Sharp announces "We Love Philippines : Sharp for Every Juan" Campaign's Winners of Trip for 2 to Japan

The Land of the Rising - Japan; is undoubtedly included in every Pinoy's travel bucket list. The country is not just loved for its picturesque landscapes and skyscrapers; amazing tourist spots - be natural or man-made; unique and exciting culinary experience; but most of all, the place is home to one of the world's most disciplined and respectful locals.

This Christmas season, Sharp Philippines Corp. (SPC) came to a mission to make some of our fellow Pinoys dreams to come true, via the We Love Philippines: Sharp for Every Juan campaign. Every purchase of any Sharp product entitled the customer to a raffle ticket wherein six grand winners were drawn who won a Trip for 2 to Japan. The campaign aimed to give back to all the Filipino households for their unwavering support throughout these years. Aside from the Japan trip, Sharp products were also given away to other nationwide winners, which were electronically drawn during their grand raffle draw.

The awarding ceremony for the grand winners was held last Dec. 19, 2018 at the SPC Main Office. Hosted by PR and Marketing Manager Amor Golifardo, the six winners shared their initial reaction when they found out that they won the grand raffle draw.  Furthermore, they recounted how Sharp became part of their household as their most-trusted appliance brand. Lastly, all of them expressed their gratitude to Sharp and to its President Mr. Kazuo Kito for this once in a lifetime Japan experience.

Aside from media and bloggers, the event was attended by Product Planning and Management Senior Marketing Manager Mr. Arthur Aranas and his Assistant Managers Ms. Iris Negal and Mr. Ronald Rendon. Sales and Trade Marketing Senior Manager Ms. Marlene Villarino also took part during the awarding ceremony.

Here is the complete list of winners:

1. Josephine Coralde - bought Flat Screen TV at Abenson Gaisano, Albay Legaspi
2. Adelaida Gutierrez - bought Washing Machine at Imperial San Pablo, Laguna
3. Alberto Urot - bought TV at Imperial Mandaue, Cebu
4. Plushey Baza - boughtTwin-tub washing machine at Emilio Lim Store, Dasmarinas Cavite
5. Dolores Fabros - bought Washing Machine at Imperial Appliances Centre, Koronadal
6. Jeanifer Revilla - boughtTV at Emcor, Digos City, Davao

The said event was the concluding part of the first phase of the We Love Philippines campaign. However, the second phase, “Sharp Loves Your Family” is currently ongoing and the winners of this video-making contest will be announced soon.


Follow Sharp’s official social media accounts for more updates! Congratulations, winners and happy trip to Japan!

Metro Manila Film Fest Movies for as Low as P10.00 or even FREE!!

Merry Christmas and a happy New Year everyone!

Aside from Misa de Gallo, Puto Bumbong. Caroling, Noche Buena, exchange gifts or gift-giving; another tradition of Pinoys during Christmas Day is watching the MMFF movies. These movies run from Christmas Day, Dec. 25 until Jan 07, of the New Year.

This year's Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF) is the 44th edition of the annual Metro Manila Film Festival held in Metro Manila and throughout the Philippines. It is organized by the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) in its advocacy to support our local artists and movies.

Here is the list of this year's MMFF films:

Aurora (Horror) - Anne Curtis

Fantastica (Comedy) - Vice Ganda, Richard Gutierrez, Dingdong Dantes, Kisses Delavin, Donny Pangilinan, Loisa Andalio, Ronnie Alonte, Maymay Entrata, Edward Barber, and Bela Padilla

The Girl in the Orange Dress (Romance, Comedy) - Jessy Mendiola and Jericho Rosales

Jack Em Popoy: The Puliscredibles (Comedy, Action) - Coco Martin, Maine Mendoza and Vic Sotto

Mary, Marry Me (Comedy, Romance) - Toni Gonzaga, Alex Gonzaga and Sam Milby

One Great Love (Drama) - Kim Chiu, Dennis Trillo and JC de Vera

Otlum (Horror) - Ricci Rivero and Jerome Ponce

Rainbow's Sunset (Drama)- Eddie Garcia, Tony Mabesa, Gloria Romero and Sunshine Dizon


Want to get tickets for as low as Php10.00? Yes, selected cinemas will offer ticket for just Php10.00, via booking at GMovies. Here's how:

1. Download GMovies App via the App Store or Google Play.

2. Create an account using Facebook or mobile number, then Log in.

3. Get started by selecting a MOVIE on the left side or using the SEARCH box on the upper left.

4. Choose your seat, choose the payment mode.

5. Before checking out, make sure to enter the code PELIKULA to get Php200.00 discount.

6. Pls note that you need to pay thru GCash only to avail the promo.

If you have no Gcash account yet, register here >>>> GCASHcom.

For questions and clarifications, pls reach me at my FB page Passions of a SAHM.

Enjoy and hope to hear your stories once you availed of the promo.

Thrilling Illusions on Ice this Holiday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum

The Smart Araneta Coliseum, the sports and entertainment mecca of the Philippines; is famous for hosting the country's biggest shows and important events such as concerts, sports, and pageants. This year, they are all set to create another historical event as they bring the world-renowned ice skating illusion spectacular "Magic On Ice" to Manila for the first time. From December 25, 2018, to January 1, 2019; witness an extravagant show that combines the elegance and beauty of ice skating, the world grand illusions, and the intrigue of magic.

Created by Steve Wheeler, "Magic On Ice" is a new genre of entertainment featuring remarkable production design and breathtaking acts that reviewers have called "unique performances... (and) great fun for the whole family."

The creative team behind this show has worked on some of the best shows in the world including, "Le Reve," the only Las Vegas show set in an aquatic theatre-in-the-round stage in Wynn Las Vegas Casino Resort; Cirque du Soleil's "Mystere" and "O;" the 2006 Winter Olympics Germy, Mexico Korea Ceremony; and concerts of Prince, Sting, and Madonna.

