TikTok sends love to the Filipino community in free online concert celebrating content diversity and creative expression

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On October 18, 2020, content creators and local celebrities from the Philippines came together for #GenTikTokPH, a two-hour online celebration of Generation TikTok - the diverse community that makes TikTok a place of joy, positivity and inspiration. 

Hosted by Macoy Dubs, Generation TikTok was streamed on the TikTok PH account via TikTok LIVE. Viewers were treated to an entertaining program filled with music and dance, side by side with pocket showcases featuring TikTok’s top trends and educational content. 

The show was headlined by three local artists who are all avid TikTokers, well-loved by their followers - Actor and singer, Iñigo Pascual, indie folk band, Ben&Ben, and singer-songwriter, Rico Blanco. Each performed a musical set, treating the audience to their top hits and fan favorite tracks. 

Interspersed with these musical performances were segments that underscored TikTok’s impactful content, #TikTokU and #itStartsonTikTok. Back in May 2020, #EduTok transformed the platform into a venue for learning everything, from practical life hacks to valuable skills for various careers. Giving the spotlight to educators and professionals like life coach Lyqa Maravilla, pharmacist Arshie Larga and medical intern Kilimanguru. The hashtag is now at 2.3B views and counting.

#GenTikTokPH did not fail to include what TikTok was first popularly known for -- trending dance challenges. TikTok dance creators shared the spotlight to pay tribute to one of TikTok’s biggest trends, Savage Love (Laxed Siren Beat). Each creator put their own spin on the popular dance trend, which features a catchy tune by Jason Derulo.

Meanwhile, the recently concluded campaign #itStartsonTikTok showed how the TikTok community pioneered trends and made online stars out of their favorite creators, and established a safe haven for self-expression and showcasing talents online. Adding more color and diversity to the ever-growing platform, veteran actress Gina Pareño testified how welcoming the TikTok community had been to her.

These viral hashtags are nods of approval to the culture that is very Filipino - value for education and love of entertainment.

“Generation TikTok is here. Everyone has a unique talent to share or a compelling story to tell. We are a community that supports and welcomes the creator in everyone. Through positive, joyful, and inspiring stories, we are spreading happiness and hopefully changing the world, one TikTok at a time,” said John Castro, User and Content Operations Manager, TikTok Philippines. 

Co-presented by SM Supermalls and Grab, with major sponsor TNT, Generation TikTok was truly a memorable event for all those who took part in the program, and the audience who enjoyed the show. 

Be part of #GenTikTokPH by checking out the hashtag on the app. Download TikTok on your iOS and Android devices to get started.

How to achieve work-life balance in the new normal

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Working from home is here to stay for the foreseeable future as we all adapt to the changes brought by the new normal. While working remotely has many benefits, finding balance within your life and job can become more complicated. Consequently, this can take a considerable toll on your health and happiness—leaving you feeling burnt-out, overworked, and stressed. 

There is an understandably more significant level of work-related stress for employees since the pandemic. According to the August 2020 Job Report of leading job portal JobStreet, over half (54%) of the respondents who are working from home said they created a separate workspace, while 48% are working longer hours, 43% changed the times they work, and lastly, 37% take on more household responsibilities themselves. 

As an established job platform in the region, JobStreet aims to help jobseekers in all phases of their career. To learn how to achieve work-life balance in the new normal, here are a few tips from JobStreet. 

Define your work-life boundaries 

The boundaries between your personal and professional lives start to blur when you work from home. It is essential to know when to sign in and sign off. Set a fixed schedule for yourself. Having a structured plan for your tasks will help you focus your mind on what needs to be accomplished for the day. 

Create a daily routine 

Setting up a daily routine can help you to maintain work-life boundaries while working at home. This arrangement gives you the freedom to create your schedule and own it. Making regular and consistent daily patterns will help you lower your stress levels and increase your productivity from day-to-day. 

Stay connected 

With the current situation, you may not be able to socialize with friends and family as much, but this should not stop you from taking a break from work and connecting with people. Being socially connected while practicing social distancing can help you cope with stress. Positive social connections are essential to our mental and physical health. Focus on ways you can stay connected, both with yourself and others. 

Create a dedicated workspace 

Establish a dedicated area for work within your home to help you create a consistent routine for when it is time to work. This is essential to creating balance and making a clear division between your work and personal time. When creating your workspace, consider what type of environment you best operate. Having a dedicated workspace can reduce distractions and help you stay productive throughout the whole week. 

Take regular breaks 

Another way to help you adjust to working from home is by taking regular breaks throughout the day. Taking short breaks, even as fast as 10 minutes, will help keep you motivated and productive all day long. When your work is done, it is crucial to step away and leave your tasks and projects behind — know when it is time to relax and unwind. 

Life is already challenging because of the pandemic, and it pays to look after ourselves and our lifestyle. It is essential to manage your work-from-home environment to create a better work-life balance to benefit your overall well-being. 

Want to explore work from home opportunities? Start your search http://bit.ly/JobStreetWFHJobs.

