Thursday, November 8, 2018

The Ayala Streets Lights Up Again For The Holidays

We all have yearly traditions. For me, I go to Ayala Triangle in Makati to see the lights that extends from Paseo De Roxas, Makati avenue and Ayala Avenue for the holiday season. This year, the theme is church altars of five Philippine churches like San Sebastian in Manila, San Miguel Archangel in Cebu, Molo Church in Iloilo, Immaculate Concepcion in Jasaan, Northern Mindanao and the Sanctuario de San Antonio in Makati.

It followed suit after previous year when the church structure was the theme. In addition of the altars, there are also Pinoy Christmas themed totems. This was designed by Zenas Pineda, a seasoned interior designer specializing in visual merchandising, who has been designing for Ayala Land street lights for seven years now.

This coming Friday night, the Ayala Triangle will once again feature the lights and sounds show and for the first time, it's a Disney theme.

Sunday, October 28, 2018

Ani 40: Katutubo, CCP Literary Journal book launching

Press release

THE Ani 40: Katutubo was launched on October 26, 2018 at the Silangan Hall of the Cultural Center of the Philippines, Roxas Blvd., Pasay City. The book launching was free and open to the public. The literary journal features 130 writers of different cultures in the Philippines with their 189 works. Through the Intertextual Division, the CCP is one with the celebration of the National Indigenous People’s Month.

The special section entitled “Antolohiyang Marawi” is a collection of works written by Marawi people. The authors shared their experiences during the Marawi Siege last May 23, 2017. Ani 40 also features the artwork of the student Jalicareza R. Jamail that depicts a mother embracing her son. The editor for the special section is a professor from Marawi State University, Almayrah Abbas Tiburon, who also wrote about her pregnancy during the crisis.

The works are written in some of the major languages in the Philippines such as Filipino, Meranaw, Ilokano, Akeanon, Bikol, Bikol-Naga, Chavacano, and Kinaray-a. The Ani 40 features the writers: Asral M. Abbas, Lylee Norah M. AbdelGafur, Lualhati Abreu, Tilde Acuña, Raquel Alawi, Rebekah Marohombsar Alawi, Caroline Albarando, Noramera D. Al-Habib, Aliah Ali, Vijae Orquia Alquisola, Mark Angeles, Marvin Davila Aquino, Lorna Arejola-Billanes, Abdulazis C. Arumpac, Markus Aserit, Maxine Awingan, Lingling Bacgalang, Mohamad Abdul Hamid A. Bantog, Amroding Tauter Baraiman, Romel M. Barrera, Rind Bawing, Jonel Baybay, Jade M. Baylon, Darren Bendanillo, April Mae M. Berza, Rommel Fabros Bonus, Botong Panday, Niles Jordan Breis, Dalomabi Lao Bula, Regine Cabato, RR Cagalingan, Jose Kervin Cesar B. Calabias, Annabelle M. Calleja, Mary Deane Camua, Ernesto Villaluz Carandang II, F. Jordan Carnice, Bojer B. Capati, Dexter B. Cayanes, Jeline Cayangen, Jose Jason L. Chancoco, Fernando Chávez, Melchor F. Cichon, Andrew Bonifacio L. Clete, Christopher Concha, Clariza Cassandra C. Concordia, Nur-Saleha D. Dadayan, Juliet Damgas, Lawdenmarc Decamora, Jalilah A. Diator, Divina Didican, Norhanie S. Domato-Macarao, Mary Louise Dumas, Norberto C. Ebuen, Francis Murillo Emralino, Raihana Barodi  Emran, Dennis Espada, Lesley Joy Masayon Estrella, James M. Fajarito, Jenny Rose Carbolledo Gacusan, Early Sol Gadong, Luis P. Gatmaitan, JC Gloria, Christine F. Godinez-Ortega, Genaro R. Gojo  Cruz, Judith Sulang Icnad, Omarjan Ibrahim Jahuran, Sharifa Sittie Zehanie Mante Jali, Ansherina May D. Jazul, Jeric F. Jimenez, Nat Pardo Labang, Jonalyn Buduan Labrador, Gexter O. Lacambra, Junley Lorenzana Lazaga, Al Joseph Academia Lumen, Ailannie D. Macagaan, Francis C. Macansantos, Noraisah L. Macasimbar, Aslainee T. Macatanong, Christine Marie Lim Magpile, Juliet Malidom, Shur C. Mangilaya, Salamoden M. Mangondaya, Noahlyn Maranan, Jann Dainver L. Maravilla, Cai Mariano, Francisco Arias Monteseña, Mark Dave Nacuray, Vim Nadera, Queen Tashneem U. Nouraldien, Wilhelmina S. Orozco, Pejay Amandy Padrigon, Hedaya D. Pangandag, Jean Pasigon, Ruffaida A. Pendatun, Aldrin P. Pentero, Honesto M. Pesimo, Jr., Morino Pizarro, Allan Popa, Ibrahim Pundato, MJ Rafal, Mohammad Abedin Rasuman, Raymund P. Reyes, Frank Rivera, Marlon Agbayani Rodrigo, Glen Sales, Princess Ann Bajar Sales, David Michael M. San Juan, E. San Juan, Jr., Louie Jon Sanchez, Jahara Abellera Solaiman, John Patrick F. Solano, T.S. Sungkit, Jr., Ariel Sotelo Tabag, Joey A. Tabula, Mubarak M. Tahir, Rem Tanauan, John Iremil Teodoro, Almayrah Abbas Tiburon, Christian Tordecillas, Angela Labiga Torred, Ronald Tumbaga, Nash Tysmans, Jhajha Umpar, Oswald A. Valente, Arnold Matencio Valledor, Marites Viesca, Sheryll V. Villa, Camilo Mendoza Villanueva, Jr., Henry Viray, and Sittie Johairah M. Yusoph.

