Author: Press Release

Unilab Foundation And The Philippine Commission On Women Work Together For A More Gender Equal Future In STEM

Last March 22, 2022, Unilab Foundation in partnership with the Philippine Commission on Women gathered advocates, students, educators, and leaders to join in the launching of the Pinays Can STEM toolkit through the webinar entitled, “WE STEM Up! Juana Para Sa Agham at Teknolohiya”. The event has brought to light the realities and challenges of women in STEM, emphasizing the need for society to build a safe, empowering, and inclusive environment for women to fully participate in the field.

The Philippines ranks 17^th in the Global Gender Gap Report 2021 and the top country in Asia with the smallest gender gap. In fact, women comprise 49% of the Science and Technology workforce. However, even with this growth, there are many factors that contribute to the gender gap in STEM, particularly for young female learners. On average, only 36% of STEM graduates are women, and from that, only 46.2% are employed in STEM-related fields.

Unilab Foundation has partnered with the Philippine Commission on Women to launch the Pinays Can STEM Toolkit, a digital resource for young Filipina students who are seeking guidance and information in their pursuit of STEM. Based on the insights from the Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment (GEWE) Plan, there are numerous challenges women face that prohibit them from fully participating in the field, namely: existing stereotypes that associate STEM with men, lack of female role models, and unavailability of opportunities for women in STEM.

This toolkit contains information that will contribute to the journey of young girls in STEM—careers, role models, videos, stories, and more. This gives us the opportunity to highlight the importance and role of education in terms of women’s economic empowerment, participation in the workforce, and contribution to society.

To set the tone of the event, Chairperson of the Philippine Commission on Women Ms. Sandra Sanchez Montano provided an empowering message aligned with this year’s National Women’s Month theme: Agenda ng Kababaihan Tungo sa Kaunlaran. She states “The National Women’s Month is also a platform and a call to action; a call to strengthen efforts towards gender equality and women’s empowerment. While we work with these twin goals, go beyond the month of March. This celebration is an opportunity to make our advocacy ring louder.”

This was followed by an inspirational message from Dr. Chona Vince Cruz-Abeledo, a Molecular Biologist and Professor at De La Salle University where she shares her STEM journey, the importance of role models, as well as the challenges of women in STEM. She encourages women and girls to be more involved in STEM and inspire the next generation of female scientists. Ms. Lilibeth Aristorenas, Unilab Foundation’s Executive Director, shared an empowering message to urge Filipinos to act and come together to promote gender equality in STEM. Here she shared insights from the Youth in STEM report conducted last 2020 which points out the presence of Filipina role models, either as STEM professionals or as industry leaders in STEM, directly influences young girls’ interest in pursuing that path.

Ms. Dianne Aguas, the Communications and Advocacy Officer of STEM + PH, the flagship program of Unilab Foundation, presented the Pinays Can STEM toolkit. She mentions the features of the toolkit and how it was curated in a way that will follow young girls’ journey in STEM. The toolkit starts with Kickstarting Your STEM Journey, a short guide on how young girls can kickstart their STEM journey with content ranging from career resources, student testimonials, and achievements of Pinays in STEM; Pinays Can Do Anything, containing the unique and diverse experiences of women in STEM; The STEM Library, a resource center for anything STEM-related such as videos, podcasts, reading materials, STEM experiments, and more; The STEM Directory, which contains STEM and gender advocacy organizations they can join and/or reach out to; and lastly the PCS TV, the official YouTube channel of Pinays Can STEM which features the journey and work of Pinays in the field.

Through this resource, more women and girls will realize their place in STEM and to encourage them to take space, seek role models they can look up to and aspire to be, and find a community that will support their dreams and aspirations to reach their potential. The toolkit is also based on the insights of the Youth in STEM report, which reveals the decrease in the confidence, and interest of students in STEM once they reach high school.

