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Young Life
SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 20, 2016 Isah V. Red, Editor / Bernadette Lunas, Issue Editor isahred@gmail.com.ph
Baguio City hosted the 13th Hotel, Restaurant and Tourism weekend
LUZON
IS CHEF WARS CHAMPION
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THE LIGHTS SPARKLE
AT AYALA TRIANGLE GARDENS By Bernadette Lunas Photos by Lino Santos
I
T already feels Christmas in Makati Central Business District today.
Not because the traffic situation has gotten worse or that more shoppers are flocking to the malls, but because the favorite hangout spot of many young professionals and residents in the Ayala area once again twinkles with colorful lights to bring holiday cheer to everyone. For the sixth time this year, the Ayala Triangle Gardens transforms into a magical paradise as 1.6 million colored LED bulbs adorn the trees in the garden and dance to the beat of Christmas songs. The Ayala Triangle is considered Makati City’s version of New York’s Central Park— albeit the former’s land area is only two percent of the latter’s—as it serves as a place where friends meet up, a respite for tired employees during lunch break or after work, and a space where health buffs run along the perimeter or do exercise routines for an hour or two. It is a welcome breathing space amid the bustling district all year-round, but come Yuletide season, the Ayala Triangle Gardens becomes a tourist destination. For two months, the 20,000-sqm space becomes more alive with its Festival of Lights, a lights and sound show which is “the only one of its kind in the Philippines,” that has made it on Conde Nast Traveller’s coveted list of “Seven Most Spectacular Lights in the World.” This year’s edition of Festival Lights goes up a notch as award-winning directors Voltaire de Jesus and Luther Gumia work together with acclaimed musicians and composers Jazz Nicholas and Mikey Amistoso to stage a brighter and merrier show, happening every 30 minutes from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. until Jan. 8, 2017. “We’ve prepared another magnificent show that will definitely spark everyone’s merry hearts, bringing families, friends and the whole community together and remind them of the joys of Christmas,” says Shiella Aguilar, project development manager for Makati. The lights and sound show at Ayala Triangle features three themes, each with different light showcase and musical arrangement, namely Christmas Fiesta, Sweet and Magical Christmas, and Classic and Epic Christmas. Christmas Fiesta is a three-minute showcase of upbeat music that encapsulates the festive Filipino Christmas celebration. The LED bulbs dance rapidly along the tune of “Kumukutikutitap.” The second medley, Sweet and Magical Christmas, is sweet and nostalgic as old music inspired by magical, heroic and period films rearranged in a new way fill the air while sparkling lights glimmer in varying beats. Meanwhile, Classic and Epic Christmas is indeed an epic five-minute spectacle that features lights dancing to the magical Disney music. This year’s Festival of Lights marks the first time the organizers are using field lights on the ground to match the string lights on trees for a “fuller effect.” Laser lights, which provide a three-dimensional showcase, are also used in two medleys. Also for the first time, The Gourmand Market is bringing its well-loved gastronomic delights to the garden on Dec. 9 to 11. In addition, Thanksgiving Masses will be held at the Fountain Area every 6 p.m. from Dec. 15 to 23. This yearly holiday tradition surely is a wonderful treat to the busy people in the business district. After all, who wouldn’t be delighted to catch up with friends or jog or sit back in a garden filled with stunning lights dancing to the beat of Yuletide carols? No one, because despite of vehicle and people traffic, the Christmas spirit is alive and well in Makati City.
FESTIVAL OF LIGHTS. The Ayala Triangle Gardens transforms into a magical Christmas paradise with the staging of its spectacular lights and sound show.
