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R&B superstar Miguel unmasks hypnotic single “Give It To Me”

R&B superstar Miguel has unveiled his much-awaited new single “Give It To Me” via ByStormEntertainment/RCA Records/Sony Music Entertainment. The new release from Grammy Award-winning singer/songwriter/artist Miguel showcases his intoxicating vocals over hypnotic synths as he shares deeply personal feelings of desire, being desired, and all the in-betweens. The sounds are at once new and familiar, a multi-year labor of love showcasing that Miguel’s songwriting has not lost its enigmatic touch.

It’s almost too serendipitous that Miguel’s emotional and violent rebirth is occurring at the same time as the strong charting success of “Sure Thing” from his debut album, All I Want Is You.  Thus far, it has been used in over 23 million videos on TikTok and currently stands at No. 15on the Billboard Hot 100 and Top 10 at radio in the US. It also hit the Top 5 in the UK and has been named the 6th biggest song of 2023 so far.

Miguel will soon be seen headlining Lovers & FriendsFestival in Las Vegas on Saturday, May 6th.

Miguel’s “Give It To Me” is out now on all digital music platforms worldwide via Sony Music Entertainment.

Buy/Stream “Give It To Me”:

All Partners: https://Miguel.lnk.to/giveittome

Follow Miguel:

Instagram | TikTok | Twitter

About Miguel:

Combining a creamy tenor with soul-searching confessionals and cosmic soundscapes, Miguel renders tales of romance and personal transformation with effortless, eclectic style. Since emerging in 2010, the singer-songwriter has oscillated between genres and feelings on his way to becoming a defining voice of modern alternative R&B. It’s a path he began blazing early on. With its blend of electronic, rock, R&B and funk, his debut album, All I Want Is You earned critical acclaim before being certified platinum. Imbued with expressive vocals and subdued cool, his J. Cole-assisted breakout single “All I Want Is You” was a forebear for the sleek, yet emotional sounds that would characterize alt R&B in the 2010s.

Miguel continued indulging his experimental tendencies with his aptly titled sophomore album Kaleidoscope Dream, a shapeshifting fever dream that saw him further refine his genre fusions with bits of imagination and knowing eccentricities. Powered by singles like “Adorn,” “How Many Drinks?,” and “Do You…’ and ‘The Thrill,”  the 2013 LP was nominated for a total of 5 Grammy Awards. Written and produced by Miguel, “Adorn”  garnered Miguel his first Grammy Award for Best R&B Song and lived at No.1 on the R&B/Hip-Hip Airplay chart for more than 23 weeks, becoming the longest running  No. 1 single in the history of the Billboard R&B/Hip-Hoip Airplay chart.  The same year, he reunited with Cole on the rapper’s hit single “Power Trip,” which peaked at No. 19 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. Released in 2015, Wildheart only certified Miguel’s consistency, as Pitchfork named it the 8th best album of the year before its lead single, “Coffee,” was nominated for Best R&B Song at the 2016 Grammy Awards.

Miguel reaffirmed his status as a premier R&B  auteur with War & Leisure. Propelled by his interstellar Travis Scott-featured lead single, “Sky Walker,” the 2017 album earned critical acclaim and landed at No. 9 on the Billboard 200 albums chart. It also secured his third No. 1 debut on the Billboard R&B Albums chart. More recently, his All I Want Is You single,  “Sure Thing,” went viral on TikTok with over 23M creations as it surged to the No. 15 spot on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. Released 13 years ago, its resurgence is evidence of a sound that’s at once timeless and futuristic — just like the person who made it.

Source: Nyou

Pop superstar Kesha teases new album with two pre-release tracks “Eat The Acid” and “Fine Line”

Following the recent announcement of her forthcoming album Gag Order, out May 19th via Kemosabe/RCA Records, Kesha has dropped the LP’s first two pre-release tracks: the one-two punch of “Eat The Acid” and “Fine Line”, which serve as a bold unveiling of the sonic and emotional direction of her new Rick Rubin-produced album. 

