Colgate Launches its Breakthrough Technology in Cavity Protection: The Hope for a Cavity-Free Future is Here

Introducing Colgate's latest technology to win the fight against cavities

Despite continuing education on the importance of good oral care habits to prevent tooth decay,cavities still affect nearly 100% of adults worldwide. There are 9 out of 10 Filipinos who suffer from cavities (regardless of age or socio-economic background) in our country based on a research conducted recently. 

Colgate, the world's trust brand and the leading toothpaste had introduced an innovative toothpaste that makes cavity-free future possible via its breakthrough technology New Colgate Maximum Cavity Protection plus Sugar Acid Neutralizer toothpaste. It's the first of its kind, the only sugar acids in plaque--the main culprit of cavities. 

A common misconception is that sugar is the main source of cavities. However, any kind of trapped food can be culprits, practically any kind of food because of its sugar acids. Sugar acids are created in the mouth when common oral bacteria feed on starchy food residue, causing the acid level in the mouth to rise and enabling sugar acids to attack, and in the long run weakening the teeth and causing cavities. 

A large part of food in a typical Filipino household diet contains starch in everyday food staples such as rice, fruits and veggies. With the latest breakthrough from Colgate in cavity protection, the Sugar Acid Neutralizer and Fluoride protection helps to deactivate the sugar acids in plaque making it easier for fluoride to take its action to further strengthen and repair teeth, preventing cavity formation.

Give your family a chance to be cavity-free with Colgate Maximum Cavity Protection plus Sugar Acid Neutralizer! 

Ways To Fight and Survive Depression: The Scoop On Suicide

Life is full of ironies. In the recent news, comedian Robin Williams hanged himself to end his suffering from drug addiction and chronic depression.  It was but a tragic way to bid his life goodbye. Despite of the glamour and glitz of Hollywood, Williams, who had rose to fame by making people laugh on his films chose to end his life by putting off his "jolly" mask and showing everyone his true emotions. This reminds me of Britney Spears' song entitled "Lucky". The said song rings true to Williams' life, it clearly states that despite the Hollywood fame, there's something missing in his life. Once the spotlights went off, he'd find himself alone and lonely. When he's all by himself, that's when depression creeps into him. 

There will really be times when we'd feel that the world will crumble before us. Personally speaking, I've had the worst time this year after having an accident sometime in April where I had my hip fractured and later had required me to have partial hip prosthesis. And since breaking my hip, hearing the words "You have osteoporosis" is even more startling. So it's understandably so that for quite sometime, I really went through depression because at the time I really thought I could no longer walk normally and I became anxious about my health. But clinging on to God's promises, I know all these things shall pass. If it's not okay today, it's not yet the end. Four months had passed since we met an accident, I thank God for giving me the strength to carry on and I thank all my friends, my daughter's friends, fellow bloggers for all the help and inspiration. I can now walk again (although with a cane). It's true that I can no longer do some things I used to do (like participate in fun runs) but still I am blessed to have been alive and enjoy the company of my loved ones

Of course, I'd miss running and participating in Zumba class as well as the other things I used to enjoy but can no longer do now. However, I'd rather focus on the things which I CAN still do than those I can no longer do. I believe thinking about the positive ones can make me feel better. I don't want to succumb to depression. There's more to life than just sulk in a corner and cry, it's important to cry once in a while, to release your emotions. But after that, you must learn to wipe those tears away and move on. I know you could say, "it's easier said than done." Well, I'd say it really is difficult yet when you surround yourself with people who truly cares for you, who REALLY HAS CONCERN, things would be a lot easier, believe me. You might even be surprised how you've survived all those stuff. 

I have here five steps which I've learned from attending The Scoop On Suicide conference recently which might help you to deal and eventually overcome depression: 

1. Bond with your family and friends. My daughter used to bottle up all her emotions to herself. You've got to learn how to open up and bare your soul. It not only feels good, but it'll also be good for your heart. Share whatever sentiments, grievances or problems you may have. Unload them to a friend who will be willing to listen and be a shoulder to cry on. 

2. Write all your problems, jot them down and once you're done, throw them away or burn them. By doing this, it's like crumpling off and throwing your problems along with the paper. 

3. Learn to Count Your Blessings. Think positive. There are a lot of reasons to be happy about and be thankful for. Stop comparing yourself with others. Nobody is perfect in this world. But with a positive mind, you will be able to carry on whatever problem that will come your way. 

