Mare Of Easttown debuts same time as the U.S. on Monday, 19 April at 10am exclusively on HBO GO and HBO

I have recently watched Kate Winslet's exceptional performance in Blackbird, and heard about her incoming series, the Mare of Easttown!

Starring Academy Award, Emmy and Golden Globe-winner Kate Winslet (HBO’s “Mildred Pierce”), from creator and writer Brad Ingelsby (“The Way Back”), with all episodes directed by Craig Zobel (HBO’s “The Leftovers”), the seven-part limited series Mare Of Easttown debuts same time as the U.S. on Monday, 19 April at 10am exclusively on HBO GO and HBO, with a same day encore at 11pm on HBO. Ingelsby returned to his home state of Pennsylvania to write the series, an exploration into the dark side of a close community and an authentic examination of how family and past tragedies can define our present. Winslet stars as Mare Sheehan, a small-town Pennsylvania detective who investigates a local murder as life crumbles around her. 

Mare Of Easttown also stars Julianne Nicholson (HBO’s “The Outsider”) as “Lori Ross,” Mare’s best friend since childhood; three-time Emmy® winner Jean Smart (Emmy®-nominated for HBO’s “Watchmen”) as “Helen,” Mare's mother; Angourie Rice (“Black Mirror”) as “Siobhan Sheehan,” Mare’s teenaged daughter; Evan Peters (“American Horror Story”) as “Detective Colin Zabel,” the county detective called in to assist with Mare's investigation; Guy Pearce (Emmy® winner and Golden Globe® nominee for HBO’s “Mildred Pierce”) as “Richard Ryan,” a local creative writing professor; David Denman (“Outcast”) as “Frank Sheehan,” Mare’s ex-husband; Joe Tippett (“Rise”) as “John Ross,” Lori's husband and high school sweetheart; Cailee Spaeny (“Devs”) as “Erin McMenamin,” an isolated teen living with her volatile father; John Douglas Thompson (HBO Max film “Let Them All Talk”) as “Chief Carter,” Mare's boss at the Easttown Police Department; Patrick Murney (“Seven Seconds”) as “Kenny McMenamin,” Erin's father; James McArdle (“Ammonite”) as “Deacon Mark Burton”; Sosie Bacon (HBO’s “Here and Now”) as “Carrie Layden,” Drew’s mother and Kevin’s ex-girlfriend; and Neal Huff (HBO’s “The Wire”) as Mare’s cousin, “Father Dan Hastings”.

 

The limited series also stars Kate Arrington, Ruby Cruz, Eisa Davis, Enid Graham, Justin Hurtt-Dunkley, Izzy King, Mackenzie Lansing, Cameron Mann, Kiah McKirnan, Jack Mulhern, Anthony Norman, Drew Scheid, and Madeleine Weinstein.

 

Episodes Include:

 

Episode 1: “Miss Lady Hawk Herself”

Debut Date: Monday, 19 April at 10am on HBO GO and HBO

Series premiere. After answering a call about a neighborhood prowler, Detective Mare Sheehan (Kate Winslet) shoulders her chief’s directive to revive an unsolved missing person’s case amid increased community pressure. Later, while her loved ones celebrate her ex-husband Frank’s (David Denman) engagement, Mare attends a celebration for her legendary high school basketball win and connects with Richard (Guy Pearce), a professor who’s new in town. Written by Brad Ingelsby; Directed by Craig Zobel.

 

Episode 2: “Fathers”

Debut Date: Monday, 26 April at 10am on HBO GO and HBO

Mare (Kate Winslet) visits a grisly murder scene before informing the victim’s enraged father. As a video from the night of the crime surfaces, Mare questions suspects in the case and gives an icy welcome to County Detective Colin Zabel (Evan Peters), who’s been called in to assist. Later, Mare bumps heads with locals and airs concerns about her grandson Drew (Izzy King) in light of her late son’s mental health struggles. Written by Brad Ingelsby; Directed by Craig Zobel.

