After Bullying Ordeal: VARGAS' Kid Shows Tough Form in Swim Meet

Proud Mom Yasmine and Dad (multi awarded actor) Alfred Vargas just posted super good news on their socials as their son Cristiano got back on the tank, something he's been looking forward to doing after the bullying ordeal he went through months ago. 

Ms. Yasmine described the time as lost opportunities since their young kid wasn't able to compete in his favorite sport, and they knew how he felt disheartened (at the time), but now surprised how he came back ready, better than ever! 

This was during the recent Milo Swim Competition where he raced with bigger kids at the 9-10 year old event. He was able to improve his previous time in different events, and came back clocking new personal bests, a feat which surprised even those who have been supporting him. They (Mom and Dad) dubbed him as their "Comeback Kid", and proudly saw how the fruits of his labor have all come true. In the meet, he was given the Most Outstanding Swimmer award in his category (Category A), this is also his second one as he won the same thing last year. 

Councilor Alfred and Ms. Yasmine credits Cristiano's new coach Mr. Manny Thruelen who went back from years of retirement just to make sure he gets the needed training for the sport. His previous team and the swim community at that time also showed their support for the kid. They were overjoyed at the sight of people, including his previous coaches Gary and JM who were there and supported him too. 

Here's their post!

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A post shared by 🌸 Yasmine E. Vargas 🌸 (@yasmine_vargas2307)

They're extremely happy and profess this as the handy work of God, and give all praises to the one above for doing this after the ordeal he went through. Congratulations Cristiano! Mom and Dad will SURELY stay behind you, and continue to LOVE you no matter what! 

PS. Quezon City has programs against bullying together with the Department of Education to make sure there are enough safe and inclusive spaces so please ask about it with your LGU's if you need help!

MAM ELMA Cries at MADDOX JEWELRY Visit: Is This About SER GEYBIN?

Social Media Vlogging royalty Mam Elma was found crying at the Maddox Jewelry showroom when she visited Ms. Charo Cordial in Marikina a few days ago. She's the long time girlfriend of Ser Geybin (aka Gavin Capinpin) and a former educator, who's also been in entertainment news recently. 

At Maddox Jewelry in Marikina, they pleasantly talked not about her personal life, but her dreams and how she shows her love for her family. Because Ms. Charo was easy to talk to, she opened up about how she wished to earn a doctorate degree in education and still make it successful in the content creation field. It's where she began to cry.

See, it was a very hard decision to actually leave her regular job as a teacher, more so because her parents were strongly against it. But she wanted to delve into content creation years ago, so she went ahead and did it. Even so, she plans to continue her studies so she had something to fall back on. She didn't want her family to worry. 

Mam Elma and Ms Charo also talked about her relationship with social media phenom Ser Geybin. Particularly the things they're enjoying before they begin thinking of getting married. It's a serious step and felt the need to still prioritize education as said by their parents. 

Here's their conversation on video: 

If you're keen in watching the heartwarming story, subscribe to their YouTube channel Maddox_Jewelry and their official social media accounts. You'll love watching their exciting live streams and interaction with celebrities.

VERDE CREATIVES Hold "Rainbow Voices: Mga Mukha at Boses ng Bahaghari" Event

June is Pride Month and with the way things are now, it has to be reiterated, that the occasion is and still is a protest.

It was an opportune time to talk about what the current status of primary concerns are of the community. This is why the folks from Verde Creatives held an event called "Rainbow Voices: Mga Mukha at Boses ng Bahaghari" (The Faces and Voices of the Rainbow). The platform seeks to have a place for community members to talk about what is important, like the good and bad things about what is happening with the LGBTQIA+,  brothers and sisters, and the phenomenal horrors on why the SOGIESC Equality bill is still not approved. 

I asked them bluntly about how it might have been all frustrating, and they said a resounding YES. Though they assured me, they never will get tired. They promise to continue the fight, but it has to be an effort done with YOU, me and the rest of the community. It'll have a huge impact when we do things together, and I've seen it happen in recent years. I'm glad it's not just the bad things that were discussed, but the good things too. 

Here's the talk on video, this was held at the Dark Roast Coffee House in Maginhawa Street, so listen in!

