Monthly Archives

September 2019

Lifestyle

SunPIOLOgy Comes Back on 11th Year as “SunPIOLOgyXone”

Just when you thought SunLife is just about the insurance offers most Pinoys dread, it comes up with something fresh and exciting that still falls in line with its aim to improve Filipinos’ lives, but this time through a sporting event.

But SunPIOLOgy isn’t actually new. This charity-sporting event featuring its longtime ambassador Piolo Pascual actually started 11 years ago. But in 2020, it’s returning with bigger action.

Now back with a new theme “SunPIOLOgyXone,” the SunPIOLOgy 2020 resumes its advocacy to fight diabetes which has been declared to be an epidemic in the Philippines.

Sun Life Chief Marketing Officer Mylene Lopa told as this year’s event opened:

“Sun Life aims to offer Filipinos more avenues to pursue their health goals. With SunPIOLOgy, we are able to make the pursuit fun and engaging through a variety of sporting events, while the charity component makes it more meaningful and memorable.

We are thankful that as we mark 11 years of SunPIOLOgy, we continue to grow our community and effectively promote the importance of living healthier lives.”

All New Sun Life Virtual Run

Before embarking on the 2020 races, you can warm up with the Sun Life Virtual Run, which is a new event commencing this year. The Sun Life Virtual Run challenges participants on a long distance runt that can be completed anytime and anywhere in the Philippines.

This unique new way of race lets participants compete with anyone in the Philippines on any route for as long as they cover a total of 125 kilometers run that can be completed within 30 days. You can even do it on your treadmill if you don’t feel like going out for a long run.

Progress shall be tracked using any of the following devices: GPS watch, fitness band, or a running app. You can also simply take a photo of your progress and submit it on www.takbo.ph.

Registration for this Sun Life Virtual Run is already ongoing at www.sunpiology.com. Interested runners can submit their details until October 14, 2019. The race should be completed between October 15, 2019 to November 15, 2019 to qualify.

SUN CYCLE PH 

With the growing interest in biking and its health benefits, SUN LIFE CYCLE PH once again takes riders from Taguig to Pasay in routes fit for beginner and seasoned bikers. Organized by Sunrise Events, SUN LIFE CYCLE PH categories include a Kids Ride or Family Ride (30mins dur.); Tricycle Ride (100m and 500m); Short Ride (20km); and Long Ride (40km).

Sun Life Resolution Run: Race to Fight Diabetes

Sun Life Resolution Run aims to get everyone into a healthy mindset. It will feature the “125 Xone,” where runners will pass through “xones” aligned with the diabetes prevention theme.

The company will pick 125 lucky runners who will win electronic gift cards worth P1,250 each that they can use to redeem items in SunLife’s various partner stores.

The SunPIOLOgyXone events will see some of the country’s top celebrities. Proceeds of this event will go to Hebreo Foundation, Noordhoff Foundation, and Star Magic scholars.

Famed actor Piolo Pascual also shared his thought about the upcoming event, saying:

“What sets SunPIOLOgy apart is the community it has built through the years.

Each event is fun and exciting, and now, we are bringing the SunPIOLOgy brand of wellness to the virtual world so that we can motivate even more people. With this, I’m sure more Filipinos will experience what it means to live healthier and brighter under the sun.”

SunPIOLOgy is a charity-sporting event from Sun Life Philippines and its ambassador Piolo Pascual. Turning a 11-years- old, a series of active sports events will thrill its fans to raise funds for education, diabetes awareness, and help more Filipinos live healthier lives. This highly-anticipated event will take place on January 18, 2020, at Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City.

Registration will begin on November 15, 2019, at www.sunpiology.com and select Toby’s Sports Stores until race kit supplies last. Race categories and further details will be released soon. Apart from being able to race alongside celebrities like Piolo and Enchong Dee, participants also get to take home tons of exciting freebies.

For more about Sun Life’s health and wellness initiatives, follow @SunLifePH and @GoWellPH on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

Food

Joybean Introduces Soy-Based Milk Teas and Opens First Store in PH

Present at the ribbon cutting ceremony are the following (from L-R): Norman Raquel, President, Joybean Food Masters Corporation, Frederick T. Siy, Chairman of the Board, Joybean Food Masters Corporation; Sydney Quays, Group CEO of Berjaya Food Berhad and Luis Daniel, Senior Vice President, Jollibean Foods Pte Ltd.

Functional beverages are emerging as they provide nutritional and health benefits. And we are lucky here in the Philippines now that Joybean has finally arrived in the country.

Just last week, Jollibean – rebranded as Joybean – opened its first pop-up store in Greenbelt, Makati, as it introduced its premium line of soy-based products. It comes after other Singaporean food concepts already dominating the Philippine market like BreadTalk, TWG, and Toast Box (now Nanyang).

Me and my favorite Joybean product

Joybean aims to spread joy not just through their products, but through excellent customer service. Here’s a joyful encounter with the one of the first 100 customers during the official store opening.

But Joybean isn’t like your ordinary soymilk drink. It’s been made more appealing to the taste with milk tea options that we Pinoys are so fond of. Actually at first I thought the drinks were to taste like “taho” and “soya” but to my surprise, they were actually delicious!

