Hail the Pinoy rockers!

Rock aficionados and beer lovers found a haven at the San Miguel Oktoberfest Beer Festival kick-off party recently.

The crowd gamely participated in the bidding wars over Red Horse Beer premium items autographed by rock icons. They also enjoyed live heart-pounding and ear-busting performances by Red Horse Muziklaban rock bands.

The Muziklaban grand champions Mayonnaise (2004), Even (2008), Hatankaru (2009) and Light of Luna (2010) rocked the stage with their performances. Rock icon heiress Queenie Smith brought the house down with her Nosi Balasi rendition, a Sampaguita original, if I am not mistaken. The loudest cheers went to rock legend Pepe Smith whose undying passion for Pinoy rock never fails to inspire every amateur Pinoy rocker.

These legit crowd stealers gave aspiring rock bands that joined the Red Horse Muziklaban Rock Challenge more reason to pursue Pinoy rock music. As the nationwide eliminations kick off this month, the next rock legend will soon be born and the new grand champion will receive a cash prize and an endorsement contract with Red Horse. A special prize of P50,000 will also be given to the band that comes up with the best original Red Horse jingle.

The Muziklaban ambassadors Slapshock and Greyhoundz conquered the Oktoberfest Beer Festivals main stage adding hype to the much awaited Red Horse Beer Pambansang Muziklaban Grand Finals in January 2012.  

(Visit www.redhorsebeer.com for schedules and details.)

Shop today, send a child to school tomorrow

It’s always heartwarming to know that there’s a compassionate side to retail therapy. Recently, kindness of people was shown when RCBC Bankard turned over P300,000 to Gawad Kalinga Sibol to benefit the indigent children of the Gawad Kalinga Tawi-Tawi community in Barangay Sta. Lucia, Pasig. It was made possible through the Diamond Cares program of the RCBC Bankard Diamond MasterCard, the only Platinum card for women.

Through the program, every P100 charged to an RCBC Bankard Diamond MasterCard generates an automatic donation of 20 centavos in the cardholder’s name to Gawad Kalinga Sibol, a values-based education program of Gawad Kalinga that provides education to deserving underprivileged children aged three to six years old.

To date, over half a million pesos has already been donated to Gawad Kalinga Sibol. RCBC Bankard officials are hopeful that their joint effort with their Platinum cardholders will continue to make the lives of disadvantaged children better. 

The RCBC Bankard Diamond MasterCard also gives cardholders perks to help them get more out of life. It offers zero percent interest for three months on beauty and wellness-related products and services, rewards points and benefit packages.

With the RCBC Bankard Diamond MasterCard, shopping for oneself can certainly help others as well.

Cenas Españolas at Tapella

The Spanish Chamber of Commerce continues with the tradition of Cenas Españolas, formerly called Ruta Gastronómica. This idea was carried out by the Spanish Chamber for the first time about a year and a half ago and since then there have been many successful Cenas Españolas in different Spanish restaurants around Manila.

The one held at Cirkulo recently had people try some of the best tapas and traditional food from Spain. This time, chef Alexandra Cacho will bring the Spanish cuisine to Manila with the famous Pintxos from San Sebastián (Donosti) paired with wine from Spain.

The Cenas Españolas will be held on Oct. 26 at Tapella restaurant in Greenbelt 5. Sponsors include Aboitiz, Indra, Cetunion Philippines, IE Business School, Mondial Tours Lufthansa City Center, IESE Business School, Fuego Hotels and Properties and Mapfre Insular.

(For details, please contact The Spanish Chamber of Commerce at 886-7643 or 759-6776 or e-mail [email protected] or visit www.lacamara.com.ph or www.facebook.com/spanishchamber.)

The Xavier Swatch

Xavier School has always been ahead of its time. On its 55th year, the school’s mandate is to make sure that we race ahead of our time. This year marks the 25th year I have graduated from Xavier High School and I am proud to have the Xavier Swatch as part of my collection.

Since its founding in 1956, Xavier School has become a leading institute for basic education through constant innovation. This innovative spirit has defined the vision of the founding Jesuit fathers and the groundbreaking efforts of administrators and teachers through more than five decades of shaping the hearts and minds of future Filipino leaders.

The Xavier Swatch has a touch alarm and is available at Swatch stores. Proceeds from the sale of the XS55 Commemorative Swatch will benefit Xavier School scholars.

This watch is a project of Xavier School Batch 1986, my batch! Fellow batchmates and Xaverians, get this watch before it is gone!