TNT brings ‘saya’ to lucky subscribers in a special meet-and-greet with Kathryn Bernardo and Joshua Garcia

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Five lucky TNT subscribers welcomed the new year filled with unforgettable 'saya' moments through their special meet-and-greet session with TNT katropas Kathryn Bernardo and Joshua Garcia, one of the many special prizes of the TNT Paskong Panalo promo.

Just by registering to their favorite TNT promos, Benjie Carpio of Pasig, Gelica Gemina of Quezon City, and Ophelia Dantes of Tarlac racked up raffle entries that paved the way for them to finally meet Kathryn and have a free-flowing conversation with her over lunch - much like katropas catching up with one another.

‘Napaka-humble and napakabait niya’

"Di ako makapaniwala na nasa harap ko si Kathryn! Sobrang na-appreciate ko po itong experience," said Gelica, 34, a BPO employee and TNT subscriber for 14 years.

"Cloud 9 po talaga ang feeling. Di ko rin inexpect na sobrang friendly at sobrang wise ni Kathryn. Worth it po talaga yung puyat ko," said 29-year-old Ophelia, who traveled to the venue straight from her graveyard shift.

"Kinabahan po ako at di talaga makapaniwala," said 34-year old Benjamin, who sat directly across Kathryn throughout the entire session. "Napaka-humble at napakabait niya at sana hindi siya magbago.”

As a TNT katropa, Kathryn gamely talked about her career and personal life, and even shared life advice with the lucky subscribers during the intimate gathering.

‘Say words of affirmation as much as possible’

"Di kami lumaking expressive. Pero ngayon na may pamangkin na ako, we're trying our best to say words of affirmation as much as possible. We learned that it's important to say 'I love you, thank you, and I'm sorry' to children," Kathryn said.

"Also, please don't forget to take good care of yourself. Wag niyong pabayaan ang sarili niyo dahil marami kayong iniintindi," she reminded the three subscribers.

‘Hindi ko po ito malilimutan’

On the other hand, two other lucky subscribers  - 37-year-old Najer Basser of Iloilo City and 30-year-old Roselyn Ricorte of Pagadian City - went on to meet and exchange life stories with Joshua.

"Akala ko po talaga ay scam lang to nung una, kaya sobrang saya ko po nung nakita ko si Joshua. Maraming salamat po sa TNT, hindi ko po ito malilimutan," said Roselyn, who left her small sari-sari store for a day just to fly into Manila and meet Joshua.

“TNT lang po talaga ang load na binebenta ko sa may amin sa Pagadian kasi yun po ang malakas ang signal,” she said.

"Yung pamilya ko naman, gustong makipagpalit sa akin para ma-meet si Joshua! Nagpapasalamat ako sa TNT kasi ‘di ko inexpect na mangyayari ito," shared Najer, who makes a living selling slippers and sandals at a public market. 

'Maging mabuti at magtrabaho nang marangal'

"I-video call natin sila para maniwala sila," Joshua urged the Roselyn and Najer, and then chatted with their families, sending them into a frenzy.

"Maraming salamat po dahil bumyahe pa po kayo nang malayo just to spend time with me. I really appreciate your time," said Joshua, who also shared about his experiences as a Batangueño being new to the city.

“Na-overwhelm ako noon sa mga building at sa dami ng pwedeng gawin dito. Pero ngayon, mas na-appreciate ko na yung katahimikan sa probinsiya,” he said.

Asked for life advice to share with the two subscribers, Joshua said: "Siguro pareho lang sa  payo sa akin ng tito kong pari - maging mabuti at magtrabaho nang marangal at walang tinatapakang ibang tao."

"Naniniwala rin po ako na darating ang success pag nagsusumikap at kumikilos tayo," he added. 

Watch out for more 'saya' moments from TNT

Aside from these unforgettable moments with Kathryn and Joshua, the recently concluded TNT Paskong Panalo promo also brought ‘saya’ to 5 lucky grand winners from North and Central Luzon, NCR, South Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao, who each won a life-changing prize of P1 million cash.

