The inaugural “Sama-sama sa Angel’s Pizza” TikTok Singing Contest, an electrifying celebration of talent and creativity, reached its pinnacle yesterday with the Grand Finals held at Viva Café in Cyberpark Tower 1, Araneta City, Cubao, Quezon City.

The contest, inspired by the catchy Sama-sama sa Angels Pizza Jingle conceived in early 2023, garnered overwhelming participation, with over 100 contestants from various corners of the Philippines showcasing their vocal prowess and charisma.

Mr. Justin Liu, Executive Chairman of Figaro Coffee Group, commended the success of the event, highlighting its remarkable achievement despite minimal promotional efforts. Four exceptional finalists emerged victorious after rigorous eliminations, each representing a distinct region of the country.

The top honors were clinched by Karl Aris Tanhueco from Pampanga, who captivated the audience and judges with his exceptional talent. Renz Robosa from Pangasinan secured the first runner-up position, while Julianna Charmagne Sunto of Batangas City claimed the title of second runner-up. Arvin John Sualibio of Navotas City rounded up the top positions as the third runner-up, leaving an indelible mark with their remarkable performances.

The prizes awarded were as follows:

• Grand Winner: P50,000 cash, P5,000 Gift Certificate, and Trophy

 • 1st Runner-up: P25,000 cash, P5,000 Gift Certificate, and Trophy 

• 2nd Runner-up: P15,000 cash, P5,000 Gift Certificate, and Trophy 

• 3rd Runner-up: P5,000 cash, P5,000 Gift Certificate, and Trophy

The event was expertly hosted by Jean Kiley, a renowned Viva Artists singer-songwriter, host, and actor, who added a vibrant charm to the proceedings. Attendees were treated to special performances by Ms. Jehramae Trangia, a talented Viva artist hailing from Talisay City, Cebu, and Mr. Enzo Villegas, an acclaimed singer-songwriter and member of FILSCAP, showcasing the rich diversity of Filipino musical talent.

The “Sama-sama sa Angel’s Pizza” TikTok Singing Contest Grand Finals was not just a competition but a celebration of Filipino creativity and passion for music, leaving an indelible mark on all those who participated and witnessed the spectacle.

About FIGARO COFFEE GROUP, INC

Figaro Coffee Group Inc. (FCG) was incorporated on July 6, 2018 as a wholly-owned subsidiary of Carmetheus Holdings, Inc. primarily to process, manufacture, package all kinds of food products, and establish, invest, develop, operate and maintain restaurants, coffee shops and refreshments parlors, among others.

FCG has one subsidiary, Figaro Coffee Systems, Inc. (FCSI), through which it operates and/or franchises a network of retail restaurants. These include Figaro Coffee, a coffee shop chain with domestic and international branches; Angel’s Pizza, a pizza store chain; Tien Ma’s, a Taiwanese cuisine restaurant chain; Koobideh Kebabs, a casual-dining persian kebab chain; and Café Portofino, a cloud-kitchen outlet which primarily serves a variety of food and pastries.

Filipino law practitioners, just like their counterparts in many countries across the globe, are required by no less than the Supreme Court to undergo continuing legal education.

Now on its eighth compliance period, the mandatory continuing legal education (MCLE) program keeps every lawyer abreast of legal developments. It also elevates the national standards of the profession, helps improve justice administration, and enables the Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP) to “discharge its public responsibility more effectively.”

Bar Matter No. 850 identifies the purpose of MCLE—to ensure that throughout their career, IBP members will remain updated about law and jurisprudence, will keep the ethics of their profession, and will help enhance the standards of the practice.

Only 25 accredited MCLE providers are allowed to facilitate learning sessions for the program to date. A designated MCLE Committee, which holds office in the IBP headquarters in Pasig City, monitors and oversees MCLE program administration by the accredited providers.

MCLE providers offer various courses to enable every learner to complete the required 36 units per compliance period (usually takes three years). All MCLE courses are designed to cover specified topics, including legal ethics, trial and pre-trial skills, alternative dispute resolution, updates of procedural law and jurisprudence, legal writing/ oral advocacy, international law, and other prescribed subjects, which could be about anything under the sun like technology and the law, taxation, cryptocurrency, and psychology and the law, among others.

Classroom setup

MCLE providers are basically required to conduct their classroom or physical learning sessions in suitable and comfortable venues. The site should be sufficient to hold the number of session attendees, should be accessible to public transportation, and should be conducive for learning.

Session schedules and duration should be strategically set. MCLE sessions are not allowed to coincide with observation of religious holidays. Schedule and venue, along with designated lecturers, topics, and related learning activities (even coffee and lunch breaks) must be strictly carried out as set or planned, otherwise, the MCLE Committee must be notified in advance of any change. Visual and other learning aids must be used to conduct the sessions more effectively.

Online MCLE

In 2020, ACCESS made history and through its efforts gave Philippine lawyers the option to take MCLE online. Incidentally, it coincided with the implementation of lockdowns due to the Covid-19 pandemic, which lasted for over two years.

ACCESS MCLE, one of the accredited MCLE providers in the country, has been leading its industry when it comes to innovations and best practices for facilitation of online MCLE. Still aligned with the requirements of the MCLE Committee and with the approval from the Supreme Court, ACCESS MCLE introduced synchronous (online classroom and ‘flexisynch’) and asynchronous (on-demand) modes of learning.

As an alternative, and obviously more popular mode of MCLE delivery, accredited providers must adhere to two more major requirements—assurance of authenticity of identity of the learners and relevance of course content. Moreover, the online program must also adhere with other related concerns like data privacy, internet connection reliability, and content production, among others.

Interestingly, lawyers now have more options when it comes to MCLE compliance. Online MCLE remains popular, though many also opt for the traditional or face-to-face learning setup in the post-pandemic times. Whichever option is chosen, Filipino lawyers can expect continuous upgrade of knowledge and skills in the profession.

To learn more about ACCESS MCLE and its traditional and online programs, visit https://accessonline.ph/.