CCS approves Rs 19,000 cr mega Indian Navy deal for BrahMos missiles
By Ajit DubeyNew Delhi [India], February 22 (ANI): In a mega boost for the Indian Navy, the Cabinet Committee on Security has cleared the acquisition of over 200 BrahMos extended-range supersonic cruise missiles for deployment on its warships. The deal worth around Rs 19,000 crore was cleared in a meeting held on Wednesday evening, top government sources told ANI. The contract is set to be signed in the first week of Marc.....»»
CCS approves Rs 19,000 cr mega Indian Navy deal for BrahMos missiles
By Ajit DubeyNew Delhi [India], February 22 (ANI): In a mega boost for the Indian Navy, the Cabinet Committee on Security has cleared the acquisition of over 200 BrahMos extended-range supersonic cruise missiles for deployment on its warships. The deal worth around Rs 19,000 crore was cleared in a meeting held on Wednesday evening, top government sources told ANI. The contract is set to be signed in the first week of Marc.....»»
Custodio rules Dubai bowling
Filipino Marc Dylan Custodio delivered a performance to remember as he topped the 10th DIBC-Delta Open Bowling Tournament at the Dubai International Bowling Centre in UAE over the weekend......»»
Custodio rules 10th DIBC-Delta bowling tilt in Dubai
Filipino Marc Dylan Custodio delivered a performance to remember as he topped the 10th DIBC-Delta Open Bowling Tournament at the Dubai International Bowling Centre......»»
MullenLowe MARC wins top honor for PR Programs at 59th Anvil Awards
MullenLowe MARC, the public relations unit of MullenLowe TREYNA, took home 12 Anvils at the 59th Anvil Awards organized by the Public Relations Society of the Philippines (PRSP)......»»
Filipinos clinch final berths in Dubai international bowling tilt
Filipino talents Zach Sales Ramin, Marc Dylan Custodio, Stephen Luke Diwa and Dubai-based Hashim Guinomla on Sunday advanced to finals of 10th DIBC-DELTA Open Bowling Tournament......»»
Filipinos spending more on concerts, flying overseas to see fave artists
MANILA, Philippines – Marc Aldrin Bernardino will soon be singing the words to the fan favorite “All Too Well” along with fellow Swifties when he attends Grammy-winning pop icon Taylor Swift’s “The Eras Tour” concert at National Stadium in Singapore. The chart-topping breakup power ballad, hailed as one of the best songs of the 2010s.....»»
'Pasabog2023: Celebrities na nagmahal at nauwi sa bonggang kasalan
ALAM niyo bang napakaraming celebrities at personalities ang ikinasal ngayong 2023? Heto at isa-isahin natin kung sino-sino nga ba ang mga naglakad sa altar upang ibandera ang kanilang matinding pagmamahalan, at nagpasyang magsama habang-buhay. Marc Logan Makalipas ang halos dalawang dekadang pagsasama, ikinasal ang Kapamilya broadcaster na si Marc Logan sa kanyang longtime partner na.....»»
Energy sector workers run out
Amid the energy transition frenzy, listed Aboitiz Power Corp., or AboitizPower, recognized a growing scarcity of skilled power industry workers. It is thus necessary to develop a workforce that can adapt and implement energy security, affordability, and sustainability. “There has to be a workforce now and in the future that will keep our energy system functioning and serve the needs of our country,” AboitizPower chief people officer MaLu Inofre said. “Among our most difficult challenges is building a skilled talent pipeline that can effectively adjust and work with the fast-paced transformation within the industry’s energy mix, digital systems and regulations,” she said. Power forum held “It has become exceedingly vital to ensure that workforce skills align with the changes of the times,” she further explained. “In the same way, attracting talent in a competitive global market is crucial to a sustainable, efficient, and innovative Philippine power sector that meets our country’s growing energy demands and sustainability objectives.” Inofre made her remarks during the first Philippine Power Industry HR Forum at Shangri-La The Fort, Taguig City. The event was presented by the American Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines Inc., or AmCham, in partnership with AboitizPower. In the Philippines, the Department of Labor and Employment said that an estimated 1 million skilled workers in engineering, architecture, and construction are lacking. They cited “Power Plant Maintenance Engineer” and “Maintenance/Powerplant Engineers” as among the most challenging occupations to fill up. This can be due to a lack of qualified applicants or brain drain (or when better opportunities abroad are taken advantage of by skilled locals). “Between 2016 and 2021, the employment in the power industry declined by 15,444 individuals,” said DoLE Bureau of Local Employment Director Patrick Patriwirawan Jr. during the same event. “The Philippines saw an increase in the employment in the renewable energy industry last year but could have employed more if not for the delays caused by the Covid-19 pandemic on various project developments in the sector.” Inofre added that a major factor influencing the labor shortage is the shift in the type of skills sought by employers, especially as the sector tries to balance the entry of renewable energy whilst maintaining traditional energy systems. “Knowing this, upskilling will be key to facilitating a just transition for those who will be affected by the transition to a greener economy, as well as the new generation of workers. It is imperative that we successfully cultivate both thermal and renewable energy, so that we can ensure reliable and affordable energy supply for the country,” she said. Meralco Power Academy program management director Engr. Marc Lester Malibiran explained that, on top of upskilling the workforce, the industry should also help develop interest for the sector, especially in the youth. “The Philippines boasts