Shopee Sets a New Record of Over 2 Billion Items Sold Across 11.11 Big Christmas Sale

Shopee, the leading e-commerce platform in Southeast Asia and Taiwan, sets two new records at the year's largest shopping festival, 11.11 Big Christmas Sale. With a huge array of irresistible deals, shoppers across the region bought over 2 billion items across the festival period, smashing its previous record in 2020. Excitement peaked on November 11, with visits spiking 5.5 times in the first two hours compared to an average day.

 

Martin Yu, Director at Shopee Philippines, said, "It brings us great joy to see the impact of our 11.11 Big Christmas Sale on shoppers, businesses, and our local communities. The digital economy continues to present many opportunities for growth, and we want to enable more people to benefit from this growth by increasing e-commerce adoption and helping more consumers and businesses go online. At the same time, we are humbled that we can use our platform to give back to the wider community and support those in need. We look forward to creating more impact for our users in the months ahead."

 

Helping more shoppers access, benefit from the digital economy

 

11.11 Big Christmas Sale encouraged more people to access and enjoy the benefits of online shopping, particularly those outside major cities where digital awareness has been relatively lower. This resulted in an 5-time increase in the number of shoppers from rural and smaller towns, who were able to enjoy the convenience of accessing a wider variety of products on Shopee.

 

Beyond convenience, the 11.11 Big Christmas Sale also brought shoppers and businesses closer together. More than 3.5 billion messages were sent on the in-app Shopee Chat on November 11, as shoppers were able to interact live with sellers and get more information prior to making their purchases. 

 

As a secure and seamless mobile wallet, ShopeePay continued to accelerate adoption of digital payments at the 11.11 Big Christmas Sale. Across the region, more shoppers used ShopeePay to pay for their Shopee orders seamlessly, especially outside big cities where ShopeePay transactions grew 9 times from an average day.

 

Creating a record boost for businesses of all sizes

 

For businesses in the region, the 11.11 Big Christmas Sale was a springboard for growth and recovery. Local sellers benefited from the spike in shopping activity, as those joining 11.11 for the first time saw their orders surge 18 timescompared to an average day.

 

Additionally, Shopee Mall continued to attract many shoppers who were drawn to the attractive discounts and exclusive deals from their favorite brands.

 

11.11 Big Christmas Sale highlights in the Philippines

 

● More shoppers from outside the metro: South Luzonsaw the most orders in the whole country, followed by Metro Manila. 

 

● Shoppers buy everything on Shopee: Filipinos were eagerly anticipating the unbeatable deals at the 11.11 Big Christmas Sale to meet all their needs, from branded items to daily household essentials. A user in Quezon City spent over ₱466,000 in a single order, buying motorcycle parts, electric tools, game consoles, smartphones, and tablets.

 

○ Shopee remains the preferred one-stop shop for home decor, essentials, and more: Shopee continues to provide a wide assortment of products at the best prices. At the 11.11 Big Christmas Sale, more Filipinos bought Home & Living, Health & Personal Care, and Women's Apparel products. Filipinos have consistently prioritized health essentials and home decor during Shopee's past sales, and the 11.11 Big Christmas Sale was no different as shoppers stocked up on face masks with over 3 million items sold, and took the time to spruce up their home for the holidays with over 800,000 wallpapers sold. 

○ Shoppers take advantage of deals from their favorite brands on Shopee Mall: Filipino favorites such as Uni-Care, Unilever Beauty, Xiaomi, NIVEA, and INSPI received the most orders from shoppers during the 11.11 Big Christmas Sale.

 

● Shoppers found endless fun and joy throughout 11.11 Big Christmas Sale: Live streaming continued to be a core part of the online shopping experience. 5 millionhours of live streams were watched on Shopee Live, as users connected with sellers and caught NCT 127 and other top stars live on Shopee. Over 270 million playswere recorded on Shopee Prizes in the Philippines, as users enjoyed more fun and rewards at 11.11.

 

● ShopeePay brings more rewards to users, serves more payment needs: This 11.11, more shoppers used ShopeePay for greater convenience, security, and value. 

 

○ Seamless payments both online and offline with 'Deals near Me': Through 'Deals near Me,' Shopee's location-based feature, shoppers discovered the best deals offered by merchants nearby and showed their support with over 1.2 million offline payment vouchers claimed. 

 

○ Meeting all payment needs with ShopeePay:ShopeePay has also become more deeply integrated with users' lifestyles by serving multiple payment needs, including bills and tax payments. During 11.11,  almost 100,000 users used ShopeePay to make their utility bill payments, benefitting from rewards in the form of cashbacks.

 

Shop from the 11.11 Big Christmas Sale: https://shopee.ph/m/christmas-sale

 

Download Shopee for free on the App Store or Google Play Store.

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Sarah Geronimo and Anne Curtis Remain a Kapamilya, Announce Return Dates to ABS-CBN Shows

Confirmed! Two of ABS-CBN's biggest female stars remain a Kapamilya and their much-anticipated return to Philippine TV is happening soon!

In a statement, Viva Chairman Vic del Rosario confirmed that Sarah Geronimo and Anne Curtis will stay with ABS-CBN despite persistent rumors of their network transfer.

Boss Vic also announced that their most-prized stars will be returning to their respective Kapamilya shows in early 2022.

Sarah will set foot back on ASAP stage on January 2022.

She is also scheduled to do a movie aside from a series of virtual concert.

