Friday, October 28, 2022

You Can Now Use GCash For Dining And Shopping In South Korea, Japan, Singapore, and Malaysia!

Travel to your favorite destinations as GCash now makes your much deserved trip hassle-free and even more exciting as it partners with Alipay+, a suite of global cross-border digital payments and marketing solutions by Ant Group.

Being the first e-wallet in the Philippines to enable cross-border payments, GCash allows Filipinos to have more convenient payment experience when they travel abroad with over 1 million merchants to choose from. You can now conveniently pay for meals, shopping, and experience amazing possibilities at Alipay+’s partnering merchants across the region.


“Through our partnership with Alipay+, GCash users now can travel with ease knowing they can take control of their budget by enjoying real-time forex when paying. On top of that, GCash users will not be subject to any service fees and they can access a wide variety of promos and discounts within the app,” said CEO of GCash, Martha Sazon.

Using the GCash app while traveling overseas also helps in keeping your travel budget in check. You don’t need to carry as much cash to pay for expenses since your funds are safely saved in your GCash account.

The GCash and Alipay+ partnership is currently available in top travel destinations in Asia including South Korea, Japan, Singapore and Malaysia, and more countries in the pipeline. 

For those flying to South Korea, you can use GCash in Alipay+ partner establishments located at Myeong-Dong, Dong Dae Moon, Hong Dae, Itaewon, and at Seoul Namsan Tower. These include Hyundai DFS, Lotte, Line Friends, Shilla DFS, Haidilao, Starbucks, and Paris Baguette. While those who are traveling to Malaysia, can take advantage of this service in various convenience stores like KK Mart and Happy Mart, food options such as Tealive, Mydin and Dunkin Donut, and even baking goods at Bake with Yen.  

In the meantime, those traveling to Singapore can use the GCash app at Lotte and Shilla Duty Free shops at Changi Airport, Bengawan Solo, Swensens, Fragrance and when taking a ComfortDelgro Taxi.

In Japan, you can find several retail and food merchants in select cities like Shibuya, Asakusa, Shinjuku, Odaiba where you can shop at places like Takashimaya, Isetan Shinjuku, Odakyu, and 24hr department store Don Quixote, Rayard Miyashita Park and Tokyo Solamachi Mall, or eat at favorites like Ichiran Ramen, Kani-Doraku, and Kura Sushi.

Look for establishments with an in-store display of the Alipay+ sign. To use GCash to pay overseas, simply tap the “QR” button on the GCash dashboard and either scan the QR code of the merchant or tap “Pay abroad with Alipay+” which will lead to a QR code that will be generated for the merchant to scan.

For more information on Pay Abroad with Alipay+, visit http://gcash.com.

Sunday, October 23, 2022

#LiveCleanLiveGreen At Home For A Cleaner Future

Kindness is a trait parents always try to instill in their children, kindness to people and animals, and of course, kindness to the environment. While we try to teach our kids the importance of recycling, reducing waste, and more, we also try to find affordable and accessible ways to extend eco-friendly habits to the products we buy.

Unilever, through its beloved homecare brands Breeze and Domex, empowers parents like you to #LiveCleanLiveGreen and pass on green habits to your kids. Under its Linis Pilipinas campaign, the company remains committed to create a Clean Future, by providing shoppers with good quality products that are good for the environment, as well as accessible ways to reduce, upcycle and recycle.

Starting with the large packs of Breeze and Domex, Unilever has started creating bottle packaging made from 100% recycled plastic, saving up to 19,000kg or 342,000 pieces of bottles from going into landfills or oceans that contribute to pollution annually. Moreover, Breeze Powder is formulated with EcoClean technology and does not contain any hard surfactant that can damage the environment.

To strengthen their commitment to reduce plastic waste, Unilever has also partnered with The Plastic Flamingo (PLAF). A homegrown social enterprise that collects and upcycles plastic waste to create eco-lumbers and eco-boards, PLAF uses these to build furniture and shelters for communities in need. You can join in by dropping off your clean plastics at the Breeze and PLAF’s collection point in UP Town Center.

Shoppers can also participate by purchasing the eco-friendly packed Breeze and Domex via the Linis Pilipinas Sale this coming October 22-24. Enjoy exclusive Buy 2-Take 1, eco bag giveaways and other discounts, deals, and gifts via Unilever Homecare’s official stores on Lazada and Shopee, or shop at any Robinsons Supermarkets, Puregold and Waltermart nationwide to take home a free eco bag when purchasing big packs. A portion of the proceeds during this sale period will be donated to PLAF to fund the collection and upcycling of 16,000 kg of plastic waste into eco-friendly furniture which will be donated to a beneficiary public school. Now, you can get huge savings while helping out the environment at the same time.

