PLDT Home’s new ad sheds light on rediscovering the strongest family connections

Life in lockdown has been a learning phase for everyone. The pandemic may have brought collective fear due to the uncertainty of the times but there remains a glimmer of hope in the small things that were used to be taken for granted. And as families take part in this universal experience, it is also in these moments that people gain a newfound appreciation for the things that truly matter to them.

PLDT Home’s newest campaign video circles on redefining relationships and creating deeper emotional bonds in the family by rediscovering one’s strongest connections at home. The short film “Rediscover Home” depicts the changes between the normalcy people used to enjoy pre-quarantine, and the life they now know in the new normal.

Google Philippines celebrates Dolphy’s 92nd birthday with doodle

Today, Google Philippines celebrates the 92nd birthday of the comedian, actor, producer, and philanthropist Rodolfo ‘Dolphy’ Quizon with a doodle. This illustrates the country’s King of Comedy whose charm and humor warmed hearts and made him a household name among millions of Filipinos. 

Born on this day in 1928 in Manila, Dolphy’s interest with the performing arts began in his childhood when he was selling peanuts and watermelon seeds at movie theaters. Able to watch movies for free, the young Dolphy started dreaming of becoming an actor and landed his first small film role at age 19. This was followed by years of hard work and success in film and radio before he made his big television debut with the 1960s series “Buhay Artista” (“Actor’s Life”). 

United City Football Club launches logo competition for Fans

Winning design receives Pesos 10,000 in cash with fans receiving a personalized jersey

True to the commitment to connect and engage with the fans, United City Football Club, the defending champion of the Philippines Football League, is reaching out to artists to submit and for fans to vote on its new logo design.

“The prize money competition will allow the fans to have a say on what the crest, the most important part of a Clubs identity, will look like”, states CEO Eric M. Gottschalk. “We will strive for tolerance, excellence while creating a place for people to live out their dreams – a true Club for the People – it’s a long road ahead but we see this as a marathon and not a sprint”.

PayMaya, Megaworld Lifestyle Malls help local farmers and merchants bounce back through safe contactless payments

Customers can enjoy a safe and rewarding shopping experience
 via PayMaya QR at Eastwood City’s Harvest to Goodness
weekend market until July 30, 2020. .

#ScanToPay via PayMaya QR at Eastwood City's Harvest to Goodness weekend market

Buyers and diners in merchants around Eastwood City as well as local farmers participating in the Harvest to Goodness weekend market can feel safer and more secure as Megaworld Lifestyle Malls taps digital financial services leader PayMaya to offer contactless payment options to customers via PayMaya QR.

By equipping participating booths and stalls at Eastwood City's Harvest to Goodness weekend market with PayMaya QR, customers can now use contactless payments when they purchase homegrown produce and goods until July 30, 2020 –helping eliminate the risk of handling cash and making it easier and safer to support local businesses.  

LSIs get help from PLDT-Smart Foundation, Alagang Kapatid

Locally stranded individuals (LSIs), currently staying at the Philippine Ports Authority, recently received assistance from the PLDT-Smart Foundation (PSF) and TV5 Alagang Kapatid Foundation, Inc. (AKFI) who paid them a visit and advised them on health protocols while distributing snack packs and raincoats.

“We hope to provide some comfort and nourishment to over 200 LSIs patiently waiting at the port area for a ship that could transport them to their respective homes in places such as Basilan, Jolo, Sulu, Cagayan De Oro, Butuan City, Iloilo, Bacolod, and Cebu,” said PSF President Ma. Esther O. Santos. 

DJ Khaled teams up with Drake on two new singles “Popstar” and “Greece”

What a surprise drop! GRAMMY® Award-winning multiplatinum artist, music industry visionary, innovative influencer, mogul, and mega-producer DJ Khaled has released not one, but two new singles with Canadian music superstar Drake.

The massive singles “POPSTAR” and “GREECE” set the stage for his for his twelfth full-length album and one of the most anticipated hip-hop events of 2020, Khaled Khaled—coming very soon. Using his given name, it marks his most personal and powerful body of work yet.

