Ben&Ben’s “Leaves (Reimagined)” finds new meaning in second chances and forgiveness

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The award-winning band revisits its enduring classic with a grander sound and a deeper reflection on healing, forgiveness, and human vulnerability

Nearly a decade after “Leaves” made a dent in pop culture consciousness with its unassuming tenderness, Ben&Ben reinterprets the heartwarming ballad with “Leaves (Reimagined),” a new rendition that transforms the original into a more mature reflection on forgiveness, second chances, and the complexities of growing together.

Instead of recreating the original, “Leaves (Reimagined)” approaches the track from a different emotional vantage point, mirroring the profound depths and tensions of life in sonic form. The orchestral elements do not make the track bigger or more ambitious; instead, they give the emotional peaks and quiet moments greater dimension and more room to sink in.

The multi-awarded band explains, "We wanted to highlight how much more dynamic life is emotionally when you grow up and grow older, and for this project, we wanted to explore the use of orchestral sounds playing alongside the band. This is because we wanted to make the quiet parts more nuanced and the grand parts more emotional, but in a ‘lived-in’ way.”

The new version continues the story not from the perspective of who they were when they first recorded it, but from where they are now: as musicians who have matured alongside a community that has experienced its seasons of love, loss, uncertainty, and change.

“Since we have grown up—and so have our Liwanag—in the past nine years, we wanted to encapsulate what that experience is like through the lyrics of this song,” Ben&Ben shares. “We think that if we are to live a life with someone constant with us, whether it be family, a best friend, or a romantic partner, the concept of giving someone another chance will always be a given.”

Following the success of “Lifetime (Reimagined),” the band considers the reimagined version of “Leaves” as a distinctly different creative process: one that allows the song to reveal new possibilities rather than recreate what came before it.

“Leaves definitely demanded a different creative process,” Ben&Ben says. “One cool discovery we had was that even in the process of breathing new air into each song, continuing their respective stories leads into very different trajectories in many layers: melodically, lyrically, and musically. Each song really has a life of its own.”

In June, Ben&Ben were named Duo/Group Artist of the Year at the 17th PMPC Star Awards for Music, with the recognition citing their stellar work on their latest album, The Traveler Across Dimensions.

The band has also earned multiple nominations at the 39th Awit Awards, including Record of the Year, Best Performance by a Group, and Best Pop Recording for “Saranggola.” The nominations further solidify Ben&Ben’s consistent presence at the forefront of OPM, leading up to the grand celebration of music, friendship, and memories via their upcoming major show, Saranggola: The Concert, happening on October 2 at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

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

Ben&Ben makes “Limasawa Street” tangible with new CD and vinyl editions

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The acclaimed debut is now available in physical formats, offering listeners a tangible way to reconnect with the record that helped define the band’s early years

Nearly a decade into their career, Ben&Ben revisits where much of their story began with the physical release of the band’s acclaimed 2019 debut studio album, Limasawa Street—now available on CD and vinyl.

Recorded when the band was still finding its footing, the record introduced Ben&Ben’s expansive, lush take on folk-pop while giving music fans a taste of their distinct songwriting style.

“Sabi nga nila: you never forget your first," shares the nine-piece collective. “The energy we had going into creating our very first album was one of the things we would never forget about that era of ours. It was the first time we collectively immortalized our music together in a body of work as ‘nine,’ especially since we weren't technically complete yet when the EP was recorded. Revisiting an album like that brings back so many memories of the entire creation process, especially our Limasawa Street tour. That album brought us to so many places; it introduced so many people to us and our music, and up to now all the songs remain near and dear to us.”

Their maiden release eventually became one of the most important Filipino records of its time, earning multi-platinum certification from the Philippine Association of the Record Industry (PARI). It produced modern classics such as “Pagtingin” and “Araw-Araw”-- songs that resonated then and continue to be relevant now. The critically acclaimed release also bagged major industry recognitions, including Album of the Year honors at the 33rd Awit Awards. The album’s success led to an extensive multi-city tour that brought the album and the band to audiences across the Philippines and Singapore.

