PLDT Home, Smart ink milestone partnership with ABS-CBN for iWantTV

The country’s leading digital services providers PLDT Home and Smart Communications have teamed up with multimedia conglomerate ABS-CBN for iWant TV, the network’s streaming service for TV shows, movies and other exclusive digital content.

PLDT, Smart & ABS CBN Partnership signing – (from left) Ray Espinosa, PLDT Regulatory Head; Ariel P. Fermin, EVP and Head of Consumer Business for PLDT and Smart; Manuel V. Pangilinan, PLDT and Smart Chairman ; Eugenio Gabby Lopez III, ABS-CBN Chairman ; Carlo Katigbak,  ABS-CBN President & CEO; Rolando Valdueza ABS-CBN Group CFO

Under the partnership, PLDT Home and Smart subscribers will soon be able to use their prepaid load or postpaid account to catch up on their favorite ABS-CBN shows, blockbuster films and other top-rated content on www.iwantv.com.ph on their computers or Smart TVs, or on the iWant TV app on their mobile phones and tablets.

Both PLDT Home and Smart will also soon roll out exciting offers to let millions of subscribers enjoy iWant TV content at their fingertips.

Using iWant TV, subscribers may stream the past and current ABS-CBN shows like “On the Wings of Love”, “Dolce Amore”, “Ang Probinsyano” and “’Til I Met You”, as well as News and Current Affairs shows, among many others – anytime and anywhere. This latest deal is set to further expand the widest breadth of digital content available to PLDT Home and Smart subscribers, as well as bolster the group’s thrust to deliver converged services that offer an unrivaled digital experience for Filipinos.

To get started with iWant TV, PLDT Home and Smart subscribers can register for an account via www.iwantv.com.ph or download the iWant TV app on their Android and iOS devices.

All SMART SIMS are now LTE Capable

Get the Smart LTE Prepaid SIM and do more of the things you love online. Enjoy 6 months FREE data rewards, and access to data promos. You can now avail SMART LTE Prepaid SIM for 40Php only and enjoy the FREE 50MB data per month and more. 

 Visit smart.com.ph/prepaid/sim for more details.
#RocketFastLTE

Jodi Sta. Maria and “Bridges of Love” earn nods from 2016 International Emmy Awards

ABS-CBN Corporation once again received honors from the International Emmy® Awards as Kapamilya actress Jodi Sta. Maria and ABS-CBN teleserye “Bridges of Love” picked up nominations at this year’s prestigious competition.

Sta. Maria was recognized for her outstanding performance as Amor Powers in the 2015 remake of “Pangako Sa ‘Yo” and is nominated in the Best Performance by an Actress category against Judi Dench (United Kingdom), Grazi Massafera (Brazil), and Christiane Paul (Germany).

The Kapamilya actress is thankful that her hard work for the show paid off and that it gained such nomination from an international award-giving body. “Each and every project kasi na dumarating sa akin, lagi kong kino-consider na dream project ko,” she said. “I make sure na kapag may ginawa akong isang proyekto talagang ‘yong oras ko, ‘yong puso ko nilalagay ko sa kanya.”

Sta. Maria also gave credit to the people behind the show who she said made her character “iconic,” despite the fact that the show is a remake.

“Bridges of Love,” meanwhile, will be competing in the Best Telenovela category alongside telenovelas from Canada and Brazil.

The series shares the tale of two brothers, Gael (Jericho Rosales) and Carlos (Paulo Avelino), who were bound by their promise to each other, separated by an unfortunate tragedy, and bridged together by love embodied by only one woman — the vivacious club dancer Mia (Maja Salvador).

“Bridges of Love” was the first Filipino series to air in the Latin American region, particularly in Peru via Pan Americana. It is followed by “Pangako Sa’yo,” which is currently airing in the said Peruvian TV channel. Aside from Peru, both series already aired in different countries in Asia and Africa.

Sta. Maria and “Bridges of Love” are the only nominees that come from the Philippines among the 40 nominees across ten categories and 15 countries in this year’s awards.

Last year, ABS-CBN Chief Content Officer Charo Santos-Concio was chosen as the Gala Chair for the 43rd International Emmy® Awards and opened the gala before the world’s best producers, creatives, and talents. She is the first Filipino Gala Chair invited to participate in the prestigious event.

