SEPHY FRANCISCO’S THE X FACTOR UK JOURNEY HAS COME TO AN END : The Dual-Voice Singer was Initially Given a Seat on The Six Chair Challenge but was Eventually Let Go

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Dual-voice singer Sephy Francisco was eliminated from the six chair challenge of the reality singing competition ending her X Factor UK journey.

The fifth week of the reality singing competition just showcased how difficult it is for both the contestants and the judges. Now on the six chair challenge round, contestants in every category are narrowed down to six acts to move forward to the next round. It started with the Girls category under the mentoring of judge Simon Cowell.

The girls who passed the judges deliberation performed again for a chance to secure one of the six chairs. Sephy, the sixth act to be called, performed the song Never Enough from the movie The Greatest Showman. Her performance started with the usual female key arrangement of the song, but just like her audition piece, she surprised everyone again with a dual-voice performance. The audience were left in awe and were all on their feet after her performance.

Host Dermot O’ Leary exclaimed that he can watch people watching Sephy for the first time all day. A fellow contestant even uttered “that was so good!”

The girls category mentor Simon was impressed enough to make her take the last seat available. “This is gonna stand out, this is gonna be remembered, go and take the seat!” He said.

In the video reel before Sephy’s turn to sing, she shared that she wants to prove to Simon that she is worthy of that chair.

Getting a chair is not guaranteed for any contestant and it can still be taken away from anyone unless all the acts have completed performing, which was the case for Sephy.

Simon made 16-year-old student Molly Scott take Sephy’s seat, which eliminates her from the competition. The audience were noticeably disappointed with the decision and demanded for Simon to bring her back, but their demands fell into deaf ears as the judge did not change his mind.

The X Factor UK airs first and exclusive, same day as the UK on Blue Ant Entertainment every Sunday and Monday at 7:55 PM. Blue Ant Entertainment is available on SKYcable channels 53(SD) and 196(HD), SKYdirect channel 35, Destiny Cable channel 53, and Cablelink channels 37(SD) and 313(HD).

Globe, Disney wrap up Time Please with 22.1 million volunteering hours

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Bukidnon-based team with 209 volunteering hours win all-expense paid HK trip

Time Please, a collaboration between Globe Telecom and The Walt Disney Company Philippines, wrapped up its three-month volunteering program with a staggering 22.1 million volunteering hours, proving the Filipinos’ inherent desire to make a difference in other people’s lives and to help in nation building. 

Time Please winners John Mark Panares (2nd from left) and Jade Mabalos (middle) with Seshasaye Kanthamraju, Executive Director for Communications & Citizenship, The Walt Disney Company Southeast Asia (left), Miguel Bermundo, Director of Globe Citizenship and Advocacy Marketing (2nd from right) and JB Tan, Founder and Executive Director of iVolunteer Philippines (right). 

In fact, Black Orchid, a volunteer group based in Bukidnon composed of some 50 active members, was able to clock in 209 volunteer hours planting trees, helping out in various events, cleaning up rivers, and assisting persons with disability (PWD), among others. 

Twenty-eight year old John Mark Panares, leader of Black Orchid, and an officer of the PWD Federation in Bukidnon, said: “We joined Time Please to inspire others and to render service to the people and the community. We didn’t do it for the prize. We just want to help.” 

Panares, who has been doing full-time volunteer work for eight years, was awarded together with his group, for having the most number of hours contributed to Time Please. As a reward, members of the team were treated to an all-expense paid trip to Hong Kong which includes a tour of Hong Kong Disneyland. 

Black Orchid is just one of over 50 non-government and government organizations that participated in Time Please from its launch in May until its culmination in August. 

Time Please partners include Gawad Kalinga, iVolunteer Philippines, Department of Education for Brigada Eskwela, Armed Forces of the Philippines, Boyscouts of the Philippines, Kris Library, Edicute Inc., Tulong sa Kapwa Kapatid, Kythe Foundation Inc, Oikos Helping Hand, Philippine Toy Library, Special Olympics, Generation Hope, Yellow Warriors Society Philippines, Karinderia ni Mang Urot, Humanist Alliance Philippines International, and Mano Amiga Philippines. 

