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Students from Loma De Gato Elementary School can now walk to school in comfort after receiving new school shoes from SM Malls in Marilao, Valenzuela and Sangandaan. SM City Marilao Mall Manager Bernadette Velasco and SM Human Resources Managers Prescila Salamat and Jefferson Tamayo led the distribution of 1,000 new shoes at Loma De Gato and Patulo Elementary School in Marilao, Bulacan. The donation is part of SM Supermalls’ philanthropic effort for 60th anniversary celebration.

OCTOBER 01- 3,000 learners from public schools in Bulacan can now walk to school in comfort after receiving a donation of school shoes from SM Malls in Marilao, San Jose Del Monte, Pulilan and Baliwag as well Sangandaan and Valenzuela.

The donation is part of SM Supermalls’ 60^th anniversary celebration, through which the company has donated over 60,000 pairs of new shoes to children affected by poverty nationwide.

“This campaign is very close to our hearts” shares SM City Marilao Mall Manager Bernadette Velasco. “SM’s shoe drive signifies our humble beginnings, our milestone, our legacy and our pledge in making our communities better; after all our company started out with shoes” Velasco added.

A volunteer from SM City Marilao reads the handwritten dedication to students at Patulo Elementary School. Along with the donated shoes, handwritten cards were given to send love, encourage, and motivate students to do well in school.

Students ages 7-9 arrived in batches at a time, each being sized and fitted for their own pair of shoes.

According to Loma De Gato Elementary School Principal Rhea Malabanan, parents typically struggle to provide shoes required for school. Malabanan added that students often use slippers or come to school barefoot.

Dr. Flordeliza Limon of Tungkong Mangga Elementary School also shared that many children are also prevented from attending school because they lack resources to buy shoes.

Through the donation, SM Supermalls sought to encourage and motivate students to do well in school.

“We all know that shoes are basic commodity that everybody needs but sadly not everybody can afford” says SM City San Jose Del Monte Mall Manager Jose Mari Emmanuel Correa. He also explained that with the donated shoes, SM hopes that children would not miss the opportunity in getting to school for an education.

SM City San Jose Del Monte employees enthusiastically distribute new shoes to grade school pupils of Tungkong Mangga Elementary School as a part of the celebration of SM’s 60th anniversary.

Along with handwritten note from SM Mall volunteers, new school shoes were distributed to students atLoma De Gato and Patulo Elementary School in Marilao, Tungkong Mangga Elementary School in San Jose Del Monte and Engr. Vicente R. Cruz Memorial School in Baliwag.

“#AweSMatWork: 60,000 Shoes” is one of the many projects under the Employee Volunteerism Program that is spearheaded by SM’s Human Resources Department through SM Cares.

A simultaneous activity, a total of 15,669 employees donated shoes for destitute learners nationwide.

With the #AweSMatWork: 60,000 Shoes project, SM stays confident that in every sole donated there will rise stories of successes to share like that of the company’s founder. 

Many Filipinos today are turning to various digital platforms to make their everyday transactions quick and easy. Even local companies and organizations are shifting to online channels with programs that provide convenience and efficiency for their consumers.

Recently, the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) has introduced the National Retail Payment System (NRPS) framework to help create a safe, efficient, affordable and reliable electronic payment system that is interconnected and interoperable, to pave the way for the country’s transition to a cash-lite economy.

In support of this endeavor, RCBC further elevates its services to bring a more efficient and affordable way of sending and receiving money anytime and anywhere in the country, with Instapay. Through this partnership, RCBC expands its network for interbank fund transfer to more than 20 financial institutions – including Bancnet banks and Instapay partners – enabling their clients to do real-time electronic payments & credit transfers.

RCBC clients can experience more convenient transfers as Instapay transactions can be done in various electronic channels. It is accessible 24 hours a day using RCBC Online Banking platforms, both available in app and web formats, saving the hassle of actually going to a bank or payment counter and lining up to make a transaction.

With Instapay, RCBC account holders can also enjoy lower fees and charges, as low as P15 per transfer, as long as the receiving bank is a legitimate service partner. To start transacting via Instapay, RCBC customers should enroll their active checking or savings account in online banking. The recipient from the other bank should also be registered as a beneficiary to be able to receive the funds.