Now gearing up for its 25th anniversary, TNT is set to bring more saya to katropas nationwide through more value-packed data offers, more exciting promos, and more unforgettable experiences - backed by its superior mobile network.

To know more, follow TNT’s official accounts on Facebook, X, and TikTok, or visit its official website at https://tntph.com.

“I Am Forest Lake” program honors stakeholders behind the Forest Lake’s success

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Life Achievement Award Presentation - From left: President & CEO, Alfred Xerez-Burgos III, Mr. Antonio V. Syyap (2nd from left), receiving the Life Achievement Award, and Chairman, Alfred Xerez-Burgos Jr.

Forest Lake Development Inc. capped the year 2024 by presenting an initiative that aims to celebrate the success-driven people behind Forest Lake, the country’s leading memorial park developer.

Aptly called “I Am Forest Lake,” the program takes immense pride in the employees, sellers, and sales leaders who continue to propel the company to its coveted status in the industry. By showcasing their stories and their vital roles in Forest Lake’s growth, the initiative affirms how the company values its people, builds their morale, and fosters loyalty and a sense of belonging among them.

For one, “I Am Forest Lake” motivates the company’s sales leaders by acknowledging their accomplishments, stressing on their crucial role in Forest Lake’s success.

“I Am Forest Lake” likewise spurs clients and customers to share the trust and satisfaction they experience as they avail of Forest Lake’s services, highlighting how the company offers comfort and support in meaningful ways.

At the event held last December 3 at the luxurious Okada Hotel, “I Am Forest Lake” validated the company’s commitment to fostering deeper emotional connections with their stakeholders. This was achieved by relating the personal success stories of employees and sellers and through testimonials that reflect on Forest Lake’s mission on families and communities. These in turn revealed the heart and humanity that lie at the center of any successful business.

Forest Lake President and CEO Alfred Xerez-Burgos III underscored this point, saying, “At Forest Lake, our success is built on the dedication of our employees, sales leaders and sellers, and the trust of our clients. Through ‘I Am Forest Lake,’ we celebrate the people who make our mission of care and service possible.”

Among the many people who were honored at the event was Ruperto Rivera Jr., Group Chief Finance Officer for Forest Lake. Rivera was awarded for his twenty years of service with the company, a tenure marked by excellence and loyalty.

Life Achievement Award Presentation - From left: Chairman, Alfred Xerez-Burgos Jr., President & CEO, Alfred Xerez-Burgos III, Mr. Antonio V. Syyap (3rd from left), receiving the Life Achievement Award, Treasurer & Managing Director, Jose Antonio Xerez-Burgos, and Group CFO, Rupert L. Rivera

Exhibit Gallery: I Am Forest Lake 2024 Service Awardees

President & CEO, Alfred Xerez-Burgos III, takes a moment to appreciate the gallery honoring Forest Lake's 5-year, 10-year, and 20-year service awardees. Their dedication and contributions remain an integral part of the company’s success and legacy.

Rivera expressed his gratitude for the recognition, saying, “As someone who has been part of Forest Lake for two decades, I am deeply honored to be part of this celebration. It reminds us all that our work is not just about numbers—it’s about people, families, and the legacies we help create.”

Forest Lake’s clients were equally jubilant as they spoke at the event about the positive impact Forest Lake’s services have had on families and communities.

Hailing the contributions of all these stakeholders is an act of gratitude on the part of Forest Lake. “Our employees and sellers are the heart of Forest Lake,” HR Director Jose Antonio Xerez Burgos asserted. “Their stories of perseverance and dedication inspire us to continuously improve and create a workplace where everyone feels valued.”

All in all, “I Am Forest Lake” empowered everyone in attendance to stay on track as they make Forest Lake not just a memorial park developer, but a “community built by people, for people.”

