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Category: Personal

  • Louie and Roch: Save the Date Pre-wedding Video Shoot in Subic Bay, Olongapo City

    Louie and Roch: Save the Date Pre-wedding Video Shoot in Subic Bay, Olongapo City

    Time flies fast! Our wedding day is lurking on just the next page of the calendar. Now is the perfect time to share with you our save the date pre-wedding teaser. 🙂 The video shoot by Photogenics Studios took place in the top three locations we chose in Subic: El Kabayo Stables, Subic Bay Yacht Club, and Morong Beach. We had been having discussions and advance planning sessions with our videographers months before. I’m really happy that everything turned out well and even better than we imagined. My sister took behind-the-scenes photos using my camera for documentation.

    Louie and Roch: Save the Date Pre-wedding Video Shoot in Subic Bay, Olongapo City

    The Video

    The Video Team

    With tons of experience in shooting engaged couples, Photogenics Studios is composed of pros who are seasoned experts when it comes to capturing great moments in action in the best places particularly around Subic and Olongapo. They are not only knowledgeable in the city’s prettiest spots, but they also know pertinent information, like the best way to access each location and the poses that work best in every spot. Together with Photogenics, we worked with our vision in making sure that our unique story and personalities shine through the prenup video seamlessly.

    Wushu choreography was arranged by my wushu master and one of our primary sponsors for the wedding, Shifu Arnold Buenivaje of Philippine Mingsheng Wenyang Sports Association. We had an hour of training to finish and accomplish the double broadswords form for the shoot.

    The Styling Team

    Wardrobe styling was done in collaboration with Styling by Melangé. Louie and I got three outfits each complete with props and accessories. Sizes, colors and design concepts of our costumes were planned out a week before the shoot. We were asked to send pictures of our pegs. Styling by Melangé team gave us advice, managed the rest of the details, and provided us with more options that exceeded our expectations. Everything was well taken care of, which saved us the hassle of worrying about which clothes to wear or thinking about what goes well with this and that. We just had to bring our own shoes. Loved their service overall!

    The Hair and Makeup Team

    My supportive and loving sister did my hairstyle early in the morning for the first part of our video shoot. I did my makeup myself and my mom handled the other necessary preparations. In the afternoon, Jaja Flores’ team came to get my hair and makeup done. We aimed for both an elegant and natural style. Jaja, the makeup artist, and Jamela, the hair stylist, helped create two looks that ensured the feeling of confidence for the rest of the day.

    Top 3 Locations in Subic for the Pre-wedding Video Shoot

    El Kabayo Stables

    At El Kabayo Stables, the main features that enhance the ambiance are the majestic trees amid beautiful grounded dotted with flowering plants, quaint stables surrounded by the rainforest, horses grazing in the background, and the rustic elegance of a white clubhouse. This is a great venue for engagement photoshoots, prenuptial videos, anniversaries, weddings, and many more. We stayed here for four hours.

    Address: El Kabayo Road, Binictican, Subic Bay Freeport Zone, Zambales
    Contact nos: (047) 2521050 / 09989647895 / (6347) 2521050 / 2528494

    Subic Bay Yacht Club

    We rented a moving yacht from Subic Bay Yacht Club and enjoyed the sea breeze while doing the prenuptial shoot. It was too sunny and windy though, so keeping my hair tamed and presentable and my eyes properly open were quite a challenge. In any case, Subic Bay Yacht Club is a paradise with safe harbors and pristine flat waters. Among tourists, it’s a vacation destination with elegant design. The yacht was huge. The video team and my family went on board for a short cruise. The experience was fantastic!

    Address: Rizal Highway Corner Burgos St Subic Bay Freeport Zone, Rizal Highway, Subic Bay Freeport Zone, Subic Bay
    Contact number: (047) 4990695

    Morong Beach

    Morong Beach lies on the Southern side of Subic. We took the SBMA route since it’s the fastest way to get there. We caught the sunset and were upbeat to give our best to create some romantic and cheesy scenes. Luckily, it did not rain that day. We proceeded as planned and the result was an amazing story of triumph for the whole team. 🙂

    I love outdoor locations and natural light. All these three places won our hearts easily as we were surrounded with the beauty of nature. We’re very excited and we look forward to see the full version of the pre-wedding video that will be presented during our wedding reception on our big day. 🙂 Thanks to everyone who helped and contributed efforts in making the teaser! Our official wedding day hashtag is #RochChoosesLouie2017.

    [schema type=”review” url=”https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tVlXKAEO16E” name=”Louie and Roch: Save the Date Pre-wedding Video Shoot in Subic Bay, Olongapo City” description=”Our prenup wedding video by Photogenics Studios” author=”Rochkirstin Santos” pubdate=”2017-02-08″ ]

  • May Your Dreams Come True – Life Coaching through Dreambook

    May Your Dreams Come True – Life Coaching through Dreambook

    The past year brought so many new memories, beginnings, and experiences for me. At the start of 2017, I began reflecting on things to be grateful for in 2016 and was already teary-eyed as soon as I finished typing the list. Accomplishments included major IT project implementations with my team at work, family trips (both local and international), new camera prime lens, new mobile phone, new car, and my engagement to my fiancé.

