Raffles Design Institute: How to Become Quality Designers Openhouse Experience

Raffles Design Institute Manila is an international college offering professional courses in Fashion Design, Fashion Marketing and Management, Visual Communication, Interior Design and Business with Specialization.  It is one of the 30 college campus across 13 countries and 29 cities within the Asia-Pacific Region.

We got experience an openhouse with the a short overview and short lesson on Visual Communication.

We were guided by our instructor Mr. Sven Pfronmer who is a visual artist from Berlin.

The approach was step-by-step. 

That's me being taught by Mr. Sven Pfornmer

We also had an application of our learning where we painted using flashlights while shooting it with a slow shutter speed of 4 seconds.  It was a neat way to interact with my classmates and at the same time we were assisted by our instructor. 

Raffles Design Institute
Metropolitan Avenue
Makati City

More Details

Experience superior sleep with Uratex Premium Mattress

Did you know that getting a full night’s sleep is actually good for your health? A number of studies have shown that sleep affects your well being in different ways. Researchers have found that there is a link between insufficient sleep and serious health problems, such as heart disease, heart attacks, diabetes and obesity. Likewise, lack of sleep lowers your pain threshold, places you at a greater risk for injuries, affects your mood, causes you to be hungrier and eat more, and affects clear thinking.

As a matter of fact according to Dr. Deborah A. Bernardo, Head of the Comprehensive Sleep Disorders Center and Chief of the Section of Neurology at St. Luke's Medical Center, "Insomnia is the most common sleep problem. Shift work disorders are getting more common because of the BPO, entertainment and media industry. Obstructive sleep apnea, which manifests as loud snoring and stopping of breathing during sleep, is also very frequently unrecognized."

Uratex, the leader in providing the best sleep solutions, has been supporting the advocacy on the importance of a good night’s sleep. Through tie ups with the Philippine Society of Sleep Medicine and with the studies of Dr. Deborah A. Bernardo.

"Sleep is as important as diet and exercise for good health. It is necessary for clear thinking and memory formation, protection of the body against diseases and repair of cells and tissues of the body." Dr. Bernardo elaborates more.

This is the reason why finding the right mattress is important.

Uratex constantly innovates the way people sleep by using the latest in technology, the best design, and luxurious materials. This is called Sleep Science, and it is this discipline that is behind the creation and design of Uratex Premium Mattress Collection.

Uratex Premium Mattress Collection features the best materials for soothing sleep. A variety of state-of-the-art foam are used in creating each mattress, including Senso Memory foam, latex foam, and Hydragel foam. Used in combination with premium pocket springs, Tencel fabric and 3D spacer fabric, you are assured of quiet sleep at the end of the day.

Uratex Premium Mattress has crafted four unique mattress collections that take into account each person’s needs. Each mattress was designed to specifically fit your body’s needs for a more personalized sleep solution.

The Perfect Serenity Collection is the very definition of perfection. The combination of innovative foam and fabric technologies provides tranquil sleep the moment your body touches this mattress. The advanced 3D spacer fabric supplies ample ventilation throughout its surface for constant airflow for a cool, fresh feeling as you sleep. It also ensures that your mattress is clean and fresh even with constant use.


The Senso Memory collection utilizes memory foam that conforms to your body shape to evenly distribute pressure for a more comfortable sleep. The Visco-elastic foam used in this mattress remembers the shape of your body for a personalized sleep experience. The use of Tencel fabric in the main panels also keeps the mattress cool and fresh as you sleep.




The Premium Touch collection combines high performance pocket springs and world-class materials. Each individually wrapped pocket spring follows the shape of your body, even as you turn on your bed. To add comfort, the mattress is topped with natural latex foam to relieve the body’s pressure points. It is covered with Tencel fabric making it soft and smooth to the touch.



For those requiring better support as they sleep, the Orthocare collection supports the body’s key pressure points and keeps them aligned to reduce aches when you wake up in the morning. The inter-connecting cell structure in high-quality foam distributes pressure equally and evenly, letting your body feel relaxed while you sleep. It also uses 3D spacer fabric to keep your mattress cool and fresh, while Tencel fabric adds a soft and smooth feel.