These drinks were introduced on September 25 during an event that was spearheaded by Joybean Food Masters Corp.’s president (Norman Raquel), Chairman of the Board (Frederick T. Siy), andthe Senior Vice President of Jollibean Foods Pte Ltd. (Luis Daniel).

In her speech, Assistant Brand Marketing Manager of Joybean Philippines Shannen Francisco shared the concept of these new drinks, saying:

“We’re aware that Filipinos are huge fans of milk tea, so we’re delighted to bring a soy-based milk tea line to cater to this craving but with a healthier, lactose-free version that has less sugar and calories.”

Soybean-based beverage is one of the functional foods with continuous innovation emphasizing its importance in the human diet. It’s known to regulate diabetes, alleviation of antioxidant defense mechanism, immunomodulatory activities, and chemopreventive effects.

Unfortified soymilk, either original or vanilla, is a good source of energy, protein, dietary fiber, and fat. It contains minerals, including calcium, iron, magnesium, phosphorus, potassium, sodium, and zinc. Various vitamins such as folate, thiamin, riboflavin, niacin, vitamin B6, vitamin B 12, vitamin D, vitamin E, and vitamin K are also found in soymilk. All these nutrients helpin maintaining good health. It also contains saturated, monounsaturated, and polyunsaturated fatty acids.

Present in the turnover ceremony are the following (from L-R): Norman Raquel, President, Joybean Food Masters Corporation; Frederick T. Siy, Chairman of the Board, Joybean Food Masters Corporation; Sydney Quays, Group CEO of Berjaya Food Berhad; Luis Daniel, Senior Vice President, Jollibean Foods Pte Ltd.

Apart from all these good things you get from soy-based drinks, you’ll also be glad to know you’ll never grow tired of Joybean as it comes in so many flavors like Brown Sugar Soy Milk, Chocolate Joy Freeze, and Wintermelon Milk Tea. These drinks are use Grade A, non-GMO, and single variety IP Canadian soy beans, making it 100% vegan-friendly and do not contain any animal or animal by-products.

Joybean also offers some flavorful snacks to complement you healthy drink. The store serves pancakes in three variants including crispy, the Mee Chiang Kueh (traditional turnover pancake), and mini pancake rolls. You can also indulge in pudding and bean curd which you can order solo or for sharing.

But these aren’t all. Joybean’s going an extra mile to support the environment by promoting sustainable straw made of bamboo, sugar cane, and coffee it uses in all its drinks.

Photo shows from (L-R) Shannen Francisco, Assistant Brand Manager, Joybean Food Masters Corporation; Carlos Alfredo Vergara, Marketing Director, Joybean Food Masters Corporation; Erwin Catihanan, Operations Director, Joybean Food Masters Corporation; Sydney Quays, Group CEO of Berjaya Food Berhad; Frederick T. Siy, Chairman of the Board, Joybean Food Masters Corporation; Norman Raquel, President, Joybean Food Masters Corporation; Luis Daniel, Senior Vice President, Jollibean Foods Pte Ltd.; and Simon Ng, Franchise Development Director, Jollibean Foods Pte Ltd.

To experience this new drink craze in the Philippines, visit the new Joybean’s booth located at Greenbelt 3. Another store will be opened later this year in SM Fairview, Quezon City.

 

Lifestyle

Avène’s Cleanance Opens Shine-Free Week Feat Oil-Free Skin Care Line

We women live in a society where our outward appearance seems to have become all-important – the yardstick by which we measure ourselves and by which we are measured. In my decades of experience on reviewing skin care products and dermatology procedures, I’ve explored every aspect of how we see beauty and the extraordinary lengths to which we go in pursuing it.

We’ve drifted along, guided by market forces into accepting that beauty is some kind of mask we put on, when in truth it is simply the natural result of vibrant health. We spend no end of time and money on the image we present to the world, but at the same time, we often make poor choices that compromise our well-being.

But we have to admit that the beauty products made today bring great help to finding the right skin care regimen that we should use. Instead of experimenting as non-pros which can even lead to solutions that mitigate the damage, we should find the safest products that our can really take care of our stressed-out skin.

The famous European brand Avène launched its Shine-Free Week September 26 – October 2 campaign at SM Makati. It holds a display of their ace cleansers, moisturizers and more under the product line Cleanance.

 

Dr. Karen Gavino-Dionisio

Well-known dermatologist Dr. Karen Gavino-Dionisio of the Aesthetic Institute of the Philippines shared information about good skin cleansing habits and specific products that can help prevent breakouts, arrest excessive oil production and sooth sensitive skin.

All week long, consumers will get lectures on skin types, the importance of caring for oily skin, the do’s and don’ts of oily skin and what products to use for various skin needs as they went through various stations at the Cleanance booth to enjoy interactive experiences and win prizes.

As you know, your daily beauty habits have a big impact on what you see in the mirror. Ultimately, caring for your skin is simply personal.

While Sebum is vital for keeping the skin healthy, too much of it can lead to oily skin, clogged pores, and acne. Managing oily skin often requires a person making regular skin care a habit.

