Book a romantic dinner cruise date at Esplanade Seaside Terminal

Esplanade Seaside Terminal,  the latest project of SM partners with Sun Cruises, Prestige Cruises and Orient Craft. It was launched last June 25 and offers various cruises such as Manila Bay Cruise, Dinner Cruise and Corregidor Tour at the Seaside Blvd., Mall of Asia. The tour is PPA accredited to accommodate both domestic & foreign vessels and is safe for the riding public.

The seaside terminal offers ample parking space to the riding public. and is closed to SM Moa and SM By the Bay.

I was able to experience the dinner cruise together with some blogger friends.  We travelled at the speed of 8 knots and took pictures of  the Manila Bay sunset as we enjoyed our sumptuous dinner with the live band.   It was an overall awesome experience and would want to do this again, given the right weather and time.

 You can enjoy a romantic dinner cruise date with your special someone and get the perfect sunset view by booking your tour at the Esplanade Seaside Terminal.

The Mall of Asia complex has been rapidly growing with new developments emerging every year. The complex is now known to be a major retail, entertainment and business hub with the presence of such iconic structures as the E-Com buildings, the SMX Convention Center, the MOA Arena and of course SM Mall of Asia.

SM continuously strives to innovate and provide a slew of new services for the convenience and enjoyment of the public, with the latest project which is the Esplanade Seaside Terminal. The Esplanade Seaside Terminal is located at Seaside Blvd., Mall of Asia Complex. With its launch, this port provides an easy gateway to Corregidor as well as an avenue for our guests to enjoy the fabulous Manila Bay sunset through various cruise offerings with our partners Sun Cruises, Prestige Cruises and Orient Craft.

Animax Asia to air Charlotte on the same day as Japan

An original anime production by prolific writer Jun Maeda is premiering first and exclusively on Animax – Asia’s first 24-hour Japanese anime channel.

Reunion of the visual novel maestros
Renowned Japanese visual studio Key has come together with Progressive Animation (P.A.) Works for Charlotte, which will air on the same day as its Japan telecast on Animax Asia, in July. Boasting local subtitles including English, Bahasa Indonesia, Mandarin and Thai, the anime was written by Key’s co-founder Jun Maeda, who is also contributing to the musical score.  The anime will also feature character designs by fellow Key colleague Na-Ge.  The two had worked with the same producers on popular 2010 anime Angel Beats! and together, the dream team promises to conjure up the same magic in Charlotte.

Charlotte, rumoured to have been based on Maeda’s own early life, is set in an alternate world where a few children come into unusual superpowers upon puberty.  One of the colouful characters is Jōjirō Takajyō, who can move so fast he appears to be teleporting.  There’s also student singer Yusa Nishimori, who can communicate with the dead.  The children are enrolled into Houshinomi Academy, which has its own student council for guiding those who encounter problems with their newfound abilities.

The protagonist?  Yū Otosaka, an ill-mannered first-year transfer who uses his ability to possess another person’s body for five seconds in order to cheat in his exams.  When Yū meets school council president Nao Tomori, the fate of these extraordinary children begins to unravel.  Will the youthful duo be strong enough to fight their destiny?

Charlotte premieres on 4 July 2015, airing every Saturday night at 12.30am with an encore the next day at 8pm, first and exclusively on Animax Asia.

*photo credit:  Animax Asia

READERS DIGEST TO HONOR THE PHILIPPINE’S MOST TRUSTED BRANDS

Trust. It takes years to build, seconds to break, and forever to repair. Our lives are fueled by trust and our decisions, whether personal or professional are influenced by the confidence we have in these relationships.

In an era where too much information has its benefits and disadvantages, trust is that one factor that remains constant. Once trust is established, it becomes an instinctive response – the consumer buys the brand without so much as a second thought because they can relate to it as "their" brand.

For consumers, the mark of a trusted brand is a seal of excellence, and a relationship that goes far beyond price, trends and marketing campaigns.

For business, trust is the ultimate vote of confidence. A forward-facing measure imbued with expectation, promise and satisfaction and a solid reputation of distinction.

