Beko Officially Kicks-Off Presence In Ph With “Kick Your Way To Barcelona: The Beko Grand Kick-Off Challenge”

Wazzup Pilipinas!

BEKO, one of the largest home appliance brands in Europe, is finally in the Philippines. Entering the Philippine market in July of 2015 and exclusively available in select SM Appliance Center stores, BEKO provides an innovative and reliable range of kitchen and home appliances which make consumers daily lives easier.

“Kick Your Way to Barcelona” with BEKO & FC Barcelona

As part of this global premium partnership with FC Barcelona, one of the top football clubs in the world (lead by Lionel Messi, Neymar Jr., Gerard Piqué, Luis Suárez and Andrés Iniesta), and to strengthen the Beko Philippines Facebook fan page (@BekoPh); BEKO Philippines launched the “Kick Your Way to Barcelona: The BEKO Grand Kick-off Challenge” Promo.

With BEKO Philippines awarding one (1) lucky winner with a tax-free, all-expense paid trip to Barcelona, Spain to watch an FC Barcelona match live in April 2017 (inclusive of a roundtrip ticket to and from Barcelona, hotel accommodation with breakfast, in land transfer, Barcelona city tour, & a VIP La Liga match Box Ticket), the promo attracted a number of Facebook followers to submit and post their creative selfies welcoming Beko’s arrival in the country with #HelloBekoPH.  Successful entries qualified for the Kick-Off Challenge that was held on January 14, 2017 at Sparta Philippines, a sports complex which houses the country’s only FIFA 1-star certified indoor soccer pitch.  The qualifying round aimed to select ten (10) participants who will move on to the final round on February 10.

During the Kick-Off Challenge qualifying round, each participant was given three (3) attempts within one (1) minute to try and kick the soccer ball inside a customized mock-up washing machine goal from a designated distance of twenty (20) feet.  Since only one (1) participant was successful in hitting the goal, a second round to determine the remaining final nine (9) participants was conducted with which each participant was allowed to kick the ball with unlimited chances within one (1) minute from a nearer distance of fifteen (15) feet.

Swan Lake Caps Off Ballet Philippines’ “Wings” on Feb 24 – March 5

Wazzup Pilipinas!

As a fabulous fitting finale of Ballet Philippines’ 47th season entitled “Wings”, come and watch the new staging of “Swan Lake”, the most famous and legendary ballet adored by audiences all over the world for over a hundred years. On March 4, “Swan Lake” will be celebrating the 140th anniversary of its premiere.

“Swan Lake” is set to open on February 24 at the CCP Main Theater (Tanghalang Nicanor Abelardo) at 8:00 PM. Other performance schedules are as follows: February 25 at 2:00 PM & 7:00 PM, February 26 at 3:00 PM, March 3 at 8:00 PM, March 4 at 2:00 PM and 7:00 PM, and March 5 at 3:00 PM.

This year’s “Swan Lake” boasts three extraordinary pairings for Odette/Odile and Prince Siegfried: multi-awarded guest artists Candice Adea and Joseph Phillips, BP principal dancer Denise Parungao and company member Garry Corpuz, and soloists Jemima Reyes and Victor Maguad in their first lead roles in a classical ballet.

Set to Tchaikovsky's beautiful and moving score, The Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra under the baton of Maestro Yoshikazu Fukumura are set to perform the music live during the gala nights on February 24, February 25, and March 3.

The February 25, 7:00 PM performance is an International Gala featuring guest stars Candice Adea (formerly of Hong Kong Ballet and BalletMet) and Joseph Phillips of the Primorsky Stage of the Mariinsky Theatre. Both artists have garnered multiple awards in international ballet competitions, including the Helsinki IBC, and the Jackson IBC.

“’Swan Lake’ is regarded as the summit of achievement in the theater for every major classical ballet company,” says Ballet Philippines artistic director Paul Alexander Morales. “Nowadays so many versions and interpretations of the ballet are available online, so audiences will likely have their own ideas of what ‘Swan Lake’ is and what it should be like. It is our challenge to come up with an entirely new experience of this ballet.”

Based on Germanic folk tales coupled with Russian traditions, “Swan Lake” weaves drama and dance together in an unparalleled spectacle. The ballet tells a timeless story of magic, love, and forgiveness through the ingenious choreography of Marius Petipa and Lev Ivanov. It centers around Odette, a princess under a curse that traps her in swan form during the day, and Prince Siegfried, an idealistic royal under pressure to find a suitable bride.

Ballet Philippines has previously staged the full-length “Swan Lake” in 1980, 1982, 1985, 1989, 1991, and 1994. The 2017 production marks the company’s 7th restaging to date. Ballerinas who have brought the dual role of Odette/Odile to life on the BP stage include the likes of Maniya Barredo, Kelly Cass, Toni Lopez Gonzalez, Valentina Kozlova, Yoko Morishita, Guo Peihui, Cecile Sicangco, Ester Rimpos, and Anna Villadolid. Notable Siegfrieds include Medhi Bahiri, Fernando Bujones, Wes Chapman, Nonoy Froilan, Serge Lavoie, Robert Medina, Brando Miranda, and Zhang Weiqiang.

“Swan Lake” is restaged by Nonoy Froilan after Marius Petipa and Lev Ivanov. Set designer Ohm David shall combine grand scale and psychological intimacy. His magnificent designs pit Edwardian splendour against the spectral beauty of the white acts. James Reyes’ dramatic costumes shall emphasize the contrast between human and spirit worlds, in shimmering fabrics and designs to create a magical setting.

From the first yearning bars of Tchaikovsky’s score, “Swan Lake” shall beckon you to another world. This timeless and enchanting tale filled with magic, manipulation, and eternal love will surely melt countless hearts, stir the soul, and send tingles down the spine. “Swan Lake” - the ultimate night at the ballet.

Connect to Ballet Philippines online through the following social media networks:

Facebook: www.facebook.com/balletphilippines
Twitter: @balletph
Instagram: @balletphilippines
YouTube: balletph

To join in the Ballet Philippines conversation, use our official hashtags: #balletph, #swanlakeballetph

For tickets, call Ticketworld at 891-9999.

WWF Ambassadors Marc Nelson and Rovilson Fernandez Teach Kids with Pascual Laboratories

Wazzup Pilipinas!

It’s a chilly January morning but the classrooms of the General Roxas Elementary School in Quezon City are heating up, abuzz with the chitter-chatter of nearly 100 students, discussing ideas and listening to WWF-Philippines National Ambassadors Marc Nelson, Rovilson Fernandez, plus a team of environmental educators from WWF-Philippines and Pascual Laboratories.

“Can you guys name all the vegetables in the song Bahay Kubo?” asks kuya Rovilson, alluding to a popular Filipino children’s song. “Regularly eating vegetables can build up your immune system and shield you from cough, colds and other sicknesses brought on by stronger typhoons,” he explains.

In the next classroom is kuya Marc, explaining how climate change is exacerbated by the burning of fossil-fuels. “Switching to renewable energy sources like wind power and solar parks can stop global warming,” he says as the other teachers hand out climate change brochures.

The duo recently participated in WWF and Pascual Laboratories’ SEED (Sowing to Empower, Educate and Develop) Programme, which aims to enhance local communities’ resilience to climate change by eliminating diseases and switching to healthier lifestyles through a proper diet, exercise, vitamins and good hygiene.