Happy birthday, Liza!

Birthday girl Liza Tan-Mills recently had a fun Mexican-themed celebration. Of course, the party was held at Hacienda, a Mexican restaurant she owns with her husband Steve Mills, located in Bonifacio Global City, Taguig. It is a favorite hangout spot, especially for Mexican expats.

Served during the party were tacos and tequila along with other drinks. And Liza, being a Cebuana, had a whole Cebu lechon flown in from her hometown to the restaurant. It was so good, the entire pig was consumed by guests by the end of the night.

Steve Mills with Joey and Jay Server.

It was truly a delightful evening filled with good food and fun company. 

Happy birthday, Liza!

(Hacienda is located at Unit F121 Forbes Town Road, Forbes Wood Heights Retail, Bonifacio Global City, Taguig. For more information, call 625-4727.)

Beyond classroom experiences

Thames International president and co-founder Joel Santos.

The Teenpreneur Challenge, an  inter-high school entrepreneurship competition,  is an admirable initiative of Thames International Business School, the pioneer and innovator in offering UK-based college programs in Business Administration, Communication Arts, Information Technology and Entrepreneurship education.  

The competition’s culminating expo and awards ceremony was recently held at SM Megamall in Mandaluyong City, which has been a supporter and sponsor since the competition’s inception over 10 years ago. Leading the awarding ceremony was Thames International president and co-founder Joel Santos.

The Teenpreneur Challenge was set up by Thames through  its innovative college, Entrepreneur School of Asia, to promote the entrepreneurship and creative mindset to the youth. It also plays a key role in helping produce young entrepreneurs who are creative, innovative and world-ready.

 Going on its 14th edition, it is probably one of the country’s longest running and one of the most prestigious annual entrepreneurship competitions among the top high schools in the Philippines.

Best in Shirt/Poster Design for Islands Souvenirs: Makati Hope Christian School. (From left) Ricci Jereza, Andrea Aldeguer, John Paul Chen, Caila Alyssa Lopez, Vincent Lee, Chung Byeong Uk, Angelica Nicole Tan and Joel Santos.

Each participating senior high school had a team composed of the most creative and entrepreneurial students who had to come up with innovative solutions to real-world business challenges.  

The participating students underwent extensive workshop sessions led by distinguished industry mentors: film director Mark Meily for the fundamentals of filmmaking; Thames ICE post-graduate scholars AJ Dimarucot, David Ouano and Christianne Tampos for the basics of designing shirts and posters; and theater actors and Thames ICE post-graduate scholars Tiffany Neri, Alison Segarra and Andrei Pamintuan for basic acting workshop. Also served as a special music mentors were National Artist for Music Ryan Cayabyab and Bruno Mars’ uncle and music coach John Valentine.

Art of fitness

Kim Piechotta, Liezl Sarmiento, bodyART instructor Marlette Besa, Michelle Ong, Izza Agana, Winda Kendall and Melanie Caguiat.

Health buffs, listen up!

There is an interesting new training system that balances one’s strength, flexibility and mental concentration called bodyART.

This training system, designed by Robert Steinbacher, is conducted through classes where participants perform barefoot with their body as their equipment. It also uses breathing techniques to enhance one’s performance.

bodyART, based on traditional Chinese medicine principles of yin and yang, is a holistic, intense and purposeful experience that reportedly creates a powerful and lasting effect in one’s daily life.

Fitness enthusiast Marlette Besa took the Instructor’s Certification Level 1 course recently at Dancevault Singapore. Marlette attended a nine-day workshop that included a day of self-study and a day of practical and written exams. The training was conducted by master trainer Remo Stefanic from Germany. This program is still very new in Asia and Marlette belongs to Batch 2 of those who took the course in Singapore.

Marlette Besa, Peaches Buendia, Fiona Phillips, Michelle Ong, Izza Agana, Melanie Caguiat, Marilyn Oliva, Thom Trinh and Grace de Castro.

Another good news is, Remo is coming to the Philippines for the first time to conduct a two-day Instructor Course for bodyART Xross (formerly known as BAX) at Beyond Alabang, Westgate Center in Muntinlupa City. Dates to be announced soon. bodyART Xross is the perfect connection between strength and endurance, and a combination of physical effectiveness with mental awareness.  

The vast knowledge and fitness techniques gained in Xross training is said to take one’s performance to another level. For instructors, it reportedly takes physical training and fitness classes to a whole new dimension of specialty and expertise. There is also the option to start teaching Xross classes and broaden one’s training repertoire upon certification.

(For more information, you may reach Marlette through @bodyart_marlette.ph on Instagram or Hipyogi Fitness on Facebook.)

(Follow me on Instagram @pepperteehankee.)