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Friday, July 12, 2024
The STANDS - An INQUIRER Sports Newsletter
Kitchen honey! The Miele and Half Saints connection
Bringing the German global home appliance brand Miele and the local food brand Half Saints together at the Miele BGC showroom
Bringing the German global home appliance brand Miele and the local food brand Half Saints together at the Miele BGC showroom is a stroke of marketing genius. Half Saints, led by Christine Roque and Jo Arciaga, has always stood for high quality, fresh ingredients, and culinary creativity that transcends geographical boundaries. With two stores now in Tokyo, they strongly believe that if Japanese food brands can travel and succeed in the Philippines, Filipino brands can achieve the same success in Japan.
It’s a “can do” spirit and ambition that Miele, a 125-year-old brand, can fully appreciate. After all, Miele, founded in 1899 and still a family-owned enterprise, has the historical precedent of taking the technology of a machine for churning butter and realizing the same tech would work for washing clothes. They haven’t looked back since, constantly improving and aiming for that Life Beyond Ordinary.
Angela Sy, head of finance and strategy at Focus Global Inc., and Christine Roque welcomed guests to the Miele showroom and announced the pop-up of Half Saints Bakes. This is a welcome move for anyone who has been to their Quezon City home and sampled their great food and pastries. I’ve been there twice and was happy to know I can get their goodies right here in BGC while the pop-up lasts.
Pairing Half Saints with Miele is one “kitchen honey” move; and yes, I’m playing on the “Miel” in Miele, which literally means honey in French. I also took note of the distinct honeycomb design found in the top-rated Miele washing machines and dryers. It seems the upmarket, luxury German domestic appliance brand welcomes this association with honey and all things sweet.
If the Miele product range focuses on the kitchen, the laundry room, and floor care, don’t make the mistake of thinking it’s like any other brand in the same retail arena. With the guiding principle of “Immer Besser,” which founders Carl Miele and Reinhard Zinkann printed on their very first machines, the standards for durability, performance, ease of use, energy efficiency, design, and service were all set in stone. Its consistent positioning in the premium segment is a testament to 125 years of this steadfast strategic position. “Immer Besser” translates to "Forever Better."
Fast forward to today, and the short tour I was taken on by Migs of Focus Global was an eye-opener to how Miele and technology are strong bedfellows. Miele has embraced cutting-edge technology to make their appliances even smarter and more efficient than we could imagine or anticipate.
Their convection oven has a built-in camera so that you can always see what’s happening inside. The exhaust or hood tops for their cooking range are diverse and flexible. As for the range itself, with over six positions, it is smart enough to detect when one position is being used and will automatically shut down when not in use or when the pot or pan has been transferred to another position.
Their top-of-the-line dishwasher is a solid investment with a lifespan of more than 10 years. It automatically programs according to the amount of load and washing solution required, efficiently handling even the most stubborn sediments and smears. I was told it also uniquely handles glassware.
Alongside the state-of-the-art vacuum cleaners, there’s truly so much to discover at the Miele showroom. Making your visit even sweeter is the opportunity to take home a box of Half Saints Bakes. Their Ruby Chocolate Pistachio Tart and Merci Buko Cream Puffs offer a delightful introduction to the Half Saints world. And I personally love the Chocolate Tart.
Manila Symphony Junior Orchestra wins at the 16th Summa Cum Laude International Music Festival
The group is reaping awards in Europe
The Manila Symphony Junior Orchestra (MSJO) once again clinched an award in Europe, securing First Place with Outstanding Success in the String Orchestra Category at the 16th Summa Cum Laude International Music Festival in Vienna, Austria, held on July 7, 2024, at the Golden Hall of the Musikverein. This year’s festival, directed by Prof. Saul Saks and Managing Director Christian Bender, is renowned as one of the most prestigious for young musicians, drawing over 2000 participants from 14 countries and 38 ensembles.
The competition also awarded first place to the Hsing Lung String Orchestra from Taiwan, with the Hong Kong Youth Strings and the Taipei Municipal Zhongzheng Junior High School taking second place, and the Singapore National Youth String Orchestra securing third place.
It can be recalled this is not the first time MJOS bagged an award from this competition. Back in 2018, the group took home the first prize award. For this year, they are led by Maestro Jeffrey Solares and their trainers Sara Maria Gonzales and Arnold Josue. The 40-member MSJO embarked on their European Concert Tour on June 29.
Their tour included performances in Budapest and Salzburg, followed by competitions in Bratislava and Vienna. They will continue their tour with concerts at the MuTh Theater in Vienna and perform at the Winner's Concert at the Vienna Konzerthaus. They will conclude their tour with a final performance at the Smetana Hall in Prague on July 11, 2024, before returning to the Philippines on July 13.
