Claudia Barretto is ready to make her mark in the music industry with the release of her self-titled debut EP last May 18, 2018 (Friday), 8:00 p.m. at Yes Please, 11th Avenue corner 38th Street, Uptown Bonifacio, Taguig City.
Coming from a family of Filipino entertainment royalty, Claudia has opted to follow her passions and pursue a career in music, instead of following the path of her parents, sister, and aunts in the field of acting. The young, pretty, and talented singer, with her raw potential and certified hits will certainly be a force to reckon with in the years to come.

After months of anticipation, Universal Records proudly presents Claudia Barretto’s five-track debut EP. Leading up to the EP’s launch, three tracks, featuring different collaborations with local and internationally acclaimed artists have already been released. Her debut single ‘Stay,’ was written by popular singer-songwriter Moira dela Torre, garnering more than 1 million streams on Spotify, with its music video garnering over 500,000 views in just one month. Following this success, Claudia collaborated with Spotify Viral singer-songwriter-producer Fern. to produce the track ‘You’. In addition to this, she has also released the song ‘Finally Found It,’ which was well-received internationally and playlisted in countries such as Australia, New Zealand, Taiwan, Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, and the Philippines.
Rounding up her EP are previously unreleased track ‘Poison,’ and yet another exciting collaboration. The ‘Finally Found It - Remix’ features non-other than 2017’s 17-year-old American R&B rising artist Marteen. Cousin of breakout artist Kehlani, Marteen definitely adds more flavor to the hit song; a collab that will surely be a sure-fire hit.

Talking about the process of making her EP, Claudia says "Working on it was both a terrifying and exciting time for me. Terrifying because on the EP, I was really trying to get to know myself and find my identity as an artist, and exciting because I feel like after this, it’s clearer to me what I want to pursue in the future. I also love that I was able to collaborate with passionate people on this project - it has been a real honour to even be identified as an artist by these people, and I'm looking forward to make more music, this time with a more distinct sound. "
Claudia's self-titled debut EP, featuring her singles 'Stay,’ 'You,' and 'Finally Found It,’ along with two new tracks, is now available on iTunes, Apple Music, Deezer, Amazon, and Spotify under Universal Records.

Follow Claudia on Instagram @claudia, on Twitter @barrettoclaudia, and on Facebook at Claudia Barretto (facebook.com/claudiabarrettom usic)

Busy Mommies are up again for another busy start of school days. The need to take care of what our kids will be needing for school. Of  course we need to pick the best school materials.  Good thing that Acer Philippines have their promo for Back to School. Here are some of the details of the promo;
Acer Philippines, a leading tech and innovations company, has collaborated with American luggage and travel bag manufacturer Samsonite for its back-to-school promo. The launch event was held last May at the Mega Fashion Hall in SM Megamall.


This year, Acer Philippines’ back-to-school promo is especially made for millennials. Seeing the world’s biggest generation’s constant thirst for adventure and new experiences, the tech giant uses travelling as a motivation to inspire the youth to do well, whether in school or in their professions. Aptly called “#CarryOn”, the Promo encourages the youth to power through the hurdles they encounter in pursuit of their dreams and goals.


“If there’s one thing we’ve learned about millennials, it’s that they are very passionate individuals who are unstoppable if they are truly motivated,” shares Sue Ong-Lim, Acer Philippines’ Sales and Marketing Director. “Travel is, without a doubt, one of their strongest motivations. This is why we’ve partnered with Samsonite, a household name when it comes to travelling, to help us propel this cause forward. Hand in hand, we are hopeful that we will be able to not only motivate our millennials, but also reward them for their hard work by fueling their wanderlust.”
Befitting a movement that advocates trying out different things and enjoying new experiences, Acer Philippines’ Back-to-School Promo was launched through a travel-inspired event, where guests filled out a passport by completing various activities.

The affair also saw the debut of the #CarryOn video, which shows what the back-to-school campaign is all about. Directed by Ms. Irene Villamor, known for her works in Camp Sawi and Meet Me In St. Gallen, the film depicts how the youth turn to travelling as a way to cope and re-energize in the face of the stresses of their daily lives. The full video may be seen in the Acer Facebook Page.
“Travel inspires a different form of education – it makes you learn about new environments, exposes you to different cultures, and gives you a clearer view of the world,” shares Ciely Buenviaje, Country Head of Samsonite Philippines. “Samsonite could not be happier to be partnering with Acer in promoting such a holistic growth for the millennial generation.”

