EJ Obiena joins Alyssa Valdez as Allianz PNB Life Brand Ambassador

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• Filipino Olympian EJ Obiena is the newest Allianz PNB Life ambassador
• Allianz as the Worldwide Insurance Partner of the Olympic and Paralympic Movements from 2021 to 2022

Elite pole vaulter, world number five, Olympian, and current Asian record holder EJ Obiena is the newest face of Allianz PNB Life.

He joins volleyball star Alyssa Valdez, who officially became part of Allianz PNB Life‘s lineup of brand ambassadors last June.

After reaching the pole vault final in the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020, Obiena continued to compete in more events in Europe. This included his latest historic bid in Austria, where he broke his personal record—as well as the Asian mark—when he cleared 5.93m.

Before Austria, Obiena was already able to tally a new personal and national record after clearing the 5.91m mark in a pole vault competion in Paris last August 29, 2021.

In his most recent appearance in a webinar presented by Allianz PNB Life last July, the star pole vaulter shared, “I just put myself into the work that I've been doing, the tasks that I have accepted, and [what] I should be doing.”

But even as he’s high on an international record-breaking streak, Obiena remains grounded.

“If you're open to learning, if you're open to growing, and you can see the small improvements, I think that's a win,” he said.

Obiena, however, wasn’t immune to the toll of the pandemic either.

While being successful from a young age, living away from his family and training in isolation is still difficult for him. With some help from his coach, Obiena was soon enough able to get back on track to Tokyo 2020 and later competitions.

Likewise, Allianz PNB Life joins Obiena’s team in backing the athlete to make more confident leaps and bounds into the future. For Obiena, this is especially important as he prepares himself for future competitions.

“Supporting passionate athletes like E.J. Obiena is part of our mission to be the global insurer of sport and sustainability,” said Alexander Grenz, CEO and President of Allianz PNB Life.

Last January, Allianz officially began its eight-year Worldwide Partner for Olympic and Paralympic Movements until 2028. Allianz has supported the International Paralympic Committee since 2006, most recently as an International Partner.

In 2018, Allianz had the chance to build on more than a decade of success with the Paralympic Movement by becoming the Worldwide Insurance Partner of the Olympic & Paralympic Movements. This served as a big opportunity to drive impact on their strategy along the dimensions of people, business, and brand.

As one of the world’s most sustainable insurers, Allianz integrates waste and carbon emissions reduction, as well as employing a fair and diverse workforce, in its operations. Locally, Allianz PNB Life advocates for green mobility through Ride Safe, an award-winning campaign that promotes cycling among Filipinos.

Watch: ‘The Batman’ Main Trailer Arrives with a Vengeance

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DC FanDome delivers and officially unveiled the action-packed vengeful main trailer and teaser posters (Batman, Riddler) for the 2022 film "The Batman". From Warner Bros. Pictures comes “The Batman” with director Matt Reeves at the helm and with Robert Pattinson starring as Gotham City’s vigilante detective, Batman, and billionaire Bruce Wayne.

Watch the main trailer for “The Batman” now, only in Philippine cinemas soon. Also check out the two new teaser posters featuring Batman and The Riddler.

Also in the star-studded ensemble as Gotham’s famous and infamous cast of characters are Zoë Kravitz (“Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald,” “Mad Max: Fury Road”) as Selina Kyle; Paul Dano (“Love & Mercy,” “12 Years a Slave”) as Edward Nashton; Jeffrey Wright (the “Hunger Games” films) as the GCPD’s James Gordon; John Turturro (the “Transformers” films) as Carmine Falcone; Peter Sarsgaard (“The Magnificent Seven,” “Black Mass”) as Gotham D.A. Gil Colson; Barry Keoghan (“Dunkirk”) as Officer Stanley Merkel; Jayme Lawson (“Farewell Amor”) as mayoral candidate Bella Reál; with Andy Serkis (the “Planet of the Apes” films, “Black Panther”) as Alfred; and Colin Farrell (“Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them,” “Dumbo”) as Oswald Cobblepot.

