by Penny Angeles-Tan | Oct 19, 2021 | Business
Among the many possible treatments that scientists are studying to battle symptoms of COVID-19, virgin coconut oil has been found effective in reducing and preventing the progression of symptoms as well as providing relief.
To help boost the immune system of Filipinos and those who are battling the virus, Coco Mama has launched its very own Organic Virgin Coconut Oil. To mark the timely introduction of this new product, the brand donated 500 bottles of Coco Mama Organic Virgin Coconut Oil to the local government unit of Manila City, to quarantine facilities and hospitals, for the use of Covid-19 patients and front liners in the city.
“We are grateful that we are in a position to help Filipinos in their fight against the Covid19 virus,” said Mr. Bryan Lingan, Marketing Director for Emerging Business of Century Pacific Food Inc., the company behind Coco Mama. “One of our goals in introducing this product is to help Covid-19 patients through a science-backed supplement that has been proven to boost the immune system and alleviate the symptoms of the virus.”
Marketing Director for Emerging Business of Century Pacific Food Inc., Mr. Bryan Lingan with Director Arlene Dominguez at the COVID Field Hospital, Quirino Grand Stand
Based on studies conducted by the Food and Nutrition Research Institute of the Department of Science and Technology (FNRI-DOST), virgin coconut oil supports faster recovery from signs and symptoms of COVID-19. An in vitro showed that lauric acid and monolaurin, compounds produced from VCO decrease coronavirus count by 60-90% at low viral load. VCO may also strengthen the immune response against COVID-19.
“Through research and clinical trials on alternative treatments, we hope to lessen the burden of the health sector and Filipinos from Covid-19. With our current health crisis, it is vital that we trust and support science-backed solutions to beat COVID-19 especially virgin coconut oil which is a readily available commodity in the country,” said Dr. Fabian Dayrit who led the research in virgin coconut oil as an antiviral agent to prevent or reduce COVID-19 infection.
For Covid-19 patients in Manila city, bottles of Coco Mama Organic Virgin Coconut Oil were handed over by Lingan to the Manila City LGU as well as to the COVID Field Hospital at Quirino Grandstand Ospital ng Maynila and to the Santa Ana Hospital.
With the donation of their organic virgin coconut oil, Coco Mama is hoping that it would help patients with COVID – 19, strengthen their immune systems as well as speed up their recovery, effectively preventing the progression of symptoms brought forth by the virus.
by Penny Angeles-Tan | Oct 18, 2021 | Health and Wellness
Being a new parent is such an exciting time. Whether it’s your first baby, or your second or third, every newborn makes any parent feel like they are entering a new chapter in their lives. But with the excitement of this chapter comes worries and fears about making sure you are giving your baby everything he or she needs. Sigurista Parents like you can’t help but want only the best for your baby!
To help you get started, here are some of the items you need to invest in and stock up on as soon as possible. It will help make your baby’s first few months some of the best months of his or her life!
Drink up
One of the first decisions every parent has to make is how they will feed their baby. There is extensive research on the benefits of breastfeeding, so if you are going this route, it’s best you stock up on breast pumps, nursing pads, and nipple cream. If you’re going the bottle-feeding path, stock up on quality bottles and bottle brushes. There are also a bunch of sterilizers that you can look into to make the cleaning process easier for you!
Bath time is fun time
For first-time parents, giving their tiny babies a bath can be daunting. To ease your fears, make sure you get shampoo and soap that are gentle on baby’s skin, as well as soft towels to dry them off with. Invest in a bath seat or infant tub to lessen the chances of accidents in the bathroom.
Sweet dreams all night
Sleep training is becoming more popular among this generation of new parents. Not only will your baby have better sleep quality, so will you! Check out crib sheets and mattresses first, then extend your research to swaddles and hush machines. Soon you and your baby will wake up energized every morning!
Rash protection like no other
A baby’s diaper is one of the most important items in a parent’s must-have list. A Sigurista Parent knows that a good diaper will help keep baby more comfortable and prevent unwanted rashes. That’s why it’s important for Sigurista Parents like you to invest in the best.
