Monday, September 30, 2019









Mentored by some of the country’s most iconic songwriters and sought after young artists, 26 promising singer-songwriters were able to enhance their musical potential at the latest staging of the PhilPop Bootcamp 2019 that took place from September 24 to 27 at Purok Marcela and Oldwood beach resorts in Lingayen, Pangasinan.




PhilPop Executive Director Dinah Remolacio said that the PhilPop Bootcamp was borne out of the need to give more regional songwriters an opportunity to be part of the country’s premier songwriting competition.




“We noticed that most of the PhilPop winners from 2012 to 2016 were from Metro Manila. There’s nothing wrong with that. But we also wanted to diversify PhilPop as music from the country’s provincial regions have their own distinct flavor and characteristics. We felt compelled to strengthen and empower these regional songwriters by giving them a platform for their music and to use education as an instrument to create more songs that can add to the treasure trove of Original Pilipino Music,” Remolacio pointed out.




Given the opportunity and much to the delight of the Bootcamp’s coaches, most of these up-and-coming regional songwriters have responded favorably to PhilPop’s call as many of the 26 Fellows in the Pangasinan Bootcamp came from Northern and Southern Luzon.







Strong batch of Fellows with high potential












National Artist and Ramon Magsaysay awardee Ryan Cayabyab who helped pioneer PhilPop and remains one of its staunchest champions is excited for this batch of Fellows.




“On the first day alone, we were already impressed with some of our Fellows. I can imagine we will discover more of these promising talented songwriters that we’re looking for. We will train them, share with them everything we know and provide them with the tools they need so that hopefully they leave the workshop with renewed and inspired lives to create new songs for the country,” enthused The Maestro, who kicked off the Bootcamp with an enlightening talk on Why Do We Write Songs.




As Bootcamp Master, Cayabyab led a Dream Team of coaches that included equally celebrated composers like Jim Paredes (who gave an inspiring talk on Enhancing Your Creativity: Inspiring your Music Journey), Noel Cabangon (Songwriting Exercises and Lyric Writing for Advocacies), Trina Belamide (How Do We Start a Song?, Copyright and Basic Music Publishing), Gary Granada (Lyric Writing) and Jungee Marcelo (Writing Melody and Lyrics).




These OPM legends worked side-by-side indefatigable arranger Marlon Barnuevo (Music Arrangement) as well as previous PhilPop winners Davey Langit, who together with the inseparable tandem of Thyro Alfaro & Yumi Lacsamana and twins Miguel and Paolo Guico of acoustic sensations Ben&Ben covered the topic, My Approach to Songwriting as they all shared their wealth of experience and tried-and-tested techniques to the mesmerized Fellows.




Journalist Tina Arceo-Dumlao of the Philippine Daily Inquirer and author of the book, “Himig at Titik: A Tribute to Songwriters” also enlightened the mostly millennial participants of the Bootcamp with some valuable history lessons as she talked about The Story of OPM.

Other topics covered during the Bootcamp include Digital Music Streaming and Music Video Production.







Song Critique key to better songwriting








Trina Belamide said one of the key activities in the PhilPop Bootcamp is the Song Critiquing that allows coaches to give their inputs on the Fellows’ individual compositions.




“The Bootcamp is very output-oriented. We get to critique songs written by the Fellows that they could submit to PhilPop next year. Having us coaches critique their songs will give them the advantage of further improving and enhancing their work,” Belamide pointed out.




Davey Langit agrees with Belamide in stressing the importance of song critique in the Bootcamp.

“There are many factors that come into consideration when writing a song that in the context of PhilPop, can be considered as competition-worthy. More than just a marriage of melody and lyrics, there is also the arrangement, the story the composers are trying to tell and the message and emotions they wants to convey,” Langit explained.







A little more push




Noel Cabangon sees a lot of potential in this batch of Bootcamp Fellows.




“They just need a little more push but this is why we have these workshops—to make them realize that songwriting is not something they can do out of sheer impulse. There are also certain considerations as they also need to be conscious of the lyrics, the melody and the rhythm. But many of them were able to present well during the exercises and I personally thought that collaborating with their group mates will go a long way in enhancing their skills,” Cabangon noted.

As for the 26 Fellows, each of whom are now assured of a slot in the Top 300 submissions in next year’s PhilPop festival, all of them are thrilled to learn from the masters and take their craft to the next level.












The Fellows speak



“I expected the Bootcamp to teach me a lot but it actually taught me more than I expected it would. It went beyond the basics and helped me arrange my thoughts so it became clearer to me to understand why I’m doing this,” noted budding tunesmith Stephanie Lavoie.




Pauline Lauron, who worked as a Junior Artist and Repertoire producer for a record label and an alumna of the groundbreaking Elements Music Camp that inspired the PhilPop Bootcamp, said she joined the camp to get a “refresher course” as she stopped writing songs for a while.




“I will definitely write more songs after this Bootcamp. It’s very heartening to see the willingness and the excitement to learn on the part of my fellow campers and their openness to absorb anything that’s discussed here,” quipped Lauron who currently works as a freelance back-up singer.




