The importance of family togetherness as told by the Muhlach family in newest Jollibee Chickenjoy commercial

 Sharing a meal with the people you love the most is an incomparable feeling—especially for the Muhlach family. In their latest Jollibee commercial, the celebrity family once again reveals a side that many Filipino families can relate to. We see Aga, Charlene, and their twins Andres and Atasha sharing a bucket of their favorite Chickenjoy while talking about their day and what truly matters for them: the love of family.


This newest commercial strengthens the brand’s message of family togetherness, with quality bonding time made even more special with the crispylicious, juicylicious, walang kasing sarap Chickenjoy.

Legendary DJ Fatboy Slim at Cove Manila this April 12

Party the night away to the English DJ-producer’s iconic hits at Okada Manila’s state-of-the-at party paradise!

English DJ and record producer Fatboy Slim, a legend in the party music scene, is set to sizzle at Cove Manila this April 12, 2019. The show will be presented by the IKON Urban Music Festival series.

Ballet Manila successfully ends 23rd season with Deux

Ballet Manila closed its 23rd season in spectacular fashion as it recently premiered its newest double header Deux, which gracefully combined classical with contemporary ballet to the tunes of Chopin and The Beatles, at the Aliw Theater, CCP Complex.

Center: Ballet Manila CEO and artistic director Lisa Macuja and Martin Lawrance with the Ballet Manila dancers at the successful 23rd season finale, DEUX.

The show opened with classical vignettes featuring “Les Sylphides” where a lone danseur was seen being surrounded by his muses – white-clad sylphs or air spirits, dancing in the moonlight. While it is non-narrative, its lingering music by Frederic Chopin and lyrical choreography by Michael Fokine evoke the illusion of ethereal weightlessness which characterized the romantic era of ballet where technique is the focal point, especially the intricate pointe work of ballerinas.

Stay cool for the summer with Jollibee’s Coke and Royal Floats!

Refresh yourself with these doubly cool drinks—topped with the new and improved vanilla soft serve!

This summer, the most refreshing way to cool down is with the Jollibee Coke and Royal Floats!

It’s a refreshingly cool combination of your favorite ice-cold soft drinks: the classic cola and zesty orange. Top these beverages with a perfectly twirled vanilla soft-serve ice cream, a new and improved formulation—now creamier, thicker, and slow-melting.

Coke Float offers the soda and ice cream combination with a chocolatey twist. Sweet chocolate syrup is generously drizzled over the vanilla soft-serve to bring in all the flavors together. Meanwhile, Royal Float brings the zest of orange with the creaminess of vanilla for a delightful beverage that you’ll crave over and over again!

SM malls nationwide celebrate Earth Hour

In observance of Earth Hour, SM malls across the country will take part in the symbolic hour-long lights off at exactly 8:30 PM on March 30 in order to spark awareness on how to take care and take actions for a healthy planet.

Now on its 11th year with SM, Earth Hour’s worldwide theme for 2019 is #Connect2Earth, a global campaign to tell people why nature matters. The theme focuses on biodiversity. It seeks to raise awareness of climate change and get the community involved in helping care for the environment and all living species.

Participating SM malls will come up with their own creative executions and programs in raising awareness about climate change and in getting the community to participate in a collective effort to care for the environment.

Brother Group continues cancer awareness tradition in Philippines, joins Quezon City Relay for Life 2019

From left to right: Head, Research & Patient Navigation Program & Services of Philippine Cancer Society Mr. Romeo Marcaida, Consultant, Resource Generation of Philippine Cancer Society Ms. Zeny Avila, Manager, Product Management of Brother International Philippines Corporation Mr. Shinichi Tanaka, President of Brother International Philippines Corporation Mr. Glenn Hocson, From Brother Industries (Philippines), Inc. Mr. Hiroki Yamamoto, Pain Specialist & Chair, Palliative Care Unit, National Kidney & Transplant Institute Dr. Luzviminda Kwong, and from Brother Industries (Philippines), Inc. Mr. Hiroyuki Kobayashi.

