Megan Young of the Philippines is the new Miss World 2013

Megan Young of the Philippines is the new Miss World 2013

Photo: Philstar.net/Inquirer.net/AP

Bali, Indonesia proved to be a lucky place for our very own Miss World Philippines Megan Lynne Young. Finally, in the pageant’s 63-year history, a Filipina won the much coveted title, besting 126 other candidates (according to my friend Jory Rivera who personally witnessed the historical event in Bali, Indonesia)! Congratulations to the first ever Pinay Miss World. We're so proud of you, Megan!

Photo: Mirror UK

Important fact: When Megan Young was crowned, the emcee asked her about how she felt. Megan spoke in Tagalog though she's very well versed with the English language! Panalo!  (Winner!) She thanked all the people especially all the Filipinos that supported her all the way to this monumental feat. She is truly a wonderful MISS WORLD.

Photo: Inquirer.net/ AP

The most coveted Blue Crown is now in the head of the newly crowned Miss World 2013 Megan Young of Philippines, center. Megan waves to the crowd, after winning the Miss World contest, in Nusa Dua, Bali, Indonesia, Saturday, Sept. 28, 2013. Megan won in a year with the most number of delegates ever. Yes, dear Megan Young beat candidates in 126 countries and became the first ever Filipina to win the title.

     Photos: Jory Rivera 

Beat this!

PHILIPPINES is the FIRST COUNTRY to win ALL THE MAJOR TITLES in all Major Beauty Pageants in the whole wide world:

Miss Universe - 2 (1969, 1973)
Miss World - 1 (2013)
Miss International - 4 (1964, 1970, 1979, 2005)
Miss Earth - 1 (2008)
Miss Tourism Queen International - 1 (2006)
Miss Supranational - 1 (2013)

Thank you Megan Young for completing the list!

Megan was born in the United States and moved to the Philippines at age ten. She attended Thidrum high school in Trinity University of Asia in Quezon City. She is currently majoring in Digital Film Making at De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde (DLS-CSB) in Manila.

The truth is the news made me cry! I don't know why I got so emotional when I learned that Megan won the elusive title! Maybe, I just empathize with Megan. Feeling beauty queen. Aba, who would not feel proud of Megan. She represented the Philippines with so much grace (under pressure) proving to the rest of the world that the Filipinas exude beauty and talent.

Photo: AP

Miss Philippines Megan Young, right, reacts after she was called as the New Miss World.

In a sparkling finale on the Indonesian resort island of Bali Saturday, Young bested 126 other beauty queens from around the world to win the coveted title in a contest broadcast to more than 180 countries worldwide.

In the finals, Young beat five other finalists, including France and Brazil. 

Question: Why should you be Miss World?

Miss World Philippines Megan Young: I treasure a core value of humanity that guides people why they act the way they do. I will use this to show other people how they can understand each other as one,so we can help society.

Photo: Jory Rivera

She thanked the judges for choosing her and promised to “be the best Miss World ever”.

The 23-year-old Filipino actress pledged to “just be myself in everything I do, to share what I know and to educate people.”

Thank you my friend Jory Rivera for the photos.

Congratulations Megan Young (@meganbata) #MissWorld2013 #MW2013 #INDONESIA #Bali #MissWorldPhilippines #PHILIPPINES

Westlife's Shane Filan Live at Skydome Tonight

Westlife's Shane Filan Live at Skydome Tonight

Attention: #Westlife fans #ShaneFilan Live at Skydome tonight! MCA Music (Universal Music Philippines) See you!

One quarter of the most successful boy band of the last decade- Westlife is here in Manila! Twelve years, ten albums and 44million sales into their career, Westlife rocks!

I got so giddy when I learned that Shane Filan is in town for Everything to Me promo! Who could forget Westlife?

               

Sentro 1771 Restaurant: Newest Food Offerings

Sentro 1771 Restaurant: Newest Food Offerings

Sinigang na Corned Beef

Sentro 1771 restaurant's newest food offerings are original Filipino dishes made possible by Executive Chef Vicky-Rose Pacheco. Before I present the new menu, let me expound first about the restaurant and its sinigang na corned beef.

Per Wikipedia, sinigang is defined as a Filipino soup or stew characterized by its sour and savory flavor most often associated with tamarind (sampalok). It is one of the popular viands in Philippine cuisine.

As you all know, Executive Chef Vicky-Rose Pacheco invented the famous Corned Beef Sinigang, the house specialty of Sentro 1771 since eleven (11) years ago. Sentro 1771 caught the local culinary scene by surprise with its original Modern Filipino cuisine way back in 2002. Did you know that from then on, people lined up outside Sentro 1771 to get a taste of her famous Corned Beef Sinigang?  Sentro 1771's Modern Filipino cuisine fired up the innovative spirits of chefs around the Philippines and started a new trend in contemporary Filipino restaurants.  

