LAS ISLAS MUSIC FESTIVAL - Set to bring Pinoy Music and Talents all over the Philippine Islands

Music fans all over the Philippines, rejoice ! The widest Pinoy Music Festival  launches this Oct. 2019. LAS ISLAS MUSIC FESTIVAL aims to reach out and bring Pinoy Music and Talents all over the country, one island at a time. With more than 7,000 islands in the Philippines, each of them having their own fiestas all year round will surely have something new and exciting in bringing fun and entertainment with LAS ISLAS MUSIC FESTIVAL. This festival aims to support OPM artists, OPM songs, and local artists in the islands by bringing them unforgettable live music experiences.

The first leg of the festival is a Visayas Islands tour happening on Oct. 25, 26, & 27 in Bacolod, Iloilo, and Aklan. An exciting mix of OPM artists will be performing original hits and amazing covers.

Heading the list is R&B singer-songwriter Daryl Ong, who recently held a sold-out concert at the Resorts World Manila. From The Voice of the Philippines (Season 2), Daryl is enjoying success as a R&B crooner. Joining him is a finalist of World of Dance Philippines, Ken San Jose. He has just released his new single Lose Control.

Claudia Barretto, daughter of Dennis Padilla and Marjorie Barretto is also joining this tour, bringing her captivating sultry voice. Jade Riccio, an Aliw Awardee for Best Classical Performer who is set to release her first solo album this year, is also part of this leg. 1NEBAZE consisting of siblings Haidez, Sor, Joong, & Baby G, a new Star Music contract band with a distinct sound is also joining the festival.

Alternative artist Sam Mangubat is part of the Bacolod and Aklan shows, while Pop, R&B, and reggaetón performer Bugoy Drilon will be in the Iloilo show.

LAS ISLAS MUSIC FESTIVAL 2019 is happening on the following dates and venues :

Oct. 25 Bacolod Panaad Stadium
Oct. 26 Iloilo Sports Complex
Oct. 27 Aklan Sports Complex
All shows start at 6pm.

This is just the beginning. From 2019 onwards, LAS ISLAS MUSIC FESTIVAL will bring more Filipino artists across the islands and possibly some foreign artists who share the same love of music. 6SK Entertainment, together with the local governments made this event possible.

Disney recently launched its first-ever “Mickey Go Local” Animated Shorts

Today, at 1:oo PM, Episode 3: Georgetown Chase is set to go live. This is the third episode in the 6-part “Mickey Go Local” animated shorts, which features the beloved Mickey, Minnie, Donald, Daisy, and Goofy exploring Singapore and Malaysia’s food, traditional wear, and iconic architecture.

Here's the link to the video :

https://youtu.be/w5gbSPucrpY

Mickey is being a great instaboyfriend capturing the beautiful pictures of Minnie. Can he rise up to the task of being the perfect boyfriend when her favourite hat flies away? And all Donald wants is someone to take a trishaw ride. Maybe it’ll have to be Goofy?
Stay tuned for the next episode of Mickey Go Local animated shorts, coming to you next month!
Check out more Disney Channel games and shows ► http://www.disneychannel.asia/

Things to look forward to at SM Cinema this Halloween

(Press Release)
The ber months signify the start of the holidays and SM Cinema is kicking off the festive season with Halloween spooks! As the season for creepy décor and trick-or-treating ushers in, SM Cinema brews up spine-tingling activities for movie lovers. From film festivals, concert movies and installations that take moviegoers into the world of villains, here are some of the frightfully awesome things that SM Cinema moviegoers can look forward to this October!

Maleficent: Mistress of Evil Installation – October 8
SM Cinema continues to make efforts to incorporate inclusivity in their reel to real promise. With the arrival Maleficent 2: Mistress of Evil, SM Cinema is putting up an interactive exhibit at S’Maison on October 8-Oct 16 and SM Southmall on Oct 17-23. The installation will use Braille to allow all children to enjoy the movie experience, including the visually impaired. Maleficent 2: Mistress of Evil will be showing in SM Cinema theatres starting October 16.