ABS-CBN previously scored International Emmy® Awards nominations for “Precious Hearts Romances Presents: Impostor” (Best Telenovela) in 2011, “Dahil May Isang Ikaw” (Best Telenovela) and Sid Lucero in “Dahil May Isang Ikaw” (Best Actor) in 2010, and “Kahit Isang Saglit” (Best Telenovela) and Angel Locsin in “Lobo” (Best Actress) in 2009.

This year’s winners will be announced at a black-tie ceremony on November 21 at the Hilton New York Hotel. The International Emmy® Awards are given by the International Academy of Television Arts & Sciences.

ABS-CBN’s content is made available across other territories through ABS-CBN International Distribution.

ABS-CBN International Distribution has been recognized in the global arena as a reliable foreign content provider. It has been a premier source of high quality Filipino programming in over 50 territories all over the world and has sold over 30,000 hours of content worldwide.

Living up to this recognition, ABS-CBN International Distribution commits to add to its line-up of high-caliber programs and movies with cast and storylines that appeal to various cultures. For more information, visit ABS-CBN International Distribution’s official website at http://internationalsales.abs-cbn.com.

Witness the winning performance of Sta. Maria once again in “Pangako Sa ‘Yo” and the story of “Bridges of Love” which captured the attention of the international award-giving body via TFC.tv or TFC IPTV. Connect with fellow globalKapamilyas by visiting facebook.com/KapamilyaTFC or follow @KapamilyaTFC on IG and Twitter.

TIPS ON CAPTURING TRAVEL SELFIES WITH CREATIVITY

Everybody wants to travel the world or even our country, who wouldn't want to have that opportunity, right? But even if you travel a few places, make sure that you will capture the very best of it and always do the perfect selfie shots or highlight the destination in your selfie.

Travel selfies are as much about the place as they are about you. Otherwise, you don’t get to show proof of how awesome your vacation trip was, save for a souvenir shirt or some nasty sunburn. 

Tips on capturing travel selfies:
Show some action

1. Try doing something to make you look like you’re having a great time, like spreading your arms wide to welcome yourself in a romantic place like Paris or an unforgettable view of Boracay beach, or even eating your favorite flavor of ice cream.

Angle for personality

2. Your choice of angle can also give your selfie some character. If you’re standing near the foot of a huge landmark like the Big Ben or Rizal Monument at Luneta Park, you can go for a selfie angled from the bottom to capture the height of the monument.

Avoid cheesy tourist selfies

3. Please, none of those cheesy forced-perspective shots like giving the Merlion or Christ the Redeemer a kiss, if you don’t want to end up with a stock-photo-esque selfie.

Selfies without a face?

4. Selfies don’t always have to show your face. For a bit of drama, you can try taking selfies from the side or slightly behind your head. This works really well for outdoor selfies, like when you’re looking out from a cliff or watching the sunset from the beach. To make this shot work, be sure to carry a selfie stick with you.

Tools of the trade

5. A selfie stick is a great companion whether you’re traveling alone or with a group if you want to snap “groufies” with no problem. Another helpful buddy is a power bank. But make sure that is allowed in the places you will go.

With that said, now all you need to have is a great camera phone that you can use and apply that said tips to perfectly capture a selfie shot. The OPPO F1s, for instance, comes with a panorama feature for wide-angle shots—great for groufies and selfies against a breathtaking backdrop. The palm-activated shutter also lets you make those quick selfies while you’re touring around a city.

The anti-shake feature further prevents blurs even as you take selfies while walking, while the 16-megapixel front-facing camera is designed with a 1/3.1-inch sensor and f/2.0 aperture for very clear selfies despite low-light conditions.

OPPO’s “selfie expert” takes care of that with a 3075mAh battery that lasts the whole day.

For the best camera phone to take on your next adventure, visit OPPO concept and retail stores nationwide.

JASON BULL: Special agent to trial consultant

Michael Weatherly may have said goodbye to his role as Special Agent Anthony Dinozzo on NCIS, but his new role does not take him far from the twists and turns of the justice system.

