Love month is in the Air : #KwentongJollibee Valentine’s series celebrates perfectly imperfect stories of real love

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Once again the most loved food chain, Jollibee is back with its latest, most anticipated #KwentongJollibee Valentine’s series. With the award-winning digital series delves into how true love conquers all—that beyond the romance, it takes hard work and commitment to make real love last.

“There are a plenty of relationships out there, that are experiencing complication when people set unrealistic expectations about love, believing that it’s always easy and picture-perfect especially in today’s digital age! This 20202, the goal is to highlight that the best love stories are those of couples who understand and value true love, and the hard work and commitment that it takes to make it work,” shared Jollibee Global Brand Chief Marketing Officer, JFC Philippines Country Business Group Marketing Head and concurrent Jollibee Philippines Marketing Head Francis Flores.

With the #KwentongJollibee Valentine’s series last year, the following episodes— “Anniversary”, “Proposal”, and “Choice” — encouraged fans to keep their faith in love and hit over 50M views on Facebook and YouTube. Jollibee, through its Jollibee Studios branded entertainment initiative, has produced up over 33 Kwentong Jollibee short films, garnered over 350 M views and nearly 700M in reach.

The success of the Kwentong Jollibee series has proved its industry leadership and the well-loved films continues to bag global and international recognition. With 2019 presentation, the fast-food brand brought home the APAC Tambuli Awards’ Gold Tambuli for the total Kwentong Jollibee campaign; three Bronze awards in the Family-Centered Brand category for Kwentong Jollibee Mother’s Day Series, Kwentong Jollibee Biyahe, Kwentong Jollibee Grand Thank You Project, and a Bronze award in the Seasons Celebration category for Kwentong Jollibee High Five (Father’s Day). Since 2016, Kwentong Jollibee has also remained to be a regular in the YouTube Ad Leaderboard’s Top 10 Ads in the Philippines. In 2019, YouTube recognized Kwentong Jollibee: Choice and Schoolboy as its most effective ads for the year.

And now, Jollibee will definitely capture the hearts of their viewers, as they release their #KwentongJollibee Valentine’s Series 2020: “#CoupleGoals”, “Space”, and “Apart” in an exclusive press preview held recently at Estancia Mall – Ortigas Cinemas. As today’s modern times have brought about varied definitions of love, the series theme “True Love Conquers All” aims to bring back the true definition of love.

Directed by Ianco dela Cruz (“Vow”, “Choice”), “#CoupleGoals” tells the story of Matt and Lisa, a happy couple who couldn’t be more perfect for each other, or so their social media photos say. Is their relationship as flawless as it appears?

“Space” follows the story of funnyman Dan, who goes out of his way to show his girlfriend Mae how much he cares but their differences have pushed the couple apart. Directed by Sigrid Bernardo, this episode begs the question: In the age where finding someone new as easy as a swipe, is true love is just as easy to find?

Lovebirds Myles and Ron are the center of the story titled “Apart”, directed by Pepe Diokno. Myles is strong-willed and self-sufficient, and Ron feels like he doesn’t have a place in her world. Does true love prevail or are they better off apart?

Be the first one to see – #KwentongJollibee films on Jollibee Studios (www.youtube.com/user/jollibeedigital1) and on Jollibee’s Facebook page (www.facebook.com/JollibeePhilippines) airing first on February 1, 2020!

Nippon Paint recognizes winners of the Asia Young Designer Award (AYDA) Philippines 2019

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Officials of Nippon Paint Philippines led by the company President Mark Webb (center) handed the Asia Young Designer Awards (AYDA) Philippines 2019 winners their cash prizes and trophies in a ceremony at PETA Theter Center in Quezon City on January 23, 2020. The gold award for the architecture category was given to John Carlo De Jesus from the Bulacan State University (BulSU) while the Interior Design category top prize was bagged by Abigail Florence Taghoy of University of San Carlos University (USC) Cebu. Both went home with the P50,000 cash prize.

After the fun filled and painstaking process of creating your designs to entry submission, leading into the judges’ deliberating and critiques, the Asia Young Designer Awards (AYDA) Philippines 2019 recognized the winners during the awards ceremonies held at the PETA Theater Center in Quezon City on January 23, 2020.

