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Author: Press Release

  • NAMCYA Celebrates its Golden Milestone with ‘Gintong Pamana’

    Celebrating 50 years of discovering and nurturing the best, young musicians in the Philippines, the National Music Competitions for Young Artists (NAMCYA) presents Gintong Pamana: The 2023 NAMCYA Festivals and Competitions, featuring a myriad of performances and other musical activities starting this March.

    The NAMCYA was formally organized in 1973, under Presidential Proclamation 1173, and amended in November 1988.  Through PP 1173, which designated the last week of November of each year as National Music Week, the NAMCYA Competitions became the main highlights of the celebration.  In 2001 Presidential Proclamation No. 80 affirms the mission of NAMCYA for the nation’s young artists.

    Republic Act 11915 designates the NAMCYA as the Philippine National Youth Development Program for Music which will serve as the conduit for the discovery of outstanding musical talents in the country; the development of musicians; the preservation, development, and promotion of Philippine music as an art form; and the undertaking of a continuing program of research, documentation, and publication of Philippine music for dissemination to schools and the general public.

    Starting March 1, NAMCYA is accepting entries for its various competition categories including Choir (Children’s and Senior), Guitar (Senior), Piano (Senior), Rondalla (Children’s Solo and Junior), Strings (Violins and Lower Strings: Viola, Cello, Contrabass), Traditional Music, Voice (Senior), Woodwinds (Open), and Composition, which is this year’s special category. Deadline for submission is June 30, 2023.  Application forms may be accessed from the NAMCYA website.

    Eliminations will happen starting in July, through hybrid (on-site and online) adjudication; followed by the semifinals in six regional center clusters, namely South-Central Mindanao (General Santos City), Northern Mindanao, Central Visayas (Bogo City, Cebu), Northern Luzon (Alcala, Cagayan), Southern Luzon, and the National Capital Region.  The National Final Round will be on November 21 to 26, at the Metropolitan Theater in Manila.

    With the mission to ensuring the future of Philippine music, the competition will be led by distinguished chairpersons, including Dr. Arwin Tan (Choir – Children’s and Senior), Nathan Manimtim (Guitar – Senior), Dr. Michelle Nicolasora (Piano – Senior), Mariefrance Ballester (Rondalla – Children’s Solo Rondalla Instrument and Junior Rondalla), Diomedes Saraza Jr. (Strings – Violins and Lower Strings: Viola, Cello, Contrabass), Dr. Felicidad Prudente (Traditional Music), Ma. Austregelina Alfornon aka Nenen Espina (Voice – Senior), Antonio Maigue (Woodwinds –Open), and Mary Katherine Trangco (Composition).

    Aside from the main competition, NAMCYA presents its series of concerts, kicking off with “Bata Ang Bukas (The Children, Our Future): Children’s Choirs in Focus” slated on April 29, 4pm, at Ayala Museum.  The concert will feature UP Cherubims and Seraphims, Balon Dagupan Children’s Choir, and the Loboc Children’s Choir.

    The next concert, Tumutubong Katutubo (Evolving Traditional Music Expressions), put the spotlight on traditional music performed by the San Nicolas High School Cultural Ensemble, the Massalingga Dacalan Ensemble, the Puljus Udliwang Ethnic Ensemble, the Antonio D. Pendatun Elementary School and Upper Labay High School Music Ensemble, and Fataldao Banisil Colot IP Implementing Schools Music Ensemble.  It will happen on May 6, 4pm, at the CCP Liwasang Kalikasan.

    Galing Namcya, Balik Namcya! Concert of Winners gives the stage to the former winners of various categories on August 12, 7pm; while NAMCYA Extravaganza (Noon, Ngayon at Bukas): The Closing Ceremonies will feature some of the best solo and group competition winners on November 26, 3pm. Both concerts will be held at the Metropolitan Theater.

    For its golden anniversary, the NAMCYA will also hold concerts in both local and international festivals, music camps, seminar-workshops, and publications. Venue partners are the Cultural Center of the Philippines, the Manila Metropolitan Theater, the Ayala Museum, the Manila Pianos Inc., the Rizal Park Open Air Auditorium, and other venues provided by local government units.

