The Biggest Loser Asia is coming to Asia for the first time and Fitness First is its major sponsor. Fitness First clubs around Asia (Philippines, Singapore, Malaysia and Indonesia) will be exclusive venues for the live screen test auditions for participants who want to be part of the show. In the Philippines, LIVE screen test auditions were held at Fitness First at SM Megamall from August 15-16, 2009.
Since its debut in 2004 in the US by NBC reality television, The Biggest Loser has become a worldwide hit viewed by millions, airing in over 90 countries and produced in 25 countries. This is the first reality show where obese contestants are challenged and encouraged under guided expert supervision to undergo strenuous physical and mental training in order to shed kilos. The one who loses the most weight not only wins a grand cash prize of USD 100, 000 but also gains a healthier and better quality life!
Produced by Imagine Omnimedia (producers of Contender Asia) for the Hallmark Channel in Asia, Biggest Loser Asia will help change the lives of obese Filipinos who want to take up the challenge of shedding bad lifestyle habits and embracing healthier ones. The Biggest Loser Asia will not just look into the physical challenges of the contestants’ personal journeys but also their emotional and psychological trials and tribulations as they lose the kilos while inspiring and empowering others to do the same.
When my girl C2 and I got to Fitness First, we were met by a long line of applicants, all looking like they really could lose all that extra weight but looking hopeful as well that they would be chosen as one of the wanna-be losers.
Applicants were ushered into THE screen test room in batches of 6. They were told that the panel of judges could ask them any questions like why they joined The Biggest Loser or even personal questions that could have contributed to their obesity or desire to lose weight.
Simon Flint and Mark Ellis of Fitness First brief the applicants
Here are some snippets from a jolly group of guys who I thought were friends since they were very animated as they sat around waiting for their turn. But they all just met each other on that day.
And I did an ambush interview with actress Ruby Rodriguez, who I chanced upon also lining up:
The show is expected to come out on TV by end of this year. Watch for it and see who becomes the biggest Asian LOSER!
Krispy Kreme will be celebrating its 72nd anniversary and all of us Krispy Kreme lovers and fans are invited to any of their stores in the Philippines or in any of these countries: USA, Australia, Canada, UK, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, and Indonesia.
It’s as simple as this.
Just visit a Krispy Kreme store nearest you and get one FREE Original Glazed Doughnut for any purchase. That translates to over 10,000 free doughnuts for us on this day!
My kids all love Krispy Kreme. And so do I. My all-time favorite has always been the Original Glazed doughnut.
Here we are at the launch of KK's Chocolate Karnival doughnut line
So on July 13, let’s come together, Krispy Kreme fans, and enjoy whatever favorite doughnut or beverage we love and get that free doughnut besides!
See you there!
For updates on Krispy Kreme’s 72nd Birthday Celebration, join the Philippines “Friends of Krispy Kreme” by visiting www.krispykreme.com.ph
Today, June 12, 2009 marks the 111th year of Philippine independence. And what a way to begin the day! At the first stroke of the day, shortly after midnight, Google Philippines posted its first ever Filipino Google Doodle on its page, www.google.com.ph.
My heads-up came from Aileen (Google’s country consultant for the Philippines) who sent out the news via Plurk. The Plurk thread became viral with many midnight plurkers reposting the doodle over and over on their own timelines.
Everyone knows the Google logo on its search homepage. But a Google Doodle is a fun twist to the logo which Google does on special events such as Christmas, New Year’s Day, Valentine’s Day, Halloween, other international events or special days commemorating celebrity personalities like Albert Einstein. Click on THIS LINK to meet Dennis, the guy behind Google Doodles and THIS LINK to view past such doodles.
ABS-CBNNews.com wrote this about the Filipino Google Doodle and how it came into existence for this day:
“This is the first-ever Google doodle for the Philippines so we wanted to make it very classic and meaningful for Filipinos. We created a special doodle on the Google Philippines homepage for June 12, 2009 to commemorate the Philippines’ Independence Day,” said Jay Trinidad, Regional Product Marketing Manager, Consumer Products, Google Asia Pacific.
