Sumitomo will stand tall at the Philconstruct Expo 2018

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Sumitomo is bound to showcase their latest excavators at the biggest construction show in the Philippines, by having their booth with our distributor Macro Construction Equipment at Philconstruct Manila Expo 2018. The event has been showcasing products like building materials and components, construction equipment and materials, building and construction accessories, and other building essentials for over two decades. And it has become a keystone in defining the landscape of building and construction on the country.

The name Sumitomo already has a 400-year history and heritage behind it. The company started developing, manufacturing, and selling construction machinery in 1964 establishing Sumitomo (S.H.I.) Construction Machinery Co., LTD. and it has been the Philippine market since the 1980s. They will be exhibiting their most fuel efficient Hydraulic Excavators, SH130-6 and SH210-6, at their booth. These models have acquired high satisfaction by customers from Japan, Indonesia, Thailand and other ASEAN countries.

Sumitomo strongly believes that these models can contribute further in the infrastructure developments in the Philippines. Construction firms and contractors coming in for the event are encouraged to have a feel and look of the equipment and experience the company’s design principles, such us safety and comfort for the operators in the field. Sumitomo is also proud with the kind of performance its products can offer, featuring both speed and power while working. More importantly, each design is made with high profitability in mind.

Sumitomo has the capacity to sell approximately 13,000 hydraulic extractors and 300 asphalt pavers in a year. These products are distributed in Asia, Africa, Australia, Europe, the Middle East, and North America. Here in the Philippines, Sumitomo’s hydraulic excavators are distributed by Macro Construction Equipment and asphalt pavers by Kurashiki Equipment Philippines Corporation.
By having their booth at the Philconstruct 2018, Sumitomo hopes to establish the brand further in to the Philippine market — to create more connections and strengthen the existing ones. Philconstruct 2018 will be held on November 8-11 at the World Trade Center Metro Manila, where everyone can drop by the Sumitomo booth.

ASUS officially introduces the new ZenBook series featuring the world’s most compact laptops

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ASUS Philippines officially announced the local availability of its latest ZenBook, ZenBook Pro and VivoBook S premium ultraportable laptop series, at an event showcasing the entire ASUS ZenBook portfolio first launched in 2011. The new lineup, powered by the latest 8th Gen Intel® Core™ processors embodies ASUS’ In Search of Incredible brand spirit, with the ZenBook and VivoBook series unified under the headline theme of Unleash Your Creative Power.

New products announced at the event include the ZenBook 13 (UX333), ZenBook 14 (UX433) and ZenBook 15 (UX533) — the world’s most compact 13.3-inch, 14-inch and 15.6-inch laptops , respectively. The groundbreaking ZenBook Pro 15 professional laptop is now joined by the new ZenBook Pro 14 (UX480), with both models incorporating the revolutionary ASUS ScreenPad™ updated with exciting new features and functions. Also announced was the latest version of the ZenBook S (UX391FA), which now has an amazing battery life of up to 20-hours, and the VivoBook S15 (S530), a collection of colorful and stylish lightweight laptops.

“With tonight’s event showcasing the heritage of ASUS’ ZenBook line, we are proud to introduce yet another step in our innovation with the new ZenBooks as we continue to provide end-users with more ways to unleash their creative power,” said George Su, Country Manager, ASUS Philippines System Business Group.

ZenBook 13/14/15: The world’s most compact laptops

ASUS ZenBook 13/14/15 – UX333/433/533
The ZenBook 13, 14 and 15 introduce the stunning new frameless ASUS NanoEdge display, with ultra-slim bezels on all four sides for an unrivaled screen-to-body ratio of up to 95% and a near-borderless viewing experience. The ultra-compact design, which incorporates the unique ErgoLift hinge mechanism that tilts the keyboard for comfortable typing, gives each of these laptops the world’s smallest footprint in its class. ZenBook 13 and 14 also introduce include the exclusive new NumberPad, an innovative LED-illuminated numeric keypad built into the touchpad. The new models feature a full complement of high-performance components including the latest 8th Generation Intel Core i7 quad-core processor with integrated Gigabit Wi-Fi optimized for Intel® Wireless-AC 9560, and up to NVIDIA® GeForce® GTX 1050 Max-Q graphics.

