Dinagyang Festival's return to the city’s streets exceeded expectations

With thousands of domestic and foreign visitors packing various festival activities, Dinagyang’s return to the city’s streets exceeded expectations, according to Mayor Jerry P. Treñas.

A “complete success” was how he described the festival’s return to a face-to-face celebration after two years of restrictions due to the coronavirus disease pandemic.

“Everyone wanted a strong comeback…It was a complete success and this showed that Dinagyang and our Sto. Niño are beyond politics,” added Treñas. Dinagyang Festival is known far and wide for its participants’ impressive choreography and striking costumes that reflect Ilonggo ingenuity, craftsmanship and artistry. Treñas congratulated the Iloilo Festivals Foundation, Inc. (IFFI), organizer of Dinagyang 2023, the participating tribes and corporate sponsors, among others.

“I acknowledge all our sponsors from the private sector for their significant contributions in the success of Dinagyang. Of course, sa inyo tanan, mga pinalangga ko nga Ilonggo. Ang tanan nga ini bangud sa inyo kag para man sa inyo. Your strong support in all our activities played a meaningful role in the overall success of the festival,” said Treñas. The festival’s top sponsor was SM City Iloilo; it also served as venue for many Dinagyang activities, including the first-ever Dinagyang Ilomination on Jan.21, Batchoy Festival, festival costumes exhibit, and concert of various performing artists including Asia’s Pop Heartthrob Darren Espanto, among others.

The festivities were graced by no less than First Lady of the Philippines Atty. Liza Araneta Marcos and some prominent government officials including House Speaker Martin Romualdez, Senators Risa Hontiveros, Jinggoy Estrada, Mark Villar, Francis Tolentino, Bong Revilla, former senator Franklin Drilon, among others. YouTube sensation Small Laude, broadcast journalist Karen Davila, lifestyle columnist and philanthropist Tessa Prieto Valdez, television presenter and entrepreneur Tim Yap were also there to join the festivities. They were warmly welcomed by Iloilo City Mayor Jerry Treñas and SM Supermalls president Steven Tan. 

Several dignitaries from foreign embassies attended the festivities as well: Romanian Ambassador to the Philippines HE Raduta Dana Matache with Mr. Constantin Matache ;  Indonesian Ambassador to the Philippines HE Agus Widjojo and his wife, Mme. Ranny Agus Widjojo; Royal Thai Ambassador to the Philippines HE Tull Traisorat;  Royal Norwegian Ambassador to the Philippines HE Christian Halaas Lyster;  Hungary Ambassador to the Philippines HE Titanilla Toth; Embassy of Polland Ambassador to the Philippines HE Jaroslaw Szczepankiewicz ; Embassy of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka Charge d'Affaires, a.i. Ms. P.G.P. Kaushalya; Consul General of Japan in Cebu  Hideki Yamaji; and Embassy of the United States in the Philippines Chief Consuls Kristofer Graf and Leo Balantac; 

Dinagyang is the Hiligaynon word for revelry or "merrymaking." The festival is Iloilo City’s version of the Ati-atihan celebrations widely observed not only in Panay Island but also in other parts of the country.

Two of the many foreign dignitaries who graced the festival were full of praises.

Smart partners with all-in-one money app, Maya, to launch 'Power Savings'

Mobile services provider Smart Communications, Inc. has partnered with all-in-one money app, Maya, to launch 'Power Savings,' an exclusive promo that enables postpaid subscribers to grow their savings faster.  

 

Under the exclusive promo running from Jan. 16 to Feb. 28, Smart Postpaid subscribers with Plan 999 and up, and who have upgraded their Maya Savings account, can earn an interest rate of up to 7% per annum credited daily - from the base interest rate of 4.5% — one of the highest in the market.  

 

This gives qualified postpaid subscribers a unique opportunity to grow their money faster and extra cash daily to help them achieve their financial goals.  

Moreover, subscribers can enjoy FREE InstaPay transactions when they transfer funds from other banks to Maya and switch to Maya Savings.   

 

To avail of Power Savings, eligible Smart Postpaid subscribers simply have to follow these steps:   

 

First, join Maya and upgrade your account. First-time users can get up to PHP 60.00 Welcome Reward upon upgrade.  

 

Open a Maya Savings account and go to “Missions” in the app, look for “Smart Postpaid Exclusive” mission and enter the unique Smart Postpaid code (to be sent by Smart via SMS).   

