Catch up with the stars at Illo’s Home Buffet on Shaw Boulevard

BY GISELLE SANCHEZ

Nov 19, 2024 03:10 PM

  

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AT A GLANCE

• I could play catch-up with the stars that graced the fast-rising buffet restaurant chain opening in Metro Manila. 

From left: Ryza Cenon, Giselle Sanchez, Andrea del Rosario, and Regine Tolentino
 

Ryza Cenon, Rocco Nacino, Regine Tolentino, Andrea del Rosario, Enzo Pineda, Michelle Vito, and I grace the opening of Illo’s Shaw Boulevard in Mandaluyong. 

Located at Lancaster Hotel, the legendary Chef Niño Rodillos of Illo’s Party Trays opened three huge halls providing an events place for up to 200 guests plus delicious food. 

I could play catch-up with the stars that graced the fast-rising buffet restaurant chain opening in Metro Manila. 

Rocco Nacino, Melissa Gohing, Giselle Sanchez, Chef N, Cong Gus Tambunting, and Maq Agapito

Ryza Cenon

I was particularly impressed with Ryza’s semi-bald look. Only Ryza Cenon can pull off such a hairstyle and still look stunning.

The TV5 actress tells Gossip Girl why she is sporting that look, “My character Christine Maceda in Lumuhod Ka Sa Lupa demands such a hairstyle. She’s a bad-ass. You should watch her Mondays thru Fridays at 7:30 pm on TV5.” 

Regine Tolentino

I recently visited Regine Tolentino Atelier to rent a sexy casino-royale-inspired dress and hosted an event with that theme. I was surprised to see beautiful gowns and event dresses aside from the usual costumes she rents for themed parties. I was in awe and told Regine how significant the expansion of her business was. The actress-businesswoman told me a secret, “Never stop innovating, never stop expanding. Resting on your laurels will stagnate any business. Continue working hard to excite your customers so they will always return.” 

Andrea del Rosario 

When Andrea was a councilor in Calatagan, Batangas, I heard from constituents that she did a fantastic job with her projects to help the people's economic livelihood. I was surprised she did not run again with her impeccable work for the town: "I have to be a mom first. My daughter will undergo her third surgery. Please pray for her.” 

Beatrice Anne is the daughter of the award-winning actress. Bea is currently suffering from a rare congenital disease called Jejunal Atresia, which is a rare type of obstruction of the small bowel. 

From left: Regine Tolentino, Cong Gus Tambunting, Enzo Pineda, Chef Nino Rodillos, Michelle Vito, Maq Agapito, and Lancaster Hotel owner Ronald Lim

 Illo’s Home Buffet Shaw

And finally, the main star of the night – Illo’s Shaw. The New Illo’s Home Buffet is at Lancaster Hotel, 622 Shaw Blvd. You can check out their website, www.illoshome.com. They have three event venues for weddings, corporate parties, and baptisms. Illo’s party trays still deliver food to your doorstep, especially this Christmas; you can check out their menu on their website www.illospartytrays.com, and for larger catering needs, there is Illo’s prive (www.illosprive.com)   

Cebu definitely loves OPM

 AT A GLANCE

• With the rich lineup of OPM hits, this fourth installment of “I Love OPM” in Cebu was a resounding success. 

Kuh Ledesma

Cebu made it loud and clear: they love OPM! The full-packed ballroom of NUSTAR was the ultimate proof.

"I Love OPM” brought together some of the best talents in Filipino music for an unforgettable three-hour show, with the audience singing along, dancing, and feeling deeply connected. 

The evening was a showcase of timeless hits. Marco Sison's hit songs ' Make Believe' and ' Si Aida, si Lorna o Si Fe' were big winners. His duet with Kuh on Habang May Buhay had the crowd swooning, capturing that classic kilig factor. "Angayan sila," said someone from the audience. 

Vina Morales electrified the audience with her OPM retro medley, bringing everyone to their feet. Her duet with Kuh, a mash-up of Basil Valdez' "Kung Ako'y Iiwan Mo" and Dulce's "Paano Kung Wala Ka Na," was seamless; their voices blended perfectly, with neither overshadowing the other. This Kuh-Vina combination felt fresh, showing great potential for more future collaborations beyond Kuh’s usual singing partners. 