Herminio S. Beltran, Jr. is the Editor-in-Chief while Louise Adrianne O. Lopez is the Managing Editor, and Kimberly Ann Nicole V. Lim as the Layout Artist and Art Director. The digital vector art featured on the cover is the GAMABA (Gawad sa Manlilikha ng Bayan) awardee Yabing Masalon Dulo from the B’laan community is the work of Marthin Anthony Millado. Used as the dividers for the book are the visual artworks of Luce Domini F. Melegrito (student of Philippine High School for the Arts), Jalicareza R. Jamail (student from Marawi), at Juan Franco Sabado (artist based in Baguio) and of the Drawing Room.

Saturday, October 27, 2018

Seven Filipino individuals named National Artists

PRESS RELEASE
October 26, 2018


Seven Filipino individuals named National Artists 


PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte has conferred the National Artist Awards to seven exemplar individuals for their significant contributions to the development of Philippine arts and culture on October 24, 2018, at the Rizal Ceremonial Hall of Malacañang Palace.

Upon recommendation by the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP) and the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA), after the rigid evaluation and selection process conducted by panels of artists, cultural workers, scholars and experts, visual artist Lauro “Larry” Alcala, theater advocate Amelia Lapeña Bonifacio, music master Raymund "Ryan" Cayabyab, filmmaker Kidlat Tahimik, architect Francisco Mañosa, literary writers Resil Mojares and Ramon L. Muzones were declared National Artists, joining the league of Filipino artists who have received the highest recognition bestowed by the nation.

Throughout his 56 years of cartooning, Alcala utilized his comic strips to spice up the Filipino lives with witty illustrations, featuring over 500 characters in about 20 comic strips serialized in various publications. His iconic work Slice of Life, which had been circulated for decades, helped his avid readers and followers to find their sense of self amid the not-so-good environment and situations Filipinos experience. He also made two murals, and inspired the production of six motion pictures based on his cartoon creations.

“The cartoon is meant to entertain, record events and capture local color. It is also a self-correcting medium because it can humorously expose society’s ills and serve as a mirror in which people can see themselves. It can also project the best in a people and a country,” Alcala once remarked. His wife Guadalupe received the posthumous award.

Lapeña-Bonifacio established the Teatrong Mulat ng Pilipinas, which helped place the Philippines on the world theater map. She wrote plays based on materials culled from painstaking researches, and had been involved in the production and design of puppets. She was instrumental in the surge of children's theater in the Philippines, through the magic of puppetry.

Drawing upon the untapped wealth of Philippine and Asian folklore and experimenting with various forms and techniques of Asian theater arts and puppetry, she enriched the Philippine cultural heritage in drama. She successfully synthesized a myriad of rich puppet traditions from Southeast Asia, earning for herself the title "Grand Dame of Southeast Asian Children’s Theatre."

