The Starbucks 6750 most precious collection Ayala Mug is available on December 4

The Philippines’ traditional woven design makes an unexpected debut in Starbucks 20th Anniversary collection. In celebration of two decades in the country, the coffee brand honors the market that has warmly welcomed its coffee servings, with merchandise that pays tribute to Filipino craftsmanship.

On December 1, Starbucks will release a special collection inspired by local textiles and designed with fine materials including Swarovski crystals and real white gold. The limited-edition items will be exclusively available from 2PM to 8PM, at Starbucks 6750 on Ayala Avenue, where the Seattle brand first opened its doors.

It was deep into Christmas season too, when the little coffee shop in Ayala started brewing in December 4, 1997. The aroma of handcrafted beverages wafted from within its walls, which bore the intriguing green mermaid insignia on its walls. Soon enough, the place welcomed coffee lovers who found comfort in the warm smiles of the baristas and in the respite it offered from the bustling Makati City.

The Philippines became the third market, outside of North America, where Starbucks grew its business. This month, the coffee brand relives these memories with a celebration for its 20th year, beginning with the release of a special collection and rare coffee beans that traces the growth of Starbucks.

A most precious collection from Starbucks
The holidays will shine more vividly with the bejeweled 20th Anniversary mugs and tumblers, the classic Ayala 6750 Mug, and the Starbucks Reserve and Roastery exclusive, Hacienda Alsacia.

Elaborate in its design, the anniversary mugs and tumblers show an appreciation for the Philippine woven art. The mugs feature 200 white and emerald Swarovski crystals set in traditional textile patterns, come with special-edition numbered certificate and ready-to-gift boxes stamped with the Starbucks wordmark.

The most precious item for release is the 20th Anniversary mug in full white gold. Starbucks created this rare premium item as a nod to Philippine heritage. Only 500 pieces will be produced of these collectible anniversary mugs which are adorned with 200 lovely Swarovski® crystals. The item is priced at P6,295.

Coffee lovers can also go with the 12-oz double-wall ceramic versions of the 20th anniversary mug, and take their pick between the silver and white colors. These items exude holiday festivity and celebrate the season most cherished by Filipinos with fine mugs with press-in white gold covers. Only 1,500 pieces of each mug will be available for P4,295.

The dazzling 16 fl oz opaque white acrylic tumbler will also catch the eye. It features the 20th anniversary weave pattern in silver foil and offers both functionality and understated glam for P895. Each tumbler comes with a package and a hangtag for gifting.

More anniversary items to go on shelf

Starbucks also gives a special piece of its heritage to Filipinos by introducing the Hacienda Alsacia whole bean packaged coffee. Grown from a Starbucks working coffee farm in Costa Rica, the beans are symbolic of the Starbucks continuing venture to serve the best-tasting coffee, deepen its knowledge of the industry, and include local farmers in the world’s endeavor of sustainability.

The unique blend is served only in the Starbucks Seattle Roastery and Tasting Room and will be available for a limited time in the country starting December 4.

Also to be released on December 4 is the Starbucks 6750 Ayala Mug. The first store to open in the Philippines gets its own place on the shelf, with matte black ceramic mugs designed with the gold Siren decal. The artwork that was first seen on the wall of the store is rendered anew in this 12 oz. tribute item that features special hand-painted finishes and comes in an elaborate gift package. The 6750 branch will exclusively carry the item priced at P1,295.

Celebrate Filipino heritage and craftsmanship this December with Starbucks. Visit Starbucks 6750 Ayala Avenue, Makati City to trace the beautiful coffee moments that have been blooming for 20 years and return to where it all began.

A CELEBRATION OF LOVE AND THANKSGIVING WITH AIAI AND GERALD

Love was definitely in the air during the thanksgiving cum Christmas party given by AiAi delas Alas and Gerald Sibayan for their media friends last November 30 at Le Rêve in Quezon City.

The party, hosted by veteran columnist/writer Jun Nardo, started with a sumptuous lunch followed by a magic show participated in by the couple and some members of the press. Their romantic wedding prenup video was shown during the celebration. AiAi and Gerald gave short messages before they cut their wedding cake amidst the roaring cheers from the crowd urging them to kiss. They will tie the knot this December.

