It was a nice afternoon to see Ivana Alawi right before her PBB stint which none of us was aware of. It was a simple thanksgiving event which she arranged for the support she's getting from the press and bloggers, so it was certainly a surprise to see her in the famous house days after.
Were there any clues?
None at all, because much of the talk that transpired that afternoon revolved around her success, the brands she's representing, and getting married among others.
The YouTube star will certainly be seen in a more "personal" way now that she's in the ABSCBN and GMA partnered celebrity edition of the show which they dubbed as COLLAB, something she's quite used to.
She mentioned during our small talk that most of her content didn't really have scripts and just happens when it happens. She was very witty, down to earth, and doesn't mind answering even the most controversial of issues thrown at her. She confirmed some jewellery endorsement woes are on trial which prohibited her from speaking about it.
Will she do good on the show?
Definitely. Her personality shines in her recent YouTube episodes and her hunger to even create interesting talk with Barbie Forteza (which she deems is still the same person she was with years ago) is a testament for the kind of person she is in or out of the cameras.
She also shared how she wanted to work with previous winner Fyang soon. Maybe that'll happen when she gets out from the house of Kuya.
Thought I could share a bit of a story about two, true empowered women that we have witnessed a couple days ago.
At the posh Hilaya restaurant of NUWA Hotel City of Dreams in Paranaque City, two huge corporations LM Make Up and Skin Care (a subsidiary of Chrizmarie Builders and Construction Supply from the Philippines) and VEGA Natural Thailand finally signed their partnership agreement to produce skincare products designed for the Filipino consumer this 2025.
The event was graced by Madam Lyn Macanas, the is the CEO of Chrizmarie Builders and Construction Supply and LM Make Up and Skincare Corp, Mr. Phrathonmsak Techavetcharoen and Madam Kwan Wannathong the President and CEO respectively of VEGA Natural Thailand.
Ms.
Lyn says "I used to walk 9 kilometers to go to school, I also work in
the farm, tend to animals, but I needed to do it to survive. Because I
didn't have a mother, I was given to strangers, and try to still study
even if abuse was there. I had to work hard in Samar, just to have
lunch, I used to get fruits from a tree. Then I told myself, time will
come that I will succeed. Then I went to college by riding trucks, had
to be with other folks and sell cookware, so I can have money for my
tuition fees. I got to finish college, and I thought it was going to be
okay after that. I went abroad as an OFW, still struggled, I think I
only succeeded when I started as a liaison officer in a construction
company. I had to learn the ropes, Madam Lyn only wished to survive,
after having a successful construction company, and now we are venturing
into cosmetics. This is something that I wanted because I have
daughters, you can achieve this by focusing, praying for it, and I think everything
will fall into place. What keeps me inspired is the hardships that I
went through, I had to do it for my family. I only dreamed of this, and
she comes from a very humble beginnings too (referring to Madam Kwan), she used to sell fish balls in streets of Bangkok,
and I was touched knowing that we both came from very humble beginnings. All organic, skincare utilizing French and Spanish
technology will now be within reach for the Philippines and the region."
Madam Kwan the CEO of Vega Cosmetics says "I lived on a dream, I thought
of how to make it come true. I built my business in manufacturing
cosmetics, and partner with clients to work with them along the way. In
the beginning we talked in Thailand and I could feel how strong her
energy was. She went to our factory and saw how she took care of the
people around her, same with what we have in Thailand. It touched my
heart seeing that, and when we talked, I felt she was so good inside and out.
It's the opportunity that we are also waiting for, and our families met,
we could feel how they took care of us, working together, we will bring
the best products here and elsewhere in the world. We will succeed
together!"
Here's the press conference in its entirety:
Their families also joined them in celebration of this feat. They were seated on tables nearby and was very vocal about supporting each other.
Madam Kwan and Madam Lyn only met over dinner and this happened. This is fate, and we can't wait to see them succeed even further. Their individual stories were certainly so inspiring, and their pursuit for something deeper, more significant to do, because they are the ones who did the hard work, they deserve it. Here's hoping even more people get to hear and learn about their stories, and become successful like them too.
Cheers to two successful women and their meaningful relationships!
