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Sun Life Presents life, health and wealth solutions for Financial Independence Month

5 June 2019June 8, 2019Ruel UmaliLeave a comment

Here are the speakers for the Sun Life presentation Krie (CEO ans Founder of Messy Bessy), Sara Black and Lay Preacher Bo Sanchez talks about Life, Health and Wealth.

Filipinos are eager to prepare for the future, but are still tied to traditional ways of handling their finances.

This was revealed in a nationwide study of 1,200 respondents conducted by Kantar Milward Brown and commissioned by Sun Life Financial Philippines (“Sun Life”).

According to the study, 68% of Filipinos were concerned about saving for emergencies, 62% on securing their family’s future, and 57% on retirement. In order to address these priorities, 62% said they are managing their finances while 54% are spending only on things that are planned. Only 39% replied that they were investing their money in order to fund their goals.

Many pointed to their financial situation as a reason for not availing of life insurance or mutual fund products, where an average of 44% said that these products are considered as added expenses rather than tools to be financially secure. Moreover, it appears that lack of knowledge was also a factor, where 16% admitted they knew little about life insurance, 15% confessed to not knowing much about accident insurance, and 17% felt the same way about health insurance.

This prompted Sun Life to adopt the theme ”Life, Health, and Wealth” for its Financial Independence Month campaign this June.

”Life, health, and wealth are the essentials of a brighter future, but one can only achieve them if they save and invest for the future,” Sun Life Chief Marketing Officer Mylene Lopa said. ”This is possible with the right partner, tools, and products, and these are what we would like to highlight this Financial Independence Month.”

Life solutions

Among the initiatives under ”Life” is the Life Insurance Calculator, which would help one assess how much life insurance he would need to properly cover the needs of his loved ones, giving him a clearer goal to pursue. The digital tool can be accessed via bit.ly/SLlnsuranceCalc.

Meanwhile, SUN Smarter Life Classic is a protection plan that provides double life insurance coverage throughout one’s lifetime. Available in flexible premium payments, it also offers benefits that he can use in case of emergencies or immediate need for cash.

Sun Life is also set to team up with Waze to promote road safety in an initiative dubbed ”Brighter Drive, Brighter Life,” which will alert Waze users on accident-prone areas. This may also serve as a reminder for Waze users, who are also registered Lazada members, to insure themselves with a digital life insurance from Sun Life, such as Life Armor. It may be availed via the said online marketplace for as low as P100.

Health solutions

Under ”Health,” Sun Life endorses SUN Fit and Well, a new generation wellness plan that offers comprehensive life and health protection. It covers the whole health Journey from prevention, diagnosis, treatment, and rehabilitation, offering comfort and peace of mlnd should a serious illness strike.

GoWell, Sun Life’s wellness community, has also expanded its tie-up with Fitness First to offer club benefits and preferential rates for Sun Life clients, advisors and employees.

Wealth solutions

Those eager to pursue their wealth goals can give the Investment Calculator 3 try at bit.ly/SL|nvestmentCalc to see how their money can grow over time using various financial instruments.
Once they are ready to start investing, they can opt to invest in the Sun Life Prosperity Achiever Funds from Sun Life Asset Management Inc. (SLAMCI). The first target date investment funds in the Philippines, these funds are designed to help investors achieve their goals on time with the minimum investment at only P1,000.

Should they wish to encourage their loved ones to start their own investing journey as well, they can give them a Sun Life Prosperity Card, 3 gift card which can be invested in any of Sun Life’s peso-denominated funds. It is available in P1,000 and P5,000 denominations.

In order to keep them on track as they pursue their life, health, and wealth goals, Sun Life also created Sun Future Planner, a comprehensive financial planning guide that would help one determine his life stage, analyze his needs, and take concrete steps to achieve his goals. The Sun Future Planner may be availed via a Sun Life advisor.

“We hope that Filipinos would utilize these solutions to create a more holistic and hardworking financial plan and serve more of his and his family‘s needs,” Lopa said. ”By saving, investing, and being more proactive in this pursuit, there is no doubt that they can look forward to a brighter future, and we aspire to be their partner for life in theirjourney towards financial freedom.”

For updates on Sun Life’s Financial Independence Month initiatives and for details on Sun Life’s products and digital tools, follow @SunLifePH on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, visit sunlife.com.ph, or talk to a Sun Life advisor today.

