@coffeebuddyph has finally opened their cafe along Roces Ave., QC! I have been buying my coffee beans from them since 2020. They make really good coffee, and my fave is their caramel macchiato! Drop by their cafe today! You can also order beans (my fave is their Benguet) here. ☕️ #greatcoffee #shopeeambassador #foodie
GLOBAL SUPERSTAR CAMILA CABELLO IS BACK WITH NEW SINGLE “BAM BAM” FEATURING ED SHEERAN
RELEASES CINEMATIC MUSIC VIDEO
NEW ALBUM FAMILIA COMING APRIL 8
Gearing up for her biggest, boldest, and brightest release yet, three-time GRAMMY® Award-nominated, multi-platinum, and chart-topping singer/songwriter Camila Cabello will unveil her anxiously awaited blockbuster new single and music video “Bam Bam” [feat. Ed Sheeran] on March 4, 2022 via Epic Records. Pre-order/Pre-save “Bam Bam”— HERE. “Bam Bam” was produced by Ricky Reed, Edgar Barerra and Cheche Alara, and was written by Cabello, Ed Sheeran and Ricky Reed. The video was directed by Mia Barnes, in collaboration with Dave Meyers, who also directed Cabello’s “Havana,” “Senorita,” “My Oh My” and “Liar” videos. Watch the video here.
“Bam Bam” marks her first release of 2022, and it stands out as one of the year’s most anticipated event singles. It notably reunites her with one of the best-selling artists in the world, four-time GRAMMY® Award winner Ed Sheeran. It continues a creative collaboration dating back to Sheeran’s gold-certified 2019 banger “South of the Border” [feat. Camila Cabello & Cardi B].
Most importantly, “Bam Bam” heralds the arrival of her third full-length album, Familia, on April 8.
Last year, she set the stage for the record with “Don’t Go Yet,” which impressively gathered 232 million Spotify streams.
About Camila Cabello
Multi Grammy nominated Cuban born singer/songwriter Camila Cabello (Epic Records) 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 RIAA diamond-certified 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 TheSame,” 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. In August of 2021, Camila released her new single “Don’t Go Yet” from her highly anticipated upcoming album, Familia. In September 2021, she made her acting debut starring in CINDERELLA.
Outside of entertainment, Camila is a spokesperson for L’Oreal. She is also an ambassador for Save the Children and was honored in 2019 with the Voice Award. 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.
About Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran is an era-defining artist. From record-breaking sales across his recorded music and live performances, and a plethora of award wins to his name, the British singer-songwriter is the boundless talent behind some of the biggest songs in history. The 4x GRAMMY award winner has consistently resonated with fans across the world with his peerless songcraft and exceptional music palate. With four multiplatinum, critically acclaimed albums under his belt – ‘+’ (2011), ‘x’ (2014), ‘÷’ (2017) and ‘No.6 Collaborations Project’ (2019) - Sheeran has amassed more than 60 billion streams and sold over 50 million albums, globally to date; he is also one of only six artists to have three songs – “Thinking Out Loud,” “Perfect,” and “Shape Of You” - earn RIAA Diamond-certification, for sales equivalents exceeding 10 million in the US alone. An unparalleled live performer, Sheeran’s most recent, two-year ÷ world tour made history becoming the most-attended and highest-grossing tour of all time. Last fall, Sheeran released ‘=’, the fourth installment of his symbol album series, highlighted by the hit singles “Shivers” and “Bad Habits,” which recently received a GRAMMY nomination for “Song of the Year.” Debuting at #1 on the Billboard 200, ‘=’ is Sheeran’s fourth consecutive full length release to top the chart after its first week. A global phenomenon, ‘=’ has also gone to #1 in 19 countries around the world.
Source: Nyou
BENJAMIN KHENG SAVOURS A PARTING OF THE WAYS IN NEW TRACK WITH SINGER-SONGWRITER BEA LORENZO
4th March 2022 — Homegrown artist Benjamin Kheng returns on the scene with a brand-new song, Good For A Time — an acoustic pop-R&B number that features Filipino artist Bea Lorenzo on vocals.
The radio-friendly pop ballad is a culmination of collaborations on multiple fronts. For the writing, Kheng teamed up with fellow Singaporean singer-songwriter, Linying, best known for penning and performing the theme song for 2021’s National Day Parade, ‘The Road Ahead’.
"Writing Good For A Time was as much fun as it was bittersweet. Linying was the perfect co-writer for this — breaking down heartbreak and joy is what she does bestand it felt like we left little pieces of ourselves in this tune."
Together, they penned lyrics that captured the desire to stretch time for as long as possible to savour the last moments before the unavoidable end of a meaningful relationship.
Good For A Time is more than just a breakup song, it's about a couple presently breaking up and going through the painful process of untethering while looking back fondly and appreciating the love that was."
Kheng leaned on the expertise of Snakeweed Studios' Josh Wei (CL, Gentlebones) to oversee production on the track.
