Global Video Streaming Service Prime Video Increases Investment for Viewers in the Philippines

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 Starting August 1, viewers in The Philippines can enjoy a local content slate and a localized user experience on Prime Video   

Prime Video announces first local Amazon Original Comedy Island: Philippines in cooperation with Base Entertainment, which will launch in 2023, and underlines its commitment to the local creative community

 

The increased support of local production companies comes as Prime Video launches its first local marketing, created with Filipino producers and featuring Anne Curtis

SINGAPORE—August 1, 2022—Global video streaming service Prime Video today announced it will be increasing its investment for customers in the Philippines, Thailand, and Indonesia. Beginning today, customers will find a localized content slate and user experience (in local language) on Prime Video and the Prime Video app. 

The streaming service also underlined its commitment to the local creative community by revealing the first local Original Comedy Island: Philippines and exclusive licensing deals for local, Korean, and anime titles.  The news comes as Prime Video launches its first local marketing campaign featuring superstar Anne Curtis in the country.

Now for an introductory offer of 149 PHP per month*, after a seven-day free trial, viewers in the Philippines can sign up for a Prime Video membership and enjoy a great selection of entertainment, from Original productions created by local production companies, local licensed top titles, Korean content, global Amazon Original movies and TV series, and popular Hollywood titles. Prime Video members can stream, download, and watch anytime, anywhere through the Prime Video app on compatible mobile devices, tablets, Smart TVs, or online at PrimeVideo.com.

*Promotional price from 1st August 2022 to 31 December 2023. T&Cs Apply. Learn more at primevideo.com.

“We’re delighted to be increasing our investment in Prime Video for customers in Southeast Asia, making it a truly localized experience—from local content specifically sourced for our customers,  to a localized user experience, and the first full-scale local marketing campaign,” said Josh McIvor, director of International Expansion, Prime Video. “Our support of local production companies in Southeast Asia is a significant step towards our broader international expansion plans and our ambition to become the most local of global streaming services.”

Increasing investment in local Original content and licensed content 

The first local Amazon Original Comedy Island: Philippines is a unique, off-the-wall situational improvisation comedy challenge show. In Comedy Island: Philippines, the mysterious island of Tawa-Tawa reappears after 100 years to commence the so-called ‘centennial games’ starring the best 8 players, consisting of comedians and celebrities. Only one will emerge as winner and will receive an essential gift that humanity needs. Comedy Island: Philippines will be will be produced by Base Entertainment and launch on Prime Video in more than 240 countries and territories around the world in 2023.

Viewers will be able to enjoy more local exclusive titles such as Big Night, How To Love Mr. Heartless and Whether the Weather Is Fine, in addition to a selection of popular Korean titles such as Nothing Serious and Toy Soldiers: Fake Men 2 The Complete, anime hits such as Demon Slayer and Jujutsu Kaisen 0, Ron Howard’s new movie Thirteen Lives, Hollywood blockbuster No Time to Die, global Amazon Originals like The Boys, The Terminal List, licensed US hit shows such as The Good Doctor S1-5, and the highly anticipated The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power

The new local Originals are supported by local licensing deals as well as popular exclusive Korean titles and anime hits. Local highlights include Big Night (streaming today), a dramedy starring Christian Bables and directed by Jun Lana, How To Love Mr. Heartless (launching August 15), a romance starring Sue Ramirez, and Award-winning surreal drama Whether The Weather Is Fine (launching October 10) starring Daniel Padilla. Viewers in the Philippines will also be able to enjoy popular Korean titles such as Nothing Serious (streaming today), a romantic film featuring Jeon Jong-seo, Son Seok-gu and Gong Min-jung, and Toy Soldiers: Fake Men 2 The Complete featuring Julien Kang which will launch on Prime Video in August. The slate is complemented by exclusive anime hits such as Demon Slayer (streaming today) and Jujutsu Kaisen 0 (launching December 21),  the number one title in Japanese theatres in 2021. All this is on top of Hollywood Blockbusters such as No Time to Die (streaming today), global Amazon Originals like The Boys, The Terminal List, licensed US hit shows such as The Good Doctor S1-5, and the highly anticipated The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power (launching September 2). On August 5, Prime Video will premiere the new Ron Howard movie Thirteen Lives starring Viggo Mortensen, Colin Farrell. Thirteen Lives premieres on August 5, and recounts the incredible true story of the tremendous global effort to rescue a Thai soccer team who became trapped in the Tham Luang cave during an unexpected rainstorm.  

