Monthly Archives

July 2021

Food

New Bike and Dine facilities at McDonald’s Pampanga

To provide more outdoor dining options for Filipinos to safety eat in the restaurant giant McDonald’s Philippines opened its Bike & Dine facilities in its CM Recto and Clark Gate stores in Pampanga. Soon they will do it also in other cities. Since the virus can spread efficiently from person to person, McDonald’s has been investing in elevating the customer experience, by making dining more accessible, convenient, and inclusive for Filipinos; examples of which include Drive-Thru, McDelivery and outdoor dining. Having a strong foothold on these segments allowed the company to continuously serve its customers safely despite evolving quarantine restrictions set by LGUs.

In a ceremonial opening of McDonald’s CM Recto’s Bike & Dine area, which was attended by McDonald’s Philippines managing director Margot Torres, Pampanga governor Dennis Pineda, and Bases Conversion and Development Authority president and CEO secretary Vince Dizon, the managing director shared how this new facility is one way of championing customer inclusivity.

“We recognize the thousands of Kampampangans, especially frontline workers, who have turned to biking as their means of transportation during this unprecedented time. We saw this as an opportunity to provide them a way to enjoy their favorite McDonald’s meals conveniently, while ensuring that their bikes are safe and secure,” said Torres.

Known as a bike-friendly zone, Clark plans to build more bike-related facilities moving forward and through the McDonald’s Bike & Dine, this aims to provide cyclists a dining space after they ‘Ride Thru.’ McDonald’s Ride Thru aims to encourage all types of vehicles, not just 4-wheeled ones, to order food via the drive thru lane without leaving their vehicle.

Apart from that, cyclists can conveniently mount their bike securely in racks that are attached to a ledge which doubles as a table. Through this, bike-riding customers can enjoy their meals without worrying about the safety of their bicycles. To date, there are two other Bike & Dine facilities in the country, McDonald’s Vermosa (Cavite) and McDonald’s McKinley West (Taguig), with more slated to open this year.

Under the QSR giant’s M Safe program, stringent health and safety protocols are also set in place to assure that diners can enjoy their food while ensuring a high standard of safety.

Customers who will visit the stores will also be subjected to contact-tracing and temperature checks, and are required to wear a face mask and shield. Social distancing will be followed at all times from queueing for their orders and while dining in. Meanwhile, cashless payment options are also available in stores to minimize physical contact.

“We are excited to scale Bike & Dine to more stores in other cities too. We look forward to introducing this innovation to more bike-riding communities, where more customers can enjoy their favorite McDonald’s meals safely and more conveniently,” concluded Torres.

Visit www.mcdonalds.com.ph to stay updated on the daily operations of stores, visit www.mcdonalds.com.ph and for more announcements follow McDonald’s Philippines Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/McDo.ph.

 

 

 

July 12, 2021 by
Entertainment

EXCHANGE BETWEEN FRANK AND GURU

An online platform aimed at inspiring entrepreneurs to develop their enterprises to the next level. The core expertise of the program is the husband and wife hosts’ 30 years of experience supporting clients in growing and expanding their businesses.

Motivating strategy will be business life experiences of  entrepreneurs as they travel the route to scaling up their business concepts. Entrepreneurs will not only talk about their successes but more importantly challenges and difficulties they faced. This will be the THINK BUSINESS GROWTH SERIES

As experts in Franchising, the husband and wife team will have a FRANCHISE PLAYBOOK SERIES.  The goal of the series is to inform viewers on the basics of franchising and phases to become a franchisee and franchisor.  There will also be a portion called Franchise Spotlight where Franchisors present their franchise offering with a franchisee talking about their experience in the franchise system.

You may also visit their youtube channel: Business Franchise Guru and FB page: @ButzBartolome to get more information for the aspiring entrepreneurs and to know more about the business world.

 

 

 

July 11, 2021 by
Lifestyle

TikTok’s Viral Tracks Get a New Perspective on Life

TikTok, the most popular platform for short-form mobile video, has seen the birth of a slew of brilliant artists and viral content. Many aspiring and up-and-coming musicians have found their place in the community, fearlessly sharing their original compositions and covers of popular songs with anybody who enjoys music.

