Discovering Pinas

With more than 36,000 kilometers of unspoilt coastlines, breathtaking scenic landscapes, and a myriad of natural wonders, the Philippines is the perfect spot for weddings, honeymoon, and romantic hideaways.

This is how the Department of Tourism (DOT) aggressively promotes the country in the upcoming International Travel Expo (ITE) in Hong Kong.  The theme Romantic Philippines is set to captivate Asian couples, featuring unique getaways and exhilarating thrills.

“The country’s stunning landscapes truly make it a sought-after wedding destination.  Couples would choose only the best for life’s most memorable events, and we are certain they would never run out of exciting discoveries in our many islands,” Tourism Secretary Ace Durano shares.

Fort Santiago

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UNICEF along with child rights advocate Gary Valenciano invites everyone to be a Champion for Children. Every day, children are exploited of their rights.Some of these exploited rights are right to education, right to be healthy, right to play, right to self-expression, and right to protection. These children are forced to do hard labor in sugarcane plantations and quarry sites. These children are also deprived of decent home; they live in small tents under hard rain or sun. The daycare centers that provide primary education to these children don’t have enough teaching materials. Something must be done for these children.

Gary Valenciano, a UNICEF National Ambassador for over a decade shares “One thing I’ve learned from my work in UNICEF is that nothing is impossible. I’ve seen former war zones transformed into peaceful, thriving communities. I’ve seen empty classrooms fill up with children, all eager to learn and make their dreams for the future come true, through the help of UNICEF and their partners. We can do so much for these children, who deserve every chance we can give them.”

Gary with the children of UNICEF-funded day care center in Baseco, Tondo, Manila

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Ever witnessed a cook-off between two of the most sought-after chefs in the country? Well, I witnessed something like that at the GE Monogram showroom in Serendra recently. It was between Chef Bruce Lim of Chef’s Table, one of the few by-reservation-only restaurants in Manila VS Chef Eugene Raymundo of Five Cows Restaurant and Ice Cream Bar in Trinoma. Chef Bruce, who I recognized as Kris Aquino’s co-host when cooking on her previous show Boy and Kris, represented the Eastern cuisine. Chef Eugene, who, I must say, has a big fan base already because a lot of women were cheering for him that day, represented the Western cuisine. They were to prepare different dishes representing the Western and Eastern cuisine respectively and within one hour.

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Sanuk brought the beach to the city by organizing the Sanuk Sandcastle Challenge. There’s no better way to say goodbye to summer than this. The challenge – build a sandcastle within a 4 sqm box filled with 8 cubic meters of silica sand. Five groups were formed. Some were students and teachers, and some as a family. All together for an afternoon of fun and sweltering heat at Boni High Street.

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