Christian “Ian” Dumaplin, who has been a professional musician since 2003, admitted that for all his experience, he still learned a lot from the PhilPop Bootcamp.



“More than anything, I also found it very inspiring to be in the company of my fellow songwriters and at the same time be encouraged by my accomplished coaches,” he beamed.




PhilPop Bootcamp 2019 is an initiative of the PhilPop Music Foundation, chaired by Mr. Manny V. Pangilinan. This year's PhilPop is co-presented by SMART, MERALCO, and MAYNILAD and is supported by the National Quincentennial Committee (NQC), the local government unit of Lingayen, Pangasinan and venue partners Oldwood Resort and Purok Marcela.


Thursday, September 26, 2019

(From left to right) President of Brother Philippines Mr. Glenn Hocson, VP for Operations & General Manager of Bai Hotel Cebu Mr. Alfred Reyes, Corporate Sales Manager of Brother Philippines Mr. Joel Eugenio, Corporate Sales Executive of Brother Philippines Ms. Roxanne Clerigo, and Operations Manager-Information Technology, Mr. Jose Canete.

Brother PH Green Project Program encourages partners to apply sustainable initiatives in the workplace



In another victory for the environment, Brother International Philippines Corporation is announcing a new partnership with bai Hotel in Mandaue City, Cebu that will allow the latter to become a more eco-friendly workplace.



Beginning October 1, bai Hotel Cebu—which already relies on Brother for their printing needs through the latter’s Print Smart Plus (Toner Management Program) — will utilize the environmentally-friendly features of their Brother MFC-L5900DW and MFC-L8900CDW multifunction printers at the premises, including Power Save Mode, paper reduction through the use of automatic back-to-back prints, among others.



Brother, which has long placed a premium on having their products be eco-friendly and sustainable, will be working closely with the bai Hotel’s IT department this month to ensure that their employees may easily use these features at all times, and will also be conducting a product orientation to instruct the staff on how to use them.



Beyond this, Brother is also looking to expand its environmental awareness to all of its partners and implement this sustainability initiative in all their other corporate clients who are currently enrolled in their Green Project Program. The Green Project Program is an optional additional service that provides more eco-friendly solutions to Brother Corporate Clients.



“We at Brother are always careful to protect the environment in the pursuit of serving our partners’ printing needs,” said Brother Philippines president Glenn Hocson. “This new partnership with bai Hotel Cebu is an important step in bringing awareness to this cause.”



Be part of Brother’s Green Project Program. For more on Brother’s eco-friendly solutions and products, visit the Brother Philippines website at www.brother.com.ph, like its Facebook page (Facebook.com/BROTHERatyourside), and follow it on Twitter (@BROTHERPhils) and Instagram (@BrotherPhils).







There's something about sport that brings people together, and leading global television brand SKYWORTH is gearing up to bring the very best moments of the 2019 Southeast Asian Games (SEA Games) straight to the living rooms of Filipinos. A pioneer in big-screen Artificial Intelligence of Things (AIoT), SKYWORTH was recently named the Official Television Partner of the 30th SEA Games in Manila.

Filipinos are naturally passionate about sports, something that the TV brand knows all too well. “Just like Filipinos, sport has always been embedded in SKYWORTH's DNA. And we are committed to giving Filipinos the best viewing experiences of the 2019 SEA Games. Through immersive viewing experiences, we want to create opportunities for Filipinos to come together and celebrate their love of sports," Mr. Benjamin Yuoankee said.

Elevating sports entertainment 



With exciting new breakthroughs in AIoT and cutting edge-technology, SKYWORTH is committed to elevating sports entertainment. From AI to Infinity Screen Borderless Design, the TV company is redefining the viewing experience.

SKYWORTH’s AIoT ecosystem allows fans to indulge with a genuine Smart TV viewing experience where they can easily obtain sports and SEA Games-related programs through the voice search function. With Dolby Audio, SKYWORTH’s latest proprietary picture technology – Chameleon Extreme™ and Trochilus Extreme™ – and Swaiot™, viewers are assured of unparalleled visual and audio quality. And with SKYWORTH’s Infinity Screen Borderless Design, sports fans can enjoy a fully immersive viewing experience.

All these features can be found on the TV manufacturer's flagship model, the XA9000. With more than 8 million pixels, the ULTRA HD OLED TV will ensure viewers enjoy every highlight in full detail–as if they were actually there.

From virtually there to actually there 



As the Official Television Partner of the 30th SEA Games in Manila, SKYWORTH is giving Filipinos the opportunity to level up their experience of the biennial multi-sport event.

Via a lucky draw on October 28, 2019, the company is giving SKYWORTH TV owners the chance to take home an 55XA9000, so they can enjoy a fully immersive SEA Games experience from the comforts of their own homes. But for those that want the realest experience, the TV brand is also giving select winners tickets to the 2019 SEA Games, so they can cheer and support the games live.

Additionally, SKYWORTH will be running a “Big TV Nationwide Promo” from October 1 to December 31, 2019, where the company will mark down its 55” and 65” 4K AI TVs across all stores nationwide.

