Landlite Philippines at Interior & Design Manila

(from left) Philippine Institute of Interior Designers (PIID) director for professional development Trisha Padernal, Landlite Philippines Corporation CEO Jocelyn Li, PIID national president Lilia de Jesus, Uozu Italy deputy CEO Alessandro Porta, Faro Barcelona CSO sales director Salvador Marti, PIID director for professional practice Kathleen Obcemea and executive director for exhibits and conventions Gino Lim.

With this year’s theme, Resilience of Design: Future Spaces, Landlite Philippines Corp. (LPC), a leading distributor of lighting fixtures in the country, was one of the major sponsors of the 4th edition of Interior & Design Manila (IDM), held recently at the SMX Convention Center, Mall of Asia Complex. The IDM showcased interior design executions for buildings, landscapes, communities, and regions in order to respond to natural and manmade disasters and disturbances as well as long term changes resulting from climate change. The IDM is also the Philippines’ only exhibit curated specifically to update local interior designers on the latest trends, updates, and implementation of resilient design concepts. During the event, Landlite showcased the latest lighting design trends for 2019 and its wide range of residential and commercial lighting products and fixtures in its exhibits. 

Over 500 Mindanaoans join Jr. NBA Philippines Regional Selection Camp in Butuan

Over 500 Mindanaoans join Jr. NBA Philippines Regional Selection Camp in Butuan

More than 500 kids from various Mindanao provinces received world-class basketball instruction from Jr. NBA coaches led by Coach Carlos Barroca of the NBA and former PBA players Tony dela Cruz and Willie Miller at Fr. Saturnino Urios University in Butuan City on April 13-14.  Jr. NBA, the league’s youth basketball development program continues to stage camps nationwide in its 12^th consecutive year to teach fundamental skills and values of the game and hone the next generation of Filipino athletes.  Boys and girls ages 10-14 can still join the final Regional Selection Camp at Don Bosco Technical Institute in Makati on April 27-28.  Above, Barroca welcomes athletes from General Santos City, who traveled 12 hours to participate in the Mindanao camp.

For all things NBA, fans can follow Jr. NBA on Facebook and the NBA at www.nba.com and on Facebook and Twitter. Fans can visit www.alaskamilk.com to learn more about the Alaska Milk Corporation, and follow Alaska Milk on Facebook for more information about Alaska Sports.

About the NBA

The NBA is a global sports and media business built around four professional sports leagues: the National Basketball Association, the Women’s National Basketball Association, the NBA G League and the NBA 2K League. The NBA has established a major international presence with games and programming in 215 countries and territories in 50 languages, and merchandise for sale in more than 100,000 stores in 100 countries on six continents. NBA rosters at the start of the 2018-19 season featured 108 international players from 42 countries and territories. NBA Digital’s assets include NBA TV, NBA.com, the NBA App and NBA League Pass. The NBA has created one of the largest social media communities in the world, with 1.5 billion likes and followers globally across all league, team, and player platforms. Through NBA Cares, the league addresses important social issues by working with internationally recognized youth-serving organizations that support education, youth and family development, and health-related causes.

About Alaska Milk

Given the growing issues on health as well as the fast-changing technological environment, which leads to the change in children’s interests and behavior or sedentary lifestyle, Alaska believes that there is a need to reinforce its thrust in leading a healthy lifestyle not just by drinking milk but also by leading an active lifestyle. Alaska seeks to engage the youth, especially younger kids, in sports.

Alaska Milk looks beyond selling milk – it sells nutrition and by doing so, the Company and brand Alaska is doing its part in nation-building.  Through youth sports development programs, Alaska is able to help nourish children for them to develop into champions in the field of interest and, in general, in life.  The overall objective of the Alaska Sports is to strengthen the brand’s equity in nutrition through sports.  To portray Alaska Fortified as a brand that helps instill the values of determination, discipline, teamwork, and hard work among the youth through sports.

A Trip Down the Memory Lane: 7 Go-to Manila Churches for Visita Iglesia

This coming Holy Week, one of our practices is Visita Iglesia. As a dominantly Catholic country, traditionally Catholics visit around 7 churches to pray, reflect, and honor the Blessed Sacrament during Holy Week. Have an intimate and spiritually visit churches to commemorate the suffering of Christ, as well as to meditate and ask for penance.