"Josh was a godsend. Not one stone was left unturned. We experimented with many arrangements on different instruments, and I'm glad we landed on this one."
Filipino singer-songwriter Bea Lorenzo, best known for her prowess with the Kalimba, was brought on as a feature to turn the song into a duet, highlighting the shared experience of heartbreak. Lorenzo describes the song as the seconds of silence between two people facing the realisation of no longer being good for each other.
Good For A Time takes that brief moment and stretches it into a bittersweet 2-and-a-half minutes, painting a picture of young love and the peace that can come with letting go.” On working with Kheng she says, “Working with an artist like Ben, who was so open-minded and caring throughout the process, I was reminded of the joys of honest songwriting and the power it holds in a storytelling space.”
"It was serendipitous having Bea Lorenzo as a duet partner,” says Kheng, “She gave the piece a stunning voice and made the story all the more poignant. Being separated by miles due to the pandemic gave an added depth to the reality of the song."
This was especially true when producing the music video for Good For A Time. Set in the empty late-night cityscape of Singapore and Manila, the music video depicts Kheng and Lorenzo as ex-lovers reuniting for the first time since their separation.
Singaporean Photographer and Director Lenne Chai took the helm. Inspired by her own experiences as a young teen, Chai wanted to capture the feeling of young love and longing. We follow Kheng and Lorenzo as they mull over their memories of being in love and exploring the city to extend their time together.
Given that Kheng and Lorenzo were in different countries at the time, filming was done concurrently with a remote team in Manila led by director Simon Te and cinematographer Renz Gonzalez.
"The experience was wonderful, and I’m so glad we pulled it off," says Chai. "This would not have been possible without our hotel partners, Conrad Centennial and Conrad Manila, who supported our production in both cities."
Good For A Time is available on all digital platforms from 4th March 2022.
The music video for Good For A Time premiers on 4th March 2022 at 6:00 PM SGT.
ABOUT BENJAMIN KHENG
Benjamin Kheng is a Singaporean musician, actor and writer, and lead singer of former pop outfit The Sam Willows, who landed a coveted spot on Forbes' annual 30 Under 30 Asia.
In November 2019, he officially returned to music after a year-long break following the hiatus of The Sam Willows. His first solo single, ‘Wicked’, and subsequent singles ‘Find Me’ and ‘Lovers Forever’ were released to critical acclaim, showcasing Benjamin’s versatility as a singer and lending promise to the potential of his artistry and growing repertoire.
Benjamin released his highly anticipated debut EP ‘A Sea That Never Stops’ in June 2020. In this highly personal EP, Benjamin explored life and love under the lens of both sincerity and cynicism. With upbeat tempos and sparkling melodies, ‘A Sea That Never Stops’ is simultaneously a cry and a celebration for the experiences that make us human. To date, the EP has garnered over 3 million streams from over 800,000 listeners. Benjamin’s success earned him a nomination for Best Southeast Asia Act at the 2020 MTV Europe Music Awards.
In 2021, Benjamin returned with a new single, ‘Fresh Feelings’, featuring R&B artist J.Sheon. Building on his work in ‘A Sea That Never Stops’, the production for ‘Fresh Feelings’ is daring and wildly theatrical, drawing from Benjamin’s love for gospel choir and musical theatre with glossy piano chords and layered harmonies. Love is clearly the higher power that straddles charming and clumsy with delicate and devastating. Benjamin ended the year with the song, ‘Baby Mama’. His single with Gentle Bones, Better WithYou, was awarded Single Of The Year at the Youth Music Awards 2021.
Benjamin’s body of work extends beyond music and into acting. The breadth of his acting talent shows in the roles he has played — from the leading role of Romeo in Toy Factory’s staging of Romeo & Juliet to his nomination for best actor in The Breakup List at the Raindance Film Festival. He is also one half of the acclaimed comedy sketch series, The BenZiProject, which has garnered over 2.2 million views on YouTube in less than a year since its inception, and the TheAnn & Ben Show, a music comedy sketch series with Annette Lee.
An advocate for youth and social causes, Benjamin has also been invited to speak at TEDxYouth@Singapore to share his experience in overcoming depression and anxiety disorder with synesthesia.
ABOUT BEA LORENZO
Bea Lorenzo is a Manila-based Filipina performing artist whose love for storytelling, stage theatrics, and minimalist arrangements in recorded music inspires and fuels her songwriting. Her journey as a no-genre recording artist began with debut single ‘Ili (Hush)’ which earned her recognition as an award finalist at the 2019 Awit Awards. In the same year, her act was featured on the music television programme Coke Studio Philippines. Following her 2020 single releases ‘Imaginary Love’, ‘With A Smile’, and ‘Kapalaran’, ‘Good For A Time’ is Bea’s first international feature on a song with Singaporean artist Benjamin Kheng.