Cayabyab’s diverse compositions, which exhibit both mastery of composition technique and spontaneity, has made a great impact in the Philippine music industry. His music reflects the exuberance of life and human happiness, thus capturing the very essence of our Filipino soul. It embodies the Filipino values and social experiences. His learned, skillful, and versatile musical style spans a wide range of genres: from conservatory or art compositions such as concert religious music, symphonic work, art song, opera, and concerto to mainstream popular idioms in the music industry and in live contemporary multimedia shows (musical theater, dance, and film).

Mr. C, as he is fondly called, is distinctively a cosmopolitan nationalist. He is open to foreign influences but transforms these into expressions that are near to his experience as an urbanized Filipino. All throughout his career, Cayabyab never effaced his Filipino identity as he confronted the constant threat of making the Philippines a market for global expressions.

Kidlat Tahimik strongly believes that the films and the filmmaker are one. He has continually invented himself through his cinema, and so his cinema is as singular as the man. Kidlat has epitomized the possibilities of alternative modes of filmmaking and the artisanal form of production. The mode of making the film exhibited Kidlat Tahimik’s intense independence as an artist and, at the same time, the film itself called for Filipinos to actively live out their independence and not allow their culture to be imperialized by the west.

His debut film, Mababangong Bangungot (1977), was praised by critics and filmmakers from Europe, North America, Asia, and Africa and is still considered by many as a pioneering postcolonial essay film. Kidlat’s “imperfect” film is an exemplar of what is worldwide known as “Third Cinema,” a cinema that is critical of neocolonial exploitation and state oppression. But, unlike other Third Cinema films, Kidlat’s work does not glory in ugliness. His films, even those that lament injustice and violence, are premised on the hope of possible, though yet unrealized, triumph. His constant claim is that whatever “progress” has relegated to the realm of sadness and poverty should never remain self-referentially sad or poor.

In his more than 60 years of architecture life, Mañosa designed Filipino. From the 1960s until his retirement in 2015, he courageously and passionately created original Filipino forms, spaces with intricate and refined details. Through the years, he successfully and even playfully constructed these forms and spaces into masterpieces for both the poor and the rich. Mañosa knew that real creative growth happens when his architecture is isomorphic to the true nature of Filipino clients, in his Philippines.

At the heart and soul of a Philippine architectural movement, he intensively studied, mastered and interpreted many Filipino visual imageries. He passionately and painstakingly developed the use of indigenous materials, bamboo, coconut, rattan, capiz, and various kinds of inlay and applied all these into first class architectural finishes, furniture and furnishings.

Mañosa championed that Philippine architecture must be “true to itself, its land and its people” with such directness and conviction. Undaunted, Mañosa coined “Filipinism” as his style. This is quite evident in the buildings he designed, including the Tahanang Pilipino (or the Coconut Palace) where he invented numerous coconut product finishes, internationally awarded Aman Pulo Resort with its deconstructed “bahay kubos” style, and the San Miguel Building with its rice terrace–like green balconies and “tukod” inwardly slanting windows, a perfect example of sustainable architecture.

An educator, scholar, essayist and fictionist, and cultural/literary historian, Mojares is one of the leading figures in regional literature and history. As founding director of the Cebuano Studies Center, an important research institution which placed Cebu in the research and documentation map, he pioneered Cebuano and national identity formation. As a leading figure in cultural and literary history, he networked actively in many organizations.

For over 50 years, Mojares has published in diverse literary forms (fiction, essay, journalism, scholarly articles, and books) across a wide range of discipline (literature, history, biography, cultural studies, and others). To date, he has 17 published books (3 more in the press) and edited, co-edited, or co-authored 11 books, and written numerous articles for popular and scholarly publications.

Muzones was a Hiligaynon poet, essayist, short story writer, critic, grammarian, editor, lexicographer, and novelist who authored an unprecedented 61 completed novels. Some of his works represent groundbreaking “firsts’ in Hiligaynon literature such as the feminist Ang Bag-ong Maria Clara, the roman a clef Maambong Nga Sapat (Magnificent Brute,1940), the comic Si Tamblot (1946), the politically satirical Si Tamblot Kandidato Man (Tamblot is Also a Candidate, 1949), the 125-installment longest serialized novel Dama de Noche (1982-84), etc.

Hailed by his peers as the longest reigning (1938-1972) among “the three kings of the Hiligaynon novel,” Muzones brought about its most radical changes while ushering in modernism. With a literary career that spanned fifty-three years (1938-1990), his evolution covers the whole history of the Hiligaynon novel from its rise in the 1940s to its decline in the 1970s. Muzones tried his hand at a variety of types and proved adept in all as literary fashions. In the process, he not only extended with remarkable versatility and inventiveness the scope and style of the Hiligaynon novel, he enriched Hiligaynon literature’s dramatis personae.