4. Keep the Faith. No matter what the others say, prayers work wonders. Based on experience, it is Him who can really help us when we are at our lowest point in life. It is through praying that we connect with Him, listen to what He has about to say. 

5. Music is a good therapy. Music can heal the wounds of our hearts. When you listen to a fast and upbeat song, you can't help but feel its energy. Life is one big roller coaster, there will be times when you're down and times when you're up there. It's a matter of perspective. We can all beat and fight depression. 

If all else fails, seek the help of a friend, a relative, confidante, or call In Touch Community Services for FREE counseling. They will be there ready to listen to you 24/7. Call 893-7603 or on their mobile numbers: GLOBE 0917-8001123/ 0917-5067314

SUN CELLULAR: 0922-8938944/09223468776

Email them at crisis@i-manila.com.ph

Log on to their websites: www.in-touch.org

www.geocities.com/crisislineph

The Curtain Rises for The Theatre at Solaire

Press Release: Solaire Resort and Casino announces the opening of THE THEATRE at Solaire this November; a new state-of-the-art, certified lyric theatre in the heart of Entertainment City. This majestic performance venue boasts of an astronomical line-up of performance artists and events; both local and international, in the months to come.

THE THEATRE at Solaire opens its doors for the holidays with the first International Broadway show CHICAGO from December 2 to 21, 2014. This spectacular opening and amazing entertainment line-up for The Theatre signifies the continuance of Solaire’s contribution to the flourishing arts and performance scene in the Entertainment City.

@SolaireResort | #SolaireChicago

Visit solaireresort.com for details

AMD Unleashes World’s Most Powerful Server GPU for HPC

AMD FirePro™ S9150 server card delivers up to 2.53 TFLOPS of peak double-precision floating point performance for intense compute workloads, and 10.8 GFLOPS double precision-per-watt, up to 77% more performance/watt than the competition

AMD announced the AMD FirePro S9150 server card – the most powerful server Graphics Processing Unit (GPU) ever built for High Performance Computing¹. Based on the AMD Graphics Core Next (GCN) architecture, the first AMD architecture designed specifically with compute workloads in mind, the AMD FirePro S9150 server card is the first server card to support enhanced double precision and break the 2.0 TFLOPS double precision barrier¹,². With 16GB of GDDR5 memory  – 33 percent more than the competition –  and maximum power consumption of 235 watts, AMD FirePro S9150 server GPUs provide supercomputers with massive compute performance while maximizing available power budgets.

“Today’s supercomputers feature an increasing mix of GPUs, CPUs and co-processors to achieve great performance, and many of them are being implemented in an environmentally responsible manner to help reduce power and water consumption,” said David Cummings, senior director and general manager, professional graphics, AMD. “Designed for large scale multi-GPU support and unmatched compute performance, AMD FirePro S9150 ushers in a new era of supercomputing. Its memory configuration, compute capabilities and performance per watt are unmatched in its class, and can help take supercomputers to the next level of performance and energy efficiency.” 

The AMD FirePro S9150 server card is supported by a powerful software ecosystem, enabling developers to better harness its compute performance. In addition to AMD support for OpenCL™, including support for OpenCL™ 2.0 planned later this year, AMD announced a collaboration with Pathscale to support OpenMP 4.0 for AMD FirePro S9150 and selected other AMD FirePro graphics cards.

“Pathscale’s ENZO Compiler with OpenMP 4.0 and support for C, C++, and Fortran is used by customers in the Oil and Gas, Computational Science, Computer Aided Engineering, and other HPC segments,” said Christopher Bergstrom, CTO, Pathscale. “Our support for the AMD FirePro S9150 will enable these customers to benefit from the tremendous compute performance of AMD’s new server GPU while leveraging their existing investment in OpenMP software.”

“Having developed a supercomputer that ranked number two on The Green500 list, it takes exceptional compute performance and efficiency to achieve that status -- we couldn’t have done it without AMD FirePro S-Series server GPUs,” said Professor Dr. Volker Lindenstruth, Frankfurt Institute for Advanced Studies, Goethe University, Frankfurt. “We’ve been putting the AMD FirePro S9150 through its paces and we’re blown away by the performance-per-watt. Any supercomputer that leverages massive compute power with the AMD FirePro S9150 and makes a run for the top of the Green500 list stands a very good chance of succeeding.” 

