KAI MONTINOLA, KYLE ECHARRI, MARIS, ARTHUR NERY, ADIE Headline ONE ILOCOS SUR Festivities

Ilocos Sur knows how to really party as they did another round of the Ilocos Sur Festival. Imagine, a party for 12 straight days of people enjoying culture, faith, community, all in one place where every Ilocano, Ilocana, their friends, and family would enjoy from sun up to sun down in this province in the north. 

They started with the Ilocos Sur Trade and Food Fair where they set up various booths with the help of local entrepreneurs, artisans, making us all feel that the industry is thriving in this region and gave us reasons to come back. Caoayan won Best Booth and also featured products like Double Cacao Delight, Ube Vinegar, and tons of other things. They also had processions to celebrate the Eucharist, the Los Patrones for the faithful and the clergy. They also did a Grand Parade where they featured floats from different municipalities, and where Sinait, Sigay and Narvacan won best in class. They also did a full on drone show at the Quirino Stadium where ABSCBN stars Kai Montinola and Kyle Echarri performed to the delight of Ilocandia. Mind you, the crowd there went to 40,000 which is a big turnout compared to previous years. 

They also did a few days of homage to fisher folk and farmers, putting those tractors and produce in a parade, plus a program for those who went back to the province and the tourists too. They also did a blackout bingo for a whopping 100K no joke!

They also held a Tattoo Expo called Tinnatoan where Apo Whang Od's descendants did a lot of mambabatok skin work, and several of them won Best in Show in a competition done just on this festival. They also did Mister Ilocos Sur where Aries Patis won for his hometown of Santa Cruz. They also did sea based comps and a motocross plus Ilocos Sur Pride Queen 2026 where Luivie Bitongan won for Candon City. At the Miss Ilocos Sur 2026, gorgeous Nathalie Clarin won for the town of Narvacan. It was absolutely fun to see all of it happen at One Ilocos Sur! 

Foundation Implements Programs: Improves Lives in SOCCSKSARGEN Region

Continuing on their efforts on health and livelihood, BingoPlus Foundation (the social development part of DigiPlus Interactive) is taking their social development work down south, particularly in General Santos City. Choosing this place amongst places that needed help must have been a hard task especially for what they plan on doing.

This means they will be bringing KalusuganPLUS and KabuhayanPLUS which are some of the programs they have successfully implemented in other areas which need access to public health, job opportunities too. After all, they wouldn't be just giving out things, but have them learn to fish correct?

This not only would affect individuals, but more of families and communities. Sanitation facilities were awarded to different barangays like San Isidro, Tinagcan, Ligaya, Bawing and Calumpang. This area alone houses 3000 people, so now they all have access to clean water and proper sanitation which is important in urban living. Some of these towns actually have indigent families from the Badjaos, a sea/shore dwelling tribe in the region. This also coincides with the local government unit's efforts especially in health and sanitation, to prevent folks from getting sick from waterborne diseases which happens a lot in the SOCCSKSARGEN region.   
 
KabuhayanPLUS also gives them proper training so they could achieve skills and use it to earn a living. They even teach people dressmaking and tailoring. They get TESDA certifications which they can use later on if they want to pursue something in the industry. This has also given single mothers/parents opportunities to earn, to put food on their table... and for their families.   

From beyond providing aid, this foundation's programs will not only give them what they need now, but beyond that. It would give them hope, and a future that is stable, healthy, and still living.

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.

Provincial Government Launches Oriental Mindoro Online Pasalubong and Booking Portal App

While the world is slowly recovering from the pandemic, tavelers have been slowly coming back in different places in the country. For those who don't know, the local tourism industry has been greatly affected. To help with the situation, the Provincial Government of Oriental Mindoro has worked steadfastly worked on an something that would enhance ease of travel, buying products from towns very easy with the new LAKBAY ORIENTAL MINDORO: Buying Local, Byaheng Lokal app. 

As the name suggests, it's a one stop shop for everything that you would need to get when traveling the province of Oriental Mindoro. From purchasing your favorite pasalubongs, to booking tour services and packages, you can all do it now at the comforts of your home or hotel rooms. This is the handywork of the whole provincial government headed by Governor Humerlito "Bonz" Dolor together with the Department of Tourism and the Tourism Promotions Board. It was launched July 12th and promises hassle free transactions, while keeping you safe as it is all contactless too. This was witnessed by national, provincial and city government officials at the Riceland Garden in Calapan City, Oriental Mindoro.

