Wednesday, September 30, 2020

 



Anytime is a good time for Mang Inasal’s flavorful and delectable Palabok.



Whether you want to perk up your afternoon with a satisfying merienda, reward yourself for a job well done at work, or celebrate bonding moments at home, the Mang Inasal Palabok is a winning choice!



It has been made more satisfying with more pork meat toppings, delicately sautéed with balanced spices. Each serving is topped with a rich and savory thick sauce, sprinkled with spring onion, chicharron, and hard-boiled egg.



Did you know that the Mang Inasal Palabok traces its roots to the popular Red Ribbon Palabok? When the bakeshop brand discontinued offering meals, Mang Inasal gladly took on the task of offering the same sumptuous palabok recipe to its own customers who quickly made it their favorite merienda fare.



The Mang Inasal Palabok is proof of the synergy among the brands of the Jollibee Group, a winning practice that further reinforces the Jollibee Group’s commitment to continually satisfy the market with delicious and value-for-money food.



The Mang Inasal Palabok comes solo with price starting at Php59. It also has a Family Size version for 4 – 5 diners, priced at Php 199, and suitable for gatherings with officemates or with loved ones at home.



When those food cravings for merienda meals hit, especially now during quarantine, the Mang Inasal Palabok alongside other all-time favorites of Mang Inasal, can easily and quickly get delivered using GrabFood, FoodPanda, or LalaFood. Customers can also call their specific Mang Inasal stores or place their orders online through the Mang Inasal Facebook Messenger Chatbot, Jose.



To ensure the highest standards in food handling, Mang Inasal implements a strict ‘no-touch’ delivery protocol for the safety of its employees, riders, and consumers.



Meanwhile, those who can’t wait to immediately satisfy their cravings for Mang Inasal’s famous palabok, may also choose to visit the Mang Inasal branch nearest them. Customers are assured of stringent safety measures - from temperature check, social distancing rules, and wearing of masks and gloves. These ensure that everyone is #SafeSaMangInasal.



For a complete listing of Mang Inasal stores that offer takeout and delivery services, visit https://stores.jfc.com.ph/manginasal.html. Customers can likewise join the Mang Inasal Viber Community or follow their official Facebook page (@MangInasalPhilippines) to keep track of the latest promos, product offers, and more from their favorite Mang Inasal.





PRESS RELEASE







MANILA, Philippines, September 18, 2020 — Leading industries have turned to technology to survive the economic pivot to the “new normal” with the Philippines’ largest and only integrated telecommunications company PLDT aiding organizations and businesses to adapt and thrive in the current challenges of the pandemic.

Discussed during the second virtual Tech Talks forum streamed in partnership with OneNews, PLDT highlighted key solutions and services that have helped catalyse digital transformations of e-Industries including e-Learning, e-Banking, e-Commerce, e-Government, and e-Health.

“We, at PLDT-Smart, are in the business of nation-building. It is precisely this conviction that fired up the virtue of Malasakit in our every endeavor. The changing Philippine economic landscape has inspired us to reframe our business objectives and strategies. In fact, a big part of our CAPEX is being allocated to improve our services so that these may be accessible and relevant to more Filipinos,” shared Smart President and PLDT Chief Revenue Officer Al Panlilio.

“We are now starting to see how e-Learning is transforming education as we know it, how e-Banking will further enable financial inclusion, how e-Commerce will help revitalize our economy, how e-Government will accelerate our country’s Smart City transformation, and most importantly, how e-Health will allow our nation to combat this pandemic,” he added.

The live forum tackled the challenges of each e-industry and highlighted technological solutions that help rebuild these sectors and move forward.

The education sector has been one of most impacted sector from the changes in the practice of learning and teaching. In helping learners continue their education remotely, the Department of Education’s (DepEd) has implemented a blended learning experience integrating digital, broadcast, and printed module teaching methods for students at home. One of the resource persons for the e-learning segment, DepEd Undersecretary Alain Pascua, shared his insights on the benefits of merging the different platforms to deliver education much better moving forward.

PLDT, together with Smart, has offered several e-Learning solutions to help aid this transition which include opening free access to the DepEd Commons website as an official resource of learning modules for teachers and students. PLDT launched BEYOND FIBER that help address the basic connectivity needs to provide quality education to institutions while Smart launched the Giga Study plans that provide data allocation to learning apps specifically tailored for students and their educational access needs. ePLDT has already provided over 248,000 Microsoft for Education licenses for the academe and students to utilize.

“The current set up has its challenges but what we have in place is changing the landscape of education. We are excited to see how this new set up will allow us to take local education to the next level. We recognize the challenges of making this shift and we at PLDT are committed to make e-Learning a reality for every single student,” said PLDT Enterprise Revenue Group Head Vic Tria.

Electronic banking has gained traction due to the pandemic with payments and digital transactions seeing a surge in the past few months covering the pandemic. Showing growing adoption of e-Banking in the country, Online Bills payment, government transactions, and digital purchase payment have become a necessity rather than a choice.

“Studies have shown that the Philippines is above the global average when it comes to digitally transferring money. PLDT and Smart are fully committed to support the banking industry and believe that we play a key role in sustaining the digital momentum of this industry,” shared PLDT FVP and Head of Enterprise Core Business Solutions Jojo Gendrano.

PLDT covers the importance to have a reliable process automation and integration in place through applications such as Microsoft, SAP or Salesforce, while securing the operations center through ePLDT’s cybersecurity services. Financial institutions also need to look into resilient systems to boost operations through the cloud with SDWAN and Data Center services.



 

e-Commerce has seen a major boost during the pandemic which has helped sustain the operations of businesses and MSMEs. With transactions and purchases now seeing adoption online, consumers are more discerning hence businesses need to have an Omnichannel approach to better engage with their customers.

PLDT VP and Head of ICT Business Nico Alcoseba points out that consumption behaviors have been irreversibly reshaped and businesses need to focus on three principles to succeed in e-Commerce: make the platform easy to use, establish end-to-end delivery and immediacy, and ensure security as business is always about trust.

Government has also seen digital solutions to help disseminate information, and providing public service. PLDT’s suite of Public Sector Solution solutions give e-Government the technological support it needs to improve Community Engagement and ensure public safety such as Online payments gateway, Citizen IDs, Smart Wifi in public centers, Contact Center Solutions, CCTV Surveillance, and Emergency 911 dispatch systems. It also offers collaboration and operational efficiency to enable work-from-home set ups for government employees while ensuring service availability and cybersecurity to be able to access records securely and easily from anywhere.

