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  • WATCH: The Cast of ‘The Secrets of Dumbledore’ Goes to Hogwarts

    Return to Hogwarts in this exclusive featurette from “Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore” entitled The Magic of Hogwarts.  The cast and filmmakers talk about the wonders of shooting in the Hogwarts set, further connecting the new film to the Harry Potter series.

    Check out the video below and watch the film exclusively in cinemas across the Philippines on Black Saturday, April 16.

    About “Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore”

    Warner Bros. Pictures’ “Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore” is the newest adventure in the Wizarding World™ created by J.K. Rowling.

    WATCH: The Cast of The Secrets of Dumbledore Goes to Hogwarts

    Professor Albus Dumbledore (Jude Law) knows the powerful Dark wizard Gellert Grindelwald (Mads Mikkelsen) is moving to seize control of the wizarding world.  Unable to stop him alone, he entrusts Magizoologist Newt Scamander (Eddie Redmayne) to lead an intrepid team of wizards, witches and one brave Muggle baker on a dangerous mission, where they encounter old and new beasts and clash with Grindelwald’s growing legion of followers.  But with the stakes so high, how long can Dumbledore remain on the sidelines?

    The film features an ensemble cast led by Oscar winner Eddie Redmayne (“The Theory of Everything”), two-time Oscar nominee Jude Law (“Cold Mountain,” “The Talented Mr. Ripley”), Ezra Miller, Dan Fogler, Alison Sudol, Callum Turner, Jessica Williams, Katherine Waterston, and Mads Mikkelsen.

    WATCH: The Cast of The Secrets of Dumbledore Goes to Hogwarts

    “Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore” was directed by David Yates, from a screenplay by J.K. Rowling & Steve Kloves, based upon a screenplay by J.K. Rowling.  The film was produced by David Heyman, J.K. Rowling, Steve Kloves, Lionel Wigram and Tim Lewis.  Neil Blair, Danny Cohen, Josh Berger, Courtenay Valenti and Michael Sharp served as executive producers.

    ALSO READ:
    LOOK: Dumbledore’s First Army in ‘Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore’
    WATCH: The Wizarding World is at War in New ‘Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore’ Trailer

    Warner Bros. Pictures presents a Heyday Films Production, a David Yates film, “Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore,” in Philippine theaters April 16.  The film will be distributed worldwide in select theatres and IMAX by Warner Bros. Pictures.

    Join the conversation online and use the hashtag #SecretsOfDumbledore

  • ‘Kanyaman Na! The Pampanga Food Festival’ Comes to Rockwell Center Nepo This Weekend

    Satisfy your cravings for native Kapampangan fare, as Rockwell brings together Pampanga’s finest homegrown chefs and culinary curators through Kanyaman Na! The Pampanga Food Festival from March 26 to 27, at The Park at Nepo Center. 

    Kanyaman Na Chef Howard 1

    Being the country’s culinary capital, Pampanga has bred natural masters in gastronomy who have become renowned for their craft. Epicures can look forward to Kanyaman’s line-up of chefs and their signature dishes: Chef Howard Dizon’s Filipino fare, Chef Judy Uson’s delectable pastries and cakes, Chef Pons Garcia’s no-fuss Kapampangan dishes, as well as Chef Cherry Passion-Tan’s native spread. Apart from these chefs’ offerings, a wide selection of food concessionaires add flavor to the festivities and will have meals, desserts, and drinks ready to indulge in. The Park at Nepo Center likewise serves as an ideal location for this gourmet gathering, for guests to enjoy an al fresco dining experience. 

    Kanyaman Na Chef Cherry 1
    Kanyaman Na Chef Judy

    As Rockwell makes its entry into the Central Luzon region through Rockwell Center Nepo, Angeles, so too will more distinct lifestyle offerings such as these take place. Spanning 4.5-hectares, the development is set to have three mid-rise residential buildings—the first of which, The Manansala, will turnover in 2025—and the first Power Plant Mall outside of Metro Manila. This delivers the signature experiences Rockwell has become known for, curated especially for Kapampangan’s discerning palates. 

