Success! "Acer Day 2022: The Green Mark" Concert Features SB19, Adie, Parokya Ni Edgar, Others to Help Save the Environment.

Acer Day 2022 ambassadors, led by P-pop kings SB19 performed to a huge crowd at the SM MOA Arena but what made the event even more special is that the Acer Day 2022: The Green Mark Concert was for a good cause - to help save the environment.

The event was a huge success and made the good kind of noise from start to finish. #AcerDay2022 trended locally and worldwide on Twitter and has over 2.4 million views on TikTok!

Instead of selling tickets to the concert, Acer enjoined fans to do sustainable acts, such as buying products from Acer’s sustainable line, Aspire Vero; donating to GreenEarth Heritage Foundation, and collecting cleaned, washed, and dried plastic waste and dropping them off at The Plaf, a social enterprise that recycles plastic.

The Acer Day 2022: The Green Mark Concert raised Php1.38M for the GreenEarth Heritage Foundation and 20 metric tons of plastic waste compensation for The Plaf. 

The phenomenal group SB19 opened the show strong with Acer’s song “Live It Up”, followed by charismatic P-pop group KAIA who performed “KAYA.”

Singer-songwriter Adie serenaded the audience with “Mahika” and “Paraluman” while the lovely Janina Vela performed her latest song, “Hello Stranger.”

Predator Gaming Philippines ambassadors and musicians CLR, Awi, and Yow had a jam session while indie rock band SUD performed their hit songs, “Baliw” and “Sila.” 

Parokya ni Edgar led by Chito Miranda partied with the audience with the group’s timeless hits, “Buloy,” Para Sa Iyo,” Harana,” Halaga,” “Inuman Na”, and “Your Song.” Lucky audience members got to perform with them for “Pangarap Lang Kita” and “Bagsakan.”

Finally, SB19 did not disappoint fans who waited all day by performing their debut song “Tilahula”, hit songs “What?,” “SLMT”, and “Mapa.” They also closed the show with their new song for Acer titled “Make Your Green Mark”, co-written by the group’s very own Pablo. Watch the “Make Your Green Mark” music video here.

Other Acer and Predator ambassadors such as Alodia Gosiengfiao, Een Mercado, Kang Dupet, Amara, Burg, TNC Predator, ArkAngel Predator, Team Secret, Kuya Nic, Chibiby, and Team Payaman were also present to celebrate Acer Day 2022.

“We are happy that this year’s celebration was a huge success but our mission to protect the planet is not over yet. You can still join the 21-day #MakeYourGreenMark Challenge and do your part to help save the environment just as Acer has done with its green initiatives,” said Acer Philippines General Manager Sue Ong-Lim.

Find out how you can make your green mark just like your favorites by going here. To relive moments from Acer Day 2022 and to learn more about the 21-day #MakeYourGreenMark Challenge, follow Acer on its social media platforms: @AcerPH on Facebook, @acerph on Instagram, and @acerphils on Twitter or go to www.acer.com.

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Finally! TV5 and ABS-CBN Officially Announce Landmark Deal

ABS-CBN Corporation ("ABS-CBN") and TV5 Network, Inc. (“TV5”), on Wednesday, August 10, announced the execution of an Investment Agreement that will allow ABS-CBN to acquire 6,459,393 primary (new) common shares in TV5 representing 34.99% of the total voting and outstanding capital stock of TV5 for an aggregate subscription price of Php2.16Bn.

After the consummation of this subscription, the MediaQuest group’s equity in TV5 will be reduced to 64.79% of the voting and outstanding capital stock and the MediaQuest group will remain to be the controlling shareholder of TV5.

Simultaneously with the execution of the Investment Agreement, the parties will execute a Convertible Note Agreement pursuant to which ABS CBN to invest in a Convertible Note with a face value of Php1.84Bn to be issued by TV5 (the “Convertible Note”). The Convertible Note will allow ABS-CBN, subject to obtaining applicable regulatory approvals, to acquire additional primary common shares of TV5 after 8 years from the issuance of the Convertible Note, and thereby increase its equity in TV5 to no more than 49.92% of the outstanding capital stock of TV5.

