Monday, October 5, 2026

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Rainy weekends have become the perfect excuse to stay in, gather around the TV, and enjoy quality time with family. Whether it's streaming the latest blockbuster, binge-watching a favorite K-drama, or playing online games together, creating a great entertainment experience at home has become more accessible than ever.


Through PLDT Home's partnership with Samsung, the Global No.1 TV and Soundbar brand, subscribers can enjoy exclusive discounts on selected Samsung TVs and entertainment devices, making it easier to build a smarter and more immersive entertainment space at home.


Here are five simple ways to elevate your home entertainment without overspending.

  1. Choose a bigger screen for shared entertainment

Whether it's the latest blockbuster, a K-drama binge, or a championship game, a larger display transforms your overall viewing experience. Rather than upgrading every gadget at home, investing in one quality smart TV creates better shared experiences for the whole family.


Thanks to advancements in Samsung’s Mini LED and OLED technology, with screen sizes ranging from 50 to 100 inches, cinema-quality visuals are now within reach at home. Pair them with a reliable fiber connection to stream high-quality 4K content smoothly, without interruptions or buffering. 


  1. Bring cinema-quality sound into your living room

Great visuals deserve equally impressive sound. A quality soundbar instantly enhances movies, concerts, sports, and even everyday streaming with richer, more immersive audio, without the complexity of a full home theater system. With Samsung’s Q-Symphony, compatible Samsung TVs and soundbars work together to deliver a more immersive, room-filling sound experience by combining the speakers of both devices. With PLDT Home’s promo, investing in a good sound system becomes easier and more budget-friendly.


  1. Maximize your streaming experience with reliable fiber internet

Even the best TV deserves a fast and reliable internet connection.


Today's smart TVs support features such as Auto Low Latency Mode (ALLM), high refresh rates, and ultra-high-definition streaming. Samsung Smart TVs also come with Samsung TV Plus, giving users access to a variety of free live and on-demand entertainment without the need for a separate subscription. A reliable fiber connection ensures smooth 4K streaming, uninterrupted online gaming, and seamless video calls—all happening simultaneously in one household.


  1. Build your entertainment setup over time

Building your dream entertainment space at home doesn't have to happen all at once.


Start with the essentials: a dependable fiber connection and a smart TV. As your needs grow, add a soundbar or smart home accessories as your budget permits. 


You don't have to buy everything at once to enjoy a premium viewing experience. Exclusive bundles and promotions from PLDT Home can also help you save as you expand your setup.


  1. Choose bundles that offer greater value

The smartest way to upgrade your home entertainment isn’t buying multiple devices but choosing bundled products so you can get more by spending less.


Now is the perfect time to make the smart choice with PLDT Home’s limited-time deal with Samsung. Get more value from your internet subscription with the new PLDT Home Fiber Unli All plan and enjoy up to 15% off plus ₱2,000 worth of stackable vouchers when you purchase select Samsung TVs. Plus, customers who pay via Home Credit can enjoy an additional 5% off their purchase.


Another good thing is that this deal goes beyond TV and entertainment. 


With the PLDT Home Fiber Unli All 1499 plan, subscribers enjoy essential home and mobile connectivity plus entertainment content in one convenient subscription. Instead of managing separate services and subscriptions for different needs, PLDT Home Fiber Unli All bundles fiber internet together with Smart mobile data, unlimited landline calls, Cignal TV, and HBO Max. Customers enjoy all these plus exclusive savings on Samsung TVs that can elevate their home entertainment experience.


A smarter home upgrade isn’t just about having the biggest screen or the latest device. It’s about choosing the right combination of connectivity and entertainment to make everyday moments at home better.


This September, make the smart choice and upgrade your home entertainment with Samsung and PLDT Home Fiber Unli All 1499. Visit www.pldthome.com/samsung-entertainment-deals.



Thank you for reading. Catch you in the next one!

-BENCH

Thursday, September 24, 2026

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Jollibee and DreamWorks Animation are teaming up for a global partnership tied to the worldwide theatrical release of Forgotten Island, a new original animated feature that celebrates friendship, family, and Filipino-inspired storytelling.


The collaboration brings together DreamWorks, the studio behind globally recognized films including Shrek, How to Train Your Dragon, and The Wild Robot, and Jollibee, the beloved Filipino restaurant brand that makes your favorite Chickenjoy, Yumburger, Jolly Spaghetti, and Burger Steak.




