Xavier School Nuvali is Philippine Theater’s New Breeding Ground

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Broadway, the West End, and even the Manila theater scene are worlds away to theater kids in Laguna. Whatever theater exposure they have usually comes in the form of YouTube videos or Spotify albums on repeat. So what do you do when you’re bitten by the theater bug?

Xavier School Nuvali, the youngest Jesuit school in the Philippines, is the latest breeding ground for the future of Philippine theater. The Jesuits, known for their affinity for the arts - especially drama - are seriously investing in honing the talent of their students.

As face-to-face schooling comes back, so do the curtains rise in Xavier Nuvali. Almost every day of the week, the school is abuzz with student-actors singing, dancing, and acting in the corridors. Apart from the daily grind of academics, which each student-actor prioritizes, the excitement of after-school theater programs is a favorite of many a Xaverian.

This year, Xavier School Nuvali’s theater clubs are slated to usher in the return of in-person performances starting with Dulaang X performing Christine Bellen-Ang’s Si Pilandok at ang Bayan ng Bulawan. Originally helmed by Jethro Tenorio and Dr. Jerry Respeto, Pilandok uses the kwentong-bayan to challenge both young and old to take part in creating a nation immersed in solidarity, trust, and integrity. This time directed by their moderator, Kim Nathanyel Sejera, and headlined by the Junior High School students of Dulaang X, this musical is sure to delight all audiences.

“Pilandok” begins February 11, 14, 16, and 17 with matinees starting at 10 AM until 12 PM and gala shows starting at 3 PM until 5 PM (select days may have different times, contact kimnathanyelasejera@xsn.edu.ph for more details).

Capping off Xavier School Nuvali’s theater season is the 44th Anniversary Production of Onofre and Joel Pagsanghan’s Sa Kaharian ng Araw. The Ateneo classic finds its way to the South through the special permission of Mr. Pagsi himself and the assistance of the members of the famed Dulaang Sibol. Directed by PHILSTAGE Gawad Buhay 2009’s Best Featured Actor in a Musical, Marvin Ong, featuring the Senior High School students of the Xavier Actors Society (xACTs), Kaharian tells the story of two friends on a journey to find the mythical answer to all their problems while discovering the true meaning of friendship, love, and most importantly, self-giving along the way.

“Kaharian” begins February 25, 28, March 3 and 4 with matinees starting at 10 AM until 12 PM and gala shows starting at 5 PM until 7 PM (select days may have different times, contact marvintong@xsn.edu.ph for more details). Use the hashtag #MaglakbayKaibigan to follow its different social media posts.

Both “Pilandok” and “Kaharian” will be staged at the John Tiu Ka Cho Multi Purpose Center, Primary Building, in the Xavier School Nuvali Campus.

Xavier School Nuvali is proving to be a leader in educational instruction and innovation while also being a center of culture and the arts down south. Enrollment to the school is always increasing - and who knows, your child may just be the next one to shine on-stage!

Have a night at the theater away from the usual haunts and get a sneak-peek of the future of Philippine drama in Xavier School Nuvali!

Follow Dulaang Xavier (@dulaang_xavier) and Xavier Actors Society (xactorssociety) on Facebook and Instagram for more updates!

Give love on Valentine’s Day with a tech gift to remember

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Catch the best deals on Xiaomi devices at its ‘Mi Amor’ this February

Valentine's Day is just around the corner. Make this special day memorable for your loved one by taking advantage of some of the amazing tech deals from Xiaomi this February, courtesy of its ‘Mi Amor’ promotion.

From February 10 to March 31, 2023, selected Xiaomi products will be available at discounted prices at authorized Xiaomi offline stores and partner retailers nationwide. Snag the perfect gift for your significant other, or treat yourself for a change via this limited-time offer.

Xiaomi 12

Spoil your special someone with an unforgettable Valentine's gift: the Xiaomi 12. With its stunning screen, lightning-fast performance, and long-lasting battery, capture every special moment with its advanced camera, plus save money with the exclusive "Mi Amor" discount of Php 4,000.

Redmi Note 10 Pro

The Redmi Note 10 Pro would be a sensational Valentine’s gift. It has a great screen, fast performance, and a long battery life. Imagine taking stunning photos together and capturing every moment of your special date. And with a Php 2,000 discount, you can save a bit and still afford to spoil your loved one with a romantic dinner.

Redmi Note 11S

You won't have to worry about running out of power on your romantic date night with the Redmi Note 11S. This budget-friendly option is perfect for those who want to enjoy all the latest features without exhausting the battery. Imagine taking photos using its 108MP AI quad camera with an 8MP ultra-wide lens or streaming your favorite movies on its vibrant screen. And with the Mi Amor promotion, you can get a Php 1,000 discount.

