KmmunityPH Rolls Out Exciting Hallyu Events This Month Before YG PALM STAGE - 2020 BLACKPINK: THE SHOW

 
In the following weeks, Kmmunity PH and Globe Virtual Hangouts have so much in store for all K-Fans leading up to the highly anticipated YG PALM STAGE - 2020 BLACKPINK: THE SHOW happening on January 31, 2021. The first of it’s kind livestream concert will be available via BlackPink’s YouTube Channel where you can directly purchase tickets and pay with GCash.
 
First in the line-up is the Kmmunity PH Hallyu Singing Bee where select K-Fans and Globe Prepaid subscribers battled through four exciting rounds of trivia questions on all things KPop including popular songs and lyrics on Globe Virtual Hangouts. In the end, five ultimate KPop fans rose to the challenge and went on to showcase how well they know BLACKPINK’s hottest songs on the second round.
 
Hosted by content creator and resident Hallyu fan, AC Soriano, the five contestants played a fun game of Singing Bee featuring BLACKPINK’s hits such as Boombayah, Whistle, Stay, Playing With Fire, As If It’s Your Last, Ice Cream, and How You Like That. It was a close race to the finish and in the end, Angel, a BLACKPINK ultimate stan who’s actually a new member of Kmmunity, was declared the Singing Bee Champion and received Php 5,000 worth of GCash Credits, Kmmunity merch set, Shopee and Viu vouchers, and BlackPink Light Up The Sky Box while the other 4 contestants were given Php 1,000 of GCash Credits, Kmmunity merch set, Shopee and Viu vouchers.
 
Members of the KmmunityPH Facebook group also got the chance to win exclusive Kmmunity PH prizes by sending in their answers on what their favorite K-Pop songs and lyrics are in the livestream comments with the hashtags #GlobeKmmunityPH and #OLTogetherNow.
 
Following the Hallyu Singing Bee are K-Unboxing: Hallyu Gifting Edition, K-Moji Challenge, and K-Pop Kristmas Live Pop-up. Win passes for BLACKPINK’s first livestream concert, YG PALM STAGE - 2020 BLACKPINK: THE SHOW, when you join the Ultimate Stan Raffle Promo! Simply register to SURF4ALL99 and SURF4ALL249 for Globe mobile customers and HOMESURF199 and HOMEBOOST299 for Globe at Home customers. For more details, visit glbe.co/bptheshowfaqs.
 
This December, KmmunityPH gives your more reason to say #KmmunityHwaiting! Join the exclusive Facebook group on https://www.facebook.com/groups/2216020118728072 now to get the latest updates on everything K-Culture.

Kiana V Shares the Stories Behind Her Hits in Exclusive Meet & Greet on Globe Virtual Hangouts

 

Kiana V during the Exclusive Meet & Greet on Globe Virtual Hangouts

Kiana V Shares the Stories Behind Her Hits in Exclusive Meet & Greet on Globe Virtual Hangouts

 
Last December 3, Paradise Rising artists Kiana V, Fern, Jason Dhakal, Massiah, and Leila Alcasid performed alongside 88rising artists and other global acts on the Double Happiness Winter Wonder Festival featured on Globe Virtual Hangouts. This is the inaugural event of the newest concert platform that aims to showcase the best of Asian talents, Eastern Standard Time.
 
In line with this, Virtual Hangouts invited Kiana V for an exclusive Double Happiness Festival online meet and greet where she shared how the experience performing in the online fest was plus some never before told stories about her hit songs. Lucky fans also got to ask her their personal questions and even received surprise giveaways!
 
About performing in the Double Happiness Winter Wonder Festival
Kiana described the experience as “thrilling” especially having to work with an amazing crew for the show. “I hadn’t performed outside of my bedroom for a very long time. It kinda made me a little anxious at the start knowing that I’ll be in front of a professional crew where I have to get all dressed up and perform for more than just my camera,” she added. “I’m excited for this crazy pandemic to blow over, because it’s really so much fun to work with different people and that was what I enjoyed the most.”
 
To get ready for her performance, Kiana had to go back to doing her vocal exercises religiously and mentally prepare herself. “It was really a lot of mental preparation that went into it, reminding myself that ‘it’s back to work’ and being open to collaboration and feedback.”
 
Stories behind the hits
During the meet and greet, Kiana played a little game of spin the wheel with the host  where she had to share a trivia or a fun fact behind each song that the wheel will land on. Here’s some of our favorites:
 
Corners started as poetry that Kiana wrote while on a flight to Malaysia. Eventually, she found herself in California with some friends where she started singing the then poem over music. “It just fit so well so we decided that we’re going to work together and make it a full song.”
 
When it comes to her collaboration with Filipino-Aussie artist and producer Billy Davis, No Rush, Kiana originally envisioned to be an ethereal, RnB ballad type of song, but after working on it with Billy in the studio, it had turned out to be the upbeat and danceable track that we all love. She noted that this is one of the things that she loves about working with producers in the studio, because you’ll never know where they will take you.
 
