Atty. Levi Baligod's Sensible Advice for Celebrities Sharing on Platforms

Got the chance to talk to Atty. Levi Baligod over lunch yesterday and found out how impressive of a lawyer he is. The man who represented Benhur Luy, the person who became the whistleblower in the PDAF scam. He hails from Baybay City in Leyte and finished his law degree in San Beda and UE in the late 90's. He's a formidable trial lawyer, represented victims of the Teves terror group.

His high profile cases colorful life certainly would have been perfect for a movie. He even mentioned how he wanted Richard Gomez and Lucy Torres Gomez to portray them in their life story, primarily because of regional pride, the moreno and tisay skin which they both have. He wants to serve the 5th District and solve pressing matters that have hounded the province, to hopefully change the lives of his constituents... which he wants to do with the highest standards.

Atty. Levi says "Hunger is still prevalent in the country, some even eat harmful root crops that they lay on the river to remove toxins, to eat. The answer of some officials is dole outs. It's the worst form of government programs, because it will only encourage dependency. It even says in the bible to teach people how to fish, funds could be used for different projects for food security like putting up Barangay food centers. They would be the ones who would purchase directly from farmers, to have lesser middlemen... cheaper farm to market price. They've already done similar things in Davao del Sur. They helped in processing rice and farm products instead of traders. This produced higher earnings for farmers, and more affordable."

He adds "Sadly now, you can't buy something for 30 pesos that is edible even for chickens. This would also become easier for calamities because you have food ready in communities. I have represented farmers who also had defective seeds, to help them recover damages by suing the company that supplied them with it. I want the hard cases, to help those who are being wronged."

 

He also advises showbiz stars not to use their platforms for spreading unverified information because it can be harmful to do that and influence people with it. He also mentioned how he would want to run based on credentials rather than hiring a celebrity to endorse him. 

Make sense.

MAINE MENDOZA, JULIE ANNE SAN JOSE, ALAMAT Appear in PinoyDropBall Launch

It's been a while since I've seen the country's IT girl, Maine Mendoza. The last time I think was during the launch of her husband Arjo Atayde's restaurant in Quezon City. She was so nice, very approachable, so it's no surprise that companies still get her to represent them especially in entertainment. Recently, she was at the launch of Pinoy Drop Ball, the newest among DigiPlus' line of perya games which will be live streamed at every instance, something that's traditionally seen in local fairs in the Philippines.

Aside from Maine, the launch was also graced by one of the hottest boy groups in the country, ALAMAT who provided us with really good dance-able song numbers during that evening. Their Chairman Euseblo Tanco likened Pinoy Drop Ball to several of their existing entertainment offerings that are not only exciting but authentic and culturally resonant. According to him, this is a huge leap forward to put mortar and pestle offline fun into digital, which now is available for adults to enjoy. They follow strict standards, as it is appropriately licensed, and employ rules to make sure fair play and consistency happens at every aspect, and available whenever you want to enjoy it. They also change hosts every 20 minutes so no one gets tired when throwing the ball, the chance to become victorious is there!

It was surely an evening to remember, and with what they have on the platform rolled out, the variety of what people can enjoy is just a LOT! It was certainly awesome to see Maine Mendoza again in person, she's adorable!

CATHY DOLL Holds #WhatADollDay at SM North EDSA

The gorgeous people from CATHY DOLL Philippines made the SM Beauty space even prettier with a #WhatADollDay event. This was done for folks who love the brand and onlookers that would want to get first dibs of their newest CC Cream line and new products together with influencers Toni, Echo, Cha and Dior... and a surprise guest they revealed later on, the Asoka Challenge Queen herself Lenie Aycardo.

This is the first time I was covering a Cathy Doll event, and I used to see them in different BL series that I watch especially those from Thailand. They're extremely popular, and with good reason, because their products really do work. It also doesn't cost much which makes it possible for them to be used for a greater demographic. It was so nice to see the brand also puts importance in being inclusive hence their endorsers. No matter what orientation, shape or form you are, Cathy Doll products are made especially for you.

 Now for those of you who missed it, don't fret because I've got it on video! Check this out!