Shopee 4.4 Summer Bazaar: Get Ready for million of deals and sponsored trip

Score Millions of Deals and a Sponsored Trip to El Nido at Shopee 4.4 Summer Bazaar

Kickstart the Summer on Shopee with flash deals from ₱44, ₱4 million worth of coins on Shopee Quiz, and huge prizes to be won

Celebrating the brilliance of women via My Diamond

This Women’s Month, raise your flag and take pride in being a woman with

My Diamond.

What would the world be like without women? Time and again, women have faced ruthless challenges, but always come out on top – something certainly worth commemorating. There is no limit to a woman’s strength; consequently, Women’s Month is here to celebrate the lives and achievements of all women.

The heat is on at the Coral Lounge from March to May!

From Latin dance to seam-bursting comedy, Okada Manila brings on the metro’s entertainment highlights this season

As the weather turns warmer, Okada Manila—the grandest integrated resort and destination for world-class entertainment in the metro—is gearing up for a season of dance, music, celebration, and comedy at The Coral Lounge.

Located right at the heart of the gaming floor, the Coral Lounge makes for a stylish, cozy space for friends, families, and colleagues to relax and unwind. The lounge features live entertainment complemented by finely crafted cocktails and an opulent yet laidback ambiance.

From March to May 2019, the Coral Lounge will be presenting events that go perfectly well with the heat and excitement of summer!

Dance the night away

Get ready to unleash your sizzling moves on the dance floor with the ¡Bailamos! Latin Dance Parties! Perfect for those who want to let their hair down for some steamy ballroom dancing, these regular Latin nights start at 9PM.

Sultry music is provided by a live Latin band and instruction from dance instructors, and no entrance fees or coverage charges—so all you need to do is to put on your dancing shoes and head over to the Coral Lounge on March 15, April 12, and May 10!

For those looking for a sweet hit of 80’s nostalgia, The Coral Lounge’s ‘80s Night will bring back all the memories, kitsch, and unabashed fun of the iconic decade. A live band will play the best hits of the ‘80s—best enjoyed on the dance floor or while sipping on specially crafted cocktails with clever names such as Electric Lemonade, Bagets, and The Cure.

No entrance fees or cover charges for the ‘80s Nights on March 30, April 27, and May 25—so just get your leg warmers and acid-wash jeans ready for a retro party starting at 6PM!

 

Side-splitting comedy showcase

Laugh all night long with two of the country’s best stand-up acts! Wacky Kiray and TonTon will deliver all the jokes and punchlines for the Coral Lounge’s first-ever comedy showcase on April 24!

Wacky Kiray was declared The Greatest Entertainer in the 2017 celebrity talent show I Can Do That, while TonTon regularly appears as the former’s sidekick in many live shows.

Cover charge is at P600++ per person, which comes with one standard drink. Doors open at 8PM.

For more information on upcoming events and promotions, visit www.okadamanila.com, like Okada Manila on Facebook, and follow @okadamanila on Instagram and Twitter.

STAY PURE STAY COOL: Wilkins Pure is one party essential you mustn’t forget

While partying can be pure fun, it can also take out of you. Dancing all night, toasting to the good times, munching on party chow, and catching up and laughing with friends old and new do add up to a roaring good time, and the good energy and adrenaline can make you feel invincible.  But you’re expending energy and taking in toxins.  Constant hydration is the key to dancing till dawn and keeping yourself nice and ready for a whole night of partying.  

The Flats BGC makes city living more accessible, slots for single renters still available

Now you can call BGC “home.”

The Flats Fifth Avenue, Bonifacio Global City’s flagship co-living development, has opened its doors to BGCitizens. The property, which still has slots for individual renters, is ideal for students and young urban professionals who are looking for a home in the city to skip the hassle of commuting to and from their school or workplace. 

Capture picture-perfect moments like a pro at the SM City North Edsa Cyberzone Shutter Expo

Do you have an imaginative mind and like to explore different angles and play of light? Are you someone who has a keen eye for camera-worthy moments?

Get your shuttersup and running asCyberzone gives photography enthusiasts a platform to capture picture-perfect shots, navigate cameras like a pro, and catch the latest trends at the Cyberzone Shutter Expo – a photography convention happening on March 16 to 17 at the Cyberzone of SM City North EDSA.