The proceeds of the subscription in the primary common shares and the Convertible Note in the total amount of Php4Bn will fund the capital expenditures and operating expenses of TV5 in pursuing the enhancements of its content and programming and public service offerings.

This transaction is clearly transformational for both companies and is envisaged to significantly enhance significantly TV5’s capability to deliver content and coverage to the Filipino public in the areas of entertainment, news, sports and public services. This is also consistent with the national policy of expanding the private sector’s role of supporting efficient and reliable public services, which TV5 is expected to provide through its nationwide network to provide increased nationwide coverage, especially in remote areas.

The transaction is expected to be completed within August 2022, and closing is subject to fulfillment of certain closing conditions.

Manuel V. Pangilinan, Chairman of Mediaquest Holdings said, “We welcome the entry and investment of ABS-CBN in TV5, as ABS-CBN has always been the leading developer and provider of Filipino-related entertainment content not only in the Philippines but overseas as well. Our companies have always had these cherished values of providing top and quality programs in the service of the Filipino people and together we believe we can achieve this in greater measure and success”.

Mark Lopez, Chairman ABS CBN said “We are excited with this partnership as we see the opportunity to help TV5 grow and strengthen its free to air network. For ABS, it presents a fantastic platform for us to achieve synergies in production content and talent management as well as maximizing our content delivery. We look forward to be of greater service to the public as we come together in taking TV5 to the next level.”

Carlo Katigbak, President and CEO of ABS-CBN added, “This partnership is consistent with the strategic intention of ABS-CBN to evolve into a storytelling company whose goal is to reach as wide an audience as possible. In partnership with TV5, we look forward to reaching viewers both on owned platforms and through other broadcast partners, thereby enriching the Philippine creative industry. We hope the industry evolves from being highly competitive to increasingly collaborative, which benefits all stakeholders in the long run.”

The landmark deal comes after activities between the two groups have increased with more Kapamilya programs onboarded on TV5’s Kapatid Network.

AlphaPrimus Advisors and Picazo Buyco Tan Fider & Santos advised the MediaQuest group on this transaction while the law firms of Romulo Mabanta and Quiason Makalintal advised ABS-CBN.

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“Mars Ravelo's Darna”: A Modern-Day Retelling of Darna's Heroism to Replace "FPJ: Ang Probinsyano" Starting August 15

Today’s generation of viewers will finally witness Darna come alive to manifest her superpowers, bare her humanity and love for family, and empower audiences with her bravery in ABS-CBN Entertainment’s “Mars Ravelo’s Darna” series that is set to premiere on Monday (August 15), 8 pm on Kapamilya Channel, A2Z, Jeepney TV, and TV5.

“Ito na po ang pagkakataon namin para ipakita sa buong mundo ang pinaghirapan ng production, lahat ng cast, mapa-staff and directors. Matagal na rin po itong hinintay ng sambayanang Pilipino,” said lead star Jane de Leon who plays Narda Custodio and her superhuman alter-ego Darna.

“Maraming-marami po kayong aabangan pagdating sa effects, costumes, villains, at syempre sa bagong istorya ng ‘Darna,’” she promised at the Darna Grand Media Conference held last Monday (August 8).

The Star for All Seasons Vilma Santos gave a surprise video message at the event. “Yung pagiging Darna, relevant yan, lalo na ngayon na napupuno tayo ng challenges sa buhay. Ang karakter niya ay nagbibigay ng inspirasyon sa mga tao,” the multi-awarded actress, who starred in four Darna movies, said. “Jane, na sa’yo na ang bato! Pangalaan mo yang mabuti. Maging ehemplo ka ng henerasyon ngayon.”

The series will chronicle the life of Narda, an emergency medical technician (EMT) and a loving breadwinner to the Custodio family, who is destined to become the next protector of the powerful stone that enables her to transform into a superhero who has special abilities to help those in danger.

