Tuesday, September 10, 2024

Seoul Solaire: A Chimac Festival to Remember

 

Solaire Chimac Festival 2024


Have you ever dreamt of experiencing the vibrant flavors of South Korea without leaving the Philippines? If so, then the recent Chimac Festival at Solaire Resort & Casino was a dream come true. My husband and I had the privilege of attending this culinary extravaganza, and it was an unforgettable experience.



Solaire Resort & Casino once again delivered a memorable experience with their recent Chimac Festival. As a frequent visitor to the luxurious establishment, I was excited to attend this event with my husband. The festival offered a perfect blend of delicious food, live music, and exciting activities.



For those unfamiliar with the term, "chimac" is a popular South Korean dish that combines crispy fried chicken and refreshing beer. It's a beloved comfort food that's perfect for sharing with friends and family.



The Solaire Chimac Festival was indeed a feast for the senses. The moment we stepped into the event venue, we were greeted by a vibrant atmosphere filled with the aroma of Korean foods and the lively sounds of Korean music.








The festival offered a wide range of chimac variations, from classic fried chicken and beer to more adventurous options like spicy chicken, popular Korean streetfoods like Tteokbokki (Spicy rice cakes stir-fried in a sweet and spicy sauce); Gimbap (Rice and vegetable rolls wrapped in seaweed); Dak gangjeong (Sweet and crispy fried chicken); Jeon: Savory pancakes made with various ingredients like seafood, vegetables, or meat.; Eomuk (Fish cakes served in broth); Mandu (Korean dumplings filled with meat or vegetables); Bindaetteok (Savory pancakes made with mung bean sprouts, kimchi, and other ingredients); Japchae: Stir-fried glass noodles with vegetables and meat; Sundubu Jjigae: Soft tofu stew with seafood or meat. Ramyeon: Instant noodles with a spicy and flavorful broth and of course, beer and soju (in my case, I loved Soju Milky!)










The Chimac Festival also highlights this Korean dish, consisting of crispy fried chicken and a refreshing beer, which is a popular combination loved by many. Solaire's version did not disappoint. The chicken was perfectly cooked, with a crispy exterior and juicy interior. The beer selection was extensive, catering to various tastes.






For those seeking more active entertainment, the festival offered a variety of activities. Beer pong contests and Korean dance competitions kept the attendees engaged and excited. The prizes for these contests were overnight accommodation at Solaire, adding to the excitement and competitiveness.






The atmosphere was electric as the talented band The Itchyworms took the stage. Their energetic performance kept the crowd entertained with their popular hits. The band's music perfectly complemented the festive vibe of the event.









The Solaire Chimac Festival was an incredible experience that we'll never forget. The delicious food, vibrant atmosphere, and cultural performances made for a truly unforgettable night. If you have the opportunity to attend the next festival, we highly recommend it.





Overall, our experience at Solaire's Chimac Festival was fantastic. The combination of delicious food, great music, and exciting activities made for a memorable evening. Solaire once again proved why it is one of the top destinations for entertainment and luxury in the Philippines.

Disclaimer: I am not compensated for this post. Opinions expressed are my own. 

Monday, September 9, 2024

The Manila Hotel Awarded as Philippines’ Leading Hotel at the 31st World Travel Awards

 


The Manila Hotel is honored to be recognized as the Philippines’ Leading Hotel at the World Travel Awards 2024. This esteemed accolade reaffirms the Grand Dame’s unwavering commitment to providing world-class Filipino hospitality to guests from around the globe. Often regarded as the “Oscars of the travel industry,” the World Travel Awards celebrate excellence in tourism and hospitality.







“We are thankful to the World Travel Awards for this recognition,” said The Manila Hotel president Atty. Jose D. Lina, Jr. “To our cherished guests and patrons, this victory is yours as much as it is ours. Your continued support and loyalty inspire us to keep delivering the exceptional service you’ve come to love. We also extend our congratulations to the Department of Tourism for their achievement in winning Asia’s Leading Marketing Campaign award for the ‘Love the Philippines’ campaign. We also commend DOT Secretary Christina Garcia Frasco for being recognized with the Transformational Leadership in Tourism Governance award, underscoring her outstanding contributions to Philippine tourism. Mabuhay ang industriya ng turismo ng Pilipinas!”