    Kanyaman Na Chef Pons

    Find delight and dine in at Kanyaman Na! The Pampanga Food Festival! The festival runs through March 26 to 27 from 3PM to 8PM, at The Park at Nepo Center in Angeles City, Pampanga. For more information, please follow Rockwell Center Nepo on Facebook and Instagram. 

  • Pick.A.Roo has Over 600,000 Users in the Metro and They are Just Getting Started

    With more than 200,000 items on the app, all kinds of essentials are conveniently available, such as groceries, PICK.A.ROO is more than just a food and grocery app. It is an all-in-one lifestyle delivery app with over 1,300 trusted brands spanning groceries, restaurants, and specialty stores. With more than 200,000 items on the app, all kinds of essentials are conveniently available, such as groceries, food, medicine, office supplies, gadgets, home and kitchen needs, hardware, self-care, and mommy and baby essentials. Pick.A.Roo continues to provide top-quality delivery service and grew 400% in 2021, and continues to grow even the post-Christmas, after lockdowns and covid spikes.

    With things now slowly adjusting into facets of life before the outbreak, new challenges are now on the horizon, such as the rising price of fuel, face-to-face work in the office, long and hassle commutes, things are indeed getting back to “normal .”In spite of all these, Pick.A.Roo remains steadfast in providing a service that makes everyday life simpler. 

    PickARoo Founders Kevin Tan and Crystal Gonzalez

    Together with Kevin Tan, CEO and Co-founder Crystal Gonzalez created PICK.A.ROO and quotes, “PICKAROO is “the must-have app” as we all transition to hybrid work and post-pandemic/  endemic-life. Download the app and save time, money, and a lot of energy. PICKAROO is an all-in-one delivery app where you can get groceries, food, medicines, toys and baby needs, pet care, gadgets, hardware, and home and kitchen all delivered in an hour. Our app is so easy to use we tested it from ages  5  to 85! So simple, you just search or click on the items photos and add to cart from different stores and check out in one go. 

    We are also excited about our new feature as we are the first in the country to make mall- shopping easier with the “Shop by mall ” feature where you can easily shop from your favorite malls and restaurants and get everything delivered together and save on delivery fees. 

    We want all our users to make better use of their time- be able to relax, spend time with their loved ones while we take care of the rest. With one click, we can do all their grocery shopping and hopping (S&R, Landmark, and The Marketplace, All Day, Shopwise, Farmer’s Market, and more..) and for days where they don’t feel like cooking, or they got home late, we have all the top brands and favorite restaurants in town. Moms can also have more time as we deliver everything from toys, activities and school,  office supplies, home and kitchen, and all basic appliances. Dads also love us for our gadgets and hardware stores. They can easily get everything from a new Macbook or iPad, SD card,  power bank, or basic tools they need. 

    Everyone is excited to start living again and slowly go back to their normal lives, and Pickaroo is here to make everything much easier.”

    Pick.A.Roo is constantly updated with features to make the online shopping experience thoughtful, fun, and convenient. We simplify your life with great deals updated on the app so that you can enjoy more.

    Save gas, save time and save money with PICK.A.ROO. 

    You can download PICK.A.ROO on Play Store / Google Play (for Android) and App Store (for iOS): www.pickaroo.com/download. 

    For more information on PICK.A.ROO and our brand partners, visit www.pickaroo.com.

  • Here’s What We Know About Hilton Manila’s Dampa-style Dining

    Hilton Manila’s celebrated Kusina Sea Kitchens restaurant recently reopened its buffet selection to diners with an innovative take on Filipino, Western and Asian cuisine served ‘dampa-style’ for a worry-free dining experience.

    “We look forward to welcoming our patrons with worry-free, gourmet dining experiences that they can now truly enjoy with their loved ones—both young and old,” shares Iulai Sau, hotel Director of Operations, adding, “our Executive Sous Chef Lord Bayaban and his culinary team has put together a marvelous buffet selection, including those at the Dampa station where guests simply point and choose what they would like to enjoy and how it will be prepared, ‘turo-turo’ style.”

