Canva released its inaugural end-of-year ‘Makers and Shapers’ Report

Global graphic design platform, Canva, today released its inaugural end-of-year ‘Makers and Shapers’ Report, highlighting how users from around the world reacted to some of the biggest history-making events that took place in 2020.

From businesses navigating the COVID-19 pandemic, through to the catastrophic natural disasters that ravaged the Philippines, Canva’s global community of 40 million active users have designed and shared everything from social media posts to online presentations — to amplify, educate and inspire people with their message.

Explore the major trends from Canva’s data below, to understand how Filipinos, and those across the world, have used visual communications to help reach their goals this year:

 

COVID-19: The World Pivots As Misinformation Spreads

The impact of COVID-19 has been felt across the globe. Since March, Canva saw over 2.9 million search queries for COVID-related templates as the world came to grips with responding to the pandemic. Canva’s community turned to the design platform to create awareness posters, social media material, and WHO-approved health information in a bid to help #StopTheSpread of misinformation and keep communities COVID safe.

Canva’s in-house design team created more than 2,100 corona virus templates, backed by accurate information from the World Health Organization, that were made freely available amid the uncertainty, shared by news organizations, government bodies, and consumers across the globe.

Globally, over 14 million COVID templates were downloaded, with the top five most active countries using these templates among some of the hardest hit in terms of COVID-19 casualties, including USA, Brazil, Mexico, Indonesia, and Colombia. 

Society Moves to a Virtual World

2020 was the year of the Zoom background, as more people were forced to shift to remote working, learning, and entertainment. Over 195,000 Filipinos downloaded templates for Zoom backgrounds, as meetings and gatherings were mostly held online. Leading the charge, users in the USA downloaded 1.3 million Zoom backgrounds alone — that equates to 1 in every 253 people across the country using a Canva Zoom background design this year. Globally, over 4 million Zoom backgrounds were created and downloaded on Canva.

With getaways to some of the world’s most adored holidays destinations off the cards this year, it seems most  Canva users have expressed their dreams of a “tranquil” getaway through their Zoom backgrounds, with the top three most downloaded templates globally including a tropical beach, a peaceful waterfall, and a serene underwater seascape.

The most popular Canva Zoom background in the Philippines

 

Visual templates such as presentations were crucial in helping people communicate and collaborate remotely, with businesses, teams, educators, and students, all shifting to remote work.  

Canva for Education, launched earlier this year, saw rapid uptake as online learning and virtual classrooms became the new norm. With over 700 new templates published to the education platform this year, the top five downloaded education templates for the year were:

 

2020: The Year of the Side Hustle

With many businesses impacted by COVID-19, the pandemic also sparked a new wave of innovators and creative entrepreneurs. 2020 saw people of all ages pivot to launch their mini side hustle, passion project, or new business, using Canva. 

In the Philippines, around 3.3 million logos were created to date while the whole world registered record-breaking results: 

●      More than 65 million new logos were designed on Canva — that’s more than 7,400 new logos created every single hour (or over 123 every single minute) around the world

●      Over 12 million business cards were printed globally through Canva Print — which is more than the entire population of Belgium! 

 

Saving The World: Climate Change

Canva’s climate change collection templates were downloaded more than 2.6 million times as climate activists shared their passionate campaign messages via posters, social media material, and event flyers. 

Greta Thunberg and David Attenborough were also among some of the most searched-for climate-related queries on the Canva platform.

Canva partnered with youth-led group, Future Coalition, to create assets for the 2020 Earth Day Digital Strikes. The colorful templates created by Canva’s in-house designers were used by thousands of digital strikers around the world.

 Touching Tributes 

And for those we lost in 2020, mourning fans paid their respects to passed icons through compelling and nostalgic design tributes. Kobe Bryant (January 26), Chadwick Boseman (August 28), and Ruth Bader Ginsberg (September 18) were among the most searched-for figures on the Canva platform this year as fans, supporters, and the media reacted to their passing with touching visual tributes on social media and beyond.

 

… And Finally, Some Fun Facts;

●      Canva saw record growth in 2020, reaching over 40 million monthly active users.

