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Fit, Fun and Fresh - an evening of work-out that will surely make you sweat and healthy.

The Medicard-Metafit Fitness Boot Camp trial session was held at Medicard Lifestyle Center last February 16, 2013, in collaboration with APEX-Metafit coaches Jim Saret (Founder), Toni Dimaguila-Saret and Grace Siongco, together with Hazel Chua and Raffy Tan of  Biggest Loser Pinoy Edition and spearheaded by Medicard president Dr. Nicky Montoya and Ms.Kate Cruz-Joaquin, Medicard Marketing Manager.

The Bloggers who Took the Challenge!

The Fitness Gurus!

The Challengers, The Bloggers, The Guests, and The Coaches!

In the recent briefing event of MediCard-Metafit, the bloggers and some participants were already put to training what they’ll experience heavily at the boot camp which starts on February 25.

The workout techniques and methods - 10 jumping jacks, 10 squats, 10 pushups, 10 lounges per leg for a warm-up stint focuses more on lower body strength with over-all metabolic exercises. This was done the AMRAP (as many rounds as possible) within 4 minutes, pretty much the same as what you’d expect from a crossfit trial.

After the warm-up comes the Enter the 50/10, participants were made to do as many repetitions as they can of a specific exercise within 50 seconds with a 10 seconds rest in between. For a beginner, the second part of the work-out composed of “Burpees”, crab-like lateral movements, High Knees and Plank can be quite tiresome. But as any other Metafit trainings, coaches were there not only to guide the participants physically but they were also very motivational and supportive.

The Body-Builders!

The Health and Fitness Coaches

The Participants Who Will Take the Fitness Camp!

What the participants experienced that night was just a teaser of what to expect from the boot camp; the rest of the exciting drills and activities are yet to come, at the same venue which is the Medicard Lifestyle Center.

We all make many compromises in our life. One of the biggest and the most compromised aspect of our lives today involve our own health and fitness. It may be because of the busy schedule and different priorities that we opt to neglect our body and its needs. We are unaware of the effects of these compromises we make, until it strikes us. Living a healthy and fitter life may be difficult but is not impossible. It is just a matter of self-discipline and solid commitment in taking care of your body and motivation. So why not give Metafit a try? -www.thelifestyleportal.blogspot.com


 GEB (Grand Eye Ball) Super Club is now one of the hottest place in the Metro. Located in 184 Tomas Morato, Quezon City, GEB Super Club gives the ultimate party and fun experience every night suiting your lifestyle.     

Just recently, the club held a "My Bloggin's Valentines" event exclusively for the bloggers. This was a very first pre-Valentines event spearheaded by Blogapalooza and GEB Super Club. The event was not just an ordinary party. It turned out to be a variety show as surprise games, challenges, and raffle draws highlighted the night.    

 Check out some of the event photos which took place on the Valentines eve:

The Girl Bloggers in a Love Song Singing Competition

The Boys Throwing Their Killer Pick-Up Lines

The Love Song Which Captivates Everyone's Attention

Blogapalooza Head Blogger Ross Del Rosario Sharing Words of Appreciation

...Then The Party Started!

A Once in a Lifetime Bloggers' Valentines Event

Who will Be the King and Queen of the Dance Floor?!

Taken or single during the hearts' night, worry no more as GEB Super Club drives out emotions with its full blast party all night long! A really great experience, a fun and exciting night! Let's party, party! -www.thelifestyleportal.blogspot.com   

Check out the official list of winners of the 85th Academy Awards. Here they are:


BEST ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE:
Christoph Waltz, “Django Unchained”

BEST ANIMATED FEATURE:
“Brave”

BEST SHORT FILM (ANIMATED):
“Paperman” by John Kahrs

BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY:
“Life of Pi,” Claudio Miranda

BEST VISUAL EFFECTS:
“Life of Pi”

BEST COSTUME DESIGN:
“Anna Karenina,” Jacqueline Durran

BEST MAKEUP & HAIRSTYLING:
“Les Miserables”

BEST SHORT FILM (LIVE ACTION):
“Curfew” by Shawn Christensen

BEST DOCUMENTARY SHORT SUBJECT:
“Inocente” by Sean Fine and Andrea Nix Fine

BEST DOCUMENTARY FEATURE:
“Searching for Sugar Man” by Malik Bendjelloul and Simon Chinn

BEST FOREIGN LANGUAGE FILM:
“Amour” (Austria)

BEST SOUND MIXING:
“Les Miserables”

BEST SOUND EDITING:
“Zero Dark Thirty” tied with “Skyfall”

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS:
Anne Hathaway, “Les Miserables”

BEST FILM EDITING:
“Argo”

BEST PRODUCTION DESIGN:
“Lincoln”

BEST ORIGINAL SCORE:
“life of Pi,” Mychael Danna

ORIGINAL SONG:
“Skyfall,” Adele Adkins & Paul Epworth

ADAPTED SCREENPLAY:
“Argo,” Chris Terrio

ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY:
“Django Unchained,” Quentin Tarantino

BEST DIRECTOR:
Ang Lee, “Life of Pi”

BEST ACTOR:
Daniel Day-Lewis, “Lincoln”

BEST ACTRESS:
Jennifer Lawrence, “Silver Linings Playbook”

BEST MOTION PICTURE:
“Argo”
 Pacific X-Treme Combat general manager EJ Calvo delivered on his promise to start the year with a bang as PXC staged its eighth mixed martial arts event in the Philippines and 35th overall last Feb. 16 at the Ynares Sports Arena in Pasig City.

