by Penny Angeles-Tan | Mar 5, 2023 | Events
In partnership with Radyo Kalusugan, Glam and Fab and Dear Self Aesthetic and Wellness Center‘s The Beauty Mission Dermatological Care, the clinic’s first-ever medical mission, was successfully conducted last February 8, 2023, in Payatas Bistekville 5 Covered Court.
With the objective to provide free basic skin treatment and consultation to those who are financially challenged, GNF and DS made sure to give top-of-the-line services and skin and wellness guidance to everyone in attendance.
Registered nurses and professional aesthetician gives free consultation to residents of Payatas.
“We would like to provide aesthetic services to communities, with further focus on those who may not have access to these services due to financial difficulties,” Ms. Anne Garalde, Branch Owner and Medical Mission Project Manager, said.
This is also said to be a lot different from other medical missions being conducted in communities. “We know that there are a lot of agencies and companies who conduct medical missions already, we want ours to be different and to focus more on problems that are usually not addressed but definitely something to be discussed and cured,” Ms. Krystal Tecson-Garalde, founder of both brands, said in an interview.
Almost 500 individuals participated in the said medical mission. Each of them received free consultation and brought home free products based on the recommendation of the resident nurse and aestheticians to address specific concerns.
Moreover, participants also had sessions on proper skin care and nutrition-related topics to further promote health and wellness in their community.
“We are providing free skin consultation with the help of our professional aestheticians and registered nurses. We are also offering educational sessions on proper skin care and nutrition because we believe that these are critical components of skincare and wellness,” Ms. Anne Garalde added.
The first and definitely not the last
“Nagpapasalamat po kami sa Glam and Fab at Dear Self, sa pagpunta po nila sa lugar namin. Kakaibang medical mission po ito, so halos lahat kami dito gusto ma-experience, sana po maulit po ulit,” Aling Pinky, one of the event participants, cheerfully responded when asked about her reaction.
Residents of Payatas get professional advice from Glam and Fab x Dear Self
Overall, the event was well-received. Participants were very happy with the personalized attention and care provided by the professionals. Everyone left the medical mission feeling more confident and beautiful which is also one of the objectives of GNF and DS – to uplift everyone’s confidence in themselves through self-care.
“Their participation in this medical mission makes them one notch away from other boutiques and skin clinics,” Mr. Gil Aller, Host of Kalikasan at Kalusugan, Radyo Kalusugan, mentioned in their radio show last February 22, 2023.
Glam and Fab and Dear Self Aesthetic and Wellness Center’s participation in medical missions stem from their belief in the importance of giving back to the community and helping those in need.
They plan to continue participating in medical missions and other community outreach programs in the future.
Glam and Fab and Dear Self Aesthetic and Wellness Center advocate for an affordable healthy skincare routine for all. Call 0272543723 for a FREE Consultation.
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by Penny Angeles-Tan | Jan 18, 2023 | Events
As the luckiest animal in the Chinese Zodiac, the rabbit promises a year of prosperity, hope, and calm. The historic Rizal Park Hotel invites guests to usher in abundance and success by celebrating the Year of the Water Rabbit with a sumptuous, curated menu of authentic Chinese cuisine, available across the property’s dining outlets from Imperial Court to Café Rizal.
At the signature Chinese outlet Imperial Court, families and friends may celebrate the Year of the Rabbit with menu options designed specifically for the occasion. Start with the Good Fortune Menu at P28,888/table (10 persons) featuring 9 curated dishes such as Grilled Wagyu Beef w/ Honey Mustard Salad, Shrimp Baby Abalone Truffle Sauce, Fried Pigeon, and Steamed Garlic Crab. The menu comes with two complimentary bottles of white wine.
Guests craving Peking Duck, Stir-Fry Scallop Szechuan Style, and Steamed Lapu-Lapu may choose the Prosperity Menu, which features these along with six more dishes. The Prosperity Menu is available for only P29,888/table of 10 persons, inclusive of two bottles of white wine or rose.
Imperial Court’s Lunar New Year menus are available from January 21 to February 5, 2023.
On Lunar New Year’s Day, enjoy a dim sum buffet of Siomai, Tikoy, Dumplings, Buchi, and other delicacies at the hotel for only P600 – an irresistible offer that comes with celebrating over a glass of wine and a festivity of lion dance and firecrackers. In addition, guests can also dine at Cafe Rizal for its buffet of Chinese congee and side dishes.
