Representing the Philippines on the Global Dance Floor: National Winner, JXYB Heads to Red Bull Dance Your Style World Championship

Tweet

In a collision of genres, cultures, and personal flair, the Red Bull Dance Your Style National Finals concluded last September 2 at 5th Ave. Bonifacio High Street, where the 8 finalists from the Cebu and Manila qualifiers competed against 8 wildcards in an electrifying mix featuring unique styles and techniques.

Red Bull Dance Your Style is a unique competition showcasing creativity, individuality, and exploration of the different dance genres. Unlike traditional competitions, Red Bull Dance Your Style stands out as a unique 1v1 showdown with the only judge being the crowd itself. The crowd decides who gets to move further in each round, and ultimately determines the champion. This, coupled with unpredictable music, mastery, and dance prowess, makes Red Bull Dance Your Style competition a unique experience, with every performance consistently keeping both the audience and dancers captivated and engaged.

Half of the Top 16 hailed from the Cebu and Manila qualifiers, which took place last July 15 and July 22, respectively. The other half were wildcard entries with different backgrounds, performance styles, and accolades. Together, they battled it out on the stage for a chance to represent the Philippines on the world stage.

Each finalist gave it their all throughout the National Finals, but in the end, Louries Dhztine 'JXYB' Bernardino secured the title of champion. Having bested the competition with their signature Krumping technique and personality, JXYB is now on track to represent the Philippines in the World Finals.

“Red Bull Dance Your Style is really challenging. In a normal battle, you only have to please three judges but in Red Bull Dance Your Style you have hundreds, even thousands of people to please. So what I do is I just try to show my skills and at the same time enjoy it, and hope that I get to reach the crowd with that and they see my soul with my performance” said Louries Dhztine 'JXYB' Bernardino.

JXYB battled it out against the first-ever Red Bull Dance Your Style Philippines Champion, Mickey Paolo Yatar in the semi-finals. The showdown elicited loud cheers for the then title holder and JXYB, shining the spotlight on the individual prowess of both dancers.

“Mickey has so much crowd control. He knows how to please an audience, and that’s something I look up at him for. Something I also want to develop for my future performances,” said JXYB.

JXYB also went against wildcards “Heidra” and “O-shady” who brought out a range of hip-hop and pop grooves, but the finale performance against fellow krumper Juan “BLVCKZIK” Carlo De Leon brought out the largest cheers in an adrenaline-pumping 1 on 1 where JXYB ran off stage and through the center crowd, catching every beat and transforming the energy and applause into a routine made to remember.

With the winner of the National Finals now secured, the spotlight shines even brighter on their journey as they prepare to represent the country on the global stage. The highly-anticipated Red Bull Dance Your Style World Finals is set to take place in Frankfurt, Germany, in November 2023. Dancers representing different countries will come together to showcase their unique flair and celebrate different styles of dance.

Red Bull dance consultant Lema Diaz says Red Bull has partnered with the best of the Philippine dance community and is more than ready to train JXYB with the best local dancers in preparation for the World Finals.

“We work with the best of mainstream and underground dancers and we have the full support of Red Bull and of our partners for this journey. We also know that there are so many skilled dancers in the Philippines that can compete globally. We are local going global, and these people are not new to the world stage. They have been competing and carrying our flag around the world. There is no need to train abroad when the best is already here with us. Red Bull has given us a platform and I’m so thankful for them to have given wings to the Philippine dance community,” said Diaz.

For JXYB, the World Finals would not only mean endless training, but also collaboration with the Philippine dance community, and finding inspiration in his personal experience in the local dance battle and freestyle scene in the country.

“For the finals in Germany, I’ll look to the many inspiring people from the Philippine dance community. We are so advanced here in dancing that even as I have won Red Bull Dance Your Style, I know that I may still lose in other, maybe even smaller, battles locally. That’s how good our dancers are. That’s how advanced the Philippine dance community is when it comes to freestyle battling but that’s a big advantage for me - I come from a good community of dancers and I’ll be taking that experience to Germany,” JXYB said. “I plan to maintain my style and enjoy my dance more but I’ll for sure train every day and begin inserting new techniques I can use,” he added.

JXYB is set to represent the Philippines on the global stage this November in Germany. For updates and news regarding JXYB, Red Bull Dance Your Style, and upcoming Red Bull events, visit https://redbulldanceyourstyle.com/ and the following social media pages:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/redbulldance | Instagram and TikTok: @redbullph @redbulldance

Taiwan’s Outlet Drift and Joanna Wang, South Korea’s ADG7, Japan’s Hitoto Yo and more to headline 2023 World Music Festival @ Taiwan

Tweet

The 2023 World Music Festival @ Taiwan expands its portfolio with bigger programming and a more diverse lineup featuring Taiwanese and international music acts.

___________________________________

The four-day event is touted as Taiwan’s biggest outdoor festival dedicated to world music, and will feature a variety of music shows, cross-artform performances, international showcase events, exotic bazaars and more!

