The TRUTH? I'm worried, I'm stressed, and I'm scared! It's not only for me but for my family.

Perhaps this is our initial reaction when we face things that are unknown and uncertain. Like in horror suspense movies that we always watch, it was something similar to that. The only difference is, it is not on reels this time.

Who wouldn't get frightened? It is real, and it's happening right before our eyes. It is always on the news, the affected, the recoveries, and the one that we hate to see, the figure of deaths. If for the number of gross earned per movie from a world premiere, that would be great, but the sad part is that we're counting the number of people infected by the virus, worse the number of deaths.

I love movies, and I love history! I enjoy reliving the past through the works of movie creators, but today, after experiencing it personally, it's much better than films. It's real-life experiences and genuine emotions, no-frills. I am human, and this made me realize things.


The Outbreak

Of all the movies that have viruses, zombie apocalypse, and outbreak themes, we didn't even bother to have precautions (probably there was, but it wasn't taken seriously). There were no presentations of "what if these things happen in real life?" It only shows that we have vivid imaginations, even to the point that it happens right before our eyes, but we couldn't do much because we were never able. I am not ready, and I am not prepared.


Probably, the situation has created an ideally immense impact when it comes to safety, security, and health. Just like in the movie "Outbreak," a single carrier, which is a monkey, had placed the entire town to chaos and spread the virus. But then again, we shouldn't be too paranoid to think about this, but instead, live a life of being aware.


Lockdown or Community Quarantine

I remember the movie "Resident Evil," it is one of the horrific suspense movies that time, and it took me a certain point to probably watch the whole film. One part of the movie, where the entire facility was lockdown because of the virus, is somewhat similar to what we have experienced. It all started when the virus made its way into the city and began to spread. I was scared to go out, primarily when the number of virus-affected individuals increases.


Then it happened, the thing that everyone is scared of, the lockdown. I'm afraid and worried at the same time because I don't have much savings for my family. No event means no income, and no income means no money to buy food for the time of stay-at-home.


The Tribute

For one month, no one is allowed to go out of their houses except for those who will buy necessities like foods, medicines, and other things needed to survive this pandemic. Like most of the people, my initial reactions were 'how are we going to survive?', 'what will be our source of income?", and 'where are we going to buy food?'.

Quarantine Passes were issued to us by our barangay, and when I got this pass, which is I think is a quarter size of a long bond paper, I thought of the tributes in the movie "Hunger Games." I felt I was one of them, the chosen one for the district, and in my case for my family.


It's not easy being the tribute of the family. You need to be in full gear when you're going out to buy foods or medicines or other necessities for the family. You need to have your mask, your quarantine pass, your alcohol, your hat, your phone, your eco bag, and of course, always have a prayer. These are my battle gears when facing the world outside of our house.

Every time I go out, I always have an understanding and learning about our life, particularly the present one. Fathers or not, we are all ready to take on any difficulties for the sake of our family. And this crisis will be overcome if we trust and believe that God is above all.


The Quarantine Life

If you have seen the movie "Swiss Family Robinson," well I can say that our life during the quarantine period is similar to theirs except for the gadgets and the internet. We're isolating our family from the rest of the community to avoid contracting the deadly coronavirus, but not living all alone in the world.

Like the Swiss Family Robinson, we tried to save and use every possible supply that we have. We don't know until when this quarantine is.


The birthday celebrations are not the usual, foods are limited, and birthday greetings are only online. It's a small celebration but memorable. My youngest son, Gelo, celebrated his 9th Birthday with a French Fries Tower like cake and pool themed family party.


The good part of the lockdown is that we get to learn a lot of things, clean the house, declutter, and communicate more with God. Maybe this is God's way of letting us find his love and mercy in the fast-phased environment that we are living before this pandemic and thanking Him for life and the blessings.


Of course, whether we like it or not, we always look at our social media accounts, witnessing the different issues of the government and also the lives of several celebrities.


Help Comes When You Least Expect

When Harry Potter faces the basilisk in the Chamber of Secrets, Dumbledore's phoenix flew towards Harry and dropped the Sorting Hat. Out of nowhere, the sword of Gryffindor appeared inside the Sorting hat. Just like what I have experienced during this quarantine and lockdown period, help comes when you least expect it. Friends from the blogging community and entertainment industry are God's sent angels because their assistance is just what we need.


Maybe it is natural for us Filipinos to extend help to others who are in need. There were many stories of "malasakit" and "bayanihan" that are praised and commended by a lot of people. Some were given more resources to be able to extend more help to other people.