“We’re currently testing the AMD FirePro™ S9150 server card and hands down it’s the fastest HPC GPU accelerator we’ve ever tested. We’re even more excited by the prospects of combining its raw compute performance with OpenCL 2.0 later this year,” said Simon McIntosh-Smith, head of the Microelectronics Research Group at the University of Bristol. “Our research benefits from an open and royalty-free API, and we’re committed to OpenCL™ to accelerate our computations. We applaud AMD’s planned support for OpenCL 2.0. New features such as Shared Virtual Memory and Nested Parallelism will allow us to make even better use of GPUs to increase performance and efficiency.” 

”Supermicro offers the industry’s widest range of GPU server solutions optimized for HPC and supercomputing in 1U, 2U, 3U, 4U SuperServer and 7U SuperBlade platforms,” said Don Clegg, Vice President of Marketing and Business Development at Supermicro. “Supermicro Green Computing solutions, featuring AMD’s latest AMD FirePro S9150 and AMD FirePro S9050, enable extreme compute density with support for up to 6x GPUs per node in 4U dual node, dual processor configurations, maximizing performance per watt, per dollar, per square foot.” 

“ASUS is pleased to feature AMD FirePro S9150 accelerators to enable server workstations with dedicated and reliable functionality matched with double precision floating point performance,” said Tom Lin, general manager, ASUS. “We’re dedicated to offering our customers solutions that deliver the most performance possible, and the energy efficiency and performance-per-watt of the AMD FirePro S9150 are an added bonus our customers will greatly appreciate.”“AMD FirePro S9150 delivers exceptional double- and single-precision floating point performance. Unlike other GPU accelerators, AMD FirePro S9150 features enhanced double precision, eliminating the need to buy a more expensive accelerator to get similar performance,” said Etay Lee, general manager at GIGABYTE’s Network & Communications Division. “Together with AMD, our product delivers the right solution for the market to enable power-efficient performance for supercomputer-class results.”

“AMD FirePro S9150 GPU accelerators will be an outstanding addition to our product line, allowing us to offer our customers solutions that deliver maximum performance,” said Albert Mu, vice president of MiTAC International Corp.’s TYAN Business Unit. “During the testing and evaluation of the AMD FirePro S9150 with TYAN servers, our team was impressed with the sheer horsepower. It far exceeded our expectations and our customers will be anxious to take advantage of that horsepower to accelerate their compute-intensive workloads.”

The AMD FirePro S9150 server GPU features:

5.07 TFLOPS of peak single-precision floating point performance – up to 18 percent more than the competition¹

Maximum double-precision floating point performance resulting in 2.53 TFLOPS peak double-precision compute performance – half of its peak single precision performance. 

Industry leading memory configuration – 16GB GDDR5 memory, 512-bit memory interface and up to 320 GB/s memory bandwidth 

2,816 stream processors (44 GCN compute units)

Error Correcting Code Memory support (external)

Ready to support OpenCL™ 2.04

235W maximum power consumption

AMD STREAM technology

Additionally, AMD introduced the new AMD FirePro™ S9050 server GPU with 12GB of ultra-fast GDDR5 memory, ECC Memory support, cutting-edge graphics and compute performance. The new server GPU delivers 3.23 TFLOPS of peak single precision, plus 806 GFLOPS of double precision floating-point performance for effortless processing of challenging compute workloads. 

The AMD FirePro S9050 server GPU features:

12GB GDDR5 memory, 384-bit memory interface and up to 264 GB/s memory bandwidth

1,792 stream processors (28 GCN compute units)

OpenCL 1.2 support

Error Correcting Code Memory support (internal and external)

225W maximum power consumption

Both of the AMD FirePro S9150 and S9050 server GPUs feature PCIe® x16 dual slot form factors and passive thermal solutions more compatible with server environments. Additionally, both cards support AMD STREAM technology which powers the ecosystem that enables AMD FirePro™ S-Series server GPUs to be used for compute intensive workflows leveraging the massively parallel processing power of AMD GPUs, and to accelerate many applications beyond just graphics.

"AMD now offers industry leading solutions in professional workstation and server graphics," added Adrian Thompson, VP of Marketing for SAPPHIRE Technology, AMD's Exclusive Global Distribution Partner for AMD FirePro professional graphics. "With these new families of products, SAPPHIRE is steadily expanding its reach into new markets and applications areas."

