NOBITA embraces kundiman sensibilities on tender ballad “Di Na Mag-iisa”

 

Now officially signed to Sony Music Philippines, the IKAW LANG hitmakers are ready to leave a lasting mark in the industry

NOBITA’s rapid rise is no longer a mystery to music fans who have been familiar with their poignant song “Ikaw Lang,” which currently ranks as the third most streamed single on Spotify Philippines as of today. In less than two years, the pop-rock outfit has built an impressive portfolio by releasing songs that capture the beating heart of the young generation, and bringing light, love, and inspiration to as many people as possible.

The five-piece hitmakers have indeed come a long way from their humble beginnings as semi-finalists of the prestigious battle of the bands, Muziklaban. Thanks to the overwhelming success of “Ikaw Lang,” which has amassed over 40 million streams on all digital music platforms combined, NOBITA is putting their own spin to the school of ‘hugot’ pop songwriting with their trademark tenderness and inevitable warmth.

Now officially signed to Sony Music Philippines, NOBITA is ready to leave a lasting mark with the release of their new single “Di Na Mag-iisa.” Blending sparse, soulful instrumentation with words of romantic earnestness, the song stays loyal to the classic formula that made “Ikaw Lang” and “Unang Sayaw,” remarkable hits, while embracing the sensibilities of a kundiman—a genre of traditional Filipino love songs that express intense longing and devotion with someone you care deeply about. The song also shares the same chord progression with their other track “The Search Is Over,” which is currently the only English song released by NOBITA.

According to vocalist Jaeson Felismino, “Di Na Mag-iisa” is inspired by the wedding vows that he has witnessed through the years, which shaped his views on love and the many layers that surround its existence. “The song is about the kind of affection that you've never known, a connection that is stronger than anything else in this world, a sense of serenity and happiness that is beyond your imagination. It sums up that very rare fondness of being one with that kindred soul, and finally confirming to the rest of the world that you are not alone anymore.”

The song was written, arranged, and produced by the band with guidance from their producer, Isagani Palabyab of Monostery Studio. Without overdoing the music treatment, NOBITA stripped things down with a simple, soaring melody and an inescapable chorus that work sonically within their realm. The result is a heartwarming pop song that understands how feelings work, and how it sometimes pushes people to be the best version of themselves. “We just want to convey that they should not despair because there is someone destined for them,” drummer Roman Lester Moñegas shares. “We don’t want our listeners to lose hope. We’ll never know tomorrow brings.”

NOBITA is currently working on some new songs, including a Christmas-inspired tune to get us in the mood for the holidays. They’re also slated to release a variety of material soon under Sony Music Philippines, their music label. “Being a part of this label is truly an honor; hence, pressure grows,” guitarist Sam Aquino says. “But we're ready to take the challenge and up our game.”

NOBITA’s “Di Na Mag-iisa” is out now on all digital music platforms worldwide via Sony Music Philippines.

VACCINATION DRIVE FOR TRANSPORT SECTOR AT SM CITY MARILAO

SM City Marilao sealed the partnership with Go Negosyo, Department of Transportation (DOTr), Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) for the transport sector inoculation drive in Bulacan. Close to 200 transport workers were given AstraZeneca Covid-19 jab yesterday at SM City Marilao.

Over 200 individuals were inoculated yesterday during a special vaccination effort targeting the transport sector in Bulacan.

 The initiative dubbed “Let’s Go Bakuna” is a joint effort of Go Negosyo, Department of Transportation (DOTr), Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) and in partnership with SM City Marilao, where the vaccination program was held.

 

The recipients that mostly consist of PUV drivers undergone screening and counseling before vaccination. They are also monitored and expected to return a couple of weeks for their second jab.

 

Kimberly Afundar from the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Road Transport and Infrastructure shares that the vaccination drive hopes to help the transport sector to recover while re-establishing commuter confidence in using public transportation.

 

Let’s Go Bakuna will also be rolled out in SM City Baliwag.

 

Party, Play, Panalo Everyday! Here’s why we can’t wait for the GCash GBirthday happening this October 18-22!

GCash, the undisputed #1 financial app in the country with over 40 million users to date, will be celebrating their birthday this coming October 18-22, with their biggest blowout for all users! The country’s favorite E-Wallet, is hosting over 25 million pesos worth of deals, promos and freebies, and everyone is invited to join in their hourly festivities. Here’s everything you can look forward to in this 5-day celebration filled with goodies that’ll help make your day a little (or a lot) more fun.