I Am Forest Lake 2024 Service Awardees

A proud celebration of Forest Lake's 5-year, 10-year, and 20-year service awardees, recognizing their unwavering commitment and valuable contributions to the company’s continued success.

I Am Forest Lake 2024 Service Awardees - Honoring the remarkable 10-year and 20-year awardees for their dedication, loyalty, and significant contributions that have helped shape Forest Lake's enduring success.

From left: Maria Susana U. Pactanac (10 years), Ivy Avril M. Alvarez (10 years), Myra B. Cabrera (20 years), and Ruperto Sancho L. Rivera Jr. (20 years).

A Serenade for the I Am Forest Lake 2024 Service Awardees

A heartfelt serenade fills the room, honoring the dedication and loyalty of the awardees during the awarding ceremony. A tribute to their years of service and invaluable contributions to Forest Lake's success.

Executives and managers joined in celebrating the 5-year, 10-year, and 20-year service awardees, honoring their dedication, hard work, and invaluable contributions to the success and growth of Forest Lake.

From left: Chairman Alfred Xerez-Burgos Jr., President & CEO Alfred Xerez-Burgos III, Mr. Antonio V. Syyap, Life Achievement Awardee, Treasurer & Managing Director Jose Antonio Xerez-Burgos, and Group CFO Rupert L. Rivera, 20-year service awardee.

For more information, interested customers may view Forest Lake’s official Facebook page at fb.com/forestlakememorialparks and Instagram @forestlakememorialparks.

Redefining Boundaries in Content Creation with vivo V40 Lite

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If you're stepping into your content creator era, the constant pressure to produce fresh, engaging content—while navigating challenges like lighting, angles, and technical hurdles—can be overwhelming.

But no need to stress. Designed for dreamers, doers, and creators on the go, the vivo V40 Lite revolutionizes content creation by streamlining your creative process and effortlessly overcoming any challenges!

Capture Every Creative Vision

There are moments when you think you've nailed the shot, only to be disappointed by blurry images and dull colors!

With the V40 Lite's powerful 50MP main camera, those days are over! Powered by advanced imaging technology that ensures each shot is rich in vibrant colors, fine details, and dynamic contrast—taking your storytelling to a whole new level.

This smartphone truly knows no bounds when it comes to content creation. Ready to stand out?

Radiate Everywhere with Aura Light

Starting off with this smartphone's AI Aura Light, which intelligently adapts to ambient lighting conditions to provide soft, even illumination. Think of it as your portable studio light!

Perfect lighting can be tough to capture, and flashlights often leave harsh shadows and overexposure. Thanks to the AI Aura Light, you’re guaranteed a soft, flattering glow that complements your natural beauty.

Get ready for your selfies to steal the spotlight!

Blur to Impress using Bokeh Effect

Want to add a little magic to your shots? The bokeh effect is just what you need!

This delivers a dreamy blur to your background, transforming lights into whimsical shapes, making you the focal point without even trying!

Pro tip: Make the most of the enchanting fairy lights around Bonifacio Global City (BGC) and capture stunning portraits with the vivo V40 Lite’s bokeh effects for Instagram-worthy photos!

Frame it All with Ultrawide Shot

And what if you need to fit more into the frame?

The 8MP ultra-wide angle camera with a 120° field of view ensures you never have to cut corners which are perfect for shooting landscapes, group shots, or anything that requires that extra wide perspective, giving you all the tools to make your content shine while having fun memories with your co-creators!

Powering Your Creative Marathon

You can say goodbye to the anxiety of running out of power in the middle of a shoot. With the 5000mAh ultra-durable battery and 80W FlashCharge, you can go from 0 to 80% in just 0.5 hours. That means less waiting, more creating.

Plus, its overnight charging protection ensures your phone is safely charged while you sleep, so you can wake up fully powered ready to fuel your creativity all day long.