SENSODYNE HELPS GEN Z OVERCOME TOOTH SENSITIVITY

3 June 2019June 5, 2019Ruel UmaliLeave a comment

Sensodyne launches new Rapid Relief that keeps up with the younger generation’s oral healthcare problem

Research has shown that as many as one in three people may suffer from tooth hypersensitivity or
pangingilo, with prevalence peaking at 30 to 40 years of age 1 . But in a study, two out of five younger adults, between 18 and 25 years old 2 , otherwise known as “Generation Z” or “Gen-Z”, now experience the onset of tooth sensitivity.

Tooth sensitivity is a common, irreversible problem caused by dentine exposure brought about by
attrition from tooth grinding or jaw clenching, erosion from dietary acids, or abrasion from brushing too vigorously. However, it can be managed with proper dental hygiene.

“The youth of today enjoy a dynamic lifestyle. They are highly mobile and always multitasking. As such,
oral health may not always be a top priority. In fact, more than 50% of them do not consult their dentist on problems such as tooth sensitivity and find ways to work around it instead,” says Michael Mallari, GlaxoSmithKline Consumer Healthcare Philippines Expert Sales Manager. “However, for Filipino Gen Zers, who constantly connect with friends and family through shared meals, experiencing pangingilo is a major distraction and a problem that needs to be addressed. Instead of enjoying and being able to try out new food, they experience pain and discomfort that takes their attention away from the moments
that matter.”

In a recent event dubbed “Face the Race”, leading oral healthcare brand Sensodyne, launched the new
Sensodyne Rapid Relief toothpaste which provides sufferers with speed and efficiency in beating tooth
sensitivity. “We understand that bonding over meals is a culturally intrinsic activity and is highly valued among Filipino youths,” says Ritesh Pandey, GlaxoSmithKline Philippines Consumer Healthcare General Manager. “With Sensodyne Rapid Relief, those who suffer from pangingilo can experience immediate relief from the first time they brush so they can continue enjoying their food-bonding experiences with minimal distraction from their teeth.”

Tooth sensitivity is a dental condition that causes discomfort or pain in teeth when encountering certain substances and temperatures. It occurs when the dentine underneath the tooth enamel becomes
exposed, revealing small holes called tubules.

When the fluid inside these tiny tubules encounters something cold, hot, sweet, or sour, it can trigger
the nerves inside the tooth and cause a short, sharp pain.

When used as directed, the unique technology in Sensodyne Rapid Relief toothpaste offers fast relief
and long lasting protection to beat sensitivity. It has an active ingredient called stannous fluoride which enables faster blockage of the tubules. It also has an optimised polymer system that creates a gel-like scaffold which holds the stannous fluoride in place, preventing it from being washed away in the mouth.

The Sensodyne Rapid Relief toothpaste retails at P208 SRP and is available at leading stores nationwide.

For more information about Sensodyne Rapid Relief, visit sensodyne.com.ph.

Public School Teacher named Cebuana Lhuillier’s Happiest Pinoy 2019

31 May 2019June 3, 2019Ruel UmaliLeave a comment

Zaldy Bueno, a 37-year old teacher from Gumaca, Quezon was hailed as the 4th Happiest Pinoy, winning Cebuana Lhuillier’s Search for the Happiest Pinoy which honors and celebrates the Filipinos’ innate “optimism, resilience, and hope amidst different life crises.”

Zaldy bested nine other finalists from different categories, winning one million cash and a trophy.

The board of judges composed of Usec. Zenaida Maglaya, Gang Badoy Capati, James Deakin, RJ Ledesma, Love Anover-Lianko, Jonathan Yabut, Winston Maxino, Rommel Arellano, and Richardson Navor chose Bueno unanimously by virtue of his advocacy to see more children’s lives change through education. Zaldy volunteered as an ALS teacher and taught on weekends, he even had his mother as his student at one point and helped her finish her secondary education. Zaldy also co-founded project PADYAK in 2017, PADYAK stands for Pidal Apakan Dunong Yayaman, Asenso’y Kakamtan, which aims to provide bicycle units for students who could not afford to travel to school.

The project turned out huge with so many people donating new and used bicycle units from all over the Philippines even getting donations from OFWs abroad. This project drastically increased attendance for students at school for which their school received a perfect attendance award.

“I am very happy with the results of this year’s search — with over 800,000 entries received through our branches, online, SMS, and walk-in entries. It’s been amazing to read the entries of the 10 finalists and Zaldy proves to be a worthy winner as his tale will definitely inspire countless people to push on despite life’s difficulties, Zaldy exemplifies the commendable Filipino spirit of rising up from your current predicament and using that as fuel to make a difference in the lives of others.” said Cebuana Lhuillier President and CEO, Jean Henri Lhuillier.

