Content niches, unexpected results: Globe Studios catering to Filipinos’ evolving needs

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New platforms that provide consumers with new ways to satiate their need for fresh content have emerged over the pandemic. The shift in consumer behavior prompted Globe Studios, Globe’s entertainment production company, to leverage its niche and ride on this new wave of opportunity.

 

Quark Henares, Globe Studios Head, shared that going along such a direction allows the group greater flexibility in its content offerings, especially in this time of great uncertainty. Henares was one of the panelists in a recent webinar presented by the Asia Video Industry Association (AVIA) entitled “Demanding Content – What Do Filipinos Want?”

 

Henares said: “We had to pivot. We’re primarily a movie studio, so our focus was films for theaters. Because they're closed for the foreseeable future we tried doing other things like a YouTube series (Gaya sa Pelikula) and podcasts (Ang Walang Kwentang Podcast, Endslate).”

 

He noted that current audiences can be very fickle in their choices of online content. Thus, Globe Studios actively listens to what its customers want so that its content line-up is kept relevant to the markets it wishes to serve. 

 

“We have a lot of interaction with the audience. We’re very active in our social media and really make it a point to listen and even converse with our audience,” Henares revealed.

 

Recognizing that the consumption curve for online content bulges among the younger age groups, Globe Studios ensures that everything is kept fun, just like the way young people would like to live their own lives. 

 

Globe Studios entered the entertainment production industry in 2016.  Its portfolio includes films such as “LSS (Last Song Syndrome)”, “Hintayan ng Langit”, and the first Filipino Netflix film “Dead Kids”.  

 

Amidst the onslaught of the COVID-19 pandemic last year, the studio shifted gears to produce materials catering more towards YouTube audiences, beginning with “Gaya Sa Pelikula,” a daring Boys Love (BL) series. 

 

“We put our ears to the ground. Like Gaya Sa Pelikula, the genre BL is doing very well in Thailand and Filipinos seem to be watching it so we decided to do that,” Henares said.

 

Globe Studios is in the thick of preparations for another YouTube series; this time, a reality search. It is also about to release the movie "A Guy + A Girl" together with UpstreamPH, the country’s newest Video-on-Demand movie streaming platform.  Likewise, Globe Studios is home to at least 12 popular podcasts, including one that is hosted by online creators.

 

However, questions constantly keep Henares awake at night. According to him: “This is an exciting time. What do people want to see? What’s missing in Philippine entertainment that we can fill?”

 

While slowly (but surely) planting itself on solid ground in the online space, Globe Studios continues to give room for more flexibility wherever consumer whims may lead—satisfying their needs, one niche at a time.

 

To know more about Globe, visit www.globe.com.ph.

 

6 Binge-Worthy Shows and Movies to Watch

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Looking forward to a lazy, relaxing weekend? Snuggle up in bed, light some scented candles, grab your favorite snacks, and pick out a show or movie! 

This weekend, find comfort in rewatching your old faves or joy in discovering new ones. Whether you’re into comedy, action, sci-fi, or fantasy, you’ll definitely find a show that suits your taste on streaming service HBO GO. 

We understand decision paralysis, so we’ve narrowed it down for you. Below, we’ve got six of the best shows and movies to stream this weekend: 

For sitcom lovers

For a fun, lighthearted fare, you can’t beat Friends. This beloved series, which ran for around a decade, features six twenty-somethings trying to navigate adulthood, career, and relationships. Now, 17 years after the last episode aired, watch Rachel, Monica, Phoebe, Joey, Chandler, and Ross as they join celebrity guests in this one-off reunion special. Stream with the rest of the world starting May 27.

For parents looking for a family-friendly movie

Is your whole family staying in for the weekend? Keep kids and adults alike entertained with Tom & Jerry. This animated movie brings these two nemeses and their silly antics to modern-day New York. Kids will definitely enjoy this slapstick animated film, while kids at heart can reminisce about their childhood days by watching along. Stream starting June 4. 

For DC loyalists

With theaters closed last year, Wonder Woman 1984 made its Philippine debut exclusively on HBO GO. This superhero film follows Diana’s journey to learning more about the human world and of course, defeating supervillains—this time, the nefarious Cheetah and Maxwell Lord. Eighties babies will enjoy all the throwbacks referencing the colorful decade. Stream now. 