The gold award with a cash prize worth of P50,000 for the architecture category was given to John Carlo De Jesus from the Bulacan State University (BulSU) while the silver award with a cash prize of P30,000 was awarded to John Harold Siblag of St. Mary’s University of Bayumbong.

Meanwhile, for the Interior Design category, Abigail Florence Taghoy of University of San Carlos University (USC) in Cebu bagged the gold award and P50, 000 cash prize while the silver award with a P30,000 prize money went to Clarice Limsui of De La Salle -College of Saint Benilde (DLS-CSB).

The gold awardees for AYDA 2019 will go to the Asia Young Designer Summit to compete with the best Architecture and Interior Design students in Asia which will be held in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam in March 2020. The winners will battle for the chance to be included in the Harvard University Graduate School of Design’s Design Discovery Program.

Aside from the major prizes, special awards were also given to other participants during the ceremony. For Architecture, the Best in Color Choice Award went to Christian Adrian Manalo of Batangas State University (BSU). Meanwhile the Best Green Innovation Award was given to John Carlo De Jesus and the People’s Choice Award to Johann Orozco, both from BulSU. Best Mentor in this category was awarded to Ar. Diane Alfonso. Also, Bulacan State University was declared The Best College/University, and The Best Supportive School award for the Architecture category went to the Far Eastern University (FEU).

For the Interior Design category, the Best Color Choice award went to Michael lGarbriel Vazquez of DLS-CSB, while Josette Thai of UP Diliman won the Best Green Innovation Award. The People’s Choice award went to Erika Mari Ordinario of DLS-CSB. The University of San Carlos Cebu was named The Best Collge/University and De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde which was declared the Most Supportive School Dr. Hermie Ray Oplado from The University of San Carlos was awarded Best Mentor for the Interior Design category.

Nippon Paint Philippines President Mark Webb led the awarding ceremonies along with the distinguished panel of judges. Webb affirmed AYDA 2019 was the perfect opportunity to highlight the best young talents of the country and showcase their brilliance to the international arena. He also thanked the mentors and academic partners who patiently guided, motivated and shared their expertise to the students, and for allowing them to join. He added that Nippon Paintis proud to be part of the initiative in elevating the amazing Filipino skills and talent.

AYDA 2019 is a design competition open to Architecture and Interior Design students. The panel of judges is composed of prominent and well-established industry professionals and was supported by the United Architects of the Philippines (UAP), Council of Deans and Heads of Architecture Schools in the Philippines (CODHASP), the Philippine Institute of Interior Designers (PIID), and the Council of Interior Design Educators (CIDE).

Visit www.youngdesigneraward.ph or visit www.nipponpaint.ph for more details and updates.

Coach Run Rio tips before the Run

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Is it your first time running? Are you worried about sustaining injuries or running out of breath even before you can reach the finish line?

Fear not as international marathoner and RUNRIO, Inc. president Rio de la Cruz shares his expertise with beginner runners in preparation for Maxicare MAXIFEST: Live Your Best Life, Maxicare’s biggest health and wellness event.

Whether you are a rookie runner or a seasoned health enthusiast, here are some pointers from Coach Rio that can help you gear up for the race:

Remember to warm-up. Aside from increasing your heart rate, a good warm-up is important because it makes your muscles flexible and gives enough oxygen to endure the physical activities you’ll be doing. This will prevent your body from feeling stiff and sore after running. You can get ready by jogging or walking briskly for 20 to 30 minutes before the actual run.

Listen to your body. Push but don’t force – that is what your mindset should be when running. If you are just a beginner, it is okay if you won’t be able to run as far or as fast as other runners. When you feel your feet or the side of your torso hurting, take time to stop or slow down.

Learn proper running footstrike. According to Coach Rio, the way you plant your feet on the ground makes all the difference. There are three common running footstrikes: heel style, where your heel hits the ground first; the forefoot style, where you run on the ball of your foot; and the midfoot style, where most of your foot hits the ground at once – this is the most neutral running footstrike because it balances out your weight.

Try out some functional exercises. Functional training is a way to strengthen the body by doing exercises that mimic everyday movements just like lifting groceries or walking up the stairs. These exercises play a crucial role in boosting endurance, improving balance and posture, and enhancing strength and agility.

For this year’s MAXIFEST, the country’s leading HMO has partnered with RUNRIO, Inc., one of the premiere race organizers in the country, for the Maxicare MAXIFEST run which features different running courses and distances for all sorts of runners. There will also be a Maxicare Market, a one-stop shop for ready-to-eat plant-based alternatives.

