12.14.2011

New FMCC™ products in time for Christmas :)

I've been getting a lotta tweets about people having FMCC™ on their Christmas wish lists! Here now are NEW COLORS of our pique polo shirts now available! Hurry! It's so FUN to collect! Comes in SIX colors in both His and Hers styles.

Here, Elmo wears the pique polo in royal blue. But he LOVES all the colors, which is why he actually art-directed that shot above, himself, which you can find on his Instagram page. 
(Yes, I am using it with his permission, thanks, Moe!)

We've also got the button-down plaid shirts, in both long and short sleeves, in different color combinations. The patterns and most especially the fabric of our shirts are carefully and personally chosen by yours truly, always! BOW! 

We also have the NEW FMCC™ Insignia Jean (not in photo) which has a twist to the placement of the logo and has Spandex™ added to the denim. It's an upgrade of our now-famous Fits All Original Jean. Available at all 15 branches of 3 Stars & A Sun and also online at www.francismclothing.com wherein we SHIP WORLDWIDE*.

Happy Christmas and Happy Shopping!

*Shipping fees apply. Check online for your area.

10.11.2011

WIN 2 TICKETS! Tweet link of ur fave MULTIPLY STORE n ONE SENTENCE why u LUV dat store!

To celebrate how AMAZING 2011 has been so far, Multiply will be throwing a party the best way it knows how: a first-of-its-kind shopping party that will bring to life the unique online shopping experience that only Multiply can offer! 

This by-invitation-only event will bring to life some of Multiply’s top online shops. Guests will be treated to a fashion show to showcase pieces from Multiply shops. 

Live performances will also amp the festivities with music from Pinoy rock band Techy Romantics and a performance by DJ Mars Miranda! 

Well, I have been invited to attend this special shopping event and I am actually giving away TWENTY INVITES to my Twitter followers! Whee! 

All you have to do is tweet me @piamagalona a link to your favorite Multiply Marketplace store and WHY you LOVE that store so much! There are 15 categories to choose from:
  • Fashion and Accessories
  • Shoes
  • Beauty and Health
  • Jewelry and Watches
  • Fragrances and Perfume
  • Kids
  • Baby and Toddler
  • Electronics and Cell Phones
  • Computers and Accessories
  • Movies, Music, Games and Books
  • Home and Garden
  • Collectibles and Art
  • Sports and Outdoors
  • Professional Services
  • Car Parts and Accessories
It's that SIMPLE! So, hurry and join in the fun! Tweet your entries and I will choose the BEST answers and announce these by FRIDAY, Oct 15!

10.03.2011

Amber Lights Laguna in updatedtrends.multiply.com @shopatmultiply @SmileCzen

Here now is another treat: the reed diffuser by Amber Lights Laguna

This scenting uses the principle of being real as it is made of essential oils. My mom LOVES these. Yes, mom has even higher standards than I and is so much harder to please! But Amber Lights Laguna has been given the "thumbs up." Best of all, it's Philippine-made!

Great to know that Updated Trends, who carries Amber Lights Laguna is now a Trusted Seller in the Multiply Marketplace! Place your orders here and Like their facebook for updates on the latest bazaars they are joining! Now that Christmas is just around the corner, this would be a most welcome gift to your dear ones. 

As my friends would say: "Clazz!"

Available in 5 scents, tastefully labeled and at only Php425 each:
  • White Tea - very light and lingering, great for dining room
  • Day at the Spa - good for powder rooms and baths
  • Citronella - a mainstay, to deflect mosquitoes n other bugs
  • Scotch Pine - Happy Holidaze in gathering areas such as the den and living room
  • Green Tea & Lemongrass - great for the kitchen
Believe me, I've tried them all and found these specific areas to put them in! 
Happy Shopping!

9.30.2011

JOIN! "I Choose Tattoo" Be different, be you. Choose Tattoo. @saabmagalona

BE THE NEXT TATTOO BILLBOARD CELEBRITY AND WIN CASH PRIZES 

Flaunt your originality and get creative as you deviate from the norm with a distinct flair of radical and inspired imagination. Globe-powered Tattoo gives everyone the chance to manifest their individuality and wear their choice proud. As the #1 most preferred broadband in the country, Tattoo lets you express yourself as you show off your unique personality to get the chance to be literally seen on a LED billboard along EDSA Paragon, Lawton, and Katipunan. 

