“Life Below Water,” a new ocean photography book by 17-year-old photographer Ganden Medved-Po for the benefit of WWF-Philippines

17-year old photographer launches book for the benefit of WWF

The ocean covers about 70 percent of the Earth’s surface, serving as a home to diverse and breathtaking underwater gardens and marine wildlife. Truly, there is much to be discovered in the vast underwater world, and 17-year old photographer Ganden Medved-Po will give us a glimpse of its beauty as he unveils his “Life Below Water” ocean photography book.

Ganden Medved-Po

A joint project with the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) – Philippines, “Life Below Water” is a compilation of photos featuring scenic seascapes and surreal marine life. The photos in the book were taken between 2020 and 2021 by Ganden during the COVID-19 pandemic under the mentorship of world-renowned underwater photographer Scott “Gutsy” Tuason.

All proceeds from the sale of the book will benefit the sustainable fisheries work of the World Wide Fund for Nature - Philippines.

“I’m proud of this collaborative project with the WWF because it combines two of my passions in life: photography and the ocean. With the help of my mentor, Gutsy Tuason, we were able to capture beautiful images of our marine life in the Philippines. Through these photos, I hope people will have a better appreciation of our oceans and to learn to care for them more,” said Ganden.

WWF-Philippines Executive Director Katherine P. Custodio lauded Ganden for lending his talent, time and effort to promote awareness on marine conservation. “‘Life Below Water’ is a young person’s experience of the ocean, expressed through his chosen art of photography.  The book is a reminder of why, what, how, and for whom we do our work of protecting our oceans.” She also added, “To Ganden, thank you for helping our fishing communities and for doing that in a way that is touching and inspiring. It gives me so much hope that young people like you and your peers in the WWF National Youth Council are doing what you can to change what would otherwise be a tragic ending for many people in our country. You are showing us how the power of one can create positive action in many.”

Ganden Medved-Po

Ganden’s love for the water started at a very young age, and by the time he was eight years old, he was swimming competitively. It was also around that time when he developed a love for photography. “The first time I started taking photos was probably on my parents’ old camera which they would use to document family celebrations and occasions. That was an old Panasonic camera,” said the upcoming photographer, who is the son of Christopher Po, chairman of Century Pacific Food, Inc. and Nanette Medved-Po, founder and chairperson of HOPE and Plastic Credit Exchange.

Currently, his camera of choice is the Sony Rx100, which has been with him on all his adventures.

Now a senior high school student in International School Manila, Ganden expresses his gratitude for his parents for encouraging him to pursue his love for photography and the ocean while advocating for the environment. Apart from being the team captain of the school’s swimming varsity team, he is also active in various organizations including the Photography Club Council where he organizes events and workshops, as well as the Ocean ActivISM council, advocating for ocean conservation and sustainability. In July 2021, he became a member of the WWF-Philippines National Youth Council.

Visa and Tanghalang Pilipino promote financial literacy with the launch of “Lukot-lukot, Bilog-bilog” web series

Manila, The Philippines, 16 September 2021 - Visa, the world’s leader in digital payments and Tanghalang Pilipino (TP), the multi-awarded resident theater company of the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP), are launching a new version of their financial literacy themed play “Lukot-lukot, Bilog-bilog” (LLBB). The five-episode web series will be free for streaming starting this September.

Visa Head of Products and Solutions for the Philippines Ezer Escolar shares Visa’s vision in building a financial literate country

 

Launched in 2017 as an interactive musical that is supported by the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP), LLBB features the story of teenager Gwyneth as she struggles to handle her finances and learns the value of proper financial management with help from her family and friends, and some Filipino heroes brought to life.

 

“It’s important to teach young Filipinos how to make smart financial decisions and the Lukot-lukot, Bilog-bilog theater performance has been extremely successful in helping us achieve this objective. This year, we wanted to create new stories that are relevant in the new normal, while making the play educational and entertaining. We are excited to partner again with our trusted allies in financial education such as Tanghalang Pilipino and Teach for the Philippines to introduce the web series, to expand our outreach to more Filipino children and young people in the country,” said Dan Wolbert, Visa Country Manager for the Philippines and Guam.

