“BELIEVE” Maja Salvador ! The first OPM album to be mastered for iTunes

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Maja Salvador will be leaving a huge footprint on the music scene with her debut album “Believe”. And it is not loosely said so. As apart from the album being certified Gold last June (only 2 months after the official release) and obtaining an official Vevo channel on YouTube with views summing up to almost 6 million, the album takes the cake off the plate of its contemporaries once again by becoming the first OPM album to be mastered for iTunes.

A “mastered for iTunes” song is a digitally downloadable track on iTunes, taking legs of optimization to make every bit of it in the highest definition possible and as close to how artists and their production team intend every song to be heard as possible, while keeping the music file size down for portability and for more efficient digital distribution.

The calibre that “Believe” has set for itself makes it well-worthy of this iTunes mastery. As it geared away from traditional instrumentation and instead adopted modern production, it has become the most ideal vehicle to drive our eardrums to crave newness from the OPM department. All the while the album never lost sight of what is really important: it’s an OPM record. Note that all songs were penned in Filipino to butter up Maja’s new-fashioned Pinay image interbred with pop-house-R&B sound that could run parallel with American Top 40 tracks.


This leap of Maja’s music to verge into the digital age is a gutsy deal in changing the game face of the local music industry not just in the manner of distribution and consumption of music, but also in its production and ultimately, the artistry. Now you can listen in hi-def to the album with crystal-clear vocals, smoother strums and deeper thumps as if each of the tracks just got off the LASIK chair.

A milestone like this wasn’t far from Maja’s horizons to begin with. The way she wants things to happen in her music career is to take the qualitative side of the road, obvious in the production of her songs and the videos for them: never dry and juiceless.

 Maja believed that “Believe” would go places, and the album took the entire industry with it.

There’s no denying it. “Believe” is a key part of OPM music history now.

The mastered for iTunes “Believe” contains the original tracklist:


KILIG

HALIKANA (feat. Abra)

WALA NA BANG PAG-IBIG

DAHAN-DAHAN

URONG-SULONG

BUONG GABI (feat. Project Pinas)


BONUS TRACKS:
KILIG (INSTRUMENTAL)

DAHAN-DAHAN (INSTRUMENTAL

Hear the difference by getting “Believe” off iTunes via https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/believe/id849627454

4th PMAP Makatao Awards for Media Excellence Winners

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TV Station of the Year: ABS-CBN 2

People Management Association of the Philippine (PMAP) presents the Makatao Awards for Media Excellence to honor members of the mass media (TV, radio and print) for their outstanding works and contributions that enhance public understanding of the role and impact of good people management in both the public and private sector in the country. 

Radio Station of the Year: DZMM Radyo Patrol 630

Mass Media touches virtually every aspect of our daily lives. It plays a significant role in shaping public perceptions on a variety of important issues, both through the information that is dispensed through them, and through the interpretations they place upon this information. When journalists or talk show hosts are insightful and judicious in their reporting, citizens can play a more informed role in the many issues and debates that shapes their communities.

Newspaper of the Year: Philippine Daily Inquirer

Here are of winners for the 4th PMAP Makatao Awards recognized in a ceremony held at Hotel Intercontinental, Makati City on November 25, 2014.

Organizations:

TV Station of the Year: ABS-CBN 2

Radio Station of the Year: DZMM Radyo Patrol 630

Newspaper of the Year: Philippine Daily Inquirer

Television:

Best TV Best Public Affairs Program: Kapuso Mo Jessica Soho (GMA 7)

Best TV Public Affairs Program Host: Jessica Soho (Kapuso Mo Jessica Soho, GMA 7)

Best TV News Program: TV Patrol 

Best TV News Anchor: Mel Tiangco (24 Oras,GMA 7)

Radio:

Best Radio Best Public Affairs Program: Usapang De Kampanilya (DZMM)

Best Radio Best Public Affairs Program Host: Joe Taruc (Damdaming Bayan, DZRH)

Best Radio News Program: Radyo Patrol Balita (DZMM)

Best Radio News Anchor: Noli De Castro (Radio Patrol Balita, DZMM) 

Best Newspaper Columnist: Cito Beltan (CTalk, Philippine Star)

Special Citations:

Ellen C. Fullido (Manila Broadcasting Company) 

Good Job Philippines (DZRJ 810) 

TV 5 

Ernie O. Cecilia, DPM 

PMAP is the premier organization of people manager and HR practitioners in the country and has more than 1.800 corporate members and individual members and 23 chapters nationwide.