Currently, Bueno serves as the head teacher of the English department at the Gumaca National High School. As a kid, their family would often encounter financial difficulties, Zaldy would help his mom wash clothes for their neighbours and would get his daily allowance from selling vegetables he planted to augment the family income. Zaldy vowed to work hard and study hard in order to improve their life.

A turning point in Zaldy’s life was when typhoon Rosing hit in 1995 which completely obliterated their house, and forced to stay at the barangay health center. During clinic days, Zaldy and his family had to move their things on the street to accommodate the influx of patients.

After graduating secondary school, Zaldy tried to get a college education but had to stop schooling due to financial constraints. In order to get back to school, he had to work two jobs, including stints at a tile store and as an advertiser scout for a local radio station. He finished college after 6 years.

Bueno is the fourth winner of the biennial search following Richardson Navor (2015), Rommel Arellano (2012), and Winston Maxino (2009).

When asked what Bueno will do with the prize money, he shared that he will use it to further improve Project PADYAK by acquiring more bike units which more youths can use to get to school. He also shared that he will use a part of it to bring his parents to Singapore for a well-deserved vacation.

Breaking its own record, the Cebuana Lhuillier search received over 800,000 nominations this year, the most entries it received in its ten-year history.

Shopee reveals Sarah Geronimo as new brand ambassador in time for Shopee 6.6 – 7.7 Lowest Price Sale

30 May 2019May 30, 2019Ruel UmaliLeave a comment

MANILA, 31 MAY, 2019 – Shopee, the leading e-commerce platform in Southeast Asia and Taiwan, announces Popstar Princess Sarah Geronimo as their new brand ambassador in time for the Shopee 6.6 – 7.7 Lowest Price Sale, happening from June 3 to July 7. On June 1, Filipinos can stay tuned for the first-ever television commercial of Shopee with Sarah Geronimo.

Martin Yu, Associate Director, Shopee Philippines, said, “We are very happy with how Shopee performed in 2019 and to ramp up our efforts, we are following this up with a big campaign featuring our new brand ambassador, Sarah Geronimo. We believe that Sarah’s approachable and bubbly personality is a perfect representation of the Shopee brand and we are thrilled to have her become part of the family. We invite everyone to join us in celebrating the Shopee 6.6 – 7.7 Lowest Price Sale.”

Happening from June 3 to July 7, the Shopee 6.6 – 7.7 Lowest Price Sale promises five weeks of unbeatable deals with up to 90% off from leading brands including P&G Hair, Huawei, Colourette, Colgate, Silverworks, Maybelline, Unilever Personal Care, Watsons, and Olay. Users can enjoy free shipping with ₱0 minimum spend on selected brands or categories daily as well as one million Lowest Price Deals, daily 100% cashback vouchers, and ₱1 Deals.

Bigger and better surprises in store for users

Shopee 6.6 – 7.7 Lowest Price Sale will feature 35 days of themed promotions happening from June 3 to July 7. Key highlights include:
● Category days such as TV, Audio, & Gaming Sale on June 28, Mobile Sale on June 30, and Korean Skincare Sale on July 4.
● Mechanic days including:
○ Vouchers Sale on June 3, featuring seller, category, and sitewide vouchers up for grabs
○ Free Shipping Sale on June 4, featuring free shipping with ₱0 min spend across the platform
○ Flash Sale on June 12, with an upsized Flash session happening 10 times across 24 hours.
● Super Brand Days from June 17 to June 21 featuring leading brands across categories including Huawei, Maybelline, Hanford, Unilever Homecare, and Unilever Personal Care.
● Exclusive deals from partners including BDO, Cebu Pacific, and the official store launch of iWant.

For more information on the Shopee 6.6 – 7.7 Lowest Price Sale, please visit https://shopee.ph/m/double-double.

Download the Shopee app for free via the App Store or Google Play.
Visit https://shopee.ph for more information.

Get your all-week baon with Jack ‘n Jill My BFF (Baon Favorites Forever)

30 May 2019June 5, 2019Ruel UmaliLeave a comment

It’s that time of the year again when kids look forward to new school supplies, seeing their school friends, and fun new activities in class. While it means that their happy days of summer vacation are over, nothing beats reuniting with their old playmates and making new friends during back-to-school season.

For the parents, it’s time to get busy again getting your children new school supplies, ironing their uniforms, and going grocery shopping each weekend for their baon. Although that might seem like a lot of work, there’s no need to fret as you may just find your kids’ newest BFF during recess. With Jack ‘n Jill’s assortment of cakes and biscuits, there’s never a dull moment for your little ones on any day of the school week.