In the first of possibly four events this year in the country, the PXC treated Filipino MMA junkies to nine equally electrifying fights highlighted by the successful title defense of lightweight champion Harris ‘The Hitman’ Sarmiento.

“PXC 35 only solidifies the reign of PXC as the premiere MMA company in Asia Pacific,” Calvo said. “The nine fights we had so far gave MMA fans here in the Philippines something to remember and will definitely make them come back for more PXC events.”

STILL THE CHAMP. Harris “The Hitman” Sarmiento emerged victorious over fellow Filipino Isiah Cordiz in the recently concluded PXC 35.

Coming off a disappointing first-round loss to PXC featherweight superstar Mark Striegl last November, Sarmiento moved back to his natural weight class and retained his 155-pound title belt at the expense of Isaiah Ordiz.

The victory was expected from the veteran Sarmiento, who marked his 60th professional bout with his 36th win, but how he did it was surprising.

Expected to go toe to toe with Ordiz, Sarmeinto instead opted to take the fight to the ground and emerged successful as he forced his San Pedro, Laguna-born challenger to tap out with a kimura submission move late in the first round.

“I just wanted to play it smart,” Sarmiento said of his surprising ploy. “I just took advantage of an opening and once I brought him to the ground, I knew I could finish the fight right away.”

PURE DOMINANCE. Harris Sarmiento was all over challenger Isiah Ordiz and ended the fight with an impressive kimura submission at the end of the first round.

“I-DAWN ZULUETA MO AKO!”. PXC lightweight champion Harris “The Hitman”
Sarmiento prepares to body slam challenger Isiah Ordiz in the recently concluded PXC 35.

In the main undercard between flyweight contenders, Louis Smolka survived an early beating to defeat Alvin Cacdac via submission and earn a title shot against champion Ale Cali of Davao.

After suffering a right eyebrow cut that turned his face into a bloody mess in the first round, Smolka suddenly turned the tables in the next two rounds as the Hawaiian turned to his ground and pound game before finishing the game with a rear-naked choke.

“I’m kind of used to that because I get beat up all the time in training,” said Smolka, who stretched his winning streak to three fights.

Meanwhile, Troy Bantiag caught Tony Reyes with a solid right punch then finished off his Guamanian opponent with continuous blows to score a referee-stoppage win late in the first round.

Likewise impressive were the rest of the fights in the event, presented by San Mig Strong Ice and Sports 5, and backed by E-Games, Fitness First, FHM Philippines,FHM.com.ph, Premiere Condoms, Healthway Agility Phil, Beer Below Zero, Eden NightClub, Real Sports Radio, and Loqal.ph.

Dario Banario scored a unanimous-decision victory over Joseph Mercado in an all-Filipino battle, Japan’s Chuji Kato forced Egons Racz into submission, Zebastian Kadestam registered a referee-stoppage win against Ron Jhun, while Ernesto Montilla Jr. Miguel Mosqura, and Glen Ranillo all scored a submission wins over Ruel Catalan, Steve Grandeza, and Mark Billena, respectively.

“Our fight cards are one of the best in the industry, matching some of the most skilled fighters against each other as they climb the rankings,” Calvo said.

"We are confident that our upcoming shows here in the Philippines will continue to draw bigger crowds. Fans will enjoy watching their favorite PXC fighters and get a chance to see new stars from across the globe.” - www.thelifestyleportal.blogspot.com


This Saturday (February 23) on Sarap Diva, StarStruck alumni Yasmien Kurdi, Chariz Solomon and LJ Reyes will invade Asia’s Songbird Regine Velasquez-Alcasid’s kitchen.

Starstruck season 1 runner-up and new mom Yasmien will prepare Fattoush Lebanese crumble bread salad, a recipe she learned from her Lebanese grandmother.

Sexy-comedienne and newly-married Chariz will show off her cooking skills as she prepares salt and pepper crab claw.

Meanwhile, Regine will get a taste of LJ’s spicy chicken.

Join Asia’s Songbird Regine Velasquez-Alcasid this Saturday on Sarap Diva 9:40am on GMA. - www.thelifestyleportal.blogspot.com


Vista Land will unveil its newest showroom this Saturday afternoon. Come and see the opening of this newest gorgeous place at Shaw Blvd. corner Laurel St. in Mandaluyong City on February 23, 2013, Saturday, 3pm onwards.    

The event includes the Showroom Blessing and Special Preview of the place.

