MANILA, PHILIPPINES - Shopee, the leading e-commerce platform in Southeast Asia and Taiwan, is the first e-commerce platform in the Philippines to onboard a series of official celebrities on the platform with the launch of the Shopee Celebrity Club. With this, Shopee users can now easily access a curated collection of products by their favourite celebrities on Shopee, including brand ambassador Anne Curtis, Avel Bacudio, Matteo Guidicelli, Vice Ganda, Kris Aquino, and more.

To mark the launch of Shopee Celebrity Squad, Shopee will be offering exclusive deals and discounts across all celebrity stores from July 4 to 7. As a special treat, Shopee in collaboration with Grab Express, will also offer same-day delivery to all celebrity stores for free!

Jane Lim, Director of Shopee Philippines, said, “Our users form the core of all our strategies, and the launch of Shopee Celebrity Club represents our commitment to always find new ways to reach out to and engage them. We know Filipinos adore their homegrown celebrities, and we began to notice a rising demand for their products. Hence, we decided to introduce a dedicated in-app space featuring a variety of celebrity brands to allow shoppers to easily access products sold by their favourite celebrities. We are proud to be the first e-commerce to officially launch such an initiative in the Philippines and look forward to even more exciting celebrity collaborations to come.”



The grand launch of Shopee Celebrity Club will feature exclusive offers, including a 20% storewide discount on selected celebrity shops  from July 4 to 7. Celebrities featured in the debut of Shopee Celebrity Club include:

⦁ Shopee Philippines’ first-ever brand ambassador Anne Curtis, with her cosmetics line, ⦁ BLK Cosmetics
⦁ Comedian and TV host, Vice Ganda, with his brand ⦁ Vice Cosmetics
⦁ Actress, producer, and host, Kris Aquino, with her famous collaboration ⦁ Kris x Ever ⦁ Bilena featuring lipsticks and brow products
⦁ Filipino broadcast journalist, Korina Sanchez, with her skincare line ⦁ K Everyday Beauty
⦁ Much-loved actress, Karel Marquez, who will be releasing her first cosmetics line, ⦁ Kspark⦁ Beauty Cosmetics, exclusively on Shopee
⦁ Best-selling authors Charo Santos, Alex Gonzaga, Ramon Bautista, Richard Poon, and Maricar Reyes from ⦁ ABS-CBN Publishing, each with their own novels


To add to the excitement, the kick off of Shopee Celebrity Club will also feature the launch of the highly anticipated apparel label Avel x Matteo by Filipino designer Avel Bacudio and actor Matteo Guidicelli. The denim brand will be exclusively available on Shopee from July 4.

“Avel x Matteo’s concept is about quality of life and finding a good balance between work and friends. I am excited to be part of the Shopee Celebrity Club, and also, to be working with the leading e-commerce platform in the Philippines. After a year of planning and creating, I’m  finally able to share these ripped, stretch and lightweight jeans with everyone. This is my first time venturing into the fashion industry- collaborating with Avel and launching exclusively in Shopee make it extra special for me, ” said Matteo Guidicelli.

“We are so thrilled to debut Avel x Matteo, a collection of limited edition ripped jeans exclusively on Shopee. Our goal was to make designer jeans accessible to a broader market. We are able to do that with our partnership with Shopee. It enables us to reach a wide network of customers  in the Philippines,” said Avel Bacudio.

Beyond providing users with access to products by their favourite celebrities, users can also look forward to exclusive campaigns and events presented in collaboration with these celebrities, including giveaways and celebrity appearances on Shopee’s Facebook live sessions. Stay tuned on Shopee’s Facebook page for a one-on-one Facebook live session with Korina Sanchez, Matteo Guidicelli and Enchong Dee for more details on their products.

Don’t miss the chance to shop from your favourite celebrities on Shopee. For more information about Shopee Celebrity Club, visit https://shopee.ph/ShopeeCelebrityClub

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

Cebuana Lhuillier reinforces disaster resilience advocacy on its third year.

