whether a pillow, a mattress, or even a car seat foam. Once cut and contoured, the product goes straight to packaging under strict quality control standards, ready for delivery to the customer.




 
The RGC Group of Companies revolutionized foam making back in 1987 when they set up the first continuous foaming machine in the country called the “Vertifoam” process. This involves computerized metering of materials to form perfectly-shaped foam with lesser scrap that benefited both the market and the environment because of less wastage.

In 2001, the group further blazed the trail in foam-making when it installed new foaming equipment called “Hennecke.” Tagged as the “Mercedes Benz” of the foam-making industry, this German-manufactured equipment is regarded as the best in the world. On December 2009, the RGC Group invested on another Hennecke machine with the latest technological improvements to serve as back-up to the year 2001 version.


For more details about Uratex, visit www.uratex.com.ph.

Press Release
Coming from a very musical family it was only natural that Tria Bascon would start singing at an early age. Her father and older siblings were already well known in the music business in Cebu in her native Philippines.

After gaining a degree in Business Administration, Tria was spotted singing in a restaurant/jazz lounge and this started her professional singing career. The early influences in her style and range were renowned International vocalists of jazz, standards and pop, which led her to appreciate and develop such a wide range of musical genres.

In order to gain greater experience and exposure, Tria Bascon then moved to Manila and launched what has become a very successful career. Since those days Tria Bascon has travelled far and wide for both pleasure and in pursuit of her work.

Her travels have taken her to virtually all Continents of the World adding greatly to her experience both as a vocalist and as a person, and she now spends her non working leisure time between the US and UK, as well as in her native Philippines.

She has entertained audiences on luxury cruise liners as well as in 5 star hotels of Asia, Europe, North America and Australasia. She has performed in far reaching and exotic places in the South Pacific, such as French Polynesia, Fiji Islands and The Kingdom of Tonga.

A wonderful, smooth and powerful voice is complemented by her natural beauty and graceful elegance, which captures an audience with her remarkable presence. With such an impeccable style, Tria Bascon’s performances ensure that a warm, intimate ambience is always present and enhances both the sound and vision experience to the full. It is fair to say that her ideal choice of music is mainstream jazz, but great versatility enables her to equally perform and feel at home with Pop, Blues, Broadway, Country, Dance, and standard Ballads with a repertoire that spans seven decades of music.

Extensive travel has assisted Tria in learning to sing in many different languages, enabling her to entertain and charm multicultural audiences in Spanish, French, Italian, Portuguese, Chinese, Indonesian, Tahitian as well as her native Filipino tongue.

Tria Bascon launched her first album, a jazz album called Wanderlust in January 2012, a fulfillment of a long held dream. The dream being to make a very professional, quality album featuring classic jazz songs and performed along with renowned international Musicians.

As the choice of title suggests, the tracks selected for the Album readily affirms the life that Tria Bascon has experienced and enjoys whilst allowing her to sing in several languages having appeal to a global audience.

The tracks, personally selected by Tria Bascon, are from a list of her long time favorites and she is accompanied by several well known vocalists and musicians from Asia and Europe. The featured artistes are Moreno Donadel, an Italian jazz/classical pianist, Asia’s premiere vocal group The CompanY, renowned Filipino songwriter and crooner Jose Mari Chan and Aquarela, a bossa/latin group.

The Album contains an original track, Magkikita Pa Rin Naman Tayo, a very melodic and moving song written specially for Tria Bascon by the Producer of the Album, Moy Ortiz of the The CompanY.

In between continuing to perform internationally in shows, concerts and gigs, Tria has plans for new Albums, which will further add to her reputation as a very talented, beautiful vocalist with a mesmerizing and distinctive voice.

Tria Bascon’s debut album “Wanderlust” will be available in record stores nationwide under Universal Records.