Smart powers Plus63 Music & Arts Festival headlined by Kid Ink, Dada Life

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Catch the hit American rapper and superstar Swedish act at Cebu Business Park on Jan. 19

Smart is kick-starting another year of dominating the music scene with Plus63 Music & Arts Festival, a powerhouse event headlined by hit American rapper and producer Kid Ink and Swedish act Dada Life set at Cebu Business Park on Jan. 19, Saturday

Coinciding this year with the highly anticipated Sinulog Festival week, Plus63 Music & Arts Festival is an annual event that aims to support local talents and musicians by giving them the opportunity to perform alongside the world’s top performers. Plus63 refers to the Philippines’ country code and numerical global identifier.

Previous headliners include Swedish House Mafia’s Steve Angello in 2016, Steve Aoki in 2017 and last year, Showtek, who performed before over 10,000 fans.

House meets hip hop

This year, hip hop meets house as hit American rapper and producer Kid Ink and show-stealing Swedish act Dada Life is sharing the stage with the country’s top beatmakers Ace Ramos, MC Pao, DJ Short, Victor Jao, MC Benson, DJ Rich Rubillar, and MC Mak G.

Kid Ink is known for his chart-topping singles, multi-platinum albums, and collaborations with artists like Chris Brown, Steve Aoki, Little Mix and Fifth Harmony. His first studio album Up & Away landed on the US Billboard 200, while his second album debuted at No.3 on the Billboard 200 with hits like Show Me featuring Brown and Iz U Down featuring Tyga. Kid Ink dropped his last studio album in 2015, and has since released a mixtape and an extended play record.

On the other hand, Olle Cornéer and Stefan Engblom formed Dada Life in 2006, and rose to popularity with their humorous stage antics and happy-go-lucky approach to music. Dada Life has released three studio albums with their second Gold-selling album, The Rules of Dada, reaching the Billboard 200. They also hold a Guinness World Record for the Largest Pillow Fight ever.

World-class music powered by country’s fastest LTE

The Plus63 Music & Arts Festival is just the beginning of a yet another star-studded and jampacked year for Smart Music Live as it sets out to bring more globally renowned music acts closer to Filipino fans.

All set for the festival? Get into the groove by streaming the music and videos of Kid Ink and Dada Life using Smart’s data-packed promos powered by Smart LTE, the country’s fastest LTE network as recognized by UK-based firm OpenSignal and certified by Internet testing and analysis leader Ookla.

Festivalgoers can hang out at the Smart Music Live Zone, which features Instagram-worthy installations that show top YouTube content you can enjoy with Smart's Video Every Day promo. As a big treat, subscribers who can also claim free Instagram printouts at the Smart Zone using the official hashtags #SmartPlus63 and #SmartMusicLive.

Smart customers can also get updates and get a chance to win tickets by following Smart’s official accounts on Facebook (www.facebook.com/SmartCommunications), Twitter and Instagram (@LiveSmart).

For ticket information, check out the Plus63 Festival official Facebook page at www.facebook.com/plus63festival and official website at www.plus63festival.com.

Ariel Rivera and Gelli de Belen Reunite in Ang Sikreto ng Piso

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Real-life couple Ariel Rivera and Gelli de Belen reunite in the family-oriented comedy movie Ang Sikreto ng Piso. The story centers on the strength of familial love and explains what viewers need to know about the Philippine peso. Ang Sikreto ng Piso is inspired by real occurrences that transpired in 2006 on the smuggle of the Philippine peso coin.

Ariel and Gelli are the perfect choices to portray husband and wife in the movie. They are one of local showbiz’s most enduring marriages. The couple has been married for more than two decades. Their sons Joaquin and Julio are currently based in Toronto, Canada.

“I am happy to work with Ariel. I welcome the opportunity to play couple with him in reel life. As an actor, Ariel has matured a lot. I am proud of him! I have seen all his dramas but it is still different kapag up close ko siyang pinapanood when he acts. Our exchanges of dialogues went smoothly during the shooting since kilala namin ang isa’t isa. We gave one another pieces of advice on how to make a scene more convincing while we were doing the movie. I hope the viewers will watch and enjoy our new movie,” says Gelli.

They have been married since 1997. How do they keep the romance burning? “We have been asked this question several times. I must say respecting each other is very essential in all relationships. We work in the same industry so we learn to be supportive and understanding of each other’s work. We do not let problems drift us apart so communication is a must. Gelli and I learned about these things as we get along in our married lives. I am blessed to have Gelli by my side. We are a team,” shares Ariel. 

The movie will be shown in theaters nationwide starting January 30.

Directed by Perry Escaño, Ang Sikreto ng Piso also stars Bea Binene, Lou Veloso, Angelica Ulip, Long Mejia, Joyce Peñas Pilarsky, Nico Nicolas, Ricky Rivero, Beverly Salviejo, Wacky Kiray, Gabby Go Balauag, Paul Sy, Garry Lim, Kiel Rodriguez, Raphael Robes, Gomz Burza, Micah Musa, Kim Llono, Lao, Amberlicious, Abel Napuran, Alvin Barcelona, Ericka Barreto, EmEm Bunyi, Donna Tamayo, Roy Sotero, Morris Sevilla, and with the special participation of Ernie Garcia. Produced by JPP Dreamworld Productions and MPJ Entertainment Productions.

Ariel Rivera and Gelli de Belen are talents of Asian Artists Agency. For inquiries, please call (02) 855-4765 or (02) 405-4423, email info@asianartistsagency.com, and visitfb.com/asianartistsagency

How virtual technology changes the game for PH museums

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Ayala Museum and I AM Cardboard PH harness the power of Virtual Reality in storytelling

Virtual reality (VR) is one of the most exciting advancements of our time. It can transport people with no barriers in time or space, and make learning more fun and engaging. Thanks to VR, Filipinos can now experience and explore history through immersive storytelling tools that are optimized to what the younger generation is looking for.

