Dru Chen yearns for acceptance on indie pop single “Our Story”

Listen to ‘Our Story’ here

This August, Australian artist-producer Dru Chen will be dropping a 4-track EP containing 2 new tracks –‘Our Story’ and ‘Hold You,’ and 2 re-released tracks –‘Eiffel Tower’ and ‘Replay.’ The focus track, ‘Our Story,’ is an indie-pop song dealing with all facets of the human experience and the yearning for acceptance that we all seek. As Dru aptly puts it, “When the people have gone and left the party, and you’re all alone once again; how do you cope with the emptiness?”

At first listen, the track’s production portrays a kind of quiet joy - one that you feel when hanging out with friends you've known for years. With its cascading rhythm and sweet guitar chords, it’s difficult not to find yourself doing the signature TikTok hand-to-chest, head nod routine. However, when you give the lyrics a closer listen, we hear a deeper meaning - one about solitude and the introspection that comes along with it.

‘Our Story’ was written by Joel Tan, Paul McMurray and Dru Chen, and produced by the artist himself. As shown in this verse, “Drowning in sorrows / Is not for tomorrow / When laughter is borrowed / It’s no fun at all”, ‘Our Story’ is the answer to the truth and hurt you're seeking to overcome. With patience and understanding for the self, it is possible for us to reset on the mistakes we’ve made in the past. We can’t make sense of our breakdowns, but we can slow it down, let it ride and come back to ourselves.

“This song was my way of dealing with that feeling—that existential dread. It felt like therapy writing this song,” shares Dru, and we hear that clearly in the production. The distinct guitar chords and subtle percussion that punch through the hook helps listeners absorb the subject matter in a light-hearted way. It makes you feel like even when you're in your bedroom alone with the headphones on, you feel safe knowing you have the unconditional love and acceptance of your family, friends and community close to your heart.

More About Dru Chen

Dru Chen is an Australian singer/songwriter based in Singapore. In 2019, Dru started on strong footing with debut album ‘Mirror Work’. This impressed Warner Music so much that they signed him on the spot. His co-writing efforts with Tanya Chua and Ge Da Wei for Modern Brothers' Liu Yuning secured him an international publishing deal with Universal Music Publishing Group China. In October 2020, Dru co-wrote ‘Carnival’, a theme song for Riot Games’ best selling international game, League of Legends. In May 2021, Dru was shortlisted and won an award at Taiwan’s prestigious Fresh Music Awards (FMA) - clinching last year’s Top 10 Albums of the Year.

Following the success of ‘Mirror Work’ - an ode to 70’s music - the R&B/funk musician released ‘Who We R’, a nostalgic pop tune featuring a stellar cast of contributors such as Benjamin Kheng and Evanturetime. From hit singles ‘When I Look Into Your Eyes’, which was placed on Mediacorp Channel 5's 2019 campaign, to ‘Distant Memory’ - these tunes evoke a 60’s blues & folk vibe reminiscent of The Beatles.

In 2020/21, Dru released ‘Future Me + U’, ‘Givin’ It Up’ and ‘Replay’ - all of which garnered coverage all over SEA, such as ST Life!, Swee Lee, Bandwagon Asia and NME Asia to name a few. These newer tracks serve as a refreshing sound and an eclectic mesh of electropop, soul, nu-disco and R&B. While D’Angelo, Freddie Mercury and Jeff Buckley continue to be his main vocal inspirations, Dru also takes a more contemporary approach, drawing influences from artists such as DEON, Gentle Bones and Daniel Caesar.

Source: Nyou

Early Birthday Party

I had to advance my birthday celebration in order to allow my partner to drop by our residence before the ECQ will take effect. I ordered Taiwanese food to celebrate. We had chicken chops from Songshan Taipei Treats and spicy dan dan noodles from Pilya’s Kitchen.

This post is not sponsored, and I would like to highlight these two small businesses as their food became a source of enjoyment for my family during our celebration. Songshan will be closed during the ECQ, and their operations will resume once the lockdown has been lifted. Pilya’s Kitchen however, is continuously operating from The Grid Rockwell. I hope that you will continue to support them!

The lockdown can be a source of sadness and stress, so I hope that a hearty meal will get us through these trying times.

Stay safe, everyone!

The missing section of the city wall of Jerusalem that the Babylonians encountered in 586 BCE

Archaeological excavations in the City of David National Park have uncovered the remains of the city wall, which was built during the Iron Age - the days of the First Temple in the Kingdom of Judah, to protect Jerusalem from the east. The excavations are conducted at the City of David National Park on behalf of the Israel Antiquities Authority, in collaboration with the City of David Foundation, as part of the development of the National Park. 

