Essilor gives its fullest commitment to continue supporting CEU

Essilor recently launched the Essilor Sight Center at the Centro Escolar University in Manila last February 26 at the 2nd floor of CEU’s School of Optometry. The center is a training facility with the latest eye care equipment for the use of the university’s Optometry students.  

The launch was attended by CEU president and chief academic officer Dr. Ma. Cristina Padolina, Top Essilor executives led by Essilor AMERA & Digital president Bernhard Neusser,  Essilor ASEAN & KOREA president Kathy Park joined the inauguration rites together with Essilor Philippines general manager Dr. Emelita Roleda.  

The Essilor Sight Center also features  four refraction rooms, a lecture area, and a dispensing area. These have been designed to  give students a hands-on experience in doing eye  exams and dispensing eye glasses to patients, with equipment that include Essilor advanced measuring devices for Presbyopia among many others.  

“We’re very grateful to Essilor for reaching out to the academe and supporting the training of aspiring eye doctors here at CEU. This facility is truly a boost to the training of our students to prepare them to become skilled optometrists in the near future,” said CEU president and chief academic officer Dr. Ma. Cristina Padolina. 

Top executives of Essilor flew in to grace the inauguration. Essilor AMERA & Digital president Bernhard Neusser and Essilor ASEAN & KOREA president Kathy Park joined the inauguration rites together with Essilor Philippines general manager Dr. Emelita Roleda.  

The partnership, according to Neusser, is part of the company’s global thrust to support the training of future eye doctors. “We at Essilor are driven by our mission – to improve lives by improving sight. We do our best to reach out to the 2.7 million across the globe that need eye correction because for us, quality eye care is for everyone. We believe this Essilor Sight Center is a very sound investment that will help us attain that mission by supporting the training of future optometrists.” 

Now, more than ever, there is an urgent and growing need for  highly competent eye care professionals. “Through this partnership, you have given us the opportunity to help in the training of future eye professionals who can provide world-class eye care services to the growing number of patients worldwide,” said Essilor ASEAN & KOREA president Kathy Park.

Finally, Dr. Roleda emphasized the importance of having found the right partner in CEU.   

“Optometry graduates of CEU consistently turn out to be among the top eye care practitioners in the country. We are grateful that with the opening of the Essilor Sight Center, we can now be part of their excellent education and help strengthen this even further with the equipment and facility that are now at their disposal as well as by providing them with hands-on training and access to the Essilor Academy training module. Essilor gives its fullest commitment to continue supporting CEU and our future eye doctors.”  

Essilor has always been in the forefront of providing world-class products for vision correction, prevention, and protection. It continues to deliver numerous initiatives to provide quality vision care for all.

For more than 170 years, Essilor has dominated the market with its world-class flagship brands including Varilux, Crizal, Crizal Transitions, Crizal Eyezen, and Xperio. It continues to innovate its products and spearhead initiatives that will allow it to ensure the visual health of 7.7 billion people worldwide. 

To learn more about the partnership and Essilor, visit www.essilor.com.ph.

5 reasons why you should be on TikTok!

Be part of the new craze—watch and share your own entertaining videos on TikTok!

Are you on TikTok?
If not, you’re missing a whole lot! A lot of trending and viral videos you’re seeing on the internet are all coming from this popular new app—and what’s even better is you can join the fun by watching or sharing your own videos on TikTok!

Here are five reasons to download TikTok:
1. You can share your talents with the rest of the world!
You can make videos of anything on TikTok—as in anything! Singing, lipsyncing, dancing, acting, DIY, comedy, or just being cool, you can do anything on-cam and upload it all on TikTok! The more you upload, the more people will watch your vids!
2. You might go viral!
Who knows, you might be the next viral star to come out of the Philippines! Imagine—you go viral, and you might even be the next showbiz star!
3. Bye-bye, FOMO!
Did you know that your friends and family are already on TikTok? You might be the last one left behind! You don’t want to have FOMO, right? That’s why you should download the app!
4. Bond with friends and family over videos!
You might have noticed that a lot of TikTok videos are usually friends or family—you can bond with them by either watching or making your own silly and funny videos!
5. Because it’s just fun!
Whether you’re watching or making your own videos on TikTok, one thing’s for sure: it’s just plain fun! That’s why a lot of people are on Tiktok—because it’s super entertaining!

