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PRESS RELEASE
For Immediate Release
ABS-CBN Anti-Piracy and Content Security Head Warns
Filipino TV and Film Fans on Malware Sites
Thingverse.com, Storia.me, Crowdrise.com among those
cited as malicious sites showing ABS-CBN content
DALY CITY, CA, November 30, 2017 - “Two in five U.S. consumers have fallen victim to an online phishing attack,” according to a 2017 Cyber Monday Phishing Survey conducted by DomainTools, a Seattle-based company that helps security analysts turn security data into threat intelligence to prevent cyberattacks.
And to make things worse, as USA Today reported from DomainTools studies, there will be many more victims even if 91% of consumers are aware that online crooks will create spoofed websites or send phishing emails that impersonate trusted, big-name retailers or brands.
As holiday online buying activities continue to break records, ABS-CBN International issued a warning to anyone interested in Filipino news and entertainment content that its anti-piracy efforts are finding more malware and phishing sites showing up on Google.
“To be clear, websites that appear to offer ABS-CBN TV shows and movies for free on the web other than authorized sites like TFC.tvoutside of the Philippines are sites that are really attempting to grab user private information such as passwords, banking information, home address and the like,” said ABS-CBN AVP, General Counsel & Head of Global Anti-Piracy and Content Security Elisha Lawrence.
Lawrence specifically cited several malicious websites likeThingverse.com, a malware spam site which advertises the most current ABS-CBN TV episodes on Google to lure people to click on the site, and Storia.me and Crowdrise.com which advertise the daily ABS-CBN TV episodes but in fact are phishing sites created to grab user information.
Lawrence reminded the public to stay away from all sites advertising complete episodes of ABS-CBN TV shows and full features films online other than authorized sites like TFC.tv, ABS-CBN’s official accounts on video-sharing websites or social media or reputable subscription video-on-demand services.
“TFC.tv is your online source of currently airing ABS-CBN and TFC shows and Filipino movies and it’s a very expansive hub of Filipino news and entertainment content and other exclusives,” Lawrence said. “Be wary of other sites offering the content for free. Don’t pay the high price of losing your key private personal information to online criminals over a malicious free offer that seems too good to be true. Remain vigilant to avoid identity theft or financial loss.”
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MEDIA CONTACT:
NERISSA M. FERNANDEZ
Head, Global Corporate Affairs & PR
ABS-CBN International
2001 Junipero Serra Blvd., Ste 200
MOBILE: 650.455.8616
DALY CITY, Nov 29, 2017 --- TFC, the world’s largest and leading Filipino news and entertainment brand, and Remitly, the easy, fast, and affordable way to send money to the Philippines from a computer or mobile device, have partnered to bring Filipinos all over the world the first-ever digital Christmas caroling experience, Namamasko Po! The Kapamilya Christmas Carols. The project will bring the Filipino Christmas spirit to Kapamilyas around the world.
“I came to realize that in countries like the U.S., you get more trick-or-treaters than you get Christmas carolers,” said Head of Global Events Ricky Resurreccion, a migrant who has lived away from the Philippines for many years. He adds: “Mas maraming nananakot, kaysa sa nangangarolling.” (There are more people trying to scare you, than those bringing good cheer through caroling). Anecdotal to some but true for most, there is a sentimental longing for celebrating Christmas the way it is done in the homeland, especially given that the Philippines is famous for having the world’s longest Christmas season.
“Namamasko Po!” is an online live event that brings the viewer 12 days of happy, hopeful, and comforting sounds of a true “Paskong Pinoy” (Filipino Christmas) to celebrate the holiday the Filipino way while they’re thousands of miles away from home. Various Kapamilya artists like Erik Santos, Jed Madela, Jona, Jason Dy, Klarisse, Nyoy Volante, Yeng Constantino, and more will brighten the holidays for Filipinos in the U.S., Canada, the U.K., Australia, and the Philippines.
Remitly Senior Marketing Manager Katrina Tioseco shares that many Remitly customers who moved away from the Philippines claim that “Iba pa rin ang Pasko sa Pinas,” (Christmas in the Philippines is incomparable). This project seeks to bring the Filipino Christmas spirit to them that they have missed so much.