Though my friends' deeds aren't as sensational as the ones featured on any news, in my heart, they will always be my hero.


Share Your Blessings

Blessings are not just items that we usually receive, but its actually beyond the physical appearance. I am thankful that I am blessed with so many things in life, my family, who are there to give me strength and to my friends who help in times of need.

Perhaps helping is innate to us, it's a part of our culture, the Filipino culture. Remember the 'bayanihan,' that is probably the best picture to describe us Pinoys. It may not be similar, but the movie "Pay It Forward" is one of the best visualizations of the helping deeds. I haven't fully watched the film, but I like how it describes the way how to repay the help given out to you.


In my case, during the quarantine/lockdown period where we all are in need, my way of repaying was through my services. I am the leader of our homeowners' association in our area, and the only way I can help is by coordinating with our barangay for the assistance to reach our community.

Helping even in simple things, are great, the feeling is unexplainable. Seeing the relief from their eyes, and hear those short thank yous are enough for me.


The True Value of Time

Right before the outbreak, we are all living in a fast-phased environment, a world where innovations happen in a short period. We definitely take the meaning of time by intentively doing multi-tasks activities and work almost every minute from the moment that we learn how to compute. That is how we live before, but when the NCov19, now CoVid19, break out, lives started to move slow. Most of the people are inside their houses together with the families.

I remember when I was still working in the corporate world, most of the employees are looking forward to the dates of the holidays. During the quarantine, their wish was granted. All they needed to do was spend it wisely, and most of them spent it with their families. I did it too, and with the help of my wife, we spent that time with the kids by having different activities together.


Perhaps this is also one of the lessons in our life we should take time off from our work and activities to spend it with our loved ones. Good thing that our era doesn't uses time as a currency. Unlike in the movie "In Time," a science fiction story where the people stop aging when they reach 25, their money is their time. They work to have more time in order to live.


The Heart of Men

In the background story of "Lord of the Rings," Isildur, the one who manages to kill Sauron and get a chance to destroy the one ring, was described as the weak men and easily corrupted. It is true. Like Isildur, I'm also tempted to do the unworthy ones, especially during the crisis. But thankfully, God covers it with his love and better yet my heart is more of Aragorn. A human core with a strong will to overcome the crisis that we are facing.


I learned that in times of pandemic, there are people who tend to go selfish, but there are still others who are willing to do and give more of what they have just to help.


Moving Forward

One of my favorite lines from the movie "Forrest Gump," 'Life is like a box of chocolate. You never know what you're gonna get.' Life continues even though that there's still the Covid-19 scare, but knowing that I have my family to support, it inspires me to do more. I know work and events are limited, but I have to do what it takes to have something to support my family's needs.


Life now is really uncertain, but it is better to do something rather than nothing at all. Since most of the people now are transacting online, we too jump in the wagon of online sellers. It is aside from my writing gigs, graphic designs, and social media account management. So if I'm off with my online gigs, I do the delivery of the orders. Since I don't have a bicycle, I use 'Cadillac' - 'Kadali Lumakad.'


How many calamities and crises had passed in our country already? Actually, I lost count. We, Pinoys, are resilient, we always find positivity in every situation. We are like bamboos, no matter how strong the storm, we just sway it around and come up standing tall again when it is over.


Learn to Appreciate Small Things

At this time, every little thing that we have is necessary. Our life is short, and let us make every second a moment to cherish.

If you're a fan of Eddie Murphy, I'm sure this movie won't escape your radar, the "Holy Man." It is about a strange person who appreciates life that changed the perception of the other main character.


I like how the character, Mr. G, truthfully describes the value of things around us. The smell of the grass and even the effort of hugging a person (unfortunately, we couldn't do that at the moment because of social distancing). But my point is, we're alive and surviving, so let us appreciate more of the small things in life.


As we face this new normal, let us always find the good and the strength in each person.


This story is an entry to ComCo Southeast Asia's "Write to Ignite Blogging Project". The initiative is a response to the need of our times, as every story comes a long way during this period of crisis. Igniting and championing the human spirit, "Write to Ignite blog Project" aims to pull and collate powerful stories from the Philippine blogging communities to inspire the nation to rise and move forward amidst the difficult situation. This project is made possible by ComCo Southeast Asia, co-presented Eastern Communications, and sponsored by Electrolux, Jobstreet, and Teleperformance.