a young and vibrant population, brimming with innovative potential. By investing in talent development, we tap into this dynamic workforce, harnessing their fresh ideas and energy,” he said. “Unfortunately, we are seeing a decline in both take-up and completion of STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics), averaging only a 21 percent completion [rate].” Intimidating STEM “Young Filipinos avoid STEM as it is seen to be an intimidating course of study. This is important to know as this signals us to develop programs that remove this preconceived notion,” he added. Young academic and professional achievers were recruited and trained by AboitizPower to operate, monitor, and control the company’s National Operations Control Center, which oversees over 20 renewable energy facilities spread across the country all from one central location. The forum served as an avenue for human resources professionals in the Philippine power industry to connect, collaborate, and communicate ideas, knowledge and best practices. Sentiments from the breakout sessions revealed that skills and competency gaps or mismatch, a limited external talent pool, and difficulty in retaining talent due to global and local competition are the most cited challenges in the human resources field of the energy sector. The post Energy sector workers run out appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
A skilled workforce — a critical component of Phl energy transition
Amid the Philippine energy transition, Aboitiz Power Corporation recognized the growing scarcity of skilled power industry workers and, hence, the necessity of developing a workforce that can adapt and willingly carry the important task of ensuring energy security, affordability, and sustainability for today’s and tomorrow’s Filipinos. “There has to be a workforce now and in the future that will keep our energy system functioning and serve the needs of our country,” said AboitizPower chief people officer MaLu Inofre. “However, among our most difficult challenges is building a skilled talent pipeline that can effectively adjust and work with the fast-paced transformation within the industry's energy mix, digital systems and regulations.” “It has become exceedingly vital to ensure that workforce skills align with the changes of the times,” she further explained. “In the same way, attracting talent in a competitive global market is crucial to a sustainable, efficient, and innovative Philippine power sector that meets our country’s growing energy demands and sustainability objectives.” Inofre made her remarks during the first Philippine Power Industry HR Forum at Shangri-La The Fort, Taguig City. The event was presented by the American Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines, Inc. in partnership with AboitizPower. Young academic and professional achievers were recruited and trained by AboitizPower to operate, monitor, and control the company’s National Operations Control Center, which oversees over 20 renewable energy facilities spread across the country all from one central location. In the Philippines, the Department of Labor and Employment said that an estimated one million skilled workers in engineering, architecture and construction are lacking. They cited “Power Plant Maintenance Engineer” and “Maintenance/Powerplant Engineers” as among the hard-to-fill occupations in the country. This can be due to a lack of qualified applicants or brain drain (or when better opportunities abroad are taken advantage of by skilled locals). “Between 2016 and 2021, the employment in the power industry declined by 15,444 individuals,” said DOLE Bureau of Local Employment Director Patrick P. Patriwirawan Jr. during the same event. “The Philippines saw an increase in the employment in the renewable energy industry last year but could have employed more if not for the delays caused by the Covid-19 pandemic on various project developments in the sector.” Inofre added that a major factor influencing the labor shortage is the shift in the type of skills sought by employers, especially as the sector tries to balance the entry of renewable energy whilst maintaining traditional energy systems. “Knowing this, upskilling will be key to facilitating a just transition for those who will be affected by the transition to a greener economy, as well as the new generation of workers. It is imperative that we successfully cultivate both thermal and renewable energy, so that we can ensure reliable and affordable energy supply for the country,” she said. Meralco Power Academy Program management director Engineer Marc Lester Malibiran explained that, on top of upskilling the workforce, the industry should also help develop interest for the sector, especially in the youth. In a panel discussion, AboitizPower Chief People Officer MaLu Inofre (2nd from right) said that the energy industry must come together to craft and implement programs that strengthen the talent pipeline for the Philippine power industry. “The Philippines boasts a young and vibrant population brimming with innovative potential. By investing in talent development, we tap into this dynamic workforce, harnessing their fresh ideas and energy,” he said. “Unfortunately, we are seeing a decline in both take-up and completion of STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics), averaging only a 21 percent completion [rate].” “Young Filipinos avoid STEM as it is seen to be an intimidating course of study. This is important to know as this signals us to develop programs that remove this preconceived notion,” he added. The Philippine Power Industry HR Forum served as an avenue for human resources professionals in the Philippine power industry to connect, collaborate and communicate ideas, knowledge and best practices. Sentiments from the breakout sessions revealed that skills