AMD FirePro S9150 and S9050 are expected to be available for purchase in Q3 from AMD global distribution partner SAPPHIRE Technology, and compatible servers and motherboards for the AMD FirePro S9150 are also available from server integrators ASUS, GIGABYTE, Supermicro and TYAN.

Supporting Resources

Learn more about AMD FirePro™ S9150 server GPU

Learn more about AMD FirePro™ S9050 server GPU

Learn more about AMD STREAM technology

Become a fan of AMD on Facebook

Follow AMD professional graphics on Twitter- @AMDFirePro

About AMD 

AMD designs and integrates technology that powers millions of intelligent devices, including personal computers, tablets, g ame consoles and cloud servers that define the new era of surround computing. AMD solutions enable people everywhere to realize the full potential of their favorite devices and applications to push the boundaries of what is possible. For more information, visit www.amd.com.

SOLAIRE RESORT AND CASINO UNVEILS ITS NEW PLANE LIVERY

Press Release--Solaire Resort and Casino, the Philippines’ premier integrated resort, in partnership with Air Asia unveils a breakthrough branding project in the Philippines.  

 

Solaire again raises the bar as it wraps its brightly colored livery on Air Asia’s popular Airbus A320, which is scheduled to embark on its maiden flight this July.  Solaire is the first-ever consumer brand in the country to fully wrap and brand a commercial airline, with an underlying thrust of further promoting tourism in the Philippines and in greater Asia.  

 

This dynamic collaboration between Solaire and Air Asia represents another step forward in an on-going journey towards providing modern travel and leisure experiences for its customers, with a fresh new approach to their target market.  This partnership will facilitate more passenger and cargo traffic in both regional and domestic flights, and foster stronger trade, cultural and tourism ties within Asia.

 

“This milestone is a key undertaking between two passionate brands with entrepreneurial and dynamic mindsets. This unprecedented branding project in the Philippines may be taken as a "leadership statement," which attests to Solaire's strong growth momentum in the industry. Yes we are again raising the bar; this time we're taking it to the skies.” says Donato Almeda, Board Director of Solaire Resort and Casino.

Currently, Solaire’s brand colors are donned by just one airplane, but nothing is stopping them from further rolling out this innovative wrap on additional aircrafts in the future with broader partnership arrangements.  The campaign will continue until 2016 and it is envisioned that this high-impact ad in the sky will generate more hype and publicity as the partnership progresses.

 

Jasper Evangelista, Vice President of Brand & Marketing, Solaire Resort and Casino said, “This aircraft-branding campaign is a strategic branding initiative which would allow us to literally take our brand to greater heights. We have created amazing moments for our customers since Solaire launched last year, and now we’re aiming to further connect with our local & foreign guests and travellers by reinforcing our brand presence in the country’s airports. Sky Solaire will enable us to get immediate traction on this effort and even take it to a level all its own.”

 

In-line with Solaire’s “Create Your Moments" campaign, which highlights Solaire as the perfect place to create unforgettable memories, this fitting partnership with AirAsia, one of Asia’s leading and multi-awarded airlines in their category, harmoniously evokes the key thrusts of customer service, hospitality, and excitement for both their industries.  This marketing initiative is also primed to open up new revenue streams for both the integrated resort and the airline carrier.

 

AirAsia Philippines Chairman Maan Hontiveros said, “AirAsia Philippines is a sociable and innovative brand. We also take pride on our collaborative nature. This new livery demonstrates our creative approach to partnerships and marketing opportunities especially with companies that support our vision to grow tourism. We are thrilled to carry Solaire’s brand in the sky and on the grounds at the airports here and abroad extending to as far as our destinations in Malaysia, China and Korea.”

 

The Solaire experience is stamped with an unparalleled brand of service style, world-renowned Philippine hospitality, top-of-class luxurious accommodations, diverse dining options and impressive gaming facilities, which have all contributed to the way people people view resort casinos in Manila. Many have opted to extend their stay at the resort, to have simply grown to embrace the aspirational and stress-free lifestyle offered to them at Solaire. Solaire Resort and Casino clearly offers the utmost experience of comfort, elegance and luxury in the Philippines right now.

