Cetaphil Baby promotes the right foundation for baby’s healthy start

Raising a healthy child is a mom’s ultimate achievement. As a mom, you are constantly worried about your baby’s development; you would like them to experience new things, but you are also afraid of what these new things can bring. Thankfully, moms have healthy pillars to help them as they raise their kids and navigate the world of motherhood. Interconnected with each other, these pillars are integral during the first steps of a baby’s development, making sure that they’re all set as moms nurture them.

Cetaphil Baby advocates the Four Healthy Pillars: Healthy Food, Healthy Play, Healthy Sleep, and Healthy Skin. Each pillar is important for a baby's health and development, and skin is such an important part of their overall health because it will protect them throughout their life.

Cetaphil Baby offers moms the best way to give babies the right foundation for healthy skin by supporting its development as it matures from its earliest stages onward. Moms can find peace and assurance that they can keep their baby’s skin protected now and in the future.

Cetaphil Baby products are clinically proven to respect, maintain & improve the structure of even the most sensitive skin, supporting baby skin’s natural development. It has been tested and approved by experts because of its gentle, hypoallergenic formulation that contains skin-barrier building ingredients like glycerin and panthenol, and other natural ingredients like chamomile, shea butter, almond oil, aloe vera, and calendula to keep baby’s skin soft, smooth and protected.

Cetaphil Baby offers even more gentle products suited for sensitive skin

Cetaphil Baby currently has two ranges: the Classic Line and the newly launched Calendula range. Included in the Classic Line is the Cetaphil Baby Gentle Wash & Shampoo, a tear-free 2-in-1 hair and body formula that gently cleanses your baby’s delicate skin and hair, leaving it soft and clean.

For those looking for moisturizing goodness, the Cetaphil Baby Moisturising Bath & Wash is enriched with ⅓ baby lotion to care for even the most delicate skin protecting it against dryness.

The Cetaphil Baby Shampoo is a gentle caring formula enriched with chamomile to restore natural skin protection for a healthy scalp, while the Cetaphil Baby Gentle Cleansing Bar is ideal for teaching babies about hygiene as moms give them independence and the responsibility of caring for themselves with simple tasks like handwashing.

The Cetaphil Baby Daily Lotion is enriched with shea butter that soothes, nourishes, and keeps the baby's skin hydrated for up to 24 hours.

The new Cetaphil Baby range contains calendula extract that has been used for many centuries due to its antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties and includes Cetaphil Baby Wash and Shampoo, a 2-in-1 formula that smoothens, softens, and improves skin texture. It is specifically designed to be used from head to toe daily.

The Cetaphil Baby Daily Lotion with Organic Calendula is especially helpful for the skin barrier of sensitive skin, providing 24 hours of skin moisturization.

Finally, for babies experiencing rough skin patches in cheeks, knees, elbow areas, or under those chubby folds, the best-suited product is the Cetaphil Baby With Organic Calendula Advanced Protection Cream, which helps reduce the feeling of discomfort and irritation and provides long-lasting irritation for up to 24 hours.

To complement the existing lines, Cetaphil Baby also introduced its latest product: the Cetaphil Baby Gentle Wipes. This new product gently cleanses and moisturizes a baby’s delicate skin and is made from 100% plant-derived fabric. Made with natural ingredients like aloe vera and Vitamin E it helps prevent baby’s skin from drying out, making Cetaphil Baby Gentle Wipes ideal for face and body use of baby’s delicate skin.

Federal Land holds spooky Halloween fun at the Bay Area

Are you looking for spooktacular activities for the kids over the weekend? 

Federal Land Inc. is inviting both kids and kids at heart to join the Halloween festivities happening on October 29 and 30 at Metro Park’s Blue Bay Walk and Met Live in Pasay City.

Candies and treats are up for grabs at Blue Bay Walk and Met Live as different mall establishments swing open their doors for kids to enjoy the spooky season.

"The Bay Area is about to get spirited! We are super thrilled to organize different activities to give kids the most awesome time this Halloween weekend. Admission is free, so be sure to drop by," said Federal Land Commercial Development Head Mylene del Rosario.

For those who are joining in the fun, you may proceed to The Spine at Blue Bay Walk on Saturday, October 29, and the Atrium of Met Live on Sunday, October 30 to register and get your stamp card to participate in the events.

Various brands will be sponsoring exciting treats that you wouldn’t want to miss. Games, arts and crafts, a KPop-themed photo booth, and a lot more await participants. The Halloween activities for both malls will start at 3PM and until 5PM.

Everyone is encouraged to be in their best costume for a chance to bring home more goodies. Halloween-themed sling bags will also be given away to the first few kids to finish the trip to all the booths.

Metro Park is Federal Land’s 36-hectare master-planned community in Pasay City’s Manila Bay Area. It offers resort-style residential condominiums, delectable dining options, chic retail hubs, exciting weekend events, and a convenient office environment against the backdrop of the Manila Bay sunset.

Get ready to find out "Your Song of Excellence" Season 2 grand champions

Make no mistake about it. The tough preliminary is over and done with, same with the tougher semifinals stage.

Now, the remaining contestants will experience the toughest part of the competition that will beat all the other stages as “Your Song of Excellence” Season 2 enters the Grand Finals, the pinnacle of the competition. Here, the best among the best will be crowned the “Your Song of Excellence” Season 2 grand winner.