Seeing great potential in these music creators, TikTok is taking the initiative to support them by breathing new life into viral songs on the platform, and helping their music grow. TikTok does this by tapping onto popular creators to record cover versions of these viral tracks, and adding them into the immense music library in TikTok that users can easily access on the app.

TikTok is where music begins, and a number of remade songs have already soared in prominence among creators since their June release. The first is a Zendee rendition of Cutie Uyyy, a Visayan song. After that, AD BEAT’ performed Ikaw Lang, a cover of the song.

Cutie Uyyy      

                                                                             

The southern part of the Philippines may be considered an untapped resource when it comes to musical talent, and Cutie Uyy is proof of this. The song is so catchy that it gained recognition all over the country after its initial release in February 2020, and eventually went viral on TikTok, even though many listeners did not understand its lyrics.

Cutie Uyyy, a Bisaya phrase that means Hey Cutie, is an R&B Hip-Hop song that talks about young love, and being infatuated with a cute girl you just met. A year after it first went viral, TikTok gave this track a second life through a cover version performed by one of its top music creators, Zendee, who also hails from the southern part of the Philippines.

Listen to Zendee’s version of Cutie Uyyy here. Alternate versions of the track – Cutie Uyyy (Chorus) and Cutie Uyyy (Slowed Chorus) –  are also available for creators on TikTok

Ikaw Lang

Released by the local band, Nobita, in May 2020, Ikaw Lang, which means Only You in English, is a love song that speaks of faithfulness, trust and devotion. The song recently experienced a resurgence on TikTok and other platforms, even making it to Spotify’s Viral 50 PH playlist. Since then, its music video has already hit over a million views.

Re-released on TikTok by real-life couple, Adrian Ferrer and Alliyah Cadelina, Ikaw Lang was given a beautiful new twist on the platform, thanks to the beautiful mix of Aaliyah’s angelic voice and Adrian’s prolific beatboxing skills. Singing together about a dream-come-true kind of love, the couple produced a timeless, romantic track that can easily melt the heart of anyone who listens to it.

Listen to a snippet of AD BEAT’s version of Ikaw Lang here. A 30-second cut of the track is also available on TikTok. Watch out for the release of the full song this July.

Discover new music and the latest viral tunes on TikTok! Download the app on your iOS and Android devices today to get started.

 

 

July 10, 2021 by
Tech

Converge wins two regional prizes for entrepreneurship

Converge CEO and Co-Founder Dennis Anthony Uy triumphed at the AsiaPacific Enterprise Awards 2021 Regional Edition, gaining recognition as a Master Entrepreneur in balancing unprecedented profitability and operational efficiency while championing sustainability.

Converge ICT Solutions Inc., the Philippines’ only pure fiber broadband provider, was acknowledged as a beacon of success in the Philippines’ telecoms and ICT industry at the 15th Asia Pacific Enterprise Awards (APEA) 2021 Regional Edition. For the second year in a row, the company was recognized for Corporate Excellence, and Dennis Anthony H. Uy, Co-Founder and CEO, was named a Master Entrepreneur.

 “I started Converge several years ago with the goal to reach the unserved and underserved in the Philippines, to provide internet connection that is at par with the best in the world,” said Converge CEO Dennis Anthony H. Uy who received the award. “This award is a testament to the hard work and dedication that we have put into building a world-class digital highway for the country.”

The prestigious Asia Pacific Enterprise Awards (APEA) is a regional award recognition program recognizing entrepreneurial excellence. The APEA is the recognition program of Enterprise Asia, a leading Asian non-government organization aimed at promoting entrepreneurship.

APEA honors business leaders and organizations that have shown outstanding performance and tenacity in developing successful businesses, while not neglecting the social responsibilities that come with leadership. All of the nominees have undergone a stringent evaluation, judging process, and a mandatory audit before being selected as the winners in all respective categories.

Converge ICT Solutions Inc.is the only Telecommunications & ICT industry award recipient from the Philippines to bring home the coveted Corporate Excellence Award in at the AsiaPacific Enterprise Awards 2021 Regional Edition.

Enterprises that have proven sustainable economic growth, ethical leadership, and operational efficiency are recognized in the Corporate Excellence Category. The Master Entrepreneurial Category honors business executives who have exhibited entrepreneurial qualities that make them role models for others, as well as the resilience and persistence to keep inventing and making a real difference in the face of adversity.

