AirAsia is Keeping Fares Low, No Fuel Surcharge on All Domestic and International Flights

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Manila, Philippines -2 October 2018 – AirAsia, the World’s Best Low Cost Airline, announced today it will not add fuel surcharge on domestic or international fares, staying true to its commitment to provide unparalleled low fares.

AirAsia Philippines CEO Captain Dexter Comendador said, “To help reduce travel cost and stimulate more demand for travel and tourism, we will not be adding fuel surcharge on our fares for all domestic and international flights. We want to keep our fares low to encourage more people to travel.”

Last September, the Civil Aeronautics Board (CAB) approved the guidelines on the imposition of the passenger fuel surcharge for domestic and international flights. The CAB also adopted a matrix for fuel surcharge that will be determined based on the two-month average of jet fuel

MOPS (Mean of Platts Singapore) prices in its peso per liter equivalent and will be fixed for two months.

Based on the published and approved matrix, fuel surcharge rates for domestic flights are divided into five categories, depending on flight distance. Domestic air fares according to CAB estimate could be slapped with an additional cost of up to P769 and those for international flights by as much as P9,860 with the reimposition by local carriers of the fuel surcharge.

“We are closely monitoring the impact of high oil price on our operations, however, we are also working hard to offset the sharp jet fuel costs by adopting cost efficient measures across the network or within the AirAsia Group,” Comendador said.

AirAsia is set to launch new flights to and from Cagayan de Oro and Kaoshiung in Taiwan on 28 October. Promo fares from as low as P850 are available for booking now until 7 October 2018 at www.airasia.com and valid for travel starting 28 October 2018 to 30 March 2019.

AirAsia currently operates a fleet of 20 aircraft with flights to and from Manila, Cebu, Clark, Davao, Tacloban, Puerto Princesa, Iloilo, Tagbilaran and Kalibo/Boracay including international flights to Kuala Lumpur, Kota Kinabalu, Hong Kong, Macau, Shanghai, Shenzhen, Guangzhou, Ho Chi Minh, Bali, Taipei, Singapore, Seoul/Incheon and Bangkok.

Sam Concepcion X Ben&Ben : We are Family

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Whatever the genre, whatever the era, good music will contain the seeds of universal truths. While most songs are understandably about romantic love, it still is notable that there are few songs about the love that can be found in the family.

Ben & Ben

 Ben & Ben are especially qualified to be part of a song about family because they are literally related as well as a family that was formed by love for music. And song writer and guitarist Paolo Benjamin Guico shares, “ became part of our band!” 

So bonded are Ben and Ben that for their interview, they refused to begin until all nine members were present and ready to begin. The band was started by twins Paolo Miguel Guico and Miguel Benjamin Guico, hence their band name; and has now grown to include Poch Barretto on lead guitar, Jam Villanueva on drums, Agnes Resona on bass, Patricia Lasaten on keyboards, Ton Muñoz on percussion, and backing vocals and Kiefer Cabugao on vocals. For all of them to bond so strongly and effortlessly with Sam Concepcion, not just on the songwriting but on the performing and recording as well, is proof positive that music can truly unite people. 

 “We just connected as a family, sakto lang talaga” Sam insists. 

Sam Concepcion

“Talking about the family can be so cheesy, too cheesy! And sometimes, the emotions can also be too close to home,” admits Paolo. 

“Maybe it’s just easier to talk about love in general, than to say that its about a family,” Sam supposes when asked about the rarity of songs that delve into the dynamics of a family. Very early on in the process, they all honed in on that aspect of going back to your roots. “Just go back, go back , that was very clear. To what family is and what a beautiful story that can be,” Sam reveals. It was a good parallel to their process. 

 “Yes, it could have been difficult, we’re all very different people but what made us gel is that we all felt the same about the family.” 

The Ben and Ben family all admit that while their songs might be smooth and easy to listen to, there are some deep and potentially heartbreaking aspects to their lyrics as well. “We’re nine so that’s nine different experiences from nine different families, so we find what can cross the all that,” Agnes observes. 

