Unmasking the Best: Top Livestreaming Hosts Honored at Bigo Live Philippines Mid-Year Gala

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Bigo Live, the international Livestreaming app has recently concluded their exciting mid-year gala. Themed “Modern Masquerade”, the gala was held at the exclusive “Xylo at The Palace” in BGC Taguig Manila on 16th of August 2024. The Bigo Live Mid-Year Gala is a half yearly celebration of the best and brightest that livestreaming has to offer. It is also an opportunity for fans and favorites to gather and mingle in an otherwise digital world.

From left to right: Hailey Mendes and Jamir Zabarte (Sparkle GMA Artists), and Jasmin Angeles (Talent Manager)

The event saw approximately 300 livestreamers attending the in-person party and 15,654 online, among whom were the winners for PUGC Outstanding Contribution, PUGC Agencies and Families Award, as well as agency, families and hosts awards. These individuals were highlighted for being the best in their category, and for their impressive contributions to the livestreaming community.

Bigo Live Philippines Mid-Year Gala 2024 Winners

The Filipino community is an international one and the Mid-Year Gala was viewed from countries in the USA, Middle East and Asia. They banded together to celebrate the talented hosts and joined in the vote to pick the special winners for “Best Dressed”, “Family of the Night” and “Most Impactful Icon of the Night”. Hosted by in-house Bigo Live celebrities, Jannine Cartagena (bigo id: ninjajannine) and Nicole Cando (bigo id: simplynicole2021)

Bigo Live Philippines Mid-Year Gala 2024 Winner Jannah Bocatiya known as jfaye 

on the Bigo Live app.

“2.5 years has been an amazing journey for me because while I'm doing BIGO, I'm also studying. And I'm very proud that for the first one year and a half years of me doing BIGO, it financed my education. I’m very proud to say I just graduated marketing management as a Magna cum laude. So imagine, I used to go live at night, graveyard shift and go to school the next day without any sleep. However it was all worthwhile, you don't just work at BIGO, you also get to mingle with other people. They motivate you, they give you strength. Sometimes, kahit pagod ka na, may nanunood sayo, there's always someone watching.” Says winner (Jannah Bocatiya, bigo id: jfaye)

Bigo Live recently concluded “Bigo Voice”, Philippines inaugural hybrid talent competition to celebrate the multiple vocal powerhouses that can be appreciated in-app culminating into an off-line event that was held in June this year. In January 2025, Bigo Live will host their annual awards gala in Dubai; this will be the first time that the Bigo Awards Gala will be held in the Middle East.

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About Bigo Live

Bigo Live is one of the world's fastest-growing livestreaming social communities where users broadcast in real-time to share life moments, showcase their talents, and interact with people from around the world. Bigo Live has more than 400 million users in over 150 countries. Launched in March 2016, owned by Singapore-based BIGO Technology, Bigo Live continues to innovate and expand its reach. For more information and download the Bigo Live app, please visit: https://www.bigo.tv/vi/

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M Lhuillier's ML Moves - a worry-free logistics solution for parcel delivery

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M Lhuillier has made it so much easier and more convenient for every Filipino

M Lhuillier, a leading financial services company in the Philippines, has expanded its offerings beyond money transfer by introducing ML Moves, a logistics solution for parcel delivery.

ML Moves for reliable logistics solutions that connect families and ensure the safe and efficient delivery of parcels. Your "Tulay ng PaMLyang Pilipino," M Lhuillier, bridges families not just through money lending and money transfer services but also through logistics solutions.

You don’t have to go through the extra hassle just to send your documents and packages to anywhere in the country with the "Tulay ng PaMLyang Pilipino, "

ML Moves offer convenient drop-off and pick-up centers catering to both walk-in and e-commerce transactions. ML Moves’ services offer flexibility to different types of customers.There are partnerships ensure reliable and efficient transportation of parcels to their respective destinations.

