Culinaire: The Magical Food Journey Returns

Wazzup Pilipinas!

Foodies rejoice at every news of food events where their taste buds are again challenged to experience different tastes from several restaurants, caterers, chefs, and many other sources of gastronomical delights. I would often join such events because I am entirely curious of their creative yet delectable offerings.

No one can deny the fact that Filipinos love to eat and we welcome all kinds of dishes from all over the country, and the rest of the world. The many popular restaurant brands abroad have already touched the Philippines and it seems every day means a new one reaching our shores. Whether through a brand franchise or merely an influence of international flavors, the country is indeed blessed with so many food choices.

One of the best gathering of culinary delicacies happened only a few months ago - the repeat of SMX's Culinaire seems to be a surprised repeat. I knew it was just held within this year and so I was in sudden awe when I've learned that there's a second one happening this October 10, 2016.

Since I was able to attend before, I could now critically compare the two events to mention all the differences. The event promised everyone to experience a night of gastronomical feast, technological trickery, magic in a fast paced breath-taking performance, and amazing light show all in one event. Now we ask if it was accomplished as advertised.

I would say a definite yes!

Globe Telecom’s Ernest Cu Retains Spot as One of Most Powerful Telecom Executives Worldwide

Wazzup Pilipinas!

Globe Telecom President & CEO Ernest Cu retained his spot as one of the most powerful telecommunication executives in the world following his inclusion on the elite list of Global Telecoms Business Power 100 for 2016. Again, Cu is the only Filipino executive to make it to the Power 100 and among the top 10 in Asia.

Similar to the new selection process it adopted last year, inclusion in this year’s list of Power 100 was divided into a number of different categories such as operators in various parts of the world, over-the-top and content providers, hardware companies, handsets and chips.

Cu was listed in the Top Ten Operators from Asia. Officially appointed as President & CEO of Globe in April 2009, Cu has been passionately driving a sweeping transformation across the company, including modernizing its network and IT infrastructure, creating a collaborative and service-oriented culture, and product innovations in its mobile business. Under his visionary leadership, Globe has outperformed industry growth with the company breaking records across all key product groups, brands and market segments by making the Globe brand as the purveyor of Filipino digital lifestyle. The company is now recognized as the number one mobile brand in the country.

Cu is currently leading the company in elevating the state of internet in the Philippines by maximizing the newly assigned 700Mhz spectrum to provide a faster mobile internet experience to its customers and by investing heavily to improve the fixed-line internet to connect 2 million families nationwide by 2020 and. With this, Globe managed to drive the mobile internet speed ranking of the Philippines in the top 6 in Asia Pacific with an average speed of 8.5Mbps according to the 2nd quarter Akamai State of the Internet report. The country has now a mobile internet connection speed faster than Singapore, China, Hong Kong, Malaysia, Thailand and Vietnam.

Aside from Cu, other telecom executives included in the Top Ten Operators from Asia include Mukesh Ambani, Managing director, Reliance Jio; Alex Jinsung Choi, CTO, SK Telecom; Chua Sock Koong, CEO, Singtel; Li Ka-shing, Chairman, CK Hutchison; Sunil Bharti Mittal, Chairman, Bharti Airtel; Andy Penn, CEO, Telstra; Masayoshi Son, CEO, SoftBank; Hiroo Unoura, CEO, NTT; and Shang Bing, Chairman, China Mobile.

Global Telecoms Business is the only magazine and website dedicated for senior executives of telecommunication companies worldwide.

Ballet Philippines Presents Noli-Fili Double Bill this October 21-23

Wazzup Pilipinas!

In Ballet Philippines’ “Crisostomo Ibarra” and “Simoun”, the protagonists of Jose Rizal’s “Noli Me Tangere” and “El Filibusterismo” leap off of the page and onto the CCP Main Theater stage for one weekend only. Both shows feature original music by Jed Balsamo, choreography by Paul Alexander Morales, and the live performance of the ABS-CBN Philharmonic Orchestra – a quintet for “Crisostomo Ibarra” and the full orchestra under the baton of Maestro Gerard Salonga for “Simoun”.

Told through the language of dance, the narration takes the audience into the psychological worlds of the novels’ protagonists and strips bare the epic story that underscores the continuing relevance of Rizal’s work. The year 2016 marks the 120th death anniversary of the national hero, and the 125th anniversary of the publication of “El Filibusterismo”. This production is supported by the National Historical Commission of the Philippines.

Paul Alexander Morales and Jed Balsamo are the moving forces of BP’s “Crisostomo Ibarra” and “Simoun”. They also recently collaborated in Gantimpala Theater Foundation’s “Kanser@30: the Musical”, which Morales choreographed and Balsamo composed music for. 

Premiered in 2010, “Crisostomo Ibarra” highlights the life of an idealist reformer, a man striving to make a change in a society living under corruption and oppression. It takes an introspective look at the life of a hero sacrificing his personal happiness for love of country. The ballet was awarded the distinction of Outstanding Dance Production at the 2010 Philstage Gawad Buhay Awards.

“Simoun” is a world premiere, presenting a fresh take on the motivations, dreams, and fears of the cynical and vengeful lead character described as a saboteur, giving insight and depth to his actions. The ballet highlights themes that are still palpable and relevant to today’s audiences – cynicism versus hope and the constant challenge of stagnation or change and revolution.

Top-billing “Simoun” are Ballet Philippines dancers Jean Marc Cordero, Denise Parungao, Rita Angela Winder, Erl Sorilla, Garry Corpuz, and Jemima Reyes. “Crisostomo Ibarra” features Victor Maguad, Monica Amanda Gana, Jessa Tangalin, Eugene Obille, Ramon Victoria, and Ballet Philippines II.

“Crisostomo Ibarra” will be performed on October 21 at 3:00PM, October 22 at 2:00PM, and October 23 at 10:00AM, and “Simoun” on October 21 at 8:00PM, October 22 at 6:00PM, and October 23 at 3:00PM at the Tanghalang Nicanor Abelardo (CCP Main Theater). Ticket prices range from Php 2000 to Php 300, with discounts for students, senior citizens, and government employees.

Connect to Ballet Philippines online through the following social media networks:

Facebook: www.facebook.com/balletphilippines
Twitter: @balletph
Instagram: @balletphilippines
YouTube: balletph

To join in the Ballet Philippines conversation, use our official hashtags: #balletph, #CrisostomoIbarra, #Simoun