 

Episode 3: “Enter Number Two”

Debut Date: Monday, 3 May at 10am on HBO GO and HBO

As Mare (Kate Winslet) and Colin (Evan Peters) parse new physical evidence, phone records lead to an unlikely suspect. After lashing out at Helen (Jean Smart) about a possible custody fight over Drew (Izzy King), Mare receives some unprompted advice from Richard (Guy Pearce) on how to move forward with Carrie (Sosie Bacon). Later, Kenny (Patrick Murney) and Mare face the consequences of their misguided attempts to protect their families. Written by Brad Ingelsby; Directed by Craig Zobel.

 

Episode 4: “Poor Sisyphus”

Debut Date: Monday, 10 May at 10am on HBO GO and HBO

With Mare (Kate Winslet) forced to take a backseat on the case, Colin (Evan Peters) presses a local priest about the vague circumstances that prompted his transfer to the parish. Meanwhile, an anonymous call gives Dawn (Enid Graham) hope that Katie might still be alive. Written by Brad Ingelsby; Directed by Craig Zobel.

 

Episode 5: “Illusions”

Debut Date: Monday, 17 May at 10am on HBO GO and HBO

In her mandated therapy, Mare (Kate Winslet) opens up about her family’s history with mental health struggles. Meanwhile, Lori (Julianne Nicholson) tries to get to the bottom of her son’s outburst at school, and later, Mare meets with a semi-retired source to help find a possible connection to her three cases. Written by Brad Ingelsby; Directed by Craig Zobel.

 

Mare Of Easttown is an HBO co-production with wiip; creator/writer/showrunner/executive producer, Brad Ingelsby; director/executive producer, Craig Zobel; executive producer, Paul Lee through wiip; executive producer, Mark Roybal through wiip; executive producer, Kate Winslet; executive producer, Gavin O’Connor; executive producer, Gordon Gray through Mayhem Pictures.

 

Stream or download Mare Of Easttown on HBO GO. Download the app from the App Store or Play Store on your device. You can also access HBO GO via Cignal or at https://www.hbogoasia.com/. HBO GO is also available via Android TV, Apple TV, LG TV and Samsung Smart TV – and comes with AirPlay and Google Cast functionality.

Kathryn Bernardo is the new face of realme

realme is bent on making more possibilities come true for the Filipino youth this year with the launch of an exciting line-up of powerful smartphones. To amplify the pivotal role of a capable smartphone in the digital age, realme is collaborating with one of today’s most celebrated showbiz royalties -- Kathryn Bernardo! As realme Philippines gears up to maintain the momentum of being the country’s number 1 smartphone brand -- a feat achieved in just two years, Kathryn and realme are set to work on several campaigns that are sure to inspire more young, passionate and bold fans to leverage the power of technology in their quest for success.

Kathryn Bernardo is the most fitting representation of every realme Squad member: fun, determined, and unapologetically real. She embodies the modern-day young adult who is ready to put in the hustle in pursuit of success and fulfillment.  Having been in the showbiz limelight for almost two decades now, Kathryn has seen how the pivot to a more digital lifestyle significantly oiled daily nuts and bolts. From live auditions to online portfolios and content creation, Kathryn’s daily grind in showbusiness has greatly transitioned to digital - where everything is in the cloud and on smartphones. Seeing the crucial role of mobile devices in the lives of today’s youth and being a witness to realme’s own commitment to offering powerful yet attainable devices have convinced the showbiz A-lister to join the realme family. 

“My generation saw the dawn of the internet and the shift to digital. Iba na the expectations from young adults like me today. As we aim to perform and deliver better, we need brands like realme that can help us adopt a highly digital lifestyle. I am happy na I am now part of a brand that has the vision of making digital lifestyle experience more accessible to all Filipinos. I am a firm believer that all of us, regardless of financial capability, deserve to experience the help and convenience offered by technology,” notes Kathryn. The primetime queen remains active in using the online space to share more of her artistry and real self to fans, racking up a fan base of more than 33 million across all her social media accounts. 

realme Philippines’ Vice President for Marketing Austine Huang shares, “As we leap to a new era of digital lifestyle experience, we prioritize collaborating with organizations and young ideators with the same passion and commitment to deliver the beauty of technology to more Filipinos. This is why we are beyond elated to work with one of the entertainment industry’s most talented game-changers. We are excited to leap to several exciting projects and break more boundaries with Kathryn this year.”

realme and Kathryn will be rolling out several campaigns this 2021 to promote the exciting array of smartphones the leading smart technology brand will be launching. The announcement of its first brand ambassador is among the many milestones realme gears to achieve this year as it maintains its momentum as one of the Filipinos’ top preferred smartphone brands. To stay updated and know more about the realme events and promos, you may visit and follow realme’s official Facebook and Instagram accounts.

