Find your 'alter ego' in the metro

In an event titled “Samsung Punch Alter Ego in the Metro,” Samsung Electronics Philippines Corp. launched its newest phone in partnership with Forever 21 at the SM Mega Mall Atrium. The event introduced the new Samsung Punch ch@t322, a dual SIM phone that allows one to enjoy the benefits and promos of two different SIM cards in one phone. 

Event hosts Drei Felix and Mia Bayuga started out with the introduction of the teams that competed to win the new phone and Forever 21 gift cards. Students representing Ateneo de Manila University (ADMU), De La Salle University (DLSU), University of the Philippines (UP), University of Santo Tomas (UST) and University of Asia and the Pacific (UA&P) were there to compete. Each school team was joined in by celebrities, bloggers and members of the media.

Team ADMU was represented by Cassie Veloso, Sakto’s Edgar Allan, blogger Ria Lumandog and Chalk’s Nana Caragay. Team DLSU was represented by Steph Yu, Sakto’s Lucky Mercado, blogger Sire Arevalo and ABS-CBN Publishing’s Raquel Valeriano. Team UP was represented by Anna Rebebes, model Migo Llamas, blogger Andy Rivera and Star’s Jasmine Shewakramania. Team UST was represented by Charmaine Pioquinto, Star Magic’s Nel Gomez, blogger Mabelle Arevalo and Manila Bulletin’s Jaser Marasigan. Team UA&P was represented by Rochelle de Mesa, Sakto’s Rodjun Cruz, blogger Lace Llanora and Manila Bulletin’s Angelo Garcia.

The game had each blogger pick out alter egos on the spot and ransack Forever 21’s rack of clothes for three minutes to establish their looks. They were then given 20 minutes to transform their models into the personalities that they picked out. While these were all happening, the crowd was entertained by an all-female dance group Stylettos. 

UA&P student Rochelle de Mesa, ADMU’s Cassie Veloso and Star Magic’s Nel Gomez.

The winners were judged according to their styling technique and their ability to creatively pose with the Samsung Punch ch@t322 phone. The judges were Samsung product manager for handheld phones Mylene Gabriel, Forever 21’s marketing manager Jane Kingsu-Cheng and chief makeup artist for Maybelline New York Archie Tolentino.

 Ultimately, the team from ADMU won and received the Samsung Punch ch@t322 phone. Each member of the team also received P2,000 worth of gift certificates each from Forever 21. All participants received gift packs from the sponsors — Maybelline New York, L’Oreal Professionnel and Garnier.

Samsung Punch ch@t322 comes in a sleek QWERTY style and has an optical track pad that lets the user smoothly move along the phone screen. Samsung Punch ch@t322 is better than your average dual SIM phone because it is also dual active, meaning both SIMs are simultaneously active so you can receive your texts and calls from both SIMs at the same time!

A dance festival of champions

A lot of my friends can’t seem to get enough of shows like So You Think You Can Dance and Dancing with the Stars. Now, they are in for a treat as top international dancers and champions of six different styles of dance are going to perform live for one night in Manila.

On Feb. 12, The Philippine StarBall will have a Dance Festival of Champions at the Makati Shangri-La Hotel. Still at the helm of production and organization is Michaela “Pinky” Puno, the same person responsible for bringing in top international ballroom dancers in the last three years. 

In lieu of a competition, The Philippine StarBall will feature show dances from top couples of six different styles of dance — International Latin, International Standard, American Smooth, American Rhythm, Theatre Arts and the Argentine Tango.

Yulia Zagoruychenko and Riccardo Cocchi, who recently became the champion of the WDC competition in Germany, will rumba, paso doble and chacha their way into the hearts of the crowd once more. Joining them in more Latin dances will be number one dancers from Blackpool Michael Malitowski and Joanna Leunis from Poland, top dancers from Germany Franco Formica and Oksana Lebedew, and Russian top dancers Sergey Surkov and Melia. Doing the waltz, tango, foxtrot and quick step will be Blackpool champions Arunas Bizokas and Katusha Demidova and number one dancers from Italy Mirko Gozzoli and Edita Daniute.

The audience is expected to be enthralled by seamless performances from Hanna Kartunen and Victor da Silva in Theatre Arts; the mambo, swing, the bolero of Jose de Camps and Johanna Zacharewicz for American Rhythm; and the Fred Astaire/Ginger Rodgers style of dancing from Mikhail Zarinov and Galina Detkina for American Smooth. The Argentine Tango will be performed by Carolina Zokalski with Diego di Falco, Tony Award nominees for best choreography and performers for Forever Tango, and Miriam Larici with Leonardo Barrionuevo, winners of NBC’s new series Superstars of Dance and featured performers and choreographers of So You Think You Can Dance.

There will be a Dance Congress during the daytime — six lectures given by one expert from each style. Admission to this is limited. 

(For additional information and tickets, please contact Marissa at 812-8464. Beneficiary for this show is KYTHE, a foundation that helps children with cancer.)

Event hosts TV personality Drei Felix and Magic 89.9’s Mia Bayuga flank Mylene Gabriel.

10 cheers for Children’s Hour Philippines

For 10 years now, Children’s Hour Philippines, Inc. (CHPI) has been helping disadvantaged Filipino children through fundraising projects and grants. The non-profit organization was launched by Don Jaime Zobel de Ayala in 1999, and has since raised over P200 million for some 620,000 child beneficiaries.

The organization celebrated its 10th year during its annual benefit lunch (which started in 2000) at the A Venue in Makati City. This year’s theme is “APIR! Sampung Taong Pagtulong sa Batang Pilipino.” Each ticket sold for each lunch plate will help fund projects that cover education, health and nutrition, shelter, foster care and psychosocial rehabilitation.

Another great Nuvo birthday bash!

Only three birthday celebrators — Yamani Ongpauco, Veronica Mendez and Stacy Rodriguez were feted that night. But nonetheless, the Nuvo Mezzanine was packed. Belvedere vodka was the drink sponsor of the night as guests enjoyed one of the world’s best vodkas on the rocks or mixed with their favorite mixer!

The birthday girls also got fragrances from Calvin Klein and Jean Paul Gaultier, both thanks to Sigrid Villamil of Luxasia, the exclusive distributor of those brands. Louie Ysmael welcomed guests including regulars like Chito Melo, Louie Martinez, Maurice Arcache, Mlu Yambao and former Manila resident Carlos Santamaria (who now lives in Bangkok and is engaged to singer and stage actress Rachel Alejandro). Guests enjoyed open bar on certain drinks and enjoyed the music of Boyet Sison until late… as usual. 

Happy birthday, girls!