"Oo. Iyon kase, parang hinahanap din n'ya yung quality ng production. Ang hirap kung parati nalang zoom zoom. Ngayon, sigurong January [babalik na s'ya sa ASAP]."

Meanwhile, Anne's much awaited comeback on It's Showtime is happening on February 2022.

"Loyal na loyal s'ya sa ABS, lalo na sa samahan nila ni Vice Ganda. So, naghahanda na s'yang bumalik sa [Showtime] sa February," confirmed by Viva Chairman Vic del Rosario.

Boss Vic also revealed that Anne is set to star in a movie to be shown on Vivamax next year.

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5 Tips to Become the Best Content Creator from Top Pinoy Online Celebrities

It might seem simple and easy but creating content and dealing with hordes of online followers require a lot of work, passion, and dedication.

This is the core of the messages at Baicon Infest 2021, an online event powered by Smart that gathered some of today's top online celebrities to dish out valuable tips and inspire others to level up their own journey as content creators.

Whether you're into vlogging on YouTube, sharing viral memes on Facebook, curating stunning images on Instagram, or creating fun and trendy content on TikTok, here are some important lessons and insights to keep your channel growing.

1. Create content for the right reasons

Success in the digital content space is a by-product of a combination of different factors. The most important among them, according to top content creators, is Purpose. "Ask yourself why you're doing it and decide if it's right for you," says pioneer food and culture content creator Erwan Heussaff.

Knowing your purpose and sticking to it can help you find direction in making content and establish your identity and branding in the long run. But how do you find your purpose?

Jeffrey Crawford, Jr., a.k.a. Daddy Blink Gaming, recommends rooting your content on people instead of statistics. "Stream for the viewers, not for the views," he says. For Boyet Ahmee, husband of actress Dimples Romana, leaving his comfort zone outside the spotlight was a decision he had to make for the benefit of his audience. "I told him, 'If not for you, do it for the families who might be looking [for inspiration].' You know some dads think that, 'I'm a dad, I shouldn't be showing my emotion. I'm a dad, I shouldn't be out there as much as the whole family is.' But times have changed. Masarap kasing panoorin kapag yung tatay nakikita mo na he's open sa relationship niya with the wife and kids. Nakaka-inspire in the sense na pwede pala yon na mas expressive yung tatay at mga husbands natin," says Dimples.

2. Be authentic

Cliche as it sounds, "showing your true self" in front of the camera is another vital factor in content creation. "Some people think that the quality of your video or investing in a good camera is the most important thing when you're starting out as a content creator; but what you really need is to be authentic," says Ryan Reyes a.k.a. Ninong Ry, who found success in his cooking videos that also showcased his straightforward and funny personality that made him more relatable to his followers.

3. Stay focused

Most content creators would find themselves feeling discouraged when video views don't automatically follow their enthusiasm. For this, VisMin content creators Joseph Sabello a.k.a. El Isog, and Ariexia 'Rex' Quilinderino a.k.a. Gandang Morenx, advise to just keep creating content despite all odds.

"Keep doing what you want to do. It's never really about the views. Don't cave into the pressure of numbers," says Nana. "Huwag kayong titigil. Just do your thing," adds El Isog. "Alam ko nakakatakot magsimula, pero walang ibang mag-aangat sa sarili natin kundi tayo lang din, so believe in yourself. If you want something you've never had, you have to do something you've never done before. Don't let fear dominate you. Success is worth the wait," says Gandang Morenx.

4. Be an advocate of kindness and respect

Social media is a melting pot of information, and it is inevitable for differing opinions about certain topics to clash at some point. No matter where you stand on certain issues that affect society, as a content creator with the power to influence your followers, you must choose to be an example of how to properly conduct oneself while interacting with people. "Respect begets respect. If we respect other people, we will also gain respect. Begin with self-respect and people will reciprocate that respect," says Congresswoman Geraldine Roman.

5. Put your skills and tech to good use

Musician Barbie Almalbis has one sound advice for aspiring creators: "You have all the tools now, you have all the time so [go for your dream]. The only thing we can do now is be faithful with our gifts and just do the hard work, and hone your skills. Kasi yung doors [of opportunity] hindi natin mape-predict kung kelan magkakaroon ng open doors. Pero magkakaroon yan. Ang maganda don ay handa ka pagdating ng open door. Ready ka na, nakapag-practice ka na. You can't control these open doors but you can control being faithful to the gifts that you have."

Level up your content creation with the power of Smart, the country's fastest and most reliable 5G mobile network as reported by Ookla, the global leader in mobile and broadband network intelligence.

You can now #MaketheSmartMove and switch to the country's fastest network while keeping your number via Mobile Number Portability (MNP). To avail of MNP, simply visit x.smart/switch or head to the nearest Smart Store.

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BEKO Sends Love this Christmas with Over P1-Million in Prizes and 50% Discount Vouchers

Beko Sends Love This Christmas with its biggest promo yet this year where you can win a grand appliance showcase and other exciting prizes from the European appliance brand all worth over Php1 million!

Every purchase of any Beko product in a single receipt from All Home, Anson's, Asian Home, Fair N Square, Goldtech, Greatworld, HAT, Lazada, Robinsons, Savers, Shopee, SM Appliance and Western Appliance from November 15 – December 15, 2021, entitles a customer to join the raffle promo.

Single receipt purchases of Beko products amounting to Php10,000 and up are entitled to join the raffle.

