Kiana Valenciano drops ‘Sweet Release,’ sets May 10 performance with Gary V for the ‘Pure Energy: One Last Time’ extension

KIANA Valenciano — who also goes by the stage name Kiana V — is creative waves in the music industry once again with her new single. 

“Sweet Release” is a dance track designed to showcase her unique vocal stylings and songwriting ability. She co-wrote this captivatingsingle with songwriters Rosemarie Tan and Philippe dela Pena. As the kids say these days, “Sweet Release” is a bop. Produced by De’La, it’s sure to set dance floors ablaze with its catchy hook and irresistible rhythm.

 

Kiana’s songwriting is deeply personal, drawing from her own experiences, and she’s been hard at work in the studio lately. In fact, “Sweet Release,” which she says is dedicated to her best friend, is just the first taste of what’s to come from this talented young woman in 2024.

 

During a recent interview at the launch of Kenzo’s spring-summer 2024 line in Greenbelt 3, Makati City, she shared some insights into the evolution of her sound. According to Kiana, she’s currently leaning more toward a pop vibe, reminiscent of her father Gary Valenciano’s iconic style. She also revealed that she’s been working on a lot of Tagalog songs.

“I’ve started writing, and some of my favorite songs are in Tagalog,” says Kiana who has been exploring writing in Tagalog since she started creating songs in English. “I’m really, really excited. It’s different to express ourselves in our native tongue. It’s really moving, a different experience. I’m having too much fun.”

Her excitement was palpable as she talked about her upcoming album. However, she refrained from giving away too many details. All she said was that if all goes well, the album will drop sooner rather than later. She’s been writing and recording with an eye toward releasing a new batch of songs by the end of the year, if not early next year.

“It’s kind of two years in the making,” Kiana says of the album. “So you’ll hear a lot of my growth through my storytelling, and also sonically; the sound of the music, the genre, has been changing as well. It’s different from what I’ve released in the past, but a good kind of different.”

 

Although she’s been busy working on new music, she made time to perform at the National Diversity Coalition’s 21st Annual Economic Development Conference at The Landmark in Mission Hills, California.

 

 

The theme of this year’s conference, “Unveiling the Future,” focused on harnessing diversity and inclusion to foster economic growth and prosperity. The event was well-received, drawing a sold-out crowd and featuring discussions on how these critical elements contribute to economic development. Aside from Kiana, performers at the conference included soul singer April Velasco, the internationally acclaimed all-male hip hop dance group Junior New System, and Nonie Belarmino’s iDance Line Dancers.

 

Most recently, Kiana joined her father Gary onstage at the SM Mall of Asia Arena last April 26 and 27 for the musical extravaganza that is 'Pure Energy: One Last Time.' Like her brother Gabriel, who also performed on both nights of the show, Kiana is now based primarily in the US, where she is charting her own career with Gary and his wife, Angeli, cheering her on from thousands of miles away.

 

Since Kiana moved abroad in 2020, this journey has led to tremendous growth in her career and personal life. Her notable achievements include performing at SXSW; opening for Yuna in LA; winning Female R&B Artist of the Year at the 2022 PMPC Star Awards for her song “Corners;” and collaborating with renowned artists like Jesse Barrera; and writing songs for younger independent artists from different songwriting camps. 

 

Gary has spoken at length about how proud he is that Kiana is forging her own path in the world, though he admits he misses her. That’s why it’s so heartwarming that Kiana made time to be by her father’s side for what will likely be remembered as the most memorable concert of Gary’s 40-year career thus far.

 

'Pure Energy: One Last Time' was so well-received that a third night has been scheduled at the SM Mall of Asia Arena on May 10. Kiana will perform alongside her father again. All proceeds from the show will benefit the Valenciano family’s Shining Light Foundation, continuing Gary’s legacy of giving back through his music.

International Film Director, Njel de Mesa is sweeping the globe with his 10 Films

MULTI-FACETED director-writer-producer, Njel de Mesa will be very busy this year touring his 10 unreleased films that will have its world premiere in various international film festivals all around the world. 