AiAi shared, “Ang saya ng pakiramdam na nakasama ko ang aking mga kaibigan sa isang masayang okasyon sa aking buhay. The party was really for them. It was my way of expressing my gratitude to them. Gusto ko rin i-share ang mga blessings ko with my media friends. Nandiyan sila sa simula pa lang ng aking career, noong single pa lang ako, at kasama ko pa rin sila hanggang ngayon sa panibagong yugto ng aking buhay. I believe in love and I believe na may forever sa pag-ibig.”  

The media friends left the party in high spirits, having enjoyed the parlor game and raffle draws plus lots of give-aways.

AiAi has a new single titled Walang Pinipili featuring the rap group Ex-Battalion under GMA Records. The song is now available for downloading and streaming in iTunes and Spotify.

Unioil, DENR-EMB to provide live air quality data to millions of Filipinos

Unioil Petroleum Philippines Inc. (Unioil) has partnered with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources-Environmental Management Bureau (DENR-EMB) to establish a reliable network of air quality monitoring stations in various locations nationwide.

The petroleum company has already installed numerous AirVisual monitors— ambient air monitoring instruments—mostly at Unioil service stations, to transmit live data to the internet, as part of its commitment to making relevant air quality information available to the DENR and millions of Filipinos.

DENR Undersecretary Atty. Jonas Leones (center) and Unioil president Kenneth Pundanera (2nd from left) sign an agreement that will establish air quality monitoring stations in various locations nationwide. Joining them are (from left) CAPMI chairman Dr. Michael Aragon, DENR-EMB Air Quality Management Section Chief Engr. Gerry Capulong, and CAPMI president Manny Galvez.

“This memorandum of agreement manifests our support to DENR’s mandate to protecting the environment and its key objective of preparing a national air quality status report. We believe that this is a major step towards providing cleaner air for the next generation,” said Unioil president Kenneth Pundanera, who added that the report will be used as a basis in formulating an integrated air quality improvement framework.

“We are proud to offer DENR live data from our active air quality monitoring stations. Through this agreement, we shall further expand the installations of our air quality monitoring stations in full support of the programs of the DENR,” Pundanera added.

The DENR welcomes the support of Unioil in helping address the problem of poor air quality. “This is the first time that an industry player as big as Unioil is helping the department in addressing this kind of problem. We really welcome the assistance and support of Unioil,” said DENR undersecretary Atty. Jonas Leones.

The AirVisual monitors provided by Unioil are state-of-the-art air quality monitoring instruments that use laser sensors to measure hazardous particulate matter down to 2.5 micro meters size (PM2.5). It also uses the latest technology like big data, artificial intelligence, and the internet to provide a visual image of air quality in the Philippines to millions of people through an air quality mobile app.

The partnership is expected to boost the DENR’s capability to pursue their mandate of ensuring a cleaner and safer air under the Clean Air Act of 1999.

During the ceremony, the Clean Air Philippines Movement, Inc., a strong advocate of clean air in the Philippines, also awarded Unioil as its first corporate clean air champion. This is in recognition of Unioil’s initiatives of introducing cleaner fuels, such as Euro 5, launching of the first solar powered gas station and electric vehicle charging station, and the deployment of air quality monitoring stations in the Philippines.

Unioil president Kenneth Pundanera (right) and DENR-EMB Air Quality Management Section Chief Engr. Gerry Capulong present one of the AirVisual nodes that will be installed in Unioil stations to monitor and transmit live data on air quality.


The latest effort of Unioil is part of its “Doing Our Part” campaign which encourages Filipinos to make a difference in society through the small, everyday actions and responsible decisions they make, including the decision to choose a cleaner fuel.

Making Christmas merrier for Filipino health buffs

RHEA Generics tips to stay fit and healthy during the holiday season

Christmas is fast approaching. Everyone is getting ready for the holiday feasts such as office Christmas parties, family gatherings and class reunions. With all these festivities come an abundance of food and booze, which can severely impact your diet. But to help you stay fit and healthy during the holidays without spoiling the fun, RHEA Generics, a world-class provider of generic medicines, prepared a few reminders just for you!

