As Mother’s Day approaches, The Manila Hotel offers exclusive deals to honor the remarkable women in our lives. For the whole month of May, guests are invited to treat their mothers to an unforgettable experience at the iconic hotel.

 

Ginebra San Miguel Inc. (GSMI), the renowned producer of the world's leading gin brand, is embracing the essence of fun this year with the color white and by commemorating World Gin Day (WGD) with a captivating twist of "cool, clear, and versatile" celebrations. Kicking off the festivities with a media launch on June 8 at The Westin Manila in Ortigas, a sequence of events will take place throughout June to spotlight the significance of this month as World Gin month.

The World Gin Day (WGD), a worldwide event held on the second Saturday of June, is led in the Philippines by GSMI, the organization responsible for introducing the initial WGD festivities to the Asia Pacific region in 2014. In that particular year, GSMI commemorated the 180th anniversary of its flagship brand, Ginebra San Miguel. Presently, enthusiasts of gin eagerly anticipate GSMI's month-long series of events, not only honoring the enduring impact of gin on our drinking customs but also acknowledging its significance in festivities, fiestas, gatherings, and even our daily accomplishments. 

“We join gin enthusiasts worldwide in celebrating World Gin Day. As pioneers of this event in our country, we aspire to ignite the spirit of greater appreciation for more Filipinos to know gin’s outstanding qualities, as it is a drink that is ‘Cool, Clear, and Versatile,’” says GSMI Marketing Manager Ron Molina.

‘Cool, Clear, and Versatile’

This June 8, GSMI once again reinforces that “Gin Is In,” highlighting gin’s “Cool, Clear, and Versatile” qualities that elevate it from the rest.

Gin has been around since the 17th century, and remains popular to this day, especially in Europe, and of course, the Philippines. It is loved by many, and its popularity can be attributed to its taste—the flavor of Juniper and a variety of botanicals—allowing gin to exude that classic yet “Cool” vibe.

The gin’s “Clear,” pure quality is derived from a rigorous distillation process that brings out its best flavor. Since it is unpretentious – with nothing to hide – it is a drink known for its “Versatility,” as it can be enjoyed straight or mixed with other ingredients in a cocktail.

In a new campaign supporting the appreciation for Gin, GSMI features three exciting and authentic personalities who perfectly embody these unique characteristics of gin. 

Gin Is Cool.

The actor and model Zanjoe Marudo likes the cool and refreshing gin experience to punctuate the day. For him, being cool is more than style and moves; it is being calm, too. “Alam niyo kung anong totoong COOL sakin? Yung pagiging kalmado ko (You know what’s truly cool for me? It is my being calm),” says Zanjoe. His choice of gin is popular to this day – Ginebra San Miguel, which has been his favorite since his days growing up in Batangas.

Gin Is Clear.

Basel Manadil’s choice is GSM Premium Gin, a distilled gin made with natural ingredients and fine botanicals. Popularly known as “The Hungry Syrian,” the Syrian-born Filipino vlogger’s viral posts have made him a clear favorite among millions of netizens. As he would say, “always be CLEAR with your intentions no matter where you go. Because everything you do, can make an impact to others.”

Gin is Versatile.

Actress comedian Herlene “Hipon Girl” Budol likes her gin to be versatile, a drink she can enjoy in many ways. This love for versatility in drinks is something that she also carries in life. The fact that this comedian was able to transform herself into a serious pageant contender truly is outstanding and admirable. Herlene has won over Filipinos with her charming wit, down-to-earth personality, and of course, her remarkable versatility. “In life, dapat VERSATILE (In life, one should be versatile). If you are good at one thing, you can also be good at anything! Stay true while learning many things.” 

The three of them – Zanjoe, Basel, and Herlene – will not only grace the WGD celebration but will also be present at various events of GSMI during “Gin Is In” celebrations starting in June.

“We are proud to say that they truly embody the best qualities of gin: Zanjoe is ‘Cool like Gin Is In.’ Basel is ‘Clear like Gin Is In,’ and Herlene is ‘Versatile like Gin Is In,’” Molina added. 

GSM Bar Academy graduates ‘mix’ back

One of the highlights of the WGD event is the presence of three mixologists who are scholar-graduates of the Ginebra San Miguel Bar Academy, a partnership with the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) that gives Filipinos a chance to change their lives through education – training students in bartending, flairtending, and basic entrepreneurship.

With the goal of producing globally-competitive and job-ready graduates, while elevating the quality of the bartending profession in the process, the GSM Bar Academy is proud to say that it has produced an astounding 100% immediate employability for all its graduates in 2022.

During WGD, three graduates of the GSM Bar Academy – Jhyrus Denver A. Domingo, Angela Felarca, and JP Peñaflor – who are all employed in top bars in Metro Manila, will showcase their mixology skills in a friendly competition with the theme, “Gin Is In, ” which will feature the world’s most popular and bestselling gin Ginebra San Miguel and other brands, GSM Blue and GSM Premium Distilled Gin.