Khaled makes a statement with both of these blockbuster anthems. Over lavish production and a cinematic beat, “POPSTAR” reflects on each titan’s place in the game as modern-day superstars responsible for a successive string of hit records. Meanwhile, “GREECE” nods to the finer pleasures in life with its rich bounce and luxurious rhymes. These songs continue one of the most legendary collaborative brotherhoods in hip-hop history between Khaled and Drake. 

The two-punch release serves as their first team-up in three years, following the success of 2011’s “I’m on One,” 2013’s “No New Friends,” 2016’s “For Free” and 2017’s “To The Max.” 

DJ Khaled notably kicked off 2020 by winning a GRAMMY® Award in the category of Best Rap/Sung Performance for the gold-selling “Higher” [feat. Nipsey Hussle & John Legend], paving the way for a massive year.

Since launching his career two decades ago, DJ Khaled has sold 18 million singles and 5 million albums and generated 3 billion-plus streams. His discography encompasses eight gold singles, five platinum singles, and two double-platinum singles. 

He landed back-to-back #1 debuts on the Billboard Top 200 with the gold-selling Major Key in 2016 and platinum-certified GRAMMY® Award-nominated Grateful in 2017. The latter boasted the sextuple-platinum Billboard Hot 100 #1 “I’m The One” (feat. Justin Bieber, Quavo, Chance the Rapper, & Lil Wayne) and quadruple-platinum “Wild Thoughts” (feat. Rihanna & Bryson Tiller).

DJ Khaled’s “POPSTAR” and “GREECE” (Feat. Drake) are now available on all digital platforms worldwide via We The Best/Epic Records.

Juan Karlos inspires hope and strength amid the pandemic with their latest single, “BLESS Ü”

OPM hit-making band Juan Karlos (stylized juan karlos) channels their inner strength with their newest single, “BLESS Ü,” out on all digital and streaming worldwide this July 24, 2020 (Friday) via Island Records Philippines. The pop-R&B track delves into our collective toughness of spirit during these challenging times and hopes to ease some of our worries and fears.

The song’s uplifting message was something juan karlos strives to bring forth to the public whenever we’re faced with adversity, but more so and critically, during a health crisis with seemingly no end in sight right now. “The song, or at least the idea of it, was already made prior to the lockdown. Basically, it was just on standby. But when the pandemic happened, all gigs were cancelled,” frontman JK Labajo shares. “We thought it’d be a good idea to record something different from the music people are already familiar with from us.” While the circumstances then and now are vastly different, their intentions remain the same: finding hope. “Just hold on tight / For in the end of every tunnel / baby there’s light,” he croons.

Singapore’s top electronic producers and artists team up to honor XVAN with posthumous debut EP

Some of the biggest producers and artists in Singapore have come together to honor XVAN’s music by completing and releasing his work in a posthumous self-titled debut EP released via indie label Umami Records.

The upcoming all-star release will include collaborations with Evanturetime, MYRNE, Foxela, Brittle Bear, KNIGHTNDAE and Karena Yeo.

In 2018, XVAN’s debut single “What’s It?” caught the attention of international superstar producers Martin Garrix and Madison Mars who featured the song on their artist playlists. He went on to win a remix competition organized by MTV Asia and a coveted spot on Evanturetime's debut EP with his smooth rendition of the song ‘Sober’. 

Shortly after, XVAN passed away from cancer and left behind some unfinished demos. To honor XVAN’s artistic legacy, his peers in the music industry got together to rework the material and release it officially.

GMA Affordabox Unboxing and Review

GMA Network in celebration of their 70th anniversary rolls out the new GMA Affordabox which is their own digital TV receiver. Finally after so much speculation and anticipation from the public, they finally revealed and are now selling the Affordabox in key areas in which digital signal is present.

Though digital TV has been in the country for quite some time now, having a digi-box for a network helps in getting more viewers. GMA also expanded their frequency with 3 channels for the Kapuso network - GMA Network, GMA News TV, and Heart of Asia.  For only P888, the Affordabox also has some other features along with the digital TV reception. And these are:

The vowels they orbit explores emotional intricacies on debut EP

Filipino indie pop-rock outfit the vowels they orbit has finally released their highly anticipated EP, ang unang ikot via Sony Music Philippines.

With songs that find strength in vulnerability, the band’s major label debut expounds on the complexities of young love from the perspective of someone who has gone through several missteps and recoveries in life.