US 2020 MICRO ROASTER OF THE YEAR, MOSTRA COFFEE, A FILAM-OWNED COMPANY VISITS TFC

It was a serendipitous meeting that led to the successful community screening of Filipino-American owned Mostra Coffee at the TFC Studios this December. Mostra Coffee is an artisan micro-roasting company that sources, roasts, brews, and serves only the highest-grade specialty coffee. It was founded in 2013 by San Diego natives Jelynn Malone, Beverly Magtanong, Sam Magtanong, and Mike Arquines.

Philippine Consul General to San Francisco Henry Bensurto, Jr. introduced Tony Olaes, founder of The Filipino School in San Diego, to ABS-CBN Global Corporate Affairs & Strategic Corporate Social Responsibility Head Nerissa Fernandez, and between Olaes and Fernandez, a new digital series is already in the works, to launch first quarter of 2020. It was through these valuable connections that 2020 Micro Roaster of the Year, Mostra Coffee, came to partner with TFC. Learning about sustainability in their coffee business, Fernandez invited the Mostra team to bring their coffee, do a demo, and show their short film “Mostra Coffee Origins: Our Philippine Journey Back Home Vol.01” to the SF Bay Area community.

The TFC-led Epic Youth Leadership Awards (EYLA) under ABS-CBN International’s Corporate Affairs and Strategic CSR -- that recognizes leadership determined to make a difference in the world through efforts that address specific areas of service like entrepreneurship, environmentalism, mentorship, compassion, and culture –- also created an EYLA shortie, produced by the Emmy Award winning tandem of Pia Lopezbanos-Carrion and Jeremiah Ysip, on the Mostra team highlighting their values and their culture of giving back to the community, specifically to the coffee growers in Sitio Belis, Benguet in the northern part of the Philippines.

It was a full day for the Mostra Coffee team, that included a tour of TFC headquarters, meeting ABS-CBN International officers and staff, interviews with weekly magazine program Adobo Nation and daily news show BA. The community screening was followed by a Q and A in-studio where co-founders Malone, Arquines, and the Magtanong couple got to share their journey.

Mostra means performance. Beverly Magtanong explains why they picked the name. “I'm a trained opera singer, Jelynn is an actress. Mike is a fine dining chef. So, we know what it feels like to perform at your highest level. For Mostra, a lot of it is performing at our highest level as human beings, and coffee ends up being the vehicle for us to be able to do good.”

Malone adds that “We’re so passionate about this movement and representing Filipinos. Even as an actor that was my goal – to represent Filipino Americans and Filipinos globally in a positive light, and this has just been a platform that has a lot more of an impact because it helps connect with the people.”

Sam Magtanong shares one line from Mostra’s mission statement that stands out for him: “‘Mostra strives to be the reason why people see the goodness in humanity.’ And if I was to give one piece of advice to everybody in general: Be good. There is power in love and gratitude and kindness, and we need more of that in this world.”

For the Mostra founders, their journey continues to surprise and humble them. Arquines affirms that “the journey has been very soul satisfying, in a sense that we get to not only give back to our roots, but also are able to work and collaborate with other creatives that are not in coffee, such as spirits and distilleries, such as chefs and restaurants. We are lucky to be able to have that opportunity to do that every day as our profession.”

As Filipino Americans, the Mostra team wants to be able to give back to the Philippines and make it full circle because their families are from there. Beverly says that “For us to be able to elevate the people in the Philippines by providing sustainable jobs means we are performing at our highest level by trying to connect ourselves back home and back to the people and really giving back and really realizing at the end of the day, we are the same.”

CHAMPION KINDNESS THIS HOLIDAY SEASON WHEN YOU PAYMAYA IT FORWARD

With the holiday season upon us, it often means spending time to finish work deadlines before the Christmas break, racing to complete our shopping for gifts, and enjoying Christmas parties with friends and family. But it is also the perfect time to focus on gratitude and giving, to share our blessings and to pay it forward to our fellow Filipinos. 

In celebration of kindness this holiday season, PayMaya launches its "PayMaya It Forward" campaign to inspire Filipinos to “pay it forward” by doing random acts of kindness towards their fellow Filipinos, in the spirit of digital and financial inclusion. 

Whether it’s gifting load to your trusted helper at home, sharing a meal to the security guard in your office, buying a bag for a scholar, donating to those affected by recent natural disasters, or simply giving to those in need, one small act of goodness can definitely go a long way.

