Newsletter: CELEBRATE BLACK HISTORY MONTH WITH CHICAGO HOUSE MUSIC LEGENDS TEN CITY

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Proof that disco evolved rather than died can be heard throughout the discography of house group Ten City. Set apart most obviously by singer Byron Stingily, a powerhouse falsetto between and distinct from inspirations such as Philip Bailey and Sylvester, the Chicago group's recordings epitomize deep house with a basis in gospel and soul, and messages of love and positivity. Teamed with dance music pioneer Marshall Jefferson, Ten City emerged in the late '80s with two of their biggest hits, "Right Back to You" and "That's the Way Love Is," the latter of which topped Billboard's dance/club chart and cracked the Top Ten of the U.K. pop chart. 

Newsletter: Road to redemption: Smart Omega gears up for MPL Season 11

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Smart Omega, the professional esports team backed by Smart Communications, Inc. (Smart), is gearing up for the upcoming Mobile Legends: Bang Bang Professional League, the biggest mobile games competition in Southeast Asia.

Newsletter: Ace Banzuelo drops catchy, upbeat banger “Tadhana”

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After topping the charts last year with his hit single “Muli,” Filipino singer-songwriter/producer Ace Banzuelo continues his winning streak with the release of his 2023 single “Tadhana”—out on Friday, February 17 via Sony Music Entertainment. 

Newsletter: Barbie Almalbis celebrates 25th anniversary with the release of Tower Sessions Live album and a ‘reunion’ concert

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Filipino singer-songwriter Barbie Almalbis marks a monumental milestone in music with the official release of her Tower Sessions Live album under Sony Music Entertainment and a reunion concert featuring her iconic bands Hungry Young Poets and Barbie’s Cradle.

Newsletter: ICONA POP RETURN WITH NEW SINGLE, ‘I WANT YOU’ WITH GALANTIS

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Global chart-topping duo Icona Pop return today with ‘I Want You,’ an exciting new collaboration with Swedish electronic outfit Galantis.  

Newsletter: Customers enjoy bigger rewards with PLDT, Smart, and Maya at SM Store

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Shopping at SM Store becomes more exciting with the country’s largest integrated telco PLDT Inc., the fastest mobile network Smart Communications, Inc. (Smart), and the all-in-one money app Maya during all of the store’s 3Day Sale schedules in 2023 nationwide.

Newsletter: Clockenflap Unveils Festival Map plus Full List of Attractions and Experiences Fans Can Enjoy at this Year’s Sold Out Event

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Clockenflap, Hong Kong’s biggest international outdoor music and arts festival, today revealed the festival map as well as a complete list of attractions and experiences for this year’s event, which takes place at Central Harbourfront from Friday 3 to Sunday 5 March 2023 and features around 100 live acts.

Newsletter: XG Unveil music video for “LEFT RIGHT”

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XG has unveiled the music video for “LEFT RIGHT”, a track taken from their third single “SHOOTING STAR”. The concept of this music video is based on traveling in unexplored expanses in space, with minimalistic and stylish performance of the group members contrasting with the 70’s-90’s themed set and wardrobe - watch it here. 

Newsletter: WATERWALK RECORDS releases “MANLILIKHARI,” the first single off 10-song series project, Sambahan

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WATERWALK RECORDS announces the release of Sambahan, a 10-song series project that contains worship songs from grassroots, church-based songwriters who connected and collaborated through an unconventional ‘lab’ setting via the synergetic fellowship, KONEKOLAB.

Newsletter: Local esports teams play-it-forward to give LearnSmart kits to DepEd Samar, Masbate

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Winners of the recent GIGA Arena Street League, an esports tournament powered by Smart Communications, Inc. (Smart) have turned over LearnSmart kits to their chosen beneficiary, the Department of Education, benefitting almost 13,000 students in alternative learning system (ALS) communities in Masbate and Samar.

Newsletter: Filipino rapper/producer Young Cocoa pays tribute to Jakarta on new single “J-TOWN (PM)”

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Filipino rapper-producer Young Cocoa revisits his experiences of growing up in Jakarta on "J-TOWN (PM)"—his new single via pan-regional label, OFFMUTE.