All mattresses under the Uratex Premium Collection are treated with Sanitized, a technology that keeps mattresses free from bacteria or microbes. It protects your body, so you sleep on a mattress that is clean and comfortable.

Uratex Premium Mattress, the leader in the premium bedding industry in the country, and Our Home, the leading home and furniture store, collaborate by providing the public a chic and modern venue for finding the right mattresses for their homes.

Dindo Medina, Uratex Corporate Sales Director, says the partnership between Uratex and Our Home will provide a venue where the public can find sleep solutions that will help improve the quality of their lives.

Medina also shared that Uratex have guests that will share their experiences in using Uratex Premium Mattress. Special guests would be actress-model Solenn Heusaff, 2013 Ms. Universe 3rd Runner-up Ariella Arida, Brazilian model Vanessa Matsunaga, celebrity chef Rolando Laudico, DJs Sam YG, Slick Rick and Tony Toni of Boys’ Night Out, and fashion blogger Camille Co. “These individuals possess unique qualities that have made them role models in their respective fields, the same way that the Uratex Premium Mattress Collection will become the benchmark for luxurious soothing sleep”,  concludes Medina.


About Uratex
For superior sleep solutions, visit Uratex Philippines at www.uratex.com.ph, follow twitter @uratexfoam IG Uratex_ph or call 888-6800.For more about Uratex Premium Mattress, call the Uratex Consumer Care Hotline at 888-6800 or visit www.uratex.com.ph

More Details

Honda Smart Technology to Fuel the Success of New Generation BeAT-FI eSP Series in the Philippine Scooter Market!

Just by Honda’s mere reputation alone as the world’s No. 1 motorcycle manufacturer since 1959, any product that comes out of the company’s assembly plants anywhere in the world is sure to draw attention and generate enthusiasm in their respective local markets.

The New Generation BeAT-FI eSP Series would be no different at all from the historic and long list of motorcycle and scooter lines that Honda has introduced and brought to the world.

Daiki Mihara, President of Honda Philippines, Inc., is confident of the potentials of the New Generation BeAT-FI eSP Series in the local scooter market.

“The New Generation BeAT-FI eSP Series is a reflection of Honda Philippines’ continued commitment to provide powerful, safe, fun, and worthwhile driving experience to the growing market of Filipino scooter enthusiasts,” Mihara pointed out.

The New Generation BeAT-FI eSP Series would hit the local retail markets literally and figuratively running, in terms of consumer interests, performance, and most notably sales. It has practically the same DNA as the Honda Click125i that was launched in February so Honda Philippines is quite confident that it will also be a success in terms of performance and sales given its affordability and expected wider market base.

According to Elie Salamangkit Jr., Product Planning Manager of Honda Philippines, the New Generation BeAT-FI eSP Series is banking on its class-leading fuel efficiency, the Honda exclusive and industry-pioneering technology, stylish and sporty design, better utility, and affordability that is expected to strongly appeal to a wider market base, to immediately make its mark in the local scooter market.

The New Generation BeAT-FI eSP Series also features the Honda Smart Technology, a groundbreaking technology that Honda first used in the Honda Click125i that really caught the attention and envy of every market player in the Philippine motorcycle industry.

The Honda Smart Technology is actually what’s powering the New Generation BeAT-FI eSP Series to its very remarkable on-road performance punctuated no less by its class-leading fuel efficiency which is 63 kilometers per liter for its CBS/ISS variant and 58.5 kilometers per liter for the standard model based on the ECER40 test method.

Honda has also maintained its trend-setting safety and security features in the New Generation BeAT-FI eSP Series including a secure key shutter, a side stand switch, park brake lock, automatic headlight on (AHO), and the combi-brake system.

In terms of utility space, the New Generation BeAT-FI eSP Series has a larger utility box that is capable of accommodating 11.2 liters worth of personal items or safety equipment.

A closer look

So what is the Honda Smart Technology and how did it become industry leading and pioneering?

