i get so sad sometimes got the top award in this year’s QCinema

i get so sad sometimes is about a high school teenager who secretly spends his time on the internet with a mature man whose face he still hasn’t seen yet. 

The film is cited for its keen observation of a generation's ethos expressed through an intimate and contemporary visual language, arranged in an editing style that eschews melodramatic sentimentality focusing on the immediacy of online interaction and the instant gratification or discontent that can be derived —a warning of the dangers of the internet and social media as surrogate to real life bonds.

The regional short, which was shot in Pagadian City and Cagayan de Oro, stars JC Santiago, Louie Caminade, Jhon Mark Tumimpad, Bensuccor Encong, and Janice Suganob.

Skylab by Chuck Escasa, meanwhile, gets the NETPAC Jury Prize for presenting through striking images a significant and poetic story told from the perspective of schoolboys in the ‘70s, who fear the end of the world, but soon realize that the dark forces that can change their lives are much closer to home.

Set during the Martial Law era, it portrays two troubled schoolboys waiting for the fall of the Skylab, only to realize that darker forces are threatening their fragile world.

Dylan Talon, Alexis Negrite, and Jonathan Tadion lead the cast of the film.

The Gender Sensitivity Award goes to Ampangabagat Nin Talakba Ha Hikol or It’s Raining Frogs Outside by Maria Estela Paiso. 

The Sambal short is cited for its artistic and strong sense of individuality and its bold and stunning visuals that encapsulates the struggles of isolation.

Getting the Audience Choice award  is the "mockumentary" about a government agency tasked to fight giant monsters entitled Mighty Robo V .

The film, which stars GB Labrador, Aryn Cristobal, Rachel Coates, James Caraan, Red Olero, Nami Onuma, and Macoy Averilla, is by Miko Livelo and Mihk Vergara.

Other films which competed in the #QCShorts competition are Henry by Kaj Palanca and City of Flowers by Xeph Suarez.

Each short film received a grant of 350,000.00 pesos from QCinema, with ownership of film rights. All shorts were screened both online via KTX and in-person at Gateway Cineplex 10.

After 21 months of virtual meet ups and one very limited face to face meet and greet in July of this year, Grupo Toyota is holding their first major meet since the pandemic began. With NCR nearing herd immunity, the group also wants to play its part in helping to enliven the economy and meet up in a responsible way in the new normal.

The group has set a meet up on December 12, 2021 at Blue Bay Walk Macapagal for their fully vaccinated members. It will be as usual, a display of all things Toyota and a long-awaited reunion for the Grupo Toyota family. Affiliated shops will also display at the event so members and passerby can shop for car accessories and goodies. Toyota Manila Bay will also be present and have special promos for members. 

Blue Bay Walk in Metropark is the ideal place to meet and greet with its vast outdoor areas and large selection of restaurants where attendees can meet and eat. 

All possible safety precautions as imposed by the LGU and IATF will be strictly observed.

The application of artificial intelligence in recruitment helps us improve productivity when it comes to sourcing new candidates for new vacancies. By having access to a good database and relying on intelligent talent recommendations tools, recruiters can spend less time identifying fit candidates, and more time building relationships with them.

What exactly is AI for recruiting?

AI for recruitment is the integration of Artificial Intelligence into the talent acquisition process. Through Big Data and iterative machine learning, advanced systems are able to understand your hiring patterns and recommend candidates with higher success rates.

By building a strong foundation in Data Science and Analytics, AI recruitment systems can automate your workflow from pipelining suitable candidates to connecting and engaging them.

How to Apply Artificial Intelligence in Human Resources?

While AI systems have the capability to process vast amounts of data at scales humanly impossible, it must be noted that AI is by no means a replacement for recruiters. AI systems can predict if a candidate has what it takes to perform in a job vacancy. However, in order to access the potential of an individual, it requires a recruiters intuition, tempered with years of experience. The purpose of adopting AI systems in any business should be to augment recruiters’ capabilities.

Applied well, AI is a powerful tool to reduce repetitive tasks and build an unbiased layer of analytics to access recruitment qualities.

