The RadarThe MEGA Blog

MANGO, the most international Spanish fashion brand, presents six women’s T-shirts illustrated with different phrases provided by the renowned Brazilian writer Paulo Coelho. On sale with the name MANGO & Paulo Coelho, this mini collection will be available in many MANGO stores around the world.

Part of the money raised from their sale will go to the charity organization that bears the author’s name: the Paulo Coelho Institute. Each of the T-shirt displays an inspirational message based on human values and is presented in exclusive packaging that imitates the spine of a book.

The Paulo Coelho Institute is a non-profit organization exclusively financed by the author’s royalties. Its aim is to help the most disadvantaged members of Brazilian society: children and the elderly.

Paulo Coelho is currently considered one of the most influential contemporary authors in the world. With over 100 million books sold in 160 countries, he is the most-translated living writer of our time.

The project MANGO & Paulo Coelho is an important and significant initiative for MANGO. Since it was founded, the firm has invested a large proportion of its efforts in solidarity projects focusing on a variety of causes. On this occasion, MANGO is providing support to the oldest and the youngest members of society, but other projects the brand has been involved in benefited cancer victims, the mentally disabled, victims of natural disasters, etc.

Visit www.mango.com for more details.

A couple of hours before the Opening Ceremony of the 62nd Cannes Festival, Freida PINTO, Evangeline LILLY and Elizabeth BANKS are joining L’OREAL PARIS as new World Spokespeople for the brand.

“On the eve of the Cannes Festival, to which I want to reiterate our attachment, L’Oréal Paris is delighted that these great stars of world cinema have agreed to represent our brand”, states Jean-Jacques Lebel, President L’Oréal Consumer Products.

The sublime FREIDA PINTO was discovered by Danny Boyle in SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE, the film that won eight Oscars. After Julian Schnabel’s movie which she is currently shooting, she will be filming this summer in Woody Allen’s next film, as part of an impressive cast. “I am very moved to be joining the great L’Oréal Paris family and all these personalities: a family I am now proud to be a part of,” says Freida.

EVANGELINE LILLY came to our notice in LOST. Her character “Kate” also won her a nomination for the 2007 Golden Globe Awards as Best Actress in a Drama Series. For her first venture into films, she co-stars with John Malkovich and Romain Duris in an adaptation of Guillaume Musso’s novel AFTERWARDS. Evangeline is a politically committed actress. When she was very young she was drawn to humanitarian projects, and then founded a committee for the world development of Human Rights at university. She travels all over the world on behalf of this cause, and says, “It is a source of great pride for me to represent a brand whose ambition is to respond to every person’s aspirations to beauty, and contribute to the fulfilment and well-being of everyone.” Evangeline Lilly will have just come from Rwanda, where she is engaged in a humanitarian mission, when she joins L’Oréal Paris for the first time on the steps of the Palais des Festivals in Cannes.

ELIZABETH BANKS is one of the most versatile actresses in Hollywood, as witnessed in her full list of achievements in the last year. She appeared in Oliver Stone’s W, a film where she played the First Lady Laura Bush, as well as the comedy ROLE MODELS. Banks has recently signed on to star in THE DETAILS opposite James McAvoy. Through her company Brownstone Productions, she will produce and star in the Universal comedy FOREVER 21 and will also star in WHAT WERE WE THINKING opposite Leslie Mann. Among her credits are SEABISCUITS, 40 YEAR OLD VIRGIN and CATCH ME IF YOU CAN. “I am so honored to be one of the newest L’Oréal Paris Spokesperson and to join such a distinguished group of women who proudly say the iconic phrase ‘Because You’re Worth It,’” states Banks. “What impresses me most about L’Oréal is the company’s commitment to empowering women. L’Oréal wants women everywhere to not only take charge of their beauty, but to also take control of their health and well being”.

Vianney Derville, International General Manager of L’Oréal Paris says, “I am proud that all these actresses are now our World Spokespeople, alongside notably Jane Fonda, Pierce Brosnan, Penélope Cruz, Gong Li, Beyoncé Knowles, Patrick Dempsey, Kerry Washington, Aishwarya Rai…. We are delighted to welcome them as representatives of L’Oréal Paris. We have been completely won over by their rising careers as actresses, together with their attachment to the values of humanity and diversity.”

