Jon Santos Back on Stage in a Filipino Staging of Every Brilliant Thing

Multimedia artist, comedy icon, and master impersonator Jon Santos joins The Sandbox Collective’s SANDBOX FEST 2023 to bring a Filipino-translated performance of Duncan Macmillan and Johnny Donahoe’s Every Brilliant Thing to the local stage.

Santos has made his mark on the Philippine theater scene, recently playing roles in Ang Huling El Bimbo and Priscilla, Queen of the Desert. Santos is best known for writing and producing comedy shows, and for impersonating pop culture and political personalities such as Vilma Santos and the late Senator Miriam Defensor-Santiago.

More recently, Santos made waves in the Philippine drag scene after being one of the alternating judges on the hit reality show Drag Race Philippines, a local franchise of RuPaul’s Drag Race.

Every Brilliant Thing is a one-act, interactive play that follows the story of a young child growing up with a parent suffering from mental illness. The show has been staged in multiple countries and has also been translated into different languages such as Mandarin, Arabic, Spanish, and Hebrew. Tasked with Every Brilliant Thing’s Filipino translation is award-winning playwright, translator, actor, and director Guelan Luarca.

Luarca was the recipient of the 2022 Gawad Rolando Tinio Translator’s Prize by the National Commission for Culture and the Arts.

With its Filipino version ready to take the stage, Every Brilliant Thing expands its reach and potential by giving Filipino audiences the opportunity to discuss mental health in a safe space and through their native language. What The Sandbox Collective hopes to achieve through this original translation is to continue to normalize the conversation on mental health and to encourage healthy discourse in the Philippines where depression and grief continue to be taboo topics among more traditional households.

Santos is thrilled to be taking the reins and starring in the Filipino staging of Every Brilliant Thing as the project also marks his return to Philippine theater. He shares, “In my experience, the takeaways in shows are much more intense when the setup is an actor-to-live audience. You look at the eye of an actor and the message is shot right through your heart. It’s exciting and overwhelming, but also heartwarming to realize that an actor can help change perspectives or spark conversations about mental health.”

Joining Santos and reprising their roles in the solo-actor show are model, actress, and TV host Teresa Herrera and theater actress, multimedia host, and entrepreneur Kakki Teodoro. Both Herrera and Teodoro received Gawad Buhay Award nominations for their previous Every Brilliant Thing runs, with Teodoro bagging the prize for Female Lead in 2020.

Teresa Herrera, Jon Santos and Kakki Teodoro for Every Brilliant Thing

Jenny Jamora returns to the director’s chair for both the English and Filipino versions of Every Brilliant Thing. Jamora directed the 2019 run of Every Brilliant Thing and received the Gawad Buhay Award for Outstanding Stage Direction for a Play in 2020.

Every Brilliant Thing will run alongside Duncan Macmillan’s Lungs in a twinbill (two shows, one ticket) experience in this season’s SANDBOX FEST 2023.

SANDBOX FEST 2023 will run at the Zobel de Ayala Recital Hall, 2/F Maybank Performing Arts Theater, 9th Avenue cor. 26th Street, BGC, Taguig City from June 17-July 15, 2023. Tickets are now available through Ticketworld or through The Sandbox Collective at +63917 152 5560. 

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SM wins ICSC MAXI Awards 2023

Multi-mall Vaxx Program gets recognized in the global shopping center arena

SM Supermalls received a Silver Award at the prestigious International Council of Shopping Centers (ICSC) MAXI Awards 2023 for its multi-mall COVID-19 vaccination efforts under the Marketing Excellence Community category. The award was conferred at the recently concluded awarding ceremony held at the Wynn Las Vegas, Nevada last May 21, 2023.

“Winning another award from the ICSC reaffirms our commitment to creating fun, safe, and convenient malling experiences for our shoppers. This award recognizes the hard work of our government partners, local government units, even the healthcare workers, and of course, the Filipinos who got themselves vaccinated in our malls,” said Steven T. Tan, president of SM Supermalls.

Aside from the Silver award, SM China was also one of the finalists for the Community Category for SM Xiamen 1864 Panda Tour Exhibition, and the Experiential Category for SM Chengdu Bamboo Wish.

This is not the first time the company received recognition from the prestigious international group. SM is a three-time Albert Sussman International Community Support awardee and has also earned two Gold and one Silver awards since 2011. Meanwhile, SM China has also received two Gold and six Silver awards since 2016.