 

Jericho, Dior, Toni and Cha, the faces of Cathy Doll in the Philippines

Supportive fiance Hajie Alejandro, Lenie Aycardo and Cathy Doll executives

Jericho and Dior took time to introduce the Cathy Doll CC Lip Serum and Cathy Doll Get Set Go Browcara. They have these in different shades and scents, and can be used if you are either fair or brown skinned. I'd be surprised how confident Jericho was during the talk and how he showed it doesn't make you less of a man if you are using cosmetics these days, as they say, it's already 2024! Dior on the other hand taught how to apply the browcara, as some of you may know, it'll make your brow appear more pronounced but not leech like. It looked good on them and it was applied in a few minutes. Men need perfect brows too.

Toni and Cha on the other hand put importance on the base foundations, powders and concealers. Aside from skin prep, you need to have the right shade for those dark spots. Being fair or morena, Cathy Doll has several products for you like the Cathy Doll Vitamin C Ampoule Powder Pact Press Powder, Cathy Doll Vitamin C Ampoule Concealer and the Cathy Doll ACNE CC Speed Oil Control Powder in Translucent form. You can use these products to make sure your makeup not only stays, but won't crack on you in the long run. It also covers imperfections on the skin, without it feeling heavy at all.

Lenie Aycardo talked in front to tell how she was able to use Cathy Doll products even for the Asoka Challenge which she was famous for. She's a long time user and was surprised with the new ones that they launched on this day because they previous ones were already apt for the different looks she made on the video. She also shares that it doesn't need to be expensive in order to get quality make up, Cathy Doll has different ones for different skin tones and if she could do it, so can you!

Right now, I'm slowly checking what products I could use for my daily regimen since I need to take care of my lips specifically. These new lip serums and tints would be quite handy to carry around especially for events that I cover and go to. 

Congratulations to Cathy Doll Philippines, SM Beauty and their team for making sure that women, men and everything between would have options. This launch just solidifies that!

Senator Loren Legarda Issues Message on 126th Philippine Independence Day

It's the 126th year of Philippine independence and this June 12th, Senator Loren Legarda has released this message:

 The Senate surely has changed a lot these past few months, but I hope everyone's loyalty won't come from political sectors. They have the hand to help even more people, which I hope is the reason why they chose this calling.

I guess today more than ever, we need to celebrate it despite the threats that are looming in the region. This is the time for nationalism, and action. Her wish for a more developed and environmentally caring Philippines is surely in the horizon. I spent my Independence day outdoors helping spread the word about how to help in causes, hope you made your day productive too!

Happy 126th Philippines!

Time to "Feed Your Cravings" with foodpanda

Things have been so busy lately, not just because of work, but managing time with family, friends, even trying to stay away from the sun has been a chore... But fret not, when it comes to your food cravings, there's always foodpanda to rescue you.

It's really convenient to have a place to go to in case there's no more time to cook, to get hot meals, and have them delivered in a jiffy. You don't even need to make it rocket science since there's a lot of things recommended, and even get a few things bought if you're running low in the pantry.

Don't worry too if you're like me who spends the midnight oil writing, then suddenly go hungry in the wee hours of the morning because chances are, they'll have a few establishments still open and accessible, so no one gets hungry. Your cravings certainly need to be satisfied no matter what time of the day, and your cupboards and pantry need to be filled to the brim especially on weekends, or if a lot of people choose to stay at home.

If it feels like you need some good old comforting food, don't deprive yourself because you've worked hard all day. Some good old care and quality food would certainly make you feel better... And that party even more convenient at any time of the day! Go to foodpanda.ph or their social channels to know more on how you can save a lot more than what you thought was possible.

You've got to thank Pau Pau for that!

More Celebrities, Food, Destinations on the Second Year of FARM TO TABLE

Chef JR ROYOL is steadily becoming a household name in the Philippines through his show "Farm to Table". They are currently celebrating their 2nd year and yes, there are going to be a few changes especially with the way they do the show. 

The confident man who hails from Mountain Province talked to us more about what's going to happen in the next few weeks as they come out with more content from different locations. Farm to Table will visit his Mom's hometown of Barlig in this week's episode. This will start on Sunday at 6:50PM. 