L’Oréal Paris has once again surrounded itself with exceptional personalities who represent the brand’s values. As artists highly involved with the world of today, they embody a new generation of actors with an immense amount of talent and commitment.

Images courtesy of Manmeet Bhatti for Freida Pinto and Kwaku Alston/Corbis Outline for Evangeline Lilly.

Our Big Beauty May 2009 issue is out and on our cover is the alluring actress and model Angel Locsin, who headlines our 10 Most Beautiful Women list.

Left to Right: MEGA's VP for Editorial & Production Lorraine V. Belmonte, Fashion Editor Patrick Ty, actress and model Angel Locsin and Associate Editor Lacar Casanova

I came across Angel a couple of weeks ago when she was shooting scenes for her new show, Only You, just outside the Mega Publishing Group headquarters in Ortigas Center, Pasig City. Fashion Editor Patrick Ty and I were busy proofreading layouts for our upcoming June issue when VP for Editorial & Production Lorraine V. Belmonte excitedly came up to us and said that Angel was right outside the building. We hurriedly grabbed a copy of the May issue, dragged photographer Paolo Buendia along, then headed to the ground floor. Outside was a swarm of fans eagerly taking photos of Angel, who was dressed “very” casually (she was in costume for her role as Jillian). We squeezed through the crowd (I even overhead someone say, “Hey, here comes the Mega team”) and approached Angel. I said hello and re-introduced myself in case she forgot who I was. Angel, who was sitting down and waiting to shoot her scene, looked up and smiled instantly. Phew, she remembered me! Patrick said hi and we introduced Angel to Lorraine. We gave her a copy of the May issue and I could tell that Angel was impressed by the cover. And how could she not? She looks scintillating in that gray draped jersey dress by Santi Obcena. And the smoky eye makeup by Lala Flores and luscious wavy locks by hairstylist Nante Alingasa certainly added oomph to her sex appeal. Angel gratefully accepted the magazine and also thanked us for putting her on the cover. We thanked her as well for allowing us to feature her again. As we exchanged thank you’s, someone announced that they were about the shoot the scene and asked everyone to stand aside. But before Lorraine, Patrick and I left, we had to document the encounter, of course, and asked Paolo the photographer to take a photo of us with Angel holding her cover up. After taking photos, we said our goodbyes, gave our besos and headed back to the office.

What started out as an ordinary Wednesday afternoon turned into an exciting one! Inspired by Angel’s beauty, I returned to my desk with renewed gusto to work on our June issue. And yes, we have another hot actress on the cover for this upcoming issue. Wait for it!

– Lacar Casanova, associate editor

Wedding setup at Columbus Function Room, Discovery Suites

Having redefined the concept of first-class accommodations in the Philippines, Discovery Suites remains the preferred address of local and international travelers for successfully combining the warm and familiar comforts of home with the luxurious pampering of a five-star hotel. Discovery Suites not only prides itself with first-class amenities and services, but it can also be the perfect place to celebrate a once-in-a-lifetime wedding.

Romance is in full bloom at Discovery Suites. The hopelessly romantic can enjoy a panoramic view of the Ortigas skyline awash in colors painted by Manila’s famous sunset. Couples will also have a choice of eight elegantly-appointed venues and banquet halls for celebrations of any size, be it a small ceremony with the bride and groom’s intimate friends, or a gathering for 120 persons comprised of your soon-to-be mother-in-law’s “closest relatives”.

Take your pick from four seasons of love wedding menu packages at the Discovery Suites in Ortigas or at the elegant Discovery Country Suites in Tagaytay. Each menu is made more special with a sumptuous array of appetizers, salads, soup kettles, entrees, carving stations and sweet seasons table. Complete your wedding with an extravagant three-layer fondant cake, lavish floral arrangements, decorated cage with doves, and more. Extra special touches such as cake cutting ceremony and a bottle of sparking wine for the bridal toast are also available. And that’s not all. The package also includes an overnight accommodation for two in a one bedroom suite inclusive of buffet breakfast for two.

Celebrate the grandest event of your life only in Discovery Suites. For inquiries and reservations, please call their Events Team at (63 2) 683.8213, 683.8256, 683.8222 or e-mail events@discovery.com.ph.

Visit www.discoverysuites.com for more details.