MOST TRUSTED SURVEY

On June 30, 2015, Reader’s Digest once again recognizes these companies at the Trusted Brands Awards ceremony to be held at the ballroom A of the Marco Polo Hotel in Ortigas, Pasig.

Department of Trade and Industry Undersecretary for Consumer Protection Group (CPG) Victorio Dimagiba will be the keynote speaker while Reader’s Digest Asia Pacific Group Advertising and Retail Sales Director Sheron White will be personally awarding the trophies to the winners.

For the past 17 years, Reader's Digest has approached ordinary Filipino consumers to ask their opinions on what brands of products and services are important to them.

Backed by all these years of research, it has confidently and precisely identified the features a trusted brand must possess in order to maintain relevance and purpose for its consumers.

A trusted brand enjoys international appeal, yet at the same time upholds a strong local connection.  It has individual relevance for all its consumers, just about anywhere and in any culture.

Cost, quality and desirability are all important factors for consumers. Yet it's vital for a brand to stay true to its promises. While brands come in and out of vogue, those that capture our attention, maintain our confidence and win over our trust do so by holding fast to their core principles.

For the Trusted Brand Survey, Readers Digest has commissioned leading global market research company Ipsos to survey a representative sample of people in Asia on their most trusted brands in 42 categories of products and services across a wide range of industries.

Approximately 5,000 individuals were selected across 5 of Asia’s key markets such as the Philippines, HongKong, Malaysia, and Taiwan.

In the Philippines, around 1000 respondents completed the survey. Half were subscribers to Reader's Digest, while the remainder were selected to reflect the demographics of the general population.

Each respondent was required to complete a questionnaire or participate in a mail, face to face, telephone or online survey. Ipsos asked each participant to tell us the name of their most trusted brands and then to rate each of those brands listed on the following six attributes: Trustworthiness, Credibility, Quality, Value, Understanding of Customer Needs, Innovation and Social Responsibility.  This year the awards will be presented in each of the 42 categories.


GOLD Trusted Brands Awards – will be given to brands that scored significantly higher than their rivals.

PLATINUM Trusted Brands Awards – will be given to brands that performed exceptionally, winning their category for at least 3 countries surveyed.

ASIA TRUSTED Brand Awards will be given to a brand that wins the Reader's Digest Trusted Brand award in the same category for at least three countries surveyed.

Smart Enterprise launches workforce solutions to empower businesses

To survive in today's competitive marketplace, all businesses, regardless of size, need to be productive and efficient. Large businesses and small and medium enterprises alike need to use smart technologies to do more with less, in order to keep costs low while staying operationally effective and responsive to their customers’ needs.

Recognizing the need for businesses to be efficient, Smart Enterprise provides a wide range of Workforce Solutions to empower business owners and help them meet the ever-evolving demands of their business. Smart Enterprise offers four solutions that are specifically for the mobile field force, designed to improve their efficiency through mobile applications. With this. the company can generate real-time reports that can lead to quicker and more focused decision-making. ‘

The innovative and game-changing Smart solutions include the Smart Store Manager; Smart Pharma; Smart Sales Manager; and Smart Service Manager. All these run on PLDT and SMART’s reliable and nationwide network, ensuring their reliability at all times.

Smart Store Manager can be used to manage store inventory, so that accurate stocks are delivered for the benefit of customers. Providing the Smart app to all merchandisers nationwide gives the company an overall view of products’ movements at any given time.

Smart Pharma is a solution for medical rep teams of Pharmaceutical companies, It can tract the performance of medical representatives covering doctor calls and distribution c samples. It makes information available to medical representatives online for easy relationship building with doctors. At the head office, District Managers can monitor tr whereabouts of their teams, instantly measure productivity per med rep, per area, and eve per type of drug.

Smart Sales Manager is a Customer Relationship Management tool providing relevant information to field personnel. It automates sales processes that aid in proper, opportunity management.

Smart Service Manager is an app—based reporting. data gathering and service management application that allows service-oriented industries to centralize and optimize two-way communications with field employees. It streamlines workflow queuing and scheduling of tasks.

“Living in this digital era, we encourage the SMEs to move towards a mobile and digital vision. The Smart Enterprise workforce solutions can help our Clients automate their business operations designed to reduce cost, improve work flow efficiency and increase customer satisfaction," said FVP for SME Group, Kat Abelarde.