WHEN the main ingredient for Chef Wars was announced a week before the actual event, Culinary Arts students Jaime Banez Jr., Prince Jeffrey Tan and Carla Felize Cruz had to experiment with different dishes to present to the judges. “We only started with concepts three weeks before the competition, but when it was finally announced that shrimp is the main ingredient, we did trial-and-error with the help of our mentors,” shared Cruz. The efforts of the young students of Magsaysay Center for Hospitality and Culinary Arts in Manila did not go to waste as they bagged the top prize in the main event of the 13th Hotel, Restaurant and Tourism weekend held in Baguio City on Oct. 19 to 21. The victory of Banez, 26 years old; Tan, 21; and Cruz, 23, gave Luzon its win in the live cooking competition, besting representatives from Visayas and Mindanao. They went up against Shangri-La Mactan’s Christopher James Solamillo, Analyn Bantucas and Betty Jane Facturan; and Cagayan de Oro-based Monster Kitchen Academy students Vahjna Mae Babia and Hosanah Macapaar. The last minute announcement of the main ingredient for the final phase of Chef Wars really did unleash the creativity of the MCHCA students who prepared a three-course meal composed of Shrimp Flan with Calamansi Gelee (cold appetizer), Anchovy Glazed Shrimp (hot appetizer) and Shrimp and Lapu-lapu Roulade (main course). “The concept came from our mentors (Joan Pineda and Michael Navarro), with some suggestions from us,” Cruz told Manila Standard. Their group’s inspiration, she said, was their mentors. “We really wanted to follow in their footsteps,” Cruz said.
Premiere food events
Chef Wars is part of the 13th edition of HRT and the 10th National Food Showdown. The culinary events showcase the passion, talent and creativity of the Hotel, Restaurant and Catering industry professionals and students of both culinary and HRM schools and universities nationwide. According to event host Hotel and Restaurant Association of Baguio (HRAB), this year’s HRT weekend had participants from 67 schools and 16 professional establishments. “Every year we have to have enough participants, not only in Baguio, but in different parts of Luzon as well. We also invite Turn to E2
Luzon representatives and MCHCA students Prince Tan, Carla Cruz and Jaime Banez, Jr. are named the Chef Wars 2016 champion
Young Life
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SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 20, 2016 isahred@gmail.com
MINNIE MOUSE ON YOUR FEET FOOTWEAR brand Keds taps beloved style icon and cartoon character Minnie Mouse for its new Disney-themed collection. The 100-year-old brand collaborated with Disney to empower women by celebrating the classic, feminine aesthetic for which Minnie Mouse and Keds are known. Minnie’s favorite red, black and white colors are paired with Keds’s iconic blue. All over prints of her silhouettes are applied to the shoe label’s signature canvas styles, including the Champion, a tailored lace-up; the Champion Triple, a lace-up style with a platform for added height; and the Triple Decker, the Champion Triple’s sister but in slip-on form. Finishing touches include cobranded gold foil printed footbeds and gold metallic hardware. “Minnie is known for her confidence and fun-loving personality, and is celebrated by the women who also love our shoes. This collaboration highlights the ageless features of these two iconic brands and has resulted in a truly exciting collection,” said Keds chief marketing officer Emily Culp. The Keds Minnie Mouse Collection is available at keds.com.ph and Keds stores nationwide. To know more about Keds, visit keds.com.ph, facebook.com/keds, and follow @kedsph on Instagram.
WHERE DO THE YOUNG ONES GO?
5 NEW HANGOUTS OF MILLENNIALS
G
ONE are the days of spending the weekends in malls or meeting with friends in coffee shops. This bunch of young adults is all about trying something new everyday, which also means hanging out somewhere that offers more than good food and pleasing ambiance.
So, where do millennials go and what do they do during their free time? Perhaps one of these:
Defying gravity at Trampoline Park
Many people bounced with joy as their dream to jump and fly came true when this trampoline park in Mandaluyong City opened its doors. Trampoline Park, whose concept came from Britain, has dozens of trampoline mats—in lieu of walls and floors—where guests can jump and cartwheel their stress away. While it looks fun to bounce around, the park serves as a sort of fitness center where Zumba classes and plyometrics, among others, are held. Those who dream of slam dunking can also do so as Trampoline Park has mounted basketball rings for all basketball lovers. Guests can also try parkour and do aerial tricks in the facility. According to Trampoline Park, working out on trampolines burns up to 1000 calories an hour, improves balance and strengthens heart, among others. Visit trampolinepark.ph for more details.