Tioseco explains that “Namamasko Po!” hopes to fill in that gap. “By supporting the creation of the first-ever digital Christmas caroling experience, we hope to spread more of the holiday cheer and deliver some of that uniquely Pinoy Christmas spirit wherever they are in the world.”
Launching December 1, “Namamasko Po!” will feature a Kapamilya artist each day for twelve days to sing and greet viewers live, with pre-selected Christmas songs. Recording live from Manila, the broadcast will be available to viewers on TFC Online in the U.S., Canada, U.K., and Australia at their respective time zones and on Facebook Live on the Kapamilya TFC Facebook account
TFC and Remitly are excited to have the project spread Pinoy holiday cheer. Resurreccion points out how technology can really be an enabler, especially this season. He said, “It’s cool that technology has come a long way where something as personal and real-time like Christmas caroling can be experienced in a unique but familiar way. It is truly going to be a wonderful treat for global Filipinos.”
Tioseco notes how “Namamasko Po!” can inspire the community to come together: “This is a truly innovative collaboration with TFC, where we see both teams pushing boundaries in terms of delivering engaging, celebrity-packed content that's designed to reach as many overseas Filipinos as possible, online. We hope they enjoy the songs and Christmas carols by their favorite artists, and invite them to join the hundreds of thousands of Filipinos who enjoy great exchange rates when they send money home withRemitly.”
True to the season of giving and sharing, “Namamasko Po!” is free. Spread the word and share the Christmas spirit. “Namamasko Po! The Kapamilya Christmas Carols” can be seen from December 1-12 onTFC.tv/NamamaskoPo and on Facebook.com/KapamilyaTFC. All subscriber levels of TFC.tv will have access to view the live broadcast as well.
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Media Contact:
Pia Lopezbanos-Carrion
With Additional Text by:
Marianne Ferrer-De Vera
ABS-CBN Global Corporate Affairs and PR
632 415 2272
Catch an Encore Presentation of the BA Special Documentary “Beyond News: 15 Years of Balitang America”
DALY CITY, Calif, Nov 21, 2017 – This Thanksgiving, TFC’s flagship newscast, BA, will be showing an encore presentation of their one-hour documentary Beyond News: 15 Years of Balitang America. The first part of the one-hour documentary will be telecast on November 23, Thursday and part two will be shown on November 24, Friday, 6:45 P.M. Beyond News highlights the beginnings, the growth and the impact of BA in the last 15 years.
BA Executive Producer Troy Espera says they are excited to have another opportunity to share the documentary with viewers across North America. Espera shares that the men and women behind BA “feel so much gratitude to our Filipino community for not just watching our newscast, but for fueling our newscast with their stories, their insights, and the countless tips and leads they give us about news that they want to see. So, sharing the story of BA again with them during the Thanksgiving break, a story they very much helped create, is just one way for us to express how grateful we are to our viewers and community.”
BA has been the leading news source for Filipinos in North America since 2002. It is the only daily newscast that covers anything and everything that matters to Filipino Americans and Filipino Canadians.
The team takes their commitment and responsibility to provide fair and balanced journalism very seriously.Former North America News Bureau Chief Ging Reyes, now the Head of Integrated News and Current Affairs at ABS-CBN Corporation, emphasizes that the mission and the challenge for BA is “still to go after the truth, to tell the stories, to dissect issues and present those issues the way they would really affect people and make sure people understand how these issues will really have an impact in their lives.” Espera echoes Reyes’ statements and admits that the BA team debates, researches, and does fact checking daily.“At the end of the day, our goal is to be balanced as possible. It can be challenging at times, but this work is part of the BA team’s DNA.”
In return, viewers in the U.S. and Canada express their gratitude and appreciation to BA for reporting news that matter to the Filipino American and the Filipino Canadian communities. Espera shares that “In this age of social media, it’s fantastic how much of a direct line our viewers have to us on BA. Viewers frequently reach out to us, via Facebook or Twitter, to thank us for reporting on certain topics that impact them, for teaching them new things in our reporting, and for highlighting fellow Filipinos who make all of us in the community proud.”