Magic on Ice has already captivated millions of its viewers - young and old --across the US, Europe, the Middle East, and Asia and has entertained audiences in over 200 cities around the world including Las Vegas, New York, Germany, Mexico, Korea, and Abu Dhabi.

On the press conference held at the Novotel Araneta, we got to know more about the creator and cast of Magic on Ice. Steve Wheeler, the creator and mastermind of the spectacular show; is celebrated as the world's premier ice skating illusionist. By the age of 19, he already began touring his one-of-a-kind ice illusions internationally. Today, he has already entertained over 40 million people in 200 cities around the globe.

Maria who is playing as The Raven was skating since she was 4 and joined the Olympics at 10 representing her country Estonia. Co-creator, Angel Tracy Wheeler grew up skating in California and she has been performing for more than 15 years now.

The show will surely make our Christmas merry and white as frozen snow as the Big Dome welcomes the return of an ice extravaganza to its hallowed halls. The iconic venue has, after all, been the home of enthralling ice spectacles from the days of "Holiday on Ice" in the early '60s.

"Magic On Ice" at the Big Dome will be riveting holiday experience for everybody. Don't Settle for something old when you can share an amazing new experience with your family and friends. Get your tickets now via Ticketnet counters or www.ticketnet.com.ph. Call 911-5555 for more information.

Lenovo’s gift guide for the holiday season

Looking for the perfect gadgets for yourself or to give away to your families and friends this Christmas? Lenovo, the world’s leading PC and smart devices developer has compiled the best tech gifts that are sure to make someone’s day this holiday season.

Yoga 530 — For artists

The Yoga 530 features Lenovo’s signature 360-degree hinge that allows it to transform into four modes — laptop, tablet, tent, and stand. All models come with 8.8mm narrow bezels and up to Full HD IPS displays with 250 nits brightness.

The device is bundled with Lenovo’s Active Pen, which features pin-point accuracy giving the natural feel of a pen-on-paper writing experience. Together with its palm-rejection feature and beautiful display, Yoga 530 is an excellent choice for artists.

The Yoga Y530 comes with virtual surround sound features from its Harman Speakers and optimized with Dolby Audio™ Premium. It is available in both Intel and AMD variants with up to Intel Core i7 or AMD Ryzen 7 processors that are more than enough to handle various multimedia tasks. It can also have up to 2GB NVIDIA GeForce MX130, 16GB DDR 4 RAM, and 512 GB PCIe SSD storage.

Price starts at P34,995.

IdeaPad 720s — For power users

Weighing only 1.14 kg and measuring 13.6 mm thin, the IdeaPad 720s is made for those who use their device almost 24/7 for work. It has a battery life of up to 9 hours, making performance uninterruptible even when on-the-move. The device also has a Full HD wide-angle IPS display and is supported by 360° sound from Dolby Atmos®.

Running on Windows 10 OS, the IdeaPad 720s also comes with the personal digital assistant Cortana. She’s prepared to answer questions, open necessary apps, set reminders, and even read appointments from a calendar.

The device also sports a premium aluminum finish, which makes the design sleeker and cleaner. It comes with AMD Ryzen™ 5 2500U Mobile Processor that uses multi-thread processing technology, delivering blazingly fast performance. The IdeaPad 720s also has Radeon™ Vega Mobile Graphics, 512 GB PCle SSD storage, and 8 GB DDR4 RAM.

Price is at P59,995.

Legion Y530 — For the modern avid gamers

One of the first few laptops to feature Lenovo’s reimagined design for its gaming PC lineup, the Legion Y530 is a perfect gift for the modern avid gamers. It comes at only 24 mm thin and 5.1 lbs. light while its bezels are 62% thinner compared to its predecessors.

Whether for work, school, or playing video games, the Legion Y530 is capable of handling anything with ease. The laptop is equipped with up to NVIDIA® GeForce® GTX 1050 Ti GPU, up to the latest 8th Gen Intel® Core™ i7 processor and Windows® 10. The Legion Y530 supports up to 16 GB DDR4 2666MHz memory and ships with up to a 512GB M.2 PCle SSD or 2TB HDD storage.

The Legion Y530 also has an improved thermal layout with dual fan design and quad-vent cooling for increased airflow, making overheating during work or gaming sessions a thing of the past.

To top it off, some models of the Legion Y530 ship with Intel Optane technology, a system acceleration solution that boosts a computer’s responsiveness to end user requests like launching applications, finding and moving large files, and even loading levels in video games.

Price starts at P54,995.

IdeaPad D330 — For the modern professionals

A tablet and laptop in one, the IdeaPad D330 is suited for professionals in today’s modern workplace, as well as young adults with light productivity and study needs. Its keyboard is detachable, turning the device into a tablet that boasts a convenient trackpad, Dolby Audio™ Premium, and a 10” screen with HD display.

Users get an Intel® Pentium® Silver N5000 processor, 4GB of RAM, 128GB of storage, and Intel® Integrated Graphics, which are more than enough to handle office tasks and some basic to medium computing needs. In addition, the device sports USB 3.1 Type C, making charging quicker than average. Battery life can last up to 13 hours, and with a starting weight of only 1.13 kg, the IdeaPad D330 is an ideal companion for the on-the-go professional.

Price starts at P24,995 for the Mineral Grey and Bronze models.

 

IdeaPads 330, 330s and 530s — For first-time buyers

Those in the market for their first laptop may want to check out Lenovo’s IdeaPad 330, 330s, and 530S, as these devices are suitable for average to mid-power users.

All three IdeaPads come equipped with the latest Windows 10 Home operating system. They can also have up to an 8thGeneration Intel® Core™ or AMD Ryzen™ mobile processor which assures a faster boot-up time and gives a boost when it comes to multitasking, gaming, and entertainment.

Prices start at P17,995, P30,995, and P49,995, respectively.

All items are available in major electronics stores. Prices may vary.