Artificial Intelligence in Human Resources: Data Analytics

One of the primary purposes of the application of artificial intelligence in Human Resources is the analysis and management of the data that each company has. The AI sorts all this data and provides insights in multiple areas, such as talent screening and successful sourcing channels.

Analytics systems also have the ability to visualize insights for us. This will help us to process information better and make data-based judgements to improve our recruitment KPIs. 

As the system starts to understand profiles of successful hires, this will be taken in as feedback to improving recommendations for future hires. Furthermore consistency in maintaining this feedback loop is critical in ensuring that the system continuously evolves along current hiring trends in the market. 

Artificial intelligence in Human Resources: Eliminates Cognitive Biases

As humans, we tend to simplify information and boil it down to rules of thumb in order to make decisions fast. While this is a powerful mechanism to keep us productive in most cases, problems arise when we distort the information we receive.

Unfortunately, recruiters are not immune to these limitations. It is not uncommon for us to associate a candidate’s qualifications based on where they have worked or which schools they attended. Then place less emphasis on exactly what they did in previous roles or awards they have accumulated across the years. All done in order to quickly process resumes at an average speed of 7.4 seconds each (according to a study by Ladders Inc.).

Artificial intelligence on the other hand is able to process a very high amount of data and rank candidates based on a predetermined set of criteria. In this way, recruiters can allocate more time to top recommended applicants and minimize bias. In the long run, deployment of AI systems in hiring will lead to improved quality of hire.

Artificial Intelligence in Human Resources: Task Automation

Research by CareerBuilder claims that most HR professionals spend 14 hours a week manually doing tasks that could be automated. With the prospect of freeing up a third of a recruiter's time to focus on meaningful actions, it is no wonder 62% of firms are thinking about investing in AI technologies (based on a Forbes survey).

Of the repetitive tasks faced by recruiters, the most time consuming one is pipelining candidates for interviews. In order to guide AI systems to help you source candidates well, it is necessary that you first establish the parameters you are looking for. Advanced systems will then recommend a list of fit candidates to select from and then help in forming connections with them through reach out automations and systemized follow-ups.

Is Artificial Intelligence a Threat?

According to the co-author of The Future Workplace Experience, Jeanne Meister, “AI will augment HR and give HR time to work on more strategic business issues. The opportunity is to use AI to streamline HR manual processes and provide a more consumer grade service to employees”. 

Jeanne’s take on AI is exactly the stance Shortlyst took when developing their AI-based sourcing product. Shortlyst is one of the best AI-based technologies that can automate the recruitment process. Not only does it have a large-scale database with 600 million profiles, but Shortlyst also provides various other automation features to allow each recruiter to reach more candidates.

It doesn’t always have to be sink or swim when it comes to mental health. 

Ben&Ben chronicle the experience of drowning in torrential distress and anxiety on the music video of their new single “Lunod.” Directed by award-winning filmmaker Jerrold Tarog (Heneral Luna, Sana Dati), the visual narrative pushes the discussion forward with its metaphorical depiction of individuals trying to keep their head above water and find their way out of a dark, harrowing tunnel.

“The music video is a deeply introspective and symbolic interpretation of the song, which is all tied in together from the concept and writing, down to the location,” lead vocalist, guitarist and Lunod chief songwriter Paolo Benjamin explains. “In the video, the song is narrated as the band, with Zild and juan karlos, move deeper and deeper into the tunnel slowly—losing breath, then in the latter half taking powerful strides to move out of it. This signals a ‘rebirth’ into a new, more mature version of the self.”

The cinematic visuals were shot at the El Deposito water reservoir, an underground location known for its historical significance to the events that lead to the Philippine Revolution, Philippine-American War, and World War II.

“Lunod” serves as the band’s reunion project with Jerrold Tarog, who helmed the music video for their 2018 track “Susi,” off the historical epic drama, Goyo: Ang Batang Heneral. “We love collaborating with visionaries in their fields, and so it was a dream working with him,” the acclaimed folk-pop group reveals.

