World's No. 1 DJ will rock MANILA!

BREAKING NEWS!

Get set for what is touted as “the best dance party ever” when David Guetta, considered as the world’s No. 1 deejay, raises Electronic Dance Music to another level while sharing his music and passion with party-goers. The event will happen on Oct. 10, 2012, at the SM Mall of Asia (MOA) Arena.

Guetta is credited for “crossing countless club records over” and helping make dance music as big as it is today. He changed the sound of (dance) music in the USA. Titanium, his recent multi-platinum hit (No. 1 in UK) featuring Sia, has become the longest-charting dance hit single since Michael Jackson’s Thriller.

This Grammy-winning artist and producer, whose first major hit came over a decade ago, now boasts of an endless list of chart-topping hits and has produced five studio albums. His album Nothing But the Beat is also a certified seven-time-platinum worldwide. It features collaborations with will.i.am, Usher, Nicki Minaj, Flo Rida, Taio Cruz, Jessie J, Ludacris, Snoop Dogg, Chris Brown, Akon, Rihanna, rapper Kid Cudi and other top artists.

Guetta has headlined some of the world’s premier music festivals such as California’s Coachella Music Festival, the Electric Daisy Carnival and Electric Zoo in Las Vegas and New York, Creamfields in UK/Argentina and Belgium’s Tomorrowland. Those behind Music Management, Inc. (MMI), the show’s producer, said that they want to share with Manila the same dance experience as that in international festivals. MMI will also announce in the coming weeks the participation of other international DJs. “As I said,” added an MMI executive, “this will indeed be the biggest dance party ever to be held in Manila. Promise!” (David Guetta 10.10.12 is presented by MMI, in cooperation with AEDI, Saga Events, Fox and Starworld, with special thanks to The Philippine STAR, Yahoo Phils, Circuit Magazine and MMIlive.

Limited tickets are priced at P7500, P5000, and P3000, available on the SM Ticketing website [www.SMTickets.com] and all SM Ticketing outlets. Call 8450125/8693000 or text 09175421047/09285250001 for sponsorships and VIP ticket purchase inquiries.)

Caramoan: Hidden Paradise in Cam Sur!

Caramoan is a 1st class municipality on the Caramoan Peninsula, in the province of Camarines Sur, Bicol Region, Philippines. According to the 2007 census, it has a population of 70,810 people.

The name Caramoan has been officially adapted since 1619, the year it was founded by a Spanish missionary friar, Francisco de la Cruz Y Oropesa. Fr. Oropesa penetrated the thick virgin forest of the

Caramoan Peninsula and founded a small settlement in a place called Baluarte. This settlement was subsequently turned over to the administration of the Holy Bishopric in 1696.

Very little is known about Caramoan. Isolated from the rest of Camarines Sur, it is no surprise why Philippine's Secret Paradise remains unexploited from commercial tourism.

Caramoan gives 'island hopping' a new meaning. Enjoy its beauty in many ways. Great ocean adventures for kayakers, snorkle and scuba dive to experience the diverse marine life, trek and search for the enigmatic lagoon, rock climb the limestone cliffs, explore the caves or just star gaze at night.

Popular tourist destinations are the Caramoan National Park, the Centro, and Gota Beach, and popular activities include diving, swimming, snorkeling and spelunking.

The Caramoan Peninsula has gained tourism popularity in recent years. After the place has been featured in the news and local television programs, local and foreign travelers started to explore the beaches of the peninsula. Caramoan is one of the National Parks of the Philippines.

Here are the Top 10 islands found in Caramoan Peninsula:

Cotivas



Gota

Hunungan

Lahus

Lahuy

Matukad

Minalahos

Pitogo

Sabitang Laya

Tinago

Caramoan can also be reached via the southern Luzon expressway  to CBD(Central Business District) in Naga City . There are also direct flights from Manila to Pili Airport, the Air Philippines and Cebu Pacific fly regularly from the Manila domestic airports to Pili airport. The best, easiest and most comfortable way to reach the Gota Village Resort is to let the office in CWC  or Camsur Tourism Office organize the transport transfers.



Clark Disneyland soon to rise?

The City Council of Angeles City has approved a resolution supporting and endorsing Pampanga Representative Carmelo Lazatin’s (1st district) invitation to Walt Disney Parks and Resorts to consider establishing Disneyland inside the Clark Freeport Zone.

