CreativeFest brings together ad heavyweights, industry leaders to unlock creativity

Manila Luzon and other creative heavyweights headline PHL’s largest ad event

The largest gathering of creative professionals, marketing experts, and thought leaders from a wide variety of fields is coming together once again to celebrate the power of creativity to move the world and drive it forward at CreativeFest, to be held virtually for the second year in a row this November 24 to 26, with "Creativity Unlocked" as the theme.

The media and representatives from allied industries had a sneak peek into the event through a Media and Industry Preview held online last November 9. Details of the event were discussed during the exclusive preview, including the list of speakers and the topics they’ll tackle. The good news is that admission to it will remain free for everyone.

“The [Association of Accredited Advertising Agencies in the Philippines] believes that imagination and inventiveness should be always celebrated in whatever form or scale,” Melvin Mangada, Chairman of the 4As and Chairman and Chief Creative Officer of TBWA\ Santiago Mangada Puno said. “This year’s theme, Creativity Unlocked, is again a call of defiance—creating stories from our dining rooms, living rooms, and bedrooms. And despite cramped spaces, limited movement and physical interaction, we’ve proven that the creative mind knows no boundaries.”

“The theme is actually to celebrate those who have surpassed the challenging times and difficult as it is to cope with the situation, it is even more inspiring that people were able to come up with wonderful work despite the circumstances. Creativity Unlocked is not only our theme but our battle cry to continue to do inspired and fresh work even in the confines of our own homes,” Teeny Gonzales, Seven A.D. CEO and 4As Co-Trustee in-charge of Creative Services furthered.

One of the expected highlights of this year’s CreativeFest is the Keynote Address that will be delivered by one of the most famous drag queens today, a RuPaul’s Drag Race alum and soon-to-be host of the much-anticipated Filipino Reality Drag competition Drag Den, Manila Luzon. Luzon made a special video appearance during the media preview and she invited her fans and creative professionals to join her for CreativeFest.

“I’m so excited for you to hear my keynote and how drag has helped millions in its relentless pursuit of effective protest and people’s embrace of drag as an art form. For everyone watching, please don’t forget to register for CreativeFest happening on November 24th to November 26th,” Manila Luzon said.

Aside from Manila Luzon, many creative heavyweights are also expected to attend CreativeFest 2021 to deliver inspiring talks and take part in thought-provoking roundtable discussions.

Madonna Badger, Chief Creative Officer and Founder of Badger and Winters will deliver the Day 2 Keynote Address for the CreativeFest. Other expected speakers are Cannes Spokesperson Susie Walker; Dentsu Taiwan Executive Creative Director Alice Chou; Lego Creative Lead and Trese Creator Budjette Tan; OPM Band Ben&Ben; and many others.

“We’re very excited that the full line-up of the CreativeFest, from November 24 to 26 is huge, it’s global, and hopefully it inspires everyone to stay creative and keep creativity unlocked in our blood,” JC Valenzuela, Founder and CEO of Propel Manila and CreativeFest Chairman said.

This year will also see the return of the Kidlat Awards, one of the most prestigious recognitions in Philippine advertising. The Kidlat Awards was not held last year because of the pandemic, and as such this year’s recognition will cover the period between 2019 to 2021. The awards night will be the culminating activity of this year’s CreativeFest and will happen on November 26.

“Kidlat Awards is back!” Russel Molina, Chief Creative Officer of Seven A.D. and Committee Chairman of the Kidlat Awards said. “It signals a new chapter for us in the industry and it gives us renewed energy for the advertising industry.”

Just like last year, CreativeFest 2021 remains free for everyone. The event will also benefit Silid-Aralan, an organization that educates and empowers low-performing learners, and is committed to creating a better and more sustainable nation.

This year’s CreativeFest is brought to us by Bench, JTI, and Ginebra, in partnership with Cignal, TV5, One Sports, Provill, Google Creative Works, Grupo Agatep, Adobo Magazine, Hit Productions, and Plan B.

To register for the event for free, please visit this link https://4asphilippines.com/creativefest2021/.

To know the latest about CreativeFest and Kidlat Awards, please visit www.4asphilippines.com and like and follow them on Facebook at www.facebook.com/4asPhilippines.

"Viral Scandal" showcases acting prowess of Charlie and Joshua

Charlie Dizon and Joshua Garcia, two of the country’s finest young actors, are teaming up in ABS-CBN Entertainment’s “Viral Scandal,” a timely series about online video scandals that is premiering on Monday (Nov. 15)

Charlie and Joshua, who have won praises and accolades for their acting performances, return on television as Rica and Kyle. Their characters' budding relationship gets tested by a viral video.

In the series, Charlie plays Rica, the eldest among the children of Kakay (Dimples Romana) and Dan (Miko Raval), who is just finishing her internship in an architectural firm and is about to take the board exam. All is well for Rica and her family until she gets involved in a viral video.

Even after the viral video, Rica tries to continue her life by applying in Balai Arkitektura, where Kyle (Joshua) is the acting CEO. Here, she will try to regain the confidence she lost from the viral video.

With all the problems that will arise from the viral video, will there be space for love to blossom between Rica and Kyle?

The series marks the return of Charlie and Joshua in the RCD Drama Unit after their eye-catching performances in the group's award-winning shows, "A Soldier's Heart" and "The Killer Bride," respectively.

“Viral Scandal” also stars Dimples Romana, Jake Cuenca, Miko Raval, Jameson Blake, Markus Patterson, Ria Atayde, Maxene Magalona, Aljon Mendoza, Karina Bautista, Louise Abuel, Kaila Estrada,Vance Larena, Gian Magdangal, Arielle Roces, and Aya Fernandez. 

