PhilPop, PETA and NCCA boost Taga-Alog 2019 campaign with songwriting bootcamp

PhilPop, Philippine Educational Theater Association (PETA), National Commission on Culture and the Arts (NCCA) have teamed up for Taga-Alog Mini Bootcamp—a two-day songwriting workshop that aims to promote Ilog Pasig as a center of cultural narrative and heritage, as well as raise awareness for the rehabilitation efforts of the river through creative advocacy in music.

Songwriting for Advocacy

Headed by acclaimed and award-winning music industry professionals Noel Cabangon, Trina Belamide, and Jungee Marcelo, the music camp gathered upcoming composers and songwriters who have shown immense promise in writing the next big anthem for the environment.

With the success of last year’s TampisAwit and its initiative to foster a culture of sustainability and utmost care for Ilog Pasig, PETA and NCCA have expanded the mentorship program for budding songwriters and composers by tapping PhilPop to come up with a more comprehensive syllabus that put emphasis on Songwriting for Advocacy.

Camp Activities

Fellows were in for a treat as mentors provided their expertise on songwriting basics with emphasis on both form and content. The sessions included consultation with the coaches, as well as presentation and evaluation of their work.

“This time, we’re not only imparting techniques to improve their craft,” Taga-Alog Mini Bootcamp 2019 Chairman Noel Cabagon said. “It is also our responsibility to prepare them in the real world, and help them pitch advocacy concepts that are geared toward creative ways to build awareness on various environmental causes. As musicians, we are more than just entertainers; we can change the world with our art.”

The two-day songwriting workshop and competition culminated with the performance of the top 5 finalists and the announcement of the top 3 songs. The first place winner will be given a grant for official recording and promotions during the entire Taga-Alog campaign for 2019.

List of winners:

1st Place - Suzanne Samson / “Ilog Pasig Laban”

2nd Place - Gerard de Leon & Rica Francisco / “Bangon, Ilog”

3rd Place - Randy Pusing / “Kayang-kaya”

Lets help Isabela rice farmers

The UNESCO Club-UPLB, along with Ms. Shiela May Abucay, aim to give a helping hand to our rice farmers in Isabela by creating a market for their locally produced product, in line with the recent issues regarding the drastic decline in the selling price of palay.

We will be selling the locally produced rice at PHP35/kg. All proceeds will be given to the local farmers to increase their profits. Orders will be picked up directly from Isabela and will be delivered to you!

Should you be interested in taking a step forward to help our local farmers, kindly place your orders by sending a message to our facebook page or you may contact Heaven Kabigting at 09264824090. ☺

Deadline of orders are until September 13, 2019 (Friday) and September 20, 2019 (Friday)

Let's take initiative and buy local products! 👊🌱

1st PH National Barista Assembly Up this September!

Henry & Sons, in partnership with the Department of Tourism, call on the country’s baristas, coffee enthusiasts and similarly interested individuals, to register at the 1^st National Barista Assembly happening on September 20, 2019, at the SMX Convention Center Aura, in Taguig City.

This event aims to unite Filipino Baristas and bring back the Philippines on the global coffee spotlight through a sustainable coffee economy. Coffee enthusiasts, restaurateurs, hoteliers, media personalities, influencers along with other walk-in attendees of the assembly, will also be present during the event. 

The Assembly features  various competitions happening simultaneously, to provide a platform for coffee professionals, enthusiasts, and baristas to showcase their skills. The competitions aims to encourage Baristas to bring out their potentials, creativity, and skills in coffee crafting and related art. Moreover, it is also about inspiring everyone to elevate their skills and aim for excellence in their service and presentation to meet world-class standards. 

Henry & Sons is a holistic coffee solutions company. They offer premium roasted coffee, top-of-the-line coffee machines, and accessories, coffee solutions, as well as training to suit various challenging demands.  

They are committed in promoting the local coffee scene through events and programs that support the sustainability of the Filipino coffee industry.  The company’s President and CEO, Michael Harris Conlin, is a champion of a sustainable coffee economy. After his successful participation in the World Coffee Championships as the 2019 Philippine National Barista Champion, Conlin is eager to create more exceptional initiatives and pursue his passion for excellence. 

