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Month: January 2021

Technology

BPI AMTC taps Spotify for financial education

In the digital age, your investment journey could start on Spotify. This is why BPI AMTC is launching its revamped podcast channel "Wealth Radio" on the streaming service.

In the digital age, your investment journey could start on Spotify. This is why BPI Asset Management and Trust Corporation (AMTC) is launching its revamped podcast channel “Wealth Radio” on the streaming service.

“Podcasts have proven to be effective in engaging and reaching a wider audience through relevant and entertaining content. With ‘Wealth Radio’, we do not only share stories and insights to inform, but also provide our listeners with opportunities to reflect on their personal development when it comes to attaining financial freedom,” said BPI AMTC President Sheila Marie U. Tan in a press statement.

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2 Min Reading
Entertainment

‘Shadow and Bone’ author discusses first-look images

Netflix has shared the first-look images from "Shadow and Bone", its new fantasy series based on Leigh Bardugo’s worldwide bestselling Grishaverse novels. Image credit: Netflix
Image credit: Netflix

Netflix has shared the first-look images from “Shadow and Bone”, its new fantasy series based on Leigh Bardugo’s worldwide bestselling Grishaverse novels.

“‘Shadow and Bone’ takes place in a very different kind of fantasy world. Think Imperial Russia, not Medieval England, repeating rifles instead of broadswords. It’s a story about the people who have been told how much they don’t matter proving how much they do. And it’s been incredible to see that story take shape on such an epic scale, the battles, the magic, but also the relationships between the characters,” Bardugo said in a press statement.

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3 Min Reading
Entertainment

BTS, BLACKPINK agencies form strategic partnership

BTS and BLACKPINK, two of the biggest global K-pop stars, were recently named by Indonesian unicorn Tokopedia as its 2021 brand ambassadors. Image credit: Tokopedia
BTS and BLACKPINK, two of the biggest global K-pop stars, were recently named by Indonesian unicorn Tokopedia as its 2021 brand ambassadors. Image credit: Tokopedia

Big Hit Entertainment and YG Entertainment are the homes of two of the world’s biggest K-pop groups, BTS and BLACKPINK, respectively.

Now the two agencies have announced a strategic partnership after Big Hit Entertainment invested 70 billion won (US$63 million) in YG Plus, as reported by Yonhap News Agency.

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2 Min Reading
Technology

PR in the new normal tackled in Communitalks webinar

The world has changed drastically, and so have companies and people. So what then should be the role of PR in the new normal? Image credit: Gratisography
Image credit: Gratisography

The world has changed drastically, and so have companies and people. So what then should be the role of public relations (PR) in the new normal?

IPRA Philippines, the local chapter of the International Public Relations Association, aims to share insights into PR in the new normal in its “Communitalks 1: Communication Trends in 2021 and Beyond” webinar that will be held on Jan. 28 from 4-6PM, which is now open for registration.

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2 Min Reading
A Life Less Analog, Entertainment

‘Godzilla vs. Kong’: Japanese icon battles American ape

Technology column header

I love Godzilla. So after watching the epic first official trailer, I’m really hoping that “Godzilla vs. Kong” won’t make the King of the Monsters job to King Kong again.

Yes, these two goliaths have clashed on the big screen before, in the 1962 movie “King Kong vs. Godzilla”. Of course I was rooting for Godzilla. I’ve never liked King Kong, and even as a kid I knew Japan was way cooler than the US, which created that dumb ape. Heck, just to have that ape go toe to toe with Godzilla, Toho Studios had to make him much, much larger than he was in the original 1933 “King Kong” US movie. And he still had to cheat.

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3 Min Reading
Technology

Limasawa: Historic site now powered by Smart LTE

Limasawa, site of the country's first Catholic Mass, has entered the age of high-speed internet with the launch of Smart's LTE network there. Image credit: Smart Communications
Image credit: Smart Communications

Limasawa, site of the first Catholic Mass held in the Philippines on Easter Sunday in 1521, has entered the age of high-speed internet with the launch of Smart Communications’ LTE network there. This comes months ahead of the start of the yearlong celebration of the 500th anniversary of the Christianization of the Philippines.

“Smart LTE will be of great help with our virtual activities and other strategies to promote the island. Connectivity is crucial to increasing people’s awareness… Overall, it will contribute to the island’s economic development,” said Limasawa Mayor Melchor Petracorta in a press statement.

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2 Min Reading
Technology

AI chatbot powers POND’S, Shopee regional campaign

Ready to enjoy free skin analysis from an AI chatbot? Pond's and Shopee have launched the "Smarter Skincare Just For You" regional campaign. Image credit: Shopee
Image credit: Shopee

Ready to enjoy free skin analysis from an AI chatbot? POND’S has partnered with ecommerce platform Shopee to launch the “Smarter Skincare Just For You” regional campaign. This campaign integrates POND’S cutting-edge Skin Advisor Live (SAL) AI chatbot exclusively on Shopee for the first time.