Aside from the replay of the BA special, another fun way that BA is expressing their gratitude to their followers and viewers is through a BA15 Trivia Contest on Facebook. Every Friday, a trivia question about BA is posted on the official Facebook pages of BA, TFC-US, and TFC-Canada. Viewers who would like to participate can leave their answer as a comment on the post, and they will be entered into the drawing for an exclusive BA15 duffle bag. Two winners will be announced every Monday.
Go to www.facebook.com/balitangamerica/ or www.facebook.com/TFCUSOfficial/ orwww.facebook.com/TFCCanadaOfficial/ to join.
BA remains committed to produce stories that empower and news that connect our viewers for the years to come.
ABS-CBN North America Managing Director Olivia De Jesus proudly shares that “BA is the only daily news program made for Filipino Americans and Filipino Canadians. So, that is as current and as relevant as you can get. We have a wide network of reporters and correspondents. So, if you want your dose of news and community features, BA is the platform to go to.”
Watch Beyond News: 15 Years of Balitang America (Encore Presentation). Part 1 is on Thursday, November 23 at 6:45 P.M. and Part 2 is on Friday, November 24 at 6:45 P.M. on TFC.
Media Contact:
Pia Lopezbanos-Carrion
ABS-CBN International – TFC
s2001 Juniperro Serra Blvd, Ste. 200
Daly City, CA 94014
ABS-CBN Files Lawsuit Against 22 Pirate Sites in US Federal Court
for Copyright and Trademark Infringement
All pirate sites currently shut down; Filipino media and entertainment network seeks damages of over US$40 million
DALY CITY, CA, May 3, 2017 – In a continuing effort to protect its intellectual property from global piracy, Filipino media and entertainment network ABS-CBN recently filed a Complaint and a Motion for Temporary Restraining Order in U.S. Federal District Court against 22 pirate websites for damages of over US$40 million. On May 1, the federal judge in the case granted a preliminary injunction order. All of the domains are currently blocked and shut down.
“As mentioned before, we are committed to implementing the zero tolerance policy on piracy of ABS-CBN Global COO Raffy Lopez. We know that over ninety percent of these pirate sites contain malware which can harm people by stealing the banking and personal information from their computers or phones. We will continue to shut down these pirate sites to protect the public from harm. There is only one genuine ABS-CBN internet subscription service that is safe for our fans to use and that is TFC and TFC.tv,” said ABS-CBN AVP & Head of Global Anti-Piracy Elisha Lawrence.
The domains are listed below, along with their current status:
ANNOUNCEMENT OF OFFICE RELOCATION
ABS-CBN International (TFC U.S.) is pleased to announce that effective January 1, 2017, we shall be moving from our current office at 150 Shoreline Drive, Redwood City, CA 94065 to the address below:
2001 Junipero Serra Blvd, Suite 200
Daly City, CA 94014
Beginning December 20, 2016, all mails should be sent to the aforementioned new address of our corporate office in Daly City.
We also have a new warehouse address below where ABS-CBN Star Kargo customers can drop off their cargo boxes for shipment to the Philippines starting December 27, 2016:
1142 Cherry Avenue
San Bruno, CA 94066
The email addresses of employees and our company website, www.tfc-usa.com, remain unchanged. In the meantime, calls to the trunk line (+1650-508-6000) will receive an automated voice message regarding the ongoing migration to our new office telephone system.
Thank you for your continued support and we look forward to welcoming you to our new home soon.
ABS-CBN International
Home of TFC U.S.
PRESS RELEASE
For Immediate Release
Cinematografo Originals Contest’s first ever winners are Filipino Americans H.P. Mendoza and Diane Paragas.
Their works will be screened at the Cinematografo Film Festival in November this year.
Cinematografo Originals Contest Announces Grant Winners
H.P. Mendoza’s “Bitter Melon”, Diane Paragas’s “Yellow Rose” Make History as the First Winners of the new Film Competition
and Head for the Cinematografo Film Festival in November
DALY CITY, CA, April 3, 2017 - CINEMATOGRAFO Originals Contest, the new film competition launched this year by ABS-CBN International that provides seed grants for full-length features, either documentary or narrative, has announced its winners.
