Happenings in Star Magic Ball 2013

The night of September 7 is a memorable one as Star Magic Ball 2013 happened on the luxurious Fairmont Hotel in Makati City. The Star Magic Ball is where the biggest and brightest stars from Star Magic gather for a night of get-together. Gracing the event are not only the Kapamilya artists but also ABS-CBN’s bigwigs and several top fashion designers.

Kapamilya celebrities showcased their fab suits and gowns, made by Philippine’s top fashion designers, in the all-white, black and champagne theme. Now on its seventh year, the Star Magic Ball also marks the 21st year of the most successful star-building agency–Star Magic.

Kapamilya couple Kim Chiu and Xian Lim were awarded with the Moet and Chandon Fabulous Pair award. O+, who co-sponsored the event, proclaims Joseph Marco and Empress as the Stars of the Night. Real-life couple Gerald Anderson and  Maja Salvador were the night’s Best Dressed. And for the KathNiel fans, the “Got to Believe” stars Kathryn Bernardo and Daniel Padilla  were Star Magic Ball Coupe of the Night.

Several photos were posted online via the Star Magic Facebook and on Twitter via the hashtag #StarMagicBall2013. Here are some of the photos you’ll want to check out:

Mutya Johanna Datul Is Miss Supranational 2013 Winner

Filipina Mutya Johanna Datul emerged as winner of the 2013 Miss Supranational beauty pageant held in Minsk, Belarus on Friday night, September 6.

The 21-year-old information technology student from Isabela bested 82 other lovely candidates from around the globe to take home the coveted crown. She also received the Miss Personality award.

Datul is the first Philippine representative and the first Asian to win the competition, which was f

irst held in 2009 and has no question and answer portion.

Miss Mexico Jaqueline Morales is this year's first runner-up, while Turkish beauty Leyla Kose is second runner-up.

Completing the Top 5 are Indonesia's Cok Istri Krisnanda Widani (third runner-up) and U.S. Virgin Island's Esonica Veira (fourth runner-up).

The Top 20 also included the contestants from Venezuela, Puerto Rico, Australia, Poland, Gabon, Canada, Thailand, Luxembourg, India, Myanmar, Belarus, Russia, Latvia, Brazil, and Ukraine.

Filipino Baked Lumpia Rolls

"This is a traditional Filipino dish. It is the Filipino version of the egg rolls. It can be served as a side dish or as an appetizer."

Ingredients:

1 lb ground lean pork

1 medium carrot, chopped fine

1 medium onion, chopped fine

1 (8 ounce) can water chestnuts, drained and chopped fine

1 (8 ounce) can bamboo shoots, drained and chopped fine

8 garlic cloves

1 teaspoon grated fresh ginger

2 teaspoons soy sauce

1 teaspoon black pepper

wonton wrapper, 1 package

1 large egg

Dipping Sauce

1/4 cup packed brown sugar

1/2 cup distilled white vinegar

1 teaspoon soy sauce

2 teaspoons water

1 teaspoon cornstarch, mixed with the water

2 -3 teaspoons freshly grated ginger

Directions:

• In a large bowl combine the pork, carrot, onion, water chestnut, bamboo shoots, garlic, ginger, soy sauce and pepper.
• Stir mixture until thoroughly combined-at this point you can cover and stick in the fridge over night.
• I lay out about 10 wrappers at a time, roll the meat mixture into cigar shapes about finger thickness-be reasonable-and the length of the wrapper.
• Roll, brush ends with beaten egg and finish the roll to seal.
• Place seam side down on a cookie sheet and repeat until done.
• Bake in a preheated 450 degree oven, turning once for around 20 minutes.
• They should be cooked through and the wrappers are golden brown.
• Serve hot.
• You can make these ahead of time and keep cooked lumpia in the fridge for up to 3 days, or frozen up to 4 weeks.
• To reheat (thaw if frozen) bake on baking sheet in a 450 oven for 10 minutes-turn rolls once.
• Dipping sauce----------------.
• In a 3 quart saucepan mix together the brown sugar, vinegar and soy sauce.
• Stir over high heat until sugar dissolves.
• Mix the cornstarch/water and add to the sugar mixture and stir until mixture boils.
• Remove from heat and stir in ginger.
• Makes 2/3 cup and you can double.