AMC Star Marketing Services Inc. Officially Launches its Latest Line of personal Hygiene and Home Care Products

Another proudly Filipino-made products were launched last December 5, 2018. AMC Star Marketing Services Incorporated, thru their President, Ms. Anna Sepnio presented the latest line of Personal Hygiene and Home care products in Sulo Riviera Hotel before the media and she proudly announced their newest product line: Mr. Clear, Mrs. Clear & Lady Clear.

The products were on full display along with the newest brand ambassadors who represent the brand and what they stand for : Safe, Affordable and Reliable personal and home hygiene products for everybody. The showcased products will soon be hitting the shelves of local supermarkets and convenience stores. This will give consumers to have an alternative when it comes to Hygienic Products.

Mr. Clear’s Products are for men who are savvy and active designed to keep them fresh and looking good thru out their day.

Mr. Clear Products Are:

1. Mr. Clear Anti-Perspirant which provides 2 hours of protection from sweat and body odor and effectively whitens underarm.

2. Mr. Clear Body Mist has a long lasting and refreshing body mist with a passionate romance that helps keep unwanted body odor. Contains fragrance of casaba and sweet freesia.

3. Mr. Clear Pomade nourishes scalp and hair! Provides Medium hold with great shine and hair grower active formula enhanced with soothing babassu oil, penetrates quickly with no greasy after feel. Coconut oil gives a high shine and medium versatile hold. Together these super emollient oils help hydrate and fortify hair over time.

Mr. Clear Brand Ambassadors are  Mark Kevin Baloaloa(Mister international Philippines 2018); John Paul Ocat (Man of the World Philippines 2018); Casius Panopio (Misters of Filipinas 1st Runner up) Federico Palejon - Misters of Filipinas 2nd Runner up & Ruben Anthony Timbol (Misters of Filipinas 2nd Runner up.)

Mrs. Clear Products are for the moms who keep their homes safe. These products also provide them with the best care they can give to their family.

Mrs. Clear Products are as follows :

1. Mrs. Clear Toilet Bowl Cleaner this product is n eco-friendly product that provides a fresh fragrance. It gives you cleaner and better-looking household surface especially on toilet bowl, tiles and many more.

2. Mrs. Clear Dishwashing Liquid serves as a moisturizer, with natural scent of calamansi, contains anti-bacterial agent to effectively remove bad smell, cleans dirt, grease and oil.

3. Mrs. Clear Disinfectant this product serves as a protection from harmful viruses, it also removes 99% of dirt, bacteria, mildew, mold, and anything unsanitary on most household surface.

4. Mrs. Clear Fabric Conditioner gives a natural scent of sunshine pink made with special formula that lasts throughout the day. provides comfort, moisture, and volume to our clothes. It also prevents stiffness that makes our clothes gentler to touch.

5. Mrs. Clear Detergent Powder easily removes dirt and provide freshness that lasts throughout the day. Mrs. Clear detergent powder also serves as a moisturizer while enjoying the bubbly and aromatic scent upon washing your clothes.

6. Mrs. Clear Liquid Detergent can easily dissolve from water, effectively clean clothes and eliminates odor.

Mrs. Clear Ambassador is Kim Gonzaga (Miss Philippines Earth Makati 2016)


Lady Clear Products are for the women on the go who, these products help them get thru their busy schedule keeping the clean and fresh although out their busy day.

Lady Clear Products are:

1. Lady Clear feminine wash cleans and maintain the natural balance of every lady’s intimate part, Effective for absorbing moisture and helps prevent from odor and irritation.

2. Lady Clear Insect Repellant has a powerful knockdown formula that helps prevents bugs and insects from home, plus it provides fast killing power.

3. Lady Clear Body Mists has a long lasting and refreshing body mists with a passionate romance that helps keep unwanted body odor, Contains fragrance of casaba and sweet freesia, in Orange, strawberry and apple scents.

4. Lady Clear hand Sanitizer provides anti-bacterial agent that helps kill 99% bacteria, lady clear hand sanitizer serves also as moisturizer, easy to use and dries quickly after rubbing.

5. Lady Clear hair Spa treatment shampoo provides you smooth and shiny hair. Especially curly hair makes less frizzy, easier to style and straighter hair in appearance.

6. Lady Clear Shower gel has a natural sweet aroma, it gives you better and fashionable bat experience.

7. Lady Clear Body Lotion provides you flawless and natural skin. It prevents from dryness and oiliness, it also moisturizes your skin.

Lady Clear Brand Ambassadors are Samantha Mae Bernardo (Binibining Pilipinas 2018 2nd Runner up); Shanice Eve Bailon (Supermodel International Philippines 2016).

AMC is also looking for distributors partners who are willing to join them in providing these Safe, Affordable and Reliable products.

For more information regarding Mr. Clear, Mrs. Clear and Lady Clear Visit their Facebook Page Mr. And Mrs. Clear or call AMC Star Marketing Services Inc. at 7281804 and 09157544351 with head office address 4th Floor Alpha Square A Bonifacio Street Cainta, Rizal.

60 lucky winners scratch their way to ‘Disney On Ice’

Wave hello to your favorite Disney characters as SM Supermalls, together with Walt Disney Philippines, treats 60 lucky winners with passes to the well-loved Disney On Ice via a digital promo that will run until December 16 in select SM malls!

“Everyone is very excited as Disney delivers yet another show-stopping masterpiece for all kids and kids at heart,” said Joaquin San Agustin, SM Supermalls senior vice president for marketing.

For every single receipt purchase of P1,000 in participating SM malls, four (4) cinema tickets at SM Cinema, or P300 at SM Foodcourt, 60 lucky mallgoers will get a chance to win four (4) tickets to Disney On Ice – perfect for groups of family and friends. Other prizes include SM Cinema tickets, and mobile card pouches!

Here’s how to join:

Step 1: Present your official receipt/s at the mall’s designated redemption area from 10AM to 9PM until December 16.

Step 2: Open your smartphone’s QR Code reader app and scan the QR code that will be shown by the promo officer.

Step 3: After scanning, customers will be redirected to a page where they will be asked to log in or register to the SM Supermalls website.

