One-of-a-kind venue experience at Globe ICONIC entertainment zone

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Wireless audio streaming through Globe Soundplay app and Interactive LED Omega Claw game

The ICONIC store, Globe Telecom’s premiere lifestyle destination, is revolutionizing the Philippine retail and entertainment industry. With the 1st phase of the entertainment facility completed last June, the venue was able to hold successful large scale events such as Green Day’s: American Idiot play, NBA Fit and HOOQ Hangouts. 

Aside from being the ideal entertainment venue for events, the two massive Times Square-like LED walls provide live video feed and on-ground entertainment. Informative and engaging videos such as short clips by Globe Studios and lifestyle ambient visuals are showed daily. Every 7:30 P.M., people are also treated to a lights and sounds show.

From 5:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m., the ICONIC store transforms into a carnival wonderland with the Omega Claw game which uses augmented reality and face detection technology to capture the faces of anyone near the venue through live feed cameras. The pictures are then posted in the country’s largest interactive outdoor LED billboard with the tagline “You’ve been clawed.” People are encouraged to pose for the camera as they are seen by spectators around. This fun, unique and interactive technology will be refreshed regularly to give BGC Central Amphitheatre visitors something to look forward to.

Anyone who is within the area of the Globe ICONIC Store can, likewise, connect to the Globe ICONIC WiFi service to experience ultra-fast Internet connection speeds of up to 100 Mbps. They can also listen to the audio of the videos being played on the outdoor LED screens through Globe Soundplay App, an audio streaming app that lets you listen to the videos playing in the ICONIC store through your own smartphone. When connected to the Globe ICONIC WiFi, just open the app to stream high-quality real-time audio right from your smartphone. This innovation lets you avoid unnecessary noise pollution within the area, allowing you to privately listen to the Globe Iconic outdoor LED screens’ video contents.

“The ICONIC store is set to be a premiere venue that will once again change the retail experience with multi-faceted store built to house the latest trends and live entertainment. Customers can experience our latest products interactively, explore new content with our upcoming chroma studio and museum. And outdoors, we continue interaction with our customers through features and activities like Globe SoundPlay and Omega Claw, truly making the ICONIC store a one-of-a-kind venue in the Philippines.” says Globe Stores and Retail Transformation Head, Joe Caliro.

Phase 2 will feature the complete Globe ICONIC Store with a glass bridge that connects two stores on both ends. Also within the store, is a chroma studio for recording and shooting videos that partners and customers can use, view and enjoy. The ICONIC store is set to open by the end of the year. 

Visit the Globe ICONIC store at BGC Central to experience the Globe Soundplay App and Omega Claw game.

Crime thriller "The Blacklist" Season 4 set to premiere on AXN with more shocking twists

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AXN turns up the drama this month with the gripping return of the critically acclaimed thriller, The Blacklist. 

In season four, premiering on September 27 at 9:45pm, former U.S. Naval Intelligence Officer turned criminal mastermind Raymond “Red” Reddington (James Spader) has become the FBI’s Most Wanted Fugitive. For decades, he evaded capture until he voluntarily surrenders to FBI Assistant Director Harold Cooper.

He claims he has in his possession a “blacklist” of the world’s most dangerous criminals he has been associated with during his nefarious career and is willing to cooperate with the FBI to bring them down under two conditions: immunity from prosecution, and that he insists on working exclusively with Elizabeth “Liz” Keen (Megan Boone), a newly assigned rookie profiler with the FBI.

Teaming up with special agents Donald Ressler,  Diego Klattenhoff Aram Motjabai, Amir Arison), and Samar Navabi, Mozhan Marnò, Reddington and Liz join ranks, use all available resources and technology of the FBI, and will never stop at nothing until all names on his list are crossed out – either arrested or eliminated.

Along the way, Cooper, Keen, and the other agents become suspicious of the real motives of Reddington. They are not aware of the behind-the-scenes maneuverings perpetrated by Reddington as he manipulates to his end the trust of his former allies. Little did they know that for every case they work on, for every criminal they track down and apprehend, Reddington always has a hidden agenda for his own personal gain. Moreover, Keen starts to question Reddington’s interest in her, not content in hearing him say that she is “very special” to him. 

For years, Reddington has sacrificed everything, even to the point of risking his life to protect Keen. But his efforts seem to be for nothing. Feeling betrayed, Keen loses focus, gets involved with the shooting of a high-ranking government official, and lands in the FBI’s Most Wanted list. In the end, she is determined to get away from what she perceives to be the controlling and overprotective Reddington. She devises a clever way and successfully does, but her plan backfires. Keen ends up in the hands of Reddington’s longtime nemesis, Alexander Kirk (Ulrich Thomsen), who claims to be her real father.

