Fujino and Kyomoto, the unlikely artist pair in Tatsuki Fujimoto’s emotional anime film “Look Back”

Look Back found the voices for the main characters, Fujino and Kyomoto, in Plan 75’s Yuumi Kawai and Mizuki Yoshida from Alice in Borderland, respectively. Look Back is the anime film adaptation of a one shot manga from Tatsuki Fujimoto, creator of Chainsaw Man. The film is helmed by Kitoyaka Oshiyama, with animation coming from Studio Durian. Watch the trailer here.

Look Back tells the tale of two girls who couldn’t be more different, as Fujino is confident and Kyomoto is a shut-in who doesn’t leave the house. Their mutual love for drawing manga brings them together in a story of growing up and moving forward.

Yuumi Kawai lends her voice to the confident artist Fujino, who worked hard to embody her character. “Look Back" is a manga that touched the hearts of many people. This time, Director Oshiyama and the rest of the production team created an animation, and I added breath and voice to the story in an attempt to add new color to the time that Fujino and Kyomoto lived. This was the first time I had the opportunity to participate in the world of anime, and I did my best to convey the earnest voice that goes along with Fujino’s body, which moves wonderfully in the drawings,” she says.

Playing the role of the shy Kyomoto is Mizuki Yoshida, who recalls reading the manga for the first time, saying, “When I first read Look Back, I was shocked by the realistic world that Tatsuki Fujimoto had drawn, and I was really curious to see how this work would be turned into a movie. I was looking forward to it.”

Yoshida was ecstatic to be part of the world creator Fujimoto has built. “When I auditioned for the role of Kyomoto and saw the video for the first time, I was so moved that even though it was an unfinished picture, I said, ‘Wow! That world is alive!’ and I burst into tears during the recording, even more so when I saw the footage of Fujino and Kyomoto. I fell in love with the book. It was my first time working as a voice actor, but I put my heart and soul into my role,” she says.

Go on an emotional journey as Look Back opens in Philippine cinemas on August 28. Follow Encore Films PH on Facebook and @encorefilmsph on Instagram for the latest updates.

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James McAvoy is terrifying in "Speak No Evil"

James McAvoy

A British family welcomes an American family to their idyllic farmhouse for the weekend, but the dream vacation soon turns into a nightmare in Speak No Evil. Playing the role of the charismatic, alpha-male host and head of the family Paddy is BAFTA award-winner James McAvoy (known for his role as the young Charles Xavier in the X-Men universe), who was immediately intrigued when director James Watkins pitched him the role. “Blumhouse has done so many kinds of movies, but they’re mostly known for the horror genre, and they’re exceptionally good at it,” says McAvoy. “But reading the script, what kept me going after page three was the fact that these characters felt like real people and that it was based on things that we can recognize in the real world.” Watch the trailer below:

Director James Watkins thought only of James McAvoy when looking for who to play the complex role of Paddy. “Paddy must charm us even while being on the edge of horrifying us, and James knows how to walk that line,” Watkins says. “I watched him in the film Filth and was mesmerized: his character is horrible, but James somehow takes us with him. A lesser actor would have lost us. As well as a movie star, James is a brilliant stage actor. Exploring Paddy, he not only mines his own experience but taps into a deep well of classical resources: Iago, Richard III, Mephistopheles. I don’t think anyone else in the world could have played Paddy as well as James. His understanding of psychological and emotional space—of mapping tiny shifts on an emotional gradient—is second to none. He was the first and only actor I approached.”

The character’s layers and deep-rooted darkness cloaked over by masculinity and charisma was a fascination for McAvoy. “Paddy holds to an older, traditionalist expression of manhood,” says McAvoy. “James Watkins and I really leaned into that aspect of him as we fleshed out who Paddy is and what he means to the story and to the culture, giving him some mythic heft with timely resonance. Here’s this man’s man, beholden to some ancient idea of masculinity, living in the countryside, living off the land, or so you think. It all seems so wholesome and earthy. And yet this is ancient England that we’re talking about, and there’s darkness in the land; there’s a history of violence and bloodshed and horrible things in that dirt, and so there’s evil in that earthy masculinity that he’s romanticizing and selling.”

