Monthly Archives: September 2022

In their latest single, “Dalawa,” published by Sony Music Entertainment, P-Pop girl group KAIA takes a more R&B-leaning turn.The five-member act’s smooth groove stands out in stark contrast to their earlier works and relates to the idea of expressing affection in the most comforting, impressionable manner.

The diverse pop quintet says that “Dalawa is a song that conveys a story familiar to many: catching unrequited feelings for someone close to you.” “This specific material sticks to our strengths as a girl group, even though it deviates from the cheerful, dance-pop melodies that we’ve been giving out since our debut.”

Brimming with 2000s-indebted R&B melodies and whimsical beats, “Dalawa” embraces stylistic adventurousness with effortlessness that doesn’t overwhelm the vocals. The track is written and produced by Jayson Franz, who brings a mellow yet groovy direction to the Filipino group’s sound.

“I wanted a different approach for KAIA this time around, but I made sure to take into consideration their individual and collective personalities,” shares Franz. “I’ve added some string instruments and other sonic elements to help elevate the arrangements. But more importantly, the groove that I was trying to achieve was leaning towards Y2K R&B: simple, yet melodically interesting.”

According to Franz, KAIA was also heavily involved with the demo recording, making sure to relay their own inputs on vocal arrangements and the overall vibe of the song. “One of the memorable moments during the recording of the track was the first run of every member of KAIA,” adds Franz. “It was that moment when everyone knew that the song was really made for them. Each one of them has an own personality or taste in terms of the delivery of their lines.”

“Dalawa” by KAIA is currently available on all digital music services in the world thanks to Sony Music Entertainment.

 Lots of Robinsons Easymart and No Brand products for only ₱1.00 this Sept 30 – Oct 3,2022

The MetroMart PISO SALE continues its weekend bargain blitzes this September 30 to October 3 with snacks and other products that can be purchased for only ₱1.00 from Robinsons Easymart and No Brand.

All participating stores of Robinsons Easymart and No Brand in MetroMart’s PISO SALE will have products available for only ₱1.00 within schedules of 9AM- 2PM & 3PM-8PM. A full-size loaf of Gardenia Classic white bread,1.5-liter and other sizes of Coca-Cola, potato chips and even cleaning supplies like Zonrox bleach are up for grabs from the Robinsons Easymart roster. 

Say “Annyeong” to popular Korean snacks and drinks like Jjajang Ramen, Injeolmi snacks, dried seaweed snacks, banana milk, flavored tea stick packs, and potato chips from No Brand. 

Please see all items up for grabs:

*Products are subject to availability in No Brand and Robinsons Easymart branches. 

“The MetroMart family is excited to be running even more Piso Sales with our supermarket and merchant partners like Robinsons Easymart and No Brand. We want to give the best deals to Filipino homes and families for different kinds of groceries and essentials, including snacks and household supplies.” MetroMart CEO and co-founder Steffano Fazzini said.

The MetroMart PISO SALE with Robinsons Easymart and No Brand is applicable to New and Existing Users of MetroMart. A min. spend of only ₱1,500 from Robinsons Easymart and ₱1,000 from No Brand is required in order to avail the 1-peso sale items. Only completed checkout of orders within the scheduled day and time can avail the discounted items.

New customers of MetroMart can also avail a ₱200 discount for a minimum order of ₱2,000 by using the code “MMNEW” upon checkout on the MetroMart app or website. The promo is valid for one-time use and applicable across all stores and supermarkets, until October 16, 2022.

MetroMart is the #1 online grocery delivery service in the Philippines. Our grocery partners include Robinsons Easymart, Robinsons Supermarket, S&R (with or no membership card required), Landmark, The Marketplace, Shopwise, All Day Supermarket, Merrymart, Super8 Grocery Warehouse, Ever Supermarket, UltraMega Supermarket, and over 500+ specialty store retailers like No Brand, Pet Express, Baby Company, Toy Kingdom, Toys”R”Us, National Book Store, Office Warehouse, Southstar Drug and AllDay Rx. Customers can order from their favorite stores on the MetroMart app and have it delivered to their door in 2 hours! For more updates on MetroMart, like and follow us on Facebook and Instagram at @metromartph. Order groceries online or download the app via https://bit.ly/DownloadNowMM

New headquarters located in Pasig City will be home to Sony Music Entertainment and label services company The Orchard to Continue Support of Local Artists and Repertoire

Manila, September 30, 2022 – Sony Music Entertainment (SME) Philippines today announced the opening of its new office in Manila, to continue the Company’s business to discover and develop the next generation of Filipino artists.

