Thursday, March 3, 2016

SPOTLIGHT back in cinemas

For a limited time you may now watch SPOTLIGHT, the Oscar pick for Best Picture, back at select cinemas: Eastwood, Gateway, Powerplant, Robinsons Galleria, and the newly opened Cinema '76.


The movie won two Oscars for Best Original Screenplay and Best Picture in the recently concluded 88th Academy Awards. It also had four other nominations with Mark Ruffalo and Rachel McAdams in the Actor/Actress in a Supporting Role category,  Film Editing for Tom McArdle, and Directing for Tom McCarthy.

In his acceptance speech, producer Michael Sugar said he hoped the film had given a voice to the survivors of the abuse that would “become a choir that would resonate all the way to the Vatican.” He continued with a direct call to Pope Francis that “it’s time to protect the children and restore the faith.”


The Vatican newspaper, L’Osservatore Romano, has praised Spotlight for its “convincing attempt to show abuse and cover-ups in the Catholic church”. The newspaper published a front-page editorial on Monday hailing Tom McCarthy’s film and calling it “not anti-Catholic”. The editorial said Spotlight, which centers on the work of a group of Boston Globe reporters to uncover abuse by Roman Catholic priests, faithfully presented the church’s attempts to defend itself in the face of “horrendous realities”.

According to Justin Cheng, Chief Film Critic of Variety, Spotlight’s Oscar win is a meaningful victory on a number of levels. It has brought attention the testimony of those who have endured grave abuse at the hands of the Catholic Church — and perhaps, too, it will help hold abusers and conspirators to ever higher standards of reform and accountability.
Spotlight’s Best Picture win also offers a rare and significant validation for the many journalists who have seen their proud profession become a downsized shadow of its former self, bereft of the resources that make such patient, vital investigative work possible. But social conscience alone is never a good enough reason to declare a movie the best of its class. No one disputes that “Spotlight” is an important movie, but its far more praiseworthy attribute is that it so skillfully avoids the trap of self-importance.
After SPOTLIGHT, Solar Pictures is set to release another Oscar favorite TRUMBO,starring Bryan Cranston who earned an Academy Award nomination for his role as Dalton Trumbo. He is joined by Helen Mirren and Diane Lane, both no strangers to the Academy.


Trade in old machines, get exclusive discounts with Brother Trade-In Madness Promo




MANILA, March 3, 2016 – From March 4 to April 3, 2016, customers from all over the Philippines can upgrade their current printing, communication and digital imaging systems at more affordable prices with Brother’s Trade-In Madness Promo. Simply bringing in working or non-working printers, fax, copiers and scanners of any brand at select venues entitles a customer to up to 50 percent off on brand-new Brother printers and Multi-Function Centres.

Innovative printing technology made more affordable
By trading in up to three of their old machines, customers can enjoy 50 percent off on the HL-3170CDW Color LED Printer (P7,995.00 from 15,990.00 SRP),  MFC-L2740DW Monochrome Laser Multi-Function Centre (P9,475.00 from P18,950.00 SRP) and MFC-9330CDW Color LED Multifunction Centre (P14,975.00 from P29,950 SRP).

These high-performing LED and laser printing powerhouses redefine office efficiency with Brother’s patented digital imaging technology. Printing is quick, precise and cost-efficient, and users can enjoy a host of convenient features that allow for optimal productivity at the workplace or at home.

Amazing ink efficiency, brilliant prints
For the entire promo duration, customers can take 30 percent off on the MFC-J3520 InkBenefit (P13,965.00 from P19,950.00 SRP) andMFC-J3720 Ink Benefit (P17,465.00 from P24,950.00 SRP) A3 Color Inkjet Multifunction Centres. These multifunction machines allow users to enjoy high-quality direct photo printing with impressive ink efficiency, crisp black-and-white and color printing, scanning, copying, fax and PC fax. With Brother’s patented InkBenefit technology, users can print up to 2,400 pages on every cartridge batch.

Best value
Customers in need of a reliable laser printer will love the Brother HL-L2365 Monochrome Laser Printer, now P5,592.00 from P6,990.00 SRP with the Trade-In Madness Promo. This model boasts of 30ppm print speeds, automatic two-sided printing and a host of Brother apps for increased user convenience. 


The Brother Trade-in Madness Promo is valid only at the following venues:

March 4 and 5
Electronics and Gadgets Trade Show
Octagon Booth, Megatrade Hall, SM Megamall
March 9 to 15
SM Davao
GF Annex, near the event center
March 10 to 16
Office Warehouse St. Francis Square
GF, St. Francis Square

SM Megamall
UGF Building B, in front of Goldilocks

SM Iloilo
In front of Chowking
March 12 to 18
NE Pacific Cabanatuan
GF, Main Atrium
March 28 to April 3
KCC Mall Marbel
GF, between Jollibee and Baker’s Square

LKKS CDO
Rotunda

SM Seaside Cebu
GF, in front of Penshoppe

Pacific Mall Legazpi
Atrium

For the complete promo details and mechanics, visit brother.com.ph or call (02) 581-9888.

