John Lloyd Cruz with Cosmic Technologies, Inc. and Berlein execs

Cherry Mobile officially opened its first concept store recently at the fourth floor of SM Annex at SM North Edsa, and the event was highlighted by the blessing rites and traditional ribbon-cutting led by John Lloyd Cruz and Cosmic Technologies, Inc. and Berlein execs Maynard Ngu, CEO; Roger Chiu, president; Leo Bernardino (president of Berlein), Ellen Bernardino (VP of Berlein), Elias Landong and Lonson Alejandrino, head of Sales; and Agnes Canopio, marketing head of Cherry Mobile. SM Cyberzone VP Patrick Pacla also attended.

In line with the grand opening, Cosmic Technologies Inc., distributor of Cherry Mobile handsets, organized a festive event called “Cherry Mobile Festival Fiestang Fiesta ang Discounts at Kasiyahan.”

The grand event started with a mall parade led by Berlein mascots and Cherry Mobile models followed by Imago’s performance. The show won’t be complete without Cherry Mobile ambassador John Lloyd Cruz who treated the fans with a surprise song number. Fans took home personally signed 2010 JLC calendar. There were also ramp models who walked the runway with the latest handsets from Cherry Mobile. Four new handsets namely Cherry Mobile’s B100, 1600, 1800 and M35 Integra were given away to lucky guests. The show was hosted by Star Magic’s Niña Dolino.

Cherry Mobile in partnership with Berlein offered promos and discounts on Cherry Mobile handsets that day. Three big and limited promos are offered to everyone. First is the P1 Cherry Mobile handset that was on sale for 50% discount. P1’s original price of P999 is now offered at P500 only. Second is the Task Force Ondoy promo that started last Oct. 20 and ends on Nov. 30. This promo aims to assist typhoon victims. Everyone can present their defective cell phones of any brand in exchange of a discounted price of C50 Curve and Cherry Mobile T8. The last but not the least special offer of Cherry Mobile is “Mad About Movies” promo where movie fanatics get a chance to get a P999 discount on the Cherry Mobile 1800 by simply purchasing three movie tickets at any SM Cinemas. Promo ends until Dec. 24.

John Lloyd Cruz as Cherry Mobile Ambassador

In this mobile age, what better way to launch a new line of hot mobile phones but to team up with one of this generation’s hottest stars. Officially teaming up recently with Cherry Mobile is leading man John Lloyd Cruz as the official brand ambassador. This bankable actor and in demand commercial model is set to captivate the mobile market with Cherry Mobile’s line of dual and single SIM handsets. Just like John Lloyd, the handsets offered by Cherry Mobile are hip, sleek and cool. The actor’s success and stature as one of the best leading men in showbiz today also adds to his credibility as the perfect endorser of the brand. Young, fun-loving and active, John Lloyd Cruz embodies the same qualities as what the brand, Cherry Mobile, represents.

“I’m glad to be part of the Cherry Mobile family. I really believe in this product as a credible brand that I can trust – having two SIMs in just one phone. With the kind of work that I have, it’s hassle-free and saves time to communicate with everyone,” JLC said.

Cherry Mobile has a full range of stylish, handy and user-friendly handsets that suit the lifestyle of every Filipino. Some of its designs include a built-in TV phone, the classic bar type unit, the chic and elegant clamshell, and the mini touch screen. It offers the best phones with excellent features for the practical user and handsets are also priced affordably, thus, addressing the Filipino’s sense of practicality… without comprising the quality of the product. Cherry Mobile is exclusively distributed by Cosmic Technologies Inc.

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Albay beauty Melody Gerbach

Albay beauty title holder Melody Gerbach (Miss Magayon ’08), will compete in the forthcoming “Miss International” beauty pageant which will be held in Chengdu, China.

The 5’7” tall beauty exhibits a winnable charm and it is expected that she will make it among the finalists and possibly win the Miss International crown. She exudes much confidence, “but I will not make any statement,” she said. “I do hope however, like what every candidate feels, that I should make it to the top.”

Melody is fluent in English. Win or lose, she will involve herself in the family’s restaurant business.

“I will tell the audiences world-wide that the Philippines, particularly my province of Albay, that we have among the best places as tourist destinations. We are so blessed with natural beauty, like our beaches, and exotic food,” Melody stressed.

Albay Gov. Joey Salceda, who accompanied the Bb. Pilipinas-International to a recent get-together with the press at the Heat Coffeeshop of EDSA Shangri-La Hotel, expressed confidence that Melody would make it. “With Melody, the world would know that we are not simply the victims of typhoons but we are a great people, we have the resilience of heart, and that so much beauty is inherent in our country, and particularly in Albay,” Gov. Salceda stressed.

Gov. Salceda is one of the top provincial governors who have undertaken so much particularly in giving educational grants to almost all the students in Albay!

Melody is a mestiza, her father being a German, and her mother a Filipina.

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Jude Matthew Servilla: Latest singing sensation

Ms. Malou Choa-Fagar has a winner in her newest protégé, 12-year- old Jude Matthew Servilla, who won in the recent “Eat Bulaga’s” “Baby Birit” contest with his rendition of the Wency Cornejo original “Hanggang.” He was so impressive in his performance that televiewers also gave him the People’s Choice Award with a total text votes of more than 70,000!

Jude Matthew, the unassuming, candid and down-to-earth boy from La Carlota City, Negros Occidental, brought home cash and other valuable prizes (like an iPod Nano from former Sen. Tito Sotto) and a thrice a week slot on “Eat Bulaga” (every Monday, Wednesday and Saturday) wherein he would be singing requested songs from the audience. His contract with “Eat Bulaga” will be for two years.

Since winning as “Birit Baby 2009 Grand Champion,” Jude Matthew’s life has drastically changed. For one, he is now based in Manila, courtesy of TAPE, Inc., where he also now studies (he’s a first year high school student in a home study program). Back home he said he left behind his “big crush,” a schoolmate who he will seriously pursue at the right time, when he’s done with high school. He now has a new pair of shoes (the very reason he wanted to win in the contest), a colored TV set and a second-hand cellphone.

Jude Matthew, the eldest son of Wilfredo and Georgina Servilla, learned how to sing at the age of five. He and his father were choir members back home. Like Regine Velasquez, who came to be known as Asia’s Songbird, he honed his singing prowess by joining amateur singing contests in the province. It’s no wonder one of Jude Matthew’s favorite singers is Regine. The others are Wency Cornejo and Jed Madela. He looks forward to singing duets with them in his future performances.

Somebody told the Servillas that there was a singing contest called “Birit Baby” on “Eat Bulaga” and so they came over to Manila on borrowed money for their fare. The rest is history.

If the boy sings with so much emotion, it’s because he had sad experiences growing up in poverty. But it was poverty that gave him inspiration and determination to pursue his dreams.

He now knows about 20 songs (he can learn a song in a day, he said, with his parents coaching him). He takes good care of his voice, because he hopes to record an album someday with his favorite singers. Jude Matthew doesn’t eat ice cream and chocolate. Cold drinks are also a no-no to the charming and talented boy.

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Tidbits: Happy b-day greetings on Nov. 14 go to Mila M. Valenzuela, Homobono Adaza, Estela J. Lopez, Ronnie A. Pili, Marie Christine N. Pineda, Minda Fuentes, Canada-based Robin del Rosario, Josefina Malonzo Capistrano, Mrs. Gloria Navarro, Leonor Cattanco, Arturo “Popoy” Los Banos, Gerard C. Marcelo, Ms. Roi Phillips, Vallen Tanchip, Averill “Bingbing” M. Pizarro, Bogs Guerrero and Anna Marie Periquet.