Joining Jane in this year’s most awaited program are Iza Calzado who plays Narda’s mother Leonor, the first Darna; Janella Salvador as vlogger and lawyer Regina and Darna’s mortal enemy Valentina; Joshua Garcia as a police officer named Brian; Zaijian Jaranilla as Narda’s geeky younger brother Ding.

Also part of the series are Paolo Gumabao, Rio Locsin, Richard Quan, Simon Ibarra, Jeffrey Santos, Eric Fructuoso, Levy Ignacio, and many more.

Darna’s modern-day TV adaptation, based on the creation of Pinoy comics legend Mars Ravelo, is directed by the Master Director Chito S. Roño, Avel Sunpongco, and Benedict Mique and produced by ABS-CBN’s JRB Creative Production unit.

Direk Chito shared good words about this generation’s Darna. “I’m very pleased not only that [Jane] she focused, not only that she concentrated, she has done very well as an actress for ‘Darna,’” complimenting Jane for how she has portrayed the role of the iconic superhero.

Viewers are eagerly awaiting the show’s premiere following several sightings of Darna’s character in various places culminating in the “DarnaCon” event last Saturday at Robinsons malls where the show’s cast got to meet and greet their fans. Its trailer, launched just last month, already earned almost 10 million views across ABS-CBN Entertainment’s social media platforms.

P-pop boy group BGYO was also announced to sing the official soundtrack of “Darna” titled “Patuloy Lang Ang Lipad” to be launched very soon.

The new series will air from Monday to Friday beginning August 15 at 8 pm on Kapamilya Channel, A2Z, Jeepney TV, and TV5 and will also be available on Kapamilya Online Live, iWantTFC, and The Filipino Channel.

Don’t miss “Darna’s” maiden flight, follow JRB Creative Production on Facebook and Twitter @JRBcreativeprod and on Instagram @ JRBcreativeproduction. For updates, follow @abscbnpr on Facebook, Twitter, TikTok, and Instagram or visit www.abs-cbn.com/newsroom.

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Japanese Actors Andrew Koji and Hiroyuki Sanada Seek Vengeance in Brad Pitt's New Action-Thriller Movie "Bullet Train"

Two of today’s most popular Japanese actors, Andrew Koji (HBO Max’s Warrior) and Hiroyuki Sanada (John Wick: Chapter 4) star alongside Brad Pitt in Columbia Pictures’ new action-thriller Bullet Train, in Philippine cinemas August 10.

In the film, Pitt stars as Ladybug, an unlucky assassin determined to do his job peacefully after one too many gigs gone off the rails. Fate, however, may have other plans, as Ladybug's latest mission puts him on a collision course with lethal adversaries from around the globe - all with connected, yet conflicting, objectives - on the world's fastest train. The end of the line is just the beginning in this non-stop thrill-ride through modern-day Japan from David Leitch, the director of Deadpool 2.

Watch the film’s latest trailer at https://youtu.be/Wcl-GVVQUDc

Japanese-British actor/martial artist Andrew Koji plays the role of Kimura, a low-level Tokyo criminal who has hit rock bottom. An alcoholic in a perpetual haze, he boards the train ready to exact his revenge on the unknown culprit who attacked his son and ultimately redeem himself and restore honor to his family name.

For Koji, the complexity of the character and the film’s relatable themes of luck and family resonated. “I’ve never seen a character like Kimura before, let alone in a big Hollywood film like Bullet Train. From the moment you first see him, you know he’s a man in crisis, made worse by the disapproval of his father. He’s a decisive moment that incites the whole film and his storyline.”

“This film is about luck, and like Ladybug, I think Kimura’s always felt unlucky his whole life,” Koji continues. “When you have a victim mentality, you attract that kind of energy. But he’ll have a moment when his luck turns around.”

“Andrew’s character is the heartbeat of the movie,” says Leitch. “It’s definitely Ladybug’s story, but the emotional center – and the most complex relationship in the movie – is the relationship between Kimura and The Elder.”

