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| (Image Source: Manila Bulletin/GMA Network) |
First it was in New York. Next in Busan. And now in Cannes. For shedding light on the plight of children from underprivileged backgrounds, “The Atom Araullo Specials: Munting Bisig” dominates the international awards – earning not just one, but three major accolades – all in less than a year.
At the prestigious Cannes Corporate Media and TV Awards, the GMA Public Affairs program won for the Philippines the Silver Award for Documentaries and Reports (TV, Online, and Cinema) in the Human Concerns and Social Issues category. This comes on the heels of the program’s landmark win at the 4th Asia Contents Awards (ACA) at the Busan International Film Festival (BIFF) Theater in Busan, South Korea where it emerged as Best Asian Documentary. The winning piece was the only Philippine entry shortlisted in the said festival, besting other Asian shows produced by Netflix, Asian Boss, and TV Asahi Production. Last April, “The Atom Araullo Specials: Munting Bisig” took home the Gold World Medal at the 2022 New York Festivals TV & Film Award. “We are deeply honored to receive these awards from our peers overseas. Many dedicated journalists, media workers, and contributors worked hard on this documentary —a true team effort. We hope it not only raised awareness, but also contributed to finding durable solutions to the serious issue of child labor, especially in the context of the pandemic,” shares host Atom Araullo.
The documentary featured children who put their lives at stake to help their families survive even if they are exposed to the COVID-19 virus. One of these kids is 15-year-old “Pancho" who is known as the youngest compressor diver in their barangay in Paracale, Camarines Norte. Hoping to find gold, Pancho braves diving into 40 feet of mud to collect soil. In Cordillera which reportedly has the lowest cases of child labor in the country, Atom has discovered why the numbers in the province are so low. Atom joins Yeseleen, one of only two child labor profilers in the entire province. In the mountains of Kalinga, they find other kids engaged in hard labor. Atom met Joshua in Pasay. The latter is the breadwinner of his family at the age of 12. Joshua became part of the “lockdown generation” as he found himself ‘stranded’ in Metro Manila while his ailing father was left behind in Cavite. In Manila, he rode his bike to sell snacks to his neighbors so that he could bring home earnings to his family.
Atom further offers these awards to all the children who are left with no other option than to work in order to live one day at a time. Considered as one of this generation’s notable journalists, Atom has been getting accolades for his various shows. He currently co-anchors GTV’s flagship newscast State of the Nation and is one of the hosts of long-running documentary show I-Witness. He is also a regular pinch-hitter for 24 Oras.
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ABS-CBN Brings More Teleseryes To Africa And French Territories
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| (Image Source: Manila Bulletin/ABS-CBN Corporation) |
ABS-CBN, the Philippines' premiere media and entertainment company and leading content provider, continues to bring its prime drama series to the international market with its hit series "La Vida Lena" and "The Blood Sisters" airing in Africa and French territories respectively.
The revenge-drama series "La Vida Lena" is the latest English-dubbed offering from ABS-CBN now airing in Africa's Sub-Saharan countries including South Africa, Kenya, and Zambia via the StarTimes channel. The show follows the story of Magda/Lena, a scarred woman seeking vengeance against a prominent business clan after taking everything away from her including her life's work and her dearest family. Meanwhile, also making its way to France's overseas territories is ABS-CBN's drama series "The Blood Sisters" with its French-dubbed version now airing in New Caledonia, Wallis and Futuna, Polynesia, and Reunion Island on France TV, the national channel in France. The series revolves around the story of triplets who uneventfully separated at birth due to a complicated affair — leaving the three to live drastically different lives and unaware of their true identities. Years later, the lost siblings cross paths in a series of mishaps and revelations as they are left to deal with their struggles, one sister at a time.