The highlight of Maxicare MAXIFEST 2019 will be the attempt to set a new Guinness World Record that aims to help support the children of Kythe Foundation, the beneficiary of the event. Kythe Foundation, Inc. is a non-profit, non-stock organization aimed towards improving the quality of life among hospitalized children with cancer and other chronic illness.

Registration to Maxicare MAXIFEST is ongoing. Simply visit https://www.runrio.com/race/registration/maxifest-2019. For more info, log on to https://www.maxicare.com.ph or https://www.facebook.com/maxicarehealthcarecorp/.

Maxicare Healthcare Corporation: One of the pioneers in the health maintenance organization (HMO) industry was established in 1987 by an esteemed group of doctors and businessmen with the vision to deliver a better healthcare system. Three decades later, Maxicare has progressed into becoming the No. 1 HMO* in the country, continuously providing comprehensive healthcare programs via its wide network of medical providers and strengthened customer support.

Maxicare has more than 1.2 Million Members, more than 56,000 affiliated Doctors, more than 1,000 affiliated Hospitals and Clinics, 3,800 Dental providers, 8 Primary Care Centers and 13 Helpdesks, 9 Satellite Offices, 5 Exclusive Wings.

Past and Future Heroes Take Fate Into Their Hands in Terminator: Dark Fate

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A new, adrenaline-pumped chapter of The Terminator continues 35 years after the release of the cult classic with Linda Hamilton (“Sarah Connor”) and Arnold Schwarzenegger (“T-800”) returning and reuniting in their iconic roles for Terminator: Dark Fate, a thrilling new action-adventure that allows fans to relive the excitement of the epic story.

Directed by Tim Miller, the man behind the global blockbuster Deadpool, and produced by visionary filmmaker James Cameron and David Ellison, with co-stars Mackenzie Davis, Natalia Reyes, Gabriel Luna and Diego Boneta, Terminator: Dark Fate follows where Terminator 2: Judgement Day left off: two decades since Sarah Connor prevented Judgement Day, thereby changing the future and re-writing the fate of the human race.

“Above anything else, we wanted to create a return to form with Dark Fate. Terminator 1 and 2 hold a very special place in cinematic history, and we wanted Dark Fate to be a continuation of Jim’s vision for the franchise,” explains producer David Ellison. “There was only one way we were going to do it – and that was if James Cameron was going to come back to the franchise.” As a return to form, it keeps audiences at the edge of their seats with the classic chase between hunter, protectors, and prey in its narrative.

Living a simple life in Mexico City with her father and brother (Diego Boneta), Dani Ramos’ (Natalia Reyes) life is forever changed when a highly advanced and equally deadly new Terminator – a Rev-9 (Gabriel Luna) – goes back in time to hunt and kill her.

With her life and very existence on the line, Dani’s ultimate survival relies on two warriors: Grace (Mackenzie Davis), an enhanced super-solider from the future, and a battle-hardened Sara Connor (Linda Hamilton). As Rev-9 wreaks havoc in its quest to hunt down Dani, their last hope is someone from Sarah’s past: T-800 (Arnold Schwarzenegger).

“It has the same intensity, the same take-no-prisoners feeling and sense of abject terror,” Cameron says of Terminator: Dark Fate, which he describes as a direct sequel to Terminator 2, one that recaptures the riveting tone of the original Terminator and its follow-up.

A collision of technology and action, the film features exhilarating action sequences amplified by state-of-the-art CGI and effects with performances just as intense from its strong predominantly female cast, Terminator: Dark Fate is bound to get fans, old and new, excited once again.

Terminator: Dark Fate hits Philippine cinemas on October 30, Wednesday. Join the conversations online at #TerminatorDarkFatePH.

