by Penny Angeles-Tan | Nov 10, 2023 | Events
As I entered the lobby of The Manila Hotel yesterday, it was impossible for me not to notice the large Christmas tree decorated in ribbons, bows, and balls in gold and red. Interspersed within its branches are twinkly lights that are unlit. But then, that is what I was there for … to see the tree when the Christmas lights are turned on. For The Manila Hotel, this will officially signal the start of the Christmas season.
The event begins with some Christmas carols sung by the Chorale of the Office of the President. As a choir member myself, I highly appreciate the effort they put in and I also couldn’t help but wince whenever I heard someone go out of tune. That being said, I think they gave a joyful performance!
I would have appreciated it more if not for the group of older women who somehow chose to stand around me when the event started and were chatting loudly amongst themselves. Sigh. How disrespectful! However, I was raised to show respect to my elders, no matter how rude THEY were, and just bit my tongue and tried to sidle away slowly and closer to the choir so that I can hear them more, and the chatty biddies less.
I looked over at them just to get a good look and since we were all wearing the same badges I couldn’t help but surmise that they, too, were members of the press. If I had to guess, they were probably from trad media and bosses (or bosses’ wives) as they gave off that kind of air. It doesn’t excuse the rudeness, though. Sigh again.
To be honest, that was the only blemish on an otherwise wonderful afternoon.
Manila Mayor Honey Lacuña
The Manila Hotel President, Atty. Joey Lina
Welcome messages were given by Atty. Joey Lina, President of the Manila Hotel, and Manila Mayor Honey Lacuña.
As far as I know, The Manila Hotel was the first hotel to light up their tree for 2023. Unlit the tree was already beautiful but after several dignitaries were called in front each one stood in front of a podium that had a big red button.
After a countdown, each one pressed their red button simultaneously and the big, beautiful, gold-bedecked tree lit up!
Christmas truly comes early in the Philippines!
by Penny Angeles-Tan | Nov 9, 2023 | Discounts, Sales, and Giveaways
The Manila Hotel unveils its exquisite Christmas Hamper selection that embodies the essence of thoughtfulness and indulgence. Specially crafted to spread holiday cheer, each hamper is brimming with a variety of signature treats and goodies that will surely delight your loved ones.
For those eager to secure these festive treasures early, The Manila Hotel is offering an early bird offer starting from October 25 to November 30, 2023. Choose from three distinct selections, each one tailored to suit different tastes and preferences.
Standard Hamper – Php 2,000 net early bird offer
- ‘Harana’ Pralines in Sinamay Box (9 pieces)
- ‘Wangis’ (The Manila Hotel façade chocolate bar)
- Santa Claus Chocolate (small)
- Christmas Cookies
- Fruit Cake (small)
- Gingerbread Man (big)
Deluxe Hamper – Php 3,200 net early bird offer
- Santa Ana Cabernet Sauvignon or Santa Ana Chardonnay (375 ml)
- ‘Wangis’ (The Manila Hotel façade chocolate bar)
- Christmas Cookies
- Gingerbread Man (big)
- Matte Gold Pralines(10 pieces)
- Assorted Nut Cluster
- Santa Claus Chocolate(big)
- Fruit Cake (big)
- Food for the Gods
Premium Hamper – Php 4,000 net early bird offer
- The Manila Hotel Regular Prestige Card
- The Manila Hotel Willy the Bear
- Pico Andino Cabernet (750ml)
- Pralines (6 pieces)
- Santa Claus Chocolate (medium)
- The Manila Hotel Coffee Drip
- The Manila Hotel Chocolate Bar with Almonds
- Banana Thins
These Christmas Hampers will be available at the regular rate of Php 2,500 net, Php 4,000 net, and Php 5,000 net, respectively, from December 1, 2023, to January 7, 2024.
For orders and inquiries, please call (+632) 8527-0011 or (+632) 5301-5500 or email re************@************el.com.
Terms and conditions apply.