To help, Cleanance,came up with the ultimate solution to oily skin for both men and women. It is made especially for acne-prone skin with spots and blackheads because it has gentle and exclusive active ingredients that regulate sebum production without drying the skin and also reduces the appearance of blemishes.

During Avène’s week-long Shine-Free Campaign, customers will gain access to Cleanance EXPERT—the full Cleanance line that was introduced at the interactive booths. When used as a team, the products help to carry out the Cleanance Skin Care Routine of Cleanse, Prepare, Reduce Blemishes and Protect.

Products featured in these events include:

  • Cleanance Cleansing Gel – to jump start the cleansing process and control sebum production. It is soap-free but deeply cleanses the skin while maintaining the surface hydrolipidic film.
  • Cleanance Micellar Water – to gently remove impurities from the face and eyes without the need to rinse.
  • Cleanance Mattifying Lotion – a two toner combination of gentle astringent and mattifying powders to purify skin and tighten pores without irritation.
  • Cleanance Skin Refining Serum – a super light, watery texture serum that gives skin a sensation of comfort and freshness.
  • Cleanance Expert Emulsion -to reduce blemishes and dark spots.
  • Cleanance Spot Corrector – a pen that helps reduce the appearance of localized blemishes with daily use and touch up unwanted spots.
  • Cleanance Solaire – provides high-sun protection of delicate facial skin with acne.

The goal of any skin-care routine is to tune up your complexion so it’s functioning at its best, and also troubleshoot or target any areas you want to work on. Beauty routines are an opportunity to notice changes within yourself. As your skin needs shifts with age, so will your products.

Ms. Anna Talatala, Head of Marketing of KARIHOME, Inc.

The Cleanance EXPERT-Complete Care line is formulated for sensitive skin because it has gentle and exclusive active ingredients to regulate sebum production without drying the skin, even as it reduces the appearance of blemishes. It contains Diolenyl that targets blemishes, X- Press in that smoothens skin texture, Monolaur in that regulates sebum hyper production and Avéne Thermal Spring Water that soothes, softens and prevents skin irritation.

For more information on Cleanance and the rituals of good skin care, visit our website www.eau-thermale-avene.ph, like our Facebook page @EauThermaleAvenePH and follow us on Instagram @avenephilippines.

 

Food

Mega Prime Renews Contract With Marian Rivera; Launches Rewards Program

Photo shows from [L-R] Rams David, Marian Rivera’s Manager; Marian Rivera, Mega Prime Ambassador; Michelle Tiu Lim Chan, Mega Global VP for Finance, Export and Support Group; Marvin Tiu Lim, VP of Sales and Marketing

For the third year in a row, Mega Prime chooses Kapuso Prime time Queen Marian Rivera-Dantes to be their ambassadress as they believe she is an epitome of a modern mom. And in line with her renewal, an exciting Prime Mom Club Rewards program was launched to help more cooking moms make their food budgeting “super tipid” and “extra sulit.”

Making a healthy meal for the whole family shouldn’t be super expensive, most especially when you have a cooking partner as versatile and flexible as the Mega Prime products. And the respectable actress Marian Rivera-Dantes couldn’t agree more.

In the event last September 24 where she renewed her contract as an ambassadress of Mega Prime and as honorary member of Prime Mom Club, she said:

“Sobrang happy and excited ako to continue my partnership with Mega Prime.” said Marian “As a homemaker, full support akosamga quality and affordable products that they offer. And because of that, alamkonanabibigaykoang best mealtimes na deserve ng family ko. Through this rewards program, very confident akonamarami pang mommies ang ma-eencouragenasumali because it’s easy, fun and very helpful talaga. “

Mega Prime could be one of the best canned product producers in the country. Honed from the Mega Global which then focused on sardines and tuna only, the Prime lineup was made which specializes in whole mushrooms, pieces and stems mushrooms, whole kernel corn, cream style corn, green peas, Garbanzos, canned fruits and canned sweet preserves, fruit cocktail, peach halves, and nata de coco. They have almost everything you need to complete our Pinoy delicacies like Giniling, Menudo, Mechado, Afritada, Salad, and Floats!

But the deliciousness doesn’t stop there as Mega Prime Choices now includes Vermicelli Noodles, Oyster Sauce, and Sweet Chili Sauce in its portfolio of products.

Apart from supporting Filipino households in home cooking, Mega Prime established last year a new community that aims to help all the hardworking moms in preparing meals that will nourish their families. As you know, it could be tough sometimes to come up with new recipes that every member of the family would appreciate.

Thanks to the Prime Mom Club, every “nanays” can now have an unlimited source of recipes that even the pickiest eater will love. Using the Mega Prime products, of course, the everyday dishes will now turn into memorable meals.

Marian Rivera-Dantes

And in just a year after being founded, the Prime Mom Club now has over 1000 members who regularly participate in activities including Mega’s very successful workshop last April. The beautiful ambassadress continued to express her gratitude of representing this mom community, saying:

“As an honorary member of the Prime Mom Club inaabangan ko talaga yung mga bagong initiatives and activities nila na big help sa aming mga mommies. Dahil sa rewards program na ito, I’m sure mas marami pa kaming matutunan sa kitchen at mas mapapasarap pa ang mealtimes sa bahay‚ Very thankful ako kay Mega Prime dahil binibigyan nilang pagkakataon ng mga mommies na matutuo sa isa’t isa.”