The Manila Hotel’s vice president for sales and marketing Marvin Kim Tan also stated, “We are delighted to receive this recognition from the World Travel Awards. This award reflects the dedication and passion of our team, whose commitment to excellence ensures that every guest experience the heart of the Filipino hospitality. It celebrates not just our rich heritage but the legacy we continue to build.”



As an iconic national heritage institution, The Manila Hotel offers guests a blend of historical significance and modern amenities, while providing world-class accommodations, dining, wellness, and recreational services.

Friday, September 6, 2024

Fixifoot PH: A Review of Custom Orthotic Insoles

 



Fixifoot PH is a popular choice for those seeking relief from foot pain and discomfort in the Philippines. This company specializes in custom-made orthotic insoles designed to address various foot conditions, including flat feet, plantar faciitis, and overpronation.






Key Features and benefits

  • Customized fit: Fixifoot’s insoles are tailored to each individual’s unique foot structure, ensuring optimal support and comfort.
  • Pain Relief: Many customers report significant relief from foot pain, including heel pain, arch pain, and discomfort associated with standing or walking for extended periods.
  • Improved posture: By correcting foot alignment, Fixifoot insoles can help improve overall posture and reduce strain on the back and knees.
  • Enhances Performance: Athletes and individuals engaged in physically demanding activities often find that Fixifoot insoles improve their performance and reduce the risk of injuries. 




Fixifoot PH offers a promising solutions for those seeking relief from foot pain and discomfort. Their customized orthotic insoles have the potential to improve feet alignments, reduce strain on the body, and enhance overall well-being. If you’re experiencing foot problems, it’s worth considering Fixifoot PH as a possible solution. Please note that I am no foot expert so it’s still best to seek or consult a healthcare professional as individual reviews may vary. 


Purple Plum Fairy at Fixifoot PH booth




Disclaimer: I am not compensated for this post. Opinions expressed are based on my own experience. 


Thursday, September 5, 2024

HOW PIONEER CINEMALAYA FILMMAKERS STARTED AND PERSISTED

 

Coreen "Monster" Jimenez


To date, Cinemalaya has nurtured over 200 Filipino filmmakers and showcased over 1,000 of their works, including full-feature films, shorts, documentaries, Filipino film classics, and art films.


The country’s biggest and pioneering independent film festival has been relentless in developing and supporting the production of independent Filipino films since it was founded in 2005, bringing new narratives that embody the ever-evolving landscape of Filipino cinema each year.


Shortly after celebrating its 20th year, the Cinemalaya has once again welcomed another batch of filmmakers for their turn in articulating and freely interpreting the Filipino experience with fresh insight and artistic integrity. With two decades under its belt and more than a handful of filmmakers bolstered to success, we look back to some of the pioneers who started the tradition.


Mario Cornejo


“I remember some of that time very clearly. I remember the sense of freedom, the sense of fun,” began 2005 Cinemalaya director Mario Cornejo. “At that time, nobody knew what Cinemalaya was, so when they said they would give a grant to make a film, all we could think of was ‘okay. Let’s make a film’. There were no stakes, kunbaga, very low stakes. There were no expectations. It felt very free.”


Cornejo is a director for movies, television shows and television commercials. He is currently an in-house director for television commercials at Film Experts Inc. He debuted his full-length film Big Time, a comedy-drama that follows the misadventures of two small-time criminals, Danny and Jonas, who run into a series of unforeseen events when they attempt to move into big time crime. 


Clodualdo del Mundo Jr.



The film won the first Balanghai trophy for Best Screenplay.


“It was super fun for us not because of the awards we received, but because it was a good excuse to thank people who were part of the film,” shared Coreen “Monster” Jimenez, who was Big Time’s co-writer and producer. “Everybody was super cooperative because people were just trying things out. It felt like a playground.”


