The start of a new year is always an exciting time, filled with the promise of new beginnings and fresh starts. However, it can also be overwhelming, with the pressure to set and achieve big goals for the year ahead. That’s where the Acqua 2023 Manifest Planner comes in. This planner is designed to help you set and achieve your goals, both big and small, in an organized and effective manner.
Featuring an intuitive layout, the Acqua 2023 Manifest Planner includes sections for goal setting, daily planning, and reflection. With prompts and exercises to help you identify your priorities and focus your efforts, this planner is the perfect tool for anyone looking to make the most of the new year. Acqua 2023 Manifest Planner consists of 12 monthly undated planner pages, 52 weekly spreads, concrete manifestation tips, a SURPRISE interactive spread (which can be folded to form an image) and freebie stickers.
In addition to its practical features, the Acqua 2023 Manifest Planner is also beautifully designed, making it a pleasure to use. With a sleek and modern aesthetic, this planner is the perfect accessory to help you stay on track and achieve your goals in style. With this planner, we want you to dream big this 2023, to manifest your dream life. It’s made of soft vegan leather cover, making it scratch & dustproof. With 196 pages of A5 100gsm, offset paper that doesn’t bleed through the pages, each pack comes with a free sticker and is available for only P699. It comes in 4 colors: Lush Lilac, Charcoal Black, Beach Tan, and Desert Sage.
The Acqua 2023 Manifest Planner is available for purchase here. Don’t let another year pass you by without achieving your goals. Order your Acqua 2023 Manifest Planner today and start manifesting the life you want.
Brazilian superstar and #4 DJ in the world Alok, known for colossal collaborations with John Legend, Jason Derulo, Tove Lo, and Ellie Goulding, has joined forces with multi platinum singer/songwriter James Arthur to release their new dance single, “Work With My Love.” The disco-inspired house track is guaranteed to get feet moving, hips swaying, and heads rocking, and is available now on all DSPs and streaming services HERE, with an official music video on the way.
“I’m a big fan of James’ style and had a great time making this track with him. Hope everyone enjoys it” – Alok
Music fans around the world may feel some nostalgia from the sample used in “Work With My Love;” recognizing it from having also been used in The Shapeshifters’ 2004 hit “Lola’s Theme,” which topped the UK singles charts and was nominated for “Best British Single” at the 2005 Brit Awards. The muffled disco horn sample crescendos into James’s silky, soulful voice, as he croons about an impossible love. Alok’s masterfully constructed disco and house sounds keep the track modern and fresh while the retro brass motif lays a consistent foundation in the background that ties all the sounds together. The high hats give it an uplifted, light quality and energized feel, while low synth notes keep the beat grounded and groovy. As James repeatedly asks “Can you work with my love,” he invites us to compromise and meet halfway on the dance floor of life.
“As soon as I heard the iconic sample…I was in and keen to be involved in the track. Alok and I have attempted to work together previously so I’m super happy we’ve managed to create this massive tune.” – James Arthur
“Work With My Love” is Brazilian superstar Alok’s first single of 2023 following a slew of releases to cap a highly successful 2022, which was highlighted by him being crowned No. 1 DJ in Latin America and #4 in the world by DJ Mag and the launch of his “The Future Is Ancestral” philanthropic event series. The remarkable inaugural event brought his climate change initiatives and partnership to the United Nations’ Global Compact and helped kickoff New York’s Climate Change Week with a series of panels and a historic, first-ever performance on the rooftop of the United Nations headquarters. Alok’s musical successes in 2022 were also unmatched, with “Deep Down” staying at #1 on Billboard’s Dance charts for weeks while his dance pop anthem “All By Myself” with Ellie Goulding and Sigala flooded radio waves around the world. With a remarkable 70 million social media followers, the music producer and philanthropist continues to build on his legendary catalog, which already includes global hit singles like “Hear Me Now” and his chart topping remix of MEDUZA’s “Piece of Your Heart,” for which he won “Best Remix” at the 2020 International Dance Music Awards.