During Marian’s renewal of contract and press event, it was announced that the Prime Mom Club will start a rewards program where active members of the online community as well as those who purchase products will get corresponding reward points. These points can later be used to redeem products and prizes set by Mega Prime.

To take part in the rewards program, moms should first register as a member of the Prime Moms Club by signing up on primemomclub.com. Those who attended and registered at the launch event instantly received 200 points.

Mega Prime Brand Manager Raymund Alegre said about this new initiative:

“The Prime Mom Club was created by Mega Global to create a community of home makers who love learning from one another. Through this community, members exchange tips and ideas on how to provide better meals and make parenting easier. Our new rewards program complements the activities of the club, by rewarding those who are loyal users of the Mega Prime brand.”

Members of the Prime Mom Club enjoy all-exclusive perks and privileges including Mega Prime events, newsletters, rewards, and special gift items and products from Mega Prime. Visit https://primemomclub.com/sign-up/ to sign up. For more information and updates, like and follow them on Facebook and Instagram @megaprimequality.

 

 

 

Lifestyle

Preventing Hair Loss Is More Possible With New Novuhair Promo

Using natural products has become an effective trend in recent years that passed. From supplements to food, and even in beauty regimens, people have swiftly shifted from chemicals to all-natural.

And why not? Revamping your entire diet and lifestyle to improve your health could be a grace. Choosing natural products can pay off in a big boost to your health and even to your hair health, which you’ll certainly notice quickly after the transition.

Among the many natural beauty products available in the market, one of the packages I see to it I have is the Novuhair 3-1 pack. Growing older, I’d like to keep my hair firm, strong, smooth, and looking beautiful as it adds to my youthful vibe. And like they said, a girl’s crowning glory is her hair so going an extra mile to keep it healthy is not at all an arduous task for me.

As part of its advocacy to promote the use of natural products and healthier lifestyle, Hair and beauty expert Fanny “TF” Serrano’ own formula he called Novuhair Nature’s Answer to Hair Loss is now being sold at a promo package in all Watsons stores nationwide.

You’ll still have to purchase the 3-in-1 Pack at P5,280 but you will get a free 200ml bottle of NOVUHAIR Herbal Shampoo which is worth P1,100! Imagine saving 21% of the total package price. That’s a huge budget deal that you get to enjoy while maintaining your lustrous hair.

Made out of 19 NATURAL INGREDIENTS—mostly standardized herbal extracts, essential oils and co-factor nutrients—NOVUHAIR Topical Scalp Lotion helps prevent excessive hair loss, thinning hair and bald patches, and aids in stimulating hair growth. It seeps through the scalp and tress to help improve blood circulation, enhance overall appearance, maintain moisture, and aid nourishment and rejuvenation. This breakthrough product is proven safe and effective based on the clinical trial.

So instead of sticking to your regular shampoo that’s full of chemicals, why not try to be more natural through the NOVUHAIR 3-IN-1 Promo Pack.

Help a friend know about Novuhair and its great offer by sharing this on social media: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rAj_VBGe96s.

For more convenient shopping, you can shop this promo pack https://www.watsons.com.ph/3-in-1-pack-save-p1100/p/BP_50014696.

For inquiries, call 413-6570 or 09228830575, visit NOVUHAIR Facebook Page (Novuhair Official) or website at www.novuhair.com.

#NothingToLoseNovuhair #ChooseNatural #LoveYourself #ProtectYourself

Food, Lifestyle

McDo can plan your Celebration with Hassle-Free

Looking for someone to plan for your Kids birthday celebration? Kids always look forward to birthday party celebrations, but there’s no denying that the planning process can be intimidating for parents. For those who want to give the best birthday bash for their children but don’t know where to start, look no further as McDonald’s offers a hassle-free way to plan a party! Just like what Marian Rivera Dantes does for her daughter Zia!

Marian Rivera-Dantes and daughter Zia choose McDo Party!

Take it from Marian Rivera-Dantes herself, who is seen in this new video by McDonald’s, having a breeze as she and Zia takes us through their party planning process!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nQNrg_TsTe8

As one of the top birthday party destinations for kids, McDonald’s aims to make party planning as stress-free as possible. Parents can rely on McDonald’s hands-on party planners, known as Guest Experience Leaders, to stay on top of the party details from start to finish, so parents can take a back seat from the stress of planning and just enjoy milestone moments as much as they should be enjoyed.

McDo Party: Planning in 4 easy steps:

Step 1: Choose a McDonald’s branch, date, and time

What’s great about McDonald’s is that there are 450+ branches you can choose from, depending on your party requirements! May it be a small group of 30 or a bigger guest list of 100; a party in the morning, afternoon, or night; you’ll surely find a McDonald’s branch that will fit your needs!