and competency gaps or mismatch, a limited external talent pool and difficulty in retaining talent due to global and local competition are the most cited challenges in the human resources field of the Philippine energy sector. A panel discussion moderated by Atty. Jose Layug Jr. of Divina Law saw Michael Page regional director and country head Albert Perez, Meralco chief HR officer Edgardo “Egay” Carasig, Philippine Independent Power Producers Association, Inc. president Atty. Anne Estorco Montelibano and ACEN chief HR officer John Philip Orbeta discuss the need to calibrate existing government programs to be more in sync with the needs of the energy industry. This includes building competencies within communities to turn locals into more competitive applicants. Meanwhile, another panel discussion moderated by AmCham Human Capital & Resources Committee co-chair Ernie Cecilia had Global Business Power Corporation VP-Human Resources Maria Luz Blanco-Uriarte, One Renewable Energy Enterprise, Inc. founder and president Erel Narida and AboitizPower’s Inofre talk about how retaining workers involves investing on their skills, ensuring talent mobility opportunities and giving them a sense of purpose. “The energy industry must create an acceptable, progressive plan to resolve the talent crisis. AboitizPower, for one, makes an effort to resolve the shortage of estimated skilled workers in our industry by maintaining academic-industry linkages with universities in the country, providing long-term scholarships [and] establishing programs with TESDA that help promote electrical engineering skills at the grassroots level, among other initiatives,” Inofre said. “Through similar initiatives, I believe we can successfully empower a community of like-minded individuals who work towards implementing human resource programs that strengthen the talent pipeline for the Philippine power industry,” she concluded. The post A skilled workforce — a critical component of Phl energy transition appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Old Montreal churches get a second life
Inside a former Anglican church in central Montreal, crucifixes, prayer benches and candlesticks have been replaced by books and chessboards -- part of an effort by developers and community groups to breathe new life into abandoned churches. "I really like coming here. I like the little church feel, it is conducive for concentrating," university student Alexia Delestre whispered at the Mordecai-Richler library, which is housed in the old church building. Across the once highly religious French-speaking province of Quebec, dozens of churches have been transformed into daycare centers, spas, basketball courts, climbing centers, and a cheese factory. "In general, we do not want to destroy churches if we can preserve them because they are beautiful buildings that mark the urban space well," said Justin Bur, 58, a member of the local historical society Memoire du Mile-End. "They are important landmarks." Another 1960s church in Montreal was saved from demolition at the last minute and now houses a residence for the elderly, social housing, and daycare. Outside, its imposing white concrete structure and its high-perched cross stand out in the urban landscape. Inside, seats and children's toys fill rooms with high ceilings and large windows. "It's really the Rolls-Royce of daycare centers," boasted Isabelle Juneau, deputy director of La Creche daycare, highlighting the modernist architecture and the brightness of the place. City of 100 steeples The repeal in the 1960s -- during Quebec's Quiet Revolution or secularization -- of a tax that paid for the maintenance of churches contributed greatly to the abandonment and deterioration of places of worship. Many have been deserted, including in Montreal, which was nicknamed "the city of 100 steeples" by the writer Mark Twain who once famously said that "you couldn't throw a brick without breaking a church window." Quebec used to be home to around 2,800 churches, but their number has been dwindling, explained Lucie Morisset, an urban heritage researcher. In Montreal alone, there were about 1,000 churches at the beginning of the 20th century, of which only 400 are left today. "There are no more priests, there are no more religious practices. Society has moved on to something else," said Morisset. Over the past two decades, about 100 churches have been redeveloped, according to the Quebec Religious Heritage Council. About ten have been demolished and some forty have transitioned into synagogues, mosques, or other types of places of worship. Costly conversions Conversions are not always easy, but they have become even more costly lately due to galloping inflation. Marc-Andre Simard, general manager of the Chic Resto Pop restaurant said it cost several hundred thousand dollars to convert an old church into a community cafeteria. The entire basement was repurposed into a kitchen and the grounds had to be decontaminated after an old heating oil tank leaked. The restaurant now serves more than 300 meals each day to the neighborhood's needy while providing kitchen training for the unemployed -- amid the original woodwork, multicolored stained glass windows, and confessionals. For Simard, it is "essential that the entire religious heritage is not left to rot" because old churches can still serve as community spaces or residences. The post Old Montreal churches get a second life appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Maris Racal gibinuangan sa mga netizens tungod sa gown
GIDOGSHOW napod sa madlang pipol ang aktres nga si Maris Racal tungod sa iyang outfit sa ABS-CBN Ball 2023. Nag suot og custom fully embroidered Marc Rancy gown nga gold ug blue ang dalaga sa ball, ug angayan gyud siya sa maong dress. Pero dali ra sad nakabantay ang mga netizens nga ang maong sanina.....»»