Watch and upload your own fun videos on TikTok nonstop with TNT GIGA STORIES 50 on TNT’s high-speed mobile network powered by Smart LTE! Get 1 GB of FB, IG, and TikTok every day for three days plus 1 GB of open-access data. Just dial *123# on your phone and choose GIGA STORIES 50 to subscribe!

TNT’s high-speed network is powered by Smart LTE, the country’s undisputed fastest mobile internet, as awarded by third-party organizations such as Ookla, OpenSignal, Tutela, and P3 in their respective crowd-source-based studies on mobile internet services in the Philippines.

For more details on TNT’s Giga promos, visit http://store.tntph.com/addons, like TNTph on Facebook, and follow @tntph on Instagram and Twitter.

Join the #DanceAwesome Challenge and get a chance to win brand new SAMSUNG Galaxy A71

Be one of the three lucky groups to win the latest addition to the A-series lineup, the SAMSUNG Galaxy A71, by joining in the #DanceAwesome social media challenge! Just simply create your fun, creative, and awesome version of the #DanceAwesome video on your FACEBOOK account. 



Here are the #DanceAwesome mechanics:
1. Form a group of 3-4 members, with at least 1 media person (to be verified by EON), for the #DanceAwesome video challenge.
2. Together, create your own fun #DanceAwesome video following Samsung’s Galaxy A: how to #DanceAwesome video tutorial on Youtube. 
*Kindly see attached deck for links to the sample videos
*Kindly also see attached Sound Files for the AWESOME theme 
3. Upload your video on Facebook and make sure to set your post as public.
4, Entries should use the hashtags #DanceAwesome, #GalaxyA71PH, and #TeamGalaxy and tag Samsung Philippines in your post in order to be eligible to join the contest.
5. Deadline for entries is extended until March 4, 2020 and announcement of winners is on March 6, 2020.
6. The three best teams overall will bring home Galaxy A71 units!

1st Prize - 3x Samsung Galaxy A71
2nd Prize - 2x Samsung Galaxy A71
3rd Prize - 1x Samsung Galaxy A71

Ghie Pangilinan opens 2020 with successful “Skin Magical Learn and Earn Caravan” and Skin Magical Cares

If there is one person who knows how to start the new year with a bang, it is Ghie Pangilinan, the CEO and the woman who has grown Skin Magical to be the best distributors of beauty products in the country in a period of four short years. 

On the second day of 2020, Pangilinan kicked off the First Skin Magical Caravan in her hometown of Morong, Rizal.  About 150 people took part in the caravan where they learned about Skin Magical, how they could start their own business and how online selling works.

“I really want to share this business with as many people as possible,” Pangilinan said. “I give them tips on how to succeed in this business and I always tell them that they should treat their clients as friends, that they should focus on this business and that they should remain loyal to the brand.”

Pangilinan added that she will never get tired of sharing her story because if it were not for Skin Magical, her husband Jerry might still be an overseas Filipino worker.

“It takes perseverance, determination and a lot of hard work to make it big in the online business,” she said. “You also have to be honest in all your dealings with your partners and clients.”

The highlight of the caravan, which also took place in Quezon City, Bulacan, Pampanga, Caloocan and Laguna for the month of January, was the Live selling portion titled “Gandang Palaban Reseller.” The participants showed off their selling skills and the winners were awarded reseller packages.

The second wave of the Skin Magical Caravan is currently ongoing. For the month of February, the caravan has already made waves in Nueva Ecija, Zambales, Tarlac and Bataan. 

The Skin Magical team took a break from its caravan activities when Taal Volcano erupted last January 12, 2020. Through Skin Magical Cares, the team led by the Pangilinan couple, responded to those in need by conducting relief operations in the towns of Bauan, Tanauan and Alitagtag, all in Batangas. More than 400 families benefitted from the relief operations.

“We know how it feels to be down and out and taking part in relief operations is our way of helping our fellow Filipinos to literally rise up from the ashes of Taal,” Pangilinan said. “There is only one way to go for those who are already down and that way is to go up. We are just doing our share to help them overcome this calamity.”

