20th Eigasai Japanese Film Festival is Happening on August 24-27 at SM City Bacolod

EIGASAI is the annual Japanese Film Festival held in the Philippines. It is presented and run by the Japan Foundation, Manila and in celebration of the Philippines-Japan Friendship Month. It is one of the largest and popular film festivals attracting over 20,000 audiences every year across the Philippines, showcasing a vast variety of cinematic delights from drama, romance, anime to recently released films in Japan. 

This year, it is happening across the country in 6 major cities including the City of Smiles - Bacolod. During the festival, Bacolod residents and those in nearby areas are invited to enjoy a FREE screening at SM City on August 24-27, 2017. 

Here is the list of the complete movie line-up:

• Her Love Boils Bathwater

• The Long Excuse

• The Magnificent Nine

• Tsukiji Wonderland

• What a Wonderful Family!

• Creepy
• Chihayafuru Part.1
• Chihayafuru Part.2
• Sweet Bean (An)
• The Anthem of the Heart
• The Mohican Comes Home
• Bakuman 

You read more about the movies that are going to be shown via this link. So, don't miss the chance to learn more about contemporary Japanese cinema, arts and culture. For the complete screening schedule, click here. Seats will be available on a first-come, first-served basis. 

Also, Japan Foundation, Manila and their sponsor, Canon Philippines are running a contest exclusive to residents of Bacolod where you can win a special prize plus limited edition EIGASAI polo shirt. Campaign will run until August 24, noon. You can check out the full details here.

Tax and Estate Planning Is Important to Everyone

They say that the only thing that's constant is death and taxes. A few days ago, I was able to read an article about the family who is struggling and fighting over with their inheritance. There was no will left by the husband/ father and the beneficiary written on his assets may have not been updated. In this scenario, it was named after the decedent's sister and not the surviving wife and children. They also have some issues in terms of transferring the properties due to the cost and taxes involved. 

We can all say that it is not easy to lose a loved one and problems like these are certainly not welcome. According to experts, these scenarios could have been avoided if proper estate and tax planning was made. 

Tax and Estate Planning may not be exciting but it is important and practical. This is not just for wealthy families but also for middle-earners or investors who are very keen in planning their family's future. 

Some of the reasons why you should consider estate planning are the following: 

1. Protection for your children. Making sure that it goes to the right person or the appropriate trustee is assigned. 

2. Avoids family conflicts. Whether we admit it or not, family disputes arise when money is involved. Much more huge amounts from inheritance. 

3. Minimize cost and taxes. Tax and Estate Planning helps you minimize cost and taxes when transferring the estate or property. 

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So, if you want to learn more about Tax and Estate Planning, Gargoles Law Office will be conducting a seminar on August 15, 2017 at the WSI Corporate Center in Makati City. 

Key topics would include: Estate Planning Tools, Basic Concepts of Property Regime, Basic concepts of Law on Sales, Computation of Capital Gains Tax and Documentary Stamp Tax, Basic concepts of Law on Donations, Computation of Donor’s Tax, Basic Concepts of Law on Succession, Computation of Estate Tax, Living Trust, Family Holding Corporation, Life Insurance Policy and Final Analysis on Transfer of Property

It is also recommended to CPAs since it comes with CPD Credits. For more details, you may visit their Facebook page or register online via this link: http://bit.ly/TaxandEstatePlanning. 

Mommy Mundo #TeamMom Grand Giveaway

Expo Mom pays tribute to #TeamMoms all over the country and they are doing a series of roadshows nationwide. You may read more about the schedule and location here. 

If you are not sure what I am talking about, Expo Mom is the banner event of Mommy Mundo, a community of moms dedicated to making motherhood easier, happier, and more fulfilling for every mom. They have given valuable support and encouragement to moms all over the country in the areas of healthy pregnancy, breastfeeding, active parenting, and mompreneurship. Making Mommy Mundo your ultimate #TeamMom.