For news and updates, you may visit www.pmap.org.ph or like https://www.facebook.com/PMAP1956 on Facebook.

Behold...BOHOL travel fair in Glorietta Mall Dec. 8-10

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Visit the Philippines Year (VPY) 2015. AirAsia’s super low fares to Bohol and bargain hotel and tour deals are up for grabs!

One of the top holiday destination in the Philippines - Bohol, as it launches new and exciting tourist destinations with rock bottom prices for airfares, hotels and resorts during a travel fair to be held in Glorietta Mall on Dec. 8-10.

Bohol provincial governor Edgar Chatto said the province will also formally launch its new branding “Behold...BOHOL,” which positions the province as a destination that exudes a sense of awe in every visitor.

Tarsier

The three-day event is the first time ever that tourism sector in Bohol comes together in a massive campaign to entice tourists to visit. It is part of the Bohol Tourism Action Plan developed through the collaboration of the United States Agency for International Development through its Advancing Philippine Competitiveness Project (USAID-COMPETE), the Department of Tourism (DOT), the United Nations-World Tourism Organization (UN-WTO), and the Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) as well as local tourism stakeholders.

The new branding “Behold...BOHOL” was developed with the help of CNN’s branding expert Anita Mendiratta. Bohol is the first province that benefited from an outreach program of CNN. 

AirAsia, the leading budget airline in the Asian region, is the exclusive airline partner for the campaign and will offer seat sale. The airline that has been awarded the Skytrax’s World’s Best Low Cost Carrier for six consecutive years is also committed to offer year-round low fares for flights between Manila - Tagbilaran (Bohol) and Manila – Cebu.

At least 50% discount in accommodation, tours and other travel essentials in Bohol will be offered during the three-day travel fair. Boholano products will likewise be on sale.

Loboc River 

The travel fair will open in a grand program featuring the world-famous Loboc Children’s Choir. The chorale group will have a nightly concert during the three-day event.

Bohol province is dubbed as the eco-cultural tourism capital with its fascinating Chocolate Hills, pristine and white sand beaches in Panglao and Anda. It is also home to the well-loved Tarsier, considered the smallest and oldest primate in the world.

“We want to develop Bohol as the tourism superpower and a top holiday destination in the Philippines,” said Bohol governor Edgar Chatto.

He said the launch of the 'Behold... BOHOL' aims to promote the province as a complete tourist destination because every town has a unique tourist attraction to offer to visitors. 

Aside from the iconic destinations, the province is surrounded by caves, tranquil rivers, fascinating water falls, marine sanctuaries, mangroves and diving sites.

Chatto said Bohol is now promoting the powdery white sand beaches of Anda, as the next tourist destination. Road and infrastructure access to Anda are underway through the convergence program of Department of Tourism and the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) that seeks to connect airports to tourist destinations. 

Anda is a must visit in Bohol for its unique and wider coastlines making it a perfect destination both for relaxing walk on the beach or water sports activities.

The town is also home to the Lamanok Mystical Island and is fast becoming a popular destinations. Lamanok can be reached within a two-hour drive from the capital, Tagbilaran. The island has a rich lush mangrove protecting the community from flooding, pollution and water surge. It hosts some mystical caves where ancient Boholanons bury their loved ones in jars.

Governor Chatto said Bohol is also home to Asia's largest mangrove forest called Banacon located north of the municipality of Getafe. It has a total of 425 hectares with only 15 hectares dry land and the rest are extensive mangrove plantation.

In a press statement, the Governor credited the strong support and cooperation of tourism stakeholders in Bohol in promoting the new tourist destinations of the province.

“ The strong partnership between the local government and the private tourism stakeholders, a well equipped manpower with innate hospitality as well as the rich natural, cultural and historical attractions of Bohol are the three main factors why we are confident to become a tourism superpower,” said Chatto.