-----------------------------------------------------

This year, the music-focused, multi-format event will take place on October 12-15, 2023, at the Taipei Music Center. The festival is divided into two major parts, one is Going Global Trade Fair on October 12-13, and the other one is the Our World Music Festival on October 14-15.

Taiwan’s very own Outlet Drift and Joanna Wang lead the roster of performers, alongside global superstars ADG7 from South Korea, Hitoto Yo from Japan, and Balaklava Blues from Ukraine and Canada.

A total of 24 Taiwanese music artists and international groups are set to perform through various music formats, consisting of four immersive parties with music and scents. The highly acclaimed world music festival will also put a spotlight on two co-productions highlighting global collaborations and cross-cultural exchanges: Ohelen (SK) and Leaf Yeh (TW) will team up together live, and Hitoto Yo (JP) will also step up their game with a special performance featuring Taiwan’s Sangpuy and Tzu-lung Hung.

For the first time ever, the multicultural festival held an open call for international musicians to participate in its global showcase. The result yielded submissions from more than a hundred artists from 31 different countries expressing interest in participating in the festival, including six from America, fourteen from Asia, seven from Europe, three from Africa, and one from Oceania.

From the entries collated, the largest global music festival in Taiwan is set to announce the 13 finalists who will be performing live on October 11-12 and will be watched by 11 international delegates.

As an exclusive international music festival brand showcasing Taiwan's cultural uniqueness, the World Music Festival @ Taiwan “is dedicated to promoting Taiwan's multicultural and multilingual music, as well as fostering a cross-cultural feast of folk traditions with international music, bridging Taiwan and the world through the power of music.”

Beyond the exceptional performances, the World Music Festival @ Taiwan will feature a range of peripheral activities, such as interactive drumming shows, music and dance workshops, and nearly 100 exotic stalls showcasing crafts and cuisines from around the world.

The festival ambiance will be reminiscent of a grand carnival, featuring an assortment of world-class music and parties.

At World Music Festival @ Taiwan, cultures unite and take center stage. It’s a splendid celebration of music, where categories cease to exist and where people from all nations come together in shared joy.

Coca-Cola Philippines continues efforts to meet World Without Waste goals

Tweet

Coca-Cola Philippines continues to make progress on its ambitious sustainable packaging program, World Without Waste, with significant milestones.

Since the company’s global launch of World Without Waste in 2018, Coca-Cola Philippines has rolled out a series of innovations and partnerships in the Philippines to achieve its goals by introducing packaging innovations; collaborating with different sectors to create and support existing collection hubs across the country to bring collection and recycling closer to communities; and forging strategic alliances with the government, non-government organizations, and civil society to help establish a circular economy for plastic packaging in the country.

For 2023, Coca-Cola Philippines pledges to continue serving Filipino consumers with their favorite brands of beverages while supporting communities and growing a sustainable business in the Philippines for the future. Among the company’s immediate targets is to make recycling easier and more engaging for consumers by expanding its over 2,800 waste collection hubs across the country through increased partnerships with like-minded organizations and institutions. This also includes enabling the participation of microentrepreneurs, particularly sari-sari stores, through the Tapon to Ipon and Tindahan Extra Mile Balik PET Bottle programs, to help create a community-backed circular economy of plastic packaging while promoting economic empowerment among micro-retailers.

At present, Coca-Cola Philippines has launched more than 600 Tapon to Ipon store hubs across the country. The company has also partnered with the provincial governments of Iloilo and Davao del Sur for large-scale collection of recyclable plastic bottles.

In addition, Coca-Cola Philippines helps improve the welfare of informal waste sector workers by supporting the work of social entrepreneur, Plastic Bank Philippines. The partnership has activated 38 waste collection locations and 651 collection community members in the South Luzon area and has resulted in the collection of 546,000 kilograms of post-consumer bottles for recycling since 2021.

In the Philippines and around the world, The Coca-Cola Company continues to work to create a more accessible way of recycling and working toward a more sustainable future for packaging. The global World Without Waste program is anchored on three interrelated goals: Design, Collect, and Partner.

● Design: Make 100% of its packaging recyclable globally by 2025 and use at least 50% recycled material in its packaging by 2030

● Collect: Collect and recycle the equivalent of every bottle and can it sells by 2030

● Partner: Bring people together to support a healthy, debris-free environment

For more information on the sustainability initiatives of Coca-Cola Philippines, follow the company’s social media channel: @CocaColaPhilippines on Facebook and @cocacolaph on Twitter and Instagram — or visit www.coca-cola.com.ph.

Lalamove, MMDA join forces in solidifying road safety support through donation of driver training equipment

Tweet

Lalamove, the leading on-demand delivery platform, aligned with their goal of prioritizing partner drivers’ safety, recently teamed up with the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority and turned over driving equipment, including a brand-new Honda Click motorcycle from Lalamove’s Panalomove Partner Agribank, an insulated Lalabag, a Lalamove helmet, and a Lalajacket, alongside a first-aid kit.