Pampers Baby Dry for Newborn has a 2-in-1 Rash Shield that helps prevent diaper rash that comes long periods of kulob and babad. Pampers Baby Dry for Newborn is the best diaper choice if you’re looking for superior protection from rashes for your newborn’s skin.
Sigurista Parent, Camille Co, photo credit taken from https://www.instagram.com/p/CTCNUQ6M-yt/
As a new mom, Sigurista Parent Camille Co shares how her adorable little girl is growing up so quickly and how choosing Pampers Baby Dry for Newborn has helped her savor every moment with her baby.
“Sienna bug is growing up too fast! 😭 She’s already learning how to sit! Soon, she’ll be crawling. Someone press pause, please. Before we know it, we won’t be playing like this anymore and I’ll probably be chasing her all over the house. Imagine having to chase her countless times for diaper changes too? 😂 Good thing with @pampersph Baby Dry for Newborn’s 2-in-1 Rash Shield, we can do fewer diaper changes and not worry about rashes brought about by kulob and wetness.”
Mommy Fidelis, photo credit taken from Instagram
Mommy Fidelis on the other hand puts her baby’s comfort as a top priority and Pampers Baby Dry for Newborn helps her provide this.
She shares, “Playtime and bedtime are very important to growing babies like Francine. And ayokong naabala yun just because I need to change her diaper frequently. Kaya naman simula umpisa pa lang, Pampers Baby Dry na ang gamit nya that protects her all day from kulob and wetness. And most importantly, it has a #SiguristaShield kaya iwas rashes! Comfy night and day!”
You got this Sigurista Parent!
At the end of the day, you are the best person to judge what’s best for your baby. Don’t panic too much. Trust your parental instincts. Let your love and care for your baby guide your way. Start with the essentials and trust only the best-reviewed products with proven benefits.
When you’ve invested in only quality products like Pampers Baby Dry for Newborn, you can rest assured that your baby is well taken care of. Camille reiterates, “#ChoosePampers and trust in its #SiguristaShield for more bonding moments and less stress.”
Add this Sigurista Parent essential to your cart today. Pampers Baby Dry for Newborn is available in the P&G Official online shops on Lazada and Shopee.
by Penny Angeles-Tan | Oct 12, 2021 | Business
These days, more and more industries are empowering women to take on leadership roles within their organizations or the community at large. Studies have shown that female leaders are more nurturing, empathetic, and are great communicators and listeners, which are key to motivating employees and consequently, help boost the company’s growth.
This was one of the issues discussed during the recent virtual Women Future Conference 2021, an event that promotes feminine leadership and management in typically male-dominated industries such as financial technology, banking, and insurance.
Pebbles Sy, GCash CTO & COO
According to Pebbles Sy, Chief Technology and Operating Officer at GCash, the country’s leading mobile wallet app, half of the population and senior leadership team at Globe and Mynt, the operator of GCash, are women. “It’s really important that we see a lot of women represented now. We have a lot of young managers and young leaders, and a lot of them are looking for mentorships and communities where they can participate,” shared Sy.
Martha Sazon, GCash President and CEO
Notably, at GCash, the top post is also led by a woman: Martha Sazon, the e-wallet app’s president and chief executive officer. Under her leadership, the company rapidly grew its user base from 20 million in January 2020 to an impressive number of more than 46 million to date.
With a vision of providing financial inclusion for all Filipinos, especially the unbanked and underbanked, GCash has been successful in introducing financial services that are accessible, affordable, and easy to understand.
GCash features
GCash features
On the app, users can enjoy GSave, an online savings bank; GInvest, an easy investment feature; GInsure for insurance for medical emergencies such as dengue, COVID-19, and accidents; GCredit, a personal credit line with up to P30,000 credit line and up to 3% prorated interest rate. Users can also have easy access to more than 600 billers on the app, including utilities, transportation, real estate, and even government units. As a super life app, GCash also has GLife, the e-commerce feature on the GCash app that allows users to shop exclusive deals from 35 brands across retail, food, gaming, entertainment, and transport.
As GCash continues to enjoy steady growth, its female workforce is getting more involved to ensure that the e-wallet app achieves its goal of making Filipino lives better every day. “There is really no barrier for us. It’s really just about doing your job and working hard,” shared Sy.