“Fine Line” is a naked admission of the absurdities of the fickle world we live in, playing out like an otherworldly look at the fragile dualities of life – things that can change in the blink of an eye. It ties into the forthcoming album’s overarching theme of embracing the lightness of life only by also embracing the darkness. 

On “Eat The Acid”, over a humming organ-like synthesizer, Kesha recounts an existential breakthrough she had one night. In a recent album manifesto (via Nylon), Kesha shared the origin story for “Eat The Acid”: “This night sent me like a rabid animal into a journey of self-discovery within my consciousness… My ego, or sense of aloneness, now suddenly felt like just a small part of the whole.  My ego felt dismantled….  I woke up the morning after this experience and wrote the first song for this album, the seed and catalyst for the whole project.”  

She later added, “My mom warned me at a very young age to not take acid. She told me how she had taken some as a teen and it had shown her so much… too much. I made it a point to never, ever touch it. I still haven’t. I didn’t want to see it all. I wanted to live blissfully unaware and happy.”

‘Gag Order’, which Kesha is executive producer on, is a full-bodied collection that flows like a stream-of-conscious journey through the psychedelic dark depths of the human psyche followed by basking in the cleansing light when finally reaching the surface. Forged in the fires of self-discovery and learning to finally accept the ugly, scary sides of ourselves, ‘Gag Order’ feels like an emotional exorcism, unearthing and facing the darkness in oneself, brought to life with experimental, otherworldly production & lyrical vulnerability unlike anything she has written before. On ‘Gag Order’, Kesha confronts her own reflection & finds empowerment in her own voice, with beautiful, heart aching results. 

Kesha has sold more than 14 million total album equivalents worldwide, has approximately 6.9 billion audio streams and 1.7 billion video streams worldwide, and has had 9 Top 10 hits on The Billboard Hot 100, including four # 1 singles at Top 40 Radio - "TiK ToK," "Your Love Is My Drug," "Die Young," and "Timber." She has earned two GRAMMY nominations and was also named one of Time Magazine's Time 100.

Kesha’s “Eat The Acid” and “Fine Line” are out now on all digital music platforms worldwide via Sony Music Entertainment. Listen here.

Source: Nyou

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Samantha Gail B. Lucas’s Book Makes It to the Sharjah International Book Sellers’ Fair!

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SB19 announces ‘PAGTATAG!’ music era and world tour

The multi-awarded Filipino boyband releases the trailer for their upcoming new EP, starring themselves and acclaimed actor Pepe Herrera

SB19 gets in the zone for a new music era soon!

The P-Pop kings are gearing up for the release of their upcoming new EP, PAGTATAG on June 9, 2023 and its carrier single on May 2023.

The announcement comes with a trailer mirroring the process of a plant in cultivation, starting on growing to be a strong tree.

The trailer revolves around the story of the IkalawangYugto trilogy, which alludes to the concept of their previously released EP, Pagsibol, and two more forthcoming releases, including this year’s highly anticipated PAGTATAG!. The 6-track EP is poised to be their most sonically adventurous release yet, exploring new genres and music styles that will surely excite fans.

Xi-Anne Avanceña, and SB19’s Pablo and Justin serve as creative directors of the cinematic trailer, which is set in a post-apocalyptic world where all resources are scarce, leaving all humans hopeless as they try to save the last plant that will save the world.

SB19 explains in a statement, “The trailer proceeds as everyone conducts different experiments to try and salvage their last hope. In the end, the only answer to the plant’s propagation is their own blood.”

Aside from getting their acting bag done with flying colors, SB19 also worked with acclaimed actor Pepe Herrera on the trailer for PAGTATAG!. The WYAT chart-toppers are all praise for the collaboration with the versatile film/theater actor.  

“Pepe Herrera is one of the actors that we truly admire,” shares the award-winning Filipino boyband. “Though we were not able to spend much time with him, he was very professional. But there’s something about him that, even when he’s serious, he’s still gave a funny vibe. It was very easy working with him. It was just a fun experience.”

