Shopee is collaborating with the country’s leading brands to bring Filipinos bigger, better, and mas mura deals on brand favorites with the 10.10 Brands Festival. From October 1 to 12, official brand stores are working with Shopee to offer eager shoppers 50% off brand deals, 15% off daily discounts, and free shipping vouchers with no minimum spend.
The 10.10 Brands Festival is the second in Shopee’s series of year-end shopping events, giving Filipinos more exciting deals to look forward to and get a head start on their holiday shopping. Martin Yu, Director at Shopee Philippines enthused, “The 10.10 Brands Festival continues to enliven the promise of offering mas mura prices to Filipino shoppers. We have worked closely with our partner brands in bringing the best of brand deals to create a more meaningful year-end shopping experience.”
Toni Gonzaga joins the Shopee Fam as newest brand ambassador
To drum up anticipation for its 10.10 sale, Shopee welcomes Toni Gonzaga as their newest brand ambassador. Dubbed the Ultimate Multimedia Star, shoppers can look forward to watching the talented performer belt out the “Mas Mura sa Shopee” jingle as she stars in Shopee’s latest TV commercial. Fans will also be treated to entertaining content when they visit the app and Shopee’s official accounts on Facebook, TikTok, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube.
Exciting, mas mura brand deals from October 1 to 12
The 10.10 festivities begin as early as October 1, with a wide assortment of official brand stores on Shopee offering exciting discounts for shoppers. The sale kicks off with back-to-back Super Brand Days from October 2 to 9, where users can enjoy up to 50% off on products from leading brands in fashion, electronics, beauty, and home & family essentials.
Unbeatable offers from top brands also await early-bird shoppers with the Big Midnight Sale from 12 midnight to 2 AM on October 10. Users can get a jumpstart on their holiday shopping with limited deals on bestselling wearable devices like the Samsung Galaxy Buds Live and OPPO Band B1, as well as trendy fashion and lifestyle items such as the Crocs Crocband™ Flip and Insulated Water Bottle from the widely popular brand Aquaflask.
Shoppers can also expect more exciting deals from other leading brands including: Tiny Buds, realme, Platinum Karaoke, INSPI, Johnson & Johnson, Huggies Philippines, Uni-Care, Cetaphil, Garnier, Unilever, Enfagrow, Nestlé, Lovito, SACE LADY, adidas, Infinix, GameXtreme, TP-Link, Ace Hardware, and Huawei.
Download the Shopee app and discover mas mura deals from leading brands at the 10.10 Brands Festival. Head on to Shopee’s 10.10 page to know more about the latest promos or share your memorable 10.10 moments with the hashtag #ShopeePH1010BrandsFestival.
Sony Pictures Entertainment and Amazon Falls have confirmed the October 11th 2022, opening -to the public- of the world’s first fully-branded Columbia Pictures movie theme park, Columbia Pictures Aquaverse. The theme park is located 20 minutes South of Pattaya in the Bangsaray area, home to 5-star beach resorts, seafood restaurants and tourist attractions.
Watch the Columbia Pictures Aquaverse sizzle reel below:
Extensive and fresh design and theming with new rides and attractions will bring to life characters from some of the biggest and most beloved movies, including Ghostbusters, Jumanji, Bad Boys, Zombieland, The Emoji Movie, Surfs Up and Hotel Transylvania. New attractions will continue toopen in the future.
With offerings for visitors of all ages, the park features themed and immersive zones with a range of both water and land-based attractions in addition to an exciting program of live shows, immersive entertainment, interactive props, unique sets, themed restaurants, as well as specialty merchandise and retail locations. The Mega Wave Pool will host music events, movie screenings and live shows on the main stage featuring giant LED screens and concert-grade Dolby DTS surround sound. Guests will be transported beyond the big screen and into the worlds of their favorite films, experiencing epic adventures alongside their favorite characters.
Monsters from Hotel Transylvania are ready to greet their human guests at the Hotel Transylvania Zone featuring the largest water play structure in Southeast Asia. Ghostbusters Proton Stream offers guests an exhilarating journey in the world’s first water dome attraction. The opening of the Bad Boys Race Club marks the first non-water-based ride, of which there will be many more to come.
