Tivoli Royale Country Club Marks 1st Anniversary: Recognizes People on Founders Night

This evening was quite nice as I ventured to a little known place called Tivoli Royale Country Club in Quezon City. It's a couple minutes drive at the back of Ever in Commonwealth. It's a haven especially for those who like sports since it houses facilities that cater to that; amidst a backdrop of fancy neighborhoods, gotti looking pool, and indoor amenities that could rival the best ones in the country.

Today marks their 1st anniversary, and to celebrate that, they held a Founders Night. Tivoli Royale Country Club just welcomed 405 new members during the occasion held at their badminton gym this evening, May 26th. They have spruced up the place and now bares indoor and outdoor facilities where families of club members can enjoy life's pleasures all in the same grounds. The same venue can also double as pickleball, volleyball and tennis courts so imagine the things you can experience as a member, to your friends and family as well.

Aside from the members, executives, VIP's and celebrities graced the occasion, and yes, they started the celebration with the fun antics and comedy of famed comedian Wacky Kiray.

Wacky Kiray also made sure there's some semblance of audience participation. He invited a couple of folks to a game where they would sing, dance, and enjoy his brand of comedy to the delight of the audience. It was fun especially when he had to go to different areas where bald guys were, asking if he was his twin.

Tivoli Royale also has also brought out the guns with really good cuisine from their prime restaurant Royale Lounge. I must say, I've dined twice in different events in this place and the food they served has always been divine.

 

 

Tivoli's Executive Chef Emmanuel Jonnel Roxas made sure the quality of food they serve is top notch, and everyone behind the success of Tivoli Royal Country Club be served with the best out of their kitchen.

Tivoli Royale Country Club also recognized their most loyal members, their very industrious employees and those who have spent years with them. We all saw how proud their peers are especially those who come from their own departments.

I'd like to take this bit to congratulate the men and women behind TIVOLI ROYALY COUNTRY CLUB and the successful mounting of this event. You deserve the awards you got during this Founders Night. If you would like to inquire about membership or like to schedule a visit, please head on to their official site tivoliroyalecountryclub.com or their social channels facebook.com/officialtivoliroyalecountryclub or instagram.com/tivoliroyalecountryclub__.

Filipino Actor DINGDONG DANTES is POLICE LIFESTYLE's Global Brand Ambassador on its 40th Anniversary

God must have spent a little more time on Primetime King Dingdong Dantes when he made him. He's a very talented actor, host, Dad to Zia and Sixto and a loving husband to the queen Marian Rivera-Dantes. He's very passionate with sports, motorcycles, and just about any adrenaline inducing activity. He also does it with style, panache and swag without even trying to.

 

He's the perfect fit to represent Police Lifestyle. They have been in the industry for 40 years. Today, he's been hailed as the first and only Filipino brand ambassador together with British F1 Racer Lewis Hamilton. In fact, they've already graced a huge billboard in New York City's Times Square.  Executives from the brand graced the event yesterday at Ideal Vision and Watch Republic at SM Mall of Asia in Pasay City. 

To mark the special occasion, Mr. Dantes was awarded with a special edition POLICE 40th Anniversary Sunglasses with serial number 001. Their call is "AUDACITY WANTED", a term to describe their products and a man's ability to not just exude machismo, but to make it evolved and timeless.

Here are some highlights from the event and a few minutes of the interview that was facilitated by the fabulous Frank Briones, the President of Thinline Advertising. We also included a few minutes to showcase the watches and eyewear that was on display at Ideal Vision and Watch Republic. Dingdong Dantes also went to these stores to say hi to patrons, fans, and the staff. Man was able to spend time taking photos with them too. It was so gracious of him to do that despite his busy schedule.

For those who would want to see what POLICE LIFESTYLE has to offer, they update their Facebook page quite often so just search PoliceLifestyle on the platform. Dingdong also mentioned plans to be in Tokyo, Japan to appear together with other brand ambassadors of Police. Mr. Dantes will be in a few more materials, so stay tuned for that as well.

Congratulations Mr. Dingdong Dantes, you've done the country proud!

