Karylle wishes everyone ‘Sweet and Spicy’ New Year

For most of us, wearing Polka Dots during the celebration of New Year has been a tradition.

With the forthcoming celebration of the New Year, singer-actress-TV host Karylle gives a new twist to the tradition by coming up with a “Sweet and Spicy” twist to it. Karylle’s  “Sweet and Spicy” underwear line for Bench highlights her different personas – the sweet Showtime host and the spicy underwear Bench endorser.

 Karylle’s line of underwear is available at all Bench stores nationwide.

For more updates, please follow Karylle: On Twitter and Instagram: @anakarylle

OSCAR®-NOMINATED HBO ORIGINAL DOCUMENTARY REDEMPTION DEBUTS DECEMBER 28 AT 10PM ON HBO SIGNATURE

HBO Asia Online Release

PHILIPPINES, DECEMBER 18, 2013 – One of three nominees for this year’s Documentary Short Subject Oscar^®, REDEMPTION looks at a growing army of jobless New Yorkers, whose treasures are found in trash. Created by Emmy^®-winning filmmakers Jon Alpert and Matthew O’Neill, who spent months on the streets getting to know the canners and gaining their trust before turning on the cameras, this timely HBO Original Documentary REDEMPTION is presented amidst the ongoing debate over income disparity in America, and premieres on Saturday, December 28 at 10pm, exclusively on HBO SIGNATURE / HBO SIGNATURE HD.

 

Photo courtesy of HBO Asia

While employed New Yorkers pass by in a hurry on their way to and from work, “canners” eke out a meagre living on the sidewalks of the city by collecting empty bottles and cans and dropping them at redemption centres for five cents each. Former short-order cooks, computer-sales executives and factory workers, these men and women turned to canning after the economic downturn eliminated their livelihoods. Despite their non-traditional livelihood, many canners have worked beside each other on sidewalks for years, forming a unique sense of community.

“In the best of times for some, there is a growing army of New Yorkers who survive scouring the sidewalks and sifting through our city’s trash,” note Alpert and O’Neill. “As politicians debate whether life in New York is a tale of two cities, REDEMPTION shows the Dickensian conditions at the growing bottom of our city’s economy.”

Walter, a 60-year-old Vietnam veteran, now a canner for a decade, watching the number of canners soar as odd jobs that once supported the poor have disappeared. Like many unemployed canners, he equates the odds of getting hired for a conventional job with “hitting the lotto.”

Joe, another canner, says that everyone seems to be down on their luck right now, while Susan, a former computer-sales executive who turned to canning when she couldn’t get by on Social Security, notes that the young people in the city hold the good jobs. “What are we supposed to do?” asks Nuve, a devoted mother, intent on giving her children a brighter future.

The days are exhausting and the nights are dangerous for canners, especially those like Walter, who sleep in public places such as park benches or even the redemption centres. Lilly, a Chinese canner who speaks limited English, feels fortunate to have a home, but shares her tiny one-bedroom apartment with six others and frequently works through the night. The reality of life as a canner is so harsh that one ex-con considers arrests to be “rescues,” because incarceration means three meals a day, a bath and a job in a kitchen.

Says Susan, “I guess it’s survival of the fittest,” a sentiment echoed in the words and actions of the men and women who struggle to get by on the tiny sums the redemption centres offer them. Many have canned for years and have no reason to remain hopeful, yet they are, rising each day to sift through the waste of the city and survive another day.

Jon Alpert and Matthew O’Neill’s previous HBO projects include 2012’s “In Tahrir Square: 18 Days of Egypt’s Unfinished Revolution”; the Emmy^®-winning “Baghdad ER” (2006); the Emmy^®-nominated “Alive Day Memories: Home from Iraq” (2007) and “Section 60: Arlington National Cemetery” (2008); the Academy Award^®-nominated “China’s Unnatural Disaster: The Tears of Sichuan Province” (2009); and the Robert F. Kennedy Journalism Award winner “Wartorn: 1861-2010” (2010).

REDEMPTION was directed and produced by Jon Alpert and Matthew O’Neill; edited by David Meneses; original music by Jonathan Zalben; cinematography and audio by Jon Alpert and Matthew O’Neill. For HBO: supervising producer, Jacqueline Glover; executive producer, Sheila Nevins.

REDEMPTION premieres in Asia on Saturday, December 28 at 10pm on HBO SIGNATURE / HBO SIGNATURE HD.

Other playtimes on HBO Signature: Monday, December 30 (7.35pm), Thursday, January 2 (5.30pm) and Wednesday, January 22 (7.15pm).

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About HBO ASIA

Singapore-based HBO Asia is able to bring the best of Hollywood to Asia first because of its exclusive licensing deals with major Hollywood studios - Paramount Pictures, Sony Pictures, Universal Studios and Warner Bros., as well as a large number of major independent studios. HBO Asia has proprietary and award-winning HBO Original programs that are produced exclusively for HBO viewers. HBO Asia offers a bouquet of channels and services including 24-hour commercial-free subscription movie channels in standard-definition and high-definition – HBO, HBO SIGNATURE, HBO FAMILY, HBO HITS, CINEMAX and RED – as well as HBO GO and HBO ON DEMAND. HBO Asia is the exclusive distributor of BabyFirst and WarnerTV in Asia and is owned by HBO (a Time Warner company). Log on to www.hboasia.com for more information.

