Make health and wealth your ultimate legacy this holiday season

 

You’ve spent your entire life building a stable financial future for your family. But when the pandemic happened, it heightened the importance of good health so you can live long enough to enjoy a worry-free future with your family. Suddenly, your priority isn’t only securing your assets but also staying healthy to get through the bad days, and living the good days with the ones you love.

This season of gift-giving, let your good health and wealth be your greatest gift and legacy for your family. To help you achieve this, AXA Philippines, one of the country’s leading insurers, offers you the best-in-class solutions with its products, Asset Master and Global Health Access, and a value-added service, Preferred Consultation and Care.

AXA Asset Master offers wealth solutions to ensure your family continues living well long after you have passed or in case of your untimely demise. This insurance-investment plan helps preserve your estate with tax-exempt insurance proceeds and allows seamless transfer of estate with immediate release of insurance proceeds. It also comes with a guaranteed death benefit of 125 percent of the initial investment. Furthermore, you can build a diverse global portfolio with access to a variety of high-performing funds worldwide. 

Complete Your Noche Buena Spread With These Recipes From Tiktok

 

Need more dishes for Christmas Eve? Here are some yummy recipes from top TikTok food creators.

Noche Buena is a major part of the Christmas celebration in practically every Filipino household. A traditional Christmas Eve feast will include staples like ham and queso de bola, macaroni salad, bibingka and puto bumbong, but you really can serve any special dishes that your family will enjoy.

If you haven't completed your Noche Buena menu yet, let these TikTok food creators give you some delicious ideas.

Ipasa ang saya: Here’s how you helped spread cheer this holiday season with Grab

 

2020 has certainly been a unique year for all of us. The onslaught of the pandemic, the rise of activities like working and learning from home, and the lessened contact with our loved ones, among other adjustments, have invited many to sit back and value the small joys and bits of happiness just a little bit more this year.

Now with this year soon coming to a close and Christmas quickly approaching, the call to remain united and finish 2020 on an optimistic note is stronger than ever. From medical frontliners to delivery riders, there have been many members of our community who deserve thanks and appreciation for helping us make it through to the end of this year. Luckily, Grab has made spreading the holiday cheer and Christmas spirit easier for everyone with Ituloy Ang PassKo - Ipasa ang saya at biyaya sa bawat pa-Grab!

Grab made your transactions count and helped turn them into meaningful ways to share happiness with others this Christmas. Watch how you helped here!

DOT presents virtual concert to promote Manila’s cultural heritage sites

 

The Department of Tourism (DOT), through the Tourism Promotions Board (TPB), takes a step further in promoting Manila’s cultural heritage sites, collaborating with The Manila Heritage Trail and Manila Heritage Alliance to bring a free virtual concert titled “Hinahanap-Hanap Kita Manila” bannering the music of iconic band Hotdog to performed by various OPM artists.

“The Hinahanap-Hanap Kita Manila concert gave us the warmth of nostalgia just in time for the holidays. Get ready to sing along to hit songs of Hotdog -- Annie Batungbakal, Bongga ka Day, Beh Buti Nga, Ikaw ang Miss Universe, and of course, Manila, which are just a few of the tracks that have contributed so much to the city’s colorful musical and cultural scene, all while visiting iconic Manila sites from the comforts of your home,” enthused Tourism Secretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat, who is set to join Mayor Isko Moreno as special guests at the online event broadcasting last December 13.

The tourism chief shared that the virtual concert is a continuation of the long-running Concert at the Park and Paco Park Presents events of the National Parks and Development Committee (NPDC). Among the sites to be featured in the concert are Manila City Hall, Luneta, Paco Park, Intramuros, Museo Pambata, National Planetarium and Jones Bridge. 

4 Christmas gift ideas that are useful amid the pandemic

Christmas just wouldn't be the same without gift-giving. It's one of the easiest ways to share love and spark some joy among family and friends. However, with all the challenges we faced this 2020, our priorities have become clearer. So, this Yuletide season, instead of the usual toys or trinkets, you can give your loved ones something useful and significant during these times.

As you prepare for a socially distanced Christmas celebration, AXA Philippines, one of the leading insurance companies in the country, offers some perfect gift ideas for your upcoming monito-monita.