Step 4: Once logged in, you will be redirected to the Digital Scratch Card and will be notified once you’ve won Disney On Ice tickets!

Catch your favorite Disney characters on ice from December 25 to January 6 at the Mall Asia Arena! For more information, visit www.smsupermalls.com.

The Spirit of Giving is so much Alive with Shopee and its Christmas Ambassador Jose Mari Chan

Shopee, the leading e-commerce platform in Southeast Asia and Taiwan, celebrates the success of Shopee 12.12 Big Christmas Sale by giving back this festive season. Shopee, together with its Christmas Ambassador, Jose Mari Chan, ran a donation drive where all proceeds from the sale of Jose Mari Chan’s Going Home to Christmas album via the JMC Music Official Store on Shopee would go towards the funding of the San Juan Nepomuceno School’s educational and renovation programs. With the help of users, Shopee raised a total of ₱500,000 from the sale of the album. This amount was matched dollar for dollar by Jose Mari Chan, amounting to a total of ₱1 Million donated to the school.

Karen Perez, Head of Operations of Shopee Philippines, and Jose Mari Chan, Shopee’s Christmas Ambassador presenting a cheque to a representative from San Juan Nepomuceno School

Terence Pang, Chief Operating Officer, Shopee, said, “Shopee would like to thank our users for joining us in this meaningful cause. We are heartened by the response received and by Jose Mari Chan’s heart-warming generosity. This quarter has been extremely fulfilling for Shopee as we not only clocked in major milestones with the success of our of Shopee 11.11 - 12.12 Big Christmas Sale, but also continued to do our part for the local community.”

“I am so pleased to be helping a school that we’ve been supporting for a long time. I am grateful to be part of the Shopee family. This has been a very fulfilling experience and I would like to thank everyone for their warm support,” said Jose Mari Chan.

The final wave of the Shopee 11.11 - 12.12 Big Christmas Sale concluded on a high note with the Shopee 12.12 Big Christmas Sale. On 12 December, Shopee saw over 12 million orders across the region, surpassing all past records including the recent Shopee 11.11 Big Sale. In the Philippines, Mobile and Accessories, Health and Personal Care, and Women’s Apparel were the top three most popular categories. Leading brands, including Maybelline, the SM Store, Xiaomi, and Pampers emerged as favourites amongst users.

For more information, https://shopee.ph/
Download the Shopee app for free via the App Store or Google Play.

Fiery Style, now Flaming in Capitol Commons

Texan and Mexican or popularly known as Tex-Mex is a fusion of Mexican and American cuisines, deriving from the culinary creations of the Tejano people living in Texas. It has spread from border states such as Texas and others in the Southwestern United States to the rest of the country as well as Canada.

In the Philippines, the Tex-Mex dishes are gaining popularity for years because of their layers of flavors - tangy, spicy, sweet and smoky. Whenever Pinoys would dine in a restaurant they will not just look for a specific taste but they would always look for something that is bursting with flavors and if they would see one Tex-Mex resto, they would definitely choose it over the others.

One of my favorite Tex-Mex restaurant in the metro is the fast-evolving resto called Fiery Style.

Established in 2016, Fiery Style Southwestern Flaming Grill is undeniably one of the Pinoy's most favorite resto to dine in with family and friends and even co-workers who are looking for a fine and fun place to chill out after a long day of work.

I got to join the soft opening of their Estancia Mall branch in Capitol Commons and I was surprised by the huge number of customers who dined in. I believe the patrons who came in were not just after the band and the entertainment that was provided for that day but the store ambiance and the food of course.

Their dishes are so good that each of them was created to suit the palate of the Pinoys. They might be inspired by foreign dishes but individually, each burger, steak, chicken, pork, nacho, and other dishes have the taste that every Pinoy will surely love and will crave for.

Here are the dishes that we tried:

The famous Fiery Nachos, a towering layers of crispy colorful corn chips or potato chips
topped with pieces of chicken, pork and beef, tomato salsa, guacamole, cheese and other ingredients that make up a great-tasting nacho; served in a very surprising way.

Lord of the Wings, 24 pcs of flavorful wings served in hanging skewers.

Churros is a must in every Tex-Mex resto.

Galleon of Bones a boat-shaped platter filled with beef, chicken, and pork served with their specialty sauces and side dishes.

What I love about Fiery Style apart from the taste and nice service they offer is the amazing way they serve each dish. They are all instagrammable and that adds to every diner's appetite.

Fiery Style Southwestern Flaming Grill Capitol Commons is located at the Ground Floor of Estancia Mall.

Shopee wraps up a record-breaking 2018 with over 12 million orders on 12.12 Big Christmas Sale

Shopee, the leading e-commerce platform in Southeast Asia and Taiwan, wraps up a record-breaking year with its highly successful Shopee 12.12 Big Christmas Sale. On 12 December, Shopee saw over 12 million orders across the region, surpassing all past records including the recent Shopee 11.11 Big Sale.

Supported by more than 450,000 brands and merchants, Shopee recorded 48 million visits as users shopped 60 million deals across all categories. Shopee’s in-app games were also highly popular; Shopee Shake was played 46 million times throughout the campaign, while the newly launched Shopee Quiz saw 11 million participants tuning in from across the region.

In the Philippines, Mobile and Accessories, Health and Personal Care, and Women’s Apparel were the top three most popular categories. Leading brands, including Maybelline, the SM Store, Xiaomi, and Pampers emerged as favourites amongst users.

Terence Pang, Chief Operating Officer, Shopee, said, “Shopee 12.12 Big Christmas Sale marks another significant milestone as we celebrate a year of exponential growth. Following the success of Shopee 11.11 Big Christmas Sale in November and Shopee 9.9 Super Shopping Day in September, it has been an exciting and fulfilling quarter for us as we surpass past records and set new benchmarks to reach next year. As we wrap up 2018, we would like to thank our loyal users, sellers, and partners for their continued support; and we look forward to having everyone join us in attaining even greater heights in 2019.”

