Category Archives: Great Achievements

Into the World of Natori

By | Fashion, Great Achievements, Proud to be Pinoy!, What's New at Rustan's | One Comment

Congratulations Josie Natori and Rustan’s!  Heart2Heart is inspired by another Filipino woman – strong, courageous, independent, hardworking –  who makes us proud!  Josie said that she went into business because she believes that it is important for a woman to be independent and not rely on their husband to support her. Never depend on a man.  She said that you should never apologize for spending because you work hard to earn for yourself.  Spend for yourself.   I value that because that was what my grandmother, Gliceria Tantoco, told me

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“What I have tried to do is listen closely to the music of women as I can. I respond to it by instinct. I play by ear. I see by feeling. Both the strength and the vulnerability of Natori draw on the source of my upbringing. East meets West.” – Josie Natori

Exemplifying her mantra that there are no boundaries, Josie Cruz Natori, founder and CEO of the Natori Company has crossed continents, navigated varying careers and surmounted countless obstacles to create a global brand, Natori.

With a keen eye for art, she has brought her namesake label to the international market – bringing forth an established Natori lifestyle from couture, ready-to-wear collection, lingerie, loungewear, sleepwear, swimwear, home, fragrance, and eyewear.

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Josie was proud to say that she has never had a facelift in 64 years!  Wow! She looks the same when I met her almost 20 years ago

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Josie and Tita Nedy’s goal is to dress up the Philippines and dress up more Filipino women.  Prices are 10% lower than USA prices so that is an additional incentive to shop here

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Josie is expanding her line to many other things other than fashion ready to wear.  She will also have home items.  She said that she wants to offer things that make a woman feel good!

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With a multitude of exclusive international brands under their wing, Rustan’s welcomes Natori to Manila with its first ever boutique to open outside of the United States. Natori finally comes home bringing with her the signature Asian aesthetic that has made the brand distinct, melding the visual appeals of both the East and the West. “Rustan’s mission is to continue to bring home world-class labels to the Filipinos, and with a brand like Natori pioneered by a homegrown talent, this gives us pride to announce its opening” shares Rustan Commercial Corporation President Zenaida Tantoco.

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Rustan’s open’s Natori’s door to Filipino Style savants with its latest Fall 2011 collection. These new designs focus on the Bushido: The Way of the Warrior and explores the art and spirit of the Samurai. It is shown through her reworked traditional kimonos and origami shapes and sensual fabrics and textures. Vivid colors, bold prints and intricate embroideries adorn the collection reminiscent of an honored culture and are also a celebration of the spiritual discipline of the samurai and the ceremony of Japanese heritage.

With their continued expansion, Natori continues to share her creations that carry her signature prints and timeless sensual silhouettes. Setting new standards in color, fabric and silhouette, her collections remain glamorous and at the same time comfortable.

Armed with the challenge to innovate constantly, Josie Natori has taken her talent to the next level and carries on the challenge of producing designs that cater to different women worldwide.

Evoking an East meets West sensibility and a contemporary point of view, Natori brings art into life.

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 The new Natori boutique is now open and is located at 2nd floor Ladies section Rustan’s Makati and in Rustan’s Shangri-La Mall. For more information, you may call Rustan’s Makati at 813-3739 or Rustan’s Shangri-La at 633-4636 or 50.

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Junior Master Chef Pinoy Edition Super 12

By | Foodie, For kids, Great Achievements | 83 Comments

Nowadays it seems there are many kids that seriously want to be chefs 

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With 12 more finalists left in the contest….. 

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Heart2Heart is cheering for Jobim Jalbuena!!!

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Jobim is so lucky to have persevering and supportive parents like Ricky and Wendy.  I don’t watch the show but my friend, Wendy, continously updates the family by text and through facebook the status of Jobim and they have really gone a long way.  I say they because I feel that Wendy has been just as involved as Jobim as she continous to accompany him and support him in this challenge 

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Jobim now has a fan page in facebook and his fans make beautiful pages of him 🙂 

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and he answers back with fan signs!  🙂  

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GOOD LUCK JOBIM!!!!!!  You are already at winner at Heart2Heart!! 

