7-Eleven Run 2016

PRESS RELEASE:

It's that time of year again that we can get excited for RUN 2016!

After the successful Run 800 in 2013, Run 1000 in 2014 and Run 1500 in 2015, 7-Eleven will be holding Run 2016 this coming January 17, 2016.

Run 2016 once again will bring a massive and exciting marathon to every one of all ages, featuring the same categories as last year’s race. 7-Eleven is once again partnering with Skyway and Filinvest City as its official event venue.

Get ready for a full blast marathon!

Race categories will include 42KM, 21KM, 10KM, 16KM, 10KM, 10KM Buddy, 5KM, 3KM and 500 Meter (Kids’ run).

Runners joining the 10KM, 16KM, 21KM, 42KM categories and 10KM Buddy Run will enjoy the course set along the Skyway. Those joining the 500M, 3KM and 5KM categories can look forward to an organized race course along Filinvest City. 

Run 2016 is made possible with 7-Eleven’s unique system of SELF-SELECTED WAVE STARTS. This enables the participants to choose their wave start and run with people with the same skill or speed (or with friends!).

Top 3 per category will receive cash prizes and medals. Top 3 Filipino males and females in the 21KM and 42KM categories will be sponsored by 7-Eleven to join an international marathon in Asia. And to encourage more participants for this run, Top 3 groups (schools and companies or organizations) with the highest number of registrants will also receive a special trophy. 

Registration is now open! You may register online at www.run711.com until December 30, 2015. Race Kits can be claimed on the date indicated on the receipt, and from the same store where payment has been made.

Register with your family and friends now! See poster for the complete details of the run.

This event is held in partnership with Skyway, and Filinvest City. Also brought to you by Safeguard, Selecta, Pocari Sweat, Del Monte, Nature's Spring, Gatorade, Powerade, and Summit Water. And our media partners, Solar Sports, Philippine Daily Inquirer, Summit Media, Hinge Inquirer Publishing, and ABS-CBN Publishing.

Serye: Not just your ordinary noon time sensation

Have you been to SERYE lately? No, it’s not the “kalye-serye” of Eat Bulaga that everyone is raving about. The Serye I’m talking about is the place where you can find one of the best Boneless Crispy Pata and Kare-kare in town.

If there is one person who can live by just eating Kare-kare, then that is me. It's one of my favorite dishes where too much kare-kare is nonsense. That is why when I visited Serye to dine with the owner of the restaurant who mentioned that Serye serves the best kare-kare, I told him that I needed to try it first before I agree with him. But, before we went to the house's specialty, Chef Alvin Lim, the owner, served other mouth-watering Filipino dishes that also made the place popular among foodies.

Our food line up…

POMELO SALAD. A very refreshing start of the course is a bowl of green salad to set the tummy. It was not just any salad, however, but a Pomelo Salad that is quite different from the usual vegetable salads we usually eat to start a meal. Here, the lettuce leaves are very fresh and crisp and the chunks of pomelo are very sweet. You can pour some vinaigrette, but I preferred to eat it as is, because the vinaigrette blocks the sweetness of the Pomelo.

LG Electronics and ONE Championship Unite for Sport, Entertainment, and Charity

PRESS RELEASE:

Two global leaders team up to present season’s hottest MMA event and bring larger-than-life entertainment to Pangarap Foundation kids.
MANILA – On December 11, 2015, consumer electronics giant LG Electronics teamed up with the world’s most exciting mixed martial arts (MMA) organization, ONE Championship to bring about the intense “ONE Championship: Spirit of Champions” match to the SM Mall of Asia Arena.

LG Electronics brings the spectacular ONE FC experience to MMA enthusiasts via the ONE Championship app available for free in LG Smart TVs. In photo is heavyweight champion Brandon "The Truth" Vera with the world's first and largest 105-inch LG Super ULTRA HD TV.

 
Headlining the much-awaited Heavyweight World Champion Division were top-ranking heavyweight champions, Brandon “The Truth” Vera versus Paul “Typhoon” Cheng. Vera conquered the octagon and was thus crowned as the ONE Championship Heavyweight World Champion. LG also presented the Flyweight match between Ana Julaton and Irina Marzepa, with Marzepa emerging as the winner.

