This can easily be a line in a love song. But, this is a question raised by one of the country’s original rock bands, The Dawn, in their new song “Earth.”
Known for its anthem songs like “Salamat” and “Iisang Bangka,” “Earth” asks the existential question especially amid all the political, social, and even personal uncertainties.
The Dawn frontman Jett Pangan explains, “We, as human beings, when we’re faced with troubles that seem insurmountable, we tend to look the other way. Maybe not to say we’re in denial, it’s more of the fear of the unknown. It’s been a struggle to be a human being. There’s always the question, can we go on like this? Is this the way we’re supposed to deal with things? Is there a better way?”
He pointed out that it’s not condescending but, in fact he asks himself the same question. The pandemic also raised that big question. “We’re all hoping that after all these we become better people,” he said.
Trust The Dawn to come up with a song that is timely and relevant. The society has seen a rise in mental health concerns among the youth. In fact, in a study by the University of the Philippines Population Institute (UPPI), it highlighted that between 2013 and 2021, there are twice the number of young Filipinos who felt loneliness, sadness, and being disliked.
One of the band’s guitarists Rommel “Sancho” Sanchez, emphasized that “Is love still a thing,” can also be read as “is empathy still a thing?” Sanchez said that with the mode of communications now, it’s easy to be snarky. Their hope is that through this song and with this one powerful line, people will pause, reflect, and hope that they can be a little kinder.
Apart from the significance of its lyrics, there are a lot of reasons that make “Earth” distinct.
It was recorded during the pandemic and every member of the group had to record individually. The Dawn drummer JB Leonor shared he made a story with the drum parts alone. There’s a reason for every note of the drum.
“Earth” is the last song that their bassist Mon Legaspi recorded before he passed away. And it was an ode to him that they committed to finish the track.
Sanchez was the last one to record the guitar parts. “I lost the recordings when my hard drive failed. We had to ask permission from Mon’s sister and asked a friend to help extract his parts. It was really difficult for me to record my parts,” he said.
The song itself went through a lot and now that it’s here, it is definitely a treat not only to the loyal fans of The Dawn but to everyone who appreciates great music.
The reception to “Earth” inspires the band to keep on going. Credit goes to Francis “Kiko” Reyes, one of the guitarists, who said that during the pandemic, the band continued to connect creatively. Pangan enthused that with all his rally calls and with the reception to the new song, all fingers point to a new collection of songs, or an EP.
Recognizing also how dynamic the music industry is these days, The Dawn wants to make sure they are a part of it. He added that the labels and genres now are blurred and people are more accepting when they listen to music. They do not specify if a song is too rock or too hiphop.
Through the years, The Dawn has been blessed with a platform to be heard and this time, it’s their new song “Earth.” There’s no line to cross now that music has melded in all genres. And The Dawn has a lot to offer and being a true rockstar that they are, they are just going where music takes them. No pigeonholing, just true love for music.
Listen to The Dawn’s Earth now on Spotify and YouTube.
HONOR has partnered with Guinness World Record to showcase and give a preview of the brand-new camera of the HONOR Magic5 Pro, which will be launched at MWC 2023 on the 27th of February, with a basketball player, who’s attempted to break a world record.
One is taken by the AI camera of HONOR Magic5 Pro, showing the best moment of sport movement, and the other photo is the behind the scene, to show how HONOR Magic5 Pro captured the best moment.
The official global launch of the HONOR Magic5 Pro will be at MWC 2023 on February 27th, 8:30pm (Philippine time). Watch the live launch here:https://goo.su/n8r
HONOR is a leading global provider of smart devices. It is dedicated to becoming a global iconic technology brand and creating a new intelligent world for everyone through its powerful products and services. With an unwavering focus on R&D, it is committed to developing technology that empowers people around the globe to go beyond, giving them the freedom to achieve and do more. Offering a range of high-quality smartphones, tablets, laptops and wearables to suit every budget, HONOR’s portfolio of innovative, premium and reliable products enable people to become a better version of themselves.