Nurture Run 2014: #LetsBeReal Filipino Moms

Beauty, Brains and Breastfeeding was conceptualized with the goal to bring back the culture of breastfeeding in the Philippines. It is quite disturbing that based on a recent survey, only 47 percent (roughly more than half of Filipino mothers) prefer breastfeeding over formula milk. The said survey only showed that Filipino moms aren't being real--half of them do not give their babies the best because they prefer formula milk over breastfeeding. This is the sad truth. However, as a mom, I believe that we can do better than this. What most Filipino mothers actually need isn't just awareness, but also guidance and education regarding breastfeeding. 

It's such a good thing that through the initiatives of Beauty, Brains and Breastfeeding along with UNICEF, educating mothers on the importance of breastfeeding isn't exactly a far fetched dream. It's about time we do something to make other mothers realize that God had specifically designed our breasts to produce milk for our babies to enjoy. The Nurture Run 2014 was conceived with that thought in mind--to help more Filipina moms make the real switch--opt for the natural--choose breastfeeding over formula ones. 

The Nurture Run 2014 will be held on April 13, 2014 Sunday from 5:30 am to 10:00am at the Quezon Memorial Circle. Participants have an option either to cover 3km or 5km. Race kits costs Php450.00 inclusive of the race bib and Nurture Run shirt. The event is co-presented by UNICEF, International Labour Organization (ILO), National Nutrition Cluster group for Haiyan/Yolanda and the Department of Health (DOH) in coordination with venue-host the Quezon City Government. 

Let's join hands to give Filipino children the most genuine form of care and nutrition through breastfeeding. Help us to raise funds to initiate support in breastfeeding in emergency and to establish more public lactation stations. Save the date and help us to spread the word by joining the Nurture Run 2014! 

Pre-register at www.beautybrainsandbreastfeeding.com 

To get more updates and further information, like them on Facebook at www.facebook.com/beautybrainsandbreastfeeding, follow them on Twitter www.twitter.com/womenbreastfeed or log on to www.nurturerun.com

Juan Stop Inasal: Ilonggo's Finest Foods Made Affordable

Are you craving for some of your favorite Ilonggo dishes? Well, look no farther, for in between the streets of Balete Drive and P. Tuazon along N. Domingo is another hole-in-the-wall eatery that serves affordable chicken inasal and other Visayan foods. Juan Stop Inasal will surely make every Juan dela Cruz stop for some awesome tastes of Ilonggo fare. 

A casual open air dining, Juan Stop Inasal is actually a carinderia-looking establishment at first glance. But do not underestimate its wide variety of Filipino fare. Juan Stop Inasal seemed like a winner among the noisy crowds happily chowing down their meals. Yes, you can find an authentic Ilonggo inasal in this humble restaurant. That magic marinade had found its way through the native chicken meat, and after getting grilled perfectly, its was basking in a lovely yellow and tasted phenomenal. 

Juan Stop Inasal had two chicken parts of choice: Paa (leg/thigh part) and Pecho (breast) and we excitedly forked them over onto our plates after they landed on our table. The chicken inasal was delightfully softer and more tender than the ones I've had in other chicken inasal establishments. While the pieces looked charred and tasted a little dry and overdone, it was a satisfying foray into chicken inasal.  The tendrils of meat easily fell off the bone and practically melted in my mouth. It is not sweet unlike the more popular brand of inasal. It goes perfectly well with the vinegar, chili, soy sauce and some calamansi plus unlimited garlic rice. For its price, it is also perfect for one's budget. Before long, we set our utensils aside and started stripping the chicken with our bare hands. 

The sizzling sisig is a revelation. At first sight, I had mistaken it for Laing--a Bicolano specialty. But then I realized, laing dish do not come on a sizzling plate. Interestingly, Juan Stop Inasal's sizzling sisig was so delicious that we had eaten them scraped up to the last bits and pieces and even had a second round. That's how good it was! They have other dishes worth trying such as KBL (kadios, baboy, langka)--an Ilonggo specialty dish, Dinuguan, Pancit, Ilonggo longganisa, and Negros spicy sardines.

Juan Stop Inasal's Batchoy was a comforting soup with bits of fried garlic, chicharon (pork rind), spring onions, liver and pork strips. Its broth complements the chicken inasal. In fact, at Juan Stop Inasal, you can just add a few pesos to get a batchoy soup and get that perfect meal consisting of viand, rice, drink and soup.

