Entertainment Archives

The Rise of LGBTQ+ Empowerment: A Celebration of Diversity and Inclusion

22/12/2023

In recent years, support for the LGBTQ+ community has experienced a significant surge in strength and visibility. LGBTQ+ is an acronym that stands for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer or Questioning, with the “+” representing other sexual orientations and gender identities not explicitly mentioned. The term encompasses a diverse range of individuals who identify as non-heterosexual or non-cisgender, highlighting the inclusivity of the community. LGBTQ+ individuals have historically faced discrimination, prejudice, and marginalization, leading to the development of various advocacy groups and social movements to fight for their rights and equality. The LGBTQ+ community is a vibrant and diverse group, encompassing people from all walks of life, backgrounds, and cultures. Highlighting support for LGBTQ+ The increase in support can be attributed to several key factors. Firstly, the growing acceptance and understanding of diverse sexual orientations and gender identities have played a vital role. Society has become more open-minded, challenging traditional norms and embracing the idea that love and identity are not confined to limited definitions. This shift in attitudes has created an environment where individuals feel more comfortable expressing their true selves, leading to a greater demand for LGBTQ rights and protections. Additionally, the rise of social media has played a pivotal role in amplifying LGBTQ voices and connecting communities worldwide. Platforms such as Twitter, Instagram, and TikTok have provided a space for individuals to share their experiences, stories, and struggles, fostering a sense of solidarity and empowerment. This virtual interconnectedness has allowed LGBTQ individuals to find support and build networks, creating a stronger sense of community that transcends geographical boundaries. Furthermore, the LGBTQ rights movement has gained momentum through the tireless activism and advocacy efforts of individuals and organizations. From grassroots movements to high-profile campaigns, activists have fought for equal rights, increased visibility, and societal acceptance. Their efforts have raised awareness about the challenges faced by the LGBTQ community and have successfully pushed for policy changes and legal protections. This activism has not only influenced public opinion but has also inspired others to join the cause, resulting in a growing support base. Evident support for LGBTQ+ The use of LGBTQ+ endorsers in brand marketing serves multiple purposes. It helps to break stereotypes and challenge societal norms. By featuring LGBTQ+ individuals in advertisements, brands can help dismantle discriminatory attitudes and promote acceptance. This representation is crucial as it helps to normalize LGBTQ+ identities and experiences in the mainstream media. It sends a powerful message to LGBTQ+ individuals that they are seen, valued, and supported by these brands. One evident support for the LGBTQ+ community is the increasing use of LGBTQ+ individuals as endorsers for brand marketing. This trend is a powerful reflection of the growing acceptance and recognition of the LGBTQ+ community in mainstream society. By featuring LGBTQ+ endorsers, brands not only showcase their commitment to diversity and inclusion but also send a strong message of support and solidarity to the LGBTQ+ community and its allies. A notable example of this can be seen in the recent advertisement campaign by McDonald’s, a globally recognized fast food chain. In this campaign, McDonald’s chose Vice Ganda and Paolo Ballesteros, both well-known celebrities from the LGBTQ+ community, as their main endorsers. By selecting these individuals, McDonald’s not only tapped into their immense popularity but also made a bold statement about their support for LGBTQ+ rights. This move not only resonated with the LGBTQ+ community but also garnered attention and praise from a wider audience who appreciate and value diversity and inclusion. According to a study conducted by Capstone-Intel, a reputable research agency, McDonald’s achieved an impressive engagement score of 29,247.4 based on their total post count of 564. This resulted in an impressive total reaction count of over 134,614. Upon further analysis, it was found that “Facebook love” accounted for 49.9 percent of the total reactions, with a substantial 67,108 reactions. Following closely behind were “Facebook like” with 51,666 reactions (38.4 percent), “Facebook haha” with 7,251 reactions (5.4 percent), “Facebook wow” with 7,047 reactions (5.2 percent), “Facebook sad” with 1,458 reactions (1.1 percent), and “Facebook angry” with 84 reactions.

