Ben&Ben team up with Taiwanese Mandopop star WeiBird on dreamlike track “Cheap Love”

2021 has been a massive year for Filipino folk-pop collective Ben&Ben in terms of commercial and critical success. Their sophomore album, Pebble House, Vol. 1: Kuwaderno has earned glowing praises from reputable music critics and publications in the Philippines and Asia, with Rick Olivares of ABS-CBN News calling it a “brilliant masterpiece” and Paul John Caña of Esquire Philippines pointing out its vital role in establishing the band as the “pre-eminent artist of their generation.” In less than two months, Ben&Ben’s recently released album has surpassed more than 30 million streams on Spotify alone—a groundbreaking feat that attests to the group’s universal appeal and enduring impact for nearly an entire decade.

After achieving records in both streaming and digital sales and sending their songs to the top of the music charts, Ben&Ben are determined to put their work on the global music map with the release of “Cheap Love,” a new collaborative single with acclaimed and best-selling Taiwanese singer-songwriter WeiBird.

Epitomizing the moment when dawn shows its first light, “Cheap Love” is the sonic equivalent of wandering between a dreamlike state and an awakened mind throughout the night. It’s about the journey of finding a long, lasting love after having experienced so much pain in the past. According to William Wei, known professionally as WeiBird, the title of the song is a play on words, and nothing more than just faint bliss and ecstasy. “It’s a temporary band-aid for a big gushing wound, but it never fills the hole inside. Moreover, it increases the feeling of emptiness. What I’m trying to say is, you can’t bargain your way into love. Love is truly hard to find.”

Ben&Ben interprets the material in the same manner as WeiBird does, aware of the reality that comes with seeking genuine love in the direst of situations. “With the chorus repeating over and over how difficult it is to find a ‘rhyme better than you and I,’ it shows how drawn and enamored we are by the idea of love but oftentimes find ourselves in a pit when trying to really make it something more.”

With its stripped-down instrumentation embracing listeners with a sense of comforting warmth, “Cheap Love” expresses the woes and triumphs of a generation caught up in romantic longing and desire. The listening experience is made more compelling by the vocal harmonies of Paolo Benjamin and Miguel Benjamin, and the earnest delivery of WeiBird, making the audience feel more hopeful than ever despite the uncertainty of the present conditions.

“We’re grateful that by just being our authentic selves musically, we were able to add to the song both in production, vocals, and instrumentation something that WeiBird seemed to be happy with,” the nine-piece group shares in a statement. “We took an active role in building on the magic that the song already had, and we’re happy with how it turned out.”

The song was written and produced by WeiBird himself, with co-production and mixing duties by frequent collaborators Aven Tsai and Sean Sinclair. The Mandopop and folk-pop star explains that Ben&Ben also pitched in ideas for the arrangement and music side of things, resulting into a more polished, sonically impressive output that showcases the best of both worlds.

WeiBird adds, “I wrote, played and produced the whole song on the album version. However, for this collab I haven’t had to do much because Ben&Ben was amazing. I remember listening to a demo of them playing along to my original track, and I could already imagine how it would come to be later. And the final results were not far from my imagination. It was awesome.”

“Cheap Love” is the first single off WeiBird’s first official English album. It follows the success of his fifth studio album, Sounds Of My Life, which peaked at No.1 on Taiwanese album charts in 2020, and received four nominations at the 32nd Golden Melody Awards, including Album of the Year and Best Mandarin Album. The track also serves as the second international collaboration of Ben&Ben after “Leaves,” featuring K-pop star Young K.

“Cheap Love” is out now on all digital music platforms via Sony Music Taiwan. The official music video will premiere on 10.15.21 at 10pm, PH time.

Mountain Dew brings you Battle of Bangis: Cong vs. Ivana

Are you up for the challenge, Dewds?

Two teams—one led by Cong and the other by Ivana Alawi—will slug it out in the Mountain Dew Battle of Bangis, a series of challenges that will test their physical, mental and emotional strength, plus teamwork. 

This is the challenge to watch out for.

Team Captain Cong and Team Captain Ivana with their respective teammates take part in different bootcamp challenges for the #DewBattleOfBangis leading up to the finale dubbed Mountain Dew Battle of Bangis D’ Ultimate Showdown on November 7, 2021. Catch the finale streaming on Mountain Dew’s Facebook Page.