The contest proudly unveiled the two filmmakers and their works which topped the search that started in January: “Bitter Melon” by H.P. Mendoza, a dark story about how a Filipino American family spends its Christmas holiday conspiring to kill the black sheep of the family, and “Yellow Rose” by Diane Paragas, a story about a 15-year-old Filipino girl who dreams of being a country music star despite the ridicule of everyone around her.
Mendoza is a San Francisco-based filmmaker most known for his work as writer-actor-composer for “Colma: The Musical” (2006) and director-writer for his follow-up queer musical film, “Fruit Fly” (2009). After writing and performing music for David Lewis’s “Longhorns” (2011) and writing Richard Wong’s sex comedy, “Yes, We’re Open” (2012), Mendoza returned to writing-directing via the psychological horror film, “I Am A Ghost” (2014). In 2016, the music, movies and 3D digital art of Mendoza were celebrated at the San Francisco Art Musuem as part of “Takeover” -- Mendoza’s own “indoor block party”. He recently finished work on “Next Week”, a multimedia experience based on his time with IDEO.org and JPMorgan Chase focusing on poverty alleviation and low-income Americans.
Paragas is an award-winning documentary film director and commercial director. Her works have appeared on SHOWTIME, BET, Discovery, MTV, Bravo and PBS. Paragas started her career in advertising then went on to work at MTV and for Discovery Asia. She is also the founder and owner of New York City-based Civilian Studios. She has directed award-winning commercials for Fortune 500 companies and is repped by the prestigious Rascal Films. In 2012, she produced and directed the feature documentary, “Brooklyn Boheme”, which premiered in February on SHOWTIME networks. The documentary, which was co-directed and co-produced with Nelson George, celebrates the post-Civil Rights artistic movement of Fort Greene Brooklyn and features Spike Lee, Chris Rock, Rosie Perez and Saul Williams, to name a few.
CINEMATOGRAFO was made open to all U.S. citizens and/or U.S. permanent residents of Filipino descent, 18 years or older. The contest awards a $100,000 production grant. This is a path to have stories realized on the big screen. CINEMATOGRAFO Originals Contest winners will highlight theCINEMATOGRAFO International Film Festival to be held this November in San Francisco.
The contest criteria are 40% Story and Premise, 20% Presentation, 20% Plot and Pacing and 10% Theme.
“The Selection Committee had a tough time reviewing all the entries as these are excellent works. We congratulate H.P., Diane and also everyone who made the contest possible. We are committed to providing a platform for a new generation of U.S.-based Filipino or Filipino American filmmakers to bring their uniquely Filipino films to the world stage. CINEMATOGRAFO International Film Festival this November will be the premier event for that purpose,” said Film Festival Executive Director John-D Lazatin, also the Global Head of Theatricals of ABS-CBN International.
TFC Brings ABS-CBN Star Magic 25 Celebration
to Canada and U.S. this April
Join Piolo, Sam, Jodi, Kim, Xian, Enrique, Liza, Arci, Darren and Eric in all-day family activities in Vancouver;
Janella, Robi and Rayver join entire cast in California’s Great America in Santa Clara
DALY CITY, CA, April 3, 2017 - Today, when the words, “ABS-CBN Star Magic”, are heard, an electric feeling of excitement and energy shoots up quickly among multitudes of fans around the world. And with very good reason.
What began in 1992 as the ABS-CBN Talent Center – a stable of new stars in training and development for ABS-CBN – has grown to be the leading source of global Filipino pride with the rise of its world-class TV and film actors and actresses, recording artists, concert and stage performers, and commercial talents whose collective body of work has entertained several generations of Filipinos in the past 25 years.
On the occasion of its Silver Anniversary, ABS-CBN Star Magic is poised to deliver its biggest and brightest year ever in its history. After its star-studded kick-off on the longest running Filipino weekly variety show, “ASAP”, last February, #StarMagic25 is raring to go around the world – in cooperation with ABS-CBN The Filipino Channel (TFC) -- to thrill millions of its fans abroad as a way of thanking them for their enthusiastic support for a quarter of a century.