To further discuss the gender gap in STEM education, Dr. Charlotte Chiong, Dean of the College of Medicine University of the Philippines – Manila, shares her insights and experiences working in the academe over the years. She emphasizes how institutions such as schools and universities can promote gender equality by bringing more women leaders and creating and preserving safe spaces for women. In line with this, Atty. Kristine E. Yuzon-Chaves, the Executive Director (ED) Philippine Commission on Women, presented insights from the Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment (GEWE) Plan and its importance in advancing the Participation of Women and Girls in STEM. She encourages leaders to promote women empowerment, strengthen and implement existing policies in STEM education, and strengthen partnerships in the women’s sector.

Gathering a panel of leaders and advocates from different sectors, the event also served as a platform to discuss the topics on STEM and women’s economic empowerment and participation. Here the speakers shared their own personal stories, how we can support Filipinas’ aspirations in STEM, and initiatives that aim to bridge the gender gap. On STEM students who pursue non-traditional STEM paths, Dr. Chiong shares “At the end of the day, what’s important is they pursue what they want. Nothing prevents them from working with people in STEM.” To give the closing remarks, Usec. Marjorie Jalosjos from the Department of the Interior and Local Government calls on educators and leaders to support initiatives, such as the Pinays Can STEM toolkit, that promote the participation of women in STEM.

Over the years, there has been an apparent gender gap in the field of STEM, even more so in the Philippines where women continue to be under-represented in both STEM education and careers. Attributing this to existing stereotypes, lack of female role models, and unavailability of opportunities, many young Filipinas lose interest or get discouraged in pursuing STEM. The event not only showed us the need to bridge the gender gap in STEM, but to act upon these issues and consider it a priority in our times of today. It takes conscious effort to plant the seeds on the importance of women’s economic empowerment and gender equality in STEM and provide them with the opportunity to succeed and achieve greater heights.

Together, Unilab Foundation and the Philippine Commission on Women are working towards a more gender-equal future for girls in STEM. The Pinays Can STEM Toolkit is a continuous effort to increase the confidence and interest of young girls, to encourage them to take space, and use STEM for the good of humanity.

March 31, 2022
Blue Carpet Premiere Held for ‘Sonic the Hedgehog 2’

Sonic fans, celebrities, and members of the entertainment press attended the exclusive ‘blue carpet’ premiere Paramount Pictures’ comedy-adventure Sonic the Hedgehog 2, held March 26 at SM North EDSA The Block Cinema in Quezon City.

Guests brought their families and children along to celebrate everyone’s favorite blue hedgehog and witness his much-anticipated showdown with Knuckles and the returning Dr. Robotnik. Sonic saves the day with a little help from his friend Tails.

Check out the `blue carpet’ photos below and watch Sonic the Hedgehog 2 now showing across the Philippines.

Blue Carpet Premiere

Sonic the Hedgehog 2 Blue Carpet Premiere at at SM North EDSA The Block
Photo Credit: Paul Vincent Cheng | Paramount Pictures International

Photo Credit: Paul Vincent Cheng | Paramount Pictures International

Photo Credit: Paul Vincent Cheng | Paramount Pictures International

Photo Credit: Paul Vincent Cheng | Paramount Pictures International

Paramount Pictures would like to thank SM Cinema and SM North EDSA for their support in mounting the premiere.

Watch the film’s latest trailer below :

The world’s favorite blue hedgehog is back for a next-level adventure in Sonic the Hedgehog 2. After settling in Green Hills, Sonic is eager to prove he has what it takes to be a true hero. His test comes when Dr. Robotnik returns, this time with a new partner, Knuckles, in search for an emerald that has the power to destroy civilizations. Sonic teams up with his own sidekick, Tails, and together they embark on a globe-trotting journey to find the emerald before it falls into the wrong hands.

From the filmmakers behind The Fast and the Furious and Deadpool, Sonic the Hedgehog 2 stars James Marsden, Ben Schwartz as the voice of Sonic, Tika Sumpter, Natasha Rothwell, Adam Pally, and Jim Carrey returning, alongside new additions Shemar Moore, with Idris Elba as the voice of Knuckles, and Colleen O’Shaughnessey as the voice of Tails.

Directed by Jeff Fowler. Screenplay by Pat Casey & Josh Miller and John Whittington. Story by Pat Casey & Josh Miller, based on the SEGA Video Game.