The app has offers and promos of over 150 hotels, resorts, travel agencies, wellness centers, vehicles, tours, dive and souvenir shops which you can access ahead while you plan your itinerary or while you're in the province itself. With this as direct point of transaction for local and international travelers, balikbayans and their families, tour service providers can be accessed without you leaving your resort or hotels. That in itself is very convenient and you can download it now on the App Store or Google Play for FREE. You can also go to their website travelorientalmindoro.ph and use your email/FB account to log in. This means, you can choose services and products from the app and get the best rates. Products can be arranged for delivery at your hotel, while email confirmations can be sent if you're availing those rendered by providers which can make planning a breeze if you choose to come to the province.

You also get to earn loyalty points from your accommodation, which you can use to earn travel incentives in-app. It's easy, so you get to enjoy more time with your friends and family. Make sure you try and download the app today!

Lumina Homes Asks You to "Rush Your Move" in 16 Locations Nationwide

Finding a home has always been a dream for every Filipino. A place where they could take refuge, take care of their family, raise kids in a community that would make them well rounded individuals - and perhaps be accessible to every convenience in life. These days, acquiring homes have been complicated, tedious and not to mention hard to finance. Though if you're trying to find a good deal, Lumina Homes has got you covered with their "Rush Your Move" promo. As the name suggests, they now have made it easier to own a house of your own. Imagine how you would get you to save over Php 168,000 off the actual price, which certainly is something unprecedented in the industry... and pretty difficult to resist. 

See, they're offering two-storey houses at Php 35,000 down payment. They even went a mile and made that price payable in 2 months. Add to that figure a whopping 8 percent discount if your bank loan gets released in 2 months. Isn't that a good deal?

They also made it available in 16 Lumina Home locations nationwide. This includes historic Tarlac, Balanga in Bataan, Subic in Zambales, Baliwag Bulacan, their two townships Bacolod 1 and 2 in Negros, Iloilo, Bauan, Sto.Tomas, Lipa and Tanauan in Batangas, Quezon, Sariaya, Tanza Cavite, Cabanatuan and San Jose in Nueva Ecija. This makes the choices quite varied for those who prefer quiet provincial life, city dwelling, because they made sure it's still churches, restaurants, groceries, transport locations so you could live comfortably with your family. There are also business establishments around, if you're looking for work or more, being in these properties would make life so convenient.

If you're seriously considering to live here, get in touch with a friendly Lumina Homes Sales and Marketing representative so you could join their 360 degree tours and see quality made homes that's ready for occupancy. Available models include the Athena which is a Single Firewall house that's got 53 square meter floor area and 63 sq.m. lot area. They also have the Armina (also a Single Firewall house) with 42 square meter floor area and 54 square meter lot. The nice Adriana Townhouse on the other hand has 44 square meters of floor area and about 36 square meter lot area. The pretty Angeli Townhouse has got a 42 square meter floor area and about 36 square meter lot. They also have the Angelique Townhouse that's got a 35 square meter floor area and around 36 square meter lot which you can choose in different areas of these communities.

 

 

I wouldn't be surprised if this gets taken advantage of by people who would want to invest in real estate. You can buy one then have it rented out and have income early because it's all ready. It's an opportune time to buy a home and if that becomes an investment, you're in a good place. Engr. Joemi Tan, Lumina Homes Division Head for North and East Luzon says "It would be a good opportunity for people to invest in a Lumina property so they could have a home that can be leased and be a source of income. We've got different RFO units they can choose from."

If this interests you in any way, make sure to follow @LuminaHomesOfficial on Facebook or their official website www.lumina.com.ph today!

Christmas Time at Tagaytay Highlands

I remember it all so vividly when my family and I visited Tagaytay Highlands during Christmas a couple years ago. I had to hold on for dear life in some of the areas because the cold wind made itself present. It was totally different from hot Manila and these days, it reminded me how lucky people are in that side of the world especially during these times.

