So Much More to Love! TLC Festival returns as Discovery Festival at Bonifacio High Street on 8th December

Have you heard? The highly-anticipated food and lifestyle festival is coming back on Saturday, 8th December to Bonifacio High Street! With a record high of over 100,000 showing up at last year’s TLC festival, fans can certainly look forward to a freshly curated concept in 2018. This year, there will be more brands, more excitement, and so much more to love as we return as DISCOVERY FESTIVAL, showcasing our expanded portfolio – from food, travel, lifestyle, culture to adventure. 

Step into the world of all that is Discovery, and come get all starry-eyed with our celebrities from Animal Planet, TLC and Asian Food Channel! Hear first-hand from Animal Planet star, Amanda Giese,on how she rehabilitates and rehomes animals in Amanda To The Rescue, and adopt a pet or two at the adoption booth in partnership with PAWS. TLC star Whitney Thore has got the moves, so comejoin her for a dance workout as she celebrates female body positivity and self-love. Also watch out for the intense cook-off between mother-and-son pair Sherson and Ann Lian, and Anton Amonciofrom Asian Food Channel; while the ever-bubbly Janet Hsiehreturns to team up with gourmet personality Sarah Huang Benjaminto whip up a delectable salted egg dish together on stage!

Come usher in the holidays with us at DISCOVERY FESTIVAL this year. Here’s what you cannot miss:

• Come by Discovery Channel’s Gas Monkey Garage and check out our line-up of classic vintage cars

• Feeling plucky? Surprise yourself with a henna tattoo on your arm, with complete freedom granted to the artist

• Get your beloved pet a complimentary massage and check-upby our resident veterinarian at the Animal Planet booth

• Swing by the TLC zone to pick up latte art or try your hand at making a watercolor Christmas card! Sign up for the two workshops here.

• Spruce up the holidays with HGTV with a handmade Christmas wreath, and go home with some unique décor finds at the artisanal Home Bazaar. Sign up for the Christmas wreathworkshop here.

• If you get the hunger pangs, Asian Food Channel has it covered with an array of mouth-watering bites guaranteed to delight!

So save the date, and come down with your family and friends to Bonifacio High Street on 8th December. Admission is free and more details are available on http://www.discoveryfestival.net/. See you there!

TEAM LAKAY HONORED IN BAGUIO CITY’S CHAMPIONS PARADE

Baguio City, Philippines: Team Lakay were honored with a Champions Parade last Sunday, 2 December. Members of the world champion martial arts stable took to the streets of Baguio City in a motorcade to celebrate their achievements in 2018. 

In attendance were ONE Championship superstars including ONE Lightweight World Champion Eduard “Landslide” Folayang, ONE Bantamweight World Champion Kevin “The Silencer” Belingon, ONE Flyweight World Champion Geje “Gravity” Eustaquio, and ONE Strawweight World Champion Joshua “The Passion” Pacio.

Accompanying the ONE World Champions were teammates Honorio “The Rock” Banario, Edward “The Ferocious” Kelly, Stephen “The Sniper” Loman, as well as Team Lakay head coach Mark Sangiao, among others.

Eduard Folayang, ONE Lightweight World Champion, stated:

“We are just normal citizens of Baguio City with big dreams. We worked hard to achieve our goals and now we’re here. We believe the Cordilleran can compete with anyone in the world and we have what it takes to be the best in our chosen field. Hard work and dedication is all it takes to achieve success. The great thing about martial arts is that it’s not just about fighting, it’s about living. Martial arts is a way of life. It’s our way of life. It’s pushing through adversity, taking on any challenge and using the human spirit to achieve victory.”

Kevin Belingon, ONE Bantamweight World Champion, stated:

“I just want to thank everyone for the support. It means a lot to the team, and it means a lot to me. Thank you to the city of Baguio for organizing this motorcade for us. Thank you for the continued support for all martial artists and athletes here in Baguio and the Cordilleras. It is an honor to hold this belt in front of you all. It is an honor to be your champion.”

Geje Eustaquio, ONE Flyweight World Champion, stated:

“We always say at Team Lakay that champions are not born, they are made. But we were made because of the people of Baguio City. We never claim victory as our own. This has always been the fruit of teamwork -- the people behind the scenes: our family, our fans and supporters, sponsors and Filipinos all over the world. We feed off your positive energy and it serves as inspiration for us. We would never be able to achieve all that we have without your support. There are more victories to come, and together, we can reach all of our goals.”