Newsletter: Clockenflap Announces Full Lineup! Wu-Tang Clan, The Cardigans, Bombay Bicycle Club and Sasha Alex Sloan Among Newly Added Acts

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Clockenflap, Hong Kong’s biggest international outdoor music and arts festival, today revealed the full lineup of acts slated to perform at Central Harbourfront from Friday 3 to Sunday 5 March 2023.

Newsletter: Power Mac Center treats music lovers to special Valentine’s Day deals

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Looking for a special gift for your loved one this Valentine’s Day? Or a little something your music-loving heart has been wanting? Head on over to Power Mac Center stores and online to find “the one” you’re looking for.

Newsletter: PLDT, Smart push for safe gaming spaces as Philippines leads global list of video game players

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Leading integrated telco PLDT Inc. (PLDT) and its wireless subsidiary Smart Communications, Inc. (Smart) continue to push for safer online spaces, particularly in the gaming community, as the Group backs this year's global celebration of Safer Internet Day and continues its support for esports.

Newsletter: Australian artist RUEL announces free mall show in Manila this weekend!

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Australian singer-songwriter Ruel returns to Manila for a special mall show happening at the Venice Grand Canal Mall in Taguig City this Saturday, February 18, 2023.

Newsletter: SPOTV NOW to stream Circle Chart Music Awards 2022

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SPOTV is excited to announce that its mobile app, SPOTV NOW, will be streaming the 12th Annual Circle Chart Music Awards live from the KSPO DOME in Seoul on 18 February 2023. The live stream will be free and accessible to all SPOTV NOW users, making it a treat for all music and K-POP fans alike.

Newsletter: Give glory to Magic’s oldest villains in Phyrexia: All Will Be One

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Wizards of the Coast will be launching  Phyrexia: All Will Be One, the latest set for the world’s best trading card game, Magic: The Gathering. The third instalment to the four-part Phyrexian storyline, Phyrexia: All Will Be One will see players experience the beauty and horror of the Phyrexians as Magic’s oldest, most memorable villains, pursue their plans to take over the multiverse. The set contains 271 cards and is available to play on tabletop from 10 February onwards. 

Newsletter: Klingande and Vargen Reveal Energetic New Single “Kids On The Run”

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Klingande kicks off 2023 with “Kids On The Run,” a nostalgic house anthem that sees the multi-platinum French DJ & producer collaborating with rising producer VARGEN. The feel-good track is brought to life by Klingande and Vargen’s high-energy sound. Drawing from ‘70s rock music as well as upbeat, catchy EDM.  “Kids On The Run” is set to be an instant classic.

Valentine's Day Na! Eh Ano Ngayon? (v. 2023)

02/14/2023 12:20:52 PM

Teka lang, akala ko ba tinigil na natin ang pagsusulat tungkol dito? Last year, ni-retire na natin 'to ah. May internal memo ka pa na pinakita. Anyare, aber?

Newsletter: DVBBS and Wiz Khalifa Join Forces on Soon-To-Be-Viral Single "Sh Sh Sh (Hit That)" with urfavexboyfriend and Goldsoul. Out now on Ultra Records/Sony Music

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Canadian brothers DVBBS keep showcasing their creative prowess by breaking genre barriers with their new single with Wiz Khalifa - "Sh Sh Sh (Hit That)," a record sitting on the intersection of bass and hip hop music, infused with a sample coming from a startup rapper, urfavxboyfriend, that DVBBS accidentally stumbled upon on his TikTok account on one of the uploads. They loved the line from the get-go and knew they had to make it into a full-length track. Wiz wasted no time jumping on board, and the rest is history - a unique sound that sees DVBBS experimenting and Wiz's signature flow with the catchy "Sh Sh Sh" vocal overlay. This unusual release is part of the growing trend of TikTok mashups that have become popular with the platform and Instagram's videos, giving previously unknown artists yet another way to break through to the masses. Viral dancer and social media personality Casey Frey recently uploaded his video take on "Sh Sh Sh (Hit That)" with DVBBS & Wiz Khalifa's track to Instagram, which has amassed over 280K likes and surpassed 6M views within only 3 days from its upload.