The Acer Philippines #CarryOn Back-to-School Promo will run until June 30, 2018, during which every purchase of qualified Acer and Predator laptops, Acer projectors, and Acer desktop will come with free Samsonite luggage.



For more information on the Promo, visit the Acer Philippines Facebook Page at www.facebook.com/AcerPH and the Acer Philippines website at www.acer.com.ph, and follow @acerphils on Twitter. You may also purchase online via http://ph-store.acer.com/.

The country’s largest microfinancial services company, Cebuana Lhuillier, has formally opened this year’s Search for the Happiest Pinoy. The competition celebrates the Filipinos’ indomitable spirit of resilience and positivity and gives honor and recognition to outstanding Filipinos that best represent these values.
“Cebuana Lhuillier has always believed that Filipinos are one of the most resilient people in the world. We have always faced life’s challenges with optimism, faith, and a can-do attitude—and we believe that this should be recognized and encouraged at all times. We have been celebrating this culture of happiness and resilience through the Search for the Happiest Pinoy since 2009,” said Jean Henri Lhuillier, president and CEO of PJ Lhuillier Group of Companies.
In the 41st Annual Global End of Year Survey of Gallup International (http://www.gallup-international.com/surveys/happiness-hope-economic-optimism/), the Philippines ranked third among the happiest countries in the world. The survey revealed that Filipinos exude a positive outlook in life in spite of economic uncertainties and financial upheavals.
The 2018 Search for the Happiest Pinoy will be the most inclusive in its ten-year history since it now covers ten categories: youth, senior citizens, overseas Filipino workers (OFWs), lingkod bayan, professionals, manggagawang Pinoy, entrepreneurs, employees, persons with disabilities (PWDs), and lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) community.

Cebuana Lhuillier and a panel of judges representing the academe and the business community, as well as past Happiest Pinoy winners will pick a finalist from each category. The new Happiest Pinoy will be selected from the roster of 10 category winners.


This year, the country’s happiest competition requires no third-party nomination. To join, interested individuals must first choose a category that best applies to them and answer the application form via SMS by texting their full name, birthdate, and category code to (0920) 958-2455 (Smart/Talk ‘N Text), (0917) 878-2453 (Globe/TM), or (0932) 842-8562 (Sun); via online by logging on at www.happiestpinoy/register.aspx; or dropping their application form in any of Cebuana Lhuillier’s 2,200 branches nationwide.

Happiest Pinoy. Cebuana Lhuillier has launched the fourth edition of the Search for the Happiest Pinoy, introducing ten new categories to enable resilient, optimistic and hopeful Filipinos from all walks of life to join the year-long search which promises a total of P1.5 million in cash prizes to the country's happiest Pinoys. Photo shows P.J. Lhuillier, Inc. (standing, from left) First vice president and IMC group head Michael Sena, president and CEO Jean Henri Lhuillier, senior executive vice president Philippe Andre Lhuillier, and First vice president for Cebuana Lhuillier Insurance Solutions, Foundation, and Business Solutions Jonathan Batangan. Joining them are 2015 Happiest Pinoy Richardson Navor and 2012 Happiest Pinoy Rommel Arellano.

The grand winner of the 2018 Search for the Happiest Pinoy will take home P1 million tax-free while category winners will win P50,000 each. The winner will also join an exclusive group of Filipinos composed of 2009 Happiest Pinoy winner Winston Maxino, 2012 Happiest Pinoy winner Rommel Arellano, and 2015 Happiest Pinoy winner Richardson Navor.
For more information on the Search, visit www.happiest-pinoy.com or follow Happiest Pinoy on Facebook.

The much-awaited reunion of well-loved 90s band A1 is finally happening! This time, fans will surely be thrilled as Paul Marazzi joins his original band mates Ben Adams, Mark Read, and Christian Ingebrigtsen for the British-Norwegian band’s 20th Anniversary “Reunion” Tour 2018. The band is scheduled to hold a concert on the 21st of October 2018 at Kia Theatre, Araneta Center, Quezon City.

