Sunday, February 21, 2021
Music video: Morissette returns with ‘Phoenix’
Morissette released on Saturday her first single of 2021, fittingly titled “Phoenix,” about overcoming challenges and starting over.
The music video of “Phoenix,” which she co-wrote with fiancé Dave Lamar, shows numerous milestones in Morissette’s career, as she sings about soaring further.
It also includes glimpses of frontline workers amid the coronavirus pandemic, to relate the lyrics about hope and perseverance to the global health crisis.
“To be very honest, I was nervous working on this music video because I personally felt we already went all out with ‘Love You Still,’” Morissette said, referring to her previous single.
Saturday, February 20, 2021
Ikea hiring 500 Pasay City residents
Swedish furniture retail firm Ikea will hire 500 Pasay City residents for its local operations scheduled to kick off in August 2021, the city government said Saturday.
In a statement, Pasay City Mayor Emi Calixto-Rubiano said Ikea and the city government will team up to secure jobs for local residents adversely affected by the Covid-19 pandemic.
“Magandang pagkakataon po ito sapagkat alam natin na maraming mga kababayan natin ang nawalan ng trabaho dahil sa pandemya, pero dahil sa pakikipag-usap natin sa Ikea ay nangako sila na ilalaan nila ang 500 posisyon para sa taga Pasay,” Rubiano said.
(This is a good opportunity because many lost their jobs due to the pandemic. We met with representatives of Ikea who promised to allocate 500 job openings for Pasay City residents.)
The Swedish firm earlier announced that it would establish a store in Pasay City in 2021 to “give millions of Filipinos easy access to a wide range of well-designed, functional home furnishing products at prices so low almost everyone will be able to afford them.”
As of Friday, Pasay City recorded 7,461 confirmed cases of Covid-19 with 280 active cases, 191 deaths and 6,990 recoveries.
https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1397943/ikea-hiring-500-pasay-city-residents
Friday, February 19, 2021
GTV to air classic anime favorites Pokémon, Dragon Ball Z
Heads up, 90s kids!
Your classic anime favorites will once again grace television sets with the launch of GTV.
In a virtual media conference on Friday, the Kapuso Network announced the rebranding of GMA News TV to a more variety-oriented channel.
As GTV aims to target the "young and young at heart" audience demographic, anime titles are among the shows they have in store.
"We've lined up the beloved anime that have been airing before in GMA. GMA was known as anime authority so this will also trickle down to GTV," said Atty. Annette Gozon-Valdes, President of GMA Films, Inc. and Programming Consultant to the Chairman and CEO.
"We're launching Pokémon and Dragon Ball Z—those loved anime that we used to show years before in GMA, you'll also see them now on GTV," she added.
Gozon-Valdes said GTV is focused on bringing back the classics for now, but they are also on the look out to acquire new anime titles.
Anime fans have long been clamoring for GMA to once again include anime titles on its regular programming.
The millennial generation grew up watching anime in the evening and later in the afternoon, with names often anglicized and the dialogues dubbed in Filipino.
—MGP, GMA News
GMA News TV is now GTV
This February 22, the Kapuso Network is keeping it good with its second free-to-air channel’s fresh new look as GTV – offering “the news you trust and new shows to love.”
GTV stays true to the Network’s commitment to Serbisyong Totoo with a full roster of credible news programs from the award-winning teams of GMA News, GMA Regional TV, and DZBB.
Viewers can still catch the live telecast of Super Radyo DZBB’s hottest reports and commentaries on “Dobol B TV”; as well as Connie Sison and Raffy Tima’s midday newscast “Balitanghali.”
GTV likewise simulcasts GMA’s flagship news program “24 Oras,” anchored by GMA News pillars Mel Tiangco, Mike Enriquez, and Vicky Morales.
Meanwhile, the channel’s primetime newscast “State of the Nation (SONA),” bannered by Atom Araullo and Maki Pulido, provides depth and context to the headlines.
