What's up with American Idol Season 10 finalists

25 May 2011, seventeen year old Scotty McCreery was announced as the winner of the tenth season of American Idol with sixteen year old Lauren Alaina as the runner-up.

Scotty’s first single “I Love You This Big” and Lauren’s “Like My Mother Does” (Kristy Lee Cook original), were released immediately after American Idol. Both songs were in the U.S. Billboard charts “I Love You This Big” peaked at number  11 and “Like My Mother Does” at number 20.

Scotty McCreery’s first album “Clear As Day” will be released on October 04, 2011 while Lauren Alaina’s “Wildflower” album on October 11, 2011.

Scotty McCreery (left) and Lauren Alaina (right) on the Today Show

Another American Idol season 10 finalist Pia Toscano just released her first single entitled “This Time.” (I just heard the song today and it’s awesome!) Pia Toscano, Haley Reinhart and James Durbin are now managed by Red Light Management.

Pia Toscano

James Durbin

Haley Reinhart

P.S. Haley Reinhart is my favorite! J

-Kwento ni Mersi Marrakesh

World’s top triathletes converge in CamSur for Cobra Ironman 70.3 Philippines 2011

Thousands of athletes, media people, and other participants arrived in CamSur this week for the Cobra Ironman 70.3 Philippines, now on its third year. Camarines Sur Governor LRay Villafuerte led the welcome for the participants during the Meet the Pros press conference at the CamSur Watersports Complex (CWC) in Pili, Camarines Sur.

The Cobra Ironman 70.3 Philippines triathlon is the ultimate test of strength and endurance as it will take participants to a gruelling half-Ironman 70.3 mile race course (total distance) — consisting of 1.2-mile (1.9 km) swim, 56-mile (90 km) bike and 13.1-mile (21.1 km) run — around the world-renowned CWC. CWC is also home to the best cable wakeboarding park. Full Ironman consists of 2.4-mile (3.86 km) swim, 112-mile (180.25 km) bike and 26.2-mile (42.195 km) run, raced in that order and without a break.

Some of the top male professional triathletes to watch out for include defending champion Pete Jacobs, Cameron Brown, Luke Gilmer, Justin Granger, Erich Felbabel, Jesse Thomas, and Dan Brown. The female professionals include Amanda Stevens, Belinda Granger, Katya Meyers, and Bree Wee. Defending champion Jacobs returns to CamSur hoping to grab the second of back-to-back titles. My personal favorite would be Dan Brown who loves the country so much that he married a Filipina (Ani De Leon-Brown) and relocated to my hometown Olongapo City. Dan Brown currently works in the Philippines as a coach and helps train members of the Philippine triathlon team.

The Cobra Ironman 70.3 Philippines is now an official qualifier to the Ford Ironman World Championship to be held in Kailua-Kona, Hawaii on 08 October 2011, with 30 available slots. It is also a qualifier to the Ironman World Championship 70.3 which will be held in Las Vegas, Nevada on 11 September 2011.

To my friends Jean Alia Robles and Dwan Abantao who will also participate in the triathlon, good luck to both of you!

Traffic advisory: Del Rosario Naga City, Pili Diversion Road, Ocampo, and Tigaon Camarines Sur will be close to all vehicles from 6:30am to 12:00noon tomorrow, 14 August 2011.

Author Remus Mark with friends at CWC

Author Remus Mark with friends at CWC

- Kwento ni Remus Mark

Cebu hosts Philippine International MICE Conference 2011

Cebu is hosting this year’s MICE Con 2011 from 10-13 August 2011. Tourism Secretary Alberto Lim and Cebu Governor Gwendolyn Garcia welcomed around 200 delegates at the Cebu International Convention Center for the event’s opening ceremony.

International delegates from various countries including China, India, Thailand, Singapore, and Vietnam are officially booked at Cebu’s finest hotels and resorts including Marco Polo Plaza, Imperial Palace, Radisson Blu Hotel, Waterfront Cebu City Hotel & Casino, and Shangri-La’s Mactan Resort & Spa. Delegates are sellers, buyers, and resource speakers.

One of the offerings prepared by the conference committee is a visit to the Cebu provincial jail for the delegates to watch the “dancing inmates,” who are famous around the world for performing Michael Jackson’s “Thriller,” which currently has over 48 million views on YouTube.

The conference aims to position Cebu and the Philippines as a competitive host for MICE events at par with other popular MICE destinations in the world, banking on the natural warmth and hospitality of Filipinos and the country’s attractive travel destinations. MICE – the acronym for “meetings, incentives, conventions, exhibits” – is considered the tourism industry’s most lucrative market because MICE visitors tend to spend more compared to those traveling for holidays or other purposes.