‘Treats on us, every hour, every day’

Using GCash has never been more exciting with over Php25M worth of exclusive freebies, discounts, vouchers, treats, and even grand prizes every hour on the hour so there’s definitely something for everyone! You can even be THE lucky winner of PHP500K GCash credits!

Just tap, pay, and collect!

Keep an eye out for those promo cards or pop-ups in the app and simply tap, follow the mechanics, purchase from the featured partner merchants through GCash, and collect the gift! *promos are valid until supplies last.

[OCT 18] Day 1: Freebie Day

Start the week on a high note with FREE vouchers, load, a drink, pizza, shipping, and more whenever you use GCash to pay or buy from Cignal, HealthNow, The Rare Food Shop, Domino’s Pizza, The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf, Shakey’s, Waltermart, or Bo’s Coffee starting 8am up until 4pm!

[OCT 19] Day 2: Discount Day

Get super saver deals for your groceries, deliveries, snacks, and more with instant discounts of up to 80% OFF for 8 full hours when you use GCash to pay for Borzo, Pickaroo, Bistro Group, Gong Cha, Primer Group, The Rare Food Shop, PureGo and Tinder!

[OCT 20] Day 3: Voucher Day

Make paying for essentials more rewarding with vouchers every hour for Seaoil, TM and Globe Prepaid, Shell, Globe At Home, Robinsons Supermarket, and Watsons when you pay through GCash!

[OCT 21] Day 4: Treats Day

That Friday feeling comes early on GCash’s birthday week with all the A+ Rewards you can enjoy. Tap your A+ Rewards icon on your GCash app to get your dose of feel good treats from Steam, Puregold, Lazada, Shopee, Google, Apple, Spotify and so much more! For sure there will be something new to look forward to, every hour with A+ Rewards!

[OCT 22] Day 5: ALL OUT DAY GRAND RAFFLE

Use Pay Bills, GSave, GInvest, GLife, Buy Load, or send money via QR on October 22 and get a chance to be one of (5) winners of an iPhone 12, (3) winners of Php100K in GCash credits, or be THE lucky winner of Php500K GCash credits!

To know more about GCash GBirthday, visit:

https://www.gcash.com/gbirthday2021

https://www.gcash.com/gbirthday2021/partners 

Sarabia Optical Is Now Back On Track This Season

Sarabia Optical has launched See the Difference, #SeeLifeClearly to educate the importance of eye health and eyecare for any lifestyle. As Sarabia Optical continuously offers best-in-class products available in the market, the brand is also working its way to expand footprint to certain areas, reaching people who need eyewear for their everyday need.

As people work exhaustively using computers or outside the workplace, it is important to wear the best protective eyecare products to prevent eye strain and headaches that may affect productivity. Offering optical services for more than over a century, Sarabia Optical ensures to help people see life clearly for their specific vision needs, from distance to reading glasses, and even to protection from harmful radiation called blue light. 

Sarabia Optical also gives customers an extra fashionable impact for their daily life. Complete eyewear from Sarabia Optical assures durability and style for its frame along with all the necessary features of graded lenses, with an exclusive free eye consultation. Priding its expertise around the market, the brand also offers wide variety of eyewear products from a normal lens to protective lenses, and contact lens from clear to colored.

Best-In-Class Products

Sarabia Optical offers exclusive frames, sunglasses, prescription lenses, and contact lenses that give protection and overall benefits to its users, promoting complete eye care protection. Aside from having self-curated choices in store for its customers, the brand also has exclusive optical designer brands such as Lindberg, Mykita, Randolph, Gotti and Garrett Leight California Optical. Sarabia Optical also offers premium designer brands such as Gucci, Givenchy, Cartier, Tom Ford and more.

Sarabia Optical is also one of the largest retailers of the best optical lens brand in the world, Essilor. It is a world leader and producer of innovative optical lenses from France for the global market, which continuously develops lenses to assure full protection and comfort for its users. Essilor aims to fully protect wearer’s eyes from harmful blue light and UV rays that may cause blurry eyesight, eye strain, and headache. Not only does it give UV protection, Essilor products range in many features with different type of lenses such Transitions for outdoor sunlight protection and Varilux lenses for progressive eyesight wearers. Sarabia Optical also provides contact lenses from Alcon, an American-Swiss medical company known for highly wearable contact lenses. The brand assures easy use contact lenses that will never sacrifice comfort of the patients. The contact lenses come with many features and levels of breathability, colors and wearing time for maximum comfort. Well-known products of Alcon are Air Optix Hydraglyde, Dailies Aqua Comfort Plus, and Freshlook Illuminate.