• For purchases worth Php10,000 – Php26,000, customers will receive one (1) raffle entry.
• For purchases worth Php26,001-P40,000, customers will receive two (2) raffle entries.
• For purchases worth P40,001 and above, customers will receive three (3) raffle entries.

At stake in the raffle is the Grand Prize Beko Home Appliance Showcase, which includes:

• Beko 22.7 cu ft inverter side by side refrigerator (Php61,990)
• Beko 60 cm wall-mounted hood (Php19,990)
• Beko 60 cm freestanding cooker with 4 vitroceramic hobs multi-functional oven (Php51,990)
• Beko 10.5 kg frontload washing machine (Php42,990)
• Beko 8kg airvented frontload dryer and 1.5HP inverter split-type airconditioner (Php36,990)

Other prizes include:

• 2 units of Beko 22.7 cu ft inverter side by side refrigerator GN163123P (Php61,990)
• 5 units of Beko 2HP inverter split-type airconditioner BSVOA 180/BSVOA 181 (Php46,990)
• 12 units of Beko 11.1 cu.ft inverter chest freezer CF316WPH (Php20,690)
• 50 units of Beko 2200W steam iron SIM3122T (Php2,990)
• 30 units of Beko 1000W 10-cup thermo carafe coffee maker CFM6401I (Php2,190).

The winners will be announced after the raffle draw on December 17, 2021 at 11AM via Zoom with DTI representative. A customer can only win once. Beko Pilipinas Corp. will shoulder the 20% tax for prizes over Php10,000.

But that’s not all! Because it's Christmas, Beko is also giving away 50% discount vouchers on top of the available discount products with freebies on select Beko home appliances for every purchase, so it's a win-win promo for everyone!

Every single receipt purchase entitles the customer to one (1) 50% discount voucher, which they can use on their next purchase. The discount voucher will vary depending on the first purchased product.

Check out http://bekopromos.ph for details about this. Upon purchase, the customer should go to the website to claim the voucher.

For more information, go to http://bekopromos.ph Philippines or visit their Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/bekoph for more details.

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(Video) “Andito Tayo Para sa Isa’t Isa,” ABS-CBN 2021 Christmas SID

Ushering in the holiday season, ABS-CBN premiered on Friday, November 12, its 2021 Christmas ID, "Andito Tayo Para Sa Isa't Isa," featuring stories of family, community, and faith.

As in past iterations of the seasonal music video, Kapamilya stars and personalities took part in communicating ABS-CBN's "loving tribute to our everyday heroes, the people who continually give us hope, strength and inspiration to keep moving forward despite the challenges."

"The song tells the story of how the Filipinos are able to overcome life's hardships by having faith in God and by working together in love," ABS-CBN said.

"Andito Tayo Para Sa Isa't Isa" was written by Love Rose de Leon, Robert Labayen, and Thyro Alfaro, with music composed by Alfaro and Xeric Tan. Its lyrics were translated to English by Ma. Lourdes Parawan.

The annual Christmas IDs of ABS-CBN have become a pop culture phenomenon, with its tunes and themes becoming holiday staples for Filipinos here and overseas.

Notably, the 2009 offering "Bro, Ikaw Ang Star ng Pasko" has become an iconic tune for Yuletide season, while the 2013 song "Magkasama Tayo sa Kwento ng Pasko" became an anthem for recovery from the Yolanda devastation, with an updated version specifically recorded for fundraising efforts at the time.

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(Video) “Love Together, Hope Together,” GMA 2021 Christmas Station ID

As adversities continue to test the Filipino spirit, GMA Network is making the Yuletide season brighter as the country's leading broadcast company enjoins everyone to "Love Together, Hope Together" in its 2021 Christmas station ID (CSID).

A holiday treat that Kapuso viewers always look forward to every year, the Network's Christmas station ID also serves as a reunion for the Kapuso artists and personalities joining forces in one touching video to celebrate this season of cheer.

Opening the Christmas video were GMA News pillar Jessica Soho, Kapuso Primetime King Dingdong Dantes, Kapuso Primetime Queen Marian Rivera, and Asia's Multimedia Star Alden Richards. Queen of Creative Collaborations Heart Evangelista and one of the newest Kapuso Bea Alonzo graced the CSID in special vignettes along with the growing roster of Kapuso stars and News and Public Affairs personalities.

In this year's CSID, which was released on November 12, they were seen writing messages of hope in heart-shaped pieces of paper and hanging them on the 'tree of hope.' With the heartwarming messages dedicated to Filipinos from different sectors and walks of life, we are again reminded that despite the challenges that come our way, love is the best gift that we can give one another this Christmas. Expressing love in any manner whether through words or action truly goes a long way as it helps spark hope in everyone's hearts and feel God's love especially this season.

The latest Kapuso Christmas offering was made even more unforgettable with the jingle performed by the talented Kapuso singers led by Julie Anne San Jose, Lani Misalucha, Aicelle Santos, and Christian Bautista. The catchy upbeat tune paired with uplifting lyrics was composed and arranged by Simon Peter Tan with words by BJ Camaya, Emman Rivera, and Jann Lopez. "Love Together, Hope Together" is also available for streaming worldwide on Spotify, Apple Music, and YouTube Music.

