Month: May 2014

Be empowered with John Robert Powers’ new workshops

For many years, John Robert Powers (JRP) is synonymous to high quality training in modeling, acting, and personality development.

In an event a couple of weeks ago, JRP introduced to some mom bloggers their newest offerings: The Dynamic Parenting Workshop and the Future Leaders Program.

JRP
This reception area greets you at their Makati Office.

What I clearly remember about JRP, as a kid, was it was a training ground for future models.

And I was right! They have this bulletin board with their pageant training activities.
And I was right! They have this bulletin board with their pageant training activities.

And their latest pride is…

MJ Lastimosa, Bb. Pilipinas Universe 2014.
MJ Lastimosa, Bb. Pilipinas Universe 2014. She finished the JRP Celebrity Track in 2011.

Now, if you think you’re either too old or too young to enrol in JRP, think again. We learned that the oldest student they had is 62 years old!

JRP is glad to offer new workshops for two important groups of people: the parents and the young children.

The Dynamic Parenting Workshop is much like the parenting workshops, only given in a more comprehensive manner, covering ten specific topics, two hours per topic session. This is more studies-intensive, with the goal to educate, guide, and build a core support group among parents.

As a new parent like I am, I had so many questions. With the help of my mom, my aunts, and friends, I was able to pull through the first (almost) four years, and I can’t wait to hurdle more challenges in the future. There’s a saying that it takes two to create and a village to raise a child, and I believe so. The Dynamic Parenting Workshop aims to do that, to create a community of empowered parents who are responsive to the fast-paced life we have now.

Start them young, they say. The Future Leaders Program for 4-6 year olds will not groom your child to be a politician, no. But the program introduces the children the concept of being a leader through fun activities. Activities would also incorporate the signature programs of JRP, like oral communication and personality development.

Being a good leader is being a good follower. As parents, we model what is right or wrong to our children. When the child sees his or her peers doing something good, the more he is empowered to do good. This program might just address that, knowing that kids at this age are still in the stage of imitation.

This is a long-term course, with 30 two-hour sessions.

Their signature programs were also introduced to us, such as the English Language Program and the Multi-Level Curriculum System, especially designed for each student.

We got to take a sneak peak in their classrooms.

I love their make-up area!
I love their make-up training area!
Table etiquette training happens here.
Table etiquette training happens here.
Spot Touringkitty! This is their lecture area.
Spot Touringkitty! This is their lecture/orientation area.

These mom bloggers had a wonderful time meeting up (some for the first time), exchanging insights and experiences. Thanks for having us, JRP!

~ Touringkitty

To know more about their offerings:

John Robert Powers

4/F Casmer Building 
195 Salcedo Street, Makati City
(02)8929511 * (63)09175960939

Ground Floor, Cinderella Building, 
825 EDSA, Quezon City
(02)9270465 * (63)09175018295

2nd Flr JJACCIS Bldg. 
1208 Acacia Ave. Madrigal Business Park, 
Ayala Alabang, Muntinlupa City
(02)6590052 * (63)09178195351

 

Paraguayan Female Guitarist in Manila and Cebu concerts

The guitar is one of the most versatile instruments there is. It can stand alone as concert instrument as well as assisting accompaniment for a singer or another instrument.

I have always loved the guitar. Though I’m not that proficient, I can carry playing simple chords good enough to complete a song. To compensate, I married a guitarist. He might not be playing professionally, but he can definitely pull off a classical piece, or accompany me in singing kundiman.

I was blessed to have handled a guitar program, one of my previous projects in my previous cultural work. You can read about that here.

So I fell in love with the guitar more, and it’s definitely a treat to hear classical guitarists in concert, like this foreign act who is considered the best in her country.

normal_Berta_Rojas_in_Manila-Cebu_--LETTERSIZE_--POSTERParaguayan guitarist Berta Rojas is coming to Manila for a series of concerts on May 15 in Manila and May 17 in Cebu, and a masterclass on May 14.

The concert in Manila will be at 8 pm in the Meralco Theater. The concert in Cebu will be at 8 pm in the Marcelo Fernan Hall in Lahug. Jointly organized by the Independent Philippine Art Ventures, Inc., and the Arts Council of Cebu Foundation, the concerts will be the classical guitar events of the year in the country.

Ms. Rojas, described by the Washington Post as “Guitarist extraordinaire,” will play a mainly classical repertoire with a taste of jazz and salsa.

Also performing are Monching Carpio and Triple Fret. Monching is a former college mate and one of the young and bemedalled guitarists of today. Triple Fret is the first all girl guitar band in the country. Three lovely girls who can rock a riff.

Berta Rojas will also give a masterclass to selected guitarists who have qualified in a screening process on May 14 at Richmonde Hotel,her official Manila residence during her tour. For those who are wondering what a master class is, it’s much like an actual lesson, only there will be an audience. The master teacher (Ms. rojas) coaches the guitarist participant for 30 minutes and will do some critiquing on the piece he played. Guitarists and enthusiasts will surely learn a lot even by just observing.

As a soprano, I was fortunate to have sung for master classes of internationally known opera stars–Filipino tenor Arthur Espiritu and Australian soprano Claire Primrose.

For ticket purchases, call Ticketworld at 891-9999 or Ticketworld.com.ph. For further inquiries, please write Monch Carpio at monchingcarpio@gmail.com or ipavinc@gmail.com.

I do hope to see you there, and please, support at least one art activity per month. It will nourish your cultural soul and develop good taste.

 

~ Touringkitty

Sofia the First is coming to town!

