Radio meets Watchpad

It was a busy week on Magic 89.9’s Good Times as we started live streaming on PLDT MyDSL’s Watchpad. Opening up the show to a whole new audience online, what was once only radio has now blurred the lines of entertainment media as the formerly solely aural format has to it added a interestingly visual hype.

Other than getting a sneak peak at our newest co-host of the show, Angelika Cruz (known to her fans better as the lovable Angelicopter), Good Times welcomed its first musical guest on Watchpad – none other than the lead vocalist/keyboardist of pinoy rock band Armi Millare!

DJ Angelika Schmeing-Cruz with Jericho Rosales

Up Darma Down with a twist

Armi’s guesting follows her bagging of best female vocalist at the prestigious AVIMA Awards. Her group Up Darma Down also won accolades the AVIMA for their music video interpretation of their hit song “Sana.” The spellbinding song on its own and it could have conjured up a million different visuals to associate as a music video, but in typical UDD fashion, the final product was a blend of musically magical potpourri.

Sana’s music video, which was directed by Pancho Esguerra, is on a planet of its own, drawing up the good ol’ days of Atari arcade video games, pitting two contestants in a “staged” real life video game to win the heart of their awaiting damsel (there is a twist to the plot right at the end).

Armi Millare, Carlos Tanada, Paul Yap & Ean Mayon
of Up Darma Down

Here is what Toti Dalmacion, band manager says: “It’s intentionally not an emotionally charged literal visual to the song for those who are expecting the obvious. I have no idea what the big deal is when one deviates a bit from the norm. There are millions of really good songs with the videos not being an exact narrative of the song and if you really “open” your minds to it… there is a connection. Other than that we like it and that’s that. There’s something about the unexpected if you catch my drift and better than another cliché.”

Armi wowed her fans by stepping out of her comfort zone and doing an impromptu acoustic set on Good Times. Instead of playing the keyboard, she opted to strum it out on the guitar. It was the first time in a long time that Millare has performed without her UDD bandmates. Armi enthralled listeners with her ethereal solo renditions of Up Darma Down classics like “Oo,” “Pag-agos” and of course, the award-winning “Sana.” But the unexpected highlight of the program was when Armi sang a mesmerizing cover of the John Mayer song “Heartbreak Warfare.”

Visit www.pldtwatchpad.com and click on the “My View” channel to watch more of Good Times radio streamed live online.

Celebrity Beach Bods Celebrate Change

Wrapping up the hot summer fun is the longest running adventure and party series in Boracay. However this year, together with one of the most important happenings in the country, the Boracay Bound 9 reveled in anticipation and hope for a better future, paid homage to the Mother Land as it aims to ignite the Filipinos’ sense of nationalism and act as an advocate and purveyor of change as we move forward and ahead for a more Global Pinoy.

The celebrities of Boracay Bound 9

Dubbed Boracay Bound 9: Celebrate Change, this year’s two-day event revolved around a hope for a better Philippines. More than the adrenaline rush, we prepared to have your knowledge on the country and your Filipino pride tested as activities—not just physically, but mentally.

Celebrities and media personalities like Sanya Smith, Miss Earth winners Sandra Seifert and Larissa Ramos, Mia Ayesa, Channel V VJ’s Megan Young, Alvey Pulga, Cliff Ho and Georgina Wilson, Magic 89.9’s Toni Tony, Marc Nelson, Gino dela Pena, JC Tiuseco, Gabby dela Merced, Erik Cua, JM Rodriguez.

RJ Ledesma, Maggie Wilson and Solenn Huesaff just to name a few, came in full force via Seair’s 35 minute flight headed by party general Stephen Ku. Globe Tattoo Winners Carlo delos Santos and Marco Martinez also joined the fun under the sun.

DJ Tony Toni, Solenn Huesaff, Georgina Wilson, JM Rodriguez, Alvey Pulga & Cliff Ho

The Aria Beach Front was set for fun filled Pinoy-inspired beach relay games that include the piko, palo sebo and jolens for day 1 and day 2 was made even more exciting with the Celebrity Walkathon as they ran from both ends of the island while selling Globe sim cards and fulfilling tasks at the pits stops.