For more information about Rizal Park Hotel’s dining offers for the Lunar New Year, call (02) 8804-8700. Follow Facebook https://www.facebook.com/RizalParkHotel and Instagram https://www.instagram.com/rizalparkhotel1911.
by Penny Angeles-Tan | Dec 16, 2022 | Events
For many of Cebuana Lhuillier’s pawning clients, their jewelry is more than valued accessories. To many, these items were heirloom pieces, fruits of their hard work, or precious investments. During times of need, they also represent a quick solution, an opportunity for a better life, or a fresh restart.
For more than 35 years, Cebuana Lhuillier has known these stories from its clients as they go through its doors during their times of need. More than its high appraisal rates, they comfort its clients with the assistance of well-trained branch personnel and the assurance that its precious pieces are safely and securely taken care of. This eases the burden of parting with the jewelry for the clients, until the time that they come back to claim their pawned items.
Aware that the value of the items in their care goes beyond their weight in gold, Cebuana Lhuillier thought of a way to further give meaning to the Holiday Season for some of its most loyal clients.
Salamat, Ka-Cebuana
As part of its CSR initiatives, the company has made it its annual tradition to give back to those in need during the Holidays. Usually, these gift-giving activities were held every 6th of December in celebration of the Feast of St. Nicholas, the patron saint of pawnbrokers and the inspiration behind the legend of Santa Claus.
This year, Cebuana Lhuillier chose the best recipients—its valued clients, many of whom have stayed with the company for years, entrusting some of their most precious items in their times of need. The event, dubbed “Pasasalamat,” gathered more than 200 clients across eight regional locations nationwide in a simultaneous celebration of thanks and love from Cebuana Lhuillier. The gathering proved to be more than a celebration as attendees were feted to a day of fun and prizes, but the end of the program proved to be the most poignant of all when Cebuana Lhuillier, through its operations team, returned all the pawned items of its attendees as a special surprise.
Jean Henri Lhuillier, President and CEO, shared, “Pasasalamat 2022 is our way of giving thanks to our clients for the trust and partnership we have established in the last 35 years. We’ve known their stories—and were blessed to be with them as they chased their dreams and provided better lives for their loved ones. With “Pasasalamat,” we are returning this trust by gifting them the items they pawned with us. We hope that through this small gesture, Cebuana Lhuillier is able to give further meaning to this season.”
A Season of Joy, Hope, and Giving Thanks
For many of the attendees of the Pasasalamat celebration, the unexpected blessings were more than expressions of gratitude coming from a long-time ally—it brought hope and joy as precious pieces, family heirlooms, and cherished investments found their way back to them.
Pasasalamat gathered more than 200 of its most loyal clients in 8 events happening simultaneously in one day
For Grecilda Torres, a small business owner and client of Cebuana Lhuilier for 26 years, the unexpected return of her pawned items—all rings—brought to tears. “Nakaka-touch isipin na gumawa ng time si Cebuana Lhuillier na ipakita sa amin na importante kami. I am very much grateful and thankful na—yung 26 years naming magkasama, it keeps going lang. My business and the business of Cebuana Lhuillier, magkasama pa din kami. Nagka-doctor na akong anak, pero still, nandito pa din ako with Cebuana. And for that, I am very thankful,” she shares.
Meanwhile, Remigia Mejia, a 79-year-old cancer survivor and loyal client of Cebuana Lhuillier for 30 years, cannot believe that a pendant that her late husband gifted her before they were married has found its way back to her.
She shares, “Hindi ko akalain na babalik yung mga alahas ko since pinag-iipunan ko din na matubos sila. Karamihan sa kanila, matatagal na sa akin, including yung pendant na bigay ng asawa ko and yung singsing ng anak ko which I gave her nung nag-debut siya. As much as possible, ayaw ko silang maremata kasi they are very valuable and sentimental pieces para sa akin. Kaya nagpapasalamat ako sa Cebuana Lhuillier for this event and for the many years na hindi nya din ako pinabayaan. Nagtra-trabaho pa lang ako, kasama ko na ang Cebuana Lhuillier and even till now, kami pa din ang magkasama.”
Ana Marie Mendoza Rapido (center), a public school teacher was overcome with emotion while opening her special surprise gift from Cebuana Lhuillier
For Ana Marie Mendoza Rapido, a teacher from Cavite and a Ka-Cebuana since 2012, Cebuana Lhuillier has been a trusted ally during times of emergencies. Through their jewelry, Ana Marie and her siblings were able to sustain the hospitalization and medication of their mother who has been in and out of hospitals in the last ten years.
