Ph Bossa Nova Queen Sitti To Perform “Anak” At Malaysia Jazz Festival

Re-recorded in more than 100 versions, released in 53 countries and translated in 29 languages, stayed at the number 1 spot for 2 weeks in the US Billboard charts with 33 million copies sold worldwide.  



It’s been four decades since Freddie Aguilar released Anak—recognized as the all-time highest selling record of Philippine Music yet its message continues to be as fresh and relevant as the first time he performed it at the first Metropop Song Festival in 1977.

Now a new generation of music aficionados will be introduced to the song when Sitti performs it at the upcoming Kuching Waterfront Jazz Festival (KWJF) in Malaysia.



The country’s bossa nova queen will be representing the country  at the outdoor jazz festival happening this September 27 and 28 at the Waterfront Walkway of Grand Margherita Hotel overlooking the beguiling Sarawak River.  

“Since this is an opportunity for me not just to share my artistry but to also be able to let the audience listen and experience Filipino music, that is why we’ve decided to include a very special arrangement of the timeless OPM song Anak,” Sitti shared with us over lunch last week. 

Sitti adds she’ll be performing some of the most memorable bossa nova hits as well as several of her original songs like “Para Sa Akin” and “Ligaya” during her 45-minute set. 



We asked her how she feels about being part of the jazz festival and she said it has always been one of her dreams. 

“At first, I couldn’t believe it when my management (Asian Artists Agency), told me that the organizers of the Kuching Jazz Festival were inviting me to be part of the international lineup of performers.”

She said it was one of those dreams she wrote down a long time ago and had already forgotten until she got the call. 

“This opportunity is a gift from God  and a dream come true for me,” she adds. “I have always wanted to perform in an international jazz festival, and to be able to represent the Philippines will be such a great honor.”

Sitti has been taking some time off the music scene after giving birth to her first baby Issiah Dañelle last November and although she has been doing a few corporate shows, she says nothing compares to performing in front of a big crowd and feeling their energy. 



To prepare for the Kuching Jazz Festival, Sitti said she is going back to the basics, listening to the songs of great bossa artists such as Astrud Gilberto, Rosa Passos, Gel Cosa and others. 

The Kuching Jazz Festival will feature a lineup of international performers including Dawn Wong and The Shanghai Jazz Club (Singapore), Q Sound (USA/Malaysia), Harvey Malaihollo (Indonesia), Xanaduduo (UK/Sarawak), Ushera (Malaysia), Saxx In The City (Indonesia), Ning Baizura (Malaysia), Dave Brewer and The DooDaddies (Australia), Z Yan (Malaysia), and Nisa Addina (Sarawak/USA). 

“Music fans will surely be delighted to attend the jazz festival and it’s going be a spectacular musical treat for everyone. I’m very excited to perform and groove to the rhythm with the audience. I’ll give them a best performance they will always remember,” says Sitti.

The first edition of Kuching Waterfront Jazz Festival (KWJF) in 2017 was a great success and ended on a high note. Today, everyone is looking forward excitingly to the upcoming KWJF 2019. The Grand Margherita Hotel, a subsidiary of Sarawak Economic Development Corporation (SEDC) was the organiser of the Kuching Waterfront Jazz Festival as well as the official venue and hotel. 



The first of its kind outdoor jazz festival overlooking the majestic Sarawak River saw a lineup of 17 performing groups from 7 regional and international countries. The performers were Jeremy Monteiro and The Asian All-Stars Power Quartet feat Melissa Tham (Singapore), Sheila Majid (Malaysia), Ernie Watts, Lewis Pragasam & Asia Beat feat. John Kaizan Neptune (USA/Japan/Malaysia), Andy Peterson (Malaysia), Balawan Magic Fingers (Indonesia), Abdul & the Coffee Theory (Indonesia), Sri Hanuraga Trio ft. Dira Sugandi (Indonesia), Kunto Aji (Indonesia), Mellow Motif (Thailand), Baihana (Philippines), Shanghai Sisters (Malaysia), Diana Liu (Malaysia), Akoustik Connexion (Malaysia), Jolynn Joelle Chin (Malaysia), Big Band Borneo (Malaysia), and UKBD Band (Malaysia). 



