Author: Press Release

The CCP Pasinaya is Back, and it’s Better & Bigger

AFTER three years of cancellation and online editions, the CCP Pasinaya Open House Festival – the largest multi-arts festival in the country organized by the Cultural Center of the Philippines – returns this year on February 3 to 5, 2023 in various venues inside the CCP Complex, located along Roxas Boulevard, Pasay City.

The festival highlights the different outdoor venues such as the CCP Front Lawn, Liwasang Kalikasan, Tanghalang Ignacio B. Gimenez and its surroundings, and parade ground of Vicente Sotto Street, among others.

“This year, Pasinaya follows the theme ‘Piglas Sining.’ We are breaking away from the notion that the CCP is just the building. We are emphasizing that CCP can be anywhere,” said CCP artistic director Dennis N. Marasigan.

Pasinaya continues its experience-all-you-can, pay-what-you-can scheme. For a suggested donation price of P50, participants may go in and out of the different CCP venues to attend the 30-minute workshops in various art disciplines conducted by leading artists, resource persons and teachers, or watch as many shows, screenings, and activities as they can.

Registration starts at 6:30am, at the Bukaneg side of the Front Lawn and at Vicente Sotto Street.

On February 3, there will be a Pagtitipon, an invitational gathering of the Kaisa sa Sining (KSS) regional partners. There are 59 regional partners from Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao in the KSS network, with three new partners joining. A program of the Cultural Exchange Department, the KSS aims to further strengthen the CCP linkages and cooperations with local organizations in the different regions of the country.

Palihan and Palabas happen on February 4 and 5, with the opening salvo kicking off at the CCP Front Lawn with a parade and special program. In Palihan, audiences can join the different workshops; while they can watch unlimited shows, featuring more than 3,000 artists from different art fields, in Palabas.

Festival programmers and art groups will meet in Palitan on February 4 and 5, on-site at Tanghalang Ignacio Gimenez (CCP Black Box Theater) and online via Zoom.

The open house festival partners with various galleries, museums and art spaces around the metro to put the spotlight on communal artistic spirit and collaborations. For this segment, the Paseo Museo, there will be hop-on, hop-off shuttle vans that will go around the participating arts spaces for free on February 4 and 5.

Through the Pasinaya, the CCP aims to provide a platform for the artists and cultural groups to showcase their talents while nurturing the broadest public and creating new audiences through interactions and performances. Attracting more than 27,000 people with approximately 75,000 audience viewership pre-pandemic, Pasinaya is undoubtedly the biggest multi-arts festival in the country, and still getting bigger and better on its 18th year.

Follow the official CCP social media accounts on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and TikTok for the latest updates.

January 23, 2023
Nu Skin PH launches Inner Focus Collagen Plus

Nu Skin Philippines, a subsidiary of Nu Skin Enterprises, a global leader in premium-quality beauty and wellness products, has launched its latest innovation Inner Focus Collagen Plus to the Philippine market.

Designed to boost collagen and elastin production in the skin, visibly reduce fine lines and wrinkles, and support healthy hydration, the deliciously drinkable skin care super supplement features Bioactive Collagen Peptides that produce the highest stimulatory effect of all collagens tested in vitro, as confirmed in human clinical studies showing improvements in skin elasticity and reduced wrinkles.

“When we’re adults, we produce about 1.5% less collagen each year. Oxidative stressors – like the sunlight we see every day – can even further reduce the amount of collagen our bodies make,” said Helen Knaggs, head of global product of research and development. “At Nu Skin, we prioritize using the best in science, technology and ingredients to keep our skin looking as good as possible. This applies to Inner Focus Collagen Plus: our innovative ingredient blends are more bioactive, so your skin is stimulated and looks more lustrous.”

Inner Focus Collagen Plus is a powdered drink that can be mixed with water, or hot and cold beverages. It comes in stick packs and has no artificial colors, flavors or sweeteners. Each Inner Focus Collagen Plus box containing 30 sticks (1 month supply) is available for Php 6,000.00.

The Proof is in the PLUS

Inner Focus Collagen Plus is clinically proven to help support multiple areas of skin health. Nu Skin’s proprietary ingredient blend features a special elite peptide “fingerprint” that is shown to effectively stimulate collagen and elastin production. In fact, Nu Skin’s bioactive collagen peptides produce the best results of all collagens when tested in vitro, as confirmed in human clinical studies showing improvements in skin elasticity and reduced the appearance of wrinkles.