To learn more about Unilever’s Linis Pilipinas initiative and how you can take part, visit the Unilever Philippines’ Facebook Page.

Friday, October 14, 2022

Maya Reaches 1M Savings Customers

One million Filipinos are now enjoying a seamless banking experience with Maya, the country’s all-in-one money app. To celebrate this milestone, Maya is launching new offers to make your digital banking experience even more awesome!

To start, you can now receive your savings interest daily and enjoy up to 6% per annum interest rate just by doing your everyday transactions in the app. 

Maya’s recording breaking 1 million savings customers milestone comes just five months after the leading digital banking app’s public launch at the end of April this year. 

“We’re very grateful for the warm response from the market. We’re ushering in a new banking era, and we’re excited to roll out more innovative and customer-centric digital banking features in Maya that can enrich everyday lives,” said Angelo Madrid, Maya Bank President. 

Here are some reasons why you should leap forward into a new banking experience with Maya: 

Seamless and integrated experience

Maya is not just a zero-interest-earning e-wallet now. You can make your money work harder with its savings feature. Conveniently move your money to your e-wallet to make a transaction and buy or sell crypto. What’s great about this is it’s all seamless, as digital banking is integrated into the app. No need to deal with another bank or app and submit new requirements. 

Daily savings interest crediting. 

Most recently, Maya introduced a daily interest crediting in its savings feature. Yes, you read it right – you can see your up to 6% per annum earnings daily in your Maya Savings transaction history – not monthly! 

More rewarding daily transactions. 

Maya is also pioneering mission-led rewards to encourage customers to save and use digital for everyday transactions. Starting October 15, you’ll earn an already high base rate of 4.5% interest per annum on your savings, credited daily. You can quickly increase this to 6% in the next 30 days by paying with Maya for your everyday transactions. Simply spend at least P250 when paying for your purchases via Maya QR, card, or mobile number or settling your bills via the Maya app. This offer is available until November 30, 2022. Stay tuned for more updates on your savings interest!

Personalized Goals to manage your money. 

\Maya offers an efficient way to manage your money with its Personal Goals feature. You can create up to five goals with set target amounts and timelines for organized tracking, on top of a high-yield 6% interest rate available until December 31, 2022. Soon, daily interest rate crediting will also be available for this feature.  

Easy account opening and transfers. 

Accessing Maya Savings is easy – you only need an upgraded Maya wallet account. Once you have your Maya Savings account, you do not need to worry about maintaining a minimum balance. Fund transfers to other banks and financial institutions via PesoNet are also free until December 31, 2022.  

Create your credit history. 

Every transaction you make in the Maya app, including Savings, can help you build your credit score. Maya offers eligible customers an instant revolving credit of up to PHP15,000, which you can use in your wallet or transfer to your Maya Savings. 

Reliable and secure. 

Rounding up the top-of-the-line features is Maya’s record of reliability and safety. The Maya app enjoys a 99.94% app uptime rate. Its digital banking services are powered by Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP)-licensed Maya Bank, and deposits are insured by the Philippine Deposit Insurance Corporation (PDIC) for up to PHP 500,000.00 per depositor. 

Maya is more about Maya, visit maya.ph or follow @mayaiseverything on Facebook, IG, Tiktok, and YouTube and @mayaofficialph on Twitter. Join our Telegram community at https://t.me/TeamMayaPH

Saturday, October 8, 2022

Ayala Land Residential Properties Now Available On The GCash App Via GLife

The country’s leading mobile wallet GCash, in partnership with Ayala Land Inc.(ALI), has launched Ayala properties on GLife along with its four key brands: Ayala Land Premier, Alveo, Avida and Amaia.

Using the GLife feature, the one-stop shop lifestyle feature on the GCash app, Filipino home buyers and property seekers can now easily browse Ayala Land’s property listings and submit an inquiry without leaving the comforts of their homes.

“With this partnership with Ayala Land, GCash enables potential homeowners and property seekers to conduct virtual unit viewing and, after they make the decision to buy a property, access cashless payment of reservation fees using their e-wallet account. Furthermore, home buyers no longer need to pay their real estate dues through traditional channels like post-dated checks, bank deposits, over-the-counter payments to property developers, or brokers. They can conveniently and safely do just all these transactions using their smartphones and via GLife on the GCash app,” GCash president and CEO Martha Sazon said.

Property seekers who want to access Ayala Land properties will now be able to easily view  property listings  by simply opening the GCash app and tapping “GLife” on the dashboard. Once on GLife, tap the “Real Estate” category, and from there, users will be able to see available listings from Ayala Land developments, check out properties nationwide and select their preferred type of property. After reading the initial information on the selected listing, interested buyers can just tap  “Inquire”, fill in the necessary details, and finally tap “submit” to forward their inquiry.