Jar handle with concentric circle imprint. Photo Koby Harati, City of David

According to the directors of the excavation, Dr. Filip Vukosavović of the Ancient Jerusalem Research Center and Dr. Joe Uziel and Ortal Chalaf on behalf of the Israel Antiquities Authority: "The city wall protected Jerusalem from a number of attacks during the reign of the kings of Judah, until the arrival of the Babylonians who managed to break through it and conquer the city. The remains of the ruins can be seen in the archaeological excavations. However, not everything was destroyed, and parts of the walls, which stood and protected the city for decades and more, remain standing to this day. " 

The excavation directors are sitting on the remains of the wall. Photo Yaniv Berman, Israel Antiquities Authority

The new section that was exposed connects two sections that were previously excavated on the eastern slope. In the 1960s, British archaeologist Kathleen Kenyon uncovered a section of the wall in the northern part of the slope and dated it to the days of the Kingdom of Judah. About a decade later, archaeologist Yigal Shiloh uncovered a long section of the wall, in excavations in the southern part of the slope. Over the years, claims have been made that despite the impressive nature of the remains, these remnant stone structures should not be seen as wall remains. However, with the uncovering of this new section that connects with these past discoveries, it seems that the debate has been settled, and that this was unequivocally the eastern wall of ancient Jerusalem. 

Reconstruction of the sections that were dismantled during previous excavations in the early 20th century, makes it possible to trace almost another 30 meters of the surviving wall to a height of 2.5 meters and a width of up to 5 meters. In the book of 2 Kings, 25:10, there is a description of the conquest of the city by the Babylonians: “The whole Babylonian army under the commander of the imperial guard broke down the walls around Jerusalem.” However, it looks like the Babylonians did not destroy the eastern wall, possibly due to the sharp steepness of the eastern slope of the City of David, which slopes towards the Kidron Valley at over 30-degree angle. The findings of the destruction can be seen in the building that stood next to the wall and were exposed during the previous excavations: inside the building, rows of storage jars were discovered, which were smashed when the building burned and collapsed. The jars bear "rosette" stamped handles, in the shape of a rose, associated with the final years of the Kingdom of Judah. Near the wall, a Babylonian stamp seal made of stone was unveiled, depicting a figure standing in front of symbols of the two Babylonian gods Marduk and Nabu. Not far from there a bulla (a stamp seal impression made in clay) was found bearing a Judaean personal name "Tsafan". 

Source: ISRAEL MINISTRY OF TOURISM Philippine Office

SisigSaRada

I recently had park and dine lunch from SisigSaRada. I finally got to try their famous sisig meal (Php90). It was delicious! No wonder they had a huge following at their original Makati branch. I now get it. Their food is really good.

I also got their beef tapa meal (Php100) for dinner. It was also heavenly! Their tapa was made of quality beef. It was one of the best tapsilog meals I have ever had.

Do swing by SisigSaRada QC for your sisig or tapsilog fix! Promise, you won’t regret it!

Israeli Health Delegation Shares COVID-19 Best Practices to PH

The Israeli health delegation concluded their 5-day visit in Manila with recommendations to further improve systems and procedures in handling COVID patients and for efficient infection control protocols and hospital management.

The team of experts is composed of infectious diseases and COVID-19 specialist Dr. Guy Choshen; Shira Peleg, head nurse and nursing manager at the Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Center's Emergency Department; Eyad Jeries, trauma coordinator at Galilee Medical Center; and Chaim Markos Rafalowski, disaster management coordinator at Magen David Adom (MDA).

During the exit conference between the Israeli medical experts and their Philippine counterparts on Friday, July 30, Dr. Guy Choshen, noted some of the key factors that need to be considered in treating COVID-19 patients.

“I was highly impressed by their professionalism and I am sure that there are ways to improve the way you give healthcare to the cities,” head of the delegation Dr. Choshen said. He also commended the country’s health care workers for the professionalism they have shown in the face of the challenges caused by the pandemic.

According to Dr. Choshen, there are key factors that need to be considered in treating COVID-19 patients. These factors include the implementation of standard health care in DOH medical centers; the need to implement or articulate a patient’s discharge guidelines; allowing patients to be visited by their family visits in hospitals; and the implementation of critical patients’ restrictions, as well as infection control measures.

Dr. Choshen also stressed the importance of pushing up the vaccination campaign of the Philippines. “This is the main way we can mitigate the pandemic,” he explained.

Mr. Chaim Markos Rafalowski shared that in Israel, they have a “National daily health team evaluation” where they gather more than one hundred health professionals from different branches to discuss the current situation of their health care system.

“The objective of this is to understand the current situation and to identify the crisis and try to foresee where we are heading,” Mr. Rafalowski explained. 

“And the most important aspect is to set up priorities for immediate action for the short and long-term healthcare system with regards to COVID-19,” he added. 

For his part, Health Secretary Francisco Duque III said: “One of the impacts that we hope to be able to achieve in our unified strategy management against this pandemic is to bring down mortality rate perhaps less than 1 percent, if not less than .5 percent, as much as we can.” 

Sec. Duque also thanked the Israel medical experts on behalf of the Philippine government. 

“I thank you once again for your generosity, for sharing your knowledge and expertise and I hope that this will be a continuing greatest achievement for the government of the Philippines and of Israel and our healthcare professionals, our whole society, medical doctors, our nurses, and learn as much as possible,” he said. 

