Miss Universe Philippines 2019 Gazini Ganados crowned Miss PLDT Home

A new reign begins for the Binibining (Bb.) Pilipinas as it comes to a close and six new queens have emerged. Gazini Ganados of Talisay, Cebu won the Miss Universe Philippines 2019 title and was crowned Miss PLDT Home at the much-anticipated Coronation Night held on June 9, at the Smart Araneta Coliseum. 

The Binibining Pilipinas 2019 winners (L-R) 1st runner up Maria Andrea Abesamis, Binibining Pilipinas Globe Leren Mae Bautista, Binibining Pilipinas Intercontinental Emma Mary Tiglao, Miss Universe Philippines Gazini Ganados, Binibining Pilipinas International Bea Patricia Magtanong, Binibining Pilipinas Supranational Resham Saeed, and Binibining Pilipinas Grand International Samantha Ashley Lo.





The new Miss Universe Philippines Gazini Ganados received her crown from the reigning Miss Universe 2018 Catriona Gray together with Bea Patricia Magtanong as Binibining Pilipinas International, Emma Mary Tiglao as Binibining Pilipinas Intercontinental, Resham Saeed as Binibining Pilipinas Supranational, Leren Mae Bautista as Binibining Pilipinas Globe and Samantha Ashley Lo as Binibining Pilipinas Grand International. Maria Andrea Abesamis and Samantha Mae Bernardo were first and second runners-up respectively.



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Since 2014, PLDT, through its consumer business group PLDT Home, has been an ardent supporter of the Binibining Pilipinas Charities Inc. (BPCI)’s various causes and events, especially the annual pageant.



“As a long-standing partner of BPCI, we are honoured to support the organization in its continuous efforts to empower world-class Filipinas in their pursuit of their advocacies for the benefit of many Filipinos and represent the Philippines all over the world,” Senior Vice President and Head of Consumer Business Market Development Oscar Enrico Reyes, Jr. said.



This year, PLDT has, once again, played a vital role in the key events leading up to the highly anticipated coronation night. To kick off the activities, the 40 candidates were invited for a courtesy visit to the telco giant’s headquarters where they got a chance to meet with PLDT executives and employees. During the event, the ladies were given a platform to talk about advocacies close to their hearts including women empowerment, mental health, education, sustainable tourism, health and environment, and HIV awareness.



PLDT also supported the traditional grand parade, which was held around Araneta Center in Cubao, Quezon City. The fiesta-themed event gave fans and pageant aficionados an opportunity to see their favorite binibinis up close, as the ladies showcased the country’s rich cultural heritage in their outfits.



Another highly anticipated pre-pageant event is the annual fashion show which features the candidates in their national costumes. Held at the New Frontier Theatre, this year’s glamorous affair was a showcase of world-class Filipino artistry.



Reyes adds, “PLDT has always been at the forefront of championing outstanding Filipinos in the various fields such as sports, education, arts and entertainment. PLDT Home’s world-class Internet helps them equip their digital lifestyles, pursue their dreams, and ultimately enrich their lives.” He concludes, “We congratulate the new set of these world-class Filipinas and we will continuously support them as they embark on a new journey, this time on a global stage.”



For exclusive post-pageant updates, follow PLDT Home on Facebook (facebook.com/PLDTHome), Twitter (@PLDTHome) and Instagram (@pldthome).

The best dad deserves only the best at Kuya J

This Father’s Day, it’s your turn to show dad how appreciative and grateful you are for all his sacrifices by treating him to a feast at Kuya J, the fastest growing chain of Filipino casual dining restaurants in the country.

Because the best dad deserves only the best, let him indulge in all of Kuya J’s best-selling and mouth-watering dishes. 

For starters, whet his appetite with Kuya J Grilled Scallops, that’s filled with cheese, garlic, and butter topping. For the main dishes, pair your rice with a choice of classic Filipino soups such as Sinigang na Baboy or Kuya J Bulalo.  Of course, a feast is not a feast with just one viand! Make it a hearty celebration by adding Kare-Kare with Kuya J peanut sauce, and Kuya J’s specialty—the deep-fried Crispy Pata that’s juicy and tasty from skin to meat. 