Watch it on Kapamilya Channel, TV5, A2Z, Kapamilya Online Live, iWantTFC, and TFC IPTV.

Angels Initiative advocates stroke awareness among Filipinos to mark World Stroke Day

There is no home treatment or first aid for stroke.

Stroke, also known as a “brain attack,” is a medical emergency that needs to be addressed by healthcare experts with timely medical intervention to avoid certain disabilities or death. The best option for those who exhibit symptoms of stroke is to rush them to the nearest stroke-ready or thrombolysis-capable hospitals.

With stroke remaining to be one of the leading causes of death in the Philippines1, Angels Initiative—a global healthcare initiative that aims to increase the number and optimize the quality of stroke treatment at acute stroke centers—seeks to empower Filipinos with the knowledge to help minimize the dangers of stroke through an awareness campaign video.

The video contains information on debunking the common first aid treatments applied to the patient, the symptoms of stroke that the public should watch out for, and the crucial importance of timely and quick medical response in stroke cases.

For more information, watch and share the stroke awareness video below. #StrokeDontStayAtHome

World Stroke Day Video

Megastar Sharon Cuneta to star in first Kapamilya teleserye, joins "FPJ's Ang Probinsyano"

The one and only Megastar Sharon Cuneta’s highly anticipated debut in a Kapamilya teleserye is finally happening as she joins the star-studded cast of “FPJ’s Ang Probinsyano,” the country’s’ longest-running action-drama series that recently marked its historic sixth anniversary.

To formally welcome the Megastar into the show, ABS-CBN rolled out the red carpet for her on Tuesday (November 9) with ABS-CBN COO of broadcast Cory Vidanes, TV production head Laurenti Dyogi, Dreamscape Entertainment head Deo Endrinal, and “FPJAP” star, director, and creative director Coco Martin in attendance.

It was followed by a story conference where Sharon discussed her upcoming role with Coco and directors Albert Langitan, Kevin de Vela, John Prats, and Malu Sevilla.

News about the Megastar’s addition to the cast has been one of the most talked about and most anticipated by Kapamilya fans especially since the show has featured hundreds of stars in the last six years.

It is also one of the biggest highlights in the show’s anniversary celebration as it continues to deliver top-quality entertainment and important values and lessons, such as love for family and community, to every Filipino home around the world.

What will the Megastar’s role be? Will she be Cardo’s (Coco) friend or foe?

“FPJ’s Ang Probinsyano” continues to achieve milestones in its sixth year as it became the first Filipino teleserye to livestream on YouTube, where it repeatedly smashed its own live viewership record, peaking at 162,831 concurrent viewers. Through the years, “FPJ’s Ang Probinsyano” and its stars have also received over 100 awards from various award-giving bodies. The legendary show has also enjoyed success overseas as it seen in other countries via Netflix and The Filipino Channel and its TV broadcast in Vietnam, Myanmar, Laos, Thailand, and 41 countries in Africa.

Watch out for Megastar Sharon Cuneta in “FPJ’s Ang Probinsyano,” weeknights on Kapamilya Channel, A2Z, TV5, CineMo, Kapamilya Online Live on ABS-CBN Entertainment’s YouTube channel and Facebook page, iWantTFC, WeTV, and iflix. Viewers who use any digital TV box at home such as the TVplus box only need to rescan their device to be able to watch “FPJ’s Ang Probinsyano” on TV5 and A2Z. For viewers outside of the Philippines, catch it on The Filipino Channel on cable and IPTV.

For updates, follow @abscbnpr on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and TikTok

“Mpowered” Maymay to stage first digital concert on November 26

With special guests AC, Darren, Mimiyuuuh, and Nyoy

Fresh from the success of her “Amakabogera” single and music video now with almost 1 million views on YouTube, Maymay Entrata returns to the concert stage more confident than ever in “Mpowered,” a digital spectacle streaming on November 26 (Friday) via KTX.ph, iWantTFC, and TFC IPTV.

Happening in celebration of her fifth year in the entertainment industry, Maymay’s first-ever solo virtual concert will showcase her growth as a versatile singer-performer who is now fully embracing her uniqueness with renewed boldness.

The Kapamilya artist shared that she is thrilled for the surprises they have been preparing for the concert, which include never-before-seen production numbers and challenging dance routines. “Maipagmamalaki ko po na labis ang paghahanda namin dito at marami kaming pasabog na ngayon ko lang gagawin,” she said.

Joining Maymay on “Mpowered” are her fellow young artists Darren Espanto and AC Bonifacio, her good friend and social media sensation Mimiyuuuh, and the ‘King of Philippine Acoustic Pop’ Nyoy Volante.

The digital offering produced by ABS-CBN Events follows the success of Maymay’s self-empowering singles “’Di Kawalan” and “Amakabogera,” which will both be part of her upcoming album under ABS-CBN’s Star Pop.

Regular tickets which give viewers access to the main concert are priced at P299. Meanwhile, VIP and SVIP tickets can be purchased at P899 and P1399 respectively, which comes with a special Zoom after party admission with Maymay and hosts DJ Jhai Ho and Edward Barber.

Be “Mpowered” with Maymay and watch her digital concert, streaming worldwide on November 26 (Friday) at 8:30 PM (PHT), with a rerun the next day (November 27) at 10 AM (PHT) via KTX.ph, iWantTFC, and TFC IPTV.

