International Dance Day

The last time I was in the BP studio was during it's unveiling. I got back there because it is the venue for annual International Dance Day. If straight plays have the Virgin Labfest, then this is probably its dance equivalent.

Photo courtesy of Erickson dela Cruz

The dance is not just any dance performance. It showcases the choreography of Ballet Phils.' principal ballerinas as well as international choreographers. Despite the humid weather, the studio was a full house.

What I like about this event was it not only showcased their talents and creativity in choreography, it also shows how you see ballet in a contemporary manner. This also marks the end of Ballet Philippines' season and I am anticipating the next one.

For more updates about Ballet Phils., follow this blog and like L.E.N.S. blogs on Facebook.

Ejay Falcon admits his childhood ambition was to become a police or soldier

I was not present to cover the presscon for MMK tribute for the SAF Brave44 with Angel Locsin and Coco Martin because I was covering another event. But I am glad I can catch up with Ejay Falcon, who will portray another member of the SAF who also lost his life during the encounter.

Ejay Falcon admits like any boy at a young age, he also wants to be a police officer or a soldier. Although he already done an action movie, it is his first time to do action with a real life character of a SAF member named Ren.

Unlike Coco's character, Ren's story is focused on his family, who relies on him for support. Ejay undergo actual training for SAF at Sta. Rosa, Laguna where he got to give respect for the men in uniform.

Although Ejay never got to see the actual family of Ren, he relied on the production people who already got a chance to meet them even though they are still grieving and also relied on the director. Ejay did his own stunts for the story.

Given that the climax will be the battle scenes, it was done in realistic since there are real SAF members who were also involved in choreographing the battle and used all pyrotechnic effects just to make it real. They even used a drone to give a bird's eye view of the battle.

The first part of the Brave44 story was the most watched episode that day since it was still fresh on the minds of the people. The second part will be shown this Saturday(May 2). For more ABS-CBN presscon coverage, follow this blog and like L.E.N.S. blogs on Facebook.

​AXA sends ex-gov’t employee home with brand new Peugeot

Press release

AXA Philippines, one of the country’s largest and fastest growing life insurance companies, recently awarded Ghina V. Aquino, the lone winner of its ‘Drive Your Way to Health’ raffle promo with a brand new Peugeot 3008 1.6 eHDi Active Crossover in a turnover ceremony held at the Peugeot Showroom, Alabang, Muntinlupa.

AXA’s Drive to Health Raffle Promo winner Ghina V. Aquino and her two children proudly stand in front of their brand new Peugeot 3008. Joining them is her AXA Financial Advisor Roland Tibay.

Valued at nearly P1.6 million, the wife of a Chief Engineer OFW seaman was overly delighted to be driving home a brand new car as she headed back up north to her hometown in Dontogan, Baguio City. “I feel so blessed to win the raffle promo. It’s my first time to win something this big in my whole life.”

AXA’s ‘Drive Your Way to Health’ raffle promo campaign is just one of the company’s many initiatives to call attention to the value and importance of insurance. It encourages people to start thinking and planning ahead in securing their financial needs for the future.

Ghina’s AXA Financial Advisor, Roland Tibay, shared how they went about their financial consultation. “I and my Unit Manager Myra Lynn Solano, presented to Ghina what AXA is all about and we guided her through an assessment of her financial needs. We were glad that she chose an AXA solution to cover both her health and investment needs.”

“After she signed the policy application, we remembered to mention that AXA had an ongoing promotion that gives people a chance to win a car just for going through financial needs assessment with an AXA Financial Partner, Ghina jokingly claimed to win the prize – and true enough, luck was on her side,” Roland says with a smile.

Ghina worked as a clerk for the Department of Social Welfare and Development in Baguio City before she settled down with her husband six years ago. Now a full-time mother of two children aged five and eight months old, she shared, “I need to start making the right choices and make sure that a part of our resources are allotted for the financial security of my family. Madami na din akong napagdaanan dati at dumating kami sa punto na hindi namin alam kung saan kami makakakuha ng pondo sa pagpapagamot sa magulang ko noong nagkasakit sila. I never want to experience this again, or let my children go through something like this. I liked the policy AXA offered because it was affordable, flexible and it is something that I can use while I’m still living.”

Ghina has a few words of her own to share with other Filipinos who are considering options to secure their future. “Start while you’re young. Set aside a part of your income for something like this so you won’t need to worry much about your future.”

AXA is a global leader in insurance serving 103 million customers in 59 countries.  In 2013, AXA released US$ 15 billion in benefits to its policyholders.  AXA is also ranked as the 16th largest corporation according to the 2014 Fortune Global 500 list and 33rd by Forbes Global 2000.

PIT BULLS & PAROLEES 6

Press release

Premieres every Thursday at 9:00 p.m., starting April 16. Encores every Friday at 3:00 p.m., Saturday at 11:00 p.m. and Sunday at 1:00 p.m.

Photo courtesy of Animal Planet

  

Man and man's best friend continue down the hard road to redemption in the sixth season of PIT BULLS & PAROLEES. Pit bull advocate Tia Torres is back to give a new lease on life to dogs that were discarded, demonised and abused – often due solely to the reputation of their breed. At the Villalobos Rescue Center, the largest pit bull rescue centre in the U.S., Tia also offers a fresh start to the more than 50 parolees whom she has employed, each trying to get their life on the right track despite being stigmatised by society for their past. This season, Tia scrambles after receiving a phone call about a severely emaciated pit bull, one of the worst cases she has ever seen. As the work continues to pile up, it’s up to Tia’s irreplaceable parolee, Earl, to build a shelter in a New York prison to convince authorities about the benefits of prison dog programmes.