The joy of eating
There is almost always a restaurant opening in the metropolis — either to excite the taste buds or simply elevate the Filipino dining experience. Yes, from Filipino dishes to American-Italian fare and specialty steakhouse, there will always be something for everyone to discover, relish and enjoy. LOCAVORE AT ESTANCIA MALL A cozy, contemporary space ensconced inside the Estancia Mall in Pasig City, Locavore is given true Filipino touches with its warm woods, rattan chairs, rustic pendant lights and an expansive glass window that provides an exceptional view of the surrounding environs. [caption id="attachment_192645" align="aligncenter" width="771"] OLIVE Garden’s Herb Roasted Chicken.[/caption] Opened last May, Locavore at Estancia Mall is the seventh branch of the restaurant, which catapulted to prominence in the culinary arena in 2014 after it opened its first branch at Brixton Barrio Kapitolyo, also in Pasig City. It then opened at Forbestown in Taguig City, Valero Street in Makati City, S’Maison in Pasay City, Eastwood Mall in Quezon City and SM City Bacoor. With the talented chef Mikel Zaguirre and his team at the helm, Locavore takes the homey heartwarming flavors of Filipino cooking gives a more sophisticated interpretation. And with the newly opened branch comes an expanded menu and new dishes exclusively in the Estancia outlet. For starters, have the crisp BBM or Bagnet, Buro and Mustasa — a platter filled with thinly sliced, crispy pork bagnet chips that you wrap in mustasa leaves (Samgyup style) seasoned with burong (pickled) hipon and burong mangga with gochugaru (Korean chili flakes). Follow it up with Bistek Pintxos, toasted bread decked with bistek-style beef tenderloin, grilled quesong puti, truffle aioli and red onions. [caption id="attachment_192646" align="aligncenter" width="525"] OLIVE Garden’s Purple White Cocktail.[/caption] “The new dishes are presented on slate plates because they are mostly bar chows,” says Alejandro Pahan Jr., operations manager. “That’s our new concept. We were thinking of madaling kainin (easy to eat) and something fun. Because samgyup is trending, we came up with pintxos.” The resto also has Bulalo Pintxos, roasted bone marrow with pickled labanos and pares jam; Yakitori Platter, grilled skewered chicken wings, chicken thigh meat, gizzard and liver served with annatto aioli, tocino butter, miso butter and spiced suka; Bagnet Chips, housemade bagnet chips served with spiced vinegar; and Inasalitos, inasal chicken with salsa, labuyo aioli served in lumpia taco shell. All these dishes are paired with seven new signature cocktail drinks, crafted by its in-house mixologist. Pahan says the new refreshing drinks heavily relies on the food being served at the restaurant. They complement the taste of the meals. Locavore serves alcohol and spirits. The drinks include Hardin, a hybrid between gin tonic and Tom Collins, with tonic water and botanicals and floral notes like blue pea and elderflower (which has a similar taste notes of lychee), garnished with rosemary and black pepper; Kinilig, a combo of Disaronno amaretto, honey, lemon juice and rum, with rice paper art design on top; Diwata, a blend of Bombay Sapphire gin with Giffard Lychee liqueur, sugar syrup and lemon juice, dressed with basil sprig and forget me not flower; and Antibayotiko, a whiskey-based mix of bourbon, ginger liqueur, honey and lemon juice. Locavore at Estancia Mall has a seating capacity of 120 people and targets bar goers in the area. It’s open until 1 a.m. from Wednesday to Saturday. The rest of the week, it follows the mall hours. OLIVE GARDEN AT THE VERVE A visit to the newly opened third branch of Olive Garden at The Verve in BGC, Taguig City, is a journey of discovery into a world of delicious and affordable pasta, bread, salad, chicken and pizza sensibilities. The menu is broad and touches base with all the departments of classic Italian-American fare. Upon arrival, diners are swiftly delivered a basket of freshly baked breadsticks, which are widely popular in all 900 Olive Garden stores all over the world, including the Philippines. They are buttery, a bit garlicky, moist and chewy. The unlimited breadsticks, including the never-ending soups and salads, come free with every order of an entrée. What a treat! [caption id="attachment_192647" align="aligncenter" width="525"] LOCAVORE’S BBM (Bagnet, Buro, Mustasa).[/caption] The refreshing salad is a merry mix of healthy greens, tomatoes and olives with a light house dressing, while the soup selection includes Pasta E Fagioli, Zuppa Toscana, Minestrone and Chicken & Gnocchi. Olive Garden first opened at the Mall of Asia on 12 September 2022 and at Glorietta 3 in Makati City on 9 January 2023. “It is, more or less, the same menu that we have for our first branch in MOA and also the same menu all over the United States,” Rechele Tiongson, chief operating officer of The Bistro Group, the company responsible for bringing in Olive Garden which was founded in 1982 in Orlando, Florida. “We never changed anything aside from modifying some of the portions that would fit the Filipino market, but the taste and flavor are the same. We use the finest ingredients like imported cheeses.” She adds: “Just to be clear, we did not reduce the portions but we introduce the smaller ones like solo version for those will smaller appetites. The big portions remain the same.” Browsing the menu uncovers more inviting dishes, such as the signature item, Tour of Italy (a huge platter of everything good — Chicken Parmigiana, Lasagna Classico and Fettucino Alfredo pasta), Amazing Alfredos (made from scratch using imported cheeses, not just heavy cream) and an Italian classic, Shrimp Scampi. Just recently, four new dishes were introduced — Mediterranean Chicken, Chicken Tuscany, Roasted Herb Chicken and Italian Braised Short Ribs, all served with a choice of mashed