COMCO Mundo League of Enterprises brings back the authentic storytelling roots of Blogging, awards winners of Write to Ignite Season 3

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Global award-winning communications group COMCO Mundo League of Enterprises has finally concluded “UNMASKED: The COMCO Mundo Write to Ignite Initiative Season 3” with the announcement of the program’s Top Storytellers in a virtual awards night held recently.

Following the success of its first and second seasons, the initiative recently returned for a third season to continue empowering storytellers across the nation by collating and amplifying their powerful stories that champion the human spirit. Write to Ignite Season 3 brought to light amazing stories that were previously untold, unheard, or underrated.

By pushing participants beyond their comfort zones and asking them to feature tales of triumph, success and perseverance from other people they are connected to, work with or know, the initiative was able to pull back the mask of everyday heroes from various walks of life and to share their heartwarming journeys and inspiring perspectives in life.

Numerous participants from all over the Philippines participated in the challenge, with 40 finalists emerging to lead the journey. These finalists were invited to a Virtual Awarding Ceremony, where the top 20 storytellers were declared.

Iris Acosta of Pinay Ads from Caloocan City emerged as the Grand Champion for her entry “Unmasking Strength: A Journey of Resilience and Hope” about her mom’s battle against cancer. Other winners in the top 5 include 1st runner-up Gretchen Filart of Our World in Words from Sta. Maria, Bulacan for her entry “Championing Biodiversity Against The Odds: Environmentalist Celine Murillo, Unmasked” which is about the journey of environmentalist Celine Murillo and her advocacy for the conservation of biodiversity and natural heritage through storytelling; 2nd runner-up Katrina Rivera of Kwento ni Kat from Talisay City, Negros Occidental for “Wrist Tags, Bananas in Pajamas, Masks, and All the Things That Can Keep Us Alive” which is about her friend Nikka and her battle with lupus; 3rd runner-up Mauie Flores of The 24-Hour Mommy from Cainta, Rizal for “UNMASKED: The Amazing Faith and Courage of a Fabulous Ausome Mom” which is about her churchmate’s journey raising her three children in the autism spectrum; and 4th runner-up Marjorie Pineda-Uy of Woman in Digital from Quezon City for “UNMASKED: God Loves You ‘As Is’” which is about her aunt’s experience living with disability.

The top 5 winners were also given an opportunity to support their selected accredited non-government organization through donations as part of the prizes they won. Grand Champion Iris Acosta chose to support Save the Children Philippines, 1st runner-up Gretchen Filart picked Philippine Eagle Foundation, 2nd runner-up Katrina Rivera selected Make-A-Wish Foundation, 3rd runner-up Mauie Flores partnered with SOS Children’s Villages, and 4th runner-up Marjorie Uy identified Philippine Animal Welfare Society (PAWS) as beneficiary.

The Grand Champion won PhP 40,000 and two international round-trip tickets from airasia. The rest of the Top 5 winners won cash prizes, PhP 20,000 for the 1st Runner-Up; PhP 15,000 for the 2nd Runner-Up; PhP 12,000 for the 3rd Runner-Up; and PhP 10,000 for the 4th Runner-Up. The Top 6 to 20 finalists are bringing home cash prizes while all the Top 40 Finalists are receiving merchandise items from sponsors and participating brands.

“We started the Write to Ignite initiative amid the pandemic. It was timely back then, and it still is up to now. At a time when our social media has become a tool for the proliferation of fake news, trolling, organized bashing, hate campaigns, and black propaganda, we go back to the very essence and roots of blogging, which is authentic storytelling. This is what a real blogger does. We trust and believe that they uphold the very essence of the practice, sharing the truth through inspirational writing and storytelling. This is why we are proud of the Write to Ignite bloggers, content creators, and storytellers as once again, they were able to demonstrate that the platforms they use can be, and should be, used for positive social change," said Ferdinand L. Bondoy, the Group Chief Executive Director and Lead Strategic Communications Counsel / Partner and Co-Founder of COMCO Mundo League of Enterprises.