The Inner Focus Collagen Plus also contains lutein, which promotes skin radiance and helps protect it from oxidative stress. It also has phytoceramides that keeps skin’s moisture barrier healthy and hydrated all day long.

A clinical study commissioned by Nu Skin tested the efficacy of taking Inner Focus Collagen Plus once a day for four months and found participants that received the Collagen Plus experienced improvement in texture, radiance, and overall appearance of their skin.

Better Together: Inner Focus Collagen Plus and ageLOC LumiSpa iO

Inner Focus Collagen Plus packs a powerful radiance-boosting punch on its own but delivers even better results when used with Nu Skin’s ageLOC LumiSpa iO, the most recent upgrade to its award-winning* ageLOC LumiSpa – a first-of-its-kind, dual action skin care device that cleans and refreshes the skin.

In the same clinical study, people who took Inner Focus Collagen Plus once a day and used ageLOC LumiSpa iO daily noticed nearly double the visible texture benefits compared to using an ageLOC LumiSpa regimen on its own [1], as well as additional improvements in radiance and overall appearance.

Having just launched in late 2022, ageLOC LumiSpa iO has already received international recognitions including the “New Product of the Year” Award at the 2022 Business Intelligence Group (BIG) Awards for Business and the “Retailer Choice, Gold Winner for Best New Product” Award at the 2023 Delicious Living Beauty & Body Awards.

To know more about Nu Skin’s products, visit www.nuskin.com.ph.

January 23, 2023
All roads lead to Cebu this February 18 for PLUS63 Music and Arts Festival

If you are planning to visit Cebu soon, be sure to make it on the weekend of February 18! While the “Queen City of the South” captures a traveler’s gypsy heart with its beaches, unique dishes, getaways, and exciting activities, it is also the venue for the long-awaited comeback of PLUS63 Festival! An annual music & arts festival, it gathers international and local acts at the SM Seaside Complex.

Book a flight on a Friday morning and upon arriving in Cebu, visit the stunning beaches of Bantayan, Malapascua, or Mactan where you could swim, snorkel, dive, or island-hop. In the evening, visit Cebu’s street food markets—including those in Carbon Night Market, Sugbo Mercado, The Market in Mandaue, and Tinda Locale. Have a taste of Ginabot, Tuslob buwa, and Lechon, among others which are perfect when paired with boiled young coconut rice called Pusô.

Saturday, February 18, is THE date for PLUS63 Festival. After a two-year hiatus, it is back with a stellar line-up headlined by singer-producer-rapper-comedian Joji (who boasts of over 5 billion streams to date) and R&B siren Kehlani (currently on a world tour promoting her latest album Blue Water Road, and will be capping off the said tour at PLUS63 Festival). They are two of this generation’s most accomplished artists. Also in the line-up of performers are Davao’s rising electro-pop star Paul Pablo, Cebu-based pop-rock bands, The Sundown and Sansette, and Cebu’s crowd favorite DJ Short. Be sure to score tickets from www.PLUS63Festival.com, www.SMTickets.com and www.InsigniaTickets.com for a three-month installment, zero interest option via Atome.

After that memorable Saturday Night at the PLUS63 Festival, continue the lively vibe at NUSTAR Resort and Casino, a premier five-star hotel offering world-class gaming, entertainment, events, and exclusive shopping. The day after, you can go island-hopping or basking in the island’s sand bars which you probably thought never existed. If you are a self-confessed sun-worshipper, take a side trip to Oslob, Moalboal, or nearby Mactan.

From unique cuisine, beaches with crystal clear blue waters and powdery white sand, and the warm welcoming vibe of Cebuanos, Cebu has evolved into a destination for wanderlusts. Now, with the multicultural, multi-genre sonic PLUS63 Festival happening on February 18, this city meets the sea festival is a one- of-a-kind event where the curious and free-spirited, creative souls celebrate their passion for music and the arts.

PLUS63 Festival Cebu has previously been headlined by world-famous acts like Steve Angello, Steve Aoki, Showtek, Kid Ink, Dada Life, and LANY. Now, you don’t want to miss it, do you?!