The Honda Smart Technology actually has three main features – the eSP, the ISS, and the Combi-Brake System (CBS).

eSP means enhanced smart power. It is an advance engine technology that combines high power and high fuel efficiency with a quiet start and smooth eco-friendly engine. The technology enables the efficient combustion of the engine as well as minimizes friction thereby reducing waste. It optimizes energy output too. eSP technology is integrated with the unique Honda ACG starter to ensure that once the rider starts the engine, it would be jolt-free. It also supports the application of another advanced and exclusive Honda feature known as the Idling Stop System (ISS).

Under the eSP, there are many technological features including the Honda-exclusive ACG Starter, the PGM-FI, the CVT, among others. With the use of the ACG or alternating current generator starter-type system, there is no reduction gears and gear meshing noises thus ensuring smooth and quiet start. The PGM-FI is a technology pioneered by Honda since the introduction of the Honda CX500 Turbo in 1982, the world’s first fuel-injected motorcycle. It is programmed fuel injection which ensures higher fuel efficiency, power and torque while keeping emission low. CVT is continuous variable transmission which has become a norm in modern scooters. It allows for intelligent low friction and vibration.

The ISS feature of the Honda Smart Technology is another Honda exclusive and the first-of-its-kind in motorcycle application. The ISS automatically switches off the engine of the scooter during brief stops and thus saves fuel. The conventional idling of other scooters and motorcycles is that they continue to consume fuel even on idle mode. The rider also does not need to restart the scooter on ISS as he just needs to twist the throttle and the engine is automatically switched on again in less than a second.

The Combi-Brake System (CBS) is the feature that delivers controllability, convenience, and the sense of confidence for the rider because the technology in the scooter gives it the optimum braking power while reducing nosedive, which is very common in many scooters and motorcycles. Because the technology enables the application of the right amount of brake power on both wheels of the scooter, shortest stopping distance when braking can be achieved.

With the industry-pioneering and revolutionizing feature of the Honda Smart Technology, the New Generation BeAT-FI eSP Series is expected to blaze a trail of excellence for every succeeding scooter that will come out of Honda to follow.

More Details

McVitie’s Digestives: The Good Biscuit

Most of us can’t get through the day without having a piece of snack between meals. Others always stash something in their bags just in case they feel hungry and there is nary a store in sight. Meanwhile, some look for these ‘filler foods’ to power their work which can be energy-consuming
physical labor or mentally nerve-racking think tank tasks.

This leads to the next question:  Now many snacks come in handy in many ways, but are they healthy enough?

Most chips are considered “junk food” because of their lack of nutrition. The same with biscuits, regardless of how flavorful they taste. Fortunately, there is one good brand that everyone can rely on – a healthier snack that can replace all the junk food and not-so healthy biscuits available in the market – McVitie’s Digestives.

McVitie’s Digestives  has fewer calories which makes it a good snack for those who are on a fitness program. It also has less fructose corn syrup and contains no artificial ingredients. And most importantly, it has zero cholesterol and transfat, keeping our bodies free from any cardiovascular and other related diseases.

One of McVitie’s Digestives’ remarkable benefits is that it has fiber that helps in proper digestion and the flushing out of unwanted fat and toxins from the body. These digestives has been the United Kingdom’s  favorite tea time snack for more than 120 years, showing that
McVitie’s recipe and its benefits in contributing to  a healthy and a balanced diet can be trusted.

Being the “good biscuit” doesn’t mean it has to be boring. The McVitie’s Original Digestives has the right amount of savory taste that can be perfectly paired with a cup of hot coffee or tea. But for those who would want to have a more tasteful merienda, McVitie’s Digestive has Milk Chocolate and Dark Chocolate variants that every sweet-tooth-stricken individual can enjoy. And if you want it healthier than the usual digestive, McVitie’s Wholewheat Digestive is just the perfect variant for health buffs requiring more fiber from their diet.

Dig into these delicious and nutritious McVitie’s Digestives while you are on the go or at doing all the work that needs to be done. Get your much needed satisfaction from these snacks, which is healthier than the usual items bought from the market or the convenience store. McVitie’s Digestive will make your tummy more healthy – and happy.

For more about McVitie’s Digestives, visit www.mcvities.com, or click “Like” on its Facebook page www.facebook.com/mcvitiesdigestives.