    Suddenly, I broke down into happy tears not upon the realization that life was easy (in fact, it isn’t), but because 2016 was another year that proved that dreams can become a reality when your determination is strong enough. Everything that I envisioned to achieve was achieved. With proper goal-setting, some luck, creative ideas, personal growth principles, a lot of hard work and empowerment from the Dreambook, all the pain, stress, and struggles paid off. 🙂

    May Your Dreams Come True – Life Coaching through Dreambook

    “Everyone is born with dreams that are meant to come true.” 

    Some people want to change something and have a better life but don’t know how. Excuses, procrastination, and lack of persistence often get in the way. For a dose of inspiration, a life-coaching journal called the Dreambook by Starlight Starbright Enterprises Co. offers a guide to help build dreams. It’s a “goal book” that keeps results-oriented people become focused, committed, and determined.

    I have joined the Dreambook project way back in 2013. If you’re a dreamer who want to take the first steps in turning your dreams a reality, this is for you. Packed with colorful worksheets, inspirational quotes, and clear guidelines to follow through with actionable steps, the Dreambook can be your best resource to assess your current standpoint, set SMART goals, and manage your time and talents to reach their goals. Here are more reasons why you should create a vision board and get your own copy of the Dreambook:

    Top 5 Reasons Why You Should Get Your Own Dreambook

    1. It’s not your regular planner.

    One of the beautiful things about this workbook is that it’s unlike a regular planner or journal where you jot down notes accordingly based on a pre-formatted calendar of the year. In contrast, the days in the months are not printed, making the Dreambook usable any year you wish to start. Prayers and directions are printed on almost every page to keep you motivated and stay on track.

    2. Free your mind of negativity and limitations.

    Excuses are thieves that steal your dreams. Discouraging thoughts have the power to turn dreams into dust. The Dreambook is fitted with positive messages and reminders to free your mind from troubling roadblocks and bust bad influences for good. It’s like receiving pieces of advice from a trustworthy friend who can push you to ditch the things that hold you back and make you quit up on your goals.

    3. Make your big dreams into smaller milestones that are specific and measurable.

    Never let people convince you that your dreams are too big and that you cannot do something. We should all be reminded that limitations are self imposed and that the only person that can overcome them is our self. There’s a solution to everything and we can create so much if we think out of the box. However, I suppose anyone’s brain would be fried and overwhelmed after thinking through a long list of big dreams. With the right goal planning, mapping, and setting of completion dates, dreams can be turned into specific and measurable actions and you can make them happen.

    4. Review goal achievement journey through monthly milestone checkpoints.

    Professional life coaches ask regularly how we’re keeping up with our goals. This is the same with the Dreambook as it has parts for goal evaluation. Realigning and reviewing milestones are critical to reach greater success. I like this part of the Dreambook because it strengthens accountability to oneself. When you evaluate, you make yourself answerable to your goals. This exercise is also a good trigger point to plan the next strategies for execution.

    Monthly milestone checkpoints should be an ongoing process that happens from the start of your goal pursuit, during, and right at the end. These serve as a constant feedback loop on the effectiveness of your actions and their implications toward the outcome. By reviewing constantly, you get immediate lessons which can then be incorporated to increase your chances of success. It gives you clarity on your performance thus far and prevents surprise at the end of the goal pursuit.

    5. Share your journey and pay it forward.

    Another thing you can enjoy while filling out the Dreambook is having the energy to share your dreams with friends and thanking them for prayers and support. As we let our own light shine, we unconsciously allow others to do the same. We liberate each other’s fears and it gives tingles every time. Sharing, for me, is not about showing off, but rather, a divine experience that opens doors for others to engage in similar life-changing conversations.

    Proudly declaring your dreams—and doing so powerfully can make like an unstoppable blaze of fire and this also helps reinforce your belief in yourself. Through the transfer of ideas and dreams, you bring a positive energy and enthusiasm to those around you. A message of thanks can make an impact and turn their day around for the better.

    The Dreambook is now available at selected National Book Store branches and PowerBooks branches. For more information, you can visit their Facebook page here.

    [schema type=”review” url=”https://www.facebook.com/dreambookproject” name=”Life Coaching through Dreambook” description=”The Dreambook is not for people who simply dream; it is for people who are passionate about making their dreams come true. ” author=”Rochkirstin Santos” pubdate=”2017-01-24″ ]

  • Wedding Planning Checklist Update

    Wedding Planning Checklist Update

    It has been two months now from the day Louie proposed. Since we are two busy working individuals, we only have the time during weekends to plan for our wedding. Fortunately, there are wedding expos we could attend to help us make educated decisions in a time-efficient manner. Going to Themes & Motifs in SMX and Weddings & Beyond in World Trade Center, Pasay made us learn about a myriad of event options with much convenience. We did not have to visit several places and meet potential wedding suppliers one at a time.