“The Batman” was written by Matt Reeves & Peter Craig. Reeves and Dylan Clark (the “Planet of the Apes” films) are producing the film, with Simon Emanuel, Michael E. Uslan, Walter Hamada and Chantal Nong Vo serving as executive producers. Reeves’ behind-the-scenes creative team includes Oscar-nominated director of photography Greig Fraser (“Lion,” upcoming “Dune”); his “Planet of the Apes” production designer, James Chinlund; editors William Hoy (the “Planet of the Apes” films) and Tyler Nelson (“Rememory”); Oscar-winning VFX supervisor Dan Lemmon (“The Jungle Book”); Oscar-nominated SFX supervisor Dominic Tuohy (“1917,” “Star Wars: Episode IX – The Rise of Skywalker”); Oscar-nominated sound mixer Stuart Wilson (“1917,” the “Star Wars” franchise); Oscar-winning costume designer Jacqueline Durran (“1917,” “Little Women,” “Anna Karenina”) and costume designers Glyn Dillon (the “Star Wars” franchise) and David Crossman (“1917,” the “Star Wars” franchise); hair designer Zoe Tahir (upcoming “No Time to Die,” “Spectre”); and Oscar-nominated makeup designer Naomi Donne (“1917”).

Based on characters from DC. Batman was created by Bob Kane with Bill Finger. “The Batman” is set to open in theaters soon in select 3D and 2D and IMAX theaters and will be distributed worldwide by Warner Bros. Pictures.

Join the conversation online and use the hashtag #TheBatman

Brooke’s Point, Palawan leapfrogs on improved connectivity experience with PLDT

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(Brooke’s Point, Palawan - October 18, 2021) Brooke’s Point Mayor Georjalyn Joy Quiachon highlighted the importance of a reliable internet connection to the municipality of Brooke’s Point, Palawan as a first-class and fast-growing town with a robust agri-tourism industry as PLDT, through its B2B arm PLDT Enterprise, deployed its BEYOND FIBER solution.

The initiative is a testament to PLDT’s commitment to support local government units in adapting to the new normal for the delivery of public service, governance, and extending services to their respective constituents.

“Amid our rapidly changing environment, I couldn’t stress enough the importance of staying connected to manage the negative impacts of the pandemic effectively. We thank PLDT Enterprise for offering their assistance in our bid to cope in these trying times,” Quiachon said.

PLDT Enterprise Head for SMBiz Regional Luzon Euan Rex Toralballa said that the Municipality of Brooke’s Point is part of PLDT’s new fiber-optic expansion in the Southern Part of Palawan.

“With our ongoing fiber-optic expansion, PLDT seeks to provide strong and reliable connectivity to far-flung areas to support the day-to-day activities of residents in various communities. With the BEYOND FIBER solution, we could help them overcome the challenges in connectivity and enable a seamless digital experience,” said Toralballa.

He also added that PLDT Enterprise’s BEYOND FIBER is the best-suited service for Brooke’s Point local government. It is an all-in-one solution anchored on business-grade fiber, capable of sustaining the online operations of offices, branches, and small-scale businesses.

It features the 90-90 advantage which provides organizations a minimum bandwidth speed at 90 percent of the subscribed speed at 90 percent reliability—providing a more reliable online experience, while easing the fear of downtime during peak work hours.

“The Municipal Government of Brooke’s Point will now experience a fixed-fiber optic internet service. This is for the daily administrative activities and services for their constituents,” Toralballa added.

PLDT Enterprise Vice President for Small and MicroBiz Chito Franco said that PLDT is committed to extending solutions and services to local and municipal governments to efficiently deliver COVID-19 relief.

“As the country’s leading telecommunications provider, it is our mandate to assist local and municipal governments as they realize their vision and goals for their communities. We are dedicated to helping them through technologies which could fully equip them as they cope with this ongoing crisis,” said Franco.

As a primarily agro-industrial municipality with vast productive farmlands, the local government of Brooke’s Point is investing heavily in its potential to flourish in agri-tourism.