Smart Enterprise solutions reduce the need for expensive hardware, and allow business owners to spend less time and resources on IT demands, allowing them to focus more on their core business.

“In our continuous efforts in bringing innovative products that will help enable competent business sectors and win in the global marketplace, we bring you the Smart Workforce Solutions. Through this and our investments in technology, we want to help empower businesses and strengthen them, recognizing that they form the backbone of our economy. We aim to create an IT-enabled, competitive business sector that can compete and win in the global marketplace," concluded Abelarde.

Make your recipes more special with Villa del Conte

Give your baked goodies a delightful twist with premium artisanal chocolates from Villa del Conte. Villa del Conte’s 500g chocolate bars offer a generous amount of rich and exciting flavors to make your favorite recipes even better. You may choose between the fine milk chocolate and 50% dark chocolate flavors for truly luscious cakes, cookies, pastries, dips and many more.

To get your very own chocolate bars, visit Villa del Conte stores at Greenbelt 5, Century City Mall, Shangri-la Mall, Resorts World, Alabang Town Center, and Robinson’s Magnolia. For bulk orders, please contact 893-2575 or 621-6101.

Go to http://www.villadelcontecioccolato.com to know more about Villa del Conte, or  follow them on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/VillaDelContePh,

Let us help Baskin-Robbins bring smiles to the lives of 31 children

Whenever I see a child suffered from a cleft lip and or cleft palate defects, I feel for the parents as much as for the kids. I wonder if the child is in pain whenever he/she eats.  I do pray that they have consulted a surgeon and that the reconstructive surgery is on its way.

Cleft lip and cleft palate are birth defects that occur when a baby’s lip or mouth do not form properly during pregnancy. Together, these birth defects are commonly called “orofacial clefts”. These birth defects happen early during pregnancy. A baby can have a cleft lip, a cleft palate, or both a cleft lip and cleft palate.

Through the BR 31 Smiles Project, Baskin Robbins partners with Operation Smile Philippines. For every regular double scoop ice cream sold, Baskin-Robbins will be donating P31 to Operation Smile to provide free reconstructive surgery to the lives of 31 children with cleft lip/palate deformities.

“All over the world, Baskin-Robbins is known as the brand that brings smiles to customers through its delicious ice cream flavors. Now, we want to take this thrust a bit further by bringing back the smiles on the faces of children with facial deformities through the BR 31 Smiles Project,” said Michael Dargani, president of IceDream Inc.

The number 31 is used to represent Baskin-Robbins’ iconic 31 flavors, one flavor for every day of the month. In this case it also represents the children whose lives are about to change forever through the BR 31 Smiles Project.

“We are truly grateful to Baskin-Robbins for collaborating with our organization to help children with cleft lip and cleft palate deformities through the BR 31 Smiles Project. This campaign not only changes the lives of children but also helps our organization create public awareness about this congenital deformity and how it affects the individual who is born with it.” Expressed Gian Trebol, Executive Director of Operation Smile Philippines. 

Customers can also buy a limited edition campaign badge with frequency card for only P100 and get a free junior scoop of ice cream. The proceeds of the badge sales will go towards funding the BR 31 Smiles Project. The Baskin-Robbins frequency card entitles customers to a freebie on every 3rd visit. Another way to participate is by buying their special Smiley Cake – 20% of the cake sales will also go towards the campaign.

Bringing smiles to everyone, especially children, has been deeply rooted in Baskin-Robbins’ humble beginnings. The ice cream company was founded in 1945 in Glendale, California by Burton Baskin and Irvine Robbins, ice cream enthusiasts and brothers-in-law, whose passion inspired what is now the world's largest chain of ice cream specialty shops.

IceDream Inc. exclusively operates Baskin Robbins in the Philippines. During its first year of operation it has successfully opened 5 stores with a view to expand further and cater to ice cream enthusiasts all over the metropolis.

Operation Smile is an international children's medical charity conducting year-round nationwide missions to provide free surgeries to children with cleft lip, cleft palate and other facial deformities.