Kuh Ledesma and Marco Sison

Nonoy  Zuniga surprised everyone with his humor, showing a playful side that made the audience laugh. Yet his soulful rendition of "I’ll Never Say Goodbye" was pure sincerity—each note was heartfelt. The crowd was silent, completely captivated.

Meanwhile, the Apo Hiking Society, or the Apo ageless Society as Kuh called them, delivered their signature charm, performing their biggest hits, including a duet with Kuh on "Ewan," Apo’s very first hit, proving that a great song that no matter the age or who sings it, remains fresh to the ears.

Kuh, as always, delivered! Despite a slight cough at the beginning due to the smoke machine as she explained, she dazzled, delivering her classic hits with the same brilliance and excellence that have made her a household name. She has long championed Filipino music, and her dedication was evident in every song, especially her "Pilipino Ako (Pilipino Ako," a powerful nationalistic song celebrating the pride we should all feel as Filipinos. 

The accompanying video showcased Filipinos who have made a mark on the global stage in various fields, including film, music, and sports. What was surprising, yet humbling, that Kuh was not featured in the video’s background—even though she was one of the first to become a judge at the Miss Universe pageant. 

The show began late, but it was worth the wait, especially knowing the event was for a good cause. Universal Cultural Foundation’s support for Kalipay Negrense, an organization dedicated to rescuing and caring for disadvantaged children, made the concert even more meaningful. The cast’s powerful performance of "Lift Up Your Hands" was a heartfelt moment of solidarity, reminding us that the only way forward is to turn to God, trust Him, and accept Him as our Savior.

Despite the three-hour show time, many were left wanting more. How I wish Kuh would explore current hits like the songs of Ben&Ben, Sarah G’s Tala, or even SB 19's "Kapangyarihan." And with Kuh, there’s no doubt she could make these songs her own.

With the rich lineup of OPM hits, this fourth installment of “I Love OPM” in Cebu was a resounding success. Here’s hoping for a fifth, sixth, and so on in Cebu or other parts of the country—or the world. OPM unites us and makes us proud, and as Kuh’s show proved, it’s a priceless part of our cultural heritage worth celebrating.

Lisa announces debut solo album ‘Alter Ego’

BY JONATHAN HICAP

Nov 20, 2024 03:44 AM 

Lisa, a member of K-pop group BLACKPINK, announced her highly anticipated debut solo album, “Alter Ego.”

The world renowned rapper, singer, dancer, and style icon will be releasing her solo album on Feb. 28 next year through LLOUD Co. and RCA Records. 

Lisa started teasing about the new album last week with a series of social media posts hinting at the album title while also touring Asia for her five city sold-out limited run of fan meet dates. 

Lisa (Photo by Wontae Go)

In a video, Lisa emulated five characters each representing a unique personality. They are represented by the five points on a star, which has become a key emblem in the campaign. The announcement of Lisa’s debut solo album comes at the tail end of a record breaking year full of exciting new solo music and high energy performances. 

She recently made headlines on the cover of Billboard as its first ever global cover star. She graced the cover of the magazine for 10 Billboard editions including Billboard US, Billboard Arabia, Billboard Brazil, Billboard Canada, Billboard Espanol, Billboard Italia, Billboard Japan, Billboard Korea, and Billboard Philippines. 

“Lisa has star power in spades,” Billboard announced. 

Earlier in the week, Lisa was also featured as one of the cover stars of Vanity Fair’s highly coveted Hollywood Issue in anticipation of her debut acting role in season three of HBO’s “The White Lotus.” 

Lisa’s most recent single from the forthcoming album, “Moonlit Floor”, showcases both her ethereal vocals and immense talent as a rapper while interpolating the 90s hit classic, “Kiss Me,” by Sixpence None The Richer. 

In addition, she also saw success with her preceding singles “New Woman,” featuring Grammy-winning singer-songwriter Rosalía, and “Rockstar,” which quickly propelled to the top of the charts following its release. 

“Rockstar” debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard Global Excl. US Chart and No. 4 on the Billboard Global 200 weekly while debuting at No. 8 on Spotify’s Global Daily Chart and charting in more than 20 markets worldwide. 