“We are delighted to be teaming up with Liakat Dhanji and Amazon Falls on launching Sony Pictures’ first theme and water park and are inspired by his vision of creating an immersive entertainment destination for Thailand. Columbia Pictures’ Aquaverse is the next step in Sony Pictures’ larger global strategy to grow and expand location-based entertainment by utilizing its globally known film and TV brands. We are creating opportunities for all audiences around the world to immerse themselves deeper into our stories through water parks, touring exhibitions, and theme park attractions,” said Jeffrey Godsick, Executive Vice President Global Partnership, Brand Management and Head of Location Based Entertainment, Sony Pictures Entertainment.
“Sony Pictures’ breadth of global content, technology and talent leadership will be invaluable in creating a fully immersive experience that will bring curiosity and wonder to a global audience. The launch of Columbia Pictures’ Aquaverse represents a first step in what we envision to be a broader collaboration that will pioneer the future of an integrated entertainment destination as part of the EEC’s smart city. Alongside our unique rides and attractions, we look forward to forging new partnerships with top accommodation, technology, retail and F&B partners as we curate an unmatched lifestyle experience that will resonate with all our visitors,” said Liakat Dhanji, CEO and Chairman of Amazon Falls Co. Ltd., owners and operators of Columbia Pictures’ Aquaverse.
“We are proud to welcome and commit to give our full support to Sony Pictures Entertainment and Amazon Falls Company Ltd. in Columbia Pictures’ Aquaverse which is poised to set new standards for immersive entertainment in the EEC, Thailand. The project is going to play a key role in reshaping the growth dynamism in the EEC. The theme park will be a key component in our EEC Smart City development plan, and EEC will provide our full support, including 5G services and other infrastructure, digital technology, transit links, and partnership with clean energy and investment promotion package to ensure the success of the project and help create a long-term sustainable development in the EEC,” said Dr. Kanit Sangsubhan, Special Advisor on Strategic Development, Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC).
In celebration of our National Artist for Cinema Ishmael Bernal’s birth month, the CCP Arthouse Cinema presents one of his masterpieces, a film that serves as a social commentary and a bold reflection on the existing realities of the struggles of the Filipino. Ishmael Bernal’s “Pagdating Sa Dulo” is a storytelling of the life of a bourgeois filmmaker who sought out a stripper to act in his film, subsequently catalyzing her career as an actress. It is a journey on how stardom, glamor, and wealth can contribute to the corruption of one’s soul becoming morally conflicted and wounded by the on screen façade of their love and selves.
Watch one of Philippine Cinema’s classic gems, “PAGDATING SA DULO” by Ishmael Bernal at the CCP Tanghalang Manuel Conde on September 30, 2022 at 2 PM Manila Time.
The film screening is FREE to the public.
Due to the ongoing pandemic, the new normal protocol of the CCP will still be implemented. Everyone is advised to wear a facemask upon entering the premises and bring a vaccination card/certificate (e-copies are allowed). Find out more about CCP’s new normal protocol here: https://bit.ly/CCPNewNormalProtocol2022
For more information, visit the CCP website (www.culturalcenter.gov.ph) and follow the official CCP social media accounts on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram for the latest updates.
The sweetest cookie deal is happening today and only until the weekend! Twenty Four Bakeshop is celebrating their 3rd year anniversary with a Php 3 Chocolate Chip cookie promo. Yes, you read that right. It’s just 3 pesos for a palm size cookie!
Anniversary promo: • Avail of a Chocolate Chip cookie for only Php 3 for every purcahse of any 2 items (pastry or merchandise)
Head over to any of their branches today until October 2 to avail: • 4/F East Wing, Ortigas Cinemas, Estancia Mall at Capitol Commons • L5, The Podium • 3/F One Bonifacio High Street Mall, BGC • P1 level, Baker’s Dozen, Power Plant Mall (Friday to Sunday only) • My Street, High Street at 5th Ave., BGC (Saturday to Sunday only)
You can also have your pastries delivered straight to your doorstep. Just visit www.twentyfourbakeshop.com.
