TV8 Media Productions is excited to announce the launch of the 9th season of its beloved program, iHeartPH, premiering on September 23, 2024 (Sunday), on GMA's analog and digital platforms. This season promises to continue spreading "good vibes" while uplifting the image and lives of Filipinos through its positive and impactful content.

Valerie Tan in the New Segment on TV8 iHeartPH Show 9th season Build it Right (Screengrab from GTV Facebook Page material)

Running for 13 episodes, iHeartPH will air every Sunday from 10:00 AM to 10:30 AM. This season Introduces an innovative segment titled the "Build it Right Guide," aimed at educating lower-income homeowners on how to build better and more affordable homes.

The launch of the Build it Right Guide is a collaborative effort between TV8 and Habitat for Humanity's Terwilliger Center for Innovation in Shelter in the Philippines. This partnership focuses on developing a consumer education program that provides lower-income households with essential information and motivation to construct safer homes, particularly regarding walls and foundations.

New Segment on TV8 iHeartPH Show 9th season Build it Right Cebu Launch

The need for this segment is clear. In the Philippines, where earthquakes and typhoons are common, walls and foundations are critical to ensuring a home's safety and durability. Unfortunately, many Filipinos are forced to build substandard structures, with over 1.6 million houses lacking proper foundations. In areas like Cebu, studies show that 36% of families live in homes without foundations, and an additional 28% require foundation retrofits. Furthermore, around 20% of homes in Mandaue City exhibit poor-quality walls, often compromised by cracks and moisture.

Launch of New Segment on TV8 iHeartPH Show 9th season Build it Right in Cebu

To further amplify its reach, the segment will feature social media influencers, including experts in housing and construction, as co-hosts and guest experts, making the content relatable and accessible to viewers.

Join us as we embark on this exciting new season of iHeartPH, where we aim to empower Filipinos to build better lives and homes through knowledge and community support.

For more information, please contact Habitat For Humanity's Terwilliger Center for Innovation in Shelter through Reggie Marie Barrientos; rbarrientos@habitat.org; +639178196649

realme partners with the Make-A-Wish Philippines Foundation for a second time to grant the wishes of kids

Following this year's FanFest in August, realme Philippines wraps up the festivities by reaffirming its commitment to the community. The smartphone brand once again partnered with Make-A-Wish Foundation Philippines as part of its CSR roadshow for 2024. Held on September 18, 2024, the event took place at Space and Time Cube +, an interactive museum located in S Maison. 

realme gives back to the community to wrap up FanFest 2024

“The community is one of the driving forces of the realme team and we want to express our utmost gratitude through this CSR activity. In collaboration with Make-A-Wish Philippines and together with our media partners, we're hoping to put a smile on the children's faces," realme Philippines' Communications Lead Patty Gonzales shared.

Fun Filled Tour For The Kids 

This year, 15 Make-A-Wish Philippines' beneficiaries sent their wishes to realme for tablets to use for school and entertainment purposes. On top of granting the children's wishes, realme Philippines also organized an interactive art tour for them at Space and Time Cube +. 

The children were accompanied by their families to guide them through immersive exhibits designed to engage their creativity and curiosity. Members of the media also took part in the CSR activity, joining the children and their guardians in exploring the various installations. To make sure that they can reminisce about the meaningful experience, the media used the realme 13 Pro Series 5G to capture every moment even in low light conditions.

After the tour, realme fulfilled the wishes of the 15 children by gifting each of them a brand new realme Pad Mini, enabling them to continue their educational and entertainment pursuits. 

"We are also happy to be part of their everyday journey as they use their very own realme Pad Mini for studying and even for watching their favorite shows," Gonzales added.

In a gesture of appreciation, realme also extended their generosity to the team behind Make-A-Wish Philippines realme 12 5G smartphones, valuing the brand's dedication to supporting those who work tirelessly to make the dreams of the kids come true.

Through this meaningful collaboration, realme Philippines demonstrates its commitment to making a positive impact in the lives of the community. Stay tuned for more updates on how the brand continues to live out the campaign to #MakeItReal

The much-awaited bridal show of one of Cebu’s most prestigious hotel address opens at the Grand Ballroom of the NUSTAR Convention Center this weekend.  Presented by Fili Hotel, BELOVED is a grand showcase featuring the hotel’s sought-after ballrooms with a stellar line-up of wedding designers and event planners, from 21 to 22 September.