DTI Fair Trade Permit No. FTEB-178795 Series of 2023
About The Manila Hotel
The Manila Hotel is situated in the heart of the City of Manila. Defined by its history, elegance, and world-class service, The Manila Hotel maintains to be the choice hotel of the most distinguished clientele. Over the years, The Manila Hotel continuously provides the best services and amenities for a truly memorable experience. It has more than 500 well-appointed rooms and 22 function rooms, including three (3) ballrooms. Apart from these, the hotel offers five-star relaxation and wellness experiences with the Manila Hotel Spa, adult and children’s pools, and the Manila Hotel Health Club.
The hotel is home to the Heritage Museum, a treasure trove of priceless memories that narrate its illustrious past. It also has an Art Gallery that offers a window into a contemporary world, captured through the objective point of view of different artists.
It has six (6) dining outlets, each offering a unique culinary adventure: Café Ilang-Ilang, which is a favorite spot for its extensive selection of International buffet delights; Champagne Room with its Old European style fine dining and also hailed as the most romantic room in Manila—it features European cuisine in a posh, fine-dining setting; Tap Room, an Old English pub-inspired outlet where one can enjoy an evening of live music; Lobby Lounge which is ideal for casual dining, aperitif, post-dinner nightcaps, or leisure meetings; Red Jade, a fine dining restaurant that serves authentic Chinese cuisine; and Delicatessens that offers the hotel’s signature pastries, bread, chocolates, and pralines.
by Penny Angeles-Tan | Oct 20, 2023 | Business
When building a home, everyone dreams of being able to create a space that they truly love. Whether this means having a house that reflects your unique personality or a space that gives you a sense of true serenity, this can easily be achieved by carefully choosing the colors and finishes of your furniture. With the newly launched finishes by American Standard – Polished Cool Sunrise, Brushed Hard Graphite, and Matte Black, consumers are now able to add a more personal touch to their bathroom spaces.
Every color has a story. Which one fits yours?
Polished Cool Sunrise
Polished Cool Sunrise adds more sophistication and a touch of vibrant color to your bathroom.
The timeless beauty of Polished Cool Sunrise will brighten up your home. Whether you prefer a more sophisticated feel or want a touch of vibrant color in your bathroom, this bright gold polish can infuse your space with a comforting glow that will match what you’re looking for. With this color, light gracefully dances across its glossy finish, which helps you create a warm and joyful ambiance in your home.
Brushed Hard Graphite
The stunning Brushed Hard Graphite shade and its rich grey hue and textured finish create an atmosphere of zen and tranquility.
For those who want to transform their bathroom space, the stunning Brushed Hard Graphite shade and its rich grey hue and textured finish are perfect. If you pair this finish with dark or earth tones, this will create an atmosphere of Zen and tranquility in any room. However, if you’re looking to add more unique character to your home, its industrial-inspired look and refined appearance can also effortlessly balance style and functionality.
Matte Black
The striking beauty of Matte Black helps you escape the noise of everyday life within your home.
The striking beauty of Matte Black helps you escape the noise of everyday life within your home. This finish can either help you set a bold statement or establish understated elegance — all because of its rugged all-black texture that exudes a commanding presence and leaves a lasting impression.
Elevate your bathroom with Acacia Evolution and EasySet
All three-color finishes are available in the Acacia Evolution faucets, EasySet Concealed Auto Temperature Mixer, and EasySet Exposed Auto Temperature and select accessories.
Elevate the look and feel of the bathroom with the modern, minimalistic, clean lines of Acacia Evolution fittings. With EcoStart, the Acacia Evolution faucet releases cold water instead of warm water upon lifting the lever, saving you up to 30% of precious energy as it prevents the boiler from heating up. To get hot water, you will only need to move the lever to the left, and by providing a resistance midway when lifting the lever, ClickMove gives you better water volume control, saving you water. Lastly, ComfortMove provides smooth handle performance for optimal precision and comfort.
