Take A Look at SEDA Hotel Vertis North

This is a funny story, let me tell you how it started.

I was just covering the ASEAN Food Festival off of the new Vertis North grounds wherein the new Ayala Mall will stand. I made a comment about one of the vendors (Seda Hotel) and how it was a little out of the box for a Japanese chain to serve something that close to home. My mistake. I thought SEDA was a Japanese chain (judging from their previous properties that followed a very minimalist design) as I have observed it in their BGC branch - which I kinda frequented because of events there.

I mean, I could have picked up that this was Filipino judging from the name alone, which means "silk" in our language. So after someone read my article a few weeks ago, they got in touch with me by finding my contact details here on my website. Funny I had the feeling I was being called into the Principals office because of the wrong notions I had about the hotel, but not really. I met some really great people and they gladly answered my questions complete with a tour of the property. I haven't really seen any reviews yet of the place so in a nutshell, this was like first dibs to see what's about to be dubbed as the first 5 star hotel in Quezon City. So shall we?

Checking In

If you haven't been to SEDA Hotel Vertis North, you'll appreciate the check-in counter right off the bat. It's very spacious and you'll be greeted by modern art right at the back of the pedestal. If you look closely, that signature on the artwork is a giveaway. It's an Ayala artwork which he leaves as a mark in every property. I like how it blends into the space, albeit being modern, monochrome-earth toned, industrial and engulfed in fine lines. This was when it was explained to me, SEDA is actually a Filipino concept, a Filipino hotel, wholly owned and operated by Filipinos (with the exception of the fine GM whom I met a little later). This is under Ayala Land Hotels and Resorts Corporation who's got about a hundred years of experience in the real estate industry - you know them I'm sure right?

More space to work, good news for business travelers or if you're going to a conference or event in this place because they've got ample wifi. Who doesn't love that?

The lobby area is a legitimate work area. They've got Mac computers which you can use connected to the internet laid all over salvaged hardwood tables and high chairs so you could work comfortably if you have your own laptop. There are also other areas in the lobby which you'll love, but we'll get to that later. In the meantime, let's go up the rooms.

Are You Ready for Kinky Boots?!

I haven't had the opportunity to see this yet but I'm raring to go in their Manila staging. Kinky Boots has been praised and received quite well in Broadway on this remarkable creation made with music and lyrics by the phenomenal 80's icon Cindy Lauper based on the book by Harvey Fierstein. Performed mostly by men and women in drag, there's no other musical that would have been able to personify Charlie Price the Milan Stage Manager, Lauren, Nicola and the other cast than by doing it with people with THE ball$ to do so. It already had won a Tony, and Grammy awards so if you think this would be something that you should brush off, you better think again.

In the story, Charlie Price inherited a struggling shoe factory from his Dad and eventually met drag queen Lola and her crew called "Angels" making a new line and later on successfully reviving his business because of the fabulous things they created for them.

These angels exuded the glitz, the glamour and did out of this world performances and needed some people who could do as well in Manila. This is part of the reason why they got professional dancers in the cast, and they sought the greatest ones like AddLib Dancer Mark Pineda, Singer and Actor Gerhard Krysstopher and G Force's Ritz Beltran, Jazztin Cacayan, Michael Jahnke and Jorge Jahnke. This has been very challenging for them as the standards have been automatically raised because of this being a Broadway piece. Not to mention the style of dancing is quite different of what they're generally been used to in shows that they do here in the Philippines. Kinky Boots also needed them to dance in heels, which isn't the norm in most numbers that they do in variety shows or plays they've done in the past. Doing that the whole run is also hard, but it didn't stop them to learn and love this staging... and they'll show you why at the Carlos P. Romulo Auditorium at the RCBC Tower in Makati.

Tickets are still available for the show through https://www.ticketworld.com.ph and priced Php 4180, Php 3135 and Php 2090 on reserved seating. You should never miss this as this will only run from June 30 to July 23. I would have to free my own schedules to actually have a glimpse of this show, which I'm sure I would absolutely love!

Are you ready to wear those kinky boots too? LOL!

Astrid S Says Hi To Asia

I was excited, a bit happy that I'd be able to talk to someone from Norway let alone a celebrity and singer who's music genre is a bit close to my heart. I've been listening to these type of songs as long as I could remember and I was determined to know more about her. I was a bit disheartened as they informed us right at the event that she wouldn't be able to talk to us but I completely understood as she wasn't feeling well. She even made an apology video, as she must have been very busy all these months and it has probably caught up with her. I hope she gets well soon.