“Together with GCash, we at Ayala Land, want to make it easier for Filipinos to find the property that suits their needs. As more and more individuals are turning to the convenience of online shopping, we strongly believe that buying home and real estate properties should not be any different. By launching four of our key brands on GLife, Filipinos can now have a more seamless experience in buying Ayala Land properties,” ALI president and CEO Bobby O. Dy said.

According to GCash Chief Commercial Officer Oscar Reyes Jr., the partnership with ALI is a testament to the commitment of GCash to go beyond providing safe and convenient digital financial solutions to Filipinos.  GCash is also primed to give Filipinos easier access to affordable house-and-lot packages and condominium units to help make their dream of owning a home a reality.

With this partnership, GCash and Ayala Land are now able to provide a safer and more convenient way of purchasing real estate to the Filipinos and cater to the consumer’s evolving needs.

Not yet on GCash? You can download the GCash app for free on Google Play and the App Store.

Saturday, October 1, 2022

Make Life Greater With Globe At Home

As we move in sync with the demands of a hyper-connected world, the role of home internet connection has become more relevant than ever. That’s why the name of the game no longer just stops at speed, but how it extends to making homes greater with life essentials and unparalleled customer service that allow each family member to thrive and succeed in this fast-evolving digital age.

Welcome to GFiber-Strong City

To bring #ExtraGDay to its users, Globe At Home took them on an immersive journey through GFiber-Strong City, where they got to experience first hand the power of GFiber connectivity and what life-changing opportunities it can bring to their homes to be able to thrive in a hyper-connected world.

“We wanted to demonstrate through this event how Globe At Home continues to redefine the fiber experience for Filipinos with our GFiber offerings that go beyond unlimited connectivity and speed. Through GFiber, we bring customers into the Globe ecosystem to uplift the lives of every Filipino family by supporting them in their pursuits anchored on the things they are passionate about and giving them more confidence to be great because they are backed by Globe’s reliable fiber,” said Janis Racpan, Head of Globe At Home Brand Management.

The brand showcased the ultra-speeds its postpaid plans offer and all the kinds of things families can do with a GFiber subscription. Participants were also able to experience GFiber’s rich lifestyle and entertainment partners, and learn about Globe At Home’s rewards and innovative wifi promos.

Several Globe At Home ambassadors joined the event, including Kryz and Slater Young, lifestyle content creators and owners of an intelligent home; Jim Bacarro and Saab Magalona, one of the podcast show pioneers in the country; as well as Bianca Gonzalez, actress, TV host, and proud mother of two.

The future is now with GFiber

Globe At Home has been ramping up its customers’ migration to fiber and introducing innovative connectivity products in response to the demand for faster and more reliable internet connection at home as millions shifted to a  hybrid work or learning setup.

GFiber can even power up homes with up to 1Gbps in internet speeds, which means an uninterrupted and high-quality digital experience for every household member.

Make homes greater with WiFi-strong connections

Families can experience the power of connectivity right in their own homes with any of the GFiber plans available. With GFiber Unli Plan 1699, they can enjoy up to 150mbps fiber connectivity that would allow them to stream high-quality videos, increase their productivity and even create a seamless intelligent home experience.

Globe At Home also recently launched the fiber-to-the-room or FTTR technology–the first in Southeast Asia. This new WiFi solution allows users to enjoy the strongest, most consistent, and fastest fiber connectivity at home as fiber is extended to the individual rooms of the home. It works best with 1Gbps fiber connectivity powered by GFiber Unli Plan 7499 as it provides full home Gigabit WiFi coverage.  Aside from making video calls, streaming videos in 8K HD, or playing online games without any interruptions, users can also enjoy a better intelligent home experience with FTTR technology.

In a video, Kryz and Slater Young discussed how they are able to enjoy better family experiences because of their intelligent home and how crucial it is to have an internet connection that can power up their gadgets.

“It’s important to have a well-connected home because all our smart home gadgets run on the internet so it’s important to have high-speed connection, which is made possible by Globe At Home,” said Slater Young.

Make homes greater with life and entertainment essentials that matter

GFiber plans also come with complimentary subscriptions to entertainment content that bring joy, inspiration, and creativity. Customers can enjoy 3-month exclusive access to Amazon Prime video, HBO Go, Viu, and the latest addition to this power line up, discovery+.

They can also make sure to prioritize their health by getting a free 3-month family access to licensed Filipino doctors via the telehealth service KonsultaMD with their GFiber subscription.