“Ang Cebuana po, trusted na namin at lagi naming taga-sagip sa oras ng kagipitan, lalo na nung panahon ng pandemic,” shared Ana Marie who was in tears when she opened the box and saw her pawned item inside.
Grecilda, Remigia, and Ana Marie were just three of the many loyal clients whose continued trust and loyalty to Cebuana Lhuillier proved to be instrumental in the company’s continued reign as the country’s number one pawnshop. With Pasasalamat, the decades-old financial institution was able to express and extend its thanks to the many whose continued patronage remains the reason for its longevity and its continuous desire to serve as an ally and a friend to millions of Filipinos and their journey towards a better future.
by Penny Angeles-Tan | Dec 15, 2022 | Events
From the online bulletin boards of local villages and cities, online marketplaces, fan groups, school associations, and even home improvement pages, Filipinos have continued to remain active in participating in their numerous online communities as a go-to source for discussing their favorite topics with like-minded netizens.
More and more companies, interest groups, and organizations are building communities to create deeper, more meaningful relationships with and among their users and members. According to market research company GWI, in 2020 alone, 76% of all internet users participated in an online community, a statistic that has annually increased by 2% over the past 3 years.
With the rise of online communities today, builders and innovators are expected to carry out the operational work of reaching members and managing offline and online events — all while nurturing genuine and authentic connections with their followers.
Today, community leaders can do away with using multiple platforms and save hundreds of hours on administrative work by streamlining various operations, made possible using Nas Company’s newest platform, Nas.io.
Nas.io is the latest tech platform released by global content creator and founder and CEO of Nas Company, Nuseir Yassin. Nas.io equips community leaders with modern, intuitive tech solutions that make it easier to start and manage a growing online community.
Connect and communicate with members
Founder and CEO of Nas Daily and Nas Company Nuseir Yassin, together with his team from Nas Company in the Philippines, pose for a group photo with the attendees of the ‘Nas Daily Community Meet-up’ held last November 12, 2022, at the New Frontier Theater, Quezon City.
One of the biggest challenges community managers face is reaching their audience, especially with the ever-changing algorithms of the most popular social media platforms. Community managers have turned to smaller niche groups on group chat platforms. However, this presents its own problems, such as it being easy for members to get lost upon joining.
Nas.io solves this by functioning as a management layer on top of existing chat platforms like Facebook Groups, WhatsApp, Discord, Telegram, or Slack. Managers can use it as a tool to provide community members context on what conversations to expect through a custom community landing page. Nas.io also includes a unique feature called Magic Reach that allows community managers to send emails and messages to their communities. This intelligent messaging feature automatically finds the best way to send messages to community members. The tool is designed to learn how users or members prefer to be contacted, and which platform they are most active in.
Create and manage events
Aside from consistent communication, community builders also aim to create perfect events both in-person and virtual for its members. From setting calendar invites to creating virtual meeting rooms, to making an event page and setting up a registration form, Nas.io simplifies the process of creating and managing events.
By filling up three basic fields, community managers can automatically generate a personalized Zoom link shared with its members, which will lead them to a customized event page. Through the platform’s feature of sending and saving notifications to the members’ calendars, emails, and mobile app, community managers can expect higher attendance and engagement rates. The platform can also be programmed to handle member authentication to ensure exclusivity. And, should there be an admission fee to join these events, a hassle-free payment processing system can also be set up by the manager.
Make communities sustainable
All the longest existing communities include monetization. This is why Nas.io includes monetization features that allow community managers to earn in order to sustain their community.
From membership subscription fees, exclusive content access, and event participation, creators can set up their communities to be free, paid, or even NFT-gated. This means that members are given several payment options that can be fulfilled through credit or debit cards, PayPal, and even crypto.
Filipino Communities started using Nas.io in its early stages
Prior to its official launch, Filipino communities started using Nas.io in its beta stage and have demonstrated great potential in the market. Philippine Country Head of Nas Company Jacqueline Maye Lim said, “We at Nas Company aim to enable the creators, entrepreneurs, and marketers to add value to their members through our platform. We have seen early signs of this in our beta launch where we have amazing communities that help their leaders build a deeper connection with their audience enabling them to solve their problems and add value to them. Whether it’s about finding alternative employment or simply saving on important life milestones, communities are everywhere.”
