Manila Life: May 2019

Tuesday, May 28, 2019

SM unveils the new face of ‘Cyberzone’

Taking the lead in tech and innovation in the country, Cyberzone will unveil its newest logo last April at SM Mall of Asia Atrium as it continues to offer a comprehensive roster of the latest tech and gaming products and empower Filipinos to make smarter tech decisions.

“Cyberzone always brings together the best of technology and gaming for its customers. It’s about time that we refresh our brand as we continue to innovate our spaces and deliver the latest in tech in SM malls nationwide,” said SM Supermalls senior vice president for marketing Jonjon San Agustin.

SM Cinema is embarking on a magical adventure this May with Aladdin!

Together with The Walt Disney Company Philippines, and in partnership with S Maison, SM Cinema had their first exclusive special screening of Disney’s Aladdin to kick off the movie’s festivities. Old and new fans alike experienced Aladdin’s whole new world in the first of SM Cinema’s series of special screenings, which include an immersive showing at IMAX, SM Megamall last May 14.

The emotional story of a divided hero, a divided family and a divided world, X-MEN: DARK PHOENIX stars James McAvoy, Michael Fassbender, Jennifer Lawrence, Nicholas Hoult, Sophie Turner, Tye Sheridan, Alexandra Shipp and Jessica Chastain. The film was written and directed by Simon Kinberg and produced by Simon Kinberg, p.g.a., Hutch Parker, p.g.a., Lauren Shuler Donner and Todd Hallowell.

It’s another win for Filipina beauty as Ever Bilena, the country’s number one local cosmetics brand, renews its support for the 2019 Binibining Pilipinas beauty pageant.

As the official makeup sponsor, the brand recently welcomed the Bb. Pilipinas 2019 candidates at the Ever Bilena head office where they were given an exclusive, easy-to-follow makeup tutorial led by celebrity makeup artist Muriel Vega Perez.

Other than a house, a car is probably the most expensive purchase a person ever makes. But while everyone loves the look and feel of a brand new car, buying a pre-loved vehicle might be a better way of managing your finances responsibly and getting more value for your money.

While there are also discounted rates or bargain buys on brand new vehicles, buying pre-loved cars --particularly those that are less than two-years old-- can help you keep some of your savings in the bank. Below are the benefits of buying a pre-loved car over a brand new one:

The Insurance Commission (IC) recently renewed the business licenses of AXA Philippines, one of the leading insurance companies in the country, and its wholly owned subsidiary, Charter Ping An Insurance Corp.

The renewal signifies that AXA Philippines’ life and general insurance businesses are in good standing with the IC and that the companies can continue offering their superior life and general insurance products to their customers, thereby helping them to live better and more empowered lives.

An epic monster adventure awaits at SM Cinema! Prepare yourselves as the mythical super-creatures collide in Godzilla II: King of the Monsters at SM Cinema.

In this installment of the gripping film series, Godzilla battles ancient super-species Mothra, Rodan, and his ultimate nemesis, King Ghidorah for supremacy. It is up to a crypto-zoological agency Monarch to face off against these god-sized monsters to get a chance at saving humanity.

Initial Bouts Announced For One: Legendary Quest on 15 june

The largest global sports media property in Asian history, ONE Championship™ (ONE), has just announced the main event for ONE: LEGENDARY QUEST which takes place Saturday, 15 June at the Baoshan Arena in Shanghai. Reigning ONE Atomweight Muay Thai World Champion Stamp Fairtex of Thailand will defend her title against Alma Juniku of Australia.

ONE: LEGENDARY QUEST will be held in cooperation with Great Sports, Tencent, Hugo Boss, Boxing Cat Brewery, Spring Airlines, and more.

Ticket information for ONE: LEGENDARY QUEST is available at www.onefc.com.