Step 2: Choose your party theme

Kids love parties with a theme. At McDonald’s there are five options to choose from: Ronald and the Gang, Happy, Barbie, Hot Wheels, and Thomas & Friends!This means your party will have a themed backdrop, invitations, party hats, activity sheets, game prizes and giveaways. And no matter what party theme you choose, an appearance of a McDonald’s character is already included in the package!

Step 3: Choose your favorite McDonald’s food

Get ready to serve a mouth-watering feast for your guests by selecting your McDonald’s favorites! Meal packages start at Php125 per person, proving great value for money.

Step 4: Lock in the payment

Once you’ve picked out your venue, date & time, theme, and food, all you’ll have to do is to settle a minimal reservation fee. Pay it via cash or credit card and you’re all good to go!

To learn more on how you can host your next party without the stress, visit mcdoparty.com.ph or visit any McDonald’s store near you!

Tech

OPPO Launches A9 2020 in Ph – Specs and Price Revealed

The new OPPO A Series smartphones officially launches in the Philippines. From L-R: OPPO Philippines Marketing Director Mr. Raymond Xia, OPPO Philippines CEO Mr. Damon Huang, OPPO A Series Endorser Alex Gonzaga, and OPPO Philippines Brand Manager Chiqui Tapawan proudly showcases the new OPPO A9

One of the best-selling mobile phone brands in the Philippines just released a new midranger and everyone has their eyes on it. OPPO has been quietly cooking its newest A-series flagship in the form of A9 2020 which it officially introduced on Thursday, September 19.

Just in time for the holiday season, people can easily afford the all-new OPPO A9 2020 as it comes in a decent price tag of P15,990. And at this price, you get a pretty exterior with colors of the nature, grand total of 5 cameras, and a very solid chipset.

When you look at the A9 2020, you will see familiar design elements as it looks very similar as the OPPO R17. Although it also incorporated some new thing like its unique gradient finish which you can see on the back of the phone. Unfortunately, the case is still made out of plastic when other phones in this range are already on scratch-resistant glass bodies.

At the bottom part of the OPPO A9 2020, you will see the 3.5mm jack for your headset. At the rear is the quad-camera setup with three of the cameras arranged vertically in-line and the fourth placed just slightly below the LED flash.

As always, OPPO has camera features that can compete with Samsung and Apple with its rear cams having 48-megapixel with high-resolution sensor and f/1.8 aperture lens; 8-megapixel wide-angle lens; 2-megapixel “portrait” lens; and a 2-megapixel mono lens.

It’s not clear how the camera app will automatically switch into these cams and at what settings but the mono lens may just be used for dedicated monochrome sensor for additional information.

Apart from that, this new OPPO phone uses the new Ultra Night Mode 2.0 technology of the brand that’s supposedly vastly improved over the previous iteration. And the 5th camera is located at the front which boasts 16-megapixel resolution embedded in a water-drop notch.

When it comes to the screen, you’ll get a 6.5-inch, HD+ IPS display with bezels that are relatively slim for a mid-range phone.

Going to the inner specs, A9 2020 uses Qualcomm’s new Snapdragon 665 chipset which is already used by most phones in the mid-range bracket. More interestingly, OPPO A9 runs on 8GB of RAM and 128GB of storage that you can expand further with an added microSD. This for me is the most impressive as not all mid-range phones have 8GB of RAM. This is fast and could support full entertainment activities, most especially gaming.

And you don’t have to worry that you’ll die out soon when you use it for gaming or video streaming and video conferencing. The OPPO A9 2020 has a massive 5000mAh battery which can last for 8-10 hours of continuous use. And finally, this phone uses the USB Type-C charging as well as reverse charging.

The new OPPO A9 2020, especially made for pure entertainment, has officially launched in the Philippines

To top it off, OPPO A9 2020 is powered by the latest Android OS which is the 9 Pie along with ColorOS 6.

For a quick summary of the specs of the OPPO A9 2020:

  • Qualcomm Snapdragon 665 processor
  • 8GB of RAM
  • 6.5-inch HD+ display with waterdrop notch, Corning Gorilla Glass 3 protection
  • 128GB of expandable storage
  • 48-megapixel main camera, 8-megapixel Ultra Wide Angle Lens (119°), 2-megapixel portrait lens, 2-megapixel mono lens
  • 16-megapixel front camera
  • 3G, LTE/4G
  • Dual SIM
  • WiFi, Bluetooth 5.0, GPS, A-GPS, physical fingerprint scanner, USB Type-C connector
  • 5000mAh battery, reverse charging
  • Android 9.0, ColorOS 6

 

OPPO Philippines Brand Manager Chiqui Tapawan unveiled the price of the new OPPO A9 2020, priced at Php 15,990 SRP.

OPPO A9 2020 is priced at P15,990 which you can pre-order from September 20-27 with nationwide availability on September 28. The package will include a free Xsound Bluetooth headset which is normally price at P2k+ when you buy it separately.

The new OPPO A9 2020 is expected go heads on against XiaomiMi 9T Pro, Samsung Galaxy A50s, Huawei Nova 5T, Vivo S1, Huawei P30 Lite, and Samsung Galaxy A30s.

OPPO officially introduces Alex Gonzaga, who is #AlwaysGwithOPPOA9, as the first ever endorser of the OPPO A Series in the Philippines.