Other partners are: All Together in Dignity Fourth World, Pusod Inc, Aral Pinoy, Citizens Disaster Response Center, Project Pearls, Visions of Hope, Progressive Assistance Canada, Dream Big Pilipinas, Haribon Foundation, Fostering Education & Environment for Development, as well as Make A Wish Philippines, Pink Women on Fire, Save the Children, Virlanie Foundation Inc, CAPABLE Foundation, Vessels of Humanity, Kidlikasan. Kabataan. Kalikasan., Bahay Tuluyan, The Storytelling Project, He Cares Foundation, Yellow Boat of Hope Foundation, MovEd, and Nature Awareness and Conservation Club Inc. 

Of the 22.1 million volunteering hours accumulated for Time Please, 12.8 million volunteer hours were rendered by DepEd’s community of public school teachers and students, 8.2 million by volunteers under Gawad Kalinga, and 1.1 million from nationwide members of the Boy Scouts of the Philippines. In addition, 22,100 volunteer hours were allotted for sustainability efforts under the Ayala Group of Companies (Ayala Foundation, Ayala Corporation, Ayala Land, Bank of the Philippine Islands, and Manila Water), 10,600 hours were rendered by employee volunteers of Globe Telecom, 8,800 hours from members of the Armed Forces of the Philippines. 

On the other hand, He Cares Foundation, the Department of Social Welfare and Development – National Response and Logistics Management Service, and the Citizens Disaster Response Center, topped the list of the number of events organized in the National Capital Region. 

“We had a goal to extend Globe Telecom’s purpose-led culture to our customers through Time Please. With the help of technology, we want volunteering to be more accessible and to spread across all regions of the country in order to create positive societal impact. We are happy that we were not only able to meet that goal but also received overwhelming support from individuals and groups who clocked in millions in volunteering hours doing different acts of kindness which contributed to nation building,” said Yoly Crisanto, Globe Chief Sustainability Officer and SVP for Corporate Communications. 

Sesha Kanthamraju, Executive Director for Communications & Citizenship, The Walt Disney Company Southeast Asia said: “We would like to congratulate Globe for everything that they have put into this project and for achieving 22.1 million in volunteering hours. We at Disney are proud that kids and families today are growing up with this basic value -- that by giving their time, they can make a difference in the communities where they live.” 

AFP Volunteers 

CAPABLE Foundation Team of John Arcilla 

Even celebrities and online influencers lent their time for the program. Some cast members of the movie Goyo: Ang Batang Heneral, led by award-winning actor John Arcilla, helped packed 3,900 boxes of goods for communities struck by recent calamities. Actress Yayo Martinez as well as online influencers Fifth Solomon and Marlann Flores joined Globe employees in helping Rise Against Hunger pack 224 meals for kids who are nutritionally at risk. Similarly, cast members from Disney Philippines teamed up with Rise Against Hunger to pack 21,600 meals for close to 500 kids of Taguig Daycare Center. 

Bianca Gonzalez also conducted a workshop for Globe Telecom’s Digital Thumbprint Program in Taguig National Science High School to equip students with skills for responsible online behavior and cyber wellness. Other celebrity volunteers include Michael V, Marj Sia, Chuckie Dreyfus, Janella Salvador, Team Kramer, Janina Vela, Tracy Abad, DJ Cha Cha and daughter Saab, Rodel Flordeliz, Quark Henares, DJ Jhai Ho, Joj Agpangan, and Jai Agpangan. 

As a national platform for volunteerism, Time Please encouraged and empowered Filipinos including companies, organizations, employees, families, and friends to participate in existing volunteer programs or come up with their own. The program appealed to the Filipinos strong culture of volunteerism rooted in the bayanihan spirit. 

Time Please matched groups of volunteers with various volunteering opportunities around the country through the volunteer matching portal developed by Globe Future Maker winner iVolunteer Philippines and the volunteer portal of Gawad Kalinga. Companies, organizations or groups with existing volunteer programs also enlisted their volunteer activities in the platform to have their volunteer hours registered in the initiative.

