Outstanding in Academics, OLYMPIC Fencer, Filipino and Proud!: MAXINE ESTEBAN

Hearing Maxine Esteban's achievements during a small talk a few weeks ago made much of us feel like we didn't do much in school. She was that smart, talented and crazy good. She's a breath of fresh air, who didn't want to dwell on issues. She's mighty proud of what she's accomplished as an Olympian, a severely brilliant Fencer, and Filipino.

She's taking Management Engineering in Ateneo, one of the most difficult courses to boot but she manages to still attend regular classes despite training schedules and tournaments. She tells us "I used to be an Ice Skater but the skating rink in Megamall closed. The one in Mall of Asia was too far from where I lived, so I tried to find a sport that would pique my interest. I tried Taekwondo, Swimming, tried almost all the sports, but ended up not liking it except Fencing. I really loved it because it was really fun and taught me how to mix having a grace of a woman and the strength of a man. That's what I really liked about it."

With a very strong academic background, she didn't feel pressured to do all these things. Her parents encouraged her to master musical instruments and a sport, but didn't forget to let her excel in academics. She had only wished to make her parents proud which is why she's gotten to achieve much even at a young age. There's so much sacrifice she had to endure in Fencing, after getting surgery, she had to bounce back and wanted to represented the country. Now with Ivory Coast, she won't be wasting her exceptional talent and younger years as the sport requires that much skill in winning competitions and games. 

Maxine with her supportive parents, with her Dad as her DOTA coach at home

She's currently still preparing for the PARIS 2024 Olympics slated to start this July 26 which is almost a month from now. She's in Germany and plans to stay there for training and a few competitions in Europe until the day comes. She is also set to join the African championships on June 6th in Morocco. Then will go to training camps in Poland, Hungary, then train with the Japanese and French national teams til the games commence. 

Ivory Coast reminds her much of Filipinos. She laments "They were all so welcoming and sweet because when I arrived at the airport, all of my teammates were there carrying flowers. They remind me so much of my mates in the Philippine national team whom I'm very close with. Personality wise, it wasn't a hard adjustment. There's always going to be the Filipino inside of me, I'm the one that complains to organizers if I don't see the country's flag. When I win competitions in the past, my eyes light up seeing them raise it, doing the country proud! Those simple things, you can't remove that from me. I now have the support from Ivory Coast and the Philippines, and it really means a lot to me."

As for battling a Filipino Fencer, she thinks there wouldn't be an instance to do that. She knows how talented the Philippine team is, but if it happens she's going to do her best too. Her current coach is Andrea Magro, a prolific former coach of the Italian Fencing Team, and already produced 10 Olympic Gold Medalists on his roster. He's now training Maxine Esteban with the best ones in the world and he's raring to see her do the same in Paris. Andrea dubbed Maxine as like an agile Tiger, we couldn't agree more!

Maxine laughed when I asked her for plans to join show business because she looks so pretty. She's a what you see is what you get kind of girl. She's open for sports related sponsorships though and would prefer that instead. She's now affiliated with Anta, and wearing them with confidence too.

Here's our interview with her a few days ago:

She adds "Going to the Olympics, I just want to enjoy the moment because this is my first one. I just want to make my parents and everyone who believes in me proud. There's not much pressure in me, and I think that's a good thing. My parents have been my biggest supporters ever since, even before Fencing. In every sport that I try to do, they would also encourage me. They would never really put pressure and always ask that I just do my best. That's already enough for them, my Dad had a video on ABSCBN when I lost a match and he told me not to worry about it, because they will always love me no matter what."

Her story is truly inspiring. As of now, she is ready for the PARIS 2024 Olympics, and hope YOU are just as proud of her as a Filipino! Make sure you root for her on social media, in person (if you can), because at the end of the day, she is Filipino and proud!

Take Wine Guesswork Out at the Happy Living 30th Anniversary Wine Festival!

 

Have you ever gone into a wine shop and felt a little lost seeing all the kinds of wine on the rack? Me too. It is so complex, each bottle different and even sourced from a certain country, and certain regions. It's like it has its own personality, you get to know it by flavor, aroma, texture and taste. It also comes in various colors, can be mixed into a concoction. If you're up to it, there's a Wine Festival on June 15th at The Tent in Enderun at McKinley Hill, Taguig. With the theme “A Continuing Journey Across the World's Most Famous Wine Regions and Wineries", their goal is for you to learn how to identify the right one is for you.

This is part of Happy Living's celebration of their 30th Anniversary. They are importers and distributors of over 150 kinds of wines and spirits sourced from all over the world. 