1.       Moderate your food consumption.

It’s not a Filipino Noche Buena unless there are at least five main dishes on the table and about 10 different kinds of sinful desserts. With this wide array of sumptuous food in front of you, it’s hard not to feel overwhelmed. And knowing the fact that your titas put in a lot of effort in preparing this meal, you somehow feel obligated to try everything. But don’t worry! There’s a middle ground between pleasing your tita and minding your diet. As often mentioned, take everything in moderation, especially holiday food that are laden with cholesterol and sugar. Remember that Christmas is more than just the food you eat, it’s about the company you keep, so focus on making memories instead of stuffing yourself full.



2.       Water is better.

Fizzy drinks, iced tea, gulaman, and other sugary drinks are staples in every holiday party. It is quite tempting to have a couple glasses of these sweet and refreshing drinks after having a heavy meal, but if you’re really committed to staying healthy during the holidays, stick to the good ole’ H20. With zero calories and zero sugar, water is a great way to keep hydrated this season.



3.       Find time to exercise.

For most people, their holiday calendars are jampacked of dinner invites from friends, coffee hangouts with workmates, and lots of family reunions. Now, this tip might be a little hard, but between those invites you might want to schedule at least an hour of exercise for you to flush out those holiday calories.  Get your body sweating during the holidays! Having a morning run or doing yoga at home would go a long way in helping you stay healthy and fit during the holiday season.



4.       Party hard, but rest harder.

Holiday parties often last until dawn, causing people to be deprived of precious sleep. It is crystal clear that sleep plays an integral role in your physical health. A study about the impacts of sleep deprivation on food desire in the human brain published in 2013 on Nature Communication shows that lack of sleep makes you crave for food or worse, it lures you towards food you know you shouldn’t eat. The study found out that just one night of sleep deprivation was enough to impair activity in the frontal lobe, which controls complex decision-making. With that said, fix your party schedule accordingly that you won’t be depriving yourself of some good quality sleep.


With adequate rest, sticking to your fitness routine, and maintaining a healthy lifestyle, you can have the time of your life during these upcoming holidays without sacrificing your diet. Aside from that, you can always rely on RHEA Generics for a wide variety of world-class quality medicines that are available in Mercury Drug stores nationwide.

For more health tips, just follow RHEA Generics on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RHEAGenericsPH.



Sources:

https://www.shape.com/lifestyle/mind-and-body/why-sleep-no-1-most-important-thing-better-body

https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation-now/2014/10/21/healthy-holidays-stay-fit/17632163/

https://www.rd.com/health/wellness/9-stayhealthy-tips-for-the-holidays/

Epson Strengthens partnership with DepEd on Gift of Brightness project

Epson Philippines formalized the company’s commitment to equip less-privileged, deserving public schools with Epson technologies under the Gift of Brightness project. In the photo are DepEd Secretary Honorable Leonor Briones, Undersecretary Tonisito Umali, Director IV for External Partnership Services Margarita Ballesteros.  Signing for Epson Philippines is Marketing Communications and PR Head Donna V. Ferro, assisted by Epson Philippines PR Specialist Mica Bayot.


The partnership between the Department of Education (DepEd) and Epson Philippines on the digital imaging company’s Gift of Brightness program for youth and education was formalized during the Memorandum of Agreement ceremonial signing for DepEd partners held recently at the L.B. Soriano Hall, SEAMEO Innotech in Quezon City.

As a company, Epson has always supported the youth and education through various projects and advocacies, one of which is the Gift of Brightness program, started in 2013.

The Gift of Brightness program aims to equip deserving, less privileged schools in the country with Epson technologies to help the students in their studies and school projects through the  donation of complete technology packages for each recipient that consist of Epson printers, projectors, scanners, label printers, document cameras and a year’s supply of inks and cartridges.

“Since we started the program, there have been 45 beneficiary-schools, 27 of which were coursed through the Department of Education for the selection process under our partnership for the past two years. We believe that by offering detailed innovation, which is at the heart of all Epson products, we can contribute to uplifting the learning experience for the students. We hope that through the Epson Gift of Brightness, we can help bring brightness and inspiration,” explains Donna V. Ferro, Head of Marketing Communications and PR, Epson Philippines. 

Secretary Briones compared the partners efforts to the help extended by the stakeholders and concluded her speech by urging private companies “to find the true meaning of Christmas among the children whom you are serving.”