58 years of empowering Filipinos with continuous financial innovations

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Through almost six decades of providing quality financial products and excellent client services, Rizal Commercial Banking Corporation (RCBC) has established its position as a trusted partner in the growth and success of Filipinos and its various business partners.

Today, the bank continues to strengthen its presence in the community, especially among the unbanked market, by developing accessible financial services to assist them in day-to-day transactions. To make this vision happen, RCBC supports the countrywide goal of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) to achieve financial inclusion.

As the bank believes in empowering every Filipino citizen to contribute to the nation’s transformation, it further strives to innovate its services to widen the range of financial services available to the underserved market. One innovation that RCBC has developed is the country’s first digitized cash, ePiso.

Paving the way for cashless transactions 

In line with BSP’s “test and learn” approach, RCBC took a big move in developing the first-of-its-kind digital cash in the Philippines with ePiso. The bank worked closely with international firm eCurrency Mint as they ventured to digital fiat currency technology to design an efficient financial solution for Filipinos.

The RCBC ePiso is digitized money stored in a mobile wallet to enable safe, fast, and affordable payment option that will improve consumers’ daily activities and transactions. The Bank worked closely with BSP to ensure that ePiso has security features that will bring economic benefits and reduce safety risks for the users. 

“We’re really glad to see that RCBC is taking an action towards our shared goal of financial inclusion. We believe that their ePiso project can open opportunities for us to explore how having digital currency can help us achieve a sustainable inclusive ecosystem for the country,” said Mhel Plabasan, BSP core information technology specialist group head and deputy director.

Businesses and consumers can use ePiso to pay bills, purchase goods, and transfer money to other users with the RCBC ePiso mobile app. It is securely protected with a username and password so one can personally track their money and transactions. 

A first try of the country’s digital currency 

In May 12, the commercial bank successfully test-launched its ePiso to residents of Barangay Poblacion in Muntinlupa City. This was followed by a pilot run among farming communities in Valencia City in Bukidnon last May 17. 

In cooperation with sari-sari store owners in Muntinlupa, RCBC held a digital pamilihan ng bayan where individuals and families experienced cashless transaction with their ePiso. With a QR code technology, they used the RCBC ePiso mobile app to scan the merchant’s code for easier purchases. 

“The ePiso was greatly received by the community, with both sellers and consumers testifying about the convenient transactions using the product,” shared JR Guillergan, RCBC head of Digital Banking Group Strategic Initiatives. 

Meanwhile, RCBC and Rizal Microbank made the move to make loan payments to its agri-clients easier by going digital with ePiso. Bukidnon farmers received their loan proceeds from the microbank through the ePiso mobile app and enjoyed purchasing farming supplies from RCBC’s partner retailers. 

“Digital lending is one way that we can support our farmers in their livelihood. It cuts the costs of transportation and transaction fees when going to bank because now they can just open their ePiso app and see that their loans are already credited to their account,” noted Raymundo Roxas, Rizal Microbank president.

Global recognition from digital financial community 

RCBC ePiso has become a source of pride for Filipinos as it was recognized in an international conference and workshop about digital fiat currency technology held in Cornell Tech Campus at New York City, USA last July 18 to 20, 2018.

Along with other financial institutions from around the world, RCBC showcased how they developed a comprehensive digital platform that would promote financial inclusion in the country. The bank was acknowledged for its progressive efforts in making day-to-day financial activities more secure and efficient for Filipinos with the ePiso digital currency.

Corn farmers in Bukidnon province can now instantly receive their financial loans from Rizal Microbank with the RCBC ePiso mobile app as it moves to load digital cash in the farmers’ ePiso mobile wallet. “Digitizing our peso bills and coins allows us to ensure, safer, faster, reliable means for economic activity to thrive in the communities we serve. This is digital inclusion, one barangay at a time,” said Margarita Lopez, head of RCBC Digital Banking Group.

As RCBC celebrates its 58th year, the bank solidifies its role as an industry leader that brings revolutionary financial services and digital products to both businesses and consumers. With ePiso, RCBC is empowering the unbanked market to have access to easy and secure transactions to help improve their lives. It continues to believe in Filipinos, enabling them to become the best that they can be and assisting them towards an inclusive nation.

