Prepare for a fun-filled easter as Rizal Park Hotel once again opens its ballroom doors on April 09 to celebrate a Feaster: A Fun Easter at Rizal Park Hotel. For only P800, kids and kids at heart can enjoy a day of exciting activities other than the usual easter egg hunt. The ticket covers 1 kid ages 0-12 and 1 adult companion, inclusive of a lootbag and access to the program, which starts at 2 PM until 6 PM. Expect an array of easter-themed games, a magic show, bubble show, ventriloquism, face painting, a photobooth, and child-safe inflatables.
Of course, it would not be an easter event without the easter egg hunt and to make it more fun, attendees are given a chance to win an overnight stay with breakfast by joining the ‘Golden Easter Egg Hunt’.
In addition to the Feaster event, Rizal Park Hotel is also offering a hard to resist room promo. From April 06 to 10 and for only PHP 8,000, enjoy an overnight stay in a Deluxe Room (Queen, King, or Twin) with buffet breakfast for (2) two and a choice of buffet lunch or dinner for (2) two at Café Rizal plus one (1) pass to the Feaster event.
Rizal Park Hotel’s rooms and suites feature turn-of-the-century interior decors with modern amenities. Each room is colored in neutral tones of gray, beige, and off-white, with shades of yellow that give off warm feelings of home. Machuca tiles, classic woodwork, and crystal chandeliers provide a taste of style during the Army Navy Club’s heydays.
Rooms and suites are available in both the Main and Club wings of the hotel, providing exceptional views of the city, the park, or the famed Manila Bay. The suites feature its own living areas and extensive bathroom amenities, including a bathtub.
For Feaster tickets, text or call (63 927) 668-7839 / (63 909) 143-1591.
The Carlos Palanca Foundation, Inc. announced it is now accepting entries to the 71st Carlos Palanca Memorial Awards for Literature (CPMA), open to all Filipino citizens or former Filipino citizens of all ages.
Logo and Photo: Palanca Awards
Like last year, all submissions must be DONE ONLINE. The Carlos Palanca Foundation WILL NOT ACCEPT PRINTED AND EMAIL submissions for all categories. Authors who wish to join may submit only one (1) entry per category, as follows:
● English Division – Short Story, Short Story for Children, Essay, Poetry, Poetry Written for Children, One-act Play, and Full-length Play;
● Filipino Division – Maikling Kuwento, Maikling Kuwentong Pambata, Sanaysay, Tula, Tula Para sa mga Bata, Dulang May Isang Yugto, Dulang Ganap ang Haba, and Dulang Pampelikula;
● Regional Languages Division – Short Story-Cebuano, Short Story-Hiligaynon, and Short Story-Ilokano.
The special Kabataan Division for young writers below 18 years old is also now open for entries in its two categories: Kabataan Essay (English) and Kabataan Sanaysay (Filipino). Submissions must be informal (personal) essays on the theme: “Emerging out of the Pandemic, what are the most pressing issues surrounding mental health among youth and how can Society and Government help in addressing these concerns for the growth and well-being of our younger generations?” for Kabataan Essay and “Sa pagsulong mula sa Pandemya, ano ang mga pinakamabibigat na isyung pumapalibot sa kalusugan ng isip ng mga kabataan, at paano makatutulong ang Lipunan at Pamahalaan na tugunan ang mga ito para sa ikauunlad at ikabubuti ng ating mga nakababatang henerasyon?” for Kabataan Sanaysay.
THE DEADLINE FOR SUBMISSION OF ENTRIES IS ON 31 MAY 2023.
For other inquiries and concerns, email info@palancaawards.com.ph or call (632) 8843-8277 / (632) 8478-7996. Look for Ms. Leslie Layoso or Ms. Susan Castillo.
Famed for her work as Letty in the Fast & Furious films, Rodriguez possessed the charisma and the athleticism to play an unstoppable warrior who is supremely skilled in combat. On the battlefield, Holga’s inner rage takes over, giving her almost superhuman strength and resilience. “Michelle has this inherent toughness that she brings to the table,” Latcham says. “She’s just a badass.”