Join the fun! Expect more other surprises in this another opening of the coolest place in town only from Vista Land! - www.thelifestyleportal.blogspot.com
BlueWater Day SPA just formally introduced their newest celebrity endorsers in a prestige event held in Palawan Ballroom, EDSA Shangrila Hotel, Mandaluyong City on February 19, 2013. They were the hunk commercial model-actor Ian Batherson, MYX veejay Iya Villania, and Kapuso hunk actor Aljur Abrenica.

Inline with their endorsement, a sizzling sexy hot posters / billboards of BlueWater Day SPA were released featuring the three hottest celebrities.  

Check out the said posters of Ian, Iya, and Aljur below:

The Three New Hottest Endorsers of BlueWater Day SPA



Iya Villania and Aljur Abrenica in Wholesome Mode

Oozing So Hot  Ian Batherson and Iya Villania  
Now, there is a more compelling reason to visit BlueWater Day Spa. Iya, Aljur, and Ian all agree that a visit to the spa takes them on both physical and emotional healing. These celebrities are confident that once they enter this spa paradise named BlueWater Day Spa, they are in for the ultimate spa experience.

BlueWater Day Spa now has 6 branches strategically located at Ortigas, Makati, Eastwood, Capitol Hills, Tomas Morato and Cotabato City. - www.thelifestylportal.blogspot.com


Blue Water Day SPA introduced to the media, press, and bloggers their newest endorsers in a prestige event held in the Palawan Ballroom  of EDSA Shangrila Hotel, Ortigas, Mandaluyong City on February 19, 2013.

The three newest endorsers were Iya Villania, Ian Batherson,  and  Aljur Abrenica.

Away from the bright lights of show business, some stars choose to retreat to a silent sanctuary where they can contemplate and shake off the pressures of work. After all, celebrities have to make sure that they have healthy glowing skin from head to toe.

In the peaceful silence of the BlueWater Day Spa (BWDS), punctuated by innovative treatments and warm touch of therapists, celebrities Iya Villania, Aljur Abrenica, and Ian Batherson experience the ultimate in wellness and relaxation.

“It is important for celebrities like us to take care of ourselves, especially of our skin,” said Iya. “People will see it when you’re stressed because it will show in your skin.”

For homebody Aljur, whose schedule is packed with tapings and guestings, to spend a few hours for himself to regain his energy means the world to him. Because stress comes with the package of being in the limelight, Ian realizes the need to find time for R&R. “I go to the gym to shape up. But I go to the spa to rejuvenate my tired muscles,” he said.

 


Iya, Aljur, and Ian need not worry anymore about having both their physical and emotional wellness at check. These three celebrities, recently named BlueWater Day Spa’s endorsers, will have the privilege to avail themselves of world-class services that only this award-winning spa can offer.

Through years of meticulous training and with the unrelenting passion to seek for breakthroughs in the spa industry, BlueWater Day Spa is now at the forefront in beauty and wellness in the Philippines. BWDS is also the popular choice among Filipinos who are in search of a haven to find their natural balance and harmony. Spa enthusiasts can also choose from a wide range of services—massage, facial treatments, body scrubs, body and facial machine treatments, hand and facial machine treatments, hand and foot treatments, waxing, wart removal, and spa party, among others—upon their visit into this spa paradise.

“When I was informed that BWDS was getting me as their endorser, it was not hard to say yes. I mean, I’m a fan of anything that would pamper and relax me,” Iya said. Aljur, meanwhile, has already heard a lot of good things about BWDS that making him agree to endorse it was a breeze. “My friends regularly visit the spa and enjoy its services,” he said.

Ian loves to have a massage every now and then so it was a welcome surprise for him to be chosen as one of the spa’s endorsers. “BWDS and I have a really good relationship. I was already a fan of the spa even before I became an endorser. I enjoy their services and how therapists attend to your needs really well,” said Ian. “My personal favorite is the Aroma Chakra Massage. After the massage, I felt really good because it was very soothing. I also loved how the therapist talked about how chakra points in my body were healed using the stones.”

Iya and Aljur both love the spa’s unique services, most especially its spa theater. “Going to the spa was an individual thing before. With the spa theater, you get to enjoy this moment with your friends,” said Iya. Aljur agreed, “You can relax while having bonding moments with your friends at the same time.”

“As endorsers of BlueWater Day Spa, we have to live by example. Our followers have to see that we live a balanced life because we have BWDS as our partner,” said Iya.

“As I’ve said, most of my friends are already loyal clients of BlueWater Day Spa. I’m glad that I can join them anytime now and experience what they were raving about all this time,” furthered Aljur. “It’s such an honor to be part of the BWDS family. To be an effective spokesperson of the spa, I will ensure that I will live and breathe harmony and healing in everything I do. After all, BWDS is an advocate of holistic wellness.”

Using social media as an information platform, Ian pledges to make his online followers aware of what’s in store for them when they visit any BWDS branch. “It’s all about the power of the word of mouth. If people read about how good services are in the spa, it will pique their interest and pay BWDS a visit. Through this, I get to share with them a part of me that is one satisfied client,” he said.

