Tennis All-Stars are back in The Arena for the International Premiere Tennis League

After the success of last year's tennis all-stars event, The Arena brings them all back in International Premiere Tennis League this December 6-8 2015.

(left to right): Christopher John Quimpo, Smart Sports Marketing; Gary G. Dujali, VP and Head of PLDT Home; Edgar C. Tejerero, President of SM Lifetsyle Entertainment, Inc. and co-owner of Philippine Mavericks; Abhishek Ponia, VP of Operations, International Premier Tennis League; Jean-Henri Luillhier, Co-owner and Team Manager, Philippine Mavericks; Haresh Hiranand, Co-owner, Philippine Mavericks; Kevin Belmonte, Co-owner, Philippine Mavericks.

This is unlike any tennis event. Usually, tennis is an individual competition but in IPTL. 30 players across the country in five teams to represent five countries: Philippines, Singapore, India.UAE, and joining for the first time; Japan.

Playing for the Philippine Mavericks are Serena Williams, Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, Treat Huey, Richard, Gasquet, Jarmila Gajdosova, Borna Coric, Sabine Lisicki and team captain Mark Philippoussis. You can tell that the ladies are also strong players.

After the success of last year, the audience will expect new elements to be added. Pre-selling will start July 15. Price ranges of a three-day pass from 3,000(Gen. admission) to 58,000(transferable). For more pre-tournament activities and updates, follow this blog and like L.E.N.S. blogs on Facebook.

UFC Fight Night Manila Presscon exclusive blog coverage

In the ancient of days, the arena is the place for entertainment during the Greco-Roman era. This is where the gladiators fight to the death. In the modern The Arena in SM Mall Of Asia, I was able to watch my first boxing match at the ringside seats. I usually watch boxing matches on TV.

Mr. Edgar Tejerero of SMLI(middle) and Mr. Kenneth Berger of UFC Asia(Right) with Boom Gonzales hosting(left)

Like my first live boxing event experience, The Arena is now holding another of its first: They are bringing UFC in Manila. The Ultimate Fighting Championship or UFC for short, is the respected MMA or mix-martial arts organization globally. It is shown all over the television in different regions. I also watch it here on cable TV viewing.

What makes mix-martial arts appealing to me because of playing arcade games like Street Fighter and Tekken. These games shows different martial arts discipline that and competes with each one. Popular culture in movies is also one example. Just like the arcade games I play, UFC has its roots in Brazilian Jiu-jitsu in the 1990's when the Gracie Family of Brazil to defeat different martial arts masters in Karate, kick boxing, and even Kung Fu.

UFC hold 40 main fight events yearly and it is fortunate that one of the events will be here in Manila and will be the only UFC event in Asia for this year. UFC General Manager for Asia Mr. Kenneth Berger was here during the presscon last January 30 at the lobby of The Arena and signed a trademark UFC glove with Mr. Edgar Tejerero of SMLI as an agreement that this is going to happen and history is about to happen.

It is not yet clear what are the UFC fight cards yet and the prices for admission is also not yet disclosed but it will be open for purchase by March. UFC Fight Night Manila will be on May 16, 2015 and where else but in The Arena. Follow the L.E.N.S blogs for more updates and availability of tickets sales of the UFC Fight Night Manila.

Mall of Asia Arena Opens 2015 with a Bang!

Seize the opportunity to be entertained in the world-class indoor concert venue with ultramodern features only at Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City, Philippines.  Don’t miss out on the chance to experience concerts on the exceptional level with world-standard amenities unique in all of Southeast Asia. 2015 marks a history in the making for MOA Arena as it brings to Filipinos the top music artists of the year in the country! The Mall of Asia Arena is gathering music buffs to enjoy live performances of local award winning musicians of the Philippines as well as the top international artists.

The Philippines was visited by an English band last year and now they’re back for more. The 1975 will perform their first headline show which will be held on January 24, 2015, Saturday at 8pm.

Four-time Grammy award winner and Canadian superstar, Michael Bublé, is returning to Manila as part of his World Tour on January 31^st 2015. After 10 years since his last concert in Manila, he is even more excited to be come back and serenade Filipino fans with his much loved, chart-topping songs.

The Vamps: Bradley William, James McVey, Connor Ball, and Tristan Evans will warm your hearts this February with their greatest hits: “Can We Dance”, “Wild Heart”, “Last Night” and a lot more! The Vamps is scheduled to perform on February 1^st –Mall of Asia Arena.

