The gentleness of Islamic fashion

With Manila as the curtain raiser to this year’s series, the Embassy of Malaysia once again showed the beauty and gentleness of Islamic fashion as it presented the Islamic Fashion Festival (IFF) 2012 collection at the Grand Ballroom of the InterContinental Manila. Raja Puan Muda Perak Raja Nor Mahani and Malaysian Tourism Minister Dato’ Sri Dr. Ng Yen Yen graced the two-day event.

Malaysian and Indonesian fashion designers Melinda Looi, Syaiful Baharim, Tom Abang Saufi and Milo Migliavacca were joined by their Philippine counterparts JC Buendia, Jun Escario and Veejay Floresca at the event. Welsh-Malay personality Stephen Rahman Hughes of The Kitchen Musical fame flew in from London to render two musical numbers. On hand to welcome guests were Malaysian Ambassador Dato’ Seri Dr. Ibrahim Saad and his wife Datin Seri Dato’ Zainab Abdul Kader. Assisting them were members of the IFF Manila organizing committee Tina Ocampo, Doris Magsaysay Ho, Monaco Consul General Fortune Ledesma and Tingting Cojuangco. Guests enjoyed a four-course dinner prepared by hotel executive chef Alisdair Bletcher and his team.

The event likewise generated funds for the Filipino scholars at the Allianze University College of Medical Sciences in Malaysia, the Museo Pambata, the Philippine Public Safety College and Virlanie Foundation, Inc.

The IFF was launched in 2006 by Dato’ Raja Rezza Shah.

Celebrating health by running

Running is one of the best antidotes to prevent lifestyle-related diseases.

Around 3,000 running enthusiasts recently joined one of the biggest races in the South, the Asian Hospital and Medical Center-mounted RUNew 2012. The event was held at the Filinvest Corporate City in Alabang.

As early as 3 a.m., runners were at the venue to prepare themselves with some stretching and warm-up led by hosts Boy Ramos and Gelli Victor.

President and CEO of Asian Hospital and Medical Center Andres Licaros Jr. said, “As a world-class medical institution, Asian Hospital and Medical Center has always been strongly advocating healthy lifestyle among Filipinos to help prevent the rise of lifestyle-related diseases. So we’re once again taking this mission outdoors as we mount another fun run that will inspire families, friends and doctors to run for health and improve their lifestyle choices.”

Also running with their families were the hospital’s founding chairman Dr. Jorge Garcia, chief medical officer Dr. Juan Rosas, Metro Pacific Investments Corp. Hospital Group president and CEO Augie Palisoc Jr., TV host Christine Jacob-Sandejas and actor Carl Guevarra.

There were four race events — 21k, 10k, 5k and 3k. After the races, runners got to try out different booths, where they got free refreshments, snacks, as well as free blood pressure and sugar testing. They also had the time of their lives at the photo booth, where they got to bring home photo souvenirs.

With RUNew, the hospital hopes that more Filipinos will get into a healthy lifestyle and instill in themselves the importance of being active to fully achieve a healthy body. The event was for a good cause as proceeds from the run were donated to support the medical and surgical needs of Asian Hospital Charities Inc. beneficiaries.

A spectacular pyromusical finale

It was a spectacular finale for the Close Up Pyromusical held at the SM Mall of Asia Grounds. The culmination of the biggest pyromusical competition featured fireworks displays from Italy and the Philippines.

The event was hosted by DJ Jessica of Magic 89.9 and DJ Rico of RX 93.1 and introduced the new Close Up song Moving Closer sung by Never the Strangers and video featuring upcoming talents Ian Batherson and Valerie Weigmann. The launch of the new song was a continuation of the Close Up songs that became part of Filipino pop culture.

Also present were Unilever executives led by Close Up brand manager Brian Duruin, Close Up assistant brand manager Kristine Erni and Unilever media services executive Arbell Zabala and digital media and activations manager Nel Capila.

Making the event more memorable was a reunion concert of past Close Up artists Gino Padilla, Barbie Almalbis and Rico Blanco, who performed their respective Close Up hits Closer You and I, Just a Smile and Come Closer.