Mark Michael Garcia is turning a new leaf in his career. The very talented man who won "Tawag ng Tanghalan" as the Ultimate Resbaker a few years ago literally got stuck in limbo when the pandemic happened just when he was about to lay plans for his career and music. This year, he's sporting a new moniker as "MMG", which makes sense as it feels more catchy and current. Aside from that, he just got the nod of composer songwriter Allan Rich who did Whitney Houston's "Run To You" single for the movie "The Bodyguard". Together with Jud Friedman, they gifted him the rights to release the actual original song this 4th of July in streaming platforms worldwide. They caught him performing his James Ingram medley on the internet and was impressed, they got in touch and yes, the rest is history!
We heard him a few days ago and by any standards, he's magnificent! Together with the single release, he's going to have a concert entitled CODE NAME: MMG which will happen on August 2 at the Samsung Music Hall in SM Aura BGC. He promises to perform new songs and covers that you might not have heard before. This is produced by Chef Jeng Sy Flores who also owns Heavenly Desserts by Chef Jeng and District One Gastrolounge in BGC.
Here's what happened at the press conference
Tomorrow, please tune in to Cornerstone Entertainment's channels as this heavily awaited single will be shown there.
I'll update this post with the actual RUN TO YOU (alternative version) so you could witness his great work. By the way, he won a Best Male Vocalist award in the US, and some talk of him joining THE VOICE USA is also in the works. I'm sure he's going to blow the competition away!
Another fashion show happened at the Light and Love Events place in Quezon City. This was organized by TRA or The Runway Atelier, folks who have been doing events and runway training for promising kids, teens and talents. Since it's June, they entitled it REVERIE and had much of the models on the catwalk dressed in wedding attires. They also did a back to school themed runway walk together with bag brand Kittly Manila, and it was so cute to see them carrying backpacks in different shades amidst having very challenging weather that afternoon.
I've managed to take a few good portraits of the kids and the teens later on in the evening. They're really quite fired up and eager to showcase what they learned from The Runway Atelier Model Runway Training. A few of them performed too. They've got very talented singers and spirited dancers bar none. I heard a person comment beside me and said they weren't doing any of these when they were in their age. I see some of them learning a lot in terms of confidence, because performing in front of people including their families must have been scary. They also had a part of the show where they asked Dads to dance with their daughters, they were a little shy at most.
Here are scenes from the runway show:
The Good News!
TRA Spokesperson Juls Natividad told us the good news that they'll be sending candidates of the Mr. and Ms. Tourism Junior 2025 to be held in Bangkok, Thailand. They opened casting for it and much of The Runway Atelier kids participated. Basically it's an international event that will also be participated by other countries. They'll be doing several categories, and he mentioned some special awards were already won in previous years.
They also hinted on a very big event on December and said they're already preparing for it. He warned that they'll be making an even bigger staging than last year so expect this to be extra fancy. They also had a part of the show where they donated school supplies and bags to deserving students, they also let them participate in the runway part of the program.
Congratulations to everyone who came to the show despite the challenges, it was really fun! Congratulations too to The Runway Atelier for mounting the show!
Social media has been abuzz about the effects of g@ming even the terms used with it. It has been a huge concern, as individuals and families get affected, and really, we understand their worries. Back in 2024, the folks from DigiP|us Interactive Corp have ready started campaigning for responsible g@ming. They have already made a framework and this year, continued to strengthen it even inside their brand applications and developed tools for self exclusion, safeguards and communities which they've done for folks across the country. They've been doing this for balanced and responsible pl@y across several of their platforms. They also have done KYC initiatives for security, to limit these for adults, and cross check it with their database for those restricted to do it.
They also have extremely popular ambassadors speaking about these issues like Vice Ganda, Kiefer Ravena and their families. They have reiterated that this form of entertainment should not be the sole activity to earn, they even did several campaigns in short films to make sure the message comes across different demographics. They also train their employees as they walk the talk, as this is their social responsibility. That's quite good to know no?