    NAMCYA thanks the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA), the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP), the Department of Education (DepEd), the Commission On Higher Education (CHED), the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG), the Department of Tourism (DOT), the Philippine Information Agency (PIA), the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT), and the National Youth Commission (NYC).

    For more information and application requirements, visit the NAMCYA website. Follow the official NAMCYA social media accounts in Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube for the latest updates.

  • CCP, RMMCMI & KSS Mindanao Open PANAGHIUSA IP-Moro Arts Fest and Forum February in Koronadal City

    PANAGHIUSA (unity/oneness): Indigenous Peoples-Moro Arts Fest and Forum opened recently in Koronadal City.  It was jointly undertaken by the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP) through its Cultural Exchange Department (CED) and the Ramon Magsaysay Memorial Colleges Marbel Inc. (RMMCMI).

    CCP Panaghiusa Feb2023 1

    Panaghiusa is one of the CCP Kaisa sa Sining (KSS) Mindanao Collaborative projects for 2023 which was planned during the KSS Regional Caucus and Dialogue held last June 11–13, 2022 in Koronadal City. The key representatives of the KSS Mindanao crafted action plans to prioritize and implement attainable cultural and artistic programs and projects that would benefit the community. 

    Panaghiusa highlights the various experiences, voices, and expressions through exchanges of ideas and knowledge, performances, and interactions.  It is in the purview of the Mindanao IPs and the Moros themselves, so settlers understand and appreciate IP – Moro’s right to self-determination and sovereignty.

    As advocates of IP-Moro culture, Mindanaoan artists and cultural formators converge to let their voices be heard and take the necessary actions to make an impact in the lives and future of the IP-Moros in Mindanao.  Datu Victorino Saway of the Talaandig community, Nestor Horfilla of Davao City and other prominent leaders of various cultural communities and organizations led in the open discussions and strategic planning on priority concerns of the IPs and Moros to include food security, women leadership, disaster risk reduction, resiliency building, and cultural appropriation, among other activities.

    The activities were aptly titled as Kastulen (conversations), Hegefan (performances), Pagana (traditional cooking), Kalyak (valuable material)).  A total of 20 cultural communities were represented in the 2-day fest and forum:  Manobo, Talaandig, Daraghuyan, Tagolwanen, Blaan, Iranun, Tboli, Arumanen, Sama, Tausug, Sangir, Maguindanao, Teduray, Maranaw, Subanen, Yakan, Kagan, Higaonon and Mamanwa.  Special performances were also lined up and showcased the rich and colorful dances, music and rituals of some of the groups with special participation of the Hinugyaw Dance Troupe, Bayang Barrios, Carlito Amalla, Helobung Cultural Dance Troupe and the Marbel Youth Choir.

    The Pagana cooking demos featured traditional cuisine of the Maranaws, Sama, Tboli and Subanen.  A General Santos City artist, educator and curator built an exhibition titled Tawid: Shifts in Gender Roles in Traditional Visual Arts.  The exhibit featured the Iranun Art of Binalodan Inaul, an enduring expression but threatened as there was only a small community of weavers who produce these Cultural Resources.  It is Ikat (resist dyeing technique) on weft thread.  Works by Moamar A. Garcia and Jala Daudl were exhibited and had a balod (tieying of the patterns) demonstration.

  • Airbnb: Philippines is the second-largest women-powered Host community in the world, women make up two thirds of all Hosts

    Airbnb today revealed that its Host community in the Philippines is its second-largest women-powered Host community in the world after New Zealand. Women make up for two-thirds of all Airbnb Hosts* in the country — proof that Filipinas are powering the local tourism industry now more than ever.

    Known for their iconic warmth and hospitality, Filipinos – and especially Filipinas – are increasingly contributing to the country’s tourism economy by welcoming travelers into their homes, and employing fellow women to support them in their daily operations. Hosting is also providing a significant financial opportunity amidst rising costs of living, with Filipina Hosts collectively earning over Php 2.5 billion in 2022*.

