Two More Filipino Acts Impress Judges on the X Factor UK : Boyband JBK, and Singer Elysa V. are Moving to the Next Round

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JBK, boyband from the Philippines, and Filipina-Australian singer Elysa V., took their shot at The X Factor UK and raised the Filipino spirit and flag yet again.

JBK performed Sam Smith’s Lay Me Down, a song well-loved by the judges. Their 24- hour flight paid off as they got 4 yeses from the judges in the 4th episode of the show today.

JBK

JBK members, Joshua Bulot, Bryan del Rosario, and Kim Lawrenz Ordonio, is the first Filipino boyband who made it to the show. Fans are hopeful that they make it far just like the Filipina girl group 4th Impact who joined the show two years ago.

After their performance, Judge Louis Walsh praised the group, “I love your dedication flying from the Philippines, it was good!”

Judge Nicole Scherzinger, who also has Filipino blood added, “You are making the Filipinos so proud right now”. This comment made the group really happy.

After Simon said “4 Yeses”, the boys could not contain their joy as they left the room running.

Another X Factor UK hopeful, Filipino-Australian, Elysa V., performed Fleur East’s Sax in full energy. Judge Nicole was so impressed that she flew all the way from Australia, and told her “For you, your mom, dad, everyone back home in Australia, it’s a Yes.”

Elysa V

Both acts are moving to the next level of the show joining fellow Filipino Gaga Lord, who also got 4 yeses from the judges last week.

The X Factor UK airs first and exclusive on RTL CBS Entertainment same day as the UK on Sundays and Mondays at 10:30am with primetime encores Sundays, Mondays and Thursdays at 9:00pm. 

RTL CBS 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).

Gelli De Belen says versatility is one of the secrets to her longevity in showbiz, loving it at ABS-CBN

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Award winning actress and host Gelli de Belen, believes that versatility is one of the secrets to longevity.

Being in the entertainment business for 29 years, Gelli has built quite an impressive resume, thanks to her versatility as an actress.

Equally adept in both comedy and drama, Gelli takes pride in being able to dabble in both genres. However, she does not think it is necessary to be good in both when you can be a master of one. But to be able to do comedy and drama allow for more opportunities.

Gelli had her television debut in 1994 as a mainstay of the sketch comedy show Tropang Trumpo, which aired on ABC 5 (now known as TV5). 

The film Gagay: Prinsesa ng brownout has earned her a Best Actress Nomination in the Manila Film Festival. In 1995, Gelli won the Gawad Urian Award for Best Actress for her role of Sarah Jane Salazar in the movie The Secrets of Sarah Jane: Sana'y Mapatawad Mo, a film about the true-to-life story of AIDS victim Sarah Jane Salazar.

​​Her adaptability for any given role assigned to her has opened many doors over the years, one of which led her back to ABS-CBN in 2015. 

Her first hosting job on TV was for the defunct noontime show ‘Sang Linggo nAPO Sila. After it went off the air in 1998, Gelli switched networks twice. First she went to GMA Network and stayed there for several years before moving back to ABC 5 (which had become TV5 by then). But now that Gelli’s back with ABS-CBN, it’s clear that she’s thriving—personally and professionally.

​“I was excited to be working with ABS-CBN again after a long time. I felt a bit anxious too because I knew I’d have to adjust to a relatively new environment again. But I said yes to becoming a Kapamilya kaagad because I’m always willing to work and try new things. I felt a sense of nostalgia when I walked the halls of ABS-CBN again. I kind of grew up there. I started working there when I was fifteen years old until I was twenty-four, so of course I was very happy to be back. It felt great to see my old colleagues and friends again. It was fun to meet new faces as well.”

On working exclusively for major networks, Gelli explains the pros and cons:

  "I think there are pros and cons to being signed exclusively with any network for us old-timers (hehehe). The pros would be being secure that you have a job for the length of your contract, that you are relevant enough for them to invest on you and that raises your status as an actor, so to speak. Cons would be, not being able to work elsewhere, I guess options and opportunities are limited as well since unlike the younger actors, we the older ones would have more roles open to us since we usually do not play the lead as much, so more roles are available. Not having an exclusive contract would give us the freedom to choose more roles and work for any network. So for me, at this point where I think I have established myself already, I prefer not being exclusive to any network."

​​Since returning to ABS-CBN, Gelli has done two teleseryes—FPJ’s Ang Probinsyano and Magpahanggang Wakas, the latter of which saw her play against type.

​“It felt great to have been part of such exceptional shows. Especially when I did Magpahanggang Wakas. My role on that show was my first as a full-on antagonist, and I loved doing it. I have to admit that it was a big adjustment for me, but I welcomed the challenge and I hope I did justice to the character I was given.”

​Gelli’s latest project is the action-packed, top-rating teleserye La Luna Sangre, where she plays Betty Torralba, the doting aunt of Daniel Padilla’s character Tristan.

​“Daniel is a sweetheart. His Mom Karla Estrada brought him up well. He is a natural. I think he was born to be a star,” she says.

​Gelli is having the time of her life on La Luna Sangre and says she’s open to doing fight scenes should her character get caught up in the war brewing on the show between humans, werewolves and vampires.