Century of Excellence

The first Filipino owned optical since 1906, Sarabia Optical is consistently innovating the optical industry in the Philippines, applying their varied expertise to customers while providing best-in-class exclusive products to promote eye care and eye health. Currently, Sarabia Optical has 28 stores around National Capital Region and CALABARZON areas, with a mission to give Filipinos the best quality eyecare products, customer service and overall eye health.

Maximize Your Suweldo this Payday Sale and Save More When Paying for Bills via ShopeePay

Make the most out of your suweldo this coming payday! ShopeePay, Shopee’s all-in-one mobile wallet, lets you save more with amazing rewards and discounts this coming October 15 at the Shopee Payday Sale. With ShopeePay, not only can you look forward to great deals and promos, but you can also enjoy a safer and more convenient payment experience when you settle your bills through the Shopee app or when you pay via ShopeePay QR for in-store purchases. Here’s what to look forward to this October 15.

Big Discounts & Cashback on Bills

Tired of waiting in line to pay your dues? This payday, users can enjoy up to ₱100 off on their bills from the following ShopeePay partner billers: Meralco, Maynilad, and Primewater for utility bills; Globe, Smart, and Sun for postpaid mobile bills. This discount also applies to landline and internet bills from PLDT, Globe at Home, and Converge; and SkyCable, Cignal, Cablelink, and Streamtech for TV cable bills. ShopeePay discount vouchers can also be used to pay for loans and credit card billers like Home Credit, Cashalo, Dragonloans, SkyPay, and RCBC.

To sweeten the deal, you can enjoy up to 50% bills cashback if it's your first time paying bills, buying load, or e-vouchers using ShopeePay!

Up to 50% Off on Mobile Load

This coming payday, users can also enjoy up to 50% off on mobile load from all networks. To add to this, they can get up to 10% coins cashback when they purchase Smart and TNT load worth ₱200 and up, and 100 coins cashback for Globe load worth ₱350. All major Philippine networks are now available on ShopeePay which include Smart, Globe, DITO, Sun, TM, and TNT, so you can always stay connected to your friends and loved ones.

₱1 Deals from ShopeePay Merchants

Apart from saving on bills and load, you can also maximize your suweldo by purchasing ShopeePay ₱1 Deals this Payday Sale. Buy ₱1 Deals via Deals Near Me on the Shopee app, and redeem your discounts when you Scan To Pay in participating stores of ShopeePay partner merchants like Bonchon, Potato Corner, Moonleaf, Plains & Prints, Tapa King, Nature Republic, Aerophone, Home Along, and Buddy's, among many others. ShopeePay has over 2,500 partner merchants with over 15,000 total branches nationwide; enabling ShopeePay users to make safe and cashless transactions in a wide variety of stores while enjoying exclusive discounts and perks.



Make sure to activate and top up your ShopeePay wallet in time for Shopee’s Payday Sale! On October 14, get a chance to win ₱15,000 when you top up a minimum amount of ₱500 in your ShopeePay Wallet and play the Scratch & Win Top Up Promo. Top up your ShopeePay wallet through online banking, debit card, and over-the-counter partners to enjoy a safe and rewarding cashless experience this Payday!

For more information about ShopeePay, and its perks and benefits, visit https://shopee.ph/m/shopee-pay.

Top Talents to Tech Leaders: The Key to Sustained E-Commerce Growth

E-commerce platforms continue to strengthen their foundation in the global retail market with constant innovation and improvements in the consumers’ overall online shopping experience. Along with the immense demand for quality products and services, there is also a great need for tech talents who will drive the growth of e-commerce locally and internationally. The value of e-commerce in Southeast Asia is projected to reach US$132 billion by the end of 2021, and in five years, the Philippines’ e-commerce value will grow by 3.8X.

Shopee, the leading e-commerce platform in Southeast Asia and Taiwan, equips young and high-potential talent with immersive training and in-depth mentorships through its Global Leaders Program (GLP).

The Shopee Global Leaders Program is a 2-year graduate program consisting of four 6-month local and overseas rotations designed for highly enthusiastic and ambitious young Filipino talents. Participants will help drive Shopee’s campaigns and new initiatives by working with local and overseas teams. They will gain eye-opening experiences, regional exposure and contribute to the expansion of Shopee across the region. Outstanding final-year students or fresh graduates with up to 2-years of working experience can qualify for GLP and will be part of a structured learning and development program. They will also receive dedicated mentorship from Shopee leaders.

