Start your engines as “GRAN TURISMO” revs up with first trailer

High speed brings higher stakes. Columbia Pictures’ upcoming action-thriller Gran Turismo is the exhilarating true story of Jann Mardenborough, a gamer who became a real-life racecar driver.

Credits to: Columbia Pictures

In cinemas soon across the Philippines. Watch the trailer.

Based on the true story of Jann Mardenborough, the film is the ultimate wish fulfillment tale of a teenage Gran Turismo player whose gaming skills won a series of Nissan competitions to become an actual professional racecar driver.

Directed by Neill Blomkamp, screenplay by Jason Hall and Zach Baylin, based on the PLAYSTATION STUDIOS video game.

Produced by Doug Belgrad, Asad Qizilbash, Carter Swan, Dana Brunetti. The executive producers are Kazunori Yamauchi, Herman Hulst, Jason Hall, Matthew Hirsch.

The cast is led by David Harbour, Orlando Bloom, Archie Madekwe, Darren Barnet, Geri Halliwell Horner and Djimon Hounsou.

In Philippine cinemas 2023, Gran Turismo is distributed by Columbia Pictures, local office of Sony Pictures Releasing International.

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SM Supermalls backs DOH’s Chikiting Ligtas vax campaign

Opens 60 mall sites for pediatric vaccines aged 0 to 59 months

SM Supermalls, in partnership with the Department of Health (DOH) launches the Chikiting Ligtas Measles-Rubella and Oral Polio Vaccine Supplemental Immunization Activity (MR-OPV SIA) on May 01-31, 2023 in 60 SM malls in cooperation with Healthy Pilipinas, United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund (UNICEF), and the World Health Organization (WHO).

Dubbed as “Chikiting Ligtas sa dagdag bakuna kontra Polio, Rubella, at Tigdas,” this nationwide campaign aims to prevent impending outbreaks from these vaccine-preventable diseases and to inoculate children aged 9-59 months old against measles and rubella with the vaccination of one (1) dose of Measles-Rubella (MR) vaccine, and children aged 0-59 months old against poliovirus types 1 and 3 with the vaccination of one (1) dose of Bivalent Oral Polio Vaccine. Just like all other vaccines in the routine immunization program, getting inoculated against these diseases are FREE, safe, and effective in keeping them healthy.

“SM Supermalls remains committed to creating a safer, better normal by providing a convenient, accessible, and enjoyable immunization experience to our SuperKids. With this, we encourage our shoppers, especially parents with children aged below five years old to get them their supplemental immunization against these preventable diseases in 60 SM malls nationwide,” said SM Supermalls president, Steven Tan.

Measles, rubella, and polio are highly contagious and can be fatal. In the Philippines, the 2022 year-end report of the Epidemiology Bureau of the DOH documented a 186% rise from 2021 in epidemic-prone diseases, particularly measles. Further, the country is also at risk of the re-emergence of polio.

“The only way we can prevent these life-threatening diseases is through vaccination. We, at SM Supermalls, are giving our full support to the DOH’s campaign by ensuring that our young stakeholders are given the opportunity to access Measles-Rubella and Oral Polio Vaccine (MR-OPV) in the comfort of our malls,” Steven Tan added.

With its long-standing commitment to ensuring the health and safety of the public, SM continues to provide not just a #SafeMalling experience to shoppers, but also a convenient and accessible venue where their communities can get vaccinated.

The following SM Supermalls in the East are now accepting vaccinees until May 31 st :

• SM Center Angono, Weekdays except Wednesdays, 2nd level in front of Worlds of Fun
• SM Cherry Antipolo, Weekends, 2nd Level
• SM City Taytay, Weekdays, Basement 1 of Building B
• SM City San Mateo, Weekdays, 3rd level Community Services Area
• SM City Marikina, Weekdays, Ground Level beside near Main Entrance 2
• SM City East Ortigas, Saturdays and Sundays, 2nd Level near Mesa

To know more about SM Supermalls’ partnership with the DOH for Chikiting Ligtas, visit www.smsupermalls.com or follow @SMSupermalls on social media.