National Task Force Against COVID-19 Chief Implementer and vaccine czar Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr, who was represented by Deputy Presidential Peace Adviser Undersecretary Isidro Purisima, said that the recommendations from the Israeli delegation will help the government scale up its health care system particularly its “policy direction.”

“Our countries may have similar approaches and practices in managing the pandemic. But this week-long exchange of learnings has made us realize that there is much to be done,” Galvez said in his message read by Purisima.

“Our meetings have also opened a lot of possibilities which our COVID-19 task force can explore in terms of policy direction,” he added. 

Mr. Nir Balzam, Chargé d’Affaires a.i. of the Embassy of Israel in the Philippines assured the Philippine government that Israel will continue to assist the country in its fight against COVID-19. “This is our second delegation, the first one focused on the vaccination rollout. We will continue the collaboration on a normal basis. We are working closely with the Philippine government,” he said. 

This second delegation of medical experts arrived in the Philippines on July 26. The first group, which focused on sharing Israel’s best practices in implementing a national vaccination campaign, completed their four-day mission to Manila in June.

Since the outbreak of the pandemic, Israel has granted significant assistance to the Philippines to help its fight against COVID-19. The Israeli government turned over several donations consisting of personal protective equipment to the Department of National Defense and the Philippine National Police for use of their frontliners. Education equipment were donated to the Department of Education to aid distance learning. Israel also continues to share its experience and knowledge in emergency and pandemic response with the Philippines through webinars, courses, and joint meetings.

Source: Embassy of the State of Israel

Cube Coffee

I recently visited Cube Coffee, a third wave cafe along E. Rodriguez Sr. Avenue, Quezon City. I was blown away by their Spanish Latte (Php165) which was one of the better lattes I’ve had in a while. I was struck by the fact that they put latte art on a to-go order.

Their place also has soul. There were books everywhere, and they had eco-friendly essentials made of bamboo for sale. They also had a small box of paintings and handmade earrings for sale. This place is magical.

If you are craving for strong coffee and a place with a heart, please swing by Cube Coffee!

Wake Up, Dreamers

I recently started watching Demi Abilon a.k.a. AnakniRizal’s writing vlogs on YouTube. I have been enjoying her informative videos on creative writing. Writing has been a hobby and source of income for me, and yet I believe it is essential to continue learning how to improve my craft. Demi’s YouTube channel apply entitled Tales of Demi has been inspiring me to write lately. I highly recommend it!

I also started reading Demi’s latest published novel Wake Up, Dreamers. It is about a group of college students from different backgrounds who unintentionally work together for a school project. They discover themselves and the meaning of life through the project’s various assignments that put them in situations that force them out of their comfort zones. You may purchase the book here.

I hope that Demi’s vlogs and latest novel will also inspire you to write and express yourself during the lockdown!

Flying House Ocho Pizza

Flying House is a small restaurant and bar that I frequent along Malingap Street, Quezon City. I love their homey vibe and delicious bar chow. Their Ocho Pizza has become an instant favorite for me and my partner. Its thin crust and generous supreme toppings brought back happy childhood memories. We highly recommend this!

Order from Flying House today by accessing this link. Enjoy!

Juan Karlos returns from hiatus with arresting folk-rock tune “Boston”

The comeback single comes with a music video shot in EDSA

https://juankarlos.lnk.to/MVBoston

After taking an indefinite hiatus from social media, acclaimed artist Juan Karlos returns with a new single that showcases a more laid-back, stripped-down approach in terms of songwriting and production.  

Released digitally, “Boston” revisits an old memory with a former flame, and runs with the fictional idea of “what could have been” if decisions in life were done differently. The song also documents that lingering bittersweet feeling of longing that, because of circumstances beyond control, cannot persist.

Going beyond his comfort zone, Juan Karlos recorded “Boston” alone in his home studio without his band. He tapped Dix Lucero for additional sax and flute parts and Noel De Brackinghe as his Recording, Mixing and Mastering Engineer, who made the material more intricately layered but tastefully sparse.

With subtle instrumentation that allows the sentiment of the song to soar and tug hearts, Juan Karlos’ latest single embraces his introspective side with creative whims and folk-rock sensibilities, while retaining a sense of hushed fragility.

“I’ve always wanted a simple treatment with a touch of complexity,” the young singer-songwriter shares in a statement. “Boston works in that vein, and it captures my personal vision as a musician.”

The song comes with a music video that features Juan Karlos performing in a moving pickup, with EDSA as his backdrop.The visual narrative shows the alt-pop artist singing with his guitar, as he traverses the sprawling urban stretch aimlessly, as if navigating places without a particular destination.

“Boston” is out now on all streaming platforms worldwide via Island Records Philippines and MCA Music Inc.

About Juan Karlos

Juan Karlos is a Filipino band and six-time Platinum awardee signed under MCA Music composed of JK Labajoon vocals and guitar, Jeriko Aguilar on guitar, Louise Bayas on bass, and Gian Hipolito on drums. Formed in 2018, the eponymous band went under several personnel changes and ultimately released their smash hit, “Buwan” in the same year. 