Pretty Secret and Jillian Ward Launch Mermaid Collection

To say we can't get enough of JILLIAN WARD is going to be an understatement today as we get to be with her during her Meet and Greet event at Watsons The Block at SM North Edsa yesterday. It's for the launch of their collaboration with makeup brand Pretty Secret that's been taking the metro by storm, plus we did get to enjoy a movie of The Little Mermaid too afterwards, check out this video I prepared about the highlights of the event:

The theme for the occasion was Mermaids, and during the meet and greet, Jillian and the brand's fans used the make up and dressed up clad in the same colorway, it was really fun to see! Jillian was also asked much about her makeup process, she likes them colorful and bright hence the "Hello Sea! Mermaid" collection. There were also several things in the line that you'll really appreciate.

First is Jillian's favorite the Mermaid Eyeshadow Palette. It's got coral, turquoise, pink and mermaid shades on it which you can mix up for daily wear or special occasions. I like the Mermaid Eyelash Curler, with its specially designed mermaid tail as handles, you just know they took time designing it. There's also the Groom and Go Tinted Eyebrow Mascara with Free Spoolie that can get you a smooth, non sticky finish that also lasts long. Imagine the things you can do with it from office to date night. She also suggests the use of the Mermaid Powder Pact Foundation which can control oil, cover your blemishes and has got UV protection. These are just some of the things you can use for those who want to be #MadeToBeMermaid.

Make sure you visit WATSONS stores and SM Beauty sections as it will all be sold exclusively on these stores nationwide. Just go and ask for Pretty Secret, the pigment is bright you'll love it especially on those special days!

Congratulations Jillian! Hope there will be more products from Pretty Secret that you can showcase very soon!

WARNER BROTHERS: 100 Years Of Celebrating Every Story at SM Malls #WB100

Had so much fun over at Warner Brothers' 100th Year Celebration at the SM North Edsa's THE BLOCK Atrium yesterday. Throngs of DC, Potterheads, every WB cartoon fan from all over Metro Manila converged at this place in what seem to be a piece of WB heaven!

It's a set, complete with the iconic WB water tower at the center with installations of different costumes from Superman, Batman, Wonderwoman, Harry Potter on the left, whilst on the right side there's Bugs Bunny, Daffy Duck, Porky Pig, Marvin the Martian and a souvenir area you can purchase shirts from the WB world, we were all like a kid in a candy store. Kids also dressed up as their favorite superheroes whilst the parents pretended they were there to take care of the kids but ended up buying even more than them LOL!

Warner Brothers also held raffle draws of WB merch, for the lucky mall goers and VIP's, they did it several times to the delight of the winners (including me but unfortunately I was in a bathroom break). SM Executives were also there to join the public in celebrating this momentous occasion!

Here's what happened on video that afternoon!

 

Here's a little tour around the display area, it's really a good place to take tons of photos so if you are in the area, please indulge with your favorite WB characters and make your own story! There's also a limited edition Looney Tunes x DC designed merch, make sure you take advantage of that!

This will be in THE BLOCK Atrium up until June 4, but don't fret if you're a little far from the area, it will be toured in different malls til the last quarter. Go to SM Fairview from July 10 to 22, SM Novaliches on July 16 to 31, SM San Lazaro June 19 to 30, SM BF on June 13 to 20, SM Sucat on June 23 to July 2, SM Bicutan from July 7 to 16, SM East Ortigas on July 28 to August 13, SM San Mateo from August 4 to 20, SM Marikina on August 18 to September 3, SM Taytay on August 25 to September 10 and SM Masinag on September 8 to 24.

Come join thousands of fans across the country who would want to make their own stories, celebrate 100 years of Warner Brothers history on these locations, see you all there!

JILLIAN WARD is your DreamGirl

Seeing Jillian Ward again after her very posh debut (a few months ago) I can say, it was about time! Her show even then was already successful, but evidently, it has become something BIG these days, every home knows who Dr. Analyn is from "Abot Kamay Na Pangarap". The series has also transcended every age, as seen on social media, people have been rooting for the genius doctor. They are continuing to do so, and today, part of the reason to be happy is her being the celebrity endorser for DreamGirl. 

