Manila Tambayan

Author: Merrel Briona

  • GMA Network releases Christmas station ID for 2026

    GMA Network releases Christmas station ID for 2026

    "Liwanag Natin Ang Isa't Isa" celebrates kindness and compassion through the symbolism of sharing candlelight.

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  • New Democratic Congressional Majority Preparing Barrage of AI Legislation

    New Democratic Congressional Majority Preparing Barrage of AI Legislation

    After delivering a hard blow to the MAGA-aligned Republican party in this week’s midterm elections, signs are emerging that the new Democratic majorities in the House and Senate are planning to crack down hard on the tech industry that closely aligned itself with Donald Trump’s second administration.

    According to Reuters, Democrats are already preparing a barrage of new legislation taking aim at AI, particularly the labs that create frontier models and the data centers that power them.

    The new regulations will reportedly include controls aimed at protecting residents from rising energy prices associated with the data center boom, as well as a bill meant to define what kind of product liability laws AI labs have to follow.

    While both would be blows to a tech industry which has largely run wild under Trump, holding AI companies liable for harms caused by their products might be a particularly effective way of reining in the excesses of the AI buildout.

    Concerns around the incoming regulatory regime sparked a massive sell-off of AI-chip related stocks, resulting in the largest single-day loss for the tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite in history. Still, there are signs that Democrats want to play nice with business interests. Californian Representative Zoe Lofgren, who’s angling to chair the House Science Committee, told Reuters that that the party will pursue “responsible regulations ​for AI while also fostering innovation.”

    With the tech changing rapidly and a heated narrative about competition with China’s tech sector, that could be a tricky balance. Above all, whether Democratic party leadership has the stones to go toe-to-toe with the wealthiest corporate interest group on the planet remains to be seen. Still, the gears are clearly turning — and where there’s a will, voters evidently hope Democrats can find a way.

    More on AI: Investors Are Getting Palpably Nervous About the AI Industry’s Financial Situation

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  • Alibaba’s “HappyShrimp” App Officially Launches, AI Generates a Full Song in One Click, Subscriptions Start at 150 Taiwan Dollars per Month

    Alibaba’s “HappyShrimp” App Officially Launches, AI Generates a Full Song in One Click, Subscriptions Start at 150 Taiwan Dollars per Month

    Alibaba’s (9988.HK) AI music creation platform “HappyShrimp” officially launched its app version on November 13, arriving simultaneously on Apple’s App Store and major Android app stores, with the App Store version already updated to 0.2.14. Users simply describe the genre, mood or story they want in natural language, and the system handles the entire process from lyrics and composition to arrangement and vocal performance.

    The tool was developed by Alibaba’s ATH (TokenHub) business group and first appeared as a PC web Beta on August 17 this year, launching in mainland China and overseas markets at the same time. Its move from browser to mobile phone signals that the product is now formally aimed at the mass market.

    Unlike most tools on the market that split lyric writing, composition and arrangement into separate steps and then stitch them together, HappyShrimp takes an “end-to-end integrated full-song generation” approach. The platform treats music as a special kind of language with grammar, semantics and context. Faced with user-specified conditions such as lyrics, genre, mood, era and vocals, the model does not process them separately and then combine them, but plans holistically and creates in sync, while accounting for long-range structure, generating a complete song in one pass.

    The interface offers two modes: “smart lyrics” and “instrumental.” Users who already have lyrics can paste them in and let the AI handle composition, arrangement and vocals.

    On pricing, standard membership in mainland China costs about 30 yuan (roughly 150 Taiwan dollars) per month and allows 150 songs, or about 0.2 yuan (roughly 0.99 Taiwan dollars) per song. Overseas markets use a different scheme, with membership starting at US$14.9 per month (roughly 490 Taiwan dollars) and credit packs starting at US$9.9 (roughly 330 Taiwan dollars).