Opening the awards night, President of Enterprise Asia, Richard Tsang said, “This year’s theme of the APEA is ‘The Great Reset: Towards a Sustainable Recovery’. The pandemic has torn into the very foundation of our societies and our economies. As business leaders, we have the opportunity to take bold steps to reshape our economies.” 

“I hope this award will inspire other budding entrepreneurs to work hard, pursue their dreams and help uplift the lives of others,” said Converge’s Uy.

Converge is on track to meet millions of unserved and underserved households and businesses across the country as it connects the Visayas and Mindanao to its national domestic backbone. Converge wants to reach 55 percent household coverage by 2025, with fiber connectivity currently covering only about 12 percent of the market.

Visit the Converge website at www.convergeict.com for more information.

About Converge ICT Solutions, Inc.
Converge Information and Communications Technology Solutions, Inc. (PSE:CNVRG) is the leading pure fiber data network and internet service provider in the country. It is the first to run a pure end-to-end fiber internet network, providing Filipinos simple, fast, and reliable internet connection. Converge is ISO 9001 and CE2.0 Certified.

 

July 9, 2021 by
Food

McDonald’s launches the new Space Jam Tune Squad toy collectibles in stores

Remember the movie which was released 25 years ago, Space Jam Tunes Squad is making a comeback this year, the new design collectibles are in honor of the much-awaited sequel to the beloved classic Space Jam: A New Legacy is the standalone sequel that features another exciting adventure with our Looney Squad.. Also this time with McDonald’s Philippines! Bugs Bunny, Daffy Duck, Sylvester, and the rest of the crew are all returning as McDonald’s launches the new Space Jam Happy Meal! The new collection of toys is made even more exciting as King Lebron James joins in the toy character lineup.

As McDonald’s aims to bring families closer together, it teamed up with the iconic squad and has created an exciting lineup of must-have toys which would bring nostalgia to parents and young adults, and play time fun for kids. The Space Jam Happy Meal consists of 12 Tune Squad characters which include: Bugs Bunny, Lola Bunny, Daffy Duck, Sylvester, Road Runner, Yosemite Sam, Wile E. Coyote, Taz, Elmer Fudd, Marvin the Martian, and of course, Lebron James.

Starting July 9 collect all 12 toys and order via McDelivery, McDo Drive-Thru, Take-Out, or Dine-In and have a family bonding time that is loonier than ever. To score as many points as you can with every Happy Meal! Start practice your shooting skills with LeBron and the Space Jam Tune Squad.

July 9, 2021 by
Entertainment

Check out new season premieres of hayu this July with fresh new seasons

Are you excited of the new season of hayu? One thing that probably kept all of us sane throughout the year, it’s probably entertainment. There’s no easier way to escape reality than immersing yourself in the world of your favorite characters from your favorite series. Well, if you’ve been on the hunt for fresh new shows to watch, hayu’s got an exciting lineup of new season premieres for this month, including a new season of a well-loved reality TV (or shall we say, reali-tea), a brand-new cooking competition show, some chilling true-crime docuseries, and more.

Here are the following shows:

The Real Housewives of Potomac

Season 6 – July 12

There’s nothing like escaping your reality and jumping into someone else’s—and we know you’d do it in a heartbeat if it means getting front-row seats into the lives of several wealthy women and the scalding hot tea they’ll be spilling in the brand new season of The Real Housewives of Potomac. Karen Huger, Gizelle Bryant, Ashley Carby, Candiace Dillard Bassett, Robyn Dixon, and Wendy Osefo are back for a sixth season and they’re joined by a new housewife, Mia Thornton—an entrepreneur and certified boss who may or may not have thrown salad at Candiace. *sips tea*

Top Chef Amateurs

Season 1 – July 2

If you’re a huge fan of cooking show competitions and love how nerve-racking they can get, then you’re in for a treat: Top Chef Amateurs Season 1 airs this month and it’s hosted by none other than long-time Top Chef judge, Gail Simmons. In each 30-minute episode of this culinary competition series, two amateur chefs will go head to head and test their cooking chops going through some fan-favorite challenges from Top Chef. Oh, did we mention that each amateur chef will be paired with a Top Chef All Star? Let’s just say you’ll be seeing the likes of Eric Adjepong, Richard Blais, Jennifer Carroll, Shirley Chung, Stephanie Cmar, Tiffany Derry, Joe Flamm, Gregory Gourdet, Melissa King, Kwame Onwuachi, Dale Talde, and Isaac Toups in the series. Wink, wink.