Located in Pasig City, a major business, entertainment and cultural hub, the new Office will be the home for SME Philippines and The Orchard Philippines, housing specialists in A&R and digital marketing to support SME Philippine’s roster of more than 70 local artists, discover and develop up-and-coming musical talent, and promote music from the country.

SME Philippines is home to some of the most well-known artists and musical groups in the Philippines and Southeast Asia, including Ben&Ben, SB19, NOBITA, Ace Banzuelo, and Clara Benin.

Nobita

The opening event was attended by Pasig City Deputy Mayor Dodot Jaworski, as well as senior executives from Sony Music Group, artists, and business partners. Guests enjoyed performances by local SME stars Ace Banzuelo, I Belong to The Zoo, Alex Bruce, Clara Benin, Young Cocoa, and Of Mercury.

“The Philippines is a music-loving nation. It is exciting to witness the growth of the local music industry and see local musicians making it big regionally and internationally. We are heartened to see that Sony Music Philippines is calling Pasig City its home,” said Vice Mayor of Pasig City, Dodot Jaworski.

“Here, in the Philippines, the vibrant cultural fabric of the country has given rise to a new generation of artists who are pushing boundaries with their music and showcasing the best of local music,” said Shridhar Subramaniam, President, Corporate Strategy and Market Development, Asia and Middle East, Sony Music Entertainment. “The cultural diversity and creativity in the Philippines coupled with the pace of digital adoption presents enormous opportunities for artists to create and share their music, and we are committed to supporting their efforts.”

“Over the years, we have worked closely with musicians, creators and partners to build an impressive roster of local artists and provide each of them with best-in-class support,” said Roslyn Pineda, General Manager, Philippines, Sony Music Entertainment. “As a result, we’ve created numerous international hits and local favorites, as well as making our mark as the only music company with a Christian music sub label in the country. Looking ahead, we are ready to further our efforts to support Filipino music both in the country and beyond.”

SB19

Among the homegrown artists who have made a name for themselves regionally and internationally are Ben&Ben and SB19.

“Sony Music has been a lovely partner in helping us reach out to our fanbase, Liwanag, with our music,” said Ben&Ben. “They have opened so many doors for us, making it possible to bring the emotions and messages of the songs we’ve made to the people who need it. They have constantly given us renewed energy to keep pushing boundaries and keep moving forward, no matter what direction the wind blows. It’s an honor to be working alongside an organization full of passionate and dedicated people. As we embark on a new adventure with our first North American Tour, it’s sad that we’ll miss the opening of the new office, but we’re proud to see how far Sony Music Philippines has come.”

Ben&Ben

 

Five-member sensation SB19 debuted in late 2018 and has received widespread recognition with their singles, “What?”, “Alab (Burning)” and “Go Up”. The pop group was nominated for “Top Social Artist” at the 2021 Billboards Music Awards and has the longest-running number one hit in the history of Billboard’s Hot Trending Songs chart for “Bazinga”.

“Sony Music has been a key and vital partner for us through the years, helping us reach our fans and audiences through their wide and extensive network,” added SB19 in a statement. “From working with us on our first album, to supporting us on our recently released international single ‘WYAT’ and helping us with our upcoming world tour, we couldn’t have asked for a better team. From the bottom of our hearts, we would like to congratulate them on the opening of their new office.”

MANILA, September 29, 2022 – Leading independent DIY digital music distributor TuneCore, a division of global digital music company Paris-based Believe, expands its payment methods in the Philippines and Southeast Asia to better serve their growing artist base in the region. The first of its kind global agreement affirms the company’s commitment to providing the best user experience for independent artists in the Philippines and the SEA region where alternative payments options are more popular than credit cards.




TuneCore, whose international presence has more than doubled over the last 18 months, has partnered with global financial technology platform Adyen. The company has launched localized payment methods in the Philippines through Gcash. Others include Indonesia through Dana (GoPay coming soon), Vietnam through MoMo, and Global (Non-US countries) through China Union Pay.