Henry & Sons also owns The Giving Cafe (TGC). This coffee shop provides support to the Foundation for Sustainable Coffee Excellence (FSCE), which helps coffee Filipino coffee farmers in Itogon, Benguet. The TGC works as an income-generating program for the foundation. Thus, they do not rely on other agencies and companies for support. 

The FSCE supports farmers by providing training so that they will have technical awareness on how to grow better quality coffee. The foundation works to help the farmers in their medical needs and for the educational needs of their children. The FSCE aims to develop a generation that appreciates the coffee culture of their family and continue to this journey instead of exploring other jobs or migrating. 

Henry & Sons also run the Institute of Coffee Excellence. This institute is where they train future barista champions, hoteliers, restaurateurs, and other coffee enthusiasts. The training will help elevate their level and for them to become at par with the global coffee industry. 

Additionally, the Manila Coffee Gear showcases the company’s coffee-related machines and equipment. They also provide technical support and training for the use of these coffee machines. They also have coffee grinders, coffee accessories, and the Henry Ready-to-Mix powders. 

For more information regarding the first National Barista Assembly, visit www.facebook.com/baristasquest or contact Tony Dy at 0917.153.1188.

Neurobion Feel to Win: The technology that allows you to feel the frustration of having Neuropathy

How will you feel if suddenly, you can no longer do simple daily tasks? Most Filipinos admit to feeling the frustration. But what they don’t know is that this inability might actually be the result of undiagnosed Neuropathy or nerve damage—symptoms of which include pangangalay, pamamanhid and tusok-tusok.

Naturally, nerves can regenerate or repair when damaged, but only for a certain time. Once 50% or more of the nerve tissue is damaged, the nerve reaches the “point of no return,” which means that the nerve damage is permanent. That is why Neurobion wants Filipinos to take necessary action to prevent neuropathy, and those people who are already experiencing the symptoms should consult their doctors immediately.

To help prevent this, Neurobion conducted a survey asking men and women how they deal with health issues. An alarming 53% admitted to brushing off symptoms of being sick; which means more than half of the population could already be feeling signs of Neuropathy without them knowing.

Even more alarming is that 88% of the respondents admitted to feeling the exact symptoms of Neuropathy. But because the symptoms appear to be negligible, they’re deemed less important than the task at hand, when they’ve already affected Filipinos’ daily lives.

Coupled with the fact that 84% say that not being able to do everyday tasks would be extremely frustrating, it’s very important that they address the symptoms of Neuropathy, instead of simply brushing them off.

One way for Neurobion to raise awareness on this matter, is to actually let people experience the frustration of those who have Neuropathy through the Sense Glove—a haptic glove that provides tactile and force feedback, enabling users to feel and interact with objects in virtual reality.

Filipinos can experience this breakthrough technology that brings to light the effects of Neuropathy through the brand’s event series, Neurobion Feel to Win. With the aim to give importance to nerve care, Neurobion provided different challenges that test the strength of people’s nerves: the brand’s first-ever Sense Glove VR challenge that mimics the frustration and difficulty of a person with Neuropathy, the Nerve Twist challenge that reinvents the classic Twister game by using everyday poses that strain the nerves, and the Nerve Wobble challenge that utilizes a wobble board to test a person’s ability to hold a pose for extended periods.

In the launch event held recently in Eastwood Mall Atrium, Quezon City, media and other special guests were given the opportunity to be the first to try the challenges, with the assistance of celebrity Nerve Drill Instructors for the day, Gabby Concepcion, Sam YG and Suzy Entrata-Abrera.

“The activities are meant to familiarize people with the frustration of having undiagnosed Neuropathy – particularly not being able to do simple everyday tasks like commuting, cooking, standing for extended periods and picking up objects.” Said Ming Arroyo-Cunanan, Head of Marketing, P&G Health Care Philippines.

“Among all the activities, the Sense Glove is particularly interesting. The use of breakthrough technology attracts people to try it and the virtual reality experience is an effective way to highlight how frustrating the symptoms of Neuropathy feels.” Cunanan added.