Ahead of the music video release, the nine-piece collective dropped a live acoustic performance of “Lunod” last month. The version, which features collaborators Zild and juan karlos, strips down the bluesy, classic rock arrangements of the original for a more subdued take. The intimate interpretation of the song is part of an exclusive EP release featuring multiple iterations of “Lunod” in various formats, including an extended version of the track.

“The multiple versions for ‘Lunod’ were intended to bring a full listening experience to our listeners; for them to hear what more could be brought out of the song,” Ben&Ben shares in a statement. “We decided to release for streaming the acoustic jam of ‘Lunod,’ the extended version in the music video.”

Aside from the EP, ‘Lunod’ received a remix treatment from hip-hop artist Zelijah, who channeled his struggles with mental health on the production level, and even added a rap verse to convey the mental strains that he went through during the pandemic, and after being diagnosed as bipolar. The “Bipolar remix” of the track gives Zelijah the opportunity to put his own character into the song, and reinterpret it with ethereal sonic elements that blend trap, hip-hop, modern electronica, and rock music genres.

Apart from the ‘Lunod’ EP, Ben&Ben and its label, Sony Music Philippines, recently opened a Lunod-themed café at Latitude Bean+Bar in Malate, Manila as part of Ben&Ben’s Kuwaderno Pop-Up Café activities, which will run from November 25-27. The pop-up café includes a Lunod art installation inspired by Zelijah’s Bipolar Remix, as well as other art activities related to mental health.

The Kuwaderno Pop-Up Café features several exclusive activities for Liwanag and ordinary folks to immerse themselves into Ben&Ben’s critically acclaimed album and upcoming digital concert. The two other exclusive pop-ups are located at Jess + Pat’s in Maginhawa, QC, and Kale Café in Fairview, QC.

Music fans can also purchase tickets to Kuwaderno: A Ben&Ben Online Concert directly at the three pop-up locations in Metro Manila. Set to redefine the concert-going experience with the biggest headline concert of their career, Ben&Ben’s upcoming digital concert will be integrating live music performance with multiple creative disciplines such as theatre, dance, orchestra, and technology to create an audio-visual spectacle like no other. 

Ben&Ben’s “Lunod,” featuring Zild and juan karlos, is out now on all streaming platforms worldwide via Sony Music Philippines. Watch the music video here. 

“Lunod” collaborators Zild and juan karlos are also set to join Ben&Ben on Kuwaderno: A Ben&Ben Online Concert, happening on December 05, 2021 (Sun) from 8pm to 11pm. Get your tickets here.

On July 23, 2021, Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas orders Digital Spring Marketing and Advertising Inc., the marketing arm of the LYKA app in the Philippines, to halt its payment services and invited LYKA’s mother company to register as an operator of payment system (OPS). Currently, LYKA has 10,000,000 users.

In an interview with Rappler, the BSP said, “The operators of LYKA have already expressed their willingness to register with the BSP as an OPS.”

On October 12, in a Manila Times article, LYKA said “Instead of challenging the BSP's decision before a judicial forum, LYKA has determined that the fastest resolution to the matter is to simply commence the registration of its own Philippine entity as an OPS, including setting up its own Philippine operations and equipping it with the best talent possible," they emphasized.

 BSP Governor Benjamin Diokno told Manila Standard on November 23 that The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas is in discussions with the Hong Kong-based LYKA /Things I Like Co. Ltd. (TIL) over an application to register as an operator of payment system in the country.

LYKA is a popular app in the Philippines owned by a HK-based company that allowed people to earn LYKA GEMs or gift cards in electronic mode for posting, sharing, and liking content. These GEMs could be used to purchase goods.

It’s a free social media platform that allows users to connect, discover new material, share interests, share photos, and allows chat function with other users. It revolves around a Digital Point System, which rewards users for engagement on the platform. Users may receive a LYKA GEM for well-rated posts, uploading content and spending time on the app.

Celebrities and social media personalities have posted photos showing that they were able to purchase cars and other items through GEMs.

Benefits of LYKA 

Not only for celebrities, but normal Filipinos can also gain gems from this app. LYKA rewards its users for engagement and content creation. By using the traditional social media apps, they earn from you and your data. By using LYKA, it’s the other way around. You earn from using the app.