Founder and CEO of Nas Daily and Nas Company Nuseir Yassin awarded Community Creator Jam Blauta of the Barangay Virtual Assistants (Barangay VA) for being the first community to gather 10,000 members in Nas Company’s newest community platform, Nas.io.
Barangay Virtual Assistants, more commonly known as Barangay VA, is one of the largest communities on Facebook with over 30,000 members. Despite the number of followers, community leader Jam Blauta shares that he can’t reach all thousands of his followers. “As a community manager, I need to easily secure my audience and reach them instantly whether through SMS or email. The reality is, the number of social media followers doesn’t matter anymore and when you post content, you only reach 10% or sometimes even less. This is why Nas.io is the best thing that has happened in helping me reach the community of virtual assistants.”
To date, over 10,000 aspiring virtual assistants are using Nas.io, where they are educated, trained, and given free advice and online courses on how to get employed.
Founder and CEO of Nas Daily and Nas Company Nuseir Yassin recognized Community Creator Camille Fornela of The Budgetarian Bride for reaching over a thousand followers in the beta stage of Nas Company’s newest community platform, Nas.io.
Another up-and-coming group is Camille Fornela’s The Budgetarian Bride, an online community of brides, grooms, and wedding planners, who come together to discuss budget-friendly nuptial options and real experiences on wedding planning. Today, The Budgetarian Bride’s community has helped almost 4,000 soon-to-be married Filipinos plan their dream weddings without breaking the bank. “Having multiple content formats available in one platform and connectivity to existing ones is essential in growing my community,” said Fornela.
Yassin awarded community leaders Jam Blauta and Camille Fornela in an exclusive community meet-up held at the New Frontier Theater last November 12, 2022. He highlighted their success in engaging local audiences in their respective communities that are transforming Filipinos’ lives.
Visit nas.io to know more about how you can create your own communities today.
About Nas Company
Nas means people. Nas Company is on a mission to build community products that bring people together. Nas Company has successfully built communities over the years and is now building tools and integrations that will allow others to manage engaged communities faster and better than ever before.
About Nuseir Yassin
Nuseir Yassin is the founder and CEO of Nas Company and Nas Studios with over 50 million followers across the world. Nas.io and Nas Academy are housed under Nas Company with the mission to Bring People Together by building innovative education and community tools for creators.
by Penny Angeles-Tan | Dec 10, 2022 | Events
In line with the 81st anniversary of the Fall of Bataan in 2023, Philippine Veterans Bank calls on bikers and other enthusiasts to support and join the upcoming Ride for Valor 2023. The annual event, a non-competitive 160 kilometers long bike ride and will trace the original route of the Bataan Death March. The ride commemorates the camaraderie, bravery, and sacrifice of Filipinos and Americans who fought for our freedom.
Aside from rekindling heroism, Ride for Valor slated on March 5, 2023, aims to bring to consciousness the historical significance of the Death March in the struggle for freedom of brave Filipinos during World War 2.
Mariveles is one of the two starting points of the infamous Bataan Death March and will be the same site where the Ride for Valor will kick off.
“Ride for Valor aims to be an instrument for today’s generation to rediscover the role of Bataan during World War 2,” said Mike Villa-Real, PVB’s First Vice President for Marketing & Communications. PVB is a commercial bank owned by World War II veterans and their families.
The “Ride for Valor” was initiated to raise funds for the Filipino-American Memorial Endowment (FAME) to enable them to save our heroes’ historical markers so that we may remember their sacrifice. About 10,000 brave soldiers died along the route; many of the bodies were never identified or recovered.
The Filipino-American Memorial Endowment (FAME), is a non-government organization that maintains the kilometer markers of the Bataan Death March from Mariveles, Bataan to Capas, Tarlac. In the past, Bataan Death March markers had been destroyed, uprooted, and neglected due to accidents and other road projects.
The format for 2023’s ride is Gran Fondo or “Big Ride,” where each participant will have a “passport” that they need to bring to three stops: Mt. Samat in Bataan, San Fernando Train Station in Pampanga, and the Death March Memorial Shrine in Capas, Tarlac.
A mechanic will be on standby to help those who will experience mechanical issues, and roving marshals to monitor the progress of the participants. Support vehicles are allowed, but participants should not ride the vehicle unless they decide to withdraw from the bike ride.
Interested participants may register by clicking HERE or via the Ride for Valor Facebook page. Only bikes with brakes are allowed in the event, and participants must be fully vaccinated.