But even with all that, Paolo says it was easy to find their groove. “It really just happened.” Miguel then adds, “Even if we had to build the song slowly, everyone just understood the feeling we wanted.” 

 Paolo then says, “And once we started jamming , there was just that magic of playing together.” 

Taste the sounds of Pinoy music as Sam Concepcion and Ben&Ben collaborate for Coke Studio Season 2. Catch them on October 7, at 11:15 a.m. before ASAP on ABS-CBN or on www.youtube.com/CokeStudioPH

Maymay and Edward take their connection to the next level with PLDT Home Prepaid WiFi

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Teen stars and popular love team Maymay Entrata and Edward Barbers are taking their connection to the next level as the new endorsers of PLDT Home Prepaid WiFi, the first prepaid service of the country’s No. 1 home broadband.

Both very active on social media, MayWard – as their throngs of fans call them endearingly – know too well the importance of a reliable Internet connection when it comes to reaching out to their followers and sharing every step of their journey to stardom the moment they finished their stint at a famous reality TV show.

"Then, viewers simply had to tune into their television to get to know what we were doing. Nagbago ang lahat nung natapos ang reality TV show. Now we turn to the Internet and social media as a means to share our lives with our fans,” said Edward.

Sharing their journey via social media

"Malaking-malaki talaga ang utang na loob namin sa aming fans, kaya we always engage them as much as as possible. Thanks to the Internet and apps, mas madali for us to get in touch and interact with them kahit nasaan man sila – Pilipinas man o abroad,” said Maymay.

The loveteam’s accounts are filled with their travel adventures, behind-the-scene moments of their gigs and TV appearances, and daily discoveries that show off their fun-loving and carefree personalities. 

Instagram remains to be the duo’s main social media platforms, with Maymay boasting 1.8 million followers, and Barber amassing 1.2 million followers. Recently, they also got on board the Tiktok craze, using the app to take short videos and edit them with special effects before uploading them for millions of followers. 

Being their own content managers

Just like many celebrities their age, MayWard have turned into their very own social media managers, creating content and managing the account all by themselves. They often start their days scrolling through their own social media feeds, liking and commenting on posts, and then posting their own content to engage with their followers. 

“Very hands-on talaga kami. We think about content that our followers and fans will find fun and masayang-masaya talaga kami whenever they enjoy what we post and put out there," said Edward.

Maymay revealed that most of their social media activities are done during their downtime; for example, backstage while waiting for their stage appearances, in transit for their many shows locally and abroad, or at home during their rest days.

“We use our mobile network when we’re on the go, but when we’re in the comfort of our home, malaking tulong talaga if you have a reliable Internet connection for your online activities. It is in this way that having your own PLDT Home Prepaid WiFi makes perfect sense,” said Edward.

Get your sulit on with PLDT Home Prepaid WiFi

Available at PLDT Stores and retailers nationwide, the PLDT Home Prepaid WiFi comes with FREE 10GB data valid for seven days for a one-time fee of Php1,995. Because it is prepaid, there are no monthly bill payments, locked-in periods, or even uncontrolled data usage. 

Even better, PLDT Home Prepaid WiFi lets you surf for as low as Php15 for 1GB via Home Boost 15, which comes with 1GB valid for 1 day for only Php15. You can enjoy Home Boost 15 as an add-on to promos like Home Boost 50 or up, for greater savings. 

PLDT Home Prepaid WiFi is powered by Smart, the country’s fastest mobile Internet, according to a user-generated survey by Ookla, the world’s network testing leader.

“With PLDT Home Prepaid WiFi, madaling-madali especially for people our age na magkaroon ng sulit at mabilis na Internet connection sa bahay,” said Maymay. “Because it’s Prepaid Home WiFi, di na kailangan ng contract or locked-in period. Mas madali rin ma-control yung data usage and budget mo kasi maglu-load up ka lang sa tuwing gagamitin mo.”