Juan Stop Inasal's barbecue however needs some improvement because it's quite dry and had some resistance when you try to eat them either on stick or using fork. It's not as tender as it's supposed to be. But their Hickory Barbecue flavored grilled liempo might as well compensate for the the disappointment with their regular pork barbecue. The hickory barbecue tasted good with its sweet, spicy and tangy sauce. You can also opt for the salt and pepper variety which was equally good. 

Overall, I'd say that Juan Stop Inasal is a highly recommended place for those who enjoy good Ilonggo foods and for fans of mouthwatering chicken inasal. Owner Stephen Po admitted that there are still a lot of things that needs to be ironed out including the taste of some of their menu--which is just fine as they've just opened in September 2013. I'm sure it won't be long that they're able to come up with a better taste for they are tremendously passionate about food and constantly churning out ideas. But so far, I'd certainly come back for Juan Stop Inasal's chicken inasal and sizzling sisig! 

There's also a good news, you don't have to travel far to get your Ilonggo favorites. Juan Stop Inasal also sells Ilonggo delicacies such as banadas, pinasugbo (sugar coated banana crispy fritters) and piaya among many others. 

Come and visit Juan Stop Inasal which is located at 112 N. Domingo Street, Between Balete Drive and P. Tuazon. Juan Stop Inasal delivers on limited area nearby. Call 570-5653 for delivery and advance orders. 

Feast at Marriott Hotel Manila for the Chinese New Year

Welcome the Year of the Wooden Horse with the best of fortune as Marriott Hotel Manila offers Chinese New Year promos to add to your celebrations!

 

It is considered good luck to eat Nian Gao (locally known as “Tikoy”) at this time of the year, as “nian gao” is a homonym for “higher year,” symbolizing longevity, progress, and better life. Marriott’s Nian Gao are carefully molded into two koi fish at 270 grams each, and are packaged beautifully in a red oriental gift box, perfect as a present for the Chinese New Year at P988 nett and available at Java+ until January 31, 2014.

 

Enjoy the luxury of an overnight stay in a Deluxe Room with their Special Room Package at P11,888++, complete with a calming view of VIllamor Golf Course, and inclusive of buffet breakfast for two at Marriott Café as well as afternoon tea and snacks for you and your special someone at the Greatroom. You will not go home from this stay with fond memories alone; take home a special Nian Gao Gift Box and continue with the Chinese festivities! This package is valid from January 26 to February 10, 2014.

 

Marriot Manila truly knows how to usher in the Chinese New Year in high spirits! Gong Xi Fa Cai!

8th Spring Film Festival: Free Chinese Movie Screenings at the Shangri-La Mall Cineplex

Set to open this year's film festival season at the Shangri-La Plaza is the 8th Spring Film Festival happening from January 24 to February 2, 2014. An annual activity organized by the Ateneo de Manila University Ricardo Leong Center for Chinese Studies in cooperation with the Confucius Institute, the Embassy of the People's Republic of China, Film Development Council of the Philippines, Credit Suisse and the Ateneo Celadon--they aim to promote Chinese culture to the Philippine society through these quality films. 

Now on its eight year, the Spring Festival features eight noteworthy Chinese films on different genres such as drama, romantic comedy, suspense etc. There will surely be something that will catch your fancy. Take a look at this year's line up of films for the Spring Film Festival:

Snowfall in Taipei

May, a singer from mainland China, suddenly lost her voice and had conflicts with Ah Lei, her producer and secret lover. In anger, she came to Old Town of Jingtong where she met Xiao Mo, a warmhearted man. Xiao Mo helped May find a dwelling place, and introduced her to work at a local restaurant. Thanks to their constant contacts, they made a good impression with each other. May found happiness and consolation from the old streets of the small town, and her voice was getting better and better. However, May had left her heart at another place. Gradually, Xiao Mo understood that when one deliberately disappears, one wants to be looked for by others. Along with a sudden appearance of Jack, a muckraking journalist, the situation began to develop towards the uncontrolled direction.  

City Monkey

He Zhipeng is a senior student in high school who lives in a big old Beijing hutong yard with his mother and grandmother. He loves parkour, an extremely dangerous sport in most people’s eyes. With his good psychology and physique, he becomes the star player of “City Monkey” parkour club. But his mother strongly disapproves it and hopes he could focus only on his entrance exams to university. Clashes of different concepts, rebellion of the youth, and persistence to the ideal are unavoidable problems for them. What would the two generations do?