Although Holga is formidable, lethal, and intimidating, above all, she is deeply loyal to those she loves. When the film opens, Holga and her best friend, the bard Edgin (played by Chris Pine) are locked away in the notorious prison Revel’s End. Although the duo had once been the leaders of a merry band of well-meaning thieves, their circumstances changed dramatically after a heist gone wrong.
“He’s like her brother in a sense,” says Rodriguez of her character’s relationship with Edgin. “She’d never admit it, but when you’re shunned by the world and you find acceptance somewhere, it’s a beautiful thing.”
The two lead a scrappy band of unlikely heroes – including a paladin (Regé-Jean Page), a sorcerer (Justice Smith) and a Druid (Sophia Lillis). Together, they undertake an epic heist to retrieve a lost relic, but things go dangerously awry when they run afoul of the wrong people.
SOPHIA LILLIS (DORIC THE DRUID)
As a Tiefling, Lillis’ character Doric has curved horns that sprout from her skull and as a Druid wields magic derived from nature. “Her go-to forms of combat are her slingshot gauntlet and turning into different animals,” explains Lillis.
She’s also the group’s truth-telling shapeshifter. “With all these people who blow things up and make horrible plans, you really need one person there who’s just completely deadpan, saying, ‘This makes no sense,’” Lillis says. “Doric, the way she was written, she’s a really fun character to work with because I got to be that deadpan person.”
Although Tieflings are typically loners, Doric was taken in as a young child by a group of wood elves, a race now under threat by Edgin and Holga’s nemesis Forge (played by Hugh Grant). And that is the thing that ultimately motivates her to sign up with Edgin, Holga and the rest of the gang. “She would do whatever she can to protect them because they helped her when she was a kid,” says Lillis, herself an experienced D&D player. “Tieflings usually are independent, but she really wants a family. She wants a home. So when these bunch of idiots come to her and say, ‘We want to take down Forge,’ she goes along with them, and it ends up being something more.”
THE HEART OF IT ALL
Pine, who is also one of the film’s executive producers, has nothing but high praise for the characters and cast of the film. At the heart of it all, Pine notes, is the camaraderie and comedy that develops among a memorable group of characters who truly come to care about one another as the eclectic members of a found family. “You have a story about a ragtag group of people that are going up against immense odds and immense nemeses and very much looks like they’re not going to be able to succeed,” he says. “This is a fun film. This is big, emotive great old-fashioned moviemaking.”
Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves, distributed in the Philippines by Paramount Pictures through Columbia Pictures, opens nationwide March 29. Connect with #DnDMovie and tag @paramountpicsph
Photo & Video Credit: “Paramount Pictures International”
Assaggio in Italian means “taste” in English, and on March 28, 2023 lovers of alta cucina Italiana will definitely want a taste of the degustation menu that Old Manila’s Chef de Cuisine Domenico Nicolino is preparing for his Assaggio Italiano Wine Dinner.
The first Italian to be appointed Chef de Cuisine of Old Manila, Calabrian-born Chef Nicolino promises to take dinner guests on a journey through five unique Italian wineries whose wines he will be pairing with a delicious five-course degustation menu – or menudegustazione as he calls it – that will highlight the varieties of flavours and textures that Italian cuisine is famous for.
ASSAGIO ITALIANO WINE DINNER Amuse Bouche Tartare di Tonno ai Capperi e Olive Tuna Tartare, kalamata olives, caperberries Ruggeri ‘Giall’Oro’ Valdobbiadene Prosecco Superiore Extra Dry, Veneto NV
Vitello Tonnato Italian-style milk-fed and slow-cooked veal, “tonnato sauce,” cured egg yolk Bastianich ‘Refosco,’ Colli Orientali del Friuli, Friuli-Venezia Giulia 2012
Tortelli di Ossobuco allo Zafferano Slow-braised ossobuco tortelli, Parmesan fondue, saffron Giacomo Fenocchio Freisa, Langhe, Piemonte 2014
Filetto di Sgombro con Fregola e Frutti di Mare Pan-seared mackerel, sardinian fregola, lobster bisque shellfish Alois Lageder Gewürztraminer, Südtirol – Alto Adige, Trentino-Alto Adige 2014
Old Manila’s Chef de Cuisine Domenico Nicolino five-course Assaggio Italiano Wine Dinnermenu degustazione is P8,000 per person (inclusive of taxes).
