VILLAR PUSHES FOR WELFARE OF PHILIPPINE JOURNALISTS, ADVOCATES FOR MORE SUPPORT TO LOCAL FILM INDUSTRY

LAS Piñas Rep. Camille Villar has filed two measures at the House of Representatives that will provide additional social safety nets for journalists and a seed fund that will provide the Philippine movie industry with the needed sources to produce world-class films.

Under proposed House Bill No. 6543, Villar seeks to provide disability, health and hospitalization benefits to all practicing journalists. The bill also mandates the Social Security System and the Government Service Insurance System to create a special coverage for freelance journalists, specifically when they are assigned to cover war zones, conflict-stricken areas, and calamity affected places.

“Mahalagang pangalagaan natin ang ating mga mamamahayag, lalo na iyong mga naka-assign sa mga delikadong lugar. Tinataya nila ang kanilang buhay para makapagbigay ng napapanahong balita pas ra sa mga Pilipino kung kaya’t nararapat lamang na bigyan natin sila ng proteksyon at dagdag na benepisyo para sa kanilang sakripisyo,” Rep. Villar said.

Rep. Villar also filed House Resolution No. 451 that will create a seed fund for grant of additional funding to the local movie industry to encourage filmmakers to come up with more quality films that could compete in the international arena.  Through the proposed legislation, the government will give the Film Development Council of the Philippines (FDCP) funding support so it can work with industry stakeholders to develop new marketing strategies to further bolster the Philippines’ chance in being recognized in international film festivals like the Academy Awards.

“Securing a nomination, win or even a shortlist from foreign award-giving bodies like the prestigious Oscars will further cement the Philippines’ reputation as home of world-class talents and quality movies, thus potentially opening more employment and livelihood opportunities for Filipinos,” Rep. Villar said.

Both measures are pending in the committee level.

Aside from being a public servant, Rep. Villar also holds the position of President and CEO of AllValue Holdings Corporation, the retail arm of the Villar Group of Companies that handles AllDay Supermarket, AllHome, and Coffee Project, and has received various accolades from this role.

In 2022, the Stevie Awards for Women in Business in Las Vegas recognized AllHome Builds and bestowed it the Bronze Award for Community-Involvement Program of the Year for Women-owned or Women-led Organizations. It also feted Rep. Villar with the Government Hero of the Year award for her work during the COVID-19 pandemic. She was also named Female Executive of the Year, a Silver Awardee in Asia, Australia, and New Zealand for her expertise as president and chief executive officer of AllValue Group.

Recently, Rep. Villar joined the partnership launch between Advanced Media Broadcasting System (AMBS) and ABS-CBN Corporation.  The new partnership will bring up-to-date news and iconic entertainment programs to Filipino audiences via ALLTV available on Channel 2 on free TV, cable and satellite TV across the country.

Rep. Villar obtained her MBA from IESE (Instituto de Estudios Superiores de la Empresa) Business School in Barcelona, Spain, one of the world’s best business schools, and studied Business Management at the Ateneo de Manila University.

She is a mother of two – Tristan and Cara. 

Is Puregold teasing the year’s panalo collab of the Philippines’ biggest music artists?

Social media has been on fire speculating about Puregold collaborating with the hottest names in the local music scene. The buzz started after Puregold made two teaser posts on their social media this past April 12th that seemed to hint at an announcement involving major Pinoy pop artists. 

The first post from that morning showed the following letters flashing on screen: SL, SB, FG, and BN. Finally, the following letters settled on the screen: GRFSB. These same letters were also in the video’s official title, #Puregold_GRFSB. This first video made it clear what those letters meant: Get ready for something big!

Later that day, another post would drop that provided more clues. Once again, labeled #Puregold_GRFSB, this time the post offered glimpses of multiple silhouetted figures. A close look at the video showed four images: three groups and a singular figure. The video ended by promising more to come in May 2024.

Luckily for curious fans and followers, Puregold served more.

 

On April 17, a video snippet of a song from the band SunKissed Lola was released. Best known for their hit song “Pasilyo” with over 204 million streams on Spotify alone, SunKissed Lola is now officially the first announced band to be part of this major music venture from Puregold.

FANS of the band were thrilled to find that the snippet teased brand new original music from SunKissed Lola. Even from just the 20 seconds shared in the video, it’s clear that fans will have much to look forward to when SunKissed Lola drops an original new song in collaboration with Puregold. 