“Professional and aspiring photographers will definitely learn a lot from this convention as we give them the latest trends and exclusive deals on camera accessories, equipment, and drone models from various brands,” said Jonjon San Agustin, SM Supermalls SVP for marketing.

A TOAST TO NEW BEGINNING

2019 is a banner year for graduating students with moving up day a much-awaited

Toshiba home appliance line launched

Leading Japanese appliance company Toshiba recently launched their latest line of advanced home appliances that address the varying lifestyle needs of discerning Filipino consumers. Designed and engineered with the “takumi spirit” – a craftsman’s relentless pursuit of perfection, each Toshiba product, from washers and dryers, refrigerators, vacuum cleaners and water dispensers, is manufactured with an uncompromising attention to detail. 

Gracing the launch were (L-R) Charles Zhang, Deputy General Manager of Concepcion Midea Inc.; Zeal Jiang, General Manager of Overseas Market – Refrigerator Division, Midea Group; Rooney Xiao, General Manager of Overseas Market – Laundry Division, Midea Group; and Phillip Trapaga, General Manager, Concepcion Midea Inc.

The 9th Studios Creative Hub : Now Open In Makati

The 9th Studios Creative Hub opened in January 2019 and is fast becoming a favorite place for various activities, from fitness and yoga to dance and theater rehearsals to art events. It is located on the 9th floor of the Dominion Building on Arnaiz Avenue, Makati. The Creative Hub is composed of 2 rooms, a dance studio and a multipurpose hall. Both are ideal spaces for artistic expression as well as corporate activities like seminars, meetings and lectures.

What Vivo is coming up with this month

While the rest of the Asia-Pacific region has already had their thrilling encounters with the Vivo V15 Pro and its revolutionary features, Filipinos are still wondering when they will ever get their hands on the newest flagship smartphone from the innovative mobile phone developer.

If there is any indication that Vivo Philippines is #ComingUP with something exciting for Filipinos in the next few days, its website (www.vivoglobal.ph) sports a countdown image of the V15 Pro with its signature elevating front camera. This ends speculations on whether the mid-range smartphone that will soon be available in the local market will sport the pioneering and state-of-the-art optics technology.

Matching the aesthetics of the Vivo V15Pro, the 32MP elevating front camera sits hidden underneath the display and mechanically pops up using a highly-sophisticated micro-stepping motor, an independent driver IC and a precision control algorithm when the user accesses selfie mode.

Plan and meet your financial goals for 2019—here’s how

Welcoming the new year means a fresh start on all your goals and resolutions—including the financial ones. But how many times have you told yourself that you’re going to save up, but then lose your way midyear?

This is why it’s important to have a proper financial game plan. AXA, one of the country’s leading insurance companies, shares some tips:

List them down. Before creating a financial plan, know what your goals are. From the most practical and urgent to the seemingly unattainable, it’s important to list them all down so you can visualize them and study them later.

Kids build their own town with the new Jollibee Kiddie Meal Jollitown Blocks

This March, young ones can enjoy awesome playtime as they build and connect houses using the Jolly Kiddie Meal Jollitown Blocks!

With the newest set of collectible and easy-to-assemble toys from the country’s largest fast-food chain, kids will surely have fun putting together the colorful homes of Jollibee and Friends.

The little ones can simply put stickers on each of the Jollitown Blocks and assemble them to help Jollibee put the finishing touches to his modern house, welcome Popo to his ball-shaped house, build Hetty her dream flower-themed house, excite Twirlie with an ice cream cone-inspired house, and give Yum his very own burger-shaped house.

GetGo turns four, brings an exciting month-long celebration for members

Nothing excites Filipinos more than exploring new destinations and creating memorable moments. And for the past four years, many have been able to travel to interesting places and revel in thrilling experiences with Cebu Pacific’s lifestyle rewards program, GetGo.

Since 2015, GetGo has opened amazing possibilities for everyJuan to fly for free by turning daily purchases to points that can be used to redeem Cebu Pacific flights. The program has grown to cater to over 4 million active members, issued more than 6 billion points, gave away over 400,000 flights, and established strong partnerships with more than 40 lifestyle partners.