Known for his soulful, indie-folk sound centered on ballads of love and loss, James Arthur rose to prominence after winning the ninth series of The X Factor. His debut single, a cover of Shontelle’s “Impossible,” was released after the final, and debuted at number one on the UK Singles Chart. Since then, it has gone on to sell over 2.5 million copies worldwide, making it the most successful winner’s single in the show’s history. Arthur’s other chart-topping tracks include “Say You Won’t Let Go,” “Naked,” and “Rewrite The Stars” with Anne-Marie [from The Greatest Showman: Reimagined], which have over 5 billion combined streams across platforms.
Global video streaming service Prime Video announced today that it has acquired worldwide rights to In My Mother’s Skin, written and directed by Kenneth Dagatan (Ma). In My Mother’s Skin, a horror fairytale which will make its world premiere in the 2023 Sundance Film Festival’s Midnight Section, tells the story of how a young girl’s duty to protect her dying mother is complicated by her misplaced trust in a beguiling, flesh-eating fairy. The film stars Beauty Gonzalez, Felicity Kyle Napuli, Jasmine Curtis-Smith, James Mavie Estrella, and Angeli Bayani. In My Mother’s Skin is the only non-English language film in Sundance’s Midnight Section this year, and will launch on Prime Video in multiple countries by the end of 2023.
“In My Mother’s Skin” will launch on Prime Video by the end of 2023.
Welcome the new year with exciting upgrades and unbeatable prices from Xiaomi. Up to 43% off on select smart gadgets and appliances are on tap from January 20 to June 20, 2023 available in authorized Xiaomi stores and its official Shopee and Lazada stores online.
Xiaomi’s AIoT products are known for their high-quality, affordability, and cutting-edge technology. These products are designed with the user in mind, providing a host of features that make life simpler and more efficient.
Following is a list of smart devices with huge price slash from official Xiaomi stores. Find the perfect AIoT product for you.
Xiaomi Band 7
One of the most feature-packed wearables in the budget fitness tracker category, the Mi Band 7 offers all-day heart rate, blood oxygen, and stress tracking and supports 120 types of exercise. It boasts a large 1.62-inch, always-on display, an improved charger design, plus a compact, sleek design that doesn’t draw attention. Normally priced at PHP 2,499, it is available for a low price of only PHP 2,099 during the promo.
Xiaomi Watch S1
One of Xiaomi’s top smartwatches, the Xiaomi Watch S1 features stainless steel casing, a 1.43-inch AMOLED display, long battery life, 117 fitness modes, dual-band GPS, and an all-day comprehensive health monitor. It comes in a black stainless-steel case with black straps as well as a silver variant with brown straps. Regularly available for PHP 10,999, it now comes at a low price of only PHP 7,999.
Xiaomi Watch S1 Active
The Xiaomi Watch S1 Active is highly recommended for fitness fanatics who like extreme sports, as it has the capability to track your workouts and is extremely durable, making it perfect for outdoor activities such as running, cycling, and swimming.
The watch has a 1.43″ AMOLED display, a huge 470mAh battery, and is packed with a heart rate monitor (with blood oxygen sensor), plus an accelerometer, gyroscope, geomagnetic sensor, atmospheric sensor, and ambient light sensor. Normally priced at PHP 8,999, it is now more affordable at only PHP 5,999.
Xiaomi Buds 3
The Xiaomi Buds 3 offers an outstanding design, a comfortable fit, and flagship-level noise cancellation to provide excellent sound quality. The HiFi sound quality takes your listening experience to a whole new level, delivering clear and detailed audio, while the battery life ensures up to 7 hours of playback on a full charge and up to 32 hours when used with a charging case. Usually available for PHP 4,999, it is being offered at a promo price of PHP 2,999.
Xiaomi Buds 3T Pro
The Xiaomi Buds 3T Pro earbuds provide an unbeatable combination of well-balanced audio, strong noise cancellation, and a comfortable design, making it an ideal choice for those who want an immersive listening experience. It comes equipped with a dual-magnet dynamic driver that delivers superior sound quality with a balanced frequency range, plus a powerful noise cancellation technology that blocks out ambient noise and distractions so you can focus on your music or calls. Normally priced at PHP 6,999, this item is now available for PHP 3,999.