Paddy’s strong personality made him a fun character for McAvoy to embody, but he was also aware of the importance of nuance in playing a man with a powerful personality. “Paddy is incredibly entertaining and he’s always performing,” McAvoy says. “But you have to be careful playing a character like that, because then it can become a showy turn, and while that could be very effective for an audience, it doesn’t necessarily have a lot of truth to it. We were always working to ground the character in real history, motivation and desire, and to earn the revelations of his true nature. As much as Paddy is this likably mercurial, counter-cultural figure, there’s real darkness in him, and it’s always there for the audience to see.”

A tense, hair-raising thriller awaits as Speak No Evil arrives in Philippine cinemas on September 11, from Universal Pictures International.

Follow Universal Pictures PH (FB), UniversalPicturesPH (IG) and UniversalPicsPH (TikTok) for the latest updates on “Speak No Evil.”

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Unlock Exclusive Deals: Shop LG’s Online Brand Store Today!

LG launches its very own Online Brand Shop (LG OBS) – your go-to destination for a seamless and convenient shopping experience! This one-stop platform allows you to browse, purchase, and receive LG products directly at your doorstep, making it easier than ever to access the latest in electronics and home appliances.

The LG OBS (www.lg.com/ph) offers an extensive range of LG products, from state-of-the-art electronics to essential home appliances. Designed for user-friendliness, the website allows you to easily explore product features, compare options, and make well-informed decisions, all from the comfort of your home. With LG OBS, your purchase, delivery, and installation can be completed in just 3-5 days. LG provides full care from end-to-end, so you can enjoy your LG purchase and experience Life’s Good instantly.

Limited-Time offers from LG.com
Experience exceptional value with exclusive discounts and deals on the LG OBS website. LG.com customers can take advantage of exclusive freebies from the LG products and services team. Keep an eye out for special offers, limited-time promotions, and bundle deals that you won't find elsewhere, guaranteeing the best prices on your purchases.

For example, if you buy a window-type air conditioner from July 23 to August 23, 2024, you can receive a free window air conditioner cleaning service. The complimentary service can be claimed within 6 months after purchase for every air conditioner purchased. This offer is valid for customers within GMA (Metro Manila, Bulacan, Cavite, Laguna, and Rizal).

Additionally, you can get a free air filter when you purchase a PuriCare 360° Air Purifier from July 23 to August 23, 2024. This promotion is valid only for the following models: AS60GHWG0, AS10GDWH0. The freebie will be delivered along with your air purifier purchase.

Lastly, enhance your laundry experience with our new washer-dryer sets, which are best completed with stacking kits. From August 8 to September 8, 2024, when you purchase from LG.com, you can receive a FREE stacking kit with your washer-dryer set. The stacking kit will be included with your delivery. This promotion applies to select models only.

Payment flexibility is a key feature of LG OBS. You can choose from a variety of payment options, including credit cards, e-wallets like GCash and Maya, and financing plans such as BDO’s 3-month 0% interest installment or Home Credit. Secure online bank transfers are also available for added convenience.

By signing up for an LG Membership, you can enjoy perks like a 5% welcome coupon, free delivery, and complimentary installation services for eligible products. Visit the LG Online Brand Shop to explore the full range of products and benefits, and experience a smarter, more connected lifestyle with LG.

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Five Ways 5G Wireless Broadband Revolutionizes Everyday Digital Life

In the dynamic landscape of modern living, the internet has seamlessly integrated into our daily routines. From facilitating online meetings and financial transactions to providing immersive recreational experiences, its influence continuously reshapes how we navigate life's intricacies.

In this era of heightened connectivity, fast and reliable internet access is no longer a luxury but necessary for productivity and seamless communication. Each moment spent online brings us closer to achieving our goals. As such, telecommunications companies are introducing groundbreaking technologies to fortify connectivity, with fifth generation (5G) technology leading the charge.

Curious about how 5G broadband is revolutionizing daily life? Here are five ways it's simplifying everyone's lives.

Accelerating Connectivity
According to an Ookla report as of June 2024, the Philippines had average fixed broadband upload and download speeds of 94.13 megabits per second (Mbps) and 94.42 Mbps, respectively. In comparison, Singapore boasted a download speed of 285.02 Mbps.

