June 2020 – Page 4 – Jellybeans in the City

Shopee kicks off Shopee Live Mega Festival featuring Kim Chiu, JC de Vera, Bela Padilla, and Marco Gumabao

From June 15 to 19, Shopee invites Filipinos to watch and interact with their favorite celebrities and win prizes and giveaways worth up to ₱3M.

Shopee, the leading e-commerce platform in Southeast Asia and Taiwan, is hosting one of the biggest livestream events in the Philippines, the Shopee Mega Live Festival. From June 15 to 19, Filipinos can tune into special livestreams with their favorite celebrities and look forward to exclusive brand deals, exciting games and more than ₱3M worth of giveaways to be won.

Ruoshan Tao, Head of Marketing at Shopee Philippines said, “We are very excited to launch the Shopee Mega Live Festival, one of the biggest livestream events in the Philippines. This mega event is part of Shopee’s plan to deliver an unbeatable Shopee Live experience as Filipinos continue to stay home and turn to online entertainment. We will continue to enhance and improve our platform to provide a fun, entertaining, and engaging shopping experience for all. We invite everyone to join in on the fun where they can interact with trending local celebrities, win exciting giveaways, and enjoy exclusive deals and promotions.”

Various participation of top celebrities, influencers, and favorite viral personalities

Livestream fans get to have a mega celeb bonding with their favorite stars through Shopee Live. Viewers get to see Kim Chiu, Marco Gumabao, 90-Day Fiance reality star Rose Vega, Bela Padilla, and many more join in mega-celebrity showdowns and friendly but competitive face-offs. Users who participate in the celebrity-showdown voting activity can stand a chance to win special vouchers, Shopee coins, and cash prizes.

Exclusive deals and promotions and ₱3M worth of giveaways up for grabs

Shopee-holics can expect mega price drops on selected items, deals as low ₱299, up to 50% discounts on selected items, and cash prizes for viewers who participate in all the games and activities during the Shopee Mega Live Festival. They also have a chance to win grand cash prizes by hosting their very own Shopee livestream. To participate, users can register on the Shopee Live Mega Festival microsite from June 10 to 13.

To know more about the Shopee Live Mega Festival, visit https://shopee.ph/m/shopee-live-mega-festival.

About Shopee

Shopee is the leading e-commerce platform in Southeast Asia and Taiwan. It was launched in 7 markets in 2015 to connect consumers, sellers, and businesses in the region.

Shopee offers an easy, secure, and engaging experience that is enjoyed by millions of people daily. It offers a wide product assortment, supported by integrated payments and logistics, as well as popular entertainment features tailored for each market. Shopee is also a key contributor to the region’s digital economy with a firm commitment to helping brands and entrepreneurs succeed in e-commerce.

Comforting ramen at Ippudo

Did you know that Tokugawa Mitsukuni, a prominent daimyo that lived during the early Edo period in 1600s, was claimed to be the first person to ever eat ramen? The dish was said to have been introduced to him by Chinese neo-Confucian scholar Zhu Shunsui who became the daimyo’s advisor after fleeing the Manchu rule in China and seeking refuge in Japan.

After a business meeting in SM Mall of Asia, my officemates and I decided to have lunch at Ippudo for a taste of its celebrated ramen.

Founded in 1985 by Shigemi Kawahara, who has been dubbed The Ramen King, Ippudo is the stage by which the famed ramen chef showcases his “tao” – the way of the ramen. This is centered on the philosophy of continuously innovating to remain true.

My lunchmates and I were able to het a taste of Ippudo’s artistry and innovation with our orders.

Tantanmen (Php520). Made with thick wavy noodles immersed in Ippudo’s signature tonkotsu (pork bone) broth infused with tantanmen oil. It topped with a generous serving of ground pork, torched chasu (pork belly), cilantro, parmesan cheese and onsen tamago.

Shiromaru Special (Php495). In this classic Hakata-style ramen, pork belly and pork loin are placed on top of ultra-thin noodles in Ippudo’s tonkotsu broth, garnished with salted soft-boiled egg and seaweed.

Shiromaru Tamago (Php420). The Shiromaru with salted soft-boiled egg.

Akamaru Special (Php499). In this modern-style ramen, a special blend of miso paste and garlic enhances Ippudo’s tonkotsu broth. Served with thin noodles and pork belly slices, it is topped by ajikikurage (flavored black fungus), salted soft-boiled egg and seaweed.