Xiaomi Truclean W10 Pro WE
The Truclean W10 Pro Wet Dry Vacuum offers an innovative cleaning experience with its hassle-free roller brush, which vacuums, mops, and cleans the floor in one pass, leaving a sparkling finish. Its vacuum head design is perfect for getting into tight corners and edges, and its cordless design allows for quick, effortless cleaning of any area in your home or office. You can now purchase this item for only PHP 17,999, instead of its regular price of PHP 26,999.
Find out more about Xiaomi’s AIoT products. Head over to their official Xiaomi Facebook page. You can also check out Xiaomi’s official Shopee and Lazada page.
Grab Philippines strengthens its GrabForGood social-impact agenda in the education sector with the launch of GrabScholar – a three-pronged scholarship program facilitated with online human-skills school BagoSphere. GrabScholar covers full-time college scholarships in partnership with PHINMA Education, bursary support for educational requirements, and a career acceleration program for aspiring Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) professionals with BagoSphere.
GrabScholar ladders up to Grab’s broader GrabForGood agenda which is geared at creating a positive impact on local communities through Grab’s technology and platform. Grab Philippines has launched other social-impact projects like its basic digital literacy program with Microsoft for driver-partners, and financial literacy program with the International Finance Corporation for small businesses.
Aimed at helping democratize access to educational opportunities here in the Philippines, GrabScholar will be supporting six full-time college students with four-year merit-based scholarships; 300 elementary and high school students with a one-time bursary for school supplies, books, and uniforms; and more than 150 adults with the Ateneo Center for Educational Development (ACED)-BagoSphere BPO Fellowship Program (BBF). The program is open to everyone, including Grab’s own driver-partners, merchant-partners, and their families.
Country Head of Grab Philippines Grace Vera Cruz shares:
“Many of our kababayans still lack access to necessary resources to attain their educational goals – and in many ways, this has impacted their growth opportunities. As a company that strives to empower every Filipino toward a better life through our platform and technology, we are embarking on this meaningful endeavor, GrabScholar, together with our partners from BagoSphere and PHINMA Education, to offer inclusive educational opportunities to Filipinos who are eager to change their lives for the better.”
GrabScholar: College Scholarship
Grab Philippines and PHINMA Education are accepting applications for the GrabScholar: College scholarship grant until February 03, 2023. After a rigorous assessment process with both Grab and PHINMA Education, six students will be selected and granted a full four-year scholarship at any of the partner PHINMA Education affiliate schools: St. Jude College, Republican College, Rizal College of Laguna, Union College of Laguna, and University of Iloilo. The grant covers tuition fees and miscellaneous fees, and also entitles the grantee to allowance and school supply support.
Country Head of PHINMA Education Philippines Christopher A. Tan shares:
“Throughout the past 18 years, PHINMA Education has catered by intent and design to the underserved youth — students whose families live on less than 300 USD per month, who, despite the odds, are often the first in their families to go to college. While we provide the Hawak Kamay Scholarship Program to around 60% of our students, GrabScholar will empower even more underserved youth to lift their families out of poverty. This school year, we were fortunate enough to gain the trust of more than 124K students. While it is the highest enrollment in our history, our mission does not stop there. This partnership with Grab Philippines and BagoSphere showcases how collaboration among like-minded organizations will allow us to reach more students and make even more lives better through education.”
First-year college students currently enrolled for academic year 2022-2023 are eligible to apply. They must have a GPA of at least 88 or 1.5 in the first semester to qualify. Interested applicants may visit this link for more information on other requirements and qualifications.
GrabScholar: School Expenses Aid
The GrabScholar program is also intended to aid young Filipino students acquire essential items for their schooling. In light of this, Grab Philippines will be providing one-time financial assistance to 300 elementary and high school students for eligible expenses such as school supplies, books and uniforms. Through GrabPay, the leading superapp will be reimbursing the awardees’ eligible expenses which can go as high as Php 2,500.
Grab Philippines is accepting applications for this aid until February 17, 2023. The GrabScholar: School Expenses Aid webpage contains more information on this program.
