Mang Kepweng returns this Christmas Day!

Unleash the Mang Kepweng in you this holiday season

The most awesome comeback of the year happens this Christmas Day, December 25 in ‘Mang Kepweng: Ang Lihim ng Bandanang Itim,’ an official entry to the Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF) 2020.

From the success of its prequel ‘Mang Kepweng Returns’ in 2017, Vhong Navarro as Mang Kepweng takes on new journey and challenges as villain Maximus Tolonges (played by Joross Gamboa) uses the power of the black bandana he stole from the kingdom of Engkadia to sow terror all over the place.

While only Mang Kepweng and his red polka dot bandana, the counterpart of the black bandana, can stop Maximus, the magic of red polka dot bandana slowly diminishes due to his worsening attitude—he becomes boastful as he gets people’s attention because of his healing power. With the help of his new friends, Mang Kepweng finds the three ingredients that will bring back the power of his bandana but the journey becomes harder as they encounter the elements that try to stop them.

Shopee Donates Over 700 Transistor Radios to the Department of Education

Filipino students from remote areas can continue home-based learning using the radios

Shopee, the leading e-commerce platform in Southeast Asia and Taiwan, is donating 708 transistor radios to the Department of Education (DepEd) to help students in rural areas continue learning despite challenges that the pandemic has posed upon their education. 

Last Mile Schools are public educational institutions in geographically isolated and conflict-affected areas (GIDCA), usually without access to electricity and reliable internet connection. With the country still under some quarantine restrictions, students attending these schools face even more obstacles in pursuing their education. Fortunately, they can continue their learning by using the transistor radios to tune in to DepEd’s education broadcasts.    

Barbie Almalbis honors animal rights advocate on new single “An AsPin’s Song”

Ahead of her highly anticipated full-length album to be released next year, Filipina singer-songwriter Barbie Almalbis has officially dropped a heartfelt tribute to her grandaunt Nita Hontiveros-Lichauco, or Tata, as she is fondly referred to. Entitled “An AsPin’s Song,” the track assumes the role of a beloved indigenous mixed-breed dog in the Philippines, which has nothing but utmost love and appreciation for the late animal rights supporter and activist.

Having served The Philippine Animal Welfare Society (PAWS) for the entirety of her life, Tata was instrumental in empowering people for countless volunteer opportunities that involved rescue, protection and sheltering of strayed and abused animals. 

Eve Alai links up with Naomi G on brooding house thumper “Who? (Ah Vi)”

“Melancholic nu disco meet nu garage vibes lay over a modern house groove, with sultry pop vocal top lines and stabs reigning through. Think of a slowed down two-step remix of a vocal banger from the early two-thousands, this Asian collaboration has done a bit of digging around to carve their sound.” - Mixmag Asia

“There’s a new dark pop princess on the horizon, and you won’t want to sleep on this emerging artist...think moody, downbeat electronica laced with the slick notes of Alt-R&B and topped with ethereal dream-pop” - TimeOut

Singapore electronic producer Eve Alai links up with dark pop songstress Naomi G on a crossover track about the dark side of losing ourselves in the new digital age. ‘Who? (Ah Vi)’ is what you get when house music collides with the brooding, more ethereal end of pop music. 

Why ‘Fan Girl’ is the MMFF Film Everyone’s Talking About

Fresh from glowing reviews from its Japan and Estonia premieres, the latest film from Antoinette Jadaone is about the fan girl in all of us- with brilliant performances from newcomer Charlie Dizon and Paulo Avelino, who’s playing as himself.

If you had one night with your idol, are you ready for the most memorable day in your life?

The story follows Jane (Charlie Dizon), Paulo Avelino’s biggest fan girl. Her obsession with Paulo Avelino (Paulo Avelino plays as himself) leads her to hide at the back of his pick-up truck Described by Asian Movie Pulse as “An intriguing piece of cinematic work” and “A bold and follow him “home”. She ends up in an unfamiliar house in an unfamiliar place with an unfamiliar Paulo Avelino, the idol she thought she knew from head to foot, heart and soul.

Durex advances Protection and Preparedness Education Campaign by donating PPEs to HIV-advocate groups

Durex, a brand that advocates HIV Awareness and health safety, donated Personal Protective Equipment (PPEs) to local HIV-advocate groups as part of their Protection and Preparedness Education Campaign, just in time for World AIDS Day.