- Kwento ni Remus Mark

New Lombok International Airport to be inaugurated on 01 October 2011

Residents and tourism stakeholders in Lombok are delighted by the announcement made by West Nusa Tenggara Governor M Zainul Majdi that the new Lombok International Airport will be inaugurated on 01 October 2011. The inauguration ceremony will be headed by no less than Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono.


Located in Central Lombok, the new airport will replace the outdated Mataram Selaparang Airport. The Lombok International Airport will have a runway of 2,750 meters x 40 meters and apron that can accommodate up to 10 wide-bodied aircrafts like the Airbus 330 and Boeing 767. The airport has the capacity to handle 3 million passengers annually.

Located east of Bali, Lombok is considered Bali’s sister island with beaches and landscapes to rival. Tourists who seek escape from Bali’s crowded beaches turn to Lombok’s Senggigi Beach (Pantai Senggigi) and Kuta Beach (Pantai Kuta). Popular diving sites northwest of Lombok include Gili Trawangan, Gili Meno, and Gili Air – collectively known as the Gili Islands. Lombok is also home to Indonesia’s second highest mountain – Mount Rinjani (Gunung Rinjani), which also happens to be an active volcano.

- Kwento ni Remus Mark

Paris Hilton is heading to Manila on 13 August 2011

It’s confirmed. Paris Hilton is coming to Manila on 13 August 2011. She announced the news herself on Twitter.

Paris Hilton is a model, actress, singer, business woman, fashion designer, author, and philanthropist. Paris was invited to design the beach club amenities of Azure Urban Resort Residences, a six-hectare residential project of Century Properties in the southern part of Manila. Paris is also expected to meet Filipino boxing legend Manny Pacquiao.

Paris Hilton is excited to meet her Filipino fans. Paris even sent a personal invitation to Filipina Isha Dinio (@iamishagirl) via Twitter to meet while she’s in town. Isha Dinio considers Paris Hilton her icon. Paris follows Isha’s tweets.

I wonder if Paris will visit any of her shops in the Philippines. She currently has four branches of Paris Hilton Bags & Accessories Stores in the country – at Robinsons Place Manila, Newport Mall at Resorts World Manila, SM Megamall and Abreeza Mall in Davao City.

Paris Hilton Bags & Accessories Store at Newport Mall - Resorts World Manila 

- Kwento ni Remus Mark

Today x Future: ABSO-FABU-FUTURISTIC-EXPO-Y'AL​L-EDACIOUS

ABSO-FABU-FUTURISTIC-EXPO-Y'AL​L-EDACIOUS

 Today x Future’s 3^rd Anniversary Bash

Celebrating 3 glorious years in 3 days

04-06 August 2011

Cubao X, Metro Manila

Thursday, 04 August 2011

featuring Mike Lavet, Dmaps, DJ Logik, Super Mikki

Friday, 05 August 2011

featuring Badaf Punk, Cha Angel, Gigee, Kill Your Boyfriend

Saturday, 06 August 2011

featuring Caliph8, Brat V, Ha*Beebee, Major Chi, Tof Zapanta, Celdee New Works

I'd like to share some photos taken throughout the 3-day event.

Congratulations to the management and staff of Today x Future on your 3rd anniversary. We look forward to more years of amazing parties.

- Kwento ni Remus Mark

Mersi Marrakesh's top five romantic comedy movies

Are you looking for a good movie to watch? Here are some of my favorite movies.

Mersi Marrakesh's top five romantic comedy movies

Forgetting Sarah Marshall - Devastated from his recent break-up with girlfriend Sarah Marshall (Kristen Bell), Peter (Jason Segel) decides to take a vacation in Hawaii in order to move on. He arrives in Hawaii and finds out that his ex-girlfriend Sarah is also there with her new boyfriend Aldous Snow (Russel Brand). Meanwhile, Peter meets the charming hotel concierge Rachel (Mila Kunis). He begins going out with her and develops feelings for her.

A Lot Like Love - Emily (Amanda Peet) and Oliver (Ashton Kutcher) meet on a flight from L.A. to New York. They arrive in New York and spend the day together as they make an instant connection. Oliver tells Emily about his serious plans for the future but she just laughs at him. Oliver gives his number to Emily and tells her to call after six years. They reunite a couple of times as they both struggle with their lives and careers only realizing that what they need is each other.

John Tucker Must Die - John Tucker (Jesse Metcalfe), high school superstar, dates three girls all at the same time. Carrie (Arielle Kebbel) an overachiever, Heather (Ashanti) the head cheerleader, and Beth (Sophia Bush) a vegetarian activist. When the girls find out that John is cheating on the three of them, they make a plan with Kate (Brittany Snow) to take revenge on John Tucker by breaking his heart.

