An Extraordinary Workshop for GMA Artists with Howie Severino

When an artist undergoes workshops, it usually means they'll be learning more about singing, dancing, interacting with other actors and acting. A few days ago, an unconventional one happened virtually with no less than the award winning journalist and broadcaster Howie Severino.

Mr. Severino held a masterclass about Baybayin which is an acient writing system. He's very passionate about teaching this to others as people reading and writing it remains scarce. He says "I'm very happy that I get to meet all of you, not just because you are artists, but you are also culture bearers. You carry our identities as Filipinos, it's a good thing you're learning how to do Baybayin. You get to be looked up to by generations that kept the writing form alive. It's a huge undertaking but we have to start somewhere, now that includes you!"

This is part of GMA Artist Center's efforts called "Ang Breakout Room: Masterclass Series" which they'll be doing on a regular basis for home grown artists and celebrities. Artists who were included in the roster included First Lady Sanya Lopez, the beloved Farrah in Legal Wives Bianca Umali, Kyline Alcantara who probably is being swooned by Mavy Legaspi, Lexi Gonzales who just released a single, Radson Flores and Matt Lozano who's excited for Voltes V Legacy, artists Claire Castro, Royce Cabrera, Zonia Mejia, Jamir Zabarte, Joaquin Manansala, Jen Maravilla, Jr Royol, Migs Villasis, Hannah Arguelles, Bryce Eusebio, Gab Yabut, Elias Point, Allen Ansay, Lia Salvador, Dentrix Ponce, Dave Duque, Kirsten Gonzales, Kimson Tan, Lime Aranya, Levince Sotto and Rain Matienzo all learned the ropes in how to read and write with Baybayin just on that day.

Howie also shared how this would impact their families, their community and the next generation. I wonder what GMA Artist Center has under their sleeves after this one. It sounds so exciting!

Lexi Gonzales Outs "Something in the Rain" Under GMA Playlist

Just got the chance to Lexi Gonzales a few days ago. The Starstruck First Princes has already made a mark in GMA shows and several series, but today's a little different because she's chasing a huge passion of hers, it's singing. She released the single "Something in the Rain" last November 12th under GMA Playlist.

Lexy says "I was really drawn to this masterpiece by Rina Mercado. I was nervous, but motivated because GMA Playlist really supported me. I initially connected it with the feeling of having a first love, the nostalgia of having it, but later on felt it's appropriate to dedicate it to my loved ones, my family, specifically my Grandma. She's someone I really love, and I feel I am with her when I sing about it."

Lexi also hopes she gets to sing more songs with her friends Mikee, and her co stars in Sunday Pinasaya. She also wanted to sing with Garette Bolden if they're permitted to work together. Lexi wants to find good love, something that won't be wasted especially if she's putting an effort to make it last. The ones who heard it first was her family, they actually loved it includer her closest friends. She got lots of good feedback because she didn't realize they would like it that much. My Mom felt it was sweet, whilst my Dad was surprise she could sing, she felt she really had their support right from the start. She also wants to write songs soon, as she's got a new platform. Hopefully she would get to star in her own series, be part of a movie, and make her travel vlogs because that's what she wants to do. These days, she listens to Taylor Swift, some of her favorite bands include Eraserheads and Kitchie Nadal, which she also things are her greatest music influence. You can go listed to it on all music platforms, just search for her name and it should be listed there! Spotify would be a good place to start!

Huawei Launches Seeds For The Future 2021 in the Philippines

The good people over at Huawei Philippines has just launched their Seeds for the Future program this 2021 in the Philippines. This was witnessed today by over 100 students, the Secretary of Foreign Affairs Teodoro Locsin, the CHED Chairman, the Chancellor of the University of the Philippines and representatives from over 20 colleges and universities in the country. The Secretary of Foreign Affairs lauded Huawei for launching their CSR program for the benefit of ICT talents in the region that they have been helping since 2008. Currently, Huawei Seeds for the Future has benefited over 9,000 individuals across the globe as we prepare for a more digital way of doing business and cultivating ICT expertise where over 100 students have already benefited from in the country alone. This is Huawei’s initiative to make sure that knowledge, skills and capabilities are of the same level with the other countries in the subjects of 5G, AI and Cloud Computing. Huawei’s Jay Chen marks that this is the start of what Huawei will dedicate for the region as they will be allocating 50 million dollars just for this purpose. They will be undergoing an 8 day training this year. The Philippines is certainly going to be part of that growth and I hope that those who will be chosen would be able to teach other talented Filipinos too because we’ve got good scientists and engineers this side of the world!

ADM Launches Wisium Premix Line in the Philippines

Just got off the afternoon press conference of Wisium. They're from ADM, leaders of producing animal nutrition. They're experts in premix products and services including feeds, which has been a really great need in industrial farming and food production.


ADM's Eric Carfi says "Today, ADM is an established brand for both food and feed. We started in 2018 for swine, poultry and aqua business. Wisium is here in a global approach. We have expanded in China and Vietnam, we are also growing in the Philippines. We are positioned in the country's animal and local livestock industry. The potential of growth in the Philippines is still here, very attractive for us. The people are focusing on quality, very hard for local players, you need to invest on technology and this is why Wisium partners with individuals in the country. The way we are seeing the market is by partnering with people, we want to be a top player in Asia and the Philippines. We want to be the one to support them, give them the ability to plan and make a difference."

Wisium is going to produce Micro and Macro Premix, Near Infrared Technologies, WeanUp Concepts and Natural AGP Alternatives for the country.

Francois Fernandez of ADM says "We are really expanding our expertise around the globe, we are bringing technology for producing feeds for animals. To be able to do these premix, we would be able to provide this for Filipinos in the long run."

Dr. Eski Equivel of wisium PH says "The opening of our Wisium nutrition line is timely and essential especially for the agricultural country of the Philippines. We currently have the Wisium Premix Plant in Cagayan Valley Road in San Rafael Bulacan. Because we have a plant here, we are nearer the customers. We are using raw materials, our own laboratories so farmers can benefit from it. The pandemic really got us hang because of the shipments, we now focus on local ingredients in production and we can do it here in wisium."

ADM Managing Director Lorenzo Mapua says "We commit ourselves to provide local our customers with quality and locally produced feeds. The new premix line we produce in Bulacan can do customized solutions, as prices increase in the market, wisium provides options to maintain certain requirements for farms across the country. We're a new brand but we're backed up by ADM's expertise, someone who has technology and can make Philippine agriculture more profitable, feed more Filipinos. Wisium is already out in the market but we will produce it here in the Philippines in around a month wherein we can customize solutions. This will also be generating a few jobs as this is automated and consistent. We will have a one to one approach so we can talk to the farmers and help them to become successful."

The investments include a local approach, research and development that may have not been initially available in the country. Wisium is offering nutritionists from local and international offices, services that raw materials are above standard, make sure that diet for the animals promote optimum growth. They also have additives made, all natural for egg layers to increase production rate for farming. They make sure you get the genetic potential of your farm animals. Wisium might cost higher, but the benefits outweigh all the result. The swine industry has been met by challenges and this can be a start for smart production. They are connecting to clients via digitalization, agriculture is a necessity and the need to eat is important. That's a food security issue answered, with the African Swine Fever that affected pork sources, the need to be efficient in production is important. They have to lessen expenses and this has what Wisium is doing to be able to address these issues.

The quality they are bringing is impressive. They make the difference by listening to the farmers and they know what they can improve. They've been in the country since 2018 and they're ready to release all the products of Wisium in the Philippines.