And from the thousands of auditionees and the 30 semi-finalists who battled it out to know who would march through to the grand finals, only nine contestants (or three grand finalists for each category, whether Ballad, Acoustic, or Rock) remain.

The Top 3 Grand Finalists for "Your Song of Excellence" Season 2 under the "Ballad" (#HeartsAtHome) category are:

• Easter Joy Parsacala
• Rachell Laylo
• Redemptor Nuestro

For the "Acoustic" (#FreshVibes) category, those who made it to the Grand Finals are:

• Kirby Cruz
• Izay Acoustic
• Jaworksi Sison

And finally, the Top 3 grand finalists who will do a sing-off for the “Rock” (#EpicRock) category are:

• Genriel Diaz
• Vic Robinson
• Anne Ferrer

Each of the grand finalists will go for the throat to determine who among them is the best in their respective categories. And their battles are made even more arduous with more stringent judging criteria. Each contestant will be judged based on Voice Quality at 35%, Creativity also at 35%, and Stage Presence at 20%. Netizens will also have a say in the judging as 10% of the grand finalists’ scores will come from Online Votes.

After the rigorous judging, only 1 grand finalist for each category will remain standing and will be declared grand champion for their category in this year’s "Your Song of Excellence" Season 2.

So, remember the date: October 31, 2022, which is just a few days away when the Grand Finals of "Your Song of Excellence" Season 2 will be streamed live and the grand champions for each of the categories will be known. The grand champion from each category will win P50,000 worth of cash and products plus a major recording deal with Ivory Music, one of the country’s biggest independent record labels. The 2nd and 3rd Runners Up for each of the categories won’t go home empty-handed for they will win P30,000 and P15,000, respectively.

And just like all the other stages, voting for your winner is easy. Make sure your votes include the official hashtag "#YSOE2022Grand_NAME" on all comments so that your vote will be counted.

"Your Song of Excellence" Season 2 is organized by Taiwan Excellence, with premier brands Aromase Philippines, Asus, and Predator Gaming as sponsors, with Ivory Music as a music partner.

Major brand partners include Acer Philippines, Annie's Way 安妮絲薇果凍面膜第一品牌, FECA PH, Johnson Fitness Philippines, LUFTQI空氣淨化專家, Transcend Philippines, Zyxel.ph, Dacian, and Tatung.

Don’t forget to like and follow Taiwan Excellence on its social media accounts:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TaiwanExcellence.ph

Instagram: @taiwanexcellence_ph

THE SUPER AMERICAN CIRCUS PERFORMS IN MANILA THIS CHRISTMAS SEASON

Family bonding made awesome at the Newport Performing Arts Theater

This Christmas, Filipino families can finally go out of their homes after two years of pandemic lockdown to enjoy and be amazed at the world-famous Super American Circus, coming to the Philippines on December 21, 2022, until January 8, 2023, at the Newport Performing Arts Theater, Newport World Resorts in Pasay City.

Families will be in for a marvelous two-hour treat with what is dubbed as the biggest ensemble of a live one-ring circus today. The Super American Circus puts together an incredible array of performers whose acts earned standing ovations all over the world. Some of them were winners of the prestigious world-class talent search America’s Got Talent.

The Super American Circus is a modern one-ring circus that will showcase acts that will excite and delight Filipino family members and barkadas of all ages. Witness thrilling acts like the motorcycle team in the Globe of Danger, the amazing Sky Wheel, the High Flying Motorcycle, life-challenging aerialists, beautiful aerial ballerinas, and amazing jugglers that will happily keep you hanging on the edge of your seats.

The Super American Circus is produced by Global Entertainment Productions. Its President and CEO Mr. Cornell "Tuffy" Nicholas is also the show’s ringmaster. "Tuffy" comes from a family with extensive circus history. His father "Count Nicholas" was the lead Ringmaster extraordinaire of the traveling Ringling Brothers circus. Tuffy was actually born on the Sarasota stop of the Ringling Brothers Traveling Circus. The Nicholas’s raised their three children on the road and Tuffy grew up amongst some of the world’s most famous performers and celebrities. Under the careful eye of the Count, he became a great performer mastering a variety of different acts and skills. He made his first appearance as an honorary ringmaster on a main-street float alongside his proud father at the ripe old age of 3.

For more than 35 years now, Mr. Nicholas has been a successful producer and promoter of circuses, concerts, festivals, and sporting events around the world. As president and CEO since 2000, he has produced over 5,000 performances around the World – Moscow State Circus, Modern American Circus, and International All-Star Circus are just a few of Mr. Nicholas's productions. In 2005 he produced Cirque Hawaii, a multi-million-dollar, state-of-the-art, permanent theatrical spectacular, that showcased the award-winning talent of over 35 performers from around the world and thrilled Hawaiian audiences.

An incredible show like Super American Circus deserves an equally incredible venue. The Newport Performing Arts Theater is located at the center of Newport World Resorts, Newport Boulevard, Newport City, Pasay (across NAIA Terminal 3). A regular venue for patrons of the Philippine theater arts, the Newport Performing Arts Theater has been the venue of choice for a host of major concerts, plays, musicals, exclusive productions, and more. TV audiences may also recognize the Newport Performing Arts Theater as the venue of the highly popular reality television singing competition, The Voice of the Philippines. The Newport Performing Arts Theater was designed by prominent Hong Kong-based interior design expert Joseph Sy, which won him the coveted 2011 Perspective Awards-Certificate of Excellence and the 2011 Asia Pacific Interior Design Silver Award. The Newport Performing Arts Theater also earned the distinction of being BroadwayWorld Philippines’ Best Theatrical Venue for 2011 and was one of the top six contenders in the Leisure and Entertainment class of the Asia Pacific Interior Design Awards.