The demand for faster internet is a pressing issue in the Philippines, and the unparalleled speed of 5G connectivity addresses this need head-on. With download speeds up to 20 times faster than its predecessor, 4G, this technological leap ensures a seamless browsing experience even during bandwidth-intensive activities. Picture downloading an entire high-definition movie in seconds while simultaneously streaming music and engaging in video calls with friends—all without a hitch. These lightning-fast speeds elevate entertainment experiences and significantly expedite productivity tasks, such as uploading large files or accessing cloud-based services with lightning speed.

Revolutionizing Virtual Meetings
Moreover, the low latency provided by wireless 5G technology ushers in a new era of real-time interactions, revolutionizing virtual meetings and eliminating the frustrations of lag-riddled video calls. With 5G, every interaction unfolds with fluidity and grace. With 5G's low latency, colleagues from all over the globe can seamlessly share ideas, documents, and feedback in real time, fostering a sense of immediacy and enhancing overall productivity. 5G ensures that virtual meetings run smoothly, mirroring the efficiency of face-to-face interactions despite physical distances.

Empowering Multitude Devices
With 5G's enhanced capacity, accommodating myriad devices becomes effortless, supporting up to 100 times more connected devices in a single location. Picture a bustling family home where everyone is simultaneously streaming movies, playing online games, conducting video calls, and controlling smart home devices like thermostats and security cameras. With traditional broadband connections, such a scenario likely results in slow speeds, buffering, and dropped connections due to network congestion. However, with 5G, the network seamlessly handles the heavy load, ensuring smooth operation for each device without sacrificing speed or reliability.

Conquering Dead Zones
5G also eliminates issues such as signal drops and dead zones. From the farthest corners of your home to the most secluded nooks, wireless 5G technology ensures consistent coverage, dispelling the shadows of weak signals and connectivity woes. Imagine working from home in your cozy attic office or enjoying a movie marathon in the basement entertainment room. With traditional internet connections, you might experience frustrating signal drops or dead zones in these remote areas of your home, disrupting your online activities. However, with the advent of 5G, these connectivity challenges have become a thing of the past. Whether you're upstairs, downstairs, or in the backyard, 5G ensures a seamless and uninterrupted internet experience, allowing you to stay connected and productive wherever you are within your home.

Safeguarding the Digital-Powered Home
Finally, fortified by essential security enhancements, 5G protects our digital domain, ensuring seamless access to the Internet of Things while upholding the sanctity of our online presence. With the advanced security features of 5G, your smart home remains protected against potential threats, ensuring that your personal data and digital privacy are always safeguarded. Whether you're remotely controlling your smart devices or monitoring your home security system from afar, 5G provides peace of mind, allowing you to enjoy IoT technology's convenience without compromising security.

Empowering Every Filipino Home with 5G
In alignment with the government's vision to bridge the digital gap and promote digital literacy nationwide, DITO Telecommunity delivers blazing-fast speeds and seamless connectivity through its DITO Home 5G WiFi - a wireless broadband service that allows subscribers to enjoy up to 500Mbps+ of 5G internet speeds at home.

To bring ease and speed to the application process, DITO recently launch BLITZ KABIT campaign- same-day 5G home WiFi installation ensuring that more Filipino households can enjoy the convenience of quick processing, faster home installations, and instant high-speed connectivity at home.

With the launch of BLITZ KABIT, DITO Home is bringing booths to residential areas nationwide, making WiFi installations convenient and accessible more than ever.

Acknowledging the diverse needs and preferences of the Filipino populace, DITO presents flexible monthly broadband plans under DITO Home. Postpaid enthusiasts can enjoy UNLI 5G internet for only Php 1,490 per month. Customers to subscribe until August 31, 2024 can still enjoy the special promo of Php 745 per month for the first six months.

For the more deliberate and budget-conscious consumer, the data-capped plan beckons at a mere P990 per month, boasting a generous monthly data allocation of 200 GB.

All DITO Home 5G postpaid plans come with a complimentary 5G modem/router and a 30-day Prime Video subscription, ensuring an immersive digital experience for all.

Embark on your journey into the realm of 5G connectivity by applying via this link: https://auto.dito.ph/#/form/fwapostpaid-blitz?src=ONLINE or visit DITO's official website today to learn more.