Tips for hassle-free shopping this Holiday Season

Filipinos are known to be one of the happiest people.  And why not, fiestas abound and Christmas starts in September!  Don’t we just love all the reunions, parties and gift giving during this season? Here are 3 tips for a hassle-free spend at this time of the year:

1.       Do online shopping. It relieves you of having to brave the monstrous traffic and the long lines in the counter.

2.       Use a debit card. This way, you keep within your spending power and avoid queuing in an  ATM to withdraw cash.

3.       Take advantage of promos and discounts. You get more value than what you actually spent.

Here’s the great news!  With RCBC Savings Bank MyDebit Mastercard, you get to experience a hassle-free shopping. For one, you can go cashless shopping with added security because of the EMV chip. All you have to do is swipe away.

As an added bonus, a P1,000 - single receipt purchase using your MyDebit Mastercard automatically lets you earn one electronic raffle to RCBC Savings Bank’s Debit & Win Raffle Promo from now until Dec 31, 2017.  You may win a Samsung S8+ Phone or a Samsung S3 Tablet or a Go Pro Hero 5 Black.

For more information, you may visit www.rcbcsavings.com. You may also follow RCBC Savings on facebook, twitter and instagram.

PILI partners with Southstar Drug in bringing the beauty benefits of the pili tree to a grander scale

It’s an innate Filipino trait to support our fellow men. Whether it’s our natural hospitality, our concept of bayanihan, or even the way we loudly cheer a part-Pinoy candidate on some international talent show. A shared geography—whether physical or social—gives us instinctive loyalty that binds us all together and unselfishly pushes us to help each other out when we need it.

Thus, when PILI, a natural beauty- and wellness-focused brand in the Philippines, decided it was time to introduce the beauty benefits of the pili tree to a grander scale, one of the first establishments to give them a boost is popular drugstore chain Southstar Drug. Both products of the Bicol (pili is a Bicolano signature), PILI and Southstar are jointly tapping into and propagating the region’s potential.

Pili grows from a tree that’s indigenous to the fifth region’s climate. The nut, which comes from the seed, may be its most popular byproduct, but the pili tree yields more significant benefits. A tree of life in its own right, oils extracted from parts of the pili have a variety of uses—which have be tapped by PILI, a natural beauty- and wellness-focused brand in the Philippines.

PILI takes this liquid resource to create a range of cosmetic and wellness products, anchored by a collection of today’s most popular elixir, essential oils.
Essentials oils, which are natural-occurring aromatic compounds found in plants, are used in day-to-day activities, particularly for health. PILI uses both the oil from the pulp of the fruit as well as the more potent elemi from the resin. Used by the world’s top luxury beauty companies (think Chanel, Dior, Gucci), both are scientifically proven to hydrate and moisturize the skin—on top of that, elemi is also anti-aging and anti-bacterial.

The pili-extracted oils are bolstered by the therapeutic promises of lavender, eucalyptus, citronella, citrus neem, wintergreen, juniper berry, cypress, ginger, menthol, and lemongrass—oils that are already rock stars in the world of aromatherapy.

Because wellness has neither a schedule nor a deadline, PILI’s essential oil blends are packaged to just fit your pocket or purse, ready to use for a quick pick-me-up. They’re already pre-mixed by certified chemists who studied the best permutation for every blend. It functions like a liniment—made to soothe, relieve stress, boost energy, and even prevent disease—but more sophisticated, fashionable, and fragrant.

The Rise and Shine, for example, amps up your energy levels thanks to its peppy citrusy aroma while the Sweet Dreams calms you right into a restful sleep. The Stress Away wipes away the stress from your muscles while the Breathe Easy keeps you, well, breathing easy.

PILI is available at selected Southstar Drug branches. It’s a fitting partnership: PILI and Southstar Drug both give tremendous pride to the Bicol region and both are enterprises that began from the ground up and grew to become top quality brands.

JUMANJI'S” LARGER-THAN-LIFE CHARACTERS IN SOLO POSTERS

The character posters for Columbia Pictures' upcoming action-adventure Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle are now online, individually revealing the lovable ensemble.