This year, Pangilinan is scheduled to launch her own book and Skin Magical brochure to be published by ABS-CBN Publishing.

“Please watch out for the launch of my book because I will share with you tips on how to make your own Skin Magical business a success,” she said. “We will keep you posted.

Huawei Announces a Range of New 5G Products, Accelerates All-Scenario Seamless AI Life Strategy

Huawei Consumer Business Group (CBG) today hosted a virtual launch in Barcelona, Spain, during which it announced a series of new 5G products and strategy that demonstrate the full capabilities of its all-scenario ecosystem. 

The key products announced include: HUAWEI Mate Xs, an evolution of the foldable device featuring cutting-edge hardware and software; HUAWEI MatePad Pro 5G, a flagship 5G tablet that offers a premium all-scenario experience; and HUAWEI Wi-Fi AX3 and HUAWEI 5G CPE Pro 2, two Wi-Fi 6+ enabled connectivity solutions that offer high-speed, pervasive connectivity to consumers. 

In addition, Huawei also unveiled a range of new HUAWEI MateBook laptops. Powered by the 10th Generation Intel® Core™ processors and the Windows operating system, the latest FullView laptops transform the mobile office experience with revolutionary productivity features such as Huawei Share and Multi-screen Collaboration.

Richard Yu, CEO of Huawei Consumer Business Group, said “Huawei will remain committed to the All-scenario Seamless AI Life strategy. We will continue investing into our edge technologies including chipsets, 5G communications, mobile AI, operating systems, cameras and audio-visual solutions so as to build out our long-term competitive advantages. We are also eager to work with developers globally to catalyse the growth of the all-scenario ecosystem. Together with them, we will elevate the all-scenario experience and take it to new heights.” 

TOGETHER, Connecting Possibilities

At Huawei, the consumer experience always comes first. In that vein, the company has dedicated the past decade cultivating the “1+8+N” ecosystem. Underpinning the ecosystem are Huawei Share and Huawei HiLink, which are the bridges that connect all devices together to deliver a holistic user experience. Besides innovating on the hardware front, Huawei continues to build the Huawei Mobile Services (HMS) ecosystem, which is accessible to consumers via the HUAWEI AppGallery.

With the all-scenario hardware and software service platform working in harmony, Huawei delivers a quality user experience where information is shared among connected devices in a seamless fashion across all scenarios. 

2019 was an unconventional year for Huawei. However, Huawei remains a trusted brand among consumers, as evidenced by its strong performance in 2019 with annual revenue surging upwards by 30 per cent to $67 billion. Huawei’s smartphone business surpassed 240 million unit shipments, securing Huawei’s position as the world’s second largest handset manufacturer. Other product categories in the all-scenario ecosystem recorded rapid growth: PC business was up by 200 per cent, wearables up by 173 per cent and wireless audio products were up by 210 per cent.

Experience revolutionised, again: HUAWEI Mate Xs

Representing the next evolution of the foldable form factor, the HUAWEI Mate Xs delivers an improved user experience with a new flexible display manufactured with novel materials and a new hinge to realise the signature Falcon Wing design. 

Equipped with Huawei’s self-developed flagship 5G SoC Kirin 990 5G, the HUAWEI Mate Xs is a complete upgrade featuring improved mobile AI and 5G communications capabilities. 

The Leica SuperSensing Quad Camera makes a return on the HUAWEI Mate Xs. Comprised of a 40MP SuperSensing camera, a 16MP ultra wide angle camera, an 8MP telephoto camera and a 3D Depth Sensing camera, the powerful Leica camera system takes full advantage of with the foldable form factor, playing the role of both front and rear cameras to support wide range of photographic use cases. 

Running on EMUI10.0.1, HUAWEI Mate Xs supports Multi-Window apps that ensure a smarter and more dynamic experience. To expand the range of apps that exploit that full potential of the foldable form factor, Huawei is working collaboratively with global developers to grow the ecosystem. 

Beyond Wi-Fi 6: HUAWEI Wi-Fi AX Series

As part of Huawei’s All-scenario Seamless AI Life strategy, connectivity solutions such as Wi-Fi routers, customer-premise equipment (CPE), and communication modules play a critical role connecting the 1+8+N ecosystem together to provide a secure, intuitive, smart and high-speed connected experience to consumers.