AirAsia, the Filipino Low Cost Carrier is fully supporting the ‘Behold...BOHOL’ campaign by offering its lowest possible rates for tourists visiting Bohol.

AirAsia, the world’s best low cost airline flies three times daily to Bohol.

Kawasaki Philippines Holds Annual Dealers Convention, Launches new Fury

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Kawasaki Motors Philippines Corporation (KPMC), one of the country’s leading brands in the motorcycle industry recently held its 2014 Dealers Convention and served as a platform for the launching of several powerful machines. 

Held at the Grand Ballroom of the Manila Hotel last November 21, 2014, the great celebration was made more colorful with the presence of actress Daiana Menezes who hosted the event with Kawasaki Motors Philippines’ Dan Darang. 

The evening was capped off with musical entertainment and sing-along sessions led by comedienne Rufa Mi and Kawasaki Motors’ own Cesar Co.

About 400 Kawasaki dealers from all over the archipelago, as well as international guests from Japan and India donned on their mad max attire for the morning session and mob bosses and sexy vixen outfits to adapt to “Gotham,” theme of the evening session. 

Teench Layosa - Doval Santos, Kawasaki Motors Philippines’ General Manager for Sales and Marketing, said “the past years had been very challenging to the country’s motorcycle industry. Kawasaki Philippines’ 2014 Dealers Convention is our means to bolster the morale of our dealers to remind them that we can rise above this so-called ‘apocalyptic’ milieu by fighting head-on and launching more powerful ‘machines’ in the market.”

“It has been a while since the Fury was introduced in the market and we feel that it is high time that we excite the market once again,” adds Santos. “By adapting ‘Gotham’ as this year’s theme, we would like to drive a point that as ‘Gotham’ is the prequel to ‘Batman’, then the Fury is the prequel to the Ninja--- and that the only way to the Ninja is through the Fury,” concludes Santos. 

Bigwigs Vicente Quimbo, Founder and President of Bel Mondo Italia Corporation, makers of Novellino Wines and luxury car tycoon Mr. Wellington Soong, President of AutostradaMatore, Inc., the biggest luxury car distributor in the Philippines graced the occasion to impart their entrepreneurial advices to the attendees.

Kawasaki Dealers Convention served as a platform for the launching of several powerful machines: Avenger 220; the Rouser bloodlines --Rouser 135, Rouser 180 and Rouser 200NS and the two singles: Ninja 250SL and Z250SL. 

The highlight of the event, however was the showcase of the new Fury: Fury 125 and Fury 125RR. 

Fury 125 is still molded with its signature cross breed design concept, but with improved styling, engine and performance, while the more sporty Fury 125RR in alloy wheels is equipped with a manual clutch. The styling of the Fury is like a hybrid of a big bike, with sharper and enhanced aesthetics that can be attributed to the Ninja- styling. 

Pres. Aquino leads the green switch launch of the 1.5 MW solar-powered rooftop

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"We are marking a moment in history with the launch of solar rooftop power plant." -  President Benigno S. Aquino III

President Benigno Aquino lll, along with SM Prime Holdings President Hans Sy and Solar Philippines President Leandro Leviste, switched on the 1.5 MW solar-powered rooftop at the multi-level car park building of SM City North EDSA.on Monday, November 24.  Joining the activation of the solar panels are Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr., Energy Secretary Jericho Petilla.

Philippine retail and property giant SM Prime Holdings Inc. is building the largest commercial solar rooftop in the Philippines as part of its commitment to use clean, renewable and sustainable energy in its operations. 

After switching on the largest solar-powered rooftop in its Quezon City establishment, the mall operator unit of Sy-led SM Prime Holdings Inc. will embark on putting more solar installations in its other malls in 2015.

Solar Philippines is the company behind the largest commercial rooftop solar power  projects in the country.

"With the launch of the solar power system that will make SM City North EDSA the very first SM mall in the Philippines to become solar-powered," the President said in his inaugural address.

With a generating capacity of 1.5MW, the solar-powered rooftop can supposedly accommodate 5 percent of the mall's average consumption per day—equivalent to about P2 million in savings per month. SM Prime and Solar Philippines installed 5,760 solar panels on the roof deck of car park building of the mall.

Solar Philippines founder and president Leandro Leviste said the investment for the 1.5 MW solar-powered rooftop is approximately P120 million. 