British Columbia Leg: April 9 at Queen Elizabeth Theatre in Vancouver, Canada
The North America leg of #StarMagic25 happens right in the beginning of the second quarter in the Year of the Rooster. Starting in Canada, come this Sunday, April 9, Sunday, in Queen Elizabeth Theatre in Vancouver, 10 of the biggest and brightest Filipino celebrities will bring magic for the entire family with topnotch entertainment. TFC in Canada also marks its 10th anniversary with this celebration. In fact, this is just the kick-off to TFC Canada’s biggest year of events as the country observes its 150th anniversary.
Piolo Pascual, Sam Milby, Jodi Sta. Maria, Kim Chiu, Xian Lim, Enrique Gil, Liza Soberano, Arci Munoz, Darren Espanto and Eric Nicolas will provide a wide breadth of entertainment with this diverse powerhouse cast.
Doors open to the public at 2:00pm. Everyone is encouraged to download and use the TFC Live app for a more complete and engaging event experience right to the minute.
Fun activities include: Fancam at the lobby so they will see the backstage action with stars interacting with them via live cam, photo booths of top TFC shows, “Ang Probinsiyano”, “A Love to Last” and “My Dear Heart”, and some surprise celebrity appearances.
During the pre-show on-stage, there are “Star Magic Fanatic Ka Ba?” which is a trivia contest about Star Magic open to all ticket holders, and “Bring Me The Magic”, a “bring me” game. Both activities are hosted by Eric Nicolas.
San Francisco Bay Area Leg: April 15 at California’s Great America, Santa Clara
The cast grows bigger as it flies to familiar territory – California’s Great America, the site of many memorable and historic TFC events – for another activity-packed day on April 15. Here, the 10 stars will be joined by Janella Salvador, Robi Domingo and Rayver Cruz!
The day starts with the Star Magic 25 Fam Run at 8:00am which invites all ticket holders to join a 3k morning jog with Jodi, Liza, Enrique, Arci, Janella and Eric! The first 25 finishers will get a very special treat: a photo op session with Piolo!
At 10:00am, subscribe to TFC-IPTV at the TFC Pavilion and you’ll get the chance to be part of Picture With The Stars (Great America Pavilion Area). Thefirst 50 Kapamilyas who subscribe to TFC’s IPTV Video on Demand automatically get this special treat with Kim, Xian, Liza and Enrique!
Also at 10:00am is Bring Home the Magic at TFC Pavilion (Great America Pavilion Area). Exclusive souvenirs like Star Magic 25 t-shirts and retail merchandise of fan-favorite teleserye shows from the TFC Experience Store will be made available.
There is also a Photo Booth of top TFC shows, “Ang Probinsiyano”, “A Love to Last”, and “My Dear Heart” starting at 10:00am also at the TFC Pavilion. Watch for the celebrity appearances of Sam, Janella and Robi from 12:30pm-1:00pm at the Star Magic Photo Booth (Great America Pavilion Area).
From 10:30am-5:00pm, there is the Sinemarathon at the Great America Theater. Your ticket entitles you not only to all activities, the main show and the rides, but also a day-long chill time at the movies! Enjoy movies like “My Exs and Whys”, “Starting Over Again” and “Bride For Rent”. Watch for a surprise celebrity appearance during the Sinemarathon!
At 11:00am, there is Dance na Dance at the Great America Pavilion with 20 dancers getting the chance to dance and shoot a music video with Arci and Rayver!
Three activities start at noon: there is Chat and Play, fun games with Kim Chiu, Robi Domingo and Eric Nicolas!
There is also The Good Hour at noon at the Peanuts Playhouse, which is story-telling by Jodi, serenading by Darren and singing with Bantay Bata Voice, a children’s choir local to the Bay Area. This is brought to fans by ABS-CBN Foundation International.
And the third is Star Magic Hoops at the California’s Great America Half-Court Area for some basketball challenge with Xian and Rayver!
Then at 1:00pm, there is Star Magic Sing at the Great America Pavilion– an open mic with Sam and Darren!
