Bringing dreams to life

The young ones are definitely up for a marvelous treat as DreamPlay by DreamWorks, the world’s first DreamWorks-themed indoor interactive play and creativity center, has officially opened at the City of Dreams Manila.

At the official opening, Melco Crown Entertainment co-chairman and CEO Lawrence Ho was joined by DreamWorks Animation chief executive officer Jeffrey Katzenberg.

The DreamPlay center is a first-of-its-kind environment where kids can play and participate in a wide range of creative activities and fun-filled experiences with the characters of DreamWorks Animation’s world-famous films like Kung Fu Panda, Shrek, Madagascar and How to Train Your Dragon.

DreamPlay features 12 original attractions including learning Kung Fu with Po, the Kung Fu Panda; exploring Shrek’s swamp with the big green ogre himself; testing dragons for flight alongside Hiccup and Toothless; and embarking on seafaring adventures with the Penguins of Madagascar. Each franchise area represents a different type of interactive learning, with Kung Fu Panda teaching physical activity and agility; Madagascar involving physics, buoyancy and trajectories; Shrek teaching food preparation and cooking skills at “Cooking with Gingy”; and How to Train Your Dragon exploring the principles of flight and aerodynamics.

The 5,000-sq.-m. play center brings a new dynamic to family-focused entertainment in Manila and the Philippines as part of Melco Crown Philippines’ strategy to widen the domestic, regional and international appeal of the city to leisure destination seekers. 

Each DreamPlay experience has been designed by the artistic and creative forces of DreamWorks Animation and iP2 Entertainment.

Melco Crown (Philippines) Resorts Corp. chairman and president Clarence Chung said, “Melco Crown Philippines is thrilled to officially introduce DreamPlay by DreamWorks to the overall entertainment offerings at City of Dreams Manila, already enjoyed by millions of visitors since our initial opening December last year. The interactive play and creativity center is key to our family-entertainment appeal and ensures that City of Dreams Manila truly has something for everyone.”

DreamWorks Animation’s head of retail development and entertainment Paul Kurzawa said, “This is a very exciting day for DreamWorks and we are delighted to have the opportunity to work with Mr. Lawrence Ho and Mr. James Packer, to introduce DreamPlay to Manila. We are continuously working to build experiences that bring the stories of DreamWorks to life and with DreamPlay, we’ve introduced a fantastically fun and creative destination for the entire family.”

(The DreamPlay by DreamWorks is open every day from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m., and is situated at Level 2, Shops at the Boulevard retail arcade in City of Dreams Manila.)

Hear CamSur roar!

Uproar CamSur 2015 was an exhilarating experience for locals and foreigners alike.

Hosted by CamSur Watersports Complex and supported by the Tourism Promotions Board (TPB), the three-day festival gathered international DJs, bands, wakeboarding stars and celebrities for one big sporting event and party.

British DJs Danny and Ilona Rampling and Ibiza DJ Alfredo were joined by the country’s very own DJs Euric, Jay Matias, Katsy Lee and Jessica Milner. Pinoy rock bands Wolfgang, Razorback and Franco also took the stage to rouse party-goers.

The event coincided with the 9th Philippine Wakeboard Championships where local and international wakeboarding champs entertained CamSur guests.

Other celebrities spotted at the festivities were Mark Herras, Vandolph, Boy2 Quizon, Paolo Contis, Ketchup Eusebio, Sam Pinto and Wynwyn Marquez.

TPB chief operating officer Domingo Ramon Enerio III said, “Uproar CamSur2015 is indeed a unique festival. The event combines music, sports and adventure in one fun-filled extravaganza. It is definitely a great push for the Visit the Philippines 2015 campaign and with the event’s success, we’re hoping that the roar it makes will attract more tourists to visit the country and experience our culture’s vibrancy.”

(For more information on festivities happening this year, visit www.visitph2015.com.) A celebration of beauty

It was indeed a celebration of beauty when 18 fulfilled Filipino mothers and wives wowed the crowd during the Mrs. Philippines-Globe 2015 national pageant night at Moonbay Beach in Subic, Zambales.

After several pre-pageant activities, the candidates walked the runway in their gorgeous gowns during the coronation night. Sherry Lou Villaseñor, a makeup artist from Quezon City, a wife and a mother of two, was crowned Mrs. Philippines-Globe.

“I did not expect this award. But I just did my best and enjoyed the entire competition,” Villaseñor shared after the crown was turned over to her by 2014 grand winner Janice Trillo.

Apart from winning P200,000 worth of prizes, Villaseñor will also represent the Philippines in the Mrs. Globe 2016 World finals at Shenzhen, China in November. She also bagged the Most Elegant Woman and Calchews Supermodel Mom special awards.

National pageant director and chairman of the board of judges Morena Carla Cabrera-Quimpo shared, “Mrs. Philippines-Globe embodies the real strength of a Filipina mother — a strong and bold individual who can fulfill her responsibilities as a mother and a wife without compromising her own dreams.”

The pageant judges were 2013 Solane Mother of the Year Jessie Lou Lucero, 2012 Mrs. Philippines-Globe Joyce Pascual-Agsaway, 2013 Woman of  Substance Rizza Padilla-Singson, Mrs. Globe-Australasia national pageant director of Karen Sabarre, sales and marketing manager of Lighthouse Marina Resort Zed Avecilla, Binibining Pilipinas-Universe 1985 Joyce Ann Burton-Titular and Rotary Club of Subic president Pearl Dea Ting.

Woman of Substance 2015 awardee Maria Engracia Maniago, who also won the Solane Mother of the Year title, is a school teacher and mother of five. Other winners were third runner-up Jonalyn Agustin, second runner-up Jhunie Grace Lagman and first runner-up Mary Ann Ternora.

Special awards were given to Yolanda Llamas for best in talent; Ruby Liboon, achievement and entrepreneur of the year; Roscel Tala, darling of the press; Maria Aishelle Hwang, most beautiful face and L’Oréal Woman of Worth; and Joann Rosales, Mrs. Ocean Adventure.  The Woman of the Year award was given to Joyce Pascual-Agsaway, who was also crowned Mrs. Philippines-Globe 2012.

Mrs. Philippines-Globe was presented by L’Oréal, Solane, Camayan Beach Resort, Ocean Adventure, Calchews, Working Mom Magazine and Bio Oil, in partnership with Island Rose, Coffee Scrub Delight, Easyrock 96.3 and Bragais Shoes.

The pageant, organized by EVI Marketing Communications, was also supported by Moonbay Marina Leisure Resort, The Lighthouse Marina Resort, Buma Subic Hotel, Subic Park Hotel and Restaurant, Inc., The Villas, Moonbay Marina Leisure Resort, Mansion Garden Hotel, Subic Bay, Leciel Hotel, Segara Hotel and Subic Coastal Development Corp.

(Follow me on Instagram @pepperteehankee.)