Frontman JK Labajo shared that his solo music career is currently inactive. Hailing from Cebu, he first gained recognition as a finalist on The Voice Kids Philippines and went on to pursue a career in music and acting. Following the release of his albums under MCA Music, JK (2015) and JKL (2017), he realized that he has to stop settling and commit to what he really wants: to write, produce, and perform his own songs the way he hears it in his head and heart and be part of a band. Juan Karlos aims to “dream big or go home” and to make a mark in OPM and globally. “I want to be able to make a change, a difference,” he said. I want to show people the importance and beauty of music. I'm in music for the art, to earn in order to fund my daily needs and dreams, and for recognition so I can have reach and to be heard.”

Follow Juan Karlos: Facebook |  Instagram

Follow MCA Music: Facebook |  Instagram  |  Twitter  |  YouTube

 Source: GNN Entertainment Productions

Eve Alai reimagines Unscripted’ssignature hit “Sunscreen” into a club anthem

PRIVATE SONG PREVIEW 

Acclaimed electronic producer Eve Alai is turning up the groove once again with a reimagined version of Unscripted’s signature track “Sunscreen”—out this July 31 on all digital music platforms via Umami Records. The blissful number reinterprets the original with sun-soaked funkiness and classic house touch, taking on an entirely new persona with every ebb and flow. 

“The new material doesn’t follow the traditional four-on-the-floor thumper,” says Eve Alai. “Sure, it blends undeniable house grooves with upbeat funky vocals, but the drums don’t fit the norm: it’s actually more hip-hop inspired and rhythmic in a sense.” 

As a joyous ride to a perfect sundown, Eve Alai and Unscripted’s latest bop brings the dancefloor closer to our homes. Its sentiments are romantic and hopeful in tone, and encapsulate the mood that music listeners need right now in the time of isolation: anthemic pop music that surges with clubby production. 

When asked about what he loved the most about the track, acclaimed producer Eve Alai shares, “I honestly love the whole song, I don’t have a favorite moment.” 

He also emphasized how the lyrics are powerful enough to help people who are going through difficult situations in life to bounce back and persevere even at their own pace and time. “Things get better, it’s always good to be aware of patterns in one’s life. I think that’s key to coming back stronger,” the acclaimed musician points out.

Listen to “Sunscreen” via Umami Records: https://www.umamirecords.sg/sunscreen-reimagined/

About Eve Alai

Eve Alai is a producer and writer from Singapore. With a passion for dance music fused with timeless melodies, Eve Alai’s musical mission is to give listeners a sonic experience that moves them emotionally and physically.

Instagram

About Unscripted

Representing the West Side, Unscripted is a band from Colombo, Sri Lanka with their roots deeply embedded in Kotte (from now on being addressed to as K-Town). Unscripted specializes in Funk, Hip Hop & Dance. However, the band broadens their horizons into an Funk, Soul, Jazz and RnB sound as well. Unscripted comprises of Shamika Makalanda (producer / guitars), Saveen Makalanda (groove-bass) , Steven Shera (vocals), Charith Fernando (beats-drums), Malitha Dee (vocals / guitars) & Prashan Bastianz (trumpet / keyboard / vocals), simultaneously coming together to give out an experimental, ‘Unscripted’ sound.

About Umami Records

Umami Records is a Singapore-based indie record label founded in 2013. Much like the “5th taste” reputation of its namesake, the label strongly believes in discovering new, interesting sounds that run underground and away from the mainstream. The label’s tight-knit, curated roster includes releases from Linying, The Steve McQueens, brb., Evanturetime, CampFire, Martin Baltser, Phoria, Oriental Cravings, and more.

UmamiRecords.sg · Instagram · Facebook · Twitter · YouTube

Source: Nyou

Ben&Ben reunite with Moira on the confessional ballad “Pasalubong”

MANILA, PHILIPPINES, July 30, 2021 – After working together last year for the heartwarming ballad “Paalam,” which has reached more than 40 million streams on all combined music platforms, Ben&Ben and Moira are reuniting again for a song that captures the intensity of deep longing and persistent desire.

Their second collaborative single “Pasalubong” is a romantic confessional that drips with unapologetic sentimentality:  a song that is defenseless in its yearning and honesty, hoping that one’s profession of love will be received and reciprocated. 

According to Ben&Ben, the song was inspired by the double meaning behind the title, which is a term that is commonly used to refer to a gift, and a word that could also mean to meet. “The track is a play on both these meanings,” the acclaimed nine-piece outfit explains. 

Moira adds that the song’s impact radiates on a universal level, simply because it shows bravery and honesty despite the odds. “It isn’t so common anymore today to say what you mean,” the hitmaker says. “So I love that after a whole song of poetry, we end with the simplest but scariest lines to say…. Gusto Kita.”

Written and produced by the band and Moira, with arrangement from Ben&Ben’s very own percussionist Andrew De Pano, the folk-pop tune encapsulates the beauty in sparseness, and the magic in turning an outpour of emotion into a generation-defining anthem. 

