Evo & Grace: The WanderLusts

Rep. Angelina “Helen” Tan, district representative of Quezon (4th district), has filed House Bill No. 7934, “AN ACT TO PROTECT FILIPINOS FROM THE HARMFUL EFFECTS OF TRANS-FATTY ACIDS” or the Trans Fat Free Philippines Act on Wednesday, October 28, 2020. Rep. Tan highlighted in her explanatory note the need to have an integrated and comprehensive approach to ensure that all Filipinos are health literate, provided with healthy living conditions, and protected from hazards and risks that could affect their health. Rep. Tan who spearheaded the passage of Republic Act No. 11223 or the Universal Health Care Act in 2019, now seeks to eliminate trans fat as part of “a healthcare model that provides all Filipinos access to a comprehensive set of quality and cost-effective, promotive, preventive, curative, rehabilitative and palliative health services without causing financial hardship and prioritizes the needs of the population who cannot afford such services.”   The proposed legislatio...

As an initiative to introduce the younger listeners to the generation-defining anthems that conquered the airwaves for almost two decades, Sony Music Philippines and 6cyclemind are finally releasing the special compilation, Sige, I-cover Mo Lang! Project today, October 28 (Friday), on Spotify and other streaming platforms worldwide. More importantly, it brings a great opportunity for new artists to breakout in the music scene. The covers record, which features shortlisted entries from music fans remaking select hits from 6cyclemind’s acclaimed pop-rock catalog, contains three tracks that were rearranged and given a fresh new spin to contrast or complement with the band’s distinct sound. Released as digital singles a few months earlier, Bianca’s “ Biglaan ” and Twenty-Nine Eleven’s “ I ” took creative liberties in terms of arrangement and interpretation, but retained the original’s melodic sensibilities as a way to preserve and recognize its timeless appeal. To date, Bianca’s version of...

The holidays are here! You know what that means — time to collect your holiday stamps from The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf (CBTL)! This season, CBTL is warming hearts, one cup at a time by giving customers a holiday stamp with every drink purchase in-store. Collect 12 holiday stamps to get the 2021 Giving Journal or 18 holiday stamps to get the limited edition holiday tumbler. The Giving Journal Plan out your year with our 2021 Giving Journal. It’s compact and lightweight and features a minimalist design in three different colors--Quartz Pink, Teal, and Purple. For the first time ever, this year’s journal is fully customizable. You can start with the month of your choice, scribble away, and design your story with our cool stickers. Plus, you can avail of exclusive discounts and offers in all our stores nationwide using the coupons included inside. Each 2021 Giving Journal redeemed is for the benefit of the Real LIFE Foundation. Real LIFE Foundation is a Philippine nongovernm...

BELIEVING that arts education and appreciation should begin at a young age, the Cultural Center of the Philippines launches a month-long online creative expression biennale for children this November 2020. Dubbed “Arts eXpress: CCP Children’s Biennale,” the series of events aims to encourage and develop creativity and artistic expression in children, create new works/activities to focus on children’s appreciation and value for the arts, and engage the participation of the guardians and parents in sustaining the appreciation for the arts. The biennale will kick off on October 31, 4pm, via the CCP Facebook Page, with a short program led by CCP chairperson Margie Moran-Floirendo, VP-artistic director Chris Millado and board member Nikki Junia. It will be followed by the pre-opening events, starting with Tricks and Musical Treats: A PPO Family Concert at 4:20pm. Dubbed “A Virtual Adventure in Camp Melodia,” the annual orchestra appreciation concert for children and families moves to the ...

Australian pop sensation Guy Sebastian has finally released his highly anticipated ninth studio album, T.R.U.T.H. on all digital platforms worldwide via Sony Music. The hitmaker behind the chart-topper “Angels Brought Me Here,” which dominated the music charts in the Philippines and across the globe in the 2000s, is the first to admit that his latest album delivers a deeper, more profound take on personal and communal experiences and struggles in life, love and everything in between. The album has so far spawned multiple singles before it dropped officially last week, including “Before I Go,” which opened up several overseas market for the Aussie solo act and peaked at No. 1 on Netherlands iTunes charts, and “Choir,” which went on to become Sebastian’s biggest radio single in Australia to date. The latter, a multi-ARIA-Award-winning, 3x Platinum-certified single, is Sebastian's crowning achievement: a deeply personal tribute that won Song of The Year at the 2019 ARIA Awards....

Christmas comes early to SM Appliance Center as it brings holiday cheer with its Christmas In October Sale. You can get as much as up to a 60% discount on selected items, as well as Buy 1 Get 1 select offers until November 3, 2020 for cash/straight payment, installment offers with 0% interest and pay up to 3 months later with BDO and other major credit cards.  There are family entertainment centers that will bring the cinema-experience to your home, energy saving inverter air conditioners to refresh the air in your room and high performance washing machines to help make all your laundry chores a breeze. SM Appliance Center's stylish inverter refrigerators which not only keep your ingredients fresh and odor free but also make your home energy efficient and elegant looking. Durable and versatile ovens are also best kitchen partners for family dinners. C heck out other items on sale and view our complete catalogue at SM  . You can shop and order these items at all SM A...

