Meg Blog

ROMEO AND BERNADETTE

It’s the 1960s and Romeo of the House of Montague awakes from centuries of slumber after drinking a sleeping potion (instead of poison) in modern day Verona, Italy. His eyes right away searches for his beloved Juliet (who, sad to say, died from self-inflicted stab wounds) and who does he see but Bernadette Penza, a feisty, fast-talking and cherished daughter of a Mafia boss from Brooklyn, New York. Expect to be entertained by lively and witty show tunes performed by young talented leads Cris Villongco and PJ Valerio and seasoned actors Red Concepcion, Liesl Batucan, Jamie Wilson, Rem Zamora, Juno Henares, Jim Paoleli, Juno Henares and Kenneth Keng. The epitome of a romantic man meets an aggressive, gum-chewing, loud-mouthed Brooklyn native girl – a recipe for disaster or hilarity, you ask? You still have time to catch what happens in this easily lovable Repertory musical! Check out www.repertory.ph for show schedules and ticket information.

Cris Villongco plays feisty Bernadette

Red Concepcion, PJ Valerio and James Paoleli

A modern twist to the classic balcony scene

Looking for the perfect kikay gift to give your girlfriends this Christmas? Look no more as Neutrogena, the brand recommended by dermatologists, offers great deals on its hottest and must-have products this yuletide season.

Fine, Fair and Smooth Skin for Less
‘Tis the season to achieve fine, fair skin for less. Buy one Neutrogena Fine Fairness UV Compact and get 50% off on the second compact. Share this beauty secret with your friends. With the pack conveniently designed for the holiday season, all you need to do is attach a card and you’re ready to spread the love for fine, fair skin this Christmas.

Available in shades of natural and light beige, the Neutrogena Fine Fairness UV Compact is clinically-formulated to blend evenly with the skin tone and provide beautiful, natural-looking coverage. It’s Vitamin C and Licorice extract plus sunscreen protect the skin from the sun’s UV harmful rays, preventing sunspots and premature skin aging. The Neutrogena Fine Fairness UV Compact is hypoallergenic, fragrance-free and does not clog pores. It is also resistant to humidity, sweat and oil, thus giving the skin lasting coverage needed for all the merry-making this season.

In addition, get the same 50% discount on the Neutrogena Fine Fairness UV Compact when you buy the Neutrogena Body Oil. With its light sesame formula, the Body Oil is easily absorbed by shower-damp skin, leaving it soft and silky with a radiant and healthy glow. And with Christmas just around the corner, you only need a few drops of the Neutrogena Body Oil to keep your skin hydrated and moisturized amidst the cool holiday breeze.

Make Neutrogena’s Christmas gift bundles the perfect kikay must-have this holiday season. Share the love for healthy and beautiful skin with your friends. Get amazing discounts from Neutrogena: two (2) Neutrogena Fine Fairness UV Compacts, with the second compact at 50% off, at a bargain price of P1,063.59; and one (1) Neutrogena Body Oil and one (1) Neutrogena Fine Fairness UV Compact at half its original price for only P939.50.

Hurry and grab the Neutrogena Christmas gift bundles in select drugstores and department stores from December 1-31, 2009 only.

MEG Stylista Award – Denise Laurel
MEG Fashionisto Award – Geoff Eigenmann
Meg Glitteratti Award – Empress Schuck
MEG Papa-Razzi Award – EJ Falcon and Aljur Abrenica
MEG Chart-topper Award – Charice Pempengco
MEG Rock-ista Award – Hale
MEG Fantastik Boombastik Boombox Award – Magic 89.9
MEG Super Stunner Award – Angel Locsin
MEG Billboard Boy Award – Sam Milby
MEG Young Athlete Award – Chris Tiu
MEG Couch Potato-Magnet Award (Local) – My Girl
MEG Couch Potato-Magnet Award (International) – Gossip Girl
MEG Slick Talker In Red Lipstick Award – Heart Evangelista
MEG Slick Talker In Blue Pants Award – Luis Manzano
MEG Hottest ‘It’ Couple Award – Kim Chiu and Gerald Anderson
MEG Local Flip Flick Award – You Changed my Life
MEG Foreign Flip Flick Award – Harry Potter
MEG Can’t-Live-Without Thingamajig Award – MAC IPhone
MEG Gone Good Award – Gawad Kalinga

The holiday season has arrived, and for most people this means hectic preparations and the onset of the Christmas breeze. While most people look forward to the change in temperature, women should know that the cold weather increases one’s chances of having oily skin. This is why it is important to use products that help manage oil production and prevent shiny, blemished faces in pictures of all the yuletide gatherings.