On the other hand, OPPO also announced during the launch about its A5 2020 which will arrive in the Philippines in October. A new endorser was also chosen to represent the OPPO A-Series 2020. Actress and vlogger Alex Gonzaga was announced to be the new face of the A-series as her witty and playful spirit are the perfect representations of what the collection is all about.

Mr. Raymond Xia, OPPO Philippines Marketing Director, shares about the rapid growth of the brand attributed to the global support revolving around the OPPO A Series.

OPPO Philippines Marketing Director, Raymond Xia shared:

“We are truly excited to introduce Alex Gonzaga as the newest endorser of the upgraded OPPO A series. Her outgoing and engaging personality, along with the fact that she is one of the favorite entertainers in the industry today, make her a perfect fit for the all-new OPPO A9 2020 that’s packed with amazing entertainment features that will surely keep you entertained.”

Guests from the OPPO A Series launch event enjoys the activity booths that amplify the specs of the newly launched OPPO A9 2020.

Lifestyle

4th World Trade Expo 2019 Pre-Event Announced Sponsors

The holidays are just around the corner and many people are once again gearing up to accomplish one or two of their travel goals. Like me, many are already starting to scout for seat sales and end of the rainy season promos to score affordable transportation and accommodation. And the timing of the World Travel Expo 2019 is just perfect as many are looking to book for the cheapest air fares and accommodations.

The 4th World Travel Expo will take place on October 25 to 27, 2019 at the SMX Convention Center, Mall of Asia, Pasay City. The event will see 300 exhibitors and is preparing to accommodate 30,000 visitors. The process for getting passes is still ongoing so you should submit your names now to get the chance to get a glimpse of the most wanted tourist spots from across the globe.

In the pre-event that went down earlier this week, the WTE 2019 presented all their sponsors including Pampanga’s most popular attraction – the Aqua Planet, the largest travel agency in Japan and one of the largest travel agencies in the world – JTB, 2Go Travel, Eye Mo, Cocogen Insurance, Fly Supply Travel and Tours, HIS Philippines Travel Corp., Prime Hotel, and Embassy of Sri Lanka.

The World Travel Expo is an annual event participated in by local and international tourism industries running in the Philippines. This year’s event is expected to be bigger than last year to bring more hospitality players together like hotels, airlines, cruise and other means of travel around the world to treat guests to expo-exclusive deals and discounts.

Expect a lot of local and international tour packages to Palawan, Bohol, Singapore, Korea, Italy, France, and more from WTE’s sponsors and exhibitors. WTE 2019 will also knit together destinations, tourist attractions to help you design your upcoming holiday getaway without any hassle.

The sponsors of World Trade Expo 2029 (from left): Perseus John Mendoza of JTB, Kevin Edward Culla of Cocogen Insurance, Choby Pelayo of Fly Supply Travel & Tours, Erlbyn Jayona of IMS Asia “Eye Mo”, Rowena Alcantara of 2GO Travel, Moe Kawasaki of HIS Philippines Travel Corp., Dante Paraymo of Prime Hotel, Shobini Gunasekera from Embassy of Sri Lanka and Ashley Singh of Aqua Planet.

The World Travel Expo 2019 commits to provide an effective platform which can help the Philippines in the global tourism and its development thru a one-stop solution of promoting sales and brand awareness of each participating companies.

During the expo days, there will also be other exciting activities to liven it up, with some of the highlights including:

  • Raffle draws
  • Showcasing products and services, best deals promos and competitive packages for the travel industry
  • Travel Photography Competition
  • Video Montage Competition

For bloggers like me, this is the chance for us to create new partners and networks too!

The World Travel Expo will be open for 3 days from 10a.m. to 7p.m. Entrance tickets only costs P80 and you can start getting them now by registering on worldtravelexpo.com.ph/wte-registration.

For more information, you may contact the World Travel Expo via their Facebook page at www.facebook.com/worldtravelexpoph or call them at 02-579-7185 and 0977-811-1688.

 

Food, Lifestyle

New Best Barista Named During the 13th PGBC Championship

The grand winner of the 13th PGBC, JC Landicho of Magnum Opus with the judges, friends and the president of Allegro Beverage Corp., Mr. Leo De Leon.

The best of Filipino baristas gathered once again for the annual Philippine Grand Barista Cup and Grand Latte Art Throw down by Allegro Beverage Corporation where finalists had to prove their espresso and latté-making skills. Held last September 12-13 at the World Trade Center in Pasay City, the 13th PGBC has been a success.

This is my first time to witness a barista contest and it was certainly unlike any other as they’ve been entertaining audiences too with some fun games like my all-time fave “Bring Me.” Before this grand finals event, I was also invited last September 5 in their Milk Lab Challenge where the 6 finalists had a pre-face off, creating 3 drinks for the judges. There was also a showdown on latte art creation.

This year’s event placed champion baristas from different cafes in different places of the Philippines. The finalists had to strive to balance acidity, bitterness, sweetness, and aromatics of coffee. During the presentation, participants were also asked to explain why they chose their particular coffee creation as well as the basic roast profile, major taste elements, espresso blend structure, other ingredients, and the philosophy behind the drinks served.

