Airbnb is giving ‘phans’ the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to follow in the footsteps of le Fantôme and book a night in the historic Palais Garnier Opera

‘The Music of the Night’ is returning to the place that inspired one of the world’s longest-running and most-loved musicals, The Phantom of the Opera. To celebrate the global phenomenon that will be performed in 15 countries in 2023, including a final bow on Broadway, ‘phans’ will be able to follow in the footsteps of le Fantôme and book a night in the mythical underworld where it all began – the historic Palais Garnier Opera in Paris.

For the first time, one of the most exclusive private viewing areas in the theater, the Box of Honour, has been transformed into a majestic bedroom, where guests will spend an exceptional night, befitting the mysteries and architectural splendor of the Palais Garnier. Guests will also get to ‘haunt’ the halls of the iconic building, including a visit to the real underground lake, home of the Phantom, featured in the famous novel.

The Host of the stay, Véronique Leroux, is the great-granddaughter of French novelist Gaston Leroux who created the world-famous phantom character. “My great-grandfather’s classic story has inspired so many people through the years,” Leroux said. “This is the perfect time to honor him and welcome ‘phans’ to the famous setting of his much-loved novel for a once-in-a-lifetime stay.” 

Airbnb’s commitment to heritage

This special night at Palais Garnier is the latest heritage offering from Airbnb following a series of measures and commitmentsby the platform to revitalize heritage tourism in Europe, including heritage donations to historical home organizations across Europe.

 

As part of this programme, Airbnb is offering its support to the restoration and enhancement of the Opera's heritage, including an ongoing project to restore the Palais Garnier boxes. Airbnb’s contribution will also fund the development of the Opera’s streaming platform, bringing together all of the Paris Opera's audiovisual content to a wide audience, all over the world.

 

About the stay

Guests will sleep in the largest opera box in the Palais Garnier - the Box of Honour - a room normally reserved for visiting dignitaries. The exquisite chamber has been transformed for an exclusive guest experience that includes:

●      The best location in the house to take in the architectural beauty of the Palais Garnier and its stage.

●      A tour of hidden areas in the Palais, rarely seen by the public, including the Opera’s incredible private archives and famous underground lake.

●      A private ballet initiation with one of the Opera de Paris Ballet dancers.

●      An exclusive recital performed by the artists of Paris Opera Academy, complete with champagne and hors d'oeuvres. 

●      Dinner in the lavish Foyer de la Danse, a private and historic dancing rehearsal room behind the stage, used by dancers for warming up before a show.

●      A tour of the private dance studios underneath the eaves of the iconic opera building where guests will enjoy picturesque views of the Paris skyline.

How to book

Phans may request to book the overnight stay on Wednesday, March 1st, 2023 from 6:00 PM CET (Thursday, March 2nd, 2023 from 1:00 AM PHT) at airbnb.com/opera. The stay will take place on Sunday, July 16th, 2023. This one-night stay will cost 37 euros (approx. Php 2,154)*, in honor of the Box of Honour’s number. Let the dream begin! 

 

To request to book, the booking guest must have a verified Airbnb profile, a good track record on the platform, and be aged 18+. Maximum occupancy is two persons. Guests are responsible for their own transportation to and from Paris, France. 

 

The Phantom of the Opera musical
Since opening in London in 1986, The Phantom of the Opera has played to over 145 million people in 183 cities in 17 languages The Phantom of the Opera has run for over 36 years in the West End and on Broadway. It is Broadway’s longest-running show and has received over 70 major theater awards, including seven Tony Awards and four Olivier awards. A Global Edition of the soundtrack was released in 2022, featuring Andrew Lloyd Webber’s beloved soundtrack in full in seven global languages, and a special eight compilation disc.  

 

The Phantom of the Opera will be performed in 15 countries, across 4 continents and in 7 languages in 2023. To book tickets and find out where Phantom is playing near you visit: www.thephantomoftheopera.com. 

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*Plus taxes and fees. This one-night stay is not a contest. 

Maya shows that one way of embracing an empowered you is by taking hold of your financial well-being

Who said that the season of love is only about spending a moment with your significant other? In time for Valentine’s/single awareness day fever, your all-in-one digital bank, Maya, serves a timely reminder that self-love deserves equal attention and celebration.

 

Maya shows that one way of embracing an empowered you is by taking hold of your financial well-being. By breaking the mold in the banking scene, the country’s #1 digital bank and top-rated finance app makes money management easier through just one app, helping you become more financially confident.

 

Here, we break down three ways on how to foster self-love through Maya’s exciting deals and promos designed to give you more ways of having mastery over your own money.