PLUS63 Festival Tickets are available at www.PLUS63Festival.com. Prices are at PHP 1,500 (GA FIELD), PHP2,5000 (GA), PHP5,000 (VIP), and PHP 60,000 for 6 pax (VVIP). For VVIP tables, you may reach out to hello@PLUS63Festival.com.

January 23, 2023
Make playtime a jolly ride with Jollibee’s theme park-inspired toys

A trip to the theme park is always a joy-filled occasion. With Jollibee’s latest Jolly Kiddie Meal toys, Jollitown Theme Park, families can bring that same exciting experience to kids’ everyday playtime at home as they join Jollibee and friends enjoy their favorite amusement park rides.

What’s the first stop? Jollibee’s bungee jump ride! With just the press of a button, kids can see Jollibee soar to new heights through this cute contraption. Hetty also goes up, up and away on her super swing with a few rotates of its knob.

Other than the high-flying thrills, Popo, Yum, and Twirlie can also show kids how to have a whirling good time through their fun rides.

Popo’s ride starts at the top of a pole and turns into a fun, downward swirl with the press of a button. Meanwhile, Twirlie sits on twirling teacups that can be activated once you click the button. Kids can also move and spin Yum in random directions on his ride with three spinning wheels.

The Jollitown Theme Park Jolly Kiddie Meal toys will surely give Jolly kids loads of joy and fun! Each of the five collectible toys comes with its own Jolly Joy Box and is available with every purchase of a Yumburger (P85), Yumburger with Regular Pineapple Juice (P115), Jolly Spaghetti (P104), Jolly Spaghetti with Regular Pineapple Juice (P134), 1-pc. Burger Steak (P104), 1-pc. Burger Steak Meal with Regular Pineapple Juice (P134), 1-pc. Chickenjoy with rice (P130), or a 1-pc. Chickenjoy with Regular Pineapple Juice (P160). The entire toy set is also available with a purchase of a 6-pc. Chickenjoy Bucket for only P660.

Enjoy a thrilling playtime adventure with Jollitown Theme Park Jolly Kiddie Meal toys! Don’t miss this chance to collect all five toys by visiting the Jollibee branch nearest you, or by having them delivered to your home through the Jollibee App, JollibeeDelivery.com, #87000 hotline, GrabFood, or foodpanda. Promo runs from December 1, 2022 to February 15, 2023 only.

January 23, 2023
Shopping for daily care essentials but feeling the effects of inflation? Human Nature’s got your back!

This new year means another opportunity for us to make wais choices—may they be for our health and wellbeing, our homes, or the planet. This is a must-have skill for Filipino consumers especially nowadays when the effects of inflation are just too real not to feel.

Enjoy up to Php 130 off when you purchase your favorite daily essentials at Human Nature

Feeling it yet? According to the Philippine Statistics Authority, domestic inflation soared to 8.1 percent last December, marking the country’s highest inflation in 14 years. What does this mean for us consumers? The Department of Trade and Industry says that we can expect prices of daily necessities to increase early this year.

NGL, we have already been seeing prices of goods skyrocket even before Christmas. This is a challenge that’s been prompting many of us to be wais and tighten our belts. Don’t you agree? However, as a result, most of our consumer choices involve sacrificing quality for affordability.

But don’t fret! We can always start somewhere. Brands and consumers alike can take steps to support one another as we try to stay afloat.

Rising up together amid rising costs

To help ease the burden of the rising costs of goods, local brand Human Nature does its part by rolling back prices of our 33 favorite daily skin, hair, and home care essentials by as much as 20 percent effective on January 13, 2022. (Yes, you read it right!).

Wanna be wais as you take care of your household? Buy more while saving more by purchasing our hand soaps, liquid detergent, baby care, and hair care products and enjoy up to Php 130 price slash

—insta-FORDA-ble! Pamper yourself too by copping our face care must-haves like cleanser, mist, and moisturizer and enjoy as much as Php 45 off.

List of Human Nature products with big price rollbacks. Click here to see the complete list.

Want to experience the #SunflowerPower on your skin? You can now also enjoy the 25 miracles of Human Nature’s cult-classic Sunflower Beauty Oil products starting at Php 184.75 only! Scrub your stress away with our discounted body scrubs and reveal your skin’s glorious glow with our power potions–our natural lotions!

