This is American Idol Season 12!

Are you Team Minaj or Team Mariah?

That is the question for the fans of the new season of Amercian Idol which is having a new set of judges with the sole original hudge Randy Jackson and host Ryan Parentheses new season is expected to be hot with the clash of two lady judges Mariah Carey and Nicky Minaj. If you ask me, I'm going with Nicky Minaj because she may be young but has achieved a lot and proved to be a worthy artist that is never afraid of being normal to show musicality and innovation. Mariah is also a great diva with her timeless songs, great voice and hot body at her age definitely is worthy of an idol judge slate.

Now I am expecting a lot from the new set of judges as I, in the past years, grew less of a fan of the previous seasons because there wasn't something new. This season might actually be a saving grace to pioneer singing reality show of the US. The premiere of the new season goes full swing with its live telecast on Starworld.

Cheer for Pinoy Chef Paul Qui in Top Chef Season 9 on beTV

Get set to embark on the gruelling journey of fellow countryman, Paul Qui, to culinary excellence in America through the Emmy award-winning culinary contest reality TV series Top Chef Season 9. Follow the Manila-born, Texas, Austin-based chef through the toughest of cooking challenges against a record field of contestants and cheer him on to his glorious achievement on beTV as he does the Philippines proud!

Premiering January 21, 2013 and airing weeknights, 7:40pm on beTV, the riveting Top Chef returns for its latest, ninth season which chef Paul Qui wins! Share in his roller coaster ride through 18 episodes to beating 28 other contestants to bring home the US$125,000 cash prize as well as earn the coveted title of ‘Top Chef’. “Filipinos have a lot of heart, a lot of drive. And I definitely got that from my parents,” said Paul, who grew up in San Juan in Metro Manila. He believes these traits helped him ‘bring home the bacon’ from Top Chef.

Three OPM acts to watch out for in 2013

THIS 2013, there are three Original Pilipino Music (OPM) acts that you must watch out for. Young, talented, and oozing with mass appeal, they are a glimpse of the future of the Philippine music industry.

We’re talking about rock band Letter Day Story, balladeer-songwriter Myrus, and boy band 1:43 (pronounced as “one forty-three”). These three, who are all managed by public relations and social media expert Chris Cahilig, have been making waves across all media platforms.

LETTER DAY STORY, composed of rockers Aldrick “Dex” Yu, John Oliver “Oli” Agustin,  Chrisanthony “Not” Vinzons, and Emil Joseph “EJ” Arabit, won the Best Rock/Alternative Recording trophy at the 2012 Awit Awards for their song “Save Me.” They won over the other nominees, who are all more established and highly-respected bands and solo artists. 

GMA’s Yesterday’s Bride continuously wins in tv ratings nationwide

Yesterday’s Bride (YB) topbilled by GMA’s most in-demand actress Lovi Poe with Rocco Nacino consistently outscores the programs of the rival network since it aired last October 29.

Based on National Urban TV Audience Measurement (NUTAM) overnight ratings gathered by the more widely recognized TV ratings supplier, Nielsen TV Audience Measurement, Yesterday’s Bride marked an average household tv rating of 14.8% and ruled over its counterpart program Angelito: Ang Batang Yugto which only garnered an average of 8.6% from October 29 to December 15, 2012.

For the period December 17, 2012 to January 11, 2013, YB beats rival network’s newly aired program MMK Klasiks. YB registered a commanding average tv rating of 14.8% while the competing program only scored an average of 8.1%.

ART IS A BANG: Art Fair Philippines 2013

Art in a car park? Yes it can and will happen in Makati with Art Fair Philippines 2013 on February 7 to 10, 2013.  

Featuring the best in Philippine contemporary art, Art Fair Philippines 2013 will take place in an alternative urban venue--The Link car park located between the Makati Shangri-La Hotel and the Landmark Department Store. Many know the building because its walls convert into a glowing palette of ever-changing color in the evenings.  

Twenty-four invited galleries and art groups, chosen for carefully edited selections from their roster of artists, will transform Level 6 of the Ayala Land-owned car park into a boutique art fair.  Names familiar to followers of the Philippine art scene, stalwarts of regional art auctions, as well as promising newcomers will show work in all types of media. Visitors will be welcomed at a specially commissioned reception desk created entirely of iconic San Miguel Beer crates by artist Norberto “Peewee” Roldan, Jr.  

First CONVERSE Flagship Store Store Opens in the Philippines

Everybody loves sneakers, and when it comes to this kind of shoe one name comes to mind, Chuck Taylor by Converse. They have been the shoe of the deviant generation, the rockstars and the  artists (like me). Its comfortable feel makes you want to jump and run, and sometimes eccentric. 

Though converse has been available in the contry for quite some time and stores in malls, they just recently launched their first flagship store in the Philippines which is the biggest in area and also with the variety of merchandise available.

In the launch January 18, 2013, it was well attended by the media, the converse management, and celebrities like Bernard Palace, Tessa Prieto-Valdez, Kapamilya stars Ejay Falcon, Khalil Ramos, Zaijan Jaranilla and Xyriel Manabat. The store is located near the link between the Landmark and is along the people traffic in Glorietta. 

Boracay Garden Resort offers special rates at the 20th Travel Tour Expo

Visit Henann Resorts’ booth at the 20th Travel Tour Expo (TTE) at the SMX Convention Center from February 15 to 17 and get as much as 40% discount on published rates and 20% discount on Boracay Garden Resort’s packages.

Based on twin sharing, pay as low as P5,471 net per person for a two-day stay in a deluxe room. The package is inclusive of roundtrip transfers via Caticlan, daily buffet breakfast and set dinner. Travel period is until March 31, 2014 except on super peak dates.

REEL DEAL: Award-WInning Filmmakers , Actors Assembled in Lincoln

Academy Award-winning filmmaker Steven Spielberg directs “Lincoln,” adapted from the book of Pulitzer Prize

winning author Doris Kearns Goodwin, written by Pulitzer Prize winner Tony Kushner and starring Academy Award-winners Daniel Day-Lewis, Tommy Lee Jones and Sally Field - which essays a time in Abraham Lincoln’s life when he is in the most perilous final four months of his presidency.

I came I Ate I Conquered Yoshinoya's Gyudon Eating Contest!

No doubt I do love Japanese food and Gyudon is one of them. Yoshinoya, where I consider to have the best Gyudon in the country, is having the GYUDON EATING CONTEST now on its fourth year. Indeed it is a challenge as the dish is very heavy even for a regular bowl. Now imagine yourself eating several bowls within the limited time of 5 minutes.

To get to know the feeling, we had a blogger's contest on who can eat the most bowl in 5 minutes. I had experienced this contest 2 years ago where I came only second with 3 and a half bowls. As you can see, the table is placed with gyudon bowls, condiments and a glass of water. The countdown begins ...3...2...1...

You can also be part of this contest which open to all, and the first step is to go to the nearest Yoshinoya outlet near you. Up to 100,000 pesos is up at steak for the winner! Isn't that sweet, eating and winning has never been this great!

Ayala Cinema Les Miserables Movie Trivia Promo!

Love to watch Les Miserables on the big screen?

Check out this wonderful movie at Ayala malls and also join in their promos that will make your movie date really special!

Reserve your cinema tickets early  - check out Ayala Malls Cinemas’ www.sureseats.com  for your all-access pass to exclusive “LES MISERABLES” movie events and promos at Glorietta 4, Greenbelt 3, Alabang Town Center, Market!Market!, Trinoma, Ayala Center Cebu, Marquee Mall Angeles, Abreeza Davao and Harbor Point Olongapo.