Safer and more convenient contactless payments made more accessible: You can now add money to your PayMaya account for free at Ministop stores nationwide

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Filipinos can now conveniently add money to their PayMaya accounts at the nearest Ministop store, making going cashless much easier in the New Normal. Through an expanded partnership between digital financial services leader PayMaya Philippines and the popular convenience store chain, customers can now avail of this Add Money service at more than half of Ministop stores and by end of the year, in all of its over 500 stores nationwide. Every Add Money transaction via Ministop will also be free of charge until December 2020. 

With this partnership, Ministop’s extensive list of branches nationwide will be added to PayMaya’s 57,000 Add Money touchpoints–the widest Add Money network in the Philippines. Now, it’s easier for users to ensure that they have enough funds to utilize safe and convenient contactless payment for their transactions, wherever they are in the country. 

Aside from being able to fund their PayMaya accounts more conveniently, PayMaya account holders can already pay for their Ministop purchases in a safer contactless way via PayMaya QR. 

“With cashless fast becoming the default preference of consumers, we strive to make it more convenient for Filipinos to add money to their PayMaya accounts. Ministop's popular locations and always-open operations greatly help in our drive towards digital payments adoption. We're happy to work with Ministop in enabling safer, more convenient, and more rewarding cashless transactions, especially at a time when it is needed the most,”said Shailesh Baidwan, PayMaya President. 

“This strategic partnership fortifies Ministop's strategy to accelerate our financial service offerings that bring convenience and proximity to our customers. Through PayMaya, our customers can now enjoy a safe and convenient cashless payment option via PayMaya QR as well as enjoy the add-money service at many of our 500 stores that is located nearest to them." said David Goh, Ministop Managing Director.

To add money to a PayMaya account via Ministop, all users have to do is follow these simple steps: 

1. Log in to the PayMaya app and tap“Add Money”on the home screen. 

2. Select the Ministop logo. 

3. Enter the amount to be added (minimum of P100), then tap“Continue.”A barcode will be generated on the screen. 

4. Go to the nearest Ministop store and tell the cashier to add money to the user's PayMaya account.

5. Present the generated barcode, pay the amount, and wait for a confirmation SMS

Getting a PayMaya account so you can go cashless is very easy. Just download the PayMaya app at the Android Playstore or iOS App Store and register for a PayMaya account so you can find out what it’s like to shop with the fastest, safest, and most rewarding, way to pay for anything online and in stores! Remember, for your all your purchases, bills payment, and other essential transactions, don’t pay cash. PayMaya! 

To find out about all the exclusive deals you can avail of with your PayMaya account, visit www.paymaya.com/deals or follow @PayMayaOfficial on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. 

PayMaya is the only end-to-end digital payments ecosystem enabler in the Philippines with platforms and services that cut across consumers, merchants, and government. Aside from providing payments acceptance for the largest e-Commerce, food, retail and gas merchants in the Philippines, PayMaya enables national and social services agencies as well as local government units with digital payments and disbursement services. 

Through its app and wallet, PayMaya provides millions of Filipinos with the fastest way to own a financial account with over 57,000 Add Money touchpoints nationwide, more than double the total number of traditional bank branches in the Philippines combined. 

Its Smart Padala by PayMaya network of over 30,000 partner touchpoints nationwide serves as last mile digital financial hubs in communities, providing the unbanked and underserved with access to services. 

To know more about PayMaya's products and services, visit www.PayMaya.com or follow @PayMayaOfficial on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. 

 

Here are the reasons to buy XTREME S SERIES SMART TV

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Television is always changing, combined with digital, the results can be incredible! 

Nowadays, consumers are switching to a television that has multiple functions that’s why a Smart TV is becoming a sought-after piece of electronics. With its new innovation and technology, more people are buying it to get a pleasurable viewing experience and the next level of entertainment. A Smart TV can also connect the audience to the world at the comfort of their home, bringing exciting content and relevant information. 

To answer the market’s growing demand, XTREME Appliances offers XTREME S SERIES SMART TV. This bestseller is reasonably priced and comes with new features like built-in SoundBar and Wi-Fi connection. Listed down are some reasons why owning an XTREME S Series Smart TV is a right and intelligent choice. 

Accessibility 

Since most people are staying and working at home now, updates on current events, trending topics, and personal interests are more accessible with XTREME S Series Smart TV. A Linux-based OS device can be easily connected to the internet and get massive applications and information. Pre-installed streaming entertainment services like YouTube and Netflix are some of the major highlights of the Smart TV. 

Interactive Features 

A fast cast mode of XTREME S Series Smart TV can easily mirror games and applications from smartphones, laptops, and various devices, giving users a better and bigger screen. Transferring and storing up to 4GB of music, images, videos, and other files are other advantages of a Smart TV. 

Cinematic Experience 

A normal LED TV comes with a default and limited picture settings that may not be sufficient on audience watch programs. XTREME S Series Smart TV automatically delivers an ultra-high-definition picture quality with different settings depending on the watcher’s preference. The 4K IPS panel features immersive visuals and consistent picture color in multiple angles. 

