A.S. WATSON GROUP’S GLOBAL SURVEY: SMILING MAKES PEOPLE HAPPIER

Need some health information? Go to your Watsons pharmacist. Watsons Philippines has a strong network of 1,436 pharmacists nationwide. They are professionally trained on healthcare and a reliable source of opinion to alleviate pressure on public health system. 

The Philippines is the 4th Healthiest Market






The Philippines ranked 4th in the World Health Index, a ranking of healthiest and least healthy markets across the globe that was revealed during the recent global health survey commissioned by the A.S. Watson Group, the world’s largest international health and beauty retailer. Over 5,500 consumers across 10 markets in Asia and Europe aged 15-60 participated in the survey from November to December last year to share their thoughts on a wide range of health topics.


The Netherlands topped the healthiest market list, followed by Singapore, the United Kingdom, the Philippines, Malaysia, Mainland China, Ukraine, Taiwan, Hong Kong, and Thailand.


Other takeaways of the survey:

• Happier People are Healthier. 91% of the respondents believe that smiling and laughing have a lot of health benefits. Yet only 66% smile enough due to stress. By generation, Gen Z smiles more and are happier than the more mature groups including Gen Y, Gen X, and Boomers. And Gen Z tends to consider themselves as healthy.

• Family and Health are by Far the Most Important Aspects of Life. When it comes to ranking the importance of life aspects, Family (87%) and Health (84%) top the list, with Wealth and Love (33% and 32%) in the third and fourth with a wide gap.

• Malina Ngai, Group COO of the A.S. Watson Group and CEO of A.S. Watson Asia and Europe believes that “if the survey was being conducted two months later in February this year, I am sure this result will even be more pronounced with people putting family and health at the very top priority in life.”

• Credible Information Matters. As fake news and information flood the internet and social media, consumers nowadays tend to seek health information from credible sources. The research revealed 61% still commonly see a doctor when feeling unwell and 43% go in store to get OTC medication. Yet only 15% of respondents turn to pharmacists for advice.

• The A.S. Watson Group believes that more and more people will seek for the help of pharmacists as they are reliable, professional, and easily accessible. Watsons Philippines has a strong network of 1,436 pharmacists nationwide. More than just dispensing medicines, the pharmacists are patient advocates ensuring that the right medication is given through review, implementation of prescription, and detection of therapeutic incompatibilities.

• How to Stay Healthy. To lead a healthier lifestyle, over 80% of the respondents believe that enough sleep, a healthy diet, and regular exercise can keep them healthy. But 40% of them fail to do so. More and more people (60%) are interested in taking vitamins and dietary supplements to improve their health.

At the A.S. Watson Group, 1 billion shoppers bought health products last year and sales for the health category increased 11% year on year. The insight from the Group shows that there are more and more people are investing in their health and well-being with vitamins and supplements booming globally at a 12% growth year on year.


In the Philippines, Watson’s health business is growing at 18% year-to-date, with vitamins experiencing a phenomenal 132% growth versus last year. Clearly, more Filipinos take a proactive approach in ensuring they stay healthy and protected especially in this time of global health crisis. With this, Watsons expanded its product range for vitamins and health essential related products to further meet the people’s needs


Let’s all stay healthy and happy. Watsons Call & Deliver ensures safe and convenient access to medicines and personal care essentials. The expanding Watsons hubs where customers may contact have dedicated riders allowing the customers to stay safe at home. For details of the Watsons Call & Deliver hubs, check out https://www.watsons/com.ph/call-and-delivery-list-of-stores.

FUN MINISO EVERYDAY ESSENTIALS NOW AVAILABLE ONLINE

Keep yourself protected at all times with Miniso’s All-Around Fits Face Mask which offers all-around protection from nose bridge to chin. Order yours now at Miniso. 

Miniso brings in fun with its cute and colorfully designed everyday essentials for those spending more time at home. Better still, shopping is made more convenient and easy with these now available at Shopee and via Miniso’s Special delivery and pick up service.

Have a goodnight’s sleep with these Marvel eye masks from Miniso. 

There are All-Around Fits Face Masks for the day, as hydrogel and Marvel designed eye masks for a more relaxing good night’s sleep. Complete your hygiene kit with Marvel compressed towels.