Main show starts at 5:00pm at the Redwood Amphitheater.
For tickets and more information about #StarMagic25 on April 9 in Queen Elizabeth Theatre in Vancouver, Canada, visit http://www.tfc-ca.com/starmagic25/ , and in California’s Great America, Santa Clara on April 15, visit http://www.tfc-usa.com/starmagic25/
TFC@theMovies Brings Hit Comedy “Ang Babae Sa Septic
Tank 2: #ForeverIsNotEnough” to the U.S.
Eugene Domingo, Jericho Rosales, Kean Cipriano and the rest of the gang
to bring big laughs to theaters starting January 27
DALY CITY, CA, January 25, 2017 – Before the Filipino indie blockbuster hit, “That Thing Called Tadhana” (That Thing Called Fate), became the highest grossing Filipino independent film of all time in 2015, there was this film described by Richard Kuipers of Variety as “a lively laffer about cynical filmmakers planning a ‘poverty porn’ drama solely for the purpose of scoring free travel to international film festivals”.This claimed the highest grossing Filipino indie film crown in 2011. In fact, it became the official entry of the Philippines in the Best Foreign Language Film category of the 84th Academy Awards.
The movie, “Ang Babae Sa Septic Tank” (The Woman in the Septic Tank), starred JM De Guzman, Kean Cipriano and Cai Cortez as three film school graduates who, thirsty for fame, are dead-set on making the ultimate Filipino misery movie for the sole purpose of winning international recognition and awards and all the perks that go with these. Their muse is actress Eugene Domingo (who plays an exaggerated version of herself). The satire, directed by Marlon Rivera from the screenplay of Chris Martinez, was a critical and commercial success.
The good news is that this hilarious filmmaking team is back for the sequel called, “Ang Babae Sa Septic Tank 2: #ForeverisNotEnough”. After lampooning the independent filmmakers in the first film, the funny sequel satirizes the mainstream film industry. The film will be shown in U.S. theaters starting this Friday, January 27.
Eugene Domingo and Jericho Rosales play histrionic versions of themselves in “Ang Babae Sa Septic Tank 2: #ForeverIsNotEnough
(Screengrab YouTube/Quantum Films)
This time, Eugene Domingo (who again plays an over-the-top version of herself), is ready for a comeback after a long sabbatical from moviemaking. Rainier (Kean Cipriano), who was Eugene’s ambitious director in the first film, is now an award-winning director. He and his formerly quiet-assistant-turned-excessively-glib producer Jocelyn (Cai Cortez) propose to Eugene a love story – a heartbreaking anatomy of a crumbling marriage – inspired by Rainier’s own marital situation. Eugene is thrilled and has her eyes set on Jericho Rosales (a fictionalized version of the actor played by Jericho Rosales himself) as her leading man in the movie.
But the misadventures begin to trickle in when fickle-minded Eugene starts making suggestions and recommendations that morph Rainier’s script into absurdity, countering his artistic and personal intentions for the movie.
As Rappler.com movie critic Oggs Cruz said, “Domingo… wholeheartedly commits toChris Martinez’s cleverly designed script that spells out his stark observations on how commercial romantic movies are so formulaic that even the performances in those films can be categorized.”
Cruz added: “If there is one thing that most viewers will remember from Marlon Rivera’s Ang Babae sa Septic Tank 2: #ForeverIsNotEnough, it is that scene where Eugene Domingo, covered only by a towel, tells her 3-person audience the 3 ways to act heartbroken.”
“This movie is a worthy follow-up to the classic first film,” said John-D Lazatin, ABS-CBN global head of theatricals. “The script is smart, the acting is precise and the direction is even. It’s a clever comedy: people will die laughing because they will see the truth in all humor. We’re proud to have brought this film to the international moviegoing public.”
Completing the cast are Joel Torre, Khalil Ramos, Iñigo Pascual, Agot Isidro, Hannah Ledesma, Gui Adorno and director Joyce E. Bernal. For a complete list of theaters where “Ang Babae Sa Septic Tank 2: #ForeverisNotEnough” is shown, visithttps://www.tfc-usa.com/septictank2/
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