Joining Sy during the event were female executives from all over Asia-Pacific including Jael Tan, Manager of the Monetary Authority of Singapore; Yang Yang Zhang, Managing Director of Xendit Philippines; WijitlekaMarome, Deputy Director of the Fintech Department in the Bank of Thailand; Shan Luo, Managing Director of Fintech Space Taiwan; Leila Martin, President of the first government-backed Digital Overseas Filipino Bank; and Gae Martinez, SVP and Chief Marketing Officer of Insular Life.
For more information, visit www.gcash.com.
About GCash
GCash (G-Xchange, Inc.) is the #1 Financial App in the Philippines. Through the GCash App, customers can easily purchase prepaid airtime; pay bills at over 600 partner billers nationwide; send and receive money anywhere in the Philippines, even to other bank accounts; purchase from over 2.5M partner merchants and social sellers; and get access to savings, credit, insurance and invest money all at the convenience of their smartphones. GCash is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Mynt (Globe Fintech Innovations, Inc.) since 2015.
GCash was recognized by The Asian Banker (TAB) in 2021 for its outstanding digital financial inclusion programs impacting more than 46 million Filipinos in the country today.
by Penny Angeles-Tan | Oct 8, 2021 | Business
All Landers Superstore branches in Metro Manila and Cebu have been awarded the Safety Seal by the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI). The award is given by the government agency to establishments that are compliant with the minimum public health standards set by the government.
The announcement comes with the welcome news that all Landers Superstore employees are fully vaccinated.
“As we face this health crisis, we value the safety of our members and our employees the most. We want to make sure our members are safe and protected while shopping at Landers and that our employees are also in the best physical condition to serve them,” said Pieter Lukman, COO of Landers Superstore. “The Safety Seal award from the DTI is a confirmation of our continuing commitment to follow strict health protocols within our store.”
Since the onset of the pandemic in 2020, Landers Superstore has been implementing health protocols to comply with the requirements of the COVID-19 Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases. This also aims to assure Landers Superstore members are protected against the threat of COVID-19.
As they enter the store, members can conveniently sanitize their hands with an alcohol dispenser available at the entrance and checkout counters. Body temperatures of members are also checked. A sanitized foot mat is also located at the entrance for the protection of shoppers.
Landers Superstore Alabang
Within the store, security personnel ensures that physical distancing, proper wearing of face masks, and face shields are being observed by shoppers. To guide members on physical distancing, floor and directional signages are installed all over the store.
Checkout counters, pushcarts, and display fixtures where members have direct hand contact are sanitized regularly to ensure that there will be no virus contamination. Landers Superstore also limits the number of members allowed to shop inside the superstore. With the DTI Safety Seal award and all its employees fully vaccinated, Landers Superstore has made shopping a safe and truly enjoyable experience for its members.
Landers Superstore in Metro Manila are located at at Landers Alabang West – Daang Hari Road, Almanza Dos, Las Piñas City; Landers ArcoVia City – 99 Eulogio Rodriguez Jr. Ave, Pasig; Landers Balintawak – 1240 EDSA Balintawak, Apolonio Samson, Quezon City; Landers Otis – 1890 Paz Guazon St., Paco, Manila.
by Penny Angeles-Tan | Oct 6, 2021 | Lifestyle
Inax washbasin
It’s that time of the year when INAX, the renowned Japanese brand for its pioneering spirit embodied in masterfully designed bathroom fixtures, presents its Water Indulgence Promo for 2021 where thoughtfully designed bathroom pieces, toilets, and accessories are available at huge discounts.
With discounts of up to 30%, the INAX Water Indulgence Promo offers the perfect opportunity to upgrade your bathrooms with masterpieces from the brand that introduced Japan’s first advanced toilet and self-powered automatic faucet.
For those who have been eyeing INAX’s intuitively designed washbasins, faucets, and toilets, this promo should not be missed! Customers can look forward to as much as 30% off on one-piece toilets, up to 30% off on close coupled toilets, and as much as 25% discount on showers. Bathroom accessories, spalets, and bidets are also available at huge price-offs. Truly, it’s the most opportune time to transform your bathroom into a haven for relaxation.