“Limasawa Street was always meant to be a work of its time: an exploration of fresh ideals and a new heart, a new start,” Ben&Ben explains. “We have always been very open about how our albums serve as bookmarks in our lives, meant to encapsulate our beliefs, feelings, and outlook on love and life at that specific moment in time. We hear all of that and remember exactly the people who recorded those songs back in 2019. We still hear us; we still hear the beginnings of our current sound—and we are very grateful to those versions of ourselves who dared to dream and build a world of their own.”

Remastered for vinyl and CD by Grammy-award-winning sound engineer Jett Galindo, its arrival in physical formats gives fans a new way to experience a record that has long lived through streaming and live performances.

For Ben&Ben, the physical release also meant preserving a game-changing phase in their journey: the beginning of an illustrious period that transformed them into bona fide artists. In an era shaped by digital consumption, owning a physical record offers something that lasts: a relic of time you can hold, revisit, and pass down.

The chart-topping band adds: “Many of us have always been massive fans of physical media, especially vinyl. To finally have our very own press feels surreal. We still can't quite believe it because we haven't seen them in person yet, so we're super excited—and even more so for our listeners who have been waiting for us to release our music in a format that they can really collect and have in their hands and homes.”

Pre-orders for Ben&Ben’s Limasawa Street CD and vinyl open this Saturday, August 29, at 12 noon via Backspacer Records.

More details here: https://benandben.lnk.to/shop-limasawastreet

The OPPO Reno16 Series 5G Is Ready for Your First Barkada Moments on Campus

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Starting college means stepping into a whole new world of firsts. The first time you navigate campus on your own, the first organization fair that sparks a new interest, the first group project that turns into an all-nighter, and the first spontaneous coffee run with classmates who soon become your go-to barkada.

Right now, it might feel like just another day on campus but these are the experiences which eventually become the stories, inside jokes, photos, and memories that define college life. With the OPPO Reno16 Series 5G, students have an everyday companion that helps them stay on top of schoolwork while capturing, creating, and sharing every barkada first along the way.

Combining the Pocket Studio imaging experience with the intelligent capabilities of ColorOS 16, the OPPO Reno16 Series 5G brings AI-powered creativity, productivity, and seamless connectivity together in one device, designed to keep up with every side of campus life.

Study smarter with AI Mind Space

College life can feel like a constant balancing act between lectures, readings, research, presentations, and group projects. With so much to manage, AI can help students work more efficiently by making it easier to organize information, explore topics, and make sense of their study materials while keeping the learning and critical thinking in their hands.

Whether preparing for a presentation, reviewing lessons before an exam, or studying with the barkada after class, AI Mind Space works as an intelligent Study Assistant that brings useful information together in one place. It can tap into leading AI models including Gemini, Perplexity, and ChatGPT, intelligently matching questions with the right AI assistant or bringing together multiple perspectives to help students research more efficiently, deepen their understanding, and make the most of their study time. From preparing for recitations to pulling together ideas for the next barkada study session, it gives students a smarter way to manage the information they need throughout the school day.

Keep the group project moving, whatever phone your barkada uses

Group work is already complicated enough and sharing files shouldn’t be. When one classmate is building the presentation on an iPhone while another has the photos, documents, or notes on an OPPO device, O+ Connect makes working across devices feel effortless.

With the OPPO Reno16 Series 5G, O+ Connect acts as an iOS Bridge, making cross-platform sharing quick and seamless. It supports one-tap transfers between compatible OPPO and iPhone devices, while automatic device discovery means there’s no need to manually open the app every time there’s something to send.

For students constantly exchanging presentations, reviewers, photos, videos, and other school files with their barkada, it’s the kind of feature that can completely change how group work gets done. Less time worrying about compatibility or figuring out how to send a file, and more time collaborating, creating, and getting the project across the finish line.

Smooth enough to keep pace with campus life

A typical school day can mean jumping from lecture notes and research tabs to messaging apps, camera rolls, editing tools, and entertainment, sometimes within minutes.

Powered by ColorOS 16, the OPPO Reno16 Series 5G delivers a Nano Second Smooth experience designed to keep everyday interactions fast and responsive. Whether students are switching between apps while researching an assignment, editing content between classes, or catching up with friends after a long day, the Reno16 Series is built to keep the experience fluid.

