Shopee Partners with Leading Beauty Brands, Maybelline and Palmolive to Celebrate Women Empowerment

Leave a comment

Shopee, the leading e-commerce platform in Southeast Asia and Taiwan, partnered leading beauty brands Maybelline and Palmolive, to bring together five Women’s Rights advocates in celebration of women empowerment. As part of Shopee’s Beauty Fair event, the women – 2013 Miss World, Megan Young, actress KC Concepcion, and blogger-influencers Martha Jante, Kristine Roces and Helen Payawal – each shared their personal stories on how they overcame society’s beauty standards, and to encourage Filipina women to do the same.

Jane Lim, Director of Shopee Philippines, said, “Shopee’s Beauty Fair is a celebration of women and their success, and we are proud to partner Maybelline and Palmolive for this event – both leading beauty brands who share the same belief that women should be celebrated as they are. Beauty Fair was conceptualised as part of Shopee’s continued commitment to empowering Filipina across the country. We hope that this serves as an inspirational platform for more women to take a step forward towards achieving their goals.”

The event featured three different talk show sessions where the five women shared personal stories on various topics, including how the media has influenced the standards of beauty, their struggles with overcoming society’s expectations of women, and how they managed to achieve success in both their careers and personal lives. Attendees enjoyed a complimentary ride to the event from Grab, the official ride sponsor, as well as a free blow-dry and hair styling session by Creations – a salon by Asia’s Top Model Judge, Lourd Ramos’ salon.

2013 Miss World Megan Young on empowerment and standing up for yourself

As a speaker at the event, Young shared about her journey to being crowned 2013 Miss World, and how the title has since placed her in a position to inspire young women around her.

“Joining Miss World 5 years ago really took me out of my comfort zone and challenged me to be more confident. After being crowned, I realised I was in a position where I had the power to influence young women, and I wanted to do my part to encourage them to stand up for themselves. I used to just shrug off people who say insensitive or hurtful comments, but now call them out and tell them they’re wrong, and I encourage all women to not be afraid to do the same,” shared Young.

Young’s success in her acting career is also a reflection of her commitment to empowering women, choosing only to act in powerful female roles. She currently stars in the drama,The Step Daughters, where she plays a young, fearless woman named Mayumi who changes her destiny by being tenacious and true to herself.

Maybelline’s top beauty influencers shared their stories on being confident

One of Maybelline’s top priorities is to empower women to #MakeItHappen. The brand presented top beauty influencers Martha Jante, Real Asian Beauty (Kristine Roces), and Helen on Fleek (Helen Payawal) to talk about their work as influencers and bloggers in the beauty industry. The famous influencers also shared their everyday struggles as women in their field and how they were able to overcome it with the confidence that makeup has been able to give them.

Palmolive brand ambassador, KC Concepcion, on how health can empower women to be their best self

Brand ambassador for Palmolive, KC Concepcion, also shared her own story on how being healthy is as important as being true to oneself. The singer turned actress talked about numerous topics from haircare to fitness, and how her journey with maintaining her health has helped her confidence and enabled her to achieve success in both her career and personal life.

In line with the Beauty Fair event, Shopee will also be celebrating Beauty Week from June 21 to 27. Users can expect up to 95% off the health and beauty category on top of a storewide sale, exclusive deals and bundles, P199 below collections and many more. Users can look forward to massive savings on a wide variety of items including makeup, skincare, haircare and other health and personal care items.

For more information about the Beauty Fair Sale, you may visit: https://shopee.ph/BestofBeauty

For more information, visit www.shopee.ph.

Download the Shopee app for free on Apple App Store or Google Play Store.

About Shopee

Shopee is the leading e-commerce platform in Southeast Asia and Taiwan. It is a platform tailored for the region, providing customers with an easy, secure and fast online shopping experience through strong payment and logistical support. Shopee aims to continually enhance its platform and become the region’s e-commerce destination of choice.

Shopee has a wide selection of product categories ranging from consumer electronics to home & living, health & beauty, baby & toys, fashion and fitness equipment.