Hobbies and passion kits. With community quarantines in place, you may know several people who have discovered a hidden talent or hobby during the lockdown. You can cheer on your family or friends as they take on this new skill or hobby by giving them tools or appliances that they may need to pursue their newfound passion. Some great options include pans, pots, spatulas, or small appliances for the new baker, garden tools for plantitas, or paint set and brushes for the late-bloomer artist. Hobbies can help ease anxiety, beat stress, and give joy, while helping one spend time in a creative way. 

Palacio de Memoria for your Holiday parties

Looking for a memorable, grand and elegant venue for your Christmas parties where social distancing won’t be a challenge? Palacio de Memoria, the beautifully restored pre-war mansion with its expansive lush gardens and resplendent indoor venues, might just be the perfect party venue for you. 

Perfect for intimate family gatherings this Holiday season, Palacio de Memoria features exquisite indoor venues, refreshing garden grounds, and an ethereal ambiance. You and your family or friends can choose from various locations at the resplendent Lhuillier-managed estate. 

Treat your loved ones at the Los Tamaraos Ballroom complete with a grand staircase, a grand Murano chandelier, and terrazzo floor by National Artist Juan Nakpil. Guests may also opt to hold their libations at the Loggia by the gardens, the Bunker Bar, and the picture-perfect Back Garden, or the Mosphil Lounge, which is a retrofitted airplane for intimate events.

Pru Life UK promotes a money-smart Christmas with Cha-Ching Kid$ at Home

 

Leading life insurer Pru Life UK, in partnership with Prudence Foundation and Junior Achievement Philippines, ushered in a cheerful Christmas season with Cha-Ching Kid$ at Home: Money-Smart and Meaningful Holidays for Filipino Families. The expert-led and fun-filled webinar was attended by about 500 parents and their children.

The virtual event, which was hosted by Pru Life UK Assistant Manager for Investments Marketing Mary Jane Pangan, featured family and finance experts Rose Fres Fausto and Edric Mendoza, who shared how families can create a purposeful Christmas. Kids joined fun holiday-themed games that taught them basic money management concepts. 

“While this Christmas season comes amid unprecedented times, the joyous spirit of the holidays remains and thrives. We hope that by extending the Cha-Ching money management values to families at this time of the year we will be able to help them have a more money-smart and meaningful celebration,” says Pru Life UK Senior Vice President and Chief Customer Marketing Officer Allan Tumbaga. 

5 Quick and Easy Last-Minute Handmade Christmas Gift Ideas From TikTok

 

Handmade gifts are always nice to receive, especially at Christmastime. These presents show extra thoughtfulness and care from the giver to the recipient, no matter how simple they may be. They're usually budget-friendly, too!

DIY gifts don't need to be complicated in order to be special, and there are many crafty projects online that you can complete in an instant for last-minute gift-giving. TikTok actually has a lot of them, along with other holiday-themed projects and tutorials shared by crafty creators on the app. Here are five videos that show easy to make handmade gifts that you can complete just in time for Christmas.

Know how to sew? You can turn old clothing into a whole new outfit for someone special this Christmas. Check out this video for inspiration.

Filinvest City brightens up the Christmas season amid pandemic

The on-going global pandemic did not stop Filinvest City from making the Christmas season more joyous and meaningful as it recently held its Be the Light virtual event, making the community still feel the wonderful holiday vibe even at the comforts of their own homes.

Kicking off the celebration by paying tribute to frontliners and modern-day heroes, Filinvest City’s Be the Light show highlights the true meaning of Christmas—giving thanks, sparking hope, and continuing to inspire possibilities as we all look back at the last few months of community quarantines and unprecedented changes.

DOT Launches new “Have a Safe Trip, Pinas” Videos to Guide Local Tourists on How to Travel Safely in the New Normal

“Have a Safe Trip, Pinas” is the Department of Tourism’s (DOT) latest campaign focused on promoting the observance of health and safety protocols among local tourists and the general public when traveling amidst the pandemic.

The campaign aims promotes safe travels in the new normal and, in this new series, utilizes Pinoy humor to drive the message across. The videos showcase safety precautions on enjoying the amenities, dining in a restaurant, boarding tourist transport, and booking a hotel starring actors Kim Molina, Beauty Gonzalez, and Jun Sabayton. The video also includes guest appearances of comedian and theatre actor Jerald Napoles.

In the video series, DOT advises everyone to observe “Physical Distancing Always” or “PDA.”, while to cooperate in temperature checks and filling up health declaration. The DOT also emphasizes the need to sanitize often, wear a mask and face shield, and opt for contactless transactions.