Nustar Resort Launches Inaugural Bridal and Celebrations Fair "Beloved"

Visitors will find very useful the remarkable presentations of over 90 leading suppliers, all assembled under one roof:  Stylists, event coordinators, jewelers, florists, hair and make-up studios, bridal shops, cake designers and photographers gather to present and inspire visitors with new services and concepts to help plan their dream events.

The show opens with prominent event management personalities sharing their expertise in two lectures, From Ting Hun to Forever by Mary Grace Khu and Wedding Expectations: From Dream to Reality by Rita Neri.

A key highlight is an exclusive fashion show by Francis Libiran, one of the country’s premier designers.  Francis presents his glamorous bridal collection in Covenant for the Beloved at 6 PM on Saturday, 21 September.

At BELOVED, the Fili Hotel will launch new banquet packages offering new concepts and great value.  Along with introductory offers during the fair, Cassiopeia’s Feast packages will start from PHP 3,000 per person and include a host of exclusive benefits for the host and guests to enjoy.

For a nominal fee, soon-to-wed couples may sample tasting portions of the special banquet menus created by Executive Chef Martin Rebolledo and Executive Pastry Chef Mac Macatangay at 2 PM on 22 September.  The tandem will also present insights on effective menu planning and selection.

The grand finale on 22 September is a premier showcase of formal wear designed for Weddings and Life’s Milestones.  A collaboration of ten designers, the show features designer couture for important celebrations created by no less than Cebu’s fashion royalty: Philip Rodriguez, Protacio Empaces, Jun Escario, Wendell Quisido, Marichu Tan, Valerie Alvez, Hanz Coquilla, Mike Yapching, Oscar James and Agustin Pedrano.

“Couples, debutantes or anyone planning a celebration will find in BELOVED a truly meaningful event”, says General Manager Roel Constantino.  “Beyond showcasing the magnificent ballrooms of the NUSTAR Convention Center, this show provides visitors a valuable networking platform with over 90 quality suppliers, a meeting point of ideas and information that make organizing celebrations a more fulfilling experience.”

Doors open at 10 AM on 21 and 22 September. For enquiries, visitors may call  (032) 888 8282 or send an email to contactus@nustar.com.ph.

Cebu Pacific (PSE: CEB), the Philippines’ leading carrier, further strengthens its Visayas and Mindanao network by operating a total of 18 additional routes, expanding its inter-island connectivity and providing passengers with more accessible and affordable air travel across the airline’s domestic and international destinations.

Cebu Pacific flight Iloilo International Airport to Mactan International Airport flight September 2024

By December, CEB will operate a total of 73 routes serving Visayas and Mindanao as it opens new routes from its Iloilo, Davao, Cebu, and Clark hubs. This expansion will bring the airline’s capacity on Visayas and Mindanao flights to 2.1 million seats from 1.4 million in January 2024 and increase the number of flights operating across the same network to an average of 12,000.

CEB is set to operate the following domestic and international routes serving Visayas and Mindanao starting October 2024:

To support this growth, CEB is set to accept a total of 18 aircraft this year, of which 11  have already arrived. On top of this, the airline has also placed an order for up to 152 aircraft from Airbus --- the largest aircraft order in Philippine aviation history --- deliveries of which will start no later than 2029.

Candice Iyog, CEB Chief Marketing and Customer Experience Officer.

“Visayas and Mindanao serve as the gateway to the world’s most beautiful beaches, colorful festivals, and vibrant cultures. We are excited to offer the traveling public more opportunities to explore our islands and connect with more communities. This also allows us to boost our hubs outside Manila that will help generate economic opportunities to support the country’s growth agenda,” said Candice Iyog, CEB Chief Marketing and Customer Experience Officer.

Data from the International Air Transport Association (IATA)* show that every job in the air transport industry supports 29 other jobs in tourism, supply chain and other related sectors. This means that with Cebu Pacific deploying up to 128 pilots and cabin crew to man its aircraft deliveries this year, more than 3,700 jobs can be produced.

To encourage people to travel, CEB is running a special seat sale until September 17, 2024 allowing travelers from Visayas and Mindanao to book their flights on select domestic destinations for as low as PHP 88 one-way base fare, exclusive of surcharges and other fees.

The travel period is from September 11, 2024 to February 28, 2025, perfect for those with immediate travel needs or who are planning to spend the holidays with their family and friends in the provinces.

CEB operates to 35 domestic and 26 international destinations spread across Asia, Australia, and the Middle East.

