Upcoming MMFF 2025 Entry "I'M PERFECT" Set To Bring Strong Message of Love and Inclusion

When news came out of this movie being accepted as an entry for the Metro Manila Film Festival, I was excited about it. The concept is quite interesting, more so, it has not been done in Philippine cinema yet. Casting differently abled actors for the lead role, But what made this special, is the calling of proving what THEY CAN DO, rather than WHAT THEY CAN'T DO.

This film called "I'm Perfect" is something special. It's about unconditional love, the support actors describe this as reality, a spectrum of emotions, and when they were in the set, instead of them teaching the lead actors, they learned more instead. They taught them the currency of love and hugs, and watch them enjoy the process as actors for MMFF. They were overwhelmed!

Direk Ingrid says "I need to make a story, a film about 11 years ago. We won in FDCP and this was teased. This was to show that they can. I'm very lucky that this was noticed by Ms. Sylvia and Nathan Studios and made it happen. Kita Kita was 2017, but this was 2009. They forged my characters, they choose what to show and we only had to trust them. I know it is a risk for producers but I was given the right ones with passion. I didn't want to use them, because this is a passion project and we didn't want them to be used, but loved and be independent. I felt hope because it doesn't end there."

Ms. Sylvia says "I saw two of her scripts and didn't like it but this third one was an afterthought. She didn't believe I would do this, because it was 10 years ago, they wanted it but didn't trust that this will be made, but I knew that the kids with down syndrome, autism, cerebral palsy can. I want to thank Janice, LT, Tonton, Zaijan, because at the beginning they knew they would support them, and they did. When I found the cast in Direk's laptop, I knew I had to do it. We met with the officials because we want their guidance and do it right. These kids will make history, so please make sure to watch it!"

Seeing them all talk on stage already made us all cry. I saw what they saw in them, and I think that's exactly what you'll see in theaters this Christmas. I overheard Down Syndrome Association of the Philippines Chairman Elmer Lapeña while he was talking to a blogger friend where he says "They have one special ability, and that is to LOVE without inhibitions, magmahal ng wagas!"

Lead stars Earl Jonathan Amanda and Anne Krystel Daphne Go will make you feel love like you've never seen or felt before. They will be together with Ms. Sylvia Sanchez, Janice De Belen, Ms. Lorna Tolentino, Tonton Gutierrez, Joey Marquez and Zaijian Jaranilla. 

Here's what happened at the Mediacon!

During the talk, it made me wonder that we might be wasting time treating them differently... but they probably need to be treated plain and the same. It's an eye opener, looking at family dynamics on how to love, and how to do it purely, without judgement, hesitation, or anger. That's what they want you to feel in this film, and if you're up to it, you can support them on the 25th!

Vietnam's Best Coffee Brand Trung Nguyen Legend Introduces G7 Coffee in the Philippines

Coffee lovers in Manila are in for a treat as Vietnam's number one coffee brand Trung Nguyên Legend is now in the Philippines. Their launch coincided with their brand intro for G7 Instant Coffee at the annual World Bazaar Festival which is happening at the World Trade Center in Pasay City. Dubbed as The Coffee That Changes Life, they're raring to make Filipinos taste the stronger brew that is known around the world in instant form, in beans or x2 strong!

The event was also attended by the Trung Nguyen Group executives including Nguyen Nguyen, from Vietnam. He says "We hope the G7 brand would help the economy, as it brings harmony in food and beverage in Asia, and the Philippines this Q4. We hope to focus the release of it in this region and be loved by Filipinos. The G7 name was actually gotten from the group of countries, in hopes that Vietnam be placed the same as them too. We have a friendship that spans years, we understand each other more. We have a strategic partner now. I have good relationships with Filipinos in Ho Chi Minh as well, we almost have the same coffee culture."

Miguel Paulo Salazar the Deputy GM of DyGen Food Ventures Inc. says "Today we are here to witness a new milestone, a lot of consumers are buying G7 coffee from Vietnam. We are formally introducing the distribution of the G7 brand. We are excited to be your exclusive partner and bring G7, it's quality, value and the bold unique flavor of Vietnamese coffee. Why did we bring the brand? We think the Filipino is ready for something new, we are offering everyday luxury like sipping a cup of coffee in Saigon. Filipinos will welcome the brand and it's successful future!"

He adds "The price will be competitive, probably similar to market leaders. In the near future, we are keen on opening shops in the near future so more people get to try this."

G7 has been well loved in different global summits in the West and Asia, and is now present in over 100 countries including the US, Japan, China, Korea and many more. Their beans have been sourced from Jamaica, Brazil, Ethiopia, and Buon Ma Thuot province in Vietnam. They also have G7 Pure Black, (part of G7 Pure Soluble line), G7 Strong X2 and a whole lot more. I've had the chance to taste it including the x2, and it was enough to keep me awake til 2am lolol!

