Jim Paredes’ secret to being at his best every day

Fans and critics alike celebrated the film “I Do Bidoo”, a movie musical that featured some of the classic OPM hits of the Apo Hiking Society. The response of the audience to the film and to the Apo’s music proved that the musical trio’s legacy is timeless. Moviegoers, both young and old, enjoyed the Apo’s music even in today’s era of hip hop and Korean Pop. 

Even though the Apo Hiking Society formally announced their retirement in 2009—and made a final series of concerts the following year—their music remains as fresh and relevant as ever: expressing Filipino romance, optimism, and light-heartedness as beautifully today as when their music first took to the airwaves. 

MUSIC LYF: Robbie Williams - Take The Crown (Album)

ROBBIE WILLIAMS gives us some ear-CANDY with new album “TAKE THE CROWN”

After signing with Universal Music in October 2011, UK Music Hall of Fame’s Greatest Artist of the 90s, ROBBIE WILLIAMS, arrives with his forthcoming ninth studio album entitled “TAKE THE CROWN”, set for nationwide release on November 19, 2012 under MCA Music (Universal Music Philippines).

The album takes flight by the lead single, "CANDY", a brilliantly addictive classic pop song Robbie wrote with former Take That band mate, Gary Barlow. “It’s a summer song about a girl who thinks she’s great. And she might be, but she’s a bit nefarious with her ways. Some songs take an age to write and some songs just fall out of your mouth completely formed, and you don’t have to think about it. I don’t know why that fell out of my mouth and out of my brain at that particular time – it just did,” explains Robbie. “TAKE THE CROWN” will also feature the original demo version of Take That's "Eight Letters", which is entirely performed by Robbie. It will be his first solo album in three years after his return to Take That in 2010. “After the Take That reunion – a busman’s holiday, a break from my career which re-energised me in many, many ways – I wanted to come back with a massive solo album," states Robbie. "My main priority was to write what I consider, and hopefully what the world would consider, to be hits. I’m very excited”. Besides “CANDY” and “Eight Letters”, ROBBIE WILLIAMS also treats us to some ear candy with other promising songs included in the album like “Shit On the Radio”, “All That I Want”, “Hunting for You”, “Hey Wow Yeah Yeah” and “Reverse” among others. 

Avida Towers Centera 3D Street Painting Festival is Back!

Calling on talented Filipino visual artists! This is your time to showcase your 3D painting skills. Make realistic art that can fool the eyes and make head turn because of the unique street art. Last year's competition was attended by art students from different colleges in Metro Manila.

Avida Land is holding its second 3-D Street Painting  Festival contest at Avida Towers Centera on December 7-8, with the theme "Pasko Natin: Ang Diwa Ng Pasko Sa Pilipinas." Read on the image for details on how to join the contest

For more information, please call (02) 6872692  or e-mail chriscahilig@gmail.com

MUSIC LYF: The Dans

Acoustic-pop sisters, THE DANS releases debut album under Galaxy Records and Polyeast Records

A sister act in the truest sense of the term-- creating and performing memorable music together--Stephanie and Kim Dan’s harmonies and lush arrangements now come in sleek package released by Galaxy Records and distributed by Polyeast Records.  

‘An Acoustic Journey,’ their debut release is a 13-song album that recreates some of most famous pop songs made by familiar artists and inspired by their own interpretation.  However, the album is more than just a collection of covers, it is a spectrum of songs created and reinvented by their own distinct musical backgrounds. 

The Dans’ debut album features an array of catchy and mostly covers songs which relish a distinctive blend of harmonies between the sisters.  The debut album’s kick-off single is a cover of a Selena Gomez’ pop hit “I Love You Like A Love Song” into their own acoustic take.  

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.