FOLLOW BENJAMIN KHENG
Instagram | Facebook | Twitter | TikTok | YouTube
FOLLOW BEA LORENZO
Instagram | Facebook | Twitter
Source: Nyou
The Power of Gratitude
Transit Dialog has recently published my essay, The Power of Gratitude. Read it below:
"𝘞𝘩𝘦𝘯 𝘨𝘳𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘵𝘶𝘥𝘦 𝘪𝘴 𝘩𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘭𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵𝘦𝘥, 𝘣𝘭𝘦𝘴𝘴𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘴 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘵𝘳𝘪𝘨𝘨𝘦𝘳𝘦𝘥."
𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗣𝗼𝘄𝗲𝗿 𝗼𝗳 𝗚𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝘁𝘂𝗱𝗲
𝘉𝘺 𝘚𝘢𝘮𝘢𝘯𝘵𝘩𝘢 𝘎𝘢𝘪𝘭 𝘓𝘶𝘤𝘢𝘴
2022 began on a shaky note, with the emergence of the Omnicron variant in the Philippines. While we were given a semblance of normalcy during the holiday season, we quickly realized that we had to take precautionary measures in order to protect ourselves from the new variant. This led to a survival mode which personally felt like a hibernation of sorts.
In the comfort of my own home, I was able to plan, journal, and reflect on the new year. For me, the power of gratitude is crucial even during uncertainty.
Let's face it, life has always been uncertain anyway. It is just that the unknown has been more pronounced with the pandemic. The saying “life is too short” is no longer cliché, as the virus has become too close for comfort.
I am thankful to be alive, healthy, and boosted. The fact that I can write this essay in a well-lit environment means that I am fortunate. I am thankful to have the means to write and reflect on my status quo.
When gratitude is highlighted, blessings are triggered. I believe that when there is an attitude of gratitude, we learn to welcome abundance without guilt or shame. We accept what is given to us because we feel whole.
Gratitude lets us appreciate what we have at a time where there is a health crisis that has robbed us of our normal routines. If there is a sense of overwhelm, then let us focus on the basic things that we can be thankful for. The senses of taste and smell are a good place to start. The ability to inhale and exhale is another. The rest will follow from there.
Another way to harness the power of gratitude is to pass it on. We all have something to share with others. The victims of Typhoon Odette still need our help, so I hope that we could continue offering support to them. We can also offer our time and energy to those who are burdened by the effects of the pandemic.
There is always something that we can do for others, and the generosity that we extend can be the beginning of someone’s gratefulness to be alive.
There is no doubt that 2022 will have its share of bad days. Life is full of challenges, but we can learn to view them as opportunities instead. When we see them as chances to help ourselves and ease other people’s burdens, then we can be thankful for the skills that we have.
We can be grateful for the possibilities that are present in an unbelievable time in history. And we can be thankful to be alive at a time when life seems to be too short.
And when the days seem too long and time seems to become an illusion, always return to the concept of gratitude. Be thankful that you are present here today. Be grateful that your energy lets other people experience life more. Be grateful that you are able to have plans. Be grateful that you have reasons to be thankful for.
When you see a chance for you to help out, do not hesitate to do so. Do not wait until it is too late. It is better to be a blessing to others than to become a burden.
Friends, the only way to continue living is to begin with the power of gratitude. Be grateful for yourself. Be grateful that you showed up today. Be grateful that you can read this. Now, go ahead and be a blessing to others today. You will thank me later.
𝘚𝘢𝘮𝘢𝘯𝘵𝘩𝘢 𝘎𝘢𝘪𝘭 𝘉. 𝘓𝘶𝘤𝘢𝘴 𝘩𝘢𝘴 𝘣𝘦𝘦𝘯 𝘣𝘭𝘰𝘨𝘨𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘰𝘯 𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘸𝘦𝘣𝘴𝘪𝘵𝘦, s𝘱𝘦𝘢𝘬𝘰𝘶𝘵𝘴𝘢𝘮.𝘤𝘰𝘮, 𝘴𝘪𝘯𝘤𝘦 𝘔𝘢𝘺 2017 𝘸𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘴𝘩𝘦 𝘳𝘦𝘨𝘶𝘭𝘢𝘳𝘭𝘺 𝘴𝘩𝘢𝘳𝘦𝘴 𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘧𝘢𝘷𝘰𝘳𝘪𝘵𝘦 𝘭𝘰𝘤𝘢𝘭 𝘧𝘪𝘯𝘥𝘴, 𝘧𝘰𝘰𝘥𝘪𝘦 𝘢𝘥𝘷𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘶𝘳𝘦𝘴, 𝘤𝘩𝘢𝘳𝘪𝘵𝘢𝘣𝘭𝘦 𝘢𝘥𝘷𝘰𝘤𝘢𝘤𝘪𝘦𝘴, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘮𝘦𝘥𝘪𝘢 𝘱𝘢𝘳𝘵𝘯𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘩𝘪𝘱𝘴. 𝘏𝘦𝘳 𝘧𝘪𝘳𝘴𝘵 𝘣𝘰𝘰𝘬, 𝘚𝘱𝘦𝘢𝘬 𝘉𝘭𝘰𝘨 𝘓𝘪𝘷𝘦, 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘱𝘶𝘣𝘭𝘪𝘴𝘩𝘦𝘥 𝘪𝘯 𝘖𝘤𝘵𝘰𝘣𝘦𝘳 2021, 𝘸𝘩𝘪𝘭𝘦 𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘴𝘦𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘥 𝘣𝘰𝘰𝘬, 𝘚𝘱𝘦𝘢𝘬 𝘞𝘳𝘪𝘵𝘦 𝘓𝘪𝘷𝘦, 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘳𝘦𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘴𝘦𝘥 𝘪𝘯 𝘋𝘦𝘤𝘦𝘮𝘣𝘦𝘳 2021.