Clicking has never been so rewarding—in order to join, simply “Like” the Tattoo Facebook page to access the “I Choose Tattoo” Facebook App where you can upload your picture. Photos to be submitted must highlight the phrase “I CHOOSE TATTOO” on a body part and can be written, tattooed, painted or done in any manner as long as it’s visible. 

Participants who wish to join should also keep in mind that photos with profanity, foul language, and nudity will automatically be disqualified. 

The image should include the user’s face and must specifically be 300dpi and at least 5” x 7” in size. Tattoo will be the sole judge for each submitted picture based on the following criteria:  

  • Edgy and Fierce look - 40%; 
  • Originality and creativity of the I CHOOSE TATTOO design - 40% and 
  • Over-all impact of the photo - 20% 
Each valid photo entry gets the chance to win awesome prizes from Globe. Eight (8) winners will be chosen from a Weekly Raffle Draw and will each get P20,000 in cash. On the 25th of November, a Grand Raffle Draw will be held to determine the two lucky winners who will each receive P35,000 cash, a Samsung Galaxy Tab and a Tattoo MyFi Stick for easy access to the net—anytime, anywhere. 

The promo is open to all interested Facebook users in the Philippines. Deadline of submission of entries is on November 17, 2011. 

To know more about the complete mechanics and rules, log on to www.facebook.com/globetattoo and click on the I Choose Tattoo Facebook App. Globe/Tattoo reserves the right to conduct further validation of entries before acceptance and awarding of prize. 

Be different, be you. Choose Tattoo.

9.09.2011

My very first purchase on the Multiply Marketplace @shopatmultiply




I just placed my first purchase on the Multiply Marketplace and I chose a Sponge Bob mp3 to mark the special occasion because he's one of my family's favorite characters! I can't wait for the package to arrive. Whee!

9.02.2011

Clara sings Adele's "Rolling in the Deep" well, kinda!




Shot in the van on the way to the airport in Singapore to catch flight to Manila. Very entertaining! :)

9.01.2011

New Re-Discovery! The Multiply Marketplace! @ShopatMultiply

So it's the  FIRST DAY OF SEPTEMBER! Yehey!!! For the true-blue Filipino who loves to have any reason to celebrate, this is such a big deal because it only means CHRISTMAS is coming very soon. This early, the very first Christmas song will be playing on your radios!

Well, after being so excited about the onset of Christmas, the next thing we feel is PANIC! Yes, because each year we try to outdo our gift-giving from the previous year, not just to try and impress others, but more so because we want to be UNIQUE in what those dearest to us will be receiving. 

Well, I'm so happy because I feel I'm a step ahead because I think I'm onto something big: I recently received notice that the Multiply Marketplace has recently evolved into an E-COMMERCE site, making it even more convenient for those of us who love shopping online!
Isn't that just great! PLUS, there are THOUSANDS of online shops to choose from! Whee!

Look for shops on Multiply that have the Trusted Seller badge, which just means that every item you purchase from these sellers is covered with the Buyer Protection Plan. There are also several SAFE options to pay, such as G-cash, PayPal, BPI and BDO.

When you see an item that you'd like to purchase, just select your options and quantity, then click on the Buy Now button. The item will be added to your shopping cart. Click on Continue Shopping to return to the shop and find more items, or click on Proceed to Checkout to complete your purchase. You can add many items to your cart, from a single shop or from multiple shops, and then complete your purchase with a single payment.

Coolness! My eldest daughter, Unna, just tweeted: "can we make a wishlist for Christmas?" Well, I'm going to ask them all to use their Multiply accounts and check out the Marketplace where they can just keep adding items to their cart, making it easier for them to complete that wishlist! 

So, if you still aren't on Multiply, create your account now and check out the Marketplace! I'll be posting my finds in the days to come and you're all welcome to share yours with me too! 

HAPPY SHOPPING TO US!!! 

8.26.2011

At the Red Carpet Premiere of Tween Academy: Class of 2012 (photo credit: PEP.PH)

So Elmo and I attended TWO premieres of GMA Films' latest outing, of which he is one of the lead stars. This photo is from the one at Podium, held at 4PM, Saturday.
The movie was so well-made by director Mark Reyes, from a script by Kit Villanueva-Langit. It's no mean feat for someone to have to put together into less than 2hours, a story that featured all of TWELVE artists, and still come out of it with logic:
  • Joshua Dionisio
  • Barbie Forteza
  • Bea Binene
  • Jake Vargas
  • Alden Richards
  • Louise delos Reyes
  • Kristofer Martin
  • Joyce Ching
  • Lexi Fernandez
  • Derick Monasterio
  • Yassi Pressman and
  • Elmo Magalona
plus several supporting cast members: Sam Pinto, Nadia Montenegro, Bobby Andrews, Angelu de Leon, Pinky Amador and Yayo Aguila. 