Together, AI Mind Space, Study Assistant, iOS Bridge, and Nano Second Smooth help turn the Reno16 Series into more than a phone students carry to class. It becomes a tool that can move with them from productivity to play throughout the day.

Turn every campus first into a Pocket Studio moment

College is about more than deadlines and presentations. Some of the best memories happen in between like meeting your first college barkada, joining an organization, finding your favorite campus café, or turning a break between classes into an unexpected hangout.

The Pocket Studio experience on the OPPO Reno16 Series 5G makes it easy to capture it all, from portraits and barkada selfies to videos and candid moments. Creative tools like AI Remix Collage, Motion Photo Popout 2.0, and Pop Cam help turn everyday campus memories into fun, shareable content with more personality.

Get the Whole Barkada in the Shot

No one has to be left behind the camera. The OPPO Bubble Mag E-Badge is a compact phone accessory that easily attaches magnetically to the back of the OPPO Reno16 Series 5G and can be detached whenever students want to use it remotely.

With Camera Remote View, students can see the phone’s rear-camera frame in real time and control photos and videos from a distance. Simply set up the phone, detach the OPPO Bubble, step into the frame, and capture the shot — making it easy to get the entire barkada into photos at campus events, org fairs, study sessions, and spontaneous hangouts.

Make the Firsts Last

Your first semester eventually becomes your second, and the classmates you meet during orientation could become the friends you graduate with. Those college firsts only happen once.

The OPPO Reno16 Series 5G is designed to keep up with them all by helping students stay productive when school gets busy, connected when it’s time to collaborate, and ready to capture the moments they’ll want to remember long after graduation.

The OPPO Reno16 Series 5G is now available in the Philippines. Visit the OPPO Online Store or your nearest OPPO Store nationwide to get yours and start capturing every first barkada moment on campus.

OPPO Reno16 Series 5G Pricing:

OPPO Reno16 F 5G

Pop White, Twilight Violet; Dream Purple available offline starting September 11, 2026

● 8GB + 128GB – ₱44,999

● 8GB + 256GB – ₱49,999

OPPO Reno16 5G

Pop White, Twilight Violet

● 8GB + 256GB – ₱59,999

OPPO Reno16 Pro 5G

Pop White

● 12GB + 256GB – ₱74,999

OPPO Online Store

1. The Reno16 F 5G (8GB + 256GB) in Dream Purple is exclusively available on the OPPO Online Store until September 10, 2026.

2. Until September 17, OPPO online store buyers can avail of the following benefits:

a. PHP 3,000 OFF

b. FREE Enco Buds3 Pro

c. FREE OPPO Reno16 Series x BABYMONSTER Limited Edition Photocards (until stocks last)

d. Charm Phone Case or Drawstring Bag (until stocks last) for Reno16 F 5G buyers

e. OPPO Reno16 Series x BABYMONSTER Limited Edition Drawstring Bag (until stocks last) for Reno16 5G or Reno16 Pro 5G buyers

Shopee/Lazada/TikTok

1. ₱3,000 OFF

2. ₱1500 OFF platform voucher

3. FREE OPPO Reno16 Series x BABYMONSTER Limited Edition Photocards (until stocks last)

3. FREE Tango Jet 10000mah PowerBank (until stocks last)

4. Up to 0% Interest installments with SPayLater/LazPaylater/Tiktok PayLater

Offline Offers (OPPO Concept Stores)

From August 21 to September 17, 2026, walk-in customers can enjoy a ₱3,000 discount on the Reno16 F 5G (8GB + 128GB), Reno16 F 5G (8GB + 256GB), Reno16 5G (8GB + 256GB), and Reno16 Pro 5G (12GB + 256GB). Customers who already pre-ordered and picked up a unit with the ₱3,000 discount are not eligible to avail of the same discount again.

Additional ₱2,000 MY OPPO App Discount

From August 18 to August 31, 2026, MY OPPO App users can enjoy an additional ₱2,000 discount on the Reno16 F 5G (8GB + 128GB) and Reno16 F 5G (8GB + 256GB). The additional discount is on top of the ₱3,000 discount and requires a valid MY OPPO account and applicable voucher.