Sonic the Hedgehog 2 is distributed by Paramount Pictures through Columbia Pictures. Follow on Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube. Connect with #SonicMovie2

March 31, 2022
McDonald’s PH launches Sonic 2 Happy Meal toys with a surprise reveal on April 9

Watch out for an exciting surprise toy and a #SonicRingRun AR filter to be revealed soon!

With the highly anticipated sequel to the 2020 Sonic the Hedgehog film arriving in cinemas starting today, fans of the series will be speeding to see Sonic back on the big screen with his friends and rivals. To make the most out of the thrills of life with Sonic— even outside of the movie— McDonald’s is releasing Sonic the Hedgehog 2 Happy Meal!

In its newest Happy Meal collection, McDonald’s gives customers 10 toys to collect, including fan-favorite characters Sonic the Hedgehog, Tails, Knuckles, and even a surprise toy that movie-watchers will be excited to uncover. Little ones can anticipate the reveal and release of the surprise toy on April 9 as this will surely make them feel the Sonic fever even more! With each toy delivering more force power than conventional gearboxes, kids will get to experience Sonic’s lightning-fast speed with its awesome collectibles!

But, the fun doesn’t end with the Happy Meal collection! Share adventure-filled bonding time with kids through the #SonicRingRun AR filter that will be available on McDonald’s Philippines’ Instagram and Facebook pages soon. This fun AR filter will enable kids and parents to race with their favorite Sonic characters and experience fun family bonding moments.

Experience the thrill of a lightning-fast adventure with McDonald’s NEW Sonic the Hedgehog 2 Happy Meal Toy Collectibles and catch the movie release only in cinemas starting March 30. Go fast and get them at the nearest McDonald’s store for Dine-In, Drive-Thru, Take Out, or order via McDelivery.

For more information and updates on this offering, visit McDonald’s Philippines on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram.

March 31, 2022
Premium European Beef from Ireland showcased in Chef Tatung Sarthou’s Online Masterclass

Bord Bia – the Irish Government Food Board, with co-funding from the European Union, organized this event for a select group of professional chefs and media on March 17th.

In 2019, the European Union selected Ireland to implement a co-funded campaign promoting European Pork & Beef in the Philippines. Ireland, being the largest net exporter of beef in the European Union, exports exceptional pork and beef around the world. Dedicated producers are fully invested in producing the highest quality food in harmony with nature, producing natural and sustainable food is their passion. Ireland is a small island on the edge of Europe, with a population of just 5 million people, yet it produces enough food to feed 40 million. The Irish people are passionate about the food they produce and they want to share them with the world. As such, it is widely endorsed by over 90 Michelin-starred chefs across the globe primarily because of the meat’s tenderness and rich flavor, making it the top choice for chefs looking to satisfy the healthier and environmentally-conscious consumers while maintaining great taste and texture.

Mr. Jack Hogan, Bord Bia Market Specialist, said, “We are very pleased with this year’s Chef Masterclass, which is the latest activity under our European Pork & Beef campaign in the Philippines. This activity, working with the renowned and respected Chef Tatung, demonstrates the compatibility and versatility of our high quality meat to the Philippine cuisine.” He also added that “Ireland’s trading relationship with the Philippines can be traced back many decades ago. In fact, Ireland is one of the largest suppliers of beef to the Philippines. We have developed a strong long-lasting relationship with our local partners and are fully focused on growing our exports of quality meats to the market. The Philippines is Ireland’s number one destination for our beef exports outside of Europe and is our pork exports to the Philippines grew by 60% last year, making it an increasingly important market. We look forward to continued growth and providing opportunities for the public to try our quality meat from Ireland.”

This year, Chef Myke Tatung Sarthou, best known for his revolutionary “Simpol” on-line cooking series, teams up with Bord Bia and the European Union. His books, Philippine Cookery: From Heart to Platter (2017) and Simpol: The Cookbook (2021), both won the prestigious Gourmand World Cookbook Awards. He was also one of the highlights in the Asian Madrid Fusion, Spain 2017, where he introduced the Mindanao cuisine. For this masterclass, he took consideration of the Filipinos’ love for their meats and developed two (2) recipes using European beef from Ireland, Herb-Crusted Beef Striploin Steak and Beef Short Ribs Piyanggang. The Herb-Crusted Beef Striploin Steak was cooked rare and looks like an appetizer that any international guest would be excited to try. While the Beef Short Ribs Piyanggang is a regional saucy curry that anyone could imagine to be flavorful with its curry and smoky features with fall-off-the bone meatiness from the European beef from Ireland. Surely, one can’t help but salivate while watching them on a zoom webinar.