The success of the GSM Bar Academy in transforming the lives not only of the students but also of their families and the community has not gone unnoticed. In fact, the program will be a recipient of the prestigious International CSR Excellence Award, to be formally awarded on June 16 in London, UK. 

‘Gin Is In’ Nationwide

Part of the WGD celebration will be the launch of the second season of G-MIX Nation Online Series, hosted by Luis Manzano, which will be shown for the first time and will feature new cocktail recipes. Alongside is the Home Bar Kit that features Ginebra products and tools for mixing different kinds of cocktails, which is sold online and at select supermarkets.

To ensure gin enthusiasts across the country can partake in the “Gin Is In” festivity, Ginebra San Miguel Inc. will also host mini events in around 50 bars nationwide, including those in Pampanga, Naga, Cebu, and Cagayan De Oro. These bar activations will offer consumers exclusive promotions, raffle giveaways, and outlet merchandising, providing an opportunity for everyone to immerse themselves in the celebration.

To sustain the momentum of the “Gin Is In,” there will be various activities in hundreds on-premise outlets from July to December. Participating outlets will receive exclusive benefits, special “Gin Is In” stubs for consumers to support their patronage. 

GSMI's World Gin Day celebration is just the beginning of a series of exciting events, allowing enthusiasts to declare their love and support for the vibrant local gin culture. In the country, gin is synonymous with Ginebra San Miguel. It is the country’s pioneering gin and the oldest consumer brand still in the market, but still remains cool, clear and versatile, a timeless classic yet still in tune with the times.

Each bottle of Ginebra San Miguel undergoes a stringent production process to ensure optimal quality. As a testament to the strength of its brand name, variants such as GSM Blue, GSM Blue Flavors, and Ginebra San Miguel Premium Gin, have been introduced to cater to different market segments. Just launched last year, its 1834 Premium Distilled Gin has now become a sought-after drink among those with sophisticated taste, as they are enamored with its infusion of classic juniper berries and unique Philippine botanicals such as Sampaguita and Calamansi. 

GSMI is the producer of Ginebra San Miguel, the world’s largest-selling gin, according to leading global drinks journal, Drinks International. GSMI’s other quality distilled spirits include GSM Blue Light Gin, GSM Blue Mojito, GSM Blue Margarita, GSM Blue Gin Pomelo, GSM Premium Gin, 1834 Premium Distilled Gin, Antonov Vodka, Añejo Gold Rum, Primera Light Brandy, the Philippines’ no. 1 Chinese wine Vino Kulafu and the newly launched G&T Ultralight Spirit Drink.

 

It’s going to be a prosperous 2022 as SM Supermalls celebrates the Year of the Tiger with fun-filled events and activities for its shoppers! Whether you choose to stay home or safely shop at SM Supermalls, there are exclusive CNY deals for everyone to enjoy!

Lucky Dining Deals. Kick off the festivities with an abundant gastronomic feast with discounts and promos from January 16 to February 2. Shoppers can enjoy Lucky Eats Deals of as much as a 22% discount from participating tenants. For your convenience, you can easily shop via the SM Malls Online app where you can arrange for delivery or pick-up, or by calling our SM Customer Care hotline at (02) 8876-111, 0917-876-111 or 0908-876-1111. You can also have your fill of your favorite food while safely dining at Chinese New Year-themed indoor and outdoor Lucky Eats Dining Spots.

Lucky Red Finds Bazaar. Boost your luck and find all the lucky red items from SM Supermalls’ partner tenants and affiliates in this Chinese New Year-themed pop-up market.

Lucky Tiger Park. Families will be treated to a dazzling Chinese New Year experience featuring an outdoor set-up with lighted 3D tiger art installations, Chinese lanterns, and Drive-Thru Lion and Dragon Dances and Fireworks Displays to welcome the year of the Tiger!

Lucky Paws. Show off your pet’s best CNY-themed costume and get a chance to win pawsome prizes when you submit photos of your pets online or take them to select SM Supermalls Paw Parks.

Lucky Forecasts. When it comes to ushering in good fortune, SM Supermalls knows how to help prepare shoppers for the positive energy this new year brings. By scanning the QR codes, you can check out your 2022 Chinese zodiac brought to you by Feng Shui expert Ms. Marites Allen. Plus, you can also get a chance to win exciting prizes and SM vouchers!

Additionally, SM Supermalls has also prepared other activities and promos for everyone to enjoy until February:

●Lucky Plants. Attract good luck all year round with lucky plants in your home! This Chinese New Year-themed green market in select SM malls features floras that are considered lucky like the lucky bamboo, money tree, Jade plant, mandarin orange tree, orchid, bamboo, and bonsai.

●Lucky Finds on SM Deals. Check out CNY exclusive offers from SM Supermalls’ tenant partners and affiliates from Buy 1 Get 1 deals and 50% discounts.