Shopee excites shoppers and uplifts businesses with new record of over 2 billion items sold across 11.11 Big Christmas Sale

Local sellers saw a massive boost, with orders surging 18 times for those

taking part in the sale for the first time

Shopee, the leading e-commerce platform in Southeast Asia and Taiwan, sets two new records at the year’s largest shopping festival, 11.11 Big Christmas Sale. With a huge array of irresistible deals, shoppers across the region bought over 2 billion items across the festival period, smashing its previous record in 2020. Excitement peaked on November 11, with visits spiking 5.5 times in the first two hours compared to an average day.

Martin Yu, Director at Shopee Philippines, said, “It brings us great joy to see the impact of our 11.11 Big Christmas Sale on shoppers, businesses, and our local communities. The digital economy continues to present many opportunities for growth, and we want to enable more people to benefit from this growth by increasing e-commerce adoption and helping more consumers and businesses go online. At the same time, we are humbled that we can use our platform to give back to the wider community and support those in need. We look forward to creating more impact for our users in the months ahead.”

Helping more shoppers access, benefit from the digital economy

11.11 Big Christmas Sale encouraged more people to access and enjoy the benefits of online shopping, particularly those outside major cities where digital awareness has been relatively lower. This resulted in an 5-time increase^[1] in the number of shoppers from rural and smaller towns, who were able to enjoy the convenience of accessing a wider variety of products on Shopee.

Beyond convenience, the 11.11 Big Christmas Sale also brought shoppers and businesses closer together. More than 3.5 billion messages were sent on the in-app Shopee Chat on November 11, as shoppers were able to interact live with sellers and get more information prior to making their purchases.

As a secure and seamless mobile wallet, ShopeePay continued to accelerate adoption of digital payments at the 11.11 Big Christmas Sale. Across the region, more shoppers used ShopeePay to pay for their Shopee orders seamlessly, especially outside big cities where ShopeePay transactions grew 9 times from an average day.

Creating a record boost for businesses of all sizes

For businesses in the region, the 11.11 Big Christmas Sale was a springboard for growth and recovery. Local sellers benefited from the spike in shopping activity, as those joining 11.11 for the first time saw their orders surge 18 times compared to an average day.

Additionally, Shopee Mall continued to attract many shoppers who were drawn to the attractive discounts and exclusive deals from their favorite brands.

11.11 Big Christmas Sale highlights in the Philippines

●       More shoppers from outside the metro: South Luzon saw the most orders in the whole country, followed by Metro Manila.

●      Shoppers buy everything on Shopee: Filipinos were eagerly anticipating the unbeatable deals at the 11.11 Big Christmas Sale to meet all their needs, from branded items to daily household essentials. A user in Quezon City spent over ₱466,000 in a single order, buying motorcycle parts, electric tools, game consoles, smartphones, and tablets.

○       Shopee remains the preferred one-stop shop for home decor, essentials, and more: Shopee continues to provide a wide assortment of products at the best prices. At the 11.11 Big Christmas Sale, more Filipinos bought Home & Living, Health & Personal Care, and Women's Apparel products. Filipinos have consistently prioritized health essentials and home decor during Shopee’s past sales, and the 11.11 Big Christmas Sale was no different as shoppers stocked up on face masks with over 3 million items sold, and took the time to spruce up their home for the holidays with over 800,000 wallpapers sold.

○       Shoppers take advantage of deals from their favorite brands on Shopee Mall: Filipino favorites such as Uni-Care, Unilever Beauty, Xiaomi, NIVEA, and INSPI received the most orders from shoppers during the 11.11 Big Christmas Sale. 

●       Shoppers found endless fun and joy throughout 11.11 Big Christmas Sale: Live streaming continued to be a core part of the online shopping experience. 5 million hours of live streams were watched on Shopee Live, as users connected with sellers and caught NCT 127 and other top stars live on Shopee. Over 270 million plays were recorded on Shopee Prizes in the Philippines, as users enjoyed more fun and rewards at 11.11.

●       ShopeePay brings more rewards to users, serves more payment needs: This 11.11, more shoppers used ShopeePay for greater convenience, security, and value.

○       Seamless payments both online and offline with ‘Deals near Me’: Through ‘Deals near Me,’ Shopee’s location-based feature, shoppers discovered the best deals offered by merchants nearby and showed their support with over 1.2 million offline payment vouchers claimed.

○       Meeting all payment needs with ShopeePay: ShopeePay has also become more deeply integrated with users’ lifestyles by serving multiple payment needs, including bills and tax payments. During 11.11,  almost 100,000 users used ShopeePay to make their utility bill payments, benefitting from rewards in the form of cashbacks.

Shop from the 11.11 Big Christmas Sale: https://shopee.ph/m/christmas-sale

Download Shopee for free on the App Store or Google Play Store.

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^[1] Compared to an average day

Former PRSP Academic Scholar in PLM leads student programs of PRSP and IABC and joins PRCA APAC’s Next Gen PR World Cup Jury and CIPR International Committee

From an academic scholar of public relations to a thought leader in the communications field, award-winning communications practitioner and COMCO Southeast Asia’s Regional Integration & Chief Executive Director, Partner and Co-Founder Ferdinand L. Bondoy has been appointed to lead the industry’s student programs – the Students’ PR Congress (rebranded to Students’ PR Con) and Grand Prix (Hack Sprint edition) of the Public Relations Society of the Philippines (PRSP) and the Student Quill Awards of the International Association of Business Communicators (IABC) Philippines.

COMCO Southeast Asia’s Regional Integration and Chief Executive Director Ferdinand L. Bondoy together with some of the graduates of Camp COMCO Mentorship Program

Mr. Bondoy also served as one of the regional jurors of the ICCO (International Communications Consultancy Organization) Next Generation PR World Cup. The Southeast Asian leg of the competition for young PR practitioners was organized by the Public Relations and Communications Association Asia Pacific (PRCA APAC). He was also elected as a member of the United Kingdom based Chartered Institute of Public Relations (CIPR) International Communications Committee composed of PR leaders from across the world - Europe, the Americas, Asia and Africa.