For more information about Baskin-Robbins 31 Smiles Project; visit www.baskinrobbins.ph or check out their Facebook (facebook.com/baskinrobbinsph), Twitter and Instagram (baskinrobbinsph) accounts. Visit Baskin-Robbins shops at the Central Square, Bonifacio Global City; Greenbelt 5, Makati; Ayala Fairview Terraces; Trinoma Mall in Quezon City and Glorietta 5, Makati.

Huawei Philippines hold ICT Roadshow in celebration of Philippines ICT Month

Huawei Technologies Philippines, Inc., last week staged the Philippines ICT Roadshow 2015 at Dusit Thani Manila Hotel to showcase the best and the latest innovations, products and services it can offer to provide clients and consumers the best solution to cater to the demands of ICT Convergence.

Carrying the theme, “BUILDING A BETTER CONNECTED PHILIPPINES”, the three-day road show aims to reach out to existing partners as well as potential customers in the industry by sharing Huawei’s vision towards ICT transformation strategy, success stories and demonstrate the most advanced technologies and solutions.

Why did we choose this topic for today’s summit? asked Jacky Gao Kexin, CEO of Huawei Technologies Philippines.

"First, ICT connectivity has changed our life dramatically. Looking back 20 years ago, getting a taxi ride using your mobile device, ordering a product online, or submitting your job application through mobile phone is next to impossible. But today, Internet has become not just an infrastructure of the society, but also a fundamental business mindset; and mobile has become a basic lifestyle for all of us.

"Second, Philippine is facing a new wave of ICT reform....In today’s Philippine, staying connected is no longer an option, but a necessity to make informed decisions and foster transactions, for both policy makers and business practitioners. The Philippines is currently number one in the world in voice BPM services and number two in non-voice BPO services. This industry employs over 1 million Filipinos and is one of the largest contributors to national GDP growth."

"Thirdly, Huawei, as a leading company in ICT, is committed to providing better products and services for Filipino consumers. In the Philippines, we are the strategic partner of all the telecom operators. In the past 10 years, we have helped Globe to modernize the whole 2G and 3G network and Globe got great business success in recent 2 years. We jointly together with Smart to launch the first large scale 3.5GHz TDD LTE network to serve home and SME users of Philippines. We launched biggest SingleSON network in the world with Globe to improve the network efficiency and reshape the network to the future," he said in his speech.

During the Roadshow, Huawei unveiled an exclusive product –The Huawei Converged Storage Oceanstor Version 3.0. The Oceanstor V3 is a converged and unified storage that supports multiple storage platforms and protocols in a single chassis. This latest innovation will support to save time and resources for businesses within existing equipments.

Huawei experts also discussed industry trends, challenges solutions and best practices. Aside from impressive product presentations, Huawei also held talks focusing on the following topics: Huawei Cloud Conference Manila 2015, Huawei Intelligent Education Solution, and Huawei Finance Solution Update.

Representatives from the Government sector led by DOST-ICTO Deputy Executive Director, Monchito Ibrahim and Atty. Gamaliel Cordoba, NTC Commissioner graced the event as guest speakers.

“At Huawei, we believe technological innovation will help advance social progress, and communications will enrich people’s lives. We will leverage our leading ICT products and solutions to innovate jointly with our Filipino partners to help this country become a leading nation” Added Jacky Gao.

For more information about the Huawei Philippines ICT Roadshow 2015, visit www.huaweisocialhub.com

MYNP CELEBRATES 2ND YEAR OF HONORING NANAYS NATIONWIDE

TWO years since Make Your Nanay Proud (MYNP) Foundation, Inc. started, MYNP continues to deliver its message to all to make our nanays proud.

On May 5, 2015, recipients of Gawad Ulirang Ina ng Muntinlupa visit the office of the founding chair, Mr. Boy Abunda of Make Your Nanay Proud (MYNP) Foundation. Also in the photo are officers of MYNP. From left is Ms Bemz Benedito, Managing Director; Ms. Aileen Robles, Treasurer and Ms. Nini Borja, Vice President and Mr. Boy Abunda, founder and chairman.

