Monthly Archives: December 2022

Sony Music Entertainment Philippines and singer-songwriter Hazel Faith have partnered with charity, Rise Against Hunger, to support vulnerable communities locally impacted by food insecurity, whose situations have been exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic.

This comes as part of Sony Music Group’s global ‘Season of Giving’ campaign, where the company and its artists are giving back to every local community in which Sony Music Group (SMG) operates. Across the world, SMG is supporting global organizations dedicated to providing aid for those facing food insecurity, homelessness and refugee support, as well as music industry relief and educational programs for communities impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.

This also follows the support provided through Sony Music Group’s Global Social Justice Fund, to move the needle in broadening opportunities for underserved communities worldwide. In October, the company partnered with SPARK! Philippines to champion young women’s rights through music and film.

Beginning in the month of November, the Season of Giving program saw SMG committing sizeable amounts in each territory where the Company conducts business: Africa, Asia, Australia/New Zealand, Canada, Continental Europe, Latin America, United Kingdom, and the United States.

Since its beginnings in 2014, Rise Against Hunger Philippines has packaged over 543 million meals for vulnerable individuals across 78 countries, including over 7 million meals for people in the Philippines. With the funding from Sony Music Group, the organization will be able to reach 1.5 million people in communities most impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, through the distribution of donated food items and relief packs to hungry households.

Jose Mariano Fleras, Executive Director, Rise Against Hunger Philippines, said, “COVID-19 has only worsened the hunger situation in the Philippines by costing people their livelihoods and making it more difficult for resources to reach those who really need them. We have unfortunately seen an additional four million households in the Philippines impacted because of the pandemic.”

“Through this partnership with Sony Music Group, we are in a stronger position to provide aid to vulnerable communities and double down on our outreach operations to address food and nutrition insecurity nationwide.”

As part of efforts to reach these communities, singer-songwriter Hazel Faith also partnered with the organization through a day of volunteering and performances for its beneficiaries. Hazel Faith is part of Sony Music Philippines’ Christian label WATERWALK RECORDS, which brings fresh Christian music infused with pop influences from faith-based artists to the new, streaming generation.

Hazel Faith said, “Food insecurity continues to plague many across the Philippines, and it is inspiring to see what organizations like Rise Against Hunger are doing to alleviate this problem. I’m grateful for the opportunity to perform for the beneficiaries of the program today, and proud to be part of a label that continues to give back to those in need this holiday season.”

In speaking of the seasonal initiative, Towalame Austin, Executive Vice President, Philanthropy and Social Impact, Sony Music Group, said, “Globally, SMG is committed to supporting local communities throughout the year. For the holiday season, we wanted to bring extra support and relief aid to those in need and dedicate our efforts to more than three million people worldwide. We’re grateful to our artists and international partner organizations who work on-the-ground to provide direct assistance to their neighbors.”

In addition to Hazel Faith, notable artists and songwriters who volunteered with partner organizations in their communities during a series of in-person events include India Shawn (Epic Records), Tyler Shaw (SME Canada), NOBITA (SME Philippines), Kobie Dee (SMP Australia), Tom Wilson (SMP Canada).

This campaign represents the Company’s ongoing philanthropic commitment to forge partnerships and support communities that need it most, inside and outside the music industry. For ‘Season of Giving’, every global organization selected to receive funding was determined by a group of global stakeholders including our internal task forces, legal and public policy teams. Learn more about SMG’s giving approach here.

American R&B superstar SZA is aiming for a number one debut at next week’s Billboard Hot 100, with her highly anticipated album, SOS, projected to secure one of the biggest first-week sales this year by a female artist.

A day after its release on various digital music platforms, the 23-track album skyrocketed to the summit of Apple Music and Spotify charts in several countries worldwide, and even landed her with a No. 1 slot on real-time iTunes sales charts in major music territories.

The Grammy award-winning, chart-topping, and multi-platinum selling recording artist’s new album via TDE/RCA Records, is accompanied by the release of the Bradley Calder-directed video for “Nobody Gets Me,” one of the many standout songs on the album.


SOS includes features by Travis Scott, Don Toliver, Phoebe Bridgers and Ol’ Dirty Bastard; with production by Ctrl-hitmaking collaborators ThankGod4Cody and Carter Lang, alongside Jeff Bhasker, Rob Bisel, Benny Blanco, Kenny “Babyface” Edmonds, Emile Haynie, Rodney “Darkchild” Jerkins, Jay Versace, and more.

