Saturday, April 11, 2026
Mackonner Dy at play in SM City Marikina Pickleball Courts
Marikina, Philippines, April 2026 – SM Active Hub marks its first anniversary with an exciting pickleball roadshow across select SM Supermalls, headlined by Canadian Pickleball National Champion Mackonner Dy. His recent visit to the Philippines kicked off at SM City Marikina, drawing strong enthusiasm and highlighting the sport’s growing popularity in the country.
Mackonner Dy, a 16-year-old standout from The Nest Pickleball Academy in Tsawwassen, BC, is known for his exceptional skill set, including impressive hand speed at the kitchen, advanced pickleball IQ, creative shot-making, and calm composure beyond his years. He is a National Canadian Champion in the Singles Open Division, was drafted into the Canadian National Pickleball League under the Vancouver Owls, competed in the Round of 16 at the PPA Texas Open and won recently gold at PPA Hanoi.
A welcome ceremony held for Mackonner Dy (center) was led by SM Supermalls AVP for Marketing Jay Aranas (left), Area Marketing OIC Ma-ann Hipol (3rd from right), Regional Marketing Head Khristine Lenon (2nd from right), SM City Marikina Mall Manager Francis Brian Cruz (5th from left) and representatives from Paloo PH and SM City Marikina team.
A delightful Q&A with Mackonner during the welcome ceremony at SM City Marikina
At SM City Marikina, Mackonner received a warm welcome from SM Supermalls representatives, the SM City Marikina team, Paloo PH, and a vibrant community of local pickleball players, reflecting the collaborative efforts driving the sport’s growth in the Philippines.
Mackonner celebrates a point with a quick paddle tap alongside his teammate at SM City Marikina.
During the event, Mackonner emphasized pickleball’s accessibility and social appeal, noting that it is easy to learn and highly engaging. He also shared his excitement over the increasing number of dedicated pickleball spaces, particularly in SM malls, which he believes will inspire more people, especially the youth, to go all out, stay active, and reach their full potential while supporting their mental and social well-being.
A light moment and quick chat with his fellow pickleball players during an exhibition game at SM City Marikina.
The roadshow is part of SM Active Hub’s commitment to creating dynamic and engaging experiences for its mallgoers, in line with its vision of being the most-loved mall that offers “all for you” experiences. The anniversary celebration goes all out and maxed out, bringing world-class talent and exciting sports opportunities closer to Filipino communities.
Catch Mackonner Dy at your nearest SM Supermall pickleball courts until April 12
The pickleball roadshow with Mackonner Dy runs until April 12, 2026, with stops at the following SM Supermalls:
• SM Center Muntinlupa (April 10)
• SM Southmall (April 10)
• SM North EDSA (April 11)
• SM City Bicutan (April 12)
• SM City Sta. Mesa (April 12)
Celebrate with SM Active Hub and experience the excitement of pickleball with Mackonner Dy.
#SMActiveHub #HereToMove #GalaToTheMax
Friday, April 10, 2026
Pepsi-Cola Products Philippines, Inc. (PCPPI) is strengthening its support for sari-sari stores through a technology-enabled direct-to-retail strategy designed to empower small retailers and improve access to products across communities.
Sari-sari stores remain a vital part of the Philippine retail landscape, serving as neighborhood hubs and sources of livelihood for millions of Filipino families. Recognizing their importance, PCPPI continues to place these micro-entrepreneurs at the center of its long-term business strategy.
According to PCPPI President & Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Phyo Phyu Noe, the company is focused on utilizing a distribution model that allows sari-sari store owners to benefit directly from the company’s promotions, pricing programs, and service support.
“Every time our frontliners visit a sari-sari store, we make sure that they are getting the best prices,” Phyo said. “Technology helps us ensure that the discounts and promotions intended for sari-sari stores reach them directly.”
For many small retailers—many of whom are women entrepreneurs—sari-sari stores represent an important source of household income and economic resilience. By strengthening its direct engagement with these stores, PCPPI aims to help neighborhood retailers operate more efficiently and remain competitive in an evolving retail environment.
“We are very clear about our purpose. Our goal is to serve sari-sari stores and support the entrepreneurs behind them—not just today, but for many years to come,” Phyo added.
Delivering value in changing times
As Filipino consumers become more value-conscious amid economic headwinds, PCPPI is also strengthening efficiency across its operations to continue supporting sari-sari stores and the communities they serve.
“Affordability does not mean lowering standards,” Phyo said. “It means becoming more efficient so we can continue delivering quality products to Filipino consumers.”