Igniting the PayMaya It Forward movement are content creators like Ramon Bautista, Carlo Ople, Patrice Averilla, David Guison, Angel Dei, and many more. They are embracing the movement, spurring conversation through the hashtag #PayMayaItForward, sharing their own acts of kindness to include everyone in the spirit of this holiday season, and encouraging their followers to do the same.  

As a way of giving back, PayMaya also designed a simple way for their PayMaya account holders to pay it forward each time they pay via PayMaya QR by matching the amount of cashback they will receive from the ongoing QR promo and donating the amount to support youth education.

From December 16-31, 2019, PayMaya users can get 1%, 10%, and 100% cashback whenever they scan-to-pay using PayMaya QR at any partner merchant. Every successful cashback means a chance to help a Filipino youth achieve his dreams through education. 

The promo beneficiary for this PayMaya It Forward campaign is the Gawad Kalinga School for Experiential and Entrepreneurial Development (GK-SEED), a learning institution that gives scholarship to young people from poor communities across the country who want to pursue a two-year Technical Education and Skills Development Authority-accredited course on social entrepreneurship. 

With that heart-warming double deal, there are more reasons to keep using PayMaya and give back this season. And if you don’t have your own PayMaya account yet, there’s still time to download the app via Google Play or App Store, sign up for an account, make the most of it, and give this Christmas. Remember, when you’re paying it forward this Christmas, don’t pay cash, PayMaya.

To find out more, visit paymaya.com/paymaya-it-forward or follow @PayMayaOfficial on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. 

Per DTI Fair Trade Permit No. FTEB 23901, Series of 2019.

Petron is Automobile Association Philippines’ official fuel partner

Petron Corporation has forged a partnership with the Automobile Association Philippines (AAP), the country’s oldest and largest auto club, naming the oil leader as AAP’s official fuel partner.

The partnership was formalized through a MOA signing last December 6 at the AAP headquarters in Quezon City. Petron Marketing Division Head Lionel Perkin Chai (second from right) and Retail Sales Regional Manager Michael Flores (rightmost) are joined by AAP Chief Operating Officer Mark Desales (third from left), Deputy Chief Operating Officer Malcolm Pausanos (second from left), and Business Development Manager Kristine Leonardo (leftmost).

Petron will provide AAP members and employees a co-branded Petron-AAP Petron Value Card (PVC), which will allow them to avail of a special discount for every liter of Petron Blaze 100, XCS, Xtra Advance, Turbo Diesel, and Diesel Max.

This, alongside privileges at partner establishments, free towing and road-side assistance, and year-round personal accident insurance. 

Petron and AAP share a long and deep commitment to promoting road safety through their respective programs. 

Petron’s Lakbay Alalay is the longest-running motorist assistance program in the country, spanning more than three decades. It also recently launched its Fuel Wise advocacy which aims to empower the motoring public to become more responsible and informed with their choices. For its part, AAP also has a long-running campaign that raises awareness on proper road habits. 

AAP members and employees are guaranteed a safe, smooth, and efficient drive with all Petron fuels formulated with the same TriAction benefits that guarantees better power, better efficiency, and better engine protection.

TOP K-POP ARTISTS AND TRACKS OF 2019 ON SPOTIFY

Thanks to its trademark earworm melodies, distinctive choreography and slick production values, K-Pop has truly become a worldwide phenomenon that has captured the hearts of its adoring fans in synchronized perfection. Today, Spotify reveals its Global K-Pop Top Lists reflecting how 248 million people around the world listened to and discovered K-Pop music in 2019. 

Spotify’s data shows that record-breaking Korean boyband BTS is the most streamed K-Pop artist in 2019 with over 3 billion streams globally this year alone. Making yet another feat, this year’s most streamed K-Pop song is the boys’ hit track “Boy With Luv (feat. Halsey)”, amassing more than 300 million streams on Spotify in 2019. In fact, in less than a year, “Boy With Luv (feat. Halsey)” has set a new record, becoming the most streamed BTS track on Spotify. To date, the band has amassed more than 5 billion streams on Spotify from fans all around the globe. 

Group domination is the name of the game for K-Pop artists on Spotify in 2019, with BLACKPINK, TWICE, EXO and Red Velvet rounding out the top 5 list of Most Streamed K-Pop Artists of 2019. 

