One spirited night

It was a memorable one-night-only event that Mandarin Oriental, Manila hosted for the oenophiles and gourmands to celebrate Wine & Spirits 2011. That night alone, guests enjoyed more than a hundred bottles of wine as well as a 25-meter buffet spread by executive chef Rene Ottlik.

It was the fourth time the hotel staged Wine & Spirits 2011 with the support of wine dealers Best World Beverage Brands, Future Trade, Inc., Silver Secrets, Titania, Barcino, Terry’s Selection Lagarde Wines, Le Celler, Wine Depot, Sommelier Selection, Straits Wine, Moët Hennessy, Zen Asia, and Philippine Wine Merchants.

Mandarin Oriental, Manila’s GM Mark Bradford, resident manager Oliver Kreuzer and director of food and beverage Chico Angeles welcomed guests to the ballroom draped in dramatic black. The ballroom was filled with the music of David Starck, Jenny Rawolle and Stephanie Reese. Guests enjoyed drinking wine in Lucaris wine glasses.

Among the wine dealers present were Best World Beverage Brands’ Edna Diaz, Future Trade Inc’s James Du Vivier, Titania’s Tita Trillo, Terry’s Selections’ Juan Carlos de Terry, Lagarde Wines’ Carlo Lorenzana, Le Celler’s Jorinda Flour, Wine Depot’s Brett Tolhurst, Sommelier Selections’ Jerome Philippon, Moët Hennesy’s Olga Azarcon, Zen Asia’s Lester Harvey and Philippine Wine Merchant’s Ralph and Raymond Joseph. Also featured in the hefty buffet spread were the local Malagos cheeses, represented by Olive Puentespina and Karin Carmona.

Others seen having fun at the event were International Wine and Food Society’s Freddie Pio de Roda, food stylist Ditas Antenor, restaurateurs Dixie and Claudia Mabanta, ABS-CBN’s Freddie Garcia, Elbert Cuenca, Liza Ilarde-Cuenca, Candy Dizon, Andrei Wisneiwski, Myrza Sison, Christine Cunanan, Dennis Lustico, food blogger Erica Paredes, Grace Glory Go, Krip Yuson, Millie and Karla Reyes.

If you missed this event, better make sure to be there at the Wine & Spirits 2012!

Finding positive vibes in your jeans

It’s not just about wearing your good pair of denims. It’s also about wearing your pride with energy and optimism.

Positive energy was running high when Levi Strauss Philippines launched its first-ever global marketing campaign called “Go Forth.” With its ideology of creating an impact through a movement towards optimism, Levi’s unveiled “Go Forth” to focus on the pioneering spirit of the youth to stand out and show to the world what they can do in molding the future.

Levi’s ASEAN marketing head Ronnie Celestial says, “Levi’s and the people who wear them now embody the energy and events of our times. And now, for the first time in the brand’s history, Levi’s is launching a truly global brand campaign that highlights youthful optimism and energy.”

Four “pioneers,” individuals who pursue their passion and idealism, were chosen to represent the “Go Forth” campaign. Fashion photographer Niccolo Cosme is the Pioneer of Life. Pioneering Headshot Clinic and The Red Whistle, Niccolo inspires many people to be aware of the alarming number of HIV cases in the Philippines. Writer Nina Terol-Zialcita is the Pioneer of Positive Change. Independent musician Johnoy Danao is the Pioneer of Music. He inspires the Filipino youth towards supporting Filipino music and making it known to the world. Divine Lee, Pioneer of Equality, is a champion for equality. With the Child Haus Foundation, Divine reaches out to the youth to make their lives better.

The Levi’s Fall/Holiday 2011 Collection focuses on craftsmanship in jeans, innovation and setting new standards. The collection is the embodiment of American style and includes looks that range from rugged to refined to rebellious to cater to the younger generation’s choice of jeans.

 (Check out www.levi.com)

Stomp coming soon to Manila

Hear their music as they come stomping!

Broadway and West End sensation Stomp is finally coming to Manila to perform at the Tanghalang Nicanor Abelardo of the Cultural Center of the Philippines from Oct. 18 to 23 for eight shows only. 

“Stompers” use everyday things as performance instruments like lids, buckets and matchsticks to create a show-stopping spectacle. Created by Luke Cresswell and Steve McNicholas, Stomp has energy, drama and humor. The performers bring vigor to their stage performances leaving audiences amazed by what someone can do with something as common as a broom.

First staged in 1991, the original cast of Stomp played to capacity audiences around the world like Hong Kong, Barcelona, Dublin and Sydney. The touring culminated in a sell-out season at London’s Sadler’s Wells Theatre in January 1994, where Stomp received an Olivier nomination for “Best Entertainment” and won “Best Choreography in a West End show.” With an Olivier award, Stomp is a truly international stage phenomenon not to be missed.

Meet the cast and get a sneak peek of Stomp at the Ayala Malls, on Oct. 14 at the Greenbelt 3 Park, Oct. 15 at the TriNoma Park and Oct. 16 at the Glorietta 5 Atrium. Go to ayalamalls.com.ph for further details about their Ayala Mall tour.

Upload your own Stomp videos on the Glorietta, Market! Market! and TriNoma Facebook fan pages and get a chance to win tickets to watch Stomp. Get your friends to vote and entries with most likes win.

 (Tickets are available at all TicketWorld outlets (891-9999) and at selected National Bookstore branches, Robinsons Department Store and Ayala Center. Stomp is brought to you by Visa with OOCL, Dusit Thani Manila, Ayala Malls, and Ayala Cinemas. Media partners include ETC, 2nd Avenue, Jack TV, ABS-CBN, Nickelodeon, The Philippine Star, Crossover 105.1 FM, Monster Radio RX 93.1, and Radio High 105.9FM)