Now, there is a more compelling reason to visit BlueWater Day Spa. Iya, Aljur, and Ian all agree that a visit to the spa takes them on both physical and emotional healing. These celebrities are confident that once they enter this spa paradise named BlueWater Day Spa, they are in for the ultimate spa experience.

BlueWater Day Spa now has 6 branches strategically located at Ortigas, Makati, Eastwood, Capitol Hills, Tomas Morato and Cotabato City.  Also open for franchising. For more information on BlueWater Day Spa, log on to www.bluewaterdayspa.com. Cool! -www.thelifestyleportal.blogspot.com

We are very happy to announced that this Lifestyle and Socialite Website called The Lifestyle Portal is now celebrating its 1ST YEAR ANNIVERSARY! 


 Yes, we are now one-year old! In this very same date at the same time, February 18, 2012,  
The Lifestyle Portal is born!


With our aim to give the online readers the latest trends in fashion, events and lifestyle in the upper class level as well as featuring the monthly covers of the different magazines and sharing the hottest billboards in town with a touch of entertainment, this blog site is conceptualize!     


And we are celebrating our first prosperous year with you!  





We are very thankful for your continuous support! We will not reach this fruitful year without you! Therefore, we're returning the favor...

We are not promising, but definitely, we will give you all the best that you want in the succeeding days!

Once more, join us in our celebration! More years to come! More years...more fun! 
Cheers...!!!

MEDICARD-METAFIT MOA SIGNING
Left to Right: Hazel Chua (Biggest Loser Pinoy Edition Finalist), Coach Jim Saret (METAfit founder), Dr. Nicky Montoya (Medicard President) and Kate Cruz-Joaquin (Medicard Marketing Manager).

 On February 7, 2013, one of the leading health maintenance organizations Medicard Philippines represented by Dr. Nicky Montoya, officially signed and joined hands with METAfit founder and famous Sports and Fitness Science Specialist, Coach Jim Saret to create the Medicard-Metafit Fitness Boot Camp. Present in the contract signing were Ms. Kate Cruz-Joaquin, Medicard Philippines Marketing Manager; and Biggest Loser Pinoy Edition finalists and METAfit coaches, Raffy Tan and Hazel Chua.

“We (at Medicard Philippines) are trying to be pro-active in promoting health…” shares Dr. Montoya, President of Medicard Phillipines. “Here’s a real program where we ask our members to join; that should promote a more active and healthy lifestyle.”

“If you have the nutrition, the exercise and the psychological motivation, putting that together, it fits into what we are trying to promote.” Dr. Montoya further expounds.


Left to Right: Grace Siongco (APEX-Metafit) Hazel Chua (Biggest Loser Pinoy Edition Finalist), Coach Jim Saret (METAfit founder) Raffy Tan (Biggest Loser Pinoy Edition Finalist),Coach Toni Dimaguila-Saret (APEX-Metafit) Dr. Nicky Montoya (Medicard President) and Kate Cruz-Joaquin (Medicard Marketing Manager).

In fact, Coach Jim Saret believes that the Medicard-METAfit Fitness Boot Camp is the first of its kind when it comes to fitness programs. “It’s a really good match to have the physical with the medical side, for any fitness and wellness program of any person… METAfit together with Medicard is the first one to offer all components of a total health and wellness.”

METAfit and Medicard Philippines are known in the country to help Filipinos reach their health goals, whether to lose weight or to be medically healthy. Before the partnership, these two industry movers are doing great works on their own, but they felt there was something lacking. Coach Jim couldn’t agree more, “It’s a perfect combination for a METAfit program because we are providing the physical, the motivational and the nutritional program but what’s missing basically is the medical side of this.”

The 12-session program is designed to cater to all types of individuals and fitness backgrounds. The idea of the program is to acquaint participants with basic work-outs; and depending on their capacity and determination, they will progress to more advanced routines until they graduate. Fitness goals will also be laid down, however, as Coach Jim states, participants should not be worried as he, and his team will support them every step of the way, under the medical care of Medicard. Coach Jim guarantees that at the end of the course, many would be surprised by their own bodies’ capabilities.

Joining the METAfit team are Raffy Tan and Hazel Chua. They will work as motivators and facilitators of the boot camp with Coach Jim’s lead.

The sold-out Medicard-METAfit Fitness Boot Camp will start on February 25, 2013 at the Medicard Lifestyle Center in Paseo De Roxas corner Buendia, Makati City. Medicard members, as well as non-members who signed up for the boot camp couldn’t wait any longer; they are very excited and looking forward to maximizing their body’s potentials.

Not even on its first session yet, many are already inquiring about the next boot camp. With that, the team behind the Medicard-METAfit Boot Camp couldn’t wait to get started… for sure; people can expect many more boot camps in the near future!

For inquiries and added information, please visit the Medicard Philippines website at http://www.medicardphils.com.
Kapamilya actress Jessy Mendiola graces the cover of Metro Magazine for their February 2013 issue. 