Get updates fresh from the oven on Facebook (www.facebook.com/twentyfourbakeshop) and Instagram (www.instagram.com/twentyfourbakeshop).
This month, catch the premiere of the critically acclaimed film Everything Everywhere All at Once starring Michelle Yeoh, the 2022 instalment of Scream, Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore and the second season of sci-fi comedy series Avenue 5 on HBO GO. Meet the crime-fighting vehicles of Batwheels and celebrate Wonder Woman Day on Cartoon Network and HBO GO. Also on Warner TV, catch The Winchesters Season 1 and Kung Fu Season 3.
In this third instalment of the Fantastic Beasts series, Professor Albus Dumbledore entrusts Magizoologist Newt Scamander to lead an intrepid team of wizards, witches and one brave Muggle baker on a dangerous mission, where they encounter old and new beasts and clash with Dark wizard Gellert Grindelwald’s growing legion of followers. But with the stakes so high, how long can Dumbledore remain on the side-lines? Stars Eddie Redmayne, Jude Law and Mads Mikkelsen.
Directed by Daniel Kwan and Daniel Scheinert, the film is an irreverent and big-hearted sci-fi action adventure about Evelyn Wang, a flustered Chinese American mother who is contacted from a parallel universe and told that only she can save the world. The unlikely hero learns to channel her new-found powers and fight through the splintering timelines of the multiverse to save her home, family and herself. Stars Michelle Yeoh, Stephanie Hsu, Ke Huy Quan, Jenny Slate, Harry Shum Jr., James Hong and Jamie Lee Curtis.
Avenue 5 Season 2 Premieres Tuesday, October 11 at 10am on HBO and HBO GO
Created by Armando Iannucci (Veep), this HBO Original comedy series is set 40 years in the future when travelling the solar system is a booming, multibillion-dollar business. Season 2 follows the crew as they struggle to lead, calm, control, and, if need be, hide from increasingly unruly passengers. Stars Hugh Laurie, Josh Gad, Zach Woods, Rebecca Front, Suzy Nakamura, Lenora Crichlow, Nikki Amuka-Bird and Ethan Phillips.
Scream (2022) Premieres Saturday, October 29 at 10pm on HBO and HBO GO
Twenty-five years after a streak of brutal murders shocked the quiet town of Woodsboro, a terrifying new killer resurrects the Ghostface mask and begins targeting a group of teenagers to resurrect secrets from the town’s deadly past. Now, only Sidney Prescott, former sheriff Dewey Riley, and reporter Gale Weathers can find a way to stop the killer when everyone is a suspect. Stars Neve Campbell, Courteney Cox and David Arquette.
The White Lotus Season 2 Premieres Monday, October 31 at 9am on HBO and HBO GO
HBO’s Emmy®-winning social satire series from creator Mike White leaves Hawaii behind and follows the exploits of various guests and employees over the span of a week at The White Lotus resort in picturesque Sicily. Stars F. Murray Abraham, Jennifer Coolidge, Adam DiMarco, Beatrice Grannò, Meghann Fahy, Jon Gries, Tom Hollander, Sabrina Impacciatore, Michael Imperioli, Theo James, Aubrey Plaza, Haley Lu Richardson, Will Sharpe, Simona Tabasco, and Leo Woodall.
Fighting evil on Warner TV
Kung Fu Season 3 Premieres Thursday, October 6 at 9.50pm on Warner TV
Armed with martial arts skills and Shaolin values, San Francisco native Nicky Shen continues to protect her family and community with the help of her siblings, ex-boyfriend and new love interest, while searching for the ruthless assassin who killed her Shaolin mentor and is now targeting her. Stars Olivia Liang, Tzi Ma, Shannon Dang, Eddie Liu and Singaporean actress Kheng Hua Tan.