I thought I was oblivious about her but she was apparently already on my playlist (last year I think) and I am quite choosy. I revived my iPod and found "Hurts So Good" in it then listened to her more. World music or in their term "Galilean Music" is fondly played in bars and clubs in Manila. It's not totally foreign at all. These are the types where you just clearly have to listen to it and close your eyes, as it takes you places, to where it would bring you so much joy... believe in every heartbreak, in romance, sometimes humor, in stories she tells in her lyrics. 

Astrid S has tons of accomplishments including winning and being nominated for Best Norwegian act for MTV Europe Awards for several years. She's done several singles included in various charts and worked with different artists including one of my favorites Shawn Mendes (a debut album in 2015). So clearly, she's not just another blonde caucasian female you would brush off because she's very talented. She sings like an angel, and is a very good story teller in songs. She has officially said hi to Asia through the Philippines and deem this a very good place to start introducing her music in the region. You should hear her new ones on Partys Over EP coming out real soon!

"It's streaming and being played a couple in Asia bug Astrid has really committed plans to visit there. She's the type of person who cares so much about her fans, which is quite unique, take them to hot chocolate cups or pancakes. Her music is a combination of Galilean pop with a twist of urban, it would be interesting for mainstream people and she's got lots of collaboration going on. She is inspired by nature, by people, not a specific person, that's why a lot of her videos are visual because that's how her thought process goes. We would probably be able to visit if plans push through, hopefully soon. The production of her new album is the next step for her, it's finer, the level has definitely rised musically. What's next for her? Hopefully world domination, a lot more collaborations and hopefully to go far. She hasn't been feeling well lately and she really appreciates your presence." - Margaret her personal friend and part of Universal Marketing.

Astrid S also signified her wishes to go to the Philippines soon. It's not in the plans yet but we're crossing our fingers to see the lovely Norwegian singer in our shores if not this year, perhaps the next! We need her kind of music. In the meantime, please take note of her world tour schedules below and download her songs off of digital stores here and around the globe!

Now I can't wait to see you dear!


KUMAGCOW
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Why Smart, TNT and Sun Prepaid Is Even Better

Had a wonderful time attending events up north a few weeks ago and didn't know I'd enjoy farming as much as I did. We did the whole enchilada, getting to know the people behind it too and was glad that even in that location, I'm still connected to Smart's network as I always believed I could - and even gone live blogging from there. Though it wasn't all that fine and dandy because I actually forgot my phone at home, imagine how panicked I got when I found out that my main line of communication was hundreds of kilometers away from me, I was having panic attacks and scoured my bag minutes after. I found my spare phone, a power bank and this LTE sim still lying around (which I intended to use in times like these). It looks like I've saved myself a lot of trouble by having these things on my backpack while on this trip in Bulacan.

Now I know Smart has really good prepaid offers but just discovered they DOUBLED the data and got UNLIMITED FB and Messenger services thrown in too. To save me a ton of headache I registered to GIGASURF 99 (valid for 7 days) which got me 3GB of data which is double from the usual 1.5 GB and an additional 600MB for other services like Youtube, iFlix, Spinnr, Vimeo, Dailymotion and Dubsmash (that's double from the former 300MB they offered). I could have also subscribed to their ALLOUTSURF 99 offer (valid for 7 days) and get 2GB of data, 200 minutes of all net calls, unlimited sms and Facebook access (I mean who doesn't love that right?) if I am more on the calling and texting side, this would have been perfect as it is that cheap!

If I used UCT100 (which is also valid for 7 days) I could use 300MB of data, unli calls to mobile networks, unli calls for 5 PLDT numbers, unli all net sms and Facebook so you could see photos and read not just headlines (don't be a victim of fake news!). It all saved me money, saved me to publish my story while in that remote neighborhood, perfect for people on the go and can't get disconnect from the FB world because Smart, TNT and Sun just made it even BIGGER for the same price up until July 10 only. You've got a few weeks left baby! Now isn't that crazy!?

I'm enjoying my postpaid line and have got this prepaid line to save me at times I need it most. That means more content, more data to stream live on IG and Facebook because I have double the previous offers. You just get MORE with Smart, TNT and Sun and you can't deny that it's all better! You don't have to even ask! If you want to know more about it just visit their website http://smart.com.ph/gigasurf or http://smart.com.ph/alloutsurf.

Try texting GIGA99 to 9999 now and see how I felt that week, or ALLOUT99 on the samw number, you would love it like I do!