Joshua Pacio, ONE Strawweight World Champion, stated:

“Thank you everyone for all the support and prayers. It’s a happy time in Baguio City, where we can celebrate all our victories as one. This isn’t just our triumphs, but also the triumph of the entire Cordilleras. We pour in all the hard work, to improve and to keep getting better. We train during holidays, weekends, and sacrifice so much to bring glory to our country and to our city. But we could never have any success without your love and support. This year, we proved that the Philippines is world-class in martial arts. Next year, we plan to do the same again.”
For more updates on ONE Championship, please visit www.onefc.com, follow us on Twitter and Instagram @ONEChampionship, and like us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/ONEChampionship.

TOY KINGDOM’S AMAZING HOLIDAY WISH LIST

Dream of a magical adventure with this 38” Giant Unicorn Plush from Toy Kingdom. Available in purple, white and pink colors

Toy Kingdom brings you the most amazing and exciting holiday picks perfect to complete your wish list this year.

This Snacks and Sweet Food Cart comes with 40 play pieces for kids to create sweet and savory treats. Available at Toy Kingdom

Unlock the colorful world of Shopkins with this Lil’ Secrets Mini Playset available at Toy Kingdom. 

There are colorful dolls, fun play sets, creative learning toys and adorable plush toys that little girls will love.

Meet and play talk with your new unicorn friend Fingerlings Gemma who makes 40 sounds that you can listen to.

This Gigantic Power Rangers DX Ninja Megazord is composed of 5 zords to create a one epic and classic Megazord. Grab yours at Toy Kingdom

Boys, on the other hand, can celebrate a fun filled and action packed Christmas with the character inspired robots and figures, thrilling play sets, educational board games and all new intense blasters.

Board games are back! And the classic Monopoly has a new set of friends to play with this new Monopoly Gamer Mario Kart board game. Available at Toy Kingdom

Christmas is coming… Start making your list and play Santa into the nearest Toy Kingdom stores near you. Toy Kingdom’s Top Toys for Christmas are available at all Toy Kingdom Express outlets in The SM Stores in SM City San Jose del Monte, SM City Marilao, and SM City Baliwag. Also visit www.toykingdom.ph and follow ToyKingdomPH at Facebook for more updates.

Citi Philippines wins best foreign bank for 20th consecutive year

Citi was awarded Best Foreign Bank in the Philippines for the 20th year in a row in the FinanceAsia Annual Country Awards for Achievement. 

The annual awards recognize the best financial services firms in Asia. Citi Philippines CEO Aftab Ahmed with the award (2nd from right) celebrates with (from left) Treasury & Trade Solutions head Arlene Nethercott, Markets & Securities Services head and country treasurer Paul Favila, Consumer Bank head Manoj Varma and Corporate Banking head Vikram Singh.

BLACKWATER - A senator’s life beyond politics

Shown here with his wife Tootsy, Sen. Sonny Angara is able to balance work, play and family time while still looking hip and cool which is definitely the perfect representation of a Blackwater man. 

If Senator Sonny Angara were a scent, he would be a cool and fresh scent with citrusy notes. With his charismatic smile, pleasing personality and a compassionate heart for women, senior citizens, persons with disabilities, it’s hardly a surprise that despite setbacks in his life and career, he always comes up smelling of the proverbial roses. 

But this does not only translate in his political persona. Outside the world of politics, he is just as cool a father and husband.




The young senator was truly in his element during the recent photo shoot for Blackwater where he posed with wife Tootsy. He shared, “As a father, I’m caring and playful – I like to play with my kids. I’m not much of a disciplinarian. I let them make their own mistakes because it is all part of growing up. And as a husband, I try to be supportive as much as I can and I try to be interested in what she’s doing.”

A family man through and through, he makes sure that his days off are spent with them. “My days are hectic and structured, so I prefer my weekends to be very relaxed. Sometimes we just stay home and order food or sometimes we go to the mall. Nothing too hectic!”




Basketball is his preferred form of de-stressing. Luckily, he gets to incorporate his love for the sport with his work. He is the chair of Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP) and vice chair of the Senate sports committee. “It’s (basketball) a chance to get to see my friends and build camaraderie with my co-workers,” he said.




Aside from basketball as an exercise, getting a haircut and wearing a great scent are also his forms of self-care. “I like a nice scent. I prefer light, fresh scents that are a bit citrusy like Blackwater Aqua and Blackwater Sports 4.”




While he may have already achieved so much in his career, having sponsored and authored more than 80 laws throughout his 14 years as a legislator, he still has big dreams for himself and his family.




“I want my family to succeed. I wish for my wife to continue to succeed in her professional life. I want my son to get into a good school and I hope he keeps up with his sports activities. My daughter is thinking of a career in the arts. Whatever she wants to pursue, I will support her.”




A man who is able to balance work, play and family time while still looking hip and cool, Angara is definitely the Blackwater man.