The Winchesters Season 1 Premieres Wednesday, October 12 at 9pm on Warner TV
In this prequel of the hit series Supernatural, Dean Winchester narrates the epic, untold love story of John Winchester and Mary Campbell, who put it all on the line to not only save their love, but the entire world. They join forces with young hunter in training Latika and easy-going hunter Carlos to uncover the hidden truths about their families. Stars Jensen Ackles, Drake Rodger, Meg Donnelly, Nida Khurshid, Jonathan “Jojo” Fleites, Demetria McKinney and Bianca Kajlich.
Secret Origin of the Batwheels Premieres Sunday, October 16 at 8:30am on Cartoon Network and HBO GO
DC’s first-ever Batman preschool series, Secret Origin of the Batwheels tells the story of how a group of young super-powered vehicles ‑ Bam (the Batmobile), Bibi (the Batgirl Cycle), Redbird (Robin’s Sports Car), Batwing (the Batwing Jet Plane), and Buff (the Bat Truck) – formed their super heroic team.
Batwheels Season 1 Premieres Saturday, October 22 at 8:30am on Cartoon Network and HBO GO
Produced by Warner Bros. Animation, Batwheelsmarks DC’s first-ever Batman preschool series, offering young viewers a high-speed, vibrant CGI-animated iteration of the Caped Crusader. The series follows an amazing team of super-vehicles as they help Batman, Batgirl, and Robin keep the streets of Gotham City safe. The all-star voice cast includes Ethan Hawke, AJ Hudson, Leah Lewis, Jacob Bertrand, Jordan Reed, Madigan Kacmar, Noah Bentley, Lilimar, Kimberly D. Brooks and Mick Wingert.
Wonder Woman Day On Friday, October 21 on HBO GO and from 5:45pm on Cartoon Network
Celebrate Wonder Woman Day and honour the epic accomplishments of Diana Prince as Wonder Woman in Wonder Woman, Wonder Woman 1984, Zack Synder’s Justice League and Batman vs Superman: Dawn of Justice, allon HBO GO. More fun and action continue on Cartoon Network as Wonder Woman fights for justice in Lego DC Super Hero Girls: Brain Drain and Lego DC Super Hero Girls: Super-Villain High!
Pennyworth: The Origin of Batman’s Butler Season 3
HBO GO – Pennyworth S3 – Ben Aldridge
Premieres Thursday, October 6 on HBO GO This Max Original DC origin series follows Alfred Pennyworth, a former British SAS soldier, who forms a security company in 1960s London and goes to work with young billionaire Thomas Wayne, who will later become Bruce Wayne’s father. Season 3 will begin after a five-year time jump: the civil war is over, and a cultural revolution has changed the world for better or worse, ushering in a new age of Super Heroes and Supervillains. Stars Jack Bannon, Ben Aldridge, Emma Paetz, Paloma Faith, Ryan Fletcher, Dorothy Atkinson, Ramon Tikaram, Harriet Slater and Simon Manyonda.
Vampire Academy
VAMPIRE ACADEMY — “Pilot” Episode 101 — Pictured: Daniela Nieves as Lissa Dragomir — (Photo by: Jose Haro/Peacock)
Premieres Wednesday, October 26 on HBO GO In a world of privilege and glamour, two young women’s friendship transcends their strikingly different classes as they prepare to complete their education and enter royal vampire society. Stars Sisi Stringer, Daniela Nieves, Kieron Moore, Andrew Liner, Andre Dae Kim J. August Richards, Anita-Joy Uwajeh, Mia McKenna-Bruce, Rhian Blundell and Jonetta Kaiser.
Jellystone! Season 2
HBO GO – Jellystone! Season 2
Premieres Monday, October 31 on HBO GO Set in the charming town of the same name, Jellystone, follows an ensemble of Hanna-Barbera characters as they live, work, play, and (as is often the case), destroy the town in some silly way together. Huckleberry Hound proudly serves as the town’s mayor; Cindy, Boo Boo and Yogi are the town’s medical staff; Jabberjaw works at Magilla’s clothing store where they supply all the bow ties and hats to the town’s citizens; and every character has a specific role in the community. Their paths cross in fun and ridiculous ways, turning everyday activities into hilarious pandemonium.