To enroll an account, just choose the bank that is also a listed participant of Instapay, input the account number and full name of the beneficiary, then click “submit”. Once enrolled as beneficiary, transfers to these accounts will be automatically routed. Since RCBC is also an active Instapay receiver, you can accept funds & credits transferred to your RCBC account sent from other Instapay banks. You can simply wait for the fund to be credited to your RCBC account & check your balance online.

Customers can transfer up to P50,000 per transaction and funds are instantly credited to the receiving account in full as there is no fee charged for the electronic fund transfer. However, consumers who will send money may be charged depending on their bank.

Along with BSP, RCBC is making the move to use online platforms for all transactions. So the next time you have urgent bills to pay or need to send allowance to a family member, just log-in to your RCBC online banking account and transfer money via Instapay.

(From left) Coca-Cola ASEAN VP for Marketing Jose Luis Basauri, Coca-Cola Philippines Director of Public Affairs Jonah de Lumen-Pernia, and Vice President for Marketing Stephan Czypionka, try out the Coke Studio TuneCycle – a stationary bicycle that shreds PET bottles and other plastics to be used as ecobricks and pervious pavers.

For most people, waste recycling and creating music are simply two things that are worlds apart. But at the recent launch of Coke Studio Season 2 at the World Trade Center in Manila, these two ideas shared one stage to raise awareness about a growing plastic waste problem among the youth.

One of the highlights of the event was a live demonstration of the TuneCycle, a makeshift recyclable PET (polyethylene terephthalate) bottle grinder that is powered by a pedal mechanism – similar to those found in bicycles. The TuneCycle also has earphones for the user to listen to original Pilipino music (OPM) as they pedal away.

This is part of the global goal of The Coca-Cola Company of a World Without Waste. In January this year, Coca-Cola announced an ambitious goal to collect and recycle the equivalent of every bottle or can sold by year 2030. In the Philippines, one of the ways to reach this goal is to bring back PET bottles home through Coke Studio.

The Coca-Cola leadership team initiates action for the global World Without Waste mission with the Coke Studio TuneCycle. 

“This is an interactive way of making the public, particularly the youth, more involved in recycling. It may be a small step, but it helps inculcate the act of recycling in their lives. As we at Coca-Cola continue to find solutions to realize a World Without Waste, every action, no matter how small, actually counts,” said Jonah de Lumen-Pernia, Director for Public Affairs and Communications of Coca-Cola Philippines.

As one of the avenues that bring Coca-Cola closer to the youth, music is also being tapped to make recycling more relevant to the younger market. As part of the Coke Studio caravan, the TuneCycle aims to amplify how each recyclable PET bottle can have another purpose after the consumption of its content. In the case of TuneCycle, the shredded recyclable PET bottles will become part of eco-bricks that will serve as pavers for a public school.

“Every action to breathe new life into recyclables matters. Every action brings us closer to realizing the vision of a World Without Waste. With the TuneCycle, we are able to inspire more people to find ways for recyclable PET bottles to come home and breathe second lives into them, instead of throwing them in dumpsites, or worst, ending up in our oceans,” said de Lumen-Pernia.

Watch out for future Coke Studio events and bring recyclable PET bottles to their home in Coca-Cola.

Catch Super Men’s Day on October 5 with flash sales, vouchers, and men’s essentials up to 90% off!

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Shopee, the leading ecommerce platform in Southeast Asia and Taiwan, introduces Shopee for Men, a dedicated in-app portal featuring Lowest Price Guaranteed deals and discounts on popular products catered for men. Starting October 1, users can now shop from a wide assortment of popular men’s products across the platform with just a click of a button.

Terence Pang, Chief Operating Officer at Shopee, said, “We are excited to launch Shopee For Men to cater to the growing community of male users on Shopee.As online shopping continues to evolve in the Philippines, Shopee is expanding its product assortment to meet the needs and preferences of all Filipinos. Shopee for Men builds on this promise as we have partnered top brands across various categories including Electronics, Sports, Home Living, and Fashion to bring male shoppers even more superb deals on quality products. With Shopee For Men, Shopee takes another step in becoming the one-stop online shopping destination in the Philippines.”