●      For those who love their fonts, the top three most used font types in the Philippines for 2020 were: Glacial Indifference, League Spartan, Anton

●      On the bright side: Canva users were sharing the love in 2020, with the Heart textbox and Lovesymbol among the most used stickers this year. Most used stickers in the Philippines were:

 

●      Primary colors were on point this year, being the most used colors in the Philippines:
1. #FFDE59 
2. #FF1616

3. #004AAD

·      Over 540 ‘Canvanauts’ joined the Canva team in 2020.

 

Cignal TV welcomes back seasoned actress Helen Gamboa Sotto, with the Season 3 launch of “From Helen’s Kitchen”

Cignal TV, the country’s #1 Pay TV provider with over 3 million subscribers welcomes back the Queen of the Kitchen, seasoned actress Helen Gamboa Sotto, with the Season 3 launch of “From Helen’s Kitchen” on Colours and TV5, premiering this December 19. 

 

This season kicks off with two holiday-themed episodes: Noche Buena Traditions and Family Favorites for Media Nochewhere Tita Helen will share holiday traditions and create their family’s signature noche buena and media noche family favorites alongside her husband, Tito Sotto, and their children: Apples, Lala, Gian and Ciara Sotto.

 

The program will not only showcase Tita Helen’s exquisite culinary skill, but will give viewers unique stories behind recipes that go beyond average comfort food. She’ll be working on international entrees with a twist and the usual ‘pamana ni Nanay/Lola’ heirloom recipes with celebrity guests such as Joey de Leon, Gelli de Belen and many others.

From Helen’s Kitchen Season 3 sees Tita Helen opening up her kitchen once again. She aims to impart a sense of comfort and holiday cheer through hearty and delicious meals that Filipino families can recreate to bring their family together. 

 

“We live in a world that is unlike any other. Many families are miles apart from one another and are not able to physically be together due to these unprecedented times. Through our third season, we want to bring the holiday spirit to our viewers by sharing our family’s Noche Buena dishes and traditions,” the cooking aficionado shares. “Lahat kami ng family ko ay happy na maibahagi ang kahit kaunting kasiyahan na dala ng pagluluto sa ating mga viewers.” Tita Helen shares. 

 

From Helen’s Kitchen Season 3 is just 1 of the 3 new programs premiering on Colours this December, so viewers at home can expect high-quality shows and entertainment premiering this holiday season.

 

“From Helen’s Kitchen” Season 3 premieres this December 19, and will air every Saturday at 8:00PM on Colours, available on Cignal TV CH. 60 SD and CH. 202 HD. Catch-up airings will also be available on TV5 starting December 20, 7:00AM and continues every Sunday. Viewers may also access Colours and TV5 on the Cignal Play app, available for Android and iOS users. 

To subscribe to Cignal TV contact 8888-5555, 0949-9977600 to 7603. You may also email us at sales@cignal.tv or follow Cignal TV’s Official Facebook page! For more information, visit the Colours Official Facebook Page!

Silka takes care of our skin so we can still look and feel good as we face more stressful times ahead

We’ve been dealing with coronavirus for months, and while we already have a vaccine, I don’t think we’d have access to it anytime soon. The social, financial, psychological and physical stressors surrounding the pandemic have been challenging in many ways and self-care really matters especially during these difficult times.

 

It’s time to take care of yourself. Practicing self-care can help you and your family be better equipped to get through this time together. Exercise, good nutrition, quality sleep and even proper skin care are all helpful things for both your mental and physical health. 

 

With the holiday season upon us, we all look forward to spending it with our loved ones. Let’s keep the habit of self-care, just families take care of each other, Silka takes care of our skin so we can still look and feel confident as we face more stressful times ahead.

"Magparamdam ka naman" ["Let us know how you're doing"] captures the Pinoy yearning: we want to reach out and be with the ones we care about. And families have a history of caring for each other, of being together through tough times and through whatever means - a yearning not even a pandemic can diminish.