The summer heat and humidity brought by frequent thunderstorms can definitely be felt. But don't worry— according to Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA), this is not yet rainy season. Temperatures in Metro Manila and the rest of the country would continue to rise in the days ahead despite the unpredictable thunderstorms.*

It’s usual to drink water, wear light colored clothes, and eat fruits and vegetables that have high water content during this season. But in this scorching tropical heat, what else can we do to be summer-ready?

Here are some useful home tips:

Summer season is officially here! That means it’s time to pack your bags, book a flight, and go on the ultimate seaside vacation.

But before dashing out the door, be sure to have a solid game plan in place to make it a stress-free beach getaway for you and your family or friends. Let AXA, one of the leading insurance companies in the Philippines, guide you by offering these tips:

Learn how to build better and stronger relationships through fun, laughter, and play with SM’s #WeHaveEachOther campaign, a weekly video series that centers on the importance of social play in the family, featuring psychologist and family expert Dr. Michele Alignay.

“The videos aim to encourage parents to go out and play with their kids especially this summer and remind them about the value of time they spend with their families,” said Jonjon San Agustin, SM Supermalls SVP for marketing.

Filipina beauty will once again shine like no other as Ever Bilena, the country’s number one local cosmetics brand, supports the 2019 Binibining Pilipinas beauty pageant as its official makeup sponsor.

From pre-pageant activities, events, and charity visits to the most-awaited coronation night, all 40 candidates from different provinces and backgrounds are set to look their best throughout the entire pageant season with the help of Ever Bilena.

Solane, the leading LPG solutions brand, launches its grandest culinary competition yet. Solane Kitchen Hero Chefs’ Edition is the first-ever cooking competition that aims to discover the next big name in the culinary world. This regional-to-national cooking tilt will go from north to south, and across 16 regional stops in the country to recognize a new generation of talented chefs.

“We believe that the Philippines has some of the best and most talented chefs in the world,” says Isla LPG Corp. CEO Ruben Domingo. “Through the Solane Kitchen Hero competition, we aim to recognize these chefs who are vital in bringing Filipino cuisine to the world stage. At the same time, we are on a quest to explore and highlight Filipino specialties that are unique to our provinces.”

Hundreds of mall-goers spending quality time with their friends and families at Eastwood City Mall in Quezon City last Saturday, May 18, were treated to a special surprise by PayMaya where they got a chance to take home limited-edition travel goodies and even an all expense-paid vacation for four as part of PayMaya's "Tara!" travel campaign.

By simply being a PayMaya account holder, mall-goers got a chance to bring home exciting travel items by joining in the Maya Piñata activity. Participating customers just had to pull a string from their chosen Maya piñata to reveal a special travel item.

Gwynne Gatanela, a mall-goer at Eastwood, pulled the lucky string and won the ultimate prize of day, an all-expense paid vacation to Boracay for her and her barkada, complete with their own photographer to capture their insta-worthy travel photos.

Essilor : The woman behind the vision

Dr. Joy Go’s vision is to have quality eye health care that is

convenient and accessible to all

Ideal Vision Center (IVC) is already a household name in the eye health care industry for more than three decades but according to Joy Go, IVC assistant vice president for marketing and merchandising, the vision should not stop there. She believes that the company’s reputation should be treated as an opportunity to continue to educate, innovate and research for the benefit of Filipinos.

“In the Philippines, eye health care is not a priority and we aim to change that mindset. It’s a long, ongoing process especially with the fast-changing business landscape but we look forward to seeing the light at the end of it,” Go says.

OLX, the country’s leading classified platform, awarded lucky sellers with exciting prizes in a raffle dubbed Cars Client Appreciation Raffle and Surprises (C.A.R.S.).

Prizes included vacation packages, gift certificates, dashboard cameras, action camera (GoPro), home video game console (PlayStation 4), TV, and drone.

Sam, the country’s first-ever

in-mall smart robot at SM Megamall

As part of a series of innovations designed to improve customer malling experience, SM Supermalls raises the bar in customer service with the introduction of SAM, the country’s first-ever in-mall smart robot – launched at SM Megamall.