So how does the cool weather cause oily and blemished skin? The cool, crisp, dry air dries up the skin. When this happens, the oil glands naturally overcompensate for the dryness and produce more oil. According to dermatologists, excessive oil production and abnormal shedding of dead skin cells can clog pores and cause bacteria to proliferate, thereby causing acne breakouts. So one must first keep oil under control in order to prevent and control acne.

Luckily, Clean & Clear makes available two special product bundles to keep the skin from breaking out and help girls achieve fair and radiant skin, without the excess oil, this holiday season.

Enjoy pimple- and oil-free skin with the help of Clean & Clear’s Pimple Clearing Kit. This kit consists of one CLEAN & CLEAR® Active Clear™ Pimple Clearing Cleanser (50g) that helps clear pimples while at the same time, gently soothes irritated skin. What’s more, it comes with the CLEAN & CLEAR® Oil Control Film at 50% off! The all-time favorite oil blotter instantly removes excess oil and shine from the face. It can be used anytime, anywhere throughout the day as it doesn’t smudge make-up.

Those who suffer from acne breakouts due to oily skin are also likely to have dull, lifeless skin. Bring back your skin’s naturally clear, fair glow with Clean & Clear’s Clear Fair Glow Kit, which contains one CLEAN & CLEAR® Clear Fairness Cleanser (100g) and CLEAN & CLEAR® Oil Control Film at half-price. The Clear Fairness Cleanser has a unique whitening Vitamin C Beads Formula that effectively lightens skin, making it fair and radiant. Its oil-free and non-drying formulation makes it ideal for everyday use.

Keep the effects of the cold season at bay with these special product bundles from Clean & Clear, which will keep your skin clear, glowing and oil-free throughout the holidays. The Pimple Clearing Kit and the Clear Fair Glow Kit are available in all supermarkets, drugstores and department stores, for P133.50 and P186.50, respectively. Promo will run until December 31, 2009.

The true beauty of giving

This season, The Body Shop ties up with Operation Smile Philippines to help provide reconstructive surgery and related health care to children and young adults with cleft lip, cleft palate and other childhood facial deformities.

With every The Body Shop gift sold, P1 (one peso) will be donated to Operation Smile for free surgeries for indigent children in the Philippines. These surgeries will help uplift the self-esteem of thousands of children by giving them the ability to smile, and a better chance to live normal lives. The promo will run from November 9, 2009 to January 31, 2010.

Do you fantasize about basking in Brazil’s exotic beaches, bathing in its clear blue waters, or partying and grooving to soulful bossa music under a starlit sky?

Now you can set your imagination free and get something out of your Brazilian fantasy with Ipanema flip flops’ “What’s your Fantasy” essay writing contest. Just write down your fondest Brazilian dreams and whimsies in 100 words (or less) and get a chance to win cool prizes from Ipanema.

Writers of the best 10 compositions will win a free pair of funky Ipanema flip flops and the 100 most interesting essays will get a limited edition Ipanema t-shirt.

For added inspiration, step into a pair of Ipanema flip flops. Its trendy designs, vibrant prints, and buttery-soft feel beautifully capture the colors and spirit of Brazil, invoking everyone to celebrate a tropical lifestyle and live out their Brazilian fantasies.

Email your entries to ipanema.philippines@gmail.com. Deadline of submission is on November 30, 2009.

It’s all about your choice. This year’s awards just got more exciting.
Vote for your favorite fashion style icons, promising actors,
musicians, popular endorsers, athletes, TV shows, TV hosts, movies,
gadgets, advocacy, and your favorite section in Meg Magazine. We’ve
rounded up 6 of the best in each category and we are giving you the
chance to choose this year’s winners of Meg Top Choice Awards.

