Kathryn and Alden's ‘Hello, Love, Again’ sets PH box office record with P85m on opening day

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The highly anticipated "Hello, Love, Again" earned a smashing box office records of 85 million, making the highest first-day grossing local film in Philippine cinema history.

Bringing joy back to the big screen, Hello, Love, Again, the highly anticipated Filipino film starring Kathryn Bernardo and Alden Richards, has set a new box office record as the highest first-day grossing local film in the Philippines, earning over P85 million on its Nov. 13 opening.

The sequel to the blockbuster Hello, Love, Goodbye, directed by Cathy Garcia-Sampana, is showing in over 600 cinemas nationwide and will also be screened in over 400 cinemas abroad this month.

Thousands gathered for midnight screenings last Wednesday across 70 cinemas nationwide to follow the story of Joy (Kathryn) and Ethan (Alden) in Canada.

Kathryn expressed hope that moviegoers would feel the love while watching Hello, Love, Again.

“Just like what Direk Cathy said, ang pangako lang namin sa inyo sa pelikulang ito, puso ang ibibigay namin. So I hope after watching this film, ‘yun ang maramdaman niyo ‘di lang kay Joy and Ethan kungdi dahil sa buong pelikula,” she said.

Alden shared his gratitude for the overwhelming public support and excitement.

“Maraming salamat sa mga excited mapanood muli ang kwento ni Joy at Ethan. Napakasaya namin, and we’re very proud of this film. We’re very excited for you guys to see it,” he said.

A co-production of ABS-CBN’s Star Cinema and GMA Pictures, Hello, Love, Again also stars Joross Gamboa, Valerie Concepcion, Jennica Garcia, Kevin Kreider, Jobert Austria, Mark Labella, Marvin Aritrangco, Ruby Rodriguez, and many more.

The film held its premiere night on Tuesday, Nov. 12, at three cinemas in SM Megamall, attended by fans, Kapamilya and Kapuso stars, the cast’s family and friends, and ABS-CBN and GMA officials.

On its second day, the film earned 155 million at the tills and is now available in more than 1000 screens nationwide.

Several topics related to the film trended on X following the premiere, including #HLATheWorldPremiere, Kathryn as Joy is Back, Alden at HLAxPremiere, Hello Again Ethan and Joy, and #HelloLoveAgain.

World's Thinnest Foldable Phone HONOR Magic V2 Now Available, HONOR Opens New Experience Store at SM Megamall Cyberzone

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HONOR, the leading smart devices provider in the Philippines, continues to expand all over in the country as it opens its latest HONOR Experience Store at the heart of the Metro, in SM Megamall. Today also marks the First Day Sale of the highly-anticipated HONOR Magic V2, dubbed as The World’s Thinnest Foldable Phone available in the market, currently priced at Php 79,999.

HONOR Star Pauline Amelinckx, Wide Solutions Area Manager Ray Mark Chavez, SM Megamall Assistant Manager Isabella Manjon, HONOR Philippines Brand Marketing Manager Joepy Libo-on, HONOR Philippines GTM Manager Steven Yan, and HONOR Philippines PR Manager Pao Oga

“Given the pricepoint of the HONOR Magic V2, we are highly surprised with the amount of queries we have gotten since its launch just this February 21, but even more so with its offline and online pre-order performance. We’re taking this not only as an indication of HONOR’s promising growth in the forseeable future, but also as a sign of our HONOR fan’s continuous and unwavering support for the brand – and this encourages us to make our services more accessible to many more Filipinos,” said Stephen Cheng, HONOR Philippines Vice President.

HONOR Magic V2 now available for Php 79,999

Officiated by HONOR Philippines GTM Manager Steven Yan, PR Manager Pao Oga, Brand Marketing Manager Joepy Libo-on, together with Wide Solutions Inc. Area Manager Ray Mark Chavez, and SM Megamall Assistant Manager Isabella Manjon, this Grand Opening signifies yet another success for the tech giant.