Ferdinand Bondoy

Ferdinand Bondoy has also been elected to the IABC Philippines’ Board of Trustees for 2021 to 2023. He was named as Corporate Secretary and Chair of Digital Communications and Public Relations Committee. He is also serving as the Co-Chair of the Philippine Student Quill Awards and is spearheading a special project for youth and students. Those who want to participate in the Philippine Student Quill Awards can submit their entries at www.philquill.com.

Earlier in 2021, Mr. Bondoy was elected to this year’s Board of Trustees of PRSP. He is also appointed as Chair of the Students’ PR Congress (rebranded to Students’ PR Con) and Grand Prix (Hack Sprint edition) and under his term, he will be introducing and leading the 1st virtual, interactive and nationwide edition of the said student activities. The PRSP Students’ PR Con is happening this November 20, 2021 and interested parties can register at www.prspstudentsprcon.com/register.

Ferdinand started young in the communications field having been an academic scholar of PRSP in Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila (University of the City of Manila) where he graduated Cum Laude with a degree in Bachelor of Mass Communication. In his young professional years, he has been assimilated to IABC Philippines as he led projects for the Digital Communications Committee of the Philippine Quill and Student Quill Awards and eventually serving as an evaluator of the prestigious award-giving body.

“Spearheading the Students’ PR Con and Grand Prix Hack Sprint edition of PRSP and the Student Quill Awards of IABC Philippines is close to my heart as my career and craft started through the industry’s student programs. It is an honor and an opportunity for me to give back to the industry by preparing the next generation of communications and public relations professionals and leaders, just like how I was honed in the field. It has come full circle and I think this is the reason why I was given this position, to complete the narrative that the seed sowed yesterday are the fruits harvested today,” said Mr. Bondoy.

“It is also an honor and a responsibility to represent the country and work for the industry in a global scale through the landmark projects and programs organized by PRCA and CIPR. And we will continue to contribute, be heard and be part of this global community of PR experts and leaders to further grow the discipline across the globe and impact social change.”

In the same spirit of paying it forward, Mr. Bondoy together with COMCO Southeast Asia’s pool of experts, built the Camp COMCO Mentorship Program, an intensive and comprehensive talent incubation initiative, industry linkage course and apprenticeship program designed to transform communication, marketing and multimedia arts students and fresh graduates into revolutionary practitioners of the industry. Now on its 16th Cycle, Camp COMCO has been recognized for producing high-caliber young communications practitioners since 2016. He is also fondly called as “Coach” by those whom he took under his wing and mentored extensively in the practice.

In 2016, Mr. Bondoy co-founded COMCO Southeast Asia, a global award-winning integrated communications agency headquartered in the Philippines with affiliate network presence in Singapore, Thailand, Malaysia, and Indonesia, which champions the practice of the emerging global disciplines of New PR and Smart Social. In just 5 years, the trailblazing communications agency has done groundbreaking work for more than 70 local, regional and international brands including reputable development and humanitarian organizations. Under his leadership, COMCO SEA has been awarded twice as Agency of the Year 2nd Runner-up at the IABC Quill Awards, Best PR Agency - Silver Award at the ASEAN PR Excellence Awards and Finalist for Boutique PR Consultancy of the Year in Asia at Campaign Asia Pacific’s PR Awards Asia, and 85 metals from various local and international award-giving bodies.

COMCO Southeast Asia culminated its Blazing Sapphire 5th anniversary celebration with the launch of COMCO Middle East & Africa and the unveiling of its 10-year growth masterplan which includes the formation of COMCO AOX League of Enterprises, the umbrella organization for the Agency’s existing and upcoming ventures, initiatives and advocacies.

To know more about ComCo Southeast Asia, visit www.comcosea.com. Follow them on social media: facebook.com/comco.southeastasia on Facebook, linkedin.com/company/comco-hq and @comco_sea on both Instagram and Twitter.

Araneta City brings the magic of Christmas to life with Giant Christmas Tree Lighting

The City of Firsts’ Holiday tradition has been alive for 4 decades now

The City of Firsts has officially signaled the beginning of its holiday celebration with the lighting of its iconic Giant Christmas Tree on November 11.

Decked with dazzling lights, colorful ornaments, and glittering tinsels, the Giant Christmas Tree situated at the Times Square Food Park in Araneta City was lit up in a grand celebration attended by local government officials, senior company executives, celebrities, and patrons with the theme ‘Believe in the Magic of Christmas’.

“We made sure to light up our Giant Christmas Tree in time for 11.11, which tradition says is a special date when anything you wish for can come true. It’s also our way of welcoming the return of our guests to the City of Firsts now that quarantine restrictions are starting to loosen up a bit. Even though we’re now welcoming guests of all ages, we’re still making it a point that all of our customers are safe through the health and safety measures that we’ve put in place,” Marjorie Go, AVP for Marketing of Araneta Group, said.

This year’s event highlights a mix of virtual and online celebrity performances and performances, with strict health and safety measures implemented onsite. A pre-show was also held virtually hosted by DJ Onse, and several lucky viewers got to take home some exciting prizes from the virtual games.

This year’s Giant Christmas Tree Lighting event was graced by Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte and prominent stars like Piolo Pascual, Maymay Entrata, AC Bonifacio, and Reiven Umali (Tawag ng Tanghalan 5 Champion). Also present were Ms. Intercontinental 2021 Cinderella Obeñita, Bb. Pilipinas International 2021 Hannah Arnold, Bb. Pilipinas Grand International 2021 Samantha Panlilio, Bb. Pilipinas 2021 First Runner-up Gabrielle Basiano, Bb. Pilipinas 2021 Second Runner-up Meiji Cruz, and Binibining Araneta City 2021 Francesca Taruc.