The partnership also brings together shared themes of friendship and togetherness. Forgotten Island draws inspiration from Filipino mythology and stories passed down through Filipino families, while Jollibee has long brought people together through shared meals and everyday moments of joy. In the Philippines, the collaboration offers fans an opportunity to experience the film’s themes and Filipino cultural elements through Jollibee.


At the heart of Forgotten Island, from the filmmakers of Puss in Boots: The Last Wish, are lifelong best friends Jo and Raissa, voiced by Grammy and Academy Award winner H.E.R. and Filipino actress Liza Soberano. The story follows the two friends as they discover a mysterious portal leading to Nakali, a magical island inhabited by mythical creatures inspired by stories from their Filipino families.




Their adventure takes a turn when they discover that returning home comes at the cost of losing their memories of each other. Joined by a group of allies, Jo and Raissa must navigate the challenges of Nakali while finding a way to preserve their friendship. 


The film features an international voice cast that includes Dave Franco, Lea Salonga, Jenny Slate, Manny Jacinto, Dolly de Leon, Jo Koy, and Ronny Chieng, bringing together global talent and Filipino voices in a story rooted in Filipino-inspired mythology. 


“At Jollibee, we've always believed that some of life's best memories are made around the dining table. Forgotten Island is a beautiful and moving story that reminds us of the power and importance of friendship, something that has always been at the heart of our brand,” said Dorothy Ching, vice president for marketing of Jollibee Philippines. “Through this partnership with DreamWorks, we're excited to give Filipinos another meaningful way to celebrate friendship, create lasting memories, and share the joy of eating together.” 


To bring the partnership closer to Filipino fans, Jollibee Philippines will introduce the limited-time Forgotten Island Adventure Bundle launching September 16 in Metro Manila and September 23 in all other regions, available until October 31 at participating stores nationwide.


The Adventure Bundle includes Jollibee's 1-pc. Chickenjoy with rice and Pineapple Quencher, the new Peach Mango Pie à la Mode with Vanilla Soft Serve, Jollibee's Peach Mango Pie with Chocolate Sauce, and an exclusive Forgotten Island Friendship Charm Bracelet. The bundle is priced at ₱389.




Inspired by the film, the exclusive Friendship Charm Bracelet serves as a collectible that fans can take home as a memento of the partnership and the friendships celebrated in Forgotten Island.




The Forgotten Island Adventure Bundle will be available through dine-in, takeout, and drive-thru, while supplies last.


Forgotten Island, distributed by Universal Pictures, opens in Philippine cinemas on September 23, 2026.


About Jollibee

Jollibee is a global restaurant brand best known for its world-famous Chickenjoy fried chicken. It was voted No. 1 Best Fast Food Fried Chicken in the U.S. in USA TODAY's 10Best Readers' Choice Awards for three consecutive years and garnered multiple accolades in various markets.  It is the #1 QSR in the Philippines, Vietnam, and Brunei.  Guided by its purpose to serve great-tasting food and bring the joy of eating to everyone, Jollibee continues to bring people together through joyful dining experiences across more than 1,800 stores in 16 countries. Jollibee is the flagship brand of Jollibee Group, one of the fastest-growing restaurant companies in the world.

 

About DreamWorks Animation’s Forgotten Island

Your best friendship is worth fighting for.

DreamWorks Animation, the studio that brought you unforgettable bonds between a boy and a dragon in How to Train Your Dragon, an ogre and a donkey in Shrek, and a robot and a gosling in The Wild Robot, now welcomes a dazzling and emotional story about two lifelong best friends who must come together before they drift apart in Forgotten Island.


The new original film is written and directed by Academy Award® nominee Joel Crawford and Januel Mercado and is produced by Academy Award® nominee Mark Swift, the filmmaking team behind Puss in Boots: The Last Wish.


Grammy- and Academy Award® winning supernova H.E.R. and Liza Soberano (Lisa Frankenstein, Alone/Together) star as high school graduates Jo and Raissa, who have been best friends since grade school but are now about to embark on separate life paths.


While celebrating their last night together, Jo and Raissa stumble upon a mysterious portal that transports them to the fantastical island of Nakali, packed with magical and mythological creatures they grew up hearing stories about from their Filipino families. 