On the other hand, eHealth has become central due to the pandemic. PLDT has partnered with various health organizations and hospitals help provide the best solutions to deliver healthcare services and ensure safety of healthcare workers.

PLDT Enterprise Revenue Group Head Mitch Locsin provided the eHealth roadmap that has benefitted the eHealth industry that will support the fight against Covid19 and help improve healthcare. Solutions geared toward providing safer and wider access to e-Health services include online consultation and remote monitoring to help patients and doctors appointment despite their physical presence. Focused solutions on management of healthcare records can better patient outcomes as PLDT’s solutions help innovate new practice and methods for smarter use of Patient data and strategic documentation.

Through technology, PLDT’s cybersecurity, integrated system solutions, and collaborations solutions can help ensure a secure and efficient healthcare system to sustain the delivery of e-Healthcare.

As the country continues to battle and adapt to the changing landscape brought about by the pandemic, businesses, government, and consumers have greatly benefitted from PLDT’s continuous investment in building and further future-proofing its network to deliver the growing digital services and connectivity to better cope and thrive through this crisis.

Ssamjang Korean Grill took part on this year’s Food Fest at SM Center Pulilan. The store is open for dine-in, take-out and delivery, with a branch located at the Ground level, Mall Annex of SM City Baliwag. dd caption




Bulacan is known for its rich culinary culture. Even as the Pandemic took its toll, interesting food businesses were born in the Province with the aim to cater the needs of consumers while embracing diversified food concepts this new normal. 


This year, SM Center Pulilan extends its support to local food business and facilitate entrepreneurial opportunities for Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) by rolling out Food Fest 2020, highlighting thriving local food businesses that are gaining popularity this Pandemic. 




SM Center Pulilan’s Food Fest 2020 highlights mix of local and International cuisines. Among this year’s players are Bulacan’s thriving food businesses gaining popularity this Pandemic such as B’s Sweets & Treats, Korean Kimbites, Maki Craze Sushi Bar, Ssamjang Korean Grill, Sweet Confections and Bibingka ni Ka Rick. 



It was a gustatory journey as foodies all over the province enjoy range of emerging food concepts all in one venue— heavenly cakes and pastries at B’s Sweets & Treats, oriental delicacies of Korean Kimbites; the taste of Japan at Maki Craze Sushi Bar and Ssamjang Korean Grill serving authentic Korean favorites.  There were signature Baked California Maki and Black Kutsinta at Sweet Confections and Bibingka ni Ka Rick in time for the Holiday season. These local businesses have their own online shops, offering delivery, for the consumers’ convenience.  

 

Participating food stalls also bring in exciting special promos as well as dine-in deals so foodies can indulge in their cravings and satiate their taste buds from their favorite restaurants and food stalls.  

Baked California Maki by Sweet Confections is a best seller during SM Center Pulialn’s Food Fest 2020. Add caption


 

“This Pandemic proves how Bulakenyos explore possibilities when it comes to food. We can see this through the diversified food concepts at this year’s Food Fest. Aside from this, we believe that by holding such event, we can help support local businesses by providing them a bigger platform to reach a wider community,” shares SM Center Pulilan Assistant Mall Manager Alvin De Galicia. 




Proudly Filipino recipe Bibingka ni Ka Rick is a delicious gift this Holiday season. Apart from the traditional bibingka, the store also offers other kakanin and classic desserts. 





While food are meant to be enjoyed, shoppers’ safety is still a top priority, as SM Center Pulilan implements limited capacity to observe proper social distancing.  




Balagtas Bulacan’s B’s Sweets & Treats and their signature cakes and pastries.





For your everyday food cravings, visit SM Center Pulilan restaurants open for take-out, dine-in and delivery. SM Center Pulilan is open from 10:00 am to 8:00pm. 
Also, check out SMCenterPulilan at Facebook, Instagram and Twitter as well as SM SUPERMALLS BULACAN Viber community for updates and promos. 


Tuesday, September 29, 2020


We all know women take care of their skin and the rest of their body more than men that's why there's a ton of products that are specifically made for them. 


Being vain may all have started with South Korean males, as far as I'm concerned, but our needs are almost the same (if not more) as the opposite gender. Razor bumps, break outs, cracked lips, dry skin, blackheads; there are several skincare issues men face too. Times are changing and more and more of us are becoming tuned in to our needs. With this change, German brand Nivea made sure we have what every man needs in grooming routine. 

Their first Creme Tin 1911


For more than 100 years, this brand has taken cared of women's skincare and personal hygiene needs and what makes them significant until now is because they craft products according to our skin biology.  Here is a list of their must-try products that you can buy at Shopee that will pleasantly surprise your skin. 



Deodorant Whitening Roll On 50ml Bundle of 2



This whitening deodorant claims to whitens and smoothens underarms. It is formulated with 10 skin nutrients and vitamins to help lighten, moisturize and minimize the pores on your underarms. Stay dry and fresh all day with its 48H anti-perspirant protection.

Buy 1 Take 1 for Men Whitening Acne Oil Control Scrub 100g


This whitening acne oil control scrub claims to remove dead skin cells for a cleaner look. It is formulated with ingredients like Carnitine to reduce oil production and Magnolia Bark Extract to fight bacteria.

It also contains Rucinol, Vitamin C, and Licorice Extract that helps whiten the skin and reduce dark spots from previous acne problems. This micro-exfoliating scrub leaves the skin feeling clean and free from excess oil.

Body Extra White Firming Lotion 250ml


This extra white firming Body Lotion has Super Fruit extracts & Q10 that  make skin whiter and firmer. It claims to repair 10 signs of dull damaged skin like dark spots, dry & itchy skin or uneven skin tone. 

Formulated with super fruit extracts that contains concentrated Camu Camu and Acerola Cherry, which is 500% more powerful vs. the whitening properties of lemon. It also contains a  firming ingredient, Q10, which effectively firms skin and restores its elasticity



Formulated with 2x licorice extracts and 10 skin nutrients which helps in lightening, moisturizing and minimizing the pores on your armpits. Best suitable for those who have  dark and damaged underarms that might be caused by shaving often. This deodorant also keeps you fresh and dry due to its 48H anti-perspirant protection.