    Airbnb WomenInTravel Industry Dialogue Key Visual 1
    Featuring Airbnb’s Head of Public Policy for Southeast Asia, India, Hong Kong, and Taiwan Mich Goh, Mayor of Quezon City Honorable Maria Josefina “Joy” Belmonte, Philippine Commission on Women Gender and Development representative Anne Jeaneth Casalme, Philippine Coast Guard officer and renowned mountaineer Noelle Wenceslao, Airbnb Host and content creator Colleen Vidal, and Airbnb Senior Communications Manager for Southeast Asia Cheryl Tay (Photo: Airbnb)

    Women are a cornerstone in Airbnb’s guest and Host community and comprise 55% of all Hosts globally.* They also comprise 40% of Airbnb’s 1 million Superhosts**, who provide guests with outstanding hospitality in more than 200 countries and territories. Solo travel is also gaining momentum in the Philippines. In the Philippines, 56% of all solo traveler nights in 2022 were booked by women.

    Timed to International Women’s Month this year, Airbnb is celebrating the growing role of women in driving greater equity in the Philippines travel and tourism industry. The global hospitality platform today launched its inaugural #WomenInTravel industry dialogue discussing how travel is challenging stereotypes and breaking boundaries, as more Filipinas take action to uplift and empower new generations of Filipinas in the travel and tourism industry.

    Speakers included Mich Goh, Airbnb’s Head of Public Policy for Southeast Asia, India, Hong Kong, and Taiwan; Honorable Maria Josefina “Joy” Belmonte, Mayor of Quezon City; Anne Jeaneth Casalme, Philippine Commission on Women Gender and Development representative; Noelle Wenceslao, Philippine Coast Guard officer, mountaineer, and the first Filipina to summit Mount Everest; and Colleen Vidal, tourism entrepreneur, Airbnb Host, and Filipina content creator. 

    Highlighting the importance of Airbnb’s women-powered Host community in the Philippines, Mich Goh, Airbnb’s Head of Public Policy for Southeast Asia, India, Hong Kong, and Taiwan said, “Women Hosts are playing an increasingly pivotal role in the travel and tourism sector, and especially in the Philippines. We are heartened to see more and more women open their homes to travelers and provide the authentic hospitality that Filipinos are renowned for. As more Pinays step up to lead our Host communities and share hosting tips with one another, we remain committed to supporting and growing our Pinay Host community and ensuring that their roles in contributing to the industry are recognized.”

    Honorable Maria Josefina “Joy” Belmonte, Mayor of Quezon City shared, “Quezon City is committed to ensuring that every woman is recognized, empowered and celebrated through various initiatives that promote economic empowerment, equality in business and livelihood opportunities for all genders, including women tourism entrepreneurs. We will continue to be a leader and model of local governance to create a society that is inclusive and unbiased. We look forward to industry players such as Airbnb supporting our goal to make Quezon City and the Philippines a go-to destination, with women at the forefront of tourism development.”

    Echoing the need to drive more visibility of Filipinas in the tourism industry, Philippine Commission on Women Gender and Development representative Anne Jeaneth Casalme added, “The Philippine Commission on Women fully supports initiatives to empower Filipinas in the tourism sector. We are excited to see companies like Airbnb showcasing their expertise in tourism development and promotion of women entrepreneurship in the country while advocating the safety of women tourism travelers. We look forward to more discussions on women’s sector development with the private sector in the country.”

    Philippine Coast Guard officer and renowned mountaineer Noelle Wenceslao added, “Throughout my years in the Coast Guard, I’ve worked alongside so many diverse and strong women, including a two-time Olympian, a world champion dragon boat paddler, women rescue divers and bomb squad members. To top it off, they are mothers – proving that stereotypes exist only if we allow them to.” On being the first Filipino to summit Everest, Noelle shared that she drew strength by looking at the journey as her ‘highest’ goal, “I believe everyone has their own Mount Everest, an ultimate goal we want to achieve. It took me three years of preparation and three months on expedition to spend just thirty minutes on the summit, but it meant so much that the long preparation was nothing compared to what I felt when I conquered it.”

    Colleen Vidal, Airbnb Host, and content creator, shared her journey from content creator to travel entrepreneur, “When I first started creating travel content, I wanted to share tips to guide my followers on how best to plan their vacations. Along the way, I realised that I could provide these very accommodations and activities – and that’s how my journey as a tourism entrepreneur came about. Throughout the years that I have called Siargao my home, I have learned that us locals make up its very soul. Promoting the island’s travel offerings has meant giving back more economic opportunities to local communities, while also helping tourists experience what Siargao is all about.”