 

Spend a minimum of PHP 999.00 using Maya on paying for your Smart Postpaid bill or any other bill, scanning to pay, paying with Maya card or shopping online. (Tip: Cash in at least PHP 1,500.00 via InstaPay and get a PHP 25.00 service fee cashback) 

 

Enjoy the daily 7% saving interest rate (for up to PHP 100,000.00 end-of-day deposit balance) 

 

All Maya Savings account holders may also avail of the FREE Maya Card, inside the app.   

 

Download the Maya App now   

 

Free to download and register, the Maya app packs a feature-rich e-wallet, an inclusive digital bank, and everything else you need to save, spend, grow, and manage your money—right from your smartphone. 

 

The app is powered by its very own Maya Bank, a Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP)-licensed and Philippine Deposit Insurance Corporation (PDIC)-insured bank to ensure that the money remains safe and secure. With its 99.9% uptime rate, users can expect their transactions to be seamless and with less downtimes.  

 

Maya was originally known as PayMaya, a leading e-wallet app in the Philippines. It recently rebranded to Maya as it evolved beyond payments with the launch of its own banking and crypto services. This makes Maya the Philippines’ first and only all-in-one money app as it brings together banking, crypto, and wallet features into a seamless customer experience.  

 

Register your Smart SIM  

 

Smart Postpaid’s exclusive partnership with Maya for subscribers is just one of the many ways the mobile services provider empowers customers with the best postpaid experience.  

 

On top of award-winning services, Smart Postpaid subscribers can expect more exclusive rewards and benefits this 2023. 

 

To keep enjoying Smart's services and perks, postpaid subscribers are encouraged to complete their SIM Registration by confirming the personal information and IDs they submitted for their postpaid plan application. To do this confirmation, subscribers just need to text YES to 5858. They shall then receive a confirmation message from Smart upon successful SIM Registration and get FREE 3 GB data.  

 

Know the best Smart Signature Plan for your lifestyle at www.smart.com.ph/postpaid. 

 

To know more about this exclusive offer, visit https://www.maya.ph/smartpostpaidoffers.

 

 

Your 2023 Survival Kit has everything in the mix

Set the tone early for a bright and successful year ahead

Answer the questions Uso Pa Ba ang New Year's Resolution? with DJ Chacha and Sam YG, and be empowered about moving at your own pace because really, life’s not a race. Or, if resolutions aren’t for you, Bianca Gonzales’ “What's Your Theme For 2023? shares tips on building a theme for yourself.

Will Dasovich’s My 5 core goals for 2023, Inka Magnaye’s New Year's Resolution, as well as Nana Silayro’s New Year, New Me! Talaga ba? guides listeners on actionable steps towards achieving their goals. Remember, no resolution is big or small; they're all just as important as the other. 

Balance is the key: keep a well-rounded perspective on all aspects of life

Check out episodes designed to help you through your journey — be it around work, family, or self-healing. Catch power couple, Slater Young and Kryz Uy letter from the sky, as they discuss what it means to leave home and move to a bigger city. Or join KoolPals’ Donna't be Sad sa Work as they joke and jest through solutions to the question: “pa’no ba maging happy sa work?” 

Green flags only! Build a healthy outlook on love and relationships

2023 Survival Kit has everything in the mix, including a sensible and spicy mix of shows about love and relationships. From Boiling Waters' Career or Lovelife discussion, Hugot Marcelo’s Ito na, bibitaw na episode on the art of letting go, to The Sexytime Podcast’s candid and naughty Quickie Q&A — these episodes are ready to set the tone for a happy, heartbreak-free February.

Cebu Pacific’s Unbeatable Seat Sales: Paving the Way for a Full Recovery

You may have heard that Cebu Pacific is getting back on its feet and is expecting to be back to normal by 2023. This is great news, considering how the pandemic has affected so many people and businesses. Cebu Pacific is doing all it can to be back up and running as soon as possible, and this includes its unbeatable seat sales.

Cebu Pacific President and Chief Commercial Officer Xander Lao proudly announces that the airline is close to pre-pandemic capacity at its "Let's Fly Every Juan" campaign launch. 

Cebu Pacific (CEB), the Philippines’ leading carrier, is firmly in place for full recovery in 2023 and expects to restore 100% of its pre-COVID network and capacity in March, aided by its unbeatable seat sales, widest domestic network, and reinstatement of all its international destinations. 