Looking for something different? Why not go for the Beef Tadyang Sinigang, a beefy and tasty twist on the classic sinigang; Chicken Halang-Halang, chicken cooked Tinola-style with added creaminess of coconut milk and extra kick of spiciness of green pepper; or the no-fail comfort food—Pork BBQ with Rice, grilled pork skewers glazed with Kuya J BBQ sauce paired with Kuya J signature atsara.

Finish off the celebration with their famous Kuya J Halo-halo Espesyal, a concoction made of milky-smooth ice topped with homemade leche flan, sprinkled with crunchy cornflakes and drizzled with sweet ube cream. You can take it up a notch with the other Halo-halo variants like the Duo Halo-Halo, a combination of Ube and Espesyal Halo-Halo or the Ube Halo-halo Espesyal and Saba Halo-halo Espesyal.

Make Father’s Day a memorable celebration for the whole family by dining out at Kuya J. For more information on Kuya J’s offerings, visit http://www.kuyaj.ph

The Ultimate Guide for your Father's Day Treats

Whether he’s dad, tatay, papa, or itay to you, many fathers share one thing in common—a love expressed in actions more than in words. Since most dads are not very vocal with their feelings, it's also a challenge to find ways to show them in turn how much you appreciate their love and care.  
  

This Father’s Day, here are simple ways to express gratitude and show how much you appreciate dad’s unique kind of love with the help of PayMaya.  



1.  Give him a week’s worth of hassle-free rides  

The daily commute to work can be very tiring, especially for dads who have been doing it for more years than you can count. Spare him this weekday struggle by giving him hassle-free rides to and from work for a week. 


You can do this by directly purchasing Grab vouchers through the PayMaya Shop. All you have to do is log into  your PayMaya app, go to the Shop tab, choose between the GrabCar P100 or P200 e-voucher, and send it to your dad using your preferred messaging app.   
  

2. Send him some "allowance" for a special gift 

Remember all those times your dad secretly gave you some extra baon when your mom wouldn’t budge? Now is your time to give back! Send dad some "allowance" and let him splurge on himself for a change!  


Make him feel loved 3,000 times over by sending him at least P3,000 using your PayMaya. All that’s left to do is to include a note saying "I love you 3,000"—your dad’s inner Avengers fanboy will surely melt at that! 


Do this from June 14 until June 30, 2019 and you’ll get a one-time reward of P150. See? Showing dad some love has its extra perks, too!  

3.  Get him a much-needed shopping spree  

A lot of dads get the "kuripot" tag, probably because they refuse to get rid of a worn-out belt or a shirt they've had since a decade ago. Father’s Day is a great excuse to treat your dad to a shopping spree and give him a much-needed wardrobe makeover!  



Use your PayMaya physical card or #ScanToPay using PayMaya QR when you purchase items in department stores like Robinsons Department Store or The SM Store. You can also shop online and buy wardrobe must-haves on Zalora or Lazada. 



Get more bang for your buck when you use your PayMaya! Spend an accumulated P3,000 using your PayMaya physical card or virtual card from June 12 until June 18, 2019, and you’ll get a P300 cashback. (Then get yourself a little something, too!) 

  

4.  Treat him (and the whole fam) to a delicious Father’s Day meal  

Sharing a meal with the whole family is already a gift in itself. So make sure that you and your siblings take time off work for a delicious dinner with your dad this Father’s Day.  



Enjoy a hearty buffet meal in PayMaya partner merchants like Niu by Vikings, and #ScanToPay for your meal to get up to 100% cashback!  



You can also send dad something extra to enjoy at home by purchasing a food voucher from PayMaya Treats found inside the PayMaya Shop which your dad and the rest of your family can redeem at any participating branch nationwide. 



Know where you can make the most out of your money and find the full list of PayMaya’s partner merchants by visiting http://pymy.co/QRMerchants.  




5. Take care of this month’s bills 

Fathers take pride in being the provider for the family but helping him out once in a while will definitely put a smile on his face. Surprise your dad by paying for all your bills this month. 