New Episodes
Rick and Morty S6The Handmaid’s Tale S5- Yvonne StrahovskiQUANTUM LEAP – Raymond Lee as Dr. Ben Song
Stay up to date with the story of life in Gilead with new episodes of the award-winning series The Handmaid’s Tale Season 5. Follow the ordeals of the Harris family in La Brea Season 2 and delve into the mysteries of Quantum Leap. Travel across the cosmos with Rick and Morty Season 6, all available on HBO GO.
HBO GO – House of the Dragon Ep 6 – Emma D’Arcy and John MacMillan
Catch the highly anticipated finale of House of the Dragon Season 1 on Monday, October 24, starring Paddy Considine, Matt Smith, Olivia Cooke, Emma D’Arcy, Steve Toussaint, Eve Best, Fabien Frankel, Sonoya Mizuno, and Rhys Ifans.
HBO GO – Drag Race Philippines
Don’t miss the final episode of Drag Race Philippines on Wednesday, October 12, to see the last of 12 finalists crowned as the next drag superstar.
Ayala Malls Manila Bay sets a wave of new openings to service more patrons with the best lifestyle essentials including storage, fashion, food, and leisure.
Soon completing the mall experience is the opening of Landmark Supermarket and Department Store. The first branch in the bay area, Landmark, is set to open in Ayala Malls Manila Bay in 2023 and shoppers can expect a four-story haven that houses various grocery items and affordable home, clothing, and kitchen finds—all in one place.
One Storage, a storage unit facility, is now open at B1 Transport Terminal of Ayala Malls Manila Bay! Featuring world-class storage units typically seen abroad, the system has 24/7 storage access, top-notch security, and free insurance. What’s more, new customers can enjoy free rental for two months when they apply for a unit on or before December 31, 2022.
Food Wanderer by the Philippine Amusement and Entertainment Corporation recently opened doors to give guests unforgettable multi-sensory immersive experiences. Designed as the country’s biggest food art display museum, it previews Filipino heritage through gastronomic delights.
There’s a lot more to look forward to at the biggest Ayala Mall yet! Opening in Ayala Malls Manila Bay by the end of 2022 is Uniqlo, the go-to Japanese global apparel retailer for quality everyday clothing. Fans of the brand now have more access to LifeWear items that support their everyday needs and lifestyle.
Capping off the travel and staycation experience is the multi-awarded Seda hotel, also rising by 2023. Set to rise beside Ayala Malls Manila Bay in Paranaque along Diosdado Macapagal Avenue, guests can book relaxing staycations with its state-of-the-art amenities and exceptional hospitality, as well as discover Ayala Malls’ largest shopping mall to date.
Stay tuned for more information when you visit Ayala Malls Manila Bay on Instagram @ayalamalls.manilabay and Facebook at /ayalamallsmanilabay.
New World Makati Hotel’s buffet restaurant, Café 1228, reopens on Mondays to Thursdays for dinner starting October, officially offering all-you-can-eat breakfast, lunch and dinner on all days of the week. Diners get 50% off at only PHP1,500 (from PHP3,000) on weekdays and PHP1,700 (from PHP3,400) on weekends for lunch and dinner when they sign up for free to the hotel’s Club Epicure loyalty program. A 5+1 offer is also offered for group reservations. Daily breakfast is at PHP1,200. Prices are nett.
Weekday Lunch and Dinner
Now open daily serving weekday lunch and dinner, Café 1228 features an array of grilled meats, fresh seafood, decadent desserts, and much more, starting with the popular carving station – with barbecue beef brisket or rump, sausages, chicken and pork spareribs. Must-have buffet favorites include a fresh seafood section cooked a la minute and topped with a variety of sauces, and a Japanese station with seven kinds of sushi, miso soup, as well as fish and vegetable tempura. Adding more Asian selections are the five dim sum dishes paired well with a choice of steamed noodles, a combination of Filipino and Southeast Asian items, a Western station with European and Mediterranean cuisine, the charcuterie and cheese section, and the fresh salad bar. For desserts, a crepe station offers three ice cream flavors and one sorbet, as well as an assortment of fillings and toppings, while treats such as halo-halo, cheesecakes, pies, cookies, and fresh fruits complete the pastry selections.