In the true sense of supporting adventure and activities best experienced among friends, Mountain Dew brings to the public Battle of Bangis which will see Cong, Ivana, and their respective teammates taking part in different bootcamp challenges—Pisikalan, Walang Iyakan, Mind Over Matter, and Tropahan--over three weeks from October 10 to 27 leading up to the finale dubbed Mountain Dew Battle of Bangis D’ Ultimate Showdown on November 7.

Mountain Dew Battle of Bangis started after Cong and Junnie Boy posted a video on Facebook thanking everyone for supporting their Mountain Dew TVC with James Reid. Junnie Boy said he’d love to collab with Ivana after Cong asked him who he’d like to work with next. In a video, Ivana said “bangis tayo eh”, accepted the challenge, and called on Mountain Dew to help make it happen. Immediately after, Ivana and Cong were announcing the Mountain Dew Battle of Bangis challenge!

Team Cong is composed of singer, YouTuber and influencer Mika Salamanca, vlogger Junnie Boy and actress and model Sachzna. 

Team Ivana, on the other hand, is made up of streamer and content creator Khenji Saito, TikTok superstar Yukii Takahashi and influencer and “Asian cutie” Albert Nicolas.

Dewds at home have the chance to win Mountain Dew Battle of Bangis and be part of their favorite tropa. All they have to do is upload a video doing their take of the bootcamp challenge of the week and use #DewBattleOfBangis to make it count as their official “audition” video. Dewds can send in as many videos as they want, regardless of which team they want to join! Each tropa is looking for six Dewds to be part of their team so you’ll have many chances of making it.

The three weeks of challenges will culminate in the Mountain Dew Battle of Bangis D’ Ultimate Showdown on November 7. The showdown, to be hosted by Sam YG featuring special guest James Reid, will be streamed live on Mountain Dew’s Facebook page. Chosen participants from the past online bootcamp challenges will be part of Tropang Cong and Tropang Ivana. The ultimate battleground—Call of Duty Mobile—will be the final test of the participants’ strength and cunning. During this showdown, they will be coached by playing Team Captains Cong and Ivana.

Mountain Dew will be partnering with Streets to School (Ivana’s chosen charity) and Child Hope (Cong’s choice) to power up young Dewds with new tablets for their schooling needs. One hundred tablets will be given to the winning team’s chosen charity while 50 tablets will be given to the losing team’s charity.

For more information about Mountain Dew and Battle of Bangis, check out this link BattleOfBangis or go to its official IG and FB pages and follow #DewBattleOfBangis .

LBC introduces the ‘Padalakada’ a 3D-animated campaign by BBDO Guerrero

LBC launches a bold new brand platform with their recently appointed agency, BBDO Guerrero. They put endorsers at the front and center of quirky, character-driven ads, but instead of influencers, LBC has created the ‘Padalakada’, a cast of 3D-animated, everyday objects.

With the most extensive network nationwide and enhanced digital services, LBC offers a vast range of solutions to send and receive items locally and abroad. The animated characters starred in a series of digital spots and activations that cater to the courier, cargo and remittance services provided by LBC Express.

https://youtu.be/DL34nY9FXZo

And who better to speak about these services than the items themselves. LBC’s ‘Padalakada’ are carefully created characters each representing a specific service. Meet Jordy and P. Air, a pair of sneakers, who endorse the brand’s main courier service.  Potricia, a plant pot and momprenuer, represents SoShop!, LBC’s program for social sellers.  Pursee loves k-pop and remitting with LBC. While Phiona the phone and Blesh the blush swoon over an LBC rider on his way to pick them up.  Many more characters round out the cast.

Javier Mantecon, LBC Chief Marketing Officer shares, “We wanted to create a new voice for the brand to reflect the innovations and breadth of services that we offer.  BBDO has been able to bring this to life in a fresh way and we are very excited to share our upcoming programs and offers to the different customers we serve.”

“With LBC’s portfolio of products and services, it was important that we created a consistent platform with the flexibility to tailor messages for different customer segments, “ said BBDO Guerrero Creative Chairman, David Guerrero.  “It’s been a wonderful collaboration with our clients and productions partners and we are very proud of the work we have done together”.

The campaign received the highest ad recall lift on YouTube of 13.4% within the logistics category.

 

CHAMP Cargosystems PH signs with PLDT Enterprise for ePLDT Calling activation

CHAMP Cargosystems—the most successful global IT provider dedicated to the needs of the air cargo industry, providing integrated services for cargo carriers and their distribution partners worldwide —recently signed a strategic partnership with PLDT Enterprise, together with its ICT arm ePLDT, for services that would enable their international offices to be more operationally agile and connected amidst the changing demands of the new normal business landscape.

