JENNYLYN MERCADO is the face of Beautéderm's CRISTAUX Threemendous Trio Serum Line

When you hear the name Jennylyn Mercado, you think of an actress who's got everything you want in one. She's the iconic "bhe", who's very kind, very down to earth, a mother, and wife to Dennis Trillo. It's been a while since we've seen her, but nothing seems to have changed. She's still the same beautiful woman we've adored since she won Starstruck.

Today was a special day, so Beautéderm threw her a welcome party. This is the day that they have also announced that she is the brand ambassador for the new CRISTAUX Three-mendous Trio. A line of serums meant to take care of the ravages of time, and day to day care for unblemished skin. One is the Skin Energizing Vitamin C, ZERUM Hydra Beauty Skin Brightening Serum (with Zinc), and my personal favorite the RETINOL Skin Repair Serum.

Beautéderm CEO Ms. Rei Tan and Jennylyn have been talking quite a lot through messages, but have never actually met in person. In the photoshoot for this campaign, they were finally able to do that.

Jennylyn says "When I met her, she was very nice, very humble, inspiring and I was very happy that this pushed through. We had to go through hurdles because when initial talks happened, I was pregnant and just gave birth. There were so many times we wanted to do this, but now it happened. She really took good care of me, she's a different person, it's in her nature to ask if I'm comfortable or I'm okay. She also asked if I was full, if the team was full, I was so happy to learn that I was in the right place."

She adds "When I got the serums at home, I immediately wanted to use it because I don't endorse anything that I don't personally use. I had to put it in my existing skin care regimen. I have very sensitive skin, and in fairness, I ended up with glowing skin. I use the Vitamin C Serum with facial wash and moisturizer. I use the Hydra Serum at night, but just do the retinol as needed. I usually go outdoors and ride motorcycles. I am exposed to the elements, and the sun. I sometimes suffer sun spots and pigmentation, I use the retinol for it including the age spots. I'm not young anymore so I do have fine lines and this takes care of that."

Ms. Rei Anicoche-Tan remarks "If you're a Beautéderm baby, there's something in common about us.. there's a glow. Even with light makeup, you can see that in our endorsers. Jen will be the face of all of our facial products, but we are promoting this new line. You can see this being used by me, and our endorsers. We only get people who love and know about the products, and she's the perfect one to represent that. I'm very proud of our ambassadors, even the guys, we just don't get endorsers just because of face value because consumers are smart now. They know if they use the product and if they want to emulate, they've got Beautéderm behind them. They believe and buy because of that." 

Here's the rest of the event on video, please enjoy!

Beautéderm wants you to age less and glow more with the new THREE-mendous Trio. Now is the time to add serums in your existing skincare routine especially if you feel like you are aging a bit. Not when it's too late!

Congratulations Jen! Thank you Ms. Rei for always having us in your events... and of course, taking care of our skin! I love your BEAU and new CRISTAUX line, plus that lovely detangle Brush which I use on a daily basis! 

Zubiri Points Out What Should Be Addressed in Upcoming SONA

The SONA or State of the Nation Address will be happening on July 22nd. This is the third time the President is doing it. Before that, Senator Zubiri laid a few concerns of Filipinos that should be discussed, which he hopes the President would do in his term.

He says "The country could have been an upper middle income economy by year 2028, but this has been dampened by high inflation. The high price of rice, usual commodities affects the ordinary working class. It is essential that the growth seen with the GDP translates into good things in the daily lives of Pinoys. He should also address the minimum wage, increase it. Maybe a new wage law, acted upon, and not just sit in the house of representatives. Aside from the wage hike, food security should be prioritized at this time."

These are just some of the things he deem important to be addressed at the upcoming SONA. The former Senate President has been working hard in making sure his peers at the Senate do the same for the development of the country. The SONA is the best platform to not just show what he has done, but what plans he have to make sure that all the gains he has done in the past year would continue in the future.

ANDREA BRILLANTES Takes TWO with DEAR FACE

Your lovely Blythe showed up for media and corporate executives as she gets additional years as the face of Dear Face Beauty Melon Milk.

It was held at Lore Manila, served food by Chef Tatung. The feeling was so festive as the high selling Beauty Milk Melon Milk was laid on installations depicting the Hamptons. During the event, it was announced that she will be continuing her contract for an additional 2 years, which we think is well deserved. Andrea has been really one hardworking woman in terms of promoting the drink on her socials, she also takes the time to talk about it with friends, family, her fans, and followers.