After playing the role of a senior field agent in 13 seasons of NCIS, Michael Weatherly is taking the lead in the brand new show BULL.

BULL takes inspiration from the early career of Dr. Phil McGraw, co-founder of top trial consulting firm Courtroom Sciences, Inc. (CSI), which has provided trial consulting services for Fortune 500 companies as well as talk show host Oprah Winfrey.

Courtroom drama

In this new series, Weatherly shifts from law enforcement to trial analytics. His character, trial consultant Dr. Jason Bull, does everything to get the justice his clients deserve.

The doctor is perfectly aware that the 12 ordinary people making up a jury have the power to decide a person’s fate at court. He also knows that these jurors possess a preconceived notion of the truth. That’s why the key to winning a trial is by winning over the jury.

Behind the scenes

Dr. Bull further understands that even the tiniest details such as relationship status, clothes, and hairstyle can turn the court against the defendant. To avoid an unfavorable outcome, he works with a team of experts to make sure that his clients are on their best behavior and will say the right things at the witness stand.

His staff includes a lawyer who acts as defense attorney in mock trials, a neurolinguistics expert who used to be a part of the Department of Homeland Security, a former detective from the New York Police Department, a haughty millennial hacker, and a fashion stylist.

BULL also stars Freddy Rodriguez (Ugly Betty, Six Feet Under), Geneva Carr (Rescue Me, Law and Order: Criminal Intent), Annabelle Attanasio (The Knick, House M.D.), Chris Jackson (Oz), and Jaime Lee Kirchner (The Mob Doctor, Mercy) along with Weatherly.

The show premieres the same day as the U.S. on September 21, Wednesday 9:00pm, first and exclusive on RTL CBS Entertainment.

Know more about the cast of 9 Works Theatrical's "tick, tick… BOOM!"

The musical tick, tick...BOOM! by Jonathan Larson is lauded as an autobiographical musical that was written prior to the Pulitzer and Tony award-winning musical hit Rent. After Jonathan Larson’s passing in 1996 (before the opening of Rent), his producer and friend Victoria Leacock asked David Auburn, Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright of Proof, to revamp the “rock monologue” that was tick, tick… BOOM! who reconfigured the musical to a three-actor piece and was first staged in 2001.

tick, tick… BOOM! is the story of Jon, a struggling musical composer. Jon is turning 30 and has yet to make his mark. He questions whether he should continue his chosen career in the performing arts, one that has yet to reach a peak or breakthrough. His girlfriend, Susan, is a dancer, who teaches ballet to “wealthy and untalented children.” She, too, feels the pressure and longs to move out of New York to find a more stable and secure future. Then there is Michael, Jon’s best friend who was once an aspiring actor but gave it up to work as a marketing research executive.

Taking on the lead role of Jon is Gawad Buhay Best Actor (2015 for This Is Our Youth) Jef Flores. Jef’s debut in musical theater started in Repertory Philippine’s Camp Rock followed by Cinderella (Resorts World Manila), Pinocchio (Repertory Philippines), Priscilla Queen of the Desert (Resorts World Manila). In 2015, he took the lead role in his first straight play, 4,000 Miles (Repertory Philippines), where he garnered his first Gawad Buhay nomination for Best Actor. His other credits on stage include Snow White (Prince, Repertory Philippines), Paano Ako Naging Leading Lady (Bazooka Man, Dalanghita Productions), This Is Our Youth (Dennis, Red Turnip Theater), 3 Stars and a Sun (Winston, PETA), and Godspell (Jesus, MusicArtes). Outside of theater, Jef also starred in the television show The Boston: Kitchen Musical and Single/Single.

Making her 9 Works Theatrical debut as Susan, Tanya Manalang is fresh from her two-year journey in London as Kim in Cameron Mackintosh’s critically acclaimed West End production of Miss Saigon. Thrilled to be back home and performing in Philippine theater, she just recently finished playing Aileen in PETA’s fifth season of Rak of Aegis. Her other theater credits include performances in Resorts World Manila’s productions of The King and I (Tuptin), The Sound of Music (Liesl von Trapp) and Kaos. She played Carla in the Atlantis production of In the Heights. For Trumpets, Tanya was the original Lucy Pevensie in the first 1997 run of The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe, and later returned to play Susan.

