(Txt & Photos by Tim Hain | Asian Surfing Association)
1 May 2012, Siargao Island – Philippines: The Roxy Siargao International Women’s Surfing Cup at world-class Cloud 9 on Siargao Island got started in excellent 3-4 foot surf, after it was officially opened by Vice Governor Arturo Carlos Egay, DOT Director Letty Tan, and Municipal Mayor  Jamie Rusillon, known affectionately as the Father of Philippine Surfing.

An avid and long-time supporter of surfing, Mayor Rusillon entertained the crowd with a passionate yet humorous speech, welcoming the women contestants and assuring them that Siargao Island had the most handsome men in the Philippines, so he hoped they would all find their perfect mates here. He continued by referring to the poet Rudyard Kipling and his phase “East is East and West is West and never the twain shall meet,” and how it was certainly not the case as East has often met West with excellent results as evidenced by the many happy Western/Filipino couples on the Island. All due to the sport of surfing and its influence on Siargao Island!

His speech was followed by Roxy’s Marketing Executive for SEA Holly Monkman, who expressed her appreciation for the opportunity to be part of the event, saying “Getting here was a bit of a challenge, but from the moment I arrived I fell in love with this place. It’s so beautiful with such great waves and people that I’m so delighted to be part of this event. I want to say a special thanks to Dino and Chinky at the Primer Group for coming in to help sponsor the event for Roxy, and to Tim and Michaela at the ASC for putting us onto this great opportunity.”

Speeches by Department of Tourism Director Letty Tan and Vice Governor Arturo Carlos Egay followed, both very pleased to be supporting the event and pledging their assurances that they would continue to support the event in the future, which drew a big round of applause. Dances by local groups followed, and then the event was officially opened by the traditional breaking of a surfboard by Vice Governor Egay, Director Tan, Mayor Rusillon, and Holly Monkman.

The 21 women surfers from Australia, England, Germany, Indonesia, Thailand, Switzerland, and the USA all took to the water with Round 1 and a Repechage Round of two heats completed in solid 3-4 foot surf.

Occasional bomb sets sent some of the less experienced girls scurrying for the channel and picking off the smaller inside waves, but all the girls had a great experience and even those that lost their heats had another chance to advance with the repechage round.

Standouts included Yasnyiar “Bonne” Gea from Nias in Indonesia winning the first heat of the day, local Nilbie Blancada tearing into the biggest sets of the day for her heat win, Australia’s Philippa Anderson dominating her heat, and mother of two Nildie Blancada-Rietenbach getting the win in arguably the toughest heat of the day against fellow Cloud 9 local Manette Alcala, Daisy Valdez from La Union, and 16 year old Angeline Alipayo from Siargao.

Tomorrow the competition is scheduled to resume at approximately 10 am with Round 3, and conditions are expected to be slightly smaller with variable winds, so look forward to another exciting day of surfing from one of the world’s best surfing spots.
This historic event has the distinction of being both the first-ever Asian Surfing Championship event to be held in the Philippines and the first to receive the top Ultima rating for its PHP 300,000 (approximately $7,000 USD) prize purse in Women’s Division competition.

The Roxy Siargao International Women’s Surfing Cup is supported by the Philippine Department of Tourism, the House of Representatives, the Province of Surigao Del Norte, the Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority and the Municipality of General Luna, organized by the Philippine Surfing Federation, and with sponsorship from the Primer Group of Companies, Rockstar Energy Drink the San Miguel Corporation, and media support by Thirty Six-O Media.

About Roxy:
Roxy is a brand of Quiksilver, Inc (NYSE:ZQK), the world’s leading outdoor sports lifestyle company, which designs, produces and distributes a diversified mix of branded apparel, winter sports equipment, footwear, accessories and related products. The Company’s apparel and footwear brands represent a casual lifestyle for young-minded people that connect with its board riding culture and heritage. See more at www.roxy.com

Dr. Barry Kluner discussing posture types

Back problems are far too common, and it’s not surprising given how people tend to lead their lives, lugging around all sorts of things or being glued to their computers all day long, basically just pushing their bodies way too much without ever thinking about the consequences.

