DigiPlus, BingoPlus Foundation give ₱37M aid to families of Typhoon Kristine casualties in largest relief effort to date

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In response to the devastating impact of Typhoon Kristine, BingoPlus Foundation, the social development arm of DigiPlus Interactive, formally distributed ₱37 million in financial aid to families affected by Typhoon Kristine. In the wake of 148 confirmed casualties nationwide, at least ₱250,000 was committed to each bereaved family, as a symbol of compassion and support for their journey to recovery. The initiative started with 39 bereaved families during a turnover ceremony on November 10, at Talisay New Municipal Grounds in Batangas and will continue in several parts of the country. This pledge will continue to support affected families in coordination with the Department of Social Welfare and Development.

First Lady Lisa Araneta-Marcos, alongside DigiPlus Interactive Chairman Eusebio Tanco and DSWD Undersecretary Pinky Romualdez, personally handover financial aid to families affected by Typhoon Kristine in Batangas. This forms part of the Php37 Million pledged by DigiPlus Interactive in support, especially for the recovery of bereaved families of 148 casualties nationwide.

First Lady Louise “Liza” Araneta-Marcos, Department of Social Welfare and Development Undersecretary Pinky Romualdez and DigiPlus Chairman Eusebio Tanco were joined by Batangas Governor Hermilando Mandanas, Batangas Vice Governor Mark Leviste, Talisay Mayor Nestor Natanauan, Bacolod Mayor Albie, BingoPlus Foundation COO Celeste Jovenir and local leaders and community members to personally hand over the financial aid. The event highlighted the Foundation’s mission to multiply the good by extending meaningful support to Filipinos in their time of greatest need.

Typhoon Kristine, one of the year’s most devastating storms, left a trail of destruction across South Luzon, with severe flooding and landslides resulting in significant loss of life and damage to property. Talisay, particularly impacted by landslides in Batangas, is one of the focus areas of the Foundation’s relief efforts as the entire province was declared in a state of calamity.

DigiPlus extends its largest relief effort to date, underscoring its dedication to resilience and meaningful impact. Through BingoPlus Foundation, the company’s commitment stands as a beacon of resilience and compassion in times of crisis.

“The BingoPlus Foundation exists to provide more than financial aid; it is about creating hope, resilience, and real change,” said DigiPlus Interactive Chairman Eusebio Tanco. “The work of the BingoPlus Foundation is a true reflection of our belief in giving back without holding back, of reaching out to lift up those in need, and of multiplying the good in every way possible.”

The provision of financial assistance builds on BingoPlus Foundation’s prior support initiatives for Typhoon Kristine victims. In collaboration with the Department of Social Welfare and Development’s National Resource Operations Center (DSWD NROC), the Foundation provided cavans of rice, benefiting at least 750 families, and mobilized volunteers to help repack and distribute critical supplies for affected provinces.

With a mission to “multiply the good” in the heart of communities, BingoPlus Foundation joins hands with the DSWD in delivering financial aid and livelihood assistance to families affected by Typhoon Kristine, starting with nearly 40 families bereaved due to a landslide in Talisay, Batangas.

In partnership with the National Resource Operations Center of the DSWD and ABS-CBN Sagip Kapamilya, BingoPlus Foundation provides essential relief to families affected by Typhoon Kristine in Isabela, Aurora, Camarines Norte and other provinces.

Together with ABS-CBN Foundation’s Sagip Kapamilya, BingoPlus Foundation also extended support to 1,000 families impacted by Typhoon Kristine in Isabela, Aurora, Pangasinan and Quezon. These immediate actions underscore the Foundation’s dedication to its resilience pillar, showcasing its commitment to making a difference when communities need it most.

“The BingoPlus Foundation stands by our communities not only with aid but with resilience, unity, and hope,” said Tanco. “In moments like these, our commitment to making a difference is stronger than ever.”

Since its inception, the Foundation has allocated over ₱100 million across projects nationwide, addressing urgent community needs through healthcare, livelihood programs, and educational grants. Through partnerships with local and national organizations, the Foundation has established PLUS Centers in Negros, Cebu, and General Santos, creating resource hubs designed to empower communities by offering critical resources such as health programs, livelihood support, and skills training. Each center is a lasting symbol of the Foundation’s commitment to sustainable community development.

