Author: Press Release

Vision Express opens 2 more stores in the South

Vision Express – UK’s number one optical chain and leading global franchise – is now ready to bring its world’s best vision technology and eye care to the south!

Vision Express opened its doors in Southwoods Mall (ground floor) and SM Southmall (2nd floor) on April 7 and 8, respectively.

Ribbon cutting ceremony led by Vision Express’ Deputy Head for Store Operations, Karan Gopwani

The launch started with the introduction of the VIP guests, followed by the traditional ribbon-cutting ceremony and store blessing. Attendees were also able to participate in a lot of fun and exciting activities put together by the newly established branches.

On top of continuously providing free eye check-ups, Vision Express also has very appealing news for their valuable customers. As part of staying true to their advocacy of providing better eyesight for everyone, Vision Express is giving away free eyewear to the first 100 customers of each store.

Vision Express offers world-class vision technology for the most comprehensive eye exam

With over 30 years of optical expertise, Vision Express has set up over 65 branches (and counting) across the Philippines, making it the leading one-stop shop for your eye care needs in the country.

Vision Express carries over 40 brands to choose from, including the world’s most loved designer names such as Ray-ban, Gucci, Bvlgari, Armani, Prada, and Dolce & Gabbana. They also have the most extensive selection of the highest-quality, most technologically advanced prescription lenses for eyeglasses and even sunglasses.

Every eyewear that goes out of Vision Express stores is tailored to fit the customer’s unique world perspective. With quality service, advanced digital eye exams, stylish frames, and a wide range of vision solutions for all ages, Vision Express provides an eye care journey.

Make your vision count. Visit your nearest Vision Express branch to have your eyes checked. No time to drop by their store? You can also have your eyewear delivered to your doorsteps by visiting visionexpress.ph.

To keep yourself updated with the recent news and happenings about Vision Express, make sure you follow their Facebook and Instagram accounts.

April 12, 2022
Las Flores Brings Spanish Flair to the South! Now Open at Festival Mall’s Heritage Building

The soulful cuisine of Las Flores finds a fitting new home in the South of the metropolis. Tucked away in a 98-year old gem beside Landmark Alabang in Festival Mall, its location at the Heritage Building, Upper Ground Floor of the Expansion Wing, lends a bit of privacy when dining, away from the mall crowd.

The façade of this building has Art Deco features, with its horizontal, Deco-Moderne lines, eaves, and geometric details. Rich in history, the building was constructed in the early 1920s and was then called Biological Production Services (BPS). It was part of the 110-hectare Alabang Serum and Vaccine Laboratories which produced and stored vaccines and sera.

Menu that warms the heart

Las Flores’ Spanish menu has become widely popular among followers of Castilian cuisine. There are many items to partake of and enjoy in the company of family and friends.

To begin, try the wide selection Pintxos and bite-size tapas that are a great accompaniment to the equally extensive cocktail menu.

Steak Tartar Tacos

Here’s a look at some of them: Steak Tartar Tacos (with beef, pickles, mustard, quail egg); Foie Explosion (seared foie, onion jam, air baguette); and Tuna TNT (tuna tataki, tomato cold soup, caviar, air baguette).

Cocktails, meanwhile, include Las Flores Mule (ginger infused in vodka, cherry blossom, calamansi, ginger beer); and Missionary’s Downfall (Plantation Dark, Archer’s Peach, Schnapps, passion fruit puree, honey, mint)

Don’t leave the restaurant without trying the Paellas such as Paella Negra, Setas and Mariscos.

Ribeye Steak

Solomillo

Las Flores Alabang also offers these Dine-in Exclusives, ideal for lunch, dinner and whenever you feel the urge to eat Spanish food. These include selections that are ideal for groups: Tapas Por Favor (comprised of Chipirones, Patatas Bravas, Wagyu Bombs, Jamon Croquetas); Make it a Fiesta (Patatas Bravas, Wagyu Bombs, Paella Verduras & a pitcher of Red Sangria) and Para dos Combos (Paella Negra, Chorizo Croquetas & Gamba’s al Ajillo).

Relish a Spanish feast amidst a lovely Spanish ambiance in an unobtrusive location, you couldn’t tell you’re actually in a busy mall.