Walk-in Transactions

Customers can conveniently drop off parcels and documents at the nearest M Lhuillier branch offering ML Moves services, and ML Moves will take care of the shipping process using its local courier partners, including DHL Express for international destinations.

M Lhuillier has you covered for sending parcels and documents to domestic or international destinations. Simply drop off your items at the nearest M Lhuillier branch offering ML Moves service, and ML Moves will handle the shipping process using its network of local courier partners, along with DHL Express for international shipments

E-Commerce Solutions

ML Moves also provides seamless logistics solutions for e-commerce transactions.

Returns (Shopee)

For approved return/refund requests, customers can drop off the item at any M Lhuillier branch, and the company will handle the return shipment without charging any additional fees.

Branch Pick-up (Lazada)

ML Moves offers customers the option to have their Lazada package delivered to the nearest M Lhuillier branch, providing them with the flexibility to pick it up at their own convenience.

Sellers Drop-off (Lazada & Shopee)

Selected M Lhuillier branches function as drop points for parcels from Lazada and Shopee sellers. These branches serve as collection points, where Lazada and Shopee couriers periodically gather the parcels for further delivery to line-haul carriers.

Branch-to-Branch or Branch-to-Door Deliveries

To send a package using ML Moves, follow these steps:

• Visit the nearest M Lhuillier branch that offers ML Moves services.

• Present the package to the branch staff for inspection and complete the required form.

• Make the necessary payment for the shipment.

Important Reminders

Please take note of the following guidelines for package acceptance:

• M Lhuillier does not accept packages with dangerous and illegal goods.Airspeed only accepts packages that fit in their pouches for domestic walk-in transactions.

• For J&T Express, M Lhuillier accepts boxes (using the customer’s own packaging) weighing up to 50kg or measuring up to 1.5 meters on one side.

• However, for Shopee Sellers Drop-off, Shopee Returns, Lazada Sellers Drop-off, and Lazada Branch Pick-up, bulky packages up to 20 inches on each side can be accepted.

Experience the convenience of M Lhuillier’s trusted services today. Your go-to place for money transfers and remittances offers a whole list of other essential services. Now, you can do more than just send and receive money, logistics and parcel delivery through M Lhuillier's ML Moves.

To know more about ML Moves, you can visit: https://mlhuillier.com/ml-moves/

You may follow M Lhuillier Financial Services, Inc. on Facebook, or visit https://mlhuillier.com/ for more information.

Building Filipino resilience through health and financial security

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In a country often impacted by natural disasters, resilience has become a way of life. These days, however, having a resilient mindset is not enough as having the right mitigation and adaptation tools can spell a difference in one’s ability to bounce back from adversity.

Health protection ensures access to essential medical treatments without financial stress, which is crucial after natural disasters when health risks, like infectious diseases, often arise.

Financial security provides the necessary support to manage unexpected expenses, allowing families to focus on recovery.

“Building resilience involves more than having a resilient mindset; it’s about being prepared and equipped with sufficient instruments to overcome life’s difficulties, including health and financial challenges. Having a proactive mindset can help families cope better with setbacks,” shares Maricel Maricel Estavillo, Pru Life UK’s Vice President for Government Relations & Sustainability.

In support of this advocacy to adopt a proactive approach, Pru Life UK has been growing its pool of affordable and accessible life insurance products designed to reduce financial burden and enhance health protection during times of crisis and more so during natural disasters or disease outbreaks:

●        PRUDengue MedCare and PRUDengue MedCare Pro provide financial assistance upon dengue diagnosis.

●        PRUMedCare – Select Infectious Diseases offers broader coverage, including protection against a range of infectious diseases namely Dengue, Typhoid, Measles, and Malaria.

●        PRUWellness and PRUShield both provide hospitalisation coverage. PRUWellness covers dread diseases, surgical expenses, and death of the life insured. On the other hand, PRUShield covers injuries, illnesses, and death.  