HONOR community and fans were able to see the industry-leading specs of The World’s Thinnest Foldable Phone, the HONOR Magic V2, through a series of tests initiated by HONOR Star, Pauline Amelincx, and HONOR Brand Marketing Manager, Joepy Libo-on.

Consumers can now Experience Magic Beyond the Galaxy with The Thinnest Foldable Phone for only Php 79,999. Equipped with cutting-edge specs ranging from its 5000mAh HONOR Silicon-Carbon Dual Batteries, SGS 5-star certified fold durability of up to 400,000 folds, and its exceptional 9.9 mm-thin folded thickness, HONOR Magic V2 ensures outstanding performance befitting even the most exquisite lifestyles.

Available in Purple and Midnight Black, HONOR Magic V2 can be purchased through selected HONOR Experience Stores, and via Shopee (https://bit.ly/Shop_V2_PR), Lazada (https://bit.ly/Laz_V2_PR), and TikTok Shop (https://bit.ly/TikTok_V2_PR).

HONOR 3.3 Mega Sale is Coming Your Way!

Shop for your favorite HONOR devices and enjoy up to 50% discount on top of Exclusive Vouchers and Freebies from March 1 to 15, 2024 via Shopee (https://bit.ly/HONOR_Shop33Sale_PR), Lazada (https://bit.ly/HONOR_Laz33Sale_PR), and TikTok Shop (https://bit.ly/HONOR_TikTok33Sale_PR)! Get the HONOR Magic5 Pro for only Php 49,990; HONOR X9a 5G for Php 14,990, HONOR 90 Lite 5G for Php 10,990; and HONOR X8a for only Php 7,990!

For more exciting announcements, head on to HONOR Philippines’ social media platforms: Facebook (Facebook.com/HonorPhilippines), Instagram (Instagram.com/honorph/) and TikTok Shop: (Tiktok.com/@honorphilippines). To check out HONOR’s complete list of retail stores, go to https://www.hihonor.com/ph/retailers/.

Kwentoon Fest happens this July at the SM Megatrade Hall

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An event for kids and kids at heart! Kwentoon Fest happens on July 1-2 at the SM Megatrade Hall. There will be toys, games, comics/manga, and more - the event promises to be 'the Coachella for Pinoy families. 

What to do at Kwentoon Fest? 

GET ACCESS DISCOUNTED TOYS AND MORE

Affordable toys from their partner brands and merchandise sellers.

MEET YOUR FAVORITE PINOY CREATORS 

Artists such as Pol Medina (of Pugad Baboy), Aj Bacara (of Sskait), Ivyree Del Rosario (Little Things PH), and Drew Borja (of Hunghang Flashbacks) will be present at the event, along with over 150 artists.

ATTEND FREE WORKSHOPS

Kwentoon Fest is a fun and educational event for kids where they can learn Animation from Mookie Tamara, who has worked on Big Hero 6: The Series, Ducktales (2017), Oggy and the Cockroaches, and Lackadaisy. 

Aspiring artists can also attend panel talks from Tristan Yuvienco (Character Designer for Disney, Cartoon Network, Dreamworks), Tepai Pascual (Duty Ka Ba Komiks), and Elmer Damaso (Titan Comics, Robotech), who will share their insights about the creative industry as well as character design, storytelling, and manga creation.

THE FIRST PHILIPPINE CONTENT FOR CHILDREN AWARDS

One of Kwentoon’s major advocacy is to promote content for kids and teens. Thus, outstanding works from their intensive Visual Storytelling training shall be awarded.

GAMES

Jack En Poy Competition Yes, you heard that right! Join the Jack En Poy Competition and win a cash prize (₱ 500). Open for participants from 15 and above. 

Games: Mobile Legends Who said mobile games are just for kids? Dads, Moms, Titos/Titas (MPT) are invited to compete in the first MPT Mobile Legends Competition.

Kwentoon Festival will happen on July 1-2 at the SM MEGA TRADE HALL 3 for any inquiries on how to join this event. 

Visit Kwentoon.com and their Facebook for more information. Tickets are ₱150 each, and kids 12 years old and below are FREE.