And on their 10th year anniversary, they are celebrating it with the #TeamMom Grand Giveaway where you get the chance to win appliances, staycation package in Tagaytay for you and 3 of your friends, spa treatments worth Php 20,000 each and a 3D/2N trip to Taiwan for you and 3 of your #TeamMom Friends. 

The mechanics are very easy. 

1. Like Mommy Mundo on Facebook and follow us on Instagram.

2. Post a photo of your #TeamMom on social media and write a short caption on why you love your team, or you can also drop by our Expo Mom events and have a photo taken with your #TeamMom there. (1 entry per post)

3. Share it via Facebook and Instagram, and don’t forget to tag @mommymundo and use the hashtags #MommyMundo #TeamMom #ExpoMom2017

4. Posts published between April 1 to November 12, 10pm, will be deemed valid.

5. The draw dates for the Mommy Mundo #TeamMom Grand Giveaway are as follows:

• July 31, 2017: Home appliances for your team from Electrolux: One (1) ZMO1530 MobiOne Vacuum Cleaner, One (1) ETG724GK Tabletop Gas Stove, One (1) ETD29PKB Portable Induction Cooker, One (1) EMM2003W Microwave Oven
• August 30, 2017: Win a vacation for you and three of your friends at Hotel Kimberly in Tagaytay
• October 9, 2017: Marie France treatments for 4 worth Twenty Thousand Pesos (P20,000) each
• November 9, 2017: Win a 3D/2N trip for you and 3 of your #TeamMom friends to Taiwan courtesy of Jeron Travel

*The winners will also be invited to be special guests at Expo Mom Holiday 2017 and have their story featured on Mommy Mundo!

What are you waiting for? Be proud and be loud! Show your #TeamMom love to the world!

TERMS & CONDITIONS

1. Mommy Mundo #TeamMom Grand Giveaway will be valid from date of announcement until November 12, 2017.

2. Your #TeamMom must have at least two members, including the person who posted, who are moms, or are expecting.

3. Winners will be chosen based on the following: 70% content and 30% creativity.

4. All accounts must be set to public during the whole duration of the contest.

5. Multiple posts are allowed, for as long as each entry is a different photo or different #TeamMom.

6. All prizes are non-convertible to cash, not for sale, and non-transferrable.

7. This contest is open to Philippine residents. For the trips, however, winner must come from Manila.

8. The person who posted will be authorized to choose who gets the prizes and who goes to the trips.

9. Should the current winner not be available to take the trip or any of the prizes, Mommy Mundo has the right to choose the next winner.

10. The company reserves the right to document the trip and use the materials (photo / video) for its purposes.

11. The following terms and conditions for the trips will apply:

* For Hotel Kimberly, an overnight stay for up to 4 people are provided, including transportation to and from the destination.

* For the overseas package:

– Round trip airfare (exclusive of other taxes) based on V Class

– 3D/2N quad sharing accommodations, breakfast packages will be provided

– Visa costs, meals, and incidentals and passport requirements will shouldered by

winner/s

– Travel dates must be within 1 year from the awarding date

– Exclusive of use for holidays and peak seasons

Expo Mom #TeamMom Reaches Out to Mommas in the Visayas

We are stronger together. That’s what moms have come to realize when faced with the multitude of issues and concerns that come with motherhood. When a mom has a group of mothers behind her, the business of taking care of the everyday just seems easier. She has an ear that would listen to her worries, a smile that would brighten up her mood, and a hand that would hurry along the accomplishment of important tasks.

In celebration of its tenth year anniversary, Expo Mom pays tribute to #TeamMoms all over the country. Expo Mom #TeamMom 2017 kicked off with a three-day event at the Glorietta Activity Center in May. Expo Mom #TeamMom goes on a nationwide roadshow starting off today, June 17, 2017 at Ayala Center Cebu, and then moving on the week after to The District North Point in Negros on June 24, 2017. 

Expo Mom #TeamMom will not only bring in the most modern mommy and baby products and services to the Visayas, it will also be a wellspring of parenting trends, mommy solutions, and inspiring advocacies. 

