RUFUS SEWELL PLAYS ÜBER-NASTY VAMPIRE IN “ABRAHAM LINCOLN: VAMPIRE HUNTER”

Seth Grahame-Smith’s historical and mythical fruition “Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter” adapted into film by acclaimed filmmakers Timur Bekmambetov and Tim Burton introduces Honest Abe (played by Benjamin Walker), America’s 16^th president as a vampire slayer who is pitted against Rufus Sewell’s Adam, the movie’s main vampire antagonist.

Adam’s character didn’t appear in the original book but, in the writing of the screenplay, evolved out of a need to create a key focus for Lincoln’s fight. Adam, played by Rufus Sewell, is a creature of almost limitless power. “I see him as a kind of president of the vampires, “adds Sewell.

Author-screenwriter Seth Grahame-Smith, who created the character especially for the film, as its central villain, was attracted to the idea of someone who has existed for untold millennia. “I wondered what it would be like to live for hundreds of thousands of years – to have been around since the building of the pyramids,” says Grahame-Smith. “What kind of personality would emerge from that eternal existence?”

Grahame-Smith’s vampires were polar opposites to the romantic figures captured in recent memory, his creatures of the undead pay proper reverence to the classic tradition of vampires in the movies. “The vampires in our movie aren’t romantic or funny, and they certainly don’t sparkle,” he notes. “Our vampires are bloodthirsty and cunning – and most frightening of all, they’ve become a part of the fabric of everyday life, working as blacksmiths, pharmacists, and bankers.”

Adam is a warrior, leader, politician and pragmatist. With his aristocratic bearing and Southern plantation home, Adam is like a malevolent Rhett Butler – a mix of elegance and menace. His goals, says Tim Burton, are in some ways quite relatable. “If you cast off your moral assumptions, then all Adam wants is a place where he and those like him can call home. He wants freedom for his kind, but of course that comes at a horrible cost for so many.”

Adam hopes that Abraham will become a formidable ally, instead of a deadly foe. “Adam, with all his abilities, is a politician and pragmatist, much like Abraham himself,” notes Sewell. “And the wonderful thing is, he gets a chance to meet with Lincoln, warrior-to-warrior, and in a way, president-to-president, because Adam sees himself as the leader of a kind of vampire nation. Adam doesn’t use force against Lincoln, not at first, because he’d much rather have Lincoln on his side.”

Abraham absolutely rejects Adam’s overtures for an alliance, and so must face the vampire’s full fury. “Adam can transition from an erudite, sophisticated and cultured ‘man’ to a creature capable of tearing your head off and sucking your lungs out through a hole in your throat,” says Sewell.

“There's been a spate of aesthetically-pleasing vampires in the past few years that it's not unthinkable for a teenage girl to have the hots for one,” teases Sewell. “But these vampires are not glittery: they're nasty. They're not good people.”

He adds: “It's not a pretty look – the eyes are something to behold. A lot of the time my character looks relatively presentable, but when he vamps out it's quite a change in terms of the skin and the veins and the eyes.”

Most recently seen in “The Tourist” with Angelina Jolie and Johnny Depp, Sewell first gained attention with his television debut in 1994 as Will Ladislaw in the BBC adaptation of “Middlemarch.” He garnered further acclaim in Christopher Hampton's feature film “Carrington,” as well as in John Schlesinger's “Cold Comfort Farm.” His other notable film works include “The Legend of Zorro,” “Tristan + Isolde,” “A Knight’s Tale,” “Dark City” and “Hamlet.”

Prepare for the unexpected when “Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter” opens July 4 in cinemas (2D and 3D) nationwide from 20^th Century Fox to be distributed by Warner Bros.

“ABRAHAM LINCOLN: VAMPIRE HUNTER”: THE HUNTERS AND THE HUNTED WALK DOWN THE RED CARPET IN NEW YORK

Get ready for this year’s badass vampire movie when “Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter” opens on July 4 in Philippine cinemas (in 2D and 3D format). The movie stars Benjamin Walker, Mary Elizabeth Winstead, Rufus Sewell, Dominic Cooper, Anthony Mackie, Jimmi Simpson and Erin Wasson.

ABRAHAM LINCOLN: VAMPIRE HUNTER explores the secret life of America’s 16th president, and the untold story that shaped our nation. Visionary filmmakers Tim Burton and Timur Bekmambetov (director of “Wanted”) bring a fresh voice to the bloodthirsty lore of the vampire, imagining Lincoln as history's greatest hunter of the undead.