On the shooting of the Safe Place music video, Kiana shared that despite it being a crazy and worrisome time in California due to the rising COVID-19 cases, the 88rising and Paradise Rising teams were so collaborative and quick to send inspiration and moodboards. The play on different fabrics as seen on the video is the director’s idea to convey how something so beautiful can also be suffocating. It’s thinking that you have found your safe place but in the end, it’s not as safe as you think.
 
What’s next for Kiana V?
2021 is going to be a good year for all fans of Kiana, because according to her, she will be releasing “lots of new music” of the year to come. No details yet but be sure to always be on the lookout on her social media pages!
 
Globe Virtual Hangouts has more exclusive events and experiences like this in store for the coming year with  more of your favorite artists and bigger international events to watch out for! To join, just open the GlobeOne app, click on the Discover tab, click “View All'' to go to Virtual Hangouts Page, choose your preferred event, and click “Join.” You can also tap the heart icon to save the event or share it to your friends.
 
For a worry-free experience, register to Globe Prepaid’s Go promos that come with high all access GBs perfect for streaming more content on Virtual Hangouts! Need more data? Get additional 1GB of your favorite apps when you register to GoBOOSTERS on top of your existing promo. All these you can do on the GlobeOne app.
 
Download the GlobeOne app for free from the Play Store and App Store. To know more about Globe Virtual Hangouts, visit Glbe.co/GlobeOne

 

Don’t Eat Your Heart Out: Understanding the ‘Holiday Heart Syndrome’

This year, we have been faced with an unprecedented pandemic which has taught us never to take our health for granted. But as we near its end and gear up for the holidays, there are still plenty of things to watch out for when it comes to our health. 

“That is because while the holidays are a time for merriment and indulgence, it has also been linked to a high incidence of heart attacks, stroke, and rising blood pressure, leading to the phenomenon called ‘Holiday Heart Syndrome,” said Dr. Amal Makhloufi Benchouk, The Country Lead of Sanofi Philippines.    

 

But what is it about the most joyous time of the year that causes this unfortunate spike in cardiovascular-related health concerns and how do we avoid it?

Overindulging

“During the holiday season, many of us tend to overindulge or consume food excessively. Unfortunately, a significant amount of these may be high in sodium content,” Amal forewarns. 

Why is this a problem? For some people, eating too much salty food may cause their blood pressure to rise. However, this shouldn’t deter you from indulging during the holidays, but just learning to be mindful of what you eat and avoiding excess salt can help minimize the risk for heart problems.

Frequent binge-drinking

With holiday get-togethers come frequent social drinking. Just like the overindulgence of food, the festive season is often marked by the consumption of copious amounts of alcohol. 

“The danger of binge-drinking as frequently as we do during the holidays is that it can lead to atrial fibrillation which is characterized by an abnormal heart rhythm that may increase the risk of stroke, heart attack, and heart failure,” she warns.

Festive fatigue

The holidays bring with it added excitement and fatigue. For some, this can mean going from one party to another, night after night, until the wee hours of the day, leading to very little sleep which adds extra stress on their hearts. Combined with binge-drinking and overindulging, and one can be very susceptible to an unhealthy mix of triggering factors. “That is why moderation is key, especially when it comes to indulging in salty foods, alcoholic beverages, or knowing when to call it a night,” the Sanofi country lead explains.

Know the risks

Going into the holidays, it is definitely crucial to be aware of any potential risk factors or pre-existing conditions that can affect your health. If you are currently overweight and/or a heavy smoker or have a history with conditions such as hypertension, diabetes, or chronic kidney disease then you or your family may be at a higher risk of experiencing heart problems, so it is best to be mindful of your health and keep watch of your holiday activities.

When should you get help

In the event that you start feeling symptoms such as chest pains, you should already start calling for help. Don’t forgo treatment just because you don’t want to spoil the holiday mood. It’s always better to be on the safe side when it comes to your health.

“The greatest gift that you can give to your family is the gift of health so we must encourage everyone to live a healthy and active lifestyle,” Amal intimated. “This is why we continue to educate Filipino families to have a better understanding of the disease, beyond the medicine, to empower every single person for self-monitoring and the improvement of their lifestyle. This is our commitment to building a healthier Philippines."

Mekeni employees extend goodwill to communities with gift-giving activities amid pandemic

Mekeni continues its annual gift giving activity. Four institutions in Pampanga received gift packs good for three to six months.

Mekeni employees extend goodwill to communities with gift-giving activities amid pandemic
 
Christmas came early for four select institutions in Pampanga as Mekeni Food Corporation employees spearheaded the company’s annual gift-giving tradition.
 
Beneficiaries from the Bahay Pag-ibig (home for the aged), Munting Tahanan ng Nazareth (for special and abandoned children), Duyan ni Maria (home for abandoned children), and Children’s Home of Immaculate Mary (home for abandoned children) received special gift packs which Mekeni employees gathered using the funds the management and they themselves raised.