These days, they're not stopping festivities and for starters, they're getting regular masses started from November 28, December 5, 12, 19 and January 2. That includes Sundays of the Advent which is a score for the faithful and families. They will also be doing Simbang Gabi mass from 5-6PM from the 15th to 23rd and the actual Christmas Eve mass on the 24th at 5:30, 7 and 8:30 PM. This will all happen at the Holy Family Chapel and Madre de Dios Chapel Midlands inside the property. They will also be doign Christmas Tree lighting ceremonies no the 4th and musical performances on Christmas and New Year's eve plus a huge fireworks display at the Highlands China Palace Lower Parking area.

Stay and enjoy the pine trees all over, the cold breeze, and stunning views that Tagaytay Highlands is known for. With safety precautions in place and followed guidelines from the local government and IATF, it'll surely be a wonderful holiday happening at Tagaytay Highlands! If you want to own a home here, call 09175150158 or check out tagaytayhighlands.com and their social channels by searching Tagaytay Highlands too.

Exquisite Condo Living in Bria Homes Mactan, Cebu

I've been in these parts of Cebu - usually to go to places where friends and family do touristy stuff because the sights and the seas are absolutely scenic, like living in a city and still have beach and hotspot access whenever I need to. The same Mactan Island I've loved is going to have their own BRIA Homes in the person of BRIA Condo Mactan right in Sudtunggan in Lapu-Lapu City. If you want to go to Cebu City, it's a few minutes away and it's easy to catch a car, else, go to other nearby islands in Cebu's south which a lot of people do.

Mactan has history, a throng of world class hotels and resorts which would be the envy of anyone who would like it to be their permanent address. Think about it, if you live there and enjoy the same lifestyle as tourists, wouldn't that be nice? It's also very near the Mactan-Cebu International Airport and can soon be accessed via the viral Cebu-Cordova link expressway.

BRIA Homes President Red Rosales says "This would be ideal for young professionals and career driven individuals. The young ones are thinking about their future and if they have a keen eye, this would be a worthy investment. You need really good quality and affordable housing to coincide because monthly amortizations are not that easy to pay for if you also have family obligations."

Millenials would find this to be a good option for their first home. The amenities in BRIA Condo Mactan are good despite it being a mid rise residential build. It's got a multi purpose hall, pools, gym, a gazebo and a kids playground. They're all earthquake resilient too and very secure as it is a gated community. They've also got CCTV and near the essential services you need to raise a family. 

You've got to see BRIA Condo Mactan! If you want to know more about the property, visit https://www.bria.com.ph/ for a 360 degree tour, it's quite nice to see that before you come to the property physically. BRIA Homes by the way is a subsidiary of GOLDEN MV Holdings, Inc.

Send Money FREE with GCash Padala

I'm sure a lot of you are using GCash for your transactions during this ECQ. It's convenient, you don't have to go to banks anymore and do it in the palm of your hand with just a few screen presses. Aside from that, it's secure and cheap, costs free most of the time and you get to help a lot of people who are in dire straights during the pandemic.

See, there's a new service in the GCash app called GCash Padala. It's a way for your non e-wallet using friends or family to receive money in an instant that's affordable, fast and easy. They are also waiving Padala fees from August 6 to 20 because it's ECQ. On a normal day, they only charge up to 1% on 500 peso minimum send which is already cheap by any standard. To claim it, they just need 1 valid ID and present it to 2000 GCash Padala partner shops like Posible, Go VIP Center, Tambunting Pawnshops, Panalo Express and tons of other pera outlet and sarisari stores nationwide.

Senders just log in on the GCash app and use the GCash Padala section. You just put in the full name, mobile number and the amount on it. You need to confirm and pay for the fees with the amount you have in your GCash wallet and send it. You'll get a reference number for the transaction together with notifications to both parties real time if it has been done. That's reassuring.

If you wanna know more, visit go.gcash.com/padala or gcash.com/services/padala and see how you can take advantage of it during these times. Quite easy no?

Demand for Bria on the Rise

 

Yes, it's still happening and of course this is after the Department of Public Works and Highways, the Department of Transportation and Bases Conversion and Development Authority pushed through with the government's Build Build Build program and made it a priority. Part of these include major roads, highways, bridges that would make every community in different parts of the country accessible when projects are completed. It's one of the reasons why the demand for Bria is on the rise because pretty soon, their property values would skyrocket and it'll be a wise time to invest in the real estate market.


