YouTube NextUp Manila grooms new generation of local creators

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YouTube has revealed the names of the 12 NextUp creators who are bringing their YouTube careers and channels to the next level. This year’s batch is set to follow the footsteps of other creators who have entertained online viewers with their creative and relatable content. 

NEXTUP MANILA CLASS OF 2018. This year’s winning creators are: (seated, from left) Jam Raquion (Jam-packed), Carlyn Ocampo, Beverly Cumla, Elle Uy (Elle Uy Décor), (standing, from left) Joel Minas, Janine Teñoso, Dex Galsim (KITHARA), Alicia Litonjua (Lesha), Patrick San Juan (KITHARA), Stephen Flores (InReelLife), Poli Policarpio (KITHARA), Benedict Cua, Melissa Ricks, Amy Talaboc, Adrian Apollo Ortega (KITHARA) and Jun Tovera (KITHARA). 

“Every country has up-and-coming creators that we want to help in their journey. In the Philippines, we see a diverse pool of talented creators who show that YouTube is a platform where anyone can succeed,” said Chris Klapwijk, YouTube Creator and Artist Development Lead for Southeast Asia. 

The winners for NextUp Manila Class of 2018 are: music artists Carlyn Ocampo, Janine Teñoso, Alicia Litonjua (Lesha) and KITHARA; home designer Elle Uy (Elle Uy Decor); spoken word poet Beverly Cumla; comedian Stephen Flores (InReelLife); ice skating athlete Joel Minas; vloggers Jam Raquion (Jam-packed) and Benedict Cua; beauty enthusiast Amy Talaboc; and celebrity mom Melissa Ricks. 

All winners of YouTube NextUp Manila attended workshops on video production and learned how to build their channels for business. They also received $2,000 USD voucher for new production equipment and gained strategic account management support from YouTube Creator and Artist Development team. 

During the creator camp, NextUp winners listened to the inspiring stories of veteran creators like Mikey Bustos, Michelle Dy, Lloyd Cadena and Erwan Heussaff on how they have built their YouTube careers and grown their communities. They even collaborated with fellow winners to create their dream video projects. 

“YouTube is all about community. We want to continue helping our creators build their network and improve their channels,” Chris added. “Through programs such as NextUp, they can grow their talents alongside other creators who share the same passion for content creation.” 

YouTube NextUp was launched in 2011 with the mission to accelerate the growth of passionate creators from over 13 countries including India, Mexico, the United States, Russia, Brazil, Thailand, the UAE, France, Germany, the UK, the Philippines and more. Some notable NextUp Manila graduates include Raiza Contawi, About RAF, Nate Punzalan, Helen Payawal (HelenOnFleek), and Team Lyqa. 

Subscribe to the NextUp winners’ YouTube channels to see what they’ve created during the camp and follow their YouTube journey online.

Monsoon: Bringing in rain and diseases

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PAGASA has already declared the start of the rainy season with the country dealing with the combined effects of tropical storms and the southwest monsoon. With the sudden change in wind direction and temperature, the amount of rainfall increases as well as the viral infections that come with it. Coined as monsoon infections, Dr. May Montellano, former president of the Pediatrics and Infectious Disease Society of the Philippines, warns the public of its faster transmission due to the weather. Often taken lightly, these diseases are more prone to become serious cases that can lead to hospitalization.

Know about the top three most common monsoon diseases that can put Filipinos’ health at risk, and the preventive measures that people can take to avoid hospitalizations.

•     Waterborne diseases

Water borne diseases are usually transmitted by drinking polluted water and consuming contaminated food. The season’s cold temperature causes bacteria to live and breed massively in fresh waters, which is food and water source for many. In an advisory released by the World health Organization (WHO), common diseases that fall under water-related illnesses are cholera, diarrhea, Hepatitis A, amoebiasis and typhoid fever. If neglected, these diseases can cause severe infections in one’s digestive system.

How to prevent it:

With water being a basic need, it is important to know where it comes from. To avoid getting these diseases, it is best to boil water before using or drinking. Ensure to cook raw ingredients well and store food in places where insects cannot infest it.