Sinigang na Corned Beef

Chef Vicky told us that it all started when she tried to put into good use the restaurant's excess corned beef broth. She then discovered that she could make the broth into sinigang by adding sour ingredient and putting in beef cuts with sinews, fat, and bones. The result is a hearty soup and the now known signature favorite dish at Sentro 1771, the heartwarming, flavorful and meaty Corned Beef Sinigang, which I labeled as Sinigang Almighty, ha ha ha!

Sinigang na Corned Beef

I asked Chef Vicky, "what's the secret behind the soft boneless beef shanks in the Sinigang na Corned Beef of Sentro 1771?" She explained that they cure the beef brisket in special brine solution for five (5) days and custom mix it with several other spices for that added flavor. Can you imagine that they cure 32 kilos of beef everyday to meet the demands for sinigang na Corned beef? They then throw away the mixture after the curing period of five (5) days. I was intently listening to her that I can clearly imagine how they make the corned beef. Ahhh, the beauty of making your own corned beef – you can adjust the flavors the way you want.

The pot is loaded with vegetables such as tomatoes, okra, gabi (taro corms), labanos (daikon or radish), kangkong (water spinach), and eggplant stewed in tamarind. The broth from scratch is loaded with flavor-boosting natural spices. They then served the sinigang almighty hot and steamy.

Sinigang na Corned Beef

I believe one of the factors why Sinigang na Corned Beef became so famous is the personalized approach practiced by Sentro 1771's staff. The staff always ask guests to sip the delicate soup stock prior to serving. Why? So that the sourness, saltiness, and spiciness can be adjusted according to each guest preference.

Executive Chef Vicky-Rose Pacheco

The amiable and very innovative Executive Chef Vicky Pacheco brought Filipino cuisine to the next level by presenting local dishes in a chic and elegant setting. She combined Swiss and French techniques with familiar Filipino flavors. 

Ow, by the way, here's Sentro 1771's newest menu: 

New Food Offerings:

Sentro 1771 has branches at Greenbelt 3, Ayala Center, Makati City and at Serendra, Bonifacio Global City. 

Soon, another branch will rise in Capitol Commons, Meralco Avenue corner Shaw Boulevard, Pasig City.

EXLINKEVENTS:The Biggest Beauty, Health, and Wellness International Trade Show

EXLINKEVENTS:The Biggest Beauty, Health, and Wellness International Trade Show 

Ex-Link Events opens today the biggest beauty, health, and wellness International Trade Show in the Philippines at the second floor of SMX Convention Center. The trade show will run until September 28, 2013

The event promises to gather 200 plus exhibitors and 25% of them are international exhibitors coming from different parts of the world.

Besides the exhibition, the event also boasts a conference by leading beauty, health, and wellness association of the country.

A Dance Convention will take place on the third day of the event, which features education, entertainment and competition. Leading brands and dance experts will participate in the said event.

The event are expected to attract 10,000 Buyers.

For more information, visit www.beautyhealthwellnessexpo.com.ph , call 643.3887 or email us at info@exlinkevents.com.

PICC: 1st Academe-Industry and JPMAP Job Fair

PICC: 1st Academe-Industry and JPMAP Job Fair 

Walang trabaho? Walang problema! 

There is a job fair at PICC this Friday, September 27, 2013. Who knows? You might stumble upon your dream job there.

Calling all job seekers and graduating students!

We are inviting you to the 1st Academe-Industry and JPMAP Job Fair happening this September 27 at the PICC Banquet Halls 1, 2 and 3.

This event is free and open to everyone looking for a great career. See you there!

TRAVEL ESSENTIALS: Triangle Of Travel

TRAVEL ESSENTIALS: Triangle Of Travel

Early on in life, I learned that for a person to be able to travel, one must possess the triangle of travel.  These three elements in this triangle must all be present at the same time or you will not be able to travel.

What exactly am I talking about?

First, you must have the money.

Correct! This is exactly what you are thinking. How on earth could you purchase airplane, train, bus tickets if you don't have the moolah? 

Solution: These days people use credit cards so I think the problem on money is solved with today's availability of credit cards. One can travel with no moolah at present but remember you still have to pay your credit card bills on their due dates.:-) So the better solution for me is TO SAVE!

Second, you must possess the time. 

Solution: Make a wise choice. Save your vacation leave and other leave benefits so you could have a grand vacation. Choose wisely. Take advantage of long weekends or long holidays. Go AWOL or better yet resign from your job and enjoy traveling:-) joke hi hi hi! Don't take this suggestion seriously as you might get into trouble if you go on AWOL. Lol.

Third, you ought to have good health.

Solution: Sleep at least 8 hours per day. Take multivitamins. Exercise. Don't overeat. But sometimes if you have genetic defects, sleeping 8 hours a day and living a healthy lifestyle won't just make the health problem go away. This is sad but it is so true.

Goodluck on your next journey!

PHOTOGRAPHY WORKSHOP: Learn and Help For Only Php500

PHOTOGRAPHY WORKSHOP: Learn and Help For Only Php500

I always believe that it is human nature to desire to help others. And in order to affect change one must start with something. Yes, you could start with little things. Do you have Php500 to spare? Good news! There will be a workshop on photography fundamentals with design and composition principles for only  Php500 from 11 am to 5 pm on September 23 at Fullybooked forum at Fort Bonifacio Global City.