As a leader in 5G technology, Huawei is one of the main contributors to the formulation of the Wi-Fi 6 standard. Currently, the IEEE 802.11ax standard working group includes five technical experts from Huawei, with one of whom being sitting chairperson of the group. With 260 contributions submitted – accounting for 15 per cent of all submissions – to the Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax) project, Huawei is the second most prominent contributor to the collaborative industry effort.

Leveraging the synergy between its proprietary chipset and software optimisations, Huawei developed Wi-Fi 6+ based on the Wi-Fi 6 standard. Wi-Fi 6+ supports end-to-end 160MHz channel bandwidth and Huawei’s exclusive dynamic narrowband technology. Combined, these two breakthroughs lead to vastly improved Wi-Fi speeds and signal coverage.

During the virtual launch, Huawei launched Gigahome 650 and Kirin W650, the latest Wi-Fi 6+ chipsets designed for routers and smartphones respectively. The new HUAWEI Wi-Fi AX3 Series is equipped with the Gigahome 650 chipset, which allows it to support dual-band dual-concurrent (DBDC) operation at speeds up to 3000Mbps. When used in conjunction with a Huawei device that also supports Wi-Fi 6+, the HUAWEI Wi-Fi AX3 routers can deliver better signal coverage and speeds exceeding that of Wi-Fi 6 routers.

Huawei also launched the HUAWEI 5G CPE Pro 2, a new Wi-Fi 6+CPE that is 30 per cent more compact than its predecessor. Other notable upgrades include the support for up to 11 5G bands and Huawei’s exclusive Super Uplink technology, which greatly improves upload speed and latency. 

Rethink Creativity: HUAWEI MatePad Pro 5G

As an important point of entry to the smart ecosystem, the HUAWEI MatePad Pro 5G is designed to synergise with Huawei handsets, wearables and other devices. It serves a key role in the Multi-screen Collaboration feature that delivers a seamless multi-device experience to consumers.

The HUAWEI MatePad Pro 5G features a 10.8-inch HD display with support for the cinema-grade DCI-P3 colour gamut. With ultra-thin bezels, it has the world’s highest tablet screen-to-body ratio, at 90 per cent. Embedded in the body of the lightweight tablet, the Kirin 990 5G SoC supports outstanding 5G connectivity while delivering high performance and power efficiency. 

Running EMUI10, the HUAWEI MatePad Pro can be connected to other Huawei smartphones through the Huawei Share Multi-Screen Collaboration feature. Once a connection is established, users can navigate and control both devices on the tablet’s display. 

Multi-screen Collaboration also enables drag-and-drop file transfers between smartphones and tablets. Peripheral sharing lets users type on the smartphone using the tablet’s keyboard and screen, play music saved on the smartphone with the tablet’s speakers and more. HUAWEI MatePad Pro 5G supports Multi-Window for displaying up to three apps simultaneously. App Multiplier splits one app instance into two windows, delivering a revolutionary dual-view experience that makes the most out of the landscape orientation.

The HUAWEI MatePad Pro 5G can be paired with the HUAWEI M-Pencil, which supports 4,096 pressure sensitive levels to deliver a natural and intuitive writing experience. HUAWEI Notepad natively supports the Huawei stylus with a new Screen-off Shorthand feature, allowing users to capture their inspiration whenever it strikes.

Huawei also announced the latest HUAWEI MateBook models during the event. The upgraded HUAWEI MateBook X Pro is powered by the 10th Generation Intel Core processors. Available in a new Emerald Green colourway, the latest premium laptop retains the FullView Display design to achieve a screen-to-body ratio of 91 per cent. Meanwhile, the new HUAWEI MateBook D Series joins the HUAWEI MateBook family as a PC targeting younger consumers, offering an innovative smart experience in a design that is signature to the HUAWEI MateBook series.

A new app experience: HUAWEI AppGallery 

To cultivate a fully-fledged ecosystem that will support Huawei devices moving forward, Huawei is gradually opening up its chip-device-cloud capabilities to global developers through HMS. Encompassing all-scenario features, global distribution and lifecycle management capabilities, this ecosystem is a key component in Huawei’s All-scenario Seamless AI Life strategy. 