"It was a challenge to have to write someone else's story, but our Write to Ignite storytellers were able to accomplish that and even exceed expectations. All entries and stories were very valuable and worthy of being read, shared, and recognized," shared Mr. Bondoy.

UNMASKED: The COMCO Mundo Write to Ignite Initiative Season 3 is created and organized by COMCO Mundo League of Enterprises, with airasia as a major sponsor / brand partner; with Babyflo and PHILUSA Corporation, Century Tuna, Licealiz and Lamoiyan Corporation, Rémy Martin, and Uratex Monoblock as sponsors / brand partners; with Make-A-Wish Philippines, Philippine Animal Welfare Society (PAWS), Philippine Eagle Foundation, Save the Children Philippines and SOS Children's Villages Philippines as NGO partners; and with SEA Wave Pop Culture Magazine as the official media partner.

To know more about COMCO Mundo League of Enterprises and Write to Ignite, visit www.comcomundo.com or follow https://www.facebook.com/comcomundo/ on Facebook and https://www.linkedin.com/company/comcomundo on LinkedIn.

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About COMCO Mundo League of Enterprises

COMCO Mundo League of Enterprises is the parent company and umbrella group for all of COMCO’s existing and upcoming ventures and initiatives, a collective of agencies and programs dedicated to advancing the communications profession and related disciplines such as digital, media, advocacy, training and education, and entrepreneurship, among others; to be a force for social change; to nurturing talent growth, craftsmanship and workplace community culture; and to championing borderless collaboration. The COMCO Mundo League of Enterprises is comprised of COMCO Southeast Asia with a network of affiliates in Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, and Thailand, COMCO Middle East & Africa, TARO AOX Inc. Digital + Integrated Communications, SEA Wave Pop Culture Studio, Camp COMCO Mentorship Program and Alumni Society, and Citizen COMCO Advocacy Program.

COMCO has been awarded Medium Consultancy of the Year in Asia Pacific at the PRCA APAC (Public Relations and Communications Association) Awards, thrice as Agency of the Year 2nd Runner-up at the IABC (International Association of Business Communicators) Quill Awards; Agency of the Year – Silver Award at the ASEAN PR Excellence Awards; twice as Finalist for Boutique PR Consultancy of the Year at Campaign Asia Pacific’s PR Awards Asia, Marketing Interactive’s PR Awards Asia-Pacific, and the global CIPR Excellence Awards; and 150 metals from various local, regional and international award-giving bodies.

DoubleVerify Strengthens Operations in The Philippines with New Hire

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Appoints Tinee Cruz as Senior Sales Director 

Tinee Cruz as Senior Sales Director, Philippines

DoubleVerify a leading software platform for digital media measurement, data, and analytics, today announced the appointment of Tinee Cruz as Senior Sales Director, Philippines. In her new role, Tinee will work closely with local partners to initiate, implement, and create new partnerships with a focus on business growth.  Leveraging her extensive industry experience, Tinee will play a pivotal role in elevating DoubleVerify’s extensive suite of measurement solutions to brands and agencies to drive effective advertising spend outcomes.

The appointment is a testament to DoubleVerify’s commitment to regional growth with a focus on increasing in-market resources in the newly launched markets in Southeast Asia, including the Philippines.

“The Philippines is a unique market with a huge potential for advertisers to drive ROI for their media investments, and Tinee’s appointment is timely for forging new partnerships focused on performance for media buys,” said Conrad Tallariti, Regional Vice President of Sales, Asia. “Tinee has a track record of driving growth leveraging her exceptional leadership skills in developing strong client relations and delivering service excellence. Her expertise covers multiple functions and markets in the region which will be invaluable as we continue our expansion across Southeast Asia.”

With nearly 10 years in the marketing, media, and sales industry, Tinee joins DoubleVerify from InMobi, where she was the Country Sales lead for the Philippines, and played an instrumental role in localizing InMobi’s platform in the Philippines. Her career spans the gamut of the advertising ecosystem - agency, brand, publisher, and platform.