Founder and CEO Ms. Jonah says "We wanted to renew our partnership with Andrea even if our initial contract hasn't ended because we have a genuine bond with Blythe. She is also an effective endorser, one that converts sales. She's the real thing."

No wonder she's been renewed for 2 more years. An effective endorser would really take the brand to places they've never been. She's lovely, and loves the product sincerely even before she was the endorser for this brand. Congratulations Andrea! You've taken a courageous step with Dear Face Beauty Milk Melon, and have done so much as a friend and endorser.

VIC SOTTO is the face of PlayTime

 

He's a host of the longest noontime show in the Philippines, an actor with blockbuster films in his belt, a producer and one of the most revered comedians in the country, VIC SOTTO and today, he's adding another feather to his hat.

He was introduced as the face of the fastest growing online gaming platform in the country called PlayTime. He says "I'm sure there's a lot of people out there who are fond of playing, this is exciting! For those who are now our Ka-PlayTimes, make sure you enjoy every minute of it. Of course, I would strongly advise you to game responsibly and remember to share the fun because PlayTime na!"

The executives from PlayTime also told us about their remarkable growth these past few months which include over 30-40 percent increase. Currently, they have over 1 Million active users that play a whopping 2,500 games on the platform which are all easy to access. They are also PAGCOR recognized, and they got us to try the games to get a gist of it. This platform is accessible at PlayTime.ph and doesn't need any extra app to be installed on your phone because a browser would do.

Best of all, they have guaranteed withdrawals in 10 minutes. New players also get 3,875 free bonus, something that could start the ball rolling so you could try it out, and win!

They also have cashback and can be accessed via GCash or Maya directly. Just look for the PlayTime under Enjoy>Games on GCash. For Maya, just access it under More>Do More>Lucky Games and choose PlayTime. Vic Sotto is certainly one of the most trusted endorsers for products and services in the country, and him being the face of PlayTime would mean double the fun especially if you are looking for entertainment. Recently, they also took part in the 60th Anniversary celebration of Binibining Pilipinas and their chosen charities.

Congratulations to Bossing Vic Sotto for being part of the PlayTime family. Again, there's 2500 things you could do there, if Vic Sotto's enjoying every bit of it, why shouldn't you?!

Affordable Coffee IS Possible with Great Taste Dark Latte

I've been a fan of coffee since I've had it with rice. No joke lol.

These days, I'd say I love the convenience of just getting them off the shelf and taking it ultra cold from the refrigerator before I do something at work. Surely, everyone would have had a habit of doing that if it wasn't super expensive because as you know, the ones out in the market are usually pricey.

Great Taste knows you need coffee when you need it. So at this day and age, they're giving you the options you deserve. Dark Latte for flavor, and a price that you wouldn't resist, because this bottle of Great Taste only costs Php 20.

This is inspired by cold brew, and has a strong but creamy flavor. It also is very handy, easy to put in the fridge, could be a better daily drink. Go check out Great Taste's social channels to know more about it. I've tried this from a convenience store and loved it. It's your turn!

HONOR 200 5G Excels in Portraits, AI Functions to be Added Soon

Honor Philippines just launched their newest phones today, the HONOR 200 5G and the HONOR 200 Pro 5G.

The phone boasts of a camera that has been worked on by Paris based Harcourt Studio, who specializes in portraits. Now it's actually easier to take quality shots with this AI Portrait Master. They've been doing this since 1934, so they certainly know what they are talking about.

This partnership is backed up by real engineering, and experience of shooting actors. We did the same shoot with equally talented photographer Borgy Angeles a few weeks ago, and with a Harcourt Studio filter, you can expect dramatic results.

SMART OMEGA Empress takes on female ML gaming to the next level by using HONOR 200 phones in their games, promising eSports athletes!

JBL is making sure you get the best audio experience by throwing in a Php 9,499 worth the JBL Soundgear Frames when you pre-order!

The new phone make portraits like the real thing. It enhances the shot with Harcourt vibrant portrait style, classic and black and white. It's something that exudes emotion on photos, pretty good feature for phones that is photo-centric. It also has AI Creation through an update soon, something to look forward to in the near future. 