Ginebra San Miguel Inc. (GSMI) introduces Filipino-British actress and Queen of the Dance Floor Yassi Pressman as its 2023 Calendar Girl in an event attended by friends from media, social media celebrities, GSMI dealers, and other brand ambassadors.
Yassi was surprised and honored when she got a call that she was chosen to be the newest member of the GSMI family. “Being a part of such a great legacy is something that is going to be a milestone in my life,” says Yassi. “It’s really something special to be part of a company that serves world-class quality products, and it means a lot to me that they chose me to be a part of the brand,” she continued.
It was the first time again, after two years, that the event was held face-to-face. “We are excited to finally hold our Ginebra San Miguel 2023 Calendar Girl launch live again! For us, this launch also signals the atmosphere for next year. The pandemic has affected many Filipinos, but now is the time to recover—armed with Bagong Tapang, to dream and hope again, and to spread that positivity to others,” says Marketing Manager Ron Molina.
With the theme “Queen of the Barangay,” the calendar features Yassi as a modern Filipina that is able to adjust to the new normal with positivity and productivity through her “matapang,” “ganado,” and “never-say-die” attitude.
YASSI AS “QUEEN OF THE BARANGAY”
Yassi prepared herself physically and mentally to be the best representation of what an ideal Ginebra calendar girl should be. She admits that prior to her selection, she was always trying to keep herself fit. “Of course, there were times that I also had to give in to my cravings, but at the end of the day, I knew my priority was to be stronger, healthier, and happier.”
Preparing for the calendar shoot, Yassi pushed herself to do weight training, boxing, and having a healthy diet. “My fitness journey helped me become a better version of myself.” As for her mental preparation, she just kept in mind Ginebra’s taglines like “Ganado sa Buhay,” and “Never-Say-Die.”
With Yassi’s positivity and optimism in life, her personality shined through the six layouts of the Ginebra San Miguel 2023 calendar. The photo shoot was also done on location after two years, reflecting the relaxed and open atmosphere we anticipate in the coming year.
The six layouts are inspired by different cocktail mixes. The first one is “Ginsu Mix” set in an auto repair shop, reminding the importance of hard work and passion in everything we do. The second layout is “Calamansi Surprise,” showing Yassi amidst greenery and nature.
“Kula-Orange Fizz” is the third layout, featuring a background filled with dried pampas grass with wooden trays where one can display spirits and mix cocktails. According to Yassi, she could relate to this design as she had her dream home renovated recently, which now features a lot of touches of brown wood furniture and neutral shades. “I also have a mini bar in my living room–an open space to bond with my family and friends.”
The fourth layout is the “Velocity Mix,” something that seems like it’s from a blockbuster summer movie complete with a ref full of Ginebra products. While “Sky Prisma” is the fifth layout, also in a beach setting, but this time with a picturesque sunset in the background. Last is the “Mango Daiquiri,” where Yassi is magnified by a bonfire by the beach, the best place to experience Ginebra’s creative cocktails and concoctions. Just don’t forget your coolers and ice boxes for that perfect night!
Personally, it was hard for Yassi to choose a favorite among the six calendar layouts, but she has a bias toward the “Velocity Mix.” “It’s because I always enjoy beach time with family and friends–a ‘ginstronomic’ trip with our favorite food and gin. The drink also has candies and gummies–the perfect combo for me, as it is sweetness with a kick!”
YASSI ON BEING A MODERN FILIPINA
During the pandemic, the actress and entrepreneur has gained new discoveries about herself–a new purpose, pride, and passion that resonates not only with her family but the whole barangay.
As an empowered Filipina woman, Yassi owns multiple businesses, knows how to tend to her organic garden, fixes things at home, and concocts rejuvenating drinks for herself and her family—all while fulfilling her commitments in the entertainment industry.
With her self-discovery, Yassi also realized to be kinder to herself and has become the “matapang” woman she is by refusing to let difficult circumstances pull her down. “When I was younger, my father always advised me to keep trying because, as he said—if you try and try and you succeed, you’re going to be happy, but if you try and try and you fail, I’ll be there to catch you,” says Yassi. Her family, the source of her “tapang,” made her fearless in the face of whatever trials or tribulations she may face.