    Kusina, famed for its rich selection of Filipino and International dishes, indulges diners with a variety of fresh and sustainably sourced seafood and premium meat options that are cooked a la minute to the guest’s liking at its Dampa station. Specially prepared on a grill of lava rocks, guest are invited to feast on seasonal favorites such as tiger prawns, shellfish, sausages and cured meats, to name a few.

    Kusina Sea Kitchens Filipino Cultural Buffet LR

    The journey of flavors continues with the famed ‘Samalamig’ station where homemade Filipino refreshments such as Sago’t gulaman, Buko pandan and even authentic local desserts Sorbetes and the colorful Halo-halo are served. From there, guests may ‘hop on over’ to the Japanese station serving succulent Sashimi and Sushi, the fan-favorite Carvery with U.S. beef on premium nights, pork and Chinese items on offer, mouth-watering Laksa or Beef Pho at the Noodles station, fresh and crisp salad choices and fruit slices from the Sustainable garden and playfully vibrant and decadent sweets at the Dessert station among other well-curated culinary ensembles. 

    The Kusina “Market Place” dinner buffet is available Mondays to Thursdays, from 5:30 p.m. to 10 p.m., at Php 2,480 nett per person. On Fridays to Sundays patrons may indulge in melt-in-your-mouth, all-you-can-eat lobsters prepared a la minute, among others, with Kusina’s premium “Lobster Nights 2.0,” with prices starting at Php 2,680. The restaurant is also open for lunch, serving a la carte menu on weekdays and buffet on weekends, from 12 p.m. to 2:30 p.m.

    As an added treat, guests who book their next reservation through the Resorts World Manila mobile app may enjoy 3+1 on Kusina’s lunch and dinner buffet or at the hotel’s Hua Yuan Brasserie Chinoise’s Yum Cha offering until June 30, 2022. Per DTI Fair Trade Permit No. FTEB-137950 Series of 2022.

    Hilton Manila observes stringent health and safety measures in line with local government guidelines and Hilton’s own CleanStay initiative and holds the Department of Tourism “Safety Seal”. 

    For inquiries or reservations, please call +632 7239 7788 or +63 917 826 6442, or message us on Facebook through m.me/hiltonmanila.  

  • Starbucks Launches New Drinks and Merch Featuring Dreamy Pink & Green Colors

    This week, Starbucks just released new seasonal beverages and merchandise that will surely tickle the fancy of those who love the dreamy pastel pink and green aesthetic. Two new beverages plus a Philippine exclusive collection of drinking vessels are now up for grabs this spring. 

    Pretty in Pink and Green

    Available until April 18, 2022 are the new Starbucks® Strawberry Dream Cream Frappuccino and Starbucks® Strawberry Dream Pure Matcha Latte. The new Frappuccino in a heavenly pink color starts off with a cotton-like layer of Vanilla Cream Frappuccino which slowly reveals a sweet strawberry flavored Strawberry Dream experience. It is topped with pastel color sprinkles for that final whimsical touch perfect to add to your Instagram feed.

    Starbucks Launches New Drinks and Merch Featuring Dreamy Pink & Green Colors
    Starbucks® Strawberry Dream Cream Frappuccino
    Tall (12 fl oz): Php 185 | Grande (16 fl oz): Php 200 | Venti (20 fl oz): Php 215

    The second drink is given a matcha twist to the Strawberry Dream experience. At first sip, you will enjoy a sweet creamy layer of strawberry foam. It is then followed by the highest quality pure matcha of Starbucks for a relaxing experience that embodies the beautiful scenery of Spring.  