In the brand new adventure Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle, starring an all-star cast – Dwayne Johnson, Jack Black, Kevin Hart, and Karen Gillan – four unlikely friends get sucked into the perilous world of Jumanji, and are transformed into avatars with unique skills. They’ll have to go on the most dangerous adventure of their lives, or they’ll be stuck in Jumanji forever…

Dwayne Johnson plays archeologist and international explorer, Dr. Smolder Bravestone who's the consummate action hero.

Jack Black is Dr. Shelly Oberon who will help navigate Jumanji as an expert in cartography, archeology and paleontology.

Kevin Hart is Franklin “Moose” Finbar – an expert in zoology and a weapons valet.

Karen Gillan plays the powerhouse Ruby Roundhouse, the martial arts master and killer of men.

Lastly, Nick Jonas is Alex, another player in the game who will either help them in their quest – or be a sign of the danger that awaits them.

In Philippine cinemas January 8, Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle is distributed by Columbia Pictures, local office of Sony Pictures Releasing International.

VIVO launches latest smartphone the V7 with new ambassador Julie Ann San Jose

Vivo, one of the leading smartphone brands in the country today, held a re-launch of its latest offering from the V series. The Vivo V7, was first unveiled in a grand launch at the SM City Bacolod Event Center North Wing last November 18 with Vivo influencer Boyband PH headlining the event.

The re-launch, which took place at the SM North EDSA Cyberzone Event Center last November 28, was graced by performances by R&B singer and Vivo influencer Julie Anne San Jose plus newest all-male group One Up. The event was also hosted by the DJ and Vlogger Ashley Rivera. The V7 re-launch was largely attended by members of the media from various networks and bloggers. Ms. Hazel Bascon, Vice President of Vivo Philippines and Head of Sales welcomed the members of the press and the audience in attendance.

Just in time for the holidays, Vivo is also mounting a special Christmas campaign to anchor the traditions of the most awaited holiday of the year and Vivo as a brand. The Christmas campaign involves booth stands in participating malls where Vivo enthusiasts may take their best Christmas selfie with Santa Claus, say hi to their favorite Vivo Family at the Vivo Phone Booth, get a chance to be Vivo’s all-screen cover girl or cover guy at the Cover Page booth and to experience the new Vivo V7 at the Experience tables. People who drop by the Vivo booth stand are also entitled to a prize upon completing their rounds in all of the featured booths.

The V7 is the result of Vivo’s on-going effort in understanding the needs of today’s young people, as the company continues its growth trajectory and international expansion by providing stylish and dynamic products to more consumers to show off their individuality and capture memories that is worth remembering.

The V7 reinforces Vivo’s leadership in selfies with its 24MP front-facing camera, which produces crystal-clear selfies. By keeping true-to-life color and contrast and a clear background at all times, V7 allows users to express themselves truly anytime, anywhere. Equipped with advanced technology, this phone is known for its exceptional photography features, screen quality and the overall product design.

For inquiries about Vivo, visit the Vivo website at www.vivo.com/ph or check out their Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/VivoPhil), Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/vivophil/), and Twitter (https://twitter.com/vivo_phil) accounts.

The King’s secrets: A Filipino tradition that is King Sue

Brands come and go but there are those that have been in the mindset of consumers for decades.  They continue to grow and remain relevant. Some have, in fact, become institutions in their own right.

Even before the onset of mass media, and later, social media networks and influencer marketing, one brand has always had the patronage of Filipinos -  King Sue hams and deli products.

And while it seems as though it was only yesterday when it first came out with its famous Chinese Bone-in Ham, the company is celebrating its 87th this year, proof that its is well-loved more than ever by four generations of customers.   A heritage brand, King Sue’s authenticity and reliability continue to draw market loyalty. But more than that, it’s that warm feeling of nostalgia and familiarity that has endeared it to Filipinos for over 80 years.

Like all success stories, King Sue’s is rooted on perseverance and persistence. Its modest origins began in the 1930s with the company’s patriarch Mr. Cu Un Kay, a native of Fookien, China who  came to Manila onboard a vessel with dreams of starting his own enterprise.  He set out to start his own small processed meat business with nothing but an aluminum cauldron and a primitive oven to cook with.  He named it King Sue, bearing  homage to the family’s origins - “King” which is the family’s surname and “Sue” from the Fookien term Su-weh which means small The rest was history.