Whether you’re a regular office worker or hard at work at a call center – where work can get quite strenuous, it’s important to take notice of these things before you do more damage to your body. Kickstart a healthy habit for a better and more relaxed you this New Year with BackJoy.

Dr. Barry Kluner presenting BackJoy Posture

Have you ever experienced being called out for your bad posture? By your high school teacher or your mom? While bad posture is very common, it doesn’t mean that it’s okay. What seems “normal” to you might be doing more damage to your back than you think – and this includes unhealthy sitting posture (which includes “slouching”).

Having been linked to several physiological problems including pressure on spiral nerves and disks, unhealthy sitting posture is something that people should really take seriously. Aside from getting used to the proper way of sitting as well as learning how to keep your daily “essentials” to a minimum so as not to put further strain on your back, there’s now BackJoy, an orthotic product that improves alignment through active stabilization.

BackJoy is a class I medical device that shifts the user’s center of gravity to the front of the body, removing harmful pressure from the spine and back areas. It is the world’s first and only “orthotic” for your back. BackJoy’s Orthotic Cradling System™ “floats” the user’s spinal system over both hard and soft sitting surfaces and acts as a natural shock absorber to provide all-day comfort and back pain relief.

It’s also a “joy” for those who log in a lot of hours in the office – basically those who are stuck in their office cubicles all day; When you sit on a BackJoy, it lifts and floats your pelvis shifting it into the neutral position thus  adjusting the spine back into “S” shaped, the way it should be and the most comfortable position too, in effect it leads to good posture, good blood circulation and good health. BackJoy works in any seat may it on a hard stool or soft couch. (It comes handy too during times of horrendous traffic.) BackJoy provides a customized fit for men and women of all shapes and sizes ranging from 95 to 300 pounds.

It significantly reduces pain and discomfort for users who are suffering from several ailments including arthritis, lower back pain, osteoporosis, back pressure, and tightness.

For skeptics, BackJoy is endorsed by multiple members of the medical community including neurologists, nurses, and chiropractic physicians.

So give your back a rest while still being able to go about your daily routine through BackJoy and start off 2012 on a happy, healthy note.

Make the most of your summer outings and be well protected against the negative effects caused by the strong summer sun by having these handy items around.

First up is Nalgene, it’s always important to keep one’s self well hydrated by drinking at least eight glasses of water per day. However, some people might be too lazy to actually take note of the amount of water that they’ve had all day. The best way to ensure that your body is getting the right amount of water that it needs to continue functioning well is to always have a reliable water bottle handy so you can drink up even if you are on the go.

Made in the USA, what sets Nalgene apart from other brands out there is that not only is it BPA-free which makes it safe for everyday use, it’s also impact resistant, temperature resistant, and has an odorless, residual taste – meaning, you can enjoy your beverage without the annoyance of it tasting like plastic. These features can be attributed to Nalgene water bottles being made from Eastman Tritan copolyester, a unique material that ensures all Nalgene water bottles are safe to use for both kids and adults.

Aside from being available in an assortment of fun styles and colors, Nalgene water bottles are also very durable and safe especially for kids. Take your pick from Loop-Top bottles, N-Gen, All-Terrain bottles, Stainless Steel bottles, Flasks, the Oasis line, Grip-N-Gulp, the Multidrink, On-the-Go, and On-the-Fly. Nalgene bottles also come with helpful printed graduations so you can easily measure the amount of water that you have and are also guaranteed to be leak proof, which saves you from the worry of having liquids suddenly spilling on your other things.

Next up is Sea to Summit’s dry packs and unique towels. If you’re ever up for a camping trip or you’re off to a fun adventure at the beach or abroad this summer, then these products will definitely come in handy.

Durable, light, waterproof, and compact – Sea to Summit’s dry packs promises great value for money especially in bringing you peace of mind that your vacation must-haves like your iPad, digital camera, are always well protected no matter where you’re headed. May it be up in the mountains for a weekend of exploration or camping into the woods, maybe even a beach trip choose from the brand’s Ultra Sil Dry Sacks, Dry Sacks, and Pack Covers that come in different sizes and colors and are ultra reliable.