Immediately after the trailer was released online, #SB19PAGTATAG trended at No. 1 WORLDWIDE on Twitter, while other tags such as The Kings and PPOP KINGS occupied Twitter’s trending list in various countries outside the Philippines.

Apart from the trailer, SB19 also announced the schedule for their upcoming world tour, which will kick off at the Araneta Coliseum on June 24-25, 2023, and will have its stops in multiple cities across the Philippines, United States, Canada, and more.

Tour dates:

• June 24-25, 2023 - Manila

• July 21, 2023 - Chicago, IL

• July 22, 2023 - Dallas, TX

• July 28, 2023 - SFO

• July 29, 2023 - LA

• Aug 5, 2023 - NYC

• Aug 6, 2023 - Washington DC

• Aug 11, 2023 - Toronto

• Aug 13, 2023 - Winnipeg

• Aug 18, 2023 - Vancouver

• Aug 19, 2023 – Edmonton

More dates, countries, and cities will be announced soon.

For more information, check out SB19’s official social media pages:

Facebook

Instagram

Twitter

Source: Nyou

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“CHEETAH” NEW SINGLE & VIDEO OUT NOW

KICKS OFF NORTH AMERICAN TOUR DATES THIS WEEK AT SHRINE AUDITORIUM IN LOS ANGELES

Photo Credit: Mason Rose

Singer and performer Jackson Wang has released the new video for his single “Slow" with GRAMMY-Award winning artist Ciara. The music video is directed by Daniel "Cloud" Campos (Zedd, Paramone, Panic! at the Disco, Jackson Wang) and features choreography from Mykell Wilson (Prince, Justin Bieber, Britney Spears). The video is a visual feast that showcases Jackson and Ciara uniting to display an explosive fusion of their respective styles, creating a dynamic and innovative choreography that features intricate footwork, sharp isolations, and powerful dynamics. Watch the video here.

Earlier this week, he released his latest single “Cheetah,” following his exhilarating performances at this year's Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival. The track's lively, jazz-infused rhythm is produced by Jacob Ray (NIKI, Rich Brian, and Alison Wonderland) and MAX (Katy Perry, Taylor Swift, and The Weeknd). Listen to “Cheetah” here and watch the accompanying music video, directed by Jackson Wang and Sean Lew, here.

Jackson achieved a breakthrough moment during his Weekend One set at this year’s Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival by bringing on board R&B sensation Ciara for an unexpected performance “Slow,” and joining her for a performance of “1, 2, Step.” Rolling Stone raved about their collaboration calling it “the surprise duo we never knew we needed.” Following his performance, Jackson trended #1 on Twitter’s worldwide trends. Watch the performance footage here. 

Jackson achieved a significant milestone in his career at this year’s Coachella, making history for the second time as the very first Chinese solo artist to perform his own set. In 2022, Jackson was the first-ever Chinese solo artist to perform on the main stage as part of 88rising’s ‘Head In The Clouds Forever’ set. He will return to the stage this weekend to showcase his extraordinary talent as a live performer. For information, visit https://www.coachella.com/.
 
Jackson will kick-off the North American dates for his first-ever tour as a solo act MAGIC MAN World Tour, this Wednesday, April 26th in Los Angeles at the Shrine Expo Hall. The limited six-city tour will stop in San Francisco and Chicago, then wrap up on May 11th in New York at the Barclays Center. Later this year, Jackson will embark on additional dates across South America. See below for a complete list of tour dates. For more information, visit tour.jackson-wang.com.

