The best of Spanish lifestyle

In celebration of this year’s Filipino-Spanish Friendship Day, The Manor at Camp John Hay recently played host to Buen Provecho, a trade fair that featured the best of Spanish lifestyle brands and culinary creations presented by La Camara Oficial Española de Comercio, Industria y Navegacion en Filipinas, Inc., the oldest Chamber of Commerce in the Philippines, also known as La Camara, and The Manor at Camp John Hay, in cooperation with Le Chef Restaurant at The Manor.

Buen Provecho kicked off with a ribbon-cutting ceremony led by Baguio City Mayor Peter Rey Bautista, Rep. Mauricio Domogan, Economic and Commercial Counselor of the Spanish Embassy Javier Alvarez and treasurer of La Camara Jose Primo Santos Jr.

The lobby of The Manor became the “Feria Española,” a trade fair of high-end Spanish specialty products such as wines from Bodegas de Hidalgo; the famous Amoroso Brandy from Consolidated Distillers; canned goods, wines and general merchandise from Espa-Fil; Spanish wines and the celebrated cava from Golden Wines; candies and canned fruits from Link Import/Export; olive oil and Spanish sardines from Oriental Merchants and Q&H Foods; and Wines & Spirits from Williams and Humbert.

Culinary experts Reggie Aspiras and Mitos Benitez Yniguez of Mario’s Restaurant gave free cooking demonstrations on tapas and paella, while wine experts Sherwin Lao, Oscar Garcia de Serdio and Edward Gador held seminars on Spanish wine, cava, sherry and brandy.

Reggie and Le Chef’s Billy King prepared a delectable selection of Spanish victuals that started with a tapas buffet,which included montaditos, pinchos and tartaletas during cocktails. For dinner, the duo treated guests to fabada, paella Valenciana, paella negra, fried seafood with gazpacho and aleoli, slow roasted angus beef belly with roasted peppers and saffron aleoli, among others. Fresh tropical fruits and gourmet Spanish cheeses capped the dinner, as well as favorite desserts like tocino del cielo, brazo de mercedes and natilla.

To complete the Spanish experience, classical guitarist Phil Valdez played well-loved flamenco tunes while Diane Francisco, Vikki Santos and Satomi Matsuo from Gina Jane Grey Dance and Art Center stomped their feet, clapped their hands as they performed Spain’s signature dances.

Amazing serum

Discover the latest breakthrough in skincare with new revolutionary anti-ageing products from the same makers as Strivectin-SD, “Better Than Botox!” and Hylexin, the eye cream for “Serious Dark Circles!”

Strivectin-HS-Hydro-Thermal Deep Wrinkle Serum is the first formula specifically developed to have a profound effect on the appearance of sharp facial lines and deep wrinkles. This amazing serum visibly improves skin smoothness, luminosity and tone!

Lumedia, the hottest selling Facial Brightener on the international beauty market, is the answer to younger looking skin! This miracle cream gets rid of the appearance of telltale age spots, blotchy discolorations and visible imperfections. Lumedia is a new, concentrated formula specifically developed to combat severe hyper pigmented age spots and help return the skin on the back of the hands to an even, smooth, youthful-looking color and tone.

These products were launched at Mandarin Hotel with training manager Candy Lim, product manager Vicky Marchadesch with Dr. Susann Roth as guest speaker.

(Strivectin introductory sets are now available at all Rustan’s branches and Marionnaud.)

Rihanna and Chris Brown will set the concert stage ablaze on Nov. 16

Witness the greatest collaboration the Philippines has ever seen as Globe and MTV Philippines bring Rihanna and Chris Brown, back to back in Manila’s biggest concert of the year! Watch two of the greatest R&B artists at the Bonifacio Global City Open Field on Nov. 16! Get two concerts for the price of one because things just keep getting better with the early bird rate! Avail of your tickets at a discounted price from Oct. 15 to 31!

Rihanna, a multi-platinum MTV, VMA, Grammy, American Music Award-winning artist, MTV Video Music Awards winner, R&B sensation and fashion icon, earned the coveted title of international superstar at the age of 19. In just three years, Rihanna has helped define the path of popular music, accrued multiple no. 1 hits, two MTV Video Music Awards and three Billboard Awards under her belt.

Christopher Maurice Brown is a Grammy nominated American R&B and pop singer-songwriter, dancer, music video director and actor who released his Billboard Hot 100 number-one debut single Run It! in 2005. His self-titled debut album spawned four successful top 10 and top 20 hits in the United States.

More of Rihanna and Chris Brown on MTV! Catch Rihanna on Box-Set at these dates: Nov. 1 at 8 p.m., Nov. 6 at 10 p.m., Nov. 10 at 6 p.m. and Nov. 16 at 12 nn; and Making the Video at these times: Oct. 24 at 5:30 p.m., Oct. 27 at 3 p.m., Nov. 7 at 2:30 p.m. and Nov. 12 at 9:30 a.m.

Get a load of Chris Brown on Box-Set at this schedule: Oct. 26 at 6 p.m., Oct. 30 at 3:30 p.m., Nov. 4 at 8 p.m., Nov. 14 at 8:30 p.m. and Nov. 16 at 12:30 p.m.

(For reservation, log on to www.ticketworld.com.ph or call 891-9999. For more information on this double header, keep tuning in to MTV Philippines on Sky Cable channel 57 or log on to www.mtvphil.com. The concert is co-presented by McDonald’s and Samsung. Official Radio Partners are Jam 88.3, Wave 89.1, Magic 89.9, XFM 92.3, RX 93.1, Campus 99.5, 103.5 Max FM, Crossover 105.1, Dream 106.7 and Y101 Cebu.)