Apart from these recent feats, ABS-CBN continues making waves in global content distribution by bringing world-class Filipino content of all genres to foreign audiences in over 50 territories worldwide — selling over 50,000 hours of content, with most recently, inking a deal with Warner Bros. Discovery to air its lifestyle shows in different Asian countries. Other ABS-CBN programs that have aired in different parts of the world include "FPJ's Ang Probinsyano", "Sandugo" and "Bagong Umaga" in Africa; the 2015 remake of "Pangako Sa'Yo" in Latin America; and "Huwag Kang Mangamba" in Myanmar. Meanwhile, its series "Hanggang Saan" and "The Good Son" had its own drama adaptations in Turkey. Living up to this recognition, ABS-CBN International Distribution commits to add to its line-up of high-caliber programs and movies with casts and storylines that appeal to various cultures. For more information on ABS-CBN International Distribution, visit its website at http://internationalsales.abs-cbn.com.
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YeY Hits Two-Million Follower Mark On Facebook
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| (Image Source: ABS-CBN Corporation) |
Well-loved kids' content provider YeY reached another social media milestone with its official Facebook page recently amassing over two million followers by providing families with various educational and entertaining content online. Apart from its exponential follower growth since first hitting the one million mark in 2021, YeY also garnered over one billion minutes of views on its Facebook page — streaming highlights and full episodes of beloved Kapamilya kiddie shows, animated programs, and YeY Channel exclusives.
Following these social media feats, YeY continues its commitment to providing joy to kids through its array of infotainment content for all ages across multiple platforms including TV via its programming blocks on Kapamilya Channel, A2Z and Jeepney TV and online on Facebook, YouTube, TikTok, and ABS-CBN Entertainment's Just Love Kids website. Among the shows that kids can tune into regularly are the action-packed adventures of their favorite Pinoy superheroes on YeY Superview featuring Lastikman, Kapitan Boom, Tiny Tony, Dragonna, Varga, Flash Bomba, Valentina, Inday Bote, and Star Boy. Aside from its recent airing on Kapamilya Channel, Kapamilya Online Live, and A2Z, children are in for more fun-filled heroic adventures of the McCoolits with Mars Ravelo's Darna, Captain Barbell, and Lastikman in the proudly-Pinoy animated series "Hero City Kids Force" now streaming on-demand on YeY's online platforms. And parents can join in the fun with their lovable kids by doing exciting learning activities in YeY Famtime's "Parent Experiment" with its new episode featuring Momshie Melai Cantiveros and her two adorable children, Mela and Stela, co-presented by Monde Nissin.
For more exciting content and updates on its shows, events, and promos, parents can follow YeY on Facebook (fb.com/yeychannel), Instagram (@yeychannel), TikTok (@yey.channel) and YouTube accounts.
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Sparkle Welcomes Spooky Season With Star-Studded Halloween Party
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| (Image Source: GMA Network) |
The spooky season officially began and got even more exciting as Sparkle GMA Artist Center threw a big Halloween party via ‘The Sparkle Spell: Ghosting Made Fun.’ Kapuso celebrities and online influencers went all-out with their witty and unique costumes for the blood carpet event last October 23, 2022 at XYLO at The Palace in Taguig City.
Leading the first-ever Halloween spectacle were Sparkle Assistant Vice President for Talent Management Group Ms. Joy Marcelo and Consulting Head for Talent Imaging and Marketing Mr. Lawrence Tan. Asia’s Multimedia Star and “Start-Up PH” actor Alden Richards paid homage to one of his favorite game characters, Squall Leonhart of ‘Final Fantasy', for his costume. He totally rocked this look, thus winning the Male Best Dressed Award. Versatile actress Andrea Torres bagged the Female Best Dressed Award as she channeled the hot and sultry Ursula. Well-loved couple Gabbi Garcia and Khalil Ramos pulled out all the stops with their infamous Britney Spears and Justin Timberlake denim outfits. They took home the Best Dressed Couple Award.
