Lifestyle

June is the celebration of LGBT Pride Month and it is the perfect time to launch the first Filipino pop literature imprint focused on championing LGBTQ+ narratives. Pride Lit stands proud as a great source of entertainment and inspiration to readers of all kinds.

We’ve seen how majority of the LGBTQ community are very talented and creative. You can see them mostly in entertainment world like the renowned and darling to everyone, Vice Ganda. So with Pride Lit putting these talents on center stage, we can expect some exciting offerings that are nothing else but amazing.

Along with its goal to spark awareness on appreciation and acceptance, the brand is continuously creating a safe space for underrepresented voices to flourish and share their stories. Whether it’s about finding love in many forms and shapes or discovering one’s sexual awakening with fleeting moments of kilig, Pride Lit publishes them all.

Photo shows (L-F) Leonna, Nina Satomi, Alex Rosas, Lush Ericson, John Jack G. Wigley, and Segundo Matias Jr.

At a press launch of the project last week, Pride Lit they introduced their writers that are members of the LGBTQ community. Some of the authors who graced the event were Nina Satomi, Albert Lang, Alex Rosas, John Jack G. Wigley, Leona and Lush Ericson.

Everyone read portion of their own written books and I was amazed with the story that Leona wrote. Being a gay, he delved into another world, taking about the life of a Lesbian instead. And this is how you’d see how the LGBTQ stands as one for each of its members. They have an understanding of what the others in their community feel and this is such a solid example of its theme of acceptance and appreciation.

The Pride Lit wants to show that all genders are equal. Each of the authors also told us their inspiration in writing their books.

Pride Lit is also celebrating its third year stint in the publishing industry.So this year, it is releasing five unique titles from its roster of seasoned and respected writers and contributors. From Alex Rosas’ gender-swap romance “Gay’s Anatomy” to Soju’s campy fantasy “AngAsul Na Buntot Ni Aquano,” the new releases represent diverse genres that speak of uniquely queer experiences and imaginative premises.

Other upcoming titles that will be released this month include John Jack G. Wigley’s ensemble drama“KadenangBahaghari,” Lush Ericson’s instant pleaser “Agustin and Ariston’s Version of the Universe,” and Angelica Sorreda’s romantic offering “Over Time.”

Pride Lit Brand Manager AikoClarizzaBuduan-Salazar points out:

“Each book actually talks about different emotions, experiences and were written differently.

The upcoming new titles will open readers’ minds on the fresh possibilities of storytelling.”

True to its vision, Pride Lit steps up its game by ensuring LGBTQ+ characters and its allies could be prominent figures in pop culture narratives, and serve as inspiration to the LGBTQ+ community whose vibrant lives are worth telling, and are now everyone’s stories.

Salazar continued:

“We plan to release more books and become a staple in the community.

Aside from providing feel good stories and erotic stories too, we plan to become more reachable to our target market and community.”

Honestly, I’m not a bookworm but for the titles sparked curiosity in me so I will give these novels a try and who knows, it might be the start of my romance with books.

Let’s all support the LGBTQ talents in our country and buy one or two of these newly released books.

Vitress endorser, Solenn Heussaff

There’s little women won’t do in the name of beauty. Killer heels? Bring it on! Near constant plucking and preening of facial hair? No biggie. We go through a lot to look beautiful but little do we realize, it’s our hair that’s our crowning glory.

Your hair symbolizes femininity, health and personality and can tell people a lot about you. After all, our hair is the crown we never take off – so we’d better make sure it’s looking preened, polished and gorgeous at all times just like Solenn Heussaff who showed how a woman can still look graceful amidst a stressful situation if she just keeps her hair looking stunning with the help of Vitress.

Girls on the go often get stuck in traffic or have to lunch out on bar and grills. The smoke and dirk from these settings make the hair look stressed out and worse, smelly!

Thank goodness Vitress launched its Hair Freshener. Now, women don’t have to spray their perfumes on their hair which can harm the roots or dry the hair because of the chemicals they contain.

In a new advertisement, Vitress released a unique commercial featuring an action thriller short film where its endorser for 8 years starred. Solenn Heussaff surely stunned everyone as she displays her martial arts prowess to tame her tresses, with the help of Vitress Hair Freshener.

The action kicks off in what looks like a typical neighborhood food park surrounded by grills and restaurants. Solenn, stunning with her shiny fresh flowing hair, is cast as an ordinary diner out to enjoy a quiet meal. Suddenly, a smelly and smoky presence permeates the air, threatening to take Solenn into its grip as it possesses her hair with its bad odors.