Promo deadline
Inax toilet
Available until November 30, INAX Water Indulgence Promo 2021 is available in select AllHome branches including Sta. Rosa, Antipolo, Molino / Daang Hari, Taguig, Bataan, Imus, Kawit, Las Piñas, Sipag, Naga, Bulacan, Cebu, Iloilo, Vibal, Silang, Cabanatuan, Butuan, San Ildefonso, Koronadal, Santiago, Gapan, Cagayan De Oro, Libis, Pampanga, General Trias, Tanza, Evia, Malolos, Dasmariñas, and North Molino.
You can also avail of the promo without leaving your home – simply chat with AllHome’s Personal Shopper on Viber to help you shop safely and conveniently. You may get the number of the Personal Shopper at the AllHome branch nearest you through this link: https://allhome.com.ph.
For a complete listing of INAX products included in the promo, visit INAX Philippines on Facebook, www.facebook.com/InaxPhilippines.
by Ginny Angeles | Oct 3, 2021 | Product and Service Review
I was admiring my niece’s press-on nails and learned that she got them from MadeByBeaL. I was definitely interested in a way to get some nail art done without having to go through hours of sitting (and not having to do it myself).
I went to the Instagram site of MadeByBeaL and browsed through her existing designs. She did tell me I could give her a design I wanted, and she’d try to do it. The BTS fan in me was happy to choose the Love Yourself set.
With the help of my niece, we figured out my nail sizes. I messaged the sizes to MadeByBeaL together with my preferred design and nail shape.
How was it packaged?
The nails came in a simple box. The kit contained the following:
- 10 UV gel hand-painted nails
- 1 nail file
- 1 nail glue
- 1 instruction card – I can’t stress enough the importance of following the instructions.
The one suggestion
How sturdy are these nails? I managed to keep them on for two weeks without any nails popping off. I was working and doing all my chores as usual. They felt so natural it was necessary to remind myself not to grip using my nails to avoid damaging the tips.
The challenge was getting them OFF my nails. I had to soak my nails in hot water for a while to get the glue to loosen (The nail glue is strong!) The great news is the nails are ready to be reused after just a little clean-up.
If you know anyone who wants to have beautiful hands but doesn’t have time to get their nails done and wait for it to dry, point them towards MadeByBeaL.
MadeByBeaL sells press on nails she’s painted herself. Customers can choose from existing designs or request for some to be custom-made. Just message her for inquiries. She also sells tote bags and hair accessories.
Order yours now! MadebyBeaL is on Facebook and Instagram.
by Penny Angeles-Tan | Oct 1, 2021 | Business
Welcome back to The Manila Hotel! The Manila Hotel’s two restaurants, Lobby Lounge and the famed Café Ilang-Ilang are now open to serve dine-in guests under Metro Manila’s current community quarantine restrictions. The reopening of both outlets will enable guests to enjoy great food, their well-loved dishes, connect and meet with their colleagues and friends while maintaining social distancing in spacious dining areas.
The Manila Hotel is equipped with fresh air dampers that circulate fresh outdoor air sanitized by air micro-filters into the outlets, so guests are assured that cleaner and better air quality is circulated within the indoor dining set-up. Social distancing is also strictly implemented, with enhanced cleaning, regular disinfection, and safety protocols also in place.
The Lobby Lounge
The Manila Hotel Lobby Lounge
The Lobby Lounge is the perfect spacious venue for meetings and meet-ups offering free Wi-Fi for diners. Already dressed in festive décor to bring some much-needed joy and a spirit of hope in these trying times, the lounge is also a great place to have a filling meal from breakfast to dinner. It has also adopted the bestselling items from the hotel’s signature Chinese restaurant, Red Jade.
Looking for something in between? The Lobby Lounge Burger and Lobby Lounge Club Sandwich are listed among the guests’ favorites.
Guests can enjoy Local Delights like Kare-Kare, Crispy Pata, and Sinigang na Salmon, among others, and feast on chow mien, dim sum basket, and the crispy Lechon Macau paired with Yang chow fried rice. Drinks, a cocktail of the month, and snack staples including the Filipino High Tea, Merienda Especial, are also featured on the menu.