From the online bulletin boards of local villages and cities, online marketplaces, fan groups, school associations, and even home improvement pages, Filipinos have continued to remain active in participating in their numerous online communities as a go-to source for discussing their favorite topics with like-minded netizens.

More and more companies, interest groups, and organizations are building communities to create deeper, more meaningful relationships with and among their users and members. According to market research company GWI, in 2020 alone, 76% of all internet users participated in an online community, a statistic that has annually increased by 2% over the past 3 years.

With the rise of online communities today, builders and innovators are expected to carry out the operational work of reaching members and managing offline and online events — all while nurturing genuine and authentic connections with their followers.

Today, community leaders can do away with using multiple platforms and save hundreds of hours on administrative work by streamlining various operations, made possible using Nas Company’s newest platform, Nas.io.

Nas.io is the latest tech platform released by global content creator and founder and CEO of Nas Company, Nuseir Yassin. Nas.io equips community leaders with modern, intuitive tech solutions that make it easier to start and manage a growing online community.
Connect and communicate with members.

One of the biggest challenges community managers face is reaching their audience, especially with the ever-changing algorithms of the most popular social media platforms. Community managers have turned to smaller niche groups on group chat platforms. However, this presents its own problems, such as it being easy for members to get lost upon joining.

Nas.io solves this by functioning as a management layer on top of existing chat platforms like Facebook Groups, WhatsApp, Discord, Telegram, or Slack. Managers can use it as a tool to provide community members context on what conversations to expect through a custom community landing page. Nas.io also includes a unique feature called Magic Reach that allows community managers to send emails and messages to their communities. This intelligent messaging feature automatically finds the best way to send messages to community members. The tool is designed to learn how users or members prefer to be contacted, and which platform they are most active in.
Create and manage events

Aside from consistent communication, community builders also aim to create perfect events both in-person and virtual for its members. From setting calendar invites to creating virtual meeting rooms, to making an event page and setting up a registration form, Nas.io simplifies the process of creating and managing events.

By filling up three basic fields, community managers can automatically generate a personalized Zoom link shared with its members, which will lead them to a customized event page. Through the platform’s feature of sending and saving notifications to the members’ calendars, emails, and mobile app, community managers can expect higher attendance and engagement rates. The platform can also be programmed to handle member authentication to ensure exclusivity. And, should there be an admission fee to join these events, a hassle-free payment processing system can also be set up by the manager.
Make communities sustainable

All the longest existing communities include monetization. This is why Nas.io includes monetization features that allow community managers to earn in order to sustain their community.

From membership subscription fees, exclusive content access, and event participation, creators can set up their communities to be free, paid, or even NFT-gated. This means that members are given several payment options that can be fulfilled through credit or debit cards, PayPal, and even crypto.

Filipino Communities started using Nas.io in its early stages

Prior to its official launch, Filipino communities started using Nas.io in its beta stage and have demonstrated great potential in the market. Philippine Country Head of Nas Company Jacqueline Maye Lim said, “We at Nas Company aim to enable the creators, entrepreneurs, and marketers to add value to their members through our platform. We have seen early signs of this in our beta launch where we have amazing communities that help their leaders build a deeper connection with their audience enabling them to solve their problems and add value to them. Whether it’s about finding alternative employment or simply saving on important life milestones, communities are everywhere.”

 

Founder and CEO of Nas Daily and Nas Company Nuseir Yassin awarded Community Creator Jam Blauta of the Barangay Virtual Assistants (Barangay VA) for being the first community to gather 10,000 members in Nas Company’s newest community platform, Nas.io.

Barangay Virtual Assistants, more commonly known as Barangay VA, is one of the largest communities on Facebook with over 30,000 members. Despite the number of followers, community leader Jam Blauta shares that he can’t reach all thousands of his followers. “As a community manager, I need to easily secure my audience and reach them instantly whether through SMS or email. The reality is, the number of social media followers doesn’t matter anymore and when you post content, you only reach 10% or sometimes even less. This is why Nas.io is the best thing that has happened in helping me reach the community of virtual assistants.”

To date, over 10,000 aspiring virtual assistants are using Nas.io, where they are educated, trained, and given free advice and online courses on how to get employed

 

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Founder and CEO of Nas Daily and Nas Company Nuseir Yassin recognized Community Creator Camille Fornela of The Budgetarian Bride for reaching over a thousand followers in the beta stage of Nas Company’s newest community platform, Nas.io.