CEB, which has restored 92% of its pre-COVID capacity since December, will connect passengers to more places by increasing the frequencies to these international destinations: 

Route	From	To
Manila – Bangkok – Manila	14x weekly	18x weekly by March
Manila – Brunei – Manila	2x weekly	4x weekly by March
Manila – Sydney – Manila	4x weekly	5x weekly by March
Manila – Guangzhou - Manila	1x weekly	2x weekly by January

 
The airline will also fully restore its flights to all its 25 international destinations in 14 countries by March 2023. Here are the newly resumed flights: 

Route	Frequency
Manila – Melbourne – Manila	3x weekly by March 26
Manila – Macau – Manila	3x weekly by March
Manila – Shanghai – Manila	1x weekly by January 19
Manila – Shenzhen – Manila	1x weekly by January 29
Manila – Xiamen – Manila	1x weekly by February

CEB, the first airline in the country to offer promo fares which allowed every kind of Juan to travel to their dream vacations, ensures the affordability of its air fare in 2023. It will remain true to its commitment from 27 years ago to make every Juan fly, by offering seat sales to encourage travel across its widest domestic and international network. 

“We are excited to welcome more passengers onboard, especially now that we are back to easier times. We are proud to announce that Cebu Pacific has emerged stronger after nearly three years of pandemic, and that we are ready to give our customers a better flying experience. And so, we confidently say—‘Let’s Fly, Every Juan’,” said Candice Iyog, Cebu Pacific Chief Marketing and Customer Experience Officer. 

CEB is offering a special seat sale from January 27 to 31, 2023, allowing every Juan to fly internationally for as low as PHP 499 one-way base fare. Select domestic destinations are on sale too – all with a travel period of June 01 to November 30, 2023.  

To address passenger demand, CEB -- one of the few airlines in the world to accept aircraft deliveries during the pandemic -- will receive 10 brand new planes in 2023: three A320neo, three A321neo, and four A330neo. 

Watch Out For Korean Singer JAYDEN As He Joins JulieVer’s ‘Pag-ibig Na Kaya’ Mini-Series!

Universal Records recently announced a very exciting new mini-series called Pag-ibig Na Kaya in support of the much-anticipated release of Julie Anne San Jose and Rayver Cruz’s remake of the known mid 2000s love song.

While the JulieVer couple is set to top-bill this project, they will also be joined by two Korean talents, one is the previously announced actor Kim Won-shik who appeared on dramas True Beauty and Alchemy of Souls Season 1, the other one is a dashing idol who has a knack for singing beautiful tunes.

Everyone, meet JAYDEN. 

Yoon Jay-den (윤제이든) is a South Korean-German singer under PARKYOON Entertainment. He’s fluent in English and is actually a pre-debut member of the group DS BOYS (now known as LUMINOUS)

JAYDEN eventually became a soloist and made his debut in July 2021 with his single “26”, followed by “SEE U AGAIN” Meanwhile, his latest release “Don’t Leave Me” which came out September last year now has almost 100,000 streams on Spotify. 

Fast forward to 2023, he’s ecstatic to become a part of this local production spearheaded by UR. In Pag-ibig Na Kaya, JAYDEN portrays himself — as a K-Pop artist.

He shares, “Actually, I’m very honored because I’ve never had a film or series before. So, it’s really my first time acting and again I’m very honored.”

The Korean singer also expressed his delight in working with JulieVer and the entire production. “It was my first time meeting Rayver and Julie Anne and they were super nice. I’ve never had a project like this before and I’ve had so much fun shooting the scenes,” he happily says.

JAYDEN adds, “I can’t speak in Filipino so they wrote my script in English. It was easy for me to memorize it. For me the storyline is good. It’s my first time acting so I was nervous at first but everyone was so nice and the actors are nice. I had so much fun. I hope the Filipino fans like it. I hope they can find something very refreshing and special in this mini-series.”

JAYDEN is also set to be announced as part of the Universal Records artist roster this year.

Pag-ibig Na Kaya, the mini-series is written by JP Lopez and directed by Niq Ablao. It’s coming out this February.

 

Disney+ rang in the New Year with streaming debut of Marvel Studios’ “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever”

 

Disney+ rang in the New Year with fans of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, announcing the Feb. 1 streaming debut of Marvel Studios’ “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever.” Key art and a new TV spot are now available to download and share.

In anticipation of the film’s upcoming streaming debut, Proximity Media, in collaboration with Marvel Studios and Marvel Entertainment, released “Wakanda Forever: The Official Black Panther Podcast.” Audiences are invited to listen and learn about the exciting and emotional journey to make the film over the course of six episodes. The first episode is out now on the “Wakanda Forever: The Official Black Panther Podcast” feed, available on all major podcast platforms and at ProximityMedia.com. Five additional episodes will be available weekly beginning Jan. 18. You can preview the rest of the season with a brand-new trailer.