Verde Creatives very own Ms. Bemz Benedito, Ms. Gigi Marie Garcia of the Society of Trans Women of the Philippines (STRAP), Mx. Patrick Espino of LADLAD Partylist, Ms. Venus Ancheta-Lane, an HR Professional who is also part of the Society of Trans Women of the Philippines (STRAP), and Atty. Juliane Paul Tabarangao shared their expertise on the topic to explain where we are and how we are with regards to the causes we need to support.

Ms. Bemz reiterated "LGBT rights, trans rights are human rights. It is still not being accepted, just tolerated. It is important to celebrate Pride, it is a protest, it is important to discuss it, in platforms like Verde, to have a place to discuss things that may not be allowed in public. Thanks for giving us the voice, for letting us fight, to give solutions, but even if the faces have changed, we need to support the cause to protect LGBT or us Filipinos."

Ms. Gigi Marie Garcia adds "It's time for Trans people to change their name, markers and legal ID's for legal gender recognition. This would be a big help and our coalition will be pushing for legislation, government support for the passage of SOGIE bill. We hope this would be enacted as law, while we partner with more people to support our cause. Preferred names and gender identity is important for government transactions, and with it, we get recognized including the non binary individuals too. Our trans sisters even get offloaded because of it. STRAP hold sessions and hear so many stories about it, but names affirm the persona of the person."

Patrick Espino also shared "June is Pride month, but it has been used so many times that it is starting to be used. At times, they still call us names, but where are we now, still not where we want to be. Hate must be eradicated, it must be stopped."

While we are making progress as a society, there is still a long way to go. This effort by Verde Creatives is a really huge help to make those issues and put those points across. I hope this would put an even better perspective on letting all us know where we are, and perhaps find more ways on how we can help. I love how they pointed out that these issues are not designed to mock or put aside the fun during Pride events, because we need to celebrate our huge and small wins. 

Happy PRIDE!

29 Years of THRIVING: Forest Lake Development Inc.!

It felt good seeing Forest Lake Development Inc. hold recognition for their sales people at Okada Manila last April 21st. It was their National Sales Convention, with over 550 attendees and the theme "THRIVE: Ani ng Tagumpay". At a record breaking 5.5 Billion in sales this year compared to 3.8 Billion last year, there definitely is a reason to celebrate for this big corp. All their employees, partners and stakeholders from around the country went there including their CEO Alfred Xerez Burgos III. 

They are the leading memorial park developer and now have transformed into an entity providing total memorial care. With services like Libre Burol, Libing Anywhere, Memorial Chapels, Columbarium a d Cremation, they've surpassed their goals and continue to partner with 41 funeral homes to this day. They now have 42 memorial parks all over the Philippines and plan to launch a few more in the near future. They also got SEC approve their capital stock fom 1 Billion to 4 Billion as they plan to expand and invest in tech for their properties too.

They were also entertained by Gary Valenciano.anf PPOP boy group AZTER which got the folks excited. Top performers were also given incentives like trips to Bangkok that is all expense paid. They are now 29 years in the business, and plan to have their services make an impact in the years to come. 

Congratulations Forest Lake Development Inc.! 

GARY V Announces "INSPIRED" North American Tour

Mr. Pure Energy Gary Valenciano just got on Showtime today to promote his upcoming tour in North America, specifically in Yaamava Resort in Highland California on June 14, Thunder Valley Resort in Lincoln California on the 19th and Heinz C. Preacher Educational and Performing Arts Theater in Taylor Michigan on the 21st and Durham Convention Center in Durham North Carolina on the 27th. 

INSPIRED is Gary's musical journey designed to uplift hearts no matter what age and showcase Filipino talent on the global stage as he's been doing in the past decades. 

Gary will also be doing this tour with SUPER talented son Gabriel Valenciano. He will also be releasing a video on the 8th at 12 noon called UNSHAKEN with GARY V so there's a lot to watch out for on this tour!