potato or steamed rice. “We are happy with the response of the public to Olive Garden,” shares Tiongson. “It was extremely unexpected when we first opened in MOA. We were busy for the next six months of the restaurant. The queue was really long. People had to wait for 30 to 45 minutes, which we felt bad for our customers, but that was how they responded to the first opening of Olive Garden in the Philippines.” Olive Garden’s vibe is casual, light and bright yet it is warm and comforting with olive green accents. The design of the interiors is an allusion to the Italian countryside through earth tones and natural textures. It can accommodate 150 people. Olive Garden at The Verve in BGC is open from Monday to Thursday, 11 a.m. to 10 p.m., and Friday to Sunday, 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. [caption id="attachment_192648" align="aligncenter" width="525"] LOCAVORE’S Sizzling Sinigang.[/caption] ASTON’S SPECIALITIES AT ARCOVIA Tron Ng, Astons business development executive based in Singapore, flew to Manila last, 22 September, in time for the opening of the third branch of Astons Specialities, a Singapore-based restaurant chain renowned for serving affordable steaks and Western cuisine, at Arcovia City in Pasig City. Astons is a casual steakhouse which first opened in the Philippines last year on the 4/F of Mega Atrium in SM Megamall. The second branch was at Trinoma Mall in Quezon City early this year. Silver Lush Food Corporation brought in the Singapore brand to satisfy the cravings of steak lovers and those who enjoy more seafood, chicken, sausages, burgers and pasta dishes. “This is our third outlet in the Philippines in a span of 16 months,” says Ng. “We have been around since 2005 when it was founded by Aston Soon. We started as a very small coffeeshop in Singapore. Eventually, we managed to draw a lot of attention because we offer quality food at affordable prices.” He adds: “Within a year, we opened our own restaurant and we continue to grow and expand. We have introduced many different brands under Astons and we have over 40 restaurants only in Singapore alone.” [caption id="attachment_192649" align="aligncenter" width="525"] OLIVE Garden Pasta Twirl. (From left) Zachary Reams of Darden Int’l Learning and Development partner; Marc Buencamino, Fort Bonifacio Development Corporation operations director; RC Tiongson, The Bistro Group chief operating officer; Lourdes Reyes, FBDC chief financial officer; and Lisa Ronquillo-Along, The Bistro Group chief marketing officer.[/caption] Aside from the Philippines, Aston Specialities can also be found in Myanmar and Malaysia. It was also recognized by the AsiaOne’s People Choice Awards and Asian Enterprise Brand Awards for its service and offerings. “I believe Astons will do well in the Philippines because the locals lean more on western food,” Ng says. Of course, the piece de resistance of Astons revolves around its steaks and meat, as it should be. The different cuts of meat from prime sirloin and New York strip to prime ribeye steak do not disappoint. Each has wonderful marbling with the juiciness of the meat, coating your tongue with every bite. The perfect grill marks immediately excite one’s appetite and invite you to dig in with your own side dishes — potatoes (baked, mashed, wedges or fries), Mexican nachos (chicken or beef) or Mac & Cheese. Other items on the menu are also a treat, such as Surf & Turf and Chargrilled Salmon Fillet, Grilled Porkchops and Honey Bourbon Ribs. Cocktail drinks are also aplenty — Piña Colada, Tequila Sunrise, Daiquiri, Orange Margarita and Sangria, to name some. With its industrial chandelier, brick accents and dark wood touches, the place takes on the air of an upscale roadhouse, but softened by the muted walls and expansive glass windows. Astons Specialities at Arcovia City is open daily, from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. All told, a trip to any of these newly opened restaurants guarantees a truly gratifying dining experience. The post The joy of eating appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
No idle hours at franchise-less but booming ABS-CBN
Content supplier ABS-CBN seems to be amply rewarding the stars and talents who have chosen to stay put with the company after it lost its broadcast franchise. The loyal ones are hardly without a project that keeps them busy and (hopefully) well-compensated for what they do best. These stars include Maricel Soriano, Angel Aquino, Kathryn Bernardo, Andrea Brillantes, JM Guzman, Belle Mariano and screen sweetheart Donnie Pangilinan, Chie Filomeno, Kaori Ozuma and Anthony Jennings. Actors, hosts, singers, record producers and comic talents who have stayed with the network remain “well-oiled” cogs in the ABS-CBN entertainment machine. With Cory Vidanes and Lauren Dyogi as the media company’s top honchos, as well as production divisions that conceptualize and execute projects from beginning to end (such as Dreamscape, JRB Creative Production, Project 8 and Rise), there are no idle hours in the ABS-CBN corporate offices and studios. There are also directors (such as FM Reyes, Emmanuel Palo, Richard Arellano and Jojo Saguin), creative managers (such as Carmi Raymundo and Jay Fernando) and musical scorers who get projects one after the other even if only on a contractual basis. Romantic leading men A change of mindset and attitude has occurred among the big stars. They have become really professional entertainment artists who have realized they don’t have to play lead roles all time. They remain adored and respected even when they portray vicious personalities who make life hard for the lead characters. They can then reemerge in their next projects as virtuous lead characters. Romantic leading men Ian Veneracion and JM de Guzman did contemptuous characters in the action series Iron Heart, topbilled by Richard Gutierrez, Jake Cuenca and