Local news reports continue to be accessible to more viewers via the “GMA Regional TV Strip” and “GMA Regional TV Weekend News,” which feature the Network’s award-winning local news programs across the country.
Alongside its newscasts, GTV offers fresh programming options for both the young and young-at-heart. This was kickstarted by the high-rating primetime series “The Lost Recipe” headlined by the fresh loveteam of Mikee Quintos and Kelvin Miranda in a fantasy-romance that provides viewers a new taste of Pinoy drama.
Adding magic to everyone's Saturday viewing habit is “My Fantastic Pag-ibig,” a collection of rom-com tales set in present times but infused with fantasy elements and showcases today’s most promising young loveteams.
The all-original comedy game show “Game of the Gens,” hosted by Sef Cadayona and Andre Paras, fuses singing, dancing, and playing games among competitors from different generations.
New Kapuso Chef JR Royol gives a peek into the fascinating process of food preparation in the weekly cooking show “Farm To Table.”
Upcoming GTV offerings include the charming story of “Heartful Café,” starring Asia's Pop Diva Julie Anne San Jose alongside David Licauco; the much-awaited on-screen tandem of real-life couple Gabbi Garcia and Khalil Ramos in the romance-mystery mini-series “Love You Stranger”; and “FLEX,” which will be bannered by Gen Z stars Mavy Legaspi, Lexi Gonzales, Joaquin Domagoso, and Althea Ablan.
On GTV’s Happy Hour strip, Vicky spreads positivity in news magazine show ‘Good News’ while multi-awarded documentarist Kara David takes viewers on an gastronomical adventure featuring Filipino food in “Pinas Sarap.” Helping viewers manage their finances better in the new normal is Susan Enriquez in “Pera Paraan.” Global Endorser Gabbi Garcia, on the other hand, brings the latest trends in “IRL” through the stories and experiences that audiences encounter every day. More travel adventures in the new normal also await viewers in the award-winning travel and adventure program “Biyahe ni Drew” hosted by Drew Arellano.
Well-loved public affairs and lifestyle shows continue throughout the week. Join Kara anew as she reports on various issues facing the country in “Brigada.” Susan answers the questions of every Juan in “iJuander” while Tonipet Gaba explores how dining has evolved in the “new normal” in “Pop Talk.” Dishing out fun, food, and adventure are Solenn Heussaff and Gil Cuerva in “Taste Buddies.”
Further, sports fans are sure to watch out for the coverage and airing of the upcoming NCAA seasons.
With GNTV currently holding the second spot as the most watched channel after GMA, GTV is slated to complement main channel GMA’s strong nationwide reach.
GTV is available via free-to-air, cable, satellite, and on GMA Affordabox and GMA Now as well as other digital receivers.
GTV’s exciting programs also air abroad via the Network’s international channels GMA Pinoy TV, GMA Life TV, and GMA News TV International.
Watch the news you trust and new shows to love beginning February 22 on GTV. Keeping it good!
For more details, visit GTV’s official social media account @GTVPhilippines on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Tiktok.
https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/showbiz/chikaminute/776662/gma-news-tv-is-now-gtv/story/
Statement of CEO Stefan Magdalinski on Multiply.com blog platform and social network reopening
Calls to revive the blog platform and social networking portion of Multiply.com would be reopen will have to wait until the next presidential administration.
With a little over a year until the Philippine general elections, the world is bent on focusing the COVID-19 pandemic and Spring Revolution in Myanmar to ensure that President Rodrigo Roa Duterte fulfills his campaign promise to the Filipino people.
Thursday, February 18, 2021
3 Simple Steps to Get to Heaven
For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith–and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God–not by works, so that no one can boast. Ephesians 2:8-9
It’s an old story but it still proves a point. A pastor midway through his sermon asked the question on a warm Sunday morning, “How many of you want to go to heaven when you die?” Everyone raised his hand except one man, obviously asleep. Focusing on the sleeping man, the pastor loudly asked, “How many of you want to go to hell when you die?”