“Southeast Asia is a tapestry of cultures, languages, and histories, and there has truly never been a better time to be a content creator or a content consumer in this part of the world. We are thrilled to be bringing our first local Amazon Original featuring Filipino talent, the hilarious world of Comedy Island, to customers around the world. This will complement our growing selection of local and Korean series and movies, alongside our amazing global content on Prime Video,” said Erika North, head of Asia-Pacific Originals, Prime Video. “We are committed to supporting the local TV and film industry and working with the most innovative creative talent in the region to bring the very best, most authentic and local storytelling to life, for our customers not only in the region but also Prime Video members around the world. This is just the start.”

First local marketing campaign featuring superstar Anne Curtis

Prime Video today also launched its first marketing campaign created in cooperation with local producers. Featuring local superstar Anne Curtis, the campaign introduces Prime Video to local audiences as a premium video streaming service that entertains, delights and engages.  The first campaign plays with the stereotype that the Pinoy’s are always late – and self-ironically claims that Prime Video is no different.  Prime Video is indeed late to the region, but it definitely was worth the wait just like all things fabulous. The campaign highlights the different content pillars that will make Prime Video the home of entertainment: strong local content, the most loved regional content featuring Korean and Anime titles, and US hits.

 

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About Prime Video

Prime Video offers customers a vast collection of TV shows and movies—all available to watch on practically any device:

●       Included with Prime Video: Watch thousands of popular movies and TV shows, award-winning Amazon Originals and other exclusives, and more. Think global Amazon Original series such as The Boys, The Terminal List, The Wheel of Time, The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, The Grand Tour, and the upcoming highly anticipated series The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power, as well as critically acclaimed Amazon Original movies like Coming 2 America, The Tomorrow War, and exclusive local titles such as Comedy Island: Philippines, Big Night, and How To Love Mr. Heartless, Korean titles such as The Ghost Station, anime hits such as Jujutsu Kaisen 0, and many more. All available at no additional cost as part of Prime Video, which is available in more than 240 countries and territories worldwide.

●       Instant Access: Watch at home or on the go with your choice of hundreds of compatible devices. Stream from the web or using the Prime Video app on compatible smartphones, tablets, game consoles, or select smart TVs.

●       Enhanced Experiences: Control how much data you use when streaming and downloading videos by choosing between Good, Better and Best visual quality settings, all of which utilise Prime Video’s state of the art video compression technology to use less data without reducing visual quality. Make the most of every viewing with High Dynamic Range (HDR) compatible content. Go behind the scenes of your favourite movies and TV shows with exclusive X-Ray access, powered by IMDb. Save it for later with select mobile downloads for offline viewing.

●       Personalized: Customers can browse the user interface in their own language and watch popular TV shows and movies with subtitles.

 

About Amazon

Amazon is guided by four principles: customer obsession rather than competitor focus, passion for invention, commitment to operational excellence, and long-term thinking. Customer reviews, 1-Click shopping, personalized recommendations, Prime, Fulfillment by Amazon, AWS, Kindle Direct Publishing, Kindle, Fire tablets, Fire TV, Amazon Echo, and Alexa are some of the products and services pioneered by Amazon. For more information, visit Amazon.com/about and follow @AmazonNews.

 

 

 

 

 

ePLDT bags Microsoft Country Partner of the Year award

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ePLDT Inc., the ICT arm of PLDT Enterprise and the country’s leading enabler of digital solutions, has been awarded by Microsoft as its 2022 Country Partner of Year for the Philippines.

Victor S. Genuino, President and CEO of ePLDT, has expressed his gratitude for the recognition, highlighting their long-standing partnership to deliver solutions that create real value through Microsoft’s leading cloud technology.

“We are grateful to Microsoft for this award. This recognition affirms ePLDT’s thrust to digitally enable organizations and help enterprises accelerate their business goals. We will continue to offer Microsoft solution packages, combined with our capabilities, as we journey with our clients in pursuit of their infinite potential,” said Genuino.

The said award signifies ePLDT’s outstanding achievements and innovations over the past year, as it leverages Microsoft cloud and platforms to build solutions and services, and in turn, drive substantial growth in its customer base and revenue.

“We are honored to receive the Country Partner of the Year award from Microsoft which is proof of our commitment to delivering customer-focused digital innovations. We look forward to creating a more promising future with Microsoft as we further this collaboration through enabling more local businesses,” said Jojo Gendrano, FVP and Head of PLDT and Smart Enterprise.