Take care of your bills in the most convenient way possible when you use your PayMaya app. You can do it in the comforts of your own home or your office, and even get up to P500 cashback when you pay for two or more bills, worth at least P1,000 each.  



With most dads, it’s true that there’s no need for extravagance. They’ll surely appreciate the gesture no matter how simple it is. So while you honor your dad this Father’s Day with a meaningful celebration, let PayMaya give you rewards and discounts as well (just because you're awesome!). 



To know more about PayMaya’s latest deals and discounts, visit PayMaya.com/deals. 

Angkas ready for its pilot run complete with reflectorized vests and biker's unique ID number

If you live in Manila, you know how bad traffic is everyday. Ride-hailing apps such as Angkas can improve traffic, save money, and help the environment. Not to mention that it gets you faster to your destination. 

Yesterday, was the worst traffic we encountered from Cubao going to EDSA.   Even if we (my partner) used the Waze app. There was no way to get us out of bumper to bumper traffic via rerouting. Traffic is everywhere from Tomas Morato/ GMA area.  We left QC at 12:30PM hoping that we would be on time for our "2PM" event. But we arrived late in Makati at 3:30 pm. Usually, it would always take us 2 hrs going from QC to Makati. I am now considering Angkas to be the next option to commute aside from other ride-hailing apps out there. 

As Angkas explore ways to make transportation systems as efficient and reliable as possible, they have re-trained their 27,000 biker-partners to ensure safety for both bikers and riders. They have additional safety measures in place in collaboration with the Department of Transportation - Philippines.

Angkas, the country's first app-based motorcycle ride-hailing service, is ready for its government-sanctioned six-month pilot run in Metro Manila and Metro Cebu with additional safety measures in place. 

In a press conference held yesterday, Angkas Head of Regulatory and Public Affairs George Royeca said that they are retraining their current biker-partners in preparation for the pilot run and in compliance with the directive and recommendations of the Technical Working Group (TWG) created by the Department of Transportation (DOTr) to study the feasibility of motorcycle taxis.

“The safety of the riding public has always been Angkas’ advocacy. All our biker-partners go through rigorous riding skills assessments, written tests, and extensive safety training to ensure they meet very high safety standards. We fail over 70% of applicants to make sure that only the most capable bikers ferry passengers for Angkas,” Royeca said.

For his part, Angkas Operations Head David Medrana revealed, “For the pilot run, Angkas is introducing special reflectorized vests with side straps that help bikers become more visible at night and aid passengers in holding on to the biker’s waist. Each vest also has the biker’s unique ID number, ensuring that only officially-registered bikers can take bookings.”

Medrana also said that, as before, all Angkas biker-partners and their passengers are insured for every ride.

“We also have a feedback mechanism in our app to closely monitor the performance of all our biker-partners and address any concerns immediately,” Medrana noted. "Hopefully, after the six-month pilot-run, the law to regulate motorcycle taxis can already be passed," he added. 

Angkas has been an advocate for biker education and training since the service’s inception. Testament to their strict safety guidelines, Angkas officials have trained more than 100,000 motorcycle bikers to date but have accredited only 27,000 biker-partners because of their stringent standards. This has resulted in a current safety record of 99.997%.

In a previous statement, Royeca declared, “I am grateful that the DOTr saw the merits of Angkas’ safety record and we are happy to be working with them to ensure motorcycle taxis are safe.”

Jobert Bolaños of the Motorcycle Rights Organization declared, “The pilot run is the fruit of the long hours spent by the members of the TWG: Angkas, the DOTr, the LTFRB, the Highway Patrol Group, the MMDA, and all the hardworking commuter groups, transport advocates, and members of the academe. We’ve spent a long time working to figure out how to come up with a motorcycle taxi service that's not only fast and accessible, but also satisfies the safety requirements of the regulatory agencies as well.”

The best chocolates for the best dad

Show dad your gratitude by surprising him with sweet and delightful treats this Father’s Day. The “Big Man” will not be able to resist Villa del Conte’s delectable artisanal, premium and high quality chocolates crafted to perfection imported from Padova, Italy. 

Choose from three variants of gift sets Villa del Conte has in store. 