It was easy to discern the care and craftmanship that went into the ramen, from the flavorful broth, the springy noodles to the meticulously prepared toppings. These bowls are quite pricy too, so they’re not for everyday eating, but well-suited for those times when you want to treat yourself to an exceptional bowl of ramen.

You might be wondering how you can enjoy Ippudo’s carefully crafted ramen during quarantine. You would be glad to know that it recently opened some of its branches for curbside or courier pickups, making it possible for ramen lovers to have Ippudo at Home. Here’s how:

Send a message to a Yabu branch nearest you via Viber (+63 919 0744557 for SM Megamall, Greenbelt 5 and Powerplant Mall | +63 919 0744564 for Ayala Malls the 30th, Robinsons Magnolia, Ayala Malls Vertis North | +63 919 0744560 for Uptown Mall, Mall of Asia and Robinsons Place Manila)
Include the following details in your message: name, email address, birthday, date, time and store for pickup, orders and desired quantity
After receiving billing confirmation, make your payments via GCash, BPI or BDO
Send proof of payment via Viber
Arrange for pickup

So if you’ve been longing for a taste of Ippudo, fret not. Your lovely bowl of ramen is just a few phone taps away!

This Ippudo branch is located at Second Floor, Main Mall, SM Mall of Asia, Mall of Asia Complex, Pasay City.

Other branches are located at:

Robinsons Place Manila
Robinsons Magnolia
Ayala Malls Vertis North
Greenbelt 5
Power Plant Mall
Uptown Place Mall
SM Megamall
Ayala Malls the 30th
Eastwood

Hong Kong R&B artist Gareth.T releases his first single ‘best me i can’

Hong Kong R&B artist Gareth.T has released his first single ‘best me i can’ via Umami Records. A smooth R&B song filled with lush harmonies and soulful grooves, ‘best me i can’ is about making the most of our short lives, and always striving to be the best version of ourselves.

Hong Kong R&B artist Gareth.T has released his first single via Singapore based indie label Umami Records – ‘best me i can’. A smooth R&B song filled with lush harmonies and soulful grooves, ‘best me i can’ is about making the most of our short lives, and always striving to be the best version of ourselves.

Currently based out of Boston while studying at Berklee College of Music, Gareth.T shares his personal story behind the song: “I wrote this song after my grandma passed away recently. Even though we weren’t that close and it didn’t emotionally affect me too much, it really got me thinking about how short and fragile life is, and that time doesn’t really stop for anyone. So in the song I kinda reflect on my 20 years of life, and I’ve come to a conclusion, that I’m going to try to be the best me I can, everyday.”

Being a multi-instrumentalist, singer-songwriter and producer allows Gareth.T the complete creative freedom to express his own unique style, and you can hear this throughout his repertoire. In this self-produced track, Gareth.T takes influences from 80s/90s R&B and combines them with modern elements like the drums and 808s, creating a novel blend of new and old.

“I think the line ‘best me I can’ would be the most important thing in the song, and the part I like the most as it’s a really simple concept to get. But with some lush harmonies and the soulful groove, the cheesiness of the line is taken away.”, said Gareth.T.

Gareth.T has been releasing a track every month in 2020 and will be keeping up this prolific pace moving forward.

‘best me i can’ by Gareth.T is available everywhere at this link.

About Gareth.T

Hong Kong R&B artist Gareth.T coalesces the smooth tones of R&B and the rough edges of hip-hop music, using his diverse musical experience to tell his unique story. Currently based in Boston while studying at Berklee College of Music, Gareth.T was born and raised in Hong Kong, bringing an eastern metropolitan perspective to his music. A classically trained violinist, Gareth.T is also a multi-instrumentalist, singer-songwriter and producer, allowing him the complete creative freedom to express his own unique style. Gareth invites you to accompany him on his journey throughout this year as he continues to craft his soulful, experimental soundscape.

About Umami Records

Umami Records is a Singapore-based indie record label founded in 2013. Much like the “5th taste” reputation of its namesake, the label strongly believes in discovering new, interesting sounds that run underground and away from the mainstream. The label’s tight-knit, curated roster thus far has included releases from Linying, The Steve McQueens, brb., Evanturetime, CampFire, Martin Baltser, Phoria, Oriental Cravings, and more.