Currently they have one product out in the market, particularly the DreamSkin by DreamGirl GluKoGen Soap. What it promotes is giving you that toned healthy glow. With regular use, it could give you brighter, younger looking skin. Aside form that, they have DreamGlow by DreamGirl Hand and Body Lotion with SPF50 PA+++. It's a non greasy lotion that can also give you protection from harmful UV rays to prevent it from darkening. It'll be out soon so if you want to know more about it, be sure to follow their social channel here.

Jillian says "I personally have used the products first before endorsing it. Taking good care of your skin has been something that I just do, because it's the base of everything, before you even put makeup. Playing the role of Dr. Analyn in "Abot Kamay na Pangarap" was a bit difficult because you won't be able to use heavy make-up almost all the time. You would depend on your skin, and make sure it's clear, without blemishes can still make you look good on camera."

Here's part of our interview with her that morning.

 

Again, if you would like to know more about the brand, follow their social channels and see more of Jillian Ward there!

PUREGOLD Showcases Romance Web Series at TNAP Convention

Just had so much fun seeing A LOT of Filipinos take the long way to enjoy savings at the yearly Tindahan ni Aling Puring aka TNAP Sari-Sari Store Negosyo Convention 2023. The crowd was no joke, bearing their own carts and brands came in tons to make sure the best deals for them were available til doors closed at the World Trade Center in Pasay City. 

We were also there to interview the cast of "Ang Lalaki sa Likod ng Profile", a web series shown at The Puregold Channel on YouTube. They've done so many entertaining shows there, so if you haven't subscribed yet, this may well be the reason to do so. 

Meet Wilbert Ross, he plays Bryce, a gamer in the series. He's proven time and time again that he's just not lucky in love. Through suggestions from friends, he began using an app in hopes that his fortune changes. There he met Yukii Takahashi who plays Angge. Their conversation was light, a bit romantic, and while he was innocently describing his ideal girl, it was just HER. 

Wilbert has really nice words to say about Yukii, who although only has been in the industry for about a year, has made work quite easy for him and the whole cast of "Ang Lalake Sa Likod ng Profile". He talked about it lengthily on this video, and a few things about pairings he's had in the past. Please, enjoy!

 

We also got some highlights off the press conference when they got on stage, it was nice to see Director and Producer Chris Cahilig talk about the current Director of the show Victor Villanueva who he says was a person he only dreamed to work with. Puregold executives also went there and supported the cast, telling how important the series they come out with on the channel to make sure their messages would come across different demographics especially the consumers who regularly shop at Puregold.

 

Aside from Wilbert and Yukii, cast members Kat Galang, Migs Almendras, VJ Mendoza, Ms. Marissa Sanchez,  Star Orjaliza, Moi Marcampo, TJ Valderrama and Anjo Resurreccion were there to answer questions from the press. It was fun watching them attest to the love story of Bryce and Angge because they too were a little giddy from getting teased on stage. People from all ages would certainly love this!

As you cans see, every Puregold Tindahan Ni Aling Puring event is jam packed like this! It was insane to see a lot of people in one place, Puregold is certainly doing good!

Producer/Director Chris Cahilig also announced a film competition which they are working on, they will announce more details about it in the coming weeks, so stay tuned! There's so much more than just Puregold being so generous every year. The stories they tell through these web series just make me realize how important it is for people to learn while enjoying a good show. Congratulations to the cast and The Puregold Channel, can't wait for the last episode to run so you can do a second season of this. I have enjoyed the story!

SPARKS CAMP - First Queer Dating Show in the Philippines

Is dating difficult these days? Have you been looking for that certain spark? Be ready as 10 single guys gets the ball rolling in the country's first queer dating reality show called "SPARKS CAMP". The show will be premiered this Wednesday at Black Sheep's YouTube channel and yes, netizens have certainly noticed.