“We're very excited for the SEA Games 2019 and look forward to watching all the best athletes from Southeast Asia. This promises to be the biggest and most viewed SEA Games yet, and we hope to give Filipinos the very best in sports entertainment, whether that's from home, or at the actual games," added Mr. Benjamin Yuoankee.

To learn more about SKYWORTH's promos and products, go to the official SKYWORTH Philippines website at http://www.skyworth.ph/.

###





New products unveiled with new brand ambassador




Pasig City, Philippines – September 21, 2019 – Honda Philippines, Inc., the leading motorcycle manufacturer in the Philippines, announced today the launch of two new bikes in one event, The All–New GENIO and The All–New ADV150 at the Robinsons Metro East Mall, Pasig City.

The All–New GENIO


The All-New GENIO has an ever-expanding line of innovative and stylish motorcycle that is intended to allow Filipinas to experience the joy of riding. The chic design and special features of The All-New GENIO will solve the mobility concerns of the female commuters.

It is equipped with smart technology and enhanced smart power. It also has LED headlight and a digital meter panel with ECO indicator as well as a secure key shutter with seat opener. It also has a 14L U-box capacity and features tubeless tires and an inner rack. With safety being a standard in all of Honda’s motorcycles, The All-New Genio is equipped with a combi-brake system having a front disc brake and rear mechanical drum braking system.

The All-New GENIO is also appropriate for the body frame of a Filipina that is light-weight and easy to handle without compromising safety and comfort of ride. On top of that, it also aligns with the on-the-move attitude of Filipino, with its power charger that will make digital communication easier, without any reason for charging problem.

Perfectly matching The All-New GENIO and a modern Filipina, HPI also launched their newest Female Brand Ambassador, Ms. Yassi Pressman. “We chose Yassi Pressman because we believe that she personifies what The All-New GENIO is all about, cool and fashionable,” said Susumu Mitsuishi, President of Honda Philippines, Inc.

The All-New GENIO is the embodiment of female styling that only Honda can give. It promises to bring a new riding experience for every female chic rider.

In the same time with this launching, is the release of the much-awaited adventure bike, The All-New ADV150.

The All–New ADV150 



The All-New ADV150’s unique design and exemplary features embodies the preference of a unique individual who loves urban adventure.

The one-of-a-kind feature of The All-New ADV150 is its adjustable windscreen combined with a futuristic and manly design armed with latest features of smart technology. It is also equipped with all-LED lighting system, full digital meter panel for clear riding information reading, power charger console box, 28L large utility box with seat stopper, naked handlebar and the Smart Key System.

It also has 14-inch front tire size and 13-inch rear tire size as well as twin sub-tank rear suspension for a more comfortable ride. And since safety is foremost in all its products, The All-New ADV150 features an emergency stop signal (ESS) which automatically blinks the hazard light when sudden stop occurs and front and rear wavy disc brakes with 1 channel Anti-lock Braking System (ABS) for more stable braking system.

“We are excited to bring to the Filipino market our latest model, The All-New GENIO and the All-New ADV150. These new models will add excitement to the joy of riding a Honda motorcycle. We are confident that our Filipino customers will appreciate the motorcycles we created because we made them with their dreams and aspirations in mind.” Said Susumu Mitsuishi, president of Honda Philippines. “The All-New Genio and the All-New ADV150 combine innovation with style and function so it’s not only the male riders who will experience the joy of riding, but ladies, as well.” Mitsuishi added.

These two new models will be available at the Honda 3S Shops on December 2019 for The All-New GENIO with an SRP of Php72,900.00 and in January 2020 for The All-New ADV150, with an SRP of Ph149,000.00. 

For more details about Honda products and latest promotions, follow them at their Facebook page (Honda Philippines, Inc.) and Instagram account (@hondaph_mc).

Wednesday, September 25, 2019

Get a chance to win a Hong Kong getaway and catch the iconic Aqua Luna ship in Victoria Harbour with GetGo’s Redeem Away promo. 




This September, GetGo members are in for the most exciting points redemption spree with the Redeem Away for a Getaway promo! One lucky member can win a Cebu Pacific Fly Easy Flight plus Hotel Getaway package for two (2) to any one of these exciting destinations: Taipei, Seoul, Macau, Hong Kong, or Melbourne!

The trip includes roundtrip airfare and an all-expense-paid three-day, two-night hotel stay courtesy of Cebu Pacific! The winner can choose to fly as early as November 10, 2019 to spend their holidays abroad or welcome the New Year in a whole new country! Or they can choose to redeem their getaway on a long holiday as the travel period runs until August 31, 2020.

Winner will also get to experience the best travel lifestyle with the Fly Easy prize. This includes the CEB Wi-Fi Kit so they can stay connected on-the-go, CEB Getaways for hassle-free hotels accommodation, as well as CEB inflight-meals, premium seat selection, free 20kg baggage allowance, and CEB Travelsure roundtrip insurance.

To join the Redeem Away for a Getaway promo, members must download the GetGo mobile app to access their account. Once logged in, they can proceed to the Offers tab and select the specific promo.