Despite her personal struggles, Yassi continues to hone the talents that she already has and allows her inner beauty to radiate, too, in order to inspire others. According to her, she shows her most natural self online and sometimes even reveals some not-so-glamorous side of a celebrity because she believes that it would be healthy for people, especially the youth, to see that genuine side of her.
“I am open to everybody [on social media] about my battles and journey toward being healthier and stronger,” says the 2023 Ginebra calendar girl. “Whenever I get messages from little girls or any netizen saying that I inspire them to dance, act, and to keep moving forward, it gives me the ‘ganado’ feeling and hope and aspiration to empower more women!”
If there are things that the pandemic or the recent months have made women realize, it’s that they can accomplish things that are not expected from them and deliver more than the ordinary. “I think Ginebra San Miguel chose me because I embody courage, passion, and its never-say-die spirit. Growing up in showbusiness, you’d experience a lot of rejections and comments from people, and while we know we should just brush them off—especially the non-constructive criticisms—they sometimes get to you,” adds Yassi.
But amid all these rejections and disappointments in the past, Yassi just soldiered on, keeping a “never say die” attitude. Eventually, she became unstoppable, brimming with positivity and personality, allowing her to rise above the crowd.
As “Queen of the Barangay,” Yassi and her friends know how to have a good time—with good music and drinks, as seen on her social media posts. “We love theme parties; the last one we did was about sunflowers. We also did disco and Coachella.”
The new brand ambassador also shared that her favorite gin drink is the GSM Blue Mojito because of its light taste and her friends can easily enjoy the drink by just simply putting ice or adding any fruits like pineapple for a fruity flavor.
As GSM’s newest brand ambassador, Yassi hopes to spread positivity and continue to inspire and empower women and the youth—sharing the “ganado” spirit with her 28 million followers on social media.
THE GINEBRA CALENDAR TRADITION
The Ginebra San Miguel Calendar Girl is a long-held tradition in GSMI and an important part of the brand’s history. Since its inception in 1988, beauty queens, actresses, and models who have made their mark in their respective fields have graced the Ginebra San Miguel calendar. Among them were Marian Rivera (2009 and 2014), Anne Curtis (2011), Solenn Heusaff (2012), Miss Universe 2015 Pia Wurtzbach (2019), Sanya Lopez (2020), and Chie Filomeno (2022).
GSMI is the producer of Ginebra San Miguel, the world’s largest-selling gin, according to the leading global drinks journal Drinks International. GSMI’s other quality distilled spirits include GSM Blue Light Gin, GSM Blue Mojito, GSM Blue Margarita, GSM Blue Gin Pomelo, Ginebra San Miguel Premium Gin, 1834 Premium Distilled Gin, Antonov Vodka, Añejo Gold Rum, Primera Light Brandy, and the Philippines’ no. 1 Chinese wine Vino Kulafu.
IT was an extremely tough singing competition but after the dusk of musical battle had settled, the Top 3 winners were announced at the conclusion of “Your Song of Excellence” Season 2 Grand Finals, which was streamed live on October 31, 2022.
The grand finals of “Your Song of Excellence” Season 2 was one of the most exciting yet toughest singing competitions around. But at the end of each spectacular performance of the grand finalists, only three emerged victorious.
Grand Finalists savoring their winning moment
For the “Ballad” (#HeartsAtHome) category, crooner Redemptor Nuestro emerged as the Grand Champion for that category, and bested other grand finalists Rachell Laylo and Easter Joy Parsacala, who wound up as First Runner Up and Second Runner Up, respectively.
Meanwhile, for the “Acoustic” (#FreshVibes) category, it was Izay Acoustic who took home the crown, while Jaworski Sison was declared First Runner Up, followed by Kirby Cruz won Second Runner Up honors.
Respective VIP’s from TAITRA Office Manila. From left to right, Senior Project Manager Ms. Janine Tan, Manager Ms. Christine Kuo, and Director Alex Lai
Finally, Vic Robinson truly rocked it out and displayed true rock spirit, and was eventually crowned grand champion under the “Rock” (#EpicRock) category of “Your Song of Excellence” Season 2. Genriel Diaz took First Runner Up honors, while Anne Ferrer wound up as Second Runner Up.
