Show BusinessMirror
Monday, December 17, 2018
A celebrity chef on the rise family food business, which now has five branches and is ready for franchising. With an early penchant for French cuisine, his first internship was at the Vatel Restaurant Manila, a French restaurant that is operated by a fellow Benilde alumnus. Manalo then took a job at Sofitel Manila to hone his skills as a junior chef. With experience and many learnings at the back of the house, Manalo developed a liking for Filipino and Japanese cuisine, too. He shared that he enjoys creating modern fusion breakfast meals, and his favorite breakfast ingredient is bacon. “I remember that I didn’t like vegetables while growing up, but as we get older, we learn and accept that what keeps us healthy will eventually make us happy, so I decided to balance my protein cravings and infuse vegetables in my food intake.” When not whipping up meals, Manalo keeps himself busy with his commitments as a brand ambassador and endorser. He gets invites to fly to key cities all over the country to give talks, participate in cooking demo activities, and lecture to hospitality and culinary students and aspiring chefs. Some quarters refer to him as a sexy chef but he blushes every time he hears that. “I try my best to stay fit, hit the gym for regular workouts. I also take my vitamins regularly and engage in sports activities, too. I love swimming. I relax by watching movies and I follow my favorite television series if time permits. I chill by having a glass of wine, which is either a Merlot or a Cabernet Sauvignon. I prefer red because red is life.” Manalo shared that he is single but that’s not a reason to be lonely this joyous season. “There are so many reasons to choose happiness,” he volunteered, adding, “The right one will come when it’s meant to be, when I am ready. I believe in destiny as much as I believe in working hard to attain the goals we set.” The twentysomething chef was recently in New York to learn about Intensive Food Styling at the International Culinary Center for a month. He is already making use of his learning and applying these to his holiday food concoctions and meal preparations. Manalo plans to put up a new business in the coming year and hopefully star in his own food and lifestyle show soon. His star is definitely on the rise—in and outside the kitchen. n
ALL ACCESS RICKY GALLARDO rickygallardoTFI@gmail.com
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OUNG, good-looking chef and hot social-media influencer Gerick Manalo loves the Christmas season. Not only is he busy preparing holiday menus for dear family members, close friends and select clients, but Manalo also starts planning for the year ahead. Manalo has been getting a lot of exposures lately on television and he is a sought-after guest in corporate shows and events that require celebrity culinary guests. It was GMA that opened the big doors for Manalo. “I enjoyed my stints and guesting activities on shows like Pop Talk, Good News, Day Off and Unang Hirit,” he shared, adding, “I love preparing dishes for lifestyle shows, and being interviewed and featured on national television has helped me get noticed and opened the big doors for me.” Manalo was also featured on the longestrunning noontime show Eat Bulaga. There are so many things about Manalo that are interesting, and I was glad to get to know him a little better through a recent conversation. When he was in middle school, his mom started Genaro’s Special Bibingka to help support their family. His grandmother passed down her specialty secrets to his mom, who is also a passionate cook. The business grew and Manalo thought it would be nice to be part of the family business. “I reckon that it would be a big help if I had a formal background in culinary arts, and that’s why I pursued this path.” Manalo enrolled at the De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde and took a course in Hotel Restaurant and Institution Management majoring in Culinary Arts. There, he strengthened the foundation of his goal of getting into the
CHEF and hot socialmedia influencer Gerick Manalo
Heart Evangelista joins GMA Artist Center family
THIS combination photo shows (from left) director Ava DuVernay, and actresses Margot Robbie, Kerry Washington and Reese Witherspoon who are teaming up to mark the one-year anniversary of Time’s Up with a celebrity auction to benefit the group’s legal fund. To date it has raised more than $22 million. AP
DuVernay, Witherspoon and others join for Time’s Up auction AVA DUVERNAY, Reese Witherspoon, Geena Davis and Kerry Washington are among the Hollywood figures teaming up to mark the one-year anniversary of Time’s Up with a celebrity auction to benefit the group’s legal fund. The Time’s Up campaign kicked off at the Golden Globes in January. To date, the legal fund has raised more than $22 million. Among the items on auction will be an opportunity to attend
a post-production session with director DuVernay on her Netflix miniseries Central Park 5, a coffee date with Davis and meet-andgreets with Witherspoon at the Big Little Lies season 2 premiere, or Washington at her Broadway show, American Son. The Time’s Up Legal Defense Fund says that to date it has connected more than 3,750 women and men to legal resources. AP
Upgraded cinema experience awaits moviegoers and cinephiles at the Shang
MS. Lala Fojas and Bianca Valerio
SLP Red Carpet Cinema Interior
SHANGRI-LA Plaza (facebook.com/shangrilaplazaofficial) has officially opened its latest lifestyle concept, Red Carpet Cinema, Café & Venue to round out the signature Shang experience for mall guests. The all-new Red Carpet features five theaters with upgraded technology, digital projection equipment and stadium type seating to give moviegoers maximum viewing pleasure. Equipped with a more intimate setting that’s similar to a home theater, wider available space, and reclining seats, the Premiere Cinema has also been outfitted with an adjoining bar and lounge facility that’s perfect for exclusive parties, events and other VIP affairs. “Whether you’re shopping or dining at the Shang, the VIP treatment is always something that we’d like for you to experience. So, it only seemed right to deliver the same quality with our reequipped cinemas,” says Shangri-La Plaza EVP and General Manager Lala Fojas. Included in the Shang’s upgraded services is the online ticketing system. Through the Red Carpet web site, moviegoers will have an easier time booking their tickets and updating their accounts in real time. The Shang also brings back their crowd-favorite cinema popcorn through the Red Carpet Cinebar, bringing everyone tasty snack selections to enjoy with their movie. For private screenings, conferences or conventions, the Red Carpet can also arrange catering from any of
GMA Artist Center proudly welcomed Heart Evangelista to its roster of talents as she signed an exclusive management contract on December 13. Present in the contract signing were GMA Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Atty. Felipe L. Gozon, GMA Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer Felipe S. Yalong, GMA Films President Annette Gozon, GMA Senior Vice President for Entertainment Group Lilybeth G. Rasonable, GMA Vice President for Drama Productions Redgie Acuña-Magno, GMA Vice President for Business Development Department III Darling de Jesus Bodegon, GMA Vice President for Corporate Affairs and Communications Angel Javier Cruz, GMA Vice President for Business Development Department II Janine Piad-Nacar, GMA Senior Assistant Vice President for Alternative Productions Gigi Santiago-Lara, GMA Assistant Vice President for Drama Cheryl Ching-Sy, GMA Assistant Vice President for Business Development Department II Bang Arespacochaga, Senior Program Managers Redgynn Alba, Enri Calaycay, Cecille de Guzman, Mildred Natividad and Senior Talent Manager Vic del Rosario. Heart expressed her happiness with the way GMA is handling her career all these years: “It’s very natural that I’m really here. I’ve been with GMA for a very long time so malaki rin talaga ang utang na loob ko sa kanila for being there for me. They are very supportive pagdating sa aking international commitments.” Heart has evolved from being a professional actor and television host to a sought-after international and local brand endorser, sold-out visual artist, best-selling author, fashion influencer, beauty icon and entrepreneur. She is one of the country’s most recognized celebrities, and advocates for children’s health and education, individuals with special needs, and animal welfare.
