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Entertainment City: Solaire Resort and Casino

James Gonzales Food, Lifestyle, Travel February 19, 2020May 23, 2020 0 Comment

When it comes to glitz and glamor in the Philippines, Solaire Resort and Casino has quickly climbed to the top of the list after its opening in 2013. The first of four resorts to operate in Manila’s Entertainment City, Solaire first opened its doors on March 16, 2013, with 800 guest rooms, suites, and villas.

It currently holds the distinction of being the tallest hotel in the Manila Bay area, and features a column-free grand ballroom that can accommodate 1,300 guests, 8 function rooms and 2 boardrooms with audiovisual equipment, leisure, live entertainment, dining, and retail hubs, and the Theatre at Solaire, which houses 1,740 seats and a retail space of 60,000 square meters. Last but definitely not the least, Solaire also boasts an 18,500 square meter gaming area with 1,620 slot machines and 360 gaming tables.

Bright Lights and Big Games: A Primer on Manila’s Entertainment City

James Gonzales Food, Lifestyle, Travel February 18, 2020May 23, 2020 0 Comment

Image taken from Entertainment City Manila’s homepage.

Bright lights, gaming and leisure, and balmy, tropical weather— these words don’t just describe entertainment tourism stalwarts like Las Vegas and Macau. When it comes to leisure, there’s a new kid on the proverbial block, and it looks like it’s aiming to be a powerhouse. The Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR)’s Entertainment City has been in operation for several years, and is well on its way to transforming the face of Philippine tourism.

With integrated resorts and casinos, as well as dozens of high-end shopping and dining prospects, Entertainment City showcases the best of Philippine entertainment tourism. Here’s a primer on what you can expect from the glitz and glamor of this expanding gaming and entertainment complex.

A List of Philippine National Artists for Visual Arts

Jane Adamson History, Lifestyle February 18, 2020May 23, 2020 2 Comments

The Philippines is home to a long and rich history of excellence in visual arts. This tradition started as early as the 19^th century with Damian Domingo, also known as the Father of Filipino Painting, who was the first Filipino to paint a self-portrait. He was followed by greats such as Juan Luna, who painted the world-renowned Spoliarium, andFabián de la Rosa, uncle and mentor to Fernando Amorsolo.

Mastery of the visual arts has been passed down through the decades, and the Philippine government has sought to reward that through the Order of National Artists. The Order of National Artists, also known as Orden ng mga Pambansang Alagad ng Sining, is the highest national recognition given to Filipinos who have made significant contributions to the growth and development of arts in the Philippines. Jointly administered by the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) and the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP), it’s an honor conferred by the President of the Republic based on recommendations by both institutions. Here’s a list of the greatest names in Philippine visual arts who have been given this honor.

20 Contemporary Philippine Art Galleries Worth Visiting

James Gonzales Lifestyle, Travel February 6, 2020May 23, 2020 0 Comment

The new year is the season for trying out new experiences, and nothing is more life-affirming or transformative than developing an appreciation for the arts. According to writer Thomas Merton, “Art enables us to find ourselves and lose ourselves at the same time.” It provides a deeper look into the human psyche, and allows us to share and foster creativity and connection with each other. From the visual arts to performance arts like ballet and musicals, art has brought together people of all ages, genders, creeds, and races throughout history.

As we approach the National Arts Month in February, it becomes more and more apparent that the Philippines is a country with a rich history of the visual arts. Greats like Juan Luna, Jose Joya, Araceli Dans , and many more have made their mark on the local arts scene over the decades. And even today, the tradition is alive and kicking, as you can see in our article ’24 Philippine Artists Shaping Local Contemporary Art’. If you’re curious about what’s going on in the Philippine arts scene, 2020 is your chance to broaden your horizons. To start off your art appreciation journey, here are twenty Philippine art galleries that are showcasing the best and brightest of the local modern arts scene.