Held from 29th to 30th September, KWJF 2017 became the first event to kick-start WAK or What About Kuching 2017, a month-long event spread out all over Kuching with various smaller niche events throughout October. Apart from the jazz performances by the world-class musicians, KWJF 2017 featured a bazaar which saw participation from local vendors. A total of 22 vendors comprising arts and craft, including food and beverage vendors participated in KWJF 2017 Bazaar. The bazaar increased the value of the festival, giving festival goers a more holistic experience, especially tourists, where they were able to purchase local Sarawak wares and food. The bazaar also included booths by non-profit organisations such as SSPCA & Lim Kok Wing, 10 Ringgit Club, Blind Massage Centre and Heart Treasures. 



The number of festival-goers to KWJF 2017 was recorded at about 4000, far exceeding the target of the organisers. The jazz festival was a success as it was created as a family oriented event with emphasis given for an audience of all ages. Apart from the entertaining music concerts, the view of the spectacular Sarawak River together with the lively bazaar made KWJF an event to be remembered. KWJF 2019 this year promises to include a greater lineup of performers and a complete event with activities for the whole family to enjoy



Tickets are now on sale at www.kuchingwaterfrontjazz.com.



Sitti is a talent of Asian Artists Agency. For inquiries, please call (02) 855-4765 or (02) 405-4423, email info@asianartistsagency.com, and visit fb.com/asianartistsagency

Global cybersecurity solutions leader continues to invest in PH’s cybersecurity talent through new solutions center and certification programs

What to do if your computer has been compromised or hacked? or infected with a virus or other malware you need to take action,  to keep your files from being destroyed and also to prevent your computer from being used to attack other computers?

Last August 20, we were able to attend Trend Micro, Inc. event in Pasig. The event was graced by Max Cheng, Chief Information Officer at Trend Micro and other Trend Micro executives. 

Mr. Ian Felipe, Country Manager, Trend Micro Philippines, Max Cheng- Trend Micro Chief Information Officer , Myla Pilao - Director, Threat Research

Alma Alvarez - Threat hunting and threat training



Trend Micro, Inc. is further strengthening its commitment to continuously invest in Filipino talent through its establishment of a new solutions center in the Philippines. The global cybersecurity solutions provider today formally launches a state-of-the-art center for its Managed Detection and Response (MDR) service in Manila.

MDR is a highly in-demand service offering round-the-clock alert monitoring, correlation, investigation, and prioritized threat-hunting activities leading to detailed remediation options and actionable recommendations for fixing and preventing threats. Trend Micro’s MDR service, Trend Micro Managed XDR, employs extensive sets of data from a greater pool of protection points that make it more comprehensive, accurate, faster, and effective in finding obscure threats. 

With an XDR approach, email, endpoint, server, cloud workloads, and/or network sources can all be correlated, enabling faster detections and better insight into the source and spread of advanced attacks. 

Trend Micro Managed XDR Solutions and Expertise

“Our MDR service provides organizations a broader visibility over threats, while alleviating overburdened security teams through better flexibility in deploying their solutions,” said Max Cheng, Chief Information Officer at Trend Micro. “Managed XDR addresses three main factors that serve as challenges to organizations: quickly detecting cyberattacks which account for billions of threats annually; achieving better visibility into the scope and scale of cyberattacks across security layers; and alleviating the pain of the skills gap due to scarcity of security experts.”

Due to its complexity, Managed XDR is exclusively carried out by a dedicated team with the advanced security expertise and skills in investigating sophisticated threats. Some of Trend Micro PH’s 1,000 local engineers are now assigned to the Managed XDR service, which covers global services across four strategic vectors—endpoint, network, email, and server and cloud workloads. 