Its strategic location and development as an open port hopes to attract the influx of tourists from the Brunei-Darussalam-Indonesia-Malaysia-Philippines East ASEAN Growth Area (BIMP-EAGA) region, aside from its potential to spur exportation of agricultural products from the area due to it being now part of the nautical highway.

The improved connectivity would not only benefit its citizens but also the local government to fast-track and upgrade services as they hope to close the gap for the people in far-flung areas.

“We welcome innovative ideas and adapt in the fast-changing environment as new technology is introduced… For us, there’s no way but up – always looking forward as we drive the municipality of Brooke’s Point to a better future with intelligent and healthy citizenry,” Mayor Quiachon said.

For more information, visit pldtenterprise.com. 

All Star Filipino Film Gets US Theatrical Release in 10 Major Cities

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Circle of Bones, an independent horror/action film written and directed by award-winning Filipino filmmaker Vincent Soberano is showing in US theaters starting October 22, 2021 in ten major cities. Released by Vertical Entertainment and represented by Safier Entertainment, it is produced by IndieGo Pictures Entertainment in cooperation with CMB Films and Blackburst Studios. The movie is in Tagalog and English language and was filmed in Panglao, Bohol and Cainta, Rizal.

“Circle of Bones” is based on Vincent Soberano’s unpublished book, “Yawa” - a tale of local superstitions and modern-day urban legends of the Visayas region. Set in the picturesque island of Panglao, Bohol, the story is told by a lone survivor of a mysterious cult suspected of mass murders and human sacrifices.

Soberano recounts how the story was developed while he was on location hunting for a different film. “I get my inspiration for stories usually in the most unexpected ways,” he recalls. “I was location-hunting for another movie and I stumbled into a cult temple in Bohol. Curious, I started asking around and based on stories from the locals, I came up with the new plot for Circle of Bones.”

Hollywood action star Sarah Chang rounds up the cast with Filipino stars Jana Victoria, Marela Torre, Ian Ignacio and Epy Quizon, with a cameo of the iconic Joel Torre. “This movie is uniquely Filipino and features sights and stories never before seen by the US audience,” says Jared Safier, one of the executive producers and a 4-time Emmy Award-winning producer. “I’m confident it will do well in the US market, both theatrically and on streaming platforms.”

This is the first time a Filipino movie has been released theatrically in the United States, Canada and the UK by Vertical Entertainment, a top-ranked film distribution company based in Santa Monica, California, and founded by producers Richard B. "Rich" Goldberg and Mitch Budin in 2012. Following its theatrical release, the film will also be released on VOD, on platforms such as Amazon Prime, iTunes, Google Play, Microsoft Movies & TV, etc.

“Having a Filipino-made, independent genre film get a theatrical release throughout the U.S. is a huge achievement for me,” director Vincent Soberano says. “It gives me great pride as a Filipino filmmaker that I’ve gotten this far to represent Filipino films in the U.S. mainstream market. Next step, worldwide distribution!”

Indeed, under the brokerage of Safier Entertainment, “Circle of Bones” is poised for worldwide distribution after its North America and UK releases.

For more information, please contact: Jared@SafierEnt.com

The initial theatrical listing* for the October 22 release is as follows:

The digital platforms (TV and streaming) are as follows:

Cable/Sat/Telco:
Comcast/Xfinity
Directv
Cox
Charter / Spectrum / Time Warner
Dish
Verizon
AT&T Uverse
Frontier
Smaller regional providers

Digital:
iTunes
Amazon Prime Video
VUDU (Fandango)
Google Play

Redbox On Demand
Microsoft Movies & TV

*Additional theatrical venues will be added after the initial release.

Schooling Tips to Conquer the 2nd School Year in Lockdown

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The transition from face-to-face classes to a fully remote learning setup has been challenging, especially for the parents. From keeping their kids away from boredom to ensuring that they are focused in school, parents have never been as busy when it comes to ensuring their kids remain engaged despite the restrictions of distance learning.