"Sa kabila ng lahat ng pagbabago, isang bagay ang hindi nagbago. Ikaw, ikaw na laging nasa tabi ko. Laging maliwanag ang Pasko if we love together, hope together. Laging makulay ang Pasko if we love together, hope together," – the song's simple yet powerful message of being there for one another truly rings true especially for the Kapuso Network as it further proves that it will always be with the Filipinos in any situation.

As long as there is love and hope in each other's hearts, Christmas will always be brighter and better if Filipinos are together.

Watch GMA Network's 2021 Christmas Station ID on GMA's official Facebook and YouTube accounts, or on the official website www.gmanetwork.com.

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'Love at First Stream' Starring Jeremiah Lisbo and Kaori Oinuma Makes it to MMFF 2021 Official Entry List

Star Cinema and kumu's first-ever collaboration starring Daniela Stranner, Anthony Jennings, Kaori Oinuma, and Jeremiah Lisbo will officially join the film fest as it marks its return this year, as announced on Friday, November 12.

The movie, which will be helmed by Cathy Garcia-Molina, revolves around the new normal of the Stream Team - the dreamer (Daniela), the lover (Anthony), the girl-next-door (Kaori), and the heartthrob (Jeremiah) - as they explore love and friendships online to escape their realities offline.

It will also feature stars that emerged as winners from a series of kumu campaigns that made the project more interactive and immersive.

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(Photos) Derek Ramsay and Ellen Adarna Wedding

Derek Ramsay and Ellen Adarna exchanged "I Do's" in a dreamy sunset wedding on Thursday, November 11 at Rancho Bernardo Luxury Villas in Bagac, Bataan.

The wedding was attended by their closest friends and family members including Ellen's mother Meriam Go who walked her down the aisle, Derek's parents, Remedios Paggao-Ramsay and Derek Arthur Ramsay Sr.

Austin Ramsay, Derek's 18-year-old son with former model Mary Christine Jolly and Elias Modesto Cruz, Ellen's 3-year-old son with John Lloyd Cruz were also present.

Flower girls were Scarlet Snow Belo, daughter of Vicky Belo and Hayden Kho, and Olivia Ines Crisologo, daughter of Beauty Gonzalez and Norman Crisologo.

Check out some of the photos taken by Nelwin Uy Photography.

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Claudine Sues Enchong Dee for P1-Billion Cyber Libel Case

Drivers United for Mass Progress and Equal Rights (DUMPER) party-list representative Claudine Bautista-Lim files a cyber libel case against Enchong Dee at the Office of the Provincial Prosecutor in Davao Occidental.

The congresswoman claims Enchong's tweet related to her Balesin wedding with businessman Jose French Lim last February 20, 2021 was "defamatory, malicious."

“Enchong went as far as saying that I used public coffers to fund my wedding by categorically saying that ‘The money for commuters and drivers went to her wedding’, to the detriment and injury to my honor and name…”

“The posts were meant nothing more than their malicious intentions of maligning my person, depicting me as a corrupt public official,” she said in the complaint.

The Congresswoman is seeking P500-million in moral damages and another P500-million in exemplary damages.

Although she confirmed that the actor sent her an apology, she felt that "he was not sorry to me and for the damage that he has done. He just wants to deflect, albeit unsuccessfully, this criminal charge against him…”

“This does not do any good for him. It only bolstered and magnified his admission of guilt beyond reasonable doubt for his un-provoked and baseless libelous remarks.”

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"Never Enough" Singer Loren Allred Collaborates with Pinoy Music Director Troy Laureta for OPM Classic "Araw Gabi"

Filipino-American music director Troy Laureta has collaborated once again with an international artist - this time with “Never Enough” singer Loren Allred  - for a fresh rendition of the OPM classic “Araw Gabi,” released by ABS-CBN’s Star Music.

“’Araw Gabi’ was such a joy to create with Loren Allred and a team of people from all walks of life and from all around the world,” Troy posted on Instagram, teasing that the single will be the first off his upcoming album.

Meanwhile Loren, who sang the Billboard-charting and Platinum-selling track “Never Enough” from the musical film “The Greatest Showman,” also shared on Instagram how “over the moon” she was when Troy asked her to record a Filipino classic.

The American singer-songwriter added, “Throughout the years, my Filipino fans have shown me so much love and I thought what better way to say thank you than to sing in Tagalog. This was such a special experience for me and I hope I made my Filipino fans proud.”

Troy offers a remarkable new arrangement while Loren delivers an impeccable vocal performance in their version of “Araw Gabi,” which was written and composed by ‘Maestro’ Ryan Cayabyab, originally recorded by Nonoy Zuñiga, and was further popularized by Regine Velasquez-Alcasid.

In 2020, Troy released “KAIBIGAN: A Troy Laureta OPM Collective Vol. 1” which featured the voices of topnotch singers AILEE, Cheesa, Jake Zyrus, Matt Bloyd, Nicole Scherzinger, Pia Toscano, Regine, and Sheléa to bring some of OPM’s best love songs to the global stage.

Check out Troy and Lauren’s “Araw Gabi,” out now on various digital music services and on ABS-CBN Star Music’s YouTube channel. For more details, like Star Music on Facebook (www.facebook.com/starmusicph) and follow it on Twitter and Instagram (@StarMusicPH).

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(Trailer) "Clifford the Big Red Dog" Starring Darby Camp, John Cleese, Sienna Guillory, and Jack Whitehall

He’s the next big thing.