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Ascorbic acid (Poten-Cee) is Fifty, Fortified, and Forging Forward

The top adult plain vitamin C brand¹ pays it forward on its 50th

To celebrate 50 years of supporting Filipinos’ varying Vitamin C needs and to thank its customers for their continued support, the top Vitamin C brand (adult, plain category) Ascorbic acid (Poten-Cee) Vitamin C,¹ launches its milestone campaign, Fifty, Fortified, and Forging Forward. 

 
Poten-Cee Is Fifty 
Poten-Cee, proudly from PascualLab, one of the top pharmaceutical companies in the Philippines,¹ traces its humble beginnings to the post-war era, supporting the Vitamin C needs of Filipinos. Today, it has evolved into one of the top Vitamin C brands offering variants that help fulfill different needs and that support different lifestyles. 

From Poten-Cee's early ventures to its latest products, the brand consistently showcases a commitment to innovation. Poten-Cee Sugar-Coated which was launched in 1974, was designed with a shell coating to mask the sour taste of Ascorbic acid. This coating with its candy-like taste and appearance, also made the tablet smoother and easier to swallow. 
 
Through the years, Poten-Cee has also formulated adult to pedia variants to suit Filipinos’ diverse needs and preferences: 

• Ascorbic acid as Sodium Ascorbate (Poten-Cee NA)² and Poten-Cee Plus for adults and children who prefer a vitamin C in non-acidic format³
• Ascorbic acid (Poten-Cee Chewable), a convenient format for those who are always on the go 
• Ascorbic acid (Poten-Cee Forte) 1000 mg with 8-hour time release for those who prefer a higher dose of Vitamin C
• Ascorbic acid (Poten-Cee Sugar-Free) for those watching their blood sugar. 

Poten-Cee's Beauty of Immunity 
In 2016, Poten-Cee introduced the tagline “The Beauty of Immunity.”  Aside from Vitamin C helping to fortify immunity which is vital to good health, it is also essential in collagen production to help support healthy skin.  Still in line with this message, PascualLab’s flagship brand launched Poten-Cee + C in 2022.  Poten-Cee + C is a food supplement which combines Vitamin C and Hydrolyzed Collagen.  
 
Poten-Cee Is Fortified  
Among Poten-Cee's newer variants are Poten-Cee + Zn (Ascorbic acid + Zinc) and  
Poten-Cee + Zn Advance (Ascorbic acid + Zinc + Cholecalciferol) which were both launched in 2021. Poten-Cee + ZN combines Vitamin C that supports immunity and Zinc that helps protect cells from viral infections, among other benefits.  Meanwhile Poten-Cee Zn Advance combines active ingredients that play critical roles in immune function, inflammatory response, and collagen synthesis.4-9 

Poten-Cee Is Forging Forward 
This year, as part of the brand’s forging forward, Poten-Cee unveiled a new offering of Poten-Cee + C. Poten-Cee + C Marine Collagen has Sodium Ascorbate (Vitamin C in non-acidic format)³ and Hydrolyzed Marine Collagen sourced from fish. 10 With this introduction, Poten-Cee + C now has options that offer consumers type 1 collagen sourced from fish (marine collagen) and type 2 collagen, from bovine or animal sources (original variant). 

Poten-Cee is Paying Forward 
And to thank Filipino families for all the years of support, Poten-Cee is also paying it forward.  Through the years, Poten-Cee has been making sizeable donations to sectors in need including survivors of the recent Typhoon Carina.

As Poten-Cee celebrates 50 years of providing consumers with trusted Vitamin C products, it wishes to extend its deepest gratitude for the unwavering support given by Filipinos. This has been the cornerstone of its success, inspiring the brand to continually innovate and improve, more so in the years to come. 
 
Poten-Cee is available in all leading drugstores and supermarkets nationwide and at PascualLab’s official TikTok, Shopee, & Lazada stores. Follow us on PotenCee_PH, FB & IG. 

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SM Employees in the East Metro Lend a Hand for Brigada Eskwela 2024

Mayamot National High School receives cleaning materials from employee and personnel volunteers from SM City Masinag and SM Center Antipolo Downtown for the Brigada Eskwela 2024

SM City Marikina, SM City Masinag, SM City San Mateo, and SM Center Antipolo Downtown joined forces to give back to the community through this year’s Brigada Eskwela. Mall employees rolled up their sleeves and pitched in to revitalize school facilities, ensuring a fresh and welcoming learning environment for students.