    *Based on internal Airbnb data from January to December 2022
    **Refers to Hosts who held Superhosts status and identified themselves as women as of September 30, 2022

  • WATCH: Meet the Creatures of ‘Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves’ in New Featurette

    Dragons, a mimic… intellect devourers? Creature Week is in full swing! Watch the “Meet the Creatures” featurette below for Paramount Pictures’ Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves and see the film only in Philippine cinemas starting March 29.

    A charming thief and a band of unlikely adventurers undertake an epic heist to retrieve a lost relic, but things go dangerously awry when they run afoul of the wrong people.  Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves brings the rich world and playful spirit of the legendary roleplaying game to the big screen in a hilarious and action-packed adventure.

    Paramount Pictures Presents In Association with eOne A Jonathan Goldstein & John Francis Daley Film

    dd ff 103r

    Directed by Jonathan Goldstein & John Francis Daley, screenplay by Jonathan Goldstein & John Francis Daley and Michael Gilio. Story by Chris McKay & Michael Gilio, based on HASBRO’S DUNGEONS & DRAGONS

    The film stars Chris Pine, Michelle Rodriguez, Regé-Jean Page, Justice Smith, Sophia Lillis, Chloe Coleman, Daisy Head and Hugh Grant.

    Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves is distributed in the Philippines by Paramount Pictures through Columbia Pictures.  Connect with #DnDMovie and tag @paramountpicsph

    Photo & Video Credit: “Paramount Pictures International”

  • Prime Video Reveals First-Look Images and Premiere Date for Groundbreaking Global Spy Series “Citadel”

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    Today, Prime Video debuted first-look images for the highly anticipated action-spy thriller Citadel, revealing that the series will premiere exclusively on Prime Video on Friday, April 28, with two adrenaline-fueled episodes, followed by a new episode released weekly every Friday through May 26. The landmark, high-stakes drama is executive produced by the Russo Brothers’ AGBO and showrunner David Weil, and stars Richard Madden and Priyanka Chopra Jonas, with Stanley Tucci and Lesley Manville. Citadel will be available in more than 240 countries and territories worldwide. 

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    About Citadel

    Eight years ago, Citadel fell. The independent global spy agency—tasked to uphold the safety and security of all people—was destroyed by operatives of Manticore, a powerful syndicate manipulating the world from the shadows. With Citadel’s fall, elite agents Mason Kane (Richard Madden) and Nadia Sinh (Priyanka Chopra Jonas) had their memories wiped as they narrowly escaped with their lives. They’ve remained hidden ever since, building new lives under new identities, unaware of their pasts. Until one night, when Mason is tracked down by his former Citadel colleague, Bernard Orlick (Stanley Tucci), who desperately needs his help to prevent Manticore from establishing a new world order. Mason seeks out his former partner, Nadia, and the two spies embark on a mission that takes them around the world in an effort to stop Manticore, all while contending with a relationship built on secrets, lies, and a dangerous-yet-undying love. 

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    Richard Madden stars as Mason Kane, alongside Priyanka Chopra Jonas as Nadia Sinh, Stanley Tucci as Bernard Orlick, Lesley Manville as Dahlia Archer, Osy Ikhile as Carter Spence, Ashleigh Cummings as Abby Conroy, Roland Møller as Anders Silje and Davik Silje, Caoilinn Springall as Hendrix Conroy, and more. 

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    From Amazon Studios and the Russo Brothers’ AGBO, Citadel is executive produced by Anthony Russo, Joe Russo, Mike Larocca, Angela Russo-Otstot, and Scott Nemes for AGBO, with David Weil serving as showrunner and executive producer. Josh Appelbaum, André Nemec, Jeff Pinkner, and Scott Rosenberg serve as executive producers for Midnight Radio. Newton Thomas Sigel and Patrick Moran also serve as executive producers.

    Citadel Continues

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    Citadel, starring Richard Madden and Priyanka Chopra Jonas and featuring Stanley Tucci and Lesley Manville, is the debut of a landmark global franchise. Executive produced by the Russo Brothers’ AGBO, Citadel and its subsequent series traverse the globe with interconnected stories. Each Citadel series is locally created, produced, and filmed in-region, and stars top talent, forming a distinct global franchise. Series are already underway in Italy and India, respectively, starring Matilda De Angelis, Varun Dhawan, and Samantha Ruth Prabhu. 