As the sun settled down Boracay’s official sunset venue SOLSTICE (Tides Hotel Roofdeck) served as the perfect backdrop for overflowing ABSOLUT and Chivas cocktails as everyone chilled down before the party broke lose at night.

Maggie Wilson and Sandra Siefert

First night, Manor Superclub invaded Guilly’s with DJ Ron Poe and Acid Burns turned up the heat and MC Pao pumping everyone, partyphiles showed off their secret tattoos and walked away with amazing prizes. Encore Superclub shook The Tides Roofdeck on the 2nd night with top resident DJs from Manila brought the house down and a special fire dance performance by Rachel Lobangco that left everyone in awe, right before the celebrities and special guests took on a cruise control via MV Vianelle led by Captain Marcelo Kaiser.

“Tweetbiz” does Dodge n' Pop in Boracay

After a successful debut in the summer of ’09, inimitable beach dodgeball fun and excitement returned to Boracay for the second straight year through the 2010 Nestlé Pops’ Dodge N’ Pop Summer Dodgeball Games. Covering the fun and excitement were none other than the hosts of Tweetbiz – Qtv’s hottest primetime gossip show. Hosts Sam YG a.k.a. Love Guru Shivaker and "Survivor" castaway Justine Ferrer were the show's representatives as they scoured the island to find interesting ways of dissecting the hottest and latest showbiz news while getting wet and wild on the beach.

Tweetbiz hosts Justine Ferrer and Love Guru Shivaker take to the sands of Boracay

As its name suggests, beach dodgeball is a hybrid of sorts that ingeniously sets the highly accessible and beloved team sport against the backdrop of the ultimate summer destination. It is a nifty twist on the sport that notches up the game both for the players and spectators.

A Star-Studded Exhibition

The tournament, held right smack at the middle of a sweltering summer season, offered a cool reprieve from the Boracay heat as people stopped by to chill, watch and treat themselves with tubs of Nestlé Pops. The exciting competition saw match ups between returning and new dodgeball teams as well as guest celebrities who gamely joined the fray.

A celebrity exhibition match saw the Boys Night Out crew (Slick Rick, Toni Tony and Sam YG ) hurling and dodging balls in the sand against broadcaster Tony Gonzales, comedian Maverick, and Magic 89.9 DJs Suzy and Mia, as well as Junior Jocks Tyler and Dale.

Sports buff Boom Gonzales & DJ Tony Toni battle is out on the dodgeball court

Meanwhile, the official competition had the Boracay Strikers besting last year’s champions, the Boracay Dragons, in a breathtaking finals game. The winning team won loads of prizes, including P20,000 in cash.

As a perfect after-sports reward, major sponsor Philips, which held special wellness activities in the island during the same weekend, gave away premium items to the champions and other top teams. Co-sponsor Flawless Face and Body Clinic also handed out special pampering currencies to the participants to complement their long exposure under the summer sun.

Wellness in Paradise

Adding some spice to the event were the winning body builders from the recently concluded 3rd Boracay Philippines National Bodybuilding & Figure Championships 2010. It was a battle of brawn and beauty as Mr. & Ms. Flawless and Mr. & Ms. Philips Lifestyle took to the sands for an impromptu pose off for the beachcombers. After flexing their muscles for the Tweetbiz hosts and the hundreds of spectators about the court, they joined the celebrity athletes in battling it out in a fun game of dodgeball before taking a break to munch down some delicious Nestle Pops Ice Cream. They were also able to cool down at the Philips cool-off tent in front of Ti-Braz French-Filipino inspired restaurant. There the bunch was able to tune in to the latest sounds via Philips GoGear mp3 players and try out the other gadgets on display.

Serious enthusiasts from the Philippine Dodgeball Association (PDBA), who were at hand to officiate the tournament, were excited to see the competition growing in following, noting a thicker crowd in the annual competition’s sophomore year.

“I can see the Summer Dodgeball Games becoming an annual tradition in Boracay, especially because of the evident interest in the sport among both locals and visitors of the island,” said PDBA President Benedict Camara.