LG Electronics powers up the country's biggest gathering of MMA superstars.

Prior to the match, LG Electronics and ONE Championship visited Pangarap Foundation in Manila. This foundation provides shelter and care for underprivileged children, as well as livelihood training programs to ensure a self-sufficient future. Pangarap Foundation kids were thrilled to meet MMA legend and ONE Championship Vice President Rich Franklin, who taught them the basics of dodgeball, an American schoolyard classic.

LG Electronics and ONE Fighting Championship (ONE FC) took their partnership to another level as they reached out to Pangarap Foundation, an institution which provides shelters and livelihood programs for underprivileged children. LG donated a premium Smart TV, which allows free access to the epic ONE FC matches, to help enrich the kids' entertainment and bonding activities. The two global leaders also teamed up to conduct a fun dodgeball session with the kids, led by no less than MMA legend and ONE FC VP Rich Franklin.

After a fun afternoon of play, LG unveiled another surprise for the foundation: a premium Smart TV, with free access to epic ONE Championship matches and thousands of other materials, set up in the facility’s common area. Access to the LG Smart World App Store will greatly contribute to the kids’ recreational and bonding activities.

LG Electronics goes beyond delivering premium home entertainment with its TVs and offers world-class experiences to its consumers through events like the ONE Championship.

Get more access to action-packed sports events and more by downloading the ONE Championship TV App from the LG Content Store. To learn more about LG’s full Home Entertainment lineup, visit www.lg.com/ph; like LG’s official Facebook page “LG TV Philippines”; or follow @LGPhilippines on Twitter and Instagram.

PLDT HOME Ultera to present highly anticipated UAAP Women’s Volleyball Season 78

PRESS RELEASE:

MANILA – The prestigious UAAP Volleyball Championship is poised to return for its 78th season in 2016, with the Women’s Division to be presented by no less than PLDT HOME Ultera, the Ultra-Fast LTE for a Happy Family.

Ara Galang

“Following the smashing season 77 in UAAP women’s volleyball, we are gearing up for an even more exciting round this 2016,” PLDT VP and HOME Marketing Director Gary Dujali said. “Every participating university features a roster of volleyball superstars who have leveled up their training for the tournament of the year. We look forward to taking part in the upcoming volleyball spectacle.”

Alyssa Valdez

Throughout the women’s tournament, volleyball fans can look forward to witnessing the journeys of PLDT HOME Ultera Family Barkada members and brand ambassadors Alyssa Valdez of the Ateneo Lady Eagles, Mika Reyes and Ara Galang of the DLSU Lady Spikers and Jaja Santiago of the NU Lady Bulldogs as they represent their own universities and battle it out for the grand title.

Myka Reyes

“It’s an honor to have these athletes represent our brand and inspire the youth towards sports excellence,” Dujali said. “Each of them has harnessed consistent talent, passion and dedication both as individuals and as team members. We wish them luck and will be supporting them all the way through.”

Jaja Santiago

UAAP Women’s Volleyball Season 78 is among the projects highly supported by PLDT HOME Ultera as part of its sports advocacy. In line with its ongoing mission to promote volleyball to young athletes at the grassroots level, PLDT HOME Ultera also presented this year’s Shakey’s V-League Season 12, where their Ultra-Fast Hitters were hailed champions at the recently concluded Reinforced Conference this December. This title earned the team back-to-back crowns following the Open Conference concluded last May.



More information about the UAAP Women’s Volleyball Season 78 will be revealed in the Volley Friends Viber Public Chat. For access to real-time updates, behind-the-scenes and fun candid moments among the volleyball superstars, visit chats.viber.com/volleyfriends.



PLDT HOME Ultera delivers Ultra-Fast LTE for a Happy Family with Internet speeds of up to 10 Mbps. Plans start at P999 a month. Log on to pldthome.com/ultera for more ultra-fun offers.

Huawei’s first Experience Shop opens in SM Mall of Asia

 Experience really makes the difference. Last November 21, 2015, Huawei, a global brand in mobile telecommunication opens the its first concept store in SM Mall of Asia that allows viewers and costumers to experience the cutting edge technology of Huawei. The Store is located at the newest wing of Mall of Asia has all the shops of the latest tech gadgets, the Cyberzone. It is situated at the second level of the North side of the mall. 