In the said cover, Jessy is very classy wearing a yellow dress!

Check out the said cover of Metro Mag featuring the very beautiful Jessy Mendiola. Here she goes:


Jessy is currently leading the afternoon TV series "Paraiso" pairing her with Matteo Guidiceili. 
The  Buzz magazine features different love stories and love teams in their February 2013 issue. And for this month of the heart, the pair of John Lloyd Cruz and Sarah Geronimo is featured in the cover.

Here is the said cover which also features the other love pairs:



Bloc Party are a British indie rock band, composed of KeleOkereke (lead vocals, rhythm guitar), Russell Lissack (lead guitar), Gordon Moakes (bass guitar, synths, backing vocals, glockenspiel), and Matt Tong (drums, backing vocals). Their brand of music is said to have been drawn from such bands as The Cure, Mogwai, Siouxsie and the Banshees and in their more recent work Radiohead.

The band was formed at the 1999 Reading Festival by Okereke and Lissack. They went through a variety of names before settling on Bloc Party in 2003. Moakes joined the band after answering an advert in NME magazine, while Tong was picked via an audition. Bloc Party got their break by giving BBC Radio 1 DJ Steve Lamacq and Franz Ferdinand's lead singer, Alex Kapranos, a copy of their demo "She's Hearing Voices".

In February 2005, the band released their debut album Silent Alarm. It was critically acclaimed and was named 'Indie Album of the Year' at the 2006 PLUG Awards and NME Album of the year which both honour indie music. That year, the record was also certified platinum in Britain. The band built on this success in 2007 with the release of their second studio album, A Weekend in the City, which reached a peak of number two in the UK Albums Chart and number twelve in the Billboard 200. In August 2008, Bloc Party released their third studio record, Intimacy. The band went on a hiatus in October 2009 to focus on side projects, and reunited in September 2011, releasing their fourth album, Four, in 2012. As of May 2012, Bloc Party have sold two million albums worldwide.



Bloc Party's brand of guitar rock draws on influences such as The Cure, Joy Division, Sonic Youth, Blur, and The Smiths.Okereke has also stated that Mogwai's album Mogwai Young Team changed his life by being his musical "year zero".Okereke also cites Suede as a major influence, he says Dog Man Star was the first record he fell in love with. Particular parallels were made between Bloc Party and Gang of Four upon their arrival on the music scene, yet the band were "mildly infuriated" at such references, claiming they had never "particularly liked" Gang of Four. To achieve their unique style, numerous delay and other effects pedals are implemented. During the recording of second album A Weekend in the City, the band suggested it would contain "some truly R'n'B styled beats, a song where [Tong] and [Moakes] play drums simultaneously [with] both eggshell-thin fragility and trouser-flapping hugeness", as opposed to their typical sound. The style has been compared to and inspired by such bands as Radiohead, U2, Depeche Mode, and Björk. Some of the most noticeable changes between debut Silent Alarm and A Weekend in the City are that the songs became more layered and less raw due to inclusion of string arrangements.

With the release of "Flux", Bloc Party's style became even more diverse with the inclusion of electronic music. "Mercury" saw Bloc Party distance themselves even further from the traditional guitar band set-up by experimenting with dark electronic sounds and a brass section inspired by Siouxsie and the Banshees. The band's third album Intimacy also features synths, processed drum beats and loops, vocal manipulation, and choral arrangements. Even though the album is influenced by electronic music, the band still has not lost their feel for guitar music. For example, in a recent interview, Okereke said that the band is starting to miss their more traditional sound, and confirmed that may be the way fourth album is headed. However, Tong contradicted this, stating: "There's every chance we might go back to more orthodox arrangements or things that resemble a traditional band but I don't think we'll ever write songs like we did on Silent Alarm again." A 2009 Vice Records mix lists the following songs Bloc Party are influenced by: Eagle Boston's "Wild WildOst", Pylon's "Working Is No Problem", Delta 5's "Mind Your Own Business", John Foxx's "Underpass", Prince's "I Would Die 4 U" (also covered live), Sonic Youth's "Youth Against Fascism", Dinosaur Jr.'s "Freak Scene", La Roux's "Quicksand (Nightrunners Edit)", and Bruce Springsteen's "57 Channels (And Nothin' On)".

Bloc Party started writing material for a fourth album in 2011, but decided not to play live. In the meantime Okereke finished an EP titled The Hunter. The group stated they intend to release a new album in 2012. In May 2012, Bloc Party announced Four. The album is set to be released on 20 August 2012. The album was recorded with Alex Newport, who had previously worked with At The Drive In and The Mars Volta, at Stratosphere Studios in New York City during the end of 2011 and the beginning of 2012. Bloc Party released "Octopus", a single from Four, that July. and later released another single entitled "Day Four"

Bloc Party - Four is distributed by Warner Music Philippines and is now out on CD and on iTunes.http://itunes.apple.com/ph/album/four/id544639467?uo=4(www.thelifestyleportal.blogspot.com)


 For all the avid fans of the Asia’s Songbird, consider Saturday as your lucky day as Regine Velasquez-Alcasid opens her doors for her very first “Ga-Reg Sale”!