Kwentoon - Mga kwentong Cartoon atbp. for kids and kids at heart

Renaissance XX: Two Decades of Driven Art Direction at SM Megamall Art Center, June 3-28

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RENAISSANCE XX, a month-long celebration at the Art Center, SM Megamall 4/L Bldg. A with a collective presentation of the recent works of artists who have previously exhibited in the gallery, either in solo or group shows.

Way back in 2003, a new gallery introduced itself to the Philippine art scene. Christened with the engaging and appropriate name Renaissance – the French word meaning rebirth – the gallery was the brainchild of Manuel and Agnes Romero.

Instantly evoking the names of Michelangelo and Leonardo da Vinci, Renaissance art was a period in European civilization distinguished by Classical learning and wisdom.

Inspired by the original Renaissance, the Romero couple envisioned the revival of the classical version of Philippine modernism in the visual arts, now to be spearheaded by a young emerging generation of Filipino modernist and contemporary artists.

For the next two decades, this avowed mission has been consistently fulfilled, as testified and exemplified by the young artists nurtured by the Renaissance Art Gallery who have all since made their mark in the Philippine art scene.

In celebration of this exemplary achievement, the Renaissance Art Gallery is launching RENAISSANCE XX, a month-long celebration at the Art Center, SM Megamall 4/L Bldg. A with a collective presentation of the recent works of artists who have previously exhibited in the gallery, either in solo or group shows.

Participating artists are: Hermes Alegre, Melbourne Aquino, Max Balatbat, Naomi Banal, Bien Benitez, Gil Bien, Benji Bisaya, Remy Boquiren, Arley Carig, Addie Cukingnan, Egai Fernandez, Sonny Fernando, Irish Galon, Richard “Goma” Gomez, Allain Hablo, Helena, Rick Hernandez, Juan Sajid Imao, Malcolm Infante, Josef Laureano, Alice Atienza-Lee, Marlon Magbanua, Sio Montera, Jayson Pettz Muring, Jonathan Olazo, Sam Penaso, Jay Ragma, Cid Reyes, Genesis Rovero, Aner Sebastian, Resty Tica, Jun Tiongco, Valen Valero, Lydia Velasco, Melissa Villaseñor, Meneline Wong, Janice Young, and Orley Ypon.

The working committee behind RENAISSANCE XX is composed of Curator and Founders Manuel and Agnes Romero, Gallery Manager Margaux Oracion, art critic Cid Reyes, publicist Toots Tolentino, and photographer Jojo Colina.

RENAISSANCE XX will be on view until June 28.

A game of bowling with Best Buddies

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For regular shoppers, it may have been just an ordinary afternoon at the mall, but for Vico, 28, it was a special day to spend a few hours enjoying a game of bowling with his friends from Best Buddies Philippines. The group of friends were at the mall, with other pairs of best friends, for a friendly bowling tournament organized by Best Buddies, a nonprofit organization dedicated to establishing a global volunteer movement for one-to-one friendships and inclusive opportunities for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD).

Best Buddies’ Vico Cham (2nd from right) with (from left) Akio Kawachi, Ralen Tupaz, Ian Borleo, Ryan Poblete, Sachin Mohnani, Nyssa Uy Kua, Gian Mendoza,April Paligsa and his mother Cathy Cham who joined Best Buddies Bowling Game event at SM Megamall Bowling Center.

Photo by Kayla Paligsa

The activity is one of the many initiatives organized by Best Buddies, in partnership with SM Cares, the corporate social responsibility arm of SM Prime Holdings Inc. During the event, individuals with IDD like Vico, had a fun afternoon hanging out with their Peer Buddies volunteers who committed to spend time, have fun activities, communicate on a regular basis and enrich their lives through friendships with individuals like Vico. 

Catherine Cham, mother of Vico, said that events like the Best Buddies Bowling Game give her son an avenue to socialize and feel he is a regular part of a group. She is very thankful for Best Buddies which she said helped her find a best buddy for Vico.