His six films are currently the toast of the Jinseo Arigato International Film Festival to be held in Japan this May 25 and 26. Leading the charge is the quirky hilarious comedy film, “Malditas in Maldives” starring Arci Muñoz, Kiray Celis, and Janelle Tee. 

“It’s the most expensive movie that NDMstudios has produced so far—since we had to close down an entire resort in the Maldives for our shoot. Not to mention, it was the most challenging since the entire team lost some luggage--including our lead actress,” recalls the award-winning director.

“We were the first local production to shoot in the Maldives. And we wanted to do it so that people will have the urgency to alleviate Climate Change. The Maldives is reported to disappear into the ocean in a few years because of Global Warming,” Direk Njel de Mesa adds. 

A total of six films will be holding its Japan premiere at the JAIFF2024. The art house drama, “Must Give Us Pause”, the magic realism drama “Mama ‘San?”, “Coronaphobia” (starring Daiana Menezes, Will Devaughn), "Subtext" (1st Prize Don Carlos Palanca Awards starring Paolo Contis, Ciara Sotto, Ely Cellan), and "Creepy Shorts Anthology" (a collection of scary shorts) will all have its red-carpet premiere in Japan.

After the Japan premiere, Direk Njel and his company NDMstudios (which recently won “Best Independent Film Studio” in Hongkong) will be joining other international film festivals in Taiwan, Hongkong, Singapore, Canada, Dubai, and Switzerland. However, they are also fully prepared for a commercial release in the Philippines. 

“The reaction we are receiving from the international community is quite overwhelming. It seems there is an audience for our quirky stories that has inspirational messages elsewhere, “Direk Njel explains. 

“And we have amazing performances from our principal actors. You have never seen Arci and Kiray act this intensely and deliver so many powerful lines in a film!”

You can view the trailers, teasers, and other promotional videos on their social media platforms: www.facebook.com/NDMstudios, www.youtube.com/NjeldeMesa

Filipino Hip-hop Icon Flow G Joins Puregold New Collab

 

AS the country’s most in-demand artists excitedly gear up to sport Puregold’s signature green and gold colors, the brand is prepping yet another high-profile talent for their much-awaited campaign. 

Set to join the Tindahan ni Aling Puring lineup is rising hip-hop icon Flow G, who recently released a teaser on the collaboration through an Instagram post of him recording in the studio with a Puregold bag in plain sight. 

The rapper joins an impressive posse of musical talents led by alternative pop band SunKissed Lola and the nation’s girl group BINI. While the tripartite pact of BINI, SunKissed Lola, and Flow G might seem quirky, it only highlights Puregold’s intent to promote Filipino musicians of different genres.

 

Flow G, whose real name is Archie dela Cruz, is often credited for ushering in a new era in Pinoy hip-hop and OPM. Aware of the status and responsibility that come with it, Flow G now seeks to join Puregold in boosting appreciation for Pinoy music and telling the kind of stories that resonate with Filipinos.

It’s been a wild journey for Flow G from the time the rapper gained popularity in the mid-2010s. After getting his career off the ground, Flow G dealt with various speed bumps that included detractors, diss tracks, and the challenges that come with making a name outside their collective. Undaunted, Flow G and his hit songs like “RAPSTAR” and “High Score” powered on and has since realized success. Flow G now aspires to use this collaboration with Puregold and share his panalo story of moving forward with, and pushing for, one’s passion.

 

Stay tuned as fans of Flow G, BINI, SunKissed Lola, and OPM are enjoined to watch for the sonic adventure that Puregold and its collaborators are ready to bring. 

 

Subscribe now to Puregold Channel on YouTube, like @puregold.shopping on Facebook, follow @puregold_ph on Instagram and Twitter, and @puregoldph on TikTok for more updates.

VILLAR PUSHES FOR WELFARE OF PHILIPPINE JOURNALISTS, ADVOCATES FOR MORE SUPPORT TO LOCAL FILM INDUSTRY

LAS Piñas Rep. Camille Villar has filed two measures at the House of Representatives that will provide additional social safety nets for journalists and a seed fund that will provide the Philippine movie industry with the needed sources to produce world-class films.

