Ortigas Malls Implements Stringent Sanitation Measures as it Reopens its Doors to Mall Goers

As Metro Manila slowly shifts from ECQ to Modified Enhanced Community Quarantine many mall goers are eager to once again visit their favorite restaurants and shop in their favorite stores. However, with the strong concern regarding everyone’s health and safety, Ortigas Malls wants to reassure each and every mall-goer that their well-being is always the top priority as the company rolls out new measures and guidelines that are effective starting May 16, 2020. Here are three things to take note of before you head down to Greenhills, Tiendesitas, Estancia, and Industria:

Gentle Bones and Joie Tan captures hearts with dreamy duet, ‘SHOULDN’T HAVE TO RUN’

Riding the wave of two notable collaborations this year, Gentle Bones is back with another captivating duet, Shouldn’t Have To Run, sung alongside Singapore’s melodic sweetheart, Joie Tan. Written by Gentle Bones and Fulses, one-third of R&B band, brb., Shouldn’t Have To Run explores the wistful relationship of two lovers whose stars are struggling to align.

“When Joie came on board to finish the song up with us, it became this beautiful duet that we knew we had to get out to the world.,” says Gentle Bones. “Joel and Fulses are both amazing artists I was thrilled to work with and I'm so happy with how the song turned out,” Joie adds.

Having discovered each other in the YouTube stratosphere almost a decade ago, this collaboration makes perfect sense when listening to the track. Gentle Bones and Joie Tan’s dulcet tones combined with the beat’s futuristic vibes transports listeners into a fantastic and curious dimension; whilst detailing the efforts of someone trying to reach out to his lover, but to no avail.

The Filinvest Tent now ready as quarantine health facility

(L-R) EEI Corporation project manager Charlie Santaren, Filinvest City Foundation Inc. and Filinvest Alabang Inc. president and chief operating officer Catherine Ilagan, Department of Health director IV Dr. Leonita Gorgolon, Department of Health secretary Francisco Duque III, Department of Public Works and Highways undersecretary Emil Sadain, Inter-Agency Task Force secretary Carlito Galvez, Jr., Department of Interior and Local Government secretary Nestor Quinsay Jr., Office of Civil Defense undersecretary Ricardo Jalad, and Bureau of Fire Protection Chief General Jose Embang, Jr.

Filinvest City Foundation is boosting its efforts to fight the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic by converting The Filinvest Tent into ‘We Heal As One’ quarantine facility. The recently turned over facility houses 108 beds for patients that are asymptomatic or with mild to moderate COVID-19 symptoms.

Coping with Quarantine

Source: Pexels.com

The Pet Food Institute shares tips on how pet owners can help their pets cope with the month-long quarantine

Millions of people across the globe are now being asked to stay home in quarantine to avoid getting sick. People are coming up with novel activities to cope with the stress of being indoors for a month like venturing into crafts and cooking. However, quarantine doesn’t only affect humans, it affects pets too. With dogs and cats being naturally outdoor creatures, being confined within the four walls of their home can be taxing and could possibly lead to agitation or even health issues if they remain stagnant for long periods of time. 

The Pet Food Institute, together with its member brands, educate the Filipino pet community on how they can help their pets cope with being placed under quarantine.  

Jollibee Foods Corporation and PayMaya pioneer conversational commerce with ‘cashless’ ordering chatbot

Ordering at your favorite JFC fast food restaurant 

is now just a chat away!

Jollibee Foods Corporation (JFC) along with all of its food and restaurant brands in the country has begun piloting an interactive mobile ordering system via chatbot, with a seamless payment experience powered by PayMaya.

Customers in select areas can now use their credit, debit, or prepaid cards as well as their PayMaya e-wallet accounts to pay for their favorite food items and meals via the Facebook Messenger channels of  Jollibee, Burger King, Chowking, Mang Inasal, and Red Ribbon -- which are all currently running on beta version.  This will soon be available in the Facebook messenger of Greenwich as well.

All they need to do is type “#order” and send this to the Facebook chatbot of their favorite JFC restaurant, select the meal they’d like to order, pay by selecting their preferred cashless payment option, and wait for their food to be delivered in their homes.