    Starbucks Launches New Drinks and Merch Featuring Dreamy Pink & Green Colors
    Starbucks® Strawberry Dream Pure Matcha Latte
    Tall (12 fl oz): Php 180 | Grande (16 fl oz): Php 195 | Venti (20 fl oz): Php 210

    And lastly, you can take home the dreamy pink and green experience with the new Pink Green Series that was launched on March 22. This Philippine exclusive collection features Pink Green cups, tumblers, mugs, and even color-changing reusable cups for your hot and cold drinks! The collection is inspired by a minimalist design in eyecatching pink green gradient colors.

    Starbucks Launches New Drinks and Merch Featuring Dreamy Pink & Green Colors
    Pink Green Collection
    Mug 12oz Legion Pink Green 1
    Starbucks Stainless Steel Mug Legion PinkGreen – 12oz (Php 795)
    Order online via Lazada.
    Color Changing Reusable Hot Cup 16oz Pink Green 1
    Color Changing Reusable Hot Cup 16oz Pink Green (Php 245)
    Tumbler 12oz Sassy Pink Green 1
    Starbucks Stainless Steel Tumbler Sassy Pink Green – 12oz (Php 1,245)
    Order online via Shopee.

    The new Starbucks® Strawberry Dream Cream Frappuccino and Starbucks® Strawberry Dream Pure Matcha Latte are now available in stores until April 18, 2022. The Pink Green Collection is now available in all Starbucks stores and online via Lazada and Shopee.

  • New Movies This Week: Origin Unknown, The Contractor, and The OctoGames 

    Plan your week ahead and choose which among these movie openings this March 23, 2022 you’ll see on the big screen first.

    Origin Unknown

    Action, Horror, Mystery | R-13 | 1hr 31mins

    Directed by Rigoberto Castañeda, it centers on a former drug runner who battles supernatural assassins after taking a sick girl under his protection. It stars Daniel Martínez, Lisette Morelos, Paulina Gil, Horacio Garcia Rojas, Arap Bethke, and Adrià Collado.

    BUY TICKETS

    The Contractor

    Action, Thriller | R-13 | 1hr 43mins

    Directed by Tarik Saleh, the film follows a discharged U.S. Special Forces sergeant James Harper who risks everything for his family when joins a private contracting organization. It stars Chris Pine, Ben Foster, Gillian Jacobs, Eddie Marsan, Kiefer Sutherland, and Nina Hoss.

    BUY TICKETS

    The OctoGames

    Action, Horror, Sci-Fi

    The film follows eight contestants through eight deadly, classic children’s games. They seek fame and fortune beyond their wildest dreams, competing for the chance to take over the YouTube channel of the famous personality “JAXPRO.” It stars Allison Shrum, Brad Belemjian, and Lacy Hartselle.

    BUY TICKETS

  • PETA’s ‘A Game Of Trolls’ to Return Online Ahead of the Elections

    The Philippine Educational Theater Association’s (PETA) upcoming 55th anniversary coincides with an important event in society: the upcoming national elections.

    To celebrate this significant milestone, PETA aptly streams Liza Magtoto’s martial law musical for millennials, A Game of Trolls, directed by Maribel Legarda, with lyrics, composition, arrangement, and musical direction by Vincent de Jesus via ktx.ph on April 8, 22, and 23.

    A Game of Trolls 2022

    “PETA remains steadfast in our mission to use the arts to reflect people’s stories and examine the past and present. Now even more, is a critical time to use theater as a vehicle for introspection and truth-telling, to use theater as a beacon of truth!” PETA Executive Director Beng Cabangon asserts.

    “In our 50-year history, we have always stood for democracy. Every election is an opportunity to remind every Filipino of each one’s power to choose the leaders who will chart the path of our future,” she adds.

    Through this effort, PETA hopes to reach 8,000 youth who comprise the 56% of the 67 million registered voters who are expected to troop to the polling stations.

    PETA President CB Garrucho passionately expresses the urgency to stream A Game of Trolls, “We would like to make a solid contribution to combat the flood of disinformation and historical revisionism. We want to tell a powerful and engaging story about the abuses of the Marcos years. As artists, we owe it to the next generation to tell these narratives so that the lessons learned are ingrained in their hearts and so that all Filipinos, especially the young, will join the chorus: NEVER AGAIN.”