The EasySet Auto Temperature Mixers, which come in both Concealed and Exposed variants, will elevate your showering experience to a whole new level of comfort. Adjust the water temperature and volume with a simple push and turn to pamper yourself with a shower at a constant and comfortable temperature with ThermoComfort, even when cold water is used elsewhere in the house. Prevent accidental scalding, especially for the young and elderly, with ThermoSafe, which caps water temperature at 49° Celsius and shuts off when cold water supply fails. As an added precaution, the EasySet Exposed Auto Temperature Mixer features CoolShield to ensure the faucet body is always cool to the touch to prevent any instances of scalding when coming into contact.
If you’re building your first home or planning an upgrade to your current homestead, the bathroom space design plays an important role in your wellness experience at home. Choosing mood-boosting colors for you and your family can transform your basic toilet and bath into a personal sanctuary – something that you will love to come home to every day—a space you and your family will enjoy being in.
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About American Standard
American Standard is the industry leader in bathroom and kitchen products, providing an unmatched legacy of quality and innovation for almost 150 years. American Standard is passionate about improving daily living in ways big and small. From toilet seat innovations to best-in-class kitchen faucets, American Standard seeks to inspire people to create a home they will love every day.
About Lixil
LIXIL (TSE Code 5938) makes pioneering water and housing products that solve everyday, real-life challenges, making better homes a reality for everyone, everywhere. Drawing on our Japanese heritage, we create world-leading technology and innovate to make high-quality products that transform homes. But the LIXIL difference is how we do this: through meaningful design, an entrepreneurial spirit, a dedication to improving accessibility for all, and responsible business growth. Our approach comes to life through industry-leading brands, including INAX, GROHE, American Standard, and TOSTEM. Approximately 55,000 colleagues operating in more than 150 countries are proud to make products that touch the lives of more than a billion people every day. Learn more at www.lixil.com.ph
by Penny Angeles-Tan | Oct 19, 2023 | Business
GCash expressed its full support for the Commission on Elections (COMELEC) Resolution No. 10946, also known as “Kontra-Bigay”, ahead of the upcoming Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections.
Officials from the fintech company attended the campaign’s launch at the Palacio del Gobernador in Intramuros, Manila, earlier in September. The launch was also attended by distinguished representatives from lead agencies such as the Department of Justice (DOJ), Philippine National Police (PNP), Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP), Office of the Solicitor General (OSG), Public Attorney’s Office (PAO), Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC), Department of Education (DepEd), as well as prominent election-focused NGOs like National Citizens’ Movement for Free Elections (NAMFREL), Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting (PPCRV), and Legal Network For Truthful Elections (LENTE).
COMELEC Resolution No. 10946 aims to combat online vote buying and selling by establishing a Kontra-Bigay Committee and expanding the existing vote-buying regulations under the Omnibus Election Code and its Implementing Rules and Regulations, as well as the other rules and regulations issued by COMELEC.
One of the most significant highlights of the newly passed resolution is its recognition of online banking transactions and the use of e-wallets as potential channels for vote buying under Section 30. During the launch, COMELEC emphasized its authority to scrutinize the financial details of account holders suspected of involvement in such illicit activities.
“GCash reiterates its unwavering commitment to cooperate fully with the COMELEC in the fight against online vote buying. The company recognizes the critical role fintech companies play in safeguarding the integrity of elections by preventing the misuse of digital financial tools for unlawful purposes,” said Martha Sazon, president and chief executive officer of GCash.
GCash believes that fostering transparency, accountability, and trust in financial transactions is paramount to ensuring fair, honest, and inclusive elections that reflect the people’s will.
“We remain committed to upholding the highest standards of transparency and security in financial transactions and will actively support the COMELEC in their efforts to maintain a level playing field for all candidates and voters,” added Sazon.
As the country’s no. 1 finance super app, GCash embraces its responsibility in ensuring that not only finance but also democracy is for all.
About GCash
GCash is the Philippines’ #1 Finance Super App. Through the GCash App, users can easily purchase prepaid airtime; pay bills via partner billers nationwide; send and receive money anywhere in the Philippines, even to other bank accounts; purchase from over 6 million partner merchants and social sellers; and get access to savings, credit, loans, insurance and invest money, and so much more, all at the convenience of their smartphones.