Christian Bautista continues partnership with Ink-All-You-Can

Online release

Asia’s Romantic Balladeer Christian Bautista has made bold moves the past months and engaged in projects that stretch his artistry. Acknowledging the singer’s unparalleled dedication to his craft, Ink-All-You-Can continues to support the singer in all his endeavors.

Last November 28, Christian Bautista represented the Philippines in the ASEAN-Japan Music Festival – Music For Healing After The Earthquake, which hoped to deliver hope and courage through music to all those affected by the 2011 Tohoku earthquake. The festival held at the NHK Hall in Shibuya Japan was attended by 4010 people, and was aired over at NHK Channel.

The international singer performed his original song Invincible and his version of the current hit Titanium.

Christian is currently seen on GMA’s Sunday All Stars, and has just released a special single Paskong Pilipino, his collaboration with brothers Jordan and Joshua.

Christian is also set to start work on a new album under Universal Records.

 “I am very glad that my endeavors are being supported by brands like Ink-All-You-Can,” says Christian. “It inspires me to continue to hone my craft, and to dream bigger dreams.”

"Christian Bautista has helped establish Ink All-You-Can as the trusted brand for printer consumables in the country since January 2010," said Jerry Ilao, Ink All-You-Can's President. "With our partnership, we were able to increase brand awareness and share the good news of unlimited printing to more customers. We look forward for more projects together with Christian."

Recent IAYC projects:

• Ink Colors - These are limited edition personalized designs for Continuous Ink Supply System (CISS) tanks that gives up to 96% savings on printing cost. Another FIRST from Ink All-You-Can, Ink Colors dresses up the usual and boring ink system tanks with a hip and cool design that speaks for personality. Customers can choose from 5 trendy styles, bringing more life to their printing experience.
• Now Open for Franchise - Ink All-You-Can opens its doors to interested entrepreneurs who want to own a fulfilling business. With IAYC Franchise, both starting and experienced entrepreneurs can venture into an exciting and stable business with fast ROI and reliable technical and business support. For interested parties, you may visit the Ink All-You-Can website at www.ink.com.ph.
• Digital Loyalty Card powered by Perxclub - The exclusive customer membership program that lets the company's 'suki' receive perks such as member-only discounts and freebies. With the launch of the Ink All-You-Can Loyalty Program, customers can collect digital stamps and get rewards like FREE Refills and P100 discount voucher using their smartphones through the Perxclub Rewards App (www.perxclub.com).  The Perxclub App is available for FREE in the App Store and Play Store.

Herbalife’s Top Ten Tips for Healthy Holidays

Most of these tips are also applicable even outside the Yule season because there are fiestas that are also as early as January and all throughout the year.

Release material for online media

According to Samantha Clayton, Herbalife’s director of worldwide fitness and education, it’s all about minimizing impact. “No matter where you are on your personal wellness journey, think twice before over-indulging during the next few weeks. My advice is to, at the very least, try to break even and maintain your weight this holiday season. It’s amazing how easy it is to gain weight in such a short amount of time, and although weight gain is an easy as eating a few too many pieces of pie, taking off those pounds come January is a much harder tasks.”

To keep those calories from creeping on this holiday season, Herbalife is sharping these top 10 tips:

            Tip 1 – No savings:

Don’t cut down or starve all day to enjoy the party at night. Skipping your breakfast and lunch is a not a good way to avoid weight gain. There are many reasons why this is a good tactic; a drop in sugar level, lack of energy and lack of concentration are just a few of the down galls of the “starve and binge” technique. Chances are, if you wait all day to enjoy the party food, you will consume twice the amount because you will be so hungry.

            Tip 2 – Snacks:

Have a healthy protein rich snack before you head out to a holiday party. Filling yourself up on healthy snacks that contain protein will keep you full and stop you from having that extra cup cake.

            Tip 3 – Move around:

Use holiday parties as an opportunity to socialize with your friends. Keep walking around and don’t park yourself next to chips and dips. Walking counts as exercise so the more you move the better.

            Tip 4 – Dance:

Let loose and dance off the party calories; the extra bonus is that the more time you spend dancing the less time you will spend eating.

            Tip 5 – Routing:

Don’t skip your work-outs. The best thing you can do is keep your exercise routine intact. We all know holiday diets can go awry, but if you can at least keep your workouts going it will help.

            Tip 6 – Watch your drinks:

Try to avoid drinking too many sweet drinks. It’s amazing how many calories can be hiding in a simple holiday punch. Stay hydrated with water helps.

            Tip 7 – Maximize your time with quick fix workouts:

If time is tight try to do a quick 10-minute routine in the morning and another 10 minutes before you go to bed. Simple exercises performed in an interval style will help burn some calories and keep you toed over the holidays.

            Tip 8 – Step away from the computer:

Sitting in front of your computer screen looking for that bargain may cost you in the long run. Stay active this holiday season by walking around the shops and carrying bags or boxes doubles up as a workout.

            Tip 9 – Make every minute count:

Think active all holiday season. Take the stairs. Park in the furthest spot from the store. Get outside and go for a walk. The more active you are the fewer points you will gain.

            Tip 10 – Routine:

Don’t wait until January 1^st to start you exercise plan, start today. The sooner you get your body into a positive active and healthy routine the better chance you have of reaching your personal health goals.