OBRA
The Pyromusical Competition at SM MOA is ultimate Valentine’s date
10:49 p.m. February 14, 2025
Love is in the air—and in the fireworks! This Valentine’s Day weekend, February 15, 2025, ignite your romance with an incredible date night at the 12th Philippine International Pyromusical Competition (PIPC) at Seaside Boulevard of Mall of Asia (MOA) Complex.
Co-presented by SM Development Corporation (SMDC) and Suzuki, the PIPC offers the perfect blend of breathtaking spectacle, live music, and romantic experiences, making it the ultimate Valentine’s Day destination.
A symphony of lights and music
Imagine this: You and your loved one, hand-in-hand, gazing up at the night sky as dynamic explosions of color dance to the rhythm of music. The PIPC’s synchronized pyrotechnic displays are more than just fireworks; they’re a symphony of light and emotion, creating a magical atmosphere that will leave you both breathless. And this year, the romance is amplified with a special Valentine’s Day treat: a live performance by the popular band, Lola Amour! Their music will set the mood for an unforgettable evening.
Romance takes center stage this Valentine’s season during the 12th Philippine International Pyromusical Competition (PIPC) at the Seaside Boulevard of Mall of Asia Complex, with a special live performance by Lola Amour.
Pre-show fun and games
But the romance doesn’t stop with the fireworks. Make the most of your Valentine’s Day at SM MOA with a variety of pre-show activities designed to spark connection and fun. Test your competitive skills at the SM Game Park MOA, unleash your inner artist with drip painting at ARTBEAT, explore the immersive Space & Time Cube at S Maison, or level up your gaming experience at the Space Arcade at S Maison. These shared experiences create lasting memories and add a playful touch to your date.
Romantic dining with a view
Before the fireworks light up the sky, indulge in a romantic dinner at one of SM MOA’s diverse restaurants, offering everything from cozy Italian trattorias to elegant fine dining. For the best views of the show, consider booking a table at restaurants like Olive Garden, Lechoneria, Bulgogi Brothers, Pepper Lunch, Fely J’s, CBTL, Watami, Italiannis, Racks, Tenya, Gerry’s Grill, TGIF, Maple Tree, Du Hsiao Yueh, Mesa, and Dong Won, with options to satisfy every palate and budget, and even special Valentine’s Day packages at select locations.
And to complete your perfect Valentine’s Day, head to a cozy coffee shop or dessert place like Aperitif or After Tree for a sweet ending to your evening.
A world-class competition
The PIPC, the Philippines’ longest-running pyrotechnic competition, enjoys a global reputation for impressing audiences. This year, eight of the world’s top pyrotechnic teams, including the reigning champions, will showcase their explosive artistry in a bid for pyro supremacy. They will be captivating attendees over five consecutive Saturdays, from February 15 to March 15, with an awe-inspiring, synchronized symphony of light, sound, color, and emotion.
Here’s the full competition schedule:
| Date | Country | Team |
| February 15 | Philippines | Platinum Fireworks Inc. (Opening Exhibition) |
| Austria | SteyrFire | |
| February 22 | France | Luxfactory Fireworks |
| China | Polaris Fireworks Co. Ltd. | |
| March 1 | USA | Rozzi Fireworks |
| Germany | Steffes-Ollig Feuerwerke | |
| March 8 | South Korea | Faseecom |
| United Kingdom | Pyrotex Fireworx | |
| March 15 | Canada | Royal Pyrotechnie |
| Philippines | Platinum Fireworks Inc. (Closing Exhibition) |
Guests can choose from a variety of seating options to best enjoy the spectacular pyrotechnic displays:
- February 15, 22, March 1, and March 8:
- Patron: P3,000
- VIP: P800
- Gold: P500
- Silver: P200
- March 15 (Grand Finale):
- Patron: P3,000
- VIP: P1,000
- Gold: P600
- Silver: P250
Tickets are available at the official 12th PIPC Booths inside SM MOA. Here are the locations:
- Level 1, North Entertainment Mall (In front of IMAX)
- Level 1, South Entertainment Mall (In front of Toby’s Sports)
- Level 1, South Main Mall (In front of Charles & Keith)
- Level 1, South Main Mall (In front of Panda Express)
- Level 1, South Entertainment Mall (In front of Haidilao)
- Level 3, South Main Mall (In front of Macao Imperial)
Tickets are also available at all SM Ticket outlets and via the SM Tickets website.