Around 80,000 Filipino and American soldiers and prisoners of war were forced by the Japanese military to march 69 miles from Bataan to Tarlac during World War II. Around 54,000 reached the camp while 20,000 died due to starvation, dehydration, disease, and brutality of their Japanese captors.
Bataan death march. Photo credit to https://www.nationalmuseum.af.mil/
by Penny Angeles-Tan | Dec 2, 2022 | Events
A pioneering community of home cooks in the country brings the first-ever gathering of home cooks, dubbed “Let’s Cook, Pare! First Out-of-Home Cooking Fair and Grand Family Day!”
The event slated on December 4, Sunday, at the Central Park, Greenfield District in Mandaluyong is in partnership with the Greenfield District Corporation. Let’s Cook, Pare! (LCP) aims to replicate the effort to help its members that it extended at the height of the pandemic.
LCP, a non-government organization that started on Facebook became relevant to the cooking community as quarantine cooking became one of every Filipino’s anxiety outlets.
The Sunday event is supported by Aguila Gourmet Meats, Condura, Fruitas, Glorious, Golden A, Hotel Sogo, Masflex Philippines, McCormick, Midea, Mother Nurture, Phoenix Super LPG, Premium Choice Meatshop, Sweet & Fit Stevia, Tocoms Philippines, Inc. for Russel Hobbs, Koizumi Philippines, and Panasonic Small Appliances, Sunlife Financial, Easy Brand, Save ALL, Recycle PH, Eatsplorations, Malaya Business Insight, Manila Standard, PEPTalk, Made it through Mum, What’s New Philippines, Frenzie, and The New Channel.
LCP event will also highlight the homecooked products and other cooking ingredients and utensils of its homegrown Accredited Sellers, among them, Baba Black Chef, BrownRoots, Cordillera Landing on You (CLOY), Crafty Cuts, Eat Girls, Food Delight, Krav, Mang Itz Kebab, The Bistro Box, Sayonora, Sweetums Tasty Delight.
With a Pinoy Christmas Fiesta theme, a whole day of fun-filled activities awaits LCP members, their families, and the public. Among the activities lined up are the annual 14 Days of Christmas gift-giving, 10 livelihood starter sets for lucky members, a home cooking challenge and demo, learning sessions for home-based entrepreneurs, and so much more! The livelihood starter kits will help 10 LCP private group community members to start their respective home-based businesses to augment their income during this challenging time.
The Let’s Cook, Pare! community became a creative outlet for its members and allowed them to get connected outside of their homes. The members actively participated in community discussions and shared their home-cooked meals, taking advantage of a platform that allows them to flex their ‘creations’ and enjoy their dreams of living a ‘chef-life’.
Aside from helping its members, the LCP was also able to help the country’s SMEs and some corporate brands because of its accessibility online where they were able to sell food and other relevant kitchens/home cooking appliances, items, etc. A number of members here and abroad likewise shared that recipes they got from the community inspired them to start their own food-selling business that allows them to have an alternative source of income.
For more information about Let’s Cook, Pare! check them out on Facebook, and letscookpare.com.
ABOUT LET’S COOK PARE
Let’s Cook, Pare! was created on August 16, 2018, by Jeff Chua and Archie Chua, who both share the same passion for food. The creators wanted to form a community where people can share their home-cooked recipes, which were either original, passed on from generations or inspired by others.
They were later on joined by friends and family members. Five admins, among them entrepreneurs, Jeff and Vince Chua of Bigbert’s Professional Detailers; Archie Chua of Crystal Lamps; Liberty Insurance executive, Bobet Arandia, and Tsaris Salgado, an experienced PR and marketing professional, oversee the community. The community believes in sharing knowledge and information. It promotes positivity and positive reinforcement.
As the luckiest animal in the Chinese Zodiac, the rabbit promises a year of prosperity, hope, and calm. The historic Rizal Park Hotel invites guests to usher in abundance and success by celebrating the Year of the Water Rabbit with a sumptuous, curated menu of authentic Chinese cuisine, available across the property’s dining outlets from Imperial Court to Café Rizal.
The Filipino-American Memorial Endowment (FAME), is a non-government organization that maintains the kilometer markers of the Bataan Death March from Mariveles, Bataan to Capas, Tarlac. In the past, Bataan Death March markers had been destroyed, uprooted, and neglected due to accidents and other road projects.
Let’s Cook, Pare! was created on August 16, 2018, by Jeff Chua and Archie Chua, who both share the same passion for food. The creators wanted to form a community where people can share their home-cooked recipes, which were either original, passed on from generations or inspired by others.
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