The IT solutions company is the first onboarded customer of ePLDT Calling for Microsoft Teams, a cloud-based phone system that allows businesses to combine their communication and collaboration systems in a single platform.

This hybrid telephony and video conferencing solution is designed by ePLDT highlighting the integrated features of Microsoft Teams, robustness of PLDT SIP connectivity and reliability of VITRO Data Center. Now employees, customers and stakeholders can call, chat and connect together real-time and seamlessly.

In over seven global offices of CHAMP Cargosystems with more than 450 employees worldwide, this solution will help ensure quality reliable calls with built-in security and privacy from Microsoft 365.

“This partnership with PLDT Enterprise will allow us to achieve our goals in providing accelerated IT solutions, services and support for our air cargo and aviation regulator customers. In the air cargo industry context, it is imperative to have reliable, fast, and secure connectivity and communication services that will allow us to collaborate faster and do our business optimally. We believe that PLDT Enterprise is the perfect partner for that,” said Philips Manalaysay, Managing Director of CHAMP Cargosystems Philippines.

CHAMP Cargosystems provides services to over 100 airlines and 200 customers worldwide, including GSAs and Forwarders, over 300 handling stations, more than 1,500 stations spanning across 100 countries, over 3,000 connected forwarders, and over 15,000 users worldwide. Members of the CHAMP community can exchange information securely using industry standards processes and formats, with over 300 million processed messages and 20 million shipments annually. CHAMP Cargosystems’ applications portfolio spans core cargo systems, enterprise systems and community and distribution services, compliance services as well freight forwarding solutions.

“We are pleased to kickstart this partnership with CHAMP Cargosystems Philippines. PLDT Enterprise always values the trust and support of our clients and we commit to providing excellent services that would propel them towards meeting their goals,” said Jovy Hernandez, ePLDT President & CEO and SVP & Head for PLDT and Smart Enterprise Business Groups.

With ePLDT’s ICT expertise and Microsoft 365 certifications, CHAMP Cargosystems is assured that its groundbreaking solution ePLDT Calling for Microsoft Teams is professionally implemented and supported and shall be continually enhanced.

“It is our aspiration to fortify our enterprise accounts of the best ICT and connectivity solutions that will maximize their business capabilities. Such is our dedication to CHAMP Cargosystems. We thank you for your patronage and trust, and you can anchor your long-term plans with PLDT Enterprise,” said Vic Tria, PLDT First Vice President and Enterprise Revenue Group Head

For more information, visit epldt.com

Adele returns with ‘Easy on Me’

Global superstar Adele returns with the release of her brand new single and video “Easy On Me.”

“Easy On Me” precedes the November 19th release of Adele’s newest album 30, on Columbia Records. Earlier this week, Adele shared the news of her new album release date and inspiration with a personal note to her fans letting them know she was “finally ready to put this album out.”

The video for “Easy On Me,” shot last month in Quebec, finds Adele once again collaborating with Cannes Grand Prix winning director Xavier Dolan (Mommy, It’s Only The End The World).

“I was honestly hoping for this to happen,” noted Dolan. “For me, there’s nothing stronger than artists reconnecting after years apart. I’ve changed. Adele’s changed. And this is an opportunity to celebrate how we’ve both evolved, and how we’ve also both remained faithful to our dearest themes. It’s all the same, but different.” The video begins in the same house the pair used to shoot the video for Adele’s 2015 smash single “Hello.”

Listen to “Easy On Me” here and check out the video here.

30 is the first new music from Adele since the release of her third studio album 25 in November 2015. The album is produced with former collaborators Greg Kurstin, Max Martin, Shellback and Tobias Jesso Jr as well as new collaborators Inflo and Ludwig Göransson. 30 is available for preorder at all physical and digital retailers globally.

In addition, exclusive configurations will be available at select retailers nationwide including a Target deluxe CD featuring three bonus tracks and a Walmart clear exclusive double vinyl.

An Amazon white exclusive double vinyl will be available globally. 30 and lead single “Easy On Me” will also be offered on cassette, exclusive to Adele’s D2C store while supplies last. The album will be available on all digital platforms. Pre-order 30 here.

NEW PRODUCTS ALERT: CHERRY introduces new products under Cherry Home

CHERRY continues to expand, adding new products to its massive lineup of home devices.