As they say, “hindi kailangan mahal magmahal.” You can still make consumer choices with care and without compromise. At Human Nature, we are committed to keeping our household staples af-FORDA-ble for Filipinos while still maintaining our promise of world-class quality, genuinely natural products free from harmful chemicals.

Supporting local brands helps raise up our local economy—and what’s even better is that when you buy from Human Nature, you also support living wages to hundreds of workers and uplift farmers through local sourcing at fair trade prices. This is not just wais for the pocket but also wais for the health and the heart because you get to raise others up as you buy natural, healthier products for yourself at lower prices.

To know more about our brand, kindly visit humanheartnature.com.

January 23, 2023
Explore The World Again with The New Explorer Credit Card by BDO and American Express

BDO Unibank, Inc. and American Express have launched the American Express^® Explorer™ Credit Card (“the Explorer Card”) in the Philippines for the aspiring and frequent travelers eager to explore the world again. Cardmembers earn American Express’ Membership Rewards® points, which never expire, and can be redeemed for air miles with a wide range of airlines including award- winning ones and for hotel loyalty points with thousands of hotel properties¹ – giving them greater flexibility and choice, and allowing them to travel for less.

Every P40 spent entitles Cardmembers to earn one Membership Rewards^® point. Each point can then be redeemed for one air mile at six frequent flyer partners: Mabuhay Miles, KrisFlyer, Cathay Membership, Royal Orchid Plus, Enrich, and Delta SkyMiles. The points can also be converted into hotel loyalty points from Marriot Bonvoy and Hilton Honors, which both have thousands of properties worldwide including in the Philippines. In addition, the Explorer Card has one of the best rewards rates in the country and no conversion fee.

“We have seen substantial growth in travel-related spending among our American Express Cardmembers. In 2022, airline ticket purchase alone has increased exponentially versus the previous year,” says Rolando C. Tanchanco, BDO Senior Executive Vice President and Consumer Banking Group Head. “With the return of consumer confidence in travel, the American Express Explorer Credit Card is a timely addition to our extensive line-up of credit card products with our partner American Express.”

“After three years of the pandemic and with borders reopening, travel is back. Our American Express Explorer Credit Card launched in partnership with BDO, gives our Cardmembers in the Philippines, whether they are travelling solo, with family or with friends, the ability to earn rewards and travel for less, while doing what they are passionate about.’’ said Mr. Sanjiv Malhotra, Vice President and General Manager, Global Network Services, SouthEast Asia and South Pacific, American Express.

The Explorer Card was first introduced by American Express in Australia in 2016 and Hong Kong in 2021. Now, American Express with BDO are bringing the Explorer Card to the Philippines—a first in Southeast Asia. The new card forms part of the extensive range of BDO-issued American Express Cards.

Cardmembers can redeem their Membership Rewards points from a wide choice of local and international airlines and hotel loyalty programs.

Frequent Flyer Partners
·       Mabuhay Miles (Philippine Airlines)
·       KrisFlyer (Singapore Airlines)
·       Cathay Membership (Cathay Pacific Airlines)
·       Royal Orchid Plus (Thai Airways)
·        Enrich (Malaysia Airlines)
·       Delta SkyMiles (Delta Airlines)

Hotel Partners
·       Marriot Bonvoy
·       Hilton Honors

Other benefits include:
·       Up to P10M Travel Accident and Inconvenience Coverage
·       2,000 Bonus Membership Rewards points upon reaching P600,000 spend per year
·       Year-round deals, rebate or cashback, and instant savings from BDO partner merchants
·       Complimentary Annual Fee for the 1st year (Principal and Supplementary)
·       Waived Annual Fee upon reaching P450,000 spend per year

For     more details         or      to      apply for     the     American     Express®     Explorer™    Credit Card, visit www.americanexpress.com.ph or go to any BDO branch near you.

January 23, 2023
Pasinaya is Back, Better And Bigger!

After three years of cancellation and online editions, the CCP Pasinaya Open House Festival – the largest multi-arts festival in the country organized by the Cultural Center of the Philippines – returns this year on February 3 to 5, 2023 in various venues inside the CCP Complex, located along Roxas Boulevard, Pasay City.