ZenBook Pro 14: Performance to go, with the revolutionary ScreenPad

ASUS ZenBook Pro 15 – UX580
The ZenBook Pro 14 is a highly mobile alternative to the 15.6-inch ZenBook Pro 15, featuring the futuristic new ScreenPad — an ASUS innovation that revolutionizes the way users work and interact with their laptop. ZenBook Pro 14 delivers extreme performance in a slim, lightweight and supremely elegant package. Powered by up to the latest 8th Generation Intel Core i7-8565U processor featuring integrated Gigabit Wi-Fi and up to NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1050 Max-Q discrete graphics, the ZenBook Pro 14 handles the most demanding tasks with ease. The all-aluminum design features the exclusive ErgoLift hinge, and its ultra-compact dimensions are enabled by the 14-inch NanoEdge FHD display, with ultraslim bezels that provide an expansive, distraction-free viewing experience. The display is also factory pre-calibrated and PANTONE validated for superb color accuracy. The ZenBook Pro 14 features fast face login and built-in support for Windows Cortana and Amazon Alexa voice services.
ScreenPad evolved: Introducing new features and functions
A wave of new and updated apps for the revolutionary ScreenPad, the intelligent touchpad available exclusively on the ZenBook Pro 15 and the new ZenBook Pro 14, is now available. The new apps — Adobe Sign, Handwriting and SpeechTyper — add new functionality and features to the ScreenPad. The updated ASUS Sync app makes it easier than ever to integrate a smartphone with the ZenBook Pro, while the improved Extender Mode turns ScreenPad into a secondary Windows display for dual-screen productivity. The new apps and updates are available to download via the ScreenPad settings menu. An online tutorial highlighting the features and capabilities of the updated ScreenPad is available at https://www.asus.com/ScreenPad-Tutorial/.

ZenBook S (UX391FA): 20-hour battery life

ASUS ZenBook S – UX391
The ZenBook S (UX391FA) is a premium 13.3-inch ultraportable Windows 10 laptop now upgraded with power-saving components that enable a remarkable 20-hour battery life , along with the latest 8th Generation Intel Core processors for enhanced performance. These new improvements make the ZenBook S an even more compelling choice for discerning on-the-go users, offering effortless portability, powerful performance and no-compromise connectivity, combined with military-grade (MIL-STD-810G) toughness.

VivoBook S15 (S530): Beyond the Edge

ASUS VivoBook S15 – S530
ASUS today announced VivoBook S15 (S530) and S14 (S430), a pair of stylish and lightweight laptops designed for the young, and the young at heart. Both laptops feature bold color-blocking designs, with five vibrant color options and several textured finishes that let users fully express their personalities. The ErgoLift hinge replicates the feel of typing on a desktop keyboard for more comfortable typing, while the new three-sided NanoEdge display design provides an immersive viewing experience. S15 and S14 are powered by up to an 8th Generation Intel® Core™ i7 processor, with NVIDIA® GeForce® MX150 discrete graphics. Both laptops feature dual-storage designs.
“What we’ve shown tonight is the heritage of the ZenBook line—a testament to the innovations that we’ve made in providing notebooks that not only embody timeless elegance, but also the performance that today’s professionals and digital nomads demand. We are excited for the future as we continue to develop exciting products that will help our end users search for incredible,” concluded Su.

freenet brings Freeniversaya: A FREEnet Concert

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Are you ready for the most awesome free concert in the universe? Freenet, the top free lifestyle app in Google Play engaging online Filipinos nationwide through gamified rewards, celebrates its 3rd anniversary by giving freenetizens an exclusive access to the most requested artists of today with the Freeniversaya: A FREEnet concert.

