At Iba Pang Pangyayari

Best Buddies’ Vico Cham (2nd from right) with (from left) Akio Kawachi, Ralen Tupaz, Ian Borleo, Ryan Poblete, Sachin Mohnani, Nyssa Uy Kua, Gian Mendoza, April Paligsa and his mother Cathy Cham who joined Best Buddies Bowling Game event at SM Megamall Bowling Center. Photo by Kayla Paligsa For regular shoppers, it may have been just an ordinary afternoon at the mall, but for Vico, 28, it was a special day to spend a few hours enjoying a game of bowling with his friends from Best Buddies Philippines.   The group of friends were at the mall, with other pairs of best friends, for a friendly bowling tournament organized by Best Buddies, a nonprofit organization dedicated to establishing a global volunteer movement for one-to-one friendships and inclusive opportunities for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). The activity is one of the many initiatives organized by Best Buddies, in partnership with SM Cares, the corporate social responsibi...

SM Supermalls scored 11 wins at the prestigious 16th International Business Awards at the recently concluded gala awards banquet, held at the ANDAZ Hotel Am Belvedere in Vienna, Austria. SM received four Gold Awards SM South Luzon’s Pet Party, #DearSMSanta Campaign, Mall of Asia’s 2018 International Coastal Cleanup, and the SM Supermalls Website. SM won two Silver Awards for the #VoteForMom 2019 Mom’s Day Campaign and SM City North EDSA Colorgram. SM nabbed five Bronze Awards for the #VoteForMom campaign, SM Megamall’s Light Your Mood Exhibition, the #SMoments Digital Campaign, MOA’s 2018 Grand Festival of Lights, and the 9th Philippine International Pyromusical Competition. SM Supermalls bagged 11 Stevie Awards at the prestigious 16th International Business Awards, the world's premier business awards program, at the recently concluded gala awards banquet last October 19, held at the ANDAZ Hotel Am Belvedere in Vienna, Austria. “We are grateful and honored to be recogniz...

Andrea Brillantes Andrea Brillantes is grateful to fulfill a childhood dream: to have her own make-up line. This was made possible through her collaboration with Careline Cosmetics, the trendy and cool cosmetics line of Ever Bilena for the Filipina youth Named Blythe by Careline, her make-up collection, launched recently, carries her signature style from packaging to the quality of the actual products as she made sure that these are easy to apply even without makeup tools. “I want everyone to see that there are many things you can do with makeup. You can experiment, and have fun with different looks to create different personalities,” Andrea proudly shares. “The products that I designed are especially made for teens like me, but older girls will surely enjoy using it too.” Her collection of make-up essentials include the Cloud Tint, a velvety tint that can be used as an eye shadow, lipstick and blush; eye make-up such as the The Eyeliner Duo Stamp, The Starlight Eyes and ...

A beautiful bathroom should make you feel relaxed, comfortable and luxurious. Although interior design is one important factor, knowing that your bathroom is absolutely hygienic and spotlessly clean is another key to creating a feeling of utmost comfort and self-indulgence.  American Standard, the famous, innovative bathroom and kitchen fixture manufacturer, shares tips on how to give your bathroom that pleasurable and luxurious feel: Tip #1: Utilize your wall. Don’t limit your bathroom to flat walls! Add a touch of dimension to it by installing functional but decorative shelves to store your towels, extra toilet paper rolls, candles, and other bathroom essentials. Tip #2: Use big mirrors. Big mirrors create an optical illusion of a bigger space. The trick is to strategically place your mirror across from your window. Doing so will make your room visually seem like you have two windows. Tip #3: Choose light color palettes When it comes to bathroom interiors, color ...

Mari Jasmine, Erwan Heusaff, and Moira Dela Torre join Carousell’s  Reboxing campaign to launch its new tagline “Everyone Wins” Curious to know what everyday items celebrities Mari Jasmine, Erwan Heussaff, and Moira Dela Torre love the most? Take a glimpse into their world through the items they once loved, and even get a chance to own these as they participate in Carousell Philippines’ Reboxing campaign. The campaign is part of Carousell’s new tagline launch, “Everyone Wins,” where winning can be as simple as both sides getting a great deal, or as meaningful as finding new connections and realizing ambitions. As part of the launch, Carousell’s partner celebrities will put their pre-loved items in boxes and give these away through a consumer contest on the Carousell app. Food, fitness, and travel vlogger Erwan will rebox some of his favorite cooking equipment. Television host and model Mari Jasmine will give away travel essentials and a trip to Siargao which she will...

