Guy Sebastian Releases ninth studio album, T.R.U.T.H.

Australian pop sensation Guy Sebastian has finally released his highly anticipated ninth studio album, T.R.U.T.H. on all digital platforms worldwide via Sony Music. 

The hitmaker behind the chart-topper “Angels Brought Me Here,” which dominated the music charts in the Philippines and across the globe in the 2000s, is the first to admit that his latest album delivers a deeper, more profound take on personal and communal experiences and struggles in life, love and everything in between. 

The album has so far spawned multiple singles before it dropped officially last week, including “Before I Go,” which opened up several overseas market for the Aussie solo act and peaked at No. 1 on Netherlands iTunes charts, and “Choir,” which went on to become Sebastian’s biggest radio single in Australia to date. 

WWF Continues to Fight Against Plastic Pollution, Advocates for an Extended Producer Responsibility Scheme in the Philippines

Snapshot from a recycling facility in Quezon City,
taken during a field visit last February 2020
Photograph © Czarina Constantino / WWF-Philippines

Plastic pollution has reached gigantic dimensions worldwide and has caused serious consequences to marine life and the wellbeing of society. In a recent study, it has been estimated that about 11 million tonnes enter the ocean every year. If no action is made, this can triple by 2040 which is equivalent to 50 kg of plastics for every coastline meter worldwide. 

The Philippines, based on a 2015 modelling study, has been considered as one of the 10 top countries contributing to plastic pollution, has been continuously challenged with increasing waste generation and the lack of a sound waste management system. This calls for a comprehensive approach among policy makers, corporations, cities, and consumers to ensure that no plastics reaches nature. 

I Won 50K In A Special Game With Kris Aquino & Shopee!

screencap by Kate Adajar

Storytime! This just happened days ago and yet I can't over the unexpected surprise that just came this October. And yes, as the title states, I just won P50,000 in a game during the press launch of Shopee 11.11 and 12.12 Big Christmas Sale which features the revelation of their newest endorser Kris Aquino. Actually I was not expecting much, since there were a lot of people for the launch and I hoping to win something in the raffle.

Though they did announce to have a special game which Kris Aquino, we were still clueless on how it will be played. Then the event started and they finally have Kris Aquino revealed as the newest brand ambassador of Shopee which I can say is perfect choice as she is still the Queen of all Media. 

New HBO Drama Series Industry Debuts 10 November at 11AM

Pinoy viewers can now finally get a glimpse of what’s inside the global banking industry in the newest offering from HBO. From first-time creators Mickey Down and Konrad Kay, HBO’s new eight-episode drama series Industry debuts same time as the U.S. on Tuesday, 10 November at 11am exclusively on HBO GO and HBO with a same day encore at 11pm on HBO. A new episode premieres at the same time weekly.  Industry follows a group of young graduates competing for a limited number of permanent positions at a leading international bank in London. 

Tradition Continues With Christelle Abello As Ginebra San Miguel 2021 Calendar Girl

It is always anticipated every year for the revelation of their calendar girl for Ginebra San Miguel, even  with ongoing pandemic the tradition continues as they reveal the calendar girl for 2021. For this edition they introduce a fresh face from the usual celebrities that grace the special calendar series, and she is Christelle Abelllo. Currently competing for the Miss Universe Philippines crown, she has a lot to show with the calendar variants in different themes.

The 26-year old model based in California, USA takes the reins from Kapuso actress Sanya Lopez (Calendar Girl 2020). The 2021 edition of the Ginebra San Miguel calendar is very timely as it captures today’s “new normal” at home in six (6) different layouts. With the theme “Ganado sa Bahay,” the calendars feature Christelle being “ganado,” motivated and productive even amid the COVID-19 pandemic – working from home, honing her creativity and discovering new skills, and taking care of her body and well-being.

Financial education, technology are crucial in the new normal—Home Credit and CIC

As a developing economy, it is no surprise that the Philippines still has a long way to go when it comes to financial literacy. Just before the government imposed the enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) conducted its 2019 Financial Inclusion Survey (FIS), which revealed that Filipino adults could only answer 1 in 3 financial literacy questions correctly. Only a small number of respondents (8%) got all three questions correctly, while almost one-fourth (24%) obtained a zero score. 

LRMC boosts LRT-1 capacity, assures safety of passengers

Light Rail Manila Corporation (LRMC), the private operator and maintenance provider of LRT-1, assures the safety of passengers as it increases capacity of trains in support of economic recovery.

Following the Department of Transportation (DOTr)’s directive to gradually increase the maximum passenger capacity of trains and adhere to OPLAN AIR (ADD PUVs, routes, trains, INCREASE speed, capacity, REDUCE travel time, headway), LRMC will adjust passenger loading capacity to 30% gradually up to 50% later on. Passenger control will be implemented using the PLPP (passenger limit per platform) strategy, wherein a defined number of passengers are allowed to board per station.

Let's VoLTE in for simultaneous browsing and voice calls. Is your device ready?

There’s another acronym inching its way into the consciousness of Filipino consumers.  After 3G, LTE, 4G, and 5G, comes VoLTE which is short for Voice over LTE, a technology designed to allow simultaneous mobile browsing and voice calls, as well as, provide higher quality mobile phone calls.

Prior to VoLTE technology, mobile phones connected to an LTE/4G or 5G signal needed to fall to a 3G or even 2G connection when receiving or making a phone call. This meant that browsing on your mobile would get interrupted as soon as you receive an incoming call and just resume browsing after the call has ended. 

Erik Matti’s “Food Lore: Island of Dreams” bags 2 awards at the 2020 National (Philippines) Awards by the Asian Academy Creative Awards

Erik Matti’s “Food Lore: Island of Dreams” and Angeli Bayani recently brought home the “Best Single Drama/Telemovie/Anthology Episode - Philippines” and “Best Actress in a Leading Role - Philippines” respectively during the announcement of the 2020 national winners by the Asian Academy Creative Awards (AAA) in a livecast in Singapore yesterday. 

“Food Lore: Island of Dreams,” was the pilot episode of the said HBO Asia anthology.

The said episode explores the life of the Nieves (Angeli Bayani), an ambitious and hardworking woman, who left her husband and children to work as a domestic helper in Metro Manila to provide them with a better life. Returning home for their annual fiesta, Nieves realizes that she may have grown estranged to her family due to unexpected changes in her life. 

Digital piracy hurting Filipino industry and economy

 Content producers urged government to block illegal streaming websites to stop the damaging effects to legitimate local content producers and cybersecurity risks in downloading pirated videos.

In a virtual town hall discussion organized by Stratbase ADR Institute  (ADRi) on “Digital Risks in the New Normal”, ADRi president, Prof Dindo Manhit said, “Formerly face-to-face activities, have all undergone a rapid digitization and transitioned to online platforms. It comes as no surprise then that there are now more cases of phishing attacks, online scams, and other cyber-security threats since the onset of the pandemic.”

Asian Video Industry Association (AVIA) General Manager Neil Gane called for the blocking of websites that give access to pirated content. He cited how Indonesia has effectively curbed online piracy by 69% and increasing legal platforms by 30%.