Quielle Non Tarnish Jewelry
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NomCom
Just finished reading @romanceclassbooks NomCom Tropetastic Kindness Bundle 2! It is a collection of romance short stories written by Filipinos, for Filipino readers! All proceeds will go to @forourfarmers 🥗 Order now from @romanceclassbooks! The stories are set in a fictional food park so plus points if you’re a foodie like me!📖 #booksam
Israel’s Borders Open to Everyone, March 1st
Starting today, March 1, 2022, Israel will allow entry to all tourists regardless of whether they have been vaccinated against COVID-19, as decided by Prime Minister Naftali Bennett and Health Minister Nitzan Horowitz, with the involvement of Tourism Minister Yoel Razvozov.
Prime Minister Bennett said, “We are seeing a steady decline in the mortality rates across the world therefore, we see it is time to gradually open tourism.” Under the new guidelines, tourists of all ages, both vaccinated and unvaccinated, will be allowed to enter Israel provided they present a negative RT-PCR test before arriving, and take an RT-PCR test upon landing in Israel. So far, only those vaccinated against COVID-19 are allowed to enter Israel after the country closed its borders to foreigners for the first time in March 2020.
Bennett elaborates stating, “Our indicators must be in sync with the situation on the ground, we must be certain that what we are telling the public is in sync with what is to be expected. In order to maintain public trust and to be sure that the government's guidelines are being implemented, we need to open up when the situation improves - and it is improving significantly."
With the new guidelines being put into effect, it will also be easier for Israeli nationals to enter the country. Like all travellers to Israel, they only have to undergo a RT-PCR test on arrival whereas the antigen test is no longer required prior to departure. Unvaccinated locals will no longer have to be quarantined if the RT-PCR test at Ben-Gurion International Airport comes back negative.
Regarding the situation in the country, Bennett emphasizes, “At the moment, the situation in Israel is good, which is the direct result of correct and dynamic management. Though Israel is opening to tourism, we will continue to monitor the situation closely and, in the event of a new variant, we will act quickly again."
Sammy Yahia, Israel’s Director of Tourism to India and Philippines, is thrilled with the new guidelines stating, "This is the news we have been waiting for since the first wave of the pandemic brough the world to a standstill two years ago. We are confident that visitor numbers will gradually recover to pre-pandemic numbers as consumer confidence grows in line with the gradual easing of restrictions. Our first, and most important priority is the safety and wellbeing of all those who wish to travel to Israel, and starting next week, I look forward to welcoming Indian tourists back to my beautiful country.”
About Israel:
Whether road trips, city trips, swimming, wellness, active and cultural trips, rental car tours or family vacations, the Israeli State Tourist Office provides information about the various regions, cities, and sights in the Holy Land. Located in the eastern Mediterranean, Israel is no more than a seven-hour flight from India. The country offers a sunny climate, a wide variety of historical, archaeological, and religious sites, including houses several UNESCO World Heritage sites across the country, displaying an intriguing contrast between the ancient and modern periods.
Experience the dynamic vibe of Israel.
For information about the different tourism offerings, visit www.goisrael.com
For the most up to date information on the guidelines and requirements for entering Israel, visit https://israelsafe.com
Source: ISRAEL MINISTRY OF TOURISM Philippine Office
Mezzaluna drops Bond-inspired song “I Beg”
Sony Music's OFFMUTE artist, Mezzaluna, is back with her second single, “I Beg.”
Following the success of her debut single, “In Situ,” the 20-year-old Indonesian singer-songwriter offers us another peek into her personal life with her signature storytelling style.
"I wrote this song based on a personal experience that I went through back in high school,” the alt-pop artist shares. “I was really in my feelings and made this song in about 10 minutes. The song was initially really short, but the bridge came along later, and I'm really proud of how it turned out."
The ballad dives quickly into Mezzaluna's sultry vocal delivery of disappointment and hopelessness. The dark piano melody builds through the chorus as she turns to desperation for answers, and as the second verse drops, a sense of strength rings true. "I told you I'm the one who stood there by your side, that's why I beg."