One of the loveliest stars in the Kapamilya Network and one of the celebrities with the biggest heart, Angel Locsin, gives the limelight to Filipinos with extraordinary stories. Showcasing the Filipino values of pakikisama, pakikipagkapwa, and bayanihan to bring smiles to viewers amid these difficult times. This public service program entitled "Iba Yan," will be hosted by real-life heroine Angel Locsin which will begin airing on the Kapamilya Channel starting today, June 14 at 6:15PM.

Witness the extraordinary story of ordinary Filipinos like Fr. Flavie Villanueva, who once lived a life of vice before becoming a priest. He established "KALINGA" center, which gives street dwellers temporary homes and teaches them to be responsible citizens.

Actress and real-life public service advocate Angel and the rest of the “Iba 'Yan" team helped Fr. Flavie in pursuing his advocacy.

Catch other heartwarming stories in "Iba 'Yan"’s first episode such as Engr. Albert Pizarro, who invented the innovative 'foot-tap' alcohol dispenser, viral Cebuano TikTok dancer Marco Cañeda, candy vendor Tatay Carlos and bike seller Nanay Fe, seamstress Queen Mamita, and volunteer rider Neil Garcia.


"Iba 'Yan" airs every Sunday at 6:15 PM on the Kapamilya Channel, available on SKY, Cablelink, G Sat, and other cable or satellite service providers of PCTA nationwide. It can also be viewed on iWant and The Filipino Channel. Follow “Iba Yan!” on social media on facebook.com/IbaYanPH, twitter.com/ibayanph, and instagram.com/ibayanph. You can also join its Facebook Community Group on facebook.com/groups/ibaYanPH/.

For more updates, follow @ABSCBNPR on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram, or visit

Now we're sharing a new release in the R&B genre here which is from a Hong Kong based artist, Gareth.  Read the whole details below.

Hong Kong R&B artist Gareth.T has released his first single via Singapore based indie label Umami Records - ‘best me i can’. A smooth R&B song filled with lush harmonies and soulful grooves, ‘best me i can’ is about making the most of our short lives, and always striving to be the best version of ourselves.

Currently based in Boston while studying at Berklee College of Music, Gareth.T shares his personal story behind the song: “I wrote this song after my grandma passed away recently. Even though we weren’t that close and it didn’t emotionally affect me too much, it really got me thinking about how short and fragile life is, and that time doesn’t really stop for anyone. So in the song I kinda reflect on my 20 years of life, and I’ve come to a conclusion, that I’m going to try to be the best me I can, everyday.”

Being a multi-instrumentalist, singer-songwriter and producer allows Gareth.T the complete creative freedom to express his own unique style, and you can hear this throughout his repertoire. In this self-produced track, Gareth.T takes influences from 80s/90s R&B and combines them with modern elements like the drums and 808s, creating a novel blend of new and old.

“I think the line ‘best me I can’ would be the most important thing in the song, and the part I like the most as it’s a really simple concept to get. But with some lush harmonies and the soulful groove, the cheesiness of the line is taken away.”, said Gareth.T.

Gareth.T has been releasing a track every month in 2020 and will be keeping up this prolific pace moving forward.

Our lives have completely changed because of the virus. People are now considering the new ways we're practicing as the new normal. Well, it is indeed a new norm, and it's hard to face new things in life, but if it is for our safety, well, we all need to adapt to the situation.

So, what are new in the new norm? Well, I think it's quite a few, one the social distancing in transportation and establishments, and two is the wearing of masks whenever outside of your house. Some of which are in practice, the washing of hands, disinfecting of surroundings, transacting online, working from home, and online deliveries. These all are already in practice right before the outbreak of the virus, but some people are unreasonable.

Talking about online shopping, well, I'm thankful because it's much easier and more convenient to do your shopping online. You ease off with the hassle of going to the mall or the store, you won't have to face long lines when paying, and you don't have to feel scared because of the large amount of money with you. But of course, there are also the disadvantages of buying online, that is why buyers should be vigilant in reading reviews and other comments of the buyers. It needs to weigh in the various commentaries from customers who already bought from the seller.

Since home-based works and online schooling will be the new norm, I think laptops or desktops will be one of the necessities of every individual or every household. The good news is that there are plenty of online shopping sites where you can find an attractive desktop or laptop deals. Of course, with the situation we have now, the budget is one to consider.

So I did try to check other deals, from local to international. Locally, some stores did try to make sales up to the extend of bartering with some old units that people already have plus some additional cash. I also find this Rakuten site where they offer new and branded laptops or refurbished ones. That's really interesting.

So, are you ready to face the new norm?