BLACKPINK displayed major girl power, taking 3 out of the 5 top spots on the Most Streamed K-Pop Tracks List. “Kill This Love” was the second most streamed track of the year alongside their catchy collaboration with Grammy-winning artist, Dua Lipa on “Kiss and Make Up”, the 2018 earworm “DDU-DU DDU-DU” and finally, BLACKPINK member JENNIE’s “SOLO”. 

East meets West as Spotify reveals the most streamed K-Pop collaborations in 2019 for the first time. BTS commands this list having worked with an impressive repertoire of international acts across various genres and backgrounds such as Steve Aoki, Charli XCX, Zara Larsson, Nicki Minaj and Halsey amongst others. 

A snapshot of the “Wrapped” 2019 Global K-Pop Top Lists and Philippines results can be found below. 

Check out more of your 2019 K-Pop favourites with the following playlists: 

● Top K-Pop Artists of 2019

● Top Korean OSTs of 2019

● A Decade in K-Pop

Spotify Wrapped 2019 Philippines K-Pop Top Lists 

Most Streamed K-Pop Artists 

BTS

BLACKPINK

TWICE

EXO

Red Velvet

SEVENTEEN

iKON

GOT7

JENNIE

ITZY

Most Streamed K-Pop Tracks 

Kill This Love - BLACKPINK 

Boy With Luv (feat. Halsey) - BTS, Halsey 

SOLO - JENNIE 

DDU-DU DDU-DU - BLACKPINK 

Kiss and Make Up - BLACKPINK, Dua Lipa

FANCY - TWICE

As If It’s Your Last - BLACKPINK

Way Back Home (feat. Conor Maynard) - Sam Feldt Edit - Conor Maynard, SHAUN, Sam Feldt

Don’t Know What To Do - BLACKPINK

달라달라 (DALLA DALLA) - ITZY

Spotify Wrapped 2019 Global K-Pop Top Lists 

Most Streamed K-Pop Artists 

BTS

BLACKPINK

TWICE

EXO

Red Velvet

SEVENTEEN

Stray Kids

NCT 127

iKON

GOT7

Most Streamed K-Pop Tracks 

Boy With Luv (feat. Halsey) - BTS, Halsey 

Kill This Love - BLACKPINK 

Kiss and Make Up - BLACKPINK, Dua Lipa

SOLO - JENNIE 

DDU-DU DDU-DU - BLACKPINK 

FAKE LOVE - BTS

Way Back Home (feat. Conor Maynard) - Sam Feldt Edit - Conor Maynard, SHAUN, Sam Feldt

FANCY - TWICE

DNA - BTS

Make It Right - BTS

Most Streamed K-Pop Collaborations 

Boy With Luv (feat. Halsey) - BTS, Halsey 

Kiss and Make Up - BLACKPINK, Dua Lipa

Way Back Home (feat. Conor Maynard) - Sam Feldt Edit - Conor Maynard, SHAUN, Sam Feldt

Waste It On Me (feat. BTS) - BTS, Steve Aoki 

POP/STARS - (G)I-DLE, Jaira Burns, K/DA, League of Legends, Madison Beer

Dream Glow (BTS World Original Soundtrack) - Pt. 1 - BTS, Charli XCX

The Truth Untold - BTS, Steve Aoki

MIC Drop (Steve Aoki Remix) [Full Length Edition] - BTS, Steve Aoki

A Brand New Day (BTS World Original Soundtrack) [Pt. 2] - BTS, Zara Larsson

IDOL - BTS, Nicki Minaj

Can't get enough of the chart toppers? Head over to Spotify to check out the playlists of the top artists and tracks in the Philippines this 2019 - and don’t forget to check out your own personalized Spotify “Wrapped” available now in the Spotify app on mobile and tablet or via a website at spotify.com/wrapped. Artists and podcasters can also do the same to discover how their music and podcasts connected with fans across the world for 2019 Artist “Wrapped” and 2019 Podcaster “Wrapped.” 

Find out more about the “Wrapped” experience on Spotify’s For the Record blog post.

