Clyde “The Glide” Drexler and two NBA Dance Teams in Manila for NBA Madness Philippines 2011

 

Palladium, New World Hotel, Philippines – NBA Madness Press Conference held last September 28 with one of the game’s all-time great guards, Clyde  “The Glide” Drexler and two NBA Dance Teams; Orlando Magic Dancers and Portland Trailblazer Dancers arrived in the country for the NBA Madness Philippines 2011.

Mr. Carlo Singson and Mr. Peter Chanliong of Solar Entertainment Corp

NBA Madness - the NBA’s interactive basketball lifestyle event consisting of hoops, dance performances, an NBA Cares outreach program, and a special appearances by NBA legend Clyde  “The Glide” Drexler and not one, but two NBA Dance Teams: The Orlando Magic Dancers and the Portland Trailblazer Dancers. The week-long festival will culminate in a 2-day mall event highlighted by two contests:

• Search for the Team Spirit School Cheer dance Champion
• The Clyde Drexler Challenge

NBA Madness is a free fan event that takes place from September 28 to October 2, and will provide fans unique NBA experience.

This marks the 8th year that NBA Madness has been a fan extravaganza in the Philippines, promoting basketball in a fun and interactive way. This year, more new elements and games will be featured including the first-ever NBA Madness Team Spirit School Tour, interactive viewing parties hosted by Clyde Drexler, and coverage on Basketball TV, Solar Sports, NBA Premium TV and Studio 23. 

Dance Performance from Orlando Magic Dancers

Dance Performance from Portland Trailblazer Dancers

 

Events:

Various colleges and universities in Metro Manila and SM shopping malls, including:

September 29:    SM North EDSA/Skydome – NBA Cares, 2-3 pm

October 1:          SM Southmall – Team Spirit Festival, 11am-6pm  Interactive Viewing Party, 6-8:30pm

October 2:          SM Mall of Asia – Team Spirit Festival, 11am-6pm Interactive Viewing Party, 4-6:30pm

TEAM SPIRIT SCHOOL TOUR:

A three-day school based event that will feature performances by participating school and NBA dance teams, games for students. Clyde Drexler will also conduct an inspirational talk with the school teams, autograph sessions and be available for photo opportunities.

TEAM SPIRIT FESTIVAL (MALL TOUR):

The ultimate celebration of team spirit in basketball: The festival will feature:

Fun Activity Booths

Asia Miles Booth: Where fans can receive giveaways and register as an Asia Miles member on-site to receive a special gift.

• NBA 2K12 Booth
• Photo booth
• Trivia booth
• Center Court Games
• 3-point Shootout
• Shooting Stars
• Skills Challenge
• NBA Talent Performances
• Clyde Drexler Appearances
• Portland Trailblazers Dancers Performances
• Orlando Magic Dancers Performances
• Special Features
• NBA Team Spirit School Champion Search
• The Clyde Drexler Challenge Finals
• Asia Miles Dance Clinics

 

For more info, pls visit the websites:

www.NBA.com/philippines    

www.BTV.com.ph

www.nbapremium.com

NBA Legend CLYDE DREXLER Headlines NBA Madness Philippines

 

After the huge success of NBA FIT with Coach Erik Spoelstra, here’s another  legend coming in the Philippines for NBA Madness. Marked your calendar from September 28 to October 2, 2011

NBA LEGEND CLYDE DREXLER HEADLINES NBA MADNESS PHILIPPINES

- Orlando Magic and Portland Trail Blazers dance teams to visit schools

as part of first-ever NBA Madness Team Spirit School Tour -

Press Release:

MANILA, PHILIPPINES, Sept. 23, 2011 – National Basketball Association (NBA) Legend Clyde Drexler and the Orlando Magic and Portland Trail Blazers dance teams will take part in NBA Madness Philippines 2011, the NBA’s interactive basketball fan event. Jointly organized by the NBA and Solar Entertainment, NBA Madness Philippines 2011 will visit Metro Manila from Sept. 28 to Oct. 2.

