Welcome to the Inflight Magazine of Cebu Pacific Air

some things to smile about

MAIDA C PINEDA CHANCES UPON A FEW NOVEL WAYS TO BRIGHTEN YOUR DAYS

Much-kneaded treat

At the NAIA 3 airport, you’ll be glad to find a massage place right next to the boarding gates. Kenko Spa offers everything from shoulder rubs to pampering foot massages to de-stress travel-weary passengers. Pack a book in your knapsack and head over to Kenko. Just don’t plug into an mp-3 player lest you don’t hear the boarding call! rigorous selection, online voting, and incognito tasting process, the Miele Guide staff determined the top 20 restaurants. The Philippines has one restaurant breaking into the Top 20 — Antonio’s Fine Dining in Tagaytay ranked number 10. The sleek handy dining guide to the region’s best sells for US$15 (PHP739.65) at most bookstores.

Asia’s best eats in your pocket

Your cheat sheet to the best restaurants in the region, the Miele Guide reviews 16 Asian countries, including China, Indonesia, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Taiwan, Thailand, and Vietnam. After a rigorous selection, online voting, and incognito tasting process, the Miele Guide staff determined the top 20 restaurants. The Philippines has one restaurant breaking into the Top 20 — Antonio’s Fine Dining in Tagaytay ranked number 10. The sleek handy dining guide to the region’s best sells for US$15 (PHP739.65) at most bookstores.

Whittle while you walk

Here’s a pair of flip-flops to slim you down. Fit Flops are multi-tasking footwear that tone your leg, thigh, and bum muscles with every stride. One user claims that wearing it for 30 minutes feels like a “bum-blasting workout.” The secret feature? The micro-wobbleboard mid-section which challenges hard-to-reach muscles. These fashionable flipflops are now available in Hong Kong and Singapore. For store locations, go to www.thefitflops.com

shop alert

Avana: j

Fans of trendy fashion labels from Spain, the Netherlands and the rest of Europe should head to the newly opened Avana: j at Pacific Plaza in Singapore. An offshoot of Avana (a shop in Shaw Centre that carries international ready-to-wear pieces and is known for its cocktail and evening wear), the chic boutique caters to 20- to 40-something women who love dresses, bags, hair accessories and jewelry. Have fun creating unique ensembles you’ll want to wear, whether you have a special occasion or not. 01-07/08 Pacific Plaza, 9 Scotts Road, Singapore 228210, tel: +65 6734 6462, www.avanastyle.com

tried & tested

beauty booty

Oil of Olay Total Effects Daily Moisturizer

Katherine Pelaez-Vinuya, legal analyst

“It makes my skin soft and supple, and leaves me feeling refreshed and beautiful.”

The Body Shop

Olive Body Butter

Kathrina Manalo Erro, full-time mom

“Being pregnant, I consume the Body Shop Olive Body Butter to the very last bit. It’s creamy with only a hint of fragrance, and prevents the usual dryness and itching that living in cold UK has made my skin prone to.”

Cytherea Innercell face powder

Leah Dominguiano, marcomm practitioner

“Of all the brands I’ve tried, Cytherea Innercell really blends naturally. It suits my sensitive skin, and makes my face look smoother. I feel confifident and satisfified. Plus, I don’t need to re-touch!”

Benefit Dandelion Blush

Kay Wong marketing manager

“The pretty pink shade is flflattering, natural and brightens my fair complexion. The subtle shimmer also gives me a fresh and healthy glow; I feel radiant and pretty.”

Experience A new dawn

CHARMAINE BAYLON GETS TO KNOW A MORE MELLOW THE DAWN AND THEIR LATEST ALBUM, THE LATER HALF OF DAY

WITH 10 HIT albums, a career spanning two decades, band member changes, an award-winning semi-biographical movie (Tulad ng Dati) and a critically acclaimed musical (EJ: Ang Pinagdaanang Buhay Nina Evelio Javier at Edgar Jopson), you wonder, is there anything The Dawn can’t do? Tackling jazz didn’t seem to faze them — just listen to The Later Half of Day. It includes gentler yet upbeat versions of the band’s greatest hits, like Enveloped Ideas, Love Will Set Us Free and Iisang Bangka, as well as chillout covers of 1980s tracks like Don’t You Forget About Me by Simple Minds and Message in a Bottle by The Police. Lead singer Jett Pangan speaks for drummer JB Leonor, bass player Buddy Zabala and guitarist Francis Reyes, about the challenges they faced for this project, and what they’ll be up to in the future.

The Later Half of Day is your 11th album. What keeps the band going and passionate about making music? That’s basically it — the music. I guess when you’re starting out, there are many reasons why you want to be in a rock band — the fame, the money, the girls, etc. But when you’ve been around this long, it all goes back to the most fundamental reason — the music.

Why have you turned to jazz for some of your recent gigs and songs?