(from left) MMDA Director III for Enforcement Atty. Victor Nunez, MMDA Manager for Operation Mr. Gelo Vargas, MMDA Undersecretary Frisco San Juan, MMDA Director Ma. Carolina Salgado, MMDA Chairman Romando Artes, Lalamove Philippines Managing Director Djon Nacario, and MMDA General Manager Procopio Lipana

Lalamove Philippines Managing Director Djon Nacario gladly shared, “This is just the first of the many initiatives we will have in partnership with MMDA. This effort is geared toward MMDA’s goal of stronger enforcement of driver safety education and regulations for all riders, especially for our Lalamove Partner Drivers.”

MMDA Undersecretary Frisco San Juan takes the brand-new Honda Click motorcycle donated by Lalamove out for a spin, proudly donning the new helmet, Lalabag, and Lalajacket from the on-demand delivery app.

According to Nacario, Lalamove Philippines looks forward to the MMDA Motorcycle Riding Academy, which is set to launch this quarter, aimed to mold disciplined motorists across the metro. “We are confident that MMDA’s driver training academy will make us a few steps closer to keeping roads fully safe for all Lalamove Partner Drivers, motorists, and pedestrians,” Nacario noted.

Once ready, the MMDA Motorcycle Riding Academy will have the capacity to house 100 participants per batch, equipped with a clinic, comfort and shower rooms, as well as dining areas for potential students.

MTRCB suspends “It’s Showtime! for 12 airing days

Tweet

The Movie and Television Review and Classification Board (MTRCB) issued today, 04 September 2023, its decision to suspend the live noontime program “It’s Showtime!” for twelve (12) airing days.

Viewers have lodged multiple complaints before the MTRCB concerning the show’s 25 July 2023 episode wherein the program’s hosts allegedly acted in an indecent manner during one of its segments, “Isip Bata.” The said case was referred to the MTRCB’s Hearing and Adjudication Committee which heard the case and required the respondents to submit their position papers, following a procedural process.

In accordance with the Presidential Decree (P.D.) No. 1986 (MTRCB Charter), the respondents may file one Motion for Reconsideration (MR) within fifteen (15) days after receipt of the decision. Should the Board’s Decision be adverse to the respondent’s MR, they may appeal to the Office of the President within fifteen (15) days from the receipt of the decision on the MR.

This is not the first time that a preventive suspension order was imposed on It’s Showtime. In 2010, the MTRCB imposed a 20-day preventive suspension on ABS-CBN’s daily variety program then called “Showtime.” In 2023 alone, the MTRCB has received multiple complaints which the Board has given due course.

Most recently, the Board issued two (2) additional warnings to the noontime show concerning the following cases:

Case no. 1: Inappropriate utterance of the word “G Spot” by hosts Jhong Hilario and Vice Ganda, during the 24 January 2023 episode of “It’s Showtime!” in violation of Section 2 (B), Chapter IV of the Implementing Rules and Regulations of Presidential Decree (P.D.) No. 1986.

Decision: The Board found the Respondents (ABS-CBN Corporation Broadcasting Network [ABS-CBN], ZOE Broadcasting Network, Inc. [ZBNI] and TV 5 Network, Inc.) remiss in the performance of their respective functions and duties required under the Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) of P.D. No. 1986, specifically Section 2 (B) Chapter IV thereof, and are admonished to refrain from making any utterances of similar nature for the same will be dealt more severely.

Case no. 2: Inappropriate utterance of the word “Tinggil” by host Vhong Navarro, during the 03 June 2023 episode of “It’s Showtime!” in violation of Section 2 (B), Chapter IV of the Implementing Rules and Regulations of P.D. No. 1986.

Decision: Derelict in the performance of their respective functions and duties under the IRR of P.D. No. 1986, Respondents (ABS-CBN and ZBNI) were sternly warned by the Board that a similar utterance will be dealt with more severely.

At present, the noontime show has duly submitted their MRs for the above-mentioned cases which are currently pending with the MTRCB’s Adjudication Committee.

*Prior Warnings*

It may also be recalled that the noontime show received prior warnings from the Board in relation to the utterance of the word “Pek Pek Shorts” in the 09 January 2023 episode of the show and the indecent attire and performance of Kim Duenas in the “Girl on Fire” segment aired on 14 February 2023, in both cases, the Respondents were admonished that similar violations shall be dealt with more severely.

*Dismissed Complaints due to lack of Merit*

Apart from these, the MTRCB has received multiple complaints regarding the noontime show, which the Board dismissed in the spirit of fairness and equity, such as (1) Complaints regarding the “Rampanalo” segment money game where hosts were paired together to catch play money using their lips; (2) Complaints regarding the allegedly suggestive “macho” dancing in one of the show’s segments; (3) Complaints regarding the wardrobe malfunctions or “nip slips” of one of the performers, to which MTRCB issued a memorandum urging stakeholders to exercise prudence in securing their talents’ clothing during performances; and (4) Complaints of alleged inappropriate wearing of the Barong Tagalog of one of the Hosts, to name a few.

The MTRCB only adjudicates cases which, to the Board’s judgment, have basis in law and its mandate, P.D. No. 1986.