Reminiscing childhood at Ball Pit Manila
Keds launches its Disney footwear collection featuring Minnie Mouse
Luzon... From E1 participants from Visayas and Mindanao,” said HRAB President Anthony de Leon. He added, “And of course, what brings prestige to the event is the kind of judges that we bring in. We bring in the best and the brightest in the industry to join us up here.” The series of skills contests were judged by an elite roster of Food and Beverage professionals such as executive chefs, hotel and restaurant owners and managers, and culinary experts from leading food manufacturers and suppliers. However, due to typhoon Lawin that battered the northern part of Luzon on the same week, the organizers had to cancel many competitions to ensure the safety of participants, guests and judges.
Since ball pits in amusement parks actually have age limit, Ball Pit Manila was conceived to be the playground for adults who want to feel like a child again. Guests can dive into a pit of 80,000 white balls in this first and biggest adults-only ball pit playground cafe located in Makati City. Wall climbing at Climb Central Manila The standard entrance fee of P349/ hour comes with free coffee Those who want to try their hand at wall climbing are most or iced tea. And remember, in this playground: the older, the better. likely in the 750-sqm indoor sport climbing venue at The Portal Details are available at ballpitmanila.com. in Greenfield District, Mandaluyong City. Climb Central is open for both beginners and experienced climbers who want to use the air-conditioned facility at their own pace. Guided climbing programs are also available for those who want to learn more about the sport. Climb Central is open to children and adults, and offers a new way to bond with family and friends. Climbing equipment are available for rent. Check out climbcentral.ph for more information.
A salute to agriculture
This year’s complementing themes for the National Food Showdown — “Bringing Farm to the Table!” and HRT’s “Agree to Agri, Putting Our Best Food Forward!” — recognize the agriculture sector’s valuable contribution to the Philippine hospitality industry. “We continuously align our theme with helping the farmers. [Their contributions] are things we normally take for granted especially if we live in urban centers,” said De Leon. The themes are also in line with the current industry trend among hotels and restaurants, which is “healthy options,” according to De Leon, who is also General Manager of Baguio Country Club. “It’s all about health. Every food item that we put on the table does not have preservatives,” he emphasized.
Solving mysteries at Breakout Manila
Thrill-seekers who love to play detective and live in different scenarios with well-crafted storylines can be found in one of the rooms at Breakout Manila. Mind-boggling puzzles, unexpected twists and hidden clues abound as players try to escape the room in 45 minutes--or lest they will be “locked forever” (but not really). Breakout Manila, which now has three branches: Pioneer in Mandaluyong, Serendra in Taguig and Katipunan in Quezon City, is the first real-life escape room game in the Philippines. One thing’s certain though, friendships and relationships will surely be tested in this frustratingly fun game. Go to breakout.com.ph to know more.
Playing board games at Ludo
From classic board games to new card games, Ludo Board Game Bar and Cafe got them on the shelf. Ludo, which is Latin for “I play,” has about 700 in-store games available at the guests’s disposal. This gem of a bar and cafe in Quezon City is a haven for board game lovers who want to spend time playing with friends while having a drink or one of the establishment’s “crazy Asian” meals. Ludo Board Game Bar and Cafe is open until 12 a.m. or until as late as 2 a.m. Details are available at ludogames.ph.
ADULT PLAYGROUNDS. These new hangouts prove that it takes more than
sumptuous food and pleasant ambiance to attract millennials to come to an establishment. Photos from website and Facebook page of Trampoline Park, Ball Pit Manila, Climb Central Manila, Breakout Manila, and Ludo Board Game Bar and Cafe.
Showbiz
STANDARD’S CHOICE
WHO SHOULD WIN ‘PINOY BOYBAND SUPERSTAR’? By Nickie Wang
H
OW to form a boyband? First, it has to have members and they must be diverse in terms of looks, personality and talent. Not everyone should fit the same mold, otherwise you’re not forming a boyband anymore.
But the members must have something in common, they must know how to dance and hit some decent notes. All members don’t need to be power belters or vocally gifted since you’re not forming a chorale group. Remember, the strength of the group lies on how each member complements each other. Each week, one contestant is eliminated in the talent reality search that aims to form a five-piece sing and dance group otherwise known as boyband. Members of the soon five-piece group are expected to immediately
hit the concert stage and performance venues as the winners will win a talent management contract from Star Magic, a recording contract from Star Music and a total cash prize of P5,000,000. In this week’s Standard’s Choice, we are listing down the strongest contestants that we believe are fit to be part of the boy group that Pinoy Boyband Superstar wants to form. Given that they already have what it takes to be music artists, our choice is based on everyone’s idea on what a boyband should look like.