Meanwhile, let’s follow the stars who graced the red carpet with the movie’s hunters and vampires stars.

MASHUP AUTHOR SETH GRAHAME-SMITH’S “ABRAHAM LINCOLN: VAMPIRE HUNTER”

The untold story that shaped America’s nation based on Seth Grahame-Smith’s “Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter” literary fusion of history and fiction will soon be seen onscreen come July 4 in 3D and 2D cinemas nationwide.

A non-stop mad search for both the hunted and the hunter, “Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter” stars Benjamin Walker who plays the titular role of Abe Lincoln resurrected onscreen as a vampire hunting politico who later became one of the world’s most influential president.

Author Seth Grahame-Smith & Benjamin Walker

Adapted for movie by highly-regarded genre-bending filmmakers Timur Bekmambetov (directing) and Tim Burton (producing) , the birth of Smith’s pulsating book came about in 2009 Seth Grahame-Smith was on a US book tour to promote a new “mash-up” fiction book, “Pride And Prejudice And Zombies.” As he travelled the nation's bookstores, from state to state, he noticed two things. In the bicentennial of Lincoln's birth, every store had a promotional table set up with biographies of the iconic president. And at the height of the popularity of TWILIGHT, every store would stock a range of Young Adult vampire fiction right next to it. He remembers thinking, “if you could combine the two, surely you'd be onto a winner.”

Benjamin Walker as Abraham Lincoln

“It began as a cynical observation, to be honest with you,” he admits. When I read about and researched the actual man, I became fascinated and fell in love with him and his trials and tribulations. Throughout his life he had every disadvantage: no wealth and no connections. He was poor as dirt, and surrounded by death. And yet, by the power of his intellect and his determination he was able to not only achieve the impossible of becoming a lawyer, but to become the leader of a nation tearing itself apart. And then he went on to save that nation.”

In fact it was, he suspects, the very first superhero origin story. “I began thinking that in the American psyche there's really no greater superhero than Abraham Lincoln.”

Weaving a gothic horror tale into Lincoln's biography, and doing so in as truthful a way as possible, came surprisingly easy for Grahame-Smith. Many moments in the real Lincoln's life jumped out straight away as being ripe for re-imagining with a vampiric twist. It began with the death of his mother when he was nine years old. “Her death had a tremendous effect on his life. The determination to escape his situation and better himself was borne of a desire to honor his mother's memory. It was quite obvious to me that if it were a vampire that had killed her, that would set him off on this path.”

The result of the marriage of truth and fiction at the heart of “Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter” is bounced through Timur Bekmambetov's very particular prism. Says Ben Walker, who plays Lincoln himself, “This is a period movie told in intricate and fascinating ways. It's the same material, the same time, and we're being very true to that, but through Timur's imagination we're getting to see the tiny minutiae that really make it special and fresh for us.”

Grahame-Smith summarizes the point of this grand adaptation very simply: “The film is a strange mix of absurdity and accuracy. The title makes an absurd promise, but everything after that is delivered with absolute sincerity. We never wink at the audience. We never play it as a joke. And whether it's the set design, the costume design, or Lincoln's prosthetics – everything is accurate. Timur knew early on that the more absurd the premise the more dedicated you have to be to it to pull it off.”

“Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter” is from 20^th Century Fox to be available in 2D and 3D format to be distributed by Warner Bros. in local cinemas on July 4.

Check out 20^th Century Fox (Philippines) in Facebook and 20thcenturyfoxph youtube pages to watch the latest trailers and features.

“ICE AGE 4: CONTINENTAL DRIFT” DOUBLES THE FUN WITH SIMPSONS SHORT PREVIEW

“Ice Age 4: Continental Drift” comes out in cinemas with a Simpsons short attached to the film when it opens on July 12 in cinemas nationwide.

Ice Age’s latest chapter in one of the most successful film franchises of all time brings together the visually epic and the emotionally powerful; the humorous and the heartfelt – plus the world’s most beloved prehistoric squirrel and the ultimate unconventional herd of this or any Age.