Beef Short Ribs Piyanggang

Herb-Crusted Beef Striploin

The online Chef Masterclass was sure to excite and inspire the professional chefs and media to get their hands on cooking the recipes while developing their knowledge on taste, texture, and quality of the beef from Europe which they received in a cooking kit a few days prior to the event. European beef from Ireland is currently available at several high-end restaurants and hotels in Metro Manila. It is also becoming more prevalent in premium stores and supermarkets such as Landers. Bord Bia, the Irish Food Board, will continue to work in partnership with Filipino traders and importers to help deliver high quality meat to the Philippines.

For more details of the European Pork and Beef Campaign in the Philippines: Visit the website www.europeanporkbeef.com/ph

March 30, 2022
Bring Back Sweet Memories with the New Nips Strawberry Delight

What do you remember most about your childhood? As you grow older, the fun and exciting memories are usually the ones you can easily look back to. Reminiscing the days spent playing games with your childhood friends while enjoying goodies can instantly put a smile on your face. And with Jack ‘n Jill Nips’ NEWEST flavor, Strawberry Delight, you can reawaken that inner child in you and fall in love again with one of your favorite childhood treats.

Enjoy the new Nips Strawberry Delight as you reminisce fun childhood memories with your buddies such as playing games on the streets or using your console games.

The NEW Nips Strawberry Delight is a yummy and affordable treat that is made with creamy Ruby Cocoa, balanced with a luscious strawberry flavor—all lovingly embraced by a crunchy candy coating that we all grew to love.

There’s no doubt that Nips played a huge role in our childhood. Its irresistible, creamy, and delicious chocolate flavor makes reminiscing about the good old days the best. But the good days don’t have to stay in the past. You can relive and experience these moments with your friends – both old and new. Nips will surely give you a blast from the past with a twist of new and exciting flavor with Nips Strawberry Delight.

Don’t miss out on this new flavor because it will surely bring you back to the first time you tasted Nips! Plus, Nips is still that affordable treat you’ve always known. For only Php 16 SRP, it comes in a 40g pouch that makes it easy to bring and eat anywhere and anytime. Just head on down to your favorite supermarket or local stores to grab a bag or two for you and your buddies.

Falling in love again never tasted this good! Follow Jack ‘n Jill Nips on Facebook page for more updates.

Nips is a product of Universal Robina Corporation (URC), makers of well-loved Pinoy snacks and drinks such as C2, Great Taste, Jack ‘n Jill Piattos, Cream-O and Maxx. to know more about URC and its brands, visit www.urc.com.ph.

March 30, 2022
Cebu Pacific to Restore 100% of Pre-pandemic Domestic Capacity

Cebu Pacific, the Philippines’ leading airline, expects to restore over 100% of its pre-pandemic domestic capacity in April 2022 after it ramped up its network with the easing of pandemic travel restrictions, marking a strong start for its 26^th year.

As the summer peak approaches, the airline has noted a 200% increase in its average daily flights for both domestic and international combined – from about 100 flights per day in 2020, to about 300 at present. Flights from Manila to key domestic destinations, such as Boracay and Cebu, have exceeded their 2019 flight frequencies.

The airline currently operates 96% of its pre-pandemic domestic capacity. The improvement has enabled CEB to carry more passengers and boost its cargo service which means faster and more efficient movement of goods across its widest domestic network.

Cebu Pacific President and Chief Executive Officer, Lance Gokongwei (right), personally awards its 200 millionth passenger during flight 5J575bound for Cebu, recently. The winning passenger, Salbert Garces (left), was awarded free unlimited flights to any Cebu Pacific route domestic destination for a period of one year.

CEB also celebrated another milestone today as it flew its 200 millionth passenger on board one of its 18x daily Manila-Cebu flights. This route was the first ever flown by CEB back in 1996.