    As the oppressors of the past continue their attempts to gain power, A Game of Trolls remains relevant, especially today.

    Support PETA’s emerald year as the company solidifies its mission to keep the torch of conscience alive as Filipinos aim to rise to the challenge of evolving, changing, and expanding during these transformative times.

    Support PETA’s emerald year as the company solidifies its mission to keep the torch of conscience alive as Filipinos aim to rise to the challenge of evolving, changing, and expanding during these transformative times.

  • Adidas Relaunches Ultraboost 22 in New Colorways Tailored for the Female Foot

    This month, Adidas relaunches and reveals new colorways to the latest addition of the iconic Ultraboost franchise. Initially launched in December 2021 in Mauve, the Ultraboost 22 is now available in a Flash Orange colorway. 

    Adidas Relaunches Ultraboost 22 in New Colorways Tailored for the Female Foot
    The adidas Ultraboost 22 in the new Flash Orange colorway

    Created by an all-women team, the adidas Ultraboost 22 provides runners with 4% more forefront energy return than the Ultraboost 21 for women. Tapping into women-specific insights and using an online anatomy database of 1.2 million foot scans, conducted and analyzed by footwear and technology researchers Jura, Zabkar, & Dzeroski (2019) The Ultraboost 22 is tailored to create a 360-degree fit improvement for the female foot.

    With its re-engineered design to better fit the female form, providing female runners with the support and energy return to boost their performance, adidas continues its commitment to empowering women through sport. However, there is still a gap when it comes to women’s safety in running.

    Adidas Relaunches Ultraboost 22 in New Colorways Tailored for the Female Foot

    In addressing this, adidas Runners, adidas’ official running community, is launching a series of weekly runs that promote women’s safety by encouraging members to become active contributors and proud allies for the safety movement. Locally, adidas Runners Manila is set to launch weekend runs on March 20, March 27, and April 3 with distances ranging from 5K to 15K. Learn more about the runs by joining the adidas Runners Manila group on Facebook. 

    • March 20, 2022: Run with AR & GCR 
      • Beginners: 5K
      • Intermediate: 10K 
    • March 27, 2022: Run with AR & Limitless 
      • Beginners: 6K
      • Intermediate: 14K
    • April 3, 2022: Own your energy – Fast Finish
      • Beginners: 8K
      • Intermediate: 15K
    Adidas Relaunches Ultraboost 22 in New Colorways Tailored for the Female Foot

    Further celebrating women, adidas Philippines also partnered with Filipina artist, Gissele Bautista for an in-store product customization collaboration via the adidas Maker Lab, exclusive in adidas Brand Center Glorietta from March 25 to 27, 3:00 – 7:00 PM. Through this partnership, customers who will be purchasing the new Ultraboost 22 colorway from the adidas Brand Center will get the chance to have their pairs customized for free only at the Maker Lab. Known for her intricate floral artworks, Gissele will be in-store to hand-paint reflective vine and bloom designs on the Ultraboost 22 pairs of eligible customers. Stickers and patches along with hand-painted shoe dubraes, and reflective shoe laces will also be available for purchase for those who wish to have shoes, tote bags, and apparels customized. 

    JD Cortez, adidas Philippines Brand Communications & Sports Marketing Manager said: “This year, adidas is dedicated to further strengthening our commitment of empowering women through sports, starting with the Brand’s most inclusive and supportive sports bra collection released earlier this year, and now with the re-launch of the Ultraboost 22 in new and exciting colorways. The Brand is also grateful to have the support of our communities like adidas Runners Manila to the Girls Can Run team by Coach Nylah Bautista, as well as our Brand ambassadors and athletes, who continuously help us in our commitment to providing a safer running environment for women and other runners.”

    The adidas Ultraboost 22 retails at Php 9,500 and its featured ‘Flash Orange’ colorway is available in-store and online via adidas.com.ph or via the adidas Viber Store. To stay updated, follow the conversation on Instagram and Facebook. 