Here are churches within the Metro which you can visit this Holy Week:

The Cathedral in Intramuros

1) Binondo Church

• Start your journey in one of the oldest churches in Manila. Binondo Church is also known as Minor Basilica of Saint Lorenzo Ruiz and Our Lady of the Most Holy Rosary Parish. It was built by the Dominicans and is located in Binondo, Manila. It became a place of worship to converted Chinese Christians back in the day when the trade between Chinese and Filipinos started to increase. Today, a number of Binondo dwellers and curious tourists still visit the parish.

Binondo Church Facade

Photo by Lawrence Ruiz - Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=51373004

2) San Sebastian

• San Sebastian, also known as Minor Basilica of San Sebastian, boasts Gothic Revival architecture and is the only steel church in the Philippines and Asia. The original structure was actually built using bricks, but because of a Chinese Filipino uprising which burned down the original structure, the current edifice was built to be fire and earthquake-resistant.

San Sebastian Church

Photo by Geela Garcia

3) Quiapo Church

• Quiapo Church, also known as Minor Basilica of the Black Nazarene, is one of the most famous basilicas in the Philippines. It is because of the said-to-be miraculous sculpture of the Black Nazarene which was carved in Mexico and was burned on its way to the Philippines. Large numbers of devotees visit every Friday, edging their knees forward to the sculpture to ask for miracle and or forgiveness.

Quiapo Central Church Plaza

Photo by By Judgefloro - Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=49290514

4) Baclaran Church

• The Baclaran Church is also known as the National Shrine of Our Mother of Perpetual Help is one of the largest Marian churches in the Philippines. The shrine was established by Redemptionists when they began the novena in 1948. At first, only 70 people attended the novena, but after several sessions, the attendees doubled and is now reaching thousands of devotees. Today, the church serves as home to many Marian devotees.

Baclaran Church

Photo By Ramon FVelasquez - Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=25183238

5) San Agustin

• San Agustin Church is one of the two religious sites inside the walled city of Intramuros, and is the Philippines’ oldest church. Built by the Augustinians, the structure was modeled after beautiful temples in Mexico. It boasts a grandeur in architecture, very rich and grounded to the Spanish colonial history. The building has its own museum inside, which features great artifacts about the Philippines’ cultural heritage. 

San Agustin Church

By Patrick Roque (talk) (Uploads) - Taken using my camera with model DSC-HX5V, CC BY-SA 3.0,https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=61019655

6) Manila Cathedral

• Manila Cathedral is a neighboring church to the San Agustin Church inside Intramuros, and is dedicated to the Immaculate Conception or the Virgin Mary. Initially built as a simple parish back in 1571, it received multiple reconstructions after several calamities hit the city. The cathedral was then upgraded with LED lighting, advanced sound system, and carbon-retrofitted structural foundations which add modern detail to its beautiful Roman stone facade.

The Cathedral in Intramuros

By Patrickroque01 at English Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=61234185

7) Malate Church

• Last but not the least is Malate Church, also known as Our Lady of Remedies Parish. It follows a Baroque style of architecture and houses a statue that travelled from Spain-- it is of Nuestra Señora de los Remedios, the patroness of childbirth. The small but beautiful house of prayer is also strategically located in front of Plaza Rajah Sulayman and Manila Bay.

Malate Church

By Ramon FVelasquez - Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=30755713

CPH Delicious Bibingka

After a long day of Church hopping and driving around Manila, have a quick stopover and unwind at Century Park Hotel (CPH). Grab a soft and fluffy bibingka and hot chocolate at Cafe in the Park before heading back home.

To know more about Century Park Hotel, visit www.centurypark.com or contact information@centurypark.com.ph and telephone number: (632) 528-8888.

Launched in 1976, the Century Park Hotel remains as one of the finest hotels in Manila. It is owned and operated by Maranaw Hotels and Resort Corporation and enjoys a mix of local and international patrons. The renowned establishment has over 500 rooms in varied types and facilities for a complete dining and leisure experience. 

New Zealand Barley Grass: What makes it so good?

By: Peter Hope, Managing Director, Santé New Zealand Limited

Barley grass has long been considered an important ‘functional food’ that promotes health and supports disease prevention. For many years it has been a foundation part of the health and wellness industry and is widely used by health-conscious consumers around the world. This ‘superfood’ contains high levels of chlorophyll and is rich in vitamins, minerals, and enzymes. It is a powerhouse of nutrients.

The popularity of barley grass continues to grow as more and more consumers, worldwide, discover its benefits. At Santé New Zealand Limited, we recognize the powerful properties of barley grass and, its health benefits. This has led us to develop a comprehensive selection of everyday barley-based products.