The resolution, sponsored by councilors Will Rivera, Maricel Morales, Edu Pamintuan, Jericho Aguas, Alex Indiongco and Joseph Dimapilis, was unanimously approved during the council’s regular session last April 24.

According to the resolution, the world-famous theme park will help the Department of Tourism meet, if not surpass, its target in terms of tourist arrivals now pegged at five million visitors a year.

“A Disneyland theme park shall help generate local employment and other businesses, thus spurring the growth of country’s economy,” the resolution added.

Earlier, Lazatin wrote Thomas Staggs, chairman of Walt Disney Parks and Resorts, and offered the former US military base as the next location for the famous park.

“The Clark Freeport Zone may interest you and Walt Disney as the next location for your famous Disneyland theme park, as it boasts of a 4,400 hectare main zone and 27,600-hectare subzone,” Lazatin said in his letter, adding that Clark Freeport Zone offers tax-free privileges to locators.

“Together with our population of more than 90 million Filipinos, a Disneyland theme park in the Philippines could be a major income generating site for your company,” he said.

Further, he added that that the tax-free privileges given to locators at the Clark Freeport Zone could be attractive destination for Disneyland theme park. Lazatin also cited Clark International Airport, world-class airport which is expected to serve at least P1.6-million passengers this year. He said in in his letter that the airport will be making it easier for tourists to enjoy the amenities and entertainment Disneyland is famous for without the hassles of long travels.

Apart from the airport which will offer convenience to visitors, the hotel accommodations will not be a problem as Clark has the best hotels, where visitors can likely enjoy the Filipino hospitality.

The lawmaker said "the Philippines is a favorite tourist destination in Southeast Asia, with an average arrival of four million foreign visitors a year and for 2012, the government is eyeing to hit the 5-million mark."

Disneyland theme parks are among the most visited and the best-earning parks in the world. There are so far 3 Disneyland parks in Asia located in Hong Kong; Tokyo, Japan and Shanghai, China.

No confirmation as to what the Disneyland management’s stand about this request has been released though. But should this be considered, it will definitely be more fun in the Philippines!

Lady Gaga live in Manila extended one more day! May 21 & 22, 2012

Due to the overwhelming response from millions of fans, the upcoming Manila concert of Lady Gaga on May 21 at the new SM Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City has been extended with the addition of a second and final show set for May 22, it was announced by Ovation Productions.

In a statement released yesterday, the local promoter of The Born This Way Ball tour produced internationally by Live Nation, confirmed that a second performance on May 22 has been added to the original one-night gig in order to accommodate the huge demand from concert-goers.

Tickets for the May 22 show will go on sale starting May 1 at 12 noon at all SM Tickets outlets nationwide.

The awesome response from fans reflects similar reactions from audiences in other cities elsewhere since the brand-new tour of the five-time Grammy Award winner kicked off on April 27 in Seoul Korea. Succeeding shows in Hong Kong, Japan and Taiwan have also been sold out, while the concert in Manila has been extended.

SM Tickets has announced that UPPER BOX SECTION is now RESERVED SEATING. For those who already bought tickets, we have allocated sections 401-403B/422-420B as your designated area. These sections will still be on a FIRST COME, FIRST SERVED BASIS for those tickets bearing FREE SEATING.

Last May 20, 2012, I got my Upper Box Ticket which costs Php5,280 *reserved seat* in SM Megamall. I think it is just a win-win instance because i don't need to go to the venue too early to get a seat because i have a designated seat for the show. Unfortunately, I really don't know who are the people beside my seat. Haha! Probably, I'll just enjoy the show.

Before Gaga kicked off the the Born This Way Ball tour is Seoul, Korea last night, there was great speculation as to the setlist of the show. Monsters didn’t know what songs Gaga would be playing. Last night’s show already became the 2nd highest attendance of fans to a concert in Korea. Michael Jackson is 1st. Gaga said she would be singing songs from all three of her albums, and after the Born This Way Ball last night, we now know the official setlist!

Knowing from Gaga’s previous performances, it is possible that she could change the setlist to suit her for a show, so it is subject to change.

ACT I
Intro/Highway Unicorn (Road To Love)
Government Hooker
Born This Way
Bloody Mary
Bad Romance

ACT II
Fashion Of His Love
The Queen

Just Dance

Love Game

Telephone

Judas

Heavy Metal Lover

Bad Kids

ACT III
Hair (Piano Acoustic)
Yoü + I
Black Jesus † Amen Fashion
Electric Chapel
Americano
Poker Face
Alejandro
Paparazzi

ACT IV

Scheiße
The Edge Of Glory (Acoustic + Studio Versions)
Marry The Night

As you are all aware, Lady Gaga is about to embark on her brand new world tour, The Born This way Ball. The tour is predicted to break U2′s tour record for the highest grossing, and most attended tour of all time. Below are all the details released so far about the tour, from the stage to the merchandise.