Here, the customers can experience first-hand some of Huawei’s cool gadgets such as the selections of Mobile smart phones like the Huawei Mate S the revolutionizes the power of touch with its knuckle Sense 2.0 and Finger Print sense 2.0 technologies. They can also try the features of Huawei G8 and a demo unit of the latest Huawei Nexus 6P that will come out in the market soon. Apart from the mobile phones, Huawei also feature the new Huawei Watch that offers more than its chronological functions. 

The store also has the stationary bike called Huawei Power Bike which allows you to charge your mobile devices while pedaling on the bike. A few minutes of biking can give you a full charge of any device. “Filipino consumers have shown tremendous affinity for out devices, as translated to Huawei’s impressive market share growth every year. Today, and more than ever, we are bullish that with the increasing platforms, to engage our consumers’ every day, their trust to our brand and our mutual connections will continue to grow, says Jojo Vega, Consumer Business Group Director of Huawei Technologies Philippines. 

“Innovation has always been in the DNA of Huawei, fearlessly envisioning cutting edge technologies, “ said Charles Wu, Country Head of Huawei Philippines. “But rather than innovative just for innovation sake, Huawei creates innovations that serves as tools to realize the vision and passion of its consumers.”

Of course, a high tech store would not be complete without the sales agents that are well knowledgeable in all there is to know about the Huawei and its product line. The place is where you can also get some expert opinions on comparative features with other brands. The 110-sqm Huawei Experience Store offers a wide space where clients and visitors can have an engaging fun moment with the devices and its equally engaging staff. 

With the opening of the Huawei Experience store, Huawei now has 40 brand stores and 32 kiosk and lounges all over the country. The brand targets 60 brand shops by the end the year.

POGS Run 2015 Partners with MederMom to Support Mothers

I have been running and joining races for more than five years now. As far as popular race venues around the Metro are concerned, I believe I experienced running in almost all of them. I’ve been hearing from my running friends that Camp Aguinaldo has good running routes, but I never had the experience of  running inside the Camp. 

Last November 21, 2015, I was fortunate to be invited to join a fun run organized by the Philippine Obstetrics and Gynecological Society – POGS. I believe that they have been organizing a fun run for the last three years already and the venue is always Camp Aguinaldo. It was a 15k run on a 5k loop around the camp that covers the eastern side wall of the camp passing Gate 1 on the side of Boni Serrano Street. 

with my wife and son

8 Ways to Shop Safely Online this Christmas and Avoid Getting ‘Grinched’

PRESS RELEASE:

As the Christmas rush and Manila’s traffic convince more Filipinos that it is better to shop online than head to the malls, Kaspersky Lab shares eight simple tips to avoid getting suckered by online scams this holiday season. 

Kaspersky Lab warns this time of the year is a prime opportunity for cyber criminals to get their Grinch on.

With all the great online deals out there, it is almost impossible to avoid clicking and taking a look around without question. These criminals hope that you’ve let your guard down and won’t be doing your regular due diligence when clicking links or visiting websites.

Best Pinoy Street Food 2015 Cook-off Finals…

Who says you can only find great tasting food in posh restaurants cooked by certified chefs?

For two years in a row, SM Hypermarket, in partnership with the Kusina Master Chef Boy Logro together with various sponsors, brought to the public the best tasting Pinoy street food made by regular cooks who found more creative ways of bringing great tasting dishes for less the price, with its Best Pinoy Street Food Cook-off. This event gathers some of the best street food cooks who were trained by experience and battle in a fun and friendly cooking competition. 

After several elimination cook-offs, the contenders were trimmed-down to the best ten best. These finalists once again battled face to face in the grand cook-off. The Finals was held at the activity center of SM City Sucat and was graced by more than 100 audiences who were commissioned to judge the entries. These judges came from different areas of society -- regular people such as tricycle drivers, students, housewives, and also members of the online media -- much like the very type of people who regularly eat street food. 

