June 3, 2018

Citi Philippines appoints a 27 year veteran, Manoj Varma as new consumer business manager

Citi, the leading global bank, announced the appointment of Manoj Varma as consumer business manager for the Philippines. A 27 year Citi veteran, Varma will be responsible for managing the company’s consumer franchise in the Philippines. Citi has been in the Philippines since 1902 and provides a full suite of consumer banking products and solutions including credit cards and wealth management.

Citi Philippines consumer business manager Manoj Varma

Citi Philippines chief executive officer Aftab Ahmed said, “Manoj is a great addition to the Citi Philippines team. His wealth of experience at Citi in different regions will further strengthen our ability to being the best through the eyes of our clients.”

Prior to his new appointment, Manoj served as managing director and general manager of the Specialty Partners Group within the Citi Retail Services Business in the U.S. The seasoned retail banking executive has an extensive international experience having worked with Citi in the United States and the Asia Pacific region. 

Manoj started as a design engineer, manufacturing computers for HCL India. He joined Citibank India as a management associate in 1990. In New Delhi, he handled Marketing and Product Development for the Auto Loan business and then led Citi’s Customer Services unit for Retail Loans in North India. 

In 1993, after a brief stint in Auto Sales, he was appointed head of Retail Banking Operations in Chennai. He moved back to Delhi in 1995 as regional head of the Indian Cards business.

Manoj was named in 1999 product director for the cards business in Citibank Taiwan. Three years later he was transferred to Korea to lead the Cards business in the country.

In August 2006, Manoj became initiatives director for the Partnership Business of Citi USA’s Retail Partner Cards. He was named in early 2010 general manager for the Specialty Partners Group, with overall responsibility for majority of the partnerships within the Citi Retail Services business.

Manoj has a Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering from Delhi University (1987) and a Master’s degree in Business Administration from Georgetown University (1990).

June 1, 2018

Vivo co-sponsors Darren Espanto’s jampacked birthday concert

Vivo local endorser and one of the biggest artists in the country to date, Darren Espanto wowed fans in a birthday concert held last May 26 at the KIA Theatre. The concert, fittingly entitled Unstoppable, was representative of Darren ad his unwavering talent. 

Darren, who started singing at only two years old and then entered the music industry at a tender age of 13, is truly unstoppable with concerts, appearances, and album launches left and right. As a proof of his rising celebrity, the Unstoppable concert was graced by guests including budding singer Jayda Avanzado.

Darren was indeed unstoppable during his show at the Kia Theatre on May 26. 



Despite his tender age, Darren performed like a real pro at his concert at Kia Theatre. 

Darren’s Unstoppable concert was co-presented by Vivo, one of the top three smartphone brands in the country today. Apart from Darren’s impressive performances, fans were treated to a special meet-and-greet segment where questions from Twitter were entertained by the young performer.

Darren was officially signed as a Vivo endorser last year and he has since graced several Vivo events such as the brand’s Christmas outreach activity bringing joy to 150 soldiers from Marawi at the Armed Forces of the Philippines hospital, the Vivo V7+ All Screen Experience mall tour at SM Marikina November last year, among others.



Darren made sure that his fans had a good time at his solo concert. 

Darren, a self-confessed K-pop junkie who can both sing and strut a mean dance move to boot, is set to do more Vivo event appearances as the year progresses.  





About Vivo
A global smartphone brand focused on introducing perfect sound quality and ultimate photography with cutting-edge technology, Vivo develops innovative and stylish products for young people. We now have over two hundred million users and are one of the preferred brands of young people around the world. As an Official Sponsor of the FIFA World Cup™, Vivo believes in the importance of encouraging young people to embrace self-expression and an energetic lifestyle.  In the Philippines, Vivo is the top 3 smartphone brand in terms of market share with 1.5 million users nationwide.   

For inquiries about Vivo, visit the Vivo website at vivoglobal.ph or check out their Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/vivophil), Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/vivo_philippines /), and Twitter (https://twitter.com/vivo_phil) accounts.  