Interwoven with these epic tales of family exploits are the continuing adventures of Scrat, whose sole purpose in life – whose very existence – revolves around an acorn as elusive as it is cherished. Scrat’s quest for the nut has had consequences; in the first “Ice Age” Scrat’s obsession triggered the Ice Age itself. In ICE AGE: CONTINENTAL DRIFT, Scrat and the object of his pursuits are nothing less than the catalyst for a cataclysm. Forget what you’ve learned in geology about the continents forming as a result of massive tectonic turbulence and volcanic eruptions tearing land masses apart. ICE AGE: CONTINENTAL DRIFT reveals that these seismic shifts came about from Scrat’s misadventures.

The film reunites us with Scrat as he’s going about his usual business: he has grabbed the acorn, set it down on the ground – and suddenly a mountain is torn apart and the earth itself opens up, separating land masses into the seven continents. Scrat hurtles toward the earth’s core, triggering massive earthquakes, which in turn isolates Manny, Diego and Sid from the rest of the herd.

This continental size of adventure from the Ice Age pack and a short animated feature focused on Maggie Simpson come July 12 in cinemas will surely bring in loads of fun to families and all.

“Ice Age 4: Continental Drift” is from 20^th Century Fox to be available in 2D and 3D format to be distributed by Warner Bros. in Philippine cinemas.

Check out 20^th Century Fox (Philippines) in Facebook and 20thcenturyfoxph youtube pages to watch the latest trailers of “Ice Age 4: Continental Drift” and a sneak peek at Maggie Simpson.

MICHELIN and Audi: pioneers of hybrid technology in motorsport

Six years after taking diesel technology to the top of the podium at the Le Mans 24 Hours, Audi and its partner MICHELIN have now won the world’s most famous endurance racing together using diesel/electric hybrid technology, the local Michelin office announced. André Lotterer, Marcel Fassler and Benoît Tréluyer won the 80^th edition of the French race driving the N°1 Audi R18 e-tron quattro.

As winner of the inaugural Le Mans 24 Hours in 1923, MICHELIN had a clear mission for the competition’s 80^th edition: to support the bid of its partners Audi and Toyota to race hybrid technology in world class motorsport. MICHELIN’s response to that challenge was the development of a brand new range of tyres, including a new ‘slick/intermediate’ solution for the LMP1 prototypes.

The action during the race’s first six hours showcased the Audi R18 e-tron quattro, the R18 ultra and the Toyota TS030 Hybrid before the Japanese make’s return to Le Mans – after a 13-year absence – was prematurely terminated by a variety of incidents. With all four of its prototypes still running, Audi only had to finish to collect the brand’s 11^th victory at Le Mans.

The result produced the fifth all-Audi/MICHELIN podium at the French race since 2000, while MICHELIN took its score to a record-breaking run of 15 consecutive successes since 1998.

MICHELIN also dominated the LMGTE Pro and LMGTE Am classes. In the former, its partners Corvette, Aston Martin and Ferrari took turns to lead, although victory finally went to the N°51 AF Corse Ferrari of FISICHELLA/BRUNI/VILANDER. The LM GTE category was won by the N°50 Larbre Competition Corvette, ahead of the N°67 IMSA Porsche. Both two hold special importance for MICHELIN inasmuch as they enable a direct carryover of technologies developed in racing to its road tyres.

This weekend saw MICHELIN lay the foundations for the future of motorsport, too, through its involvement with the futuristic Nissan-DeltaWing prototype which was invited to contest the 2012 Le Mans 24 Hours in the ‘experimental’ class.

To equip this unique car, MICHELIN’s engineers developed specific, revolutionary front tyres just 10cm wide and weighing only 5kg each, which are twice as durable yet capable of safely reaching speeds of more than 300kph. The Nissan-DeltaWing succeeded in regularly lapping faster than the target time established by the ACO (race organisers) before being edged off the track by another car on its 76^th lap.

The Right Tires can Save You Fuel

Getting the best deal out of driving your car can be had if you know the right ways of taking care of your baby on wheels. And one way is to fit your vehicle with the right type of tires, and this can really help you save on gas and bring more mileage to your ride. MICHELIN tires offer you some tips that can make you get the most of your car.

Make sure your tires are properly inflated

Under-inflated tires have higher rolling resistance, and waste more fuel. Rolling resistance is the amount of force required for a tire to move at a constant speed. Make it a practice to check your tire pressure at least once every month to improve gas mileage by more than 3 percent. Remember to let the tires cool down before taking measurements to avoid getting a false reading, since heat increases pressure.