Are you ready to elevate your content creation game? Get your own vivo V40 Lite starting Php 13,999 at vivo e-store, Shopee, Lazada, and authorized retail stores nationwide. For more information, visit www.vivoglobal.ph.

BDO strengthens opportunities for Japanese companies in the PH

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As the Philippine economy is poised for growth, BDO fuels national development by providing essential support to Japanese businesses looking to establish or expand their presence in the country.

In a significant move, BDO Unibank Inc. (BDO) and Japan’s Ashikaga Bank, Ltd. (ABL), signed a business alliance agreement through a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to foster partnership that enables Japanese companies to thrive in the Philippines’ diverse markets.

ABL, a leading regional bank based in Tochigi Prefecture, is the 17th Japanese bank which has partnered with BDO. With 134 branches including satellite offices and commercial banking services, ABL has been keeping the major market share in the region.

The MOU with December 23, 2024 as the mutually agreed execution date aims to further strengthen the relationship between these two banks as BDO provides banking support services to Japanese business entities who are ABL customers and have existing operations or plan to build or expand their business in the country.

Incorporated in 1895 with over 70,000 corporate clients, ABL expects to grow its roster of customers in the Philippines with new investments and business matching deals.

As the only bank in the country with comprehensive international desks, BDO offers a multicultural team of relationship managers and advisors who possess extensive international and local banking experience. Established in 2007, BDO’s Japan Desk has grown, with Japanese speaking personnel dedicated to market and service Japanese companies operating in the Philippines, and service the retail needs of Japanese customers.

BDO is the country’s largest bank in terms of total assets, loans, deposits and trust funds under management. The Bank has the country’s largest distribution network with over 1,700 consolidated operating branches and more than 5,700 ATMs nationwide, and has 16 international offices in Asia, Europe, North America and the Middle East. The Bank also offers extensive digital banking solutions to make banking easier, faster, and more secure for its clients.

Puregold CinePanalo 2025: Bigger Dreams, Bolder Visions

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Filmmakers who are set to participate at the upcoming 2025 Puregold CinePanalo Film Festival were recently presented in a press conference held at the Artson Events Place in Quezon City. With a fresh group of contenders and their entries riding on the momentum of last year’s hugely successful festival, Puregold CinePanalo is fast turning out to be a hotly anticipated event in the local film industry’s calendar.

The directors, stars, and crew behind the seven full-length films on the line up for the 2025 Puregold CinePanalo came out in force at the festival’s recent press conference.

Millions of pesos in production grants are a great part of the draw. In Puregold CinePanalo’s 2025 run, the bounty benefitted eight winning filmmakers who received P3,000,000 each, as well as twenty-four student filmmakers who received P150,000 each.

With Puregold CinePanalo once again raring to provide millions in production grants to select participants, aspiring new filmmakers were spurred to craft more uplifting stories with the theme, “Mga Kwentong Panalo ng Buhay”.

Festival director Christopher Cahilig (extreme left) and Puregold senior marketing manager Ivy Hayagan-Piedad (extreme right) together with representatives from Gateway Cineplex 18, the venue for the upcoming Puregold CinePanalo.

At the press conference, Puregold CinePanalo proudly presented these worthy participants to attendees that comprised festival organizers as well as representatives from the festival’s various partners such as the MTRCB, Gateway Cineplex 18, Mowelfund, Terminal Six, CMB Films, and MFP Rentals.

Representatives from the Mowelfund Film Institute came out to show their support for this year’s line up of filmmakers.

Puregold senior marketing manager Ivy Hayagan-Piedad

Ivy Hayagan-Piedad, senior marketing manager for Puregold, spoke enthusiastically about working with a fresh batch of filmmakers. “After an intensely competitive application period, these directors came out on top of the heap,” she said. “We know they will produce excellent, gripping work and we can’t wait to share these with the viewing public at the upcoming festival.”