For the cool and youthful dad, give him Villa del Conte’s praline balls in a beer mug. The sweet and affectionate man of the house deserves the I❤Dad 5g chocolate squares. Or you can spoil dad with an exquisite combination - Villa del Conte’s chocolate and wine set. 

With Villa del Conte chocolates, you can make Father’s Day sweet and unique. Visit Villa del Conte branches at Greenbelt 5, SM Megamall and Robinsons Magnolia. To know more about Villa Del Conte and its other tempting chocolate creations, follow Villa Del Conte on Facebook @VillaDelContePh, Twitter @villadelconte and Instagram @VillaDelContePh, or visit http://www.villadelcontecioccolato.com.

Its Dad's Turn to Get Spoiled from The Bistro Group

As a special tribute to all fathers out there, The Bistro Group celebrates this special occasion with a 20% off exclusive to BFF cardholders at the Bistro restaurant of your choice.

 Let Dad savor the best Fish & Chips in town at Fish & Co; steaks, burgers, ribs, flatbreads and more at TGIFRidays; more steaks at Texas Roadhouse; satisfying comfort food and breakfast dishes all day, 24/7 at Denny's;  Shanghainese dishes at Modern Shanghai;

hearty Italian-American cuisine at Italianni's;  authentic Korean cuisine at Bulgogi Brothers;  garlic-inspired dishes at Krazy Garlik; pastries, pizzas and more at Baker & Coo.  There are  a lot of other choices for Dad and the whole family to enjoy!  

Happy Father's Day!

Get up to 90% off on selected items from June 12-16, 2019 at Digital Walker’s Amazing Midyear Madness Sale

Enjoy great deals and exclusive discounts on the latest and hottest gadgets today June 12 until June 16, 2019 only at Digital Walker’s Amazing Midyear Madness Sale.

Can you imagine they have already done with half of the year? As the country’s largest retailer of premium gadgets and accessories, Digital Walker has had an exciting year so far. 


What better way to celebrate this than with Digital Walker’s Midyear Madness Sale at Santolan Town Plaza! Get up 90% off on selected items from June 12-16, 2019 – 10am-10pm.

The sale will be located at Retail 112, Ground Floor of Santolan Town Plaza, with participating brands such as AEE, Insta360, Mio, Momax, Yell, Scosche, and UbTech. Get the scoop on the top 10 deals for different categories such as chargers, powerbanks, lightning cables, dashcams, and more!

Motorola Earbuds php177

Deal 1
Get the best bang for your buck with 80% off on all Yell chargers such as Yell AC 3 USB 3.4A (SRP: Php1,250 Now: Php250)!

Deal 2
Enjoy 50% off on all lightning cables such as Native Union Key LC 20cm (SRP: Php1,450 Now: Php725), which offers dual function of keychain and charging cable in one.

Deal 3
Capture yourself and your buddies in action with AEE action cams. Get up to 75% off all AEE units such as AEE S71T+ (SRP: Php11,990 Now: Php2,990).

Deal 4
Have an eyewitness while on the road with a reliable dashcam. Enjoy 70% off on all Mio dashcam such as Mio Mivue 698 (SRP: Php7,990 Now: Php2,390).

Deal 5
Learn STEM skills while having interactive fun! Save up to Php7,000 on UBTech Robots such as UBTech Jimu Robot Buzz & Mutt (SRP: Php 9,990 Now: Php2,990). 

Deal 6
Get 3 for Php1,000 on protection cases or Php500 each for brands such as Bodyguardz, Elementcase, Gear 4, Incipio, Laut, Patchworks, Switcheasy, Tech21, and UAG.

Deal 7
What a sweet deal you get with the Buy 1, get 2 promo on Coloud headphones such as Cloud Boom Block, Pop Block, No. 4, and No. 8!

Deal 8
Never have a batt-empty gadget again with a handy powerbank. Enjoy up to 80% off all Momax and Yell powerbanks such as Momax iPGoMini 8400mH (SRP: Php1,780 Now: Php534) and Yell Energy Pack 8800mAh (SRP: Php2,150 Now: Php430).