Get to know the Iconic Ex-Vocalist of Eraserheads: The Notable Legacy of Ely Buendia

21/12/2023

Ely Eleandre Basiño Buendia or commonly known as Ely Buendia, is a Filipino musician, singer, songwriter, and author who was discovered as the guitarist, lead vocalist and main songwriter of the famous ‘Eraserheads’ (a Filipino alternative rock band formed in 1989) and also the lead vocalist and rhythm guitarist of ‘Pupil’ (a Filipino rock band which was formed in late 2004 to 2005). On November 2, 1970, around 6:20 in the morning, Buendia was born in Naga City at his parents’ house. He is Ely Revilla Buendia and Lisetta Ruiz Basiño’s second child. In Ragay, Camarines Sur, on October 30, 1964, his parents got married. When he began playing the guitar at the age of seven, his mother taught him Kundiman for the first time. Buendia completed his elementary education at Pasig Catholic College in Pasig in 1983, his high school education at University of Perpetual Help in Rizal, and his preparatory education at Naga Parochial School, a Catholic institution in Naga City, Camarines Sur. After enrolling at the University of the Philippines Diliman, Ely went on to create a number of bands, including ‘Sunday School’ and ‘Bluidie Tryste’, before becoming the ‘Eraserheads’. At the University of the Philippines Diliman, when Buendia was majoring in cinema at the College of Mass Communications (having started his first year of college in 1987), he, Raimund Marasigan, Marcus Adoro, and Buddy Zabala established the band Eraserheads in December 1989. After realizing they were not very good at covering other people’s songs, the band decided to write more of their own songs. Soon enough, the Eraserheads and BMG Pilipinas agreed to a three-year contract. Their first album called ‘Ultraelectromagneticpop!’ featured a number of novelty songs that got people listening and learning more about the band, including their number-one song ‘Pare Ko.’ The record also made the public aware of the nascent underground college rock movement. The surge of “Eraserheadsmania” in 1993 was fueled by their string of hit singles, packed arenas, and devoted fan base. Buendia kept penning songs for the group, several of which went on to become band standards and major singles. With the departure of Buendia and Adoro, Eraserheads eventually broke up after ten years together. The band released eight studio albums, many EPs, and singles over its ten-year tenure. Their trips around the US and other nations carried them outside of the nation for their engagements. The Asia-Pacific area saw the publication of one album, Aloha Milkyway. In addition, Eraserheads became the first Filipino group to ever win the “Moon Man” award for their popular song “Ang Huling El Bimbo” music video, which took home the 1997 MTV Asia Viewer’s Choice Award. Buendia also wrote the latter, one of the band’s many releases. August 30, 2008, was a one-night-only reunion event at The Fort Open Grounds in Bonifacio Global City, Taguig, where Buendia performed with Adoro, Zabala, and Marasigan. But once Buendia passed out from emotional strain, the show had to halt. Ely apparently passed out backstage during a break and was taken to the Makati Medical Center, although they had already reached halfway through their scheduled 30-song setlist. The findings indicated that Buendia had hypokalemia and a mild episode. This is Buendia’s third angioplasty since 2007, which was carried out immediately after the physicians at Philippine Heart Center discovered another clogged artery. The hospital released Buendia on September 5, 2008. The influence of Ely Buendia on Philippine music goes beyond only his compositions. He is regarded as a national treasure and a representation of the lively music landscape of the nation. His compositions, which express the hopes, challenges, and aspirations of Filipinos, have become anthems for successive generations of Filipinos. Numerous bands and musicians who have drawn inspiration from Buendia’s work attest to his effect on Filipino songwriting. This is proved through his last major appearance on ‘Last Rakrakan Festival.’ Capstone-Intel’s social intelligence report revealed that fans shows continuous support for Ely based on the research company’s study conducted last November 28, year 2022 to November 28 of this year 2023. On social media platform, Facebook, a comprehensive analysis of 113,600 reactions reveals the following breakdown: 59,071 (52%) were distinguished as likes, 44,751 (39%) were categorized as ‘love’ reactions, 8,252 (7%) ‘wow’ reactions, 1,408 (1%) were ‘haha’ reactions, 99 (0.087%) were ‘sad’ reactions, and 19 (0.016%) were ‘angry’ reactions. The keyword ‘Ely Buendia’ generated significant engagement on multiple Facebook pages of news agencies and influencers. Specifically, the page belonging to Samsam Gullas received an engagement score of 3,838.4, while GMA News scored 2,186.1. The post from Samsam Gullas’ Facebook page received a total of 2,598 (36%) ‘wow’ reactions, 2,481 (34.36%) ‘love’ reactions, 2,022 (28%) likes, 107 ‘haha’ reactions, 11 ‘wow’ reactions and 1 ‘angry’ reaction.

