Johnson & Johnson Philippines supports the Department of Health (DOH) in advocating hygiene and physical play to thousands of Filipino Households through the Batang Bida program

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As the leading brand for mothers and babies around the world, JOHNSON’S® Baby believes in the value of providing the best care for babies and children at every age and stage through personal care products developed to suit every child’s needs.

Through the years, one of JOHNSON’S® main advocacies has been learning through play. The brand firmly believes in the importance of play to every child’s physical and emotional development. This is why in 2012, JOHNSON’S® launched their legacy campaign Play Days and the Di Lang Laro ang Laro advocacy, together with the Department of Education and NGO Play Pilipinas, to create greater awareness around the benefits of physical play and encourage children to go play outdoors and get away from their “screens” and gadgets. This advocacy went through several iterations in the years that followed, including Play Days: Play for Real in 2015; Di Lang Laro Ang Laro in 2018 emphasizing joint active play between parents and their kids as a critical part of every child’s holistic development; and “Sa Laro Natututo” in 2019, which empowered parents with home-based activities to push the idea of learning through play. These Play Days campaigns and their narratives are amplified through a strategic mix of on-ground events, social media and editorials.

Says Senior marketing manager, Crismer Tiria: “Our company has always believed in the power of play and the positive impact that physical play brings to a child’s development. Play needs to be better supported at home which is why JOHNSON’S® is working to fully empower our moms with the knowledge, tools, and products to make play significantly for their children.”

In 2020, the JOHNSON’S® Batang Bida Campaign was launched to communicate and demonstrate how the physical play was still possible despite necessary health restrictions through the practice of proper hygiene. The campaign was made possible through a partnership between Johnson and Johnson Philippines, Inc. and the Department of Health’s (DOH) BIDA Program, which worked with local public healthcare workers to reach out and educate more moms on the importance of proper hygiene for kids.

Reaching 31,600 households and 500 sari-sari stores in NCR and Davao even through quarantine, the Batang Bida house-to-house caravan was a huge success.

Now on its second year, JOHNSON’S® continues to advocate proper hygiene, health, and playful learning by continuing to support the Department of Health’s (DOH) BIDA Health Program, which aims to provide Filipinos access to credible health information. The JOHNSON'S® Batang Bida Caravan promotes the adoption of proactive health habits to keep the family 100% protected through practicing the 3K’s– Kalinisan, Kalusugan at Karunungan (hygiene, health, and knowledge). Here, play is a key element not only in every child’s learning but also in the continued education of the family in the importance of good hygiene habits, good nutrition, and the important role of physical play for growing kids.

The Batang Bida Caravan is on track to reach 100,000 households in Philippine key cities by the end of 2021, with 56,000 households across four cities reached by the end of August.

To know more about the new JOHNSON’S® Baby products and to get more tips on babies' and children’s skincare, visit https://johnsonsbaby.com.ph, like JOHNSON’S® Baby PH on Facebook https://facebook.com/JohnsonsBabyPhilippines, and follow JOHNSON’S® Instagram account @johnsonsbabyph. To read more on the Department of Health’s BIDA Campaign, visit https://doh.gov.ph/bidasolusyon.

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About JOHNSON’S®

Johnson’s® is a trusted name in baby care for mothers with its Clinically Proven Mild products and is recommended by doctors for over 125 years. This heritage of trust is built upon a deep understanding of what it takes to keep the baby’s delicate skin healthy, making JOHNSON’S® Baby one of the most beloved brands amongst mothers globally. Going beyond safe, mild and gentle products, the brand believes in enriching baby care rituals that unlock and release the full power of the senses.

Nothing is more important to JOHNSON’S® than ensuring a stimulating start and a vibrant future for babies around the world and empowering families and health care professionals. Because JOHNSON’S® knows, when it comes to bringing up baby, more is more. As an expert on baby care, JOHNSON’S® has been advancing baby science and setting the standards in baby care. JOHNSON’S® offers baby and adult products in over 175 countries, the brand has touched almost 8 billion babies across.

Trailblazing tech hub Kimstore pays it forward to aspiring entrepreneurs, as it celebrates 15 years in the e-Commerce business

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Kimstore, one of the country's pioneering tech stores celebrates its 15th year, Kimstore founder Kim Lato now aims to give back and pay forward to the community that helped Kimstore become the brand that it is today.

