Viva Barcino!

A few weeks ago, I wrote about my experience in a wine tasting dinner at the newly opened Barcino in Rockwell. The grand opening took place the following day and what a packed opening it was! What started as a university project in Spain is now a full-blown business with Four Wine Resto Bar and exquisite deli branch in the Philippines.

Over 700 guests flocked to Barcino’s Rockwell branch opening. Guests feasted on free-flowing modern Spanish tapas and wines all night and danced until dawn. The festive mood was enhanced by the dance of Nuevo Grupo Flamenco of Emma Estrada and the music of Nikó Maká, Tribu Manila and DJ Kristian Hernandez, who kept the crowd grooving.

Barcino’s Spanish team of managing director Rafael Rostoll, manager/partner Uri Singla, chef Jaume Vinyallonga and marketing manager Besay Gonzalez along with another partner visiting from China Sergi Rostoll were on hand to welcome guests. 

Barcino has definitely made remarkable success since its establishment in 2006. Its Rockwell branch followed sister branches in Julia Vargas Avenue, Bonifacio Global City, Greenbelt 5 and Greenbelt 2. With over 250 imported wines, its philosophy is clear: “No more middle man” and that’s why they start with the careful selection of the wines they import from Spain. Wines arrive at an excellent price for the final consumers who have been absolutely clear about what Barcino’s goal in the Philippines is: to provide the best value for money.

(Barcino Rockwell is located at the ground level of Power Plant Mall in Rockwell. Check out www.barcino.com.ph)

The art of saving according to Lolo Pepe

Children should be taught to save money early on in their lives. This was the message when The Real Bank (A Thrift Bank), Inc. launched its fourth book of Mga Kwento ni Lolo Pepe, a series of personal stories about thrift and saving culled from the true-to-life experiences of Jose Araullo, a.k.a. Lolo Pepe, the bank’s chairman. The launch was held at the Bulwagan Hall of the Department of Education head office in Pasig City with DepEd Secretary Br. Armin Luistro and Undersecretary Yolanda Quijano as guests of honor.

The publication of the series on Mga Kwento ni Lolo Pepe is part of the bank’s seven-year-old advocacy program “Bata…Bata…Mag-impok at Magsinop” with DepEd and Marylindbert International. The program aims to inculcate in youngsters the virtue of prudent spending and the importance of setting aside part of their money as savings.

Seen at the launch were former Education Secretary Fe Hidalgo, DepEd directors Mario Ramirez, Paraluman Giron, Teofila Villanueva, Elena Ruiz, Lorna Dino, Dinah Mindo, Teresita Dimalanta, Corazon Santiago, Lino Inovero and Marylindbert International president and CEO Linda Legaspi.

Araullo staunchly believes in being thrifty — spending only on what he needs and setting aside money for emergencies. These are the values that have guided him his whole life.

Araullo said six more series of the book will be published in the future to be distributed for free in schools.  The Real Bank has rolled out a campaign to invite children to open an account with just an initial deposit of P500.

Don McLean live in Manila

Don McLean, the legendary singer-songwriter of one of the greatest hits in the last century, American Pie, will hold a one-night only concert at the Araneta Coliseum on March 2. A Starry Starry Night with Don McLean will feature his hits If We Try, Vincent, And I Love You So, Wonderful Baby, Everyday, Crying, Birthday Song, Since I Don’t Have You, Crying In The Chapel and much more.

Since the ‘70s, McLean has released 24 studio albums and seven compilations. His songs have been remade by Madonna (American Pie), Josh Groban (Vincent), George Michael (The Grave), Shirley Bassey and even Elvis Presley (And I Love You So).

Many of McLean’s songs were inspired by true events and celebrated personalities. Vincent is a tribute to  Dutch painter Vincent Van Gogh. Wonderful Baby is a salute to Fred Astaire who would later on record the song himself. Superman’s Ghost is a tribute to George Reeves, who portrayed Superman on television in the ‘50s, while The Grave is about the Vietnam War. Even his most critically and commercially acclaimed hit, American Pie, was inspired partly by the deaths of singers Buddy Holly and Ritchie Valens in a plane crash. American Pie is the longest song to stay at No. 1 with a running time of eight minutes and 36 seconds and has been inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame. McLean himself was inaugurated into the Songwriters Hall of Fame.

A Starry, Starry Night with Don McLean is produced by Ovation Productions. It is supported by The Rockwell Club, ETC Entertainment Channel, 2nd Avenue, Diva Universal, Jack TV, RJ 100 and EDSA Shangri-La, as well as media partners The Philippine Star, 103.5 Wow FM, Mellow 94.7, 97.9 Home Radio, DWBR 104.3, 105.1 FM Crossover and Optima Sign Solutions.

 (For ticket inquiries, call Ticketworld at 911-5555.)