Image and details provided by Umami Records in a recent press release.

The Jelly List: Top picks from re-opened Marikina restos

The city of Marikina has long been a haven for food lovers. Food establishments of varied concepts and menus line many of the city’s streets and have grown to become favorites, not just of the locals but of people from other cities as well.

All was generally going well for Marikina and its restos until the COVID-19 pandemic struck and the community quarantine that followed necessitated a long pause in the operations of many dine-in food businesses.

However, with the gradual lifting of quarantine restrictions, I’m happy to see that my go-to Marikina restos are re-opening, and were even able to pivot their businesses to operate in The New Normal by making their dishes available for delivery and pickup.

So check out the restos and their offerings that I’m looking forward to revisting while still in the safety of home:

Dong Juan Marikina

Quarter-pounder patties of Dong Juan’s 100% USDA beef are now available frozen in packs of four or six for Php349 and Php549, respectively, ready to be cooked at home and enjoyed for all their tender and juicy beefiness.

To order, call +63 2 88664158 or +63 917 7095969 or send a message via Facebook or Instagram.

Don Juan Marikina is located at Lamp Quarters, Gil Fernando Avenue, Santo Nino, Marikina. More on Dong Juan Marikina here.

Tongara Ramen

With its Easy Ramen Kit, ramen lovers can now enjoy the famed Tongara Ramen at home. At Php400, the kit includes the tonkotsu + torigara (pork + chicken) broth flavored with aged soybean, chashu (pork belly), ajitama (seasoned soft-boiled egg), menma (bamboo shoots) and negi (vegetables).

To order, fill up this form or call +63 2 82903773 or +63 917 1794719 for inquiries.

Tongara Ramen is located at Lamp Quarters, Gil Fernando Avenue, Santo Nino, Marikina. More on Tongara Ramen here.

Swig & Nosh

For Php340/100g, carnivores can feast on the rich beefy flavors and buttery texture of this Certified Angus steak.

To order, call +63 2 75041757, +63 917 5062746 or +63 917 5188485.

Swig & Nosh is located at No. 6, Mt. Pleasant Street, Bgy. Santa Elena, Marikina City. More on Swig & Nosh here.

Mang Ding’s Pinoy BBQ

Rediscover Pinoy street food right at home with Mang Ding’s ready-to-grill frozen packs of Pork BBQ (Php360/20 pieces. Php560/30 pieces), Isaw Manok (Php360/20 pieces), Isaw Baboy (Php450/20 pieces) and Chicken Quarter Leg BBQ (Php390/3 pieces), all great for pairing with your favorite beers for an after-hours sesh.

To order, call +63 916 2853031.

Mang Ding’s Pinoy BBQ is located at Block 3, Lot 13, C. Buenviaje Street, Santo Nino, Marikina City. More on Mang Ding’s Pinoy BBQ here.

Over Easy

American-style barbecue lovers will love the fall-off-the-bone tender braised ribs, grilled for that rich smokey flavor, and served with Over Easy’s signature barbecue sauce.

To order, send a message over Facebook or Viber +63 917 1394800.

Over Easy is located at G&W Terraza, Mayor Gil Fernando Avenue, San Roque, Marikina City. More on Over Easy here.

Ca Phe Saigon

Pluviophiles (lovers of rainy weather, yeah, I had to Google the term too!) can warm their tummies with Ca Phe Saigon’s Pho Bo Kho (Php180 regular | Php350 large), a very fragrant noodle stew colored with achuete and flavored by lemongrass with tender pieces of beef.

To order, call +63 2 86461348 or +63 917 8016411.

Ca Phe Saigon is located at 14 Red Cedar Street, New Marikina, San Roque, Marikina City. More on Ca Phe Saigon here.

Passenger Seat

Have a boodle meal at home with Passenger Seat’s Pilipinas Boodle Flight. For Php1,499, the entire fam can feast on Chicken Inasal, Grilled Liempo, Grilled Stuffed Squid, Lechon Kawali, Daing na Bangus, Buttered Shrimp, Sinigang sa Miso na Ulo ng Salmon and Pork Sisig, served with Salted Egg, Boiled Okra, Grilled Eggplant, Ensalada, Steamed Rice and two pitchers of Iced Tea.