“Christmas is all about giving but more than the gifts we have given our communities, we aspire to spread hope amidst these difficult times we are facing. We know that due to the pandemic, celebrating Christmas will not be the same this year. But we will not let this dampen the yuletide spirit as we ought to make this season more meaningful than ever,” said Mekeni’s Head of HR, Marilou Uy.

Mekeni has been doing this annual gift-giving program since 2008. However, due to the health concerns surrounding COVID-19, the program had to be done differently. Rather than going to the institutions and holding a program, Mekeni employees had to drop off the gifts in designated areas to ensure safety precautions can be maintained.

With the support of the management, Mekeni employees were able to provide joy to their beneficiaries through grocery packages that can sustain their basic food and hygiene requirements for the next three to six months.

“We hope to give memorable experiences and lasting memories for our beneficiaries through our annual gift-giving tradition. But this year, despite the challenges, we go over and beyond our mission by reminding them that whatever the pandemic throws at us, we will continue to serve them and uplift the quality of their lives in every way we can,” Uy said.

Apart from giving gifts to their partner communities, Mekeni did not hesitate to continue looking after the well-being of those who are beyond their circle. When disasters badly hit several places in Luzon, Mekeni employees showed their malasakit and perseverance to help the devastated communities through donation drives.

Mekeni employees prepared hot meals for the victims of Taal Volcano

In February 2020, after the Taal Volcano erupted, the company, together with the local government of Porac, Red Cross Rizal Chapter, and Rotary Club of San Juan del Monte, immediately went to Agoncillo, Batangas and held an outreach program for those who were affected. More than 2,000 hot meals were prepared and provided by the employees on-site.

Recently, food packs were turned over to the flood victims in the town of Macabebe and to the Aeta communities in Porac, Pampanga that have been hit by Typhoons Rolly and Ulysses. The indigenous communities were given gift packs consisting of food and other essentials. Mekeni also participated in outreach activities in Bicol by donating products for a feeding program there.

“Malasakit in the time of adversity is much-needed by our fellow Filipinos these days. As we ensure that our own employees and their families are safe and well-provided, we are also helping other communities to recover after being hit by natural disasters on top of the physical and economic problems that the pandemic has brought to them. We will continue reaching out to more communities to address their needs during these trying times,” said Mekeni President Prudencio S. Garcia.

Araneta City and Gateway Gallery's KulturaSerye Returns with a Webinar on Rizal

Manila, Philippines – This Rizal Month, Gateway Gallery will air its fifth KulturaSerye webinar Rizal Kritikal: Mga Aral sa Sibika, mga Isyung Panlipunan, at Pagbubuo ng Bansa.

The talk will bring insights on José Rizal in the context of culture, social issues, and nation-building of his time. The KulturaSerye webinar will be delivered by Gateway Gallery’s go-to historian, Mr. John Ray Ramos, a History lecturer at Ateneo de Manila University and author of the book Bayani Biographies: José Rizal.

The talk gives an overview of Rizal’s critical ideas as seen from his novels Noli me Tangere and El Filibusterismo as well as his political and social writings. Oftentimes, Rizal is misinterpreted as a passive reformer as opposed to a critical nationalist.

From Rizal, we can learn how critical views of social issues and society itself are important in trying to address them and ultimately contribute to making a better country. In sum, the talk shows the critical social and political ideas of Rizal during his time which are still relevant in today’s society.

The talk will air on December 19, Saturday, at 2 PM. It will be live-streamed from Gateway Gallery’s Facebook page (GatewayGalleryPH). The free webinar is open to the public and does not require pre-registration.

Viewers are encouraged to join the discussion and share the live webinar so that more people will benefit from the talk. Viewers are also encouraged to like the Gateway Gallery Facebook page so as not to miss the live lecture. Games and prizes also await the viewers during the KulturaSerye talk.

For inquiries on KulturaSerye webinar, feel free to contact Gateway Gallery at gatewaygallery@aranetagroup.com, 8588-4000 local 8300, or via its social media at Facebook (GatewayGalleryPh), Instagram (gateway.gallery), Twitter (gateway_gallery), and YouTube (Gateway Gallery).

Managed by the J. Amado Araneta Foundation, Gateway Gallery is the art museum of Araneta City devoted to the promotion of Philippine culture, heritage, and art. It is located at the 5th floor of Gateway Tower. 

Ben&Ben music video of KathNiel-starrer “Sa Susunod na Habang Buhay”

Kathryn Bernardo and Daniel Padilla stars as a romantic couple stuck in a time loop in the new music video for Ben&Ben’s “Sa Susunod na Habang Buhay.”

Helmed by the band’s resident director Jorel Lising and written by Gaya Sa Pelikula creator Juan Miguel Severo, the song’s visual narrative explores the complicated relationship dynamics of two lovers who have lost and found each other in a fated cycle of events.