Redmi A1

If you're looking for a phone that packs a punch in a compact package, the Redmi A1 is the perfect choice for you. With the Mi Amor promotion, you can get your hands on this sleek device with a free Mi Compact Bluetooth Speaker 2 (worth Php 449). The Redmi A1 boasts a powerful processor, a great AI camera, and a large battery, making it perfect for capturing all of your Valentine’s Day memories and staying connected with your loved ones.

New from Xiaomi

Make your Valentine's celebration even sweeter by taking advantage of Xiaomi’s special introductory price on the new Redmi Smart Band 2, which makes its debut during the promo. Get one for only Php 1,499.

Xiaomi's Mi Amor promotion is the perfect opportunity to show your love this Valentine's Day. With a wide range of discounted products to choose from, you're sure to find that perfect gift. Take advantage of this limited-time offer available only at authorized Xiaomi offline stores and partner retailers nationwide from February 10 to March 31, 2023. For more information, visit Xiaomi's official Facebook page.

Sony Introduces Float Run - the Headphones Specifically Designed for Cyclists and Runner

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Sony’s new off-ear headphones help you go the distance through an innovative and comfortable design for a stress-free listening experience

Sony announces its newest innovation, the Float Run[i], an off-ear headphones that positions the speaker near, but without touching the ear canal, leaving the ear safely uncovered while still delivering a rich sound experience making it perfect for cyclists and runners.

The Float Run headphones focus on the cyclist’s posture and runner’s form, for a comfortable and stable experience without having to compromise sound quality. Float Run offers functional features to runners, including a lightweight design with a flexible neckband that doesn’t slip when in motion. Whether you go for a quick jog or a record-breaking run, your music stays on you to keep you going. For cyclists, the pressure-free design that sits off of the ears eliminates the worry of sweat and chafing. It even positions nicely even with a bicycle helmet on. This product was well received by crowdfunding, which led to its official launch.

Designed for comfort and safety

With a special off-ear design, cyclists and runners won’t have to worry about pressure or stuffiness on their ears. For extended comfort, the Float Run headphones sit on the ears of the wearer, so they can enjoy comfort for longer without disruption. Additionally, Float Run headphones only weigh approximately 33 grams, so runners can focus on their surroundings. The design is also advantageous and safe for cyclists who ride on busy roads prone to accidents because the device does not completely block the ears.

Special off-ear design

Stable and secure fit

Designed to be stable and secure, Float Run headphones stay in place no matter how fast the cyclist pedals or the runner moves. Tested on a wide range of head shapes and hairstyles, the headphones will stay with the wearer, due to the flexible neckband design. Additionally, Float Run headphones were tested with accessories including hats and sunglasses. Whatever is worn, the stabilizing neckband will keep them secure.

Stable and secure

Unique sound

The 16mm drivers and precise tuning combined with the off-ear style offers a more natural and wider sound so there is no compromise on sound quality. The Float Run headphones has an open-type design that eliminates echo of the sounds your body makes, like footsteps, chewing, or heavy breathing and allows in ambient sound.

Ambient sound

The Float Run headphones are designed to fill the user’s ears, but not cover them, so they can be aware of their surroundings. The Float Run design allows music to naturally mix with ambient sound and be formed by the user’s ear shape. Float Run off-ear headphones keep ears unobstructed, to achieve peak performance in whatever activity they are performing.

Ambient sound

Functional and user friendly

With an IPX4 water-resistant rating[ii], consumers don’t have to worry about damage from sweat or from getting caught out in the rain. With long battery life and up to 10 hours of playtime when fully charged, the Float Run headphones will power long runs. In a hurry? A quick charge of 10 minutes will give an hour of play[iii].

IPX4 water resistant rating

With a variety of controls built in, users can control playback and access their smartphone's voice assistant without having to take it out of their pocket or bag[iv]. When their activity is over and it’s time to get to work, the Float Run headphones have a high-quality built-in microphone to make them just as ideal for productivity tasks. Float Run headphones conveniently charge using USB-C. Additionally, the headphones include a carrying pouch to keep the supplied charging cable and headphones together and protected.

Availability

Get the Sony Float Run for only PHP 7,999.00 at select Sony Authorized Dealers nationwide starting April 7, 2023.

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[i] Float Run is a trademark of Sony

[ii] Excluding the driver unit. Do not wash the unit with liquid. Wipe with a soft dry cloth to clean.

[iii] Actual performance varies based on settings, environmental conditions, storage, and usage.

[iv] Availability of function depends on the smartphone or app version.