Café Ilang-Ilang
Cafe Ilang Ilang’s Atrium with dining dividers
For people who have missed the plethora of international and local food selections at Café Ilang-Ilang, the beloved restaurant brings together Italian, Filipino, Chinese, Japanese, Korean, and even certified Halal dishes under one roof for an Eat-All-You-Can feast.
Add to that the popular carving station that normally features Lechon and the US Roast Beef; the Churrasco station where you can have choice meats and seafood grilled for you while you wait; and the Cold Station with seafood, cold cuts, and salads galore. The Dessert Station is always the sweet last stop where guests can delight in the artisanal ice cream in various flavors; Puto Bumbong and Bibingka; fresh fruits and cakes; and so much more.
Following IATF guidelines for your safety
Vaccinated! Photo credit to Ed Us
Although sitting capacity is still limited, for now, both The Manila Hotel’s Lobby Lounge and Café Ilang-Ilang are eager to welcome guests. Under the IATF guidelines for GCQ Alert Level 4 for Metro Manila, The Manila Hotel is only allowed to accept fully vaccinated guests between 18 to 65 years old until further notice; it continues to implement standard safety protocols in line with the DOH and IATF guidelines.
The Lobby Lounge operates from 9 am to 9 pm, weekdays and from 9 am to 3 pm on weekends. Café Ilang-Ilang serves lunch at 11:30AM and dinner at 5:30PM.
For more information regarding reservation and buffet rates, please call our hotline numbers at (02) 85270011 or 0998-9501912. You may also email re************@************el.com or check and book online via www.manila-hotel.com.ph.
For updates and promos, please follow The Manila Hotel on Facebook (@TheManilaHotel) and Instagram (@themanilahotel).
by Penny Angeles-Tan | Sep 30, 2021 | Lifestyle
The COVID-19 pandemic has taught us that the unexpected can happen anytime. When they do, it helps to have an insurance plan that can minimize the impact of unforeseen circumstances and help you stay on track with your life goals.
AXA Philippines, one of the country’s leading insurance providers, helps Filipinos avail of reliable and affordable insurance coverage with AXA MyLifeChoice, a flexible insurance and investment plan that caters to the policyholders’ individual needs.
The product allows customers to keep moving forward with their life goals with the guidance of AXA’s financial partners who can help them design a plan based on one’s individual goals and priorities ─ whether that may be health, education, income protection, or big purchases.
AXA MyLifeChoice
Rahul Hora, President, and CEO of AXA Philippines
Clients can further customize their policies depending on their budget, investment profile, and protection benefits. Moreover, AXA MyLifeChoice also offers flexible life coverage that they can customize up to 30x the amount they pay annually.
“When it comes to life goals, especially long-term goals, some people may think that they’re hard to achieve, especially now that we are in a pandemic. But accomplishing your goals is possible when you allow room for flexibility and take small steps, like reaching out to financial advisors who are equipped with the tools to guide you on what to do,” advised Rahul Hora, AXA Philippines President, and Chief Executive Officer.
No matter the situation, taking the leap to achieve your life goals with no worries is now more attainable and convenient with MyLifeChoice. To know more about AXA Philippines’ MyLifeChoice, visit www.axa.com.ph/mylifechoice or talk to an AXA Financial Partner via the landline at +632 8 5815-292.
by Penny Angeles-Tan | Sep 25, 2021 | Entertainment
The app development powerhouse behind Newsreels has done it again. Revolutionizing the traditional has always been part of their DNA. And this time, they took the notoriously rigid and conventional news format to the next level by creating an app that delivers 100% accurate news, up to 20 times faster. With its two trailblazing news formats – reels and bullets – everyone can get to know more updates, in no time at all.
Newsreels: The Future of News
While a conventional news app shows its collection of headlines with full articles, Newsreels introduces a game-changer in the news industry through its bullet summarization engine. Readers get to save precious minutes by getting just the important bullet points from the news they want.
To make things a whole lot better, modern readers get to enjoy informative news content in trendy reels format. Now, users can simply swipe across an endless stream of newsreels. Living with its moniker, Newsreels has jazzed up the interface with a video-upload feed for the users, much like Instagram or TikTok. This is another unique feature that cashes in on the younger generation and offers them digestible, up-to-the-minute news.
