Celebrating the Unique Taste of Philippine Flavors with The Meranti at Two Serendra

What fulfillment does freedom give you?

The Enterprise Lounge, the Discovery Hall, and Stellar Peak are also part of The Living Museum. They boast of top-rate facilities for leisure, entertainment, and business gatherings

Freedom is enjoying opportunities for fulfillment around you and living without the worries that the marriage of work and life gives. Freedom is having the opportunity to live the life you want to pursue, without sacrificing your passion for achievement and growth.

And such freedom is enjoyed by residents of Alveo Land’s latest innovative community at the heart of Bonifacio Global City (BGC): The Meranti at Two Serendra.

Alveo Land’s Two Serendra offers an integrated living environment characterized by a fine balance of life, work, and play. A sprawling community that offers diverse opportunities in life right within one’s reach, Two Serendra is more than just an innovative living space within a dynamic district—it is a distinct development that offers social spaces resembling today’s modern and ever-evolving society.

The entire Two Serendra development dedicates 65 percent of its land as open greenery, a valuable space for you and your family to go out and enjoy your beauty and ease of the surroundings. It’s space that will insulate you from the buzzing energy of the city, so that you can have rest and quiet when you want it without having to go too far away.

What makes Two Serendra such a remarkable development is its highly-thematic masterplan that uniquely complements the diverse lifestyle of its residents.

The Living Museum at The Meranti best typifies the kind of innovation that Alveo Land brings to fore. Composed of a variety of lifestyle amenities and facilities that residents can fully enjoy, this unique concept will also cultivate the kind of life that Two Serendra is very much known for: living within social spaces for sharing passions.

The Tropical Garden will be one distinct amenity consisting The Living Museum. A tree-lined courtyard filled with lush landscaped greenery, it will be a glass-enclosed multifunctional hall that can host as many as 300 people. Being the only residential community with this amenity, The Tropical Garden will be a special venue to create lasting memories that residents can share with their loved ones.

The Fitness Club is fully-equipped with complete gym amenities and panoramic views of the Serendra gardens.

There’s also the Fitness Club–a fully-equipped fitness station with complete gym amenities and panoramic views of the Two Serendra gardens. The Enterprise Lounge, the Discovery Hall, and Stellar Peak, on the other hand will boast of top-rate facilities for leisure, entertainment, and business gatherings.

These are just some of the innovations that Two Serendra residents enjoy to rejoice the kind of free life that they lead. And to celebrate a greater freedom—Independence Month, that is—Two Serendra will be hosting a unique event that will showcase the freedom of the Filipino taste: the fourth Brunch Series dubbed as the “Flavors of Filipino Passion.”

The event will be highlighting The Meranti’s Culinary Studio, a state-of-the-art kitchen and dining area within The Living Museum. Done to professional standards, the Culinary Studio can accommodate about 30 people who can share and indulge in delicious gastronomic delights.

Feast on the masterpieces of Chef Jackie Laudico and Chef Sau del Rosario as they showcase some of the country’s tasty dishes from each of our three regions.

“There’s no better way to celebrate Philippine Independence than with a delectable serving of famous Filipino cuisines,” says Jennylle Tupaz, Project Development Group Head of Alveo Land “Two Serendra is commemorating an eventful day for the nation with a display of passion for cooking and creativity.”

HAUTE TEXTURE: A COLLECTION BY ERIC RAISINA AT FASHION WATCH 2011

The much raved about fashion series is back for good, amped up and better than ever! This year 2011 marks the revival of Fashion Watch as they kick-off with their first ASEAN designer in the roster.

With only Filipino designers in the past, Fashion Watch Quartet widens its influence together with the Alliance Française de Manille and the Embassy of France to the Philippines as they present the French-Malagasy Fashion Designer Eric Raisina in a unique fashion show featuring Eric Raisina’s collection “Haute Texture” on April 13, 2011 at the Makati Shangri-La Hotel. Eric Raisina’s fashion show will be followed by a private sale.