Visit Las Flores at the Heritage Building, Upper Ground Floor, Expansion Wing, Festival Mall, Civic Drive, Alabang, Muntinlupa City, open from 11:00 AM to 10:00 PM. You may also contact them at +639159774156 or lasfloresfilinvest@bistro.com.ph

April 12, 2022
WATCH: ‘Paws of Fury: The Legend of Hank’ Trailer Shows Journey of Hero Underdog

When a town of cats is in danger, an unlikely hero rises… A dog named Hank! Watch the official trailer for Paramount Pictures’ new comedy adventure Paws of Fury: The Legend of Hank, in Philippine cinemas August 10.

About Paws of Fury: The Legend of Hank

A hard-on-his-luck hound Hank (Michael Cera) finds himself in a town full of cats who need a hero to defend them from a ruthless villain’s (Ricky Gervais) evil plot to wipe their village off the map. With help from a reluctant teacher (Samuel L. Jackson) to train him, our underdog must assume the role of town samurai and team up with the villagers to save the day. The only problem… cats hate dogs! Also starring Mel Brooks, George Takei, Aasif Mandvi, Gabriel Iglesias, Djimon Hounsou, Michelle Yeoh, Kylie Kuioka, and Cathy Shim, Paws of Fury: The Legend of Hank pounces into cinemas across the Philippines August 10.

Paws of Fury: The Legend of Hank is distributed in the Philippines by Paramount Pictures through Columbia Pictures. Follow on Twitter at www.twitter.com/paramountpicsph/; Instagram at www.instagram.com/paramountpicsph/ and YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCsZ7igjHZB-5k8DDM7ilVJw. Connect with #PawsofFury and tag paramountpicsph

April 12, 2022
Young Filmmakers Shine in Klima Filmfest

Student filmmakers from De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde secured a total of five awards from the Klima Film Festival (KFF), a competition that aims to spotlight the effects of climate change using short films written and produced by young Filipinos nationwide.

Andrea Marie Bool calling her mother in Tanaw

“Tanaw” directed by Kaila Ysavl Bergonio of Playback Multimedia brought home four trophies along with 30,000 pesos for winning second runner-up, 15,000 pesos for Best Screenplay, 15,000 pesos for Best Performance (Andrea Marie Bool), and 5,000 pesos for snaring the Gender-Responsive Award.

On the other hand, “Modern Stray” by Rayshelle Lozada of Trianggulo Productions won the Audience Choice trophy and 5,000 pesos and an additional 15,000 pesos for being one of the four Klima Filmfest finalists. The KFF trophies are made from recycled materials.

KFF, a joint initiative of the Climate Change Commission and the Oscar M. Lopez Center, with the support of its official media partner iWantTFC and GIZ Philippines, aims “to mobilize the youth in amplifying the importance of local climate solutions to further increase their influence on local climate policy-making and generate local climate adaptation stories as viewed by young Filipino filmmakers by providing venue for the production and promotion of climate science-based short films.”

In “Tanaw,” Aira Mendoza (Bool) is a teenage student raised by her mother, a retired barangay captain and environmental activist. A school requirement brings her onsite in a quarry for a research project.

Kaila Ysavl Bergonio director of Tanaw

Rayshelle Lozada director of Modern Stray

Bergonio’s debut film was made in collaboration with another Benildean filmmaker, Allynna Santiago, and people they met through Cine Sundays, an online film community formed by director Dan Villegas. “Despite the pressure of a first timer joining a film festival like the KFF, we knew we wanted it to be a story that makes one think, a story that disrupted social views and shed new light on societal issues such as climate justice. Given the opportunity, ‘Tanaw’ is a film set to be a story that can make a difference.”

Meanwhile, in “Modern Stray,” Sunny De Vera (Fern Santos) has been called ill-mannered and materialistic. She devises a plan to showcase her roots in Batangas as she creates new content for her YouTube channel. In her province, she retraces her past with childhood friend Nanoy (Justine Jay Daanoy). Sunny’s realizations and reflections push her to a new path as an environmental advocate.