In his prepared speech, Duterte urged the newly-proclaimed National Artists to never hesitate to pass down their knowledge and skills to the younger generations "because it is only by educating and training the youth that the legacy and work of our artists can live on.”

“To this year’s awardees, I laud you for the passion and dedication to your chosen craft. Your outstanding work does not only inspire self-determination, but likewise instills patriotism and brings prestige to our beloved country. As we celebrate Filipino excellence in all forms, may your creativity and artistry continue to inspire our people to become positive in building a more progressive and vibrant Philippines," said the President.

Duterte recognized the role of arts in the development of the Filipino society. "In ways more than one, art has been a witness to this storied history of our nation. It gave rise to the revolutions and served as a voice to those who fought for democracy and emboldened the spirit of the Filipino during the turbulent times. Indeed, art has gone as a general service and we recognize this by supporting our local and traditional artist and spearheading initiatives to safeguard, preserve, and protect our cultural sites.”

The selection for the new National Artists, jointly administer by the CCP and NCCA, began after the call for nominations on June 2017. A council of experts conducted the initial deliberation and shortlisted the nominees. The second deliberation by a Jury of experts further evaluated the nominees and their body of works.

After which, the Jury submitted their recommendations to the boards of the CCP and the NCCA. Joined by current and living National Artists, the boards voted on the final nominees, which they recommended to the President. The Office of the President’s Honors Committee reviewed the final list before transmitting to the President, who has the prerogative to affirm all or just some of the recommended names, but he is not allowed to add to what has been submitted by the NCCA and the CCP.

National Artist Virgilio Almario, who is also the NCCA chairman, congratulated the new National Artists and believed that the diversity and excellence of this year’s awardees is a reflection of the Filipino imagination.

“Bagama’t iba’t-iba ang larangan, lahat ito ay konektado, sumasalamin at kumakatawan sa kung ano ang pinakamainam at pinakamagaling sa Filipino at sa kulturang Filipino. Hindi lamang simpleng pagkilala ito kundi ito ay isa ring paglulok sa mga sagisag ng ating bansa na may mahabang kasaysayan ng haraya, pagkamalikhain at kagalingan para sa lahat,” he enthused.

Thursday, October 25, 2018

5 Creative Gift Hacks for the Christmas Season

Press release

Magdagdag ng caption

MANILA, PHILIPPINES - October 2018 - Christmas is just right around the corner, and the season of readying presents, prepping feasts, planning reunions, and practicing holiday traditions have already started. You might even be worrying about finding unique presents as early as now, but there’s no need to fret since we’ve got some smart hacks for you!

1. Online Shopping – easy, accessible, and hassle-free!

You don’t actually have to go out of the house to shop anymore. Just fire up your laptop or smartphone to go online, and you’ll find tons of online shopping sites just waiting for you to add items to your cart. What are you waiting for? Search for the product you want to buy, and have it delivered straight to your doorstep. It’s definitely easy and convenient! Just make sure to purchase from reliable websites, and you’re good to go!

2. Hit the malls and be one with the holiday crowd.

You can always go back to the good ‘ol mall sales. With prices dropping up to 50% off and buy-one-take-one deals popping everywhere, malls are the main go-to for holiday shoppers. If you’re willing to dive in with the crowd during this busy season, you can purchase great finds in various malls.

However, you have to be wise in managing your time when you choose to deal with the Christmas crowd. Prepare the list of items you want to buy, or names of people you want to shop for, to save your time. When visiting malls, you really have to stick to your list to avoid lavish spending.

3. Garage sales and Bazaars - a nifty way to get great steals!

A wise man once said, “One man’s garbage is another man’s treasure.” Well technically, it’s not really garbage - some items and clothes in garage sales are just barely used, and are actually still in perfectly good condition. With a little bit of cleaning and washing especially with a premium detergent’s superior cleaning formula, it can be worth way more than what you paid for.

Bazaars, on the other hand, can be handy as well. They sell a wide range of exciting things from clothes to socks, scarves, caps, shoes, accessories, and many more. There are a lot of bazaar set-ups lining up in malls once the “ber” months hit, so you’ll surely have no problem spotting one!