Nestle's Consumer Marketing Manager Gel Angeles awards the Boracay Strikers Team the coveted Dodge & Pop 2010 grand prize!

“Boracay and dodgeball is a perfect match, especially since both the game and the island are all about summer fun for everyone. Literally anyone can try it out and enjoy it right off the bat, without any special training or equipment” said Camara.

More Pops in the Future

“The sport’s fun factor makes it the perfect partner for our Nestlé Pops ice cream snack,” said Gel Angeles, Consumer Marketing Manager of Nestlé Philippines. Nestlé Pops are bite-sized treats made of classic Nestlé vanilla ice cream covered in rich chocolate coating. This innovative snack has become a hit among both kids and adults, especially during the hot summer months.

Not to say that dodgeball is just child’s play. “It can also be intensely competitive—which is what we saw at Dodge N’ Pop 2010.”

In fact, this year’s tournament also marked the official launch of University Dodgeball Games, a joint initiative by the PDBA and Nestlé to promote interest in the sport in the country’s top schools.

Maverick the Ice King aims for his target

According to Camara, UST, UP Diliman, La Salle, FEU, UE, La Consolacion, Miriam, Manila Doctors, UA&P, St.Scholastica Manila, PWU and College of St.Benilde are all slated to participate in the program, while other top schools have expressed interest to join.

Aside from the University Dodgeball Games, dodgeball had also been listed as an official event in the Women's National Collegiate Athletic Association (WNCAA) calendar for the first time ever this year.

“We’re very happy that the WNCAA decided to make dodgeball part of their official schedule,” said Camara. “What Nestlé has managed to achieve with its Dodge N’ Pop beach tournaments is really amazing.”

Diz Iz It beauty Grace Lee comments for the camera crew

To note, the PDBA is set to tour several universities to conduct dodgeball trainer certification programs for PE teachers, free Dodgeball clinics for students, and officiate actual matches.

Celebrity Sports Hoopla!

Playing sports and keeping active and fit is one of the best ways to enjoy the summertime as well as keep yourself busy (they say idleness is the devil’s plaything) – and for this week’s Mojo:lations, it’s a whole different ballgame as I was able to test my skills with some celebrity friends over the weekend. Trying my hand at various sports, it was a star-studded and sweaty but sweet summer experience.

Basketball Expedition

It’s been over a decade since I picked up a basketball, but I revived my game at the Quezon City Circle with the Coca-Cola Tigers and Expedition 206 Happiness Ambassadors. Together with international bloggers Tony Martin and Antonio Santiago, we joined basketball legend Kenneth Duremdes at an impromptu game of hoops with some urban youth. Amazingly, I was able to shoot and score quite well at the free-throw competition.

“Happiness Ambassador”

Antonio Santiago with basketball starKenneth Duremdes

We picked up a few pointers from the kids and professional ballers on how to improve our game before meeting up with sports star turned celebrity Enchong Dee for an inspiring speech on the importance of sports for Filipino youth. Aiming to discover fresh talents, the Coca-Cola Hoopla (a grassroots-based basketball tournament for players 18 years old and below) was just one of the stops for the Expedition 206 as they visited the Philippines to find out what makes pinoys happy.

Enchong Dee, Tony Martin & Mojo open happiness for Expedition 206

You can follow the Coca-Cola “Happiness Ambassadors” at www.expedition206.com as they spend the year trying to visit the 206 countries where Coca-Cola is sold with the mission of discovering the meaning of “Happiness” all around the globe! While in Manila, they came to the conclusion that food, family, friends, sports, and the spirit of optimism and hospitality are all part of the happy mix that Filipinos enjoy!

Stars all-out for Soccer

Chynna Ortaleza, Railey Valeroso & DJ Tony Toni
at the Castrol Soccer Fiesta

It was an adrenaline-pumping climax at Castrol’s final leg of their celebration in commemoration of the 2010 World Cup Finals which will be happening in Johannesburg, South Africa. After a star-studded string of events, celebrities and sports stars alike trooped out to Castrol’s various Soccer Fiestas to root on the competitors and hype up the spectators at hand.