Grab Philippines strengthens social-impact agenda toward PH education, launches GrabScholar with BagoSphere and PHINMA Education
GrabScholar: BPO Skills Training
Promoting inclusivity, the GrabScholar Program also offers educational opportunities for Filipinos aspiring to be BPO professionals. GrabScholar’s BPO Skills Training offers more than 150 scholarships for the four-month Ateneo Center for Educational Development (ACED)-BagoSphere BPO Fellowship Program (BBF). It consists of a one-month intensive online training with a live coach and three months of job placement and mentoring support. 80 percent of the program’s graduates land a job in various leading BPOs in the country after finishing the course.
Group CEO of BagoSphere Zhihan Lee shares:
“As we continue to witness the rapid advancements in AI technology, it’s becoming increasingly clear that it will play a transformative role in the way we work. At BagoSphere, we believe that all individuals, across all industries, will greatly benefit from learning how to navigate a digital landscape and build transferable human skills to increase their employability. Additionally, it’s important to note that AI can augment human skills, but it cannot replace them. In partnership with our BPO employer partners, Ateneo Center for Educational Development, PHINMA Education, and Grab Philippines, we are thrilled to invest in upskilling Filipinos and equipping them with the tools they need to thrive in the digital age.”
Applicants must at least be 18 years old and should have at least earned their high school diploma following either the old or K-12 curriculum. Qualified candidates may visit this page for more details on the program. Applications may be submitted until February 17, 2023.
BagoSphere is an online human skills school for job seekers and professionals that collaborates with leading employers to provide training in human skills such as communication skills, interpersonal skills, critical thinking, and digital skills. BagoSphere has over 30,000 members and has graduated over 7,000 alumni from the Philippines’ underserved, low-income communities.
Cinema One celebrates the love month with must-watch Filipino blockbusters to entertain you this February, so sit back and watch from the comfort of your homes! Here are some romantic films coming to Cinema One this month to add to your binge list:
Love You to the Stars and Back
Starring Julia Barretto and Joshua Garcia February 1, 5 PM
Crazy Beautiful You
Starring Daniel Padilla and Kathryn Bernardo February 1, 7 PM
I’m Ellenya L.
Starring Maris Racal and Inigo Pascual February 2, 1 PM
Pansamantagal
Starring Bayani Agbayani and Gelli de Belen February 5, 11 PM | February 8, 11 PM
Cuddle Weather
Starring Sue Ramirez and RK Bagatsing February 6, 11 PM
Stranded
Starring Jessy Mendiola and Arjo Atayde February 8, 1 PM
Ang Larawan
Starring Joanna Ampil & Rachel Alejandro February 11, 3 AM
James & Pat & Dave
Starring Ronnie Alonte, Loisa Andalio, and Donny Pangilinan February 11, 7 PM
The Hows of Us
Starring Kathryn Bernardo and Daniel Padilla February 12, 7 PM | February 18, 5 PM
The Girl in the Orange Dress
Starring Jessy Mendiola and Jericho Rosales February 20, 5 PM
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For more Cinema One movies this February and for daily schedules of Cinema One, click here. Subscribe to Cinema One’s Youtube Channel (Bit.Ly/Cinemaoneonyoutube) for free full movies!
[Note: Channel schedules and movie lineup are subject to change without prior notice]
Celebrate the Chinese New Year with the best Apple experience! Apple Premium Reseller Power Mac Center (PMC) marks the beginning of the Year of the Water Rabbit with its “Hoppy Go Lucky” campaign, offering deals on select devices, accessories, repair, services, training, and an exciting raffle.
“As a continuation of our annual celebration of the Chinese New Year, we are ushering in luck and prosperity this Year of the Rabbit with lucky deals and promos for our loyal customers. We especially aim to support those who are looking to make their 2023 more productive and creative. To amp up the celebration, they can take advantage of special promos with up to 70% off so they welcome the new year with their favorite Apple devices,” said Joey Alvarez, Power Mac Center Director of Product Management and Marketing.
From January 18 to 31, Power Mac Center and The Loop stores nationwide, Mobile Care Service Centers, and official online stores (Web Store, Viber Store, The Loop by Power Mac Center on Lazada and Shopee, and SM Malls Online app) are hopping on board with fun promotions.