With its technology-enabled, locally grounded distribution model, PCPPI aims to continue growing alongside the sari-sari stores that anchor communities across the Philippines.
PCPPI is the exclusive manufacturer of PepsiCo beverages in the Philippines, with products such as Pepsi, Mountain Dew, 7Up, Mirinda, Mug, Gatorade, Sting, Tropicana, Lipton Iced Tea, Milkis, Chum Churum, Saero, and Premier. More information about PCPPI and its products is available via www.pepsiphilippines.com.
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Manila, Philippines – As part of its annual Global Month of Good celebration, Starbucks Philippines is reinforcing its commitment to the communities it serves – while inviting more Filipinos to take part in their own way.
This year, Starbucks highlights a simple but powerful idea: anyone can be a Community Champion through small, everyday actions that create meaningful change for the environment, the community, and other people.
“Our local initiatives are grounded in the belief that meaningful change starts with strong community connections,” said Jamie Silva, senior manager for Marketing, Digital Customer Experience and Social Impact, Starbucks Philippines. “From education to disaster response initiatives and partner volunteerism, 2025 reflects how collective action can create lasting impact.”
In 2026, Starbucks Philippines is expanding its community impact initiatives through strengthened partnerships, improved access to essentials, and more opportunities for both partners (employees) and customers to take part in meaningful action.
Supporting Communities Where They Need the Most
Through its partnership with Planet Water Foundation and The Starbucks Foundation, , Starbucks Philippines provides clean water access and hygiene education to an estimated 42,400 people in various regions around the country. This April, a ninth AquaTower will be installed in Camarines Sur, extending access to safe drinking to around 7,000 more individuals.
Starbucks Philippines also continues its longstanding partnership with HOPE to support education. Each year, Starbucks partners (employees) come together to help build safe and inspiring learning spaces for underserved communities. This year marks the completion of a sixth public school classroom in Sarangani in April, helping provide safe and conducive learning spaces for students in the community.
Alongside its community initiatives, Starbucks Philippines is also strengthening its sustainability efforts within its store operations. Starbucks Philippines has partnered with MPower to supply electricity to around 60 Metro Manila stores under the Retail Aggregation Program. This partnership is expected to result in improved operational efficiency while supporting long-term sustainability goals.
Continuing Efforts Powered by Volunteerism
Starbucks’ commitment to being a Community Champion is also reflected through volunteerism and everyday participation.
Starbucks Community Stores in Abad Santos, Tondo, and Maysilo Circle continue to support education programs in partnership with AHA! Learning Center, Young Focus Foundation, and Mano Amiga Philippines. To date, more than 1,500 learners have benefited from after-school sessions, literacy development activities, and leadership-building programs that help them gain confidence and stay engaged in school.
Addressing food insecurity remains a key focus. Through its FoodShare program, Starbucks has redirected nearly 3 million rescuable food items from close to 300 stores nationwide. In partnership with The Philippine Food Bank Foundation and Grab Philippines, surplus food is distributed to various communities.
Beyond these organized programs, Starbucks encourages customers to take part in simple, everyday actions throughout Global Month of Good. In their own small way, store visits can become part of the impact. Customers can use for-here ware or bring their own tumblers for their coffee orders and enjoy a PHP 10 discount.
Simple actions, when done together, can create a meaningful impact over time. This Global Month of Good, everyone is invited to be a Community Champion. To learn more about the Global Month of Good, visit starbucks.ph/social-impact.
Wednesday, April 8, 2026
Food lovers and mallgoers have more reasons to look forward to every visit as the SM Foodcourt introduces exciting new dining concepts at SM City Grand Central and SM City Valenzuela. With the arrival of Mandarin 360 and ChizMozza, shoppers can now enjoy a delicious mix of authentic Chinese cuisine and fun, cheesy snack creations, all in one vibrant dining destination.
Now serving at Level 4 of the SM City Grand Central Foodcourt, Mandarin 360 leads the lineup as a modern Chinese dining destination that brings authentic, family-friendly cuisine closer to everyday diners. Designed to make classic Chinese dishes more accessible and enjoyable, it offers a well-curated menu of crowd favorites, from comforting staples like dim sum and fried rice to its signature Braised Beef, slow-cooked to tender perfection and rich in flavor. Whether you are on a quick lunch break or gathering for a casual meal with family, Mandarin 360 delivers a complete and satisfying dining experience in the heart of the SM Foodcourt.