Since 2015, ePLDT has been an active partner of Microsoft, co-innovating to offer a slew of cloud-based solutions such as infrastructure services, cloud productivity, and collaboration tools to enable businesses.

Nico Alcoseba, PLDT Enterprise FVP & Head of Product Management & Marketing Group, noted that through the years, ePLDT and Microsoft have empowered businesses all over the country to further boost and enhance their operations.

This was made possible through ePLDT’s relentless efforts to grow its cloud business by not only doing license push but also making Professional Services and eventually Managed Services become the primary source of revenue with the deployment of solutions such as Microsoft 365 Business and Enterprise Plans, Microsoft Enterprise Mobility + Security, Microsoft Surface bundled with Intune, ePLDT Calling for MS Teams plus ePLDT’s Professional Services related to Modern Work and Security plus Azure Public and Azure Stack which is hosted in ePLDT’s Vitro Data Center.

Every year, Microsoft offers a variety of awards for its partners with the aim to inspire and drive partner success in driving Microsoft’s business by leveraging on Microsoft technologies that provide relevant solutions across all industries and market segments

These awards celebrate the successes and innovations related to partner competencies, cloud technology, and entrepreneurial spirit, as well as highlight the great work done by partners in various industries and philanthropy arenas.

Other recognitions received by ePLDT through the years include Microsoft Country Partner of the Year in 2017, Tech Intensity Partner of the Year (Philippines) in 2020 and 2021; Para Sa Bayan Award (LearnAsOne Initiative) in 2020, and Azure Customer Recruit Partner of the Year (Philippines) last year.

Let the Family Fun Begin with Netflix: 5 Fun-Filled Shows for every week in August!

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Gather your family, get into your pajamas, and grab some popcorn!

This August is set to be full of adventure, fun, and laughs for everyone at home, as Netflix has got family bonding over the weekends sorted with a new film or series launching every week.

The beloved Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles franchise sees a modern resurgence with Rise of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Movie, premiering on August 5 on Netflix.

Nothing brings generations together like good films, and Rise of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Movie is set to do just that. Jam-packed with the same old ’80s nostalgia while oozing with high-octane action, old and new fans are in for an exciting ride - plus, parents have the unmissable opportunity to give their kids a glimpse into some of the classic animated films and characters they loved when they were their age.

Synopsis

In Nickelodeon’s Rise of The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Movie, the Ninja Turtles are faced with their greatest challenge yet when a mysterious stranger arrives from the future with a dire warning. Leo is forced to rise and lead his brothers, Raph, Donnie, and Mikey in a fight to save the world from a terrifying alien species…the Krang!

Break into song and dance with 13: The Musical, an adaptation of the first Broadway show to feature a cast entirely made up of teens, premiering on August 12 on Netflix

It’s time to turn up the music! Three-time Tony Award winner Jason Robert Brown’s upbeat, catchy pop score is guaranteed to turn any living room into a dance floor and result in lingering earworms you can’t shake off for weeks. But don’t just stop there - beneath the brightly-colored visuals lie profound lessons about the ups and downs of preteen life, another reason why 13: The Musical is a great family watch.

Synopsis

After his parents’ divorce, Evan Goldman (Eli Golden) moves from NYC to small-town Indiana. As his 13th birthday nears, he must master the complex social circles of his new school and win friends by turning his Bar Mitzvah into the coolest party ever.

Cuphead and Mugman, the favorite animated characters families know and love, return with more misadventures in The Cuphead Show!: Part 2, premiering on August 19 on Netflix

Belly laughs await with The Cuphead Show! Part 2, the comedic animated series based on the beloved indie game. Plus, with its short episodic runs, this show makes the perfect option for busy parents looking to squeeze in entertainment nights with their little ones.

Synopsis

Based on the award-winning video game that smashed onto the scene with a gorgeous retro animation style, THE CUPHEAD SHOW! is a character-driven comedy series following the unique misadventures of loveable, impulsive scamp Cuphead and his cautious but easily swayed brother Mugman. As the two scour their surreal homeworld of the Inkwell Isles in search of fun and adventure, they always have each other’s back. Unless there’s only one cookie left, in which case it’s every cup for himself. THE CUPHEAD SHOW! combines nostalgic delights, side-splitting gags, and a healthy dose of the heebie jeebies—especially when a ridiculously weird nemesis, The Devil himself, arrives on the scene to toy with our heroes.