To order, call +63 2 73694555 or +63 917 8373695.

Passenger Seat is located at Ground Floor, Riverbanks Mall, A. Bonifacio Avenue, Barangka, Marikina City. More on Passenger Seat here.

So foodies, do show your support for local businesses and check out these re-opened Marikina restos!

Check out my other adventures compiled into Jelly Lists:

Take a pizza break with Papa John’s BOGO bundle

Since the start of the community quarantine, Hubby and I have been lucky enough to be among those able to work from home.

Aside from the greater safety this afforded to us, we were also able to avoid the hassles in commuting to our respective workplaces.

However, once we’re in the zone, we do have the tendency to tune out other stimuli, sometimes even afternoon hunger pangs.

Fortunately, Hubby made a note to have a pizza break during our work-from-day. Taking advantage of Papa John’s Buy One Get One (BOGO) Deal, he had two 12-inch pizzas for just Php569 delivered right to our doorstep:

Tropical Toss. Tasty pepperoni with shredded onions and diced tomato on top of mozzarella on a fresh oven-baked crust.

Double Meat. Italian sausages and meats bits interspersed with pineapple pieces and anchovies also on top of mozzarella on a fresh oven-baked crust.

Together with the kiddos, we took a much-needed and well-deserved pizza break to get us energized for the rest of our workday.

Papa John’s Buy One Get One deal is available for takeout and delivery via GrabFood, LalaFood and FoodPanda.

This Papa John’s branch is located at Petron Gas Station, Marcos Highway, Dela Paz, Pasig City. To order, call +63 2 88877272.

Other branches in the metro are located at:

102 Jupiter Street, Bel-Air, Makati City
Blue Bay Walk, Macapagal Avenue Corner EDSA, Mall of Asia Complex, Pasay City
87 Visayas Avenue, Vasra, Project 6, Quezon City
Ground Floor, A.M. Pacleb Building, Bayan-Bayanan Avenue, Concepcion Uno, Marikina City
N. S. Amoranto Corner Banawe Street, Santo Domingo, Banawe, Quezon City
Ground Floor, Eton Baypark, Kalaw Avenue, Ermita, Manila
Gotaco Building, MacArthur Highway, Marulas, Valenzuela
Ground Floor, Chill Hotel, McArthur Highway, South Caloocan, Caloocan City
The Rolex Place, Rolex Corner Dahlia Avenue, Fairview, Quezon City
Shell Station, C5 Corner Julia Vargas Avenue, Ugong, Pasig City
M.L. Quezon Corner MRT Avenue, Lower Bicutan, Greater Taguig, Taguig City
Lubiran Street, Bacood, Santa Mesa, Manila
VM Terminal Mall, Soldiers Hills, Putatan, Muntinlupa City
Aguinaldo Street, San Antonio, Parañaque City
Metro Gas Station, J.P Rizal Street, Nangka, Marikina City
Don Graciano Building, 1108 E. Rodriguez Sr. Avenue, New Manila, Quezon City
Kamias Road, Diliman, Quezon City
Maysilo Circle Corner San Francisco Street, Plainview, Mandaluyong City
Ortigas Avenue Extension Corner Riverside Street, Santa Lucia, Pasig City

Your moment of Serenitea can be so sweet

Hello, foodies!

Have the past three months of quarantine been getting you down?

How about a nice long cup of your favorite tea drink from Serenitea to give you that sweet little piece of bliss?

Mine was a Cookie Brulee Milk Tea (Php120 medium | Php135 large) which I enjoyed while hanging out Eastwood Cybermall with my fellow foodies.

One of Serenitea’s Cookie Brulee series, it combines two desserts with milk tea: cookies and creme brulee. With this concoction’s creamy milk tea base layered with thick and velvety creme brulee and crunchy cookie bits, you can have your dessert and drink it too. Now, how’s that for a sweet moment of bliss?

To bring you that moment of Zen that only Serenitea can give during these stressful times, Serenitea opened several of its branches for takeout and delivery via GrabFood and LalaFood. Check out Serenitea’s Facebook Page for a complete list of open branches.

Download the LalaFood App and get a free delivery coupon when you use my code: BEINGJMR53

This Serenitea branch is located at Ground Floor, Eastwood Cybermall, Eastwood City, Libis, Quezon City.

