Yeng Constantino: All About Love

Yeng Constantino just released her newest album "All About Love", and we recently talked to her during a small blog conference in Don Henricos, a restaurant located in Tomas Morato, Quezon City. She says "I used to only listen to Rock music as a preference but now I'm more open to any kind of music. I wanted to have several people to be part of the album. In a long drive to Tagaytay, we listened to a couple of his compositions and what I heard there made me know him more. I wanted to include several of his songs in this album on the spot. I want something to symbolize this album and it's a good thing we got BJ Pascual to shoot. All the concept, the shots, it was all great. I want people to remember this album as the one who has the rose on it because it is after all "All About Love". I want to do everything to be worked on perfectly before releasing it because I don't want to shortchange my fans. I am happy for the support of my Cornerstone family, Star Records who worked with me all the way. 

We'll also be working on a music video to be shot entirely in Japan. I want it to be done during "Sakura" aka Cherry Blossom season because I love the scenes at that time. I want to wear paper umbrellas, kimonos, under a tree, I'm seeing so many things that I can do there. I also wish to have time to bring the ICON concerts all over the Philippines because I know a lot of people are requesting for it. When we also made this album I had initial fears because it might be done haphazardly because I wasn't in love when this started but when I got him, I never doubted. It was something I want to do in order to reach more people. The musicality, everyone would relate with it. I want it to be something inspiring for the people who would want to listen. 

I have a blog and I want to write  my thoughts about life and love, it might be seasonal but it's true. I will not retaliate with hatred because that doesn't really matter to me. I am happy with my family, happy with my supporters and I can only think that these trolls who work behind the keyboard, I am so sad they are wasting so much time with someone who doesn't even care. That's what I learned from my Dad, when I enjoy something, I go ahead and do it. Good vibes."

She also hopes you can get her album released in stores and record bars. Please also support the video of "Ikaw" which is her pre-nup anthem. All About Love, is all about love and it's personal. She thanks her sponsors, Yengsters who have been with her all the way. Her soon to be husband too, she can't wait to be with him this February, for real.

For more information about her album:

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http://www.starrecords.ph

My "Chicago" the Musical Moments with Smart Infinity

We went all the way to Solaire a few days ago to attend the first few days of one of the worlds greatest musicals "CHICAGO" hosted by equally great premium mobile services of Smart Communications called Smart Infinity. Members didn't just get discounts but perks to actually get tickets way before the public could get one. They do this to most of the musicals they've brought here from around the world. It was a dream for me though because I fell in love with the story when the movie came out. 

I super duper love the way they do it with Smart Infinity because their approach is very personal. I felt the sincerity, and they were there (literally on the venue and in character) to always make you feel special. Mind you, this is the only one I've experienced but they've got a lot of other things in the pipeline. There were a bunch of shows I think that they will be doing on 2015 which was awesome to know they'll be sternly supporting as part of their services.

The production here was awesome. Although there were not that much set design or art direction happening in this version of Chicago, you still get to see why musicals like these differ from the local ones we have in Manila. It was a performance, lead stars Terra MacLeod (Velma Kelly) and Bianca Marroquin (Roxie Hart) brought their A game and didn't short change the people who wanted to watch the show as much as I do. Aside from the lead cast, the guy who played Roxie Hart's husband and the one who did Matron "Mama" Morton. Don't be fooled by the weak character he played because he's a mean singer, whilst Mama had us stare and marvel at how big her character was during the screening. Aside from that, the ladies made a great job with the Cellblock tango who had explained their roles and lives individually, a feat that was tantamount to the success of pointing where the story will be heading. It was like 20's, mobs, tommy guns, cash, prostitution, gangsters and jazz all in one package.  

Much to everyone's surprise, there were several Filipino musicians in the orchestra. I even think there were only a few of them who were not, like the pianist and conductor. Robert Billig, Chicago's Musical Director Robert Billig says he had around 14 Pinoys do the show aside from those flying in from the US and just got them materials to rehearse with. They got a 4 hour rehearsal last December 2 and voila! That was the start of their Chicago run in Manila.

Robert knew we had really good musicians here because he worked pretty much with Lea Salonga during the Miss Saigon run in New York. Lester Dematillo (banjo, mandolin) and Jayson Rivera (ukulele, woodwind) were part of it and they knew it wasn't going to be easy. They rushed into rehearsals and had to do the show on the next day, unlike their previous staging of Phantom of the Opera and Wicked, they had very small time in order to do this. Yet they sound exactly like Chicago, even when they had their eyes were closed. It's so great to know that getting the chance to watch this is just one of the perks being a Smart Infinity member. In “Chicago” alone, some were able to get complimentary VIP tickets, discounts and privileges received through Smart Infinity, alongside Visa who are major sponsors.