While the industry is still aiming for experience, facial care centre has been at it for 43 years. They've been really taking care of their clients skin that long and this year, they're committing to even better things with their thrust on giving you the "Skin You Deserve". This means planning ahead, making it a sustainable one, doing it long term using their expertise so you would have something tailored, unique to every client that walks through their doors.
They have Ara Davao to represent them saying "At facial care centre, my skin journey was built on trust and expert care. This was where I had a genuine connection with them. They listen and I feel really taken cared of when I visit their clinic. I've experienced results and seen some other clients say the same on socials. They are experts in their field and have a lot less experiments when getting treatments."
Ara also fancies the Oxygen Cell Renewal Therapy and LaserLight which she's done for anti ageing and hair removal. She also does facials plus things to rid of fine lines, pigmentation, acne too. Facial Care Centre also has Exoderm that uses exosome tech and micro needling for skin issues that are also closely monitored by experts so you get the skin you deserve.
If you want to experience it too, head on to facial care centre branches or get in touch with them via their social channels. They're very eager to help!
Looks like the folks from LG are taking the next step in making sure you don't just have the latest technology in your home, but have it create even more meaningful connections in a campaign called "RADIO OPTIMISM" available at radiooptimism.lg.com/en. As you may know, they've been carrying the call "Life's Good" all these years, and the time to make it felt can be done through music.
In an ere where folks on social media often put up a face that's not as the ones they carry in real life, there needs to be a way to take out those superficial connections we're being drowned in. LG wants it to be deeper, so all of us would have an even more fulfilling life. Now there should be happiness, deeper and meaningful relationships. We'd have to make sure shallow relationships wouldn't be part of our lives. Real friends should be there for each other, and that takes a lot of nurturing, including ways that may look unconventional, but effective. It invoke emotions, become a channel to release one's personality. It's also something to express yourself, and even make it interactive. With the site you can send it to your loved ones, and take it even more personal with music, even album art, wherever they are in the world. It's available in English and Spanish, something that could get you break barriers. If you would like to know more about this and the campaign, try it out on the site mentioned above, or follow their social channels where they talk about it lengthily. Just search LG Philippines.
I live around this neighborhood and I'm sure just like me, you've got an Abenson appliance center near you. The good news is, that they've partnered with popular home entertainment brand Haier partnered with them as they launch the new Haier Mini LED TV. Funny thing is, there's nothing mini about its features which Filipinos would definitely love.
For starters, it's designed impeccably. They imagined this to fit in Philippine homes, with very immersive and accurate colors. It also can do ultra clear 4K videos, which you can now enjoy at the comforts of your home.
Their event was entitled "Where Color Meets Innovation", something that Haier has already been doing with their previous products. They're leaders in making smart homes, and making sure you have a smarter way of living. Ms. Apple Ma the Marketing Head of Abenson professed how they wanted to help families upgrade their entertainment space and make sure you have something good in the Filipino living rooms.
They also have an exclusive discount for those who would want to reserve one early. A whopping 12,000 pesos off the unit is going to be offered plus free delivery. They also will be giving other terms for the bigger sets which means you get more than what you pay for!
The event was also graced Mr. Xuhong Yan their CEO and President plus Ms. Joy De Leon who unveiled the new Haier Mini LED TV. It's super nice, perfect for series, movies and even games because of the True Color Pro Technology. Hours and hours of entertainment is going to be available for you. They also announced that this is just going to be the beginning so expect more to come out in the coming months. Make sure you follow their social channels so you get to know more about it!
Back to school season means lots of workload, but you have to boost productivity to make sure you get the job done. Doing more with quality is certainly something kids or adults would welcome, but what if you get distracted? Those cat videos surely got you occupied huh?!
Jian Liu the head of Canon's Consumer Imaging says "We welcome you here in our back to school event. Creativity is always important, we hope today we get to support you with the right tools, because with it, there is no limit."