It's time us men take care of ourselves the way we should. Visit the  Nivea Official Store during the Payday sale and get up to 50% off on bundles and top selling items. 

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

Monday, September 28, 2020

 

Bringing recreational shopping experience, Miniso opened its second outlet at SM City Marilao Hypermarket. The 214 square meter store carries innovative products ranging from Creative Home Necessities, Health & Beauty, Jewelry, Fashion Accessories, Stylistic Gifts, Office Supplies, Stationery Gifts, Seasonal Products, Boutique Package Decoration, Digital Accessories as well as Food and Drink.




The Japanese brand Miniso has been active in the province for three years and has grown significantly over time.



Since launching their first store in SM City Marilao in 2017, the retailer has opened more stores in SM City Baliwag, SM City San Jose Del Monte and SM Center Pulilan. The success of Miniso can be attributed to its response to customer’s fast changing needs, bringing not only a brand but also a way of life to Bulakeño shoppers with its quality, creative, and low-priced products.


A timely offering awaits customers with gift ideas that is stylish and practical. Miniso carries a variety of body and home fragrances as well as cosmetics. Get up to 50% off and take advantage of the promos at SM City San Jose del Monte’s Miniso.

 





Because Bulacan market has shown great potential for development, Miniso opened its second outlet in SM City Marilao.



With its partnership with SM Hypermarket, Miniso brings recreational shopping experience as it combines fashion and leisure together. The 214 square meter store in Hypermarket carries innovative products ranging from Creative Home Necessities, Health & Beauty, Jewelry, Fashion Accessories, Stylistic Gifts, Office Supplies, Stationery Gifts, Seasonal Products, Boutique Package Decoration, Digital Accessories as well as Food and Drink.

Simply budget-friendly products but with undeniable Japanese durability that Miniso is known for worldwide, gift items like We Bare Bears stuffed toys are perfect holiday gifts. Don’t forget to keep yourself protected at all times with Miniso’s All-Around Fits Face Mask which offers all-around protection from nose bridge to chinWe Bare Bear Stuffed toys and face masks available at SM Hypermarket Miniso.





Miniso’s 3 core values: Quality, Idea, and Low Price; paved the way in exceeding customer expectations with creatively well-designed products that are innovative, practical, and budget friendly. Miniso aims to select the finest materials from all over the world for its product creation while focusing on the products’ "basic" and "natural" essence as well as its durability. Products developed for Miniso are always done from the consumer’s point of view.



Moreover, staying true to its environmental commitment, Miniso likewise collaborates with global environmental protection organizations to provide a variety of natural and environmental friendly products that are healthy and safe to the environment.


The fandom continues as Miniso introduces Marvel collection. Check out these mighty mugs and other novelty items inspired by the classic Marvel characters at SM City Baliwag and SM Center Pulilan





At present, MINISO is actively promoting the operation of e-commerce. Not only has it entered Shopee.ph, but it has also created its special home delivery and pick-up service to create a barrier-free shopping environment and provide more convenience and benefits to shoppers during the pandemic.

The new Miniso is located at SM Hypermarket Marilao. For more updates, shoppers 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 Marilao https://www.facebook.com/SMCityMarilao, SM City San Jose del Monte https:www.facebook.com/SMCitySanJoseDelMonte, SM Center Pulilan https://www.facebook.com/smcenterpulilan, and SM City Baliwag https://www.facebook.com/smbaliwag.

 

 

Friday, September 25, 2020



PRESS RELEASE








Last September 15, Shopee and Globe myBusiness conducted the Sellers’ Masterclass Webinar, empowering sellers with skills to grow and expand their online business 









MANILA, SEPTEMBER 24, 2020 - Shopee, the leading e-commerce platform in Southeast Asia and Taiwan, and Globe myBusiness, held a Sellers’ Masterclass Webinar for Globe myBusiness Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprise (MSMEs) clients last September 15. The one-day exclusive masterclass featured key speakers from Shopee and Globe myBusiness, equipping sellers with in-depth e-commerce knowledge and skills to help them scale and succeed online.




Nicola Ebrada, Industry Lead for Supply Chain at Globe myBusiness, said, “We at Globe myBusiness, are the digital solutions partner of MSMEs. Guiding our customers towards digitalization has always been our focus, even before the pandemic. We believe that having this Sellers Masterclass with Shopee, who is also one of Globe myBusiness’ valued customers, will enable us to further support our MSMEs in transitioning to the online retail space.”




As digitalization takes on greater significance for SMEs and entrepreneurs in light of the Covid-19 pandemic, this initiative serves as a vital stepping stone for both Shopee and Globe myBusiness sellers to understand and utilize the platform to achieve long-term success online. During the masterclass, sellers learned how to tap on marketing tools on Shopee and use effective advertising tactics to amplify their online presence and boost online sales.




Ruoshan Tao, Head of Marketing at Shopee Philippines, said, “Our partnership with Globe myBusiness reflects one of our key commitments for this year, which is to help economic recovery for our local MSMEs, sellers, and brands. Undoubtedly, this pandemic affected the Filipino community and brought about many challenges, especially to business owners. Together with Globe myBusiness, we will continue to accelerate our seller empowerment efforts and provide them with opportunities to sustain and grow their businesses.”




Shopee and Globe myBusiness will launch the Shopee Live Super Seller Rewards campaign to build on the success of the Sellers’ Masterclass Webinar. The upcoming initiative encourages sellers to leverage Shopee Live as a useful marketing tool to boost online sales and amplify their online presence. With Shopee Live, brands and sellers can interact and connect with their fans and consumers in real-time, offering an interactive shopping experience.




Shopee is committed to further helping small business owners recover from the aftermath of the pandemic and will continue to partner with Globe myBusiness to help uplift, educate, and support Filipino MSMEs this year.




Manage your business efficiently wherever you are with Globe myBusiness’ mobile and broadband offers. Visit the Globe myBusiness Shop to know more: https://www.globe.com.ph/business/sme/shop/gallery.html




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










Get the Smart 5G-certified HUAWEI P40 Pro+ for 3,199 per month with Smart Signature



[September 24, 2020] Mobile services provider Smart Communications, Inc. is expanding its line-up of 5G-certified smartphones with Huawei’s latest flagship device, the Huawei P40 Pro+ 5G.

