There is no better way to celebrate Valentine’s Day than to be with the people who have dedicated their time, effort and passion to serve the country with utmost sincerity.

The UP JMA Week for 2010 kicked off last February 14, 2010 at Function Room 2, Two Serendra, with “SNAP!”, the Socially Relevant Event. It was an honor for the organization to have Dynamic Teen Company (founded by Efren Peñaflorida, the CNN Hero of the Year for 2009) as its official beneficiary for the event. A competition for photography enthusiasts, SNAP!’s theme focused on “Celebrating the remarkable Filipino spirit of hope amidst poverty.”

With the event’s endeavor to raise awareness about poverty, Hon. Marides C. Fernando, the Mayor of Marikina City, was invited to share how Marikina conducts certain projects that aim to encourage the youth to step up for the country and be proactive towards issues like the event’s cause.

The top 3 winners were announced during the event and awarded with seminar vouchers from the Philippine Center for Creative Imaging, plus gift checks from other sponsors.…

There is no better way to make history than to chronicle the most memorable events of your life in a journal. It not only reminds you of how you were but also what makes you who you are now –as a person and most importantly, as a Filipino. With this in mind, top retail brand Collezione-C2 and Moleskine, in cooperation with National Book Store, recently launched the innovative, limited edition My Pilipinas Moleskine at the Archaeology Level of Rockwell Powerplant Mall. Alongside the launch, Collezione-C2 also introduced the new My Pilipinas clothing line via an impressive fashion show.

Amber Ultralounge welcomed the Year of the Metal Tiger with a roaring “Envy Saturdays Chinese New Year” party. Loads of surprises awaited partygoers while lion dancers and percussionists accompanied by the beats of DJ Chester kept the night pumping with auspicious luck and good music. The celebration was made even more special as couples posed with the ANG PAOs waiting to be chosen the most stylish of the night. Lucky winners went home with round trip tickets to Boracay.

Sassa Activewear salutes this hot season by presenting its 2010 Summer collection recently held at 360 Resto Bar in A.Venue Mall. For this year’s theme, Sassa has given the new collection a real streamlined and highly fashionable concentrating on bright solid hues.  Grab the latest Sassa swim and active wear in department stores such as The Landmark Makati & Trinoma; Robinsons Departments Store; SM Hypermarts; Metro Market Market and in many departments stores nationwide or check out www.sassa.com.ph.

The much-awaited new foodie destination in Cebu is now open!  The who’s who of Cebu society trooped over to the new Oyster Bay Seafood Restaurant to congratulate Dominic Alegrado & his family, and to dine on the delectable dishes.  They all marveled at the immaculately clean showcase of aquariums featuring a wide variety of live seafood… angel wing clams (diwali), spiny lobsters, groupers, sea bass, blue crabs, mud crabs and rock lobsters, to name a few.  Everyone’s mouth watered as they served a special menu of oysters, scallops, shrimps, roasted calf, Cebu lechon (peking duck style) and other culinary favorites.  The night did not end there… people stayed on to enjoy the beautiful “beach resort in the city” ambience of white sand, coconut trees and outdoor couches under trellises overlooking a shark pond.  The percussion band Lupon Aduyaw and fire dancers kept the revelry going as the guests enjoyed the free flowing wine and beer below zero.

Oyster Bay Seafood Restaurant is located at the Bridges Town Square, Plaridel Street, Mandaue City.  For inquiries and reservations,…

Self-taught photographer, stylist and visual artist, Jujiin Samonte recently mounted his first solo exhibit aptly titled “Exhibit Number One.” The stylish crowd trooped to Trilogy Boutique & Canteen to view his works that are as idiosyncratic, provocative and stirring as the way he sees and presents fashion.

The unbeaten alliance of Driven Manila, World Wide Womb, and Encore Superclub has once again rocked Manila’s nightlife recently as they brought back Chicago house siren DJ Colette. Music enthusiasts sang along and danced to Colette’s dance floor burners — “What Will She Do For Love”, “If” and “Hypnotized”, from the movie The Devil Wears Prada. Undoubtedly, people were captivated by her sweet but sultry, melodic and unmistakable voice of the post-millennial house music.

What started out as a university project in Spain is now a full-blown wine and tapas bar in Greenbelt 2 Makati. Sergi Rostoll and Dani Aliaga (friends from college) with newest addition -fresh from Barcelona Oriol Singla, officially welcomed the birth of the fourth and biggest branch of Barcino Wine and Tapas Bar by hosting a two-night celebration.

The series kicked off with a night of degustation with the press, foodies, and special friends. A long banquet table nicely decorated with dark red roses and black candelabras seated all forty carefully selected guests who were treated with newly imported wines and seven new tapas prepared by Barcino’s very own young, talented, and vibrant culinary team.

The grand party followed the night after. The entire venue was flocked by over 500 guests who feasted on free-flowing modern Spanish tapas and wines all night. The festive mood was notched up by the implausible music of Tribo Manila and DJ Kristian Hernandez who kept the crowd grooving until almost dawn.

Barcino has definitely made a remarkable success since its establishment in…

Last week, the hippest, hottest nightspot in the metro opened its doors to Manila’s discerning party populace.  Located in the space formerly occupied by Temple Bar in Greenbelt 2. Izakaya - sushi, sake, speakeasy is a chic talkbar with a sumptuous selection Japanese cuisine and over 15 kinds of sake, from sparkling to unfiltered, sweet to dry.

Owned by nightlife staples, Marco De Guzman, Distillery’s Raj Sadhwani, Ivan Zalameda, Premier DJ Manolet Dario, and Erik Cua and GP Reyes of Encore/Member’s Only, it came as no surprise that the launch became a roaring convergence of Manila Society’s beautiful young crowd.

The bar’s interiors and al Fresco area were filled to capacity as guests danced to the tunes of DJ Bombi Balquiedra and sampled refreshing sake mixers like Lemon Grass Sake, Cucumber Lychee, Watermelon Mint, Sangria Sake and the sure to be famous signature drink: the Izakaya Martini.

The very chill and relaxing atmosphere is detailed with Japanese roof tiles, tatami mats and woven rope to give it an authentic Japanese feel. It also has two private rooms, one…

Bacardi’s prime mover expatriate, Rajiv Ghumman, hosted a very exclusive dinner at the posh Suite Bar at the Fort, to introduce the Rum’s newest variant, Bacardi Apple.

A sumptuous feast was prepared by Chef Fernando Aracama as guests began sipping on their favorite Bacardi Apple cocktails, while many actually preferred the new dirnk on the rocks, as it truly is a deliciously tangy mix of Fuji, Golden Delicious and Granny Smith apples that delivers a crisp and fresh Bacardi flavor.  Everyone loved the bottle as well, which has got a sleek and sexy clear shape.

And indeed it quickly became an instant favorite among the guests that evening. Some well received cocktails were, the Bacardi Apple Mojito: Bacardi Apple, club soda, mint leaves, lime and sugar, and a wedge of apple, the Bacardi Apple and Sprite, Bacardi Apple, Sprite, wedge of apple on ice, and Bacardi Apple Shooters, Bacardi Apple served chilled with a wedge of apple.