Our Barley Grass Growing Region

Our barley grass is grown in the Canterbury region of New Zealand. Canterbury lies in the central-eastern region of the country’s South Island. This is an area of 44,508 square kms and is one of the most important agricultural and horticultural areas in the country. The soils of the Canterbury Plains are formed on an alluvial plain and are particularly well suited to growing cereal crops such as wheat, oats, and barley.

Our region has a long history of growing barley, but this has been mainly for its grain. The barley grain is used in the brewing industry and in baked products.

Given the local expertise in growing these barley grain crops, it has been an exciting innovation to partner with expert farmers to grow ‘barley grass’. This is the same barley plant, but it is grown, harvested and dried at the green leaf stage, well before the plant matures and develops the grain. Over time, we have developed optimal growing techniques and harvest to suit growing the barley plant for its leaf rather than for its grain.

The local Canterbury climate with its cool winters and warm summers, along with the free draining soils are very well suited to growing superior barley grass crops. We consider the crops of barley grass we grow to be truly outstanding in when it comes to chlorophyll and nutrient levels. Our barley grass crops are world class.

Certified Organic Production

More than simply growing the barley grass we grow it under a certified organic system. This is an independently audited system that ensures the barley grass is grown according to organic principles. The farms on which we grow the product are all certified organic and have been so for many years. This means our barley grass is grown without chemical pesticides or artificial fertilizers. Additionally, our region is considered one of the cleanest and least polluted regions of the globe. [1][2]

We grow our crops in a method called ‘broadacre’. This means the crops are grown in large paddocks (i.e. fields) often 10ha or more. In this method the barley grass receives natural sunlight, airflow and rain as the main water source. The soils these certified organic barley grass crops grow in are in a ‘rotation’ of animal grazing and cropping. This naturally balances inputs of nutrients (i.e. from the grazing animal’s manure and from legume plants) with the extraction of nutrients from cropping. Typically, the farm rotation may involve 3 years of animal grazing (sheep or cattle) and 3 years of growing a variety of crops including barley grass.

Ensuring the quality

The production of premium barley grass requires that the plant receives enough water (either via rainfall or irrigation), sufficient macro-nutrients along with enough magnesium, Sulphur and calcium from the soil. The macro-nutrients are nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P) and potassium (K) or NPK for short. Often the availability of the macro-nutrients to the barley plant is governed by the soil pH level, presence of micro-nutrients and the levels of organic matter in the soil.

Farming under organic principles is demanding as there are a limited number of ways the organic farmer can influence the availability of nutrients. This requires careful planning and great attention to the soil’s fertility and structure. Our farmers spend a great deal of time considering all aspects of what it takes it make a healthy soil including the soil microbiology and the presence of enough earthworms and other beneficial soil dwelling creatures. Application of certified organic compost and other approved fertilizers is a key part of maintaining fertility in the cropping phase.

An important part of the crop husbandry is to prepare a fine seedbed when the barley seeds are sown. Generally, barley grows to about 30 cm high before it is harvested with and specially designed harvester. Time to harvest depends on the time of year – it takes longer in the colder autumn months of the year.

It is important that, at harvest, the leaf is cut and delivered to the dryer as quickly as possible since it can’t be kept in a heap too long. The drying process is designed to reduce the moisture content and stabilize the barley leaf as a safe and nutritious food product.  

Milling the barley leaf is an art and a science.  Well-milled barley leaf can be easily absorbed by the body and is a perfect ingredient for drinks and smoothies.

To know more about Santé, and its product offerings, and other upcoming events visit the official Facebook page at www.facebook.com/pg/santeofficial.ph or their website at www.santebarley.com/ph.

Respecting the land

Santé New Zealand Limited knows that the way we produce our crops impacts the health and purity of the environment. We are extremely mindful to grow according to organic principles and strive to leave the environment better than we found it.

The farms are certified organic by BioGro Ltd, one of two government approved certifiers of organic production and products in New Zealand. BioGro auditors ensure that our products and systems conform to their standards which include paying attention to the health of the ecosystems in and around our farms,

As BioGro-certified producers, the products developed from our barley can carry the BioGro logo. This helps our customers know that the product they buy is genuine and has been grown under organic principles. Additionally, our products come from a system in New Zealand where there is no genetic modification allowed.

Debit for points: What you need to know about CEB GetGo Debit Card

With CEB GetGo Debit Card, you and your barkada can go on an exciting adventure and create new travel memories.  

Debit cards are becoming essential for every kind of lifestyle. It provides convenience for the busy and always on-the-go millennial who wants to have a little bit of everything instantly. And because most debit cards now offer cashless transactions with one swipe, many Filipinos can enjoy the things they want anytime.