The Huawei P40 Pro+ 5G is best with Smart Signature Device Plan L at P3,199 per month, with a one-time cash-out of 12,590. This plan comes with monthly 15 GB open access data, Unli On-Net calls, 100 Min AnyNet calls, and Unli AnyNet texts in a 24-month contract.

New and renewing subscribers can now order Huawei P40 Pro+ 5G at smart.com.ph/huaweip40 and Smart Stores nationwide.

As an exclusive perk, subscribers with approved applications will also get FREE Gentle Monster Eyewear worth P13,999, Free 50GB Huawei Cloud storage and more until September 30 as part of Huawei’s 5G Super Deals promo.

Visionary Photography

Unveiled earlier this year to much hype and anticipation, the Huawei P40 Pro+ 5G pushes the boundaries of mobile photography with its Ultra Vision Leica Penta Camera that has up to 100x Max Zoom, which lets users effortlessly capture life’s most beautiful moments from anywhere. The smartphone also comes with the Huawei Ultra Vision Sensor so users can capture amazing and important details even in low-light conditions.

The Huawei P40 Pro+ 5G also supports seamless multi-tasking across different apps through its powerful Kirin 990 5G processor. This makes it a reliable workhorse especially for those who rely on their phone to stay productive at work with constant access to office email and files. It also suits today’s generation of digital content creators who share their passions with the world, or those who rely on their device for entertainment on the go – whether it’s streaming their favorite shows, listening to their playlist, or playing mobile games.

Huawei’s latest flagship device comes with Huawei Mobile Services, a set of applications and services providing many advanced features like Huawei ID, push notifications, payments, and other services from Huawei. Huawei also offers a wide range of global and local apps on AppGallery, Huawei’s official app marketplace.







The fastest got faster with Smart 5G

By including Huawei P40 Pro+ 5G to its suite of Smart 5G devices, Smart makes good on its promise to make it simple and easy for Filipinos to experience the latest mobile innovations and cutting-edge technology – a message it conveys in its latest ad campaign featuring Korean superstar and Smart Signature endorser Son Ye Jin.


Smart Signature subscribers can make the most of the Huawei P40 Pro+ 5G with Smart LTE, the country’s fastest mobile data network, according to international third-party mobile analytics firms, including Ookla and Opensignal.

But for significantly faster mobile data speeds, subscribers tap into the ultrafast Smart 5G, which enables users to upload and download digital content in a flash, stream and binge-watch videos in the highest resolution seamlessly, and play high-bandwidth mobile games without lag or interruption.

The Smart 5G experience gets even better with Smart Signature, which simplifies the postpaid experience through prioritized access to the latest devices, worry-free connections, and elevated lifestyle through exclusive perks and rewards.

Smart 5G coverage in key business districts

In this initial phase of Smart 5G commercial deployment, Smart Signature, Infinity, and other Smart postpaid subscribers are able to enjoy the super-fast data service of Smart 5G in key business districts of Metro Manila using Smart-certified handsets with 5G-activated SIMs – at no extra cost.

These Smart 5G 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.


Subscribers can also experience Smart 5G first-hand with the 5G-ready handsets featured at select Smart Stores in Metro Manila, including Smart Tower in Makati City, Gateway Mall, SM Mall of Asia, SM Megamall, and The World Plaza in Bonifacio Global City, Taguig.

Experience Smart 5G now with the Huawei P40 Pro+ 5G by ordering at smart.com.ph/huaweip40. To learn more about Smart 5G, visit 5g.smart.





Thursday, September 24, 2020


In a landmark event hailed as a strong and successful finish amid the pandemic, Century Tuna Superbods 2020 named nursing student and ESL instructor Samantha Ashley Lo and fitness coach and professional model Sam Ajdani as the Century Tuna Everybod Superbod title holders. The most anticipated health and fitness event of the year was also a momentous occasion as it set the standards for future online events in the new normal.

Held at the Blue Leaf Cosmopolitan in Quezon City, the finals event followed strict adherence to the FDCP-DOH-DOLE safety protocols for film and audio-visual shoots. “We needed to rise up to the challenge. We knew it was going to be tough but we stayed focused and if we’re able to pull this off successfully then at least we are able to provide a template for the industry to learn from and use. We soldiered on despite the challenges to show that it can be done,” said Century Pacific Food Inc. EVP & COO Greg Banzon. He also added, “It’s important to stage the event to provide inspiration and a good benchmark for the country to put health, wellness and fitness as the top priority.” Century Tuna Everybod Superbod 2020 grand winners and #StayStrong Champions

The success of the event amid the pandemic made their victory even more memorable for both Samantha (27) and Sam (30). Sam, who is a professional commercial model, admitted that one of the most challenging part of the competition was trying to stay healthy given the restrictions of the pandemic. Meanwhile, Samantha, who is a former Miss Grand International Philippines winner, had to strengthen her focus and remain creative in her home workouts, even when she could not go the gym. Their persistence and commitment to stay strong and focused paid off when they were proclaimed winners of the biggest health and fitness competition in the country.

Samantha and Sam bested 25 other Superbods candidates and will each take home Php 500,000 tax-free cash and other amazing prizes. Both winners passed rigorous digital challenges required during the competition to emerge as the new ambassadors of Century Tuna Superbods 2020—health and fitness advocates who are passionate in promoting health and wellness as an everyday commitment especially during these trying times. They are also exceptional individuals who remain optimistic and believe in getting back up again even after falling so many times.

Meanwhile, the runners-up were Superbod 2020 Stunner Candice Ramos andSuperbod 2020 Ageless Erie Matic. Other candidates who took home special awards were Shirley Garcia, Zai Ebido, Enzo Bonoan, Samantha Purvor, Philippe Magalona, Nelson Banzuela, Key Trajano, Albert Lorenzo, and Grace Del Rosario.

The 25 finalists were all strong contenders, showcasing inspiring traits and skills to encourage themselves and their fellow Filipinos to keep going, and remain healthy and strong during these trying times.

The finalists were judged by a distinguished panel of judges. Joining Century Pacific Food Inc. EVP & COO Greg Banzon, Century Tuna marketing director Carlo Endaya, triathlete and SEA Games gold medalist Nikko Huelgas, GMA Network senior assistant vice president for alternative productions Gigi Santiago-Lara, Isabelle Daza, Alice Dixson, Sarah Lahbati, Ina Raymundo, and DJ Toni Tony.