“Even young people our age know the value of sulit,” said Edward. “We know na ‘leveling up’ does not necessarily mean having to pay a high price tag. With PLDT Prepaid Home WiFi, you can truly get your sulit on and enjoy fast Internet at home without having to shell out too much – that’s what’s sulit about it.”

To know more about PLDT Home Prepaid WiFi, visit www.pldthome.com and follow PLDT’s official accounts on Facebook (www.facebook.com/PLDTHome) and Twitter (@PLDTHome).

OPPO named by Counterpoint as a leader in premium smartphones

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OPPO has been named as the leading smartphone brand by market research firm Counterpoint in the lower premium segment. This impressive result proves that the brand is thriving amongst fierce competition in a largely saturated market. Furthermore, with more than 95% of flagship sales coming from the domestic China market, OPPO has ample opportunity to grow its share and thus bring more beautiful smartphone products to young consumers around the world. 

High-end smartphone market price range and OEM share (Source: Counterpoint) 

The Counterpoint report concluded that the global high-end smartphone market grew by 7% in the second quarter of 2018, with excellent performance in high-end product shipments. OPPO accounted for 10% of the overall premium smartphone market and in the $400-600 price segment, OPPO ranked first with 22% market share, followed by Apple, Samsung, Huawei, Xiaomi and others. Within the hugely important China high-end smartphone market, the world’s largest, Apple ranked first and OPPO ranked second. Chinese smartphone manufacturers have “upgraded” their flagship products this year and OPPO has been at the forefront. The newly launched Find X has won unanimous praise from consumers and the media after a highly successful Paris launch. Of course, there is also the company’s R series, which reinvigorated the industry at large with metallic colors and glass gradients. 

OPPO Find X 

In 2018 alone, OPPO has introduced several innovative technologies including the panoramic arc screen, AI-enhanced 3D Camera, SuperVOOC flash charging, TOF and 3D structured light technology. OPPO has also inked partnerships with Stanford University on AI and internally, successfully tested 5G for use in the future development of 5G smartphones. There are many more reasons beyond product features that contribute to OPPO’s fast growth. In recent years, OPPO has put tremendous effort into manufacturing and hardware development with investment in R&D and Design centers around the world. In software, the company’s ColorOS continues to offer users a fast, smooth and intuitive experience. Both are exemplified by our number of applied technology patents, which has reached more than 32,000 globally. 

In marketing and retail, OPPO continues to speak to its target audience of young consumers. So far, it has entered more than 30 countries and regions and operate more than 400,000 stores. OPPO is committed to being the favorite smartphone brand of “young people” around the world and being closer to the interests of these users. In sports, fashion, movies, gaming and other popular culture, OPPO has already partnered with FC Barcelona, India’s Cricket Team, and America’s Next Top Model. In each of these, its goal is to reach out to young users and show how its phones can complement their lives. 

“In the Philippines, we see our smartphones appealing to more and more consumers, and we are very grateful for their support and happy that they find value in our products,” OPPO Philippines’ VP for Marketing Jane Wan said. “With our portfolio ranging from mid-range devices offering high value for money to premium powerhouses like the Find X, our brand is committed to developing the best technologies, design, and user experience which cater to the needs our dynamic consumers.” 

Overall, aside from product, technology and marketing, OPPO’s number one goal is to adhere to the ‘art of technology’ and meet user needs. This is the belief that has produced such results and will continue to in the long term looking ahead.

Coke Studio Season 2 : Collaborations and Coming Home

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Coke Studio Season 2 goes deep to the heart of what we all want: to come home. 

And to give life to this idea of home, Coke Studio has gathered stellar talents from diverse genres, differing music scenes and backgrounds and even distant (and not so distant) shores to create works that not only reflect our times but could also define them. While the first season gave audiences a very real look into what goes into the production of a song, Season 2 delves more deeply into the back stories of the artists. 

This year, the format is also tweaked, as Coke Studio ventures out into the studio to let us all in each artist’s journey and yes, sometimes, literally, their very own homes.