Sun Life Financials and PLDT Home will serve as co-presentors of the Cebu leg of Expo Mom #TeamMom. Some of the featured exhibitors include Cycles and Cradles, Electrolux, Nestle Cerelac, Sanicare, Tempra, Babyzone, doTERRA Therapy, Halo Sleepsack, and Modern Mama. Detox Bar, a mompreneur business based in Cebu, will also be joining Expo Mom Cebu #TeamMom. The onstage program of Expo Mom Cebu #TeamMom 2017 will shine the spotlight on Cebu’s #TeamMoms. Groups of mommas who are mompreneurs, travel bugs, and yoga practitioners will share stories of how they have helped each other grow to become better persons and better mothers through the years. There will also be games, educational talks, and entertainment numbers throughout the event.

Caltrate Plus joins Expo Mom Negros #TeamMom as a major sponsor, together with Sun Life Financials and PLDT Home as co-presentors. Some of the featured exhibitors include Cycles and Cradles, Electrolux, Nestle Cerelac, Sanicare, Tempra, BabyZone, doTERRA Therapy, Halo Sleepsack, and Vpharma. Footsie Tootsie, a mompreneur business based in Negros, will also be joining Expo Mom Negros #TeamMom.

As with the Expo Mom Cebu #TeamMom’s onstage games and talks, the Negros leg will feature local #TeamMoms who have supported each other in their motherhood journey. Among others, there will be #TeamMoms of homeschooling and breastfeeding mommas.

So for Negros Moms, what are you waiting for? Pre-register now and get a limited edition tote bag when you come to Expo Mom Negros on June 24 at the District Northpoint!

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And that's not all... 

Expo Mom’s tenth year anniversary celebration also includes a Grand Giveaway. Share your #TeamMom story on social media, and get the chance to win for you and your #TeamMom some awesome prizes. Click this link for more details.

Mambukal Mountain Resort + 21st Mudpack Festival

Mambukal Resort is one of the most popular and most visited resorts in Negros. It is a 35-minute drive from Bacolod City passing through Murcia town, the same highway going to Don Salvador Benedicto (more details about our DSB trip, here.) 

Mambukal has several recreational facilities available such the Ishiwata Bath House, Slide for Life, Wall Climbing, Canopy Walk and several swimming pools. Sulfur Spring, Butterfly Garden as well as try trekking to the 7th falls of Mambukal and some bat watching are some of the attractions you should not miss. For those who plan to stay overnight, rooms are also available. Rates can be found below. 

In a few weeks, they will be celebrating the Mudpack Festival at Mambukal Mountain Resort happening on the 3rd week of June. The Mudpack Festival celebrates the harmony of man and nature. The festivity features Clay Body Painting, Drumbeating Competition, Tribal Dance and Ms. Earth-Mambukal among a few. 

This year's theme is: Pray. Heal. Celebrate Life. Kindly refer to the poster below for the schedule of activities. 

Source: Mambukal's Resort FB Page

For more details about the Mudpack Festival this 2017, please visit Mambukal Resort's Facebook page. 

About the Resort
Mambukal Resort is owned and managed by the Provincial Government of Negros Occidental under the Economic Enterprise Development Department. Mambukal's contact number is (034) 473-0610 for reservation and inquiries. 

Pfizer Strengthens Global Campaign on Bone Health, Calls on Filipinos to ‘Love Your Bones’

We all know that we need to have a healthier lifestyle. This includes having healthier food choices, better living conditions and environment as well as having adequate exercise. However, whether we admit it our not, most of us do not put this on top of my priority list.

Food and bone health, although considered vital life components, are still largely ignored, be it due to poor lifestyle or lack of awareness.To help address this growing health problem, Pfizer Consumer Healthcare (PCH) partnered with the International Osteoporosis Foundation (IOF) to spearhead the local celebration of World Osteoporosis Day (WOD) last October 20.

Aptly themed “Serve up Bone Strength,” WOD 2015 focuses on the importance of adopting a bone-healthy diet throughout a person’s lifetime to optimize bone strength. The campaign highlights the point that poor nutrition is one of the critical risk factors for developing bone-related diseases.