Shopee’s achievements in Southeast Asia and Taiwan

Since launching in 2015, Shopee has seen tremendous growth across its seven markets, achieving over 195 million downloads across Southeast Asia and Taiwan. In the third quarter of 2018, Shopee saw 158.8 million gross orders and US$2.7 billion in gross merchandise value (GMV), a respective 24.0% and 21.1% increase from last quarter.


Shopee Philippines’ key milestones in 2018

2018 has proven to be an exciting year for Shopee Philippines. Key highlights include:

Scaled up partnerships with leading brands: To date, Shopee has widened its product assortment to around 800 leading brands and retail partners on Shopee Mall; including Maybelline, Platinum Karaoke, Vivo, The SM Store, Head and Shoulders, Asus, Robinsons Appliances, Bosch, and Xiaomi. This year, Shopee also partnered with top brands to hold major events; including a beauty workshop in partnership with Maybelline and Palmolive to celebrate female empowerment, and an exclusive fashion show with Avel x Matteo in line with the launch of Shopee Celebrity Club.

Deepened engagement with users: Launched popular in-app games to drive user engagement, including the iconic Shopee Shake; and the latest in-app game, Shopee Quiz, which saw 400,000 participants throughout the entire Shopee 12.12 Big Christmas Sale.

Extended reach across the Philippines: Worked closely with top Filipino celebrities including Anne Curtis, Shopee Philippines’ first brand ambassador; and Jose Mari Chan, Shopee’s Christmas ambassador; to reach out to even more users and fans across the country.

To round off Shopee’s Christmas celebrations, users can shop one final round of Christmas treats at the Shopee 12.12 Thank You Sale happening from December 13 to 14.

Shop the Shopee 12.12 Thank You Sale at https://shopee.ph/m/thank-you-sale

For more information, https://shopee.ph/

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

Let's Spread the Power of Hugs this Christmas and Everyday

Most people underestimate the power of a hug. A hug has the ability to affect us all, and facts attest to their incredible power on how it can make us feel warm and special. Renowned family therapist Virginia Satir famously stated, "We need 4 hugs a day for survival. We need 8 hugs a day for maintenance. We need 12 hugs a day for growth."

A study from Pennsylvania State University showed increased happiness among students who were asked to give or receive genuine, warm hugs at least five times a day over the course of four weeks. Similarly, a study from Carnegie Mellon University showed that adults who hugged more often were less likely to come down with a cold.

To let people discover the undeniable power of hugs, Downy, the leading global fabric softener launched their #Spread100Hugs campaign with Miss Universe 2015 and hug ambassadress, Pia Wurtzbach in the first ever hug-activated, Downy Scented Christmas Tree, which stands majestically at Eastwood Mall’s open park in Quezon City. Decked with red LED lights, the sea of red roses inside the 50 feet Scented Christmas Tree lights up when people inside hug each other inside the perfume-scented chamber.

The main inspiration of this Christmas tree takes from the luxurious fragrance of Downy. It takes essence from the smell of an endless field of flowers, to which is exactly what this tree is made of and something we recreated in a mirror room that’s right in the heart of this beautiful structure, and the opulent feel of velvet, a fabric which embodies softness, both wonderful elements to inspire a loving, hugging emotion.

To further show how hugs can bring about a spirit of positivity and make people happier, Downy has also released a video diary at Downy Philippines’ Facebook that showcased a variety of heart-warming stories of appreciation, reconciliation and reunion. It featured Pia Wurtzbach in a hugging tour around the Metro, showing her affection and appreciation to friends who have stood by her throughout the years, including her glam team, former classmates, fans, and her mentor, Tito Nad Bronce. And of course, her last hug, a special and meaningful embrace for her boyfriend, Marlon Stockinger.

The culmination of Pia’s hugging tour was joined by other celebrities such as Mariel Rodriguez-Padilla, Melissa Ricks, Say Alonzo, Helga Krapf, and Princess Velasco.

Just like Pia, every hug comes with a story to tell, and each story has a powerful meaning behind it. Here are some of the heartwarming stories of meaningful hugs which aim to inspire you to discover the power of your own hug.



1. The Silent Hug – Diane is a deaf and mute mother of two who works at the LINK Center for the Deaf. She tutors the deaf and teaches sign language to hearing people. Apart from teaching, since her husband is unemployed, she would bake and sell her goodies online to be able to provide for the family. They say actions speak louder than words, and true enough, a hug for mommy Diane shows care, love and gratuity, even without a word uttered.


2. The Once a Year Hug – Dhorie Pineda is a Sales Agent in Dubai. She and her husband works overseas to be able to provide their 4 children with the sustenance they need in order to be able to live a more comfortable life. This coming December, she will be leaving with a heavy heart, her 4 children once again with her relatives. Saying goodbye isn’t easy for Dhorie, which is why, if you’re going to give a hug once a year, though bittersweet, make it last (even up to 45 seconds or more!).


3. The Brave Hug – Kenjie and JJ are a same sex couple who are about to get married soon, and they know that their lives are about to change. And Catherine and Robi, are also a same sex couple, who has been together for 7 years and are business partners. No matter what the situation, good or bad, a hug can have the power to comfort the people that matter. With a brave hug, Kenjie and JJ, and Catherine and Robi, are able to express to each other that they can overcome anything, and you can too!

4. The Long-lasting Hug – Fernanda and David Baky are both retired and will be celebrating their 51st anniversary soon. Fernanda is a retired teacher, and David is a retired police and Head of Security for the US World Relief Corporation (funded by the United States government). They have 6 children and 10 grandchildren. People whose love flourishes for years should be treasured, and for Fernanda and David, the long-lasting hug signifies their love for one another even as they grow old.

What’s the hug you’ll give this Yuletide season? Whatever hug that may be, make sure you give them to the people that matter the most to you. Get into the spirit of hugging and make your holidays extra special this Christmas with the Downy Parfum Collection™.

