Swatch @ 25

Swatch turned 25 with a big bang and the celebration continues this Christmas!

To celebrate its 25th anniversary, Swatch Philippines opened Swatch & Swatch at 918 Arnaiz Ave., San Lorenzo Village in Makati City. The contemporary two-story building opened with the party to beat.  The delicious food served that night was from several food stations. National Artist Benedicto “BenCab” Cabrera created a Sabel watch for Swatch. Cabrera said, “Tonight, I share Sabel with the world. It’s my art on your wrist.”

Sabel, for BenCab, was a vagrant woman who wandered the streets of Tondo during his youth. She would later become his muse and the most recurring image in his works.

A limited edition Sabel watch, which has only 999 available pieces, comes with a metal sculpture/paperweight and a presentation box and is numbered. Watch collectors and aficionados can get this at The Retail Hub on the second floor where they can pick from the limited and numbered edition Swatch Sabel or the regular Sabel watch. There were also limited edition BenCab digital prints available that night.

Swatch friends were present to support Tita Virgie Ramos, among them were Matteo Guidicelli, Mikee Cojuangco-Jaworski, Rowell Santiago, Angel Locsin, Luis Manzano, Anne Curtis, Vice Ganda, Billy Crawford, Swiss Ambassador Ivo Sieber, Divine Lee and Swatch International creative director Carlo Giordanetti.

Swatch & Swatch, which occupies over 10,000 sq. ft., showcases the creativity and excitement the brand has inspired over the past 25 years. It features a new retail concept store and special event spaces. 

Celebrate the joy of the season with the perfect arm party — a Swatch.

(Visit www.facebook.com/SwatchPH. For inquiries, call 887-1898.)

A tribute to teachers

PLDT Gabay Guro (2G), the teacher advocacy group of the PLDT Smart Foundation (PSF) and PLDT Managers’ Club Inc., organized the biggest tribute to teachers in this year’s Grand Gathering event at the SM Mall of Asia Arena.

Over 20,000 teachers attended the spectacular celebration for free, which was highlighted by a throwback concert featuring popular celebrities including Ogie and Regine Alcasid, Derek Ramsay, Jonalyn Viray, Dulce, Rachel Alejandro, Manilyn Reynes, Jessa, Dingdong Avanzado, Iya Villania and Alice Dixson.

For seven years now, 2G has been supporting teachers and students who would like to take up the teaching profession. All of 2G efforts are aligned with its six pillars including: teachers’ training that presents new modules on Emotional Intelligence and Information Technology literacy and sustainability; housing and educational facilities; livelihood programs; broadbanding and computerization of schools; and teachers’ tribute, highlighted by the 2G Grand Gathering.

The Grand Gathering also featured the biggest raffle draws, with substantial major prizes that included a house and lot from Camella Homes, a brand new Haima car from Laus Group of Companies, an APE Piaggo three-wing van from Auto Italia, 10 PLDT HOME Cyberya Internet Café set-ups, retailer phone kits and SIM cards from Smart and Sun, and cash prizes.

Other raffle prizes were laptops from PLDT HOME Bro, laptop and tablet in-one from Microsoft, electric fan with oven toaster package from Fujidenzo, gift packs from various sponsors, myPad3 from myPhone, Cignal prepaid kits, quad core Polaroid Platinum tablets from PLDT HOME Telpad, Samsung Tab 7, a trip for two to Hong Kong, a tricycle from Honda Philippines Inc., and a motorcycle from PR Savings Bank.

The teacher advocacy group has awarded around 1,000 scholarship grants to aspiring teachers. It has enabled more than 300 scholars to graduate from its 40 partner schools nationwide. Five of the 2G scholars have continued their quest for higher learning and received master’s degree scholarships from the Philippine Women’s University.

This year, 2G and PLDT Hong Kong launched a scholarship program for Overseas Filipino Workers’ (OFW) children and dependents. They also sponsored 110 OFW teacher-candidates in their review and venue fees for the Licensure Examination for teachers.

2G and its partners have also donated some 28 classrooms to various public schools in the country, especially those that are located in the calamity-ravaged areas. It was the first organization to build permanent structures in the form of sturdy classrooms after the 7.2-magnitude earthquake devastated Bohol in 2013. It was likewise one of the first to respond in the rehabilitation of typhoon-damaged Leyte.

Made by athletes, for athletes

One of the most successful fitness brands in the world, Under Armour, first landed in Manila with its first-ever Southeast Asia brand store at the Bonifacio High Street in Taguig City. Following the positive response from the Filipino fitness enthusiasts, the US-based performance footwear and apparel brand opened its second store at the SM Megamall recently.

Under Armour senior director for new markets Carlos Maza said, “Opening (a new store) in Megamall is a natural step for the brand’s expansion in the Philippines. The response to our brand from athletes in the Philippines has been tremendous and we look forward to increasing our presence throughout the country.”  

The brand is distributed in the Philippines through an exclusive partnership with Triple Pte. Ltd. Adrian Chai, Triple Pte. Ltd. chief marketing officer, said, “The store in Megamall is the result of a well-planned expansion strategy. It’s in a high-traffic, centrally located area, making the brand even more accessible.”

Cocktails were served to kick off the festivities that morning.  In attendance were volleyball player and Gameday Weekend host Gretchen Ho, Robi Domingo, Philippine Women’s National Football team captain Natasha Alquiros and TV sports personality Reema Chanco and mixed martial artist Brandon Vera. Following the cocktails was the official ribbon cutting at the store by Under Armour representatives.

After a brief tour of the store, guests were ushered to the SM Megamall Activity Center that was transformed into a concrete jungle. Brandon Vera officially opened Armour Assault, a series of intense fitness challenges.

The fitness challenges comprised of bear crawls, sit-ups, push-ups, box jumps and dumbbell lifts. After all the celebrities had their turn, three males and three females were awarded for being the most fit in the group. The most fit males were Jon Hall (first place), Carlos Agassi (second place) and Rey Talosig (third place). The most fit females were Maria Persson (first place), Roxanne Barcelo (second place) and Issa Litton (third place).

Under Armour has become one of the most successful fitness brands in the world, and that’s only rooted in the fitness games displayed that afternoon: it is made with passion by athletes, for athletes.

(Follow me on Instagram @pepperteehankee.)