Cebu Pacific, Singapore Tourism Board renew partnership to fly every Juan to Singapore

Cebu Pacific and Singapore Tourism Board executives pose for a photo following the MOU signing.

Cebu Pacific (PSE: CEB), the Philippines’ leading airline, has strengthened its partnership with the Singapore Tourism Board (STB) to help travelers reimagine the Lion City and visit Singapore.

CEB and STB previously signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) in April 2022 to mark the reopening of Singapore’s borders. With the successes of the past year, both parties today renewed the MOU to intensify their collaboration to promote travel to Singapore, which is one of the top-of-mind destinations for visitors from the Philippines. Key projects in this 2023 MOU will include joint marketing and promotions, and joint business development in the areas of fly-cruise and meetings and incentive corporate groups.

“We are delighted to renew our partnership with Cebu Pacific, which contributed greatly to Singapore’s strong tourism numbers for 2022. Philippines is a key market for Singapore, and the attractive promotions from Cebu Pacific will be complemented by STB’s ‘SingapoRewards’ programme, which offers a free experience for every eligible tourist to Singapore.” ~Ms. Juliana Kua, Assistant Chief Executive for International Group, Singapore Tourism Board (STB)

Ms. Juliana Kua, Assistant Chief Executive for International Group, Singapore Tourism Board (STB)

SingapoRewards is a new programme that will provide international visitors with an opportunity to try one of nearly 40 new or “off-the-beaten-path” experiences in Singapore for free, across the whole of 2023.

Ms. Juliana Kua and Ms. Candice Iyog formally sign the MOU between the Singapore Tourism Board and Cebu Pacific.

CEB provides strong connectivity to Singapore as it currently flies from Manila, Cebu, Davao, and starting in April, from Clark, Pampanga.

“We value this partnership with the Singapore Tourism Board. With recovery in place and our growth plans set in motion, our main goal now is to fly every Juan to exciting destination such as Singapore and enjoy all the offering in this beautiful destination that we missed doing during the pandemic.” ~Ms. Candice Iyog, Chief Marketing and Customer Experience Officer of Cebu Pacific

Ms. Candice Iyog, Chief Marketing and Customer Experience Officer of Cebu Pacific

CEB currently flies thrice daily between Manila and Singapore, providing passengers easy access to the Lion City, to experience its famous culinary scene, see its scenic spots, engage in thrill-seeking activities, or go shopping.

Passengers from the Visayas may also conveniently reach Singapore through Cebu Pacific’s daily flights from Mactan Cebu International Airport.

CEB will also increase its Singapore flights from Davao up to 4x weekly starting on March 26, 2023.

STB Executive Director for Southeast Asia John Conceicao, join Juliana Kua and Candice Iyog, and Cebu Pacific Director for Marketing Michelle De Guzman for the media Q&A.

Travelers from Northern Luzon will also have a new gateway as CEB starts its daily Clark – Singapore flight on April 28, 2023.

To spur travels to Singapore, CEB travelers can book their flights for as low as PHP499 one-way base fare, exclusive of surcharges and fees on March 13 until March 15, 2023. The travel period is from June 1 to November 30, 2023.

Passengers with existing Travel Funds may use these to pay for flights and other add-ons. Apart from the Travel Fund, other payment options such as payment centers, credit or debit cards, and e-wallets may also be used.

CEB now flies to 34 domestic and 25 international destinations, spanning across Asia, Australia, and the Middle East.

Redemptions and bookings can be made on the VisitSingapore app or SingapoRewards microsite at https://singaporewards.visitsingapore.com/.

Filipino indie pop/rock band the vowels they orbit drops sophomore EP, tuloy tuloy tuloy!

Filipino indie pop/rock band the vowels they orbit drops sophomore EP, tuloy tuloy tuloy!

The second EP from the Filipino indie pop/rock band the vowels they orbit, titled tuloy tuloy tuloy!, has finally been released. the eagerly awaited follow-up to their critically acclaimed debut album, Ang Unang Ikot.

The new EP, which was released by Sony Music Entertainment, shows improvement in both music and lyrics without losing the well-rounded charm that made them an instant favorite when they first came out.

In terms of themes, tuloy tuloy tuloy! talks about not letting heartbreak get the best of you and going out into the world with a newfound sense of determination even when things get harder than usual. The EP also discusses the idea of taking control of your own story to make it better and accepting your brokenness with the hope that you will one day heal and improve.