Leading the bunch is the Cherry E-Pump, a revolutionary device which offers mind-blowing convenience in everyday life. As a gallon of water is too heavy to lift, simply sealing this electronic water pump to your container will already allow you to quench your thirst, just like that! It provides ease of use, installed just like a standard gallon head and operates using only one button. It has long-lasting battery and automatically shuts down after a minute. Since it’s compact, you can bring this easily with you and is especially handy during staycations. Get this for just P799.

An addition to your new normal must-haves is the CHERRY Antibacterial UV Spray Gun. It is a portable disinfectant device and has UV sterilization, featuring 3W UV power. Definitely not your usual alcohol or disinfectant sprayer as it is equipped with powerful UV to help eliminate 99.99% of bacteria and viruses. Not only that, it can also be used to water your plants and even functions as a humidifier and aroma diffuser. Truly, an all-around essential for your home. It can last long with its 2000mAh battery capacity and prompts you with a low power warning feature. Get one for also P799.

Finally, live your K-drama dream with the Cherry Home Smart Movasweep Robotic Vacuum. It can be controlled via the Cherry Home application and is an effective cleaning tool, featuring a 2,600 Pa Suction Power. With that much to boast, it remains to be ideal even for nighttime use with its low noise level. Now, it is easier to cover all areas of your home using this device’s intelligent mapping technology. It has four cleaning modes: Cyclone, Zigzag, Box, and Wave. You can also guarantee that it is robust as it comes with anti-falling, anti-collision, and anti-tangling features. Enjoy these and more for P13,900.

Make your home smarter, safer, and more comfortable with these new products from CHERRY. For more information, visit:

Cherry Shop PH: www.cherryshop.com.ph

 

Ginto: Jollibee and McCann Worldgroup Philippines release special Kwentong Jollibee on Hidilyn Diaz’s inspiring journey

While the whole nation rejoiced and celebrated the historic feat of Hidilyn Diaz during the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, not everyone knew of the hardships that she had to overcome to reach her dream of winning the country’s first Olympic Gold medal. Now, her story of “lakas at puso” which made all that possible is immortalized in Jollibee’s latest Kwentong Jollibee, “Ginto”.

Jollibee is one with Filipinos in paying tribute to Hidilyn

through her own Kwentong Jollibee short film

The short film chronicles the life-long journey of Hidilyn in typical Kwentong Jollibee fashion – heartwarming, tugs at the heartstrings and filled with life lessons – while aimed at continuing to inspire Filipinos to reach their own dreams.

“We wanted to pay tribute not just to Hidilyn’s victory, but to her strength, heart and resilience, which truly brought joy and uplifted the nation. And we thought it fitting to produce her own Kwentong Jollibee, not just to thank her for her feat but to somehow share her story so that we Filipinos can continue to be inspired by what she has achieved”, said Arline Adeva, Jollibee Philippines Assistant Vice President and Head of Brand PR, Engagement, and Digital Marketing.

Ginto showed how Hidilyn, despite the lockdown and being away from her family,

persevered to reach her golden dream.

“Ginto” is directed by internationally acclaimed and resident Kwentong Jollibee director Pepe Diokno. The latest Kwentong Jollibee film is centered on how Hidilyn has become a champion and a Filipino icon who proved that hard work and grit pays off. “People can expect an inspiring story about dealing with defeat, and winning with perseverance,” he said. Direk Pepe also added that giving hope and providing inspiration was at the core of this latest Kwentong Jollibee film. “I think with the current situation, many Filipinos feel defeated and divided, but Hidilyn’s win gave us strength and brought us together,” he said.

Hidilyn shared that she is honored to have her own Kwentong Jollibee,

and is proud to be part of a well-loved Filipino brand.

For her part, Hidilyn cherished being part of her own, special Kwentong Jollibee. “Lahat naman tayo kilala ang Kwentong Jollibee. Usually, ito yung tungkol sa love and relationships. Masaya lang ako kasi naipakita dito yung love for sports, love for your dream, and love for your country. Sana naipakita namin yung inspirasyon na maidudulot nung Kwentong Jollibee Ginto,” Hidilyn said.

Hidilyn’s Kwentong Jollibee shows how “lakas at puso” are key to achieving your dreams

While Hidilyn’s rise to become a modern-day icon and the country’s pride and joy was well-documented, Jollibee and McCann worked together to creatively tell her story in a way that would make a lasting impact. “Everyone knows her story by now so the challenge was how to shine a new light on her in a way that would inspire and motivate Filipinos who may also be experiencing struggles and challenges,” explained NJ Mijares, Creative Director of McCann Worldgroup Philippines. “With every Kwentong Jollibee we create, we always ask ourselves ‘is this relatable? Will other people feel the same way?’ More so with this one. Because we're telling a story of a very specific person with a very specific achievement, we tried to tell it in a way that mirrors the dreams, the struggles, and the journey of millions of Filipinos.”