Watch the new trailer for Paramount Pictures’ upcoming adventure comedy "Clifford the Big Red Dog," in cinemas 2022.

YouTube: https://youtu.be/nAnHLdXKRtM

When middle-schooler Emily Elizabeth (Darby Camp) meets a magical animal rescuer (John Cleese) who gifts her a little red puppy, she never anticipates waking up to find a giant ten-foot hound in her small New York City apartment. While her single mom Maggie (Sienna Guillory) is away for business, Emily Elizabeth and her fun but impulsive uncle Casey (Jack Whitehall) set out on an adventure that will keep you on the edge-of-your-seat as our heroes take a bite out of the Big Apple. Based on the beloved Scholastic book character created by author Norman Bridwell, Clifford the Big Red Dog will teach the world how to love big!

Clifford the Big Red Dog features an all-star cast led by Darby Camp as Emily Elizabeth. The ensemble also includes Jack Whitehall, Academy Award®-nominee John Cleese, Sienna Guillory, Tony Hale, Izaac Wang, Horatio Sanz, Paul Rodriguez, Keith Ewell, Bear Allen Blaine, Tovah Feldshuh, Jessica Keenan Wynn, Alex Moffat and Russell Wong. Walt Becker (Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Road Chip, Old Dogs, Wild Hogs) directs from a script by Jay Scherick, David Ronn and Blaise Hemingway. Jordan Kerner and Iole Lucchese are producers.

In Philippine cinemas soon, Clifford the Big Red Dog is distributed by Paramount Pictures through Columbia Pictures. 

Follow us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/paramountpicsph/; Twitter at www.twitter.com/paramountpicsph/; Instagram at www.instagram.com/paramountpicsph/ and YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCsZ7igjHZB-5k8DDM7ilVJw.

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Piolo Pascual Reveals Life Story Before Stardom in New Podcast "BTWS", Launching November 12 on Spotify and Apple Music

Jeepney TV is giving fans a chance to discover what it was like for their favorite celebrities before they shot up to fame in its first-ever podcast “BTWS (Before They Were Stars)” starting with Piolo Pascual this Saturday (November 13).

“BTWS” is a 15-minute weekly podcast led by Kapamilya host Jhai Ho that will feature celebrities who will share the highs and lows of being a rookie in the entertainment industry as well as the challenges they faced and the remarkable feats they’ve achieved since they started out as a showbiz personalities.

For its premiere episode, ‘The Ultimate Heartthrob’ will talk about the difficult choice he had to make between pursuing his love for acting and living with his family abroad, the odd jobs that he did in the US, how the iconic Piolo-Juday tandem began, and the movie and TV roles that defined him.

Featuring personal anecdotes, fun accounts, and heartwarming memories, “BTWS” also aims to show how today’s brightest stars persevered to achieve success in their chosen fields and inspire listeners to go after their own dreams.

Upcoming episodes will center on the humble beginnings of Jodi Sta. Maria, Judy Ann Santos, Anne Curtis, Angelica Panganiban, and Jericho Rosales.

“BTWS,” also co-produced by the biggest podcast network in Southeast Asia Podcast Network Asia, is a welcome addition to the recently launched podcasts of five ABS-CBN Entertainment digital shows “Hotspot,” “Kapamilya Chat,” “Push Bets,” “Push Most Wanted,” and “Push Extra Scoop,” in line with ABS-CBN’s goal of expanding its services for the content needs of the Filipino digital market.

Learn about the road to your idol’s hard-earned success by checking out the “BTWS” podcast starting this Saturday (November 13) via Spotify and Apple Music.

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"James Bond: No Time To Die" Opens in Philippines Cinemas on December 15

Universal Pictures International (PH) will release the highly-anticipated No Time To Die in cinemas on November 17.

Daniel Craig is back for his fifth and final outing, bringing to a close a journey that has introduced the world to a new, modern Bond. For all his excellence in certain fields, Craig’s Bond is not infallible. He is not the hero of myth and legend; he has much to learn. Bond is a multifaceted hero, a man whose success is tempered by occasional failures. He is a mixture of the light and the dark; if he delivers a pithy one-liner, it is often shrouded in menace. Audiences have borne witness to this change. They have watched Bond learn to become an agent, to earn his licence to kill, and they have seen the toll it takes. He is a loner and yet he has learned to let people in.

“I started it like that with Casino,” begins Craig. “That was how we went in and that was a lot of what defined the way I have played this wonderful character. I wanted Bond to look like a killer and I wanted him to behave like a killer because that’s what he is, an assassin; that’s what he was written as. But I wanted a modern take on that.”

In No Time To Die, Bond has left active service and is enjoying a tranquil life in Jamaica. His peace is short-lived when his old friend Felix Leiter from the CIA turns up asking for help. The mission to rescue a kidnapped scientist turns out to be far more treacherous than expected, leading Bond onto the trail of a mysterious villain armed with dangerous new technology.

Where once the James Bond films played as separate adventures, linked by characters both malevolent and benign, EON Productions wanted the Daniel Craig series to unfold as a unified whole. Quantum Of Solace (2008) picked up immediately after Casino Royale (2006), which had tracked Bond’s initiation into the life of a double-O agent. Skyfall (2012) slotted into the series to reveal important aspects of Bond’s early life. Now, the 25th film in the EON series, No Time To Die, begins in the aftermath of Spectre (2015) where the film’s conclusion saw Bond (Craig) and Madeleine Swann (Léa Seydoux) drive away in the Aston Martin DB5.