Gorgeous daughter Kiama will join in on a few dates, on the 14th and 19th which you have to see. Her awards speak for itself so that's another thing to see. This will be directed by Mon Faustino. He will also be performing with Alyssa Quijano, Elke Saison Ortiz, and drummer Jonathan Regalado. Aside from that, he's also appearing on The 700 Club with Gordon Robertson on June 24th in Virginia. He is being supported by PAL, TFC, ABSCBN, ASAP XP, Tancino Law Offices, Sendwave. If you want to get tickets, call 9096802905 or email allaccessconcerts@gmail.con or thundervalleyresort.com/entertainment/events/gary-valenciano#gsc.tab=0 or call 7348469552, 5178851340, 7345162960, 7348650999 or via buy tickets.at/garyv/2180534. You can also inquire at 14158121372 or info@garyv.com. 

VINCENT CO Led PUREGOLD Increases Availability of Affordable Essentials Amidst Uncertainties

The country is experiencing a circus over at the Senate and countless Filipinos are still experiencing poverty, high gas prices and commodities have gone up. Vincent Co, the President of top market brand PUREGOLD is making sure they're putting their priorities right by committing themselves to make sure that affordable and basic necessities are within reach in all their stores nationwide. 

They just launched "Always Price Packs", to help you and I with matters concerning inflation, something that has risen in the past few years. I'm these packs, products are being sold below 100 pesos and are going to be fixed so people have something affordable to get at tough times like these. Vincent says this is their mission, to serve Filipino consumers at difficult times and add how they understand what we're going. through, and take all efforts to reach the larger population in these times. Always Price Packs are designed to help ease the burden of consumers wherever they are in the country. He hopes this would also help their loyal customers to manage their budgets, but still get something of quality. 

This is their mission, to help those in the Filipino homes in these tough times. Go visit one near you to get them deals!

(REVIEW) Watching Stars with the LUMOS FLOAT EVO Home Cinema Projector

This week, we've been very busy covering several movies, events and runs among others. For starters, some of the country's brightest love teams are having their first movie out, something their fans are raring to show up for. Then there's the Sparkle Run over at Luneta Park that had GMA's biggest stars doing it to fund various charities that they support. This also is a time for them to personally interact with their fans, something they'd been looking forward to do every year. With this schedule, we're so excited to take a few days off to get some needed rest and recreation. I wanted to watch stars where it's more private, air conditioned, and got to use our LUMOS FLOAT EVO Home Cinema Projector.

This is a smart projector, pretty much installed with YouTube, Netflix, and several TV Box Apps. It is also 4K video capable, and can do 270 degree rotation to get those movies projected from different view points. It's also got auto Keystone + auto focus that can check your walls and angles, and automatically adjust views when needed. I watched with it on my projector screen, but if I'm a little lazy, do it with our bare wall or ceiling.

This can also connect to 5G, has Bluetooth, USB and in built applications such as Netflix, YouTube, and a whole lot more. If you're a little meticulous, you can watch 4K videos on it and see sharper videos, more lively colors and better details on 4500 lumens brightness. They also delivered this quite fast, quite affordable at Php 9,999.00, as they got 50% Off its original price. Get the LUMOS FLOAT EVO Home Cinema Projector here.

Having this in my room means I get to enjoy all the content that I love. I get to watch things from a joe's point of view, including interviews we've done with stars recently. The LUMOS Float EVO Home Cinema Projector also has really good audio built in stereo speakers, all 5W without distortion. This is available in Silver and Gold (which I got) so if you're a little picky of design and things you put in your room, they've got you covered.  

Whether you want to watch in the comforts of your own room, or with a few guests, or a whole room of people, the LUMOS Float EVO Home Cinema Projector can get you do that massive display up in seconds. I'm planning to put this as a permanent fixture in one of our rooms since I've been planning to do a theater, for personal use. I can watch ALL THE STARS in my own little refuge, because I think I deserve it. If you're thinking of getting one, see their website for the full specifications. They've also got it at a good price, so don't be too complacent! It's time you do yourself a favor and get it.

Hailey's Body Essentials Introduces New Brightening Tawas Powder for the PH Market

A man or a woman's self confidence can really make or break them. In the Philippines, people get shunned by the sight of dark underarms. While for most it's okay, a person's emotions sometimes get the best of you when you become the topic of conversations between friends or family. While it's not right, Filipinas have done a lot to make sure that it doesn't happen to them. Some become okay doing nothing at all, while others have to do magic or mumbo jumbo  Most would prefer something au naturel. This is where Hailey's Body Essentials come in. 