For fantasy fans

You can’t call yourself a proper fan of the fantasy genre if you haven’t seen Game of Thrones! This show tells the story of noble families—the Lannisters, Starks, and Targaryens, to name a few—warring to win sovereignty over the fictional land of Westeros. Throw a lot of drama, romance, dragons, and monsters into the mix. You can now stream all eight seasons, a reunion special hosted by Conan O’Brien, and its feature documentary, The Last Watch.

For genre bender aficionados

If you like mixing your genres, check out The Nevers. This show combines sci-fi and drama in Victorian era-London and follows a band of women with special abilities, called the “Touched.” Tune in to watch these superwomen battle their enemies with grace and panache, hoop skirts and all.

For sci-fi enthusiasts

Christopher Nolan’s latest Academy Award-winning movie, Tenet, is a thrilling sci-fi adventure. Its nameless protagonist is a CIA agent who manipulates complex rules of time travel to prevent global destruction. This is definitely a cerebral film, so it may require several viewings to fully digest! 

To watch Friends: The Reunion, Tom & Jerry, Wonder Woman 1984, Game of Thrones, The Nevers, Tenet, and other cool shows and movies, get your HBO GO subscription on Shopee: https://shopee.ph/hbogoofficialstore. 

Don’t forget to top up your ShopeePay for more deals! This June 6, enjoy up to 66% coins cashback when you use ShopeePay.

Download the Shopee app for free via the App Store or Google Play.

Golden Haven Promotes Sustainability as the First Memorial Park Chain in the Philippines to Offer 100 Percent Open Space

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In these modern times, when people observe both traditional and nontraditional rituals to mourn their dead, Filipinos choose to honor their dearly departed through deeply meaningful memorial services. The passing of loved ones turns into an opportunity to celebrate their lives, which in turn lightens the burden of grief on the part of surviving kin and eases their pain of personal loss.

Golden Haven’s chain of lush and beautiful memorial parks have gained prominence in the deathcare industry, not only as sanctuaries where memories are preserved but also for offering vast open spaces for families to bond.

For this reason, Filipinos are increasingly learning the value of preparing dignified resting places for them—tranquil spaces that meld the soothing benefits of nature with iconic landmarks.

Such is Golden Haven’s chain of lush and beautiful memorial parks that have gained prominence in the death care industry, not only as sanctuaries where memories are preserved but also for offering vast open spaces for families to bond. The sprawling terrain is made serenely beautiful by the verdant greenery, which evokes peace and solitude, not somberness. It inspires families to reminisce on happier times spent with those long gone.

Beyond Golden Haven’s stunning visible attributes, a sustainably green and healthy environment is what it seeks to advocate. It is, in fact, the first and only developer in the Philippines that offers 100% open spaces in all its memorial parks.

Beyond the stunning visible attributes, a sustainably green and healthy environment is what Golden Haven seeks to advocate. It is, in fact, the first and only memorial park developer in the Philippines that offers 100% open spaces in all its memorial parks. Families are encouraged to enjoy these at all times and on any occasion such as their departed loved ones’ birth and death anniversaries. They may come even in the evenings—Golden Haven has installed solar street lights to provide safety and security to all its park visitors.

Filipinos are increasingly learning the value of preparing dignified resting places for their dearly departed—tranquil spaces that meld the soothing benefits of nature with iconic landmarks.

While Golden Haven’s beautifully themed parks were built with visiting families in mind, it also fulfills the promise of meaningful repose in its wide array of memorial products—from memorial lot to garden niches to columbarium vaults to its esteemed family estates and mausoleums. Solemnity and sophistication are reflected in its motifs and landmarks created by the country’s most respected architects and engineers. These characteristics are not only seen in Metro Manila, where memorial parks are abundant but also mirrored in the regions of the Philippines. For instance, consider the famed Christ the Redeemer Statue in Golden Haven Cagayan de Oro; the Nuestra Senora La Virgen del Pilar in Golden Haven Zamboanga; the Imperial Gardens in Golden Haven Cebu; and the Pope John II Statue in Las Pinas, among others.

While Golden Haven’s beautifully themed parks were built with visiting families in mind, it also fulfills the promise of meaningful repose in its wide array of memorial products—from lawn lots to garden niches to columbarium vaults to its esteemed family estates and mausoleums.

Red Rosales, COO of Golden Haven, affirms the company’s belief that every Filipino longs to leave a lasting legacy in his hometown, wherever this may be in the archipelago. Thus, the biggest and most prestigious memorial park developer in the Philippines offers more than 30 projects nationwide, all boasting world-class parks and premier deathcare services.

