A scorching hot summer

A star-studded, fit and totally sizzling summer is in the offing with the Nestea Fit Beach Volley National Circuit ’09. As revealed during a press conference hosted by DJ John Hendrix, the event will showcase more competitive beach volley matches from the country’s best collegiate beach volley teams, as well as lots of cool parties, fashion shows, thrilling concerts and an online search for summer’s hottest guy and gal. (Nestea Fit, with that fantastic fat burner L-Carnitine, was also launched during the event.)

Nestea Fit consumer marketing executive Sarah Rose Lim says, “This year’s event will once again feature heart-stopping beach volley action from some of the country’s best collegiate teams while today’s hottest celebrities will also be joining us for the fun and excitement that’s been synonymous to Nestea summers.”

Those who have expressed their support for the event include Lenie Catindig of Ipanema, Edelyn Yanilla of Speedo, Paolo David and Eric Lim of L’Oreal Paris Elsève, Rhodora Mandanas and Christian Mallari of Nautilus by PJ Arañador, Carol Lobaton of Mikasa, Stuart Jenkins of D’ Mall D’ Boracay, Joy Bautista and Cecil Mejia of Boracay Mandarin Island Hotel, Louis Ravelo and Sheryl Basto of Hey! Jude Resort, Joy Ocumen and Lyn Bartolome of Bollé Eyewear and Bing Tanalgo and Ayay Tanalgo of Bacolod Chicken Inasal.

This year’s National Circuit will feature 72 teams from 43 colleges and universities nationwide. The semifinal and championship rounds are scheduled from May 6 to 9 in Boracay. Celebrities Rhian Ramos, Paolo Contis, Iza Calzado, Alfred Vargas, 6cyclemind and Survivor Philippines finalists Jace Flores Jr., Kiko Rustia, Kaye Alipio, Nikki Dacullo, Rob Sy, Vern Domingo and Pinoy Sole Survivor JC Tiuseco will be in Boracay to join the fun!

The event also showcases the Heat Seeker contest, an online search for summer hotties where visitors can upload videos at www.nestea.com.ph that showcase their hotness. The winning guy and girl will enjoy an all-expense paid trip to Boracay with two of their friends to watch the finals of the Nestea Fit Beach Volleyball National Circuit ’09. Aside from this, winners will also get to co-host in the TV show Sam’s Quest and receive P10,000.

Nestea Fit Beach Volley National Circuit ’09 is sponsored by Ipanema, Speedo, Parkmall in Mandaue City, Cebu, L’Oreal Paris Elsève, Nautilus by PJ Arañador, Mikasa, D’Mall D’Boracay, Tagum Beach Volley Drome at Rotary Park, Hey! Jude Resort, Boracay Mandarin Island Hotel, La Carmela de Boracay Resort Hotel and Crystal Sand Beach Resort.

Shoppers unite!

SM and MasterCard took movie viewing to the next level by giving away 50 Philips LCD 47” Flat TV sets with Home Theatre System to SM shoppers!

Ad and promo manager of SM Department Stores Kilet Cheng says: “For its 50th year, SM shows gratitude to millions of devoted customers through the ‘Shop, Win and Save Promo,’ which is our way of showing gratitude for the millions of devoted customers who flock to our stores every day.”

MasterCard International Philippines vice president and senior country manager Poch Villa-Real adds: “Giving away these entertainment packages with SM is just one of the many premium perks that MasterCard offers its cardholders together with our merchant collaborators.”

One of the winners, Delma Singun, says that the brand new Philips LCD 47” Flat TV with Home Theatre System is a gift by itself. “I feel so blessed because I had been hunting for a new TV when I found out that I won!”

The lucky winners were treated to a generous afternoon merienda at the SM Prestige Lounge, on the fourth floor of SM Makati.

Shopping in SM does pay off!

(For more information, go to www.mastercard.com.)

Visiting artists go to Manila’s hotspots

Two Grammy award-winning artists had concerts one night after the other at the Araneta Coliseum. John Legend had his concert last Wednesday and Craig David had his the following day. Of course, being in a foreign country, anyone would like to check out the local nightlife. John Legend headed to the newest hotspot in town, The Establishment, where he was welcomed by proprietor Anton San Diego. Craig David opted to dance at the VIP area of Ascend where owner Robert Laguardia was also celebrating his birthday. From the looks of it, both had fun. Kudos to Philippine hospitality!

The night the interns rocked

Like a scene from Grey’s Anatomy, medical interns from all over Metro Manila rocked the night away as Pharex Health Corp. treated them to an evening of fun and an informative presentation of their prospective specializations.

Held side by side with TV show Us Girls and hosted by Iya Villania, Cheska Garcia and Angel Aquino, the “Grand Interns’ Night with Pharex” served as a venue for over 600 interns to see what’s in store in the different fields through audio visual interviews with seven medical societies. Seven LCD monitors with earphones were set up at the lounge area, where the interns listened to an overview of each of the specializations and the advantages of choosing a particular field, as presented by presidents of the seven societies themselves. Available for viewing were the videos of the Philippine Academy of Family Physicians, Philippine College of Physicians, Philippine College of Surgeons, Philippine Dermatological Society, Philippine Obstetrical and Gynecological Society, Philippine Pediatric Society and Philippine Society of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery.

Pharex president Tomas Marcelo Agana III said: “Pharex believes in supporting them in our own humble way because we can never have too many doctors here in the country.” He said that the event aimed to accomplish two things: assist interns in planning their medical careers and give them tons of fun. He added: “Some of them or maybe even a lot of them are in the process of deciding their specialization. We hope to help them in their decision-making by showing them taped interviews of the heads of the different specialty societies as they discuss the medical careers our interns can look forward to in each specialization.”

Interns from six institutions battled it out for the first-ever “Pharex Interns Idol” title and when the dust settled, the “dancers” from De La Salle Medical Center emerged triumphant. The winners took home the P50,000 prize as the rest of the teams each got P8,000 in gift certificates.

Free-flowing drinks accompanied performances from the Kitty Girls, Kris Lawrence, Denise Laurel, Mau Marcelo, Aaron Villaflor and Iya Villania plus a presentation of the designer collection of Rhett Eala and the clothing, accessories and hair and makeup styles of 2008.

The “Grand Interns’ Night with Pharex” was a meaningful occasion for the interns who not only got better ideas of a particular medical field but also got to mingle with their peers from other hospitals.