Glam up for the Holidays with this smoky eyes look

 

The holidays may be low key for many of us this year, but that shouldn’t stop you from getting all glammed up for those parties, may they be an online get-together or an actual event with a few loved ones and friends. 

One no-fail makeup look you can try is the timeless smokey eye, which is easily achievable with simple makeup techniques using three makeup products from Spotlight Cosmetics, the new local makeup brand that aims to empower Filipinas to transform their looks. 

Start by applying your preferred brown shade in the Scene Stealer Eyeshadow 8-in-1 Palette (P495) all over the lid and lash line to create a smokey eye base. Make sure to blend to diffuse the edges and avoid harsh lines.  

Enjoy the most sulit deals on your groceries with PayMaya

Whether you are planning to shop for your groceries at your go-to supermarket or from the safety of your home, PayMaya is making your Noche Buena shopping experience even more rewarding with the best sulit deals at the biggest supermarkets in the Philippines whenever you pay with the #BetterQR this holiday season.

Whenever you shop for your groceries and pay using PayMaya QR at Mercury Drugstore, WalterMart, Robinsons Supermarket, The Marketplace, AllDay Supermarkets, Super8 Grocery Warehouse, Shopwise, Amesco Drug, LCC Supermarket, Metro Retail Supermarket, Gaisano Brothers Supermarket, Gaisano Grand, Gaisano Capital, and other partner supermarkets, you can easily get up to P250 cashback for your purchases the entire month of December. 

All you have to do is #ScanToPay a minimum purchase of P1,000 via PayMaya QR to get an instant P50 cashback. You can enjoy this offer up to five times this month to get a total of P250 as savings!

But that’s not all—by paying via PayMaya QR you can also enjoy 1%, 10%, or 100% cashback of up to P500 plus a chance to win up to P1,000,000 at the PayMayaguinaldo promo. With these stacked promos, PayMaya QR is truly the #BetterQR for shopping for your holiday feast. 

Here’s why water service interruptions happen even if dams overflow

 

When a series of typhoons, capped off by Typhoon Ulysses, ravaged the country and unleashed heavy rainfall enough to overflow dams in Luzon, plenty of Filipinos were perplexed that water supply was suddenly interrupted. Doesn’t an immense amount of water in a dam indicate a surplus of water supply? The answer is no.

While there is literally an overflowing amount of raw water, this water is far from potable and therefore cannot be supplied to consumers instantaneously. Here’s why:

PRURide PH goes digital with PRURide Virtual Challenge on Pulse app

While the ongoing lockdown may have stood in the way of many of our fitness goals, Pru Life UK is helping everyone finish the year healthy and fit with this year’s edition of PRURide PH – the inaugural PRURide Virtual Challenge on Pulse.  Powered by Pulse, Pru Life UK’s all-in-one health management app, the country’s largest cycling festival kicks off this month, enabling cyclists, enthusiasts, and families to experience fun and safe cycling, wherever they are. 

Open to all Pulse users for FREE, PRURide PH has partnered with Garmin, a renowned leader in the aviation, marine, automotive, outdoor, and fitness markets. By using Pulse-compatible wearables available on Android and iOS, such as the Garmin smartwatch, which can be easily synchronized with Pulse to track participants’ performances, even stationary bike users will be able to feel the adrenaline rush of an official rider.

“These challenging times have highlighted the benefits of cycling. Not only is the activity an antidote to our mostly sedentary lifestyle, but it is also an ideal mode of transportation that promotes social distancing. These advantages encourage us to go ahead with our annual PRURide PH, but in a way that is more attuned to the new normal,” says Pru Life UK SVP and Chief Customer Marketing Officer Allan Tumbaga.

CNN Philippines gives back to its audience through ‘The Joy of Giving’

 

The season is set as CNN Philippines celebrates another year of expressing gratitude through the Christmas campaign, ‘The Joy of Giving.’ As a treat to its audience, the network has lined up special programs as well as giveaway promos. 

CNN Philippines will give viewers the chance to participate in the Misa de Gallo or ‘Simbang Gabi’ masses — the devotional nine-day mass that leads to Christmas Day. It is a popular Filipino tradition that many might be unable to observe physically because of health protocols.

In partnership with the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP), the dawn masses will be broadcast at 5 a.m. beginning December 16 until December 24. Different parishes from all over the country will host the Eucharistic celebrations.

Rockwell Malls spark up holiday shopping with Rockwellist Mobile App powered by PayMaya

Safer, more convenient, and more rewarding cashless shopping this season and beyond

Just in time for the holidays, patrons of Rockwell Malls can now shop more conveniently and safely with the Rockwellist Mobile app powered by PayMaya.