Rounding up the cast and playing Michael is theater veteran Ariel Reonal, who just finished a 2-year run on the West End revival of Miss Saigon as the Assistant Commissar. He’s no stranger to Miss Saigon as he was part of the UK touring production in 2004. He played Quasimodo at The Golden Mickeys at Hong Kong Disneyland. His Philippine theater credits include 9 Works Theatrical’s American Idiot as Joshua/Favorite Son, Disney’s Aladdin (Jafar, Repertory Philippines), Fame The Musical (Nick Piazza, Repertory Philippines), Himala (Pilo, Tanghalang Pilipino), Dreamgirls (Marty, Atlantis), Jesus Christ Superstar (Simon Zealotes/cover for Jesus, Atlantis), Blood Brothers (Sammy Johnstone, Repertory Philippines), among many others.

tick, tick…BOOM! is directed by Robbie Guevara, Daniel Bartolome as musical director, Elisanta Cortez as vocal supervisor, Arnold Trinidad as choreographer, Mio Infante as scenographer, Mickey Hirai as costume designer and stylist, Martin Esteva as lighting designer, Myrene Santos as hair and makeup designer, Philleep Masaquel as Technical Director, JC Inocian as photographer, and Maine Manalansan as graphic creative manager.

Heading the production team is executive producer Santi Santamaria, with Anna Santamaria as company manager, Sunshine Domine as production manager, Toff de Venecia as PR director, Jonjon Martin and Issa Tuason as PR managers, GM Hernandez as marketing manager, and Arma Bonilla as stage manager.

  

tick, tick…BOOM! will have a limited run on October 1, 8, 9, 15, 16, 21, 22 & 23, 2016 at 8:00pm on Fridays and Saturday, and 3:30pm on Sundays.

For further inquiries, contact 586.7105, 0917.554.5560, Ticketworld at 891.9999, or email info@9workstheatrical.com. Facebook: 9WorksTheatrical. Twitter & Instagram: @9WTonline. Hashtag: #9WTticktickboom

Starbucks Unveils Starbucks Teavana Handcrafted Beverages

Starbucks Coffee Company recently launches the Starbucks Teavana Handcrafted Beverages and Full Leaf Tea Sachets. This is a core offering in more than 6,200 Starbucks stores across the China / Asia Pacific region, including the Philippines. The modern tea experience gives customers the opportunity to enjoy a wide range of unique iced and hot tea beverages with bold, layered flavors, handcrafted the way only Starbucks can, for the first time.

w/ my blogger friends Flow and Chard; Anonymous Ph's Serge

The said launch was held at the newest Starbucks branch in Eugenio Drive, Quezon City. Starbucks introduces newest tea experiences for the press, media and Starbucks lovers. Just like what they have done with your coffee experience, Starbucks Teavana is tea reimagined.

Fueled by innovation, the new individually handcrafted beverages are the result of an in-depth, creative exploration of flavor, culinary trends and premium ingredients by Starbucks industry-leading beverage innovation team, with the goal of bringing something new and unexpected to customers. These ingredients come to life as skilled baristas craft each beverage by hand and unleash a sophisticated, delicious flavor profile.

Beginning today, Starbucks Philippines is offering three new Starbucks Teavana Handcrafted Beverages:

Iced Shaken Hibiscus Tea with Pomegranate Pearls

This refreshing beverage combines Starbucks® Teavana™ hibiscus tea and bursting pearls of real pomegranate juice for a tart kick of flavor.

Iced Shaken Black Tea with Ruby Grapefruit and Honey

Combines a traditional western black tea experience with a creative twist that is delicious iced with bites of pomelo fruit, grapefruit and honey for a touch of added sweetness.

Matcha & Espresso Fusion

Our fine Matcha powder layered with milk and Starbucks signature Espresso Roast creates a beautiful layered beverage and is an inventive combination of coffee and tea, to be enjoyed hot or iced.

With Starbucks Teavana, Starbucks also draws on its long heritage of commitment to using only the most premium, high-quality ingredients. Leveraging deep relationships with tea growers, Teavana sources the world’s highest-quality teas and botanicals. Starbucks sourcing and blending experts cup (taste) hundreds of teas daily to select only the finest teas for Starbucks Teavana.