Filipino indie pop/rock band the vowels they orbit drops sophomore EP, tuloy tuloy tuloy!

“It is about finding ourselves caught in the cycle of our own emotions, yet still choosing to move forward. Because this EP is a continuation of the first, the phase of emotions is a bit heavier — from coping with the unfamiliar feeling of life without your first love in ‘Una’ to dealing with grief and the loss of a loved one in ‘Clutch.’ However, it does end on a high note with ‘If You Come Back To Me,’ talking about being sure of oneself and not relying on another to live and grow. In the next phase, we are looking forward to more healed feelings.” ~The Selos act shares in a collective statement

The vowels they orbit’s new EP, tuloy tuloy tuloy! is produced by Rye Sarmiento, guitarist of 6cyclemind and Banda Ni Kleggy, and was recorded in his studio, Backdoor Recording Studio, during a 6-day lock-in session in 2021. Inspired by iconic alt-pop acts The Cardigans and Moonpools & Caterpillars, Sarmiento wanted to capture the ‘90s sound in terms of arrangement and vibe, but made it a point to retain the band’s indie pop influences with a more organic, rock-oriented direction.

“We also gave attention to the performances of each member, doing what they do best individually while still keeping their chemistry as one band.”

The majority of the songs from tuloy tuloy tuloy! were written and sung by lead vocalist/guitarist Nikka Melchor. Keyboardist Hannah dela Cruz wrote and performed “Clutch,” and Jeremy’s father, Ponciano Sayas, penned “Here In My Arms,” in which drummer Jeremy is a featured vocalist. The end result is a project that feels singular, yet distinctly unique in their surprising ways. 

Aside from “Una,” “Bangungot,” “Clutch,” “Here In My Arms,” and “If You Come Back To Me,” the EP also features the focus track “Sandali,” which talks about the importance of slowing down and finding the light amidst everything. 

According to the five-piece act, the song was written by Nikka during the start of the pandemic, thus the lyrics. However, she realized that the message can still be applied to life, in general. 

“With so much going on, we tend to wonder when it will end.”

The EP release will be accompanied by a launch on March 11, 2023 (Saturday) at the 70s Bistro in Quezon City, featuring performances by the vowels they orbit, I Belong To The Zoo, Autotelic, syd hartha, Better Days, Hey June!, and Banda Ni Kleggy. 

the vowels they orbit’s ‘tuloy tuloy tuloy!' is out now on all digital music platforms worldwide via Sony Music Entertainment. 

About Sony Music Entertainment

At Sony Music Entertainment, we honor the creative journey. Our creators shape movements, culture, communities, even history. And we’ve played a pioneering role in music history, from establishing the first-ever music label to inventing the flat disc record. We’ve nurtured some of music’s most iconic artists and produced some of the most influential recordings of all time. Today, we work in more than 100 countries, supporting a diverse and distinctive roster of talented creators at every level and on every stage. Situated at the intersection of music, entertainment, and technology, we bring imagination and expertise to emerging products and platforms, embrace new business models, and employ breakthrough tools—all to support the creative community’s experimentation, risk-taking, and growth. And we form deep, trusted, cause-based partnerships to uplift and empower communities around the world. Sony Music Entertainment is part of the global Sony family. Learn more about our creators and labels here.

GrabShare expands to more Metro Manila cities

Celebrate "summer sarap" with Mang Inasal Extra Creamy Halo-Halo

Grab Philippines officially brings GrabShare to more cities in Metro Manila. The carpooling service – which had its pilot run in Makati, BGC, Manila and select areas in Ortigas in 2022 – is now also available in Mandaluyong, Pasig, San Juan, Pateros, and select areas in Paranaque and Quezon City. 

GrabShare makes the same convenience and reliability of GrabCar more accessible and affordable for the Filipino commuter. With GrabShare, passengers can enjoy as much as 30 percent lower fares on Grab. The service’s passenger-matching feature was also further optimized to ensure that the party is headed in the same direction to avoid surprise detours, hence improving overall shared-ride duration. 