No Strings Attached - Emma (Natalie Portman) and Adam (Ashton Kutcher) meet at summer camp as teenagers. Years after Adam finds out that his father and ex-girlfriend are together. He then decides to contact Emma again after years of no communication. Adam and Emma meet. The next morning he wakes up naked in Emma’s living room under the impression that he had sex the previous night. Emma shares her apartment with her workmates and this confuses him. Adam goes to Emma’s room to get his pants where they wind up having sex. They agree to keep things physical but later on realize it is easier said than done.

Just Go With It - Danny Maccabee (Adam Sandler) is a successful plastic surgeon who pretends to be married to keep it casual with the girls he hooks up with. Only his office manager Katherine Murphy (Jennifer Aniston), a divorcee with two kids, knows about his scheme. He meets gorgeous Palmer (Brooklyn Decker) at a party and the next morning Palmer finds his ring and refuses to see him anymore. Instead of telling her the truth, Danny tells her that he’s getting a divorce with a woman named Devlin. Danny asks Katherine to pose as his wife as they go deeper with the lies.

- Kwento ni Mersi Marrakesh

Delicious treats from MedChef by Chef Hasset Go

MedChef believes everyone deserves a sweet treat, a small reward for the small accomplishments we finish everyday.

Now I just don’t know what good I’ve done to deserve these yummy treats from MedChef. I just wish my photos can do to your eyes what the actual treats did to my tongue and taste buds.

Walnut Carrot Cake

Red Velvet

Tuna Pasta

  

Pesto Pasta

Finally for the piece de resistance...

Chocolate Overload

  

MedChef Homemade Cakes, Pastries and Desserts

139 Mother Ignacia Avenue, Quezon City, Metro Manila (across ABS CBN)

telephone (02) 710.4807, 585.6052

mobile 0915.487.1332

MedChef is owned and managed by business and creative partners Chef Hasset Go and Jayson Paul Carlos. Chef Hasset Go is a multi-awarded pastry chef, consultant and instructor. He’s been awarded the Consumer’s Choice Asia Pacific Award, Asian Star Achiever Award, Asian Star Quality Award and the Seal of Product Quality 2010.

Special thanks to my friend Francis Simeon, publicist to the stars.

- Kwento ni Remus Mark

Ang Babae Sa Septic Tank Commercial Premiere

The premiere for the commercial run of the movie “Ang Babae Sa Septic Tank” was held last 02 August 2011 at Cinema 1 of Gateway Mall. Thanks to our friend Francis Simeon, showbiz insider and publicist to the stars, we secured our invites to the event. I already missed previous chances to watch this movie – at CCP and UPFI Film Center; so I couldn’t resist this offer from Francis.

“Ang Babae Sa Septic Tank” is a comedy about the journey of three  young filmmakers towards making their dream movie. It stars Eugene Domingo, JM de Guzman, Kean Cipriano, Cai Cortez, Mercedes Cabral, and Cherry Pie Picache; directed by Marlon Rivera and written by Chris Martinez.

“Ang Babae Sa Septic Tank” was a crowd favorite during the 7th Cinemalaya Independent Film Festival. It swept most of the major recognitions during the awards ceremony including:

Audience Choice (New Breed Full-Length Category) – Ang Babae Sa Septic Tank

Best Film (New Breed Full-Length Category) – Ang Babae Sa Septic Tank

Best Director (New Breed Full-Length Category) – Marlon Rivera

Best Actress (New Breed Full-Length Category)  – Eugene Domingo

Best Screenplay (New Breed Full-Length Category) – Chris Martinez

The screenings for “Ang Babae Sa Septic Tank” at UPFI Film Center were sold out within minutes.

The premiere at Gateway Cineplex 10 was star-studded. Celebrities like Sam Milby, Toni Gonzaga, Richard Poon, Tom Rodriguez, and Sebastian Castro were spotted. The cast and production team also graced the affair.

Except for some minor technical problems, the event was a success. “Ang Babae Sa Septic Tank” was entertaining from start to finish. There were several brilliant scenes that made me laugh so hard, including the one with “TV Patrol acting.” This is definitely Eugene Domingo’s best performance to date.

The commercial release of “Ang Bababe Sa Septic Tank” was made possible through Star Cinema.

The girls with Eugene Domingo

Tom Rodriguez

Mersi Marrakesh with JM de Guzman

Mersi Marrakesh with Sam Milby

Remus Mark with JM de Guzman

Sebastian Castro with Remus Mark

- Kwento ni Remus Mark