It doesn’t just keep your adventure essentials well protected, Sea to Summit will also keep you from feeling icky as you go about your holiday activities. Exactly what happy adventurers need in a towel, Sea to Summit towels are soft, compact, and most importantly, quick drying so you can stay feeling fresh even under the heat of the sun. Being super absorbent and quick drying are two of Sea to Summit towels’ best features mainly due to the fact that no one wants to lug around soggy towels that will just stink up the rest of your things aside from getting it wet. But of course, having a clean, fresh towel is a travel must-have.

Choose among three product lines of Sea to Summit towels namely, Dry Lite, Tek towel, and Pocket towel, which are all very convenient and make for important additions to your big summer getaway.

So what are you waiting for? Get shopping – and get packing, as summer’s just a couple of months away!

With the advent of eco-friendly activities created to address our need to care for our rapidly changing environment, Columbia Sportswear teamed up with the Wild Bird Club for Birdwatching 101, a talk which was held at The Travel Club in Trinoma, last April 19 at 6 in the evening.

Those who are seeking a new type of outdoor and eco-friendly adventure will be given an introduction to birdwatching, as well as tips on how to go about this fast growing ecotourism activity. With this hobby catching on in a global scale, the Wild Bird Club’s Maia Tanedo will also be providing more information about the birdwatching in the Philippines. This will be followed by a talk of birds in Villa Escudero by Resort Director/birdwatcher Carmela Balcazar.

The Philippines is home to over 600 bird species – 200 of which are unique to the country. Perhaps the most prolific of bird species found in the country is the Indigo-banded Kingfisher, which can be sighted at the Villa Escudero in Laguna. One bird named Mariquit has been most sought after, as birdwatchers from all over the world have headed to the resort to see this Indigo-banded Kingfisher. Mariquit brings further renown to the country, as she has made book and magazine covers, as well as an ad printed on the side of a red London double-decker bus. Villa Escudero has been named as one of the best birdwatching sites in the country by the Department of Tourism and continues to promote this distinction internationally, with 90 bird species found in the resort alone.

Interested participants registered for this talk at any Columbia store. Slots were limited for this event; a photo exhibit and a video showing also took place on the 19th.  A culminating activity will then follow on April 28, 2012 at Villa Escudero; registration for these R.O.X. signature tours was opened during the birdwatching talk.

Columbia Sportswear is exclusively distributed by the Primer Group of Companies, for more about the Columbia Sportswear please visit: columbia.com or visit us in facebook columbiasportswear_ph.

Best Distributor for South East Asia Award for the Primer Group Of Companies received by Quiksilver, Roxy and DC  PHL Brand Manager, Dino Gilladoga of KIDC

Within the framework of the High Summer 2012 regional meeting, results were announced for the   “Best Distributor for South East Asia”.  Primer Group of Companies was named the best distributor for Quiksilver and Roxy and one of the best for DC as the country with the most DC stores. 
Bali, Indonesia- results were announced of the “Best Distributor in South East Asia” poll held by Quiksilver South East Asia office.

In the course of the poll, 7 distributors from different countries were mentioned.

The winners were selected in 2 categories:

• Best Distributor for South East Asia:  Philippines
• Best Marketing Campaign:  Thailand

PRIMER GROUP OF COMPANIES became the absolute leader in the Best Distributor for Quiksilver and Roxy Poll and in conjunction was commended as the country with the most DC stores in the world.

In the Quiksilver South East Asia office analysis, Primer Group of Companies key advantages include an extensive experience in retail which subsequently translated into astonishing growth, correlated with rapid market growth from retail expansion to efficient & effective brand activation in the Philippines to re-launch the Quiksilver and Roxy brand in such a short period of time (1 year).

On behalf of Quiksilver/Roxy/DC team of Kenrich International Distributor Corporation, a member of the Primer Group of Companies, we would like to give credit to the dedication of everyone from the back office to our COO and  Board of Directors and especially our staff in the front lines – our Sale Associates’s for all the hard work and support we have received  since we started the DC brand and now with Quiksilver and Roxy.