“Trend Micro Managed XDR is global, servicing customers in key regions. We invested in our Philippine office to be among our headquarters for Security Operations Center (SOC) as it is backed by 20 years’ worth of expertise in cybersecurity. This is also Trend Micro’s new growth engine in our services and operations, and we believe that it will usher a new era and new generation of IT workforce, both locally and internationally,” Cheng added.

Trend Micro’s local workforce has grown from just 14 engineers when it was established in the Philippines in 1998 to over 1,000 to date. That is about 17 percent of the firm’s current total global workforce of around 6,000 employees. That has also been translating to better figures for Trend Micro PH—for the past 5 years, revenue growth of the unit has been growing at an average of 32 percent year-on-year, while industry penetration has expanded into banking, foreign services, governments, telecommunications, broadcasting, and manufacturing.

Certified Professional Programs
Aside from recognizing the world-class Filipino talent in the area of cybersecurity, Trend Micro is also aiming to further develop more experts and in a way help counter a possible talent/skills shortage for such expertise. Thus, the cybersecurity vendor is also formally launching today its Trend Micro Certified Professional Programs.

“Trend Micro will equip IT professionals from across the country with real-world experience in detecting and managing threats. The goal is to empower more Filipino professionals with the knowledge and skills to face evolving cybersecurity issues and develop into global cyber guardians” Cheng explained. 

The Certification Program to be offered will focus on Security Operations Center (SOC) Fundamentals, a 5-day course that will be offered at the Trend Micro Philippine headquarters in Pasig City. SOC Fundamentals is recommended to Security Analysts, System Administrators, Cyber Threat Investigators, Threat Hunters, and Security Monitoring Specialists of various organizations. 

Stylists Closet: looks that speak to different fashion moods

Whatever your fashion style in life is, One Bonifacio High Street got you covered from classic to sporty to Harajuku extreme! Since, I wanted to dress accordingly, you will find most basic and Japanese inspired dress style inside my closet. My clothes are mostly comfy and basics in black and gray , I just have to layer it with jacket, coat or accessorize with shoes and bags to pull the whole "japanese lola look".

Your style is deeply personal. Whether it’s classic, playful, sophisticated, utilitarian or avant garde, you’re bound to find something that matches your lifestyle at One Bonifacio High Street, where passions are lived and realized.

One Bonifacio High Street is a stunning five-level lifestyle mall and the final puzzle piece of BGC’s one-kilometer retail expanse. 

Bringing aspired fashion, food, and fun to life, its completion further cements Bonifacio Global City as the uncontested live, work, and play capital in the metro. 

Home to exciting additions to Bonifacio High Street’s retail line-up, it will house three major anchors—global fashion powerhouse Zara opening this September, which will serve as the brand’s first and only flagship store in BGC. Food District Signatures on 5th is a curated dining hall to satisfy delicious food cravings everywhere. 

It also debuted a fresh concept called The Trading Post, with a pop-up row that serves as an incubator for coveted retail startups, mixed with a one-stop errands hub for in-demand services. Complemented by a flexible social space for community gatherings and Sunday Mass, it is a place especially designed for BGCitizens. 

One Bonifacio High Street is also a haven for fashion enthusiasts with much-loved brands like Paul Smith, Cole Haan, American Eagle Outfitters, and Harlan + Holden, to name a few.

Style comes to life 
To up the ante, One Bonifacio High Street gives BGCitizens  a chance to explore and discover their style through Stylist’s Closet—an event in collaboration with Manila’s top influencers, Mari Jasmine, Pam Quinones and Tim Yap, that features various fashion retail brands located in the establishment. 

Through this, consumers were able to have the opportunity to pursue their fashion adventures, unleash their creativity and ignite their sense of purpose, all at One Bonifacio High Street!

Discover your life’s passion and pursue them at One Bonifacio High Street. For more details, you may check out Bonifacio High Street’s official Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/BoniHighStreet/. 

#iloveBHS
#OneBHS

Carousell celebrates seventh anniversary with a brand new visual identity

Carousell, one of the world’s largest and fastest-growing classifieds, celebrated its seventh anniversary with the launch of a new visual identity, together with milestones including reaching its 250th million listing and fourfold revenue growth in 2018.