    Plan Price Songs generated
    Mainland China standard membership 30 yuan per month (roughly 150 Taiwan dollars) 150
    Overseas membership From US$14.9 per month (roughly 490 Taiwan dollars) Depends on plan
    Overseas credit pack From US$9.9 (roughly 330 Taiwan dollars) Depends on plan

    Note: Currency conversions are for reference only; actual prices are subject to the platform’s announcements.

    HappyShrimp is the third product launched under Alibaba’s “Happy series” of AI models. The series uses “Happy” as its naming theme and gradually extends generative AI capabilities from text and images to music creation. For Alibaba, this step is both a new attempt at monetizing its models and a training ground for pushing AI tools into consumer paid subscriptions.

    From an industry perspective, competition in the AI music generation track has clearly heated up this year. Internationally, players such as Suno and Udio focus on rapid song generation, and several Chinese internet platforms have also entered the fray. Alibaba is entering with “integrated full-song” generation and low-priced subscriptions; whether it can build stickiness among creators and general users will be a key thing to watch. For investors, HappyShrimp’s revenue contribution remains limited for now, but its subscription model and overseas pricing strategy can be seen as a bellwether for Alibaba’s ability to monetize AI products.

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  • Aktres sinulot ang endorsement dahil mas mura ang TF; ABS-CBN world No. 1 sa views!

    Aktres sinulot ang endorsement dahil mas mura ang TF; ABS-CBN world No. 1 sa views!

    TRULILI kaya ang nasagap naming balita na second choice ang female personality bilang mukha ng produktong ie-endorso niya dahil nagbagsak presyo ang management niya.

    Kilalang aktres ang prinesenta ng ahensya sa may-ari ng produkto at umokey na at inaayos na lang ang mga dokumento para mag-pirmahan na.

    Laking gulat ng ahensya na nag-present sa kilalang aktres sa may-ari ng produkto dahil biglang tumawag na hindi na tuloy dahil may ibang nakuha na ang partner nito sa negosyo.

    “Nagkaroon ng sulutan, ‘yung partner na shareholders ay nakilala nu’ng management ni (female personality) at sinabi nag anito lang ang talent fee kaya kunin na. Siyempre gustong makatipid tsaka kaya kinuha na nga siya.

    Baka Bet Mo: Klarisse de Guzman dawit na rin sa JMFyang blind item

    “Si (unang choice), naligwak kaya naloka ‘yung manager at ;yung ahensya na nag-present kasi tapos na ang usapan magkaka-pirmahan na lang,” kwento mismo ng taga-opisina ng may-ari ng produkto.

    Dagdag pa, “Nalaman nga ni boss na ‘yung manager ni (second choice) nanunulot ng projects ang dami na palang ginawan ng ganito na. Pero siyempre si boss doon siya sa makakatipid.”

    Well, ‘yung second choice ay okay din naman bilang endorser ng produkto pero siyempre iba ang premium kung natuloy sana ‘yung unang kausap na personalidad.

    “Sabi ni boss, kahit sino pa ang endorser bibilhin pa rin naman ‘yung product namin kasi essential, pero siyempre nakaka-sossy kung natuloy na si (first choice),” ani pa.

    ***

    Lubos ang pasasalamat ng ABS-CBN sa mga manonood sa Pilipinas at iba’t ibang parte ng mundo matapos makakuha ng pinakamaraming views sa buong mundo ang ABS-CBN Entertainment YouTube para sa media and entertainment category.

    Nakalikom ito ng 72.6 bilyong total views nitong October 2026, ayon sa datos ng Tubular Labs. 

    Sa Pilipinas naman, numero uno rin ang ABS-CBN Entertainment sa YouTube para sa lahat ng kategorya para sa total views (72.6 billion) at subscribers (55.3 million).

    Tinatangkilik din ng mga manonood ang ibang social media platforms ng ABS-CBN para sa Facebook, Instagram, at TikTok.

    No. 1 Facebook page sa Pilipinas ang ABS-CBN para sa entertainment genre batay sa views (726 million) at followers (47.5 million). 