“We believe that having access to different content platforms can definitely fuel one’s creativity. That’s why we’re so happy that with our GFiber plan, we’re able to access a wide array of world-class streaming apps,” said Jim Bacarro.

Globe At Home continues to power up customers’ digital lifestyle as it enables them to enjoy uninterrupted gaming and elevated digital experiences–all made possible by GFiber’s ultra-fast connectivity.

Make homes greater with unparalleled customer care

To make sure that its customers get the best experience, Globe At Home offers guaranteed 24-hour installation and 24-hour repair visit. They also extend access to ramped up rewards and a seamless experience via the OneGlobe plan. Meanwhile, VIP customers who avail of GFiber Unli Plan 2499 and up are given exclusive access to a VIP customer service hotline and Globe VIP Home Squad–a team of professional tech-experts ready to assist customers with their home WiFi and digital needs.

“All of us at home enjoy the strong and seamless connection because of GFiber, and I especially appreciate the fast and efficient customer service, all in just a few clicks” shared Bianca Gonzalez.

Globe At Home continues to work hard to give its customers the full GFiber experience and to bring the far-reaching benefits of fiber connectivity to every Filipino household to make more homes greater.

Life made greater. Apply for a Globe At Home GFiber Unli plan today via https://new.globe.com.ph/gfiber.

Thursday, September 29, 2022

C&E ALS innovates learning and education in the new normal and beyond

Executives and key officers of C&E Adaptive Learning Solutions (C&E ALS) unveil their new master brand at the 2022 Manila International Book Fair in SMX Convention Center, Pasay City.

One of the aspects of daily living that the global COVID-
19 pandemic has clearly impacted is learning and education. This is not only in terms of basic education for children but even professional training and continuing education for adults.

With the various lockdowns that ensued, limitations in physical contact and mobility have
precipitated solutions such as virtual classrooms, digital reference materials and online teaching methods.

Long before this, however, pioneer Filipino learning solutions provider C&E Publishing already had the foresight to prepare for a new future of instruction and education in the country. In fact, it had already been largely pivoting toward a digital-based learning ecosystem in the past few years.

“As with many other lifestyle changes that came about during the pandemic such as work-from-home arrangements or telecommuting, it was only a matter of time rather than a completely new approach. You could say we had it coming for a long time already,” explains John Emyl Eugenio, chief operating officer of C&E Adaptive Learning Solutions (C&E ALS).

C&E ALS is the new brand of the 30-year-old company as it officially signifies its commitment to evolving its business with the changing times. Its mission is to provide smart, relevant and
complete learning solutions especially suited for Filipino learners.

Thus, unveiling C&E ALS today comes at a very opportune time. “Even as we slowly move out of the pandemic, we bring with us learnings that are beneficial to us in the long run, and we continuously improve on them as well,” says Eugenio.

Just how is learning and education changing in the 21 st century, and how is C&E ALS addressing these for Filipinos?

Smart, Relevant and Complete
First, interventions these days ought to be efficient without compromising the intended positive impact on learners. This is largely achieved through smart, technology-based methods. “As we have seen with online learning today, it makes best use of time for students as well as parents. It empowers us to improve our quality of life in a fast-paced world,” states Eugenio.

Smart solutions also mean improved and reliable access to learning and education for all sectors of society. Technology successfully bridges geographic and socio-economic gaps across the country, and makes information available on-demand, according to Eugenio.

Second, learning content should be continuously relevant. This is a challenge given the volume of information available today and the fast pace with which it is updated. “Learning solutions today include systems that help classify, organize, store and exchange content. This is especially important in professional fields such as law, medicine, engineering and the like,” says Eugenio.

Even basic education in the Philippines is facing challenges in terms of having sufficient, relevant content. Since the shift to K–12 nearly a decade ago, schools continue to contend with the dearth of reference and resource materials for both students as well as teachers and instructors.

Last, education is best imparted in a holistic learning environment. These include physical tools and equipment that translate theory into practice, from which children especially learn at a faster and more effective rate. “A large part of modern technology is applied in our practical world through machines and robotics, for instance,” points out Eugenio.

“Learning and education today goes beyond the traditional four walls of the classroom, and
necessitates a deeper understanding and appreciation of knowledge by applying it in real life,” he adds.

Adaptive Learning Solutions
C&E ALS has risen to the challenge of improving the learning experience for Filipinos by
becoming the only comprehensive learning and research solutions provider in the country.  C&E ALS offers a broad portfolio of innovative products and services designed to support the unique demands of both academic and professional segments of learners.

Under the mother brand C&E ALS, it has developed four sub-brands representing four business lines focused on various types of learning solutions:

C&E Publishing carries the company’s legacy in traditional printed reference materials and
textbooks across various subjects and disciplines in basic and higher education, made available to the public through its retail arm C&E Bookshop.