Flexible Payment Options

● Home Credit: Up to 18 months at 0% interest

● Credit Cards: 6, 12, or 24 months at 0% interest

To know more about the OPPO Reno16 Series 5G visit OPPO Philippines’ official website at www.oppo.com/ph/ or OPPO Philippines’ official social media pages on Facebook, YouTube, and TikTok. 

PascualLab Banners 80th Anniversary with the Launch of Alevia-B and My Colla C

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Pascual Laboratories, Inc. (PascualLab), one of the top pharmaceutical companies in the Philippines¹ continues to expand its health and wellness portfolio on its 80th year in the industry with the launch of two new health and wellness products plus new campaigns for its flagship brands. 

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One of the top pharmaceutical companies in the Philippines forays into the mobility market

 and expands its beauty & personal care portfolio 

as it celebrates 8 decades in the industry 

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As it celebrates 80 years of delivering quality, family-friendly health and wellness products to Filipino families since 1946, PascualLab proudly enters the mobility market. It also launches its newest product under one of its core categories, food supplementation. 

ALEVIA B For Triple Action Relief for Muscle, Joint or Nerve-related Mild to Moderate Pain 

Consistent with its history of purposeful health solutions, PascualLab now enters the mobility market with one of its newest offerings Alevia-B that combines Paracetamol with Vitamins B1 (Thiamine), B6 (Pyridoxine), & B12 (Cyanocobalamin) in one convenient tablet to help relieve mild to moderate pain while supporting normal nerve function. ²,³ 

ALEVIA B features a triple-action formula that addresses different types of pain in a single formulation. 

• an analgesic component (Paracetamol) with neurotropic vitamins (B1, B6, B12), providing a complementary, mechanism-based approach to support relief across multiple pain components. ⁴ ,⁵  Paracetamol (Acetaminophen) is a widely used first-line non-opioid analgesic for mild to moderate pain². 

• Vitamins B1, B6, and B12 are essential for normal nervous system function and contribute to neuronal metabolism and myelin maintenance. ³,⁵ 

MY COLLA C Premium Marine Collagen + Vitamin C 

For people approaching their mid-30s and 40s, the time when one needs to focus on the things that truly matter; look ahead into the future; and make choices that prepare them for the next chapter, PascualLab unveils MyColla C. At this time when certain realities appear – aging; skin rebuild; and need for nourishment from within – MyColla C offers a pairing that makes perfect sense: 

• Premium Hydrolyzed Marine Collagen – building blocks that help support skin health: elasticity, hydration, and firmness 

• Vitamin C - essential in producing and maintaining collagen Collagen and Vitamin C work together to help support normal collagen formation and structure to achieve skin nourishment and radiance from within when paired with proper diet and exercise. 

My Colla C comes in different formats for varying lifestyles so users can choose what works: easy-to drink Strawberry Milk powdered drink in sachets; versatile and easy-to- mix with favorite drinks Unflavored sachets; and compact and easy Chewable tablets for those always on the move. Begin your brightest chapter with MyColla C, #MyPremiumCollagenChoice at Mercury Drug, Southstar Drug, Rose Pharmacy, St. Joseph Drugstore, and Watsons. 

GALING THAT KEEPS GOING 

This year, flagship brand Ascorbic Acid (Poten-Cee) Vitamin C also launched its #CeeGe Lang campaign while its no. 1 Lagundi brand Ascof Forte also launched its campaign on natural cough relief for various cough (not caused by bacterial infection). Meanwhile top psyllium fiber brand C-Lium Fibre unveiled its #PowerTheSlay campaign earlier this year to get Filipinos going and not be weighed down by irregular bowel movement while Poten-Cee + C highlights the benefits of bovine and marine collagen in one campaign: My Glow To Choice. To celebrate its 80th-anniversary, PascualLab also gifted customers with Php 80 Mercury Drug GCs for every accumulated purchase of PascualLab products worth Php 400. More offerings are also in the pipeline. 

80 YEARS of PASCUALLAB 

Launched in 1946 by founders Isosceles and Leonora Pascual to address the post-war needs of their fellowmen, PascualLab has since been continuously evolving to help address the health needs of Filipinos while keeping quality and care front and center. Now on its 80th, the company behind other product innovations such as OraCare Mouthrinse, PelarGo, and Glutaphos, looks forward with a theme that best captures its foundation, its purpose, and the Filipino excellence that factors in all these: #GalingThatKeepsGoing 

For more information, follow us at linked tree. 