Andrew reveals that he was tasked to oversee the production side of the material, relying heavily on the weight of the word as basis for the arrangement and the overall vibe. “A big immediate difference from the usual Ben&Ben sound is the way the guitars sound, and the absence of most of our usual elements in the beginning. There was a major effort to really embody and project emotions of waiting and uncertainty and longing, and the ‘bass drum’ sound that is present throughout the song is meant to symbolize those times we get so caught up deep in thought that we end up hearing our own heartbeat.”

For their part, multi-awarded singer-songwriter duo Moira and Jason Marvin Hernandez helped finish the lyrics and added lines that give the material its enduring pop appeal. “For Pasalubong, we built it from the original song and added elements to it while in the car on our way to the Ben&Ben house,” Moira shares. 

Together, both Ben&Ben and Moira interpreted the heart-wrenching nature of the material with precision and character. They made the song both timely and timeless, with every flow punctuated by unwavering vulnerability, and every word cutting deep and beautifully. 

“With Moira and Paolo’s evocative vocal performance and the band’s emotional execution of Andrew’s arrangement, Pasalubong is a song that will certainly bring up all kinds of feelings, and hopefully will give people comfort in knowing that they aren’t alone in their frustration and longing,” the band shares in a statement.

In terms of delivery, Moira is very particular with the tone being conversational, as if telling a friend about her day or sharing the story to a lover. She also commends Andrewfor being hands on in the studio, guiding her in every step of the way. “He has this crazy way of making something complicated, seem so simple. There’s this pitch where we used the 7th note for the last chorus which I thought was genius— that was all Andrew.”

“Pasalubong” is the third single off Ben&Ben upcoming sophomore full-length album to be released next month. The song is now available on all digital music platforms worldwide via Sony Music Philippines. Watch out for the music video premiere on Ben&Ben’s official YouTube channel this July 30, 2021 at 6:00pm, Friday.

 Source: Sony Music Philippines

A Filipina-led skincare brand that believes all Filipinos deserve a bright and beautiful glow

Glow Diggers, eyes here! A Filipina-led skincare brand relaunches with a modern look along with brand-new products! The skincare brand, Skin White Solutions, believes that every Filipino deserves to have a #BrighterThanEver skin that radiates confidence - enough to take on the world. 

And for that, they would like to introduce their newest products: Wonder Wash, Talented Toner, and Happy Crush - all made with the finest ingredients from Japan, Korea, and Thailand.

These exciting new products are made for all skin types to ensure that every Filipino gets a chance to flaunt his or her own unique glow! Guaranteed, each product is made with love and has been carefully crafted to bring your dream skin to life! 

Do you want to embark on the journey to getting the #BrighterThanEver skin? Then visit their Shopee page: https://shopee.ph/swsofficial to learn more! Be part of the growing community of #GlowDiggers!

Source: Skin White Solutions

Second Group of Israeli Medical Delegation Assists the Philippines in its Fight Against COVID-19

A group of Israeli medical response team is now in the Philippines for a 5-day mission to share Israel’s experience and best practices in treating COVID patients with the Inter-Agency Task Force on the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-MEID). 

The Israeli delegation, which arrived in Manila on July 26, is composed of infectious diseases and COVID-19 specialist Dr. Guy Choshen; Shira Peleg, head nurse and nursing manager at the Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Center's Emergency Department; Eyad Jeries, trauma coordinator at Galilee Medical Center; and Chaim Markos Rafalowski, disaster management coordinator at Magen David Adom (MDA).

The Philippine government has a series of activities lined up for the four-member Israeli delegation of medical experts so they can observe the country’s COVID-19 response and to share their current local clinical guidelines for COVID-19, infection control protocols, hospital management, and other practices.

Mr. Nir Balzam, Chargé d’Affaires a.i. of the Embassy of Israel in the Philippines, highlighted during the welcome ceremony the dramatic improvement of the relationship between Israel and the Philippines over the past few years and even during the pandemic. “Israel has shown its commitment to the Philippines. We will do whatever we can in order to assist and share our knowledge and of course, we are also extending to learn and enhance our knowledge in the different challenges that the Philippines have,” he explained.

“As members of the global community we must continue moving as one towards the protection of the entire human race and the scale of this pandemic requires that it is the only rightful response. In our battle against the COVID-19 pandemic we can only truly be safe when everyone is safe regardless of nationality, religion, cultural background, or social stand,” Health Secretary Francisco Duque III said as he welcomed the second batch of Israeli health experts.

For his part, NTF Chief Implementer and Vaccine Czar Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr, who was represented by Ret. BGen. Augustus De Villa, noted that the arrival of the Israeli medical experts in the country is crucial, as the country scales up its COVID-19 response efforts in response to the entry of the Delta variant.

“While the national government is now focused on scaling up the implementation of our prevent-detect-isolate-treat-reintegrate (PDITR) strategy and impose stricter border control in all points of entry, we know that there is still much to be learned and much to be done,” Galvez in his message read by De Villa.

This is the second delegation of medical experts from Israel who visited the Philippines. The first group, which focused on sharing Israel’s best practices in implementing a national vaccination campaign, completed their four-day mission to Manila in June.