From now until September 30, 2019, members can redeem as much points as they want to get raffle entries to their desired destinations. Each destination is equivalent to a certain number of points:
Points
Raffle Entry
Destination
8 GetGo Points
1 raffle entry
Hong Kong or Macau
88 GetGo Points
20 raffle entries
Hong Kong or Macau
188 GetGo Points
50 raffle entries
Hong Kong or Macau
88 GetGo Points
10 raffle entries
Seoul or Taipei
188 GetGo Points
30 raffle entries
Seoul or Taipei
188 GetGo Points
15 raffle entries
Melbourne



Don’t miss this exciting opportunity to fly for free and redeem those points for a getaway! Who knows—you might just be able to spend a White Christmas in Seoul; or experience the lively nightlife in Macau or Hong Kong! Or you can explore the popular night markets in Taipei or sightsee around the local neighborhoods in Melbourne!



Winner may also choose to redeem a getaway to Seoul and explore the modern district of Songdo International City.





The GetGo mobile app is available for download on the Play Store and App Store. Travel period is between November 10, 2019 to August 31, 2020. Per DTI-FTEB permit no. 17695, series of 2019. Learn more about the promo by visiting http://bit.ly/YourTripIsOnUs-Promo.


For more information on memberships and partners, visit www.getgo.com.ph. Never miss out on exclusive member offers and the latest news on partner promos by subscribing to GetGo email alerts. Just log-in to your account, go to ‘Profile’, select ‘Preferences’, click ‘My Settings’, and choose ‘Count Me In’. You can also like and follow the official GetGoPH official pages on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.












Pasay City, Philippines 26 August 2019 - Metro Manila’s biggest spa is now starting to accept crypto currency as mode of payment.




Building Cities Beyond Blockchain (BCB Blockchain), the world's first blockchain protocol for the development of smart city solutions, providesits mainnet blockchain technology to support Yatai Spa’s payment infrastructure.




Yatai Spa is a three-floor development of a modern facility with business & commercial center showcasing a relaxation, entertainment and wellness destination located in the transportation hub Newport City, Pasay City. It covers an area of more than 7,000 square meters and operating 24/7. The Yatai Spa possesses a set of variety functions such as entertainment leisure catering business negotiation cultural exchange, party venue, SPA health and private living space




“BCB will enable Yatai Spa to a faster, transparent and more secure payment. This will also allow them to have less infrastructure transaction fees which cost only around 0.06 Chinese Yuan or 0.45 pesos,” Vanessa Koh, BCB Blockchain Chief Technology Officer said.







In addition, using BCB allows the spa to save on outdated servers and the cost of operating multiple software payment solutions.




The cost savings in return, allows Yatai spa to offer 20% discount on all spa services by using BCB.




“As the largest spa in Manila with a huge customer base, this gives BCB an advantage to reach its goal of mass adoption. BCB hopes to have more merchants and businesses onboard as well, ”Koh added.







Aside from providing payment infrastructure, BCB enables creation of smart contracts and Dapps (Decentralised Applications), community voting, and many other auditable services. By providing high liquidity and low transaction costs, BCB holders enjoy transparency and improvement of settlement efficiency of payments and transactions in its supported smart cities and establishments.




Earlier in June, BCB Blockchain signed partnership with Philippine’s leading tech incubators QBO Innovation hub and DLSU Animo for joint projects on incubations, hackathons, and smart city solutions.





Tuesday, September 24, 2019







Converge ICT received a multi-million-dollar investment from Warburg Pincus, a private equity firm based in the United States.

Converge ICT has been aggressively expanding its fiber infrastructure with the aim of providing Filipinos access to the more reliable fiber internet connection. The $250 million or P12.8 billion investment will be earmarked on rolling out more fiber connections nationwide.



"Since going full throttle with our fiber network roll-out and package offerings, the change in overall Philippine performance has been noticeable" - Dennis Uy, founder and president, Converge ICT.


"In 2018, the average connection has risen to 18Mbps. We don't take full credit but the company’s contributions have been undeniable." - Uy added.


This is the Warburg Pincus' first investment in the Philippines. One of the world's biggest equity firms has $20 billion invested in Asia and about $65 billion in assets under management.

"We are excited about the country’s young, digital-savvy population and its thriving services industries, which have created an outsized need for connectivity and will create explosive growth in the broadband space." -Saurabh Agarwal, managing director, Warburg Pincus. "Converge ICT is a remarkable business and growth story and I am confident that it will continue to achieve significant growth milestones and solve the ever-increasing connectivity needs of the country." - Agarwal added.

Converge ICT is looking at capturing 30% of the country's broadband market in the next few years. With this investment, Converge ICT will be able to fastrack the construction of its $1.8-billion nationwide internet backbone. The current rollout includes a $70-million domestic submarine cable with 20 landing stations across the Philippines. The Luzon backbone is expected to be completed by the first quarter of 2020.

At present, Converge ICT is looking at doubling its half-a-million subscribers by next year. Seventy percent of the company's customer base are first-time fixed broadband service users and Uy plans to increase that with more expansions in the coming months.