Albert Martinez. The show is slated to end in two weeks (with major scenes shot in Japan though the series’ main setting is Cebu). De Guzman has just attended the media conference for the series Linlang (Deception), which he headlines along with Paulo Avelino and Kim Chiu. A major supporting actor in the new series that begins airing on 5 October is Maricel Soriano, whose “special participation” in the afternoon series Pira-pirasong Paraiso started only a few weeks ago. Soriano portrays a well-off grandmother in Pira-piraso and Linlang. Linlang is helmed by FM Reyes, who directed the ongoing ABS-CBN and TV 5 co-produced afternoon series Nag-aapoy na Damdamin. The new series is a suspense-thriller that will stream exclusively on Prime Video, available in the Philippines and in more than 240 countries and territories worldwide. Linlang has only 14 episodes, and new episodes drop every Thursday at midnight. Surely favorable to the finances of stars and talents is the invariably large cast of ABS-CBN series these days. For instance, Iron Heart features in major roles Albert Martinez, Dimples Romana, Christian Vasquez, Sofia Andres, and young actors Enzo Pineda, Louise Abuel (who is male) and Iggy Boy Flores. It has had as guest actors Maja Salvador, Sue Ramirez, Meryl Soriano, Maricel Laxa, Joem Bascon, Pepe Herrera, Roi Vinzon, Carmen Soo, Fabio Ide, Richard Quan, Ruby Ruiz, Anna Luna, Ruben Soriquez, Krystal Brimner, Cris Villanueva, Alex Medina, Anna Marin, child star Althea Ruedas, Al Tantay, Diether Ocampo, Karina Bautista, Victor Silayan, Kyle Echarri and Lou Yanong. The show also has four directors: Richard Arellano, Lester Pimentel Ong, Wang Yan Bin and Ian Loreños. As for Linlang, its support cast includes Karla Estrada, Jaime Fabregas, Raymond Bagatsing, Albie Casiño, Jake Ejercito, Heaven Peralejo, Adrian Lindayag, Race Matias, Benj Manalo, Lovely Abella, Frenchie Dy, Ross Pesigan, Hanna Lexie, Juno Advincula, Connie Virtucio, Lotlot Bustamante, Meann Espinosa, Danny Ramos, Bart Guingona, Vance Larena and Marc McMahon. Whew! Who said ABS-CBN was a goner with the loss of its franchise? The post No idle hours at franchise-less but booming ABS-CBN appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Former gang leader charged with rapper Tupac Shakur’s 1996 murder
A quarter of a century after Tupac Shakur was gunned down in a gang feud in Las Vegas, a man was charged Friday with his murder, a killing that came to symbolize the violence of gangsta rap as it surged into the mainstream. Duane "Keffe D" Davis, 60, had long acknowledged his involvement in the slaying, boasting he was the "on-site commander" in the effort to kill Shakur and Death Row Records boss Marion "Suge" Knight in revenge for his nephew's assault. Davis' early morning arrest Friday followed 27 years of investigations by police, who had been frustrated by an apparent lack of useable evidence, and came two months after they raided his home in Henderson, just outside Las Vegas. "The presumption is great that he is responsible for the murder of Tupac Shakur, and he will be found guilty of murder with the use of a deadly weapon," prosecutor Marc DiGiacomo told a court in Nevada. Shakur, the best-selling hip-hop artist behind hits such as "California Love," "Changes," and "Dear Mama," was already a huge star in the world of rap when he was gunned down in Las Vegas on 7 September 1996. He was just 25. He was signed to Death Row Records, an outfit associated at the time with Los Angeles street gang Mob Piru, which had a long-standing beef with the Southside Compton Crips. DiGiacomo said on the day of the murder, Shakur and Death Row Records co-founder Knight were in Las Vegas to watch Mike Tyson fight. In a hotel elevator lobby, they set upon Crips member Orlando Anderson, the nephew of Davis. "(Davis) formulated a plan to exact revenge upon Mr Knight and Mr Shakur" for this beating, DiGiacomo said. "He acquired a 40-caliber Glock firearm from a drug associate. "He gets into (a light-colored) Cadillac and he provides the 40-caliber Glock firearm to one of the two individuals in the back seat," and the group set off to find their intended victims. The two rap moguls were spotted in a car on a Las Vegas street. "They pulled up next to the vehicle and the rear passenger fired a number of rounds out of that vehicle striking Mr Knight in the head and Mr Shakur several times," DiGiacomo said. Shakur died in a hospital several days later. Knight survived. The prosecutor said what happened that night had been largely understood by investigators for many years, but they had not had sufficient admissible evidence to advance the case. That began to change when Davis, reportedly the only person in the car that night still alive, published an autobiography and spoke about the crime for a TV show. "He admitted to being the front right passenger in the light Cadillac and that he was the on-ground, on-site commander of the effort to kill Tupac Shakur and Suge Knight." A court hearing in the case was scheduled for next week. Rivalry Shakur had a brief but stratospheric career, rapidly rising from backup dancer to self-styled gangsta rapper and one of the most influential figures in hip-hop, selling 75 million records. He became a key figure in a vaunted rivalry, egged on by promoters, between East Coast and West Coast hip-hop. Though born in New York, Shakur moved as a teenager with his family to California, becoming one of the most identifiable figures in the West Coast scene. Shakur's murder was followed six months later by the shooting death in Los Angeles of his rival, East Coast rapper Christopher "The Notorious BIG" Wallace. The investigation's slow progress led to accusations police were not trying hard enough to find the killers of young Black men. Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department Sheriff Kevin McMahill on Friday said that was not true. "I know there have been many people who did not believe that the murder of Tupac Shakur was important to this police department," he told reporters. "I'm here to tell you, that was simply not the case. It was not the case back then. And it is not the case today. "Our goal... has always been to hold those accountable and responsible for Tupac's violent murder accountable." The post Former gang leader charged with rapper Tupac Shakur’s 1996 murder appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Tanduay optimistic about entry into competitive Taiwan rum market