Fern Santos looking at a tree in Modern Stray

Lozada remembers how often she obsessed with how time works, recalling how her mother also used to say that her type of stories are about time travel. “What inspires me to conceptualize the film ‘Modern Stray’ is about the idea of your past selves merging into this future self you wanted to portray. Like we’re basically our real selves as a child but as time progresses, we learn to fabricate our own truths.”

Aside from Santos and Daanoy, Lozada collaborated with co-writer Jhun Monterde, production designer, sound designer, and production manager Sophia Repuyan, co-production manager Darlene Cantos, cinematographers Terrence Santiago (who also edited the film) and Michael Musni (who also served as colorist), musical scorer Clio Gonzales, and voice actor Gabriel Buenabajo as Sunny’s father and reporter.

Andrea Marie Bool discussing with her groupmates onsite at the quarry

The short films were judged by science, gender, and film experts Dr. Doracie Zoleta-Nantes, Dr. Rodel Lasco, Dr. Rolando Tolentino, Liza Diño-Seguerra, Honey Castro, and Sari Dalena for their cinematic attributes and technical execution, story and content, impact, as well as gender considerations.

The finalists of the Kilma Filmfest’s past two editions may be viewed via iWantTFC until March 2023.

April 12, 2022
Indulge in Savory Seafood Dishes This Holy Week at Greenwich!

Stressing about your Lenten season menu as the Holy Week is fast approaching? Greenwich has you covered with its recently unveiled savory seafood options that are sure to help you with meal planning during the Lenten season.

Offered for a limited time only, Greenwich recently introduced its newest Cajun Shrimp Overload Pizza and Creamy Shrimp Spaghetti to let you discover exciting seafood flavors, that’s guilt-free.

The Cajun Shrimp Overload Pizza is definitely worthy to be on your must-try list. Oozing with mouth-watering aroma, this seafood-based pizza is made deliciously flavorful with Cajun sauce and loads of seasoned shrimps, bell peppers, sauteed onions, mushrooms, and three types of melted cheese that do the ooey, gooey trick. For P319 only, a box of 9-inch pizza will give you an ultimate seafood adventure.

For those who have a soft spot for pasta, Greenwich’s newest addition on its pasta line, the Creamy Shrimp Spaghetti, features creamy aligue sauce, shrimps, mushrooms, and parmesan cheese and fresh parsley for toppings. A hearty solo serving of this tasty dish at P109 only, is a definite must in every seafood lover’s eat list.
These two new dishes are available in all Greenwich branches nationwide for dine-in, take-out, and delivery. You may also order these sumptuous new creations at www.greenwichdelivery.com, #5-55-55, or via Greenwich’s Messenger chatbot at Greenwich Barkada.

April 11, 2022
Channing Tatum is a Novel Cover Model Turned Hero in ‘The Lost City’

Channing Tatum takes on the role of Dash/Alan, the strikingly handsome model who graces the covers of Loretta Sage’s (Sandra Bullock) romance novels, in Paramount Pictures’ new romantic adventure The Lost City, showing in Philippine cinemas this April 20.

Dash is machismo personified: handsome, debonaire, smart, and courageous. But his real-life alter ego, Alan, is, when we meet him, not Dash. But at his core Alan is honest, dependable, and loyal, and against all odds, becomes the hero he always envisioned Dash to be.

“Dash is a swashbuckling character who rides in on the white horse or swings in on a vine and saves the day,” says Channing Tatum. “Alan is the farthest thing from that, but it’s not from lack of trying. I think Alan was a little embarrassed when he first got the modeling job, but then he had an epiphany and realized what a beautiful opportunity he had in playing this character who brings joy to so many people. What nobler job is there than the ability to make people happy?

“Alan’s not totally crazy,” Tatum continues. “He doesn’t really believe he is Dash, but he’d like to believe he has some of those qualities, especially the fact that he has such a good heart.”

For Sandra Bullock, Tatum was the perfect foil. “Channing is so self-deprecating; there’s nothing about him that’s ego driven, which works for the role of Alan because he is such an innocent,” she says. “He is wide-eyed and sweet. Not many people can play that kind of a guileless, open person, but Channing had such comedic intuition about Alan.