The MSJO’s repertoire featured Puccini’s “Crisantemi”, Dvorak’s “Scherzo” from “Serenade for Strings”, Stephan Koncz’s “A New Satiesfaction”, Ernani Cuenca’s “Naha”n arranged by Cyro Cloud Bon Moral, and Ryle Nicole Claudio’s “Tagu-taguan” by Ryle, performed entirely from memory.
Prior to the 16th Summa Cum Laude International Music Festival, on July 4, 2024 the MSJO also won the Gold and the Grand Prix at the 6th Bratislava International Music Festival in Slovakia. The 2024 European Tour of the Manila Symphony Junior Orchestra is sponsored by Standard Insurance.
Athlete-beauty queen Michelle Gumabao says she's done with pageants, wants to try action series
Former beauty queen and volleyball player Michelle Gumabao is returning to show business and hopes to pursue action series or movies.
During a press conference at Victorino's in Timog, Quezon City, on July 11, Michelle revealed she's open to action projects, considering her interests in adventure and extreme sports.
"Isa yun sa hino-hope ko rin na magkaroon ng isang role sa isang project. Kung kaya ko rin matutunan yung ibang stunts, it's also something na gusto ko rin masubukan if given an opportunity," Michelle said.
When she returned to showbiz, Michelle said she would continue volleyball. She explained why she decided to focus on sports before showbiz.
"At that time ang dami ko pang pangarap sa volleyball. When I started volleyball, halos college na talaga. Coming from the De La Salle na nag champion kami papuntang professional league, na kakaumpisa pa lang, I wanted to see kung hanggang saan ang contribution ko sa sport.
"Hindi rin naman ako agad makakapasok sa showbiz if not for sports. So that time, I wanted to give back to sports muna na nagbigay sa aking ng maraming opportunity.
"Excited kami how everything will unfold kasi nga bago ang volleyball professional league. Volleyball is now gaining popularity and attention locally and internationally," said Michelle, brother of hunk actor Marco Gumabao.
Michelle, 31, believes her height of 5'10 is not an issue regarding having a leading man.
"Actually I considered acting after Pinoy Big Brother kaso wala silang mahanap na partner ko kasi ang tangkad ko. Joke lang!
"Pero kahit na hindi naman mas matangkad sa akin okay lang naman kung yun lang naman ang storyline. Wala naman akong taong ina-eye. Sana lang yung taong magiging ka-partner of taong I am familiar with para comfortable ako if ever I would star in my first acting project," she said.
Michelle hopes to work with Piolo Pascual, John Lloyd Cruz, Marian Rivera, and Toni Gonzaga-Soriano
No regrets
Michelle said she had no regrets about joining pageants. In 2018, Michelle was crowned Bb. Pilipinas Globe. And in 2020, she joined Miss Universe Philippines.
She expressed disappointment at not being able to attend the 60th Binibining Pilipinas at the Araneta Coliseum on July 7. But she watched the finals online.
"Ang pagsali ko sa pageant is a big learning experience rin sa akin. Hindi ko talaga siya dream when I was a kid. Peor nakita ko kasi yung impact ng isang beauty queen. Nakita ko yung platform nila so sabi ko I wanted to try. It gave me a lot of opportunities.
"Ang dami kong nakilala. I gained many sisters and friends in the process. I will never regret any experience, whether successful or not. There will always be an advantage for me. Marami naman siyang naidulot sa akin," she said.
Michelle stated she was finished with pageants, even though the age restrictions had been lifted. "Hindi na talaga ako sasali uli. "
One of the best lessons learned in pageantry Michelle said: "You have to be genuine. Makikita talaga ng tao kung nagpapanggap ka or nagsisinungaling ka. Pinanghahawakan ko talaga na to be true to yourself. Even until now, I try to hold onto na kahit na sumikat ka, hindi mo talaga makakalimutan kung sino ka at saan ka nanggaling."
The daughter of actor Dennis Roldan revealed she's currently in a relationship but prefers to keep it private.
Michelle will be managed by Joel Roslin, the same manager as comedians Jose Manalo and Wally Bayola.
Thursday, July 11, 2024
Wednesday, July 10, 2024
Miss Earth-Air Yllana Aduana grateful for Miss FIT Philippines journey
By: Armin P. Adina
INQUIRER.net / 10:44 AM July 10, 2024
Reigning Miss Earth-Air Yllana Marie Aduana with the 2024 Miss FIT Philippines behind her onstage
Reigning Miss Earth-Air Yllana Marie Aduana with the 2024 Miss FIT Philippines behind her onstage. Image: INQUIRER.net/Armin P. Adina
Reigning Miss Earth-Air Yllana Marie Aduana has now become one of the most iconic Filipino beauty queens in recent memory, and she fondly looked back on her first national title that she said helped mold her into the woman that she has become.