With the PayMaya cashless experience integrated in the Rockwellist Mobile App, customers of Rockwell Malls can enjoy exclusive promos and rewards whenever they pay for their purchases via PayMaya QR at participating establishments. Mall goers and store personnel can also have safer and faster transactions by utilizing PayMaya's contactless technologies. All customers have to do is log in to their PayMaya account via the Rockwellist Mobile App and Scan to Pay. PayMaya is the first eWallet in the Philippines to be integrated in a shopping mall mobile app.

“Our aim is to provide a more seamless experience for our customers through the Rockwellist Mobile App. What makes it even better is that it addressed a very timely need for contactless payments as we have integrated the PayMaya experience in our app, ensuring a safer, more convenient, and more rewarding holiday shopping season and beyond for all,” said Tracey Castillo, AVP of Marketing for Rockwell.

Bike for Good: Baker John partners with GMA Kapuso Foundation for Livelihood Project

 

TEAMING UP FOR BIKE FOR GOOD. Rikki Escudero-Catibog, GMA Kapuso Foundation Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, (left) and Ellison Lee, URC Flour and Bread Division Managing Director sign the agreement formalizing the partnership for the Bike for Good livelihood donation

Baker John, Universal Robina Corporation’s (URC) brand of bread, recently teamed up with GMA Kapuso Foundation for the “Bike for Good” project. Through this partnership, 30 beneficiaries will receive bikes and bread products from Baker John.

“Our goal is to provide assistance to those who are trying to adapt to this new, challenging situation in the time of the COVID pandemic. Through this partnership, we hope the beneficiaries selected by GMA Kapuso Foundation will have the will -- and the wheels -- to keep going,” said Ellison Lee, URC Flour and Bread Division’s Managing Director.

According to Lee, the Bike for Good project provides each of the 30 beneficiaries with a bicycle and a negosyo starter package consisting of Baker John products. “We want to assist them in kicking off their community selling business which can help them with their livelihood,” Lee shared.

Eastern Communications supports rebuilding typhoon-hit communities

 

Holy Guardian Angels Parish in Tuao, Cagayan was among the first responders to provide relief efforts to affected residents due to flooding in the area. 

In support of rebuilding communities hit by Typhoon Rolly and Ulysses, Eastern Communications donated Php 400,000 worth of cash to the towns of Tuao and Solana in Cagayan, and non-profit organization Operations Blessing.

Eastern Communications, together with its employees, was able to raise funds to help affected families recover from the aftermath of said calamities.

The Holy Guardian Angels Parish in Tuao and Parish of Saint Vincent Ferrer in Solana, Cagayan headed respectively by Fr. Rino Guaring and Fr. Gary Agcaoili both received Php 100,000 each. This pledge will be part of both churches’ rehabilitation efforts, aiming to provide materials for some families to build new houses and assist them in their livelihood as many Cagayanos were relocated to a higher place. 

Shop for gifts and reward yourself this holiday season with Robinsons Rewards

Make your Christmas shopping stress-free and rewarding with Robinsons Rewards 

Despite how crazy the year has been, the arrival of the holidays is something that has been keeping Filipinos hopeful and excited. After all, ‘tis the season to be joyful and grateful for being able to stay safe with loved ones and overcoming the challenges brought by 2020. While Christmas celebrations are going to be different this year, many are still looking forward to doing their gift shopping for friends and family. 

Here are some useful tips and reminders to help make holiday shopping safe and stress-free: 

These Top Food Creators on TikTok Will Have You Cooking in No Time

Looking for quick and easy recipes to prepare at home? Check out these must-follow TikTok food creators for cooking inspiration. 

Whether you are a newbie cook or just need fresh ideas for meals to make at home, you can learn a lot from food creators on TikTok. Many of these creators have found the app's short form video format to be perfect for quick cooking tutorials, and so they are encouraged to post and share even more. 

Apart from easy to follow recipes for meals, snacks and drinks, TikTok food creators also share tutorials for basic cooking skills, kitchen hacks, and tried and tested tips. If you're wondering which are the best food accounts to follow on the app, why not start with the 10 most-followed creators in 2020? 

Based on the recently released TikTok Top 100 list, the three food creators who gained the most followers in 2020 are Forkspoonmanila, Bok Cabanting, and Cynthia Alambatin. 