If you guys don't know who MRLD is, you should. She's a singer songwriter who hails from Cebu and is making waves on streaming platforms with her hit songs "An Art Gallery Could Never Be As Unique As You", "Ikaw Pa Rin" and "Ligaya". She was also featured by Spotify in New York's Times Square as one of the most streamed female artists in the country.
She says "I was planning to release a full English album but I didn't feel a spark, this album is about my feelings , for things that I could not explain. It's mine and it is very simple. I already released 4, and the others will be done later this evening. Much of these were written 2 years ago, and it felt right, I had to make an album now. The track list was mixed initially, but I want it to open up minds, that I can carry different genres. Though there are lots of revisions, I had a lot of help from friends to make this happen."
The lead single is Hanggang Magsawa Ka, the longest single she wrote, a little painful, and she hopes you also cry when listening to it. Initially Malayo was supposed to be the carrier single, they just had to listen to everything and it was something they thought of while starting over, it's raw and 6 minutes long.
Listening to it earlier, it felt like an ode, very emotional and soft, all acoustic, hopeful and beautiful.
She wrote it during 12th grade, puppy love, where she gave a person 2 chances, but thing is, she wasn't the one chosen, she wasn't the only one.. the song was made to have her overcome the hurt from it. She's also so glad about her earlier single "An Art Gallery Could Never Be As Unique As You" which has gained traction in Indonesia, one which they even made a Bahasa version too to cater to audiences there.
Her single SAGOT was the one she's super excited to perform because it's the one that she made with her fans in mind. It was for them and it's a bit upbeat, dancing and enjoying it is highly encouraged especially during the concert.
Her concert will happen on April 27th at the SM North Edsa SKYDOME, tickets are still available and she's rehearsing soon for the whole concept. It's going to be a special night with 2 guests being confirmed already.
This is just the start of big things for her, follow OC Records socials to know more about her!
It's the new year but I haven't seen new year resolutions posted yet, is it passe? Not needed? Or is it just inside your mind?
Do you all want to be better at something this year? Then go and get those goals happen!
Metrobank Triple Bonus promo is ongoing. Designed for those who would want to open their savings account of 50k+ or more, this would be a great reason to open an account now.
Consumer Sector Head Monj Del Rosario says "We want to share with you the reason why we are putting customers in good hands. As bankers, we are not just championing products, we are here for every life stage to be able to meet your goals. We want to make it more rewarding and aligned with your aspirations. It's a new ERA, we want to make things easier, rewarding and aligned to your goals, and it all begins with the right mindset."
Cris Concepcion their Brand Marketing Head adds "What we do is with our brand promise, in good hands. The best partner and adviser, the right products, secure ways to bank. We believe in balance, in giving back, and we believe in financial education. This is so you can make more informed decisions, which is why we put up EARNEST by Metrobank. This is a program that gets you to learn more from content we put out. There's a decline in Filipino ways in saving, and it is concerning. There's also a spending increase which is a bad combination. We used to save only for basic stuff, and there is fear in losing out on experiences and things. With lack of knowledge, it would be hard to keep track of that. We want to make you SWOMO - Save without Missing Out. If you are more aware of bank products, you get to do more with your money. You want to get started where you want to get started. You also want to increase income, and your money to work for you. The swomo movement is something to adopt, it's financial mindfulness and gives you peace of mind. More peace of mind, less fomo and buyers remorse to help you live a full life. You can visit ERNEST by Metrobank on our official site."
Yna Pelaez their Retail Deposit and Payment Products Head explained a few things about their Triple Bonus Promo saying "Achieving goals in your life, we empower customers with our products. We understand that saving is not easy, there are challenges and temptations. From the small fees, coffee, emergencies, life uncertainty, it's the biggest savings depletor. When you open Metrobank accounts, and open with at least 50k, you get 1500 Cashback, Instapay rebates (where you get a full year of rebate, max 10 per month) so you can add it to your savings. You also get a 1 Million pesos worth of Personal Accident Insurance from AXA. All of these bonuses will help clients to save, live easier, make your goals a faster reality."
I made my Vision to Action board with a couple of things, several encouraging lines, some investment goals like gold, uitf, real estate, money market, making smart choices, including those who love and support me, and checking if I'm still okay at the end of the day.
Now wouldn't it be the perfect time to open a new Metrobank Savings Account?