In addition to handcrafted beverages, Starbucks is also introducing Starbucks TeavanaFull Leaf Tea Sachets. Through a curated selection of packaged full leaf tea sachets, customers now can now enjoy a new tea experience in our stores or in the comfort of their own home through a contemporary at-home experience.

The six (6) new, delicious and vibrant Starbucks® Teavana™ hot teas available beginning this September 14 include:

Black Tea

English Breakfast – A handcrafted blend of Indian Assam, Sri Lankan Ceylon and Chinese black tea. This tastes great with or without milk.

White Tea

Youthberry™ – Inspired by super fruits, acai fruit is blended with tropical pineapple and mango flavors with high quality white tea, balanced by rosehips and tart green apple.

Green Tea

Emperor’s Clouds and Mist™ – Exclusively harvested during the month of April and grown on the steep, windy slopes of Huangshan Mountain at 3,500 feet above sea level, this tea has a rich body and a naturally sweet flavor.

Caffeine-Free Herbal Teas

Hibiscus – Bright, juicy papaya and mango combined with citrus lemongrass for a naturally caffeine-free blend. Hibiscus flowers lend the tea a slight tartness and extraordinary deep fuchsia color.

Mint Blend – This tea’s spearmint base is rounded out with cool peppermint notes and undertones of spicy-sweet lemon verbena. The mint leaves come from the highly sought after and prized Pacific Northwest mint known for its high amount of mint oil.

Chamomile – The Chamomile used for this tea is sourced from Croatia. It provides the overarching flavor for this soft, soothing floral blend.

Teavana continues to be a strategic priority for Starbucks. Starbucks acquired Teavana Holdings, Inc. in December 2012, and together provide unparalleled expertise in the super premium tea category, bringing exotic blends, great flavors, wellness and innovation to customers globally.

Filipina Singer Ivy Grace Paredes Gets All The Yeses She Needs From The X Factor UK Judges

Ivy Grace Paredes, 33, from  the Philippines, impressed all four judges of The X Factor UK with her rendition of Whitney Houston’s All The Man I Need on the sixth episode of the show today.   On camera before she belted out her version of the hit song, she said that she was inspired to join the competition after seeing 4^thImpact on the show last year.  “If they can make it, I can make it, too.”  She said that she wasn’t getting any younger but that she could still be on The X Factor UK stage.

After her powerful performance Simon Cowell reacted, "Oh my God!  What just happened there?!"

"She just sang our faces off, pretty much, that's what happened," replied Nicole Scherzinger.

Louis Walsh said that her audition was amazing to which Simon said it was more than amazing and thought the second half was incredible. 

“Everybody comes in here saying ‘I want it so bad, am fighting for it’ but that, right there, is wanting it and fighting for it,” said Nicole.  Louis said she was sensational and thought she was a little diva.  Sharon Osbourne said that Ivy Grace did herself proud. 

A native of Malaybalay, Bukidon, Ivy Grace tearfully said that she chose to join The X Factor UK because of her daughter. "For me, I believe this is the biggest competition and I want to be a part of it.  (The) X Factor (UK) can give me the stepping stones I need to do good in the future because this is all for my daughter."  Her daughter is 2 ½ years old and is under the care of her parents in the Philippines.

Ivy Grace Paredes moves on to the next round of The X Factor UK. 

The X Factor UK airs first and exclusive on RTL CBS Entertainment same day as the UK on Sundays and Mondays at 10:30am with primetime encores Sundays, Mondays and Thursdays at 9:00pm. 

RTL CBS Entertainment is available on SkyCable channels 53(SD) and 196(HD), Destiny Cable channel 53, Dream Satellite channel 17 and Cablelink channels 37(SD), 313 and 800(HD).

CONVERSE PHILIPPINES LAUNCHES COUNTER CLIMATE COLLECTION

CONVERSE Philippines recently launch the much awaited Counter Climate collection together with their brand ambassadors like Julie Anne San Jose, Paolo Onesa, Benjamin Alves and more. The line that specially designed with premium materials to help you keep comfortable and made with durable construction to protect you and worry-free from all kinds of weather conditions now arrived.