Watch the Kwentong Jollibee Ginto on the official Jollibee Facebook page and on Jollibee Studios YouTube channel, and join the conversation online by using the hashtag #KwentongJollibeeGinto.

CREDITS

• Client: Jollibee
• JFC Country Marketing Head and Jollibee PH Marketing Head: Francis Flores
• AVP and Head of Brand PR, Engagement and Digital Marketing: Arline Adeva
• Senior Brand PR and Communications Manager: Dennis Reyes
• Brand PR and Communications Officer: Elise Maog
• Agency: McCann Worldgroup Philippines
• Associate Managing Partner: Mitzie Lim-Nacianceno
• Associate Business Group Director: Joms Robles
• Account Manager Chloe Adaraya
• Executive Creative Director: Sid Samodio
• Creative Director: NJ Mijares
• Art Director: Gabby Alcazaren
• Strategic Planning Director: Earl Javier

917Ventures partners with 10x1000, secures grants to hone employee skills in fintech

In line with its efforts to invest in its people and provide opportunities for them to upskill in fintech, corporate venture builder 917Ventures has partnered with global fintech training platform 10x1000 Tech for Inclusion (“10x1000”) in securing 100 Fintech Foundation Program Flex grants.

10x1000 aims to train 1,000 emerging talents and tech leaders from around the world each year for the next ten years. The philanthropic initiative was founded in 2018 jointly by the International Finance Corporation, a member of the World Bank Group, and Alipay, the leading digital payment platform operated by Ant Group.

917Ventures, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Globe, has taken the lead to be the first in the Philippines to partner with the fintech training program this October. It has likewise opened the grants to the employees of Globe and its own portfolio companies. The aim is for 917Ventures to further help expand and strengthen the local fintech industry, starting with scaling up training and development within Globe’s ecosystem.

“We are grateful to be part of this significant initiative. We have seen the rapid growth of fintech during the pandemic and we need to be able to take advantage of this situation by harnessing our employees’ ability to ideate, develop new markets, and make financial products and services more inclusive for the masses to drive economic growth,” said Vince Yamat, 917Ventures Managing Director.

“We are delighted to join hands with 917Ventures to bring the 10x1000 training platform to learners worldwide, as we seek innovative approaches to meeting a common goal of bridging the digital skills gap,” said Eric Jing, Chairman and CEO of Ant Group, owner and operator of digital payments platform Alipay. “I am excited that learners from 10x1000’s new Flex program will gain the fintech knowledge that they need to support their communities, and help bring us closer to meeting the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).”

Aside from grants, 917Ventures will be participating in the 10x1000 Fintech Leadership Program that will take place in mid-November. It will also have the opportunity to co-create thought leadership programs and content with 10x1000.

Flex is open to professionals with a minimum of three years of experience in a fintech or digital economy-related company or role. It includes three modules with a total of eight video lessons. Learners are required to pass all quizzes at the end of the modules to receive the digital certificate. More information about the Flex program and modules is available at https://www.10x1000.org/learnDetail?programType=4.

Given the demands of the time, more people and organizations have shifted to digital transactions, telehealth, e-payments, e-commerce, and other digital-enabled activities. These are also among the services offered by Globe and 917Ventures portfolio companies such as GCash, KonsultaMD, HealthNow, RUSH, PureGo, and AdSpark, among others.

The Globe Group strongly supports the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDG), particularly UN SDG No. 9, on the importance of infrastructure and innovation as significant drivers for economic growth and development. It is committed to upholding the UN Global Compact principles and contributing to 10 UN SDGs.

To know more about 917Ventures, visit https://917ventures.com.

Party, Play, Panalo Everyday! Here’s why we can’t wait for the GCash GBirthday happening this October 18-22! Win over Php25M worth of deals and prizes this #GBirthday!

GCash, the undisputed #1 financial app in the country with over 40 million users to date, will be celebrating their birthday this coming October 18-22, with their biggest blowout for all users! The country’s favorite E-Wallet, is hosting over 25 million pesos worth of deals, promos and freebies, and everyone is invited to join in their hourly festivities. Here’s everything you can look forward to in this 5-day celebration filled with goodies that’ll help make your day a little (or a lot) more fun.