  • Bistro Delivers 30% OFF from March 25 to March 31

    Celebrating its first birthday this month, Bistro Delivers is delighted to announce a special treat to customers! 

     It’s their 30% OFF promotion plus FREE delivery valid for both delivery and pick up transactions with a minimum spend requirement of P1,500. Just use promo code BDELTURNS1 at checkout. The offer is valid from March 25 to March 31.

    Bistro Delivers Promo

    Bistro Delivers app and website house all 18 Bistro Group restaurant brands, offering on-demand delivery and take-out options.  It bridges decades of the company’s food and operational expertise with the convenience of today’s technology.

    Order in and binge on your favorite dishes – from pastas, burgers, ribs and wings to sushi, dimsum and paellas. There are so many choices to please every palate and food craving from Bistro’s portfolio of international and homegrown brands.

    Ordering on the Bistro Delivers app and website is fast and easy! It only takes 4 simple steps, and soon, your favorites will be delivered right to your doorstep. Download now http://onelink.to/25zuvt and check www.bistrodelivers.ph.

  • Re-Encounters: A Gallery by Chele Tasting Menu That Will Take You on a Trip to Northern Spain

    Chef Chele Gonzales takes diners on a personal journey with his new tasting menu at Gallery by Chele.

    Eleven years since leaving home, Chele Gonzalez decided it was time to revisit his roots in Cantabria, Spain. After many years, he was able to reunite with his family, home, heritage, and what he grew up to know as comfort food. This inspired his newest tasting menu called Re-encounters, a culinary journey from the mountains and sea of Northern Spain.

    Diners get a choice of a six- or ten-course for the Re-Encounters tasting menu. We started our journey to Cantabria, San Sebastian, and Bilbao, with our first stop at the restaurants’ bar counter with Chef Chele’s photograph of the Cantabrian Sea. Here, we enjoyed some tapas — tortilla de patatas, crisp callamari in brioche, gambas al ajillo, pulpo a la gallega, and croquetas with cebu lechon.

    These tapas are served with a refreshing welcome drink called Calimocho that’s equal parts red wine and cola, a taste that’s actually quite similar to kombucha. We were then brought to a different room with a wall covered by a photograph taken by Chef Chele again. While there, we had some pastrami pintxos and crab canapé, a crab mixture on top of a light meringue and topped with a grated hard-boiled egg.

    After the tapas, we walked to our designated table for the night where “The Journey,” which is the six- or ten-course, begins. The first part consisted of seafood dishes — from raw tuna with a gazpacho sorbet, bangus belly pil pil with collagen emulsion, and a white snapper with sayote. Next is the Huevos con Jamon which features a perfectly cooked egg topped with generous truffle shavings. We then moved to meatier territory with the Cocido Montañes, melt-in-your-mouth stew meat wrapped in kale, and the Txuleta which uses Wagyu tenderloin served with potatoes and bell pepper confit. Both were hearty and are definitely a favorite from the tasting menu.

    At this point, we were already full but of course, we still had room for dessert. We were introduced to the Spanish delicacy Sobao which is a dense sponge cake soaked in milk, served with berry compote and milk ice cream. Next is Chef Chele’s famous Burnt Basque Cheesecake topped with chantilly and truffle shavings, an experience that I didn’t want to end. The Journey ended with a trio of desserts — Corte de Leche Flan, Quesada, and Sago con Leche, served with a beautiful photo of Gonzalez’ family from his last trip.

    Re-Encounters is available until June 2022. Guests can choose between a 10-course tasting menu for PhP4,400+ 10% service charge or a 6-course tasting menu for PhP 3,400+ 10% service charge. Wine, cocktail and non-alcoholic beverage pairing options are available.

    —

    Gallery by Chele is located at 5/F Clipp Center, 11th Ave corner 39th Street, Bonifacio Global City, Taguig. For reservations or inquiries, visit gallerybychele.com, call +639175461673; follow Gallery by Chele on Facebook and Instagram.