Singapore pop artist Dominic Chin has released BETTER, the fifth single of his 7-track debut EP License To Cry, via indie label Umami Records.

BETTER is a poppy, free-spirited song about the joys of being high on love. Dominic Chin shares: “This song is inspired by love! There’s a quote that says ‘falling in love is the best high without breaking the law’, and I fully agree! The whole chorus talks about how flowers smell better, time passes much slower, the sky is BLUE-ER. How you don’t ever want time to stop when you’re with the person you love.”

Fun, playful melodies accompany Dominic’s beautiful and infectious vocals, leading up to unapologetically brash and compelling choruses which he proudly belts out. “I felt like it needed a quirky aspect too, and that's why I sang ‘You-you-you’ with a slight yodle. AND I love showing off my whistling skills. I have been practicing for years, finally I can properly show it off!” shared Dominic.

Dominic Chin invites us to embrace the unbridled joy and warmth that emanate in his song: “Sometimes we are afraid to love because we are afraid to be hurt, and we don't say what we feel as much, we don’t communicate enough. Let this song be a dedication to your significant other. Being in love is scary but it’s one of the most beautiful things in the world for humans to experience. ‘The greatest thing you’ll ever learn is just to love and be loved in return.’”

A music video follows this release, as well as a custom Instagram AR filter, which fans can use to get the same “hearts on face” makeup (without the mess) as seen in Dominic’s music video and album art. The rest of Dominic Chin’s EP will be released in the second half of 2020, leading up to his debut show at the Esplanade Singapore on 21 August.

BETTER by Dominic Chin is available everywhere at this link: https://www.umamirecords.sg/better/ Try out the Instagram AR filter here: https://instagram.com/ar/3717599598310896/

KwentoNiToto.com continues to share music from different genres and even different countries, so I do hope you would love to hear these kinds of music from these different artists.

Israeli singer-songwriter VANNA released a music video for her latest single titled 'Let Me Fall' via Umami Records.

Directed by award-winning independent filmmaker Matan Balalty and French-Israeli artist Noémie Dahan, the music video was shot at the Beit Talal In Jaffa and features four professional contemporary dancers.

Produced by Roy Avital of Tel Aviv based indie-electronic trio Garden City Movement and mastered by Matt Colton (James Blake, Muse, Coldplay), Let Me Fall is an ambient-folktronica song about letting yourself fall completely in love, and embracing the vulnerability that comes along with that. “When you fall in love, you expose yourself to getting hurt. It’s an endless paradox. When you let someone enter your inner world, you’re allowing them to gently break down your walls and then amazing things can happen.”, shares VANNA, “I was scared that one day I’d lose this feeling, and when it really happened I felt so alone trying to move on. This is the risk you take for falling in love.

‘Let Me Fall’ by VANNA is available everywhere at this link: https://www.umamirecords.sg/let-me-fall/

This is interesting deals from two of the most anticipated mid-year sales are happening this June 6 and vivo is giving everyone the best reasons to go online and shop from home to grab its best-selling smartphones.

vivo is offering not only a P1,000 off on the Y12 and Y19, but also free nationwide shipping, including for the Y11, Y15 and Y91C models which are participating in the Shopee 6.6 Super Flash Sale and the Lazada 6.6 Bounce Back Sale.

For the Shopee 6.6 Super Flash Sale, buyers can use the voucher code “VIVO66” to get a P200 discount only for June 6, while a P100 off voucher can be redeemed from June 6 until September 3. Customers can use the vouchers for a minimum spend of P4,999.

Those eyeing to buy vivo handsets during the Lazada 6.6 Bounce Back Sale can already collect P200 vouchers, while those who follow the vivo flagship store can collect P100 discount vouchers. Both can be redeemed from June 4 to 6, for a minimum spend of P4,999.


From May 28 to June 3, vivo is also slashing the price of its Y71 model, offering it for only P66.99, until supplies last.

Customers who buy any participating vivo handset from June 4 to 6 can also get a chance to win a Y series phone. All they have to do is post a review of the unit they purchased on Shopee or Lazada, upload a photo of the product, and use the hashtag #66vivo.

Two lucky winners will be chosen from among those who will post their reviews on Shopee and Lazada from June 4 to 16. The winners will be announced on June 17.

So, what are you waiting for? Visit the official Vivo stores at https://bit.ly/VivoShopeeSuperFlashSale and https://bit.ly/VivoLazadaBounceBackSale.