Shopee, a Sea company, was first launched in Singapore in 2015, and has since expanded its reach to Malaysia, Thailand, Taiwan, Indonesia, Vietnam and the Philippines. Sea is a leader in digital entertainment, e-commerce and digital financial services across Greater Southeast Asia. Sea’s mission is to better the lives of consumers and small businesses with technology, and is listed on the NYSE under the symbol SE.

Nadine Takes Entertainment to the Next Level with the SAMSUNG Galaxy J6

Leave a comment

In a grand show in the busy Atrium of SM Mall of Asia, superstar Nadine Lustre and tech giant Samsung launch the electronics company’s latest J-Series offering, the Galaxy J6.

Just like the new mobile device, the event allows people to dive into their favorite entertainment escapes. Lounges are spread out across the venue for audiences to get lost in their chosen movies, music, or games. A special Gaming Lounge is also set up for a PUBG tournament. Here, gamers smoothly play the battle royale tournament on the Galaxy J6, and receive special prizes for coming out on top.

Dedicated Nadine Lustre fans and mall-goers alike are treated to a first look at the Galaxy J6 TV commercial—one that allows the star to display her acting chops in a genre she is rarely seen in: action. The newest Samsung endorser then delights the crowd with a performance of her latest single, “St4y Up”, dancing to her own music with her backup dancers. As a special treat from Samsung, ten lucky buyers of the new device are also granted solo photos with the superstar.

“We’re extremely proud to have Nadine with us as we launch the Galaxy J6,” says Dan Torres, Marketing Communications Head for IT and Mobile. “The Galaxy J6 is meant for those who want to level up their movie-viewing, game-playing and music experiences, so it fits perfectly with a true entertainer like Nadine who always elevates her game.”

“The Galaxy J6 is my kind of phone,” says Nadine, a movie buff who can easily rattle off a list of quality recommendations. With the Galaxy J6, she gets to explore new worlds during down time in between tapings, or when in transit from one appointment to the other as she goes through her busy day.

Meant to level up your entertainment experience, the Galaxy J6’s 5.6” Super AMOLED Infinity Display offers colorful and immersive viewing. With the Dolby Atmos feature, the new J-Series device guarantees cinematic sound quality through your earphones or headset. Hit play and watch your favorite movies, games, and music come alive and become more vivid!

​
​
The Galaxy J6 is powered by a 14nm Exynos Octacore Processor, making sure your device is running lag-free even as you shuffle through multiple graphics-heavy gaming apps and multimedia.

Available in black and gold variants, the Galaxy J6 also provides access to exclusive benefits. Enjoy treats and perks via Samsung Members, anti-theft function through Find my Mobile, and quick emergency access with the Samsung 321 app.

The Samsung Galaxy J6 is now available in the Philippines starting today with a suggested retail price of PHP 13,990. For more information, log on to samsung.com.ph/ , visit facebook.com/samsungph o r visit Samsung authorized stores nationwide.

Taiwan Excellence connects Filipinos to a smarter world

Leave a comment

Exciting brands and fun activities await at the first-ever Taiwan Excellence Day in SMX Aura Convention Center in Taguig on June 15 to 16. The program aims to promote Taiwan as the Asian economic powerhouse’s vibrant image, culture, brands, and industries to enhance awareness and business cooperation with Philippine consumers and partners. Taiwan Excellence’s first event for 2018 also marks the campaign’s 5th year in the country.

Organized by The Taiwan Bureau of Foreign Trade, Ministry of Economic Affairs, and the Taiwan External Trade Development Council (TAITRA), Taiwan Excellence Day kicks off with a forum entitled “Smart Technology, Smart Living.” The program gathers key industry players and thought leaders on tech-driven lifestyles. They discuss and promote the use and integration of technology in the everyday lives of Filipinos, addressing the needs and demands of an increasingly digital society.

The brand representatives present ingenious communication and connectivity solutions for households, offices, and businesses. ASUS launches their new ROG notebooks, premium notebook devices, and latest additions to their smartphone line– the Zenfone 5 and Max Pro (M1). Atop Technologies, Inc., highlight their 3G/4G Internet of Things Gateway to connect and remotely supervise multiple field devices. D-Link brings their latest product line for consumer, Small and medium businesses and Surveillance Business. Lastly, Gigabyte showcases their 300-series chipset & Gaming Series, which includes the Z370, H370, B350 Aorus motherboards for action-packed gaming.