10 Filipino Celebrities Who Are Making Waves in the United States

Jane Adamson Lifestyle December 9, 2019May 23, 2020 0 Comment

The representation of Asian Americans in popular media has only been getting better with this generation of movers and shakers in Hollywood. After an overwhelmingly positive response from audiences for the world premiere of Crazy Rich Asians, more and more creators have been looking for ways to focus the spotlight on Asian communities in pop culture.

Even Filipino artists with talent and charisma in the showbiz industry have been finding themselves getting more roles then ever. Hawaii native Jacob Batalon, whose parents are Filipino, recently made news as one of the few Filipino actors to appear in a Marvel film. Jacob Batalon starred in both Spider-Man: Homecoming (2017) and Spider-Man: Far from Home (2019) as Ned Leeds, Peter Parker’s best friend.

Even before the premiere of the Spider-Man movie series, Filipino actors, musicians, entertainers, and the like have been working hard in Hollywood, building their craft and make a name for themselves. Here are 10 other Filipino celebrities who’ve made it in the United States.

Filipino Entrepreneurs Who Have Made it in America

Jane Adamson Business, Lifestyle December 3, 2019May 23, 2020 0 Comment

The migration of Filipinos to other countries has a long history. An article from the Pulitzer Center notes that the Philippines is one of the major sources around the world for migrant workers in the seafaring, domestic work, and nursing sectors. Although many Filipino families are sustained by temporary labor migration, plenty of Filipinos have also made their homes in countries around the world, including the United States.

According to the Migration Policy Institute, there are currently 1,942,000 Filipinos in the immigrant population in the United States as of 2016. Some of them have found a home overseas, making names for themselves as entrepreneurs. Here’s a list of Filipinos who successfully established businesses in America.

The Best Universities in the Philippines

Jane Adamson History, Lifestyle October 30, 2019May 23, 2020 0 Comment

The University of the Philippines recently made headlines again, this time because the institution earned a spot in the top 500 universities worldwide. The list, made by the Times Higher Education World University Rankings for 2020, covered 1,400 universities from 92 countries around the world. The performance of institutions was measured by the core objectives of teaching, research, knowledge transfer, and international outlook.

The Benefits of Nitric Oxide for Climbers

Jane Adamson Lifestyle September 24, 2019May 23, 2020 0 Comment

According to National Geographic, sports climbing is finally making its debut as one of the new sports to be included in the 2020 Tokyo Summer Olympics. Since the announcement, the global sports climbing community has bustled with excitement. Top athletes have begun training for Olympic spots and the sport itself has started gaining significant media traction. National climbing events all over the world are now shown on television and streamed across different platforms, in the hope that global support for sports climbing continues to grow.

Breaking Down Chronic Illnesses in Asia

James Gonzales Lifestyle September 16, 2019May 23, 2020 0 Comment

With current advancements in medicine and medical technology, it’s no surprise that people are living longer. Medical practitioners are getting better at disease prevention and detection with more advanced technology and added scientific research. Despite this, South China Morning Post notes that the world still needs to be wary of chronic diseases.

Additionally, healthcare costs remains a burden for most people in Asia, especially for those suffering from chronic disease. Even if Asian countries like Singapore, Taiwan, South Korea, and China have introduced healthcare insurance, most plans are basic and fail to cover the cost of the medicine and procedures are required for chronic illness treatment.

20 Filipina Entrepreneurs Killing it in 2019

Jane Adamson Lifestyle, Business September 6, 2019May 23, 2020 0 Comment

True Filipinas make magic with the resources that they have. Last 2018, the Philippines maintained its position as one of the most gender equal countries in Asia, climbing to 8th in the Global Gender Gap report by the World Economic Forum. Rappler states that literacy rates in women having gone up to 92% in the country, with Business Administration being the most common field of study.

Ingenuity is ingrained in Filipinas. So, here are 20 Filipina entrepreneurs who have paved the way for themselves both in the Philippines and across the world.