NBA Madness is a free fan event featuring basketball clinics and games, including the Clyde Drexler Challenge, in which fans can compete against the NBA legend for prizes. Drexler will give fans a unique insider perspective as he provides live commentary at viewing parties showing some of the NBA’s greatest games. The event will also feature dance team performances, Asia Miles dance clinics, autograph sessions, and a video game corner featuring the newest NBA video game, NBA 2K12. Fans can take part in the excitement of NBA Madness Philippines 2011 on Oct. 1 at the SM Southmall and Oct. 2 at the SM Mall of Asia Music Hall.

Official partners for NBA Madness Philippines 2011 include Asia Miles and Gatorade with media partners Basketball TV, Solar Sports, Studio 23 and NBA Premium TV also supporting the event. Venue partners are SM Mall of Asia, SM Southmall, SM City North Edsa, and SM Cinemas.

Drexler is a 10-time NBA All-Star and was voted in to the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2004. He won an NBA championship with the Houston Rockets in 1995 and was named one of the 50 Greatest Players in NBA History in 1996. Drexler was also a member of the storied ‘Dream Team’ that won an Olympic gold medal in 1992.

In addition to the mall events, the first-ever NBA Madness Team Spirit School Tour will bring two NBA dance teams to five schools in Manila to conduct free dance clinics for campus dance teams. The dance teams will make school stops from Sept. 28 to Sept. 30 and will participate in the Search for the Team Spirit School Champion at the Team Spirit Festival at NBA Madness.

As part of NBA Cares, the NBA and the SM Foundation will also partner to conduct a Read To Achieve read and play session for 100 underprivileged kids from all over Metro Manila on Thursday, Sept. 29, at the Sky dome at SM City North EDSA.

The NBA legend and dancers will also make a stop at the Finals of the Coors Light NBA Pop-A-Shot Tour 2011, which takes place on Sept. 29 at the Metro walk in Pasig City.

About the NBA

The NBA, founded in 1946, is a professional sports league and global business that features 30 teams in the United States and Canada. During the 2010-11 season, NBA games will reach 215 countries and territories in more than 40 languages. Official NBA rosters currently feature 83 players from 40 countries and territories. NBA merchandise is sold in more than 125,000 stores in 100 countries on six continents. NBA.com averages more than 26 million page views per day, with more than 50 percent of the site’s visitors coming from outside of North America. The NBA is the No. 1 U.S. sports league on Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube, with the most fans, followers, and videos viewed on each, respectively.

Got Fridays @ Teatrino Showcase Next Generation Singing Sensations from September to November

 

Have fun all Friday nights of September to November 2011 at the Teatrino, Promenade in Greenhills. Got Fridays @ Teatrino will showcase the latest generation of local singers in a smorgasbord of musical sets, providing nearly three hours of wonderful new sounds and performance from September 2 to November 25, 2011.

From the direction of Freddie Santos, one of the most notable stage directors in the country, this innovative musical presentation “brings young, up and coming artists who have already been launched or who have had their first CD albums released up to the next level of their musical careers.”

“All Friday nights at Teatrino from September to November will be nights full of music from new faces singing new faves and redefining fun through a new kind of musical experience,” said Santos. Various young artists are featured each night in sampler style performances to expose their talents to new and wider audiences.

The musical project is a collaboration between Music Museum Group Inc.. and various artist management houses. It will feature fresh local artists who already have their rabid fan following and second generation musical talents that are “chip off the old block.”

On tap this September are new artists: Grand Star Dreamer Laarni Lozada, pop classical balladeer Markki Stroem, Fil-Italian heartthrob Kevin Cisco, newest band sensation 3AM, teen acoustic pop duo Krissy and Ericka and the Jammistas-outstanding singer-musicians that Viva Records fused into an even more outstanding musical group (composed of Yssa Alvarez, Sabrina, Davey Langit, Noelle Cassandra and Marvin Ong). Next generation singing sensations, Nicole and Carlo David, children of jazz great Mon David; Isabella (Kuh Ledesma’s “little girl”), Robin Nievera, son of concert royalty Martin Nievera and Pops Fernandez and Jaco Benin, son of Side A’s Joey Benin who will perform with Markki Stroem. These young artists headline September Fridays from September 2, 9, 16, 23 and 30.