The Herschel Supply Co. bags are the ultimate canvas for self-expression

Drawing inspiration from vintage mountaineering, American heritage, world travel and fashion, Herschel Supply Co. is one of the few international brands to embody vintage-inspired casual fashion. Think of friends in front of a Polaroid camera, in kind and comfy shirts, a bold denim jacket, earth boots, rippling dresses, carefree spirits; and a blasting indie song. The brand is a part of this picture.

Herschel Supply Co.’s bags and accessories grasp the idea of the unconventional taste that goes along with the unique personality. Its classic look and charming details suit the eccentrics, giving the right amount of room to express themselves in their own accord. These eccentrics inhale music, fashion and art and exhale style that is of their own. Each of them a result of a heap of influences, weaving patterns that create interesting ensembles and statements.

From backpacks to gadget sleeves, Herschel Supply Co. has come a long way from its birth as a barrel manufacturer in the 1900’s. Today, its mission is to create well-designed quality products. And with its owners changing from generations to the next, the brand moved forward. In early 2010, the company ventured on fashion, creating impressive canvases – while leaving details that spark imagination – for individuals to freely express themselves.

Herschel Supply Co.’s bags are presently used by a variety of people in USA and Japan and seen in well-followed fashion web sites. Known best for their backpacks, the brand’s line also includes messenger, tote and duffle bags; wallets and gadget sleeves.

Herschel Supply Co. is sold in the following Bratpack stores in the Philippines: Greenbelt 5, Gateway, SM The Block, Robinsons Galleria, Robinsons Place Manila and Abreeza, Davao City.

The Primer Group of Companies, Asia’s next retail giant, is the exclusive distributor of     Herschel Supply Co. in the Philippines.

Res|Toe|Run in partnership with FlySeair and Best Western Boracay Tropics is pleased to launch its special summer holiday promo for 2012 called, “Summer Burst”.

Starting from March 15, 2012 to May 15, 2012, every single receipt purchase worth P2,000 in all Res|Toe|Run outlets nationwide entitles the customer to one raffle coupon that gives him/her the chance to win an all-expense paid trip for 3 days and 2 nights in Boracay courtesy of FlySeair and Boracay Tropics. Lucky winners whose entries will be drawn in the raffle also have the chance to win P5,000 and P10,000 worth of Res|Toe|Run gift certificates.

This summer promotion is very timely given that this is the best time of the year to enjoy a fun-filled vacation with your favorite people. Aside from getting a tan, enjoying your favorite water sports or do some bit of exploring, the summer season is also a great time to flaunt your unique style through fun, colorful outfits that also show off your personality. As having the right pair of shoes can make or break an outfit, it’s a must for you to choose accordingly. And where else can you find awesome shoes from the best international brands? Undoubtedly, it’s still Res|Toe|Run, the country’s premiere concept store for lifestyle footwear brands.

From waterproof shoes that are stylish to boot to comfy sneakers that can easily match your summer outfits, Res|Toe|Run never fails to deliver an attractive selection of high-quality and stylish shoes from the best footwear brands in the world.

In addition to the store’s Summer Burst promotion, Res|Toe|Run has another tie-up with FlySeair wherein FlySeair passengers this summer are also entitled to a 20% discount at Res|Toe|Run so they too can join in on the summer fun.

Employees of the Primer Group of Companies and all participating stores including their relatives up to 2^nd degree of consanguinity or affinity are disqualified in joining the promo. A customer can only win once. If a name wins more than once, he/she gets the bigger prize. Winner will be notified by Res|Toe|Run via email and phone call and registered mail.

Res|Toe|Run is owned and operated by The Primer Group of Companies, Asia’s next retail giant.

The Primer Group of Companies as the sole distributor for Quiksilver, Roxy and DC Shoes in the Philippines is proud to announce their sponsorship of the Siargao International Women’s Surfing Cup, to be held from May 1-4 at the world-class surf destination of Cloud 9 on Siargao Island.

This historic event will have the distinction of being both the first-ever Asian Surfing Championship event to be held in the Philippines and the first to receive the top Ultima rating for its PHP 300,000 (approximately $7,000 USD) prize purse in Women’s Division competition.