Experience the Sense Glove for yourself at the Neurobion Feel to Win event in Lucky Chinatown Mall Atrium on September 21.

To learn more about keeping your nerves healthy, follow Neurobion Philippines on Facebook.

Nathan & Mercury releases two music videos and a new single

Fresh off the announcement that the band is heading to Singapore next month as one of the performers at Music Matters 2019, Nathan & Mercury surprised music fans with not just one, but two music videos and a brand new single.

Fools: a visual delight

The first treat came in the form of Fools music video—a visually arresting piece that follows a non-linear format. “The song in itself is very emotional,” says Nathan Huang, N&M’s lead singer and guitarist. “Through the song, we were able to hear heavy emotions. This time, through the video, we wanted to visualize what those emotions are.”

Released as a single last year, Fools has garnered nearly a million streams on Spotify and Youtube combined, achieving instant success even without an album release. 

Rumours: a fascinating follow-up

Following in the footsteps of their well-received debut track Fools, Nathan & Mercury’s Rumours was also released on the same day as the latest single.  Written as a direct response to the ever-so-thriving culture of gossip, tattletales, and fake news, the band’s funky pop jam thumps over instrumentation with renewed energy and starry-eyed groove, showcasing their looser, more confident side. “It’s a spell of rant coming from someone who is tired of all the lies,” shares drummer Daniel Monong.

The music video of Rumours was also released on the very same day as Fools, showing bits and pieces of a story without much explanation. “We wanted to emulate what it would be like to hear a rumor,” bassist Angelo Sison explains.  “We did that by depriving the viewers of the whole picture.”

The music video is helmed by Kevin Mayuga, the director behind Chicosci’s Buzzin, Moonwlk’s Prefer, and Nathan & Mercury’s very own Fools. “We trust him enough to get the job done,” guitarist Alex Samonte points out. “Initially, we briefed him on the Fools MV only, but along the process we thought it would be nice to have him on board for Rumours MV as well since we saw how prepared and committed he is since meeting #1 and so on.”

Way before the release of its studio version, the live performance of Rumours has earned the band a nomination in the MYX Music Awards 2019 for Bandarito Performance of the Year. It also remains a gig favorite among fans who have followed Nathan & Mercury’s career from the start.

The music videos of “Fools” and “Rumours” are now out on Youtube. You can also stream their latest single “Rumours” on Spotify, and other streaming/download platforms.

Zilingo Launches Its Latest Fashion Collaboration With Avel Bacudio And Alden Richards

Zilingo Launches Its Latest Fashion Collaboration With Avel Bacudio And Alden Richards

(The Collaboration Collection Got Sold Out After 10 Minutes Of Being Live On Zilingo)

Zilingo, the leading commerce platform for fashion and lifestyle, announced its partnership with world-renowned designer, Avel Bacudio, and multiple award-winning actor Alden Richards for their latest capsule collection of affordable limited edition athleisure wear. Part of the sale proceeds will benefit children from the Northern Luzon Association for the Blind in La Trinidad Benguet, Philippines.

The collection will be launched at an exclusive fashion show on Thursday, August 22 at Xylo Club in Bonifacio Global City.

The AvelXAlden collection brings to Zilingo’s customers an affordable line of clothing that combines comfort and functionality, suitable for different occasions.

  

“We are extremely excited to work with Avel Bacudio and Alden Richards to showcase and carry their very first collaboration on Zilingo,” says Edryan Lorenzo, PR and Influencer Marketing Manager, Zilingo Philippines. “Inclusivity is part of our DNA and we are pleased to have Avel and Alden onboard to provide our customers with fashion options from a collection that embodies the same values,” Ryza Dipatuan- Razo, Marketing Director, added.

The collection will feature jackets, tracksuits, pullovers and joggers in shades of black, maroon, navy blue, off-white and gray. These colours were specially chosen as they were the first colors Avel Bacudio could see after being afflicted with temporary blindness for a period of time.