This visual identity refresh signifies the brand’s progression and growth, while putting a spotlight on its core purpose of enabling shared possibilities amongst users of the online marketplace. Throughout the years, Carousell has been harnessing mutually beneficial opportunities to empower users, and celebrated numerous success stories of users who turned their passions into livelihoods.

Co-founder and CEO, Quek Siu Rui epitomised Carousell’s win-win opportunities when he sold his MacBook on Carousell to a father with a young daughter. The father wanted his daughter to learn about the internet but could not afford a brand new computer. He turned to Carousell, and this made Siu Rui realise that Carousell is a platform that would enable possibilities for users with each transaction.

“Our mission has not changed since day one. We want to inspire every person in the world to start selling. Seven years ago, we saw that there was no easy way to sell stuff online and existing platforms were tedious and uninspiring to use. Hence, we launched a mobile app that made selling as easy as taking a photo, buying as simple as chatting, and we made it social. It really set the standard for what mobile classifieds should be. Now, we’ve grown our presence to six markets, expanded from general classifieds to properties and automobiles and recorded over 250 million listings,” shared Quek Siu Rui, Co-founder and CEO of Carousell.

“This proves that Carousell is serving a real need, and is more relevant than ever in today’s marketplace, where consumption has grown rapidly and sustainability has become a huge focus. In Southeast Asia, there’s a population of over 640 million people, where two-thirds are still just coming online and experiencing the magic of the Internet. The refreshed visual identity showcases Carousell’s uniqueness where transactions go way beyond dollars and cents; where friendships are forged, stories are shared and interests get discovered.”

Carousell also announced a fourfold revenue growth in 2018. This strong growth trajectory is a testament to Carousell’s business strategy, and an affirmation that the brand is progressing in the right direction. Prior to implementing monetisation streams in mid-2017, Carousell has been laser-focused on building a great platform, enhancing product features, improving the user experience as well as scaling across the region.

Carousell’s seventh anniversary celebration culminated at Carousel land, an annual flagship event that celebrates its community. It spanned across two halls at Marina Bay Sands in Singapore, and was filled with Carousellers selling items, running workshops and organising community activities like retrogaming and board gaming. In line with bringing its refreshed brand to life, Carouselland upped the ante with a myriad of sensory and participatory activities that highlighted the shared connections and possibilities that this platform brings to all users and the public, beyond mere transactions.

With more than 300 vendors classified under seven thematic clusters that covered everything from Style to Property and even Alternate Reality, visitors got to choose from a wide range of shopping and activity choices according to their personal interests. These included handicraft workshops, community activities and even tips on how to groom cars, helmed by Carousellers from all walks of life who discovered and turned their dreams to reality on the platform. Plenty of Instagrammable spots awaited visitors as they explored the event ground.


To further showcase the win-win experiences enabled by Carousell, a special ‘Match and Win-win’ card was given to all visitors of Carouselland. Visitors then searched for the person holding a matching card, through the Carousell app and social media. Each successful pair got to redeem their prizes at the Redemption booth.

Carouselland 2019 was held at Marina Bay Sands Expo and Convention Halls A & B in Singapore from 16-18 August.

Get 1000 OFF on Momax Q. Power Pro

Momax Q. Power Pro,  the fast wireless charging dock for iOS and Android users with 8000 MAH battery capacity is now available at Digital Walker. The regular price is P2990  and is now on sale for only P1990.00.

Momax Q. Power Pro fearures thhe following;

-Fast Wireless Charging up to 7.5W for iOS and 10W for Android
-8000 MAH battery capacity
-2 in 1 power bank and wireless charging dock
-Enlarged coil allows the device to charge in portrait and landscape
-Type C PD Fast charge output up to 18 W

Available at Digital Walker and Beyond the Box Stores

Kim Chiu is the New Face of Nature's Way Aloe Vera System

Good hair speaks louder than words. My hair routine is just like others, but I do take a rest from using shampoo every week to prevent dryness and breakage. I always buy organic conditioner serum with no parabens to maintain the shine and make it healthy-looking. I only colored once a year and have its roots retouched every 5 months. Aside from regular shampoo and conditioner, I also take my oral vitamins everyday for my tresses.