●Lucky22 vouchers. If you opt to stay at home during these festivities, don’t worry about missing out on these exciting deals because SM Supermalls has got you covered. SM Malls Online will be having Lucky22 vouchers– a special voucher offering a 22% discount on food and non-food items for stay-at-home shoppers like you!

●Lucky in Red Pick-up at Curbside Promo. When you pick up your order at SM via SM Customer Care Hotline, SM will be giving away Php 200 worth of SM GCs on February 1 for those decked in red! So wear something red or drive by to pick up the items you’ve ordered in your flashy red car! This promo is for the first 22 customers only, so be sure to get there as early as you can.

Enjoy all these and more when you celebrate your #LuckyDaysAtSM this Chinese New Year! So, increase your luck and safely celebrate with SM Supermalls as it welcomes the Year of the Tiger with wishes of prosperity, health, abundance, and continuous good fortune!

For #SafeMallingAtSM, you can follow @smsupermalls on all social media platforms.

Birthday Celebrations has been our tradition, it may not be very important to some but for us and the others it's as important as any other family occasions. The kids really love having birthday parties, unfortunately, we couldn't celebrate birthdays due to the pandemic crisis.


Our youngest son, Gelo, celebrated his birthday last May 11, 2020. We had a little plan for his birthday just to celebrate the occasion. I have already written the names of our relatives who have kids with them. Since we can't do an actual birthday party we decided to just give out foods for our relatives. There was an unfortunate event happened on the day of his birthday, there were rumors at first that there were a family afflicted with the virus that later on was confirmed positive. So when the news spread we were forced to stay inside the house. The plan was cancelled. We were sad that we couldn't go out and share some food but of course safety is always the priority.
 




It is also a good thing, that we have stocked a lot of food that I can cooked for Gelo's birthday. We're thankful to those who have sent us groceries for our family. That's why I cooked some of Gelo's favorite.

Here are the foods that we prepared : Spaghetti, the ultimate favorite of my boys. I usually cooked spaghetti every week for them. They usually finish it in one sitting. They really love it.


Next, is the hotdog on stick with marshmallow, imagine I made 50 sticks all in all, I was under the impression that we will be giving out some of these to our relatives. I cooked it very early to prepare it. Unfortunately, we're the one to eat all of them.


Next is the fried chicken I cooked 6 pieces just enough for us, they love fried chicken very much.


Next is the Leche Flan, recently I got interested in doing the leche flan, that's why I included it Gelo's birthday celebration.


Next is the Mango shake, my boys love it, specially  now that we are experiencing extreme summer, we love Mango Shake very much.

Lastly the home made French Fries Tower Cake of Gelo. Last year we did the Burger Cake. Gelo don't like cakes that much. So we made his favorite food into cake. Here's the video on how our dear daddy made a tower of french fries for our birthday boy.


Gelo love his cake, actually he's the only one who ate the half of it. The other half, well, me, my eldest son, and daddy shared with it.  We used big potatos and cut it big size so it can become the building blocks of the tower. It's like doing the jengga game and it turned out successfull!

Of course we still gave food to some of our relatives, especially to Gelo's Grand Mothers. And afterwards, we have a swimming party in our garden.
It's a simple celebration yet a memorable one. Even though that we are staying at home because of the virus, still, we all need to celebrate. It's only once a years so better not miss that simple celebration it is important for them, especially now that we are facing a pandemic situation. It is very important that we make them smile throughout the day, with hug and kiss. It is one of the greatest achievement of moms like me, knowing that our kids are healthy and safe.

Happy birthday my dearest Playfull Gelo. I am always here for you. We will always love you forever and ever!

Asia's Multimedia Star Alden Richards celebrated his 28th birthday at Enchanted Kingdom whereas most of his supportive fans mounted the said celebration. The event was attended by other Kapuso Stars who also performed like the birthday boy.




Supportive fans of Alden Richards enjoyed the successful staging of the event where it was attended by different Kapuso co-stars of Alden, casts of the TV series The Gift, like Ysabel Ortega, Thia Thomalla, and Divine Tetay; One Up members Dave Bornea, Jay Arcilla, Nikki Co, Brent Valdez, and Yasser Mata; and also DOTS cast like Prince Clemente, Paul Salas, and Jon Lucas. Kristoffer Martin and Jason Abalos who made a wonderful performances for the crowd.




During the event, Alden Richards shared that he is now ready to fall in love because he is nearly 30's. He described that he likes someone who will understand the nature of his work, and he is looking for someone who is not high maintenance perse.









Here are the live performances of Alden Richards and other Kapuso Stars;














Here are the birthday messages of his friends and guest during his Birthday Celebration

Alden Richards also shared that he will be having a concert this coming July 25, 2020 at the Araneta Coliseum for his 10th year celebration in the industry. He is also busy with his newest Sunday Show  "All Out Sunday" and his teleserye "The Gift" at the Kapuso Network, GMA.