Since the outbreak of the pandemic, Israel has granted significant assistance to the Philippines to help its fight against COVID-19. The Israeli government turned over several donations consisting of personal protective equipment to the Department of National Defense and the Philippine National Police for use of their frontliners. Education equipment were donated to the Department of Education to aid distance learning. Israel also continues to share its experience and knowledge in emergency and pandemic response with the Philippines through webinars, courses, and joint meetings.

Source: Embassy of Israel Manila

Sun Life Foundation’s Sun Pera-Aralan Wins in CSR Guild Awards

Sun Pera-Aralan, the financial management program of Sun Life Financial-Philippines Foundation, Inc. (Sun Life Foundation) for public school teachers, was recognized as Outstanding Corporate Social Responsibility Project in Financial Inclusion in CSR Guild Awards organized by the League of Corporate Foundations.

“We are truly humbled and grateful for the honor, as it represents the impact of our efforts in helping our teachers have a financially brighter tomorrow,” says Benedict Sison, CEO of Sun Life Philippines and Chairman of Sun Life Foundation. “Our teachers play a big role in molding our children’s tomorrow, and this is our little way of giving back to them for all their efforts and dedication.”

Launched in 2019 in collaboration with AHA! Behavioral Design Inc., Sun Pera-Aralan utilizes behavioral design to promote and develop positive and practical daily money habits that do not disrupt the teacher’s routine and workload. Since its inception in 2019, the program has helped over 34,171 teachers to stretch their salary until the next payday and gradually lessen indebtedness. It was initially launched in public schools in Muntinlupa, Paranaque, Makati, and Malabon; and is currently running in Manila, Marikina, and Quezon City.

Earlier this year, Sun Pera-Aralan was honored with the First Gawad Kaagapay Award for Financial Literacy by the Quezon City Schools Division Office of the Department of Education and an Award of Excellence in the Philippine Quill Excellence Awards.

Sun Life Foundation is the philanthropic arm of Sun Life Philippines.

Source: Sun Life Foundation

SUN LIFE GREPA CRITICAL ILLNESS BENEFIT RIDER NOW AVAILABLE TO MINORS

Over the past year, more and more people have started to understand the importance of having a good health insurance plan resulting to an increased demand for health protection products. Getting sick does not exempt anyone, both children and adults alike, and with the rising cost of health services, access to quality medical facilities and hospitalization expenses can be financially strenuous. 

This is the reason why Sun Life Grepa Financial, Inc. (Sun Life Grepa), a major life insurance company in the country, extends its Critical Illness Benefit (CIB) Rider to minors, starting from 30 days old up to 17 years old. The CIB Rider is initially offered only to clients who are 18 to 60 years old. 

“While no parent wants to consider the possibility of their child becoming sick, it is important to be prepared for any untoward circumstances and unforeseen health emergencies as one critical illness can be a tremendous financial burden,” Richard S. Lim, Sun Life Grepa President said. “With critical illness insurance, you won't have to worry about securing funds needed for treatment so you can get focus on what really matters: taking care of your children and keeping your family safe and protected,” he added.

The CIB Rider is an optional benefit which can be attached to select Sun Life Grepa traditional life and variable unit-linked plans. It pays a guaranteed lump sum benefit in case the insured is diagnosed with any of the 36 covered critical illnesses such as Heart Attack, Stroke or Cancer, among others, provided that the said diagnosis meets the definitions and provisions of the policy. Existing policyholders of Sun Life Grepa may also opt to attach the CIB rider during policy anniversaries subject to the terms and conditions of the company. 

For inquiries, contact your Sun Life Grepa Financial Advisor, call 84999633, email wecare@sunlifegrepa.com or visit www.sunlifegrepa.com for more details.

Source: Sun Life Grepa

Stella Top

I recently finished crocheting the Stella Top designed by Filipina crochet designer Aly Gene. I used a 4.00mm hook, and yarns from Shopee.

I enjoyed this pattern because it was workable while I was in webinars and watching movies. I highly recommend this as the instructions were clear and concise.

It was a pleasure to create this top, and I hope that you will also find time for your creative pursuits during the pandemic!

Camila Cabello makes a huge comeback with latin-inspired single “Don’t Go Yet”

Three-time GRAMMY® Award-nominated, multi-platinum, and chart-topping singer/songwriter Camila Cabello has released her new single Don’t Go Yet.”

The song was written by Camila, Scott Harris, Ricky Reed, and Mike Sabath, produced by Mike Sabath and Ricky Reed and includes live percussion by acclaimed Cuban drummer, Pedrito Martinez. Alongside the new release, Camila also debuted the video for the track. 

Oozing with infectious harmonies and tropical rhythms, the latin-inspired banger shows her Mexican and Cuban roots, while retaining that glorious pop sound with a chorus that sticks in your head for days.

This is Camila’s first new release since her 2019 platinum-certified #1 album, Romance, and follows the hit single “My Oh My (featuring DaBaby),” which went to No.1 on Billboard pop radio charts in 2020.