Wednesday, March 2, 2016

Celebrity parents Oyo and Kristine Sotto embrace the digital age to nurture their growing family


The Internet strengthens the family bond of the Sotto family. It is now easy to share the connection of their HOME DSL to their mobile phones—whether it’s to get updates on their kid’s most recent commercial shoot, plan their next travel getaway or simply share different experiences to make those experiences more meaningful.

The Sottos paint the picture of a happy and connected family with loving parents raising three growing kids. With celebrity power couple Oyo Boy Sotto and Kristine Hermosa driving the foundation of young Kiel (age 7), Ondrea (age 4) and Kaleb (age 1), it is important for them to find ways to maintain strong connections with their kids.

“Our days are full of errands that usually revolve around our kids’ schedules, especially now that Kiel and Ondrea have school,” Tin shared. “We all wake up early and have breakfast together, and then Oyo and I separate to take them to their schools if there’s no driver. While the kids are in school, we do our errands and work out. Then after school, we make sure that they get their homework done before we have our family bonding time.”

Just like any other family, their best days are spent watching movies and eating. Other than the annual trips abroad and sporadic trips to the cinema, the Sottos love to stay at home, where they say find everything they need. “Aside from streaming movies from iflix and Fox, we also watch a lot of cartoons as preferred by the kids,” Oyo said. “We’re so happy to have easy access to our favorite movies and shows whenever we want, on top of strong Internet and the PLDT TVolution Stick that lets us enjoy them in the big screen.”

Backed by the discipline and moderation imposed by the parents, the Internet plays a huge role in the Sottos’ lives. Aside from entertainment and connectivity, the Internet lets Oyo and Tin look up recipes and read the news. “Ondrea loves it when we read stories to her, while Kiel, being more visual, prefers to watch TV to be educated,” Tin added. “It’s really all in the Internet.”

The Internet now strengthens family connections even beyond the home. Thanks to the country’s first data sharing feature by the newest PLDT HOME DSL broadband plan, the Sottos stay in touch even outside the house. It is now easyshare the connection of their HOME DSL to their mobile phones—whether it’s to get updates on Kiel’s most recent commercial shoot, plan their next travel getaway or simply share different experiences to make those experiences more meaningful.

The PLDT HOME DSL Speedster Fam Plan 1299 offers speeds of up to 10 Mbps and a monthly data allocation of 50 GB.Families who upgrade their Speedster Plan with a Smart Mobile Plan 399 or Plan 600 can share 6 GB of the 50 GB monthly data allocation to their smart phones. They may get up to four Smart mobile phone lines bundled with their Speedster Fam Plan, all conveniently billed under one subscription.

“As we always say, Internet today is not just about high-speed connectivity,” PLDT VP and Marketing Director Gary Dujali said. “It is about the Internet helping build strong connections among family members within and beyond the home. We are more than happy to hear that families like the Sottos make the most out of technology in nurturing their bonds with each other wherever they may be. ”

Powered by the PLDT Group’s robust and resilient fixed and wireless networks, the Speedster Fam Plan will also allow families to access and enjoy exclusive offers from PLDT HOME and Smart’s other digital lifestyle partners such as Zalora, foodpanda and Airbnb, whether at home or on mobile.

For more information, log on to pldthome.com.

Tuesday, March 1, 2016

ADP MARKS 5TH ANNIVERSARY IN PHILIPPINES BY HONORING OUTSTANDING ASSOCIATES


MANILA – Global leader in HR and Payroll solutions ADP® celebrated the 5th anniversary of its Philippine operations by recognizing outstanding associates.

In the photo are associates who received the ADP Values Award for best exemplifying each of the company’s seven values. They are: Tristan Salgado for Service Excellence; Patrick Carlos for Each Person Counts; Darwin Zabala for Integrity is Everything; Andrea Sususco for Results Driven.

Also in the photo after handing out the awards are ADP Vice President & General Manager Josep Maria Elias (sixth from left), ADP Senior Service Operations Director Dino Ouradnik, (second from left), ADP Marketing & Communications Senior Manager Margie Escueta (third from left), ADP Senior Director for Shared Services Cris Mirador (fifth from left), ADP Senior Director for Finance Laura Baui (eighth from left) and ADP Human Resources Director George Mathews (rightmost).

ADP PH also gave an Award for Excellence to the Resolutions Team, the team that demonstrated excellence in multiple aspects; and an Associate Engagement Driver Award each to Scarlet Cartera, Vanessa Maningas and Michael Garcia – managers who got the highest ratings from the globally launched 2015 Associate Engagement Survey.

ADP PH has a total of 2,600 associates in its two sites, located at the Glorietta 2 Corporate Center, Ayala Center Makati, and the Aeon Centre in Filinvest Corporate City, Alabang, Muntinlupa City. The Philippine site is a strategic service center that caters to global clients providing payroll services, tax services, technical services, time and labor management, Implementation, IT support and benefits administration.  ADP.com

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