“Throughout the years, innovation has always been at the core of SM’s growth in delivering better malling experiences. This year, one of our key strategies is to leverage on the latest and most advanced technologies,” said Steven Tan, SM Supermalls COO.

Created in partnership with the Cal-Comp Technology (Philippines), a leading provider of electronic and original design manufacturing services, SAM is an artificial intelligent (AI) humanoid robot specially programmed to deliver a smoother, more personalized, and efficient interaction with customers.

The incredibly stylish Keri Zamora is the epitome of a modern mom: goal-oriented, multi-faceted, yet in every way caring, doting, and hands-on.

As we celebrate Mother’s day, Keri shares some practical advice for working moms on how to balance their time between career and family, while allowing breathing space to pursue personal hobbies and goals.

Raising four lovely kids in ages seventeen, fourteen, eight, and six, Keri makes sure she is involved in their various activities and interests –attending daughter Amanda’s fashion shows and son Rocco’s basketball games; waking up early for Noah’s soccer practices; and joining Nic in his golf lessons.

Dental osseointegration, also known as dental implant, is rapidly becoming more popular. With advances in technology, this is the solution most people consider to replace a missing tooth, as it provides better long-term value than conventional replacement options.

But while dental implants are an effective, most natural, and long-lasting oral care solution, not everyone can undergo the procedure. There are several factors that can determine your viability as a good candidate. Here are a few factors you need to consider.

Receiving money from your family and friends from anywhere in the country or around the world is now made more convenient and rewarding with PayMaya. Now you can easily receive your Western Union remittance straight to your PayMaya account and even get a chance to win up to P100,000!

Now, going cashless with PayMaya is not only convenient, but all the more rewarding as qualified users can get a chance to win up to P100,000 on the PayMaya and Western Union raffle promo which runs until May 31.

All you have to do is claim your Western Union remittance via PayMaya and complete the following actions using your PayMaya account, to earn raffle entries:

There’s nothing like giving your child the most exciting reasons to start another school year. And HP is helping you do just that, with its back-to-school promo!

You can get a free HP Odyssey backpack for every purchase of any participating HP Ink Tank, DeskJet Ink Advantage, and LaserJet printers from any authorized HP resellers nationwide.

Pet Heatstroke is Not a Joke!

As the country welcomes the summer season, pet owners must make the necessary preparations to ensure that their four-legged pals are ready to face the summer heat. In countries where the temperature goes beyond 30 degrees in the summertime, owners must be vigilant to ensure their pets don’t experience heatstroke, which often leads to more serious health issues or even death.

Committed to educating the Filipino pet community on nutrition and proper pet care, the Pet Food Institute (PFI) shares tips on how pet owners can avoid heatstroke.

Ortigas Malls is taking leisure to the next level with the opening of a whole range of new shops in Greenhills, Tiendesitas, Estancia, and Industria. Fun activities also await for all members of the family to enjoy and learn this summer. New dining places are opening its doors in the four Ortigas Malls, promising delicious cuisines for all food-loving Pinoys. Ortigas Malls has also expanded its well-curated selection of retail outlets to make sure that shopping enthusiasts of all ages will never run out of options.

Since topping various streaming platforms and radio charts with their hit singles "Kathang Isip," "Ride Home," and "Maybe The Night," Ben&Ben has been a vital force in the local music scene, charting their own path with anthemic, folk-infused pop that brims with elegance.

Without releasing a proper full-length album since 2019, the nine-piece act has amassed more than 300 million streams on Spotify and Youtube combined, and headlined concerts and festivals here and abroad. Formerly known as The Benjamins, the indie-folk outfit has achieved critical and commercial success in less than 3 years -- a proof that they're in for the long run.

The largest global sports media property in Asian history, ONE Championship™ (ONE), held the ONE: ENTER THE DRAGON Official Kick-Off Press Conference last 14 May at the Marina Bay Sands Expo & Convention Center in Singapore. In attendance was ONE Championship Chairman and CEO, Chatri Sityodtong, along with ONE Championship superstars led by main event competitors, reigning ONE Lightweight World Champion Shinya “Tobikan Judan” Aoki and challenger Christian “The Warrior” Lee.