Freenetizens joining the saya on September 20, 2018, will be jamming and grooving to the beats and tunes of some of the hottest OPM acts of today, including Bamboo, KZ Tandingan, Moira Dela Torre, Shanti Dope, Gloc 9, Ben & Ben, and Hashtags at the SM MOA Arena in Pasay City.

Scoring a concert ticket to this exclusive musical event is easy. All you have to do is download the freenet app, register, and complete missions inside the app to earn freenet points. The more freenet points you earn, the better seats you get at the concert, as you will use these points to redeem tickets in the in-app freenet shop. Check out http://frnt.ph/gettix to know more.

With 100 freenet points, you can already fangirl over the hashtags with your besties all the way from the general admission area. Get in the feels with Ben&Ben and redeem upper box tickets with your 200 freenet points or lower box tickets with 500 freenet points. For 900 freenet points, you can already dance to the beats of Gloc 9 and Shanti Dope closer to the stage at the VIP 2 area. You’ll sure be singing with KZ and Moira all night especially if you get VIP 1 tickets with 1,000 freenet points, so be sure to memorize their songs. And with 10,000 freenet points, you can get the best seat and view at the house with your VVIP ticket and even get a chance to hang out backstage during the concert!

Once you’ve redeemed your ticket, you will receive an SMS confirmation from freenet containing your reference number. All that’s left to do is to go to an SM Ticket outlet near you, present this SMS confirmation, and claim the print-out version of your ticket. You will need to present this along with your freenet app before you enter SM MOA Arena on the day of the concert.

“We’re definitely leveling up the fun and excitement as we celebrate our third year with the Freeniversaya concert! We’re excited to bring this one-of-a-kind musical extravaganza to all the loyal freenetizens out there, because life has definitely become more rewarding with freenet. But that’s not all, because Filipinos all around the country can definitely expect a more rewarding experience from freenet–within the app and out of it–in the coming months, so stay tuned!” said Heidi Garayblas, Associate Director for Marketing at Voyager Innovations.

More freebies? We got you, freenet fam!

Of course, this isn’t a freenet event without amazing rewards! To bring the saya to the next level at the Freeniversaya: a Freenet concert, freenet will be giving away very special prizes exclusive to the concert goers.

Freenetizens from other parts of the Philippines can also join in on the saya and get their hands on these rewards at this awesome concert. On September 19, freenet is flying in three lucky freenetizens and their plus 1, from Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao, for the ultimate Freeniversaya experie nce complete with a roundtrip ticket, hotel accommodation, and VVIP Freeniversaya concert ticket to boot.

The Freeniversaya concert ticket is just one of the many rewards that you can redeem inside the freenet app. By completing in-app missions such as visiting selected sites on freenet, or downloading useful apps, you earn freenet points which you can use to redeem rewards like airtime load, data packages, gaming pins, and even vouchers such as the Freeniversaya concert ticket.

By using the freenet app, you also get a chance to win prizes everyday for your daily dose of happiness with Dailygaya Raffle Promo. Every day, until September 29, a lucky freenetizen will take home awesome prizes from freenet – from PayMaya credits, Sodexo GCs, to brand new smartphones and motorcycles.

But that’s not the only way you can get a rewarding experience in freenet. With this app in hand, shopping at Lazada or paying bills via PayMaya has just gotten more convenient as freenet allows Smart, TNT and Sun subscribers to access these go-to apps and sites without data charges.

With freenet’s Netzee Hours, posting photos on Facebook in the morning (from 7AM to 8AM) reading tweets on Twitter at lunchtime (from 12NN to 1PM) or playing Mobile Legends in the evening (from 8PM to 10PM) without having to subscribe to a data package is now possible. How cool is that?

Check out all the rewards and freebies you can access on freenet now by downloading the app for free at Google PlayStore for Android, and Apple AppStore for iOS. For more information, follow freenet on Facebook and Twitter or visit www.thefreenet.com.

