Gabbi Garcia for HKT Fragrances

You've seen it in her timeline and yes, it's called HKT Fragrances. As Gabbi Garcia made headlines copping several international and local endorsements, she felt it was time to launch her new business (with her partners) and finally come out with a fragrance line catered to this generations needs. They call it Hookt which came from the millennial term shookt and they deemed it perfect name to represent something that the youth can use everyday, because it's affordable, lasts quite a while and something she uses.

Gabbi's personal favorite variety is Yaaass Queen and Extra but you have 10 to choose from so it would match your personality.

Packaging is right, not too huge, not too small and you can carry it around with ease even on flights. If you want to spruce up, freshen up in bathroom breaks, it will only cost you Php 399 on Lazada. Check out the other fragrances on hookt.ph or Lazada or @hooktph in social media channels.

Gabbi adds “I am excited also about my movie project called LSS. The movie will be a musical, Ben and Ben and Khalil will be there. It’s not just them playing music, they will be acting as well. GMA is also developing a concept for me so we’ve got a lot of shows to look out for this year!”

(Thanks to Belo Medical Group, Goodbagph and Maybelline for their giveaways!)

Here's more of Gabbi's interview this afternoon

KUMAGCOW

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Japanese Vixen Naho Oue Desires PH Showbiz Career

My fondness of Japan stems decades of my curiosity about their country. It may have been a decade of Korean Pop culture but we can never discount artists that come from Japan too. They have a different aesthetic, their beauty regimen is also different, so when I got to meet Naho Oue this morning, I had a lot of questions to ask.

She’s a successful businesswoman in Japan. She’s in the country initially to put up a center for stem cell treatments and regenerative medicine. She’s planning to do that in the next few months, but in hindsight, she saw the opportunity to do what she’s passionate about. She wants to have a path of career much like Ryan Bang who even if she’s not a Filipino national, she wants to entertain, be part of the very colorful world of Philippine show business. She’s doing the legwork now and started to learn Filipino first, which she hopes she could master in a few years. She candidly tells us how she fell in love with the Philippines. (Interview was in Japanese but her interpreter helped out conducting the small chat)

Ms. Naho Oue says “When I first came here, I went to the slums of Tondo and Smokey Mountain area, I instantly fell in love with the kids there. I do feeding programs about twice a month if I’m not busy. I am just a conduit of people who wanted to help (from Japan).”

She adds “I do have plans of putting up a restaurant as I already have one in Japan. Maybe in Malate or Trinoma if it happens. Maybe for now while I am waiting for spaces to be available I’ll go put up before Christmas season. Same with the Stem Cell and the regenerative center which I hope will happen soon.”

With twinkle in her eyes she exclaimed “I love Daniel Padilla and Kathryn Bernardo! I have been long wanting to enter showbusiness in the Philippines. Daniel is so pogi! I love him! If I get to be known here I would be better off getting funds from partners because I really want to help kids in Manila. The celebrity status would really help too. I want to learn Tagalog, currently I am doing 1 hour classes everyday to do it. I learn a lot on the internet too. I really love to enter showbusiness and perhaps replicate Ryan Bang’s fortune. I am 26, in Japan I have also modeled a little and I see the opportunity to do that and more is very nice here. I plan to also put up the stem scell clinic here in Quezon City and perhaps one in Makati. Stem cell injections are just some of the usual things we do in Japan. It will be named Dia Lumina here in the Philippines. Stem cell treatments have been very popular in your country but the one we are offering will be very different. Actually, some of the stem cell procedures being done here is banned in Japan; but the one I am bringing in is better. It will be based on human stem cell. Right now as a beauty regimen, I only use stem cell oil. With stem cell, you have to be 18 and up but if you are younger and have skin problems, it can be a cure. It is expensive but in the US it could be even double the price. I don’t know if that accounts on why even if I eat everything I don’t get fat. I love nilaga, adobo and lechon.”

About the difference between pinays and Japanese women, she shares her observations that “Filipinas are very hard working, Japanese women tend to stay at home when they get married, they rarely use make up too.”

About the center, she adds “I will be bringing in Japanese doctors who will do training for the local doctors and staff here. They will need to stay a while and do it so the local ones will be at par or even hopefully even better than them in Japan.”

“Speaking of skills, I also plan to put up a skills school and perhaps try to also find them jobs in Japan. From carpentry, beauty, things like that. I brought my Mom here too so if I do have commitments she can personally take care of him (her cute son). Hopefully he’ll be studying in an international school here in the Philippines.”

Naho Oue will be guesting in several local shows and entertainment news outlets very soon. Hopefully, she’ll get to charm you with her antics, she's pretty, but in some way despite the language barrier, she was very funny and fun to talk to.

