Tag: Zsarlene B. Chua

SPECIALTY Filipino chocolate brand Manila Chocolatier, known for its penchant for combining Filipino flavors with Filipino chocolate, is now available in select Kultura branches nationwide.

MUSICIAN and former The Eraserheads frontman Ely Buendia is “trying his hand at something new” with a solo concert on Dec. 8 at the Newport Performing Arts Theater in Resorts World Manila (RWM), Pasay City.

NOW IN its third year, the Hungarian Film Festival (HUFF) is expanding its reach to cities outside Metro Manila as it tries to “present the essence of Hungarian cinema to more and more Filipinos in Cebu and Davao,” according to a press release.

ASIDE from a TV special on the night before the e-commerce platform’s biggest sale of the year, Lazada also announced several new features to make the app a “lifestyle destination,” according to a Philippine executive.

BRANDS CONNECTING to an issue or a purpose they are passionate about and making it into a marketing campaign is a trend that a Twitter regional executive said exploded in the past two years as more and more users look for authenticity in marketing.

SINGAPOREAN e-commerce platform Shopee is gearing up for its biggest sale of the year on Nov. 11 with a TV special the night before on GMA Network, featuring performances from the network’s biggest stars.

THE SIXTH Summit Hotel has opened its doors in the bustling city of San Juan, ideally located near the famous Greenhills Shopping Center and near enough (traffic permitting) to city centers like Cubao, Ortigas, and Makati. But what sets Summit Hotel Greenhills apart from other locations is that it is a symbol of what soon will be trademarks of the Summit Hotel brand.

BUSINESS reality show The Final Pitch launches its 5^th season with the theme, “Real Estate and Livable Cities,” a marked departure from its usual theme-less seasons where assorted start-ups pitch their way to a probable investment.

NOW THAT Halloween and All Saints’ Day are out of the way, it’s officially time for Christmas -- though one might argue that in the Philippines, Christmas begins at the start of September (and maybe even the last week of August). And to celebrate and spread the holiday cheer, Rustan’s has lit up its flagship store windows in Makati, with decorations revolving around the theme of “The Sweetest Christmas.”

IN the past few months, I have practically overhauled my skincare routine save for a few staples because there have been a lot of good releases this year. So unlike my other reviews that usually contain products I liked and products I don’t like, this one is focused on the new products I have incorporated in my skincare routine.

IN ITS SECOND anthology series, HBO Asia presents eight episodes from eight Asian countries telling stories about their connection to food. The pilot episode, Island of Dreams, directed by the Philippines’ Erik Matti from the Philippines, presents a tale of a woman who searches for a better life than what her small island offers.

SONY PICTURES Worldwide Acquisitions (SPWA), the acquisition arm of Sony Pictures Entertainment, has announced that they have bought worldwide rights (excluding the Philippines) of Fil-Am director Diane Paragas’ debut feature, Yellow Rose.

“ORIGINALITY in all its permutations” is the enduring battle cry of the now 15-year-old Cinema One Originals Film Festival as it continues to present films that challenge audiences to experience something “that goes beyond cinema, beyond cinephilia, beyond entertainment.” And with that mantra, the festival is presenting eight films from various genres from horror to the tried-and-tested romantic comedy.

THERE’S A new streaming service on the block and this time it’s focused on making sure people get their daily dose of reality drama — from Keeping Up With the Kardashians to Vanderpump Rules — from NBCUniversal and it’s called Hayu.

IN 2011, The Voice popularized blind auditions with judges hearing contestants without actually seeing them. If sufficiently impressed, the judges would turn their chairs and see the contestant for the first time. The concept was so popular that it became a franchise — the Philippine has its own version that has been running for several years. This year, ABS-CBN is making a case for a revolving set in Your Moment, where the judges and the audience will switch stages to see contestants perform.

THE FACT that its horological instruments are inspired by vintage meters from cars, a submarine, and a plane, is what separates the young French-based, Swiss-made Reservoir from other watch brands. That and its “affordable luxury” pricing -- which does not mean skimping on fine watchmaking.

DUE TO the current popularity of Korean skincare and beauty, the SM Store Beauty Section has decided to delegate space for curating and showcasing available Korean -- and Asian -- brands in all of their 68 branches nationwide.

GLENN BARIT’S debut feature Cleaners, a stop-motion film made from photocopied stills, won QCinema International Film Festival’s top award along with the Best Screenplay and the Audience Choice Awards during the awarding ceremony held on Oct. 18 at the Novotel Manila Araneta Center in Quezon City.

FOLLOWING VIETNAM’s lead in banning DreamWork’s animated feature Abominable over a scene showing China’s controversial “nine-dash line map,” the Philippines and Malaysia have also banned the film from showing in their cinemas.

AMERICAN beauty brand Kiehl’s is ending 2019 by focusing on its bestselling serum line -- from a serum which corrects dark spots to a serum which reduces fine lines and wrinkles with the power of Vitamin C -- which its Philippine product manager says is an indication that Filipinos are now learning about what products will work for their skin type and needs.

FOR ITS fourth collaboration with Japanese apparel brand Uniqlo, British design brand JW Anderson takes inspiration from the “great British outdoors,” by offering “traditional British elements” blended with “modern designs” according to a press release.

