Binibining Pilipinas 2013 Fashion Show at the Smart Araneta Center

Wazzup Pilipinas!

I was at the Binibining Pilipinas 2013 Fashion Show with Venus Raj and Maggie Wilson at the Smart Araneta Center, also with Alma Concepcion. Video footage of the event below (more to be uploaded soon).

Fifty (50) beautiful ladies clad with heritage gowns from fashion icon Pitoy Moreno. There was also a fashion walk were some candidates were dressed in Jag sponsored outfits. The fashion show featured selected outfits that ranged from elegant gowns to fun and sexy formals, plus a man coming from the back of the audience, supposedly riddled with tattoos, caught everyone's attention as the 2nd part of the show began.

I was caught between getting a video or a photo coverage so I just decided to make a half-video (first part of the show) and half-photo (second part of the show) - a very long event for that night of glam and glory! So expect this write-up as just the first part of my story about the Binibining Pilipinas 2013 Fashion Show.

The Evolution of GMail

Wazzup Pilipinas!

We are now celebrating the 9th birthday of Gmail. Google has prepared an infographic detailing the updates and added features through the years. Kust click to see the bigger view of the infographic.

It's More Fun at Aliwan Fiesta 2013

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Aliwan Fiesta is an annual event that gathers different cultural festivals of the Philippines in Star City Complex in Pasay City wherein contingents compete in dance parade and float competitions, as well as in a beauty pageant. Now on its 11th edition, Aliwan Fiesta gets grander and more fun this year through its tie-up with the Department of Tourism (DOT) and the Tourism Promotions Board (TPB), also with the collaboration of the City of Manila, City of Pasay, Cultural Center of the Philippines, and Star City.

Organized by Manila Broadcasting Company (MBC) the event is dubbed as "The Mother of All Fiestas," with prizes totaling to P3 million (roughly US$70,000). Aliwan Fiesta aims to showcase the richness of different Filipino cultures and heritage not only to the people in Metro Manila but also to the rest of the world. The contingents, meanwhile, aim to promote their respective regions both economically and tourism-wise. It was originally organized as a visual extravaganza for the Christmas season, but it has since been held during the summer months of either April or May. Aliwan is a Tagalog word for "entertainment" or "amusement."

Dubbed as the “Mother of all Fiestas,” Aliwan is a three-day event organized and founded in 2003. It has since become a yearly festivity every April, gathering some of the country’s finest craftsmen, performers, and muses vying for the best float, best street dance, and the much-coveted Reyna ng Aliwan.

DOT Receives $7.1M Grant from ADB, CIDA

The Republic of the Philippines has made progress in meeting the Millennium Development Goals. It has achieved gender equality in education, reduced the mortality rate among children aged five and under, reduced the incidence of tuberculosis cases, and increased access to water and sanitation services. The country has strong potential for development because of its natural and human resources.

Nevertheless, the Philippines still ranks 112 out of 187 countries on the United Nations Development Programme's 2011 human development index. Progress is threatened by economic and social inequality, as well as by regional disparities, especially in the conflict-affected provinces of the island of Mindanao. Ensuring that social services reach the poor remains a major challenge. Women in the labour force are confined largely to low-wage, low-productivity jobs and have limited access to land ownership, credit, and training. Natural disasters such as hurricanes and floods have resulted in severe losses of life and property and have constrained efforts to reduce poverty. Almost one out of four Filipinos lives on less than US$1.25/day.

Swensen's Ice Cream and Sundaes are Now Deliciously Strawberrified

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Imagine the delightful goodness of ice cream with real strawberries, and then the yummy chocolatey sponginess of  your favorite lava cake. Now try to imagine how it will taste like if you combine the two into one sensational sweet treat.....

No words are enough to describe the heavenly pleasure...It is simply an indulgement!

Now stop imagining, yield to the desire, and head on over to any Swensen's Ice Cream and Sundaes branch (Eastwood or MOA) and taste the real thing!