Christmas may still be a few months away, but there’s no doubt that the holiday season is officially upon us. Unless you've been pulling a Grinch, we're sure you can hear it in the blasting holiday playlists and see it in the welcoming, twinkling lights of your favorite shops by now. As jolly and merry the holiday season in the country is, it is also—undeniably so—one of the most stressful. Road traffic gets heavier. After the painful hours of crawling commute, the same traffic moves inside the malls as hordes of people go about the task of completing their Christmas shopping lists. It is during this season when the perks of online shopping can be such a saving grace. Filipinos may love going to malls by nature, but let’s be honest here, who wouldn’t want to be saved from the Christmas shopping frenzy if given the chance? Thinking of finishing your holiday shopping list as early as now? Here are all the reasons why you should consider online shopping: 1. You can ...

Coda Payments team Seeing the potential of the online and mobile gaming market in the Philippines, Coda Payments, an international payment platform for online gaming transactions and other digital content, has officially opened its branch in the country.  Founded in 2011, Coda Payments is an alternative payment channel specifically made for mobile gaming purchases and other digital content transactions. Its operations started in Indonesia and now expanded to 22 countries such as India, Bangladesh, Malaysia, Philippines, Thailand, Myanmar, Vietnam, Cambodia, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, Laos, Singapore, Saudi Arabia, U.A.E, Egypt, Bahrain, Kuwait, Morocco, Turkey, Brazil, Mexico, and Argentina.  Transacting through Coda Payments is fast and easy! Anyone who wishes to buy gaming pins for games like Call of Duty, Mobile Legends or Ragnarok M can easily transact even without credit card. You can transact through the mobile game app or they can visit Codashop at www.codashop.c...

  Canva aims to empower everyone in the world to design anything and publish anywhere with its user-friendly design tools and thousands of templates to choose from. Design platform Canva recently announced its new valuation of US$3.2 billion, raising an additional US$85 million dollars from high-profile investors Mary Meeker's Bond, General Catalyst, Bessemer Venture Partners, Blackbird and Sequoia China. At the back of this announcement, the company also introduced two new ventures: Canva for Enterprise and Canva Pro Affiliate Program. Founded by Chief Executive Officer Melanie Perkins, Chief Operating Officer Cliff Obrecht and Chief Product Officer Cameron Adams in 2013, Canva has grown to over 20 million users across 190 countries, publishing over 1.8 million designs. “In a world that is increasingly visual, Canva solves real challenges faced by product and marketing teams across every industry. We continue to be impressed by this team and their ability to expand the...

Did you know that breast cancer accounted for one-third of new cancer cases for females in the Philippines in 2018? According to The Global Cancer Observatory , the international agency for research on cancer, breast cancer cases amounted to 25,000 out of the almost 80,000 local cancer cases reported last year. While most experts point out that there is no known cause of breast cancer, most agree that there are ways to reduce the risk. AXA Philippines, one of the leading insurance providers in the country, offers various health insurance plans to help you prepare for unexpected health setbacks. Prevention is also important. Dr. Rachael Marie Rosario, executive director of the Philippine Cancer Society, a non-profit organization that seeks to help the Filipino cope with cancer through education, has these tips to help you protect yourself against breast cancer: Have regular health checkups. "Early detection can save lives. It improves the chances of getting cure...

Miss Possibilities 2019 Cielo Marie Guico with Binibining Pilipinas-Universe 2000 Nina Ricci Alagao (left) and Miss Possibilities Foundation Founder Suzanna Yuzon (right) A talented 14-year-old girl with Down Syndrome is the titleholder of this year’s Miss Possibilities, a Filipino beauty pageant for young women with special needs. Organized by Miss Possibilities Foundation and supported by SM Cares, the pageant attracted young women with special needs from different parts of the Philippines and even from a province in Thailand who competed during the coronation night which was held at the SMX Convention Center in Pasay City. Cielo Marie Guico - the youngest of 5 siblings and dubbed as the pageant’s Miss Perfect - brought home the crown with her heartwarming talent in singing. She also impressed the audience during the Q&A portion when asked who her favorite singer was, which she replied with “Ariana Grande”, after which she sang a few lines of the pop star’s song. The M...

