SM Cartoon Fest: Every kid's dream come true

Once upon a time, we dreamed of a magical world filled with princes and princesses, talking animals and spirits of the forest, heroes and villains. We joined in their wonderful adventures and discovered new lessons, made new friends and discovered new places. We were 10 years old, and wished we could pass through that TV screen and hug and play with such dear friends. And our wish was granted.

SM Supermalls made every kid's dream come true as they launched the biggest jamboree of 38 cartoon characters in 44 malls nationwide at the SM City Fairview Annex Atrium last April 12. Perfect for kids and kids-at-heart, the SM Cartoon Fest brought our childhood cartoon characters to life and offered exciting activities like face painting, cartoon film showings, craft shows, scrapbook making and raffle prizes.

I became the 10-year-old kid again clapping and shouting with joy as they presented every character on stage. We all went wild as they first featured the Angry Birds, and wished we could throw the birds live with a real slingshot. Awarded as the Overall Best Licensed Program of the Year and Best Character/Toy Brand Program of the Year in 2012, Angry Birds is truly a global game phenomenon that kids will always want to play.

Meet the Minions, Gru's loyal but mischievous glow-in-the-dark sidekicks who first appeared in Chris Melendandri's Despicable Me. Produced by Universal Pictures and Illumination Entertainment, the movie will be followed by a second installment with another comic and heartwarming adventure and will be in theaters on July 3.

Vamonos! The kids all shouted as they cheered for Dora the Explorer, the much-loved character who helps us improve our English and Spanish language skills.

Better hide your lasagna; Garfield is on the move. I still remember collecting Garfield comics from the newspapers watching the Garfield movie with Jon and Odie. Thanks to Jim Davis, Garfield shares the laughter and the lasagna with 200 million people in 110 countries every day.

Tom and Jerry joined the jamboree and after another cat-and-mouse chase on stage finally hugged each other and became friends. We have truly enjoyed Tom and Jerry's adventures even without dialogue; even my 7-year-old Japanese cousin loves to watch them all day long.

The 1970's Sesame Streetclub--Elmo who taught us the alphabet, Cookie Monster who helped us solve number problems and Bert and Ernie who helped us develop critical skills also paid a visit to the kids and kids-at-heart.

Dare to be Square. Nickelodeon's Spongebob Squarepants took a day off from his work at the Crusty Crab and danced and played with the kids at the SM Annex Atrium.

Lorax, DC Comics Heroes Green Lantern, Hello Kitty, Batman, Robin and Superman, Hop, Loony Toons' Tweety Bird and Sylvester, Robby Rabbit, Monster High, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Polly Pocket and Barbie Ballerina completed the 38 cartoon characters showcased in the SM Summer Cartoon Fest.

Supported by Bates/Nickelodeon, Richprime, Pacific Licensing, Honeybarn, Solar Entertainment, FCI, Click Licensing and Astroplus/Magnavision among others, SM Cartoon Fest is a summer-long festival which ends on May 31. Special discounts are also available for character items and toys. Visit their Facebook page at www.facebook.com/supermalls for more updates and promos.

Daniel Padilla: 'Steady lang. Enjoy life.'

The Big Dome birthday concert is looming, and Daniel Padilla is gearing up for his much-awaited rock and roll songs and band performances as he shared his preparations to bloggers last April 12.

"The Araneta concert was a dream come true, especially for someone like me who is just starting my career in the industry," the 17-year-old heartthrob, who will turn 18 on April 26, shared.

Dubbed Daniel LIVE: A Birthday Concert, the Big Dome show will mostly consist of DJ's rock and roll performances together with his band Parking 5, and Princess and I co-actors Khalil Ramos and Enrique Gil with a special participation of Kathryn Bernardo.

I had the opportunity to ask him how he wisely manages his time, balancing his academic responsibilities, his endorsements and singing and acting career at the same time, which not just makes him the ultimate heartthrob of the new generation but also a role model for the youth.

"I love and enjoy the things I do. I think it's an important factor to not take things too seriously. If we enjoy life, we would find meaning in it," DJ shared.

He may be nervous, but Daniel added that his concert will be the show of a lifetime, a performance that he and his beloved fans will truly enjoy.

Daniel also recently finished his second album released by Star Records, following his debut album that topped the charts and hit Gold in less than a week.

Little Champ set visit with Caloy, Chalk and Lulubelle

Sometimes we learn life’s hardest lessons from kids.

A father and a lost son, a gift and a curse, a hero and an ally--these spell ABS-CBN's newest drama-fantaserye Little Champ. Starring the new child wonder JB Agustin Malatamban and outstanding actors, Little Champ is a story of the heartwarming journey of Caloy and his talking stallion Chalk, a quest to live with his family in harmony, and a mission to fight the evil in the world. We had the opportunity to take a peek at one of their shooting venues last April 9. I had always dreamed of working behind the scenes in a movie or series production and just witnessing the shooting venue and the editing process of Little Champ made me realize its sophistication and complexity.