Go easy on the accelerator and brakes

Sudden acceleration consumes a lot of gas, and so does sudden braking.When approaching a red light, keep your foot away from the accelerator pad and instead keep a slow speed and a considerable distance from other cars, so you don’t slam on the brakes at the last minute. Decelerating keeps your car’s inertia (since you did not come to a full stop) and thus you don/t have to gather as much speed when traffic moves again.

Lose the excess baggage

A loaded car burns more fuel. As much as possible, do not store heavy equipment, tools, and other unnecessary items in your trunk. Even the extra luggage on top of the roof increases the wind resistance of your car and makes it use up more gas. Be bright, go light.

Windows up, windows down

Know how to use the car air conditioner wisely. Turning off the air conditioner and rolling down the windows when driving at a low speed gives you a bonus mile per gallon of gas. And surprise, surprise! Keeping the air conditioner on while driving at high speed actually improves fuel economy.

Switch to MICHELIN fuel-efficient tires

Select a good type of tires to use on your vehicle, considering factors such as city driving, off-road driving, weather conditions like the summer or rainy seasons, the make of your car(SUV, sedan or truck). Fuel-efficient tires have excellent tread depth for lower rolling resistance, better braking and handling, and reduce the heat generated from driving.

MICHELIN offers a wide range of tires that can cater to these needs, and delivers top-quality products that always deliver safety, fuel efficiency and long-lasting tires. You can even check what type of tire will best suit your specifications. Visit www.michelin.com.ph for more information.

Back to Basics with Inner Shine Berry Essence

The new fruit-based, ready-to-drink Inner Shine Berry Essence goes back to basics, promoting natural ways of achieving health and wellness :Join a marathon. Lift weights at the gym. Count calories and compute carbs. Skip steaks and eat salads. Sign up for yoga or dance class. Detoxify at the spa. Go mountain biking. Contemplate triathlons. Then do everything all over again. These activities are popping up in an increasing number of to-do lists, resolutions, and social media profiles.

It's a good thing to actively pursue one's vision of a healthier, stronger, body. But in today's age of likes, tweets, pins, and apps, it seems that health and wellness are being shaped by what everybody else wants and expects—instead of what the body really needs. The essentials are being neglected, and the motives misunderstood.

It is with a call to go back to basics that health pioneer BRAND'S® introduces a new fruit-based, ready-to-drink essence: InnerShine® Berry Essence (IBE). Packing all the goodness of seven premium types of berries from Europe and America, BRAND'S® InnerShine® Berry Essence not only promotes health in the most natural of ways but also a fundamental shift in the approach to wellness.

This shift begins with a part of the body that no amount of lifting, running, or fitness training can build: the eyes. With its unique blend of antioxidants and nutrients, InnerShine® Berry Essence nourishes the eyes and protects it from the damaging effects of free radicals, environmental pollution, and prolonged exposure to UV radiation. The ready-to-drink supplement also has Vitamins A, C, E, and zinc for better eye health and vision: a necessity in today's tech-driven, digital-display-screened world. And—thanks to a special formulation without any artificial colorings or preservatives—InnerShine® Berry Essence bursts with an irresistible all-natural fruit taste that today's diet drinks and artificial supplements can't claim to have.

IBE's delicious berry concentrate also delivers nutritional benefits and antioxidant qualities for a healthy, beautiful body. Blackcurrant, for one, which comes from central and northern Europe, provides an excellent precursor for synthesizing rhodopsin: the biological pigment that enables vision in low-light conditions. The exotic acai berry, native to Central and South America, is rich in antioxidants, Vitamins A, C, E, and zinc, and can help defend the body against modern-day life's stressors. Cranberry, strawberry, and elderberry, meanwhile, are all high in Vitamin C and in phytonutrients that nourish the eyes and provide an extra layer of natural protection from UV rays and environmental pollutants.

Also found in every bottle of InnerShine® Berry Essence is blueberries and chokeberries, both rich in anthocyanins. Anthocyanins prevent oxidants from damaging the connective tissues, improve blood circulation, and help repair damaged proteins in the blood vessel walls. These pigments are also known to promote healthy aging, with an extra beautifying property that gives the skin a healthy, youthful radiance.

To maximize these health benefits—and to lay a strong foundation for a lifestyle that follows not the trends, but the basics—a bottle a day of InnerShine® Berry Essence, chilled, is recommended. For IBE's natural ways of promoting wellness, it's a bottle that might as well be on top of any health-conscious individual's to-do list.