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ZTE brings ZTE Day to the Philippines, brings global ICT innovation to local partners

With the theme "Shaping Digital Innovation", ZTE Philippines showcased groundbreaking products and solutions and demonstrated how ZTE’s ICT innovations create new value for the digital world

ZTE Corporation (0763.HK / 000063.SZ), a global leading provider of information and communication technology solutions, introduces its latest products and solutions to industry players, partners and consumers from various industries at the Philippine leg of the ZTE Day.

With the theme "Shaping Digital Innovation", ZTE Philippines showcased groundbreaking products and solutions and demonstrated how ZTE’s ICT innovations create new value for the digital world, including:

1. Products and solutions for access, transport, and cloud core networks to deploy end-to-end, efficient, and green digital infrastructure;
2. Innovative solutions and best practices for the B2B and B2H fields to facilitate operators' development of brand-new digital services;
3. Smartphones and other diverse terminal product series to empower full-scenario digital life;
4. Cutting-edge technologies to break the boundaries of coverage, capacity, and services and unlock infinite possibilities.

Specifically, ZTE day hosted a variety of sessions reflecting the current technology trends in the world – 5G connectivity, Intelligent Transmission Network, FTTx Evolution and New Smart Home,5G Cloud Core, Computing Power Accelerate Digitalization, ZTE Servers and Storage Products Introduction.

ZTE Day also aims to underscore ZTE’s Research and Development investments. In 2022, the company strengthened its key technology and product competitiveness, with R&D expenses reaching RMB 21.60 billion, 17.6% of the revenue.

This is the 3rd leg of ZTE Day. In addition to the Philippines, ZTE Day will also be held in other countries as well, such as Malaysia, Indonesia, Brazil, Nigeria, Ethiopia, Morocco, etc.

ZTE Philippines is excited to showcase these cutting-edge technologies to our partners, to break the boundaries of coverage, capacity, and services and to unlock infinite possibilities for their businesses. ZTE continues to be committed to technological innovation.

Moving forward, ZTE will strive to make consistent advancements based on customer requirements, and to provide solid support in the Philippines, to help drive and facilitate global digital transformation.

For more information about ZTE Corporation and its devices available in the Philippines, you may follow the official pages at Facebook, Instagram and Tiktok (@ztedevicesph).

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LG Teams Up with Prime Video for New Series, Citadel, Available on LG Smart TVs

Complete with Dolby Vision, Dolby Atmos and automatic FilmMaker Mode,

LG OLED TVs are set to shine a light on the action of Prime Video’s latest hit series.

Starting this week, LG Smart TV owners worldwide can enjoy Citadel, Prime Video and Amazon Studios’ epic spy-thriller series and the latest global sensation in streaming television. With LG OLED TV’s self-lit technology allowing for deep blacks and life-like color, viewers are placed at the center of the action-packed Citadel universe and can enjoy the show with intended color, aspect ratio, and frame rate, thanks to Automatic FilmMaker Mode. LG OLED TVs also feature Dolby Vision® for stunning ultra vivid picture and incredible immersive Dolby Atmos® sound, which further elevate the cinematic experience when enjoying your favorite titles available in Dolby.

Starring Richard Madden and Priyanka Chopra Jonas, Citadel is set after the fall of the titular spy organization, as two spies attempt to piece together what happened. The two spies embark on a mission that takes them around the world, all while contending with a relationship built on secrets, lies, and a dangerous-yet-undying love.

Citadel premieres exclusively on Prime Video on Friday, April 28, with two adrenaline-fueled episodes, followed by a new episode released weekly every Friday through May 26. Citadel will be available in more than 240 countries and territories worldwide.

To mark the launch of the cinematic new television series, Prime Video and LG teamed up to bring the characters and high-tech world of Citadel closer to its fans, through a series of exclusive visuals, rolled out across multiple channels, including online, in-store, in New York’s Times Square and London’s Piccadilly Circus.