Ben, Mark, and Christian expressed their excitement on having Paul back on stage with them:

“We're unbelievably excited that Paul will be joining us again and bringing the original line up of A1 together for the very first time in nearly 15 years, as we approach the 20th Anniversary of when we released our 1st single & album Here we Come. There was always an amazing dynamic and energy when the four of us performed together. So what better place to bring that magic back than to the part of the world that has always embraced us with such incredible love and support, South East Asia, more specifically, the Philippines, Indonesia & Singapore. We absolutely cannot wait to see our friends and fans over there once again and bring them a show that will remind us of all the great times we had together. It will surely be a show to remember and not to be missed.”

Paul, who left the band in 2002 due to personal reasons, likewise conveyed his thoughts on the reunion tour. He said, “This time 20 years ago i was just starting out on an amazing journey that would take me to all four corners of the earth. I was lucky enough to see some amazing places and meet some very kind and wonderful people too. I can’t think of anywhere better to continue this journey once again than to South East Asia and what better company than my old friends Mark, Ben and Christian. I have so many fond memories of my time there and feel so privileged to be able to visit once again. See you all soon.”

A1 had their first breakthrough in the UK in 1999 with a collection of hit singles from their debut album. They went on to have international Top 10 and number 1 hits like Caught in The Middle, Same Old Brand New You, their cover of the A-Ha classic Take On Me, Everytime, and Heaven by Your Side.

The band also achieved huge success in the UK, Europe and across Asia, including a Brit Award for ‘Best British Breakthrough Act’ in 2001. A1 has accumulated over 10 million record sales worldwide.

Originally a quartet, A1 enjoyed success from late 90s to early 2000s. The band has formed a bond that they decided to get together seven years after their split and represent Norway for “2010 Eurovision Song Contest” with Don’t Wanna Lose You Again.

In February 2012, A1 performed with Blue and Jeff Timmons of 98 Degrees in “The Greatest Hits Tour,” which took them to Singapore, Philippines and Indonesia. They loved their two-week stay and charity work here that they held a benefit show in November for the underprivileged kids of Cebu.

The following year, A1 appeared in the TV documentary The Big Reunion along with Blue, Five, Damage, 3T, 911, Girl Thing, and 5th Story, and went on a UK tour. The boys also worked on their album and released “Waiting for Daylight” and “Rediscovered” in UK in June 2015.

A1 fell in love with the Philippines and a two-night comeback concert in Manila and Cebu was held in October 2016.

Presented for the second time by Concert Republic, A1's 20th Anniversary “Reunion” Tour will be held at the Kia Theatre on October 21, 2018 (Sunday, 8PM).

Tickets will go on sale starting Friday, June 1, 2018 at 12 noon, available at all TicketNet outlets or log on to Ticketnet.com.ph or call (02) 911-5555 for more details.

“The seed of the film was planted with a simple thought – it would be fun to see actor Don Lee (Ma Don-Seok) arm wrestle,” said Champion director Kim Yong-wan. He did showcase his strength in his previous films like The Outlaws and the worldwide hit Train to Busan but Don Lee won’t be just flexing his muscles in the sports comedy film, he will also work his charms to the audience through the story.

For Mark (Don Lee), arm wrestling is the only thing he has. A Korean adoptee who is able to lift ginormous dumbbells with extreme ease. Thanks to his impressive strength, he competed as an arm wrestler at a national level in the USA, but was kicked out of the league because of an issue. He now works as club bouncer, and a grocery store security, until a friend calls him with an opportunity to get his life back. This also meant going back to his country Korea. Little did he know, he’s not only getting his arm wrestling life back, but he also gets to meet his sister and her family. With their support, he challenges himself to become a champion.

From Train to Busan, The Outlaws, Veteran, Familyhood and the upcoming sequel to Along with the Gods, actor Don Lee (Ma Dong-Seok) always emobodied his characters with creative twists that only he’s able to pull off. In Champion, he has transformed into Mark, an arm wrestler whose forearm reacts faster than his heart and aims to surprise his fans once again.
Mark’s partner-in-crime Jin-ki is played by Kwon Yul, who started in Roaring Currents, The Hunt and The Worst Woman. Mark’s sister Su-jin, who has to juggle between running her business and taking care of her kids, is played by The Hunt and Worst Woman star HAN Ye-ri. The film is directed by Kim Yong-wan who began his career in the industry as an assistant director on several notable films such as Harmony (2009) and Quick (2011) which also had a Philippine release.

