MANILA, Philippines - The award-winning Eastgate Publishing Corporation, the publisher of PAL’s Mabuhay magazine, is launching its first retail travel magazine, Mango, at 6 p.m., today at the Podium Mall in Mandaluyong City with Ryan Agoncillo hosting the event.
Mango magazine will be the first in the Philippines that will combine travel with features on the environment and inspiring people. In its maiden issue, the cover feature is an exclusive, behind-the-scenes look at the country’s most glamorous resort, Amanpulo in Palawan, modeled by Charo Ronquillo who is the first Asian model chosen by Ralph Lauren and was recently included by Vogue magazine in its list of top ten supermodels in the world. For balance, there are features on how to enjoy Palawan on a budget and the environmental impact on Tubbataha Reef, which is now recognized as a world heritage site.
Mango magazine provides more travel guidance by being the first travel magazine that gives a rating guide for destination in categories such as range of leisure activities, accommodations, ease of getting around, prices, and shopping for local finds. Most travel features of this new magazine also include more practical travel information like suggested itineraries and budgets.
The rest of the travel features of the maiden issue brings readers to the world’s best award winning resorts including Palawan’s El Nido resort and the best Philippine destination spas; a sneak preview of the new Misibis Bay Raintree Resort in Bicol and Shangri-la Boracay; and a look at fresh destinations like Sarangani province and culture-rich Bhutan in the Himalayas. Inspiring people featured include Filipino global achievers like lawyer Antonio Oposa who has received awards from the United Nations and the Ramon Magsaysay Foundation for his environmental work; marine scientist Dr. Jurgenne Primavera who was included as one of the “100 Heroes Of The Environment” by Time magazine in 2008; and engineer Alexis Belonio who won a Rolex award for his stove invention that utilizes waste rice materials.
Mango magazine also pioneers the introduction of a dedicated environmental section, “Green Mango” with inspiring features on UP Diliman’s bicycle project, the waste management program of Barangay Luz in Cebu City, and news bits on global green activities provided with Eastgate’s tie-up with the New York Times news service.
Eastgate Publishing, chaired by publisher Dr. Charles Cante with Luis Quisumbing as vice-chairman, has been publishing PAL’s Mabuhay magazine since 1988 and has won, so far, 15 international and local awards.
Jun Ventura is Eastgate’s president and editor in chief.
Mango is available at major bookstores and newsstands and, at P150 per copy, is one of the cheapest glossy magazines in the country.