 Filinvest City is playing host to Haunted Manila Festival, the country's first-ever Halloween-themed festival which will run for six nights from October 26-31, 2019 at the Filinvest City Events Grounds. Enjoy bone-rattling and spine-chilling fun with family and friends around Filinvest City’s spacious activity area and road routes which will be filled with food, entertainment, games, and other treats. Not to be missed by horror enthusiasts, Haunted Manila will feature a Zombie Run wherein runners will race each other to the finish line with zombies appearing unexpectedly along the dusky routes to be capped-off by Outbreak Manila DJ Party, featuring Wicked Adobo, Cathy Frey, Sedano x Stro, Jimmy Nocon, and Aldwinn. Other haunted activities include Haunted Escape Rooms; Giant Scavenger Hunt; Pelikulagim, an outdoor movie screening; Gayuma food bazaar; and Trick or Treat game stations. The festivities will be punctuated by Santelmo Halloween Music Party on October 31, 20...

GCash partners with AXA to provide affordable personal accident insurance product GCash Insure, the new comprehensive yet affordable insurance product for GCash users, has partnered with AXA Philippines, one of the country’s leading insurance companies, to underwrite coverage; and MicroEnsure, a global digital insurance provider, to serve as administrator and distributor for this innovative offering. With life and personal accident insurance coverage of up to P200,000 and daily hospital income insurance up to P10,000, GCash Insure allows Filipinos to have insurance for themselves and their families at an affordable monthly or annual premium. Payments will be deducted from their GCash accounts depending on the customer’s preferred and agreed-upon payment frequency. Customers can choose among bronze, silver, gold, or platinum benefit plans which can cover the user and other beneficiaries, such as their families of up to three persons. GCash, the country’s leading mobile walle...

The e-commerce industry is more important than everyone think it is.  Last 2018, Statistica has reported that the Philippine e-commerce market revenue has shown massive value, amounting to $840 million or about P44 trillion It is without a doubt the most in-demand platform for Filipinos to communicate and transact goods and services. Although everyone can conveniently enter e-commerce as fast as a click of a screen on mobile gadgets, it still requires the more traditional practices of maintaining a business. Dragonpay, a pioneer and market leader in alternative payment solutions in the Philippines, has partnered up with the Cebu-based jewelry brand Oro China Jewelry to give advice to Filipinos wanting to develop their craft in e-commerce. Being in the business for over 50 years, Oro China Jewelry found their new success by expanding their brand online, at one point skyrocketing their monthly online sales to 7 figures. However, transitioning from a physical store to e...

Banners and waiting shed billboards have been turned into rafts and stretchers. Havas Media Ortega bags a Bronze Award at the 2019 Spikes Asia Festival of Creativity in the Media Category (Ambient Media: Large Scale), for its innovative crisis response to typhoons and floods entitled “Project S.A.V.E”. The agency pioneered this initiative with Valenzuela City, one of the most flood-prone cities in Manila the capital of the Philippines, with the vision of turning underutilized resources into life-saving devices. This project developed and designed the materials with advice from volunteer first responders, local government officials, and national disaster coordinators. Project S.A.V.E, which stands for Signage & Adspace Versatile for Emergencies, aims to equip cities with emergency equipment come floods, earthquakes, and other calamities through innovative use of outdoor marketing materials. Billboards, banners, and waiting sheds are turned into detachable disaster-ready...

A snack is always a welcome sight to Filipino eyes, the joy that it brings once one’s cravings are finally satisfied is an expression that can leave us at a loss for words, but with a wide smile on our faces. The Polvoron is often considered a favorite Filipino snack.  This unique Filipino treat is the perfect merienda, dessert and pasalubong. Goldilocks, the country’s number on bakeshop, gives you more reasons to enjoy all of the delicious flavors of their well-loved Polvoron with their 4 + 1 Flavored Polvoron 10’s Promo! When you buy four packs of Goldilocks Polvoron 10’s you can get a fifth pack for free! The promo runs from October 18 to October 26, 2019 only and is available for all dine in and take-out customers in all their Luzon stores. With more than 730 stores nationwide, there is always a Goldilocks store around the corner to satisfy your snacking needs, so head to the nearest Goldilocks store and enjoy this sweet treat while it lasts! For more informatio...