•    Mosquito-borne diseases

Last June, the DOH also released a warning against mosquito-borne diseases such as dengue that are more prevalent during the rainy season. Rains are ideal for mosquitoes because of puddles and other unnecessarily stored water that serve as mosquitoes’ breeding grounds.  With more rainfalls this season, mosquito-borne diseases like dengue, malaria and chikungunya are most likely to emerge. Though caused by tiny carriers, the symptoms of these diseases range from mild to serious including high fever, severe joint pains, malaise, vomiting and blood and organ infections.

How to prevent it:

Maintain a mosquito-resistant environment by obstructing any possible nests for mosquitoes. Ensure that there is no stagnant water that can be a mosquito’s haven in your surroundings like old shoes or toys, flower pots and car tires. Use mosquito-repellent lotion and bug-deterring sprays to prevent mosquitoes from entering your homes.

•     Influenza

While the cold weather is ideal for breeding mosquito and waterborne infections, it is also conducive in spreading viral infections like flu. With the monsoon even meddling with weather shift, it can also trigger a wide spread of influenza. The World Health Organization (WHO) said that cough and colds are not its only symptoms as one can also experience fever, severe joint and muscle pains, malaise and nausea.  Severe manifestation of flu, as added by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, can even lead to hospitalization. It can also cause respiratory infections like pneumonia and may eventually lead to death.

How to prevent it:

Flu can be avoided by strengthening one’s immune system. Luckily, the disease is also vaccine-preventable. While it can also be avoided with the proper hygiene and stringent ways like the other monsoon diseases, its shifting virus strain can be very unpredictable. With monsoons doubling the risk of virus transmission, it is best to avert flu through vaccination.

The rainy season has only begun, and it is likely to heighten with inevitable monsoon interference that the country experiences. As diseases surface in its presence, it is best to know what Filipinos are up against as well as the preventive measures they can take against them. Visit your physicians and ask about vaccinations today. 

Mariel Rodriguez: Feels The Love

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Mariel Rodriguez is a happy woman. Married to action superstar Robin Padilla for eight years now, Mariel is a picture of contentment. She could not ask for more.

https://www.facebook.com/MarielRodriguezPadilla810/photos/a.436674820849/10156773479185850/?type=3&theater

There had been challenges, like her difficult pregnancies, her weight gain, but all these she has overcome.

“When I married Robin, the biggest challenge we faced was when I couldn’t keep my pregnancies,” she reveals. She also gained pounds when Isabella was born. But having Isabella (almost two years old) in her life made her think less of herself, and more of others. “She has taught me to be truly selfless. You would be surprised the lengths you can do for your baby. It’s limitless,” says Mariel.

Mariel married Robin in 2010. After years of trying to conceive, Isabella was born in 2016, in the US. Robin, Mariel says, is a good provider and is very appreciative of what she does to the family.

When asked what her priorities in life are, Mariel answers, “motherhood and Robin equally, then career.”

Mariel is happy and proud of Isabella and regularly posts her daughter’s snap shots on her social media accounts. Netizens are only too happy to see them. How does she want Isabella to become? “I want her to be happy and free-spirited. She can choose what path she wants to go to.”

Having a husband as hot and sexy as Robin, Mariel is not jealous even when she sees women flirting with her husband.

She indulges herself in the “me” time.

She went to Marie France religiously thrice a week to get back into shape. “Me time is so important because ‘me’ comes last all the time. So when me time comes it’s like... oh wow!”

Mariel Rodriguez is a talent of Asian Artists Agency.

For inquiries, please call (02) 855-4765 or (02) 405-4423, emailinfo@asianartistsagency.com, and visit fb.com/asianartistsagency

GCash Now Offers Free Bank Transfers to 30+ Banks

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Transferring funds in between banks used to be all sorts of inconvenient. Customers would have to waste time in line, or pay expensive transaction fees. Now, the nation's leading mobile wallet provider GCash has once again revolutionized the fintech scene by letting customers transfer funds from their GCash account to 30+ banks anywhere they are, anytime they want, and without the costs. 

