Quality care

Launched just last year, Watsons Generics has quickly gained recognition for its quality of service and medicine. In its newest campaign, Watsons asks customers: “When it comes to health, would you choose savings or quality?”

To boost the campaign, actors Edu Manzano and Lorna Tolentino recently surprised shoppers at the Watsons Store at the Mall of Asia as they suited up as store supervisors for a day and mingled with shoppers and helped them make the right purchases.  The two celebrities even played a mini-game, gathering supporters to share the message of their most recent television commercial about making the choice between savings or quality.

Edu said, “We launched a new TVC last month with the same story that challenges you — when it comes to choosing medicines, are you for savings or quality? You can get both simply by buying Watsons Generics. You can save up to 80 percent.”

Lorna added, “Plus you are assured of quality because of Watsons’ over 170 years of pharmacy experience and its very meticulous quality assurance process.”

Watsons group marketing manager Karen Fabres said, “We aim to help families by giving them more healthcare options and the ability to purchase affordable, high-quality medicines. This will not just give them access to quality healthcare products, they will also be able to focus their finances on other important matters.”

Health business unit director of Watsons Danilo Chiong said, “In the Philippines, Watsons has always been known for our branded beauty products, but with the launch of Watsons Generics, our customers now don’t have to go elsewhere to buy their medicine.”

The Watsons Generics line includes maintenance medicines for diabetes, hypertension and cholesterol, antibiotics to fight off the common bacteria, dietary supplements for skin enhancement, anti-aging and over-all wellness, basic vitamins, oral analgesics, and other over-the-counter medicines.

Luxury in a bottle

Chef Bruce Ricketts of Mecha Uma prepared delicious dishes made from fresh Japan-sourced seafood to complement Casa Noble Ultra Premium Tequila, critically acclaimed and acknowledged the world over as one of the finest ultra premium tequila brands. Casa Noble is made from 100-percent organically grown blue agave and is widely popular for its unique aroma, smooth taste and distinctly satisfying velvety finish.

The tequila brand is loved by lifestyle engagers and connoisseurs of fine spirits. It is no wonder that Casa Noble counts music legend Carlos Santana as one of its proud owners and US President Barrack Obama is reportedly one of its avid aficionados.

The evening was attended by Casa Noble principals headed by vice president-Asia of Constellation Brands Jake Jacob and regional sales director Joe Milner.  Also present was the brand’s Philippine partner, Edwin Francis Ong of Global Noble International.

A bottle of the Single Barrel tequila was opened by the night’s guest of honor, Mexican Ambassador Julio Camarena.

Decadent La Soiree

“Leave your troubles at the door… you’re with us now.”

La Soiree, the smashing and Olivier award-winning cabaret show, is coming to Manila for a very limited run, from Sept. 23 to 27, at The Theatre at Solaire.

In 2004, a late-night cabaret show was created for the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, which captured the world’s imagination. The cabaret’s irrepressible and intoxicating spirit has gone on to light up venues across the globe, from New York to Paris, Montreal to Stockholm, London to Sydney.  Over the last 11 years, La Soiree has consolidated its reputation for assembling a collective of the most outrageous, hilarious, beautiful and downright bizarre acts you will ever see.

The tight-knit and highly skilled performers have toured to more than 12 countries and 25 cities, smashing box-office records across Europe, the US and Australia, where they were the longest-running show at the Sydney Opera House.  And this year La Soiree headlined in the Circus Big Top at the world-renowned Glastonbury Festival in the UK.

The cabaret show has garnered a host of awards along the way, including this year’s prestigious Olivier Award for Best Entertainment in London, Best Cabaret at Perth Fringe World 2015, Best Unique Theatrical Experience at New York’s Off-Broadway Alliance Awards in 2014, Best Show at London’s 2012 Cabaret Awards and Pick of the Fringe at the Adelaide Fringe Festival 2012.

(The Manila season of La Soiree opens on Sept. 23. Call 891-9999 or visit www.ticketworld.com.ph. For group bookings, email [email protected].)

A taste of Spain at Arrozeria

Arrozeria Manila celebrated the launch of its new menu, featuring Spanish tapas and paellas that remain at the heart of the restaurant’s story.

“As close as you can get to eating paella in Spain,” said chef Chele Gonzalez of the new menu. Chele is the same creative mind behind Vask Tapas Room and Gallery Vask. Together with his teammates chefs Ivan Saiz and Keith Fresnido, Chele partnered with the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) to find the local rice variety similar to the Spanish arroz bomba, commonly used in paella and other rice dishes in Spain.

Arrozeria’s selection of paellas features how this popular comfort food is enjoyed by Spaniards and Filipinos — the former preferring their rice al dente, while the latter wet and soupy. Such a hearty meal is complemented by the restaurant’s latest offerings: Fideua Callos, a dish that combines fideua (thin noodles) with callos, another Spanish favorite; melt-in-your-mouth Lengua Frita, deep-fried Angus beef tongue coated in béchamel sauce; and Salpicon de Pulpo, a refreshing dish made of tender octopus bathed in capsicum and onion vinaigrette, to name a few.

Jerico Fernando, one of the partners behind Arrozeria, led the toast and the breaking of piñata, which officially began the party. Flamenco dancers completed the festive celebration, as guests were treated to free-flowing wines and sangria to pair with the sumptuous food.

(Arrozeria is located at 4/F Century City Mall, Makati City. For reservations, call +63 920 974 4742 or e-mail [email protected].)

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