For more information and table reservations, please call The Peninsula Manila at +63 2 8887 2888 (ext. 6691 or 6694 for Restaurant Reservations) or email diningpmn@peninsula.com.
In just seven years, COMCO Southeast Asia, from being a trailblazing and disruptive PR Agency start-up, has transformed into COMCO Mundo League of Enterprises, a global award-winning powerhouse group of communication companies and is now marking its seventh year with the official launch of TARO AOX Digital + Integrated Communications.
TARO AOX Rises
TARO AOX Digital + Integrated Communications is the newest addition to the COMCO Mundo League of Enterprises, alongside COMCO Southeast Asia (SEA), COMCO Middle East and Africa (MEA), and SEA Wave Pop Culture Studio, among others, and it specializes on digital marketing, integrated communications, and technology and digital PR. It also offers social media management, influencer marketing, content marketing, digital activation, media planning and buying, video storytelling, multimedia arts, virtual event staging, and website and platform development.
TARO AOX is already in full swing and has been servicing clients such as Samsung Mobile, Sun Life Asia Service Center Philippines, Lamoiyan Corporation’s Licealiz Anti Head Lice Shampoo, and APLGO.
COMCO Southeast Asia’s Epic 7th Year
COMCO SEA, the PR and events company of COMCO Mundo League of Enterprises, continues to champion New PR and Smart Social and also offers services such as Events and Activation, Branding, and Special Advertising Executions. The multi-awarded agency continues to make waves in the region as it recently won inter-agency pitches and acquired accounts such as Sony Philippines, Uratex Mattress, Uratex Monoblock, Alaxan, Century Tuna, and LaLiga. COMCO SEA also continues to manage a portfolio of highly regarded brands and organizations like Jobstreet, Remy Martin, Teleperformance, AXA, European Union, Eastern Communications, ASEANA City, Philusa Corporation, Babyflo Cotton, RHEA Generics, RHEA Vitamins, World Vision, and WWF-Philippines.
COMCO Southeast Asia is also gearing up for the prestigious and much coveted PRCA APAC (Public Relation and Communications Association Asia-Pacific) Awards as it has been cited as a regional finalist for the Medium Consultancy of the Year Award; the PR / Communications Leader Award for Ferdinand L. Bondoy, the COMCO Mundo League of Enterprises Group Chief Executive Director and Lead Strategic Communications Counsel / Partner and Co-Founder; the Media Relations Award for the Agency’s Meaningful Storytelling with COMCOmigos initiative; and the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Award for COMCO’s long-time client/brand partner Teleperformance.
The Growth of the COMCO Brand in Middle East and Africa
Established in 2021, COMCO Middle East and Africa led by its Managing Director / Partner and Co-Founder, Tricia Cusi-Jimenea, has successfully brought the COMCO brand into this market and has been regarded as among the major players in the region’s PR and marketing industry.
In a span of two years, the Agency has serviced a total of 30 brands which includes Empire Entertainment, Middle East Film & Comic Con, Metacon, Central Park, Dubai London Hospital, Shop Electric Pawn, Ezra, Hyde and The Wizarding World in the Mall of Emirates, to name a few.
An Industry Leader
COMCO has a major role in the PR and Communications industry here in the Philippines, in Asia-Pacific and across the globe. COMCO Mundo’s Ferdinand L. Bondoy is currently serving as the Corporate Secretary and PR and Digital Committee Head of the International Association of Business Communications (IABC) Philippines, Regional Board Member as well as Workplace and Culture Committee Member of the Public Relations & Communications Association Asia Pacific (PRCA APAC) based in Singapore, and Online Events Head and Member of the Chartered Institute of Public Relations (CIPR) International headquartered in the United Kingdom.
“In just 7 years, we have already garnered 100 brands and 150 metals and have produced 110 graduates from our long-running and award-winning Camp COMCO Mentorship Program. We thought we’ve already done it all, but as they say, we’re just getting ready for the most exciting part. We are empowered to do more and bigger things for the industry and with my great team beside me, we are definitely up for the challenge. Our 10-year master plan is just in its second phase and there’s still a lot of bigger things in the pipeline, to be unveiled very soon,” stated Ferdinand L. Bondoy, COMCO Mundo League of Enterprises Group Chief Executive Director and Lead Strategic Communications Counsel / Partner and Co-Founder.