“Every Filipino deserves unfettered access to safe, reliable, and more affordable means of transportation, and we are fully committed to help make that a reality for everyone. We are optimistic that as we expand GrabShare’s service areas to more cities in Metro Manila, we are staying true to our commitment – continuing to play an active role in providing a better mobility experience for everyone.” ~Ronald Roda, Grab Philippines Senior Director for Strategy and Operations

The leading super app is also working on bringing GrabShare to cities outside of Metro Manila. With the growing availability of the service, Grab Philippines reminds its passengers to continue practicing health and safety protocols while on the road. This includes the wearing of face mask and regular hand sanitation. 

ABOUT GRAB

Grab is Southeast Asia’s leading superapp based on GMV in 2021 in each of food deliveries, mobility and the e-wallets segment of financial services, according to Euromonitor. Grab operates across the deliveries, mobility and digital financial services sectors in 480 cities in eight countries in the Southeast Asia region – Cambodia, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam. Grab enables millions of people each day to access its driver- and merchant-partners to order food or groceries, send packages, hail a ride or taxi, pay for online purchases or access services such as lending, insurance, wealth management and telemedicine, all through a single “everyday everything” app. Grab was founded in 2012 with the mission to drive Southeast Asia forward by creating economic empowerment for everyone, and since then, the Grab app has been downloaded onto millions of mobile devices. Grab strives to serve a double bottom line: to simultaneously deliver financial performance for its shareholders and a positive social impact in Southeast Asia. (www.grab.com).

BingoPlus Night celebrates first year of BingoPlus

BingoPlus Night celebrates first year of BingoPlus

On March 4, BingoPlus held a red carpet-themed BingoPlus Night at the Grand Hyatt Manila, marking the company's first evening grand event since its inception in 2022. Luis Manzano and Maine Mendoza, brand ambassadors for famous brands, led other famous people in celebrating the event.

Billy Crawford and Colleen Garcia at the BingoPlus Night Red Carpet

The glitz-and-glam party which was simultaneously live on the official Facebook page of Viva and BingoPlus started at 6:30 pm with Viva artists Bela Padilla, Sam Concepcion, and Kim Molina walking the red carpet. The main program kicked off later in the evening with a sizzling song and dance number by Josh of SB19. Asia’s Songbird Regine Velasquez-Alcasid serenaded the audience followed by first BingoPlus female celebrity endorser Maine Mendoza doing a dance number. Highlight of the show was a surprise number by the Unkabogable Vice Ganda who rocked the night with a song and dance number. The event was aired live on TV5 and One PH. 

BingoPlus celebrity endorser Maine Mendoza performs at the BingoPlus Night

Regine Velasquez performs at the BingoPlus Night

Vice Ganda performs at the BingoPlus Night

Over and above the non-stop fun and entertainment, BingoPlus gave away 1 million pesos worth of raffle prizes to its supporters. Two lucky winners of the Mega Jackpot round exclusively for the BingoPlus Night received 25 million pesos while 20 million pesos was donated to the BingoPlus Foundation, the brand’s arm that takes care of giving back to special groups and communities.

“We are grateful for the public’s overwhelming love and support for the brand during its first year of existence.” ~Jasper Vicencio, AB Leisure Exponent Inc. President

Present during the wine toasting ceremony were Leisure & Resorts World Corporation (LRWC) Chairman Eusebio Tanco, LRWC Board of Directors Atty. Mardomeo Raymundo, Jr. and Atty. Jose Paras, LRWC President Andy Tsui, AB Leisure Exponent Inc. (ABLE) Chairman and CEO Elvis Chan and ABLE President Jasper Vicencio.

Key partners and industry allies from GCash, Maya, Greab Ads, Food Panda, Huawei,  PLDT, Globe, SM Supermalls, Limitless, Family Mart, Shopback and Enravision Media Donuts also participated in the event. 

BingoPlus is the first live-streaming bingo in the Philippines. You may visit www.bingoplus.com and download BingoPlus App for more details.

Celebrate "summer sarap" with Mang Inasal Extra Creamy Halo-Halo

Celebrate Summer Sarap with Mang Inasal Extra Creamy Halo-Halo

Mang Inasal, the country's Grill Expert, ushers in the summer season with its best-selling Extra Creamy Halo-Halo. 