I’ve always wanted to do something like Sinatra and some standards, so I tricked the band into going for the ride [laughs]. We did a string of shows in this mode, and to our surprise, they were a success! So there was no better way to document our little “detour” than to turn it into an album featuring our stuff as well as influential songs.

What’s so different about this album? We were miles away from our comfort zone. I had to record my vocals in near-whisper levels, which was a lot of fun — but at some point, I wanted to rock it out. It was definitely a supreme exercise in restraint for all of us but it worked out great in the end, because we enjoy this “break” from the noise.

Can you quickly take us through the inspirations for some of the songs?

Our biggest original hits on this album are Enveloped Ideas and Iisang Bangka. The first is all about being able to speak your mind through song, which is what a lot of kids are doing now, forming bands. The second is the universal anthem for unity among Filipinos. Besides being a concert favorite, many — even the Philippine Navy — have embraced this song for their events. The carrier single is a chill cover of Message in a Bottle. The band is a huge fan of The Police, especially our drummer, JB.

So, what’s next for The Dawn?

JB is a passionate mountain climber. We may just do that as a group, with a medical team nearby … and a rock-your-socks album early next year.

The Later Half of Day is available at major music stores for PHP280. For details, log on to www.thedawn.ph

INFLIGHT ESSENTIALS

LISTEN Chinese Democracy

It’s been 17 years since we’ve heard from Guns N’ Roses. Produced by Caram Costanzo and lead singer Axl Rose (the only original member left), the new album has 14 catchy tracks, including Shackler’s Revenge and Better. Sounds good!

READ Mrs MisMarriage

Six-month-old bride Audrey Lee realizes she’s not the marrying kind. Should she face life sans hubby or work on a marriage she never wanted in the first place? Part of the Asian Chic series, Noelle Chua’s novel is available in Singapore and Malaysia.

This entertaining gadget — which weighs 2.3 lbs and features an 8.9- inch LED display — allows internet access, file storage as well as entertainment when you’re in flight:

It plays DVDs, music and games. It even has antifinger coating to prevent smudges.

bonding pinay style

WHETHER YOU’RE IN THE PHILIPPINES OR ABROAD, YOU CAN GET A DAILY DOSE OF ALL THINGS FILIPINA SAYS CHARMAINE BAYLON

MAINTAINING CONNECTIONS with fellow Pinays has become a lot easier with the website Proudly Filipina (www.proudlyfilipina.com), an online magazine with a social network. “We don’t just mean to have a forum, but a social network with a backbone,” says Mary Anne Tolentino, one of the founders. The site provides the latest news in fashion, health, money and beauty, and lets you express your views and promote all things great about being a Pinay. One of its sections — a reflections and prayer corner called “Halo Halong Halo” — is “a heavenly mix of things that make life worth savoring, like sweet memories, tough experiences, humor and daily miracles,” says Mary Anne. Here are five reasons why Proudly Filipina is worth logging on to:

1It improves the Filipina’s image

“Our vision is to uplift the world’s perception of Filipinas, especially on the world stage. By focusing on our unique characteristics of faith, confidence and strength, we change the view of the Filipina in the world while promoting camaraderie among Pinays in a creative online environment. It’s a virtual coffee-and-cupcake party!” says Mary Anne.

2 Get your voice heard

“We encourage everyone to speak out, whether you’re a student, a career woman, an entrepreneur, or a celebrity. We want Pinays to share in our causes, to be God-fearing, creative and strong.”

3 Become part of a growing network

Proudly Filipina has had more than 10,000 visitors in the past 2.5 months and close to 100,000 page views. “The majority come from the Philippines, but the numbers from Europe, US, Canada, Australia, the Middle East and Asia are quickly growing.”

4 Discover new ways to have fun!

“Filipinas from outside the Philippines tend to be more talkative because they miss home, the food (which tops the list), and the customs and traditions. They also love making new friends and plan to get together when they visit home.”

5 Receive interesting feedback

“Women love Proudly Filipina. And they love discussing everything from travel to love to insecurities. It’s a great group of Pinays who uplift each other across the miles.

We’ve turned the crab mentality into the fab mentality.”

C’MON GET CRAFTY! No more idle hands with these creative books

Scrapbook Asian Style!
By Kristy Harris

This full-color book offers a wealth of ideas on how to turn your loose photos into beautiful works of art.
Scrapbook Asian Style! (Periplus-Tuttle Publishing) lets you get it done using materials such as Chinese paper, handmade stationery and Japanese fabrics. The ideas are so pretty you can literally transform photographs into personalized gifts with author Kristy Harris’s techniques! Available at Fully Booked and National Bookstore for PHP1,240.

Food Inspirations
By Irene Jansen

This collection of 40 recipes are culled from the author’s culinary and emotional milestones. The Singaporean food enthusiast, who also hosts a regular radio show and cooking roadshows, hopes to get more people into the kitchen and whipping up meals with her soulful essays, glossy photos and easy recipes.

To quote Irene, “Be inspired and cook!” Order her book online for SG$34.90 (PHP1,128.57) at www.culinaryadventures.com.sg