Eric Raisina

Eric Raisina, a designer based in Cambodia showcases his special collection “Haute Texture”. His designs are composed of unique pieces and accessories which demonstrate his passion and talent for style. He specializes in design and sewing natural materials such as silk, raffia, sisal, linen and cotton. His taste for exploration compelled him to discover new cultures and diverse techniques in Africa as well as in Asia. His collections have been shown in Asia, Africa, Europe and the United States.

Winning the prize of New Young Talent at the Fashion Festival and Textile Competition Manja enabled him to study in Paris at the Ecole Duperré where he excelled in the creation of textiles. He began entering his creations in the Haute Couture shows in Paris, and graduated with a Master’s degree from the Institut français de la Mode in 1999.

Various experiences gave him the confidence to start his own workshop where he trained weavers, seamstresses and embroiderers. Research began on new textures, colors, unique weave patterns, most notably Silk Fur (for which he has a patent) and Natural Raffia lace. He was commissioned to create unique textures for the fashion houses of Yves Saint- Laurent and Christian Lacroix. The textures, in and of themselves, inspire the creation of his collection without resorting to the need for sketches.

Fashion Watch Quartet, a fashion show series initially created by Richard Tann and Inno Sotto, sprung unto the scene in 1996. Shows were held twice a year and served as avenues for promising young designers to showcase their talent and have their work displayed for all to see. Year after year, the much awaited series brought to the forefront fresh new talent and the most exciting fashion.

As it returns to the fashion scene for 2011, Fashion Watch Quartet will run from March to November, 2011. Each week will feature the collection of two designers in back-to-back format, who will have his/her creations unveiled to all through a fashion show held at the lobby area of the prestigious Shangri-La Makati Hotel. Besides its regular shows, Fashion Watch will stage special shows as SEVERAL internationally known ASEAN designers will be flown in to display their creations to the Filipino public. Fashion Watch 2011 is a project of the CFDP (Council of Fashion Designers of the Philippines).

 “Haute Texture” is a FrancoPhil event organized by Fashion Watch, the Alliance Française de Manille and the French Embassy to the Philippines with the support of Air France-KLM, Total, Veolia Water and Makati Shangri-La hotel.

Fashion Watch 2011 is presented by Olay, Makati Shangri-la Hotel, Philippine Star, Preview Magazine, Starworld and Stylebible.ph in cooperation with BMW and Metro Pacific Investments.

Triumph Inspiration Award 2011 Berlin Beckons

 

Global leader and lingerie giant, Triumph International, is set to break records this year with the Triumph Inspiration Award 2011. Now on its 4^th consecutive year, the competition is at its biggest with 37 participating countries, with the grand finals taking center stage at the opening night of the Berlin Fashion Week in July no less.

Poised to capture design talent from around the world, Triumph International worked hand in hand with local prestigious fashion and design schools to bringing the competition at the grass roots level. Triumph International Philippines, in partnership with the School of Fashion and the Arts (SoFa), has geared up for the Triumph Inspiration Award 2011, with ten students vying to represent the Philippines in the international finals.

Judging this year’s national competition to be held on April 13 at Members Only, are some of fashion and design luminaries, which include Rissa Mananquil, Amina Aranaz-Alunan and Dong Omaga-Diaz, joined by 2008 Triumph Inspiration Award National Winner and now fashion designer, Ralph Ng, and Head of Sales & Marketing of Triumph International Philippines, Lorelei de Leon.

As if things cannot get any bigger this year, 2011 also marks the 125^th anniversary of Triumph, to which the young designers will be creating their interpretations of the theme “125 Years of Celebrating Women.” Admittedly quite a challenge and pressure for the contestants, the top ten final designs ranging from romantic, tribal, down to avant-garde, did not disappoint. CREATIONS Salon, by top hair and make-up artist Lourd Ramos, lent its creative expertise in enhancing each and every peg from the look book, making the judging quite a feat with all the entries now equally strong contenders to be the Philippines’ official entry in the finals.

 

With the competition tougher as ever, Triumph has taken the match online and making your votes count to determine the People’s Choice Award. Visit the Triumph International Philippines fan page to view the final designs and cast a vote for your favorite pieces.