A total of 1000 face masks, 1000 face shields, and 7000 boxes of Durex Condoms were each turned over to LoveYourself, The Red Whistle, and the PLHIV Response Center to help boost their efforts to combat HIV/AIDS amidst the COVID-19 pandemic and promote health safety.

The brand has been consistent in its efforts to spread HIV Awareness ever since the lockdown started here in the country. Launching the Protection and Preparedness Education campaign last September, Durex aims to further raise awareness on the importance of using PPEs like face masks and condoms to curb the COVID-19 pandemic and HIV epidemic in the country. They aim to remind Filipinos that alongside COVID-19, HIV is still a growing health crisis and that it deserves everyone’s utmost attention.

Nicole Asensio Hopes To "See You This Christmas"

 

The rhythms of each passing day have lulled, pushed, pulled and shaken us each into our new (I won’t say normal) courses. Over months, we have taken to new realisations and revelations of the soul. Some who had never touched a wooden spoon before have now become masters of the oven. Some have noticed that office hours have multiplied as work extended far past cubicle confines. Blazers paired with boxers have become a fashion statement, Some slept and slept and slept cashing in on years of sleepless nights from once working tirelessly. Some, a brave few, our front-liners have stayed on, fighting for us. After all, it was like we were in a backwards war, where the enemy was invisible and constantly around us and the only way to care for those we loved was to keep our distance and wear masks that hid our smiles from them.

I couldn’t help thinking— But what of those who have gone all these long months without holding the ones they loved? What of those who have gone many nights expressing their innermost desires and intimate moments through lenses and screens? What of those who had to bid a loved one farewell through an I-pad? What of wearing a mask under a shield, inside a car? —bubbles within bubbles removed from the life we knew? What of those who lost everything they once owned and were left with how’s and why’s? What about those of us who sat here waiting this whole time for someone to return and bring back a sense of the holiday spirit we were used to somehow?

More Than You Expect: POCO Launches the All-New Entertainment Beast POCO M3

POCO establishes its global independence as it unveils its latest budget smartphone, featuring a powerful camera, 6,000 mAh battery and FHD+ display

Building on its renowned smartphone lineup, POCO Global today announced its independence, as well as its brand-new entry-level smartphone, POCO M3. Boasting a 48MP triple camera setup, 6,000 mAh battery, a beautiful FHD+ smartphone display, and a Qualcomm® Snapdragon™ 662 chipset, POCO M3 is the next “it” device for young entertainment-on-the-move enthusiasts. 

POCO M3 marks the debut of POCO Global’s M-series: the brand’s foray into an entirely new category. The new product line builds on POCO Global’s success competing with top-of-the line flagships with its F-series, as well as the impact of its X series in the mid-range category, opening the brand up to a new set of global tech lovers. 

Smart celebrates the Season of Giving with GIGAMANIA

Over P30 million worth of exciting prizes and weekly freebies up for grabs 

Mobile services provider Smart Communications, Inc. is celebrating the season of giving with the launch of this year’s GIGAMANIA, which offers over P30 million worth of exciting prizes and weekly freebies for lucky Smart and TNT customers nationwide via the GigaLife App.        

GIGAMANIA is open to all Smart Prepaid, Smart Postpaid, Smart Bro, and TNT subscribers from December 2020 to April 2021.  To join, simply download the GigaLife App,  register to Giga Mania, and subscribe to GIGA offers or pay your postpaid bill through the app to earn and accumulate GigaPoints.  

Children Speak Out Against Violence during COVID-19

Urgent Call to Governments for Intervention to Protect Vulnerable Children

More than 100 child participants across East Asia convened with government officials to discuss the increased instances of child violence experienced during COVID-19 at World Vision’s Asia Pacific Child Well-Being Learning Exchange forum. The virtual event, organised in partnership with UNICEF East Asia and Pacific, was introduced to bring together government, UN agencies, donors, civil society organisations, corporates, academia, subject matter experts and thought leaders in the development sector, to throw light on pressing issues facing the world’s most vulnerable children and their well-being in Asia Pacific.

“Let Our Voice be Heard” Event

The child-focused event also saw representation from the Government of Thailand, Laos PDR, Philippines, Myanmar and Indonesia, UNICEF and ASEAN Commission on the Promotion and Protection of the Rights of Women and Children (ACWC).