  • Here’s Your Lifestyle Guide to Choosing the Right 16-inch Laptop

    Choosing the right laptop that caters to one’s needs and lifestyle may be a daunting task with many choices available in the market. More often than not, Filipinos must choose between portability over performance, performance over a better display, or a better display over portability. What if there’s a bigger and better laptop that balances users’ needs without compromising anything?

    Enter the latest ASUS Vivobook and Zenbook series – a wide range of 16-inch devices ideal for school, work, entertainment, or content creation. These compact and powerful laptops are designed to accommodate a variety of Filipino lifestyles, featuring the best specs and unique features for optimum productivity and creativity.

    Choose OLED as the gold standard

    2 ASUS Vivobook Pro 16 OLED

    ASUS brings the beauty of an OLED display to its 16-inch laptops providing users a viewing experience that’s almost true to life. With a world-leading 3.2K 120Hz 16:10 OLED display, images on ASUS Vivobook Pro 16 OLED (K6602) are vibrant and popping. With the bigger screen real estate, designers and artists can see every line and shade of their drafts. Color-grade and color-match like the pros, as Vivobook Pro 16 OLED has a cinema-grade 100% DCI-P3 color gamut and Pantone-validated, ensuring supremely accurate colors – may it be in a dark editing room or a brightly-lit café. For those who love post-processing videos, having an OLED display on an editing device only means flicker-less and smooth motions, especially in those fast-paced scenes.

    Multitasking is also more efficient as Vivobook Pro 16 OLED features up to 12th Generation Intel Core i7-12700H CPU, 16 GB RAM, up to 1 TB PCIe SSD, and up to a studio-grade of NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050 Ti GPU. It can handle fast video editing, entry-level 3D animation workflows, and the like, so users can spend more time producing great content and less time staring at progress bars.

    Aside from having a bigger display, ASUS engineered Creator-centric features to amplify their creative workflow. The MUX Switch on Vivobook Pro 16 OLED allows reduced latency and increased performance during 3D works. This feature also comes in handy when creators enjoy fast-paced gaming during break time. The ASUS Dial on ASUS Zenbook Pro 16X OLED (UX7602) and the ASUS DialPad on ASUS Vivobook Pro 16X OLED (N7601) give creators a more ergonomic and streamlined way to work. This rotary control lets them fully control parameter adjustments in select Adobe apps. These 16-inch ASUS Creator laptops also come with a free three-month subscription to Adobe Creative Cloud.

    Choose the perfect balance between performance and design

    3 ASUS Vivobook 16X

    Gone are the days when performance and design could not co-exist in one’s school or work laptop. ASUS Vivobook 16X (M1603) and ASUS Vivobook 16 (X1605) make it possible to have an all-around high-performing productivity device in a compact design. Ideal for a hybrid school or work setup, these devices have top specs supporting an expansive 16-inch LCD wide-view NanoEdge display, all in a sleek body. Whether creating a feasibility plan, reviewing documents, taking virtual classes or meetings, or watching the latest TV series, users can enjoy a more immersive viewing experience, all thanks to the real estate a 16-inch display can only offer.

    While the exteriors of Vivobook 16X and Vivobook 16 are discreet and polished, they pack a punch on the inside. Under the hood of these Classic Vivobook devices are the latest AMD and Intel processors. Vivobook 16X comes with up to AMD Ryzen 7 5800H Mobile Processor, and Vivobook 16 features an up to 12th Generation Intel Core i7-1255U CPU. Plus, the 8 GB of DDR4 RAM and a 512 GB PCIe SSD on both models give a performance boost for all-day, all-night productivity. To top it all off, both Vivobook 16X and Vivobook 16 are pre-installed with a free lifetime license to Office 2021 Home & Student.

    Choose upgraded features

    4 ASUS Vivobook 16

    ASUS’ 16-inch laptops are more than just their display and internal specs. They are also designed with many features that take productivity to the next level. Upgrade that video conferencing experience for school or work as the ASUS 16-inch devices are equipped with ASUS AI Noise-Canceling Technology and ASUS 3D Noise Reduction. These features allow a distraction-free crisp video call without those unnecessary background noise and upgrade the webcam’s image clarity in real-time. Their ASUS ErgoSense keyboards also provide maximum comfort when typing, especially when working on those long reports. They are treated with ASUS Antibacterial Guard for maximum protection and are certified MIL-STD-810H U.S. military grade.