“Champion” opens in Philippine cinemas on May 30 from Warner Bros Pictures, distributed by Rafaella Films International.

As we reach the height of this year’s scorching summer, everyone’s trying to find ways to cool down.

Here’s an idea: How about a streaming marathon of your favorite TV series and movies? With a bowl of popcorn and some ice-cold drinks, summer binge-watching at home is definitely a great—and cheaper—bonding activity that you can enjoy over and over again!

Nobody will ever complain of running out of things to watch at home with the Roku Powered™ TVolution—an all-in-one, plug-and-play entertainment device that streams high-definition movies and TV shows from global entertainment leaders straight to your television set.

Powered by the country’s most powerful broadband, PLDT Home Fibr, the Roku Powered™ TVolution offers seamless, high-quality, and lag-free viewing experiences for the entire family to enjoy. With this revolutionary entertainment solution, you can choose from a wide selection of high-definition channels from the Philippines largest pay TV provider Cignal; enjoy the biggest selection of top Hollywood, Asian, and local movies and TV shows from iflix, the world’s leading entertainment service for emerging markets; critically-acclaimed Netflix originals and films (Netflix subscription required); over a billion hours of videos every single day from YouTube, the world’s largest streaming website; and over 100 free streaming channels.

Still not decided what to watch? Don’t worry—we’ve got you covered with some themes to craft a personalized watch list to suit your preferences and moods!

1. Children’s Hour
Keep the kids entertained for hours on end with a customized playlist of kid-friendly movies and cartoons such as Happy Feet, Inside Out, Jack the Giant Slayer, Journey to the Center of the Earth, and The Lego Movie - all available on iflix Kids. Or simply tune in to Disney XD HD and Cartoon Network HD via Cignal for awesome non-stop kid-friendly programming!

2. Thrills and Chills
If thriller, suspense, and horror are right up your family’s alley, Cignal has you covered with channels like Thrill, FOX Crime, and FOX Action Movies. You can also curate your very own thrills-and-chills playlist with iflix by simply browsing through the categories of your choice—choose from hundreds of blockbusters, critically acclaimed films, and exclusive digital content at your leisure. And the best part of all? Nobody has to miss vital clues or unexpected jump scares while replenishing the popcorn bowl—simply hit pause and dive right back into the action when you’re ready!

3. Rom-Com Extravaganza
Everyone needs a good dose of comedy-infused romance, so get your mom, sisters, cousins, and every rom-com addict in the family for the best of Hollywood, Asian, and Pinoy romance movies and TV series on iflix. You’ll have a cornucopia of popular K-drama, Wattpad Presents, and blockbuster titles right at your fingertips to fill the heart with all the kilig you can handle.

4. Docu-all-you-want


Documentaries get the undeserved reputation of being “boring”—maybe you just haven’t seen the right ones yet. iflix offers hundreds of titles covering music icons, historical figures, athletes, celebrities, hobbies, and a wide range of relevant issues that will guarantee your entertainment and additional knowledge. Also available on Cignal are Discovery, National Geographic, Nat Geo Wild, Animal Planet, and History Channel—all offering high-quality programming for documentary fans and those who wish to be educated and entertained at the same time.

Get started on planning your Roku Powered™ TVolution streaming marathon! Visit www.pldthome.com/fibr for more information.

Vivo local endorser and one of the biggest artists in the country to date, Darren Espanto wowed fans in a birthday concert held last May 26 at the KIA Theatre. The concert, fittingly entitled Unstoppable, was representative of Darren ad his unwavering talent. Darren, who started singing at only two years old and then entered the music industry at a tender age of 13, is truly unstoppable with concerts, appearances, and album launches left and right. As a proof of his rising celebrity, the Unstoppable concert was graced by guests including budding singer Jayda Avanzado.

Darren was indeed unstoppable during his show at the Kia Theatre on May 26.

Darren’s Unstoppable concert was co-presented by Vivo, one of the top three smartphone brands in the country today. Apart from Darren’s impressive performances, fans were treated to a special meet-and-greet segment where questions from Twitter were entertained by the young performer.

Darren was officially signed as a Vivo endorser last year and he has since graced several Vivo events such as the brand’s Christmas outreach activity bringing joy to 150 soldiers from Marawi at the Armed Forces of the Philippines hospital, the Vivo V7+ All Screen Experience mall tour at SM Marikina November last year, among others.

