REEL DEAL: The Wolverine Trailer

 From the recently released teaser trailer of “The Wolverine,” now comes the latest version of the movie’s full international trailer here:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=afllKoVFEao&list=UU-JrjBL_iZAn5wjEsw9nRYA&index=1

”The Wolverine” latest trailer reveals Logan aka Wolverine (played by Hugh Jackman) at his most vulnerable struggling with his immortality. Caught in a web of conflict, as Wolverine develops  alliances  he also faces a host of dangerous new enemies revealing a stronger, multi-dimensional character.   Set in Japan where an integral part of Wolverine’s history lies, “The Wolverine” is a stand-alone epic-action adventure where he will emerge more powerful than ever before, leaving him forever changed.

“The Wolverine” also stars Tao Okamoto, Svetlana Khodchenkova, Rila Fukushima, Hiroyuki Sanada, Will Yun Lee and Brian Tee, directed by James Mangold and scripted by Mark Bomback and Christopher McQuarrie.

The most iconic in the X-Men universe will soon be seen on the big screen when "The Wolverine" opens on July 25 in (Phils.) theaters nationwide from 20th Century Fox to be distributed by Warner Bros.

LAKBAYAN: Aquaria Beach Resort Batangas

Summer is officially declared and what you have in your mind by default would either be Boracay, Palawan, or Baguio. And with the weather intensifying, we would like to go somewhere to bathe in the sun, sand, and the sea. But those locations are quite far for the urban dwellers like me. However, there is not much white sand beaches near the metro which can par with the common beach destinations and to think they are already crowded with many local and foreign tourists. However, a very great alternative for this is only a 2-3 hour drive from Manila and that is Calatagan, Batangas. 

Dina Bonnevie and Vice-Gov DV Opens Victorino's Restaurant

There is a new restaurant in town and it proudly serves Ilocano and Filipino dishes. Located in 11th Jamboree street corner Scout Rallos near Timog Avenue, VICTORINO'S is made from traditional Filipino house transformed into a beautiful reastaurant with a a patterserie, A bar and even function rooms.

The restaurant is owned by Dina Bonnevie and her husband Ilocos Sur Vice Governor DV Savellano. Together with her family and friends, the restaurant opened with the help of Chef Heny Sison.

On its blessing, the restaurant is brings the ambiance of the Ilocos Region with dishes and products available for customers to try. The rooms make you feel you went back in time into ancestral homes like in Vigan City.

LAKBAYAN: Philippines’ AirAsia’s big seat sale is back!‏

Book your trips for 2014 now and enjoy early bird savings through Philippines’ AirAsia’s big seat sale promo starting today (April 2). All-in promo fares from as low as P599 only for international and domestic destinations are available for booking via www.airasia.com from 2 to 7 April 2013, and the travel period will be from 1 January to 30 April 2014.

“AirAsia continues to change the landscape of low-cost travel. With our big sale promo, planning a trip is easiest with our all-in fares and rates clearly laid out for our guests, so grab those promo seats now and enjoy huge savings,” Freddy Herrera, AirAsia Inc. Commercial Head, said.

For payment convenience, AirAsia’s payment partner service provides guest the option to pay for promo seats booked online in cash through any 7-Eleven and Bayad Center outlets nationwide.

“AirAsia believes in providing convenient service to make traveling easier and more affordable for our guests. In the coming weeks, we are expanding our cash payment partner service to include Cebuana Lhuillier and other popular outlets and banks so that more and more people will have access to our promo fares and bargain deals,” Herrera added.

XSTIG: Jabra Motion and Speak 510

With today's busy and hectic world. The need for mobility is rising and is now being embranced by many people as part of their lifestyle. And Jabra, the innovator for mobility products such as bluetooth headsets and speakers are now introducing two new products for the busy yet sophisticated business people.

Taking Mobility to New Level : Jabra Motion & Speak 510 Sets New Momentum Jabra has gone above and beyond with two new headsets recently launched; Jabra MotionTM- providing maximum mobility and the most superior user experience,whether on the road,in the office or at home. Featuring Bluetooth technology to enable even more user flexibility, Jabra Motion is completely interoperable with all mobile devices and UC platforms. All it takes is a simple touch and Jabra Motion literally follows your every move, using the latest motionsensor technology for superior audio experience and full flexibility. The second innovative product- a Bluetooth® enabled speakerphone Jabra SPEAKTM 510 which earned recognition for its exceptional design and innovation at the recent prestigious Red Dot awards.