  

Got Fridays @ Teatrino isn’t only unique because of its new show concept, it will also satisfy your taste buds with a delightful menu available only on Fridays at the Teatrino: casual, funky food (pop corn, onion rings, barbecue and such) to munch on with light drinks at very affordable prices.

Tickets are available at P500 each. For tickets reservations, call (02) 7228310 loc 116 for a great night out with friends, family and weekend buddies. Got Fridays @ Teatrino will surely satisfy cravings for good music, good food, and a novel experience that’s easy on the pocket as well.

Halo-Halo Harana & Grilled Schueblig at the Manila Peninsula

 

After attending a Food Tasting event somewhere in Pasig, my friends Grace and Alwin decided to go to Manila Peninsula to see what people are queuing every year as Manila Peninsula celebrates their anniversary.

This year’s 35th Anniversary, the Lobby recently offered a special promo price of their iconic Halo-Halo Harana and Grilled Schueblig at P35 each.

I first learned about it from a fellow blogger when he posted about Halo-Halo and Schueblig special promo, here’s the link to the blog post. Who doesn’t want to eat Halo-halo and Schueblig? Is it because of the P35 promo price people waited few minutes to hours just to dine-in at The Lobby of Manila Peninsula? I wanted to know.

I’m really interested to try their Halo-halo Harana. We arrived before 4PM and noticed a large volume of guests starting to queue, we waited about 15 to 25 minutes before we got our turn and allowed to enter The Lobby where we’re told to sit-down while  waiting for vacant table, that was another 5 minutes of waiting. 

  

After 30 minutes, we were ushered in a four-seater table. I noticed most tables were occupied. Several guests waited at The Lobby and outside the hotel entrance. The waiter immediate took our order and served us a glass of cold water.

Here’s the famous Halo-Halo Harana and Grilled Schueblig for only P35 each that day September 14, from 12 noon to 12 midnight. Alwin, Grace and I had Halo-Halo Harana each. They also had the Grilled Schueblig.

Halo-halo Harana was topped with ube ice cream, leche flan and some pinipig. Oh my, those are my favorite-Ice cream and Leche flan!

Halo-halo was creamy, with generous ingredients like nata de coco, langka, beans, kaong, banana Saba and milk. It taste really good and was served in huge Halo-halo glass.

Grilled Schueblig, also at P35 (on Sept 14 only) served with freshly cooked French Fries, tomatoes and veggies. The Schueblig was very tasty and tender.

We enjoyed our short trip to Manila Peninsula. After our meryenda, we took some photos around the hotel lobby when I immediately notice a photo booth. Unfortunately,  it will become available by 5pm that afternoon so we just took our photos using our own cameras (that’s how we love souvenir photos!). Suddenly a good-looking guy bumped me while busy browsing on his iPod. When we look at each other we immediately say “Hi'’ and this one happened next..an instant photo with Mr. Tim Yap!

I am not really fond of having photos with celebrities but Tim was very friendly and since we were busy for the pictures and my camera was ready to shoot, we grabbed the opportunity. “Thanks Tim!”  It was a happy and memorable day, joining Manila Peninsula’s 35th Anniversary with a huge glass of delicious Halo-halo Harana and juicy Grilled Schueblig plus a souvenir photo with Mr. Tim Yap.

  

Sometimes even the simplest and cheapest food can be delicious and exciting to eat when we share it with our family or close friends. I believe we don’t have to dine-in a fancy restaurant to enjoy a delicious meal or to have a great time with friends. But don’t forget that we also need to enjoy and relax, even if it requires spending extra peso just once in a while.

Enjoy reading!

 

Marge

Part II|Comida China de Manila- Old Chinatown Cuisine since 1894

 

Few days ago I blogged about Comida China De Manila featuring restaurant’s  interior and promised that I will also write about their food. Here’s the Part II of “A Glimpse at Comida China De Manila”.

“Comida China” literally means Chinese food in Spanish which to our parents and grandparents refer to that distinct style of panciteria fare in Binondo from early 1900’s to 1970’s. Panciteria San Jacinto is one of the favorite Chinese restaurant during that time that changed its name to Comida China de Manila along E. Rodriguez Jr. Ave (C5) in Pasig City. For years Panciteria San Jacinto has been a favorite place especially with Chinese food aficionados.

