Pioneer Insurance announces #MoveOnLang Songwriting Competition finalists, Vote now for your fave song!

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After a rigorous selection process, ten talented student songwriters have been chosen as the finalists of Pioneer Insurance’s #MoveOnLang Songwriting Competition.

Play and listen to these beautiful songs and vote for your favorite #MoveOnLang song.

1. “Aking Mundo” by Benjamin Quijano of University of the Philippines Los Baños

2. “Alive” by Kenneth Roquid of University of the Philippines Diliman

3. “Chronosphere” by CK Sabillo of University of Santo Tomas

4. “From Now On” by Julien Cloma of STI College Novaliches

5. “Hand in Hand” by Julia Dichoso of Sorsogon State College 

6. “Invincible” by Yosef Escoto of San Beda College Alabang

7. “Make It Through” by Luigi Balazo of University of San Carlos 

8. “Martsa ni Martha” by Marie Maureen Salvaleon of Southwestern University PHINMA 

9. “The Biggest Leap” by Marie Bernadette Tayag of De La Salle University Manila

10. “Time” by Patricia Monsod of University of the Philippines Diliman 

Visit https://www.facebook.com/PioneerIsYourInsurance and www.moveonlang.ph to vote for your favorite entry. Voting will end on January 23, 2017 at 12 NN.

Pioneer Insurance launched the #MoveOnLang Songwriting Competition in partnership with the Filipino Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (FILSCAP) to encourage the youth to pursue artistic endeavors and to celebrate the Filipino trait of resiliency.

(From left) Pioneer Insurance Marketing FVP Len Pozon, Pioneer Retail Organization Head Lorenzo Chan, Jr., FILSCAP President Rico Blanco and FILSCAP Chairman Arturo Lui Pio at the launch of the #MoveOnLang Songwriting Competition last September 2016.

Applicants were challenged to write a song expressing their own unique take on Filipino resiliency. After screening hundreds of submissions from students all over the country, the board of judges, composed of practitioners from the music industry, selected entries to move on to the final round of judging.

The songs cover a wide range of genres from straightforward pop to alternative pop, acoustic, and even electronic ballads. 

“We’re happy to have received such a variety of song submissions. It just goes to show that the next generation of Filipino musicians have much to offer,” said Pioneer’s Marketing Head Len Pozon.

The public can listen and vote for their favorite songs at www.moveonlang.ph from January 4 to 23, 2017. The finalist with the most online votes will be crowned the Online Favorite and awarded a cash prize of PHP 10,000.

The top ten entries will also be interpreted by performers during the Finals Night on February 2, 2017, at Hard Rock Café in Glorietta 3, Makati City, with live coverage on Pioneer Insurance’s Facebook Page, www.facebook.com/PioneerIsYourInsurance. A panel of judges will then decide the top three winners of the competition.

The Grand Winner of Pioneer Insurance’s #MoveOnLang Songwriting Competition will bring home PHP 100,000, while the second and third placers will win PHP 50,000 and PHP 30,000 respectively. The remaining seven non-winning participants will receive a consolation prize of PHP 10,000. All finalists will be awarded PHP 100,000 worth of insurance coverage courtesy of Pioneer.

Rico Blanco, Yael Yuzon and Aristotle “Gloc 9” Pollisco give tips to aspiring songwriters at the San Beda College Alabang leg of the Pioneer and FILSCAP Campus Caravan.

A staunch supporter of the arts, Pioneer shares their message of hope through yearly competitions in various creative fields like filmmaking, playwriting, and this time, songwriting.

“This is a wonderful opportunity to promote local music through our partnership with FILSCAP, the sole and official music copyright society in the Philippines and One Music PH, ABS-CBN's online music portal,” said Pozon. “We hope that #MoveOnLang will inspire not only the youth, but our entire nation to keep moving forward despite setbacks and difficulties.”

To learn more about Pioneer Insurance’s #MoveOnLang Songwriting Competition, visit www.moveonlang.ph and www.facebook.com/PioneerIsYourInsurance.

Jamie Foxx Takes on Drug Lord, Corrupt Cops in “Sleepless” Movie

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Multi-talented actor and recording artist Jamie Foxx is an undercover cop with strong links to the drug trade in his latest action-packed flick Sleepless. Foxx, who plays Vincent Downs, connives with his partner (played by rapper T.I.) to steal a cache of drugs from a powerful criminal mastermind, who orders his son kidnapped. The distraught dad is spurred to action, in a bid to rescue his son from the drug lord’s henchmen as he blasts his way through the Vegas nightlife.