ICSC is an association of the global shopping- center industry, with over 70,000 members from more 100 countries worldwide. Its members comprise shopping center owners, retailers, developers, investors, managers, brokers, public officials, and academics. Through the ICSC Global Awards, the organization promotes professional excellence in the shopping center industry, including the MAXI Awards which recognizes innovative events, programs, and technology that add value to the marketplaces industry.

SM Supermalls’ award was accepted by Ms. Liza Silerio, Vice President of the SM Corporate 
Compliance Group.

To know more about SM Supermalls, visit www.smsupermalls.com or follow @SMSupermalls on social media.

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AI Powered HVAC Systems: An Innovative Way to Save Energy

The global energy crisis has intensified due to increased demand and depleted resources, compelling us to reduce energy usage and switch to renewable sources. Accelerating the global decarbonization trend, many organizations and private citizens are finding ways to shrink their carbon footprint and transition to cleaner energy. For commercial buildings, an effective way to do both is by installing an energy-efficient HVAC (heating, ventilation and air conditioning) system. The latest HVAC systems not only cut energy consumption and costs, but also create a comfortable indoor environment that supports the well-being of tenants and visitors, leading to positive business outcomes and sustainable building operation.

In office buildings and other commercial properties, HVAC systems are vital for maintaining comfortable indoor spaces, preventing them – and their occupants – from becoming too hot, or too cold. However, HVAC typically accounts for a significant portion of a site’ energy consumption – around 40 percent, in fact, with more than half of that figure coming from heating and cooling operation.

This is of particular concern for specialized facilities like hospitals, hotels and data centers, where HVAC systems run continuously throughout the day. The need for round-the-clock heating or cooling, and the high cost that comes with it, presents facility managers with a sizable challenge: How to optimize HVAC operation in the most energy-efficient way possible. And given the global energy crisis, the need to successfully address this challenge is now greater than ever.

As the call for buildings to be more energy-efficient and eco-conscious continues to grow worldwide, the role of advanced, AI-equipped HVAC has become even more important. Artificial Intelligence, or AI, has become an integral part of our daily lives, embedded in devices as diverse as home appliances and smartphones. AI is also being used to enhance the performance of HVAC systems, enabling them to simultaneously optimize operation, reduce energy consumption and improve indoor air quality.

To meet this rising demand, LG recently launched its new Multi V™ i Variable Refrigerant Flow (VRF) solution in Europe, with availability soon to follow in other regions around the globe. Equipped with a highly advanced AI engine, the Multi V i offers impressive energy savings, not to mention a range of differentiated smart features that can boost indoor comfort and make management easier.

Efficiently Maintaining a Comfortable Environment
A building’s HVAC load is influenced by various and continuously changing factors. To maintain optimal operation and energy efficiency, a solution must have the ability to detect and adapt to changes as and when they arise. This is where AI technology comes in.

The AI engine LG has applied to its Multi V i enables the sophisticated AI Smart Care feature, which elevates the VRF solution’s operational efficiency and cuts down on its energy consumption. The AI engine collects and stores indoor temperature, indoor humidity and set temperature data from each indoor unit, and uses AI algorithms to specify a predefined ‘Clustering’ level for each indoor unit. Once the Clustering level has been specified, the most appropriate operation mode or amount and type of airflow, along with various other settings, are automatically controlled. For the first 10 minutes of operation, the AI engine optimizes the cooling or heating performance of the Multi V i to increase indoor comfort. Then, while still maintaining a pleasant atmosphere, it switches to power-saving-oriented operation to prevent unnecessary energy usage.

Thanks to the implementation of AI and cutting-edge sensor technology, LG’s Multi V i can increase energy savings by up to 24.7 percent and reduce the amount of time needed to reach the set temperature by 28.5 percent.

Tracking Energy Savings in Real Time

Collecting operational data when the AI engine is active, the AI Smart Metering feature provides an easy way to keep track of how much energy the Multi V i is using, and how much it is saving.3 The AI Engine collects and saves outdoor and indoor energy usage data – captured during normal operation and AI Smart Care operation – via ‘Smart Plug logic,’ which is embedded in the outdoor units. Leveraging the collected data, AI algorithms create an Energy Consumption Estimation Model. Based on eight hours’ worth of operational data, AI Smart Metering is able to estimate total energy savings for different lengths of time (daily, weekly, monthly and annually), displaying this information on the controller screen so that users can get a clear picture of the Multi V i’s energy footprint.