Also in attendance was American martial arts prodigy and former Karate World Champion “Super” Sage Northcutt, who makes his highly-anticipated ONE Championship debut this Friday night.

Ticket information for ONE: ENTER THE DRAGON is available at www.onefc.com.

The culmination of a superhero saga nearly two decades in the making is upon us when 20th Century Fox’s take on Marvel’s “X-Men: Dark Phoenix” opens in Philippine cinemas on June 5.

Click here for X-Men Legacy video -Youtube - 20thcenturyfoxph

We all look forward to making our lives better regardless of what 'better' means for us. We all strive at our own pace, focusing on working hard in order to reach our personal end goals. This is why some of us also look forward to a deserving relaxation time alone or with family, friends and loved ones, especially on Labour Day. It is, after all, the day for the hardworking ones, a holiday meant to honour the efforts and contributions made to have a better life and a community.

But while Labour Day provides the hardworking Pinoys to get a day off, many still do not have the luxury of celebrating the day on their own terms.

ARISE Philippines kickstarts new round of disaster resilience network initiatives

Members of ARISE Philippines gather for the 2019 Annual General Meeting held recently at the Mall of Asia Arena Annex Building in Pasay City. The AGM was led by ARISE global member & chairman of the executive committee of SM Prime Holdings Hans Sy (seated, center)

Representatives from both public and private sectors, including Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs), and the SM Group, convened recently for the annual ARISE General Meeting held at the Mall of Asia Arena, Pasay City.

ARISE Philippines is a network of private companies that are united under the common objective of establishing innovative disaster resilience practices within organizations. This initiative supports the United Nations International Strategy for Disaster Reduction (UNISDR), and the Sendai Framework. Sendai Framework is a 15-year, voluntary, non-binding agreement which recognizes the role of UN member countries to reduce disaster risk, and which should be shared with other stakeholders including local governments and the private sector.

Top actress and mother Jodi Sta. Maria (center) was recently launched as the newest endorser of Ever Bilena, the country’s leading color cosmetics retail company. Simple, beautiful and an optimist, Jodi represents the ideal Ever Bilena woman.

From being a mother, a critically acclaimed actress to a top Psychology student and an acupuncture specialist, Jodi makes sure to give her best in every role while looking good. As such, her go-to products are classic and understated like Ever Bilena’s Matte Lipstick in Glam Red, EB Lip and Cheek Stain in Toast of New York, EB Dip Liner, and the All Day Liquid Foundation.

Property firm launches The Villages at Lipa

The south is experiencing a real estate and economic boom with the development of properties in Makati, Laguna, and Alabang. Neighboring CALABARZON is already dubbed as one of the fastest-growing regions in the Philippines, with properties and business sprouting all around. One of which is the full integration of AboitizLand’s industry city, LIMA, in Batangas. It is an integrated township that is home to businesses and communities located in Barangay Bugtong na Pulo in Lipa and Malvar.

Completing the LIMA experience this year is The Villages at Lipa, a 49-hectare cluster of well-built and -designed homes inspired by the architecture of the bahay na bato, with amenities conducive to a young family, and a safe and secure community.

All PSBank branches will be closed on Monday, May 13, 2019, by virtue of Proclamation No. 719, declaring the said date a special non-working holiday to allow Filipinos to cast their votes in the National and Local elections.

Meanwhile, all our 577 ATMs, PSBank Mobile, and PSBank Online (Internet banking) facilities will be available for your banking needs.

Further, please take note of the following:

Payroll	All payroll crediting on May 13 will proceed.
Automatic Debit Agreement	For bills payments, accounts with due date on May 13 will proceed. For PSBank loans, payments will be value dated on its original due date and accounts will be debited on May 14. Accounts not debited on May 13 due to insufficient funds should be funded by May 14 to avoid penalties.
Check clearing and settlement	Clearing will be suspended on May 13. Checks received after cut-off time on May 10 will be processed on May 14. No penalties will be charged for checks dated May 13intended for PSBank loan payments.
Time deposits	Maturities on May 13 will be processed on May 14.