One of the best stories to tell, heartbreaking stories. It's not that you're interested in the background of the story but because it's about and it's about your heartbreak.  Award-winning Filipino band, Ben&Ben will drop their new single, “Lifetime” on June 4 (Thursday) via Sony Music.

The intricately produced, folk-pop ballad was written as a response to a fan’s YouTube comment on their hit song “Pagtingin,” which to date, has amassed more than a hundred million streams on YouTube and Spotify combined.

The fan, who goes by the alias of “Anne Jou,” shared her story of regretting not being able to express her feelings because she was afraid to lose the friendship.

“…instead of telling him what I actually felt, I hid and buried my feelings. And you know what happens to feelings that are buried? They grow. The like I felt for him became love. I wrote poems, songs. After 8 years, I attended his wedding [last] January. And guess what? The world is really overly-cruel. Before his wedding, he thanked me for being his best friend and told me that before he met the girl he got married to, he loved me first. For 5 years. But he was also scared of losing me so he just decided to keep it. I was shocked and I slightly had anger towards the world. We didn't know that if only one of us dared to make a move, a lifetime was waiting for us. So people, while you can, please express how you really feel so that in the end you won't regret anything.”

The nine-piece collective decided to make song inspired by a fan’s online confession—a proof of how powerful and moving words can be, when shared from a place of earnestness and raw honesty.

Notwithstanding the technical limitations and struggles in recording brought about by the pandemic, Ben&Ben pulled through in a few days and finished the song in their respective homes with just their instruments and a studio software.

The intimate recording session led to what is “Lifetime” now: an emotionally affecting song that leaves us wondering, what could have happened if we only mustered the courage to admit our feelings to the person we’re pining for, regardless of the outcome?

“Lifetime” was mixed by veteran sound engineer JP Verona, and mastered by Grammy Award-winning Leon Zervos (Pink, Rihanna, Maroon 5, Beastie Boys, and Willie Nelson). It was written by Miguel Benjamin and Paolo Benjamin, and recorded and produced by Ben&Ben.

Ben&Ben’s “Lifetime” will be released on all digital platforms worldwide on June 4 (12 midnight, Thursday).

ABS-CBN debunked various allegations involving the 50-year franchise limit, citizenship of its chairman emeritus, the issuance of Philippine Deposit Receipts (PDRs), and the supposed unlawful return of the company to the Lopezes at the House of Representatives today (June 1).

ABS-CBN president and CEO Carlo Katigbak emphasized that the 50-year franchise limitation pertains to a single franchise only, referring to Article 12, Section 11 in the Constitution that says that no franchise shall be granted except to citizens of the Philippines nor shall such franchise be for a longer period than 50 years.

“Malinaw po ang kahulugan nito. Na bawat prangkisang ibinibigay ng Kongreso ay hindi pwedeng lumampas ng 50 years. Pero wala naman pong sinasabi na ang buhay ng isang kumpanya ay may limitasyon na 50 years. Pwede naman pong bigyan ng panibagong prangkisa. (It is clearly stated that every franchise granted by Congress cannot exceed 50 years. But nothing in the provision states that a life span of a company is limited to 50 years. Its franchise can get renewed.),” he said at the second day of the Congress hearing on the network’s franchise renewal.

He also refuted the alleged ownership of ABS-CBN by a non-Filipino, confirming that its chairman emeritus Eugenio “Gabby” Lopez III is a Filipino citizen by birth and has the right to own a media company in the Philippines.

“Si Mr. Lopez po ay ipinanganak noong 1952 kaya sakop po siya ng 1935 Constitution. Ang tatay at nanay niya ay parehong Pilipino. Kaya from birth, automatic na siya ay isang Pilipino din (Mr. Lopez was born in 1952 and was covered by the 1935 Constitution. His father and mother are both Filipino. So he is automatically a Filipino from birth.),” he pointed out.

Katigbak further clarified another ownership issue, affirming that the Lopezes never lost ownership of ABS-CBN, even during Martial Law when the government shut it down.

“Ang pagbabalik ng ABS-CBN sa pamilyang Lopez ay ayon sa batas, at may basbas ng tatlong ahensya ng goberyno: ang PCGG, ang Office of the President, at ang Korte Suprema (The return of ABS-CBN to the Lopez family was legal and was approved by the government agencies: the PCGG, the Office of the President, and the Supreme Court.),” he disclosed.