“We are excited to safely fly everyJuan to their destinations so they could reunite with their families and loved ones, or pursue their business interests, or revisit tourist destinations. It is encouraging to see and feel travel confidence returning. We thank our passengers for their continued trust, and we will endeavor to live true to our promise of providing safe, affordable, and accessible air travel for every Juan,” said Lance Gokongwei, President & Chief Executive Officer (CEO) at Cebu Pacific.

Upon landing in Cebu, Cebu Pacific President and Chief Executive Officer, Lance Gokongwei (leftmost), Candice Iyog (2^nd from left), Vice-President for Marketing and Customer Experience, and Xander Lao, Chief Commercial Officer (2^nd from right), held a media gathering and commemorative event, in celebration of the airline’s 200 millionth passenger, Salbert Garces (rightmost), who was awarded an all-expense paid unlimited free flights to any Cebu Pacific route domestic destination for a period of one year.

CEB continues to offer its guaranteed low fares to spur travel among Filipinos and foreigners alike. Its month-long #CEBSuperSeatFest is still ongoing as part of its anniversary month celebration.

Cebu Pacific operates the widest domestic network in the Philippines covering 33 destinations, on top of its 14 international destinations. Its 74-strong fleet, one of the youngest in the world, includes two (2) dedicated ATR freighters.

CEB has achieved a 7-star safety rating from airlineratings.com for its COVID-19 compliance. It continues to implement a multi-layered approach to safety, while it operates with a 100% fully vaccinated crew – all to ensure its every Juan flies safely and conveniently on Cebu Pacific.

March 30, 2022
Stretch Your Limits with Lenovo’s New Flexible Laptop Yoga 9i

Lenovo, the world leader in PC, is finally bringing its much anticipated new addition flagship convertible laptop the Lenovo Yoga 9i to the Philippines. With the iconic 360-degree flexible hinge design, the Yoga laptop redefined the industry 10 years ago when it was debuted. Now a decade later, the Yoga spans and stretches across form factors, bringing bold innovation and refined craftsmanship to consumers in a ‘work/learn/play-from-anywhere’ world.

Designed for versatility and portability to help trendsetters achieve and explore more, the Lenovo Yoga 9i offers consumers who desire premium experiences and intuitive design with the latest technology can offer. It comes with all-new Comfort Edge, jewel design, which was made to be both a statement piece and an entertainment powerhouse that is easier to be carried anywhere. With its stunning Lenovo PureSight OLED True Black display and powerful 3D audio in all modes from the Bowers & Wilkins rotating sound bar enhanced with Dolby Atmos®, the Yoga 9i is the ideal for people who want to put an immersive experience first.

“Lenovo continues our mission of leading and delivering Smarter Technology for All, focusing on inclusive design especially in the hybrid world. With the new flagship convertible laptop the Lenovo Yoga 9i, we offer consumers a fully-equipped multimedia experience as they play, learn, binge shows, pay bills, or create content with powerful Windows 11 performance,” said Michael Ngan, General Manager, Lenovo Philippines.

The Yoga 9i offers a four-side narrow bezel with a 90% Active Area Ratio for a new mode of viewing that reveals that reveals more vertical content when browsing the web or working with documents.

It also has a 14-inch Lenovo PureSight 2.8K 90Hz OLED display, powered by the latest Samsung E4 OLED technology for superior image reproduction. The OLED breakthrough self-lit technology enables ultra-wide viewing angle with minimal brightness, contrast loss and colour shift when viewed from any angle, making it perfect for movie marathons with family and friends.

The display is also Dolby Vision^® HDR certified, capable of showing bright and vibrant colours, wider colour contrast and scene-by-scene colour and brightness optimization. With the first-ever Bowers & Wilkins rotating soundbar speakers that adapts to your usage mode, Yoga 9i brings you high quality entertainment experience.