“It conveys the message that the first step in osteoporosis prevention begins in youth, when nutrition can help maximize our bone-building potential, and continues throughout life as we strive to maintain strong bones at older age,” explained IOF, the global organizer of WOD.

A key date in the bone, muscle, and joint community agenda, WOD is an occasion when people around the globe unite to put the spotlight on the immense burden caused by osteoporosis and other musculoskeletal diseases, and the actions that can be taken to prevent and treat them. It aims to put bone, muscle, and joint health on the global health agenda.

“We at Pfizer Consumer Healthcare support the IOF in its advocacy to inform the people about osteoporosis and the fact that it can be prevented,” says Dr. Egbert Dorado, senior medical manager at PCH. “We echo IOF’s key message: Adequate intake of the right nutrients contributes to bone health at all ages, and is a first step in osteoporosis prevention. For those who already have osteoporosis, a bone-healthy nutrition should be part of their treatment and rehabilitation program.”

Three of the major nutrients that help optimize bone health are: calcium, vitamin D, and protein, with recommended daily allowances varying throughout life.

“Regulating calcium levels in the body promotes better bone mass density (BMD), alongside improving muscle performance and balance. Taking a calcium supplement with adequate levels of Vitamin D3 also helps maximize calcium absorption,” adds Dr. Egbert. While proper nutrition works, it is also important to have a holistic approach to osteoporosis prevention and management.
“It is indeed crucial to build strong bones early in life by following a healthy diet as it is the key ingredient in helping a person achieve peak bone mass, and maintaining it throughout life. But it is equally important to avoid other modifiable risk factors including sedentary lifestyle, smoking, and alcohol use,” explains Dr. Egbert.

Osteoporosis is an incurable disease, but controlling its risk factors and complying with treatment regimens where prescribed can ensure a mobile, independent, and fracture-free life.

For more information on osteoporosis and World Osteoporosis Day 2015, visitwww.worldosteoporosisday.org, follow IOF on Instagram (@worldosteoporosisday) or on Facebook (www.facebook.com/worldosteoporosisday), or subscribe to its YouTube channel (www.youtube.com/iofbonehealth).

//Social Constructs : All About Passion For Music

They say that a lot of people express themselves through music which I totally agree with. Whether we are happy, sad or worried, there would always be a corresponding "theme song of our life" for that moment. We opt to either sing along or just plainly listen and let us drift our thoughts with it. 

However, Paincake Patrol, a one-man electronic music project by musician, Eeman Bulotano would like to take this to a different level. Launching //Social Constructs on December 5, 2015 at Today x Future in Cubao, Quezon City, this project aims to make people listen to music without having to ignore the person standing next to them. The project will provide music that "makes you think, but yet somehow not distract you at all." 

This experimental solo project is focused on creating alternative electronic and ambient music, reflecting the artist’s experiences and views on existence in general.

The idea behind //Social Constructs and Paincake Patrol itself is inspired and widely influenced by the very existence of ambient music as pioneered by Brian Leno during the 1980’s. Usually electronic and instrumental in nature, ambient music aims to create a perfect balance between disappearance and presence.

Though it has existed for a long time now, ambient music remains relatively unknown to the mainstream crowd as it is seen as "too smart" or "overly deep.” Personally, I was just using this for my animation projects and videos since the sound are pretty unique and perfect as a background music. 

However, Eeman and many other ambient music artists see this type of music as simpler and more relatable compared to any other genre because it provides the chance to be freely interpreted by its listeners. Thus, being exposed to this new genre would be very refreshing given that it is powered by the experiences and emotions not just by the one who created the music but also by those whom the music is created for.

Songs from this genre evolve from the mere self-expression of one artist into many different stories weaved by those present in the audience. They are taken and understood in more ways than one – similar to how individuals give meaning to various things and, ultimately, to life.

Music relives one’s memories, and the entire Paincake Patrol project intends to elicit nostalgia while stimulating thought-provoking conversations. With this particular EP, the artist focused on his view of the general meaning of existence and how empty it may seem when viewed only in an objective and logical way.