On top of that, Newsreels covers a wider spectrum of publishers – right from the regional/local level to the global news houses. Truly, nothing comes close when it comes to the sheer volume of their partner publications.
The app goes further by giving content creators the option to collab with the app, letting them use it as a publishing platform to reach more audiences. For an app born out of the innovation surge during the 2020 pandemic, Newsreels is the much-needed power-up of both emerging and established news outlets.
“It is our answer to the growing need of the public to have a one-stop news portal to get all the relevant information they need, be it for COVID-related topics or absolutely anything they want, without having to jump between apps and news sources,” says RJ David, the team’s Product Innovation Officer.
The future is NOW
Gone are the glory days of the plain vanilla newsreader apps. The readers today are smart: we want more; we want better, quicker. And we want it how we like it. Newsreels quashed the “same-old, same-old” monotony of current affairs through its contemporary, made-to-order, openly inclusive news aggregation platform. The era of engaging, on-point, choice news is in.
You are cordially invited to experience the future of news. And the future is now.
Welcome to Newsreels.
Download the app now! Newsreels is available on both the Appstore and Google Play. You can also follow the company on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and TikTok. For partnerships related queries, you can contact them at pa*********@*******ls.app.
by Penny Angeles-Tan | Sep 24, 2021 | Business
The pandemic has resulted in volatile market conditions, and it’s during these times when diversification of investments is especially important. Investing globally is one of the best ways to diversify because it spreads out one’s investment to other markets, thus lowering risks while also capitalizing on growth in other countries.
So why are many Filipinos still reluctant to invest globally? It’s possible that some still find the idea abstract, or may not be familiar with available options, while others may just want to stick with what feels comfortable. However, if we don’t overcome these barriers, we lose the opportunity to take advantage of the growth that global investing offers.
Rahul Hora, President, and CEO of AXA Philippines
In its bid to equip more Filipinos with the knowledge and the confidence to venture into global investing, AXA Philippines, one of the country’s leading insurance providers, has collaborated with Wealth Arki for a new five-part YouTube webisode series on global investing. Wealth Arki is a Philippine-based company that aims to help people achieve wealth through proper financial planning and money management.
“Online video content channels are one of the most effective social media platforms to capture a wider audience and educate them on how to be more financially secure and independent. We hope to continue our financial literacy education and empower Filipinos through this content partnership with Wealth Arki,” said AXA Philippines president and CEO Rahul Hora.
Featuring AXA Philippines investment solutions director Dexter Agcaoili, the five-part video series can be streamed on AXA Philippines’ YouTube Channel. Each episode was produced to explain fundamental concepts that are relevant to global investing. Experts will give concrete examples and talk about their own investing experiences to further enrich the audience’s knowledge and simplify complex topics.
Episode 1: Difference between local and global investing
Episode 2: Reasons to invest in international markets
The first two episodes discuss the prospects of investing in international markets and the benefits and risks associated with it.
Episode 3: Tips on choosing the right investment
Episode 4: Importance of time horizons
The third and fourth episodes delve deeper into the importance of risk profiling, asset allocation, and the concept of the time horizon to determine what is the appropriate investment solution for each investor.
Episode 5: Different ways to invest globally
Lastly, the fifth episode tackles not only the different strategies to enter the global markets, but also gives valuable advice on how to get started the right way.
If you want to make the most of your money and aspire to invest globally, be sure to check out and subscribe to AXA Philippines’ YouTube page to watch all five episodes discussing global investing. And to stay up-to-date on AXA’s upcoming financial literacy initiatives, follow @AXA.Philippines on Facebook and Instagram.
GCash (G-Xchange, Inc.) is the #1 Financial App in the Philippines. Through the GCash App, customers can easily purchase prepaid airtime; pay bills at over 600 partner billers nationwide; send and receive money anywhere in the Philippines, even to other bank accounts; purchase from over 2.5M partner merchants and social sellers; and get access to savings, credit, insurance and invest money all at the convenience of their smartphones. GCash is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Mynt (Globe Fintech Innovations, Inc.) since 2015.
How sturdy are these nails? I managed to keep them on for two weeks without any nails popping off. I was working and doing all my chores as usual. They felt so natural it was necessary to remind myself not to grip using my nails to avoid damaging the tips.
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