Jimenez is a producer, filmmaker, mentor and documentary advocate. She is the managing director of This Side Up, a media company based in Manila, and the co-founder of the Filipino Documentary Society, which organized the biggest documentary fest in the Philippines. She is currently in pre-production for another collaboration with Cornejo for the film, My Neighbor the Gangster.


For distinguished screenwriter Cloudualdo del Mundo Jr., his first exposure to full-length filmmaking was through the first ever Cinemalaya Philippine Independent Film Festival. He debuted with Pepot Artista, a comedy-drama film about a ten-year-old boy whose dream is to become a movie star. The film explores the penchant of Pinoys for entertainment in the midst of serious social problems.


Del Mundo is an esteemed figure in the Filipino film industry. He is a multi-awarded writer, director, and producer. He is also the professor emeritus of the Department of Communication in De La Salle University. Some of his recent accolades include being a 2020 Gawad CCP Para sa Sining Awardee and a recipient of the Parangal ng Sining Lifetime Achievement Award.


“Sinulat ko ‘yung screenplay ng Pepot Artista noong 1970. Nasa graduate school ako nun, may kinuha akong tutorial course tungkol sa scriptwriting,” shared del Mundo. “Natatandaan ko si Ishmael Bernal, pinuntahan pa ako sa bahay. Nagtatanong kung maisasapelikula ba ‘yung script ko.”


But it was only in 2005 when Pepot Artista came to life at Cinemalaya. It won the first Balanghai trophies for Best Film and Best Editing. Del Mundo found it interesting that an old screenplay of his would even have a chance.


“In Pepot Artista, I was assisted by many of my students. Ganun talaga ‘yung paggawa ng indie films, e, ‘no? Maski hanggang ngayon, kailangan gamitin mo ‘yung mga kaibigan mo, ‘yung mga kakilala mo, para sa pelikula.”


Cornejo and Jimenez also acknowledged the sense of community and support in making independent films, and one key difference from then to now is the growing number of voices.


“Cinemalaya really changed the way people thought about making films,” said Jimenez. “It had such an impact on every filmmaker, especially the budding filmmakers.”


“It changed my life completely,” agreed Cornejo, who was hired by a studio to do another film right after Cinemalaya. “I only want it to be a better festival every year because of what it did for me and what it does for Philippine Cinema.”


The tandem went on to say how independent film now is in a much better place than when they started 20 years ago, with Cinemalaya still being a major testament that anyone can do films. 


For del Mundo, who already had a steady career in the industry at that time, Cinemalaya gave him the opportunity to direct a full-length film: “Even before Cinemalaya, I was already typecast as a screenwriter. I was already doing short films and documentaries but I really wanted to direct a full-length film. It was very satisfactory that I was able to do Pepot Artista because of Cinemalaya.”


When it comes to thriving in the craft, all three filmmakers urge aspiring independent filmmakers to persist and just make the films they want to do.


“You just have to believe in yourself and in your story, and find a way to get that story made and that story told,” said Cornejo. 


For its next editions, Cinemalaya will surely continue to uphold its vision to discover, encourage, support, train and recognize gifted Filipino independent filmmakers.

Thriving in an uncertain world takes center stage at PH’s largest PR gathering

 


The 31st National Public Relations (PR)) Congress, one of the biggest and most anticipated events in the local public relations industry, is set to take place this September 26 and 27 at the Manila Hotel Tent City.

It is poised to attract thousands of industry leaders, communication experts, academicians, and other interested parties to one location and witness the trends and issues shaping the public relations landscape and how the local industry is reacting to these tectonic shifts within the profession.

Now in its 31st year, the PR Congress, organized by the Public Relations Society of the Philippines (PRSP), is once again tackling topics that are posing challenges not only to the PR industry, but also the entire world. This year, the PR Congress focuses on VUCA–volatility, uncertainty, complexity, and ambiguity–and how the practice and the world we live in have constantly been undergoing disruption because of these factors. This year’s theme is “Into the Unknown: Communication in the Time of VUCA”.