CE-Logic is focused on e-learning and e-business solutions, making use of information and
communications technology (ICT) to serve the learning and information needs of academic
institutions as well as private companies, medical organizations and government agencies. CE-Logic offers digital tools and authoritative web-based academic references for continuing
education of professionals such as lawyers, doctors, IT practitioners and the like.

KITE Digital Educational Solutions (KDES) meanwhile is focused on multimedia products, digital publications and e-learning programs primarily for basic education. With innovative and engaging tools and methods, teachers and educators can enhance the formative learning experience of children in the K–12 system.

MakerCE is a specialized group that helps academic institutions create engaging environments and ecosystems that foster creativity, collaboration and innovation among learners. This is made possible through hardware solutions that bring to life technologies such as artificial intelligence or robotics, computer programming and many other new frontier concepts.

C&E ALS counts among its valued clients some of the most prestigious schools and learning
institutions in the Philippines, such as University of the Philippines, Ateneo de Manila University, De La Salle University and University of Sto. Tomas to name a few. It also works with industry organizations and government agencies such as Philippine Medical Association, Philippine Nurses Association, Department of Education and Commission on Higher Education.

“We at C&E ALS relentlessly adapt to our market’s ever-changing needs and the rapid
developments in the education landscape to continuously provide relevant learning tools today and in the future,” says Eugenio.

“As we move towards the 21st century, C&E ALS serves as the country’s beacon of modern
knowledge. We remain steadfast in our commitment to guide learners as they navigate the world through adaptive learning,” he concludes.

Visit www.ceals.ph for more information.

Monday, March 21, 2022

First Carousell Property Awards: recognizing the most notable property developers in the Philippines




Carousell Property Awards honors the country’s most notable and pioneering real estate developers as well as their noteworthy developments in the last two years.

To recognize the tireless efforts of real estate companies and property developers to meet the housing demands of Filipinos, especially during the pandemic, Carousell Philippines, the leading online classifieds marketplace in the country, has launched the Carousell Property Awards, honoring the country’s most notable and pioneering real estate developers as well as their noteworthy developments in the last two years.
 
“Real estate developers and leaders play a key role in providing Filipinos safe and comfortable living.  We believe that it’s now time for us to recognize our key partners who have been working with Carousell throughout the years and their relentless efforts in helping Filipinos achieve their dream homes,” said Carousell Philippines’ General Manager Djon Nacario.
 
Carousell Property Awards  is divided into 9 categories, namely Best Developer, Best Township Development, Best Developer: Mid-market segment (Housing & Condominium), Best Affordable Condominium, Best Development: Mid-Range Housing, Best Developer: Affordable Housing, Best Development: Midrise Condominium, Best Development: High-End Housing, and Best Development: High-End Condominium.

Camella which is celebrating its 45 years in the real estate industry, bagged “Best Developer: Mid-market segment (Housing & Condominium)” award.


Awarded as the Best Developer: Mid-market segment (Housing & Condominium) is  Camella which is celebrating its 45 years in the real estate industry and remains as one of the country’s largest real estate brands. Camella has built a multitude of homes, vertical villages, and communities for hardworking Filipinos and their families.

Suntrust  grabbed the  “Best Development: Mid-Range Housing” and “Best Affordable Condominium” awards.

 
Suntrust’s recent projects ‘Kirana’ and ‘Verona’ both grabbed the Best Affordable Condominium and Best Development: Mid-Range Housing categories, respectively. For 24 years, Suntrust has been continuously providing Filipinos a more sustainable home filled with elegance, beauty, and romance embraced by lush nature spaces with more than 30 notable projects built nationwide.

Empire East won two awards: “Best Developer Philippines” and “Best Township Development.”


Another big winner of the Best Developer Philippines category is Empire East Land Holdings Inc., which democratized homeownership during its early years by creating quality and affordable luxury condominiums ranging from mid-to-high-rise towers, in and beyond Metro Manila. Its subsidiary, Empire East Highland City was also awarded as the Best Township Development.

Lumina Homes bagged the “Best Developer: Affordable Housing” award.


Lumina Homes also bagged the Best Developer: Affordable Housing. In just 8 years, Lumina Homes has already built over 50 developments in key locations across the country, enabling Filipinos to achieve their dream homes at an affordable cost.
 

Crown Asia received “Best Development: Midrise Condominium” and “Best Development: High-End Housing” awards.


Crown Asia, one of the country’s leading developers of luxury themed-communities with classic architectural feats and pioneering concepts, is the Best Development: Midrise Condominium and Best Development: High-End Housing award for its residential community project ‘Ponticelli’ located in Bacoor City, Cavite and condominium complex ‘Hermosa’ in Las Piñas City, respectively. 

