TAIWAN EXCELLENCE "Your Song of Excellence: Duo Legacy" Bares Winners

Taiwan certainly has a lot of things that Filipinos could connect to. One of it is the love for music. TAITRA aka Taiwan External Trade Development Council recently held the Taiwan Excellence "Your Song of Excellence: Duo Legacy" at the Market!Market! mall in Taguig City. 

Out of thousands who sent their entries, they got the judges choose 3 finalists to battle it out on this one day at the mall's activity center. This isn't a walk in the park as we talked to the judges Kean Cipriano, Ice Seguerra, Yeng Constantino and Paulo Zarate. They also had to choose a winner based off a themed composition about Taiwan Excellence and an original song. Taiwan is known for their various quality products and seeing the Taiwan Excellence seal on them just assures you of their high standards. Aside from the economic standpoint, it's the connections we share in culture that makes it a worthwhile event.

We also got to talk to the executives of TAITRA and asked about what they were looking for as far as winners go. It's a combination of talent, x factor and the ability to showcase the Filipino talent. Because just like Taiwan, we find excellence in these things. Makes sense?

 Various Taiwanese brands also joined the event in support of the Taiwan Excellence program and this songwriting and singing competition:

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In the end, they announced The Unexpected Duo's Vench Larenas and Renz Salazar as Second Runner Up, Haranajeeb Duo's Khen Aldovino and Nephtali Fajardo as the First Runner Up. The grand winner is Mandarhyme Duo's Rusty and Janine Loayon, they won Php 300,000 for it. The event was witnessed by TAITRA's Brian Lee, Alex Lai, and people from Taiwan Economic and Cultural Office. Also in the event was Ambassador Wallace Chow and Ms. Josephine Shun of TECO Philippines.

Forest Lake Solidifies Lead in Memorial Park Development

A company that brings compassion, care, innovative services that brings customers first, one that only Forest Lake could bring.

They've been in the industry since 1997, building over 37 memorial parks in Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao. They have grown significantly over the years, with even bigger steps taken starting 2005 up to 2015. They managed to double their portfolio from 2016 to 2020 then launched 8 more memorial parks in 2021-2023. To date, they now have 3 Billion worth of sales last year and steadfastly personifying their call of "A Better Place" where families, friends could lay to rest their loved ones.

They have strategically strengthened their collection services and increased earnings year on year. They also increased assets (20%) with plans to develop even more of it in the future, but make sure that it remains affordable despite economic challenges and inflation this year.

Alfred Xerez-Burgos III the President and CEO of Forest Lake Development Inc. says "We are lucky to have our core values intact to solidify our stature in this industry. Always putting personalized service, value, teamwork, continuous innovation, creativity and professionalism as part of our priorities, it made us who we are today."

With plans to expand in even more places throughout the country, they remain optimistic and bullish on growth and build more chapels, columbariums, and cremation facilities to meet the needs of Filipino families and their loved ones.

Here's to even more years of service to Filipinos!

DigiPlus Interactive/BingoPlus Foundation Continue CSR Efforts in Typhoon Stricken Areas

It's been a devastating couple of months as typhoons ravaged the country. The recent one being Typhoon Carina and has affected people from Metro Manila and the island of Luzon. This prompted DigiPlus Interactive and their CSR efforts to make sure they get mobilized in different communities especially those who have been severely affected by it. Together with the DSWD, they got to bring essentials for 15,160 families. They went there with Digibuddy volunteers to make sure re-packing and distribution would be done without a hitch.

The affected barangays in Marikina, CAMANAVA, Rizal, and Central Luzon were given relief goods and toiletries including those who are in the DSWD shelters that function as a home for street children and the homeless. They also provided rice and milk for them during the activity.

With the help of their foundation, they also built rainwater collecting tanks with filters so they could benefit those who are also struggling with potable, clean water. They also taught children in school needed disaster preparedness skills so when the time comes, they would be able to weather through challenges. This includes IP's from the Dumagats, and vulnerable communities. This is part of their efforts to make sure that the Philippines remain resilient and stronger, and implement their CSR programs in line with it.

These are good things that should be multiplied!

New GMA Afternoon Prime Show SHINING INHERITANCE Premieres September 9

 

Every time I get invited to a GMA press conference, I know it's going to be BIG.

This goes the same with this new series called "SHINING INHERITANCE", a Philippine adaptation of a KDrama series entitled "Brilliant Legacy" shown around 2009. 

Kate Valdez is going to be leading this show together with the iconic Ms. Coney Reyes. The main antagonist is going to be Kyline Alcantara who's previously worked with Kate in an opposite role. They will be together with Paul Salas, Michael Sager, Roxie Smith, the vampiric Wendell Ramos, Ms. Glydel Mercado, Aubrey Miles, Gio Alvarez, Dave Bornea, Jamir Zabarte, Seth Dela Cruz, and very funny newcomer Charuth (who also hosted the event).

Kate says "I already worked with her (Kyline) in Black Lipstick and I'm very excited to work with her because I want her to make life hard with my character. I'm thankful she's the Joanna to my Ynna. I was able to create the persona of my character because she breathed life with hers. People think she's serious all the time but no, she's very makulit in real life." 

Kyline replied "This is our moment, this is it Kate! Like what she said, we've worked together in Black Lipstick where she played the contrabida. But now, this is my turn to make her character's life miserable. I also got to create my character's persona because of her. Kate is a thinking actress. She gives emotions on scenes that you can feed off of. I know the scenes are difficult but if you have someone like her who is generous, you can make the scenes easy because of her and the rest of the cast who are equally good."

The trailer alone looks painful when Kyline smothered Kate's face on the ground. In the series, there will be a lot of this and more as they promised... plus some unforgettable ones from Ms. Coney Reyes.

She says "First of all, like the character I'm really a grandma. It hits home, and also having dementia, it's a challenge and it is hard to portray Dela Costa. It's my 50th year in show business, I started in May of 1974. My first drama was here in GMA, it was around 1981 after I gave birth to my first child. After the noontime show, I was lucky to be next in a drama. When I found out this was in the same slot, it was a welcome thing for me. Lord definitely has a reason why he put me here. It doesn't matter for me to be here or in prime time. It is exciting for me to see how it is again in the afternoon prime. Many of my followers are mothers, housewives, grandmas, same as my age. I am working with Gen Z actors here, it's a blessing from God to be working alongside the Gen Z generation and a different set of audience. God gave me different shows with a different set of actors and I think a new set of audience from previous shows will appreciate that. I believe there's a purpose, to use what he gave me and share it."

Shining Inheritance will premiere on September 9. Make sure you watch the show because it's going to be in a Filipino perspective. This is going to be a lot different than the KDrama execution according to the director.