The movie is a remake of the 2011 French film Sleepless Night, full of nonstop gun-wielding action and punchy lines, guaranteed to keep you breathless as you go along on Vincent’s mission to bring his son safely home. Breath-taking car chases, explosions, and thrilling fight scenes mark the movie as a must-watch for any action enthusiast.

Michelle Monaghan, who came off from the first season of True Detective, with a Golden Globe nomination and was recently seen in the Pixels movie is also in the cast, along with rapper Young Jeezy, Drew Sidora, Dermot Mulroney, and Gabrielle Union.

The film is directed by Baran Bo Odar, whose German series Dark shows on Netflix next year. Andrea Berloff penned the razor-sharp script.

The movie shows in Philippine theaters on January 13, 2017, exclusively distributed by Octoarts Films International.

Select The Best Merchant Account For Your E-Commerce Business

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Have you discovered something that is making a huge difference to how you run your business?

All entrepreneurs, small or big business owners, it's always helpful and enjoying discovering tools, technology, and tricks that can make business lifestyle a lot easier. There are simple things can be so helpful in running a small business and once you discover them, you wonder how you ever did without.

It’s an undeniable fact that today’s small business owners are increasingly moving towards providing the majority of their wares online. This means that they often opt for a digital storefront rather than one that is brick and mortar. 

We call this “e-commerce”, and it is becoming a staple of today’s household. In order to best compete in this landscape, it is important that you find the best merchant account for your e-commerce business. 

Let’s take a look at some of the things to look for, like smart swipe credit card processing. 

Smart swipe credit card processing 

When people think about making credit card payments, they often think of either entering their information online, or swiping their card through a dedicated credit card reader. Thanks to today’s rapid advances in payment technology, however, neither of those options are the only ones around. In fact, today you can accept a payment directly on a smart device! With smart swipe credit card processing, all you need is a smartphone or tablet to accept credit cards. Your business can be just as mobile as you are. 

Business credit card machine

In the even that you do not have the capabilities for a smart swipe device or would simply prefer to use a dedicated machine, you can always find a business credit card machine to help accept credit card payments for your e-commerce business! This is sometimes thought of as being a bit old fashioned, however it’s a viable option that works and could be the perfect solution for your business. 

As a small business owner, don’t you think that you deserve all of the time and help you can get? Then why not ensure you are receiving the best support possible from your merchant account service?

Select The Best Merchant Account For Your E-Commerce Business

Merchant Account Solutions (MAS) is one of the most innovative, fastest growing payment solution providers in the industry. Merchant Account Solutions has what you need to build a thriving business.

 Give their website a look today to see how they can help.

Jollibee’s First Canadian Branch Warms Up Winnipeg

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Jollibee opened its first store in Winnipeg, Canada, home to over 70,000 Filipinos last December 15. The inagural location was chosen because Winnipeg is home away from home for a lot of our countrymen, with Tagalog being the second-most common mother tongue language spoken. 

In typical Jollibee fashion, the store was welcomed by long cues with people lining up as early as 10:30 PM the night before. The crowd braved the -25 celsius weather to get a chance to taste a bit of home with Jollibee favorites Jolly Crispy Chicken, Peach Mango Pie, and Jolly Spaghetti. The store is the beginning of Jollibee’s aggressive North American expansion plans that is lined up until 2018. The store also created over 100 jobs for the people of Manitoba.

Jollibee executives and special guests gather around a giant bucket of fried chicken for the Jolly Crispy Chicken toast. Seen here are JFC Group President for North America and Foreign Franchise Brands Jose Miñana, VP and General Manager of Jollibee North America Maribeth dela Cruz, Honorary Consul Ronald Opina, Member of the Legislative Assembly for St. Norbert Jon Reyes, President of Sysco Winnipeg Blair Schmidt, Trevor Skinner, and other special guests.

Winnipeg City Mayor Brian Bowman (middle), and City Councilor Scott Gillingham of St. James ward (right) share hearty laughter with Jose Miñana (left) and the Jollibee mascot as they receive exclusive Jollibee dolls to commemorate the occasion.

Throngs of fans braved the cold to camp out before first Canadian store opening

“We are very encouraged by the turnout and excitement at the grand opening of Canada’s first Jollibee,” said Jose Miñana, Jollibee Foods Corporation’s Group President for North America and Foreign Franchise Brands. “It brings us great joy that we are able to bring a taste of home to Filipinos and a new culinary experience to Canadians.”

Social media exploded with posts describing just how happy the Filipino community was over the arrival of a childhood icon. An eight year old resident even said, “I’ve been in Canada for eight years and it feels like a touch of home has arrived with Jollibee opening in our neighborhood.”