“His peer buddy is Buboy Palomares. They’ve been friends for 4 years. They used to jog regularly twice a month or watch a movie. They also engage in group activities. With Buboy, Vico was able to find a friend whom he would text regularly. It is really important for parents because it’s really not easy to entrust your child to somebody.” 

“We are very thankful for the support that we have received from our volunteers and sponsors,” exclaims Michelle Aventajado, executive director of Best Buddies Philippines. “Events like these strengthen the friendship between volunteers and individuals with IDD. It’s a great opportunity to promote inclusion, have fun, and enrich the lives of everyone involved in the Best Buddies program.” 

For SM Cares, the event is another opportunity to support and give back to the community. “At SM, we believe that establishing good relations can positively affect and inspire those with special needs. We strive to make every SM Mall, a mall for all, and by supporting activities such as this, everyone can enjoy the same fun and leisure in SM, as anyone would do,” said Engr. Bien Mateo, program director of SM Cares Program on PWDs. 

Best Buddies Philippines is looking into partnering with private entities like SM who can support them in their advocacy and their other programs. It also aims to widen its scope in the next 5 years by establishing Friendship Chapters in more schools nationwide.

To know more about Best Buddies Philippines you may visit www.bestbuddiesphilippines.com, https://www.facebook.com/BestBuddiesPhilippines/, or send an e-mail to bestbuddiesmanila@gmail.com.

To know more about SM Cares, you may visit www.smcares.com.ph, www.facebook.com/OfficialSMCares, or send an e-mail to smcares@smsupermalls.com.

An #AweSM "Sweet 60" Weekend Party at SM Megamall

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Turning 60 has never been sweeter as SM celebrates an #AweSM "Sweet 60" with a fun and sweet weekend party at SM Megamall on May 25, 2018 as SM treats valued shoppers with tons of sweet treats, fun deals, and visual delights from May 25 - 27.

The “Sweet 60” activity area features an interactive play experience, where shoppers can immerse themselves in a fantastic wonderland colors and desserts. In partnership with Boysen, Fruits In Ice Cream, The Dessert Museum, and the Lost Bread – Sm Megamall’s #AweSM Weekend Party is an Instagram wonderland where you can splurge on dessert treats and freebies, and snap photos at different activity stations.

Sm Supermalls Chief Operating Officer, Steven Tan said, “For six decades, every kind of celebration and family fun bonding has happened in an SM mall. This time, we are bringing unique, over-the-top experiences we know that will truly delight our shoppers. This is also our way of saying Thank You to our loyal shoppers for making SM a part of their families through the years”.

 

 

As part of the #AweSM weekend, there was a giant logo projection mapping show at SM Megamall’s facade along EDSA, and a relaunch of SM’s “We’ve Got It All Jingle”, sang by Ramonne Rodriquez of The Voice. SM Woman Divas, Frenchie Dy, Radha and Bituin Escalante and SM Little Stars Annatacia Penny and NU Pep Squad performed.

Customers can also indulge in fun summer eats and dining deals in SM malls across the country during the weekend and enjoy exciting promos that celebrates the number 60 – Pay only P60, Pay P60 less, or Pay only 60%!

The 60th year celebration is an exciting culmination of SM’s humble beginnings from its first shore store in Carriedo, Manila, opened by Henry Sy, Sr. in 1958. The party started with the #AweSM launch event early in the week that gathered SM’s partners, tenants, celebrities, and valued stakeholders who have been part of SM’s journey from a one-store operation to one of the Southeast Asia’s largest integrated property developers.

Celebrate 60 years of SM! The Sweet 60 activity area will be at Mega Fashion Hall until May 28. 

The Sweet 60 activity area will be at the Mega Atrium from May 29 to June 3, 2018. Don’t forget to use the hashtag #AweSM when posting all your photos!

Popup schedule:
Mega Fashion Hall: May 21-28
Mega Atrium: May 29 - June 3

For more info about SM’s #AweSM 60 years, visit SM Supermalls Facebook page (@smsupermalls) or check out www.smsupermalls.com.

