Muntinlupa government opens vaccination center with Filinvest

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Muntinlupa LGU partners with Filinvest City and Festival Mall for a vaccination center in Alabang, Muntinlupa City

In an effort to help boost the vaccination drive against COVID-19, Muntinlupa City local government unit (LGU) in partnership with Filinvest Corporate City Foundation Inc. (FCCFI), has established a vaccination center to provide the city’s residents with a new accessible location where they can receive their immunity shots against the dreaded disease.

The vaccination center, located inside the steel parking area at Festival Mall near Crimson Hotel in Filinvest City, Alabang, can accommodate 500 people per day and will run for three to six months.

For this effort, FCCFI provides the venue for the vaccination and will shoulder the cost of power, water, WiFi connection, utility manpower and whole-day meals for the staff conducting the vaccination. The Muntinlupa City LGU, on the other hand, will provide the medical and non-medical personnel who will manage and operate the vaccination sessions.

The vaccination center’s ceremonial opening held recently was attended by the Head of Muntinlupa City Vaccination Support Team Mr. Gary Llamas, Officer in Charge for City Health Office Dr. Juancho Bunyi, Muntinlupa City Councilor Ryan Bagatsing and Councilor Allan Camilon.

Through the vaccination center, FCCFI also aims to help the government achieve its herd immunity target for the whole country. Herd immunity, according to the World Health Organization, means vaccinating a substantial number of residents in a certain population to limit the amount of virus that can spread within the whole population, giving priority to the most vulnerable groups of people in the area.

“With another accessible location where residents can get themselves vaccinated, we are continuing to support the government’s efforts against COVID-19. Our collaboration with the Muntinlupa City LGU makes this possible, so that the city’s citizens, particularly those living within the vicinity of Filinvest City, can get their immunity shots within easy reach,” said Don Ubaldo, Filinvest Alabang Inc. Vice President for townships.

Pour Yourself a Cup of Tea and Enjoy Justine Luzares' Funny TikToks

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The comedy creator caught the attention of viewers on TikTok because of his impressive British accent.

Manila, Philippines - May 28, 2021 - TikTok has turned out to be the perfect platform for funny guy Justine Luzares to express himself creatively. He always knew that he wanted to write funny skits, but didn't consider becoming a comedian himself, until he started using TikTok. "I realized I can actually act the part," Justine shares. "We're on TikTok to have fun and be entertained. Putting smiles on people's faces is the easiest way to sell your content to people."

Apart from showing off his funny side, his videos also give him the chance to showcase his ability to put on different accents, a talent he learned from watching movies. He first tried it out after seeing the 2004 movie, Troy, which starred Brad Pitt and Eric Bana. He says, "It was a long process. I started learning it when I was still in 7th grade. It didn't happen overnight. It took quite a lot of movies just to somehow master it." Mimicking speech patterns of characters from the popular TV series, Game of Thrones, particularly Viserys Targaryen, also helped Justine refine his accent. Since then, he has learned how to do Indian and Australian accents as well.

Justine responds to a fan's request to do an Indian accent here. 

https://www.tiktok.com/@justine_luzares/video/6917620407021374722

Here's a sample of his Australian accent.

 

https://www.tiktok.com/@justine_luzares/video/6817701963682123009

Born and raised in Leyte, Justine actually has a degree in Agribusiness from Visayas State University, where he graduated Cum Laude. Currently based in Alabang, he works as a process trainer in the BPO industry, and does TikTok for fun. Among his videos, his Marites series has become his most popular, even reaching viral status on the platform. "I have received overwhelming support every time I post a Marites video, especially the ones you can duet," Justine says. "I guess people just found an excuse to showcase or just try a British accent through my videos."

Watch Justine's Chismosang Marites ala Pride and Prejudice, gossiping like a stereotypical Filipino neighbor, but with a British accent.

This is what Chismosang Marites would be like as a Game of Thrones character. 

Discover all the hilarious comedy creators that you can follow on TikTok. Download the app on your iOS and Android devices today to get started.

Content niches, unexpected results: Globe Studios catering to Filipinos’ evolving needs

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New platforms that provide consumers with new ways to satiate their need for fresh content have emerged over the pandemic. The shift in consumer behavior prompted Globe Studios, Globe’s entertainment production company, to leverage its niche and ride on this new wave of opportunity.

 

Quark Henares, Globe Studios Head, shared that going along such a direction allows the group greater flexibility in its content offerings, especially in this time of great uncertainty. Henares was one of the panelists in a recent webinar presented by the Asia Video Industry Association (AVIA) entitled “Demanding Content – What Do Filipinos Want?”