For inquiries or concerns, call our 24/7 Customer Experience Hotline at (02) 845-8888 or email us at customerexperience@psbank.com.ph. You can also reach us via the PSBank LiveChat @www.psbank.com.ph.

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Thursday, May 9, 2019

PayMaya gives you four awesome ways to show love to your mom on Mother’s Day

Mothers deserve to be celebrated every single day for all that they do, but this May 12, show your mom how much you love and appreciate her as we all celebrate Mother’s Day. This year, do away with the usual Mother’s Day gifts like flowers and perfume, and give her something she can truly enjoy.

Despite what many would say, giving worthwhile gifts need not to be expensive–there are a lot of ways you can make your mom feel special without emptying your wallet. Here are four awesome tipid ways to treat your mom onMother’s Day with help from PayMaya:

Today’s moms have come a long way from generations past. They are busier than ever, pursuing active lifestyles while still fulfilling their duties as caring and nurturing mothers, all deserving of recognition and appreciation for the selfless things that they do.

This Mother’s Day, there is nothing like showing your expression of gratitude and love for mom than a lasting gift like a TechnoMarine timepiece that is perfectly suited to her lifestyle and personality.

Mararita Fores and Christine Jacob Sandejas

This Mother’s Day, Toshiba appliances pay homage to two extraordinary moms, both an inspiration to many, who graced the launch of Toshiba’s latest line of state-of-the-art home appliances: Margarita Fores and Christine Jacob Sandejas. Fores, mother to son Amado, was named Asia’s Best Female Chef in 2016 and is the moving force behind Cibo, a modern Italian caffé concept, and Cibo di Marghi Signature Caterer, her highly-successful catering arm. Meanwhile, Jacob, mother to five kids, is a former athlete and is co-anchor of the popular show New Day on CNN Philippines.

CNN Philippines launches its new 360-degree brand campaign “News You Can Trust,” representing its commitment to the Filipino audience to provide news and information that is accurate, fair, and balanced, particularly during critical Midterm Elections on May 13th.

“The timing couldn’t have been better,” says Nine Media Corporation/CNN Philippines President Armie Jarin-Bennett. She says, “we are in the midst of a very important time in our country’s history plus, it’s been almost five years since our launch. Over this short period of time, we believe, we have earned the trust of audiences in the country and beyond.”

Mark your calendars for Monday, May 13, when 20th Century Fox will kick off X-Men Day – a celebration of the culmination of the X-Men saga, its global fanbase, all of the beloved characters, its groundbreaking impact on popular culture, and its enduring audience appeal for nearly 20 years.

On Monday, fan celebrations of all things X-Men will happen online and all over the world, including the debut of exclusive X-Men content, special events, and unexpected surprises for our most loyal fans.

AXA inaugurates Service Center in Binondo

Top officials of AXA Philippines, one of the leading insurance companies in the country, recently inaugurated their sleek and modern AXA Service Center in the Wellington Building in Binondo, Manila.

This is the first AXA branch to consolidate both life and general insurance products and services, allowing customers to avail of AXA’s extensive menu of products and services all under one roof. AXA will soon be renovating its other branches to be able to accommodate both life and general insurance transactions and serve customers better.

With 7,107 islands, the Philippines offers bodies of water, with highly diverse marine wildlife and seascape, for all kinds of divers and dive enthusiasts to explore. This is making the country a popular major diving hub in Asia.

The Philippines has countless diving spots suitable for divers of different skills – from beginners who are simply looking for fun recreational activities, to intermediate divers seeking new underwater challenges to hone their skills and experts in search of new adventures.