It would be too ambitious to say that we will win in the finals, but one thing is for sure, the Philippines is in it to win it, and we are taking Berlin by storm.

New ALONPAS® Pain Relief Patch Launched:

SALONPAS® Pain Relief Patch Launched:

Hisamitsu Pharmaceutical releases the first FDA-approved over-the-counter (OTC) topical pain relief patch, brings benefits of patch treatment to the Philippines

MANILA, Philippines — 06 April 2011 — Hisamitsu Pharmaceutical Co., Inc., a world leader in the manufacture of external pain-relieving drugs, today announced the release of its newly developed topical analgesic, the new SALONPAS® Pain Relief Patch.

               

The newly developed topical analgesic, which comes with an improved formula that penetrates quickly and targets pain, is the first and only US FDA-approved over-the-counter (OTC) topical pain relief patch in the market today.

“By launching the new SALONPAS® Pain Relief Patch in the Philippine over-the-counter market, Hisamitsu aims to continue to promote people’s health, and to do so by delivering pharmaceutical substances in safe, efficacious, and convenient transdermal patches.”

                Originally developed in Japan, the SALONPAS Pain Relief Patch is formulated to provide temporary relief of mild to moderate muscle aches and pains associated with arthritis, sprains, strains, bruises, and simple backaches experienced by patients aged 12 years old and older. Each thin, and stretchable patch contains 10 percent methyl salicylate and 3 percent l-menthol as active ingredients, which are absorbed through the skin to directly target the site of pain for fast-acting, long-lasting relief.

ONE ROCKIN’ NIGHT WITH GOOD CHARLOTTE AT THE AYALA MALLS

  

Once again, the Ayala Malls brings you the best live entertainment by showcasing and presenting your favorite international musical performers here in the Philippines. This summer, Filipinos will get ready to scream and shout as Glorietta invites you to see one of America’s favorite punk-pop, Good Charlotte!

Inspired by a Beastie Boys performance, this east-coast Good Charlotte band was first assembled by frontmen and identical twins Joel Madden and Benji Madden in 1996. Later on with more band members joining in the group, they launched their musical career in 2000 with their self-titled debut album. Their popularity was later on jumpstarted as they gained mainstream popularity with their second studio album, The Young and the Hopeless, which sold over 4.9 million copies earning them triple platinum sales and achieving hit-charts topping all over the globe in both the pop and rock genre.

Now after more than ten years of performing for the music industry, Good Charlotte members Paul Thomas (Bass), Joel Madden (Vocals), Benji Madden (Guitar and Vocals), Dean Butterworth (Drums), and Billy Martin (Guitar and Keyboard) have provided memorable hits such as “The Anthem”, “Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous”, “Hold On”, “Girls and Boys”, and “Keep Your Hands Off My Girl”. Known for the pop-punk style, Good Charlotte has had the honor to win Best Rock Video for “Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous” for the MTV Music Video Awards, Best Rock Video for “The Anthem” for the MTV Video Music Awards Japan and Best International Rock Groups for various awarding ceremonies. They have been on the cover of Rolling Stone and Alternative Press, have been featured in the New York Times, and have been seen on CNN and The Today Show. Inspiring so many fans all over the world, Good Charlotte truly has made a name for them and is a force to reckon in the rock and rock world.  

Their most recent album, Cardiology, their 5^th studio album and their latest first single “Like It’s Her Birthday” was recently released last 2010. Good Charlotte says that this album was very much inspired from their hearts and at the same time is very different from their previous albums. Going back to sounds to where they all began, fans can expect this album to have a fresher sound and more focused on the heart and soul of rock and roll instead of the usual pop music sound. Today, Cardiology has been recognized to be the best album that Good Charlotte has produced so far.

With the post-grunge and pop-punk outfit, fans will get to rock hard as Good Charlotte performs up and close at the Glorietta Activity Center on April 6 at 6:30 P.M. Witness this one-night only live performance and listen to Paul Thomas, Joel Madden, Benji Madden, Dean Butterworth and Billy Martin plays some of their newest and greatest hits here in the Philippines.