It also will have AI eraser so if you are shooting in a crowd, it's gonna disappear instantly. An AI Portrait Master. Design wise, they did it in matte and glossy, so the colors shine on its back cover. It has Super Vivid Display, dynamic dimming so you don't experience screen irritation. Uses Honor Eye Comfort display technology and Snapdragon 83 Gen 3, making it more powerful than its predecessors. It also has better fps when gaming, uses Silicon Carbon batteries able to charge 50 percent in 15 minutes. This is through 66W Supercharge ability, and that's just the start.

I've used the phone quite a lot these past few weeks on our coverages and shooting celebrities, so far, I love the photo quality especially the portraits I take. It does make a lot of difference when you use an HONOR phone, the HONOR 200 5G and the HONOR 200 5G Pro might be your best bet when you plan to get a new one. Check their social channels for more information, but in my books, the portraits produce drama... something that you should consider if you often take photos of yourself or other people. Some really good AI functionality will be added on updates soon, something that's exciting to see soon!

Get Ready for "Bountiful Blooms": The 1st Philippine International Flower Festival

If you are fond of flowers, flower arrangements, science and the art, you're about to get a happy pill this coming September as the 1st Philippine International Flower Festival entitled "BOUNTIFUL BLOOMS" happens at the SPACE at One Ayala in Makati City.

Convenor Jerry Sibal says "This is the first International Flower Festival. On September 19-22, our homeland will be the place to hold PHILIFF where floral designers, landscaping, trade show, exhibit for ikebana, the art of Bonsai, and Orchids. This will also be the venue for a Fashion Show together with international artists. Last year, I told them about the Flower Festival, and we now have people from the government and the private sector to help me make it happen. This Bloombee here is simple, but we are making a full bloomed one in September, so you better be back soon. In Atok Benguet, we have a huge cut flower industry and putting them into the 40 Billion dollar global export market will surely boost the industry. Aside from these, we are also trying to promote local farm tourism, and grow flowers like Tulips, those from New York locally through hydroponics. We have 350 flower farms all over the country. We also need to educate through forums, you'll be surprised how fast this would grow."

There will also be Floral Art Installations, the whole second Floor of One Ayala will be having over 80 booths, 4 huge displays in the center and the floral fashion show installation.

Table pieces will also be showcased as part of the design for entertaining and this will be historical. This is Sibal's way of giving back, to the industry and country. He will also be displaying a few well loved PH bred Waling Waling at the exhibit, dedicated to the orchid lovers and collectors.

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They need Bloombee sponsors to help them support more farmers, their CSR efforts will include the Bloombee Park which will host the fashion show, international participants, so you can experience what they do outside the country. Workshops and seminars will be posted soon. Make sure you follow the Philippine International Flower Festival social channels and official website to know more about how you can participate. There's no competition, the community will benefit from it.

Head on to philiff.com for tickets and updates about the event. If you want to participate or become a sponsor, they have it at the official website. This is supported by Ayala, and from the looks of it... it's blooming!

DITO Mobile Offers Postpaid FLEXPlans

Looks like DITO Mobile is aggressively taking on mobile networks as they offer new prepaid offers through their new FLEXPlans, but made more affordable with different options.

SIM Only or with a Phone

FLEXPlan 388 for example is a SIM Only plan so if you have an existing phone, you can just get the sim. This would make you save because you don't have to shell out money for the monthly payment of a handset. Although with DITO, you can get the handsets in affordable terms too. Either or, you get Unlimited 5G data connection or set data packages from authorized stores nationwide.

You can also opt for premium handsets if you prefer one, to each his own. Here's a preview on my IG reel.

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Now if you're looking for DITO offers, you know where to go. Follow DITOPHOfficial on social channels.

Senator Loren Legarda Issues Statement on Philippine-Japan RAA

About a week ago, the Philippines and Japan signed an agreement which they call RAA (Reciprocal Access Agreement) which would make it possible for Filipino soldiers to train in Japan as part of their defense cooperation. Honorable Senator Loren Legarda is serving her 4th term, and this landmark agreement will surely be affecting a lot of our decisions and foreign policies. Here's a statement from the environmental superhero:

Seeing the positive impact of this particular agreement and advantages especially for the Pacific region and national security, our allies certainly will be instrumental in making sure we won't get bullied in our own turf. The Senator's support for the ratification of this agreement in the Senate will become instrumental in the formalization of its terms, and hopefully would become advantageous to both parties in this very volatile time.