Alveo Land won the “Best Development, High-End Condominium” category.


Lastly, the country’s leading innovative developer of vibrant communities and groundbreaking living solutions, Alveo Land, also won the Best Development, High-End Condominium category. For over 19 years, Alveo Land has built contemporary living and working solutions for Filipinos. Alveo Land’s Mergent Residences is its first high-rise condominium in Poblacion, Makati City that serves as a quick escape amid the busiest, and fast-paced city life.
 
Check out and learn more about the first-ever Carousell Property Awards’ outstanding winners and their finest developments by visiting the link https://www.carousell.ph/smart_render/?type=market-landing-page&name=carousell-property-awards-winners.

Sunday, March 20, 2022

Prizes, gifts, perks, and more on OPPO Super Brand Day on Shopee


Exclusive perks include discounts up to 56% off and special vouchers available only to Shopee users.

Selfie and mobile photography buffs are in for an exciting treat as OPPO, the leading global smart device company, is hosting its Super Brand Day from March 22-23, 2022 to launch the availability of its latest OPPO Reno7 Z 5G, exclusively on their official store on Shopee Mall.

The OPPO Reno7 Z 5G boasts superior camera configuration and AI-enhanced features such as Bokeh Flare Portrait, Portrait Retouching, AI Color Portrait, Selfie HDR, and AI Palettes, which make every portrait you take absolutely picture perfect. Its powerful performance is provided by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 695 5G with 8GB RAM+128GB ROM, alongside its enhanced efficiency and productivity, the Reno7 Z 5G is the ultimate companion for users to unleash their unlimited style in portrait. The ultra-slim mobile device will retail for Php19,999 and comes in two new colors: Rainbow Spectrum and Cosmic Black.

This Super Brand Day, OPPO and Shopee give shoppers the chance to get P1,000 off and a free Q11 Smartwatch and G25 earphones for all Reno7 Z 5G purchases. They can also enjoy special discounts of up to 56% off for other mobile devices such as the A16 3GB and A94.

Other perks available on Super Brand Day include free G25 earphones for all smartphone orders on March 23 from 12-2 AM and 8-11:59 PM only and P50 off free shipping voucher with a minimum spend of P500. Special vouchers can also be applied such as P200 off for a minimum spend of P9,999, and P400 off with a minimum spend of P14,999; P300 off with voucher code OPPOSBD and free 32GB memory card for every purchase of OPPO A16 3GB; free DITO Sim card for all smartphone orders on March 23 only.

Find the latest deals and promotions on OPPO’s wide range of smart devices, including Reno series and IoT products via the OPPO Official Store on Shopee Mall. Products on Shopee Mall come with 15-days free returns, 100% authenticity, and free shipping.

Shop OPPO now at https://shopee.ph/oppophilippines and download the Shopee app for free on the App Store or Google Play Store.



Monday, March 14, 2022

Choosing your first feline friend
















Taking home a cat for the first time is both an exciting and overwhelming experience. You’ll consider a wide variety of things, from choosing the right cat food to how you will litter train them and how you’ll adjust to the new furball who will be part of your life for the years to come.

Finding your purr-fect match

You can start by understanding the nature of a cat, like what’s not good for them or what kind of surroundings should fit them. Then, even though there’s no guaranteed way to choose the perfect cat for you and your lifestyle, if we understand the cat’s needs, we can bring home a cat that could cope with our environment.

Narrow down your choices by knowing what age, breed, color, or where you’d like to get a cat.

Here are some questions to ask yourself when you choose a cat:

     Do you want to adopt, or you wish to purchase a particular breed?

     Do you have children or other pets? Can they get along with the cat?

     Do you want a kitten or an adult cat?

     Do you want to keep a cat indoors?

It's of the utmost importance for new cat owners to look at a cat's grooming needs, energy level, vocalness, adaptability, curiosity, degree of affection, and appearance before adding the furball to their household.

How to determine if a cat is healthy?

For first-time fur parents, it is best if we look for a healthy cat. Besides saving you lots of trouble and vet bills, a healthy one can also help you adapt to being a fur parent. Healthy cats have clear eyes, a groomed coat, and they are appropriately active for their age.

But we can’t always depend on how cats look as they may look healthy based on appearance or behavior. To find out for sure, it’s best to check with a vet.

If you feel that the cat you adopted shows any sign of illness, take them to a vet to know the problem. Avoid home medications that can endanger your fur baby’s health.