Ben&Ben music video of KathNiel-starrer “Sa Susunod na Habang Buhay”

 

Kathryn Bernardo and Daniel Padilla stars as a romantic couple stuck in a time loop in the new music video for Ben&Ben’s “Sa Susunod na Habang Buhay.”

Helmed by the band’s resident director Jorel Lising and written by Gaya Sa Pelikula creator Juan Miguel Severo, the song’s visual narrative explores the complicated relationship dynamics of two lovers who have lost and found each other in a fated cycle of events.

HP gifts GCash credits to PC buyers this Christmas in extended promo

HP is putting merry back to Christmas by giving GCash credits of as much as P6,000 for PC buyers with the extension of its cashback promo until January 31, 2021.

Now, you can happily spruce up your work-from-home or learn-from-home setup with HP laptops and desktops that are known for unbeatable performance and unparalleled design. Plus, get extra cash for other WFH or LFH essentials like ergonomic chairs and working tables with the free GCash credits.

The HP Pavilion x360 is one laptop that will definitely brighten your working space at home with its fresh new design that blends unique patterns, tones, and finishing touches. Its 3-sided micro-edge display allows your vibrant holiday photos and videos to fill more of the screen. Its full HD resolution together with dual speakers and HP Audio Boost with Audio by B&O will make your Netflix or YouTube viewing or gaming become an immersive experience with crystal clear images and rich, authentic sound.

DOT launches webinar training on Reducing Single-use Plastics for hospitality sector

The Department of Tourism (DOT) has collaborated with the Philippine Center for Environmental Protection and Sustainable Development, Inc. (PCEPSDI) in holding a webinar training program for the hospitality sector to reduce single-use plastics while keeping in mind health and safety protocols.

The DOT is inviting hotels, resorts and other enterprises to a training webinar entitled “Responsible Tourism through Plastic Upcycling and Waste Management” on December 15 at 1:30 PM. This training is organized by the Transforming Tourism Value Chains (TVC) project, in cooperation with UN Environment (UNEP) and Clean our Oceans Project (CoOp), with guest speakers from World Wide Fund for Nature - Philippines (WWF).

This webinar aims to educate the hospitality sector on how to reduce plastic usage to help save marine life and from the COVID-19 pandemic. Interested participants can register through this link: https://bit.ly/PlasticUpcyclingWasteManagementReg

XTREME Appliances launches its X-Series line and first-ever Android TV

2020 is a huge turning point in the retail industry. The decline of physical stores and the simultaneous growth of e-commerce in the past months have significantly influenced the global economy, according to the recent report of New York Times. This New Normal has altered the purchasing behaviours of many shoppers and one of the major implications is the shift on priorities. A lot of people now are spending towards functional and necessary items like food, wellness products, and of course, appliances. To answer the said demand, XTREME Appliances is releasing a premium quality and online-exclusive roster called the “X-Series”. The appliances under this new line were carefully selected to give comfort and efficiency to the consumers at its affordable price.

Top of the list is a television that links people closer to the world, the XTREME 43” X-Series Android TV. The XTREME X-Series Android TV is supported and certified by Google, making it more user-friendly and accessible to productive and entertaining applications. Currently available in 43 inches, this Full-High Definition (FHD) X-Series Android TV can be connected to Wi-Fi and has pre-installed Google Play, Netflix, YouTube, and Prime Video. With the presence of Google Play and an internal TV storage of 8GB, viewers can now download and enjoy thousands of movies, music, games, and online multimedia platforms like Spotify, Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok. The latest Android TV of XTREME has Bluetooth for file sharing, as well as Chromecast feature that mirrors images, audio, and motion graphics from mobiles, tablets, and laptops into a bigger screen.

SeeYouDoc: A Christmas Present for Filipinos

 

SeeYouDoc is an integrated healthcare platform that can provide a holistic experience for patients, doctors, clinics, hospitals, and the medical society via a secure and trusted system. For more information about SeeYouDoc, visit www.seeyoudoc.com.

Christmas is the most special time for Filipinos. We are known worldwide for having the longest Christmas season as Christmas carols tend to start playing as early as August while holiday decorations begin to start being displayed way before December arrives.

This Christmas season will undoubtedly be one of the most unique in history with a global pandemic effectively cutting down celebrations and family reunions either hampered by social distancing or limited to virtual calls online.

DOT and Mystery Manila Launch Gamified Virtual Tours featuring local tour guides

The Department of Tourism (DOT) partners with Mystery Manila for an online mystery tour of the Philippines titled, “Where in the Philippines is Sam San Mateo?” The gamified virtual tour employs actual tour guides, stationed in select destinations across the country, to lead the game through video streaming.