Kimstore celebrates 15 years of trailblazing and leading the e-Commerce industry by providing Filipinos with quality and affordable gadgets

Driven by her passion for providing the Filipino access to affordable tablets, smartphones, and other electronic devices, she now wants to help aspiring start-up businesses and support other small business retailers through several efforts. Moving towards the future, she is also looking forward to expand her own logistics platform, build partnerships with learning organizations for masterclasses for e-Commerce, and explore with Filipino tech experts in creating and developing Pinoy-branded gadgets that can compete on the global stage.

Kimstore partners as they delivered messages for the 15th year celebration of the brand (Left to right) Secretary Ramon Lopez of the DTI, Josiah Go of Mansmith and Fielders, Bo Sanchez of The Feast, Jay Bernardo of Bayan Academy, Amor Maclang of Digital Pilipinas, Dick Chiang of Dragonpay, and Mimi Ong (Host).

During Kimstore’s 15th Anniversary Celebration hosted virtually, Secretary Ramon Lopez of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), alongside other Kimstore partners, spoke of how the brand has grown throughout the years, “Kimstore consistently demonstrates itself as the country’s go-to, pinupuntahan talaga pag dating sa online store for quality electronics.” He also commended their efforts in offering the best possible deals to consumers and providing jobs for Filipinos. Finally, he wished them longtime success and continuing prosperity in the years to come.

A groundbreaker of online selling during her early years, Lato started the company while she was still a sophomore student at the De La Salle University. A lover of tech devices who regularly did online searches, she realized that a lot of these electronic gadgets were mostly sold by foreigners at a price that many Filipinos could not afford. At a time when the now-defunct Multiply lorded it over the then-fledgling social media, Lato decided to give her countrymen a better option: a Filipino online shop that provided them premium gadgets at reasonable costs. “I think what really pushed us to strive harder is our vision of providing Filipinos access to these gadgets,” says Lato.

At first, as a woman and pioneer of Philippine online selling, she found it tough to convince customers to buy their gadgets. However, she ultimately broke through the fears and insecurities of the buying public through persistence, dedication, and providing a very personalized experience for her clients. As more and more customers bought high-quality, affordable gadgets from Kimstore, other businesses soon followed, inspired by her example.

From its humble office in Tondo to its present-day Quezon City office and Valenzuela warehouse, Kimstore, after 15 years, remains as one of the most reliable and trusted online gadget stores in the country. To share the celebration with consumers, they have been launching promotions since the start of November such as Shop and Celebrate at Kimstore in partnership with PayMaya, 11.11 and 15.15 Deals, Payday Sale, Free Shipping Specials, Crystal Anniversary Sale, and Black Friday Sale.

The woman behind Kimstore: Kim Lato, Founder, and CEO

Lato summarized their 15-year journey experience into one statement: “Despite the challenges we faced in the past, we continue to serve our customers by delivering top-notch customer service. From our humble beginnings at that McDonald's beside the university, to our journeys through social media like Multiply and Facebook, and culminating in our very own Kimstore.com, we have grown as the country's first and largest e-Commerce shopping store for tech and electronics.”

To know more about Kimstore, visit their official website.

Viu launches first Pinoy original STILL

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The first Viu Original musical created by award winner Pat Valera with a powerhouse cast and a production backed by the brightest in the Philippines' theater and music industries

Viu, PCCW’s leading pan-regional OTT video streaming service, proudly launches its first original musical narrative series featuring a powerhouse cast of Filipino artists from the country’s music, film and theater scene.

STILL was created by Palanca-awardee Pat Valera, who is known for award-winning shows Dekada ‘70 the Musical and Mula Sa Buwan. Theater industry greats Giancarlo Abrahan and Nicco Manalo co-created the series with Valera. On the director’s chair is Treb Monteras II of the internationally-acclaimed rap musical Respeto. Multi-awarded screenwriter, director, producer and editor Monster Jimenez produced the series.

Ms. Arianne Kader-Cu, Country Head of Viu Philippines, said, “We are extremely honored and thrilled to be working with such a talented team that has produced a musical we hope impresses the world over. The story itself is relevant and we believe that STILL will resonate with all of us who have gone through this pandemic. We can’t wait for our Viu-ers to have access to STILL and get to know and love the characters, be hooked on the storyline, and sing their hearts out to the beautiful original soundtrack featured in the program.”

The eight-episode series follows the story of talented upcoming artists participating in Daloy Himig, a music camp that abruptly ends when the pandemic hits. With quarantine protocols placed around the country, the campers are left stuck in Balay, with only their music and each other to keep them company.