Aftershock Tangshan, 1976. 

Two seven-year-old twin children are buried under the rubble of the devastating earthquake. The rescue team explains to their mother, Li Yuanni that freeing either child will almost certainly result in the death of the other. She is forced to make the most difficult decision of her life and must choose between her children. Li Yuanni has no idea that her decision is overheard by her daughter Fang Deng, the female twin. Although she has been left behind as dead, the little girl miraculously survives for several more days before being pulled clear by another rescue team who believe that she is simply a corpse. She wakes up in the pouring rain next to the dead body of her father. Suffering from the emotional shocks of the disaster and the painful memory of her mother's choice, Fang Deng refuses to reveal her identity. She is adopted by a middle-aged Chinese couple and years later moves to Canada to marry. Shadowed by the traumatic experiences of the earthquake and devastated by her mother's decision to abandon her, she continues to be emotionally withdrawn throughout her adult years.

Where is My Home

Mrs. Geng is a simple village mother who raised two children on her own. Her son made his way to the city and offers to have her come live with him and his family. Despite the improved material conditions of the city, Mrs. Geng cannot help feeling isolated and lonely. It takes some time for her children to understand how she feels, and they rebuild their family’s affection.

The Go-King and his Son

Liu Yishou, an amateur Go player, is called by his friends “the king of Go”. Liu Yishou has been laid off quite a long time ago and now, with no other skills to make a living, teaches Go in a humble training course for children. Life has been hard, and his wife has decided to divorce him. His young son, Xiaochuan, has chosen to stay with him through his difficulties. On an unexpected occasion, Xiaochuan displayed an amazing talent for Go, and his father vowed to support him to further develop his gift for the game. They confronted challenges, but with courage, persistence and profound love between father and son, they eventually arrived at the destination towards which they were heading.

1911 Revolution

As the country enters the new century, China is facing a crisis. Two warring factions have emerged, starvation amongst the citizens is rampant and political reforms have made matters worse. The seven year old Emperor and his mother, Empress Dowager Longyu (Joan Chen), are out of sync with people’s needs after 250 years of total power.  As Huang Xing (Jackie Chan) arrives from his studies on modern warfare in Japan, he finds himself picking up his sword to lead a rebellion against the powerful Qing Dynasty and the New Army.

Let’s Fall in Love

Tan Momo, who showed his natural gift in music in his childhood, entered the Conservatory of Music to learn to play Guqin (seven-stringed plucked instrument) smoothly. His teacher placed great hopes on him and his girlfriend Xia Fei had the greatest esteem for him. Upon their graduation, Momo, Xia Fei and other young people who cherished dreams finally walked out of the campus and began to experience the ups and downs in real life. While in front of conflicts between their ideals and family relation, love and morality, what would they choose…

Li Mi Conjecture

Due to the intervention of her parents, taxi driver girl Li Mi had to break up with her long-term boyfriend, Fang Wen, who had disappeared from her life yet seemed to remain connected. For four years, Li Mi had continued to search for his whereabouts in a constant tug-of-war between hope and despair. An eerie murder was witnessed, leading her to a man nearly identical to her missing lover. Could he be the one she has been looking for? Her life suddenly changes. Then come terrible yet pitiful drug dealers, and irascible but highly duteous police detectives…Behind the cascades of mysteries, compromises lie still between those who were once in love.

Admission to the film screenings are absolutely FREE! Just come at least an hour early to get tickets as slots are limited. Seats are on a first come, first served basis. For screening schedules, please visit www.ateneoceladon.org.

While you're at it, don't forget to catch Shang's East Atrium Chinese Painting Exhibit featuring the latest works of artists and students from the International Studies for Chinese Arts and the Confucius Institute at the Ateneo de Manila University Chinese Painting Class. Chinese Painting and Crafts Workshops will also be held on February 1 from 2PM to 4PM. 

For inquiries, contact 370-2500 local 597 or log on to www.shangrila-plaza.com 

An Aussie Overload at Marriott Manila

Taste Australia in a celebration of the diversity of premium food and drinks at Marriott Hotel Manila! Savor the steaks from the Outback, relish the seafood from the Great Barrier, imbibe on the wines from the cellars of Adelaide, or feast on the rich meat pies from Victoria; an array of choices await you this January!