Feels of Spring at Tenya’s Buy 1 Take 1 Classic Tendons and More!

Sakura Season is upon us, well Japan that is. But we have always wanted to see and feel how it is in that country right? It’s very elusive sometimes that a few days of stay in the land of the rising sun isn’t enough to feel the season, oh yeah it’s Spring!

Now in Manila you won’t be shortchanged by our friends at Tenya, they’ve been giving us Tendon love for years and this time, they want to make your spring time even more special, how you might ask? By giving you limited edition dishes and a celebration of TENYA DAY every 10th of every month! Oh my!

For the duration March 28 up to May 31, you can take a break from your office and house chores to taste Supreme Black Tiger Tendon for only Php 365. Imagine Black Tiger Prawn, Pacific White Shrimp, Shrimp Poppers and Ebi Kakiage laid on top of steaming hot Japanese rice, then drizzled with their signature don tare sauce. Mmm...

Is it too hot outside? Come into the comforts of their air conditioned restaurants and have Tenya Milk Tea infused with Assam and Darjeeling leaves, made with fresh everyday for only Php 115, pretty cheap eh?

Now again, don’t skip TENYA DAY happening on every 10th of the month as they also will get Buy 1 Take 1 deals on their CLASSIC TENDON. What? Serious? Of course! High quality food has never been offered this good!

Head on to SM Megamall, Market! Market!, BGC Stopover, Paseo De Magallanes, Mall of Asia, Aseana City, Festival Mall, SM Southmall and Tiendesitas. Information is also on Tenya.com.ph and @tenyaph on all social media channels.

Craving? Me too. Hurry! We should go!

Promising, Young and Eager to Serve: Chuckie Antonio

This season of choosing a leader amongst us has probably never been more important. The ordeal of the of the new year brings hope, like any Filipino conquest, to find people who would go out of their way to serve the populace rather than themselves. I believe in the youth, even amongst their flaws. Though not perfect, we do not lose that gusto to seek the hope that they can do more. I met one fine gentleman a few nights ago, his name is Chuckie Antonio. He’s only 26, running to serve the third district of Quezon City. He’s also got a masters degree from a very reputable business school in Singapore. He’s also running as an independent candidate, he was very hungry to tell his story. I listened in.

Chuckie says “I started when I was 15 years old, as an SK Kagawad first - and decided to run for Barangay Kagawad (which he did for 3 terms). I haven’t been influenced by anyone, my folks are very private people. I enjoy this. When I started I visited the 37 barangays and tried to really know health, education. I tried to do modeling, was part of Star Circle Batch 10. I wasn’t being so serious about acting, I was very young and I wanted to focus more on education. This new generation isn’t really better than the previous ones, I just feel I need to represent the youth. Things are already good, but I want to make lifestyle programs to make it easier to live in the district. To keep the youth active. It also helps that I have done a lot of activities with the seniors. I don’t want them to feel left out. I won’t forget them, they feel I am their grandson. I ran independently but I didn’t want the drama, I have always done it like that when I ran for Kagawad. I dedicated months, 5 weeks left. I go to their houses, I bring my youth to reach the people. I put in a lot of hard work to asses where I could contribute at my capacity in this district. I consider them all like friends after all.”

“I know what they are going through. I try to know the problems by directly talking to the people. I’d prioritize healthcare and medical assistance, free education, all of which could be a possibility for the city.”

“Disheartened? It happens to everyone, I am happy when I get to make a change in people’s lives. To reach more people. When it comes to the youth, I am glad that in our district, they are very participative.”

“It’s not that I won’t run just because they didn’t get me for their parties, but I really wanted to do it. I understand that I just got back a little late to complete my masters in Singapore and parties were already filled. Since I was in that position, my parents told me to check how it feels on the ground.”

“During very trying times, I learned to do a lot of things and I felt that if I didn’t do this, I’ll regret it later. I felt when I visited their homes, I could get their support. My point is, I hope they felt I was sincere with what I wanted to do with the third district.”

“My last relationship was when I was 22, very young so I didn’t settle, I got swayed on being a little impatient, on finding someone better. I don’t have high standards but I am looking for someone who I could spend the rest of my life with and I know it will come soon.”

I am not saying you should vote for him, nor am I endorsing him. You have options - and to spark change you want in your hood, you need people who need to do it with the eagerness to serve the greater majority of your district. I met a very eloquent guy who did his job for the community he served for three terms, if he wants to do more, who are we to stop em?

Thanks for the opportunity to know you Chuckie. I am a little envious that I live in a different district from yours, you know what you are doing and they’d be so lucky if they had you there.