“I’ve always been a fan of Avel Bacudio’s designs. He’s been a good friend of mine for the longest time. As such, I am really psyched to have my very first fashion collaboration with Avel Bacudio,” Alden Richards shared.

“With this collaboration, we go beyond providing affordable fashion options to our customers - we share the opportunity to contribute to the social fabric with the Northern Luzon Association for the Blind on-board as our beneficiary, a cause close to me heart,” Avel Bacudio said.

Zilingo is proud to be supporting the collaboration between two talented individuals with unique styles of their own. This is the first time a fashion line will be rolled out on stage and simultaneously made available for sale on the Zilingo website and app.

Fashionistas across the country can purchase AvelXAlden collaboration on the Zilingo website and app starting August 22, 7PM and have them delivered to their doorstep at no extra charge. Customers can also enjoy the convenience of multiple payment methods including cash-on-delivery.

As of writing some products from the collaboration collection went sold out during its first 10 minutes on the Zilingo website. Customers do not have to fret for Zilingo will restock in the days to come.

Head and Shoulders helps to remove barriers so people can put their #HeadsTogether

#HeadsTogether means removing barriers so people can be closer together

In a world that was taught to despise crowded spaces, Head and Shoulders encourages people to find the beauty in it.

To know more about Head Shoulders’ #HeadsTogether Campaign watch the video here and join the conversations online how you break barriers like dandruff:

#HeadsTogether made its online debut this month with a tug-at-heartstring video content; an eye-opener on what most people fail to see when they’re caught up inside crowded spaces: the birth of beautiful friendships, a helping hand from a complete stranger, the comfort of warm smiles in unexpected situations. This campaign is a reminder to continue to see the good in the bad, and that the only way this can happen, is when we start to remove the barriers between two people.

Head and Shoulders inspires Filipinos to put their #HeadsTogether

As dandruff remains to be a main hair and scalp problem of Filipinos, exposure to crowded spaces with hot, humid weather makes scalp oilier[BR4] and greasy-looking, and oily scalps tend to be more susceptible to dandruff[BR5].

Dandruff prevents people from getting closer together. It’s an unspoken wall coming from a personal discomfort, and Head and Shoulders aims to break this barrier to inspire more people to put their #HeadsTogether.

Head and Shoulders believes in a dandruff-free world; a world without the barriers of flakes and scalp odor. The world’s no. 1 shampoo celebrates closeness and inclusivity, as it inspires to build better and stronger relationships with others. So, no matter how crowded the world is – we are not afraid to be a part of it.

Dandruff-free World

About 50% of the population is prone to experience dandruff and over decades, Head and Shoulders is proven to provide cutting-edge technology and innovative products to address the world’s cry against dandruff. Clinically tested over 200 times, Head and Shoulders is the most tested and trusted anti-dandruff shampoo in the market.

Healthy hair starts with a healthy scalp and having a healthy and dandruff-free scalp could go a long way - for it does not only give you self-confidence, but that peace of mind wherever you go.

Let Head and Shoulders be your best ally to be more confident to make new friends, ace that first day at your new job, or even just hang out with old friends.

With the world’s no. 1 shampoo, it’s time to put our #HeadsTogether towards a dandruff-free world.

Lea Salonga Instashines with a Musical Tribute

Lea introduces a whole new detergent world with Ariel Instashine

World-class talent Lea Salonga serenades the crowd as the new Ariel Instashine’s ambassador last August 1, Thursday, in her first-ever laundry musical that showcased her most iconic pieces of clothing and how she continues to keep them shining anew.

Manila, Philippines (August 5, 2019) – Globally acclaimed artist and Filipino icon, Lea Salonga, returns home this August as she stars in her first-ever laundry musical - “When I Shine With You”, telling the story of Lea’s most iconic pieces of clothing and how they keep shining anew.

To celebrate and recognize Lea’s mark in the Philippine music industry, the new Ariel Instashine produced a one-of-kind musical that brought her fans nostalgic joy, as she serenades them with a renewed rendition of a classic OPM song, ‘When I Met You’ by the Apo Hiking Society. Lea is joined by some of her students from The Voice, Leah Patricio, Esang de Torres, and Mica Becerro who pay tribute to their coach as they relive Lea’s journey through some of her memorable clothes in the past – as these clothes make their way back on stage and shine as if they are new.