OPPO’s 160th Concept Store in SM Megamall opens , OPPO F5 Youth leads the selfie generation at Php13,990

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OPPO, the Selfie Expert, just unveiled the new OPPO F5 Youth designed to be the newest selfie-centric smartphone for the young and enthusiastic people. Now that selfies are considered to be a significant factor in social media, OPPO delivers the F5 Youth with its famous A.I. Beauty Technology, Speedy Facial Unlock, and a 6” FHD+ (2160x1080) Full Screen Display, all for the price of Php13,990.

Flagship experience: Speedy Facial Unlock, A.I. Beauty Selfie and Full Screen display at an   affordable price

Unveiled at OPPO’s 160th Concept Store in SM Megamall, the F5 Youth puts the spotlight on its young and trendy-centric features. Priced at a more affordable price point, this new smartphone brings more innovative features that Filipinos will surely enjoy.

Flagship features for all

The OPPO F5 Youth carries the same A.I. Beauty Technology front camera as the OPPO F5, which results to natural-looking selfies without the hassle of tweaking your camera settings. Its selfie experience is like no other because it can analyze more than 200 facial recognition spots and determine the subject’s age, gender, skin type, and skin tone. This produces easy and customized selfies for all.

Capture real moments anytime and anywhere with the OPPO F5 Youth’s high quality 16MP A.I. Beauty front camera, accompanied with a 13MP rear camera. Get to see vibrant visuals with its six-inch full-screen of 2160x1080 resolution (FHD+) protected by the latest Corning Gorilla Glass 5.

Unlock the OPPO F5 Youth using the Speedy Facial Unlock feature, providing an easy and convenient access to your smartphone. This feature is also handy as it becomes an option to unlock the phone besides your passcode and the finger print sensor at the back. 

“The new OPPO F5 Youth brings in a new smartphone experience to Filipinos. Its effortless and natural-looking selfies using the A.I. Beauty Technology will surely be loved by all. It’s also one of the most affordable smartphones today equipped with facial unlock feature, making it innovative along with its strong performance and optics,” said Stephen Cheng, OPPO Philippines’ Brand Marketing Manager.

Multitasking for today’s demanding online world

OPPO F5 Youth runs on the latest Color OS 3.2 which opens apps 23.2% faster, accompanied with a strong 2.5GHz Octa-Core CPU and 3GB RAM for everyday applications on-demand. Connectivity will never be a problem since it’s equipped with a tri-slot tray to accommodate two sim cards and a micro-SD card.

Interact with the OPPO F5 Youth’s seamless features and innovative design. The 6-inch full-screen display allows users to get a wider visual perspective of their phone while maintaining the same size of a 5.5” phone. Explore more apps using the split-screen feature and effortlessly manage your tasks throughout the whole day. 

A smartphone for the Youth

Since OPPO has continued to be the preferred brand of the youth, it consistently creates innovations to elevate your usual smartphone experience. The OPPO SM Megamall Concept Store is OPPO’s latest concept store inspired by a modern minimalist and youthful vibe with a spacious store experience. 

The OPPO F5 Youth is now available at all OPPO concept and dealer stores nationwide for Php13,990. It is also available via Home Credit financing at 6 months 0% interest. 

For more exciting updates about the OPPO F5 Youth, make sure to tune in to OPPO Philippines’ Official Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/OPPOPH/

Acer Ph makes partnership with Kita Kita stars Alessandra De Rossi and Empoy, and Fashion Brand Salvatore Mann for its SM's Pre-Holiday Promo

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The leading tech and innovations company Acer Philippines, recently makes partnership with celebrities Alessandra De Rossi and Empoy, and Salvatore Mann, a men’s fashion brand under retail giant SM, for its pre-holiday promo.

The partnerships were formally launched at the Mega Fashion Hall, SM Megamall last September 19, creating an event that embodied both Acer and Salvatore Mann in aesthetics, the Mega Fashion Hall was transformed to fit a sleek runway and was accentuated with neutral tones and elements. This set the backdrop for a striking fashion show where the Salvatore Mann collection, designed exclusively for Acer’s pre-holiday promo was launched.