Trung Nguyen Legend will be available soon on online platforms including the Trung Nguyen Legend Philippines FB page and DygenFood socials.

LUMOS DAYSTAR Projector Review: When Bright Ideas Come to Life!

Life has been happening lately. We've been thankful to receive lots of work, getting very aggressive in socials and trying to squeeze in work-life balance if time permits. During the work week (and the holidays!), we've had several meetings and presentations, conferences to cover, where visual aids are a norm and still a necessity. Good thing there's the LUMOS DAYSTAR (found conveniently online at www.lumosprojector.ph/DAYSTAR).

I remember being armed with a phone and a projector during a seminar I facilitated in a Manila based university, it felt like a way to give back to my alma mater to make the event more engaging and fun. 

Most of these events though had us arrange to have lights out, very conventional (and may I say old school). Since their projectors were a bit dated, it was doubly hard to set up, or connect to the internet, let alone find wireless connections nor speakers built in. 

LUMOS DAYSTAR is a game changer, as it does all of these and more! It's a bit bigger than the other LUMOS products I've used which immediately make me think this is more powerful. The device also supports 4K resolution and can also be used in broad daylight (hence the name). One unique feature I've seen while setting it up was the way it does Auto Keystone Correction and Auto Focus so you get sharp images on screen the moment you turn it ON. While most projectors do 1000-3000 lumens, the LUMOS DAYSTAR does 3000-5000 ANSI lumens, something that can do presentations, your favorite movies and games seen even on brighter settings. 

I personally use it to cast what I have on my phone to the projector using Miracast which only takes a few steps. If you're in a hurry for presentations, this would be the something you'd love since sliced bread. I also watched movies with it, and also screen some of the most interesting interviews I had with the brightest actors and actresses in the country. I didn't need to hook it up to external ones as it has dual built-in speakers for a more immersive effect. The HDMI, USB, AV ports were handy to make sure those PC connections get accommodated. It also supports Ethernet (for wired connections), WiFi and Bluetooth if you want a wireless setup instead (especially if you don't like clutter and want it to become a permanent fixture in your room). You don't even need a huge space to put this in. It can fit on desks, even on ceilings, or side platforms on your room.

 

Best thing about this is that it's so bright, it can be used even when there's actual DAYLIGHT. Even if you're in a well lighted room, details stay amazing!

 

Design wise, it's beautiful. No unnecessary lines, has easy to clean filters, and a stand to tilt and direct to the wall. If you prefer a bigger and brighter projector, the LUMOS DAYSTAR would certainly fit the bill. They just recently launched this and costs Php 15,999 with discounts on shipping too. It's a good premium gift for a family. You may order one here https://www.lumosprojector.ph/products/lumos-daystar.

It's a bright idea that just came true! 

SHOPEE's Top Livestreamer JAMES AFANTE Shares Secrets to Success: Plans BIGGER 12.12

Shopee has certainly increased their presence over the years and remain bullish. With the eve of affiliate marketing and live selling, a Filipino stands as champion. His name is JAMES AFANTE, popularly known as Kuya James in his socials. He tops the list of people who have done remarkable work in this industry and we got to talk to him yesterday as he prepared for this month's 12.12. If you think the previous months were crazy, he's giving away a total of 2 Custom Tricycles, 4 motorbikes, and so much more today on his live sessions.

James started in the industry when he was only 14. Using different platforms, he engaged with people and sold just about anything that he could get his hands on. When he began doing it on the Orange app, he partnered up with friends and started training people. In his mind, he had the confidence to do it, knew that this particular work had his name all over it, and that had a remarkable effect on the people that learned from him. Livestreaming was something he did by accident when no one was left in their office to do it, and it went viral.

I picked his brain a little by asking why he doesn't sell his own products (so he could earn it all) and he said "A lot of people ask me about that, but in E-Commerce, you invest your money on stocks and where to put it. This was a huge problem for me and those who are in the same shoes. When something happens like the pandemic or any accident, you'll be left with nothing and a huge debt. With affiliate marketing, you do not have risks on your capital, (costs of storage and manpower for logistics), and I can sell thousands without thinking about space because the brands that work with him already handles that. I can see products if they can sell, sometimes I don't know how I ended up being the top livestreamer. I put in the extra work, I was part of production design, checking prices, every detail, I am concerned. This is a tool to perform better, and I also listen to my followers. What they want, that's what I must do. These products are what they consistently buy from me, only the best, prices will also be subjected to vouchers this 12.12."