A PERIOD film about women looking for the cure for leprosy, a feel-good romantic comedy, a Brillante Ma. Mendoza film, and Rodel “Coco Martin” Nacianceno’s second feature film complete this year’s Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF) lineup as the final entries chosen from among finished film submissions.

EIGHT FILMS form this year’s Philippine contingent at the 32^nd Tokyo International Film Festival including Paul Soriano’s Mañanita which will be featured in the Competition section of the festival, and Bradley Liew’s Motel Acacia which will be included in the Asian Future section.

“MABAGAL” by Dan Tañedo, a slow song with a 1950s feel, was named this year’s Best Song at the Himig Handog Songwriting Competition, besting “over 4,000 entries,” according to a press release.

GREEK company Orama Minimal Frames has entered the Philippines, as it seeks to address the “huge, untapped market” for minimalist windows and frames.

A FILM about the life of General Miguel Malvar, the last general of the First Philippine Republic to surrendered to the American forces during the Philippine-American War, is facing opposition from the late general’s family with a great-grandson saying that they were not consulted regarding the biopic and that they initially thought the film was “fake news.”

DANISH furniture company Normann Copenhagen has opened its first franchise store and its Asian flagship store in Bonifacio Global City in Taguig in recognition of the growth it has experienced in the region.

It’s been a while since I’ve done a makeup review because I am a creature of habit -- while I do enjoy new things, I do tend to gravitate towards my usual system so for a product to replace one that is in my existing routine, it has to be good and it has to be consistent. Here are products from three brands: Shiseido, Avon, Amway Artistry Studio that wormed their way into my current regimen and some that I have to pass on.

FILM company TBA Studios is confident in the growing Philippine industry, so much so that it is set to invest $500 million in film production and expanding its microcinema venture over the next three to five years, company executives said.

SINGER Moira dela Torre took home the night’s biggest awards including the coveted Song of the Year and Album of the Year at the 2019 Awit Awards, held on Oct. 9 at the New Frontier Center, Quezon City.

THE Film Development Council of the Philippines (FDCP) has announced several location incentives for international productions and Philippine co-productions in order to encourage more international films to be shot in the country.

WHEN Insatiable first came out last year on Netflix, it was an immediately hit but spawned a backlash about fat-shaming. But its stars remind its audience — as it enters its second season, premiering on Oct. 11 — that this is a cautionary tale, not a morality tale.

ACTRESS Maja Salvador has won the Best Actress Award for her work in the TV series Wildflower at the inaugural Asian Contents Award organized by the Asian Film Market in Busan, South Korea. She shares her award with Chinese actress Yao Chen for her work in All is Well.

OUT OF THE 49 million Filipinos who do some form of money transfer -- traditional or cashless -- 4.9 million have used GCash, according to a GCash-commissioned Nielsen study.

GLOBAL Marketing Group (GMG) Productions on Wednesday announced that it will begin operations in the Philippines by bringing “prestigious musicals to Manila.”

NOW ON ITS 7^th year, in its bid to become the premier international film festival in the region, the QCinema International Film Festival has revamped this year’s main competition to include not only the festival’s grantees but also Asian films. The Asian Next Wave competition is replacing both the festival’s main Circle competition and Asian New Wave competition.

MAX’S PHILIPPINES’ commercial, “Every Kind of Family, Every Day to the Max,” which celebrates all kinds of families, won this year’s YouTube Ads Award Ad of the Year alongside the Crystal award for Food and Beverage, as well as two Silver awards for Retail and Restaurants, and Corporate Image and Public Sector.

COCA-COLA'S long and storied past in the Philippines started 107 years ago when it opened its first soda fountain business in Escolta, Manila, then the country's premier financial district. Its rich history in the country meant taking care of the community it serves, thus inspiring the company's backbone of ambitious initiatives in water management, achieving a waste-free world, and empowering women and communities.

FOR ONE night see singer-songwriter Ogie Alcasid onstage with fellow Tawag ng Tanghalan judges as they sing songs they “always wanted to sing but haven’t,” according to Mr. Alcasid this October 10 at the Newport Performing Arts Theater in Resorts World Manila (RWM), Pasay City.

THE COUNTRY’S top dive spots took center stage during the first Philippine International Dive Expo held last week at the Conrad Hotel Manila as the country is seriously trying to strengthen the country’s position as a global diving powerhouse, according to a tourism executive.

FOR ITS third year, the Tingin ASEAN Film Festival focuses on the “notion of place” as it presents 10 films from the Association of Southeast Nation member countries.

VETERAN DIRECTOR, writer, and production designer Carmelo “Mel” Chionglo passed away on Sept. 21 at the age of 73. His death was confirmed by the artistic director of the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP), Chris B. Millado on Saturday via his personal Facebook page. “[I’m] very sad to announce the passing of a colleague and renowned film director Mel Chionglo. The happiest of journeys gentle Mel,” Mr. Millado said in his post.

AMERICAN skincare brand, Kiehl’s, has launched its own online shopping service in the Philippines where customers can get the “same high-quality skincare consultation from Kiehl’s customer service representatives at the comfort of their homes,” according to a press release.

A FILM about a cranky old woman who wants to die but whose neighbors wouldn’t let her won the top prize at the Pista ng Pelikulang Pilipino awards night on Sept. 15 at One Esplanade in Pasay City.

WITH SO MANY bands trying to make it into the music scene, the goal has always been about making an impact — and for three-year-old band CHNDTR, it meant creating their own musical genre.