The Yoga 9i embeds the all-new 12^th Gen Intel^®Core™ P-series processor with performance hybrid architecture that features up to 6 performance and 8 efficiency cores built on the new Intel Core i7 processor for revolutionary performance and responsiveness. You can also find AI-powered features that enhance consumers’ convenience and user experience ranging from the Smart Note application that enablesconvenient note taking right from the lock screen, to Lenovo Smart Power which optimizes the laptop for best-in-class performance by letting consumers ramp up to max power with a press of Fn-Q or through a 1-click function key to shift into Performance Mode, the Smart Lenovo Smart Appearance that enables you to look your best in photos and video calls, and many more for an optimized computing experience.

Powered by Windows 11, you can enjoy the great new features that give Yoga 9i more ways to create and innovate, especially in the new hybrid world.

Featuring precision-machined, aerospace-grade aluminium complete with an all-new ergonomic centric Comfort Edge jewel design, the Yoga 9i is a stylish convertible laptop with an interactive 14-inch touchscreen, available in Oatmeal color with rounded, high-gloss sidewalls. Weighing from just 1.4kg and as thin as 15.25mm, the laptop comes with a 360-degree hinge designed with your experience in mind.

The addition of a dual fan and pipe design now features two 40% larger fans and 0.1mm fan blades for better airflow. The precision touchpad has also been upgraded with a generous touch area that is 45% larger than before, facilitating new multi-finger gestures with Windows 11.

The Yoga 9i provides up to 14 hours battery life and also a 3-year Accidental Damage Protection on top of the best-in-class 3-Year Premium Care Warranty. With the front-of-the-queue and straight-to-the-experts customer support services, Lenovo has consumers covered to provide you with a peace of mind, ensure your satisfaction and success with faster solutions.

Don’t miss out on taking home the new Yoga 9i, perfect for consumers who aspire to achieve greater heights in both work and play, starting at P109,995.00.

The Yoga 9i will be available in all Yoga Exclusive Stores in SM Mall of Asia and SM North EDSA as well as Lenovo Experience Stores and authorized resellers nationwide. For more information, follow Lenovo Philippines on Facebook or visit www.lenovo.com/ph/en/yoga.

March 30, 2022
Celebrate New Beginnings and Life-Changing Tales on HBO GO, HBO, and Cartoon Network This April
Life brings unexpected twists and turns on HBO GO, HBO, and Cartoon Network, with fresh premieres, new seasons and great programming stunts this April.

In The Baby, a woman’s life is turned upside down by the arrival of a child while Barry Season 3 follows a former hitman’s attempt to start afresh as an actor. In We Own This City, the line between the law and crime gets blurred, and Voyagers explores the breakdown of social order.

For kids, Cartoon Network’s new programming block Cartoonito offers preschoolers fun-filled entertainment that celebrates their unique personalities, new series Ekans – Snakes Awake welcomes a new protector of humanity, and Spirit Untamed unites two kindred spirits.

Rediscover Life on HBO GO and HBO

Whether it’s a career change, a fresh start or a life-changing experience, the human spirit always finds a way forward.

Barry Season 3
Premieres Monday, April 25 at 10am on HBO and HBO GO

This dark comedy series is about Barry Berkman, a lonely hitman from the Midwest who unexpectedly discovers a passion for acting. However, despite his best efforts, his criminal past won’t let him walk away. The multi-award-winning series has received 30 Emmy® nominations and 6 Emmys®, including Outstanding Lead Actor and Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series. Stars Bill Hader. Stream Seasons 1 and 2 on HBO GO!

The Baby
Premieres Monday, April 25 at 11.30pm on HBO and HBO GO

This new HBO Original Series revolves around Natasha, who has never made long-term plans. However, the unexpected arrival of a baby changes everything. Suddenly, her life of doing what she wants, when she wants, is over. In a funny, raw look at motherhood, each episode depicts how the baby twists Natasha’s life into a horror show with its controlling, manipulative and violent powers. As she discovers the true extent of its deadly nature, Natasha makes increasingly desperate attempts to get rid of it. But while she doesn’t want a baby, the baby wants her. Stars Michelle De Swarte.

We Own This City
Premieres Tuesday, April 26 at 9am on HBO and HBO GO

Witness the rise and fall of the Baltimore Police Department’s Gun Trace Task Force. This six-hour limited series chronicles the corruption and moral collapse that befell an American city when their efforts to combat rising crime led to drug prohibition and mass arrests that were championed at the expense of actual police work. Based on the book by Justin Fenton, main cast members include Jon Bernthal, Josh Charles, and Jamie Hector.

