Watch Matilda on the final weekend at the Meralco Theater

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“Even if you’re little, you can do a lot” says a line in Naughty which is probably the most popular song from the well-loved and award – winning musical Matilda. This says much about Atlantis Theatrical Entertainment Group’s latest offering as it stages for the first time in the Philippines Roald Dahl’s classic story about Matilda – an amazing little girl with extraordinary intelligence and psychokinetic powers. Now on its final weekend from December 8 – 10 at the Meralco Theater, this musical shows how little Matilda and her friends fought against the injustices of childhood with their wit, bravery and by being a little bit naughty. 

Since its opening performance last November 10 at the Meralco Theater, Matilda the Musical has been highly-acclaimed by theater-goers both young and old making it one of the best theater events this season. Headlining this wonderful musical treat dubbed by Jovic Yee in an article as “the future of Philippine theater”, are three equally talented and brilliant Matildas – Esang de Torres, Felicity Kyle Napuli and Uma Naomi Martin. 

From the outstanding performances of theater veterans and the amazing young actors who played Crunchem Hall’s revolting children to its masterfully crafted set design this musical is certainly a delightful production. 

“There was not a moment that there was no anticipation, not a second that there was no excitement, not a blip where there was no engagement between audience and production”, says theater critic Sujata S. Mukhi. Another theater critic and online editor Vladimir Bunoan, described the musical as one that should easily appeal to the Harry Potter crowd with its dark and magical themes, empowered characters and imaginative visuals. Atlantis’ staging of this Dahl classic is one that captured the hearts of its audience – a powerful representation of an innocent story with a poignant charm that knows no age. 

There will be no re-runs so catch Matilda The Musical on its final weekend from December 8 – 10 at the Meralco Theater. Tickets are available at Ticketworld (call 891-9999 or visit www.ticketworld.com.ph). 

For more information and complete show details, visit http://atlantistheatrical.com/faq.

Why McJim leather goods make the perfect Christmas gifts for the men in your life

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The signs are here: nippy mornings, Yuletide carols being aired, that tingly feeling of joyous anticipation . . . and yes, traffic snarls and gridlocks due to mall sales and bazaars. The latter is a stark reminder that the “season to be jolly” comes with the perennial search for the perfect gifts to give the men in your lives.

Stumped for choice? This year, forget fancy—think classic, enduring, and timeless. 

Think McJim Classic Leather and choose from its vast array of high-quality accessories that are meant to last as long as your love and affection will. 

You can never go wrong with leather! Especially not with McJim’s finely crafted leather accessories designed to suit your laidback lolo, your no-nonsense corporate dad, your sporty and stylish husband or boyfriend, your multi-tasking guy friends and officemates, and your picky, fashionable brother.

Check out the following options from McJim Classic Leather and get your toughest holiday shopping chore done—quick and easy:

Leather wallets. A McJim leather wallet is made to last for years. Style-conscious but practical husbands or boyfriends will appreciate those designed with slots for photos, credit cards, driver’s license, and assorted stuff. Your dad and lolo will say goodbye to their tattered old wallets when you gift them with sleek McJim billfolds that they can easily slip into their pockets. 

Belts. Gifting your special male friend with a leather belt affirms your special bond and intimate relationship. McJim offers a variety of authentic leather belts that feature unique-looking metal buckles and come in neutral colors—basic modernist black, basic dark brown, and reversible minimalist—that will suit his wardrobe.

To make gift-buying easier, McJim also offers all-leather belt and wallet gift sets that are wrapped and ready-to-give.

Leather bags. A stylish and functional bag, roomy enough to stash stuff for work, school, and special events is a must-have for any upwardly mobile young man. To help you choose the right bag, McJim offers sturdy leather bags that come in a range of styles, sizes, and functionality—shoulder bags, cross body bags, and gadget bags.

For almost 50 years now, McJim Classic Leather has been the leading and trusted brand for making classic leather goods and accessories of superior quality and design. 

McJim products are available in leading online shopping sites and all major department stores nationwide. For more information, visit and like the official McJim Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/OfficialMcJIM/.

OPPO supports Miss Possibilities in stopping the use of the “R” Word

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Supporting children with special needs for fair treatment and recognition by the society

Miss Possibilities, the first pageant in Asia for children with special needs, just recently crowned Miss Possibilities 2017 Jennica Garcia. Despite having cerebral palsy, this did not stop Jennica in achieving her dreams by finishing a degree in Finance Accounting and passing the teacher’s licensure exam. 