AXA offers moms world-class healthcare for cancer and other diseases

AXA Philippines is offering Preferred Consultation and Care,

a value-added service that comes with select AXA insurance products.

AXA Philippines, one of the country’s leading insurance providers, is offering Preferred Consultation and Care, a value-added service that comes with select AXA insurance products, and its coverage for cancer and heart disease to support moms in the community.

Filipino moms constantly face many health risks. According to the International Agency for Research on Cancer, three out of 100 Filipino women between the ages 35 and above develop breast cancer in their lifetime, while about one in 30 Asian women have coronary heart disease, based on a report by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Still, moms continue to do what they do: caring for their families and making sure they stay safe and healthy.

Stay home, stay safe, and add a splash of color to your life

While we stay at home to help flatten the curve of this pandemic, we suddenly find ourselves with lots of time in our hands to do the things we could only dream of- or used to take for granted. As we wait for the air to clear, we make use of the time we have to learn a new recipe, to work out, to pamper ourselves, or to simply change up our looks. But if you’re too afraid of cutting your hair, why not add a splash of color instead? 

Simple acts of care especially during quarantine can make anyone feel better. Why not show your mom or your sister how much they mean to you by spending an afternoon at home giving each other a refreshing new hair color? Give them a whole new look that shows off their unique personalities through Kolours. 

Israeli Indie-Folk Singer-Songwriter VANNA Releases ‘Let Me Fall’, The Second Single from her Upcoming Debut EP

Israeli Indie-Folk singer-songwriter VANNA releases Let Me Fall, the second single of her 5-track debut EP High Hopes released via Umami Records. This song explores the meaning of embracing the vulnerability that one has while falling in love. The ambient production centred around a finger picked acoustic guitar and pulsating bass lines exudes a powerful calming feeling to listeners’ ears throughout the song.

Produced by Roy Avital of Tel Aviv based indie-electronic trio Garden City Movement and mastered by Matt Colton (James Blake, Muse, Coldplay), Let Me Fall is an ambient-folktronica song about letting yourself fall completely in love, and embracing the vulnerability that comes along with that. “When you fall in love, you expose yourself to getting hurt. It’s an endless paradox. When you let someone enter your inner world, you’re allowing them to gently break down your walls and then amazing things can happen.”, shares VANNA, “I was scared that one day I’d lose this feeling, and when it really happened I felt so alone trying to move on. This is the risk you take for falling in love.”

VANNA builds up the energy from the verses to the choruses, culminating in the bridge. “And all I could ever ask is to be someone else / To know what I am for you to feel that you want me too / And I wanna clear my head I don’t wanna be so scared / To leave all my fears behind / To know you’re on my side”, she sings, before releasing all that tension in the final instrumental drop.

Eastern Communications pledges ICT solutions to government, donates PPEs and funds in fighting COVID-19

Eastern Communications, one of the premier telecommunications companies in the Philippines, has supported various sectors in flattening the curve of COVID-19 pandemic by pledging its ICT solutions, PPEs, and funds. 

A total of 500 Office 365 licenses were provided to 34 government offices such as the Department of Health (DOH), Department of Labor and Employment, Philippine National Police, Presidential Communications Operations Office, several city government offices, among others. Office 365 is a collaborative cloud-based platform that brings together the best-in-class Microsoft Office applications that can help the beneficiaries to collaborate efficiently and securely across many devices within the organization. 

Have fun labeling with Brother’s Labeler Bundles!

Level up your home and office organization skills by getting a handy new Brother P-Touch Labeler—bundled with two rolls of 12mm TZe tape to get you started!

Make your own exquisitely-crafted labels for both your home or office with the enhanced and easy-to-use design and printing capabilities of Brother’s P-Touch label printer line. 

The budget-friendly Brother PT-D210 standalone label maker (P3,840), which can print on up to 12mm TZe tape, is a great place to start making your own labels. It comes with a wide variety of symbols and frames to decorate your labels with, and makes high-quality labels with auto-lamination for an affordable price.

How to use your smartphone to create, and enjoy music with friends online

If there’s one thing that will always be with us no matter what, it would be music. It gets us through the good times, bad times, and almost anything in between. And now, at a time when people must rely on each other for strength, music could be that one unifying element that will keep us together, while apart.