Magical Mondays with Magic Chips

Get rid of the summer blues and have your kids welcome the school year with excitement through a pack of Magic Chips. This savory and crunchy baked treat has the power to transform any ordinary Monday morning into something magical and is the perfect baon to jumpstart the school year.

Celebrate every day with Quake Overload

Back-to-back classes can get really tiring for the kids. However, you can instantly lift up their spirits by turning every day into a celebration of achievements – both big and small. With Quake Overload Mocha Butter’s layers of delicious butter cake, delectable mocha filling, and yummy chocolate drizzle, your kids will have the energy to go forth and conquer any challenge.

Midweek sweet treats with Dewberry

Hard work must always be paid off with a delicious treat. Reward your kids with this extra indulgent cream-filled cookie sandwich whenever they finish their homework early or make their own beds. Remember, it’s the little things that count. You can switch things up and surprise them by packing different flavors of Dewberry in their lunch box. They deserve it!

Create special bonds with Presto Creams

School isn’t just about learning new things. It’s also about starting new friendships and creating memorable experiences. Teach your children the value of sharing by putting an extra pack of Presto in their bags. Since these well-loved yummy, peanut butter cream-filled cookies are best enjoyed with a buddy, your kids will easily be making new friends in no time!

Fuel creativity and imagination with Jack ‘n Jill Knots

Arts and crafts is one of the best ways to bring out your child’s creative skills and resourcefulness. Inspire them to explore beyond their imagination and create their own adventures with Jack ‘n Jill Knots. These crunchy sweet-coated pretzels come in cute shapes and assorted flavors, making them the perfect snack partner to get those creative juices flowing.

Fun Fridays with the chocolatey Cream-O

End the school week on a high note by treating your kids (and yourself!) to the luscious chocolate cookie sandwiches of Cream-O! A week’s worth of work and activities is enough excuse to indulge all your sweet tooth cravings. Just a bite into this biscuit will fill your Fridays with good vibes and make you and your children’s choco-loving hearts skip a beat!

Weekend playtime with Wafrets

Weekends are made for spending time and hanging out with family and friends. Whether it’s in your plans to binge-watch favorite family flicks or play board games with your kids, it’s always a good idea to pair these family activities with Wafrets snacks. This winning combination of crunchy wafers and delicious cream filling will definitely make family time incredibly more enjoyable.

Make every day of the week extra fun for your kids with Jack ‘n Jill’s biscuits and cakes. With its new My BFF (Baon Favorites Forever) Bundle, you can take your pick from the variety of baon combinations available. Get them at your nearest Puregold, Robinsons, Shopwise, Waltermart, Gaisano Grand, and NCCC branches nationwide starting this June.

Unleash the Beasts in ‘Godzilla II: King of the Monsters’ at SM Cinema

28 May 2019May 28, 2019Ruel UmaliLeave a comment

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.

Watch the battle unfold in the biggest and most immersive cinema experience at SM Cinema’s IMAX theatres! The IMAX release of Godzilla II will be digitally re-mastered into the image and sound quality for the complete The IMAX Experience® with proprietary IMAX DMR® (Digital Re-mastering) technology. Combining crystal-clear images, clear audio and IMAX’s customized theatre geometry, you are sure to see Godzilla in action and in all its glory in any of the following SM Supermalls: SM Mall of Asia, SM Megamall, SM Aura Premier, SM City North EDSA, SM City Cebu, SM City Clark, SM Southmall, and SM Lanang Premier.

Directed by Michael Dougherty, the film stars Kyle Chandler, Vera Farmiga, Millie Bobbie Brown, Bradley Whitford, Sally Hawkins and Charles Dance.

Catch Godzilla starting May 29 at SM Cinema branches nationwide. Book your tickets through the website, www.smcinema.com or download the SM Cinema mobile app. You may also follow /SMCinema on Facebook and @SM_Cinema on Instagram for updates!

Château Royale’s summer promo to bring the ultimate summer cheer

28 May 2019May 28, 2019Ruel UmaliLeave a comment

Summer is finally here, so beat the heat with Château Royale Hotel Resort and Spa’s latest summer package.

This summer treat from the best and the biggest integrated hotel and resort south of Manila is the right fit for the family, group of friends or for corporate clients looking to spend the summer weekend to develop work harmony and camaraderie by engaging in team-building events.

Starting January 2019, Château Royale offers its Cabin Rooms for only P4,999 a night while the Cabin Family Room that’s fit for a family of 4 members goes for P7,999 for an overnight stay.