Reduce your dry skin, dark skin and fine lines around the eyes with these moisturizing Hyrdogel eye masks from Miniso. Available in orange and cucumber. 

Stay fit and active with Miniso’s yoga mat. 

Keep healthy and happy with adorable stuffed toys in animal and fruit shapes to have and to hold; as well as yoga mats where you can do your stretches and exercises.

Adorable and fluffy Panda We Bear Bears stuffed toy from Miniso.

Huggable Icy stuffy toy of We Bear Bears available at Miniso. 

All these and more are available at Shopee.ph and via Miniso’s special delivery and pick up service. For those who opt for home delivery service or pick up, you can fill out Miniso’s online delivery form and check out further instructions and updates at Miniso’s Facebook Page @Minisophilippines.

Practice good hygiene and proper disinfection at home and at work with these Miniso wet wipes. 

Complete your go-to hygiene kit with these Marvel compressed towels from Miniso. 

Bright and endearing pineapple stuff toy. Available at Miniso. 

Check out this “how to order online” guide for a seamless online purchase at Miniso. 

Let Miniso do the shopping for you. For more updates, you can also follow @miniso_ph at Twitter and Instagram or visit SM Bulacan Malls official Facebook Pages for more information on convenient shopping - SM City San Jose del Monte https:www.facebook.com/SMCitySanJoseDelMonte, SM City Marilao https://www.facebook.com/SMCityMarilao, and SM City Baliwag https://www.facebook.com/smbaliwag.

The all-new OPPO Reno4 Set to Launch Live with Careless Music Manila on August 14

Join the global smartphone brand as they unveil the OPPO Reno4, as well as their newest brand ambassadors Careless Music Manila, in the #ClearlyTheBestYou Launch









AUGUST 2020, PHILIPPINES – Global smart device brand OPPO, is all set to launch the much-awaited trendy smartphone, the Reno4, this August 14 at 5:00PM. OPPO partnered up with music label Careless Music Manila and its artists Nadine Lustre, KINGwAw, Curtismith, Massiah and Astrokidd to host a special livestream launch event to introduce the latest OPPO Reno4.

An independent music label, Careless Music Manila has always been focused on creating authentic music, giving the spotlight to up and coming Filipino talents and allowing them to flourish creatively. Each of the ambassadors, Nadine Lustre, KINGwAw, Curtismith, Massiah and Astrokidd, are passionate about expressing themselves through their unique sound and perspective, their way of showing their best selves clearly. Involved in the creative process from start to finish, Careless Music Manila collaborated with OPPO Philippines to write and produce a song for Reno4 campaign, entitled “Clearly the Best You” slated to be released soon.









Join Careless Music Manila as they premiere their newest song and a peek of their upcoming music video, with snippets shot using OPPO Reno4, on Facebook Live. They will also be unboxing the latest addition to the Reno series, and giving lucky viewers a chance to take home special prizes through exciting games.

So you can show off #ClearlyTheBestYou, the OPPO Reno4 is packed with the trendiest camera features to take portrait photography and videography to the next level, including the 32MP Dual Punch Hole Front Camera and the 48MP High Definition QuadCamera system. Ideal for content creation, the Reno4’s camera modes open up realms of possibilities with the AI Portrait Mode, which mutes the background into black and white while keeping the subject in real color, and the Night Flair Mode to upgrade your night photography with neon effects against a backdrop. Finally, with video platforms being all the rage, the Reno4’s camera comes with an epic 960fps AI Slow Motion feature to capture impressive slow motion shots in the thick of the action, as well as the Ultra Steady Video 3.0 to enhance your videography experience.

With the all new OPPO Reno4, you can effortlessly express #ClearlyTheBestYou and make your portrait shine in every shot.

To know more about the official livestream launch of the OPPO Reno4, visit OPPO’s official Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/OPPOPH/.

Smart launches new Giga Study data pack for learning

[August 7, 2020] As the world continues to deal with the pandemic, many schools have resorted to online classes as a safe and innovative way for students to continue learning new knowledge and skills.



To help students adapt to this new normal, mobile services provider Smart Communications, Inc. has launched Giga Study, a prepaid data pack aimed at giving students simpler access to a selection of learning apps and productivity tools.