I've seen how people reacted on Twitter, some thirsty for conversations. At the helm is Director Theodore Boborol who has been part other hit shows like PBB and MMK among others. Patrick Valencia and Daniel Saniana also wrote the script. Patrick has done "Hanging Out", "The Third Party",  hit web show "Hello Stranger". Daniel on the other hand did "Sila Sila" apart from his other works. Hosting the show is Ms. Mela Habijan who's been a stern supporter and part of the LGBTQIA+ community.

Director Theodore says "We are very excited to let you see the show Sparks Camp, I hope you enjoy the show and hear who you are rooting for in the camp."

Mela says "Happy pride! This is the first queer reality dating show, it's difficult for the community and hope this sparks conversations especially in the queer community."

Here are highlights from this evening's mediacon, enjoy!

People will love the cast, as campers Dan, Nick, Gabe, Justin, Stanley, Karl, Aaron, Alex, Bong, Nat will be trying their luck in finding the one who will give them that spark. This is part of the throng of content that ABSCBN is putting out on YouTube, make sure you watch and take part in the conversation. Remember, May 24 at 8pm, in Black Sheep's YouTube channel.

Patrick Valencia in the end adds "This is our labor of love and hope you spread the word, thank you!"

PS. Got the chance to see the first episode, which you shouldn't miss so you get to know the guys before they try to see if there's real spark!

XOXO Unleashes New Upbeat OPM Song GLNG (Go Lang Ng Go!)

I'm sure I'm not alone in saying that we miss XOXO. They're GMA's premiere girl group that's got super powerful vocals, and has very successful individual acting careers too. Members Lyra, Dani, Real and Mel started the event quite excited, showing why they're one of the most sought after performers by telling stories that made us all roll in laughter prior to them singing. They've got A LOT of personality, they can work out a crowd and get away with it. They're also great ambassadors of body positivity and about loving who you are no matter what color, race or ethnicity is. They pointed out how varied they are and proved how talent, music, encompasses everything!

This foray to OPM is somewhat a new endeavor for them. They made sure it's got dance, more upbeat than usual because it's something that is supposed to inspire you when you're down. It's something that could encourage you to learn, and leave those worries behind especially when you're with people who support you like friends and family. This is where they say "Go Lang ng Go!", here's where they performed it for us that evening!

@kumagcow UPBEAT SONG GLNG (GO LANG NG GO) RELEASED BY XOXO Under GMA Music #EntertainmentPH #tiktokshowbizreporter #ppop ♬ original sound - John Bueno

I didn't get to talk to her after the show, but she's my bias if you could say that. If you haven't seen Muriel on TikTok, you should definitely give her a follow. She's not only entertaining, showcasing her powerful vocals there, but takes time to tell different stories that touch the heart, interacting with her fans is certainly something that she does quite good, but something tells me she's gotten busy that she doesn't stream live as much anymore, but that's a good thing. It only means they're rising, doing performances not just in the country, but abroad too. 

Which reminds me, Lyra, Dani, Real and Mel will be at the Best of P-POP and S-POP Concert this coming June 11. It will be held at the Esplanade Recital Studio and is produced by AOR Global Pte. Ltd. so make sure you get your tickets prior to the show. As said, there's going to be several groups performing with them like BGYO and BINI, plus a few more Singapore based artists so make sure you get tickets at sistic.com.sg as early as now because it's going to be absolutely crazy! They also told us they're very excited to work with fellow Filipino PPOP groups which they haven't done in quite a while. Here's how our interview with them that evening!

So if you're loving what you are hearing, go stream them on Spotify and other streaming platforms where available. Again, this is produced by GMA Music (who had their executives there btw). Thank you for the opportunity to talk with you XOXO! Can't wait for more music, take OPM where you're goin!

VOLTES V Legacy's Big Bert Matt Lozano Releases 3rd Single "LIHAM"

I've known Matt Lozano for a couple of years now. When he started in the industry, we've known him for being a really emotional singer, likened to the John Mayer style we've all known to love. He's done several covers, but have began releasing a few singles including "Kwarto" under GMA Music, "Walang Pipigil" which was done in 2021, and now a new single called "LIHAM" under the same label.