Recently, they launched a new product called Hailey's Brightening Tawas Powder. They made an FDA approved formula that combines the deo ability of natural Tawas, and a light brightening effect in one form. This is also free from parabens, and compliant with ASEAN standards. 

It is also affordable at 18 pesos for a 50 gram tub. There's also a 12 piece pack which you can get for 216 pesos. They also got a promo going on at their TikTok and IG accounts, just use BRIGHTENNOW as your voucher to get 10 pesos off. You can also opt to buy the Buy 12 get 1 promo instead. They also have a running social media contest so read up on their posts. You could get a chance to win months of product supply, and as much as 5000 cash. 

Go use it and see if it works, tons of women got their confidence back with it. Raise those arms and show them off, you deserve to glow!

KUCHI KUCHI Unleashes New KUCHI KUCHI COOLING POWDER CITRONELLA Variant

When I read about this, I couldn't believe it exists! Best of all, it's made in the Philippines, which is why I'll get some for personal consumption and for my Mom. See, my Mom always complains about how it is super hot in the afternoons, and when she's even doing nothing, she becomes an easy target for mosquitoes, something that she has dreaded for years now. 

Kuchi Kuchi has made a Kuchi Kuchi Cooling Powder that is a Citronella Variant. This means, you get to solve 2 things at the same time,.particularly if it's too HOT (as it gives you the cooling effect) and when there's mosquitoes (as Citronella plants are known for deterring mosquitoes naturally). 

The product is also gentle, easily accessible as it is available in Shopee and Lazada. It comes in 50g and 100g bottles and cost less than a hundred pesos. For those who want a more mortar and pestle style of purchasing, fret not because it'll be available in pharmacies like Mercury Drug, Watsons, Rose Pharmacy, even stores like Puregold, SM Supermarket and Robinsons starting next month. 

Now is the time to put Kuchi Kuchi Cooling Powder Citronella in your go bags, for your Mom or kids, it's FDA approved and safe! Isn't that a good thing?!

Golden Haven Zamboanga Bags Laurels from FIABCI Property and Real Estate Awards

Looks like the good people from Zamboanga have a lot to be happy about this week as accolades came for Golden Haven Zamboanga Crematorium. They are the Gold Winner for the Outstanding Developer Category (Specialized/ Purpose Built) which was given at ceremonies held at Solaire Resort North in Quezon City. Because of their work in modern but culturally sensitive properties which addressed the needs in the region, they were given the award by FIABCI. The project was completed in 2024 and has become a center for services that accommodate families, spaces they need, rooms and crematorium services that Filipinos need. 

This is just one of many locations they cater for, which now makes the burial services needed for others a primary service they can do. Their division head Ms. Emelia Lustado proudly said that they are so proud to service families and their loved ones in the most difficult circumstances and appreciate their trust with the Golden Haven brand. They promise to always uphold standards, and innovate even more in the coming years. They hold this as their responsibility for their clients, and the community they belong to around the country. 

Congratulations on this win! May your trihe increase!

Unveiling The Future Of Trusted Solar Energy with INTEGRA R.E.

The energy crisis is happening and one of the most affected countries is of course, the Philippines. With the one of the highest rate of electricity in the world, people are left finding solutions like in renewable energy. In recent weeks, the discussion about Solar energy has been very heated. Aside from the problems of permits and regulation, the acceptance of it has been very slow. 

Despite that, the market and need for it is continuously growing, and we met the folks from Integra RE who's been in the industry since 2022. Their relaunch has been done as they've become part of Singapore based Tai Sin Electric Limited. They now serve the whole Southeast Asia and will benefit businesses in the Philippines as they do B2B work. They supply, design end to end products and devices to get that Solar energy journey started in plants, manufacturing and your own homes. 

Junrhey Castro the Regional Manager for Integra RE says "We are a B2B renewable energy supplier, some of you experienced power outages, red and yellow alerts and suffered diesel and gasoline prices. We have been in the Philippines since 2022, but have now rebranded as Integra RE. At the show, there are various suppliers and focus on batteries and solar panels, and our role is to integrate it all so it makes more sense for the Filipino household."