Below Deck Mediterranean

Season 6 – New episodes every Tuesday

The spin-off of American reality series Below Deck is back for a sixth season, and this time with returning members Captain Sandy Yawn and Malia White aboarding the “Lady Michelle”—a 180-foot mega yacht en route to Croatia. Of course, it isn’t Below Deck Med without personalities clashing and lots and lots of tension among crew members, so get ready to embark on an adventure that’s full of exciting drama, surprising hook-ups, and late-night hijinks.

Charmed To Death

Season 1 – July 19

Got trust issues? Yeah, that ain’t going anywhere, not when you catch this brand-new true-crime series Charmed To Death. If you’re a true-crime enthusiast, get ready to be left on the edge of your seat as you follow the true stories of manipulative criminals who use their charms to cheat, steal, and lure their victims into romantic relationships…and their eventual deaths. In each 60-minute episode, you’ll see how the stories unfold through the victims’ families, friends, as well as investigators who are all determined to seek truth and justice.

Notorious: The Girl in the Box

July 18

This True Crime series will remind you why your parents taught you not to talk to strangers: Colleen Stan tells her story of being kidnapped, locked inside a box, and how she bravely escaped. The lowdown: 20-year-old Colleen was hitchhiking with a friend and was offered a ride by Cameron Hooker who was with his wife and baby. Things started to go downhill when Cameron held a knife to her throat and proceeded to tie her up and lock her in a wooden box for 23 hours a day for nearly a year. What about the 1 hour, you ask? It’s the only time of the day Cameron releases Colleen…only to torture her as he pleases.

For sign-up via hayu.com to a weekly plan for only Php49 or a monthly plan of Php149 with a FREE TRIAL of 7 days. Or get a hayu prepaid pass and save on your weekly, monthly or quarterly pass. Catch their great show and update your watchlist. You can also access unlimited shows with a subscription plan or prepaid pass now!

 

 

July 9, 2021 by
Food

McDonald’s Philippines reaffirms its dedication to people and safety by supporting immunization campaigns

McDonald’s Philippines President & CEO Kenneth S. Yang, and McDonald’s Philippines Managing Director and Ingat Angat Bakuna Lahat communications advocacy co-lead Margot B. Torres join government representatives and other industry leaders in a symbolic vaccination ceremony that marked the start of the inoculation of economic frontliners.

McDonald’s Philippines continues to encourage the private sector to support the government’s efforts to strengthen the country’s vaccination program in order to achieve population protection as the country continues its strategies to overcome the COVID-19 pandemic for a safe reopening of the economy.

Grounded by the QSR giant’s commitment to the safety of its people and customers, McDonald’s Philippines President and CEO Kenneth S. Yang has been advocating the importance of getting vaccinated, especially for the vaccination of economic frontliners under the A4 category, which includes McDonald’s crew members and store managers.

Close to 4,000 McDonald’s store employees have been vaccinated to date, and the numbers continue to climb as McDonald’s continues to support and enable its people to get vaccinated. Aside from providing credible medical information, the company has been working double time with coordinating with the different LGUs to register its people for their vaccination program. The QSR giant also purchased close to 100,000 vaccine doses to be administered to its people for free.

“The health and safety of our people is our top priority. Guided by our principle of M Safe, we always ensure that they are safe, so our customers can also be safe. As we work for the safe reopening of the economy, we will continue to boost our efforts to educate our people on the importance of vaccines, in parallel with our efforts to support the government in its vaccination campaign,” said Yang during the A4 ceremonial vaccination kick-off at SM Mall of Asia.

McDonald’s Philippines continues to support its employees with free RT-PCR testing, the distribution of care kits, and strict implementation of protocols to ensure a safe working environment for the employees, and a safe McDonald’s experience for customers.

A McDonald’s crew member gets inoculated at the A4 ceremonial vaccination event held last June 7.