From classroom cleaning to sprucing up school grounds, SM Mall personnel dedicated their time and effort to preparing partner schools for the new academic year. Their commitment to improving the educational landscape in the East Metro is a testament to SM’s unwavering support for local communities.

A group of volunteers from SM City Masinag and SM Center Antipolo Downtown work on cleaning a portion of the school grounds of Mayamot National High School

SM’s commitment to education shone through as employees from its East Metro malls rolled up their sleeves for Brigada Eskwela. To support students and teachers recovering from the recent typhoon, SM City Marikina focused on cleaning a classroom at Kalumpang High School.

Meanwhile, SM City San Mateo gave Banaba Elementary School a fresh look with a classroom repaint. Over in Antipolo, SM City Masinag and SM Center Antipolo Downtown teamed up to clean the school grounds at Mayamot National High School and donated essential cleaning supplies. These efforts aim to create a conducive learning environment for students in the community.

Freshly painted white walls for conducive learning for the students of Banaba Elementary School by employee volunteers

Brigada Eskwela is an annual undertaking of SM Supermalls under its corporate social responsibility arm, SM Cares. By actively participating in this nationwide initiative, SM reinforces its dedication to fostering a better future for Filipino students.

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LG Launches Life's Good Library On the Go: Bringing Education to Every Doorstep

LG Philippines named this year’s LG Ambassador Challenge winning project, Life’s Good Library On The Go by Ms. Charlene Aguilar, with the mission to reach children who lack access to libraries, fostering a love for reading and immersive learning. In partnership with Korea Food for the Hungry International (KFHI) to generate significant change through the LG Ambassador Challenge, showcasing the company's commitment to sustainable development in the country.

 
LG Life's Good Library On The Go
The mobile library will tour around the seven (7) barangays in Nagcarlan, Laguna namely Lawaguin, Bunga, Balayong, Sabang, Alumbrado, Talahib and Sulsuguin to reach children living in poor communities that have limited access to basic education and organized learning.

“This mobile library exemplifies our commitment to education and accessibility, bringing books and learning resources directly to underserved communities, aiming to inspire a love for reading and promote immersive, lifelong learning among children. This reflects our unwavering promise to empower individuals and enrich their futures” said LG Philippines Managing Director, Mr. Nakhyun Seong during his opening remarks. Mr. Seong also encouraged the children through a pinky promise to make reading a habit.

Mr. Nakhyun Seong, LG Philippines Managing Director

During the event, LG Ambassador, Ms. Charlene Aguilar also addressed the audience during the turnover and awarding. "This mobile library is more than just a collection of books; it is a beacon of hope and learning. Through LG's help, beyond just books, children in our community will now have the opportunity to see the world through the LG TV, with the LG XL7S Speaker making learning an immersive and interactive experience. This enhancement will allow the kids to provide a richer, and more diverse educational journey."

Mr. Nakhyun Seong, LG Philippines Managing Director, awards the certificate
to Ms. Charlene Aguilar, 2024 LG Ambassador Challenge winner

LG provided Ms. Charlene Aguilar opportunities for learning by funding the Library on the Go TV and speaker to enhance learning, as well as financial support for the vehicle, books, and materials. With LG's support, children can now enjoy immersive learning experiences. This support will ensure we can reach and educate children in underserved communities effectively.

LG UHD TV

LG XBoom XL7S

As Mr. Nakhyun Seong and Ms. Charlene Aguilar finally revealed the Life’s Good Library On The Go, they toured the van’s interiors and exteriors, showcasing its features. The van is equipped with shelves full of diverse books, and advanced learning tools like the LG TV and LG XL7S Speaker to create an immersive educational environment. The tour highlighted additional features such as tents, benches, tables, and mats, all designed to create a comfortable and engaging outdoor learning space. This mobile library provides a versatile setup for various educational activities, emphasizing LG's commitment to fostering a love for reading and lifelong learning.

Unveiling of the LG Life's Good Library On The Go

LG Philippines Head of Corporate Marketing, Ms. Ana Marie Salapantan, closed the program with the inspiring words “This campaign isn't just about promoting a brand; it's about inspiring all of us to embrace life with a positive mindset. It encourages us to see every challenge as an opportunity and every setback as a chance to grow.”