LIHAM is a lot different from its predecessors. Much of it is because of the fact that he did this in just a few minutes, stemmed from raw emotions which he showed to producers later on and published with GMA Music. It's also about moving on, finding yourself, and see how you could recover from a heartbreak. Surely, this will resonate with a lot of people. He gave us a live performance of it here!

@kumagcow VOLTES V LEGACY's BIG BERT aka @mattlozanomusic sings LIHAM his 3rd single under @gmamusic #voltesvlegacy #mattlozano #EntertainmentPH #tiktokshowbizreporter ♬ original sound - John Bueno

Matt Lozano has been dreaming of this day, to finally get the fruits of his labor... especially in the acting work he's done these past few years doing Voltes V: Legacy. He's been lauded by critics in movie/TV reviews. To say he's done a great job in reprising the role of Big Bert would certainly be an understatement. He's thankful for the opportunities that are opening up for him as Voltes V: Legacy becomes a household favorite for Filipinos everywhere.

Check out our interview with him here:

I don't know if Matt Lozano is single, but if he is, he's surely going to have a lot of ladies loving him for his singing. Go stream "LIHAM" on Spotify and other streaming platforms. There's also a lyric video which they shot while recording coming out on YouTube, so make sure you're subscribed to GMA Music's YouTube channel.

Thank you Matt! I'm so happy to see how your career has taken flight. Congratulations!

TCL Set Asia Pacific Launch in Thailand This 2023

Folks in Bangkok Thailand are in for a treat as TCL brings its latest products for their Asia Pacific launch. This includes the rumored Min LED QLED TV's, a couple more domestic home appliances, and several smart devices. This will all happen on May 25 at the Centara Grand's Central World in Thailand's capital.

In the event, they're expecting to announce TCL's roadmap which will include the Mini LED QLED units, air conditioners, and TCL's many breakthroughs in recent years. Their goal is to continue to "Inspire Greatness!", and this includes taking bold steps to make sure their process and production remains sustainable and continue to have technical advancements in the products they release. This is why TCL has remained to be the go to brand of countless individuals around the world.   

Make sure you follow them on their social channels and main website TCL.com to get a glimpse of what's next for them.

It's where you'll Discover the Unimagined!

Timmy Llana and Maxine Medina: Choosing Their Wedding Rings

It's surreal to see how LOVE happens at the most opportune time. Some may call it serendipity, some may call it fate, but in the case of Dive Master Timmy Llana and Miss Universe Philippines 2016 Maxine Medina, it would have been a case of marrying "The One That Got Away".

They went to the same school and had the same circle of friends. He was smitten the first time he laid her eyes on her, but she was young, boyish, had that athletic mindset to think about relationships. Volleyball was the only thing she wanted to do that time. He drove her home a couple of times, and felt taken cared of. 

Nothing romantic came of it, but they remained friends, communicated and then didn't get to talk for a couple of years after that. Maxine then went to win the Miss Universe Philippines title to represent the country for Miss Universe pageant in 2016, right after Pia's reign and eventually, got to the Top 6. After that, she went on to became a celebrity, appearing different successful TV shows, movies, and hosting stints which she remains to do today.    

Got to talk to Timmy and Maxine at J's Diamond in Trinoma during the time they were choosing the designs for their wedding ring.

Timmy prefers the classic design (left), one that could be worn for years and doesn't go out of style. Maxine on the other hand plans to have her rings layered (right) when she wears it. She chose simple but elegant design which is currently is in yellow gold. All would be custom made by J's Diamond in white gold. The one on the far right is a diamond crusted band, she loves it and plans to pass it on for generations to come. These two rings will be paired with the existing marquise shaped diamond ring (her engagement ring), an heirloom piece she got from Timmy's family.

Here's how our conversation over lunch went:

 

Here's a short tour inside the store, and some moments with Timmy and Maxine that afternoon:

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A post shared by John Bueno (@kumagcow)

 

Maxine's love for the sun, sand and the sea got her reconnected with Timmy. They felt it wasn't much of formalities and courtship that happened, the friendship just blossomed into this. She attributes it to her ability to go with the flow, they just kinda knew it was LOVE and embraced it. Timmy saw how they grew closer while doing the things they love (with so much passion), particularly diving. It just so happened that he was a Dive Master, and says they were just at the right place and the right time. 