Weekend Lunch and Dinner
Succulent roasted ribeye, hand-tossed pizzas and freshly made pasta dishes, salmon and tuna sashimi, as well as crunchy shrimp tempura, are among the highlights during weekends. These and more complement the already enticing lineup of buffet selections offered on weekdays. Best-selling items are always on rotation, as well as new, can’t-be-missed options, to keep the restaurant’s offerings always fresh, seasonal, and something to look forward to.
Daily Breakfast
Café 1228 likewise opens its doors to walk-ins and reservations for its breakfast buffet, with a curated mix of international and local staples such as bacon, chicken and pork sausages, hashbrowns, and baked beans, to name a few, as well as forest ham at the carving station paired with grilled vegetables. Omelettes or egg dishes made a la minute also go well with the protein selections, as well as Filipino favorites beef tapa, chicken tocino, daing nab angus, traditional pork adobo, pancit canton, and of course, garlic fried rice.
Essential Japanese breakfast items are also offered daily such as miso soup, grilled salmon or white fish in teriyaki sauce, tamago with teriyaki sauce and bonito flakes, grilled shimeji, shiitake and button mushrooms, as well as Japanese steamed rice. Other Asian dishes are beef and chicken noodles soup as well as congee with a variety of toppings such as pork, chicken and fish.
An array of charcuterie and cheeses including shaved Parma ham, coppa ham, salami Milano and bresaola, as well as brie, cheddar, Emmental, Manchego and blue cheese are also available, which go nicely with the various nuts, fresh and dried fruits, freshly-baked breads, jams and spreads.
As a special promo, diners get 50% off at only PHP1,500 (from PHP3,000) on weekdays and PHP1,700 (from PHP3,400) on weekends for lunch and dinner when they sign up for free to the hotel’s Club Epicure loyalty program or present their BDO or RCBC Bankard credit card. A 5+1 offer is also offered for group reservations. Daily breakfast is at PHP1,200. Prices are nett. For online reservations, guests can book via: https://bit.ly/NWCafe1228Reservation. To inquire, they can call +63288116888 ext. 3679, e-mail fbreservations.manila@newworldhotels.com, or send a mobile message on Viber or Whatsapp via +639178884194. More news and promos are available on the hotel’s official Facebook and Instagram accounts as well as on the website https://manila.newworldhotels.com/en/.
“Ticket to Paradise” is Directed by Ol Parker, George Clooney and Julia Roberts have reunited on-screen as David and Georgia, a divorced couple who seemingly only agree on one thing: their love for their daughter Lily (Dever). So, when Lily meets and falls in love with a seaweed farmer named Gede (Bouttier) on her graduation trip to Bali and tells her parents that she’s going to marry him, there’s only one thing they can do: team up to stop her from making the same mistake they made all those years ago.
Kaitlyn Dever & Maxime Bouttier
With the audience eager for a romcom rebirth, here are 5 reasons why Ticket to Paradise is this year’s cinematic romcom date movie for the family.
· George and Julia’s warring couple would make one yearn for second chances. Clooney says. “In all the years since he and Georgia divorced, the fire is still there for him, but he’s convinced that Georgia has moved on and that he needs to make peace with that. She has a new boyfriend and a new life without him, and he doesn’t want to risk the hurt of being shut down or making things more complicated than they already are, and more than anything, he doesn’t want to compromise his relationship with his daughter Lily.”
George Clooney & Kaitlyn Dever
· George and Julia’s parenting mission is boundless, flying miles and miles while forgetting for a moment they are exes to team up for their daughter’s happiness. “We’re in a space in the world right now where people want to see something funny and comforting. “The unexpected thing about this movie is that there are various relationships within the family and emotions within the family that audiences will find themselves being moved by,” shares producer Bevan.