PHILIPPINE TRADE AND INVESTMENT CENTER, PHILIPPINE EMBASSY IN MEXICO CITY HIGHLIGHT OPPORTUNITIES BETWEEN TWO COUNTRIES

Philippine Embassy in Mexico, PTIC work with ABS-CBN Global and CANACINE to highlight opportunities between PH and Mexican creative industries 

Opportunities in co-production, distribution, and intellectual property exchange in the entertainment industry took center stage in an industry briefing organized recently by the Philippine Trade and Investment Center (PTIC) and the Philippine Embassy in Mexico City. 

Philippine Ambassador to Mexico Demetrio R. Tuason welcomed the audience of film producers and distributors from the Camara Nacional de la Industria Cinematografica (CANACINE), the Mexican film industry chamber. He emphasized that the forum built upon the momentum generated when the Philippines was highlighted as Spotlight Country during the huge Guanajuato International Film Festival (GIFF) in July this year. 

Vichael Angelo Roaring, head of PTIC Mexico and Philippine Department of Trade and Industry’s (DTI) trade representative in Mexico and Latin America, outlined the objectives of the event, primary of which were to highlight opportunities and to open the door for collaboration and business development between the Philippine and Mexican creative industries, particularly in the film production sector. 

“Latin America presents itself both as an ideal market and partner for the Philippines when we talk about the creative economy,” said Roaring. “We have so much in common but both sides need to be reacquainted. We should leverage on shared history and shared culture for us to best collaborate with the creators and content distributors in the region.” 

ABS-CBN North and Latin America Managing Director Jun Del Rosario gave the industry presentation. He highlighted Star Cinema/ABS-CBN Films which was established in 1993 and has become the largest motion picture company in the Philippines. As of 2015, the film outfit has captured 83 percent of the local theatrical market share. 

The Mexicans in the audience were very delighted to know of the success of Latin telenovelas in the Philippines. Del Rosario cited ABS-CBN´s adaptations of Mexican telenovelas such as Maria Mercedes and Maria Del Barrio, in partnership with Televisa and RTI Colombia. 

Del Rosario talked about the possibilities of co-production, as ABS-CBN is constantly searching for partnerships around the world, filming stories that resonate with the global audience. He indicated that it is through co-productions that their films have reached a mainstream audience beyond the Filipino market. Del Rosario indicated that the music industry and talent exchange is another area that they will pursue for the Mexican and Latin American markets. 

At the end of the event, the team of PTIC Mexico, together with Del Rosario networked with the CANACINE members to continue discussions on production and distribution opportunities between their respective industries. (Philippine Embassy of Mexico/ABS-CBN North and Latin America) 

BAYVIEW PARK HOTEL MANILA HOLIDAY MUST HAVE PROMOS

It’s that time of the year again and everyone is feeling the Christmas spirit! 

Make your holidays more special and avail the Christmas and New Year’s Eve Festivity Package. Get a Superior Room for only PHP5,999net OR a Deluxe Room for only PHP6,999net per room/night. Besides the festivity Dinner for two (2), this offer also includes an overnight accommodation, buffet breakfast, free late check-out until 3pm and a lot more!. Valid for December 24 and 31, 2019 only.

Not only that, since Christmas is just around the corner and Bayview Park Hotel Manila is here to make the holidays merrier and brighter. 

Enjoy a variety of flavours and selections with their Christmas and New Year’s Eve Dinner Buffet for only P999 per person. You can treat your family to a whole bounty of feast. This delicious dinner experience will be on December 24 and 31 from 6:00pm to 10:00pm and on Christmas Day, December 25, 2019 from 10:00am – 2:00pm. 

For more information, call us at (632) 8526-1555 or e-mails us bookings@bayviewparkhotel.manila.com 

WAYS TO WISELY SPENT YOUR 13TH MONTH PAY

It’s that time of the year again where people get their bonuses and go all-out with their purchases. While this might be the perfect time to tick off items from your wish list, it's also important to prioritize your spending on those purchases which can benefit you in the long run. We list down below recommendations on how to spend your 13th-month pay wisely:

Buy stocks

Getting into investments can seem intimidating at first. But with the vast information that can be easily accessed online, it’s easier to be financially literate in the Philippines. Check out some books and YouTube videos on how to properly strategize and choose the right stocks and investments based on your financial goal. This can pay off in the long run as long as you make smart decisions on where your money goes.

Start an emergency fund

Having a separate emergency fund is a necessity in order to be prepared when the time comes for unexpected expenses such as medical bills, house, and auto repairs. At a minimum, one should have three months worth of living expenses in your emergency fund. There are also online emergency fund calculators to help you decide on how to do this. Make sure to create a separate bank account for this to properly manage your accounts. Saving up for an emergency fund and knowing that one is all set can give a person a sense of security that can allow an individual to live a more peaceful life.