“I hope for my character to continue to be the grounding factor to keep Tristan's fearlessness in check. I’m looking forward to seeing Betty evolve and grow as a character. Of course I’m open to doing fight scenes. It will be challenging but I do miss doing scenes like that. It has been a while since I did action. I’d like to see if I can still handle such scenes in the event I’m called upon to do them.”

Gelli shares that she’s also thinking about doing an independent film in the future. Right now, however, she’s still looking for the right script.

“Of course I’m open to doing films again. I did a short film and an advocacy film recently and I’m also willing to do indies. Right now I’m not sure what kind of film I want to do or who I want to do it with because there's an infinite amount of possible plots and stories, ‘di ba? But siguro as long as it’s interesting, I’ll do it gladly.”

Aside from acting, Gelli also loves hosting.

“Hosting is another passion of mine and I am grateful to have been able to learn a lot from my hosting stints. As a host, I can express myself as me and address the audience directly, as opposed to acting where I become someone else. Hosting is one of the things I love most about this business, so I’d love to find a way to do it again now that I’m a Kapamilya.”

For inquiries call or email info@asianartistsagency.com or call tel: (02) 405 4423 or (02) 855 4765. 

Shaping Living for the Better: Electrolux celebrates 15 years in the Philippines

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As a leading global appliance company, Electrolux shapes living for the better by reinventing taste, care and wellbeing experiences, making life more enjoyable and sustainable for millions of people. 

Last Sept. 6, at Shangri-La at the Fort, Electrolux Philippines held Pamana, 15 Years of Electrolux Heritage , a gala celebration of the anniversary and with the launch of the Electrolux FashionCare Campaign, unveiling the Electrolux FashionCare Ambassador, iconic Philippine fashion designer Rajo Laurel, and the FashionCare Council.

Electrolux is the brand to be trusted when it comes to fashion and caring for your clothes. The FashionCare Campaign launch introduced the latest Electrolux washing machines and dryers with amazing features designed to fit perfectly into the modern lifestyle.

Electrolux Philippines’ elegant evening gala Pamana (heritage) truly lived up to its name as the company celebrated 15 years of thoughtfully designed appliances in Filipino homes with the promise of shaping living for the better. 

Since 2002, its entry into the Philippine market,  Electrolux has been supporting Filipino families with innovative appliances that are both insightful and progressive, displaying true empathy for the challenges facing mothers and delivering ingenious solutions and delightful experiences for them and their family.

From the Electrolux man who would “knock on your door, ring on your bell, knock on your window too,” this inventive company with Swedish roots has come a long way. It now offers a complete range of appliances that includes washing machines and dryers, refrigerators and ovens, vacuum cleaners and air conditioners, with Electrolux enjoying market leadership in vacuum cleaners and strong positions in No Frost Refrigerators and Washing Machines. 

Electrolux is also proud of being able to achieve significant growth year on year, a sign that the company has truly come home. 

Pops Fernandez performed at the Electrolux 15th Pamana Heritage Anniversary 

When it comes to marketing, Electrolux has been equally innovative. The company has also won accolades for its best-in-class marketing campaigns such as the Discover-E kitchen campaign, which invited Filipinos to re-discover their appreciation of Filipino food, culture, and heritage, and the Clothes & Hugs Wash-a-Thon, an advocacy campaign and clothes donation drive to help typhoon victims. 

As it celebrates its 15th anniversary, Electrolux shared that its aim is to shape living for the better and improve the everyday lives of Filipinos. It means a renewed focus on what their products and solutions can help people achieve, to create experiences that will elevate everyday life and to be a driving force in sustainable living. 

In the coming years, Electrolux will continue to deliver solutions on three fronts – Taste, Care and Well-being. 

“We want families to be able to enjoy great tasting food. We want to help them care for their clothes, which will give them confidence to face the world, and we want to make their homes a healthier place for their loved ones,” said Nelson Cabanban, General Manager of Electrolux Philippines.  

“Electrolux is committed to creating appliances and experiences that make everyday life more enjoyable and more comfortable, while at the same time, encouraging more families to live sustainably,” he added. 

Electrolux has not only launched refrigerators that help keep food fresher for longer but also creating oven that cook evenly and hobs with precise temperature controls and high speed to enable home cooks to create delectable dishes.

There is also a growing consciousness among Filipinos on the importance of wellbeing and creating a cleaner, healthier living environment. Electrolux has key solution areas to help families get a better home environment through floor care, air care and water care.

When it comes to Care, it’s all about creating products that enable clothes to last longer and look their best and Electrolux’s latest campaign – FashionCare – introduces a whole new way of washing with Electrolux that is designed to fit perfectly into the lifestyle of the modern mom. 

“We aim to inspire the modern Filipina and show her that there are truly no limits to what she can achieve at home. And with clothes being one of the ways a woman can feel confident, the launch of the FashionCare Campaign is timely as it liberates women from the hassle of hand washing or the expense of dry cleaning when it comes to her delicate or fashionable pieces,” said Andrea Pionilla, Country Marketing Manager of Electrolux Philippines.