What is homecoming all about? 

It’s all about taking the best lessons of all your journeys and letting them all come together. It’s knowing that no matter how far you go, there will always be a place that is your home. It’s about roots. It’s where you’re accepted for who you are. It’s where you’re reunited with what you love. And who you love. That love and freedom gives you the power to voice out your views. To state what you believe in. To simply be listened to. To reignite what your heart desires. To simply be where you grew up. To return to where it all began. To feel, see, hear, and lift your spirits. Every single day. Homecoming is a chance to be all that you want to be, all that you can dream you can be, and to feel that faith that there is still so much more left to do! It’s about bringing out the best in you and being surrounded by those who inspire you. 

Coke Studio bridges musical categories and brave artists to come up with collaborations that will break new ground. 

Moira Dela Torre

 IV of Spades

Quest

Moira Dela Torre brings her distinct and deeply felt artistry to this season’s stellar selection. Folk indie band and style rule breakers IV of Spades, bring the sound of now. The power of words is given a new dimension with rapper Quest. 

Sam Concepcion

AJ Rafael 

Sam Concepcion, who has made forays into theater and movies, returns to his first love: music. AJ Rafael crosses genres and general preconceived notions of music today. 

Ben&Ben

Kriesha Chu

Ben&Ben who frames family within the flow of music itself. An exploration of what girl power can really reach is a fun and fresh K-pop but Pinay sensation Kriesha Chu. 

Juan Miguel Severo

December Avenue

December Avenue, known for their soulful sound and the many layers in their music, show off the depth of their musical talents. Spoken word pioneer Juan Miguel Severo combines wokeness with wit and word play. 

DJ Patty Tiu

Shanti Dope 

Khalil Ramos

The rap prodigy Shanti Dope will wow with his deftness and mad skills. Khalil Ramos reveals his deep affinity for singing and composition. DJ Patty Tiu expands the definition of dance music. 

 KZ Tandingan

And vocal powerhouse KZ Tandingan showcases a more vulnerable and heartfelt part of her artistic journey. There are also some surprises that will wow music lovers of all genres and generations. 

The second season of Coke Studio further establishes itself as a hub of Pinoy talent by going beyond our local shores and connecting with Filipino talents of various genres.

“We received such an overwhelming response during the first season of Coke Studio PH and this really inspired us to work harder this second season and explore ways to take it further. Last year, Coke Studio became a home for OPM and now we want to continue and strengthen that legacy, making sure that the younger generation and the new lineup of artists can feel the same sense of belonging,” enthuses Stephan Czypionka, Coca-Cola Vice President for Marketing. 

And as this generation knows, more than any other in the past, that we all have the same home and same duty to care for that home, our planet Earth, Coca-Cola is going all out to make a big grand gesture on recycling. Along with the announcement of Coke Studio Season 2, Coca-Cola announced an industry-first goal to collect and recycle the equivalent of every bottle it sells by 2030, in line with the Company’s vision of a World Without Waste. 

At all Coke Studio events, all teens are encouraged to deposit their PET bottles in designated recycling bins. The Coke Studio TuneCycle, a stationary bicycle that grinds recyclable PET bottles will also be a part of all Coke Studio events; this will give a second life to the recyclable PET bottles and turn them to new materials. 

Coke Studio emphasizes divergent musical acts coming together, and all these environmental initiatives are also programs for consumers and the company to come together. Every collaboration goes to the heart of connection, which is really what music is all about. When time and talent are given a free space to come together and just connect, the works brim with magic. Coke and music have always been deeply and constantly connected, to provide moments of fun and high spirits. Iconic jingles and unforgettable campaigns have, time and time again, captured the dynamic energy and infections optimism of being young, being with friends and just being yourself. With Coke Studio Season 2, that special buzz and the undeniable electric wonder that only music can bring comes alive again. 

Catch them every Sunday at 11:15am before ASAP on ABS-CBN.