 

Jumpstarting the "Summer Sarap" campaign is a TV commercial that features Mang Inasal brand ambassador Dimples Romana enjoying the Mang Inasal Extra Creamy Halo-Halo while dancing to the tune of “Mas Macrema” -- a fun twist to the 90s hit song Macarena. The song emphasizes the extra creamy milk that makes the Mang Inasal dessert’s blend of ingredients even more delicious. 

 

“Halo-Halo is truly every Filipino's favorite especially during summer. This is why we’re excited to celebrate summer offering our customers the Solid sa Sangkap, Extra Creamy Sarap Halo-Halo. This forms part of our 20th anniversary celebration which highlights the commitment of Mang Inasal to continuously provide food superiority and the best value for money to our customers.” ~Mike V. Castro, Mang Inasal Business Unit Head

 

https://www.facebook.com/manginasalph/videos/944353156719425

 

Customers can enjoy Extra Creamy Halo-Halo and Crema de Leche Halo-Halo starting at P39 with the new 8 oz. add-on to complete their Ihaw-Sarap meals. Classic favorites Small and Regular Halo-Halo are also available for dessert and as snack treats. All Halo-Halo sizes can be ordered for dine-in, takeout, and delivery. 

 

Want more Mang Inasal exclusives NOW? Visit www.manginasal.com for the latest updates, https://manginasaldelivery.com.ph for delivery deals, and follow Mang Inasal on social media! 

FOR KING + COUNTRY scores multi-format hit with “Love Me Like I Am,” featuring American R&B star Jordin Sparks

For King & Country

Multi-GRAMMY® award-winning duo FOR KING + COUNTRY is currently making waves with the crossover success of “Love Me Like I Am,”  their current single featuring American R&B superstar Jordin Sparks.

Aside from topping Billboard’s Christian Airplay charts (dated February 25, 2023), the multi-format smash has recently entered Billboard’s Adult Top 40 charts at No. 31 and Billboard’s Adult Contemporary charts at No. 17, becoming one of the biggest hits in the US by an Australian act this year. To date, the soulful ballad has amassed more than 30 million streams on Spotify alone.

The Christian pop duo, which recently headlined Manila’s Found Music Festival in 2019 at Circuit Makati, also expressed their intent of going back to the Philippines sometime in the future. 

“You know, we hope to always come back to the places that we’ve been, because every country has its own individual culture—taking part in that was a thrill for us. By visiting different cultures around the world, you can learn something from each of them. We just enjoyed being able to spend time with our Filipino friends.” ~Luke Smallbone

Joel and Luke Smallbone

Their song “Love Me Like I Am” will be serviced in Philippine radio soon, thanks to its crossover appeal and inspiring universality that resonate to fans all over the world. A soaring pop tune that recognizes the fact that we all make mistakes, “Love Me Like I Am” highlights the importance of seeking and practicing forgiveness. 

“I think, sometimes in today’s society, we feel like if we make a mistake, that puts us at odds, and we can’t be loved anymore. The truth is if we all made mistakes, that means all of us would never be able to accept this wonderful gift called love. I think ‘Love Me Like I Am’ is obviously talking about heavenly love but I think it’s also a challenge for us to love our families that way. The gift of practicing forgiveness is probably the most important attribute of the world. And, I think, for us, that is what this song is talking about. Is love for people, mistakes, and all. And, look, people will live very differently when they recognize how deeply loved they really are.” ~Luke Smallbone

“Love Me Like I Am,” featuring Jordin Sparks, is part of FOR KING + COUNTRY’s chart-topping fifth studio album, What Are We Waiting For?, released via Curb | World Entertainment last year. The album reached No. 1 on iTunes in multiple countries, and debuted at No. 2 Billboard US’s Top Albums, No. 1 on Billboard US Top Christian Albums, and No. 7 on Billboard US Albums Chart.