As Kimura’s stoic, unyielding father, known as the Elder, Hiroyuki Sanada takes on the multi-layered character of the modest florist who is fiercely protective of his family. Even as Kimura loses himself in a bottle and feels the enormous shame he’s brought to his family, the Elder knows his son is a survivor. “Getting the role was a dream, but then I find out that Hiroyuki Sanada is playing my dad,” says Koji. “This whole experience has been a bit surreal. I never saw my path ever crossing with Hiroyuki Sanada.”

When the Elder, worried about Kimura, boards the train, he shares some sage wisdom with Ladybug. “He explains the lore of Tentou-mushi – Japanese for ladybug,” says screenwriter Zak Olkewicz. “The explanation is that there is a spot on its back for each of the seven sorrows of the world of mankind. Tentou-mushi isn’t lucky – it holds all the bad luck, so others may live in peace with good luck. That, to me, is such a beautiful moment – a discussion of acceptance of your place in the world.”

Bullet Train is distributed by Columbia Pictures, local office of Sony Pictures Releasing International.

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WIKO Smartphones Introduces P-pop Group G22 as Celebrity Endorsers

French smartphone brand WIKO introduced P-pop group G22 as its first celebrity endorsers.

The four-member girl group composed of Alfea, AJ, Bianca, and Jaz debuted in February 2022 under Cornerstone Entertainment. The group has released two hit songs, “BANG!” and “Babalik.” They were also part of PPOPCON 2022, a two-day P-pop convention held at the New Frontier Theater and Smart Araneta Coliseum earlier this year.

“We’re very excited because this is our first endorsement as a group,” said AJ, the leader and main rapper.

“We want to share our advocacy and spread more awareness that everyone is a female alpha, and that WIKO is also an alpha brand,” added Alfea, the lead vocalist and visuals.

Cornerstone Entertainment president Jeff Vadillo also expressed that WIKO and G22 have the same vision of supporting people with dreams. “[WIKO] is at the forefront of technology in terms of function and design. That is exactly the type of branding we want for G22. We wanted to create a girl group that is at the forefront of OPM and P-pop in terms of music, style, visuals, and music videos. Definitely, being an alpha girl group makes WIKO the perfect brand to partner with as one of the up and coming tech brands right now,” he said.

“Not only that, for their generation, it's really the smartphones that they use to reach out to their fans, particularly in terms of communicating their artistry, advocacy, and beliefs, and what a good way to do exactly that, than with WIKO.”

Launched in 2011, WIKO aims to bring French and fresh aesthetics with their smartphones. The brand entered the Philippine market in 2022 with its signature models: WIKO T50 and WIKO T10.

“G22 has a creative, youthful passion and style that resonates well with their fast growing number of young fans. This is why we think that they’re the perfect fit to bring WIKO to the forefront by using the phone to personally express themselves and share their experiences and dreams to the Bullets fandom. We’re excited to partner with G22 and we can’t wait to grow as well with this talented group,” said Jacqueline Li, WIKO marketing director for the Philippines.

As part of the partnership, WIKO and G22 have upcoming projects and events lined up for the next few months, including mall shows, slated within this year and next.

The group thanked their fans for their continuous support and the whole P-pop community. “We’re super thankful for our Bullets. Dahil sa kanila, we’re able to have another Bullet like WIKO,” AJ said.

WIKO is available on Lazada and Shopee. 

For more details, visit www.ph.wikomobile.com.

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Sarah Geronimo and Mimiyuuuh Music Video Collab for TNT ‘Tuloy Ang Saya’

For the first time ever, value mobile brand TNT has brought together Popstar Sarah Geronimo and YouTube star Mimiyuuuh for an epic music video collab meant to encourage Filipinos to get their saya going in these challenging times.

Watch here: https://youtu.be/d3FB6EgFnvU

Entitled ‘Tuloy Ang Saya,’ TNT’s latest music video shows both celebrity endorsers in a catchy song and dance performance that highlights how ordinary Filipinos can find simple ways to stay happy and productive powered by TNT - whether it’s through connecting with loved ones on social media, destressing on TikTok with co-workers, bonding with friends via online games, learning new things on YouTube, or even starting out a small online business.