Clad in her warrior princess outfit just like Urduja, Miss Universe Philippines Tourism 2022 Michelle Dee bagged the Sexiest Costume Award. Kapuso Ultimate Heartthrob Miguel Tanfelix wowed everyone as he recreated the spooky character of Edward Scissorhands. His overall look earned him the Scariest Costume Award presented by Globe at Home. Sofia Pablo was named Star of the Night, presented by JC Premiere, as she dressed up as the ever-classic Corpse Bride on the blood carpet. Meanwhile, Ken Chan, who donned a bright pink blazer and shorts as Ken Doll, and online sensation Sassa Gurl, who put his own spin on dressing as an online seller, were named Male and Female TikTok Crowd Favorites at #TheSparkleSpell.
Aside from the awardees, Kapuso fans were equally captivated by the well-curated costumes of other celebrities and personalities. Netizens were undeniably hooked on the fun and momentous event, which received 88 million video views and counting in less than 36 hours across all social media posts of Sparkle and its talents. It was indeed one bewitching evening to showcase everyone’s clever ideas for Halloween. But most importantly, #TheSparkleSpell was a perfect moment for the artists and influencers to gather together and catch up for one special, spooky night.
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Kapamilya Stars Grace Masskara Festival In Bacolod City
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| (Image Source: ABS-CBN Corporation) |
Four of today’s hottest ABS-CBN stars - Anji Salvacion, Charlie Dizon, Jameson Blake, and Maymay Entrata - joined this month’s vibrant celebration of MassKara Festival in Bacolod City through a grand Kapamilya mall show. Anji, Charlie, and Jameson treated the audience with special performances at Robinsons Bacolod last October 22, headlining the first-ever regional event of ABS-CBN since the pandemic started held in the City of Smiles.
‘Kabogera queen’ Maymay also officially launched her new single, “Puede Ba,” at the event, performing her follow-up to the big hit “Amakabogera” live for the first time to add cheer to the month-long festival which returned after two years with a more colorful celebration of smiles through music, food, art, and parades. Before the mall show, ABS-CBN also held auditions for “It’s Showtime’s” singing competition “Tawag ng Tanghalan” season 6 and new search for dance floor hotties “Girl on Fire". ABS-CBN Regional and ABS-CBN Events led the MassKara Festival Kapamilya Mall Show together with A2Z Regional, Kapamilya Channel Regional, MOR Entertainment, and Star Pop.
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ANIMA, A+E Networks™ Asia Bring South Korea's Most Watched Reality Show On YouTube To PH
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| (Image Source: Business Mirror/KROMA Entertainment) |
South Korea’s most-watched reality show, “Nego King", will finally reach the Philippines as KROMA‘s ANIMA Studios partners with one of the leading global entertainment content companies, A+E Networks™ Asia. A Philippine version of the reality show is coming soon and will be made accessible to viewers in the Philippines for free on ANIMA Studios’ YouTube Channel. Hosted by popular Filipino radio and TV personality Sam YG, the show will be produced in Taglish (Tagalog-English). With a following of 453,000 on Instagram, 21,000 on Facebook, and 1.6 million followers on Twitter, the new Nego King PH host is sure to keep the viewers engaged, laughing, and haggling through every episode.
Since the original South Korean “Nego King” premiered two years ago on YouTube, it has steadily gained fame. Now, the show, which has aired 60 episodes across 4 seasons, has amassed a total of 135 million views, and the eyeballs keep coming. In this popular web show, the host is “the king of negotiation”, interacting with ordinary customers through street interviews. The goal is to get to know the pulse of the people by asking for their opinion, critique, and wishes, especially on discounts and/or freebies on various “goods” which may be an item or service such as beauty or cosmetic products, food, appliances or home items, and electronic gadgets, to name a few. Later, the Nego King faces CEOs of the brands mentioned in each episode to leverage customer sentiment to get the best deals or discounts. This makes for highly relatable content in an era of belt-tightening due to inflation, especially among Filipinos who love a good bargain.
Now, with ANIMA’s newest partnership with A+E Networks™ Asia, the best Nego Show (Negosyo) of South Korea will soon be entertaining Filipinos with a local version in Taglish, bringing excitement and better deals for the Philippine audience, from clothes to food and various accessories and services. Watch out because the Nego King may just pop in your neighborhood for ambush interviews. Tara nang tumawa at tumawad sa Nego King PH!