Good Charlotte Live at Ayala Malls is brought to you by Music Management International & The Ayala Malls!

All-in-one business smartphone, the Nokia E7, now available

The highly anticipated Nokia business smartphone, Nokia E7, will be available in the Philippines beginning March 31!

With its tilting 4 inch ClearBlack display, full keyboard and fast access to a wide variety of apps directly on the homescreen, the Nokia E7 is the key to having a successful day in or out of the office. Importantly, the device supports business applications from leading enterprise technology partners including Microsoft and IBM.

 “People are continuing to look for solutions that suit both their work and personal life; in business circles this is known as the ‘consumerization’ of IT. The Nokia E7 gives people the confidence to bring their own smartphones to the workplace to connect securely to corporate messaging servers,” said Benoit Nalin, General Manager of Nokia Philippines. “On the other hand, whether you are an artist, entrepreneur, university student or aspiring world traveller, the Nokia E7 is the only smartphone you will need to get the world’s best mobile navigation and mapping application, thousands of apps, and a rich messaging experience.”

 

For business users, Nokia E7 provides direct, secure and real-time access to email, calendar, contacts, tasks and the corporate directory through Microsoft Exchange servers, as well as Office Communicator Mobile, developed by Microsoft for Nokia smartphones, which brings presence and corporate instant messaging.

Additionally, the Nokia E7 is the perfect off-duty companion with its built-in entertainment and social services, and a wealth of apps such as Bloomberg, Angry Birds and Sports Tracker available at the Ovi Store.

The new arrival also features drive or walk navigation included in the latest commercial version of Ovi Maps, available immediately via Ovi Store or Ovi Suite. It adds visibility to trains, parking and gas stations, safety alerts, speed limit warnings, and improved search and location sharing capabilities.

Here are more reasons why the Nokia E7 is the all-in-one business smartphone:

• Easy access to private and business email
• Create, edit and share office documents and view PDF files with Adobe Reader
• Fast, secure intranet access with the built-in VPN
• High-resolution photos and HD video with the 8 megapixel camera and dual LED flash
• HDMI connectivity to project files, videos and images onto large screens

·         16 gigabytes of on-board flash memory

·         USB-On-The-Go, enabling easy file sharing by connecting a USB stick to the smartphone

The Nokia E7 will be available in Dark Grey and Silver White at Nokia Stores nationwide. It has an SRP of P32,000.

Live on the lighter side of life with Olay Natural White Healthy Fairness Bar

Olay invites women to live on the lighter side of life this summer as the brand launches the new Olay Natural White Healthy Fairness Bar. It contains the same Vitamin C technology used in Olay Natural White facial creams to reveal your skin’s fairness all over.

Held at SM Makati, the event called for women to step into the spotlight and flaunt their evenly fair skin with confidence so they can “Live on the lighter side of life.”  The newly launched Olay campaign is about helping women achieve the even fairness all over they desire, and in the process gain a new found confidence to enable them to pursue new opportunities and enjoy the good life. 

Olay Brand Manager Justin Lladoc shares, “We want to help women step out of the shadows, kick their dark habits, and forget the same old usual choices they make that keep them from living on the lighter side of life.  Unless they try something new every now and then, they’ll never know how much better life can be. With the launch of the new Olay Natural White Bar, we want to provide them skin fairness all over that they can be confident about.”

Living on the lighter side of life is often about experiencing life to the fullest – from getting VIP access to the hottest clubs in town and enjoying exclusive privileges, to having a personal style or the confidence to stand out in a crowd no matter where you go this summer.

What better way to learn about living on the lighter side of life than to bring together fashion, photography and lifestyle insiders to share their expert tips and secrets on gaining access and opportunities. Guests got the inside scoop from experts like TV host, entrepreneur, eventologist and lifestyle icon Tim Yap, celebrity fashion stylist and columnist Ana Kalaw, and one of the country’s top photographers Pat Dy.