"CAPTIVATING" AND "ENCHANTING" EL NIDO PALAWAN

 Located in the northern most part of mainland Palawan covering a total of approximately 50,000 hectares of land, El Nido is one of the jewels of Palawan.  Its unrivaled beauty rests on its massive limestone islands, bordered by powder-fine beaches, with cliffs jutting from translucent waters.  El Nido is a unique travel destination well-suited for those who want to commune with nature.  It was first declared a marine reserve and later a protected area by the Philippine government.

There are at least six lagoons in EL NIDO, the most famous and easily accessible are the BIG and SMALL Lagoons at Miniloc Island. Believed to be cave whose roofs collapsed millions of years ago, the Big and Small Lagoons are best explored on a kayak or while snorkeling.

Other attractions are Marble Cliffs, Makinit Hot Springs, Cudugnon and Ille Caves located in Bigan, Island in Bacuit Bay, Gintungawan Island, Turtle Island, Bulalakaw Falls, Ipil Beach, Commando Beach, Shimizu Reef and Daracuton Reef. 

Mövenpick Hotels & Resorts announces that it is to manage Huma Island resort – a private island in the heart of the stunning archipelago of Palawan Province in the Philippines.

The island is world famous among divers who visit to experience the area’s exceptional corals and abundant marine life as well as to explore 12 of the most iconic shipwrecks of the mid-20th century.

Huma Island itself is also steeped in mystical magic from the tip of its rainforest-covered mountains to the bottom of its primeval caves. 

Come and enjoy the crystal clear water and white sand beaches in EL NIDO. =)

Hinatuan Enchanted River

Seeing something majestic almost always leaves people speechless, even breathless! That is exactly how you feel the instant you lay your sights in Enchanted River. The experience is utterly difficult to translate into words when one of it ever suffice to describe its beauty and splendor.

Enchanted River in HInatuan, Surigao del Sur continues to be most popular must-see attraction of Surigao del Sur. Hidden in Brgy. Talisay, the awesome deep river insude a thick forest with color like pepsi blue... very cool.. very clear.. and very mystical, is estimated to be around 24 meters (80 feet). Vast wealth fishes on different varieties and colors readily greet the visitors which add to its mysterious attraction.

Stopping by Enchanted River is a chance ti good to pass by. For everything that this river is, it's worth the journey as spectacular scenery awaits. The water of Enchanted River baffles anyone that sees it.

You really can't avoid the temptation to take plunge and feel the invigorating water. Stress relief guaranteed. 

PARTICULARS: 

- Signage are available on the road side designed for guiding the visitors going to destination. Trippers wil enjoy the moment of the cool breeze air and scenery along the road to river.

-Before getting inside the Enchanted River premises, one must have to log in his name, place of origin and signature on the visitor's logbook. Entrance fee is 30php per adult.

-Huts, tents, tables and chairs are available for picnic. Clean toiltes and dressing rooms are also in place

-Row of stalls right across the entrance offers a wide array of foo and drinks and give visitors variety of fresh and alive seafoods to choose from. cooking service charge is 20php/kilo.

-Life savers are on duty and visible within the swimming area up to closing time at 5:00pm.

-Around 12 noon to 1 pm., the belll rings requesting the people to clear the river for fish feeding time. Spectacular schools of fish gather and catch food thrown to the river. Fish feeding is done daily. Special feeding maybe requested from the Enchanted river Management Office at 100php.

-there are life jackets for rent within the area @ 15php /hour.

-River cruising is available where tourists and guests will be able to enjoy the scenery going to the neighboring islands @ 160/hour max. of 5 persons.

-The lighter shade of color blue to green represent the shallow area for non-swimmers at the mouth of the river.

-Before leaving, the visitors can buy souvenirs at the Souvenir Shop which also serves as a tourist's Information Office and E-river Management Office.

-No Smoking policy is strictly implemented at the Enchanted river premises.

-More beautification/improvement has been continuously emphasized in the area to accommodate and make visitors more comfortable.

Marlon Stockinger

Filipino driver Marlon Stockinger has put the Philippine flag back on the global motorsports map by finishing second in the opening race of the 2012 GP3 Series this weekend at the Circuit de Catalunya in Spain. The two 16-lap GP3 races on Saturday and Sunday served as support events to the Spanish Formula 1 Grand Prix.