The best cook who will come out as the winner will bring home hefty prizes such as one-year free rent of food stall that will be placed in SM Hypermarket and P100,000 worth of SM food packs, ingredients, cooking equipment, etc. courtesy of SM Hypermarket’s Food Service Center. The ten cooks were teamed in pairs and went through a round cook-off. The food theme is to come up with the best tasting pasta. After everyone finished with their dishes, the 100 audiences took their turns tasting each pasta dish and voting for their favorite. After the votes were tallied, four cooks were selected. 

Aster DM Healthcare marks entry into the Philippines

Every charitable organization in history was born out of a deep compassion of one person. An eventful occasion in which he or she  decided to dedicate his or her whole life to serve others. A self-less act of kindness that made a person to leave the comfort of the world to provide hope for those who have none. 

Aster DM Healthcare shares the same story that started with the work of one person and his name is Dr. Azad Moopen. Dr. Moopen joined a medical mission to Dubai way back in 1980’s and back then, medical healthcare in Dubai was practically non-existent and most of the patients he treated were very poor. That was when he decided to set up a clinic in Dubai so he can provide quality healthcare to people who needs it. 

Executives of Aster DM Healthcare...

Say Bonjour! to a Friendlier, Improved Look for TOTAL Bonjour Stores

PRESS RELEASE:

A chic new look that seamlessly combines French sophistication and Filipino warmth, designed especially for our customers

Bonjour, which is French for “hello,” is Total’s way of welcoming customers to total convenience, a wide variety of high-quality local and imported items, and warm, friendly service in Total Service Stations all over the country. With over forty stores in different corners of the Philippines, Bonjour is and has always been a place to prepare, rest, and replenish for an unforgettable road trip. This year, Bonjour is saying hello to a new look!

TOTAL New Port

Happy Sud, Happy Customers

The newly renovated stores—found in TOTAL Service Stations in Sucat, Newport City, and Alabang—feature a sophisticated combination of bright, warm colors, clean lines, and a young, fresh, and friendly vibe. At the Bonjour stores, un service de qualité pour des clients heureux – good quality service for happy customers – is the philosophy guiding TOTAL in its quest toward excellence and consistent customer satisfaction.

TOTAL Alabang

Global Innovative College Expounds on the Benefits of Senior High School

What is the global standard in basic education?

According to the Department of Education (DepEd), the Philippines is the last country in Asia and among the last three in the world (Angola and Djibouti are the other two) that offers a 10-year pre-college education cycle. For a country that excels in many branches of industry, particularly in the field of allied medical professions, it seems our educational system is far way below global standards. Now I understand why my two sisters in the United States had to take several exams in nursing first prior to their employment to complete U.S. standards because the Philippines' basic education system does not meet U.S. Federal State requirements.

GIC Lecture hall...

The idea of Senior High School (K-12) or additional two more years in high school came about two years ago when President Benigno Aquino and the DepEd finally recognized that 10 years of pre-college education is not sufficient to meet industry global standards and have come to a decision to implement Senior High School.

Engr. Mike Tan, GIC President...

After years of planning, heated discussions with various sectors of the educational spectrum, its roll-out will finally go as planned. However, despite its impending implementation starting school year 2016, many Filipinos, most especially parents, are still confused and clueless about the advantages of K-12 in general. Currently, people just see K-12 as an added financial burden for the parents who are ultimately the ones to pay the cost of two more years of high school education. Likewise, the government need to haul in a huge amount of budget to equip every public high school in the country for the added Grade 11 and 12 facilities. Unfortunately, many schools, particularly in remote areas, are still ill-equipped in providing the least of the basic school facilities such as classrooms, books and qualified teachers. What more with K-12?

Gerry Dela Cerna, GIC Senior High School Head...

ASUS Zenfone 2 Laser Review

It has been a long time since I reviewed a tech-gadget that I really like. In 2012, I was able to acquire a high-end phablet which, at the time, was among one the first smartphones with a 13MP camera and an Intel chipset. Intel, noted for its very reliable processing speed when it comes to desktops and laptops didn’t quite follow through when they put it in smartphones like my old one. Somehow, overheating was an issue. Luckily, my phone still lasted for three years because I am a fairly careful user. I think that is already a long time for a smartphone’s life span.