These days printing and writing still matters. It boosts creativity and it makes you grasp more information. Printing out reviewers actually is proven to work better to retain memory, understand content too. This includes writing by hand which is important in organization and expressing thoughts. It is also better for recall, and it is good for parents to teach their kids to do so.
Check out these wonderful things we saw being done by Canon printers!
Canon printers are definitely designed for that. The convenient printing it does goes a long way because it is low cost , easy to maintain and worry free in after sales support. Their printers have the capability to do a lot of things, and wouldn't run out on you much because of their mega tanks that bring mega value, it decreases your cost to print especially if you use it everyday.
Eric Villanueva the head of Canon's Corporate Communications adds "We always have smart solutions to increase productivity, creativity and let you experience fun like what you saw today. Share the word and let your friends know about what we can do with our printers."
To make it easier for you to test out the new printer models and have a feel of it, Canon is visiting DLSU CSB from July 23-24, FEU on August 4, UST on August 11, Assumption on August 18, Ateneo on August 25th, Miriam College and Lyceum too. You can use the printers for wireless and creative materials on the spot. You'll have lots of fun like we did!
I got to print out what I shot last night, and by the looks of it, things look really cool! If you are planning to get a workhorse printer, take a look at Canon printers especially during this back to school season. They've been in the business for years for a reason, because for them the possibilities are inkfinite!
It's been a while since I've last seen Daniel Padilla, one of the most sought after actors in the country. Life certainly happened, but we got news that he's going to renew ties with Cebu based coffee brand Don Macchiatos Philippines. Honestly, it's the first time for me to hear about them, but learned how they've managed to thrive as an SME, slowly grown even when the country was battling through the pandemic. They're nothing short of a miracle, and now has more than a thousand branches across the country.
Would you imagine, they all started from a small street side kiosk that had one goal, to provide quality but affordable coffee and beverages for the common folk. I entered the event area seeing one of their kiosks on the side of the venue where they were serving some of their top drinks. One thing caught my attention, the price posted said 39 PESOS on it. The event was graced by Don Macchiatos Don Macchiatos CEO Nickie San Juan, their COO Marc Anthony Abangan and their General Manager Ariel Alegado. We asked them about the business and reasons why Daniel Padilla gets top choice for their brand ambassador.
Ms. Nickie says "We are really excited to renew our partnership with him because he's been with us since day 1. When we planned to cover Luzon to expand, Deej is someone who really had it in him. He really helped us big time in brand awareness while we were expanding here in Luzon.
GM Ariel Alegado adds "DJ is very talented, very humble, just like Don Macchiatos, we came from very humble beginnings, but now we are available nationwide. Aside from that, Daniel's team was such a breeze to work with. He's also very approachable so we didn't have problems working with him. No other endorser would be able to do that but him."
Mr. Abangan says "You will expect an even bigger campaign with Daniel, more collaborations, and even more product innovations. We are also announcing our efforts to go GLOBAL. Our first project is to reach UAE/Dubai, the city of gold. Please wait as we reveal more of our plans in the coming months."
Daniel was very excited about this partnership and says "I wasn't much of a coffee drinker in the past but only learned while doing INCOGNITO because we start shooting at 4am in the morning. We live a soldier's life out there and I'm not used to sleeping early and waking up at that time. Tito Ian and the rest of the cast really influenced me to appreciate coffee then. I also drink a lot of water and get so much energy from it. I'm more of a mocha person or prefer the classic Americano."
He adds "Sir Marc and Ms. Nickie was such a breeze to work with. That's what I look for these days, it's the relationships that becomes important for me. The time we've spent together, we've become really good friends rather than me just being an endorser for their products. That's what's important for me these days. They trust me and I'm very thankful for that. I'm happy to be part of this family."