The Super American Circus production in the Philippines is made possible in partnership with Newport World Resorts and SGE Productions. The good news of Super American Circus’ coming to the Philippines’ was launched to the Philippine press community on October 18, 2022, at the Golden Bay Restaurant, Macapagal Avenue, Pasay City. It was hosted by Cerah's Hernandez Co, a former DJ at Monster RX FM and is not a content creator and event host.

The Super American Circus will have performances at 3pm and 8pm beginning December 21, 2022. Tickets are available at SM Tickets in these prices: Php5,000, Php4,000, Php2,000 and Php1,000.

OMF partners with more groups to expand One For Trees program

(From L-R) FEED Director for Partnerships Anne Marie Bakker, BCWD General Manager Anselmo Sang Tian, OMF President Jeffrey O. Tarayao, and PROCESS Bohol Executive Director Aurelio Salgados Jr. during the Memorandum of Agreement signing held last September 29, 2022.

One Meralco Foundation (OMF) has teamed up with more organizations to further its sustainable reforestation program to contribute to environmental preservation and improve the lives of more Philippine communities.

The social development arm of Meralco signed a Memorandum of Agreement with Butuan City Water District (BCWD), Fostering Education and Environmental Development (FEED), and Participatory Research Organization of Communities and Education towards Struggle for Self-Reliance of Bohol (PROCESS Bohol) for the One For Trees (OFT) program.

Under the OFT program, OMF provides funding for reforestation activities such as establishing nurseries, planting seedlings during the appropriate season, and monitoring the trees planted. OMF plans to nurture and protect at least 5 million trees by 2025 while providing sustainable livelihood to communities around conservation sites.

The new partnerships will expand the reach of the program to the provinces of Agusan del Norte; Laguna; and parts of Bohol. The new OFT partners have identified specific targets to help their respective communities.

BCWD, from the province of Agusan del Norte, will plant 48,000 trees in the Taguibo Watershed to sustain the forest reserve in the watershed enabling quality water supply for the people of Butuan City.

FEED, on the other hand, targets to plant 100,000 trees in the Laguna-Quezon Land Grant site in Siniloan, Laguna which is planned to be developed as a major biodiversity hub in the Sierra Madre mountain range.

Meanwhile, PROCESS Bohol will rehabilitate upland and coastal forest patches damaged by the rampage of Typhoon Odette in Anda, Pilar, Ubay, Candijay, Mabini, and Carlos P. Garcia in Bohol. Through OFT, PROCESS Bohol plans to nurture 100,000 trees of which 50,000 are mangroves.

For OMF, with the help of these organizations, OFT can deliver a sustainable solution to the environmental and economic needs of marginal communities.

The OFT is a long-term commitment to the environment and to the people, which is anchored on sustaining partnerships with Civil Society Organizations, Local Government Units, and communities – a pledge to collectively work for climate action.

"Some may see our efforts as a mere tree-planting, tree-growing, or tree-nurturing with a very high survival rate target. Yes, we require those. But more importantly, One For Trees also invests in building the capacities and improving the economic welfare and social well-being of the people who maintain these trees and ensures that the same trees will also benefit their own families and communities." said Meralco Chief CSR Officer and OMF President Jeffrey O. Tarayao.

"Most of the work we will put into the vision of One For Trees requires waiting for so long, that only our children’s children will reap the fruit of these labors. May we all be patient and sometimes, impatient, so that the One For Trees program will flourish long after we have planted the seeds of our work," added Tarayao.

The recent signing forms part of the OFT kick-off activities for this year, which also includes community tree-planting and learning visits in the Green Earth Heritage Farm OFT site located in San Miguel, Bulacan. These activities aimed at improving reforestation practices by learning from the partners’ experiences and getting more support from other stakeholders for the initiative.

This Buko Pie from Balai Palmera Restaurant and Pasalubong Center in Silang, Cavite is your newest budol

Not too sweet, but full of coconut meat!

As Covid-19 restrictions continue to loosen, more people start taking vacations once more, and more tourist destinations and local businesses open (or reopen) to satisfy the demand.

The Balai Palmera Restaurant and Pasalubong Center in Silang, Cavite, is one local business that has recently increased the size of its presence. Its second location is perfectly positioned to accommodate travelers going to and from the well-known tourist attraction Tagaytay and other surrounding locations.

The pasalubong center side (which motorists can see from the road) of Balai Palmera opened in May 2021, while the restaurant (located in the back) opened in July of this year, serving heartwarming Filipino dishes and gratifying pasalubong snacks and delicacies.

One of the most popular pasalubong, the Buko Pie is their best seller.

The Best Buko Pie in Silang, is usually served fresh from the oven. A box of Balai Palmera buko pie is competitively priced, comparable to other buko pies in the area. As an added attraction, guests would be able to witness how the tasty treats are made with an open kitchen setup, from the dough preparation to the boxing of the mouthwatering pie.

Come visit and sample The Best Buko Pie in Silang!

