7107 International Music Festival Highlights Day 1

It was the perfect weather for the perfect weekend for the perfect event. I've already live blogged once during the first day but I think you should see my shots from my DSLR too so I'm breaking this down into two days. It's my experience of the 7107 International Music Festival!

Day #1

Stage was set, both equally stunning because these were huge! The second stage (the first one on top) had huge carabao horns and a sun in the background whilst the Main stage (the one on the bottom) had a huge sun edifice with rays on it. Both will be getting local and foreign artists and I've already seen a ton of people outside while others were rushing to get a front seat that afternoon. Gates opened a couple of minutes after 12.

I only had a handful of bands that I loved during the festival and one of them is The Asteroids Galaxy Tour. Their music is fun, melodic and quite reminiscent of Cindy Lauper, Taylor Swift, Miley Cyrus and Avril Lavigne's music all in one. The vocalist Mette Lindberg was really good, and she really did put up a good show that afternoon amidst the VERY HOT Pampanga afternoon. You can fry an egg out there.

Plus she's got quite a great personality and found the Philippines very interesting since its always cold where she came from. They're Danish, not the bread. Copenhagen was represented well.

Rap music was not shortchanged of course since Kid Ink was here. He's worked with the best in ehlay and it was their first time in the country too. They wanted to feel what crowd we've got in the Philippines and build from there. I guess they had fun!

60th Anniversary of Pioneer: Stories of Friendship Video Competition

A few days ago, I was invited to a gathering in Makati by buddy Gian Viterbo of www.gadgetpilipinas.net indicating "Pioneer" on the invite. I didn't pay attention too much because I knew these guys were friends... so I figured whatever it was, I'm good with it! Since he's a tech blogger, I was under the impression that we were going to a tech event so we could check out electronic devices with the same brand name. Finding a whole lot indicating "Pioneer House" on the building we went to, I was a little dumbfounded when our other friends told me it's an insurance company. I was afraid of these things precisely of their "functions" because I feared they were always going to wait for my untimely demise. I went up their office and did the best thing any civilized guy of my stature would do, I sat down and listened.

They introduced themselves nicely and we all got comfy. They catered to different levels of clientele including huge Hollywood productions to that street vendor who had so little. That last part, of which I found really noble. Micro insurance is a really something they went serious with; and they delved explaining the difference of their company compared to others. Therein lies I guess a more meticulous way of explaining standards, plus rules, plus why they've got to stay in the industry for 60 years and survive as a business. I got more of the answers when their President and CEO Lorenzo Chan Jr. did his part. 

At Pioneer Life Inc. he mentioned that aside from their quest to bringing in business, their main difference is having a "heart". 

Then I said to myself, Heart?! Wait a minute... Where am I?! Care bear land?! 

He shared one of their client's stories; and in a nutshell, they probably would on a normal circumstance only give the benefits when they're in dire straits - medically tested and proven that the person's health is at risk or if they already passed away just like any insurance company. They learned that the claim was for a man who was in the brink of having aneurysm; a condition that would worsen as days go by; and an operation was needed to get him out of harms way. They probably didn't have any responsibility legally if you talk about what's written on paper. He convened the people involved and talked about what would ""humanely" happen if they didn't act fast. Pioneer Life knew that they had to do something for the guy in this situation and got the good man a few days later the money expeditiously. They got so touched when the wife got back to them with a letter saying "Thank you!" in so many ways. He recovered from that ordeal and is still living a few more years with his family. That alone is a priceless thing for Pioneer Life Inc. to see and said that's what they mean by having a heart. Isn't that amazing?

   

Vice President for Marketing Services and Communications Ms. Len Pozon agrees with their Chaiman and CEO. The reason why they've built so much dreams in the years that Pioneer Insurance has been in this country is because they've made it a point that all their claims are made fairly within the limits of the various coverage programs that they have issued. They also have times when they've got to stop, listen and act not just to fulfill what is legally correct and rightfully "within the bounds" of what you have signed up and worked hard for. They have been here helping Filipinos build their lifetime dreams and all we have to do now is ask what they can also do for you.  

Aside from that, they're holding a contest named "Stories of Friendship Video Competition" to university or college students ages 15 to 24 years old. They know how much Filipinos value relationships and this time, they're asking how you would produce a 3 minute or less video showing the value of FRIENDSHIP. It can be a narrative/music video or would be up to the student how to interpret it. Students can submit their entries on a brown envelope  with a filled out submission form (found in www.storiesoffriendship.com) together with a photocopy of their current Student ID, 3 DVD copies of the entry (max resolution 1280/720p MPEG-4/H264) and saved in MP4 video format. Make sure you label it "Pioneer Stories of Friendship Video Competition by (Name of Participant - School) and send it to Marketing and Services Communications at the 4th Floor Pioneer House Makati 108 Paseo de Roxas Legaspi Village, Makati City. This will run until April 21, 2014. Film and Advertising industry experts will judge and pick 8 entries and invite them to an awarding ceremony. Winners could win up to Php 120,000 in cash plus insurance coverage. There's also an Online Favorite Award to be chosen on May 23, 2014. Lucky voters for that part would win Php 5,000 and insurance coverage by the one and only PIONEER. If that isn't great news, I don't know what would!