Pay off debt

Adulting also entails being responsible for liabilities. In order to start the year completely fresh, pay off the debt you’ve accumulated throughout the year! This makes way for a clean slate and a restart on how you purchase and prioritize expenses for 2020.

Upgrade your home appliance

Keeping the household intact is always a priority. Home appliances play a big role in the household and should serve their purpose in both function and design. If it seems like home appliances are showing signs that they are about to break down such as discoloration, making weird noises and not doing its job efficiently, then replace them before they bring inconvenience to the household. With the different innovations out in the market, it’s important to choose the appliance that will serve one’s family’s needs. Also, watch out for sales and promos during the season that can save you money to spend on other necessities.

Samsung DV90 Heatpump Dryer stacked with Samsung Front Load Washer

Samsung DV90 Heatpump Dryer that has Heatpump and Optimal Dry technology to dry clothes efficiently. This is perfect for big households who need to save time and electric consumption when drying clothes. Get this for as low as PHP 3,895 for 12 months installment. This also comes with a free stacking kit to save space around your household! (see below)

Samsung Front Load Washer 7.5 kg is equipped with Eco Bubble Technology that turns detergent into powerful bubbles to easily remove dirt. One can also add forgotten laundry at any cycle using the Add Wash function. Get this for as low as PHP 31,995 that comes with PHP 1,000 Bayad Center e-Coupon. This also comes with a payment option of 12 months installment of PHP 3,000/month.

Samsung RS54 Refrigerator offers an All-around cooling and Power Freeze function that rapidly and evenly cools every corner of the fridge, ensuring food is always fresh. It also uses Digital Inverter Technology that consumes less energy than conventional refrigerators. Get this for as low as PHP 49,796 that comes with PHP 1,000 Bayad Center e-Coupon. This also comes with a payment option of 12 months installment of PHP 4,650/month.

Samsung Smart Oven 35-liter functions as a convection oven and a microwave that can be used for baking, grilling, slim frying, defrosting, steaming and even making yogurt, making it the perfect cooking appliance. Get this for PHP23,995 that comes with PHP1,000 Bayad Center e-Coupon and a payment option of 12 months installment of PHP2,250/month.

Basic Inverter Wind-Free Air Conditioner with 21,000 Micro Holes that cools the room evenly with no harsh air. Get this for PHP 33,535 that comes with PHP 500 Bayad Center e-Coupon and a payment option of 12 months installment of PHP3,120/month.

Classes and Courses

If taking a short course has been on the list for so long, then this can definitely be a good time to take it. Adding skills and knowledge can definitely pay off in the long run. If you worry about not being able to attend classes regularly, consider checking out online courses such as skillshare.com, coursera.org, and Udemy.com. These websites offer thousands of courses from crafts, science and business, and can be taken on one’s own time. Don’t be afraid to spend on things that can benefit you as self-investment.

Splurging on items that can be smart investments is something that people shouldn’t feel bad about. With Samsung Digital Appliance’s Merrier Christmas Gifts, one can enjoy discounts up to 25% off and Bayad Center eCoupons to use to pay for household bills.

To know more about the Merrier Christmas Gifts Promo of Samsung Digital Appliances, visit https://www.samsung.com/ph/offer/merrierchristmasgifts/appliances/. This promo runs from October 1, 2019 to January 31, 2020.

UNIQLO'S BLACK FRIDAY OFFERS

UNIQLO treats its shoppers with Black Friday offers on LifeWear pieces just in time for the Holiday season until Dec 5. 

This year, make the Christmas season merrier by giving the gift of UNIQLO’s LifeWear. The collection offers a wide range of items—from essentials to collaborations with pop culture phenomena and luxury fashion labels to express one’s individuality. Shoppers can find the best present for themselves or their loved ones, to fit anyone's personality. 

Shoppers can enjoy deals from different items including:

For more updates, customers may download the UNIQLO mobile app, visit UNIQLO Philippines’ website at www.uniqlo.com/ph and follow social media account, Facebook (facebook.com/uniqlo.ph), Twitter (twitter.com/uniqloph) and Instagram (Instagram.com/uniqlophofficial).