“Channing is a physical comedian who uses his body to convey the joke. We connected at once because that’s how I operate. It’s so nice to have a partner you’re comfortable with, and who has amazing timing. Moreover, we’re different enough that we complement one another,” Bullock adds.

A wonderful example of Tatum’s flair for physical comedy was when he stripped down for a laugh-out-loud scene with Bullock. Tatum’s character encounters leeches all over his backside, and Bullock inspects him to help with removal.

Tatum recalls filming the scene which was Day 2 of production, “Walking to set with a bunch of leeches super-glued to my butt and not having met everybody and just kinda being like, ‘Okay, I’m gonna be butt-naked today, my name’s Chan. This is just what it is,’ ” said Tatum. “And then not only that, but to have Sandra Bullock have, like, a two-page monologue with, uh, a certain part of my body.”

About The Lost City

Brilliant, but reclusive author Loretta Sage (Sandra Bullock) has spent her career writing about exotic places in her popular romance-adventure novels featuring handsome cover model Alan (Channing Tatum), who has dedicated his life to embodying the hero character, “Dash.” While on tour promoting her new book with Alan, Loretta is kidnapped by an eccentric billionaire (Daniel Radcliffe) who hopes that she can lead him to the ancient lost city’s treasure from her latest story. Wanting to prove that he can be a hero in real life and not just on the pages of her books, Alan sets off to rescue her. Thrust into an epic jungle adventure, the unlikely pair will need to work together to survive the elements and find the ancient treasure before it’s lost forever.

The Lost City is distributed by Paramount Pictures through Columbia Pictures. Follow us on Twitter at www.twitter.com/paramountpicsph/; Instagram at www.instagram.com/paramountpicsph/ and YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCsZ7igjHZB-5k8DDM7ilVJw. Connect with #TheLostCity and tag @paramountpicsph

April 11, 2022
A Taste of Diversity: TELUS International’s cookbook celebrates Indian, Chinese, and Filipino recipes from the homes of 60 passionate team members

TELUS International is regularly recognized as a top employer and is awarded for its industry-leading employee engagement activities. Central to this success is the organization’s focus on celebrating the different passions that bring joy to its team members across its global delivery centers.

A recent addition in the company’s series of engagement activities was a recipe competition for team members across the TELUS International Philippines, Chengdu (China), and India delivery centers. The prize? To be featured in the first-ever TELUS International diversity cookbook of winning recipes entitled A Taste of Diversity.

“Many of our most treasured moments involve sharing a meal with loved ones,” shares Rajiv M.Dhand, Regional Vice President for Asia-Pacific at TELUS International.

“Breaking bread has always been a tradition that brings people together and is the simplest, most universal expression of love and community. At a time when it is so easy to feel isolated and disconnected because of the restrictions brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic, we wanted to create a cookbook that can be a catalyst for bonding with each other, even from a distance,” he added.

Adding to the prestige was the chance for one’s recipe to be chosen by an impressive line-up of seasoned culinary experts who decided on the contents of the cookbook. The board of judges consisted of Royal Indian Curry House’s Chef Surat Rana, a veteran who has held top culinary positions with leading hotel chains and was awarded the Netizen’s Best Choice Award in 2018; Chinese Chef Sheng Tian, who has built his career as a consultant in Chinese cuisine specialized in Cantonese, Lu, Zhe and Chuan cuisines; and Filipino Chef RJ Ungco, a respected culinary expert in the Philippine food and restaurant industry who, after a celebrated run with five-star restaurants in Manila, now runs his own culinary business.

The competition kicked off with a virtual recipe writing workshop and food photography 101 session facilitated by respected Philippine culinary expert, Chef RJ Ungco and DiscoverMNL founder, Lucky Alabado.

Over 150 team members responded to the request for original Indian, Philippine and Chinese recipes, but only 60 emerged winners across five categories: soups, salads, appetizers, main course, and desserts.

“I was truly amazed with the creativity, talent, love, and passion the participants showed in their products. Great job, guys! Awesome job to the minds behind this project!” remarked Chef RJ Ungco.