    Nangunguna rin sa bansa ang ABS-CBN Entertainment sa Instagram para sa views (859 million) at engagements (19.5 million). 

    Numero unong TikTok account din sa Pilipinas ang ABS-CBN Entertainment sa media and entertainment category batay sa followers (14.6 million) at engagements (48.4 million).

    Ang rankings para sa views at engagements ay batay sa datos ng Tubular Labs mula noong September 2026, habang ang mga ranking para sa followers ay mula noong October 2026.

    Ang Tubular Labs ang kilalang industry standard pagdating sa global social video measurement at creator rankings na sumusukat sa digital footprint ng mga platform tulad ng YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, at Twitch.

    Mula sa full episodes ng mga kasalukuyan at classic shows hanggang sa highlight reels at exclusive digital videos, patuloy ang ABS-CBN sa paghahatid ng mas maraming paraan para ma-enjoy ng mga manonood ang kwentong Pilipino saanmang sulok ng mundo.

    Nananatiling tapat ang ABS-CBN sa layunin nitong maglingkod sa mga manonood sa pamamagitan ng mga palabas na nagbibigay-inspirasyon, impormasyon, at saya.

    The post Aktres sinulot ang endorsement dahil mas mura ang TF; ABS-CBN world No. 1 sa views! appeared first on Bandera.

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  • Ang Aking Buwanang Dalaw

    Ang Aking Buwanang Dalaw

    As the Philippines grapples with a growing plastic waste problem, disposable sanitary napkins raise questions about affordability, menstrual health, and sustainability.

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  • Contiki launches eight new Travel Worlds, invites young travelers to ' Go Wander'

    Contiki launches eight new Travel Worlds, invites young travelers to ' Go Wander'

    Go Wander is the first stage in a multi-year transformation focused on a single-minded purpose—getting more young people exploring the world.

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  • Own the full suite of Microsoft Office apps for life for .99

    Own the full suite of Microsoft Office apps for life for $47.99

    TL;DR: Get Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and more with a lifetime license to Microsoft Office 2024 Professional Plus, now $47.99 (reg. $249.99) with code DEAL20.

    Most people get Word, Excel, and PowerPoint through a Microsoft 365 subscription. If that subscription lapses, the desktop apps drop into a read-only mode until payment resumes. If you’d rather own the apps outright, try a Microsoft Office 2024 Professional Plus lifetime license, a one-time purchase of the full desktop suite for Windows. You pay $47.99 (reg. $249.99) once with code DEAL20.

    Six apps and no subscription

    Microsoft Office 2024 Professional Plus includes Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, OneNote, and Access. Each app installs on your PC and works without a cloud connection, so you can write and edit offline.

    Your license is tied to one Windows 10 or Windows 11 PC rather than your Microsoft account. That setup suits offices with controlled IT environments, and there’s no Microsoft 365 subscription to keep active. Your redemption code and download instructions arrive by email right after checkout, so setup can start within minutes.

    Pro Plus keeps a fixed feature set instead of adding new tools every month, so the menus you learn this week look the same next year. You still get regular security updates for the supported lifecycle. Built-in security and compliance features also make this edition a good fit for businesses in regulated industries.

    The best tech deal this week

    The Apple iPhone 18 Pro is free right now with T-Mobile

    Day to day, the interface has a dark mode option, and Pro Plus runs well on modest hardware, including older Windows 10 laptops that still meet the system requirements.

    On the downside, this version doesn’t run on a Mac, and the license can’t move to a new PC later. You have seven days after purchase to redeem the code. Once you redeem it, the sale is final, so confirm your PC runs Windows 10 or Windows 11 first.

    Own your Office apps instead of renting them.

    Get a lifetime license to Microsoft Office 2024 Professional Plus for $47.99 with code DEAL20. Offer ends Nov. 15.

    StackSocial prices subject to change.

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  • Chikana nakabili ng bahay, kotse dahil sa pagiging content creator!

    Chikana nakabili ng bahay, kotse dahil sa pagiging content creator!

