After an impressive finish in 2022, HONOR Philippines is starting the year strong. With a new phone coming up, the major smart devices market player stayed true to its promise that they will only GO BEYOND this 2023.

“We are launching our first phone of the year this January and this will be revolutionary. We are introducing a first ever feature in the industry,” teased HONOR Philippines Vice President for Marketing, Stephen Cheng. “Just like what we promised to our HONOR fans, we have a spectacular lineup for the year and this is just the start, a very strong start.”

The new HONOR phone hitting the market caters to the never-ending concern of consumers – durability. Built to last a lifetime, the new device is perfect for cautious trend observers who value quality, those who are curious about technology, and conduct their own research before making a purchase.

 

Mixing with a new breed, Filipina American H.E.R. (an abbreviation of ‘Having Everything Revealed’) is in Manila to celebrate the long Christmas season with her family.

Also known as Gabriella Sarmiento Wilson or Gabi for short, H.E.R. is currently one of the most celebrated and accomplished twentysomething singer-songwriters in the international music industry.

To celebrate her many successes, ABS-CBN Global and MYX hosted an exclusive Mixer Event attended by partners, personalities from the music industry, and the country's leading entertainment press last December 27th at Sheraton Manila Hotel.

ABS-CBN Global Chief Operating Officer Aldrin M. Cerrado also welcomes the opportunity to showcase Filipino talent to the country and the world. “We’re very happy that H.E.R. is in town for the holidays. ABS-CBN Global and MYX are very excited about the projects we will work on together in the coming months,” he says.

The 25-year-old San Francisco Bay Area native daughter of a Filipina American mother and African American father has landed in many headlines recently highlighting new career heights in music and film/TV.

With 25 GRAMMY nominations and 5 wins to date, H.E.R. has had an incredible journey, punctuated with inspiring projects and accolades that have quickly ascended her to superstar status. In 2021, her powerful song “Fight For You” from the Warner Bros. Pictures film Judas and the Black Messiah won the Academy Award for Best Original Song.

H.E.R. was also covered by global media for her groundbreaking role as the beloved character Belle in Disney's reimagined and reinvented part-live action, part-animated "Beauty and the Beast: A 30th Celebration" anniversary special which will be streamed in the Philippines via Disney+ in January 2023.

 

Is it just me, or did you notice it too?

From the two Proclamations released by the Official Gazette of the Malacañang Palace, there's one holiday missing. Not really sure if it was intentionally opted out of the proclamation, but of course, we all know there's a reason why. So, have you figured it out?

Well, if you're always on the look for legal holidays and special non-working days every year (take note that it is only in the Philippines), then I'm guessing that you have seen what is missing already.

So, here's the list of the legal holidays and special non-working days in 2023.

January 1, 2023      - New Year's Day (Sunday)
January 2, 2023      - Special Non-Working Day (Monday)
February 25, 2023  - EDSA People Power Revolution Anniversary
April 6, 2023          - Maundy Thursday
April 7, 2023          - Good Friday
April 8, 2023          - Black Saturday
April 10, 2023        - Araw ng Kagitingan (Monday)
May 1, 2023           - Labor Day (Monday)
June 12, 2023         - Independence Day (Monday)
August 21, 2023     - Ninoy Aquino Death Anniversary (Monday)
August 28, 2023     - National Heroes Day (Last Monday of August)
November 1, 2023  - All Saints' Day (Wednesday)
November 2, 2023  - Special Non-Working Day (Thursday)
November 13, 2023- Eidul Fitr (Monday)
November 27, 2023- Bonifacio Day (Monday)
December 8, 2023   - Feast of the Immaculate Conception of Mary (Friday)
December 11, 2023 - Eidul Adha (Monday)
December 25, 2023 - Christmas Day (Monday)
December 30, 2023 - Rizal Day (Saturday)
December 31, 2023 - Last Day of the Year (Special Non-Working Day) (Sunday)

If you want to be sure of the dates you can always refer to the Official Gazette of the Philippine Government. Below are links to the two (2) Proclamations.