ABS-CBN Foundation's Campaign “We Believe in The Power of Good” launch with celebrity Ambassadors Piolo Pascual, Bea Alonzo, Gerald Anderson, Robi Domingo and Jodi Sta. Maria

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ABS-CBN Foundation International has made international headlines recently for stellar achievements: its record-breaking North America fundraising telethon partnership with ABS-CBN The Filipino Channel (TFC) and its news program, Balitang America, to help victims of Typhoon Yolanda (Haiyan) through its program Sagip Kapamilya in 2013; its Norcal Emmy Award for its “Fighting For Survival” PSA with Filipino American middleweight mixed martial artist and UFC fighter Mark Munoz under the category Spot Announcements-Community Public Service (PSA) Single Spot or Campaign; and the 18th anniversary celebration in March this year in Hollywood for its program Bantay Bata (Child Watch)

But ABS-CBN Foundation International wants people to know that it has much more to offer to people who want to help. Thus, it launched its “We Believe in The Power of Good” campaign and was joined by top Filipino celebrities as campaign ambassadors: Bea Alonzo for Bantay Bata; Gerald Anderson for Sagip Kapamilya; Robi Domingo for Programa Genio; Jodi Sta Maria for BayaniJuan; and Piolo Pascual for Bantay Kalikasan.

“The ‘We Believe in The Power of Good’ campaign is a movement that we created to bring positive change to the lives of millions in the Philippines through our various programs,” said ABS-CBN Foundation International Managing Director Jo Ann Kyle. “We have partnered with business owners and/or corporations who believe in what we’re doing and also developed a Power of Good seal which is awarded to our partners/donors who are one with us in serving the community. The ‘power of good’ is not just kind words and good intentions, though they are an inherent part of it; but it is more of positive energy and meaningful outcomes resulting from authentic, responsible and strategic acts of goodness. We are grateful to our celebrity ambassadors for believing in this and we invite everyone to join us in this movement.”

ABS-CBN Foundation International’s “We Believe in The Power of Good” Seal

Below are the core programs of ABS-CBN Foundation International:

SAGIP KAPAMILYA (Family Rescue) – Advocacy: Disaster Relief – conducts disaster relief and humanitarian assistance in calamity-stricken areas with the aim of enabling affected victims, families and communities rebuild their lives and begin sustainable rehabilitation programs.

PROGRAMA GENIO (Program Genius) – Advocacy: Education – Programa Genio envisions discovering and developing the inherent genio or genius in every child. The program, which works in cooperation with the school division of the Department of Education, aims to propagate school reform in public elementary schools and bring quality education to the underprivileged.

BANTAY BATA (Child Watch) – Advocacy: Child Welfare – Asia’s model for child welfare program that rescues, protects, rehabilitates and educates sick, abused and at-risk children

BAYANIJUAN (Juan’s Town) – Advocacy: Community Development – BayaniJuan is a community development, relocation and outreach program where we teach locals the skills and livelihood to become self-sufficient and uplift their quality of life; it also aims to provide underprivileged families and informal settlers a sense of rootedness and acess to basic services.

BANTAY KALIKASAN (Nature Watch) – Advocacy: Environment Conservation & Protection – our program that supports the cause of environmental and natural heritage conservation and the socio-economic uplifting of local Philippine communities through the principle of sustainable development and development of ecotourism sites.

For more information on how to be part of “We Believe in The Power of Good”, visit http://www.abscbnfoundation.org

The Jazz scene’s finest musicians to perform on Philippine shores! Stars coming for "Heal Our Land"

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International jazz fusion and smooth jazz pianist, composer, and producer David Benoit, a five-time Grammy Award nominee, will be heading to the Philippines with yet another noble cause—joining the line-up of the star-studded benefit concert “Heal Our Land,” which is set to be mounted at the Mall of Asia Arena on January 31, 2014.

Benoit, having made a name for himself time and time again, gained popularity through both his moving solo performances and notable collaborations. Over the years, he has arranged, conducted, and performed musical numbers for many popular artists, including the likes of Kenny Loggins, Patti Austin, Faith Hill, Brian McKnight, and the Walt Disney Company.