“As many of us have noticed, our world has been constantly been in a state of disruption for a number of years now–we’ve experienced a global health crisis, witnessed the geopolitical state of the world turn on its head, and now we are in the midst of a technological upheaval brought about by the rapid proliferation of artificial intelligence in almost all aspects of our life,” said Norman Agatep, APR, Chairman of the 31st PR Congress and President and CEO of Grupo Agatep, “As communicators, we must chart these disruptions and see how we can harness the power of PR to help brands, communities, peoples, and nations withstand the impact of VUCA in their lives.”

To help attendees and other stakeholders understand how to live and thrive in this VUCA world, a comprehensive set of topics will be discussed during the PR Congress.

First is Profiling Today’s Stakeholders, this discussion aims to explore how this generation of consumers selects the content they engage with and what platforms they use. It also aims to help equip communicators with the necessary knowledge to engage these consumers. Under the topic, is the subtopic Generations Apart: What Media Consumption is Telling Us About Our Multi-Generational Society which delves into how an informational schism has emerged and how this is affecting the consumption, use, and sharing of information and data. Another topic that branches off from the main topic is Navigating Stakeholder Communication in the Era of Social Media, AI, and Web3. In this topic, participants will see an engaging discussion on how new technological innovations are changing the way professionals are engaging stakeholders.

The second major theme is Courageous Conversations, which zeroes in on how storytelling can be used to foster trust in an increasingly uncertain world. One subtopic under it is Calming A Nation: Responding to Volatility with Vision. It seeks to understand how communication can quell fear, distrust, and misinformation in today’s world. Another subtopic is Meaningful Audience Engagement through Entertainment. In this topic, entertainment takes center stage and how brands and communicators can tap into it to create more meaningful conversations with their audience.

Third is Taming Wild Tech, this topic aims to understand how emerging technologies can be used to power more meaningful and impactful connections among people. One subtopic that will be tackled under it is Powered by AI: How Artificial Intelligence is Redefining PR Practice. This session examines how artificial intelligence is transforming PR practice and how it can continue to elevate and redefine the profession. Next is Man Versus Machine: Creativity and Empathy in the Era of AI. In this discussion, we will hear insightful takes on how creativity and empathy can continue to influence the work of communicators, even with more advanced PR tools available. Third is Truth Be Told: Can Ethics in PR Coexist with AI, which goes into the quandary of practicing ethical PR and how it can be affected by the inherent moral ambiguity of artificial intelligence tools. Finally, The Fate of Philippine PR in the Time of AI will be a stimulating conversation on how public relations in the Philippines may be shaped by the rise of AI.

Aside from these three main topics, the two-day PR Congress will also delve into Letting Go: Acknowledging and Channeling the Power that Others Wield in Shaping Brand Reputation, Decoding New Tools: Mastering Emerging Platforms and Channels in a Multi-Screen Society, and Demystifying Data: Making Numbers and Statistics Make Sense for Communication Professionals.

“These themes are specifically designed to stimulate thought and inspire conversations that will extend beyond this PR Congress. We want to start discussions that will lead to action. Action that will not only allow brands to thrive in a VUCA setting but also directly contribute to the positive development of society,” Agatep explained.

The 31st National PR Congress is expected to feature a world-class roster of speakers from different backgrounds such as government, technology, the academe, and communication experts. The event will be a rare opportunity to listen to the leading minds in topics such as AI, public relations, advertising, and many other fields as they discuss how our world is increasingly shaped by VUCA.

“We are excited to invite everyone to the 31st National PR Congress. This is an opportunity to listen to groundbreaking ideas from captains of industry, thought leaders, communication experts and other professionals shaping the world we live in. Join us on September 26 and 27, for impactful conversations about our industry and the times we live in,” said Andy Saracho, APR, PRSP President. 

The 31st National PR Congress is proudly sponsored by the Development Bank of the Philippines (DBP) and EastWest Banking Corporation as Silver Sponsors with GMA Network serving as the official media partner.

For more information about the event and to purchase your tickets, please visit this link.


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