All grand finalists did their best to impress the judges, where the criteria for judging was 35 percent for Voice Quality, 35 percent for Creativity, 20 percent for Stage Presence, and 10 percent for Online Votes.
Hearts At Home Ballad Grand Champion Redemptor Nuestro with the respective judges, representatives from Ivory Music and TAITRA Director, Dir. Alex Lai
Special awards were also handed out to some of the grand finalists. “Acoustic” category grand champion Izay Acoustic was also awarded as “Asus Incredible Performer,” while “Rock” category First Runner Up Genriel Diaz won the “Predator Conquering Performance of the Night” award. For the last special award, “Ballad” category First Runner Up Rachell Laylo was adjudged as winner of the “Aromase Aromazin’ Performer” award.
The “Your Song of Excellence” Season 2 grand finals was also made special with the presence of VIP guests and representatives from the competition’s brand partners. Present were Taiwan Trade Center Manila Director Alex Lai, Christine Kuo, Manager, and Janine Tan, Senior Project Manager.
Respective VIP’s from TAITRA Office Manila. From left to right, Senior Project Manager Ms. Janine Tan, Manager Ms. Christine Kuo, and Director Alex Lai
Also gracing the grand finals were James Huang, Country Product Manager of Asus, Sue Ong-Lim, General Manager of Acer, Jesse Tan, Vice President for Sales and Marketing at PC Express, who also represented Aromase, and Pola Vinoya, Publishing and Marketing Officer, and Aaron Calderon, Marketing Specialist, both from Ivory Music.
It was a night worth remembering, and many are still hoping for another season of “Your Song of Excellence,” which is slowly turning out to be one of the most anticipated singing competitions in the country.
Epic Rock Grand Champion Vic Robinson with the respective judges and representatives from Ivory Music
“Your Song of Excellence” Season 2 happened because of its magnificent roster of partner brands, such as premier brands Aromase.Ph, Asus PH, Predator Gaming, and major brand partners Acer Philippines, Annie’s Way, FECA PH, Johnson Fitness, LUFTQI, Transcend Philippines, Zyxel, Dacian, and Tatung, with music partner Ivory Music.
Don’t forget to like and follow Taiwan Excellence page:
Are you looking for spooktacular activities for the kids over the weekend?
Federal Land Inc. is inviting both kids and kids at heart to join the Halloween festivities happening on October 29 and 30 at Metro Park’s Blue Bay Walk and Met Live in Pasay City.
Candies and treats are up for grabs at Blue Bay Walk and Met Live as different mall establishments swing open its doors for kids to enjoy the spooky season.
“The Bay Area is about to get spirited! We are super thrilled to organize different activities to give kids the most awesome time this Halloween weekend. Admission is free, so be sure to drop by,” said Federal Land Commercial Development Head Mylene del Rosario.
For those who are joining in the fun, you may proceed to The Spine at Blue Bay Walk on Saturday, October 29 and the Atrium of Met Live on Sunday, October 30 to register and get your stamp card to participate in the events.
Various brands will be sponsoring exciting treats that you wouldn’t want to miss. Games, arts and crafts, KPop-themed photo booth, and a lot more await participants. The Halloween activities for both malls will start at 3PM until 5PM.
Everyone is encouraged to be in their best costume for a chance to bring home more goodies. Halloween-themed sling bag will also be given away to the first few kids to finish the trip to all the booths.
Metro Park is Federal Land’s 36-hectare master-planned community at Pasay City’s Manila Bay Area. It offers resort-style residential condominiums, delectable dining options, chic retail hubs, exciting weekend events, and a convenient office environment against the backdrop of the Manila Bay sunset.
Make no mistake about it. The tough preliminary is over and done with, same with the tougher semifinals stage.
Now, the remaining contestants will experience the toughest part of the competition that will beat all the other stages as “Your Song of Excellence” Season 2 enters the Grand Finals, the pinnacle of the competition. Here, the best among the best will be crowned the “Your Song of Excellence” Season 2 grand winner.
