June 2021

TikTok is a global application framework that promotes culture and fosters innovation. As a result, the platform is dedicated to cultivating the app’s inclusive and diverse community by working hard to ensure that creators of all backgrounds and beliefs feel free to express their genuine self.

This June, in celebration of Pride Month 2021, TikTok has the unique opportunity to unite the LGBTQ+ community on the platform along with its supporters, through a series of celebrations aimed at empowering, educating, and entertaining all its users. Through this, TikTok hopes to ultimately foster a more inclusive space that is truly a free place for all.

On TikTok, Everyone is Free to Be

TikTok commemorates Pride Month 2021 by elevating the conversation around its global campaign theme, ‘Free to Be’, which means having the freedom to be yourself in any and all spaces, being free to evolve into the person you are meant to be, and enjoying the freedom to create content without judgement. It also means being free to push yourself to be better in every way, including checking your biases, learning to understand other people’s perspectives, taking an active stand against discrimination, and allowing anyone to feel free to be themselves without the pressure of societal or gendered norms.

TikTok Celebrates Pride Month 2021

TikTok reinforces its role as an entertainment platform that empowers the LGBTQ+ community through initiatives celebrating, recognizing, amplifying, and elevating LGBTQ+ creators and trends, and spotlighting trailblazing LGBTQIA+ creators, businesses, and partnerships. These initiatives include:

• #ForYourPride Hashtag Challenge, a call-to-action to all users to declare what Pride means to you, and share what you do for your pride.
• New Pride-themed creative effects, filters and stickers.
• Global Pride March, a 12-hour Global Live Lineup featuring LGBTQIA+ talents, which aims to boost awareness for the Free to Be campaign. This is happening on June 24th, and will be hosted by countries around the world including the US, Canada, Latin America, Philippines, and more.

Global Live Lineup

Zendee, Roanne, and Tina, as well as Apa Agbayani of Metro Manila Pride Org, a non-profit group devoted to educating, preparing, and strengthening the Filipino LGBTQIA+ community, will represent the Philippines at the Global Live Lineup on June 25th, between 10:30 AM and 12:00 PM. Biminibabes, Kesha, Queen Priyanka, Coyle Twins, Troye Sivan, Scott Hoying, Richumbley and Beingadp, Luxury Law, Tinashe, mechanicshopfemme, and Escandalamx will be among the performers from different regions.

Participate in TikTok’s global Pride Month 2021 celebration and help establish a truly free space for all creators, elevate those in need, and empower those who are already making a difference! TikTok is now available on iOS and Android devices.

Download TikTok on your iOS and Android devices today.

People are spending more time indoors than ever before, and it is critical that we keep our indoor spaces clean and hygienic throughout the day. Germs, on the other hand, have learned the art of hiding in some places, which aren’t always the simplest to clean! This includes our difficult-to-wash fabrics, which are always vulnerable to germs and viruses known as Germumus, or germs, bacteria, and pathogens that are invisible but are already existing in our difficult-to-wash things.

When was the last time you cleaned your couch? Six months ago? Last year? Never? Bring on the power tools! Here are some ways to keep them clean and what you can do in between washes to keep common trouble spots around the house germ-free.

Couches and Sofas: We all love being couch potatoes but lounging on a dirty sofa is a no-no. Did you know that the average sofa has 12 times more bacteria than your toilet seat? As they can easily trap dirt, allergens, and bacteria in their soft fibers, experts recommend having them professionally cleaned every 6 months. At home, you can use a hand vacuum to clean debris and dirt from the sofa’s surface. Be sure not to forget the crevices where dirt can accumulate!

Curtains: Cleaning your curtains might be included in your low-priority tasks but they actually accumulate a lot more grime than meets the eye. Just like the couches, curtains can also trap dust and dirt. Schedule to wash your curtains twice or more a year with cool or lukewarm water and mild detergent.