About FOR KING + COUNTRY

FOR KING + COUNTRY is one of the music industry’s most respected and decorated duos. Brothers Joel and Luke Smallbone have been awarded four GRAMMY® Awards, seven GMA Dove Awards, a Billboard Music Award, and 16 K-LOVE Fan Awards; and their 11 No. 1 songs have produced an astonishing 2 billion career streams. The RIAA Platinum-selling act’s live show has been hailed as a must-see concert event that continues to wow sold-out crowds whether in the U.S., Australia, Germany, Netherlands, or New Zealand. FOR KING + COUNTRY’s WHAT ARE WE WAITING FOR? released this year, became the duo’s second Top 10 album on the Billboard 200; following their RIAA Gold certified album, BURN THE SHIPS, which also debuted in the Top 10 of the Billboard Top 200 Album Chart. The duo has had seven consecutive No. 1 songs including “For God Is With Us,” “joy.,” “TOGETHER” (feat. Kirk Franklin & Tori Kelly),” and the 11-week Platinum smash, “God Only Knows.”  Featured on major networks including MTV, BBC2, ABC and more, the global hitmakers have collaborated with a diverse list of artists including Dolly Parton, NEEDTOBREATHE, R3HAB, Hillary Scott and Timbaland, amongst others. www.curb.com.

Century Park Hotel concludes the first quarter with deals on full blast

Century Park Hotel's PG Bar

The season is heating up at Manila’s renowned establishment, Century Park Hotel (CPH), as it announces its line-up of exciting pre-summer promotions.

According to the hotel’s General Manager, Anthony Tan, CPH geared up early this year to present a delightful variety of promos and activities for all its patrons.

“For the last month of the first quarter of the year, the hotel deals are on full blast to give our guests wonderful bonding moments and celebrations. New deals for the second quarter were already rolled out as well.” ~Anthony Tan, Century Park Hotel General Manager

Century Park Hotel's Tsu Kiji

Your fondness with our Century Tsukiji’s Eat-ALL-You-Can gets more exciting as it upgrades its Japanese buffet spread.

Starting March 1, 2023, we are introducing daily add-ons of  crepes station, unlimited juices, and “Make Your Own Ramen” station in your favorite Japanese dishes from appetizers (Otsumami), sushi, sashimi, sunomono (vinegared dishes), nimono (simmered dishes), teppanyaki, tempura, yakimono to delightful desserts for only Php 1,199 net per person every Mondays to Thursdays.

And for Fridays to Sundays and on holidays, enjoy more items like Yakitori, variety of seasonal seafood, new sashimi & sushi creations and an exclusive add-on of Japanese ice cream on top of our regular buffet spread for only Php 1,399 net per person.

Head off to the Century Tsukiji and reward yourself with an indulging meal. The outlet is open from 11:00am to 2:30pm and 5:00pm to 9:00pm for lunch and dinner, respectively. 

Century Park Hotel's SamgyuPG

March is the season for graduates! At Century Park Hotel, more people mean more fun in our grand “Salute to the Graduates”. A free buffet awaits graduates who will bring along a minimum of three paying guests at the Café in the Park. Celebrate their moment by indulging in a wide selection of food and fill your plates with your favorite items from soup, salad, cold cuts, carving, seasonal seafood, grilled meats, pasta, Filipino and Chinese stations. Be sure to make room for desserts and unlimited juices all available from 11:00am to 2:30pm and 6:00pm to 10:00pm for lunch and dinner, respectively.

Prom and Graduation Ball’s Package are also available. For reservations, you may call our Sales Department at contact numbers (02) 8528-5871 to 73. 

The Palm Grove Bar, where one of Manila’s first temperature-controlled pools is situated, extends its promo of “Buy 1, Take 1” on Heineken and Tiger beers, Frozen Fruity Margarita and Frozen Sangria every Fridays and Saturdays from 5:00pm to 8:00pm. 

When being in the thick of activity on weekends means all the hustle and hassles, take a break and visit Al Fresco by Palm Grove from 5pm to 11pm, Fridays and Saturdays and enjoy our Unlimited Samgyeopsal for only Php 799 net per person and spare yourself from cooking at home even just for weekends.

CPH will open it with Easter Candyland, a special celebration to end the Lenten season on April 9. Both adults and children will enjoy a fun-filled day full of exciting activities like interactive games, face painting, enchanting magic show, photo booth, loot bags and the traditional egg hunting at the Grand Ballroom from 9:00am to 1:00pm.

 

 

Launched in 1976, the Century Park Hotel remains as one of the finest hotels in Manila. It is owned and operated by Maranaw Hotels and Resort Corporation and enjoys a mix of local and international patrons. The renowned establishment has over 450 rooms in varied types and facilities for a complete dining and leisure experience. To know more about Century Park Hotel, visit www.centurypark.com or contact information@centurypark.com.ph and telephone number (632) 8528-8888.