In Marvel Studios’ “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever,” Queen Ramonda (Angela Bassett), Shuri (Letitia Wright), M’Baku (Winston Duke), Okoye (Danai Gurira) and the Dora Milaje (including Florence Kasumba) fight to protect their nation from intervening world powers in the wake of King T’Challa’s death. As the Wakandans strive to embrace their next chapter, the heroes must band together with the help of War Dog Nakia (Lupita Nyong’o) and Everett Ross (Martin Freeman) and forge a new path for the kingdom of Wakanda. Introducing Tenoch Huerta Mejía as Namor, ruler of a hidden undersea nation, the film also stars Dominique Thorne, Michaela Coel, Mabel Cadena and Alex Livinalli. “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever,” directed by Ryan Coogler and produced by Kevin Feige and Nate Moore, will be available on Disney+ starting February 1.

Access available film press materials athttps://dam.gettyimages.com/thewaltdisneystudios/blackpantherwakandaforever.

Twitter: @DisneyPlusPH; @MarvelStudiosPH; @theblackpanther Instagram: @DisneyPlusPH; @MarvelPhilippines; @blackpanther Facebook: @DisneyPlusPH; @MarvelPhilippines; @BlackPantherMovieTikTok: @DisneyPlusPH

Hashtag: #DisneyPlusPH, #WakandaForever

Igloo eyes more opportunities to drive financial inclusion in the Philippines with US$ 27-M in fresh funding

 

Following a successful $27-M Series B+ funding, regional insurtech Igloo is gearing up to further accelerate financial inclusion in Southeast Asia. Seeing tremendous growth in the Philippines, Igloo will be allocating a portion of the funding to deploy more insurance solutions and increase coverage across the country. 

 

The first investment in Southeast Asia, the recent funding round was led by a group of global institutional investors, highlighting their shared mission of protecting the communities they serve. The investors have expressed interest in Igloo’s initiatives in the Philippines which include providing credit line insurance to entrepreneurs, half of which are women, through its partnership with Philinsure. The firm also pioneered Foodpanda’s PandaCare initiative, a comprehensive insurance package for platform workers that includes accidental death, accidental dismemberment, medical reimbursement, hospital assistance, and burial expense.

“With an insurance penetration rate of less than 2%, we entered the Philippines by listening to the unmet needs of Filipinos to ensure we are filling the gaps that other players have yet to address,” said Mario Berta, Philippine Country Manager for Igloo “With the success of the B+ funding, this ensures that we can strengthen our current tech capabilities and allow us to introduce new solutions that would reach more underserved sectors in the Philippines.” 

 

Igloo is currently in talks with insurance and government partners to bring the first blockchain-based Weather Index Insurance, a new technology that would provide immediate financial assistance to farmers in times of adverse weather conditions. With an average of 20 typhoons traversing the Philippines every year, Weather Index Insurance will not only fast-track farming communities’ recovery but also guarantee the sustainability of their livelihood.

 

While Igloo helps insurance partners onboard their products into digital platforms, the firm is also finding more solutions to support direct sales intermediaries. As the industry transforms itself, there is also a need to help agents and brokers prepare for the increasing demand for insurance. The firm intends to introduce Ignite by Igloo, an intuitive AI-powered digital solution, that enhances the productivity of agents by automating manual paperwork and inefficient procedures. 

 

With the increased ease of purchase of low-cost protection, latest data from the Insurance Commission (IC) showed microinsurance premiums jumped by 15% in the first quarter alone. Riding off the growth of the segment, Igloo has facilitated over 100 million through local insurance partners in the past four years it has been in the market.

 

“The Philippines being one of the most digitally connected places in the Southeast Asia region is an advantage for insurtech companies because technology is heavily involved in the lifestyle of Filipinos.“ said Berta “We will leverage technology to reach out to sectors within the Philippines since every Filipino deserves to have access to insurance, no matter where they live.”

 

Herbal Essences has used real Tea Tree Oil for its Herbal Essences Tea Tree Oil Clarifying Shampoo

Herbal Essences wants to set the tone of 2023 for many women by letting them be at their natural best and achieve their best hair yet - one that not only looks good, but feels good too! Add that with fresh herbal notes of the Tea Tree oil and any girl can own the upcoming year while looking and feeling great!

The benefits and potential of tea tree oil is no secret to the beauty industry. In fact, it has been recognized by many for its antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, antiviral, and antifungal properties for more than 70 years. With its plethora of benefits related to rejuvenating and healing, it doesn’t come as a surprise that Herbal Essences has used real Tea Tree Oil for its Herbal Essences Tea Tree Oil Clarifying Shampoo. Herbal Essences only uses real and natural ingredients for its products to give everyone incomparable hair nourishment from root to tip, so you can #FeelWhatsReal with vibrant, flowy hair that's full of life.