Guests can also look forward to a special dance performance by Billy Crawford and an outstanding mini concert by Yeng Constantino. Hurry as happy hour, raffle draws and exclusive prizes await! For more information, check out taiwanexcellence.ph or facebook.com/TaiwanExcellence.ph/.

World Milk Day: Robinsons Supermarket donates P100,000 worth of milk products

Leave a comment

In celebration of World Milk Day, Robinsons Supermarket is spreading the goodness of the healthy drink by enabling its customers and brand partners to donate milk towards the nutrition of children beneficiaries with its “Share a Glass of Milk” campaign.

To kickstart this initiative, officials of Robinsons Supermarket and its partners have donated P100,000 worth of milk products to kids and officials from Right Start Community Development Inc. The said organization provides an after-school development program for underprivileged kids, aged 4 to 14 years old.

“This donation represents our strong commitment to promote and safeguard the nutrition of every member of the family, especially the children, who with every glass of milk consumed brings them a step closer to health and wellness,” said Jody Gadia, the supermarket chain’s general manager, during the turnover ceremony held recently at Robinsons Place Pioneer in Mandaluyong City.

Robinsons Supermarket is the first grocery chain in the country to celebrate World Milk Day.

From now until June 15, Robinsons Supermarket’s Share a Glass of Milk campaign enables shoppers to donate a glass of milk for every P250 purchase of participating milk products. With every P300 single-receipt purchase of participating Alaska Milk products, customers can also get a chance to win a P100,000 Asia tour package. Participating products include Alaska Powdered Milk, Alaska Condensed and Evaporated Milk, Alaska UHT Fresh Milk, Alaska Choco Snack Pack, and Alaska Crema Asada.

Robinsons Supermarket also celebrates its wellness commitment by creating fun activities that promote healthy bonding activities. From June 9-10, families and their kids can enjoy different activities in the Share a Glass Milk Festival at the Atrium of Robinsons Supermarket Cloverleaf in Balintawak, Quezon City.

Find out more about Robinsons Supermarket’s wellness campaign and other activities at their official website at www.robinsons-supermarket.com.ph or like their Facebook page at www.facebook.com/RobinsonsSupermarketOfficial.

Tens of thousands of Citi volunteers celebrate Global Community Day in the Philippines

Leave a comment

Annual event contributes nearly four million hours of service since launch

Citi recently celebrated its annual Global Community Day, as more than 5,000 Citi volunteers in the Philippines engage in service activities in their local communities. In the days leading up to and including Global Community Day, more than 100,000 Citi colleagues, alumni, clients, family and friends in more than 450 cities across 90 countries and territories volunteer on 1,400 service projects that are helping address a range of community needs, from feeding the hungry to revitalizing schools for a better learning environment to preparing young people for jobs.

On Global Community Day, Citi volunteers invest their time and efforts alongside community and nonprofit partners on service opportunities that help create thriving neighborhoods. Some of these volunteer efforts complement the year-round philanthropic and business-led initiatives, including the Citi Foundation’s Pathways to Progress, that help make our communities stronger.
“Citi is committed to making a positive difference in the Philippines. Participation in our Global Community Day continues to grow every year and I’m proud to volunteer alongside more than 5,000 of my colleagues and their family members,” said Citi Philippines chief executive officer Aftab Ahmed.

Since the inaugural Global Community Day in 2006, Citi volunteers have contributed nearly four million hours of service to Global Community Day projects in hundreds of cities.

For this year’s GCD, volunteers got to take part in the Brigada Eskwela where they painted classroom desks and chairs, cleaned classrooms, potted plants and refurbished textbooks for the new school year. They also helped build and paint 10 homes and clear and plough nearby plots in Cavite; conducted workshops on career readiness and finance and legal matters; donated and sorted clothing and toys and watched a movie in cinema with street children; and took part in the Freedom Walk to raise awareness and respect for people with disabilities.