Though seemingly difficult given the situation, it is actually possible to enjoy music with friends through our mobile phones. Here are 4 simple ways to create and celebrate music with friends: 

Watch Rico Blanco’s inspiring music video for “This Too Shall Pass”

Rico Blanco has finally dropped the official music video for his new solo single in four years.

With various footage taken here and abroad, the visuals for “This Too Shall Pass” take a closer look at how the pandemic has brought the entire world to a standstill. 

Given the unprecedented uncertainty and challenges that COVID-19 poses, the video doubles as a tribute to the unsung heroes and frontliners leading the fight against an invisible enemy, showing us the true meaning of bayanihan in times of crisis. 

LG Helps Cleanup the Fight against COVID-19 at San Lazaro Hospital

Health workers from Manila’s San Lazaro hospital

LG Philippines has made its mission to support the frontliners combatting the COVID-19 pandemic in any way they can. The technology innovating company has been actively taking part in relief operations geared towards helping those in health institutions.  Health workers from Manila’s San Lazaro hospital recently reached out to LG to request for assistance. 

4 Casa de Memoria auction pieces to add drama to your home

Napoleon III Pietra Dura Commode

The Casa de Memoria lifestyle provides an opportunity to avail of select pieces on auction that adds depth to character for any home. Four distinct pieces call to us as we prepared the catalogue. This anniversary auction supports the construction of the emergency quarantine facility (EQF) at Sta. Ana Hospital, Manila.

Inspired by the Grey Room at the Palacio is an ebonized and ormolu-embellished commode, with pietradura vegetal elements in Napoleon III style (Lot 011). From late 19th century France, this Napoleon III Pietra Dura Commode is one of the most outstanding items for Segundo. To complete the look are a set of Carlos IV chairs (Lot 020). These six Neoclassical side chairs are carved, painted, and gilded beech with provenance from late 19th century Spain. 

AXA offers teleconsultation service to support pandemic response efforts

The COVID-19 pandemic has brought on the reemergence of digital healthcare where patients and doctors communicate and hold remote medical consultations by telephone or by video link.

To foster better health outcomes, AXA is offering free teleconsultation to approximately 6.5 million people in Asia, including under-served patients in remote, rural areas with limited health care access.

Your neighborhood Smart Padala agent is the easiest way to add money to your PayMaya account

Looking for a more convenient way to add money to your PayMaya account? Your neighborhood Smart Padala agent can help you! With the largest network of over 30,000 Smart Padala agents all across the country, you can add money to your PayMaya account at the Smart Padala agent in your neighborhood -- making cashless payments more accessible as the country transitions to the "new normal." 

In these critical times, using PayMaya is the easiest and safest way to pay for your daily essentials – whether you need to send money to a loved one, pay for online deliveries, settle your bills, or buy discounted load. Doing all these is more convenient than ever, since adding money to your account is as simple as visiting the trusted Smart Padala agent in your community. With this, there's no more need to risk traveling to convenience stores or endure lines at payment centers.   

Adding money to your PayMaya account is easy. All you have to do is follow these simple steps:   

Hotel Sogo assures the safety of employees and guests alike in 'new normal' playbook video

In preparation for the hotel industry’s ‘new normal’ Hotel Sogo is implementing various ways of ensuring the safety and security of its guests and employees against the spread of Covid19 virus.

Hotel Sogo adapted the use of ultraviolet (UV) lights as part of its So Clean approach in disinfecting its facilities and intensified the procedures from checking-in to ordering of food while inside the facility. The use of ultraviolet (UV) lights is highly effective at disinfection, particularly the UVC rays that are capable of killing bacteria, germs, and viruses.

Three Simple Recipes Based on Your Pantry Basics

Exploring recipes using fancy ingredients that aren’t normally seen in the pantry can mean a lot of work since this requires going to the grocery store and making it through a long line of people. But having the pantry well-stocked with basic items is like having savings in the bank. When it comes to whipping up quick comforting meals, pantry staples are everyone’s best friend. 