    Armed with notes, a collection of business cards, and about five pounds of brochures, we have shortlisted wedding suppliers and have done booking the major ones (with ☑). If you’re planning your own wedding as well, you may find it a great idea to have a checklist and break down what you need to three parts, as we did. 🙂

    just signed a contract with Photogenics

    Wedding Planning Checklist Update

    The Big Picture
    ☑ Budget – Envision your wedding and draw up a budget. Work out your budget and establish spending decisions—where to save and where to splurge.
    ☑ Guest List – Compile your preliminary guest list. The size of the guest list is important as this will serve as basis for the venue. Make a head count database to use throughout your planning process, with columns for contact info, RSVPs, gifts, and any other relevant information.
    ☑ Venue – Explore ceremony and reception venue options and reserve your date.

    Primary Vendors
    ☑ Photographer and Videographer – Most photographers and videographers have a finite number of weddings they can book each day, and the best ones usually book weddings many months in advance, so it’s highly recommended to lock down on this one early. See sample shots and videos. Plan the concept of the shoots and think styling, design, and storyline. Discuss where to hold the pre-nuptial shoots, angles, location, and specific shots that you find appealing.
    ☑ Wedding Coordinator – There are at least three types of wedding coordinators: those that you involve from the initial phase of the planning, those that you meet only to touch base with wedding suppliers, and those that take charge only on the day of the wedding. We will hire an on-the-day wedding coordinator to assist us from the hotel to the church and reception.
    ☑ Host/Emcee – Get someone that speaks eloquently, one who can really make guests feel excited and at ease. The host/emcee will be getting on the microphone to announce the grand entrance of the entourage, first dance of the newly weds, welcoming people for toasts, hosting games and activities, cake cutting, etc.

    Secondary Vendors
    ☑ Florist – We are not yet firm on our wedding palette but have decided on the florist we are booking. The choice of flowers and package inclusions (backdrop, floral accessories on the cake, draping, entourage, and table setting) are important considerations.
    ☑ Entertainment – Attend gigs of potential acts to see how they perform in front of audiences, then reserve your favorite. We will be getting a team of musicians/singers for the ceremony and reception.
    ☑ Hair and Makeup – Looking decent and presentable on this big day is crucial. Booking the perfect stylist to do the hair and makeup entails doing hair and makeup trials and comparing results.
    ☑ Attire – Choosing the wedding dress of your dreams can be very overwhelming especially now that we have free access to designs posted on Pinterest, Instagram, and wedding sites like Bridestory. Figure out the silhouette that best suits your body shape and focus on your personal style. People also notice the gowns and apparel of the entire wedding entourage so make sure to have all are well-chosen. Schedule time for at least three fittings.
    ☑ Invitation Cards – Ask stationers for samples of invitations and have the designs revised to suit your preferences. The rule of thumb in mailing invitations is six to eight weeks before the ceremony. RSVP cutoff is set at three weeks after the postmark date.
    ☑ Cake – Choose cake style and attend tastings before committing to any baker. Know the lead time and additional charges such as prepping at the reception and delivery.
    ☑ Lights and Sounds – Keep a running list of songs that you want and do not want played. Though you probably won’t be able to dictate every single song played, you should come prepared with a wish list.
    ☑ Wedding Bands – As a symbol of your love and commitment to each other, wedding bands are a big decision. Which metals do you like? Would you like to include stones on the bands? We like ours simple but elegant.

    We are still looking for wedding suppliers of items without a check mark. If you have recommendations, please feel free to share in the Comment sections below. Thanks! 🙂

    Update as of May 15, 2016:

    Completed all except for Wedding Coordinator, Host/Emcee (Chinese), Attire, Lights and Sounds 🙂

  • Our Engagement Story: A Valentine’s Day Proposal

    Our Engagement Story: A Valentine’s Day Proposal

    It’s official, Louie and I are ENGAGED! 🙂 We are extremely joyful and ready for this next adventure in our relationship. We appreciate all the nice greetings, comments and support from our friends and families. Many people have asked me how he proposed. After repeating it about ten times now, I got pretty good at telling it:

    How He Asked

    We usually see each other every Sunday afternoon. Last Sunday was no different, except that it was Valentine’s Day, and so I expected our dinner date to be extra special.

    At 3:00PM, he fetched me from Mandarin Sky in Banawe, where my cousin celebrated his birthday. Then, we drove to his house where he said we would stay while waiting for his reservation at the restaurant at 8:00PM.

    Since I had a bad cough the previous week and preferred to rest at home, topics and stories to share have piled up. We talked for two hours but it felt like 20 minutes.