Everyday purchases become more rewarding with points to fly for free with the CEB GetGo Debit Card. 

From GetGo’s large fleet of cards powered by VISA and UnionBank, the CEB GetGo Debit Card is the first and only debit card that rewards you with points to fly for free with Cebu Pacific. It is the most exciting debit card as it easily earns GetGo points for everyday activities such as dining in restaurants, buying groceries, watching movies, filling up at the station, and even shopping from your favorite brands in the malls and online!

Apply for your own CEB GetGo Debit Card and enjoy great rewards when you use it for dining, buying groceries, and shopping. 

More than the free Cebu Pacific flights, there are other features which you can enjoy with your CEB GetGo Debit Card:

Be the first to book seats to your dream destination

CEB GetGo Debit cardholders have the amazing privilege to receive early alerts to the airline’s seat sales and promos throughout the year. Members can also choose to redeem flights with their GetGo points or pay using their debit card, earning more points to fly for free faster!

Enjoy discounted GetGo flights

On top of the year-round surprise seat sales and promotions, GetGo members can also enjoy discounts when booking flights. Whether you’re looking for that much-awaited summer trip or planning early for holiday vacation, you can redeem Cebu Pacific flights with 10% discount on GetGo points via the website or the mobile app.

Instant GetGo points for every kind of transaction

Members with CEB GetGo Debit Cards can get their rewards faster as every online or in-store POS transaction merits automatic transfer of points to their GetGo accounts. So whenever you’re completing an online purchase, enjoying shopping sprees, or booking for hotels and flights, you will receive points to fly when you use your debit card. Every P100 spend automatically credits 1 GetGo point to your account – giving you more points to redeem exclusive promos or hop on to a free flight!

GetGo members who don’t have their own CEB GetGo Debit Card yet can apply via http://bit.ly/DebitCardCEBGetGo and simply fill out the online application form. After completing the application form, you will receive a reference ID number via email which must be presented when picking up your debit card at any UnionBank branch nationwide.

For more information on memberships and partners, visit www.getgo.com.ph. Never miss out on exclusive member offers and the latest news on partner promos by subscribing to GetGo email alerts. Just log in to your account, go to ‘Profile’, select ‘Preferences’, click ‘My Settings’, and choose ‘Count Me In’. You can also like and follow GetGoPH’s official pages on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

Celebrate Easter with delicious Italian flair

This Easter, Villa Del Conte perfectly recreates this festive celebration through a fun and colorful Easter egg packaged chocolates. Italy is one of the countries in the world with the biggest, longest and most festive Easter celebration. Pasqua, as Easter is called in Italy, starts weeks before the Holy Week. Italians hold solemn processions, masses and 24-hour religious rituals like Via Crucis or Stations of the Cross. The celebration continues until the end of April with joyous traditions like Easter meals, dances, concerts and other surprises. One of these traditions and the sweetest of them all is the abundance of uova di Pasqua al cioccolato or chocolate Easter eggs. 

Masterfully crafted in Padova, Italy, these rich and decadent artisanal chocolates are packaged in a fun, creative, and adorable Easter egg packaging. Choose the chocolates included in your Villa Del Conte Easter Bunny Treat:

• 3 pcs. Praline Balls
• 4 pcs. Bonta Pralines
• 7 pcs. 5g squares in pastel-colored Easter wrapper

Celebrate Easter the Italian way and get these uova di Pasqua al cioccolato from Villa Del Conte. Visit Villa del Conte stores in:

• Greenbelt 5
• SM Megamall
• Robinsons Magnolia

For bulk orders and to know more about Villa Del Conte’s indulgent creations, contact 893-2575, visit www.villadelcontecioccolato.com, or follow them on Facebook and Instagram: @VillaDelContePh and on Twitter: @villadelconte.  

Jim Beam Highball World’s No. 1 Bourbon brings lively experiences through the first-ever Highball Pop-Up Bar!

“Jim Beam highball is the ultimate drink for our tropical climate; it is refreshing, well-balanced, and pairs superbly with all kinds of food. We have pioneered the perfect highball serve with our original highball draft machines in Japan, and we are glad to share these drinks in a fun environment with great food and ‘live’ music!” ~Sally Lim, Senior Marketing Manager for Southeast Asia, Beam Suntory

Get ready to savor the ultimate highball on tap and enjoy the refreshing side of Bourbon as we take over the Bonifacio High Street Amphitheater with an eye-catching Jim Beam Pop-Up Bar at the fountain area from April 24th to 28th.