More Details

MERCATO CENTRALE & GLORIETTA PRESENTS: BELLYSIMA! FOOD FESTIVAL 2015

We’re sending you on a food trip this Independence Day Weekend!

From flavored flans to artisan sausages to edible cookie dough to carabao chicharon to twisted gelato
flavors to chili-flavored coffee syrups to organic detox juices to chocolate-flavored surprises! And that’s just the tip of the taste buds.

From the organizers of the popular night food market Mercato Centrale comes the BELLYSIMA! Food Festival 2015. It is a launch pad for passionate up-and-coming food entrepreneurs to share their artisanal food creations alongside healthy and organic food products with equally passionate food enthusiasts!

Set your tummies free this June 12 and 13 at the Glorietta 5 Atrium and be one of the lucky 500 participants to taste and evaluate some of the most exciting gourmet, healthy, artisan and organic food creations from over 30 local vendors.

Bring the whole family to enjoy heirloom recipes, regional delicacies, innovative pastries and desserts, experimental dishes, organic and all-natural healthy food alternatives, and more! Note:

Remember to wear adjustable waistbands because you’re going on a revolutionary food trip!

Here is a list of the participants to look out for:

BACH’S BANGUS DAGUPAN
Frozen bangus, daing na bangus, rellenong bangus

BLUSH PASTRIES
Cheesecake, Oreo cookies, flavored cupcakes

BRAVO DELI
Baked products

CHOCO LOCCO
Chocolates, cacao, tablea

COCOA MONSTERS
Chocolate and cocoa-related products, including chocolate-coated dried mangoes

COOKIE STICKS
Cookies in stick form

DELICANE
Fresh sugarcane juices

FRIGGIES
Healthy fruits and vegetable juices

GAVIENS NATIVE CAKES
Traditional Filipino rice cakes

GOOD FOOD
Handcrafted items and organic produce

GORBY BALLS
Graham balls

HEALTHY MONSTERS PH
Salad in a jar


HEALTHY SHOTS MANILA
Detox and cleansing juices

HOMEGROWN ORGANICS
Fresh vegetables, organic kale pesto, atchara


IRRI – PHILIPPINE HEIRLOOM RICE
Heirloom rice varieties from the Cordillera

JACOB’S PRALINE PEANUT BUTTER
Praline peanut butter

KURIKIPU
Hot and iced brewed coffee, pasta, healthy juices, brownies

LOKALITEA
Turmeric tea

LOTUS POD PH
Fresh vegetables

MADE BY MAX
Nut butter spreads

MILETTE KAKANIN
Various homemade traditional Filipino rice cakes and other delicacies

MILEA BEE FARM
Organic honey and other honey-based products

MILKMAN DAIRY BAR
Edible cookie dough and cereal milk
MIO GELATI
Fresh and authentic Italian ice cream

MR. MONTY
Tofu with veggies siomai and various special sauces like chili and chili garlic in coconut oil

PEANUT BUTTER & JELLY
Imported goodies

PIPER’S PAN
Mini cakes

PURE ENERGY
Kalabasa and beet delicacies, beet healthy drinks

PURPLE BUDS
Red velvet crinkles and other baked products

REYSONS FOOD
Dolci bottled coffee jelly

RITZY PINK SHOPPE
Baked chicken embutido, banana cupcakes and oatmeal cookies

SALATA PH
Salad dressings and sauces, healthy snacks

TOUCH OF ELLEHCAR
Cupcakes

TREATS OF TRIX
Cheesecakes in a jar

WISE EATS FOODS
Artisan sausages, chorizos, vegetable preserves, salad dressings, etc.

The BELLYSIMA! Food Festival is brought to you by Mercato Centrale in partnership with Glorietta and is co-presented by OurAwesomePlanet.com and Ayala Malls, together with our media partners The Philippine Star, Entrepreneur Magazine, Yummy Magazine, GoNegosyo, WhenInManila.com, Solar Entertainment, 103.5 KLite and Globe My Business.

For more information, contact us through any of the following:
Facebook: www.facebook.com/mercatocentrale
Email: admin@mercatocentrale.ph
Contact: 0917-8401152

More Details