At the top of the list are Anilao in Batangas and the Tubbataha Reefs in Palawan, with its impressive marine biodiversity and awe-inspiring vertical reef walls dropping to over 100 meters in depth. The Tubbataha Reefs Natural Park was declared in 1993 a World Heritage Site by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) for its high density of marine species and the different kinds of birds and marine turtles.

The Enclave Alabang’s modern tropical design lets residents reap the full potential of living in an idyllic haven within the city.

If you are building an investment portfolio, the sooner you start, the better.

And if you want to invest on real estate, one of your better choices among the wide array of upscale property options is the exclusive, award-winning The Enclave Alabang.

A signature development of high-end real estate brand Filigree, The Enclave Alabang was named the Best Residential Development of the Philippines at the Asia Pacific Property Awards 2018, the largest, most prestigious awards program in the region. It is Filigree’s first horizontal development and was recognized for its thoughtful planning, meticulous craftsmanship and world-class features and amenities.

In celebration of World Autism Awareness Day, more than 500 children with autism, together with their parents and companions, participated in the “Color It A-OK” activity, held recently at the Music Hall of SM Mall of Asia.

The kids with autism colored a drawing pad measuring 860 sq. feet, which hopes to send a message of acceptance, accommodation, and appreciation for all persons with autism.

Sophie Turner ups the stakes in the most radical and female-led movie ever made in the X-Men universe in 20th Century Fox’s “X-Men: Dark Phoenix” that will open in Philippine cinemas on June 5.

In “X-Men: Dark Phoenix”, the team was sent to a life-threatening mission in outer space, Jean Grey (Turner) is nearly killed when she absorbs a cosmic entity that leaves her with powers far beyond anything she or any other mutant has ever possessed. Once she returns home to Earth, she struggles with these near-godlike abilities, but the force inside her is too overwhelming to contain. Spiraling out of control, Jean hurts the ones she loves most. Her actions tear the X-Men apart, and the heroes find themselves deeply compromised at a time when they must face their most dangerous enemy yet—one of their own.

(from left) Eastern Communications Sales Division Head Michael Castañeda, IT Head Ronald Rex Evangelista, Marketing Division Head Catherine Muynila, Sales Head Michael Castañeda, Trend Micro Philippines Pre-Sales Consultant Jessica Bernardo, Cisco Philippines Product Sales Specialist Sarah Quinto, Rhipe Philippines Business Development Manager Paul Villena, and Product and Innovation Head Edsel Paglinawan during the Cutting Edge forum held at Manila Diamond Hotel.

Digital transformation in today’s business environment has resulted in companies that need to be more agile and interconnected. Businesses are no longer limited by their location and operation schedules are no longer held to an 8-hour window. To take advantage of the growth opportunities offered in this fast and exciting environment, businesses need to incorporate new technology and tailored services that has a holistic long-term digital perspective.

Discussing the latest IT trends and updates at the recent industry-based forum called “Cutting Edge” held in Manila and Bridgetowne, Eastern Communications in partnership with tech experts Trend Micro Philippines, Cisco Philippines, and Rhipe Philipines identified the four critical ingredients of an Intelligent Office and shared how companies can transform their workplace into an Intelligent one.

Apart from being hospitable, Filipinos are inherently hard working. We have no qualms about doing multiple jobs, taking a lot of workloads, and working in faraway places to earn more for the family. But many of us still find ourselves struggling with money whenever we need it the most such as when medical need arises or car and home repairs are needed. Why?

The answer actually lies on our spending habits and what we do with the money we worked so hard for. A lot of Filipinos spend impulsively without any thought for saving for the future. Some spend their money on unnecessary luxuries or things they do not really need. There are also those we call the “one-day millionaires,” who spend to the point of ending up with little or no cash way before the next payday. Such habits usually get us into financial trouble and consequently hinder our financial growth.

Tuesday, May 28, 2019

Sunday, May 26, 2019

Monday, May 20, 2019

Tuesday, May 14, 2019

Saturday, May 11, 2019

Thursday, May 9, 2019

Tuesday, May 7, 2019

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