Century Park Hotel welcomes Miss Earth Philippines 2018 Goddesses

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THE GODDESSES OF THE EARTH ARE BACK HOME AT CENTURY PARK HOTEL

Manila, Philippines– Century Park Hotel (CPH), one of the country’s renowned hotels in Greater Manila, expressed its delight to house once again the Miss Earth 2018 delegates.

Century Park Hotel is the Official Residence of Miss Earth 2018 Delegates.

Carousel Productions, the pageant organizer, sought out CPH in its bid to support the organization’s enduring advocacy in promoting environmental awareness across the globe.

“We are honored to partner with Miss Earth for the third time around as they work on their worldwide crusade for a greener world through the pageant. It is our mission to provide them a home away from their own homes, make them comfortable every step of the way as they embark on greater causes,” shared CPH General Manager, Anthony Tan.

(From L-R): Anthony Tan (General Manager, CPH), Halimatu Yushawu - Eco-Tourism Philippines 2018, Johnny James Tan (OIC, Maranaw Hotels & Resort Corporation), Berjayneth Chee- Miss Water Philippines 2018, Lucio “Bong” Tan Jr. (Director, CPH), Silvia Celeste Cortesi – Miss Earth Philippines 2018, Peachy Veneracion (VP & Project Director, Carousel Productions, Inc.) and Ritchie Ocampo (Team Manager, Carousel Productions, Inc.) pose during the MOA signing.

CPH will also play host to the National Costume Competition (October 11, 2018) and Figure and Form Preliminary Judging (October 29, 2018). The international pageant will be held on November 4, 2018 at the MOA Arena.

Beauty queens from different nations will reside at the hotel during this time.

Launched in 1976, the Century Park Hotel remains as one of the finest hotels in Manila. It is owned and operated by Maranaw Hotels and Resort Corporation and enjoys a mix of local and international patrons. The renowned establishment has over 500 rooms in varied types and facilities for a complete dining and leisure experience. To know more about Century Park Hotel, visit www.centurypark.com or contact information@centurypark.com.ph and telephone number: (632) 528-8888.

Drei Raña Loves Walang Labis Walang Kulang, His Second Single

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When Drei Rana loves it’s ‘walang labis, walang kulang.’ That love he immortalizes through a song of the same title released under PolyEast Records. It is also his second single after Ligaya.

Walang Labis Walang Kulang is a catchy yet flirtatious cry of assuring love from one guy to a girl once she comes to his side.

“Kaya tara sa aking tabi at wag ng mag-atubili na kumapit sa akin. Pagkat ikaw lamang ang iibigin. Hinding hindi paluluhain. Ang nais ay paligayahin. Hindi lalabis at di magkukulang. Saki’y di ka mabibitin.”

Dubbed as The Viral Singing Heartthrob and Spotify Millionaire, Drei is excited about his new composition, Walang Labis, Walang Kulang. His debut single, Ligaya, earned a million streams on Spotify. Some of his YouTube song covers have gone viral.

Drei says, “I’m blessed to be given this great opportunity of releasing my own compositions and performing in front of an audience. I hope my fans and all the music lovers out there will support my latest single. It’s an easy listening love song. Some of my friends told me that after listening to Walang Labis Walang Kulang they ended up either humming or singing along with it because of its feel-good vibes.”

Drei has been writing songs since he can remember. He shares, “I write original songs. I write songs whenever I feel extreme emotions. I’m also inspired to write songs whenever I hum a melody that sounds good.”

With the little successes that he has, Drei always reminds himself “to keep my feet on the ground and to never stop growing and improving. The most important thing is to always remember to thank those people who got me into wherever I may be.”

Walang Labis Walang Kulang is now available in all digital platforms like Spotify, Apple Music, iTunes, and Deezer.

Drei Raña is a talent of Asian Artists Agency. For inquiries, please call (02) 855-4765 or (02) 405-4423, emailinfo@asianartistsagency.com, and visit fb.com/asianartistsagency