Commenting on her new role, Tinee Cruz said, "Digital ad spending in the Philippines is on the rise, being projected to reach 1.6 million USD in 2023, as customer preferences and habits continuously evolve. With emerging technologies, particularly AI, also set to make its mark, the Philippines advertising market is poised for long-term changes. I look forward to nurturing relationships with our customers and meeting their needs with DoubleVerify’s cutting-edge solutions, to drive a significant impact in the Philippines advertising market."

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About DoubleVerify

DoubleVerify (“DV”) (NYSE: DV) is a leading software platform for digital media measurement and analytics. Our mission is to make the digital advertising ecosystem stronger, safer and more secure, thereby preserving the fair value exchange between buyers and sellers of digital media. Hundreds of Fortune 500 advertisers employ our unbiased data and analytics to drive campaign quality and effectiveness, and to maximize return on their digital advertising investments – globally. Learn more at www.doubleverify.com.

 

 

XTREME Appliances Takes Home Comfort to the Next Level with its newest Cordless Vacuum and Microwave Oven

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XTREME Appliances, the Philippines' foremost home appliance brand, is proud to announce the expansion and enhancement of its product lineup with the introduction of two newest additions: the Cordless Vacuum Cleaner and Microwave Oven.

As part of its unwavering commitment to providing cutting-edge solutions for modern homes, XTREME Appliances has ventured into cleaning appliances under its renowned 'XTREME Home' category. The XTREME Cordless Vacuum Cleaner (XH-VACPRO V8) features the following specifications:

2-in-1 Vacuum: This versatile appliance is both a handheld and stick vacuum, offering users the flexibility to tackle various cleaning tasks effortlessly.

400W Powerful Suction: With its powerful suction, the Cordless Vacuum Cleaner ensures thorough cleaning and debris removal from carpets, floors, and hard-to-reach corners.

60-minute Operating Time: Equipped with a quick-charging system, it requires only 4 hours to charge fully and can operate for up to 60 minutes on a single charge, ensuring uninterrupted cleaning sessions. The battery indicator keeps you informed about the device's charge status.

0.9L Dust Capacity: The big Dust Capacity reduces the need for frequent emptying, allowing users to clean more and empty less.

Metal and HEPA filters: Featuring premium filtration, it effectively traps fine particles and allergens, promoting cleaner and healthier indoor air quality.

3-speed control: The 3-speed control (low, medium, high) provides customizable cleaning options, allowing users to adapt to different cleaning needs.

180-degree Swivel Connector: The Swivel Connector facilitates easy navigation around furniture and obstacles, ensuring comprehensive cleaning coverage.

Bristle Brush with LED light: The integrated Bristle Brush with LED light illuminates hidden dust and dirt, making it easy to see, leaving no corner untouched.

XTREME Appliances has given its Microwave Oven a ‘new’ look, now featuring an additional color option for both manual and digital models. This enhancement adds a touch of style and functionality to modern kitchens.

	Manual Microwave	Digital Microwave
Color	White/Black	White/Black
Capacity	20L	20L
Control Type	Knob Control	Buttons + Knob Control
LED Display	No	Yes
Glass Turntable Size	10-inches	10-inches
Output Wattage	700W	700W
Warranty	1-year parts and labor	1-year parts and labor
Price	Php 3,095	Php 3,595

For more information about XTREME Appliances and its latest offerings, please visit Facebook, Instagram, and www.xtreme.com.ph.

Ben&Ben hopes to uplift the world with acoustic version of “Courage”

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Ben&Ben asserts the power of surviving personal setbacks in life with another inspiring anthem.

The Filipino folk-pop outfit dedicates the stripped-down version of their new song “Courage (acoustic version)” to the dreamers who are struggling to pull up the strength to confront an unforgiving world.