The campaign video also capitalizes on the song’s LSS-inducing message: “Sa TNT, tuloy ang saya—kahit nagigipit, dyan tayo kakapit, problema’y maitatawid.”

An epic collaboration and dance challenge

The new ad comes on the heels of the much-awaited new TVC of Sarah G. after a short hiatus.

“Masaya po ako na among my first projects is this music video with Mimiyuuuh na may importanteng mensahe: Kahit ano pa pong pagsubok ang dinadaanan natin, sama-sama natin ‘tong lalagpasan at nandito lang kami ng TNT para ituloy ang sayang makakapitan saan man kayo sa bansa,” Sarah G. said.

On the other hand, Mimiyuuuh could not believe that she just ticked off an item from her bucket list — the dream to collaborate with the Popstar Royalty.

“Nagpapasalamat ako sa TNT for this once in a lifetime opportunity to collaborate in a music video with the Popstar Royalty! We had so much fun po shooting this at nakaka-proud po to be part of a project that celebrates the Filipinos’ strength and positivity lalo na during these challenging times. Truly, sa TNT, tuloy ang saya!” Mimiyuuh said.

Fans can get their saya going by joining Sarah G. and Mimiyuuuh on the ‘Tuloy Ang Saya’ dance challenge and sharing their version on TikTok using the official hashtag #TNTuloyAngSaya

Keep the saya going with TNT

“Now, more than ever, many Filipinos rely on the internet for their daily dose of saya despite trying times. As we say, ‘Ang taong gipit, sa saya kumakapit,’ that’s why TNT is committed to making available affordable promos to keep everyone connected online, powered by Smart’s nationwidest mobile coverage,” said Francis E. Flores, SVP and Head of Consumer Business Wireless – Individual at Smart.

To keep the subscribers connected to their daily source of saya, TNT recently unveiled Sulit Affordaloads’, which include Pantawid 10, SurfSaya 20, and All Data 50 with Free TikTok For All- three offers that suit the connectivity needs of subscribers even on a tight budget.

Subscribers may register to any of TNT’s Sulit Affordaloads by logging into the GigaLife App, by dialing *123#, or by purchasing at accredited retailers and sari-sari stores nationwide.

Powered by Smart’s nationwidest mobile network

TNT is powered by Smart, which has recently been recognized for having the country’s Best Mobile Coverage Nationwide by Ookla®, the global leader in mobile and broadband network intelligence.

Based on user-generated tests and scans in 2.3 million devices across 671,510 locations in the country, Ookla declared Smart as winner of the Best Mobile Coverage category for Q1-Q2 2022 after it achieved a Coverage Score of 794, surpassing its closest competitor’s Coverage Score of 732.

Smart also dominated in the latest Mobile Network Experience Awards by independent mobile analytics firm Opensignal, covering the essential aspects of speed, overall experience, and service.

Get the saya going with TNT’s budget-friendly data, call, and text offers. For updates, visit tntph.com.

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Jordan Peele Rewrites "Nope" Script for Fil-Am Puerto Rican Actor Brandon Perea

Brandon Perea, born from a Filipino mother and Puerto Rican father is an affirmative rising star in his his latest film role in Jordan Peele’s horror thriller “Nope” alongside established Hollywood actors Daniel Kaluuya, Keke Palmer and Steven Yeun.

From the movie’s world premiere, Perea received rave reviews for his performance as one of the film’s leads, describing him as a breakthrough star and an unexpected scene stealer for his role as Angel Torres, an angsty employee of retail store Fry’s Electronics.

Nope is Jordan’s latest horror thriller that impressively debuted with $44 million on top of the box-office when it opened in the US (July). Considered to be a must-see in cinemas for its spectacle, Nope is about to open in cinemas outside of US and will take the audience in for a ride into the unknown as siblings OJ (Kaluuya) and Emerald (Palmer) inherit their father’s legendary horse ranch. As OJ and Emerald start noticing unexplained phenomena on their vast ranch, they soon start to plot attempts to capture the mystery on camera and enlist the expert help of Fry’s Electronics store employee Angel Torres (Perea). Together, the trio step right into the eye of an irreversible storm with no path guiding them back, further ratcheting the stakes to terrifying consequences.