Photo credit: Kara Crisostomo’s personal photo

As we are well into our second school year in lockdown, licensed psychologist, professional teacher, and mom of two Kara Crisostomo shared that among the biggest challenges in distance learning is keeping students engaged due to pandemic fatigue. Similarly, parents reporting back to their offices means they also need to have the energy to keep up with their child’s schoolwork. 

To help parents and their kids everywhere conquer another school year at home, Kara together with Nestlé Wellness Campus (NWC) and KOKO KRUNCH share four crucial tips to help make distance learning easier than ever:

1. Start the day right with a delicious, healthy and affordable breakfast.  Good nutrition, health, and wellness are essential for a healthy body and mind. Starting the day with a delicious and nutritious breakfast is vital now more than ever for kids so they have the energy they need for a great day of learning.

“A healthy breakfast will help keep kids active and engaged during online learning, especially when they’re sitting in front of a laptop without any physical interaction. Since our mornings are usually short and rushed, breakfast consists of quick and easy-to-prepare meals like cereals, sandwiches, and milk which our kids would love,” shared Kara.

One example of a delicious, healthy and affordable breakfast combo is a whole grain cereal bowl paired with milk and fruits. KOKO KRUNCH  makes a good choice as it provides the great chocolatey taste that kids love AND the energy from wholegrain cereals. This, while providing B-vitamins & Iron to help make this energy available for the body. Milk is high in protein and calcium while fruits have fiber and Vitamin C. 

2. Provide a more conducive learning environment at home. It can be as simple as setting up a table, computer, and chair for them in one part of the house or even making one room into a designated study or work place. Their books, art materials, and any other relevant school materials can be organized here. The children can also place their own decors that will keep them inspired when they work.

Kara explained, “Having a proper set-up prompts them to know when and where to do their school work. This can also help them alleviate distractions and be more focused when needed in completing their assignments.”

Serving delicious, healthy and affordable snacks during breaks, like a bowl of KOKO KRUNCH, may also help kids think better and concentrate on their lessons. Parents don’t have to worry with the nutrients their kids are getting because one serving of KOKO KRUNCH already provides 38% of iron1 and about 60%2 of Vitamins B3 and B6  needed for the day3.

3. Keep connected with the children’s school and teachers. Whether it’s messaging through the school’s learning platform or staying active in a parent’s group chat, establish lines of communication to stay up to date with requirements and gather support for school work.

Kara shared that in her son’s school, parents can communicate with teachers through their learning management system and can also email school admins for other concerns. They also have a chat group for parents which has been very active since the pandemic started. “Having this communication line with co-parents can also help when guiding our children with their school work,” Kara said.

4. Find time to be proactive in a child’s learning development. Despite having a long day at work, it’s crucial for a parent to be on top of their child’s learning. This can be done by being familiar with their children’s lessons, helping with assignments daily, or simply checking on them. 

Kara shared parents cannot expect the same things from their children as they did before the pandemic. “We cannot press our children to make sure that they get everything right in school. Let us give them the space they need especially when they want to relax.”

This can be supported by having a family movie night at home, ordering food from a place the kids usually enjoy, or even as simple as dancing to Nestlé Wellness Campus’ Dancercise program. Find anything that can help the children unwind and recharge. Doing so can help maintain their motivation and engagement in school.

Nestlé, as the Kasambuhay sa Kalusugan, acknowledges that nutrition, health, and wellness are all key in getting through the new school year. This also highlights the value of delicious, healthy, and affordable breakfast meals like KOKO KRUNCH as it is essential to keep children nourished for the day ahead.

These are only some of the many resources that parents can access through NWC. Join the Nestlé Wellness Homeroom Facebook Group to learn more about how you can make the new normal schooling experience more fun and engaging for you and your children.

1Iron percentage is based on the Recommended Energy and Nutrient Intakes (RENI) per 30g serving. This Percent RENI value is based on FNRI reference child requirement of 7-9 years old (RENI, 2002).

2Based on percent RENI per 30g serving.

3Based on RENI reference child requirement of 7-9 years old (RENI, 2002).