Multi-awarded world-renowned mountaineer Mike Libecki to scale Mt. Amuyao

Mountain Headwear, designer and manufacturer of internationally used equipment for serious outdoor activities, will bring Mike Libecki to the Philippines to scale Mt. Amuyao in the Cordilleras. Libecki is just one of many Mountain Headwear’s athletes who have tested and demonstrated and have elevated their performance with the brand’s products in the most extreme environments. Libecki, who has been in more than 40 expeditions in all over the world, will take on the beautiful and barely explored Mt. Amuyao to add to his list of accomplished quests. Libecki was introduced to the Philippines last September 24 at the 1^st Mountain Hardwear store in Southeast Asia which is located at the 2/L of Trinoma Mall.

He will not only be exposed to the lush and vibrant greenery of the Philippines, he will also experience first-hand the rich culture of the Cordilleras. The Batad community will be hosting a traditional feast and a cultural show for their last night. The team will be bringing a portable solar LED that will provide light in the Pat-yay Village community.

With Libecki’s visit, Mountain Headwear wants to encourage local outdoor adventurers to engage in more activities. Libecki has been climbing for more than 12 years now, and has succeeded in many expeditions, climbing mountains and exploring trails in almost all of the world’s continents. He has been duly recognized by the industry, garnering the following accolades, to name a few: the Mug Stumps Award, the Polartec Challenge Award, and the Shipton-Tilman Grant/Award from, W.L.Gore & Associates, all of which he has won more than once. Libecki’s journey to Mt. Amuyao will be fully documented to showcase to the world one of the most beautiful peaks in the Philippines.

Mike Libecki is also a Mountain Hardwear Gear tester and he will be testing another new innovation- the Dry Q Zero. Dry Q Zero is a revolutionary, lightweight, sweat-activated, cooling technology developed by their very own research and development team. With the weather becoming more extreme, this technology is perfect for hot and humid climates. Dry Q Zero will be launched in 2013 and will be available in their Active apparel and accessory categories.

Mountain Hardwear has been driven to provide the best for the best since 1993, when a group of daring adventurers who had years of experience in the outdoor industry came to the realization that there were many like them who wanted to see and explore the world they live in the best way they can. To challenge one’s limits in the rigors of the environment, to be fully equipped is key – whether it be fly fishing, skiing, snowboarding, climbing, or mountaineering.  The Mountain Headwear product line features proprietary technology behind award-winning designs, and wide availability for any outdoor situation possible. 

Mountain Headwear made its way to the country through R.O.X, and opened its first store in Southeast Asia last July 30 at the second level of TriNoma Mall. Its second branch in the Philippines will open at SM Lanang on September 28, 2012.

Mountain Hardwear is exclusively distributed by The Primer Group of Companies, Asia’s next retail giant.

JEEPNEY ARTS FESTIVAL: A Splash Back to the Glory Days of the Philippine Icon

Want to paint a Jeepney? All Filipinos including artists, students, local government units, the private sector, and concerned individuals are being called to help in the Jeepney Rehabilitation Drive by painting it with stunning tourism destinations that evoke the rich cultural heritage of the Pearl of the Orient, and awareness as to why it is more fun to travel around the Philippines.

Jeepney Tours, a tourism enterprise offering Daily City Tours onboard the cultural icon, furthers its vision as it embarks its latest corporate social art drive—Jeepney Arts Festival—set to bring back the glory days of fun and vibrant jeepneys spread through a series of events. In essence, it is an advocacy that pays homage to the Philippine jeepney as a true icon of Filipino artistry, ingenuity, resiliency, and entrepreneurship.

The first event is the Jeepney Arts Camp which includes the On-the-Spot Jeepney Painting set to happen on September 20-23, 2012 at the SM Mall of Asia Open Grounds behind SMX Convention Center. It is aimed to be a great educational experience wherein people—Filipinos and foreigners alike—can witness the art of Jeepney painting and even have a glimpse of an original WWII jeepney. On site, the Department of Tourism will be providing a free training program for jeepney drivers and operators which will cover value formation, the culture of tourism, passenger handling, and road safety tips.

“It has always been our vision to be able to bring back the Filipinos’ high regard for the Philippine jeepney as a cultural icon,” says Clang Garcia, Managing Director of the Jeepney Arts Festival. “This is why we spearheaded this social project to involve everyone in making Manila a roving museum of arts, culture and tourism by means of the rehabilitated Philippine jeepneys.”

Anchored in the concept of the Department of Tourism’s campaign “It’s More Fun in the Philippines!”, the On-the-Spot Jeepney Painting is set to foster the spirit of Bayanihan which brings people together to unleash their creative excellence for arts and to do their own share in reviving the once well-regarded status of the iconic vehicle, whether as a participant or a spectator in this game-changing event.