4. Go Treasure-hunting with Ukay-Ukay!

When it comes to hunting down unique finds, ukay-ukays or thrift shops are the most common go-to shopping spree spots for Filipinos. You can find fashionable and branded pieces here that can definitely work well as gifts! Nowadays, there are many bloggers and vloggers you can get inspiration from when it comes to styling clothes from thrift shops. You can simply watch their ukay hauls and vlogs to get an idea on where to get great finds and what pieces to match it with.

When buying from ukay-ukay stores, it’s important to make sure that the items you bought are clean and fresh before giving them away. Quality is of utmost importance, and it’s a good thing a little bit of laundry washing can go a long way. You can always use a great detergent like Ariel to wash away the stains - even those pesky invisible kulob stains! Those ukay-ukay steals should be clean, kulob-free, and in good shape.

5. Don’t have time to buy? No problem! Raid your closet.

There’s no excuse for not giving anyone a gift when you have pre-loved clothes and accessories living in your closet. Look for tops or pieces you’ve only worn once or never even used before that will be perfect for other people. This will not only let you save money, but it will also make room for new items in your closet! Say goodbye to your old clothes, and say hello to the new ones to come!

Of course by doing this, you need to make sure that the fashion items you’re giving away smell fresh and kulob-free! You might not notice, but there can be invisible stains lingering on your clothes that cause that awful kulob smell. There’s no need to worry though, as long as you get to wash them with a detergent that can go for deep and superior cleaning. Give it a shot with Ariel, with intensive cleaning that can remove even those invisible kulob stains with just one wash.