Starting today, male users can visit Shopee For Men and access its large assortment of men’s products, with key benefits include:

• A wider assortment: Shopee has partnered with leading brands like Xiaomi, Asus, Vans, and many more from different product categories such as electronics, sports, home and living, fashion, and more in order to give male users a variety of products to choose from.
• Lowest Price Guaranteed: There will be flash sales, tons of vouchers, and Lowest Price Guaranteed products available so male users can get the best deals on products they love.
• High quality: Shopee offers top-notch quality items under different product categories. The presence of diverse brand partnerships in Shopee Mall will guarantee users of its quality for much better deals.

Shopee will kickstart the launch of Shopee For Men with category-themed days featuring Sports, Home and Living, Fashion, and Health and Beauty from October 1 to 5. Users can look forward to Lowest Price Guaranteed deals and up to 90% off from leading brands including Xiaomi, ASUS, World Balance, Spalding, Bosch, Shell, Vans, Unilever and more. As a special treat for users, Shopee for Men will also offer a limited sale of the newly released iPhone XS in 64GB and 256GB. Users can be among the first in the Philippines to score the latest and hottest smartphone only through Shopee.

To wrap it all up, on October 5, Super Men’s Day will feature huge promotions on the most popular products catered to men with flash sales, vouchers, ₱99 deals, and free shipping for a lower minimum spend of only ₱299.

For more information about Shopee for Men and Super Men’s Day, visit  https://shopee.ph/Shopee-for-Men

Download the Shopee app for free on Apple App Store or Google Play Store.

Special Seniors promotion + 3^rd/4^th Guest Free on promotional rates up until Oct 4 2018

Manila, Philippines – 28 September 2018 – Holidaymakers were in for a festive treat, with SuperStar Virgo, the flagship of Star Cruises announcing her return to well-loved Manila homeport in December with holiday concept cruises. With enticing family-friendly offers, Filipinos found more reasons to take their vacations and parties aboard with spectacular line-up of theme cruises on SuperStar Virgo and 5-night journeys to the sandy beaches in Southern China, as well as idyllic destinations in Vietnam, Palawan, and Kota Kinabalu.

And as added surprise treat, Star Cruises drops a week-long “SSV Flash Sale”, bringing back ever-popular promotions for seniors and families on standard promotional rates exclusive for September 28 to October 4, 2018 bookings only!

For as low as USD 686 per paying pax, Filipino travellers can choose to bring along senior members of the family, aged 50 and up, as 2^nd guest per cabin to be able to avail of the promo “Seniors Cruise Free”. As another option for bigger families and same starting rate for paying pax, guests can avail of “3^rd/4^th Guest Free” which are applicable to guests of any age.

Make merry and memorable your family celebrations on the high seas, as there is no better time to treat yourself and the family with the ultimate gift of a magical Christmas and New Year’s festive cruises with SuperStar Virgo!

Booking for the promotion can be through any local travel agency or by visiting www.starcruises.com. For inquiries, call (02) 836 6080 for more information.

MANILA, Philippines – On Saturday, September 29th, 2018, PBE Don (Donald Gimperoso) defeated the best Street Fighter V: Arcade Edition players in the Philippines to advance to the global Last Chance Qualifier at the Red Bull Kumite Finals in Paris, France this November. The tournament took place at Chaos Nightclub, in City of Dreams, Manila.

“I’m very happy since I won the tournament,” shares Kumite winner, Donald Gimperoso. “It was a close match. My opponent made last minute adjustments and I had a hard time closing out the game.”

What is Red Bull Kumite?

Every year, the world’s top Street Fighter V: Arcade Edition players come to battle it out at the annual Red Bull Kumite! On its 4th consecutive year as a global e-sports tournament, qualifiers have been taking place in several countries including Japan, United Kingdom, and Hong Kong. Red Bull Kumite has three stages:

Qualifiers: Eight (8) countries compete in online and offline tournaments

Last Chance Qualifier: 256 players will collide for the last two (2) remaining spots in the World Finals

World Finals: Sixteen (16) of the best Street Fighter V players go head-to-head until only one player remains.

Hong Kong – September 26, 2018 – In Asia Pacific and around the world, nearly a third of energy is consumed by buildings. BASF will be highlighting solutions to improve energy efficiency and better quality of life in buildings during Green Building Week 2018, which is held by the World Green Building Council. During the week, BASF will showcase a range of these solutions online under the hashtag #WGBW2018. Solutions range from reliable, proven insulation materials to advanced chemical solutions for the construction industry. Stakeholders can join the conversation from now until September 30, 2018 by following BASF on Facebook, Twitter, or WeChat (@BASF_in_Action).