In collaboration with VR content provider I AM Cardboard Philippines (IAC PH), Ayala Museum was able to launch two virtual reality dioramas that depicted significant events in Philippine history. By merging technology and history, these organizations have successfully harnessed the true power of VR – moving people by telling compelling stories.

“Virtual reality presents great opportunities to the world of museums, galleries, and archives. Using it as a tool to tell stories can really entice the younger generation to visit museums more and learn our history in an immersive way. We’ve partnered with Ayala Museum again on another virtual reality diorama, and we’re hoping for more industries, not just museums, to embrace this kind of technology,” Ibba Rasul, CEO of IAC PH shared.

Since the launch of the two dioramas, Ayala Museum has recorded a notable increase in foot traffic in their museum. More Filipinos have been attracted to go out of their homes and take on a virtual reality tour. VR, according to IAC PH, does not aim to lessen or replace real-life experiences. Its goal is to enhance and add context to the stories. VR fosters curiosity among audiences, which then inspires them to seek more information after seeing and experiencing this technology in museums.

“We are giving our Filipino museum-goers a whole new perspective as to how these important events in our history have transpired by putting them in the shoes of these remarkable figures. We want to enable them to have deeper connections with our exhibits and we have achieved that by using technology and innovation, specifically virtual reality, as a tool,” said Ms. Mariles Gustilo, Senior Director, Arts & Culture of Ayala Museum.

Being always at the forefront of innovation, Ayala Museum recognizes the importance of technology in enhancing the traditional museum experience, and how it can give a different flavor to heighten the curiosity of Filipinos in learning history and art. Ayala Museum is continuously pushing the boundaries of the role of Philippine museums by embracing and utilizing Virtual Reality in their dioramas.

“Museums are a very important part of our community. More than just being repositories of our nation’s history, arts, and sciences, we are finding innovative ways on how these stories of the past can be used to move Filipinos to actively participate in our society. We are in a constant search to balance the excitement that technology brings and the meaningful experience that museums create,” added Ms. Gustilo.

The Emergence of the Filipino Nation is the second VR content made by IAC for Ayala Museum, that comes after the successful launch of “The Future of History” in 2017 which dramatized Jose Rizal’s execution in Bagumbayan. The Future of History was recently awarded a Silver Boomerang for Visual and Audio Excellence under the Digital Craft category during the 2018 Boomerang Awards.

Essilor’s Eye Can Succeed awarded Golden World Awards

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Eye Can Succeed, an advocacy campaign dedicated to improving Filipino lives by improving sight, won its first global award, the Golden World Awards for Excellence in Public Relations – Healthcare category. Held at the Hotel Catalonia, Barcelona Plaza in Spain and attended by delegates from 60 countries worldwide, the GWA awarded Essilor’s Eye Can Succeed for successfully providing free eye care services to 10,000 Filipino senior high school students and distributing prescription glasses to those in need. Eye Can Succeed campaign was spearheaded by Essilor Vision Foundation (EVF), the philanthropic arm of Essilor. Dubbed “Oscars of PR”, the annual Golden World Awards is organized by the International Public Relations Association (IPRA), the leading global network for Public Relations professionals. 

It is the world’s most prestigious PR award-giving body that recognizes best in public relations practices worldwide in different categories. Receiving the gold award in behalf of Essilor Philippines were (from left to right) Essilor Spain Consumer and Categories marketing manager Hugo Velasco, PR manager Adriana Garcia, and FuentesManila president Edd Fuentes. 

FPG Insurance inks partnership with MYEG Philippines for accessible non-life insurance

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MANILA, Philippines – FPG Insurance, a major player in the non-life insurance industry and leader in motor insurance coverage, inks a partnership agreement with I-Pay MYEG Philippines, Inc., a partnership of two fin-tech companies, I-Pay and MyEG, championing online automation for government services.

(L-R) MYEG Philippines Chief Technology Officer JC Principe, MYEG Philippines President Ronald Allan Aquino, FPG Insurance Philippines President and CEO Ramon Yap Dimacali, FPG Insurance Philippines Vice President for Channels Marketing Group Michael Del Moral.

The partnership forms a gateway to bring insurance closer to the general public. With over 20,000 OTC payment channels and point-of-sale locations across the country, this secures I-Pay MYEG Philippines’ place in the market as one of the leading e-payment services provider.

“Expanding our distribution channels in the country is one of FPG Insurance’s strategic courses to empower and enable consumers towards safety and peace of mind. This partnership with MYEG Philippines will definitely provide a concrete support to contribute towards this goal,” said Ramon Yap Dimacali, FPG Insurance President and CEO.

In 2010, I-Pay has won the “Asia Pacific Best Newcomer”, and the “Asia Pacific Fastest Expanding Network” the year after. MyEG on the other hand is a publicly-listed company in Kuala Lumpur Stock Exchange (KLSE) with over US$1.3 Billion in total market capitalization.

“We are very happy to have FPG Insurance Philippines as one of our insurance partners and to be able to provide the market with reliable insurance offerings fit according to their need,” said MYEG Philippines President Ronald Allan Aquino.

Also present during the contract signing are FPG Insurance Channels Marketing Group Vice President Michael Del Moral and MYEG Philippines Chief Technology Officer JC Principe.

MYEG Philippines has also been servicing key government clients such as the National Bureau of Investigation, the Philippine Overseas Employment Agency, and Landbank of the Philippines among others.

FPG Insurance offers a comprehensive suite of insurance products from motor insurance, property insurance, to travel and personal accident coverages.