MYNP Founding chair, Mr. Boy Abunda shares his love and advocacy on mothers during the Meeting of Nanays last May 22, 2015 at Mesa Moderne Restaurant in Timog, Quezon City

 This year, MYNP embarks on various activities including: Rehabilitation Program for Typhoon Ruby Survivors in Eastern Samar, Tulong Kay Nanay, Research Project, MYNP-Radyo Balintataw text Tula, MYNP Hong kong Project for Overseas Filipino Working Mothers with Generika, Outreach Project, Soup Kitchen Project in different areas in Metro Manila, visits to the liberty-deprived women and mothers of the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) and “Meeting of Nanays” where dozens of nanays from different communities shared their experiences with Ms. Nini Borja, MYNP Vice President; Ms. Bemz Benedito, MYNP Managing Director with the support of MS Sicat Construction and Nikon Tough Mama.

On the other hand, the MYNP book is still at the top as one of the bestselling publications. The book is a compilation of poems, reflections, anecdotes, musings, stories, photos and artworks of close to 100 people who were asked, How Do You Make Your Nanay Proud? Another project is SineNanay, a student film festival using cellular phone cameras.

Recently, MYNP has formally announced its search for the Best Nanay Awards 2015, which is on its 2nd year.

MYNP Founding chair, Mr. Boy Abunda were surrounded by nanays from different sectors during a gift giving in Brgy Roxas, Quezon City.

The 10 winners will each receive Php 10,000 cash, a handcrafted mother-and-child trophy carved by Ifugao sculptors, along with gift certificates.
The nomination of the Best Nanay is now on going until August 31, 2015. The Nomination Forms can be downloaded at www.makeyournanayproud.com or you may contact the awards committee at mynpawards@gmail.com or 0917-611-1556.

Henann Resort Alona Beach, Bohol extends soft opening promo

It’s beach season all year round in Bohol! Henann Resort Alona Beach extends its soft opening promo of 40% cash discount on room rates until June 30, 2015. Travel period is until October 2015.

Enjoy first-rate accommodation in the following room types: superior, deluxe, premier, premier with direct pool access, and family room. Bookings are good for four persons for the family room and two persons for other room types. The promo is inclusive of daily buffet breakfast. For reservations and inquiries, please call Henann Resort Alona Beach, Bohol at (632) 230 3000 to 03, email manila.hbl@henann.com, or visit www.henann.com/bohol.

Liza Soberano’s Newest Love

Whether it’s due to her ethereal beauty, her down to earth and honest personality, or her pure and simple charm, Liza Soberano is captivating the hearts of Filipinos everywhere. With gorgeous looks and superb acting skills that are beyond her 17 years, she is hailed as the next it-girl in show business despite being a relatively fresh face in the industry. Even after the rapid rise of her celebrity status and the constant project offers, Liza remains humble and always finds time for her family. She remains an inspiration to Filipinos, most especially the youth, due to her down to earth personality and incredible talent.

Liza’s numerous qualities make her the perfect endorser for Goldilocks, the country’s number one bakeshop. For more than 45 years, Goldilocks has cultivated an image of friendliness and hospitality with its signature Pinoy treats. Despite changing generations, Goldilocks has been a constant in Filipino culture. The company’s lasting appeal, high quality products and easy recognisability have led to Godilocks having a special place in the hearts of Filipinos, both old and young alike. Liza’s charming and warm-hearted nature perfectly reflects Goldilocks. With Liza as the company’s new face, Goldilocks continues to deliver high quality products and authentic Pinoy experiences to Filipinos around the globe.

Liza Soberano was officially presented as Goldilocks’ newest endorser last June 25, 2015 at the Goldilocks Megamall branch. In a-meet and-greet with fans and media, Liza showed her joyfulness and enthusiasm to help Goldilocks bring excellent food to customers of all ages.

The New Color and Venue for Beauty: Orange Blush Salon

“Orange is the new color of beauty”

Along with health and wellness, beauty is one aspect of human existence that people—especially women—will always make time for because it’s important to look good, since looking good is key to feeling good about one’s self and positively impacts the way we relate to others as well.

Businesswoman Joby Linsangan-Moreno, owner of the Orange Blush Salon (with several branches in Luzon and soon Metro Manila) had always dreamed of going into the salon business.