Currently in its fourth iteration, HMS Core is a collection of tools made for Huawei’s partners and app developers to create unique, new experiences that tap into the full hardware and software capabilities Huawei devices have on offer. By integrating HMS into their apps with HMS Core 4.0, developers can quickly deploy Huawei’s on-device capabilities such as HiAI, distributed technology and camera features on their apps and provide quality experiences to end users.

For instance, Cewe, Europe’s largest photo printing company, has deployed Huawei’s Share Kit to streamline the device pairing process in its offices. The intuitive printing process facilitates quicker production by requiring only a simple tap for Cewe staff to connect a Huawei device with a printer. These experiences are not exclusive to corporate users; HUWAEI AppGallery offers a range of HMS-enabled apps for Huawei device users to enjoy the convenience brought by Huawei’s innovations.

HUAWEI AppGallery also offers Quick Apps, an innovative category of apps made for devices in the 5G era. Developed based on industry standards, Quick Apps requires no installation and uses minimal system memory. Users can just click on these apps to enjoy the smooth interaction and beautiful interfaces as though they were traditional apps. This category is rapidly growing; at present, there are over 1,700 Quick Apps available on the HUAWEI AppGallery. 

In addition to creating apps, Huawei is actively curating quality apps that are popular worldwide to continuously enrich the user experience. To protect users from malicious apps, Huawei has pioneered a full-cycle security and protection system, including developer real-name verification, four-step review process, download and installation protection as well as a prevention mechanism for secure app operation.

With a nine-year track record of app aggregation and development, HUAWEI AppGallery is one of the world’s top three app marketplaces. Speaking about his plans for the HUAWEI AppGallery’s future, Yu remarked: “Moving forward, we will continue expanding our app ecosystem in the HUAWEI AppGallery with hopes to not only create a secure and reliable platform, but also to provide consumers with more choice. The continued success of this thriving ecosystem will remain one of our highest priorities.” 

Huawei is actively engaging with developers of popular apps around the world to grow the app ecosystem. Developers are welcome to be part of this ecosystem, and together with Huawei, work towards bringing a smarter app experience to consumers around the world. 

DON’T CHA! MEGA-GROUP & GLOBAL ICONS THE PUSSYCAT DOLLS ANNOUNCE THEIR FIRST TOUR IN 10 YEARS!

The era defying, chart-topping, button-pushing, mega-group are back! The Pussycat Dolls have announced they are reuniting for a world tour, performing together for the first time in over a decade. The voices of a generation will be taking their Pussycat Dolls 2020 Tour to Manila on Saturday, May 9 at the Mall of Asia Arena. Presented by Wilbros Live.

The multi-platinum pop sensations returned to music earlier this month with their acclaimed new single ‘React’, seeing Nicole Scherzinger, Ashley Roberts, Kimberly Wyatt, Jessica Sutta and Carmit Bachar bring back Doll Domination on a global scale. 

Having sold more than 54 Million records worldwide and streamed over 1 Billion times, X2 Winners at the MTV VMA and achieved eight U.K. top 10 singles the dolls have Stick Wit Ya throughout the decades.

Nicole Scherzinger says “I love all my girls so much and cannot wait to show you what we've got in store for you. It’s been a long time coming but this feels like the perfect time to remind the world what it means to be a Pussycat Doll”. 

Robin Antin, founder of The Pussycat Dolls says “I created The Pussycat Dolls back in 1994 and never in my wildest dreams would I have thought it would become one of the most iconic girl groups of our time. I’ve been working on making this reunion happen now for years, so I am very excited that the stars have aligned for THE PCD REUNION! It’s with gratitude to our fans and during this amazing time of female empowerment, to be able to announce the launch of our PCD reunion, celebrating ALL GENDERS, & the brilliant success and talent of the girls that helped influence a movement that was long overdue”.

The Pussycat Dolls will embark on a world tour bringing their chart-topping hits such as ‘Don’t Cha’, ‘Stickwitu’, ‘When I Grow Up’, ‘Buttons’, and many more fan favorites back to life with their iconic dance routines and show-stopping vocals.

Tickets to Pussycat Dolls 2020 Tour in Manila will go on-sale on Saturday, February 29 at 10am via SMTickets.com. For more information, visit any SM Ticket outlets or call 8470-2222.