Newsletter: Shop Safely This 2023: 5 signs your online transaction may be a scam

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The Covid-19 pandemic has changed the way Filipinos do shopping. The lockdowns have brought about an increase in online shopping transactions. However, this has also brought about an increase in digital fraud. 

Newsletter: San Holo “DON’T LOOK DOWN” feat. Lizzy Land

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"DON’T LOOK DOWN is here to remind you that your doubts and negative thoughts are just like clouds passing by. We easily get caught up in the noise of everyday life, myself included. I hope this song can help you keep your head up, and give you the strength to keep going! This song means so much to me and was written from the heart!" -San Holo

Acclaimed Dutch producer, artist, and mental health advocate San Holo releases his poignantly emotional new single “DON’T LOOK DOWN” via Helix Records on January 27. At once melancholy and uplifting, the track stays true to the artist’s quintessential sound, reaching for epic sonic heights while maintaining an intimate and heartfelt level of songcraft.

Newsletter: PLDT, Smart strengthen Siargao’s community-based mental health program with Psychological First Aid training

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Riyan Portuguez, more popularly known as “Your Millennial Psychologist”, leads the Psychological First Aid training of the volunteer participants from General Luna, Surigao del Norte.

More than a year after Typhoon Odette ravaged the homes of Siargao’s residents, the island has since been on a path towards rehabilitation and recovery. To strengthen the mental health and wellbeing of Siargao residents, the local government of the Municipality of General Luna in Surigao del Norte recently partnered with PLDT and Smart to launch its community-based mental health program through the Psychological First Aid (PFA) training.  

 

The Rundown Slam: WWE Royal Rumble 2023

02/10/2023 03:50:42 PM

Photo from WWE.Obtained via Bleacher Report

You know, I shouldn't be writing stuff about this monumental wrestling event. Hey, we're almost three weeks removed from the Royal Rumble, so why do we need to milk more on this annual January WWE show which shows the opening salvo on the WrestleMania season?

Newsletter: ULTI-HYPHENATE RAPPER, PRODUCER & ACTOR RICH BRIAN UNVEILS NEW SINGLE & MUSIC VIDEO “SUNDANCE FREESTYLE” VIA 88RISING / WARNER RECORDS

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Coming off the heels of the Sundance premiere of his first-ever feature film, the Justin Chon-directed Jamojaya, Indonesian rapper, singer, and producer Rich Brian releases a new single “Sundance Freestyle” via 88rising / Warner Records with an accompanying music video.

Listen to “Sundance Freestyle” HERE and watch the music video HERE.

PlayBack: Crazy As Pinoy - Panaginip (Two decades later)

02/09/2023 02:11:11 PM

It's noontime in early 2000s. You are watching Eat Bulaga, the Philippines' long-standing variety show which serves a chopseuy of sorts – from beauty contests Little Miss Philippines to Tee Vee Babe plus Mr. Pogi; from a gut-wrenching fate of Laban O Bawi to an all-gagged up Bulagaan; from just fanboying to the triumvirate of Tito, Vic, and Joey, to its bunch of supporting co-hosts plus being titillated with the emerging Sexbomb Girls.

Newsletter: KAIA brings back the fun in pop music on the performance video of “Turn Up”

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After earning rave reviews for their Y2K-indebted track “Dalawa,” KAIA marks another creative triumph for P-Pop with the release of another banger under Sony Music Entertainment.

Alay Ni Sheng takes a bow with its final long set show this Saturday

02/08/2023 03:17:07 PM

For nearly a decade, Alay Ni Sheng had been on a roller coaster ride as a punk rock band in the underground music scene. This Saturday, 11 February 2023, they will be holding their curtain call at Jerson's Bar & BBQ in Moonwalk, Parañaque City.