Leading the campers are estranged best friends Laura, always the relentless dreamer who fights for herself, for the people she loves and for the limelight (played by Julie Anne San Jose, Asia’s limitless star), and Sab, the voiceless writer who wants to follow her dreams but can’t (played by Gab Pangilinan, Philippine theater princess). The two instantly become friends with veteran camper Iggy (Mike Shimamoto), always ‘the happy pill’ Tugs (Abe Autea) and tired-but-still-a-fighter Leigh (Lance Reblando). Along with their mentors Nikolas (Christian Bautista, Asia’s romantic balladeer) and Annette (Bituin Escalante, veteran stage and concert singer), the campers’ lives and stories intertwine through powerful and poignant music. Through song and stage, they hope and rage to prove to the world that they still have a voice – that they still matter.

STILL is available now on Ticket2Me. New episodes will be added every week and can be viewed multiple times within a 32-hour window. For a special rate of P599, Viu-ers can avail of an Exclusive Viu Package (a free six-month Viu Premium subscription plus a free digital STILL chord book) with early access per STILL episode. Meanwhile, Viu subscribers can start streaming STILL on their devices on November 26, 2021.

Filipinos can also listen to the show’s 13 original songs performed by the country’s best talents via Spotify, Apple Music, Deezer and Tidal.

Watch STILL and a whole lot more of your other favorite KDramas, reality and variety shows, Japanese dramas and anime, Chinese dramas, Thai dramas, Viu Originals, TagDubOnViu for free! Download the Viu app now and #ViuItRight!

Stay updated on the latest news and releases, like and follow Viu Philippines on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, Twitter, Kumu and TikTok. Join and spazz with us on Viuniverse, on Twitter and on Facebook.

#ViuStillSeries #Still #ViuOriginal #StillHere #ViuItRight #Viu #JulieAnneSanJose #ChristianBautista #BituinEscalante #GabPangilinan #MikeShimamoto #AbeAutea #LanceReblando #GabbyPadilla #BagongMundo #AawitKangMuli #Sumandali

Ben&Ben to push the boundaries of concert production on a scale that’s never been done before with ‘Kuwaderno’

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Different forms of art intertwine on the nine-piece band’s most ambitious concert so far

Ben&Ben are redefining the virtual concert-going experience with the biggest headline show of their career.

Aptly titled Kuwaderno: A Ben&Ben Online Concert, the Filipino nine-piece collective are pushing the boundaries of music shows in the new normal setting by integrating creative disciplines such as drama, dance, orchestra, and technology with a live performance. Their highly anticipated major concert will be staged at the SMART Araneta Coliseum, and will be streamed live on December 5, 2021, from 8pm to 11pm via digital streaming platform, KTX.ph.

“We can’t deny the fact that it’s the biggest project we’ve undertaken so far, and I think you just somehow know that it’s a leap of faith when the streams of guidance and providence lead you to the right people who believe in the same vision you have: To bring the music and the messages they carry to life,” the award-winning group said. “This spirit of collaboration was one of the defining themes of our album ‘Pebble House Volume One: Kuwaderno’ and it was only by natural desire that we brought the same spirit and attitude when we began working on the concert. As for the play between grand and intimate, we really wanted our listeners to relish in the grandiosity of what their support means to us. Doing a concert on this scale and bringing them closer into that bigger picture is our way of expressing immense gratitude to them as well.”

The audio-visual spectacle promises to bring the immense joy of experiencing live music and give an impression of conceptual grandness that are at par with the most memorable concerts in recent history. From mounting multiple-stage setups to performing in one of the biggest live music venues in the country, Kuwaderno aims to open new possibilities despite the limitations of the platform, and intimately build a connection with the audience all over the world.

The awe-inspiring creativity and ambition that Kuwaderno dares to achieve, wouldn’t be possible without the collaborators that painstakingly put their heart and soul into the project. Concert director Paolo Valenciano, along with co-director Maribel Legarda, Philippine Theater Association (PETA), and veteran light designer Shakira Villa-Symes—to name a few, understood Ben&Ben’s unique vision and translated them so clearly to create a cohesive piece of work. Ben&Ben attest to how significant their contributions are, not only in turning the concert into a reality, but in making sure that they are able to nurture a creative environment that promotes healthy exchange of ideas. “Working closely with them on this concert only made it clearer to us why they are the biggest names in the industry. The flow of ideas and creative energies really went on naturally because of their openness, and their generosity to share with us their thoughts, but what makes them more admirable is their skill to work within the limitations that we have and to adapt when faced with challenges. We definitely learned a lot from their work ethic.”