Bed Sheets: Ideally, you should change your bedsheets and pillowcases at least once a week as they can have a buildup of oils, dirt, and sweat from daily use. Compared to the average toilet seat, a one-week-old bed sheet contains 29,000 more bacteria. To clean, check the care label and wash with the hottest water temperature setting indicated.

Carpets: Dirty carpets not only look bad but they’re also full of pollutants and grime. Experts recommend having them cleaned by a professional at least once a year or every quarter if you have pets or kids. If you can’t schedule a pro, use a sponge or soft-bristle brush and work a cleaning solution into a lather.

Area rugs: Unless your area rug is extremely delicate, cleaning your area rug is something you can easily take on yourself. High-traffic area rugs should be cleaned at least every 3 months to not only extend the life of your rugs but also to make sure dirt is regularly removed. Thoroughly vacuum the rug on both sides or take the smaller rugs outdoors and shake them off as much as you can.

Other Hard-to-Wash Fabrics: Any area of your home with high traffic and surfaces that get touched a lot is basically a germ bank. This includes your bags, shoes, pet bed, and even office chairs! You can clean them by vacuuming to remove loose dirt or running the covers through the washing machine (if possible) using the warmest appropriate water setting.

Regular laundering of fabrics and cleaning soft surfaces with soap and water will go a long way. But if you’re grossed out by all of the germs and bacteria that might be lurking in your home, you’re probably wondering what you can do in between washes to make sure these germ-laden spots are cleaned every day. Unfortunately, you cannot simply shake and pound out deep-seated Germumus. It helps, sure, but it’s definitely not enough.

As told by our experts, bacteria and viruses grow exponentially in these hard-to-wash fabrics and ordinary punas, pagpag, or vacuuming is not enough to remove them. “We come in contact with bacteria and viruses every day and millions of these linger on fabric items such as mattresses, sofas, rugs, and curtains, and the like,” said Prof. Joel C. Cornista, current President of the Philippine Society for Microbiology, Inc.. “Dusting or vacuuming every few weeks may be helpful but bacteria and viruses can still grow in these items in between your general cleaning days. Exposure to these bacteria and viruses may lead to infections and trigger allergies, and so it will be wise to degerm these items daily.

Fortunately, you need not worry anymore! The NEW Downy Antibac Fabric Spray is your quick and easy solution for the germumus in your hard-to-wash fabrics. It penetrates deep into fabrics to remove 99.9% of germs and eliminate odors, making our homes germ-free and smelling fresh instantly! Use this on your bed and mattresses, sofas, curtains, and even on your shoes and bags!

Photo Credit: Megan Young (left) and Ricci Rivero (right)

Using the Downy Antibac Fabric Spray is so easy that anyone at home can do their part in eliminating germumus. Complete your cleaning routine with the Downy Antibac Fabric Spray that gets rid of the dust and bacteria left behind after dusting and vacuuming. Simply turn the spray cap on, position your hard-to-wash fabric 20-30 cm away from the spray, and spray until the fabric is wet. Let it air dry after so you can fully experience the 99.9% Antibac freshness!

Improve your washing game by incorporating the Downy Antibac Fabric Spray into your regular cleaning regimen to protect your place smelling fresh and germ-free all day, every day! #LetUsSprayAndProtect with #DownyAntibacFabricSpray together!

With a new cooperation between GrabMart and SM Markets, Grab, Southeast Asia’s #1 superapp, continues to assist Filipino customers effortlessly acquire their goods and daily supplies. Customers may now order from certain SM markets via the GrabMart app, including SM Supermarket, Hypermarket, and Savemore, and have their orders delivered to their homes in under an hour.

From June 21 onwards, GrabMart shoppers in Metro Manila and Cebu can order fresh and frozen produce, groceries, home care products, personal care essentials and so much more from SM stores. “We are thrilled to welcome SM Markets as GrabMart’s latest partner. At Grab, we always strive to give the consumer the best shopping experience, and SM’s vast network of stores and wide range of products will make shopping more convenient to Filipinos, especially people short on time or unable to easily visit stories, such as families and busy young workers. As we continue to manage the pandemic situation, we hope that the addition of SM Markets to GrabMart will encourage more people to adopt online shopping,” said Grab Philippines Head of Deliveries Anton Bautista.