The festival highlights the different outdoor venues such as the CCP Front Lawn, Liwasang Kalikasan, Tanghalang Ignacio B. Gimenez and its surroundings, and parade ground of Vicente Sotto Street, among others.

“This year, Pasinaya follows the theme ‘Piglas Sining.’ We are breaking away from the notion that the CCP is just the building. We are emphasizing that CCP can be anywhere,” said CCP artistic director Dennis N. Marasigan.

Pasinaya continues its experience-all-you-can, pay-what-you-can scheme. For a suggested donation price of P50, participants may go in and out of the different CCP venues to attend the 30-minute workshops in various art disciplines conducted by leading artists, resource persons and teachers, or watch as many shows, screenings, and activities as they can.

Registration starts at 6:30am, at the Bukaneg side of the Front Lawn and at Vicente Sotto Street.

On February 3, there will be a Pagtitipon, an invitational gathering of the Kaisa sa Sining (KSS) regional partners. There are 59 regional partners from Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao in the KSS network, with three new partners joining. A program of the Cultural Exchange Department, the KSS aims to further strengthen the CCP linkages and cooperations with local organizations in the different regions of the country.

Palihan and Palabas happen on February 4 and 5, with the opening salvo kicking off at the CCP Front Lawn with a parade and special program. In Palihan, audiences can join the different workshops; while they can watch unlimited shows, featuring more than 3,000 artists from different art fields, in Palabas.

Festival programmers and art groups will meet in Palitan on February 4 and 5, on-site at Tanghalang Ignacio Gimenez (CCP Black Box Theater) and online via Zoom.

The open house festival partners with various galleries, museums and art spaces around the metro to put the spotlight on communal artistic spirit and collaborations. For this segment, the Paseo Museo, there will be hop-on, hop-off shuttle vans that will go around the participating arts spaces for free on February 4 and 5.

Through the Pasinaya, the CCP aims to provide a platform for the artists and cultural groups to showcase their talents while nurturing the broadest public and creating new audiences through interactions and performances. Attracting more than 27,000 people with approximately 75,000 audience viewership pre-pandemic, Pasinaya is undoubtedly the biggest multi-arts festival in the country, and still getting bigger and better on its 18th year.

Follow the official CCP social media accounts on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and TikTok for the latest updates.

January 20, 2023
Coachella Live Stream Returns Exclusively on YouTube

Watch the 2023 Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival from anywhere in the world this April 14-16, and 21-23 as YouTube and Goldenvoice renew their partnership making YouTube the exclusive livestream and content platform for the festival.

“It’s an absolute honor to continue our partnership with Goldenvoice to bring the magic of Coachella to music fans around the world,” said Lyor Cohen, Global Head of Music at YouTube. “Our shared passion for innovation and connecting artists with their fans through multiple formats is the foundation of this decade-plus partnership. Coachella reminds us of what’s fun and special about YouTube and every year leaves us more inspired for the next.”

YouTube has been the livestream partner of Coachella for 11 years running. The latest partnership gives YouTube exclusive live streaming rights until 2026.

BLACKPINK, Bad Bunny, Frank Ocean, and more

The 11th edition of one of the biggest music festivals in the world will see performances from top artists including K-Pop royalty BLACKPINK, Bad Bunny, Frank Ocean and more headlining the two-week festival.

“Our partnership with YouTube brings Coachella to everyone around the world,” says Paul Tollett, Goldenvoice President. “The 2023 lineup sees performers from Brazil, France, Iceland, India, Jamaica, Nigeria, Puerto Rico, South Korea, Spain, and beyond, and bringing international fans closer to their hometown artists is important to our team.”

This year, Coachella is happening on April 14-16, and 21-23 at Empire Polo Club in Indio, California, USA

Livestreams, on-the-ground Shorts, content galore!

Beyond the livestream, Coachella taps into YouTube’s suite of multi-format features to create a one-of-a-kind experience by giving fans a closer look at what’s happening on the ground through YouTube Shorts, and making it possible to relive the experience with on-demand performance videos after the show.

The partnership is also including new elements and YouTube product integrations including YouTube Music, YouTube Shopping for exclusive merchandise drops, exclusive content for YouTube Premium subscribers, Live Chat, and onsite activations with YouTube Creators and Artists.