📍 Pasong Langka Branch:

Balai Palmera Restaurant and Pasalubong

Tagaytay-Sta. Rosa Road, Brgy. Pasong Langka, Silang, Cavite

📞 Pasalubong: 0927-501-7616

📞 Restaurant: 0945-869-5392

🚙 https://waze.com/ul/hwdw092171

For more information, updates, and other news, you may follow them on their official Facebook and Instagram accounts.

Coffee meets Caramel in Goldilocks’ newest premium greeting cake

Make any moment deliciously memorable with this Coffee Caramel Cake!

Having a slice of cake with your favorite flavors combined is like heaven on earth. Why settle with one flavor when you can treat yourself to the sweet combination of two – Coffee + Caramel -- as Goldilocks presents its newest premium greeting cake!

Perfect for celebrating birthdays or gifting to those who simply love coffee and caramel, the new Goldilocks Coffee Caramel Cake offers a luscious fusion of flavors and great value for money. Make it an occasion to remember when everyone gets a filling and satisfying slice of this hefty 9” round cake that can serve 12 people for only P649.

Any celebration, big or small, becomes even more enjoyable with the new Goldilocks Coffee Caramel Cake. This latest mocha cake creation is set to wow not only the taste buds, for it can wake all your other senses too... wait ‘til you smell its irresistible scent of coffee and caramel.

When it’s time to dig in, share with them the memorable moment of slicing through the rich and thick coating that encases levels of fluffy mocha-flavored layers. In between are delightful creams and filling, while fun and flavorful mocha buttercream icing round out the premium greeting cake design.

Remember that choosing the best premium greeting cake does not have to be a choice between one flavor or another. You can always get the best of both worlds from the new Goldilocks Coffee Caramel Cake, which is sure to satisfy plenty of your loved ones at an affordable price!

To #CelebrateWithGoldilocks and its new Coffee Caramel Cake, visit a Goldilocks store near you or order online through www.goldilocksldelivery.ph. Follow Goldilocks PH on Facebook and Instagram for the latest updates.

Make the most of branded deals at Shopee’s 10.10 Brands Festival with this cheat sheet

Enjoy more extensive and better deals from top brands at Shopee’s 10.10 Brands Festival! From go-to household essentials to favorite beauty and skincare staples to ultimate wish list items, Shopee’s biggest brands festival is back and loaded with up to 50% worth of promos you would not want to miss.

Get up to 50% off on must-have items from leading brands

Make the most of these mas mura deals and enjoy up to 50% worth of discounts from leading brands: Cetaphil, Garnier, Unilever, Johnson & Johnson, Uni-Care, Enfagrow, Nestlé, Lovito, Crocs, Mikana, Shigetsu, SACE LADY, Adidas, Huggies, OPPO, Huawei, Infinix, RealMe, GameXtreme, Platinum Karaoke, TP-Link, Ace Hardware, Colgate-Palmolive, UL Skin Sciences, Amaia Furniture, OOKAS, and MetroSunnies.

Score unbeatable deals at the Big Midnight Sale

Set your alarms at 12 midnight and welcome 10.10 by snagging great finds at half the price like this breathable sports shirt from Adidas, a fashionable pair of shades from Sunnies Studios, or a shape-defining eyebrow gel from Issy & Co. Meanwhile, sanitize the nooks and crannies of your humble abode with these multipurpose wipes from Lysol and treat yourself to buffer-free streaming with a stronger internet signal, enhanced by this Wi-Fi range extender from TP-Link.

Sweep attractive Brand Flash Deals

Mas mura vouchers are up for grabs where Shoppers can get up to 50% off on select items from leading brands. Tune in to your favorite beats with the Ultimate Ears Boom 3 and charge your gadgets with this sleek-looking wireless charger from Promate. Home bakers can also get their own slice of fun this 10.10 as Omega Houseware offers exciting deals on select items, including these liquid measuring cups from its Cake Boss collection.

Avail of essential items and cute accessories for only ₱1

Keep tabs on limited-time ₱1 Flash Deals at Shopee’s Brands Festival. From daily must-have items like a Korean-inspired KF94 Face Mask or a minimalist gadget pouch for your mobile accessories to elegant-looking necklaces and quirky graphic tees, and to breathable cooling patches for kids, eagle-eyed Shoppers will definitely find an item or two on peak 10.10, so be sure to check out and take advantage of these Piso deals.

Send Money for Free and Earn Cashback with ShopeePay

ShopeePay is making shopping more convenient and rewarding for users by offering exciting prizes and discounts this early October. With Send Money & Earn promo, ShopeePay will be giving away up to ₱1,000,000 worth of coins where users can win up to 500 coins or ₱1,000 voucher on bills payment by simply sending at least ₱50 to other Shopee users until October 12. Have a blast and enjoy stronger connections with fellow gamers and MOBA players when you purchase Gaming Credits from Razer and Garena at 5% off. Smart and TNT Prepaid subscribers can also buy Load at 15% off, exclusive only with ShopeePay. Meanwhile, Globe and TM prepaid subscribers can get 1GB of data for free for every Go+99 or TM ez99 & GOMO prepaid subscribers can get 10% off on 30GB no expiry data promo.

More rewards and promos await Shopee users at Shopee’s 10.10 Brands Festival. Visit https://shopee.ph/m/10-10 to know more about the latest mas mura deals or follow the official pages of Shopee Philippines on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, TikTok, and YouTube.