Love, loss, and the power of imagination take center stage in Lost Ollie, premiering on August 24 on Netflix

Entertainment can be a gateway for kids to the world around them, and Lost Ollie proves just that. Directed by Oscar winner Peter Ramsey and inspired by the book Ollie’s Odyssey by author and illustrator William Joyce, the hybrid live-action-animated series shows kids (and parents alike) what it means to love fully and find the courage to navigate the losses in life.

Synopsis

Lost Ollie is an epic adventure about a lost toy who braves the many dangers of childhood as he searches the countryside to reunite with the boy who lost him; and the story of the boy who lost more than a best friend. It’s a heartwarming tale for the child in us all, remembering those special souls that we’ve lost but who forever changed our lives.

The kid-phenomenon Angry Birds: Summer Madness sees a third season promising crazy summertime adventures like no other, premiering on August 25 on Netflix

Chances are, everyone at home - from the grandparents to parents and kids - would have heard or interacted with Angry Birds at some point in time. The global franchise has resonated with people of all ages around the world, and for good reason, simply because of how entertaining it is! A must-see to add to the family watchlist.

Synopsis

Watch out for these birds! Teen campers Red, Chuck, Bomb and Stella are having a wild summer at Camp Splinterwood.

Photos: Courtesy of Netflix

Home Credit offers smartphone treats at MemoXpress’ 24th Anniversary blowout

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These days, owning a phone is a necessity. What used to be a tool for communication suddenly became a need for working, attending school, paying bills, and even buying groceries. Almost everything can be done with just a few taps on the device in your hand.

Alongside providing solutions for everyday needs, every smartphone brand constantly delivers new and unique experiences for its users to enjoy faster and lag-less performance, a high-quality camera, a battery life that lasts more than a day, or an expanded screen to enjoy movies and games.

Home Credit Philippines (HCPH), the country’s leading buy now, pay later (BNPL) provider, and MemoXpress are here to help you get that phone upgrade quickly and easily without making a dent in your budget!

MemoXpress is giving its customers a total of 727 deals and promos as it reached its 24th year. As an anniversary treat, customers can buy any smartphone from MemoXpress by availing low-interest rates and flexible installments through Home Credit. Starting July 27, here are all the products customers can check out for that well-deserved upgrade!

Browse all you want with Samsung Galaxy S22

Experience faster performance, longer battery life, and immersive video with the Samsung Galaxy S22. This recent addition to Samsung’s S series features a 4nm processor so users can enjoy smooth and seamless browsing, vlogging and gaming without lags. The phone’s dynamic AMOLED 2x 120Hz Infinity-O display with dynamic AMOLED 2x with vision booster technology and full HD resolution guarantees HDR performance without the eye strain even when outdoors.

No worrying about missing out on all the fun either. The Samsung Galaxy S22 packs a battery that can last for more than 24 hours and can support 25W fast charging.

Trade in your old phone for the Samsung Galaxy S22 and receive a top up from MemoXpress of as much as Php8,000 plus the trade-in value of your old smartphone.

Create magic like a pro with Oppo Reno 7, Oppo Reno 7 Z

Do you have what it takes to be a portrait photographer?

Take DSLR-quality photos and videos with the Oppo Reno 7 5G series. The Oppo Reno 7 features Portrait Mode and Bokeh Flare Portrait Video to give users that pro photographer power. It also has an AI Highlight Video and AI Color Portrait Video to make videos bright and vivid even if taken at dim and gloomy places.

The Oppo Reno 7 Z 5G, meanwhile, features effects such as Bokeh Flare Portrait, Portrait Retouching, AI Color Portrait and AI Palettes to capture and immortalize every magical moment.

Take all the photos you want as the Oppo Reno 7 5G packs a 256GB storage capacity with 8GB plus 5GB RAM expansion, while the Oppo Reno 7Z 5G has 128GB plus extra storage of up to 1TB. Claim any variant of the Oppo Reno 7 5G series and receive 500 MemoXpress eGift Points.

Do more with realme 9i, realme 9 Pro

Tick off all the items on your to-do list and make the most of your day without worrying about running out of gadget power.

The realme 9 series lets you accomplish everything you need with its large-capacity 5,000mAh battery that supports 33W dart fast charging. The phone can enable 48.4 hours of phone calls, 20.7 hours of Whatsapp and 116.3 hours of playtime.

The realme 9i packs a Qualcomm Snapdragon 680 Processor with an advanced 6nm process while the realme 9 Pro is powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 695, both fast processors to help you get any online task done in just a few taps without lags.