Newsletter: PITBULL JOINS FORCES WITH AYYBO & ERO808, PUTTING HIS SPIN ON NEW HIT SINGLE “HYPNOSIS” FOR LATIN HOUSE REWORK “RIGHT OR WRONG (HYPNOSIS)”

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AYYBO's hit single HYPNOSIS gets a rework from Mr. Worldwide himself, creating the perfect Latin House banger that is RIGHT OR WRONG [HYPNOSIS]. The original has garnered over 5M+ streams to date, peaked #35 on Shazam Global House Chart, 20M+ views across Tiktok usages. The Pitbull version drops just ahead of his 2023 global tour, and will feature wide support across Pitbull's socials (90M in total) & an official video dropping week of release. RIGHT OR WRONG is the latin & dance blend that we needed.

Newsletter: Clara Benin opens 2023 with the release of When Harry Met Sally-inspired track “different…”

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2022 has been a great year for Clara Benin. Aside from getting featured on a Times Square billboard in New York ahead of the International Women’s Day, the folk darling received two nominations at the recently concluded 8th Wish Music Awards and collaborated with international artists such as British singer-songwriter Lowswimmer. On top of her achievements, Benin also dropped a song called "Affable Dork," which garnered rave reviews for "adopting a jazz-pop approach."

Newsletter: PLDT, Smart welcome the biggest haul of young innovators to InnoGen 3.0

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PLDT and its wireless unit, Smart Communications, Inc. (Smart) continue to empower young innovators, welcoming ninety eight new teams to their Innovation Generation (InnoGen) grant program.  

 

Newsletter: Kai Buizon marks official debut with intricate folk-pop single “The Meadow”

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Filipina singer-songwriter Kai Buizon marks her official arrival in the local music scene with the release of “The Meadow,” her debut single under Sony Music Entertainment.

Newsletter: Smart boosts 7-Eleven’s Fun Run 2023 to promote a healthier lifestyle for Filipinos

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PLDT’s wireless unit Smart Communications, Inc. (Smart) is supporting the 7-Eleven Run 2023 happening on February 5 in Manila, Cebu, and Davao.

Newsletter: WTTC and Trip.com Group global traveller report reveals shift towards sustainable travel

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A major new report by World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) and Trip.com Group, together with Deloitte, reveals a heightened appetite for sustainable tourism amongst consumers, with 69% of travellers actively seeking sustainable travel options.

Newsletter: Zayed Sustainability Prize Opens Submissions for 2024 Cycle

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The Zayed Sustainability Prize, the UAE’s pioneering global award for recognising excellence in sustainability, has officially announced that the 2024 cycle is now open for submissions. 

Submissions will be accepted until 2 May 2023 through the Prize’s online portal. Small to medium enterprises, nonprofit organisations and high schools with sustainability solutions are invited to submit an entry for consideration in one of the five categories of Heath, Food, Energy, Water and Global High Schools.

Newsletter: SPOTV to broadcast FIFA CLUB WORLD CUP 2022

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SPOTV is proud to announce that it will be broadcasting the only club-level World Cup - the FIFA CLUB WORLD CUP 2022™, from 2nd – 12th February 2023.

Newsletter: XG Highly anticipated third single “SHOOTING STAR” is out!

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XG has released “SHOOTING STAR” via digital streaming services as well as on limited edition box set today! The long-awaited third single is a spacewalk through a dream-like soundscape that showcases powerful rap and exceptional vocals from the seven-member girl group. The lyrics express their single-mindedness in achieving world-class status as artists. The accompanying music video features XG as next generation cool kids from a system beyond ours who have brought with them their unique musical expression, and presents their compelling vision of a world without boundaries. Watch it here.

Newsletter: Smart ignites Grand Sinulog comeback

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The Philippines’ grandest festival, Sinulog, returned with a bang after a two-year hiatus with PLDT Inc.’s wireless arm Smart Communications, Inc.’s (Smart) full support and partnership with the local government of Cebu City and Sinulog Foundation, Inc.