    Video (Part 1)

    Suddenly, he had me watch a video he made. It was a short video showing a day in his life—what he does from the time he wakes up in the morning, yada yada yada. Before it played, he excused himself out of the room because “he had to get something from their main house.”

    I watched the video alone and thought it clearly showed his personality and his sense of humor. It was enjoyable and worth critiquing. Knowing him, I was positive he would ask me for a technical review since he had been spending some time learning how to create video content that will engage viewers in various subjects. 😛

    The storyline was well established early on. The tone of narration, music and sounds, ambient transition effects, and acting of the characters (Louie as himself and the animated Dodsy, my doll) were great. I was completely unaware that it was a video cuing for something else.

    The video ended with a black screen and “EATING TIME” as the only caption. I guessed it was time for us to head out to the restaurant for dinner. From behind the door, Louie emerged, covered my eyes, and walked me to their living room that was transformed from simple to va-va-voom romantic!

    Dinner Date: Not an Average Valentine’s Day Celebration

    The adornments looked visually impressive. With candle lights and rose petals scattered around, the room conjured a feeling of romance. The table setting and comfortable seating were ideal as well for a quiet tête-à-tête. If I were to rate the ambiance like I normally do for my restaurant reviews, it would be 5/5 stars. 😀

    Louie served us food from Ombu Modern Filipino Restaurant in Tomas Morato. Ombu is a specialist for awesome Filipino food with twist. Tastes were not revolutionary but rich and excellent nonetheless. We had Tinapa Croquettes (creamed smoked fish coated in breadcrumbs), All Meat Pizza (Hungarian sausage, longganisa hamonado, bacon, salted egg whites, mozzarella, kesong puti), and Smoked Bangus Spaghettini (olive oil-based pasta flavored with garlic and smoked milkfish).

    For our drink, Novellino Strawberry Passion was a pleasant surprise. It’s a casual 4.5%-alcohol wine blended with natural strawberry extract that enhances the wine’s fruity character and gives it a refreshing finish. Since the dishes went a little too heavy on the salt for our taste, the sweet wine turned out as a good complement. 😉

    I was delighted to see the effort he exerted for all these, but it was just the icing on the cake…

    Video (Part 2)

    After dinner, I gave him his gift. It was a long sleeve polo and a pack of coffee (he recently discovered his love for coffee). To my surprise, he said he has something for me, too. I thought the whole dinner experience was the gift, but that wasn’t all.

    Another video began to play.

    The Sweetest Marriage Proposal on Valentine’s Day

    The video’s concept followed “Maalaala Mo Kaya” (MMK) with Louie as both the letter-sender and Ms. Charo Santos. 😉 It was an episode centered on his views and feelings towards me, our relationship, and basically all the amazing highlights from the years we spent together. His kind words sounded genuine. I felt in awe of the thoughtfulness he put to making the video so unique and special.

    This time, the video ended with an instruction, and it was for me to go through the door to the kitchen and follow the lead. I got lost at first but found the right way eventually. Apparently, the rose petals sprinkled on the floor were the lead to the room on the upper floor.

    And there he was—in the middle of the room, with one hand holding a bouquet of roses and another, in his pocket. I thanked him for the flowers and told him how I tried to open so many doors to find him. For a moment, it was quite comical—until with a smile, he pulled out the ring, got down on one knee, and asked me to marry him! (Christina Perri’s A Thousand Years was playing as background music.)

    My heart dropped and my face lit up with pure happiness. I did not even look at the beautiful diamond ring. I immediately said yes, certain as the sun rising in the east. ♫ Oh yes. I jumped into his arms and hugged him tightly. He hugged me back. 🙂

    Louie is extremely romantic, and our engagement story shows that perfectly. It was one of the most precious nights of my life. 🙂 For starters, I had absolutely NO IDEA that engagement was anywhere close to happening for us that night.

    Thanks to his brothers for helping with the setup and taking our pictures. 🙂

    How We Met

    Louie and I met in 2007 in our first year, third term in DLSU. We were taking up BS-ICTM (Information and Communication Technology Management) and were classmates in some of our classes. I thought he was cute but that’s all it ever was, nothing I imagined the man I would fall in love would be like. It wasn’t a year later when we started to talk.

    Mostly we discussed about academics, homework, and only a little about personal life through online chat. In person, we exchanged two-second glances and quick hello’s.

    Fate gave us a little push. Sparks flew when we realized how much our lives aligned. We knew it was something we could not ignore and so we explored further. We were friends for two years before we became a couple.

    We’re now at our seventh year, and I feel so grateful to have him. He’s just the kindest and most loving person. He inspires me to take chances and be adventurous. He’s always right there and does everything he can to make sure I feel safe. With him, I feel right at home. ♥

    Now I have a wonderful fiancé and one big wedding to plan! I can’t wait to marry the man of my dreams and create more meaningful scenes in our “MMK episode” to share with you guys. 😛 So exciting!