InnerShine® Berry Essence is now available at Watsons, Landmark supermarkets, and Mercury Drug stores in the Greater Manila Area at a suggested retail price of P85 per 42-gram bottle.

Ever cool: Cool Down and Relax

Cool down. Relax. Never mind if the traffic congestion thickens; never mind if the afternoon heat rises to unbearable temperatures.

As long as the heart of your car's engine bay is powered by an Evercool radiator, you can breathe easy.

This is the assurance that Roberts Automotive and Industrial Parts Manufacturing Corporation (Roberts AIPMC) provides as it continues to supply Evercool, the Philippines' leading line of automotive and industrial radiators. Stamped with cutting-edge technology, built to international manufacturing standards, and engineered for maximum cooling efficiency, Evercool radiators are uniquely designed to perform under extreme conditions, thus preventing engines—and tempers—from ever overheating.

Roberts AIPMC launched the first Evercool in 1993, and it has since expanded the product catalog to 350 models of high-quality radiators. Each of these is certified 100 percent leak-free and reflects the excellence of the company's ISO 9001:2008-certified quality management system, which is strengthened by an international-standard manufacturing process that subjects all the radiators to several rigorous quality control and durability tests: leak tests, jig fit tests, prolonged vibration tests, high loads of pressure tests, and long-distance road tests—all conducted at Roberts AIPMC's 1,300-sqm. manufacturing plant at the Canlubang Industrial Estate in Cabuyao, Laguna.

It's a system that has worked since day one, and continues to please the company's clients in both the local and international markets. The recognition given to the Evercool brand by original equipment manufacturer (OEM) assemblers like Mitsubishi Motors Philippines, Isuzu Philippines, Columbian Motors and Pilipinas Hino —to name a few industry clients—thus comes as no surprise to Roberts AIPMC, which traces its roots to the RGC Group of Companies, the same industrial giant responsible for creating the hugely popular Uratex brand of polyurethane foams and exquisite mattresses.

Of course, the RGC Group of Companies isn't just about mattresses and radiators; it actually stands as an industrial giant with diversified businesses that represent the plastic, food packaging, textile, metal-engineered products, spring, and lamination industries. But if there is anything that connects Evercool and Uratex, it is that both brands are known for their credibility, reliability, and affordability: signature qualities that give peace of mind to customers who, whether they're going to bed or hitting the road, simply seek the best possible value for their money, plus all the simple joys and conveniences that money cannot buy.

Joys like a smooth drive, without car parts faltering, and conveniences such as the extra protection that Evercool provides from radiator leaks, cracked tanks, damaged fans, and squandered pesos. Roberts AIPMC also offers a strong warranty protecting each radiator against defects, as well as a wide range of service solutions—including radiator assembly, special fabrication, supply of core, and “recoring” services—delivered by highly trained professionals whose ultimate goal is to maximize the performance of Evercool, while minimizing all sorts of hassles and worries.

That way, vehicle owners can stay cool. Relax. Not trouble themselves over engines possibly heating up and breaking down amidst hot, harsh environments. Thanks to Evercool radiators, the road from here to the next stop is a smooth and peaceful one.

For more about Evercool radiators, visit www.roberts.com.ph.

ACADEMY OF ROCK: Where Great Musicians Are Born

As an institution which strongly believes in holistic learning, Academy Of Rock (AOR) provides a conducive environment for students to build and develop their character, inspire creativity and forge lasting relationships through the process of learning.

In the 5 years that we have been in operation, AOR’s successes and achievements have exceeded all expectations. In 2011, we were awarded the Promising SME 500 2012 from Small Medium Business Association (SMBA), Singapore. We distinguish ourselves from many other music institutions by ensuring that our teachers are internationally certified to conduct music lessons. It is part of AOR’s culture to expose students to a diverse range of musical experiences as such our students are given opportunities to perform at world-class art venues locally as well as abroad.

It was a dream come true when we launched our very own retail department with the AOR MUSIC STORE which will market our very own AOR range of instruments. These range of instruments have been carefully selected to cater to the beginners and their quality in construction and finish will prove to be the instrument of choice for any new music prodigy.

Experience the joy of playing the music of today as well as strumming to the beats of the past, with a structured learning system that is systematic yet tailored to the individual. Be pampered with the choice to pursue your academic aspirations with the leading Rock Music Examination board in the world – Rock school UK. And get inspired to showcase your talents on the stage or screen.