Get ready to party this 2015 as GMTV Manila Productions brings you T-PAIN together with KALICO FORTYCAL on a party packed night at the MOA Arena on February 10, 2015.

 Celebrate the day of hearts as four of the country’s biggest acts headline a two-night concert: Mr. Martin Nievera, Ms. Regine Velasquez-Alcasid, Mr. Gary Valenciano and Ms. Lani Misalucha are performing live this valentine season on February 13 and 14, 2015 for the ULTIMATE valentine concert.

The crooner and multi-awarded singer and songwriter Ed Sheeran will melt the hearts of Filipino fans for his first concert on March 12, Thursday here in Manila. He will be performing his singles from his latest album X which debuted number 1 in the Billboard 200.

The renowned American rock band Incubus: Brandon Boyd, Mike Einziger, Jose Pasillas, Ben Kenney, and DJ Kilmore will definitely astound MOA Arena as they perform on March 13, Friday at 8pm.

The international pop sensation One Direction will make the teenagers’ wish come true on their first ever concert on March 21 and 22 in SM Mall of Asia Grounds. Don’t miss this once-in-a-lifetime chance to meet Harry Styles, Zayn Malik, Liam Payne, Niall Horan, Louis Tomlinson and get swoon over the world’s prominent boy band of this generation.

The Irish pop rock band, The Script returns to Manila on April 17, 2015 to perform in Mall of Asia Arena. Chart-topping songs from their latest album No Sound Without Silence will be performed by Danny O’Donoghue (vocals / piano), Mark Sheehan (vocals, guitar), and Glen Power (vocals, drums).

American pop superstar, Demi Lovato returns to Manila as part of her Demi World Tour. Get ready to party the night away on April 30, 2015 at the Mall of Asia Arena.

Grammy-nominated artist Sam Smith is set to perform his first concert in the country on May 10, Sunday in MOA Arena. He will be performing songs from his six-time Grammy nominated debut album In The Lonely Hour.

For the first time ever, America’s Biggest Family Entertainment Spectacular is coming to Manila! Brace yourselves as Monster Jam invade the Mall of Asia Arena this coming June 20-21, 2015!

The internationally and locally awarded venue, Mall of Asia Arena, houses the biggest talents to invade the Philippines!  Witness all the great performances by world-renowned and sensational acts this 2015. Mark your calendars now and don’t forget to share this wondrous moment with your family and friends.

Mall of Asia Arena: The Venue for Filipino families to meet His Holiness Pope Francis

January 2015 marks the year in which His Holiness Pope Francis, will en route his apostolic trip to the Philippines with the goal of encountering Filipino families from all over the region. In support of the Pope’s advocacy, SM Lifestyle Entertainment Inc. (SMLEI) together with the entire SM Group, will have the Mall of Asia Arena as the venue for the papal visit on January 16, 2015.

With its capacity to house over 15,000 guests, Mall of Asia Arena is a fitting venue for the Pope’s monumental visit. Mall of Asia Arena’s existing CCTV cameras provided by Mobotix, is at par with the same equipment used at the Vatican Apostolic Library at the Vatican with professional-grade, high-resolution security devices, aside from this enhanced surveillance system, management is placing additional measures to assure safety of not only His Holiness the Pope, but of all the guests who will be in attendance of the event. It is also assured that the venue will be equipped with adequate security presence who are well trained in handling huge crowded events in accordance with security protocols required by the organizers, Presidential Security Group and the Papal Guards. The Mall of Asia Arena is working closely with the government and the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) to assure a peaceful and manageable event.

Seen as a very rare opportunity to catch a glimpse of His Holiness Pope Francis, who will be delivering his message of “mercy and compassion” to all Filipino families, the SM Group foresees the millions of eager patrons to visit the Mall of Asia Complex. Preparations is underway in cooperation with the MOA Complex locators, Central Business Park, Mall of Asia Mall Management, and SM Land to make room for the anticipated guests, SM will convert the South Transport Terminal and SMX/Mall of Asia Arena Parking lot into holding areas for visiting patrons may not be accommodated inside Mall of Asia Arena.

“Mall of Asia Arena and the entire SM Group is deeply gratified to be in support of the Catholic Church and His Holiness Pope Francis’ advocacy of reaching out, inspiring and strengthening the devotion Filipino families through this event” says the Business Unit Head of Mall of Asia Arena, Mr. Arnel Gonzales.