CONTROL + SHIFT : Changing Narratives - PETA’s Bold Collection of New Theater Performances

With an unwavering commitment to empowering and enriching society, PETA continues to push boundaries and explore new frontiers in the realm of socially relevant theater. PETA welcomes 2024 with a bold collection of new theater performances that puts the spotlight on the theme of narrative change with CONTROL + SHIFT : Changing Narratives, Reclaiming and Reshaping Stories of the Filipino People. 

PETA artists, together with creative partners and collaborators, have created fresh works that hope to provoke curiosity, spark conversations, challenge assumptions, interrogate, and transform the toxic narratives and harmful depictions that hold society back. 

CONTROL + SHIFT : Changing Narratives features eight new works, devised performances, and the re-staging of KUMPRONTASYON at the PETA Theater Center from January 12-14, 19-21, 2024. 

REVIEW: PENDUKO - A New Pedro Emerges!

Komiks makes a comeback for Metro Manila Film Festival 2023 with the film PENDUKO starring Matteo Guidicelli as the iconic character Pedro Penduko. This film was produced by Sari Sari Network Films, Studio Viva, Epik Studios, and Ninuno Media and was written and directed by Jason Paul Laxamana.

Based on the Filipino comic character made by National Artist Francisco V. Coching which appeared in Liwayway magazine in 1954. And there has been several adaptations of the superhero both in film and television and has been played by several actors such as Efren Reyes Sr., Ramon Zamora, Janno Gibbs, and the most recent is by Matt Evans.

Unwrapping the feast: foodpanda reveals its top orders for 2023, unveils Rewind feature

Whether it was a late-night snack, a morning boost, or urgent grocery run, foodpanda was the go-to online food and grocery delivery platform in 2023. With the start of another year, the platform shared the top food and grocery trends of the past year based on the collective orders of app users. 

“We offer a wide variety of cuisines on the app, but we've seen that our customers’ top food orders have remained consistent throughout the years.  In 2023, we saw many more customers try our services outside food delivery, through groceries, pickup and even parcel delivery,” shared foodpanda Philippines Growth and Marketing Director Patricia Jacinto. 

Get ready to dive into the heart of foodpanda's top orders in 2023!

“Anyone But You” a winner at the global box office, opens in the Philippines January 17

Sydney Sweeney and Glen Powell pretend to be a couple at a destination wedding in Australia in the romantic comedy Anyone But You.

Anyone But You, director Will Gluck’s new edgy romantic comedy starring Sydney Sweeney and Glen Powell, has charmed its way to the global box office.

The film, which opened in the United States just before Christmas, opened in several overseas markets over the weekend, including in the United Kingdom and Australia, where the film is primarily set. Anyone But You has earned a total of $33.5 million dollars, with a few markets still lined up for the film’s opening, including Spain, France, Italy and the Philippines, where it opens in cinemas January 17, 2024.

“I think audiences want to see movies that are relevant, authentic, and cinematic – but most of all, fun,” says Gluck, a fan favorite in the genre, thanks to previous works including Easy A and Friends With Benefits. 

REVIEW: Firefly - Let Your Imagination Make You Cry

GMA Pictures joins the Metro Manila Film Festival for 2023 with an emotional film filled with adventure, love, friendship, and a lot of imagination with FIREFLY. Directed by Zig Dulay, it stars Alessandra De Rossi, Euwenn Mikaell, Miguel Tanfelix, Ysabel Ortega, Epy Quizon, Yayo Aguila, and a special participation by Dingdong Dantes.

Interestingly, many films with the word 'firefly' are known to be tear-jerkers with a very moving story. And when I heard the title of the film, I knew that this would really move the viewers and indeed I saw and felt it when I saw this at the premiere night of the film with the stars along with the key personalities of GMA Public Affairs like Jessica Soho and Kara David.

FIREFLY tells the story of a kid named Tonton, who went on a journey to find the island of the fireflies which his mother (Alessandra) would tell stories filled with magical creatures and one can fulfill one's wish when they would reach it. The unexpected travel would lead Tonton to meet Louie (Epy), Linda (Yayo), Billy (Miguel), and Erika (Ysabel) along the way. 