●        PRUPersonal Accident, a yearly renewable insurance, provides financial support in the event of injury or death due to unforeseen events.

“Shaping a fully prepared society that embraces a new approach to resilience requires collective effort. Pru Life UK contributes through simple and accessible insurance solutions to provide financial protection for many Filipino families,” shared Garen Dee, Pru Life UK’s Chief Product Officer. 

Championing community-based financial education 

Beyond making affordable health and life insurance products available, Pru Life UK educates communities on the importance of financial preparedness and security. 

In 2023, Pru Life UK and Prudence Foundation partnered with the Asia Society for Social Improvement and Sustainable Transformation for Project Padayon Bantayan Island, Cebu. The project aimed to help uplift lives through training and development programmes focused on health, employment, and disaster preparedness. 

Pru Life UK employees and agent volunteers helped conduct community education sessions on financial management, empowerment of micro, small, and medium enterprises, employment, family health and nutrition, women's health, disaster risk preparedness and management, and climate change resilience. 

Community-based climate and financial education sessions were also conducted in Lian, Batangas for women farmers during the Wais sa Pera si Juana financial literacy session; Taytay, Palawan for mothers; and Mandaluyong city for the beneficiaries of its Solo Parent programme. 

"These learning sessions are part of our commitment to being the most trusted partner and protector of Filipino families. We especially want to help families from disadvantaged backgrounds better manage their finances to build long-term resilience,” Estavillo further shares.

As communities across the Philippines continue to face and recover from various challenges, resilience is not just about having the mindset to endure hardships but also about being able to recover fast and move forward. This strength is built through preparation, education, health protection, and financial security that can empower Filipinos to better navigate adversity and emerge stronger.

For more information about Pru Life UK, visit https://www.prulifeuk.com.ph/en/.

MMDA Hands Over Mobile Materials Recovery Facility (MMRF) Operations to Brgy. Bayanan, Muntinlupa City

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The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) has formally turned over the operations of the Mobile Materials Recovery Facility (MMRF) to Brgy. Bayanan, Muntinlupa City. This milestone is part of MMDA’s ongoing efforts to empower local communities in managing their waste more effectively, ensuring that the responsibility of solid waste management is both localized and sustainable.

The MMRF, an essential tool in the Metro Manila Flood Management Project (MMFMP) Solid Waste Management Component 2, is designed to streamline waste segregation and recycling at the barangay level. During the turnover ceremony, a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) was signed, marking the formal transfer of responsibility from MMDA to the local government unit (LGU) and Brgy. Bayanan. This MOA highlights the barangay's commitment to uphold and operate the MMRF system, under the close monitoring and guidance of the LGU’s City Environment and Natural Resources Office (CENRO) and the MMDA Solid Waste Management Office (SWMO).

“The involvement of the residents, barangay, and local government is crucial to our waste management initiatives,” said Dir. Josias Syquimsiam Jr., Project Director of the MMDA Solid Waste Management Office. “The MMRF provides a structure to waste segregation, allowing communities to turn waste into valuable resources. This represents a shared commitment to creating a cleaner and more sustainable Metro Manila.”

Brgy. Bayanan’s adoption of the MMRF system has already led to significant achievements. Over the past two years, the barangay has collected 18,746.6 kilograms of recyclables, which were exchanged for 78,473 goods, and generated 72,154 pesos from sales to junk shops. These figures translate directly into reduced waste in landfills, cleaner streets, and a more engaged community. The barangay faced challenges such as initial resistance to the new waste segregation policies, but through continuous education and community involvement, they have successfully increased resident participation and established valuable partnerships with local recycling businesses.

Punong Barangay Engr. Jonathan “Athan” Gutierrez expressed the community's commitment to sustaining the MMRF operations: “Our barangay is dedicated to maintaining the MMRF system and expanding our waste management efforts. With the support of our residents and the guidance of MMDA and CENRO, we can achieve even greater results in waste recovery and environmental protection.”