“Ang PCGG mismo ang umaksyon na ibalik sa mga may-ari ang Channel 2 noong June 1986. Noong January 1987, nagkaroon ng agreement ang gobyerno at ABS-CBN na isaayos ang pagbalik ng mga iba pang facilities ng ABS-CBN na patuloy pang ginagamit ng goberyno. Itong agreement ay may basbas ng Korte Suprema noong 1989 (First of all, the PCGG decided to return Channel 2 to the owners in June 1986. In January 1987, there was an agreement between the government and ABS-CBN on the orderly return of ABS-CBN facilities that the government was still using. The Supreme Court affirmed the agreement in 1989.),” he narrated.

He also said that based on the agreement, PTV 4 returned ABS-CBN’s other facilities in 1992, six years after the EDSA Revolution happened.

Another issue Katigbak addressed is the alleged unconstitutional issuance of PDRs to foreigners. “Ang PDR po ay hindi katumbas ng pag-aari sa ABS-CBN (A PDR is not equivalent to a share in ABS-CBN.),” he stated, citing that PDR holders do not have voting rights.

He likewise reiterated that the Securities and Exchange Commission approved the PDRs.

He explained, “Ang pag-benta po ng PDR sa publiko ay inaprubahan ng SEC noong October 4, 1999. Paano ito magiging labag sa batas kung ang ahensya mismo ng gobyerno ang nagbigay ng permit para ibenta ang mga PDR na ito (The public offering of PDR was approved by the SEC last October 4, 1999. How could it have violated the law when the government agency gave the permit to offer the PDR to the public?)?”

He added that these were the same instruments used by another media company but it did not become an issue in their franchise renewal.

The House of Representatives’ started its deliberations on ABS-CBN’s application for a 25-year franchise after it withdrew House Bill No. 6732, which would grant ABS-CBN a provisional franchise to operate until October 31.

ABS-CBN stopped its broadcast operations on May 5 to comply with the cease and desist order issued by the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC), which earlier stated it would give ABS-CBN a provisional authority to operate following Senate Resolution No. 40, a letter from the House of Representatives’ committee on legislative franchises, and the Department of Justice’s advice.

Local government units (LGUs) found it challenging to quickly provide relief to families affected by the quarantine. That is why several mayors in Metro Manila and nearby provinces have expressed their gratitude to companies that served as their partners at this time, including ABS-CBN and ABS-CBN Foundation’s “Pantawid ng Pag-ibig.”

“Private and public partnerships like what ABS-CBN does is a big help. We don’t know when this pandemic is going to end and the government can’t do it alone. In a month, we have plenty of families to feed,” Valenzuela Mayor Rex Gatchalian said in an interview with "TV Patrol."

Because of the quarantine extension, the funds of LGUs have been greatly affected, which is why mayors think of “Pantawid ng Pag-ibig” as an answer to their problems.


Pasay City Mayor Emi Calixto Rubiano said, “we have a budget, but it is not enough that is why we are so thankful. This is a great project of ABS-CBN because it can really help the local government extend its budget.”

As for Maragondon, Cavite Mayor Reynaldo Rillo, ABS-CBN’s simple act of giving relief packs is a way to show love and concern for Filipinos. “I am thankful to everyone who extended their help, to all those who showered us with love by giving us relief goods.”

Malolos, Bulacan Mayor Gilbert Gatchalian also said ABS-CBN made Filipino families felt that they are not alone in battling the COVID-19 pandemic. He said, “thank you ABS-CBN for your ‘Pantawid ng Pag-ibig’ program that made our kababayans feel like they are not alone in this battle.”

Meanwhile, donations to the network’s “Pantawid ng Pag-ibig” program has reached P409,721,248 million. The funds raised are used to purchase food and basic necessities that are brought to the LGUs for repacking and distribution to their constituents. ABS-CBN and ABS-CBN Foundation are thankful to the leaders of Caloocan, Las Piñas, Malabon, Makati, Mandaluyong, Manila, Marikina, Muntinlupa, Navotas, Parañaque, Pasay, Pasig, Pateros, Quezon City, San Juan, Taguig, Valenzuela, Bulacan, Cavite, Laguna, and Rizal for their trust and support for “Pantawid ng Pag-Ibig.”

Despite the crises we are facing, ABS-CBN will never get tired of serving Filipino families. ABS-CBN Foundation will continue to accept cash and in-kind donations as it continues to help provide food and basic necessities to Filipinos most affected by the global pandemic. People may donate via ABS-CBN Lingkod Kapamilya Foundation Inc.-Sagip Kapamilya bank accounts: BPI peso account 3051-11-55-88, Metrobank peso account 636-3-636-08808-1, PNB peso account 1263-7000-4128, BDO peso account 0039301-14199, at BDO dollar account 1039300-81622. They may also course donations through Cebuana Lhuillier, PayPal, Pass it Forward, and GCash.