Complicated love in a time loop

Severo reveals that “Sa Susunod na Habang Buhay,” a song that deals with the “possibility of another life to succeed in love,” complements the KathNiel starrer that he has in mind. Having written Hintayan ng Langit, an evocative piece that examines eternal romance in the afterlife, Severo decided to do away with another reincarnation story for his interpretation of the material.

“Then it hit me, what about a couple stuck in a time loop?”, the prolific writer points out. “What if every time one dies, they go back to their first date with one of them carrying memories from their previous run? It took the band, Direk, and I a couple of zoom calls, brainstorming ideas to compound on that concept and get everything laid out before I presented it to KathNiel.”

Severo’s writing lends to a beautifully understated film that allows KathNiel to tackle their role with nuanced sensitivity and depth. To make it more impactful on screen, music video director Jorel Lising makes use of non-liner, fragmented storytelling as a way to capture the couple’s memories in its undiluted form. Lising adds, “It all comes from the content of the song - it’s a strong piece that speaks about love lost and an intense sense of longing, so the process of developing the treatment and Severo’s script came from that. The challenge for us was to maximize the emotion based on that kind of narrative.”

Working with KathNiel

According to the band’s co-vocalist and acoustic guitarist Miguel Benjamin, the journey behind the music video was both a dream and a serendipitous sequence of events. "About two months ago, an interesting exchange came up while our keyboardist Patricia Lasaten was working on the music of Juan Miguel Severo’s Gaya Sa Pelikula,” says Miguel. “As a way of showing appreciation when we offered our song ‘Ride Home’ to the series, Juan Miguel graciously offered us in return to write a script for the ‘Sa Susunod Na Habang Buhay’ MV, and pitch it to KathNiel, as they are good friends. We pushed through, and to our surprise, they loved both the idea of working with all of us and the script. This was a big thing for us because we never expected that these great artists would be open to doing a music video with us, given their stature and busy schedules.”

Despite the time constraints, Lising didn’t experience difficulty working with one of the biggest love teams in recent memory. The nine-piece collective’s frequent collaborator recounts that he only has few adjustments for every take, thanks to KathNiel’s astounding professionalism and craft. “We didn’t have a whole lot of time with them, but they definitely possess star power quality on camera. Every frame we took of them has a strong presence that comes with lots of experience, especially since they’ve been acting for so long now.”

The music video of Ben&Ben’s “Sa Susunod na Habang Buhay” is out now via Sony Music Philippines. 

 

Pru Life UK promotes a money-smart Christmas with Cha-Ching Kid$ at Home

The free webinar taught financial literacy for families to enjoy a more meaningful holiday

 

Leading life insurer Pru Life UK, in partnership with Prudence Foundation and Junior Achievement Philippines, ushered in a cheerful Christmas season with Cha-Ching Kid$ at Home: Money-Smart and Meaningful Holidays for Filipino Families. The expert-led and fun-filled webinar was attended by about 500 parents and their children.

 

The virtual event, which was hosted by Pru Life UK Assistant Manager for Investments Marketing Mary Jane Pangan, featured family and finance experts Rose Fres Fausto and Edric Mendoza, who shared how families can create a purposeful Christmas. Kids joined fun holiday-themed games that taught them basic money management concepts.

Pru Life UK VP for Investment Marketing Mark Anthony Valino welcomes webinar attendees with his opening remarks. 

“While this Christmas season comes amid unprecedented times, the joyous spirit of the holidays remains and thrives. We hope that by extending the Cha-Ching money management values to families at this time of the year we will be able to help them have a more money-smart and meaningful celebration,” says Pru Life UK Senior Vice President and Chief Customer Marketing Officer Allan Tumbaga.

 

Expert-led talks on a purposeful Christmas

Fausto is an investment banker turned author, columnist, and speaker on purposeful parenting. She also runs FQ Mom, a blog and YouTube channel that focuses on money and family. She led the talk Holidays on a Budget: How to Have a Merrier Christmas by Spending Less and shared her “Christmas FQripot Tips” with the audience. These include cutting back on gifts, clothes, and decor expenses despite seeing big discounts and sales. “When you shop at sale events, be sure to know the actual price of the item, and keep in mind that you should only buy what you need and not because it is cheap,” said Fausto.

IFE Management Advisers Inc. president and FQMom Rose Fres Fausto shares tips on how Filipino families can have a merrier Christmas by spending less. 

 

She was joined by Mendoza, an entrepreneur, family advocate, and former lead anchor of ANC’s On the Money. He is also the chairman of Homeschool Global Learning Inc. and president of The Parentschooling Co. At the virtual event, he shared his insights on the values of charity in Meaningful Holidays: Ways You Can Give Back to Your Community, where his three kids made a special appearance and talked about buying gifts for the family with a budget. Mendoza also encouraged parents to teach their kids about charity at their young age. “For children to embrace the value of giving, we must provide them the opportunity to experience the joy of it. That way it would be easier for them to practice giving back to the community as they grow up,” he said.