“Our mission has always been to provide consumers with expert skincare solutions to enable  them to look their best every day. When faced with so many beauty choices available online, we  understand it can be overwhelming and challenging for consumers to pick the right skincare  products. By integrating SAL, POND’S virtual beauty advisor, on Shopee’s robust chat platform, we can help consumers quickly find the products that suit their unique skin type. They don’t have to rely on trial and error in hopes of finding the best fit for their skin, making  beauty an enjoyable experience,” said POND’S Global Brand Vice President Rohit Bhasin in a press statement.

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3 Min Reading
Technology

One BPI: BPI seeks merger with thrift bank subsidiary

In a bid to create One BPI, Bank of the Philippine Islands (BPI) has announced that it will merge with BPI Family Savings Bank (BFSB).

In a bid to create One BPI, Bank of the Philippine Islands (BPI) has announced on Jan. 20 that it will merge with BPI Family Savings Bank (BFSB). The merger with its wholly owned thrift bank subsidiary, which is subject to shareholder and regulatory approvals, will see BPI as the surviving entity.

“This merger has the best interests of our customers and employees in mind. As One BPI, our 8.5 million customers will be able to enjoy the full suite of the BPI group’s products, via all our digital and physical channels. Similarly, as One BPI, our employees will have the ability to work across a larger, more varied bank, while having continuity of tenure and job level,” said BPI President and CEO and BFSB Chairman Cezar P. Consing in a press statement.

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2 Min Reading
Entertainment

‘Space Sweepers’ teases epic space adventure on Netflix

Are you ready to get swept away by Netflix’s upcoming outer space sci-fi blockbuster "Space Sweepers" starring Song Joong Ki and Kim Tae Ri? Image credit: Netflix
Image credit: Netflix

Are you ready to get swept away by Netflix’s upcoming outer space sci-fi blockbuster “Space Sweepers” starring Song Joong Ki and Kim Tae Ri?

Directed by Jo Sung Hee of “A Werewolf Boy” and “Phantom Detective”, this South Korean sci-fi film also stars Jin Sun Kyu and Yoo Hai Jin. The main trailer reveals that Earth has become a bleak planet in 2092 and will soon be uninhabitable. Thus, a pristine habitat was created in space for UTS citizens.

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2 Min Reading
A Life Less Analog, Entertainment

Jennie of BLACKPINK conquers YouTube on birthday

Technology column header

Want to know just how popular Jennie of BLACKPINK is? She celebrated her 25th birthday on Jan. 16 with two impressive YouTube milestones.

On Jan. 15, Jennie Kim became the first Korean female solo artist to have a music video that reached 600 million views on YouTube, for her debut solo single “Solo”. Then, on her birthday itself, she surprised fans with the launch of her own YouTube channel, Jennierubyjane Official, which gained a million subscribers in less than a day and already has 3.3 million subscribers as of this writing. Meaning she earned Silver and Gold Play buttons from YouTube in just one day.

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3 Min Reading
Gaming

Training esports athletes: PESO accredits YEP

To institutionalize the training of esports athletes, the Pilipinas E-Sports Organization has accredited the Youth Esports Program. Image credit: Mineski
Image credit: Mineski

The future is bright for esports in the Philippines. To institutionalize the training of the country’s future esports athletes, the Pilipinas E-Sports Organization (PESO) has officially accredited Mineski Philippines‘ Youth Esports Program (YEP).

“The Philippines has a vast pool of talent that has the potential to succeed in esports. The partnership between PESO and YEP will put a grassroots program in place that nurtures young talent and engages stakeholders to drive the growth of esports in the country. With the right infrastructure and programs in place, we hope that more young Filipinos will see the potential of esports, from opportunities to participate in high-level competition and cultivate the discipline of an athlete to considering pursuing a career within the large, growing ecosystem of the esports industry,” said PESO Board Member and Mineski Global CEO Ronald Robins in a press statement.

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3 Min Reading
Technology

AI for financial inclusion: CIBI partners with ADVANCE.AI

Aiming to leverage the power of AI for financial inclusion, CIBI Information Inc. has signed a strategic partnership with ADVANCE.AI. Image credit: ADVANCE.AI
CIBI President and CEO Marlo R. Cruz says the partnership will boost financial inclusion in the Philippines. Image credit: ADVANCE.AI

Aiming to leverage the power of artificial intelligence (AI) for financial inclusion, Philippine credit bureau agency CIBI Information Inc. (CIBI) has signed a strategic partnership with Singapore-headquartered AI and big data company ADVANCE.AI.

“We’re truly excited by this partnership. Our mission has always been to boost financial services access and inclusion among unbanked and underbanked individuals and businesses in the Philippines. This partnership will pair ADVANCE.AI’s industry-leading AI and risk management solutions, including its identity verification and anti-fraud products, with our own data capabilities so we can grow our range and depth of credit reporting and information services in the country,” said CIBI President and CEO Marlo R. Cruz in a press statement.

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2 Min Reading
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