In the latest Silka Papaya video, a large family is about to come together for Christmas. With a Christmas tree behind him, the Grandfather finishes setting up the dinner table. He calls out to his wife, if she's ready. The Grandmother comes with a bottle of Silka lotion, rubs some on both her hands (to look fresh for the family picture, she says). She wonders out loud if the rest of the family are ready. Cut to the mother in the bedroom rubbing Silka lotion on her leg. She gently hollers the same are-you-ready question. Cut to the bathroom, where Millie, her daughter, hollers back, while applying Silka deodorant on her underarm: "Almost done, Mom". 

The mother then knocks on the bathroom door, and the Dad answers, already feeling refreshed while still showering with Silka soap: "Mabilis na lang." Cut to a newly-wed couple's conversation: the husband is all set and gently tells his wife, "Lika, baba na tayo." She answers, while applying Silka Facial Cleanser with a cotton ball, "Patapos na" This must be a big house, the viewer is thinking, because we're seeing members of a big family getting together on Christmas Day. 

The Grandfather takes his seat on the dinner table, and compliments Millie, who turns to face her Lolo. "Kaya paborito ko po kayong Lolo eh," she says. Then the Grandfather notices that only Anna, a nurse, is missing from, we are led to believe, the dinner table (which is never shown in full). Cut to Anna, who, while washing her hands with Silka soap, says, "Ok, Dad, palabas na." So, she must be the bunso and has siblings in both of the two couples earlier shown (who should be with the Grandparents by now). 

Nurse Anna sits down and says, "Ok, guys, game? 1, 2, 3." The family picture is "taken" - screenshots of the members of the video conference call are shown, while merry Christmas music plays in the background. Turns out this was indeed a big family, and a gathering still, despite not being face to face. Family alaga knows no distance. 

You can watch the full video here.

Like these three generations of families keeping to their habit of self-care (pag-aalaga), Silka has been creating and making available affordable lines of effective products to help Filipino families achieve a glowing complexion and smoother skin. Their skincare line includes soap, lotion, facial cleanser, deodorant, body wash, and pearl creme. Since 2001 (nearly 20 years), Silka has been helping Filipinos achieve the kind of care (alaga) they long for. 

There's an emotional tug to the video: the holidays are when families get together, and that's made all the more difficult because of the social distancing necessitated by Covid-19 restrictions. But you don't get the feel that the families are settling for less with a video conference call - in fact they're still as lively as they would have been had they'd been face to face. 

The video's voice over ending is apt: "Naiba man ang takbo ng buhay, natural lang na ipadama sa isa't-isa ang alaga nating nandyan para sa kanila. Maalagang pasko mula sa Silka.”

Families take care of each other just as Silka takes care of you. If you want to experience a Maalagang Pasko with Silka, check out their products on Shopee (https://shopee.ph/mall/search?keyword=papaya&shop=27653726) and visit the official Silka Skincare Store on Lazada (https://www.lazada.com.ph/silka-skincare-store/?q=papaya&langFlag=en&from=wangpu&lang=en&pageTypeId=2&spm=a2o4l.10450891.searchbar.0). 

Don’t forget to follow @SilkaSkinCare on Facebook, Instagram, and Tiktok.

 

This Christmas love lives on TikTok

In the face of all the adversities and challenges that have come our way in 2020, the holiday season remains to be a bright, shining star that Filipinos can look forward to at the end of the year. As the biggest festival celebrated in the country, this Christmas serves as a bittersweet reminder to cherish every moment that we spend with our loved ones, whether face-to-face or online. 

 

Through a pandemic, back-to-back typhoons, and months spent physically far apart from our loved ones, we should remember that life goes on, no matter how hard things have become. In making every moment count, we must learn to continue on in life with love. 

 

This Christmas, love lives on TikTok. Here, we are able to preserve our precious memories of wonderful times that have passed, and we are given hope that the best still lies ahead. We realize that, no matter how tough the world out there might be, happiness and optimism will always be with us at home, where we are surrounded by the people that we care about.

 

 

The inspiration behind this video is family. Through TikTok, we are reminded that every moment we get to share with our cherished ones truly matters.

 

This Christmas, the entire TikTok community comes together to celebrate family, hope, and love. Post your #LoveLivesOnTikTok videos using this hashtag, both to inspire others, and also to memorialize your beloved holiday moments on the app. You may even win a special prize from TikTok this Christmas when you share your videos. 