  Parentschooling Co. president and former lead anchor of ANC’s On the Money Edric Mendoza shares insights on how parents and kids can give back to the community this holiday season and beyond. 

 

During the games, kids tested their money management skills in Kris Kringle Quiz, where they had to choose the best gift that fits a given category and budget. In Matching Gifts, kids had to memorize the names of children and their corresponding Christmas wishes. They then had to match a donation to the kid who wished for it. A total of six participants won a P500 gift card and a set of Cha-Ching comic books, while one lucky attendee won a brand-new tablet and a Christmas gift basket perfect for Noche Buena.

Host MJ Pangan enjoins participants and their kids to take part in the fun Christmas-themed virtual games . 

 

The virtual event was in line with Pru Life UK’s We DO Education commitment to promote financial literacy in the Philippines. Beyond the webinar, Cha-Ching Kid$ at Home offers a set of printable resources that parents can use to teach their children basic money management concepts like Earn, Save, Spend, and Donate. The modules were created by Pru Life UK and Prudence Foundation, the community investment arm of Prudence plc.

 

“While Christmas can be an extravagant celebration, many of us are feeling the blow of the pandemic. We hope Cha-Ching Kid$ at Home provides people with helpful and useful money management tips, especially on saving and donating. Then hopefully everyone can still feel and share in the Christmas spirit even though traditional festivities may be disrupted,” shares Marc Fancy, Executive Director of Prudence Foundation.

 

Download the Cha-Ching Kid$ at Home modules and give your kids the gift of financial wisdom this Christmas. Access them on chaching.cartoonnetworkasia.com/en/. For more information, visit the Pru Life UK website at prulifeuk.com.ph or the Facebook page at facebook.com/prulifeukofficial.

 

Shopee 12.12 Birthday Sale kicks off on a high note, with four times more items sold in the first hour compared to last year 

MANILA, December 12, 2020 - Shopee, the leading e-commerce platform in Southeast Asia and Taiwan, kicked off its fifth 12.12 Birthday Sale on a high note with strong enthusiasm from shoppers across the region. Shopping activity surged at midnight on December 12, with four times more items sold in the first hour compared to 2019.

Key trends in the first 8 hours of 12.12 Big Christmas Sale

● Home & Living, Men’s Apparel, and Health & Personal Care are the most popular product categories among Filipino consumers.

● People are prepping for fitness-related New Year’s resolutions by stocking up on activewear. In the first 8 hours of December 12, around 30,000 units of men’s jogger pants were sold. Filipinos are also keen on doing some home organizing over the holidays, with around 22,000 shoe box organizers sold. 

● Filipinos are eagerly snapping up the best deals in celebration of Shopee’s fifth birthday, with one shopper making almost 100 orders in the morning of December 12. Shopping activity is also highest in Metro Manila, South Luzon, and North Luzon.

 

Discover more unbeatable deals at Shopee 12.12 Big Christmas Sale until midnight at https://shopee.ph/m/christmas-sale.

DTI Bagsakan Project sustains MSMEs with continued market presence

 

DTI Bagsakan Project sustains MSMEs with continued market presence 

In March this year, the Department of Trade and Industry-Bureau of Domestic Trade Promotion was all set to kick off its much-awaited 2020 National Food Fair, which was scheduled to run from March 12 -16, at the Megatrade Halls of SM Megamall. This had to be postponed due to Proclamation No. 922, declaring a state of public health emergency. 

With the need to extend support to the local micro, small, ane medium enterprises (MSMEs) affected by the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the DTI through its Trade Promotions Group (TPG) led by Usec. Abdulgani Macatoman initiated the Bagsakan Project, a selling activity with a limited number of MSMEs from the different regions, particularly those selling fresh produce and processed foods.

Implemented by the Bureau of Domestic Trade Promotion (BDTP) in cooperation with the DTI-Regional Operations Group, the event is marketed online through the BDTP social media pages, showcasing the participating MSMEs and their products to reach more consumers especially in the National Capital Region (NCR). Orders are taken before the event and confirmed orders are prepared for pick up on the scheduled date. Eventually, in addition to cash only transactions, digital payments and bank transfers have provided added convenience to the consumers and MSMEs.

On December 11 to 13, the 27th Bagsakan event for the year will be held at the Festival Mall in Alabang, Muntinlupa City, with 40 participating exhibitors from the provinces of Bataan, Nueva Ecija, Isabela, Laguna, Batangas, Sorsogon, Samar, Zamboanga City, Davao City, and the National Capital Region. They will be offering food products and other regional delicacies, as well as garments, footwear, home decor, and other gift items. In the spirit of the holidays, this offers shoppers an opportunity to discover unique gift ideas for their loved ones while also supporting our Filipino entrepreneurs.