With cameos by Chuckie Dreyfus, Tim Yap, Tessa Prieto-Valdes, Kuya Germs, Alodia Gosiengfiao, and even Mark Herras, Ynna Asistio, Dingdong Dantes and Marian Rivera! 

Then there's the highly anticipated appearance of the lovely Julie Anne San Jose, who brings the house down and the movie to a close, with her beautiful voice and effortless singing!

In all, it was such a fun movie! Very entertaining and polished, especially the mix of animated effects used in the story of the characters of Barbie and Joshua. I also LOVED the character of Bea Binene, as she portrayed a headstrong teenager who also just wanted her best pal, Jake's character, to treat her like a young lady.

Of course, Elmo's character's story was centered on his relationships with both his Mother (well played by Ms Nadia Montenegro) and his female teacher (Sam Pinto), women who had the most influence on his transition years, as the other two female mainstays in his life--characters played by Barbie and Bea--we only consider as his peers. As such, all three of them are passing thru the same life stage with difficulty.

Other issues presented here in the stories of their characters are: fear of rejection (Alden and Louise), the origins of bullying (Derick), the pressure of being the most popular in school (Lexi and Yassi), AND the torture of keeping your relationship secret from your unreasonably strict parents (Kristofer and Joyce). 

See how their stories all come together in Tween Academy: Class of 2012. It's for both parents and children, also for barkadas, to see together. 

You may say it's the same old adolescent coming-of-age story, but it's a mighty good rendition of that old standard, I have to say! Congratulations to everyone who worked on this production... a job well done! 

Thank you so much also to those who have gone to see the movie! <3

2.14.2011

Pages Deli-Bar

Rating:★★★★★
Category:Restaurants
Cuisine: Other
Location:Streetscape, Shangrila Mall, Ortigas
I took my two youngest children to Pages as we got a flyer from them in the mailbox, informing us of their delivery service. Clara kept reading the menu, to the point of memorizing it. She even figured out that the items were named after novels. Her sandwich was actually called "Of Mice and Men," and had cheese and tomatoes in it.

When we finally got back to Shang that night--Valentine's Day weekend--we checked out the place and it didn't disappoint. I love the cozy ambience, and as I always say, there are three parts to a great dining experience: the food, the company and the ambience.

They serve the usual comfort food: salads, pasta and sandwiches, with a wine list that has just enough items on it. They also have a cheese platter and a deli platter if you're after a night on the town The place is almost tiny, but maybe this says a lot about the clientele. Well, I'm glad! I'm also happy that it's not pretentious, so a million points for THAT! The service is up to my standards as well. All thumbs up!

Go here for all the pics >http://piamagalona.posterous.com/photos-from-pages-deli-at-shang

2.08.2011

The King's Speech

Rating:★★★★★
Category:Movies
Genre: Drama
Fine performances turned in by Geoffrey Rush, Helena Bonham Carter and, of course, Colin Firth. They literally took my breath away. Talk about actors who complement each other! Yes, I'm raving here. Highest praises go to director Tom Hooper and writer David Seidler.
This is the true story of how King George VI struggled with the speech impediment of stammering/stuttering. Firth looked really pained as he delivered his lines, plus his transition from speaking almost-normally, then stammering, then back to being almost-normal again, was flawless.
I watched this all by myself, at past midnight and I was so touched by the wife, Elizabeth's gestures and the way she had so much love and respect for her husband, that I cried unabashedly.
There are so many good lines in the movie and the lesson of being steadfast is mostly what I got from seeing this beautiful piece of work.
I used to think that The Social Network--which I still regard as great--was my vote for Best Picture at the Oscars but I've changed my mind and am going with The King's Speech.
Overall, what makes this a good movie, apart from the well-written script and the seamless story-telling, is how wonderfully spot-on it is cast. I can't stand the frivolous King Edward VIII (well-played by Guy Pearce), especially when "Berty"--King George VI to you!--asks him why he's busy, "doing what?" He replies, "Kinging!" Hilarious!
Go see it if you still haven't because as far as I know, this man, George VI, ended up to be truly an inspiration to his family and subjects throughout his rule, and rightfully so!
NOTE: King George VI is the father of Queen Elizabeth who is Prince Charles' mother and grandmother to Harry and William. ;)