“As COMCO grows exponentially in its seventh year, its success also means the growth of its people, a value that inspired the company to create a benefits and compensation program upgrading for its team which includes health benefits extended to dependents, wellness allowance, leave conversion and acquired leaves for critical illness or long-term hospitalization, group insurance, retirement fund, overseas team travel, stock options, and partnership leadership opportunities, among others, which can be considered as the most comprehensive in the industry,” shared Joan Icotanim-Maslang, COMCO Mundo League of Enterprises Corporate Services Director and Comptroller / Partner.
To learn more about COMCO Southeast Asia, visit comcosea.com. Follow them on social media: facebook.com/comco.southeastasia on Facebook, linkedin.com/company/comcosea, and @comco_sea on both Instagram and Twitter.
To learn more about COMCO Mundo, go to comcomundo.com. Follow them on social media: facebook.com/COMCOmundo on Facebook, linkedin.com/company/comcomundo, and @comco_mundo on Instagram.
Papet Pasyon 2023, a kid-friendly puppet show on the Passion of Christ, will be held for at the historic Metropolitan Theater (MET) on Friday, March 31, 2023. Admission is free.
The hour-long production was written by the late Philippine National Artist for Theater Amelia Lapeña-Bonifacio, also known as the Grand Dame of Southeast Asian Children’s Theater. It is directed by her daughter Prof. Amihan Bonifacio-Ramolete, former College of Arts and Letters Dean of the University of the Philippines Diliman.
First mounted at the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP) in 1985, it introduces the events in the life, suffering, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ in a manner that can be easily understood by the young audience.
To make it children-friendly, it utilizes Pinoy-looking puppets specially designed by visual artists Bernadette Solina-Wolf and Maurice Carvajal and carved by globally-known local artisans from Paete, Laguna. Some of the original puppets are still being used to this day.
Papet Pasyon was first written when the late award-winning playwright and puppeteer missed her chance to watch a live Passion play in Germany. It has since become an act of devotion as well as an advocacy to foster the Filipino puppetry tradition.
“Puppetry is an effective instrument of storytelling,” visual artist and Teatrong Mulat ng Pilipinas senior puppeteer and puppet maker Carlito Camahalan Amalla stated.
Amalla, who has been with the organization for approximately 20 years under the tutelage of Lapeña-Bonifacio, likewise reiterated the important role of the art form in teaching Filipino art and heritage.
“As Filipinos, our culture is our soul. It fosters nation-building and unity among the community,” added the De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde Design Foundation educator.
Amalla likewise highlighted the diverse initiatives of Teatrong Mulat ng Pilipinas, a theater group which the award-winning playwright founded in 1977. They awaken the children to the wonders and richness of Philippine and Asian folktales and tradition through puppetry. Their outreach includes puppetry workshops and programs in different communities across the Philippines.
“Teaching puppetry helps foster critical thinking and encourage creative solutions among children,” he expounded. “It is also a form of therapy and healing.”
Produced by Teatrong Mulat ng Pilipinas, Papet Pasyon is free and open to the public. It is scheduled on Friday, March 31, 2023 with shows at 10 a.m., 2:30 p.m., and 7 p.m.
It will likewise be available via livestream on Palm Sunday, April 2, 2023, 8 p.m. via Teatrong Mulat’s Facebook page.
The Metropolitan Theater is located in Plaza Lawton along Padre Burgos Avenue, Ermita Manila. To reserve tickets, visit The Metropolitan Theater Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/METphOfficial.
Returning to AnimeJapan 2023, Netflix showcased their diverse slate of current and upcoming anime including fan-favorites like PLUTO or newly announced series Ōoku: The Inner Chambers, delighting fans both in and outside Japan during multiple booth presentations and a star-studded stage event.
The broad lineup across genres like sci-fi, action and more includes newly announced titles Ōoku: The Inner Chambers (Coming in 2023), the first anime adaptation of the hit manga by Fumi Yoshinaga, or Yakitori: Soldiers of Misfortune (May 2023), an anime series adapted from a brand-new military science fiction novel by Carlo Zen, who made his debut with The Saga of Tanya the Evil. These and more titles are joining the previously announced Onmyoji (Coming in 2023), an animated series based on the world of Baku Yumemakura’s well-known tales about the ancient yin-yang diviner Abe Seimei, which is set for release later this year.