Entries were judged according to taste, presentation, and the baristas’ technical skills.

The 13thPhilippine Grand Barista Cup required baristas to prepare 3 kinds of concoctions under the following categories: Espresso, Cappuccino and their own six beverages. After the competition, the following winners were declared:

2nd Runner up– Karl ZourielLat, an independent competitor from Makati

1st Runner up– John Richard Co of Chapter Coffee Roastery and Café

Grand Winner – JC Landicho of Magnum Opus

The grand champion took home prices including a PGBC trophy, P100,000-worth Franke fully automated espresso/cappuccino machine, Expobar Barista kit worth P15,000, and a coffee class at the UGC Coffee Academy and Local Coffee Appreciation and Farm tour in Atok, Benguet by Beviamo Coffee and Beverages. He also got several Milk Lab products and buffet vouchers from Marriott Manila.

The event is organized by Allegro Beverage Corporation, the exclusive Philippine distributor of Expobar espresso machines, DaVinci Gourmet Syrups and Sauces, and CaffeMoak.

The event’s goals are to promote the profession and to help develop world-class Pinoy talents.It is also meant to standardize the preparation and processing of espresso-based drinks like cafe latte, cafe mocha, cappuccino, and espresso.

This year’s panel of judges consists of masters and experts from other countries including Mr. Marco Poidamani, Mr. Fabian Fredriksson, Mr. Tristan Destura and Mr. Fernando Menendez. Local Experts such as Mr. Sherwin Halasan, and Mr. Ernie Mesina.

Allegro Beverage Corporation partnered with several sponsors to make the 13th Philippine Grand Barista Cup possible. These sponsors include Exposer Espresso Machine, Mahlkonig Grinder, Franke Coffee System, Moan Italian Coffee, Allegro Gourmet Syrup, Milk Lab, UCC Philippines, UCC Coffee Academy, BDO, Lotus Bischoff and Far Eastern University.

Fashion, Lifestyle

Rainy Season’s Almost Out But These Fashion Items Are Still In

The seasons in the Philippines seemingly saw changes. For the past few years, we’ve been experiencing typhoons even in December and what makes it worse is that we can’t be on the getup we want to look stylish during the holidays. But fret not because the top apparel brands made their waterproof footwear looking more fashionable than ever so they can be useful through all kinds of weather.

First up is Keds which is one of my fave sneaker brands. But instead of its vintage white canvass sneaker, I’m putting another of its variants into spotlight today. The All-season boots and sneakers of Kedsis perfect not just for the rainy season but also for the upcoming holiday when it’s a bit colder.

Crafted with silhouette features, these waterproof shoes are also stain repellant to make them always looking new even after they get soaked and dried up and soaked again.

Keds Scout Trek Splash Canvas in white (PHP 3,295.00); Scout Boot II Matte Canvas in Black (P4295); Boot II Matte Twill in Burgundy (P4295);

And to those who just can’t let go of the white canvass trademark of Keds but have to go on treks, you can still be fashionable in the Keds Scout Trek Splash Canvas pair. But for a rougher path, you can opt for the Scout Boot II Matte Canvas or Boot II Matte Twill.

Captain’s CVO Washable in grey for men P4295, Captain’s CVO Washable Sneaker in Rose for women P4295

Next is Sperry who released a washable shoe that makes shoe cleaning a bit less hassling. The brand’s Sperry Washable Collection now comes with a colorfast and washable nubuckplus it was intentionally designed to be lightweight through its breathable canvas material.

Sperry Striper II Storm Water Proof Chukka (P 4995), Sperry Striper II Storm Cvo Duck Canvas (P 3590), Bahama II Storm Duck Canvas (P 3995)

Another collection to check from Sperry is its Weather Ready Collection. The classic Striper II is made of water-resistant heavy canvas with gusseted tongue while the Bahama II has a heavy-duty duck canvas. The Sperry Striper II Storm CVO Duck, on the other hand, is made with waterproof suede, leather, and wool uppers in a seam-sealed waterproof construction to make sure your feet are warm and dry during the cold and under the rain.

Up next is the king of outdoor apparels – Merrell.

Merrell MOAB Adventure Lace (P P5495) Merrell Siren Edge Q2 WATERPROOF (P4895)

Everyone who loves to hike is well acquainted with the Merrell shoes and why not? These shoes are heavy duty, sticky, and made to survive through all kinds of weather.

Its Wet Weather Adventure Shoe collection boasts the Merrell MOAB Adventure Lace for men which is equipped with FIT.ECO blended EVA contoured footbed for comfort. The shoe also has the brand’s Vibram® outsole for traction in all weather and temperature conditions.

Ladies also get their own treat through the Merrell Siren Edge Q2 WATERPROOF for women. This pair is designed for the way women move, offering support, alignment, and stability. Aside from the weatherized material, it is outfitted with  the Q FORM™ 2 insole and midsole technology for comfort.

Want a more breathable but fashionable footwear that you can use under the rain or across waters? Then the Merrell Easy-to-style Sandals are what you should shop!