Monday, September 23, 2019

GCash, the leading mobile wallet in the Philippines, sponsors the biggest and most anticipated mobile app summit and expo in the country—the SIGN UP! SUMMIT 2019 on September 23 at the World Trade Center, Pasay City.



“By far, SIGN UP! is the biggest gathering of mobile platforms and mobile applications in the Philippines. We want to empower more Filipinos to go digital and help them improve their livelihood,” said Ney Villaseñor, chief corporate affairs officer of GCash.

As the biggest digital alliance in the country today, SIGN UP! attendees can expect to familiarize themselves with various mobile applications, platforms and solutions, as well as be inspired by success stories of other e-preneneurs who are going to be featured at the event.

“GCash is known by many for buying mobile load, paying bills, remitting money and the like, but GCash is more than just these financial services that it offers,” explained Villaseñor. “You can actually do more with your business by expanding it through the app. There’s so much opportunity for GCash when it comes to growing your online shop. Because with GCash, what can’t you do?”

The SIGN UP! SUMMIT is open to anyone, from students to stay-at-home parents. In addition, GCash has prepared a lot of surprises that the attendees can look forward to.

Interested participants can sign up for free and be part of the biggest mobile app summit and expo in the Philippines at www.signup.ph.

Simple steps can help relieve some of the most common digestive problems.


Many of us eat too much or eat too fast. We don’t eat enough fiber. We skip meals and then subject our systems to a gigantic plate of food. Considering how much use and abuse our digestive systems have to withstand, it’s a wonder we don’t suffer more than we do. Gas, bloating, occasional heartburn, or “having a hard time going”— these common digestive disturbances can often be relieved with some simple diet and lifestyle changes.

Let’s look at what you can do to ease any strain on your digestive system.

Gas
Gas production is actually a normal part of the digestive process and, unless it’s excessive, it usually indicates a healthy intake of fiber and a well-functioning digestive tract. Most foods that contain carbohydrate—anything from beans to bagels—are not completely broken down during the digestive process, which means that some partially digested carbohydrate travels into your lower tract. There, the resident bacteria take over, producing gas as they complete the digestive process. The average person passes gas about 14 times a day, releasing about a half liter of gas in the process. Foods like cabbage, beans and broccoli are often called out as major gas- producers.

If you have gas:
Rather than eliminating ‘gassy’ foods like beans, cabbage or broccoli, try eating small amounts of these foods over several days to give your system time to adjust.

Try soaking beans overnight in water, then cooking in fresh water the next day.

Bloating
Bloating is often described as a ‘puffed up’ sensation that comes on rather quickly, mostly in the upper abdomen right after eating. It’s often the result of air that gets trapped in your digestive tract, which can come from a surprising number of sources. Often, it’s simply a matter of swallowing a lot of air while you eat, which can happen if you eat too fast or do a lot of talking while you’re chewing. You also swallow a lot of air when you chew gum, or when you drink carbonated beverages, too. Some people get that bloated feeling when they eat a rich meal –fat delays the time it takes for food to leave your stomach, so it can leave you feeling uncomfortable. Of course, there is also the possibility that you have a food allergy or intolerance that leads to gas and bloating, but that’s best determined by your doctor.

If you have bloating:
 Avoid carbonated beverages
 Eat slowly
 Avoid chewing gum
 Keep your meals low in fat

Occasional Heartburn
Heartburn is a bit like a plumbing problem in your digestive tract. At the bottom of your esophagus – where it meets the stomach – there’s a ring of muscle that is designed to snap shut after food enters the stomach. But sometimes the muscle doesn’t quite close all the way.

As a result, stomach acid can back up into the esophagus, causing irritation. Spicy foods, greasy foods, alcoholic drinks and large meals can all contribute to occasional heartburn. You’re also more likely to get heartburn if you lie down too soon after eating. And, if you’re overweight, you’re more likely to develop heartburn, too, since excess weight around the middle puts upward pressure on the stomach.

If you have occasional heartburn:
 Reduce your intake of greasy foods, chocolate, onions, coffee, alcohol, orange juice,
 Tomato products and spicy foods – all of which contribute.
 Reduce the size of your meals.
 If you’re overweight, work on getting your weight down.
 Try not to lie down for a few hours after you eat - sit upright or take a walk instead.

Irregularity
Irregularity is one of the most common digestive complaints—and it’s also one of the most misunderstood. Many people think if they don’t visit the bathroom on a daily basis, they’ve got a problem. But if things are moving smoothly—whether it’s three times a day or three times a
week—you probably don’t have anything to worry about. On the other hand, difficult or painful bowel movements can signal constipation. Lack of fiber, inadequate fluid intake and inactivity
can all contribute.

If you are irregular:
 Aim for the recommended 25-30 grams of fiber a day from whole grain breads and
cereals, beans, fruits and vegetables.
 Keep your fluid intake up. You do obtain some fluid from watery fruits and vegetables,
but make a point to also drink fluids throughout the day
 Stay active. People who exercise regularly are less likely to suffer from constipation.
As always, if you are suffering these problems chronically, you should seek medical advice.