We watched as Caloy, Lulubelle (Sofia Millares), Jason (Renz Fernandez) and Chalk, the talking horse performed a rap song version of Apo Hiking Society's Batang-bata Ka Pa. I was amazed at how JB and Sofia memorized their lines easily and how patient they were enough to endure many takes to perfect the scene. Chalk also seemed very trained and patiently behaved during the shooting that lasted almost an hour.

We also saw how the editing staff worked out the scene and polished the shots to be aired on TV. I was truly inspired at the intricate process and the huge effort of the actors and production staff to perfect such teleserye that truly offers life's lessons to children. It also proves the Filipino art and creativity in making movies and teleseryes that are worthy of recognition.

Don't miss Little Champ, also starring Sen. Lito Lapid, Katya Santos, Jhong Hilario, Jake Roxas, Micky Ferriols, Paolo Serrano, Coleen Garcia and Precious Lara Quigaman and directed by Richard Arellano, every night before TV Patrol in ABS-CBN's Primetime Bida. You may visit their Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/LittleChampOfficialPage and follow them on Twitter at @LChampOfficial.

pinoyRealTV: The dawn of the new television

Change is in action. Living in the modern age where 70% of the population virtually lives in social networking sites, we have truly witnessed the future of communication. Such evolution has finally reached its peak: with the inception of pinoyRealTV, the pioneering online channel that lets us watch our favorite shows anytime and anywhere, news, entertainment and social media interaction now come in a single package that offers convenient viewing experience.

pinoyRealTV, powered by whoa.ph is part of the OTT (Over-the-top) TV arena that lets viewers watch their favorite variety shows using their own devices through broadband connection. Launched in 2012, pinoyRealTV is practically our pocket television--we can watch its specialized contents even as we travel. With previous shows including Urban Tribe and Mariel Rodiguez and Robin Padilla's Love-on-Line (LOL), pinoyRealTV launched its new set of variety programs last April 8 with media and bloggers.

Video streaming by Ustream

Food, travel, fashion and showbiz with the genuine touch of Filipino culture--these are some of the themes of the new shows that pinoyRealTV offers to its online audience. Unique Places grants us free tickets to interesting and prominent places in the Philippines; Pinoy Indies showcases celebrated and recognized Filipino digital films; Suit Up gives us fashion tips and some success stories of business entrepreneurs; Promdi Chef takes us to a gastronomic journey that offers the Filipino's very own ingenious food creations; The Workplace offers business advices on ideal work environments from first-hand corporation experts.

Jojo Alejar's Medyo Late Night Show, Hot Seat, It's Me Avel and Heart-ista Advice also line up the eight new programs of pinoyRealTV. Hosted by showbiz experts Eddie Littlefield, Alex Brosas and Julie Bonifacio, Hot Seat heats up with the question 'Handa ka na bang ma-Hot Seat?' and sizzles with latest celebrity scoops and news. Heart-ista Advice presents celebrity heartthrobs, actors and musicians who shall generously hear our love stories and offer advices. Finally It's Me Avel, hosted by Avel Bacudio tours us to the world of Pinoy fashion and lifestyle.

Learning about pinoyRealTV I discovered more about the social media network and how it can offer more to its online audience by linking television and the online screen and ultimately creating a whole new light on convenient entertainment and news experience. With pinoyRealTV's connection to other social networking sites we can watch our favorite shows on a timeline grid, share our thoughts, comment on the programs and interact with online friends all at the same time.

Witness the future of television unfold with pinoyRealTV: Atin ito! You can visit their website at http://www.pinoyreal.tv powered by whoa.ph.

Dugong Buhay: The art of forgiveness

"Love, hate and forgiveness--these elements define someone who can live his life to the fullest. Iyan ang dugong buhay." -Carlo J. Caparas

How do you live when your life is full of lies, full of hatred and vengeance? This spells Kapamilya Gold's newest afternoon series Dugong Buhay, revived from the 1983 movie creation of komiks scriptwriter-director-producer Carlo J. Caparas. Directed by Toto Natividad and Mikey del Rosario, Dugong Buhay is another must-see work of art that is especially dedicated to the present-day farmers and workers who are abused by their landlords, painstakingly crafted and remolded using modern film technology and infused with contemporary themes. ABS-CBN launched Dugong Buhay and featured its ensemble of veteran and brilliant young artists with media and bloggers last April 3 and shared the concept behind the action-drama series and the artists' impressions about the project.