HBO FILMS’ BAD EDUCATION STARRING HUGH JACKMAN AND ALLISON JANNEY DEBUTS APRIL 26 EXCLUSIVELY ON HBO GO AND HBO

Inspired by true events, Bad Education, debuting same time as the U.S. on 26 April at 9am on HBO GO and HBO, follows Frank Tassone (Hugh Jackman) and Pam Gluckin (Allison Janney) who reign over a popular Long Island school district on the verge of the nation’s top spot, spurring record college admissions and soaring property values. But when an embezzlement scheme surfaces that threatens to destroy all they have built, Frank is forced to maintain order and secrecy – by whatever means necessary.

Bad Education is directed by Cory Finley (“Thoroughbreds”) and written by Mike Makowsky (“I Think We’re Alone Now”) and is based on a New York Magazine article by Robert Kolker. The film stars Academy Award nominated and Golden Globe and Tony Award winner Hugh Jackman (“The Greatest Showman,” “Les Misérables”) and Emmy®, Academy Award and Golden Globe winner Allison Janney (“I, Tonya,” “Mom”).
  
The film also stars Emmy winner Ray Romano (“The Irish Man,” “The Big Sick”) as Big Bob Spicer, the school board president. Additional cast includes Geraldine Viswanathan (“Miracle Workers,” “Blockers”), Alex Wolff (“Jumanji: The Next Level,” “Hereditary”), Rafael Casal (“Blindspotting”) and Annaleigh Ashford (“Frozen,” “Master of Sex”).

Bad Education, an HBO Films presentation, is directed by Cory Finley; written by Mike Makowsky, based on a New York Magazine article by Robert Kolker; produced by Academy Award nominee Fred Berger (“La La Land”) and Brian Kavanaugh-Jones (“Midnight Special”) for Automatik; Julia Lebedev (“Dear White People”), Edward Vaisman (“The Discovery”) and Oren Moverman (“The Messenger”) for Sight Unseen Pictures; Mike Makowsky for Slater Hall; executive produced by Leonid Lebedev (“Dear White People”) and Caroline Jacko (“The Scoop”).

The Int’l Banker awards BDO’s Tan, “CEO of the Year in Asia”

BDO Unibank, Inc.’s Nestor V. Tan, president and chief executive officer, was named the Banking CEO of the Year in Asia during The International Banker Awards 2019 while the bank was awarded as the Best in Innovation in Retail Banking in the Philippines.

The global financial publication awards “top-ranking individuals and organizations that set new benchmarks for performance and push the boundaries within the financial industry.” It recognizes the top CEOs in each region “for their essential contributions as the premier decision-makers within their financial institutions.”

Banking CEO of the Year in Asia. BDO president and chief executive officer Nestor V. Tan is named by The International Banker as the Banking CEO of the Year in Asia for his exemplary decision-making skills in steering the bank.


Meanwhile, reader-nominated banks in countries from North and South America, Western and Eastern Europe, Asia and Australasia, and the Middle East and Africa are assessed for providing “much-needed capital for economic growth, cutting-edge innovation to improve security and efficiency, intelligent investing to maximize profits, and shareholder value.”


Expanding access to banking

The International Banker underscored the exemplary performance of BDO’s retail lending business despite challenging conditions. On an annual basis, the bank reported at the end of 2018 that its total loans across all segments increased by 18%, with provincial lending growing by 22%. Most recently, BDO recorded a 6% year-on-year growth on its customer loans for the first three quarters of 2019. 

The quarterly magazine also lauded the bank’s effective and innovative retail banking strategy. BDO runs a growing distribution network consisting of over 1,300 branches and 4,400 ATMs to help make banking more accessible to Filipinos.

As part of its “We Find Ways” service philosophy, BDO pioneered longer banking hours and weekend banking in select branches to serve those who are unavailable during regular banking hours.

Retail Banking Excellence. BDO was awarded as the Best in Innovation in Retail Banking in the Philippines during The International Banker Awards 2019. The global financial publication awards “organizations that set new benchmarks for performance and push the boundaries within the financial industry.


Complementing its expansive reach is its Cash Agad service. Cash Agad allows accountholders to use their ATM cards to withdraw cash from a point-of-sale (POS) terminal operated by partner merchants. The bank provides this service to communities that are too far from ATMs. It also helps provide livelihood to residents and drives local economy.

