On the Spotlight!

A soft spoken fashion designer, Happy Andrada is truly a rising tiger. Always doing fashion shows abroad, recently, she showcased her designs in International Fashion Art Biennale held at Busan, South Korea last October. The only representative from the Philippines. We must be proud.   When asked how to stand out in the international fashion arena, Happy said, "The designer should focus on who they are and where they came from.”   Whenever Happy showcases her creations overseas, She make sure using materials that are handcrafted from the Philippines and create outfits that are also inspired by the culture. “That’s what makes us different and stand out from other countries, we’re Filipinos and we should be proud." - Happy Andrada   Happy studied fashion courses at Central Saint Martins in London.   Awards: Winner of the 2012 Miami International Fashion Week - International Emerging Designer and winner of two major awards in the 3rd Asian Weddings ...

Imagine welcoming the New Year from atop one of Manila’s finest hotels, basking in the panorama of Manila Bay fireworks with friends and family and raising a Champagne toast on December 31. Wouldn’t that be a spectacular way to celebrate the passing of a year? Rizal Park Hotel is hailing 2023 in style with an array of offers, starting with the New Year Countdown Celebrate 2023 package. For only PhP 1,299 per person, guests will enjoy a festive view of the New Year’s Eve fireworks over the alfresco Deck Lounge’s signature cocktails, drinks, canapes, and Champagne toast. A live DJ performance will keep the countdown bright and merry all through the night. For guests looking to unwind, Rizal Park Hotel is offering a 3D2N room package for guests staying between December 31 until January 2. For only Php 11,999, guests can relax inside a Deluxe Room and enjoy complimentary buffet breakfast and the Celebrate 2023 countdown festivities at the Deck Lounge on New Year’s Eve. An upgrade of on...

In photo: Sterling Bank of Asia President and CEO, Mr. Cecilio San Pedro during the 2022 Outstanding BSP Stakeholders Appreciation Ceremonies Sterling Bank of Asia (SBA) , one of the country's leading thrift banks, was recognized by the Banko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) during the "2022 Outstanding BSP Stakeholders Appreciation Ceremonies" held last November 29 at the BSP Assembly Hall.    BSP Governor Felipe M. Medalla, in his message, recognized both the public and private sectors for their contribution to the implementation of appropriate, responsive, and well-calibrated policy actions.    SBA is the only savings bank among the nine award recipients from BSP's head office for its outstanding participation in BSP's Cash Service Alliance (CSA).   "We are honored to be recognized by the BSP for our strong commitment to the development and protection of the financial services industry," said Cecilio Paul San Pedro , President and CEO of Ster...

The holidays are always such a big eating season for everyone. It’s that one time of the year when we feel extra carefree about what we eat because seriously, have you really enjoyed Christmas without jumping from one banquet to another? But what if we tell you that you do not need to sacrifice healthy eating to enjoy the season? Even more, what if you find out that you can whip up your flavorful recipe in minutes in your own kitchen? Breville’s Smart Oven Air Fryer should be on every Christmas wishlist of all home cooks out there. Versatile, easy to use, and very durable, this oven from the premium home brand can give you the best of both worlds in terms of flavor and ease of cooking as you cruise through the holidays.   One of the beauties of the Smart Oven Air Fryer is its ten cooking functions that can let you make to-die-for crispy treats and scrumptious slow-cooked meals. Toast, bake, roast, grill, and of course air fry without any fuss while shortening your cooking ...

Hotel Sogo, the country’s largest Filipino-owned hotel chain company with over 45 branches nationwide, has been crowned as the “Best Choice Philippines Leading Hotel Chain” and won the “Philippines Guest Choice Awards         ” by the acclaimed Netizens Best Choice Awards 2022.   The Netizens Best Choice Awards for Business Excellence play a vital role in promoting responsible use of the internet since it conducts online research and surveys for promoting the best brands, products and services that distinguished itself among its competitors by earning the Netizen’s Trust Seal.   Awardees are chosen through an online nomination and multi-criteria evaluation in a variety of category such as Product/Brand/Service Quality & Innovativeness, Image/Value Proposition & Pricing, Strong Brand Online Market Influence, and Proper & Responsible means of using the internet.   Remarking on the impressive win, Ms. Sue Gemi...

  The country’s largest Filipino-owned hotel chain company has been awarded as Asia’s Most Outstanding Hotel Chain of the Year and Philippines Most Leading Hotel Chain of the Year . Meanwhile, Hotel Sogo’s CEO, Mr. Reynaldo M. Malaca was recognized as the Philippines Most Outstanding CEO of The Year at the recent Asian Business Excellence Awards 2022 held in Quezon City.   Hotel Sogo Marketing Director, Ms. Sue Geminiano shares her gratitude to the award-winning organization for recognizing the hotel’s goal in providing a clean, safe, and top-notch service to its patrons and guests. “On behalf of Hotel Sogo, thank you Asian Business Excellence Awards 2022 for giving us these recognitions. These awards are nothing if not because of the management and the hardworking staff of our operations. We will continue to give our all in providing our guests a safe and clean stay. Hotel Sogo will not be here without your love and support” she shared.   The Asian Business E...