And from the thousands of auditionees and the 30 semi-finalists who battled it out to know who would march through to the grand finals, only nine contestants (or three grand finalists for each category, whether Ballad, Acoustic, or Rock) remain.
The Top 3 Grand Finalists for “Your Song of Excellence” Season 2 under the “Ballad” (#HeartsAtHome) category are:
● Easter Joy Parsacala
● Rachell Laylo
● Redemptor Nuestro
For the “Acoustic” (#FreshVibes) category, those who made it to the Grand Finals are:
● Kirby Cruz
● Izay Acoustic
● Jaworksi Sison
And finally, the Top 3 grand finalists who will do a sing-off for the “Rock” (#EpicRock) category are:
● Genriel Diaz
● Vic Robinson
● Anne Ferrer
Each of the grand finalists will go for the throat to determine who among them is the best in their respective categories. And their battles are made even more arduous with a more stringent judging criteria. Each contestant will be judged based on Voice Quality at 35%, Creativity also at 35%, and Stage Presence with 20%. Netizens will also have a say in the judging as 10% of the grand finalists’ scores will come from Online Votes.
After the rigorous judging, only 1 grand finalist for each category will remain standing and will be declared grand champion for their category in this year’s “Your Song of Excellence” Season 2.
So, remember the date: October 31, 2022, which is just a few days away when the Grand Finals of “Your Song of Excellence” Season 2 will be streamed live and the grand champions for each of the categories will be known. The grand champion from each category will win P50,000 worth of cash and products plus a major recording deal with Ivory Music, one of the country’s biggest independent record labels. The 2nd and 3rd Runners Up for each of the categories won’t go home empty handed for they will win P30,000 and P15,000, respectively.
And just like all the other stages, voting for your winner is easy. Make sure your votes include the official hashtag “#YSOE2022Grand_NAME” on all comments so that your vote will be counted.
“Your Song of Excellence” Season 2 is organized by Taiwan Excellence, with premier brands Aromase Philippines, Asus, and Predator Gaming as sponsors, with Ivory Music as music partner.
Major brand partners include Acer Philippines, Annie’s Way 安妮絲薇果凍面膜第一品牌, FECA PH, Johnson Fitness Philippines, LUFTQI空氣淨化專家, Transcend Philippines, Zyxel.ph, Dacian, and Tatung.
In the Philippines, the name Jose Mari Chan is synonymous to Christmas as he takes over radios, shows, and our hearts during the holiday season. But have you ever wondered how the Filipinos Christmas icon spends his own Christmas Eve? Here’s how Shopee’s Christmas Ambassador Jose Mari Chan would host a pleasant Noche Buena with family and friends.
Picture this: You’re surrounded by your loved ones, sharing stories with one another. Classic Christmas songs are playing from a Vintage Record Player, blending nicely with the laughter of your friends and family. Because Tito Joe goes the extra mile to keep everyone comfortable, Knitted Blankets are placed on the sofas, so you can snuggle and get cozy while waiting for dinner to be served.
Now it’s time for dinner as Tito Joe invites everyone to join him in the dining area. The holiday spirit fills the room, with cute Snowman Home Decor adorning the shelves. The dining table looks festive, with reindeer-inspired Christmas Chair Covers making you feel even more cheerful.
Delicious food is served on the dining table, with hearty Christmas staples like roast chicken, lechon, pancit and more. You start off by helping yourself to some cold cuts, delectable choices of cheese, and fresh fruits that are beautifully placed on an elegant Engraved Charcuterie Board. For drinks, a citrusy blend made with a Juicer compliments your hearty meal, and helps cleanse your palate for dessert.
After the lovely dinner, you gather once again at the living room but this time, Tito Joe surprises everyone with an impromptu performance. Ready as always, he starts to belt out his iconic “Christmas in our Hearts” song. While Tito Joe is singing, a Portable Microphone is passed around the room, giving others a chance to sing along with him. As everyone joins in, your heart feels a sense of warmth and joy, as the room gets filled with song and laughter.
Finally, you’re back at the spot you were earlier, snuggled by the warm knitted blanket. To finish the night and while waiting for 12AM to strike, a hot batch of coffee made from a French Press is served to everyone. To complete the Christmas experience, the coffee is in a cute Christmas-themed Coffee Mug, capping the night of holiday glee and fun.