Complementing this savory selection is ChizMozza, a unique snack concept that brings a playful twist to the Filipino love for cheese. Known as the first fried mozzarella cheese stand in the Philippines, ChizMozza features bite-sized and stick-shaped mozzarella coated in a crispy, golden crust. Each piece delivers that signature stretch of 100 percent mozzarella cheese, making it a must-try treat for shoppers seeking something indulgent and shareable. ChizMozza is now available at the SM Foodcourt of both SM City Grand Central and SM City Valenzuela, expanding its reach to more cheese lovers across the metro.
Together, these new tenants highlight SM Foodcourt as a dynamic culinary hub where variety, quality, and convenience come together. Whether it is a hearty meal, a quick snack, or a casual dining experience with loved ones, SM Foodcourt continues to elevate everyday dining for its guests.
Head over to SM Foodcourt at your most loved malls, SM City Grand Central and SM City Valenzuela, and discover your next favorite flavors today.
Saturday, April 4, 2026
Photo by Mayks Go.
MANILA, PHILIPPINES—New music alert! Punk rock young blood Ligaya Escueta releases a new single titled June, a dreampop love song that sonically reiterates the ache of young romance in a soft, almost ethereal melody. The song is now available on all digital streaming platforms.
Coming down from the high of her previous emotionally-charged album "Dollweb" (2025), Abigail Escueta, better known as her stage name, Ligaya Escueta, pulls yet the heartstrings of her listeners with the release of June.
“Love songs have always been hard for me to write. I just feel like so much has been said about love that it kind of feels so overwhelming to try to sum it up in a song,” shares the 19-year-old musician, expressing her difficulties creating such a vulnerable track. However, for June, Escueta remarks how fast the flow came naturally to her the moment the idea came to mind. “A lot of lyrics came easily to me. I got the choruses done quickly, but was only able to finish the verse lyrics in the car on the way to a gig, which is a funny story.”
Inspired by the transcendental gloom pop melodies of slow-guitar bands like Wisp and a generous dose from iconic shoegaze group Cocteau Twins, June was a product of Escueta's day-to-day reality and experiences as a young musician that embraces both the mundanity of being a student and the petuliant woes of admiration and feelings while having a heart like hers. But the teenage singer gives flowers to asian shoegaze bands as influences for the newly released track. “My influences for this song are Summer’s Gone by Honeydip and Feverfew by Megumi Acorda,” says Escueta. “I really love how you can get lost in the heaviness of their music, but still feel the emotion through the chord choices and lyrics as well.”
Production wise, June was made piece by piece: starting from the melody and then the lyrics started to eventually write itself, but what really got Escueta going was her creating the instrumentation, being the main person to arrange the tracks, and seeing it come to life. “My friend really liked the song too, and started jamming to it on bass one day at school - and that’s how we got the bassline of June,” she shares. The song continued to take shape as each of her bandmates added their own parts as they played the song live prior to its initial release. Eventually, The track was produced by Mikey Amistoso of Ciudad, long time mentor and music producer of Ligaya Escueta.
June by Ligaya Escueta is out now and is available for streaming everywhere. You can catch her live on April 9 at Mow’s for FUZZY 4EVER’s Scott Pilgrim night!
About Ligaya Escueta
Ligaya Escueta is an 19-year-old singer-songwriter from Manila, Philippines. She released her first song in 2020, then put out her debut album “Laughing In Milk” two years after.
In 2023, she was signed under Offshore Music Philippines and wrote and released the singles “Novelty”, “12 Steps”, and “Blue General, Come Home” under the label. Ligaya then put out her second album, Dollweb, on all streaming platforms in January 2025.
Moreover in the same year she released her sophomore album, the punk rock prodigy were invited amongst other Filipino musicians at the coveted South by South West (SXSW) Sydney where she performed her songs along with her bandmates on the global stage. Right after, Ligaya was featured on Youngstar PH, PhilStar’s youth-focused print section, describing her approach to punk as “deliberate” and “graceful”—adjectives one may not even think to associate with the genre, but those are what makes her definition of the style uniquely hers.
Ligaya has been performing at small gigs since she was 15, and has opened for many artists including Ely Buendia, The Itchyworms, and Grrrl Gang. Inspired by artists like Mitski, Radiohead, and Weezer, she writes catchy rock songs, exploring earsplitting sonic landscapes with diary-like lyricism.
Ligaya Escueta Socials
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/32GPsNDIVdDvE2EX2GcVyT
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/people/Ligaya-Escueta/100083005895770/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dollshoesnicesocks/
Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@dollshoesnicesocks?_t=8ipMR5kjvMn&_r=1
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ligayaescueta
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