McDonald’s also currently supports the Ingat Angat Bakuna Lahat, a vaccine education campaign in an effort to boost the confidence of Filipinos on getting vaccinated. “With all of us working together to vaccinate our economic frontliners at the soonest time possible, we look forward to recovery and a better quality of life for everyone sooner,” Yang concluded.

McDonald’s gives “Bakuna Benefits” to vaccinated customers in an attempt to motivate more Filipinos to get vaccinated. Customers who have received their first dose of vaccine and produce their original vaccination card, together with a valid ID, will receive a 10% discount on solo products and meals when buying until August 31, 2021. Customers must choose one offer to apply to their transaction when redeeming this short promo; it cannot be combined with other savings. This offer is valid for dine-in and take-out orders at all locations countrywide.

 

 

 

 

 

July 9, 2021 by
Fashion

Keds Biggest Birthday Sale Ever will be Full of Festivity

This month, Keds is holding their biggest Birthday Sale, and they’re going all out to make it the best one yet! The women’s footwear brand is kicking out July with a slew of exclusive offers that you and your friends will love! Throughout the month, take advantage of  the discount styles, as well as additional interesting promotions.

Score up to 70% off on sale styles and stock up on all your Keds favorites: The Champion, The Chillax, Kickstart, Triple Kick, and much more!

CHAMPION KATESPADE GLITTER SILVER (NOW P1595 FROM 3995)

TRIPLE MATTE BRUSHED METALLIC ROSE GOLD (NOW P1315 FROM 3295)

Enjoy 20% off on regular styles at their official webstore and Buy 1 Take 1 on selected styles from July 1 to 15.

CREW KICK 75 CANVAS GREY (NOW P2475 FROM 3095)

TEACUP BRETON STRIPE WHITE MULTI (NOW P2235 FROM 2795)

If that isn’t enough to get you excited, visit their retail stores and enjoy the same promos plus Buy 2 Get your 3rd Item FREE: Regular + Sale Itemsfrom July 1 to 31!

KICKSTART KATESPADE LOGO PFC PINK (NOW P2795 FROM P3995)

KICKSTART NAVY (NOW P1955 FROM P2795)

Get your thumbs ready because you’ll be putting these incredible items in your cart like crazy! Better yet, pay a visit to your local Keds store for a sneaker haul you won’t soon regret!

Keds can be found at www.keds.com. Enjoy and stay up to speed on their current trends by following them on social media! @kedsph on Instagram @kedsphilippines on Facebook @kedsph on Twitter

Aside from online Keds is also  available at SM Megamall, Festival Mall, Glorietta 3, Robinsons Place Manila, SM North EDSA – The Block, Robinsons Magnolia, Ayala Manila Bay, UP Town Center, Abreeza Mall, Ayala Center Cebu, SM City Bacolod, SM City Baguio, SM City Iloilo, Ayala Mall Centrio, and Evia Lifestyle Center.

 

 

 

July 8, 2021 by
Uncategorized

GUSTA! FOODS PH: Your Digital Kitchen Pantry for the Best Dishes for Your Family

We appreciate the moments with our friends and family since we have more time at home. Indeed, these past few months have provided us with a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to reconnect and explore our passions – particularly when it comes to our culinary skills!

As Filipinos, we show our love and appreciation for others through memorable meals made with love. And Gusta!, the country’s newest ONLINE KITCHEN PANTRY by the category creator of FROZEN-FRESH Jimini Foods Group, has become the ever-so-reliable partner of every aspiring cook and homemaker, bringing convenience and delicious dishes straight to your homes.

Gusta! guarantees fresh, exciting flavors, and amazing foodie finds all in one place. Discover a great selection that will truly delight your taste buds – from ready-to-heat meals to frozen-fresh goods, to ready-to-cook international and local dishes, snacks, desserts, beverages, and more!

For those who are looking for a quick and delicious meal, Gusta! introduces its “Chef’s recommendations,” which include selections from well-known restaurant brands such as CIBO, Chili’s, Casa Reyes, Max’s Group (Max’s, Pancake House, Teriyaki Boy, and Dencio’s), Nanbantei, XO 46 Heritage Bistro, Rico’s Lechon, and Cusina by Albergus, to name a few. If you’re craving for some of your favorite snacks, Gusta! also carries selections from local iconic brands and favorites such as Jimini Whole Pizza, Potato Corner, and Nathaniel’s.