On the heels of last years successful disaster resilience forum, Cebuana Lhuillier continues to push for disaster preparedness among Filipinos, gathering the country’s
industry experts in disaster management, risk reduction, and post-disaster rehabilitation on July 4, 2018 at Shangri-la the Fort Manila for the ‘2018 READY Disaster Resilience Forum – Disaster Resilience Begins with Me.

This year’s theme is an iteration of the past two fora, focusing on the need for everyone
including the first responders; communities and families; and individual Filipinos to be
ready and be fully equipped to take on an active role in disaster resilience.



When we started the Disaster Resilience Forum two years ago, our vision was to build a nation of resilient Filipinos – armed with the information and know-how to protect and help others during times of disasters and natural calamities,” said Cebuana Lhuilier President and CEO Jean Henri Lhuillier.

He added, “This year, we would like to encourage each and every Filipino to take on a more proactive role in building disaster resilient communities by highlighting personal readiness and security to alleviate massive losses and damages during disasters.”

In partnership with the Regulatory Framework Promotion of Pro-poor Insurance Markets in Asia (RFPI Asia) and the Mutual Exchange Forum on Inclusive Insurance Network (MEFIN), the event was organized to serve as a platform to discuss measures on the disaster resilience of first responders such as members of the army and local policemen against any type of disaster.

The forum is also a venue for various local government and civil societies to share
learnings and best practices to strengthen and improve other communities’ disastere resilience capabilities. The multi-sector panel discussion seeks to increase awareness on the role of microinsurance as a disaster-risk finance tool to make every Filipino resilient against the impacts of disasters and calamities, as well as, promote conversations about each


Filipino’s role in every phase of disaster risk reduction and management.

Broken down in three panel sessions, the forum opened with ‘First Things First: How Resilient are Our First Responders?’ The panel featured Restituto F. Padilla
Deputy Chief of Staff for Plans, J5 of the Armed Forces of the Philippines; Rene “Butch”S. Meily, president of the Philippine Disaster Resilience Foundation, Inc.: and Manuel “Nong” C. Rangasa, chairman and executive director of Local Climate Change
Adaptation for Development, Inc

Kicking off the second discussion, ‘Moving Forward: How do we Strengthen our Communities Resilience?,’ were Maribeth L. Marasigan, first vice president and chief operating officer of WeatherPhilippines Foundation;Jorge S. Ebay, associate professor in Community Development at the University of the Philippines-Visayas; and Dr. June Caridad Pagaduan Lopez, convenor of Citizen’s Network for Psychosocial Response.

The third and final panel session, ‘On to the Next Step: How can Every Filipino be
Ready and Help?’ were presented by Stacy de Jesus, head of Community and Digital Communications of Rappler, Inc and Pebbles Badillo Sanchez-Ogang, executive director of YESPinoy Foundation, Inc.The forum also featured Commissioner Dennis B. Funa of the Insuranc Commission
and Jonathan D. Batangan, first vice president and group head of Cebuana Lhuillier Insurance Solutions, Cebuana Lhuillier Foundation, Inc., and Cebuana Lhuillieru Business Solutions; and news anchor and program host, Tony Velasquez of the ABS CBN News Channel (ANC) as forum moderator.

To further reinforce its disaster resilience advocacy, Cebuana Lhuillier launched OurHelp, a donation site where donors can ensure individuals or communities who do not have access to or means to get insurance coverage for as low as one dollar or 53pesos. OurHelp is an offshoot of the company’s National Pilipino Protektado Day, a monthlong campaign that helped insure one million Filpinos in 2016.

Atlanta,Ga., June 1, 2018 -- MaxBox VR, the leading manufacturer of branded VR headsets, announced today that it sold a total of one million virtual reality headsets in 2017. The company offers an innovative marketing experience to companies all across the globe through their VR cardboard creations.

