Lots of Fun at Giordano Philippines' Monsters University’s Freshman Fair

Last June 29, I was invited to the Monsters University’s Freshman Fair by Giordano Philippines at the Trinoma Activity Center. The  wrought iron gates of Monsters University opened for us bloggers and media to experience being in the world’s best scare university.

Yours truly, Ted Claudio, reminiscing Monsters University Freshman days :)

At the Giordano Monsters University Fair, there were several fun-filled games are in store for the visitors.  Let me walk you through each one of them:


Screamology

This is the science like class complete with the lab equipment props. Test your mental speed with a playtime of 2Fuse.  Combine numbers with similar colored cubes in 60 seconds and beat the highest score.  I got A on my cards for these!







Field of Screams

One of the popular booth. Do you think you are athletic enough to compete at The Field of Screams?  This second gaming station allows sports buffs to size up their fitness and agility with XBOX Kinect Sports.  Find out if you can make it into the varsity team or if you need more training. I tried table tennis and lost to a beginner opponent! Sucks! I thought I was good in table tennis.




School of Rawr

If you are into music, then the third gaming station called School of Rawr,is perfect for you.  Amp up the volume and explore your musical prowess with the Guitar Hero.   Compete for the highest score and earn the bragging rights as Monsters University’s primo rock star. I tried it and I rock. After an hour, nobody still beat my high scores! Got B here though.

Me, rocking with Guitar Hero
(photo courtesy of Giordano Philippines FB Page)

Monster 101

Want a more pensive, subdued setting?  Train your brain with Twinoo at Monster 101, the fair’s fourth gaming booth.  Sit back, and let logic and art come together in this classroom-type station.  Put those thinking caps on and show everybody why it’s cool to be a nerd. The ipad game here was tough with the color mixing. The maths were easy. Got A here with the help of the "teachers" with the color mixing game:)





Completed the Challenge

I completed the 4 challenges and submitted my report card stamps to claim your Monsters University freebie.   I got these cool Monsters University ID and baler.

The claim boths: The ID booths and the face painting

 Freedom Wall

Write a note and post it on the Freedom Wall. I wrote "Monsters Rules!"



The Giordano Wall

Fellow Bloggers

More blogger friends

 

Me wtih one of the "faculty"

Giordano Exclusive Monster University Merchandise

Exclusive Giordano Monsters University merchandise like printed tees, hoodies and polo shirts were also be available for purchase during the event.

Timeless, essential and delightful, Giordano’s Monsters University collection, made with the brand’s signature 100% high quality cotton material which is easy to mix and match with other pieces, perfect  for a long day of classes or for a casual day out with friends.

Make like a Monsters University student and display your school pride with Giordano’s MU-inspired shirts emblazoned with the Monsters University logo.

If your style is preppy, polo shirts with the University logo up your style quotient without sacrificing comfort. They are available in fun, vivid colors.

Just like any other human college, MU is active when it comes to the Greek experience. The Oozma Kappa (OK) is a house of wholesome, good-natured misfits who seem to have bonded over their inability to make it through the Scaring Program. Among their members are the adorable Mike and Sulley. You can be a part of this special (even endearing!) society with colorful crewneck shirts featuring the unique Oozma Kappa coat of arms.

Admirers of the lovable one-eyed green monster Mike or the giant furry blue creature Sulley can now wear their hearts on their sleeves with crewneck shirts featuring the characters and go crazy with Team Mike vs Team Sulley discussions.

Aside from the comfy shirts, Giordano also offers hoodies adorned with the MU logo which will surely keep you warm and stylish during the rainy months ahead. MU-inspired cheerleader dresses are also available in selected branches.

The fun new collection is available in all Giordano branches nationwide.

Giordano’s Monsters University Fair on June 29-30, 2013 at the TriNoma Activity Center.  Another fair will be at SM Megamall A Showcase Area July 6-7, 2013. Fun and freebies await you. No tuition fee required!  Entrance is free for all!  Come and join us for some monster fun!

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PRESS RELEASE: WORLD WAR Z SCORES NEW BLOCKBUSTER RECORD FOR BRAD PITT

After watching World War Z at the Philippine premiere last June 18, I enjoyed the movie and gave it a great review rating.

After just less than 2 weeks at the Philippine box office, it scored a new blockbuster record for Brad Pitt.