 

Come over at Marriott Café for an Australian Wine Buffet, where five of the most excellent wines from the vineyards of Australia are available every night for only P825, together with featured cheeses that create a perfect partnership on your palate. A new gelato flavor is added -- Vittoria Australian Coffee, exclusively for this month only, is perfect as a sweet ending to an already delicious meal.

 

At Cru Steakhouse, experience posh dining with Chermoula Marinated Australian Lamb Loin at P1900, prepared by Marriott’s very own Chef Rej Casanova. Couple the dish with any of the three taste selected Shiraz wines, and add from their selection of cheeses for a classic, well-loved combination. Order a cup of hot, steaming Vittoria Australian Coffee for a fulfilling finish.

 

Eat, drink, and be merry the way Aussies do at the Greatroom with original meat pies, juicy surf n’ turf, and savory side dishes! Couple it with a mug of XXL beer, a glass of Australian wine or one soda to complete the rustic experience in all Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays of January, 6:00 PM – 10:30 PM at P1100.

 

At Java+, savor the rich flavors of freshly baked meat pies in three savory flavors: Beef, Mushroom & Onion (P480 nett), Beef, Potatoes & Mushy Peas (P450 nett), and Beef & Cheese (P420 nett). Enjoy it with Vittoria Australian Coffee Frappucino and find your corner at their best-loved coffee shop for the ultimate comfort food.

 

For guests who want to experience Australia in the comforts of their own rooms, all in-house guests may order Wine Carafes at P350 for 270ml, with a choice of WIllowglen Chardonnay or Willowglen Cabernet/Shiraz. Couple it with an Australian Cheese Trio, a platter of Rubicon Red, Wild Wasabi, and Smoked Cheddar at P570 with a side of homemade jam, toasted crostini, and spiced pecans to perfectly tickle your palate. Meanwhile, those who wish to soak up the sun with an ice cold beer on hand can choose from the local San Miguel Draft at P210 to Australia’s all-original ales such as Foster’s Lager and Victoria Bitter at P250 each.

 

Join Marriott Manila as they bring you blokes and sheilas over to the Land Down Under for an utterly grand time!

Alaska Merry Crema: Eastwood Mall Open Park Transformed Into Sweet City

Christmas festive sweet treats and an incredible varieties of chocolate, candies and patisseries in delectable and too-good-to-look-at cute creations filled the booths and food atelier at the Eastwood Mall Open Park during the Alaska Merry Crema Food Fair. Surrounded by so many chocolates and candy shops, It felt like I was one of those children who made field trips to the Willy Wonka chocolate factory in the children's book Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. 

I really looked forward to eating my chocolate and almonds as well as pistachios. People who know me, knows I'm into dark cocoas. I may not be a fan of sweets but I love dark chocolate! Finding myself in Alaska Merry Crema Food Fair was indeed like paradise on earth. I was lucky to have gotten my fix of my fave treats. I was also surprised to find out we can use Alaska Crema in a lot of different ways. Showcased during the said event were recipes from Pumpkin Soup ( for a richer and creamier taste), rock salted cheese brownies to cheese and chocolate fondue--there's practically a lot to do with it. I used to think all-purpose creams were only for fruit salads or white sauced fettuccine pasta dish. Now, I know better--thanks to this Alaska Merry Crema Food Fair. I learned that Alaska Crema is very versatile when it comes to cooking or whipping up delightful dishes/recipes.

I truly enjoyed the afternoon by simply roaming around the booths at the Alaska Merry Crema Fair. The event was bursting with life, passion, an equilibrium of yummy good things in life that makes one to yearn to create and inspire. I've never seen such beautiful and decadent chocolates and cakes as well as specialty dishes all in one market-style place--and I've seen and experienced them all at the said food fair. 

I'm also happy to note that entrepreneurs now help promote our own Philippine-based products such as Davao's Malagos organic cocoa and buffalo cheese. It's nice to know that we're now promoting local flavors and in the process we are also helping Filipino communities. 

Aside from the food booths at the Alaska Merry Crema Food Fair, there have been some stage programs hosted by dynamic radio FM DJs Chico and Delamar where there were games and prizes with a special number from rock pop princess Yeng Constantino.

It was indeed a memorable day for all the guests and attendees as the event was open to the public for free. Everyone happily went home with loot bags filled with Alaska products.