He adds "This 12.12, I will be doing the largest livestream ever in the Philippines and in the region. I believe these efforts are also what I can do for the brands that trust me, including customers too. These bikes behind us also came from my own pocket, it's a way to give back to my community."

His advice for those who would want to follow his footsteps: "Work really really hard, work harder than anyone, then everything will follow. Everything starts with the work you put in, if you do things correctly, with passion, and you know that you are giving your 100 percent, you'll achieve what you want! This applies to any industry out there!"

Check out our interview with him before he went live last December 11:

His live stream is fun, entertaining to watch and you'll even forget that you're already checking out items on your cart. He promises that you'll have vouchers, free delivery and more surprises when you check out products from his stream. Plus the lowest prices from brands you already love! 

Thank you James for sharing your story, here's hoping we get to be part of that big 12.12 celebration today! 

Foundation Reiterates Mission to Provide Disaster Help in PH

The country was ravaged by typhoons, floods and earthquakes and so far, the Dig!P|us Foundation has deployed 8 million peseos worth of help for disaster relief in the Philippines. 

From the several towns in Bulacan, to help in Northern Cebu hit by the huge earthquake, they have provided efforts to make sure they reach to far flung towns to help rebuild their homes, especially those severely affected by typhoons in the region. This goes the same with the ones in Luzon, who made resource tap in the BayanihanP|us programs they've implemented for resilience projects , also for Typhoon Tino and Uwan with less thank 15k families affected, including Cebu, Nueva Ecija and Central Luzon provinces too. It has totaled to 8 Million pesos, and has inspired even more people til today. 

Congratulations to Dig!P|us Foundation and Dig!P|us Interactive corp who never stopped helping people no matter how hard it has been. Visit their social channels and main website because they've got more information about their efforts there.

Community Fun Starts at Puregold Harkot Relay Run

Tons of runners had so much fun during the Puregold Hakot Relay Run last November at Burnhan Green Park. Totally different from the usual running event, participants had to pick up grocery items along the way for the 3 kilometer run. 

Going home with products from the country's top manufacturers must have been a treat for moms who belong from the UP Running Community, their husband an kids also began telling about the experience online when they began running out of space to sleep at home with how much they got to take home from the event, they want to participate in future ones, something they didn't expect to get with the 500 peso registration they gave for it. Plus the fact that they were able to do it with friends and family.

Casual runnenrs like Mac Crisostomo even loved the singlet, medal and program they got from the event. Dubbing it as the best they've ever attended, 25 kg rice bags were all carried, something that would last them almost 2 months especially in this economy. From groceries, toiletries, snacks and essentials, they took photos and shared their experience on socials, all being thankful for the generosity shown by the top supermarket brand. Some of them even sent their groceries to relatives in the provinces , to share what little they have obtained from Puregold Hakot Relay Run. 

Add to that the performajces of top acts G22, Kaia, Press Hit Play, with PBB Celebrity Collab Edition housemates Brent Manalo and Mika Salamanca, they were all loved by fans who waited for them for hours. Will there be a repeat of it soon?! Congratulations to everyone who participated! 

Worthy Cause Showcased at TobaccOFF NOW! Film Festival

You're in for a treat this weekend as the TobaccOFF NOW! Film Festival goes on full swing. This is organized by Amber Studios as they partnered with organizations like Metro Manila Film Festival, HealthJustice Philippines, Parents Against Vape, Action for Economic Reforms, Social Watch, Philippine Smoke Free Movement and government sectors Philippine Legislators Committee on Pop Dev. The event was done to host young creators to use storytelling as a medium for social change. 

Participating individuals have undergone workshops under industry experts Jacque Manabat, Chiara Zambrano, Tops Brugada and Jobert Moteras. They created short films with themes involving tobacco, nicotine and vape. It's going to be raw, unique, full of emotions, especially from the POV of the youth. The festival will start on December 13. The shorts will be primarily shown digitally (by next year) but there will be screenings in Cebu, Sorsogon, and other provinces.

Ms. Jacque Manabat says "It's hard to quit, but what I've learned is that you can do it for others, for your loved ones. It's about giving them a better future, the best gift for Christmas. I am leveraging TikTok, to make sure the young ones won't get hitched with the small hints they've done in previous years. We organized this but you are the leaders of your generation, and from the looks of it, the young ones have a bright future, a smoke free future."

This will also be shown in other spots in Manila, Quezon City Film Festival screenings on the 11th and 12th. Updates will be posted on Amber Studios FB page, and the main screening will be done at the MMFF Auditorium at MMDA grounds in Pasig City. From what we've seen during the screening, they're absolutely right in telling us how bright the future of new generation of filmmakers are. All they wish for is a smoke free future, why don't we give them that!