Here is a press release from Solar Entertainment Corporation about the success of the movie.

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PRESS RELEASE

WORLD WAR Z SCORES NEW BLOCKBUSTER RECORD FOR BRAD PITT

The Brad Pitt suspense-thriller World War Z has made a big splash at the box-office as it set the title as the actor’s best ever first weekend opening movie. Debuting in 220 screens nationwide, it  opened at #1, grossing over P88 M on its first weekend, despite competition from strong second week hold-over Man of Steel which had more screens.  Top 10 screens  were SM Mall of Asia (P3.84M), Trinoma (P3.82M), SM North Edsa (P3.55M), Newport (P3.22M),  SM Megamall (P 2.96M), Glorietta 4 (P2.85M), Greenbelt 3 (P2.61M), Alabang Town Center (P2.43M), Powerplant (P2.39M) and Eastwood (P2.16M).

The weekend receipts handily outgrossed comparative figures of previous Brad Pitt action blockbusters Mr. and Mrs Smith and Troy.  It also scored the 5th all-time highest weekend opening for a Paramount movie in the Philippines.

The heart-pounding zombie movie scored the similar records in other Asia-Pacfiic countries like India, Vietnam Indonesia, Malaysia & Hong Kong . In total, WORLD WAR Z has so far taken home an incredible $31,479,178 from Asia Pacific alone and $47,051,370 internationally in its first five days of release. 

In the Philippines, the title is expected to hit over P180 Million on its second week with continued strong word of mouth. 

WORLD WAR Z is a United International Pictures release through Solar Entertainment Corporation release and is showing nationwide in over 140 theaters.

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If you have not seen the movie yet, you are missing a great movie to watch. See the movie, and you will definitely enjoy and have a good time!

Related Posts:

Movie Review: Willl you Zzzzzzzzzz watching World War Z?

 

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Despicable Me 2: Movie Review and Coverage of the Philippine Premiere at IMAX Theater - SM Aura Premier

Photo provided by Solar Entertainment Corporation

Gru, the girls and the minions are back! Despicable Me 2, showing in cinemas nationwide this July 3. I was at the premiere of the movie this June 29 at the IMAX Cinema at SM Aura Premiere were the advance press screening took place.

The premiere ticket

Included in this post are:

• Movie Details
• Trailer
• Coverage: photos and video interviews of Phil and James Younghusband
• Movie Review
• and a Press Release

Movie Details

Official Website
IMDB Page



Trailers:








Movie Review:

The premiere was pack with the press and fellow bloggers. There were lots of children and families since it is a rated G movie for the whole family.

The movie was in IMAX 3D, that added to the fun of watching the movie.  The 3D rendition was very good, clear, fun and enjoyable until the credits part!

Gru is back but not so Despicable anymore, except for a few scenes. The minions were crazily funny as usual with their stints.  The girls Margo, Edith and Agnes with their own unique personality were entertaining as well.  The new characters, Lucy, and the new villain were great additions to this sequel as well.

I really enjoyed the movie and rate it 4/5 for the fun, laughter, the 3D, and of course the Minions! They are so much a big part of the success of the movie that here is even going to be a minions spin-off movie from these franchise. That will be great!

The musical scenes, the singing and the dancing minions delighted the audience at the premiere including me :)

The movie is highly recommended and I suggest also to watch it in 3D for the extra fun! And don't go immediately after the movie, watch some of the extra treats during the credits. More Minion Madness!!!

Yours truly, Ted Claudio for a photo ops with the minions

Minions Craze

From Snack Time:

It looks like the Minions are popular these days!  Snack Time at all SM Cinemas have movie merchandise tumbler and bucket for the drinks and pop-corn. When you see Despicable Me 2 at any SM Cinemas, make sure to have a look at these cute merchandise especially the tumbler!

photo from SM City North EDSA facebook page

From McDonalds:

McDos Happy Meal with the minions are quite popular as well.  Got to get some of minions to collect. There are 9 versions to collect: 2 evil and 7 regular minions.

Premiere Coverage


Video of Phil and James Younghusband at the Premiere with Interviews




Video of crowd having photo ops with the minions

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Press Release

Universal Pictures and Illumination Entertainment’s worldwide blockbuster Despicable Me entertained audiences around the globe in 2010, grossing more than $540 million and becoming the 10th-biggest animated motion picture in U.S. history.  Get ready for more Minion madness in Despicable Me 2.