Everything becomes even more personal in the latest installment of the highly anticipated series. Reddington rescues Keen from Kirk, but their reunion casts a cloud of doubt on their relationship. The rivalry between Reddington and Kirk takes a dark turn. As Keen confronts her past, Ressler suddenly figures in her life. Is Kirk really Keen’s father? If not, who is? And the burning question will finally be answered: How is Reddington related to Keen that he cares so much about her? 

The critically acclaimed crime thriller has received positive reviews for showing an ingenious and compelling crime procedural. Television critics have praised James Spader’s riveting performance as criminal-turned-informant Raymond Reddington, earning him a nomination for Best Actor – Television Series Drama in the Golden Globe Awards for two consecutive years, 2014 and 2015. He was also nominated for Best Actor in a Television Series in the Saturn Awards in 2014. 

The Blacklist Season 4 premieres the same week as the U.S. telecast on September 27, every Tuesday at 9:45 pm. First & Exclusive on AXN

AXN is seen on Cable Link Channel 38, Cignal Digital TV Channel 61, Global Destiny Cable Channel 61, Dream Channel 20, GSat Channel 51, and SKYCable Channel 49.

www.AXN-Asia.com

Stakeholders unite to boost Philippine tennis

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Randy Villanueva, acting PhilTA President organized the Philippine Tennis Summit and gathers key stakeholders in effort to make a world class tennis association for the Philippines. Organizers, sponsors and regional tennis officials attended the recent Philippine Tennis Summit where they all agreed to reorganize the sport that has been in doldrums for several years.

The Philippine Tennis Summit aims to discuss the present state of the industry and identified action plans towards its improvement and to Promoting reform in Philippine tennis.

Held at Makati Sports Club last September 6, stakeholders, including tennis coaches, players, parents, sponsors, regional representatives and PhilTA officials, among others, along with members of the media issues on Philippine tennis were brought forth.

Villanueva presented the current state of Philippine tennis, citing the need to improve the country’s standing in international competitions, increase the number of tennis players in the country, and attract them to become members of the national tennis association that represents the International Tennis Federation in the Philippines, among others.

Villanueva laid down the plans for Philippine tennis, identifying a strategy that starts with changes within the existing organization, followed by milestones that will create funding and resources, enable extensive training programs, and make way for a consistent supply of high-caliber Filipino tennis players before reaching the ultimate goal of becoming a world-class tennis association.

To consider the vision of becoming a world-class tennis association, Villanueva said that the country should have at least two Olympians, at least two players in the top 100 of the ATP & WTA rankings, four junior players in the Top 100 of the ITF boys’ and girls’ categories, qualify for the Fed Cup World Group, and qualify for the Davis Cup World, all by 2024. 

He stressed that to be able to achieve all of these, there’s a need to augment the current set-up of the current national tennis association to make way for positive changes specifically in making Philippine tennis inclusive to many. This will pave the way for more active memberships from tennis players, increase in pool of talents, and make the association more sustainable in terms of funding.

“There’s really a need to amend the organization if we are to become a world-class association. The association right now is being run by just 12 people who do not represent any Philippine tennis stakeholders, region or clubs. I think it’s very important that we make it more inclusive to everyone and encourage more participation from the whole Philippine tennis community,” said Villanueva.

One of those elated to hear Villanueva’s vision for Philippine tennis is sports patron and PhilTA chairman of the board, Jean Henri Lhuillier.

“It’s refreshing to have this Philippine Tennis Summit and hear the great plans of Villanueva to move forward Philippine tennis. As always, I’ll be here to support in whatever capacity I can to bring to fruition PhilTA’s plans,” said Lhuillier.

During the summit, Villanueva also advised that he initiated the event in an effort to uplift Philippine tennis and clarifies that he does not have any plans to gun for the presidency in the organization’s next election and is just happy to be able to lay down the work for whoever will succeed him.

TOFARM captures lives of Farmers through Music

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After successfully putting the spotlight on the lives of the Filipino Farmers at the ToFarm Film Festival, Universal Harvester continues its advocacy of recognizing the inspirational stories of the agricultural sector with the first ToFarm Songwriting Competition.

“What started out as a program to give recognition to the hardworking farmers has now evolved to different layers that form our main advocacy for agriculture," says Dr. Milagros How, Executive Vice President of Universal Harvester lnc.

“ToFarm was first crafted as a program to help award those in the agricultural sector whose hands and feet, hearts and minds have been dedicated to provide bountiful feast for the whole nation. But then we thought it would be more meaningful if the much needed call to recognition for this industry is extended to the public,” she adds. 

This is an opportunity that Dr. Milagros How, Executive Vice President of Universal Harvester lnc. took advantage of as she continues her quest to creating awareness and recognition for her advocacy in the agricultural sector. To find a voice through song and to use music to gain recognition for our hardworking farmers and other workers in the similar sector this is the mission of the first TOFARM Songwriting Competition.

The TOFARM Film Festival last year where six stories highlighting the tribulations and triumphs of our farmers and similar workers in the sector were made, Universal Harvester Inc. now ventures into another medium to give more hype and meaning to their push for agricultural revolution.