Perea, who’s also known for his roles in Netflix’s The OA and the movie American Insurrection is thrilled with the opportunity to play Angel Torres in Nope. His character is crucial to the film’s lore on aliens and the unexplained as an electronics retail store employee who assists OJ and Emerald with installing surveillance equipment at their ranch and gets drawn into their quest for documenting the unexplained phenomenon they’ve encountered. Beneath Angel’s bleach-blonde veneer of post-punk angst and box-store malaise lies a heartbroken young man who is still hopeful and will become an unlikely, but exceedingly valuable ally to OJ and Emerald.

“Angel’s our tech expert, and something of a comic-relief character,” Jordan Peele says. “Angel is a diehard Ancient Aliens fan. Angel also often the one pointing out how batshit crazy the whole situation is. But he also gets quite willingly tangled up in this insane mission.”

Brandon Perea's role was not exactly how Peele originally envisioned it when he wrote the screenplay, but the young actor clearly made an impression. “Jordan said, ‘You brought something so different to the table that I had to meet you, but you’re really different than what I wrote for the script. If I were to put you in this movie, I’ll have to rewrite my entire movie,’” Perea recalls. “And I was like, ‘Yeah, that sounds tough. I guess that’s probably not going to happen.’ And he's like, ‘So that’s what I'm going to do - I'm going to rewrite my movie. You got the part!’ I just busted out in tears crying.”

In a bit of serendipity, playing an employee of the famed Fry’s Electronics, which closed its doors in 2021, also brought back some good memories for the actor. “I remember reading the script and seeing that Angel works at Fry's Electronics and I wigged out because my brothers and I used to go to the Fry’s in Chicago when we were growing up,” Perea says. “It was just a crazy full-circle moment for me.”

Nope opens in Philippine cinemas on August 17 from Universal Pictures. Rated R-13 by the local censors board.

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Julie Anne San Jose And Gary Valenciano Take Their Collaboration To New Heights In New Song “Di Ka Akin”

The Asia's Limitless Star and Mr. Pure Energy are joining forces for a collaboration.

That’s right, Julie Anne San Jose and Gary Valenciano have a new melodic single called “Di Ka Akin” released under Universal Records. (WATCH OFFICIAL LYRIC VIDEO HERE)

Celebrated as two of UR’s most sought-after artists for many years, this collaboration surely is a treat to their long-time fans. The track features a hypnotic mellow vibe, giving listeners an opportunity to really just let out their emotions during the times that they feel like they can’t move on from a lost love.

“Di Ka Akin” also marks as the first release after Universal Records Philippines announced its official partnership with Singapore-based music label Cross Ratio Entertainment. The partnership aims to strengthen and promote Southeast Asian music around the globe and bridge the gap between artists and audiences in neighboring countries, bringing them closer to new and existing fans in the SEA region.

The gorgeous pop ballad with Julie Anne’s writing and vocals on full display easily impressed Gary V., a reason why he said Yes to this collaboration in a heartbeat. For the OPM icon, an excellent artist like JAPS does not come very often and you really don’t want to miss an opportunity like this. And if you ask Julie Anne who wrote this song last year, she still finds the whole experience about this collaboration a dream come true.

“Di Ka Akin” is part of the New Music Friday Philippines playlist on Spotify this week.

Stream “Di Ka Akin” on Spotify and other streaming platforms.

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Coco Martin Takes Down John Estrada and Lorna Tolentino as “FPJ’s Ang Probinsyano” Hits All-Time High Record

“FPJ’s Ang Probinsyano” hit another all-time high record of 367,018 live concurrent viewers on Kapamilya Online Live on YouTube last August 5 (Friday) as Cardo (Coco Martin) finally got sweet revenge against two of his most mortal enemies in the series, which is concluding its historic seven-year run this week.