LYKA users earn by just posting, giving ratings to others or simply by being rated.

LYKA has more than 28,000 partner merchants. The app was also able to penetrate mom-and-pop stores, public market vendors, cab drivers, street vendors and the likes.

Users can easily interact to other users and give them GEMs as gifts and at the same time earn GEMs when they post on the app. These GEMs can be used to pay for products and services, buy items from the LYKA MALL and LYKA GROCERY, as well as for paying bills and other electronic loads.

BSP, Bring LYKA GEMs payment back, please! 

The effort of LYKA Philippines to secure BSP registration as OPS is a clear indication that they mean business! BSP did not stop LYKA’s operations as a social media app and I hope BSP will allow them to operate full time as soon as possible so a lot of Filipinos can benefit and experience LYKA's reward system. This can help us Pinoys especially right now during this pandemic. 

Just imagine the number of jobs LYKA PHILIPPINES would create if only Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas would allow them to operate full-time here in the country. 

Just like my high school classmate, Marco, he was able to purchase rubber shoes, milk tea, and even grocery items thru the app. For free! At first, I thought that normal Filipinos (read: not celebrities) will not be able to earn enough gems to buy something from the app because they are not famous or influential enough. 

That classmate of mine made me believe in the app that's why I signed up too! This is the reason why I want LYKA to operate full-time here in the Philippines. Many Filipinos that are using LYKA as an alternative social media app are eagerly waiting for LYKA GEM’s big comeback.

There is nothing quite like the joy that the Christmas season brings! And SM is spreading even more good vibes and Christmas cheer as it unveils its newest holiday video, Ngayong Pasko, ChristmaSaya sa SM, which you can watch here 

The 45-second heartwarming video, which aptly plays a re-arranged rendition of the Boyfriends’ iconic Sumayaw, Sumunod, shows split screens of families and friends happily celebrating, dining, or shopping from home via the SM Malls Online app or at SM malls, signaling that we now have many safe options to enjoy the holidays this year.

As quarantine restrictions have eased, SM malls are ready to welcome us back with safety measures in place to ensure everyone’s safety and well-being. As one of the first establishments to acquire the Safety Seal in all its malls nationwide, SM ensures that all its malls are regularly cleaned and sanitized. All SM employees are fully vaccinated and all health protocols of the IATF and the LGUs are strictly implemented for everyone’s safety.

For many of us who missed the incomparable taste of piping hot specialty dishes such as ramen or paella when dining out, SM’s new video shows us that, with social distancing measures in place, one can safely dine at one’s favorite restaurants, indoor or al fresco  This is also the perfect time to Christmas shop for those high value gifts that are best bought in mall,  such as gadgets and phones at Cyberzone where a salesperson can explain the latest hi-tech features to you, smart appliances that require a personal tutorial and – last but not least- shoes! One is never sure what shoes chosen online will look like when they are delivered, while a trip to an SM Mall offers an endless variety of choices you can try on for that perfect comfort fit.  

If you opt to stay at home this season, SM’s ChristmaSaya video shows you can complete our gift list from home through the SM Store Gift Registry and the SM Malls Online app. It’s easy! Just ask family and friends to register via The SM Store Gift Registry (https://www.thesmstore.com/pages/gift-registry) and come up with their wishlists which can be shared   through SMS, Viber, Facebook, or email. Plus, it comes with exclusive perks such as free delivery and free wrapping of gifts. You can take the kids with you to pick the gifts up at the curbside, too.

So, whether you’re celebrating Christmas from home or getting into the festive spirit by marveling at the dazzling decor at the malls, joyfully embrace the season and have a festive celebration with your loved ones, as SM’s new video happily sings: Sumayaw, sumunod ka sa indak ng panahon, makisama, mag enjoy ka ngayon! 

SM implements strict #SafeMallingAtSM protocols nationwide and offers an equally convenient online shopping option with the SM Malls Online app on Google Play or App Store. To know more, visit www.smsupermalls.com and follow @smsupermalls on all social media accounts

Did you know that the practice of packaging biscuits and cookies in tin cans has been around since the 16th century?

