UBS Optimus Foundation launches first partnership with Teach for the Philippines with PHP 43,300,000 grant

The Philippine Education System is now evolving with the introduction of the K+12 program by the Department of Education (DepEd), and it will come with many challenges along the way. And with te quality of education being jeopardized with problems such as lack of classrooms, teachers and learning materials has been an age-old problem that is still a struggle for the public schools. But along with this does come with people and foundations that believe that these things can be alleviated with the people that will innovate techniques to overcome these obstacles and will raise standards.

UBS Optimus Foundation announced its first collaboration with Teach for the Philippines (TFP), formerly Sa Aklat Sisikat Foundation, to fund a leadership development program which trains high-potential leaders to teach at some of the Philippines’ high need schools. UBS Optimus  oundation has committed a substantial grant of CHF 1 million* over 5 years to support Teach for the Philippines’ cause of promoting educational equality. Teach for the Philippines will recruit and train the most promising university graduates and young professionals from the Philippines to invest two years of their lives developing their own potential through teaching at one of the Philippines' public schools nationwide. The UBS Optimus Foundation grant will go towards funding of Teach for the Philippines’ training program and support professional development activities. Teach for the Philippines is inspired by Teach for All, a successful global program that has been empowering the world’s most promising young leaders to transform their nations through education, working to ensure children who live in poverty still to access to excellent education. 

XSTIG: The World is Just a Touch Away - The New VAIO™ Duo 11

Switch instantly between slate and keyboard mode with this notebook’s hybrid Surf Slider™ design

Redefining the portable PC experience, the new Sony VAIO™ Duo 11 is a high-performance, hybrid Ultrabook™ with a sliding LCD display that switches effortlessly between slate and keyboard mode.

It is perfect for the busy individuals on the go who do not want to sacrifice style nor performance. Within its sleek frame, the new VAIO™ Duo 11 comes equipped with the new Windows® 8 operating system and allows high-precision writing with a digitizer stylus, allowing you to consume and create exciting and entertaining digital content wherever life takes you.

REEL DEAL: Rise of the Guardians - Chris Pine SPOTLIGHT

Chris Pine as Jack Frost

Chris Pine who has emerged as one of Hollywood’s hottest young actors, is currently shooting “Jack Ryan,” slated for a December 2013 release, assuming the mantle of the Tom Clancy action hero previously portrayed on film by Alec Baldwin, Harrison Ford and Ben Affleck. This holiday season Chris Pine provides the voice of the character of Jack Frost , a ghostly blue and white 14-year-old boy with no memory of his past apart from waking up one night floating in a frozen lake.

“They know Jack as a troublemaker, as this immature kind of guy,” says director Peter Ramsey, and by all appearances, he is. Jack is a 300-year-old prankster in a 17-year-old body, with the power to create frost, wind and snow.  Happiest when he’s causing havoc, controlling winter with a swing, tap or touch of his staff, to him, a successful day is measured by how many snowballs he’s thrown, how many windows have been fogged and how many schools have closed after it’s been declared a snow day. He has no responsibilities, no one to answer to, and ultimately, at least in his mind, no purpose.

Araneta Center's Meaningful and Traditional Lighting of the Christmas Belen

Christmas might have become a time of gifts, parties, celebrations and decoarations, but one must not forget the original Christmas with the family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph stayed in a stable in Betlehem where it is opposite of what we have today, which is a humbling experience.

Araneta Center, as one of the top Christmas destinations in the country made sure that the true spirit of the season is never forgotten. They also made it a tradition for year to set up a Christmas Belen in Farmers Market which was lighted up last night and started with a mass. The Nativity becomes one of the Christmas attractions in Araneta which is in Farmers Market and Street Market which are favorite shopping centers.

Celebrity Bluff premieres today on GMA 7

This November, GMA Network raises the bar in Philippine game shows with the premiere of Celebrity Bluff.

Three of the country’s biggest names in comedy unite in the much-awaited project – award-winning comedienne/actress Eugene Domingo as Celebrity Bluff host together with well-loved comic tandem of Jose Manalo and Wally Bayola as the celebrity bluffers.