So when the opportunity to open her own place presented itself in October 2003, Joby didn’t hesitate. She had always been passionate about the beauty business and all it entailed. She even loved going to salons herself.

“I have always loved the beauty business: Hair, makeup, fashion,” says Joby. “I was always curious on how hair is styled, colored, treated. For me, the beauty business is the closest to my heart and I know that I will be at my best if I choose a business that is related to beauty: And how I love going to salons! That was why I chose to put up a hair salon business.”

Orange Blush Salon offers traditional salon services just like any salon in Metro Manila--Haircutting, Hair Treatments, Hair Rebonding, Hair Straightening, Hair Coloring, Manicure and Pedicure, Footspa and Makeup—and yet it's what Joby calls a “proudly probinsyano” brand (they have more than 20 branches scattered throughout Nueva Ecija and nearby provinces, towns and cities; their branches are located, aside from Nueva Ecija, in Tarlac, Pangasinan, Pampanga and Bulacan) although Joby discloses there are plans to eventually expand the brand into Metro Manila and bring to customers in the big city the same kind of down-home service that Orange Blush customers have become used to.

Says Joby: “We take pride in the fact that we came from Cabanatuan City, Nueva Ecija. Our vision is to put up branches in Central Luzon area first, where we came from, and saturate it and become the best hair salon in the area; then move to conquer the metro, carrying with us that unique and probinsiyano brand that we represent.”

As to why she called the salon Orange Blush, Joby explains: “Orange has always been my favorite color. I am a very optimistic person, and for me, the color orange represents happiness, positivity, and optimism. It’s the color we want people to see (and feel) when they come to our salons; that’s why I chose Orange Blush Salon for its name.”

The salon’s motto—“Orange” is the New Color of Beauty”--identifies with what the color itself represents.

“We want our customers to feel that the color orange, is the color of happiness, optimism, and love. Beauty for me is more than skin-deep. It’s happiness. It’s love. And that’s what we want to share to our clients as well. That when they come to orange salon, they see orange colors that represent our mission to each client: To make our customers feel happy and beautiful with their every visit.”


For more information on Orange Blush Salon, prices, and services (or even franchise inquiries), please visit their website, http://orangeblushsalon.com/index.html.

Minions Take Over McDonald’s with Happy Meal and Minions Combos!

 A full Minions experience awaits, as Kevin, Stuart, and Bob, stars of the Minions Movie, bring us the Minions Banana Festival. Get ready to go bananas every time you enter a McDonald’s store with the new Minions Happy Meal toys —10 Minions collectibles now available in-store— and the Minions Combos featuring an array of Minions-themed desserts.

  

Pair a classic like McDonald’s World Famous Fries with the all-new Minions-themed desserts and you get the perfect snack combination for you and your friends. Try the new Honey Banana McFloat, a sweet and refreshing banana and honey flavored drink topped with vanilla soft serve, through the Minions Medium Fries ‘N McFloat Combo for only Php65.

In the mood for a McFlurry? Go for the Minions Medium Fries ‘N McFlurry Combo for only Php95. You have a choice between two new and exciting McFlurry flavors. Discover the Banana McFlurry with Oreo where a classic gets a banana-licious twist, as banana flavor is mixed with Oreo bits in vanilla soft serve. You can also have the Banana Crumble McFlurry, made with crushed graham and banana flavor blended in creamy vanilla soft serve.

Just like Kevin, Stuart, and Bob, great things come in threes and so do our Minions Combos. So grab your friends and enjoy the Minions BFF Fries ‘N McFloat Combo (Php165) or the Minions BFF Fries ‘N McFlurry Combo (Php225).

McDonald’s is also introducing the Minions Banana McDip, a delicious vanilla soft serve covered in banana-flavored dip on a blue wafer cone—one of the cutest dessert items you’ll ever see and taste for only Php15.

Head over to McDonald’s to see the Minions Movie come to life! Bring the entire family or barkada and find a Minions treat for everyone. Minions Happy Meal and limited-edition menu offers are all available in McDonald’s stores nationwide.