Jackson Wang 2023 Tour Dates

April 26Shrine AuditoriumLos Angeles, CAApril 28Bill Graham Civic AuditoriumSan Francisco, CAApril 30Doug Mitchell Thunderbird Sports ArenaVancouver, BCMay 4Wintrust ArenaChicago, ILMay 6Coca Cola ColiseumToronto, ONMay 11Barclays CenterNew York, NYMay 15Escapaco UnimedSao Paulo, BRMay 18Movistar ArenaBuenos Aires, ARMay 22Movistar ArenaSantiago, CLMay 25Arena CDMXMexico City, MX

(Download high-res images here)

Connect with Jackson Wang
TEAM WANG | Instagram | Twitter | Facebook  | YouTube

Source: Blackstar

Prolific producer/singer-songwriter Ace Banzuelo reflects on yearning and young love in new song “Pag-ibig (Meron Ba)”

The electro-pop tune soars with minimalist arrangements and dreamy, bedroom synths

Filipino singer-songwriter/producer Ace Banzuelo reflects on the uncertainties of romantic commitment in his new single “Pag-ibig (Meron Ba?)”—out today via Sony Music Entertainment.

On the R&B-inflected, dream pop track, the young multi-hyphenate unpacks multiple reasons as to why love can be quite difficult to find.

 
“Pag-ibig (Meron Ba) was inspired by a particular scenario in my life when I was looking for something not everyone can provide an explanation for,” shares Banzuelo. “If you ask someone what love is, you will get a different answer every single time.”

Produced and written by Banzuelo himself, “Pag-ibig (Meron Ba?)” effortlessly glides through bedroom synths and ethereal, minimalist arrangements, while making the kind of music that is easy to get lost in.

Ace Banzuelo also emphasized that he got to finish the track in one sitting. According to him, the second verse remains his favorite part of the song, as it explores the realistic experience of falling in love when you're young.

“Sonically, the song sounds like a dream, but it's very real at the same time,” the breakthrough chart-topper adds. “I'm not going for anything big, but I kept it simple without losing my signature dreamy production style and R&B vocal performances.”

“Pag-ibig (Meron Ba?)” is out now on all digital music platforms worldwide via Sony Music Entertainment.

Source: Nyou

Japan’s Rude-α and ¥uk-B, the Philippines’ Alisson Shore and Waiian, and Indonesia’s Tanayu team up for collaborative music project for Basketball World Cup 2023

The five artists will be part of a special live collaboration that will take place in three cities across Asia

L-R: Rude-α (JP), Alisson Shore (PH), and Waiian (PH)

Japanese hip-hop acts Rude-α and ¥uk-B links up with Filipino rappers Alisson Shore and Waiian and Indonesian singer-songwriter Tanayu for “Our New Songlines 2023,” a multi-disciplinary effort that brings together like-minded artists from the Asian region in their bid towards “weaving new music, using their imagination as a source of inspiration, while searching for a way to hope for the future.”

The newly minted collective is set to perform at the Music Town Oto-Ichiba in Koza, Japan on August 26, 2023, as part of Basketball World Cup 2023’s series of sideshows in three key cities co-hosting the tournament: Manila (the Philippines), Jakarta (Indonesia), and Koza (Japan).

L-R: Tanayu (ID) and ¥uk-B (JP)

Aside from the individual and collaborative performances, the participating acts are currently working on a new song that reflects the vision and theme of Songlines—the invisible paths that have been passed down among the indigenous Aboriginal people of Australia as a guide towards one’s journey into the new world.

The official statement shares, “These five artists will create and present their works with the keywords of ‘change’ in a new era, ‘hope’ for tomorrow, and ‘mutual understanding’ in a land of different cultures and values. In August, Koza, Manila, and Jakarta will host the Basketball World Cup. The enthusiasm of the three cities through sports will be converted into the form of music and transmitted to the world from Music Town Oto-Ichiba.”

The music project is presented by Okinawa City and Music Town Oto-Ichiba in partnership with Music Lane Okinawa, The Rest Is Noise PH, and SRM Bookings and Services.

 Source: Nyou

Fra Lippo Lippi adds 2nd date to 2023 Philippine Concert

Philippine-based promoter DMC Philippines has recently announced that Fra Lippo Lippi will be staging another show on June 17, 2023, at the Santa Rosa Sports Complex in Laguna.

The Norwegian pop act, headed by lead vocalist and keyboardist Per Sorensen, returns with a two-part concert that celebrates their legacy as one of the most iconic hitmakers of the new wave era.

