IVANA ALAWI Enters Pinoy Big Brother Celebrity Collab Edition House

It was a nice afternoon to see Ivana Alawi right before her PBB stint which none of us was aware of. It was a simple thanksgiving event which she arranged for the support she's getting from the press and bloggers, so it was certainly a surprise to see her in the famous house days after.

Were there any clues?

None at all, because much of the talk that transpired that afternoon revolved around her success, the brands she's representing, and getting married among others.

The YouTube star will certainly be seen in a more "personal" way now that she's in the ABSCBN and GMA partnered celebrity edition of the show which they dubbed as COLLAB, something she's quite used to.

She mentioned during our small talk that most of her content didn't really have scripts and just happens when it happens. She was very witty, down to earth, and doesn't mind answering even the most controversial of issues thrown at her. She confirmed some jewellery endorsement woes are on trial which prohibited her from speaking about it. 

Will she do good on the show?

Definitely. Her personality shines in her recent YouTube episodes and her hunger to even create interesting talk with Barbie Forteza (which she deems is still the same person she was with years ago) is a testament for the kind of person she is in or out of the cameras.

She also shared how she wanted to work with previous winner Fyang soon. Maybe that'll happen when she gets out from the house of Kuya.

Here's our interview with her a few days ago:

I'm rooting for her.

MRLD's "7th Sense" Album Drops Midnight, Announces Concert Next Month

If you guys don't know who MRLD is, you should. She's a singer songwriter who hails from Cebu and is making waves on streaming platforms with her hit songs "An Art Gallery Could Never Be As Unique As You", "Ikaw Pa Rin" and "Ligaya". She was also featured by Spotify in New York's Times Square  as one of the most streamed female artists in the country.

She says "I was planning to release a full English album but I didn't feel a spark, this album is about my feelings , for things that I could not explain. It's mine and it is very simple. I already released 4, and the others will be done later this evening. Much of these were written 2 years ago, and it felt right, I had to make an album now. The track list was mixed initially, but I want it to open up minds, that I can carry different genres. Though there are lots of revisions, I had a lot of help from friends to make this happen."

The lead single is Hanggang Magsawa Ka, the longest single she wrote, a little painful, and she hopes you also cry when listening to it. Initially Malayo was supposed to be the carrier single, they just had to listen to everything and it was something they thought of while starting over, it's raw and 6 minutes long.

Listening to it earlier, it felt like an ode, very emotional and soft, all acoustic, hopeful and beautiful. 

She wrote it during 12th grade, puppy love, where she gave a person 2 chances, but thing is, she wasn't the one chosen, she wasn't the only one.. the song was made to have her overcome the hurt from it. She's also so glad about her earlier single "An Art Gallery Could Never Be As Unique As You" which has gained traction in Indonesia, one which they even made a Bahasa version too to cater to audiences there.

Her single SAGOT was the one she's super excited to perform because it's the one that she made with her fans in mind. It was for them and it's a bit upbeat, dancing and enjoying it is highly encouraged especially during the concert.

Her concert will happen on April 27th at the SM North Edsa SKYDOME, tickets are still available and she's rehearsing soon for the whole concept. It's going to be a special night with 2 guests being confirmed already.

This is just the start of big things for her, follow OC Records socials to know more about her!

METROBANK Offers TRIPLE BONUS PROMO for New Accounts!

It's the new year but I haven't seen new year resolutions posted yet, is it passe? Not needed? Or is it just inside your mind? 

Do you all want to be better at something this year? Then go and get those goals happen!

Metrobank Triple Bonus promo is ongoing. Designed for those who would want to open their savings account of 50k+ or more, this would be a great reason to open an account now.

Consumer Sector Head Monj Del Rosario says "We want to share with you the reason why we are putting customers in good hands. As bankers, we are not just championing products, we are here for every life stage to be able to meet your goals. We want to make it more rewarding and aligned with your aspirations. It's a new ERA, we want to make things easier, rewarding and aligned to your goals, and it all begins with the right mindset."

Cris Concepcion their Brand Marketing Head adds "What we do is with our brand promise, in good hands. The best partner and adviser, the right products, secure ways to bank. We believe in balance, in giving back, and we believe in financial education. This is so you can make more informed decisions, which is why we put up EARNEST by Metrobank. This is a program that gets you to learn more from content we put out. There's a decline in Filipino ways in saving, and it is concerning. There's also a spending increase which is a bad combination. We used to save only for basic stuff, and there is fear in losing out on experiences and things. With lack of knowledge, it would be hard to keep track of that. We want to make you SWOMO - Save without Missing Out. If you are more aware of bank products, you get to do more with your money. You want to get started where you want to get started. You also want to increase income, and your money to work for you. The swomo movement is something to adopt, it's financial mindfulness and gives you peace of mind. More peace of mind, less fomo and buyers remorse to help you live a full life. You can visit ERNEST by Metrobank on our official site."

