Newsletter: LikhaCert secure digital artworks preservation at Apl.de.Ap x Bitto phygital art debut

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Apl.de.ap and Bitto pose with content creator Jax Reyes, the winning bidder for their phygital artwork. The canvas painting comes with an NFC chip embedded with Apl.de.Ap’s original soundtrack.

Irish poet and playwright Oscar Wilde famously stated that “Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery,” however, the rise of the digital world has complicated this sentiment for artists. The prevalence of fraudulent activity in the digital age has sparked worry among artists. Imagine having an audience in the billions, yet each one with the potential to steal it and use for their own benefit. Art collectors, by extension, bear the brunt of this predicament.

Newsletter: JESSE MCCARTNEY UNVEILS IRRESISTIBLE NEW SINGLE "FAUX FUR" AND TEASES FORTHCOMING EP 'ALL’S WELL'

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No stranger to the world of pop, Jesse McCartney, the multi-talented singer-songwriter musician, who first came onto the scene as a teen heartthrob later becoming celebrated for his chart-topping hits and memorable roles on screen, unveils a seductive new single, "Faux Fur". The track effortlessly captures retro R&B groove and funk, layered with his soulful vocals. Listen here: https://jesse-mccartney.ffm.to/fauxfur

Newsletter: Globe Group, Google team up to digitalize elderly in #SeniorDigizen campaign

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Google is supporting the Globe Group in its #SeniorDigizen campaign, which aims to equip the elderly with tech knowledge they can use in daily life. 

Newsletter: UP Chemists Modify Anticancer Compound to Improve Safety and Efficacy

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Chemical structure of deguelin. (Photo credit: Francisco, J. A., & Paderes, M. C. Inhibitory effects of B-, C-, and E-ring-truncated deguelin derivatives against A549, HCT116, and MCF-7 Cancer Cells. ACS Omega, 8(45): p. 43109–43117)

Scientists from the University of the Philippines – Diliman College of Science (UPD-CS) have transformed the anticancer compound deguelin into a novel class of compounds that show promise as safer and more effective treatments for colon, lung, and breast cancer.

Newsletter: “No patent, no right”: UP lawyer highlights scientists’ need to protect inventions

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By: Harvey L. Sapigao

In the '90s, Dr. Neila Cortes-Maramba of UP Manila led a team of scientists investigating ten medicinal plants in the Philippines. Two of these plants exhibited promising results—one for cough and the other for urinary tract infections. The team patented Vitex negundo (Lagundi) and Blumea balsamifera (Sambong) in syrup and tablet forms, granting them exclusive rights to these medicines. 

Newsletter: Singer-songwriter and producer Dhruv releases new single “Tragedy”

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Singer-songwriter and producer Dhruv releases “Tragedy,” the lead single from his debut album expected later this year. Co-written by Dhruv and produced by JT Daly, the piano-led track chronicles the somber feeling of being on the losing end of a breakup after a failed attempt of reconciling with an ex. Listen to the single here.

Newsletter: BSP, DILG, GCash roll out Paleng-QR Ph in Calamba, Laguna

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From left: City of Calamba licensing officer Peachy Galang, public market administrator Olive Natividad, business permits and Tltricycle franchising office head Bernadette Opulencia, Office of the Mayor executive assistant Aileen Rizal, GCash South Luzon public sector account manager Emilio Ylanan, City of Calamba councilor Maria Kathrina V. Silva, GCash Luzon public sector team lead Rosemarie Abarquez, City of Calamba administrator Johnny R. Pamuspusan and GCash South Luzon ecosystem development manager Arvin Dimaano

In line with its collective effort to promote cashless transactions and achieve financial inclusion nationwide, the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) and the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) rolled out the Paleng-QR Ph initiative in Calamba City, Laguna, in cooperation with the country’s number one finance super app, GCash.

Newsletter: Vilmark unveils emotional single “INOWY”

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Singer-songwriter Vilmark releases his latest single, “INOWY (I’m Not Okay Without You),” set to debut on January 26 under GMA Music, across major digital platforms worldwide. The soul-stirring track is a powerful ballad about dealing with loss and finding the strength to move forward.

Newsletter: THE TEKKEN SERIES CELEBRATES ITS 30TH ANNIVERSARY WITH THE ANNOUNCEMENT OF ITS SOUNDTRACK RELEASE FOR TEKKEN 8, THE LATEST INSTALLMENT IN THE SERIES

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Bandai Namco Entertainment Inc. is pleased to announce the release of its soundtrack for TEKKEN 8, the latest addition to the TEKKEN series. The soundtrack will be available worldwide on streaming platforms beginning January 26th, the same day the game goes on sale. The CD goes on sale March 13th, with pre-orders starting January 14th.