Lukot-Lukot, Bilog-Bilog Pa More! director Avic Ilagan discusses the web series' creative and production process amid the current pandemic

 

Written by Eljay Castro Deldoc and directed by Avic Ilagan, the new LLBB stories feature five web episodes that focus on various financial topics such as the concept of promotional sales, value of saving, basics of credit, earning additional income, and scam awareness and prevention.

 

The protagonist is Gwyneth, a teenage girl who will embark on a journey to financial literacy with guidance from characters like Lolo Sally and best friend Jing-Jing. The new web series also introduces new roles such as Gwyneth’s mother Blessie and friend-turned-admirer Aaron, with special appearances from Philippine national heroes and cultural icons.

 

Well-known financial literacy experts Salve Duplito and Rose Fres Fausto are also featured in the after-show interviews with Lolo Sally to enlighten the audience by providing financial education tips. Through their helpful insights and easy-to-apply tips, viewers will gain a deeper understanding of financial literacy concepts and gain better money management skills.

 

With Filipinos relying heavily on digital platforms to access media and entertainment, the web series is accessible through the social media sites of Tanghalang Pilipino (Facebook, YouTube) and its other non-profit organization partner for children’s education, Teach for the Philippines (facebook.com/teachforthephilippines). It will also be showcased on Visa’s Facebook channel.

 

To reach remote parts of the country with limited access to the internet, LLBB also adapted this web series into a radio play which will air in local radio stations nationwide via the radio networks of Manila Broadcasting Company and Cultural Center of the Philippines.

 

“We are thankful to partner again with Visa for the new LLBB stories. The success we had with the live performances of LLBB in theaters and on campuses showed how impactful theater is when it comes to education. The new LLBB web series will further prove that theater as a medium remains relevant and versatile to help not only the youths but viewers of all ages to become better in managing their finances,” said Carmela Millado-Manuel, Tanghalang Pilipino Company Manager.

Tanghalang Pilipino company manager Carmela Millado-Manuel shows the partnership between the theater company and Visa in creating the interactive theater play that aims to help the Filipinos on their journey to financial literacy

 

Since its debut four years ago, LLBB has reached over 37,000 students and educators across the Philippines. Fans of the show can watch the original story again via Tanghalang Pilipino’s YouTube page. For more information about Visa and LLBB, visit www.visa.com.ph.

 

The home entertainment setup needed to get the most of this year’s Emmy-nominated shows

 

 

MANILA, Philippines – September 17, 2021 – The Emmys®, the biggest name in television entertainment awards, announced their nominees for 2021 earlier in the year, and in just a few days, the winning titles to take home the prestigious award will be announced. HBO and HBO Max Originals bagged an impressive 130 nominations for hits such as Lovecraft Country, Mare of Easttown, and The Flight Attendant, to name a few. Indulge in these titles and more on HBO GO with the spectacular home entertainment experience from Samsung. Purchase select Samsung TVs and get a 6-month subscription to the streaming platform.

 

Here’s how Samsung enables the best cinematic experience at home.

 

Revel in remarkable picture quality

 

Lighting is key for cinematic viewing, and brightness levels can make or break the experience. This is especially true when the content on the screen contains deep black levels and surreal graphics.

 

Thankfully, this will not be a problem with Samsung’s Neo QLED TV – its nearly bezel-less screen optimizes brightness and contrast with the Quantum Matrix Technology Pro feature to display lifelike picture quality. Plus, the Neo Quantum Processor, Samsung’s most powerful AI processor, automatically upscales any show to the next best resolution.

 

 

Rave in immersive audio experience

 

Audio quality also has a significant impact on one’s cinematic viewing experience. When watching from home, the positioning of the television – whether wall-mounted or placed on a table -- makes all the difference. But in the case of Samsung’s Neo QLED, less effort is required to experience the best audio quality.