With first love comes the first heartbreak, that first brush with pain when nothing seems to bring comfort or relief. Nothing, except for music.




This is familiar territory for the rock band ST. WOLF. Known for their solid beats and

gut-wrenching lyrics are KL de la Cruz (vocals), Vince Lucero (guitars), Karlo Magsalang (bass) and Bob Sadural (drums). These guys aren’t afraid to explore the deepest emotions and the ugliest truths that can come out in relationships; their most popular songs, ‘Jealousy,’ ‘Taguan,’ and ‘Papara’ all attest to that.




KL says, “With songs, you have to let them feel your sincerity, that is the most important thing. As long as you write, perform and sing with sincerity, the audience will know.”







When St. Wolf first sat down to brainstorm with Morissette for their Coke Studio Season 3 collab, the band was happy to find out that she considers rock music part of her DNA.




Morissette is known for her power ballads, but she calls rock, “her comfort zone.” She reveals, “I actually grew up listening to old-school rock bands when I was a child in Cebu. My dad was in a band and I would go around with him, so I do love rock!”




This common foundation made their Coke Studio Season 3 collaboration a match made in musical heaven.




Vince puts it this way, “I think our collab works because it’s really all about the feels—we bring the feels with our lyrics and she brings the feels with her performance.”




Focusing on writing a break-up song is a particular process, Bob says, “What we have lived through, we just put it into the song. That’s when the song becomes powerful.”







KL, who got his start in Christian music, adds, “I believe that of faith, hope and love, the greatest of these is love. So to explore the loss of love, can really make for a great song.”




Morissette was quick to add, “What’s good with a break-up song is that it can help explain what the feeling is. It can help you understand exactly what you’re going through! Young people will really be able to relate to it…and that’s all we want, a song that is relatable."




Watch Morissette and St. Wolf as they collaborate on Coke Studio Season 3. Catch them on September 28, Saturday at 10a.m. on ABS-CBN or subscribe to Coke Studio’s Youtube page at www.youtube.com/CokeStudioPH for the latest episodes.






National Property Custodian Manager of Philippines Spring Water Resources, Inc. Mr. Rey Abucejo receiving the Green Project Top Award in Cebu along with the President of Brother Philippines Mr. Glenn Hocson.






First ever “Broyalty Awards” given to advocates of many years




In a show of gratitude and respect for the many years of support and successful business, Brother Philippines held its Corporate Appreciation Nights this year for its partner corporations last September 6 at OQTAGON, Mandaue City, Cebu and last July 19 at House Manila in Resorts World Manila.






The main event in Manila was well attended by Brother’s partner companies as Pepsi Philippines (PCPPI), Duty Free Philippines, and Sun Life of Canada Philippines, while the second event in Cebu also gathered a good number of its regional partners.






The events featured games and updates that outlined Brother’s corporate programs. Over 80 attendees from Brother’s partner companies from various fields attended the appreciation nights in Manila and Cebu, enjoying the fruits of their longstanding relationship with the best business printing solutions provider in the country.






The main spectacle among the abundance of food and drink during the event, however, was the first ever Broyalty Awards. These loyalty awards with the company’s own spin were given to its longtime partners of at least five years—30 companies in Manila and 16 in Cebu—recognizing their continued trust and support in Brother’s business printing solutions.






Also acknowledged during the Corporate Appreciation Night were companies in Manila and Cebu who participated in Brother’s Green Project, its corporate social responsibility initiative that encouraged its partner corporations to return used-up printing consumables for responsible recycling and sustainability. The top awardees were Landbank of the Philippines in Manila for returning 1,520 empty cartridges, and Philippine Spring Water Resources, Inc. in Cebu for returning 2,105 of the same.





“We feel truly honored and grateful to be the Philippines’ go-to company for their printing needs, so we celebrate and show this love right back to our partners,” said Brother Philippines president Glenn Hocson. “Here’s to many more years of success all around!”






To learn more about the brand and its products, visit the Brother Philippines website at www.brother.com.ph, like its Facebook page (Facebook.com/BROTHERatyourside), and follow it on Twitter (@BROTHERPhils) and Instagram (@BrotherPhils).

Saturday, September 21, 2019







MANILA, Philippines - Premier global nutrition company, Herbalife Nutrition recently announced that payments for its products are now accepted through Bayad Center branches nationwide, following a recent signing of the memorandum of agreement between the two companies. This new initiative allows for Herbalife Nutrition members to make their payments through Bayad Center’s 30,000-plus touchpoints all over the Philippines.




“This is a landmark project for Herbalife Nutrition, as we celebrate 25 years in the Philippines this year," said Sridhar Rajagopalan, Senior Director and Sub-Region Head for the Philippines of Herbalife Nutrition. “It coincides with our city-by-city campaign to reach out to more Filipinos nationwide, while striving to ease the way of doing business for our customers. With Bayad Center’s auto-posting payment feature and outlets in cities and towns across the country, our members have a reliable and convenient partner to support their businesses.”




Bayad Center is the country’s biggest and widest multi-channel payment platform. A subsidiary of the Manila Electric Company (Meralco), it is the pioneer and market leader in the outsourced bills and bills collection payment industry.