Leviste said the investment cost for MOA's solar panels would be over P200 million and roughly P60 million for SM City Dasmariñas. 

"If MOA is double the size, double the cost. If Dasma is half the size, then half the cost," he noted.

In his speech, the President also bared SM's plans to install solar panels in SM Dasmariñas in Cavite and Mall of Asia in Pasay City.

"Of course, it is my hope that you do not stop there: that, eventually, every building that boasts an SM logo will have the same kinds of solar facilities," Aquino noted. 

“We are hopeful that both the House and the Senate will approve the joint resolution we requested sooner rather than later, in order to give the national government enough time to contract the necessary reserves,” Aquino said in his speech

SM Supermalls president Annie Garcia said the SM Group will be installing 3,243 solar panels in SM City Dasmariñas in Cavite with a capacity of 0.8 MW and 10,534 solar panels in SM Mall of Asia (MOA) with a 2.7-MW capacity.

SM Prime Holdings, the country's largest retail and mall operator, will energize two of its chain of SM malls with solar panels by next year.

"SM City Dasmarinas in Cavite will power 800 kilowatts kW, made up of about 3,243 solar panels, while SM Mall of Asia (MOA) in Pasay will power 2.7 megawatts (MWs) with 10,534 solar panels," SM Supermalls President Anna Maria Garcia told reporters Monday.

Garcia said that the solar panels would start operations by May 2015 for the Dasma located mall, while the panels for MOA would be completed before the end of 2015.

SM said the Solar Rooftop project was part of its continuing commitment towards making its operations sustainable and environment friendly, along with its aim to alleviate the Luzon reserve shortage by the summer of 2015.

The panels will be installed by Solar Philippines, which is the same company that supplied the panel installations Monday at SM North Edsa.

Solar Power Philippines is Southeast Asia’s largest developer of rooftop power plants. It also put up solar panels at Binan Mall with 700-kilowatt installed capacity on Sept. 22. 

"SM will continue to partner with Solar Philippines for the next solar installations. The partners are also studying if it will be feasible to have more malls to have the same solar installation," Garcia noted.

"Of course we have to study it, how malls can afford it. It really depends on the study of Solar Philippines for us," she said.

"But we shall continue to seek ways and solutions in climate change adaptation. We shall continue to heed government's call to action," Garcia said.

The SM official shared that the solar-powered rooftop in SM City North EDSA is not the group's first venture in renewable energy (RE).

"This is SM Prime's first in the Philippines. Our giant first step in clean, RE in the country. Last year we energized SM City Xiamen in China with 1.1 MW solar energy utilizing 3,740 panels," Garcia added. 

The 1.5 Mw solar panel bank atop SM Supermall along EDSA North Ave. in Quezon City, during its launching on Monday, November 24. The panels are touted to be able to meet 5% of the mall's power requirements.

“We are hopeful that both the House and the Senate will approve the joint resolution we requested sooner rather than later, in order to give the national government enough time to contract the necessary reserves,” Aquino said.

“Most of you may be aware of current projections: If we do not adjust accordingly, Luzon might experience a shortage of a minimum of around 300 megawatts to a maximum of 1,000 MW next summer. This is not a challenge the national government can overcome alone, which is why we are working with all sectors to address this issue,” Aquino said.

“For example, through the interruptible load program (ILP), the SM Group will deload 57.9 MW during critical times when supply falls short of demand. This might not be enough to address that shortage, but it is indeed a very significant step forward, and will hopefully spur other businesses to follow suit,” he said.

The President said the government is doing everything in its power to overcome this challenge and cited the decision of the House of Representatives’ committees on energy and on ways and means to authorize the national government to contract additional generating capacity to prevent an energy shortage.

He said the government is also looking for ways to lessen the demand for electricity, especially during peak hours.

Other guests are Speaker Sonny Belmonte; Secretary Icot Petilla; Senator Loren Legarda; Mr. Hans Sy; Ms. Tessie Sy-Coson; Mr. Leandro Leviste; Ms. Anna Marie Garcia; Congressman Boy Calalay; Mayor Herbert Bautista; Vice Mayor Joy Belmonte; and Mr. Alfonso Sy.