Keep it real and reveal the authentic, beautiful you confidently in 2023 through Herbal Essences Tea Tree Oil Clarifying shampoo and conditioner.  Are you ready to reveal your true beauty that goes beyond just aesthetics? Shop Herbal Essences Bio: Renew Scalp Soothing Tea Tree Oil from Lazada during their payday offers on January 30 to catch up to 28% discount. Look good and feel good by keeping it real. #FeelWhatsReal

For more information and updates on latest offers, check out @HerbalEssencesPH on Facebook and Instagram. 

With Watsons, you can refill your favorite products and save money while doing so!

There's a lot of talk these days about how to reduce our reliance on plastic. We're all for it, of course--but what if we could also encourage more consumers to do good by reusing their plastic bottles?

After the 1st Refill Station was opened in the SM Megamall store in 2022, the leading health, wellness, and beauty retailer Watsons has recently launched its second Refill Station for Naturals by Watsons at The Block SM City North Edsa store to encourage more consumers to do good by reusing their plastic bottles, thereby reducing the use of plastic.

The Refill Stations are part of A.S. Watson Group’s global commitment to encourage its customers to lead more sustainable lifestyles by offering more options for them to do so. With two Refill Stations, customers can now conveniently refill their clean empty Naturals by Watsons bottles with their favorite variants: Aloe Vera Shampoo, Coffee Shampoo, Argan Shampoo, Olive Shampoo, and Aloe Vera Body Wash. Empty bottles with screw caps are also available for purchase in the store, and customers can save up to 40 percent vs. regular bottles. Refill Station customers will also get a free sticker that they can customize. Only clean, dry, and empty Naturals by Watsons bottles can be refilled at the Refill Stations. 

If you cannot visit the Refill Stations, Watsons also offers refill packs of its Naturals by Watsons products as well as hundreds of refill packs from Safeguard, Dove, Johnson's, Colgate, Gillette, Babyflo, Sunsilk, Luxe Organix, Head & Shoulders, and many others. Refill packs are 40% cheaper than regular packs and they also produce 75% less plastic waste as compared to regular bottles. These refill packs are available in all Watsons stores and online via the Watsons App.

"We hope our customers contribute to a more sustainable world by reusing the containers and hence, reducing plastic waste," said Viki Encarnacion, PR and Sustainability director at Watsons.

Magic Mike is back!

 

Ten years after “Magic Mike” surprised audiences, star Channing Tatum and the original filmmaking team have reunited—this time in Miami and London—to catch up with Mike Lane in “Magic Mike’s Last Dance.”  Director Steven Soderbergh is back at the helm, with producer and writer Reid Carolin returning to pen the script, which introduces a steamy new love interest for Mike, played by Salma Hayek Pinault.

The story finds Mike in Miami at loose ends and with empty pockets, having closed his furniture business. Taking bartending gigs, however, proves fortuitous when he meets a mysterious woman, Maxandra Mendoza, who, after a night of getting to know each other, presents Mike with an opportunity he can’t refuse—one that could change him, and his life, forever.

 

Soderbergh comments, “What we’ve done with these films, this one especially, is give audiences all the pure fun of watching these amazingly talented dancers perform, but also used dance as a sort of Trojan horse to sneak in other ideas.”

 

The director adds that, for this final round, the filmmakers upped the ante by giving Mike the option to really have it all…if only he can reach out and grab it.  “What is desire, what does that mean?  What do love and commitment really mean in our world?  Wrapped up in all the dazzling choreography and exciting dance numbers, the movie tries to explore those real questions about how relationships are defined today.”

 

Tatum, who also serves as a producer, observes, “The first movie was about Mike realizing, ‘I need to figure out what I’m doing with my life.’  The second one put these guys on a pedestal and let them flesh out their characters, but it was still really about these men.  Since then, women in films have become more open, more conversational about what they want, and we’d also created the live show.  What we learned doing that made us want to make this third movie and to really redesign what Magic Mike is.  We wanted to put the best dancers in the world in the movie, and have a strong female lead who is pivotal to the story and as important as Mike in the plot.”

 

Of course, no “Magic Mike” sequel would be complete without ramping up the dance factor.  Soderbergh says that there was no question that for this “Last Dance,” the filmmakers knew they had to “blow the dancing up in a very big way.”

 

A Warner Bros. Pictures Presentation, “Magic Mike’s Last Dance” slides into theaters across the Philippines beginning February 8.

 

Join the conversation online and use the hashtag #MagicMikesLastDance