The lighting of Araneta City’s Giant Christmas Tree has been a fixture of every Filipino Christmas celebration for the past four decades. And as this year’s event carves a year-long milestone in the country, the Araneta Group made sure to celebrate the Giant Christmas Tree spectacle in a big way!

As part of this year’s Christmas celebration, the Araneta Group organized the ‘40 Treats for 40’ program, wherein 40 individuals received special gifts from the company. These individuals are essential workers who worked tirelessly even at the height of the pandemic.

“Despite everything that is happening around us now, we still want all people to Believe in the Magic of Christmas. We in the Araneta Group would like to share this wonderful time with some very special people. We have chosen 40 hardworking essential workers in our community who have shown dedication to their service ever since the pandemic began," Lorna Fabian, Vice President for Leasing of Araneta City, said.

Mrs. Judy Araneta-Roxas, Vice President of the Araneta Group, also extended an early Christmas greeting to everyone who attended the event and watched it unfold online. "Christmas is a magical time. It gives us restored joy and a reason to celebrate even in these trying times. Today, as we light our Giant Christmas tree, we wish everyone to experience the special magic of the holidays.”

A grand fireworks display concluded the event, and signaled the opening of the iconic Giant Christmas tree to the public.

Celebrating Entertainment We Watch! adobo magazine and Facebook Watch look for the best Filipino and Philippine-based publishers and content creators in first-ever adobo Video Fest 2021

Entertainment has definitely gone social and more and more Filipinos search for their favorite videos on Facebook Watch. Which videos merit the most likes, hearts and shares? Pinoys’ digital watching habits continue to soar—but which videos captured their eyes and hearts the most?

Organized by adobo Magazine and presented by Facebook Watch, the first-ever adobo Video Fest 2021 is a festival that celebrates the creators and publishers behind the most original, most addictive, and most creative Pinoy content on Facebook Watch. From mukbang to pranks, dance challenges, unique branded content and more, the adobo Video Fest will recognize, stream and award some of the best video content that have been uploaded to Facebook Watch.

Facebook Watch is the go-to place to discover videos across Facebook and is home to a wide variety of video – from scripted comedy and drama, to competition and reality series, to individual creators and live sports. It is a destination where content, community and conversation come together, with fans joining the conversation by viewing along with others, interacting within show groups, and even connecting directly with creators and talent.

Angel Guerrero, Founder, President, and Editor-in-chief of adobo magazine said, “adobo Video Fest 2021 is the first of its kind and so we, at adobo magazine, are thrilled to be collaborating with Facebook in this feat.”

Revie Sylviana Facebook’s Entertainment Partnerships Director said, “Publishers and content creators build some of the strongest communities on Facebook – from groups composed of enthusiastic fans to video series that develop loyal followings in Watch. Our support of adobo Video Fest 2021 is part of our commitment to support our diverse community of publishers and creators on Facebook who share original, engaging content that Filipinos love and seek out.”

The festival begins with Creative Mobile Video: Masterclasses by Facebook Watch which is a series of three masterclasses that will help both up-and-coming and seasoned content creators harness the power of  Facebook Watch.

Two exciting Edu-tainment Web Sessions will be held by Facebook: “Creators in Covid” web session, where creators from the Philippines are joined by creators from around the region to share their creation journey throughout the pandemic. The next web session "Elevate Video Creative Effectiveness for Brands", is a pioneering program that will help advertisers create high impact campaigns using creative content.

● Setting the Stage for Mobile Content Production – Understanding the FB Platform, on November 8, 2:00 - 3:00pm PHT+

● It’s Shooting Day - Lights, Camera, Audio!, on November 10, 2:00 - 3:00pm PHT+

● The Cutting Room: Post-Production for Mobile Video on November 11, 2:00 - 3:00pm PHT+

● Web Session “Creators in COVID” on November 19, 2:00 - 5:00pm PHT+

● Web Session for Facebook advertisers “Elevate Video Creative Effectiveness for Brands” on Facebook on November 25, 2:00 - 3:00pm PHT+

Register here to reserve a slot.

Over 60 entries will be recognized during the Festival Awards night on December 16, 2021, after a rigorous screening process by a jury comprising some of the best names in entertainment and the creative industry. All eligible publishers and content creators who publish videos on Facebook are invited to join!

Submit your entries!

Entries are now open to Filipino content creators, as well as content creators and publishers residing or operating in the Philippines.

Entering your submission is free! Here's how to enter your video for the adobo Video Fest 2021 presented by Facebook Watch:

VISIT adobo Video Fest presented by FB Watch to access category information, guidelines and entry form

DOWNLOAD the Entry Kit here, or REQUEST for the Entry Kit to be emailed here

CHECK entry eligibility via our Submission Guidelines

SUBMIT your entry and receive a confirmation by email within 48 hours. You may access the FORM here:https://forms.gle/geYnvKTYxaf8fQeEA

Submissions are now open until November 26, 2021.

Join now and together, let’s celebrate the best of the Entertainment We Watch with Facebook Watch.