To-date the Bagsakan project has assisted 150 MSMEs, 13 social associations, and 4 fruit growers cooperatives from 26 provinces, by making their products accessible to Metro Manila customers. The project has generated over Php 14-million for the participating exhibitors, thus helping MSMEs sustain their business activities and continue providing employment and livelihood in the regions.

The Bagsakan Project is part of the DTI's advocacy to "Buy Local, Go Lokal, Shop Local, Eat Local, and Travel Local." 

The Weekend Bagsakan at The Festival Mall will run from December 11 to 13 during mall hours, which are 11AM to 8PM. For those who prefer to shop from home, you can also check out the products online on the Facebook page @BDTP. 

 

#EndFamilyViolenceAgainstLGBTQChildren #EndGBV #FamiLigtasPH

FamiLIGTAS Calls For Increased Attention To GBV Against LBGTQ+

As the nation observes the annual 18-day campaign to end gender-based violence (GBV),FamiLigtas reminds us to also address the violence and discrimination experienced by the LGBTQ+ community.

FamiLigtas is a digital campaign against GBV in the Philippines during the time of COVID-19. But because GBV is most commonly associated with spousal and domestic violence against women, the experiences of violence among lesbians, gays, bisexuals, transgenders, queers, and other non-binary individuals are often left unheard.

According to Human Rights Watch, only 15% of Filipinos are living in areas with ordinances against discrimination and violence based on SOGIE. The same report said that the low reporting and intervention of this kind of GBV is caused by the negative messages that the victim-survivors are receiving from authorities.

As the LGBTQ+ community continues to fight for the passage of the Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity Expression (SOGIE) Equality Bill in congress, more and more non-binary people continue to experience discrimination, and even violence, at home and in public spaces.It is with that in mind that we are inviting you to a webinar about the often unreported instances of GBV against LGBTQ+ persons.

#EndFamilyViolenceAgainstLGBTQChildren #EndGBV #FamiLigtasPH

 

Jollibee brings to life the magic of DreamWorks movies in six collectible Jolly Kiddie Meal toys.

The new jolly kiddie meal toys feature the lovable characters from DreamWorks Kou Kou

DreamWorks has long been known to produce the best animated films for kids. Their films are not only fun and highly entertaining, but they have also introduced a number of popular and memorable characters over the years. 

 

This December, Jollibee brings to life the magic of DreamWorks most popular movie franchises like How To Train Your Dragon, Shrek, and Kung Fu Panda, as they unveil their latest set of Jolly Kiddie Meal toys in partnership with DreamWorks Kou Kou. With this first-ever tie-up between the two brands well-loved by children, jolly kids can delight in six amazing toys that give shape to their favorite cartoon characters.

Kids can make the well-loved ogre Shrek move his arms, mouth, and ears, as well as inspire Princess Fiona’s heart to light up by pushing the button that can be found at the back of their bodies. 

Jolly kids can call for everyone’s dragon best friend, Toothless, and make him move his mouth and tongue by pressing the switch on the rear of his head. They can do the same for his charming mate Light Fury to see her eyes move left and right. What’s more, little ones can make Light Fury flap her wings and light up her body by moving the lever at the back of her body. 

Joining the squad is the lovable kung fu master Po, who can do a roundhouse kick when the button at his back is scrolled. Completing the six collectible figures is the strong, fearless, and skillful Tigress. Kids can watch her do tiger-style kung fu as they position her onto the base, move the scroll on her back, and witness her spin her staff.

Collect all six (6) Jolly Kiddie Meal toys featuring the characters from renowned DreamWorks animated movies, each coming in its own Jolly Joy Box, with every purchase of a Yumburger (P80), Yumburger Meal with Drink (P100), Jolly Spaghetti (P95), Jolly Spaghetti Meal with Drink (P105), 1-pc. Burger Steak (P95), 1-pc.Burger Steak Meal with Drink (P105), 1-pc.Chickenjoy with rice (P127), 1-pc. Chickenjoy Meal with Drink (P142). Collectors can also get the complete set with a purchase of Jollibee’s 6-pc. Chickenjoy Bucket for only P649.

These Jolly Kiddie Meal toys are available at all Jollibee stores from December 1, 2020 to January 31, 2021. Visit your nearest Jollibee branch today to collect all six toys, or have them delivered to your home. Order through the new Jollibee App, JollibeeDelivery.com, #87000,  Facebook Messenger, GrabFood, foodpanda, or LalaFood.

Shopee Relaunches Shopee Milyonaryo in time for the 12.12 Big Christmas Sale

Shopee Relaunches Shopee Milyonaryo in time for the 12.12 Big Christmas Sale

Shopee users can tune in to GMA’s Wowowin for a chance to win ₱1 million in cash and other prizes from December 6 to 12

MANILA, December 9, 2020 - Shopee, the leading e-commerce platform in Southeast Asia and Taiwan, brings back the popular game Shopee Milyonaryo as part of its 12.12 Big Christmas Sale. Shopee Milyonaryo is an interactive lucky draw contest on GMA’s Wowowin, where Shopee users stand a chance to win up to ₱1,000,000 in cash. 