Voyagers
Premieres Saturday, April 2 at 9pm on HBO and HBO GO

The future of the human race is at stake, prompting a critical expedition to colonize a distant planet. However, the team of young men and women, bred for intelligence and obedience, uncover disturbing secrets about the mission. In response, they defy their training and begin to explore their most primitive natures. As they become consumed by fear, lust, and the insatiable hunger for power, life on the ship descends into chaos. Stars Tye Sheridan, Lily-Rose Depp, Isaac Hempstead Wright, and Colin Farrell.

Spirit Untamed
Premieres Saturday, April 16 at 9pm on HBO and HBO GO

Lucky Prescott, a headstrong young girl, discovers a kindred soul when she encounters a wild horse named Spirit. The relationship helps Lucky connect with her late mother, a fearless horse-riding stunt performer, but it is threatened by a heartless horse wrangler seeking to capture and sell Spirit’s entire herd. Together with her newfound friends, Lucky must find a way to save them all. Stars Isabela Merced, Julianne Moore and Jake Gyllenhaal.

Fun & Action for All Ages on Cartoon Network

From preschoolers to older kids, Cartoon Network has something for the entire family.

Cartoonito
From Monday, March 28, daily from 6am to 12pm on Cartoon Network

Cartoon Network is proud to present Cartoonito, a collection of learning-based programmes and fun content that is tailored for preschoolers. Top picks include Lucas The Spider, Monchhichi, Dino Ranch, Esme & Roy, and many more. Stream them all on HBO GO from Monday, April 18 or catch them on Cartoon Network’s Cartoonito from Monday, March 28, daily from 6am-12pm.

Ekans – Snakes Awake
Premieres Monday, April 25 at 1.30pm, with new episodes weekdays on Cartoon Network

A brand-new hero is here – meet Ekans, a 13-year-old boy with a heart of gold and a fearless attitude. Identified as the ‘The One’ by a group of the most powerful snakes in the world, Ekans is entrusted with the Naagmani, which enables him to harness extraordinary, serpent-like power. Now, the tech-savvy teen has heightened sensory perceptions including camouflage, flexibility and strength, making him the perfect hero to keep humanity safe from the forces of evil.

Channel numbers for your reference:
- Cartoon Network: Cignal: Ch. 74 (SD), Ch. 220 (HD), Sky Cable: Ch. 43 (SD), Ch. 178 (HD)
- Boomerang: Cignal: Ch. 76, Sky Cable: Ch. 42
- Warner TV: Cignal Ch. 235 and Sky Cable Ch. 34 (SD) and Ch. 197 (HD)
- HBO: Cignal: Ch. 53 (SD), Ch. 210 (HD), Sky Cable: Ch. 54 (SD) and Ch. 168 (HD)
Subscribe to HBO GO online at www.hbogoasia.ph or the mobile app via the App Store or Play Store on your device for as low as ₱99.70/month. Or access HBO GO via Cignal, Globe and Skycable. HBO GO is also available on Android TV, Apple TV, LG TV and Samsung Smart TV – and comes with AirPlay and Google Cast functionality.
March 30, 2022
WATCH: Feel the Rush of ‘Top Gun: Maverick’ in This New Trailer

Guaranteed adrenaline rush. Paramount Pictures’ Top Gun: Maverick is FINALLY coming to cinemas across the Philippines May 25. Watch the NEW official trailer now!

About Top Gun: Maverick

After more than thirty years of service as one of the Navy’s top aviators, Pete “Maverick” Mitchell (Tom Cruise) is where he belongs, pushing the envelope as a courageous test pilot and dodging the advancement in rank that would ground him. When he finds himself training a detachment of Top Gun graduates for a specialized mission the likes of which no living pilot has ever seen, Maverick encounters Lt. Bradley Bradshaw (Miles Teller), call sign: “Rooster,” the son of Maverick’s late friend and Radar Intercept Officer Lt. Nick Bradshaw, aka “Goose”.