 

On December 19, 2020, an All-Star Livestream will be taking place on the app, featuring host and content creator, Show Suzuki, with celebrity guest, Alex Gonzaga. Be entertained by their unforgettable antics at the talk show style event, as they reminisce about the year gone by. Watch Alex perform your favorite TikTok challenges, and get the chance to win amazing prizes to be given away by Show “Santa” Suzuki during the event. 

 

Mark your calendars, and be sure to take part in the love-filled Christmas celebration on TikTok this December. Download the app on your iOS and Android devices to see for yourself, how #LoveLivesOnTikTok.

REALMEOW’s bold and street-style design represents realme’s “Dare to Leap” spirit

realme Philippines, the no. 1 smartphone brand in the country, joins its global counterparts in the launch of realme’s official brand character – REALMEOW. REALMEOW is given the title Chief Trending Officer, destined to lead trends in tech, visuals and geek pop culture. REALMEOW, with its high-tech and trendsetting design, embodies the trendsetting attitude and diversified personalities of Gen Zs.  

 

REALMEOW’s bold and street-style design represents realme’s “Dare to Leap” spirit. Appropriately so, the brand character takes inspiration from cats – independent, fearless, agile and ready for breakthroughs. 

 

The official outer-worldly brand character of realme is co-designed by world-famous animator Mark Walsh. Walsh is the directing animator of Pixar’s Finding Nemo and character developer of Pixar’s Monsters, Inc. He believes that “characters start with passion. Defining the passion and the obstacles a character must overcome to achieve it is what makes a great personality of an identifiable character.” Walsh joined the realme Design Studio as creative consultant to create the trendsetting REALMEOW, having independence and fearlessness as the character’s core.

 

A trendsetting outer-worldly buddy

In designing REALMEOW, both Walsh and realme believed that it should showcase the culture favored by the young. This pushed the team to imbibe the mood and vibe of street-culture with some painting and sculpture elements for REALMEOW.

 

Though it takes huge inspiration from cats, Walsh and realme designed REALMEOW to be a mysterious creature from Trendsetting Planet. To complement its mainly yellow body, the character sports a pair of black laser glasses as an accessory. REALMEOW’s glasses can transform into any object in the blink of an eye, adding flare to its character’s sharp attitude. 

 

REALMEOW, as a perpetually 18-year-old extraterrestrial, is at the prime of its youth– teeming with vigor, passion and life. Just like many of its fellow Gen Zs, REALMEOW likes fried chicken and pizza. The cute alien buddy also loves jamming and dancing to rap songs and is good at skating and hip-hop dance.

 

REALMEOW will be the new trendsetting buddy of every realme fan, showing the world that this generation is ready to Dare to Leap. REALMEOW and realme fans will be championing youth empowerment to urge the young demographic worldwide to go beyond themselves and seize more possibilities.

 

realme Global launched a limited REALMEOW gift package to celebrate the new year with the youth across the globe. This merchandise will be available in the Philippines soon. In the future, realme will launch customized smartphone and AIoT products based on REALMEOW to underscore the need for a fearless, connected and trendsetting smart lifestyle.

 

To know more about realmeow and the many promos and products of realme Philippines, leap on to the official Facebook and Instagram accounts of the leading smartphone brand. 

 

The Jollibee Sweet Pies 6-pc. To-Go Box is the best thing to bring home this season!

Every Filipino passing by Jollibee for their favorite meals never leave the store without their favorite Peach Mango Pie or the new yummy Buko Pie—or both! These sweet and crispy treats make for great pasalubong for family and friends, because who doesn’t love them?

It’s a good thing, then, that you can get more Peach Mango and Buko Pies to share with everyone! That’s because Jollibee’s popular Sweet Pies now come in a convenient and delightful 6-pc. To-Go Box! It’s easier than ever to share the goodness of Buko and Peach Mango Pies with all your loved ones this holiday season!