Jabra, the world’s leading manufacturer of wireless audio solutions, is launching the state-of-the-art headset, Jabra Motion, designed to suit the rapidly growing group of mobile workers; multi-tasking at the office, in the car or at home using smart phones, tablets or laptop with ”presence everywhere” apps and Unified Communication (UC) solutions.

“We aim to help the mobile worker gain the full benefitsfrom their mobile devices and UC solutions. It is our experience that one of the most important factors for users, embracing these communication platforms and devices, is the headset which bridges the gap between the users and the promise of efficiencyand flexibility with sound,” says Mogens Elsberg, CEO Jabra.

The intuitiveness of the Jabra Motion design features allows the user to concentrate on the job at hand; not having to give second thought to the surroundings when picking up a call. With a combination of motion sensors and intelligent microphones, Jabra Motion automatically adapts to the sound environment and adjusts to ensurethe optimal and clear sound throughout a conversation, whether ina noisy office or on the road. The headset registers any movement instantly; when youpick up the headset - the call is answered simultaneously; when you start walking, the speaker volume is automatically adjusted; just as it will turn off and takes a power nap when laid down.

“It is truly the only headset you will ever need,” said Ralph Ede, Managing Director for South Asia, GN Netcom Singapore Pte. Ltd. “The Jabra Motion UC is one of the first headsets with Near Field Communiction (NFC) technology—just tap them together and the headset connects with your smartphone. You can also enjoy best-in-class wireless freedom as it features at least 10 times the range of similar headsets in the market today.”

Ede added that when used with an UC client, expect full integration, including automatic updating of your UC presence status when on a smartphone call.

Jabra devices enable users to derive the full audio experience with all the flexibility-and efficiency benefits they expect from mobile devices and UC solutions through enhanced voice collaboration.

For the Jabra Motion, the Jabra design team opted for the‘behind-the-ear’circular shape; mimicking the back of the ears’ semi-circle shape;asimplistic, yet aesthetic design element. The folding boom adds“ pocketability” - the ability to carry it in a pocket without breaking the boom arm –a key feature in the new design. The folding boom is at the same time used to take and end calls with a simple flip of the boom arm.

The Jabra Motion ‘behind the ear’ Jabra design is the 8th generation of alegendary headset wearing style that has become a Jabra trademark. Since 2000, when Jabra launched the world’s first Bluetooth®headset, the ‘behind-the-ear’design has been setting industry standards with more than 4 milliondevices sold.

Jabra Motion will keep you up to speed and in touch, any time and everywhere - it intuitively follows your every move and with the latest Near Field Communication (NFC) technology for fast pairing,you simply tab the headset withyour NFC enabled devices to connect.

Jabra has also a continuous collaboration with Microsoft and has been a Microsoft Gold Certified Partner since 2007 when Jabra launched its first optimized headset for Microsoft Office Communicator. Today, Jabra carries a broadportfolio of UC hands-free audio solutions - optimized and qualified for Microsoft Lync.

Jabra SpeakTM 510

The launch of Jabra Motion follows the recent announcement of another new Jabra innovation - the Bluetooth® enabled speakerphone; Jabra SpeakTM 510. Together, these two devices offer a powerful package of connectivity for both personal and group conversations, turning any space into a conference room.

“With the increased mobility of the global workforce, the Jabra Speak 510 was the natural next step from the award-winning Jabra SpeakTM 410 that won best in test in a 2011 Sound & Design survey,” shared Ede.

The Jabra Speak™ 510 takes audio conferencing to a new level, with a unique portable speakerphone enhanced with Bluetooth®. It features plug-and-play connectivity to PCs and any Bluetooth enabled device for enhanced mobility and freedom; a full compatibility with leading UC systems & VoIP clients for seamless integration; and an outstanding sound quality for crystal-clear and natural sounding calls that allow attendees to hear and speak clearly across any location.

JABRA takes home prestigious Red Dot award

The Jabra SPEAKTM 510 earned recognition for its exceptional design and innovation at the prestigious Red Dot awards.

Launched only three months ago, the Jabra Speak 510 speakerphone targets the mobile worker, featuring Bluetooth® technology – enabling even more user flexibility and meets increased demands for mobility, at home, in the workplace or on the go.