Not surprisingly, No Time To Die proved an emotional project for all of those involved, especially for Craig himself. “When I stop and think about what we have achieved over five movies, it’s really very emotional; it’s been nearly 15 years of my life,” he says. “And I felt with No Time To Die there was a story to finish off and lots of loose ends that we needed to tie up. I feel we’ve done that. I’m immensely proud of it and I am immensely proud of the huge collective effort that goes into making a Bond movie. Being just a small part of that has been an honour.”

No Time to Die is directed by Cary Fukunaga starring Daniel Craig along with Rami Malek, Léa Seydoux, Lashana Lynch, Ben Whishaw, Naomie Harris, Jeffrey Wright, Christoph Waltz and Ralph Fiennes.

From Universal Pictures International PH, distributed by Warner Bros., No Time To Die opens November 17 in Philippine cinemas. Rated PG by the local censors board.

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Girl Group's Journey in "IDOL: The Coup" Now Streaming on iQiyi

iQiyi K-original IDOL: The Coup, which tells the tale of a girl group’s imminent disbandment, held its press conference last November 8. The conference was attended by Director Noh Jong-chan together with series stars including EXID’s “Hani” Ahn Hee-yeon, actor Kwak Si-yang, Produce X 101’s Kim Min-kyu, LABOUM’s Solbin, WJSN’s EXY, REDSQUARE’s Green and actress Han So-eun. The fictitious girl group Cotton Candy is made up of the four real-life K-pop idols who shared the empathy they felt for their characters and shed tears that were real.

“Hani” Ahn Hee-yeon confessed that the show’s plot had an uncanny resemblance to her life story. “I teared up every time I read the script. But I took comfort in the knowledge that if not for my struggles, and for EXID, I probably wouldn’t be able to portray this role well.” She also revealed that fellow EXID member Jeonghwa analysed the script with her. “I revisited my diary and variety shows to recall my memories and struggles, and tried presenting that on-screen to heal those with similar experiences.” 7-year idol Solbin’s character Hyun-ji loves drinking, and the actress joked that she was so much into the role that it felt she was drunk, and incorporated her personal experiences into her acting.

When asked to rate the chemistry within Cotton Candy out of 10, the members unanimously gave scores beyond the limit, ranging from hundreds to thousands and even millions. The only exception was Green, who gave a score of 99, tearing at the thought that she “deducted one point as Cotton Candy ended their run.” Fellow cast members sighed in response, while Kwak Si-yang, who plays the company’s CEO, joked, “Please let them make their debut!”

Other than her friendship with fellow Cotton Candy members, Hani also praised Kwak Si-yang and Kim Min-kyu for an extremely good working experience. “We worked well together. There was good tension when acting with Hani, and Min-kyu is like a younger brother to me. We teased each other and felt comfortable together,” said Kwak. Kim also revealed that “unlike his cool and aloof demeanour as CEO in the show, Kwak Si-yang has a really warm personality in real life. He even winks at me sometimes.”

iQiyi K-original IDOL: The Coup revolves around a passé idol group struggling to find success to avoid being disbanded. 

Starting November 8th, new episodes of the series will be available at 10PM every Monday and Tuesday, exclusively on the iQiyi International app or iQ.com.

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Shopee to Give Away Over ₱12,000,000 Worth of Prizes in 11.11 Big Christmas Sale TV Special feat. K-Pop Boy Band NCT127

Shopee, the leading e-commerce platform in Southeast Asia and Taiwan, invites Filipinos to tune in to the 11.11 Big Christmas Sale TV Special this November 11, 9:30-11:30 PM on GMA-7 and Shopee Live for a night full of amazing prizes and the best entertainment. Viewers have plenty to look forward to during the show, such as over ₱12,000,000 worth of giveaways including a brand-new car and two houses & lots, and exhilarating performances from K-Pop superstars NCT 127. Meanwhile, shoppers can beat the holiday rush and enjoy big savings with promotions such as ₱1 Deals, free shipping with no minimum spend, and 10% off daily at the 11.11 Big Christmas Sale, Shopee’s biggest sale of the year.

Here are the highlights of the 11.11 Big Christmas Sale TV Special:

Prizes worth over ₱12,000,000 with in-app Shopee games

● During four Shopee Shake sessions, one player gets ₱300,000 and a brand-new MG 5 subcompact sedan from Morris Garages, two players each get ₱300,000 and a brand- new house & lot from BellaVita, and several players get to share a ₱1,000,000 coin pool.

● Users can also activate and verify their ShopeePay accounts to join Pera Pamigay for a chance to win ₱100 worth of free ShopeePay credits.

● Two Shopee Milyonaryo players each get to take home ₱1,000,000. Performances and appearances by the hottest local and international celebrities

Aside from performances from K-Pop boyband NCT127, viewers can also enjoy appearances from local celebrities Carla Abellana, Jessy Mendiola, Max Collins, Juancho Trivino, Rocco Nacino, Klea Pineda, Andre Paras, and Gil Cuerva, who will host the show alongside Shopee brand ambassador Willie Revillame. Talented artists such as Aira Bermudez, Ashley Rivera, Athena Madrid, Faye Lorenzo, Analyn Barro, Ashley Ortega, and Sef Cadayona will also wow audiences with high-energy performances.