‘Treats on us, every hour, every day’

Using GCash has never been more exciting with over Php25M worth of exclusive freebies, discounts, vouchers, treats, and even grand prizes every hour on the hour so there’s definitely something for everyone! You can even be THE lucky winner of PHP500K GCash credits!

Just tap, pay, and collect!

Keep an eye out for those promo cards or pop-ups in the app and simply tap, follow the mechanics, purchase from the featured partner merchants through GCash, and collect the gift! *promos are valid until supplies last

[OCT 18] Day 1: Freebie Day

Start the week on a high note with FREE vouchers, load, a drink, pizza, shipping, and more whenever you use GCash to pay or buy from Cignal, HealthNow, The Rare Food Shop, Domino’s Pizza, The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf, Shakey’s, Waltermart, or Bo’s Coffee starting 8am up until 4pm!

[OCT 19] Day 2: Discount Day

Get super saver deals for your groceries, deliveries, snacks, and more with instant discounts of up to 80% OFF for 8 full hours when you use GCash to pay for Borzo, Pickaroo, Bistro Group, Gong Cha, Primer Group, The Rare Food Shop, PureGo and Tinder!

[OCT 20] Day 3: Voucher Day

Make paying for essentials more rewarding with vouchers every hour for Seaoil, TM and Globe Prepaid, Shell, Globe At Home, Robinsons Supermarket, and Watsons when you pay through GCash!

[OCT 21] Day 4: Treats Day

That Friday feeling comes early on GCash’s birthday week with all the A+ Rewards you can enjoy. Tap your A+ Rewards icon on your GCash app to get your dose of feel good treats from Steam, Puregold,  Lazada, Shopee, Google, Apple, Spotify and so much more! For sure there will be something new to look forward to, every hour with A+ Rewards!

[OCT 22] Day 5: ALL OUT DAY GRAND RAFFLE

Use Pay Bills, GSave, GInvest, GLife,  Buy Load, or  send money via QR on October 22 and get a chance to be one of (5) winners of an iPhone 12, (3) winners of Php100K in GCash credits, or be THE lucky winner of Php500K GCash credits!

To know more about GCash GBirthday, visit:

https://www.gcash.com/gbirthday2021

https://www.gcash.com/gbirthday2021/partners 

 

About GCash

GCash (G-Xchange, Inc.) is the #1 Financial App in the Philippines. Through the GCash App, customers can easily purchase prepaid airtime; pay bills at over 600 partner billers nationwide; send and receive money anywhere in the Philippines, even to other bank accounts; purchase from over 2.5M partner merchants and social sellers; and get access to savings, credit, insurance and invest money all at the convenience of their smartphones. GCash is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Mynt (Globe Fintech Innovations, Inc.) since 2015.

GCash was recognized by The Asian Banker (TAB) in 2021 for its outstanding digital financial inclusion programs impacting more than 46 million Filipinos in the country today.

Appendix:

How to avail of GCash’s Grand Raffle Day this coming October 22:

Pay Bills

Settle your bills through the Pay Bills feature on the GCash dashboard with a minimum spend of P1,500 and get (5) entries per transaction.

Save Money

Use GSave to manage your savings. GSave is the fully digital, secure, and hassle-free savings account that was built in partnership with CIMB Bank and insured by PDIC. Deposit a minimum of P1,500 and get (5) entries per transaction.

Invest Money

Grow your money with GInvest which aims to make investing easier, less intimidating, and always accessible for all. Invest at least P600 on October 22 and gain (3) entries per transaction.

GLife

From paytime to play-time to party time! Get 2 entries per transaction for a minimum spend of only Php300 on GLife. Choose from over a hundred merchants for all things lifestyle: food & drinks, retail, appliances, essentials, gaming & tech, home improvements and so much more - right in your GCash app.

Buy Load

Join the All Out Day Grand Raffle simply by loading up through GCash! Gain 1 raffle entry every time you buy load worth Php50.

Pay QR

Make sending and receiving money much more seamless and get a chance to win one of the grand raffle prizes by paying through GCash QR On Demand! No more worrying about “wrong sends” or sharing personal information with the easily generated Personal QR, plus you get (5) raffle entries per transaction of a minimum of Php500.

TV5’s Niña Niño Welcomes Piolo Pascual as New Sitio Santa Ynez Mayor

Starting October 19, Piolo Pascual will be joining Maja Salvador and Noel Comia Jr. in TV5’s hit comedy-drama series Niña Niño as Mayor Christopher Charles Juarez, a young and indefatigable public servant who has planned projects for the development of Sitio Santa Ynez.