Manifest luck this year and bring home a double win! Welcome the Year of the Rabbit with savings of up to 70% discount on select RED products in participating stores. iPhone 13 cases, screen protectors, and camera lens protectors from partner premium brands are at up to 30% off when you purchase them with any iPhone 13 device.
It’s definitely ‘everybunny lucky’ when you treat yourselves or your loved ones with exciting deals on select Apple products. PMC slashes P1,500 off on AirPods (2nd gen), up to P7,500 off on iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Plus, P5,000 off on iPhone 13 and iPhone 12, and P6,500 off on iPhone 11 all throughout January.
Additionally, iPad (9th gen) is priced at up to P5,500 off the original price, while iPad Air (5th gen) is at up to P5,000 off on select stores from January 18-29.
If you’re looking to take training courses, it truly is your lucky year as they’re at a 20% discount if you enroll until January 31! Now you can learn macOS Fundamentals, Technical Troubleshooting, Apple Device Support, Apple Deployment and Management, iOS/iPadOS Fundamentals and Troubleshooting, Mac and Windows Integration Basics, Pages, Numbers and Keynote, and App Development with Swift. Classes will be facilitated by Apple Certified Trainers from Basecamp — Power Mac Center’s official training arm.
All Mobile Care Service Centers are participating in the fun, too! Get 50% off on diagnostic and software fees on red devices from January 21 to 22.
Power Mac Center has one more special surprise! Three 1 Infinite Access members will win P2,023 1 Infinite Access points, which can be used to pay for purchases (1 point = P1). A single receipt with participating red Apple or non-Apple devices and accessories under the ‘Hoppy Go Lucky’ promo is equivalent to one entry. The raffle runs from January 20 to 31, 2023.
Winners will be announced on February 7, 2023 on Power Mac Center’s official Facebook page.
Not a member yet? Sign up at here; for free to start earning points and enjoy exclusive perks. Terms and conditions apply. To read the full mechanics and other details, visit Hoppy Go Lucky 2023 PMC
Power Mac Center has long been the go-to store for Apple products and other leading accessory brands among Filipinos for more than 20 years. It has been offering the entire Apple ecosystem, including training, education, and services. Just recently, Power Mac Center obtained the distinction of opening the first Apple Premium Partner store in the Philippines at Power Plant Mall in Makati City.
More information is available at powermaccenter.com. Be in the know of the latest updates by following Power Mac Center on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, TikTok, and YouTube
The barkada is growing. Greenwich—the number one pizza and pasta chain in the country—is teaming up with Blacklist International Mobile Legends team (#BlacklistMLBB) to bring an awesome bonding experience.
Entering the booming and competitive world of online gaming also known as esports, the partnership highlights how the two brands champion bonding and creating connections in every possible way, targeting over 43 million active gamers in the Philippines.
Now, the collaboration between Greenwich and #BlacklistMLBB, is expected to make gaming more exciting with their fresh and engaging streaming and content collaborations.
“Greenwich has always been a brand that champions the passions of the Filipino youth. And today, that includes gaming. With #BlacklistMLBB as the newest addition to our family, they best represent how we embrace all kinds of barkadahan. Together, we can’t wait to step up the pizza and pasta game in the Philippines by providing them with our best-tasting products, as they journey into their competitions with their winning gameplay,” said Ali De Torres, Greenwich’s Head of Marketing.
This Southeast Asian esports organization under Tier One Entertainment includes Coach BON CHAN, Ohmyv33nus, Wise, Hadji, Oheb, Edward, DEX STAR, Master The Basics, Eson, and Kevier.
With superstars Johnmar “Ohmyv33nus” Villaluna and Danerie James “Wise” Del Rosario or popularly known as the VeeWise duo leading the team, #BlacklistMLBB was hailed champions of Season 7 and 8 of Mobile Legends: Bang Bang Professional League Philippines. Among their biggest achievements was winning the Mobile Legends: Bang Bang M3 World Championship in 2021.
“From day one, we have stayed true with our mission to strengthen the spirit of barkadahan over our great-tasting pizzas and pastas,” De Torres added.