This can definitely turn your clothes from closet stuffing to an actual gift that looks brand new! Your friends and family won’t even notice, especially when the gift is finished off with a nice packaging then — Voilà! You have yourself the perfect well-thought of gift for your friends and loved ones!

~~~
Kulob is an awful smell that is common during the rainy season. Did you know that it is actually caused by invisible stains that cannot be removed by ordinary detergents? Kulob is a stain you can’t actually see, but you can definitely smell. It’s caused by ineffective cleaning of leftover dirt and sebum stains, and these stains go through the process of oxidation, leading to microorganism activity the gives out a rancid odor.

Thankfully, there’s a detergent that can effectively combat the awful smell of kulob Ariel’s deep cleaning formulation, which intensively cleans clothes and washes off invisible kulob stains and malodor-causing bacteria.
Need more proof? Watch this video to find out more about invisible kulob stains through this link http://bit.ly/ArielNoInvisibleKulob.

#ArielPhilippines
#NoInvisibleStainNoKulob
#KulobStory

Wednesday, October 24, 2018

Smart taps Bohol youth for disaster preparedness

Press release


[23 October 2018] Five years since the 7.2-magnitude earthquake that struck Bohol, the events during that day are still fresh in the minds of the students who went through the ordeal.


“I was shaking because my grandmother was crying, and my cousin was shouting, ‘earthquake! earthquake!’” said 19-year-old medical technology student Geena Mae Hopida, recalling their family in panic. 

The quake, whose epicenter was in Bohol, struck on Oct. 15, 2013, and jolted most of the Visayas and parts of Mindanao and Luzon. It was one of the strongest earthquakes to hit the Philippines in recent years, causing injuries and loss of lives, and massive damage to property and infrastructure.
 
Louie Domingo (left) of Emergency Management Center 
Grade 12 student Adrian Bucoy could hardly find words to describe the terror of feeling the ground trembling. “The rumbling from under the ground became louder and louder. My mother was calling me from the kitchen, but we couldn’t hear each other,” said Bucoy, now 18 years old.

A few weeks later, the province was hit by Supertyphoon “Yolanda” (Haiyan), one of the strongest tropical cyclones on record.

Hopida and Abucoy, who both study at Holy Name University in Tagbilaran City, were some of the participants of the TNT Tropang Ready disaster preparedness caravan organized at their campus by PLDT wireless unit Smart Communications.

Smart’s TNT Tropang Ready aims to train youths in disaster preparedness skills so that they can help their communities in times of calamities. Smart recently brought the caravan to HNU as part of the company’s nationwide learning series on disaster preparedness geared toward the youth.

“At Smart, we work hand in hand with our partners to promote the culture of preparedness within communities. We are tapping the youth for this program—Bohol students, specifically—because of their skills, their tech savvy and their first-hand experience of surviving a calamity,” said Ramon R. Isberto, PLDT and Smart public affairs head.

More than 1,000 students and school personnel were taught emergency preparedness lessons by representatives of the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology, the provincial disaster risk reduction and management office, and resource persons from Emergency Management Center.

The speakers discussed emergency risks and hazards and demonstrated the proper way to do the duck-cover-hold protection technique during earthquakes: duck, or drop to the floor; take cover under a sturdy piece of furniture (or against a wall); and hold on to the piece of furniture. 

The speakers also shared the contents of a “Go Bag,” a survival kit containing a flashlight, bottle of water, mobile phone, garbage bag, T-shirt, flashlight battery, and other essentials that could last up to 72 hours.

Interactive booths, games, and other activities further illustrated preparedness, such as making a paracord bracelet, which doubles as an emergency rope and contains a whistle that can come in handy during emergencies.

“After this session with TNT Tropang Ready, we want our students to bring their learnings at home,” said Anne Mariquit Opus, HNU health and safety officer, adding that “Bohol is quite vulnerable.” 

The provincial disaster risk reduction and management office cannot do everything, conceded its chief, Anthony Damalerio, as he underscored the importance of partnerships. “We’re happy that Smart is doing its part in helping disseminate information regarding disaster management here in Bohol,” he said.

Smart has been working with different schools nationwide to help families and individuals in high-risk areas prepare for emergencies and disasters. The TNT Tropang Ready program is the latest enhancement of Smart’s disaster preparedness initiative for communities launched in 2013.

The TNT Tropang Ready caravan is part of Smart’s #SafePH advocacy, which promotes preparedness through mobile solutions and on-ground activities to help communities mitigate disaster risks.

The program won in the Community Engagement category at the prestigious Golden World Awards this year. The GWA recognizes PR practices that meet international standards of excellence and is organized annually by the International Public Relations Association.  


Saturday, October 20, 2018

SFI startup program ignites the spirit of innovation in the Philippines

Press release

Manila, Philippines – October 19, 2018 Have a great business idea but no way, no place to start that fire and get it going? Space for Ingenious program just might be that opportunity to make your entrepreneurial dreams come true.

The Space for Ingenious Program
Imagine that you’re a start-up with a brilliant seed of an idea. Where do you go from there? KMC, in partnership with Impact Hub Manila (IHM), has started a program called Space for Ingenious (SFI).  The program will take your brainchild from conception to reality through mentorship from industry experts, spaces conducive to productivity and idea incubation, and access to a vast network of connections and potential investors.

The six-month program began in May of 2018 and has incubated 6 start-up businesses for the pioneer batch from many potential candidates that applied.
Some of the businesses that are part of the program are: Pushkart PHPatient First, and Cryptors Cybersecurity. Now, as the pioneer batch’s journey comes to an end, these business owners reflect on their experiences at SFI, experiences that may encourage others to hop on for the second batch this November 2018.