This marks the first Jollibee store opening in Canada and the 35th in North America. In 2017, Jollibee plans to open three more stores in Canada, including one in Winnipeg.

Coca-Cola says ‘thank you’ to our Tagahatid Pasko

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The holiday season is often marked with its trademark rush – people hustling through their shopping lists trying to complete it before Christmas Eve and passengers crowding bus stations, airports, and other terminals to get home in time for noche buena. But it’s not the same for everyone, as every Christmas season, thousands of people work tirelessly just to make sure that everyone else can celebrate and feel the yuletide spirit.

This year, Coca-Cola paid tribute to people more popularly known as “Tagahatid Pasko”, highlighting how their hard work, dedication, and sacrifice has made it possible for everyone to have the merriest celebrations this season. All throughout December, the Company gave gifts and surprises to over 15,000 Tagahatid Pasko around the country as their way of thanking the various unsung heroes of Christmas who tirelessly work to bring a merry season for everyone else.

On Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, several Tagahatid Pasko were surprised by Christmas carolers and associates with ice-cold bottles of Coca-Cola at their workplaces. Over 15,000 Santa packs filled with food items and special gifts greeted the unsung heroes of Christmas who were still in their workplaces.

“This is our way of expressing our gratitude to the people who help us make Christmas happen in our own homes – be it the grocery clerk who makes sure the shelves are well-stocked, or the gift-wrapping teams who work until midnight at department stores, or the toll booth operator who works overtime just so everyone can come home in time for Christmas. To all of you, thank you!” said Stephan Czypionka, Coca-Cola Philippines Vice President for Marketing.

One of the Tagahatid Pasko is Carla Dominique Diego, who works in the gift-wrapping section of a leading department store. Since the onset of the Christmas season, she has been working longer hours in order to accommodate all the customers. “Pag Christmas season, napakarami po talagang nagpapagift-wrap. Nakakalungkot lang isipin na hindi ko manlang naaasikaso yung mga regalo para sa family ko dahil busy ako sa pagbabalot ng mga regalo ng ibang tao,” she said.

Wait staff are also one of those who tirelessly work overtime during the Christmas season to allow others to celebrate the festivities with their loved-ones and friends. Jerico Gonzales, who works the night-shift at a restaurant, says that the holiday rush makes its more challenging for them. “May mga guests ako na bumabalik-balik, at naiisip ko, ang saya nila, sana ganyan din nararanasan ko ngayon. Paskong-pasko, di ko manlang nakakasama ang pamilya ko,” he said.

24-year-old Red Cross volunteer and Tagahatid Pasko Brenda Paule recalls joining her team in the aftermath of Typhoon Yolanda to bring the spirit of Christmas to typhoon survivors and other relief workers.

“Sharing the joy of Christmas is more than gifts; it’s about being there for others. There is no joy like seeing the smile on the face of others because of something that you have done. And that for me is the priceless reward of what we do,” a misty-eyed Paule said.

For the past four years, Paule has spent her noche buena in the streets, ready to respond to any untoward incident that may arise.

Even on Christmas Eve and at work, a doctor at the hospital finds time to share a smile with patients and enjoy a bottle of Coca-Cola, too. Like many other medical practitioners who are on duty during Christmas, they are one of the Tagahatid Pasko.

The Coca-Cola Christmas campaign did not stop with giving out Santa sacks, celebrities also joined the celebration by being this year's Tagahatid Pasko during the Metro Manila Film Festival 2016 Parade by giving out ice-cold bottles of Coca-Cola. While a Christmas Concert, top-billed by the country’s best musicians and most popular love-teams, together with Coca-Cola Ambassadors James Reid, Nadine Lustre, Enchong Dee, Ylona Garcia and Bailey May, serenaded and performed for over 300 unsung heroes of Christmas from partner companies earlier this month.

Together with Coca-Cola in thanking all our Tagahatid Pasko this year are partner organizations Sta. Lucia East Grand Mall, Rotary Club Philippines, Shakey’s Pizza, McDonald’s, Grab, iFlix, Robinsons Mall, Jollibee, Zomato, 5by20 Women Artisans of Tondo, 7-Eleven, Shell, Select, Mini Stop, Metro Manila Development Authority, Djarn Manpower, Sentinel, Tropical Hut Pasay City, the Philippine National Police, and VXI.

To see how Coca-Cola paid tribute to our #TagaHatidPasko, 

check out the video

 https://www.facebook.com/CocaColaPhilippines/videos/1254441844601851/ 

on their official Facebook page.