Witness the fun and excitement during the Meg Top Choice Awards Night!
Find out who made it to the top.
Greet and meet celebrities and the MEG team.
Just keep on voting to get a chance to win tickets for this exciting night!
We are raffling out 2 tickets daily and 2 HTC Phones!
So what are you waiting for?
Visit www.meggurl.com for more details.
VOTE NOW!

I’ve never had a liking for rubber shoes. I dreaded wearing them. Instead of the comfort most people feel when they wear one, I feel the opposite. It’s as if my feet are enclosed in a tight space they can’t breathe. So the only time I ever wore a pair was way back when I was still in school. I think I’m the only person I know who doesn’t own a pair.

But not anymore. Last Sept 1, I attended the launch of Reebok’s latest collection. Dubbed as the Hexride technology, the collection includes a range of Reebok running, women’s training, sports conditioning and performance shoes. The launch was a festival in itself as the sound of drumbeats heightened the celebration.

Of course, what better way to get a feel of what the Easytone sneaker is all about is by a trail? Led by host Paolo Abrera, friends from the media and some guests walked around Trinoma Mall, starting from the activity center up until Crustacia where a feast awaited all of us.

When I first tried on my pair, I found it really light and comfortable. I was surprised that I actually like wearing this pair. What’s also good about the Easytone sneaker is that it is said to encourage leg toning through the use of a balance pod system to promote greater muscle use. Boy I sure would love that! Here’s my pair:

Pretty cool, right? Not bad for my first pair (well, after a long time, that is!). So there you have it friends, my new best friend. I’d think I might just start going back to my exercise routine and I’ll definitely bring this pair with me.

- Trisha Tan

Reebok with Hexride technology is available at Reebok concept stores at the U/G level, Mega A, SM Megamall and 1st level, Festival Supermall, Royal Sporting House, The Shoe Shop and other leading sports specialty shops and department stores nationwide. Photos courtesy of Gwen Carino.

I’m sure some of you, if not all, know who Moymoy Palaboy is. I don’t know about you, but I really find their performances really funny, in a good way of course. So when Crocs recently launched a campaign, hosted by Mo Twister and Grace Lee, in support of their 24 outlets in the Philippines via an online video challenge, I was up for it.

The campaign comes with three main components — the Crazy for Crocs online video challenge, the Crazy for Crocs Grand Raffle and the Crocs Pick-a-Prize. Of course, what better way to launch this campaign is to watch Moymoy Palaboy themselves perform their most famous acts. My favorite? Their rendition of Wonder Girls’ Nobody.

So, the next question is, how do I join? Simple. All you need to do is shoot a video and upload it to YouTube. There will be themes which will be assigned by the DJ’s from Magic 89.9’s Good Times radio show. Participants will have to beat these challenges and capture them on video. These videos will then be uploaded to YouTube, after which they will be posted as an official entry on the contest website. No need for flashy cameras and editing what-nots. All you need is an inch of creativity and a bit of daring streak.

The most exciting part of course is the prizes at stake. Contestants to the weekly challenges will get the chance to win Canon digital cameras while the monthly challenges stand to win a whopping P100,000 each month.

So, do you want to be the next Internet Star? Visit www.crazy4crocs.com for more details.

- Trisha Tan

Say goodbye to dry, sun-damaged skin and say hello to soft, beautiful skin you can actually flaunt. The most sought after brand for baby skin care has recently launched a new line of body care especially for women– Johnson’s Body Care.

The new body care line from Johnson’s features three variants: 24 Hour Lasting Moisture, Melt Away Stress and Naturally White. Launched last August 7, 2009 at the elegantly decorated White Space, the Johnson’s Body Care line was presented via a fashion show with the help of female designers Debbie Co, Rosanna Ocampo, Mel Orlina, Choc and Yvette Religioso and Czarina Villa.

Guests partied the night away as they got first-hand try on the different variants available at the lotion bar. My personal favorite was the 24 Hour Lasting Moisture. It smells so good, you can actually smell it even from a distance. It’s also non-greasy so it’s easy to apply on.

The Johnson’s body care line comes in washes and lotions. It’s all you’ll ever need to get that beautiful skin every woman desires.

- Trisha Tan