From December 6 to 12, users can participate by logging on to the Shopee app and claiming their raffle code^[1]. They get additional entries per draw when they purchase mobile load or data via the Shopee app. Each completed order qualifies as an additional entry. Users with the winning raffle codes will be announced daily during GMA’s Wowowin. During the show, contestants will play Pera O Kahon, during which they will guess which of the boxes contains ₱1,000,000 in cash. 

Meanwhile, on December 12, a second daily winner also gets the chance to play Spin-A-Wil, where they will spin a prize roulette for a chance to win up to P300,000. The player will have 3 spin chances. 

From December 7 to 12, users can play Guess the Box on the Shopee app, where they guess which box contains P1,000,000 for the daily Pera O Kahon game. Users who guess correctly get the chance to share a coin pool of up to  P50,000. 

Martin Yu, Director at Shopee Philippines, said, “Shopee is excited to announce this year’s second run of Shopee Milyonaryo. After the success of last month’s raffle, we want to continue spreading the Christmas joy to more Filipinos with 12.12 Shopee Milyonaryo. As the year draws to a close, Shopee remains committed to creating initiatives that engage and uplift our consumers.”

Key highlights of Shopee’s 12.12 Big Christmas Sale

Until December 12, shoppers can expect prizes and big deals from leading brands.

●     12.12 Big Christmas TV Special: Viewers can win over P12,000,000 worth of prizes by tuning in to GMA’s Wowowin on December 12, 10am.

●     #MyShopeeWish TikTok Challenge: Until December 30, users can join the #MyShopeeWish TikTok Challenge to win prizes. Winners will be announced on January 15, 2021 on Shopee’s official social media accounts.

●     Christmas deals and promotions: Shopee users can enjoy free shipping with no minimum spend, up to 20% cashback, and ₱1 deals on selected items such as mobile cases and accessories, home and kitchen items, and nail care products.

●     Exclusive deals from leading brands: Shoppers can enjoy up to 50% off from leading brands on Shopee Mall, including L’Oreal Paris, P&G Beauty, Abbott, Unilever Home and Food, Havaianas, Nestle, Huawei, Vivo, Pampers, RB Enfagrow, and Infinix.

More details about Shopee Milyonaryo are available on https://shopee.ph/m/shopee-milyonaryo.

For more information about Shopee 12.12 Big Christmas Sale, visit https://shopee.ph/m/christmas-sale.

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

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Easy Ways to Keep Your Home Clean, Healthy, and Pollution-Fre

Easy Ways to Keep Your Home Clean, Healthy, and Pollution-Free

Many believe that most pollutants can be found outside when unclean air and dust can easily enter the home. One example is through open windows and doors. Besides that, viruses and bacteria can latch onto almost anything and be brought anywhere and everywhere. 

 

To keep the house clean and hygienic, here are a few ways that one can do to keep the living space clean and pollution-free:

 

1. Minimize bringing in pollution into your home

Sometimes, there are moments when key members of the house have to take essential trips outside or run personal errands. Hence, there are many instances when fine particles of dust, bacteria, and germs stick onto the clothes’ fibers. So it’s crucial to make it a habit to wash both hands and change out of clothes before plopping onto the couch or bed to relax.

 

For those with plenty of clothes that require regular steaming, ironing, or dry cleaning, having a clothing care appliance like the Samsung AirDresser is a worthwhile investment. With its Jet Air system and Air Hangers, powerful jets of air can remove dust off clothes inside and out. At the same time, the JetSteam feature infuses high-temperature steam deep into the fabric of clothes, removing up to 99% of certain viruses and bacteria, house mites, allergens, odor-causing gases, and other harmful substances.

 

2. Keep the floor squeaky clean

Dust, pet dander, and other allergens can accumulate quickly on the floor. Thus,  daily vacuuming should be the first line of defense in preventing dust build-ups. It usually requires heavier and more comprehensive vacuuming for rooms with carpets at least twice a week. The carpet’s fibers can trap dust, dirt, allergens, and absorb grime and spills, giving way to bacteria. 

 

To make vacuuming less of a headache, it is ideal to invest in a cordless vacuum to let go of the need to search for an available socket in every room. The Samsung Jet Cyclone Stick Vacuum is a cordless stick vacuum cleaner that makes cleaning almost an effortless task. Thanks to its Digital Inverter Motor that consistently maintains a high level of energy efficiency while sustaining an industry-leading suction power of up to 150W. Besides, Samsung’s five-layer filtration system can capture up to 99.999% of micro dust particles, including 0.3~10μm sized particles and allergens, to help keep the house spotless and the health of homeowners in check.