Fra Lippo Lippi made a name in the ‘80s for producing classic tunes such as "Everytime I See You," "Beauty and Madness," "Stitches and Burns," "Light and Shade," "The Distance Between Us," "Angel," and more.

After bassist and founding co-member Rune Kristoffer decided to call it quits, Per Sorensen kept the band’s music alive through live concert tours all around the world, with the Philippines as one of its regular stops.

In 2002, Per Sorensen and his band released "Later," a chart-topping smash in Asia and the rest of Europe. He even managed to collaborate with Filipino R&B star Kyla on "Wish We Were Two," which garnered heavy airplay on various top 40 stations in Manila and major cities across the Philippines.

This year, he is set to headline the concert as the prominent personality behind Fra Lippo Lippi, performing some of the band’s greatest hits, as well as some rarities.

This event is supported by Steve Hovington of B-Movie, who will be performing with Fra Lippo Lippi’s Per Sorensen at both venues: The Theatre at Solaire on June 16, 2023, Friday, and the Santa Rosa Sports Complex on June 17, 2023, Saturday. The event is presented by New DMC Entertainment Production Management, Maui & Sons,and The Rail.

Source: Nyou

Foo Fighters to release new album, But Here We AreFoo Fighters to release new album, But Here We Are

Listen to the lead single “Rescued”

Following a year of staggering losses, personal introspection and bittersweet remembrances, Foo Fighters return with But Here We Are, out June 2 on Roswell Records/RCA Records.

A brutally honest and emotionally raw response to everything Foo Fighters endured over the last year, But Here We Are is a testament to the healing powers of music, friendship and family. Courageous, damaged and unflinchingly authentic, But Here We Are opens with newly released lead single “Rescued,” the first of 10 songs that run the emotional gamut from rage and sorrow to serenity and acceptance, and myriad points in between.

Produced by Greg Kurstin and Foo Fighters, But Here We Areis in nearly equal measure the 11th Foo Fighters album and the first chapter of the band’s new life. Sonically channeling the naiveté of Foo Fighters’ 1995 debut, informed by decades of maturity and depth, But Here We Are is the sound of brothers finding refuge in the music that brought them together in the first place 28 years ago, a process that was as therapeutic as it was about a continuation of life. 

But Here We Are is available for pre-order now, with all pre-orders including “Rescued” as an instant grat. The album’s track list is as follows:

Rescued 

Under You

Hearing Voices

But Here We Are 

The Glass

Nothing At All 

Show Me How 

Beyond Me

The Teacher

Rest

Foo Fighters’ “Rescued” is out now on all digital music platforms worldwide via Sony Music Entertainment. Pre-order their new album, But Here We Are here.

Source: Nyou

PHINMA Education expands its mission in South Luzon through acquisition of two Laguna-based colleges

The educational institution commits to make lives better in the S. Luzon market through #TAYÓTAYOLaguna campaign

PHINMA Education Holdings, Inc. (PEHI), an institution known for providing accessible and quality education to the youth, specifically those from low-income families, extends its network’s mission to the South Luzon market with its acquisitions of two new schools: PHINMA Union College of Laguna (UCL) and PHINMA Rizal College of Laguna (RCL).

The announcement was made formal on April 25, 2023, at the Calamba Tent during the PHINMA Ed RCL & UCL   Partners' Launch, which jumpstarts #TAYÓTAYOLaguna: Bayani Para Sa Isa't Isa, a campaign that highlights its commitment to nurture a new batch of heroes capable of improving not just their own lives, but also the lives of their families, communities, the country, and the world through accessible quality education.

In line with this, to emphasize its commitment to the Laguna community, PHINMA Education, through PHINMA RCL and PHINMA UCL, is launching bayanihan initiatives that aim to enhance the facilities of major national high schools in Calamba and Sta. Cruz. This will be done in partnership with Renovate to Educate (rED), a non-government organization whose goal is to enhance the educational experience of students through school renovation projects.

