Joseph and Empress for Manila Bulletin Style Weekend (July 19, 2013)

Hot off the press! Soooo bongga! My favorite, the ever handsome Joseph Marco is in today’s Style Weekend! Get a copy of Manila Bulletin and you’ll find that fantastic cover shot by Jake Verzosa and a cover story by Gitri San Diego on the rise to fame of one of today’s newest, not to mention, most effective love pairing. With Empress, fierce and fab in her Sassa Jimenez dress, Joseph looks sleek, as expected, in his Edwin Tan suit.

The two are currently spicing up the boob tube scene in the ongoing primetime hit HUWAG KA LANG MAWAWALA, playing the young couple making the Judy Ann Santos starrer even more gripping.

What amazes me in the story is the candidness of the two in addressing their beginnings, their inspirations and their plans in the future. You might remember seeing them gracing the cover of Metro (you can still get their copies while it lasts) and now, again, in black and red motif the two undeniably WORKED IT!!

Get your copies now!

Mr. and Ms. Chinatown Philippines 2013

Last June 30, the first ever Mr. and Miss Chinatown Philippines has successfully crowned its rightful Ambassadors of Goodwill in an extravagant (I mean, BONGGA TALAGA) festivity that has put the Ms. Universe to shame. Of course, I get hyperbolic when I am super excited but I am so happy upon seeing the culmination of several months of preparations for this year’s fusion of cultures.

In the end, 21-year-old Atenean Randy See and the 19-year-old Philippine School of Interior Design student Rolini Lim Pineda have emerged and shown the greatest promise besting thirty-two talented and good-looking young contenders vying for this year’s title.

That night, Randy also went home with the awards for Best in Active Wear and Best in Formal Wear. Randy joined this year’s lineup of 16 male candidates including Binondo-based Jerome Tan, who went home with the First Runner-Up medallion, Taiwanese model and freelance television actor Sheng-han Yang (2nd Runner-up), Oliver Chen, Glenn Choa, Sydney Du, Gerald Magante, Miguel Lasala, Alvis Lim, Jaime Lim, Bruce Sing, John Sy, Arthur Tan, Fredrick Tan, Sky Yang, Francis Yao, and JP Yap.

Rolini, on the other hand, also took home the Best in Evening Gown special recognition, and was part of this year’s roster of Miss Chinatown Philippines contenders including Maricon Cho (crowned first runner-up), and Michelle Sy (2nd runner-up), Jerene Tan, Robylyn Kimberly Tan, Jamie Chua Reyes, Lhowelle Lyka Tan, Sheryl Elaine Chua, Samantha Jade Dy, Hannah Dy, Frances Elaine Cham, Kimberly Nicole Ang Mas, Aeryka Chua, Catrina Myka Ang, Catherine Yao, Anna Patricia Tan.

The grand winners of this year’s Mr. and Miss Chinatown Philippines grand search were awarded P500,000 each and a vacation for two package to Beijing or Shanghai. First runner-up awardees received P300,000 each with a special vacation package to Misibis Bay. The second runners-up were then given P200,000 each with vacation and hotel accommodations to Palao Blue Water.

Hosts Xian Lim, Gretchen Ho, Alex Gonzaga and Enchong Dee

And the top six among the dapper gentlemen in Edwin Tan suits: Sydney Du, Jaime Lim Ripoll, Jerome Tan, Randy See, Josse Miguel Lasala, Sky Yang

The six finalists of the female contenders: Katherine Yao, Jade Dy, Michelle Sy, Rolini Pineda, Sheryl Chua, and Con Cho

The winners. 2nd Runners Up: Sky Yang (also the Mr. Photogenic awardee) and Michelle Sy, the first Mr. and Miss Chinatown title holders: Rolini Pineda (also the winner of the Best in Evening Gown award) and Randy See (also awarded Best in Evening Wear and Best in Active Wear)

Yeng Constantino serenading the boys of Mr. Chinatown in their Edwin Tan numbers.

Francis Kevin Yao

Sydney Du

John Patrick Yap

Josse Miguel Lasala

Sky Yang

Alvis Lim

Arthur Emmanuel Tan

Jerome Edward Tan

Rolini strutting down the runway.

Hannah Dy

Mika Ang

Yeng Constantino singing her hit song "Chinito." How fitting! :)

The big winners of the night with the esteemed panel of judges and of course the people behind Mr. and Miss Chinatown. Kudos everyone!

Timex and Polo: Five Years and Counting

The five-year-old partnership between Timex and the Philippine Triathlon Team returns as the leading timepiece provider showed its support once again to the locally-based team. And as it usually goes, the tie-up was formalized through a contract-signing that was held last June 18 in Makati City.

Headed by Timex General Manager Avinash Uttamchandani and Polo Tri Team founder Fred Uytengsu. And with Uytengsu at the helm, the 60-membered Philippine team is slated to join local and international competitions.

And of course, with their trusted timegears at hand the members of the Polo Tri team joined forces at the mini-get together boasting their Timex Ironman Target Trainer HRM. Cheers to our Filipino athletes.

Polo Tri Team Leader and Head of Alaska Corporation Fred Uytengsu with Timex General Manager Avinash Uttamchandani

Karl Malakunas, Harley Bangayan, Ivy Palencia and Newtrends International Corporation Brand Manager for Timex Levy Ang

Polo Tri Team Members Chris Allison, Leana Carmona, Fiona Ottiger, Peter Yabut, Debbie Yabut, Joey Torres, Will Ottiger and TJ Parpan

Timex Ironman® Target Trainer HRM

Joey Torres, Joel Ferrer, Leica Carpo, Guy Concepcion, Martin Camara

Storied Nepal: Joseph Marco and Empress for Metro Magazine July 2013

Glam and ancient magnificence combine for an eye-candy too diverse to be described by any word. Arriving at the very cover of Metro Magazine’s July 2013 issue are two names groomed to headline today’s names of sought-after young superstars.

One of my favorites, the ever dashing and dapper Joseph Marco, of Sabel, Pintada, and Princess and I fame, and the new drama actress in-the-making Empress, rising from supporting roles in shows E-Boy, Wansapanataym, and Mundo Man ay Magunaw, land on the cover decked in the latest hot finds of interesting prints and color blocks set in the picturesque terrain of Kathmandu, Nepal—a place that crosses the boundary of beauty and artistry (you have to see the pages of the magazine to believe).
Earning its reputation for being one of the most mysterious, yet visited places in the world, Kathmandu is a location surrounded by the remains of a civilization that once inhabited Nepal. Though now filled with the modern people of the said region, the temples and statues of the yesteryears were retained to represent the country’s prosperous culture. And the relics are enough to provide them all with the prominence that any ancient setting deserves.

History lessons aside, the two celebrities (picture perfect in their own right) were a perfect choice for the magazine’s agenda of capturing beauty and fashion in only some of the most amazing settings. The two young raring acting supernovas are currently seen in ABS-CBN’s “Huwag Ka Lang Mawawala,” where they play the young leads among bigwigs Judy Ann Santos, Sam Milby, and KC Concepcion.

Furthermore, as the saying goes, “a single picture says a thousand words,” and a cover is definitely more than a picture, it is the modern trophy for people who deserve such valuable recognition, simply stating that both Joseph and Empress are already a notch higher in what would be a spectacular career to look out for.

Patterns on patterns and brights, why not? The gorgeous Empress and the ever so handsome Joseph Marco on the cover of Metro's July issue

The lovely cover defines breathtaking posing in Kathmandu's Nyatapola Temple backdropped by the Himalayan Mountain Range