Facing an uncertain future and confronting the ghosts of his past, Maverick is drawn into a confrontation with his own deepest fears, culminating in a mission that demands the ultimate sacrifice from those who will be chosen to fly it.

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Directed by Joseph Kosinski, Top Gun: Maverick stars Tom Cruise, Miles Teller, Jennifer Connelly, Jon Hamm, Glen Powell, Lewis Pullman, Charles Parnell, Bashir Salahuddin, Monica Barbaro, Jay Ellis, Danny Ramirez, Greg Tarzan Davis with Ed Harris.

The film is written by Ehren Kruger and Eric Warren Singer and Christopher McQuarrie, based on the characters created by Jim Cash & Jack Epps, Jr. Produced by Jerry Bruckheimer, Tom Cruise, Christopher McQuarrie, and David Ellison.

Top Gun: Maverick is distributed in the Philippines by Paramount Pictures through Columbia Pictures. Follow on Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube. Connect with #TopGun and tag @paramountpicsph

March 30, 2022
Young women filmmakers lead IKLI film festival winners

Female student filmmakers from De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde (DLS-CSB) dominated the winning circle of the recently concluded IKLI: Super Short Film Festival.

Diana Galang’s “Classroom 2022” emerged the big winner when it bagged both the “So Short But So Good – Best Picture” and the “You Have to Watch This – Fan Favorite” awards in the Super Shorts (films which run between two minutes and 21 seconds and five minutes) category of the new online film festival.

Giulia Saavedra’s “Looooongest Line” topped the IKLI Micro Shorts (60 seconds or less) division while Alecx Literal’s “Recurring Dream” took home the fan favorite prize among IKLI Mini Shorts (films with running time between one minute and two minutes and 20 seconds) group.

Galang, Saavedra, and Literal are all film students from DLS-CSB’s School of Design and Arts.

The other IKLI festival winners are Maria Del Carmen Villapol’s “Bitin,” Best Picture in the Mini Short category, and Francis Ner Marañon’s “Submit,” Fan Favorite among the Micro Shorts. Villapol is also a woman and a member of the film and theater organization SineDulaang Agustino of La Consolacion College Manila.

“Classroom 2022” depicts the country’s political environment in a comedy-drama that follows a classroom election after the end of the global pandemic. In the first week of face-to-face classes, Ms. Pallan, adviser of Grade 10 Section Maharlika, asked the students to elect their new class president.

Meanwhile, “Looooongest Line” focuses on the long lines of people waiting for “ayuda,” or government assistance during the quarantine, by representing them with household items in a parlor game. The idea came to Saavedra at the time relief was distributed to her neighborhood after Typhoon Ulysses struck.

In “Recurring Dream,” a woman falls into a deep dream-like cycle, unsure of what the future brings. It follows the character accomplishing her daily routine within the confines of her home. Days seem to go by quicker, yet she still finds herself in the same place, forced to do the same routine and practices.

IKLI, which aims to highlight stories that focus on the idea that Filipinos deserve better, is organized by the ticketing and video platform Ticket2Me in partnership with the Movement for Good Governance (MGG), Rappler, Youth Leadership for Democracy (YouthLed), and YouthVote Philippines.

“We wanted to use the platform and the inaugural film festival as an opportunity to showcase the creativity of these young filmmakers to tell and be able to support the message ‘We deserve better’,” Atty. Darwin Mariano, founder of the ticketing company and one of the founding members of MGG.

“When we think of short films, there’s also a gateway into the larger world of Philippine cinema. Creating a new generation is really important in showcasing those works,” Tristan Zinampan, Head of Brand Integration of Rappler Inc. and one of the founders of Act One, Rappler’s online platform for Filipino short films, stressed.

Ching Jorge, YouthLed’s Chief of Party, commended the young filmmakers during the awarding ceremony last March 18. “We are amazed that the creativity, quality, and content of all the entries shared the realities of our citizens and sent the message that the Filipino people truly deserve better.”

“I hope our film – as short as it is – serves as a wakeup call to people who don’t realize what we deserve yet. In the upcoming elections, let’s line up to a path towards a better governance,” Saavedra shared.

March 29, 2022