The Seven Deadly Sins -Imperial Wrath of the Gods-, One Punch Man and Cells at Work is now on TrueID Philippines and GEM on Cignal

Fans of Japanese entertainment in the Philippines will now be able to watch Animax and GEM on more screens. KC Global Media Asia, the network that owns and operates Asian content leaders Animax, GEM, and ONE along with leading English general entertainment channel AXN, launches Animax on TrueID Philippines and GEM on Cignal.

Avani Bhanchawat, Vice President and Head of Revenue at KC Global Media Asia, says “The Philippines is home to an established, continuously growing fan base for Japanese dramas, and the

demand for anime in the country is among the highest anywhere in the world. There is an undeniable appetite for Japanese content in the Philippines, and KC Global Media Asia is delighted to add GEM to our offering on Cignal and equally excited to bring Animax to the TrueID platform, to show our commitment in bringing quality Japanese entertainment to even more Filipino viewers.”

While Animax has been available in the Philippines for nearly two decades, its launch on TrueID Philippines makes history as the channel’s content becomes available for the first time on an AVOD or Advertising-based Video on Demand service. Fans will now be able to stream full anime episodes completely for free on the TrueID platform, an offshoot of Thailand’s leading digital lifestyle app and a new player in the Philippine market.

Animax continues to be the leading destination for anime across a variety of genres and the home to well-loved classics and blockbuster content distributed within the same day of their telecast in Japan. Among the many hit programs available on TrueID Philippines this April are fan favorites The Seven Deadly Sins -Imperial Wrath of the Gods-, One Punch Man and Cells at Work!.

Meanwhile, subscribers of Cignal Postpaid Plan 290 and up and Prepaid Load 300 and up can look forward to the best of Japanese entertainment hitting their screens following the much-awaited launch of GEM on the country’s premier Direct-To-Home satellite provider. Viewers can now watch GEM on Ch 173 on Cignal.

GEM, the youngest in KC Global Media Asia’s network of channels, offers an expanded roster of fresh-run and exclusive dramas as well as variety entertainment shows from leading Japanese studios. This includes select prime time dramas airing close to their broadcast in Japan.

This April, fans are in for a treat with the premiere of new drama series Nemesis starring Sho Sakurai of ARASHI and Suzu Hirose on April 17, Saturdays at 8.40PM, within the same week of airing in Japan, and Cursed in Love starring Ryusei Yokohama and Minami Hamabe on April 13, Tuesdays and Wednesdays at 8.45PM. GEM’s very first original co-production with Kansai TV Budget Trip in Japan, premiering April 27, Tuesdays at 7.50PM, is also sure to delight viewers nationwide.

PhilCare gained top recognition at the 18th Philippine Quill Awards

PhilCare, one of the country’s most preferred health maintenance organizations (HMO), soars to new heights in its quest to deliver smarter healthcare for Filipinos as its groundbreaking initiatives gained top recognition at the 18th Philippine Quill Awards.

 

Leading the list of Quill Awards for the company is the PhilCare Community Quarantine Wellness Index which won the top prize for Communications Research category. The PhilCare CQ Wellness Index looked into the actual state of well-being of Filipinos amid the imposition of the first enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) following the declaration of the COVID-19 pandemic in March 2020.

 

A total of 800 respondents from all walks of life nationwide were interviewed through mobile phones to get a big picture of how they responded to the effects of the lockdowns and the pandemic as a whole. 

 

The study revealed that Filipinos prayed a lot more while greatly cutting down on vices during the first lockdown. Interestingly also, nearly all respondents back then were most concerned with a possible “second wave” of COVID-19.