Under proposed House Bill No. 6543, Villar seeks to provide disability, health and hospitalization benefits to all practicing journalists. The bill also mandates the Social Security System and the Government Service Insurance System to create a special coverage for freelance journalists, specifically when they are assigned to cover war zones, conflict-stricken areas, and calamity affected places.

“Mahalagang pangalagaan natin ang ating mga mamamahayag, lalo na iyong mga naka-assign sa mga delikadong lugar. Tinataya nila ang kanilang buhay para makapagbigay ng napapanahong balita pas ra sa mga Pilipino kung kaya’t nararapat lamang na bigyan natin sila ng proteksyon at dagdag na benepisyo para sa kanilang sakripisyo,” Rep. Villar said.

Rep. Villar also filed House Resolution No. 451 that will create a seed fund for grant of additional funding to the local movie industry to encourage filmmakers to come up with more quality films that could compete in the international arena.  Through the proposed legislation, the government will give the Film Development Council of the Philippines (FDCP) funding support so it can work with industry stakeholders to develop new marketing strategies to further bolster the Philippines’ chance in being recognized in international film festivals like the Academy Awards.

“Securing a nomination, win or even a shortlist from foreign award-giving bodies like the prestigious Oscars will further cement the Philippines’ reputation as home of world-class talents and quality movies, thus potentially opening more employment and livelihood opportunities for Filipinos,” Rep. Villar said.

Both measures are pending in the committee level.

Aside from being a public servant, Rep. Villar also holds the position of President and CEO of AllValue Holdings Corporation, the retail arm of the Villar Group of Companies that handles AllDay Supermarket, AllHome, and Coffee Project, and has received various accolades from this role.

In 2022, the Stevie Awards for Women in Business in Las Vegas recognized AllHome Builds and bestowed it the Bronze Award for Community-Involvement Program of the Year for Women-owned or Women-led Organizations. It also feted Rep. Villar with the Government Hero of the Year award for her work during the COVID-19 pandemic. She was also named Female Executive of the Year, a Silver Awardee in Asia, Australia, and New Zealand for her expertise as president and chief executive officer of AllValue Group.

Recently, Rep. Villar joined the partnership launch between Advanced Media Broadcasting System (AMBS) and ABS-CBN Corporation.  The new partnership will bring up-to-date news and iconic entertainment programs to Filipino audiences via ALLTV available on Channel 2 on free TV, cable and satellite TV across the country.

Rep. Villar obtained her MBA from IESE (Instituto de Estudios Superiores de la Empresa) Business School in Barcelona, Spain, one of the world’s best business schools, and studied Business Management at the Ateneo de Manila University.

She is a mother of two – Tristan and Cara. 

Is Puregold teasing the year’s panalo collab of the Philippines’ biggest music artists?

Social media has been on fire speculating about Puregold collaborating with the hottest names in the local music scene. The buzz started after Puregold made two teaser posts on their social media this past April 12th that seemed to hint at an announcement involving major Pinoy pop artists. 

The first post from that morning showed the following letters flashing on screen: SL, SB, FG, and BN. Finally, the following letters settled on the screen: GRFSB. These same letters were also in the video’s official title, #Puregold_GRFSB. This first video made it clear what those letters meant: Get ready for something big!

Later that day, another post would drop that provided more clues. Once again, labeled #Puregold_GRFSB, this time the post offered glimpses of multiple silhouetted figures. A close look at the video showed four images: three groups and a singular figure. The video ended by promising more to come in May 2024.

Luckily for curious fans and followers, Puregold served more.

 

On April 17, a video snippet of a song from the band SunKissed Lola was released. Best known for their hit song “Pasilyo” with over 204 million streams on Spotify alone, SunKissed Lola is now officially the first announced band to be part of this major music venture from Puregold.

FANS of the band were thrilled to find that the snippet teased brand new original music from SunKissed Lola. Even from just the 20 seconds shared in the video, it’s clear that fans will have much to look forward to when SunKissed Lola drops an original new song in collaboration with Puregold. 

 

With lyrics like “Burahin ang anumang duda sa sarili mo,” the song promises to be an uplifting and inspiring anthem about confidence and believing in one’s self. Already, this teaser has given a glimpse of the always “panalo” vibe that Puregold has always put out through its various forms of marketing campaigns.