Other branches in the metro are located at:

Quezon City: Eastwood Cybermall, UP Town Center, Scout Rallos Street, Ayala Vertis North, SM North EDSA, Congressional Town Center, Banawe, Belfast Road in Novaliches, Ayala Malls Balintawak
San Juan: Greenhills Shopping Center
Pasig: The Exchange Regency, Estancia Mall, Robinsons Cyberscape Alpha
Mandaluyong: SM Megamall, Greenfield District, SM Light Mall
Makati: SM Jazz Mall, Glorietta 3, Glorietta 4, Ayala Tower One, Greenbelt, Rada Street in Legaspi Village
Taguig: Bonifacio One Technolog Tower, Burgos Circle, Venice Grand Mall
Pasay: Butterfly Garden in Newport City, Resorts World Manila, Shore Residences, Two E-com Center, ASEANA Square
Manila: Robinsons Place Manila, Elements Building
Paranaque: SM Bicutan, Ayala Malls Manila Bay, BF Homes
Muntinlupa: Alabang Town Center, Filinvest Mall
Las Pinas: SM Southmall

Check out my reviews of other milk tea joints:

Three reasons to take up coloring books as your quarantine hobby

Stuck at home because of the quarantine and you’re itching for a way to break the monotony of the days passing by?

Why not do something creative? Drawing or painting from scratch or learning to play an instrument may seem daunting but you can always start with something relatively easy. Coloring books, for example.

For quite some time now, this erstwhile niche pastime has evolved into a trendy pursuit for many, who swear by its contributions to their mental well-being. In a 2016 CNN Report, certified art therapist and Clinical Assistant Professor and NYU’s Program Coordinator for its Graduate Art Therapy Program Marygrace Berberian posited that while coloring books is not the same as completing an art therapy session, it “definitely has therapeutic potential to reduce anxiety, create focus or bring about more mindfulness.”

Wondering how coloring books can bring about a more peaceful and productive state of being? Read on.

1) It can calm a busy mind.

The basic and repetitive motions you use to fill in the intricate designs with shades and hues can engage your mind but also quiet down your anxiety.

2) It can help you catch some zzzs.

With the increase in people’s anxiety levels over the COVID-19 pandemic, the forced isolation to maintain social distancing as well as the abrupt changes in daily routines have led to many reported cases of sleeplessness.

Engaging in an relaxing spate of coloring activity instead of staring at gadget screens, or worse, news reports (!) before bedtime may facilitate a more restful slumber.

3) It can unleash your creativity.

Filling in the blank shapes in coloring books is akin to collaborating with their artists in bringing their work to life. Choosing the colors and applying various strokes are also decisions driven by your own creative vision and executed within your control.

Keep this up and maybe soon, you’ll find yourself more confident in applying your re-developing creativity and decisiveness in other aspects of your life such as your home or career.

Ready to pick up your pencils, markers and crayons but have limited access to coloring books that catch your fancy? Worry no more.

E-commerce platform Shopee hosts Shopping on the Side’s online store filled with adult coloring books sourced from all over the world. Here, you can take your pick among a wide variety of books from meditative mandala patterns, whimsical drawings of fairies, intricate illustrations of travel destinations to humorous comic strips. Shopping on the Side is well-rated by Shopee users who praise the shop’s premium and high quality inventory, immediate shipping of ordered items and secure packaging.

Ready to start on your coloring journey while on quarantine? Let me know how it goes!

Header photo by J. Kelly Brito on Unsplash

Other photos provided by Shopping on the Side.

Katsu family lunch at Yabu, Robinsons Galleria

Weekend lunches used to be the time when the fam can go out malling and spend time together, after a whole week of going our own way.

While strolling around and running errands in Robinsons Galleria one Saturday, the fam decided to have lunch at Yabu: House of Katsu. While waiting for our meal, we munched on some tasty appetizers.

Mozzarella Katsu Sticks (Php285). Large sticks of crunchy, deep-fried panko-coated mozzarella cheese tossed in Yabu’s special blend of Furikake and served with a spicy aioli dip.

Furikake Fries (Php215). Steak fries tossed in Furikake herbs.