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Re:New Me By Cohen Lifestyle Center

By | Great Achievements, Health and Fitness | 6 Comments

The fist time I heard about the Cohen diet was when I saw photos of my friend in facebook.  It was amazing!!  Mecca looks even younger than when I knew her about 15 years ago!

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Then I heard more about it from our friend, Dette who would not eat anything when we would have our lunches!!  She was really very strict about what she was eating….no wonder these girls get such good results!!!

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And then I also found out that my batchmate Rowena sent her daughter who is 18 years old  and she looks really great too!! Rowena told me that not only does she look great but it has changed her daughter’s life.  She has higher self esteem now and continues to work towards her desired goal

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 So I asked Rowena to take me to the event with her because I wanted to know more about it and of course to see her daughter model 🙂 

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The owners themselves are living proof of the program because they themselves have lost so many pounds!  After seeing many testimonials, the average weight loss is around 10 pounds per month.  The beauty of it is that it is supervised and they take your blood pressure every month when you visit the clinic to have a check up

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Dr. Bandola literally lost a whole person by losing 110 pounds!  AMAZING!! 

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I bumped into a few people who I knew- Batchmates – Anton Turalba- Abdon and Adiel Ty Cruz, Tita Evelyn, friends and relatives of people under the program,  some are undergoing already and some still planning to RENEW their lifestyle 🙂 

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I wish all events would serve healthy food 🙂  Even our food that evening was healthy and based on recipes from Dr. Cohen 

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Take note, they only give you a fork to eat 🙂  I don’t know if that is intentional but to me, it’s a good technique to lessen your eating 

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The event ended with a fashion show of some of the living testimonials and every one of them looked really good, healthy and happy!   

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And here is Isabella, Rowena’s daughter.  Rowena told me she was crying when her daughter was walking down the ramp….I would probably too.  Way to go Isabella!   

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Click below to go to their website for more information:

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Unrest Premieres in Manila

By | Arts and Culture, Entertainment, Great Achievements | One Comment

Two Years ago I featured UNREST as it was premiering in LA

Previous Entry: Unrest Produced by Marie Tantoco Pineda October 10, 2009 

This month, Unrest premiered in our country and it was nice to see the movie on the big screen! I only watched it on DVD and this time I got to watch it in a theater and it was even better!! Congratulations again Marie!! Looking forward to a full length movie!!!

 

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Dear Marie, I would like to say with all sincerity that after seeing the film I realize now why you won the awards! I was narrating it to Patrick scene by scene and it struck me how super good the story is and how it was adopted in the screenplay. The direction was super! so many dramatic camera scenes to make you feel the emotion of the moment! One second more…one scene more…and my tears and sobs wud fall unabashedly! CONGRATULATIONS!  T. Nedy

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Congratulations Marie!  My friends and I really enjoyed! 

The way you sourced and selected your props was amazing! Loved the benz, and the toyota lite ace even more. Oh and their license plates! Heard m.dino found those,  nice one m.dins! It was hard to tell that it was shot in the states. Congrats! Cant wait for the next one!

Paowee Tantoco

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Congratulations Marie! The film was compelling,  moving,  and complete in 15 minutes. Its  so challenging to accomplish all that in such a short time. That’s why its brilliant. 

On Another note, you are also an amazing muti tasker:  producer,  spokesperson,  film operator and DJ. 

Congratulations marie!!!  It was such a well made film! We really enjoyed it! 

Mike and Kathy Huang

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Dear Marie

I saw the film before and it was in tv.  Now I saw why it’s called a film because it’s meant to be in a cinema

I’m so proud of you. I saw the movie in a new light and new emotions ran thru. Iba pala.  And no wonder this won the bafta award! Imagine bafta?! Congrats really mars

Emmanuel Tantoco Pineda 

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Hi Mars,

I agree with Paowee, it was hard to tell that the film was shot in the US. I first watched this film on the DVD you sent me, but it’s on the big screen that I really appreciated the little details like the 1980’s license plate, passports, and even the design of the maids’ quarters that all lent authenticity to the film.