  • Kain Tulog Gang’s New Year’s Celebration (F1 Hotel Manila, BGC)

    Kain Tulog Gang’s New Year’s Celebration (F1 Hotel Manila, BGC)

    The Kain Tulog Gang (KTG) never fails to party in style. As the first event I attended this year, our New Year’s celebration was both fun and memorable. We give special thanks to our Bossman Spanky, our generous sponsors (Leonardo’s Lechon, The Plaza Ham, and Goldilocks), and friends from F1 Hotel Manila who arranged everything perfectly to ensure our enjoyment and pleasure. F1 Hotel Manila in BGC is our home far away from home! It is apparently where our foodie group was formed. 🙂

    with Pau Esmedilla, F1 Hotel Manila Marketing Assistant

    Happy New Year to our growing foodie family!

    To kick-start our party at the Titanium function room, we were introduced to Chef Timothy Decker Gokioco, the new head chef of F1 Hotel Manila. He will be in charge of the kitchen operations of F All Day Dining, Canary Lounge, and F1 Banquet and Catering. Read more about him below.

    Inside Out was our event’s theme, and Chef Decker prepared a lunch buffet with items that are friendly for all kids and kids at heart respectively. Pinoy spaghetti, cocktail hotdog skewers, pork barbecue skewers, vegetable gratin, and crispy fried chicken are part of the main course. Highlights of the dessert station included the yema tart and the tablea polvoron.

    F1 Hotel Manila’s Spicy Lechon Duck on one corner caught all our attention as well. The duck skin was rubbed with spice and it had a nice crunch with just the right amount of fat hiding underneath. Taste was phenomenal.

    The Plaza Premium Baked Ham paired with loaves of warm pan de sal (courtesy of The Plaza Ham) with different sauces was absolutely delicious. Ham season was upon us, and this piece of pink meat was a pleasant holiday centerpiece on the table. (For orders, contact 02-8908446 or 02-8434267.)

    Leornardo’s Native Lechon is perhaps the best example of just how well Filipinos know their pork. The lechon’s interior was tender and moist with fat and juicy meat. Despite being a pure, unadulterated dose of pork, this is one thing you won’t tire of. Eating a whole plate is a dangerously simple task! (For orders, contact 02-7269828.)

    Goldilocks celebrates its 50th anniversary this year. Rich and magnificent, Goldilocks’ chocolate cake is a true classic with just the right amount of sweetness. I love that they now accept requests for cake customization that spans from simple to the more intricate. Customized cakes are processed at least five to seven working days before the event. (For inquiries, call 02-5324050.)

    We also sang the birthday song to our dear friends who are having their birthdays this January. Happy birthday to Mati, Richie, Chiara, Aidan, and JPedro! 🙂

    KTG

    Chef Decker of F1 Hotel Manila

    The young and very talented chef joins the all-Filipino hospitality brand to put a stronger hold on the hotel’s contemporary yet authentic Filipino food and beverage offerings.

    Chef Decker started to help his mother in the kitchen at an early age, growing up with Chinese and Filipino cuisines. He then pursued his love for food and cooking when he took up HRIM major in Culinary Arts at De La Salle-College of St. Benilde in 2005. In 2008, he started his professional career in the kitchen at Mandarin Oriental Hotel in Makati, then joined several five-star hotels, went up the ranks until he landed The Cake Club’s kitchen as its Chef de Partie in 2014.

    Along with numerous awards and recognition, it was also in 2014 when Chef Decker was listed under Spot.ph’s “10 Must-Watch Chefs under 30,” and was able to bag the coveted Mabuhay Awards in the supervisory category. Chef Decker continued to be an achiever as he juggled his professional career with his part-time stint as a Chef Instructor at his Alma Mater also during the same year.

    With his family’s solid influence in his creations, Chef Decker shall be imparting several family traditions and heirloom recipes as he introduces original dining concepts starting this year. Thus, diners and patrons of F1 Hotel Manila shall expect a more vibrant and flavorful dining experience for 2016! 🙂

    Asian Buffet Adventure at F1 Hotel Manila

    This 2016, it’s time to savor the richness of Asian culture and cuisines at F1 Hotel Manila. The Asian Buffet Adventure at F All Day Dining Restaurant will be highlighting the variety of flavors from Thailand, Singapore, Vietnam, China, and of course, the Philippines.

    Delight yourself with the buffet’s wide selection of Asian cuisine as there’s surely something for every taste, including a selection of fresh seafood, sashimi, noodles and other Asian favorites. The spread shall also include some signature dishes of F1 Hotel Manila’s new Executive Sous Chef, Decker Gokioco which include Poached Mahi-Mahi with Seafood Mousse in Curry Sauce; Fernando’s 4-Day Marinated Pork Belly, and his classic take on the traditional Peking Duck.