Other activities during this inauguration ceremony included a free eye check-up provided by Dr. Nathaniel Monloy of Monloy Vision Care Clinic, who offered essential vision screenings for the children. In addition, the event featured interactive storytelling sessions, arts and crafts workshops, to engage and entertain the community while highlighting the importance of education and learning. These activities complemented the launch of the Life’s Good Library On The Go, making the day a celebration of community spirit.

Eye screening c/o Monloy Vision Care Clinic

The LG Ambassador Challenge was launched in 2022, designating individuals as ambassadors who receive essential support and funding from LG to address issues in their local communities.

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Blake Lively Captivates as Lily Bloom in "It Ends with Us"

Blake Lively as Lily Bloom in It Ends With Us

“I saw a window display of her books—Colleen Hoover, Colleen Hoover, Colleen Hoover,” recalls Blake Lively, who knew that she was working with something special with It Ends With Us, the film adaptation of Colleen Hoover’s #1 New York Times bestseller. “Her name was everywhere. She speaks to an audience—her voice resonates with people. The stories she tells and how she tells them reaches out and grabs so many people.”

Lively plays the main role of Lily Bloom, a young woman who’s determined to break free from her past, but as she falls in love, finds herself falling into the same patterns she grew up with. Lively is also a producer for It Ends With Us, captivated by its story. “I just fell in love with Lily,” Lively says. “I wanted to tell her story because her emotional roadmap was so clear to me, yet there are so many ways she could be portrayed. I knew if I took her on, I would make sure she wasn’t a delicate flower, but a woman with both feet firmly on the ground. Someone in her skin. I thought it was important to see someone you think is settled in themselves get lost. It makes you realize you never really know what people are going through.”

Author Colleen Hoover thinks Lively embodies the best of Lily Bloom, confident in the actress’s portrayal of one of the most important characters she’s ever created, as It Ends With Us is a story intertwined with Hoover’s own experience with her mother and father. “Blake has many of the same qualities I admire in both Lily and my mother,” Hoover says. “To have her playing Lily demonstrates that each situation is unique. There’s no mold to fit.”
Lively shares her interpretation of Lily Bloom, and the strength that resonates within her character. “Lily is not a wilting lily,” says Lively. “She has both feet on the ground and her head screwed on tight—she has real spice and agency. But you can be a woman with confidence and agency and know better, and still not see all of the red flags that you should. When she meets Ryle, she sweeps him off his feet as much as he sweeps her off hers. It was important to create that level playing field, so that when the relationship goes off-kilter, it’s more confusing for her, because she believes in the equality of their partnership and their strength, as individuals and together.”

There was something rewarding in portraying a character that’s going through a healing journey, Lively shares as she explains why she took on the role. “Lily's at a turning point in her life," Lively says. "She's just moved to Boston from her hometown in New England. She’s finally actualizing her dream of opening a flower shop. A major life event happens for her at the start of the movie, which brings up her past in significant ways. While coping with that, she meets someone she falls for almost instantly. She meets two ‘someones’ actually: a man and a new best female friend. Her shop is as wonderful as she imagined it to be, and her whole life is falling into place. Despite having a painful past, her future looks bright. And then, event after event, her life is upended in both beautiful and tragic ways. Her past enters her present in more ways than one, and she has to confront the entirety of her life’s most wonderful and awful experiences, all within the course of this film. It was mammoth to take on but deeply rewarding to tell a story so rich in the full spectrum of emotion.”

Watch the emotional journey of Lily Bloom as It Ends With Us arrives in Philippine cinemas on August 7.

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SM Prime widens the landscape in renewable energy

As part of its net-zero commitment by 2040, one of Asia’s leading real estate and property developers, SM Prime Holdings, Inc. (SM Prime), partnered with global integrated energy company TotalEnergies for the installation of a 2 Megawatt-peak (MWp) Solar Photovoltaic (PV) System Rooftop project in Pasay City.

The partnership venture aligns with SM Prime’s efforts in expanding its renewable energy portfolio and affirms TotalEnergies’ commitment to advancing renewable energy solutions in various urban settings.