The top women surfers from Asian countries including Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, Taiwan, and Japan as well as from Australia and of course a strong contingent from the Philippines will soon be chasing down the $2,500 USD first place prize money, ASC championship points, and the prestige that comes with winning such a premier event at the world class surfing destination of Cloud 9.

Signed up to compete in the event is Roxy’s own Philippa Anderson from Australia.

Anderson has surfed and competed at Cloud 9 before, winning the contest in 2009, and when she heard about the event happening again this year she was instantly keen.  “I’ve been surfing and training in Bali for the past week to get away from the early Australian winter back home,” she said, “So when Holly (Monkman) told me about the event and asked if I wanted to come I said yes straight away, as surfing there has always been one of my best memories.  I’m really excited to see all the girls surf and to be part of the event again this year…I can’t wait!

Quiksilver-Roxy Marketing Executive for SEA Holly Monkman is delighted with the opportunity to both participate and attend the event, saying “We’re really excited to have Roxy be a part of this event as we know the beach culture in the Philippines is a huge part of everyone’s lifestyle here. Seeing a women’s event at such a prime surfing location is also not only a great opportunity for the surfers but it’s also a wonderful opportunity to showcase the ASC women’s tour to the surfing world. I’d love to see more professional women’s events at waves like Cloud 9, so we are really proud to be apart of this year’s event and to help the growth of women’s surfing in the Philippines.”

The Philippine Surfing Federation is equally excited to gain such great support for the competition and the sport of surfing in the Philippines, according to Secretary General Zeny Pallugna.  “This is the 5^th time we are holding the competition, but in the past two years it didn’t happen due to budget constraints and a change in the local leadership.  Thanks to Mayor Jaime Rusillon, Governor Sol Matugas, Congressman Francisco Matugas and Gerry Degan from the Sagana Resort we revived it this year, and thanks to the ASC who connected us with Quiksilver/Roxy/DC Brand Manager Dino Gilladoga and the team at the Primer Group of Companies we have a major surf brand sponsor in Roxy.  This is indeed a major breakthrough in the surfing industry in the Philippines,” she explained.

Quiksilver/Roxy/DC Brand Manager Dino Gilladoga added, “The Primer Group of Companies as the distributor of Roxy is proud to announce Roxy as the presenting sponsor of this year’s Siargao Women’s International Surfing Cup.  We are excited to be part of this huge event in Siargao, the surfing capital of the Philippines, as this signals the beginning of Roxy’s aggressive plan for supporting and growing the women’s surfing scene here in the Philippines.  Events like these are truly the venue for local talent development, where our local girls get to compete side by side with international surfers, which will be very valuable for their growth.  Hopefully one day we will have athletes surfing at the standard of Sally Fitzgibbons and Stephanie Gilmore.”

The Roxy Siargao International Women’s Surfing Cup is supported by the Philippine Department of Tourism, the House of Representatives, the Province of Surigao Del Norte, the Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority and the Municipality of General Luna, organized by the Philippine Surfing Federation, and with sponsorship from the Primer Group of Companies, Rockstar Energy Drink the San Miguel Corporation, and media support by Thirty Six-O Media

The Roxy Siargao International Women’s Surfing Cup will take place over a 4-day period at Cloud 9 on Siargao Island, arguably the most well-known surf destination in the Philippines, known for its perfectly barreling right hand wave that has captured the hearts and minds of the surfing world.  Great waves, white sand beaches, clear blue water, tall palm trees and the laid back island life has made Siargao Island one of most popular surf destinations for traveling surfers, and with a the variety of accommodations and restaurants fronting the Cloud 9 break it makes for an incredible venue for an international surfing competition.

For more information and to register for the competition, please contact:

Philippine Surfing Federation

Zeny Pallugna – Secretary General

Phone: +639296721508

Email: zenpallugna@yahoo.com.ph

or

Asian Surfing Championships

Michaela Partin – Tour Manager

Phone: +6281805584486

Email: marketing@isctour.com

An all-expense paid trip to Spain plus the honor of modelling for one of the world’s most revered clothing brands; who’s up for Ellesse’s international search for elite models to represent the brand.