Jollibee Buzzes to the Billboard Capital of the World, New York Times Square

Larger than life Chickenjoy Buckets Bring Joy to the Billboards of New York Times Square as Jollibee continues to expand rapidly in North America Homegrown restaurant brand Jollibee joins other global brands in the Billboard Capital of the World, New York Times Square.

TIMES SQUARE, New York. 29 Sept 2022 – After a blockbuster opening in New York Times Square, homegrown restaurant chain Jollibee continues to make waves in the Big Apple with digital billboards now already up at the iconic Times Square in New York, the global epicenter of outdoor advertising.

Three billboards featuring its flagship product–the world-famous Jollibee Chickenjoy fried chicken—are now showing at the heart of Times Square’s famous bowtie. It features two models who, after seeing a piece of the crispylicious and juicylicious Chickenjoy, couldn’t resist a bite and grabbed a piece of the bestselling fried chicken from an adjacent billboard.

In August, Jollibee Chickenjoy was named "the best chain fried chicken in America" by Eater.com. The distinction comes after Jollibee’s Chickenjoy bested over 15 global brands in four rounds of contests across different categories of chicken – from bone-in to fillets, to nuggets. Earlier in July, Jollibee was also recognized as one of the Hottest Brands in America for 2022 by Ad Age, driven by its power to draw huge queues to its restaurants.

Today, Jollibee joins other global brands which have made a presence on the Billboard Capital of the World and is one of the few Filipino brands and personalities who have appeared on a Times Square billboard.

"Taste is Timeless."

The creative execution of the Times Square Billboard features a model on a billboard adjacent to Jollibee’s Chickenjoy billboard who breaks character and grabs a piece of Chickenjoy fried chicken from its bucket after seeing it.

This comes at the heels of Jollibee’s successful debut in Times Square, with over 2500 locals and tourists queueing up on an opening day and consistently outperforming targets.

Alongside its bestselling extra crispy, extra tasty, and juicy Chickenjoy fried chicken, Jollibee Times Square also offers other crowd favorites including the hefty Chicken Sandwich, and Peach Mango Pie, which is made of a crispy and flaky shell filled with real mango and peach.

Jollibee has likewise introduced new offerings into its menu, including a new host of all-beef burgers, salads, and sides that are exclusive to the Times Square location. A notable standout in the exclusive menu is the Jollibee Double Deluxe Burger, which features two 100% beef patties and doubles the melted sharp American cheese.

The Jollibee Times Square store is the brand’s fourth location in New York. This milestone opening is part of Jollibee Group’s goal of expanding its presence in the U.S. and Canada, in line with its vision to become one of the top five restaurant companies in the world. To learn more about Jollibee North America, visit www.jollibeefoods.com.

To learn more about Jollibee Group, its parent company, visit www.jollibeegroup.com

Cetaphil Bright Healthy Radiance Launches a New Line of Brightening Products to Add to your #RadianceRoutine

With the ever-evolving demands and needs of our skin,   one thing remains the same: consistency is key,  especially in routines and habits. Being consistent with your #RadianceRoutine and the products and ingredients you use can go a   long way in maintaining your skin health. It can even transform your skin to make it look even brighter.

To mark its 75th year of catering to the needs of sensitive skin, Dermatologist-recommended skincare brand Cetaphil continues to forge its mark on the skincare industry by introducing innovative brightening products with ingredients approved by   Dermatologists through its bright Healthy Radiance line.

Formulated with GentleBright Technology - a combination of Sea Daffodil and Niacinamide that visibly corrects dark spots without irritation boost brightness, and evens skin tone - the latest line from Cetaphil introduces more brightening products to the fold that will magnify skin’s brightness now powered by ingredients such as advanced Peptide and Antioxidant C.

With these upgraded ingredients combined with the effective GentleBright Technology, the newest products under the Cetaphil Bright Healthy Radiance line promises to be the gentlest way to brighten skin in just 14 days and lets enthusiasts continue being #BrightAboutSkin: For Cleansing Cetaphil Bright Healthy Radiance Gentle Renewing CleanserStart your #RadianceRoutine with the new  Gentle  Renewing   Cleanser.

This 3-in-1brightening cleanser offers gentle exfoliation using Jojoba beads infused with Vitamin E to remove pollution and impurities, instantly brightening and improving skin texture.

Angkas: PH poised to leap forward in tech and start-up space in 2022

IMMAP DigiCon’s co-presenter, Angkas, draws the roadmap for the tech-enabled industries and players in the coming years.

Manila, Philippines - Despite the global pandemic, the Philippines is poised to be one of five ASEAN countries to become tech powerhouses in the next fifteen years, according to the Center for Economics Business Research (CEBR).

Angkas CEO George Royeca, believes the country is ready for a big leap forward in the tech and startup sectors. These industries and their continuous growth in recent years will be the primary focus of this year’s IMMAP DigiCon Valley 2022, which will be co-presented by Angkas, the leading motorcycle taxi, and delivery platform.

"While the pandemic has been the worst global crisis of the millennium undeniably opened new avenues for rapid growth in the country, particularly in the tech sector. Overnight, e-commerce, online payments, e-wallets, telemedicine, online gig employment, digital banks as well as delivery and logistics services experienced exponential growth which then had to be supported by faster internet speeds," - Angkas CEO George Royeca

"The pandemic and the restricted mobility it necessitated primed the market in terms of tech literacy and a willingness to adopt tech-based solutions. There are products and services the market is ready for now that would not have been viable pre-pandemic, and that might have otherwise taken another 5-10 years for the country to be ready for," adds Royeca. “We have had, and continue to have an ideal and unprecedented climate for both developing and funding tech startups. The kind of businesses that offer innovative products and services we couldn’t have even imagined pre-pandemic," he concludes.