Golden Haven is dedicated to providing beautiful and serene resting places for Filipinos’ departed loved ones—parks that their generation and the succeeding ones will want to come to as part of the family’s cherished traditions.

Rosales likewise acknowledges that the passing of a loved one is a difficult time for every family. “That is why Golden Haven is dedicated to providing beautiful and serene resting places that consistently promote a sense of healing and gracious closure,” he says. “There is renewed joy in a fine day spent in the wide, open spaces of Golden Haven’s parks as families connect, bond, and share memories for generations to come. These are parks that our children and their children will want to come to as part of the family’s cherished traditions.”

Golden Haven Memorial Park is a subsidiary company of publicly listed Villar-owned Golden MV Holdings Inc., currently positioned as one of the largest real estate companies in the country. Golden Haven offers premium death care services, and prime memorial lots; dubbed as the most lucrative real estate investment with an average of 20% annual value appreciation.

RedDoorz Leads Industry Discussion on Hospitality’s Strategic Solutions to Battle COVID-19

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• RedDoorz promotes the importance of working hand-in-hand with the Department of Tourism (DOT) and different industry stakeholders to continuously operate during a pandemic. 
   
• The recent industry roundtable led by RedDoorz presents how acquiring quality stays that follow safety measures and taking advantage of available technology is the hotel and accommodations’ new solution to keep afloat from COVID-19.

MANILA, Philippines, May 2021 – The COVID-19 pandemic has pressed pause on the global travel industry and has led to an unprecedented decline for the hotel and accommodations sector in all parts of the world, including the Philippines. RedDoorz, Southeast Asia’s fastest-growing, technology-based hotel management brand, is taking the lead to jumpstart discussions with other industry experts and hoteliers in a bid to offer quick solutions and bounce back from COVID-19’s after effects. 

The recent roundtable discussion organized by RedDoorz entitled “Recovery Strategies of the Hospitality Industry Amidst the Uncertainty of COVID-19” brought together spokespersons from the Department of Tourism (DOT) and Bureau of Quarantine (BOQ) to explore how providing quality stays and implementing safety measures attract customers to their facilities despite the seismic rupture of the pandemic.  

“With the strong support of our tourism stakeholders, especially for RedDoorz and the rest of the hospitality sector, our seal of accreditation represents more certified quality businesses in the country and the international space. Hotels can now easily achieve this and further ensure Filipinos’ safety, comfort, and convenience even after this pandemic as we intend to institute the new digital accreditation system from here on,” said Dir. Virgilio Maguigad, Director for the Tourism Standards and Regulation, DOT. 

The hotel brand has followed crucial requirements to keep their hotels open and has refocused on assisting their partner hotels in securing accreditations and implementing a set of robust cleanliness, hygiene, and sanitation protocols through the HygienePass Certification Programme. The said programme even supported several partners to be BOQ-approved hotels. 

Miguel Capistrano III, RedDoorz’s Country Manager for the Philippines mentioned, “The acquisition of 130+ DOT accreditations and 150+ HygienePass certified hotels paved the way for us to keep a stable demand. It provided us up to 40% average range of occupancy rate and allowed the firm to safely serve more than 176,000 Filipinos around the Philippines.” 

As digitalization plays a vital role in the hotel’s daily operations, RedDoorz also fronted its extensive technology systems as an important operational tool to optimize pricing and drive revenue and occupancy based on demand. RedDoorz partner Michelle Ong, and The Henry Hotels and Resorts’ Chief Operating Officer (COO) August Samala, also joined in the roundtable to give their testimony on the benefits of leveraging technology for hotel businesses’ operations and redefine Filipinos’ hospitality experiences. 

“RedDoorz and The Henry Hotels & Resorts both have allotted efforts in providing quality and safer stays in different cities, whether it may be for quarantine, isolation, or leisure purposes. It’s even more interesting to know how new hotel technologies like theirs enhances the industry’s game from the current situation. We commend their team for unifying us as these are challenging times for everyone,” said Samala.  

With RedDoorz anchoring on risk-free travels, working hand-in-hand with the different industry stakeholders is one of their most important facets to speed up the industry’s recovery following the aftermath of COVID-19. RedDoorz hopes to play a key role in the industry for boosting Filipinos' confidence to travel domestically due to the presence of the accredited, safe, and tech-enabled hotels across the country. 

#NoMomLikeYou: Celebrity moms share the realities of parenting in a pandemic

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Being a mom is one of the toughest yet most rewarding jobs in the world. Aside from taking charge of the growth and development of their children, mothers carry a lot of responsibilities in the household. Mothers experience a lot of pressure that oftentimes lead them to feel doubtful and critical about themselves.