Martin Yu, Director at Shopee Philippines, said, “With the demand for tech talents significantly rising, Shopee will continue to equip and nurture aspiring tech leaders through various training and internships like the Global Leaders Program. With this, Shopee is inviting those who are eager to learn to join the program. We are looking forward to the next batch of participants who will greatly contribute to the future of e-commerce in the region and in the international landscape.”

Participants of GLP shared how they gained significant professional and personal growth, which will help them excel in their careers in the e-commerce industry.

For Jan, the GLP is a holistic learning experience. “I love how diverse the possible rotations are and the opportunity for regional exposure is definitely a bonus. The program definitely builds your business acumen and widens your perspective on e-commerce as a whole. GLP is a great training ground to become a better problem solver. Not only do we get to analyze and solve real business problems, there are also many resources available to us. I personally enjoy the GLP training and gatherings wherein we get to hear from GLPs from other countries,” Jan shared.

Lance, on the other hand, sees GLP as an informative learning experience that opened his eyes to the industry’s broader spectrum. “I’ve always been interested in technology and startups, especially startups that create a new business model and innovation that is grounded on a new perspective or set of values. I wanted to join GLP because I felt it was a great opportunity to develop key leadership and problem-solving skills, while also getting exposure to tech-related businesses and the world of startups,” Lance added.

Both Jan and Lance are still currently enrolled in the program and consider it as an opportunity to hone their skills and understand the industry better. “If you are looking for strategic exposure and impactful work, apply to Shopee’s GLP. It is definitely a unique training experience that exposes you to highly skilled mentors, all the way to challenging and enriching projects,” Jan explained.


“If you find yourself interested and excited with roles that require business and problem-solving skills, then GLP is a great choice. Read up on the program details on the Shopee website and if you find yourself excited or curious about the rotations and challenges in e-commerce, then you should give it a shot,” Lance shared.


Are you an aspiring tech leader and interested in learning about the e-commerce industry? The application is open until October 30, 2021.

For more information about the program, visit https://careers.shopee.ph/GLP.

Buy Load, Pay Bills, and Scan to Pay with ShopeePay. Download the Shopee app for free via the App Store or Google Play.

DITO Enables a Seamless Gaming Experience Through Partnership with UniPin

 

DITO Telecommunity, the country’s newest telco player continuously accelerates its service to provide stronger connectivity to various communities nationwide. As a part of its mission to enrich Filipino lives through digital innovations, DITO agreed to provide an easy gaming experience with UniPin. The partnership kicks off from October 11, 2021.

The partnership between DITO and UniPin will enable DITO users to purchase game vouchers directly through UniPin.  UniPin is a leading digital entertainment enabler with more than 10 years of experience in providing reliable game vouchers from the most favorite game publishers around the world. This will ensure easy and safe gaming top-up wherever and whenever.

As the payment option to gaming vouchers becomes available, it can be selected in each transaction under the SMS Mobile Payment (DCB) on web checkout on the UniPin website. The amount of purchase will be deducted from DITO phone balance. Some popular game vouchers that can be purchased are Call of Duty: Mobile, PUBG Mobile, and Nintendo eShop.

Jasper Evangelista, DITO’s Brand & Marketing Director explains the partnership as an embodiment for both company’s vision, “DITO and UniPin share the same vision which is to provide the best digital services to every Filipino in the country. As we believe that the gaming community in the country has been growing steadily, we want to support them with the best access to gaming experience possible through the partnership,” said Evangelista. 

Ashadi Ang, UniPin’s CEO mentioned the high-speed data service and value to community are matched to UniPin’s goals for the gaming community, “As a part of the gaming community, our audience truly appreciates the speedy data service and DITO’s support to esports in general. UniPin is optimistic that the partnership will benefit gamers in the Philippines and grow the country’s esports scene,” add Ang.

DITO has previously showed massive support to gaming communities through esports tournaments. DITO also placed high hopes for esports in the Philippines to grow competitively with other countries in the region. The partnership is also expected to gain more interest from gamers, especially within Millennials and Gen Z age group.

More details and information related to the partnership can be found through UniPin Philippines Instagram account @unipin_ph or UniPin website http://unipin.com and through @DITOPhOfficial’s social media pages or www.dito.ph.