Each composition is appropriately titled based heavily on how the artist views reality. Combining master beats with ethereal notes, //Social Constructs’ first three tracks aim to reflect the existential angst and loneliness one might experience when he or she has failed to see reason behind life.

So, are you up for a good genuine passion for music? Join them this December 5, 2015 and check out Paincake Patrol on Facebook, Sound Cloud, Twitter, Instagram and his blog or catch more of Eeman’s keyboards and synths as he plays with Audio Drive Thru.

Call for Creatives: Bring out the Geek in You! + Discounts

Geeking Tom is a company which is all about being proud and showing off things that geeks love such as comics, games, fandoms and more. They create unique t-shirt designs that are made of 100% cotton, thick and durable, yet comfortable to wear. The designs are screen-printed to ensure the best quality for every shirt printed. 

Geeking Tom is known for coming up with great original and unique designs that makes one stand out. Indeed, this collaboration of individuals have paved the way to showcase the extremely talented Filipino graphic artists. 

And this not just end there, if you believe that you have what it takes as a creative geek then we would like to invite you to join the shirt designing contest for the entire month of October. 

Geeking Tom Shirt Wars is a tribute to the upcoming release of Star Wars: Episode VII - The Force Awakens whose trailer hit an all time record after being released a week ago. 

The winner of the contest will receive the following prizes:

1. One year supply of Geeking Tom shirts

2. The winning design will be printed and sold by Geeking Tom, the winner's name will be included in the t-shirt's tag, and the winner will receive a PhP 40 royalty (commission) per shirt sold.

To join, the artist must submit his/her original design via e-mail to geekingtomshirts@gmail.com with the subject, "Geeking Tom Shirt Wars". Each entry must include the participants full name, e-mail address, contact number, and the title of their entry. Multiple entries are allowed, but must be submitted separately.

Please see full mechanics here. 

Geeking Tom shirts are available online and through their retail partners Dyce and Dyne (Pasig), and Parafreaq (San Juan.) 

But wait there's more ... 

Geeking Tom has a treat to all My Metro Lifestyle readers. They are giving a special 15% percent discount when you purchase a Geeking Tom shirt online. All you have to do is use the promo code. "MyMetroLifestylexGeekingTom15" 

So, what are you waiting for? Join now and May the force be with you! 

Get a Chance to Win an Exclusive Invite (Good for 4) to the Grand Launching of Salliano's Restaurant and Bar

Salliano’s Restaurant and Bar is a modern and casual dining restaurant located in the heart of Marikina that their doors last July 18. After the success of their soft opening, they will be having their grand launching on Sept 19, 2015. Great food, drinks and music await all invited guests. One of the country's leading band, UP Dharma Down will be there to perform on stage. 

Salliano’s houses the exceptionally enormous meatballs, the uniquely cooked Paella and one of their specialty desserts, custaroons that have been very popular with the locals from Marikina. 

Salliano is an establishment that grew out of great friendships. The owners had been friends since grade one and they have shared the love and passion for food. This wonderful place provides a good venue for celebrations where one can be with family and friends. Salliano is all about togetherness, celebration, family and home. #CelebrateSallianos

In line with the grand launch of Salliano’s Restaurant and Bar, they will be raffling 1 table (for 4 pax) to one lucky winner who will qualify if he/she does what is instructed below. The lucky winner may be able to watch UP Dharma Down’s show this coming Sept. 19!!!

The mechanics are pretty simple.

1. Like Salliano’s Restaurant and Bar’s Facebook Fan Page

2. Share their facebook fan page and tag 3 of your friends who you want to watch with.

3. Tweet “I want to watch UP Dharma Down in #SallianosinMarikina #CelebrateSallianos”

                       

Don't forget to use the hashtags #SallianosinMarikina and #CelebrateSallianos

Winner is will be announced at Salliano's social media accounts. 

For your table reservations, you may call Salliano's at 0927-8120917.