Regine will give out some of her prized possessions, and the proceeds will go to Kapuso Foundation.

Apart from this fun Ga-Reg Sale, Regine will also exchange the yummiest recipes with her guests Camille Prats and Jolina Magdangal!

Watch out for Jolina’s On-The-Go Grilled Pork Ribs and Camille’s Breaded Chicken with Mocha Sauce! And of course, Regine will show off her fruity energy drink which is well-suited for her teen kapitbahays, the boyband turned Youtube sensation, Chicser!



Jolina will also share the juicy details of her honeymoon with hubby Mark Escueta, and Camille will open up about how she gets through life as a single mom and who she’s dating at the moment!

It’s going to be a sweet, saucy, sexy and fresh Saturday with Regine Velasquez-Alcasid in Sarap Diva, 9:45am on GMA.(www.thelifestyleportal.blogspot.com)


As one of the most trusted personal grooming brands for both men and women, Schick goes all out in pushing its advocacy by reaching out to their valued patrons. Through this project, the brand hopes to continue its goal of imparting positivity and self-confidence not only on a personal level but on the community scale.

Check out the ongoing Suaveng Ahit, Gwapong Schick Barangay Tour video. Here it goes:




And here are the schedules of the tour:

February 9, 2013
Cupang Covered Court, Ma. Corazon Subdivision, Brgy Cupang, Antipolo City

February 10, 2013
Dagohoy Covered Court, Purok Dagohoy, Bargy UP Campus, Quezon City

February 17, 2013
Parang Covered Court, General B.G. Molina Street, NGI, Parang, Marikina City (beside Parang Brgy Hall)

The group stayed true to its promise of reaching out to the grassroots level. Together with celebrity host Regine Tolentino, the caravan visited tricycle terminals, groceries, and sari-sari stores and immersed themselves in the community while handing out free Schick products.(www.thelifestyleportal.blogspot.com)
BARANGAY TOUR. Schick launches its community beautification program called Suaveng Ahit, Gwapong Schick Barangay Tour. This activity aims to impart positivity among members of the community from various parts of the metropolis.

Join Cleaning the Barangay!

Looking and feeling good is not just about taking care of yourself; it’s about caring for the things around you and the world you live in. This is precisely what razor brand Schick strives to promote with its ongoing Suaveng Ahit, Gwapong Schick Barangay Tour.

As one of the most trusted personal grooming brands for both men and women, Schick goes all out in pushing its advocacy by reaching out to their valued patrons. Through this project, the brand hopes to continue its goal of imparting positivity and self-confidence not only on a personal level but on the community scale.

The tour got off in on a rousing start last December when the caravan rolled into Salamalabanan Subdivision in Imus, Cavite, where the group initiated different activities focused on engaging and educating the community on proper physical grooming, healthy and active lifestyle, and community awareness.

The project was well received and garnered positive feedback from the community—something that Schick hopes to replicate in other locations within the metro. “We could not have asked for a better start to this tour,” says Claire Guevara, Schick senior brand manager. “The Salamalabanan community here in Imus, Cavite was very gracious and receptive to what we were trying to accomplish as a brand. We greatly appreciate the effort and the participation put forth by the community and we hope that the same goes with our next destination.”

The tour will continue to visit designated locations throughout 2013, including communities around the area of Caloocan, Muntinlupa, Antipolo and Quezon City.

As part of the brand’s continuing mission to make people feel good both inside and out, the tour’s initiatives include activities such as giving free shaves and haircuts to residents, as well as conducting clean-up drives that help encourage community awareness of health and safety among the youth.

In the first leg the tour also hosted competitions that included a three-on-three basketball game, a free-throw and half-court shootout, as well as a dance showdown, all of which promoted good sportsmanship and camaraderie within the community. The winners and participants received cash prizes and gift packs from Schick.

The group stayed true to its promise of reaching out to the grassroots level. Together with celebrity host Regine Tolentino, the caravan visited tricycle terminals, groceries, and sari-sari stores and immersed themselves in the community while handing out free Schick products.

For more information on other tours, prizes, and promos, visit Schick’s website (www.schick.com.ph) or connect with the company via Facebook (facebook.com/schick.ph). For Twitter updates, follow @schicksuave.(www.thelifestyleportal.blogspot.com)

The opportunity of finding satisfaction and adventure in the workplace is not as difficult as one may think.

This Marc Espinosa discovered that as a new employee of C3, a leader in Outsourced Customer Management Solutions.  Armed with an AB English degree from the San Agustin University of Iloilo City, he was faced with the choice of either spending his post-school life teaching in his hometown, or to embark on a journey to Manila for greener pastures.

“I wanted to become independent,” he recalls, adding that in the end, the lure of trying and experiencing new things clinched his decision to relocate. Almost immediately after arriving in Metro Manila, the driven Marc was able to find employment in the Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) industry.  It was not at all a surprising career choice for him then as the industry was offering lucrative pay to fill the numerous job vacancies that has since made BPOs the darling of the Philippine economy.