Here's the press conference on video:
Asked how they were able to make the prices low, COO Marc Anthony Abangan explained they only purchase much of their products locally and even do it by bulk which gives them a lot of room to sell their drinks at a really affordable price. Their model is certainly unusual, but so far, they've managed to do it and replicate their practices wherever they put branches. They're still looking for more franchisees, so if you're interested just message their social channels so they could hook you up with DON MACCHIATOS. Daniel is even quite excited because he believes in the business so much that he also has opened branches of his own (lest not divulge where!). He's also excited how he would be able to continue helping them grow, and is optimistic to help local businesses like theirs be even bigger in the coming years.
I'd like to say congratulations and here's to more branches to DON MACCHIATOS, I hope to see more of you in Manila because those that I've tried at the event that afternoon were really nice.
Looks like it's going to be an even brighter day for children with cleft lip and palate as they're going to have more smiles formed with popular health brand Watsons and the folks from best selling mouthwash Listerine.
They're addressing the 200k backlog of cases in the country by making sure they benefit from each sale of products from Listerine. This will benefit several of their surgeries, speech therapies, nutrition programs, hygiene kits, and education in various communities too. This is Asia Pacific wide and it has been going on for a while now. You can give a pledge too on Listerine booths across Watsons branches and the P10 for every bottle will fund the programs and it will start from April 17th til the end of the year.
Their hope is that you too will spark awareness, become starters to donate, volunteer and refer patients if needed be. Be part of the solution, and take part of their efforts especially in Watsons branches nationwide!
It must have been a very lucky night for 5 folks as they drank their way to fortune with the Ginebra San Miguel "Gin is In, Gin to Win, Ginstanalo" promo. All they did was purchase participating products from Ginebra San Miguel and saw under the caps prizes like they've never seen before!
Congratulations to Romeo de Asis of Daraga Albay, Antonio Castro from Olongapo City in Pampanga, Joel Sindao of San Mateo in Isabela, Walter Tamboa from Laoag City in Ilocos Norte, and finally Sarah Marie Cortuna from Abra de Ilog in Occidental Mindoro.
There is still time to cop these prizes as the promo will last until July 31st. Aside from the 1 Million grand prize, they have the much coveted Ginebra Jerseys, motorbikes, and several cash prizes in denominations from 10K to 100K pesos!
So if you are fond of Ginebra San Miguel, GSM Blue, GSM Premium Gin, that Primera Light Brandy, or the fancy Vino Kulafu, just look under the caps and who knows, you might be the next one to win the big prize!
If you need more info, just check Barangay Ginebra on FB because it's all there!
Renowned chain of dental clinics Smile 360 just held SMILE360CON 2025 at the F1 Hotel in Bonifacio Global City. This is an annual event for their corp, patrons and partners to celebrate their milestones every year. They've had very humble beginnings, from a quaint 20 square meter space, they now have a lot of branches in Metro Manila and nearby provinces. This is also the opportune time to introduce new brand ambassadors, folks who would want to put their message across because they want to do it quite differently.
Ms. Janna Miniella Gonzales the CEO of Smile 360 Dental Clinic says "All of our ambassadors and influencers are in one room, it's so nice to see that. We are celebrating a milestone, thank you to the press and new endorsers who you'll all see later. We believe that we need to cater to diverse kinds of clients, the dental care needs of Filipinos varies. The purpose of Smile360con is to get a range of influencers and celebrities that
people an relate to. We have Tiktokers, veterans from film and TV, actors and actresses that could set examples, and let people know that we can do complex cases. Our company wants to elevate dental care in the country while making sure it remains affordable. We are very careful about our messaging and we want to tap the right market with the right brand ambassador. The goal is to bring affordable dental care that remains accessible for Filipinos."
Here's more of our talk with her earlier:
True to what Ms. Janna says, she has signed several artists like international actress Mercedes Cabral, veteran actor Mr. Rey PJ Abellana, the super cute Xia Vigor (whom we were quite surprised with because she's already a lady!), the folks from Star Image particularly Mr. David Bhowie aka Hungry Boss, viral gigil kid Carlo Mendoza, the very entertaining Vince Apostol aka Kapitan VJ plus the super famous "You Do Note Girl" MAJO who was such a spirited dancer! To date, they have over 20 clinics nationwide and the variety was evidently done to make sure there's representation so folks could see themselves with these individuals as they start their journey with SMILE 360 Dental Clinic.
