What do One Direction, Little Mix, and 4th Impact have in common?

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Before One Direction became a sensation, Niall Horan, Zayn Malik, Liam Payne, Harry Styles, and Louis Tomlinson were solo acts who dreamt of stardom. The five then-aspiring singers auditioned at The X Factor UK’s seventh season, but while not all of them got three yeses, everyone managed to make it to second round.

At the end of the bootcamp stage, none of them qualified for the Boys category. Still, the judges saw the talent in the five aspirants and gave them the chance to compete as a group.

With Simon Cowell as their mentor, the five had to prove themselves worthy of advancing in the competition. But earlier on the day of the Judge’s House stage, Tomlinson suffered from a sea urchin sting. Nervous and with Tomlinson just making it in time from the hospital, the band covered the song “Torn” at Cowell’s home in Marbella, Spain. It was at this moment that The X Factor judge saw their potential as artists.

“My head, it’s saying it’s a risk and my heart it’s saying that you deserve a shot,” Simon said as he was giving his verdict. “I’ve gone with my heart. You’re through.”

One Direction, as the boys came to be known, finished third at The X Factor UK. But despite not winning the top prize, the group still has one of most inspiring stories at the talent contest.

Many other artists like 1D did not win The X Factor UK. And yet, they found themselves on a life-changing journey as they strove for success.

Here are other extraordinary artists who started out at The X-Factor UK:

Little Mix

Long before the hit single “Secret Love Song” gave everyone an earworm, the girl group Little Mix competed at The X-Factor UK and won—the only group to ever win the competition so far. Like One Direction, the group’s members started out as solo acts.

On their first public performance, the girls did a rendition of “Super Bass,” which was praised by The X Factor judge Louis Walsh for its “brilliant chemistry.” For that performance, fellow judge Gary Barlow described the group as the “best girl band that’s ever been on The X Factor.”

Leona Lewis

After her beautiful rendition of “Somewhere Over the Rainbow” at her audition, 21-year old receptionist Leona Lewis was described by Walsh as having “the complete package.” In one of her bootcamp performances, her would-be mentor Cowell said that Lewis is of a “totally different league.” She eventually won The X Factor UK’s third season.

Among her most memorable hits are “Bleeding Love” and “Better in Time” from the album Spirit.

4th Impact

Sisters Almira, Celina, Irene, and Mylene Cercado from the Philippines already joined and won several contests in the Philippines before auditioning for The X Factor UK. Their rendition of Jessie J’s “Bang Bang” earned them a standing ovation from the audience and all four judges.

The group’s would-be mentor Cheryl Fernandez-Versini told the girls that they “took the Wembley’s roof off,” while Cowell thought their audition was one of the best he had ever seen. Their audition went viral after it aired. Though 4thImpact did not make it to the finals, it was a dream come true for the sisters who’ve always wanted to perform for Cowell.

Catch The X Factor UK’s brand new season premiere on August 28, 10:30AM first and exclusive at RTL CBS Entertainment HD.

37th Manila International International Book Fair 2016

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The country’s biggest book event is back for its 2016 edition happening on September 14 - 18, 2016 at the SMX Convention Center, Mall of Asia Complex, Pasay City.

Now on its 37th year, the MIBF continues to be the country’s biggest and longest-running book fair. It showcases the largest and most varied collection of literature for leisure and academic reading. Everything you need from fiction bestsellers, to textbooks, to graphic novels, and even educational materials are all under one roof. Moreover, the MIBF is also the go-to venue for this year’s most awaited book launches and signings, dialogues with readers, contests, and other literary events.

Running for almost four decades now, it has evolved from an event for the publishing industry and the academe to one of the most-awaited exhibitions for all sorts of readers. The MIBF has become a gathering of sorts for bookworms of all ages and walks of life to celebrate the joys of reading and the knowledge each book brings about. It has also been providing a venue for the exchange of ideas amongst players in the publishing and academic industry.

Epson Gives Back to Community, Spreads Cheer to Bahay Tuluyan Home for the Girls

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Epson Philippines Corporation continues to strengthen its nation-building activities for various communities in the country.

As part of its annual activities, Epson Philippines encourages its own employees to take part in CSR initiatives. Among these CSR efforts was the special activity held in Bahay Tuluyan Home for the Girls last 16 July 2016. Through exciting games and activities, Epson employees joined in on the fun, spread good spirits and put smiles on the faces of girls aged from 2 to 17 years old.

As part of their outreach efforts, the Epson team also donated sacks of rice, personal hygiene products, a 40” LED TV and an Epson L120 ink tank system printer that Bahay Tuluyan Home for the Girls wholeheartedly received.

“Epson Philippines also gives importance to making a deep impact through long-term initiatives that are focused on helping groups that aid the youth and champion education”, shared Ms. Beth Alcantara, Department Head of HR and Admin, Epson Philippines.