Merrell Choprock Strap For Men (P4495), Merell Siren Strap Q2 (P3895)

The Merrell Choprock Strap sandals for menis packed with materials that dryout fast, have strong grip on slick  terrain (Vibram® Megagrip™ outsole), and protect your feet from debris. It’s certainly the perfect sandals for a long holiday hike.

Second up is the Merrell Siren Strap Q2 which isdesigned for wet adventures. This comfortable strap-insandals is engineered with the active woman in mind, offering support, alignment, and gender-specific stability. It also has a waterproof nubuck and webbing upper, plus Merrell In-Board Compression molded EVA footframeto provide extra cushioning that will make you safer during your all-day walk.

Skechers Merlin-Rosney (P2095); SkechersNextwave Ultra (P2295)

And last but won’t allow to be the least in this list – Skechers!

Skechers has always made its footwear collections very funky but despite the fashionable looks, they all have quality that other brands can’t compete with.

The Skechers Merlin-Rosney for men is a cool sporty sandals but it surprisingly gives warmth to the feet because of its cushioned footbed. The upper is made with leather-textured synthetic, making it perfect for casual getaways.

And for women, there’s the SkechersNextwave Ultra.  This surf-ready flip flop is designed with soft flexible jelly material with ombre color design, silhoutteGoga Mat® footbed, and ULTRA GO™ cushioned sole.

And here’s a final treat to keep you warmer through the coming months, Rain gears from No Fear!

No Fear Saul Biker Jacket (P2199.75) No Fear Preston Hoodie Jacket (P1599.75), No Fear Stephan – Bomber Jacket (P1669.75)

The No Fear Saul Biker Jacket,No Fear Preston Hoodie Jacket, and No Fear Stephan – Bomber Jacket are all ready to give you extra warmth while adding to your stylish look this colder seasons. No Fear’s signature badass jackets feature windbreaker type material and water resistant finish. The Saul Biker jacket is a great addition to any casual outfit while the Preston Hoodie or Stephan Bomber jacket is the perfect getup for those who wish to keep themselves warm.

KEDS:

Visit keds.com.ph and Keds stores located at Glorietta 3, U.P. Town Center, SM North Edsa – The Block, SM Megamall, Robinsons Magnolia, Robinsons Manila, Festival Alabang, SM City Baguio, Robinsons Ilocos, Ayala Center Cebu, SM City Bacolod, SM City Iloilo, Gaisano Mall Davao, and Centrio Cagayan De Oro.  Also available in Complex Lifestyle Stores at Shangri-La Plaza Mall, TriNoma Mall, Eastwood Mall, Fairview Terraces, Uptown BGC, Glorietta 5, Alabang Town Center, Festival Supermall, Solenad-3 Nuvali, Marquee Mall, and Robinsons Galleria Cebu.

SPERRY:

Sperry is available in Sperry stores located at Bonifacio High Street, SM Aura, Glorietta 3, SM Mall of Asia, Robinsons Place Manila, Estancia Mall, UP Town Center, Trinoma, Estancia Mall, Festival Mall, SM North Edsa The Block, Sperry SM Fairview, SM Southmall, SM Lipa, SM Baguio, Robinsons Place Ilocos, Ayala Center Cebu, SM Seaside Cebu, SM City Cebu, SM Iloilo, SM Bacolod, SM Lanang, Centrio Mall, and online at www.sperry.com.ph

MERRELL:

Shop online at merrell.com.ph. Merrell is also available at Glorietta 3, TriNoma, SM North Annex, Market! Market!,  Robinson’s Place Manila, SM Southmall, Festival Mall Alabang, SM City Dasmariñas, Marquee Mall Pampanga, Harbor Point Subic, SM City Cebu, Ayala Center Cebu, SM Iloilo, SM City Davao, SM Lanang, Abreeza Mall Davao, Gaisano Mall Davao, Limketkai Mall, Centrio Mall, and selected specialty stores and department stores nationwide.

Visit Merrell on Facebook at www.facebook.com/MerrellPhilippines and follow us on Twitter and Instagram: @Merrell_PH.

SKECHERS:

For more Skechers sandals, visit skechers.com.ph, like Facebook.com/SkechersPhilippines and on Instagram @SkechersPH.

Visit Skechers concept stores located at Glorietta 2, Trinoma, SM North Edsa – The Annex, Ayala Malls Cloverleaf, Gateway Mall, Ayala Malls The 30th, SM East Ortigas, Ayala Malls Feliz, Market Market, SM Mall of Asia, Robinsons Place Manila, Lucky Chinatown, Alabang Town Center, Festival Mall, SM Southmall, SM Bacoor, SM Dasmarinas, Robinsons Gen Trias , SM Lipa, Fairview Terraces, SM Fairview, SM Marilao, SM Pampanga, Marquee Mall, SM Clark, Vista Mall Bataan, SM Cabanatuan, Robinsons Place Ilocos, Ayala Malls Legazpi, SM Legazpi, Ayala Center Cebu, SM City Cebu, SM Seaside Cebu, SM Bacolod, Ayala Malls Capitol Central, SM Iloilo, SM Davao, Limketkai Mall, Centrio Mall.

NO FEAR:

No Fear is available in leading department stores in the country.