From a friendship that spanned almost 20 years, and being in a relationship for 5 years, Timmy and Maxine plan to start a family after their wedding in October. They hope to have twins as he's had family who are too . Maxine wants to pursue A LOT of things still, and continue her showbiz career plus other businesses she plans to do in the future (quips she can multitask). She's currently doing "Magandang Dilag" with Herlene Budol and other GMA stars. She says it'll be shown next month, make sure you watch out for that!

Their story could have ended a long time ago, but you see, LOVE has its ways. This too proves how friends, old flames, the things you are passionate about can spark affection and relationships. Hope their story inspires you. I mean who knows?! That person who genuinely care for you might just be THE ONE.

 

Congratulations Timmy and Maxine! Again, thank you for the opportunity to interview and get to know you on a more personal level. I'll be cheering from the bleachers like I did during your Miss U stint!

P.S. If you want to know more about J's Diamond, just search the same on Facebook. You may also visit their official site jsdiamond.com.ph and book appointments there.

ASUS Launches Incredibly Slim 2023 Zenbook Laptops

Took the hot trip to ASUS Philippines recent event as they take innovation up a notch once again with the newest #IncrediblySlim Zenbook laptops. No question on the power and specs (I own one that's a few years old and swear by it), but the changes in these new line made me wonder, how do they make it ultra thin and light like this? Imagine, only a centimeter thick and about a kilogram... that's a lot different from laptops a few years back.

That's not all, because as soon as they put them into a smaller, thinner and lighter form factor, they made it with less impact in the environment with sustainability in mind (both on product and packaging). I love it when they take the step further. During the event, they revealed the new Zenbook S 13 OLED (UX5304), the Zenbook 14 Flip OLED (UP3404) and Zenbook Pro 14 OLED (UX6404). These are three new laptops made really slim, fit for those who would need to carry it around (students and professionals), or travel to a different place/country.

The new technology starts with its ASUS Lumina OLED Display which gives users an excellent visual experience for work and play.  Just like its recent predecessors, it's set to higher contrast and deeper blacks. It's also got 70 percent less blue light which means you'll get less eye strain if used for long hours. 

The Zenbook S13 OLED (UX5304) is also the thinnest in the world. It also uses recycled materials for the packaging and parts. They've managed to reduce the carbon footprint  to 50 percent in its production. Out of the box, it is equipped with an Intel Core i7 processor, has 16 GB of RAM and 512 GB of storage.

The Zenbook 14 Flip OLED (UP3404) on the other hand is a work of art. It's got a body capable of doing a 360 degree fold hence the name. You can treat it as a laptop, a stand, tent or a tablet just by flipping it around. Imagine the things you could do with it especially if you need to present, small gatherings, meetings, things that could make life easier for you without lugging around a huge projector for it. I've seen it first hand and among the products released today, I had my eye on this because it could make sharing content easy especially for school or work. It also comes with an ASUS Pen that would get your drawing sessions, sketching, writing and pressing buttons quite easy than usual. It also uses the same processor, memory and storage as the previous one.

The Zenbook Pro 14 OLED (UX6404) on the other hand already impressed a lot of people, giving it a respectable award, the 2023 Red Dot Product design. The difference is the graphics hardware which uses an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 GPU. It's built for creators, uses the ASUS DialPad for Adobe Creative Software. Running programs and rendering would probably cause heat but no worries, it's got ASUS IceCool Pro thermal technology that would take good care of that. It also has a dedicated MUX Switch to make sure resources for your laptop would be sufficient for your graphics work, or a few rounds of third person shooting games that it could accommodate during your leisure time. We might have to ask for a review unit soon so I could play around with it, I bet it'll be a remarkable piece of technology. If you want to know more, just head on to ASUS Philippines social channels and their main website just by searching the model numbers we were discussing today. I'm sure it'll impress you too!