Deal 9
Enjoy quality music anywhere with a portable speaker. Get up to 80% off all Scosche speakers such as Scosche Boombottle H20 (SRP: Php5,950 Now: Php1,250).

Deal 10
Create immersive images of your experiences with a 360-camera. You get 80% off all Insta360 such as Insta360 Nano White (SRP: Php12,990 Now: Php2,598) and Insta360 Air (SRP: Php6,990 Now: Php1,398).

Don’t miss out on the hottest deals on your favorite brands of gadgets and accessories!

For more details, like @digitalwalkerstore on Facebook or follow @digitalwalkerph on Instagram 

The New Electrolux Ease C4 vacuum cleaner: designed for effortless clean

New features and an ergonomic design make the latest vacuum cleaner from Electrolux your effortless cleaning partner. The Electrolux Ease C4 offers a double cyclone technology, higher capacity and accessories to make cleaning a breeze!

The global pioneer in vacuum cleaners, Swedish brand Electrolux has released a new vacuum cleaner that makes cleaning effortless. Efficient performance, a huge capacity and stylish design combine to make the Electrolux Ease C4 an ideal cleaning partner.   

Coming in a neat denim blue color, the Ease C4 boasts a double step cyclone technology that deals with dust efficiently, separating large particles from fine dust. This means a deeper clean in less time and reduces the need to replace filters so often. It also has adjustable suction power when you’ve moved to finer cleaning like getting rid of dust on shelves, counters, couches and more.

The new Ease C4 comes with more capacity – its dust container can store 1.8 liters so it requires emptying less often. This bagless vacuum cleaner has a single button release feature to carefully dispose your dust easily. 

The Ease C4’s ergonomic design also makes cleaning effortless in other ways. It’s got a rubber grip on the handle making it easier to carry around anywhere and comes with large seamless rotary wheels for better stability and maneuverability around your home. 

The Electrolux Ease C4 comes with a number of brush accessories to suit different cleaning needs. 

This includes a choice of telescopic or non-telescopic nozzle, the upholster nozzle with a lint-catching fabric that captures dust from sofas, chairs, mattresses and soft furnishing and the Combination Crevice with brush with a thin design ideal for cleaning narrow and hard to reach areas.

While brooms and dustpan are the most common cleaning equipment found in most households, a vacuum cleaner makes cleaning much faster and easier as it has longer reach than a broom and a larger capacity container for litter. This makes it more efficient for cleaning multiple rooms at once. The vacuum cleaner also has accessories that allows it to clean upholstery and curtains, making it a very versatile cleaning tool.  

Vacuum cleaners are also more effective in removing dust and allergens. If you have carpeting, kids who are sensitive to dust, have allergies, or if you have pets at home, a vacuum cleaner can be your best friend in removing allergens and stray pet hair. It also has the added bonus of helping to improve the air quality of your home. With its filtration system, it traps dust particles and removes allergens for an improved indoor air quality and allergen-free home. 

A top-notch quality vacuum cleaner like the Electrolux Ease C4 Vacuum Cleaner can transform your space into a clean, inviting, appealing and fresh haven. Check it out in leading appliance centers nationwide. 

For more information on Electrolux and its products, please visit www.electrolux.com.ph and follow @ElectroluxPhilippines on Facebook and Instagram.

Globe Studios’ films nominated at the 42nd Gawad Urian Awards

Globe Studios’ films “Ang Panahon ng Halimaw” and “Hintayan ng Langit” recently earned nominations at the 42nd Gawad Urian Awards, to be held at the UPFI (UP Film Institute) Film Center in Quezon City on June 18.

Nominated for Best Director were Lav Diaz, for his outstanding directorial job in “Ang Panahon ng Halimaw,” while veteran thespian Eddie Garcia earned a Best Actor nomination for his role as Manolo in “Hintayan ng Langit.”

It is another notable recognition for Globe Studios, who continue to co-produce outstanding creative film, television and online content.

“Ang Panahon ng Halimaw” (Season of the Devil) is the latest brilliant product of Diaz, a 4-hour epic which stars Piolo Pascual (Hugo) and Shaina Magdayao (Lorena). The film mixed Diaz’s usual ascetic aesthetics with powerful dialogues set in unaccompanied live “rock opera” fashion, a story told amid a late 1970s society that reeked with authoritarianism, repression and violence.