Rajagopalan together with Bayad Center President Manuel Lorenzo Tuason led the contract signing. Likewise, executives from both companies who have worked on the details of the partnership were also present at the event.




“We have more than 30,000 payment touchpoints that Herbalife Nutrition members can easily access as the touchpoints of Bayad Center are available nationwide. With the recent launch of the Bayad Center App, Filipinos now have the convenience of processing not only bills payments, but also other products and services. The Bayad Center App is secure, on-time and hassle free. You can now process payments and more at your fingertips with the Bayad Center App,” Tuason concluded.







An imaginary rice field made of 20 feet giant minasa cookies highlighted the celebration of the province’s thriving agri-food industry during the launch of SM City Baliwag's Bulacan Food and Art BESTival.







Home Technology Food and Management Service students from Bulacan State University worked hand in hand for several hours to create 500 minasa pieces and to carefully mold them with intricate “palay” designs.




To create the enormous minasa that measured 12 inch long, students used premium ingredients such as 450 pieces of eggs, 58 kilograms cake flour, 73 kilograms sugar, 2 kilograms baking powder, 58 kilograms cassava flour and 48 kilograms butter. The unique attraction yielded 20,000 servings which was given freely for shoppers to enjoy.








Minasa cookies, derived from the Tagalog word “masa” or “hand kneading” is Bulacan’s pride pastry originated in the town of Bustos. A favorite pastry among every Bulakenyos, Minasa is a popular pasalubong and gift idea among local and tourists.





“The biggest serving of food is more than a feast of the province’s best flavors but also a way of fostering patronization in our local products” shares SM City Baliwag Assistant Mall Manager Rodora Tolentino.


Following the unboxing of Biggest serving of food, the celebration also featured fun food art activities and workshops for aspiring Bulakeño chefs. Selected students from different schools in Bulacan had the rare chance to experience a hands-on training on the intricate and step-by-step process of doing minasa.





SM City Baliwag’s rice field minasa and SM Cty Marilao's giant biko captured the hearts of many shoppers as the two malls honor the contribution of local farmers in the province. As recalled, SM City Marilao unveiled the biggest Filipino rice cake last September 10 where 16,000 shoppers enjoyed the free biko treat.






SM Center Pulilan is also slated to bring the fun with one of a kind food art activities and workshops on September 21-22.

Friday, September 20, 2019




Shopee, the leading e-commerce platform in Southeast Asia and Taiwan, awarded a one-year scholarship grant worth 100,000 each to the first batch of Shopee Scholars. Launched in July, Shopee Scholars is an education assistance program created for the benefit of sellers and their families. Among the numerous applicants, Victor Voltaire Cabanes, Shana Catherine Quilalang, and Johanna Caresse Eusebio, were chosen because of their academic excellence and essay entries.

Martin Yu, Associate Director at Shopee Philippines said, “We are very happy to introduce Shopee Scholars and award our first batch of grantees. Our sellers are an integral part of the Shopee community so we continuously find ways to support them further. Through this program, we are able to offer financial support to help with their children’s education and empower them to pursue their dreams. We wish our first batch of scholars all the best and we look forward to following them throughout their educational journey."



Victor Voltaire Cabanes, Age 18



Victor is a student from Faith Christian School. Since his childhood, he has excelled in school as he works towards his dream of becoming a doctor. This dream was inspired by his mother, Genalin, who was diagnosed with kidney cancer. Genalin has built a growing business on Shopee that continues to provide for her son and family.



Shana Catherine Quilalang, Age 18


Shana studies International Hospitality Management and hopes to work on a cruise ship. Shana and her family has benefited financially since joining Shopee. She helps her mother, Helen, with answering customer concerns and uploading pictures of their products on the app. Shana is also known as an avid Shopee ambassador as she constantly promotes the platform to her friends and family.


Johanna Caresse Eusebio, Age 19



Johanna is a college student studying BS Forestry in one of the top local universities. She aspires to work in the engineering industry. Since the diagnosis of her mother’s medical condition, Shopee has been a great help in alleviating her family's financial worries.

Shopee looks forward to what the future holds for its first batch of Shopee Scholars and hopes others will be inspired by their stories.

For more information visit https://shopee.ph.
Download the Shopee app for free via the App Store or Google Play.


Tuesday, September 17, 2019









With the arrival of BER months comes the festive celebration of Bulacan’s best flavors, as such SM Center Pulilan brings on the fun with parade of events for aspiring chefs, young and old with Bulacan Food & Art BESTival happening on September 21-22.

Unleash the artist in you with Food Pop Art happening at the Mall Atrium on September 21-22. In partnership with Guhit Pinas Bulacan, the exhibit will feature a mashup of colorful and quirky aesthetic with the theme Pinoy delicacies. This year’s art exhibit is set to amaze onlookers with visual fusion of random objects forming into popular native delicacies in one unique occasion.

Meanwhile, kids rule as SM Center Pulilan gives a fun twist to food and art at Kiddie Fun Workshop on September 21, with lectures on miniature food clay and pastry decorating.