What we actually came here for are Yabu’s Katsu Sets. Yabu’s katsus are made with generous cuts (nothing less than 0.75in) of premium pork sourced from local farmers and delivered straight to Yabu’s kitchens. Each cut is freshly made upon order, coated with fresh panko and cooked at precisely 165 deg C to achieve a bright and golden appearance and a tender and juicy texture.

Rosu (Php390 for 120g | Php445 for 180g). Thick and juicy pork cutlet with a trimming of fat.

Hire (Php405 for 120g | Php485 for 180g). Thick and juicy cutlet with no fat.

Each katsu set is served with refillable Yabu staples which include white rice, miso soup, shredded cabbage and fruits.

Prior to our meal, we took part in the Yabu ritual of preparing our katsu dips. This consists of grinding toasted sesame seeds in a small bowl, pouring the salty-sweet and slightly tart katsu sauce into the bowl, and mixing both until we get our desired consistency. For me, the katsu dip is as essential to the katsu experience as the pork cutlets themselves. It goes so well with the katsus and adds another dimension of flavor to the dish.

Another part of the Yabu experience is the warm and friendly service from the wait staff, who were quick to accommodate our requests and anticipate our refill orders.

Ever since the community quarantine was implemented, I’ve been missing having that katsu experience. Imagine my delight when I discovered that it recently opened some of its branches for curbside or courier pickups, making it possible to have Yabu at Home. Here’s how:

Send a message to a Yabu branch nearest you via Viber (+63 929 7426357 for Ayala Malls the 30th, SM Megamall, SM Aura and Powerplant Mall | +63 999 8871401 for Glorietta 2, Mall of Asia, Alabang Town Center and Robinsons Place Manila | +63 919 0744572 for UP Town Center, SM North EDSA and Robinsons Magnolia)
Include the following details in your message: name, email address, birthday, date, time and store for pickup, orders and desired quantity
After receiving billing confirmation, make your payments via GCash, BPI or BDO
Send proof of payment via Viber
Arrange for pickup

If you’ve been longing to have that Yabu experience, this is your best bet for the meantime.

This Yabu branch is located at Level 2, Robinsons Galleria, Ortigas Center, Quezon City.

Other branches are located at:

Pasig: Ayala Malls the 30th, Ayala Malls Feliz
Quezon City: UP Town Center, Robinsons Magnolia, Ayala Vertis North, SM North EDSA The Block
Mandaluyong: SM Megamall
Taguig: SM Aura Premier
Makati: Powerplant Mall, Glorietta 2
Manila: Robinsons Place Manila
Muntinlupa: Alabang Town Center
Las Pinas: SM Southmall
Pasay: MOA Main Mall

Shopee partners with CJ ENM to bring KCON online, featuring Kpop icons

Shopee Live Kpop Fest kicks off on June 10, with an exclusive free screening of KCON:TACT 2020 Summer featuring GFRIEND, (G)I-DLE, ITZY, MONSTA X, Stray Kids, and more from June 20-26

Shopee, the leading e-commerce platform in Southeast Asia and Taiwan, partners with Asia’s leading entertainment and lifestyle company CJ ENM to bring KCON, the world’s largest Korean culture festival, online for the first time.

KCON is a highly-anticipated annual event for Kpop fans across the globe, entering its ninth year of bringing the ultimate Korean culture fan experience worldwide including the US, Japan, and Thailand. It will go online for the first time in Southeast Asia and Taiwan, with Shopee as the official live stream partner for the KCON:TACT 2020 Summer concert. This partnership will see Shopee air live performances, concerts, and more from KCON:TACT 2020 Summer for free to users on Shopee Live.

KCON:TACT 2020 Summer will be the highlight of Shopee Live Kpop Fest, which will kick off on June 10. Launched in collaboration with CJ ENM, the festival aims to meet the growing demand for online entertainment amid social distancing measures in the region. Popular Kpop groups including GFRIEND, (G)I-DLE, ITZY, MONSTA X, and Stray Kids will also make special appearances on Shopee Live, while Shopee users can enjoy daily Kpop themed streams and challenges.

Agatha Soh, Head of Regional Marketing at Shopee said, “Shopee is proud to be the exclusive partner of CJ ENM to stream KCON:TACT 2020 Summer to fans in Southeast Asia and Taiwan for the first time, as part of Shopee Live Kpop Fest. This partnership builds on our efforts to connect people through entertainment and shared experiences, and comes after a series of successful collaborations with Kpop stars. Shopee Live Kpop Fest and KCON:TACT 2020 Summer reflect our commitment to meet evolving needs, as people around the world stay home and turn to online entertainment. We look forward to more exciting collaborations with CJ ENM in the future.”

