World-class entertainment at your fingertips

Filipinos are definitely in for a treat as an extensive menu of top-line content and entertainment-viewing options are now available right at their fingertips! This is made possible by a team up of the country’s biggest multimedia networks PLDT Home and Smart with Fox, a global entertainment company and Asia Pacific’s leading broadcaster. This collaboration comes after they partnered with Southeast Asia’s leading Internet TV service provider iflix, which offers its subscribers the biggest library of movies and TV shows.

PLDT and Smart EVP and consumer business group head Ariel Fermin said, “This content partnership with Fox makes world-class entertainment easily accessible to all our subscribers wherever they are — whether at home or on the go. We are delighted to deliver this range of educational, sports, lifestyle and movie content from Fox that will suit the entertainment wants and needs of our customers, whenever and wherever they want.”

PLDT Home and Smart subscribers will be given access to popular videos-on-demand (VOD) content from Fox along with the top-up service, which will allow them to view nine live Fox channels including three channels for Fox Sports, National Geographic, Nat Geo People, Nat Geo Wild, Fox News, Channel M and Star Chinese Channel. Viewers can also easily view blockbusters via catch-up TV. The catch-up TV and live offers will also be headlined by the widely popular international sports events such as Wimbledon.

Joon Lee, FOX International Channels executive vice president for content and communication, Asia Pacific and Middle East and managing director of Hong Kong and Southeast Asia, said, “With their nationwide reach and advanced multimedia platforms, PLDT HOME and Smart are the ideal content partners for us. We look forward to bringing our multi-faceted entertainment offerings to millions of Filipino homes in partnership with these industry leaders.”

(For more information, log on to pldthome.com or smart.com.ph.)

‘Mane story’

Hair loss is no longer a ‘life sentence.’ Here’s a “mane story” worth relishing and sharing.

DHI (Direct Hair Implantation), the world leader in hair restoration, is now in the Philippines. The internationally renowned medical group has come a long way since it started back in 1970 and has redefined the standards for hair restoration. The groundbreaking technique is widely known as the “gold standard” of hair implantation technology and DHI France president Nathanaël Aknine decided to bring the excellence of DHI to Manila.

In a roundtable launch at Makati Diamond Residences, Aknine gave his guests a crash course on the different hair transplantation methods and explained how the procedure diminishes all previous disadvantages and renders the safest and most natural-looking results.

DHI experts Dr. Sotirios Tyrkalas and Dr. Charlotte Dizon, who both underwent highly intensive training in the DHI Academy in London, explained the actual procedure to the guests. According to Tyrkalas and Dizon, the focus and skill of a DHI Master surgeon’s hand, backed by high-precision DHI tools, allows seamless hair implantation at the proper angle, direction and depth. There are no incisions, stitches, holes, scarring or any form of damage involved, and the implanted hair results in over 95 percent re-growth.

Completing the DHI team is general manager Catherine Fariñas. After a rich career of 20 years in Paris, she became the perfect link between the Paris and Manila clinics. Fariñas underwent extensive training at DHI Paris then returned home to the Philippines to run its local operations.

Also present at the roundtable was renowned fashion director Robby Carmona, who openly shared his experience with the treatment. Addressing slight hair loss on his hairline and crown area, he underwent an initial consultation and proceeded with the actual procedure, which, according to him, went by smoothly.

(Clinique de Paris is the only clinic in the Philippines that offers the DHI method. For more information, visit www.dhifrance.com or call 893-6175 or 0917-7208028.)

Of ‘Gold Rush’ & ‘Sweet Success’

All-new premium drink, Tanduay Select, which embodies fun spirit, dedication and enthusiasm of today’s young and success-oriented Filipinos, was launched at Raven Boutique Club in Bonifacio Global City recently.

Leading the ceremonial toast were the brand’s SVP for sales and marketing Andres Co, SVP for engineering Miguel Khao, AVP for marketing Paul Lim, national marketing manager Garry Ong, Asia Brewery Inc. COO Michael Tan and Tanduay ambassador Derek Ramsay.

Derek said, “I’m really excited to share this newest drink with more people out there, especially those who aim to achieve higher grounds in life through passion and determination.”

Joining the toast were Manny Osmeña and Stephanie Zubiri, who both gave talks on the exquisite flavor of the new premium drink. Stephanie said, “What I love about this rum is its balanced taste. It allows me to experiment with different cocktails that I can share with friends!”

Guests enjoyed free-flowing shots of the premium drink’s concoction called “Sweet Success” and Stephanie’s very own mix “Gold Rush.”

Created by Tanduay’s Master Blender, each bottle of this new-age rum is a blend of ages of rum matured in oak barrels, which gives the rum its well-rounded and smooth distinct taste.

Tanduay is one of the most awarded companies in the spirits industry with over a hundred international quality awards and seven International High Quality awards. This year, the company was awarded the Crystal Prestige trophy by the Monde Selection International Quality Institute, one of the world’s most prestigious and highly esteemed body that recognized wines and liquor products with the highest standards of taste and quality.

Tanduay president and CEO Bong Tan said, “Being in the industry since 1854, we understand that each generation has its own remarkable preference, strength and outlook. We are very delighted to introduce a new drink everyone deserves to enjoy after a long day.”

Proudly Italian

Celebrating its collaboration with Italian designer Giancarlo Petriglia, premium Italian leather luggage, bag and accessories brand Piquadro launched its latest collections through a cocktail party and an exhibit at Green Sun in Makati City.

The venue’s amazing 200-sq.-m. AXON room was transformed into an art gallery exhibiting some of the fine works of the collections in silhouettes like the briefcase, the trolley, the messenger bag and small leather goods.

Highlighting this new perspective were the creative and playful product displays of the latest collections set up around the venue with artistic representations of each line projected on the walls. These art installations were customized to each collection’s personality and “vibe,” be it the palette or the point of inspiration for Petriglia for each of his collections.

The three values that inspire the company — design, functionality and technological innovation — are fused with the unique handmade Italian craftsmanship, the quality of prized leather and attention to detail. In every collection, Piquadro offers a wide range of bags, suitcases and other leather accessories where the originality and elegance of Italian style are combined with practicality and reliability. 

The spirit of the brand’s products lies in the fundamental concept underlying the design of each one: “Tech inside.”  Piquadro makes bags and briefcases specifically designed to safely and elegantly transport technological equipment like laptops, tablets, smartphones and pen drives.

The leather materials come from Tuscany, whose ancient traditions make it the most famous and prestigious region for fine leather in the world.

(Follow me on Instagram @pepperteehankee.)