“For us, it’s always a treat whenever a household brand recognizes the power of esports and how it can now resonate with mainstream audiences. Greenwich is definitely one of those brands and we’re excited for this partnership to bring new things to the table for our fans,” said Blacklist International CEO and Co-Owner Tryke Gutierrez.
You better not miss out on this awesome partnership! Best paired while playing ML, Greenwich bestsellers include Hawaiian Overload pizza, All-in Overload pizza, Overload Trio Deal, Dealicious Duo, and Lasagna Supreme.
As the official food partnerof #BlacklistMLBB, Greenwich aims to level up their menu offerings to fuel more ultimate bonding experiences with the barkada.
Taste this winning pizza and game, head over to the nearest Greenwich branch and order for dine-in or take-out. You may also order through www.greenwichdelivery.com.
“Brad’s one of the few people today where you get some sense of what the old school movie star really might’ve been like,” says Oscar-winning director Damien Chazelle (La La Land, First Man). “That sort of larger-than-life aura that a star of that time could exude seemingly effortlessly. That’s the thing with Brad, especially at this point in his career. You don’t see the work… it’s completely invisible and effortless. That’s part of what’s so magical about it.”
We first meet Jack Conrad (Pitt) when he arrives at the Wallach party with his soon-to-be ex-wife, Ina (Olivia Wilde). Jack evokes the likes of John Gilbert, Douglas Fairbanks and Rudolph Valentino, leading men of the silent movie era. When he makes his entrance at the party, Jack feels like the adult in the room, but it’s clear that he is ready to partake in the festivities if the right situation comes along.
“Jack is sort of the uber movie star,” says Chazelle. “He’s the highest grossing leading man in the world when we meet him. He’s one of those guys who has reached the apogee of stardom right at that moment, and the kind of hysterical love and admiration that he inspires, at a moment in time when the whole concept of movie stardom was still relatively new, is really hard for us today to fathom.”
In a throng of admirers, Jack knows just enough about everybody in the room to address them and make them feel special, even for a brief moment, without pausing for a beat on his way to the bar. Everyone wants a word with or a glance from the most famous man in the movies.
“Having him play a movie star of this era felt meta in the most beautiful way,” says Chazelle. “But it also gave us something to collaborate on together, because the story became a canvas that he could inform with his own experiences, so that you could see the humanity underneath — the vulnerability, the insecurity.”
To play a silent film star, Pitt also did his own research. “I went back and studied. I watched a lot of Gilbert, Fairbanks, and Valentino. There’s a real charm in those performances,” says Pitt. “Silent films didn’t have dialogue to rely on, they only had the occasional title card, so the performances have a style to them that’s different than what we have now.”
In cinemas across the Philippines starting February 1st, Babylon is distributed by Paramount Pictures through Columbia Pictures. Connect with #BabylonMovie and tag @paramountpicsph
Photo & Video Credit: “Paramount Pictures International”
Now in its 18th year, the Virgin Labfest, the annual theater festival of unpublished, unstaged, untried and untested works, is now open for script submissions for its 2024 edition.
Deadline for submission is on February 28, 2023 at 12:00 midnight. Submit your entries in doc or pdf format only to thewritersblocinc@gmail.com.
The call for script submissions is open to all Filipino citizens ONLY. Entries should have a maximum running time of 40 minutes. The festival is open to various themes and genres.
All submitted works must NOT have been previously published in book form, staged commercially for more than two (2) performances (staged readings and/or one-time workshop productions are allowed), or have not received any recognitions and awards in competitions and the likes.
Script entries may be in Filipino, English, Cebuano, Hiligaynon or Ilocano; but should be submitted with accompanying Filipino translations. Entries in other Filipino languages will also be considered based on availability and capability of performers.
A partnership project of the Cultural Center of the Philippines, The Writer’s Bloc, and Tanghalang Pilipino, Inc., the theater festival will select twelve (12) new one-act plays. The playwrights of the selected plays must be willing to undergo a script development process with the creative team of the festival.
The finalists will be formally announced at the end of the VLF Year 18, slated this June 2023.