Andreea Gleeson, CEO of TuneCore, emphasizes: “As TuneCore continues to expand, we not only offer best in class services on a worldwide level, the company also brings that same mindset to our local markets. For TuneCore artists, we not only want to support their artistry but we want to make it easy for them to distribute their music. Last year we launched the New Artist plan, which enables creators to release their music to social platforms for no upfront fee. Now with the launch of our expanded payment services, creators can access full distribution services seamlessly.”




Cyrus Chen, Head of TuneCore Southeast Asia, adds: “In Indonesia, Philippines and Vietnam, card penetration remains low while e-wallets usage is quickly becoming ubiquitous among the population in recent years. By prioritizing our payments infrastructure to include local payment options that our artists prefer, demonstrates our commitment to the region’s growth. This is part of TuneCore’s hyper-localization efforts to ensure the most positive user experience for our Southeast Asian artists.”

In the coming months, TuneCore will push the program out to other countries and regions. Earlier this year, TuneCore launched its revolutionary new pricing program which allows artists at any stage of their careers to distribute their music. The program allows music creators to release tracks and albums on an unlimited basis via plans ranging from free/no upfront cost (new artist), $14.99 (rising artist), $29.99 (breakout artist) to $49.99 (professional).




Faryal Khan-Thompson, Vice President, International, TuneCore, shares: “Southeast Asia is an important market for TuneCore as there is an abundance of talent and growth in the region. Our partnership with Adyen simplifies and streamlines payments, giving access to music creators who previously would not have been able to distribute.”




 

 

R&B singer-songwriter LOIR submits to the pull of her heart in her new single “MAMA,” released under Sony Music Entertainment.

On the stripped-down ballad, the talented newcomer asks big questions about life’s purpose and her conflicting sense of direction. But while doing the things that she loves the most comes with existential baggage, LOIR recognizes the need to work on herself and apologize for her misgivings.

“I’ve made some decisions in the past that I’m not happy about,” says the budding young artist. “This song is my way of closing that chapter in life, and hoping that I’ve made my parents proud as I welcome change with positivity, dreams, and love. I’m more than inspired to do well in my chosen craft.”

Starting out slow and assured with just a piano to accompany LOIR’s lush, dreamy vocals, “MAMA” further progresses into an emotional epiphany and peels its layers with a hopeful note that “she is still here and is going to hold to whatever is left”—her family and dreams, included.


The song is written and arranged by LOIR herself, with production by frequent collaborators HavoMusic and Goodson.

“I started working on the instrumentals for MAMA before I asked sir Havomusic and Goodson to be involved in the production work,” shares LOIR. “While I developed the structure and melody for this particular track, both of them added a more emotional touch to the sonic palette. The final product maintains the rawness of the original, but it’s also more vulnerable and powerful to an extent.”

Before signing up with Sony Music Entertainment, LOIR has collaborated with some of the biggest names in the local hip-hop/R&B scene, including Gloc-9 on socio-realist gems “SANIB and “OKA” and Guddhist Gunatita’s on smash single “DALAMPASIGAN.” LOIR is also part of Asintada Management and Production Inc.—home of artists such as Gloc-9 and Shanti Dope. To date, she has amassed more than four million streams on YouTube and Spotify combined.

LOIR’s “MAMA” is out now on all digital music platforms via Sony Music Entertainment.

Ecommerce platform Shopee is collaborating with the country’s leading brands to bring Filipinos bigger, better, and more affordable deals on brand favorites with the 10.10 Brands Festival.

Shopee’s 10.10 festivities started on October 1, with a wide assortment of official brand stores offering exciting discounts for online shoppers

From October 1 to 12, official brand stores are working with Shopee to offer shoppers 50 percent off brand deals, 15 percent off daily discounts, and free shipping vouchers with no minimum spend.

The 10.10 Brands Festival is the second in Shopee’s series of year-end shopping events, giving Filipinos more exciting deals to look forward to and get a head start on their holiday shopping. Martin Yu, Director at Shopee Philippines enthused, “The 10.10 Brands Festival continues to enliven the promise of offering mas mura prices to Filipino shoppers. We have worked closely with our partner brands in bringing the best of brand deals to create a more meaningful year-end shopping experience.”

To drum up anticipation for its 10.10 sale, Shopee welcomes Toni Gonzaga as its newest brand ambassador. Shoppers can look forward to watching Gonzaga belt out the “Mas Mura sa Shopee” jingle as she stars in Shopee’s latest TV commercial.