Talking to INQUIRER.net at the sidelines of the 2024 Miss FIT (Face, Intelligence, Tone) Philippines pageant’s preliminary competition at the Music Museum in San Juan City on Monday, July 8, she said the contest is really special for her.
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“[This] was the pageant that really paved the way, and really opened multiple doors of opportunity for me. And this is also the pageant that paved the way for me to meet my ProMedia family (her management company), who really treated me like family, too,” said Aduana, who hosted the event.
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As a competition that promotes holistic fitness, the Miss FIT Philippines is looking for a queen beyond her pretty face, emotional and intellectual intelligence, and toned physique, she said, emphasizing the pageant’s search for someone who is “holistically fit in all matters and all levels.”
Sharing her journey as a candidate in the said contest, Aduana said, “I also took the platform to really share my advocacies. Back then in 2021, I shared about my story of being able to conquer bulimia nervosa. And with that platform I was able to connect myself to people, and that molded me to become a good spokesperson that I am now.”
The licensed medical laboratory scientist said she wants the title to go to a queen who is not only holistically fit but also a great representative of the Miss FIT Philippines brand, and “someone who has an edge to join the national competition in the future.”
After clinching the Miss FIT Philippines crown, Aduana took part in the 2022 Binibining Pilipinas pageant, where she advanced to the Top 12, and also received the Face of Binibini award. A year after, she returned to the Miss Philippines pageant two years since her first participation, and bagged the top prize. She was later crowned Miss Earth-Air at the 2023 Miss Earth pageant held in Vietnam in December.
The new Miss FIT Philippines queen will be crowned at the culmination of the final competition at the SkyDome of SM North Edsa in Quezon City on July 11. Twenty-three candidates from all over the Philippines are competing this year.
Read more: https://entertainment.inquirer.net/565605/miss-earth-air-yllana-aduana-grateful-for-miss-fit-philippines-journey#ixzz8fYSELOus
Follow us: @inquirerdotnet on Twitter | inquirerdotnet on Facebook
Filipino time
By Sean Michael S. Caguiwa
There are only three certainties in Filipino life: death, taxes, and being late.
For someone who’s always had his calendar full, it was one of my utmost joys to attend occasions, training, or whatever event necessitated a call time. But as I ticked another event off my calendar, it was as if time also ticked along with it and went to waste.
I’m not leading you to the conclusion that my friends could never give me that dopamine rush or even fit a place in my core memory; it was just that they were always late, and I bore the consequences of waiting hours before the party was even complete.
As time eventually went by in its ever-continuous continuum, I also grew accustomed to being late—and I was a true “Pinoy”—for I’ve become someone who perpetuates the never-ending cycle of “Filipino time.” Why should I bear the burden of tidying myself up in a hurry when I could gather my time so I could slay my outfit? Well, the sad thing is that everyone thinks this way, and in the end, we’ve lived long enough to see ourselves become the villains we hated.
But in the same way that Filipinos are so fond of being late, why not apply it to our inner life philosophy?
I don’t have a personal vendetta for time, but if being late to the call time we’ve agreed upon is socially acceptable, why isn’t it okay for us to not be on the same path of success compared to our peers who have found their way to it already? It’s as simple as this: “Buhay ay ‘di karera” and I’m sure most have heard this from the viral videos that featured learners dancing and singing “Karera,” BINI’s song, during their ceremonies.
And with these videos booming, it’s just another sign that it is time to bolster the fact that it’s okay to be late in life because God has ordained our own paths that will be attained in their perfect timing—for His glory and our good.
But with this fact, it’s only been recently instilled in my mind to heed the truth that I will not always be first, the smartest in the room, or the one people will be pleased with. As a consistently overachieving student, it was as if people and I had been institutionalized with the pretense that it was a sure win for my end, and on the occasion that I lost, I fell into a never-ending spiral of self-doubt. It only led me to the fear of disappointment, and even if I did my best, I always felt like an impostor.
The sad thing is that this lived experience isn’t only my story to attest to, for the conservative roots of our culture have ingrained the idea that being the first to do something always equates to success. While being first may mean that you won a race, the problem is that this isn’t the race to dictate our lives; life is more than just one finish line.