In 2012, we were presented with an opportunity to stretch our arms beyond our shores. AOR had the system, the strength and the network of support to share our expertise with the land of musical talents – the Philippines. We hereby proudly present to you, Academy Of Rock Phils, Inc, the latest addition to the AOR family.

UNIQLO Opens on Friday at the SM Mall of Asia

The opening of the first UNIQLO store in Manila, in the SM Mall of Asia, makes the Philippines the 12^th country outside of Japan where it has presence, after opening stores in the US, UK, France, Russia, China, South Korea, Hong Kong and Taiwan. UNIQLO also operates stores in Southeast Asian countries like, Thailand, Malaysia, and Singapore.

With the vision to improve people’s lives through the power of clothing, UNIQLO is seen as an innovator in the apparel industry. In its product lines are highly functional clothes like AIRism, an undergarment that provides cool comfort to the wearer, Dry Pique Polo Shirt, a polo shirt that quickly dries body sweat, and UV Cut apparel, a clothes line with SPF protecting wearer from harmful sun rays.

UNIQLO promotes its “MADE FOR ALL” Philosophy, which captures the company’s vision of providing casual clothing that is made for all people regardless of age, gender, ethnicity, or any other ways that define an individual.

As UNIQLO opens its doors to the Filipinos on Friday, it marks the official day of the brand’s landing FROM TOKYO TO MANILA.

The UNIQLO store at the SM Mall of Asia is open from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.

SM Mall of Asia: One of the World’s Largest Shopping Malls

UNIQLO is opening its first store in the Philippines in SM Mall of Asia, one of the largest shopping malls in the world, occupying a waterfront site on Manila Bay spanning 407,000 square meters. This massive shopping complex hosts a wide range of retail tenants, including a number of major fashion brands, and is a major draw for both tourists and local residents. The new UNIQLO Mall of Asia Store will be one of SM Mall of Asia’s largest tenants.

Asia offers enormous growth potential for UNIQLO and is a key regional focus of the brand’s global expansion strategy. UNIQLO started opening its first stores in Thailand in September 2011, following its successful expansion into Singapore and Malaysia, increasing its lineup in Southeast Asia to 15 retail locations. Now, as the brand continues to accelerate its regional expansion efforts, the UNIQLO Mall of Asia is set to offer the joy of truly great clothing to shoppers in the Philippines.

Fast Retailing Philippines, Inc. Location: Metro Manila, the Philippines Chief Operating Officer: Katsumi Kubota Established: January 2012 Business: Opening and operation of UNIQLO stores in the Philippines Paid-in Capital: 400 million peso (approximately 720 million yen)

UNIQLO Mall of Asia Store Launch: June 15, 2012 Address: SM Mall of Asia, Bay City, Pasay City, Philippines Sales Floor: Approximately 1,550 sqm

Golf Your Way to Father’s Day at Marriott Manila

This June, we share our own fun way to uniquely indulge every great leader of the family—our dads! At Marriott Manila, we ensure that we’re the perfect venue to celebrate his life and love through golf.

Since it’s another event that deserves a grand blow out, food is always the first thing to consider especially for the man who takes time to enjoy family, hobby, and a good meal of course. If thinking where to eat on his special day, it would be great to consider a venue where dad can enjoy a hole-in-one treat from dining, accommodation, plus his love for golf!

Wake up the whole family a little earlier and head to Marriott Café for a taste of our most-talked about Sunday Brunch. Needless to say, there’s just something so endearing about a brunch especially at Marriott Café which has set the bar on the way we brunch—cozy, comforting, and basically has everything to satisfy an ever-fickle taste buds. For only P2, 500 net, the whole family is in to be treated with a spread that is purely gourmet. You cant’ go wrong with executive chef Meik Brammer’s 17 stations, featuring its newest additions such as oyster bar, chilled seafood, salumiere, cheese studio, homemade pasta, yakitori, Chinese, and tandoor. Plus, Cru Steakhouse also incorporates its specialties such as Angus beef rib eye, strip loin steak, grilled fish, squid and veggies--which of course, every meat lover dad should never pass up! If you’re family is a fan of big, tender, and tasty slabs of steaks, you must have heard about our Cru.