BDO is also into rural banking through its subsidiary, BDO Network Bank, which caters to the financial needs of those living in the archipelago’s most remote areas, particularly in Mindanao.

Stream BTS’ MAP OF THE SOUL : 7 The Enhanced Album now, available only on Spotify

To celebrate BTS’ fourth studio album ‘MAP OF THE SOUL : 7’, Spotify has partnered with the global superstars to launch the MAP OF THE SOUL : 7 The Enhanced Album out today, February 21, 2020. Available only on Spotify, the enhanced album - curated with original content and exclusive goodies - will serve as the ultimate destination for the ARMY to celebrate the release of BTS’ latest album. 

BTS is the first artist in Asia to partner with Spotify to create an enhanced album offering fans exclusive content, from Storylines (personal written commentary sharing the inspiration and story behind each song), Canvas (bespoke 8-second video loops on every track) and audio messages that allow fans to get to know the members better. Topics discussed by BTS include their favorite moments in their seven-year journey, the message they want to convey through this album and what they think the next seven years will look like for BTS. 

Other notable artists that have created a Spotify enhanced album include Taylor Swift for her 2019 album ‘Lover’, Mariah Carey’s Merry Christmas (Deluxe Anniversary Edition) and most recently with Tame Impala’s album ‘The Slow Rush’. 


Source: Big Hit Entertainment

As a tribute to the movers-and-shakers of K-Pop commemorating their seven years together, here are Spotify’s seven favourite moments with BTS and check out BTS reactions here:

1. When the BTS boys personally curated a Spotify playlist. Check out their updated playlists to find out their individual favourite BTS tracks of all time and songs that they’re listening to right now: RM, Jin, SUGA, j-hope, Jimin, V, Jung Kook
2. Dedicating 18 Sep 2017 as #LoveYourselfDay to celebrate the release of LOVE YOURSELF 承 ‘Her’. This is also when BTS became the first K-Pop artist ever to enter Spotify’s Global Top 50 Charts with “DNA”
3. When Spotify’s custom finger heart emoji   for BTS was used more than a million times on Twitter by fans all over the world #SpotifyxBTS
4. BTS being a part of Spotify’s launch in India with “Namaste” 
5. Celebrating BTS’ history on ARMYPEDIA with 19 special edition Spotify-related puzzle pieces
6. When BTS was streamed a whopping 3 billion times in 2019 for more than 178.4 million hours by 60 million listeners on Spotify #SpotifyWrapped
7. Launching the MAP OF THE SOUL : 7 The Enhanced Album with original content

Stream BTS’ MAP OF THE SOUL : 7 The Enhanced Album now, available only on Spotify. For more exciting BTS treats to come, follow Spotify’s official K-Pop channel on Twitter @SpotifyKDaebak and tweet using the hashtag #SpotifyxBTS to reveal the custom finger heart emoji  !

Discover the Magical Books: an Immersive Augmented Reality (AR) Reading Experience with 12 New Titles

Are you a parent with your child in tow for the Big Bad Wolf Book Sale Manila 2020? Rows upon rows of children’s books await! 

With books at 50% - 90% off recommended retail price, creating your own mini library at home will not be a problem at the World’s Biggest Book Sale. Get the perfect book to read aloud to your tot or get in some fun and learning for bath time. There are also board books, activity books, sticker books, books on religion, sound books, pop-up books and even books for older kids under readers.

Give your child a head start for kindergarten with books on the alphabet and numbers with ‘The Montessori Method’ book series about ‘Farms’, ‘Shapes’, ‘Seasons’ and ‘Numbers’. The books are designed to stimulate the cognitive abilities of young children and colorful stickers included in the book add more fun to the activities. This will also help them get a strong foundation in early concept from recognition of shapes to counting.

Does your little one find it overwhelming when a book has too many words? Make learning more fun with ‘100% Full-Sized Bugs’ packed chock-full of colourful pages that depict insects in their actual size and fun facts like the giant bug can swim very well and even catch small fish and tadpoles. Once they have had their fill of bugs, let them explore what the animal kingdom has to offer with ‘100 Facts: Oceans’ and ’100 Facts Reptiles & Amphibians’.                                