The "ber "months have always been Filipinos most favorite time of year. November to January is coffee harvest season , and it's Christmastime!! The season of giving and the happiest time of the year! Harvest season comes only once a year, starting in November and ending in January so imagine how the coffee farmers feel when the coffees they have nurtured all year round start to ripen and are ready to be picked. 2019 National Barista Champ and President and CEO of Henry & Sons, Michael Harris Conlin , have been in the coffee industry for over two decades, and he found out that working with partner farmers during harvest season is the most enjoyable and satisfying way to enjoy the love for coffee. This year, Conlin decided to bring his 10 year old son Dylan to learn more about coffee and help around the farm. Since Dylan was a toddler, he has always been fascinated with coffee. There were times when Dylan would take part in his father’s brewing routine. So this yea...

The holiday season is usually the best time for an urban staycation when the roads unclog and most people travel out. Two iconic hotels in Ortigas have offers that will be hard to resist for families looking for a city holiday break this Christmas and New Year. At Holiday Inn Manila Galleria, the Holiday Package starts at Php 7,088 nett per room per night. True to Holiday Inn’s promise, kids stay and eat free, too. For a more cosmopolitan vibe, stay at Crowne Plaza Manila Galleria where the Holiday Package begins at Php 8,088 nett per room per night. Both offers include a buffet breakfast, a Christmas welcome amenity, and dining credits (PhP 1,500 for Holiday Inn Manila Galleria and PhP 2,000 for Crowne Plaza Manila Galleria) that can be spent in any of the hotels’ restaurant selections. The options for a sumptuous Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve are simply aplenty, from the international cuisine of Seven Corners to the award-winning authentic Chinese restaurant Xin Tian Di....

HONOR unfolds their next-generation foldable flagship HONOR Magic Vs which boasts state-of-the-art design, a revolutionary display, and unparalleled performance setting new benchmarks for foldable phones.   MANILA, Philippines - December 19, 2022 Leading global smart devices provider, HONOR, announced the launch of the HONOR Magic Vs. This all-new foldable flagship pushes industry benchmarks in design, display, performance and user experience – making it the perfect companion for business and entertainment. Empowering young budding creators to fulfill their creative potential. “We are thrilled to introduce our next-generation foldable flagship, the HONOR Magic Vs, which packs groundbreaking innovations and exceptional user experience into an elegant and stylish design,” said Stephen Cheng, Vice President for Marketing. The HONOR Magic Vs will be our very first foldable flagship to debut in overseas markets and we are confident that it will deliver huge advancements, transfor...

Looking for the perfect Christmas gift to give a first-time mom? You may want to consider some of these personal recommendations by celebrity mom Solenn Heussaff-Bolzico! Awaiting the newest member of the family, Solenn shares how she’s taking everything in stride, which all moms, especially first-time moms can relate to all too well. “I have always been very open about the fact that motherhood was not a walk in the park for me,” she shares. “I think that as a celebrity, it’s very important for myself to share these things with everyone so that other moms know that they are not alone in their struggles. Things can get pretty rough, but if I can overcome it, so can you.” She adds, “Nothing will ever really prepare you for motherhood. Nothing. Especially during the first few months after giving birth to Tili, there were days when I would just ask myself, ‘When will it end? When will we get proper sleep again?’ It’s not a bad thing. We are entitled to feel tired. But of course, as m...

    iACADEMY Raquel Wong Chief Operating Officer and AB Leisure Exponent, Inc. President and BingoPlus Foundation Trustee Jasper Vicencio   12 December 2022, MANILA, PHILIPPINES – The country’s pioneering live-streaming and digital bingo game operator BingoPlus through BingoPlus Foundation is set to invest in the vast potential of young Filipinos to help engineer a better future for the country. BingoPlus Foundation officially inked a 3-year, FutureSmart Scholarship Program worth six million pesos with iACADEMY, one of the most innovative and sought-after technology, design, and business academic institutions in the country. The FutureSmart Scholarship program will provide scholarships in BCSC software engineering, BS in entertainment and multimedia computing game development, and BS in information technology with specialization in web development to ten outstanding students from deserving families. Jasper Vicencio, President of BingoPlus and Trustee of BingoPlus...

With Christmas fast approaching, people are all over the malls in the metro, joining the rush...shopping for gifts for their loved ones. It is the thought of this opportunity that Globe has partnered with SMAC to further their HAPAG MOVEMENT program. With every purchase of a SMAC card and every checkout, shoppers can now help support a family in need.   Isn't it wonderful? Leading digital solutions platform Globe and SM Advantage Card (SMAC) , the loyalty card of retail giant SM, have come together to help put meals on the table of those in need through the Hapag Movement , Globe’s technology-driven program against involuntary hunger.   “We are excited to partner with SMAC at the most joyful time of the year so we can bring cheer to our fellow Filipinos who continue to suffer due to involuntary hunger. Now, it’s easier for shoppers to share their blessings to the needy, bring food to the table, and get assistance for decent livelihood as we mark this Christmas season po...