Sine Sindak 2 – October 23 to 29
SM Cinema’s Sine Sindak Horror Film Festival is back on its second run with four movie titles—Only Mom, Hex, Look Away and Door Lock--that are sure to scare the bones out of moviegoers! To add more excitement and fun, SM Cinema will also be giving special prizes to moviegoers who will come in their best Halloween costume.

Joker – October 2
This unique and gritty take on the iconic DC Comics villain, was met with glowing reviews and wide critical acclaim following its premier at the Venice Film Festival, setting the bar high for moviegoers and fans of the character. The movie follows Arthur Fleck a.k.a. The Joker, a failed stand-up comedian and a man disregarded by society who turns to a life of instilling chaos in Gotham City. SM Cinema will hold the advance screening of Joker on Sept 30 at IMAX Sm Aura Premier.

Zombieland 2: Double Tap – October 23
Finally, the star-studded Zombieland 2: Double Tap is on its way to SM Cinema for more zombie-killing action! The Zombieland sequel follows the makeshift family composed Tallahassee, Columbus, Wichita and Little Rock are faced with more evolved zombies, fellow survivors, and the growing pains that come with their little dysfunctional family. The advance screening of Zombieland will be hosted by SM Cinema at Megamall on Oct 21.

Concert Movies and Local Flicks

For those who would want to kick off the holidays fright-free, SM Cinema is exclusively offering at select branches one night-only concert films--Shakira on Oct 9 and Metallica with San Francisco Symphony 2 on Nov. 16.

For die-hard fans of Pinoy kilig flicks, SM Cinema is hosting the red carpet premieres of Isa Pa With Feelings starring Maine Mendoza and Carlo Aquino on Oct 15 and Unforgettable starring Sarah Geronimo on Oct 21. Fans can get a glimpse of their favorite stars at the red carpet events which will both be at SM Megamall. Isa Pa with Feelings opens on Oct 16. Unforgettable will be shown beginning Oct. 23.

Book your tickets through the website, www.smcinema.com or download the SM Cinema mobile app.  You may also follow /SMCinema on Facebook and @SM_Cinema on Instagram for updates! Satisfy your cavings at Snack Time, the official food concessionaire of SM Cinema, which offers a wide array of snack like popcorn, hotdogs and burgers to complement your movie watching experience. Follow /SnackTimeOfficial on Facebook for more information.

FROZEN 2's official new trailer is here !

Walt Disney Animation Studios’ “Frozen 2” revealed a new trailer this morning that journeys into the enchanted forest, revealing more of Anna & Elsa’s adventure in the highly anticipated feature film – in U.S theatres Nov. 22, 2019 (showing in the Philippines on November 20, 2019).

TRAILER LINK: https://youtu.be/bwzLiQZDw2I


The trailer and images introduce the following characters and voice cast:

KING AGNARR – The son of King Runeard, King Agnarr is married to Queen Iduna, and is Anna and Elsa’s father. King Agnarr loves his family, and would do anything to ensure his daughters’ wellbeing and safety. Alfred Molina lends his voice to King Agnarr.
YELANA - The unspoken leader of the nomadic Northuldra. She is fiercely protective of her family and community but is known to soften when people show an understanding of nature and their environment. Martha Plimpton was called on to bring Yelana to life.

HONEYMAREN - A member of the Northuldra, Honeymaren is a true free spirit and wants nothing more than to bring peace to the enchanted forest. She is bold and brave, with a reverence for the magic of nature. Rachel Matthews provides the voice of Honeymaren.
RYDER - Eager and fun, Honeymaren's brother Ryder embraces life with optimism. Ryder's love of reindeer might just rival Kristoff's - but unlike Kristoff, Ryder has never roamed the great plains outside of the Enchanted Forest. He longs to embrace the world and venture beyond the magical mist. Jason Ritter lends his voice to Ryder.
BRUNI - Curious and cute, this salamander inhabits the Enchanted Forest. Though shy at first, Bruni can't help but be drawn to Elsa's icy magic and enjoys the cool snowflake treats she creates.

JASMINE HENRY - A Talented Artist To Watch Out For !