Here's more about our interview with him this morning:

The situation in energy has really hurt a lot of nations including the Philippines. The gap is huge, and we don't have enough buffer to make energy available and affordable for cities and it has been seen in recent yellow alerts. You could also feel the price increase in gasoline, and your bill has even shown the increase. Trust that Integra RE will push for standardization of all things solar so you could lower your electricity bills, protect yourself from fluctuating prices, become energy independent, have very low maintenance devices (to easily manage it) and have higher environmental impact overall. 

If you want to know more about Integra RE, visit their website integra-re.com. Catch their display at SMX Convention Center as they are participating in the Solar Storage solar event til the 20th (today). 

IN THE GREY: An Action Flick Asking for a Sequel

Just got out of cinemas after watching the Henry Cavill and Jake Gyllenhaal film called "In the Grey". 

The title may have been a dead giveaway but no, they managed to be really more than that. While the tale would pretty much revolve around Henry Cavill, Jake Gyllenhaal and Eiza Gonzalez' characters, it's still pretty much an ensemble movie. This was brought to the Philippines by the good folks from CreaZion Studios International and is now showing in theaters. 

The plot is pretty good by any standards, it's a Guy Ritchie film after all so we expected that. It felt like a more modern take on Miami Vice because of how cool each character was. This includes all their compatriots, some of who they asked for services before it all went down. They do it like clockwork, calculated and overpowered that the action scenes felt clean, like nothing could stop them from reaching their goals. This is also about money matters, lies, loyalty, organized crime and the thirst for power. 

It's well choreographed, and you'll feel good for how they deal with the villain, plus the manner they did it, which will be lengthy and build most of the story. Was it worth all the trouble to watch? ABSOLUTELY. I'd give it a soft 8/10 and will vouch for its entertainment value. It lacks a bit more action, but it did have that don't get me wrong. You'll also feel it's asking for a sequel because much of the result in the end asks for it. 

Go watch it on theatres, it's a Cavill and Gyllenhaal flick after all, and that alone deserves a reason to watch it.  Women would love eye candy, and men would be thirsty for action, it is sufficient. It is also asking for a sequel. 

Meet the Expert: The "Nose Fairy" Dr. Ruthlyn Pecolera-Salvosa

Meeting women that have done remarkable feats is always a good thing. Her story is inspiring, one that could mirror an ordinary Filipino who's life depended on OFWs, pure hard work, and overcoming challenges. She is Dr. Ruthlyn Pecolera-Salvosa, an ENT, a facial plastic surgeon, and a rhinoplasty expert dubbed as "The Nose Fairy" by many. She also did several complex revision surgeries successfully which I deem is important in the industry. 

Dr. Salvosa says "If you look good, there is social advantage. You enhance something, people are naturally drawn to that. The positivity is there, and other things follow."

She adds "Ideally when we see patients, we'd have consultations even before. With social media, they want it to happen immediately but I try to do it the conventional way. Patients appreciate this so they grasp achievable results with the proper treatment plans. I have broken a lot of hearts because it has to fit your personality and anatomy, with your nose, skin and the realistic outcomes.I took a bit of interior design, highlighting focal points, if you fix the nose, you can see everything else is going to be easy. It makes a LOT of difference."

Here's our blog conference organized by the good people of Verde Creatives.

RPS Aesthetics is located at J & S Building, 104 Kalayaan Avenue, Diliman, Quezon City. They also have branches in Sto. Tomas in Batangas and Angeles City in Pampanga. 

At their clinics, they also have procedures that utilize Galderma products such as Sculptra (collagen stimulators) and Restylane (fillers). So if you're interested, give them a call (02) 7001 3150. Or simply inquire via her Facebook page (search her name) to book appointments. 

It was indeed a pleasure meeting you Dr. Salvosa!

BI's Viado to Meet IBMATA's Ayley To Address PH Border Management Challenges

 

While the Philippines sit on Earth's equator, it's total coastline is 22,548 miles which means management of it would prove challenging for any entity. This week, the International Border Management and Technologies Association's CEO Sharon Ayley will be in talks with the PH Bureau of Immigration very own Commissioner Anthony Viado to take serious steps in addressing what the Philippines is facing with regards to trafficking, security and border practices. 