Participants can play as virtual tourists as they visit famous landmarks and destinations in the Philippines to find helpful clues that will reveal the next destination and further their quest to track down Sam San Mateo, the game’s fictional travel vlogger.

Enjoy the most rewarding holiday shopping with PayMaya and Megaworld

Spread the holiday cheer and receive exclusive rewards with the #BetterQR this Christmas! 

With the holiday season upon us, many Filipinos are already filling up their list of gifts to give to family and friends. To make your holiday shopping experience safer, more convenient, and even rewarding, PayMaya has partnered with Megaworld Lifestyle Malls to give everyone amazing perks when they shop using PayMaya with the Holiday Quest at Megaworld Lifestyle Malls Promo. 

From November 18, 2020 until January 10, 2021, you can get a chance to win P10,000 when you #ScanToPay at least P500 via PayMaya QR in participating stores at Megaworld Lifestyle Malls including Eastwood City, Lucky Chinatown,  Forbes Town, Southwoods Mall, Uptown Bonifacio, McKinley Hill, Newport Mall at Resorts World Manila, and Festival Walk Iloilo.  

And when you spend an accumulated total of P2,000 via PayMaya QR, you’ll automatically get a P200 cashback. You can get this awesome reward twice during the promo period – that's P400 worth of savings from your Christmas shopping haul for your loved ones, or simply for those in need. 

Durex advances Protection and Preparedness Education Campaign by donating PPEs to HIV-advocate groups

The Red Whistle President, Benedict Bernabe, pauses for a photo upon receiving donations from Durex.

Durex, a brand that advocates HIV Awareness and health safety, donated Personal Protective Equipment (PPEs) to local HIV-advocate groups as part of their Protection and Preparedness Education Campaign, just in time for World AIDS Day.

A total of 1000 face masks, 1000 face shields, and 7000 boxes of Durex Condoms were each turned over to LoveYourself, The Red Whistle, and the PLHIV Response Center to help boost their efforts to combat HIV/AIDS amidst the COVID-19 pandemic and promote health safety.

Shop now, fly for free later with the CEB GetGo Visa Cards

 

Earn GetGo Points from a wide range of lifestyle partners using CEB GetGo Visa cards 

to fly for free via Cebu Pacific

Everyone’s travel goals may be on pause at the moment. And until safer times come around, people can hold on to their wanderlust as they wait to get their passports stamped once again. 

 

While travelers cool their heels for now, many have been taking on different activities to satisfy their travel bug. These endeavors span from watching movies that take viewers to a different setting, to trying out various cuisines for a fun gastronomical adventure. Travelers also make this time count by fusing their lifestyles with a program that lets them collect rewards that they can use until the skies clear again. 

 

Anticipate your next dream destination with experiences that are just as rewarding. With Cebu Pacific GetGo, members can earn points when they shop, dine, pay for everyday spend and more, which can be used to redeem future Cebu Pacific flight, for any seat, at anytime.

Grab - Ituloy ang PassKo. Ipasa ang saya at biyaya sa bawat pa-Grab

 

Though Christmas this year might be a little different, tuloy pa rin ang PassKo with Grab. Ipasa ang saya at biyaya sa bawat pa-Grab by donating to frontliners or sharing the chance to win big prizes with your driver and store partner.

The Terrace: Samsung brings first-of-its-kind outdoor, weather-proof 4K Smart TV to PH

When people think of “home entertainment,” they usually think of the living room, where electronic gadgets are safe from the elements. With the release of their new The Terrace line, Samsung breaks barriers to bring entertainment outdoors with the first ever weather-proof TV and Soundbar. 

As a global leader in TV innovation, creating an optimal entertainment space outdoors has always been a goal for Samsung. While a standard television could get the job done, The Terrace’s IP55 water-resistance build takes it a step further to give you peace of mind, especially with the unpredictable rainy season in the Philippines. 

Despite its weather-proof design, The Terrace doesn’t sacrifice and scrimp on its quality either. Equipped with wide viewing angle capabilities further improved with an anti-glare screen, not to mention, Samsung’s signature QLED technology and Ultra Bright Picture Quality, The Terrace negates all the possible nuisances of outdoor lighting, ensuring a delightful viewing experience. In addition, The Terrace is a Smart TV, which can connect to the internet for your video streaming needs, and comes with pre-installed entertainment apps, such as Netflix and Amazon Prime Video. 