Volunteers will be provided with real jeepneys and quality painting materials from Nippon Paint, a leading brand of automotive paint, as way of reaching out to the Philippine industries of automotive and tourism. This corporate social responsibility project also includes other sponsors namely Hotel Intercontinental Manila, SM Mall of Asia, ManilART, MMDA, and FEJODAP, and is done in partnership with the Department of Tourism, Design Week Philippines and Smart.

With some of the country’s relevant and revered institutions onboard, this project allows the Philippine jeepney to showcase the country’s rich heritage—from its walls to its destinations—as it sparks hope and breathes life into that matchless feeling that can never be experienced in the comforts of an air-conditioned, music-filled, tinted car.

Putting to light this noteworthy revolution, the Jeepney Arts Festival is set to take us one step forward in reviving the Philippine jeepney, not only as the most popular means of transportation in the country, but as the Philippines’ bona fide iconic vehicle eminently bannering art and tourism.



To participate, kindly check out the merchanics and fill up the registration forms at www.JeepneyArtsFestival.com or email bayanihan@jeepneyartsfestival.com

Surf & Music Festival 2012

 

 The Surf & Music Festival 2012, happening from October 31 to November 3, 2012, is the only festival in the Philippines that puts together the advocacies for an active lifestyle, local tourism, and the practice of environmentally-aware travel front and center, and creatively combining them all using the ever-reliable tandem of music and action sports.

The Surf & Music Festival has always been very conscious about tapping into local surfing hotspots in support of the Department of Tourism’s mission to encourage Filipinos, not only to travel to local destinations more, but more pertinently, to practice responsible tourism. In the past, the festival has been held in various surf towns in the country, both established and up and coming. For this year, and in the spirit of continuing that mission, the 2012 iteration of Surf & Music heads way up north to Brgy. Balaoi in Pagudpud.

Taking the event here, of course, is an obvious choice. Local and tourist surfers alike already take pride in the surf it brings. This festival, however, should be able to further highlight the locale’s potential to be a world-class tourist destination, with their tourism officers also getting the chance to show off and promote the region’s other highlights, in the backdrop of an intense boardriding experience.

“Pagudpud being recognized as a haven for surfing enthusiasts in the country has made it the easy pick for this year’s festival,” said Freddy Gonzalez, President of Freesurf, Inc., exclusive distributor of core action sports brands through concept stores like Aloha Boardsports. “We are, of course, simply excited to be working hand in hand with the local government to solidify the region’s foothold in being one of the country’s top tourist destinations. Ilocos Norte has always been home to a rich history and deep appreciation for the arts, after all, so obviously, they’ll have more than just their beaches to offer to visitors.”

Meanwhile, Ilocos Norte Governor Imee Marcos shares the same excitement for the event, saying, “The surf spots the North has to offer, like Dos Hermanos, Vista, Heartbreak, Private, The Blue Lagoon, Level Up, and Bantay Abot in Pagudpud, as well as those in Saud Beach and Bangui Bay, make it an irresistible destination. We are very eager for Pagudpud and Ilocos Norte as a whole to host this festival, especially for those who can enjoy the most our natural resources have to offer. That, plus the fact that it would help with the growth of business and tourism opportunities for our region, particularly the surf communities, convinced us that this is a project worth diving into.”

At the heart of it all are the boardriding activities that should encourage attendees to get off their bums and get active. There will be surf classes for curious beginners - Luke Landrigan, the first Filipino to be signed and sponsored by Billabong Asia, and one of Aloha Boardsports team’s very own, will be bringing his surf-teaching skills to the event - surf competitions with serious prize money and top-of-the-line products at stake, and mountain bike and location tours that should be a great way to take in the sights of the province.

The Surf and Music Festival has always brought together the most diverse local music acts in one show, and of course this year, they’re sticking to that M.O. Top local acts like Wolfgang, Pedicab, Imago, Tropical Depression, Up Dharma Down, Franco, Urbandub, Kalayo, Razorback, Indio I, and so much more will be lending their beats to the festival.

It’s definitely going to be a weekend like no other, so gear up, dress down, and get ready for the surf and party that the Surf & Music Festival 2012 will bring.

The Surf & Music Festival 2012 is presented by Aloha Boardsports in partnership with the Department of Tourism, the Provincial Government of Ilocos Norte, and the Municipal Government of Pagudpud. It is supported by Billabong, RVCA, Global Surf Industries, Von Zipper, Nixon, FCS, Dakine, Sticky Bumps, Roots Ginger Brew, Manila Beer, Tanduay Ice, Jamba Juice, Nestle Fitnesse, Manila Surfers Association, Beyond Outdoor Adventures, Fox International Channels, Travel Magazine, Lonely Planet, OneSport, Jam 88.3, and Interaksyon.com. For more information about the festival, please visit www.alohaboardsports.com/surfmusicfest