Since 2014, Maxbox VR have been working hard to make brands and businesses worth remembering in the new digital age, while establishing themselves as THE brand for cardboard VR headsets. Maxbox VR is the secret force behind most of the VR marketing campaigns that you most likely encountered at launch events for companies such as Microsoft, Nestle, Nike, Krispy Kreme, Snapchat and Google. Google Streetview has chosen Maxbox VR as the go-to for VR cardboard. Visit Google Streetview partners to learn more.

With VR cardboard, the possibilities are endless. For example, Maxbox VR worked alongside Krispy Kreme to take their customers on an epic 360 sci-fi doughnut adventure called “Journey to Glazetopia,” enticing viewers to celebrate the launch of four new doughnut flavors. During this campaign, limited edition Krispy Kreme Google Cardboard VR headsets were given out to customers who purchased a dozen of any of the introduced flavors. To see more about the Journey to Glazetopia campaign, visit Krispy Kreme

Maxbox VR will create whatever a brand wants, however they want it, with free shipping included. For brands wanting a perfect way to give valuable customers a memorable experience when introducing a new product, hosting an event or holding a giveaway, the VR headsets are completely customizable and smartphone compatible.
“This year, I want to collaborate and partner with all businesses and brands, and I urge all industries to get in touch. I want them to dream up something crazy so we can make it,” said Igor Hadzic, Product Manager for Maxbox VR. “VR cardboard works in so many departments: marketing, education, events... you name it. I love crazy VR experiences and I think they’ll be even better as content production gets more widely accessible.”

To learn more about Maxbox VR, inquire about custom cardboard products or take a look at past projects, visit www.maxboxvr.com.

(MANILA, Philippines) – On Saturday, June 30th, 2018, sixteen teams, finalists from the previous Qualifiers (Manila A, Manila B, Last Chance), went head-to-head at the Red Bull Reign Finals at Taft Food by the Court in Pasay City. Phenom emerged as the tournament winners and earned the chance to represent the Philippines at the Red Bull Reign World Finals.

Red Bull Reign is a high-endurance, offense-driven 3x3 basketball tournament that gathers the world’s top ballers to battle it out for the chance to compete at the World Finals in Washington, DC, USA. The rules are simple: the team that scores the most overall points in each round will advance until only one team remains.
The final sixteen teams consisted of:
⦁ LGU
⦁ PACITA
⦁ SOULDIER
⦁ Kervy
⦁ LA
⦁ Team Kate
⦁ Better Basketball PH
⦁ VVEstrada
⦁ Sy Men
⦁ HumKins
⦁ Phenom
⦁ King of Hoops
⦁ Evogen
⦁ Tough Gear C
⦁ Tough Gear A
⦁ 7 Eleven

The event kicked off with the Last Chance Qualifier that enabled Phenom to advance to the Finals later that afternoon. Over the course of the day, each team collided in a series of round-robin style matches, intensified by familiar players like former NCAA player from Lyceum of the Philippines – Seraj Elmejrab of team PACITA, former UAAP player from UST Growling Tigers – John Jordan Sta. Ana of team Phenom, and Senior Board Member of Ilocos Norte – Matthew Marcos Manotoc of LGU.

“It’s super robust. Everywhere, you have people playing basketball – old to young, good to not very good, it’s always been a very healthy basketball scene,” says Manotoc. “Probably one of the most vibrant in the world, very proud of the basketball scene, and Red Bull Reign is just a testament to that.”

Red Bull Reign progressed into the semi-finals, which saw three rounds of competitive back-to-back contests between Phenom, Souldier, and LGU.

Despite delays due to the weather throughout the day, Phenom and LGU later advanced to the finals with a score of 46-to-50. Both teams collided on the court but Phenom would emerge as the Philippine Champions, at a score of 10-to-06. The winning team included team captain, Carl Kenneth Sumalacan, Jarrold Flores, John Rom Alvarado, and John Jordan Sta. Ana.

“Today was extremely difficult, it was as if we went through the eye of a needle. They were all skilled and hungry to win,” shares Sumalacan. “We are happy and at the same time, excited. We were constantly worn out, but it was all worth it.”