Niel Murillo In a boyband, there’s always this member who has a large following. And Neil has it. He has the biggest fan base among the contestants in the reality talent competition. YouTube will tell you how popular this innocent looking lad is among fans.
Tony Labrusca The showbiz scion has the model look that registers well on the boob tube. He’s the strong silent type that can be the group’s lead. Tony’s got mysterious smile that makes everyone guessing what actually goes inside his head.
Joao Constancia He is the weakest link in the vocal department but he has the most striking stage presence. Besides, a boyband doesn’t need five frontmen. Joao is a girl magnet, the real ladies’ man in the entire competition. He just needs to maintain he’s being flat out good looking and he’s perfectly fine.
Tristan Ramirez He is not the best looking in this bunch, but he’s got this magnetic charm that makes all the girls swoon. Also the tallest contestant in the competition, Tristan athletic built appeals to a different market, exactly what the other contestants lack.
CROSSWORD PUZZLE Sunday, November 20, 2016
ACROSS 1 Sorted, as eggs 6 Utter confusion 11 Widespread damage 16 Cartoon woodpecker 21 Fountain for wishes 22 Striped animal 23 Coliseum 24 “Devil With — — Dress On” 25 Loosens, as a grip 26 Queen — lace 27 Storms about 28 Ocean motions 29 Bar mem. 30 Chili con — 32 Bossa nova kin 34 Tempe inst. 36 Dot in the Seine 37 Clues 39 Diadem 41 Bringing off 43 Take stock of 45 Raises the alarm 47 Chamonix’s Mont — 49 Undeliverable mail 51 Bedding plant 54 Like a slug’s trail 55 Donut center 56 Places of refuge 60 Kitty of “Gunsmoke” 61 Nudges, perhaps 62 Anchors’ places 63 Ewe homophone 64 Ocean fish 65 Tooth cleaner 66 Bagel purveyors 67 Tight-knit team 69 Summer in Savoie 70 Nozzles do it 72 Warm-ups 73 Music teacher’s bane (2 wds.) 74 Remainder 76 Kind of caterpillar 77 Under — (secret) 78 Sharp replies 79 Griffith or Zola 81 Blunders 82 Took a toll on 83 Snoozes 86 Knight’s combat 87 — fide 88 Idyllic spot 92 Pericles’ city 93 Bogart’s Mad Dog — 94 Playing possum 96 Weep over 97 Trot and gallop 98 Veered off course 99 — hoping! 100 Goddesses’ statues 102 Sooner than anon 103 Troubadours’ strings 104 Stoop 105 January stone
106 108 109 110 111 113 114 115 118 120 122 126 127 129 131 133 134 136 138 140 142 143 144 145 146 147 148 149
Narrow fissure Dry as dust Neutral color Facades Admitted (2 wds.) Be informed of Michelangelo work Apollo’s message Broil Greek sage Frame of mind Cousins of “um” Suffix for forfeit Drops Totally opposite Fumble for words Hunted and pecked Jeweler’s lens Dark complexion Become less intense Dais VIP Recurring theme Water-lily painter Gourmet mushroom Nurtures Loses a coat, perhaps Big pitchers Discrete
DOWN 1 It can be rare 2 Fit to be tied 3 Tangy 4 Festival opener 5 Kind of brake 6 Russian empress 7 Reddish dyes 8 Pansy Yokum’s son 9 Sourdough strike 10 Lip, slangily 11 Barbershop quartet’s goal 12 Kind of numeral 13 Human herbivore 14 Four quarters 15 Senor’s house 16 1960s dance 17 Kimono sash 18 Any Elvis recording 19 Sword fights 20 Toady’s answers 31 Open-air lobbies 33 Entertainer Edie — 35 Jazz instruments 38 Threw a haymaker 40 Most capable 42 Mystical knowledge 44 Neptune’s kingdom 46 Gump and Rooney 48 Sprawls 50 Varieties 51 Cover the walls 52 Steal the scene 53 Container weights 54 Blow, as a horse 55 Gives a hand
57 Famous golf cup 58 Green-eyed Thai feline 59 Plaintiffs 61 “Soapdish” actor 62 Ocean trenches 65 Feeds the fire 66 Pub order 67 Quote 68 Battery terminal 71 Wax removers (hyph.) 72 Ordinary language 73 Stetson wearer, perhaps 75 Doctrine 77 Was willing 78 Rajahs’ spouses 80 Minds the phone 81 Injures a matador 82 Subway fare 83 Knick or Laker 84 Video-game pioneer 85 Pickpocket 86 Yakked 87 Canal sight 89 Talk in a monotone 90 Big name in calculus 91 Wildlife shelters 93 At the table 94 Dissembles