“We are constantly in search of ways and means to provide support for various groups in the Philippines similar to Epson Philippines’ Gift of Brightness Program which is done in partnership with the Department of Education to provide Epson printers and projectors to public schools to help address the shortage of educational resources particularly in poverty-stricken areas in the Philippines”, Ms. Beth Alcantara further added.

“Epson Philippines is positive that through specific efforts such as the recent CSR activity for the Bahay Tuluyan Home for the Girls, we can be an instrument of change in the country”, concluded Ms. Alcantara.

Bahay Tuluyan Home for the Girls is a non-government organization that provides programs dedicated to help prevent and respond to abuse and the exploitation of children in the Philippines. The organization actively delivers social services in different communities in the Philippines such as Manila, Laguna and the Quezon province.

Cloverleaf Balintawak: Bringing modern comforts within reach

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Entrance Semi Aerial Artist Perspective

Ayala Land’s newest urban oasis will bring modern comforts within reach at Cloverleaf Balintawak.

Envisioned to become one of Metro Manila’s master-planned, contemporary green urban developments, Ayala Land’s Cloverleaf Balintawak is an 11-hectare estate that offers a balanced lifestyle, bringing residential towers, commercial and open spaces, office complexes, and a medical facility in one setting that is conveniently connected to northern Metro Manila’s major roads—EDSA-Balintawak, A. Bonfacio Avenue, and the North Luzon Expressway (NLEX).

At the crossroads of some of the metro’s busiest thoroughfares, the mixed-use township will be home to safe, secure, and organized communities that offer privacy and serenity amidst the chaos of the city, without sacrificing accessibility.

Estate Aerial Artist Perspective

Located near the EDSA-NLEX intersection and directly connected to the LRT Balintawak station, Cloverleaf Balintawak will be one of the most accessible establishments in Quezon City.

Cloverleaf Balintawak is situated at the intersection of EDSA and NLEX to bring the best of the metropolis and the rest of Luzon together. It is also directly connected to the LRT Balintawak station and close to the soon-to-be-completed Skyway Stage 3 extension project along A. Bonifacio Avenue which will cut Makati-Balintawak travel time to a 20-minute drive. With its strategic location, Cloverleaf Balintawak will be one of the most accessible establishments in the northernmost tip of Quezon City.

Headlining the amenities are Ayala Land’s residential projects, Avida and Alveo, with a total of five towers in more than a hectare of land that brings a promise of new beginnings. The construction of a regional mall is also in full swing. With 2.2 hectares fully-equipped with a supermarket, a six-screen cinema complex, and a department store for leisure; local and foreign fashion brands for optimum shopping; and a wide array of dining options—elements that provide a new lifestyle experience for nearby and potential residents to enjoy.

Cloverleaf Balintawak will also be packaged as an urban haven with a work-conducive core, featuring office spaces—for various enterprises that will provide local employment and retail business opportunities—and lush foliage that will envelope open areas and mixed-use components of the city’s newest urban development.

To further address a growing trend of healthcare needs, as well as to solidify Cloverleaf Balintawak’s holistic approach to urban development, the 250-bed Qualimed Hospital—a flagship medical facility of Ayala Land’s hospital brand—will also be constructed within the vicinity, offering quality, affordable, and accessible medical care services.

With simultaneous constructions ongoing, Cloverleaf Balintawak is on track to opening Ayala Malls Cloverleaf and launching Avida Towers Cloverleaf Tower 2 in 2017. The Qualimed Hospital is expected to open in the next two years, while the Avida Towers Cloverleaf Tower 1 will be completed in 2019.

Indeed, exciting and promising new experiences are bound to unfold with the fast development of Cloverleaf Balintawak. Located at the heart of the metro’s busiest thoroughfares, Ayala Land’s urban haven brings modern comforts of living within reach.

To get a taste of this up-and-coming urban haven, visit the Avida Towers Cloverleaf Sales Pavilion, open daily, from 8AM to 5PM. 

For more details on Cloverleaf Balintawak, visit the official website www.Cloverleaf.ph, official Facebook page Cloverleafph.

Pokémon Go: Safety tips to catch 'em right

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From city streets to parks and malls, everyone is definitely on-the-go just to catch their next Pokémon to level up! Taking Filipino gamers by storm, here are some safety tips to remember the next time you and your friends go out to catch, drop lures and conquer gyms!

Globe Prepaid customers can extend the fun by downloading the new Globe Switch app! 

On Globe Switch, avail of the free 1GB mobile data and 30 days free access to Pokémon Go starting August 20, 2016. Globe Switch offers the best online deals as well as over 3 GB worth of free access to over 50 of the most popular apps in the market.