For the past few weeks, Castrol has been travelling to various SM Malls encouraging soccer/football fanatics to try their hand at various skills challenges to compete for an all-expense paid trip to watch the 2010 World Cup finals match. After making a purchase of Castrol products, each competitor put their skills to the test. The objective is to finish the obstacle course at the fastest possible time. The challenges involved basic soccer skills such as dribbling, juggling, shooting, passing and shuttle running.

The competition has been staged in what is called the Castrol Arena in each participating SM mall. The Castrol Arena is a mini-futsal court supervised by the Futbol Sa Kalye (Futkal) non-profit group that promotes soccer in depressed areas in Metro Manila. The “Futkaleros” are headed by former La Salle player Peter Amores.

Celebrity players Daiana Meneses & Wesley Gonzales
dodge the heat with some Nestle Pops Ice Cream

SM North’s “The Block” was the venue for the competition awarding, and it was filled to the brim with spectators. There was a quick showbiz recap thanking the celebs that celebrities that had participated in the Soccer Fiesta 2010. Some personalities that showed their support for the sport were model/actress Daiana Meneses, sportscaster Lia Cruz, newsman TJ Manotoc, basketball star Wesley Gonzales, celebrity couple Chynna Ortaleza & Railey Valeroso, VJ/actress Denise Laurel, Magic 89.9’s Boys Night Out DJs, and more. Showing off his fancy moves and amazing soccer skills, international football freestyler star Philip Warren Gertsson was also at hand to add some high-energy excitement to the Soccer Fiesta program!

Castrol's Country Marketing Manager Paul Salapantan says, "Castrol has been so involved with motorsports that we just had to take a look back and see what we were missing out. Football is the world’s number one sport and its values are so in tune with Castrol that it just had to happen. There are so many groups or even sports that we could tap into. We’re not just into this World Cup in South Africa but even the next one in Brazil. It’s a worldwide commitment to the game."

PDBA’s Summer Games

“Diz Iz It” stars grace Lee and Sam YG have been spotted dodging, diving and playing the sport! While many have began taking up the game after the release of that 2004 cinematic classic Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story, dodgeball in the country has up until now been the reserve of a small handful of in-the-know weekend players.

After the celebrity kick-off for the University Dodgeball Games, a joint project between the PDBA and Nestle Ice Cream that seeks to get more Filipino interested in the sport, more and more Filipinos have tried their hand at the game! Over the course of the University Dodgeball Games, the PDBA will be visiting some of the top schools in the country to conduct dodgeball trainer certification programs for PE teachers, free Dodgeball clinics for students, as well as actual competitive matches.

The efforts of the PDBA are starting to pay off big. This year, dodgeball is set to premiere as an official event in the Women's National Collegiate Athletic Association (WNCAA) calendar.

“We’ve been pushing for dodgeball to be included in the PE cuurricula of more schools for some time now,” says Camara. “Dodgeball is a great school sport because you don’t need any special training or expensive equipment to play, and games can be as light or competitive as you want it to be. I’m very happy with all that Nestlé has been doing to help bring this great sport to the rest of the country.”

Stars Got Game!

It was an action-packed weekend as I attended Castrol’s final leg of their celebration in commemoration of the 2010 World Cup Finals which will be happening in Johannesburg, South Africa. It was a star-studded string of events as celebrities and sports stars alike trooped out to Castrol’s various Soccer Fiestas and root on the competitors.

For the past few weeks, Castrol has been travelling to various SM Malls encouraging soccer/football fanatics to try their hand at various skills challenges to compete for an all-expense paid trip to watch the 2010 World Cup finals match. The challenges involved basic soccer skills such as dribbling, juggling, shooting, passing and shuttle running.

Switcharoo! Wesley Gonzales tries his best at the
Castrol Soccer Fiesta

SM North’s “The Block” was the venue for the competition awarding, and it was filled to the brim with spectators. There was a quick showbiz recap thanking the celebs that celebrities that had participated in the Soccer Fiesta 2010. Some personalities that showed their support for the sport were model/actress Daiana Meneses, sportscaster Lia Cruz, newsman TJ Manotoc, basketball star Wesley Gonzales, celebrity couple Chynna Ortaleza & Railey Valeroso, VJ/actress Denise Laurel, Magic 89.9’s Boys Night Out DJs, and more. Showing off his fancy moves and amazing soccer skills, international football freestyler star Philip Warren Gertsson was also at hand to add some high-energy excitement to the Soccer Fiesta program!