IN this time when social gatherings are prohibited, the Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra finds an alternative way to bring classical music to the Filipino audiences through the PPO Chamber Music Concert, slated on October 30, 2020 (Friday), 8pm, streamed via the CCP and PPO Facebook Pages and CCP YouTube Channel. Maestro Yoshikazu Fukumura, PPO music director and principal conductor, has carefully programmed a chamber concert series that highlights the different instruments of the orchestra while performing music composed for small ensembles. For the October concert, the repertoire focuses on string instruments.  For the first part of the program, PPO concertmaster and violinist Dino Akira Decena and cellist Giancarlo Gonzales will perform VIOLIN AND CELLO DUO OP. 6 No. 1 by Franz Anton Hoffmeister. Violinist Jose Carlo Tuazon, violinist Berny Dulce Payte, cellist Giuseppe Diestro, and double bassist Ariston Payte III will play SONATA FOR 2 VIOLINS, CELLO AND DOUBLE BASS NO...

Love yourself just a little bit better. Be more aware. Be more diligent in choosing products that you will embrace as part of your health and beauty care. That’s the first step. But how? NOVUHAIR ® ,  nature’s answer to hair loss, partners with the country’s Health, Beauty & Wellness Icon Ms. Cory Quirino in spreading the brand’s advocacy campaign and reaching out to more Filipinos around the world in celebration of its 10th successful year in the market. Look good, feel good! https://youtu.be/iZCOLcB9wBM “With little acts of loving kindness towards the self, you can achieve the perfect 10,” she emphasizes. “In order to look good, you have to feel good. And in order to feel good, you’ve got to look good. Start with self-love. Begin with self-care. Start with your hair.” “There are hair treatment products in the market today that claim to be effective but their ingredients could contain chemicals that may prove harmful with long-term use,” she enthuses. “Choose natural. ...

SM Supermalls and its kiddie shoppers across the country recently made history with the celebration of the first-ever virtual SM SuperKids Day that was held at SM Supermalls’ official Facebook page. On its fourth year, SuperKids Day continued the tradition of highlighting everything that Filipino children love at SM – shopping, eating, playing, and having fun – but this time, they enjoyed their “SM moments” with their families at the comforts of their homes. “It’s been seven months since we last saw your smiles, heard your laughter, and felt your happiness while spending your fun SM moments with us,” said Jonjon San Agustin, SM Supermalls senior vice president for marketing. “We know that you miss your favorite SM malls. And please know that we miss you too. But your health and safety is and forever will be our priority. We really look forward to see your sweet smiles again, SuperKids.”   The Zoom-inspired #SMSuperKidsDay2020 featured kids from different parts of the country a...

Asian American hip-hop artist Blahza and Malaysian lo-fi producer OnlyM come together for another chillhop crossover: ‘Drugs’. ‘Drugs’ is a laidback track that envelopes the listener in waves of relaxation. Driven by moody but minimalist soundscapes and smooth beats, the latest collaboration between Blahza and OnlyM settles comfortably into a simmer, taking a step forward in its attempt to embrace subtlety and introspection sonically and lyrically. Blahza shares about the inspiration behind it: “Everything in life is going good and everyday I’m getting closer to my goals. I used to relax by numbing my mind with intoxicants and I reference that heavily throughout the song. By the end of the song I ask what’s a better high than you? It means that you can get a high from the people around you, like your significant other, or from yourself. You don’t need drugs to get high.” To complement Blahza’s vision, OnlyM decided on a vibe that makes people feel good, highlighting a more optimi...

PLDT Enterprise, together with Smart Communications, Inc., has recently expanded the Smart Giga Study data pack by offering access to both Canvas and NEO Learning Management Systems (LMS) to cater to the current e-learning requirements of schools and universities nationwide. “With e-Learning being the new norm, we want to help our students and teachers remain productive at home by providing the necessary tools they need for online education," said Jovy Hernandez, ePLDT President & CEO and SVP & Head for PLDT and Smart Enterprise Business Groups. “We at PLDT Enterprise are committed to onboarding more LMS platforms for us to assist and serve more schools, more teachers, and more students in making their e-learning efforts easier.” Smart Giga Study is PLDT Enterprise's academe-centric solution to the current need for online learning. It is a prepaid data pack specifically geared towards students and members of the academe allowing easier access to a selection of learnin...

In the constant battle against Illegal, Unreported and   Unregulated (IUU) fishing in the country, numbers alone do not tell the whole story. According to the United States Agency for International Development’s (USAID) Fish Right Project, the human element has to be considered too, for any positive impact to take place in just one site. For the longest time, regulators and enforcers have measured their efforts based on the number of violators apprehended, the number of required patrol boats, equipment, training, and other resources they need. However, according to Rollan Geronimo, Fish Right’s IUU Fishing Specialist through the Marine Environment and Resources Foundation, Inc., “Understanding IUU fishing requires recognizing a complex interplay of factors that include looking at the perspectives of fishers and their motivations, moving towards incentivizing the act of going legal, and overcoming the task of quantifying its prevalence.” Early this year, Geronimo, together wit...