Linda Hamilton (“Sarah Connor”) and Arnold Schwarzenegger (“T-800”) return and reunite in their iconic roles for Terminator: Dark Fate

Gabriel Luna takes on the role as a highly advanced and equally deadly terminator – Rev 9

About Terminator: Dark Fate

Linda Hamilton (“Sarah Connor”) and Arnold Schwarzenegger (“T-800”) return in their iconic roles in Terminator: Dark Fate, directed by Tim Miller (Deadpool) and produced by visionary filmmaker James Cameron and David Ellison. Following the events of Terminator 2: Judgment Day, Terminator: Dark Fate also stars Mackenzie Davis, Natalia Reyes, Gabriel Luna and Diego Boneta.
Terminator: Dark Fate hits Philippine cinemas on October 30, Wednesday. Join the conversations online at #TerminatorDarkFatePH

Experience Halloween chills at SM Cinema with Sine Sindak 2 Horror Film Festival

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With Halloween just around the corner, it’s time to start planning those horror movie marathons. This year, why not binge on some new Halloween films at SM Cinema as they present the Sine Sindak 2 Horror Film Festival just in time for this spooky season!

Following its successful run last year, SM Cinema’s very own Sine Sindak Horror Film Festival is back with five curated movie titles – Dead Sight, Evil’s Curse, Door Lock, The Only Mom and Look Away. Starting October 23 until October 29, be sure to catch these exclusive films before they’re gone!

In Deadsight, a deadly virus spreads across Grey County. A partially blind man and a pregnant officer work together to escape their town through swarms of the living dead.

A holiday romance gone wrong, Evil’s Curse is the story of a young backpacker who meets the girl of his dreams. The woman, however, starts suffering from strange and terrifying blackouts. In their search for a cure, the couple becomes the unwitting playthings of a vengeful and horrific entity.

Doorlock tells the story of Kyung-Min, a woman living on her own, who one night hears someone trying to unlock her door and finds it wide open. When the police fail to help the frightened woman, Kyung-Min investigates on her own and discovers unknown fingerprints.

In The Only Mom, a family moves into a colonial-style house filled with old photographs to raise their autistic daughter. They soon discover a spirit trapped inside one of the photos and their life takes a turn for the worse.

An alienated high school student in Look Away suddenly switches places with her sinister mirror image.

Of course, Halloween will not be complete without a trip to a haunted house. To level up the Halloween experience, SM Cinema is also giving moviegoers the Sine Sindak Horror House, which you can visit in SM Megamall from October 19 to November 3 for a chilling adventure with your family and friends!

You can get the Sine Sindak 2 unlimited all-day pass for only Php 199 or watch a single movie for Php 120 per ticket. To wrap up the complete Halloween package, SM Cinema is giving moviegoers a chance to win tickets to Asylum Manila. All you have to do is take a photo of the giant word search in select SM Cinema branches and find all ten (10) Philippine mythical creatures. Post the photo on Facebook with your answers in the caption and use the hashtag #SineSindak2atSMCinema. The promo is valid in the following SM Cinema branches: SM North EDSA, SM Megamall, SM Mall of Asia, SM Fairview, SM Manila, SM San Lazaro, SM Sta. Mesa, SM Marikina, SM Southmall and SM Aura.

Catch the Sine Sindak 2 Horror Film Festival from October 23 to 29 in all 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! Satisfy your cavings at Snack Time, the official food concessionaire of SM Cinema, which offers a wide array of snack like popcorn, hotdogs and burgers to complement your movie watching experience. Follow /SnackTimeOfficial on Facebook for more information.