The health and fitness competition was relaunched last July 25 with a more inclusive and relevant #StayStrongPilipinas theme. To signal its resumption, Century Tuna released a rousing video via its official Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/centurytuna), featuring Century Tuna celebrity ambassadors

Nadine Lustre and Alden Richards with the Superbods finalists urging everyone to stay strong and to continue pursuing their dreams of a healthier future through proper diet and exercise.

To relive the “Century Tuna EverybodSuperbod 2020” finals, visit and follow

Century Tuna’s Facebook page, @centurytuna or Instagram @centurytunasuperbods.





 



Shopee, the leading e-commerce platform in Southeast Asia and Taiwan, is expanding its initiatives to help brands and retailers launch, scale, and succeed online, starting with its annual Shopee 10.10 Brands Festival. As more brands and retailers step up their digitalization efforts to capture a growing proportion of online-first consumers, it is crucial for brands to find new ways to reach and engage with their consumers.

This 10.10 Brands Festival, Shopee enhances its support for brands with the launch of its Shopee Media Agencies Partner Program (SMAP) covering seven markets 1 . This strategic program is the region’s first and largest of its kind, comprising five leading global media 0.10 Brands Festival agencies: Dentsu Aegis Network, Omnicom Media Group, Publicis Groupe, Havas Group, and Mediabrands.

Through this program, Shopee will equip media agencies with in-depth knowledge and skills on using Shopee’s suite of brand marketing tools, including advertising solutions such as Shopee Ads, products such as in-app branding assets, and other value-added services. 

Shopee will also provide the media agencies with a deeper understanding of e-commerce sharing best practices on store management, campaign execution, and optimization. As brands invest more in growing their online presence, SMAP will enable media agencies to leverage a broader range of e-commerce tools to maximize the return on investment of their clients’ media spend.

Also, media agencies and their clients will have the opportunity to get exclusive first-hand access to Shopee’s new marketing solutions and products.Martin Yu, Associate Director at Shopee Philippines, said, “We’re encouraged by the growth in the number of local and international brands joining Shopee Mall, who trust and rely on Shopee to sustain and expand their businesses. 

Helping our brand partners make a seamless transition online, amplify their online presence, and boost brand affinity has always been a priority. We’re excited to launch the SMAP program, which complements our existing end-to- end support system for brands to achieve success online. We will continuously innovate our platform to deliver better value for brands and their customers.” Amplifying online presence with strong marketing and operational capabilities

Aside from SMAP, brands can further elevate their online presence and scale their e-commerce business with Shopee’s strong ecosystem of solutions:
● Robust logistics and warehouse solutions: Shopee’s strong logistics support enables brands to fulfill their orders with ease, especially when sales volumes are high. Brands can tap on Shopee’s optimized network of warehouses to ship out orders more efficiently, including the use of data to forecast demand so that brands can better allocate their resources.

● Easy-to-use brand marketing tools: With Shopee’s custom-built Shop Decoration Tool, brands can easily customize the layout of their Official Stores to reflect their brand image and identity. This is especially useful for brands to build authentic connections with their customers through enhanced brand storytelling.

Building stronger connections with customized engagement features

As more consumers seek greater entertainment while shopping online, brands can leverage in- app features such as Shopee Live to bring together unique entertainment, real-time interactions, and instant purchases. Shopee can help brands produce live-stream content and has dedicated
brand support teams to customize engagement strategies to achieve optimal results.

For instance, brands familiar with e-commerce, such as L’Oreal, are constantly exploring ways to engage their consumers better. At the recent 9.9 Super Shopping Day, Shopee worked with L’Oreal to host an extended 3-hour live streaming marathon featuring over 8 Key Opinion Leaders (KOLs) across the region, which successfully garnered over 180,000 views.

On the other hand, Shopee also offers tools tailored for brands who are newer to e-commerce or do not have prior experience with online engagement strategies. For example, the Shopee KOL program pairs brands with popular influencers for their brand live streams, contributing to
boosting the brand’s visibility and sales.

Highlights of 10.10 Brands Festival

As the region’s biggest online shopping event for brands, the 10.10 Brands Festival will feature 2 weeks of supersized brand promotions and back to back Super Brands Days. The festival will run from September 24 to October 10, with key highlights including:

● Free shipping with ₱0 minimum spend for the entire period of 10.10 Brands Festival.
● Enjoy value-added services and guarantees such as 100% Authentic products, Free
Delivery, and hassle-free 7-day return policy at Shopee Mall.

● Daily sulit deals where users can score ₱10 deals and enjoy fun games like bingo
marathon and other game shows on Shopee Live.
● Amazing promotions and up to 50% off discount from leading brands such as Infinix, Wyeth, Vivo, Unilever, Oppo, Mamypoko, Nestle, Enfagrow, Maybelline, L’Oreal Paris, Inspi, Havaianas, P&G Pampers, Johnson & Johnson, and Abbott.

Find out more about the 10.10 Brands Festival at https://shopee.ph/m/10-10-1.

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











Two pesos a kilo for cabbage. Four pesos for cucumber.

After spending to bring their produce to the nearest vegetable trading post in the last week of July, Cordilleran farmers were given a cruel rate, crushing their hope of raising cash to buy seeds for the next harvest.

A Sad Story for New Gen Farmers

Shereen Umayat and Jessica Dapliyan, two young farmers from Sagada, had a cheaper option for their next maturing vegetables- let the plants rot in the farmland to stop having additional expenses.

Asked how much she has spent for her cucumber, Umayat computed it to be at least P40, 000.

While there are active programs like Sustainable Sagada and Rural Rising organized to help ease the situation, not all produce in the remote Mountain Province town can be accommodated.

Dapliyan, a former innkeeper who shifted to farming following travel bans, started giving away her cabbage produce for free in September after unsuccessful attempts to sell what her family has been working since community quarantine restrictions were implemented.

Trying the Metro Manila Market






For generations, farmers in Sagada and other towns of the Cordilleras have been trading in marketplaces within the mountainous region and going to the lowlands is not part of their regular routine. But as they run out of options, they are forced to seek help outside the highlands.