 

The PhilCare CQ Wellness Index was also nominated to receive the top award for COVID Communications, a special division in this year’s Quills dedicated to business communication efforts in response to the pandemic. Meanwhile, the study’s publicity effort also won a Quill award of merit under the Communications Management division.

 

Organized by the International Association of Business Communicators – Philippines (IABC Philippines), the Philippine Quill is the country’s most prestigious business communications awards program. Programs and projects are awarded on the basis of excellent communication use to achieve business goals and to make a difference in society.

 

“Being responsive to the needs of our audience is always important to us. Given that COVID-19 and the lockdowns quickly changed the way we live, we wanted to get their pulse in the fastest and most accurate manner possible, especially with regard to their health. This is why we conducted the PhilCare CQ Wellness Index,” said PhilCare President and CEO Jaeger L. Tanco.

 

“Now that we are more informed with more relevant data, we are in a position to help our fellow Filipinos bounce back better by developing new products, services, and programs that are in tune with the times,” said PhilCare Director Eusebio H. Tanco

 

Another responsive effort relative to the first ECQ that won was the Wellness From Home (WFH) video series, which bagged a Quill award of excellence under the Communications Skills division. 

 

The videos, uploaded on PhilCare’s Facebook page following the implementation of the first lockdowns, featured exercises taught by fitness experts to help followers achieve optimal wellness despite being unable to go out to exercise. These have reached over 900,000 people, of which at least 330,000 have viewed them.

 

The 2019 PhilCare Wellness Index and the HMO’s prepaid health cards program also bagged Quill merit awards.

 

“We are thankful to IABC Philippines for acknowledging PhilCare’s efforts to deliver relevant health and wellness information, which audiences greatly need during this pandemic,” Jaeger added.

 

BDO have been recognized with six Excellence and Merit awards at the recently held “Arise: The 18th Philippine Quill Awards”

Remember Piolo Pascual in Starting Over vids in BDO Remit? That was the most watched and engaged vids in my FB page and it touched the heart of every filipinos. No wonder, it won The Quill Awards. 

BDO Unibank’s efforts to keep its clients and the general public informed have been recognized with six Excellence and Merit awards at the recently held “Arise: The 18th Philippine Quill Awards”, which “honor exemplary communication research, programs, skills, and creative work.”

 

The Quill Awards was organized by the Philippine office of the International Association of Business Communicators (IABC), a global membership association whose members represent various communications discipline including public relations, media relations, corporate communications, public affairs, government relations, community relations, to name a few.

 

BDO received an Excellence Award in the Social Media Programs category for engaging with TikTokers, an emerging set of online influencers, to start conversations about its BDO Remit videos on the social media platform as well as help bring joy to overseas Filipinos and their beneficiaries at home.

The BDO Remit videos starring endorser Piolo Pascual were launched last year. To bring them closer to customers, the bank partnered with Star Magic’s Rise Artists Studio to have Piolo guest on its “We Rise Together” online show, and get support from its online influencer network. This strategy gave BDO an Excellence Award in the Media Relations category.

 

Meanwhile, the bank’s “Kabayan, Kasangga, Kasama” campaign, which created awareness for its BDO Remit videos bagged a Merit Award in the Marketing, Advertising, and Brand Communication category. The campaign culminated in one of the first virtual presscons in the Philippines amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

 

BDO also brought home accolades in the Audio/Visual category for its advocacy videos aimed at different target audiences:

·      An Excellence Award for its “Banking on the Filipino” video, which features the bank’s financial inclusion programs and inspires support from its managers and executives during its annual officers meeting;

·      A Merit Award for its video for millennials, which features young influencer Angelique Manto getting advice from BDO brand ambassador Pia Wurtzbach on how she can follow in her footsteps and manage her finances better; and

·      A Merit Award for its Valentine’s Day-themed financial education video, “Payo para sa Puso,” which was developed as a response to a report that shows the need for millennials to handle their money more responsibly. 

 

Communications Excellence. IABC Philippines recognized BDO Unibank during Arise: The 18th Philippine Quill Awards, which honor exemplary communication research, programs, skills, and creative work. The bank received Awards of Excellence and Merit for its effective communication campaign, media and influencer engagement, and financial advocacy videos.