Unexpected Allies and Forces Unveiled at Disney’s Maleficent: Mistress of Evil

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In 2014, audiences first saw Angelina Jolie take on the role of the Disney’s most notoriousvillain, Maleficent. The film offered another perspective to the traditional fairytale that placed thespotlight on the events that drove her to curse a newborn baby princess to sleep forever. Thefilm put a fresh spin on the traditional fairy tale with a villain as the story’s protagonist.This year, Jolie wears her cloak and puts on her horns once again as she reprises her iconiccharacter in Disney’s Maleficent: Mistress of Evil. Oscar® and three-time Golden Globe®winning actress returns for the fantasy-adventure sequel that picks up several years after thefirst film and continues to explore the complex relationship between her and Princess Aurora(Elle Fanning). Jolie shares, “These Disney films are always big and beautiful which is one of the reasons whyit’s a privilege to be a part of them. I always wanted to come back because I loved doing the firstone. I loved what it said about people and how they’re not always what you think they are andnot always what you assume.” Taking on the reins to direct the much-anticipated follow-up to Maleficent, Disney enlists theexpertise of Norwegian film director Joachim Rønning (Pirates of the Carribean: Dead Men TellNo Tales, Kon-Tiki). He looks back at how Disney created something truly unique andhumanized a villainous character to make it relatable to fans of all ages.
“With any story, I look at the emotional core, the heart of the story,” Rønning says. “One of thereasons the first Maleficent was so successful is because it had a very strong and relatableemotional journey for the audience, and in our story Aurora is basically moving out, which issomething all parents dread, and that’s exactly how Maleficent feels.” Mistress of Evil sees Maleficent realizing her true powers and fighting for the love of her ownkind as she and Aurora are pulled in different directions by impending nuptials, unexpectedallies, and dark new forces at play. Golden Globe® winning, Emmy® nominee and three-time Academy Award® nominee MichellePfeiffer joins the cast as Queen Ingrith. She appears in the big screen alongside Jolie andFanning as the wicked and cunning future mother-in-law who causes a rift between Maleficentand Aurora.“It’s always fun playing a villain,” Pfeiffer shares. “Queen Ingrith is damaged and has beenbetrayed by a lot of men in her life, but she’s got her eye on the goal and nothing will get in theway of that.” The upcoming blockbuster film also stars Chiwetel Ejiofor as Conall, one of the leaders of thedark fey who befriends Maleficent; Harris Dickinson as Prince Phillip, Aurora’s betrothed andcrown prince of Ulstead; Sam Riley as Diaval who is the horned fairy’s trusted and constantcompanion; and Ed Skrein as Borra, a vengeful winged creature who seeks to start war withhumans. Disney’s Maleficent: Mistress of Evil lands on Philippine cinemas on October 16, Wednesday.Tickets to the film are now available for sale. Join the conversations online at #MaleficentPH.

Photos:Angelina Jolie is Maleficent in Disney’s MALEFICENT: MISTRESS OF EVIL.Elle Fanning is Aurora in Disney’s live-action MALEFICENT: MISTRESS OF EVILMichelle Pfeiffer is Queen Ingrith in Disney’s live-action MALEFICENT: MISTRESS OF EVIL.
About Maleficent: Mistress of EvilThe years have been kind to Maleficent and Aurora. Their relationship, born of heartbreak, revenge and ultimately love, hasflourished. Yet the hatred between man and the fairies still exists. Aurora’s impending marriage to Prince Phillip is cause forcelebration in the kingdom of Ulstead and the neighboring Moors, as the wedding serves to unite the two worlds. When anunexpected encounter introduces a powerful new alliance, Maleficent and Aurora are pulled apart to opposing sides in a Great War,testing their loyalties and causing them to question whether they can truly be family Join the conversations online at #MaleficentPH.

Robinsons Townville gathers dogs for a colorful Costume Paw-ty

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Robinsons Townville once again rolled up the runway for its much-anticipated annual dog fashion show event.

The Let It Glow! Costume Pawty, held at Robinsons Townville BF Parañaque, invited the mall’s Dog Club members to showcase their beloved furry friends in their most creative costumes.

The one-of-a-kind competition and fashion show featured various dog breeds dressed to “Neon Colored” ensembles. Dog owners made sure their fur babies were dressed to the nines as they strutted the catwalk – or dogwalk – during the fashion show.

Yuki, a Pomeranian owned by Eunicis Salem took home the grand prize of P5,000 worth of Robinsons Supermarket gift certificates (GCs) and P5,000 worth of pet care products from Daiso and Handyman.

Cala, owned by Jerwin Sacdalan landed in 2nd place and received P3,000 worth of Robinsons GCs and P3,000 worth of pet care products, while Chloe, another Pomeranian owned by Arnold Salas settled for 3rd place and got P2,000 worth of Robinsons GCs and P2,000 worth of pet care supplies.

Meanwhile, special citations were given to Yuki as the Adorable Pet of the Day, and to Giggy and Eton Concepcion for the Pet & Owner Costume Look Alike award.

The Let It Glow! Costume Pawty guests also enjoyed other exciting pocket events such as pet blessing and dog collar making activity.

The Let It Glow! Costume Pawty will also visit Robinsons Townville Cabanatuan (October 13), Robinsons Townville Meycauayan (October 19), Robinsons Townville Pulilan (October 20), and Robinsons Townville Regalado (October 26).

Don’t miss out on what transpired during the Robinsons Townville Let It Glow! Costume Pawty! For more updates, “like” Robinson’s Townville’s official Facebook page at facebook.com/RobinsonsTownville/, or visit their website at www.robinsonstownville.ph/.