If you have a flair for modeling and incessant wanderlust, why not enjoy the best of both worlds by taking part in Ellesse’s global search for models that will best represent the brand in Spain? In partnership with the Mutua Madrid Open Sponsorship, winners of the said contest will also be ball models in the Madrid open this May, giving aspiring models further exposure to the international modelling scene.

One male and one female model will be chosen out of all the hopefuls to represent Ellesse and along with it is a two-week, all-expense paid trip to Madrid…how’s that for an awesome prize?

Do keep in mind that this is open to all countries, so it is an exceptionally great honor to be able to represent not just Ellesse but the Philippines as a whole in this exciting competition.

For those who are interested to take part in this competition, all they have to do is upload a photo of them (whole body shot) wearing retro-inspired Ellesse outfit to the Ellesse Facebook app: http://www.facebook.com/Ellesse.

However, if you don’t exactly have modeling dreams, Ellesse also has the Mutua Madrid Open Sweepstakes wherein there’ll be weekly winners of shirts, lomo cameras, iPads and other exciting prizes await participants.

To see the full line of Ellesse apparel and footwear in the Philippines, visit the Ellesse Store at the 2^nd floor of Alabang Town Center’s New Wing and at Abreeza Mall, Davao City. The apparel line is available in Bratpack Greenbelt 5, Bratpack Robinsons Place Manila, Bratpack Gateway Mall, Bratpack Eastwood City, Bratpack Marquee, Bratpack Camp John Hay Baguio City, Bauhaus Trinoma, and The Travel Club Express Mactan Cebu. Its footwear line is available in all Res|Toe|Run branches and in Bratpack GB5.

For those who want to learn more about the Ellesse Elite Ball Model Search Competition and the Ellesse Mutua Madid Open Sweepstakes please visit: http://www.facebook.com/ellesse or check out http://www.ellesse.com/About-Ellesse/tennis/Madrid-Open-2012/Terms

With a worldly flavor and a high for adventure, Breo shakes the life out of ordinary display shelves. From United Kingdom, Europe, Australia and Thailand, the brand is quickly making a mark in the local stores. Breo comes in a variety of bright shades and modern materials and silhouettes, all of which to suit the taste of the modern-day Juan and Maria.

Breo began in 2008, in the hands of Mr. Rob Morrison, founder and owner of the brand. The perfect concoction of opportunism, extreme hard work and people has allowed it to capture  millions of users in the last three years.

“There’s a bit of luck in everything you do. The key is finding the right product and getting it to the market at the right time.  ” Mr. Morrison says.

The assortment of styles contributes to the attention it gains. With a bright and fun face to each of their products, it captures individuals of all sorts: the surfer hunk, the fitness junkie, the stylish fashion blogger, the bookworm and the 23 year-old graphic artist. Breo also takes pride in the durability, comfortable price points and features of their products – features such as Tourmaline material, a naturally occurring mineral widely used as a semi-precious gemstone; glow in the dark capabilities, soft touch rubber and water resistance depth of 3ATM.

The cleverly shaped digital watch called Roam remains most favored among the other Breo styles. It is the core of every Breo item produced: soft touch rubber, smooth edges and bold colors.  Venture, XL and Arica are the next three styles also in high demand.

Now entering the Philippine market, Mr. Morrison sees the impressive sense of style of Filipinos as an opportunity to work well with their brand’s offerings. The next three years in the country will hopefully play a major role in the realization of Breo’s international market growth, successful presence online and product developments.

The Primer Group of Companies, Asia’s next retail giant, is the exclusive distributor of Breo in the Philippines. Breo is available in selected Bratpack stores nationwide.

About Breo

In 2008 we spotted a need for an alternative kind of watch. The kind you can wear without worrying about. The kind that fits with your active lifestyle. The kind that doesn’t make you look like you’ve completely lost touch with fashion.

Breo believe that life is for living. Don’t blend in. Don’t settle for the mundane. However you want to escape the everyday, have fun. And do it in style.