This year’s GCD partners were the Philippine Business for Social Progress (PBSP), Gawad Kalinga, Bayan Academy, ChildHope Philippines, Habitat for Humanity, GMA Kapuso Foundation, World Vision Foundation and the Philippine Foundation for the Rehabilitation of the Disabled (PFRD).

To learn more about Citi’s citizenship efforts across the globe and to review the 2017 Global Citizenship Report, visit http://citizenship.citigroup.com.

Feel the action of “Escape Plan 2: Hades” at SM Cinema

Leave a comment

With the release of action movies Escape Plan 2: Hades, SM Cinema lets you enjoy a premiere cinema experience at Director’s Club Cinema.

Sit back, relax and enjoy these latest action flicks with recliner seats, butler service and advanced sound and projection technology of SM Cinema Director’s Club at these branches: SM Mall of Asia, SM Aura Premier, SM Megamall, SM City BF Parañaque, SM City East Ortigas, SM CDO Downtown Premiere, SM City Puerto Princesa, SM Seaside City Cebu, and S Maison in Conrad Manila.

35078401_1850336294989941_1363427919187148800_n

An action movie to hit the SM Cinemas this month is Escape Plan 2: Hades, a sequel to Sylvester Stallone’s 2013 action flick, now together with Dave Bautista.

After breaking out of “The Tomb”, Ray Breslin (Sylvester Stallone) continued his life together with his own team of elite specialists trained in the art of breaking people out of the world’s most impenetrable prisons. Unfortunately, his most trusted operative, Shu Ren was kidnapped and disappeared inside Hades, the most elaborate prison ever built. With this situation, Breslin together with his team will go to penetrate Hades and rescue.

35284196_1850336341656603_6182142429412458496_n

Catch Escape Plan 2: Hades at SM Cinema branches nationwide starting June 13, 2018. 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!

Get the SAMSUNG Galaxy A6 & A6+ in PH stores now!

Leave a comment

The sleek and stylish SAMSUNG Galaxy A6 and A6+ hit stores nationwide today!

Designed to stand out, the Galaxy A6 & A6+ feature an elegant, full-metal unibody case and the all-new blue color. This smartphone is also available in black and gold variants. Completing its sophisticated look is Samsung’s outstanding Super AMOLED Infinity Display, delivering brilliant colors and captivating content under any lighting condition.

Capture stunning photos with Samsung’s newest smartphones. The Galaxy A6 carries a 16MP resolution front and rear camera, while the Galaxy A6+ sports a 24MP front camera and a 16MP + 5MP Professional Dual Camera. Equipped with adjustable LED and selfie flash, the front cameras let you take gorgeous selfies that make you look good every day. These smartphones can also produce clear photos even in low light with its F1.7 rear camera aperture capability.

The Galaxy A6 & A6+ also support Bixby, the tech giant’s intelligent virtual assistant, to help you get more things done with your phone and applications. The phones also give you access to Samsung-exclusive benefits, such as exciting treats and perks via the Samsung Members App, anti-theft app through Find My Mobile, and quick emergency access with the Samsung 321 app.

The Samsung Galaxy A6 & A6+ are now officially available in the Philippines starting today with a suggested retail price of PHP 16,490 (A6) and PHP 22,990 (A6+). The Galaxy A6 comes in black and gold, while the Galaxy A6+ comes in black and blue color options. For more information, log on to samsung.com.ph/ , visit facebook.com/samsungph or visit the Samsung Galaxy Studio located at Bonifacio Global City, Taguig.

ISLAS PINAS, THE NEW ICON OF TOURISM THROUGH FILIPINO CUISINE, OPENS AT DOUBLEDRAGON PLAZA AT DD MERIDIAN PARK

Leave a comment

Islas Pinas, an indoor “Filipino Food & Heritage Village” and a new, distinct destination for both local and international guests, is now open at the DoubleDragon Plaza, DD Meridian Park, Macapagal Avenue corner EDSA Extension, Bay Area, Pasay City, Metro Manila.

IMG_2376

IMG_2369

Designed to showcase the abundance and vibrancy of the Filipino culture, this new establishment lets guests discover, explore and experience the Philippines’s heritage sites, natural resources, hospitality and most importantly, its cuisine.