 

With lyrics like “Burahin ang anumang duda sa sarili mo,” the song promises to be an uplifting and inspiring anthem about confidence and believing in one’s self. Already, this teaser has given a glimpse of the always “panalo” vibe that Puregold has always put out through its various forms of marketing campaigns.

 

Seems like Puregold is looking to accomplish something massive in this music collaboration. Music fans all over the country are already waiting with bated breath for further announcements and confirmations about which artists will be next to link up with the retailer.

 

Stay tuned in! Subscribe now to Puregold Channel on YouTube, like @puregold.shopping on Facebook, follow @puregold_ph on Instagram and Twitter, and @puregoldph on TikTok for more updates.

Globe's This isKwela Online Learning Community offers exciting raffle prizes for new members

Globe's This isKwela Facebook Community is kicking off an exciting series of raffle contests to welcome new raketeros and raketeras into its innovative online learning platform. From April 1 to May 23, 2024, a total of 22 lucky winners will take home amazing prizes, including an iPhone 14 128GB, a Samsung Flip 4 128GB, and 20 Php3,000 GCash prizes.

This isKwela empowers individuals to uplift their lives through learning resources, online tools, and raket tips and hacks. Members can also gain access to the coolest gigs, digital freelancing work, and employment prospects that can help them thrive in today's economy.

 

"This raffle is an excellent opportunity for startup business owners, digital freelancers, content creators, and anyone who wants to earn on the side to join our vibrant This isKwela community. It offers access to invaluable resources that can help them achieve their goals," said RG Orense, Head of Digital and Social Channel Strategy at Globe.

 

"We are committed to empowering Filipinos with the skills and knowledge necessary for success in the digital economy. By incentivizing involvement in This isKwela, we hope to encourage more Filipinos to take part in a digital learning journey while also building a community," said Yoly Crisanto, Globe's Chief Sustainability and Corporate Communications Officer.

The raffle will be divided into four rounds, each with its own set of prizes:

●       April 1-11:  1 winner of iPhone 14 128GB and 5 winners of Php3,000 GCash

●       April 15-25: 1 winner of Samsung Flip 4 128GB and 5 winners of Php3,000 GCash

●       April 29-May 9: 5 winners of Php3,000 GCash

●       May 13-23: 5 winners of Php3,000 GCash

 

To participate, individuals must be Globe/TM customers and members of the This isKwela Facebook Group. They need to answer the featured "raket" question pinned on the group's page and register their details, along with proof of group membership and their comment, on the This isKwela Raffle Website.

 

The winners will be announced on the This isKwela Facebook Group and Page within a week after each draw.  They will also be notified via SMS, email, and registered mail.

 

Focusing on practical learning, creating opportunities for income generation, and developing digital skills, This isKwela serves as an essential resource for those looking to flourish in today's society. The raffle series presents an exciting chance for new members to join the community and take advantage of the abundant resources available.

 

To learn more about Globe and its sustainability initiatives, visit www.globe.com.ph.

GMA Network Appoints Nessa Valdellon as Executive Vice President of GMA Pictures

GMA Network, Inc. announces the appointment of Nessa Valdellon as Executive Vice President of GMA Pictures, effective April 1, 2024. She remains as First Vice President of GMA Public Affairs.

In less than a year since her appointment to Senior Vice President of GMA Pictures in 2023, Valdellon has enabled the GMA production arm to become a prominent player in the Philippine cinema landscape.

 

Valdellon produced the internationally-acclaimed film “Firefly,” which won Best Picture not only at the 49th Metro Manila Film Festival in the Philippines but also at the inaugural Manila International Film Festival in Hollywood, California. The romantic drama “The Cheating Game” was GMA’s first offering to screen worldwide on Netflix, hitting the number 1 slot within 24 hours of streaming. 

Nessa Valdellon

In a personal capacity, she was one of the executive producers of independent film "Iti Mapukpukaw (The Missing)" which won Best Picture at the Cinemalaya Film Festival and became the Philippines' Oscar entry for 2024.

 

As GMA Network’s concurrent First Vice President for Public Affairs, Valdellon leads an award-winning department that has put the Philippines on the world stage with its premium content. Public Affairs just received nominations for 6 of its programs in this year’s New York Festivals: one for action drama “Black Rider,” two for “The Atom Araullo Specials” and three for "I-Witness,” GMA’s flagship documentary show which celebrates its 25th anniversary this year. The New York Festival Medalists will be announced mid-April.