It's going to be a dream come true for you because Shopee offers the Ultimate dream job for Gen Z - be a TikTok Star!

Shopee is looking for a content creator for their TikTok Channel and it's going to be a tough competition. But still, if you are very much obsessed with TikTok? Have you been following all the viral hashtags and trends on social media? If your answer is “yes” to these questions, then you may be just what Shopee is looking for!

In this role, you get the chance to create and produce engaging social media content from beginning to end. The best part? Not only will you get paid to do something you really enjoy doing, but you’ll also proudly represent the brand as one of the Faces of Shopee on TikTok!

Shopee wants bold and imaginative people to join their creative think tank. If you love being on camera and have the confidence to back it up, then this job is for you!

Interested candidates can paste a link of their most creative 30-second TikTok video on the comments section of the Shopee Career page. The clip should include why the candidates are the best person for this exciting role. Head over to Shopee Careers (https://careers.shopee.ph/job-detail/2952/) for more details.

Fans of Gabbi Garcia will surely get excited about tomorrow's live stream of OPPO. After the success of OPPO's concluded first of many ShOPPO Livestreams lined up that was led by Youtube sensation Mimiyuuuh and TV Host Robi Domingo last May 22. This week, everyone’s in for another treat as the shopping craze and exciting games with amazing prizes continue on the second ShOPPO livestream with Millennial It Girl Gabbi Garcia and Manila’s favorite event photographer Magic Liwanag. The second ShOPPO Livestream will be on May 29 from 4:00PM to 5:00PM via OPPO FB (fb.com/OPPOPH).

Learn, enjoy, and win prizes and discounts

Join Gabbi Garcia and Magic Liwanag as they share exclusive insights for your next social media photography and vlogging venture. Get tips and tricks as well on how to best enjoy your OPPO Reno3 through their personal demos of their favorite features.

Exciting games and freebies await for all viewers to enjoy when you join the livestream game, Wheel of OPPOrtune. In this game, the hosts will do a series of challenges related to the OPPO Reno3 series where viewers can participate. Each challenge can get you a chance to take home audiophile favorites - the OPPO Enco Q1 and OPPO Enco Free.

Greater deals in the extended #LiveItUp promo

OPPO is giving everyone another reason to be excited next month, as the deals and promos will be up until the end of June. Go right ahead and live it up with a quality smartphone that can get you through your days. Here are some of the #LiveItUp price drop promo’s great deals, for the best-selling OPPO A9 2020, A5s 3G, and Reno2 with up to Php3,000 savings:

A series:
- The A5S 3G is now priced at Php5,990 (previously at Php6,990).
- The A9 2020 is now priced at Php12,990 (previously at Php13,990).

Reno series:
- The Reno2 is now priced at Php25,990 (previously at Php28,990).

- The latest Reno3 priced at Php18,990 and the Reno3 Pro priced at Php28,990 come with a FREE Rockspace EB60 True Wireless Stereo Earbuds worth Php2,499 for every purchase. The special bundle is now extended until June 7.

Find series:
- The latest OPPO flagship offering Find X2 Pro is priced at Php65,990, and comes
with a FREE OPPO Enco Q1 worth Php 4,990.

The Big OPPO Sale runs until the end of June 2020 in all open OPPO Concept Stores and official dealer partners including e-commerce platform partners.

For more updates and a list of partner dealers, visit OPPO Philippines’ official social media pages via twitter.com/OPPOPhilippines, fb.com/OPPOPH/, and instagram.com/oppophilippines/.

After almost two months of being quarantined inside our house, I now have a new rival with my wife's attention. Aside from my kids, this South Korean heartthrob's shows and movies are now part of my wife's schedule. Yes, I'm talking about Hyun Bin, the lead actor of the Korean Drama series "Crash Landing On You" or CLOY. This guy has been the talk of every ladies, not probably all but most of the ladies that I know. His name has popped out on my social media walls before, especially during the peak of the series on Netflix.

The thought that almost all the ladies are head over heels with him will surely pique interest to know more the reasons why. The CLOY series has indeed won the hearts of its viewers because of its lead stars. Mesmerized, hypnotized, stupefied, or whatever you call that situation, the girls (even the boys) are becoming more than just a fan.