Yna Pelaez their Retail Deposit and Payment Products Head explained a few things about their Triple Bonus Promo saying "Achieving goals in your life, we empower customers with our products. We understand that saving is not easy, there are challenges and temptations. From the small fees, coffee, emergencies, life uncertainty, it's the biggest savings depletor. When you open Metrobank accounts, and open with at least 50k, you get 1500 Cashback, Instapay rebates (where you get a full year of rebate, max 10 per month) so you can add it to your savings. You also get a 1 Million pesos worth of Personal Accident Insurance from AXA. All of these bonuses will help clients to save, live easier, make your goals a faster reality."

I made my Vision to Action board with a couple of things, several encouraging lines, some investment goals like gold, uitf, real estate, money market, making smart choices, including those who love and support me, and checking if I'm still okay at the end of the day. 

Now wouldn't it be the perfect time to open a new Metrobank Savings Account?

Pushing Changes and Industry Reforms: BONG REVILLA Talks About MTRCB

A thankful Bong Revilla recently pronounced his desire for changes and entertainment industry reforms specifically about the MTRCB and its functions.

He's been around the country, going to different regions to hear common folk stories to asses where he could help. Albeit doing this, he never incurred an absence in sessions, saying he's not going to take things easy.

He mentioned how much love he's gotten from his recent show "Walang Matigas na Pulis sa Matinik na Misis" together with Beauty Gonzales and an ensemble cast. Ratings were good, so was the feedback and he's looking forward to do more shows, a movie, and a dream project if everything fits.

He also touched on the Eddie Garcia Law which was done to protect actors and production from the unbelievable working hours they have in the past. Recent pronouncements from producers deem some parts of the regulation is a bit counter productive, and Bong Revilla wants to make sure some terms should be revisited, perhaps improved. Child actors are only allowed 4 hours, but some projects may require them to do more and they might need to see what they could do without sacrificing safety for them too. He says "The Eddie Garcia Law certainly is helping a lot of people, but I heard some producers are reacting with the terms, and some are gravely affected. I think we have to revisit the law again. We need to have a dialogue with the producers, the stakeholders, the actors, because some senior actors are not being tapped to cast anymore. This goes the same with the kids, it's going to be hard to get them to shine if we are being limited to 2 to 4 working hours. It's going to be hard to look for the next Nino Mulach, we need to revisit, study it further, including how government could support or fund them. We have a lot of actors in the Senate and I think it will be easy to prepare laws. Don't fret, because we all want to help the industry."

He also touched on the rising ticket prices for movies, and plans to find a way laws to make it more affordable in the coming years. He says "To watch movies together with your family, you would need to shell out more than a thousand pesos to get decent food, drinks and watch the film. It's too much. We need to think about those who can't afford to go to the movies. We need to fix it, and make sure things would get abused."

About the MTRCB taking more roles in regulation of digital streaming platforms and social media he says "Let's see if they are the right agency to handle it. It should be studied further, but it's an option, certainly. Things are getting out of control on social media, just a cellphone would gain them access. We think that should be further studied."

Here's the press conference on video:

Aside from the tasks he's doing now, he still makes time for family. His secret? Time management, something that has been inculcated in him by his father, the late Ramom Revilla. Every weekend, they always make sure to sit down for lunch or dinner, and talk amongst themselves if they need to resolve things at work, or with personal matters. 

He says "You should always find time for family, despite the schedule. It's a need. Like tomorrow, it's a Sunday. Yes there are times we have to work on weekends, but the few hours we can talk, we need to make an effort. This is something my Mom and Father taught us early on. I remember us lining up for questioning. Talk about the week that passed. We just continue to do that. I always tell them to use their heart, and they'll never go wrong. It's what would guide them. Never to also harm people, because that will go back to you. I went through pains, they saw it, and I was with them when I recovered. If a leader went through a really tough time, you could see my sons, they're tested by me. I am always there to guide them, I monitor them even when I'm busy."

Pushing changes and reforms see a tough task ahead, but it is somehow needed. So is genuine connections, thoughtful leadership.