· The scenery, set in Bali (but filmed in Australia due to the pandemic), makes us want to pack our bags for a beach getaway. Bouttier hopes it will serve as a reminder to tourists about the beauty of Balinese culture. “It’s a very lighthearted script, something we’ve been needing in the world,” Bouttier says. “Ever since COVID hit, Bali’s tourism has faded to a complete halt. Even now, Bali is still struggling to get tourism back, so a movie like this that’s set in Bali in a romcom format will hopefully invite the world back into Bali.”
Julia Roberts & Kaitlyn Dever
· You’d love the movie’s take on giving the global audience a glimpse of Balinese culture. “It was extremely important to us that we got not only the Balinese characters absolutely right, but the Balinese background, local culture and rituals absolutely right,” producer Tim Bevan says.
· Casting Indonesian actor Maxime Bouttier for the role of Gede is on-point. Bouttier, in his Hollywood movie debut appreciated that the character was both open-minded and culturally connected to his customs. “Gede works as a seaweed farmer because he knows that it’s a give-and-take deal with nature, and I feel that’s a very Balinese way of life,” Bouttier says.
Kaitlyn Dever & Maxime Bouttier
Ticket To Paradise is from Universal Pictures International that will open nationwide in local cinemas on October 5.
I am M.A.D. (Making A Difference)’saward-winning MAD Talks(Making A Difference Talks) is more than just a forum. It is a caravan of rich and inspirational stories that gathers youth groups all over the country to celebrate the Filipino culture of bayanihan or volunteerism. Its vision: To propagate stories of volunteerism and selflessness to encourage more people to become volunteers themselves and start making a difference.
In a nutshell, the MAD Talks solicits, shares, and showcases volunteer stories from and to its target audience (who are mostly youth and young adults) through various channels of storytelling such as live events, online, and shortfilms. With its tagline “Nagmahal. Nasaktan. Nagvolunteer”, it aims to inspire more people to venture into volunteerism and make it a lifestyle. Led by stories of individuals, it helps people find their life purpose through “nagmahal”, have the perseverance to pursue their passions with “nasaktan”, and use their God-given abilities to make a difference in “nagvolunteer”.
MAD Talks solicits stories from its own volunteers believing that the life-changing experiences they had in the camps are emotionally powerful. It aims to share stories of love, pain, and selflessness in the hope of inspiring more people to live a life of volunteerism. Moreover, it showcases the works of passion of the volunteers through different channels catering to different audiences.
From the more than 48 MAD Talks Events organized with the help of different partners, over 5000 estimated participants who are mostly youth and young adults have already experienced and celebrated the beauty of volunteerism through storytelling. Ivan Jed Rosal from the University of San Jose Recoletos in Cebu City, after attending MAD Talks in Cebu last May 3, 2015, was brimming with inspiration and optimism that after just one month, he has organized his own MAD Camp in Olanggo Island together with his friends.
Aside from the 12 MADthologies featured at x.rappler, stories about volunteerism and the group, I am M.A.D. has since been published in newspapers, magazines, and online sites. The organization has also been featured in various TV shows, and its volunteers are invited for interviews in different radio stations. These efforts have generated an estimated media mileage of Php 162 million as of August 2022.
Since intensifying efforts to share stories of volunteerism, I am M.A.D. witnessed a growth in volunteer sign ups and a boost in its existing volunteers’ level of participation. Before, we had difficulty in getting volunteers. Today, our problem is the lack of camps for the volunteers to participate. And we believe this is because of how we communicated our volunteer stories to the public.
For instance, Gliza Vienna Harina who formerly worked in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia as a nurse, read a MADthology online. This encouraged her to be an I am MAD volunteer. She attended her first camp in Guimaras last June 10-12, 2017. Now, Gliza has written her own MADthology and even became one of the speakers at the MAD Talk in Cavite last July 8, 2017. This is how MAD Talks empower people to share their stories after being inspired by the project.
MAD Talks is more than inviting people to volunteer in I am MAD. Its long term vision is to see individuals volunteering even outside the organization; MAD Talks is a platform for them to realize the value of this rich Filipino culture which is volunteerism.