“Our goal has always been to provide Filipinos with rewarding experiences and show them how they can turn their usual everyday activities to something extraordinary such as free flights,” said Nik Laming, General Manager of Cebu Pacific Air Loyalty Division. “As we turn four this year, we are giving our loyal members more surprises and more opportunities to make incredible moments happen.”

PH faces health and environmental risks amid lack of landfills

The Philippines is expected to move further towards urbanization as it grows and develops. Unfortunately, its solid waste infrastructure is unable to keep pace with the economic and population growth. Inadequate, over-filled dumpsites and landfills are causing various health and environmental problems.

Some of the serious environmental risks caused by waste overflow landfills are ground and surface water contamination, flooding, greenhouse gas production, air pollution, exposure to toxins and spread of disease. Many disposal sites across the country contain infectious material, threatening sanitation workers and waste pickers and, eventually the general public.

Tests of liquid runoff or leachate from Rodriguez and Payatas dump sites were found to contain high levels of contaminants. Most of the leachate seeps untreated into groundwatersources of drinking water and flows to the Marikina and Pasig River systems and Manila Bay. Landfills and dump sites, despite government’s efforts to situate them in areas far from population centers, still pose a threat to the health and the environment.

Nurturing the gift of Worth Lodriga

When people talk about kids’ art, they often picture basic drawings composed of shapes and curves, with colors outside the lines. But from the beginning, young artist Worth Lodriga's work has been anything but basic.

PLDT, Smart superpower “The Umbrella Academy” launch with Netflix

Leading telco digital services provider PLDT Inc., together with its mobile arm, Smart Communications superpowered the star-studded launch of the brand-new Netflix original series, ‘The Umbrella Academy’. Celebrities and fans enjoyed an immersive super room experience that allowed them to feel like the show’s seven superhero siblings.

As a unique way of introducing the series, PLDT-Smart Netflix insiders Eric Tai, Brent Manalo, Aryanna Epperson joined forces with other celebrities to solve intense and interactive challenges in the especially-themed escape rooms powered by PLDT Home Fibr and Smart LTE.

The best time to buy or sell used smartphones, according to OLX data

The forthcoming release of the Samsung Galaxy S10 means it’s decision-making time: Loyal fans are thinking about selling their previous generation unit and upgrading to the latest one. Meanwhile, those who simply need to replace their phones that conked out are mulling over buying the older model.

Whether you intend to sell or buy a used smartphone, it’s worth knowing the price trends of the previous generation phones when their latest iterations are about to be launched. It can give you an idea of the best time to buy or sell a secondhand mobile phone.

Asia’s Next Top Model runner-up joins Careline

Newest Careline ambassador Adela Marshall wears Careline Matte Liquid Lipstick in ‘In Bloom’ shade

Fresh from her stint at the Asia’s Next Top Model (ANTM) Cycle 6, where she finished in the top three, Adela Mae Marshall is set to conquer the beauty world as the newest face of Careline, the trendy and edgy cosmetics line of Ever Bilena for Filipina youth.

Free Unli Rice during early dinner at all Mang Inasal stores this March

Mang Inasal is giving all unli-rice lovers a special Early Dinner Treat as part of the brand’s 15th anniversary celebration. 

Get free unlimited rice servings on all Paborito Value Meals from March 11 to March 28, Mondays thru Thursdays, from 4 to 6 pm only.

The Early Dinner Treat promo is available at all Mang Inasal stores nationwide and valid for dine-in transactions only.

Come celebrate Mang Inasal’s 15th anniversary with us. Visit any of our over 500 stores nationwide for your Solb sa Sarap, Solb sa Saya Early Dinner Treat with free unli-rice!

Creative Skills Bootcamp at Thames International

Thames International Business School, the country’s first international college offering UK-based programs, organized with the British Council a two-day creative skills bootcamp under the Creative Innovators Programme (CIP). 

Opening the bootcamp were the CIP partners organizations (L-R) Design Center of the Philippines executive director Rhea Matute, Apl.de.Ap Foundation founder Apl.de.Ap, British Council country director Pilar Aramayo-Prudencio, head of arts and creative industries Malaya del Rosario, and Thames International president Joel Santos.