The strings come in as the piano arpeggios intensify and Mezzaluna longs for the truth she knows deserves. The bridge follows in a freefall of acceptance of the unknown and the uncontrolled as she transforms the darkness into hope.
"I had the intention to create an arrangement worthy of a James Bond theme song,” says the Indonesian newcomer. “So my biggest inspiration for this track was Adele's 'Skyfall' and Sam Smith's 'Writing's on the Wall'. I think this theme matches my image and vocal range the most."
“I Beg” marks Mezzaluna's second collaboration with Indonesian industry veterans, producer Gio Wibowo and creative director Deby Sucha. Wibowo, who had previously worked with her on 'In Situ', gathered a team to work on 'I Beg' this time round. The accompanying music video was left in Sucha's capable hands, having previously directed Mezzaluna's first music video.
Mezzaluna shares, "I worked with Deby Sucha again for the music video and this time, I surrendered everything to her because I trusted her work on my previous video. She came up with the brilliant idea of giving the music video the karaoke treatment and it was amazing. Although it’s not my usual aesthetic, it was great to step out of my comfort zone and try something new."
“I Beg” is available on all digital streaming platforms from 25th February 2022 via OFFMUTE.
FOLLOW MEZZALUNA ON SOCIAL
Facebook
YouTube
Source: Nyou
Kapetolyo by SGD
Are You Ready For TECNO Mobile’s Amazing Payday Deals?
Exciting new deals are coming to TECNO Mobile’s Official Lazada and Shopee stores, including discounts on the all-new POVA 5G smartphone!
MANILA, PHILIPPINES/ 26 FEBRUARY 2022 – Enjoy your upcoming payday even more with all the promos and discounts that TECNO Mobile has in store! The premium smartphone brand is treating shoppers to amazing deals and discounts in back to back payday and 3.3 sales happening in the TECNO Mobile Flagship Store in Lazada and the TECNO Mobile PH Official Store in Shopee Mall. Buyers in Lazada can also look forward to special bundles on the all-new POVA 5G smartphone.
TECNO Mobile stays true to its commitment to deliver innovative, high-performing smartphones to emerging markets through these awesome deals, which suit both the needs and budgets of its consumers. The brand strives to enable every Filipino to experience advanced mobile phone technologies that help them become unstoppable in their pursuit of excellence, truly making TECNO Mobile the premium smartphone brand for all.
The All-New POVA 5G
POVA 5G is packed with premium applications and functions, bringing your A-game to the next level. Its 6000mAh battery is capable of up to 32 days of standby time, 55 hours of call time, and 183 hours of music playback. This massive battery is fast-charging, too, topping up to 50% battery life in only 33 minutes.
This smartphone is fitted with a super-fast 5G Dimensity 900 processor, 8+3GB RAM, 6.95-inch Full HD+ display and a 120Hz refresh rate that ensures fast, smooth and short loading times. POVA 5G also puts pro-quality photo and video capabilities into consumers’ hands with its 50MP quad cameras and fantastic video shoot modes, including 4K time-lapse, 960FPS slow motion, video stabilization and bokeh.
Loads of Offers Coming to Lazada
Buy a POVA 5G at the special discounted price of Php 12,860, from its regular price of Php 12,990 during the Sulit Sweldo Sale at the TECNO Mobile Flagship Store in Lazada from February 26 to 28, 2022. The first 129 to check out will receive a free Gamepad and DITO Sim with their purchase.
Special bundles featuring the all-new POVA 5G smartphone and TECNO AIoT devices will be available in Lazada from February 26 to 28 as well. Get a POVA 5G with TECNO Buds 1 for only Php 12,899 or a POVA 5G plus TECNO Buds 2 for just PHP 12,699. Also enjoy a buy 1 take 1 deal on TECNO Buds 1 for Php 1,899, and buy 1 take 1 TECNO Buds 2 for Php 1,499.
Also on February 26 to March 7, TECNO Mobile’s Movie Master CAMON 18 will be offered at the special price of Php 8,599, from its regular price of Php 9,499, and will include a free gamepad and DITO Sim with every purchase. A special CAMON 18 plus TECNO Buds 2 bundle will also be offered from March 3 to 7, priced at only Php 9,399.
Score These Stellar Deals in Shopee
Visit the TECNO Mobile PH Official Store in Shopee Mall from February 26 to March 4, 2022 and get your CAMON 18 Premier at only Php 14,990, from its regular price of Php 15,990; CAMON 18P at the promo price of Php 10,490, from the regular price of Php 10,990; and CAMON 18 at just Php 8,999 from its regular price of Php 9,499.
Also check out these stellar CAMON 18 and TECNO AIoT Bundles from February 26 to March 4 - CAMON 18 Premier plus TECNO Buds 1 at Php 15,989, CAMON 18 Premier with TECNO Watch 1 for Phop 16,489, CAMON 18P and TECNO Buds 2 priced at Php 11,289, and CAMON 18P bundled with TECNO Watch 1 for only Php 11,989.