    The Asian Buffet Adventure is available during lunch or dinner buffet for only PhP 1,399 nett per person, available until February 29, 2016 only. For inquiries and reservations, please call 02-9289888 or email at inquiry@f1hotelsandresorts.com.

    F1 Hotel Manila is located at 32nd street, Bonifacio Global City, Taguig City. For inquiries and reservations, please call 02-9289888. For online booking and more information, please visit www.f1hotelmanila.com. Read about our staycation here.

  • Cyze’s 30th Birthday Celebrated with Cancer Warriors Foundation, Inc. Kids

    Cyze’s 30th Birthday Celebrated with Cancer Warriors Foundation, Inc. Kids

    The 30th birthday is one of the most welcomed and exciting milestones in a person’s life. If you are turning this age, what could be the perfect birthday gift for yourself? There are many choices for sure: getting that designer bag you have always wanted, spending a leisure vacation to some place far from home, or finally buying a car and exploring the city as a tourist.

    In the case of Czye, it was throwing out a birthday party with Cancer Warriors Foundation, Inc. kids and their families. By sharing smiles and blessings with other people and making them feel happy and special, it was truly a 30th birthday well spent. 🙂

    How I Learned About Cancer Warriors Foundation Inc.

    The blogosphere is abuzz with so many campaigns and awareness programs by various foundations and groups, but not everyone is a supporter. Three months ago, I saw a video posted by Vikings Luxury Buffet on YouTube for Father’s Day. It was about how parents and children who are members of the Cancer Warriors Foundation Inc. share their love and support for one another even through the most difficult times.

    These families must be very strong and brave indeed as they all fight against cancer. Their voices mesh together to make a louder and stronger heard sound wave on positivity.

    Here’s the video. Please watch.

    By the end of the clip, I found myself tearing up. Their messages were so inspiring, and because of that, I just felt determined to reach out to Cancer Warriors Foundation Inc. to inquire on ways I could contribute. Covering events and blogging about them to help spread awareness is one. In addition, I can also help by improving their website design.

    About Cancer Warriors Foundation, Inc.

    Cancer Warriors Foundation, Inc. (CWFI) is the embodiment of a dream that no Filipino child, especially the underprivileged ones, will suffer a diminished quality of life because of cancer. If you also want to help them realize that dream, send an email to cancerwarriorsph@gmail.com or visit http://www.c-warriors.org/ for more details.

    Donations are accepted at the following banks:

    Metrobank
    Account Name: Cancer Warriors Foundation, Inc.
    Branch: Marajo Tower Branch, The Fort
    Current Account No.: 519-7-51901107-3

    Unionbank of the Philippines:
    Account 1 (For Manila-Based Patients):
    Current Account no. 00-157-000-1010

    Account 2 (For Batangas-Based Patients):
    Business Check:
    Current Account no. 00-157-000-1100

    Contact Numbers:

    Manila: (02)5622954 / +639175979564
    Batangas: (043)7563993 / +639228450008 / +639167331925

    You can also leave a message below and I can forward your inquiry to CWFI.

  • Whodunnit? Crime Investigation Case Solved at Breakout Interactive Theater (Commercenter Alabang)

    Whodunnit? Crime Investigation Case Solved at Breakout Interactive Theater (Commercenter Alabang)

    Novels and TV series have a longstanding love affair with crime scene investigation, evoking a natural impulse on readers and viewers to embrace the story and ride along with the adventure. In every murder story, different characters in a setting ultimately make twists and turns into an unpredictable nail-biting extravaganza. If you’re one who’s fascinated with this kind of genre, you might have thought of playing the role of the investigator yourself. So given the chance, are you game to do detective work for a day?

    My answer was YES! 🙂

    Brought by Runtertainment, Inc., the team behind Outbreak Manila, the 5-km zombie infested fun run, Breakout Philippines—the country’s premiere escape room game, and the 1000 ft slip-and-slide for Slidefest Philippines, Breakout Interactive Theater (BIT) had organized a one-day event last Saturday, July 11, 2015, for crime investigation enthusiasts to experience and solve a murder mystery filled with suspense and live action going on.

    I teamed up with Franc, Louie, and Gianne, and together we interrogated probable suspects and accomplices of the murder and looked for evidences to answer one basic question: WHODUNNIT. As each character revealed information about what might have happened, the plot transpired to be riveting and simply nerve-wrecking.

    Crime Investigation Case Solved at Breakout Interactive Theater (Commercenter Alabang)

    Background

    Commercenter Alabang has grown from a humble movie house in the 1990s to one of the most prestigious malls in the country. The company started with three founders: Brian Valdez, Julio Rodrigo, and Tinio. However, as fate would have it, Tinio had parted ways with Valdez and Rodrigo because of a misunderstanding after some years.