The result of collaboration between DoubleDragon Group and Chef Margarita Forés, Islas Pinas is a project that aims to inspire love for the Philippines and to cultivate patriotism by showcasing the country’s beautiful sites and diverse regional cuisines. With a seating capacity of over 700 seats in an expansive 2,500 square meter space, Islas Pinas is the perfect place to give visitors a taste of the best that the Philippines has to offer.

IMG_2375

ISLAS PINAS also hosts an authentic Sarao Jeepney, which for many generations became the king of the Philippine streets especially in the countryside.

“DoubleDragon has always believed in embarking on projects with relevance. We believe Islas Pinas will be a landmark in the country, and will showcase the diversity not only of our cuisine and handicrafts but also our landscape and architecture brought about by the rich heritage and culture of the country,” says DoubleDragon’s Chief Investment Officer Hannah Yulo.

At the helm of this project is none other than Asia’s Best Female Chef of 2016, Margarita A. Forés whose mission is to bring Filipino cuisine to global prominence. Thus, Islas Pinas is a vision coming to life for her, where Filipino food is not just on the sidelines but at the centerstage.

IMG_2390

“This is an absolute dream project for me that has come at such a perfect time,” said Forés. “I give my thanks to then Undersecretary of Agriculture, now Secretary of Tourism Berna R. Puyat, for putting me together with the DoubleDragon group, who was looking for someone to operate this amazing Islas Pinas project about half a year ago. This fast-tracked such a blessed opportunity to continue pushing my biggest advocacy – that of helping to promote the best our country – our cuisine, ingredients, farers, artisan producers and home cooks from Batanes to Jolo – in the best way I can!”

It is her aim for guests to experience the Philippines with their five senses and beyond. Thus, aside from the culinary delights and a picturesque interior design worthy of Instagram posts, the venue will also feature modern and traditional cultural performances and games to ensure a fun and truly Pinoy ambiance.

SINAG, the Tagalog word for ‘ray of light’ offers all-day Filipino breakfast favorites like our TAPSILOG (TAPa – salted beef, SInangag – fried rice and ItLOG – fried egg) and Batchoy, an Ilonggo noodle soup with pork offal, crushed pork cracklings and beef loin.

ALAMAT or legend, tells the story of the different regions of the Philippines through its signature dishes. BILAO is coined after the woven winnowing basket where comfort snacks like pansit (fried noodles) and puto (rice cakes) are usually served, while PANADERYA offers neighborhood bakery favorites such as pan de sal and kalihim. TUSOK-TUSOK, on the other hand, offers urban street food finds like barbecue on stick, isaw (grilled chicken intestine) and kwek-kwek (fried quail eggs).

IMG_2401

PANULAK or beverage is where the samalamig (cold drinks with different flavors) will be available. Lastly, PAMPANG or shore will allow guests to enjoy chosen fresh catch cooked to their preference.

All these will be available daily, without the scorching heat and pollution as the space is fully airconditioned. Located at the bustling DD Meridian Park in the Bay Area along EDSA Extension and Macapagal Avenue, Islas Pinas can be easily accessed using both private and public transportation.

“Because of the ideal location of DoubleDragon Plaza at DD Meridian Park – our close proximity to the airport terminals and being only about 5 minutes away from NAIA X – we believe ISLAS PINAS will become a must-visit stopover for both domestic and international tourists visiting the capital,” said DoubleDragon’s Chairman Edgar Injap Sia II.

ISLAS PINAS is the main anchor of DoubleDragon Plaza, which forms part of the 4.8 Hectare DD Meridian Park commercial and office complex.

The Medical City Launches its Center for Behavioral Health

Leave a comment

Mental Health has previously been in the background of overall health. Through the years, the World Health Organization (WHO) included mental health in its definition of health to emphasize its importance. The magnitude of the consequences of undetected and untreated mental illness has been evident in the number of suicide cases and increasing health costs.

According to the most recent data gathered by the National Alliance on Mental Illness, “Suicide is the 10th leading cause of death in the United States, the 3rd leading cause of death for people aged 10 to 14 and the second leading cause of death for people aged 15-24.” According to the data, “the United States has lost $193.2 billion of earnings per year from serious mental illness.”