Don’t miss the special offer on TECNO Mobile’s Spark 7T in Lazada from February 26 to March 4. Score this smartphone for Php 5,999, discounted from its original price of Php 6,499 during the sale.
TECNO Mobile will also be offering special bundles and discounts on its other smartphones and AIoT products in both the Lazada and Shopee Official Stores, including deals on the POVA 2, POP 5 LTE, POP 5 3G, TECNO Buds 1 and 2, TECNO Prime P1, USB Charger, P101X Power Bank, and TECNO Watch 1.
Treat yourself to something amazing this payday at the TECNO Mobile Flagship Store in Lazada and the TECNO Mobile PH Official Store in Shopee Mall. Stay updated on all the latest promos when you like and follow TECNO Mobile Philippines on Facebook. Visit www.tecno-mobile.com/ph to learn more about your favorite TECNO Mobile smartphones and gadgets.
Source: TECNO Philippines
The Met
I watched a film at The Met and I still can’t get over how beautiful the place is.
Filipino winner to join Tel Aviv Marathon
The first Israeli marathon to be held under the official mark of the World Athletics Association
Runners from over 40 different countries have already registered for the 2022 Samsung Tel Aviv Marathon,Israel’s leading sporting event, which finally returns to its previous form, in the heart of the city of Tel Aviv on Friday, February 25, 2022. The Samsung Tel Aviv Marathon will be held for the first time under the official mark of the World Athletics Association, thus becoming the first Israeli marathon in history to hold this license, joining the list of the largest and leading marathons of the world.
Following on from last year’s digital marathon competition, the city of Tel Aviv-Yafo with the support of the Israel Ministry of Tourism and Kapaim are proud to host the winner Jervis Johns Salvador, from Manila, the Philippines. Jervis will be treated to an all-expenses paid trip to Tel Aviv, where he will run his first ever full marathon (42.195km) and discover the best sites of the city. Tel Aviv cannot wait to host him and wishes him the best of luck with the marathon!
“When I won the Tel Aviv Marathon contest last year, I was thrilled and ecstatic to know that my dream of going to Israel is coming true. I am grateful to the Almighty for blessing me the opportunity of running my first 42K-kilometer race in Tel Aviv, the biggest running event in Israel. I thank everyone behind the Tel Aviv Marathon and Israel’s Ministry of Tourism for creating a unique way of getting people together despite the difficulties of lockdowns and pandemic restrictions. Israel is always close to the heart of the Filipinos; that is why I am happy to be representing my country Philippines, in this marathon event.” Jervis Salvador, Tel Aviv Marathon Winner.
The event of the Tel Aviv-Yafo Municipality and produced by Kapaim, will respect health guidelines and regulations imposed by the Ministry of Health and will follow the Green Pass. The event is expected to attract tens of thousands of runners who will be taking part in one of the five spectacular urban marathons - Full Marathon (42.195 km), Half marathon (21 km), 10 km race, 5 km race and a mini marathon that will take place on February 23rd at the Ganei Yehoshua park, which will include an end track for children with disabilities and their families (500meters and 1 km).
The starting point (for all tracks) will be located on Rokach Boulevard between Ganei Yehoshua Park and the fairgrounds, from where the runners will continue to the tracks marked by colors that will differentiate between them and pass through the main sites of the city of Tel Aviv. Along the route, runners will pass through the scenic routes of Tel Aviv, including the Rothschild Boulevard, the Tel Aviv port and beaches, GaneiYehoshua Park, Dizengoff Street, Rabin Square, Hayarkon Street, Ibn Gabirol Street, Old Jaffa and Jaffa Port. The Samsung Tel Aviv Marathon is one of the only marathons in the world that includes ten kilometers of its route along sandy beaches.
“In 2021, we had thousands of runners from all over the world participate in the Tel Aviv Samsung Marathon from their home countries. The winner of the 2021 marathon, Jervis Johns Salvador from Manila, the Philippines, is going to Tel Aviv to participate in this year’s event and, may be, even win again! 2 years ago, there were over 40,000 runners from all over the world who came to Israel and ran through the city for the Tel Aviv Samsung Marathon. That was one of the last major public events that Israel hosted before the pandemic brought the world to a stop. The Tel Aviv Samsung Marathon returning to normal is a positive sign for us, not only for the reopening of skies to Israel, but also a huge push for the tourism industry as well.” Sammy Yahia, Israel Ministry of Tourism Director for India and the Philippines.