    In 2014, Valdez died of lung cancer and it was his last will and testament to have his only son, Nicholas Magnus, run the company as president and CEO. The business went on smoothly under Magnus’ leadership, and he was in fact awarded as the “Best Executive of the Philippine Malls” with Commercenter Alabang located in the south.

    As part of the game play, the event we attended was Commercenter Alabang’s Appreciation Night and 25th Anniversary Celebration.

    It was supposedly a momentous occasion where Magnus would thank loyal patrons and the people working for the success of Commercenter through the years. Sumptuous dinner was served by Belly Grub, and guests (participants of Whodunnit) were treated with a warm welcome by Magnus himself even before he went onstage.

    Murder Occurrence

    Shortly, Magnus was called up by the host to deliver his speech. While thanking guests, someone called his phone alerting on the emergency. Simultaneously, we heard gunshots on the background.

    Two private investigators entered the scene. Apparently, they were hired by Magnus to protect and secure the mall since he had been receiving threats on its safety. Julio Rodrigo, one of the founders and friends or Valdez, now Head of Security, was appalled when he learned about it as he felt bypassed for his role.

    An undercover agent named Jojo Garcia was killed—and this signaled the official start of our mission. Who was the killer and what were his motives?

    WHODUNNIT Investigation

    A set of evidences was presented on the Evidence Table. It consisted of the victim’s shirt and pants full of blood and a parking ticket detailing the date and time of arrival and plate number. This hinted us to check if the car was still parked in the parking area so we can get the next leads.

    Suspect # 1

    On the way to the car, we met one of the primary suspects of the murder. Butch Balmaceda, the guard on duty hired by Julio Rodrigo, was wearing sunglasses indoors and appeared too drunk to be fully cognizant of what was happening. We saw him smoking quite a bit of cigarettes and heavily sweating through his polo. He admitted feeling stressed because his wife was in the hospital and he terribly needed money to pay for the bills.

    Amidst all his reasoning, he could be just lying or feeling a pang of guilt for murdering someone (thus the sweating, drinking, and fidgeting) in exchange of money out of desperation. If he were really the killer, it still wasn’t clear who could have hired him and why the murder had to be done.

    Moving on, we found the car we were looking for. Inside were a ticking bomb, bags, some documents, and a box labeled with the name “Julian Rodriguez.”

    The car had a dent on the back corner by the trunk. Beside it was a finished can of San Miguel beer which we thought could be a trace of Butch Balmaceda as he came clean on drinking the same can of beer earlier.

    Could Butch be the one who had set up the bomb? This would only make sense if he had the car key. Our next questions were: who drove the car and whose car was it?

    Suspect # 2

    Next, we interviewed Nicholas Magnus and learned that the car was his and Manu was the name of the driver who drove him that day. With these info, our minds wandered on the possibilities that either Magnus planted the bomb in the car so he could claim insurance or Manu the driver did it with another hidden agenda.

    The reason why Magnus’ last name wasn’t taken after his father was that he was born out of wedlock from Valdez’s second wife. Also because of this, many believed that it was not right for an illegitimate son to be handed down the major shares of the company and become its most powerful controlling entity.

    Suspect # 3

    Julio Rodrigo was one among those who opposed the idea—for without the presence of Magnus, he could have been the next lawful successor of Commercenter. He strongly stressed though that he would not reach the point of killing someone just to be at the top.

    When asked why he did not think of starting up his own business and maybe even compete with Commercenter, he said he loved the company so much like his own “baby.” Hence, he could not forgo the thought of leaving it despite that he remained as the head of security as originally appointed.

    Suspect # 4

    While we were having dinner, we’ve known Manu Tinio as the guy in white barong walking around the sides of the dining hall.

    After the incident, we saw him outside the mall wearing a black polo.

    Why did he change clothes and why was he not found with everyone with us inside when the commotion took place? He said that food spilled on his barong and he had to make security rounds in the mall building to secure the perimeter as part of his job being the assistant head of security next to Julio Rodrigo.

    When asked if he knew Magnus’ driver (who goes with the same name “Manu”), he said no nonchalantly. His expression didn’t betray his speech.

    Suspect # 5

    Working in Commercenter for 25 years, Rina Cruz personally did know Valdez and she would be compensated with a commission from the insurance if anything goes awry with the company. She was found carrying a logbook containing all the “time in” and “time out” entries of employees at Commercenter. We noted the entry log of Manu Tinio and discovered that it did not matched the time of arrival he stated. We were then convinced that Manu Tinio was a liar. Conversely, it was also possible that Rina altered the logs to further complicate weaves in the murder mystery.

    As the operations manager in charge of all the staff sourcing in the mall, Rina must be holding critical personal information of people being hired in Commercenter. Since the “Manu Tinio” we met previously held the same surname as Tinio, the former partner of Valdez and Rodrigo, we inquired on the odds that the two could be related. Additionally, we asked if she’s aware that “Manu Tinio” was the same “Manu” pertained as Magnus’ driver. Rina denied both accounts and told us these could be passed off as mere coincidences.