The realme 9 Pro also allows users to have two 5G SIM cards that can run simultaneously so you won’t miss anything at work or at school. Buying any variant of the realme 9 series will win users 300 MemoXpress eGift points.

Get lost in the universes of movies, games with Samsung S21FE

Just started binging that show everyone has been raving about?

Dive right into the action with the Samsung S21FE. The phone’s 6.1-inch dynamic AMOLED 2x display delivers clear and vibrant colors even in striking sunlight. It also features a super smooth 120Hz refresh rate for fast touch response times during intense gaming.

The Samsung S21FE’s screen is protected by Gorilla® Glass Victus™, the toughest glass on a Samsung Galaxy smartphone. It can withstand forceful tapping and accidental drops.

Users who purchase the Samsung S21FE can enjoy a free Galaxy Buds 2.

Have any existing MX eGift points? Customers with a maximum of 1,200 MX eGift points can double these by redeeming them on July 27. Meanwhile, customers with successful transactions with Home Credit will receive an additional 150 MX eGift points alongside their chosen brand’s eGift support offers.

Need that new phone right away? Get that gadget upgrade hassle-free and wallet-friendly with up to 18 months of installment and as low as 6 percent interest. Easy, convenient and fast transactions are possible any time with Home Credit’s 24/7 customer service.

To know more about MemoXpress’ 727 anniversary deals, customers can visit their Facebook page.

Learn more about the latest updates from Home Credit Philippines by visiting its official website www.homecredit.ph. You may also follow Home Credit Philippines on its official Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok accounts. Customers are encouraged to download the Home Credit App on Google Play to know more about the latest promos and see what’s new in the Marketplace.

Nicole Borromeo of Cebu was crowned Binibining Pilipinas International 2022

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Cebu’s Nicole Borromeo was crowned as Binibining Pilipinas International 2022 during the 2022 Binibining Pilipinas Coronation Night with 40 candidates who battled out to be Miss Globe, Miss Intercontinental, and Miss Grand International, held this Sunday, July 31 at the Smart Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City hosted by beauty queens Catriona Gray, Nicole Cordoves, and Samantha Bernardo.

Winners of the other titles are: 

Binibining Pilipinas Grand International 2022: 

Roberta Angela Tamondong, San Pablo, Laguna

Binibining Pilipinas Globe 2022: Chelsea Fernandez, Tacloban

Binibining Pilipinas Intercontinental 2022: 

Gabrielle Basiano, Borongan, Eastern Samar

Runner-ups include Angono, Rizal’s Herlene Nicole Budol as 1st runner-up and Stacey Daniella Gabriel from Cainta, Rizal as 2nd runner-up.

The following are with Special recognitions / special awards: 

Best in National Costume - Graciella Lehmann (Oriental Mindoro)

Bb. Talent - Ma. Isabela David (Mexico, Pampanga)

The Face of Binibini - Yllana Marie Aduana (Laguna)

Bb. Friendship - Eiffel Janell Rosalita (Catanduanes)

Bb. Philippine Airlines - Roberta Tamondong (San Pablo Laguna)

Manila Bulletin Readers’ Choice Award - Herlene Nicole Budol (Angono, Rizal)

Bb. Shein - Herlene Nicole Budol (Angono, Rizal)

Bb. Moist Diane Shampoo - Karen Laurrie Mendoza (Iloilo City)

Bb. Pizza Hut - Herlene Nicole Budol (Angono, Rizal)

Bb. Kumu - Herlene Nicole Budol (Angono, Rizal)

Jag Queen - Herlene Nicole Budol (Angono, Rizal)

Bb. Silka – Herlene Nicole Budol (Angono, Rizal)

Bb. Ever Bilena - Chelsea Fernandez (Tacloban City)

Bb. World Balance - Herlene Nicole Budol (Angono, Rizal)

Best in Swimsuit - Gabrielle Basiano (Borongan, Eastern Samar)

Best in Evening Gown - Gabrielle Basiano (Borongan, Eastern Samar)

This year’s edition of the beauty pageant was hosted by Miss Universe 2018 Catriona Gray and Miss Grand International 2016 first runner-up Nicole Cordoves and featured performances from Maymay Entrata and SB19, one of the country's top P-Pop idols. 

Miss Grand International 2020 first runner-up Samantha Bernardo and fellow “Pinoy Big Brother” alum Edward Barber served as the live chat hosts during the event.

Photos: Bb Pilipinas Facebook