For more information on exciting SM Supermalls events, visit www.smsupermalls.com or follow @SMSupermalls on social media.
OBRA
Maya takes the waiting out of HR
1:52 p.m. September 5, 2026
For the third consecutive year, Maya, the country’s leading digital financial services platform, has been recognized at the HR Excellence Awards Philippines, this time for reworking how employees get everyday work done, receive feedback and navigate their careers.
The thinking behind much of that work mirrors how Maya builds its digital payments and banking products — find the friction and take it out. Why should routine work have to wait for HR?
Maya has been moving more everyday transactions into self-service, giving employees and managers direct ownership of processes that previously required HR manual intervention, and using technology—including AI—to take repetitive work out of the way. In parallel, the company has redesigned how performance and career development are handled.
At the 2026 awards held at Grand Hyatt Manila, among around 64 companies that participated across various categories, Maya received a Silver Award for Excellence in Performance Management Evolution and a Bronze Award for Excellence in the Use of HR Tech and was named a finalist in five additional categories: Employee Engagement, Employer Branding, Leadership Development, Talent Acquisition and Talent Management.
The shifts are concrete. Employees can now generate commonly requested documents — such as their own Certificates of Employment as support documents for travel, bank and loan application requirements—while managers can initiate transfers, promotions and other team changes directly in the system instead of routing inputs through manual consolidation and uploads.
AI is applied the same way. For BIR Form 2316 validation, Maya uses AI-assisted checks to flag inconsistencies at submission, allowing HR teams to focus on exceptions rather than reviewing every form entry manually. AI is also being used for LinkedIn recruitment sourcing and market data.
OBRA
Where art meets innovation: TCL unveils A400 Series Lifestyle TV for modern Filipino homes
8:11 a.m. June 14, 2026
For those seeking a television that seamlessly complements an artful aesthetic, TCL Electronics has delivered the ultimate solution. As the No. 1 Panel TV brand in the Philippines and a global leader in both televisions and air conditioners, TCL finally introduces the TCL A400 Series.
Designed for modern Filipino homes, this premium lifestyle TV masterfully blends elegant, gallery-like aesthetics with deeply immersive entertainment.
True to its design-centric philosophy, the TCL A400 Series perfectly complements an artful home. Modern televisions are no longer just about entertainment; they are vital to a household’s overall lifestyle and aesthetic. With the A400 Series, TCL completely redefines the role of a television in the modern living space.
“Once again, TCL elevates home entertainment and viewing pleasure with the introduction of the A400 Series. Every detail is meticulously engineered to enhance your home display while delivering an indulgent sensory experience. We know how excited you are for this, so we’re thrilled to finally share it with you!” says Maxi Chen, TCL Senior Product Manager of Brownline.
Beyond Screen, Beyond Imagination
If the idea of owning a design-forward art TV inspires you, the A400 Series, namely A400M and the A400 Pro, are both built to exceed your highest expectations. Prepare to immerse yourself in an entirely new standard of home entertainment. Both models share the same key selling points, including the Ultra Slim Design, QD-Mini LED technology, Art Gallery Mode, and ONKYO 2.0 Hi-Fi Sound System.
For a true art-gallery feel, the A400 Pro is equipped with an anti-reflection Matte HVA Panel that eliminates distracting glare. In contrast, the A400M features a traditional, high-contrast HVA Panel.