The new track will also appear on her upcoming third full-length album, Familia. The Havana songstress is set to perform her new single on the post-Olympics Opening Ceremony edition of The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon.

Cabello also made headlines this weekend when she shared a message on TikTok about body positivity, and overcoming the burdening pressures of beauty standards online. "I am grateful for this body that lets me do what I need to do," the pop/R&B sensation beams with pride. "We are real women with curves and cellulite and stretch marks and fat. And we got to own that, baby!"

About Camila Cabello

Multi Grammy nominated Cuban born singer/songwriter Camila Cabello (Epic Records / SYCO) released her debut solo album, CAMILA in January 2018 to rave reviews. It debuted at #1 on the Billboard 200 chart at the same time as her single “Havana” Reached #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, making Camila the first solo artist in nearly 15 years to reach the #1 spot on the Hot 100, Billboard 200 and Artist 100 charts in the same week. Camila also became the #1 artist on global Spotify. She took home awards for Artist of the Year and Video of the Year for her hit “Havana” at the 2018 Video Music Awards. At the end of 2018, Camila was nominated for two Grammys for the 61st Annual Grammy Awards including “Best Pop Vocal Album” for her album, CAMILA, and “Best Pop Solo Performance” for “Havana” (Live). Beginning her official solo career after four years in Fifth Harmony, Camila released her RIAA 9x platinum smash hit “Havana,” in August 2017 where it obtained the #1 spot on the pop radio chart, marking her second top 40 #1 as a solo artist. “Havana” became the most streamed song of all time by a female artist and was the number one song of 2018 globally. Her triple-platinum single “Never Be The Same,” was released in January 2018 and peaked in the top 10 of the Billboard Hot 100 chart. Camila became the first artist in history to have two multi-format number one singles as the first two singles from their debut album.  

Camila had previously earned a chart-topping smash with her double platinum-certified hit “Bad Things” with MGK which generated over 400 million on-demand streams. Camila released the global smash single “Señorita,” with Shawn Mendes in June 2019, it debuted at #1 on iTunes worldwide and broke Spotify’s record for the biggest debut from a male/female duet in its history. “Señorita” was the most streamed song of any song released globally on Spotify in 2019 and was nominated in the category of “Best Pop Duo/Group Performance” for the 62nd Annual Grammy Awards. In December 2019, Camila released her sophomore studio album, ROMANCE, which is certified platinum. At the 62nd Grammy Awards, Camila gave a stunning performance of her track, “First Man,” where she sang directly to her father in the crowd. Camila is the first female artist since Adele to triple up atop Billboard’s Hot 100, Billboard 200 & Artist 100 charts. Maintaining her momentum, “My Oh My” reached #1 at Pop Radio in 2020, becoming her 5th total number one as a solo artist following the success of “Señorita” the prior year. Camila is also an ambassador for Save the Children. She is set to make her acting debut starring in CINDERELLA, to be released on September 3, 2021. The film will be directed by Kay Cannon and produced by James Corden and Leo Pearlman. 

In 2020, Camila, along with Movement Voter Fund, launched the Healing Justice Project, which provides direct grant funding for culturally relevant mental health and wellness resources to youth activists and grassroots organizations working at the intersection of racial and economic justice, electoral organizing and other movements that work towards bettering and moving this country forward.

Camila Cabello’s “Don’t Go Yet” is out now on all digital music platforms worldwide via Epic Records, a division of Sony Music Entertainment.

Source: Sony Music Philippines

FERN-D: SUNSHINE ON TOP OF ALL WORLD BRANDS

There’s a huge cloud of anxiety that has been looming above the earth for a whole year now. The outdoors has become an unsafe place, and everyone has been stuck at home since. To save ourselves from contagious health risks, we chose to give up the outdoor sun that used to be part of our daily routine.

In the midst of it all, we still believe that sunshine is a need, and we ought to get it.

Your daily dose of sunshine—even without the sun. 

FERN-D has always been a household name as a Vitamin D supplement in the Philippines. With its premium quality at an affordable price, Filipinos can get their daily Vitamin D fix even without stepping outside. This is why people have grown to love this “sunshine vitamin.” 

This brand love has birthed fruitful results. FERN-D received the Brand of the Year Award for the Vitamins and Supplements Category in the 2020-2021 World Branding Awards. This prestigious award is not just any other award a brand could get—it is a worldwide recognition, nominated by over 250,000 consumers across the globe. 

FERN-D has won the award by leading the numbers according to brand valuation, consumer market research, and public online voting. The consumer votes constitute seventy percent of this scoring process, proving that the brand is indeed voted by the people who receive and experience its quality.

A ray of sunshine amidst any weather.

In a time when the global economic landscape was greatly disrupted, the efforts and initiatives of brands to remain distinct and relevant are testament to the creativity and innovation they bring to the table. 

“The Awards are an acknowledgment of the tireless effort of the teams that build and maintain their brand presence in an ever-changing market,” said Richard Rowles, Chairman of the World Branding Forum.