Designed with a power yield of 3,000 Megawatt-hour (MWh) of electricity annually, the solar partnership project has over 3,672 PV panels installed and is expected to provide huge cost savings for SM Prime. Located at the MOA Square in the Mall of Asia Complex, the solar installations are expected to reduce the building’s carbon footprint by about 1,430 tons of carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions annually.

"SM Prime is proud to work alongside TotalEnergies on this project. This partnership is our commitment to sustainability and achieving Net Zero by 2040. We are also taking a proactive stance in supporting the Department of Energy’s (DOE) target of reaching 35% renewable energy by 2030. Together, we’re driving meaningful change towards a more environmentally conscious future," said John Nai Peng Ong, SM Prime Chief Finance Officer.

“We are thrilled to announce the successful deployment of solar rooftop installations at the Mall of Asia in the Philippines, marking a significant achievement in both environmental and economic sustainability for SM Prime,” said Elodie Renaud, Managing Director of TotalEnergies Renewables Distributed Generation Asia.

For the past few years, SM Prime continues to grow its partnerships with key clean energy players, leveraging its relationships and earned experiences to drive its environmental stewardship campaign. Capitalizing on these partnerships has provided for SM Prime huge economic, environmental, and social dividends.

In 2022, SM Prime secured a long-term deal with AboitizPower for its clean energy supply. Under the agreement, AboitizPower will provide reliable and responsibly-sourced energy from Tiwi-MakBan Geothermal Power Plants, and PV Sinag’s Power Plants, operated and managed by AboitizPower subsidiary, Aboitiz Renewables, Inc. (ARI).

The following year, SM Prime signed a memorandum of agreement with Citicore Renewable Energy Company (CREC), wherein SM Prime will source 90 megawatts (MWac) from CREC’s upcoming Lumbangan Solar Power Plant in Tuy, Batangas.

Apart from contributing to the DOE’s 35% renewable energy goal by 2030, all these partnerships are aligned with the energy department and Energy Regulatory Commission’s (ERC) policy of expanding the adoption of Retail Competition and Open Access (RCOA) in the energy industry.

To date, SM Prime currently sources at least 50% of its electricity utilization from clean, renewable energy.

 
SM Prime supports the Philippine government’s aim to increase the country's renewable energy supply component to 50% by the year 2040. It remains committed to its role as a catalyst for economic growth, delivering innovative and sustainable lifestyle cities, thereby enriching the quality of life of millions of people. SM Prime is pursuing the next horizon on integrated property development and onward to building sustainable cities of the future.

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Kublai Millan’s "Land of Premise" Unveiled at The Manila Hotel’s Art Gallery

Acclaimed artist Kublai Millan’s latest exhibit, Land of Premise, was officially inaugurated at The Manila Hotel’s Art Gallery on August 1, 2024. This solo exhibit, featuring a compelling collection of 14 paintings, invites guests to explore the untapped potential of Mindanao and envision a future where its promises are fulfilled.

Kublai Millan

In his remarks, Kublai emphasized that Land of Premise is more than just an artistic showcase; it is a bridge to understanding Mindanao’s rich heritage and future possibilities. “Words cannot build a future, only actions and resources can. Know the premise so we can conceive a fulfillable promise,” he stated.

The opening reception featured a ribbon-cutting ceremony led by Kublai Millan, along with Marvin Kim Tan, The Manila Hotel’s vice president for sales and marketing, Jeremy Barns, Director-General of the National Museum of the Philippines, Cecile Guidote Alvarez, founder of Philippine Educational Theater Association, Nancy dela Rosa, wife of Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa, and Flora Chua, member of the Board of Philippine Cancer Society. The ceremony was attended by distinguished guests including Dr. Jaime Laya, president of Philtrust Bank, Atty. Elba Cruz, CEO and chief curator of Manila Clock Tower Museum, as well as representatives from the office of the Vice Mayor, City of Manila, and the Department of Tourism, Culture and Arts of Manila. Guests enjoyed an afternoon of cocktails and conversation amid the vibrant display of Kublai’s artistry.

Land of Premise is on display at the Art Gallery through August 31, 2024. Admission is free, and the artworks are available for purchase at Php 440,000 each (shipping not included).

For further details or to inquire about purchasing, please call +632 8527 0011 or +632 5301 5500, or email r.lo@themanilahotel.com.

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