Register via *123# or the new Smart App



Available to all Smart Prepaid and TNT subscribers, Giga Study 99 comes with 1 GB of data for specific study apps every day for 7 days, plus 2 GB of open-access data for only P99. To register, simply dial *123# and choose Giga and select Study. Subscribers can also avail of the promo conveniently via the new Smart App.



Giga Study offers access to Google Suite, which includes Google Classroom, Docs, Sheets, Slides, Gmail, Meet, and Drive. Learning via video is also an option with YouTube and YouTube Kids. The data pack also offers access to Microsoft 365, which includes Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, OneNote, Teams, and OneDrive.



Giga Study adds to Smart and TNT's line of Giga offers, which are designed to cater to the various lifestyle needs and passions of customers. Recently, Smart also introduced Giga Work for those who need access to work and productivity apps.



Country’s fastest mobile data network



Smart and TNT subscribers can enjoy all these Giga offers powered by Smart LTE, the country’s fastest mobile network, as certified by third-party mobile analytics firms such as Ookla and Opensignal.




Ookla, the global leader in internet testing and analysis, recently named Smart as the country’s fastest mobile data network in the first half of 2020 after it achieved a Speed Score™ of 18.33, with average speeds of 15.94 Mbps for download, and 7.57 Mbps for upload, based on 2,810,963 user-initiated tests taken with Speedtest®.




On the other hand, Opensignal, an independent mobile analytics firm, reported in its April 2020 Mobile Network Experience Report for the Philippines that Smart remained ahead of the competition in terms of Video Experience, Upload and Download Speed Experience, Voice App Experience, Games Experience, and 4G Availability.







For more details on Smart’s products and services, follow Smart’s official accounts on Facebook at www.fb.com/SmartCommunications and Twitter and Instagram at @LiveSmart.

K-Hip Hop Artist, JUNGSU, to drop another hit, “Bullet Holes”

If you were able to have a listen to his recently released single, “Need Ya Now”, you will be served with a new yet a different side of K-Hip Hop artist JUNGSU as he will be releasing another song this month.

The new hit entitled “Bullet Holes” is a crossover of multiple genres and emotions combined into one song. In every song he wrote, it evokes an incomparable style of Korean Hip Hop.

“Bullet holes deep down inside my heart

Feeling empty only filled with lies so dark

It’s so hard to go on when I’m scarred

Can’t go far the scars are too large”

If we put songs from Korean rappers who already made their way to the scene, side by side with JUNGSU’s own style and vibe, his music touches undertone of chill music that is something new with diversity in a beautiful way.

With elements of hip hop and rock, JUNGSU’s “Bullet Holes” will definitely be a song that you’ll enjoy listening into your playlist.

You can #StreamBulletHoles via Spotify, Apple Music, and Soundcloud starting August 7, Pacific Standard Time.

For more updates about JUNGSU and his work, check out his socials and music channels:

Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/jungsubak

SoundCloud – https://soundcloud.com/jungsubak

Youtube – https://www.youtube.com/jungsubak

Spotify – https://open.spotify.com/artist/2ohokrJMkcaqza2gpFjSGF

Apple Music/iTunes – https://music.apple.com/us/artist/jungsu/1457526211

Bata, through SM Foundation, donates shoes for PGH frontliners

Bata, a world-renowned shoe brand with over 6,000 retail stores across the globe, partnered anew with SM Foundation (SMFI) in donating 1,800 pairs of shoes for the front -liners of the Philippine General Hospital. This is part of Bata's Global 1 Million pairs donation project.

“Due to long and often times back-to-back work shifts, a number of our health workers are experiencing foot and back pain,” says SM Foundation Executive Director Debbie Sy. “The need to constantly disinfect their shoes also results in faster wearing out of their footwear. With this, SMFI and Bata wanted to provide our health workers with quality footwear to address this need and provide them with comfortable footwear and protection while at work and doing their rounds.”

“Bata Philippines donated these shoes as our way of saying thank you to our front-liners for the help that they have extended to the country during the COVID-19 pandemic,” says Bata Philippines General Manager Arlyn Guanlao.