Lea Salonga is now part of Team Ariel

Ariel recently launched Lea Salonga as its newest addition to the growing Ariel family. Lea is the ambassador for the new Ariel Instashine - the next generation of detergent that promises to make old clothes look new again in just one wash.

“We are delighted to welcome Lea Salonga to Team Ariel as we launch our New Ariel Instashine – the world’s first detergent with Power Boosters. Lea represents progressive Filipinas who continue to shine not just in the Philippines, but also on the global stage.” shares P&G Asia Regional Brand Communications Lead Louie Morante.

When I Shine with You is a sensorial, nostalgic journey

Every piece of clothing has a story. In this one-of-a-kind musical, Lea takes us on a journey down memory lane by telling the story behind some of her most treasured clothes in her iconic roles. With a history of more than four decades in the industry, Salonga had her first break at 9 years old when she played the title role in Annie in 1980.

“Annie was my first big break. I was 9 then and felt a big mix of happy, scared and really just enjoying myself. Tt’s why I kept my dress after all these years: to remind myself of that girl who believed she could shine,” Salonga shares.

Since her debut, Salonga appeared in a number of theatre productions and had several television projects until 1989 when she was selected to play Kim in the debut production of the musical Miss Saigon in London. This role earned her the title as the first woman of Asian descent to win the Tony Award for her excellence in live Broadway Theatre in 1991.

She adds, “I had no idea how demanding it was going to be to play the role of Kim. As a teenager, I found it worth it because it pushed me to be more creative and thoughtful with my craft. That’s why I’ll always find the shirt I wore to the audition memorable. It may seem like a simple white one but it means a lot to me – it was the one that helped me shine and live my dreams.”

Among all the roles she played and amid her past accomplishments, Salonga takes pride the most in being a mom to her daughter Nicole, “There’s so much love and reward in being a mother. It’s definitely a new chapter for me, and one of the best roles that I have the privilege of playing.”

Reminiscent of the new Ariel Instashine’s clothes renewal benefit, the musical sparked a renewed sense of inspiration as Salonga relived the highlights of this true-to-life musical journey through her memorable clothes – from when she played Annie, to her white shirt during her audition for Miss Saigon, and an apron she got when she was a new mom.

“Through stains and messy times in the kitchen, this apron marks one of my life’s biggest role – being a mom to Nicole. It’s the role that no one could have ever prepared me for. It’s continuous hardwork but it brought so much joy and love to my life. It’s inspiring me to shine brighter every day for my family,” Salonga says.

New Ariel Instashine-produced laundry musical featured Lea Salonga’s The Voice mentees Esang De Torres, Mica Becerro and Leah Patricio who played the roles Annie, Miss Saigon, and Lea as a mom, respectively; and joined by digital parenting icons Cat Arambulo-Antonio, Kelly Misa-Fernandez and Maggie Wilson-Consunji

(L-R) The Voice mentees Esang De Torres, Mica Becerro, Leah Patricio, P&G Asia Regional Brand Communications Lead Louie Morante, new Ariel Instashine ambassador Lea Salonga, P&G Philippines Media Manager Arthur Pena, P&G Senior Purchasing Manager Phoebe Ng, fashion icon Cat Arambulo-Antonio, British-Filipino TV personality, model, TV host, vlogger Kelly Misa-Fernandez, British-Filipino TV personality, actress and entrepreneur Maggie Wilson-Consunji

These iconic clothes were brought back to life and showcased though Ariel Instashine’s Renewed Collection on stage. Along with Lea were her mentees from The Voice, singers Esang De Torres, Mica Becerro and Leah Patricio – and digital parenting icons Maggie Wilson, Cat Arambulo and Kelly Misa, who also had their own memorable pieces displayed in the collection to attest to the superior cleaning benefits of the new Ariel Instashine.