With a little creativity, basic ingredients from the pantry and a multi-purpose kitchen appliance, special home-cooked meals for the family can easily be created. With Samsung Smart Oven which is designed as an all-in-one cooking partner that works as a convection oven and a microwave, anything special can be whipped up in just a few steps. This special oven can be used for baking, grilling, roasting, slim frying, heating, defrosting, steaming, and even making yogurt which can cover appetizers and even desserts.

Casa de Memoria pays tribute to Philippine painters

Summer Nights in Madrid 

Segundo, the 20th auction for Lhuillier-managed Casa de Memoria presents close to 300 lots of fine European objets d’art and collectibles. The online auction completes two days of offerings from the weekend of May 30 to 31 using Invaluable as its platform. Proceeds from the online event will support the construction of the emergency quarantine facility (EQF) at Sta. Ana Hospital, Manila.

The auction house joins other local art and culture venues as it presents a veritable selection that entices the connoisseurs who remain home with the Enhanced Community Quarantine. The curatorial team has put on display items—from portraiture, to furnishings and silver—thus, enhancing a well-lived home style. The Casa Still Life with vase and glass center  Memoria salutes the frontliners in this two-day virtual auction.

Moms, lift up your spirits this Mother’s Day

This year’s Mother’s Day is unlike any Mother's Day celebration we've experienced. Moms are quarantined at home, and are probably falling into a pattern where our entire days are spent makeup-less and in-house clothes and pajamas. But stick out your chins, mommies, it's time to dust off the gloom and be the cheerful celebrant.

As experts say, the way we dress has a connection with our emotions. So even while on lockdown, us moms can do these simple tips from Ever Bilena to help lift our spirits this Mother’s Day: 

Five Mother’s Day gifts you can easily get online even while you're staying at home

Mother’s Day is coming up this weekend, and while we're all on stay-at-home quarantine mode, it’s still more than possible to make your mom feel special on the day of the year that’s just for her! 

With many businesses now opening online stores with delivery and cashless payments options, finding a good gift for your mom should be a breeze. Here are some hassle-free gift ideas: 

Careline and Andrea Brilliantes show support to PGH frontliners

Careline and Andrea Brillantes donated PPEs and self-care kits 

to the medical staff at PGH

To boost the morale and help keep healthcare frontliners safe while on duty, Careline Cosmetics, together with Andrea “Blythe” Brilliantes, donated protective personal equipment (PPEs) and self-care kits to the medical staff at Philippine General Hospital (PGH).

In an Instagram post, Andrea said, “Thank you to all frontliners out there who continue to fight for all of us in this pandemic. I hope these PPE suits will help keep our dear frontliners in PGH safe. Maraming maraming salamat po.” 

6 newborn care tips during quarantine that you need to know

Make the most of the time you have at home to bond with your baby.

Being a new mom is a big milestone and having a baby brings happiness beyond measure. However, if you gave birth to your first child recently, things might be a bit different for you because of the enhanced community quarantine. Aside from the new maternity responsibilities, fear and anxiety over the pandemic may increase stress levels. You may find yourself standing in the most joyful yet toughest time of your life.  

As the world celebrates strong, loving mothers, AXA Philippines is here to give a few tips for new moms so that you can enjoy this life stage, while minimizing the stress amid the pandemic.

Rico Blanco returns with inspiring new anthem “This Too Shall Pass”

After a four-year hiatus in making songs of his own, Rico Blanco returns with a rousing new anthem to help us deal with the uncertainty of the times.

This Too Shall Pass is Rico Blanco’s first solo single in four years, as well as his first under Sony Music Philippines. The song was written from a place of discomfort and fear, witnessing how the much louder tremor of pandemic anxiety instantly changed our lives and left us with little time to mourn and move forward.

Singaporean Electronic Producer Foxela and Singer-Songwriter Chelsea Cara Release ‘wanted you so bad’ Via Umami Records

17-year-old Singaporean electronic producer Foxela and singer-songwriter Chelsea Cara have released their brand new single ‘wanted you so bad’ today via Singapore indie label Umami Records.

Chelsea decided to write the song after experiencing rejection from someone she really liked. “I tried to show the dilemma I was facing and the painful choices I had to make,” the alt pop singer-songwriter shares, “I had all these emotions I was trying to make sense of.”