 

Henares said: “We had to pivot. We’re primarily a movie studio, so our focus was films for theaters. Because they're closed for the foreseeable future we tried doing other things like a YouTube series (Gaya sa Pelikula) and podcasts (Ang Walang Kwentang Podcast, Endslate).”

 

He noted that current audiences can be very fickle in their choices of online content. Thus, Globe Studios actively listens to what its customers want so that its content line-up is kept relevant to the markets it wishes to serve. 

 

“We have a lot of interaction with the audience. We’re very active in our social media and really make it a point to listen and even converse with our audience,” Henares revealed.

 

Recognizing that the consumption curve for online content bulges among the younger age groups, Globe Studios ensures that everything is kept fun, just like the way young people would like to live their own lives. 

 

Globe Studios entered the entertainment production industry in 2016.  Its portfolio includes films such as “LSS (Last Song Syndrome)”, “Hintayan ng Langit”, and the first Filipino Netflix film “Dead Kids”.  

 

Amidst the onslaught of the COVID-19 pandemic last year, the studio shifted gears to produce materials catering more towards YouTube audiences, beginning with “Gaya Sa Pelikula,” a daring Boys Love (BL) series. 

 

“We put our ears to the ground. Like Gaya Sa Pelikula, the genre BL is doing very well in Thailand and Filipinos seem to be watching it so we decided to do that,” Henares said.

 

Globe Studios is in the thick of preparations for another YouTube series; this time, a reality search. It is also about to release the movie "A Guy + A Girl" together with UpstreamPH, the country’s newest Video-on-Demand movie streaming platform.  Likewise, Globe Studios is home to at least 12 popular podcasts, including one that is hosted by online creators.

 

However, questions constantly keep Henares awake at night. According to him: “This is an exciting time. What do people want to see? What’s missing in Philippine entertainment that we can fill?”

 

While slowly (but surely) planting itself on solid ground in the online space, Globe Studios continues to give room for more flexibility wherever consumer whims may lead—satisfying their needs, one niche at a time.

 

To know more about Globe, visit www.globe.com.ph.

 

6 Binge-Worthy Shows and Movies to Watch

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Looking forward to a lazy, relaxing weekend? Snuggle up in bed, light some scented candles, grab your favorite snacks, and pick out a show or movie! 

This weekend, find comfort in rewatching your old faves or joy in discovering new ones. Whether you’re into comedy, action, sci-fi, or fantasy, you’ll definitely find a show that suits your taste on streaming service HBO GO. 

We understand decision paralysis, so we’ve narrowed it down for you. Below, we’ve got six of the best shows and movies to stream this weekend: 

For sitcom lovers

For a fun, lighthearted fare, you can’t beat Friends. This beloved series, which ran for around a decade, features six twenty-somethings trying to navigate adulthood, career, and relationships. Now, 17 years after the last episode aired, watch Rachel, Monica, Phoebe, Joey, Chandler, and Ross as they join celebrity guests in this one-off reunion special. Stream with the rest of the world starting May 27.

For parents looking for a family-friendly movie

Is your whole family staying in for the weekend? Keep kids and adults alike entertained with Tom & Jerry. This animated movie brings these two nemeses and their silly antics to modern-day New York. Kids will definitely enjoy this slapstick animated film, while kids at heart can reminisce about their childhood days by watching along. Stream starting June 4. 

For DC loyalists

With theaters closed last year, Wonder Woman 1984 made its Philippine debut exclusively on HBO GO. This superhero film follows Diana’s journey to learning more about the human world and of course, defeating supervillains—this time, the nefarious Cheetah and Maxwell Lord. Eighties babies will enjoy all the throwbacks referencing the colorful decade. Stream now. 

For fantasy fans

You can’t call yourself a proper fan of the fantasy genre if you haven’t seen Game of Thrones! This show tells the story of noble families—the Lannisters, Starks, and Targaryens, to name a few—warring to win sovereignty over the fictional land of Westeros. Throw a lot of drama, romance, dragons, and monsters into the mix. You can now stream all eight seasons, a reunion special hosted by Conan O’Brien, and its feature documentary, The Last Watch.

For genre bender aficionados

If you like mixing your genres, check out The Nevers. This show combines sci-fi and drama in Victorian era-London and follows a band of women with special abilities, called the “Touched.” Tune in to watch these superwomen battle their enemies with grace and panache, hoop skirts and all.

For sci-fi enthusiasts

Christopher Nolan’s latest Academy Award-winning movie, Tenet, is a thrilling sci-fi adventure. Its nameless protagonist is a CIA agent who manipulates complex rules of time travel to prevent global destruction. This is definitely a cerebral film, so it may require several viewings to fully digest! 