@kumagcow "Majo" is a nickname for Marjorry Lingat, also known as the "You Do Note" girl who gained popularity for her videos and is now building an online presence as an influencer. She was first known for her viral "You Do Note" video when she was 9 years old. #tiktokshowbizreporter #tiktoktainmentph #tiktoktainment ♬ original sound - John Bueno
One thing I'd love to tell you is that when we talked to their resident Doctor/Dentist and partner Franchesca De Castro is that they don't really just do procedures like clockwork. They get to know their patients, show them the pros and cons, even treat them like family which for me is a huge plus. If you would like to try and see how they take pride with their work, visit their social channels or visit any of their clinics in Metro Manila. Another thing they announced is that they're planning to expand to United Arab Emirates (Dubai) as they see a huge demand for their services there too, especially for overseas Filipino workers.
Congratulations Smile 360 Dental Clinic! Can't wait to visit soon!
RLC
Residences and Robinsons Land did a developer curated event at the
Bridgetowne grounds called Hello Home Forever 2025. This is an expo
designed for those looking for the best deals for condo and home units
so you can find where to Raise, Live and Connect in any of their
communities. This is the place where you can take a look at your prospect homes (existing ones), investments (soon to rise units) from the folks of RLC Residences. This will run from today until June 22, so you've got a lot of time to do it especially in the weekend.
Mr. John Richard Sotelo the CMO of Robinsons Land says "It's our 45th anniversary and this brings
to life how we welcome people in our properties. We would like to thank
everyone who went here today and we bid you Hello Home Forever!"
The first part of the tent houses registration and yes, they accept walk ins too. The middle part of the tent has several display units so you could physically see the space, with furniture and all. The end part of the tent has a huge lane for what you need to make it YOUR HOME. It's got the home decor vendors, bank home loan firms and the stage where a few celebrities would appear (I heard Heart Evangelista is coming!). For those interested, they'll be including talks by Charm De Leon from Ready2Adult PH, Mayora Frances Cabatuando of Home Buddie and more. They also will have talks so you would be better informed about the properties that they have. Else, you can have one on one consultations with their real estate reps at the venue.
Their huge tent is located a few minutes away from OPUS Mall, but better yet, just search for Nearby Mercato Central on Grab and it'll have you dropped off at the main entrance. I've been there and enjoyed it!
Taking a huge jump at the recent Fortune Southeast Asia 500 list is digital entertainment corp DigiP|us. This is the 2nd year that they've managed to be included and has been one of the fastest growing companies in the region. As compared to last year, they have managed to overtake 259 other companies and has shown bullish growth according to 2024 figures and financial performance.
They have expanded with their platforms ArenaP|us, B!ng0P|us and G4meZon3 with innovations and spearheaded CSR campaigns as part of their responsibilities. Their chairman Eusebio Tanco deem this as a momentum for an even greater purpose including needed tax from responsible g4ming. They also made programs through their foundations for matters concerning education, healthcare and plans for community development as part of their efforts.
All you need to do is watch them soar and see why their social projects are also giving impact to communities here in other provinces. They plan to do even more!
I dread the commercialization of holidays, and June as Pride Month is no exception. Just like them, I feel it should be celebrated everyday. It should be celebrated, but not forget the reason why it is being done. There have been countless lives that have fought for the rights of the LGBTQIA+ sector, and that still is being done to this day. With the non passage of the SOGIE Equality bill alone in the Philippines, there has been progress, but still, a long way to go.