Try Tim Yap’s expert advice to get noticed at the hottest and swankiest events in the Metro. Remember to always prepare well, even for a night of clubbing. Preparations not only include your outfit, your skin and your hair but also your mind. Read books and stay informed so that you can start a conversation with anyone you meet. Leave negative vibes at the door and keep it light. Your vibe and attitude translate into body language and people don’t want to party with downers! Positive attitudes radiate confidence and attract likewise positive people, things and outcomes. Establish a routine of remembering names and make sure they remember you in a good way! People will always remember the ladies who have personal style, confidence and amazing features.

Ana Kalaw demonstrated how to be a headturner through the models wearing Forever 21 clothes. The secret to looking elegant in your party outfit lies in choosing the right fabrics and colors. “Wear luxe to look luxe,” advises Ana. Outfits in luxurious fabrics with bright jewel tones are never wrong in club parties and look fantastic with fair skin. Although black is an evening staple, flat black is never photogenic. Be sure to mix it up with texture or exceptional details to make you stand out more, especially when paired with your fair and radiant skin. This season’s trend points to longer skirt lengths and flowy pants but this doesn’t mean you can’t bare your skin! Choose to show off your shoulders, clavicle, décolletage and back instead of your legs to stay on-trend.

Look great in your summer photos and feel more confident than ever by trying out these picture-perfect tips from Pat Dy. Diffuse the light rather than let the sun hit your face straight on. Take your picture under a shaded area for a softer light and for a more radiant glow. Bend your arms and put it on your hips and thighs to give your muscles tone and definition. This way, you’ll look great in photos whether you’re in a loose, flowy cover up or just a bikini. Know how to work the clothes to show off the best features of your body. Great photography involves knowing how to work the light and light loves great skin. Having great skin all over improves your chances of taking equally great photos.

“Since summer is the best opportunity to flaunt that body, remember to get the right bikini suited for your body type. Fitting is a must to find that perfect swimsuit that fits and flatters your body,” said Ana. This summer, wear bold prints to make sure you stand out and go for pastel shades like blush pink, coral, lavender and sea green which complement fair skin.

Accessories focus attention to certain parts of the body so making sure that the skin is in tip top shape is important. Large tinted plastic frames from the 70’s and cat eye frames from the 50’s are back this season.  Choose colorful frames that match your fair skin tone or beige ombré versions. Belts are also a must for this summer and the waisted belt is still trendy. Jewelry has gone big time with longer earrings, multi-strand gemstone necklaces and 2-inch cuffs and fair skin is the perfect match for these statement accessories.

In addition to Olay’s insider tips and secrets, Olay Natural White Bar also makes the VIP lifestyle possible by providing exclusive opportunities through the Limited Edition Olay Natural White  Enjoy card.  The Limited Edition Olay Natural White Enjoy Card contains vouchers, discounts and other offers worth over Php 250,000 and VIP perks courtesy of Olay’s trendy partners Watsons, Opus and Republiq.  

Starting April 11, 2011, anyone who buys Php1,500 worth of Olay products including four 90 g. Olay Natural White Healthy Fairness Bars at any Watsons branch can present the receipt to Olay counters to get the limited edition card – for free! The Olay Natural White Enjoy card is exclusively available at Watsons as long as supplies last, and redemption of this special gift from Olay and Enjoy is only at selected Watsons branches (visit facebook.com/OlayPhilippines for more information).

The highlight of the event was the revelation of its newest Brand Ambassador Kim Chiu.  As one of the most sought-after young celebrities, Kim is no stranger to the spotlight. She shared how having self-confidence in a very competitive showbiz industry allows her to live on the lighter side of life despite a very busy schedule.  Encouraging other women to join her, Kim says, “Summer is the season for sun, fun and adventures, that’s why it’s the perfect time to kick your dark old habits, reveal your skin’s fairness all over, and start living on the lighter side of life.”

So why stay in the dark? Step into the spotlight and live the lighter side of life this summer with Olay Natural White Healthy Fairness Bar. Like us on Facebook.com/OlayPhilippines to find out more about the product and the Limited Edition Olay Natural White Enjoy card.