This simple little something may seem petty for most but for some it may be their greatest and most impossible dream. Having to be able to achieve these dreams comforts us and gives us determination and more importantly hope. 

This hope is the one that ensures us that we can and will achieve and become anything. This hope gives us the push to fight and go through any challenges that comes our way in achieving our dream. But to some these "dreams" are farther their reach then how we see it. Dreams are rooted in every person starting from their childhood. It is what they do in order to reach that goal that matters.

A workshop on photography fundamentals with design and composition principles.

Cause:

Cancer is a disease that entails continuous struggle and sadly it does not only attack the old people, it also preys on little innocent children. This, we believe, changes their childhood, makes them experience more stress then possible and limits their dreams to what their conditions will allow them to do. It is our desire to help these children to forget the stresses of their condition and look at the obstacles they are experiencing in another light. In a perspective that both gives them hope as well as kindle hope in others.

Method:

To be able to share the knowledge of capturing a story through photos by a workshop that will act as fundraiser for the East Ave. children cancer patients and Ms. Joan Ladines.

If you share our passion and purpose, may we ask you to help us spread the word about this workshop by inviting your friends, and family to join and be part of this photo workshop. A workshop on photography fundamentals with design and composition principles.

FREE MOVIES: At Selected SM Cinemas

FREE MOVIES: At Selected SM Cinemas

Oh, la la! Life is sweet!
Good news to my fellow Korean movies and teleserye fanatics and of course most specially to all of you out there who love free movies! 

In a world and time where not everybody gets to enjoy FREE movies, this news is a welcome break.

The Korean Cultural Center in the Philippines will be featuring six (6) popular Korean films in the 2013 Korean Film Festival slated to be held from September 18 to October 10, 2013 in Manila, Iloilo, Cebu and Davao!

The Korean films have Korean audio with English subtitles.

I am a bit sad that I just learned about this event only today, but glad at the same time 'coz there are two(2) more days left for you to enjoy their FREE film showing at SM Megamall.  

The film festival kicked off at SM Megamall last September 18, 2013 and will run until September 22, 2013. SCHEDULE for SM MEGAMALL September 18-23 , 2013

Followed by the SM Iloilo run from September 26 to 29, 2013. Palangga, don't miss this sweet treat!

From October 3 to 6, the film festival will move to SM Cebu with the following schedule:

The Korean Movie Festival will have its final run on October 10 to 13 at SM Lanang in Davao.

The films to be screened are Green Days (소중한 날의 꿈), Masquerade (광해, 왕이된 남자), Sunny (써니), A Werewolf Boy (늑대소년), Deranged (연가시), and Dancing Queen (댄싱퀸).

The animated film Green Days (소중한 날의 꿈), voiced by actors PARK Shin-hye, SONG Chang-eui and OH Yeon-soo, is a coming-of-age story of Yi-Rang, a track runner, Soo-Min, a pretty transfer student from Seoul and Chul-soo, as they work towards their dreams.

Topbilling the period film Masquerade (광해, 왕이 된 남자) are LEE Byung-hun of the G.I Joe fame and HAN Hyo-joo as their respective characters tackle the intricacies of court life during the Joseon dynasty. In a turn of events, King Gwang-hae was poisoned and a court jester who looks remarkably like the king, Ha-sun, fills in the role of the king until the true king recovers fully. Ha-sun’s vastly different personality incites change in the morale among the people in the castle for the better.

Third in the roster is the critically-acclaimed film Sunny (써니) that retells the story of seven girls whose friendship stretches far back in high school through the journey of Na-mi, one of the seven girls. Chun-hwa, one of the girls, is presently terminally ill and asks Na-mi to get together the old members of Sunny for the last time before she dies.

Popular actors SONG Joong-ki and PARK Bo-young grace the fantasy-romance flick A Werewolf Boy (늑대소년) about the young “wolf boy” and a girl who had just moved to the small rural village as these two strangers find affection from each other against a cold world that shuns them both.

In Deranged (연가시), panic grows across the country as an epidemic of suicides occur where the victims jump into the river. The alarmed government declares a state of emergency. Medical supplies salesman Jae-hyuk suspects his family is showing symptoms of the drowning victims and through his brother, Detective Jae-pil, they search for the antidote to such.

In Dancing Queen (댄싱퀸) the wife of the Seoul mayoral candidate was a Dancing Queen, formerly a popular talent whose chase for her dreams came to an abrupt stop when her husband, Jung-min, decided to run for office. The movie goes through the journey of Jung-hwa as she balances her life as a wife of a political candidate and as a leader of the Dancing Queen.

The 2013 Korean Film Festival is in cooperation with the Korean Film Council (KOFIC), the Film Development Council of the Philippines (FDCP), the Korea Tourism Organization – Manila (KTO), the Korea Copyright Commission, SM Cinema, SM Cinema Megamall, SM Cinema Lanang and LG. Admissions are FREE.

For further information and queries, please contact the Korean Cultural Center at 555-1711 or email events@koreanculture.ph.