Tapping Metro Manila-based Cordillerans or Igorots was the first move. Upon learning about the crisis, Christian Aligo, a Marketing Communications practitioner living in Quezon City, started the “The Sagada Harvests Project” on Facebook.

With the assistance from Umayat, Menchie Buking of the Department of Agrarian Reform Mt. Province (DAR MP) and other concerned locals, The Sagada Harvests Project is able to sell out about three tons of produce in its first two runs.

Alongside Aligo are other Metro Manila-based Igorots including Luisa Gay Pugong, Jenny Lyn Likigan, Bing Podes Laguipen, and Hector Ngales who transformed themselves into vendors after their day job to help address the crisis.

Joining the force is the couple Atty. Pio and Noemie Jeanet Daoas who now spend their weekends on vegetables. With the help of dedicated riders, the couple deliver the goods within Taguig City at only P20.

A Trade Friendlier to Farmers






As agreed, it is the farmers who set the price of their produce. Currently in marketplaces, it is the multi-level middle men who dictate the price and get a bigger portion of it.

When the rate at the La Trinidad trading post for cabbage was P2 per kilo, The Sagada Harvests Project purchased the vegetable at P20 per kilo-- as dictated by the farmers.

To further assist the Igorot vendors, DAR’s Sagada Linksfarmers Consolidation Center opened its doors to help screen quality produce prior to shipping.

Recently, the regional office of the Department of Agriculture (DA) also offered transportation assistance to help lower expenses.

Meanwhile, local food producers Gabay Wines and Food Preserves and Masferre Country Inn & Restaurant have been doing experiments for delicate items like wild blueberry, wheat bread, and goat cheese products to check on the shelf-life of the products when offered in places with a warmer climate.
To know more about The Sagada Harvest Project and a list of Igorot vendors who directly source their goods from farmers, contact Aligo at 0956-174-8464 (Globe) or visit www.facebook.com/sagadaharvests now.

 





September 2020 marks the seven (7) fruitful years of collaboration between NOVUHAIR®, the leading hair loss treatment in the country and THE ALOPECIA PHILIPPINES, a group founded in 2012 by singer and songwriter Abby Asistio.

“VICTORIOUS, Rising Above Alopecia and the Pandemic Together” is this year’s official online gathering theme LIVE at When In Manila’s Facebook page on Saturday, September 26, 2020 (3pm to 8pm). Everyone is invited to witness this momentous event.

Read more: https://bit.ly/3iUQoUD







Abby Asistio is currently one of the ambassadors and the Inspirational VIP Coach of NOVUHAIR®, nature’s answer to hair loss, which she has been using since March 2013.



Know more about NOVUHAIR®
https://www.novuhair.com/novuhair-3-in-1-vip-promo-kit/






Mandaluyong, Manila [September 17, 2020] – Amid the pandemic, there has been a push among educational institutions worldwide to explore the online and digital approach to ensure that learning among students remains unhampered.

In the Philippines, education officials have recently moved the opening of classes from August 24 to October 5, to provide more time for schools and universities, which only used to conduct face-to-face classes, to prepare for distance learning—an approach that includes no in-person interaction between the learners and their teachers.

Some educational institutions, however, especially colleges and universities, have already started conducting classes following the distance learning approach.

Classes are done either through the distribution of printed copies of modules (online or offline) or by conducting them using virtual classrooms where teachers and students can communicate, interact, and collaborate even if they are remote from each other, mostly through an online learning environment.

In many ways, virtual classrooms are just like the traditional ones, where students must be able to see, hear, and interact with the teacher and their classmates, all while having a good view of their learning modules and other materials.

For educational institutions and educators alike, conducting virtual or online classes mean they will have to rely on technology to thrive even amid the pandemic. Teachers and students must also have the right digital tools for their 'classroom setup' at home to get by until schools reopen, and regular face-to-face classes resume.

UPS for Distance Learning

In a virtual classroom setup, educators and students would need essential e-learning tools that need continuous power to keep them running and avoid problems that may impede the students' learning experience.

Aside from a stable internet connection, they must have personal computers, smartphones, tablets, and scanning and printing devices, among others, for their online classes. Some software applications are also important to enable virtual classes. It includes video and audio conferencing, so teachers and students can see and hear each other, as well as real-time text chat apps, which come handy in providing instructions.

Lastly, a library (or an online platform) of learning materials must also be available to provide more structured lessons. This platform will allow teachers to prepare for a class in less time. Most importantly, it allows both the teacher and students to always be on the same page.

But with the start of the classes scheduled in October, coinciding with the typhoon season in the Philippines, power outages or interruptions are among the foreseeable scenarios that teachers and their students may experience amid distance learning.

If there is a power outage, even for a moment, the loss of power can be detrimental. Several files could become inaccessible, or worse, deleted permanently. Some devices might even be damaged due to sudden shutdown. There is also the risk of having additional cost implications for their repair or replacement.

Helping ensure unhampered learning


To help avoid these problems, educators, and even students, need an Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS) for their virtual classroom set up at home.

According to Vertiv, a global provider of critical digital infrastructure and continuity solutions, a UPS device is incredibly important for schools, teachers, and students that rely on personal computers, servers, and other electronic devices being on, at least 12 hours (or more) a day, seven days a week.

“A UPS can protect these critical devices from main supply problems, including spikes, voltage dips, fluctuations, and complete power failures, using a dedicated battery. Having a UPS at home can also help in “bridging the gap” as it seamlessly switches the source to battery mode so devices can continue working until they are safely shut down, or the main power is restored,” said Jason Lim, country manager of Vertiv Philippines.

To support schools, teachers, and students who need an uninterruptible power supply for distance learning, Vertiv innovated a full-range of Liebert UPS, which are future-proof, eco-friendly, and highly efficient.

Vertiv’s Liebert itON-SOHO, for instance, is a feature-rich, reliable line of interactive UPS. It has a built-in boost and buck automatic voltage regulator (AVR) that allows flexibility and reliability for personal computers and other sensitive electronic equipment. It also features simple controls for easy operation.

Designed, specifically, for small and home office, Liebert itON-SOHO also has a compact design and user-friendly interface and provides more than enough backup time to save work-in-process.

Vertiv’s Liebert PSA, on the other hand, is a compact line-interactive UPS that offers cost-effective, full-featured power protection for home office computers and electronic equipment. It provides up to five minutes of back-up time at full load, which is more than enough time to save work in process and shut down the personal computer or system.