IdeaSpace Announces 10 Winners of US$12.5K Funding

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Philippine startup incubator IdeaSpace has announced the ten winners of its national startup competition. The startups will each receive P500k (USD 12k) in seed funding and six months of incubation, where they will get office space, business operations support, and housing facilities for those not based in Metro Manila.

During the incubation period, the more promising startups could receive additional cash support from IdeaSpace of up to P5 million. Teams will also be introduced to other investors in Philippines, Silicon Valley, and other parts of the world.

Nestea Beach is Off to Boracay!

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I'm betting everything I have that you're all wanting to go on a beach event right now! Who doesn't want to frolic under the sun in a beach setting? The sea is calling us for a swim, the sand invites us to play, and a cold refreshing drink is just what we need to enjoy everything altogether.

For 15 years, NESTEA Beach has been home to both sun and fun lovers during summer. This year the tradition of sun, sea, sand, and skin has gotten bigger and better with the 16TH NESTEA Beach! Making it the ultimate beach destination in the country.

With new and exciting activities lined up this year, expect the good times to keep rolling in non-stop!

See the countryʼs best collegiate volley teams sizzle on the sands of Boracay as they show off their volley prowess in the annual NESTEA beach volley championship.

June Is Dads’ Month at Sugarleaf and Healthy Choices

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What do you give the Dad who has everything?

Rather than a shirt, necktie, belt, wallet why not give something that promotes his health and wellness?

At Sugarleaf and Healthy Choices, there’s a lot of interesting things to treat Dad to apart from a healthy delicious meal with the family. Apart from a single gift item, we can assemble hampers containing items suitable for diabetics, health buffs, vegetarians and vegans and connoisseurs.

L' Incontro Ristorante Italiano: Compliments to the Chef!

 

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My wife and I were given some complimentary meals at this Italian restaurant called L' Incontro a few days ago.  It is located along Nicanor Garcia street (formerly Reposo) in Makati city - not too far but quite inaccessible from our place. It's ideal you go there by taxi, but if you like walking for a few minutes, its better you just commute and drop off somewhere at the Mapua Institute of Technology Makati campus, or at the Yupangco building where Yamaha is. 

But we assumed it won't be much of a meal since its just a free meal given to a few people as a token of appreciation for helping them out with a certain project.

It was also a little inconvenient for us because we are required to book two days in advance before the restaurant would accommodate us. I guess we were just lucky that we were going to have a meeting nearby and the meeting request came in two days before. So, we immediately called up the restaurant. 

The Binibining Pilipinas 2013 Grand Parade in Araneta Center

                                    Binibining Pilipinas Golden Batch Parades along Araneta

Wazzup Pilipinas!

As the hot summer season comes along the fifty candidates of this years Binibining Pilipinas were presented in a parade along Araneta center.

Riding in a Miata car, Fifty of the country's loveliest binibini showcased in their Mardi Gras costume waving the crowd as they parade. These lovely ladies have been culled from over 100 aspirants that flocked to the auditions office since the beginning of the year.

The parade has been part of their activities to show their wits and personality to their fans. The girls have been involved in activities that include beauty and personality development sessions, outreach activities, television promotions and sponsor visits.

The competition this year is expected to be the grandest among all because it is celebrating it's 50th year anniversary.

With it's back-to back Top five finishes in the Miss Universe and International pageant Binibining Pilipinas 2013 also attracted a large roster of corporate partners such as ABS CBN, Cream Silk, San Miguel Corporation, PAGCOR, AVON and Philippine Airlines.

They will be having a fashion show on April 11 at the Gateway Mall.

The Grand Parade of Beauties is one of the final major events before the coronation night.

The Binibining Pilipinas 2013 coronation night will be held on April 14 at the Araneta Coliseum simulcast live over ABS CBN.