    PHOTO: Instagram/@paupelaez_

    KAHIT nagme-makeup lang sa harap ng camera, nakabili na ng sariling bahay at sasakyan!

    Ito ang proud na ibinunyag ni Pau Pelaez, mas kilala sa social media bilang Chikana, matapos tanggapin ang parangal bilang Beauty and Fashion Creator of the Year ng naganap na TikTok Philippines Awards 2026.

    Personal na nasaksihan ng BANDERA ang pagkilala sa mga natatanging content creator sa awards night na ginanap noong November 5, kung saan ipinagdiwang ang mga personalidad na nagbibigay-aliw, inspirasyo,n at positibong impluwensiya sa kanilang mga followers.

    Isa nga sa mga nagningning sa gabing iyon si Chikana, na limang taon nang gumagawa ng content at nagbabahagi ng kanyang hilig sa beauty at fashion sa social media.

    Baka Bet Mo: Davao Conyo bilang TikTok Creator of the Year: ‘I thank God, the Original Creator!’

    Sa kanyang acceptance speech, aminado siyang hindi niya akalain na ang kanyang hilig sa beauty and fashion ay magdadala sa kanya sa ganitong kalaking tagumpay.

    “Oh my gosh, kinikilig ako! Sorry po medyo kinakabahan ako kasi hindi po ako sanay sa mga ganito kasi introvert po talaga ako, hindi lang talaga halata. Pero firstly, gusto ko magpasalamat sa lahat-lahat,” bungad niya.

    Sey pa niya, “Sa supporters, sa friends ko, sa family ko and especially po kay Lord. Grabe, award. Kasi in my five years of content creation, hindi ko po talaga na-expect na makakarating ako sa ganito.”

    “Like, oh my God, dahil po sa TikTok, thank you so much TikTok kasi I finally bought a house. I finally bought a car…Hindi ko po na-expect talaga, na kaka-make up ko nakarating po ako sa ganito. Thank you, thank you so much TikTok for giving us this wonderful platform. Kasi maraming opportunity ang na-open dahil sa TikTok,” aniya pa.

    <iframe src=" width="267" height="476" style="border:none;overflow:hidden" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" allow="autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowFullScreen="true"></iframe>

    Sino nga ba ang mag-aakalang ang dating simpleng paggawa ng makeup content ay magbubukas ng maraming oportunidad para sa kanya?

    Kaya naman hindi nakapagtataka kung emosyonal ang kanyang naging reaksyon sa pagkapanalo. 

    Bilang Beauty and Fashion Creator of the Year, isa si Chikana sa mga Pinoy content creator na kakatawan sa Pilipinas sa TikTok Awards Southeast Asia 2026.

    Gaganapin ang regional awards sa November 27 sa Bali, Indonesia, kung saan makakasama ng mga Pinoy ang mga kinatawan mula sa limang iba pang Southeast Asian markets.

    Kabilang din sa mga Pinoy creators na nagwagi sa kani-kanilang kategorya sina Davao Conyo, Spencer Serafica, Margaux Nonato, Juri Imao, Louise Anne Nagal, Belle Rodolfo, Jericho Mark Asis, Jomar Yee, Ryssi Avila, at Aeriel Jan Tolentino.

    The post Chikana nakabili ng bahay, kotse dahil sa pagiging content creator! appeared first on Bandera.

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  • Ombudsman to step up lifestyle checks on BIR, BOC execs amid bribery reports

    Ombudsman to step up lifestyle checks on BIR, BOC execs amid bribery reports

    The Office of the Ombudsman will conduct intensified lifestyle check on officials of the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) and the Bureau of Customs (BOC) amid reports of its officials collecting bribe money, Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla said Friday.

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  • Becky Armstrong taps Manila for 1st world tour kick-off

    Becky Armstrong taps Manila for 1st world tour kick-off

    Becky Armstrong will mark a special return to the Philippines next month as she debuts her first-ever world tour.

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