OUR AWESOME PLANET

1/1/2011 New Year's Eve Parties in Manila!

UPDATE 12/23/11: The BEST New Year's Eve Parties in Manila to Welcome 2012!

1. The Biggest New Year's Eve Concert @ Eastwood Grand New Year Countdown

Eastwood organizes the Best New Year's Eve Concert in Manila. The Official Quezon City Countdown will be in Eastwood Mall from 5pm of December 31 to the morning of January 1.

Eastwood is said to be throwing the best New Year's eve concert featuring K 24/7, Kiss Jane and Dream Carousel, True Faith, Side A, Freestyle and Journey’s frontman Arnel Pineda with The Ammo Band.  It will be hosted by Cesca Litton and KC Montero. There will be free photo booths, videoke booths and other sponsored activities.

For inquiries, call the Eastwood Mall Concierge: +632 709-9888, + 63 917-8380111.

2. New Year Fireworks @ Mall of Asia!

The annual countdown of GMA-7 will happen in Mall of Asia, hosted by Tim Yap. At 11pm, there will be a 3-minute fireworks show to start off the GMA-7 telecast and a 15-minute Grand Fireworks show at 12 midnight. The Mall of Asia Veranda restaurants are accepting reservations already.  On New Year's day itself, MOA will have the annual grand Mascot Parade around the mall.

If you are looking for fireworks, this is the place to be. Sadly, it seems like Makati and Bonifacio Global City won't have any fireworks activities. :(

Paano Papagandahin ang Pilipinas Kay Ganda!?

It seems that not everyone that I talked to last night was energized by the new brand of the Philippines.

• My Singaporean Embassy friend could not appreciate the use of Filipino in an international campaign.
• My Subic Tourism friend dared not say negative comments beyond their "Yun lang?"disappointment.
• Some foreigners commented about the disconnect of serving international cuisine at the biggest launch of the new Brand of the Philippines.
• The Filipino Travel Blogging Community is outraged.
• Ivan Henares wants to STOP the ridiculous campaign before more taxpayers' money is wasted on it.  
• Carlos Celdran was having fun with it and thinks it is too '80s.
   

As for me, I can't believe that the brightest people in Campaigns & Grey (who created the brand image campaign for NoyNoy) came up with this idea. (Update: Campaigns & Grey Official Statement)

11/18/10 Update:
Manila Boy | PLAGIARIZED "Pilipinas Kay Ganda" LOGO
Create your own Kay Ganda Logo (Facebook App)
OAP | #HelpDOT Suggestion: WOW! Only in the Philippines!

11/24/10 Final Update:
Campaigns & Grey | Campaigns & Grey Official Statement
PNOY | Pilipinas Kay Ganda’ officially dead
Closure: DOT USEC Romano's Resignation Letter

Here are some suggestions on how we can improve the overall campaign, especially online...

The Rising Landmarks of Bonifacio Global City (BGC)

In 2011, Bonifacio Global City (BGC) will witness the rise of four major landmarks:

1. Bonifacio High Street Phase 3,
2. The Mind Museum, 
3. Mercato Centrale Food and Organic Weekend Market, and 
4. St. Michael the Archangel Church. 

We love BGC. We love the way it has grown to be the home of the most passionate and most artistic people in the Metro. Here are some of the rising landmarks to watch out for in 2011:

BORA-CRY

I write to appeal to all to help save Boracay from further environmental degradation. Our family spent the long weekend in Boracay and it almost made me cry.  My wife and I first visited Boracay as part of our honeymoon in 1986.  It was paradise. The sand was so white it was blinding to the eyes, and so fine it was like talcum powder. The waters were crystal clear with nary a strand of algae.  The natives, too, were genuinely friendly and generous.  Today, you would not recognize it as the same island.  What went wrong? 

Belly Fest and Awesome Events this June You Shouldn't Miss :)

JUNE 5 7PM SATURDAY | Belly Fest 2010

I've been fascinated with Belly Dancing ever since my first authentic encounter in the Desert Safari Arabian Night in Dubai. 

Don't miss the biggest Belly Dancing show by the country's most prominent bellydancers, including Jill Ngo, Arcel Benson, Nilda Boquiren, Lovely Rodriguez, International bellydancer Belynda Azhaar, Zumre, Priya Murugesan, Gladys Mallari, and Jill Ngo's Goddesses of Bellydance, the country's biggest professional bellydance troupe. The belly dancing teaser during the Ultimate Taste Test 4.0 convinced me that we shouldn't miss this event.

BELLYFEST 2010

DATE: JUNE 5, Saturday  
1PM | Start of the Arabian Market featuring Middle Eastern goods, as well as bellydance clothes, accessories, videos and music.
3PM | Belly Workshops
6PM | Grand Evening Show!

VENUE: PETA Theater in Quezon City
TICKETS: P500 available at Peak performance Dance Studi
CONTACT:  +63 917-624-7534 or 502-2912
WEBSITE:  BellyFest.asiapad.com 

Alain Ducasse in Manila

(Video Link: Alain Ducasse in Manila)

Alain Ducasse, one of the world’s most celebrated modern French chefs and founder of Alain Ducasse Formation (Enderun’s academic partner for Culinary Arts), is in Manila for a 2-day visit. He is joined by Chef See Cheong Yan (Enderun’s corporate culinary head) and Thomas Nommer (ADF’s international development manager) at the press conference.

It was an honor to be in his presence. He preferred to speak in French with a translator. His philosophy is very simple: cuisine is 60% carefully selected ingredients and 40% mastery of French culinary techniques. He encourages Filipino Cuisine to be unique, to use our natural ingredients and to NOT be influenced by other cuisines. (I totally agree!)

Awesome Pilipinas Debuts in Travel Fair!

Finally, I'm launching the Awesome Pilipinas Tours in the 17th Travel Tour Expo 2010 on Feb. 19-21. It is the biggest travel fair in the country :)  Awesome Pilipinas is the signature tours brand of Our Awesome Planet in partnership with Frontline 8 Travel one of the trusted travel agencies in the Philippines. 

I designed all the full-packaged tours to celebrate the local flavors, to experience the awesome adventures the place has to offer, and to imbibe the local culture the best way possible. We partner with the best travel agencies, the best tour guides, the best hotels, and the best restaurants. The entire experience is designed to be hassle-free and guaranteed to take your breath away.

UPDATE Feb. 20, Saturday:
All the discounted Airfares are sold out on Day 1. All Holy Week Destinations are fully booked as well. Most people are looking for packages now. See you :)

OAP Team Manila Shirt!

I'm so excited that the Our Awesome Planet and Team Manila Shirt is ready! The shirt was designed by Jowee himself of Team Manila :) We are launching the shirt in time for the biggest travel fair in the country in SMX on Feb. 19-21, 2010. I'll be there the whole day manning the Awesome Pilipinas Tours booth :)