Newsletter: Kaspersky predicts key cybersecurity threats targeting children in 2024

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With most children able to access or own a smartphone or tablet, the age at which they begin their acquaintance with the digital world and technology keeps decreasing. Therefore, it’s crucial for parents to stay informed about the latest cybersecurity threats targeting kids to better protect them from potential harm. In this post, Kaspersky experts explore some of the key cybersecurity trends parents should be aware of, and provide tips on how to safeguard their children's online activities.

1. Children will increasingly u

Newsletter: PetPal launches PH’s first all-in-one pet care super app

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In yet another industry-first, 917Ventures’ PetPal, a front-runner in pet care in Southeast Asia, has unveiled their all-in-one pet care super app. The platform serves as a mobile version of their comprehensive pet care solution. 

Newsletter: NUMBER_I'S "GOAT," WHICH SURPASSED 10 MILLION VIEWS ON ITS MUSIC VIDEO WITHIN THREE DAYS OF RELEASE, IS SET FOR A CD RELEASE ON MARCH 6th, 2024 (WEDNESDAY) JST

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The CD release date for Number_i's 1st single "GOAT" has been set for March 6th (Wednesday) JST, with reservations starting from January 16th (Tuesday) at noon, exclusively at the TOBE OFFICIAL STORE.

Newsletter: Elijah Canlas, TONEEJAY to join SCRUBB: Live In Manila

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Prolific actor-rapper Elijah Canlas and chart-topping singer-songwriter TONEEJAY will be joining SCRUBB: Live in Manila on February 10, 2024, at the 123 Block in Mandaluyong City, from 6 p.m. onwards.

Newsletter: AKINI JING RELEASES NEW ALBUM ‘VILLAIN’

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Photo Credit, Preston Scott and Jeremy Le 

Last Friday 12th January - multidimensional creator and performing artist Akini Jing releases her highly anticipated album ‘VILLAIN’, out now via 88rising. The release is accompanied by both the official video to lead single ‘Call Me Shadow’ and the new focus track ‘VILLAIN’ which features rising UK drill artist TeeZandos.

STREAM ‘VILLAIN’ ALBUM HERE

Newsletter: SB19’s PABLO opens 2024 with genre-blurring single “DETERMINADO”

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SB19’s PABLO is back with another bop!

The Filipino singer-songwriter/producer blurs the line between hip-hop and rock on the new single “DETERMINADO,” his first offering this year under Sony Music Entertainment.

SKYGARDEN releases second JaPinoy rock single “HISTORIA”

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Japanese pop-rock trio SKYGARDEN, comprised of Ryoichi “Ryo” Rivera Nagatsuka, Hiro Ozaki, and Iwaki “Iwa” Maegawa, is back with a brand-new single under Alt G Records entitled “HISTORIA,” set to be released on digital platforms this January 19.

Alaala Ni Mike Enriquez

01/17/2024 04:52:09 PM

Photo credits: GMA News

Okay. It's been close to three weeks as I write this series of essays, but I can only wonder: why only now? I guess it's because I now have the time needed since the past month and these past couple of weeks had been too busy for me to collate and compile all those thoughts that ran into my head for 2023.  

It is safe to say that after three years, the world is really back to its normalcy. In TV lingo, we call it “back to regular programming.” For what its worth, 2023 didn't just had a roller coaster ride – there's also a see-saw and a swing. It was a carousel-like experience. I'm just glad I still manage to get back into writing because after all, who still reads blogs today – at the era when reels and vlogs became the name of the game in content creation?

Well, never say never, as resilient people would tell; so that being said, here is just one of the pieces that contain my sentiments on whatever issue or event I have experienced during 2023.

Marami nang haka-haka nung hapon na yun. Pero tuluyang nakumpira nung gabi. Nagulantang ang lahat, hindi lang sa pamayanan ng GMA, kundi sa pangakalahatan ng media sa Pilipinas. Grabe, ang dami ko nang nabalitaan na namatay ng taon na 'to – lalo na nung buwan ng Agosto. Bakit hindi ka ba naman maululungkot nun, e nawala na nga sila Tina Turner, Bob Barker ilang buwan ang nakararaan, tapos noong Agosto ay magkasunod pang pumanaw sila Terry Funk at Bray Wyatt, at nung kalaunan ng taon naman ay sila Matthew Perry at Ronaldo Valdez, at marami pang iba.

2023, The Year of The Bloodline?

01/17/2024 03:00:00 PM

Okay. It's been close to three weeks as I write this series of essays, but I can only wonder: why only now? I guess it's because I now have the time needed since the past month and these past couple of weeks had been too busy for me to collate and compile all those thoughts that ran into my head for 2023.  

It is safe to say that after three years, the world is really back to its normalcy. In TV lingo, we call it “back to regular programming.” For what its worth, 2023 didn't just had a roller coaster ride – there's also a see-saw and a swing. It was a carousel-like experience. I'm just glad I still manage to get back into writing because after all, who still reads blogs today – at the era when reels and vlogs became the name of the game in content creation?