Our well marbled, precious steak slices that are usually saved up for special occasions can now be gorged limitless and enough to suffice the price for this brunch. And who would’ve thought that a martini bar is such as pleasure to enjoy this time of they day? With these well-crafted cocktails and great mixes, it will surely set the stage for dad’s extra special event.  Plus, our chocolate room that spells decadence is brimming with assorted chocolates and rich cake choices is always worth saving up the space for. Whether it’s for the romantic mom and dad or sweet-toothed siblings, this corner is bound to let you experience a taste of heaven.  And if you haven’t tasted just yet our sensational homemade gelato, it’s the best time to savor every flavor,   especially the famous Ferrero! 

What’s amazing with dads is that, they love all sort of action-packed bonding experience, especially if it’s a golf game. That’s why while enjoying brunch, an indoor putting station awaits all families that is guaranteed to bring fun and can make any family closer than ever. Make sure to bring out the best putt for a chance to win Marriott Manila gift certificates such as overnight stay, Java+, Marriott Café buffet, golf lessons, and freebies when dad makes it hole-in-one.
 
But if your goal is to surprise dad with a most romantic kind of date, book for a Cru Steakhouse dinner. For this occasion, sous chef Redj Casanova takes it up a notch with a special Father’s Day 4-course menu: Crispy soft shell crab salad, cream of chicken veloute, grilled grain fed Australian rib eye or pan roasted salmon fillet, and dark chocolate soufflé with Bailey’s ice cream--all at P4, 000 net.  And since it’s a day to be extra lavish, might as well consider treating him with a wine-by-the-glass which can add a wine tasting dimension to a meal. With its welcoming yet sophisticated fine dining vibe coupled by Cru’s personalized flair of service, dad will surely feel an amazing king of the day experience that he’ll probably talk about for years.

Another hands-down way to reward a hard working head of the family is by taking him at the Quan Spa, where he’s in to experience a whole new way to wholeness and wellness. Featuring Pevonia Detox massage for only P5, 950 net, this two-hour treatment is designed for distressing, detoxifying, and toning while taking away toxins and impurities of the body. This revered treatment for two hours is using Pevonia’s seaweed wrap teeming with nourishing extracts, guaranteed to revive and refresh a tired body.
 
A grueling first half of the year deserves a much-awaited break, and kicking back with your family sounds heavenly. Why not take them at Marriott Manila and avail of the mid-year bonus room package? For only P9, 888++ per night when staying for two nights, the deluxe room accommodation is also inclusive of buffet breakfast for two—and an extra 3rd night for free plus a double Marriott Rewards points!

Who said that crafting a special event like this would be such a pain? At Marriott Manila, we offer a simple formula for an occasion that is worth remembering while getting out of the traditional.
 
For inquiries or reservations, call 988-9999.

Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter - PRESIDENT BY DAY, VAMPIRE HUNTER BY NIGHT

“Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter” tweaks history onscreen as America’s most iconic and beloved president Abraham Lincoln is portrayed as a vampire slaying powerful political figure of his time.

Visionary filmmakers Tim Burton and Timur Bekmambetov (director of “Wanted”) bring a fresh voice to the bloodthirsty lore of the vampire, imagining Lincoln as history's greatest hunter of the undead.

Taking the role of the multi-faceted Lincoln in the movie as politico, husband and the person he became when his mother died at a young age is stage actor Benjamin Walker who has also appeared in Clint Eastwood’s “Flags of Our Fathers” and in the movie “Kinsey”.

Before Walker takes center stage as Abraham, the audience will meet the character as a child. His journey begins when his mother Nancy is stricken with a disease of unknown origin – but recognizable to young Abraham as resulting from a vampire’s bite. Nancy was a woman of intelligence and heart, imparting on her son the notion that, “until everyone is free, we are all slaves.” Abraham never forgot those words, which came to define his views toward slavery. Nor would he ever forget the eternal evil responsible for his mother’s death: a vampire (and local businessman) named Jack Barts, portrayed by Marton Csokas, against whom Abraham swears revenge.

Finding an actor able to wear that burden was a process, says Bekmambetov. “There were two main reasons we settled on Ben Walker,” he reveals. “The first was that he shared Lincoln's personality. He has an unbelievable, grounded and sarcastic sense of humor and he's a very straightforward, honest man. The second reason was strategic: we wanted to choose an actor who brings no baggage to the screen. We wanted the audience to believe they were seeing Lincoln, and not a movie star playing Lincoln.”