Tanduay has a positive outlook about its entry into Taiwan amid stiff competition from other rum brands. “Based on early reviews, we think that the brand will perform well since the Taiwanese market already has a sophisticated taste and is very accepting of brands that offer them something new and unique,” said Marc Ngo, Tanduay International Business Development manager and senior brand manager. He compared the Taiwanese rum market to that of Singapore where people are willing to spend on quality spirits and cocktails. In entering Taiwan, Tanduay partnered with the distributor, Mr. Mixer, Ltd., one of the leading spirits and other liquor distributors in the country. “They believe in the brands and they share our passion for bringing our world-class rums to the Taiwan market,” Ngo said. Mr. Mixer, Ltd recently held a grand launch of Tanduay at Driftwood Bar in Ximending District and invited Taiwan’s premier mixologists Mars Chang and the members of “To Infinity and Beyond Team”, the 2021 World Class competition Taiwan champions, to showcase their outstanding mixology skills as they infused Tanduay rums into unique signature cocktails. Seven world-class rums Tanduay is making its award-winning and best-selling rums available in Taiwan. These include the Tanduay Asian Rum Gold, Tanduay Asian Rum Silver, Tanduay Double Rum, Boracay Rum Coconut, Boracay Rum Cappuccino, Tanduay Dark and Tanduay White. Ngo said they are currently focused on opening and partnering with on-trade accounts to feature their brands and for consumers to try. “At the same time, we are having discussions with big chain accounts for them to carry Tanduay rums in their stores. We are also planning to join the Tainan Cocktail Event on 20-21 October to feature our brands more to local consumers,” he said. The brand’s international business has been on a steady growth trajectory in recent years. Taiwan is the 19th country where Tanduay rums are being sold. In Asia, it is already available in China, Singapore, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates. In Europe it is being distributed in France, Germany, Belgium, the Netherlands, Luxembourg, the United Kingdom, Austria, Poland, Georgia, Armenia and the Czech Republic. It is also available in the United States and Canada in Northern America and Costa Rica in Central America. Apart from its increasing global footprint, Tanduay has received numerous accolades from international competitions, such as the World’s Number 1 Rum recognition from Drinks International Magazine for six consecutive years, and Brand of the Year from the World Branding Awards. Not one to rest on its laurels, Tanduay is eyeing further international expansion in the coming months. The post Tanduay optimistic about entry into competitive Taiwan rum market appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
ArenaPlus serves fun and entertainment in FIBA World Basketball Cup 2023
ArenaPlus, the 24/7 online sports betting app and the official sportsbook partner of the International Basketball Federation (FIBA), joined in creating a fun and unforgettable FIBA experience for Filipino basketball fans as the country hosts the FIBA World Basketball Cup 2023. As the leading sports betting company in the country, ArenaPlus devised multiple activities on the ground to add fun and entertainment to this momentous event. To ensure a fun and “astig” FIBA experience, the brand-activated booths in Smart Araneta Coliseum and Mall of Asia (MOA) Arena, from 25 August to 10 September 2023, served a variety of entertaining activities and premium prizes that basketball fans could truly enjoy. The brand also participated in the FIBA Fan Zone stationed in MOA Music Hall, featuring activities, prizes, and groovy dance performances by the brand’s girl group “Astig Girls”. In addition, the said fan zone was visited by world-renowned NBA legends like Pau Gasol, Luis Scola, and Carmelo Antony, creating an unforgettable moment during the event. The event also provided the perfect platform to introduce the brand’s newest and official brand ambassador, NBA superstar Jordan Clarkson, who represented the country in the tournament. In addition, the brand is in full support of the country’s national basketball team, GILAS Pilipinas, as it represented the Philippines in the said cup. Recently, ArenaPlus signed a two-year partnership with the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas and GILAS Pilipinas to reaffirm the brand's ongoing commitment and support for sports. As the official sportsbook partner of FIBA, ArenaPlus is fully committed to making the FIBA World Basketball Cup memorable to every Filipino basketball fan. The brand wholeheartedly supported the success of the said activity, making it enjoyable and truly cherished by Filipinos. ArenaPlus stands firm in its mission to support sports and make them more fun and enjoyable, anytime and anywhere. The post ArenaPlus serves fun and entertainment in FIBA World Basketball Cup 2023 appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Germany-Serbia FIBA World Cup final shines spotlight on European basketball
FIBA World Cup champion and Spanish basketball icon Pau Gasol relished the unique opportunity for European basketball to show its wares as the 2023 FIBA World Cup is set to have an all-European final......»»