PLDT Home tackles these parenting concerns in new video series, showcasing the real stories of parents who continue to conquer parenting fears and the struggles of parent guilt, especially in this pandemic. Inspired by the series, other celebrity moms took to social media to speak up on their own concerns, learning to embrace their unique parenting styles.

Mother of four and wife to chef Luigi Muhlach, Patty Muhlach admitted that raising children in a pandemic is a major challenge despite genuinely enjoying each other’s company and being happy most of the time.

Instagram post by Patty Muhlach

“Our days are not always as rosy as this. We also have our worst days as a couple/family. Luigi and I had to work hard on self-improvement and our marriage. [Our struggles] made us stronger and closer,” she said.

It’s also important, Patty said, that parents acknowledge that “there is no roadmap when it comes to parenting especially during [a] pandemic.”

“At the end of the day, I think it is about having fun and loving each other,” she claimed.

Instagram post by Mikka Padua

The same is true for Mikka Padua who admitted that her biggest takeaway from last year is “having to adjust my expectations.”

“I had to recalibrate the standards I set for myself, my daughter, and my family. [But this] doesn’t mean lowering our expectations, it only means resetting our daily expectations to a more doable amount,” said the mother of Mischka and founder of curated lifestyle platform, Seek the Uniq.

Being a new mother during a pandemic is scary and for style and travel blogger Camille Co, the realities of postpartum depression made it more challenging.

Watch Camille Co’s #NoMomLikeYou video here

“I’m fully aware of postpartum depression. It’s something a lot of people are talking about but I feel like we are not showing this more. So even though you know in your head it’s possible to have postpartum depression, that it’s possible to feel sad about what you’re doing, it’s possible to feel bad about yourself as a mom, it doesn’t really feel real because people just talk about it but they don’t really show it,” she said.

As a new mother to newborn Sienna, Camille’s experience with postpartum depression made her braver as she learns to prioritize what really matters. “I feel like my priorities have shifted to not entirely just focusing on my baby but to make room for my baby. Don’t forget to do things for yourself because when you’re happy, the baby is happy and when you give love to yourself, then you’re also able to give more love to your baby,” she added.

And loving yourself as a person and as a parent meant accepting that you can make mistakes and it’s okay to have flaws because according to DJ and radio host Andi Manzano-Reyes, “Even if you think you have a lot of baggage, or you have a lot of flaws, in the eyes of your kids, you’re perfect.”

Watch Andi Manzano-Reyes’ #NoMomLikeYou video here

Andi admitted that she always set such a high standard for herself as a mom and along the way, the mother of Olivia and Amelia realized that she needed to accept herself just as she is. 

“One piece of advice I’d probably tell myself is: you’re doing great,” she said.

The same realization is what model and entrepreneur Tweetie de Leon-Gonzalez discovered: it’s okay if things don’t work out because what’s important is that kids “see the generous manner, connection, and exchange happening in the family.”

Instagram post by Tweetie de Leon-Gonzales

“[Children] are aware parents aren’t perfect beings and mistakes are episodes to pick up wisdom and humor from. We can just start over,” Tweetie explained.

The constant reminder to not be too hard on yourself as a parent has likewise helped journalist Marie Lozano navigate parenting on social media. 

Watch Marie Lozano’s #NoMomLikeYou video here

“There’s just too much noise, too much opinion about parenthood right now. People felt like they had the right to comment asking me about being a mother or asking me about my past relationship. What’s important is living a life that’s real. You don’t have to please anybody,” she said.

Reminding herself that what’s important is that she's giving her 100% as a mom and as a friend to 13-year-old Nikos is not only more than enough--it’s everything.

“I love him unconditionally, better is not necessarily the best. Another parent could be a better parent but I’m the best for him because I’m willing to do anything and willing to try,” Marie said.

In the end, Patty, Mikka, Tweetie, Andi, Camille, and Marie may be in different stages of parenting and may have different parenting experiences but one thing they all agree on is that every parent that gives everything and loves their children is the best parent.

“There has never been a time like this and there has never been a mom like you,” they declared.

As the country’s fastest fixed network, PLDT Home enables families to enjoy the strongest connections that allow them to do all things better and together at home.

Watch the latest heartwarming digital video series in this link: PLDT Home and join the movement by posting online with the hashtag #NoMomLikeYou.