PayMaya users can now add money to their PayMaya account at the Mall Information Booth

PayMaya is making it even more convenient for Filipinos to make the cashless shift as it expands its Add Money partnership with The SM Store, allowing PayMaya customers to easily transact and add funds to their accounts at close to 600 additional top-up locations nationwide.

 

On top of the service being available at The SM Store branches nationwide, PayMaya users can now add money to their PayMaya account at the Mall Information Booth, Servicio and bills payment counters located in SM Supermarket, SM Savemore, SM Hypermarket, and Waltermart touchpoints across the country.

 

These new Add Money channels are the latest addition to PayMaya’s extensive network of over 200,000 touchpoints nationwide – the widest in the country to date - where customers can add, transact, and send money for their day-to-day needs.  

 

“With cashless now being the default and preferred mode of payment for many Filipinos, giving them access to safe and accessible ways to add money to their accounts is very important. We are glad to expand on our partnership with SM Supermalls so that our customers can enjoy the cashless convenience," said Shailesh Baidwan, PayMaya President. 

 

Adding money at the SM branch near you is easy— all you have to do is follow these simple steps: 

 

1. On the PayMaya app’s home screen, select Add Money 
2. Tap the SM icon 
3. Enter the amount you want to add to your account (minimum P100 and maximum of P20,000) and select Continue 
4. You will get a 7-digit code. Go to the customer service counter at The SM Store or the Bills Payment counter at SM Supermarket, SM Savemore, or SM Hypermarket and present this code along with your payment to the cashier 
5. Wait for an SMS confirmation, and that’s it! You can now pay for your purchases using your PayMaya account.

 

After adding money to your PayMaya account, you can now enjoy safe, convenient, and rewarding contactless transactions at The SM Store or your favorite restaurants at SM Supermalls via PayMaya’s #BetterQR. You can also pay cashless for your groceries at SM Hypermarket and SM Supermarket using your PayMaya card.  

 

With all the benefits and rewards of going cashless waiting for you, it’s a great time to start using PayMaya! Just download the PayMaya app at https://official.paymaya.com/CAK1/425eb133 and register an account to find out what it’s like to go cashless with the fastest, safest, and most rewarding way to pay for anything online and in stores. Remember, don’t pay cash. PayMaya! 

 

PayMaya is the only end-to-end digital payments ecosystem enabler in the Philippines with platforms and services that cut across consumers, merchants, communities, and government. Through its enterprise business, it is the largest digital payments processor for key industries in the country including "everyday" merchants such as the largest retail, food, gas, and eCommerce merchants as well as government agencies and units.   

 Through its app and wallet, PayMaya provides over 28 million Filipinos with access to financial services. Customers can conveniently pay, add money, cash out or remit through its over 200,000 digital touchpoints nationwide. Its Smart Padala by PayMaya network of over 33,000 partner agent touchpoints nationwide serves as last-mile digital financial hubs in communities, providing the unbanked and underserved with access to digital services. To know more about PayMaya's products and services, visit www.PayMaya.com or follow @PayMayaOfficial on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. 

Enjoy the must-catch Summer Edition of Mang Inasal’s Takeout and Delivery Blowout!

As a special Blowout treat this summer, Mang Inasal is giving two free solo servings of Palabok for every order of Mang Inasal Chicken Inasal Large Family Size.

 

The must-catch Summer Edition of Mang Inasal’s Takeout and Delivery Blowout runs from April 9 to 23, 2021.

 

The Summer Blowout allows families to enjoy scrumptious Mang Inasal Palabok—be it for lunch, merienda, or dinner — together with their fave Chicken Inasal!

Enjoy a special treat from Mang Inasal this summer season! Buy one Chicken Inasal Large Family Size and get two Palabok Solos for free! The Mang Inasal Takeout and Delivery Blowout - Summer edition runs from April 9 to 23, 2021. Order via GrabFood, foodpanda, Mang Inasal Delivery Service or through Mang Inasal’s Facebook Messenger.