Co-produced by Cignal Entertainment and CS Studios and directed by award-winning director Thop Nazareno, Niña Niño airs every Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday at 7:15pm, after Sing Galing and before FPJ’s Ang Probinsyano, only on TV5.

Golden Haven launches the most beautiful park in Bauan, Batangas

A vast, sprawling terrain, an air of tranquility, and lush green spaces all make for an exceptionally beautiful memorial park. But when these attributes come with picturesque views of rugged mountains and a sparkling sea, the setting bears the unmistakable signature of Golden Haven Bauan, the very first prestigious and premium memorial park in Bauan, a coastal municipality in the province of Batangas.

Golden Haven Bauan harmoniously joins the architectural skill of man with the lush backdrop of Philippine nature.

Set to be officially launched by the country’s most trusted memorial park developer, Golden Haven Memorial Park Bauan once more showcases Golden Haven’s ingenious and tasteful architectural designs, this time complemented by Bauan’s rich naturescape.

Golden Haven Bauan will be fully operational in time for Undas.

As with all of its properties nationwide, Golden Haven’s much-awaited development fuses the very best qualities of its host town, a quiet little destination in the south, making Golden Haven Bauan an affirmation of the beauty and prestige of owning a property at Golden Haven. After all, the company has solidified its reputation by offering only the finest death care services in the country and building the most serenely beautiful and dignified memorial parks where families can celebrate the lives of their dearly departed.

For Batanguenos here and abroad who want to leverage their hard-earned money on a stable, long-haul venture, nothing trumps Golden Haven Memorial Park Bauan, whose easy-own payment terms and inherent appreciation value make it a dream investment package.

Regarding Batangas’ ritual-bound natives, Red Rosales, COO of Golden Haven Memorial Parks, is happy to announce that residents of Bauan and adjacent towns who have invested in Golden Haven Bauan can look forward to spending the annually held Undas at the memorial park on Nov. 1. Apart from observing the much-revered tradition, Batanguenos and their guests can happily reminisce on memories of their dearly departed as they bask in the refreshingly nippy breeze wafting from the sea and relax in the vast green spaces of Golden Haven Bauan.

Rest assured, Golden Haven Bauan’s well-trained park personnel will be fully equipped to see to the needs of Undas attendees who will be expected to comply with all relevant health protocols to enable everyone to celebrate safely.

Golden Haven Bauan brings the leading developer’s thoughtful touch together with the very best qualities of the Batangas landscape

All in all, the timely opening of Golden Haven Bauan is primed to be yet another grand milestone in the history of Golden Haven Memorial Parks, builder of the most beautiful memorial parks in the country. To be sure, Golden Haven will continue to thrive and grow with the times, with more superior projects expected to rise all over the country.

About Golden Haven

Golden Haven Memorial Park is a subsidiary company of publicly listed Villar-owned Golden MV Holdings Inc. Currently positioned as one of the largest real estate companies in the country. Golden Haven offers premium death care services and prime memorial lots. It is dubbed as the most lucrative real estate investment with an average of 20% annual value appreciation.

Online Reservation

Golden Haven commits to the safety of both our clients and employees. We are now offering online services for our admin transactions. Choose from the services on our website through our online service page to schedule your appointments. You may also get in touch with us for any of your concerns.

Join the Golden Haven Community

Be part of the Golden Haven community today! Visit goldenhaven.com.ph or follow “Golden Haven” on our social media platforms. We are on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, Pinterest, Spotify, Tiktok, and Viber. For sales-related inquiries, you may contact (02) 8873-2922 to 23.

Shell Philippines Exploration B.V. recognized as PH champion of sustainability

Received prestigious 2021 ECCP Europa award for clean and efficient energy

As an innovator of sustainable energy solutions, Shell Philippines Exploration B.V. (SPEX) was recently conferred the 2021 Europa Award for Clean and Efficient Energy by the European Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines (ECCP). The special award recognizes the sustainability business leader who had best incorporated the use of clean and efficient energy practices in its day-to-day operations while at the same time supporting the government’s thrust to reduce the country’s greenhouse gas emissions by 70% by 2030 to help in climate change mitigation as stipulated in the Paris Agreement of 2016.

“This is another feather in our cap, and we extend our utmost gratitude to the ECCP for recognizing SPEX as a champion of sustainability in the Philippines,” SPEX Engineering and Projects Manager Rhea Abigail Navarro said during the virtual awarding ceremony held recently. “We remain committed to our vision of providing the Philippines clean and efficient energy sources that will help the planet, power the nation, and empower our people.”