Owning a cat requires constant care which includes regular vet visits for wellness, checkups and preventatives so make sure that you incorporate this in your budget.
Ask About the Cat’s Background

Learning about the background of the cat you want to adopt can help you know how the cat will adjust to your family and lifestyle. Of course, the more compatible your new pet is, the easier the adjustment period will be.

You should also look for the cat’s medical history as much as possible. Know its last veterinary exam and list of vaccinations or other treatments given. You should also take note when the vaccinations or preventatives are due and any medical conditions or special needs.

In some cases, a cat’s vaccination history may be unknown, so it’s best to set up a full wellness check with your vet.

Make your place cat-friendly

Before you choose a cat to take home, it is important to consider cat-proofing your place. Don’t let harmful things for cats like chemical products, or dangerous electric wires, lay around your floors.

Check if your indoor or outdoor plants are good for your cat. If there are some plants in your home that you find harmful for your cat, make sure to keep these away and prevent them from trying to nibble it.

Cats like warm places especially during cold weather so be careful about any electronic devices that easily heat up, like laptops. You can avoid dangers by providing your kitty with a heating pad for pets.

All in all, the best way to make their new home comfortable is to pay attention to your cat's needs and behavior.

Ready to get your first feline friend? There’s no need to worry because you can always ask experts like veterinarians for help and advice for your cats. You can also ask them about new effective ways to protect your cat or visit http://www.bravecto.com.ph/



A big win for the environment as GForest plants 1 million trees nationwide





GCash's big win for the environment: GForest plants 1 million trees nationwide
The Philippines’ leading digital mobile wallet company GCash announced it has planted 1 million trees through GForest, its environmental sustainability feature on the GCash app.
Since GForest’s launch in 2019, more than 10 million users have joined the cause. As of December 19, 2021, a total of 1,060,000 trees have been planted virtually by GForest users, 1 million of which have been converted to actual trees planted in various locations. This is considered a huge feat for all those who actively participated in the program as they champion environmental stewardship, in fact, if the amount of carbon emissions that GForest users saved were combined, GCash has actually collected enough green energy to fuel over 25 trips around the Earth by plane!
“We are helping 55 million Filipinos go digital and cashless for more efficient and environmentally friendly transactions. Our environmental conservation and awareness efforts extend towards giving back further with GForest. This also doubles as a reward system influencing our users to practice more green habits,” said Martha Sazon, President and CEO of GCash.
GForest users earn green energy points by using the various cashless services of GCash, such as Send Money, Pay Bills, or Bank Transfer on the app – digital financial services that also lessen their carbon footprint, in addition to planting trees. GForest users can also collect green energy every time they walk if they enable GCash to access their health app or fitness tracker. These green energy points can be used to plant virtual trees. As of November 2021, more than 133 million digital, paperless transactions have been made in GCash to earn green energy points for GForest users. This is in line with the mission of GCash to support environmental sustainability by keeping individual carbon footprint low and helping fight climate change.
GCash executed several trailblazing GForest joint projects, including tree-planting partnerships with World Wide Fund for Nature Philippines, Ayala Land Inc., Ramon Aboitiz Foundation, Inc. (RAFI), HOPE and Century Pacific Food, Inc, in critical areas such as the Ipo Watershed, Alaminos Carbon Forest, Luyang Watershed and South Cotabato and Sarangani Provinces.
Diverse species of trees like Narra, Yakal, Molave, Guyabano and Coconut have been planted in these vulnerable locations nationwide, through GForest and its partners.  Aside from these designated areas, GCash is also identifying new sites that it can reforest as it scales up its sustainability program in the country.
Through GForest, GCash was also able to support and empower local farming communities. With the tree-planting activities of GCash, HOPE and Century Pacific Inc., more than 2,000 coconut farmers received coconut seedlings which can help them have more produce and in turn, increase their revenue. With GCash, RAFI also conducted tree growing orientations and planting trainings for 150 farmers in order to guide them on tree-planting projects. The initiative aims to achieve 1.3 million trees planted by 2022.
GCash is the only fintech company in the Philippines to have a sustainability feature integrated within its app, and has been recognized by global sustainability organizations. Recently, WWF Philippines conferred the Conservation Innovation Award to GCash. The leading mobile wallet company was also recognized by Miss Earth ECO Awards 2021 as well as BIOFIN for the environmental impact the campaign has created.
"Being a tech company, it puts us in a good position to really promote less carbon footprint," adds Sazon. GForest is a concrete expression of the company’s ESG or environment, social and governance framework. GCash reiterates the importance of achieving financial results while ensuring we protect the environment, we take care of our people and the communities we operate in, as well as working closely with relevant stakeholders and governing bodies moving forward.
“The GForest program proves that marrying new technologies with creative sustainability solutions are something organizations can achieve. We thank our partners and users for making this milestone possible. We are looking forward to being more "One with the Nation" with our social responsibility initiatives in the years to come”, said ChitoManiago, Vice President for Communications and Public Affairs of GCash.
"One with the Nation" is GCash's corporate social responsibility program employing various initiatives including NGO partnerships, programs on disaster response and environmental stewardship, as well as grassroots finlit education campaigns nationwide.
Aside from GForest, GCash's various digital products and services enable users to go cashless for various transactions, which helps reduce their carbon footprint and help fight climate change.
Continue to use GCash and become a “green hero” today! For more information, visit www.gcash.com.