Host your own Christmas Eve party like Jose Mari Chan by getting all the holiday items listed on Shopee.
REFERENCE:
China Villanueva
Shopee | Marketing | Public Relations (Brands and Consumer)
Family bonding made awesome at the Newport Performing Arts Theater.
This Christmas, Filipino families can finally go out of their homes after two years of pandemic lockdown to enjoy and be amazed at the world-famous Super American Circus, coming to the Philippines on December 21, 2022 until January 8, 2023, at the Newport Performing Arts Theater, Newport World Resorts in Pasay City.
Families will be in for a marvelous two-hour treat with what is dubbed as the biggest ensemble of live one-ring circus today. The Super American Circus puts together an incredible array of performers whose acts earned standing ovations all over the world. Some of them were winners of the prestigious world-class talent search America’s Got Talent.
The Super American Circus is a modern one-ring circus that will showcase acts that will excite and delight Filipino family members and barkadas of all ages. Witness thrilling acts like the motorcycle team in the Globe of Danger, the amazing Sky Wheel, the High Flying Motorcycle, life challenging aerialists, beautiful aerial ballerinas, and amazing jugglers that will happily keep you hanging on the edge of your seats.
The Super American Circus is produced by Global Entertainment Productions. Its President and CEO Mr. Cornell “Tuffy” Nicholas is also the show’s ringmaster. “Tuffy” comes from a family with extensive circus history. His father “Count Nicholas” was the lead Ringmaster extraordinaire of the traveling Ringling Brothers circus. Tuffy was actually born on the Sarasota stop of the Ringling Brothers Traveling Circus. The Nicholas’s raised their three children on-the-road and Tuffy grew up amongst some of the world’s most famous performers and celebrities. Under the careful eye of the Count, he became a great performer mastering a variety of different acts and skills. He made his first appearance as an honorary ringmaster on a main-street float alongside his proud father at the ripe old age of 3.
For more than 35 years now, Mr. Nicholas has been a successful producer and promoter of circuses, concerts, festivals and sporting events around the world. As president and CEO since 2000, he has produced over 5,000 performances around the World – Moscow State Circus, Modern American Circus, International All-Star Circus are just a few of Mr. Nicholas’s productions. In 2005 he produced Cirque Hawaii, a multi-million-dollar, state of the art, permanent theatrical spectacular, that showcased the award-winning talent of over 35 performers from around the world and thrilled Hawaiian audiences.
An incredible show like Super American Circus deserves an equally incredible venue. The Newport Performing Arts Theater is located at the center of Newport World Resorts, Newport Boulevard, Newport City, Pasay (across NAIA Terminal 3). A regular venue for patrons of the Philippine theater arts, the Newport Performing Arts Theater has been the venue of choice for a host of major concerts, plays, musicals, exclusive productions, and more. TV audiences may also recognize the Newport Performing Arts Theater as the venue of the highly popular reality television singing competition, The Voice of the Philippines. The Newport Performing Arts Theater was designed by prominent Hong Kong-based interior design expert Joseph Sy, which won him the coveted 2011 Perspective Awards-Certificate of Excellence and the 2011 Asia Pacific Interior Design Silver Award. The Newport Performing Arts Theater also earned the distinction of being BroadwayWorld Philippines’ Best Theatrical Venue for 2011, and was one of the top six contenders in the Leisure and Entertainment class of the Asia Pacific Interior Design Awards.
The Super American Circus production in the Philippines is made possible in partnership with Newport World Resorts and SGE Productions. The good news of Super American Circus’ coming to the Philippines’ was launched to the Philippine press community on October 18, 2022 at the Golden Bay Restaurant, Macapagal Avenue, Pasay City. It was hosted by Cerah’s Hernandez Co, a former DJ at Monster RX FM and is not a content creator and event host.
The Super American Circus will have performances at 3pm and 8pm beginning December 21, 2022. Tickets are available at SM Tickets in these prices: Php5,000, Php4,000, Php2,000 and Php1,000.