 

Revel in the thrill and excitement of HBO GO’s top shows with the help of the Neo QLED’s impressive sound features. These audio innovations enable the TV to create superb sound impact:

●  Object Tracking Sound Pro (OTS Pro) [1]tracks on-screen action for an improved, realistic 3D experience. Hear the action wherever it takes place, with sound flowing from all sides of the TV to take you in the middle of the scene.

●  SpaceFit Sound uses a sensor to automatically optimizes the audio based on a room’s acoustics. Wherever the TV is placed, the audio experience will always be music to your ears.

●  Active Voice Amplifier (AVA) automatically adjusts and enhances dialogue so you won’t miss the conversation, no matter how noisy your environment is.

 

Take the cinematic viewing experience home by getting a Samsung Neo QLED TV today and stream the best shows from HBO GO. Head to any authorized Samsung dealer today.

 

Promo runs until November 30, 2021. Find out more about Samsung’s products and promos at www.samsung.com/ph.

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[1] QN900A model only

 

2021 Hybrid National Food Fair

10 Days of Activities and Learning Opportunities

 

As part of the year-long series of events for the 2021 Hybrid National Food Fair, the Department of Trade and Industry - Bureau od Domestic Trade Promotion (DTI-BDTP), in cooperation with the DTI-Regional Operations Group is formally opening the National Food Fair Digital Mall hosted on the UnionBank GlobalLinker e-commerce platform. The virtual opening ceremony to be streamed on the BDTP Facebook page on September 17 at 9:00 AM.

This will then be followed by a 10-day program of activities and learning opportunities. Food enthusiasts, culinary artists, wine connoisseurs, and entrepreneurs will surely find something of interest in the line-up of online events which will be livestreamed daily from September 17 to 26, beginning at 10:00 AM. Registration is free, and open to the general public. Simply visit the BDTP Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/DTI.BDTP) to join any of the events.

Among the highlights of the cooking demos are featured halal recipes by Chef Shamil Kandang from the Center for Culinary Arts, as well as the regional halal delicacies prepared by featured chefs from the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM). These include a Tausug dish from Sulu, a Yakan dish from Basilan, a Maranao dish from Lanao, and favorite Maguindanao dishes. A Philippine wine mixing show will also spice up the daily activities.

For MSMEs who want to level up their business, there are topics on how to leverage their social media presence as well as the latest technologies in food packaging and sustainable materials. Government agencies such as the Philippine Trade Training Center and the Design Center of the Philippines, among others, will also offer business talks on various subjects.

Below is an overview of what's in store daily:

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 17

Webinars

§ Food Photography for Social Media Marketing

§ Making Meaningful Connections Online

Cooking Demos

§ Tofu & Mushroom Sising

§ Grilled Pork Belly with Peanut Sauce

§ Halal: Chicken Tikka Skewers

§ Favorite Tausug dish from Sulu: Tiulah Itum

Philippine Wine Mixing Show

Raffle Draw

 

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 18

Webinars

§ Wrapped & Woven: Natural Materials as Packaging for MSMEs

§ Creativly Studio: Food Packaging & Labelling Services

Cooking Demos

§ Heirloom Rice Kits: Paella Adlai & Champorado

§ Cabbage Roll Express

§ Halal: Chicken Pianggang

§ Favorite Yakan Dish from Basilan: Fish Kaliya

Philippine Wine Mixing Show

Raffle Draw

 

SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 19

Webinars

§ Ready-To-Eat (RTE) Food Technologies

§ How to License RTE Technologies

§ Food Packaging Technologies You Need to Know

Cooking Demos

§ Vegetable Salads: Jicama Papaya Slaw with Glazed Pili Nuts & Cucumber Salad using Coconut Nectar Vinegar