Here's to championing not just environmental causes, but issues of national interest! Cheers!

Artists Call for Mutual Support at Puregold "Nasa Atin Ang Panalo" Thanksgiving Concert

Just got off the Puregold "Nasa Atin Ang Panalo" Thanksgiving Concert. This wasn't just a showcase of Filipino talent, but a call of sorts for fans to stay away from negativity. See, the boys and girls from BINI, SB19, SunKissed Lola and Flow G probably have seen some toxic fans pit them against each other, but what they don't realize is that they're all good friends in real life. I absolutely love how they took time to address that during the event, and why it is important to support each other rather than try push out people from the pedestal. After all, OPM Artists should always lift each other up, the entertainment they provided that evening, was short of AMAZING!

Before the show, they had front acts from KAHEL, ESAY and Letters From June. Part of the reason why they are doing this is because of Puregold's 25th Year Anniversary. They are also almost 500 strong as far as stores go, imagine, they only started with one at Shaw Boulevard a couple years back. It's a proud moment, and this concert is the ultimate way of them giving back. This is to thank you for the years of supporting them, by bringing together the BIGGEST acts in the OPM industry.

I had goosebumps once BINI went up on stage. Their demeanor, their happy disposition was certainly contagious. They reiterated how Blooms and A'Tin's should remain positive and support each other. I totally agree!

Then they surprised us during the Salamin Salamin part by having SB19's Justin perform with them. It was crazy to see that happen! Then during SB19's performance, all the ladies from BINI joined in during the GENTO number. Seeing them do that just sealed the deal, it felt so right, "Nasa Atin Ang Panalo!" indeed!

More photos and videos are going to be posted on the Puregold social channels, make sure you follow them for the actual music videos they are going to be in.

If you want to see the performances, check out @kumagcow on TikTok and follow our channels because if it's happening, it's on KUMAGCOW.COM!

Impressive Vivobook S15 S5507 Out with Copilot+

ASUS Philippines just made "creativity" easier with their newest Vivobook S15 S5507. This is different than my S15 made a couple years ago because this one not only has hardware upgrades, but has Copilot+ in it. It's an AI feature on the OS that can help you get information, create unique content fast because it helps you do things in a jiffy.

Harrison Cheng the new Business Development Manager of ASUS says "We always have something up our sleeve because we have 35 incredible years of innovation. The new Vivobook S15 is your first ASUS Copilot+ PC. We have worked with Microsoft for years and we have a broader mission to be in the forefront of AI and Copilot + PC category. This will redefine the way you use your pc. It utilizes Snapdragon X Elite Processor, which empowers you and turn ideas into where magic happens. It turns dreams into reality, it is intelligent computing, the power of Snapdragon."

The Vivobook embodies creativity and it has grown to match any lifestyle. From their Vivobook Go, Vivobook S and Vivobook Pro, the newest one is the Vivobook S15 S5507. It is slimmer, strong and sophisticated. It is also tougher than the rest, unprecedented performance and efficiency, faster in multi core tasks. It's also got a huge battery life, you get 18 hours battery life. You also get OLED Display, gives you a dynamic audio and immersive experience. You can also personalize your rgb keyboard, and can work smoothly even without the help of your mouse. They also have full io ports, and ASUS AI Apps plus Copilot PC+ Microsoft Windows 11 AI features you need for daily work.

The Vivobook S15 S5507 costs Php 84,995 and is part of their Cool for School Promo. You can get a Php 15,990 worth merch together with the laptop if you purchase and register before August 15th. It's a workhorse, something you can use for work, school and play. AI certainly has changed the landscape of laptop computers. If you are looking for one, ASUS has lots of them in stores and authorized retailers.

BLACK RIDER Readies for FINALE WEEK on GMA

Direk Rommel Penesa was so happy about how Black Rider turned out. It has exceeded expectations, and the long time it's been on TV plus the ratings are proof of it. We got to talk to the cast and the people behind the show this afternoon. Thing is, Black Rider will have it's FINALE Week on July 22nd, and there are big things happening in the show.