For any questions, reach out to avf@adobomagazine.com

For Partnerships and Sponsorships: Daisy Torres, daisy.torres@adobomagazine.com, +63917 803 8278

● Open for Entries: Oct 25

● Creative Mobile Video Masterclass 1: November 8 (2:00 - 3:00pm PHT+)

● Creative Mobile Video Masterclass 2: November 10 (2:00 - 3:00pm PHT+)

● Creative Mobile Video Masterclass 3: November 11 (2:00 - 3:00pm PHT+)

● Creators in Covid Web Session: November 19 (2:00 - 5:00pm PHT+)

● Elevate Video Creative Effectiveness for Brands Web Session: November 25 (2:00 - 3:00pm PHT+)

● Deadline of Entries: November 26

● Video Screening: December 13 - 15

● Awards Night: December 16

Smart Padala brings the SENDali experience to Filipinos with its widest and most accessible network of over 60,000 agent touchpoints nationwide!

Wherever you are, sending and receiving money to and from your friends and family is guaranteed to be quick and easy as Smart Padala by PayMaya brings a "SENDali" remittance experience closer to your home with its widest and most accessible network of touchpoints nationwide.

A play between the words send and dali - SENDali promises customers a hassle-free remittance experience with Smart Padala. With this, the leading digital remittance network offers customers the quickest, most convenient, and most accessible way to send and receive padala to and from their loved ones, wherever they may be.

With Smart Padala’s over 60,000 network touchpoints all over the country, sending and receiving remittances is just as easy as heading to your kapitbahay – no need to commute to the city center and spend time in long lines. Wherever you are, you can easily find a Smart Padala agent 4-6 minutes away from you to take care of your remittance transaction - giving you a truly SENDali experience.*

Completing a Smart Padala transaction is easy and can be done in minutes. All you have to do is follow these simple steps:

1. Head to the trusted Smart Padala agent in your neighborhood.
2. Provide the recipient’s name, and mobile number, as well as the funds and transaction fee.  Get ready to take a photo as part of the quick registration process. (Available for transactions not exceeding P5,000 per month)
3. Wait to receive a text message confirmation with the claim reference number. 

Making this experience so much easier is Smart Padala’s Claim Anywhere service which allows your recipient to claim the remittance from anywhere in the country. With this new and improved process, you no longer need to provide the 16-digit Smart Padala number of the specific agent where your padala will be received. Just provide the recipient's name and mobile number, and they can already pick-up the remittance at ANY Smart Padala agent nationwide!

With this, not only is the sending experience so much easier with Smart Padala, receiving funds from their loved ones is also more convenient for the recipients as they only need to go to a Smart Padala agent, minutes away from their home.

There are so many other ways Smart Padala brings a SENDali experience to your remittance transactions! You can also opt to send money to your friends and family from your PayMaya account, to be claimed straight at a Smart Padala agent near them. If you’re abroad, your loved ones can also claim their Western Union remittance at select Smart Padala agents nationwide for a hassle-free transaction.

Smart Padala agents are present in 92% of the cities and municipalities across the country and are accessible within minutes in your barangay. With this, it's now easier than ever to send money to your friends and family, and make them feel your love, even miles away from home.

PayMaya is the only end-to-end digital payments ecosystem enabler in the Philippines, with platforms and services that cut across consumers, merchants, communities, and government.    

It provides more than 38 million Filipinos access to financial services through its consumer platforms. Customers can conveniently pay, add money, cash out or remit through its over 300,000 digital touchpoints nationwide. Its Smart Padala by PayMaya network of over 60,000 partner agent touchpoints serves as last-mile digital financial hubs in communities, providing the unbanked and underserved access to digital services. Through its enterprise business, it is the largest digital payments processor for key industries in the country, including "every day" merchants such as the largest retail, food, gas, and eCommerce merchants, as well as government agencies and units.      

To know more about PayMaya's products and services, visit www.PayMaya.com or follow @PayMayaOfficial on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. For more information on Smart Padala, visit https://smartpadala.ph/  

*Based on a study conducted by Z-Lift Solutions on behalf of PayMaya on the network of Smart Padala agents nationwide. Data on the locations were provided by PayMaya and collected through external publicly available sources throughout the 1st and 2nd weeks of October 2021.

Filipino rapper Kiyo expresses gratitude for the simple joys of life on new song “Harana Sa Sarili”

The acclaimed hip-hop artist also celebrates his birth month with the announcement of his debut album and digital concert happening this November

Prolific rapper Kiyo finds value in celebrating the simple joys of living on the new single “Harana Sa Sarili”—out today on November 12, Friday via all digital music platforms worldwide.

Waxing poetic about self-worth, the Filipino hip-hop artist expresses gratitude for surviving life’s harshest challenges and being able to give back to supporters who have been with him throughout his musical journey.

“Minsan nakakalimutan natin magpasalamat sa sarili natin, nakakalimutan natin yung mga maliliit na bagay na dapat natin ikatuwa (We rarely thank ourselves and the small things that give us joy),” the Navotas City-born artist said in a statement. “Masaya lang ako na nandito pa ako. Kaya nasulat ko yung kanta na yan (I’m just happy and contented to be here. This spark of life inspired me to write the song).”

Exploring smooth, lo-fi sounds with colorful production, Kiyo thrives in the realm of optimism and earnestness, revealing bits and pieces of his personal life to rousing effect. On “Harana Sa Sarili,” he rises above the clutter with endearingly laid-back energy and sunny disposition and spits verses that are uniquely in touch with himself.

“Masyado tong bouncy kesa sa mga naunang mas chill ko na tracks (Compared to my previous ‘chill’ tracks, this one has a lot more bounce to it),” Kiyo describes his latest song. “Uplifting yung mood niya pero yung lyrics kabaliktaran (The mood is uplifting, but the words say otherwise).”

“Harana Sa Sarili” will be part of Kiyo’s highly anticipated debut album, Haranasa: Sa’yo at Sa Akin, which is slated to drop on November 26 (Friday) at 12 midnight.

