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| (Image Source: League of Legends) |
Riot Games is thrilled to announce the Empyrean Cup, the first official League of Legends (League) open tournament that will rekindle the competitive spirit among players in the Philippines since Riot regained the publishing rights to League and Teamfight Tactics in Asia Pacific (APAC) earlier this year. Taking place from mid-September to early November 2023, a total of 256 teams will kick-off the tournament’s open qualifiers and battle their way to the finals on newly launched local League servers in a bid to prove themselves as the best League teams in the region.
“This is yet another milestone for us to celebrate, in cementing Riot’s commitment to hyper-serving our League community in the Philippines. Following our recent launch of local League servers, we’re thrilled to put these servers to the test by hosting our very next big competitive moment for players. The Empyrean Cup will be one of many League tournaments that our players can expect in the near future as we plan to reignite the League competitive scene here to provide more paths for Filipino players to compete on the global stage," said Riot Games Philippines Country Manager Joel Guzman. The Empyrean Cup will kick off with two qualifying legs accommodating 128 teams each, scheduled for September 16-17, 2023 and October 14-15, 2023. Registration for the first online qualifier in September is ongoing while registration for the second qualifying leg in October will start on September 22, 2023. Both registrations come on a 'first come, first served' basis and can be done on bit.ly/EmpyreanCupREG.
The top four teams from the two qualifying legs will then battle to secure their spots in the Grand Finals which is scheduled to be held offline at the eSports and Gaming Summit (ESGS) on November 3-5, 2023. The top four teams will then eke it out for a total prize pool of Php1M. Notably, this thrilling showdown will coincide with the Worlds 2023 Qualifiers, adding an extra layer of excitement to the League competitive scene. Visit and follow the official social media channels of League of Legends for more updates and details on the Empyrean Cup.
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Mercato Centrale Formally Opens Food Festival At Festival Mall Water Garden
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| (Image Source: adobo Magazine/Mercato Centrale) |
Food enthusiasts and families from various walks of live were gathered to join the formal grand opening of the Food Festival by Mercato Centrale at Festival Mall Water Garden in Alabang, Muntinlupa City held on August 25, 2023. From international delicacies to local favorites, the Food Festival features an impressive selection of food stalls offering an extensive range of culinary creations. Everything from tasty Korean street food to mouthwatering cheesecakes and classic Filipino grills, there are plenty of delicious options to choose from.
The Food Festival by Mercato Centrale is designed to be a family-friendly destination with picnic tables and live music while you enjoy all the handpicked food from their merchants. Families can enjoy live music performances by local bands and artists, creating a lively ambiance for visitors to enjoy as they savor their meals. The Food Festival by Mercato Centrale at the Festival Mall Water Garden is open to and free for everyone who would like to dine and unwind every Thursday to Sunday from 4:00 pm to 10:00 pm.
“In our newest gastronomic venture, we aim to bring a world of flavors right to your plate. The Food Festival by Mercato Centrale is not just a place to eat; it’s an experience – a celebration of culture, music, and the shared love for food. Whether you’re seeking international tastes or local classics, every dish tells a story. We invite everyone to join us, feast together under the stars, and be a part of this vibrant culinary journey,” said Mercato Centrale Founder RJ Ledesma.
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Santino Luzuriaga's Silver Medal Win Showcases Filipino Talent At Jiu-Jitsu World Championship
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| 2023 Jiu-jitsu World Championship Male U-18 60 kg silver medalist Santino Luzuriaga (in leftmost photo) beside fellow medalists (Image Source: Orange Magazine TV/Team Atos Jiu-jitsu) |
Santino Luzuriaga, a talented 16-year-old home-grown Filipino athlete with a blue belt in Jiu-Jitsu, made his country proud by winning the Silver medal at this year’s Jiu-Jitsu Youth World Championship held in Astana, Kazakhstan. Representing Team Philippines, Santino emerged victorious in four matches, securing his place in the gold medal match of the Male U18 60 kg division against Alinur Kuatuly, a hometown favorite and accomplished Kazakh athlete. Santino’s impressive performance in the final match, coming incredibly close to victory and losing by only a single advantage point, demonstrates his skill and determination. This event marked his international Jiu-jitsu competition debut, representing the Philippine National Team and Team Atos Jiu-jitsu.
“I’m incredibly grateful to win the Silver medal at this year’s Jiu-jitsu Youth World Championship. This experience taught me that there’s always room for growth, and I’m committed to pushing myself further in training. My goal is to continue competing in upcoming matches and represent the Philippines with pride on the international stage,” Santino shared as he reflected on his achievements and future goals during a post-competition interview. Having trained in Jiu-jitsu since 2015, Santino prepared for this event by consistently training and participating in multiple daily sessions at Atos Headquarters Philippines while teaching Jiu-jitsu classes. His dedication to the sport is evident not only in his achievements but also in his commitment to sharing his passion with others. Santino will share his enthusiasm for the sport in the upcoming school year by teaching Jiu-jitsu classes at the highly esteemed British School Manila.
His achievement also reflects the growing interest and support for Jiu-jitsu in the Philippines. As more young athletes like Santino continue to excel in the sport, it is expected that the popularity of Jiu-jitsu will increase, leading to further development of local talents and recognition for young Filipino athletes, as well as providing more opportunities for them to compete at the highest level. The support from organizations like the Atos Jiu-jitsu Association Philippines and dedicated coaches play a crucial role in nurturing talents like Santino, paving the way for a brighter future in sports for the Philippines. Santino's future in the sport looks incredibly promising, and the Philippine sports community will be eagerly anticipated to learn and discover more of his successes.