European voyagers packed biscuits as snacks for long trips and placed them in cans. Several hundred years later airtight cans, meant to store biscuits so they would not crumble and stay oven-fresh, were invented. Since then, tin cans have been the best containers for biscuits and cookies, evolving into pretty things that people kept, collected and reused.

This year, Rebisco is keeping the biscuits-in-tin cans tradition alive with its Special Edition Designer Cans. First introduced in 2018, each designer can is a mini version of the big, iconic Rebisco tin cans that have been favorite Pinoy pasalubongs for generations.

Tin Can Art Today

Look. The works of artists, both contemporary and budding talents -- Dominic Rubio, Aljo Pingol, plus three young artists from Regional Lead School of the Arts in Angono (RLSAA), Julia Baluyot, Dave Dauz and Lyra Lacanaria -- are immortalized on the sides of the special edition tin cans.

Familiar Filipino scenes, traditions, local heritage and everyday life are celebrated in bold, playful, dramatic and whimsical styles using striking, soothing and exciting colors. The artworks are original and unique to the designer cans.

This Christmas, if you’re looking for a gift that’s beautiful, meaningful, filled with goodies to the brim and literally a work of art, Rebisco’s Special Edition Designer Cans would make perfect presents.

Why You Should Buy Rebisco Designer Tin Cans

These junior-sized cans are not just lovingly packed with premium Rebisco biscuits, cookies, crackers and wafers, they are meant to be decorative pieces to be collected and displayed. They can be multifunctional containers too.

But the tin cans are not just all about aesthetic values. Each can is called “the gift that gives” because every can sold helps support the young student artists of the School of the Arts in Angono and the Calbayog Arts and Design School of Eastern Visayas (CADSEV) in Calbayog, Samar. Rebisco is providing the schools with art essentials, equipment and other resources that will help the young art scholars pursue their creative dreams in various art forms.

The contents of the designer tin cans are delightful as well. Only premium Rebisco products – Rebisco Sandwich Choco, Rebisco Sandwich Cream, Rebisco Cracker Plain, Rebisco Cracker Honey Butter, Wafertime Choco, Choco Mucho Cookies Choco, Choco Mucho Cookies White Choco, Hansel Crackers and Hansel Mocha – are in each can.

Hygienically packaged and sealed, each designer tin can is a safe and thoughtful Holiday gift. Very affordable at P195 each, they are available at the Rebisco Flagship Stores on Shopee and Lazada. 

30, the new album from global superstar Adele is available everywhere.  The highly anticipated album was preceded by the release of several tracks including lead single “Easy On Me,” which has commandeered the #1 position on Billboard’s Hot 100 chart since it was released four weeks ago.  The single has also broken streaming, radio and chart records around the world.  Adele also premiered three additional songs, “I Drink Wine,” “Hold On” and “Love Is A Game” during her recent Adele One Night Only TV special.  The TV special was the most viewed entertainment program this year, drawing even a larger audience than The Oscars.    

30 is being heralded by critics as Adele’s finest album to date.  Rolling Stone exclaimed “Adele has never sounded more ferocious” in their 5-star review of the album.  They went on to definitively say “30 is the Best Adele Album Yet.”  Variety agreed and described 30 as “a richer, more compelling collection that feels like her best.”  Clash called the album “a work of personal and artistic triumph,” and I-D noted “no one does it better.”

30 is produced with Greg Kurstin, Max Martin, Shellback, Tobias Jesso Jr, Inflo and Ludwig Göransson.  30 is available at all physical and digital retailers globally.  In addition, exclusive configurations will be available at select retailers nationwide including a Target deluxe CD featuring three bonus tracks and a Walmart clear exclusive double vinyl.  An Amazon white exclusive double vinyl will be available globally.  30 and lead single “Easy On Me” will also be offered on cassette, exclusive to Adele’s D2C store while supplies last.  The album is available on all digital platforms. 

Premier property developer Ortigas Land signals the holiday season through installations that brighten up Capitol Commons and Ortigas East. These festive light displays were designed to inspire communities to come together to honor the resilience of Filipinos today, while bidding a more hopeful and brighter future.