When I attended Personal Collection Direct Selling, Inc. (PCDSI) event last week. I was surprised that they were launching an organic shampoo and conditioner just in time for the formal launch of Ms. Kim Chu as their newest celebrity ambassador for Nature's Way Aloe Vera System, PCDSI's flagship hair care brand.

Personal Collection Direct Selling, Inc. (PCDSI) announced that actress and recording artist Kim Chiu has joined the PC family during the brand’s press event last August 16, 2019 titled “Born to Shine.”

Being a famous celebrity, Kim knows a thing or two about beautiful hair. From rocking soft waves, everyday up-dos and free-flowing hair, to red carpet-ready hairstyles, Kim only trusts Nature's Way Aloe Vera System to keep her crowning glory strong and healthy so she can take on the world with confidence.

"Dapat maganda ang hair kasi diyan nanggagaling ang confidence mo, kasi kung hindi ka masaya sa hair mo, hindi ka rin confident," Kim shares. "Hair is one of the most important tools in being a confident woman."

“Kim is the perfect face for Nature's Way Aloe Vera System because, like our well-loved ingredient aloe vera, Kim is one of the most adored artists of our time. With her cheerful personality, natural confidence, and the effort she puts into everything she does, Kim perfectly represents what Nature’s Way stands for,” says Nikki Blanco, Senior Brand Manager for Nature’s Way Aloe Vera System. “I am proud that she is part of the Nature’s Way family, truly an inspiring example of a modern and confident woman with amazing hair.”

As the new endorser of Nature’s Way Aloe Vera System, Kim will appear in all elements of the brand's marketing campaigns including print, digital advertising, in-store displays, social media, events, etc.

Watch behind-the-scene footage of Kim's first Nature's Way Aloe Vera advertising shoot at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DZRnpFX4sMI.

For more information, visit www.personalcollection.com.ph.

To see upcoming content of Kim Chiu for Nature's Way Aloe Vera System, follow PCDSI on Instagram at www.instagram.com/pcdsiofficial, become a fan on Facebook at   www.facebook.com/pcdsiofficial, and subscribe on YouTube at www.youtube.com/user/pcdsiofficial.

Realme Philippines is looking for its next brand ambassador

Leading smartphone brand realme Philippines is looking for its next brand ambassador. The brand, which anchors itself on youthful vigor and character, is inviting 18 to 30-year old game changers ready to take on the dare to represent the brand and the real value it offers.

Two winners, one male and one female, will be enjoying a cash prize of PHP 50,000 each, the latest realme smartphone which will be launched before the year ends, PHP 5 million worth of promotional literature exposure and realme branded items such as the realme tech backpack and buds.

The winners will also be personally hosted by the realme Philippines team in the realme headquarters in Taguig City for an array of photo and video shoots.

"Realme would like to offer a creative platform to the youth who embody the brand's core of youthful energy and real value. We look forward to receiving your entries. We are excited to create fun and exciting campaigns and content with you," shares realme Philippines Marketing Lead, Eason de Guzman. 

In a 1-minute entry video, interested participants must explain why they are the perfect fit in representing a brand that is proud to be young. The participant must exhibit pride in what she or he dares to do as a young trailblazer, example being, “I dare to be extreme because the world is filled with adventures that I am excited to try”. All entry videos must start with a realme clip that can be downloaded through this link.  The entry must be posted publicly across all the social media platforms – Facebook, Twitter and Instagram – of the participant.

Realme Philippines must be tagged in the post @realmePH and hashtags #DareToRepresentRealme and #RealmePH must be included in the caption. Deadline of submission is on September 01.

On September 09, the new realme brand ambassadors will be announced through a livestream on the official Facebook page of realme Philippines.

For more information on the ambassador hunt, participants may view the Dare to Represent Realme project Facebook note of realme Philippines.