However, my old phone’s android version was so outdated, it was time for a replacement. Among the numerous Android phones available today, I really wanted to have something that gives value for money. I am so glad to have found the ASUS Zenfone 2 Laser. Its predecessor, the Zenfone 5, actually already has exciting features but the ASUS Zenfone 2 is a much, much better version. 

Not only has it an improved internal memory capacity of up to 16GB, it is moreover expandable to 128GB. This smartphone also has enhanced camera features with manual operation, much like what a DSLR Camera can do. Aside from these, there are cool features that allow you to preview the enhanced look of a particular picture using sample guides to choose from. 

Nuvali Dirt Weekend’s top finishers to enter 2016 World Mountain Bike Championship

Last week, the Philippines hosted a venue for the qualifying race for 2016 World Mountain Bike Championship that will be held at Laisssac, France. This qualifying race was held at Nuvali’s Dirt Weekend and it was a sanctioned to be an official qualifier by the Union Cyclist Internationale (UIC). 

Dirt Weekend 2015 media launch at Mind Museum, BGC, Taguig...

In the previous week, the Dirt Weekend organizers held an event launch at the Mind Museum, BGC Taguig. In the launch, the executives of Nuvali were proud to present this year’s Dirt Weekend as the qualifying event for the world championship and it was even acknowledged by the UCI Race Director Geoff Kronenburg who checked the routes, difficulties and distance to make sure that the biking event is at par with world standards. 

Geoff Kronenberg, UCI Director...

Mango Habanero is the Newest Flavorful Experience at Wingstop

A friend who is an avid fan of Philippines History, once told me that the early inhabitants of Texas, were actually Filipinos, and the famous Buffalo Chicken Wings of Texas were actually of Filipino Cuisine origin! That make sense because Filipinos are noted for its spicy and hot dishes many foodies are craving about. 

Wing Stop, the newest and the hottest chicken wing hub in the metro today is currently serving more than ten unique chicken wing flavors that are quite distinct from each other. Now, another flavor is added in their menu and about to be served that will certainly capture the equally distinct taste preference of many Filipino foodies today. It’s called the Mango Habanero, the newest flavor from Wing Stop.

Global toilet sanitation problem leads to 443 million missed school days

 PRESS RELEASE:

According to a study conducted by the World Health Organization (WHO), children around the world miss an estimated 443 million school days each year because of diseases caused by poor sanitation and hygiene practices, including using unsanitary toilets. Simply put, this number of sick days is equivalent to all grade school and high school classrooms in the Philippines being empty for one month. This sanitation-related concern hinders the children’s learning and significantly reduces their quality of life.

Illnesses due to poor toilet sanitation include diarrhea disease and parasitic worm infections which can lead to nutritional deficiencies, physical and mental stunting, and death. Every day, millions of children in rural communities and urban households nationwide are exposed to these health problems by using dirty toilets populated by disease-carrying germs.

According to Dr. Luisa Efren of the Philippine Public Health Association (PPHA), the simple act of proper toilet sanitation can help prevent the spread of these germs. However, children continue to be at risk from these deadly diseases because many households still use ordinary laundry bleach to clean their toilet bowls, which is not enough to kill all toilet germs.

“A toilet that looks clean to the naked eye may not necessarily be free from germs and bacteria. So, it is very important to properly sanitize all surfaces using a germ-kill expert with proven efficacy in eliminating bacteria, and not just any ordinary laundry bleach,” Dr. Efren warned.

For the past three years, Unilever Philippines through its germ-kill expert brand Domex, has been working with UNICEF and PPHA to champion the One Million Clean Toilets Movement. This advocacy program aims to educate Filipinos on proper toilet hygiene and the need for sanitized household toilets to keep their families safe against disease-causing germs.

On November 13, World Toilet Day, join the One Million Clean Toilets Movement in the fight against disease causing germs to save lives, one clean toilet at a time. To learn more about Domex and how you can stay safe from disease with a germ-free home, visit Domex Philippines on Facebook. 

You can also help the 1 Million Clean Toilets Movement fight against disease by spreading awareness on the sanitation issue caused unsanitary toilets. Watch and share the “Sick Days” video (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ypMNHyUwQOQ) to help keep your family and friends germ-free.