 

1. Personalize with love 

 

The best way to give yourself that much deserved love is taking care of yourself. And taking care of our financial needs and goals to get that much needed financial freedom is top of mind for most of us. Thanks to Maya, achieving those savings goals has never been this easy!

 

So, start saving for an emergency fund or for that much needed vacation, new wardrobe, or phone by opening Personal Goals at Maya Savings and enjoy up to 6% p.a.! 

 

With Maya, you can create as many as five goals simultaneously and have each goal personalized with your own preferred name and set it up for 180 days. The 6% p.a. guaranteed interest will definitely give you a serious boost with your money with deposits up to P1 Million.

 

And not just that—Maya also offers a sign-up and save promo. Simply sign up, upgrade your account, and start saving - and you will get as much as ₱60 (₱20 when you register, another ₱10 upon upgrade, plus an additional ₱40 for your first transaction.)

 

Here’s another way to personalize with Maya, use your name and create your unique @username when sending or receiving money. The first to bring this new, game-changing feature to the Philippines, Maya allows users to keep your personal data private, such as their account name and mobile number. Say goodbye to QR codes and long numbers, with Maya you can personalize your @username by simply following these steps:

 

1.     Open your Maya app

2.     Tap the “Profile” icon on the upper left corner

3.     Tap "Get Started" to create your @username

4.     Key in your preferred @username and hit "Confirm."  

5.     Finish off by keying in the One Time Password (OTP) sent via SMS.

 

A username is unique to each Maya account holder.   

 

You can also customize your Maya card with your new @username! Simply order a physical card on your app’s Cards section, personalize with your @username, and wait for it to be delivered to your doorstep! 

 

 

2. Pick a store, any store

 

You deserve all your heart’s desires this season of love and beyond. With Maya, you can shop for what you want with the best deals and discounts.

 

For instance, you get a cashback when you pay with Maya at Robinsons until April 15. New users can get up to ₱200 cashback upon completing a transaction via Maya QR with a minimum spend of P1,000, while existing users get up ₱150.

 

If you scan to pay via Maya QR at SM Store until March 31 with a minimum spend of P1,000, you get one raffle entry for a chance to win exciting prizes. This includes ₱3,000 Maya Credits, Apple Airpods Pro 2, and Apple iPhone 14.

 

Eyeing a relaxing staycation? If you book now at Agoda until March 14, you will receive a 7% discount sitewide by paying with Maya at checkout and using the promo code “MAYA7JAN.”

 

You also get the best deals by paying with Maya at Flowerstore, Boozy, Edamama, Google Play, Codashop, Aipaz, Bills Pay, PLDT, MetroMart, Booking.com, Qatar Airways, and Mobile Protect.

 

While roses and chocolates may be the popular gifts for couples this Valentine’s Day, give yourself added wealth minus the charges by topping up with Maya.

 

Maya allows you to cash-in for free in several ways. One option is via linked banks and OTC channels up to ₱8,000 per month. You can also cash in directly for free, with no limit via BPI, RCBC, UnionBank, and Chinabank. If you’re cashing in from other banks, you can get your InstaPay fee as cashback of up to P25 when you cash in a minimum of P1,500. Another option is via Maya Centers, with lower cash-in service fee of 1%, while you receive a 100% cashback on the fee, capped at ₱150 per customer. The offer runs until February 28, 2023.

 

3. Spread the value of self-love

 

What’s more? Spread the love and stay connected with close friends and family here and abroad by loading with any network using Maya.

 

You can get 5% cashback (Php25) for every ₱500 accumulated load spend until February 28. If you are a Smart or TNT subscriber, you receive 20% cashback at a maximum of  ₱50 per user.

 

Completely free to download and register, Maya packs a feature-rich money app, an inclusive digital bank, and everything else you need to manage your money–save, borrow, spend, invest and more, right from your smartphone. 

 

Maya’s digital banking services are powered by Maya Bank, Inc., a digital bank supervised by the BSP. Deposits are insured by the Philippine Deposit Insurance Corporation (PDIC) for up to PHP500,000 per depositor. To learn more, visit maya.ph and mayabank.ph. Follow Maya at @mayaiseverything on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and TikTok and @mayaofficialph on Twitter.

OnePlus partners with multi-awarded film music composer Hans Zimmer

Global technology company OnePlus has notched another feather on its cap by cinching a collaboration with multi-awarded film music composer Hans Zimmer. Through this partnership, OnePlus and Zimmer will tune the Master EQ of the upcoming OnePlus Buds Pro 2 in a quest to deliver the highest quality for users’ listening pleasure.