Modern Sound Technology 

XTREME S Series Smart TV has a built-in sound bar with two 12-watt front-firing speakers by Pure Sound, offering premium acoustics and dynamic audio quality. Other sound features include audio delay, automatic audio level and various sound presets: movie, standard, personal, music, news, and sports. 

Sleek Design 

Having an aesthetic living space is a fulfillment for many families and young professionals. The XTREME S Series Smart TV is the appliance that will perfectly complement their home. With its slim bezel and adjustable backlight, enjoy wider screen and customized brightness while seeing high resolution videos and motion graphics. 

There are many benefits in switching to Smart TV. It has become an “IT” item to every household as it leverages on connectivity and superior quality in audio and video. XTREME, your #OneStopShopAppliances supports the need of customers on diverse and useful appliances at best price without limiting its quality and innovation. 

The specs of XTREME S Series Smart TV: 

UHD IPS LED display, 3840 x 2160 px 

1.0GHz CA9 processor

Mali-400 GPU 

1GB RAM

4GB internal storage 

Speakers: 12W+12W down-firing speakers with Dolby MS12 

Digital, Analog TV systems 

WiFi, LAN,

USB 2.0, optical cable, 3x HDMI ports, AV-IN, Antenna, Line Out 

Linux OS 

100-240V/50-60Hz 

2 years warranty on panel, parts, and service 

Available in different sizes: 

65” XTREME S Series Smart TV ₱39,995 

55” XTREME S Series Smart TV ₱26,995 

49” XTREME S Series Smart TV ₱22,995 

43” XTREME S Series Smart TV ₱15,995 

32” XTREME S Series Smart TV ₱9,995 

For more information please visit XTREME Appliances Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, TikTok and YouTube accounts. For the full list of products, please visit them on Lazada, Shopee and www.xtreme.com.ph

Meet the young and vibrant artist, YouTuber/ Vlogger Christi Fider with "Teka, Teka, Teka"

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Meet the newest recording artist, who is also a bubbly YouTuber and a vlogger Christi Fider with her single, “Teka, Teka, Teka" composed by award-winning songwriter Joven Tan, just released by Star Music.

“To be a successful singer,” is a dream that not everyone gets to realize. 

Not with Christi Fider, (known as ChristieV on YouTube)  At first glance, you may think she is just the average millennial whose main preoccupation is the latest fashion, trendy gadgets and having all her YOLO moments enumerated and shared via her vlog. There is more to the pretty young Ms. Fider that meets the proverbial eye.

Christi, the AB History graduate from University of Sto. Thomas was exposed to different sounds and music growing up in a family whose love for anything and everything that has to do with music is deeply rooted. The early musical exposure, thanks to all the tapes and vinyl records played at home, watching concerts and listening to the radio, made Christi realize that performing is what she loves and she thanks God for the gifted of a good singing voice.

Fider shares: 

“When I take my shower, usually I sing pop songs. I also like Broadway tunes as well. It depends on my mood, really. Sometimes I have the mood to like indie musicians, the type that ordinary people would not care to listen too, or something they are not familiar with. My music range is very wide. For now, I have a bit of struggle on what genre to specialize since it is dependent on my mood. If the song resonates with me, or I like the artists singing it, I’d probably sing it too.”

She loves the voice of Christina Aguilera which she thinks is Aguilera’s strength. She also loves Britney Spears, the way she moves and carries herself. As a kid, she was partial to Sarah Geronimo. Now, she listens to Marion Aunor and Moira dela Torre.

What made her say yes to sing TEKA, TEKA, TEKA? 

“I really love the songs written by direk Joven Tan. I know that am quite biased if he’s the composer of a song. It has a good meaning, and has good lyrics as well. What I noticed about today’s songs, the music is different. It is not lyrics-focused. Sometimes they give more emphasis to the sound. With the song Teka, Teka, I felt that many people can relate to it. Since it’s my debut single, I want something that pleasant to listen too because many people today are lonely. If they listen to Teka, Teka, it will give hope and bring joy to other people.”

Her feelings now that people are using the song as their TikTok anthem of choice: 

“Happy. No, ecstatic, I must say. Even if the song has yet to be released but some people already used it for TikTok. Zeus Collins was the first one who made a TikTok for it. Of course, I was surprised when he used it because he is known for dancing. I didn’t imagine that Teka Teka is can be used to dance too. I was surprised when Zeus even choreographed a dance for Teka Teka and the people followed it. He sets the standard and people followed it.”

She carries on: 

“I was likewise surprised with the people’s response to the song. They found the song danceable, uplifting and gives a happy vibe and energy. The bubbly pop version suits my personality. In Spotify, my song has an electronic kind of mix to it. But many listeners were able to relate to the pop version,”

As a new artist, she hopes her fellow millennials see her as: 

“I want them to see me as someone vibrant and bubbly. I want to bring back the danceable tunes. I want to give the beat and groove back to the people. That is something that everyone needs right. Times are hard and I hope that thru my song, I can help relieve the stress of others. Let us bring back the good times.”

Teka, Teka, Teka, is written by Joven Tan, interpreted by Christi Fider and released by Star Music. It is now available in Spotify, Apple Music, itunes, Youtube and Deezer.