§ Surf N Turf Kare-Kare

§ Halal: Fried Lumpiang Ubod

§ Favorite Maranao Dish from Lanao: Chicken Pyaparan

Philippine Wine Mixing Show

Raffle Draw

 

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 20

Webinars

§ Trade and Market Development of Coconut Food Products

§ Protect Your Brand and Gain Competitive Edge

Cooking Demos

§ Dessert: Bibingkrep with Fruit Syrups

§ Inihaw sa Gata

§ Halal: Beef Rendang

§ Favorite Dishes from Maguindanao

Philippine Wine Mixing Show

Raffle Draw

 

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 21

Philippine Trade Training Center Webinar

§ Digitalizing for Virtual Trade Fairs

Design Center of the Philippines Webinar

§ All Wrapped Up: A Rundown on the Local Waste Problem & Food Packaging

In-Focus Product Presentations

Raffle Draw

 

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 22

Philippine Trade Training Center Webinar

§ Post Trade Fair: Following Business Leads

Design Center of the Philippines Webinars

§ Bio Building Blocks: Cassava Biobags, its Capacities, Requirements, and Limitations

§ Going Bio-Based: Active Steps for Enterprises and How to Achieve Circularity in Packaging

In-Focus Product Presentations

Raffle Draw

 

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 23

Philippine Trade Training Center Webinar

§ Social Media Marketing

Design Center Philippines Webinar

§ Circularity Through Returnable or Circular Material Handling Systems

In-Focus Product Presentations

Raffle Draw

 

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 24

Philippine Trade Training Center Webinar

§ Content Development Strategy

Design Center of the Philippines Webinars

§ First in Colors: A First-Hand Experience with Sustainable Materials

§ Innovative Sustainable Packaging Solutions

In-Focus Product Presentations

Raffle Draw

 

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 25

Webinars

§ Philippine National Trade Repository

§ Eats More Fun in the Philippines

§ Good Food in Sustainable Packaging

§ Mindanao Halal Culinary Travel Destinations

Raffle Draw

 

SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 26

Webinars

§ Access to Technology and Innovation: Shared Services Facilities

§ Updates on Modified e-Portal: Food & Drug Administration

§ Export Marketing Bureau Services and Programs for Exporters

§ Food, Travel & Lifestyle on Tik-Tok

Raffle Draw

 

 

To attend any of the events, simply visit the BDTP Facebook page. The livestreams start at 10:00 AM daily, and will then be available to view on demand.

To join via Zoom, register using this link: https://forms.gle/owz5PtiSN2CrBVzH9. To watch the daily shows, use the Zoom meeting link:

https://zoom.us/j/94344995784?pwd=d0lHQWV4ZmJUM0NFMzFOeFh4Uk04Zz09. Sign the daily survey forms for a chance to win fabulous prizes at the daily raffle draws.

 

For more information about the DTI-Bureau of Domestic Trade Promotion, please follow their social media accounts on Facebook (DTI.BDTP), Instagram (dti.bdtp), and Twitter (@DTI_BDTP). You may also email bdtp@dti.gov.ph.

 

DITO supports first-ever ESKYUSI Mobile Legends Tournament

The country’s newest telco player, DITO Telecommunity, is the official telco partner of the first-ever E-SPORTS KYUSI (ESKYUSI) Mobile Legends Tournament. Organized by the Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) Federation of Quezon City and Grey Black Visual Synthesis (GBVS), the tournament aims to discover local gaming talents with prizes worth up to Php 500,000. 

“The SK Federation of Quezon City recognizes that gaming has become a passion for many of today’s youth.  We hope to inspire young Filipinos by providing a formal venue where they can pursue and excel in their interests and be rewarded for it,” said SK Federation Chairperson Councilor Noe Dela Fuente.  