 

Hans Zimmer – the man behind the unforgettable soundtrack of a diverse range of blockbuster movies such as Dune, Top Gun: Maverick, and The Dark Knight trilogy – is known for pushing the boundaries of sound so that music helps move the film narrative forward in extraordinary, sometimes unconventional, ways.

 

“Music is basically having a conversation. It is about setting moods and conveying emotions. To experience its full impact and to hear the nuance of every note, you need a listening device that delivers studio-quality audio,” said Zimmer. “I am pleased to work with OnePlus to ensure its second-generation earbuds allow you to be fully immersed into the music and to be transported into a whole new world.”

 

A Master EQ, Soundscape

The OnePlus Buds Pro 2 are equipped with a Master EQ tuned by the legendary Hollywood music composer himself. Named “Soundscape,” the customized EQ has fewer low frequencies than the default setting, as well as a brighter and wider sound field that allows users to enjoy the full orchestral sound of a classical symphony and multidimensional sound of an action film. They will hear the complex and delicate nuances of film scores in their full glory and be able to feel more fully the emotional impact of the music.

 

An EQ is a tool that allows users to adjust the sound signature of their earphones or speakers. It lets them tune the audio to their taste by changing the balance of different frequency components in an audio signal. They can enhance the deep rumble of the lower frequencies by boosting the bass and tweak the higher frequencies so that the treble comes out with extra lightness.

 

A Musical Gift

Under the collaboration with OnePlus, Hans Zimmer has rearranged “Lost but Won,” from the original soundtrack for the movie Rush, to integrate spatial audio characteristics into the music. By deploying a range of sound playback technologies, spatial audio enables listeners to distinguish sound all around them without the need for any specific multiple speaker setup.

 

“Spatial audio changes the way we create music and listen to music,” said Zimmer. “I love the spatial audio experience of the OnePlus Buds Pro 2. The extremely immersive sound feels like you’re in a front-row seat at a live concert.”

 

The OnePlus Buds Pro 2 is one of the first TWS earbuds to adopt Google’s signature spatial audio function developed on Android 13. By integrating Google’s spatial audio framework, the rendering algorithm and OnePlus’ advanced stereo up-mixing algorithm, theOnePlus Buds Pro 2 offers a customized spatial audio experience through a wide sound field and clear vocals that heightens the cinematic atmosphere while watching videos. When playing music, users get a clear and natural sound – as well as an immersive listening experience of a live concert particularly when the earbuds are paired with the OnePlus 11 5G smartphone.

 

“OnePlus brings audiophile-grade sound to wireless earbuds with its latest OnePlus Buds Pro 2. The sound resolution – with its dual-driver system – is simply incredible. The bass is booming and vocals are quite pristine,” Zimmer said.

 

Zimmer’s rearranged “Lost But Won” soundtrack will enable customers to test their OnePlus Buds Pro 2’s spatial audio feature and to ensure it is set at optimal level. The re-arranged soundtrack is hoped to set the industry-benchmark on how spatial audio should sound.

 

With the Master EQ and spatial audio-oriented soundtrack, Hans Zimmer gives a valuable gift to customers of OnePlus Buds Pro 2.

 

realme officially debuted the realme 10 Pro Series 5G today!

realme, hailed as the consecutive 2-year champion in Canalys 2021-2022 reports, officially debuted the realme 10 Pro Series 5G today via a livestream event. The newest additions to the brand’s Number Series include the realme 10 Pro+ 5G and realme 10 Pro 5G.

Committed to bringing in new technologies that promise to redefine the mid-range segment with flagship-tier displays, realme designed the realme 10 Pro Series 5G to help Filipinos #DisplayNewVision. The realme 10 Pro Series 5G is set to deliver an elevated smartphone experience to all users without the need to spend for a premium price tag. 

The realme 10 Pro 5G ​​(8GB+256GB) is officially priced at P16,999 and will come in three stunning colors: Dark Matter, Hyperspace Gold, and Nebula Blue. On the other hand, the realme 10 Pro+ 5G will be available in Dark Matter and Hyperspace Gold colors with 8GB+128GB storage variant retailing for P19,999, while the 12GB+256GB storage option can be purchased at P24,999.

Revolutionizing User Viewing Experience 

The realme 10 Pro Series 5G introduces Boundless Display as the brand brings in a 120Hz Large Flagship Tier Displays that’s nearly bezel-less, and TÜV Rheinland Low Blue Light Certifications so users can avoid eye strain even with longer hours of usage.