Our heroine then rises to the occasion, using a wok and a mop as she gamely engages the enemy in a furious battle to protect herself against her monstrous possessed hair. After a valiant fight, Solenn eventually takes hold of her secret weapon tucked away in her handbag – a bottle of Vitress Hair Freshener. As she quickly sprays the liquid onto her hair, the noxious enemy is tamed as it comes into contact with Vitress Hair Freshener.

It was a spectacular moment to see Solenn doing some action stunts and in this new Vitress commercial. I used to see her doing sexy roles so this one is really unique.

Pam Sulit, VP for Marketing and Brand Development of Vitress, said about the new product and commercial:

“We want to show something different. Solenn’s action film debut beautifully captures how Vitress Hair Freshener can fight bad odors that we’re often exposed to and keep it smelling fresh all day long. Unlike the glamorous hair ads, Vitress Hair Fresher opted for an action film to demonstrate its power in quashing hair odor giving you that instant shine and freshness.”

Dryness, dullness, frizz, and split end are the common hair problems that most Filipinas experience in their everyday life. Although the hair industry has developed different formulas to address these, they sometimes forget that the fragrance of our hair matters too. Vitress wants to fight bad odors and has taken on the role to create a spray-on fragrance that makes your hair shiny and leaves your hair smelling fresh all day long.

A lightly scented spray-on product for the hair, Vitress Hair Freshener deodorizes bad smells with its encapsulated InstaFresh technology that releases a fresh, fragrant, and long-lasting scent. It effectively fights the smell that sticks to one’s hair, including the smell of food, cigarette smoke, vehicle emissions, and sweat. Just like Solenn does in the action film, all that one has to do is reach for a bottle of Vitress Hair Freshener to achieve #ShinyFreshHair anytime, anywhere.

“Vitress Hair Freshener is my lifesaver. I have one in every bag. It knocks off awful smells like smoke or sweat especially during tapings when I’m under the sun. It’s a quick fix with long-lasting results,” says Solenn.

Take part in the action and see Solenn knock out the hair-enemy. Check out Vitress’ official Facebook and Youtube pages for real action and to know how your hair can brave any day with Vitress Hair Freshener. I highly recommend this product to all women on the go like me.

Official link of the film – Fight Bad Smelly Hair with Vitress Hair Freshener

Dr. Alvin and Mrs. Dorothy Joy Matulac

Bigger branches means more beauty sessions for the skin-care maniacs in Metro Manila.

Amidst the heavy pollution pestering Metro Manila, husband-and-wife duo Dr. Alvin and Mrs. Dorothy Joy Matulac led the recent soft opening event of the newest and yet the biggest clinic of the Beauty Empire Face and Body Center. This means another hangout for the stressed out urbanites that are in desperate search for a dose of self-care regimen.

The branch at San Franciso del Monte, Quezon City boasts a colossal facility where the brand’s beauty experts can provide world-class services to more clients. And I was lucky enough to be invited during the opening to witness this new offering in the Metro.

The Empire Face and Body Center Tour

The facility alone will tell you that it’s the right place to get the skin care services you are looking for. Walking through the beauty center, I was impressed with the interior design and the color schemes that invoke tranquility. The overall vibe that the palatial-like, gold-colored interior of the center is definitely perfect to match the various specialty treatments they offer.

Apart from the impressive structure, Beauty Empire also features exceptional beauty equipment that lets clients experience the latest beauty treatment technologies without breaking their banks. Their services all priced within reach yet guarantee favorable and successful results that exceed expectations.

Unparalleled Beauty Services

Beauty Empire offers a wide array of beauty treatment services, enhancement procedures and beauty products to both men and women. It takes pride in its line of treatments that represent the latest breakthroughs in beauty trends and technologies. These include their popular services like Empire Popular Facial, Celebrity Facial, Diamond Peel, Oxygen Infusion Facial, Empress Glass Skin, Hydra Facial, Jetpeel Facial, Hydra Peel Facial, Biolift Facial and Acne Control.

Of course, I won’t let the event slip away without really experiencing the Empire Beauty. And so, I chose the Oxygen Infusion Facial for my free treatment and I must say, it’s different from other derma clinics! I am not a pro at beauty regimens but I have a knack identifying good results from fails.

Definitely, I will return here to try all their other services.