Flash deals from leading brands

Shoppers should also stay tuned as the TV show hosts will announce exclusive deals and discounts available for a limited time only from personal care, infant care, tech, and food brands such as Unilever, Mikana, Kleenfant, Colgate-Palmolive, Bonchon, Mcdonald's, Goldilocks, Huawei, Enfagrow, Lactum, Abbott, Potato Corner, Gong Cha, Candy Corner, and Tiger Sugar. Shopee 11.11 Big Christmas Sale

The 11.11 Big Christmas Sale, which ushers in the year’s busiest shopping season, gives Filipinos plenty of reasons to celebrate with ₱1 Deals, free shipping with no minimum spend, and 10% off daily.

Users can also enjoy first dibs on exclusive 11.11 Big Christmas Sale deals across different categories with Shopee’s Add to Cart: https://shopee.ph/m/add-to-cart. They can discover top deals, add the items to their shopping carts before the sale, and immediately check them out on November 11 at the discounted price.

More deals with ShopeePay

To enjoy more deals this 11.11 Big Christmas Sale, shoppers can go cashless with ShopeePay, Shopee’s all-in-one e-wallet, where they can Buy Load, Pay Bills, and Scan to Pay at thousands of partner merchants nationwide. On November 11, users can get more savings when they check out their Christmas purchases with ShopeePay promotions such as free shipping with no minimum spend, 30% cashback, and 10% off vouchers.

This 11.11 Big Christmas Sale, users can get up to 50% off on mobile load for all networks and up to 50% cashback on bills when they pay via ShopeePay. Additionally, users can get ₱100 off from participating billers such as Meralco, Maynilad, Globe, Metrobank, and more. Whether it be essentials or food items, users can also purchase exclusive ShopeePay ₱1 Deals on the Shopee app and redeem discounts when they pay with ShopeePay at BonChon, Puregold, Potato Corner, Goldilocks, Tiger Sugar, and more.

To avail of these exciting deals, users should activate and cash in their ShopeePay wallet. They can also enjoy free and instant cash-ins when they cash from their bank apps via InstaPay. Until November 21, users can get up to ₱25 cashback on their InstaPay fee.

For more information, visit https://shopee.ph/m/christmas-sale.

Download the Shopee app for free via the App Store or Google Play.

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Marian Rivera Celebrates Stories of Life's Triumphs in Year 4 of "Tadhana"

They say life is a myriad of experiences, of possibilities, and of ups and downs. Every chapter is a colorful narrative of one’s difficulties and triumphs - with each success deserving a celebration.

This November, as Tadhana marks its fourth year on air, the award-winning drama anthology hosted by Kapuso Primetime Queen Marian Rivera continues to celebrate the stories of every Filipino’s triumphs, sparking hope and inspiration to viewers here and abroad. “Apat na taon na tayo mga Kapuso. Ako at ang lahat ng mga taong bumubuo sa Tadhana ay nag-uumapaw ang pasasalamat sa inyong walang-sawang pagsuporta sa aming programa mula umpisa hanggang ngayon,” said Marian.

She shares that viewers can only expect great things from the show. “Makakaasa kayo na mas lalo pa naming pagagandahin ang mga kuwentong ibabahagi namin sa inyo. Kaya naman sa ating ika-apat na taon, samahan ninyo ako at ating saksihan ang mga kuwentong magbibigay sa atin ng inspirasyon at pag-asa sa pagtahak natin sa ating tadhana,” she added.

For its month-long anniversary special, Tadhana has lined up heartwarming episodes featuring some of the country’s highly-acclaimed actors. For its opening salvo this November 13 and November 20, witness the complicated story of two parents and a daughter caught between them in “Sa Ngalan ng Ama.”

The formidable cast includes award-winning actor Gabby Concepcion, Thea Tolentino, Ariella Arida, Bubbles Paraiso, and esteemed actress Ms. Eula Valdez.

In the story, Gabby plays Christian, the biological father of Tracy portrayed by Thea. Choosing to be true to herself after coming out as a lesbian, Diane played by Ariella leaves Christian and raises Tracy without him. After many years, Christian tries to reclaim the daughter he never met. But this is not without a fight from Coco, portrayed in the episode by Eula. Coco is the lesbian guardian of Tracy who assumed responsibility of taking care of Tracy when Dianne died during childbirth.

Viewers should also catch the second episode of Tadhana’s 4th Anniversary Special, “Kabayaran” which is set to air on November 27 and December 4.

After the death of her father Danilo, Joy is abused and maltreated by her mother Hilda and stepsister Fatima. Hilda blames Joy for the death of Danilo. Eventually, Hilda and Fatima create a scheme to get rid of Joy. They sell her to John, an American with illegal businesses in the country who makes a sex slave out of Joy. Years later, Joy manages to escape from John and with the help of her best friend, she devises a plan to exact revenge. Will she be able to succeed?

Join Marian Rivera in celebrating the stories of your triumphs in life. Watch “Sa Ngalan ng Ama” this November 13 and 20 and “Kabayaran” on November 27 and December 4 as part of the month-long anniversary of Tadhana, Saturdays at 3:15 p.m. before Wish Ko Lang! on GMA Network.

Further, as part of its fourth anniversary celebration, Tadhana is also giving away a house and lot to a lucky overseas Filipino worker (OFW) or his/her family member. For more details, visit Tadhana’s official Facebook page, www.facebook.com/TadhanaGMA.