95 98 99 101 103 104 105 107 109 110 112 113 114 115 116 117 119 121 123 124 125 128 130 132 135 137 139 141
Mammoth Cosmonaut — Gagarin Legacy recipient Sleep phenomenon After a while Bought and sold — Davis of “The Fly” RN’s forte Isms Meadow flowers Avoids capture Perfectly clear Killdeer On the fringes — nor reason Humane org. Itinerary Hazard a guess Tara’s owner Cisco Kid flick Lived Shade trees Not all Hindu epic hero Poetic adverb Admirer’s response Feeling blue Strut along
Russel Reyes He’s got the best set of vocal pipes among the remaining contestants in the show. His vocal ability is best used when the band is performing difficult to reach high notes. He’s going to be the Bryan Littrell, Jeff Timmons or the Zayn Malik of this boyband.
SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 20, 2016
E3
SHOWBIZ ROUNDUP Derricks’ blurred crotch NETIZENS have pointed out that on the teaser of the Tsuperhero action-sitcom, Derrick Monasterio’s crotch area was purposely blurred. A screenshot of the scene with Derrick wearing a tight-fitting costume is now making rounds online. The young actor instantly made a statement regarding the incident saying that it was probably a move of the network to comply with MTRCB. During the press conference of the new GMA action-sitcom, he showed up wearing his superhero costume and bragged that the costume was not padded. That must be the reason why his crotch area was intentionally blurred – to hide something that’s too obvious. #Photoscandal Ronnie Alonte, one of Hashtags’ more popular member, is the subject of a lewd photo scandal that made everyone’s eyes pop out. The shocking photo, which shows a young man with his legs wide open and showing his family jewel, is now being shared from one blog to another. If one is resourceful enough, the person would realize that the photo’s authenticity is questionable. Come on, Photoshop can do a lot of wonders. Don’t touch my booty—Rhian Someone fumbled Rhian Ramos’ posterior and she wasn’t happy about it, but of course no one would be. Rhian has taken to Instagram to call out the attention of the pervert who sexually harassed her. The Kapuso actress shared that she and her friends went out to party when the incident happened. In a lengthy Instagram post, the Kapuso actress recounted the gross details of how she was sexually harassed twice by the man who apparently has two kids. She also revealed how the pachyderm even posted it on social media a few days after the incident. Now, Rhian encourages men and women to stand up against sexual and street harassment after she experienced it herself. Don’t worry, Rhian, we got your back.
E4
Showbiz
SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 20, 2016 Isah V. Red, Editor / Nickie Wang, Issue Editor isahred@gmail.com
SARAH LAHBATI
IS ONE HOT MOMMA
BEAUTIFUL FAMILY. Sarah shares a snap of her with partner Richard Gutierrez and son Zion
5 EXCITING
FACTS ABOUT 65TH MISS UNIVERSE MISS Universe Organization and its local partners have signed the contract to formalize the Philippine hosting of the world’s most prestigious beauty contest. And in less than 70 days, we will witness the crowning of the new queen. Indeed, the Miss Universe fever has officially started. Here are exciting facts that promise to make the pageant’s 65th edition the best “Miss Universe ever”: 1. The venue The coronation night will be staged at the Mall of Asia Arena, which has a seating capacity of 15,000. A hundred Pinoy pageant fans in Vegas overwhelmed Planet Hollywood last year when Pia Wurtzbach was competing for the crown. Same thing happened when Venus Raj paraded the very same stage with the Philippine sash on in 2009. Imagine how 15,000 screaming pageant fanatics would sound like.