For criteria and other information regarding the competition, please visit their channels below.

Ciao!

For more information about their contest and company:

Pioneer Is Your Insurance

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Visit their official website

http://www.storiesoffriendship.com

Jillian Ward's Birthday Celebration!

A girl that has been able to capture an audience unprecedented in GMA and continues to be blessed with projects here and there is child star Jillian Ward.

She's adorable, cute and super talented which made us not surprised why she's getting the breaks she deserves. Aside from that, this celebration just became VERY special as she and GMA Artist Center chose to include children from Virlani Foundation for Street Kids and a couple more from the streets of Manila. FUN RANCH in Ortigas became the venue where these kids had the activities like Cupcake Decorating Contests and the experience to RIDE ALL THEY CAN at Fun Ranch with Jillian herself.

Best of all, Jillian made sure the kids were happy by giving them gifts from her sponsors. Imagine that, the birthday celebrant was the one giving gifts... A noble gesture from the cute kid.

It was also the first time that I've seen her sing. She's really got a good voice, she must have trained a lot to be that good.

The kids also had some games played with her. It was fun at the red barn that day and I'm not surprised that she celebrated it this way. Jillian is a good kid and she's destined to have a good career ahead of her! Happy birthday Jillian!

Thank you also to your sponsors Fun Ranch Ortigas, Sweet Kiss for the cupcakes, Barbie who got her equally cute dresess, Elle, Waffle Time, Zagu, Minute Burger, Leon Phelipe (who's got good goat's milk and tdf pastillas!), Fernando's bakeshop and GMA Artist Center who made the lives of thes kids a tad better during Jillian's birthday! You guys are awesome!

For more information about their artists:

Official GMA Artist Center

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Visit their official website

http://gmanetwork.com/artistcenter

CENTURY TUNA Superbods Super Challenge 2014

Everything happens for a reason. When we got to Makati during the presscon of Century Tuna Superbods a few days ago I was a little hesitant to even work out because that was the activity mentioned that evening. Admittedly I was a little out of shape, and a cardio workout wasn't my cup of tea since I only indulge in lifting weights when I'm in the gym. I don't like people telling me what to do and I usually turn my ears off when people tell me I'm fat and lazy. As hard as that sounds, I also want change to happen and it should start from me. I want to change things, and I've heard great news that could make me start my journey!

You might think this is a ploy to get you interested about a good product, but the executives themselves went in and tried the workout regimen and diet indicated on the website http://www.centurytuna.ph/superbodschallenge/ and you know, he's got six pack abs underneath that suit and showed it to the audience. If it worked for him, who knows... it might just be the thing that could work for me too. It's already summer and everyone's gearing up to show their bodies on the beach. Aside from that, Centrury Tuna's annual contest Century Tuna Superbods on April 25-27, 2014 in Boracay... if I win that I'll be famous just like Jon Spainhour haha!

The actual web site has two sections that will make this challenge work. On the photo above is dietician to the stars Ms. Nadine Tengco. She has designed the all new Century Tuna Superbods Meal Plan which can get you in shape in a promised duration of 6 weeks! 

 The meal plans consist of well balanced breakfast, lunch and dinner meals that can get you the right amount of nutrients that you need while in this 6 week program. It's functional because the goal of tightening the human mid section needs something like this to work, because as the lady in gold puts it... it doesn't work with plain workout. It must also be accompanied by a whole lifestyle change which in this case... is food.

 

On the website too is the Century Tuna Superbods Workout Plan made by popular Biggest Loser coach Jim Saret. This is his expertise and he's made 6 weeks worth of workout videos designed to make you the superman you want to be in that period.

You can also download the meal plan and this workout regimen in calendars if you want to be a little more organized. Though if you want to be easy, the thing is already on Youtube so anyone with a smartphone can access it anytime, anywhere! He also has a workout plan for those who couldn't exert too much effort and start light. I wouldn't argue with Coach Jim Saret if I were you, he's probably got one of the nicest physique I've ever seen in person. It's not too big or bulky, it's just right for his height. I envy him for that!

Century Tuna doesn't want you to be perfect, they want you to be a better version of you! Now with the right amount of food intake, aerobic, cardiovascular, weight training, stretching and various exercises you can get to your goal of becoming just that. Would you like to do start and get that better version of you to appear? Get on with the plan and do this for 6 weeks and see what you've been missing all these years with the help of Century Tuna!

Rush over to the channels below or http://www.centurytuna.ph/superbodschallenge !

For more information about their stores:

Century Tuna

Like them on Facebook


Visit their official website

http://www.centurytuna.ph/superbodschallenge