IFERN CEO and PRESIDENT TOMMANNY TAN RECEIVES THE BRAND OF THE YEAR AWARD 2019

IN KENSINGTONG PALACE, LONDON

Indeed, the success of FERN-D is a team effort. “Sharing Prosperity Through Global Entrepreneurship” is a philosophy that Mr. Tommanny Tan, President and CEO of I-FERN, lives by. By guiding, mentoring, and giving a business opportunity to people who came from humble beginnings, I-FERN has since produced entrepreneurs who carry the company’s legacy while spreading good health with products like FERN-D. 

FERN-D WON THE BRAND OF THE YEAR AWARD IN THE WORLD BRANDING AWARDS

FOR TWO CONSECUTIVE YEARS (2019-2020 & 2020-2021)

Winning the Brand of the Year Award for two consecutive years now proves the success that FERN-D continues to build—all by staying true to its promise to be a daily dose of sunshine for the Filipino market.

Source: FERN-D PR

Pop-R&B songstress Charlene Su releases debut EP, onlyfriends

Pop-R&B songstress Charlene Su has finally dropped her debut EP titled onlyfriends, with four songs that promise to be absolute bops. 

Aside from subtly and cheekily referencing the popular, albeit raunchy online platform, OnlyFans, onlyfriendscame about through collaboration among friends. Looking through the writers, you can see why. “To me, collaboration is the best part about music,” says Charlene, as she likes to think of songwriting as self-expression through shared human experience. 

“We have all felt disappointment and the ache of heartbreak before, be it unrequited feelings for a crush or even within friendships. I think of this EP as my coping mechanism of sorts for that disappointment; it’s really just me whining and trying to get over my feelings in a very melodic, pop way.” 

Charlene Su’s onlyfriends EP also includes the R&B jam “bitter baby,” whose laid-back beats and tropical-sounding production drip with sensual confidence, and the earlier released tracks “iwas4u” and “ilikered.”

The music video for “say it back” will be released on 25th August 2021 together with a live- streamed performance of the EP. The new song off Su’s new EP, features Universal Music Singapore’s up-and-coming singer-songwriter and producer YAØ. 

About Charlene Su

Charlene has been writing songs and dreaming up bedroom bops since her teen years. With her candy-coated vocals sitting atop a spirited hybrid of modern pop, R&B and lo-fi, she has drawn audiences from all across Asia with her unfiltered, unadulterated charm. 

With success in the cards both in a tech start-up career as well as with music, Charlene worked to balance both priorities over the past few years before deciding in 2021 to focus on her efforts on her passion for art. 

Straying from the downtempo roots with which she first made her name, the Singaporean artist has turned her vocal prowess towards a series of intimate and infinitely catchy soundscapes, crafted with care for today’s digital music landscape. Her fresh, decidedly distinct, and vibrant pop-princess sound is bound to captivate audiences across the globe. 

At the end of the day, Charlene hopes to make honest music that both entices and empowers. With lyrics that feel and beats that truly bop, she remains one to watch in this exciting new age of pop music.

Source: Nyou

We Got releases comically bizarre music video of “Panahon”

Eight-piece reggae collective We Got has released the official music video of their new single “Panahon.”

Directed by Shai Advincula, the story takes place in the time of pandemic, where a woman in isolation found unexpected companionship in the unlikeliest of circumstances.

According to Advincula, the concept behind the music video revolves around the idea of isolation and the crazy things that we do to cope with the loneliness that comes with it. She explains, “Over the past year, our lives have shifted by being stuck at home most of the time. There are a lot of things that we’re missing from our pre-pandemic life, one of which is the affection we get from a companion. But how do we cater to our need for affection in a sociallydistanced world? The music video shows a bizarre but refreshing take on coping.”

Vocalist and guitarist Mack Dela Cruz reveals that it was the band’s first time to work with Advincula. “She’s very professional, and her ideas blew our minds. We had so much fun and it was a great experience for us working with such a tremendous team.”

Written by the band’s guitarist Mike Quebral and arranged by vocalist and guitarist Mack Dela Cruz, “Panahon” was recorded at Kodama Studio with the goal to produce a calm, soothing piece of music that finds worth in spontaneity, and not having to waste life worrying about the daily grind. “We know a lot of people suffering from depression, so I wrote this song to remind people that there is hope, and slowly but surely, you’ll be able to get past it with a renewed perspective in life,” Quebral shares.

The song is part of We Got’s debut EP, Hiwaga, which was released on all digital music platforms worldwide lastweek. Produced by Raymund Marasigan and mastered by Shinji Tanaka, the 7-track release delivers infinitely hummable jams that prove to be both fun and heartwarming. 

Stepping into the spotlight with staccato chords, infectious horns, and syncopated rhythms, the mini album features five previously released tracks, and two new songs: the effervescent jam “Kakaiba Ka” and the EP’s lead single “Panahon.” The latter brings some exciting new energy to this season’s predictable nature, taking into account the importance of weeding out the negativity to enjoy what life has to offer.

We Got’s debut EP, Hiwaga is available on all digital music platforms worldwide via Sony Music Philippines. Its lead single “Panahon” has a music video that you can watch via YouTube.

Source: Nyou