Pushkart PH is an online grocery application that basically does the shopping for you. Just submit a list of items, and the application will do the shopping through their wide supermarket network and have it delivered to the place of your choice.
Founder, Josh Aragon, 29, lauds the mentorship of the program, “Having mentors dive into your business model, dissect all of the issues, and create a solution for you is really a valuable takeaway from the program. They also give you the connections you need for your business to take off.”

Mentioning a particular mentor, Josh expressed, “Large value added to this program was through being mentored by Ces [Rondario, CEO and Co-Founder of Impact Hub Manila], she told me how to run as a founder. In a way that in legal terms, you should be properly documented. Talking with the right shareholders, how would you be able to align with them the vision, the mission, as well as at the back part will be the shares, how will you compute it properly to sets of equity or through monetized manipulation.
Impact Hub Manila has been a pivotal partner for KMC in ensuring the success of this undertaking. IHM’s global network of entrepreneurial communities has allowed the SFI program integrate an intensive incubation program to scale and grow business ideas into sustainable ventures.
Founded by Alejandro White, 26, Patient First is an application that allows you to do remote video consultation online from qualified general practitioners, and have the medicine and prescription delivered to your home. This solves the problem of having to wait in line for long hours for check-ups and consultations.
“What do you do with an idea? How do you deal with the problems that you encounter? You want to change something in your business or product, but you don’t know how to do it. Being in this program has helped us to actually have the knowledge on how to do it (idea) and to actually put it (idea) like in action,” explains Alejandro.

Alexis Lingad, 21, founded Cryptors Cybersecurity, the developer of the recently launched and successful anti-hacking app, Hackunawhich garnered over 10,000 downloads in just a month. This app addresses the hacking problems encountered by many individuals. The mobile application allows a user to know the location and gadget of the person who is trying to hack his mobile phone.
For Alexis, KMC is a home away from home. Since he is based in the northern part of Manila, it gives him a convenient place where he can work during weekdays. “Because KMC offices have sleeping quarters, microwave, locker, shower room, free coffee and water, I decided to stay here by Monday to Friday. It saves me a lot of time (and saves me from traffic) because everything is in KMC! It also makes me more focused because the space is quiet and comfy and so clean.”
Indeed, KMC possesses the country’s largest portfolio of serviced offices and coworking areas, their spaces designed to increase productivity through unconventional work settings that veer away from the stiff office workstation and induce intercommunication in a community of fellow innovators that occupy the space.

Alexis also credits the program for giving him more business and media connections, a crucial thing for any business, and of course, mentoring.

Alexis, praising the mentorship in the SFI program, said “Best advice I’ve gotten is from Greg [Kittelson of KMC] always saying ‘Do not focus on service, focus on the experience of the users.’”

Josh, Alejandro, and Alexis are young creators and entrepreneurs. They have big dreams and goals which Space for Ingenious is helping making a reality.

Yet, they are not the only success stories from KMC and Impact Hub Manila’s SFI program, other start-ups included in the first batch are; Solu (waste management application), HypexAve (an online retail channel for apparel, footwear & accessories) and Empowered Clubhouse (a female-only boxing and training gym).

Like them, you can also turn your dream into a reality by applying for the 2nd batch of Space for Ingenious. Simply visit their website at https://kmc.solutions/space-for-ingenious/apply and fill out and submit an application form on or before November 9, 2018 Finalists will be announced November 15, after which they would pitch to a panel to determine new members of the program who will have access to business mentors, free use of workspaces.

Alternatively, you can also choose to simply use the spaces, as well as the other services, offered.

KMC is also hosting a gathering of Philippine startups in an event called VIA on November 21 together with Impact Hub Manila, a culmination of both companies’ feats to support the Philippine startup scene, where you’ll witness SFI batch 1 and 2 showcase their ingenious ideas.

Submit your application now and be part of both Space for Ingenious and VIA! Winners of SFI batch 1 and 2 will be awarded during the program.

For questions and inquiries, visit us at https://kmc.solutions/space-for-ingenious. You may also visit is on Facebook @kmcsolutionsph and Instagram @kmcsolutions.

Friday, October 5, 2018

Twitter Announces New Content Partnerships for the Philippines

Press release

     Premium live and in-stream content deals highlighted at IMMAP DIGICON 2018
     In-stream video ads is now available for advertisers globally


MANILA, Philippines 4 October 2018 - Twitter is the best place to see what’s happening in the world and to talk about it, especially through premium video. Twitter today unveils premium live-stream and in-stream video content deals at the Internet and Mobile Marketing Association of the Philippines (IMMAP) Digicon event in Manila; including collaborations with major TV networks ABS-CBN and GMA Network; and martial arts organization ONE Championship, to advertisers in Philippines. The announcement expands the premium video content available on Twitter to advertisers in Asia Pacific and builds on extensions of existing global and regional content deals.


“Philippines is among the fastest growing audience markets in the world for Twitter and the TV capital for us in Asia Pacific,” said Arvinder Gujral, Managing Director of Southeast Asia at Twitter. “We are proud to introduce new live-stream and in-stream premium, brand safe video content to audiences and advertisers in the Philippines, and bring more Philippine content to the world through Twitter.”