Its ‘sister product’ – the corded Jabra Speak 410 speakerphone was the first of its kind in the Jabra Business Solutions product portfolio and has taken the world by storm. By the end of 2012 the Jabra Speak 510 and Jabra Speak 410 has secured an overwhelming 42% global market share for USB enabled speakerphones. The latest sales figures for February show that the Jabra Speak 510 already makes up 1/3 of our sales in the category

It is only just under a year ago that the Jabra Speak 410 won the Innovationspreis-IT 2012 at CeBIT in Germany and the IF Design award - also in 2012.

The competition for the Red Dot awards has been particular fears this year with 1865 manufacturers, designers and architects from 54 countries showcasing their best products and projects on the hunt for the sought-after red dot seal of quality.

T.G.I. Friday’s Kicks off Summer with a New Bar Menu

Introduces Stars Behind the Bar and Red Card

T.G.I.Friday’s, the first American casual dining chain in the Philippines is celebrating a sizzling start to the summer with a new bar menu. The updated bar list includes a wide array of affordable drinks such as the Ultimate drinks, beer on tap at P60, local bottled beer at P75 and beer by the bucket for only P350. Cocktails will also be available starting from P125, and includes staples such as the Long Island Tea, Bahama Mama, Kamikaze, and 77 Sunset Strip. To cool down for the scorching summer, the Refillable Mojito is also continuing its run as one of bar’s most popular offerings, available everyday at only P295. 

The new beverage menu features concoctions to fit every bar personality, whether you’re the life of the party or just winding after work. To entice patrons to let loose and enjoy the distinct T.G.I.Friday’s atmosphere, the T.G.I Friday’s Red Card will be available by first week of April, which is a passport for a buy-one, take-one on cocktails every Thursday. The cards will be distributed free of charge to dining guests. 

Adding to the excitement is the launch of the first leg of the Stars Behind the Bar tour, which includes a showcase of celebrity bartenders, free drinks, and a chance to learn basic flairs and cocktails.

The featured bartenders went through a rigorous round of auditions, with most being previous participants of the renowned Shake, Rattle, and Pour Bartending Championship, which will be on its 18th year in 2013. T.G.I.Friday’s is known for popularizing flair tending, and hosted the first known flair bartending competition in the US in 1985. Patrons are also known to flock the bar to watch bartenders dazzle with flips, flairs, and tricks before drinks are delivered with a personalized touch.

The T.G.I.Friday’s Stars Behind the Bar tour is in partnership with Stolichnaya Vodka. Catch the tour at the following dates and locations: Bonifacio High Street on March 21, April 11 and 25, and May 9; Glorietta on March 22, April 12 and 26, and May 10; Mall of Asia on April 4 and May 16; Eastwood on April 5 and May 17; TriNoma on April 14 and May 4; Malate on April 18 and May 23; Alabang Town Center on April 19 and May 24; Tomas Morato on May 2 and 30; Robinsons Galleria on May 3 and 31.

T.G.I.Friday’s is a Bistro Group restaurant, and its latest promo is part of the group-wide Taste the Love campaign.

MUSIC LYF: Queen of Disco, Gloria Gaynor visits the Philippines

Gloria Gaynor, American singer and the Queen of disco and soul, is delighted to visit her Filipino fans as ATG Entertainment Productions presents “GLORIA GAYNOR: I Will Survive” on April 5, 2013 at the NBC Tent, Global City Taguig and on April 6, 2013 at the AUF Sports and Cultural, McArthur Highway, Angeles City.

Popularly known as an icon of the disco era, Gaynor will surely be treating you with some of her most recognized international successes. Known for her Broadway-style overture of her hits including her disco hit “I Will Survive” in 1979, “Can’t Take My Eyes Off You” and “I Am What I Am” will surely complete a grand production befitting for a Queen of Disco. Gaynor released her several albums under the titles "I Will Survive" (Hot 100 number 1, 1979), "Never Can Say Goodbye" (Hot 100 number 9, 1974), "Let Me Know (I Have a Right)" (Hot 100 number 42, 1980) and "I Am What I Am" (R&B number 82, 1983). Gaynor has become one of the best-known female disco artists from the '70s due to the ongoing success of her monster 1979 hit and Grammy winning (and subsequent "woman's anthem"), "I Will Survive.”