DC presents DiRT Showdown Asian Tournament

The search for Asia’s ultimate Gymkhana video game racer will kick off in Philippines on August 4 and 7,
with a Manila leg at Ayala Trinoma and a Cebu leg at Ayala Center Cebu respectively.

Organised by DC, in conjuction with EpicSoft and CodeMasters, Monster Energy Drink and Samsung, the DiRT SHOWDOWN Asian Tournament will move from Malaysia to Thailand, Philippines, Vietnam and Indonesia thereafter.

Winners from these countries will be flown to Singapore to compete in the grand finals where the overall champion will be revealed.

The game play is simple – contestants will compete head-to-head on the Xbox game in a fast-paced match to score the points by doing Gymkhana tricks while maneuvering the race track.

The player who scores the most points in the shortest time possible wins and advances to the next round.

The overall champion will be the first ever DiRT SHOWDOWN Asian Champion, and will receive attractive prizes, including DC apparel, Xbox games, an autographed Ken Block poster, and an exclusive pair of DC shoes, autographed by world-renowned Gymkhana driver Ken Block.

For more information and to register, visit www.DirtShowdownAsia.com.

It's Showtime: Day 5

Magpasikat na, it's SHOWTIME!

It's a tradition for the gang to celebrate Valentine's Day dinner together. However, since not all of us are in Manila, we enlisted ourselves to be part of the live studio audience in Showtime.

Wall of Fame

We have to wear ABS-CBN Studio Tours sticker

At first, I find this tacky. However, being part of the live studio audience in a noontime show is one of the many things-to-do-before-I-die list. So, our group prepared for the inevitable and arrived just in time for the studio tour.

Kris TV's camera man

Kuya Kim-wannabes 

Thanks to our tour guide(s), we had fun visiting the different studios in the station. They gave out bits of trivia about the different shows and soaps done in a certain studio. After an hour or so, we were all ushered to the holding area for the Showtime audience. I'm not sure if they have paid audience but GKNB (Game Ka Na Ba?) had a few. We are standing next to some TFC Subscribers and other studio tour groups (who actually paid to be at the show) while the rest of the madlang people (non-studio tour groups) were sitting comfortably on plastic mono block chairs. Go figure.

PR people would love to hog the spotlight in every chance they get but I'm absolutely terrified to be seen on national TV. Of course, we're also not very excited at the thought of giving a sampol on TV.

Standing patiently while waiting for our cue to proceed to the studio

Food and drinks are not allowed in the studio. Before proceeding to the studio to go live, we are free to eat snacks  (there are snack booths located strategically below the holding area). After almost an hour, we were ushered to the studio filled with loud music blaring the noontime show's theme song on repeat. It's no wonder we were humming to "Pa-pa-pa-pa-ra-pa.." until the end of the show--potential LSS.

We got good seats

Before the start of the show, Tito Mel briefed us the yells, hand gestures and dance steps to be performed live. Yes, it's a requirement but it was fun.

"Briefing naman tayo.." - Tito Mel

Hurado for the week

In between commercial breaks, Tito Mel or someone from Showtime production staff would remind us again what to do when Vice Ganda does this, or when Kuya Kim does that. We did what we were told so we won't make an ass out of ourselves on national TV.

The Showtime hosts

Celebrity photo ops

Since it's Valentine's Day, the Showtime staff gave each female three Hershey's Kisses and each male a single rose. And we are to give it to our special someone when Vice Ganda gives the cue.

Flowers and chocolates

After Showtime (approximately around 3pm), we raced to the nearest fast food chain (a choice between KFC and McDonald's) for lunch. No wonder celebrities are anorexic-thin because they have to endure late lunches and probably dinners as well.

Check out my photo blog on Showtime on Tumblr.com.

Fashionably Edgy Res|Toe|Run

Res|Toe|Run definitely satisfies your appetite for shoes

Last Saturday, July 7, Res|Toe|Run's "Fashion Edge" show featured fashionable casual footwear, trendsetting sandals and flip flops and cutting edge athletic shoes at the Robinsons Place Dumaguete activity center. The event was in collaboration with the Student Government of Silliman University co-presented by The Travel Club, Sans rival and Mixed Berry.

Sillimanians models showed off different footwear choices that will make any shoe lover drool.  Aside from being the only footwear store which has a unique concept of a “restaurant” these footwear categories set apart the store from the others. The Res represents comfortable casual footwear, Toe is for toe-flaunting flip flops and sandals and the Run category which is for the athletic and active lifestyle. 

One of the store’s DNA is its Rare Finds brands, these are brands that you can exclusively see and buy inside Res|Toe|Run. Being a family destination, the store caters to all family members, from kids, teenagers to adults there is every footwear for everyone.