Why OPM and Pinoy Rock are the best

21/12/2023

Generally, Filipinos are known to be musically inclined. Most of us are fond of singing at karaoke, creating improvised lyrics, making catchy beats, and joining singing contests. In fact, we have seen many reaction videos of foreign people on YouTube who are often shocked at how we deliver high notes and how serious we can get in just singing at a coin-operated karaokes in any place and chance we have. OPM, or Original Pilipino Music, was referred to as Filipino Pop Ballads in the 1970s and 1980s. However, due to the transitional period, OPM is now categorized as any Filipino popular music that is composed and performed by a Filipino or someone who originates from our country. This is where Pinoy Rock enters; it is already common information that any gathering, such as just a regular ‘inuman’ or drinking with friends, or as big as concerts and festivals like ‘Oktoberfest,’ a festival that also involves drinking, is celebrated and enjoyed while playing and singing to the Pinoy Rock songs. We, Filipinos, are also known to be cheerful, and we find simple ways to enjoy even the littlest moments. That is why we have multiple music festivals here in the Philippines that are enjoyed by almost everyone. Some of these are the Wanderland Manila, which is a fascinating music event that unites several genres while highlighting well-known musicians and regional independent musicians, also considered among Manila’s most well-known events. As a matter of fact, Wanderland has amassed a devoted fan base known as Wanderers due to its increasing popularity. We also have the famous Hydro Manila Music Festival, wherein you can expect to be soaked while enjoying the fun of your life with the top EDM performers! One of the largest music festival productions in the nation, Hydro Manila stands out for focusing on the integration of music, water, and life. They even show off their love of music by using the hashtag #WeMakeItRain while enjoying the unrestricted flow of water. While all of these sound fun, they are not as anticipated as the ‘Last Rakrakan Festival’ which happened from November 26 to November 27, 2023, at SMDC Festival Grounds in Parañaque City. Over the course of two days, the Last Rakrakan Festival showcased the skills of over 150 renowned musicians and offered a varied spectrum of musical genres. Stars of the music industry like Rico Blanco and Ely Buendia emerged as the major attractions of this incredible occasion. The Last Rakrakan Festival gave musicians, from up-and-coming stars such as Dilaw, Adie, Rob Deniel, Kiyo, Allmost, and Just Hush to well-known artists like December Avenue, Mayonnaise, 6cyclemind, and many more, a stage on which to interact with their followers and expose music enthusiasts to fresh, intriguing sounds. In addition to the music, the festival included a variety of food vendors, retail stores, and hands-on activities to further improve the overall experience for visitors. Participants were able to experience a lively environment that honored the rich cultural legacy of Philippine music while also getting to know a variety of musical performances and sounds. This event motivated Capstone-Intel to create a social intelligence report on Pinoy Rock that focuses on how the ‘Rakrakan Festival’ drew great online support from November 28 of 2022 to November 28 of 2023. On the social media platform Facebook, Capstone-Intel has gathered a total of 2,017 posts, 34,319 comments, 54,484 shares and a total of 290,411 reactions, which if broken down, 137,380 ‘love’ reactions (47.30%), 116,117 likes (40%), 28,419 ‘haha’ reactions (9.80%), 5,011 ‘wow’ reactions (1.70%), 3,397 ‘sad’ reactions (1.20%) and 117 ‘angry’ reactions (0.10%). The highest performing post came from December Avenue who received 3,719 (82.10%) ‘love’ reactions, 658 likes, 141 (3.10%) ‘wow’ reactions, 11 (0.20%) ‘sad’ reactions, 1 (0.00%) ‘haha’ reaction and 0 (0.00%) ‘angry’ reactions. Lastly, the second highest performing post was from the Rakrakan Festival page. It received 3,112 (32.10%) ‘love’ reactions, 1,838 (30.80%) likes, 831 (13.90%) ‘wow’ reactions, 133 (2.20%) ‘haha’ reactions, 50 (0.80%) ‘sad’ reactions, and 5 (0.10%) ‘angry’ reactions.