Seafood combinations at Seafood City Paluto all you can... Nothing beats freshly cooked seafood to whet the appetite! Perfect for ulam or pulutan, seafood dishes make gatherings even more festive and fun as you dig into its meat with your hands. Lucky for you, these delicious dishes are all included in Seafood City's Paluto-All-You-Can which you can enjoy for only P848 per head (lunch); P888 (dinner) at the Venice Grand Canal in McKinley Hills, Taguig; P797 per head (lunch), and P848 (dinner) at the Cebu branch. If you don’t know where to start, Seafood City has rounded up its best combinations with their staple offerings: Stir Fry Scallops with Veggies + Steamed Pompano with Tausi For the veggie lovers out there, this combo is perfect for you! Light and packed with nutrients, the Stir Fry Scallops are filled with garden fresh cauliflower and broccoli, crisp carrot slices, and steamed scallops. Complementing it is the Streamed Pompano with Tausi, which is topped w...

A super luxury resort featuring 250 well-appointed rooms built within a 20-hectare property is set to open in the island of Siquijor by 2020. The new development is a landmark project of 8990 (HOUSE) through its newest subsidiary 8990 Leisure and Resorts. Adama Resort Siquijor boasts of its own private white sand cove and top-notch amenities that highlight the natural beauty and topography of Siquijor. The master plan includes a central foyer that highlights the island’s natural scenery; rooms that are expertly designed to take advantage of natural light enhanced by the use of relaxing earth tone colors; and luxury cabanas beside Siquijor beach’s crystal clear waters. These masterfully designed amenities will be complemented by an exclusive butler service. The  new development marks the company’s first venture in the luxury resort category. According to 8990 Leisure and Resorts president Lowell Yu, the pioneering development will tap the relatively undiscovered t...

Junior golfers in the Philippines will get a chance this December to showcase their game and talent and possibly get recruited to some of the best universities in the world! DreamBig Events, a sports events company dedicated to providing a positive, motivating and challenging platform for young athletes living in Asia to improve their sporting skills is bringing world-class golf coaches for the first time in Asia. Its Gold Series Golf Camp, headlined as The Road To U.S. College Golf, is open to junior golfers aged 12 to 18 years old and will be held at the Orchard Golf & Country Club on December 17 and 18, 2019. Golf Coaches from topmost schools in the US NCAA Division 1 – UCLA (University of California – Los Angeles), Columbia University and UC Berkeley – will run the two-day golf clinic while actively watching the young golfers participate in the 2-day FCG Golf Tournament. At the camp, campers will experience guided range and short game sessions that will allow them...

SM kicks off Kids’ Month with a grand royal celebration ‘Super Kids Day 2019’ at SM Southmall.  Kids, rejoice! SM Supermalls holds its annual Kids’ Month, a month-long celebration featuring a series of fun events and activities that are perfect for the young and young-at-heart. "We aim to build a family-friendly community where everyone, especially the kids, can have a one–of-a-kind shopping and entertainment experience. Kids’ Month is our way of letting kids be themselves and enjoy their childhood in our malls," said SM Supermalls senior vice president for marketing Jonjon San Agustin. Here are top 5 kiddie treats to look forward to at SM this October: 1. Music of the World. As part of the annual UN celebration, SM celebrates diversity with Raise Your Flag happening from October 8 to 24 featuring cultural song and dance presentations as well as colorful display of national flags from around the world! 2. Colors of the World. From the saris of India to the...

(L-R) DOH cancer control program manager Dr. Clar Cairo, PBCS president Dr. Victor Gozali,  breast cancer survivors Bibeth Orteza and Melissa de Leon, and host Suzie Entrata-Abrera discuss the importance of breast cancer prevention and intervention during the Pink Ribbon for Breast Cancer. The Philippines is  one of the countries with the highest incidence of breast cancer in Asia.  The country has been in the list for years because the disease continues to affect a lot of Filipinos, young and old, male and female. “Breast cancer cannot be prevented but the risk can be lowered by changing our lifestyle. Despite this, it still affects a lot of people, young and old, male and female alike. Our best defense is still early detection. This is the goal of our Pink Ribbon Campaign - to promote breast cancer awareness and early detection,” said Dr. Melanie T. Cruz, secretary of the Philippine Breast Cancer Society. Pink Ribbon for Breast Cancer is an annual event ...