Can the Toughest Phone HONOR X9b 5G Survive A 100FT Drop Test? Witness on January 12

The successor of the viral HONOR X9a 5G is coming to January 12, and said to be #TheToughestPhone 

HONOR Philippines, a renowned player in the global technology arena, has commenced the new year with a resounding announcement of the HONOR X9b 5G, aptly touted as the toughest phone in their lineup. The revelation comes on the heels of an enticing teaser campaign, showcasing the phone's remarkable durability from every conceivable angle. 

In a statement, HONOR Philippines Vice President Stephen Cheng expressed his enthusiasm, stating, "It may come as a shock to our HONOR fans, but we really stayed true to our promise of giving the best to them. Don’t we all love surprises, especially when we least expect it? This upcoming grand launch will be very exciting not just for us but also for the whole Filipinos. We’re introducing what we’re confident to be a smashing hit!" 

Cebuana Lhuillier Insurance Broker’s Jean Henri Lhuillier: The Man Whose Mission is Financial Inclusion

The successful growth of Cebuana Lhuillier Insurance Brokers (CLIB) from a longtime microinsurance agent into an insurance brokerage signaled a wave of positive change in the Philippines’ insurance industry.

No longer an insurance agent but a future-ready insurance broker, CLIB is offering Filipinos better access to a wider assortment of insurance products by partnering with an extensive selection of insurance providers across the country. Using both traditional and digital marketing platforms, CLIB actively promotes and provides not only Cebuana Lhuillier’s proprietary portfolio of longstanding and latest personal, health, property, group, loan, business, and liability insurance creations, but practically every insurance product available in the market.

CLIB: Making Insurance Affordable and Accessible

To date, CLIB has insured more than 8 million Filipinos and has made its insurance products accessible through more than 3,000 Cebuana Lhuillier branches, over 6,500 domestic partner outlets, and Cebuana Lhuillier’s mall-based insurance offices; Cebuana Lhuillier Financial. To ease the process of procuring insurance, CLIB also has ProtectNow, an online insurance marketplace where one can browse and choose the insurance they want or need.

Celebrated Broadway Actress Lea Salonga to Join The Tabernacle Choir on Tour of “Hope” to the Philippines

Acclaimed Broadway singer and actress Lea Salonga will be the featured guest artist on the Tabernacle Choir at Temple Square’s tour to the Philippines. This is the

second stop on the Choir’s world tour of “Hope” and the first visit by the Choir to the Philippines.

Lea Salonga is a multiple award-winning actor and singer renowned across the world for her powerful voice and perfect pitch. She is acclaimed for her Tony Award–winning role in Miss Saigon. In addition to the Tony, she has won the Olivier, Drama Desk, Outer Critics Circle, and Theatre World Awards in the field of musical theatre.

Many fans of all ages recognize Lea as the singing voice of Princess Jasmine from Aladdin and Fa Mulan for Mulan and Mulan II. Lea served as a judge on the Philippines hit version of “The Voice,” including the ratings juggernaut “The Voice Kids.” An avid techie and gamer, Lea divides her time between Manila, Philippines, with her family and the United States.

Globe Group’s Cascadeo: 2024 insights on tech; Businesses to ride or perish in Generative AI wave

The coming year will see a generative AI wave–  a period of greater AI use across many industries– and enterprises will have to adopt or get swept away, Globe Group’s AI-first cloud services firm Cascadeo has said.

In a forecast on tech in 2024, Jared Reimer, Founder, President and Chief Technology Officer of Cascadeo, said the coming year will be a “time to fully embrace generative AI across every role and aspect of business as a part of each organization's key strategy,” with more use cases developing across industries.

“We foresee generative AI refocusing— but not necessarily replacing— the digital transformation and managed services that power our customers’ success in the cloud. As use of generative AI increases, businesses must learn to adopt instead of resisting the changes,” Reimer said.

TCL to Showcase Leading Technology Portfolio and Solutions to Inspire Greatness at CES 2024

TCL Electronics, a leading consumer electronics brand and the world's top two TV brand, today announced its presence at the annual Consumer Electronics Show (CES), taking place in Las Vegas in January 2024. The company will showcase over a hundred cutting-edge products, demonstrating its leading technology portfolio spanning 15 product categories, including QD-Mini LED TVs, TCL FreshIN air conditioners, TCL Free Built-in Series refrigerators, washing machines, feature-rich mobile devices, AR glasses, commercial displays, one-stop smart energy solutions and more.