Proactively Lowering Energy Costs
While the AI Smart Care and Smart Metering features save energy, the AI Energy Management feature intelligently predicts and controls energy usage, making the Multi V i one of the smartest HVAC solutions currently on offer. The AI Energy Management feature collects operational power-use data, creates a database, and calculates the predicted operating rate to generate an Energy Pattern Model. And by utilizing the AI algorithm, it can control the operation of the Multi V i’s outdoor unit according to monthly energy usage targets. This can prevent excessive power use and help decrease monthly energy expenditure.

For small- and medium-sized sites where a building energy management system is not installed, energy consumption can be easily managed predicted, monitored and managed through the AI Energy management functions of the Multi V i. Conveniently, all of the outstanding smart features offered by LG’s VRF solution can be managed via the Standard III Wired remote controller or ACP 5/AC Smart 5 controller.

With its state-of-the-art AI engine, the LG Multi V i delivers enhanced energy savings and a more comfortable indoor environment. What’s more, the AI engine applied to LG’s latest VRF solution is continuously improving, with new algorithms and data sources allowing it to introduce new and better performance optimizations over time. Through data collection and analysis, LG’s AI engine can finetune its prediction and control strategies, paving the way to greater operational and energy efficiency. As AI keeps evolving, HVAC systems will become more efficient at identifying changes in conditions and adjusting their operation in real-time – lifting performance and lowering energy consumption even further.

Prioritizing sustainability, LG’s AI-powered Multi V i increases energy efficiency, decreases energy usage and minimizes carbon emissions during operation. The low-impact high-performance VRF solution is just the kind of eco-minded innovation that customers worldwide have come to expect from LG, a company that understands the paramount importance of investing in the future, today.

LG air conditioning provides optimized solutions for every sector and climate with a wide range of cutting-edge systems that bring exceptional heating, ventilation and air conditioning performance to buildings worldwide. Through unmatched expertise and industry knowledge, LG responds directly to the needs of businesses seeking digitalized and eco-conscious HVAC solutions. LG is the partner your business has been looking for, and is well prepared to integrate our leading technology into day-to-day operations, supporting you and your business every step of the way. For more information, visit https://www.lg.com/ph/business/about-lg-air-solution

Follow @LGAirSolutionsPH and @LGPhilippines on Facebook and @lgphilippines on Instagram, Youtube and Tiktok for more HVAC offers and stories.

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Catch sneak previews of The Flash nationwide on June 13 - earlier than wide release!

It’s barely a week before “The Flash” opens in cinemas! Want to watch it ahead of everyone else? Catch a sneak preview in select cinemas nationwide on the evening of June 13, one day before the film opens wide across the Philippines. Hurry and book your tickets!

If you need more convincing, here are five top reasons why The Flash movie is a must-see. Watch the trailer here:

Electrifying action

There’s plenty of action happening at breakneck speed in “The Flash.” With two speedsters running around to save the world, we can’t expect anything less. Add to that more than one Batman, one very awesome Supergirl, and an alien baddie with lots of evil lackeys intent on annihilating our world – from start to finish, there’s never a dull moment.

Trippy time travel

When Barry uses his superpowers to travel back in time to save his mom, he inadvertently alters the future and turns it into one where the villainous General Zod has returned threatening Earth’s annihilation, and there are practically no superheroes to turn to. Barry must then rely on his younger self (“This is mad trippy…” says college-age Barry after seeing future Barry) and a retired Batman to help him make things right.

Classic Batman

“It’s like bringing back a classic,” says “The Flash” director Andy Muschietti of bringing back Michael Keaton as Batman. Keaton played the first Batman in Warner Bros. Batman film franchise, in the two films directed by Tim Burton, in 1989 and 1992. Fans are very excited to see Keaton as the superhero again, but they’re not the only ones hit with nostalgia. “The first time Michael Keaton came to see the Batcave, he was so shocked that he actually filmed it to send to Tim Burton,” shares producer Barbara Muschietti.

The humor

Funny lines, comical meet-cutes, easy chemistry between the cast – this movie will make you laugh… and laugh some more.