The single also held the No. 1 spot in Thailand on Spotify, LISA’s home country, for 10 consecutive days and now has nearly 427 million streams. 

The official music video for “Rockstar,” directed by Henry Scholfield and choreographed by Sean Bankhead, amassed an impressive over 265 million views to date and hit No. 1 on YouTube’s global weekly chart following release. 

Along with the release of the three singles, which will be included in “Alter Ego,” Lisa gave electrifying performances at Global Citizen Festival in NYC and the 2024 Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show. 

Lisa also returned to the VMA stage in September where she performed a medley of “New Woman” and “Rockstar.” She took home the moonperson for Best K-pop for her single “Rockstar” that night and broke a new record as the first solo act to win in that category multiple times. 

Additionally, Lisa won two awards earlier this month at the MTV EMAs for Best Collaboration for her hit song “New Woman" feat. Rosalia and for Biggest Fans. 

NOWADAYS LIFE IS NO MORE FAIR

 

Life isn't fair because you expect it to be. Life is random. You think it is supposed to be fair, so you have expectations. The key to happiness is letting go of expectation and dealing with what is in front of you. Life is tough, it is cruel at times, but there is also great capacity for happiness, even joy.  

You are the only person who can see from your exact point of view. Everyone else around you has a completely different point of view. Therefore, people just might disagree with you because your view of reality may be different than theirs. If they disagree with you, they will work against you.

Plenty of people work hard but never get what they feel they deserve. Plenty of people are incredibly decent but always seem to get the short end of the stick. Plenty of people are smart but never seem to apply their academic excellence to entrepreneurial or professional achievement.

Plenty of people fall in love only to see their love squandered on someone who doesn’t reciprocate.

The conclusion most of us reach . . . life isn’t fair.

Or, is it that many of us just don’t understand the "protocol" and have a bad relationship with “fairness”?

Many times I have observed that children at a young age like to cry out: "It isn't fair", whenever they feel they are wronged. Just a couple of days ago, I heard one father, whose patient was already very thin, responding grimly: "The whole life is not fair!"

Even we adults often have problems with the idea of fairness. the laborers in the vineyard certainly did. They received exactly what they had bargained for, yet they complained when others got the same pay for less work.

If this parable was a story about earned wages, the grumblers would have been quite right to complain. But this story is about the way God deals with us, and how can we say that God is not fair?

Fairness means clearness and being free from fault or stain. Fairness is the light-colored, hopeful and plausible part of our life - the span between life and death. Life is and cannot always be fair - of course not! But we could make it a little bit fairer, though many times our world is ruled by falseness.

Fairness requires people to be put into categories. Anyone who fulfills certain requirements will receive a certain reward, regardless of differences in the situation. But only God knows that categories only outline the sort of people we are. He knows that each one of us is unique and with individual needs.

In our everyday life, do we really practice the idea of fairness at our workplace and in our dealings with others? How? Let's analyze ourselves. May we learn what it means to be fair to another person... .

I learned a lot from Steve Wohlenhaus, CEO of Weatherology, the leading company in the world at disseminating audio weather information. Wohlenhaus said, "We need to spend more time focused on the present and less time ruminating about the past. We need to accept the unpleasant aspects of our past and do our best to move on. Concentrate on the present and create a beautiful and better future. That’s energy well spent. 

When we get trapped believing our past defines our future, life seems unfair. When we spend too much time contemplating the future and believe our destiny is outside our control, we feel helpless and life seems "unfair". Allocating our emotional energy wisely helps us dedicate our time to what truly matters and gain control over the belief that life is unfair".

Proverbs, probably the most down-to-earth book in the bible, prepares us for our daily life. In its prologue (Purpose and Theme) it says in 1:3: "...for acquiring a disciplined and prudent life, doing what is right and just fair". The Colossians added in the "Rules for Christian Householders" in 4:1, "Masters, provide your slaves with what is right and fair... .".

Life is unfair and therefore painful enough to cause grief. By a consideration that some good may develop from the unfairness of life still makes life a good option over dying. Life is still good in light of living hopefully, not as one prone to quitting

What are the traits of leaders that change lives?

It's not what you think.

True leadership isn't about corner offices
or impressive titles.

