Get Your Tickets to Lea Salonga’s Star-Studded Concert with the Next Disney Princess

Everyone knows Lea Salonga as the Disney Legend who provided the vocals of Disney Princesses Jasmine and Fa Mulan in Aladdin and Mulan. Apart from her work with the Walt Disney Company, she has stunned audiences worldwide for her Tony Award-winning runs in Broadway and the West End for her role as Kim in Miss Saigon, and both Eponine and Fantine in Les Miserables. Now, the legend is crowning a new Disney Princess at the upcoming Disney Princess: I Dare to Dream gala concert!

The concert is the finale of Globe Studios’ I Dare to Dream, a first-of-its-kind, digital reality series in collaboration with Disney and Maker Studios, that will search for the next Disney Princess from a group of six young girls. Salonga will award the winner during the event, and will headline the concert featuring Disney classics.

“Globe has always committed itself to creating original digital content to complement the brand’s fast internet speeds, and the rapidly-changing ways Filipinos are consuming entertainment,” says Executive Producer and Globe Retail Transformation and Stores Management Advisor Joe Caliro. “But we feel an initiative of this magnitude shouldn’t end digitally. We want to end it with a bang, with a live concert featuring Lea Salonga and the country’s best singers.”

Apart from Salonga, the star-studded concert will also performances with Christian Bautista, KC Concepcion, Erik Santos, Julie Ann San Jose, Sam Concepcion, Morissette Amon, Aicelle Santos, Tippy Dos Santos, and Janina Vela.

I Dare to Dream is inspired by Disney Princesses, whose stories have moved both children and adults throughout the years. For the show, Globe Studios handpicked six young girls out of hundreds who auditioned, whose personalities and values reflect that of Disney princesses. The six girls will stay in one house and undergo fun challenges while enjoying a mentorship program.

The six selected girls are Sirach Catipay, an aspiring chef who wants to share the world’s cuisines with the Filipino people; Stephanie Jordan, a singing competition contestant who wants to enter the world of hosting; Hyacinth Leonado, who dreams of becoming a Broadway singer and actress;Jaden Narvios, who wants to be the president of the Philippines; Liana San Diego, who wants to be a veterinarian; and Alexi Tan, who dreams of becoming an animator.

The girls will be mentored by Ms. Salonga, along with experts in the respective fields the girls dream of entering: chef Jessie Sincioco, YouTuber and host Charisma Star, theater actress Menchu Lauchengco-Yulo, social educator Efren Peñaflorida, veterinarian Dr. Nielsen Donato, and animator Tito Romero. The girls will be joined by vlogger Janina Vela, who will serve as the guiding elder sister.

“I Dare to Dream hopes to inspire girls that there are other young ladies like them, who do not necessarily fit in any of society’s molds,” ends Caliro. “It hope to show that one day, you can share the stage with someone like Lea Salonga and turn your dreams into a reality.”

The winner will also have the chance to take the trip of a lifetime: to walk the red carpet premiere of the upcoming live-action adaptation of Beauty and the Beast in Tokyo, Japan.

The I Dare to Dream concert will be held on March 22, 2017 at the SM MOA Arena. Tickets are available for purchase at www.smtickets.com. 

You can fully experience the magic of Disney Princess: I Dare To Dream on www.idaretodream.ph.

All Globe Prepaid, TM, Postpaid, and Globe At Home customers can avail of 10% discount on the tickets. Text GLOBEIDTD to 2363 to get the code. All Disney 129 & 299 customers will automatically receive a unique code from Globe to avail a 15% discount on the ‘I Dare To Dream’ concert tickets. Promo period is until March 19.

BOC to intensify campaign against fake cigarettes amid TRO

The Bureau of Customs (BOC) remains firm in its position to intensify operations against importers and manufacturers of smuggled and fake cigarettes despite a Temporary Restraining Order (TRO) issued in favor of a cigarette manufacturing company.

A TRO was issued on March 6, 2017 by Judge Tita Bughao Alisuag of the Manila Regional Trial Court, Branch 1, which prevents BOC from conducting raids or inspections at the warehouses of Mighty Corporation for a period of 20 days - from March 3 to 23, 2017.

“Yes, we will abide by the TRO, but we are not discounting the legal remedies available to us to counter the said TRO,” Commissioner Nicanor Faeldon said.

Prior to the issuance of the TRO, BOC and the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) conducted a series of raids which resulted in the seizure of thousands of cases of cigarettes with fake tax stamps amounting to more than a billion pesos.

These operations were carried out upon the issuance of Mission Orders and Letters of Authority from Faeldon. BIR operatives confirmed that the seized tax stamps were fake after subjecting them to authenticity tests.

Faeldon said that Customs authorities will remain on guard at the warehouses of Mighty Corp. to ensure that the seized cigarettes will not be tampered with or swapped with legitimate products.