Shopee 9.9 Super Shopping Day is Back

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The Biggest Annual Shopping Event in Southeast Asia and TaiwanUsers can look forward to a super series of non-stop deals over 11 consecutive super themeddays, and massive giveaways worth over 15 million to be₱ wonShopee, the leading e-commerce platform in Southeast Asia and Taiwan, kicks off its biggestannual regional shopping event, Shopee 9.9 Super Shopping Day. After last year’s successful9.9 event which saw a three-fold uplift in orders and a five-time increase in traffic, Shopee isupping the ante this year with a 11-day mega shopping event from 30 August to 9 September.With over 500,000 sellers, around 800 brands and more than 60 partners onboard, users canexpect up to 99% off from the largest collection of deals and massive giveaways worth over 15₱Million.

“Shopee has grown tremendously in the past year. We now boast around 160 million usersacross the region, including over 16 million in the Philippines. At the same time, the number ofsellers on Shopee has more than doubled to over 500,000 in less than a year, showing how weare quickly becoming the online shopping destination of choice for both shoppers and sellers inthe region. To thank all our users for their continued support, we extended this year’s Shopee9.9 Super Shopping Day to feature almost two weeks of non-stop promotions across all productcategories. We have also continued to strengthen our ties with leading brands and partners tobring our users even more exclusive deals and promotions on Shopee,” said Terence Pang,Chief Operating Officer of Shopee.

Super savings on super themed daysStarting 30 August, users can participate in a 11-day shopping marathon, featuring differentback-to-back themed days every 24 hours in the lead up to the peak of Shopee 9.9 SuperShopping Day on 9 September. Users can also look forward to free shipping with loweredminimum spend every day during this period. Key highlights include Super Flash Sale Day onAugust 30 featuring flash deals as low as ₱99 happening nine times over the course of the day;and Super Vouchers Day on 3 September with a total of over 900,000₱ worth of vouchers tobe redeemed.On 5 September, Shopee will also be teaming up with hundreds of leading brands includinggiants P&G, Maybelline, Samsung, Vivo, Colgate – Palmolive, Oppo, Asus, and more tolaunch the first-ever

Super Brand Festival, comprising the largest collection of deals frommajor brands on Shopee Mall. Users will get first-hand access to thousands of products sold bytheir favourite brands across all product categories including Electronics, Mobile and Gadgets,and Health and Beauty.Shopee Shake, the highly popular in-app game that has since clocked over 70 million plays by users across the region, is making a comeback, this time with a new group mode where users can invite others to play at the same time to earn bonus coins, and a supersized coins pool of over 9 million Shopee Coins up for grabs. On Super Shopee Shake Day and Super Shopping Day on 8 and 9 September respectively, users can play up to 18 times in 48 hours for a chance to win Shopee coins, vouchers and prizes.

Take part in the nationwide Shopee Dance competition to win super giveawaysIn line with Shopee 9.9 Super Shopping day, Shopee will also be launching a nationwideShopee Dance competition called Shopee Dance to Win with prizes including an Ace 50” TVand up to 100,000 in cash to be won. The dance is featured in Shopee’s second television₱commercial starring Shopee Philippines’ brand ambassador, Anne Curtis.To qualify, users will need to post a video of themselves doing the Shopee Dance on Facebookor Instagram with the hashtag #ShopeeDancePH. The competition will run from 31 August tillthe end of Shopee 9.9 Super Shopping Day. Winners will be announced on Shopee’s socialmedia pages on 9 September.

SEAOIL Lifetime Free Gas promo is back

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SEAOIL, the largest independent fuel provider in the Philippines, will award another four lucky motorists with a lifetime supply of free gas. The “Lifetime Free Gas, Oh My Gas!” promo, still the only one of its kind in the world, has kicked off for the second year in a row.

“Last year’s ‘Lifetime Free Gas’ promo was so successful, and was received so well that we decided to run it again this year. This is not just to thank our loyal customers, but also to celebrate the successes of SEAOIL over the past years,” said SEAOIL CEO Glenn Yu. SEAOIL is also celebrating its 40th anniversary this year.

Aside from a lifetime supply of gas, SEAOIL customers can expect to win over 100,000 instant prizes through peel-off cards. Thirty (30) P10,000 worth of SEAOIL gift cards will also be raffled off in the monthly draws.