Blackwater is the grooming line of the country’s leading cosmetics brand Ever Bilena. To learn more about Blackwater and its products, visit http://blackwater.com.ph/, and follow its Facebook page, www.facebook.com/BlackwaterForMen

Experience comfort and convenience with the new TRILL: Mattress in a Box

TRILL: Mattress in a Box, the first-ever mattress that has both a plush side and firm side, is now available in the Philippines! 

This innovative mattress can simply be flipped to suit your desired support. Available in single, double, full-double, queen and king, TRILL is compactly packed in a creative and convenient 18’’x18’’x42” standard box using the latest and most advanced technology.

It is also equipped with a comprehensive manual and tools for easy unboxing, and the box even has wheels so you can easily push or drag it towards your bedroom. What’s more, TRILL: Mattress in a Box offers a 100-night trial and free delivery to anywhere in the Philippines. Experience premium comfort and convenience and order your own TRILL: Mattress in a Box, now exclusively available at https://www.trillbyuratex.com/.

Experience the best of urban living in Quezon City

Home to many natural wonders and exciting recreational activities, the Quezon Memorial Circle is one of the reasons why it is good to live in The North. Photo by Primehomes

Nothing feels quite as nice as living comfortably in a city where everything is within reach. And for Filipinos who plan to move to the north side of the metro, Quezon City is the place to be for the best experience of premier lifestyle and residential living.

Quezon City has become a progressive and modern metropolis where all major lifestyle hot spots are found. From diverse food scenes, to exciting shopping malls and convenient facilities and centers, it is no doubt that the city has a lot to offer to satisfy most wants, needs and luxuries.

So if you’re eyeing to move in The North, here are some things you can enjoy when you live there:

Perfect hub to satisfy the foodie in you

Living in Quezon City means having access to the country’s best restaurants and food parks. Here, the food scene is lively and interesting - always offering something new to the taste buds. If the barkada is planning to go on a budget food trip, you can book your stops at StrEat Maginhawa Food Park, Boxpark, and Z Compound. You can also take the whole family on a fancy night out at any dining options you can discover along Katipunan Avenue, Tomas Morato, Banawe Street, and Congressional Avenue.




Center of best hangout locations

Weekends are never dull when you are in The North. After a long and hectic work week, you can relax and find solitude in nature at the center of a bustling city by visiting La Mesa Ecopark, Balara Filters Park, or Ninoy Aquino Parks and Wildlife. You can also unwind at Art in Island Museum or get tickets to the hottest concerts happening at The Big Dome. Quezon City is also home to two of the biggest television networks in the country and if you’re lucky, you can score entrances to enjoy live shows and see your favorite stars in person!




Second home of shopping enthusiasts

Shopaholics can also get their fashion fix with the abundance of shopping complexes and bargain shops in Quezon City. You can search for the trendiest items in department and high-end stores at SM North Edsa, UP Town Center, Gateway Cubao, or TriNoma. If you’re looking for the best finds under a budget, you can visit weekend bazaars in Eton Centris or explore hidden ukay-ukay stores within the city.

LAROSSA is an up-and-coming residential community at Capitol Hills where families can live just a stone’s throw away from all the major lifestyle spots in Quezon City. Photo by Primehomes

Thriving academic neighborhood

Another benefit of settling down in Quezon City is that you can send your kids to some of the reputable schools in the country. From elementary to college, your child can learn from world-class institutions like Miriam College, Ateneo de Manila University, and University of the Philippines. There are also outstanding pre-schools and grade schools in the area so your child can get started on the best education.


Excellent medical and wellness centers

Quezon City keeps up to its name as the City of New Horizons as the biggest and leading medical institutions and services can also be found here. Residents can be assured that their health is put first as hospitals like St. Luke’s Medical Center, Philippine Heart Center, World Citi Medical Center, and National Kidney Center are present to service any emergency needs.




Live at the center of everything

What’s exciting about Quezon City is that it has various residential options which you can avail to have access to all the best things about the city. With its spacious area of over 161 square kilometers, the metropolis is rapidly developing more housing opportunities such as townships, high-rise condominiums, and community villages to cater to Filipinos.




At Capitol Hills, Primehomes is bringing LAROSSA to provide the perfect location where you can live at the center of all the city’s hot spots. LAROSSA is an urban sustainable community composed of mid-rise, 10-storey condominiums that are elegantly designed to provide comfort and practicality to city dwellers. It also boasts of a 3.6-hectare land that showcases one of the greenest areas in the metro while offering a breathtaking view of the surrounding landscape.




So what are you waiting for? Invest in a LAROSSA property now so you can enjoy convenient and quality living where many great opportunities lie.