Share your love for the Minions at McDonald’s via the official Facebook fan page, www.facebook.com/mcdo.ph, or by tagging @McDo_PH to your sweet and funny McDo moments on Twitter or Instagram. #MinionsAtMcDo

Capture those moments, drop by at Wonder Photo Shop-Tokyo at UP Town Center

I remember those days when I used to bring camera films in the studio/store two blocks away from our house and have it developed, I got excited at the thought of claiming and seeing those pictures printed. The ones that I loved most, I put in an album and have it labeled. From time to time, when I feel like reminiscing and have to bring back memories, I just have to pull one photo album, and its yesterday once more once again,  the throwback time  brings back good memories from the past and it gives me the high that I need, and the what-ifs. Those were the days worth treasured.

You can now relive the moments, by printing those pictures, check out the new Wonder Photo store at UP Town Center, QC.

RP YKL Color Inc.,  a FUJIFILM distributor launches the first Wonder Photo Shop-Tokyo at UP Town Center on June 19, the event was attended by media and  celebrities Jolina Magdangal and family, Divine Lee, and Tim Yap.

YKL Color, Inc., a FUJIFILM distributor, revives the habit of printing photographs by launching the first Wonder Photo Shop-Tokyo, a photography and printing store originated in Tokyo, in the Philippines at the Ayala-U.P. Town Center. Being the number one country that loves to take photos, the Philippines was an easy choice for the famed photographic brand. “We believe that we can show the Filipinos the excitement in capturing memories and bringing their memories to life by printing their photos,” says Yu Tung Tung president of YKL Color, Inc.

Established in 1934, FUJIFILM Corporation is the first Japanese producer of photographic films. In the decades that followed, the company diversified into other markets. The company has survived and thrived even in the era of digital photography by focusing on the user experience. YKL Color, Inc., a distributor of FUJIFILM products, runs Wonder Photo Shop-Tokyo with support from FUJIFILM Philippines Inc.

A fun, enjoyable, multi-pronged experience is what awaits the public at the first Wonder Photo Shopin the Philippines. Part store, part print center, and part workshop hub, Wonder Photo Shop-Tokyo in U.P. Town Center is a one-stop boutique and learning center that offers an array of products and services: a Selfie Studio, where customers can delight in taking and printing complex photos; printing services with high-quality professional paper, photobook service, WPS (Wonder Print Station) kiosk printer, which provides a variety of quick photo printing; photo accessories such as washi tapes, fancy photo albums, photo frames and stickers and Fujifilm Instax and digital cameras.

The Wonder Photo Shop-Tokyo in U.P. Town Center closely resembles the two-year-old Wonder Photo Shop in Tokyo. It is almost the same except that there are more printing options at Wonder Photo Shop-Tokyo in the Philippines.  Customers can print on different materials like glass, cork boards, sintra boards, wood boards and canvasses. There are also the much-anticipated complex prints.

In the age of selfies, the process of actually printing a photo for younger generations has become a tedious chore. YKL Color, Inc. embraces the so-called selfie generation and brings back excitement to the art of photo printing by giving it a fresh, young, trendy take. “The photo itself is necessary and interesting, and as long as we provide excitement to printing photos, people will enjoy prints,” stresses Tung Tung.

With YKL Color, Inc. and at Wonder Photo Shop-Tokyo, the task of printing memories becomes a communal activity where everyone we hold dear can take a part in.    


For more information, visit www.yklcolor.com. Contact +632 743-6601 to 06 or email digital_info@yklcolor.com.

Gary believes that there are DiabetaMillion ways to enjoy life

Diabetes, just like the big "C" or cancer is a dreaded disease. If not properly taken care of, you could die of many complications. I knew someone who suffered from type 2 diabetes mellitus and died of complications a year after her diagnosis. She should have undergone AV shunting, a medical term which means inserting some foreign object to her arms for dialysis preparation,  but refused the procedure, and abused her body by indulging to all kinds of "sweet" food. She told her relatives that she could die anyway, soon   she surrendered her dear life, without thinking that there is still hope and changing her lifestyle is one of them.

DiabetaMil was launched together with its brand ambassador Gary Valenciano last June 18 at Victorino's Restaurant in Timog, QC. Gary was showed with his Diabetamil  TVC indulging him in skydiving. He told bloggers that being diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes wont prevent him from doing what he likes best  and he was proud that he fulfilled "skydiving" as it was in his bucketlist.  He advised that being on the go and maintaining a healthy diet helps control his sugar spike, that's why Diabetamil is on his everyday meal.