OPPO DROPS NEW F7 YOUTH : Get the F7’s more affordable younger sibling via Home Credit’s six-month, 0% installment plan!

OPPO Philippines has recently added a new member to their F7 family with the OPPO F7 Youth. Designed for the younger crowd, the model is the midrange smartphone brand’s response to the needs of today’s generation of smartphone users with its top-notch performance, 4GB RAM, large 64G Storage, and stylish design and color.

The model, which only retails for Php13,990, is the more affordable version of the best-selling OPPO F7. With the brand’s long-standing partnership with Fintech company Home Credit, anyone can easily avail the F7 Youth even without a credit card in 6-month installments at 0% rate until June 30. All one needs to do is approach a Home Credit sales associate from a participating store, submit their application form, present two (2) valid IDs, and wait a few minutes to get approved! 

Despite its pocket-friendly price tag, the F7 Youth comes packed with the latest smartphone features like the Facial Unlock, AI (Artificial Intelligence) technology, and AR Stickers to name a few. It also carries the same Helio P60 Octa-Core processor which is 80 percent faster than smartphones in the same price range.




Selfies made smarter

Of course, OPPO stays true to its title of ‘Selfie Expert’ with its front camera’s AI Beauty Technology 2.0—a feature that can also be found in the F7. The F7 Youth redefines selfie-taking with the technology’s capability to analyze a person’s features and beautifying them using OPPO’s improved facial optimization technology. 

The 13MP rear camera also packs a punch with its A.I. Scene Recognition function which processes 16 different scenarios shot in real time to capture the right balance of brightness, exposure, color, and contrast. This, together with the depth-of-field effect, makes for impressive-looking photos. 


Function and power combined

To fit the generation it is designed for, the F7 Youth is streamlined to be intelligent and powerful with its functions. Its screen showcases navigation shortcuts for convenient app surfing while its A.I. Recognition Technology equips the model with a smart and fast facial unlock feature. 

In terms of power, the model carries the world’s first nm A.I. processor which gives it the edge of being 80 percent faster than previous smartphones. Its 3,410mAh battery, which has enough juice to last 15 hours of continuous usage for a whole day of charge, is complemented by an equally smart A.I. battery management system. 


Designed for the stylish youth

The OPPO F7 Youth is as impressive on the outside as it is inside. It comes in two sophisticated colors or Solar Red and special Diamond Black which has a unique triangular-cut pattern on its cover that shimmer as it catches light. 

In terms of the screen, the model provides an immersive viewing experience with its 6.0-inch FHD+ screen. Its bezels are 1.98mm razor-thin with the display maximized to keep the F7 Youth’s lightweight but comfortable design. 

Though the model is designed with the younger generation in mind, the OPPO F7 Youth is a great smartphone of choice for anyone. Thankfully, everyone can have a chance to take it home with help from Home Credit. As Home Credit Philippines Head of Sales Petr Korinek says, “We want to bring brands like OPPO closer to consumers because they always manage to offer something new to the market. Home Credit wants to provide a good smartphone experience to a wider public with the help of our products.”

The OPPO F7 Youth will be accepting pre-orders from May 28 to June 1, 2018. 


You may visit www.homecredit.ph for more information on Home Credit’s promos for OPPO, store locations, and loans.

Gospel Artist Don Moen's PH tour in July


Don Moen, the singer-songwriter who achieved international prominence and success for his praise and worship music, is scheduled to return to the Philippines for a five-city concert tour that is set to start on July 4, at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

Presented by Ovation Productions, the five-date concert series also includes CPU in Iloilo on July 6, University of Baguio on July 8, Laus Event Centre in San Fernando, Pampanga on July 10, and Santa Rosa Sports Coliseum in Sta. Rosa, Laguna on July 11. 

Don Moen’s set list will include the many praise and worship songs which are dearly loved by Filipinos such as “God Will Make A Way,” “Lord I Offer My Life To You,” “God Is Good All The Time,” “Give Thanks,” “Crown Him,” “I Want To Be Where You Are,” “Blessed Be The Name Of The Lord,” “Celebrate, Jesus, Celebrate,” “Great Is Thy Faithfulness,”  “All We Like Sheep,” “Your Steadfast Love,” “I Will Sing” and many more. 