The Puregold CinePanalo Film Festival will forthwith showcase directors and stars of varying experience and acclaim within the industry, with the star-studded 2025 edition highlighting the filmmaking domain’s rich reserves of talent.

Mes de Guzman directs Sepak Takraw, starring Enzo Osorio, Nicollo Castillo, Ruby Ruiz, and Acey Aguilar. JP Habac’s Olsen’s Day will feature Khalil Ramos, Romnick Sarmenta, and child actor Xander Nuda. Tara Illenberger helms the film Tigkiliwi starring Ruby Ruiz in her second Puregold CinePanalo feature, Gabby Padilla, and Julian Paul Larroder. Dynamic duo Christian Paolo Lat & Dominic Lat are directing Journeyman, starring JC Santos and Jasmine Curtis-Smith.

TM Malones will be working on Salum with stars Allen Dizon and Christine Mary Dimaisip. Jill Singson Urdaneta’s Co-Love will showcase KD Estrada, Alexa Ilacad, Jameson Blake, and Kira Balinger.

Meanwhile, Baby Ruth Villarama’s Food Delivery: Fresh from the West Philippine Sea will mark the first-ever documentary to join the Puregold CinePanalo line up. Another historic first sees noted producer Catsi Catalan making her directorial debut with the film Fleeting, starring Janella Salvador and RK Bagatsing.

Also in attendance at the press event were twenty-four student filmmakers from universities across the country:

• Adelbert Abrigonda (Polytechnic University of the Philippines) - “Dan, En Pointe”

• Allan M. Balance Jr. (Polytechnic University of the Philippines) - “Cancer Din Ang Zodiac Sign Mo?”

• Angel Allizon Cruz (University of Santo Tomas) - “Dito, Dati”

• Roniño Dolim (University of Eastern Philippines) - “Sine-Sine"

• Kenneth Flores (Far Eastern University) - “1... 2... Strike!!!”

• Austine Rae R. Fresnido (FAITH Colleges) - “Sa Susunod Sisikat si Susan”

• Clyde Cuizon Gamale (University of the Philippines) - “Champ Green”

• Bjorn M. Herrera (Central Philippine University) - “Nanay's Frankenstein”

• Maria Eleanor P. Javier (University of the Philippines Visayas) - “Mother at Sixty”

• Producer Ivan Gentolizo representing Mae Malaya (University of the Philippines) - “Sisenta!”

• Ira Corinne Esquerra Malit (University of Caloocan City) - “SamPie”

• Naiah Nicole Mendoza (Polytechnic University of the Philippines) - “Taympers”

• Vhan Marco B. Molacruz (Colegio de San Juan de Letran) - “Uwian”

• Jadrien Morales (University of the Philippines) - “Let's Go Somewhere Else”

• Regene Narciso (Dalubhasaan ng Lunsod ng San Pablo) - “Papunta Ka Pa Lang, Naka-Bounce Na Ako”

• Alexie Nicole Pardo (Polytechnic University of the Philippines) – “Checkmate”

• Kieth Earl B. Rebaño (University of the Philippines Visayas) - “Daeaura”

• John Lester Rimorin (University of the Philippines) - “Japan Surplus”

• Jose Andy Sales (University of San Carlos) - “G!”

• Mark Joseph Sanchez (Polytechnic University of the Philippines) - “Our One and Only Bab(o)y”

• Aubrey Soriano (Polytechnic University of the Philippines) - “Si Nadia at ang Kanyang mga Kuro-Kuro”

• Jasper Tan (Far Eastern University) - “Sa Pagbunga”

• Johannes Tejero (University of San Carlos) - “Daog, Pildi”

• Sean Rafael A. Verdejo (National University Laguna) - “Dela Cruz, Juan P.”

With such a diverse lineup of filmmakers, the 2025 Puregold CinePanalo is primed to be another can’t-miss event for Philippine cinema. The completed films will be screened at Gateway Cineplex 18 from March 14 to 25, 2025.