This is not a first for Prime Video and LG, as it continues a long relationship between the streaming service and smart TV manufacturer. Both have a combined goal to deliver the best viewing experience to millions of customers across the world who stream Prime Video’s great content with the LG OLED evo superior technology.

From launching the first 4K HDR streaming experience on LG OLED TVs in 2015, to enabling Filmmaker Mode on Prime Video’s movies and series in 2021, to bringing opted-in personalized recommendations on the LG home screen for customers to discover the best Prime Video content in 2022, LG’s long relationship with Prime Video continues to lead to innovations in the home watching experience.

“At Prime Video, we are always looking for new ways to innovate and provide our customers the best viewing experience,” said Andrew Bennett Head of Global Video Partnerships for Prime Video, MGM+ and Amazon Freevee. “Our relationship with LG and joint commitment to customers has allowed us to continuously raise the bar with new technology that enhances the overall user experience”

This comes as LG aims to boost marketing efforts designed to offer customer value through the delivery of unique experiences across a variety of touchpoints. Prime Video was a natural partner to expand LG’s marketing relationship given their global reach, continued tech innovation, and engaging content. LG plans to introduce more exciting collaborations like this in the future.

“LG is actively collaborating with its content partners like Prime Video to provide customers with an engaging experience on the big screen at home, and beyond,” said Chris Jo, senior vice-president of platform business at LG Electronics Home Entertainment Company. “We are happy to kick off this initiative with Prime Video, whose global partnership and shared passion for innovation through the years helps us provide a best-in-class experience for customers”.

For more details, follow @LGPhilippines on Facebook and @LGPhilippines on Instagram. LG products are available in all authorized dealers nationwide both in-store and online. Visit lg.com/ph for a complete list of our retail partners. You can also visit LG's Official Flagship Stores in Lazada and Shopee.

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Every day is Earth Day at SM Supermalls!

SM Supermalls, in collaboration with its corporate social responsibility arm, SM Cares, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), local government units and partner schools and organizations joined the rest of the world in celebrating Earth Day at SM malls nationwide on April 22, 2023.

With the theme "Invest In Our Planet, Invest In Our Youth," SM Supermalls and SM Cares lined up various activities that aimed to raise awareness among children and their families about the importance of coming together across various sectors to take care of the environment. SM malls nationwide simultaneously held relevant and impactful celebrations with activities such as Children’s Storytelling, Coloring, and Sustainability Tours, gathering 1700 children and 350 employee volunteers. These activities aimed to encourage everyone in the family, particularly the young ones, to protect and respect Mother Earth.

Earth Day is an annual celebration led by the Earth Day Network that puts the spotlight on issues that are affecting the environment. First held in 1970, Earth Day was the result of a need for a unified response against various environmental problems like pollution and resource depletion. Today, the event is considered the biggest environmental movement in the world, with millions joining celebrations every year.

“At SM, every day is Earth Day. However, today we are reminded of our responsibility to protect the planet we live in. We believe that we must all come together and take the necessary steps against this climate crisis and accelerate a greener and more equitable future for everyone,” shared Ms. Liza B. Silerio, SM Supermalls Vice President for Corporate Compliance and SM Cares Program Director for the Environment. 

SM Supermalls featured the art of multi-awarded Filipino artist, sculptor and illustrator, Manuel Baldemor. His works depict the rich cultural aspects of the Philippines and can be found in multiple institutions worldwide. His drawings and Earth Day poem inspired the Earth Day program at SM, reflecting a long-time partnership on SM Cares programs for the environment, starting with his design of SM’s first eco bags in 2007.

A storytelling activity featured a special Earth Day story based on Baldemor’s artworks at the SM Malls in Rizal. The story reflected simple ways children can participate in living sustainably on their own and with their families. Meanwhile, kids and kids-at-heart were welcomed at the coloring activity section. Participants were given art materials and a selection of Baldemor's drawings to color in. Malls used recycled materials in designing the activity areas. 