*Carlo Valenzona, The Web Magazine works as an Online Publisher for a Filipino News Company. He is an events enthusiast and an aspiring photographer. You may check his works at carlovalenzona.com/thewebmagazine and his reviews about different spas in Manila at 100spa.blogspot.com

Cozumel, Mexico Cruise : Of Ruins and Agaves

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The cruise ship you see here is our ride to Cozumel, Mexico - the start of our sort of Caribbean cruise gone loco. Loco because we had no tour guide so we found ourselves going back and forth in the ruins (talk about a daring exploration), and sometimes getting lost or going around in circles. But it was an exciting and thrilling experience - with dried throats and death-defying thirsts the entire afternoon).

For some historical background, we have learned that the Conquistadors first saw Mexico from the shores of Cozumel while searching for gold. Today, visitors to the island continue to seek out gold and silver jewelry in the shops of San Miguel while having a great time in its many local bars and restaurants. Plus, the waters around Cozumel's sheltered coral reefs make this one of the best snorkeling areas in the world.

Cozumel is an island in the Caribbean Sea off the eastern coast of Mexico's Yucatán Peninsula, opposite Playa del Carmen, and close to the Yucatán Channel. Cozumel is one of the ten municipalities of the Mexican state of Quintana Roo.

Globe Successfully Attracts 49% Switchers From Rival Networks

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The full year 2012 financial performance of Globe Telecom saw the company increasing its base and attracting more subscribers, evidently growing across the board in all market segments – mobile or broadband.

With game-changing product offers and cornering the latest devices with exclusive privileges, Globe has captured the sweet spot of customers at the height of its competitors’ aggressive switching campaigns launched during the second half of 2012.

This was spelled out in a recent survey conducted by global consumer research firm Nielsen, which indicated rival network’s subscribers switching to Globe. According to the survey, 49% of total SIM switchers to the Globe network came from competition.

Gyu-Kaku: Doumo Arigatou Gozaimashita for being in the Philippines

Wazzup Pilipinas !

Konnichiwa! Minnasan wa o genki desu ka? Watashi wa ureshii desu soshiete nihon kyouri wa oishi desu. 

If you don't understand Japanese, I meant to say: I had the time of my life!

Seriously, it was the other night that I was able to try the best Wagyu Beef I’ve ever tasted so far. It was so soft and tender that it literally melted in my mouth! Top it off with the experience of grilling the beef along with the rest of the other equally tasty meats in our Assorted Meat Plate with my friends was truly amazing!


The special secret sauce, with also an option for a spicy variety upon request, even brought out a better complementing taste. The grilled meat was good enough on its own, but the sauces simply gives you an alternative way of enjoying your grilled meat.

It's a better experience than a Shabu-Shabu meal - which is a different thing altogether - and a whole lot exhilarating than a backyard barbecue weekend. I guess its more intimate, and satisfying in the end.

Color Dash is So Uber-Cool and Colorful! : Running on May 11 at BGC!

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"Almost one more month before the MOST colorful and exciting run of this year! You have no idea the surprises in store for participants. ;) Register now before slots fill up and they are filling up quite fast!"

I'm gearing up to an exciting run this May 11 at the Bonifacio Global  City (BGC) as I will be joining other runners (newbies and pros) and running enthusiasts, health buffs, and fitness lovers, in the most colorful and truly the "coolest" running event this year.

It's not everyday that you'll get to run in a multitude of colors all bright and cheerful thus making you go on and finish the 5k run with style...and did I mention "cool" already?

Yeah! "Cool" , "Coolest", and "Uber-Cool"

Komikon 2013 at the Bayanihan Center

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All comic book lovers and collectors will surely love to attend the Komikon 2013 event happening on April 13, 2013 at the Bayanihan Center in Pasig.

This will be a phenomenal event that will be attended by the young and the young at heart (isip-bata), which includes me. I never really outgrown my love for comic books and even have a collection of Batman titles among other collectible characters.

It does not only bring out the jubilant child in me but also keeps me creative and adventurous in every occasion.