Starting off with the realme 10 Pro+ 5G, it comes in a 6.7” Curved Display made with 0.65mm Double-Reinforced Glass that has a 61° Precision Curvature. This means that the glass takes over the front of the phone, allowing the bezels to be as thin as 1.81mm at the top, 1.41mm at the left and right. Aside from this, the bottom bezel is at 2.33mm which makes it the thinnest chin yet from realme. This curvature of the screen allows for a screen-to-body ratio of 93.65%, complementing its FHD+ Resolution at 2412x1080, a 100% DCI-P3 Color Gamut with a refresh rate of 120Hz, a touch sampling rate of 360Hz that can top out at 1260Hz.

When it comes to the realme 10 Pro 5G, it also boasts a 120Hz Boundless Display with a nearly bezel-less 6.72” FHD+ LCD with a screen-to-body ratio of 93.76%. The smartphone’s bezels are as thin as 1mm (Left & Right), 1.15mm (Top) and 4.2mm (Chin). Meanwhile, the refresh rate is also promising at 120Hz, delivering a touch sampling rate of 240Hz, brightness levels at 680 Nits (under direct sunlight) with support for 6 Levels Refresh Rates. It is packed in a Double-Reinforced Glass for added durability as well.

In addition, users need not to worry about eye fatigue since both phones are awarded with TÜV Rheinland Low Blue Light Certification while the realme 10 Pro+ 5G also has a TÜV Rheinland Flicker Free Certification.

All-Around Flagship Experience

On top of the trend-setting design and display, the realme 10 Pro Series 5G smartphones are guaranteed to be any user’s reliable companion whether for work, gaming, or day-to-day use. This is because the phones have gone through more than 320 tests that ensure durability, even under tough or rugged situations. 

In terms of fingerprint scanners, ergonomics was one of the top priorities considered by the brand.  The realme 10 Pro+ 5G utilizes an In-Display Fingerprint Scanner which adapts a new generation of fingerprint scanning technology. This feature allows the phone to be unlocked easier, even under conditions such as low ambient temperatures or simply having dry fingers. Alternatively for the realme 10 Pro 5G, it uses a Fast Side-Mounted Fingerprint Scanner located on the right-hand side of the smartphone for easy access and unlocking, as well as security.

Other features of the realme 10 Pro+ 5G include a Tactile Engine 2.0 that produces 4D Vibrations and enhanced haptics that are close to typing on, or using an actual keypad by making use of both Z-Axis and X-Axis Linear motors to send vibrations vertically (Z) and horizontally (X). The device also allows uninterrupted signal reception no matter how the phone is held when in use with its HyperSmart Antenna Switching feature. Lastly, users can now use an Enhanced Multifunctional NFC to cater to a wider variety of functions including online and mobile payment, or in use for public transportation and other situations

Availability and First-Selling Offers for the realme 10 Pro 5G

Can’t wait to get your hands on the realme 10 Pro Series 5G? No need to fret because the realme 10 Pro 5G (8GB+256GB) can already be availed starting February 15 both in offline and online stores! To make things even more exciting, realme is giving out incredible first-selling offers.

Starting from February 15 to 19, the realme 10 Pro 5G (8GB+256GB) can be scored in realme official offline stores and every purchase comes with a free DIZO Power Bank (10000mAh) and a pair of TechLife Buds Classic, worth P1,198.

On top of this, customers who purchase a realme 10 Pro 5G or AIoT products worth P9,000 and above can join the Spot The Real Pros challenge from February 15 to 22 in 30 selected concept stores nationwide. Customers can get a chance to be one of the lucky winners of a realme TechLife Handheld Vacuum Cleaners which is worth P8,990 when they post a video of them getting a realme 10 Pro 5G in the displayed POSM Props blended into the background with the use of hashtags #DisplayNewVision and #SpotTheRealPros. 

As for online stores, get the realme 10 Pro 5G (8GB+256GB) for only P14,999! Enjoy the P2,000 OFF on Shopee on February 15 only as well as on Lazada from Feb 15-17! Aside from this amazing first-selling discount, the Squad can also enjoy an added FREE 1 Year warranty, granting a total of two years, and a FREE Globe SIM Card with 65GB of FREE data.

Additionally, limited quantities of the realme 10 Pro 5G can be availed through the SM Malls Online app on February 15 only. The realme Squad can score the special offer of P1,000 discount (P15,999), plus a free realme Pocket Bluetooth Speaker worth P990. This offer will be available only via our selected malls that you can tap in the SM Malls Online app, which include SM Mall of Asia, SM Megamall, and SM North EDSA.

The realme 10 Pro 5G will also be available on Home Credit which can be payable for up to 9 months at 0% interest. To better give a visual on this, the realme Squad can own a realme 10 Pro 5G for as low as P44 per day. 