The FashionCare Campaign launch introduced the latest washing machines of Electrolux that come with innovations that prevent faded colors, shrinkage and misshaping. Electrolux also created the FashionCare Council, composed of FashionCare ambassador Rajo Laurel, and Council members Amina Aranaz-Alunan and Janice Villanueva, to educate consumers on how to care for their clothes. 

“Clothing matters because there’s a certain power to it. I’ve always believed that, as a designer, my gift is this particular power. With the power comes confidence. And with confidence you are able to conquer everything. It’s our modern day armor,” Laurel said. 

And armed with design solutions from Electrolux, Filipino women and families can certainly look forward to more years of healthier, more inspired and more enjoyable choices for their home. 

For more information and healthy living tips, please visit www.electrolux.com.ph and follow @ElectroluxPhilippines on Facebook and Instagram or @ElectroluxPH on Twitter.

Take on life’s possibilities with Vivo Y69

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In a sea of selfie-centric devices from various other brands, the Vivo Y69 is every techy’s sweet surrender to the selfie trend. Much like its predecessors, the Vivo Y69 is equipped with a 16 megapixel Perfect Selfie front camera allowing for softlight-enabling moonlight glow for flawless photos. 

The one-of-its-kind front camera is paired perfectly with a 13 megapixel rear camera with ‘Live Photo’ feature and has a f/2.0 aperture. 

A special feature called ‘Group Selfie’ allows panorama panning effect so ‘barkada shots’ may be taken with no one left out of the frame. 

The Vivo Y69 enables you to live life on the double with the Smart Slip 3.0 feature. Enjoy entertainment and chatting with just a quick three-finger swipe and you have two apps running at the same time. This service currently supports Facebook, YouTube, WhatsApp, Line, BBM, WeChat, Viber, built-in Messages and Videos, Play Movies & TV, MX Player, and VCL for Android. Moreover, the Y69 model’s App Clone allows you to split your professional interactions from your personal ones with the App Clone. You get to appreciate the freedom of multiple accounts, as App Clone offers multiple instances of the same app. Understanding the value of privacy, the Vivo Y69 boasts of a 2.0 second fingerprint scanner conveniently integrated with the main home button. The Y69 runs on the latest Android 7.0 Nougat.

Light-weight at only 162.8g, this newest offering from one of the top 5 global smartphone brands is albeit heavy with features at par with its pricier counterparts. The Vivo Y69’s processor is a MediaTek MT6570 SoC, with a speed of 1.5Ghz, also boasting of a 3GB RAM. This device has a triple card slot which supports a bigger internal storage of 32GB further expandable up to 256GB. It also rocks a 5.5-inch HD 1280x720 pixels display furnished with Corning Gorilla Glass 3 on top.

With the age 21st century smartphones swiftly evolving to re-shape and catch up with the era of dynamic, fast-moving work and personal lifestyle, Vivo does not disappoint. The Vivo Y69 levels up the selfie game but with equally powerful features that makes this easy-on-the pocket phone beyond the price. 

For inquiries about Vivo V7+, please visit the Vivo website at vivoglobal.ph, or check out their Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/VivoPhil), Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/vivophil/) and Twitter (https://twitter.com/vivophil) accounts.

urbanAthletics Gathers Sneaker Lovers at Flagship Store Relaunch

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The Street Lifestyle Store Celebrates the Re-opening of its Flagship Store in Greenbelt 3 with Top Influencers and Bloggers.

urbanAthletics, a leading street lifestyle retailer known for its meticulous selection of sneakers and apparel from the most sought-after sports brands, kicked off on a high note as it gathered top fashion bloggers and influencers from all over the metro to celebrate the re-opening of its flagship store in Greenbelt 3, Makati City last August 17.

urbanAthletics’ relaunch party is a fashion show in its own sense as bloggers and influencers readily pose for the cameras as they tour the leading street lifestyle retailer’s modern and sleeker flagship store.

Bloggers and influencers who joined the urbanAthletics family at the launch were David Guison, Vina Guerrero, Cha Ocampo, Deegee Razon, Kerwin King, Bea Benedicto, Ida Anduyan, Gela Munoz, and Janeena Chan. Other blogger-influencers who graced the party were Chin Chin Obcena, Patrice Averilla, Kim Cruz, Katt Valdez, Rea Bue, Trish Ramos, Yuki Tansengco, and GMA rising star Lharby Policarpio.

All guests were treated to an evening of good food and good music as they toured the sneaker store’s new modern-industrial interiors and perused its well-curated selection of sneakers and apparel. Attendees were also treated to a sneaker cleaning service by Crep Protect.

The relaunch party was a fashion show in its own sense as guests turned the store into their own catwalk, readily posing for the cameras as they tried on a pair of sneakers after another until they found the ideal shoe for their style. 

“The store redesign is part of the brand’s growing commitment to take the customer experience to the next level amid a constantly evolving sneaker market. We thank everyone who made this relaunch possible, especially our guests and all sneaker lovers who showed their support for this project,” said Toby Claudio, President of Quorum International Inc., the parent company of urbanAthletics