“Over the years, we’ve learned that fans love the breadth of our lineup. From titles like PLUTO and Ooku: The Inner Chambers by top storytellers, to buzzy fan-favorites like Onmyoji, Yakitori and so much more in store — this year, there’s a show for every anime fan. We’re humbled the global interest in anime has been strong and growing, with over 100M members watching anime every year,” says Yuji Yamano, Director, Content, Netflix.
During the AnimeJapan event, Netflix also welcomed the author of PLUTO (Coming in 2023), Naoki Urasawa, Japanese voice talent Yoko Hikasa (Shaman King) and Minori Suzuki (Macross Delta), as well as title supervisor Macoto Tezka to the stage, who shared their enthusiasm for the highly-anticipated anime adaptation of PLUTO (coming 2023) with the audience. During their appearance, Netflix also gave another glimpse at the ambitious project, revealing a new teaser art by original creator Naoki Urasawa himself, that gave another glimpse at the characters and the world of PLUTO.
Japanese global apparel retailer UNIQLO is bringing LifeWear closer to more Filipinos as it expands in the east of Metro Manila next month.
The brand is opening their first store in Rizal province on April 21, 2023 in Robinsons Antipolo. Residents from the area can look forward to having direct access to UNIQLO’s LifeWear collection of women’s, men’s, kids and baby items.
UNIQLO is also opening their fourth roadside store in Marquinton, Marikina City on April 28, 2023. Located along Sumulong Highway, the store brings Marikenos a more convenient one-stop shopping experience.
Aside from the wide LifeWear lineup now made closer to home, people from Antipolo, Marikina, and nearby areas are treated to limited offers and special gifts from UNIQLO during the stores’ opening weekends.
For more updates, please visit UNIQLO Philippines’ social media accounts, Facebook (facebook.com/uniqlo.ph), Twitter (twitter.com/uniqloph), Instagram (Instagram.com/uniqlophofficial), Tiktok (tiktok/com/uniqlophofficial) and UNIQLOPhilippines’ website atuniqlo.com.
Download the UNIQLO App via Google Play Store or Apple Store, or visit and shop from UNIQLO online store at UNIQLO.com/ph.
Many people use their mobile phones to capture the important moments in life – be it travel adventures, family gatherings or even a night out with friends. It’s these precious milestones that call for an equally impressive phone with camera features to record epic memories – such as those that come with the new Galaxy S23 Series.
Launched at the Epic House party held at The Fifth Rockwell, the Galaxy S23 Series comes with some truly stunning innovations when it comes to photography and videography. Just ask renowned fashion and lifestyle photographer BJ Pascual, who took guests on a tour of the Epic Nightography room, which featured the Galaxy S23 Ultra’s incredible camera features such as the enhanced Nightography mode and the 200-megapixel camera.
As a long-time Samsung Galaxy user, BJ mentioned that he has always loved the phone and was curious how they will be able to top the last one. But upon trying the Galaxy S23 series, he was amazed by how Samsung was able to pack all the amazing features in such a slim package.
BJ was particularly impressed with the Galaxy S23 Ultra’s 200-megapixel camera. “As photographers, we love data, and that’s a lot of data, and it has more megapixels than my work camera. It’s so crazy! I’m actually excited to try it at an actual photoshoot,” he said.
The Galaxy S23 series also features an enhanced Nightography setting that allows you to take pictures in any lighting condition, be it at a neon-lit nightclub or at a camping trip under the stars.
“That’s another area the camera improves so much. The Super HDR of the Night Photography is insane, and I think, this is their best yet. It would be helpful especially for those people who like to go out at night and not a lot of places have good lighting, so the HDR really helps with tricky lighting situations, so everything looks great,” shared BJ.
With Super HDR, the smartphone is able to balance the brightness of a photo so it does not appear too dark or too light that its details get lost. With the enhanced Nightography feature in the Galaxy S23 Series, photos appear vivid and crisp, even at night.