Last seen on the first-ever Filipino-Korean romantic comedy series My Korean Jagiya together with Korean actor Alexander Lee, viewers should look forward to seeing Heart’s comeback on television as one of the judges of the reality-based artista search Starstruck this 2019. “I will be one of the judges, which I have always wanted to do. Hindi ko lang alam kung paano ko sasabihin na ‘I’m sorry but it’s a No’, but I’m very excited for this project,” shared Heart. Meanwhile, Assigned Talent Manager for Heart in GMA Artist Center, Gigi Lara expressed her thrill over Heart signing up with GMA Artist Center, “We’re happy that Heart decided to join GMA Artist Center at this point in her career. Matagal na siya sa GMA. We have seen how hardworking and professional she is, so we’re very excited to be working with her.” Considered a household name in the Philippines, Heart has now successfully become one of the most influential celebrities in the digital scene through her multimedia platforms. Moreover, she has established remarkable partnerships and collaborations with major local and international brands such as Teviant, her collaboration with renowned makeup artist Albert Kurniawan; #LMxKamiseta, where she showcases her paintings displayed beautifully on several blouses and skirts; #HappySkinxLoveMarie, her collaboration with Happy Skin for which she created two lipsticks that are constantly sold-out; Whiff, a fragrance company she worked with to create her signature scent, Linger; and Mark Bumgarner x Heart Evangelista, a collaboration which featured Heart’s paintings with the designer’s gowns, among others. She was also featured in Harper’s Bazaar US in September. In the feature, author Kevin Kwan described Heart as the “modern-day incarnation of Audrey Hepburn.”
SHANGRI-LA Plaza’s Red Carpet Cinema
the mall’s excellent restaurants as part of its services. The Shang has also upgraded its E-See Club membership. Perks include being able to purchase tickets online using a credit card, or through the E-See Club Load Wallet on the Red Carpet web site (www. redcarpetattheshang.com), reward points for every ticket purchased, passes redemption, free parking coupons, plus Cinebar treats.
FROM left: SAVP for Alternative Productions Gigi S. Lara, VP for Business Development Department III Darling de Jesus-Bodegon, VP for Drama Productions Redgie A. Magno, SVP for Entertainment Group Lilybeth G. Rasonable, Heart Evangelista, Chairman and CEO Atty. Felipe L. Gozon, EVP and CFO Felipe S. Yalong, President for GMA Films Annette Gozon, and VP for Corporate Affairs and Communications Angel Javier Cruz
1947 best-picture Oscar sells for nearly $500,000 at auction LOS ANGELES—One Academy Award trophy sold for nearly $500,000 and the second for well over $200,000 in a rare auction of Oscars that ended on Friday in Los Angeles. A best-picture Oscar for Gentleman’s Agreement, the 1947 film starring Gregory Peck that took on anti-Semitism, sold for $492,000. A best picture statuette for 1935’s Mutiny on the Bounty fetched $240,000. Both were outpaced by an archive of papers on the origin and development of The Wizard of Oz that brought in $1.2 million. Auction house Profiles in History announced the results after
four days of bidding on Hollywood memorabilia that brought in more than $8 million in total. Other items sold include a TIE fighter helmet from the original Star Wars that went for $240,000, a Phaser pistol from the original Star Trek TV series that fetched $192,000, a hover board Marty McFly rode in Back to the Future II that sold for $102,000, and a golden ticket from Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory that brought in $48,000. The Mutiny on the Bounty Oscar price came close to auctionhouse projections, but the Gentleman’s Agreement statuette brought in more than twice what was expected, for reasons that are not
clear. The buyers of both Oscars and The Wizard of Oz document chose to remain anonymous. Auctions of Oscar statuettes are very uncommon because winners from 1951 onward have had to agree that they or their heirs must offer it back to the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences for $1 before selling it elsewhere. The academy has said it firmly believes Oscars should be won, not bought. Neither of the Oscars sold this week approached the record of $1.5 million paid by Michael Jackson to acquire David O. Selznick’s Gone With the Wind Oscar in 1999. AP
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