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Paulo Avelino and Janine Gutierrez Get Engaged in “Marry Me, Marry You” Season 2

Andrei and Camille (Paulo Avelino and Janine Gutierrez) will jumpstart a fresh chapter in their lives while facing their relationship’s ultimate test in the second season of “Marry Me, Marry You,” which opens on November 15 at an earlier timeslot, 8:40 PM, on Kapamilya Channel, A2Z, and TV5.

Viewers will get more laughter, life-changing lessons, and heartwarming family moments from the new chapter as Andrei and Camille get engaged and fight for their love despite the ongoing feud of their families.

One of the problems that Andrei and Camille have to contend with is Andrei’s best friend Cedric (Jake Ejercito), who is still deeply in love with Camille. Things will get worse between them when Andrei soon finds out that Cedric has been plotting against him to win over Camille.

Viewers can also expect more tear-jerking moments between Andrei and his mother Elvie (Cherry Pie Picache), who is also Camille’s godmother, when he finally makes an effort to repair their strained relationship.

However, Andrei’s father Emilio (Edu Manzano) and step-mom Laviña (Teresa Loyzaga) still have no plans of allowing Andrei and Elvie to reunite since they both despise Elvie and are accusing her of taking advantage of Andrei.

Camille’s family struggles will also continue when her brother Kelvin (Adrian Lindayag) comes out as gay to their parents. On the other hand, Paula’s (Sunshine Dizon) happy love life will be in danger when she gets entangled in a love triangle with her younger suitor Luke (Fino Herrera) and her daughter Koleene (Analain Salvador).

Will Andrei and Camille still be able to live a happy life with their families?

Before the new chapter begins, fans of “Marry Me, Marry You” can relive the ‘kilig’ and most memorable moments from the first season in “Marry Me, Marry You: Season 1 Spotlight.” Watch it this Friday (November 12) at 8 PM on iWantTFC and WeTV iFlix, and this Sunday (November 14) at 5 PM on ABS-CBN Entertainment’s YouTube channel.

The music video for the theme song of “Marry Me, Marry You,” which is sung by Darren Espanto, will also be released soon.

“Marry Me, Marry You,” which figured in the list of the most watched TV programs among U.S. multicultural Asian homes in September, airs weeknights at 9:25 PM, and is set to air its second season starting November 15 at an earlier timeslot at 8:40 PM on Kapamilya Channel, A2Z, TV5, and Kapamilya Online Live on ABS-CBN Entertainment’s YouTube channel and Facebook page. Viewers who use any digital TV box at home such as the TVplus box only need to rescan their device to be able to watch the show on TV5 and A2Z. Its episodes are also available on iWantTFC, WeTV iFlix, and on The Filipino Channel on cable and IPTV for viewers outside of the Philippines.

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Moira Launches "Pabilin" and "Pagitan," a Timely Music for Remembering and Honoring Loved Ones

Moira dela Torre has launched a double-track single called “Pabilin” featuring stories of loss, regret, and acceptance in the songs “Pabilin” and “Pagitan.”

“’Pabilin’ talks about making the most of our time with our loved ones, because we don’t know much of it we really have,” the Kapamilya singer-songwriter shared on Instagram.

In a recent “Magandang Buhay” interview, Moira said the two-track single features two different perspectives, “one song from a child to a parent and the next song, from the parent to a child.” She wrote the tracks together with her husband and fellow songwriter-musician, Jason Hernandez.

A song of dawning, the first track “Pagitan” is about wishing one could have said goodbye to a departed loved one. It tackles the various stages of grief from the perspective of someone who was left behind. Meanwhile, the second track entitled “Pabilin” is from the perspective of the one who left containing a special message to his loved one left behind.

Moira shared that she got inspired to write these new songs after she witnessed the loss and pain of people close to her during the pandemic. This latest project follows the success of her “Patawad” album, which was awarded Platinum certification in 2020.

Check out Moira’s two-track release “Pabilin,” out now on digital platforms. 

For more details, like Star Music on Facebook (www.facebook.com/starmusicph) and follow it on Twitter and Instagram (@StarMusicPH).

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Big Reveal: Spider-Man's Biggest Foe Returns in "Spider-Man: No Way Home"

The Multiverse unleashed.

Checkout the official teaser poster below for Columbia Pictures’ new action-adventure Spider-Man: No Way Home, coming exclusively to Philippine cinemas January 08, 2022.

Watch the film’s latest trailer at https://youtu.be/iur-ckKj27U

For the first time in the cinematic history of Spider-Man, our friendly neighborhood hero is unmasked and no longer able to separate his normal life from the high-stakes of being a Super Hero. When he asks for help from Doctor Strange the stakes become even more dangerous, forcing him to discover what it truly means to be Spider-Man.

Directed by Jon Watts, Spider-Man: No Way Home is written by Chris McKenna & Erik Sommers, based on the MARVEL Comic Book by Stan Lee and Steve Ditko.

Produced by Kevin Feige, Amy Pascal with executive producers Louis D’Esposito, Victoria Alonso, JoAnn Perritano, Rachel O’Connor, Avi Arad, Matt Tolmach.

The cast is led by Tom Holland, Zendaya, Benedict Cumberbatch, Jon Favreau, Jacob Batalon with Marisa Tomei.

In Philippine cinemas January 08, 2022, Spider-Man: No Way Home is distributed by Columbia Pictures, local office of Sony Pictures Releasing International.

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