Converse Counter Climate collection includes Counter Climate Clothing, and the Counter Climate Shield Canvas. All are presented in a very special night with music, food and great company of press, media and friends.

Converse Essentials apparel collection features the quality and durable everyday basics for your active lifestyle. Constructed for comfort and fit and it will get softer with time. each piece includes a natural color fade of fabric with long-term wear, durable stitching and a managed shrinkage-fit that remains the same throughout the lifespan.

Converse Counter Climate Shield Canvas made with Water-repellent 18 oz Shield Canvas to keep your feet dry, it also has a heat reflecting barrier for added warmth in times of cold and wet, a Nike Lunarlon insole for cushioning and of course a gusseted tongue to water out.

Whether you like it with Cons, Jack Purcell or Chuck Taylor All Star II, you can never go wrong when you are with Converse Counter Climate ones.

Head over to the nearest authorized store of Converse and get one or two for your and your friends just like we do. Thank you so much Converse Philippines for our new kicks.

9 Works Theatrical presents tick, tick… BOOM!

Before the Pulitzer Prize and Tony award-winning RENT, Jonathan Larson wrote tick, tick… BOOM!, originally conceived as a “rock monologue” and was produced off-off-Broadway in 1990. It wasn’t after Larson’s death prior to the opening of RENT in 1996 that producer Victoria Leacock asked David Auburn (Pulitzer prize winner for Proof) to expand tick, tick… BOOM! and bring it to off-Broadway. Auburn reconfigured the “rock monologue” into a three-actor chamber musical and the reworked version debuted at the Jane Street Theater in May of 2003.

The story is a familiar one, and is as relevant now as it was in 1990. tick, tick… BOOM! is the story of Jon, an aspiring musical composer who is about to turn thirty and is beginning to have doubts over whether his career choice was the right one. Pressure mounts when his girlfriend, Susan hounds him about leaving New York to start a family and seek out a more stable career. Added tension comes from his best friend Michael, a once-aspiring actor who gave it up for a lucrative career as a marketing research executive.

The constant struggle of pursuing one’s passion over settling for a life that brings you no joy yet provides security and comfort is a question that pervades through generations. The ticking clock in the musical is representative of the artist’s anxiety, and it is always ticking.

  

On the twentieth anniversary of his Pulitzer and Tony award-winning musical RENT, there’s a hint of irony that Jonathan Larson’s first musical had found its audience after his unfortunate passing in 1996; first in 2001 off-Broadway, an American national tour, two London West End premiers, and several other productions all over the world. The character of Jon has been played by theater luminaries such as Raul Esparza, Neil Patrick Harris, and Lin Manuel Miranda.

Today 9 Works Theatrical brings tick, tick… BOOM! For a limited run starting on October 1, 2016 at the CPR Auditorium, RCBC Plaza, to the stage with the incredible talents of Jef Flores, Tanya Manalang and Ariel Reonal.

tick, tick…BOOM! is directed by Robbie Guevara, Daniel Bartolome as musical director, Elisanta Cortez as vocal supervisor, Arnold Trinidad as choreographer, Mio Infante as scenographer, Mickey Hirai as costume designer and stylist, Martin Esteva as lighting designer, Myrene Santos as hair and makeup designer, Philleep Masaquel as Technical Director, JC Inocian as photographer, and Maine Manalansan as graphic creative manager.

Heading the production team is executive producer Santi Santamaria, with Anna Santamaria as company manager, Sunshine Domine as production manager, Toff de Venecia as PR director, Jonjon Martin and Issa Tuason as PR managers, GM Hernandez as marketing manager, and Arma Bonilla as stage manager.

tick, tick…BOOM! will be shown on October 1, 8, 9, 15, 16, 21, 22 & 23, 2016 at 8:00pm on Fridays and Saturday, and 3:30pm on Sundays.

For further inquiries, contact 586.7105, 0917.554.5560, Ticketworld at 891.9999, or email info@9workstheatrical.com. You follow them on Facebook: 9WorksTheatrical. Twitter & Instagram: @9WTonline. To join the discussion, indicate your status with the hashtag: #9WTticktickboom