For the second year in a row, PBA legend Vince Hizon oversaw Red Bull Reign as tournament director.

“We’re really trying to get bigger and better every year. And I think we’re definitely doing that,” says Hizon. “Red Bull truly made a big presence here and what’s nice is the homegrown presence. So hopefully, Phenom represents us well in Washington D.C., and we’re praying for the best.”
According to sports consultant, Al Delos Reyes, “What’s good about Red Bull Reign is that it opens another door for amateurs who, even though haven’t been part of any basketball professional leagues, get the chance to represent the Philippines against 60+ countries. And it’s on, Phenom is flying to Washington, D.C. later this year!”

Following their hard fought victory at the second annual Red Bull Reign, Phenom will represent the Philippines at the World Finals in Washington DC, USA, later this year.

For more information, please visit: redbull.com/reign

RCBC brings ePiso, the country’s first-ever digital money, closer to farmers and agri-businesses in Valencia City, Bukidnon province, following the success of its pilot launch in Muntinlupa City.
The Yuchengco-led bank is elevating its efforts in support of Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas’ goal of financial inclusion. It taps its subsidiary, Rizal Microbank, to reach out to local microenterprises and small businesses in the agricultural sector and enable them to have better access to financial loans as it introduces RCBC ePiso to farming communities in Bukidnon.

“Rizal Microbank shares Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas’ vision of financial inclusion. To do this, we are actively supporting our farmers by teaching them how to build their assets and giving them avenues on how they can grow their farms,” said Raymundo Roxas, Rizal Microbank president. “And with ePiso, we are excited to provide our farmers with easy and convenient access to their agri-loans to help them run their businesses more efficiently.”

Through RCBC ePiso, the microbank can now distribute its loan proceeds to its clients by easily loading digital peso in their RCBC ePiso Mobile Wallet. This means farmers can spare themselves the hassle of going to the city to get their loans and instead focus on taking care of their crops.
During the pilot launch, the Bukidnon farmers excitedly tried ePiso and enjoyed cashless purchases with RCBC’s partner stores for agri supplies.

One of the attendees, Alejandrino Tagupa, shared, “Sobrang laking tulong ang ginawa nila para sa amin. Nagpapasalamat ako ng marami sa Rizal Microbank at ePiso dahil mas dumami ang oportunidad para sa aming araw-araw na pagsasaka.” (What they did was really beneficial to us. I am grateful to Rizal Microbank and ePiso for opening my eyes to the many opportunities for farming.)

Judy Omblero also expressed gratitude to the bank, “Maraming salamat sa Rizal Microbank sa pagbibigay ng karagdagang puhunan para sa aming mga magsasaka. Salamat din sa ePiso sa pagdadala ng mas maraming paraan para makakuha ng kita.” (Thank you so much to Rizal Microbank for giving additional financing for us, small farmers. Also, thank you ePiso for paving the way for us to get our financing.)

Once ePiso formally becomes available nationwide, farmers can enjoy simpler ways to send money and pay bills to their loved ones anywhere in the country. With just the RCBC ePiso Mobile Wallet app, they can also manage their money and avoid unnecessary expenses.

“The uninterested, uninclined and unimaginative will not see the agriculture workers and MSMEs as an attractive market for financial services. They will only see the risks and challenges of serving the sector. But those who have internalized the noble role of serving the needs of rural communities, those who can innovate with a solid strategy and purpose, they are the ones who can see and unlock viable opportunities in this underserved market” shared Ellen Joyce Suficienca, Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Inclusive Finance Advocacy Office Acting Deputy Director. “We hope that the RCBC ePiso can become a showcase of innovative financial solutions for our MSMEs and farmers.”

The RCBC ePiso is one of the ways that the commercial bank is strengthening its commitment to bring progressive and relevant financial services to Filipinos, especially those who belong to the unbanked market. More individuals can experience ePiso as RCBC is set to pilot it in more communities nationwide.