Chris Meledandri and his acclaimed filmmaking team create an all-new comedy adventure featuring the return of (former?) super-villain Gru (Steve Carell), his adorable girls, the unpredictably hilarious Minions...and a host of new and outrageously funny characters.

Now that the ever-entrepreneurial Gru has left behind a life of super crime to raise Margo (Miranda Cosgrove), Edith (Dana Gaier) and Agnes (Elsie Fisher), Gru, Dr. Nefario (Russell Brand) and the Minions have some free time on their hands. 

But just as he starts to adjust to his role as a suburban family man, an ultra-secret organization dedicated to fighting evil around the globe comes knocking.  Now, it’s up to Gru and his new partner, Lucy Wilde (Kristen Wiig), to discover who is responsible for a spectacular crime and bring him to justice.  After all, it takes the world’s greatest ex-villain to catch the one vying to take his place… 

Joining the returning cast for Despicable Me 2 are Ken Jeong as Floyd Eagle-san, proprietor of the local hair replacement club for men and key suspect in the most despicable crime to hit the globe since Gru departed the game; Steve Coogan as Silas Ramsbottom, Lucy’s boss in the Anti-Villain League and a superspy whose surname offers an endless source of amusement to the Minions; Moises Arias as Antonio, the oh-so-suave object of Margo’s girlhood affection (and Gru’s supreme annoyance); and Benjamin Bratt  as Eduardo Perez, Antonio’s father, owner of Salsa & Salsa restaurant, and the man who may or may not be the most macho super-villain who ever villained, El Macho. 

“Despicable Me 2” is released and distributed by  Universal Pictures/United Intl. Pictures through Solar Entertainment Corp.

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Here's another teaser to get you more excited with Despicable Me 2 showing in cinemas July 3, 2013.

Enjoy!


The Roll Call - Getting to know the Minions by name

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Food Review: Jollibee's Amazing Aloha Burger, Is it a Hello or a Goodbye?

After roaming around in SM Megamall, I felt hungry and craving for a burger. I just remembered that Jollibee brought back the Amazing Aloha burger sandwich. I decided to give it a try to reminisce an old time favorite burger that was introduced by Jollibee in 1996. Will I like this burger? Will this Aloha mean "Hello" or "Goodbye"? or even "Love"!

A couple of things that got me excited in the Amazing Aloha burger:

• The pineapple slice to give it the "Hawaiian" touch or flavor
• The slices of bacon
• The double patty for more meat
• The honey mustard dressing which is one of my favorite dressings

The Review

Looking at the menu board, the Amazing Aloha looks amazing and appetizing as seen in the photo below:

Photo from Jollibee's FB Page

Of course, I don't expect it to be the same since I'm also into food photography and I understand what's the difference between a burger prepared by a food stylist and a service crew :)

Ok, let's play spot the difference between the photo above and the one below I have taken.

The actual Amazing Aloha burger

I thing I noticed was the cheese not in between the burger patties. I think it looked better! What do you think? Another thing, is the actual thing has more lettuce.

Anyways, let get back to the taste.  On my first bite, the familiar (and the trademark) taste of a Jollibee burger was the first to hit my taste buds.  The pineapple slice add a bit of sweetness that counters the saltiness of the burger and also the bacon.

Showing off the bacon

Talking about the bacon, the slices of bacon were quite generous.  However, the taste of the bacon was quite ordinary. The bacon was not a crescendo but just another note in the chorus of flavors.

One of my disappointment from the Aloha burger was that it supposed to have honey mustard as one of the dressing. I did not get a hint of the flavor of my favorite dressing. People with sweet tooth like me likes the Aloha because of the sweetness that the pineapple brings to the mix and the honey mustard dressing flavor will definitely give the burger more "honey".

The size looks smaller than what it was before.  The 1996 version likes like more of a "Champ Aloha" .


The Verdict

I still enjoyed the Amazing Aloha burger but this Aloha did not mean much "love". I might say "hello" again occasionally so it's still not a "goodbye".  I rate it 2.75 / 5. I still recommend you try it.




By the way, the is a promo going on when you order Amazing Aloha. You can get a chance to travel to Hawaii.  Please see the Promo mechanics page for more details.