The perfect Jim Beam highball

Jim Beam highball – a tall cocktail that blends the smooth, sweet flavor of Jim Beam with the sharp, clean zing of citrus– is the star of the show. Served fresh from our proprietary Jim Beam draft machines from Japan, the Jim Beam highball boasts the perfect ratio of our award-winning bourbon to the special high-pressured soda, resulting in a refreshing, super-carbonated, ice-cold concoction! We’ve handpicked only the tastiest mixes and we will be serving six enticing flavors that are perfect this summer season.

1. Classic Highball – Simple, refreshing, and unbelievably bubbly. A true classic!
2. Calamansi Highball – Just the right amount of tartness to keep your taste buds wanting more, the Calamansi Highball comes with chewy Nata de Coco bits that are reminiscent of bubble tea!
3. Pink Grapefruit Highball – The perfect balance of sweetness and a refreshing citrus zing will perk you right up!
4. Peach Highball – Garnished with a juicy slice of peach, this mellow and sweet concoction is sure to be a hit with everyone!
5. Watermelon Highball – Fresh watermelon juice makes this refreshing tipple a perfect way to beat the tropical heat!
6. Yuzu Lychee Highball – Extremely popular in Japan, tangy yuzu paired with the sweetness of lychee makes this merry match perfect for all palates!

Perfect your Jim Beam highball!

Showing revelers just how easy it is to make a Jim Beam highball on your own, the pop-up bar also has a colorful DIY area for the public to practice making their own highballs. Brand ambassadors will be on hand to help and there will be clear, straightforward instructions to follow… and everyone will get to drink their newly-made highball right after! On top of that, guests can take home the Jim Beam highball glass if they post the video of them attempting the DIY highball onto social media.

Music, Food and Fun come together at the Jim Beam Highball Pop-Up Bar

You’ll never miss the visual feast of lights and colors at the center of High Street! The iconic Jim Beam pop-up bar will be home to music and live performances from this generation’s most sought after OPM bands like Autotelic!

The Jim Beam Highball Pop-Up Bar will be complete with games to entertain everyone! Guests will get a free chip to redeem for a game session with each purchase of a highball, and players will be happily rewarded with (even more!) Jim Beam highballs if they win!

The Jim Beam Highball Pop-Up Bar will be at the High Street fountain area in front of Coconut Club from Wednesday, April 24, to Sunday, April 28. The fun starts from 6PM and goes all the way till 12 midnight, with extended hours to 2AM on Friday & Saturday!

About Jim Beam

Founded in 1795, Jim Beam is the world’s No. 1 bourbon and has been operated by one family for seven generations. 220 years of experience goes into every bottle, along with corn, rye, malted barley, water, time, pride, and of course, true passion! Jim Beam White is the cornerstone of the Jim Beam bourbon portfolio, and it derives its rich, satisfying flavor from a treasured family recipe where every drop is aged in charred oak barrels. It boasts an oaky vanilla aroma with a medium-bodied flavor with hints of vanilla and caramel.

Jim Beam is best served in a Jim Beam Highball, a tall cocktail of Jim Beam Bourbon over ice, topped with soda, and finished with a squeeze of citrus! This concoction is the ultimate drink for our tropical climate - it is without equal as a noon-time tipple, an after-work refresher or a weekend party-starter!

About Beam Suntory Inc.

As the world’s third-largest premium spirits company, Beam Suntory is Crafting the Spirits Brands that Stir the World.  Consumers from all corners of the globe call for the company’s brands, including the iconic Jim Beam and Maker’s Mark bourbon brands and Suntory whisky Kakubin, as well as world-renowned premium brands including Knob Creek bourbon, Yamazaki, Hakushu and Hibiki Japanese whiskies, Teacher’s, Laphroaig, and Bowmore Scotch whiskies, Canadian Club whisky, Courvoisier cognac, Hornitos and Sauza tequila, EFFEN and Pinnacle vodka, Sipsmith gin, and Midori liqueur. 

Beam Suntory was created in 2014 by combining the world leader in bourbon and the pioneer in Japanese whiskey to form a new company with a deep heritage, passion for quality, innovative spirit and commitment to Growing for Good.  Headquartered in Chicago, Illinois, Beam Suntory is a subsidiary of Suntory Holdings Limited of Japan.  For more information on Beam Suntory, its brands, and its commitment to social responsibility, please visit www.beamsuntory.com and www.drinksmart.com.