UP PGH Director Dr. Gerardo Legaspi expressed his gratitude to SM Foundation and Bata, “I'd like to thank SM Foundation for being ever supportive of our COVID-19 fight here in PGH. You have covered the whole spectrum of our needs from ventilators and now sneakers. Thank you to Bata shoes for having shared their different kinds of sneakers which I'm sure would go a long way into making our front- liners feel appreciated and comfortable when they work.”

Since the onset of the outbreak, Bata through its “Bata Heroes” initiative has been working with its long-standing foundations, charitable partners, government agencies, and other organization to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Through the years, SMFI and Bata have been collaborating on social good projects. In 2018, they teamed up to construct a new school building for Telabastagan Integrated School in San Fernando, Pampanga. More recently, in March

2020 for the distribution of 400 pairs of shoes for the students of Looc Elementary School in Nasugbu, Batangas.

Smart opens pre-orders for the Smart 5G-certified Samsung Note20 Series

Get exclusive freebies by pre-ordering from Aug. 7 to 16 

[August 7, 2020] Mobile services provider Smart Communications, Inc. is officially kicking off pre-orders for the Smart 5G-certified Samsung Galaxy Note20 Series at smart.com.ph/note20 from August 7 to 16, 2020. 

Smart offers these latest devices on Smart Signature Plans, which recently introduced Korean superstar Son Ye Jin as its endorser, embodying the brand’s goal to simplify the postpaid experience with a prioritized, worry-free, and elevated lifestyle for customers.  

The Galaxy Note20 Series is best with Smart Signature Device Plan L, which comes with 15GB data, Unli On-Net Calls, 100 Min AnyNet Calls and Unli AnyNet Texts.  

Under Plan L, the Note20 Ultra 5G is available at a special pre-order rate of P3,199 per month (versus the regular rate of P3,299 per month) – with a one-time cash out of P15,020. On the other hand, the Note20 5G is available for P2,999 per month with a one-time cash out of P10,000. 

As an exclusive treat, customers with approved pre-orders for the Note20 Ultra 5G shall also get a FREE Samsung 34SQM Air Purifier worth P16,995. On the other hand, subscribers who have successfully signed up for the Note20 5G shall also take home FREE Samsung Galaxy Buds+ worth P6,990 to be redeemed via Samsung’s Redemption Portal. 

Make your noteworthy mark 

Officially launched at the virtual Galaxy Unpacked last Aug. 5, Samsung’s new line premium smartphones promises powerful experiences for both work and play through breakthrough design and performance. With Smart Signature Plans, these devices make it simpler for customers to make their mark in their chosen career or passion. 

The Note 20 Ultra 5G comes with a 6.9” Edge WQHD+ screen while the Note 20 5G comes with a 6.7” FHD+, which both enable multitaskers to maximize their daily activities – from tackling important work projects, binge-watching the latest hit series, to playing immersive mobile games. They also come with the enhanced S-Pen with a latency of up to 9ms for faster and powerful multitasking across various apps. 

Both premium smartphones are also equipped with pro-grade cameras with advanced imaging technology that make it so much simpler to produce shareworthy photos and captivating videos. Both devices also support Samsung DeX, which enables users to connect their smartphone to a monitor, keyboard and mouse for a convenient desktop experience with easy access to apps, files, and documents for greater productivity. 

Smart 5G-certified  

The Samsung Galaxy Note20 Series expands the lineup of Smart 5G-certified devices that are available with Smart Signature Plans. 

In this initial phase of Smart 5G commercial deployment, Smart Signature, Infinity and other Smart postpaid subscribers can enjoy the super-fast Smart 5G data service in key business districts of Metro Manila using Smart-certified handsets with 5G-activated SIMs.  

These areas include the Makati Central Business District (CBD), Bonifacio Global City CBD, Araneta City, SM Megamall and Mall of Asia Bay Area.  Smart 5G is also being rolled out in key high-traffic areas such North Avenue in Quezon City and Taft Avenue in Manila, as well as in Ortigas CBD, and Clark Green City in Pampanga.   

Both the Note20 Ultra 5G and Note20 5G also latch on to Smart LTE, the country’s fastest mobile data network according to third-party mobile analytics firms, including Ookla and Opensignal. 

Be among the first to get hold of the Galaxy Note20 Series by pre-ordering at smart.com.ph/note20. To learn more about Smart 5G, visit 5g.smart.