Another up-and-coming group is Camille Fornela’s The Budgetarian Bride, an online community of brides, grooms, and wedding planners, who come together to discuss budget-friendly nuptial options and real experiences on wedding planning. Today, The Budgetarian Bride’s community has helped almost 4,000 soon-to-be married Filipinos plan their dream weddings without breaking the bank. “Having multiple content formats available in one platform and connectivity to existing ones is essential in growing my community,” said Fornela.

Yassin awarded community leaders Jam Blauta and Camille Fornela in an exclusive community meet-up held at the New Frontier Theater last November 12, 2022. He highlighted their success in engaging local audiences in their respective communities that are transforming Filipinos’ lives.

Visit nas.io to know more about how you can create your own communities today.

With every purchase of a SMAC card and every checkout, shoppers can now help support a family in need.



Leading digital solutions platform Globe and SM Advantage Card (SMAC), the loyalty card of retail giant SM, have come together to help put meals on the table of those in need through the Hapag Movement, Globe’s technology-driven program against involuntary hunger.



“We are excited to partner with SMAC at the most joyful time of the year so we can bring cheer to our fellow Filipinos who continue to suffer due to involuntary hunger. Now, it’s easier for shoppers to share their blessings to the needy, bring food to the table, and get assistance for decent livelihood as we mark this Christmas season post-pandemic,” said Globe Group Chief Sustainability and Corporate Communications Officer Yoly Crisanto.



“Our collaboration with Globe for the Hapag Movement is a pioneering partnership for us as it aligns with the SM brand’s goal of providing support to Filipinos every way we can. This is the time for us to rally behind this cause to help those who continue to reel from the impact of the pandemic and challenges due to rising living costs. Ibalik natin ang sarap ng Pasko,” said Jay Beltran, SMAC SAVP Head of Sales and Marketing.



Through the partnership, P50.00 will be donated to the Hapag Movement and other SM Foundation programs for every purchase of a new SMAC card.



On top of this, SMAC members who will shop select items at the SM Store, SM Beauty, SM Appliance, Kultura, Surplus, Our Home, Baby Company, Crate and Barrel, Levi’s, The Body Shop, Forever21, Ecco, and Miniso will earn up to 1,000 EXTRA SMAC Points, and half of the EXTRA points they earn will be donated to the movement starting December 15, 2022 until January 15, 2023, in time for this season of giving.



“We celebrate the season of giving with our SMAC members with the gift of giving— letting them share blessings with our most vulnerable kababayans,” Beltran said.



Globe’s Hapag Movement leverages on technology and collaboration to help 100,000 families experiencing involuntary hunger through supplemental feeding and livelihood support.



Globe initiated the program to help Filipinos severely affected by the pandemic, with its effects still felt until today. An estimated 2.9 million individuals reported suffering from involuntary hunger as of October this year, largely unchanged from the quarter before, according to a Social Weather Stations Survey.



To learn more about the Hapag Movement, visit its official page. You may also visit smac.ph or download the SMAC app to know more.

American R&B superstar SZA is aiming for a number one debut at next week’s Billboard Hot 100, with her highly anticipated album, SOS, projected to secure one of the biggest first-week sales this year by a female artist.

A day after its release on various digital music platforms, the 23-track album skyrocketed to the summit of Apple Music and Spotify charts in several countries worldwide, and even landed her with a No. 1 slot on real-time iTunes sales charts in major music territories.

The Grammy award-winning, chart-topping, and multi-platinum selling recording artist’s new album via TDE/RCA Records, is accompanied by the release of the Bradley Calder-directed video for “Nobody Gets Me,” one of the many standout songs on the album.


SOS includes features by Travis Scott, Don Toliver, Phoebe Bridgers and Ol’ Dirty Bastard; with production by Ctrl-hitmaking collaborators ThankGod4Cody and Carter Lang, alongside Jeff Bhasker, Rob Bisel, Benny Blanco, Kenny “Babyface” Edmonds, Emile Haynie, Rodney “Darkchild” Jerkins, Jay Versace, and more.

Hammocked within northern Luzon’s valley of plains and rolling foothills created by the majestic Sierra Madre mountain range in the east and the magnificent Cordilleras in the west, is the dynamic city of Santiago. It sits in the heart of the province of Isabela – the largest province in Luzon and what is possibly one of the most blest areas in the country in terms of resources.