Ms. Julie Carceller, Department Head of the Smart Infinity Business Group at Smart says “Just like the successful local runs of other world-class stage spectacles like ‘Cats,’ ‘Mamma Mia,’ ‘The Phantom of the Opera,’ and ‘Wicked,’ bringing ‘Chicago’ to the Philippines is again a very special treat for our subscribers” whilst Smart's Marketing Manager at Smart Infinity Mr. James Chi adds “The ongoing run of ‘Chicago’ is part of the realization of the premium mobile lifestyle that complements the experience our members get from Smart Infinity. The experience of seeing the longest-running Broadway musical in Manila is really a big takeaway for our members”. I personally didn't get to attend the iPhone 6 launch but Smart Infinity got first dibs in the iPhone6 plus last November 14. Today, they still have on going promos for new Smart Infinity subscribers to have the option to get the iPhone 6 (64GB) or the iPhone 6 Plus (16GB) with an additional P5,000 worth of GCs or bill rebates compliments of Smart Infinity starting on the consumable Prestige Plan 5000. You can also opt for SMART's fully consumable Premium Plan 8000 where new subscribers can get two 16GB units of the iPhone 6, or an iPhone 6 16GB plus a MacBook Air. If you opt for the Plan P3500 per month, or have the Aspire Plan, it can come with a 16GB iPhone 6. Amazing!

You can check Smart Infinity's offers here!

For more information about their promos:

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http://www1.smart.com.ph/corporate

Power and Trusted Protection with Otterbox Resurgence

Still trying to find that perfect Christmas gift for your man? Well if he's an iPhone 5 and 5S owner like me, this might be your lucky day. This is the Otterbox Resurgence, one of the most spectacular social media life saving cases that I have ever seen. You see, if you've got an iPhone 5, the battery life problems will always haunt you, more so if you are using the LTE connection. Having an extra battery of course isn't a choice because iPhones do not have that option. I always lug around 3 power banks and it's a little heavy + bulky but I don't have a choice because my phones would only last a few hours if I don't turn off data every now and then.  

Otterbox Resurgence is everything you want in a phone case. Aside from the world class full proof protection you get from each Otterbox product that you get from their stores, you'll also have more than twice the battery power you need to juice up your iPhone 5 again. So if you think you're missing those important moments because your battery drained early, this might be the best thing that ever happened to you.

As the box indicates, resurgence takes its cue from being able to revive your device when you really need it. Aside from the obvious drop protection from having an Otterbox case, this has a 2000 mAh battery inside and also has smart charging capabilities which automatically stops to save batteries for later. It doesn't also take much time to charge phones because it is high speed, a feat that I couldn't do before on third party lightning cables that I purchase in phone accessory shops every few months. Some of them get broken right after the warranty period and it's a pain to get one that costs thousands of pesos too.

Unboxing, it contains the quick start guide/manual, the almost 2 ft. micro USB cable which you can use for data or charging and the adapter for the 3.5 mm jack. Then of course there's the case itself. 

One thing that I'm so amused about is the charging cable. Now you don't have to have a lightning cable in order to charge this device and can borrow your friends chargers just as long as you have USB ports on it. 

The adapter for the 3.5 mm jack made sense because once that you use the case, the thing becomes longer and you won't have a convenient way of using your headphones or earplugs since it'll make your device longer.

The adapter also doubles as a cable organizer so you can keep your earphones nice and tidy without having to move around your bag and tangle with other wires you have in it.

The small button on front is pretty special. The ON and OFF function only needs a 3 second long press and the thing is specialized because it'll show you how much power it has left on the case. The LED marking has 4 levels, it'll be less lights if you've got it used up eventually.

As for aesthetics, they still kept it thin and fit in your pocket just like when your phone didn't have it. It also fits perfectly and doesn't  bother pressing on buttons because it is designed for the phones you are using. It's also available in 4 colors, black, glacier (which I'm using), satin rose and teal shimmer. Remember, this has military grade drop protection as with other Otterbox cases too.

I also love the small opening for the camera because as you can see there's nothing in the way. 

Putting in my phone was also easy. Just open the lid on the top to separate the front and back portion of the case.

This is made of tough plastic material and completely protects the body of your iPhone5 or iPhone5S. 

The Otterbox Resurgence works by having the small lightning cable connected to your phone as seen here.