Eduardo Y. Arevalo, Chief Operating Officer of PHINMA Education Laguna Network Laguna, shares, "We are humbled and honored at the opportunity to foster the values that Laguna, the cradle of our national hero, is known for. This makes us all the more determined to deliver our brand of accessible, quality education for as many Lagunenses as possible, so that we might keep the spirit of bayanihan alive among the youth by empowering them to become positive forces in their homes, communities, our country, and wherever they go in the world.”

"PHINMA RCL and UCL commit to continuously find ways to deliver student-centered, inclusive, and effective learning for our students. However, fulfilling our goal of giving  more kids a chance at a better lifeis not something that we can do on our own,” Arevalo continues. “  We are fortunate to share the same dream with Laguna’s leaders and influencers, along with organizations like Renovate to Educate. Together we look forward to a sustained and concerted effort to develop new, young heroes in our midst. .

PHINMA RCL and PHINMA UCL join PHINMA’s growing roster of Philippine academic establishments, which includes PHINMA Araullo University, PHINMA Cagayan de Oro College, PHINMA University of Iloilo, PHINMA University of Pangasinan, Southwestern University PHINMA, and PHINMA St. Jude College, and PHINMA Republican College Manila and Quezon City Campus.

About PHINMA EDUCATION

PHINMA Education Holdings, Inc. (PEHI) under the conglomerate PHINMA Corporation, started investing in the education services sector in 2004 through the acquisition of PHINMA Araullo University in Nueva Ecija.

We have since expanded our presence across the country with our network of schools namely: PHINMA Cagayan de Oro College, PHINMA University of Pangasinan, PHINMA University of Iloilo, Southwestern University PHINMA in Cebu City, PHINMA Saint Jude College in Manila, PHINMA Republican College in Quezon City, PHINMA Rizal College of Laguna, and PHINMA Union College of Laguna.

In 2019, we entered into a joint venture agreement with Tripersada Global Management for the establishment of PT Ind Phil Management (IPM). IPM oversees tertiary institutions for Yayasan Triputra Persada Horizon Education, the first of which is located in Karawang, West Java, Indonesia.

But our mission to make lives better through education goes beyond our schools. Every year, we host the Education@theMargins: A Global Alliance conference which envisions a world where underserved youth are given access to quality education at prices they can afford, using the resources they have access to. In 2022, we are focusing on learning solutions for poverty to better serve the underserved.

Source: Nyou

grentperez Releases NEW SINGLE "WHEN THE DAY IS DONE"

LISTEN HERE

ANNOUNCES NEW EP
'WHEN WE WERE YOUNGER'

PRE-SAVE HERE

Photo Credit: Theo Batterman

Filipino-Australian rising star grentperez has today announced his highly anticipated forthcoming EP ‘When We Were Younger’. To mark the release, the Western-Sydney bedroom pop phenomenon has also revealed his latest disco-drenched single "When The Day Is Done", out now everywhere via Fast Friends & AWAL. Fans can listen to "When The Day Is Done" here: grentperez.ffm.to/whenthedayisdone and pre-save the EP 'When We Were Younger' here: grentperez.ffm.to/whenwewereyounger

Saturated in disco-soul, grentperez describes the new single as “a timeless classic that the whole family can listen to. Or as my dad would say ‘The song I can dance to'”. Picking up the pace dramatically from his most recent single and drama-rich ballad "Us Without Me", "When The Day Is Done" ends in a completely different place to where you started - gradually building up to a punchy syncopated pre-chorus melody before letting loose into an unstoppable roller-rink ready boogie. “This track embodies the line ‘there’s no place like home’ and when all is said and done, I just want to get back home and to the feeling of family having your back no matter where you are.” Every lovingly crafted detail — from the stacked harmonies on the bridge to the roiling congas to that one delayed beat drop in the final chorus — emanates a pure joy.