AXA PH employees volunteer to support social causes

AXA Philippines, one of the country's leading insurance providers, celebrated its 10th Corporate Responsibility (CR) Week by partnering with local non-government and non-profit organizations to promote volunteerism among employees and bring awareness to social causes such as climate change, physical and mental health, and social inclusion for the most vulnerable amid the pandemic.

"As we try to get through this pandemic, AXA Philippines felt the need to push through with our CR Week this year so that we can show how being there for each other can help us overcome adversities and shed light on our purpose, which is to act for human progress by protecting what matters -- be it our physical and mental health, children, vulnerable communities, or other social aspects," said AXA Philippines CEO Rahul Hora.

Support the Philippine Red Cross and avail of Lysol’s special PULA bundle during the Shopee 12.12 sale!

As Christmas is fast approaching, many of us are looking for possible gift ideas to give to family and friends—perhaps something timely, useful, and offering value for money. And with the much-awaited Shopee 12.12 sale within the horizon, consumers are sure to take advantage of the many deals on offer as they ‘add to cart’ for their holiday gift shopping.

Among the Shopee 12.12 promotions not to be missed this year is Lysol’s, which allows consumers to not only avail of their superior products at fantastic prices, but also let them support the Philippine Red Cross (PRC), one of Lysol’s newest partners in the fight against COVID-19, by adopting Pula, PRC’s adorable bear, which can be owned in a special Christmas bundle pack consisting of 2 units of 340g Lysol Disinfectant Spray.

UNICEF concerned about situation of children affected by typhoons in the Philippines

 

Less than two weeks after Super Typhoon Rolly/Goni brought destructive wind and rain to the Philippines, Typhoon Ulysses/Vamco left many residents trapped in floodwaters or taking refuge in evacuation centers. UNICEF is concerned for children and families who continue to bear the brunt of natural disasters in one of the most emergency prone countries in the world. 

The country has been hit by weather disturbances that caused significant damage to lives and livelihoods. Super Typhoon Rolly/Goni, Severe Tropical Storm Siony/Atsani, Tropical Storm Tonyo/Etau and Typhoon Ulysses/Vamco descended on the archipelago within days of each other and made communities at risk of COVID-19 more vulnerable.

The Itchyworms brings festive cheer with “Have A Merry Christmas” and “Maligayang Pasko”

 

The Itchyworms keeps the holiday cheer going with the simultaneous release of two Christmas songs “Have A Merry Christmas” and “Maligayang Pasko.” In honoring the time-tested tradition of writing Yuletide-themed originals that are meant to bring people closer to home in feeling and essence, the pop-rock quartet is keen on uplifting our spirits during the pandemic.  

Drummer and lead vocalist Jazz Nicolas points out the important of Christmas songs in a very crucial time like this. “We need to be reminded of the joy and hope and the spirit of giving. It’s the time of year when the world falls in love, so it’s important to listen to Christmas songs all year round.” 

Kelvin Yu, the band’s bassist, echoes Nicolas’ sentiments. According to him, Christmas songs are those anchors in our lives that we can always expect to be there for us no matter what the situation is. “There will always be Christmas songs: during good times, it further uplifts us; and during not so good times, it can provide us with that warm hug that everyone needs come December,” Yu shares.

Brother Philippines introduces Brobot, a cute and helpful customer service chatbot

With its mission of always making sure they’re at their customers’ side, Brother Philippines constantly develops new programs and methods to ensure top-quality customer service in all channels.

It’s in light of this goal that Brother launches Brobot, a new customer service chatbot. It seeks to help customers inquiring about the brand’s products and services. The cute and helpful bot, accessible on the Brother Philippines website, has been steadily learning through constant interactions with customers—and continues to learn the more people interact with him every day. While he can already answer most queries, soon enough he’ll be able to respond to even more questions! 

“We always want to ensure that our customers will always get the help they need when it comes to Brother’s products and services,” said Brother Philippines President Glenn Hocson. “Having Brobot, who can answer questions all the time, anytime, is the best way we can attend to anyone looking for more information. We suggest customers interested in Brother to give him a try on our website!”

Top new normal essentials go-getters should never leave the house without!

Perfect for busy and hard working millennials who need the Vicks kind of care whenever and wherever they are.