OPPO fully supports the Miss Possibilities Foundation in its aim to raise awareness for equal treatment. One of their strong advocacies is to end the use of the “R” word due to its defamatory and unethical meaning. 

The pageant is in its 3rd installment since 2015, and it has become a tradition for the special needs community to gather together for one special night to celebrate their achievements, talents, and importance to the society. 

With its core theme “Beauty Knows No Boundaries”, it also featured the overwhelming support of influential celebrities who joined the special fashion show with children from the special needs community in their French themed outfits. 

OPPO Philippines supported all pageant contestants by giving them their own smartphones to enable them to capture moments and share their experiences online as they too, have the equal opportunity to explore and experience the social media world. 

“We fully support the advocacy of Miss Possibilities Foundation in giving people with special needs equal treatment in society today. The aim of ending the use of the “R” word is very admirable and should be encouraged as this is a start to having a better future for our society,” said OPPO Philippines’ PR Manager Eason de Guzman.

“Miss Possibilities Foundation gives those with special needs a platform to be celebrated without being judged or excluded because of their differences. We cherish those differences and would like to thank OPPO Philippines for doing the same. Thank you to OPPO Philippines for making this opportunity and experience possible for people with special needs and their families,” said Suzanna Yuzon, Founder and President of Miss Possibilities Foundation.

Miss Possibilities will continue their advocacy in 2018 with more medical missions, workshops, and other programs for families with special needs. To show your support, you may go to their official Facebook page facebook.com/misspossibilitiesph and personally message for donations, volunteerism, or any gesture of help. 

For more exciting updates, you may also visit the OPPO Philippines’ Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/OPPOPH/

Connect to you favorite travel apps abroad for free with Smart's RoamFree app

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People always loved the adventure of travel. Traveling has been something that has become a part of you. Here's the great news for all travelers and adventure lovers. 

Traveling abroad is now a lot easier and more convenient with RoamFree, Smart’s groundbreaking app that lets you connect to your favorite travel services without data roaming charges.

Downloadable on Google Play Store and iTunes, the app offers free access to up to 21 travel apps in 26 destinations abroad, allowing overseas travelers to book transportation and accommodations, navigate the city, sign up for tours, and get food and travel recommendations, among others, for a travel experience like never before.

Designed as a one-stop portal, RoamFree gives you free instant access to up to 21 partner apps at your destination, even if you haven’t subscribed to a roaming data package. 

With RoamFree, relevant travel information and services are right at your fingertips: you can easily check in your flights, reserve and confirm hotel accommodations, book rides, sign up for local tours, and check out top food spots, among many others, for a hassle-free getaway. 

The app is now available for use in 26 destinations, including the United States, Australia, Canada, China, Hong Kong, Macau, Japan, Singapore, Thailand, Taiwan, and United Kingdom. It is also accessible for free in Indonesia, Malaysia, Vietnam, Cambodia, Albania, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Malta, Portugal, Romania, and the United Arab Emirates.

One-stop travel portal without data charges

To use the portal, simply download the RoamFree app on Google Play Store if you are an Android user, or iTunes if you have an iOS device. Once abroad, just turn on your mobile data and open the RoamFree app to access your accounts on various partner sites and services – without worrying about data charges.

Through the app, you can sign in to your account and book rides on Uber, reserve your accommodations through AirBNB, Agoda, or Booking; and navigate your way around the city using Google Maps. You can also check in your flights ahead of time on PassnFly; get valuable local tips on Musement; pore over recommendations from fellow travelers on TripAdvisor and Triip; or get together with locals who share your passions via Meetup.com.

You can also book tours on Klook and Tiqets; order food or reserve a table in top restaurants via Foodpanda, OpenTable, and TheFork; and snag deals on Groupon, KeyFlow, and Viator. You also have practical travel apps at your fingertips, such as Google Translate, XE Currency Converter, and ATM Finder.

Download RoamFreenow on Google Play Store and iTunes for a travel experience like never before.

Miss Universe 2015 and Smart World endorser Pia Wurtzbach toasts to the launch of Smart's RoamFree App. Joining Pia are (from left) celebrity host and blogger Nicole Andersson; PLDT Global Corp. CEO and President Kat Luna-Abelarde; and PLDT Global Corp Head for Business Development Alice Ramos.