Lights at the Park in Capitol Commons

Following its tradition of dedicating its wide-open space as a holiday destination for the community, Capitol Commons has set up a new unique installation that is not just Insta-worthy, but also functional as it addresses the needs of estate-goers for comfort and safety.

The Lights at the Park will showcase six Christmas tree installations which represent the holiday celebration. These fixtures are adorned with bright lights that will illuminate the park and will bring awe to its visitors. These installations double as benches providing seats for those who wish to comfortably enjoy the live music performed by local buskers. Park goers will also benefit from the benches as they also feast on a wide variety of offerings from the estate’s weekend night market.

Dubbed “Holiday Market at the Park”, the weekend night market will offer a selection of food choices from different cuisines which will certainly delight the taste buds of the public. The night market will happen every Friday to Sunday from 4PM to 10PM beginning November 19, 2021 until January 9, 2022.

Unique Christmas Display in Ortigas East

Taking place in another side of Pasig City, Ortigas East lights up the estate with a new installation that guests can enjoy this holiday season. The “Bamboo Forest” is a pop-up display located at Silver City 1A that features light fixtures arranged to provide visitors of the estate the same feel as if they were in a bamboo forest. 

Embodying strength and flexibility, the bamboo forest aims to provide an unorthodox yet familiar approach on Christmas. The installation reflects on the community’s united and undivided strength in facing difficult and unprecedented times. A one-of-a-kind festive display this season, this will certainly be a must-visit holiday destination.

Accompanying the Bamboo Forest is a weekend night market within the Ortigas East. The market will begin on Friday, 19 November 2021, and will feature different food selections that will cater to everyone’s palate. Running until the 9th of January next year, the night market will be open from Fridays to Sundays, 4:00PM to 12:00MN along Central Avenue, fronting Tiendesitas.

This yuletide season, Ortigas Land invites everyone to visit Lights at the Park in Capitol Commons and Bamboo Forest in Ortigas East as this year’s must-visit holiday destinations. Installed in open spaces, these light displays will be enjoyed by everyone as they enjoy a relaxing experience while being assured of their safety. Ortigas Land ensures that with safety and health protocols in place, visitors will fully be able to enjoy the light installations, live music, and delicious meals this Christmas season. 

To stay updated on announcements and schedules on the installations and markets, you may visit Capitol Commons Facebook page  and Ortigas East Facebook page for more information.

Ortigas Land is one of the pioneers in real estate development in the Philippines. Now in its 90th year, the company continues to build great places for life through its iconic estates for living, shopping, business, and entertainment. It is the developer behind some of Metro Manila’s best-known mixed-use projects: Greenhills Center, Capitol Commons, Ortigas East, and Circulo Verde. For more information, visit www.ortigas.com.ph or call +63 (2) 477-1393.

The most anticipated youth convention of the country is right around the corner!

Since 2004, the National Youth Congress (NYC) has been inspiring high school students from all over the Philippines to engage in various societal problems with an economic lens and learn from insightful discussions with distinguished resource speakers. 

Organized by the UP Economics Society and the UP School of Economics Student Council, NYC has proven itself to be the premiere economics forum for top high school students. By fostering ideas and inspiring progress, it has been molding future leaders of the society throughout the years. Despite the limitations imposed by the pandemic, this legacy continues as it shifted its operations to the online platform since last year. 

In its 18th year, the National Youth Congress focuses on the theme “Descend to Ascend: Moving Towards Genuine Development for an Empowered Nation”.

This year’s Congress underlines the significance of people-centered development where the improvement of human welfare is vital. It aims to discuss development beyond traditional economic indicators and highlight the people behind these numbers. This invites us to descend into the various sectors of society and immerse ourselves in the situation and needs of the ordinary Filipino. Overall, NYC 18 aspires to explore on how we can have a holistic and inclusive approach to development by using the concept and tools of Development Economics and taking advantage of the interconnectedness of Economics to various aspects of society 

NYC 18 will be held via Zoom on November 20-21, 2021.