Heart… lots of it

But despite all the funny moments, “The Flash” has a very deep emotional core. Take it from best- selling author Stephen King, who Tweeted this reaction after an early screening of the film: “As a rule I don’t care a lot for superhero movies, but this one is special. It’s heartfelt, funny, and eye-popping. I loved it.”

The ticketing site for “The Flash” is already live at https://www.theflashmovie.com.ph/. Don’t forget to calendar your “The Flash” movie date!

Warner Bros. Pictures presents a Double Dream/a Disco Factory production of an Andy Muschietti film, “The Flash.” It will be distributed worldwide by Warner Bros. Pictures and is set to open in theaters across the Philippines beginning June 14, 2023. Sneak previews are available on June 13.

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The Space Museum - SM City North Edsa's new multimedia art destination

Looking for something new and exciting to do north of the metro? SM City North Edsa just launched The Space Museum, a multi-media art destination perfect for content creators and fun seekers.

Marvel at the beauty of space in "Celestial Cracks"

With nine themed transitions from “The Portal” to “Off-Course”, this 4D space odyssey invites you to explore the universe's mysteries – inside the mall.

Best of all, passes for four (4) are FREE with a minimum single or accumulated purchase worth P1,500 from partner tenants. Additionally, every SM Cinema ticket purchase is given one pass. 

Share your awe-inspiring moments at the Space Museum by posting content on TikTok with the hashtag #SpaceMuseumAtSMNorth. Get a chance to be featured on SM Supermalls' and SM City North Edsa's social media accounts, too.

Don’t miss this cosmic adventure called The Space Museum at The Block, SM City North Edsa from June 1 to August 31.

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SM Supermalls honors Super Pinoys this June

One of the most important events in Philippine history is the declaration of our independence as a nation. As we inch closer to Independence Day, Filipinos have already started to commemorate the heroism of every Super Pinoy who fought mightily for our freedom.

In celebration of the Philippines’ 125th Independence Day, SM Supermalls will be holding major events and activities to keep the Super Pinoy spirit alive and burning starting on May 28.

Flag Raising Ceremonies

SM malls across the country will be simultaneously holding flag-raising ceremonies during National Flag Day on May 28 and Independence Day on June 12, respectively. Participants are encouraged to wear the colors of the Philippine flag which signify truth, patriotism, and valor. After the ceremony, a short program will follow featuring Filipino modern pop music. Check your favorite mall's Facebook page for schedules and venues.

Score the best deals and treats

From June 1 to 12, a sumptuous Pinoy food trip will welcome shoppers in SM malls. Enjoy numerous food promos and dining deals in indoor and al fresco dining spots decked in Filipiniana.

After a hearty meal, shop ‘til you drop as the Super Pinoy Deals will give you the best offerings at SM. Whether you shop in-mall or online via the SM Malls Online and SM Deals apps, you can score amazing promos on the latest tech, gadgets, and fashion.

But wait, there’s more. From June 9 to 12, SM unleashes the best deals for all Super Pinoys, with the Super Pinoy Independence weekend sale!

Celebrate Pinoy Pride on IG

As you cap off the Independence Day festivities, don’t forget to check out the Super Pinoy Photo Spots. Tons of creative and fun photo spots will be showcased, plus Philippine Pop (P-Pop) music will be blasted through the mall speakers. Take photos, snap reels, and other creative content in these spots and tag us @SMSupermalls so we can feature you on social media.

This June, SM Supermalls will keep freedom, future, and history alive with all these Independence Day activities. Make sure you visit an SM mall near you to celebrate being a Super Pinoy in all ways possible.

For more information, check out www.smsupermalls.com or follow @smsupermalls on all social media platforms.

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Sandbox Fest 2023: BACK after a breather with a twin bill performance

Three years after Sandbox Fest 2020—a month-long festival featuring the works of English playwright Duncan Macmillan—came to an abrupt halt in March 2020, The Sandbox Collective returns to breathe new life and begin again with SANDBOX FEST 2023, a twin bill experience featuring Duncan Macmillan plays Every Brilliant Thing and Lungs.