Apart from his numerous accomplishments in his career as a musician, he is also the music director for the Asia America Symphony and the Asia America Youth Orchestra.

“Heal Our Land” will also definitely not be the first of Benoit’s participation in causes that go far beyond plain performances, as he has been active in a number of benefit concerts around Asia, including Korea and the Philippines.

Also joining “Heal Our Land” are singers David Pack and Kevyn Lettau, with keyboardist Brian Simpson, American saxophonist and singer Jessy J, percussionist Richie “Gajate” Garcia, and guitarist-singers Ray Parker, Jr. and Jonathan Butler, whose song has inspired this concert’s title. Saxophonist Michael Paulo, pianist-singer-songwriter Spencer Day, pianist Gregg Karukas Freddie Schreuders, Eric Valentine, and Nate Phillips of the LA All-Star Band will also be part of the concert’s lineup.

Joining the Jazzfest, some of today’s local talents will also be including in the concert - Sitti, Side A, South Border, Free Style, Mulatto, Zoo, True Faith, Chad Borja, and recent “voice of the Philippines” contender Thor Dulay. The concert will be directed by the Philippines’ own Bert de Leon.

“Heal Our Land” is produced by All That Jazz Promotions, Inc., with the support of ABS-CBN, Lifestyle Network, and other partners.

All the participating artists in “Heal Our Land” chose to generously wave their fees for this concert, directing proceeds to the relief efforts of ABS-CBN’s Sagip Kapamilya and Gawad Kalinga projects.

Tickets are available at SM Tickets. For more information, please contact 470-2222 or visit www.smtickets .net.

A Benefit Concert Titled “Heal Our Land” with International Jazz Artists

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The jazz scene’s brightest stars will be coming together in a night filled with the finest music, which will also be a benefit concert titled “Heal Our Land,” set to be mounted at the Mall of Asia Arena on January 31, 2014, produced by All That Jazz Promotions, Inc., with the support of ABS-CBN, Lifestyle Network, and other partners.

The benefit concert is set to be the most star-studded Jazzfest yet, unique in that it will be led by pianist David Benoit and singers David Pack and Kevyn Lettau, with keyboardist Brian Simpson, American saxophonist and singer Jessy J, percussionist Richie “Gajate” Garcia, and guitarist-singers Ray Parker, Jr. and Jonathan Butler, whose song has inspired this concert’s title.

“Heal Our Land” with Filipino-American saxophonist Michael Paulo, pianist-singer-songwriter Spencer Day, pianist Gregg Karukas—and Freddie Schreuders, Eric Valentine, and Nate Phillips of the LA All-Star Band.

Some of today’s local talents will also be joining the Jazzfest, including host Billy Crawford, Sitti, Side A, South Border, Free Style, Mulatto, Bituin Escalante, Zoo, True Faith, Chad Borja, and recent “voice of the Philippines” contender Thor Dulay. The concert will be directed by the Philippines’ own Bert de Leon.

All the participating artists in “Heal Our Land” chose to generously wave their fees for this concert, directing proceeds to the relief efforts of ABS-CBN’s Sagip Kapamilya and Gawad Kalinga projects.

Tickets are available at SM Tickets. For more information, please contact 470-2222 or visit www.smtickets .net.

ICanServeFoundation with the Lifestyle Network’s Celebrity Chefs

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Lifestyle Network's celebrity Chefs help raise funds for storm releif operations. 

It was a rare night for the local culinary scene when the best Filipino chefs, including celebrity chefs Sandy Daza, Sharwin Tee, and Gene and Gino Gonzalez, united under one roof with the vision of raising funds for Sagip Kapamilya’s relief operations through the ICanServeFoundation in the Lifestyle Network’s Around the Philippines in Small Plates.

As such, it aptly has chosen to unite the various regions of the country in a different way to mirror the oneness among its people following the calamity.

Made up of 7,107 islands, the Philippines is home to a diverse culture. Part of this culture is a variation in practices, rites, and language; but one thing common among all people, regardless of region, is a love for a flavor uniquely Filipino that is expressed in many ways.