Sunday, March 13, 2022

Good oral hygiene helps prevent critical illnesses



















Brushing and flossing regularly are essential in maintaining good oral health.

With all the health-related matters we need to juggle during this time, dental concerns often take the backseat. However, good oral hygiene should never be neglected because, aside from preventing cavities, periodontal disease, and tooth loss, it also helps protect us from serious health conditions later on, such as heart disease.
 
While it may be difficult to see the link between bad oral health and our overall health, researchers have discovered that there is a connection between declining oral health and underlying systematic conditions. According to the Mayo Clinic, your oral health may contribute to various diseases and conditions, such as endocarditis, cardiovascular disease, pregnancy and birth complications, as well as pneumonia. Practicing good oral hygiene is a key step that can help prevent these illnesses linked with dental health.
 
AXA Philippines, one of the country’s leading insurance providers, reminds us that the age-old wisdom on oral care, along with some new technological methods, are still as effective as ever, and offers these tips to protect your oral health:
 
Brush and floss regularly. One of the most important things that you can do to maintain your oral health even when you’re just staying at home is to keep brushing and flossing your teeth daily. Be sure to brush your teeth at least twice every day and floss your teeth at least once each day. These simple tasks can limit the negative effects of bacteria and plaque, such as painful cavities and gum disease.
 
Use additional tools to aid you. Even after brushing and flossing, some food may still be left stuck in your teeth. To remedy this, you can incorporate the usage of a water pick, also known as an oral pulsating irrigator, in your routine to help remove food particles. While it isn’t considered as a substitute for brushing and flossing, water picks may help reduce the chances of developing gingivitis or other gum-related diseases. Various models can be bought from reputable online stores at different price points, to best suit your budget. Adding mouthwash usage to your daily oral hygiene routine can also provide greater protection against plaque and reduce potential gum infection when compared to brushing alone. The antibacterial ingredients of mouthwash, such as essential oils, helps eliminate the bacteria in the gums, teeth, and the entire mouth.
 
Go for a dental check-up. While movement is still limited, dental care should be considered as an essential task as delaying so could pose considerable risks to your long-term health. Dentists have enhanced their equipment and safety procedures during this time, so check-ups are less risky. Just be sure to follow safety protocols so you can stay safe when you go in for your appointment.
 
Maintain a healthy diet. Your lifestyle, especially the food you consume, can affect your dental health. Excessive sugary foods can cause oral health problems, such as the development of plaque, cavities, and tooth decay. Therefore, it’s important to be mindful of your sugar intake and start cutting down to avoid more serious health complications in the long run. Eating calcium-rich foods, green leafy vegetables, and fruits rich in vitamin C can help you have stronger teeth and healthier gums.
 
Have oral prophylaxis or teeth cleaning done regularly. This dental procedure is recommended to be done every six months or at least annually, depending on your medical history. Oral prophylaxis will further help prevent gum disease and tooth decay since the dentist is able to clean even below the gumline, which can be difficult to do at home. Your dentist will also be able to inspect your teeth and gums for any signs of poor oral health and or underlying medical issues such as receding gums, erupting wisdom teeth, dental cavities, or even oral cancer – some of which will require immediate treatment. It is important to know that poor oral health can increase the risk of cardiovascular diseases, so it pays to prevent this altogether.
 
Good oral hygiene may be easy to overlook for some, but its link to preventing other diseases should always be taken seriously. Simple steps to protect ourselves and our loved ones can really go a long way. However, while adopting these healthy habits can help prevent serious health issues, critical illnesses could still hit unexpectedly. Having health insurance can help you prepare for the impact of critical illnesses. AXA Philippines offers Health Start Lite, a plan that provides customers with critical illness protection, including heart attack, for as low as P535 a month with P1 million coverage and is renewable up to age 75. This health package also offers P1.5 million and P2 million plan options depending on your budget. You will also be entitled to access safe and convenient medical teleconsultation services, prescriptions arrangement via email, and medicine delivery services.
 
To get yourself and your loved ones protected and ready in case of unexpected health conditions, visit https://www.axa.com.ph/healthstartlite/