A lot has been going on in Jasmine Henry's life. The 15 year-old Filipino-Australian singer-songwriter, model-host-actress, who was born and raised in Sydney, Australia, has released her first single "Mahal Ko Ang Aking Pangarap" last July 2019 on digital formats. The song is composed by her manager-songwriter Annabelle Regalado-Borja, who is now based in Australia, in collaboration with Sherwin Castillo, and produced by Marcus Davies. The song and music video were launched in Sydney last July, followed by radio airplays and video streamings. Those who have listened to the song were inspired to live their dreams. 

Now Jasmine is back in the Philippines to pursue more of her dream projects. Last week, her second single "Playing with Fire" was lauched with the entertainment press. This was composed by Jasmine herself, arranged and produced by Jimmy Antiporda, released under E-Talent International Music Australia, & distributed by MCA Universal Music. The music video, which was directed by King Abalos, will soon be released thru VEVO.

At the launch, the press were amazed by Jasmine's talent and beauty. They loved her instantly ! She also answered their questions very well. At only 15, she's very adept in handling questions and comments. Though her looks are more Caucasian, (some say she looks like a young Kirsten Dunst), she strikes you as someone who's nice, humble, and very likeable - traits common to Filipinos. You would know that she was raised very well by her parents. Her mom, Ms. Pinpin Montemayor was around during the launch. 

Jasmine will be very busy these coming months. On Oct. 19, 2019, she's part of "Sub2Sub Meets Bacolod" at St. LaSalle Coliseum, Bacolod City together with some of the most-followed vloggers and YouTubers in the country. On Oct. 22, 2019, Jasmine will walk the runway in Rosa Mystica Fashion Week at Crowne Plaza Hotel, wearing the creations of Filipino celebrity avant-garde designer Rocky Gathercole, who had designed outfits for Britney Spears, Paris Hilton, and Nicki Minaj. 

On Nov. 22, 2019, Jasmine will take center stage for her first solo major concert "This Is My Dream" at the Skydome, SM North EDSA at 8pm. Produced by Laurie Heath, line-produced in Manila by Live Artists Productions. While on Nov. 29, 2019, Jasmine will go back down under for her homecoming concert "This Is Our Dream" at the Cabravale Club in Sydney, Australia with special guests Makisig Morales and Sophie Dalisay. Produced by E-Talent International, in collaboration with Lava Entertainment. A special limited Jasmine Henry Music USB will be available on her music tour.

Many exciting things await Jasmine and her supporters. As Jasmine confidently says : "I will never stop dreaming, and I will continue sharing my God-given talents in the best way I can." Jasmine Henry - definitely a talented artist to watch out for !

For Jasmine Henry bookings and inquiries, please email Ms. Annabelle Borja of E-Talent International.
etalentinternational@gmail.com

Plastic ACTion: Businesses tackle plastic pollution with WWF-Philippines

(Media Release)
The World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) Philippines is tapping businesses to tackle plastic pollution and stop the flow of plastic waste into nature.

As part of the first anniversary of WWF-Philippines’ #AyokoNgPlastik movement and the recent launch of its ‘No Plastics In Nature’ initiative, the conservation organization now introduces Plastic ACTion (PACT) for businesses.

At least 20 businesses came on board the movement on its first year and have since worked to significantly reduce their usage of single-use plastics. In the hopes of maximizing the efforts of these companies, WWF aims to encourage them to join PACT, a voluntary business initiative to eliminate plastic pollution in nature.

In a launch event held at the Discovery Suites Manila on September 18, 2019, businesses that have taken part in the sustainable journey movement were recognized as they transitioned into PACT. Each company reported their measurable impact in terms of the amount of plastic units that they were able to prevent from becoming trash.

“We all have a role to play in finding a solution to this plastics issue – and this includes businesses. We’re very grateful that these companies chose to take on the challenge of putting an end to plastic pollution and supporting our goal, which is to prevent plastic waste from leaking into nature,” shared WWF-Philippines President and CEO Joel Palma.

A total of nine businesses were awarded for taking first monumental steps towards plastic reduction. These businesses include Bellevue Hotel and Resorts, LIND Boracay, CIBO, The Moment Group, Toby’s Estate, Shakey’s Philippines, foodpanda, Corkcicle, and Fairways and Bluewater.