MICECON 2023 highlights Davao as key MICE destination

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Located in the southern part of the Philippines and the center for development in Mindanao, Davao City is hosting this year’s MICECON once again after 10 years. The conference is deemed as an effective way to restart and boost economic and tourism activities, not only in the Davao region but also the rest of the Philippines and the world.

The Department of Tourism (DOT) through the Tourism Promotions Board Philippines (TPB) and the City Government of Davao spearheads the M.I.C.E Conference (MICECON), the largest gathering of Meetings, Incentive Travel, Conventions and Exhibitions (MICE) professionals in the country to be held on March 1 to 3 at the SMX Convention Center in SM Lanang Premier.

“Davao’s hosting of the MICECON will provide a tremendous boost to the city’s tourism industry and a huge step towards its own vision of making Davao a preferred MICE destination not only in the Philippines but in Asia”, said TPB COO Maria Margarita Montemayor Nograles.

With the theme, “MICEConverge: Blaze New Trails,” the three-day conference will serve as a gateway to provide more business opportunities and strengthen ties with domestic and international stakeholders. It is a hybrid event expected to bring in 500 in-person delegates and up to 2,000 online participants from here and abroad.

Highlights of the event include the MICE Youth Challenge, Power Dressing and Glam Makeup Sessions and Workshops where Davao’s finest tourism and product services will be on full display with the sub-themes, “Celebrating Nature”, “Celebrating Diversity” and “Celebrating Travel and Technology.”

First MICE Youth Challenge in Davao

The first and much awaited Philippine MICE Youth Challenge will take place on March 1 during MICECON 2023. It is a national contest for students who are enrolled or have recently completed the MICE Management or Business Events Class in a Philippine-based university. This activity gives contestants the opportunity to conceptualize and present an event business plan that will be reviewed by a select panel of MICE experts to deepen their knowledge about industry practices.

This initiative aims to foster a culture of creativity and excellence among the participants and serve as a learning platform to better equip them to become MICE professionals. It was conceptualized by the Philippine MICE powerhouses who are members of the Philippine Association of Convention/Exhibition Organizers and Suppliers, Inc. (PACEOS) and the Philippine MICE Academy.

The participants of this challenge will be judged by esteemed representatives from the Center for International Trade Expositions and Missions (CITEM), the Hotel Sales and Marketing Association (HSMA), and the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI).

The winners of the challenge will win up to PhP 15,000 plus tokens and the chance to compete at the Asian Federation of Exhibition and Convention Associations (AFECA) Asia MICE Youth Challenge.

For more information about the event, visit www.micecon.ph.

The story behind the shelves: How P&G’s sustainable in-store display came to be

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Around 80% of P&G’s in-store display shelves have been replaced by collapsible, reusable, and paper-based displays called Flexi-POSMs.

The increasing consumer awareness about sustainability and corporations' role in protecting our planet have compelled the fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) industry to shift towards sustainable product packaging.

For trusted consumer goods company Procter & Gamble (P&G) Philippines, they are also doing sustainable solutions in other parts of their business operations.

Project LESS is a P&G initiative that aims to create better and more sustainable alternatives to other significant but often overlooked materials. Since its launch in 2021, P&G’s Project LESS has customized its product bundling packaging by converting single-use laminate-based bellybands and stickers to 100% FSC-certified papers, introduced flexible and reusable point-of-sale materials (POSMs) and recycled P&G cartons into honeycomb-like wrappers for last mile packaging in e-commerce deliveries.

Among these, replacing old, single-use in-store displays with a more sustainable alternative called flexi-POSMs, is one of the biggest projects P&G has taken on through Project LESS.

“At P&G, sustainability is an integral part of our operation. Our flexi-POSM initiative is part of our continuing commitment to do what’s good for our consumers, and what’s good for business,” says Anna Legarda, Communications Director of P&G Philippines.

What are flexi-POSMs?

Product in-store displays commonly seen in grocery stores and supermarkets. They are branded, usually made of plastic, and often single-use.

P&G began shifting to flexi-POSMs, which are collapsible, reusable, and paper-based to operate more sustainably with partners and consumers.

The easy-to-revisual structure also allows P&G brands to reuse the flexi-POSMs, prolonging their life cycle. This reusability has also allowed the company to successfully reduce approximately 20,000 kg of virgin material use. The flexi-POSMs are also collapsible and lightweight, making it possible to transport twice as much in one trip, enabling lessening of P&G’s carbon footprint from transportation, as well.

Since its launch in 2021, the company has converted more than 80% of its traditional floor displays into flexible POSMs in various retail stores in the Philippines.

These efforts, along with the rest of P&G’s sustainability endeavors in its operations earned the company the Sustainability Company of The Year’s Circle of Excellence Award at the recent 2022 CEO Asia Awards.