"Reviving Dugong Buhay is  truly a timely project that should restore the Filipino people's interest in the art of komiks and inform them of the rich and long tradition of such works of art," Direk Carlo Caparas shared.

He added that although many people and critics do not consider komiks as a legitimate work of literature, it has become an intricate part of the Filipino culture that should be promoted and celebrated.

Direk Toto Natividad and Direk Mikey Del Rosario

Starring Ejay Falcon, Arjo Atayde, Nonie Buencamino, Anna Capri, Pen Medina, Christian Vasquez, Jed Montero, Ketchup Eusebio, Sunshine Cruz, Lito Pimentel, Yam Concepcion and Ronnie Quizon, Dugong Buhay also offers the Filipino audience not just the typical love story but also the long-gone action and heavy drama themes weaved by a complicated but timely and realistic plot design.

"I am very honored to take the leading role of this famous work crafted by our very own Carlo Caparas. I and Arjo may not be really considered "professionals" in such type of field, but we are always motivated to do our best, believing in the skill and the competence of our creative and technical staff that primarily define the 'masterpiece' in this series," Ejay Falcon shared.

Following the success of Caparas' other TV-adapted creations Pieta, Elias Paniki and Panday, Dugong Buhay revolves around the ill-fated life of Victor (Falcon), carved and molded by anger, revenge and lies. Raised by rebel worker Simon (Buencamino), Victor is honed to fight for the abused farmers and against the landlords, the De Lara family, who, as he discovers in time, is his true family. A warrior armed with vengeance, he will face the battle that was never his to fight--a battle that will eventually lead to a war between him and his true identity.

Direk Toto Natividad

With special participation of Carlo Aquino, Ahron Villena, Valerie Concepcion, Maliksi Morales, Jamilla Obispo and Yen Santos, Dugong Buhay premieres on April 8 at 3:30pm in the Kapamilya Gold afternoon drama series. 

Caribbean Footwear: Experience a wild summer adventure with the Urban Safari Collection!

Travel is the ultimate get-away from everyday stress and the monotonous life we suffer from--may it be school, work or both. We go to the beach and take vacation trips to rejuvenate and refresh ourselves, and that comes with considering comfort and ease in what we wear for our summer ventures. Comfort always comes first with our clothes, especially our flip flops. We must have all experienced those flimsy and uncomfortable pair of flip flops that didn't even last a month, designs that grew pale and pasty and even stuck on our feet. Worry no more--Caribbean Footwear, the ultimate novel brand that infused art and science into our flip flops--has finally granted our wishes.

A proudly local brand that first bloomed in 1995, Caribbean Footwear spells travel, beach and adventure. It formerly manufactured products for big footwear companies and started their flip flop designs in 2010. This year Caribbean Footwear launched its newest Urban Safari Collection with media and bloggers last April 3 at Red Mango, Greenbelt 3.

Comfort, Durability and Fashion--these are the three tenets of Caribbean Footwear. It ultimately believes that comfort and style can be stringed together by art and science and can eventually achieve a durable and long-lasting pair of flip flops perfect not just for our summer escapades but also for our everyday use.

Here are the concepts behind the perfect blending of fashion and technology that make Caribbean Footwear unique from other flip flop brands:

1. The science is in the strap. Caribbean's flip flop straps are molded perfectly to achieve comfort, durability and elegance using its own avant-garde technology.

2. The technique is in the toe. Revisiting and reconsidering the science of balance in our feet, Caribbean specially designed its flip flop's arched structure that supports the balancing act maintained by our toes.

3. The core is in the curve. Counting durability as one its main principles, Caribbean offers the model of the mid-foot curve, which serves as our aide that maintains our posture and proper foot formation. Such perfectly and practically designed structure enhances our endurance while walking or running.

4. The secret is in the sole. Caribbean footwear is scientifically-designed to shape our sole that provides comfort in mobility and protection against harsh elements that usually leave our feet injured or calloused.

5. The absolute transformation is in the Anti-slip technology. If there's anything especially extraordinary and revolutionary in Caribbean compared to other well-known footwear brands, it is the anti-slip foot bed technology that can make us finally say goodbye to that uneasy and unpleasant feeling when we walk our flip flops for too long.

Caribbean's flip flop combines art and science in one--its classy and elegant designs that range from its basics collection, design prints to the stripes revolution available for men and women, and its cutting-edge technology that lives up to its promise of durability and long-lasting comfort.

Caribbean Footwear is now available in leading department stores and supermarkets nationwide. You can never go wrong with Caribbean Footwear with its Urban Safari Collection design and its affordable prices ranging from P180-P300. You may also visit their website at http://www.caribbean.com.ph/ and like their Facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/CaribbeanFootwear.

My Urban Safari flip flops!