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01 December 2024

The Scene Around: Now & Then - The Orange & Lemons 25th Anniversary

11/29/2024 02:59:30 PM


Before we discuss how monumental this event became for the band and everyone who witnessed their silver jubilee moment, let's take a short look at some of the events in their recent era.

Around late September of 2017, pop-rock band Orange & Lemons made shocking waves through a surprise set at The Smiths Night at Mow's bar in Quezon City. Shortly after, their official reunion announcement became a massive resounding news story, considering they were gone for a decade – specifically, at the height of their ultimate peak of success as a band.

Nearly two months later, I saw the newly-reformed trio live at a gig at an Offshore Music gig staged in Route 196 – with Ely Buendia jamming with them on stage for 'This Charming Man.' 

Then, in August 2018, they mounted the Moonlane Festival with Gabi Na Naman Productions at Century City Mall in Makati City. That rainy Saturday evening didn't stop fans from the stormy star-studded lineup that includes O&L, along with other bands like Pupil, <s>andwich, Ithcyworms, Join The Club, We Are Imaginary, and Autotelic, among others. It was also one of the big shows I've worked on as one of the production staff.

Then came the first press event I attended for them in May 2019 as the Bulacan-based act launched 'Pag-Ibig Sa Tabing-Dagat,' their first single off their budding all-Filipino album La Bulaquena which was eventually launched three years later. 

Amid trips of the love van, which was supported by many and, at one time, marred by a viral controversy, Orange & Lemons soldiered on for the ride and thus, made it to their Silver Anniversary through a one-of-a-kind concert titled Now & Then

30 November 2024

Newsletter: 15 Must-Experience U.S. Holiday Activities for Southeast Asian Travelers

[THIS IS A PRESS RELEASE]


Macy's Thanksgiving Day - Courtesy, Julienne Schaer

The holiday season in the U.S. is a magical time filled with joy, celebration, and community spirit. For 
travelers from Southeast Asia, this is an ideal opportunity to experience unique traditions that highlight 
the diversity and warmth of American culture. 

Newsletter: Filipino singer-songwriter syd hartha encourages listeners to pause and savor life on new song “damdamin!”

[THIS IS A PRESS RELEASE]

The young recording star teams up with acclaimed producer Brian Lotho on another future fan favorite



Filipino singer-songwriter syd hartha makes her highly anticipated return with the release of her new single, “damdamin!,” available via Sony Music Entertainment.

Newsletter: HipHop/R&B-inspired girl group XG will make their Coachella debut in 2025 as the only Japanese act in the lineup!

[THIS IS A PRESS RELEASE]


One of the biggest music festivals in the U.S., the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival 2025, has announced its lineup, and girl group XG is set to make their debut at the event.

29 November 2024

Newsletter: Vher Agbay: A Visionary in Compliance Technology

[THIS IS A PRESS RELEASE]

Discover how Vher Agbay is revolutionizing electronic signatures and AML screening in the Philippines with innovative digital solutions.

Newsletter: Ace Banzuelo drops dreamy new single “Bighani”

[THIS IS A PRESS RELEASE]

The sophisticated pop track conveys the feeling of instantly harboring a romantic connection with someone


Ace Banzuelo, one of the Philippines’ most promising solo acts, has released his highly anticipated new single, “Bighani,” via Sony Music Entertainment. This dreamy pop track captures the magic of experiencing a profound connection with someone—an encounter that feels as though you’ve known the person for years, or even decades.

Newsletter: H1-KEY Releases Remix Single “Re: Thinkin' About You” in Collaboration with SB19's JOSH CULLEN

[THIS IS A PRESS RELEASE]


H1-KEY has released 'Re: Thinkin' About You' in collaboration with SB19's JOSH CULLEN.
'Re: Thinkin' About You' is a remix track of 'Thinkin' About You,' the first series from H1-KEY's 'H1-KEYnote' released in January this year. SB19's JOSH CULLEN, a member of the globally loved group known for 'GENTO,' participated in writing the rap lyrics in the form of a response track."