Kids (and kids’ at heart) will love the meticulous yet very amazing way of creating tiny food creations with miniature food clay, while sugar high and artistry meet at pastry decorating workshop giving kids the rare chance to get creative and decorate their chosen pastries. As such, kids can play through their imaginations by creating any objects, characters in different shades and colors.

More than learning and appreciating art and food, these workshops are meant to create moments of connection with kids and their families.

Finally, have a fun dining experience with Food Sale happening until September 22, featuring Filipino food with great discounts at selected tenants.

The fun continues as SM Malls in Pulilan, Baliwag, Marilao and San Jose Del Monte shine bright as the malls officially start the countdown to 100 days ‘till Christmas. Watch out, as the next few months will unveil great entertainment and special Holiday activities to thrill shoppers of all ages.

For more updates, follow SM Center Pulilan at Facebook and Instagram.

WWE SmackDown! makes its return to the Philippines with a star-studded show at the Smart Araneta Coliseum on Friday, September 20th, 2019. Among the matches announced, alongside a Wrestlemania XXXV rematch, is an epic encounter between second-generation Superstar, Charlotte Flair and the current WWE SmackDown! Women’s Champion, Bayley.


Both women, together with Sasha Banks and current Raw Women’s Champion, Becky Lynch, make-up the Four Horsewomen. Their honor, passion, and skill gave way to the Women’s Revolution: a movement that legitimized the presence of women’s wrestling on a global stage. What was once regarded as an entertaining break between important matches has become a main event staple!
Early Beginnings of Women’s Wresting
Women’s wrestling dates back to the late 19th century. By 1937, Mildred Bourke rose to prominence as one of sports-entertainment’s most recognized talents, setting the pace for other women in the decades to come including WWE Hall of Famer, Mae Young.
In the 1980’s, as sports-entertainment reached global heights, women’s wrestling was firmly cemented as a popular attraction with fans. Cyndi Lauper’s collaborations with Hall of Famer, Captain Lou Albano, set the stage for the Rock ‘n’ Wrestling Connection that established stars such as former WWE Women’s Champion, Wendi Richter. At the same time, the sudden prominence of future WWE Legends such as Hulk Hogan and “Macho Man” Randy Savage introduced the world to valets such as Miss Elizabeth and “Sensational” Sherri.
The Age of Divas
By the turn of the century, the women of the WWE were regarded as pop culture icons known the world over as Divas. Led by the likes of Trish Status and Lita, the Divas of the WWE were beautiful and skilled sports-entertainers who consistently set the bar each time they entered the squared circle. In December 2004, Stratus and Lita made history when they collided on the main event of Monday Night Raw in a highly-revered classic for the WWE Women’s Championship.
As the decade progressed, the WWE Universe would see a number of popular Divas establish themselves with a string-of must see performances across WWE’s Monday Night Raw and SmackDown!. Unfortunately by 2012, most of the WWE’s most proficient in-ring Divas had retired from active competition and because of that, younger Divas did not have the opportunity to truly showcase their skill.
The Women’s Revolution & Evolution
In 2012, WWE established NXT as a system to introduce new talent before their main roster debut. That same year, veteran performer Sara Del Rey was signed to oversee the development of younger talent. Together, the combination would provide female sports-entertainers with the chance to showcase their skill before an eager and welcoming audience. Within a year, NXT would crown its first Women’s Champion in Paige, The “Anti-Diva”.
Later on, after Paige’s main roster breakthrough, Charlotte Flair, Bayley, Becky Lynch, and Sasha Banks would establish themselves as NXT’s most popular performers with their seemingly endless back-to-back streaks of show-stealing classics. In time, they were recognized as The Four Horsewomen of NXT; a standard of excellence inspired by The Four Horsemen, a legendary stable of elite sports-entertainers led by Charlotte’s father, “Nature Boy” Ric Flair.

By 2016, each of the Four Horsewomen had made it to the WWE’s main roster. Following a string of consecutive Wrestlemania classics and the call-up of additional talent from NXT, the WWE was now supported by a diverse cast that showcased the best female talent from every corner to the world.
Today, women are now at the forefront of sports entertainment. The last three years have seen a number of historical changes in the WWE that included an annual Women’s Royal Rumble match, the Mae Young Classic, and Evolution, the first all-women pay-per-view event. 2019 saw the biggest change yet when Becky Lynch captured both the SmackDown! and Raw Women’s Championship belts from Charlotte Flair and Ronda Rousey at the main event of Wrestlemania XXXV!

The Horsewomen Collide in Manila!
Hot off an amazing match at WWE Clash of Champions, WWE Women’s Champion, Bayley squares off against Charlotte Flair on Friday, September 20th, 2019, at the historic Smart Araneta Coliseum, in Quezon City. Tickets are now available at all Ticketnet outlets nationwide and on 
https://www.ticketnet.com.ph!
For additional information, please visit: http://www.WWE.com or follow the WWE on its social media pages: Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/WWE) | Twitter (https://www.twitter.com/WWESEAsia)

Instagram

Klikd2. Theme by STS.