Aloha! (this one means good-bye, for now, until the next time you visit my blog)

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Food Review: The new McDonalds McSpicy Chicken Burger

Finally, another one of my favorite McDonald's sandwiches is available here now in the Philippines, the McSpicy Chicken Burger!  Having eaten the sandwich while I was an OFW in the Middle East, I missed it when I came back to Manila.

Since it's available now here, my 2 sandwiches (Big N Tasty and McSpicy), I am definitely visiting McDonalds more frequently!

Seeing the TV ads got me excited to have it. So after watching the movie premiere of World War Z, I decided to go to McDonalds to end my cravings of one of my favorite sandwich. I will be working late to do the movie review, so what's a better way to fill your tummy, satisfy your cravings and wake you up for burning some midnight oil than having a McSpicy meal!

It's a spicy chicken chop topped with mayonnaise and lettuce in between a pair sesame see buns.

Why do I like the McSpicy?

• It's spicy but not too spicy to burn you
• The chicken chop is crunchy on the outside but tender and juicy in the inside

Price:

• Sandwich only Php 80
• Sandwich with small fries and drinks combo Php 115
• Sandwich with medium fries and  medium drinks combo Php 135

Here is the TV ad with Jessy Mendiola to get you excited! (with the burger, of course).

Yours truly, Ted Claudio enjoying the McSpicy at McDonalds after the World War Z premiere

So it you have not tried it yet, what are you waiting for? If you like a bit of spice in your burger, try out the new McSpicy Chicken Burger from McDonals!

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Movie Review: Willl you Zzzzzzzzzz watching World War Z?

 

Finding your friends or family dozing off while watch movies at the cinemas recently?  You are not alone! I heard similar stories :)

Last June 18, 2013, I got invited to the Philippine Press VIP Premiere of the movie World War Z by Solar Entertainment Corporation.


The Movie

World War Z is loosely based on the 2006 novel of the same name by Max Brooks. It stars Brad Pitt and directed by Marc Forster. Brad Pitt, aside from starring in the the movie, he is also one of the producers.
It's a apocalyptic action, horror movie about a global zombie pandemic that is toppling armies and collapsing governments.

More info: IMDB Page, Wiki Page


Movie Trailer


Trailer from Paramount Studios YouTube Channel


Movie Review

Although this movie was loosely based from the novel of Max Brooks World War Z, it really did not follow the novel to the letter disappointing a lot of the novel's fans. However, for those who are not into novels and just wants to be entertain by a movie, this movie is definitely worth your ticket price.

An action, horror movie and quite a thriller as well. Aside from the very short establishing scenes of Brad Pitts retirement and family bonding, the movie goers heartbeat goes beating fast from the action and suspense of the movie.

The 3D was done quite well so its worth the extra bucks for 3D. The premiere was at a normal cinema at Glorietta, specifically Cinema 3. It was clear and the 3D effects gets you sometimes off your seat.

I would rate the movie 4/5 for its entertainment value. A great production in terms of the scale, action and suspense.

You will not definitely Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz or doze off while watching the movie! You will be experiencing both being glued and jumping out of your seat!

Yours truly, Ted Claudio at the Philippine premiere

World War Z will be showing from June 19 at Philippine cinemas nationwide in both 2D and 3D.
Don't miss it! The best so far for me this 2013!

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Tanya Markova and Join The Club OPM Bands Performs at Freedom Rocks Concert at Araneta Center

Freedom Rocks! A FREE concert brought to you by Araneta Center as part of it's 2013 Philippine Independence Day celebrations with Join the Club and Tanya Markova performing.

Here are some of the photos and videos of the coverage of the event.

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PHOTOS

 

Join the Club

Tanya Markova

Fan Photos

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VIDEOS

Join the Club

Balewalang Pag-ibig






Nobela






Sana (Cover)





Handog (Cover)




Finale

Tanya Markova

Covers: Harana and Para Sayo ang Laban Na'to





Hello




Shorts Joke




Picture Picture





Kiyomi - Gwiyomi




Iwa Introduces the Band





In Between Jokes and a short song




Finale: Disney




(More Videos are still being edited and uploaded)



Experience

It was a enjoyable night for me watching both Join the Club and Tanya Markova. Music and laughter are always a great combination for a great time!

Yours truly Ted Claudio (Middle) with Tanya Markova's Norma Love (Left) and Iwa Motors (Right)

Thank you Araneta Center for making June 12, Philippine Independence Day, a fun-filled enjoyable day!

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