 Considering his command of the English language and willingness to learn new things, he soon found himself on the fast track of success in the first BPO he worked for. After attaining a supervisory position, he began evaluating his next career move.

“I stayed there for five years,” he says, noting that he would have remained longer had things been better.  A chance encounter with a former colleague prodded him to take the next step in seeking professional fulfillment.  As it turned out, the former colleague started working for C3 and encouraged Marc to join the company.  Sufficiently intrigued, Marc did some research and found the company’s profile excellent.  “The word-of-mouth reputation of C3 got me thinking,” he relates, noting that the positive impressions he got from colleagues and friends weighed heavily on his decision to make such a drastic professional change.

There was, however, a catch.  After attaining a supervisory position in his former company, the prospects of being a “newbie” once again was not exactly to his liking.  In the end, the opportunity of working for C3 won out.  “It was a chance to work in a new environment,” he notes, adding that unlike other established BPO companies, there was undoubtedly more upward mobility in C3—something that the adventurous Marc looked forward to.



According to Marc, he breezed through the hiring process.  “After five years, I had done a lot of interviews and taken numerous exams,” he says, noting that he was quite confident that he would be hired.

And he was.  Nonetheless, it was only after he decided to join C3 that he soon realized how different the company was from his former employer, or even perhaps with other BPO companies currently operating in the Philippines.  “The training process was very different,” he shares, recalling that there were no boring PowerPoint presentations that put one to sleep.  Instead, the lectures proved to be more interactive with role playing activities included in the program.  This, he observes, made new employees fully grasp the company’s open and honest way of conducting business.

One aspect of the company’s culture that continues to surprise him to this day was how open employees are to one another—including their superiors. 
“You can communicate your concerns to the company.  You can actually say if you’re not treated fairly and you can directly reach out to your employers.  In other companies, you don’t have that kind of a relationship.”

C3’s open door policy allows employees from all levels to approach even the senior officers at any time. Marc also notes that unlike other employers who cultivate a serious image, C3’s top officers keep their humor intact.  “My bosses are ‘kalog’ (zany),” he says affectionately, obviously referring to the crazy and fun environment that his superiors encourage to help diffuse the stressful aspects of being a contact center representative.  “It’s a fun place to work in.  We are serious with our work but we have fun and work at the same time.”

Marc and his colleagues are experiencing some of the ‘fun’ activities that the company has been preparing for its employees.  They just recently concluded their ‘Sportsfest’ he says, along with theme days like ‘Halloween’ that are part of the company’s calendar of activities.
In fact, caring for its employees is a responsibility that the company doesn’t take lightly. ‘C3 Cares’ is a phrase that Marc often heard at work. The veracity of how C3 truly cares is something he experienced firsthand during the disastrous monsoon rains that inundated most of the Metropolis a few months back. 

“I live in Pasig City and during the ‘Habagat’ (Southwest Monsoon) our community was flooded,” he recalls.  To add to his worries, the disaster took place during his training period.  When the company told him not to go to work until the floodwaters had receded, it put him at ease that he would be allowed to continue training. Days later, he likewise learned that C3 had actually allowed families of stricken C3 employees to take shelter in their offices until their homes became habitable.

During regular work days, C3 sets targets that employees can realistically achieve. “In other companies, they ask you to do what is impossible.  In C3 they ask you to do what is challenging, but certainly attainable,” he states, noting that the company knows how to prod excellent work by providing an environment that promotes optimum performance.
When it comes to compensation and incentives, says Marc, C3 has likewise proven to be very generous.  “You get rewards for the good work that you’ve done, including incentives for referring people to the company.  And not only financial incentives, they also give out trips to Boracay—which by the way is still ongoing!”
 
Indeed, C3 encourages friendly competition with its employees, though not, says Marc, for attaining personal scores for oneself, but for the team.  “You get to earn bragging rights, which inspires other employees to work even harder,” referring to the company’s public recognition of optimum team performance.   “It inspires other employees to work even harder,” he adds.

For its part, the company actually provides activities and opportunities that enable its employees to reinforce company camaraderie, as well as career advancement.  These include bazaars, vacations as rewards for accomplishments, sports fests, tree planting, museum trips with family members, financial wellness seminars, etc.

Suffice it to say, Marc has already mapped his goals and is appreciative that the company has in fact instituted programs that will help its employees attain new mindsets and develop skills that will help them on the way to success.  “We have C3 University,” he says, referring to the company’s free program that provides courses to enable employees to move up the company ladder.

The C3 University platform focuses on self and career development curricula. It houses all the courses under a free program which is open to all employees regardless of their tenure. Those who are willing to attend classes in their spare time for career and skills enhancement undergo particular courses that fit the level of skill that needs to be enhanced. Other various training programs are also offered like the C3 Plus and C3 Labs programs, which can also spell a faster climb up the corporate ladder.