Res|Toe|Run Your Appetite for Shoes is owned and operated by the Primer Group of Companies, asia’s next retail giant. With 25 branches nationwide and now operating in Malaysia, the store commits in bringing the world closer to its customers. Res|Toe|Run has over 25 international brands such as Fitflop, DC, Kickers, Sanuk, The North Face, Native, Columbia, Tretorn, Quiksilver, Roxy, Bandals, KruZin and more.

Res I Toe I Run other outlets are located in Ayala Center Cebu, Abreeza Davao Ayala, Marquee Mall, Ayala Glorietta 4, Ayala TriNoma, Gateway Mall, Robinsons Galleria, Robinsons Ermita, Alabang Town Center, Shangri-la, Festival Mall, Robinsons General Santos, Robinsons Ilocos Norte, Robinsons Dumaguete, Avenue Square Naga, Embarcadero Mall Legazpi, MarketMarket, Solenad 2 Nuvali Laguna, Robinsons Tacloban, Lucky Chinatown Mall Binondo, Baguio TechnoHub, Camp John Hay, Robinsons Pangasinan, Robinsons Palawan, Podium and Harbor Point Subic and soon to open in Bacolod, Cavite, Magnolia and Cagayan de Oro.

For more information like www.facebook.com/ResToeRunOfficial and follow on www.twitter.com/Restoerun.

David Cook live in Cebu!

David Cook

Four years ago, Season 7 American Idol David Cook champ dominated the airwaves with his unforgettable rendition of Mariah Carey's "Always Be My Baby". This month, Filipinos will get another chance to watch him live on stage in Manila and Cebu.

Daly Entertainment in cooperation with LAMC Productions and Rockstar Touring will bring David Cook back to serenade his Filipino fans on July 14, 2012 in Manila at the Smart Araneta Coliseum and July 15, 2012 in Cebu at the Pacific Grand Ballroom Waterfront Hotel and Casino.

For ticket reservations:

MANILA - Visit www.ticketnet.com.ph or call Ticketnet at 911-5555.
CEBU - For inquiries, please call 232-6888 or 514-3500. Tickets are available at Waterfront Cebu City Hotel and Casino Lobby, Ayala Customer Service, SM Customer Service, and SM Cinema.

Cebu ticket prices:

SVIP Php 4000
VIP Php 3500
Gold Php 3000
Silver 2000
Bronze 1000
SP Balcony 1500
Balcony 700

 

Don't miss the chance to catch him live in Manila and Cebu!

Impulsive Side Trips: Day 4

At the Kabayan Hotel lobby

We're finally back in the busy metropolis. We made reservations in Kabayan Hotel for another two nights in Manila--the last leg for our six-day vacation for the Dufros trip.

Kabayan Hotel's hallway

Kabayan is another perfect budget-hotel for backpackers. We got the window-less dormitory-type room that fits all six of us. Our reservation in Kabayan comes with free breakfast and lunch. Passes were given to us after check-in and before heading for breakfast.

Artista-stalking at Starbucks ABS-CBN

The day after we arrived in Manila, we went to ABS-CBN station in the hopes of scoring seats in the noon time show: Showtime. I'm not really a big fan of celebrities but we went star-spotting under the guise of buying coffee at Starbucks. We are hoping of spotting a celebrity getting his/her caffeine fix of the day.

ABS-CBN studio tour flyer

Reservations for studio tours and taking part of the live audience should be made 3-4 months prior to the designated date. Due to divine intervention and Jo-an's persuasion towards the receptionists, Showtime still has room for six people. We grabbed the chance and booked for the studio tour for the following day (yes, Valentine's day). We paid Php 175 for each person (inclusive of audience participation).

Chumz at the Pinoy Big Brother house

Ex-PBB housemate Ryan with Jo-an

Of course, we had our photos taken with the famous reality-TV show "Pinoy Big Brother" house. Just our luck, we have ex-PBB housemate Ryan prepping up for his spiels out front and Jo-an had her photo taken with him.

Valentine's Day is in the air at the PBB House

After the trip to ABS-CBN compound, we visited the famous Quiapo church. I took some photos but I was reprimanded for doing so. Picture-taking is not allowed.

Quaipo church's altar

Pondo ng Pinoy

Photos by Chumz, Jo-an and yours truly

En route to Manila: Day 3

All bundled up at the Baguio Victory Liner Bus Terminal

It's day three of our six-day vacation, we (usually) woke up late and almost missed the bus back to Manila. So before lunch time, we're stayed at the terminal and wait for the next trip to the city.

Final shot before boarding

We have to endure another seven to eight hours of butt-cramping ride with old Filipino movies of Fernando Poe Jr. or Nora Aunor for entertainment. Long road trips are the worse part of the trip. Not to mention the scenery en route to Tarlac is depressing.

We passed mini-rice terraces as we exited the city of pines

Depressing Farmville scenes in Tarlac

Interesting signage in Tarlac

We made two stops in Tarlac for lunch and late aftie snacks. We couldn't resist taking snapshots of the comfort room signage.

Photos by Chumz, Jo-an, Ana and yours truly