GCash’s mobile wallet operations are handled by G-Xchange, Inc. (GXI), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Mynt, the first and only duacorn in the Philippines, which is a part of the country’s leading digital solutions platform, Globe Group.
GCash is a staunch supporter of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly UN SDGs 5,8,10, and 13, which focus on safety & security, financial inclusion, diversity, equity, and inclusion as well as taking urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts, respectively.
by Penny Angeles-Tan | Oct 18, 2023 | Business
Dulaang Unibersidad ng Pilipinas (Dulaang UP) is set to kickstart the launch of DUP STUDIO with Dolly de Leon entitled Auditioning for a Role and Landing It. The award-winning film and theatre actress Dolly de Leon will serve as a mentor to six participants for the first-ever Studio Work of the program. This will also be open to the sit-in participants to witness the session first-hand.
The DUP STUDIO aspires to become a mainstay in Philippine theatre education, especially catering to aspiring artists and artists-at-heart. Inspired by a series of colloquia organized by the UP Department of Speech Communication and Theatre Arts on its 60th founding anniversary in 2019, DUP Studio is set to become the extension arm of Dulaang UP in making theatre education accessible to a wider range of students, educators, and enthusiasts from the seasoned to the novice.
As an alumna of the pioneering batch of the Certificate in Theatre Arts program at the University of the Philippines, Dolly de Leon pays homage to her theatre training at the Department of Speech Communication and Theatre Arts by sharing her audition techniques. This is the trend DUP Studio seeks to sustain–welcoming back the talents it has honed over the past four decades to inspire a new breed of artists and enthusiasts.
DUP Studio Work will not be limited to stage acting, however, as the avenue recognizes the changing performance landscape. DUP Studio dramaturgs Olive Nieto, Tess Jamias and Issa Manalo Lopez aim to gather workshop facilitators from homegrown and international contemporary performance makers across the creative industries, both onstage and offstage, on-camera, and behind the scenes. The studio aims to create a space for deep and genuine connections to contextualize and respond to the current issues and trends in theatre, performance studies, and the creative industries.
The pilot Studio Work, “DUP STUDIO with Dolly de Leon: Auditioning for a Role and Landing It”, is open to those building their professional and creative portfolios. Workshop rates range from 5,000.00 pesos for the mentored participants and 1,200.00 pesos for the sit-in participants. This will be soon sold on the Ticket2Me platform. The workshop will be held at the newly-furnished IBGKAL Theatre, University of the Philippines Diliman, on 25 November 2023 from 2:00 PM to 5:00 PM.
Dolly de Leon has recently co-starred with Kathryn Bernardo in the box-office hit “A Very Good Girl” and gained international acclaim for her role in the Palme d’Or-winning Triangle of Sadness. In June 2023, de Leon was invited to be a member of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, which presents the annual Oscars or Academy Awards.
Other prominent DUP Alumni include Eugene Domingo, Irma Adlawan, Neil Ryan Sese, Lani Sumalinog, Micah Pineda, and Martha Sta. Barbara, Shamaine Buencamino, and Sigrid Andrea Bernardo.
For inquiries and further information, contact or email du***********@****du.ph. Bulk ticket orders for schools and student organizations may be addressed to Kate Dayag-Nonay at du*********************@****du.ph. More registration details will be posted on the Dulaang UP Facebook page.
*with contributions from Issa Manalo Lopez and Eija Maxene Lozano
GCash is the Philippines’ #1 Finance Super App. Through the GCash App, users can easily purchase prepaid airtime; pay bills via partner billers nationwide; send and receive money anywhere in the Philippines, even to other bank accounts; purchase from over 6 million partner merchants and social sellers; and get access to savings, credit, loans, insurance and invest money, and so much more, all at the convenience of their smartphones.
The DUP STUDIO aspires to become a mainstay in Philippine theatre education, especially catering to aspiring artists and artists-at-heart. Inspired by a series of colloquia organized by the UP Department of Speech Communication and Theatre Arts on its 60th founding anniversary in 2019, DUP Studio is set to become the extension arm of Dulaang UP in making theatre education accessible to a wider range of students, educators, and enthusiasts from the seasoned to the novice.
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