A diet that includes DiabetaMil is one that he lives by. This reduced calorie, sugar-free Cereal and Non-Cereal drink contain vitamins, minerals and protein specially formulated for people with diabetes. It is enriched with Chromium Picolinate and Dietary Fiber, is high in Calcium and has a Low Glycemic (GI) Value.

Gary was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes when he was just fourteen years old and was told by his doctors that he would not live past the age of forty. Thirty-seven years after his diagnosis and more than 90,000 insulin injections later, Gary has never been more active in both his personal and e professional life.  The artist, performer, athlete and family man’s strong resolve to constantly defeat the disease comes after his worst hypoglycemic attack in 2005, which almost claimed his life.  Ten years after that fateful event, he is now complication free and has been called a living miracle by many doctors.

The International Diabetes Foundation has reported that the Philippines has been named as one the world’s emerging diabetes hotspot having treated 3.2 million cases in 2014 alone.

In its simplest terms, diabetes is a lifelong chronic condition that affects the body’s ability to use the energy found in food. For non-diabetics, the sugar and carbohydrates in the food are transformed into glucose, which the cells absorb in the bloodstream with the help of a hormone called insulin.

Diabetics do not produce or do not have enough insulin in the body and therefore cannot absorb the glucose, which creates a build-up in the blood and often leads to more serious illnesses.

As this is seen as a very serious disease, there is a mindset that people living with diabetes lead very restricted lives. This is a misconception that Gary Valenciano is very familiar with, but this has not discouraged him from becoming the success that he is.

How does he do it? His outlook is one of great resolve. “I’m living a life with diabetes but I won’t let it stop me”, he has said in a 2009 interview with Ces Drilon.  He believes that with proper management of the disease, it allows him to live a rich, dynamic life. This multi-awarded performer shares that religiously doing exercise, careful observation of his blood sugar, taking the right medication and having a proper diet helps him in his miraculous journey in dealing with diabetes. 

 The mineral Chromium Picolinate found in the drink can aid in both glucose and insulin metabolism by breaking down the fats, protein and cholesterol.  Dr. Lanny Lestiani, a Medical Nutritionist at the University of Indonesia, testifies that ‘chromium showed its potential in improving insulin sensitivity; DiabetaMil enriched with chromium (250 mcg per serving) may be beneficial for diabetics to improve their glycemic control’. In addition, this nutritional drink also fulfills the Codex requirement as source of calcium, which can be beneficial in optimizing glucose metabolism.

The high fiber oat content in DiabetaMil Chocolate & Vanilla drinks, help lower bad cholesterol. It also contains a glycemic index (GI) value level of 30.5 which helps reduce overall blood glucose level.

Several nutritionists have confirmed the benefits of including DiabetaMil to a diabetic’s daily balanced diet. “The usage of non-sugar sweetening agents (sucralose and acesulfame K) to DiabetaMil may help diabetics reduce their blood glucose level”, attests Dr. Widjaja Lukito, an associate professor of the Nutrition Department at the University of Indonesia. Because DiabetaMil is a reduced calorie meal substitute, it ‘can help diabetics control their body weight’, endorses Ayu Dwi Irianti, a Nutrition Coordinator at one of Jakarta’s premier hospitals.

Aside from the multi-flavored nutritional drinks, DiabetaMil also offers low-calorie and sugar-free cookies suitable for diabetics. Snacks have an important role in the daily diet as they help keep blood glucose levels as close to normal as possible.

DiabetaMil has a delicious lineup of cereal (Vanilla and Chocolate flavors) & non-cereal drinks (Moccachinno flavor) and cookies (Nutty Chocolate and Vanilla Dried Fruit flavors) that allows one a healthy and nutritious meal without sacrificing its taste. Just like Gary, DiabetaMil believes that there are DiabetaMillion ways to enjoy life.  So don’t let diabetes stop you from enjoying life!
DiabetaMil is available in all leading supermarkets, groceries and drugstores.


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