To watch Friends: The Reunion, Tom & Jerry, Wonder Woman 1984, Game of Thrones, The Nevers, Tenet, and other cool shows and movies, get your HBO GO subscription on Shopee: https://shopee.ph/hbogoofficialstore. 

Don’t forget to top up your ShopeePay for more deals! This June 6, enjoy up to 66% coins cashback when you use ShopeePay.

Download the Shopee app for free via the App Store or Google Play.

Golden Haven Promotes Sustainability as the First Memorial Park Chain in the Philippines to Offer 100 Percent Open Space

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In these modern times, when people observe both traditional and nontraditional rituals to mourn their dead, Filipinos choose to honor their dearly departed through deeply meaningful memorial services. The passing of loved ones turns into an opportunity to celebrate their lives, which in turn lightens the burden of grief on the part of surviving kin and eases their pain of personal loss.

Golden Haven’s chain of lush and beautiful memorial parks have gained prominence in the deathcare industry, not only as sanctuaries where memories are preserved but also for offering vast open spaces for families to bond.

For this reason, Filipinos are increasingly learning the value of preparing dignified resting places for them—tranquil spaces that meld the soothing benefits of nature with iconic landmarks.

Such is Golden Haven’s chain of lush and beautiful memorial parks that have gained prominence in the death care industry, not only as sanctuaries where memories are preserved but also for offering vast open spaces for families to bond. The sprawling terrain is made serenely beautiful by the verdant greenery, which evokes peace and solitude, not somberness. It inspires families to reminisce on happier times spent with those long gone.

Beyond Golden Haven’s stunning visible attributes, a sustainably green and healthy environment is what it seeks to advocate. It is, in fact, the first and only developer in the Philippines that offers 100% open spaces in all its memorial parks.

Beyond the stunning visible attributes, a sustainably green and healthy environment is what Golden Haven seeks to advocate. It is, in fact, the first and only memorial park developer in the Philippines that offers 100% open spaces in all its memorial parks. Families are encouraged to enjoy these at all times and on any occasion such as their departed loved ones’ birth and death anniversaries. They may come even in the evenings—Golden Haven has installed solar street lights to provide safety and security to all its park visitors.

Filipinos are increasingly learning the value of preparing dignified resting places for their dearly departed—tranquil spaces that meld the soothing benefits of nature with iconic landmarks.

While Golden Haven’s beautifully themed parks were built with visiting families in mind, it also fulfills the promise of meaningful repose in its wide array of memorial products—from memorial lot to garden niches to columbarium vaults to its esteemed family estates and mausoleums. Solemnity and sophistication are reflected in its motifs and landmarks created by the country’s most respected architects and engineers. These characteristics are not only seen in Metro Manila, where memorial parks are abundant but also mirrored in the regions of the Philippines. For instance, consider the famed Christ the Redeemer Statue in Golden Haven Cagayan de Oro; the Nuestra Senora La Virgen del Pilar in Golden Haven Zamboanga; the Imperial Gardens in Golden Haven Cebu; and the Pope John II Statue in Las Pinas, among others.

While Golden Haven’s beautifully themed parks were built with visiting families in mind, it also fulfills the promise of meaningful repose in its wide array of memorial products—from lawn lots to garden niches to columbarium vaults to its esteemed family estates and mausoleums.

Red Rosales, COO of Golden Haven, affirms the company’s belief that every Filipino longs to leave a lasting legacy in his hometown, wherever this may be in the archipelago. Thus, the biggest and most prestigious memorial park developer in the Philippines offers more than 30 projects nationwide, all boasting world-class parks and premier deathcare services.

Golden Haven is dedicated to providing beautiful and serene resting places for Filipinos’ departed loved ones—parks that their generation and the succeeding ones will want to come to as part of the family’s cherished traditions.

Rosales likewise acknowledges that the passing of a loved one is a difficult time for every family. “That is why Golden Haven is dedicated to providing beautiful and serene resting places that consistently promote a sense of healing and gracious closure,” he says. “There is renewed joy in a fine day spent in the wide, open spaces of Golden Haven’s parks as families connect, bond, and share memories for generations to come. These are parks that our children and their children will want to come to as part of the family’s cherished traditions.”

Golden Haven Memorial Park is a subsidiary company of publicly listed Villar-owned Golden MV Holdings Inc., currently positioned as one of the largest real estate companies in the country. Golden Haven offers premium death care services, and prime memorial lots; dubbed as the most lucrative real estate investment with an average of 20% annual value appreciation.