The BOC Commissioner remains optimistic that after gathering all relevant evidence, the bureau will be able to build a strong case against Mighty Corp.

“We are assuring the public and all legitimate manufacturers and importers of cigarettes or any other products that the BOC will run after illicit traders and smugglers.”

The BOC has exclusive jurisdiction over all seizure and forfeiture cases as per Section 202 of Rep. Act No. 10863 or the “Customs Modernization and Tariff Act” (CMTA).

Section 301 of the CMTA further provides that “[a]ll goods, including means of transport, entering or leaving customs territory, regardless of whether they are liable to duties and taxes, shall be subject to customs control" to ensure compliance with the border security mandate of the BOC under relevant customs laws, rules, and procedures.

Manila Water’s Treasury Departmeent is now ISO 9001:2015 certified

The Treasury Department of East Zone water and used water service provider Manila Water’s is now certified ISO 9001:2015 based on the assessment and certification upgrade conducted by TUV Rheinland Philippines, Inc. ISO 9001:2015 is the newly- implemented international standards of ISO 9001:2008 Quality Management.

With this ISO certification, the company commits to a more internationally competitive treasury management through improved and world-class transparency of operations in accordance with corporate governance standards, optimized resource usage and increased customer satisfaction.

Manila Water added that major changes to the ISO standards include a new “high-level structure” for easier integration of various systems. The standard aims to enhance customer satisfaction through effective application of the system, including processes for continual improvement and the assurance of conformity to customer and applicable statutory and regulatory requirements.

Photo shows Manila Water’s Treasury Department officials headed by Joy Sison, Treasury Department Head, ISO consultant Jose Paulo Mungcal and TUV Rheinland Philippines external auditors Jogina Mendiola and Ramoncito Puyat.

EastWest’s auto loans business up 67% in 2016

East West Banking Corporation (EastWest) continues to make headway in its auto loans business as it registered a phenomenal year-on-year growth of 67% in 2016. A robust partnership with auto dealers as well as the continued growth of the automotive industry contributed to the strong performance of the business.

Data from the Chamber of Automotive Manufacturers of the Philippines Inc. and the Truck Manufacturers Association shows that 2016 was another banner year. Vehicle sales rose 25% to 359,572 units last year on the back of rising middle class income, improving local economy, and the sustained low financing packages available. For the passenger car segment, sales jumped 14% with 133,188 units sold.

"In the coming years, we see the auto industry’s continued growth. Many people dream of owning a vehicle because of the convenience it brings," said EastWest EVP & Head of Consumer Lending Cluster Jacqueline S. Fernandez.

Under the government’s automotive program, the auto industry is looking at surpassing the 500,000 units sales by 2018. The potential for growth remains high as nearly half of Filipino households do not yet own vehicles.

"We are here to help our customers realize their dreams. That’s why we’ve made our consumer loans affordable, with low interest rates and flexible payment terms, and the application process fast and easy," added Fernandez.

Earlier this year, the Bank signed up popular actor and triathlete Matteo Guidicelli to be the face of its Auto and Personal Loans businesses. The young celebrity embodies the hardworking and driven individuals that EastWest supports.

Globe and Mabuhay Miles give free sims to PAL passengers

Instant communication with loved ones in the Philippines

The International Business Group of Globe Telecom partnered with Mabuhay Miles to make it easier for balikbayans, OFWs, and travelers to get in touch with their loved ones when they reach the Philippines via free Traveler sim cards distributed to passengers on PAL’s international flights to Manila.

“We continuously strive to serve the needs of our dear OFWs, balikbayans and tourists. Through the partnership with Mabuhay Miles, we have created an avenue where our customers are able to enjoy their homecoming by means of instant communication as soon as they land,” said Nikko Acosta, Senior Vice President of the International Business Group of Globe Telecom.

Since December 14, 2016, the Traveler sim has been distributed to passengers on PAL international flights for free. As a bonus, customers can avail of unlimited calls to Globe and TM mobiles, 20 all-net SMS and 15MB mobile data valid for one day.

“Through this partnership with Globe, we are very happy to give our Mabuhay Miles customers a more enriching in-flight experience by making them feel we are making their trip to the Philippines more rewarding,” said Kevin Hartigan-Go, PAL VP for Ancillary Business Unit. “As of today, we have supplied hundreds of thousands of PAL passengers with free sim cards and we cannot wait to give to more!” Hartigan-Go added.

Mabuhay Miles will give 500 bonus miles when Traveler Sim customers register or update their membership information.

New members need to enroll at www.mabuhaymiles.com and text their Mabuhay Miles number using the Traveler sim to 3456. Existing members can update their profile by texting their Mabuhay Miles number, name and email address to 3456. 

Passengers can buy prepaid load at the Globe booths at NAIA 2 (PAL terminal), other international airports nationwide, and at over 800,000 Globe retailers around the country.