The turnover ceremony was attended by key officials from Brgy. Bayanan, the Muntinlupa City LGU, and MMDA. Community members also participated, demonstrating their ongoing support for the MMRF initiative. The event included the formal signing of the MOA, symbolizing the strong collaboration between MMDA and Brgy. Bayanan. This partnership is expected to serve as a model for other communities as MMDA continues to roll out the MMRF program in other areas of Metro Manila, including Lower Bicutan, Batis and Corazon de Jesus, Pio and 135, San Isidro, and Daang Bakal.

The MMDA remains committed to supporting Brgy. Bayanan as it takes full control of the MMRF operations. This ongoing collaboration will ensure that the barangay continues to benefit from technical assistance and monitoring, fostering a sustainable environment for its residents. Future turnovers in other Metro Manila areas will follow a similar approach, focusing on empowering communities to manage their waste effectively and contribute to the broader goal of waste diversion and recovery across the region.

Kai Del Rio announces first headline show in nearly a decade

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 The indie artist is also set to launch her back-to-back singles “Ang Nag-iisa” on September 13, 2024 and “Storm Like Me” on September 20, 2024

 

Official poster by Dee Cruz

Filipino singer-songwriter Kai Del Rio (formerly known as Kai Honasan) gears up for an electrifying comeback with her first solo headline show in nearly a decade.

The former The Voice of the Philippines season 2 semi-finalist will perform her dual singles “Ang Nag-iisa” and “Storm Like Me” for the first time live on September 13, 2024 (Friday) at Sari Sari Bar in Makati City.

Photo by Dee Cruz

The back-to-back songs highlight Del Rio's versatility and range, with "Ang Nag-iisa" (to be released on September 13, 2024) revealing her grittier version with blues and alt-rock influences and "Storm Like Me" (to be released on September 20, 2024) taking listeners back to her stripped-down roots.

Kai shares that both tracks have the same message and heart at the core of it all, but are musically different by intention.

 “When I considered returning to my solo work, I always envisioned releasing a double single as a way to showcase my duality right off the bat. Nagagalit tayo at nasasaktan tayo. When you experience so much pain, you eventually experience hope. These two songs show the spectrum of rage and sadness and how it manifests differently within the same person.”

The official launch will not only include the performance of the new original songs, which Underdog Music will release on all streaming/digital platforms on September 13 and 20 respectively, but it will also serve as a reintroduction of the indie singer-songwriter, complete with a new moniker, a new record label and management team, and a fresh perspective on the music-making process.

“I took my time because I wanted it to be as real, as sincere and as authentic as possible,” the Liwanag act explains. “These will be my first solo songs in a decade and I wanted to take my time with them from crafting the songs to building the team. That included finding the right musicians, the right group to work with, the right time. Everyone who has worked on these two singles are authentic, decent, good people, but above all they are insanely talented.”

Kai Del Rio is co-producing the official launch alongside GNN Entertainment Productions and Locked Down Entertainment, with backing from Lightfirst and Underdog Music.

“For this reintroduction, trust and history were very important to me. Both the teams behind Gabi Na Naman and Locked Down have been there at the first few years of my career in the indie scene, after the Voice and my time in a band. They know my story and are equally as invested as I am, and I could not ask for more from partners in this first chapter. In addition to them, this event will also be co-presented by Lightfirst, which is a lovely company that focuses on helping make high quality educational content available to schools all over the Philippines.”

Kai promises that the show will be worth the wait, as she’ll be performing alongside some of her peers and idols in the local music industry, as well as playing with a special setup for the headline show happening next month. 

“It’s very different from the ukulele or keytar girl you might have met before, but I hope you’re ready for the ride,” shares Kai. “It’s going to get real, but it’s going to be a lot of fun.”

Tickets to KAI DEL RIO: “ANG NAG-IISA x STORM LIKE ME” Double Single Launch are now available on bit.ly/kaidrlaunch.