“The past few months have been mentally tough for the band, with challenges surrounding us and driving us to low points and times of discouragement,” the chart-topping band shares in a press statement. “These valleys have been the inspiration for Courage. We realized that, as visceral as the feeling of being hopeless may be for us, we wanted to channel it into an uplifting piece of music because it is something a lot of people are going through now but have a hard time verbalizing.”

Out today via Sony Music Entertainment, the stripped-down number is penned by Miguel and Paolo Benjamin and produced by frequent collaborator Jean Paul Verona, who wanted to focus on a back-to-basics approach while commanding the listener’s attention in every conceivable way—from the powerful lyrics down to the warm melodies.

The multi-awarded ensemble explains, “We went back to our roots for this one, wherein we let the reverberations of the acoustic guitars envelope the harmonies we did for the vocals. We kept it simple for the first release of Courage because we wanted to get the message of the song to our listeners as soon as possible.”

Taking a confident stride back to their distinct brand of intuitive intimacy, Ben&Ben’s “Courage (acoustic version)” offers a compelling snapshot of their journey as individuals and artists, one that isn’t necessarily perfect and full of wins but always clings on to perseverance and courage in a bid to make the world a better place to live in.

Ben&Ben looks forward to recording and arranging the final version of the song in the coming weeks. According to the nine-piece collective, this is the first time in their career that they’ll be premiering the track in a form that usually only the band members hear, which is the stripped-down version.

“Then, we’ll build it up together as a band as the weeks and months go by, and you’ll be hearing more of it as it happens,” the acclaimed band adds.

Ben&Ben has recently made headlines for bagging seven nominations at the 2023 Awit Awards, including the following categories: Song of the Year, Best Performance by a Group Artist, Best Pop Recording, Best Alternative Recording, Best Traditional/Contemporary Folk Recording, and Music Video of the Year. The Paninindigan Kita act is currently on a world tour, with remaining stops in Sydney and Dubai this month.

Ben&Ben’s “Courage (acoustic version)” is out now on all digital music platforms worldwide via Sony Music Entertainment.

DTI's Go Lokal teams up with Okada Manila to Propel Small Businesses

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The Department of Trade and Industry-Bureau of Domestic Trade Promotion (DTI-BDTP) achieved another milestone for its Go Lokal! Program through its recent partnership with Tiger Resorts, Leisure and Entertainment, Inc. (TRLEI), the operator of the prestigious Forbes Travel Guide 5-star integrated resort, Okada Manila.

Nestled within the Entertainment City in Parañaque, Okada Manila will exclusively feature Go Lokal! products within their premium grooming, spa, and wellness facilities — The Retreat Spa and The Sole Retreat Foot Spa and Reflexology Center. This collaboration will also extend to Okada Manila’s other business units, like rewards redemption at PLAY, offerings at The Gift Boutique, and in-room amenities for hotel patrons.

“Okada Manila has always been a staunch advocate and supporter of supporting Filipino merchants, products, and services since day one. This mutually beneficial partnership with the DTI-BDTP will help us develop more services and offer more Filipino products to our guests. We vow to continue supporting the government in its initiatives in promoting how world-class Filipino products are,” TRLEI President and Chief Operating Officer Byron Yip said.

Director Marievic M. Bonoan of the DTI-BDTP emphasized the importance of the new partnership, “Our partnership with Okada Manila will help our local businesses reach new market segments and bolster their presence in the mainstream market.”

Go Lokal! a free-market access platform for Philippine micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs), continues to expand its reach through collaboration with select retail partners since its launch in December 2016. To date, the DTI has partnered with 23 retail partners, opened 112 Go Lokal outlets nationwide, and assisted 494 MSMEs to become regular suppliers of its retail partners. As of June 2023, the program has generated Php 616.27-million in sales.

Stay updated through Go Lokal’’s social media accounts on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. For further details about the DTI’s Go Lokal! campaign, you may also email: DTI-BDTP Director Marievic M. Bonoan or Go Lokal! Program Manager Maya S. Arcega at bdtp@dti.gov.ph.