Customers enjoy Mang Inasal Palabok’s delectable sauces and scrumptious pork chunks, sautéed with the right amount of spices, topped with smokey tinapa bits, crunchy chicharon, slices of hard-boiled egg, and chopped spring onions.

 

Give in to your food cravings! Order Mang Inasal Chicken Inasal Large Family Size – alongside your other all-time Mang Inasal favorites – via GrabFood, foodpanda, Mang Inasal Delivery Service or through Mang Inasal’s Facebook Messenger.

 

For a complete listing of the branches that offer takeout and delivery services, visit https://stores.jfc.com.ph/manginasal.html. Interested parties can likewise join the Mang Inasal Viber Community group to keep track of the latest promos and product offers nationwide.

Astra is touted as the ideal home for Filipino millennials

According to study, millennials are the biggest demographic of customers on the property platform’s website. They are most interested in buying their own homes/ condominiums rather than renting. 

Millennial Filipinos, or Filipinos born between 1981 to 1996, are ticking one ‘adulting’ goal after the other. While some aspire to start a family, most young professionals are focused on their careers, preferring to slug it out in highly competitive workplaces and earn fat paychecks in the process. This often results in substantial savings that, in the past, they would splurge in travel and leisure pursuits, the latest gadgets, or even brand-new cars. 

However, the corona virus pandemic has reportedly changed millennials’ spending patterns—for the better. With health protocols restricting their social lives and putting a damper on their travel plans, young adults—aged 20 to 30—are now investing their money in property. Real estate experts affirm this, crediting the positive trend to attractive payment terms offered by developers and the new flexible work arrangements. 

Indeed, as Work From Home modes propel the pleasure-seeking generation towards home ownership, these young Filipinos would do well to check out BRIA Homes’ Astra Vertical Villages, the leading housing developer’s newly launched affordable condominiums. 

Astra is touted as the ideal home for Filipino millennials because of its starter-pack price. 

Following its reliable formula, Mura (Affordability) + Dekalidad (Quality) = A Beautiful BRIA Home for Every Filipino, BRIA has made it possible for young professionals to purchase an Astra home for as low as Php 10,000 monthly amortization through flexible payment schemes. 

These four-story mid-rise condo properties feature 24-square-meter units with bedroom, dining and kitchen area, living area, and toilet and bath. Turning their sleek and stylish units into their personal living spaces will be as easy as moving in.

 

For the peace of mind of millennials with busy career pursuits, Astra properties ensure all residents’ security and safety along with a competent property management that sees to their property-related concerns. Astra homeowners also relish such amenities that are unheard of in affordable high-rises: a communal clubhouse with function halls, swimming pools, play areas, and gym facilities.

 

Astra Vertical Villages are set to rise in three progressive cities: General Trias, Cavite; Calamba, Laguna; and Cagayan de Oro, Misamis Oriental. Astra will include provisions for a school, a wet and dry market and a food park. 

Red Rosales, President of BRIA, is confident that the young generation of Filipinos has become more financially savvy than their elders. “The health crisis has truly made them wiser and more practical,” he says. “They now acknowledge that property is the safest investment because of its projected appreciation over the years.” And Astra Vertical Villages, he affirms, comes in as a very timely option for Generation Y Filipinos who have a flourishing career and a steady income.

 

Millennials and other interested home buyers can check out all BRIA properties by taking 360 virtual tours in BRIA’s website. They can also reserve a house online via BRIA’s online reservations, or inquire through the BRIA Facebook page. 

 

BRIA Homes is a subsidiary of GOLDEN MV Holdings, Inc., one of the largest real estate companies in the country. BRIA Homes is primed to bring quality and affordable house and lot packages and condominium units closer to ordinary Filipino families. This is the goal that drives every single employee in the company, for which the ultimate fulfillment is seeing a client happily moving into BRIA’s homes.

 

To know more, visit their website at www.bria.com.ph, like and follow “Bria Homes, Inc.” on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, Pinterest, Spotify, Viber Community, Telegram Channel, Kakao Talk, LINE and WhatsApp, or call 0939-887-9637

Getting a vaccine is a pathway back to normalcy

Getting the vaccine as soon as its available to you and your family is vital for everyone's protection. 