The previous record of 360,851 was recorded just the night prior as viewers have been on the edge of their seats in recent action-packed episodes. Friday’s episode, which saw the brutal deaths of Armando (John Estrada) and Lily (Lorna Tolentino), was a hot topic on social media with #FPJAP7Paninigil, Cardo, John Estrada, and Armando all making the trending topics list on Twitter in the Philippines.

Cardo and Task Force Agila finally got their revenge against Armando, who was responsible for the gruesome death of Lolo Delfin, and Lily, who caused them great suffering after tagging their group as notorious criminals.

However, Cardo is not yet quite done hunting down his enemies. With the help of President Oscar (Rowell Santiago), Cardo and Task Force Agila are plotting their grand plan for their final mission in order to arrest Renato (John Arcilla) and Lucio (Raymond Bagatsing), two of the most powerful terrorists in the country.

Renato and Lucio already have their evil plans laid out and are preparing for the bloodbath against Agila. The terrorist group is demanding for full control over the entire country, or else they wiil continue to persecute the innocent people that they are currently holding hostage.

Will Cardo and Task Force Agila make it out alive and be successful in their mission?

Don’t miss “FPJ’s Ang Probinsyano: Ang Pambansang Pagtatapos” weeknights on Kapamilya Channel, A2Z, TV5, CineMo, iWantTFC, 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 “FPJ’s Ang Probinsyano” on TV5 and A2Z. “FPJ’s Ang Probinsyano” is also available to viewers in and out of the Philippines on iWantTFC, while viewers outside of the Philippines can watch on The Filipino Channel (TFC) on cable and IPTV.

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Bayad Forged Partnership with PopTV, Enabling Real-time Subscription Bills Payment Services

Bayad, a pioneer and trusted brand in the outsourced payment collection service in the Philippines, has forged partnership with PopTV, a mass market video-on-demand service provider that offers streaming subscription for Filipino blockbusters, classics, teleseries, KDramas, animes and diverse international content, thru its POPTV PINAS App.

The said application can be downloaded at Google Play, Huawei App Gallery, Samsung Galaxy Store, or Apple AppStore, with subscription packages that are accessible for only P20 (for 2 days), P49 (for 10 days), P99 (for 30 days), or P300 (for 6 months).

Through the said partnership, Bayad will be onboarding the subscription bills payment capability of PopTV, allowing its customers to pay thru Bayad’s over the counter touchpoints such as at Bayad Centers and at Bayad Partners. Aside from this, digital payments will also be available thru the Bayad App and its web-based bills payment facility, Bayad Online.

Bayad President and CEO, Lawrence Y. Ferrer shared, “As we face business reinvention amidst the new normal, we are proactive in building and strengthening partnerships with reliable brands like PopTV. Through our partnership, we are confident that we will enable technological and social convergence, as we provide smart entertainment solutions and convenient customer experience.”

PopTV CEO, Jyotirmoy Saha also shared “Partnering with Bayad gives us the utmost confidence to efficiently deliver our services while making entertainment an integral part of the Filipino daily life. Together with Bayad, we will redefine financial inclusion and strengthen social connectedness.”

For companies and institutions that are interested to be part of Bayad’s extensive biller network, you may send an email to partnerships@bayad.com or call at +63 998 963 7880. 

Bayad enables partners to attain nationwide presence and provides end-to-end support services - for efficient payment and collection processing.

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Megan Young, Sid Maderazo, and Big Boy Cheng Take Their Passion to the Next Level with Samsung Neo QLED 8K TV

Sid Maderazo, Megan Young, Big Boy Cheng rave about the Samsung Neo QLED 8K TV

For Samsung ambassadors Sid Maderazo, Megan Young, and Big Boy Cheng, achieving what they have in their careers took hard work and creativity. Small wonder then that they opt for a device which can further elevate their respective passion points.