    Found the best 16-inch laptop yet? Watch out for ASUS’ most affordable laptop with a 16-inch 4K OLED display, the Vivobook 16X OLED, arriving in early March 2023 for only PHP 56,995.00.

    Bigger, Better Discount at 3.3 Shopee and Lazada Birthday Sale

    Filipinos can also secure their own ASUS 16-inch laptop through the upcoming Shopee 3.3 Big Laptop Sale and ASUS x Lazada Big Birthday Sale Big Laptop Sale at a discounted price of as low as PHP31,615.00. The first five to purchase an ASUS OLED 16-inch or 15-inch laptop will receive a Create with ASUS merchandise. Plus, PHP 100 voucher and free shipping vouchers await. To know more, visit the ASUS Philippines Facebook page.

    All ASUS 16-inch laptops come with Two Years International Warranty and Platinum Protection Warranty and are available on Home Credit at 0% installment of up to 18 months.Along with features that fit any lifestyle, these devices come in various price points, with a starting regular price of PHP 32,995.00. Visit https://ph.asus.click/PRWTB to know the nearest ASUS Concept Stores and authorized resellers.

  • It’s a Showdown of Character Posters for “Shazam! Fury of the Gods”

    About “Shazam! Fury of the Gods”

    From New Line Cinema comes “Shazam! Fury of the Gods,” which continues the story of teenage Billy Batson who, upon reciting the magic word “SHAZAM!,” is transformed into his adult Super Hero alter ego, Shazam.

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    Bestowed with the powers of the gods, Billy Batson and his fellow foster kids are still learning how to juggle teenage life with having adult Super Hero alter-egos. But when the Daughters of Atlas, a vengeful trio of ancient gods, arrive on Earth in search of the magic stolen from them long ago, Billy—aka Shazam—and his family are thrust into a battle for their superpowers, their lives, and the fate of their world.

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    “Shazam! Fury of the Gods” stars returning cast members Zachary Levi (“Thor: Ragnarok”) as Shazam; Asher Angel (“Andi Mack”) as Billy Batson; Jack Dylan Grazer (“It Chapter Two”) as Freddy Freeman; Adam Brody (“Promising Young Woman”) as Super Hero Freddy; Ross Butler (“Raya and the Last Dragon”) as Super Hero Eugene; Meagan Good (“Day Shift”) as Super Hero Darla; D.J. Cotrona (“G.I. Joe: Retaliation”) as Super Hero Pedro; Grace Caroline Currey (“Annabelle: Creation”) as Mary Bromfield / Super Hero Mary; Faithe Herman (“This Is Us”) as Darla Dudley; Ian Chen (“A Dog’s Journey”) as Eugene Choi; Jovan Armand (“Second Chances”) as Pedro Pena; Marta Milans (“White Lines”) as Rosa Vasquez; Cooper Andrews (“The Walking Dead”) as Victor Vasquez; with Djimon Hounsou (“A Quiet Place Part II”) as Wizard.

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    Joining the cast are Rachel Zegler (“West Side Story”), with Lucy Liu (“Kung Fu Panda” franchise) and Helen Mirren (“F9: The Fast Saga”).

    The film is directed by David F. Sandberg (“Shazam!,” “Annabelle: Creation”) and produced by Peter Safran (“Aquaman,” “The Suicide Squad”). It is written by Henry Gayden (“Shazam!,” “There’s Someone Inside Your House”) and Chris Morgan (“Fast & Furious Presents: Hobbs & Shaw,” “The Fate of the Furious”), based on characters from DC; Shazam! was created by Bill Parker and C.C. Beck. Executive producers are Walter Hamada, Adam Schlagman, Richard Brener, Dave Neustadter, Victoria Palmeri, Marcus Viscidi and Geoff Johns.

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    New Line Cinema presents A Peter Safran Production of A David F. Sandberg Film, “Shazam! Fury of the Gods” is distributed in the Philippines by Warner Bros. Pictures.