 

 

A first-class independent component city, Santiago is home to various business industries, with immense growth potential bolstered by its strategic location in Cagayan Valley. With religious and historic sites dotting its expansive terrain, Santiago City is a window to the past surrounded by the top tourist destinations in Isabela.

 

Realizing the increasing possibilities Isabela offers, and the staggering industrial and commercial growth it has experienced over the years, Camella–the property developer that promises to build homes for Filipinos wherever they choose to live–has already broken ground on its fourth development in the province, Camella Alta Santiago.


A charming four-hectare Mediterranean Village rises

Envisioned as self-contained and alluringly welcoming, Camella Alta Santiago makes it so much easier and inviting to live in what could be one of the finest places to set down a home in the country.


Echoing the ancient structures that are still well-preserved, like the Balay Santiago and Museo de Pattaradday, which have been converted into museums, Camella Alta Santiago brings back a time of quaint, villages where homes blended synergistically with the flora and the land. As the towns that dot the Mediterranean coastline hover gently between sea and sky with houses the color of shells, the homes of Camella Alta Santiago reflect that same Spanish seaside serenity in pastel hues that range from the blue of the sky to the soft terra cotta of the earth.

 

The homes in Camella Alta Santiago float in landscaped gardens lush with tropical greenery that line shaded streets and color mini-parks. The property offers a variety of home models from the Camella Series. Each home is built with the expert space-planning and exquisite use of the lay of the land that Camella has long been known for. The models offered are the popular Freya and Greta, the lovely Ella and Dani, and the cozy Cara and Bella.


Just beyond the property’s welcoming gates is the Clubhouse. A staple in all Camella developments, the Clubhouse will be the staging area for all the residents’ important events, their family bonding moments, and the place where lifelong friendships will be made. It features function halls and bay windows that offer an entrancing view of the village. Around the Clubhouse will be a playground for energetic kids and a basketball court to feed a spirit of competition.


The entire community will be protected by a perimeter fence, 24/7 security, roving guards, and CCTV at the main entrance, making Camella Alta Santiago a safe place to raise a family and nourish one’s dreams for the future.


Live your life in a sanctuary that stands close to everything you need

Location is always one of the key considerations in selecting and developing properties, which is why Camella sets up communities where people want to live, work, raise their families, and grow old. This is why their communities are close to the facilities and services families need to live comfortably, easily–and preferably, inspired–everyday. These include schools, places of work, transportation hubs, markets and commercial centers, and hospitals.

 

Camella Alta Santiago offers not just milestone homes and lifestyle amenities, but also creates more opportunities for aspiring homeowners and investors to experience the fulfilling Camella life within the vicinity of Cagayan Valley’s commercial hub.

Setting the bar high for urban living, Camella in Santiago City is an ideal venture that keeps up with the progress of the city. With AllHome by the entrance and transport hubs and business centers a few minutes away, this new community embodies convenience and comfort while reaping the advantages of the city’s exponential growth.


The country’s biggest homebuilder builds bigger and better, for You

In over four decades Camella has built an immense selection of high-quality homes and themed communities across our islands–each one carrying Vista Land’s expertise in space planning, carefully thought out architecture, and an innate knack for selecting the most accessible locations. To date, the group has built over 500,000 homes and maintains a powerful presence in Mega Manila and 49 other key provincial destinations and 147 cities and municipalities.

 

For more information about Camella Alta Santiago and other developments in Isabela, visit www.camella.com.ph. Like and follow “@CamellaOfficial” on social media.

After a successful concert tour in Canada to mark their 20 th anniversary as a band, Sponge Cola returns with a new single inspired by K-drama smash Hometown Cha-Cha-Cha.


Combining grunge rock elements with electronic textures and anthemic pop sensibilities, Sponge Cola’s “Hometown” is a song for coming home after a long, tiring journey. It’s a perfect description that sums up their collective feelings at the moment.


Embodying home in the form of a person, the captivating rock tune was penned by vocalist and guitarist Yael Yuzon as a way to reimagine the coastal town, with its nosy neighbors forming a tight community, and a love story that “felt very warm and familiar,” despite being entirely new and foreign.


“I was pleasantly surprised by the outcome given that it was written about a fictional piece,” Yuzon confesses. “As a writer, I was one layer away from phenomena that should have made the end product more removed, disconnected. Instead, we ended up with something more visceral, something that resonates from within.”