The new normal has redefined our way of life—changing the way we go about our usual routine and creating new demands on our lifestyles. If you are the type of person who is usually on-the-go, keeping your usual pace has just become a bit more challenging. You have to rely on some essentials that would help you stay ahead in the new normal, while putting safety above all.  

Here’s a list of some essentials that you should have ready at all times to help you stay safe while keeping busy in our new, socially distanced world:

Filipino startup recognized in addressing SDG's using space tech

 

A Filipino startup is recognized globally in developing a dengue hotspot prediction system using satellite and climate data in the 2020 Group on Earth Observations Sustainable Development Goals (GEO SDG) Awards for the Sectoral category, For-Profit. The GEO SDG Awards recognize the productivity, ingenuity, proficiency, novelty, and exemplary communications of results and experiences in the use of Earth observations to support sustainable development.

CirroLytix Research Services was formed to create social impact through big data. Through the application of machine learning, data engineering, remote sensing, and social listening, the Philippines-based data analytics firm hopes to help governments, researchers, non-government organizations (NGO), and social enterprises achieve positive change. The Advanced Early Dengue Prediction and Exploration Service (Project AEDES) is one of the CirroLytix’s flagship projects developed during the 2019 National Aeronautics and Space Administration's (NASA) International Space Apps Challenge. It combines digital, climate, and remote sensing to nowcast dengue trends and detect mosquito habitats to help pre-empt cases of dengue. Project AEDES process leverages normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI), Fraction of absorbed photosynthetically active radiation (FAPAR), and normalized difference water index (NDWI) readings from Landsat and Sentinel-2 to estimate still water areas on the ground, which is correlated with dengue case counts from national health centers.

IT experts agree – Education, choice of tech are important in fight against cyber attacks

As more businesses embrace work from home setups and students are now into online classes, the threat of cyber attacks increases as well. Studies show that home networks and personal computers are roughly 3.5 times more likely to receive malware attacks compared to offices with enterprise-grade security.

With this, technology leaders HP and Intel held a panel discussion called “Cyber Lockdown” recently to tackle how we can protect our data and devices from cyber attacks amid the pandemic.

The panel featured IT experts HP Senior Security Advisor Junaid UR Rehman, Intel Asia Regional Account Manager Carrie Chow, ePLDT Chief Information Security Officer Angel Redoble, and Manila Bulletin Technology Editor Art Samaniego.

Exquisite Holiday gifts and home décor at Casa de Memoria’s auction for charity

Health and wellness advocate Juana Manahan-Yupangco shared her chosen items from the curated lineup of fine art pieces that will go under the hammer at the Cuarto auction of Palacio de Memoria's auction house, Casa de Memoria, on November 28, Saturday, at 2 o’clock in the afternoon. The special auction will benefit Typhoon Ulysses victims and COVID-19 patients and frontliners.

The Cuarto auction will feature a total of 180 Filipino and European objets d’art, spanning paintings, furniture, tableware, and religious iconographies, among many others. As Christmas draws near, these masterpieces will not only evoke happiness among your loved ones during the Yuletide season but can also elevate your home for intimate Holiday celebrations.

World Vision continues to bring joy this Christmas to the most vulnerable children and their families

 

Carla together with her parents

Year 2020 has been a very challenging year for a lot of Filipinos.  From the eruption of the Taal Volcano, to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and just recently, the consecutive typhoons that hit the country, children and families have struggled to get back on their feet. Now that Christmas is fast approaching, most are still unsure how they will celebrate this holiday season.

World Vision, an international Christian non-profit organization, is committed to making this a Christmas like no other most especially for the most vulnerable children and their families in the face of these difficult times.

Through their annual tradition of sharing Noche Buena meals to communities under their care, World Vision aims to spread hope and joy, making it possible for children and families to celebrate Christmas, such as eight-year-old Carla and her family.

Be the light and make holidays brighter with Filinvest City

The upcoming holiday celebrations may be slightly different now that the whole world still adjusts to the new normal, but the light of the season won’t ever be dimmed as we continue to share love and joy with families and friends however we can. This is how Filinvest City intends to inspire the community to be the light this Christmas—by sparking hope in their own little way.

This year, Filinvest City makes celebrations this holiday season even more meaningful and worthwhile by honoring today’s modern heroes—frontliners who continuously go the extra mile and devote their time for the people and the community. With the theme “Be the Light,” Filinvest City enjoins everyone to take a step back, appreciate life’s blessings, and never stop spreading magic and merriment even amid these trying times. Headlining this Christmas celebration is its video-making contest dedicated to community frontliners.