This is why Samsung launched the next evolution of its Global #1 TV: the Neo QLED 8K TV. Known for its Quantum Matrix Technology with Mini LED, it delivers next-level detail and superior brightness.

There are many ways people can enjoy the Neo QLED TV in their homes. Here’s how Sid, Megan, and Big Boy make use of its wide range of features.

“Gold standard in filmmaking”

Director Sid Maderazo is no stranger to refined visuals and shooting in the best quality possible for his projects. For him, the Neo QLED TV’s 8K resolution is “the gold standard in filmmaking,” and its AI Upscaling can elevate any media’s picture to 8K as well.

“My craft is all about the details – from the colors you see to the sounds you hear. The clarity is just a whole different level. Experiencing such details on the Neo QLED TV is empowering to me as a filmmaker,” Sid Maderazo said.

Aside from the visual aspect, the Neo QLED 8K TV has built-in Dolby Atmos Surround Sound for a truly cinematic experience. In addition, with paired with a Q-Soundbar, TV and Soundbar work together to play audio harmoniously at the same time for even richer sound quality thanks to Samsung’s Q-Symphony feature.

“I’m pretty sure the kids will want to watch movies [on the Neo QLED TV]. No matter what film you want to view, whether it be horror, drama, or action, I think the sound quality supplements the visual clarity,” said Sid Maderazo.

Competitive edge for the gamer

Playing games can get pretty intense, and avid gamers like beauty queen Megan Young value immersion to get in the zone. “You really feel like you’re in the game when you have good visuals and surround sound,” Megan explained. “There are some games where sound is so important because you need to know if yung kalaban mo nandiyan lang sa katabi. When it comes to the visuals, kailangan makita mo rin yung movement.”

Megan shared that the similarity between competing in Miss World and playing games is the determination to win. For the latter, it’s important to have a device like the Neo QLED TV that can get her to first place. With Gamebar 2.0, this built-in platform lets users instantly adjust settings, such as input lag, FPS (frames per second), screen position, and more for optimal gaming. Super Ultrawide GameView also lets them customize the aspect ratio to give greater field of vision, so they can see more of their virtual surroundings.

For the best performance, Motion Xcelerator Turbo+ provides 120Hz refresh rate on both 4K and 8K TVs. This ensures that the screen doesn’t lag or stutter, guaranteeing smooth gameplay and giving users the competitive edge they need to win.

Whether one is playing on a PC or console, Megan swears by the Neo QLED TV’s ability to bring games to life on the screen. “Gaming is all about the details – being able to see the fine details… and the new Neo QLED TV makes the whole experience greater for me,” she said.

Multitasking at its best

As an art collector, businessman, and content creator, Big Boy Cheng is used to attending several meetings while also keeping up with the latest trends. Now, he can do all these with ease thanks to the massive 98” Neo QLED TV.

Samsung’s SmartThings feature allows the Samsung TV to connect to any smart device around the home. Multitasking is also possible with the help of the TV’s built-in smart capabilities, such as Multi-View, Bixby, and Tap View. Multi-View makes it easier to look at multiple content – be it a streaming service, social media feed, or YouTube video – in one screen. Viewers can also choose which window they want to spotlight. With Bixby Voice Command, searching for your favorite content is a breeze. Tap View lets users mirror content from their smartphone screens to the TV with just one light tap, so you can scroll through social media, take a video call, or whip out an email all from a bigger screen.

“Lahat malalagay ko na dito sa TV, like YouTube and music,” Cheng pointed out. “I can have meetings here, as well as my entertainment. Mahilig talaga ako mag-multitask, so ito talaga yung TV na para sa akin. Hindi masakit sa mata, sobrang linaw talaga.” Just like his collectables, the Samsung Neo QLED TV is a cut above the rest, making it the perfect addition to his already impressive collection.

Families, creatives, and hobbyists alike can experience the greatness of the Samsung Neo QLED TV in their homes. With incredible visuals and cinematic surround sound, gaming, and smart home capabilities, this is the ultimate device for all things entertainment and productivity.

For more information, visit www.samsung.com/ph.

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