Both TVs double as a digital canvas when not in use. It effortlessly converts any room into a personal gallery, pre-loaded with hundreds of iconic artworks spanning centuries of art history.
The TCL A400 Series has more than 100,000 pre-generated Al artworks from classical style to impressionism. Just tap on the style and theme, and you get to personalize your screen to your style in seconds.
When it comes to color performance, TCL QLED technology utilizes advanced Quantum Dot materials integrated across multiple layers. By incorporating a high light-transmittance film, the system improves optical efficiency and delivers a 10% energy saving for the entire machine. Paired with precision backlighting, this innovation renders more than a billion hues of exceptionally vivid colors. The enhanced brightness illuminates subtle details, offering an immersive, lifelike viewing experience that effortlessly unveils hidden nuances in every frame.
Ready for a truly smart TV? The TCL A400 Series is packed with next-generation AI, built right from the ground up. Powered by TCL’s own quantum supercomputing platform and the advanced Mariana database, this TV actually learns and evolves over time. Thanks to built-in intelligent agents, it automatically optimizes your entertainment across four game-changing pillars: AI picture, AI sound, smart interaction, and AI-driven content creation. It’s not just a screen—it’s a smarter way to watch.
At the heart of the A400 Series is the TSR AiPQ Processor, a highly intelligent chip engineered with powerful AI capabilities. By integrating TCL’s proprietary image-tuning algorithms with advanced intelligent perception, the processor delivers precise, pixel-level optimization for all visuals. Working in tandem with the TCL AI model, it ensures that every frame bursts with vibrant dynamism, layered depth, and natural clarity for true-to-life realism.
For a superior audio experience, the TCL A400 Series features a built-in ONKYO Hi-Fi System. As a global leader in high-end audio with over 80 years of home theater expertise, ONKYO has defined world home theater standards seven times. This premium audio integration ensures the A400 Series delivers an unmatched, deeply immersive acoustic performance for any home setup.
Elevate your living space with the sophisticated elegance of the all-new TCL A400 Series. The latest premium lifestyle television is now available at all authorized TCL dealers nationwide.
The A400M TV with black frame is exclusively available at Abenson with the A400 Pro with a wooden frame is exclusively available at SM Appliances. For more details on the TCL A400 Series, log on to www.tcl.com.
OBRA
Freedom to experience: Redefining what it means to live VIP
9:21 p.m. June 12, 2026
Every June, Filipinos celebrate freedom; not only as a part of our nation’s history, but as a reminder of the opportunities, possibilities, and experiences available to us today.
At BingoPlus VIP Club, freedom means more than just the ability to choose. It means having the opportunity to experience more, explore more, and celebrate life’s milestones in extraordinary ways.
Over the past months, BingoPlus VIP Club has continued to create experiences that go beyond traditional rewards. From exclusive celebrations and luxury travel opportunities to unforgettable events, VIP Club has been focused on delivering moments that members can truly remember.
Recently, the very first BMW winner was recognized during the exclusive BingoPlus Night Gala, marking a major milestone in the VIP Club’s ongoing commitment to rewarding and celebrating its members. It was more than just an awarding of a luxury vehicle; it was a reflection of how experiences can transform ordinary moments into lifelong memories.
This spirit of freedom is also reflected in the VIP Club’s growing portfolio of experiences. Whether it’s a luxury getaway, a private celebration, a premium event, or exclusive access to once-in-a-lifetime opportunities, BingoPlus VIP Club continues to expand what it means to be recognized beyond the game.
As the Club prepares for an exciting new chapter this July, members can look forward to a refreshed experience built around a simple but powerful belief:
Freedom is not simply about where you can go.
It’s about how far you can elevate.
This Independence Day, we celebrate the freedom to experience more, connect more, and create unforgettable moments together.
Because true luxury isn’t just about what you have.
It’s about the experiences that stay with you long after the moment has passed.
Welcome to the journey.
Welcome to the future of VIP.
Welcome to the New Nobility.
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