“Google doodles also celebrate important local events and holidays such as this one. It is our honor to celebrate more than a century of national excellence and achievement with all Filipinos in our own creative and Googley way. On behalf of Google, I wish my fellow Filipinos another century of increasing prosperity and success. Mabuhay ang Pinoy!”
Trinidad said Google designers used the sun with its eight rays, which represents the eight Philippine provinces that pledged their support to the revolution, and used it as the first ‘O’ in the Google logo.
“We also used red, white, and blue, the Philippines’ national colors, which stand for patriotism, equality, and justice, respectively. We also incorporated the flag’s three stars in the design, symbolizing the three major geographic regions of the country,” he said.
On June 12, 1898, revolutionary forces under Emilio Aguinaldo, the country’s first and youngest President, declared independence from Spanish colonial rule. The Philippine Independence Day doodle is based on the country’s current national flag, which is very similar to the one Aguinaldo raised 111 years ago.
The Filipino Google Doodle will only be up on the search homepage today so I am making this post to preserve its significance forever on my blog.
I want my children to see how important it is to preserve and continue to love this independence that had cost so many lives in the past and which we must preserve with our own lives too for the future generations.
I experienced the Martial Law years as a college student and as a first-time working girl. I met Charito Planas as a student in the United States and listened intently as she spoke about her escape and self-exile together with Ninoy and others, the small-time job in a pizza parlor she had to hold to eke out a living, and her love for the Philippines. I remember feeling the despair and hopelessness of the nation when Ninoy Aquino was murdered — ominously, on my birthday, August 21. I joined NAMFREL as a volunteer for Operation Quick Count during the 1984 and 1986 snap elections. My siblings and I went out into the streets during the EDSA Revolution just to be among the crowd supporters. And I was there in EDSA II as a mother, this time bringing along one of my daughters so she too could witness history and what it was like to fight for the right to democracy.
I love my country. I love the Philippines. And I fervently hope that my children will grow up to once again see it led by people who truly and sincerely love it too. Way beyond personal/vested interests. No politicking. No corruption. Plain and simple HONEST government service to the people.
I enjoy doing “girl” things with my daughters and mommy bloggers. And summer is really the best time to bond with them as there are no pressures of work or school.
So it was indeed an opportune time when Clinique put together a blogger event very close to Mother’s Day and invited my 2 girls as well as some of my mommy blogger friends.
When we got to the 5th floor of Rustan’s, I had no inkling whatsoever of what was in store. May Samson just hinted that it was going to be a very nice experience so, having enjoyed my last experience with them during my skin typing session with Noemi, I thought it would be similar. I wanted my girls skin-typed because they have a history of skin asthma and as a Clinique user while a student in the States, I knew that Clinique products were safe for them to use daily.
The first signs that this was no ordinary skin care event met us. The Clinique area was festive in green. Very cool to the eyes! I could not wait to take pictures…and take a bite of the varied hors d’ouevres they also had laid out for us.
The Clinique area in Rustan's MakatiThe Clinique 3-Step Skin Care lineMy girls with their Clinique bagsHolding my own Clinique bag
The girls went through their skin typing activity with the Clinique consultants available. I was their official photographer since I already had my skin typed. And guess what! We all turned out to be Type 2 (combination skin) so the 3-step Skin Care products we would eventually buy can be shared! Like mother, like daughters.
Yey, we're all Type 2!
While waiting for my girls to finish their skin typing, Malou Gagarin (who had previously done my skin typing) explained the foundation line of Clinique. Wow, they indeed came prepared with the different shades of foundation in large, plastic bottles for testing.There were also tiny green sample containers so we could take home foundation samples best suited for our skin tone.
