GMA Network relaunches international channels in the Middle East

Filipino broadcast giant GMA Network, Inc. (GMA) has announced its upcoming relaunch in the Middle East as it shifts to a new carrier for the exclusive distribution of its international channels.

Following the recent launch of GMA’s international news channel GMA News TV International, GMA Pinoy TV - its flagship international channel and GMA Life TV - the first international Filipino lifestyle channel - will also be widely available in the Middle East Region via My-HD, a pay-TV platform based in Dubai, beginning May 1. 

“We have decided to make the GMA Channels more relevant to our viewers in the Middle East by providing greater value and better service in this key market,” said GMA Network Vice President and Head of International Operations Joseph T. Francia. “With this new partnership in place, we are now offering the GMA channels at a more affordable price and have made them more accessible to more Filipinos in the Region."

Francia added that, “While we have decreased our subscription rate from 32.00 to 25.00 US dollars, GMA subscribers and followers can expect even bigger things from the Network with the improved standards of our programming. The My-GMA package from My-HD includes not only the GMA international channels namely, GMA Pinoy TV, GMA Life TV and GMA News TV International, but also up to 28 English language channels, 14 of which are in High Definition.”

With its strengthened programming and enlarged presence in the Middle East, the Network is confident that it will be able to further grow its subscriber base in the ME Region, which has the second largest population of Filipinos abroad next to North America.

GMA International – the business unit that manages the distribution and operations of GMA’s overseas channels – is embarking on massive promotional efforts to ensure the smooth transition of its current subscribers. In fact, a total of 40,000 digi boxes, which already contain the entire line-up of My-HD including the MyGMA package, are being given out for free to Filipinos all over the Middle East.

HEALTHY LYF:Fighting the Diet Shift

Aqiva partners with moms to help ensure proper nutrition for their children.

Every mom has her own story when it comes to feeding her child. With mealtimes becoming a common and daily struggle, moms have learned to cope with this problem in different ways. Some moms resort to bribing, giving treats or gifts whenever their child finishes his lunch. Other moms would tend to transform into “monster moms”, not yielding to their child’s refusal to eat. While others just give in, thinking that eating something unhealthy is better than not eating at all.

The Threat of the “Diet Shift”

Children are easily tempted by unhealthy food because to them, these foods seem to be more fun and exciting to eat, and taste better because of its flavors, colors and textures. This desire for unhealthy food heightens at age 4-7, as children start to make their own choices, and are able to voice out what they want. This is when the threat of the Diet Shift starts - the phase when the child may begin to prefer unhealthy food, or food that do not contain the right nutrients children need to keep their growth and development on track.

GMA News TV’s Pasabay On The Go Kicks Off April 29

Experience another on-the-go Serbisyong Totoo this summer from the country’s leading news channel as GMA News TV kicks off its fifth leg of Pasabay beginning April 29.

Now on its third year, PasabayOn the Go offers free bus rides to commuters traveling from North Avenue in Quezon City, the stretch of EDSA, all the way to Bonifacio Global City in Taguig.

From April 29 to May 25, passengers only need to sign up and get their tickets at designated GMA News TV Pasabay ticket booths located at Ayala Malls Trinoma along North Avenue and Market! Market! in Bonifacio Global City.

The Hunger Games Showing on Star Movies This Saturday

On April 28, 2013, Sunday at 9 PM, Star Movies will premiere one of 2012’s biggest box-office breakthroughs, “The Hunger Games,” on pay TV. This film adaptation of Suzanne Collins’ best-selling book series of the same name was a critically acclaimed top-grosser, and audiences will be excited for the chance to enjoy the action-packed drama that entertained millions of moviegoers once again in the comfort of their homes.

"We were so excited to carry the title that we acquired the rights as early as when the project was at the script level. We believed in the film's appeal and were bent on being the first to deliver quality content to our viewers," said Rohit Tharani, programming head of Star Movies.

MUSIC LYF: Richard Poon launches pop album Legends this April 26 at Eastwood

Say goodbye to the local Big Band Crooner, as Richard Poon goes back to pop with his latest album Legends, which will be launched this April 26, Friday, 7:00 p.m., Eastwood Mall Open Park, and April 28, Sunday, 7:00 p.m., Venice Piazza at McKinley Hill.

In Legends, Richard traces his pop roots by singing some of the biggest pop artists in the international music industry - classics by Lionel Richie (Truly), Whitney Houston (All At Once), Barbra Streisand (Evergreen), Madonna (Borderline), Barry Manilow (Ready To Take A Chance Again), among others.

“This is an interesting point in my career,” says Richard. “Aside from being with a new label (Universal), I am also going back to pop after years of doing big band.”

Richard adds that he welcomes the challenge with open arms, and he hopes that people will continue supporting him and his music.

DepEd to ‘redistribute’ teachers to address shortages and overcrowding

The Department of Education has issued new guidelines for the equitable deployment of public school teachers to address teacher shortage and overcrowding in various parts of the country.

DepEd Memorandum No. 22, series of 2013 sets the rules for deploying teachers in order to optimize student-teacher ratios nationwide, including cases when teachers can be reassigned to other schools. “We need to be able to transfer teachers from one station to another to address the problem of overcrowding,” says Education Secretary Br. Armin A. Luistro, FSC.

Krista Kleiner Host Mercedes Benz F1 Event in Malaysia

Beauty queen-turned-international concert artist Krista Kleiner hosted the recent Mercedes AMG Petronas F1 party in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

Held last March 23 at the Zebra Square, the event was highlighted by a high-end fashion show, live band performances, a sneak preview of their latest models as well as the presence of their race drivers who flew in for the race scheduled the following day, March 24.

Although she had already hosted other high-end fashion and lifestyle events in Malaysia and Singapore since last year, Krista excitedly confessed that it was her first time to host an F1-related event.