Other services are also available like Carbon Laser, Ndyag for Melasma, Maxilight for Underarm, IPL Underarm, IPL Legs, Cavitation (Arms, Thighs, Abdomen), Radio Frequency (Face, Face and Neck, Arms, Abdomen, Thighs), Electro Muscle Simulator (Arms, Abdomen, Thighs), Microblading (Eyebrows), Intense White, even Lip Tattoo.

These procedures are done by The Beauty Empire’s partner-doctors that include some of the most reputable dermatologists and cosmetic surgeons in the country that everything is guaranteed safe.

For services fit for royalty that goes well beyond expectations, try The Beauty Empire Face and Body Center. The new and bigger branch is located at 23 F. Bautista Street, San Francisco del Monte, Quezon City. The Beauty Empire Face and Body Center main branch, on the other hand, is located at 35 Timog Avenue, Quezon City.

Philippines’ leading car insurance provider Moneymax celebrated its 5th year anniversary last Tuesday, June 21 with a big event. Titled “Thrive at Five,” Moneymax went down memory lane, looking back at the years they helped Filipinos “lead healthier financial lives.”

It isn’t as old as other financial assistance organizations but Moneymax already earned its bragging right after the award-winning half of fame automotive journalist, social media influencer, road safety advocate and TV host at CNN Philippines James Deaken attested to the company’s unbeatable insurance offers. And as he swears by the goals of Moneymax, he was one of the VIPs who graced the event along with the bank and insurance partners of the company.

Country Manager, Moritz Gastl, shared Moneymax’s 5 years journey in building a strong presence in the financial industry and how it got its over 2 million insurance subscribers. Employees also talked about how Moneymax changed their lives. Also in the video presentation, many attested to the comprehensive offers of the company which makes it the preferred insurance provider of most Pinoys. All the positive notes just kept on coming.

The Role of Car Insurance in Pinoys’ Road Safety and Financial Freedom

Most Filipinos now have the capability of owning their own car because of the more flexible paying terms offered by most car companies. But Pinoys fail to recognize the importance of insuring their cars and skip insurance altogether.

Why?

A lot of us think car insurance is just another unnecessary expense when we already have the amortization and gas allowance to take care of every month.

But like another author said, “buying car insurance is a lot like buying a fire extinguisher: you pray that you’ll never need it, but you feel better knowing it’s there anyway.”

It’s only when we get into an accident that we realize how important car insurance is.

So before concluding that this add-on is expensive, it helps to know the perks you can enjoy when you avail insurance.

How does car insurance work in the Philippines?

Usually, when you buy a car from the dealership, insurance is already included. But if you choose to do it your way, you can always buy your insurance at the Land Transportation Office (LTO) or from your preferred provider (comprehensive plan provider).

A comprehensive plan is more helpful, yet a little more expensive. It could cover collision and upset, physical damage other than collision, loss by theft, fire, flood and in most cases, extended liability.

In addition, most of the car insurance companies cover all kinds of vehicles in the Philippines. It is, however, their discretion whether it’s worth to insure or not, especially, if the car is already old and dilapidated. In fact, Moneymax says car insurance companies can accommodate cars in good working condition, and with a market value of not less than P250,000.00.

Aside from expenses for maintenance and gasoline, driving your own car also has its dangers, so there is one important factor that you must keep in mind – insurance. You may be a good driver but what about the drivers around you? Vice versa, mistakes happen when you least expect it.

However, car insurance doesn’t only cover vehicular accidents. Ideally, it also covers damages caused by acts of nature such as floods or a tree falling on your car. Of course, having the problem fixed out of your own pocket may require you to pay exorbitant amounts.

Luckily,there are insurance companies that cover these incidents. One of them is Moneymax. Therefore, it is a salient feature to have.

So while you are thinking for more reasons to avail your own car insurance, you might want to consider the following as good reasons to do so:

• It serves as protection                                                                                                                                                                                            Your car may be one of the biggest investments you will make aside from your home. So you definitely want to protect it from damages. Depending on your coverage, your insurance can provide financial protection in the event of your vehicle being damaged. It will also provide cover for injuries to other drivers, passengers or pedestrians, and their property.

• It gives you peace of mind                                                                                                                                                                                     Nothing beats convenience and peace of mind. No matter how defensive you are, you can never be too sure about other drivers on the road when it comes to good driving. It can be comforting to know that you are protected out there with your car registered under an insurance policy.

• Medical Expenses                                                                                                                                                                                                     Good car insurance coverage can also save you from financial impact. Your coverage can cover payment for medical bills of other parties and damage to non-moving objects.