I thought it was great that you found a young Filipina who can speak fluent Tagalog – and without an American accent!  I was thinking that it’s difficult to find someone that age in our family who can speak our native language even if they’re all growing up here in the Philippines.  What more trying to seach for one among Filipino kids living in LA!

For movies, many are quick to praise an actor or director. But as the person who called the shots you deserve all the credit for setting the direction, high standards and producing a quality film. Again, congratulations on a great job! 🙂

Cat Tantoco Huang 

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Entrepreneur of the Year 2011 by Ernst and Young

By | Great Achievements, What's New at Rustan's, What's new at Shopwise? | One Comment

Congratulations to my cousin, Donnie Tantoco, for wining the Innovative Entrepreneur Award!  We are all so proud of him!  

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The theme for the 2011 program is “Shine.” Mr. Noel shares, “To be an entrepreneur is to be a beacon, a shining ray of hope and inspiration. To have dreams that burn bright with passion. To blaze the trail, that others may follow in their footsteps. The Entrepreneur Of The Year Philippines 2011 program salutes the courage, spirit and determination of our Filipino entrepreneurs, and the indispensable contribution that they make to our people and our economy. Through their works, their stories and their convictions, they show us all what it means to truly shine.”

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The Art of Capodimonte

By | Great Achievements, What's New at Rustan's | No Comments

Heart2Heart loves meeting owners of businesses and listening them narrate their history, the composition and quality of their products, how they are made and how they became what they are today…successful craftsmen and entrepreneurs

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I was honored to meet Devis Rossi, son of the owner of Devis Ceramiche from Italy 

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Thanks to our lovely host, Tessa 

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Devis explained to us everything about his family business.  Since he was a kid, he was already exposed to the business and he was also made to help in production which explains why Devis can make the flowers out of clay that are being used to decorate the porcelain pieces 

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You will see many copies of this item made in China or made in other Asian countries, but this is the original which is from Italy.  In Makati store, many were already sold as soon as it arrived in the selling area and I heard when Fia Llige, my friend, who hosted in the Alabang store, that everything was sold out!!  Everyone wanted their pieces signed by Devis 🙂 

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Between Episodes

By | Arts and Culture, Great Achievements | No Comments

Congratulations to my friend, Toots! 

Previous entry:  Toots Magsino June 13, 2007 

Abrakadoodle Art March 10, 2011 

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Each person has a unique way of expressing themselves and Toots does it through her works of art.  I admire her for being able to cope with life and how she continues to keep her head up and have a positive outlook in life despite what she has been through.  We will always be here to support you Toots

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The show was jam packed at the Ayala Museum!! So many friends and family who all love Toots and supported her! 

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I hope you can read the descriptions of each work of art.  Heart2Heart likes how Toots described each piece

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Click below to go to her website:

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Chef Farah Tolentino Ylagan

By | Foodie, Great Achievements, Tributes | One Comment

Here is a closer look at the Chef from the Surprise birthday of Tess ( Surprise Birthday of Tess  June 26, 2011 ), Farah Tolentino Ylagan.

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I was truly amazed at how organized she was when I visited her inside the kitchen!

She had a checklist posted on the refrigerator door 

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and she had these photos of the plating for every dish as a guide for the servers!! 

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And here is the culinary story of Farah written by herself….Good luck Farah and more power to you!

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Aside from being a chef, she also sells Foie Gras and Gift packages  

Click below to go to her website

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Decoration Ceremony of the Wissam Alaouite of Grand Officer

By | Great Achievements | 2 Comments

Congratulations to Tito Rico on his award from the Kingdom of Morrocco.  We are all very proud of you.  I particularly like the speech which I am sharing here as well.  

Many have approached me and asked if this was done in Morocco, but no, it is just here in Manila.  Tita Nedy set it up so well that it looked like we were in Morocco.  Even the food which was catered by Shangri-la Hotel was so good.  It was almost as if we were in Morocco.  It was a beautiful evening

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