Visit the hug-activated Downy Scented Christmas Tree located in Eastwood Mall’s open park (near the fountain area) from November 20, 2018 to December 19, 2018, and #Spread100Hugs starting today, and every day, to experience a hug’s undeniable power.

Learn more about #Spread100Hugs and watch Downy’s heart-warming #Spread100Hugs video on Downy Philippines’ Facebook.

Listen and Drive Away To 2019 in a MINI Cooper with JBL

Give your loved ones the gift of superior sound this holiday season, as JBL offers you more reasons to rejoice this Christmas with its wide-range of gift-worthy audio products and its annual promotion that will allow music-lovers the chance to drive and cruise to 2019 in style, with its Dare to Listen, Dare to Drive year-end campaign.

With colorful and innovative products that suit any lifestyle, JBL has positioned itself in the lifestyle of every active, music, and fun-loving Filipino with its signature sound and consumer-centric product innovation. From its water-proof portable speakers to sweat-proof headphones, this leading audio equipment brand has given every Filipino a to reason celebrate and run to the beat of their favorite tunes wherever, whenever.

As part of its annual thanksgiving for its loyal audiophiles, JBL launched its “Dare To Drive, Dare To Listen” campaign and promotion last November 20, 2018 and will run until January 15, 2019.

With every purchase of JBL, Harman Kardon, and AKG products from over 200 participating nationwide stores, music-loving shoppers will get a chance to win one of the thirty-two prizes. Prizes that are up for grabs includes, the newly launched JBL Pary Box 300, JBL Boombox, a 5-Night Genting Dream Cruise to Singapore for Two, and a brand-new orange MINI Cooper 3-Door Hatch. Winners will be drawn on February 19, 2019 at the JBL Harman Office in Quezon City.

This Christmas, share the gift of world-class sound and immerse yourself in JBL’s superior sound quality with their cool portable speakers, stylish headphones, and solid sound bars. Amazing prizes await you and the chance to #DareToDrive home the car of your dreams is within your reach.

For the complete mechanics, see posters or follow JBL Philippines’ official social media handles on Facebook at JBL Philippines, and Twitter & Instagram: @jblph.

JBL, Harman Kardon, and AKG are under HARMAN International, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. focused on connected technologies for automotive, consumer and enterprise markets.

Teodorico Nonong Haresco Jr : how I see him change the TATSULOK

Being a girl who grew up nearby the beach, the sea, the sand, and the sea creatures; Aklan, specifically Boracay has occupied a very special place in my heart. I had been there only once, but the place really captured me that I have always treasured every memory and experience about the island.

In the summer of 2015, we were able to witness the beauty of Boracay and the not so beautiful side of it. While I was happy to see the popular white sand of the island which was awarded as Best Island in the World in 2012 by an international travel magazine, it also saddened me to see the piles of garbage in the esteros, canals and the river.

The national government's effort to rehabilitate the island was a good move but it is still better if the initiative would come from the local government of Aklan province. They know the place better, they know very well what the place and the residents need and they are the only one who can definitely make a big impact and can change the current status of Boracay for the better.

This is the reason why I was so eager to meet some of the local officials from Aklan, I want to know who among them has the concrete plan for Boracay and the whole Aklan as well, so the bodies of water and the agricultural land as well will be used properly and will be protected for the benefit of the locals.

I was happy to meet Teodorico Haresco Jr., Aklan Representative; over a casual lunch which was organized by a friend. He is a proud Aklanon, happily married and a good father of four. He is better known as NonongHarescoof by the lone district of Aklan and now running as Congressman of the Second District.

What surprised me about Nonong is not the 60++ house measures that he has authored and co-authored while he was in Congress, but his being keen in opposing the construction of the 1.9 km bridge which will link Boracay to Caticlan. It is a 3-billion project submitted by the San Miguel Corp to the government which the company said they could finish in 2 years.

The project sounds good, who wouldn't want a developed municipality in terms of infrastructures? But have we realized how that construction would impact the lives of the less privilege and small business owners, the ferry boat operators and drivers, the small vendors at the ports, the peddlers, the tricycle drivers?

Haresco being a firm believer in the microenterprise industry has the soft heart for the less privilege, less fortunate fellows. He encourages his people to set-up their own small business ventures as a means to make their lives better. His love and concern for the small and the needy have led him to oppose the project that this giant company wants to bring to his beloved province.

Haresco's advocacy and passion for small business owners somehow touched me so deeply as I was raised by a single Nanay who was a farmer who earns a hundred peso or less per day. I definitely know how hard life is for those who are striving hard to start a small livelihood of their own.

When my mother was still alive, the likes of us - small market vendor - was not getting any support from the government both local and national. The government's focus is on the big players in the industries, the big names, the big corporations whom they expect would give more revenue to them. Now I realize, we need more NonongHaresco in the government, who would always support the small and the needy who have dreams and who work hard and smart to uplift their own life.

Thank you Nonong Haresco, I believe you are a breath of fresh air in the politics as you value the role of the people who make up the larger part of our society, the people who hold the base of the "pyramid," the likes of us with whom those at the top depend on to keep their spot.

Sabi nga sa kanta ni Bamboo "Habang may TATSULOK, at sila ang nasa tuktok; hindi matatapos itong gulo."

I am hopeful that NonongHaresco's initiative to make the lives of the poor better will serve as an inspiration to others so sooner our society will no longer be a TATSULOK ( I know that might be too impossible but I chose to be hopeful for this country) where the small and the needy are always at the bottom waiting in vain...

Eat, drink, dance, and shop galore at Makati Street Meet 2018

It’s going to be weekends full of good food, one-of-a-kind shopping, and awesome entertainment as Makati Street Meet 2018 unfolds on December 2 and December 9 at Paseo de Roxas.

Now on its third year, the Makati Street Meet happens every first Sunday of the month. But for November and December this year, it has become a much-anticipated event among residents and guests alike, it will now be held every two Sundays of the month.