SofiatheFirstMeetinGreet_zps21b7d23e

 

Aria and I love playing princesses at home, that’s why I am happy there’s Sofia the First on Disney Junior.

And much to my excitement, I have been anticipating her visit ever since I saw the tarp announcement on the facade of SM Mall of Asia a few weeks back.

Let us all meet the young princess for the first time in the Philippines!

Sofia the First: The Royal Meet & Greet

Toy Kingdom is highly honoured to present Her Royal Highness, Princess Sofia the First on her Royal Meet and Greet in the Philippines! During the royal visit, fans will get to take pictures with Sofia and enjoy fun games and activities at the activity area.

Schedule & Venue:

May 9 – 11, 2014, Main Mall Atrium, SM Mall of Asia

May 9 – Gates open at 4pm

May 10 – Gates open at 11:30am

May 11 – Gates open at 11:30am

First come, first served.

Mechanics:

  • Customer is entitled to get one (1) FREE Sofia the First Academy Journal for a minimum purchase single receipt purchase worth P1000 of any Sofia the First merchandise at Toy Kingdom and Toy Kingdom Express branches.
  • Present the original receipt to the customer service counter of participating Toy Kingdom store to get the FREE journal.
  • Customer must bring the journal to enter the Sofia the First activity area on May 9 – 11, 2014.
  • The journal will serve as ticket to redeem the Sofia the First event pass. Event pass covers 1 kid plus 1 companion.
  • Promo period is from April 15 to May 11, 2014

Shop Online: toykingdom.ph

Follow Toy Kingdom:

Facebook.com/ToyKingdomPH

Twitter.com/ToyKingdomPH

Instagram.com/ToyKingdomPH

Groove to the beat with Johnny Rockets’ dancing servers

They dance, and dance really well! Johnny Rockets servers in action.
They dance, and dance really well! Johnny Rockets servers in action.

One warm afternoon last week, I took my daughter to a far away land called Eastwood Mall. We were invited to join the Bloggers Day of Johnny Rockets, an international restaurant chain which gives you that feel and groove of the good ol’ American atmosphere.

Think 50s and 60s Americana and you will think of burgers, shakes, and fries. Johnny Rockets has all these and more. This summer, they introduced their Summer Shakes which blends the best of both worlds: Filipino favorite Halo-Halo, Guyabano, and Hawaiian Breeze!

Cool down with these yummy and refreshing shakes.
Cool down with these yummy and refreshing shakes.
Before the event started, we got to take a sip of their shakes outside the warm sun of Eastwood.
Before the event started, we got to take a sip of their shakes outside the warm sun of Eastwood.

Halo-halo got the landslide win for me and my daughter, and for most of the guests there as well. Pure halo-halo goodness without mixing the ice and the toppings.

Halo-Halo get the moustache of approval from Aria.
Halo-Halo get the moustache of approval from Aria.

The servers dance throughout the program, as well as our children.

Here's Touringkitty's heiress, Aria, with Glaiza of Moomy Musing's little Noa. That lady dancing server did a great job making the kids dance.
Here’s Touringkitty’s heiress, Aria, with Glaiza of Moomy Musing’s (www.moomymusings.com) little Noa. That lady dancing server did a great job making the kids dance.

They had us taste their original burger, fries, and shake. I am not so much a burger person, but very much a fries and shake person. So I was delighted know they will give a whole serving of shake!

More dancing happened, as you can see in the next photos:

Johnny Rockets Dancing Servers are the restaurant's pride.
Johnny Rockets Dancing Servers are the restaurant’s pride.
Kids join in the fun. My Aria would not miss the dancing, and eventually joined in again after eating.
Kids join in the fun. My Aria would not miss the dancing, and eventually joined in again after eating.

Do you want to have your kids a rockin’ and groovin’ summer? They can still participate in the Johnny Rockets Summer Camp!

From the Johnny Rockets Facebook page. Click the photo go to their FB page.
From the Johnny Rockets Facebook page. Click the photo go to their FB page.

Learn to create their burgers and make that smiling ketchup-in-a-serving plate. Dance to the cool tunes of the era. Enjoy four days of meeting new friends. Slots for May still available. You may visit their branches to inquire.

From the Johnny Rockets FB Page. Thanks for having us!
From the Johnny Rockets FB Page. Thanks for having us!

Visit their branches all over the metro:

JR Burgos Circle
Unit WS-1 Burgos Circle,Forbes TownCenter, RizalDrive Cor.West Crescent Park,
Fort Bonifacio, Taguig 1634
(02) 836-9546
STORE HOURS: Open 24 HOURS

JR Eastwood Branch
Ground Floor Eastwood Mall Veranda Libis Quezon City
+632 4702117 / +632 4702208
STORE HOURS: Open 24 HOURS

JR Tomas Morato Branch
No. 205, JR 1 Building, Tomas Morato Ave, beside CKB Center Bldg., (in between Scout Rallos & Scout Limbaga Streets),Barangay Laging Handa, Quezon City
+632 3520693 / +632 3528486
STORE HOURS: Open 24 HOURS

JR Robinsons Galleria Branch
Level 2, Space No. 2355, Robinsons Galleria Veranda, Robinsons Mall, Edsa corner Ortigas Ave., Ugong Norte, Quezon City
+632 4776499 / +632 4776501
STORE HOURS:
Mon-Thurs: 10:00 AM to 10:00 PM / Fri-Sat: 10:00 AM to 11:00 PM / Sun: 10:00 AM to 10:00 PM

 

~ Touringkitty