MANILA, Philippines – Everyst Stories is proud to announce the release of SolarFlare, a brand new original series creatively advised by Emmy and Golden Globe-nominated actor, Masi Oka. With excitement generating among readers, two ongoing series, The Conspiracy Research Club’s @CRC_Luna and The Convenience Store’s @EddieEdEdEd, have begun to generate public awareness and interest.

Everyst is a “social fiction” app that tells its stories through real-time character-written tweets. Based in Tokyo, Japan, Everyst’s stories are collected and published through Everyst’s proprietary publishing tool. This allows readers to receive real-time notifications and enjoy stories at their own pace.

“You see all sorts of social media personalities telling stories through their posts,” shares Everyst content creator, Merryweather. “Social Fiction is more like theatre. You have characters actually participating in the delivery of the story to the audience, which makes it possibly the most immersive type of fiction that you can create.”

“I’m excited to explore the potential of the Everyst platform.  It is a unique way of storytelling that opens up many possibilities.  In particular, multi-linear stories that can be told through the point of view of multiple characters is a facet that is limitless. The stories are simple but can weave in and out complexly with each other.  I look forward to the collaboration of traditional media and Everyst, along with the unfolding of my story, SolarFlare,” shares Masi Oka.

SolarFlare

(Genre: Sci-Fi)

Earlier this year, Masi Oka, who starred in television’s Heroes and Hawaii Five-0, joined Everyst as a creative advisor. He co-created SolarFlare, which is among his first projects, with selected members of Everyst’s creative team including Hengtee Lim, Ben Watanabe, and Filipino illustrators, Jayron Zapanta and Fer Lan Oppa.

SolarFlare is an upcoming series that blends elements of science fiction and comedy into a light-hearted, character-driven adventure. The story follows a group of young and excited self-acclaimed geniuses on a mission to explore the Alpha Centauri star system for habitable worlds. But in order to get there, the group must ride the wave of a solar flare.

“I’m excited to show what’s possible with the added dimension of time and multi-linear stories,” shares co-creator Masi Oka. “I look forward to connecting Everyst with movie and manga storytellers to help them fill the valleys between their traditional releases and cannot wait to see the reaction to my first story collaboration on Everyst’s new release.”

The Conspiracy Research Club

(Genre: Mystery)

Developed by Merryweather, The Conspiracy Research Club is a loving homage to the aesthetics of horror. The series follows Luna Gardner, a member of the Poppy Valley High School Conspiracy Research Club, who investigates the strange events of her hometown with her friends. Stories are published weekly.

“Something I enjoy a lot is character writing, and I feel like we have managed to create three characters with good comedic chemistry, who also care for each other. They’re outcasts, in a way, which makes them a tight knit group,” says writer Merryweather.

The Convenience Store

(Genre: Comedy)

Inspired by Hengtee Lim’s experience in retail, The Convenience Store follows the story of Eddie (@Eddieededed) and the seemingly endless parade of people and events that come his way. A light-hearted comedy that pokes fun at the mundane, readers can follow all the laughs, heartaches, and shenanigans Eddie experiences each and every day.

“The story is about four people just trying to make the best of things, and failing most of the time. The highs, the lows, and the best and the worst of human life,” says Hengtee Lim.

Meeting the Creative Team

Local readers will get the chance to meet the creative minds behind their favorite stories from Everyst on Thursday, September 27^th, 2018 at YCafe in Salcedo Village, Makati City. This special press conference will allow readers and key members of the media to take a sneak peek at SolarFlare, as well as enjoy a sit-down interview with local series creators, @MiChan617 and @Mocheekanon.

Start Reading!

All these incredible stories are available to readers all across the country through the Everyst App! Follow @EddieEdEdEd, @CRC_Luna, or @s_f_natsuko, and the rest of the cast on Twitter to experience an Everyst Story! The Everyst app is available on iOS and Android if you want more!