The stage consists of a castle, with a walkway making a circle out into the crowd from one end, before rejoining the stage at the other end.

These are some pictures taken from Seoul, South Korea where Born This Way Ball kicked-off:

Harbor Point Mall in Subic Bay Freeport Zone opens on April 26, 2012

Harbor Point is a large shopping mall under construction in Olongapo City, Philippines owned by property development firm Ayala Land, Inc., a real estate subsidiary of Ayala Corporation.It is the first Ayala Shopping Center located in the city of Olongapo. The second to be opened in Central Luzon and the fourth outside Metro Manila.

The Mall is located near its significant market competition SM City Olongapo owned by SM Prime Holdings which will become subic's new Central Business District. The Ayala Mall here was named Harbor Point because of Subic’s bayside location. It is Only 20 minutes away from Subic Bay Freeport Zone, Anvaya Cove Beach and Nature Club, Ayala Land Premier's first venture in leisure development. It is set to open on the first quarter of 2012.

Located along Rizal Avenue, Subic Bay Freeport Zone Olongapo City, Zambales

The mall is composed of Three major levels. The mall is characterized by alfresco areas punctuated with water features, open-air spaces, a garden, an active zone, aside from facilities where the public can shop, dine and relax. It will also have international and local high-end stores, as well as a transport terminal with lounges and comfort rooms, and ample parking spaces for vehicles.

This will be a leisure + dining mall. As per checking, SM is also building a mall near the area. The next Ayala mall closest to Harbor Point is Marquee mall in Pampanga, which is 30 to 45 minutes away via SCTEX.

Just recently, I got a chance to visit the new and upcoming mall developed by Ayala Land in Subic Bay Freeport Zone -- Harbor Point Subic. Construction was still ongoing when I visited and they said that construction is on for 24 hours a day! The skeleton structure is already up but it will take months before the mall will be finished. According to them, target opening date is on April 2012.

The perspective design as seen above somewhat reminds me of outlet shopping malls in the US like those of Barstow and similar outlet malls in the US. I hope that Ayala will gather and place the outlet shops scattered inside Subic and put them inside this mall. Problem is, rent would probably kill the tenants. They should work something out of this nice project.

Here's a sneak peak of the development:

To go here, from Subic-TIPO expressway, turn right to Rizal Highway. Go straight until you reach Subic International Hotel. This new Ayala mall development will be right in front of the hotel, near the Subic Bay Yacht club. It's a few blocks away from Times Square Cinemas, a local cinema place in Subic. I guess it'll kill that small town cinema because this mall will have 3 to 4 cinemas.

Opening date April 26, 2012

Mall of Asia Arena opens on May 19!

Mall of Asia Arena is an indoor arena being constructed and located in Pasay, Philippines within the SM Mall of Asia Complex. It is expected to have a seating capacity of 16,000 for sporting events and will open on May 19, 2012. It is also expected to have a full-house capacity of 20,000, which is 5,000 more than the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

The SM Mall of Asia Arena is designed by the same designer who did the SM Mall of Asia, One-Ecom and Two-Ecom; Arquitectronica , in collaboration with Syncom , the Mall of Asia Arena features world class and state of the art facilities from dressing rooms, press rooms, meet and greet rooms, promoters lounge, production rooms to fully equipped dug outs and the first of its kind in the Philippines and in Southeast Asia - The Corporate Suites. The Mall of Asia Arena also offers a vast dining and merchandise offering and is complemented with a seasoned events activation team and superior guest services. It will also have its Mall of Asia Arena Club for select individuals to enjoy.

It is expected to be the new home of the University Athletic Association of the Philippines and the National Collegiate Athletic Association.

The Mall of Asia Arena, which boasts of retractable seats and a 2,000-capacity car park building, is expected to rival the fabled Smart Araneta Coliseum.

It was announced on March 14, 2012 that the first event in the arena will be Lady Gaga's The Born This Way Ball Tour concert which will be on May 21, 2012, two days after the opening

Several events are already set to take place at the MOA Arena this year, starting with foreign artist Lady Gaga slated for a performance in May.