Drawing on the themes of having no place like home, today grentperez has also announced his highly anticipated forthcoming EP 'When We Were Younger’ out everywhere on Friday 2nd June . Conceived as a means to get out of a songwriting rut ‘When We Were Younger’, is a seven-track song cycle centered around the concept of nostalgia - motivated by the desire to stave off cynicism and embrace the carefree creativity of childhood. “We would have these super wholesome outdoor writing sessions as we were putting the project together,” he shares. “Connecting with what I remember as a really lovely childhood grounds me in the real world and keeps me thinking of the important friends and family in my life. It keeps me from getting ahead of myself.” Taking listeners on a series of unexpected yet intuitive sonic detours, grentperez fuses the signifiers of a wide variety of nostalgic sounds across the EP: infusing his beloved bossa nova with sprightly Philadelphia soul and the swelling strings of golden-era Hollywood, and taking inspiration from the soundtracks and general vibe of 90s rom-coms.

To mark the release, grentperez has also launched the official pre-order for the 'When We Were Younger' EP physical vinyl, featuring a blue coloured vinyl and offering the first 100 x orders an exclusive signed bookmark featuring custom drawings by grentperez.

Multi-media artist, singer-songwriter and producer grentperez’s handcrafted DIY pop instantly soothes on a series of releases that have helped endear him to rapidly growing audiences at home in Australia as well as further afield in Southeast Asia, North America and Europe.

His debut single "Cherry Wine", released in September 2021 shot up the Spotify viral charts across the globe, including the Philippines, Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, Vietnam, and swept up the #1 spot in Singapore soon after its release. In less than two years, grentperez’s catalogue has seen over 200 million streams to date, and over 2 million monthly listeners on Spotify, with hundreds of new fans discovering him daily. 

Born in Australia, grentperez grew up as the youngest of three kids in a Filipino family. Raised on a diet of The Eagles, The Beatles, and Queen thanks to his dad before moving onto the likes of Musiq Soulchild. As soon as he received his first nylon string acoustic, he taught himself Jeremy Passion’s “Lemonade”, learning chords, shapes, and plucking patterns. At the end of 2013, he launched his YouTube channel which currently sits at over half a MILLION subscribers.

Listen to "When The Day Is Done" here: grentperez.ffm.to/whenthedayisdone
Pre-save the EP 'When We Were Younger'  here: grentperez.ffm.to/whenwewereyounger

Source: Blackstar

PHINMA Education: A Beacon of Light in Laguna and the Philippines

I had the privilege of witnessing the launch of the #TAYÓTAYOLaguna campaign by PHINMA Education at the Calamba Tent last April 25, 2023. PHINMA, which is now the biggest education network in the Philippines, has recently acquired two higher education institutions in Laguna: the PHINMA Union College of Laguna (UCL) and the PHINMA Rizal College of Laguna (RCL). The #TAYÓTAYOLaguna campaign aims to highlight the inclusion of these two colleges in the PHINMA network, as well as to forge a partnership with Laguna, which is the birthplace of the Philippine national hero, Dr. Jose Rizal. I entered the event knowing that I was witnessing a corporate launch, but I left inspired by the messages of hope that I have heard.

I first heard about PHINMA when I was still in university myself. Our school has a classroom named after PHINMA. I knew even then that this institution invests in education and knowledge, so I was not surprised to hear about their expansion in the Southern Tagalog region. While I am a product of a university in Metro Manila, I am aware of the disparity between the different students in our country. I have been a child sponsor since I was in university, so I am deeply invested in uplifting the state of education in our country, even in my own small way. I am glad that I share the same values with PHINMA. 

During the event, I heard that they are proud of their advocacy to provide quality education to the marginalized and the underserved. I was happy to know that they prioritized students from mostly low income families, because these students also deserve to upskill in order to improve their circumstances. Because I was curious about their advocacy, I listened further. I learned that they solved the two major problems which were commonly faced by low income students: expensive and restrictive admissions exams, and inaccessible tuition fees. They also welcome working students and the differently-abled, which is admirable because it truly shows that they foster inclusion and equal opportunity for all. I was excited that this institution, which already has a proven track record in other regions across the Philippines and in Indonesia, is investing in educating Lagunense students.