Shutdown software and a USB cable are also included to allow remote alerts and automated graceful shutdown of the connected systems.

With the rapid changes brought by the ongoing pandemic, Vertiv aims to support the education sector by bringing together cutting-edge solutions to ensure uninterrupted learning for students.

To learn more about how Vertiv supports the continuity of today’s vital education, as well as business applications, visit Vertiv.com.

PRESS RELEASE



Foodies will be delighted as astounding range of comfort food and emerging dining concepts as well as unique gift items are offered at SM City Marilao food fest pop-up.  The food fest is one of the many campaigns of SM to help MSMEs and local businesses that have been affected by the pandemic. Shoppers can check out special gift items and support local at SM.




Food Fest at SM City Marilao comes back this year with a worthy cause.



In the past years, food fest aims to highlight Bulacan’s culinary culture and fiestas through events and fun activities. With food at its center, shoppers look forward to unique events, gatherings, and feasting on Filipino favourites while creating memories with family and friends. This year, SM City Marilao expanded its advocacy to support local businesses and facilitate entrepreneurial opportunities for Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprise (MSMEs) who are affected by the pandemic. This is one the campaigns rolled out by SM to help shoppers find, discover, and support MSMEs and local businesses especially in the province.
The ‘SAMALAMIG’ at SM City Marilao’s Food Fest was an instant hit to shoppers as it quenches thirst with its all natural fruit flavors.



“Foodies will not only enjoy the street food and unique dishes at our Food Fest but also uplift the local businesses in need of stronger support from the community” shares SM City Marilao Mall Manager Emmanuel Gatmaitan.



Apart from astounding range of unique dishes and comfort foods, customer can also shop for local gift items for their loved ones for Christmas.

Food fest at SM City Marilao will have a limited capacity to allow for social distancing.

The famous “takoyaki” is freshly made and guaranteed fresh to satisfy your cravings. Takoyaki is one of the sought after street foods at SM City Marilao’s food fest.


Coinciding with “Singkaban” festival month, food fest hopes to let Bulakenos spread the joy and relive the fun in fiestas through good food. It is also a kick-off to Christmas as SM City Marilao build up the festive season with full range of great deals, digital promos, virtual entertainment and bigger surprises from September to December.
Instragrammable at every inch, shoppers are greeted with “Singkaban” arch at SM City Marilao’s Food Fest.



“2020 gave us more reason to level up our Christmas celebrations as we reconnect with our loved one to celebrate life and create memories with them” says SM City Marilao Mall Manager Engr. Emmanuel Gatmaitan.

PRESS RELEASE









MPIF President Melody del Rosario with LRMC Corporate Communications and Customer Relations Head Jacqueline Gorospe and HSEQ Environment and Social System Manager. Louernie de Sales turns over Bayan Tanim plant crates to Capt. Roberto Bunda of Barangay 659A in Manila





23 September 2020, MANILA, Philippines, — In its continued thrust to uplift and empower the lives of Filipinos as well as to promote food sustainability, the Light Rail Manila Corporation (LRMC), in partnership with Metro Pacific Investments Foundation (MPIF), distributed agricultural starter kits to communities in Pasay and Manila for the Bayan Tanim campaign.




Evoking the spirit of bayanihan in facing the challenges brought about by the new normal, as well as the advocacy of sustainable living and trend of maintaining home gardens, LRMC sponsored 100 crates of tomato, squash, sitaw, ampalaya and talong seeds and seedlings for beneficiaries in Brgy. 190 in Pasay City and Brgy. 659A in Manila. 

Plant crates composed of seeds and seedlings (tomato, squash, sitaw, ampalaya and talong) with fresh vegetables




These seedlings, along with the tools and the soil that allow the beneficiaries to grow the plants on their own, are intended to serve as a sustainable food source for low-income families who may be dealing with the challenges of today’s extraordinary circumstances.



“We, at LRMC, are committed to doing our part in building a more sustainable society. By supporting MPIF’s Bayan Tanim, we are able to provide agricultural starter kits to 100 families from Manila and Pasay, who are part of the communities that LRT-1 serves. This is one of our ways of reaching out to them in these trying times, while at the same time encouraging people to grow their own food and learn more about where it comes from.”, said Juan Alfonso, President and CEO of LRMC.
Barangay 659-A officials with LRMC, MPIF, and Alagang Kapatid



“Growing your own produce is a simple solution to numerous health, environmental and economic problems. There is an untapped potential for small scale home vegetable growing that leads to self-sufficiency, sustainability, including physical and mental well-being,” says MPIF President Melody del Rosario. “During these uncertain and challenging times, Bayan Tanim can transform us into a plant nation for a sustainable means of living that communities can rely on long after this pandemic is over.”



Pasay City Chief of Staff Peter Eric Pardo, CENRO Operations Superintendent 1 Ronald Rae Salvador and Barangay 190 Kagawad Isabelita Cadungog with the beneficiaries received plant crates



The seedling crates are provided by partner organization AGREA, an agriculture collective that aims to eradicate poverty for Filipino farming and fishing families, establish food security, and alleviate the effects of climate change in the Philippines.








Beneficiaries of Barangay 659A in Manila






As a testament to its commitment to helping Filipinos, LRMC had previously worked with these communities in various cleanup and beautification projects.



Wednesday, September 23, 2020




SM Center Pulilan’s Home Gardening Corner, featuring almost a hundred plant species and local handcraft plant accessories introduces five of today’s promising plant growers in Bulacan—Verde Plants and Crafts of Pulilan, Agricoolturist of Malolos, Twisted Fern Garden & Landscaping from Guiguinto, Cacsuc Home and iPlant from Baliwag. 







SM Center Pulilan recently expanded its advocacy in helping local growers and plant sellers by mounting its first green exhibit in the province.



Dubbed as Home Gardening Corner, the exhibit put a spotlight to five of today’s promising plant growers in Bulacan—Verde Plants and Crafts of Pulilan, Agricoolturist of Malolos, Twisted Fern Garden & Landscaping from Guiguinto, CacSuc Home and iPlant from Baliwag. Each plant growers has a distinctive style of showcasing their plants and crafts, in different forms and sizes; giving shoppers a unique experience to choose among a variety of plants in one venue.