The Galaxy S23 Series also allows you to be a true photo master. Combined with the enhanced Nightography feature, the smartphone also has an Expert RAW app that allows you to control the light and the shadows within the photo you took. “When you shoot raw photos, you kind of have a lot of control over the [pictures]. It’s kind of like a film. When you take photos with film, there’s room for you to brighten it or darken it, as long as it’s exposed. The Expert RAW app makes you the master of the HDR,” BJ explained.
From the 200-megapixels, to its Nightography and Expert RAW app features, the Samsung Galaxy S23 Series makes taking epic photos easier than ever, anytime, and anywhere. BJ also shared some key tips to make your photos more epic than ever. If you’re doing an Outfit-of-the-Day photo look for you social media posts, BJ advises that “if you want to look taller, frame the photos with the face near the middle of the frame and the feet near the bottom of the frame, so you can get more space on top and then you crop it after. The distortion of the wide lens makes your legs look longer.”
If you’re taking a selfie, BJ recommends that “the best selfie is actually finding your light, so whether it be like natural or artificial light, just make sure the light is generally in front of you to diffuse everything so that less imperfections can be seen. If it’s outdoors better to take a picture under the shade or in front of a window, where the light is not directly hitting your face but the diffused light is just coming in.”
Aside from using the nightography features of the Galaxy S23 series, BJ also shared a tip on how to take a great selfie in the evening or when you’re in a club or event. “Take photos in front of an LCD or LED screen – it’s like an artificial window!”
The Galaxy S23 series is now available through Samsung Experience Stores, Authorized Samsung Stores, Lazada, Shopee, Abenson.com and MemoXpress Online. The Galaxy S23 series comes in four nature-inspired matte hues: Phantom Black, Cream, Green and Lavender 32 . The Galaxy S23 retails for PHP 53,990 for the 128GB variant, and PHP 57,990 for the 256GB variant. Meanwhile, the Galaxy S23+ starts at PHP 68,990 for 256GB variant, and PHP 76,990 for the 512GB variant. Lastly, the Galaxy S23 Ultra is available at PHP 81,990 and PHP 89,990 for the 256GB and 512GB variants respectively. A samsung.com-exclusive 1TB Galaxy S23 Ultra is also available at PHP 103,990.
For more information about Galaxy S23 series, please visit: www.samsung.com/ph/smartphones/galaxy- s23/, https://www.samsung.com/ph/smartphones/galaxy-s23-ultra/, news.samsung.com/global or www.samsung.com/global/galaxy/.
Come one, come all for a day loaded with fun and games at Diamond Hotel Philippines’ EASTER FUNLAND on April 9, 2023 from 10am to 3pm. At Php1,000 net per person, there’s something for kids and kids-at-heart with the line-up of Easter activities at the Diamond Ballroom and 2nd Floor Function Rooms such as: Arcade Games, Inflatables, Bubble Show, Face Painting, Kids’ Salon, Photo Booth, Puppet Show, Little Chef, Glitter Tattoo and Lootbag giveaways.
To delight the guests, the hotel will prepare a delectable culinary spread available for sale at the Ballroom foyer. Guests can have their fill of delicious snack bites such as freshly baked cookies, sandwiches, spaghetti, chicken shawarma wrap, mini pizzas, popcorn and a whole lot more!
Ticketholders are entitled to join the raffle for a chance to win Roundtrip Airline Tickets to any local destination for two persons via Cebu Pacific! Also at stake are gift certificates from Diamond Hotel Philippines.
Tickets for the Diamond Hotel Easter Funland Event are available for sale now until April 9, 2023. For ticket inquiries call (632) 8528-3000 ext. 8461. You may purchase at the hotel lobby or online at onlineshopping.diamondhotel.com.
Book the Easter Staycation Package from April 1-9, 2023 and get ready to have an amazing family staycation. Rate starts at Php7,500 nett for an overnight stay in a Deluxe Room inclusive of one (1) FREE ticket (per room, per stay) to the Easter event on April 9. Stay also includes buffet breakfast for two at Corniche, wifi access, use of the Health Club and Spa, access to the swimming pool, 20% discount at Corniche and 20% discount on massage.
Room packages are applicable to local residents only. Prior reservation is required. Offers may not be availed in conjunction with any other promotions or discounts. For room reservations, call (632) 8528-3000 ext. 1141.