(L-R) Dr. Ivee Perez – OIC – Chief, SGOD, Dr. Aurelio G. Alfonso – OIC-Assistant Superintendent, Erwin Panergo – Program Specialist, Rebisco Foundation, Inc., Agnes Hernia – Head of Ad & Promotions, Rebisco, Krista Romero – Brand Manager, Rebisco Crackers, Katherine Simundo – Marketing Group Head, Rebisco, Ronson Dy – Community & Government Relations Lead, Rebisco, Rey G. Delos Reyes – Marketing Director, Rebisco, Lulu dela Peña – Head of Marketing Communications, Rebisco, Dr. Cecille G. Carandang – OIC-Schools Division Superintendent, Dr. Naohmie Rivera – Principal, Sto. Nino Elementary School, Ms. Erma Queja – Principal, Gabriela Elementary School, Dr. Nimfa Narcise – Principal, Bagong Silang Elementary School

Manila, Philippines – Being able to eat healthy food is something that we often take for granted because it is a norm for us.

But for many Filipino children and their families, access to nutritious meals is a constant struggle. Satisfying hunger is one thing; ensuring that the food is nourishing is another challenge altogether. This nutrition gap can lead to deficiencies that deprive a growing child’s body of proper nutrients needed for growth and brain development.

Rebisco  Marketing Director Rey G. de los Reyes talks about the Pasobra Pack campaign during the turnover at Bagong Silang Elementary School. According to data from UNICEF, two of the main micronutrient deficiencies are iron and iodine. Iodine is vital for normal growth and tissue development. Lack of iodine can contribute to brain damage that is otherwise preventable. It is most devastating during fetal development and the first few years of a child’s life.

Iron helps carry oxygen around the body, and is especially vital for the brain and blood. Iron deficiency

 is the “most common and widespread nutritional disorder in the world.” Anemia, which occurs when red blood cells do not have enough iron-rich protein known as hemoglobin, can be detrimental to a child’s physical and cognitive development. It can also affect their productivity as adults.

Pasobrang love

Recognizing this need, local snack manufacturer Rebisco is pitching in to help make a difference in the lives of young Filipinos.

For every purchase of a Rebisco Cracker 200g handy pack aptly dubbed Pasobra Pack, Rebisco allocates a portion of the proceeds for the production of specially fortified biscuits. These ‘nutribiscuits’ are formulated with much-needed micronutrients—particularly iron and iodine—that help equip school-age children to be physically healthy and mentally active.

Senator Sonny Angara at the launch of DepEd Caloocan Division’s plans for 2019.

Rebisco has teamed up with the Department of Science and Technology-Food Nutrition Research Institute (DOST-FNRI) to develop these nutritious biscuits, formulated to address the micronutrient deficiency problem prevalent in indigent communities. 

“Rebisco products are meant to be shared,” Rebisco President Jonathan C. Ng said. “As Filipinos, our culture of sharing goes beyond our immediate families and circle of friends. We want to tap into this giving spirit and enjoin our consumers to make something as simple as snacking count for something that makes an impact on the lives of Filipino children.”

Pilot feeding

Rebisco recently unveiled this advocacy program via the Department of Education (DepEd) Caloocan Division’s Oplan Kalusugan Program. The first batch of specially fortified biscuits was turned over during the launch event held at Bagong Silang in Caloocan, where Rebisco also set up a sampling booth for residents and students.

For the current academic year, Rebisco is providing nutribiscuits, supplemented by main meals from DepEd, to a total of 871 students from Grades 1 to 3 in three Caloocan-based public schools: Bagong Silang Elementary School, Gabriela Silang Elementary School and Sto. Nino Elementary School.

Every purchase of the Rebisco Crackers Pasobra Pack is equivalent to one specially fortified biscuit for one school day.

“We’ve been creating well-loved biscuits for over five decades now, and we want to be able to lend our expertise to a greater cause,” Ng added. “As a proudly homegrown brand, we are committed to doing our part to empower this country’s future generation of Filipinos. With the continued support of our consumers, we are confident that we can truly make a difference.”

For the month of July, Rebisco has produced enough nutribiscuits for 1,120 children that will cover 120 days starting the 2019 school year. The snack food giant is continuously working to increase this number to help feed more children. Every purchase of the Rebisco Crackers Handy Pack is equivalent to one biscuit for one school day. Check out facebook.com/RebiscoCrackersPhilippines for more information.