If you’ve been getting really inventive and want to prepare a tasty meal on your own, Gusta! can help by providing all of the necessary materials, supplies, and culinary instruments.

Either you’re making a treat or a meal, you’ll find everything on Gusta! Simply add to cart and have your entire order delivered to your doorstep. With only a few simple clicks, you can have delicious food and meals on your plate!

Discover. Delight. Delivered. Delicious! Only at Gusta!

Head on to www.gustafoods.ph and have your orders delivered now! Sign-up to the newsletter and receive a 10% discount voucher on your first purchase. For updates, follow Gusta! on Facebook: Gusta Foods PH and Instagram: @gustafoodph

July 8, 2021 by
Lifestyle

TikTok makes reliable COVID-19 resources and information available to its users

TikTok ensures that the relevant public data and information are available on the platform, which is one of the ways it helps its users stay safe and educated during the pandemic. Similarly, TikTok can assist in sharing credible information with the public by forming relationships with government agencies such as the Department of Health.

According to Kristoffer Rada, TikTok Head for Public Policy, “TikTok is taking a proactive and holistic approach to countering misinformation on the platform. We have teamed up with experts across the industry, civil society, and public health, along with our own Content Advisory Council, in order to develop adequate policies, enforce strategies, and be able to stay ahead of rapidly evolving content. The current partnership we have with the DOH reinforces this commitment. As part of the Check The FAQs campaign we actively remove misleading or false COVID-19 information. Through our creators and medical professionals on the platform we also help promote accurate information that would help Filipinos make an informed choice about getting vaccinated.”

Dr. Beverly C. Ho, MPH, DOH Director for Health Promotion, says, “Parallel to our COVID-19 Vaccination campaign RESBAKUNA: Kasangga ng BIDA, TikTok, along with all the Filipino health creators, have been our allies in the battle against vaccine misinformation and hesitancy during this pandemic. The Health Promotion Bureau recognizes the potential this partnership holds in increasing vaccine confidence, easing the apprehensions of the people, and in forwarding correct information to a wider audience.” She adds, “HPB is thankful that the Check The FAQs campaign has put various equally entertaining and informative content in the limelight. We look forward to more of these engaging materials as we continue to get more Filipinos vaccinated. Sama-sama tayong lahat sa #BIDABakunation!”

TikTok’s Community Guidelines are designed to help combat medical misinformation on the platform by prohibiting users from posting false or misleading content, particularly in relation to COVID-19. This includes misinformation regarding vaccines, anti-vaccine disinformation, and paid advertising that promotes against vaccination. The TikTok platform also houses a dedicated Check The FAQs banner that sits on the discover page, which connects users to credible Covid-19 information as well as creative videos, not only from our creators but also from healthcare professionals.

Call-to-action information relating to COVID-19 vaccinations is only accepted on a case-by-case basis, as long as it is in the public’s best interests. False or misleading content, as well as accounts that disseminate misinformation, are recognized and removed from TikTok by professionally trained employees. False information and anything that violates TikTok’s Community Guidelines are also urged to be reported by community members. Suspicious networks and activities are also recognized and notified within the app using industry-leading threat detection platforms. Any Covid-19 information uploaded on TikTok is thoroughly checked for veracity by fact-checking partners such as Agence France-Presse (AFP). The Department of Health evaluates all vaccination-related films published on TikTok’s Covid-19 mainpage and approves those that include accurate vaccine information.

Only content with verified facts is broadly circulated in users’ For You feeds, reducing the risk of misleading information spreading within the program. Anti-vaccine and Covid-19 misinformation will not be recommended to users, and a banner warning viewers of misinformation will be displayed. False content is removed from TikTok, and queries linked to COVID-19 or vaccination misinformation are directed to the app’s Community Guidelines. Anti-vaccine hashtags are also not found in searches. Anyone who search for coronavirus-related hashtags on TikTok will see an in-app alert with links to reliable sources such as the World Health Organization (WHO) website and local public health authorities.

TikTok has the most up-to-date COVID-19 news and information. Install the app on your iOS or Android device right now.

 

 

 

July 7, 2021 by