Emerging winners in the Soups and Salads categories were Jomar Agregado, Cris Advincula, Diana Adorna, Rayzy Angeles Nufable, Neha Bhutani, Angel Tang, Karen Joy Belos, and Federico Guillergan. Winners in the Appetizer category included Ella Cecilia Edralin, Edrelynne Dela Pena, Carlo Planco, John Edmar Llasus, Darren Polante, Neneth Navarette, John Agustin Belicena, Anish Debnath, Juhi Zaidi, Pallavi Das, Huachen Xing, and Ernest James Perlas.

Winners in the Main Course category were Amy Zhang, Fiona Feng, Susie Su, Silvia Zeng, Tooy Wang, Mirei Magallona, Jayson Toledo, Joseph Ivan Gaffud, Karen Villegas, Maria Angelica Bustamante, Lance de los Angeles, Roderick Santos, Karen Tan, Justine Alano, Lindley Aurelio, Mark Esteve Pereda, Myca Santos, Ephraim Miguel Mercado, Anil Thapa, Gautam Piplani, Gourab Sarkar, Keshav Aggarwal, Amil Khan, Namrata Goel, Paras Saini, Rahul Bose, Sushant Khanka, and Vishu Luthra.

In the Desserts Category, the winners were Anmol Sarraf, Monika Jaiswal, Nawaz Nasar, Richa Sharma, Roxanne Moon, Sajal Gupta, Arian Corpuz, Aldrich Cu, Marry Jo Macorol, Michael Imbao, Joven Quitayen, and Rolly Harcia.

“Never in my wildest dreams did I think my recipe might be featured in a published cookbook, especially one that has been curated by such seasoned chefs! Thank you, TELUS International for making this happy foodie’s wish come true,” said Ella Edralin, one of the winners and a TELUS International Philippines team member since 2006.

TELUS International Philippines is offering a free download of this cookbook at linkedin.com/company/telus-international-philippines/. Readers are invited to share their own take on these recipes with photos or videos, using the hashtag #TasteOfDiversity.

“The TELUS International Asia-Pacific A Taste of Diversity cookbook has been made by our team members with love. From family recipes passed down from generation to generation, new recipes made with ingenuity and passion, and recipes that reflect the unique culture of our team members – all these and more can be found here. The TELUS International team in Asia-Pacific takes pride in our diverse and caring culture. And that colorful diversity is reflected here, in our first-ever cookbook,” shares Dhand.

April 11, 2022
New Film Adaptation of Stephen King’s ‘Firestarter’ Heads to PH Cinemas This May

Summer’s about to get even hotter with the upcoming latest adaptation of Stephen King’s classic thriller Firestarter starring Zac Efron, Ryan Kiera Armstrong, Sydney Lemmon, Kurtwood Smith, John Beasley, with Michael Greyeyes and Gloria Reuben.

In Firestarter, a girl with extraordinary pyrokinetic powers fights to protect her family and herself from sinister forces that seek to capture and control her. For more than a decade, parents Andy (Efron) and Vicky (Lemmon) have been on the run, desperate to hide their daughter Charlie (Armstrong in the titular character, previously played by Drew Barrymore) from a shadowy federal agency that wants to harness her unprecedented gift for creating fire into a weapon of mass destruction.

Andy has taught Charlie how to defuse her power, which is triggered by anger or pain. But as Charlie turns 11, the fire becomes harder and harder to control. After an incident reveals the family’s location, a mysterious operative is deployed to hunt down the family and seize Charlie once and for all. Charlie has other plans.

From Universal Pictures International, Firestarter will soon open in local cinemas on May 11.

April 11, 2022
Awkwafina’s Voice Gives Life to Tech-Savvy Spidey in ‘The Bad Guys’

In the new action-comedy The Bad Guys from DreamWorks Animation, based on The New York Times best-selling book series, a crackerjack criminal crew of animal outlaws are about to attempt their most challenging con yet—becoming model citizens.

Awkwafina lends voice to the tech-savvy Ms. Tarantula along with an immensely talented voice cast in the action animated feature film – Sam Rockwell as the dashing pickpocket Mr. Wolf, Marc Maron as the adroit safecracker Mr. Snake, Craig Robinson as the master-of-disguise Mr. Shark and Anthony Ramos as the short-fused muscle Mr. Piranha.