Sensing the change of tone in his voice, the man abruptly awoke, stood to his feet, looked around sheepishly and said, “Pastor, I don’t know what I’m standing for; but it looks like you and me are the only ones for it!”
The fact remains, very few don’t want to go to heaven when they die, but how you get there seems to be a trade secret which is the property of a few who are either afraid to let it out, or too embarrassed to share that truth with family and friends.
Do you know how to get there? If you died and stood at the door of God’s heaven, and Peter opened the door, and said, “Why should I let you in?” What would you say?
Suppose you replied, “Because I’ve been a pretty good person. I’m not perfect, of course, but I’m a whole lot better than most people. Besides, I’ve given quite a lot of money to charity.” What you’ve said may be completely true, but would that open the door?
Not according to what the Bible says. Here’s what it says: “But when the time came for the kindness and love of God our Savior to appear, then he saved us–not because we were good enough to be saved, but because of his kindness and pity–by washing away our sins and giving us the new joy of the indwelling Holy Spirit whom he poured out upon us with wonderful fullness–and all because of what Jesus Christ our Savior did so that he could declare us good in God’s eyes…” (Titus 3:4-6, Living Bible).
The Bible says that entrance to heaven isn’t based on what you do–either good or evil–it is based upon what Jesus Christ did. The Bible describes this as a gift which is given to those who believe. “The gift of God” is how Paul described it in Ephesians 2:8, and then he said it is received “not by works, so that no one can boast.”
In two minutes, however, I can tell you what you need to do to receive this gift which opens heaven’s door. Three simple steps are necessary. Step #1: You must acknowledge your personal need of salvation. The Bible categorically says that all have sinned—everybody, no exceptions (See Romans 3:23, Isaiah 53:6). Do you admit that? Then go on to step #2 which is to believe that God will save you. The Bible puts is like this: “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved–you and your household” (Acts 16:31).
The third step means that you go public with your commitment of faith. You run up your flag and commit yourself. Here’s the text: “That if you confess with your mouth, `Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved” (Romans 10:9).
Your intelligence, your money, your goodness, or your gifts will never open the door of heaven when you die; but what Jesus did unlocks the door. No wonder He said, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me” (John 14:6). And what He said hasn’t changed.
Resource reading: Ephesians 2:1-10
https://www.guidelines.org/devotional/3-simple-steps-to-get-to-heaven/
Voter sign up in Palawan suspended ahead of plebiscite
By Ferdinand Patinio
Voter registration in the province of Palawan is suspended to give way to the activities for the plebiscite for its division into three separate provinces, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) said on Thursday.
“The voter registration is suspended from February 11 to March 20. Our voter registration will resume on March 23, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. The offices of our Election Officers are open from Tuesday to Saturday including holidays,” Sheila May Guno, Election Officer II in Araceli town, said in a virtual briefing.
Meanwhile, Comelec Region 4-B (Mimaropa) director Gloria Petallo said the initial budget allocation for the referendum is at PHP79 million.
Petallo added that they also asked for an additional PHP50 million for the establishment of additional polling places to comply with the guidelines issued by the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID).
“Because of the postponement and after the IATF approved the health protocol suggestion by the Comelec, so we have to request for another supplemental budget to cover the additional polling places. Before the pandemic, we can accommodate 400 regular voters in the polling precinct. But now, we can only accommodate 200 to comply with the IATF requirements, observing distancing and health protocols,” she said.
The referendum was originally scheduled for May 2020 but was moved to March this year as quarantine restrictions were implemented amid the coronavirus pandemic.
“So we requested I think around PHP50 million excluding the expenses of the provincial government, we requested them to provide health supplies for the local of Palawan,” Petallo said.
The province has 490,639 registered voters.
On March 13, voters will choose whether or not to divide Palawan into three provinces -- Palawan Oriental, Palawan del Norte, and Palawan del Sur, pursuant to Republic Act 11259.