Another sport on the rise

After the celebrity kick-off for the University Dodgeball Games, a joint project between the PDBA and Nestle Ice Cream that seeks to get more Filipino interested in the sport, more and more Filipinos have tried their hand at the game! Over the course of the University Dodgeball Games, the PDBA will be visiting some of the top schools in the country to conduct dodgeball trainer certification programs for PE teachers, free Dodgeball clinics for students, as well as actual competitive matches.

Sweets for the Sweet: Daiana Meneses & Lia Cruz
cool off with some Nestle Pops Ice Cream

The efforts of the PDBA are starting to pay off big. This year, dodgeball is set to premiere as an official event in the Women's National Collegiate Athletic Association (WNCAA) calendar.

“We’ve been pushing for dodgeball to be included in the PE cuurricula of more schools for some time now,” says Camara. “Dodgeball is a great school sport because you don’t need any special training or expensive equipment to play, and games can be as light or competitive as you want it to be. I’m very happy with all that Nestlé has been doing to help bring this great sport to the rest of the country.”

This Gathering & More!

After sweeping the music scene with their carrier single “Castaway”, powerful group FRANCO continues to elevate the sound of rock to the core.

Not long after they broke into the music scene, the band has already managed to impress and capture the interest of various critics and audiences armed with their dynamic blend of smashing bass lines, punching drum beats and melodic sound. The undeniable musicality radiating from each band member is insurmountable; hailing FRANCO as the “Powerhouse band” and the next big thing to watch out for in 2010!

Franco Reyes, Gabby Alipe, Paolo "Ocho" Toleran, Buhawi "Buwi" Meneses and JanJan Mendoza make up the band

Fans celebrated “This Gathering, FRANCO Live at the Eastwood Central Plaza” over the weekend as the concert featured Franco’s all-original self-titled album under MCA Music, with their striking hits “Castaway,” and “This Gathering” and more.

With an all-original album, FRANCO vows to give a fresh kick to music with a blend of various musical influences (such as rock, alternative and reggae) injected in their tracks. Other cyclonic tracks include “Seasons”, “Next Train Out”, “Memory Kill”, “This Gathering” just to name a few.

John Lloyd’s Cherry Festival

Cherry Mobile has made great leaps and bounds in delivering cutting-edge connectivity to Filipino consumers at immensely competitive prices. And with the sweet smile of their local celebrity endorser, pop heartthrob John Lloyd Cruz, Cherry now has much more to celebrate.

John Lloyd Cruz for Cherry Mobile

The brand is proud to launch the “Cherry Mobile Festival” campaign; A two-month long, nationwide sale of 42 Cherry Mobile phone models, which would make these affordable units even more bang for the buck while providing the same top of the line designs and features.

The Cherry Mobile Festival features sizzling promos such as the dobleng sulit buy 1 take 1 promo, and hard-to-beat discounts of up to 50 percent off: up for grabs are the limited stock C50 Curve Clamshell selling for 2,990 Php (down from 4,990 Php); C55 Clamshell dual-SIM for 3,590 Php; a free P1 model single-SIM phone for every purchase of the Q3 model dual-SIM, all for 2,990 Php; two 1800 single-SIM colored phone models with FM radio for the for only 2,580 Php; T80 Pulse Touchscreen dual-SIM for 3,495 Php (down from 6,990 Php); as well as the chance to grab an M30 dual- SIM TV phone for only 3,990Php (from 5,990 Php) when you swap any working or non-working cell phone of any brand.

The Happiness is Here!

Enchong Dee and the Expedition 206 “Happiness Ambassadors”
Toño, Kelly and Tony

Summer is the time for enjoyment, fun in the sun, and making memories with family and friends. With the season in full swing, the past weekend was a “happier” day than usual as we took happiness to the next level!