SANDBOX FEST 2023 will be sold exclusively as a twin bill experience: one ticket, two shows, one breathtakingly brilliant experience. Audiences will have the opportunity to purchase a single, same-day ticket good for both shows. The shows will run one after the other, with a 20-minute interval in between. While twin bills are not an entirely new concept in theater, spending three hours at the theater might be unfamiliar to some Manila theatergoers. The Sandbox Collective’s managing artistic director, Toff de Venecia, hopes that SANDBOX FEST 2023 will give audiences a fresh perspective on how one experiences theater: “I’m very excited for the twin-bill experience of Duncan Macmillan’s works, and see how these award-winning one-act plays will resonate with each other, adding to how the world has changed dramatically since we first staged them in 2018 and 2019, thereby impacting the audience’s overall experience and takeaway.”

LUNGS

The last time Lungs was set to be staged In March 2020, the actors and The Sandbox Collective’s creative team sought to answer the questions, "What world are we leaving the future generations?" and "Even if I wanted children, with everything going on around us, what kind of world would I be leaving them?" Already incredibly topical questions in March 2020, they carry even more emotional weight now. Three years down the road, the world has changed in exactly the way the play’s characters feared. On the heels of those questions comes a new one, brought on by the current state of our society: what does it mean to stage a play with characters so fearful of a far-off future in our present time, now that so many of those fears have come true in the real world?

During its original 2018 run, Lungs received seven Gawad Buhay nominations, including Female Lead Performance in a Play for returning cast member Sab Jose. For SANDBOX FEST 2023, Sab will be joined by Gawad Buhay-nominated theater actor Reb Atadero, who was last seen in Breakups & Breakdowns and Ang Huling El Bimbo. The 2023 run will also welcome theater actors Brian Sy & Justine Peña as they step into the shoes of Lung’s anxiety-ridden characters. Justine’s performance in Uncle Jane earlier this year was lauded by critics and theatergoers alike, while Brian’s turn in Coriolano was met with widespread acclaim, garnering him a Gawad Buhay Award for Best Male Featured Performance in 2020. Serving as the show’s assistant director in 2018 and 2020, Gawad Buhay Awardee Caisa Borromeo now takes the reins as the director for Lungs.

EVERY BRILLIANT THING
In 2019, The Sandbox Collective took an enormous leap of faith with the premiere of Every Brilliant Thing, praying that Filipino audiences were ready to hear and see its burgeoning message of hope amidst mental illness. Four years later, as the Philippine theater industry continues to recover and find its footing in a post-pandemic world, Every Brilliant Thing’s message to find joy in the mundane, and to appreciate the everyday is more relevant than ever.

Once again taking on the challenge of this one-woman show is actress, model and TV host Teresa Herrera, who will alternate performances with theater actress, multimedia host, entrepreneur and Gawad Buhay Awardee Kakki Teodoro (Outstanding Female Lead/EBT). Both Herrera and Teodoro picked up Gawad Buhay nominations for Outstanding Female Lead for the 2019 run of Every Brilliant Thing. A new, surprise cast member will also be teased and announced in the coming days. Jenny Jamora will once again be stepping in as director, having directed all its previous runs, and winning Outstanding Stage Direction for a Play at the 12th Gawad Buhay Awards.

Philippine theater, like the rest of the world, has changed immensely since the curtains last rose in 2020. But audiences can find comfort in the fact that the core of both shows remains unchanged: at its heart, SANDBOX FEST 2023 celebrates the innate goodness of people, the human capacity to overcome both internal and external struggles, and the desire to heal both ourselves and the world around us.

Rounding out the artistic team are Arvy Dimaculangan as sound designer, Miggy Panaganiban as lighting designer and Krystal Kane as costume stylist. Heading the production team are The Sandbox Collective’s managing artistic director Toff De Venecia, Anna Santamaria as operations & finance director, Sab Jose as marketing & PR director and Maine Manalansan as design director. Joining the team are Salve Villarosa as marketing and PR manager, Loreta Arroyo as marketing and PR associate, Shai Libunao as promo and creatives associate, Marielle Filoteo as social media associate, Marcel David as production manager (Sandbox Fest 2023) and stage manager (Every Brilliant Thing), and Pachot Festejo as stage manager (Lungs).

SANDBOX FEST 2023 will run at the Zobel de Ayala Recital Hall, 2/F Maybank Performing Arts Theater, 9th Avenue cor. 26th Street, BGC, Taguig City from June 17- July 15, 2023.

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