Watch Maxene Magalona’s Valentine’s Day Video for #HerFirstLove

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We can find all kinds of love in this lifetime, but nothing compares to a first love. Sometimes, it’s not the first person that gave them kilig, nor the puppy love that gave us butterflies when we were kids—for some of us, our first love actually began at home.

For most of us, our parents are the ones who loved us first, unconditionally. Actress, host, and meditation teacher Maxene Magalona realizes this meaningful truth and shares it with everyone in a new Valentine’s Day video from PLDT Home.

In the video, she pens a letter to her late father, the iconic and legendary master rapper Francis Magalona.

Maxene describes how her father taught her the true meaning of love. “For you, love is about acceptance and non-judgment. You love others the way you want to be loved—by just letting you be who you are,” she writes.

“The love my dad showed me is my first love. He was a very genuine person. He showed everyone sincerity and respect. And to me, that’s love – accepting people for who and where they are,” Maxene says.

Love, indeed, is patient and kind. Maxene continues to live on the love that her dad taught her. “The love you experience at home is the love that you model,” she shares. “Love is a safe space where you will be accepted and not judged.”

In her letter, she mentions how her dad showed her unconditional love through his actions. “You always tell me what I need to hear, but in a kind and gentle way,” she writes. “You would laugh and giggle as you tell me that heartbreak and pain are a natural part of life.”

This Valentine’s Day, Maxene shares #herfirstlove story with PLDT Home. “I’m very honored to be part of a project that speaks of this kind of love. When you experience that kind of love at home you’re able to share it with others. I’m happy and honored that PLDT Home chose me to share this message to others,” she says.

She adds that her favorite part of the video is the love letter for her dad. “I get to reconnect with him even if he’s not here physically. It was a comforting and heartwarming experience because it makes me remember that even if I am physically alone, love really knows no bounds. My dad’s love lives in me. I want to continue that legacy of his love.”

Maxene concludes the letter by declaring that despite the painful heartbreaks, she’s not afraid to love again. 

“I will never give up. I will never lose hope. I know deep in my heart that I will find my true love one day because you showed me what true love is about. Thank you, Pop. I found my first love at home.”

Watch Maxene Magalona’s heartwarming video on PLDT Home’s Facebook page or YouTube channel.

With fans craved for X9a 5G, HONOR to bring X7a and MagicBook in PH Market on February 22

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HONOR Philippines has officially revealed the launch of the newest travel devices for 2023, the HONOR X7a and HONOR MagicBook X Series. These devices were built with compact and long-lasting battery life that suit everyone’s work and play lifestyle.

HONOR MagicBook X 15 and HONOR X7a in stunning colors: 

Titanium Silver, Midnight Black, and Ocean Blue.

After the successful launch of the ultra-tough phone, the global technology brand will be introducing another set of products that are as compact and long-lasting like its predecessor HONOR X9a 5G. On February 22, the brand is excited to launch the HONOR X7a and the first-ever laptop product for the year, the HONOR MagicBook X 14 and MagicBook X 15.

HONOR X7a, an upcoming sibling of HONOR X9a 5G, offers more choices to HONOR fans, bringing advanced technology to satisfy one key consumer pain pont: batteries die quickly. HONOR X7a can support up to 42 hours of social media browsing on a full charge. For those who are constantly on the go for their jobs, HONOR X7a supports about 42 hours of phone calling or 29 hours of music streaming.

With industry-level innovative battery technologies, the cell of the HONOR X7a comes with a higher energy density and a reduced thickness, contributing to the long battery life and the slim form factor of device. The battery also demonstrates exceptional longevity, capable of maintaining above 80% health even after three years of use.

"We are really excited to be introducing our new devices in the market, an affordable smartphone with 3 days of battery life and our line of laptops that will complete the HONOR ecosystem. To our HONOR fans, stay tuned on February 22!,” says Stephen Cheng, HONOR VP for Marketing.

Meanwhile, HONOR Philippines will be launching two HONOR MagicBook X series that delivers superb performance and a seamless user experience to take users from work to play – the HONOR MagicBook X 14 and X 15.