###
REFERENCES:
 http://www.who.int/water_sanitation_health/wsh0404.pdf
http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs330/en/
https://www.unilever.com/sustainable-living/the-sustainable-living-plan/improving-health-and-well-being/health-and-hygiene/toilets-of-tomorrow/

#CherryChristmas promo for OFWs

PRESS RELEASE:
 

Connecting families and helping bridge distances since 2009, Cherry Mobile has always put to heart the needs of the Filipino, especially OFWs. This season, through the #CherryChristmas promo, Cherry Mobile rewards the hard work and sacrifices of our unsung heroes – the OFWs.

 

This season can be the loneliest for OFWs spending the holidays away from their loved ones. That’s why Cherry Mobile wants to fulfill the deepest wishes of OFWs and reunite them with their loved ones for a truly #CherryChristmas!

The #CherryChristmas promo invites participants to share how their loved ones make their Christmas a merry one through a short video. Tell us your story and we’ll bring them home to you!

Deadline of submission of entries is on November 14, 2015.
There’s a few more days left so check out the mechanics on Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/cherrymobile/?sk=app_208195102528120
or visit their website at http://www.cherrymobile.com.ph/cherry-christmas-ofw-campaign

Have a Cherry Christmas!

Live Healthy and get rewarded with Philam Vitality

It is so disheartening to know that according to statistics, more than 80% of Filipinos place health as a prime priority in their lives but sadly, more than 60% of these Pinoys are not doing anything to improve healthy living. According to surveys, around 60% of deaths worldwide are caused by four epidemic chronic diseases: Diabetes, Cardiovascular diseases, chronic lung diseases, and some cancers. And in order to prevent premature death and incapacity due to these diseases we must be able to address three major risks factors: tobacco consumption, poor diet, and physical inactivity. 

Philam Life Vitality Team with Brand Partners...

Fortunately, it’s not too late for the Filipinos. There are evidences that many people are starting to fix their ways and beginning to live healthier lives as the running community in our country continues to grow in numbers. We still have a long way to go to change the sedentary culture but everything starts in small steps. 

PhilAm Life, the premier life insurance company have come up with a program that allows a member to be rewarded as one continues to live healthy life. It’s called PhilAm Vitality Program. This new innovation from PhilAm keeps track of a member’s health status through an App that can be downloaded in your laptop, tablet or even smartphones.
 

Mr. Axel Bromley, CEO of PhilAm Life

If a member wishes to have a check-up, the PhilAm Vitality Program have forged a partnership with several health institutions such as Makati Medical Center, Precision Diagnostics and GAOC (Gan Advanced Osseointegration Center). These institutions offer service like comprehensive medical check-up and vaccinations, comprehensive blood test and over-all work up and state-of-the-art dental services. 

Mr. Jaime Jose D. Javier, Jr. PhilAm Life Chief Marketing Officer

As you undergo these check-ups, a member will automatically get rich discounts from the services and the health status and official diagnosis will be downloaded to the Vitality App that brings a member’s Vitality Status from Bronze to silver then Gold to Platinum. As your vitality goes higher, more perks and discounts a member gets. 

Philam Life Vitality Program Executives

Benefits and discounts await for members who consistently on the path towards fitness and healthy living. PhilAm also partners with gyms and shops like Gold’s Gym and Toby’s that offer more discounts when you purchase brands that supports you in your fitness lifestyle and discounts when you join gym membership. Gold and Platinum vitality status will earn a member special points that allows you to get higher perks like heavily discounted rates at Marriott Hotel and Seda Hotel staycations.  

Start your fitness journey with a healthy diet...

These partners are just a few of other partners that will board in soon. But on top of this, PhilAm offers discount on premiums on selected insurance plans and get more discounts in the succeeding years as they improve their health. 

 Grilled Norwegian Salmon on Brown Rice...

To know more about how you can live a healthier lifestyle, visit philamvitality.com or email ask@philamvitality.com or call 528-2000.

About PhilAm Life:

The Philippine American Life and General Insurance Company (Philam Life) is the country’s premier life insurance company. Established on June 24, 1947, Philam Life has earned the trust of costumers for its financial strength, strong brand name and ability to deliver its promise.

