Wear Your Pride

CEBU, Philippines - I Am Ninoy (Aquino) shirts by Bench and Penshoppe, 3 Stars & a Sun by Francis Magalona Clothing Co., Team Manila – these are apparel brands and product lines that spell patriotism with a modern flair. Now, homegrown company specializing in souvenir apparels, Islands Souvenirs, launched their take on this nationalistic direction: its newest brand P.i. or Philippine islands.

The brand was officially launched a day after Independence Day at the Outpost restobar in Nivel Hills that converged young Filipinos from different backgrounds and fields of interest – all were set abuzz with the P.i. shirts. Islands Souvenirs Marketing & Communications Head Andrea Lugue underscored that P.i. goes beyond pop culture designs and highlights shirt designs that nonetheless send out a message/show off one's love for country, pride for county. It includes statement tees, such as Wear Your Pride, We Cannot Free Ourselves Unless We Move Forward United in a Single Desire and The Filipino is Worth Dying For (Ninoy Aquino's famous patriotic line). Islands Souvenirs' in-house designers also came up with spunky artsy nationalistic representations such as the Philippine map, a Lapulapu print and simply the word Pilipinas, that draw instant connection among our kababayans here and abroad. The first 16 designs printed on black, white, heather and blue shirts are already out in the market. More designs are coming out soon.

To make a buzzing entry in the market, P.i. biggies handpicked 20 key personalities, young endorsers who have made noise in their respective fields in various sectors of the community – in music, beauty, sports, environmental awareness, academe, entrepreneurship, social work, media, film and arts – all have made a huge impact in the lives of the youth surrounding them. The models are: Musician Gabby Alipe, beauty queen Kris Janson, boxer Boom Boom Bautista, archer Karen Yasi, environmentalist Lesley Cordero, fencer Kairos Alo, student leader Edward Co, model student Keshia Duyongco, philanthropist Insoy Niñal, entrepreneur Dianne Espera, writer Meg Eteve, photographer Dan Ong, editor Cybill Gayatin, education advocate Miggy Garcia, science whiz Kenneth Racoma, TV host Ria Redulla, filmmaker Victor Villanueva, hope warrior Sol Delantar-Gonzalvo, techpreneur Janice Yuvallos and artist Ian Zafra.

"We have noticed that the young ones are getting more involved in socio-civic activities and nation building, we just want to capture that spirit and bring it out and hopefully let the other people catch that fire for people to see and be inspired by it," Lugue enthused. Islands Souvenirs supports YouthVote Philippines or YVote, youth groups/organizations that encourage people to register for the 2010 elections, "because we believe its relevance, we want to exhort every Filipino to do what is right and to start making a stand. P.i. is basically all about making a stand, 'Hey, I'm a Filipino and I'm making a stand'," she added.

P.i. shirts are available in Ayala Center Cebu, SM City Cebu, Mactan-Cebu International Airport, Islands Flagship Store, Islands & More, SM Department Store, Metro Ayala, Metro Colon, Gaisano Mactan and White Gold.

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French Spring in Cebu

Les Amis de la France and the French Embasssy, in cooperation with the Arts Council of Cebu, will hold the French Film Festival, A Journey through 2008 Cannes Festival, from June 19 to 21 at Onstage, Ayala Center Cebu with screening time from 2:30pm to 8p.m. Admission is free!

Another activity organized by Les Amis de la France, this time together with Bite Magazine, is The World Music Day or famously known as Fete de la Musique on June 21 at the Ayala Terraces, 5pm onwards. The first Cebu fete last year was a blast with over 6,000 music and art enthusiasts huddled in Paseo to witness more than 20 bands perform.

In a press conference held recently at the Lobby Lounge of Marco Polo Plaza Hotel, organizers officially rolled out its list of performers: Sinha Bahia de Capoeira performers, Prudence Salutillo, Natasha Cang, CDMC, Cuarenta, UNO, The Line Divides, Sheila and the Insects (after their long hiatus, they are back for this music extravaganza), Juress, Urbal, Zara Smith, Island Joe, Smooth Friction, Cebu Air Force Band, 580Airforce Wing Band, Joel Opurto and Sugbuwanon. This is absolutely FREE!

Come June 26, a piano concert will be held at the Cebu Ballroom, City Sports Plaza at 8pm organized by Les Amis de la France and Arts Council of Cebu. Free entrance! For more information on these line up of activities, call Les Amis de la France, second floor QC Pavillion building, Gorordo Ave. # 232 1311.