Right now, there are several BRIA communities in different parts of the country and as they continue to build and provide high-quality yet affordable house and lots, and restrictions are reported to ease, more people from the metropolis are flocking to properties outside so they can go to less crowded, but fresh air laden communities.

There's a BRIA Homes community in Mariveles, Bataan which you can later access via the Bataan-Cavite Interlink Bridge. This actually connects the municipality of Mariveles to Naic, Cavite which originally would take hours to travel. Aside from that, there's a BRIA Homes property in Alaminos, Laguna which you can later access via the Alaminos-San Pablo City Bypass Road which is also a lengthy travel from Quezon to Laguna. When they finish the MRT 7 project in Quezon City, it's going to be easy to get to and from BRIA San Jose del Monte, a very promising commune in the North. There will be more roads and projects in these areas soon and that's going to help boost economic growth in these provinces, which likely will happen soon.

If you want to know more about these communities and what place you can invest in, give their official site www.bria.com.ph a visit or their social media channels Bria Homes, Inc. on FB, Twitter, IG, YT, Pinterest, Spotify, Viber, Telegram, Kakao Talk, LINE or WhatsApp. You can also call them on mobila via 09398879637 so they can help you with inquiries.

Yellow Cab x Challenge Philippines - Camarines Sur

David Voth CEO of Leverage Sports Asia

A few days ago, we were in 55 Events Place in Quezon City to witness a special meeting of the minds. Three parties, people from Leverage Sports Asia, the governor's office of Camarines Sur and the well loved pizza brand Yellow Cab. They are putting up one of the biggest races ever done in the Philippines and it's going to happen next year, on June 14.

They've already done it in Subic last February and they found that one of the best challenges ever, now they are going to have a fast one, something where they could set their personal best as described by the race organizers. From beginners to pros, they'll have them all going to Camarines Sur's location next year. 

Governor Miguel Villafuerte of Camarines Sur

The youngest Governor that I've ever seen I guess, he's Governor Miguel Villafuerte of CamSur. He's proud to say that the province, although they were hit by the recent big typhoon were able to get everything on course in order to host the race next year. They have even  made arrangements for the accommodations, putting up an Olympic like village to cater to athletes and their families which is one of their goals. Presenting the Philippines through their province is a step up, as they show the super nice sports and adventure centered province especially the track for this race and the extremely popular wake park.

Governor Elray Villafuerte, former governor and Dad of Miguel

Former Governor Elray Villafuerte says they are proud to host this and the Triathlon which will happen next year. This will surely gain a lot of exposure to their humble province, boost tourism and get to have people interested in their history as well. It's like a win win situation.

Roy Quejada, CEO of  Yellow Cab Pizza Co.

Roy Quejada, Yellow Cab Philippines' CEO says the reason why they sponsored this even is because they share the same values and they fit perfectly with the goals and aspirations of these athletes. The partnership will also be forged in the next three years and they've helped a lot of sponsored athletes with their fares since doing triathlons would require you to tour around the world. That is a BIG help no matter where you put it.

Julian Paolo Tayag, Director of Hubble Multisport Inc.

Julian Paolo Tayag of Hubble Multisport Inc. says they are also making sure to roll back the entry prices so that a lot of local and international athletes can participate in the event. The Philippines has the warmest people and they will witness a spectacle of 729 athletes hailing from 38 countries that will include celebrities, royalties and even a real deal world champion in the person of Aussie Michael Murphy. Isn't that great?!

Registrants will also have a chance to win a trip to Roth, Germany by entering the contest here. They will be holding the Challenge Roth race there intended for athletes and their families. If that doesn't make you want to join your first triathlon, we don't know what will. This "Fastest Course in Asia" located in Camarines Sur will surely get everyone's Personal Best to it's peak. Make sure you check out the channels below to know when registration starts.

Congratulations to everyone organizing this event. We can't wait to see how this turns out. I hope I can cover this, I haven't been in CamSur actually. Wouldn't it be nice to get lost there in Challenge CamSur? Haha!

For more information about their events:

Challenge Philippines

Like them on Facebook


Visit their official website

http://challengephilippines.com.ph/