According to one of the award jurors, Ambassador H. E. Luc Veron, Head of the Delegation of the European Union to the Philippines, “The Europa awards exist to recognize Filipino companies with exceptional contributions to sustainability in line with the Philippine Development Plan and global standards. Sustainability requires a whole-of-society approach. We all must act now to protect the environment and to boost the green economy.”

PH natural gas industry pioneer

The Malampaya Deepwater Gas-to-Power Project (Malampaya), operated by SPEX, signaled the birth of the Philippine natural gas industry, ultimately becoming a symbol of the country’s journey towards energy self-sufficiency. As the longest-running energy company in the Philippines, the Malampaya harnessed indigenous natural gas to reduce oil imports, contribute to better air quality, and generate significant revenues for the local government amounting to US$B12 or over PHP 1 trillion.

Since October 2001, Malampaya continues to power up to 20% of the country’s electricity. It has also made Luzon’s air cleaner since natural gas emits 30-50% less air emissions compared to coal, fuel oil, or diesel in electricity generation. All these legacy and contributions make it one of the country’s most successful Public-Private Partnerships.

Champion of sustainability

Sustainability efforts have greatly enhanced the social and environmental impact of Shell through Malampaya. Aside from generating excellent shareholder value, Malampaya has also positively and significantly impacted many communities in the Philippines by staying true to its core values of empowering people and taking care of the environment. It has established and is conducting various conservation efforts through its social development arms, the Pilipinas Shell Foundation Inc. (PSFI), Malampaya Foundation Inc. (MFI), and Mindoro Biodiversity Conservation Inc. (MBCFI).

“Sustainability has always been at the core of Shell. It is ingrained in our operations and business framework. We have always seen to it that sustainability is part of our planning process and not just something to do midway or as an afterthought,” Navarro said.

This business approach was affirmed by ECCP Vice President Lars Wittig who said, “It is no longer business as usual. Sustainability cannot just be a slogan; rather it should be the standard. There is a paradigm shift taking place. Our current expectation of sustainable corporate practices is transitioning from the sole responsibility of CSR teams to that of the entire organization.”

Shell has been championing sustainable energy through its Access to Energy (A2E) initiative, which helped bring power to communities in Northern Palawan, including the Batak tribe, Sitio Binaluan in Taytay, and El Nido. It installed renewable energy systems through the use of local natural resources such as solar and hydro. A2E connected homes in far-flung villages to microgrids. Before this, residents relied on candles to keep their homes lit. Today, 70 members of the community have been trained in solar lamp assembly and basic electrical installation; and 878 individuals now enjoy 24/7 power in five remote indigenous areas.

Malampaya also led the fight against malaria in Palawan through the Movement Against Malaria campaign. In 1999, there were 54,000 cases and 99 deaths. By 2018, there was a 92% decrease in cases and 99% decrease in deaths. To date, over 12 million Filipinos have benefitted from this program. Additionally, Malampaya helped 1,600 unemployed individuals and out-of-school youths from Palawan, Mindoro, Subic, and Batangas through the Bridging Employment through Skills Training (BEST) program by providing them with opportunities to learn vocational skills. Shell also advocated for sustainable farming in El Nido through the Palawan Eco Agro Park.

By Filipinos, for Filipinos

In 2015, Malampaya made another first for the Philippines. Harnessing local pride, talent and passion, it mobilized over 1,500 Filipino workers to design, build, and construct its second offshore platform. This approach further emphasized Malampaya as “by Filipinos, for Filipinos.”

Fast forward to the present. Amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, Malampaya continues to power the country 24/7 and provide humanitarian assistance during this crisis through a program called Para sa Bayani: a 3-pronged approach that empowered 4,000 farmers to sell their produce which otherwise would have been stranded due to the community lockdowns; fed 500,000 frontliners and vulnerable members of the community; and provided much-needed PPEs for medical frontliners.

This latest recognition from the ECCP is a testament to SPEX’s unwavering commitment to sustainability and its innovative and pioneering spirit serving the Filipino nation.

“Malampaya may be an energy company, but what it really does is power a country and its people towards progress. A company by Filipinos and for Filipinos is definitely here to stay,” SPEX External Relations Manager Paulo Gavino said.

Navarro added, “May we all strive to create a better world anchored on best practices in sustainability and leave a legacy for the next generation.”

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