Online and on the radio, I’ve been counting down the days until the Expedition 206 bloggers touchdown on Philippine shores and now the time has arrived! After winning an innovative online contest, Coca-Cola’s “Happiness Ambassadors” Antonio Santiago, Kelly Ferris and Tony Martin have finally landed in Manila last Saturday and imbibed Filipino culture and hospitality.

This blogging trio was chosen from a pool of netizens from all over the world through an online voting process on the Expedition206.com website. Now Toño, Kelly and Tony have become overnight celebrities as they get to travel to the 206 countries where Coke is sold in just 365 days. Their mission - To ask people from all over the globe what the meaning of happiness is for them and blog about their travels along the way!

While in the Philippines, the Expedition 206 trio traveled around the Metro in a special Ford Expedition modified to look like a pinoy jeepney. Toño, Kelly and Tony also got to meet local Coca-Cola Happiness Ambassador Enchong Dee and Pinay blogger Madette Bernardo, winner of the Expedition 206 blog contest hosted by Top Philippine Blog www.donavictorina.com.

Check out next week's Mojo:lations for more details and photos of this once in a lifetime experience!

Chris Tiu & Lexi Schulze break their Silence

Chris Tiu understands the responsibility of fame

Undoubtedly one of the most appealing and talented young Filipino athletes to break through public consciousness, Chris Tiu is no stranger to fame and admiration. For the 24-year-old Management Engineering graduate from Ateneo de Manila University, however, it is not all just about the spotlight.

Despite being a champion basketball team captain, the face of several endorsements and the host of several TV shows, Chris remains admirably unassuming with a grounded view on celebrity and fame.

“It is important for me to always value my work in any field I engage in. I think if we treat our jobs and our colleagues with a lot of respect, then we are creating an environment where good values prevail,” says Chris with conviction rarely seen in young celebrities.

“The opportunity to have a certain amount of fame gives someone the chance, and more importantly, the responsibility to transmit and relay the right values to others,” added Chris. True to his conviction, Chris has taken up various social advocacies, including building decent and affordable housing projects for the poor, leading literacy sessions for street kids, and promoting Filipino volunteerism, among others.

Fighting for a Cause

Now, Chris is lending his voice to “Help Fight HPV” a concerted call to raise awareness on an insidious virus that affects both men and women, but has long been viewed as an exclusive female issue. “I was alarmed when I found out that approximately 12 Filipinas die each day from cervical cancer. More so, when I learned that even men can be infected by the Human Papillomavirus or HPV and pass the infection on to women,” revealed Chris.

HPV infection is a common, and highly communicable infection among men and women. Most infections resolve on their own. However, for those that persist, diseases such as genital warts, cervical cancer and other HPV-related diseases can develop.

Chris agrees on the urgent need to convey a strong message on the risks of HPV. “Times are changing and the values of the youth have now become more liberal. This more liberal attitude may increase the chance of acquiring HPV infections,” he propounds.

In order to reach people, a TV ad to help promote awareness about HPV related diseases was conceptualized. Creative agency AM&P, which has been behind the concept of the groundbreaking campaign for the past three years, has again tapped commercial director Gus Cruz to helm the TV ad.

Gus said Chris and his co-advocate Lexi Schulze--a socially active, versatile media personality, and a new mom--worked well in representing the modern Filipino male and female concerned about health and mortality.

“Lexi has that heartfelt character that women relate to, while Chris has that credibility of concern for the welfare of others. Taking his lead could get more guys to consider the repercussions of HPV,” said Gus.

Multi-media personality and new mom Lexi Schulze fights HPV

Lexi, who has been a staunch advocate of HPV awareness and prevention for years, was glad to have Chris on board this year. “I was quite happy to be opening up the campaign to the male populace. Bringing such a youthful yet mature and positive role model like Chris Tiu into the mix is great. He is an inspiration to the youth, and he will do a lot of good by spreading the word about HPV.”

Lexi admits to feeling a wee older standing alongside Chris during the shoot. “I felt like I was holding a little brother’s hand. But it was fitting to have that difference in age and gender as the call to arms against HPV is a fight everyone should suit up for. There will always be a brother, friend, aunt, grandmother, co-worker, or student that could use a helping hand.”