Fly high to 12 new destinations

Gather your travel buddies and see more places around the world with Philippine Airlines’ (PAL) 12 new destinations.

A kick-off ceremony was held at the Diamond Hotel in Manila recently where PAL president and chief operating officer Ramon Ang unveiled the airline’s 12 new destinations. These destinations are Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia); Darwin, Brisbane and Perth (Australia); Guangzhou (China), Abu Dhabi (United Arab Emirates); Doha (Qatar); Riyadh, Jeddah and Dammam (Saudi Arabia); Dubai (United Arab Emirates); and Basco, Batanes.

The Basco and Kuala Lumpur routes were launched May 1 and May 2, respectively.

The flights to Darwin, Brisbane and Perth will be operational on June 1; Guangzhou on July 16; Abu Dhabi on Oct. 1; Doha and Dubai on Nov. 1; and Riyadh, Jeddah and Dammam on Dec. 1.

Several trips to PAL’s new destinations were raffled off during the event.

PAL’s route expansion, particularly in the Middle East, will open strategic gateways and allow greater connectivity to more destinations in the region through the airline’s interline partners. “From UAE, for example, overseas Filipino workers can easily connect to other key cities or countries through PAL’s airline partners in the Gulf,” Ang said.

Ang added that the Philippines’ robust economy, recent credit rating upgrade, exciting tourist destinations and geographical advantage as a jump off point to many Asian cities are also behind the airline’s aggressive expansion. With the wider route network, foreign tourists and business travelers can fly to Manila, enjoy the Philippines for a few days, or connect directly to PAL’s other Asian, Australian and North American destinations.

In November last year, the airline’s new management began the network expansion with the launch of non-stop flights to Toronto, Canada. Its current network, operated with PAL Express, consists of 32 domestic and 39 international points.

A celebration of beauty

The finalists of Mrs. Philippines-Globe 2013 and Little Miss Solane 2013 were formally introduced to the media and the public at the Sofitel Philippine Plaza recently.

One of the biggest international beauty pageants for married women and single mothers, Mrs. Philippines-Globe aims to inspire and empower Filipinas and make them realize that they play a vital role as movers of the society.

Little Miss Solane, a pageant for children and teens, seeks to harness the potential of the youth, and teach them the value of success and accomplishment at an early age. The competition, made possible by Solane, the country’s leading LPG solutions company, is actually a revival of a popular pageant for children in the ‘60s called Little Miss Shellane.

National pageant director Morena Carla Cabrera-Quimpo said, “The success and achievement of Mrs. Philippines-Globe last year inspired us to be more committed to our advocacy of empowering more Filipinas. This is why we’re thankful to our partners like Solane for allowing us to expand our horizons and hold a bigger and better pageant for married women and single mothers, as well as kids and teens. We’re also very grateful and proud of our finalists for having the courage to join this pageant. Hopefully, they will come out of this pageant as improved individuals who have gained newfound confidence about themselves.”

Present at the event were Mrs. Philippines-Globe 2012 Joyce Pascual-Agsaway, together with some of last year’s big winners including Woman of Substance titlist Pinky Siva, first runner-up Ma. Micaela Isabel Malupa and Most Beautiful Face awardee Stephanie Malibiran. Also present to lend their support were Solane product and brand manager Ernest Loquinario and promotions and research manager Valeri Mae Batenga.

On its second year, Mrs. Philippines-Globe 2013 searched the entire country and came up with 18 finalists: Soraya Borbe, Nanette Ballono, Michelle Garcia, Jane Lorraine Dimaunahan, Lubesly Tellidua, Mary Charlotte Fresco, Arah Margarita Ty, Jessica Eribal, Charina Clarin, Ruby Jane Lehmann, Jennylyn Isherwood, Marilou Villanueva, Mildred Buazon, Jessie Lou Lucero, Maria Rizza Padilla-Singson, Ruby Salazar Papio, Maria Adelaida Paltu-ob and Rachel Ann Felix.

Little Miss Solane 2013 has 23 young ladies. The finalists for the Cuties category (eight to 12 years old) are Angel Arcilla Aviles, Freshe Arda, Mareeya Akira Sapla, Caryl Brianne Codina, Shane Colleen Palongpalong, Maria Yna Uy, Marielle Jhoy Tubig, Queennie Charmay Sulit, Sommi Khail Camacho, Jeena Vince Balbona and Angelica Ysabelle Mabuting. The contenders for the Teenies category (13 to 16 years old) are Jannene Anne Nidoy, Mary Noriel Olaco, Eloiza Loryn Invento, Charisse Lanchinebre, Nica Nabua, Monica Nazari, Nina Ricci Manangan, Gabriella Louise Lopez, Jamille Anne Ricafrente, Jobelle Danna Logarta, Ellie Karyll Vidad and Honey Pearl Geroso.

The national press launch was directed by Raymond Villanueva and hosted by Ariel Diccion. The contestants also gave the audience a glimpse of what to expect during the pageant night set this Saturday, May 25, at the Sunset Pavilion of Sofitel.

Mrs. Philippines-Globe is presented by Make Up Factory Maquillage Professionnel School of Make Up Artistry and Solane.

Continuing a ‘Family’ tradition

Bank executives recently gathered at Romulo Café in Makati City for the launch of BPI Family Savings Bank’s first credit card: the BPI Family Credit Card. Touted as a low-rate, no-frills alternative to cash, the card offers a finance charge of only two percent — the lowest in today’s market.

The card was presented by BPI Family Savings Bank president Jose Teodoro Limcaoco, former BPI president Aurelio Montinola III and BPI Card banking group head SVP Ma. Cristina Go.

Limcaoco explained, “We are pleased to offer a product that leverages on BPI Family Savings Bank’s established low-price platform and the secure system provided by BPI and MasterCard.”

The BPI Family Credit Card will be available to those with a minimum income of P15,000 and is intended for consumers who are used to paying with cash and are intimidated by the high interest rate that comes with the usual credit cards.

The card will be available for use in 35.9 million MasterCard affiliated merchants in stores and online, taking advantage of MasterCard’s secure, reliable, and widely accessible payment platform.

BPI Family Savings Bank, the country’s leading consumer bank, is a subsidiary of the Bank of the Philippine Islands. Founded in 1985, it is known for accessible and innovative retail banking products and services such as housing loans, auto loans and a wide range of savings products.