As we wanted to stop the virus from spreading, the only thing that we could do for the moment is to stay at home and disinfect everything. Do our business online as we wait for the vaccine. 

As government mulls extending the enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) in the so-called NCR Plus bubble until April 18 to slow down the spread of COVID-19, the rollout of vaccines must also be accelerated to help jumpstart a laggard economy.

According to BDO Unibank chief investment officer Frederico Rafael "Fritz" D. Ocampo, it is imperative that these two things be implemented for things to get back to normal.

"The pandemic is a public health issue, and so everybody wants to reopen the economy. Everybody wants to get back to normal. But the main issue is controlling the COVID spread and accelerating the vaccine rollout. Unless we're able to do these two top of mind and priority issues, then all of our dreams of getting back to normal will remain just a dream," he said in an interview with CNN Philippines. "What we have learned during the past year is when you have prolonged mobility restrictions, especially when you have a total lockdown of the economy, it just creates a lot of unemployed people and we tend to worsen the problem."

 

Ocampo also lamented the unenviable task facing the government right now amid the continuous surge of COVID-19 cases.

"It's a major challenge. The balancing act that you have to do right now is saving lives against saving jobs or saving the economy," he added. "We have to contain COVID and we have to accelerate the delivery of vaccines and start rolling them out in a more aggressive way. The sooner we do that, then the better it will be for our recovery, our reopening of the Philippine economy." 

 

According to OCTA Research, the number of COVID-19 cases is expected to continue to surge for the next couple of weeks despite the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases' decision to place NCR Plus (Metro Manila, Bulacan, Cavite, Laguna, and Rizal) under a general community quarantine bubble from March 22 to April 4.

 

Under the ECQ bubble, travel to and from Metro Manila and the four adjacent provinces is not allowed unless deemed as essential. These areas were also placed under a 10PM-5AM curfew. With these restrictions, the government hopes this will result to lesser increase in COVID-19 cases.

On March 29, the Philippines recorded 10,016 more COVID-19 cases, bringing the total count of newly-confirmed infections to 731,894, of which 115,495 are active cases.

To help jumpstart the economy, Ocampo opined the recovery of micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) must likewise be one of the priorities. 

 

"The proposed ARISE (Accelerated Recovery and Investments Stimulus for the Economy of the Philippines) bill is still in the backburner. The longer we prolong the pain of the MSMEs, the more people will lose their jobs. The scarring could be permanent," he said.

The ARISE Bill, passed by the House of Representatives in third and final reading last year seeks to extend support to micro, small, and medium enterprises and other sectors affected by the pandemic

 

"We cannot talk yet of how they (MSMEs) are rebuilding because they're still in pain. More and more companies have declared downsizing this late in the game. They need assistance and they need it now. If we assist them, they they'll hire their old workers back again. And these workers will consume, and that's what we need. We are a service-driven economy," Ocampo added. # # #

 

BDO chief investment officer Frederico Rafael "Fritz" D. Ocampo (right) talks with Rico Hizon of CNN Philippines.

Shanti Dope’s hit single Amatz is featured in a scene on episode 3 of The Falcon and The Winter Soldier premiere season

The Falcon and The Winter Soldier is the most watched title overall globally for Disney+. Shanti Dope’s hit single Amatz is featured in a scene on episode 3 of its premiere season. This song made quite a headline when it was first released back in March 2019. Two years since its release, Shanti’s single is back making waves as it hits the international scene. Although this is not a first international achievement for the young hip hop artist as American pop singer Sabrina Carpenter teamed up with him for the song “Almost Love” in 2018.

 

The Falcon and The Winter Soldier is an american television miniseries produced for the streaming service Disney+ based on Marvel Comics characters Sam Wilson (Falcon) and Bucky Barnes (Winter Soldier). Set in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, it takes place after the events of Avengers Endgame (2019).

 

Watch the “Amatz” official music video on Universal Records YouTube Channel and stream on Spotify, Apple Music, YouTube Music, Amazon Music, Deezer, and all digital stores worldwide under Universal Records.

 

Official Music Video

Spotify