The road less trafficked

Angkas was itself an innovation, far more unconventional than it seems on the surface. Motorcycle taxis were already in wide use for public transport all over the region at the time of Angkas’ inception in 2015. Despite the crippling traffic in Metro Manila and its staggering economic cost, motorcycle taxis were not a solution being considered by anyone at the time, because motorcycles had an appalling safety record.

The Metro Manila Accident Recording and Analysis System (MMARAS) Traffic Accident report for 2015 indicated that motorcycle accidents comprised 39.6% of all vehicular accidents and 33.6% of all fatal accidents in Metro Manila. In each case, they were by far the single largest contributors. Filipino motorcycle riders were regarded as too undisciplined for such a service to be reasonably safe.

Angkas’ innovation was in actually believing that with training, motivation, and support, Filipinos could be the backbone of a safe and professionalized app-enabled motorcycle taxi service. "We shoulder the training of all rider applicants, then we carefully select only the top 30%. We also hold regular company events that serve as refreshers, and venues for more training in soft skills, and even things like anti-sexual harassment education," explains Royeca. "The result is that after literally millions of rides booked, our safety record is 99.997%," he concludes.

Sense of purpose, grit resilience

"I think the number one thing that potential startups should begin with is seeing the bigger picture: are you solving a real problem?" asks Royeca. "Any business venture is always going have a money-making aspect, but in this day and age, it is businesses that have an innate sense of purpose and that offer real solutions to real problems that are embraced by the public," Royeca points out

Royeca had specific advice to would-be startups on failure: "Don’t be afraid of failure or adversity, these build grit. As long as you are imbued with a sense of purpose, you will overcome failure and adversity and come out stronger, and with more grit."

In Angkas' short history, they were ordered to cease operations twice, their rider pool was capped, and just when they seemed in the clear, the pandemic hit. Showing true resilience, it was then that Angkas launched a courier and buying assistant service, allowing more people to do errands and business safely from home. Angkas also formed a partnership with the Red Cross to assist with the delivery and administration of COVID-19 test kits. When it became reasonably safe to do so, Angkas also offered free rides to medical frontliners.

Co-creation Breeds Innovation

Community building begins when everyone contributes to the welfare of everyone, and that is exactly what resonated with Angkas to sign up and be a co-presenter for this year’s IMMAP DigiCon Valley 2022, one of the most anticipated digital conferences in the industry which gathers professionals from marketing, advertising, and digital sectors to hear and learn from world-renowned and celebrated local keynote speakers.

Internet and Mobile Marketing Association of the Philippines (IMMAP) is an organization that works toward educating and providing the necessary digital tools for advertising and integrated marketing professionals to make better communication decisions. One such effort is the yearly DigiCon.

Royeca explains, "When you have a business that serves many, it is impossible to innovate without co-creation. Angkas would not have been possible without the coming together of technology innovations, government regulators, customers, and of course our rider partners, to create a "winnovation", an innovation in which everyone has a stake, and in which everybody wins."

From L to R: Brian Go (Angkas Chief Marketing Officer), Denise Haak (IMMAP DigiCon Co-Chair), Janelle Barretto (IMMAP DigiCon Ways & Means Head), and Trish Elamparo-Esteban (IMMAP DigiCon Co-Chair).

After two years of purely virtual connections, this year’s IMMAP DigiCon Valley 2022 will finally bring back face-to-face networking through the DigiCon After-Hours, which will be held during the evenings across the city, promising to provide cocktails and entertainment and allow delegates to physically reconnect with other industry players.

"I think what Angkas is excited about is this live interaction; a lot of the best collaborations and partnerships happen because of these more spontaneous, in-person things, and human interaction is what makes all the creativity and innovation grow more," muses Royeca.

As co-presenter for this year’s IMMAP DigiCon Valley 2022, Angkas hopes that this can be a great model to induce new SMEs in the tech and startup sector, while also introducing a community mindset that can hopefully solve daily problems for Filipinos.

DigiCon Valley 2022 is happening on October 10-14 from 9AM to 1PM PST using ViVYD platform, with all new tracks that tackle the different stages of innovation: Launchpad, Hypergrowth, Breakthrough, and Enterprise.

This year’s prestigious keynote speakers include one of the most influential women in the world and Huffington Post founder, Arianna Huffington; Rappler Founder and the first Filipino Nobel Peace Prize laureate, Maria Ressa; internationally acclaimed marketing expert and academic, Mark Ritson; co-founder of Character ventures and Design Sprint inventor, Jake Knapp; and Global CMO of Dole Sunshine Company, Rupen Desai.

Buy tickets now and learn more about IMMAP DigiCon Valley 2022 at www.digicon.com.ph and follow their social pages on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

IMMAP DigiCon Valley 2022 is co-presented by Angkas, and would like to thank Platinum Sponsors: Manulife Philippines, Share Treats, and TikTok; Gold Sponsors: Investing in Women, an initiative of the Australian Government, Grab Ads, Kroma Entertainment, McDonald’s the Philippines and Meta Philippines; and Silver Sponsors: Digital Turbine, Hepmil Philippines, and Metrobank.