Now, even if I had faced disappointment, I found beauty in the struggle, in the failure, and in the mockery I made of myself when I lost because I knew that there was always beauty in embracing our individuality. And inevitably, if we choose to accept that we have our own story to tell our grandkids one day, it allows us to grow at our own pace and would transform the abhorrent tragedies we once scorned to forget into valuable lessons. It isn’t fitting to succumb to the pressure that culture puts on us to conform to societal timelines, which can stifle our potential in the long run. And every time we choose to slack off because we know that it’s socially acceptable to be late to gatherings nowadays, it’s much healthier to embrace that it’s okay to be late in our dreams because we give ourselves the freedom to explore, to take risks, and to find our unique path without the fear of judgment or failure—without bothering other people’s time or breaching the agreed upon call time.
Just take a look at the success stories that household names in the industry experienced in life, which we once thought were full of success, only to find out that their fruits of labor were the reason their accolades made their way to them. For example, J.K. Rowling didn’t have a magical tale when she wrote “Harry Potter,” as she was rejected by multiple publishers before the book became a global phenomenon. And Colonel Sanders didn’t establish KFC until he was in his 60s. Our stories may never end up as glamorous as theirs, but may these tales be a reminder that lateness doesn’t preclude success; it often accompanies resilience, perseverance, and an appreciation of our achievements.
This is neither a personal love letter to tardiness nor am I romanticizing that Filipinos often struggle with punctuality. Rather, I realized that time wasn’t moving too quickly—I was simply trying too hard to run toward accolades not understanding that life isn’t a race or that I was running with two left feet. I was chasing goals that weren’t meant for me.
Ironically, being late taught me to cherish small moments, even if I missed some because I took my time. “Filipino time” showed me that true destiny isn’t found by rushing.
The world didn’t end when I placed third in the Regional School Press Conference, while all my peers moved on to the National School Press Conference. It didn’t stop when I didn’t attain “with highest honors.” And God didn’t forsake me despite the unfair treatment I received in 10th grade.
I can say, better late than never, it’s okay to be late—I prefer taking my time, and I hope you do, too.
Gagate hoping to form 'winning chemistry' with Thunderbelles
AT A GLANCE
Thea Gagate is looking forward to forming a “winning chemistry” with ZUS Coffee after being selected as the top overall pick in the 2024 Premier Volleyball League Rookie Draft Monday night, July 8.
The 6-foot-2 middle blocker admitted the pressure to deliver is always there for any draft picks, but she is more than focused on jelling with her teammates as the Thunderbelles try to regain lost bearings from the previous conference.
“It’s going to be very exciting,” said Gagate moments after her selection held at the Novotel in Cubao. “I need to make a great relationship with my teammates, especially my coaches and the management, para okay yung environment and para mas maging okay yung laro namin in the upcoming PVL conference,” she added.
A De La Salle University standout and member for the Alas Pilipinas, Gagate is expected to join forces with former College of St. Benilde players that include Cloanne Mondoñedo, Gayle Pascual and Jade Gentapa.
“We’ve never been together with other NCAA team. Hopefully makabuo kami ng magandang synergy together,” Gagate said.
Formerly Strong Group Athletics, the team debuted in the All-Filipino Conference early this year but finished 12th and last with no win and 11 losses.
Under new coach Jerry Yee, the Thunderbelles, along with Gagate and fellow draft picks Sharya Ancheta (13th) and Nikka Yandoc (19th) hope to make an impact in the upcoming conference.
TRAVEL AND TOURISM 'Swift's Church': German city temporarily changing name for Taylor Swift
Kristofer Purnell - Philstar.com
July 5, 2024 | 2:02pm
MANILA, Philippines — The German city of Gelsenkirchen will temporarily change its name to Swiftkirchen ahead of award-winning singer-songwriter Taylor Swift's upcoming stops in the city for her long-running "Eras Tour."
Gelsenkirchen mayor Karin Welge received a letter from local fan Aleshanee Westhoff about the possibility of changing the city's name for Taylor's performances from July 17 to 19, which the official obliged to.
"It's a great idea to temporarily rename Gelsenkirchen to 'Swiftkirchen,' which is why I'm particularly pleased that you can experience the short-term 'renaming' of Gelsenkirchen live and up close in Gelsenkirchen today," Karin replied to Aleshanee.
The fan and her sister Maylia helped install the first sign marking the entrance to "Swiftkirchen" — in English would mean "Swift's Church" — with more signs expected to pop up in the coming months.
A "Taylor Swift tram" is already going around the city and the Taylor will get a colorful stone on the city's official Walk of Fame.
Taylor is currently in the Netherlands leg of the Eras Tour and will stop by Switzerland and Italy before starting off her German legs in "Swiftkirchen" followed by Hamburg and the capital Munich.