Quezon City Celebrates 75th Founding Anniversary

Last October 11, 2015, the city government of Quezon and its constituents culminated its week-long celebration of its 75th Anniversary. The celebration was held at the Quezon Memorial Circle with a parade of various floats from different districts of Quezon City.

These mobile floats were made by creative talents from each district. The mobile floats paraded through the key streets of Kalayaan and V. Luna then, Maginahawa Street then went back again to the Quezon Memorial Circle. As they enter near the stage, each one is presented to the audience by some celebrities who are also Quezon City residents. 

 The celebration was hosted by two very energetic emcees with Mr. Daniel Matsunaga who presented the first mobile float to arrive. As much as he struggles with  his Tagalog, he did pretty well in presenting the float. 

The first one to arrived is the float from Mabuhay Rotonda. Formerly know as Welcome Rotonda. for the information of everybody, Mabuhay Rotonda marks as the boundary of City of Manila and Quezon City. It has been has been a significant landmark because of the hundreds of demonstration and rallies that were held in that place during the Marcos regime. 

 The next one to arrive was the float of the Quezon Memorial Tower. This monument holds the remains of the Philippines' great leader, Common Wealth President Manuel L. Quezon and his wife Aurora Quezon. MLQ envisioned it to be as the Government capital that holds the main offices of government agencies. 

This float is the replica of Bantayog ng mga Bayani. The monument represents the fallen heroes who fought injustices by the Marcos Regime. It is made of brass hand crafted by our very own artist/sculpture Ed Castrillio. Mr. Castrillio is a well known for his public art and nationalistic artworks. The monument is mounted along Quezon Avenue, near Philippine Heart Center. 

Another Ed Castrillio's masterpiece is the People Power Monument located near Camp Aguinaldo along EDSA. This monument represents the historical event happened in our country where the people fought the Marcos dictatorship on the streets of EDSA in a bloodless revolution. The revolt was triggered by the unjustly murder of Sen. Ninoy Aquino in 1983 that ignited a people power revolution in 1986.

Another iconic figure that can be found in Quezon City is the Oblation of the University of the Philippines, Diliman. The original statue of this replica can be found inside the main library of the university. This work of art is a masterpiece of a renowned Filipino artist Guelliermo Tolentino. Tolentino was commissioned by then UP president Rafael Palma. The statue is made of concrete and it depicts a man facing upwards with stretched open arms, symbolizing the selfless offering of oneself to his country. 

 This float is a replica of the Tandang Sora shrine located at Banlat Road, Tandang Sora, Quezon City. The original statue was sculpted by Toym Imao in honor of the life and service of Melchora Aquino, also known as Tandang Sora. Tandang Sora is known for her selfless service in taking care of many wounded katipuneros during the Spanish colonial revolution. 

One of Quezon City's iconic food destination is the Laloma lechon. Lechon is the traditional roasted pig that is quite famous in every Filipino festivity. The District of Laloma is located north-west of Quezon city and this district is known to be visited by people from all over to experience their famous lechon. 

This is the replica of the iconic artwork in front of the Philippines Heart Center. It is a sculpture of a coronary artery of the heart - PUSO. The original art work is currently mounted at the Philippine Heart Center. It is created by an artist who happens to be a renowned cardiologist as well and he is Dr. William T. Chua. 

This float is a creative representation of Payatas. Payatas used to hold all the garbage of Metro Manila. The land is now a thriving low-cost housing development for the employees of Quezon City government known as Bistek-Vill. This housing development is an initiative of the city government of Quezon City for retiring city government employees who do not have a decent place to live. The development is in partnership with Habitat for Humanity. 

The last float is the replica of the Quezon City Hall. The 14 story building was constructed by the initiative of then President Ramon Magsaysay and he commissioned Mayor Norberto Amoranto to build the new City Hall in a 12 hectare of land at the elliptical road. The new cornerstone for the new City Hall was laid in 1962 but the construction began in 1964. 

After the Grand Parade of Lights, the celebration continued with the performances of some of the most sought after bands which includes some rising talented bands, RockSteady, Parokya Ni Edgar and many more. The celebration concludes with a colorful display of FireWorks that filled the Quezon City sky.