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Mang Inasal Pork BBQ Wins The Heart Of Popular Local Food Critic
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| Popular online local food critic Masarap Ba (left thumbnail) and popular online personality Senyora (right thumbnail) gave a deliciously positive verdict on Mang Inasal Pork BBQ on their respective social media posts. (Image Source: Corner Magazine PH/YouTube) |
Mang Inasal Pork BBQ is currently generating conversations on social media as it gained the “Masarap” (delicious) verdict from the popular online food critic Masarap Ba. In its August 17, 2023 post, Masarap Ba shared, ”Sarap nung agaw ng alat at tamis. Bagay sa suka. Saks yung size ng meat. Di ako nabitin. Juicy, malambot, bungal friendly. Tinest ko sa mga senior citizens and aprub nila! Ang laki ng taba sa dulo! Just how we Pinoys like it. (The salty-sweet blend is delicious. It goes well with the spiced vinegar. The size of the meat is just right for me. The meat is juicy, tender, and something that senior citizens would approve of. The big chunk of fat at the end of the stick is exactly how we Filipinos like it.)"
The post gained comments from netizens agreeing to the verdict with several of them sharing how they have been a fan of Mang Inasal Pork BBQ for years. After Masarap Ba’s post, another famous online personality, Senyora, raved about Mang Inasal Pork BBQ. Its follower base was also quick to cite the product’s taste, juiciness, and tenderness. More positive feedback was shared across social media including the well-known foodie community on Facebook, Let’s Eat Pare, where photos of Mang Inasal Pork BBQ were shared whether being enjoyed while inside the store or at home. “We are very happy with the continuous great words that Mang Inasal Pork BBQ is getting from our customers. Definitely it’s one of our char-grilled products we are proud of because of its juicy-lambot sarap! And now that it’s made more affordable with the Php99 meal, it’s perfect for families and groups of friends to enjoy," said Mang Inasal President Mike V. Castro.
The juicy-lammmbot sarap Mang Inasal Pork BBQ can now be enjoyed with spiced vinegar and rice for only Php99. It is also available in Pork BBQ with Peanut Sauce and Java Rice meal, Family Size, or as part of the Fiesta bundle with Peanut Sauce via either dine-in or take-out at Mang Inasal branches nationwide or delivery via MangInasal.com.ph, foodpanda and GrabFood.
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Xplore Cyberspace Today With MEGA MAN X DiVE Offline
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| (Image Source: CAPCOM Co. Ltd.) |
Charge your Mega Busters and get ready to jump into battle as MEGA MAN™ X DiVE Offline becomes available on PC via Steam, iOS, and Android for a one-time purchase of US$29.99. With the help of familiar fighters and brand-new Hunters, DiVE into a scrambled cyberspace world known as the Deep Log to recover lost data from the Mega Man™ X series. In MEGA MAN X DiVE Offline, an unknown bug has corrupted game data in the Deep Log, erasing the game’s collected memories of the Mega Man X series. Following the guidance of a navigator named RiCO to uncover the truth behind this mysterious bug, players take control of Hunter Programs based on popular characters across all series in the Mega Man franchise including as X, Zero, Axl, Vile, Alia, Sigma, and other fan favorites to defeat enemy Maverick viruses and restore the files of the Deep Log.
With over 900 playable stages and more than 100 customizable characters to play such as Iris, Tron Bonne, MegaMan.EXE, and many more, MEGA MAN X DiVE Offline allows Hunters to explore the Deep Log to the fullest. Hunters can participate in an array of different quests and receive rewards for completing them. These rewards unlock and power up characters, weapons, armor, chips, and cards to take Hunters to the maximum level for use in future quests. These include event stages, boss challenges, time attack missions, and more. Hunters can also explore different modes in MEGA MAN X DiVE Offline. In Story Mode, Hunters can complete stages and progress through the story while earning experience points and obtaining materials to level up characters or weapons. Event Mode also allows dedicated Hunters to find additional story and sub-story stages based on Mega Man Battle Network, Mega Man Legends, and other Mega Man games while also collecting character-data fragments to further power-up items. In Challenge Mode, Hunters can climb their way up the Jakob Orbital Elevator to earn upgrades and special abilities by completing various challenges, time attacks, and more.
For more information, please visit the official MEGA MAN X DiVE Offline website at https://www.capcom-games.com/megaman/xdive-offline/en-us/.
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ABS-CBN Emerged As Top TikTok Entertainment Account In Southeast Asia With 2.85 Billion Views
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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 captivate digital users with its relatable and entertaining content, achieving another milestone by emerging as the most viewed TikTok entertainment account in Southeast Asia for the first half of 2023. According to data from TikToktainment, ABS-CBN’s official TikTok account @abscbn generated a total of 2,850,148,520 video views in the first half of the year, or an average of 898,817 video views per video. Among the most watched videos of @abscbn on TikTok are clips from the popular Kapamilya revenge drama series “Dirty Linen" which captivated audiences with its riveting storyline and a powerhouse ensemble cast since its premiere early this year. The game-changing teleserye has amassed over 2.3 billion views on TikTok. In addition, highlights from other ABS-CBN shows like “It’s Showtime” and “FPJ’s Batang Quiapo”, among others, have also contributed significantly to the total video views of @abscbn on TikTok which currently has 5.3 million followers and 274.7 million likes. Meanwhile, ABS-CBN PR (@abscbnpr) on TikTok was the overall top performer, amassing 81.9 million views, from April to June and the number one account during the month of May and the first half of August in both the entertainment info category.
ABS-CBN’s commitment to continue serving audiences with entertaining and inspiring stories boosts the company’s transition into being an agile digital company with the biggest online presence among all media companies and a growing list of digital properties that appeal to a wide array of audiences.