    Join the conversation online and use the hashtag #ShazamMovie

    Photo & Video Credit: “Warner Bros. Pictures”

  • Skybiz Shares Five Business Trends to Help Upgrade Your Business This 2023

    As we unravel 2023, businesses are now getting back on track in terms of maintaining and growing their ventures while adapting to the necessary changes brought about by years of unprecedented circumstances and the transition toward the digital age.

    SKYBIZ SHARES FIVE BUSINESS TRENDS TO HELP UPGRADE YOUR BUSINESS THIS 2023

    Business owners from various sectors continue to strategize in today’s times to see which methods can deem fit for achieving their target goals of brand presence, work productivity, and organizational longevity. With these re-calibrations in place, entrepreneurs and corporate institutions keep a keen eye on yearly trends that would help boost their businesses, in terms of sales and customer feedback, among others. 

    SKYBIZ, the business solutions arm of SKY Cable Corporation, can help keep track of the hottest trends this 2023 for its partners to grow their ventures, as aligned to its ongoing “Grow Together” campaign.

    Here are SKYBIZ’s five picks for this year’s trends worth considering to help boost your business to greater heights:

    1) Utilizing hybrid working arrangements

    As community restrictions caused by the pandemic continue to loosen, various business activities slowly return to their usual state. Despite this, people still find hybrid working arrangements favorable to their overall productivity, which is why the set-up is still a trend across many ventures and companies.

    Apart from businesses saving costs when it comes to utilities and employees not having to spend much on their day-to-day expenses, another advantage of the hybrid set-up is that real-time collaboration has not been hampered—given a multitude of productivity apps still helpful in getting the job done and communicating with workmates seamlessly. This then leads to better work-life balance, boosting employees’ morale and productivity in the process.

    2) Artificial intelligence (AI) as a reliable partner for efficiency

    Today’s digital times have indeed changed the way we do business. One of which is integrating artificial intelligence into our day-to-day activities of communicating with our clientele, organizing various data, business monitoring, etc., with the help of reliable AI software—a testament to improved work efficiency.

    Conversing with customers and clientele has been more efficient with the introduction of automated chats that not only serve their purpose of communication but also help further promote other services via call-to-action prompts. AI can also help monitor, organize, and interpret vital data, which business owners can easily translate to actual solutions for achieving their goals. 

    3) Utilizing the biggest digital social platforms

    Social media continues to be on the rise in the digital age. Apart from its use for communication and entertainment, social platforms online serve as an ingenious marketing tool, whether for advertising, transacting, or customer feedback—all of which can be achieved without breaking the bank.

    Recently, many social media platforms have also provided advertising solutions to further one’s product or service globally through a single post.

    Although social media can be a breeze to use, reaching more audiences/users can be quite tricky to analyze. Fortunately, employees and owners can consult with digital media experts to fully utilize its potential as an all-in-one business tool.

    4) Collaborating with other businesses

    As they say, “Teamwork does the dream work!” And this is where collaboration enters the picture, especially for businesses that are looking to maximize brand presence through beneficial partnerships. 

    Partnering with other businesses can deem helpful for the parties involved, including sharing resources to ensure the overall quality of a collaborative product/service and sharing a customer base to amplify all brands.

    5) Investing in digital security

    Lastly, as the digital age continues to trailblaze the way we do business, it is also important to invest in cybersecurity measures to avoid compromising vital information, funds, and other resources from all types of digital perpetrators.

    The last thing any business owner wants is to lose all of these with just a click of a button from hackers and phishers alike. But investing in cybersecurity tools can go a long way to maintaining the trust of clientele and securing valuable assets.

    These are among the trends to consider this year. And to fully maximize its benefits, SKYBIZ is there to help with its array of reliable internet service plans, including its BizBB Pro and BIZTastic BunDeals offerings, that can help actualize these trends seamlessly in one’s business.

    DOUBLE UP PROMO EXTENSION

    With its BizBB Pro Double Up promo, subscribers can experience SKYBIZ’s business-grade internet with boosted speeds from 100 Mbps to 200 Mbps, plus personalized account management and 24/7 technical support for the same price of only P2,299. 

    Meanwhile, businesses can also opt for its BIZTastic BunDeals promo to enjoy additional perks along their high-speed internet plans, featuring a Microsoft 365 subscription plus vouchers from Grab.

    To know more about SKYBIZ’s internet plans and promo updates, visit www.skybiz.com.ph.