Proclamation No. 42
Proclamation No. 90

So, what's missing?

 

To commemorate the success of The Eraserheads’ reunion concert last night, top OPM acts such as SB19 and NOBITA have put their own unique spin on the supergroup’s beloved classics.

Released today under Sony Music Entertainment, the revamped versions honor the timeless appeal of Eheads’ music, while giving it a more contemporary flavor that resonates with the streaming audience.

P-Pop Kings SB19 captures the spirit of the holidays with their own take on “Christmas Party,” a song off The Eraserheads’ fourth studio album, Fruitcake. Turning the original into a festive banger, the five-member boyband incorporates elements of dance-pop, R&B/hip-hop, and modern funk into the mix while carrying with them the vibe and energy of the track’s nostalgic past.

 

A press release from the Agila Net25 welcoming the New Year. 

It is indeed a magical comeback for HONOR as they officially set foot in the Philippine market again in August 2022 and has been unstoppable since then, launching a tablet, two smartwatches, and six mobile phones in just a span of four months. And take note I have witnessed it. 

To excite HONOR fans, the leading global smart devices provider teased that 2023 will be a very busy year for them – more launches, events, and exciting treats for consumers.

“2022 is just the beginning for HONOR Philippines and we are taking the brand to even greater heights come 2023. We have a very solid lineup for the whole year and you definitely don’t want to miss what we will be bringing from the HONOR ecosystem.” said HONOR Philippines Vice President for Marketing, Stephen Cheng. “The expansion of our markets and channel partners is in the works already, and we will stay committed to focusing on creating innovations for everyone. For us, there’s really no way to go but up.”

Since the relaunch, HONOR has opened and established more than 600 stores composed of kiosks and multi-brand stores. In fact, HONOR is now present at 17 dealers: Abenson, Cellboy, EC Panda, MemoXpress, Octagon, Present, Rules, Silicon Valley, Globe, Lazada, Shopee, and Kimstore.

HONOR indicated an increase of 366% in its manpower since its launch to augment the workforce for the company. Now, in three months’ time, HONOR currently has at least 1,000 employees including promoters to cater to newly opened stores in the country.

HONOR recently hinted the launch of its highly-anticipated foldable flagship HONOR Magic Vs, and while fans patiently wait for it, here’s a rundown of what HONOR has launched so far.

Let's kick off 2023 with a bang, as your favorite Kapamilya stars and guest artists bring you the freshest world-class acts on stage, featuring a must-watch Super Divas sing-off, a pop collab from Darren and Alamat, Andrea and Maymay's dance-off, plus treats from Sarah G, Moira, Nobita, and much more this New Year Sunday only on "ASAP Natin 'To" on Kapamilya Channel, A2Z, and TV5.

Welcome the new year with a showstopping Super Divas sing-off from Morissette, Nina, Klarisse de Guzman, and Regine Velasquez alongside Elha Nympha, Fana, and Lara Maigue as they belt out the best birit hits of 2022. Plus, tune in to Sarah Geronimo's fresh performance in the latest edition of "Sarah G Specials."

Keep the party vibes flowing with a highly requested P-Pop collab from Alamat and Asia's Pop Heartthrob Darren, plus a sizzling dance showdown from Andrea Brillantes and Maymay Entrata in the latest edition of "Clash Dance."

Meanwhile, celebrate the unstoppable spirit of Filipino talents as we usher in the year with a mix of upbeat acts from Alexa Ilacad, KD Estrada, Kice, Enchong Dee, Jameson Blake, Angela Ken, and the whole ASAP family with special guest performer Nik Makino. Also joining the all-star New Year's celebration is Janine Gutierrez.

Say hello to 2023 anew with a fierce solo K-Pop dance cover from ASAP's Queen of the Dancefloor herself, Kim Chiu.

Don't miss a senti hits medley from Moira dela Torre alongside Anji Salvacion, Jeremy G, Ryssi Avila, Ann Raniel, Bryan Chong, Janine Berdin, plus balladeers Ogie, Martin, Jed Madela, and Jason Dy. More fresh musical treats come your way from OPM band Nobita, plus a collab from Gary Valenciano and Khimo Gumatay.