Celebrating one year of living your freedom, lyf, the extraordinary experience-led co-living hospitality brand of Ascott Limited, capped off the month of August with back-to-back, year-defining events that saw both its properties in lyf Malate Manila and lyf Cebu City soar to new heights. The unprecedented event was supported by The Ascott Limited headquarters and other VIPs such as Ms. Sophie Mogul, The Ascott Limited’s  Vice President of Strategy, and Regional General Manager of Philippines & Malaysia, Ms. Adeline Phua, the Vice President and Managing Partner of lyf, as well as Ms. Chia Chu, the Associated Vice President of Operations for lyf. They were also joined by The Ascott Limited Philippines property partners, Cebu Landmasters in lyf Cebu and Mr. Tomas Lorenzo of Torre Lorenzo in lyf Malate, alongside esteemed representatives of the Department of Tourism. Together with the amazing community behind lyf, the two-day festivities on August 29 and 30 culminated with spectacular performances, delectable delights, heartwarming messages, and record-breaking achievements awarded to both properties after their herculean efforts.

lyf Cebu Thresher Shark Display

An upcycled Masterpiece preluded by the Ephemeral Thresher Shark Display

The celebration began at the Queen City of the South on August 29, where the Thresher Sharks, a majestic symbol of the property and the island, were given the spotlight beyond the already beautiful giant mural on the façade. On that day, 12,479 carefully folded origami sharks swam through the corners of lyf Cebu; Mr. Kazuyoshi Kirimura, the official Guinness World Record adjudicator, appreciated the incredible effort and recognized the titular property with the GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS title for the “Largest Display of Origami Sharks.”

lyf Cebu

lyf’s brilliant conservation partner, Save Philippine Seas, was also present to impart their invaluable knowledge to the wonderful community of lyf during the event, sharing how we can all play an active role in protecting the Pelagic Thresher Shark (Alopias Pelagiucs) endemic to Cebu’s local waters, in doing so preserving its vibrant ecosystem.

“Today marks a pivotal achievement for us, and we are very grateful for our fantastic community for coming together and finding a new place to belong here in lyf Cebu City,” said Rey Vergel Mulat, the lyf Champion and residence manager of lyf Cebu City “Beyond the celebration, we also take pride in our continued commitment to sustainability practices as stewards of responsible hospitality.” 

Despite the monumental achievement of solidifying lyf as the number one specialty lodging in the city, the property still has big plans just around the corner. Guests are encouraged to take their time appreciating the masterfully made paperwork as the temporary display will be upcycled into an even grander art piece that will be revealed in an event that you will want to attend.

A Thrilling lyf Full of Stars 

On the evening of Friday, August 30, lyf Malate Manila also picked up on the celebration and, in true lyf fashion, invited and called upon their community to a star-themed event that commemorated Filipinos worldwide. During the event, those in attendance also witnessed lyf history. Through the arduous effort of everyone, from the regulars of lyf to the several Ascott Limited properties nationwide that lent their support to the property, an astounding 100,000 origami stars transformed into a masterful and artistic paperwork display that made lyf Malate into a new GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS title holder for the “Largest Display of Origami Stars.” 

lyf Malate Guinness World Records

The momentous occasion also celebrated the country’s history by including the traditional wooden Balangay and galleons in the artistic vision. Used by the ancestral Filipinos, guided by the stars during ancient seafaring voyages across the Pacific islands and the Philippine galleon trade from 1565 to 1815, that celebrates the Philippines as the vital link connecting Europe through Spain, Asia through the Philippines, and the Americas through Mexico.

Throughout the night, there was an uncanny energy in the air, starting from “lyf Centrale,” the community market of the property that was chock-full of collaboration that showcased a superb lineup of products to the awarding of the highly acclaimed accolade. The evening of celebrations was further elevated by the spectacular after-party, which saw multiple showstopping performances from Philippine Billboard top 100 artists Maki and Over October, together with the sensational beats of renowned DJ Rammy Bitong, the storied Malvar Street of lyf Malate was the place to be that Friday. 

“Words cannot do justice to what was achieved by lyf and its community in these two days,” said Joyce Agsaway, lyf Champion and Director of Operational Excellence for lyf Malate Manila. “It was a once-in-a-lifetime moment, a dream that became a miraculous reality through the phenomenal effort of the most outstanding community, colleagues, and partners anyone could hope for.”

Much like its sister property, lyf Malate has no plans on resting on its laurels. It has also partnered up with Junknot’s Willie Garcia, a creative out-of-the-box artist, to upcycle the origami sharks and stars into a stellar new display for all to enjoy, so be sure to watch for the next big thing they’ll have planned for you together with their vibrant and ever-growing community.