Essential Bangkok experience
Take the Airport Rail Link and SkyTrain. If you don’t have too many pieces of luggage, says our tour guide Nattapong Jongboonsab, the Airport Rail Link is the quickest — and cheapest — way to get into the city. The SkyTrain is also the best way to get around Bangkok and beat the traffic jam. The trains run regularly and are often quite busy. Check out Siam Premium Outlet. The perfect starting point for most tourists — with shopping as the first order of the day — just 20 minutes away from the Suvarnabhumi Airport. It is where the world’s biggest fashion stores and high-end brands are located. Think Balenciaga, Chanel, Burberry, Versace, Ferragamo, Bally, Jimmy Choo, Karl Lagerfeld, Marc Jacobs etc., alongside a host of casual, sporting and accessories brands, including Adidas, Nike, Fred Perry, Onitsuka Tiger, Samsonite, Swarovski. The outdoor complex houses a number of air-conditioned restaurants — like the popular S&P Thai Restaurant (try their Chicken Green Curry and Seabass Yellow Curry on Rice — the best!) — and food stalls selling popular Thai street food dishes. Other high-end stores in the city you must visit: Central Village, Iconsiam and Siam Paragon. Explore Iconsiam — The most impressive shopping center in Bangkok with more than 7,000 shops, 100 restaurants and even a floating market. The ground floor is a bustling indoor night market filled with food stalls dishing out classic Bangkok street snacks, including oyster and crab omelet, spicy and pungent curries, grilled squids, prawns and eels, pad thai, rice bowls, noodles, deep-fried chicken and pork, pomelo salad and their ever-popular mango sticky rice — all at affordable price. Our guide says it is best visited on a rowdy weekend, with endless orders of beers to chase away the fiery flavors. Walk around Siam Square. It’s a unique hipster block with something for everyone, from boutique stores to cool cafes and patisseries. The area is so popular among the young generation who enjoys hanging out with friends over cups of iced coffee or milk tea, specially from the most-talked about and most Instagrammable dog-friendly restaurant, the Dosan Dalmatian by Mammia. It offers western and Korean dishes with indoor and outdoor sitting. It’s best to order a cappuccino or latte because there’s an adorable puppy face cream on top. Sooo cute. Shop till you drop at Jodd Fairs. Another open-air night market selling local and imported items from branded clothing to bric-a-brac. Pick up a plaid shirt, slap on some oversized sunglasses and pair it all with sandals and socks while you’re at it. After your retail therapy, stop by for a cold beer or mocktails and a snack of churros at one of its outdoor food stalls. Pamper yourself at Let’s Relax. After a long day of shopping and sightseeing, one of the best things you can do for your body and mental well-being is hit the spa. Some of the world’s best spas are in Bangkok, and Let’s Relax is one of them. It offers authentic, traditional Thai body massage. However, we just opted for the one-and-a-half-hour foot massage. Not bad at all. The post Essential Bangkok experience appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Go resolution lauds victorious youth keglers
Senator Christopher “Bong” Go, Chairman of the Committee on Sports, took to the Senate floor Tuesday, 5 September, to extend his heartfelt congratulations to the Filipino bowlers for their historic win in the 21st Asian Youth Tenpin Bowling Championships last 12 July in Bangkok, Thailand. The Senate recently adopted Senate Resolution 711, filed by Go himself on 1 August to officially commend and congratulate the Filipino bowlers for their outstanding achievement. The resolution highlights the importance of sports in fostering self-discipline, teamwork, and excellence, as mandated by Article XIV, Section 19 of the Philippine Constitution. In his sponsorship speech, Go emphasized the significance of the victory, stating, “The Philippine Bowling team achieved an extraordinary feat by capturing the overall championship for the first time.” He specifically acknowledged Artegal Barrientos for his remarkable victory in the boys’ masters division. Barrientos, along with Zach Ramin, Stephen Luke Diwa and Marc Dylan Custodio, clinched the championship title in the boys’ division. “My gratitude goes to the coaches, mentors, and the entire support staff who have played an instrumental role in molding our outstanding athletes,” Go said. For the first time in history, the Filipino youth bowling squad secured the top spot in the competition, winning two out of four gold medals available. Barrientos clinched a decisive victory against Australia’s Blake Walsh in the final round of the boys’ masters category. The post Go resolution lauds victorious youth keglers appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»