Well, never say never, as resilient people would tell; so that being said, here is just one of the pieces that contain my sentiments on whatever issue or event I have experienced during 2023.

Newsletter: Moving with Purpose: The Top 10 Vitamins and Minerals Needed by Your Body

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USANA's Fibergy Active is a fiber-focused supplement that puts optimal gut health within reach.

Going from place to place and chasing one task after another, you might think that you’re already doing enough to keep your body moving and your health goals on track. But having an active lifestyle does not automatically equate to living a completely healthy life. It must be supplemented with the correct vitamins and minerals for our body to function at its best. Therefore, a thorough understanding of these components is necessary. For all efforts in building an active and healthy lifestyle will be in vain if we are not knowledgeable with what kinds of vitamins and minerals must go in our body and how they correspond to our daily needs.

Newsletter: Harame Bro Wins 2023 PUBG MOBILE National Championships Philippines

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Representatives from the seven Philippine PUBG MOBILE teams who would represent the country in international tournaments this year (Back Row, L-R: 214 Akira, Harame Bro, Exquisite Esports; First Row, L-R: ELV8 Esports, PlayBook Esports, Enigma, Dread Esports)

PUBG MOBILE Philippines has chosen its squads to compete against the best from Myanmar, Cambodia, and Singapore. Harame Bro emerged victorious in the PUBG MOBILE National Championships (PMNC) held last January 6-7, 2024 at the SM Mall of Asia, Pasay City. The team took home a lion’s share of the PHP 500,000 cash prize pool and were joined in the podium by 214 Akira, Exquisite Esports, Dread Esports, and ELV8 Esports. Together with top seeded teams Playbook Esports (PBE) and Enigma, these seven teams would represent the Philippines in this year’s international PUBG MOBILE Esports competitions. Attended by thousands of Filipino PUBG MOBILE fans, the event was supported by TECNO Mobile, one of the world’s leading smartphone brands.

Newsletter: GLOBALLY-RENOWNED SINGER-SONGWRITER NIKI KICKS OFF 2024 WITH INTROSPECTIVE NEW SINGLE “24”

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NIKI Photo by Yudo Kurita 

Today, Jakarta-born, LA-based singer-songwriter and producer NIKI kicks off 2024 with the release of her incredible, intimate new single “24,” out now via 88rising.  The song points towards a new sonic era for NIKI, combining all of the things that have made her an international favorite - brilliant lyrics and outstanding melodic sensibilities - with a musical palette that, for NIKI, sounds like home.  Indeed, it’s early in the year, but we can guarantee you that you won’t hear a more beautiful, ornately-crafted song about a quarter life crisis this year. 

Newsletter: Carousell Property Awards 2023 honors trailblazers in real estate

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(From left): SMDC vice president – project development Adelaida E. Cobres, senior assistant vice president - project development Lea B. Rabusa, and project development manager Emanuel N. Nave with Carousell PH general manager and country representative Shine Resurreccion, corporate sales lead Melizza Hernandez, and corporate sales Bernadette Pambuan

Carousell Property Awards is back once again to recognize the innovators and trailblazers in real estate who have shaped cities and communities for the better. Now on its third year, the annual recognition awards celebrate the extraordinary feats in the world of Philippine real estate.

Newsletter: Leah Halili releases introspective new track “Change”

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The Ransom Collective’s Leah Halili reflects on the difficulties of navigating the recent events in her life on her new single, “Change,” out on all digital music platforms worldwide this Saturday, January 13.

Newsletter: Acclaimed Japanese composer SawanoHiroyuki[nZk] links up with K-Pop boyband TOMORROW x TOGETHER for SOLO LEVELING opening song “LEveL”

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SACRA MUSIC has released a new single from esteemed composer HIROYUKI SAWANO’s vocal project SawanoHiroyuki[nZk] featuring global K-pop superstars TOMORROW X TOGETHER entitled “LEveL.”

Newsletter: PetPal's inaugural Vet Night Out: A milestone for veterinary collaboration, community building

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Petpal, leading pet care innovator in the Philippines, brought together 50 partner vets from around Metro Manila in its first ever Vet Night Out.

PetPal, a leading innovator in pet care in the Philippines, recently brought together nearly 50 veterinarians from various parts of Metro Manila at their inaugural Vet Night Out at the Mess Hall in Makati City. 