Locally made decorative plant pots, handcrafted by Bulacan artisans are stylish accents to any plant collection. 


Almost a hundred plant species are featured in the exhibit. Some of the bestsellers are houseplants such as Peace Lily, Spider plant, Jade, Lucky Bamboo, Air plants, Snake plant and low maintenance greeneries like Sansevieria, Selloum, Bacularis, Money tree, Philodendron and Rubber tree.






Apart from a wide array of plants, the green exhibit also aims to promote local handcraft plant accessories made by Bulakenyo artisans. Shoppers can find handcrafted pots and baskets meticulously made out of local materials.

Following SM Center Pulilan’s lead, several malls in Bulacan have also rolled out its green campaign to support local growers.



Plants great as home décor or seedlings for farming are some of the greeneries found at SM City Baliwag Home Gardening corner.


In SM City Marilao, the mall recently added another green hub for plant lovers. Situated at the ground level near Red Ribbon, Alucnuicrop offers ornamental and decorative plants that are ideal for small living spaces and small container gardens. Both plant exhibitors of SM City Marilao are reputable sellers from Guiguinto and Sta. Maria. Garden ni Tatay specialized in landscape garden while Alucnuicrop is a gallery shop for ornamental and decorative plants.





Achieve all your #plantgoals with SM City Marilao’s gardening corner located at the ground level near Red Ribbon. The new green hub not only sells decorative pots but also chic gardening tools to make newfound hobbies enjoyable.Add caption





Meanwhile, SM City Baliwag collaborated with San Rafael Bulacan’s Farm Ready concept store to cater different kinds of plants excellent for farming or gardening. Home Gardening Corner at SM City Baliwag aims to promote sustainability by offering high-quality seedlings and products essential in vegetable farming.

Alocasia known for its arrow-head shaped leaves, tall stems and distinct dark green hue is a stunner at SM Center Pulilan’s Home Gardening Corner. 



Subsequent to the success in SM Bulacan Malls, SM Malls in Valenzuela and Sangandaan likewise put their green hub with local sellers in the community.

SM Center Pulilan Assistant Mall Manager Alvin De Galicia said that it is high time to help local entrepreneurs by providing them a platform. “Plants promote a sense of well-being. While buying and taking care of them have become a therapeutic activity during pandemic, it also an opportunity to uplift local businesses in need of stronger support from the community” he added.

Tuesday, September 22, 2020

 






#KPopTwitter shows a decade and rise of K-Pop, top artists in 20 markets, 

and the Philippines ranking as the 4th top market by Tweet volume 




Philippines, 22 September 2020 - Over the past 10 years, Twitter and K-Pop have grown side by side to become a true dream team. Today, #KPopTwitter is one of the largest global conversations on the platform. Despite the global COVID outbreak, the love for K-Pop remains strong with over 6.1 billion K-Pop related Tweets in the past 12 months worldwide. With over 300 K-Pop Topics (by artist names) that can be followed on Twitter, fans around the world can easily see the best Tweets and join the global conversation about their favorites. To celebrate 10 years of #KPopTwitter success, Twitter has partnered with K-Pop Radar to release K-Pop data across 20 markets and show how the global K-Pop community passionately share their love and connect with their favorite artists.




YeonJeong Kim, Head of Global K-Pop Partnerships at Twitter said, “All we can say is thank you -- it’s been a pleasure to watch and participate in the growth of K-Pop over the past 10 years. When K-Pop artists want to reach a global audience, they go on Twitter to connect with their passionate fans who want to be the first to see and talk about what’s happening. These fans -- many who are young and based all over the world -- are flocking to Twitter to join these fun #KPopTwitter conversations to feel connected to a global fan community.”




Twitter has also organized an exclusive “Decade of #KPopTwitter” global live party in Twitter’s Blueroom, bringing together several of the K-Pop pioneers (Sunmi, Wonder Girls), global top stars (Kihyun and Hyungwon, MONSTA X) and fast-rising artists (Bang Chan, Stray Kids) in a fun talk-show format to discuss the past 10 years of K-Pop and Twitter. K-Pop fans can submit questions using the #AskKPopTwitter hashtag and join the live stream at @TwitterLive or @TwitterKorea starting at 11AM PHT on September 22, 2020.









Twitter continues to be the go-to source among fans for all things about K-Pop. This is especially true as legends PSY, Super Junior, Big Bang, and Girls Generation; today’s superstars BTS, EXO, GOT7 and BLACKPINK; and next-generation talents Stray Kids, ATEEZ, TXT, and IZONE are on Twitter. K-Pop fans use Twitter to get the latest updates from the artists they love; connect with other stans anytime and anywhere in real-time; and express their appreciation for the ‘Hallyu (Korean Wave)’ culture that has taken the world by storm.









#KPopTwitter is truly a global community as the top 20 markets with the most K-Pop-related conversations (from July 1, 2019 to June 30, 2020) cover every region in the world today. In particular, the Philippines ranked as the 5th top market by unique voices on Twitter and 4th top market by Tweet volume.





While BTS is the most mentioned K-Pop artist in every market (except for Thailand where GOT7 topped the leaderboard), the rest of the top 10 most-mentioned K-Pop artists varied by market, showing the diversity of the K-Pop fandom on Twitter around the world (from July 1, 2019 to June 30, 2020):



For the first-time ever, Twitter and K-Pop Radar are jointly releasing K-Pop data across 20 markets worldwide. These were the most-mentioned K-Pop artists (by total Tweets), most-mentioned K-Pop songs (by total Tweets) and fastest-rising K-Pop artists (by highest growth in Tweets) on Twitter in the Philippines (from July 1, 2019 - June 30, 2020):






YeonJeong added, “Even during this COVID-19 pandemic when K-Pop concerts, global tours and fan appreciation events have been cancelled, we haven’t seen any drop in #KPopTwitter conversations. K-Pop stans want to stay connected with each other and have their voices heard on Twitter, whether they are cheering for their favorite artist’s new song or participating in movements like #BlackLivesMatter. We can’t wait to see what the next 10 years of K-Pop and Twitter bring to the world.”




Step into the world of #KPopTwitter today to see and talk about your favorites or follow any of the 300+ K-Pop Topics on Twitter to stay connected with other fans around the world!



Instagram

Klikd2. Theme by STS.