Bellevue Hotel and Resorts served their complimentary water in glass bottles and stopped serving plastic straws, resulting in the annual elimination of 668,120 plastic bottles and 246,084 plastic straws. LIND Boracay also made the switch to water served in glass bottles, thus preventing 65,480 plastic bottles from becoming trash.

CIBO opted to go with reusable straws, which removed 310,361 plastic straws for the first year. The Moment Group also refused to serve single-use leading to the elimination of 114,691 plastic straws and 53,700 plastic cutlery in one year. Removal of straws was also the focus of Toby’s Estate, eliminating 144,000 plastic straws in a year’s time.

One of the top consumer companies, Shakey’s Philippines has also pledged to reduce and eventually eliminate plastic straws and containers, which could lead to the yearly reduction of 1,791,600 plastic straws and 1,837,700 plastic containers. Online food delivery marketplace foodpanda gave their customers the option to opt out of plastic cutlery, removing in one year 34,633 pairs of cutlery.

Tumbler brand Corkcicle also promoted the use of reusable drinking bottles, thus eliminating 1,267,450 plastic bottles per annum. Lastly, Fairways and Bluewater also committed to reduce 1.2 million units of plastic annually by ditching plastic bottles and toiletry containers.

“We really hope that more businesses adopt circular solutions in their operations. Companies contribute to the production, consumption, and disposal of plastics globally which is why it is essential that they also take accountability for this. So far, our partners have been receptive of this and we are thankful to have their support,” said Czarina Constantino, WWF-Philippines’ No Plastics In Nature Initiative Project Manager.

Through PACT, WWF hopes to bring up industry standards of material use by providing advice and assistance to different companies and enable them to make decisions on how they can best adjust their operations while contributing to protecting the environment from unnecessary plastic waste.

To know more about the various WWF initiatives on plastic pollution, visit www.ayokongplastik.org or follow /WWF.Philippines on Facebook. To engage in conversations on plastics, join facebook.com/groups/ayokongplastik.

#WWF  #WWFPH  #PACT
#AyokoNgPlastik

BRIGADA PAGBASA - World Vision, together with DepEd, aims to teach every Filipino youth how to read

(Media Release)
In celebration of the National Literacy Month this September and in preparation for November’s National Reading Month, World Vision Development Foundation in partnership with the Department of Education (DepEd) launches Brigada Pagbasa, a movement that seeks to enhance the reading skills of the Filipino children.

The project, an extension of the Brigada Eskwela campaign that promotes community participation in time for school opening, will bring together experts, change makers, policy-makers, and other stakeholders across all sectors from international and local agencies, as well as public and private organizations to spread reading literacy among Filipino children.

To make this happen, World Vision, together with DepEd, is partnering with the National Library of the Philippines, National Book Development Board, and E Net Philippines, and have also tapped TV and radio personality Joyce Pring to be the Ambassador for Brigada Pagbasa.

“Literacy, most especially amongst the children and youth, is one of the key factors that determines how well a country progresses in this rapidly-changing world. We have an unfortunate reality where some Filipinos, both young and old, are still struggling with their literacy skills,” said Mr. Rommel Fuerte, Executive Director of World Vision in the Philippines.

Based on a report by United Nations, the Philippines has the highest literacy rate at 97.95 percent among Southeast Asian countries such as Singapore, Brunei, and Indonesia. The literacy rate is 98.9 percent among females and 97 percent among males aged 15-24.

While the literacy rate showed the country’s improvement from the past years, there is still a staggering number of children in the country who face literacy challenges. The remaining gap reflected in the study above shows that more work must be done to address this pressing issue.

“To become literate is an important component in the development of children, especially at this fast-paced, technology-driven age. Brigada Pagbasa aims to unleash the potential in every child,” said Mr. Rommel Fuerte, Executive Director of World Vision Philippines.

Brigada Pagbasa will fully commence this November at several communities across the Philippines to educate everyone the value of reading.

“This campaign is a life-long commitment for all of us, perhaps, until every child receives an opportunity to be educated and to develop his or her full potential,” Mr. Fuerte added.

About World Vision
World Vision is a global Christian relief, development and advocacy organization dedicated to working with children, families and communities to overcome poverty and injustice. World Vision serves all people, regardless of religion, race, ethnicity, or gender.

#BrigadaPagbasa #WorldVision
#DepEd