Featuring collaborations with some of his trusted pals in the industry like YZKK, Shortone, and Space Moses—to name a few, the upcoming 15-track record will be accompanied with a free digital concert on the same day.

According to the acclaimed rapper and producer, the new album is confident in its unraveling of his own humanity and sense of time, and the many layers and intricacies that define him. Haranasa: Sa’yo at Sa Akin also functions as an ode to love in its many forms, including but not limited to love for people, friends, family, partner, and self.

With more than 60 million streams on Spotify in his third year as a solo hip-hop artist and countless of landmark inclusions on major hip-hop playlists across various digital platforms, Kiyo is set to break new grounds with the arrival of his debut album to be released soon via Dyecast Ent.

Kiyo’s new single “Harana Sa Sarili” is out now on all streaming platforms worldwide.

Say goodbye to acne and spots with Careline Skin Acne Drying Lotion

Careline Skin Acne Drying Lotion helps get rid of acne overnight

We've all been there – we get pimples, whether they're due to stress, poor diet or from constantly wearing face masks. Because we all want clear skin, we want to immediately get rid of that pimple which often lasts for several agonizing days.

Now, here’s a fast and easy way to get rid of pimples. New Careline Skin Acne Drying Lotion is your new skincare buddy for addressing your acne problems. It is formulated with Calamine that prevents and dries pimples, and sulfur to exfoliate, unclog pores and clear away dead skin cells. It also contains Salicylic Acid so you won’t have to worry about redness and inflammation of your skin. Perfect and safe for growing teenagers and for those who have acne-prone skin!

To achieve that smooth and flawless skin, keep this Careline Skin Acne Drying Lotion on hand. In applying, you must remember not to shake the container. Dip a clean cotton swab up to the bottom then gently apply on the affected area with active pimples. Let it dry, leave on overnight and wake up with a pimple-free skin!

No need to worry about acne breakouts with Careline Skin Acne Drying Lotion (PhP 275). Available on Careline’s official store in Lazada (bit.ly/CarelineLazada) and Shopee (bit.ly/CarelineShopeeStore) and in leading supermarkets, groceries, and department stores nationwide.

For more updates, visit and follow Careline official page on Facebook (@CarelineCosmetics) and Instagram (@carelineph).

Shop na DITO this 11.11!

DITO Telecommunity celebrates the biggest sale of the year this 11.11 with amazing deals available exclusively for shoppers on Lazada and Shopee. Whether switching to a DITO SIM or topping up, customers will enjoy discounts and freebies when they buy DITO products online.

15% off DITO SIM Bundles

Mobile users who will order DITO SIM Bundles during the promo period will enjoy 15% off their purchases, with the 25GB SIM at only P169 and the 13GB SIM for just P126. Both bundles come with free calls and texts to all networks, unlimited DITO-to-DITO calls and texts, and high-speed data valid for 30 days. Customers can also redeem a P30 voucher with a minimum P99 purchase. All purchases from the official DITO Telecommunity page qualify for free delivery.

Dami ng freebies DITO!

Aside from the exclusive discounts, DITO is giving away merchandise to lucky 11.11 shoppers.

Customers who order the DITO SIM Bundles will get a chance to win limited edition DITO face masks and power banks.  The first 150 customers from Shopee will receive DITO face masks together with their orders, while there will be 15 lucky winners for each of the power banks.

The first 500 DITO subscribers who will top up for a minimum P100 e-load on Shopee will also get a free DITO face mask. There will be 10 lucky winners of free P1,000 DITO load.

For more details about the 11.11 promos, visit the DITO Telecommunity Facebook page. To check the list of DITO-compatible phones and their area coverage, go to DITO.ph.

‘TIS THE SEASON TO BE JOLLY: CELEBRATE 11.11 WITH CHERRY! Catch This One-Day Sale at Shopee and Lazada on November 11, 2021

Your festive Christmas setup can’t be complete without gifts underneath your tree. Avoid the holiday rush and take the chance to load up your online cart with your favorite CHERRY products at great deals and discounts, only at Shopee and Lazada this November 11, 2021.

Tick off your wish list starting with products from Cherry Mobile. Here are just a few that you can score:

Make someone’s Yuletide celebration extra memorable with Cherry Mobile’s newest smartphone, the Cherry Mobile Aqua S10 Pro. This one’s perfect for capturing the magic of the holidays with its Quad AI Camera, boasting of 48MP (Main) + 5MP (Wide-Angle) + 2MP (Macro) + 2MP (Depth) cameras, and a 16MP Front Camera. Also sure to thrill rising mobile gamers and busy bees, this has 6GB RAM and Mediatek Helio G90 chipset. All these features and more plus FREE tempered glass, jelly case, game controller, and bluetooth speaker for only P7,999. You should also catch the Limited Offer from 12MN-2AM of November 11, 2021 to get additional freebies like wireless charger and Helo LX Fitness Band.

Also grab the chance to get the Cherry Mobile Aqua Infinity with FREE Flare Watch and Bluetooth Speaker for just P5,199 from P7,999. This makes a great treat for multitaskers with its massive 8GB RAM and 128GB ROM that is expandable to up to 256GB via micro SD card.

Chic and sophisticated, the Cherry Mobile Flare S8 Prime is yours for only P3,999 from P6,999. Apart from its glossy finish and ombre tone, there’s more to it with its 16MP + 5MP Dual Rear & 16MP Pop-up Front Cameras.

A self-confessed fashionista? Make sure you don’t miss out on the current style staple, the Love Marie Collection Cherry Ion that comes with FREE Extra Lanyard for only P2,500 from P4,000. Not only will this essential elevate your everyday look but would also give you extra protection as it emits up to 200 million/cm3 negative ions (healthy anions), shielding you from germs, airborne viruses, dusts, and molds in the air.