GIRLS TOWN STUDENTS GRATEFUL FOR JR. NBA PHILIPPINES EXPERIENCE

Financial inclusion leaders inaugurate first Oradian Community Summit

Leaders from over 30 visionary financial institutions gathered at the New World Hotel in Makati for Oradian’s first Community Summit to share experiences, know-how and global best practices in financial inclusion. More than 80 representatives of these financial institutions engaged in knowledge-sharing as well as celebrating their recent growth.

Driven by a shared vision, members of the Oradian Community provide individuals with access to financial services in the most remote areas of the Philippines. These institutions deliver financial services through Oradian’s platform Instafin, a cloud-based core banking system that enables efficiency and growth. 

The summit emphasized the digital transformation journey that Oradian offers and included an interactive knowledge building session with attending members. The Oradian journey enables financial institutions to quickly go digital, reducing the need for costly manual processes and time-consuming administration, while building internal capability with hands-on training.

MayWard surprises fans and PLDT customers as Customer Care agents on Twitter

The tandem reaches out to PLDT Home Prepaid Wifi customers by directly answering their online queries

MayWard, the popular onscreen tandem of Maymay Entrata and Edward Barber served as special PLDT customer care agents to help customers with their inquiries on PLDT Home Prepaid Wifi. The overwhelming customer response had #MayWardAtYourService trending on Twitter during the takeover.

FPG Insurance and Cebuana Lhuillier Foundation open Iloilo Community Learning Center

FPG Insurance, the major player in the general insurance industry and Cebuana Lhuillier Foundation, Inc. (CLFI), the CSR arm of the PJ Lhuillier Group of Companies (PLGC) formally inaugurated a community learning center under CLFI’s Alternative Learning System Program in Sitio Nagpana, Barotac Viejo, Iloilo.

Try Mang Inasal Bangus Sisig this Lent

If you are looking for ways to observe fasting and abstinence this Lenten Season, you may want to try this ‘hidden gem’ in the menu of Mang Inasal.

Try the Mang Inasal Bangus Sisig which a number of foodies claim to be really “Bangusarap!”

AXA PH expects digital innovations to drive growth

Keeping up with the digital age and adapting to the latest technologies is a major part of the growth strategy of AXA Philippines, one of the leading insurance companies in the country.

This was revealed by Denis Duverne, AXA Group chairman, during his recent visit to the Philippines.  “We do use new technologies in all parts of our businesses,” Duverne says. He adds that the Philippine entity is in fact quite advanced in the use of digital tools, accelerating its strategy to move from being a payer to becoming an encouraging partner.

“We are also constantly forging digital partnerships with new economy companies to help keep us up to date,” Duverne says.

Foodies agree: Mang Inasal Pinoy Halo-Halo creamiest

Foodies, or people who have great passion for food, have different standards on what really tingles their taste buds. As they say, to each his own.

One particular Filipino fare – the halo-halo – always sparks the debate among Pinoy foodies on what really makes the country’s favorite dessert great.

Most foodies agree that there are three factors to consider in this classic Pinoy merienda and dessert: the texture of shaved ice, which should be fine and smooth; the quality and variety of its mixed ingredients; and, last, but definitely not the least, the creaminess of the milk.  

Embracing the takumi spirit in today’s home appliances via Toshiba home appliances

In modern households of today, homemakers continually desire for appliances that are both convenient to use and intuitively designed; featuring ease of operation while providing solutions to everyday needs that consumers normally struggle with.

In response to this demand and more, Toshiba recently held a grand launch of their latest line of state-of-the-art home appliances; all set apart from the competition through its underlying takumi spirit—a craftsman’s approach to work in his relentless pursuit of perfection.

 (L-R) Global Business Solutions, Toshiba Lifestyle Corporation International General Manager Hiro Onda, Concepcion Industrial Corporation Chairman and CEO Raul Joseph Concepcion,  Midea ASEAN Region General Manager Peter Guan, Rooney Xiao, General Manager of Overseas Market – Laundry Division, Zeal Jiang, General Manager of Overseas Market – Refrigerator Division, Midea Group, Concepcion Industrial Corporation Consumer Solutions Division President Harold Pernikar Jr., & Chief Communications  Officer Rafael Hechanova Jr.