A special thanks to IMMAP’s event partners: Creators and Influencers of the Philippines (CICP), Endeavor, and Kickstart Ventures.

Be an IMMAP Member today! To know more about IMMAP, please visit: www.immap.com.ph or contact: connect@immap.com.ph | SMS/Viber (0917) 6310206 / (0918) 577 2357.

Investors Summit to promote QC as top business destination

The highly-anticipated "Quezon City Investors Summit: Future Ready" will promote Quezon City as an ideal destination for investors and businesses as they continue to recover from the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.

"The summit will put the spotlight on Quezon City as a top business destination for local and international investors. We hope to attract many investors who can help further stimulate the economy and provide employment for QCitizens,” Mayor Belmonte said.

Scheduled on Oct. 7 at Novotel Manila in Araneta City, the event will engage investors, business leaders, business associations, chambers of commerce, foreign dignitaries, and Quezon City government officials in discussions on key areas for investments, public-private partnerships, and opportunities for expansion and growth. 

"Quezon City is future-ready, ready for investors, ready to build a better and more prosperous city so that our QCitizens will be able to enjoy the resulting benefits," said Margarita Santos, head of the Business Permits and Licensing Department (BPLD) of Quezon City.

Aside from its strategic location, Quezon City also has the homegrown QC E-Services platform that makes business processes such as permit and license applications easy for investors, according to Santos.

"The LGU has automated and digitized 95 percent of the city’s services through its QC E-Services platform. This means potential investors can apply for business permits online," said Santos, adding that the "permit will even be delivered to the applicant’s business or home address free of charge."

As a matter of principle, the Quezon City government constantly consults and coordinates with the business sector, which has enabled both sectors to build a relationship of mutual respect and support. "This continued dialogue with the private sector helps all stakeholders to address various challenges and issues, and to think up ways to create a free, fair and fertile business environment," Perry Dominguez, head of the Local Economic Investment Promotions Office, points out.

The local government is an ardent supporter of micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs), providing them with incentives from tax breaks, and tax payment extensions, and changing the validity of business permits and licenses to help businesses, especially during the pandemic.

Soon, Quezon City will launch its Start-Up QC program to further strengthen and develop its start-up business ecosystem. "This program is calibrated to provide financial gains to innovative, creative, and promising business models that can help provide solutions and recommendations to social issues and challenges," Jay Gatmaitan, Investment Affairs Office head, explained.

The city’s commitment to good governance saw results when the Quezon City government received its second straight unqualified opinion from the Commission on Audit for its annual audit report for the year 2021. An unqualified opinion is the highest audit rating that can be rendered by COA to a government agency.

Recognized for its quality public service, Quezon City has increased its social services budget over the past three years, enabling the local government to provide livelihood opportunities and create more jobs, support education, and provide permanent housing, better healthcare, and social safety nets, among others.

Earlier, Margie Santos, head of the summit’s organizing committee, said this gathering of business leaders aims to build investor confidence in Quezon City; generate investments and public-private partnerships and make Quezon City the top-of-mind preferred investment destination.

Enjoy free concerts at Metro Park’s Blue Bay Walk and Met Live in October

Providing a space for families and friends to enjoy music and entertainment, Metro Park’s Blue Bay Walk and Met Live are set to hold free concerts this October.

Titled "Concert at the Spine," rising music artist Paul Pablo will hold special performances for guests of all ages at the Blue Bay Walk on October 1, Saturday at 7:30 PM.

Pablo, a Davao City-based singer-songwriter, is the artist behind the hit songs "Bangin," "Bai," and "Kalawakan," all produced by Warner Music Philippines (WMP). He describes his sound as "hugot-tronic," which is a combination of hugotlyrics and electro-pop sound. Issues on love, identity, and social tension are among the key themes of his music.

"Blue Bay Walk is a place where everyone, regardless of age and gender, can have a great time. Now, with these free concerts, we hope to reignite the excitement that live events give us, offering a time to bond with family and friends as we start living in a post-pandemic world, slowly, safely, and surely," said Federal Land Commercial Development Head Mylene del Rosario.

Another concert dubbed, "Serenade at the Atrium" featuring Quartet Manila, will also take place on the first floor of Met Live on October 2, Sunday at 5:00 PM.

Quartet Manila started at the University of Santo Tomas Conservatory of Music. The group performs a full selection of music ranging from the standards of the classic wedding songs to arrangements of OPM, pop, standards, jazz, Broadway, and movie themes, among others.

The members are part of the biggest and most reputable orchestras in the country namely Manila Philharmonic Orchestra, Symphony Orchestra, ABS-CBN Philharmonic Orchestra, and Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra.

Metro Park, is Federal Land’s 36-hectare master-planned community in Pasay City’s Manila Bay Area. It offers resort-style residential condominiums, delectable dining options, chic retail hubs, exciting weekend events, and a convenient office environment against the backdrop of the Manila Bay sunset.

Piracy is theft: Rex Education rallies consumers, publishing industry to support its anti-piracy campaign

Piracy is theft; piracy is a crime.

In a bid to encourage consumers to stand against piracy, protect intellectual property, and support the local book publishing industry, Rex Education launched its anti-piracy campaign at the Manila International Book Fair (MIBF) 2022.

