DUBAI-BASED SUPERMODEL AND FITNESS GURU RANIA GAMAL PROMOTES PHILIPPINES AS A MUST SEE SUMMER DESTINATION FOR MIDDLE EASTERN TRAVELLERS

Manila, Philippines, May 09, 2017 -With summer holiday just around the corner, Dubai-based celebrity, model and fitness guru Rania Gamal went to the Philippines recently to discover breathtaking places that will surely enjoy by people living in Dubai and the rest of the Middle East region and will be the perfect getaway destination for the upcoming holiday season.

BATANGAS and MANILA
Rania Gamal visited one of the country’s popular summer destinations for locals – Batangas. Rania stayed at Acuatico Beach and Resort Hotel that was owned by the famous Filipino designer Mama Rene Salud’s family. During her stay, Rania enjoyed the stunning beach and sunset in the property. She has experience local food like seafood, Batangas lomi, Barako coffee, to name a few, where she found exactly right for Middle Easterns to try.
During her stay in Batangas, Rania also had a photoshoot for Playboy Philippines’ Renegade issue where she is on their prestigious cover and for luxury travel magazine Xpedition Middle East.

After Batangas, Rania explored the bustling city of Manila where she stayed at City of Dreams in Pasay City.
With close to 100,000 tourist arrival from the Middle East region in 2016, Rania encourages more people from region to visit the Philippines and explore its stunning beaches and hospitable people.

“I plan to visit more cities in the Philippines on my next visit. I would like to explore the beaches of Boracay and Palawan as I heard they have the world’s best beaches and coastlines”
“With Middle Eastern continuously looking for a place to spend their holidays, I believe that it is high time for Philippines to be recognize as the MUST SEE summer destination most especially for Middle Eastern travelers”

“I hope that many establishment will cater more to Muslim tourists like halal food options and halal kitchen so Muslim travelers will be more confident on visiting the country”
The Middle East market are known as quality travelers – they stay longer and spend bigger compared to other to tourism markets.

Rania Gamal plans to collaborate further with Philippine Department of Tourism Middle East office to further promote the Philippines in the Middle East region.

About Rania Gamal

Rania Gamal is a Dubai-based fitness guru, model, actress and TV presenter. She started modelling when she was 17 years old while living in Germany and was the face of Loreal products and the cover of different international magazines. Rania loves traveling the world and she can speak 5 languages fluently including Arabic, English, Danish, German and French. Rania is also a fitness, lifestyle, and health aficionado teaching women not only to eat healthily but also about being independent and being empowered. She had her post graduate diploma in PR & Journalism at World Media Academy, a school accredited by Washington-based ICFJ (International Centre for Journalist). Rania Gamal was also the official host for P. O. W. E. R. E. D. (Professional Overseas Women Empowerment, Recognition and Equality Day) held in Vesna Restaurant and Lounge at Conrad Hotel.

Travelbook.ph unveils better commission rates for Affiliates

Affiliates now have increased chances of earning more! 

As part of TravelBook.ph’s plan to increase the number of affiliate partners and to provide them with better deals, the company has launched a new commission structure for its Affiliate Program that makes it easier for them to earn more.

For starters, with the new set of commission rates, affiliate partners only need to have more than five (5) completed transactions to increase their earnings from 40 to 45%. This is a huge improvement from the old structure, where affiliates need to have at least 50 completed transactions to get the 45% commission rate.

Getting the highest rate of 65% is also way easier with the new commission structure—from the requirement of 1,000 or more completed transactions, it is now down to just 51. The requirements of the other commission rates have also been greatly lessened.

This new commission structure from TravelBook.ph also offers better rates compared to other affiliate programs. Some hotel booking websites offer a minimum of just 25 to 35% commission rates (compared to 40% from TravelBook.ph) and a maximum of just 40 to 60% (compared to 65% from TravelBook.ph). In addition, the requirements are more difficult to achieve: affiliates need to have 500 to more than 1,000 completed transactions to reach the highest commission rate (compared to just 51 from TravelBook.ph).

Sign up now to be an affiliate partner by visiting http://affiliate.travelbook.ph. Aside from enjoying the best commission rates, you will also have exclusive perks such as free out of town trips, special promos, and trainings from digital marketing professionals!

Wheels team goes on more adventures

Summer is almost over. PhilSTAR TV’s formidable team of motoring journalists are not gonna declare it over just yet. On this week’s episode of Wheels, join them as they go on more adventures here and abroad with some of the newest and coolest rides.

Angel and Uly take the all-new Toyota Fortuner, Innova, and Hilux to El Nido, Palawan; Matteo tries his hand on car photography; Kap explores Cambodia with the Porsche Macan.

Matteo Guidicelli tries his hand in car photography with the help of master lens man Mikko David. Learn some nifty tricks in framing, angling, lighting and shooting straight from the expert, just in time for the next car show in town.

Meanwhile, Angel Rivero and Ulysses Ang take the all-new Toyota Fortuner, Innova, and Hilux to the picturesque paradise of El Nido, Palawan. Find out how this trio of Toyota’s flagship vehicles blends smoothly and performs sturdily in El Nido’s laid-back landscape.

Not to be outdone, Kap Maceda-Aguila channeled his inner Tomb Raider in Cambodia with the Porsche Macan. Watch as he explores the Macan’s performance, features and design, and give his verdict about this suave sports car from the German automaker.

And finally, Uly goes on a double adventure this episode. After El Nido, he’ll go behind the wheel of some of Mazda’s newest diesel vehicles to see if they’re up his standards.

It’s all these and more on the third season of Wheels, your guide to life on the fast lane. Catch it this Thursday, May 19, 10:30 p.m., on ABS-CBN Sports + Action Channel. For firsthand info on the latest happenings in motoring, like and follow Wheels on facebook.com/PhilStarWheels, @PhilStarTV_Wheels on Twitter and @philstartv_wheels on Instagram.