Ayley says "We hold summits in 5 regions, find information and solutions. Trafficking is an important issue, and there's a need to talk about it, need to communicate not just for professionals but the community. Parents need to talk to children as they are targeting vulnerable people. The best way to protect themselves is by being informed. IBMATA does a series of workshops for this particular subject and this isn't an isolated issue in the Philippines, it is a global problem. The output of that is that technology can help with the problem, to protect the vulnerable people." 

She adds "With advanced analytics and AI tools, it can help us identify unusual travel patterns. It also helps monitoring watch lists, but it's not 100 percent. People in the front lines are working at higher pressure and have to make critical decisions. We need to make sure they have the tools, technology to make sure they have the information and trust their instincts. We need to get them training, help and support that they need."

Here's our talk about PH border challenges, and a few things that the country is doing good at; 

She puts emphasis on the country having multiple ports of entry (we have 7160 islands++) which makes it extra hard to do. She suggests to have it done with standards on each border. With systems in place like biometrics, and e-gates (where I think BI is already doing). This puts legitimate travelers with lesser hindrance so border agents get to concentrate on bigger issues like high risk cases to combat trafficking and other matters. It is here and is happening, we are 2nd globally according to statistics. 

She also suggests data sharing with not just government offices, but other ports elsewhere in the world (with ample security) and see it real time. This also includes biometrics to lessen identification concerns. This will also stop exploitation, and hopefully will put a stop with the issues mentioned earlier. Education, access to information is certainly the first line of defense. They have plans to hold future events and might take on other organization to help host it.

 

Here's hoping that the things they'll be covering this week will get some questions answered and actionable items be accomplished. 

Malaysia's CHUNK & DUNK Sweetly Lands in the Philippines

Making a sweet landing to Philippine shores is the popular Malaysia based snack brand "Chunk & Dunk". Today is their official launch at the Eastwood City Mall where they have their first branch at the mall's 3rd Floor. This is their first global outlet, something they've wanted to do since its inception in Sabah Malaysia.

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They are one of the fastest growing brands in the region, won best dessert in so many places so the Lim Family got in touch with founder Adam Shamil to bring them all here (after having it for 3 straight days in one of their branches). Adam says "Great afternoon! Mabuhay Philippines! I'd like to welcome the ambassador of Malaysia to the Philippines, my family from Sabah, and the Filipinos. Happy Easter to everyone! It's not about me but about Chunk and Dunk, I made my life savings start the world's best croffle  23 months ago and saw it grow to what it is today. You have no idea how we did it in 72 hours but that's what it took to make. I am eternally grateful for them making this happen, from the bottom of my heart, you have no idea on how you became a part of my dreams! I love you! We are now open in the Philippines!"

Passionate, perfection and quality, they now have a whole team in Chunk & Dunk Philippines through their brand partner Lester Lim. Lester says "Like Easter, we are bringing new life. It is my honor to welcome the ambassador and the whole Chunk & Dunk Malaysia Team who have been helping us all the way. My family, and so many other people who contributed to this and made it happen. So many things I want to do and say, but we will continue to make this all better. Let's do this! We hope you love Chunk & Dunk as much as we do!".

Malaysian Ambassador to the Philippines Dato Abdul Malik Melvin Castelino Anthony also gave his message saying how delighted he is and the whole embassy, the country is to witness this occasion. "This is my first foray to Croffle, and I was sold when I tasted it here. You will never forget this, and will have more. This is their first branch, and we have one thing in common, we love to eat. This connection is something that makes us stronger, we might see a diner concept soon, but for the meantime we can enjoy croffle and shave ice desserts on their first branch in Eastwood. This launch also is like navigating the future together, to progress, even if there are conflicts elsewhere in the world. Congratulations Chunk & Dunk, I wish you all the best! "

Pro tip: Get a taste of Philippines exclusive Ube Macapuno flavor if choosing a topping. Either that or Bueno Bueno (for obvious reasons, my last name lol).

If you're in the hood and want a sweet end to your day, visit the Eastwood Mall during mall hours and get that croffle fix fast! Congratulations Chunk & Dunk, can't wait to have more of you soon!