At present, Marc has set his sights on the C3 University, but is equally cognizant of the different opportunities that can be found within the company in the near future.  “Next year, they are planning to open even more new accounts,” he observes, referring to the continuous expansion that C3 is experiencing at the moment. “Who knows?  I could apply. Something new could happen, I might get to interact with other people and that could be a new adventure.” 

It is one thing for a company to proclaim that it 'loves' its employees, but another thing entirely to walk the talk.
Valentine’s Day may traditionally be the time to show people how much you care, but Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) firm C3/CustomerContactChannels (C3) takes the principle of V-Day to heart by making a company culture out of it.

This “love fest” is seen the moment one enters company headquarters—posters strewn across the company walls proudly declare, “Love what you do,” “Love coming to work,” and “Love the difference.” And if that is not enough to convince a visiting client or guest, the employees themselves are the best reflection of the company’s love-centric culture. For an organization that operates mostly at nighttime, the atmosphere teems with a vibrant energy that can only come from people who genuinely enjoy what they do, respect who they work for, and thrive in their work environment.




A Culture of Positivity

For 22-year-old Keshia Faculin, a fresh college graduate, learning about C3’s core principles cinched her decision to work for the company. “C3’s culture best reflects its core values of accountability, open and honest communication, and recognition of people and community—when I saw this, I felt that this was a company that’s not all about business, but also one I can see myself growing in,” she shares.

A born-again Christian, Faculin regularly conducts bible study groups outside of work. “I disciple people and teach them how to lead their lives in a positive way, to be vibrant in spite of challenging circumstances,” she shares, adding that this aspect of her personality is something she feels her company genuinely supports. “In C3, I get to help out people with their concerns. So, aside from being of service in church, I can also do that at work. It totally coincides,” she says.

For call center supervisor Dennis Escobar, it was the fact that C3 is a growing company in the Philippines that drew him in. “It’s the hope of a new culture, a different environment,” he admits. “I didn’t like how things were handled in my previous company—they were quite rigid when it came to their employees. The call center culture I grew into was good, but people would change as they went up the ranks. With C3, the bosses here are different. They listen to you, they treat you as family, and they ask for your input before making a decision. My past company would never ask for my take on the company’s operations. Here, we have an open door policy that is neither abused nor exaggerated. I feel that what I say matters,” Escobar says.

A Caring Employer

More than being an environment that injects fun into the workplace—C3 regularly holds monthly raffle draws, sports fests, and parties to further engage its 1,800-strong workforce—what makes the company’s average attrition rate significantly lower than the industry average is the management team itself.

Comprised of call center veterans that have been in the BPO business since it started in the early 2000s, C3’s team of executives has served the industry as agents themselves who experienced firsthand the negative aspects of the sunrise industry. “Where we came from, there were so many concerns coming out and nobody would listen. The average attrition rate for most companies would be ten to fifteen percent (10 to 15%) every month. But ours is just at three to four percent (3% to 4%) attrition. That’s a very big difference. Only when you show people you care do they become better employees on the phones when they talk to their customers,” says Kevin Urrutia, Director of Operations at C3.

Since people tend to spend more waking hours working than doing anything else, work happiness plays a huge role in overall happiness. More than providing opportunities for its employees to grow and stay motivated, C3 adds depth to this principle by reaching out to its people beyond work.
When the recent heavy monsoon rains struck Metro Manila, a number of C3 employees were left stranded; some even had their homes flooded. “When the habagat (monsoon rains) came, our office was converted into a ‘relief center’ for employees and their families,” shares Escobar, adding that it further added to the family atmosphere the company wants to cultivate. “We had grandparents here, kids and even yayas (nannies). The pantry was open 24/7; there were concession areas, shower areas, etc. It was basically letting employees know that we’re all family here,” says Escobar.

Apart from providing for its employees’ needs, what really struck Escobar was the physical presence of management during the storm. “In most companies I’ve worked for, during storms, you’d never see the bosses. They’d come up and send food, and that’s it. But here in C3, all the bosses were here physically, checking up on people. When we had agents who got stuck in Pasig where it was flooded, it was the managers who drove them from their homes to C3. Our country manager even offered his house for an agent,” Escobar shares.

Indeed, it is one thing for a company to proclaim that it “loves” its employees, but another thing entirely to walk the talk. “Many of our competitors try to do it this way, but it really boils down to execution and sincerity. You can always say that so and so are your values, but if your employee feels from the very beginning that he can’t even talk to his manager, then that automatically tells him that what you’re saying is a lie,” explains Urrutia.

At the end of the day, the golden rule still holds true: “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.” Treating people the way you would want to be treated creates more positive results. “For us, it’s all about presenting them opportunities for growth, giving them the right support and training to develop and move up, and showing them that when you work for a company, it should be the other way around—the company should be working for you,” Urrutia asserts, ending that, “it is all about transparency, open lines of communication, and living up to the company’s core values. Once employees see all that, they realize that C3 is not just all talk. It walks the talk.” 
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