Celebrity Bluff will surely bring happier weekends to every household, as it is not just an ordinary game show. As Eugene Domingo puts it, “Masaya nang laruin, masarap pang panoorin. Kaya naman hindi dapat palampasin ang bawat episode na ihahain namin.”

REEL DEAL: The Twilight Saga - Breaking Dawn Part 2 REVIEW

The epic conclusion to the books by Stephanie Mayer about vampires and werewolves is finally here with the Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn Part 2. And just like movie series finale, there are high expectations with its conclusion.

The saga was followed by a lot of women for its romantic factor (and Taylor Lautner abs) . And some men liked it for its fight scenes and gore. Lately the main stars Robert Pattinson and Kristen Stewart also gone trough controversial break up with infidelity issues which made it awkward at some point as they attend press conferences and the premiere night. 

But amidst all the controversies the movie is one of the most awaited with the fate of Bella and Edward, and we can also include Jacob and Renesmee (Edward and Bella’s child). 

The movie will also include vampires from all over the world with special abilities. Of course my favorites would be Alice Cullen and Jane (Dakota Fanning, one of the Volturi Vampires). It will also be the first movie that Bella will finally fight by her own as a newborn vampire.

MUSIC LYF: Sabrina Sells More Than 175000 Albums Across Asia

Another proud moment for us Filipinos!

Our very own Asia’s Acoustic Sweetheart – Sabrina has once again achieved another milestone, bagging a cumulative album sales of more than 175,000 across Asia from her “I Love Acoustic Series 1-4” and her latest album “Acoustic Love Notes.”  A special recognition from MCA Music was presented to her last November 4 at GMA7’s Party Pilipinas.

Since the release of her first album under MCA Music back in 2008, she is only the 2nd Filipino singer to reach this kind of success across Asia acquiring successful album releases here in the Philippines and also in Indonesia, Thailand, Singapore, Malaysia, Hong Kong and Korea reaching multiple Gold and Platinum record awards.  Her latest album, a collaboration with the popular radio & TV personality Joe D’ Mango turned Gold in Indonesia after only 2 months.

LAKBAYAN: Gran Prix Hotel Manila

As a thrifty yet practical traveler like me, I'm not usually a fan of hotels when travelling because I get weary with the location, the amenities and even the price. These factors hold me back and makes travelling stressful rather than relaxing. Well I'm glad that there is an "econotel" like Gran Prix Hotels and Resorts. They are actually exists in high traffic places like bus stops and main roads which is a great advantage above other hotels.

Grand Prix Hotels are located in key areas like in Ermita, Pasay, Cubao, and have provincial branches in Tarlac, Boracay and Cebu. Soon they will also have a branch in Palawan. We took a look at one its (biggest) branch in Ermita which is just a few steps away from Robinson's Place Manila and also nearby shops, money changers and restaurants. It is within the building where Tesoro's shop is located. 

REEL DEAL: Rise of the Guardians - Jude Law SPOTLIGHT

Jude Law is the wicked bogeyman Pitch in ‘Rise of the Guardians’

Jude Law is considered one of Britain’s finest actors, with a wealth and variety of film and theater performances to his credit. 

Law will star opposite Keira Knightley in Joe Wright’s “Anna Karenina.” Last year, he reunited with Guy Ritchie and Robert Downey Jr., on “Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows,” reprising his role from the global boxoffice success “Sherlock Holmes”. In his new animation film in DreamWorks Animations he plays evil entity known as Pitch.

WRITER: Chain Mail (Excerpt)

Here is the except from my novel CHAIN MAIL which I hope will be finished and be published in 2013.

CHAIN MAIL

A curse, a well planned curse. People have been mysteriously dying with no concrete evidence or suspects. All they have are pieces of paper that gives a death sentence to those who did not follow the instructions in the letter. The public is getting scared that they will receive one. It maybe a deadly prank or supernatural letter, two Investigators goes into the truth as they also avoid the touch of death or the feared chain mail.

NOVEMBER 1. ALL SAINTS DAY