Fans will also be treated to entertaining content when they visit the app and Shopee’s official accounts on Facebook, TikTok, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube.



The 10.10 festivities started on October 1, with a wide assortment of official brand stores on Shopee offering exciting discounts for shoppers. The sale kicks off with back-to-back Super Brand Days from October 2 to 9, where users can enjoy up to 50 percent off on products from leading brands in fashion, electronics, beauty, and home and family essentials.

Unbeatable offers from top brands also await early-bird shoppers with the Big Midnight Sale from 12 midnight to 2:00 a.m. on October 10.

Royal Aesthetics at SM City Baliwag provides professional, high-quality aesthetic and skin care services to enhance beauty and well-being. Visit them now and check out their wide range of products and services that suit you.

SM malls in Baliwag and Pulilan are simply the best places to visit as they welcome newest specialty tenants now open to serve shoppers in Bulacan.

 

   


SM City Baliwag brings the best in food hunt with the recent opening of some local brands at the mall, such as the famous Hola of Pampanga. It’s definitely a treat as patrons need not go far to have a bite of their popular Ensaymada with Cream Cheese, Ube Overload, RedBurnt Cheesecake and Cream Cheese Floss. Shoppers may also indulge over Classic or Parmesan cheese Ensaymaditas. Hola also offers freshly baked Cheese Rolls in different fillings of Ube Cream cheese, Double cheese, Nutella and Cheese floss rolls. Also available here are Spanish Breads and Cheesebread bites in variants of Milk and Yema.

Baliwag’s very own Mashita Manju, bite-size korean cake filled with luscious custard bavarian or hazelnut filling also opens at the ground floor of SM City Baliwag. Always served hot, Mashita Manju is a favorite across all ages, perfect as snacks anytime of the day.

For the ones who look forward to pampering and self-care, SM City Baliwag offers Hey Sugar! Waxing Salon. Here, ladies and gents are provided with all-natural 100% organic waxing experience. They also offer Brows and Lashes services for a complete glammed up look. Another beauty spot that’s worth a visit at SM City Baliwag is Royal Aesthetics that provides professional, high-quality aesthetic and skin care services to enhance beauty and well-being. Visit them now at the second level of SM City Baliwag to check their wide range of products and services that suit you.



SM City Baliwag continues to satisfy everyone’s cravings as the mall also welcomes food tenants such as Japanese favorite Takoyadon, Craze Mango, The Brewed Buddies, Baa Baa Thai Tea, Bread Inbox, Pares at Tendon, and Beany Coffee.




SM Center Pulilan, on the other hand, offers finest pinoy meriendas with the opening of Original Okoy King and Marco’s Lugawan.

 

Stay updated as SM Malls gears up towards a new era of level-up customer service with many options for easy, safe and efficient shopping. For more information, follow SM City Baliwag and SM Center Pulilan on Facebook and Instagram.

 

 

 

 

 

The pandemic made a lasting effect on the educational systems all over the world, making almost all institutions switch to an online setup. To help students and parents with the remote setup, Samsung introduces its Education Store so learners can continue their studies more effectively.

Reliable smartphones for online classes

Students and parents can enjoy a lag-free online learning experience using the Galaxy S22 Ultra and the Galaxy A73. Both smartphones are equipped with 5G connectivity for faster downloads and a smooth browsing experience.Customers who purchase the Galaxy S22 Ultra will receive their unit with the Lucky Box and a FREE Galaxy S22 Ultra Silicone with Strap.

Larger tablet screens for presentations

Creating projects and presentations is now easier with the Samsung Galaxy Tab A8 and Galaxy Tab S8 Ultra’s huge and immersive screens. Students and parents also have options to either get the Wi-Fi or LTE versions of the Galaxy Tab A8 and Galaxy Tab S8 Ultra.The Samsung Galaxy Tab A8 WiFi is available for a discounted price of only PHP 12,311.00 SRP, while the Galaxy Tab A8 LTE is available for PHP 16,711.00 SRP.
Customers who purchase the Galaxy Tab S8 will receive a FREE Galaxy Buds2.

A well-deserved break for hardworking students

Attending online classes doesn’t have to be stressful, having quick breaks to play games or watch movies and vlogs in between reading modules and listening to an hour-long lesson can be fully enjoyed with the Samsung 32″ 4K Monitor with Smart TV Experience.