Great, good food and music

A Social Sunday, to be held on December 2 from 3-10 pm, is a food fair in partnership with Mercato Centrale and Imaginarium Creatives. It showcases some of the yummiest finds in the country, accompanied by music from up and coming DJs. Among the performers are Earl of Manila, Six the Northstar, and VY!DD.

Just look at the exciting line-up of food vendors, each one serving up mouthwatering and  Instagram-worthy concoctions from Buko House, Bagnet Patong, Mr. Tentacles, Olivia & Co., St. George Cafe and more!

To make the affair fun for all members of the family, there will also be arts and crafts activities

by Ayala Land’s Papelikhaan from members of Barangay Luz. There are also fresh items available, such as saba and guyabano, from the Aeta community of Sapang Uwak, Porac.

Shop and be merry

Paseo de Roxas will be blocked off to make way for Sari-Sari: A Christmas Bazaar on December 9, featuring curated gift items of local and artisanal Filipino products in partnership with Brandboss Advertising. More than 30 merchants, including entrepreneurs of handmade items and innovators of indigenous materials, will showcase their wares in this bazaar which promises to transform Paseo de Roxas into a shoppers’ paradise from 10 am to 10 pm.

Be mesmerized by the offerings of merchants that include Mango Float Supreme Manila, Wagyu by Monica, Vegan Republic, Lemon Squeeze & Surf, Pacaro Leather, and the list goes on!

These twin events promise to make the upcoming holidays even more exciting in Makati, which celebrates Christmas like no other. After partaking of the great food and shopping finds, stay on to watch Reimagine the Magic: A Festival of Lights. Ayala Avenue is also bedecked with enchanting light installations inspired by iconic altars of Philippine churches.

For sure, all roads will lead to Makati as Street Meet 2018 kicks off the Christmas fun.

For more information, visit www.makeitmakati.com or like and follow Make It Makati on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

Shop the new iPhone XR at Power Mac Center

The latest iPhone with the most advanced LCD in the industry has arrived at Power Mac Center. Recently, the premier Apple partner in the country welcomed the arrival of iPhone XR with a midnight launch at its flagship store in Greenbelt 3. Customers in line were rewarded with premium accessories, perks from retail partners, and automatic membership to 1 Infinite Card, Power Mac Center’s loyalty rewards card.

The newest iPhone has an all-new Liquid Retina all-screen display, faster Face ID, and the smartest, most powerful chip in a smartphone. It also comes in multiple finishes (PRODUCT) Red, Yellow, White, Coral, Black, and Blue in 64GB, 128GB, and 256GB capacities.

“We at Power Mac Center are grateful for the trust and loyalty of our customers and for that, we will continue to bring the latest Apple products and services to the Filipino market at the best deals,” said Joey Alvarez, Power Mac Center Director of Product Management and Marketing.

Shop the iPhone XR at Power Mac Center stores nationwide. Customers who activate their iPhone XR upon purchase will get ₱500 Power Mac Center gift certificate from November 19 to December 31.

For more information on products and services, visit the Power Mac Center website www.powermaccenter.com or its official Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram accounts (@powermaccenter).


PRICE LIST

· iPhone XR 64GB - ₱52,490

· iPhone XR 128GB - ₱55,490

· iPhone XR 256GB - ₱62,490

*Color: (PRODUCT)RED, Yellow, White, Coral, Black, Blue


About Power Mac Center

Power Mac Center is a recognized Apple Premium Reseller, Authorized Education Reseller, Apple Authorized Training Provider, and Apple Authorized Service Provider in the Philippines. Power Mac Center has become a reliable retail shop and service provider of Apple products to the Filipino consumer.

The company has grown to 43 branches nationwide, with stores located in Greenbelt 3, Glorietta 5, The Annex at SM City North EDSA, SM City Fairview, TriNoma, Robinsons Magnolia, SM Megamall, The Podium, SM Mall of Asia, SM Aura Premier, Festival Supermall, Cash and Carry Mall, Abreeza Mall, SM Lanang Premier, SM City Marikina, Power Plant Mall, SM City BF Parañaque, Harbor Point, SM City Southmall, SM City Pampanga, SM City Bacoor, SM City Lipa, SM City Santa Rosa, SM City Batangas, SM City Dasmariñas, Circuit Makati, Vista Mall Sta. Rosa, SM East Ortigas, KCC Mall de Zamboanga, Vista Mall Bataan, SM City San Pablo, SM City Trece Martires, Robinsons Galleria Cebu, Ayala Malls Cloverleaf, Ayala Malls Vertis North, SM City Urdaneta Central, SM City Clark, SM City Puerto Princesa, SM City Telabastagan, SM CDO Downtown Premier, SM City Legazpi, Fora Tagaytay, and Festive Walk Mall Iloilo.

Del Monte Spaghetti Sauce now Comes in 5 Exciting Flavors

Last November 30, 2018 at Ayala Malls Solenad Nuvali, Del Monte Spaghetti Sauces treated families to an excitingly different spaghetti experience by sampling all five of their delicious spaghetti sauce flavors in their Del Monte “Spag Sarap Squad Headquarters” – Carbonara, Italian, Sweet, Filipino, and their newest flavor, Creamy and Cheesy.

 The Del Monte Spag Sarap Squad heroes – Carlo Carbonara, Taliana, Sweetie, Ino Filipino and Chessy.

These flavors came to life through the Del Monte Spag Sarap Squad heroes whose mission is to save the day with delicious spaghetti. The squad – Carlo Carbonara, Taliana, Sweetie, Ino Filipino and Chessy, interacted with the audience and hosted fun games to help them experience the variety of delicious flavors – Sweet Style, made with 100% naturally sweet California tomatoes is everyone’s yummy childhood favorite; Filipino Style is a levelled up sweet sauce because it’s also meaty and cheesy; Italian Style is a tomato-ey sauce with basil, oregano and parmesan cheese for that authentic Italian taste; Carbonara, an up & coming comfort food favorite for resto-going yuppies as its made of real cream and milk; and lastly, Creamy and Cheesy – an “extra fun” sauce because of the extra cream and cheese in it!