Verde Creatives thought of bringing organizations together to start putting a face on the LGBTQIA+ cause. It's high time to get people see their valiant efforts and set an example on why they now need to be seen. After 25 years of having the SOGIE Bill in the congress and senate, it still hasn't been passed. What's funny is that their call is only for EQUALITY. The same right that every Juan and Juana enjoys, and even compromised on a lot of the sections of the bill. Seeing it be discussed every year is tiring, and these individuals are now presenting themselves, simply to note that there are real people behind the cause.
Ms. Bemz of Verde Creatives says "We are being left behind and we have a long path ahead. In this photo campaign, we have several of our peers and allies including Senator Loren Legarda, Representative Geraldine Roman, Lenlen Alonte, Kababaihan Partylist Kate Coseteng and more. This includes various LGBT associations to join us in this campaign. We are putting these brave faces to make sure we involve ourselves in a very worthy cause."
Vashti of the Society of Trans Women in the Philippines (STRAP) says "I'm excited for this campaign as it showcases our experience, including Ms. Bemz and Verde Creatives, to support bills in congress so we can claim our rights. It should not stop our cause, including the SOGIE bill."
Ang Ladlad Partylist lead Dexter Macaldo adds "Equality champions in images brings stories of strength, of who you are, showing your beauty and individuality. This is to strengthen the LGBT voice, to bring change. This collaboration hopes to inspire others to also show their truth, in a more accepting society. Thank you Verde Creatives and other organizations for being here."
Ms. Maria Barbie Arcache of 1LGBT Pilipinas says "I would like to congratulate this event, it's something really amazing. I've known you for decades and in my life, I didn't think it's just pageants, but there's more to that. You can share that beauty in your heart, in 2 and a half decades, I've done pageants and now that I'm retired, I still want to share that advocacy. We cannot be stagnant, we need to fill that space and find your purpose in this world. We are here to move and shake the world, in the aspects of human rights. It's about time we show our faces. I am proud to be part of this campaign, we are all proud to be human and masterpieces of God."
Here's the press conference on video:
Here's a showcase of the photos they unveiled that evening:
This is just the start of even more things they plan to do to push for the great causes they want to support. They'll be front, center, and putting their own faces to fight for the rights of LGBTQIA+ folks, to make sure there will be no stopping til equality happens, and their rights be given.
This event was held at the Dark Roast Coffeehouse in Maginhawa. A great ally for the cause.
So much has happened at the National Museum of Natural History when the folks from LG and Isaiah Cacnio unveiled his series called "FRAGMENTS" which was inspired by geological wonders in the country, and is a fully digital art. This is the first time that the National Museum has also housed something digital, so in a way, they are making history. I've seen it in person and it was huge. It also moves, non-static, super different from the things they usually display. Fragments is made up of three installations called Where Fire Begins, Stories in Stone, and What Breaks, Flows. Graphics in different colors that move and emulate emotion, you could easily be carried away when you view it there.
LG also showcased their latest OLED and QNED TV's that uses AI and the latest generation of features they have for devices. They also took us to see how they've changed the technology used for their TV's and AI Magic remote. It had less buttons and more function, which is apparently a good way to ergonomically change the usual crazy presses we need to do to watch TV or use apps in it. They're definitely changing the way we watch TV.
Robi Domingo hosted the event and interviewed Bela Padilla, Mika Reyes and LA Tenorio about their experience using LG products. From gaming, to binge watching and using the LG OLED B5 and QNED's features, they got to discuss how they enjoyed every bit of it. Oh and before I forget, the National Museum of Natural History also received the Php 500,000 worth of display tech from LG. This is part of their commitment to culture and education (as this is not the first time they've done this). This will be part of the display for years, their way of honoring the past. Make sure you visit the museum and enjoy the art installations, it's truly rare to see things like it in the Philippines. You can have them though if you get them from appliance stores nationwide!
Cacnio's work was a stunner. I couldn't believe what I was seeing on display that afternoon. Go check it out at the National Museum. Entrance is free, but arrangements can be made for guided tours (I think it's a better option) so email them ahead.
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