Sources: 

1. IQVIA CHAP MAT Q1 2026 

2. Freo U, Ruocco C, Valerio A, Scagnol I, Nisoli E. Paracetamol: A review of guideline recommendations. J Clin Med. 2021;10(15):3420. 

3. Ang CD, Alviar MJM, Dans AL, Bautista-Velez GGP, Villaruz-Sulit MVC, Tan JJ, et al. Vitamin B for treating peripheral neuropathy. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2008;(3):CD004573.  

4. Alorfi NM. Pharmacological methods of pain management: Narrative review of medication used. Int J Gen Med. 2023;16:3247–3256.  

5. Calderón-Ospina CA, Nava-Mesa MO. B vitamins in the nervous system: current knowledge of the biochemical modes of action and synergies of thiamine, pyridoxine, and cobalamin. CNS Neurosci Ther. 2020;26(1):5–13.

James Reid embraces a new kind of freedom in “Sunny Side”

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The feel-good collaboration with Luke April previews the more assured musical direction of his upcoming album, honey, i’m home

James Reid embraces the freedom of simply being in the moment with “Sunny Side,” his new single featuring producer and artist Luke April, out August 27, 2026, via Sony Music Entertainment.

Driven by vibrant production, an easygoing rap section, and an experimental blend of filtered drums and guitars, the alternative pop track carries an infectious sense of movement without ever feeling rushed. Bright and effortlessly laid-back, “Sunny Side” also captures the feeling of having nowhere to be and being completely at ease with wherever the day might lead.

There’s more to “Sunny Side” than its carefree disposition. For Reid, the song explores a more assured understanding of personal freedom: choosing who he wants to be rather than being defined by outside perceptions.

“Yes, it’s about freedom, but it’s also about feeling untouchable,” the award-winning multi-hyphenate shares in a press statement. “Who I am is not defined by what people think; it’s who I choose to be despite what people think. Say what you want, I’ll be here on the sunny side.”

“Sunny Side” was conceived in an unusually relaxed, spontaneous recording environment. The song, along with several other songs from Reid’s forthcoming album, was produced by Luke April during a week-long creative session in a makeshift outdoor studio in the back garden of an Airbnb. With instruments scattered around, artists and producers coming in and out, and no fixed expectations for what the sessions needed to produce, the collaborators allowed the music to take shape organically.

Reid describes the atmosphere as instrumental to the record's laid-back outcome, with the lack of pressure creating room for instinct and experimentation. The track itself was largely developed through improvisation rather than an overly structured approach.

Luke April, meanwhile, brought an alternative pop-rock sensibility to the production, inspired by artists such as Dominic Fike. “Each section of the song sounds a tiny bit different from each other, which makes the listening experience more fun and journey-like,” April points out. “For every project that I do, whether it’s for someone else or my own, I turn off my smarty-pants brain and just let the ‘source’ do its thing. No overthinking, keep mistakes, be patient for happy accidents, and make sure everyone’s having fun during the session.”

The result is a track that feels deliberately loose and lived-in while maintaining the energy and polish of a contemporary alt-pop release. The musical references behind “Sunny Side” reinforce its sun-soaked, carefree character. April cites Dominic Fike’s “Sunburn” and Jean Dawson’s “Bruiseboy” as inspirations during the making of the track, while the finished record naturally lends itself to spontaneous drives, sunny afternoons, casual get-togethers, and days without a fixed itinerary.

“Sunny Side” will be part of the actor-musician’s forthcoming album, honey, i’m home, which will drop on September 10, 2026. The new release marks a confident leap, both lyrically and sonically, positioning Reid as a reliable hitmaker with a good ear for globally ready music.

According to James Reid, the album represents an arrival of sorts, one defined by acceptance and a more assured relationship with himself. As James puts it, “Honey, I’m home comes from a place of quiet confidence: a self-assuring kind of love, from freedom as acceptance, not rebellion. Home is where I’m most myself.”

“Sunny Side,” by James Reid featuring Luke April, is out now on all digital music platforms worldwide via Sony Music Entertainment.