By Nickie Wang
A
S LONG as she’s not in high heels, Sarah Lahbati can easily keep up with her three-year-old son, Zion. The two love doing fun things together. From swimming to going to different places, they enjoy a very active and fun lifestyle. Looking at the 23-year-old actress, it’s really hard to believe that she is already a mother. While it takes years for some women to lose baby weight, Sarah lose it like it’s nothing. She showed off her enviable toned physique on the promotional cover of her single “BatoBato Sa Langit,” which she launched on her birthday last month. And it’s not surprising that the secret to her already slimmed-down figure, apart from good genes, is proper diet and exercise. Additionally, she credits good old fashioned breastfeeding with helping her bounce back so quickly. “But I didn’t do anything after giving birth, no exercise or strict diet. I was breastfeeding that’s why I made sure I was heathy. After five months, I started cutting on carbs and started brisk walking. I did my own research, if you would diet and exercise right away, which I believe impossible to begin with, you might lose your milk,” Sarah told Manila Standard. In our interview with the statuesque actress, she revealed that she’s working on two film projects. She has just finished a film helmed by Carlo J. Caparas and she has just started filming another movie last week, this time with multiawarded director Erik Matti. On her most recent post on Instagram, the actress shared a short clip that shows her first day of training for her new movie. Dressed in comfortable clothes, Sarah teased her 2.2 million followers with her agility of a female action star effortlessly running from one point to another while shooting a few bullets in between. Sarah could only discuss what her role is going to be. She said she’s not allowed to divulge the premise of the film yet including the actors who will complete the cast. “This is a very exciting project. I’m a cop in this movie. It’s one of the roles that I’ve been wanting to play. As for the premise of the film and the actors I’m going to work with, I can only tell so much,” she said. Sarah just shared that she’s going to work with theater actors for the first time and that she’s working with a great team whose members are talented and creative and they have a vivid vision of the whole story. Apart from her movie projects, Sarah is also the face of numerous brand endorsements. The most recent being is the Nido’s child nutritional campaign called “check the label.”The campaign aims to encourage mothers to read and have a better understanding of food labels so they can make smarter and healthier choices for their children.
SMOKING HOT. Looking beautiful and sexy is something that comes naturally to young female celebrities. But Sarah Lahbati left people speechless wondering how she manages to stay fit and gorgeous even after having a baby.
Reigning Miss Universe Pia Wurtzbach
2. The official residence Okada Manila is one of the major partners of the 65th Miss Universe. The casino resort and hotel complex is due to open in December in time for the arrival of the candidates in January. The $2.4 billion phase one of the casino project includes 993 hotel rooms, an indoor night club with a man-made white beach complex that can accommodate 4,500 people, and a dancing fountain that will rival the world’s biggest. 3. Live telecast The show will be telecast live worldwide reaching more than half a billion audience in 190 countries and territories. The spectacle will run for three hours and will train the spotlight not just on the candidates but also on what the host country has to offer including the country’s culture and tourist attractions. 4. The delegates As of this writing, 78 confidently beautiful candidates have been confirmed to join the annual “Olympics of Beauty.” A dozen more countries are yet to hold their national pageants. As early as now, pageant fanatics’ eyes are on Philippines’ Maxine Medina who will attempt for a back-to-back win, Colombian model Andrea Tovar who has been preparing for the pageant for over a year now, the feisty United States Army Reserve lieutenant Deshauna Barber, and the almost 6-foot tall models Mariam Habach (Venezuela) and Alena Spodynyuk (Ukraine). 5. Pre-pageant events Miss Universe 2016 will hold prepageant shows in Cebu, for the swimsuit competition, Davao, Iloilo, Palawan, Boracay, Baguio, Bicol, Cagayan de Oro, Zamboanga and Vigan in an effort to support local tourism. Additionally, a reality-documentary television program entitled Journey to the Crown: A Celebration of Beauty has just premiered on ETC, one of the pageant’s media partners. The show will continue leading to the crowning of Pia Wurtzbach’s successor.