Don has established a solid base of Pinoy fans and his music stands out for its straightforward simplicity that bares men’s souls before God, animated by his smooth tenor over catchy contemporary tunes. 

While many worship leaders can reach only certain demographics, Don Moen, a frequent visitor to the Philippines during the past several years and whom people consider as the “Barry Manilow of Christian music”, can extend to and touch a cross-section of worshippers and believers from diverse social classes and religious beliefs, with many seniors and youngsters enjoying his songs.  

(The Don Moen 2018 Philippine Tour is presented by Ovation Productions. For ticket prices and other inquiries, contact the following: Ticketnet 911-5555 for Manila concert; and SM Tickets 470-2222 for provincial concerts.)






Willie Nepomuceno, the King of Impressionism, and Nonoy Zuñiga, Pop Icon Headline “Music and Laughter” at the Theatre at Solaire this July

Live show aficionados will get a kick and a rush of nostalgia on July 27 8pm at the Theatre at Solaire when Grand Leisure Corporation brings Willie Nepomuceno and Nonoy Zuñiga together in “Music and Laughter.” 



Two of the most formidable names in their respective fields of entertainment, the Man with the Many Faces and Voices Willie Nepomuceno and Pop icon and OPM hitmaker Nonoy Zuñiga have done shows together outside of the country but “Music and Laughter” marks the first time that Nepomuceno and Zuñiga will headline a concert together in Manila. 

“Come to think of it, we've done shows together outside of Manila and we've crossed paths a number of times at the airport but with different destinations,” shares Nepomuceno who has performed before at the Eclipse Lounge also inside Solaire. “I am both excited and nervous about performing at the Theatre at Solaire.”

Zuñiga has done two previous shows at the Theatre at Solaire but with other artists. “This time I am excited to do a back-to-back show with ace impressionist, Willie Nep.”

Being the pioneer in the field of mimicry in the Philippines, Nepomuceno surprisingly finds Zuñiga, primarily a singer, “a natural humorist.” “His (Nonoy’s) songs are easily ‘singable’ that can appeal to all ages because the themes are universal. I particularly fancy his ‘I'll Never Ever Say Goodbye’ because everyone somehow passes through that sentimental episode in life, no matter how corny it may seem.”

Nepomuceno reminds us of a grand time when impressionists took their work seriously, painstakingly working on the characters they take on stage. “I really work hard at my craft, almost to perfection.”

In “Music and Laughter,” Nepomuceno showcases once more his unique brand of impressionism that has kept audiences packed in all his previous performances through a legendary career in entertainment. “My repertoire will consist of a blend of foreign celebrities and some local ones but this time, I'm veering away from the political satire which my audience has come to know me for---as a timely respite from the irritable summer heat of the season as well.”

Zuñiga welcomes the collaboration with Nepomuceno because he has always been a big fan of the latter. “Willie Nep is very professional in his ways and makes you feel at home performing with him. His impressions of Presidents Marcos, Ramos, and Erap (Estrada) are inimitable.”

Zuñiga is, hands down, one of the foremost Filipino balladeers of all time with a string of unforgettable hits, among them “Never Ever Say Goodbye,” “Kumusta Ka?” “Doon Lang,” “Love Without Time,” and “Fragments of Forever.” Never the kind to rest on his laurels, Zuñiga has just released his first digital single in support of VisPop or Visayan Pop; the song is called “Pero Atik Ra,” a duet with Jolianne Salvado.

As Willie Nepomuceno himself puts it, “Music and Laughter” is a show not to be missed because it will offer “pleasant entertainment and engaging humor.” Music and laughter are a magical combination that allows us to dream, think of the good times, and hope for better tomorrows.

This show is brought to you by Grand Leisure Corporation, tickets to “Music and Laughter” are available through Ticketworld or call 891-9999

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