 

Seems like Puregold is looking to accomplish something massive in this music collaboration. Music fans all over the country are already waiting with bated breath for further announcements and confirmations about which artists will be next to link up with the retailer.

 

Stay tuned in! Subscribe now to Puregold Channel on YouTube, like @puregold.shopping on Facebook, follow @puregold_ph on Instagram and Twitter, and @puregoldph on TikTok for more updates.

Globe's This isKwela Online Learning Community offers exciting raffle prizes for new members

Globe's This isKwela Facebook Community is kicking off an exciting series of raffle contests to welcome new raketeros and raketeras into its innovative online learning platform. From April 1 to May 23, 2024, a total of 22 lucky winners will take home amazing prizes, including an iPhone 14 128GB, a Samsung Flip 4 128GB, and 20 Php3,000 GCash prizes.

This isKwela empowers individuals to uplift their lives through learning resources, online tools, and raket tips and hacks. Members can also gain access to the coolest gigs, digital freelancing work, and employment prospects that can help them thrive in today's economy.

 

"This raffle is an excellent opportunity for startup business owners, digital freelancers, content creators, and anyone who wants to earn on the side to join our vibrant This isKwela community. It offers access to invaluable resources that can help them achieve their goals," said RG Orense, Head of Digital and Social Channel Strategy at Globe.

 

"We are committed to empowering Filipinos with the skills and knowledge necessary for success in the digital economy. By incentivizing involvement in This isKwela, we hope to encourage more Filipinos to take part in a digital learning journey while also building a community," said Yoly Crisanto, Globe's Chief Sustainability and Corporate Communications Officer.

The raffle will be divided into four rounds, each with its own set of prizes:

●       April 1-11:  1 winner of iPhone 14 128GB and 5 winners of Php3,000 GCash

●       April 15-25: 1 winner of Samsung Flip 4 128GB and 5 winners of Php3,000 GCash

●       April 29-May 9: 5 winners of Php3,000 GCash

●       May 13-23: 5 winners of Php3,000 GCash

 

To participate, individuals must be Globe/TM customers and members of the This isKwela Facebook Group. They need to answer the featured "raket" question pinned on the group's page and register their details, along with proof of group membership and their comment, on the This isKwela Raffle Website.

 

The winners will be announced on the This isKwela Facebook Group and Page within a week after each draw.  They will also be notified via SMS, email, and registered mail.

 

Focusing on practical learning, creating opportunities for income generation, and developing digital skills, This isKwela serves as an essential resource for those looking to flourish in today's society. The raffle series presents an exciting chance for new members to join the community and take advantage of the abundant resources available.

 

To learn more about Globe and its sustainability initiatives, visit www.globe.com.ph.

GMA Network Appoints Nessa Valdellon as Executive Vice President of GMA Pictures

GMA Network, Inc. announces the appointment of Nessa Valdellon as Executive Vice President of GMA Pictures, effective April 1, 2024. She remains as First Vice President of GMA Public Affairs.

In less than a year since her appointment to Senior Vice President of GMA Pictures in 2023, Valdellon has enabled the GMA production arm to become a prominent player in the Philippine cinema landscape.

 

Valdellon produced the internationally-acclaimed film “Firefly,” which won Best Picture not only at the 49th Metro Manila Film Festival in the Philippines but also at the inaugural Manila International Film Festival in Hollywood, California. The romantic drama “The Cheating Game” was GMA’s first offering to screen worldwide on Netflix, hitting the number 1 slot within 24 hours of streaming. 

Nessa Valdellon

In a personal capacity, she was one of the executive producers of independent film "Iti Mapukpukaw (The Missing)" which won Best Picture at the Cinemalaya Film Festival and became the Philippines' Oscar entry for 2024.

 

As GMA Network’s concurrent First Vice President for Public Affairs, Valdellon leads an award-winning department that has put the Philippines on the world stage with its premium content. Public Affairs just received nominations for 6 of its programs in this year’s New York Festivals: one for action drama “Black Rider,” two for “The Atom Araullo Specials” and three for "I-Witness,” GMA’s flagship documentary show which celebrates its 25th anniversary this year. The New York Festival Medalists will be announced mid-April.