Acer Philippines tapped Kita Kita actors Alessandra De Rossi and Empoy on a video titled #KasyaPa.  Producing a short film that was visually nostalgic, lighthearted yet somewhat tear-jerking and easily relatable.

#KasyaPa, the video tugs at heartstrings as it shows the struggles a lot of people experience in work, in life, and especially in love.

“We build partnerships with brands and personalities that not only resonate Acer’s aesthetics and appeal, but help enrich and strengthen them as well,” shares Sue Ong-Lim, Acer Philippines’ Sales and Marketing Director. “Empoy and Alessandra, in their most recent film Kita Kita and as seen in #KasyaPa, exhibit relatability and resilience – traits that personify Acer. Meanwhile, Acer laptops and gadgets are sleek and fashionable, yet highly functional – characteristics that define Salvatore Mann bags too.”

The Acer pre-holiday promo will run until October 15, 2017, during which any purchase of Acer laptops and projectors will earn buyers exclusive Salvatore Mann bags. Customers will get a duffel bag or backpack for every purchase of an Acer projector, an Acer Aspire i3-powered laptop or desktop; and both for every purchase of an i5-powered, i7-powered, or all-in-one Acer Aspire laptop or desktop. Additionally, exclusive Salvatore Mann sling bags await SM Advantage, SM Prestige, and BDO Rewards Card Holders. Salvatore Mann is exclusively available in the SM store. 

“Salvatore Mann is deeply honored to be partnering with Acer for its pre-holiday promo,” shares Rina Bugayong, Senior Assistant Vice President for Marketing for SM Shoes and Bags. “Hand in hand, Salvatore Mann and Acer have shown that style and functionality can be achieved; it need not be one or the other.” 

The #KasyaPa video may be found at the Acer Philippines Facebook page at www.facebook.com/AcerPH. 

For more information on the promo, visit: www.acer.com.ph, follow @acerphils on Twitter, and visit the Acer Philippines Facebook page. 

For more information on Salvatore Mann, follow @salvatoremann on Facebook and Instagram. 

Fight diabetes through health and wellness

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Health and Wellness Fair to raise awareness on diabetes and show how to achieve a healthier lifestyle in order to fight the diabetes.

Gathered at the health and wellness fair held at SM Megamall’s event center last May 16,  one hundred diabetic kids from the patient support groups namely; Rainbow Camp, Phil. Society of Pediatric Metabolism and Endocrinology Camp (PSPME), Dialysis PH and the Diabetes Association of Camp Crame Inc.

Participants of the event took part in a half day program promoting better nutrition and lifestyle. The event was held to showcase a day in the life of a Type 1 diabetes patient through a series of activities and presentations from health, fitness and nutrition partners that seek to create awareness on the effective ways to fight diabetes and to correct misconceptions surrounding it.

Diabetes is a serious, chronic metabolic disease characterized by an increase in blood sugar levels associated with long term damage and failure of organ functions, especially the eyes, the kidneys, the nerves, the heart and blood vessels. According to a recent study by the World Health Organization, diabetes is currently the 4th leading cause of death in the Philippines.1 

According to the Diabetes Research Institute Foundation, one form of diabetes is Type 1, or insulin-dependent diabetes. It is often referred to as “juvenile” diabetes, because it usually develops among children and teenagers, though it can develop at any age. With Type 1 diabetes, the body’s immune system attacks part of its own pancreas. 

Typically, a person with type 1 diabetes treats the disease by taking insulin injections. Through insulin injection, glucose can now be brought to the body’s cells. This treatment is an exacting balancing act as it hinges on many factors including food, exercise, stress and emotional and general health. 

While the prevalence of diabetes continues to soar, medical experts and health organizations agree that there are still a lot to be done in terms of creating awareness on prevention and care of diabetic patients. Through the Health and Wellness Fair, organizations from private, business and health sectors gathered to make sure that despite the challenges, diabetic patients are still able to live a full life and it starts by taking the step towards achieving and maintaining a healthy and fit lifestyle.

1. http://www.who.int/gho/countries/phl.pdf?ua=1