Done via the GCash App, customers can freely transfer funds from their GCash wallet to participating banks within seconds – BPI, BDO, MetroBank, and others, to name a few – as long as they have the account name, the account number of the receiver, and internet connectivity. This is offered by GCash at no extra charge to the consumer. 

"This new technology from GCash and the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas allows customers to enjoy the freedom of being able to transfer funds conveniently with just their smartphone," said Anthony Thomas, President and CEO of Mynt. "GCash will change the perception that transferring funds to banks is time-consuming and expensive," he added. 

Earlier this year, the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas developed InstaPay, a system under the National Retail Payment System (NRPS) framework that aims to unify all forms of electronic payments into a centralized real-time automated clearing house (ACH), allowing for faster and smoother inter-network transactions amongst financial institutions, including banks and electronic money issuers. 

Getting a GCash account is easy. Users from all networks can download the GCash App for free from the App Store or from Google Play and sign up for an account. 

To fund their GCash account, a user can cash-in via local Mastercard or VISA debit cards, InstaPay from bank apps that have the service available, and direct bank deposits with preferred banks. They can also visit over 16,000 GCash Partner Outlets nationwide, like 7-Eleven, SM Business Centers, Robinsons Business Centers, Puregold branches, and Villarica Pawnshop branches, and tell the cashier to cash-in to their GCash account. Cashing-in to a GCash account is free. 

Stand out this Christmas with the OPPO F9 in Starry Purple

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It’s time to embrace boldness with the stunning color of the year

Every year, fashion experts, designers, artists, and the world’s creative population eagerly await the hue that will be announced as the color of the year. Apart from thrilling trendsetters and trendwatchers, the chosen color is also seen in a wide variety of products, clothing, accessories, and more recently, in tech must-haves, including smartphones.

In 2018, color experts declared Ultra Violet—a vivid, stunning hue that evokes mystery, adventure, and excitement—to be the color that will dominate the year’s tech and fashion trends. This hue also brings to the fore the concepts of originality, ingenuity, and visionary thinking, which perfectly align with global innovation leader OPPO and its latest smartphone offering, the beautiful F9.

Embracing 2018’s trendiest hue in technology

Packed with amazing features, the OPPO F9 takes technology to a uniquely expressive path with the Starry Purple colorway. Not only does it represent the timeless qualities of the color of the year, but it also provides the opportunity to add a unique, festive color to one’s Christmas season.

“Style enthusiasts and trendy techies who dare to be unique will definitely love the most striking smartphone to date: our own OPPO F9 in stunning Starry Purple,” said Jane Wan, OPPO Philippines VP for Marketing. “It is a powerful, sophisticated device they can proudly carry around during their holiday gatherings and any occasion beyond that.”

Inspired by the glorious night sky dotted with sparkling stars, the F9 in Starry Purple is specially designed to be bold and edgy—just the right smartphone for those who want to be expressive in every aspect of their lives. The gradation in the back cover starts from a glossy indigo at the top, which then seamlessly transitions to a deep purple finish. Small beads are sprayed on the top portion to achieve the twinkling starry effect that has interesting depth.

“Compared to other models and brands in the market, the F9 Starry Purple truly stands out,” added Wan. “In a sea of neutrals and metallic finishes, we’ve decided to look at the night sky for inspiration. This new colorway is how we want to encourage Filipino smartphone users to embrace individuality and self-expression, as well as to inspire them to pursue worlds beyond their own with the help of OPPO technology.”

This eye-catching smartphone also combines striking, fashionable design with powerful specs to take user experience to the next level. The Starry Purple F9 comes with the convenient VOOC Flash Charge technology, which allows users two hours of talk time with just five minutes of charging. Apart from the beautifully designed body and stunning back cover, the F9 boasts of a unique waterdrop screen, 6GB RAM, and dual rear cameras.

Break the routine and lead an aesthetic trend this Christmas with the Starry Purple F9, now available in stores and authorized resellers for PHP 17,990.00 (SRP). 

For more details on OPPO’s products and activities, follow www.facebook.com/OPPOPH and @OPPOPhilippines on Twitter and Instagram.