Source: ISRAEL MINISTRY OF TOURISM Philippine Office
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Quielle Choker
This choker was my first purchase from @quielle_ back in 2018! It still looks good as new even if I shower and workout with it. They use premium stainless steel so you can be assured that their jewelry is hypoallergenic and meant to last. Their locally-made bling is really nice! Use my promo code QUIELSAM for a 5% discount for a minimum Php500 purchase. Shop here. 🛍 #shopeeambassador #shopeesambassador #shopeeambassadorph #shopaholicsam
Israel Shares Best Practices in Cyber Protection of the Financial Sector
The Embassy of Israel in Manila and the Israel Economic & Commercial Mission to the Philippines, in cooperation with the Bankers Association of the Philippines (BAP), hosted a virtual event last February 16, 2022 focusing on cybersecurity entitled “Optimizing Cyber Protection of the Financial Sector: Best Practices from Israel.” The program was divided into two parts: introducing the unique model of protecting financial institutions in Israel, and pitching of Israeli leading companies with innovative cybersecurity technologies and solutions for the financial sector.
Israel shares best practices in cyber protection of the financial sectorwith the
Bankers Association of the Philippines
Mr. Tomer Heyvi, Economic Counsellor and Head of the Mission shared that the purpose of this event is to share the Israeli expertise and technologies in the cybersecurity field in light of the growing challenges and threats that financial institutions around the world, including Philippines, are facing these days.
In his opening remarks, Israeli Ambassador to the Philippines H.E. Mr. Ilan Fluss shared, “My vision for the future of relations between Israel and the Philippines is to see growth in cooperation in innovation and technologies especially in these critical and sensitive areas. Israel has proven itself as a reliable and solid partner of the Philippines,therefore, I believe we should see more partnerships in the cybersecurity area.”
In the first session of the program, Governor Benjamin Diokno of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas shared his insights on Philippines Cybersecurity ecosystem and challenges in the financial sector. In his speech, Governor Diokno mentioned some key areas for collaboration such as threat intelligence platform and setting up a national CERT, given the industrywide initiatives in the Philippines and the maturity and sophistications of Israel in terms of cybersecurity controls and management. “I hope this session will strengthen ties and cooperation between Israel and the Philippines so that our respective financial services sectors remain safe, innovative and resilient in the digital economy,” he added.
Additionally, Mr. Jose Arnulfo A. Veloso, President of the BAP, highlighted in his remarks that cybersecurity remains to be a top priority of the association. He shared a number of advocacies of the BAP to promote and intensify its cybersecurity framework in the Philippine banking and financial services sector. “Together with the partnership of the guests in this forum, we can take them [cyberthreats] head on,” President Veloso noted.
On the other hand, Mr. Doron Liberman, Director of International Cooperation Development in the Israel National Cyber Directorate (INCD), in his remarks shared the Israeli national approach and strategy to the cybersecurity ecosystem as a whole in the civilian sphere. “The INCD looks at its constituencies in different layers: critical infrastructure, sectoral and general public,” he said. Mr. Liberman further shared that the INCD is a national agency that provides national intelligence and active defense tools and methodologies, and awareness events where their assistance is needed.
Ms. Rahav Shalom-Revivo, Head of Financial-Cyber Innovation and International Engagements from the Israel Ministry of Finance, shared the multinational financial cyber simulation that the Ministry executed with countries that Israel has financial cyber relations with. In that simulation, she highlighted that international collaboration is key and that there must be synchronization between finance and cyber decision makers. She added, “The collaborative understanding that only together we can overcome such dramatic attacks that at some point in time will happen in the future.”
A study case highlighting the power of collaboration was shared by Ms. Eden Cohen, Security Head of Security Operation Center of Bank Hapoalim, the largest commercial bank in Israel. In her presentation, she shared that in the last three years, there has been a significant rise in organized cyber crimes towards financial organizations by new and advanced tactics to penetrate the digital world. With this, she highlighted that the best way to handle the new generation-attackers is by collaboration as a necessity to protect ourselves and our customers. She added that collaboration between people, businesses, technology, intelligence, and enforcements is a key factor to be able to face cyber-attacks in a quick and thorough way.
The discussion was followed by a pitching session of 4 companies offering cybersecurity technologies: Semperis: “Protecting your Active Directory, the keys to your Kingdom”; Trustpeers: “Turn Chaos into a Controlled Event with the TrustPeers Cyber Crisis Management SaaS platform”; Cybowall: “AI Powered Cybersecurity”; and CYE: “Continuous Cyber Risk Visibility – Cyber Risk Quantification – Cyber Exposure Optimization.”
Mr. Benjamin Castillo, Managing Director of the BAP, shared in his closing remarks that the power of collaboration is very important in cybersecurity. He mentioned continuing discussions with INCD and the Israel Ministry of Finance as the BAP continues to explore its options in building a national CERT.
Israel is one of the leaders in cybersecurity expertise around the globe, and it has about 40% of the global cybersecurity investments. Israeli’s cybersecurity industry continued to grow in 2021 with a record of USD 8.8 billion in investments in 131 funding rounds – this was tripled compared to 2020 at USD 2.9 billion. Further, 33% of the Cybersecurity unicorns in the world are Israeli.