 

Another good thing about the Samsung Jet Cyclone Stick Vacuum is that there’s no need to worry about having to forcefully drag the vacuum along by its wheels to reach every nook and corner of the house. With its handheld model that only weighs 1.45kg, there would be a lesser strain on the wrist, and this bothersome household chore can now be turned into a more convenient and efficient activity. Days at home can be made better with floors that are dust and dirt free all day.

 

3. Maintain good air quality at home

With most people spending more time at home these days, maintaining good indoor air quality has never been more important. It’s a good thing that there’s a foolproof and quick way to clean and keep the air hygienic, and that is to consider buying an air purifier.

 

Samsung Air Purifiers can capture up to 99.97% of ultrafine dust and even bacteria to help combat seasonal allergies and make old air new again. The air purifiers have three distinct filters that house a multi-layered purification system designed to capture airborne particles, harmful gases, and inhibit the spread of captured bacteria. Even when outside, air quality can be remotely controlled with Samsung’s SmartThings app making fresh indoor air available anytime.

 

With health and hygiene taking a higher priority during this period, it pays to put more attention to ensuring that the house is kept clean as much as possible. Practice taking proactive steps to reduce the risk of transmission and contamination by steaming the clothes more often, vacuuming almost all the surfaces at home, and keeping the air inside purified, for a healthier environment for the whole family, especially during the holidays.

 

Start holiday shopping, and get up to 25% off on Samsung Digital Appliances' 12.12 SUPER SALE happening from December 12-19, 2020. Score discounts and offers online, and on participating dealer online stores. Visit SamsungPH on Facebook and https://www.samsung.com/ph/offer/ to watch out for the full promo mechanics.                  

Vitasoy’s Milky Town website features engaging content such as recipe videos, health and kitchen tips, and raffle draws. 

Fun games, recipe ideas and prizes await visitors of Vitasoy’s virtual town

 

In the spirit of staying at home and staying healthy, Vitasoy recently launched Vitasoy Milky Town, an online hub where you can discover entertaining and informative content about Vitasoy Plus Milky. Visitors can enjoy a milky adventure with the website’s various recipe tutorial videos and fun games, and even win prizes in the weekly raffle draws.
 
Engage with celebrities and online content creators
Have fun browsing Vitasoy’s neighborhood-themed site and entertaining content at the comfort of your homes. Check out the houses of Milky Town “neighbors” like Vitasoy Plus Milky online ambassador Danica Sotto-Pingris; and other online content creators Isha Borromeo, Thea Sy, Team Malunggay, and Haidee and Hazel Quing.

Vitasoy Plus Milky online ambassador Danica Sotto-Pingris shares how she cooks Milky Sopas using Vitasoy Plus Milky

 
Learn more about how they fell in love with the nutritious and creamy Vitasoy Plus Milky. Snag a few of their favorite Vitasoy recipes that include milk teas, noodles, and vegan banana bread.

Get ideas for your next kitchen adventure by streaming this soy milk tea recipe clip, and many other recipe videos, at Vitasoy Milky Town website 

Visit more spots to get an awesome prize
Fun, exciting activities, and games also await at Vitasoy Milky Town’s hangout spots. Visit the town’s Playground to play the Milky Blends game for a chance to win gift certificates.
 
You can also check out Milky Town’s Park to capture your best moments at the Vitasoy Milky Town photo booth. This feature lets you post your photo on your social feed. You can even say “Hi!” and make new friends through the Community Freedom Wall. To buy your own stash of Vitasoy Plus Milky, the brand’s newest variant, visit the town’s Milky Shop

 
You can earn points by taking a tour of the entire Vitasoy Milky Town and ticking of all activities. Those who collect 100 points automatically qualify for the weekly raffle, and get the chance to be one of the 14 lucky winners of Php 1,000 worth of online vouchers. Check out Milky Town’s Announcement Wall to see if you’re one of the lucky winners.

Vitasoy Plus Milky has been giving away samples of its healthy soy milk drink through its Milky Truck. 

 
Bringing fun to more places
Bringing the excitement of this online town closer to people’s homes is the “Milky Truck” that has been going around Metro Manila since November. Catch Vitasoy’s “Milk Men” as they give away free Vitasoy Milky kits that contain a carton of Vitasoy Plus Soy Milk, freebies and a special invite code that recipients can use to enter the Vitasoy Milky Town.
 
To ensure the consumers’ and its staff’s safety, Vitasoy implements strict health and safety protocols, such as social distancing, wearing of masks, and disinfecting Vitasoy Plus kits. Its staff also undergo regular rapid testing.
 
Vitasoy Plus Milky is a soy milk drink that is healthy and creamy. This milky drink is high in Calcium, made from 100% plant-based protein and cholesterol free. It is available in supermarkets for only Php 85. You can also conveniently purchase it online via Lazada, Shopee, and Zalora.
 
Discover the milky goodness of Vitasoy Plus Milky and join us at www.vitasoymilkytown.ph. Use the invite code milkytime to enter.