Sharp-tongued, genius hacker and expert multi-tasker, the most independent member of the gang, Ms. Tarantula is always quick with the comebacks. As the gang’s only female member, she doesn’t cut the “Guys” any slack. She prides herself on perfection. When she encounters an un-hackable code, she goes into “beast mode”—employing her eight legs to achieve super-cyber decrypting speeds.

In Aaron Blabey’s book series, Tarantula is actually a “Mr.” But when adapting the story for the screen, Blabey was supportive of the filmmakers switching the character to be a kick-butt female techie. Producer Rebecca Huntley has loved audiences’ reception to Ms. Tarantula. “One of the surprising things was how parents responded to the fact that Ms. Tarantula was representing women and girls in S.T.E.M. She’s a cool, confident hacker, and to have audiences see her as a role model in that regard was wonderful.”

She was thrilled to join such a brilliant group of fellow voice performers, as well as occasionally work alongside them—a rarity in animation. “This is a stacked cast of brilliant actors, and I’m a huge fan of all my fellow Bad Guys,” Awkwafina says. “When I heard who was going to be in it, I was mind-blown.

The actor enjoyed playing a character who is not unconstrained by societal rules. “The Bad Guys are pretty much the villains of everything,” Awkwafina says. “They scare people out of restaurants, which I imagine would be great because you could get a table anywhere. As a group of friends, they do quite like each other. Because they’re such outcasts in the world, they relish in who they are.”

Additionally, Awkwafina admired how deftly the source material and the script balanced joyful imagination and poignant themes. “The story is pretty existential, and these are characters with sincere dilemmas,” Awkwafina says. “It is symbolic of how we, as humans, see ourselves, how society does and how we embody that—until we realize that we don’t have to be defined by certain things. I like the way that The Bad Guys plays with aspects of good and bad. Those are two terms that we see misconstrued all the time. We see people that look bad but aren’t, as well as people who look good but aren’t.”

A Universal Pictures International release, The Bad Guys will open in cinemas on April 27.

April 8, 2022
Apple’s New iPhone 13 in Green and iPhone SE 3rd Gen Made Greater with Globe Postpaid
The options of getting the latest 5G-capable Apple product from Globe Postpaid has never been greater! With the launch of the new iPhone SE 3rd Gen, customers can already get their hands on a 5G device for as low as a P1,200 one-time cash-out for GPlan 1999. While for those willing to indulge a little bit more, the new iPhone 13 mini & iPhone 13 in green and the iPhone 13 Pro & iPhone 13 Pro Max in alpine green are also available on Globe Postpaid’s GPlan.

Available for pre-orders starting April 8 are the freshly released iPhone SE 3rd Gen and the new color of the iPhone 13 lineup.

Powered by Globe 5G, it allows users to enjoy unlimited possibilities using the new devices:
- faster downloads and uploads;
- real-time interactive experience in apps such as gaming with low lag times and high-latency, as well as higher quality video streaming or video calls;
- better watch party experience using SharePlay while on a FaceTime call with friends, streaming movies and shows in HDR.
Embracing sustainability, Apple’s iPhone SE is made with 100% recycled rare earth elements and tungsten, and its redesigned cover has eliminated the outer plastic wrap, contributing to Apple’s goal of carbon neutrality by 2030.

This mobile handset is best paired with Globe’s Eco-SIM, the first to be launched in Asia that is made from 100% recycled materials including polystyrene waste from refrigerators. GPlan subscriptions now come with an eco-friendly SIM card.

In partnership with global tech leader Thales, Globe introduced the eco-friendly SIM card in January as part of its drive to contribute to sustainability and reduce its carbon footprint.

Globe Postpaid subscribers can enjoy the iPhone 13 mini & iPhone 13, and iPhone 13 Pro & iPhone 13 Pro Max’s features in new colors—green and alpine green, respectively. The iPhone 13 lineup powered by Globe 5G, allows users to have a more meaningful mobile and data experience.
To know more about Apple devices available through Globe’s wide range of postpaid plans, visit https://glbe.co/ip13-green and https://glbe.co/ipse-3rd.
April 8, 2022