To enhance their imagination, let them have a go at the pop-up books in store. In ‘Planet Pop-Up: Tiger Takes Off’, travel to the circus to meet a fearless flying tiger, penguins launching from a cannon, a roller-skating octopus and all of their acrobatic friends in this pop-up extravaganza with a surprise on every page. If that is not enough, let the little ones have fun listening to different sounds such as the splash of a puddle, clinking of coins and blare of a horn with ‘The Wheels on the Bus’.

                            


There is no better way to expand upon your child’s vocabulary than to get them started on reading from young. ‘My Little Pony: The Princess Collection Box Set’ includes four stories of the adventures of the ponies and lessons about friendship along the way. Then, let the kids dive into the world of fairy tales with beloved characters from ‘Rumpelstiltskin’ and ‘The Beauty and the Beast’.



Having trouble getting through a book from start to finish with your child? Is their attention often focused on smartphones and tablets? Whilst parents may stress about keeping their children gadget-free, the Magical Book series offers the best solution by combining the best of both worlds by using physical books and eye-catching Augmented Reality (AR) technology to revolutionize reading for the next generation. These books are available exclusively at the Big Bad Wolf Book Sale Manila 2020, as the sole distributor of the books in Asia.

     

During the Big Bad Wolf Book Sale Manila 2019, 6 books were introduced to rave reviews by Filipino parents who could not get enough of the Magical Book series. Due to popular demand, the Big Bad Wolf Book Sale Manila has brought back 12 brand new titles including ‘Frozen: A Sleepover Party and ‘Winnie the Pooh: Fun with First Words’. The Magical Book series are a great tool to assist the interaction between parents and their children through an immersive and interactive reading experience. There is a total of 18 titles available at the Sale including ‘ABC Fun with Mickey‘ and ‘123 Counting Fun with Mickey’ that magnifies the learning aspects of the books with activities such as tracing of letters and counting exercises.  Make the most of the buy 5 get 1 free promotion on selected Magical Books and discover brand new titles.



The Big Bad Wolf Book Sale Manila 2020 will be open for 24 hours straight from now until 24 February at the World Trade Center, Pasay City, Metro Manila. During the 11-day duration of the World’s Biggest Book Sale, more than 2 million English titles will be available at 50%-90% off recommended retail price and entry is FREE. The ‘Crazy Deals’ promotion will also be introduced for the first time in Manila, offering incredible further markdowns as low as ₱60.



Follow the Big Bad Wolf Book Sale’s social media pages for more updates:



Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bbwbooksphilippines/

Instagram: @bbwbooksph

Website: https://bigbadwolfbooks.com/

YOUR CRAVINGS ARE ANSWERED: The Tuna Lasagna Supreme is back (for a while only)!

Foodies everywhere, rejoice! 

Greenwich has just announced that the scrumptious Tuna Lasagna Supreme is #nandiTUNAulit! Following last year’s overwhelming response, plus the innumerable requests from its customers, the number one pizza and pasta chain in the country has decided to give Greenwich kabarkadas a special treat by bringing back the crave-worthy Tuna Lasagna Supreme this 2020! 

The Tuna Lasagna Supreme is prepared with layers and layers of al-dente lasagna noodles with herby-tangy tomato sauce, tuna chunks, and rich, creamy cheese. This multiple layered pasta is so tasty that pasta fans won’t be able to stop themselves from munching bite after flavorful bite. 

“There was such a huge positive reaction from our Greenwich kabarkadas when we introduced the Tuna Lasagna Supreme last year. Since then, we’ve been getting inquiries to put it back on the menu. We value our Greenwich kabarkadas, kaya #nandiTUNAUlit ang Tuna Lasagna Supreme this summer – made with patong-patong na sarap of tuna chunks combined with other delicious ingredients you love in Greenwich’s best-selling Lasagna Supreme,” said Pam Reyes, Greenwich marketing head. 

This crave-worthy pasta is only available in stores until April 12, 2020, so catch several servings of it while you can! The Tuna Lasagna Supreme is priced at PhP89 for a la carte, and PhP99 for a meal, at all Greenwich stores nationwide, via delivery at #5-55-55 or greenwichdelivery.com.