Oh it's RED!

When dining, it's always there for a  lot of people. It's got strong, bolder flavors. It's also got tannin that makes it red, and gives it that certain mount feel. The wine festival will feature Arzuaga Reserva 2009 from Ribera del Duero of Spain which has won several awards, and will surely be appreciated at the event!

If you prefer WHITE

Ones I do like, are mostly white, light and bright. This is present in most flavors it gets, some fruity, sweet, a bit acidic especially Sauvignon blanc.

A crisp, elegant, and fresh white wine favorite is  sauvignon blanc, known for its bright acidity with vibrant flavors of fruits such as green apple, lime, and herbs. Sauvignon blanc drinkers are refreshing and expressive, unafraid to express themselves and their preferences. One that will be featured in the Happy Living Wine Festival is Lionel Osmin Villa Côte d'Argent Sauvignon Blanc 2022. It's a region known for being fresh, fruity and aromatic. A bit stronger is the chardonnay, and if you enjoy other flavor profiles, there are a lot of other things you can have on that date.  

Certainly Fun Sangria

There's nothing more fruity than a glass of sangria. Try the featured Lolea No1 on ground made from quality Tempranillo and Cabernet Sauvignon. With fruits infused, acids and spice, you'll be talking a lot during the event and love the options. Else, get Lolea No2 or Lolea No3 Brut, your Spanish friends would thank you.

If you're raring to go, get tickets via happylivingph.com today. Again, the event will happen on the 15th of June at The TENT at Enderun Colleges. There will be masterclasses available, but only limited seats (go get them while it's hot!). There are also over 150 wines and spirits to try at the venue, and it runs 4PM to 9PM. Get the tickets HERE. This is only for those 18 and older. See you there!

Get Ready for SB19, BINI, Flow G, SunKissed Lola at Puregold's "Nasa Atin Ang Panalo" Concert

 

Yes, finally, it is happening!

Puregold listens, and that is exactly why this dream is about to become a reality. I bare good news!

The country's current PPOP Kings SB19, and international sensation BINI, the very talented Flow G and heavenly sounding SunKissed Lola will be performing at Puregold's Thanksgiving concert called "Nasa Atin Ang Panalo". This is dedicated to A'Tins, Blooms, Dolores, and fans of Flow G. Thing is, there are more surprise guests which they are not revealing til it happens on July 12 at the Araneta Coliseum.

This is also in partnership with Wish 107.5. They share the same vision of promoting local music. Puregold will also put Tita/Ninang Zones in Araneta so you can avail products and brands that will be shown while the concert is ongoing. There will also be activities on the spot, and this is for all the loyal Puregold customers that have made them who they are over the years.

There will be exclusive merch, group photos with the artists, and a spectacular view for VIP's. This will also be an avenue to release NEW and ORIGINAL songs from the artists, so if you're not there, you're going to miss it!

Make sure you subscribe to Puregold Channel and their social media accounts because they'll be releasing more information about the tickets on those platforms. See? I told you, this is good news!

Take a Look at THE SPECTRUM

You've been working so hard these past few years and want something tangible to call your own. If you are working in the Ortigas district or nearby areas, maybe The Spectrum is just for you. 

Much of the spaces here are made into offices and commercial spaces, and perhaps, living in it would be a huge advantage so you don't have to go out and drive hours just to work here. This place is by Vista Land and dubbed as the Best Mixed Use Development in the island according to Lamudi, the biggest real estate platform in the country.

From essentials like groceries, restaurants, coffee shops, convenience stores or government offices, living here would be ideal for the working class or for those starting a family. The convenience of being in the city is certainly what a lot of people look for. There's also shopping malls, some of the biggest ones to boot, plus a lot of hotels that could rival the best ones in the Philippines. It's also modernly designed, so you've got a lot of options in terms of putting up where you want your entertainment, dining or bedroom would go.

You could literally walk to schools, with nearby Lourdes, Poveda or University of Asia and the Pacific, your kids (or you) would be able to get those degrees captured in no time. Inside The Spectrum, you've got lots of amenities that you, your loved ones could use so you don't have to go out to be entertained. They've got pools, a well thought out gym, even a great lobby where you can lounge and just rest. The Spectrum could also be used as an investment, to even have it rented out if you're the business minded one. The cuts would be perfect for young professionals since there's 21-28 square meters, even 40-42 square meters for differently sized one bedroom units. All you need to do is ask!

If this interests you, just head on to vistaresidences.com.ph or follow @VistaResidencesOfficial on social channels to know more about The Spectrum.