Ilocos is captured in drone and it's breathtaking!

A Philippine region that fuses the beauty of nature and our history together, Ilocos is given a fresh and exciting perspective by awesome videographer Christer Isulat. With his drone and hand-held camera, he went to shoot the key destinations in Vigan, Laoag, and Pagudpud.

Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nrzBHZ4mPfo

The preserved architecture of Calle Crisologo, Bantay Tower, Quirino Bridge, and the dancing lights fountain are some of the spectacles documented for Vigan. The sand dunes in Laoag lets you have an exciting time aboard a monster 4x4 and unlimited sandboarding time. Laoag is also the home of Malacanang of the North as well as Paoay Church. Pagudpud is famous for its windmills, Patapat Viaduct, Dos Hermanos Islands, Saud Beach, Blue Lagoon, Burgos Lighthouse, and Bantay Abot Cave.

These destinations are an easy visit with the three main provinces easily accessible from one another.

This video was in collaboration with Biyaheroes and Partas Transport Company with hopes of encouraging tourists to visit these commute-friendly destinations and to take public transport when visiting. Instead of a very long drive, Biyaheroes lets commuters book and even choose their bus seats online, saving everyone from the hassle and the stress of planning their trips. They are in partnership with Partas that offers direct and roundtrip Manila to Vigan, Laoag, and Pagudpud buses with terminals in Pasay, Sampaloc, and Cubao.

With the blazing heat of the sun and the longing to see provinces that offer everything from history, adventure, and food trips, why not escape and book your Ilocos bus tickets now? Laoag na magdalawang isip pa! :)

Food Trip: Under The Tree Book Cafe, Governor Pack Road, Baguio City

We've been walking back and forth on Governor Pack Road searching for a cafe. Silly me didn't realize that all I have to do was ask. Don't fret, I stand in front of Andoks Chicken and looked up. Guess what? I saw this.

I've been living here for more than a decade. I walk this street for 5 years every day, and it's my first time to look up. Yes, its my first time to learn about Book Cafe. The entrance was quite hard to find. I had to ask a local. ;)

On our way there, I looked up and saw that sign up there. I'm half way there. I'm literally been looking for a tree because I know it's under it - excuse myself being the silly cat. I totally can't read the sign below, but I have a hunch it says along the lines of "Under the Tree" and/or "Book Cafe", don't you think?

The wooden stairs going up look old school - just the way I like it. This is certainly part of the old Baguio. :)

My dates for that lazy afternoon - the Jersons of my life. Hehe

The cafe has a home feel to it. One wall full of books - Korean book that is.

The opposite side of the wall was full of post-it/sticky notes

that I think were written by their customers

and Book Cafe members.

Yup, they offer membership there too. So, if you are a local who hadn't got a clue or a new migrant there who loves coffee and everything Korean- ask them about it. :)

Aside from the books, the store was decorate with cute tiny trinkets and novelties.

Not just that, they also have a "private room" where you 

and experience a more intimate over coffee moments on this cute Korean inspired room

The staff were very friendly. The counter boards are so cute too! It makes you wanna order everything! lol Aside from coffee, they also offer Korean noodles, cream puff and cookies.

Hope they sell macaroons and cheesecakes too. :P

The stars of our table -

Creampuff (Php80.00) and regular size chilled Choco Latte (Php60.00)

My dates enjoy that gigantic creampuff - especially our little man!

We had so much fun. We'll definitely go back to Baguio and it will be a tradition to visit this little nook in the heart of the City of Baguio.

Can't wait to try their sweet potato latte soon! <3

Check their official facebook page here.

Food Trip: Under The Tree Book Cafe, Governor Pack Road, Baguio City

"I use Grammarly's plagiarism checker because I'm no grammar nazi, I'm a grammar jew!"

We've been walking back and forth on Governor Pack Road searching for a cafe. Silly me didn't realize that all I have to do was ask. Don't fret, I stand in front of Andoks Chicken and looked up. Guess what? I saw this.

I've been living here for more than a decade. I walk this street for 5 years every day, and it's my first time to look up. Yes, its my first time to learn about Book Cafe. The entrance was quite hard to find. I had to ask a local. ;)

On our way there, I looked up and saw that sign up there. I'm half way there. I'm literally been looking for a tree because I know it's under it - excuse myself being the silly cat. I totally can't read the sign below, but I have a hunch it says along the lines of "Under the Tree" and/or "Book Cafe", don't you think?

The wooden stairs going up look old school - just the way I like it. This is certainly part of the old Baguio. :)

My dates for that lazy afternoon - the Jersons of my life. Hehe

The cafe has a home feel to it. One wall full of books - Korean book that is.

The opposite side of the wall was full of post-it/sticky notes

that I think were written by their customers

and Book Cafe members.

Yup, they offer membership there too. So, if you are a local who hadn't got a clue or a new migrant there who loves coffee and everything Korean- ask them about it. :)

Aside from the books, the store was decorate with cute tiny trinkets and novelties.

Not just that, they also have a "private room" where you 

and experience a more intimate over coffee moments on this cute Korean inspired room

The staff were very friendly. The counter boards are so cute too! It makes you wanna order everything! lol Aside from coffee, they also offer Korean noodles, cream puff and cookies.

Hope they sell macaroons and cheesecakes too. :P

The stars of our table -

Creampuff (Php80.00) and regular size chilled Choco Latte (Php60.00)

My dates enjoy that gigantic creampuff - especially our little man!

We had so much fun. We'll definitely go back to Baguio and it will be a tradition to visit this little nook in the heart of the City of Baguio.

Can't wait to try their sweet potato latte soon! <3

Check their official facebook page here.