Attendees at Digicon were introduced to the different ways marketers can “be what’s happening” on Twitter, starting with the live and in-stream video content partnerships available to advertisers in Philippines and the region. The partners that are collaborating with Twitter to create premium video content for advertisers include the following (full list of APAC partners available here):

      ABS-CBN (@ABSCBN)
ABS-CBN is the Philippines' largest media company. Their partnership with Twitter will see the best in entertainment and sports programming, as well as tentpole events brought to the platform and available for brand sponsorships. Entertainment content partnerships with Twitter will include content from ABS-CBN’s stable of channels including MYX Philippines (@MYXPhilippines) which has one of the most followed Twitter handles in Philippines with 6.2M followers. For sports, fans in the Philippines will get to enjoy highlights clips of the UAAP Season 81 games on Twitter with@ABSCBNSports.
      GMA Network (@GMANetwork)
GMA Network is a major national commercial broadcast television, radio network, and digital publisher in the Philippines. They are also the most-awarded television network in the country. The partnership with Twitter will include GMA News content and GMA’s top-rated TV programming such as drama action-fantasy series, Victor Magtanggol.

      NBCUniversal (@NBCUniversal)
NBCUniversal owns and operates a valuable portfolio of news and entertainment television networks, a premier motion picture company, significant television production operations, a leading television stations group, world-renowned theme parks, and a suite of leading Internet-based businesses. Their partnership with Twitter will bring E!’s signature Live from the Red Carpet events as well as popular TV programming from @eonlineasia,@eonlineau and @DivaTVAsia to the platform.

      ONE Championship (@ONEChampionship)
ONE Championship is Asia’s largest global sports media property in history and the world’s largest martial arts organization. Twitter is a live stream platform with the prelims and first two bouts of the main card for every event available for streaming via @ONEChampionship. Since the beginning of this year, the livestreams of each bout has seen tremendous growth, with Thailand being one of the top countries for its viewerships. Along with live streams; fans can find highlights, athlete features, VLOGS, editorials and more via @ONEChampionship.

      Viacom International Media Networks (VIMN)
Viacom International Media Networks is comprised of many of the world’s most popular multimedia entertainment brands, including MTV, Nickelodeon, Nick Jr., Comedy Central, Paramount Channel and more.  With this new collaboration with Twitter in Southeast Asia, VIMN will be amplifying and extending the reach of some of their key IPs and event franchises with Twitter in Southeast Asia, while exploring offering additional digital solutions to their clients together. In addition, the content collaboration includes premium TV programming from MTV Asia (@mtvasia) and Comedy Central Asia (@ComedyCentralAS).

In addition to the partnerships, Twitter also announced the launch of In-stream Video Ads. In-Stream Video Ads were designed to unlock incremental revenue for top publishers who want to monetize their videos on Twitter, while making it easier for advertisers to reach influential audiences and align with great content. Previously, In-Stream Video Ads were limited to the markets in which publishers are based, but in many cases, publishers have a global following. With this capability, publishers can now monetize their organic following outside of their home country. 

Attendees at this year’s Digicon were also given an overview of the top trending content and conversations from Philippines on Twitter. A report by Global Web Index showed that Filipinos spend more time Tweeting about entertainment topics, with top interests in movies (54%) and music (68%). Which is why it is no surprise that entertainment hashtags dominated the Top 10 hashtags list in Philippines. From teleseryes, love teams, to KPop; Twitter has also become an avenue for people to connect with fellow fans and their favorite celebrities.

Thursday, October 4, 2018

PETA’S A Game of Trolls Returns

Press release


“Martial law is the best thing that happened to the Philippines in 1972. We won’t be the developing country that we are right now if it wasn’t for the Marcoses. Learn your history,” says the social media account without a real name.


Pro-HR netizens will probably go beastmode on statements like these. But before you go lit AF, maybe it’s good to take a step back, look at the bigger picture and think if “making patol” online will do you any good. Instead of wasting precious time arguing with faceless mythical beings who hide behind screens, why not log-out, get off your mobile phone or laptop, and invite family and friends to go to the theater with you, and watch A GAME OF TROLLS, PETA’s martial law musical for millennials (and millennials-at-heart!).

But what’s it about? A GAME OF TROLLS is the story of Hector (Myke Salomon / TJ Valderrama), a professional keyboard warrior for Marshalls of History, a troll center who is running a pro-Martial Law campaign lead by Bimbam (Vince Lim).  Hector, being the tactless and detached Internet tough guy that he is, effortlessly infuriates anti-martial law advocates with his insensitive and random unsolicited comments about the victims of Martial law, making him the top guy in the trolling game. This prompts the “visits” of the Ghosts of Martial Law from the Internet Cloud, reminding him to never forget their struggle to liberate the country from the dictatorship.  Their stories, along with his own mother’s, Tere (Upeng Galang-Fernandez / Gail Billones), made Hector re-examine his involvement in the trolling business. 

Directed by Maribel Legarda, written by Liza Magtoto and music by Vince De Jesus, (the same team that brought you Caredivas), A GAME OF TROLLS is not only an ode to the heroes of Martial Law. It is an appeal to the millennials to #NeverForget that the dark history that took away democracy decades ago has spawned the same strain of oppressor that is taking our democracy away right now. It is a reminder that by understanding the history of the people’s struggle for democracy, we are also keeping in mind to #NeverAgain allow a tyrant to steal it away from us. It is an attempt to stimulate discourse about truth and history in the age of social media: to look beyond the memes and fake news, and to encourage thinking critically and acting responsibly both online and offline.