And to cap off the celebration, a sustainability tour was held in SM City Masinag, SM City San Mateo, SM Cherry Antipolo and SM Center Angono, wherein pupils participated in a guided tour to one or more of the mall’s eco-friendly facilities such as the EV charging stations, water recycling treatment plants, waste segregation bins, Plastic Waste Collection booths, E-waste Collection bins and various bicycle amenities.

The Earth Day celebration is just one of the numerous ways that SM is promoting sustainable living among Filipinos, and the company has other programs aimed at helping care for the environment. These are the Trash to Cash Recycling Market held every first Friday and Saturday of the month; daily water recycling systems, and environmental campaigns such as the Green Film Festival, Green Retail Agenda, and the International Coastal Cleanup Drive, just to name a few. 

SM Cares is the corporate social responsibility arm of SM Prime Holdings, responsible for initiatives that promote sustainability and the development of the community. SM Cares’ advocacies include programs on Women and Breastfeeding Mothers, Persons with Disabilities, Senior Citizens, and Children and Youth, as well as the Bike-Friendly SM initiative, in addition to its Programs on Environment.

To learn more about these, visit www.smsupermalls.com/smcares.

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Denzel Washington takes on the mafia in the gripping trailer for "The Equalizer 3"

Vengeance meets his equal. Denzel Washington is back as Robert McCall in the final chapter of The Equalizer.

Watch the action-thriller’s official trailer below and watch The Equalizer 3 in cinemas across the Philippines this August.

Since giving up his life as a government assassin, Robert McCall (Denzel Washington) has struggled to reconcile the horrific things he’s done in the past and finds a strange solace in serving justice on behalf of the oppressed. Finding himself surprisingly at home in Southern Italy, he discovers his new friends are under the control of local crime bosses. As events turn deadly, McCall knows what he has to do: become his friends’ protector by taking on the mafia.

Directed by Antoine Fuqua, and written by Richard Wenk, based on the television series created by Michael Sloan and Richard Lindheim. The film’s cast is led by Denzel Washington, Dakota Fanning, David Denman and Gaia Scodellaro.

The Equalizer 3 is distributed in the Philippines by Columbia Pictures, local office of Sony Pictures Releasing International.

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ZTE reports Q1 2023 net profit of RMB 2.64 billion, Securing a 19.2% year-on-year growth with “precise and pragmatic operation”

ZTE Shenzhen

- Adopting the business strategy of "precision and pragmatism for steady growth"
- Harvesting a revenue of RMB 29.14 billion for Q1, an increase of 4.3% year-on-year
- Net cash flows from operating activities in Q1 increased by 95.9% to RMB 2.33 billion

April 2023, Shenzhen, China - ZTE Corporation (0763.HK / 000063.SZ), a global leading provider of information and communication technology solutions, today announced a revenue of RMB 29.14 billion for the first quarter of 2023, an increase of 4.3% year-on-year.

Likewise, ZTE’s Q1 2023 results show that the net profit attributable to holders of ordinary shares of the listed company reached RMB 2.64 billion, an increase of 19.2% year-on-year. The net profit after extraordinary items attributable to holders of ordinary shares of the listed company for the same period was RMB 2.45 billion, representing a year-on-year rise of 25.7%. Its net cash flows from operating activities increased by 95.9% to RMB 2.33 billion, compared to the same period last year.

As the global environment remains complex and volatile in 2023 which poses challenges to corporate business operations, ZTE will continue to adopt the business strategy of "precision and pragmatism for steady growth". ZTE aims to enhance its foresight, resilience and adaptability to uncertainties by positioning its business precisely, allocating resources efficiently, and optimizing processes continuously.

With its long-term expertise in ICT full-stack core capabilities, ZTE delivers a comprehensive and efficient digital foundation across network, cloud network, and computing power to customers worldwide. It also capitalizes on the opportunities arising from China's digital transformation and artificial intelligence applications. The overall performance in the first quarter of 2023 is secured steady growth, as it continues its operational efficiency and resilience.

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