The online store allows parents and learners to unlock extra savings and enjoy exclusive perks when purchasing their much-needed devices for school. All they need is to create a Samsung account on the Education Store, enter their .edu school email, and verify their log-in details. For students who do not have their school email with the .edu domain, they can still register by simply submitting necessary documents such as proof of enrollment and student ID. Once their documents are verified, an access code will be provided which students can use to sign up.

Aside from exclusive discounts on select Samsung products, those who will sign up at the Education Store can also enjoy free delivery, trade-in of current products they are using, and cash on delivery from June 14 to October 3, 2022.

Interested customers may also place orders online and pick them up in store. Visit https://www.samsung.com/ph/store-pickup-and-support/ to locate a participating Samsung Experience Store.

Students may also avail of exclusive deals via the Student Endless Aisle in participating Samsung Experience Stores. This app allows students to virtually browse and choose the newest Samsung models. They can sign up on the app through Samsung Experience Store staff.

Safe Samsung Shopping

Health and safety protocols are strictly followed in Samsung Experience Stores to keep consumers and employees safe. Adhering to the guidelines set by the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases, Samsung has implemented the mandatory use of face masks, and performs frequent sanitation in all stores.

Samsung Experience Stores also has unique QR health declaration codes to promote a safe and contactless contact tracing process. Product demonstrations are done side-by-side instead of face-to-face while keeping the required safe distance of one (1) meter to make sure everyone is socially distanced.

While the Philippine Creative Industry is already a major player in outsourcing internationally, the potential in original content is the necessary next step seeing the massive demand for different voices from all over the world.

The Creative Content Creators’ Association of the Philippines (SIKAP) believes that the Philippines is a rich resource of stories and talent that can generate for our country a wealth of Intellectual Property that can manifest unmatched business potential and revenue in original creative content.

An organization of top-caliber Filipino individuals from the Animation, Game Design, Comic Book, Literary, and Music industries, SIKAP came together to give back to local creators what experience and know-how they gleaned navigating the international markets on their own. It all starts with a new and exciting opportunity to learn about developing, showcasing, and marketing original Filipino content.

AYO 2022, envisioned to be the Philippines’ First Original Content Market by 2024, is a four-day event that will be held on October 7 & 8 (hybrid) and October 14 & 15 (online).

Its 2-day face-to-face conference (streamed online via Airmeets) at the Waterfront Cebu City Hotel in Lahug will feature key speakers who will share with up-and-coming creators from Cebu and the Visayas knowledge about creatorship and the industry at large. Headlining Day 1 are SIKAP members Marla Rausch, CEO of US and Manila-based motion capture studio Animation Vertigo; Ria Lu, writer, game development veteran, and Studio Director at Laguna Games MNL; illustrator, animator, and Creative Director Karla Circe; game development industry champion, chief of Taktyl Studios and current GDAP president James Lo; plus celebrated filmmaker Sari Dalena. In addition, luminaries from the Cebu creative and business communities are also expected to engage the event goers in lively, future-forward discussion.

Award-winning creators and producers Cris Dumlao, Keith Sicat, and Mookie Tamara, lead interactive talks and workshops on day 2 plus prominent Intellectual Property professionals take the stage for a discussion on protection and rights.

For its online component, AYO boasts of an international lineup of creative champions who will guide participants in storytelling, pitching, polishing, even financing and promotions of original work. Logging in are SIKAP core member and Writer & Director Real-time Filmmaker Micah Fernandez; Alec Sokolow – Oscar nominated screenwriter (Toy Story), producer, & director; international entertainment communications, PR, and publicity leader Marcin J. Sobczak (Loving Vincent & Billie Eilish: The World’s a Little Blurry); plus SIKAP Board of Advisors Singaporean film producer Gin Kai Chan; producer, director, and investment specialist Vinci Roxas. Rounding off AYO 2022’s stellar roster are SIKAP Senior Advisor animation producer, developer, and writer Eric Calderon; speculative fiction novelist, editor, multiple international literary and Palanca awardee Dean Francis Alfar; and acclaimed Disney writer Mikki Crisostomo.

Co-presented by the DICT; in partnership with DTI R-7; alongside our trade partner the Cebu Chamber of Commerce and Industry, SIKAP aims to make AYO our creative content market par excellence, showcasing the Philippines to the world.