(From left)  Vicky  Ku , Regional Manager,  DHEF  ; Sam  Yap , Sales Manager ,  DHEF  ;  Ryan  Lu ,  P roduct  M anager,  Young Optics  ;   Ivy  Wang ,  P roject  S ales  M anager,  Dentmate  ;  Beender  Yang , International  S ales Manager,   Saturn Imaging  Inc.  ;  Emma n uel Felix  Lespron ,  Regional  Manager , EPED  Inc. Five Taiwan Excellence Award winners demonstrated their groundbreaking and state-of-the-art products for the dental materials and  industry during a virtual product launch called “Dentistry of Excellence” that took place recently.    The five Taiwan Excellence Award winners were EPED’s real-time imaging system, Saturn Imaging’s all-in-one digital solution for implantation, Dentmate’s innovative LED light solution for dentistry, Young Optics’ 3D printer with outstanding optical technology, and DHEF...

  Kubra Commander joins Lilystars Records’ impressive roster of music acts from the Philippines and beyond. Prior to signing up with the indie record label, the Cebu-based psychedelic rock outfit has been making waves online since the release of their breakthrough track, “On Your Left,” which made it to CNN’s 8 New Local Releases for your Listening Pleasure and earned a glowing review from indie music website, Flying Lugaw. To mark their debut on Lilystars Records, the band has finally released their latest single “ The Now ”—a brooding, post-punk number about “gaining a new perspective on things through experience, and having an inclination to share the experience with other people in hopes that they can gain something new in return.”  Propelled by Kubra Commander’s inherent brand of disaffected cool, “The Now” starts off strongly with glistening synths straight from the ‘80s pop playbook, and builds up into an anthemic chorus at a brisk pace. Music-wise, it sounds mo...

An interesting combination of both fresh and highly-respected talents fill this month’s lineup of Tanghalang Pilipino! TP is very much excited to share these productions and workshops that are geared towards presenting the undeniable talents of Filipino artists, across all generations and mediums. iKAPWA returns to set the stage for aspiring artists in cultivating their artistry; this time, with masterclasses from two of the industry’s veterans in Philippine theater. TP Artistic Director Fernando Josef will be holding a special class dedicated to improving an actor’s performance in front of the camera in “SArili Para sa BAYan (SABAY-KAPWA)”. Meanwhile, Gawad Buhay awardee and former TP Artistic Director Dennis Marasigan will lend his mastery in directing for the camera in “Gabay sa Bayan at Kapwa (GABAY-KAPWA)”. Both of these workshops will be taught under the Kamalayang Pilipino pedagogy, a theoretical practice applied by TP in teaching arts and culture for its many years in theater...

Octoberfest kicks off with exciting episodes from TV5’s hit game shows “Fill in the Bank” and “Bawal na Game Show” featuring another bunch of interesting personalities from singing sensations, stuntmen and women, big families and baes, including the broken-hearted. “Fill in the Bank” starts the first Monday of October with waiters as studio players aiming for the top prize of Php150,000. Big surprises are up for big families joining the Wednesday episode on October 7. All are set to compete in the show’s pandemic-inspired games Ayuda Teh! Machine (ATM) and Panghakot na Papremyo Equipment (PPE). Singing sensations Angeline Quinto and Daryl Ong create beautiful music together in the October 9 episode of “Fill in the Bank” with hosts “Manedyer” Jose Manalo and “Madam Poky” Pokwang. Their money-saving skills will be tested in Enter your Pin Code, Cheque or X, Gold Rush, and Huli Cash. Be sure to tune in to “Fill in the Bank” every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday at 7:30 p.m., only on TV5. ...

THE Cultural Center of the Philippines, through its Visual Arts and Museum Division, marks the closing of its year-long anniversary celebration this September by partnering with the Association of Pinoyprintmakers to introduce 20/30: A Limited Edition Print Portfolio in Celebration of the 50th Year Anniversary of CCP. 20/30 will feature prints by forty artists who have contributed to the development of Philippine contemporary printmaking, namely National Artist BenCab with Ambie Abaño, Leonard Aguinaldo, Alfredo Juan Aquilizan, Virgilio Aviado, Elmer Borlongan, Mars Bugaoan, Benjamin Torrado Cabrera, Kristen Cain, Imelda Cajipe Endaya, Salvador Ching, Joey Cobcobo, Fil Delacruz, Janos Delacruz, Yas Doctor, Neil Doloricon, Noel EL Farol, Jess Flores, Ofelia Gelvezón-Téqui, Raul Isidro, Eugene Jarque, Vilia Jefremovas, Lenore RS Lim, Angelo Magno, Hershey Malinis, Manuel Ocampo, Jonathan Olazo, Caroline Ongpin, Renan Ortiz, Henrielle Pagkaliwangan, Radel Paredes, Rod Paras Perez +, Chr...