Hope Springs With LG’s Washabilities Laundry Shop

LG, in close collaboration with Hopewell Integrated School (HIS) and Bigwash, endeavors to empower individuals with special needs through a sustainable livelihood program.

Dubbed as HopeWash, the program positions students and graduates of HIS, a non-stock non-profit organization based in Cavite dedicated to individuals with special needs, to be employable and lead functional lives.

To jumpstart the project, LG and Bigwash worked together to get the shop up and running by taking care of the construction and the training of the staff, which consists of HIS alumnus. LG donated 5 sets of commercial washers and dryers, 1 commercial refrigerator, and 1 43” TV set. Unilever also lent a hand by donating laundry detergents specially formulated for the commercial washers.

Expounding on the company’s role in the program, LG Managing Director Inkwun Heo states, “We are firm believers in HIS’s goal of providing these children a future to look forward to. We want to empower them as much as we are able to. Our intuitive design provides accessibility through straightforward simplicity.”

Washabilities Laundry Shop is now open and ready to serve all of your laundry needs at 135 Remulla Compound Paliparan Road, Molino 4, Bacoor, Cavite.

LG Philippines has partnered up with Netflix to bring the best shows straight to your home

Join Eleven, Mike, and the rest of the gang as they go on their misadventures in the latest season of Netflix’s blockbuster hit Stranger Things. 

LG Philippines has partnered up with Netflix to bring the best shows straight to your home. With every purchase of LG’s 2019 OLED or NanoCell TV models, you’ll receive an accompanying gift of 6 months of Netflix. You can experience your favorite shows the way they were meant to be seen – in a stunning array of colors and high dynamic range. 

To showcase the capabilities of the OLED and NanoCell TVs, as well as to give customers a fully interactive, hands-on experience, LG will hold a roadshow in key locations around the Metro. The venues for LG’s roadshow are strategically located in order to reach key markets for the coveted TV sets. 

Consumers are invited to fiddle around with LG’s newest line of award-winning OLED TVs and see for themselves the exquisite design and the stunning details the flagship units have to offer. The TVs on display during the roadshow are all powered by LG’s new α9 Gen2 & α7 Gen2 processors which are equipped with Deep Learning technology. 

This new innovation allows the TV to understand how to optimize and enhance the picture and sound best for any content, giving you the most optimal viewing experience possible.

Want to test out what makes the new TVs a cut above the rest? Catch the LG roadshow in select malls, starting with SM Mall of Asia, Pasay from Aug 2 – 11, Solenad, Nuvali on Aug 16 – 25, and UP Town Center, Quezon City on Aug 30 – Sept 8. 

Make sure to drop by to see for yourself the purest colors, the deepest blacks, stunning contrast, and innovative design that the LG TVs have to offer.

Watami Grill & Sushi Bar launches "Bento-go"

Watami Grill & Sushi Bar recently launched “Bento-go”, a selection of  sushis, katsus, gyudon and more of your favorite Japanese dishes for delivery.

Is your team celebrating a recent sales victory, having a lunch meeting, or simply stumped with evening deadlines at the workplace? Watami’s Bento-Go offers a range of options to curb your cravings! 

Choose from Katsu-Bento (crispy pork cutlet) or Gyudon Bento (strips of savory beef). The Katsu comes with rice and mixed vegetables while the Gyudon is served with  rice, mixed vegetables and maki rolls. There’s also the Teriyaki Bento for chicken lovers. 

Also try Watami’s Sushi Bento Bento-Go which is a combination of four assorted sushis, four slices of California maki and a side salad. It also has Kani rolls, and Spicy Tuna Roll that will surely save the day!

You don’t need to go out  and  get stuck in traffic, nor skip lunch or dinner, thanks to Watami’s Bento-Go options. 

They are available via delivery partners Food Panda, GrabFood, and Zomato. All deliveries will arrive in a nifty bento box that’s handy, making meetings, lunches, dinner breaks, and stay-at-home weekends…worry-free! 

Bento-Go is available initially at Watami Greenbelt. 
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