It's about these 8 essential traits that transform
ordinary moments into lasting impact:

1. Lead with Real Empathy
↳ Move beyond surface-level listening
↳ Understand what drives your people
↳ Connect with their challenges and dreams

2. Master Adaptability
↳ Turn obstacles into opportunities
↳ Keep moving forward when others freeze
↳ Find new paths when old ones close

3. Share a Clear Vision
↳ Paint a picture others can see
↳ Make the future feel possible
↳ Give purpose to daily work

4. Build Trust
↳ Do what you say you'll do
↳ Create safety through consistency
↳ Be the leader people can count on

5. Speak with Clarity
↳ Cut through the noise
↳ Make complex things simple
↳ Give direction that moves people forward

6. Own Your Actions
↳ Take responsibility, not credit
↳ Stand behind your decisions
↳ Show others what accountability means

7. Stay Authentic
↳ Drop the corporate mask
↳ Lead with real transparency
↳ Let others see your human side

8. Lift Others Higher
↳ Celebrate progress, not just results
↳ Push people past their comfort zones
↳ Help others see their hidden potential

Here's what most people miss:

These aren't just traits.
They're choices you make every day.

Small moments add up.
Simple actions create lasting change.

Which trait will you strengthen today?
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7th Mount Apo Sky race slated Nov. 1 to Dec. 1

BY ANTONIO COLINA IV

Nov 18, 2024 02:44 PM 

DAVAO CITY – Filipino and international runners will participate in the 7th Mount Apo Sky and Vertical Race 2024 to and from the peak of Mount Apo from Nov. 30 to Dec. 1.

Doi Calbes, race director, said that they expect around 140  participants from all over the world, including the United Kingdom, the United States, Malaysia, and the Philippines, in the  two-day race, consisting of a 100-kilometer and 50-kilometer categories with new categories for beginners such as 21-kilometer and seven-kilometer.

He said that the male and female champions of the 100-kilometer category would represent the country in the Lantau race in Hong Kong in February. 

Calbes said that the race will commence from Playa de Oboza Beach Resort in Santa Cruz town, Davao del Sur, going to the peak of Mount Apo.

Runners will scale the country’s highest peak via a trail in Barangay Sibulan, Santa Cruz, which Calbes said is the “most unique” because of its scenic view of huge boulders stretching 3.5 kilometers to the summit.

He said that the international race attracted numerous contestants in previous years, benefiting the local tourism industry by keeping businesses thriving while generating livelihoods and jobs for locals.

“Nowadays, sports tourism is thriving. Aside from promoting sports or running community, we also promote our tourism destination in Santa Cruz and Davao region. We help the community and promote flights and transpiration through this event,” he said.

Mount Apo, also a popular eco-tourism destination, was declared a heritage park through the Nov. 29, 1984, Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Declaration on Heritage Parks and Reserves.

Mount Apo is among eight landmarks declared heritage parks in the Philippines and one of 38 in the 10-country ASEAN – Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam.
 
The country’s highest peak, a biodiversity hotspot, was proclaimed as a protected area under the National Integrated Protected Areas Systems of 1991.

According to the ASEAN Center for Biodiversity, which serves as the secretariat of the ASEAN Heritage Parks Program, Mount Apo is the Philippines’ highest mountain at 3,143.6 meters and is known as the last stronghold of the remaining population of the rare and endangered Philippine Eagle (Pithecophaga jefferyi).

The Mount Apo Natural Park has an area of 54,974 hectares (with a buffer zone of 9,078 hectares) covering Kidapawan City and the municipalities of Makilala and Magpet in the province of Cotabato in the South Cotabato, Cotabato, Sarangani, and General Santos City region and municipalities of Bansalan and Santa Cruz and Digos City in Davao del Sur and Davao City in the Davao region.

ASEAN Heritage Parks are defined as “protected areas of high conservation importance, preserving in total a complete spectrum of representative ecosystems of the ASEAN region” and established “to generate greater awareness, pride, appreciation, enjoyment, and conservation of ASEAN’s rich natural heritage through a regional network of representative protected areas and to generate collaboration among ASEAN member-states in preserving their shared natural heritage.” 

The mountain is also of “high value” as a major water source for both regions.