  • An Exquisite Saga-gyu and Wine Adventure at The Manila Hotel’s Champagne Room

    Have ‘A Taste of Japan’ as The Manila Hotel’s Champagne Room invites you to an evening of epicurean journey with its exclusive Saga-gyu dinner paired with bespoke wine.

    Champagne Room

    The most discerning meat fans and wine enthusiasts will be treated to a 7-course dinner featuring dishes curated by our special guest chef from Japan, Hiroki Samata—a classically-trained chef and master butcher whose impeccable knife skills are admired by many.

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    Chef Samata will exhibit his culinary creativity with a menu that puts the spotlight on Saga-gyu beef which is one of the world’s most revered delicacies. But what makes this illustrious meat stand out among the rest? Saga beef cows live a life of comfort and luxury, nurtured using expert breeding techniques, and are free to relish the infinite beauty of Saga’s natural surroundings. As a result, the cows produce a perfect balance of fat marbled in lean meat, known in Japanese as tsuya-sashi or “glossy marbling” which is the key to its melt-in-your-
    mouth texture and unparalleled flavor.

    Chef Hiroki Samata1

    To make the dining experience more enjoyable, our partner Titania Wine Cellar will guide our diners with wine pairing nuances using their extensive range of quality wines such as Piccini Memoro Italia Bianco and Chateau Loyasson Bordeaux AOC, to name a few.

    Chef Hiroki Samata2 1

    This elegant night of fine dining and wine pairing will be held exclusively on March 15, 2023 at 7PM at the Champagne Room. Seats are limited to 40 persons and are priced at Php 10,000 nett per person.

    For inquiries and reservations, call (63 2) 8-527-0011 or (63 2) 5-301-5500 locals 1262-1266, 1300. You may also send an email to restaurantrsvn@themanilahotel.com or r.champagneroom@themanilahotel.com

  • Money-saving hacks for your next online grocery shopping

    When the going gets tough, the tough get clever with their groceries. Here are some resourceful advice to optimize your budget on your next digital grocery session with MetroMart – the #1 online grocery delivery service in the Philippines.

    Shopper pic 3

    Go creatively green. Vegetables are not just for salads or side dishes, they can be the savory main dish. You can make falafel with chickpeas, lentil burgers, mushroom burgers, or use tofu that make great savory substitutes to meat. Start with Meatless Mondays and get creative with your produce.

    Can, can! Stocking up on all kinds of canned vegetables and meat products are ideal, and this can include pickled or preserved items in jars too. Most canned vegetables are preserved at the peak of their freshness, and can be bought in bulk and stored for a couple of years. Stock up on canned corn, mushrooms, baby corn, plus sardines, corned beef, tuna, canned chicken and alternate or combine with fresh ingredients.

    Bulk up. Buy your vegetables and fruits in bulk and uncut or not yet chopped. For example, a head of lettuce and other salad greens, garlic still in cloves, unpeeled potatoes and carrots. Speaking of bulk buy, stock up on pasta, rice and dried beans, that last long when stored well.

    Best batched. Invest a little bit of time to batch prep meals or food prep on the weekends. Dice up garlic, onion and ginger and just take some as you cook. Make different dishes, portion them up, and freeze. This will be a big timesaver, just heat and eat!

    Sale-searching. Organize a routine around your grocery runs, and consider doing your groceries online regularly. Maximize promos from apps like MetroMart, that offer FREE Delivery and discounts on products or via bank and ewallet payments. Plus, you can eliminate other expenses such as transportation, parking and time spent when going to the store, when you order online instead.

    MetroMart is the #1 online grocery delivery service in the Philippines. Our grocery partners include S&R (with or no membership card required),  Robinsons Supermarket, Landmark, The Marketplace, Shopwise, All Day Supermarket, Merrymart, Super8 Grocery Warehouse, Ever Supermarket, UltraMega Supermarket, and over 500+ specialty store retailers like Pet Express, No Brand, Baby Company, Toy Kingdom, Toys”R”Us, National Book Store, Office Warehouse, Southstar Drug and AllDay Rx. Customers can order from their favorite stores on the MetroMart app and have it delivered to their door in 2 hours! For more updates on MetroMart, like and follow us on Facebook, Instagram and TikTok at @metromartph. Order groceries online or download the app via https://bit.ly/DownloadNowMM.