Believing in the magic that happens when different forms of art intertwine, the prolific folk-pop asserts that some feelings are best conveyed not just by the music elements alone. This prompted Ben&Ben and their team to include actors and dancers as part of the visual narrative to give the audience a semblance of being physically present with them throughout the concert journey. “Movement and dance and the entire visual narrative of it all woven into our music brought our songs to life,” the band said in a statement. “The talented dancers we’ve worked with, headed by choreographer Gio Gahol, are from different dance groups as well. It is amazing to see how they seem to get along and dance so passionately with each other easily.”

In terms of production design, the team stepped up their game in being more in line with the times, and pushing the envelope in terms of how the music can be represented visually. According to the nine-piece ensemble, each stage has its own purpose, its own symbolisms and visual elements. Even the lighting has its own poignant significance. “We want our listeners to know that each piece of the puzzle was thoughtfully included, and we’re excited to see them piece everything together when they watch the full show.”

The band is confident that Kuwaderno: A Ben&Ben Online Concert will not only deliver unparalleled innovation to local concert productions, but also bring light to a lot of people suffering in silence during the most challenging of times. “Having the opportunity to do so during the pandemic, we also felt such a huge responsibility to be able to inspire more people with stories of humanity and hope. We’ve received a lot of messages from Liwanag (the fan club) telling us how the band has helped them get through the tough times. Hopefully through this concert, we’ll be able to use our platform in making them feel that they’re not alone in this fight.”

 

Ms. Val Guico, the General Manager of Ben&Ben Music Productions, is also equally grateful to the people involved in the production for making strides in pulling off an envelope-pushing event. According to her, one of the main goals of mounting Kuwaderno is to extend help to the production team whose livelihood and work have been greatly affected by the pandemic. “Bulk of the concert earnings will be shared to everyone behind the scenes,” the concert producer reveals. “They are the unsung heroes of the show. Without them, we wouldn’t be able to bring Ben&Ben’s vision to life.”

Tickets to Kuwaderno: A Ben&Ben Online Concert can be purchased via the KTX website. The TINATANGI package (priced at PHP 8,000), which gives you access to the online concert, plus an Exclusive 1 on 1 Harana Session with the band on Zoom and a raffle entry to the Exclusive Ben&Ben House Tour, is already SOLD OUT. Other ticket tiers that are still available include KAIBIGAN (priced at PHP 1,000), MAGKA-IBIGAN (priced at PHP 3,500), and MAHIWAGA (priced at PHP 5,500)—all containing different packages and inclusions.

Kuwaderno: A Ben&Ben Online Concert is brought to you by Ben&Ben Music Productions and SMART Telecommunications Inc., and is co-presented by Philippine Educational Theater Association (PETA), Sony Music Philippines, Big Bulb, Chapters, Robinson’s Mall, KTX.ph, Elesi, Cream Silk, Primo, Phirst Park Homes, Novotel, JB Music, Urban Smiles, Summit, Philippine Red Cross, Sennheiser, Verona Audio Design, and Jilla Sara. Special thanks to the media partners: MYX, 96.3 Easy Rock, and Wish 107.5.

 

Brother Philippines opens first-ever concept store in SM City North EDSA

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Brother aims to create a better in-person shopping experience for customers

Brother Philippines customers can enjoy an upgraded in-person shopping experience for the printers, machines, and consumables they need as the brand has officially opened its first-ever exclusive concept store in Metro Manila last November 5.

Located on the fourth floor Cyberzone in the SM City North EDSA Annex and established in partnership with computer peripheral store Octagon, customers can find a complete lineup of Brother printers, multi-function machines, labeling machines, scanners, and genuine consumables.

The opening of this concept store follows the establishment of another exclusive store in conjunction with Octagon at the Gaisano Mall Davao, for Davaoeños looking for authentic Brother machines and consumables.

The concept store also features Brother’s newest line of products, the Refill Tank Printers, which feature a transparent cover that allows for easy front access to the embedded ink tank, as well as a selection of laser printers for home or office use.

“We are happy and excited with the establishment of the first-ever Brother concept store in Metro Manila. As the economy recovers from the pandemic, we want to offer a better shopping experience to our customers. We’d like this concept store to be a one-stop-shop for all your Brother needs,” said Glenn Hocson, president of Brother Philippines.

For more details and updates on the Brother concept store and upcoming promotions and offers, customers may visit our Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/BROTHERatyourside/. They can also call the Brother Helpdesk Hotline at (02) 8 581-9898, or through the toll-free line at 1-10-BROTHER or send an email to helpdesk@brother.com.ph.