Connect the lightning adapter on the phone and it'll snap right on with a snug fit. Snap back the front cover and it'll look like a new phone.

It doesn't add weight that much and you won't be uncomfortable carrying it around because remember, it's like having an additional power bank on the case itself without you lugging around an extra power bank any longer. Again, once that your phone reaches 100%, it automatically stops charging and saves that to future use. I haven't seen anything like this yet in the market. The ones in the side streets probably also use recycled laptop batteries from waste in China so it doesn't last as much. Otterbox is on a class of it's own and you can't deny that.

If you haven't bought anything yet for your man or woman, I highly suggest you check out Tenkiebox and their kiosks + stores nationwide. All original Otterbox products are available here and more. From Cases, iPhone and iPad accessories, they've got it all! Please check out their social media channels below for promos and other devices that might interest you and your loved ones. 

For more information about their stores:

Tenkiebox

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http://www.tenkiebox.ph

Food Panda Maginhawa Food Crawl: KATZ Diner

It's been a while since I visited Maginhawa Street in Quezon City. We were there for a small event of Food Panda Philippines. It's a food crawl of some of their local restaurant partners so we could get to experience their offerings that's already available with Food Panda's delivery service. The first place we got to promises an all day breakfast menu, with the premise of a hearty American diner menu but with the inclusion of continental and Filipino favorites. This is KATZ Diner.

KATZ Diner isn't directly on Maginhawa street, but it's a stones throw away from it and the corner of Malingap street in Sikatuna Village, Quezon City. It's got ample parking, 2-4 cars in front and a couple more on the street itself and can accommodate around 30-40 people.  

The interior has got 2 kitchens, some parts are modern, some are rustic, some corners even have posters to pay homage to musicals. They are big fans of it. The other kitchen is there to whip up drinks,  and the other one for hot kitchen items. They just opened April this year serving an assortment of teas and coffee. Chef Kat Oronce also does all the plates herself so you are assured you're getting what you pay for. This is a family owned shack, we had the pleasure of meeting her family during that morning too, including that cute little baby boy on the bottom right side of this shot. They were warmly and sincerely welcoming us to their joint, we felt that right away.

Grilled Pork Steak

 This is KATZ Diner's Grilled Pork Steak. The tender slices of pork had charred parts on it. One bite and you can taste the slightly gingery marinade base it was soaked in probably for hours. This is on the sweet side so don't be shy to ask for vinegar with chili to make it the perfect thing to have for breakfast. Do not leave the place without tasting the Green Tea Yakult which you can have together with this lovely grilled pork dish. They also have various fruity Iced Teas available, or if you opt for the coffee they've got hot and cold ones too. It cuts the oiliness and makes it the perfect accompaniment to everything else on the menu.

Longganisa

One of the hits that morning was this deconstructed Longganisa. They mix in the usual Filipino sauteing ingredients, or some sort of salsa so it doesn't come off as fatty since it is made of pork. This is also served on the side with scrambled egg, so it feels like an omelet where the ingredients are not folded in. I'd gladly have this with french toast or just the plain one and it'll be perfect for breakfast.

Roast Pork Belly

Never even think about your diet when you are on a food adventure in the Maginhawa district. This Roast Pork Belly served with hot white rice, sunny side up egg, mashed sweet potatoes, gravy and chimchurri sauce. It's flavor combination might not be too familiar but it's a staple in South America, particularly Argentina that loves meat with strong and pungent spices all day. Pretty good actually, but this last one is my favorite.

KATZ Diners' Lava Cake

They saved the best for last. You know that instant when you bite into something chocolatey, something gooey that you just can't help but close your eyes and feel it take you to heaven? That's exactly what I felt in this moment. They carefully prepared this to end our meal and the Lava Cake was definitely done right, one slice and the slurry of chocolate just oozes out of the cake enveloping the chocolate chips, marshmallow and the whole cake. It was lovely, and if there was something I'd go back for in this place, it would be this.

They have tons more in the menu that we haven't even tried yet but I have a hunch the pasta, arroz ala katz and boneless bangus would also be a hit. Remember, if you are around the area you can order this through Food Panda by downloading the App in the App Store or Google Play store. You can also go directly to their website and channels below to experience it like we did. Thank you so much to the people from Food Panda and KATZ Diner for hosting our first salvo. We will be back soon! By the way, there's like a couple more restaurants we'll be featuring from the Maginhawa Food Crawl so watch out for that soon!

For more information about their services:

Food Panda Philippines

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http://www.foodpanda.ph/