A whole new detergent world

Launched in June, the new Ariel Instashine is the most recent laundry detergent innovation from Ariel. As the first-in-the world detergent with power booster beads, the product provides superior cleaning and stain removal in just one wash that helps make clothes look new again.

“We launched the new Ariel Instashine in the PH market in high hopes of addressing the highest standard of cleaning our consumers wants - cleaning clothes like they are new again. This is the

world’s first detergent with power boosters to remove the toughest layers of stains and make your clothes shine anew in just 1 wash. As with our commitment to elevate the level of clean in laundry, we also hope to uplift our spirits through keeping clothing pieces valuable and timeless like Lea’s iconic pieces from her roles as Annie, Miss Saigon and as a mom,” concludes P&G Country Category Leader, Laundry Philippines, Ray Pine.

It’s a long ongoing journey for Lea filled with milestones that continue to give pride to the Philippines. Ariel celebrates this true Filipino icon as she shines for all of the Filipinos here and all over the world.

To find out more about When I Shine with You, the new Ariel Instashine and how you can make your old clothes look new again in one wash, follow the hashtags #NewArielInstashine, #InstaBagoin1Wash and #WhenIShineWithLea online.

Fastjobs Hosts A Mini Job Fair And Free Seminar, “For The Riders”

As the partner of every blue-collar worker, FastJobs Philippines’ fastest growing online jobs portal - held a mini job fair and free seminar “For the Riders,” last June 28, 2019, at the San Juan Gymnasium.

“For the Riders” provided an avenue for delivery service providers (riders) to seek new job opportunities, especially those affected by the suspension of one of the on-demand groceries startup in the Philippines.

“We, at FastJobs, believe in helping each other out, as this is how we see we can strengthen the nation. The country’s success lies on the shoulder of our blue-collar workers, who make up the backbone of our economy, so we must continue to provide them the tools and  the opportunities to help them find better-paying jobs that fit their work skills,” shares Sebastian San, Assistant Director - Regional Partnerships of FastJobs.

In addition to linking riders to new job opportunities through its job fair, FastJobs held a free seminar, which updated participants on relevant topics such as road safety, emergency responsiveness, and preparedness. To talk about injury avoidance and the importance of riders in the community was Stalin Jher Iilahi, Association President of 24/7 ARPG Riders Team Manila.  

For years, FastJobs has been making it easier for individuals to find jobs that fit their skills and introduces them to employers through its innovative hiring platform. This platform includes mobile-first innovations such as FastChat, Resume Builder, and Group Broadcast Capabilities, which allows applicants to find jobs fast and employers to save time.  

FastJobs empowers riders and skilled laborers by making the job-seeking process easier and more convenient. Simply download the FastJobs App on your mobiles, and after registering, you can immediately start submitting your applications. To save time, jobseekers can use the instant messaging feature called FastChat.

“FastJobs is continually seeking new ways to help the regular worker and bring back dignity to their work. With the recent boom in the food and grocery delivery market, our riders have so much more opportunity – and we hope to help them in that aspect,” ends San.

Download the FastJobs mobile app now available in Singapore, Malaysia, and the Philippines at the Android Play store and Apple App store or visit  https://www.fastjobs.ph/

About FastJobs

FastJobs is Southeast Asia’s fastest-growing mobile job app that focuses on recruitment for customer-facing, support and operational roles. By applying technology alongside data insights, our vision is to simplify job matching and provide everyone with equal access to job opportunities from trusted employers.

Incubated by Singapore Press Holdings (SPH) and officially launched in April 2015, the FastJobs app has since been downloaded more than 2.5 million times across the region. At the HR Vendors of the Year 2018 Awards, FastJobs emerged as Best New Recruitment Solution Provider (Gold, Singapore, and Malaysia), Best HR Start-up Company (Silver, Singapore) and

Best Recruitment Portal (Bronze, Singapore).

Business success depends on finding the right people, and FAST. This is at the heart of FastJobs and inspires us to continually re-imagine the way people are connected to jobs. As FastJobs expands across Southeast Asia, we strive to improve people’s lives with better access to economic opportunities.