Now with the new name Comida China De Manila, the restaurant has kept their promise of serving only authentic Chinese dishes with the same taste and quality loved by people throughout the years.

I am thankful they invited me in a Food Tasting event together with other bloggers. Here are the top/best-seller dishes and all-time favorite of Comida China De Manila customers. I also mentioned my own favorite dishes.

An all-time favorite says, Mr. Chino. It has carrots, green peas, egg, pork and fat choi. It has thick consistency I always look in a soup and taste very good. It’s very flavorful and a good way to start your meal. That day, Comida China Soup became one of my favorite soup from a Chinese restaurant.

A deep fried wanton with minced pork or shrimp is called the PINSEC FRITO. A nice appetizer served with sweet and sour sauce, this is perfect while waiting for the main entrée to be served.  

Another appetizer to savor is the COLD CUTS PLATTER. With tender and juicy roast barbecue pork and lechon Macau, Chinese sausage that we seldom have in our tables, pata jamon, seaweed and century egg.

I am one of the many who don’t eat ampalaya (that’s a secret to tell) but every time I  dine-in a restaurant and ampalaya dishes are served, I see to it that I try them just to get familiar with the taste. AMPALAYA CON CARNE is always present in every Chinese menu. Some restaurants uses oyster sauce or hoisin sauce to create a semi-sweet sauce with ampalaya dish. Comida’s own version of ampalaya con carne - with sliced ampalaya that’s crunchy and has the right degree of bitterness cooked with tender sliced beef. An interesting ampalaya (bitter melon) dish for those who hate it just like me.

You’ll never go wrong with FRIED LAPU-LAPU in Sweet and Sour Sauce. It instantly  became another favorite. The dish may not look good in this photo but it’s one of the best and certified best-seller here in Comida China De Manila and I highly recommend it. Don’t forget to add this when you place an order.

Comida China Chow Mein is a popular noodle dish, with freshly cooked canton noodles, Chinese broccoli leaves, black mushroom, pork, shrimp and special sauces. It’s an interestingly different and delicious dish.

Love tofu and fish? Try Bean curd with Fish – cuts of fresh tofu and battered fish fillet with tasty brown sauce sautéed in garlic, tomatoes and yellow beans.

 

From all the food I’ve tasted, the FRIED SHRIMP BALLS is my number one favorite. It’s very tasty, crunchy outside with minced shrimp inside. Size is larger than a regular buchi. You can eat it by itself or dip with your choice of sauce.

CAMARON REBOSADO Con Jamon is another classic Binondo dish. Deep fried battered shrimp with ham. It’s totally different with Pinsec Frito and Fried Shrimp Balls in appearance and flavor.

 

Siopao, always present in every Chinese restaurant. With tender and tasty pork inside a soft dough, Comida’s siopao is another favorite says Mr. Chino. 

For dessert, we had ALMOND JELLY with peaches. A semi-sweet dessert served cold.

We were served with two fried rice – Fried Rice with Roasted Barbeque Pork and Chinese Sausage that’s flavorful and good to eat by itself. The Yang Chow Fried Rice has roast barbeque pork, shrimp, green peas and onion.

 

Comida China De Manila (formerly Panciteria San Jacinto) was established in 1894 is only one of the several Chinese restaurants that has evolved into something more than a panciteria. It has 400-seater, menu remains faithful to classic Cantonese fare served in Binondo, complemented with new dished put together by Comida’s Chief Cook who began his career in the very first Panciteria San Jacinto restaurant along T. Pinpin Street. In a few months, we will also see a new look of Comida as they renovate the interiors. A formal and upscale ambiance will remain says Mr. Benny, but the food remains affordable to its customers.

 

For more details about Comida China de Manila, visit them on Facebook or call (02) 671-5942, (02) 914-0832, and (02) 914-0830

Address: Comida China De Manila Located along E. Rodriguez, Jr. Ave (C5) Pasig City

 

Special thanks to Comida China De Manila Mr. Benny Torres and Mr. Chino Esguerra. Ms. Tessa, Ms. Mab and Mr. Kalvin of Larc and Asset PR