Stockinger, driving Car No. 14 for Status Grand Prix, qualified fifth for the first race. He made the most of the opportunity by finishing just 2.6 seconds behind winner Mitch Evans (New Zealand) of MW Arden. Stockinger scored 18 points for the effort, seven points off Evans.

For the second race the following day, however, Stockinger failed to score a single point as he wound up in 19th place. The GP3 Series has a different format compared to Formula 1 in that the second race of every two-race round follows a reverse grid order for the top eight finishers of the first race. Which meant Stockinger had to start the second race in seventh. US driver Conor Daly, who finished sixth in the first race, won the second race after starting third on the grid. First-race winner Evans likewise failed to score a point in the second race.

"Coming from Asia, it's a lot more diffirent than coming from Europe to settle into everything," Stockinger said during the press conference. "I think I am with a better team now, and I think when all these cards come into play, the results improve. I think winter testing went well and we were very consistent."

Stockinger is now sixth in the overall championship standings, with the second round scheduled for May 25-26 in Monaco.

The 21-year-old Marlon Stockinger placed 28th overall in the GP3 Series last year. In 2010, he finished eighth overall in Formula Renault UK, improving upon his 25th-position showing in the same series the previous year. In 2008, he was also eighth overall in Formula BMW Pacific while also racing in Formula BMW Europe.

Do you think this signals the start of another wave of world-class Filipino racing drivers?

Early life

Stöckinger was born in Manila, Philippines. He is the son of a Swiss businessman and racing enthusiast, Tom Stöckinger, and a Filipina woman, Egin San Pedro; he grew up in the Philippines until he was 17, and then went to Europe to pursue a racing career.

Early career

Prior to joining the Formula Renault series, Stöckinger won titles and honors from international derbies such as the Formula BMW Pacific 2008 Championships, the Senior Rotax Max World Finals 2007, the Asian Karting Championship 2006, the Junior Rotax Max-World Finals 2005 and the Philippine Shell Super Karting Series 2002. He participated at the 2008 Formula BMW Europe season - the championship's maiden season after the merger of the British and German series - as a guest driver, racing at the Hungaroring (21st and 23rd place), Valencia Street Circuit (15th and 23rd place) and at the Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps (20th and 21st).

Jollibee Foods Corporation (Jollibee)

 Jollibee Foods Corporation abbreviated as JFC and popularly known as Jollibee (PSE: JFC) is a Filipino multinational chain of fast food restaurants headquartered in Pasig City, Philippines.

  Jollibee is the largest fast food chain in the Philippines, operating a nationwide network of over 750 stores. A dominant market leader in the Philippines, Jollibee enjoys the lion’s share of the local market that is more than all the other multinational brands combined.  The company has also embarked on an aggressive international expansion plan in the USA, Vietnam, Hong Kong, Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Brunei, firmly establishing itself as a growing international QSR player.

  Among its licensed brands are Chowking, Greenwich Pizza, Red Ribbon, Mang Inasal and Burger King Philippines.

    Jollibee was founded by Tony Tan and his family with its humble beginnings as an Ice Cream Parlor which later grew into an emerging global brand. At the heart of its success is a family-oriented approach to personnel management, making Jollibee one of the most admired employers in the region with an Employer of the Year Award from the Personnel Management Association of the Philippines, Best Employer in the Philippines Award from Hewitt Associated and a Top 20 Employer in Asia citation from the Asian Wall Street Journal. It has consistently been mentioned as one of the Philippines' and Asia's most admired companies in surveys conducted by publications such as Asian Business Magazine and The Asian Wall Street Journal and has received other plaudits from Euromoney and Asia Money. In 2008, it was also the recipient of the FMCG and F & B Asia Pacific Supply Chain Excellence Award at the SCM Logistics Excellence Awards.

    Aside from promoting a family oriented work environment, the brand’s values also reflect on their advertising and marketing. Jollibee knows their target audience very well: the traditional family and all communication materials focus on the importance of family values, making Jollibee the number one family fast food chain in the Philippines and a growing international QSR player.

    As of end-September 2012, Jollibee was operating 2,040 stores in the Philippines for all of its brands: 765 for Jollibee, 383 for Chowking, 201 for Greenwich, 209 for Red Ribbon, 457 for Mang Inasal and 25 for Burger King.