“DITO has always been about serving different Filipino telecommunities, whatever their interests may be. We know gaming has become a major interest among the young, and we’re happy to be a partner of SK Federation of QC and Grey Visual Synthesis in the first ever ESKYUSI Mobile Legends Tournament,” said DITO’s Brand and Marketing Director Jasper Evangelista. “We look forward to seeing Quezon City become a leading gaming hub in the country. In line with our core mission, DITO also commits to providing high-speed data for gamers all over the Philippines.”  

The Quezon City-wide event, composed of over 200 teams from 142 barangays, commenced last August 1, with the grand finals slated for October 24. 

To check the complete schedule and watch the livestream of the competitions, visit the GBVS page. Get the latest news about the tournament at the DITO Telecommunity Facebook page.  

 

Take masterpieces from the Louvre home with Samsung’s The Frame
The most iconic Samsung lifestyle TV opens virtual doors to the world's renowned museum

 

SEOUL, Korea – September 16, 2021 – Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. today announced a new partnership with the iconic Musée du Louvre. Through this partnership, Samsung will continue to develop the Art Store on its lifestyle TV, The Frame, through an exclusive artwork partnership with the Louvre in Paris, France.

With new artworks from the Louvre joining the collection, The Frame now boasts a catalog with over 1,500 works of art from 42 different countries that consumers can enjoy in 4K picture quality from museums and galleries around the world, including the Prado Museum in Madrid, the Albertina Museum in Vienna, the Tate Modern in London, the Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam, the Hermitage State Museum in Saint Petersburg and LUMAS.

“Ever since we launched our lifestyle TV portfolio in 2017, we have focused on developing the Art Store platform with prestigious partners. We want to offer much more than a television, inviting Art into the homes of The Frame owners everywhere. This catalog lists works by hundreds of artists, covering diverse periods, from ancient civilizations to modern art,” explained Wonjin Lee, President and Head of Service Biz Team at Samsung Electronics. “This year, we are proud to join forces with one of the most famous museums in the world, the Louvre, to enhance this collection and offer a taste of French heritage throughout the world,” he added.

 

Admire the Louvre’s treasures from your own home

By entering into a partnership with the Louvre^[1], Samsung offers all The Frame owners a chance to explore the most visited museum in the world through 40 pieces of artwork and photographs. This selection includes must-see masterpieces, such as the Mona Lisa and The Wedding Feast at Cana, as well as photos of the majestic Louvre galleries, its architecture, and museum grounds (Louvre Pyramid, Tuileries Garden, etc.). A short description of each work gives users a glimpse into their background and history.

Samsung and the Louvre also plan to unveil other exclusive content for The Frame users later this year.

“The Louvre is a venue of discovery, imbued with emotion, a spectacular setting for artistic masterpieces. Admiring works from its collection every day, at home, as well as views of the building, galleries, and gardens, is a wonderful way to see and understand the extraordinary beauty of this museum,” said Yann Le Touher, Head of Development, Brand Licensing and Commercial Partnerships of the Louvre.

 

Ultra-slim design and exceptional picture quality

The Frame features a unique and customizable design that sets it apart from the rest. Designed as a TV when on and art when off, The Frame is an innovative digital canvas that reflects an individual’s personal style. The 2021 version of the lifestyle TV offers new custom options to complement every space and style, with two frame designs: modern (available in white, teak, beige, and brown) and beveled (available in white and brick red).

To complete the artwork appeal, The Frame can be hung flush to the wall on an ultra-slim mount and connected to a One Connect box via a single translucent^[2] cable that integrates all TV connectors including the power source. Users can also set The Frame anywhere in the room on a Studio Stand^[3].

In addition to its gallery-ready design, The Frame provides a vibrant 4K QLED picture quality powered by Quantum Dot Technology that enables 100% color volume, immersing viewers in a world of rich and realistic colors.

For more information on Samsung’s lifestyle TV products, please visit www.samsung.com/ph.

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[1] Through 30 June 2023

^[2] Comes with one 5-meter cable; 15-meter cable available separately. Available for the 43, 50, 55, 65, and 75-inch models.

^[3] Sold separately.