With Toshiba’s signature T-07 Washer and the flagship T-07 Washer/Dryer, the 3-SystemOrignFRESH™ Refrigerator, and the top load water dispenser, discriminating consumers can thus embrace the takumi spirit, with the assurance that these appliance solutions are designed, engineered, and manufactured with an uncompromising attention to detail—boasting superior Japan quality, design, safety, and reliability—a perfect fit for contemporary lifestyle needs.

PLDT, Smart are PH’s fastest fixed, mobile networks in 2018

PLDT and its wireless subsidiary Smart Communications, Inc. (Smart) are the country’s fastest fixed and mobile networks for 2018, according to Ookla, the global leader in internet testing and analysis.

In its latest report, which covers Q3-Q4 2018, Smart achieved a Speed Score TM of 15.57, with average download speeds of 17.86 Mbps and average upload speeds of 8.61 Mbps, based on 2,186,540 user-initiated tests taken with Speedtest® on LTE-capable devices in the Philippines.

On the other hand, PLDT achieved a Speed Score of 18.57, with top download speeds of 52.28 Mbps and top upload speeds of 55.95 Mbps. The fixed network award is based on 27,221,777 customer-initiated Speedtest nationwide for the same period.

The Speed Score is a measure that takes into account both upload and download speeds.

“We are pleased to award Smart with the award for Fastest Mobile Network and PLDT for the award for Fastest Fixed Network in the Philippines. This recognition is testament to their exceptional performance in Q3-Q4 based on Ookla's rigorous analysis of consumer-initiated tests taken with Speedtest," said Jamie Steven, Executive Vice President at Ookla.

How to Donate to Bantay Bata with your beep™ Card

“Thank you po!” 

Instead of the usual beep sound, the cheery voice of a child saying “Thank you po!” is what you will hear when you tap your beep™ card in any of the Bantay Bata kiosks located in LRT1 stations.

In lieu of the cans and personnel manning them, special beep™ card donation terminals called Bantay Bata kiosks have been deployed at LRT 1 stations at Roosevelt, Balintawak, D. Jose, Central Station, Gil Puyat, and EDSA Taft, Monumento and Baclaran. Each tap donates five pesos (P5) to Bantay Bata.  Donations are deposited by AF Payments Inc, operator of the beep system, to the foundation’s bank account on a daily basis by electronic means. 

“We are pleased to make our technology available to Bantay Bata 163 to make the act of donating and collecting donations more convenient for all. A simple tap with your beep™ card at the Bantay Bata kiosk allows you to share your blessings with the kids of the foundation. Our technology is beneficial not only to commercial entities but to charitable organizations as well,” said Peter Maher, president and CEO of AF Payments Inc.

Bantay Bata 163 is the child welfare arm of the Lingkod Kapamilya Foundation. It gives hope to abused Filipino children and their families through the support and generosity of individuals and organizations around the world. The Bantay Bata kiosks save the foundation operational costs in terms of the deployment of cans, collection, counting, bank deposit, and the like, thereby allowing it to reallocate manpower to where it’s needed more.

This program is done in partnership with Light Rail Manila Corporation, the operator of LRT1.

More ways to reload and use

The beep™ card is a reloadable payment card used in all three elevated railways (LRT-1, LRT-2, and MRT-3) and select buses, PUVs, tollways, and retail partners. It is reloadable and valid for four years.

AFPI continues to grow its loading network, and has recently installed beep™ e-loading stations in all LRT-1 stations for those who would like to load their beep™ cards directly from their debit accounts or e-wallets. It is also increasing the deployment of beep™ loading kiosks, which provide cardholders the convenience of unmanned 24/7 loading service.

The company has recently expanded beep™ acceptance to the Visayas region through the Topline Marina ferries that travel between Cebu City and Mactan. It is also partnering with transport cooperatives that are participating in the government’s public utility vehicle modernization program.

More information about beep™ is available at its website and official social media pages on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

         

Website and Social Media

www.beeptopay.com

www.facebook.com/beepcardph

www.twitter.com/beep_card

www.instagram.com/beep_card_ph/

Shopee and L'Oréal Celebrate International Women’s Day with Debut Regional Super Brand Day

From March 6 to 8, Shopee users can access exclusive deals from leading L'Oréal’s brands, including a limited edition beauty box exclusively available on Shopee