Jollibee Family Values Awards

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The Filipino family can. Asia’s songbird Regine Velasquez-Alcasid and her son NateAlcasid honored the inspiring Filipino families of the 9th Jollibee Family Values Awards (JFVA)with their heartfelt rendition of the star’s hit song “I Can”. Since its launch in 2011, the JFVAhas been giving awards to outstanding families whose advocacy programs are guided byvalues such as generosity, compassion, love for community, and the environment, amongothers. This year, 10 families were recognized for exemplifying these values andchampioning the welfare of Filipinos in their communities.

Career Fair by JobStreet.com helps career hopefuls find the job they love

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Getting a job aligned with your own life goals is never easy, especially for millennials and Gen Zers who are devoted to their passions and are on their way to becoming the biggest part of the workforce. JobStreet Philippines, the number one online job portal in the country, recently conducted a survey of more than 18,000 Filipinos across 25 industries to see just what this future workforce is looking for in a career.

“Our survey showed that Gen Y and Gen Z respondents found corporate social responsibility more relevant compared to other generations,” shared JobStreet Philippines Country Manager Philip Gioca. “Millennials and Gen Zers are looking for companies that make a positive impact on society and the environment. They are also more experiential, looking for travel and growth opportunities whenever possible, and believe that proper compensation is essential in any workplace. Work-life balance and a more flexible schedule is also something they place great importance in,” said Gioca.

With this in mind, JobStreet carefully curated companies that fit these needs and hosted Career Fair to help young talents and jobseekers find the career most suited for them.
Over 90 companies participated in the Career Fair, covering a variety of industries like IT and tech (Amazon), real estate (Alveo Land and Megaworld Corp.), hospitality (Resorts World Manila), fashion, retail, ecommerce and more. And for attendees who dreamed of working overseas, JobStreet also partnered with WorkAbroad.ph to bring agencies with job openings all around the world – from nurses in the United Kingdom to sous-chefs in Saudi Arabia – all registered and licensed by the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration. There were also companies that offered on-the-spot hiring for people who were in a rush to find the job of their dreams.

The Career Fair was also a one-stop source for career hopefuls and all their job hunting requirements. JobStreet partnered with government agencies to help process documents like NBI clearances, TIN and SSS numbers and apply for Pag-IBIG memberships and loans at the Career Fair. JobStreet volunteers were also on-site to assist in printing ID photos for free, even helping participants spruce up their resumes to give the best first impression.

“Even though JobStreet is an online job portal, we still recognize the importance of offline events like job fairs to young talents who are looking for more hiring opportunities, and we hope that Career Fair was the first step in helping them find the job they love,” said Gioca.

For more information on JobStreet Philippines, visit their website at JobStreet.com.ph or Facebook page at facebook.com/JobStreetPhilippines.

Shopping and Learning in One: First-ever So Shop! Bazaar Brings Over A Hundred of Online Sellers Together

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LBC’s So Shop! became a venue for social sellers to showcase their products. Customers were treated to a day of shopping and meeting the owners of their favorite online shops.

More and more Filipinos are starting to venture into micro, small and medium enterprises nowadays. With technology, anyone can be an entrepreneur and it has served as one of the personal goals for a lot of us – from fresh grads to millennials to retirees. However, starting your own online business may be a daunting task but with the right support, succeeding in it is not a farfetched dream.
In its effort to empower online business owners, leading logistics company LBC Express Inc. held the first-ever So Shop! social sellers bazaar last October 5 at Function Room 4, SMX Convention Center, Mall of Asia, Pasay City. The bazaar brought together over 100 online business owners, thousands of shoppers, industry speakers, and influencers in one venue, making it both a shopping and learning experience in one. It also gave social sellers the opportunity to meet and connect with their customers in person, showcase their products, and transact using LBC’s Cash on Pick-up (COP) and Cash on Delivery (COD) services.

“With more and more Filipinos setting up their businesses online, we at LBC, believe that it’s high time to bring online businesses together, in one venue, and get to interact with their buyers live. So Shop! is our commitment to empowering micro, small, and medium enterprises in the country,” said Oliver L. Valentin, Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer for Philippine Branch Operations of LBC Express Inc. LBC’s COP and COD services are designed to make online purchasing easier and more convenient for shoppers. With COP, LBC’s over 1,400 branches can serve as pick-up points for buyers to get the products they bought online while COD allows them to get it right at their doorstep.