Don Kim, General Manager of Global Festival at CJ ENM said, “KCON is the largest festival of Korean culture in the world. Bringing the festival online, we have lined up an amazing experience for KCON:TACT 2020 Summer including interactive events with state-of-the-art technology, a star-studded concert lineup, and more. We are excited to go above and beyond what fans have experienced so far, and we are excited to partner with Shopee for fans in Southeast Asia and Taiwan to join the festival.”

From June 10 to 26, avid Kpop fans can look forward to a wide range of live streams and challenges daily at Shopee Live Kpop Fest, including:

Exclusive appearances by popular Kpop idols, WJSN and Weki Meki on Shopee Live at 8PM (GMT +8) on June 10 and 15 respectively. Users can enjoy first-hand access to the groups with exciting performances, interviews, games, and more in each stream.
Daily Kpop themed challenges for fans to show off their knowledge, recreate iconic Kpop looks, and more. The best fans stand to win attractive prizes such as vouchers and signed merchandise from their favorite idols.

Shopee will mark the finale of Shopee Live Kpop Fest by screening KCON:TACT 2020 Summer on Shopee Live from 20 to 26 June. Shopee users and Kpop fans can look forward to seven consecutive days of non-stop entertainment, including live concerts and interviews by some of the biggest Kpop stars in the world, including GFRIEND, (G)I-DLE, ITZY, MONSTA X, and Stray Kids.

Stay tuned for more updates on KCON:TACT 2020 Summer and Shopee Live Kpop Fest at http://shopee.ph/m/live-kpop-fest

Download the Shopee app for free via the App Store or Google Play.

About Shopee

Shopee is the leading e-commerce platform in Southeast Asia and Taiwan. It was launched in 7 markets in 2015 to connect consumers, sellers, and businesses in the region.

Shopee is a part of Sea Limited (NYSE:SE), a leading global consumer internet company. In addition to Shopee, Sea’s other core businesses include its digital entertainment arm, Garena, and digital financial services arm, SeaMoney. Sea’s mission is to better the lives of consumers and small businesses with technology.

CNN and Sesame Street’s townhall showed parents how to talk to kids about racism

These are very disturbing and confusing times. Adding to difficulties that the global community is facing because of COVID-19 are the difficult issues of racism in the US, as well as the Anti-Terrorism Bill and other concerns locally.

We may or may not choose to discuss these issues with other adults but children may be looking at us, their parents, to shed some light on the things they hear about when they turn on the TV, hear the adults talking or when they speak among themselves.

In a 60-minute TV special titled “Coming Together: Standing Up to Racism,” CNN and Sesame Street answered questions from kids and parents alike regarding racism and the recent US-wide protests as well as called for embracing diversity, empathy and understanding.

Joining hosts CNN commentator Van Ross and CNN anchor Erica Hill are Sesame Street characters such as Big Bird, Elmo, Abby Cadabby, Gordon and Maria, as well as resource persons such as Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms, American Academy of Pediatrics Chair on Minority Health, Equity and Inclusion Dr. Nia Heard-Garris, authors Dr. Beverly Daniel-Tatum and Jennifer Harvey, Ph.D., among others.

Sesame Street hasn’t shied away from dealing with and explaining difficult concepts to kids. I remember that one of my first encounters with the concept of death was when the adults in the show explained to Big Bird that Mr. Hooper has died and will not be coming back. Maria, David, Bob and Susan all supported and reassured Big Bird through his confusion and sadness, a good example for parents to follow when explaining the death of a family member to young kids.

Through frank yet gently put discussions on topics from how to act when encountering racist acts to expressing support and empathy to people of color encountering racism, the show hand-held kid viewers and their parents as they navigated through a complex issue.

This show has made me wonder: what complex issue are we facing as a nation, and how do we explain it to our children? Would we have the same sensitivity and care in broaching and discussing such topics to out kids.

“Coming Together: Stand Up to Racism” was aired on CNN (SKYcable ch 28 SD | ch 181 HD) on June 6, 10pm. The full town hall may be viewed online at CNN’s website.