Pre-order and Claiming Period for the realme 10 Pro+ 5G

For those who are eyeing the realme 10 Pro+ 5G, both storage variants will be following a pre-order basis. The realme Squad can start pre-ordering from February 27 to March 10, 2023 through offline realme stores, and the claiming period would be on March 11 to 12, 2023.

Both storage variants of the realme 10 Pro+ 5G are also offered via Home Credit installment with 0% interest. The realme 10 Pro+ 5G (8GB+128GB) can be scored for as low as P52 per day for 9 months, while the realme 10 Pro+ 5G (12GB+256GB) is payable at P32 per day for up to 18 months.

As for the online offers for the realme 10 Pro+ 5G, make sure to stay tuned on the realme PH Facebook for the official announcements and latest updates.

JobStreet Philippines’ ultimate goal is to create a fairer and more flexible career marketplace that benefits both jobseekers and hirers

The Philippine job market has been immensely unstable for the past years. With mass layoffs and a shortage of job vacancies due to the economic downturn following the pandemic, the local job market even reached a record-high unemployment rate, particularly at the height of the pandemic in 2020. 

For JobStreet Philippines, stabilizing the labor market in these difficult times was a challenge to overcome—it was hard but definitely not impossible. 

As a leading career marketplace, JobStreet Philippines paved the way to connect Filipino job seekers and employers during the onslaught of the pandemic and in transition to the new normal. Backed by its team of experienced marketing professionals, the company has held various initiatives demonstrating its commitment to empowering both hirers and candidates. 

JobStreet Philippines Marketing Team (1st row L-R: Candidate Marketing Lead Rafael Dela Cruz, Head of Marketing Kim Viray, Hirer Marketing Manager Gian Adato; 2nd row L-R:   Digital Marketing Lead Cora Acelajado, Copywriter Ana Arcega, Marketing Investment and Media Lead Trisha Luna, Marketing Executive Augusto Zantua; 3rd row: PR and Social Lead Ed Lorenzo)

 

Pushing for job market recovery 

 

At the onset of the pandemic, JobStreet has been assisting in ensuring that opportunities are reaching the jobseekers and hirers are able to find quality talents. 

In line with this, JobStreet’s marketing team spearheaded several initiatives including its notable Virtual Career Fairs. The job portal hosted three nationwide virtual career fairs, all targeting fresh graduates and working professionals who are in hunt of jobs. The said initiatives were also in collaboration with Tech In Asia, Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), and Civil Service Commission (CSC). JobStreet also partnered with the city government of Pasig to provide assistance to locals and to conduct an on-ground career fair for Pasigueños. 

JobStreet also launched its regional campaign SEEK Better which aims to empower candidates to attain their desired transformation in the new normal by seeking better jobs that will allow them to become the best version of themselves. 

In 2022, JobStreet recorded a total of 37 million job applications through the platform and accumulated over a million job posts.

 

“JobStreet Philippines started with a vision: A job for every Filipino. What does that mission mean for the everyday Filipino worker? A steady income. Perhaps, a more fulfilling career. Decent education for the kids. A healthy mind and body. With the right job, the everyday Filipino can start and live a better life,” shared Kim Viray, JobStreet Philippines Marketing Head. 

“Our team has likewise been working hard to assist hirers—we want them to help them hire a qualified candidate. Through our platform, they will see how much value their candidates will bring right away, saving them time and money,” he added. 

Forward together

JobStreet Philippines’ ultimate goal is to create a fairer and more flexible career marketplace that benefits both jobseekers and hirers.

Approaching 2023 with a greater vision, JobStreet’s marketing team aims to expand and mobilize the job market—looking to secure 40M+ job applications and 30K+ new hirers from across the country. Viray added that the team aims to make the platform and opportunities more accessible as it plans to expand its services in Western Visayas, Central Visayas, Davao Region, Central Luzon, and Southern Luzon. 

Moreover, as a thought leader in the industry, JobStreet will continue providing valuable insights to further educate companies in their hiring strategies given the ever-changing recruitment landscape. The job portal released several relevant reports, and just recently, JobStreet unveiled its 2022-2023 Outlook - Hiring, Compensation, and Benefits Report. 

“We will continue to strategize, prioritize, and execute with decisiveness and acumen as we have always done. We will persevere in exploring and partnering with our local teams, regional counterparts, and the best private and government organizations to help achieve our commitment to providing quality jobs for Filipinos,” Viray said. 

 

“2023 is a new year with limitless opportunities, whether this is in your personal life or in your career. We at JobStreet encourage you to take the step - start fresh, seek better,” he added. 

 

To find out more about JobStreet, visit https://www.jobstreet.com.ph/