For bigger families or groups, the Skylight Premier is available for P5,999 a night while for an even larger group, the Skylight 2-Bedroom Suite can be enjoyed for P8,999 a night. Definitely, it’s quite a big bargain for groups with up to 4-8 members to enjoy and marvel at.

Rates include complimentary breakfast at the Orchid Asian Grill, use of the Clubhouse and Wavepool, plus entrance to the exciting Aviary, F&B Voucher worth P1,000, use of the gym, complimentary drink at the Forest Bar, and a Summer Tumbler with Iced Tea.

For adventurous guests who availed of the summer promo, they can also enjoy Château Royale’s Ziprock promo for only P299 per person. It’s gonna be a wild ride for families, friends or office workers who love an adrenaline rush in the heat of summer.

“The summer heat can be unbearable but here at Château Royale Hotel Resort and Spa, guests will surely enjoy being out in the hot summer sun. As the largest integrated resort in southern Luzon, you can find everything here to make your summer 2019 experience a truly memorable one. For families out to enjoy a vacation, friends who wish to bond more, or for corporate groups who want to build office harmony and camaraderie, a stay at Château Royale is definitely a good option where you can enjoy your summer to the hilt,” explains Marie Abolencia,’s Director of Sales and Marketing.

So head on out to Château Royale Hotel Resort and Spa for that unique and unforgettable summer escapade. Château Royale Hotel Resort and Spa is located at Km. 72, Batulao, Nasugbu, Batangas. For more about Château Royale Hotel Resort and Spa and its wonderful Christmas offerings, call (02) 742-8016, (+63)917-5015478, (+63)917-7035876, or (+63)917-7046183, or email reservationschateauroyale@gmail.com. You can also visit www.chateauroyalebatangas.com.

Magic carpet ride: Disney’s Aladdin flies high in Philippine box office on opening weekend

23 May 2019May 30, 2019Ruel UmaliLeave a comment

Much like the movie’s thrilling magic carpet ride over the port city of Agrabah, Disney’s Aladdin, the live-action adaptation of its animated classic, flew high and soared above every other movie as it posted as the No. 1 film during its opening weekend.

Continuing Disney’s success in providing quality entertainment through live-action remakes, the exciting tale of the charming street rat Aladdin and the courageous and self-determined Princess Jasmine opened in 494 cinemas nationwide last May 22 and raked in an impressive Php 212,197,892 (USD 4,014,776) on its first six days, making it the number one film over the weekend.

Film director and screenwriter Guy Ritchie lends his flair for fast-paced and exciting action to tell the adventures of the charming scoundrel Aladdin, played by Mena Massoud, and the beautiful and self-determined Princess Jasmine, played by Naomi Scott. Will Smith joins the cast as the larger-than-life Genie.

Aladdin is now showing in cinemas nationwide. Join the conversations online using #AladdinPH.

Unique Pinoy specialties highlighted in Solane Kitchen Hero Chef’s Edition #SolaneKitchenHero

23 May 2019May 28, 2019Ruel UmaliLeave a comment

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.”

For this one-of-a-kind cook-off, participants must be Filipino professional chefs with at least three (3) years of kitchen experience gained locally or abroad. They must be currently employed as a professional chef in a hotel, restaurant, or any food service establishment.

The competition will comprise of two (2) rounds. Round one will be the regional competition where contestants from the different provinces per region will compete to determine who a¬¬¬mong them will represent their region in the national competition. Round two will be the semi-finals and grand finals where all regional champions will cook-off to find out who among them will be hailed the champion of Solane Kitchen Hero Chefs’ Edition.

The culinary creations will be judged by renowned chef and Solane Kitchen Hero ambassador Chef Sau del Rosario and bestselling author and Solane Kitchen Hero competition director Nancy Reyes-Lumen. It will be based on the following criteria: 50% featured ingredients and 50% originality and creativity. The competition will conclude on September 7, 2019 at Eastwood City, Metro Manila.

The winner of Solane Kitchen Hero Chefs’ Edition will take home P100,000 and will embark on a culinary trip to Japan with customized stops at different food and drink destinations. This exciting cooking contest is made possible with the support of dynamic organizations and brands championing the same passion for cookery in the country. STI serves as their official school partner while Midea is a co-presenter. Major sponsors are Masflex, Jolly, Jolly Heartmate Canola Oil, Dona Elena, and Dona Elena Al Dente. Minor sponsors are King Sue, Ajinomoto, Philtranco, Fastcat, Chef’s Garb, and National Bookstore.

To know more about Solane Kitchen Hero Chef’s Edition, visit Solane’s website www.solane.com.ph and Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/solane.ph/

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Author: Ruel Umali