Malou suggested I use foundation the color of my neck so that I just had to apply the foundation on my face in order to match the neck color. Yes, I used to apply foundation on my neck and try to even it out all over my face, neck & shoulders. Her suggestion saved me time and use of foundation. Now why did I not think of that before!!!
The best was yet to come, though.
In one corner of the area was a closed-off area, which I found to my delight, was an instant spa experience. All of us were treated to special pampering. We took turns on the bed as the consultants first took our makeup off, then went through a facial and arm massage using Clinique’s newly launched products from their Turnaround line: the Turnaround Body Smoothing Cream and the Turnaround Instant Facial Masque.
I was curious about the Turnaround body smoothing cream since I still had a sample of an older productof Clinique’s (the Body Sloughing Cream) which I would use sparingly to rub on my knees and elbows while taking a bath. That older product continues to serve me well till now so I was happy to find out they were now offering it locally via this new Turnaround cream. The difference between my old sample and this one? The new body smoothing cream was cool to the touch. The grains I felt as the cream was rubbed on to my arms assured me that it was exfoliating and smoothening my arms at the same time. This product is great on shoulders, arms, elbows, and knees that need extra attention.
Facials are something I am extra careful of in salons because I watch the kind of products put on my sensitive skin. But I had no hesitation trying the Turnaround Instant Facial Masque, as Clinique is known for its hypoallergenic and non-acnegenic ingredients. No regrets. The facial mask tightened my skin and after they had removed it, my face felt so squeaky clean and soft.
Watch out for these products as they will be available this coming July 2009 in all Clinique counters.
Getting a facial and arm exfoliation at the same time. HEAVENLY!!!My girl after the facial mask was appliedMy girl with Malou Gagarin reapplying makeup on her after her spa experience
Here’s a big shoutout to Clinique (thanks to May, Malou and the other consultants that day) for making this event not just a wonderful skin care one but something I was able to do with my girls. After all, fashion and makeup are common bonding conversation pieces with them and it allowed me to be both a MOTHER and a FRIEND to them that day.
Our day did not end there. We headed down to Clinique’s product counter to check out their Mother’s Day promo where I ended up treating myself to one of the available promo packages.
Clinique launched other product lines as well this May:
1. Derma White – six (6) products that help the skin become more resistant to UV rays, environmental and other external irritants while preventing future darkening.
2. Sun – a definite summer must-have line of products to protect the skin against the harmful rays of the sun that also includes a Self-Tan product for a sunless tan look.
3. Comfort on Call – a new product that helps the skin protect itself against external environmental irritants. Available by June 2009.
Without fail, Manny goes to his ring corner before every fight, kneels down, oblivious to the crowd and the din inside the stadium, and prays.
To me, this act of surrender and offering shows where the REAL source of Manny’s power comes from. He has faced opponents who mocked him, ridiculed him, dared and challenged his abilities. He has never responded with the same spite. Instead, he just says he would do his best. And after every win, he still has good words for the one he defeated.
As a parent, I credit a lot of this to someone who has always remained away from the spotlight but whom Manny obviously loves very much and who has molded him to be the champion he is now — humble even in the face of global admiration. His mom, Aling Dionisia, should be given as much credit for keeping Manny on terra firma. Here is the Mom who would rather pray while Manny fights. It reminds me so much of the book The Power of a Praying Parent by Stormie Omartian which describes just how much power is wielded by parents who continue to pray for their children in various circumstances of life.
I hope Manny realizes that he has the power in his hands to become a role model for the youth who are growing up with jaded views of the world that has succumbed to materialism, corruption and self-interest. It is indeed a great responsibility for someone who has great power.
Last Saturday, I was privileged to hear and meet a Filipina whose “never say die” spirit is one that can spur and motivate many of us who think that whatever handicaps we may have are good enough excuses to back down from our dreams.
Not Joy Rojas!
Joy dreams of crossing the United States in 120 days — RUNNING!
Yes, she plans to run 5,000 kilometers from West to East at approximately 50 kms A DAY, for 100 days!