Because of their awareness that the community must be involved in order to help these students graduate, PHINMA has involved the families of their students by conducting house-to-house visits and teacher training in order to communicate their vision to those who care for the future of our country. They envision a brighter future for Filipino students no matter what their backgrounds, limitations, or competencies are, so they are taking actionable steps in order to keep them in school. They also believe that education is a medium to shape society, and this is evident in the graduates they produce. Their graduates pass the board exams, land jobs within one year of graduation, and communicate effectively with confidence. Without blatantly telling them to serve and prioritize their communities, they train their students to give back to the nation through example. Indeed, when education is used as the means to transform lives and communities, then it is expected that their graduates will also pay it forward and continue shaping society.

Making Lives Better Through Education is the battlecry of PHINMA Education. I believe that they are taking the necessary steps to change lives, mindsets, and communities through quality accessible, inclusive, and effective education. It was an honor to witness their launch at Laguna, and I am excited to witness their growth not just in the birthplace of Dr. Jose Rizal, but in other regions and countries as well.

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ADB and ACWA Power Sign Deal for Two Utility-Scale Wind Power Plants in Uzbekistan, the Region’s Largest Wind Development

TASHKENT, UZBEKISTAN (24 April 2023) — The Asian Development Bank (ADB) and ACWA Power Company (ACWA) signed $174 million worth of loans to develop the Bash wind power and Dzhankeldy wind power plants, both located in the Bukhara region in Uzbekistan.

The financing comprises loans amounting to $40.5 million for Bash and $46.5 million for the Dzhankeldy funded through ADB’s ordinary capital resources. ADB will also administer $40.5 million for Bash and $46.5 million for Dzhankeldy from the Leading Asia's Private Infrastructure Fund (LEAP), administered by ADB.

Each power plant consists of 79 wind turbines, for a total of 158 turbines that will generate 3,235 gigawatt-hours and displace nearly 2 million tons of carbon dioxide equivalent a year. Together, Bash and Dzhankeldy will be the largest utility-scale wind power development in the Central West Asia region. The loans will also fund the construction of 282.5 kilometers of 500-kilovolt, single-circuit overhead transmission to connect to the power grid.

“Uzbekistan is one of the fastest-growing economies in Central Asia, and with it comes a growing demand for energy. This brings a unique opportunity to invest in decarbonization and expansion of renewables in the country’s energy mix,” said ADB Director General for Private Sector Operations Suzanne Gaboury. “Bash and Dzhankeldy are landmark greenfield wind power projects which have a significant demonstrative impact of private sector participation across the region’s energy sector.”

ADB has supported approximately 2,500 megawatts of renewable energy in Uzbekistan since 2019, after the country opened up the sector to private sector participants. The total cost of ADB’s latest collaboration with ACWA is approximately $1.35 billion.

Parallel lenders include the Deutsche Investitions- und Entwicklungsgesellschaft mbH (DEG), European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, OPEC Fund for International Development, and Proparco.

LEAP is an ADB-managed fund capitalized with a $1.5 billion commitment by the Japan International Cooperation Agency. Established in 2016, LEAP focuses on delivering high-quality and sustainable private sector infrastructure projects that reduce carbon emissions, improve energy efficiency, and offer accessible and affordable health care, education, and communication services to ADB’s developing member countries.

Bash and Dzhankeldy are special-purpose vehicles owned by ACWA Power, a regional leader in renewable energy. ACWA was established in 2008 and is a developer, investor, and operator of power generation and desalination plants, with 67 assets in operation, construction, or advanced development across 13 countries. ACWA’s portfolio has a capacity of 43.4 gigawatts of power and 6.4 million cubic meters per day of desalinated water.

ADB is committed to achieving a prosperous, inclusive, resilient, and sustainable Asia and the Pacific, while sustaining its efforts to eradicate extreme poverty. Established in 1966, it is owned by 68 members—49 from the region.

Source: ADB