As a response, the Department of Health (DOH) has improved and increased its mental health programs which include a Suicide Prevention Program in partnership with a non-government organization. The Philippine Psychiatric Association has also sponsored the Philippine Mental Health Act to help make mental health services more accessible in the country.

The Medical City (TMC) Department of Psychiatry, being the only private institution in the country that offers complete psychiatry subspecialties, also takes a more active role in addressing the growing mental health needs of the country. Hence, the Center for Behavioral Health (CBH) was established.

The CBH is the first in the country to offer services that cover the entire continuum of mental health care – from wellness to illness; from assessment to early recognition, to therapeutic intervention to home care; from care that necessitates one therapist to care that necessitates shared responsibility among several team members; from individual therapy to group therapy, and from promotive to preventive care. The CBH is headed by Dr. Mary Daryl Joyce Lindo-Calleja.

Aside from General and Consultation-Liaison Psychiatry services, the CBH offers services to address addiction, and children and teens’ behavioral health challenges.

The CBH’s Addiction Psychiatry Services include an Outpatient Detoxification Program, Motivational Enhancement Therapy, and Relapse Prevention I and II. The outpatient detoxification program is designed for patients with a history of substance abuse who wish to undergo detoxification to get rid of the substance and its ill effects.

The Motivational Enhancement Therapy or MET is a five-session module designed for patients with a history of substance abuse who wish to live a life of sobriety, but are also undecided about abstaining and how to initiate change. There are two programs under Relapse Prevention, namely Group Therapy and Distress Tolerance and Emotion Regulation Skills Training.

The following services are being offered to address children and adolescents’ mental health concerns − Group Therapy for Teens, The Parenting Toolkit, and School Mental Health Consult. The Group Therapy for Teens is a group therapy module for adolescents with depression and anxiety designed to enhance self-esteem, utilizing arts-based activities and sharing of experiences to foster a sense of group cohesion and individual empowerment.

The Parenting Toolkit is a half-day workshop designed to teach parents effective skills to raise emotionally and behaviorally healthy children. It combines lectures, role playing, and case-based group discussions. Separate workshops are designed for pre-school and school-age children as well as adolescents.

The School Mental Health Consult is a consultation service designed to continuously provide school counselors and administrators expert assistance on how to address the myriad mental health challenges schools face today.

For more information, please call the Center for Behavioral Health at 9881000 ext. 6135 or 6282.

What would the ideal workspace for millennials look like?

Leave a comment

If an imposing or isolated desk, and a nameplate on the door defined the ideal office space of the 80s and 90s, today’s employees want the exact opposite. With millennials taking over the workforce, it’s time to reconsider just how at tune an existing work space is with their needs.

Founder and owner of the BOOGI concept and furniture store, Burkhardt Zipperich, said that the workspace needed today is one that is responsive to the needs of its users at a particular time.

“Millennials require more than just a desk and chair; they need space that can easily adapt to the need at hand – whether it is for them to prevent external distractions, or to create a space that would be conducive for collaboration and the free flow of ideas,” Zipperich said.

Meeting the needs of millennials are ergonomic, functional, and cool office furniture pieces from some of the multi-awarded European furniture brands housed in BOOGI. One particular brand that stands out is Actiu, one of the most innovative Spanish furniture brands that have been consistently receiving awards in its home country and across Europe.

Banking on its Cool Working Space ideology, Actiu has designed workspace furniture, taking into consideration the changing individual functions and the various ways of collaboration. Initially implemented in their offices across the globe, the Cool Working Space business strategy eventually found its way into the design concept.

In February, Actiu was bestowed with the National Innovation and Design Award by King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia of Spain. Dubbed as the highest award for design in Spain, it recognized the excellence and exemplary career of Actiu in the field of design and innovation.

“The Cool Working Space of Actiu actually promotes collaboration, improves focus, and enhances team work. But the best thing about the workspace made with Actiu is how it can easily adapt without sacrificing its primary functions,” said Zipperich.

BOOGI is located along Arnaiz Avenue in Makati City.