Sponge Cola

Produced by Joey Santos, “Hometown” has that familiar Sponge Cola sound to it: catchy, soaring choruses filled to the brim with exciting builds and dynamic rhythms. But stripped off its delicate, fuzzy arrangements is a material that, as bassist Gosh puts it, “feels like traveling to unfamiliar places, but still ends up unwinding and wanting to go home.” Its comforting warmth lingers, and the lyrics just resonate with a lot of people who have been emotionally crushed and in love, reeling from old memories, yet ready to find new ones.


“I wanted to capture the nuances of an ocean breeze in a song—the contrast of the stillness and the intensity,” Yuzon shares. “Produced by DJ Joey Santos, I think we nailed it. It was a breeze to record.”


Yuzon adds that “Hometown” sounds like a song that listeners can take with them anywhere they go. “As we call and respond to the echoes of Philippine diaspora, home is where the heart is, and Hometown is not just a song about a place; it’s love, hope, and warmth; it’s the people.”


“Hometown” is out now on all the digital music platforms worldwide via Sony Music Entertainment.

DECEMBER 13- Employees from SM Malls in Marilao, San Jose Del Monte, Pulilan, and Baliwag took over the role of Santa Claus this morning to spread hope and good cheer for about 950 underprivileged individual, group and communities in Bulacan through its Christmas Kalinga Cheers.

A joint project of SM Foundation Inc and SM Supermalls, the Christmas Kalinga Cheers aims to give love and happiness to communities and less fortunate families in the province.


For this year, SM City Marilao decided to up the ante by making Christmas extra special to Senior Citizens and marginalized communities living in the coastal areas, river banks, and creeks. A sum of 300 Christmas Kalinga packs was distributed by the mall. The recipients, who were pre-identified by the LGU and MSWD, came from the poorest and displaced families living in slum areas of Lambakin, Tabing Ilog, Saog, Lias and Ibayo.

Volunteers from SM City San Jose Del Monte gave love and heartwarming surprises to 300 families from Purok 4 Sitio San Isidro, Brgy Tungkong Mangga San Jose Del Monte. The small community was instantly filled with joy as Christmas Kalinga packs were given. Most of the recipients are informal settlers making a living out of construction, waste collection, and tricycle driving.

Reaching out to the less affluent families in Barangay Pagala, SM City Baliwag distributed at least 100 Christmas Kalinga packs. An additional 100 Christmas Kalinga packs were also given to the local transport group in Baliwag.




A total of 150 Christmas kalinga packs were likewise distributed by SM Center Pulilan to families living in Barangay Sto. Cristo, Barangay Longos, and Barangay Cutcot. Local transport group likewise receive Christmas Kalinga packs from SM.

“Everybody has a holiday season tradition. The Christmas Kalinga Cheers is one of SM’s holiday tradition of giving hope and reaching out to those in need. We wanted to bring joy to the less privileged and put a smile on their faces” shares SM City Marilao Mall Manager Emmanuel Gatmaitan.

Over 23,327 Christmas Kalinga packs are being distributed across the country.

Following the successful launch of #BestVloggingPhone HONOR 70 5G, the leading global smart devices provider announces the launch of its new Emerald Green color still priced at PHP 26,990, available starting December 13, 2022, at HONOR kiosks and partner stores nationwide or online at Shopee, Lazada, and TikTok Shop.

First introduced in Crystal Silver and Midnight Black, HONOR 70 5G boasts a super dual-curved screen with warm, smooth lines and natural arcs that let it fit your hand perfectly while looking great.

HONOR 70 5G has the industry’s first 54MP IMX800 Super Sensing Main Camera, bringing users incredible enhancements in smartphone photography. It sports HONOR’s revolutionary Solo Cut Mode, an innovation enabling users to simultaneously produce a group video and a portrait vlog that spotlights a specific person.

The HONOR 70 5G Emerald Green is equipped with a 4800mAh large-capacity battery supported by high-performance 66W HONOR SuperCharge allowing you to charge up to 60% in just 20 minutes. It can also maintain low power consumption while powering up high-rate games with its GPU Turbo X technology.

And for a limited-time offer, buy your very own HONOR 70 5G Emerald Green starting on December 13 for PHP 26,990 and get a FREE HONOR Band 6 worth PHP 1,990 at any HONOR kiosk or partner stores near you and online at Shopee, Lazada, and TikTok.