Looking for more? Pile up your gift stash with these products from Cherry Home:

Rain or shine, make sure your footwear are protected with the Cherry x Deerma Multi-Function Shoe Dryer which you can bring home for just P1,299 from P2,990. It has a retractable hose for deep drying and even has an anti-bacterial feature to help you avoid foul odor.

A certified homebody? Here’s another device that’s truly budol-worthy. The Cherry x Deerma VC20 Cordless Vacuum Cleaner can help you keep all spots and corners of your home free from dirt for as low as P2,999 from P5,390. It has multiple and interchangeable brush heads and is equipped with 2200mAh built-in battery, making it a versatile cleaning must-have.

Getting ready for a scrumptious holiday feast? Worry not as the Cherry Digital Air Fryer will help you with your preparation of mouthwatering and healthy dishes. Get this for only P2,999 from P3,990. It’s relatively large capacity of 4.5L will make room for bigger servings plus its healthy frying feature will allow you to cook food with up to 80% less fat. Not only that, its digital touch convenience offers utter convenience, truly a hassle-free Yuletide celebration is just within your reach.

You can also score Avita Essential 14” for as low as P15,000 from P16,000.

More Cherry Mobile and Cherry Home products are included in the sale so make sure to check them out on November 11, 2021 at:

Shopee: https://shopee.ph/cherryhomeph

https://shopee.ph/cherrymobileph

Lazada: https://www.lazada.com.ph/shop/cherry-home/

The G-Guide: Your Ultimate Guide For GLife’s Wanderful Week

More and more merchants that fit the lifestyle you want to live; wander the world of GLife and enjoy limited time deals right in your GCash app!

Missing out on the thrill of travelling? GCash is here to show you that life can still be G, with GLife! Relive your favorite places, tastes and experiences when you shop for brands you love at discounts that will make your heart skip a beat this Wanderful Week, happening November 8-12 all inside your GCash app.

Here's the Ultimate G-Guide to help with coming out of that pandemic burnout and rediscovering your old (or new) self with a renewed sense of joy, one refreshing deal and exciting merchant at a time.

Five whole days of promos, treats, and goodies, from all the merchants that'll make you excited about life again! From food & drinks, to retail & essentials, home improvements, tech, and gaming, you can conveniently shop right in your GCash app!

GLife Wanderful Week Rundown

Day 1: Town of Feasts

Fight those Monday blues by taking a trip down the Town of Feasts with feel-good food and drinks in every corner. Kick off the brand new day and save P120 with an Exclusive Bundle of a Medium Mocha Froccino + 2 Cookies from Bo’s Coffee for only P350 or up to 20% OFF storewide from Dream Coffee. Whip up your own feast with 10% OFF on Ilocos Best and 50% OFF on the Citrus Bundle from Mayani. Treat yourself to an afternoon pick me up with up to 20% OFF on Gong Cha from Nov 8-11 and Buy 1 Get 1 of the same kind on Nov 12.

Day 2: Valley of Wellness

To be better prepared for the next normal, take bigger steps in your journey to better health in the Valley of Wellness by getting healthy from the inside with promo prices for Collection Cups and Party Sets all under P1000 from Go! Salads, up to 60% OFF and no minimum spend on Mediclick, and 10% OFF on all items on Healthmart available to all customers nationwide with no minimum spend and no maximum use. Don’t forget to take a breather once in a while. Feel relaxed and recharged while keeping your space clean and sanitized with FREE 50ML Lavender Mint Alcohol for every purchase of 5ML Lavender Mint Alcohol from Joy In A Bottle (maximum 3 per user and valid for all GCash users nationwide).

Day 3: City of Comfort

This time of coping has definitely highlighted the big role that self-care plays in keeping one’s self sane while trying to stay safe. In the City of Comfort, GLife makes sure to accommodate you with all that extra TLC. Pamper yourself and take a breather with up to P1,800 OFF on selected items from HairMNL, storewide free shipping and free shipping for orders P799 and above from Fully Booked. And for those home makeover enthusiasts out there, it’s not too late to invest in your dream home upgrades with up to 25% OFF on select services from Gawin, 15% OFF storewide with no minimum spend from Object Depot, major discounts & savings on innovative must-haves from Concepstore, and up to 80% OFF on select items plus P200 OFF with a minimum spend of P3,000 from All Home.

Day 4: Marketplace of Goodies

Stroll down the Marketplace of Goodies for all your great finds on GLife. Enjoy storewide 7.5% OFF no minimum spend on Communimart, 7% OFF on Puerto De Indias on Liquor PH, and up to 40% OFF on awesome items from Sijang Mart that A.R.M.Y. besties and samgyup stans will surely love including P158 OFF for BTS Coffee flavors, P200 OFF for BTS Lemona 20 sticks, 30% OFF on 1kg of Home Made Kimchi and 500g of USDA Beef Short Plate with no minimum spend. You can also get something for your precious fur babies to add to your goodie haul with 10% off storewide on Petmart, valid for nationwide customers with no maximum use.

Day 5: Kingdom of Games

Top off the week with a good dose of recreation courtesy of HobbyCorner with 20% OFF cashback for a min. spend of P500, 30% OFF + 5% OFF voucher plus a storewide 5% OFF on top of on top of the 40% OFF on discounted items from JBL, and up to 70% OFF on selected SKUs from Cherry.

All of these you can easily access right in your GCash app. If you don’t have the app yet, you can download it via The App Store or Google Play and easily register your number! 

Unlock your super life today with GLife.