Ruru Madrid says "I have learned a lot from doing this series, starting from LOLONG, then this one, it feels good to see how their kids actually emulate my character. It's what I always put as a goal, I know what to do in the next projects. In the past, I only dream about it but now they all send me videos, of them living their hero dreams. Eversince, I've always wanted to become an actor, to achieve that and see people dream like me, doing this series, I hope to do a film in the future. I also want to Direct, as I've been watching Direk Rommel Penesa do it. I hope the network trusts me even more in the future. Working with Yassi was quite easy, she really collaborative. She asks the questions to make the scenes better. My character made me realize that we go through things in life, but it's up to us to be consumed by the depression, he needed help and got it from the people around him. He wouldn't survive without them, and that's what I learned about this character. Everyone can be a hero, without super powers, you can help and people can be inspired from that. If we have a book 2, I hope Elias gets out of the tiring vengeance trail. Black Rider needs a change, to fight for others, the small things he can do everyday."

Yassi Pressman says "It's been a roller coaster ride, to my Black Rider family, Vanessa was a joy to do. She's something I've never done before, she loves her family, and with the new revelations, there's just so many emotions to do because I have amnesia, I have to do so many things because there are people brainwashing her. For anything, the experiences I've had with the people will always be cherished. I would say this has really shown what I could do as an actress. With the help of good script writing, there's heart, love, friendship, it's a colorful life. I've always loved working with Ruru because we have done Video City. He also helps me improve what we do, because he's a real good actor. I have a few things lined up this year and next year, hopefully I could tell you about it soon. In life the challenges we face, we always should be positive. You need to find people who can help, especially the important ones, follow your heart, listen to yourself more than anything. Smile, put that energy out there, be kind." 

Jon Lucas adds "Calvin Magallanes won't exist without the help of other actors. The Director also reminds me much of who he is, portraying him is really challenging. My Papa Sir Raymond Bagatsing really told me about playing villains, and the attack is different. Their help and support is instrumental, they take out a lot out of me. Calvin is a really tough person, he wants to fight for what he feels is right. He is just a little hot headed, but he's someone that gives it all. I will miss a lot of people, even before we were launched, I felt I wouldn't be doing much without this. I really had to learn the ropes, from writers, Director, the actors, I will miss them all. I thought this was going to run til December. They gave me a lot of things to think about. Maybe in the next saga, there will be a lot of women empowerment line. A woman by his side, maybe something fun with the story."

Herlene Budol says "The work with Empoy is hard, when you look at him, you can't be serious and I lose character because I am a fan of him. A little move, a little conversation, I laugh at him. Chemistry wise, I enjoy our moments together, we really have to make landi when we are on set. When I finished Magandang Dilag and guested here, I thought it was just a short stint. I think the impact this gave me was huge, because the action sequences are hard. The artists are also big, I'm having separation anxiety already. I learned a lot to listen with co actors, to focus because there are a lot of things I had to understand what the Director wanted me to do. The blocking was another thing, you have to dedicate a lot. I still have a lot in the near future, but couldn't say it yet. You'll have a lot of things to look forward with Budol. My fights with Hector makes me so drained at the end of the day. I feel it physically and emotionally. I take it home sometimes. Aleck Bovick tells me a lot where her slaps would land, I adapt a lot of techniques from her and do it on other scenes."

 

Empoy says "I didn't really have a hard time doing this because my characters are fun, and the people I work with are so nice. When I wake up, I just pray, clean my teeth, look at the script, wear my Black Rider wardrobe and that's it."

Raymond Bagatsing says "Playing Senor Edgardo according to the script is both intriguing and fascinating. As the story went along, he didn't want to become that guy, because his life is hard, and I trust the process of letting the script reveal where my character would go to. It's a collaboration, it's something that I don't realize later on. It's a beautiful set, actors, crew and staff, I think that's how my character bloomed in the story. I can only wish he be happy later on, but I don't really know what will happen to him in the TV series. As Edgardo, he kinda accepts his fate, that's how he is. He doesn't look for pleasure with other people. Elias being his son, and his other son, plus reconciliation with Alma, he deserves to be happy in the next scenes."                

The plan is to close the stories of the characters. It's going to be realistic according to head writer Erwin Bravo. If you are hoping for a next season, it looks positive. The stories will be continued especially for the main story. It's going to be as Filipino themed as possible, it's the promise of Black Rider. Make sure you watch the finale week starting on the 22nd of this month.

This is under GMA Public Affairs, and from the looks of it... they're going to have more programs in the pipeline that's waiting to be discovered!