    Case Analysis

    It was 20 minutes before the two-hour limit and we had to fill out the accusation sheet and evidence sheet to be surrendered at the end of the game for evaluation. We initially decided that Butch Balmaceda was the killer because there were more evidence to back the accusation and support its demise.

    Fortuitously, we ran across the Emergency Exit at the second floor and found more solid proofs that convinced us to change our answer and conclude that the real suspect was Manu Tinio. My gosh lah! White barong with blood stains, gun, picture of the founders, Marlboro cigarette box—all these were solid indications that pointed to him.

    A bartender named Cocoy testified that he smoked with Manu Tinio a while back and that it was only Manu Tinio who wore the same barong.

    The guy wanted revenge because of the falling out of Valdez and Tinio. It’s vague for me though how Manu Tinio was related to the founder Tinio.

    Wrap Up

    Breakout Philippines has taken interactive entertainment to a whole new level. Whodunnit, Breakout Interactive Theater’s first public release, fell in the same vein as the unpredictable and suspenseful nature of CSI, Sherlock, etc. It’s the perfect game for detectives at heart! 🙂 Everything was planned out well in the mall. The great acting of the cast, the realistic plot and setting, and the game mechanics helped build the excitement that fueled us participants to compete and unravel the mystery.

    Watch out for more crime solving cases and detective work by Breakout Philippines next time. 🙂

    Thanks, Franc, for the invite!

     

  • Anatomy of KTG Mooncake Festival + Dice Game 2014

    Anatomy of KTG Mooncake Festival + Dice Game 2014

    It’s that time of the year again when we play the dice game and eat mooncakes in honor and in celebration of the Mid-autumn Harvest or Mooncake Festival (中秋节). In the Philippines, this is popular among Filipino-Chinese communities. Many years back, we used have to hopia and mooncakes (月饼) as prizes in the mooncake dice game (pua tiong chiu). Now we have plenty of variety of prizes ranging from food, fancy pen and paper, to just about everything the event hosts and organizers can think of! It’s good to have more options than grow tired of eating the same traditional mooncake every time.

     
    Last week, I was invited by Richie to join the KTG Mooncake Festival + Dice Game in Astoria Plaza, Escriva Drive, Pasig. KTG means Kain Tulog Gang (Eat Sleep Gang)a. k. a. “many of the country’s top food bloggers.” I’m not sure if they mean it in the literal sense. 😛 At least for myself, I’d like to think that there’s more WORK happening in between. Haha! Anyway, I knew it was going to be fun so I came. ☆完美的一天!☆

    Anatomy of KTG Mooncake Festival + Dice Game 2014

    September 6, 2014—Everyone was excited to play the mooncake dice game. More than playing though, I felt that everyone was excited to eat. Why not? There’s lots of food to indulge in, thanks to our loving sponsors:

    Packed dinner of Beef Pot Roast with Buttered Vegetables from GraceY’.s Gourmet Kitchen c/o Grace Yambao-Go

    15 boxes of Chewy Buns and Beef Pastry Puff Canape from Orange Whisk Restaurant and Patisserie c/o Korinne Lirio

    2 special boxes of Mooncakes from Makati Shangri-La, Manila

    2 special boxes of Mooncakes and 40 mini pieces snow skin for dessert from Spring by Ha Yuan PLUS GCs totaling PhP 6,000

    15 packs of assorted Jam Foods Angus Tapa worth over PhP 2000 each from Michelle Navarro Cu-Unjieng

    15 packs of Chorizo De Cebu Philippines from Kevin Vitug

    15 boxes of Kat’s Café cupcakes from Katrece Gamo

    Dessert buffet from My Pink Wasabi c/o Anna Chua

    Lechon Degustacion at Pepita’s Kitchen with SUPER SUMAN from Dedet Dela Fuente

    Pork Belly by Diplahan Lechon from Benjamin Abelarde

    After dinner, Ahia Richard asked us to pick a number to indicate our grouping and order in the dice game. We were over 30 people in one room so we divided ourselves into two tables. For the benefit of first-timers, he also explained the rules on how to play (you may read it here). Basically, each player gets to roll six dice. The different combinations will result in different prizes.

    I picked 15A (table A number 15)—which happened to be a really unfortunate number! I think I took home the least number of prizes. Yes, I couldn’t believe it myself. 😆

    The dice game gets repetitive but the thrill of winning loads of prizes in every round by luck keeps the fun and excitement going. From rolling winning dice combinations, Sumi and Kathi won as “chong-guan” in our table, while Chef Anna won as the grand prize winner in theirs. 🙂

    With good company, good food and fun prizes, everyone had a great time and went home feeling like a winner. Congratulations to all! 祝大家中秋节快乐。 但愿人长久，千里共婵娟！