Newsletter: FILIPINO-AMERICAN HIP-HOP ARTIST MBNEL RELEASES “8 TO INFINITY” TO VISIT THE PHILIPPINES THIS JANUARY

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MBNel has embodied the hunger and hustle of Stockton, California's 8th Street, and shared it with the world. The second-generation Filipino-American artist with nearly 40 music videos on YouTube and over one million views has only broadened through his most courageous release to date, late 2023's 8 To Infinity. The Muddy Boyz/EMPIRE album expands on Nel's melodies, musicality, and vulnerability. Songs like "Tear Drops" and "Restart" show MBNel's star power and his resonance with new global audiences on a project that features artists such as Mozzy, Yung Bleu, and Millyz. "I've been experiencing different things, and I'm telling a different story musically. I feel that I'm going to a new place creatively," Nel admits. He is bringing 8th Street along for the ride. The album also features the focus track “Bag Chasin.”

Newsletter: PLDT Group expands mental health awareness to indigenous communities

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The Ayta women brainstorm for their presentation on a situational role-playing session as part of the Psychological First Aid training.

Pastor Benny Capuno, a tribal leader in Porac, Pampanga, knows all too well the great distress his Ayta community goes through when an earthquake strikes. In April 2019, a 6.1-magnitude earthquake devastated Porac, affecting hundreds and killing 10, five of whom were from the Ayta community. For Capuno, it reminded him and the community of the fragility of life, especially as when the same town was devastated by the 1991 Mount Pinatubo eruption.  It also reminded him of the mental well-being of those who survived.

Newsletter: FORMER KING & PRINCE MEMBERS SHO HIRANO, YUTA JINGUJI AND YUTA KISHI REUNITE AS NUMBER_I WITH NEW SINGLE “GOAT”

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Former members from powerhouse J-pop group, King & Prince, reunite to form a new sensational music group, Number_I. This dynamic trio composed of Sho Hirano, Yuta Jinguji, and Yuta Kishi, is all set to leave their mark on the music industry, and they're doing it in style under the renowned TOBE record label. 

Newsletter: Kaspersky suggests to add sorting your digital clutter to your New Year's resolutions

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This new year, you could have resolved to quit a vice, to learn something new, to manage your finances better and maybe check a couple off your bucket list of places to visit. Cybersecurity company Kaspersky suggests adding another practical and smart resolution to your 2024 list: to protect your precious data by clearing your digital clutter!

Newsletter: PLDT, Smart scale 45M reach for its #BetterToday mental health program

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Sangguniang Panlalawigan of La Union Board Member Joy Ortega shares the goals of the Psychological First Aid Program to encourage them to become first-aid volunteers who will help address the needs of distressed individuals. 

PLDT and Smart forge ahead in leveraging technology to promote sound mental health for all. In 2023, PLDT and Smart recorded a reach of over 45 million for its #BetterToday program, bridging the digital divide, as it creates safe, happy, and inclusive spaces.

Newsletter: Mobile Legends: Bang Bang Esports unveils 2024 Roadmap, MSC to rebrand as Mid-Season Cup

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Mobile Legends: Bang Bang Esports has unveiled its 2024 roadmap, which includes the rebranding of MSC to the Mid Season Cup. First announced in the 2024 esports roadmap video, the Mid-Season Cup was rebranded in line with MOONTON Games' Esports for Everyone vision to promote diversity and inclusivity for more global athletes to have the opportunity to compete in one of the most-watched esports tournaments worldwide. The Mid Season Cup will be held outside Southeast Asia for the first time, with more participating regions, including China, and a larger prize pool. 

Newsletter: GCash further expands global remittance network with PERA HUB

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GCash continues to expand its global remittance network as it partners with Aboitiz retail network brand PERA HUB for cash-in transactions. The country’s leading fintech company has recently announced that PERA HUB partners will now be accessible via the GCash app.

Newsletter: PLDT Group advocates sustainable gifting, championing Visayas and Mindanao communities

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PLDT, Smart Communications, Inc. (Smart), and their social outreach arm PLDT-Smart Foundation (PSF) support sustainability, giving out eco-friendly and community-centric donations that contribute to environmental conservation and local development in Visayas and Mindanao.

NEWSLETTER: Quirino promotes mental health awareness through PLDT and Smart’s #BetterToday program

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Around 800 students and government employees join the Mental Health Awareness Summit dubbed as “Better Today Conversations”, which is a collaborative initiative between the Provincial Government of Quirino and PLDT and Smart.

In partnership with PLDT and Smart, the Provincial Government of Quirino recently held a mental health awareness summit with students and government employees from the province of Quirino.  Advocating mental health awareness in communities, PLDT Group featured mental health professionals, including Riyan Portuguez (“Your Millennial Psychologist”), doctor and podcaster Dr. Gia Sison, and popular content creator Macoy Dubs.

Newsletter: Filipino celebrities Sarah Geronimo and Kathryn Bernardo join Tyla’s “Water” wave

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Grammy-nominated R&B sensation Tyla continues to gain traction in the Philippines after two of its biggest celebrities, Sarah Geronimo and Kathryn Bernardo, recently made headlines with their performance of “Water.”