Year after year, Goldenvoice, together with the diverse set of genre-spanning global artists, has created some of today’s most iconic live performances. And for over a decade now, YouTube has been there to bring these legendary music moments from Coachella to fans around the world to experience in real-time and relive on-demand.

Learn more about Coachella on YouTube and never miss a single show-stopping performance here.

January 20, 2023
PHP100,000 production grant awaits Sine Kabataan Finalists

After five successful editions, Sine Kabataan is back for its sixth year! The Film Development Council of the Philippines (FDCP) is holding an open call for short film entries for Sine Kabataan Short Film Lab and Festival Submission of entries is from January 13 to February 10, 2023.

The Sine Kabataan Short Film Competition not only aims to provide a platform to young Filipino filmmakers but also elevate their creativity and storytelling skills that are reflective of how they perceive the issues they face today. The competition is open to filmmakers ages 18-30 years old who have produced at least one short film.

20 story concepts which can be live action, documentary, animation or experimental will be shortlisted from the pool of submissions. Those who make the cut will undergo exclusive film labs which will cover topics from development up to post-production. With the easing of COVID-19-related restrictions, the FDCP will be shifting its film labs to a hybrid on-site and digital platform to equip the filmmakers with technical knowledge and practical skills in production.

From the 20 shortlisted projects, 10 will be chosen as finalists by a Selection Committee after a Pitch Showcase and each of them will receive a production grant of PHP 100,000 to produce their story concepts.

The FDCP expands the running time requirement this year from five (5) minutes to seven (7) up to 20 minutes to grant the competing filmmakers an opportunity to better express themselves and to let them explore treatments that will further maximize the potential of their story concepts.

To check the full guidelines and mechanics, visit this link. For more updates on the short film competition, follow Sine Kabataan on Facebook.

January 20, 2023
CreatePHFilms Funding Program Opens Applications for Cycle 1 of 2023

CreatePHFilms, the local funding program of the Film Development Council of the Philippines (FDCP) officially opens its new cycle this 2023 to provide funding to Filipino filmmakers and producers for the development and
production of their films.

CreatePHFilms Cycle 1 of 2023 opened its call for applications last January 16, 2023 with four funding programs for mid-length and feature films which can be fiction, documentary, or animation:

● Development Fund: A selective and non-recoupable fund of PHP300,000 with mentoring sessions with industry experts.
● Small Budget Production Fund: A selective and non-recoupable fund for the production of Filipino films with an overall production budget of less than PHP15,000,000.
● Large Budget Production Fund: A selective and non-recoupable fund for the production of Filipino films with an overall production budget of at least PHP15,000,000.
● Post-production Fund: A selective and non-recoupable fund of PHP300,000 for post-production companies engaged with post-production companies registered under the FDCP National Registry for Companies.

Eligible applicants must be duly registered and accredited by the FDCP National Registry and eligible projects must be directed by a Filipino.

Strengthening PH Cinema and boosting the economy through CreatePHFilms For eligible expenses, 100% of the fund must be spent in the Philippines to boost the local economy as this will also provide economic opportunities for local services, artists, crew members, and other film workers.

In 2022, FDCP awarded a total of PHP 4.6 million to 19 grantees: 15 for Scriptwriting and Project Development, two for Small Budget Production, and two for Post-production.

Among the most notable grantees of the CreatePHFilms funding programs are Sundance 2022-winning film “Ang Pagbabalik ng Kwago” (Leonor Will Never Die) by Martika Escobar, Sundance 2023 selection “In My Mother’s Skin” by Kenneth Dagatan, and internationally-acclaimed disaster film “Kun Maupay Man It Panahon” (Whether the
Weather is Fine) by Carlo Francisco Manatad, Through this funding initiative, the FDCP aims to amplify the Philippine film industry’s reputation as a growing and thriving film hotspot with local, independent, and innovative creatives in order to attract worldwide attention.

The CreatePHFilms Cycle 1 of 2023 will accept applications until March 17, 2023. To know more about the application process, visit: https://fdcp.ph/programs/createphfilms. For inquiries, send an email to createphfilms@fdcp.ph.

January 20, 2023