"After more than 70 years in the publishing industry, I can say that I am proud of the contribution and impact that every REX book has had in the lives of our learners. And we, at REX, would like to keep serving the Filipino learner through our learning materials—may it be printed, audio, or digital form. Through this anti-piracy campaign, we can keep the book industry flourishing and thriving. We can keep the passing of knowledge a sacred endeavor," said Atty. Dominador Buhain, chairman of Rex Education.

Piracy is punishable by law

Educational book publishing is protected by Republic Act (RA) 8293, otherwise known as the Intellectual Property Code of the Philippines. Under this law, the unauthorized reproduction and distribution of books, audiobooks, and other printed or digital learning materials is illegal and punishable by imprisonment and fines of up to PHP 1.5 million.

However, piracy remains widespread in the country. According to the Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines (IPOPHL), they received a 25% increase in piracy reports from consumers and complaints from rights holders in 2021 compared with reports in 2020. General and educational books and e-books accounted for 49% of reports on piracy, suggesting that many learning materials are still being downloaded and distributed illegally despite the rise of legitimate e-commerce shops and the prevalent availability of e-books and audiobooks.

Rex Education launched its anti-piracy campaign to continue educating Filipinos about the damaging effects of piracy on authors and publishers. Rex also encourages consumers, who have become ubiquitous keepers of knowledge in this digital age, to help stop the illegal reproduction and distribution of books, e-books, audiobooks, and all other learning tools and materials.

The movement aims to protect the hard work and talent of creators, and ultimately create a ripple effect in strengthening the respect for published materials to keep the publishing industry thriving.

"Time, effort, money, and hard work go into every book that comes out of REX’s printing house. Hundreds of authors and thousands of employees are sustained by the learning materials we produce. Piracy is a crime. Piracy is disrespectful to authors, editors, artists, and the publishing industry as a whole," said Jeanne Tordesillas, chief marketing officer of Rex Education.

No to book piracy; respect creativity

MIBF 2022 showed a strong confluence of the book publishing industry, educators, stakeholders from the education sector, creators and authors, consumers, and Filipino learners. Anchoring the movement at one of the biggest and most sought-after book fairs in the country meant bringing it closer to the learners and creators protected by the anti-piracy campaign.

With the call "No to book piracy, protect intellectual property, respect creativity," REX staged a rally around the venue with placards, t-shirts, and flyers. The staged rally gained instant attention and traction throughout the fair, leading attendees to the REX booth where the launch of the anti-piracy campaign was held.

"We would like to keep providing authors an avenue to share their talents and pass on their knowledge to the next generation. We would like to keep providing jobs to our employees and workers in the publishing industry, most especially during these trying times. We want to teach the culture of discipline and respect to the next generation, so they value what goes into every book that passes through their hands," said Buhain during the launch. "Today, we invite you to join us. Support the local publishing industry. Say no to piracy."

Join Rex Education in saying "NO" to book piracy and "YES" to protecting creativity and intellectual property. Buy from legitimate sources; buy original. Watch and share the "Proud Ako" anti-piracy campaign video launched at the MIBF 2022, showcasing the hard work that goes behind every published book and learning material produced by REX.

To support Rex Education and its efforts to protect the publishing industry, visit www.rex.com.ph.

UNDRR, SM Prime laud women leaders in disaster resilience

SM Prime Holdings (SMPHI) recently announced its support for the global search for women leaders in disaster resilience.

For the second consecutive year, SMPHI is sponsoring the Women’s International Network on Disaster Risk Reduction (WIN DRR) Leadership Awards, a flagship program of the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR).

SMPHI Vice President for Corporate Compliance Liza B. Silerio said that the support is aligned with the company’s drive to recognize women’s leadership in disaster risk reduction. "This is important in inspiring other women to fully and effectively participate in promoting gender equality and empowerment while building our collective resilience."

UN Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Disaster Risk Reduction Mami Mizutori expressed gratitude for the support, stating, "The awards highlight the key role of women as leaders and agents of change in building resilience and actively participating in the creation and implementation of DRR strategies, policies, plans, and programs in their regions. Their stories reflect the diversity of solutions required to meet the converging challenges of accelerating climate change and disasters in the region."

"We look forward to continued collaboration with SM in our DRR agenda," - UN Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Disaster Risk Reduction Mami Mizutori

The WIN DRR Excellence Awards 2022 sponsored by SM Prime has 15 finalists shortlisted from 420 nominations received across 24 countries in the Asia-Pacific. The winner will be announced at the Asia Pacific Ministerial Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction in Brisbane on 21 September 2022. US$10,000 will be awarded to an individual woman who has achieved exceptional professional success in DRR.

The WIN DRR partnership is consistent with SM Prime Holdings’ social commitment to women empowerment, resilience, good health, and well-being of women. The company’s corporate social responsibility arm, SM Cares, supports programs that advance these causes.

The Women's International Network on Disaster Risk Reduction (WIN DRR) is a professional network to support women working in disaster risk reduction, in all their diversity. Its overall goal is to empower women to attain leadership and enhance their role in decision-making in disaster risk reduction in Asia-Pacific. The WIN DRR Philippine Network is powered by SM Prime and Asia Pacific College.

Earlier this year, SM Prime through its SM CARES, partnered with UNDRR in celebrating women's empowerment through a webinar on the role of women in disaster resilience. In her keynote message, Mizutori emphasized that "women’s equal participation and leadership in public life including disaster risk reduction is important and it is also essential to reducing disaster risk in achieving the United Nations sustainable development goals."