Source: Embassy of Israel Manila
HEPA Filtration System against viruses in place at The Manila Hotel
As The Manila Hotel’s famed Café Ilang-Ilang and the romantic Champagne Room reopened on January 28 and February 2, 2022, respectively. The hotel chose to suspend dining operations and do general maintenance when the holiday festivities died down to ensure food quality and guest safety, as well as do spot-checks on its facilities.
Café Ilang-Ilang is still one of the best eat-all-you can restaurants in the country where diners can indulge in a wide range of food selections for lunch and dinner daily. This brings together Italian, Filipino, Chinese, Japanese, Korean, and even certified Halal dishes under one roof for an indulgent eat-all-you-can feast featuring crowd favorites like the US Beef Rib Roast; items from the Churrasco station; seafood like prawns and crabs; a glorious spread of different sushi and sashimi; Filipino favorites like Lechon with truffle rice; an array of desserts including bibingka, puto bumbong, and halo-halo; and many more.
Meanwhile, Manila’s premier destination for exquisite fine dining serves up lunch and dinner from Wednesday to Saturday, with choices from la carte items and special multi-course degustation menus—conceived by the hotel’s Executive Chef to showcase what this dining outlet is all about. Think generous servings of Black Angus Tenderloin, US Prime Beef Rib, the Chilean Sea Bass, or the satisfying Seafood Medley; there are also choices of starters; and for dessert, don’t miss out on the indulgent sweet delight—its signature Baked Alaska. The most romantic room in the country marks the return of its fine dining just in time for Valentine month.
#YouAreSafeHere will always be a commitment
As the hotel continues to accept staycation guests, social events in various function rooms, and with dining outlets reopening, it will be much safer for guests to visit and dine in the outlets as the historic hotel takes a technology-driven solution to create a safer environment for guests by installing several innovative High Efficiency Particulate Air (HEPA) UV-Care Clean air purifying filtration system units in different high-traffic areas.
The UV Care Air Purifier with Humidifier with 8-Stage Filtration System is proven to kill 99.97% SARS-CoV2* and is a timely response to the surge of the COVID-19 Delta and Omicron variants in the country (*tested by MRI Global USA, according to UV-Care website). According to its manufacturers, the more advanced, medical-grade H14 HEPA filter has VIRUX® patented technology with a built-in activated carbon and photocatalyst filters that, along with UV LED lamp, is proven to effectively eliminate bacteria, germs, viruses, and pathogens. Their product information also states that these air filtration units are efficient in capturing and removing airborne particulates such as PM 2.5 and other allergens, dust, mold, and pollution from the air, and provides Ultraviolet-C sanitization to disinfect the air and kill germs. When used along with the best practices recommended by the IATF, DOH and DOT, it could be an effective indoor protection for both guests and staff.
The Manila Hotel welcomes dining and staycation guests with further assurance that “YOU ARE SAFE HERE”—because it isn’t just a tagline for us, but a commitment we uphold. For air quality, the hotel also installed heavy-duty York Solution Mobile HEPA Air-Handling Units in wider areas like the Grand Lobby.
Aside from dining options, staycation and leisure stays are now at guest-friendly rates from only P6,000 nett. For more information on room and restaurant rates and reservations, guests may call the trunkline 85270011 or 09989501912. They can also book rooms by emailing resvn@themanilahotel.com, and make dining reservations via restaurantrsvn@themanilahotel.com.
Source: The Manila Hotel
My First International Book Deal
My book, I Helped Myself, was recently accepted for publishing by international publishing house Ukiyoto. I am very proud of my hard work! This means that this title will soon be available worldwide both in print and ebook forms. Finally, my friends outside of the Philippines can read a full-length book of mine 🥺 Please support me when this comes out! And also, please continue buying my first two books Speak Blog Live and Speak Write Live here. ✨ NEVER GIVE UP ON YOUR DREAMS!!!
101 Essays That Will Change The Way You Think
This book! 💯 If your goal is to read more books this year but you’re struggling with finishing one, then begin with this! It is by @briannawiest, a Thought Catalog author who serves insights on personal growth, development, and change. You can read it in one go, like I did, or read an essay a day. Before you know it, you have already finished a substantial book. 📖 Buy it here. #shopeeambassador #shopeesambassador #shopeeambassadorph #shopaholicsam
Tiffany Circle Choco
Craving for chocolate milkshake but on a healthy diet? Give @tiffanycircleph chocolate drink a try! It has fiber and chia seeds BUT IT’S STILL YUMMY! Order here. 🍫 #tiffanyhabit
Karga Script Bag
Using my script bag from @kargastoreph! As an author, I NEED STUFF LIKE THIS. 🥺 It is a smartly designed bag 💼 which can hold a laptop, tablet, or e-reader in a separate pocket. My favorite feature is the tumbler holder! And I like how minimalist it is. Order from @kargastoreph 🖤 #supportsmallbusiness