The Lifestyle Network thus took that love for Filipino flavor and whipped up a night to bring together many of its different expressions through Around the Philippines in Small Plates, creating a most unforgettable dinner menu that distinctly embodied the diversity of the Philippines.

From fresh produce, culinary delicacies, and export products to local arts and crafts, Around the Philippines in Small Plates put the spotlight on the creativity of the Filipinos.

Celebrity chefs show their support in the TulongPH t-shirt

This creativity shone through in the creations of some of today’s biggest names in the local culinary scene, including Lifestyle Network's FoodPrints’ Chef Sandy Daza, Curiosity Got the Chef’s Chef Sharwin Tee, Chefscapades’ Chef Gene and Gino Gonzalez, Wildflour’s Chef Allen Buhay, Grace Park’s Chef Margarita Fores, Chef Hylton le Roux of Market to Master, Milky Way Café’s Chef J Gamboa, Green Pastures' Chef Robby Goco, Restaurant 9501’s Chef Myrna Segismundo, Chef Glenda Baretto of Cafe Via Mare, Chef Jessie Sincioco of Chef Jessie’s, Chef Ginny de Guzman of Gustare, Chef Juan Carlos de Terry of Terry’s Selection, and Chef Fernando Aracama of Aracama.

Chefs Gene and Gino Gonzales of Chefscapades

Aside from all these culinary masters, sumptuous dishes were also served by some of the country’s best establishments, such as La Cocina de Tita Moning, Alavar Seafood Restaurant, Pepita’s Lechon, General’s Lechon, Discovery Suites, Bizu, Kitchen’s Best, Fog City Creamery and Baby Pat’s breads and pastries; with the official wine partner for the night, Beringer of Happy Living fine Wines, and coffee care of the EDSA Beverage Group.

"Around the Philippines in Small Plates" was also held hand in hand with "Choose Philippines: A Pinoy A-fair," where products and merchandise that further embody the diverse aesthetic of the Filipino culture were shown and made available for purchase.

For updates and more information, visit and like the Lifestyle Network on Facebook (www.facebook.com/LifestyleNetwork).

Resorts World Manila Reaches Out To Yolanda Survivors with “Kami Naman Ang Taya” Benefit Concert

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Resorts World Manila’s benefit concert, dubbed as “Kami Naman Ang Taya,” with some of the biggest names in the local entertainment industry are set to headline a one-night-only benefit concert for the survivors of super typhoon Yolanda on December 3, 2013 at the country’s premier integrated resort, Resorts World Manila.

“Kami Naman Ang Taya,” will feature Concert King and Queen Martin Nievera and Pops Fernandez, Asia’s Nightingale Lani Misalucha, and Asia’s Pop Idol Christian Bautista, among many other artists who are donating their time and talent for the cause.

The first grand winner of The Voice of the Philippines, Mitoy Yonting, will also be performing with his band Draybers.

Helmed by award-winning theater and concert director ‘Direk’ Freddie Santos, the “Kami Naman Ang Taya” concert will be staged at the Newport Performing Arts Theater, Resorts World Manila. Ticket prices start at PHP1,000.

All the proceeds of the concert will be coursed through charitable institutions Caritas Manila, Sagip Kapamilya, and the Philippine Red Cross to help fund the relief and rehabilitation efforts in the areas affected by typhoon Yolanda.

The concert follows the success of “1Tayo: Isa Tayo Sa Pagakalinga. Itayo ang Pag-asa”, the joint relief efforts of Resorts World Manila, Solaire Resort and Casino; and the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR). Through “1Tayo”, the country’s key players in the integrated resort industry were able to put together PHP50M worth of relief goods and transport these to the families in need of help.

Tickets to “Kami Naman ang Taya” are now on sale at the Resorts World Manila Box Office located at the main casino entrance, and in all TicketWorld and TicketNet outlets. 

For inquiries and reservations, call RWM Box Office at (02) 908-8000 local 7700, SM Tickets at (02) 470-2222, Ticket Net at (02) 891-9999 and Ticket World at (02) 912-1967.

For more information on events and activities of Resorts World Manila, visit www.rwmanila.com or call Visitors Hotline at (02) 908-8833.