There were also Instagram-worthy displays and an Augmented Reality photo booth that would allow anyone to instantly become a member of the Del Monte Spag Sarap Squad. To top that, the squad saved the day by giving out a whopping 5 spaghetti samples for each attendee so that they can try all the delicious flavors of Del Monte Spaghetti Sauce and discover a new favorite!

Spaghetti definitely became more exciting with the different Spaghetti possibilities that anyone can create for family and friends with the 5 delicious flavors that Del Monte Spaghetti Sauce has! For delicious Spaghetti Sauce recipes, visit www.lifegetsbetter.ph !

All five Del Monte Spaghetti Sauce flavors are sold in leading supermarkets and groceries nationwide.

Save the day with Delicious, Save the day with Del Monte!    

Lenovo bolsters PH lineup with new AMD-powered devices

Before 2018 ends, Lenovo is refreshing its product offerings to Filipino customers with the launch of new laptops that run on AMD Ryzen processors. The release is part of the company’s objective of bringing the latest technology straight to consumers.

Based in California, Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. (AMD) develops computer processors and related technologies for business and consumer markets. Its main products include microprocessors, motherboard chipsets, embedded processors and graphics processors for servers, workstations and personal computers, as well as embedded systems applications. Its partnership with Lenovo allows AMD to develop processors for the company’s ever-growing consumer, commercial, and enterprise portfolio.

“AMD’s newest processors are getting a lot of praise due to their powerful performance, especially when it comes to running multiple tasks, heavy programs included. We partnered with AMD to provide Filipinos such cutting-edge technology equipped to support the ever-growing performance demands of the market,” said Lenovo Philippines Country General Manager Michael Ngan.

Just last year, AMD released its Ryzen lineup of processors with multi-core setup. With the power of two or more cores in a single chip, Ryzen delivers industry-leading performance when it comes to running intensive programs involved in digital content creation, 3D rendering, gaming and streaming, CAD work, and more.

AMD Ryzen processors also include simultaneous multithreading (SMT) wherein the processor splits each of its physical cores into virtual cores known as threads. This is done in order to increase performance and allow each core to run two instruction streams at once. SMT allows various operations to be broken down into smaller parts and have those processes carried out more efficiently.

“AMD is thrilled to be partnering with Lenovo to bring our Ryzen Mobile processor technology to market in the Philippines. We are very pleased to continue to expand our business together with the largest range of products we have ever launched with Lenovo Philippines. We have added new Lenovo offerings to our Ryzen Mobile portfolio, which all feature award winning Ryzen processors, and in partnership with our high performance Radeon graphics technology, deliver great multitasking experience and are also excellent for gaming and content creation,” saidPeter Chambers, Director - Consumer Sales, Asia Pacific & Japan, AMD.

During the launch event, a total of five devices with AMD processors were unveiled – the Yoga 530, IdeaPad 720S, IdeaPad 330, IdeaPad 330S, and the IdeaPad 130.

Yoga 530

A 14-inch convertible laptop, the Yoga 530 has a 360-degree hinge that allows it to cycle through Lenovo’s signature four modes - laptop, tablet, tent, and stand. It can have up to an AMD Ryzen™ 7 2700U processor, built to handle various multimedia tasks thanks to its multi-core capabilities. It can also have up to Radeon™ RX Vega 10 Graphics, up to 16GB DDR 4 RAM, and up to 512 GB PCIe SSD storage.

Price starts at P34,995.

IdeaPad 720S

Weighing only 1.14 kg and 13.6 mm thin, the IdeaPad 720S is one of the lightest laptops in the market. Despite its small frame, it packs a punch with its AMD Ryzen™ 7 2700U Mobile Processor, Radeon™ Vega Mobile Graphics, 512 GB PCIe SSD storage, and 8 GB DDR4 RAM.

Price starts at P59,995.

IdeaPad 330

Built for those on a tight budget, the IdeaPad 330 comes with all features needed for daily work, study, or entertainment needs. The 14-inch model can have up to AMD Stoney Ridge A9-9425 Processor, while the 15-inch model can have up to AMD Ryzen™ 7 2700U Mobile Processor with Radeon™ RX Vega 10 Graphics. Also, the 14-inch model can have up to 8GB DDR memory, while the 15-inch model can have memory of up to 16GB DIMM. For storage, the 14-inch model can have up to 2TB SATA HDD, while the 15-inch model can have up to 2TB SATA HDD.

Price starts at P26,995.

IdeaPad 330S

Coming out in the market with 14- and 15-inch variations, the IdeaPad 330S is a device that combines both power and portability. The 14-inch model starts at 0.75 inches thin and weighs around 3.7 lb., which can support up to an AMD A9-9425 processor. The 15-inch model on the other hand starts at 0.76 inches thin and 4.1 lbs. and can have up to an AMD Ryzen™ 7 2700U Mobile Processor with integrated Radeon™ RX Vega 10 Graphics. Both can have up to an AMD Radeon™ 540 graphics card, up to 8GB memory, and up to 2TB SATA HDD for storage.

Price starts at P30,995.

 IdeaPad 130

Built for first-time PC buyers, the IdeaPad 130 has a wide-angle 15.6-inch display with up to FHD Anti-Glare resolution. The video quality is complemented and enhanced by the crisp audio provided by Dolby® Audio™. It can have up to an AMD A9-9425 processor, up to AMD Radeon™ 530 graphics, up to 8GB DDR4 memory, and up to 1 TB HDD storage. Despite not being part of the Ryzen lineup, the AMD A9-9425 is powerful in its own right as it consists of two CPU cores and three GPU cores, enough to handle medium to heavy graphics tasks.

Price starts at P16,995.

All devices come with the Windows 10 Home operating system out-of-the-box, affording users access to special features such a Battery Saver, Windows Hello facial security login, and the smart assistant Cortana. All devices are now available in major electronics stores.

For more information, visit https://www.lenovo.com/ph/en.