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To qualify, a customer must gas up at least P500 worth of Extreme 97, Extreme 95, Extreme U, Extreme Diesel fuels and/or SEAOIL Lubricants at any SEAOIL station nationwide. Customers can double their chances of winning if they register at www.lifetimefreegas.com.

This year, the company also announced new brand influencers, true SEAOIL believers who bring credibility and recall to the brand. They are international car racer Marlon Stockinger, TV host and radio DJ Joyce Pring, and Atoy Llave, founder and owner of A-Toy Customs, the leading car customizer in the Philippines.

SEAOIL has also forged a strategic partnership with independent fuel company, Caltex Australia (CAL). The partnership will support the company’s plans for growth in the next five years. CAL is a 100% publicly-owned company in Australia and does not share any ownership with the local Caltex.

The “Oh My Gas” promo runs from August 18 to November 18, 2018. Winners of this year’s promo will be determined via three monthly draws on September 19, October 19 and November 29.

On its 120th Year, Goodyear Unleashes Assurance TripleMax 2

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The latest addition to Goodyear’s Assurance TripleMax Series is designed to significantly increase drivers’ safety and confidence

Designed to gear up and prepare mid-passenger car drivers especially for the rainy season, Goodyear launched the Assurance TripleMax 2 in the Philippines today. It is equipped with the new HydroTred Technology, which is optimized for excellent grip performance with short braking distance under wet road conditions. This allows drivers to stop faster and drive safer especially on wet roads.

As Goodyear celebrates its 120th year globally, they aim to empower drivers with the ability to confidently move free with the assurance of being in control, in any road and weather condition. Thus, the cutting-edge tire was crafted with the consumer needs in mind and the company’s pursuit for safety innovation. As the Philippines has its fair share of wet and slippery roads due to the rainy season, the Assurance TripleMax 2 promises to provide performance without sacrificing safety and control.

“To celebrate our 120th global anniversary, it is only fitting that we release a tire that perfectly captures what Goodyear has been passionate about throughout the years: innovation. With the Assurance TripleMax 2, Filipino drivers can rest assured that their travels would be safe, regardless of the weather conditions.”, Mr. Kenneth Sambajon, Market Director of Goodyear Philippines, said at the launch event in the Mess Hall, located at Chino Roces Ave., Makati City.

As pioneers in the tire technology, the successor of the highly successful Assurance TripleMax in 2013 was enhanced to deliver better performance, specifically in its wet braking, handling, comfort, and resistance.

Braking on wet roads has never been easier with the Assurance TripleMax 2’s Excellent Wet Braking Performance, giving drivers the maximum grip for shorter wet braking distance due to its state-of-the-art compound formulation and optimized footprint.

The new HydroTred technology, with its squarer and steadier footprint and more effective contact pressure capabilities, promised Enhanced Handling Performance. This delivers a more controlled driving experience because of better tire cornering stiffness and steering precision.

Both comfort and resistance are enhanced in the Assurance TripleMax 2. Its innovative tread pattern provides riders with their quietest, smoothest, and most comfortable ride yet, while being equipped with additional technical components that increase its resistance for all sidewall impacts.

The Goodyear Assurance TripleMax 2 is each driver’s partner in stopping faster and driving safer under any road conditions, even wet roads. It is available in 14” to 17” rim diameters and in various sizes.

For more updates on the Assurance TripleMax 2, Goodyear invites customers to visit their Facebook page at www.facebook.com/GoodyearPhilippines or their website www.goodyear.com.ph.

Land Registration Authority Focuses on Going Digital

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The vulnerability of paper, the security of A2A, and the peace of mind it offers

The digital wave has taken over almost every aspect of society, causing a lot of shift in the way we do things. It makes distance a non-issue, simplifies once complicated processes, and enables us to access what we need with a click of a button or a swipe of a finger. The digitalization of government systems in the Philippines is no doubt still a work in progress, but the country has made significant improvements ever since a digital strategy was formally established to help these offices shift to an e-Government-focused system.