Now, and it's because of the hit series CLOY, Hyun Bin will be seen more often on billboards, commercials, and ads. Most probably will be visiting the Philippines soon, for the endorsement of a clothing brand named Bench. But because of the COVID-19 pandemic crises, fan meets, and other gatherings will probably be limited. We will wait and see what will happen next, whether the problem will escalate or gets better. But one thing is for sure he'll be endorsing the brand to the market.


So, here is a short and fair review of why the actor, Hyun Bin, is the right person for the brand.

• Bench is more relatively known for its serious good look, and Hyun Bin, based on his character in CLOY, represents a clean look of a military officer. Dignified, stern, and confident, that's how Hyun Bin plays the role of Captain Ri Jung Hyuk.
• Bench only picks the best, and Hyun Bin is one of the best South Korean actors, who happens to be the official Oppa of the Korean drama series CLOY. He has managed to move every human soul who has watched the series.
• One of Bench models that comes to mind when it is about clean, stern, powerful, and dominating aura, it's none other than Richard Gomez. Yes, I have thought that Hyun Bin is more likely of the same stand since they both have that manly look.
• Tall and broad shoulders are some of the qualities that are needed to project a quality fashion brand like Bench.
• Of course, the main feature or the primary requirement for a celebrity to endorse the brand is undeniably being a heartthrob and a hunk. And Hyun Bin has that features.

Of course, these are all my opinion based on Hyun Bin's portrayal of the character that he played. So, if you're a fan, I'm sure you know what I am trying to say here.


According to Bench's post on their Facebook page "Your Crush Landing Soon.", if he'll be trying to crash land here in the Philippines, let us hope that it is already safe and without COVID-19.

When the coronavirus disease was declared a global pandemic, Ateneo de Davao University immediately responded by preparing to hold classes online.

For several weeks, university officials, professors, and programmers met online to discuss and develop tools that would be needed by both students and teachers so that learning could continue while schools were closed. Teachers prepared instructional content in digital and video format, while student government officials helped in the dissemination of details to their schoolmates.

The university’s experience since 2013 of using the digital platform as one of its learning modes also helped students and teachers readily shift to online instruction for their summer classes on April 22, following the implementation of enhanced community quarantine in the region.

The students and their teachers met via Google Classroom and Moodle, and used social media, videoconferencing, and chat apps to communicate with each other. At home, their laptops, tablets, and mobile devices were connected to a reliable internet source.


“With the Covid-19 pandemic, people have to get used to a different way of interacting with one another. Through the internet, students have more freedom to think deeply about the learning material and do the tasks needed to accomplish their learning goals,” said AdDU executive vice president Jeremy S. Eliab.

Davao Christian High School encountered the same difficulty when it had to stop its classes six weeks before the end of its academic year. Like Ateneo, DCHS had also planned ahead.

Teachers were trained on the use of Google Classroom, and accounts for students were set up. The school had also been using the Dynamic Learning Program, where students answer questions on worksheets based on discussed lessons, helping them continue their classes even with minimal teacher intervention.

“Our online classes are far from perfect but I am very much encouraged with the discipline, hard work, and understanding our students and teachers have shown. The parents have also been very helpful in supporting the kids’ learning from home,” said Desi Dario Magnaye, junior high school principal of DCHS V. Mapa Campus.


To further support learning, AdDU provided their students and teachers with PLDT Home Prepaid Wi-Fi units, which could help them connect online and ensure uninterrupted learning. Ateneo also distributed 155 tablets and digital pencils to its scholars and financially challenged students.

With classes being accessed at home, studying has become easier for their children, according to Dr. Francis Ho and Phany Castillo-Ho. Their brood of three is all enrolled at DCHS.

Despite the lockdown, the couple remain busy at work, with Dr. Ho specializing in internal medicine and endocrinology and his wife running a hospice, palliative care and nursing home, and a small hotel. The hotel is being rented by a private firm as housing for its employees during the ECQ.

While the couple oversee the homeschooling of their children, they appreciate online learning. “Becoming our kids’ teachers and making sure they accomplish schoolwork on time and correctly can be quite a challenge. We have to relearn lessons we took more than 30 years ago. But it’s an opportunity to be more involved in their daily lives,” said Dr. Ho.

“The children are frustrated that they’re not allowed to leave the house and don’t have regular interactions with their classmates and teachers, but being able to spend more time together as a family helps,” added Ms Ho.


In a statement, AdDU president Fr. Joel E. Tabora SJ said staying at home was an opportunity for genuine academic growth. “In a dialogue with our students, in collaboration with the Commission on Higher Education and the Department of Education, we firmly believe that if we must stay at home to help preserve life, we must use the time at home productively,” Tabora said.