Make Fresh Holiday Treats with MR. HAT GULAMAN

Christmas is just around the corner and folks are busy checking their lists, doing it twice or thrice as they prepare for the most important occasion of the year, the birth of our savior Jesus Christ.Noche Buena or Media Noche, we try to make it special and it won't be festive if there's one thing you love especially on desserts, that's MR. HAT GULAMAN!

Available in different colors, the thing sets quickly after a boil and serving it with cream or sugar and mixing it with your favorite fruits would be an easy prep. Others even use it to firm up their already lovely food like leche flan, crema de fruta, or different panacotta, which always is a hit. If you love pudding, salads, it's very flexible and those potlucks shouldn't be so hard to do because of how quick you can prepare for it. 

If you've got an idea, just do it with MR. HAT GULAMAN as it is available in leading groceries and supermarkets, it's even affordable, and always good! Go discover your inner chef today!

MADDOX Jewelry Holds First Fashion Show in Marikina City

Madame Charo Codial was always thinking of ways how every Filipino would be able to afford real diamonds and jewelry. She's been the go to source for these precious gems,gold and diamonds. With her success, she's been raring to hold a fashion show to showcase the beautiful rings, necklaces and tiaras that the brand MADDOX holds. We saw that and more last December 4 in Marikina City.

 

There were a lot of celebrities who came and joined the show. The reason being, they're legitimate customers of MADDOX Jewelry and have enjoyed their purchases too. Aside from that, they had several foreign models to make sure the bracelets, rings, necklaces with diamonds were seen. 

I had a glimpse of it when they came out of the venue:

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A post shared by John Bueno (@kumagcow)

 

 Here's the whole show on video, please enjoy!

 

 

I'm still in the lookout for my own personal pair of earrings, rings and necklaces which I'll be investing in soon. If you want the shine of diamonds from MADDOX Jewelry, visit them at their physical store in Marikina or order online via their live sessions on Facebook. They do it almost everyday, and saw how much people visit their shop too (It gets full most of the time so better schedule an appointment.). They've got lots of good people to help you choose that perfect diamond for you.

ALDEN RICHARDS Celebrates 15 Years with MOVING FORWARD Concert

15 years must have been a tall order for most people, but for Alden Richards... it's like he's just starting. The talented and multi awarded actor is celebrating this milestone with some of the most important people in his career, HIS FANS, which he deem deserves this concert, a way to thank them for supporting him this long. 

Watch him arrive at the red carpet in Shang Mall!

 

Alden says "I'm very excited this coming December 13th as we celebrate my journey, my learnings, the things I learned and how we keep on Moving Forward. I thank C@$in0 P|us, Bench, Belo, CDO, White Flower and Oxycure for all their help. The purpose of this event is for my 15th Anniversary, and how I want to give back and pay it forward. I want to highlight the people that have been part of my journey in the last 15 years, and that's the fans. Why Sta. Rosa Laguna as the venue? Because I've been in the industry so long but I haven't had a big event in a place where I grew up. With the help of the people of Sta. Rosa, we were able to mount this event. And I'm very excited because now I could give back to the place where I grew up in. Since Day 1, they've been always there for me. It's our little way of saying thank you to them, and I'm doing it all in this one event."

He adds "In the 15 years, there's been a lot of fan interactions that have happened. I get surprised about news, the most memorable one of which the folks that I have helped in the past would suddenly come up to me and say how their lives have changed because of that. I was just there to help, but to actually see how it has changed their lives means a lot to me. It gave them comfort, I think those are the ones that really touch me in fan encounters. I remember in 2019, a girl standing in the crowd was looking at me intently. She was holding a diploma, looking at me the whole time, smiling, so I wondered what it was about. She approached and told me that she already graduated, and that I was responsible for it. I learned that it really isn't about the volume of people that you help, it's the effect you have on people, it gives me more passion, grounds me, that because of all the things I'm doing in my own way, it creates ripples of kindness. It's why I continue doing the things I'm doing today.That kind of platform and reach, it's what keeps me going."

Here's a video of the media conference, please enjoy!

One of the highlights of the concert is the inclusion of PBB artists Will Ashley, Bianca De Vera and Dustin Yu. He will also have popular band CUP OF JOE performing a song or two in the event. This is produced by Myriad Events, and for tickets you can get them at https://arxv.helixpay.ph/. There are only a few seats left as Diamond and Platinum sections are sold out. This is a once in a lifetime experience to be with him at this locale so if you're a big fan, it's time you take the trek down south to see Alden Richards in the flesh!

Alden Richards is MOVING FORWARD and there's no stopping him anytime soon! Congratulations Alden! :)