SM Supermarket’s President, Jojo Tagbo, also believes that the company’s partnership with GrabMart will help shoppers more easily manage during today’s challenging times, particularly thanks to SM Markets’ wide variety of products and Grab’s fast delivery times.

“The pandemic has affected the lifestyles of our customers including how they shop for groceries. Our goal is to provide them with multiple convenient ways of how they can get what they need from SM Markets. From physically going to the store, shopping online, and call-to-deliver, we offer choices where they can be comfortable. And now, we are partnering with the leading superapp in the country further strengthening our omnichannel offerings,” he said.

GrabMart and SM have amazing discounts available to shoppers when they complete their following digital grocery run as a welcome treat! With coupon SMFREEDEL, groceries delivery is FREE with a minimum order of PHP 1200 from any SM Markets location on GrabMart! Shoppers may save even more by using the code SM300 to get PHP 300 off a minimum order of PHP 2500!

A stronger partnership to serve Filipinos better

SM Markets’ availability on GrabMart is the latest strategic partnership between Grab and SM.

SM and Grab also recently partnered to provide ride discounts, shopping vouchers and free parking vouchers to mall goers who visit SM Supermalls. The campaign, which aims to promote safe shopping at malls, lasts until June 30.

The two brands also entered into a cooperation to allow users of Grab’s in-app wallet GrabPay to top up their accounts at SM Supermalls.

Are you ready to start buying online with Grab and SM? Check out Grab’s Facebook page for more information and updates on the partnership.

Father’s Day is celebrated every year to honor the fatherhood and paternal bonds for all the hard work they do in providing and caring for the family. Well, before you start worrying about what to give for your father for his day check out the exciting promos and activities at Greenhills, Tiendesitas, Estancia, and Industria from June 14 to 20! Make him feel loved and treat him to a fun mall day at Ortigas Malls’ Father’s Day Cruise!

Here’s how to plan the perfect Father’s Day for Dad:

1)Sail n’ Snap: Capture your dad in his happiest self! (June 14-20)

Flash those pearly whites and have fun posing for the camera with your dad at the photo nooks located at the G/F VMall in Greenhills, Level 1 Bldg. B in Tiendesitas, and G/F East Wing in Estancia or upload a photo of your dad anywhere at Industria Mall! A cool golf umbrella is waiting for the best shots to be taken including a notable story about your loving dad.

2)Dapper Dads: Neat, trim, handsome Dad ready for the day (June 18-20)

Need a clean hair fix? Get a great snip session without the cost at Mr. Dalubhasa Barber Shop in Greenhills, at Sanbry Men’s Grooming House in Estancia, at Rontolic Salon in Tiendesitas, or at NS Salon in Industria! Free haircut for every P2,000 single or accumulated receipt from any establishment in the mall—limited to 5 slots per day!

3)Free Parking: Park without the cost for your peace of mind (June 20 only)

Drive to any Ortigas Malls without having to worry about parking charges! First 30 customers get to park for free for the first 3 hours at Greenhills and Tiendesitas, or for the first 4 hours at Estancia for every P2,000 single or accumulated receipt.

4)Carwash Discount: Shining, shimmering car for less! (Greenhills; June 14-20) 

Get your car shiny and squeaky clean for all the road errands ahead! First 10 daddy customers per day can have their vehicles washed for 50% off.

This is how you express your gratitude and give your dad a day to remember and head on to Ortigas Malls for a shopping and dining experience you’ll enjoy with the whole family. Our fathers deserve to unwind and relax. For more information and complete promo mechanics, visit the official Facebook pages of Greenhills, Estancia, Tiendesitas, and Industria.