Some of these figures will become friends, some foes. Joined by well-meaning-but- hapless weredog Raww (Dave Franco) and a small-but-mighty pack of pals, Jo and Raissa must face The Dreaded Manananggal (Tony Award-winning icon Lea Salonga), the most feared creature on the island. When they discover that the memories of their entire friendship are the price for returning home, Jo and Raissa will race to find a way to leave the island before they forget each other forever.


The film’s all-star voice cast also includes Emmy nominee Jenny Slate (Marcel the Shell with Shoes On, Dying for Sex), Manny Jacinto (The Good Place, Top Gun: Maverick), BAFTA nominee Dolly de Leon (Triangle of Sadness, Ghostlight), global comedy superstar Jo Koy (Haunted Mansion, Jo Koy: Live from Brooklyn) and Emmy winner Ronny Chieng (The Daily Show, M3GAN). 


DreamWorks Animation’s Forgotten Island is distributed by Universal Pictures.

 

About DreamWorks Animation

DreamWorks Animation, a division of the Universal Filmed Entertainment Group, within NBCUniversal, a subsidiary of Comcast Corporation, is a global family entertainment company with feature film and television brands. DreamWorks' feature heritage includes many of the world’s most acclaimed films and beloved franchises, including Shrek, Puss in Boots, Kung Fu Panda, How to Train Your Dragon, Trolls, The Boss Baby, Madagascar, The Bad Guys, Gabby’s Dollhouse and The Wild Robot. Collectively, these theatrical film properties have grossed more than $17 billion worldwide. DreamWorks Animation’s television studio is one of the world’s leading producers of high-quality, animated family programming, reaching consumers in more than 190 countries with a diverse array of original streaming series and films. The company’s deep portfolio of intellectual property is supported by a robust, worldwide licensing and consumer products practice, as well as award-winning brand experiences through Universal Destinations & Experiences theme parks, live entertainment and more.

 

About Universal Pictures

Universal Pictures is a division of Universal Studios (www.universalstudios.com). Universal Studios is part of NBCUniversal. NBCUniversal is one of the world’s leading media and entertainment companies in the development, production and marketing of entertainment, news and information to a global audience.  NBCUniversal owns and operates a valuable portfolio of news and entertainment networks, a premier motion picture company, significant television production operations, a leading television stations group, and world-renowned theme parks.  NBCUniversal is a subsidiary of Comcast Corporation.


Thank you for reading. Catch you in the next one!

-BENCH

 

Friday, September 4, 2026

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BLACKPINK [DEADLINE] Pop-Up Store, Mall of Asia, PH

There are some things in life that you are so sure you will never do, until something unexpectedly changes your mind.

For me, becoming a K-pop fan was definitely one of those things. I was never really into K-pop, and honestly, I never imagined myself following a Korean girl group, learning their songs, watching their performances, and eventually becoming part of a fandom. Then my co-blogger Jexx introduced me to BLACKPINK, and everything changed. The first BLACKPINK video I watched was “DDU-DU DDU-DU,” which was released way back in 2018, and I remember being amazed by the girls. I did not know it at the time, but that music video would eventually start my journey as a BLINK.

Thursday, September 3, 2026

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Manila, Philippines (September 2, 2026) — In a country known for its warm smiles, love for coffee, and sweet merienda traditions, usmile believes that healthier oral habits should be part of everyday Filipino life. Guided by its "Prevention Over Treatment" philosophy, the global professional oral care brand introduces its science-backed solutions designed for modern lifestyles.

 

"Oral care should be proactive. By combining science-backed innovation with user-friendly products, we hope to make preventive oral care a lasting habit for Filipinos," said Dr. Jitao Liu, usmile Chief R&D Scientist.

 

Here are usmile’s specialized solutions designed to meet different oral care needs and lifestyles:

 

  1. Optical White 2.0 “Purple Corrector”: Instant Whitening


Leading the lineup is the Optical White Toothpaste, usmile's flagship whitening toothpaste for Filipinos who enjoy weekend café hopping or are always ready for spontaneous selfies. Powered by advanced stain-dissolving technology, its purple color-correcting formula effectively whitens teeth and helps maintain a brighter smile for up to 16 hours, making it ideal for busy days that stretch from morning coffee to evening celebrations.

Sunday, August 30, 2026

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Manila, Philippines, August 28, 2026 – Global AI devices provider HONOR Philippines brought together some of the country’s most recognizable personalities and golf enthusiasts for the inaugural HONOR Magic V6 Golf Cup on August 24, marking the launch of its latest flagship foldable with a day of friendly competition, camaraderie, and action on the course.