“The TOFARM Film Festival, we harnessed the power of the cinematic arts to present the lives of our dear farmers and kababayans in the agricultural sector. Now, we are utilizing another field of art, which is music. Music is a universal language and we Pinoy are musical people. Filipinos are born with an innate talent in music. Our music are written from the heart in both lyrics and tune as we portray lives and everyday experiences through songs. Our songs contain and express our ambitions, dreams, emotions, frustrations, struggles and successes. With the musical compositions that we will harvest in the first TOFARM Songwriting Competition, we hope to discover musical wonders that would highlight the diligence, hard work, perseverance, resilience, tenacity and optimism of our farmers” - Dr. How explains in front of media at the launch event held at the Edsa Shangrila Hotel.

The opening of the Songwriting Festival was held last September 10, 2016 at the Mactan Function Room of the EDSA Shangri-la Hotel. 

Heading the announcement during the launch are Dr. Milagros How, Executive Vice President of Universal Harvester lnc., Project Director Rommel Cunanan, with Luchie Roque, Trustee and former Program Director, National Music Competitions for Young Artists (NAMCYA), Jed Balsamo, resident music director of Ballet Philippines, Olivier Ochanine, former music director and conductor of the Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra (PPO) and members of media present during the launch.

Guided by its theme, “Planting the seeds of change,” the First TOFARM Songwriting Competition is open to all Filipino amateur and professional songwriters. 

Different song genres are encouraged and suggested, but not limited to:

• Folk/Acoustic
• Rock
• Jazz
• R&B
• Country
• Pop
• Inspirational
• Fusion

The following requirements must be submitted on or before NOVEMBER 18, 2016: 

• Duly accomplished Application Form
• Copy of a valid ID with specimen signature of the applicant (including co-applicants, if collaboration) indicated thereon
• Song Entry in mp3 format labelled with the title and the contestant’s name or pseudonym directly on the CD 
• Lyric sheet (in English/or in any Filipino language Pilipino line-by-line translation, if applicable) two (2) hard copies and one (1) copy in pdf file in the Song Entry CD

Criteria in choosing the song entries are quality of composition, lyrics and its originality.

Nine (9) Finalists will be chosen by the TOFARM Listening Committee. Results shall be announced on DECEMBER 5, 2016 through print media and website announcements. Each of the nine (9) finalists will receive a certificate and P40,000.

From the finalists, a grand prize winner, 1st runner up, second runner up and the People’s Choice will be chosen during a special live concert happening on February, 2017.

Aside from the trophies, the grand winner will receive P300,000 cash; the first runner up, P200,000 cash and the second runner up P100,000. The People’s Choice award will also receive P75,000.

Entries may be sent via courier or postal mail to: TOFARM SONGWRiTlNG COMPETiTiON, TOFARM Secretariat 10th Floor, Harvester Corporate Center, 158 P. Tuazon St. corner 7th Street, Cubao, 1109 Philippines or via email tofarmmusic@gmail.com

Filipina Singer Ivy Grace Paredes Gets All The Yeses She Needs From The X Factor UK Judges

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Ivy Grace Paredes, 33, from the Philippines, impressed all four judges of The X Factor UK with her rendition of Whitney Houston’s All The Man I Need on the sixth episode of the show today.

On camera before she belted out her version of the hit song, she said that she was inspired to join the competition after seeing 4th Impact on the show last year. “If they can make it, I can make it, too.” She said that she wasn’t getting any younger but that she could still be on The X Factor UK stage.

After her powerful performance Simon Cowell reacted, "Oh my God! What just happened there?!"

"She just sang our faces off, pretty much, that's what happened," replied Nicole Scherzinger.

Louis Walsh said that her audition was amazing to which Simon said it was more than amazing and thought the second half was incredible. 

“Everybody comes in here saying ‘I want it so bad, am fighting for it’ but that, right there, is wanting it and fighting for it,” said Nicole. Louis said she was sensational and thought she was a little diva. Sharon Osbourne said that Ivy Grace did herself proud. 

A native of Malaybalay, Bukidon, Ivy Grace tearfully said that she chose to join The X Factor UK because of her daughter.

"For me, I believe this is the biggest competition and I want to be a part of it. (The) X Factor (UK) can give me the stepping stones I need to do good in the future because this is all for my daughter." Her daughter is 2 ½ years old and is under the care of her parents in the Philippines.

Ivy Grace Paredes moves on to the next round of The X Factor UK. 

The X Factor UK airs first and exclusive on RTL CBS Entertainment same day as the UK on Sundays and Mondays at 10:30am with primetime encores Sundays, Mondays and Thursdays at 9:00pm. 

RTL CBS Entertainment is available on SkyCable channels 53(SD) and 196(HD), Destiny Cable channel 53, Dream Satellite channel 17 and Cablelink channels 37(SD), 313 and 800(HD).