Smart World for hassle-free getaways

“Staying online while traveling abroad makes for a hassle-free travel experience, but unfortunately, many travelers still choose to go offline out of fear of racking up enormous data roaming charges. The RoamFree app addresses this by allowing you to freely connect to relevant content and services that make for a travel experience like never before,” said Kat Luna-Abelarde, PLDT Global Corp. President and CEO.

Kat Luna-Abelarde, PLDT Global Corp. President and CEO

“Working with key players in the digital travel space, we are able to deliver sponsored data to cater to the growing number of overseas travelers, and reinforce our thrust to connect Filipinos wherever they are. In the same way that we are expanding and improving our nationwide network, we are continuously enhancing our global services to give our subscribers the best mobile experience - whether they are in the Philippines or abroad,” said Eric R. Alberto, Chief Revenue Officer of PLDT and Smart.

Track your online activities abroad

Among Smart World’s innovative solutions is the Data Roam Manager, a one-stop portal that lets you buy data roaming packs, and keep track of your data usage while on the go. Accessible to all Smart Prepaid and Postpaid subscribers traveling in over 130 countries, the Data Roaming Manager pops up when you open your mobile browser, such as Google Chrome or Safari, after turning on your mobile data and data roaming. 

The Data Roaming Manager lets you monitor your active subscription, so you never have to worry about going over your set data package and racking up unwanted charges. It gives you specific details, such as your running data volume consumption, as well as the start and expiration of your subscription, so you can take full control of your roaming experience.

Smart’s biggest data roaming pack

Smart World has also introduced GigaRoam, its biggest data roaming pack, providing 1GB data valid for 7 days for only Php999. 

GigaRoam lets you enjoy all your online activities as you travel, whether its video streaming, downloading, surfing, or updating your social media accounts.

To give travelers utmost flexibility, the RoamFree App and the Data Roaming Manager also allow users to register to data roaming packs perfect for their needs – whether its GigaRoam, Surf Abroad or Chat Abroad.

Surf Abroad lets you enjoy 24-hour data roaming for a flat-rate of Php550 per day, while Chat Abroad, lets you stay connected to chat apps like Messenger, WhatsApp, Telegram, Line, WeChat, and Viber for only Php150 per day.

Enjoy free access to 21 apps including Uber, Google Maps, and Booking in 26 destinations

To know more about the Smart’s RoamFree app, Data Roaming Manager, and the data roaming packs perfect for your needs, visit smart.com.ph/world and follow Smart’s official account on Facebook (www.facebook.com/SmartCommunications), Twitter and Instagram (@LiveSmart).

GLOBE, PAL, MIAA spread cheer to arriving OFWs, tourists with special Christmas surprise

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Globe Telecom’s International Business Group, together with Philippine Airlines (PAL) and Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA) held a special Christmas surprise for arriving Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) and tourists as a way to spread cheer and make them feel the spirit of the holiday season.

Passengers of PR 659 from Dubai to Manila who landed at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 2 were welcomed by representatives from MIAA, Globe and Philippine Airlines with heart-warming messages as soon as they disembarked the plane. 

The best surprise were waiting for them at the baggage carousel. Instead of their luggage, the carousel were filled with surprise treats for everyone. In the background, a lively Filipino Christmas tune was playing to create a festive atmosphere at the arrival hall. Santa Claus, on the other hand, had his huge sack filled with toys for the kids.

“Christmas is something that Filipinos love to celebrate together with their family and friends, thus, homecomings during this season becomes more meaningful. We at Globe, in collaboration with PAL and MIAA, wanted this occasion to be very special to returning Filipinos and to tourists alike to make them happier and for them to appreciate why Pasko is truly more fun in the Philippines,” said Mike Frausing, Senior Advisor for Globe International Business Group.

The surprise was in celebration of the first year partnership of Globe and PAL. Globe IBG has been giving away free Mabuhay Traveler SIM to all international PAL flight passengers which gives them 500 bonus Mabuhay Miles, free 300 MB of data and unlimited calls to Globe valid for one day, and 10% discount at selected Duty Free Philippines shop.

Globe and PAL are working together to be of service to more Filipinos in and out of the country with a common advocacy of delighting international visitors and returning Filipinos by giving them a wonderful experience every time they arrive in the Philippines.