So! Shop for all your lifestyle must-haves

Featuring diverse products from over a hundred booths, So Shop! became a haven for a weekend to shopping enthusiasts and people with various interests.
For techies and gadget lovers, online gadget stores such as Kimstore, Juan Gadget, Droid Hero, and JBL Store PH provided exclusive deals and discounts. Beauty and makeup fans went gaga over the various shops: from Korean and Japanese beauty brands to sustainable beauty products. Those who love customized lifestyle pieces were also able to see their favorite online shops, making it a perfect venue to shop for personalized gifts including travel sets, accessories, and even kitchen wares. Moms who were on the lookout for early Christmas gifts brought home items that are perfect for the whole family.

So Shop! also treated the shoppers to a host of surprises including Mystery Box gifts from participating social sellers and gadgets raffled off by LBC.

Growing one’s online business

Aside from the shopping experience, business owners and aspiring entrepreneurs also learned from a lineup of industry speakers, business owners, and influencers who gave talks on topics relevant to growing their business.

Facebook Philippines Head of Agency Liam Capati showcased the power of Facebook ads and how it can help businesses reach their customers especially at a time when cutting through the clutter in the online space is crucial. Canva Community Team Lead Gladys Lacorte emphasized the importance of having visually appealing social media pages through designs that represent a business’ personality. Creative Boss Founder Rachell Araja-De Luna knows very well why a website is a must-have for an online business, with it being a repository of one’s products online. Through her talk “DIY Your Dream Website,” Araja-De Luna discussed the simple ways a budding entrepreneur can create a website without breaking the bank. The power of online communities cannot be dismissed too — this is what PLDT Vice-President for Digital Strategy and Consumer Disruptive Business Carlo Ople highlighted in his talk. Ople shared why businesses should be present on the digital space and how to effectively tap online communities to reach a specific target market.

Not only was So Shop! a learning-filled experience, it was inspiring too with panel discussions and success stories that moved the audience. Celebrity mom, wife, and entrepreneur Neri Miranda talked about her businesses and her role as a homemaker. Miranda, owning multiple businesses including Neri’s Gourmet Tuyo, online bedding and accessories store Very Neri, and an events place in Tagaytay called Neri’s Not So Secret Garden, gave mompreneurs tips on how to juggle it all.

A panel discussion on the social impact of online businesses featured Jamico Jamlang, founder of sustainable businesses The Bamboo Company and Chesca De Mesa, co-founder and managing director of Refuse PH. Joining them was Havas Media Ortega Head of Data and Analytics Phil Tiongson who gave the audience a glimpse of Havas’ global study centering around consumers’ mindful consumption.

Women entrepreneurs also took center stage with Kimstore Founder Kim Lato and Neon Island Founders Alyssa Gibbs and Aira Medina. They shared what it’s like starting and growing a business, as women, and how they overcame the challenges that came with it.
Hosted by 101.1 Yes FM DJ Rico Panyero and Love Radio DJ Raqi Terra, So Shop! was not just a star-studded bazaar but one that has taught online business owners new techniques to move their businesses forward.

Javier Mantecon, Chief Marketing Officer of LBC Express-Global Marketing, reiterated the company’s commitment to move lives, including those of the social sellers. “As the e-commerce community continues to grow, LBC remains your partner. We hope that this is just the beginning of our long partnership. We want to help you take that move, wherever that may be.”

ABOUT LBC

LBC is the Philippines’ market leader in retail and corporate courier & cargo, money remittance, and logistics services. With a growing network of over 6,400 branches, hubs & warehouses, partners, and agents in over 30 countries, LBC is committed to moving lives, businesses, and communities and delivering smiles around the world. Listed in the Philippine Stock Exchange through LBC Express Holdings, Inc., LBC aims to deliver value to all of its stakeholders, as it has for over 60 years.  Founded in 1945 as a brokerage and air cargo agent, LBC pioneered time-sensitive cargo delivery and 24-hour door-to-door delivery in the Philippines. Today, it is the most trusted logistics brand of the Global Filipino. LBC can move it for you: visit www.LBCexpress.com, or call telephone +632 8585 999 (Metro Manila), 1 800 10 8585 999 (Provincial), +632 9086 522 (Solutions) and follow LBCExpress (Facebook and Twitter).