The HONOR MagicBook X14 and HONOR MagicBook X15 support multi-screen collaboration allowing users to multi-task between different devices. Users can seamlessly connect their smartphone with the laptop, dragging files across and making edits with one single keyboard. A handy fingerprint reading power button enables instant access when starting up the HONOR MagicBook X 14 and HONOR MagicBook X 15 for a more secure and effortless login experience.

HONOR X7a and HONOR MagicBook X series will be officially launched on February 22, 2023 Catch our launch live on HONOR Philippines’ Facebook Page (HONORX7a and MagicBook X Launch Event). 

For more information and announcements, you may visit HONOR’s website www.hihonor.com or social media platforms: Facebook (Facebook.com/HonorPhilippines), Instagram (Instagram.com/honorphilippines/) and TikTok: (Tiktok.com/@honorphilippines).

#HONORX9a5G 

#HONORX7a 

#HONORMagicBookX

WorldRemit powers long-distance love

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Love makes many feats possible. This statement rings true for many Filipinos who have been working overseas to better provide for their loved ones this Valentine’s Day.

This February, WorldRemit shares stories of love – particularly about how two OFWs have made long-distance relationships work throughout the years and how remittances have acted as a currency of care.

“Today’s rising cost of living has only pushed more Filipinos to seek better opportunities abroad, resulting in more couples living apart,” said Earl Melivo, Interim APAC Managing Director of WorldRemit. “It is also worth noting that many couples are married with children and are finding ways to provide for their families. This makes being away for longer periods of time necessary yet even more difficult.”

A 2018 study showed how Filipino husbands were more likely to be separated from their wives, with 58% of OFW children having fathers who worked abroad. Jonathan, a father of three, has been a supervisor for an oil firm based in Brunei for 25 years. There, he initially lived and worked together with his children and his wife Bam, an optometrist. After 12 years, they returned to the Philippines, where his wife put up her own optical clinic.

Jonathan chose to stay behind to maintain their family income. Now, he only sees his family once a year, which he considers as the hardest part about his extended stay. “It’s difficult to cope with their present activities,” he said.

Another case is Manny, a management assistant who has worked in the Middle East for 32 years. “Being an absentee father to my three daughters makes me regret at times being away while they are growing up,” he also echoed.

However, as a result of their sacrifices, both fathers were able to achieve significant milestones for their families together with their wives. In the years they spent apart, Jonathan and Bam have been able to acquire a house and lot, a car, and another clinic for Bam’s practice. They are currently seeing all three of their children through college.

In the long run, both OFWs share the same goal of having all their children finish their education and putting up a business that can support them after retiring. For now, their main advice for other OFW couples is daily communication.

“Constantly communicate, update the one who’s away with everything going on with the family, and always give each other assurance,” Jonathan said.

While Jonathan and Manny are now able to maximize video calls to stay connected with their families, Manny still looked back fondly at how he and his wife got by before the internet.

“Letters and voice tapes delivered through post were the only ways we could convey our affections. We would receive each other’s letters in about a week if we were lucky, or in two weeks at most. Telephone calls were an option, but were rare as they were quite expensive,” he said.

At present, Manny is thankful enough for the ease and convenience offered by technology. After all, online remittance services like WorldRemit are the reason he and his wife are able to work towards the future they’ve always dreamed of together.

“Despite challenges like difficult working conditions and homesickness, Filipinos are ultimately motivated by their love for their families. WorldRemit not only recognizes this love but empowers it, enabling reliable and real-time digital transfers which make OFWs feel like they’re right there,” Melivo said.

Read more inspiring stories from migrant workers around the world. Get to know them better through the WorldRemit community at https://www.worldremit.com/en/blog/community/.

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About WorldRemit

We’re a leading global payments company. We disrupted an industry previously dominated by offline legacy players by taking international money transfers online—making them safer, faster and lower-cost. We currently send from 50 to 130 countries, operate in more than 5,000 money transfer corridors worldwide and employ around 1,200 people globally.

On the sending side WorldRemit is 100% digital (cashless),increasing convenience and enhancing security. For those receiving money, the company offers a wide range of options including bank deposit, cash collection, mobile airtime top-up and mobile money.

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.