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The vulnerability of paper

One of the most pressing concerns about relying on physical papers is the inconvenience they bring to its stakeholders–in this case, the citizens who need them. For example, those who need to authenticate their documents used to deal with long queues and wait for hours just to get the papers they need. Documents that can only be accessed in specified offices also put the individual at an inconvenience because of the time and money that they have to spend traveling to a specific government office branch.

These delays in transactions can be painful for individuals who need their official papers for important businesses. Often, people are forced to dedicate a certain amount of time in their schedule just to take care of them, and leave some extra room for all the possibilities of being delayed. An example is when a request for a document gets denied because of insufficient requirements or a mistake in details. Such situations can further stretch the process, causing the person to waste more time in obtaining official papers.

Going digital

To date, a number of government agencies have made leaps in shifting to digital processes. One remarkable example is the Land Registration Authority’s (LRA) Anywhere-to-Anywhere or A2A Program. Launched in 2012, it allows landowners to apply for the Certified True Copies (CTC) of their properties at any Registry of Deeds near them.

The A2A Program is focusing on providing faster and better service in response to the common concern of landowners having to travel to far-flung places where the Registry of Deeds office handling their titles are located. To address the problem, the LRA focused on digitizing the CTCs of land titles and focused on widening their network of offices where people can access them regardless of where their original document is listed.

All land titles are managed in a computerized and centralized registry, which enables any Registry of Deeds office to access and create copies of them. Moreover, landowners are also assured that they will not face any delays in retrieving their titles because of the pre-scheduled time set for the pick-up of their papers. It also makes the CTCs less prone to fraudulent activities by minimizing the human element of processing them.

The process of application is simple. The property owner simply needs to submit a letter of request or transaction application form and claim their CTC of property title at the nearest LRA Registry of Deeds office. At present, the department has 164 satellite offices, including extension offices across all islands. There are a total of 159 live offices that are ready to accommodate landowners.

The A2A Program is just one of the groundbreaking digital moves of the LRA. The department is now set on expanding their reach nationwide to give landowners a smoother experience in processing their documents. Also in the pipeline of their digital plans are projects like the LRA Aksyon Agad Center, Lot Location Service, and Parcel Verification Service. For more information about the A2A program, visit the LRA website by clicking here. You can also access the list of Registry of Deeds offices using this link.

Taiwan Excellence connects Filipinos to a smarter world

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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/.

Samsung TV Kicks Off its 20th Anniversary with Special Offers from May 31 to June 3!

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For 20 years, Samsung has been providing Filipino families with powerful TV moments that they can share at home. From May 31 to June 3, 2018, they are kicking off this joyous celebration by offering special discounts and freebies in select stores on their Anniversary models. This limited-time offer is your chance to experience the best in home entertainment!

Score great deals on the QLED TV, Premium Ultra High Definition (PUHD) TV, and Curved UHD TV. These TVs have changed the standards of the industry with its life-like picture quality, space-saving sleek design, and cutting-edge smart features for a simplified, yet immersive viewing experience.

In addition to the special discount, get a FREE Samsung Soundbar, Platinum Karaoke with Microphone, or Samsung Wireless Rear Speakers along with your new device.

This exclusive promo will be available in select stores of the following Samsung Authorized dealers:

• Abenson
• Addessa
• All Home
• Ansons
• Automatic
• EMCOR
• First Family
• Imperial Mega Showroom
• Landers
• Magic
• Robinsons
• Savers
• SM
• Solidmark

The Anniversary Kickoff promo is Samsung TV’s way of expressing its heartfelt gratitude to its loyal customers and supporters over the past two decades. Looking ahead, the tech giant will continue to develop exciting innovations that will elevate the whole entertainment experience further.

Do not let the opportunity to create more powerful family moments with Samsung TVs pass! Know more about this by visiting Samsung Electronics Philippines’ official Facebook page or samsung.com/ph/offer/20thAnnivPromoAV/.

The Medical City Launches its Center for Behavioral Health

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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.