And usher in the year with more stellar duet performances from ASAP icons Gary Valenciano, Zsa Zsa Padilla, Martin Nievera, Erik Santos, Morissette, Ogie Alcasid, and Regine Velasquez with Sheena Belarmino, Jason Dy, JM Yosures, Klarisse de Guzman, Sam Mangubat, Reiven Umali, and Darren in "The Greatest Showdown."

Let's welcome 2023 the right way with a star-studded afternoon party from the country's longest-running musical variety show, "ASAP Natin 'To," this Sunday, 12 NN on local TV via Kapamilya Channel, Jeepney TV, A2Z, and TV5, online through Kapamilya Online Live and iWantTFC, and worldwide via TFC.

Viewers who use any digital TV box at home, such as the TVplus box, only need to rescan their device to watch "ASAP Natin 'To" on TV5 and A2Z.

For updates, follow @abscbnpr on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and TikTok, or visit www.abs-cbn.com/newsroom.

The Brilliant Life is a mini-series depicting the life story of Glenda Victorio, founder, and CEO of Brilliant Skin Essentials and one of the country's youngest successful CEO in the beauty products industry.

Ms. Glenda's life story will be airing on TV5 with actress-singer Arci Muñoz as the inspiring 25-year-old CEO of Brilliant Skin Essentials. The story will present Ms. Glenda's rags-to-riches story, a young mother from Morong, Rizal who beat the odds and reached for her dreams until she became a young millionaire entrepreneur.

In a press conference, Ms. Glenda Victorio shared that she'll bare all the stories of her life in this mini-series. Even some of the private parts of her life. She gathered all her courage and let them be part of the mini-series.

 

Pinoy ghost tales or pinoy ghost stories are part of our culture, the rich Filipino culture. I believe these stories are what makes every halloween to expect. Even though, we Filipinos love to have ghost stories all year-round.

Recently, I was invited for a viewing of a horror film genre. Since, I love to watch movies I went to the viewing party, which later on a press conference with aome of the actors and director of the film.

Actually it is a trilogy, a three story film that will give viewers different flavors from the usual horror film.

Wheelchairs have been significant to me in the past years. I'm not disabled, nor any of our family, but my father, who suffered a stroke, did use a wheelchair. The wheelchair was a donation at that time.

So, seeing all these Persons With Disabilities (PWD) beneficiaries fills me with so much gratitude. Very thankful that there are people who extend their hand to people in need.

The event coverage I went to was the giving of these wheelchairs to PWDs which was led by the PWD-founded non-profit Alagang AKAY in partnership with the Sol Aragones Foundation. In all, both organizations are to donate 1000 wheelchairs to PWDs and families. Aside from these they were also given other items plus the livelihood showcase.

As the e-commerce industry continues to evolve, Shopee seeks to train the next generation of young tech talents and prepare them for a career in e-commerce through its Graduate Programs. Composed of the Global Leaders Program (GLP) and the newly launched Fresh Graduate Accelerated Program (FGAP), Shopee’s Graduate Programs aims to fast-track the growth of fresh graduates and young professionals and prepare them to take on key leadership positions upon program completion.

With these, participants are given the opportunity to receive direct mentorship from senior management, work on the end-to-end processes of highly impactful projects, and expand their leadership capabilities through local and regional exposure.

The promising solo act marks her debut as a recording artist with “Always Remember,” an effervescent cut that champions the value of self-worth and preservation in an attempt to bravely face the world and conquer everything. Capturing the unabashedly colorful spirit of K-Pop and J-Pop with commanding confidence, Mona Gonzales aims to uplift listeners with her anthemic and captivating delivery—doing it like a seasoned pro.

“The way I personally describe it is something like a soft pop rock for me,” says the promising TikTok sensation turned P-Pop star. “The sound of electric guitar with a pop style beat is dominating through the whole song. The style is not really new, but the sound is unique in its own way. It’s a little different from the OPM that we’re used to. I think that makes it interesting.”