Despite his tender age, Darren performed like a real pro at his concert at Kia Theatre.

Darren, a self-confessed K-pop junkie who can both sing and strut a mean dance move to boot, is set to do more Vivo event appearances as the year progresses.

For inquiries about Vivo, visit the Vivo website at vivoglobal.ph or check out their Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/vivophil), Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/vivo_philippines /), and Twitter (https://twitter.com/vivo_phil) accounts.

Filipinos are now into investing and there are so many ways that can make our life worthy and better. Health is wealth, yes, indeed. Health is our top priority and we should really invest in our health.
In line with this, Cordlife, now introduces here in the Philippines the PlumCare DNA Advisor. Here are some important details to consider and know about it.

Disease can adversely impact one's ability to live a full, productive and meaningful life. While no one is immune from infirmity, some families carry a stronger predilection for certain diseases - ones that are passed down the family tree.
Some of these conditions are relatively common - hypertension, diabetes, cancer - and we see them manifested in our forebears. However, some may actually be lurking in our genetic makeup without any manifestation in the family. Unknown to most people at risk, these silent diseases can show up and rear their ugly heads at a time they are least expected to. Sadly, for generations, there has been no way of getting this information before disease strikes...until now.

Cordlife, the first and only DOH-registered, ISO-certified and AABB-accredited cord blood banking facility in the Philippines, has been serving Filipino families for the last 8 years.

"Our commitment to the highest quality standards is our assurance to our clients. They can be confident that their children's precious stem cells are secure for potentially life-saving use in the future," said Michael Arnonobal, CEO of Cordlife Medical Philippine. "It its also this dedication to the Filipino family's future health that is the driving force behind our bringing Genscreen, Corlife's genetic testing service arm, into our country."
Cordlife Genscreen introduces PlumCare DNA Advisor, developed by Dr. Petros Tsipouras, a specialist in clinical genetics and an adjunct professor at the Yale University School of Medicine, and Dr. Paul Billings, a specialist in Genomic Medicine. All testing is performed at US-based facilities accredited by the College of American Pathologists (CAP) , the global "gold standard" for laboratory quality assurance.

PlumCare DNA Advisor can help Filipino families detect potentially disease-causing genetic variant, made possible through a thorough analysis of the DNA of each family member. Designed for families of 3 or more, the test relies on cutting-edge sequencing technology and on a wealth of big data to provide meaningful and actionable insights into a family's genetic make-up. Many hereditary disease can be prevented or managed if detected early enough.

Testing Now, Peace of Mind for the future

Advances in the field of genetics are accelerating at an unprecedented rate, and so is the level of public awareness. In fact, more than 80% of Filipino parents surveyed welcome the idea of genetic screening.

"Awareness of specific genetic variants can enable families to make more informed health choices and even take proactive preventive measure, when and where applicable," said Michael Weiss, Group CEO of Cordlife Group Limited. "We believe this new service will empower families to better manage health risks for conditions they may be predisposed to . We wanted to specifically ensure the wonderful people of the Philippines could share in the benefits Cordlife's diagnostic business is delivering to other countries in the regios."

Througn PlumCare DNA Advisor, families can now be armed with the knowledge necessary to make informed decisions about health and lifestyle choices as a family. This knowledge can help in the prevention, monitoring and treatment of potentials conditions.

How is DNA Sequencing Done?
PlumCare DNA Advisor uses Whole Exome Sequencing (WES, which effectively maps out the exact composition or sequence of approximately 20,000 genes where nearly 85% of disease-causing DNA variations are found.

This is done by collecting DNA from adults and children above the age of 6 years old using a saliva tube which is included in the collection kit. Collection from children younger than 6 years old will be done using a swab sponge.
The test specimens are then sent to the high-quality and reliable genetic testing laboratory in the US, where PlumCare is based, with results available withing 60 days after receipts of sample by the US Lab. Genetic counselors are then available to give advice to help you make the necessary lifestyle adjustment or preventive care.

Take charge of your family's health with PlumCare DNA Advisor.

Find out more about PlumCare DNA Advisor at http://www.genscreen.asis/ph/DNAadvisor or schedule a consultation with us by calling our landlines at (020 470 1735 and (02) 332 1888 or +63 998 848 6064 on mobile.