A toast to Cignal

For reaching over one million subscribers, Cignal TV is now the leading pay-TV content provider in the country. As a way of thanking its industry partners and friends, Cignal held a thanksgiving party at the Green Sun in Makati City. 

Cignal TV COO Oscar Reyes Jr. and MVP Group of Companies head Manny V. Pangilinan had a toast of victory for the company. Sisters Anne Curtis, Jasmine Curtis-Smith and Paolo Bediones hosted the event.

MediaQuest Holdings Inc. president and CEO Emmanuel Lorenzana said, “We owe it to our subscribers, who have made us the No. 1 pay-TV provider in the country, to deliver the best viewing experience possible and to continue to expand and enrich our channel offerings. It is our firm commitment for Cignal to take the lead in finding innovative ways to improve its services and to meet the changing demands of the Filipino viewer.’’

Cignal’s foray in the pay-TV arena six years ago has literally shook the television landscape with its superb direct-to-home satellite technology that ushered in the era of HD (High Definition) quality sight and sound never before seen in local TV broadcasts.

“The Philippine pay-TV market is still in its infancy compared to our Asian neighboring countries like Taiwan, South Korea, Hong Kong, etc., so there is ample room to grow and we see a trend towards more diversity in television choices as people’s incomes increase and lifestyles continually change,” Reyes said.

He added, “Cignal will continue to lead the industry in both content diversification and best in class infrastructure. All thanks to our links with PLDT and the MVP Group, which give us access to the latest developments in digital and telecommunications technology.”

A Bruno Paillard dinner

What a treat it was to be invited by Premium Wine Exchange to the Bruno Paillard champagne dinner at my favorite restaurant, Tasting Room in City of Dreams Manila!

Our small group was able to taste Bruno Paillard’s Blanc de blanc Reserve Privee Grand Cru non-vintage (November 2012), Premier Cuvee Brut non-vintage (July 2013), Brut Assemblage 2004 (March 2012) and a Premier Cuvee Rose Brut non-vintage (May 2013) along with delicious creations of chef William Mahi. Chef Mahi’s exquiste dishes were pan-fried duck liver with hibiscus gel and orange puree, pan-fried frog legs with Iberian foam and watercress, and glazed pork breast with Swiss chard, apples and mustard. 

The charming Jean-Baptiste Soulier, who works for Bruno Paillard, joined us at the dinner. The champagne manufacturer is small but it produces exceptional quality champagnes that are distributed in the Philippines by Premium Wine Exchange.

(Premium Wine Exchange is located at 2294 G/F Smithbell Building, Chino Roces Ext., Makati City. For inquiries, call 812-3823 or e-mail www.pwxchange.com.ph.)

Spectre 007

With the upcoming release of the 24th James Bond movie titled Spectre, Belvedere Vodka launched a special edition Belvedere 007 Spectre bottle in celebration of its partnership with the film and as part of a global ad campaign featuring  the latest Bond girl Stephanie Sigman.

The limited edition collectors’ bottle features the famous Bond gun barrel and 007 gun logo in 70-cl. and 1.75-liter  bottle will be available in select retailers and supermarkets (Rustan’s, SM, Robinsons and S&R) in Metro Manila from October to December.

The campaign features Mexican actress Stephanie Sigman, who plays the role of Estrella in the opening scene of the movie. The ad reveals the intricacies of the legendary martini cocktail where Sigman is seen ordering the classic “shaken, not stirred” martini and ultimately complements it with the campaign slogan: “Excellent choice, Mr. Bond.”

This is the first time Belvedere is featured as a product in a Bond movie. During a partnership event in New York City, president of Belvedere Vodka Charles Gibb said, “James Bond is recognized as the most admired and influential tastemaker in the world. We’re delighted that Belvedere is partnering with Spectre, our largest global partnership to date.”

Spectre is set to open in Philippine theaters on its worldwide release on Nov. 6 and will be distributed by Columbia Pictures, local office of Sony Pictures Releasing International.

(Visit instagram.com/belvedereph and www.facebook.com/BelvedereVodkaPH.)

History’s golden treasures

More than 200 guests visited Asia Society Museum in New York to celebrate the opening of the Philippine Gold: Treasures of Forgotten Kingdoms exhibit recently.

The gala event — which featured a ceremonial ribbon cutting, speeches from dignitaries, musical performances, a live auction and a gourmet Filipino dinner — kicked off a season of programming at Asia Society that will highlight the richness and diversity of Philippine culture and current affairs, and explore its cuisine, performing arts, film, design, literature and more.

Gala Benefit committee co-chair Doris Magsaysay Ho thanked her co-chairs Loida Nicolas Lewis and Fernando Zobel de Ayala. “We thought how wonderful it would be to bring a spotlight on the Philippines as the country hosts APEC in November. And we thought, why not also highlight our heritage, and our arts and culture?”

Philippine Ambassador to the United States Jose Cuisia Jr. noted, “The exhibition is a great reason to be proud of our ancestors and our heritage. Taking a look around and marveling at the artifacts on display this evening will make one realize what commonalities our Filipino ancestors shared with our other Indonesian, Indian, Chinese and other Southeast Asian brethren.”

The evening also marked the opening of Video Spotlight: Philippines, an exhibition of contemporary Filipino video art, and Filipino Design Now, an installation celebrating the artistic visions of renowned and emerging Filipino designers. Philippine Gold: Treasures of Forgotten Kingdoms will be on display until January 3, 2016.

Asia Society president Josette Sheeran said, “Tonight, we are celebrating a new era, a new beginning for the Philippines, presented through its golden past. This is truly a great day for the Philippines, for the United States and for all who care about our shared histories.”

The exhibit is made possible by Ayala Corp., with additional support by exhibition partners Bank of the Philippine Islands, Del Monte Foods Inc., Philippine Airlines, ABS-CBN The Filipino Channel and Tourism Promotions Board Philippines.

(For more information, visit www.AsiaSociety.org/Philippines2015. To arrange a group tour of this special exhibition in New York, call 001-212-327-9237 or e-mail [email protected].)