Produced by Oh Won Lee, an industry veteran who has helmed tracks by K-Pop icons Stray Kids, SHINee's Taemin, and Wanna One, and the country’s very own SB19, “Always Remember” is an inspirational track that pushes the envelope of modern pop production with breezy, summer hooks and a minimalist instrumentation. The end product is a mesmerizing take on P-Pop, one that is creatively boundless and flows with so much effortlessness.

As Mona Gonzales puts it, “Pinoy Pop Music doesn’t really have a certain and specific style and sound. Most of us new artists want to be unique. That’s true for me, but I want to add a new flavor and variety along with the existing Pinoy pop music right now. And with every Pinoy music artists, we will prove that P-POP can expand. And then people will talk about how the Pinoy pop music has evolved, its potential and where it can go.”

The release of the song comes with a vibrant music video that metaphorically follows Mona Gonzales’ journey as an artist with so much to explore and grow on. Shot in multiple locations that showcase the beautiful scenery of the Philippines, Mona Gonzales dances, sings, hops, and walks with the excitement of someone ready to navigate the world on her own terms.

Mona Gonzales’ “Always Remember” is out now on all digital music platforms worldwide via Sony Music Entertainment and ShowBT Philippines Corp. Watch the music video below.

 

 

President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. recognizes the 10 winners of the Galing Pook Foundation 2022 at the Ceremonial Hall of Malacanang Palace. He commended the Galing Pook Foundation for recognizing and incentivizing top performing LGUs. With them in the photo are: Galing Pook Foundation chairman Mel Sarmiento, Local Government secretary Benjamin Abalos, Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri.

Ten outstanding local governance programs were recognized in the 2022 Galing Pook Awards held at the Ceremonial Hall of Malacanang Palace last Tuesday, November 22, 2022.

Galing Pook Foundation with its co-presenters SM Prime Holdings Inc., and the DILG-Local Government Academy, and sponsors Cebu Pacific and Airspeed named local government units from Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao that promote innovation and excellence.

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. commended the Galing Pook Foundation for recognizing and incentivizing top performing LGUs. He stressed how strong collaboration between the public and private sector can lead to more meaningful and successful programs that truly benefit the Filipino people.

“The recognition that you give to cities and municipalities inspires them to accelerate their drive towards improvement and it encourages LGUs to adopt practices that make us paragons of excellence in public service. It is necessary for us to underscore the importance of strengthening partnerships between the government and private organizations, such as the Galing Pook Foundation, especially as we bring about meaningful progress in the country.”

Galing Pook Chairperson Mel Sarmiento expressed his gratitude to all the local executives and LGU teams that participated this year: “It’s truly inspiring to see the impact of the work that you do, and I’m sure you’ve brought value to many Filipinos all over the country. Our collaborations bring us closer to realizing our shared vision, na ang bawat pamilyang Pilipino, may simple pero kumportableng buhay.”

The winners of the 2022 Galing Pook Awards were: The Green Wall of Alcala (Alcala, Cagayan); Advancing and Sustaining Good Governance and Community Actions towards Resiliency and Empowerment (Basilan Province); Bataan Public-Private Partnership Programs (Bataan Province); Balik-Biñan Project: Tourism Development through Heritage Conservation (Biñan City, Laguna); From Black to Green: Fishponds, Eco-Tourism and Full Employment (Brgy. Cayabu, Tanay, Rizal); Trekking to Unlock Community Ailments and Difficulties (TUCAD) (Goa, Camarines Sur); “I-BIKE” A Program Promoting the Development of the Iloilo City Bike Culture (Iloilo City); Yaru: A Whole-of-Community Approach Towards Disaster Management (Itbayat, Batanes); Libertad Fish Forever Savings Club (Libertad, Antique); and Basta Piddigueño, AgriHenyo: Consolidated Farm Production System (Piddig, Ilocos Norte).

The 10 winners were chosen from 18 finalists and a record field of 196 applications from different LGUs in the country.

Launched on October 21, 1993, the Galing Pook Awards has recognized 329 LGU programs from 200 LGUs in the country that have been promoted for replication to benefit more communities.