 

He says "Thank you for celebrating our 2nd Farmniversary with us, we are excited to share with you good news about the show. Definitely it's going to be a consistent cooking element, we are going to expand our reach, the places that we plan to go to will have us explore and discover more people week after week. I would hope we can do that in the next few episodes, so we can tell more stories and food adventures too. It's totally a collaborative effort to focus on food we do. We don't limit ourselves with a particular cuisine and always integrate local ingredients that we have in the country and tell the stories about them. We want to start this year with a bang, so this weekend we will have BEA ALONZO as our guest. We will also be having TikTok personalities and other chefs that will also be in the show. As far as guests, we have a lot of stars coming in the next food adventures!"

He is so thankful about the show and adds "The show was able to make me work with very dynamic people, we are not boxed up and the different locations gives us a chance to work with a lot of talented individuals. We also get to create different dishes with not so common produce, we usually encounter them in the local markets and the locals tell us how to cook it."

He wants to introduce a dish internationally and says "Pinikpikan is the number one dish that should be introduced to the world. It's easy, the method can be taught, and I could eat it everyday. If there's anything, it's number one for me because there's nothing like it. You could also see it in other cultures but the process is innately ours alone."

He remarks "I wish the show would last for years, this show could be done til we're sixty, but more than that, to our viewers I hope you watch it every week. We do it purely that this comes from our heart, and I hope our viewers appreciate how we do Farm to Table."

There's certainly more to look forward to in the next few episodes, so if you are into food adventures, get Chef JR ROYOL to take you along different places in the Philippines and see how colorful our food culture is. This show airs Sundays on GTV and their other online channels.

Sparkle Fans Day: New Faces, Fun Activities for Loyal Kapuso Fandoms

It was fun to see the brightest stars of GMA at the SM Skydome a few days ago. Artists like the recently viral Andrea Torres, leading man Jeric Gonzales, Voltes V Legacy's Ysabel Ortega, Miguel Tanfelix, Radson Flores, Matt Lozano, Raphael Landicho, Martin del Rosario, the First Lady Sanya Lopez, businessman and actor Ken Chan all gave the fans a show they would never forget. It was a gathering of sorts, and they wanted the fans to experience how it is to be with their favorite celebrities.

Aside from that, this was also a venue to introduce new generation of Kapuso stars and the teens who just got signed by the network did not disappoint. Much of the hosting, dancing and singing numbers had them showcase what they have in store for future GMA shows. I love the Sparkada and the new ones who introduced themselves on stage, some extremely good looking ones too.

@kumagcow Scenes from the GMA Sparkle Fans Day held at the SKYDOME in SM North Edsa #tiktokshowbizreporter #EntertainmentPH ♬ original sound - John Bueno

Fans won prizes through raffles and games that Kapuso stars also participated in. This event really made the celebrities accessible to their fans, as a way of thanks for all the years they supported their idols.

Make sure you follow Sparkle's social channels to get to know more of the new Kapuso stars and their new upcoming shows on the same network.

A Touching Birthday with Kristofer Martin

 

It's been a few days since this happened. Kristofer Martin, star of GMA shows such as Endless Love, Tween Hearts, Munting Heredera, Pahiram ng Sandali, Kakambal ni Eliana, Kahit Nasaan Ka Man and Sunday All Stars just turned 20. He hasn't actually made any arrangements and was already on a grumpy mode because he thought nobody remembered it was his birthday. His handler, his Mom and Dad went with him to a contract signing because they told him someone was interested to get him as endorser. With that in mind, he was already having resentments because he's got no party happening that day, no simple dinner, no gifts, no people. Then when he got to Centerstage, he got surprised big time by GMA Artist Center!