This dream appears daunting, especially when you find out she survived tuberculosis (TB) in 2001. But the spirit of this 43-year old freelance journalist flies high. Just a month short of finishing her treatment for TB, Joy completed a 42-km run in 4 hours and 11 minutes. Then in 2005, she became the first Filipina to run from Davao City to Pagudpod, Ilocos Norte in 46 days — a good 2,000-km course!
WHY TAKBONG PANGARAP?
When Joy completed her Trans-Phiippines run in 2005, she did not just sit on her laurels. To her, the end of that dream was just the start of others. She asked herself where she would run if given the chance to equal or exceed that run and her thoughts brought her to the USA.
More than 200 people have already run across the United States. In fact, Cesar Guarin, a Filipino, did this in 1987. However, no Filipina has accomplished the same feat. In fact, NO SOUTHEAST ASIAN WOMAN has.
THE ROUTE
Joy will begin her run on May 11, her 44th birthday. The kick-off event will be at Eagle Rock, California, where there is a fairly large Filipino community. She will then continue through Nevada, Utah, Colorado, Kansas, Missouri, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Pennsylvania and New Jersey towards New York City where she expects to cross the finish line at the Philippine Consulate on Fifth Avenue on September 8. Of her 120 days, 100 of them will be spent running while the 20 days are designated rest days in between.
(picture courtesy of Chuck Crisanto)
THE TEAM
At the Meet and Greet at Powerbooks Megamall, I met the other members of Joy’s team.
The first one I talked to was Mat Macabe, Joy’s trainer and running partner. Mat was supposed to do this run with Joy until he had to undergo an open heart surgery in 2008 for a congenital heart condition. Instead, he will bike alongside Joy during some parts of the run. Mat had many funny stories about his running experiences, including outrunning a desert fox and wrestling to the ground a Doberman which was trained to kill. He regaled us with stories about people they had met along their runs. When I asked him about his surgery, he gamely pulled up his shirt to reveal a scar that ran from throat to waist! Gosh!!!!
Next I got to chat with Chuck Crisanto, team manager of Takbong Pangarap. He’s a jolly fellow from Ateneo who is a long distance event record holder for the school. Chuck gave me some additional insights about their planned route, including getting Fil-Ams in the places they go through, to run with Joy part of the way as support for a countrywoman.
(L-R): Mat Macabe, a pulmonologist, me, Joy Rojas, Chuck Crisanto
THE PREPARATIONS
Joy is training fervently for this run. She runs for 2 hours, 3-4 times a week, with at least 1 out-of-town run each month. Her diet consists of fish and vegetables. Adidas, one of the sponsors of this run, is providing her different types of attire for different weather conditions. When asked how many pairs of rubber shoes she was bringing, she said she would use 12 pairs which she plans to use in rotation. Wow!
Technology is playing a large part in this attempt too. The Philippine Online Chronicles has put up a channel specifically for Takbong Pangarap. Her every step will be chronicled through this special site and more plans are underway to maximize the access that technology will give to Joy’s supporters.
The beneficiaries of this run are the Social Services Division of the Philippine Heart Center and the Anti-TB Program of the Inner Wheel Club of Quezon City, District 378.
Despite these sponsorships, the team said that they still need help to ensure that all logistics (including money for food, gasoline & lodgings) for Joy’s run can be provided for. There are several ways to help in your own way:
1. The POC website states that supporters can donate funds via Paypal/Western Union, being a 5k sponsor, and soon via SMS.
2. If you live in the United States and are along the route that Joy will pass, you can help Joy, Mat and Chuck achieve their goal by offering to host them as they pass through your area. Keep checking the POC.net site for details of the route.
3. Embed the Takbong Pangarap widget on your blogs to create awareness of her dream run.
4. For other forms of assistance, contact Chuck Crisanto at chuckcrisanto@yahoo.com or 0917-8983621.