• Protection of your asset                                                                                                                                                                                         Aside from the legal requirements, if you are in an accident and you are at fault you can be held liable for the costs of bills if a person is injured or killed. A lawsuit may result to you selling your assets if you’re unable to pay the costs. If you have car insurance, it could also be covered. Depending on the terms you’re getting, this is possible.

There are heaps of car insurance companies out there. Be meticulous. Choose wisely. Moneymax is located at 15/F Citibank Tower, 8741 Paseo de Roxas, Makati, 1209 Metro Manila, Philippines. Or  visit www.moneymax.ph to find the best insurance deals made especially for you. For updates, follow @moneymax.ph on Instagram and Facebook, alongside @moneymaxph on Twitter.

The Chinese digital life brand Rock Space officially launched business in the Philippines yesterday, June 18, 2019.

The mobile accessory designer and retailer promises to bring Pinoys their most wanted mobile tech needs and aesthetics. Not only will it offer stylish products but it will make sure to deliver innovative and user-friendly mobile solutions at competitive prices.

And to celebrate its new milestone in the country, Rock Space introduced newest lineup of mobile accessories in a press event yesterday.

Rock Space in the Philippines

Rock Space was founded in Shenzhen in 2009 and since inauguration the company already established 6 brands that cater to different nations.

In the Philippines, it only started selling products 9 months ago. Ever since, it always aimed to provide the best value for money in their products – something that every frugal Pinoy wants.

But worry not.

The brand is nothing like the “cheap” mobile accessories you can buy from the streets and has a lifespan of only one month. It is more like a cost-effective alternative to the costly Japanese and American brands that we were all accustomed to.

Rock Space teased the audience at the press event yesterday with a few new products that can keep up with their competitors. From earphones to charging solutions, these items are surely refreshing and useful for your everyday routine.

1. Rock Space EB70

                                                 Credits: gadgetpilipinas.net

The Rock Space EB70 is the brand’s latest audio tech offering. It serves as a set of wireless stereo speakers that can cater to a variety of lifestyles. It is ideal for those who are on the go and has a lot of things on their plate as there are no more wires to limit them from their activities.

These IEMs boast HiFi Speakers and Digital Signal Processing (DSP), creating clearer audio reproduction.

Additionally, the EB70s uses Bluetooth 5.0, securing better connectivity to your devices and ensures longer battery life. The brand estimates the earphones to last up to 17 hours on standby or 4 hours of continuous use.

And the better news is…you can use the earphone even when you are working out as the Rock Space EB70 is rated at IPX45 waterproof.

This pair of earphones is priced at PhP 3,990.

2. Rock Space P66 Power Bank                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       Credits: gadgetpilipinas.net

A phone is useless without a battery charge. And a power bank is your best tool to make your smartphone always alive and kicking.

The new models of smartphones today have large battery packs that can carry up to 4000mah. But when you are someone who depends on it for your daily transactions, no matter how large your smartphone’s battery is, it will die out on you so it’s always smart to pack a power bank in your bag.

The Rock Space P66 Power Bank has a power capacity of up to 10,000mAh. And it isn’t annoyingly heavy. It is comes in just measly 182g package.

To keep you updated of the power bank’s status, the device comes with an LED display at the top to indicate its current level of power. And to keep you safe, the power bank also comes with protective features that prevent the device from overheating and short circuiting.

You can buy this Rock Space P66 Power Bank for only PhP 1,299.

3. Rock Space W23 Wireless Car Charger                                                                   

Rock Space also offers the new W23 Wireless Car Charger. Setting it apart from other devices, it is equipped with a smart chip phone protection which automatically identifies the charging current of the devices. It also sports the same protection as the P66 Power Bank, avoiding incidents of overcharging and short-circuits. This device is supported by 7.5W/10W for a convenient fast-charging experience. Its slim and compact design makes it easy to be installed over your car’s AC vent, allowing you to power up your phone even while on the road. The W23 Wireless Car Charger is priced at Php 1,899.00 SRP.

Apart from these new devices, Rock Space also has a variety of smartphone accessories you can find useful like chargers, cables, and screen protectors among many others.

Across the country, Rock Space already has over 27 concept kiosks, 3 concept stores, and 1,377 retail stores you can visit.

And when you’d rather shop online, Rock Space products can be bought from Lazada and Shopee.

To treat all the online shoppers, Lazada is offering 25% discount for all Rock Space products from June 19 until June 21, 2019.

Rock Space has also partnered with OPPO Philippines, which allows their products to be displayed in all OPPO concept stores. For more freshest news on Rock Space go to www.facebook.com/rockspacePH/.