28 November 2024

Newsletter: Kaspersky and AFRIPOL strengthen partnership in combating cybercrime by signing new cooperation agreement

[THIS IS A PRESS RELEASE]

To further enhance global efforts to combat cyber offenses, Kaspersky and AFRIPOL have signed a cooperation agreement in preventing and fighting cybercrime. Covering a period of five years, the document formalizes and facilitates cooperation between the company and the law enforcement agency in sharing threat intelligence data on the latest cybercriminal activities.

Newsletter: Hitachi Vantara Announces Hitachi iQ for Trusted Data Infrastructure Solutions for Modern AI Systems with NVIDIA HGX Platform

[THIS IS A PRESS RELEASE]



Hitachi Vantara, the data storage, infrastructure, and hybrid cloud management subsidiary of Hitachi, Ltd. (TSE: 6501), today announced the availability of Hitachi iQ with the NVIDIA HGX™ platform in an end-to-end solution stack of fast, scalable, and resilient infrastructure for modern AI systems. Hitachi iQ provides cost-optimized solutions, tailored to a variety of industries and use cases, including large language models, inferencing, model training, analytics, digital twins, and image processing. 

Newsletter: TRAILBLAZER XIN LIU DROPS ADDICTIVE TRACK “TAKE A SIP”

[THIS IS A PRESS RELEASE]


Multifaceted singer, dancer, and music producer XIN LIU returns with her latest English single, “Take a Sip,” available now on all digital streaming platforms. "Take a Sip" effortlessly blends the smooth, sensual vibes of Alternative R&B with her distinct lyrical sensitivity, drawing listeners into an atmosphere of intimacy and tension.

27 November 2024

Newsletter: PCX Solutions report shows Philippines’ new EPR Law making an impact on plastic pollution

[THIS IS A PRESS RELEASE]

The majority of large plastic producers met or exceeded targets in first year

New EPR Law creates recycling livelihood for communities

The Filipino people, economy, and environment have been heavily hit by the escalating plastic pollution crisis. The nation, which is made up of thousands of islands with a limited and fragmented waste management infrastructure, is one of the world’s largest contributors of marine plastic litter. This is made worse by the ‘sachet economy’, where brands deliver goods in small units that are affordable for the majority of the population.

Newsletter: Atome Financial Secures Up to US$200M Syndicated Facility to Support Financial Inclusion in Southeast Asia

[THIS IS A PRESS RELEASE]

Southeast Asia’s leading digital financial services platform, Atome Financial has secured a syndicated credit facility of up to US$200 million, which is being led and arranged by Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Limited (HSBC). 

Newsletter: Benj Pangilinan unveils acoustic version of “Nandito Na Ako,” a song he co-wrote with Moira, Over October’s Josh Buizon and Angela Ken

[THIS IS A PRESS RELEASE]

The stripped-down version gives the song a renewed charm and intimacy that makes it a perfect fit for romcoms and coming-of-age films


Benj Pangilinan introduces a fresh, stripped-down rendition of “Nandito Na Ako”—out today via Sony Music Entertainment. 

26 November 2024

Newsletter: Globe celebrates G DAY with Digital Thumbprint Program school tour, promotes digital safety and ethical AI use

[THIS IS A PRESS RELEASE]

Carlo Santos, Globe Senior Director for Analytics and Stakeholder Engagement, speaks during the DTP Session at the Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila.

Reaffirming its dedication to promoting digital citizenship and online safety, Globe held a school tour as part of the annual G DAY celebration, bringing its Digital Thumbprint Program (DTP) to five schools nationwide. 

Newsletter: Kenshi Yonezu releases “Azalea” as theme song for Netflix global series, Beyond Goodbye

[THIS IS A PRESS RELEASE]




Global crossover J-pop artist KENSHI YONEZU continues to reach new heights with his new song “Azalea”, a song written as the theme song for the global Netflix series Beyond Goodbye. The music video is directed by Yuka Yamaguchi, capturing Yonezu in a scenery before dawn in the azure cityscape.