Walker is aware of the challenge inherent in accepting the role. “As a country, we're always looking for heroes, and Lincoln is the quintessential American hero,” he says. “He's self-created, self-educated and a common man who made himself extraordinary. I think we're fascinated by that.”

For Walker, the story works as an allegory for Lincoln's real struggle. He may not have fought vampires in real history, but he certainly waged plenty of battles of his own. “In everyone's life, there comes a point where you have to choose how you're going to live and what kind of person you're going to be,” says Walker. “And Lincoln finds that in his life: how he's going to truly defeat this evil, whether with an axe late at night or whether he's going to put those things away and become what we know today.”

For Seth Grahame-Smith from whose book of the same title the movie was adapted and who also serves as screenwriter and executive producer for the film, meeting Walker on set for the first time was quite an experience. “It was very eerie at times,” he laughs. “Ben's a classically trained theatrical actor who went to Juilliard, and he approached the role with intense seriousness. His research and his physical and voice training were all very intense, and he didn't approach it as a genre movie; he approached it as an historical drama. I think that's one of the things that make this movie special. It has a central performance that's stronger than you usually find in these big summer movies.”

“Abraham Lincoln” Vampire Hunter” opens July 4 in theaters nationwide in 3D and 2D format from 20^th Century Fox to be distributed by Warner Bros.

 

Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter - PRESIDENT BY DAY, VAMPIRE HUNTER BY NIGHT

“Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter” tweaks history onscreen as America’s most iconic and beloved president Abraham Lincoln is portrayed as a vampire slaying powerful political figure of his time.

Visionary filmmakers Tim Burton and Timur Bekmambetov (director of “Wanted”) bring a fresh voice to the bloodthirsty lore of the vampire, imagining Lincoln as history's greatest hunter of the undead.

Taking the role of the multi-faceted Lincoln in the movie as politico, husband and the person he became when his mother died at a young age is stage actor Benjamin Walker who has also appeared in Clint Eastwood’s “Flags of Our Fathers” and in the movie “Kinsey”.

Before Walker takes center stage as Abraham, the audience will meet the character as a child. His journey begins when his mother Nancy is stricken with a disease of unknown origin – but recognizable to young Abraham as resulting from a vampire’s bite. Nancy was a woman of intelligence and heart, imparting on her son the notion that, “until everyone is free, we are all slaves.” Abraham never forgot those words, which came to define his views toward slavery. Nor would he ever forget the eternal evil responsible for his mother’s death: a vampire (and local businessman) named Jack Barts, portrayed by Marton Csokas, against whom Abraham swears revenge.

Finding an actor able to wear that burden was a process, says Bekmambetov. “There were two main reasons we settled on Ben Walker,” he reveals. “The first was that he shared Lincoln's personality. He has an unbelievable, grounded and sarcastic sense of humor and he's a very straightforward, honest man. The second reason was strategic: we wanted to choose an actor who brings no baggage to the screen. We wanted the audience to believe they were seeing Lincoln, and not a movie star playing Lincoln.”

Walker is aware of the challenge inherent in accepting the role. “As a country, we're always looking for heroes, and Lincoln is the quintessential American hero,” he says. “He's self-created, self-educated and a common man who made himself extraordinary. I think we're fascinated by that.”

For Walker, the story works as an allegory for Lincoln's real struggle. He may not have fought vampires in real history, but he certainly waged plenty of battles of his own. “In everyone's life, there comes a point where you have to choose how you're going to live and what kind of person you're going to be,” says Walker. “And Lincoln finds that in his life: how he's going to truly defeat this evil, whether with an axe late at night or whether he's going to put those things away and become what we know today.”

For Seth Grahame-Smith from whose book of the same title the movie was adapted and who also serves as screenwriter and executive producer for the film, meeting Walker on set for the first time was quite an experience. “It was very eerie at times,” he laughs. “Ben's a classically trained theatrical actor who went to Juilliard, and he approached the role with intense seriousness. His research and his physical and voice training were all very intense, and he didn't approach it as a genre movie; he approached it as an historical drama. I think that's one of the things that make this movie special. It has a central performance that's stronger than you usually find in these big summer movies.”

“Abraham Lincoln” Vampire Hunter” opens July 4 in theaters nationwide in 3D and 2D format from 20^th Century Fox to be distributed by Warner Bros.