Keeping the passion alive  and the brand relevant

Eighty-seven years on,  the family’s 3rd and 4th generations have kept the legacy of their patriarch very much alive with products made with the same passion for perfection.

They have managed to integrate King Sue seamlessly into the lives of Filipinos, creating, innovating, investing and engaging customers.

While a lot has been introduced and added to King Sue’s offerings, the company has remained consistent with the quality, freshness and taste of its meat products. Continuous innovation and product testing have also become an integral part of business operations.

To keep up with the exacting demands of its corporate clients, the company invests in hi-technology automated slicers, chopping and dicing machines, frozen block meat flakers, thermoforming machines, vacuum machines and modern refrigeration facilities  to ensure its products adhere to a high level of standard.

Institutional accounts

Today, King Sue has a very strong institutional presence like commissaries of chain restaurants and cafes, supermarket house brands, toll pack services offered, food cart negosyo supplier, call center and economic zone companies. This Yuletide, King Sue is one of the top choices of companies for their  Christmas giveaways.

The King Sue tradition lives on

King Sue is not only for special occasions. Its products are very versatile and can be enjoyed even on ordinary days.  Homemakers have their go-to products for the family’s everyday meals including King Sue tocino, longganisa, corned beef, bacon and sausages, which are staples in the breakfast table, and sliced hams, salami and frozen products like burger which are popular choices for merienda.

The company also offers an assortment of chorizos like Chorizo Bilbao, Chorizo Macao, and Chorizo Filipino, as well as gourmet sausages such as German Franks, Old English Pork Sausage, and Hungarian Sausage great for picnics and barbecue.

Indeed, with Filipinos penchant for King Sue meat products, the company is here to stay for many more years.

Call 881-0530 364-5430, 376-6441 and +639199889642 for inquiries and orders, and check out FB IG Twitter @kingsueham or email  sales@kingsue.com. Hashtags: #kingsueham #kingsue #ilovekingsue #cookingathome #philippines.  Also check out  www.kingsue.com

"Makati living" in Marilao made possible by SMDC Cheer

When people talk about  the province of Bulacan, Marilao isn't actually the first municipality that comes to mind--there's Baliwag, Meycauayan, Bocaue --know for their reputation for chicharon and fireworks.

Well in a few years time Marilao may just be the next big "thing" in bulacan thanks to a 5 star residential community that's  going to be built by SMDC

SM Development Corporation (SMDC) recently held its groundbreaking ceremony for SMDC Cheer Residences in Marilao, Bulacan last November 29. The event was graced by Marilao Mayor  Juanito H. Santiago, Vice Mayor Henry R. Lutao,  SMDC Cheer executives,  its partner engineering, design and contractor companies.

Cheer Residences is a perfect fit for rising modern Filipino families outside the city who are looking for a well-balanced lifestyle. It is the first vertical development of its kind in Marilao, Bulacan that offers the convenience of having its own mall, SM City Marilao, within the complex.

First-rate amenities will elevate the quality of life of the residents as they will get to enjoy an array of luxurious amenities such as a swimming pool, an interactive play area, a central park, and a clubhouse with a function area. Families would also feel safe and assured as Cheer Residences also provides 24-hour security and professional property management.

Located strategically along MacArthur Highway, in between the Marilao and Meycauayan exits in NLEX, and beside the proposed PNR station that will connect Bulacan to Tutuban, Cheer Residences offers its residents an advantage of easy access either by private or public transport.

“With its prime location, affordable price point, and five-star hotel-like features, Cheer Residences is the best option for those families who are looking for a modern and convenient lifestyle outside of the city,” Jose Mari Banzon, Executive Vice President of SMDC said. “This expansion to new areas such as the suburbs of Marilao, Bulacan is part of our commitment to make the Philippines a nation of homeowners.” Banzon added.

Cheer Residences also offers a unique open concept floor plan—called the Flexi Suite—that gives residents the freedom to utilize every inch of their home. Residents can design according to their preference and make every corner reflect the kind of lifestyle they have.

Construction of Cheer Residences is slated for completion by August 2020, with the turnover tentatively scheduled for August 2020.

For those who want to view the units, they can visit the Cheer Residences showroom at 2/F, SM City Marilao, Bulacan (beside SM Cinema).