 

Kristofer Martin and Tess Bomb

Kristofer was so happy to see some of his closest fans in attendance. Tess Bomb hosted the show and the crowd had fun with her antics. She teased Kristofer and played with his fans too. Then while the program was running, they asked Kristofer to sing on stage. Since Centerstage is a place for Karaoke, they had all the newest tunes and everyone could pick a song and sing in front of the stage just for kicks. Kristofer made sure his fans were kept happy too by giving away stuff from his sponsors Unisilver Time, Hammerhead, YSA Botanica, Meister Watch (who gave him a brand new spanking watch!) and Candy Club. Fans were there since afternoon and was part of the surprise, Kristofer saw how much they loved him so he did sing a couple of songs, but in the middle of that, someone arrived in the venue.

They went wild when she came in, yes it's Joyce Ching! I think they still look good together and Kristofer almost burst into tears when she surprised him. Joyce actually came from shooting and she didn't have sleep yet but she wanted to be here on Kristofer's special day. I don't know their relationship status but from the looks of it, they are as good as "in love". Kristofer Martin's Mom was there though and was very protective haha!

Close friend and good looking actor Derrick Monasterio also surprised Kristofer during his birthday celebration and even sang a Josh Groban number. He's a good man, good actor and I hope he gets better at it. He deserves to have a lead role in his own soap soon. He wished Kristofer to have a break from his busy schedule and perhaps go out with the guys. His best friends were there anyway, and I think they did really go out that evening.

Now these guys were just the tip of the iceberg, because he had more surprises after these celebrities that evening.

Kristofer's fans went up on stage and put him in the center. They began singing a song for him which he really appreciated. He liked it so much he began balling, he was really touched by the gesture and the love these guys and gals gave him.

Then after that, Kristofer's Mom and Dad gave their message. Kristofer started balling and cried as his Mom and Dad thanked him. Dad also said that even if he's not around, he should always follow Mom's advice and I think he took it to heart. His folks also reminded him that there are a lot of people who believe and love him so he better not disappoint.

Then I saw a lot of people crying. The fact is, this guy is just starting but he's felt really loved during this day. Tess Bomb told me that among the events we've been in, she says this one has got a lot of heart in it. I couldn't agree with her more because Kristofer has been working so hard and this was some sort of GMA Artist Center saying "Thank You" to him too. He was surprised they organized something this big, in some way I hope he felt special.... because he is after all a prized young talent in this station.

I heard he's going to be in a new program called Healing Hearts next year, so that's something you should watch out for. He's going to be together with Joyce Ching on that too so if you like the pair, that's even more reason to love them. Happy happy birthday Tun! Don't doubt that you are loved okay? Don't cry so I won't post photos like that next time haha! Sorry had to! :) Happy birthday man!

Thanks to GMA Artist Center for having us during this event!

For more information about their artists:

Official GMA Artist Center

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Visit their official website

http://gmanetwork.com/artistcenter

Hydrate Naturally: Vita Coco Now in the Philippines

 By the powers of Rihanna and her gorgeous body, the US' favorite drink is finally here in the Philippines. This is Vita Coco. You must have seen this new fresh and natural drink with Madonna, Jessica Alba, Stacy Keibler, Ed Westwick, Chris Pine, Robert Pattinson and a lot of other Hollywood celebrities. It's the best selling coconut water brand in the US and now it's landed in our shores through the white sandy beach of Boracay a few days ago.

 

 Vita Coco started in the US when friends Michael Kirban and Ira Liran founded it in New York. It marked the first ever brand to offer it in Tetra Pak containers from fruit to packaging in seconds. They have the technology to keep the juice fresh as the day it was picked by vacuum procedures making it safe and healthy even if you store it in the fridge for a few days. Though really, when you open one of these -  who would even stop drinking it? I got a taste of it already and this one is pretty good in my standards. Best of all, we are hydrating naturally. Isn't that great?!

Vita Coco is now available at your leading convenience stores in the country. Try to get it at 7-11, Rustan’s Groceries and Shopwise. The current suggested retail price for a handy 330ml pack is only Php 35. This electrolyte rich fresh drink is the choice of celebrities, athletes and ordinary people. Now how can you say no when you'll see it on shelves on the stores I mentioned above. Be as fresh and hydrated as the thing you drink. Grab one of these Vita Coco drinks and you'll also get to help Filipino coconut farmers which they also source this from. Gulp!

For more information about their products:

Vita Coco

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Visit their official website

http://VitaCoco.com