“Our Sweet Pies have certainly been a hit with Jollibee fans, which is why we’ve come up with a way for everyone to have more of the treats they love!” said Mari Aldecoa, Jollibee Marketing Director for Complementary products. “The Sweet Pies 6-pc. To-Go Box is the best thing to bring home this season, for sure!”

Grab a 6-pc. To-Go Box of Jollibee Sweet Pies today in any of three combinations: 3 pieces each of Peach Mango and Buko Pies, 6 pieces of Peach Mango Pie, or 6 pieces of Buko Pie. It’s available now in all Metro Manila stores for only PHP175 via safe delivery through the Jollibee Delivery App, JollibeeDelivery.com, #87000, GrabFood, foodpanda, and LalaFood, as well as drive-thru, take-out, and dine-in Jollibee’s Luzon provincial, Visayas and Mindanao customers will also be able to enjoy the Sweet Pies 6-pc. To-Go Box starting on January 11, 2021. 

For more info and updates on Jollibee products, like Jollibee Philippines on Facebook, subscribe to Jollibee Studios on YouTube, and follow @jollibee on Twitter and Instagram.

These five simple tips will give doggos everywhere a merry Christmas!

Dogs are not just pets for fur-parents. They are part of the family and are involved in activities and household decisions. This is especially true for the Christmas season when everyone gets together and spends time with their loved ones. If you’re looking for ways to treat your doggos for the holidays, here are five simple things you can do so they can also have a jolly Christmas:

1. Take them out to admire the holiday decor. Dogs will love the colorful explosion of Christmas lights and decor, so try to schedule your walks in the evening. Let them explore this new version of the neighborhood, but always keep them on a leash so they don’t get too close and damage the decor or hurt themselves.

 

2. Snap holiday photos. Cap off 2020 with a cute photoshoot with your furbaby. The year may have been tough but you can snap some holiday photos to have fond memories amid uncertain times. The photos can be shot anywhere, but you can make it more “extra” by having your dogs wear costumes. Matching Christmas sweaters will always be a hit and guaranteed likes and tons of “awww” when you post photos on social media.

 

3. Get them a gift. Part of the Christmas tradition is to give gifts and there’s no reason why your dog shouldn’t get one too. Maybe it’s time to get a new set of toys or a more comfortable bed? You can also get them more of their favorite treats so they have something to look forward to every day. 

 

4. Extend cuddle time. They say some of the best gifts aren’t material things and the same could be applied to dogs. Make their Christmas more special by giving them more cuddles. The cold weather is the perfect time to snuggle up under a blanket while watching a movie. 

 

5. Upgrade to a healthier diet. Take their mealtime experience to the next level by improving their food. Ideally, their diet should consist of delicious yet nutritious dishes so they stay healthy. Tasty dog food will make them think there’s a special occasion every day.
6. 
   

Make mealtimes more exciting with Maxime, a premium dog food brand by Pilmico, which has over 20 years of experience in producing quality animal feeds. Maxime contains all the vitamins and nutrients so doggos stay happy, active, tough, and smart. It comes with prebiotics and probiotics for better immunity, DHA for a sharper mind, and Omega 3 and 6 for a healthy heart, and a shinier coat and fur.

 

Maxime is the newest brand in Pilmico’s long-standing history of providing quality animal

nutrition products, it comes in two variants created for puppies and adult dogs. Maxime Prime Dog Diet is made with the best ingredients for a complete and balanced diet. The adult variant is enhanced with probiotics, while both adult and puppy variants are specially formulated with prebiotics to better absorb nutrients; strengthen their hearts, bones, and teeth; and have a healthier tummy.

 

The Maxime Elite Prime Dog Diet is packed with high levels of prebiotics, antioxidants, and optimized omega 3 and 6. The Maxime Elite Puppy variant is enriched with DHA to promote brain development and a healthier immune system, while Maxime Elite Adult is fortified with omega 3 & 6 for a healthy heart and shinier fur and coat. Both variants contain added yucca extract to control stool odor and multi-animal proteins to reduce possible food allergies.

 

The best way fur-parents can show their love for their doggos is by giving them the best care possible. These five simple tips will give doggos everywhere a merry Christmas!

 

For more information about Maxime, visit @MaximePhilippines on Facebook.