The movie also recently won the Grand Jury Prize for Best Picture at the recently concluded 67th FAMAS (Filipino Academy of Movie Arts and Sciences), its second after bagging Best Film in the Gems section of the 58th Festival Internacional de Cine Cartagena de Indias last year. It also competed for the Golden Bear award in the Main Competition section of the 68th Berlin International Film Festival.

“Hintayan ng Langit,” helmed by acclaimed writer Juan Miguel Severo (“On the Wings of Love” and “The Hows of Us”) is about a recently deceased Manolo (Eddie Garcia) who got reunited with his ex-girlfriend Lisang, played by another veteran actress, Gina Pareño in, of all places, purgatory.

For the full list of nominees, visit https://www.rappler.com/entertainment/news/230045-list-gawad-urian-awards-nominees-2019.

For more about Globe Telecom, visit https://www.globe.com.ph. 

Loc&Stor 24/7: When you let go of things that “do not spark joy”

Does your home “spark joy”?

If you find it necessary to rent storage lockers because you dont have enough room for your belongings.  Then Loc&Stor 24/7 is for you.

Whether you’re a pack rat or a compulsive declutterer, you must have heard of Marie Kondo, the Japanese home organizing guru that bids her followers to let go of things that “do not spark joy.” 

Kondo’s method spurs you to comb through your stuff, saving only those that make you happy and disposing of the rest. “Keep only those things that speak to your heart,” Kondo gently urges homeowners.

While a growing number of Filipinos are letting Marie Kondo ‘take the lead’ in tidying up their messy, disorganized living spaces, there is a far greater number for whom sentiments and pleasant memories outweigh the need to create more space at home. 

What if there are too many mementos, collectibles, and other cherished possessions that spark joy, but there is just not enough space in your home?

Loc&Stor 24/7, now with four branches—Pasig, Urban Makati, J.P. Rizal, and SLEX—gives you the extra space you need in the form of individually secured units that come in different sizes. Every storage unit has individual alarms and storers use their own personal locks to ensure privacy. 

To cap all security measures, Loc&Stor 24/7 facilities are located in gated and flood-free compounds with 24/7 building security and full CCTV coverage. You can organize the items in your storage unit using shelves and containers for easy access.

So you have treasured stuff you just can’t let go? As Mari Kondo asserts, “We should be choosing what we want to keep, not what we want to get rid of.” 

And Loc&Stor 24/7 gives everyone a chance to do just that.

For inquiries on rental fees and more vital information, visit their website at www.locnstor247.com, or connect through social media on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. 

You may also contact one of Loc&Stor’s facilities to know more—Pasig at 570-2561, Urban Makati at 810-9556, JP Rizal Makati at 0917 709 5390, or SLEX at 0917 709 5836.

Share a meal with the fam with Goldilocks Salu Salo Savers

There is no doubt about it, we Filipinos love to eat! Typical Filipino meals, which are carefully crafted with love often uplift our moods and help us either prepare for whatever life throws at us next. 

These meals are often made more special when with friends and family, as with typical Filipino culture, Filipino meals are made to be shared!

With the spirit of sharing in mind, Goldilocks, the country’s number one bakeshop is happy to introduce their latest Salu-Salo Saver Packages!

Enjoy a heart meal with friends and family with Goldilocks Salu-Salo Saver Packages which come in come in two distinct variations! Package 1 includes: crispy Golden Chicken, savory Sotanghon and Fruit Gelatin while Package 2 comes with: Classic Filipino Kare-Kare, scrumptious Lumpiang Shanghai and sweet Ube Halaya for dessert! Both delicious meals come with steaming hot rice and one 1.5L bottle of Coke.

With these scrumptious meals readily available, every meal can be a cause for celebration. Grab these and other Goldi goodies at every Goldilocks Foodshop nationwide! For more information, you may also follow Goldilocks on Twitter or Instagram at @GoldilocksPH, on the Goldilocks Facebook page, or at the official Goldilocks website at www.goldilocks.com.ph